Guyana Times - Wednesday, June 26, 2024 by Gytimes

continues in other regions

Govt to set up large-scale honey production project for Santa Mission

Guyanese woman killed in Florida 2-vehicle smash-up – husband remains hospitalised

Over 400 victims of human trafficking identified in Guyana last year – US State Dept – victims arrived from Russia, Nigeria, India, etc Fire destroys several houses in South Ruimveldt

Pensioner gets 8 months for gun, ammo possession 11-year-old awaiting NGSA results dies from dengue fever

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 26 – No retraction and Thursday, June 27 –22:00h-23:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, June 26 –07:20h-08:50h and Thursday, June 27 – 08:15h-09:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to

Winds: North North-Easterly to Southerly between 0.89 metre and 2.23 metres.

High Tide: 07:36h and 20:12h reaching maximum heights of 2.58 metres and 2.45 metres.

Low Tide: 13:41h reaching a minimum height of 0.64 metre.

Govt to set up large-scale honey production project for Santa Mission

… to kickstart project with 25 beehives – dredging of creek to be done twice annually to boost eco-tourism

anta Mission (Santa Aratak), Region three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), is poised for significant development, especially in the agriculture sector with President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali announcing on Tuesday a new honey production project in the community.

He stated that the local honey production project will benefit from the support of the Government. The aim is to produce high-quality, well-packaged honey that would appeal to tourists.

“I want to see the best-packaged honey available here so when the tourists [visit] all of them can go back with two bottles of honey,” he said.

To kickstart the project, the president announced the establishment of a local committee and the provision of 25 beehives. The Government will also offer training and safety equipment to ensure successful honey production.

Dredging

ing the waterway a landmark site.

Additionally, the activity will aid in creating a better and healthier aquatic ecosystem and reduce eutrophication, which occurs when the environment becomes enriched with nutrients, increasing the amount of plant and seaweed growth in estuaries and coastal waters.

According to Ali, this move not only has the potential to revitalise tourism in Santa Mission but also bring back the viability of the forestry sector.

“Before the end of this month, we will do the first cleaning and before

cultural inputs to the residents to kick start a Small Community Development masterplan program.

ing in with frozen chicken, I don’t want to see eggs coming in. I want t to see chicken, going out, citrus going out, dry coconut going out,” President Ali told the residents.

He added that very soon a new 40 horsepower outboard engine and a boat will be handed over to the community.

In addition, as part of efforts to build a sustainable and resilient eco-tourism sector in the community the dredging of the Kamuni Creek will be done twice annually.

Christmas, we will do the second cleaning. Then in 2025, time like now we will do the first cleaning and we will bring forward the second cleaning just around the

The first cleaning exercise will commence sometime this month, with support from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and villagers from the area.

Dredging of the Kamuni Creek, which is a tributary of the Demerara River, will allow villagers in the small community to boost its eco-tourism efforts by mak-

last quarter we will do the second cleaning.”

Santa Mission is a tiny Arawak community in Region three where residents gain an income primarily from logging and farming.

Agriculture

However, recognising the area’s vast potential in agriculture and tourism, the Government provided agri-

Among the items handed over were 50 bags of fertiliser, 50 bags of limestone, 500 coconut plants, 200 citrus plants, two chainsaws, two brush cutters, a fogging machine as well as cutlasses, shovels, rakes, hoes, insecticides, and acoushi drugger bait.

“In three years… between the 500 coconut trees that we will plant and the more than 200 citrus plants that we will plant, I want to see eco-lodges.

“I don’t want to see in the next three years boat com-

“We are going to revolutionise things in small communities, we are going to deploy technology, human assets, and brain power to build competitiveness in small communities. And this plan that we are deploying is going to be a master plan. The vision and ideas that you will see here will start bearing fruit in two and a half years from now,” he added.

The Head of State believes that the pilot programme, which merges eco-tourism, agriculture, and forestry will play a crucial role in transforming the economic value of small communities, especially those in the hinterland.

Kamuni Creek

President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing Santa Mission residents on Tuesday

Editor: Tusika Martin

News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761

Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown

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

Selling antibiotics over the counter

Antibiotics, once hailed as miraculous weapons against bacterial infections, are now under threat from a dangerous adversary: over-the-counter sales. For some time now, some local pharmacies have been selling antibiotics without a prescription and this practice has become alarmingly common, driven by convenience and profit rather than concern for public health. This trend, however, poses significant risks that cannot be overstated.

It was welcoming news that the Health Ministry will be moving to shut down pharmacies and other medical outlets caught selling antibiotics without prescriptions as well as counterfeit drugs.

In his warning to persons involved in this dangerous practice, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said that the Government would be embarking on stronger measures aimed at ensuring that the local pharmaceutical industry operated in line with international standards.

He warned: “As we move to put stricter supervision in place, if you don’t change this type of behaviour, then we might have to close you down and use the full force of the law…We have had cases in this country where we have seen patients who have developed resistance to many of the medications that we have and if we are going to continue this indiscriminate use of antibiotics, we are only going to accelerate the development of antimicrobial resistance.”

Antibiotics are not like other medications one might purchase at a pharmacy. They are powerful drugs designed to combat specific bacterial infections. Improper and indiscriminate use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, a health crisis that renders these drugs ineffective against infections that were once easily treatable. This resistance occurs when bacteria evolve and adapt to survive antibiotic treatments, making infections harder, if not impossible, to treat.

Therefore, the unrestricted availability of antibiotics encourages self-medication and undermines the role of healthcare professionals in diagnosing and prescribing treatments. We agree with the Health Minister when he admonished those facilitating over-the-counter sales of these drugs without proper medical supervision, noting that individuals may take antibiotics unnecessarily, for viral infections like the common cold or flu, which antibiotics cannot cure. This misuse not only fails to treat the illness, but also contributes to the development of antibioticresistant bacteria.

Selling antibiotics over the counter bypasses essential checks and balances that ensure patient safety. Research have shown that in countries where regulations are lax or enforcement is weak, the sale of antibiotics without prescription becomes a thriving business opportunity for pharmacies and drug vendors and perpetuate a cycle of misuse.

Addressing this issue requires concerted efforts on multiple fronts. Our Health Ministry with aid from the Legal Affairs Ministry must strengthen regulatory frameworks –Guyana’s Medicine Regulation Bill – and enforce laws that restrict the sale of antibiotics. Additionally, the Health Ministry must educate the public about the dangers of antibiotic misuse.

We support the Ministry’s position in going after overthe-counter sales of these drugs as the unrestricted sale of antibiotics is not just a convenience issue, it is a public health crisis in the making.

It jeopardises the effectiveness of one of modern medicine's greatest achievements and threatens the ability to treat common infections. Swift and decisive action must be taken against the delinquent pharmacies to curb this dangerous practice and ensure that antibiotics remain effective tools in our fight against bacterial diseases.

Let us heed the warning signs now!

the Caribbean Community over the past 50 years

The demise of the coalition

Dear Editor,

This nation is now witnessing the implosion of the PNC and the AFC - the infamous Coalition. These parties were not built on the foundation of democracy and nation-building, but were primarily created to achieve power, hold on to it, and use it for self-aggrandizement. The people do not count; they are merely pawns in the scheme of things.

But the people have now come to realize this fact; most remarkably, those within these parties. You simply cannot fool all the people all the time.

The Alliance on the Move (AFC) was built on lofty ideals; had decried the ‘corruption’ of the PPP, and had made claims that they were the ‘right turn’ for this country. But, having tasted power, they not only became subservient to the PNC, but became consumed in their corrupt practices and rigging culture.

Both Ramjattan and Nagamootoo had fought and condemned the PNC

for rigging all the Elections from 1968. Fortunately, the aftermath of the 2020 General Elections not only exposed the AFC’s penchant for corruption and its newly discovered appetite to shamelessly rig to remain in power, but also the fact that its leaders have lost their moral compass and are not interested in the socioeconomic progress of this country.

The Alliance on the Move has stopped moving a long time ago, and Ramjattan’s ‘dead meat’ prognostication came to pass to the extent that he has now ostensibly fled from the decomposed carcass. What is most notable is that the remaining founders of the AFC are now uninterested in the leadership of the Party, and the man who resigned a couple of times (2013 and 2016) has now displayed a keen interest in assuming the leadership, supposedly to save the AFC from falling into the ‘wrong hands’.

Unfortunately, the AFC made the ‘wrong turn’ since its formation, and be -

cause it was in the ‘wrong hands’, many top members abandoned the party. Trotman laid bare his true intentions for the rationale behind the formation of the AFC a while back, and the last man standing, Ramjattan, has now deserted his post. Where is the adventurer who ‘serenaded’ and waltzed away? Why are these strange things happening?

However, it is not only the AFC that is facing demise. They say karma is a bitch. Apart from being faced with destruction from within and allegations of rape against the current leader, the PNC’s members, remarkably a person no less than the General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams, has resigned from her post, citing ‘poor financial accountability, poor preparation for fair and transparent internal elections’. This speaks volumes of the true nature of the PNC and its strong inclination for corruption and rigging.

Can you imagine that the PNC run their own

Party in the same manner they ran this country? They rigged every Election from 1968 onwards to 1985, and then attempted to blatantly rig the 2020 Election as well. They bankrupted this country, and allowed it to descend to being the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, except Haiti. They stole, mismanaged, and squandered everything of value, and reduced us to a nation of mendicants, wherein to put food on the table was a vile criminal act. Why would some PNC members still have faith in the PNC when it fails on both counts: self-governance and governance of this country?

The PNC and the AFC are peas from the same pod, and should be rejected by the people of this country, who have now witnessed their innate diabolical qualities which can do no good for this country and its people.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Chairman of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Komal Samaroo, handed over a bottle of specially-blended rum to Caricom Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett on Monday. As part of the commemorative activities for Caricom’s 50th Anniversary, members of the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA) collaborated to develop the specially-curated rum to honour the achievements of

Dear Editor,

My former teachers can attest that I always had good handwriting and took copious notes, and this attribute has served me well over the years, even up to this day.

Obstinate Sammy to be blamed 100% Open letter to members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appointments

So, when Darren Sammy made that eye-raising comment on the possibility of selecting Shamar Joseph into the West Indies T20 World Cup team, having already selected Johnson Charles who had failed miserably in the previous eleven matches, I immediately recalled the St Lucian West Indies Cricket administration duo of Hunte and Hilarie, who ushered in the era of the most blatant and disgraceful demonstration of insularity ever. It was no coincidence, and it is instructive to note that Sammy, an ordinary cricketer all his life, was the main benefactor.

It is my opinion that except for Charles and Chase, this was the best West Indies team selected since the Roger Harper team that was sent to Bangladesh. While I could have seen the reason for Chase being selected, there was no justifiable reason for Charles’s selection, except that he was St. Lucian.

I will be the first to admit that I was wrong about Chase. Let me hasten to add that in all my life listening to, and watching cricket, I have never seen or heard of pitches as ridiculous as what has been prepared for this World Cup. Bridgetown and Gros Islet were okay, but all the others were disgraceful, to say the least.

West Indies selectors, including Sammy, having selected the team, clearly suggested by its composition

that players were selected to perform specific roles; and the obvious presumption was that West Indies would start quickly (which is why Charles was selected), consolidate in the middle (where Chase would come in if quick wickets were lost), and accelerate at the end; which is why Russell, Shepherd and Hosein were sure picks, apart from their roles in the bowling department.

From the first few games, it was clear that these pitches were not the common type, and would require a different approach, which would ultimately determine the makeup of the playing eleven. The matches in Guyana and Trinidad provided ample evidence of the need to change the strategy, but Sammy remained resolute in his flawed conviction that his method was the answer, despite other teams making the required adjustments. It was clear that he had no back-up plan, and, as a consequence, would rather live in hope and die in despair. And die he did, and so did the West Indies’ hope of winning the T20 World Cup.

Shimron Hetmyer having been selected, it was expected that he would have been told of his role and given a chance to execute. I can understand Rutherford’s performance justified his selection, but Charles’s performance was not what was planned; he was scoring runs at just about a-run-a-ball to stay in the team, and by the time he got out in the 10th or 11th over, it was difficult to execute the flawed plan, and the big-hitting batsmen just could not deliver.

Charles should have

been dropped since then, and a backup plan should have been implemented to deal with the conditions and realities. Instead, Sammy persisted with his countryman, and dropped him only in the must-win game.

It is clear that Sammy had no intention of playing Hetmyer. Once Hetmyer was selected, he should have been given his role, and allowed to perform it. Had he failed, it would have been justifiable to drop him. Instead, he was fetching water, and suffered the ultimate disrespect when Myers was brought in to the team and played immediately.

Is Myers a better batsman than Hetmyer? and was Myers’s innings different from what Charles had been playing?

And people question Hetmyer’s actions when it comes to West Indies Cricket? I say he is in perfect order to act the way he does, and I hope Shamar Joseph has taken copious notes.

