Kaieteur News

Govt. signs US$1M mining contract with Canadian gold company

The Government of Guyana (GOG) has signed a US$1millionminingcontract with Canada-based Reunion GoldCorporation

Theagreement,signedin collaboration with the government and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission(GGMC),paves the way for the exploration and development of the Oko West gold project, located in Guyana’s Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

Under the terms of the MineralAgreement,Reunion Gold Corporation and its wholly-owned Guyanese subsidiary are granted stable fiscal and operational conditions throughout the project’s lifespan These conditions align with the prevailing standard terms established by the country, ensuring a mutually beneficial arrangement for

allpartiesinvolved.

Rick Howes, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Reunion Gold, expressed his satisfaction withthemilestone,stating,“I am pleased to have executed our MineralAgreement with theGovernmentofGuyana

Thissignificantmilestone marks an important derisking step towards the developmentoftheOkoWest Project and underscores the robust support extended by the Government of Guyana towards the project’s development”

Aspartoftheagreement, the company has committed to prioritising the employmentofqualifiedand suitable Guyanese individuals and to supplement this by i m p l e m e n t i n g a comprehensive training program to develop the

GMSAhailsstridesin boostinginternationaltrade

Under the theme “Building Bridges: Expanding Trade Horizons Together”, the Guyana Manufacturing and ServicesAssociation(GMSA)presentedtheir2023annual reportlastThursdaywithitsPresident RamsayAlihailing their hard work and dedication towards strengthening internationaltradetiessoastobuildthemanufacturingand servicesectorshere.

Ali noted that his association not only hosted engagements with international delegates for diplomatic reasons but also to explore new markets and partnerships. “Each visit facilitated knowledge-sharing, market insights, and the exploration of potential collaborations, laying the groundworkforfutureeconomicgrowthandprosperity.”

GMSA’s president stated that new interests came from countries such as India, USA and the European Union among other major nations Companies with footholds in sectors such as technology, manufacturing and agriculture havetheireyessetonGuyana’smarket

TradingwasnottheonlymainfocusastheGMSAalso metwithexecutivesforthelistingofGuyanesecompanies on the Jamaican Stock Exchange which will bring investors and enhance the visibility of companies on the internationalmarket Thepresidenthighlightedthat,“This collaboration could further strengthen Guyana’s financial sector and attract even more investment opportunities for smallandmedium-sizedenterprises ”

Discussion on education was also on the table as Ali alluded to the shortage of skill and labour in Guyana “This shortage hinders the growth of industries and limits the country’s overall economic potential” he said It was mentioned that representatives of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill School of Business and Management was engagedtodiscusstrainingneedsinthemanufacturingsector

They aim to conduct research to be clear on what training is needed towards specific skills and the knowledge gaps within industries This goal ensures that training of a high quality is rolled out and in accordance with international standards It was mentioned that a Memorandum of Understanding was already signed with theuniversitytosolidifythiscommitment

GMSAalsoworkedtosecuremarketsforitemsthatsaw anincreaseindemandforpaint,glass,meat,etc Theyalso pushed for participation in trade shows both locally and internationally WithAli at the head of GMSAhe aims to have his association position Guyana as a focal point for industry collaboration and innovation so that the nation is propelled to be one of the lead players in the regional manufacturinglandscape

additional skills required to facilitate the employment of Guyanese personnel at all levels of operations. This initiative is expected to contribute to the long-term growthandprosperityofthe nation.

Moreover, as part of its c o r p o r a t e s o c i a l responsibility efforts, ReunionGoldwillestablisha financial support program dedicated to environmental and social projects With an annual funding of US$1 million, the program will focus on initiatives promoting environmental sustainability and addressing social needs within the surrounding communities.

This commitment will startuponcommencementof commercial production or within 24 months from the issuance of a mining license, whichever would come first Reunion stated that all of these initiatives highlight its dedication to sustainable mining development, which minimizes environmental impacts, positively impacts

thecommunitiesweworkin and creates lasting benefits forGuyana.