Once Shepherd was dropped, it lengthened the tail, and it was asinine to believe that tail-enders could deal with difficult pitches which top-order batters could not deal with. Hetmyer is one of the better players of spin bowling in the West Indies team, and should have been selected to perform the role he is accustomed to playing for his IPL franchise team. And I dare say that no team playing in this World Cup would have had a Hetmyer in their team and not play him.

After the first two matches, I called on social media for Charles to be dropped, for Pooran to be promoted to open the batting (he

can deal with the spin that was slowing down the scoring rate), and for Hetmyer to be brought in to bat before Russell and perform the role of finishing the innings, because I saw clearly that the big-hitting was not going to work. Brian Lara expressed the same sentiments a few games after.

The innings Rutherford played against New Zealand was the role I saw Hetmyer playing. But, of course, that was assuming that Sammy had the intellectual capacity to recognize that his plan was not going to work, and the intelligence to make the changes that were needed.

West Indies had this T20 World Cup to win. They had a good team, which was of concern to all the other teams, none excepted; but the obstinate Sammy, who stuck with his plan despite clear indications that it was not working - and his insularity and vindictivenessdictate that he must take full responsibility for West Indies’ elimination.

I am not saying the West Indies lost because they did not play Hetmyer. I am saying that they lost because Sammy did not recognize that his plan was ineffective; and he had no backup plan which required a change of strategy and, consequently, changes of a few personnel.

And please don’t tell me about West Indies moving up the world rankings. That was not the objective; the objective was to win the T20 World Cup, and West Indies failed, and they failed because of the obstinate Sammy.

Yours truly, Eric Whaul

Satellite campus is one small step for Aishalton and Region 9, one giant step for UG

Dear Editor,

The headline, “Historic! MoU takes UG Satellite Campus to indigenous Aishalton Village,” (Newsroom, June 24, 2024) is to be celebrated as this initiative is one small step for Aishalton/Rupununi and Region 9, and one giant step for the University of Guyana reaching out to contribute to equity and parity in education in the remote and hinterland areas. Hopefully, this initiative will reach all regions outside of Georgetown and Region 4. I call on our government to give full support and funding to this bold initiative of the University of Guyana. There was a time when higher education was a rationed item for a lucky few, restricted from the masses, and implemented under “ivory towers” approaches. The University was aloof from the village people. In modern times, in our cur-

rent digital and information age, everyone can have universal access to higher education.

The Internet has become a great equalizer. The UG initiative should spark more concerted efforts to improve Internet access to Region 9 as well as Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, and in places in the other areas where Internet service is poor and not quite affordable. Free Internet access across Guyana would be a nice Government goal for the people of Guyana. Let’s have “One Guyana” in Internet access. Do it for the children and people of Guyana!

The bigger multiplier effect of this UG Satellite Campus at Aishalton is the potential to arrest the flight of residents out of the remote regions. I understand when our people of Amerindian descent and people from rural communities come out to Georgetown to attend UG,

the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), or the “town” schools, many do not want to go back to their communities when they graduate. If we do not arrest this trend, those rural communities will be depleted of key human resources necessary to promote development there. Government’s planning in rural communities must be designed to reduce the “push” factors and accentuate the “pull” factors.

The provision of educational opportunities is definitely a key “pull” factor that helps in the retention of our people in the hinterland regions. We must also provide the related services in education, health, economic development, agriculture, public works, regional development, administration of justice, etc. People should receive all Government services efficiently in their own regions and within the same timelines as the

Georgetown/Region 4 folks. It should not take longer in the regions. Digitise all operations in a hurry to push such efficiency. Change colonial era rules and procedures to speed up approvals, payments, and implementation of projects. To keep teachers and Government staff there, we must provide housing, transportation, hefty allowances, and every incentive to make those communities viable.

I prefer the UG presence at Aishalton as local content, superior to the GOAL providers. Thanks to the VC and UG leadership team for such a great initiative. Maybe, do the same in the other remote regions too. I wish this project very well. Let’s make sure it succeeds for Region 9.

Sincerely,

Dr Jerry Jailall Civil Society Advocate

Dear Editor, We approach June 30, 2024, precisely one year since the completion of youth cluster elections for representatives to the Rights of the Child Commission. Regrettably, we are yet to receive any communication regarding the subsequent steps necessary to finalize this important process.

During the sensitization session held on May 15th, 2023, we were reminded of the significant constitutional mandate which caters to the establishment and construct of the Rights of the Child Commission, and were emphatically urged to expedite our cluster nominations and elections to facilitate timely conclusion of the appointments’ process by the Committee.

Nearly a year has passed since our cluster fulfilled its responsibilities and submitted the final report. The lack of communication since is deeply troubling. It implies a concerning disregard for concluding this critical constitutional process, particularly in light of perceived attempts to influence outcomes by various

Government representatives and aligned organizations who are part of the cluster.

I urge members of the Committee on Appointments to approach this matter with the requisite respect, professionalism, and seriousness it demands, in accordance with our constitutional framework. It is crucial that civil society organizations be not mere token participants, but are genuinely respected as integral to ensuring good governance and fair conduct of constitutional procedures.

In conclusion, I implore this esteemed committee not to undermine the rights of civil society organizations to engage fully in this constitutional process. Let us uphold the principles of fairness and transparency that our constitution demands. May wisdom guide your deliberations, and may fairness be the outcome.

Regards, Clayon F Halley Youth Cluster Coordinator Rights of the Child Commission

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2024

06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time 06:30 Cartoons 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 Stop Suffering 09:00 Guy's Grocery Games

Grand Designs

Paternity Court

Divorce Court

News Break 12:05 Movie - The Royal Treatment (2022) 13:35 Wheel of Fortune 14:00 The Loud House S3 E12 14:30 Spongebob Squarepants

15:00 Indian Soaps

16:00 Young Sheldon S1 E6

16:30 Kickin' It S3 E11

17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 Aljazeera

19:00 The Evening News

20:00 Stop Suffering

20:30 Stand-up Comedy 21:00 Good Trouble S2 E4

22:00 The Witcher S1 E5

23:00 The Office S6 E5 23:30 Insecure S5 E1 00:00 Sign off

Power Up Maths

Changing fractions to decimals

A decimal is really a fraction expressed in another way. So 2 10 = 0.2, and 6 25 75 = 6.33. Decimals are expressed in tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and so on. However, you can convert a fraction into a decimal. Just divide the fraction’s numerator by its denominator.

Power Up Maths

Example: What fraction equals 2 3 ?

Changing fractions to decimals

decimals

Power Up Maths

Changing fractions to decimals

Set this up as a

Step 1: 2 3 = 2 ÷ 3. Set this up as a regular division problem: 3⟌2. However, 3 does not go into 2. You need to add a decimal point to the 2 and as many placeholder zeros as necessary for you to divide. You must also use a decimal point in the quotient. Be sure to line it up with the decimal point in the dividend.

Set this up as a regular division problem: 3⟌2. However, 3 does not go into 2. You need to add a decimal point to the 2 and as many placeholder zeros as necessary for you to divide. You must also use a decimal point in the quotient. Be sure to line it up with the decimal point in the dividend.

Changing fractions to decimals

2. However, 3 does not go into 2. You need to add a decimal point to the 2 and as many placeholder zeros as necessary for you to divide. You must also use a decimal point in the quotient. Be sure to line it up with the decimal point in the dividend.

Step 2: Add a decimal point and one placeholder zero. Then add a decimal point to the quotient:

Example: What fraction equals 2 3 ?

Step 5: Keep adding placeholder zeros until you have no remainder. If you already have added four placeholder zeros, think about rounding your decimal to the nearest thousandths place.

Set this up as a

3⟌2. However, 3 does not go into 2. You need to add a decimal point to the 2 and as many placeholder zeros as necessary for you to divide. You must also use a decimal point in the quotient. Be sure to line it up with the decimal point in the dividend.

2 3 =

BY EMILY BRONTË

= 2

3. Set this up as a regular division problem: 3⟌2. However, 3 does not go into 2. You need to add a decimal point to the 2 and as many placeholder zeros as necessary for you to divide. You must also use a decimal point in the quotient. Be sure to line it up with the decimal point in the dividend.

Step 5: Keep adding placeholder zeros until you have no remainder. If you already have added four placeholder zeros, think about rounding your decimal to the nearest thousandths place.

Step 2: Add a decimal point and one placeholder zero. Then add a decimal point to the quotient:

Ah! why, because the dazzling sun

Restored my earth to joy

Have you departed, every one, And left a desert sky?

Step 2: Add a decimal point and one placeholder zero. Then add a decimal point to the quotient:

Step 2: Add a decimal point and one placeholder zero. Then add a decimal point to the quotient: 3⟌2.0 Step 3: Start

Step 5: Keep adding placeholder zeros until you have no remainder. If you already have added four

Step 2: Add a decimal point and one placeholder zero. Then add a decimal point to the quotient:

3⟌2.0 Step 3: Start dividing:

Step 5: Keep adding placeholder zeros until you have no remainder. If you already have added four placeholder zeros, think about rounding your decimal to the nearest thousandths place.

All through the night, your glorious eyes Were gazing down in mine, And with a full heart’s thankful sighs I blessed that watch divine!

If you already have added four

I was at peace, and drank your beams

Remember: A rounded decimal will not

As they were life to me And revelled in my changeful dreams Like petrel on the sea.

Thought followed thought— star followed star Through boundless regions on, While one sweet influence, near and far, Thrilled through and proved us one.

Why did the morning rise to break So great, so pure a spell, And scorch with fire the tranquil cheek

Where your cool radiance fell?

Remember: A rounded decimal will not exactly equal the fraction you started with.

Exercises: Change fractions to decimals. Round to the nearest thousandth if necessary:

Blood-red he rose, and arrow-straight, His fierce beams struck my brow; The soul of Nature sprang elate, But mine sank sad and low! TO BE CONTINUED

Remember: A rounded decimal will not exactly equal the fraction you started with.

Understanding air pressure

Instructions: Fill the glass with water. Put the straw in the water and suck some water about halfway up the straw. Put your finger over the top of the straw. Pull the straw out of the water. How it works: The water stays in the straw because the only place air pressure can get into

Exercises: Change fractions to decimals. Round to the nearest thousandth if necessary:

Convergence Zone,

is a belt of low pressure which circles the Earth generally around the

equator where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together. It is a low-pressure area that can be characterised by rising air and convective activity which generates often vigorous thunderstorms over large areas. It can also be an area of calm, notoriously known to sailors as the Doldrums because of its monotonous, windless weather.

On satellite images it can be seen as a band of clouds that encircle the Equator. Its movement coincides with the apparent migration of the overhead Sun, drifting northward and southward of the Equator during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer and winter months respectively. For this reason it is also called the thermal equator. Its movement affects the wet and dry seasons of the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago, along with the southern Caribbean experiences its wet season around summer due to the presence of the ITCZ. When it drifts southwards into the Amazon Basin around January to March, they experience their dry season. Guyana has two rainy seasons as the ITCZ passes over it twice on its way northward and southward. (sciencefun.org and gpres.weebly.com)

10 new Puisne Judges to take oaths of office today

The 10 persons who were recommended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for appointment as new Judges, will receive their instruments of appointment today from President Dr Irfaan Ali.

These appointees were selected by the JSC, to increase the complement of puisne judges to help tackle the huge backlog of cases in the High Court. Among those to be appointed to the top judicial post is Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

Magistrates Peter Hugh, who is currently stationed in the Berbice Magisterial District, and Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, who is at the Leonora Magistrates’ Court, are also on the list.

Deputy Solicitor General, Deborah Kumar, and Commissioners of Title and Judges of the Land Court, Nicola Pierre and Priscilla ChandraHanif, were recommended to be appointed as puisne judges. Also on the list are

Head of Legal Department (Deputy-Commissioner) at the Guyana Revenue Authority, Hessaun Yasin, and GRA’s Deputy Commissioner Inland Revenue – International Taxation Law, Joy Persaud along with Secretary to Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Board, Nigel Niles.

In addition, Guyaneseborn High Court judge at the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Justice Jacqueline JosiahGraham, has also been named by the JSC for appointment… out of a field of 37 applicants who had originally applied to fill the post.

“These persons will take the oath of office before His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of

the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 3:00 pm,” a statement from the JSC said.

For the Supreme Court of Judicature, which consists of the High Courts in each of the three counties and the Court of Appeal, the JSC has been looking to appoint Puisne Judges, Commissioners of Title (Land Court Judges), and a Deputy Registrar for the High Court in Berbice.

Back in January, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, S.C., had disclosed that at least nine Puisne Judges were going to be appointed in the High Court this year along with two Commissioners of Title and six Justices of Appeal.

Back in April, three new Commissioners of Title, who will be posted to serve in the Land Courts at Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and at Suddie, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) were sworn in. The newly appointed Land Court Judges selected by the JSC are Magistrate Renita Singh, Magistrate Esther Sam, and Magistrate Christel Lambert.

During his presentation in the 2024 Budget debates back in January, Nandlall disclosed that at least 10 Magistrates will be appointed this year, bringing the total number of magistrates to 29. Additionally, the Legal Affairs Minister had also announced that new posts have also been created within the magis -

tracy to accommodate for the large intake of cases. One of these new posts that were created is that of Deputy Chief Magistrate.

Already, nine new magistrates were sworn-in back in February: Tuanna Hardy, Teriq Mohammed, Abigail Gibbs, Tamieka Clarke, Orinthia Schmidt, Shivani Lalaram, Michelle Matthias, Omadatt Chandan, and Ravindra Mohabir.

AG Nandlall had noted that the reconstitution of the Judicial Service Commission in July 2023 paved the way for these critical judicial appointments to be made.

The new JSC was appointed by President Dr Irfaan Ali on July 14, 2023. The Commission members are Chancellor of

the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards; Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George; Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Manniram Prashad; Retired Justice Carl Singh and Retired Justice Beasraj Singh (BS) Roy. The Chancellor sits as Chairman of the Commission.

The JSC is a constitutional body responsible for handling matters related to the appointment, discipline, removal, and promotion of judicial officers, including judges and magistrates.

Following its appointment, the Commission late last year published vacancies to fill the personnel gaps within the judiciary and magistracy.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Justice Jacqueline Josiah-Graham

Taxi driver jailed for wounding schoolboy

Forty-two-year-old Sherwin Patterson, a taxi driver of Zorg, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was on Tuesday sentenced to one month imprisonment for assaulting a 13-year-old school boy.

Patterson reportedly wounded the teenager, a student of Cotton Field Secondary School on April 24, 2024, at Anna Regina. While the details of the assault were not released to the media, the suspect was arrested and charged.

He pleaded not guilty and a trial was initiated before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Anna Regina Magistrate's Court.

Jailed: Sherwin Patterson

However, on Tuesday, the presiding magistrate found the defendant guilty of the charge and imposed the sentence.

Essequibo duo jailed for theft

Jailed: Joel Nelson

Two Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) residents were on Tuesday sentenced to prison after they were found

Jailed: Arshaad Kowshall

guilty of separate burglary charges.

Joel Nelson, 40, a labourer of Henrietta Essequibo Coast reportedly committed the act on David Andres Roopnarine, 28, a construction worker on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Henrietta Essequibo Coast.

The case was heard virtually on Tuesday before Tamieka Clarke at the Anna Regina Magistrate's Court and was found guilty of the charge. As such, he was sentenced to three years and seven months imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Arshaad Kowshall, 18, of Reliance Essequibo Coast, was also found guilty on a burglary charge and sentenced to three years and ten months imprisonment.

Essequibo man slapped with trafficrelated charges

Charged: Denzil Stephens

Denzel Stephens, a labourer of Charity Extension Scheme, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), appeared on Monday before Charity Magistrate Tamieka Clarke to answer several traffic-related charges.

Stephens pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle without being the holder of a valid driver’s licence; driving an uninsured vehicle; and driving an uncertified vehicle; and has been fined $30,000, $25,000, and $5,000 on the respective charges.

Please…

…cry for Haiti

Yesterday we learnt that the first batch of 400 of the long-awaited 1000 troops from Kenya was finally flown into Haiti - on the US-sponsored initiative to bring some degree of normalcy to that troubled country. Cry the beloved country!! Haiti, of course, is a member of Caricom, and maybe you’re asking how come none of our worthies - who’re always carrying on about the seminal role Haiti has played in world history – has stepped up to the crease to bat for them? Well, to be accurate, three members – Jamaica, Bahamas and Barbados – have committed to providing some boots on the ground towards what’s eventually supposed to be a 2500-member force.

As to how many they’ll eventually provide hasn’t been made public, but your Eyewitness knows that - even though the US has been twisting a lot of arms - it ain’t gonna be plenty. Maybe Chad and Bangladesh - who’re also committed to sending some warm bodies - might pick up the slack? We’ll see…but your Eyewitness is a sceptic.

Why, you ask, dear reader?? Well, for the same reason why other countries – even other members of Caricom –have baulked, even though they’d love to have Haiti get some peace. But THAT reason is complicated.

Fact of the matter is: because Haiti defeated one of the largest European empires – the French under Napoleon –to gain its freedom, it wasn’t able to enjoy that freedom through the machinations of the US and France. They imposed huge reparations for France for its “losses”, that Haiti wasn’t able to repay until a few years back!! And guess who enforced the payments? That’s right…the good, ole US of A!! And during that time, they allowed a series of murderous and venal dictators to rape the Haitian people some mo’!

For the above reasons, US troops aren’t considered too favourably in Haiti - especially because when democracy was finally instituted in 1990, the Yanks still kept their fingers in the pie. In the present, the capital’s been overrun by gangs who’d banded together against the imposed Prime Minister Ariel Henry. He’d just secured a deal to deploy a Kenyan-led international police force, but wasn’t allowed to land. He’s since handed power over to a collegial Transitional National Council, but the gangs have extended their chokehold, hence the need for SOME troops to take them on. Not the UN: their troops, in the ‘90s, had to leave in disgrace – after spreading cholera!!

So, what’s the US - which considers the Caribbean its “pond” – to do and not get (more) bad name?? Well, get “Pan-African” troops to come in to save some brothers and sisters!! And this is where Black Kenya comes in!!

Ain’t world politics fun??

…revisit the past??

Your Eyewitness believes we gotta learn from past mistakes. In this vein, he cites the Goals of the African Business Roundtable (ABR) founded in 2016: “The sustainable development of Guyana’s economy; The economic revitalisation of African villages in Guyana; The nurturing of African entrepreneurship, especially among youth; The establishment of partnerships for sustainable growth; The establishment of business linkages with African-Guyanese businesses in the diaspora, and the hosting of business expos from time to time. So wha’ happened?

Caribbean trade linkages have been forged by the PPP Govt with the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. So, have the African-Guyanese businesses in the ABR been nurturing of south-south trade linkages, say, with Africa on the US$1.5 billion Afreximbank credit facility?? Then, on the fostering of joint ventures with other ethnic and business groups in Guyana, has the ABR been working with PSC, the GCCI and the GMSA to build bridges? Finally, the provision of think tank position papers, incubator and business services to the Guyanese community in partnership with other groups and stakeholders; the development of competitive, sustainable, job-creating African businesses across Guyana and in the diaspora”?

Wow…they’ve been so successful!!

…achievements

Whatever happened to the ABR’s “A full-service banking licence; Nurturing of an Association of African-Guyanese Construction Companies which meets at the headquarters weekly”??

Lack of food, late salary payments among issues affecting local seafarers

– seafarers urged to report abuses; efforts ongoing to ensure improved conditions

As Guyana observes the Day of the Seafarer, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) hosted a seminar on Tuesday where challenges facing seafarers were highlighted, including a lack of food and late payments, as well as the efforts being made by recruitment agencies.

During the event at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC), a spotlight was shone on the challenges faced by local seafarers. According to the Registrar of Ships, Gale Culley-Greene’s office has dealt with several complaints since it was established by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

“It is imperative that our seafarers are well trained, competent, and motivated to serve on board. It is also imperative that all individuals involved in the training and recruitment of seafarers understand the path in which the maritime sector is heading and by extension, the sea-faring career.”

“Since its establishment in 2021, the office of the registrar of seafarers has dealt with many seafarer welfare matters, for both local and foreign seafarers in Guyana. These matters include non-payment of wages, the non-provision of food and water, seafarer abandonment and repatriation,”

Culley-Greene explained.

The Registrar urged seafarers to know their rights and to ask questions, noting that the Office of the Registrar is available for that purpose. She also urged collaboration within the local seafarer community, which will allow Guyana to produce the best seafarers in the region.

In addition, Director General of the Maritime Administrative Department (MARAD) Stephen Thomas, spoke of ongoing efforts to enhance the welfare of seafarers. This includes efforts to ensure better conditions on ships, improved vacation policies, wages, food and accommodation.

“The government will continue to work on policy support not only for seafarers but also their families. So, seafarers, you have a partner in the government of Guyana who supports you, who cherishes and respects you, and we will continue to provide for you,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Human Resource and Engagement Officer at Eldorado Offshore, Thalia Wilson highlighted the value that recruitment agencies add to the seafaring landscape. The representative said not only does her agency contribute to the efficiency of the hiring process, but also ensures that

only pre-screened and qualified candidates are available.

“Recruitment agencies act as a vital intermediary between maritime employers and seafarers. They’re the bridge that connects talented seafarers with opportunities that match their skills and aspirations in the sector… safety and competence are paramount in the sector.”

“Recruitment agencies play a critical role in enhancing these aspects by facilitating mandatory training and certification programmes tailored to the oil and gas industry. Offering continuous education opportunities to keep seafarers updated with the latest industry practices and regulations. Ensuring security measures are met

by seafarers and contributing to safer seas.”

Currently, some 6000 locals are actively contribut-

ing to the oil and gas sector’s growth, which represents almost 70 per cent of the total workforce and a 24 per cent increase in Guyanese hired… many of them in offshore jobs.

Of the 6000 locals, over 900 Guyanese are employed as plant and machine operators; while 1,203 are employed as professionals, including accountants, lawyers, and engineers; and another 485 as technicians.

The “Day of the Seafarer” is observed annually on June 25. For this year, the theme was “Seafarers' Contribution to Making the Maritime Sector a Safer Workplace”. Based on the International Chamber of Shipping, an estimated 1.8 million seafarers are working on merchant ships globally.

Registrar of Ships, Gale CulleyGreene

MARAD Director General Stephen Thomas handing over a token of appreciation

Over 400 victims of human trafficking identified in Guyana last year – US State Dept

– victims arrived from Russia, Nigeria, India, etc

The US State Department stated that as the Guyana Government increased its efforts to protect victims of human trafficking, over 400 trafficked persons were identified within the country last year.

According to the 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report released by the Department, the Government identified 407 victims while Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) identified one. This is in comparison to 2022, whereby the Government had identified 327 trafficked victims.

The victims included 21 Guyanese nationals and 386 foreign nationals from Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Cuba, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Russia, and Venezuela. Some victims stayed in shelters while others were granted work or residency permits; others were repatriated.

Specifically, the report revealed that shelter was offered to all of the victims but only 312 were accepted. In the previous year, the report noted, all the victims had accepted the opportunity to stay at shelters.

“The Government provided victims assistance including shelter; food, transportation, and clothing, including through direct financial assistance; counseling; medical checkups; and legal assistance including support for court appearances; other available services included training; job referrals; employment

“The Government screened 281 potential victims among individuals in commercial sex, compared with 305 potential victims screened in 2022. Of the identified victims, 274 women and seven girls were exploited in sex trafficking, and 116 men and 10 boys were exploited in labor trafficking,” the report revealed.

opportunities, including small business support for foreign victims; and help with integration,” the report noted.

NGOs also provided shelter and translation/interpretation for victims.

Meanwhile, the Government gave 333 victims residency permits and 18 victims work permits while eight were repatriated. In the prior reporting period, the Government did not grant any foreign victims temporary residency status or work permits as it received no requests for such.

Notably, it was revealed that the Government did not facilitate the repatriation from abroad of any victims, compared with one Guyanese victim in 2022.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Countering Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit is the lead government agency coordinating victim care services.

For the period under review, the unit hired four additional staff, bringing the total to seven. According to the US Department of State, in prior reporting periods, observers noted it had insufficient staff to effectively undertake its work.

The report also recognised the increase in funding for the unit to conduct its work, from GY$44.15 million in 2022 to GY$63.83 million in 2023.

The work of the unit includes a national referral mechanism (NRM) which involves an assessment of the victim’s needs and vulnerabilities. After this assessment, the NRM would direct a voluntary reflection period of 10 days for the victim during which

the victim should not be interviewed. Social welfare officers would then explain the victim’s rights and conditions for cooperating with investigators.

The third step is the Ministry’s referral for accommodations at an accredited shelter. If the victim refused shelter services, the Ministry arranged for the victim’s safe repatria-

Meanwhile, during the reporting period, the Government operated and fully funded four shelters for adults with a total capacity of 50 and three children’s homes, which also housed child victims of other crimes.

tion (if a foreigner has requested such) or for social inclusion in the country.

Trio fined for several traffic offences

Three men were fined for several traffic offenses when they appeared at the Charity and Anna Regina Magistrates’ Court.

Kelvin Hardial of Windsor Castle, Essequibo Coast and Yagesh Rabbylall of Richmond, Essequibo Coast appeared in court where both pleaded guilty to failing to have an ID mark rear on a motor vehicle.

Hardial was arrested on Saturday, June 8, 2024, along the Colombia Public Road, Essequibo Coast. As such, he was fined 50,000 as an alternative to three months imprisonment.

In addition, Rabbylall was arrested on Monday, June 3, 2024, along the Anna Regina Public Road, Essequibo Coast. He was also fined $50,000 as an alternative to three months imprisonment.