The Company said it is moving forward with development studies to advanceOkoWesttowardsa constructiondecision Aspart of this work, it expects to complete a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) by mid-2024, which will provideanestimateofthekey economic parameters of the project.

Moreover, Reunion Gold is actively considering both open-pit and underground mining Thecompanyaimsto reachaconstructiondecision by 2025, marking another crucial milestone in its journey toward operational readiness in Guyana’s gold industry

The Canadian mining company has firmly set its eyes on reaching gold production at its Oko West Gold Project by 2027 The companyhasanestimated42 million ounces of gold In February 2024, Reunion announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate

Rick Howes, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Reunion Gold

(MRE) containing a total of 4 3 M oz of gold in IndicatedResourcesgrading 2.05g/tand1.6Moz.ofgold in Inferred Resources grading 2 59 g/t The February 2024 MRE includes an underground Resource containing 1.1 M oz.ofgoldatagradeof3.12 g/t Au in the Inferred category

This publication had reported that the company’s CEO, during an interview disclosed that they are on a fast tracked timeline with its Oko West project In 2020,

the Company announced a new greenfield gold discovery at its Oko West project and announced its maiden mineral resource in June 2023 after just 22 months of resource definitiondrilling. Since discovery, Howes noted that the resource estimate continues to grow, and that the deposit offers ample scale to underpin a meaningful mining operation. Last June, the company announced its maiden resource estimate of 25millionouncesofgold

EDITORIAL

Race relations and development

Every day there is some commentary in the press or on theinternetinandoutofGuyanaaboutracerelationsandthe politicsofthiscountry

Race and politics prevent us from the life-giving exercise of breathing. When we cannot breathe easily, then we are labouring, and when we are labouring, we are not at our best to demand the best out of what belongs to us.What is sickening is how race and politics have been used to reduceustoastateofhelplesscrippling.OurownGuyanese politicians have made the most use of race and politics to weaken, divide, and dominate. Having closely studied the local environment, the foreigners coming to prosper from our many patrimonies make fools out of us by encouraging the pitting of one group of Guyanese against the other If any Guyanese harbours the belief that their racial and political polarization is all local in strength, and local in momentum, then they feed into what serves the interests of thosewhodivideus,sothattheycanflourish.

Whenwearedivided,wearedistracted. Whenweallow ourselves to be distracted, then our eyes are focused on the perceived enemy before us. When we are so focused, the real enemies of the Guyanese people are having the best of enriching times in hauling away unstopped wealth and draining our prospects unchallenged. The World Bank is right and wrong when it said in a report last year that ethnic and political polarization stands as the roadblock to the proper degree of national development, considering the greatassetsinourhands.

The venerable supranational institution is correct to say that Guyana’s development is sabotaged by race and politics, but it went too far too quickly Guyana cannot be said to have embarked on the kind of development that corresponds with its massive national endowments. The realityis that Guyana has not even gotten off the mark, with Guyanesestillontheirknees,duetotheparalyzinghammer blows that race and politics have delivered on the head of eachcitizen.

The oil and gold and the other natural resource gifts can all mean so much for national development. But Guyanese have fallen so in love with the raw racial divisions and tensions, with the sharp and brutal political partisanships, thattheyhavelittletimeforanythingelse. Thisincludesall ofwhatcouldbemostconstructive,thatwhichholdsoutthe greatestpromiseforthem. We,theGuyanesepeople,arenot giving ourselves a chance, not caring about any sober listening, not willing to engage and link arms to stand as a unified whole against the devastating exploitations that are leavingushaemorrhagingprofusely

There ought to be not a single Guyanese who needs the WorldBanktofurnishtheenlightenmentofhowdestructive race and politics have been and continue to be, to our national development, and currently our national tranquility Guyanese may be physically calm on the outside, but the deepest rage, the most savaging bitterness, twists into knots, make the disfiguring out of us, at the mere contemplationoftheother

What development can occur