Finally, Suresh Ramjattan, a barber of Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast was charged for driving a motorcar without a valid driver’s license and failing to have an ID mark on a motor vehicle both on the front and Rear of the vehicle

He was arrested on Sunday, May 26, 2024, along the Cotton Field Access Road, Essequibo Coast. However, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Ramjattan pleaded guilty when he appeared before Magistrate, Tamieka Clarke at the Anna Regina Magistrates’ Court. He was fined 20,000 for being an unlicensed driver; $50,000 for failing to have an ID mark at the front and $50,000 for failing to have an ID mark at the rear. He was also fined $25,000 for breach of insurance.

Charged: Kelvin Hardial

Charged: Yagesh Rabbylall

Charged: Suresh Ramjattan

Govt hands out $1.5B in 1st leg of “Because We Care” cash grant exercise – exercise continues

in other regions

As the first leg of the “Because We Care” Cash Grant exercise kicked off on Monday, a whopping $150 billion was distributed to parents in Regions 1, 4, 5, and 6.

The Education Ministry stated that $273,555,000 was distributed in Region 1 (Barima-Waini); $182,790,000 along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD); $608,175,000 in Georgetown; $84,060,000 in Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice), and $365,715,000 in Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Amidst these large numbers, there was, however, a minority of parents who were unable to collect their cash grants. In light of this, systems have been put in place to cater to those parents who are unable to uplift the grants as per the Education Ministry’s schedule.

Meanwhile, as the second leg of the initiative kicked off on Tuesday, parents continued to voice their opinions on their appreciation of the cash grants.

One guardian who collected monies for her grandson at the Paradise Primary School along the East Coast of Demerara expressed how the funds will aid in improving her grandson’s life.

Over 400 victims...

The Government had also constructed a fourth children’s home in the region bordering Venezuela, which has a large migrant population, for child trafficking victims and child migrants.

The US State Department also found that local authorities would evaluate and place child trafficking victims in foster care.

Additionally, the Government continued to subsidise two NGO-run shelters; one for male and fe-

male victims with space for 28 that was used during the 10-day reflection period and the other for up to 40 adult female victims of trafficking and other crimes that provided victims with the same services as the government-operated shelters.

“Shelter services were not time-limited. The Government and NGOs encouraged victims to stay in a shelter for their own protection,” the report outlined, adding that social workers-maintained contact with victims who de-

PAGE 11

clined shelter. It was also noted that authorities offered victims psychological therapy before and after trial proceedings to help prevent re-traumatisation.

Additionally, the country’s laws prohibited faceto-face confrontations between suspects and victims, thereby reducing further trauma to the victim.

Nevertheless, the report outlined that authorities may have re-traumatised some victims during questioning.

“As a grandmother looking at my grandson since he was a baby, it is very challenging and many days I find it hard to get him a taxi and to get him food, so I find it very good.”

Meanwhile, a parent from Victoria Nursery School also along the ECD stated that the grant will assist in purchasing her children’s textbooks and school uniforms. “This will be very beneficial towards my children’s textbooks and towards their school uniforms, thanks again.”

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

In 2021, the Government reintroduced the cash grant distribution for school-aged

children, as per its manifesto promise. The distributions at that time saw each child benefitting from $19,000— $15,000 from the “Because We Care” grant and $4000 from their uniform vouchers.

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

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

In 2023, cash grants saw children registered in nursery, primary, and secondary public and private schools receiving a $35,000 grant, together with $5000 for school uniforms and other supplies.

According to reports from Central Government, since assuming office in August 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has expended a total of $27 billion on “Because We Care” Cash Grants, with an additional $8.6 billion in disposable income to be made available to families nationwide this year.

According to Manickchand, approximately 214,000 schoolchildren in public and private schools have benefited from the annual cash grant thus far.

Gas monetisation

Fulcrum LNG proposal was most comprehensive, technically sound – evaluators …

discussions still at preliminary

The Government of Guyana on Tuesday reiterated that it has every intention of advancing, in the most transparent manner possible, the development of the infrastructure needed to harness our country’s vast gas resources, in the interest of national development and to the benefit of the Guyanese people.

In a release issued by the Natural Resources Ministry, it stated that one of the Government’s priorities in the oil and gas sector is the development of our gas resources.

As a result, and immediately after assuming office in August 2020, work started on the gas-to-shore project, which is set to cut electricity costs by at least 50 per cent and stimulate massive economic activities, especially in the industrial and manufacturing sectors upon completion.

Recognising that the gasto-shore project will utilise a relatively modest amount of gas and is geared more towards power generation, plans to utilise and monetise Guyana’s total reserves of associated gas were discussed on several occasions with ExxonMobil and its partners.

These discussions, the Ministry stated, were guided by the Government’s aim to generate additional revenue for the country and create

opportunities for Guyanese, through upstream and downstream development of infrastructure to harness our associated gas reserves.

“After many discussions with the Stabroek Block operator and realising that the development of the gas resource is not an immediate priority for the company, our Government decided to seek a capable independent third-party operator to either work with ExxonMobil or carry out this activity on its own,” the release added.

Consequently, a decision was taken earlier this year to advertise locally and internationally through a Request for Bids (RFB) for the Design, Finance, Construction, and Operation of essential gas infrastructure to support upstream developments in Guyana. Proposals were invited from qualified developers for comprehensive solutions to develop the required gas infrastructure, which includes the necessary pipelines to connect and monetise upstream gas.

Fifty-two bidders were registered, and 17 bids were recorded at opening.

An independent and technically-competent evaluation team was then established by the Natural Resources Ministry to conduct a detailed and robust evaluation of all 17 proposals based on the technical

stage

and administrative submissions received.

“Fulcrum LNG, a USbased company, was deemed the most responsive compliant bidder and ranked No 1, followed by CNOOC Power and Gas Group, ranked No 2, and a consortium of local and international companies which were ranked No 3.”

The Ministry stated that the Fulcrum LNG proposal was considered by the evaluators as the most comprehensive and technically sound proposal.

"The evaluation report was then submitted to the Cabinet with no objection. The Cabinet deliberated and examined the report and granted it no objection for Fulcrum LNG to be engaged. Following the Cabinet’s consideration of the matter, the Ministry of Natural Resources has engaged the company along with ExxonMobil to begin the process. These discussions are at a preliminary stage and are ongoing.”

The company will be supporting the Government and the Stabroek Block operator, ExxonMobil Guyana, to utilise the non-associated gas – serving as an independent development.

The release stated that Fulcrum LNG’s submission was very detailed and comprehensive, and outlined a structured approach to gas development; hence the eval-

uators were satisfied based on the submission of its competency which resulted in the company being ranked No. 1.

The Ministry has noted recent questions surround-

ing the Chief Executive Officer of Fulcrum LNG’s Jesus Bronchalo, who is indeed a former senior employee of ExxonMobil. At the time of the evaluation, Bronchalo’s involvement in

Fulcrum LNG was known, and his previous relationship with ExxonMobil was not seen as presenting a conflict of interest, since he had severed all ties with the company.

11-year-old awaiting NGSA results dies from dengue fever

An 11-year-old boy of Bartica Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) succumbed whilst receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for suspected dengue.

The child has been identified as 11-year-old Kushal Doobay who was a student of the St. Anthony’s Primary School. The lad reportedly took ill about three days prior to his demise and had to be admitted to the Bartica Regional Hospital but after his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital to conduct several tests.

The child arrived at the city hospital on Sunday where he received immediate medical attention.

“Since he went in they did not leave his side throughout the night into the morning, they were talking to each other trying to see the best at least that is what I see,” the child’s father Ajay Doobay stated.

According to him, several tests were conducted on Kushal which revealed that the child had dengue fever and pneumonia in his stomach and was having difficulty breathing. After spending a day at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the child unfortunately succumbed.

The father noted that his son was awaiting his National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results. He added that his son’s death is a major blow to the family. The aggrieved father stated that they are coming to grips with reality – one that he feels cannot be accepted.

Only recently, Health

Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that 398 persons were hospitalised with dengue for 2024 thus far.

In an interview with the media on Friday last, he stated that the Ministry has conducted over 18,000 tests this year to monitor and control the spread of this dangerous mosquito-borne disease. Out of these tests, 4,700 individuals were found to be positive for dengue. Despite these efforts, the virus has resulted in four fatalities due to dengue-related complications.

Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates However, there are signs that the situation may be improving in the country and according to Dr Anthony in the past week, there have

been fewer than ten new hospital admissions, indicating a possible decrease in new cases. As such, public health officials are intensifying their efforts to combat the outbreak. The Health Ministry is urging residents to take preventive measures seriously. These include eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed, using mosquito repellent, and ensuring homes are properly screened to prevent mosquito entry.

The Ministry stated that early detection and treatment are key in managing dengue. Residents who experience symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, or mild bleeding are advised to seek medical attention immediately.

Dead: Kushal Doobay

CAL wins award for best airline staff service in Central America & C’bean

Guyanese woman killed in Florida

Con creating memorable travel experiences by delivering exceptional service with the genuine warmth and friendliness that is synonymous with the Caribbean spirit. Being recognized by our passengers and industry peers as the best in staff service is a significant honour, and it fuels our commitment to continue exceeding our customers’ expectations.”

for the Management and Staff of Caribbean Airlines.” THE 2024 WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS

2-vehicle

smash-up

– husband remains hospitalised

aribbean Airlines has scooped a top award as the Best Airline Staff Service in Central America & Caribbean at the prestigious 2024 World Airline Awards, held on June 24, 2024, at the iconic Fairmont Windsor Park. The awards event is hosted by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organisation.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Caribbean Airlines, expressed his gratitude and pride in the team’s achievement, stating: “This award is a testament to the dedication, passion, and hard work of our entire staff. At Caribbean Airlines, we focus

In addition, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Skytrax said: “We congratulate Caribbean Airlines on this fabulous achievement of being named as the Best Airline Staff Service in Central America & Caribbean at the 2024 World Airline Awards. This service and hospitality accolade should be a source of pride

Reg 8 officials benefit from PPC training session

Several persons from various sectors in Region 8 (PotaroSiparuni) have participated in a comprehensive training session organised by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) with the aim of improving procurement practices and promoting accountability.

This session, held on June 14, 2024 in the Boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at Mahdia, has benefitted the Regional Executive Officer (REO), members of the Regional Tender Board, Guyana Police Force, evaluators, engineers, Town Council representatives, procurement personnel, and staff from the Health, Public Works, Education, Administrative, and Finance Departments of the region.

The training session

covered a diverse range of topics relevant to the Public Procurement Commission’s operations and procurement processes, including its roles and responsibilities; the legislative framework, administrative review and debarment processes; the public procurement process; preparation of the procurement plan; threshold and tender openings, and the evaluation process.

Similar training sessions have already been held in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10. Feedback from Region 7 has emphasised the significant value and impact of these sessions, reinforcing the Public Procurement Commission’s (PPC’s) 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.

The PPC has planned to extend similar training programmes to Regions 1, 8, and 9 in the upcoming weeks, thereby completing 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 that is conducive to sustainable development in Guyana. These training sessions have equipped participants with information that would improve the public procurement system within their respective entities.

The World Airline Awards are wholly independent and impartial, introduced in 1999 to provide a customer satisfaction study that is truly global. Travellers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to determine the award winners. The awards are referred to by media around the world as “the Oscars of the aviation industry”.

All costs of the Survey and Awards event are paid by Skytrax, and airlines do not pay any entry or registration fee. There are no charges for the use of the Award logos and results.

The online customer survey operated from September 2023 to May 2024, together with invitations sent to the previous year's respondents in the survey database. The customer survey was provided in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.

Over 100 customer nationalities participated in the 2023/2024 survey with 21.42 million eligible entries counted in the results. Survey entries are screened to identify IP and user information, with all duplicate, suspect, or ineligible entries deleted. More than 350 airlines are featured in the final Award results.

Avehicular accident in Miami, Florida on Saturday led to the death of a Guyanese woman and the hospitalisation of her husband.

The dead woman has been identified as Devina Bissondial, and her injured husband, Sarva Dyal Bissondial. Guyana Times understands that Sarva is a well-known pandit.

According to NBC Miami, the incident occurred on Florida's Turnpike in SW Miami-Dade, when a white SUV and a grey sedan collided in the southbound lanes

near

vehicles disabled and partially blocking the left lane. After the crash, the occupants, including the pandit and his wife, exited their vehicles and stood on the side of the road. Subsequently, an oncoming pickup truck crashed into the grey sedan and struck Sarva and Devina.

Devina died at the scene, while her husband was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. An investigation was immediately launched.

Pensioner gets 8 months for gun, ammo possession

Seventy-two-year-old George Aubrey Archer of Suddie Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) who was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition was on Tuesday sentenced to eight months imprisonment.

Archer was arrested back in September 2023, at Onderneeming Sand Pit, Essequibo Coast, and was charged and remanded to prison by Magistrate Esther Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s Court in March 2024.

However, on Tuesday when the case was called, he

was represented by Attorney De Santos. He was found guilty of both charges, and he was sentenced in absentia to eight months imprisonment topped with a $50,000 fine on each charge. He was subsequently arrested and taken into custody to serve his sentence.

It was reported that Archer was busted with a .32 Taurus pistol and one magazine with 17 live .32 rounds of ammunition. At the time, he was contacted by Police after they received certain information.

As such, the ranks requested to conduct a search

on him during which they found the pistol containing one magazine with 17 matching rounds of ammunition in the waistband of his pants.

The elderly man was questioned whether he was the holder of a firearm licence, to which he replied “no”. He was subsequently told of the offence committed and cautioned, during which he replied: “Officer, the gun is me own and me gat it to protect me self.”

gun and ammunition which were found in Archer’s possession

Jailed: George Aubrey Archer

Bird Road. The collision had left both

Devina Bissondial and her injured husband Sarva Dyal Bissondial in happier times

PNC congress will proceed despite sudden resignation of GS – Norton

– says no impact on preparations for internal elections

Norton noted that preparations were continuing apace for the conference, as well as the smooth preparation of the voter list. The incumbent leader assured that there was more than enough time for the party to prepare for the congress, as well as an open and transparent election.

According to him, the votes will be cast and counted by all the delegates. Further, Norton assured that the voter's list was a credible one after reports had previously emerged of a stolen external drive containing the list.

Following the latest high-profile resignation from the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Party Leader Aubrey Norton remains defiant and believes that the resignation of its General Secretary, Dawn Hastings will not have a significant impact on preparations for the holding of Congress.

On Monday, HastingsWilliams announced her resignation from the partybecoming the latest in several high-profile resignations. Her resignation letter highlighted several concerns, including the lack of readiness for this weekend’s congress and concerns regarding financial accountability.

Contacted on Tuesday for a comment on this development, Norton declared that he does not speak to reporters he does not know. However, he indicated to other sections of the media that he is unbothered by Hastings-Williams’ resignation as well as the concerns she raised.

“The list will be credible. Each party group is entitled to check the list, they are doing that now, and to be clear as to how many delegates they have, all of that is being done, that is in the possession of groups, etc. So, I don’t think the credibility of the list would be in question,” Norton was quoted as saying.

Hastings-Williams tendered her resignation with effect from June 24, citing among other things the lack of readiness for this weekend’s congress and concerns regarding financial accountability. These were outlined by Hastings-Williams in a letter to the party’s leader, on Monday.

“With all the administrative task that has to be undertaken by the secretariat, I believe that the one-month period for preparation for such a congress can lead to confusion rather than having a fair and transparent process and outcome,” the politician, who is also a former government minister,

penned.

She also expressed concerns that as General Secretary, she was not being integrally involved in the preparations. Additionally, Hastings-Williams highlighted that she has received complaints from several groups and party members, some in writing, that the records of the secretariat do not correspond with their previous submissions, and that their membership register does not reflect their true membership.

The General Secretary further revealed that many members also claim that they have been unable or will be unable to meet the short deadlines set for the submission of the delegates and other information because of the short notice period for Congress.

Hastings-Williams’ resignation follows the resignation of her predecessor, Geeta Chandan Edmonds, in 2022. Also resigning at that time had been party

treasurer, Faaiz Mursalin. At the time Mursalin had resigned, he had also claimed a lack of financial accountability.

The PNC’s congress is set for this weekend, commencing Friday, June 28. In addition to Norton, PNC Parliamentarians Amanza Walton Desir and Roysdale Forde, SC., are also contesting for leadership. They both declined to comment on the latest resignation when contacted by this publication.

Norton is already grappling with the recent sexual allegation made against him by former Member of Parliament (MP) for Region 10, Vanessa Kissoon. In a video recording released last week, Kissoon accused Norton of threatening to rape her at gunpoint. Following that revelation, Norton’s supporters have

taken to social media to ridicule Kissoon, currently a Linden Town Councillor.

However, other figures in the party and wider coalition have urged for an impartial investigation. WaltonDesir had said that the nature of the allegation cannot be ignored, and must be addressed with the seriousness it deserves. Additionally,

for due process to be followed. It was subsequently announced that a group of senior Executives of the PNC, AKA the Council of Elders, has been called in to probe the sexual harassment allegation.

Fire destroys several houses in South Ruimveldt

Afire at Blue Sackie Drive, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Monday has left three persons homeless with millions in damages.

Based on reports received, the Guyana Fire Service responded to a report of a fire at about 17:05h with several tenders and a water carrier.

Despite their efforts, the fire ravaged the one flat wooden and concrete building owned by 59-yearold Shellon Glenn and was at the time occupied by Campton Glenn, 53, his son Campton Glenn Junior, 32, and five-year-old Kianna Glenn.

Nearby structures also suffered extensive damage due to the intense heat. A two-storey wooden and concrete building at Lot 262 Blue Sackie Drive had its northern wall, air conditioning condenser, six windows, and guttering damaged.

Similarly, the house at Lot 263 Blue Sackie Drive experienced severe

A resident from Lot 266 recounted the harrowing event: “My lot is 266. I heard the neighbours saying ‘Fire, fire.’ When I looked across, I

damage to its ceiling and southern wall guttering, with one sash window destroyed. Additionally, a Toyota Sequoia V8 which was parked at Lot 264 Blue Sackie Drive was damaged.

saw that his [Lot 263] house was on fire, so I took the kids and we got out of the house immediately.”

During a visit to the scene on Tuesday, Guyana Times spoke with a resident

of Lot 262 who reported being away from home when the fire broke out.

He was alerted of the fire by neighbours and stated that the curtains were first to ignite but the quick response from the firefighters minimised his loses which he noted stood at about $1 million.

It was also revealed that the occupants of Lot 263 had only moved into their home a week before the fire. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the fire prevention department.

Meanwhile, another fire at Agriculture Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on June 22, has left Latchmin Sukhdeo, 49, seeking assistance. She estimated her loss at some $6 million.

PNC MP Annette Ferguson and APNU MP and General Secretary, Tabitha SaraboHalley, had also called

PNC Leader Aubrey Norton

Dawn Hastings-Williams resigned from the post of General Secretary on Monday

Geeta Chandan-Edmonds, predecessor of HastingsWilliams as General Secretary, had also resigned back in 2022

The aftermath of the fire at Blue Sackie Drive, South Ruimveldt

One of the neighbours who witnessed the fire

Economic landscape of Reg 3 to be transformed in 2025 – Pres Ali

– says Gov’t pumped over $40B in infrastructure, education & housing since 2020 – additional 15,000 house lots to become available

Come 2025, the economic landscape of Region Three (Essequibo Island- West Demerara) will be transformed as the Guyana Government forges ahead with plans to inject major investments into the region.

This is according to President Dr Irfaan Ali who explained that since assuming office in August 2020, his Government has expended over $40 billion to uplift the livelihoods of Guyanese residing in that region.

In 2024 alone, the sum of $6 billion was spent on the

construction and rehabilitation of new schools in Canal Number One, Bagotstown, Parfaite Harmonie, Nismes and Vreed-en-Hoop.

Additionally, $400 million was provided in school supply vouchers for teachers, $390 million was spent on textbooks for learners in the region and $3.4 billion returned to the pockets of the children in the region by way of the "Because We Care" cash grant.

Further, to enhance the region’s infrastructure, the Government is spending $31 billion on community roads.

The Head of State who was at the time addressing a community meeting at his residence on Monday, disclosed that residents could look forward to seeing an-

other 15,000 house lots being allocated in various sections of the region.

He told the gathering that no obstacle will stop the economic growth of the Essequibo Island- West Demerara region in 2025.

“When we look at the growth rate and do the comparative analysis of the growth rate here and in other regions you will see the speed in which the region is growing… we must not allow anyone to stop this mission, in 2025 we must go and destroy every attempt to stop this mission, this region especially,” Dr Ali said.

According to President Ali, massive opportunities will unlock in the Region next year, especially when the new port and agro-pro-

GPOC urges public to be vigilant amid ‘scam’ messages

In light of recent reports about scam messages being sent to persons mobile devices purported from the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC), the entity has issued an urgent warning to the public to remain vigilant.

On Monday, several individuals reported receiving a suspicious message that read, “The Guyana package has arrived at the warehouse and cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. Please confirm your address in this link within 12 hours: https://guypostapp. cc/gy,” the message stated. “(Please reply Y, then exit the text message, reopen the text message activation link, or copy the link

to Safari browser to open it, and get the latest logistics status). The Guyana Postal team wishes you a wonderful day!”

Upon investigation, the GPOC declared that the message was not sent from its systems. The link provided in the message directs recipients to a fraudulent website designed to steal personal information.

The GPOC advises the public to exercise extreme caution and refrain from clicking on the link. Additionally, individuals are urged not to reply to the message, as doing so may further compromise their personal information.

The GPOC emphasised the importance of verifying the authenticity of any

communication purportedly from their organisation. They recommend that individuals contact the GPOC directly through official channels if they receive any suspicious messages or have any concerns about their mail or packages.

This scam comes at a time when many are relying heavily on postal services, making it crucial for the public to remain vigilant. The GPOC stated that it is working closely with authorities to investigate the source of the scam messages and to prevent further incidents.

For further updates and information, the GPOC advises the public to follow their official social media pages and website.

cessing facilities are operational.

On this point, he emphasised that the Government’s strategic investments raised the competitiveness of the West Side, noting that very soon living in Region Three will be no different than living on the Coastland.

“When you drive along the West Side ports, what do you see? Competition with the ports on the East Side, and the Georgetown ports. We have new ports at Wales, La Grange, Vreed en Hoop, [and] Versailles. When you add up the private investments in those ports alone, it is more than US$700 million,” the president pointed out.

Ferry

The new regional ferry service which is being facilitated through a joint venture between the Governments of Guyana, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago will be operated out of Parika, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) when it comes on stream.

The ferry is part of an effort to produce more of the

food and meet the regional demand for commodities across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

According to President Ali, the production of ground provisions, vegetables, and fruits is set to increase in Region Three communities such as Bonasika Creek, therefore it is viable to operate the ferry out of the major port.

“The good thing about here is that we can export directly to CARICOM from here, you don’t need to transport to Georgetown and all these places. That is why we are pushing so hard to get the regional ferry because the regional ferry will operate out of Parika so that we can have all of these productions from all of these islands (in the Essequibo River) integrated into the regional market,” the Guyanese Head of State said.

New processing facility

Meanwhile, to further complement the production of food when the ferry comes on stream, he announced that a new processing fa-

cility will be developed in Bonasika Creek so that farmers can tap into a more lucrative market.

According to statistics provided by the Agriculture Ministry, farmers in Bonasika have produced a total of 50 tonnes of bananas, 200 pounds of pumpkin, and 120 tonnes of cassava and other provisions for this year so far. Additionally, more than 240,000 pounds of ginger have been produced.

The President explained that the processing facility coupled with the regional ferry service will see Guyana being able to cut the food import bill by 25 percent by 2025.

“You are making use of the investments we are making and we’re proud of this but we have to triple this production… and we are going to support you tripling this production…We are going to build, in this area, a processing facility so we can take the fresh ginger, dry it, and crush it so we can extend the storage time from weeks to months and access higher value markets with the ginger,” President Ali back in May.

Headquarters of the Guyana Post Office Corporation

President Ali addressing residents of Leonora and surrounding communities on Monday (source: Office of the President)

Region 3 residents at the gathering

Haiti PM vows to retake country as 1st Kenyan Police Officers arrive

The first contingent of Kenyan Police arrived in the Haitian capital on Tuesday to launch a long-awaited peacekeeping mission in the Caribbean country that has been ravaged by gang violence, even as deadly protests back home prompted doubts.

“At last the multinational force is here to support our national police,” Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille said at a press conference, saying work to retake the country would begin “slowly, without major fights unless necessary”.

“But I want no one to doubt our objectives,” he said. “The State will regain power and reaffirm its authority so all Haitians can live peacefully in this country.”

The mission was first requested by Haiti’s previous Government in 2022. But support sagged and Conille’s predecessor was forced to resign in early March after travelling to Nairobi to secure Kenyan support while violence escalated back in Haiti.

The gang wars have now displaced over half a million people, and nearly five million are facing severe food insecurity. Armed groups, which now control most of the capital, have formed a broad alliance while carrying out widespread killings, ransom kidnappings, and sexual violence.

“Kenya’s sole purpose is to serve as agents of peace,” Kenyan Foreign Minister Monica Juma told the press conference, saying Police would prioritise protecting civilians, opening up routes for movement of people, goods and humanitarian aid, and protecting State institutions.

The deployment has lagged, she said, because it is not a United Nations (UN) mission –- though ratified by the UN Security Council –and time was needed to develop the plans together.

But even as uniformed Kenyan Police disembarked from a Kenya Airways plane with weapons in hand in Haiti’s capital Port-auPrince, police back in Nairobi opened fire on anti-tax hike demonstrators trying to storm the Parliament, with at least five protesters killed and dozens wounded.

Though a Kenyan security source said the Nairobi violence was unlikely to disrupt plans to send more Kenyan Police to Haiti, it has led some to question Kenya’s ability to lead the security mission.

“The Police should be able to operate well in their own country, but they can’t,” said Enock Alumasi Makanga,

Members of a Kenyan Police force, part of a new security mission,

an ex-Kenyan Police Officer now working in private security. “How do you think they can manage then when they arrive in Haiti?”

Forceful response Aid groups on Tuesday expressed concern that armed groups in Haiti would respond forcefully to the mission and that children will be caught in the crossfire – including many who have been recruited into gangs.

In a joint statement, Save the Children, Plan International, and World Vision called for public disclosure on the mission’s training, operational plans, rules of engagement, and accountability mechanisms.

Previous missions in Haiti left behind slain civilians, a devastating cholera outbreak, and a sexual abuse scandal, for which reparations were not made.

As the line of Kenyan Police streamed out of the plane in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday morning, a small crowd of mostly airport personnel greeted them on the tarmac.

The Kenyan Police are expected to be joined by officers from some 15 other nations, including other countries in Africa and the Caribbean, as well as Canada, France, Germany, Britain, and Spain. Altogether, the security forces will form a 2500-strong peacekeeping mission funded primarily by the United States, which has pledged US$360 million, though much of this has been held up by some lawmakers.

In a statement, US President Joe Biden hailed the arrival of the Kenyan Police as a turning point that “will bring much-needed relief” to the nation of nearly 12 million.

Kenya had volunteered to lead the UN-backed force last July, but deployment was repeatedly delayed by Kenyan court challenges and worsening violence in Haiti.

Willy Mutunga, the former Chief Judge of Kenya’s

Supreme Court, said the decision by President William Ruto to send Police to Haiti despite security challenges at home was a sign of how his Government had put the interests of its foreign backers ahead of those of the people it represents.

But at a departure ceremony on Monday for the first 400 officers to be deployed, Ruto said the mission “is one of the most urgent, important and historic in the history of global solidarity”.

At the arrival ceremony, Juma said she considered the mission the start of “a very strong relationship” between two nations tied by a history of forced removals and slavery.

Conille said that while gang-controlled areas had become “hell”, he believed armed groups were tired of fighting and urged members to lay down their arms so normal life can resume and Ministers can prepare for long-delayed elections.

“Enough is enough,” Conille said. “The Government is taking responsibility to affirm itself so activities can resume freely in the country.”

(Reuters)

Deyalsingh: Medical staff must be heard on baby deaths

Trinidad Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said on Tuesday that medical staff must be given a right to be heard before the publicising of a report on the deaths of several newborn babies in April at Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH).

He was replying to a supplemental question posed as a follow-up to Opposition Senator Wade Mark’s urgent question asking when the Government intended to publicise the investigative report by a visiting team from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

Replying to Mark’s urgent question, Deyalsingh said on its website PAHO had said the report was submitted last Friday, June 21.

“We put out a release last Sunday (June 23) indicating that following standard procedure in matters like these, the report will be made public at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Mark said Deyalsingh had previously promised to release the report as soon as it was submitted to him.

“Can the Minister now indicate whether he is now going back on his commitment to the people of T&T?”

Deyalsingh replied, “No such thing exists. What we did say was the report will be made public as soon as possible.

“The common-law precedents of procedural fairness, reasonableness, equity, and justice demand that clinical staff and administrative staff have a right

Venezuela resorts

to be heard and a right to respond to any findings in that report.

“To do otherwise will be to jeopardise whatever matters may flow from that report. In any report of this nature, people have a right to be heard and a right to respond, and that is going on now as we speak, as I indicated in my press release of Sunday, June 23.”

The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) said in a statement on April 11 several babies had died from bacterial infections during an outbreak in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) from April 4-7, and the next day Deyalsingh told Parliament seven babies had died. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

to dark fleet to supply oil to ally Cuba

Venezuela’s State oil company PDVSA has begun using tankers that navigate off radar to supply its closest political ally, Cuba, as a fleet of State-owned vessels that have historically covered the route dwindles, according to documents and ship monitoring services.

Cuba and its main oil supplier, Venezuela, for over a decade had exclusively used their own tankers to navigate between the two countries.

Delayed maintenance, however, has taken some ships out of service and the emergence of Mexico as a new supplier to Cuba using some of the same vessels have the two revamping routes to get desperately needed crude oil and fuel to the island.

Brazil top court majority says marijuana possession not a crime

Amajority of the Justices on Brazil’s Supreme Court are in favour of decriminalising the possession of marijuana for personal consumption, following a crucial vote on Tuesday.

“The position is clear that no user of any drug can be considered a criminal,” said Justice Dias Toffoli, the sixth Judge on the 11-member top court to vote for decriminalisation.

So far, three Justices have opposed a decision to no longer make possession of cannabis a crime, including its most recent member, Cristiano Zanin, who was appointed by leftist President

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The consumption of marijuana in public will continue to be prohibited and cannabis remains illegal in Brazil.

Decriminalising its use has been discussed by the Supreme Court since 2015 and the Justices reached a majority at a time when politicians are proposing a constitutional ban on the use of illegal drugs.

A bill advancing in Congress, with the support of conservative and evangelical lawmakers, proposes amending the Constitution to make the use and possession of any kind of narcotics a criminal offence.

(Reuters)

A large portion of tanker fleets owned by Venezuela and Cuba are under US sanctions, which also limits their travel.

Operated by third parties, dark fleet vessels often lack Western insurance and send false location signals to disguise their movement.

PDVSA in June began co-loading crude and fuel oil cargoes that deliver a portion in Cuban waters, and from there depart to destinations in Asia to discharge the remaining volume, according to company shipping documents.

The vessels spoof their signal, making them look elsewhere in the Caribbean while they are

discharging in Cuba, often by ship-to-ship transfers, according to monitoring service TankerTrackers. com and a satellite photo by Planet Labs seen by Reuters.

One of the vessels, the Panama-flagged Neptune 6, was last week near Cuba’s Nipe Bay transferring Venezuelan heavy crude and fuel oil to Cubaflagged vessel Esperanza , according to the documents and photo, analysed by TankerTrackers.com. The ship’s transponder is signalling a location north of Curacao since late May, according to LSEG data.

PDVSA and the Foreign Affairs Ministries of Venezuela and Cuba did not provide comment. It was not immediately clear if the use of third-party vessels to supply Cuba is temporary.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

disembark after landing, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, June 25, 2024

(Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol photo)

A satellite image shows Panama-flagged tanker Neptune 6 and Cuba-flagged tanker Esperanza in a ship-to-ship position to transfer crude oil and fuels, in Nipe Bay, Cuba, June 18, 2024 (Planet Labs PBC/Handout by Reuters)

Around the World

COIL NEWS

Oil prices dip as investors fret over demand outlook

rude oil prices fell one per cent on Tuesday as weak

US consumer confidence data fed worries about the economic outlook and fuel demand after a slow start to the US summer driving season.

Brent futures for August settled down US$1, or 1.2 per cent, at US$85.01 a barrel. US crude futures settled at US$80.83, down 80 cents or one per cent.

Last week, both benchmarks gained about three per cent, marking two straight weeks of gains, and taking them to their highest since April.

US consumer confidence decreased in June. While households remained upbeat about the labour market and expected inflation to moderate, concerns about the economy could dent gasoline demand.

High inventory levels have made oil traders nervous about summer driving demand.

US crude stocks were up by 914,000 barrels in the week ended June 21, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures that also showed gasoline inventories rose by 3.843 million barrels and distillates fell by 1.178 million barrels. Official Government data is due today.

US crude and gasoline stockpiles were expected to have fallen while distillate inventories likely rose last week, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

Investors are also trying to discern the timing of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Fed Governor Lisa Cook said on Tuesday a rate cut is likely if the economy performs as expected, but declined to say when the US central bank will act.

A Fed "decision on interest rates is still mixed, and most of the crude market has priced in a quarter per cent cut by September", said Dennis Kissler, Senior Vice President of Trading at BOK Financial.

Oil drew support from supply disruption linked to Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. On June 21, Ukrainian drones hit four refineries, including the Ilsky refinery, one of the main fuel producers in southern Russia.

Worries of escalating tensions between Israel and the Iranbacked group Hezbollah have also underpinned oil prices, analysts said.

Israeli forces killed at least 24 Palestinians in three separate airstrikes on Gaza City early on Tuesday, Gaza health officials and medics said.

More than eight months into the war, international mediation backed by the US has failed to yield a ceasefire agreement.

"Geopolitical pressures continue to roil the oil market from multiple fronts. ... (The) tensions are expected to persist amid failed efforts to broker ceasefires," said Claudio Galimberti, a director at consultancy Rystad Energy. (Reuters)

Israeli air strikes kill at least 24 in Gaza City, health officials say

Israeli forces killed at least 24 Palestinians in three separate airstrikes on Gaza City early on Tuesday and the dead included a sister of Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of militant Islamist group Hamas, Gaza health officials and medics said.

Israeli tanks also pressed deeper overnight into western areas of Rafah in the enclave's south, blowing up homes, residents said.

Two of the Israeli airstrikes hit two schools in Gaza City, killing at least 14 persons, medics said. Another strike on a house in the Shati (Beach) camp, one of the Gaza Strip's eight historic refugee camps, killed 10 others.

The house in Shati belonged to the extended family of Hamas political chief Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar. One of his sisters was

killed along with other relatives, family members and medics said.

Haniyeh, who leads Hamas diplomacy and is the public face of the group that has run Gaza since 2007, has lost many relatives in Israeli

airstrikes since October 7, including three sons.

Responding to the latest Israeli attack that killed his sister, Haniyeh reaffirmed the group's demands for reaching a ceasefire agreement with Israel and said

killing relatives would not influence Hamas actions.

"We still maintain that any agreement that does not guarantee a ceasefire and an end to the aggression is not an agreement. Our position on this will not change at any stage," Haniyeh said in a statement.

Hassan Kaskin, a neighbour, said the Haniyeh family house was hit without advance warning before dawn on Tuesday. Footage obtained by Reuters showed the multi-floor building reduced to rubble.

"They were 10 individuals, three of them were scattered outside the house and seven under the rubble with no prior warning, with people around them, and there are injuries among the neighbours," Kaskin told Reuters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Police fire on demonstrators trying to storm Kenyan Parliament, several dead

Kenyan President William Ruto said on Tuesday security was his "utmost priority" after protests against a bill to raise taxes descended into violence, with Police firing on demonstrators trying to storm the legislature, killing at least five.

In chaotic scenes in the capital Nairobi, protesters overwhelmed Police and chased them away in an attempt to enter the Parliament compound, with Citizen TV later showing damage from inside the building, which had been partially set ablaze.

Protests and clashes also took place in several other cities and towns across Kenya, with many calling for Ruto to quit as

well as voicing their opposition to the tax rises.

In a televised address to the nation, Ruto said the tax debate had been "hijacked by dangerous people".

"It is not in order, or even conceivable, that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people...," he said, pledging a swift response to Tuesday's "treasonous events".

Police in Nairobi opened fire after tear gas and water cannon failed to disperse the crowds. They eventually managed to drive protesters from the Parliament building and lawmakers were evacuated through an underground tunnel, local media said.

WikiLeaks founder Assange's US plea deal hearing begins in Saipan

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's plea deal hearing for violating US espionage law began on today in a courtroom on the US Pacific island territory of Saipan where he is expected to walk free after a deal with US prosecutors. Assange, 52, arrived at the court house in a white SUV. He was wearing a black suit and smiled as he walked past security with his team and Australia's Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd. Dozens of media from around the world gathered outside the courtroom to cover the proceedings. Media is not allowed inside

the courtroom to cover the hearing.

"I watch this and think how overloaded his senses must be, walking through

press scrum after years of sensory deprivation and the four walls of his high-se-

Belmarsh prison cell," Stella Assange, the wife of

the WikiLeaks founder said on social media platform X. Assange agreed to plead guilty to a single criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defence documents, according to filings in the US District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.

The US territory in the western Pacific was chosen due to Assange's opposition to travelling to the mainland US and for its proximity to Australia, Prosecutors said.

If the Judge approves his plea, Assange is expected to return to his home in Australia, US Prosecutors have said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Later on Tuesday, Defence Minister Aden Duale said the Army had been deployed to help the Police deal with a "security emergency" which had resulted in the "destruction and breaching of critical infrastructure".

A Reuters journalist counted the bodies of at

least five protesters outside Parliament. The Kenya Medical Association said that at least five persons had been shot dead while treating the injured, and that 31 had been injured, with 13 shot with live bullets and four with rubber bullets.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia has banned 81 media outlets from European Union countries in response to broadcast bans imposed on several Russian State media outlets by Brussels last month.

The 27-member bloc had banned four Russian media outlets from broadcasting in May for what it called the spread of propaganda about the war in Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is blocking access to the outlets that are systematically disseminating false information about the progress of Russia s invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian side has repeatedly and at various levels warned that politically-motivated harassment of domestic Journalists and unfounded bans on Russian media in the EU will not go unnoticed, it said in a statement Tuesday, blaming the EU leadership for the escalation and calling the ban proportionate .

The outlets are from 25 European countries and also include pan-European media like Politico. French outlets were most heavily targeted with nine bans, affecting global news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), and Le Monde and Liberation newspapers among others.

The German Der Spiegel, the Spanish El Pais and El Mundo, the Finnish Yle, the Irish national broadcaster RTE, and Italy s RAI television channel and la Repubblica newspaper are some of the other prominent banned outlets.

Moscow said that it is open to rescinding its ban on the outlets if restrictions on Russian media are lifted.

Last month, the EU branded Voice of Europe, the RIA news agency, and the Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspapers as Kremlin-linked propaganda networks and stripped of their broadcasting rights in the bloc. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Destroyed buildings stand in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen near the Gaza coast, June 25, 2024 (Reuters/Amir Cohen photo)

the

curity

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives at a United States District Court in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, US, June 26, 2024 (Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji photo)

(March 21-April 19)

Temperatures will rise as talks become intense. Know what you are getting into before you banter with a loved one. You stand to lose if you force your will on others. Compromise will be crucial.

Find the people who make you feel alive and help you complete your mission. Be cautious if anyone wants you to donate to a cause or buy something you cannot afford or need.

SUDOKU

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

Stick to the basics and take a moment to digest matters. Direct your energy into helping a cause or a loved one, but promise only what you know you can deliver. Don't disappoint anyone.

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Take a detour and discover something exciting. Visit a travel agent, set a new goal or start an adventure that broadens your perspective and captures your attention. Shake things up.

Search for organizations, people and information that can help you start a project, address a concern or change your lifestyle to fit your budget. Don't take anything for granted.

A change of heart, direction or location will spark your imagination and encourage you to take a chance. You have plenty to offer. Romance is favored.

Explore your options, see what or who is at your disposal, and be willing to pitch in and help. You must surround yourself with positive energy if you don't want to become discouraged.

Keep moving forward until you are happy with the results. Use your intelligence and magic to inspire others to recognize your worth. A change is within reach. Romance is in the stars.

Confusion will run rampant if you aren't clear. Don't exaggerate or allow anyone to misinterpret what you are trying to convey. A window of opportunity will be brief, so maximize it.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Draw the line between work and pleasure. Put your heart into whatever you do. A partnership can enhance your love life and your bank account. A change will be beneficial.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

You can push hard, but if you don't have everything in place, force will be useless. Take your time and figure out how to use your skills. An opportunity will require preparation.

Keep your eye on what's happening at home. Observe, ask questions and do your best to solve problems. It's worthwhile to go the extra mile to ward off unwanted expenses. Keep the peace.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Afghanistan storm into maiden World Cup semi-finals

– Australia knocked out

Jonathan Trott first kicked a bag in the dressing room. He then signalled to Afghanistan to slow the game down when rain was around.

Rashid Khan had his hands on his head at various moments in the chase.

Mohammad Nabi had a constant smile on his face.

Dwayne Bravo wasn’t able to watch the game.

But the one moment that encapsulated the emotionally charged night in Kingstown was Naveen-ulHaq taking off after taking the final Bangladesh wicket. That sealed Afghanistan’s maiden spot in the semi-final of any men’s senior World Cup.

In a match that had a start-stop nature owing to multiple rain interventions, Afghanistan - led by four-wicket hauls from Naveen and Rashid - edged

out Bangladesh by a mere eight runs; and in the process, also knocked Australia out of T20 World Cup 2024.

Both teams, along with Australia, were in contention for one semi-final spot from Group 1 of Super Eight, and the rain only added to the drama. For the best part of the last hour, a cat-and-mouse game ensued. There were moments when Bangladesh edged Afghanistan out on the DLS par score, only for the latter to come back and retake the advantage by picking up wickets.

Litton Das, with a best of 36 before Monday in the tournament, stayed through it all, but couldn’t take Bangladesh over the line.

Rashid and company danced their hearts out after eliminating two teams with a single blow, and the celebrations are only likely to go

SCOREBOARD

Afghanistan (20 ovs maximum)

BATTING R Rahmanullah Gurbaz †c Soumya

Sarkar b Rishad Hossain 43

Ibrahim Zadran c Tanzim Hasan

Sakib b Rishad Hossain 18

Azmatullah Omarzai c †Litton

Das b Mustafizur Rahman 10

Gulbadin Naib c Soumya Sarkar

b Rishad Hossain 4

Mohammad Nabi c Najmul

Hossain Shanto b Taskin Ahmed 1

Karim Janat not out 7

Rashid Khan (c)not out 19

Extras (b 5, w 8) 13

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 5.75) 115/5

Did not bat: Nangeyalia

Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi Fall of wickets: 1-59

(Ibrahim Zadran, 10.4 ov), 2-84

(Azmatullah Omarzai, 15.5 ov), 3-88 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 16.1 ov), 4-89 (Gulbadin Naib, 16.4 ov), 5-93

(Mohammad Nabi, 17.4 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING

O-M-R-W

Tanzim Hasan Sakib 4-0-36-0

Taskin Ahmed 4-1-12-1

Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-19-0

Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-17-1

Rishad Hossain 4-0-26-3

Bangladesh (T: 114 runs from 19 ovs) BATTING R Litton Das †not out 54 Tanzid Hasan lbw b Fazalhaq Farooqi 0 Najmul Hossain Shanto (c) c Mohammad Nabi b Naveen-ul-Haq 5 Shakib Al Hasan c & b Naveen-ul-Haq 0 Soumya Sarkar b Rashid Khan 10 Towhid Hridoy c Ibrahim Zadran b Rashid Khan 14 Mahmudullah c sub (†Mohammad Ishaq) b Rashid Khan 6 Rishad Hossain b Rashid Khan 0 Tanzim Hasan Sakib c Mohammad Nabi b Gulbadin Naib 3 Taskin Ahmed b Naveen-ul-Haq 2 Mustafizur Rahman lbw b Naveen-ul-Haq 0 Extras (b 1, lb 7, w 3) 11 TOTAL 17.5 Ov (RR: 5.88) 105 Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Tanzid Hasan, 1.3 ov), 2-23 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 2.4 ov), 3-23 (Shakib Al Hasan, 2.5 ov), 4-48 (Soumya Sarkar, 6.3 ov), 5-64 (Towhid Hridoy, 8.2 ov), 6-80 (Mahmudullah, 10.5 ov), 7-80 (Rishad Hossain, 10.6 ov), 8-92 (Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 14.2 ov), 9-105 (Taskin Ahmed, 17.4 ov), 10105 (Mustafizur Rahman, 17.5 ov) • DRS

BOWLING

O-M-R-W Naveen-ul-Haq 3.5-0-26-4 Fazalhaq Farooqi 2-0-15-1 Mohammad Nabi 2-0-15-0 Rashid Khan 4-0-23-4 Noor Ahmad 4-0-13-0

Gulbadin Naib 2-0-5-1

on for longer.

The drama after the second rain interval Bangladesh had to chase down their original target of 116 in 12.1 overs to pip both Australia and Afghanistan to the semi-final. Their chase was delayed by half an hour, thanks to a 20-minute downpour. A shorter game was therefore disadvanta-

the stadium, and constantly brought the DLS par scores into picture for the rest of the night.

In the face of increasing pressure, Litton seemingly kept his calm. He has had a forgettable 2024 in T20Is, striking at under 100, and his place in the Bangladesh set-up is under scanner. But he started off with intent, and kept up their hopes of signing off from the T20 World Cup with a win. It was, however, not meant to be.

Naveen’s new-ball burst bursts Bangladesh Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan’s weapon with the new ball, trapped Tanzid Hasan lbw with his third ball, making it his 16th wicket, which drew him equal with Wanindu Hasaranga for most wickets in a men’s T20 World Cup. Naveen’s first over was expensive, with Litton hitting him for a four and a six. Then Najmul Hossain Shanto heaved one over mid-

geous to Bangladesh.

After the second rain break, though, Bangladesh sent out mixed signals. Litton attacked Naveen, but Soumya Sarkar fell in a bid to do so against Rashid. Towhid Hridoy’s risks against Mohammad Nabi, which included a dropped catch, came off, but he also holed out off Rashid. But with Litton hitting Rashid for successive fours - first over mid-off, and then just past slip - Bangladesh looked on track to hunt the target down to qualify.

But Mahmudullah’s indecisiveness and Rishad Hossain’s adventurousness soon meant they had slipped to 80 for 7 after 11 overs. Which is when the rainy clouds returned to continuously hover around

wicket in his second over. But with a deep midwicket in place, Naveen once again bowled a length ball angling into Shanto, who picked out the fielder there. Naveen then got the next ball to straighten just enough to catch Shakib Al Hasan’s leading edge for a return catch, and Bangladesh were 23 for 3.

chances inside the powerplay as well as in the first ten overs. They finished the powerplay on 27 without loss, and at the ten-over mark, were 58 without loss.

It was Gurbaz and Ibrahim’s fourth fifty partnership, the most by any pair in a T20 World Cup. In the first ten overs, there were only 15 attempts of at-

ed in from the deep and dived forward almost near the 30-metre circle. And just like that, Afghanistan had ceded early advantage, to slip from 59 without loss to 89 for 4.

The Rashid intervention Rashid walked in at 93 for 5 with just 14 balls left. He faced ten of those, at-

tacking shots, and those on a surface that was slowing down and was going to see dew later on.

Rishad leads Bangladesh squeeze

When Rishad was brought on in the ninth over, the wind was blowing diagonally from right to left in the direction of his natural spin. He immediately beat Ibrahim’s outside edge, and, in his second over, used the bounce on offer to get the same batter’s leading edge caught at long-off.

Gurbaz then took the attack to Rishad in his third over. He first slapped one over cover point to end a phase of 38 legal balls without a four, and then used the sweep for another four through backward squareleg region.

However, Rishad had

tempted attacking shots on nine of them, and finished on 19 not out.

He struck three sixes, two of those in the last over bowled by Tanzim Hasan Sakib. He made good use of the willow generally, except on one occasion, when he flung it towards his partner Karim Janat. It was the last over of the innings, and Rashid wanted a second run to retain strike but Janat refused it.

Still, he helped Afghanistan score 22 in the last 14 balls, which helped them to a total they could fight with, just as the heavens in Kingstown opened up. Afghanistan faced 66 dot balls in their innings, which was the third-most by a team with five or fewer wickets lost in men’s T20I, where ball-by-ball re cords are available with ESPNcricinfo. But it did not come back to haunt Afghanistan, who kept a fending totals in St Vincent.

Afghanistan steady but slow One of the meth ods that have worked for Afghanistan and their openers in this World Cup is a non-enter prising start. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran stayed true to form, taking very few

Afghanistan players mobbed Naveen-ul-Haq at fall of the final wicket

Naveen-ul-Haq celebrating the fall of the final wicket

Rishad Hossain took 3 for 26

Rahmanullah Gurbaz going downtown

Recent Archery Guyana AGM elects committee members

The Annual General Meeting of Archery Guyana Inc was successfully held on Friday June 21, and members were therein given opportunity to discuss activities and plans for the way forward in terms of promoting the Olympic sport of Archery in Guyana.

At that AGM, held at the Georgetown Club on Camp Street, Archery Guyana President Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon delivered a detailed report and background to the membership from its establishment in August 2014 to date. This was followed by the delivery of a well-received, comprehensive Annual Report on all of the activities of the Federation.

Elections were also held for the positions of Vice-President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. Known for its transparency and adherence to democratic principles, the electoral process was conducted under the supervision of Attorney-at-Law Mr. Siand Dhurjon.

Archery Guyana President Mrs. Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon has expressed appreciation for the professionalism demonstrated, and declared herself pleased to have seen the number of women coming forward this year to contest posi-

McKinnon

Treasurer: Robert Singh

Assistant Treasurer: Saeed Karim

Mrs. Persaud-McKinnon is urging continuous efforts toward gender balance and inclusivity within the Federation. She said, “While we have made strides towards gender parity, there is still work to be done. I encourage more women to step up and lead. Their involvement is crucial to the diverse and dynamic future of Archery Guyana.”

tions on the Board of Directors. This, she said, is indicative of gender parity, and she is encouraging more women to step to the fore to take leadership positions.

Regrettably, the electorate did not favour contenders such as Roshini Boodhoo, Melesa Ramnaraine, Samira Duncan and Narda Mohamed, and the elected board, whose tenure ends in 2027, is now comprised as follows:

President: Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon

Vice-President: Umasankar Madray

Secretary-General: Nicholas Hing

Assistant Secretary: Ryan

Archery Guyana is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that supports the development and participation of all members. The Federation looks forward to another year of growth, excellence, and increased engagement from its members.

The externally audited Financial Report presented to the membership was duly approved, and two motions were unanimously passed to amend the Constitution accordingly.

Thanks were expressed to the following persons and entities who assisted in one way or the other during the reporting period: Honourable Minister Charles Ramson, the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport; Director of Sport Mr. Steve Ninvalle, National Sports Commission;

Santos, Police maintain top-four spots with wins KFC Elite League: Round Two, Season Six…

Guyana Police Force FC maintained their grip on third place in the standings of Round Two of the KFC Elite League Season Six with a victory over Buxton United FC on Saturday night, while Santos FC secured their fourth spot by defeating Ann’s Grove United FC.

Fans at the June 22 fixtures witnessed a commanding performance from the Police side, who scored five goals against Buxton United and conceded just one.

Santos also displayed dominance by netting six goals and shutting down all scoring opportunities for Ann’s Grove United.

The opening match at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara saw Neron Barrow of the Guyana Police Force netting three stunning goals: in the 10th, 18th and 88th minutes. Chai Williams and Jermine Junor each contributed a goal in the respective 74th and 84th minutes, while Tyreek Cummins scored Buxton United’s solitary goal in the 90th+2 minute.

In the final match of the night, Santos asserted their dominance over Ann’s Grove United with goals scored by Ryan Dowding in the 9th minute; Ian Daniels in the 25th minute; Andrew Simmons in

the 66th, 71st, and 90th+1 minutes; and Shem James in the 74th minute.

Facing difficulties to break

ning nine, drawing one, and losing two; while Santos FC occupy fourth position with 24 points achieved through eight wins and five losses.

Fruta Conquerors FC are in fifth place with 16 points accumulated from five wins, one draw and six losses; while Western Tigers FC remain in sixth place with 15 points accumulated from five wins and six losses after eleven games.

Den Amstel FC hold seventh place with 12 points recorded through three wins, three draws and seven losses; while Ann’s Grove United FC sit in eighth position with 11 points, won through winning three matches, drawing two, and losing eight.

through the formidable defence of Santos, Ann’s Grove United FC came away from the encounter empty-handed.

As the new week begins, the points table standings show little change. Guyana Defence Force continue to lead with 31 points, boasting 10 wins and one draw, accompanied by an impressive goal tally of 47. Slingerz FC of West Demerara maintain second place with 29 points secured from nine wins, two draws, and 44 goals scored. Guyana Police Force are in third place with 28 points, having played 11 matches and win-

Following closely behind are Monedderlust FC in ninth position with nine points, earned from two wins, three draws and seven losses; while at the bottom of the table are Buxton United FC in tenth place, having secured one point from a solitary draw against twelve losses.

The 2024 edition of the league continues on Thursday, June 27, at the NTC at Providence with GDF FC facing off against Monedderlust FC at 18:30hrs, and Fruta Conquerors FC taking on Slingerz FC at 21:00hrs.

Ryan McKinnon; Mr. Julius Simon; Commissioner General Mr. Godfrey Statia, the Guyana Revenue Authority; Mr. Harryram ParmesarParmesar Accounting Firm; Members and the Board of Archery Guyana Inc; Guyana Beverages Inc; Mr. Umasankar Madray; Mr. Robert Singh, Massy Distribution

Seven

Massy Gas

Ltd; Mr. Ray

Mr. Samuel Arjoon, General Manager of Guyana Beverages Inc; the management of Guyana Beverages Inc; International Business Services; Mrs. Roshini Boodhoo; Woodpecker Products; Mr. Azad Ibrahim and the Board of Directors of the Muslim Youth

Warner’s international retirement confirmed after Australia exit from World Cup 2024

David Warner’s 15-year international career drew to a close when Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in St Vincent on Monday night, eliminating Australia from the T20 World Cup at the Super Eight phase.

It meant a low-key end for Warner, who was not certain when walking off the field in St Lucia that his time in an Australia shirt had drawn to an end.

Warner’s retirement has been gradual: he played his final ODI in November’s World Cup final victory over India, and his last Test against Pakistan in January, and has long signalled that this T20 World Cup would be his final tournament. He has, however, left the door open for a re-

reer.”

On Warner’s farewell, Hazlewood said: “We’ve had a little taste of it. It’s sort of been a slow burn with Test cricket and ODI cricket, and now T20. Life without him, we’ve sort of gotten used to it a little bit in New Zealand. It’s always different when you lose

turn for next year’s Champions Trophy, but it looks like an outside bet.

His final appearance, against India, was an anti-climax: he made six runs off six balls, edging Arshdeep Singh to slip, where Suryakumar Yadav took a good low catch. He punched his bat with his right hand in frustration, then walked off the pitch with his head bowed, not knowing whether this was his last game. There was no Guard of Honour or standing ovation for him.

After the game, he was pictured chatting with Virat Kohli on the outfield at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, and Josh Hazlewood said the timing of Warner’s send-off from his team-mates would depend on the result of Afghanistan’s late game against Bangladesh.

“Nothing’s been said yet,” Hazlewood had said. “It might be said after this (press conference), before the (evening) game; but I think we’ll wait until after the game and then we’ll

a player that’s been there for so long. But we’ll move on and push forward.”

Speaking before Australia’s elimination, Warner’s opening partner Travis Head said it would be a “disappointing” way for Warner’s career to end.

“We’ll be disappointed if it ended like that, where we have to watch another game.

A lot has been said about what he’s contributed to Australian Cricket at the top of the order in all formats. He goes down as our best multi-format player. He’ll be missed at the top of the order, but let’s hope (tonight) is not the end of it. We’ll wait and see, but we’ll give him a send-off tonight if that is the case later on. It might be a bit of a late one if the fixture finishes the way it has. But a lot has been said about how good Davey has been at the top of the order.”

Hazlewood acknowledged that with Cameron Green being the only player in Australia’s squad younger than 28, there

will be a changing of the guard ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. But he suggested it will not be a total overhaul.

“They come around pretty quick, the T20 World Cups, every two years,” he said.

“There might be a couple of changes, but a lot of the guys still play in franchise cricket if they’re not playing for Australia, so they’re available to be picked. There’s some class players in our 15, and we’ve got a couple on the bench as well. You’d think it’d be an actual slow change…I don’t think there’d be anything drastic,” he said. (ESPNCricinfo)

From left to right: Returning Officer Mr. Siand Dhurjon; Archery Guyana’s new Board of Directors: Asst Treasurer Saeed Karim, Mr. Ryan McKinnon (Asst Secretary); Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon (President); Mr. Umasankar Madray (Vice-President) and Mr. Robert Singh (Treasurer)

Archery Guyana President, Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon

Santos FC (white) dominated Ann’s Grove FC with a 6-0 win

The Guyana Police Force FC (white) got the better of Buxton United FC by 5 goals to one

Mr.

(Guyana) Inc;

Products (Guyana)

Beharry;

Seas;

Organization; and General Manager of the National Stadium, Mr. Jeewanram Persaud; Mr. Saeed Karim, Mr. Seelall and the staff at the National Racquet and Resource Centre; the Guyana Olympic Association; Mr. Ramsay Ali and the Management of Sterling Products Limited; the media and all of its members.

David Warner has retired from International cricket

David Warner’s last international innings was a first-over dismissal against India

Peterson-Griffith is Guyana’s second World Record holder

…Winston ‘The

Little

Master’ Stoby was first in Masters 2

While the nation is still in a celebratory mood and is overjoyed by the recent feat of Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ Peterson-Griffith at the recent World Open Powerlifting Championships held in Druskininkai, Lithuania, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) has moved to inform the public that Carlos became the first athlete in the Open category to set a world record with his squat of 337.5kg.

One would recall that Carlos had attempted this feat in England at Sheffield 24, but came up short in that memorable battle with the USA’s Gavin Aiden. This has taken nothing away from his deserving glory. However, GAPLF records inform that the first

“I FEEL OPTIMISTIC,” says GHB

President Philip Fernandes

…As the Guyana women’s hockey team prepare for 2024 PAHF Challenge

As preparation is geared up for the Guyana women’s hockey team to compete in the 2024 PAHF Challenge set for Hamilton, Bermuda from 20th to 28th September, wherein the team is aiming for qualification into the PAHF Cup in 2025 and World Cup, Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) President Philip Fernandes is confident the team can pull off the feat.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, Fernandes disclosed some of the challenges being faced, although he has every confidence that the team would succeed. Fernandes said, “The tournament is going to be a big challenge for our team. We’re the lowest-ranked team, and we have the least international experience because, of course, it is too costly for Guyana to travel very often to compete internationally. This means that other teams get to test themselves, get to expose themselves to top-quality competition more often than we do.

“Having said that, I think we still have the technical ability (to be competitive). We have the talent, we have the know-how, we have a lot of components that we can put together and make

it a very competitive side. I think that we have a chance of winning. Several of the teams are very good, Mexico

in particular is a very impressive team, and we have a lot of work cut out for us,” he declared.

“If we do our preparation right, and if the team commits itself fully for the time being between now and September, I feel optimistic that we can pull off the win,” he expressed.

Expounding on the work being put in to create a winning team, Fernandes said, “I think that we have adjusted our training. The physical component is still in full swing, we are working on that, and we have been working a lot on the tech-

nical aspect of the game; so that, when we get out on the full field, we can then supplement the tactical additions and then hopefully create a winning side. But I’m excited. I’m optimistic.

“We have a young squad, but we have a very good young side, and I think that you know we can pull off some surprises,” Fernandes explained.

The full Guyana squad reads: Goalkeepers Alysa Xavier, Empress Charles, Jessica Mittelholzer, Keziah Johnason and Sarah Harry. Defenders Julia Gouveia, Kezia Chinian, Kirsten Gomes, Kazaquah Uzzi, Makeda Harding, Tekeisha Deleon and Trisha Woodroffe. Midfielders Charlie Webb, Clayza Bobb, Gabriella Xavier, Kenisha Wills, Madison Fernandes, Sarah Klautky and Temmara Clarke. Strikers Abosaide Cadogan, Carolyn Deane, Chantelle Fernandes, Makaylah Poole, Princessa Wilkie and Samantha Fernandes.

Guyana last competed in the PAHF Challenge in 2011, when they finished runners-up to Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Only four players remain in contention for selection from that previous squad. (Omar McKenzie)

Guyanese athlete to achieve a world record in the sport is the trail-blazing and accomplished Winston ‘The little Master’ Stoby. Stoby’s feat was

achieved over a decade ago in the 74kg Masters 2 Division, first at the World Masters Powerlifting Championships held in Killeen, Texas in October 2012, and then at the 31st World Masters Men’s Powerlifting Championships held in Orlando, Florida in September, 2013, when he added more kgs almost a year later.

Carrying the nation on his shoulders then, Stoby had destroyed his old deadlift World Record of 272.0kg set one year earlier with a new record of 277.5kg to win the gold medal in that lift, but he had to settle for overall silver medal as the USA’s Gregory Page won the gold. He did try to raise the bar even higher by attempting 280kg on his third and final lift, but was not successful, although he set the new WR on his second attempt.

The GAPLF, and by extension the nation, is very proud of both Stoby and Petterson-Griffith for their achievements, and would continue to work towards high standards being maintained.

Dominic Tyrell’s achievement of a Deadlift bronze is also very commendable in his first year as a senior athlete, and the Federation is confident that Tyrell will continue to grow and prove himself exceptional in the sport. Meanwhile, next up for Guyana on the international scene are the World Classic & Equipped Sub-Junior & Junior Powerlifting Championships, set for staging in Malta in August/ September. Romeo Hunter, who won the Squat gold medal at the 2023 championships in Romania, would be competing in his final year as a sub-junior.

Guyana’s ‘draft’ horse racing legislation submitted

…Sub-committee to review, says Minister Ramson

Guyana’s horse racing legislation has been moved one step closer to completion

The much-anticipated draft of Guyana’s horse racing legislation has been submitted to Government, according to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., who provided an update earlier this week during his community outreach in Berbice.

This legislation would establish a recognized Guyana Horse Racing Authority which would be tasked with regulating major stables, officials, jockeys, and handlers. According to Minister Ramson, a sub-committee would review the legislation draft in detail.

“It is completed in terms of the draft. It has already been approved to move to the sub-committee. In the next few weeks, the sub-committee will review in detail. Once it is approved and finalized, it is then approved to be laid (in) Parliament, then we have a debate,” Minister Ramson detailed.

The Sport Minister added: “I expect that to happen before the recess (of the National Assembly). The recess is in August, the first week in August. It is quite

possible that the debate will be completed before the recess. If it does not, it won’t be much longer after the recess. I expect that once we complete the review and it is laid in Parliament, I don’t foresee a long time before we move towards the debate in Parliament.”

This initiative to govern horse racing in Guyana by legislation comes after previous attempts had been made in this regard in 2014; and key elements include provisions to address violations, expand the Authority’s membership, introduce term limits; and implement licensing for owners, jockeys and trainers.

This development is expected to bring clarity, structure, and oversight to the horse racing industry in Guyana, marking a significant step toward its formal recognition and regulation. The next race day in the calendar of Guyana’s horse racing is July 14, when the Caricom horse race meet is held at the Port Mourant Turf Club on the Corentyne in Region Six. That event would be followed by the August 11 Guyana Cup, which would be hosted by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee at the Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast of Berbice in Region Five.

President of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), Philip Fernandes

A look at the Guyanese team that would compete in the PAHF Challenge this September

Winston ‘The Little Master’ Stoby

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr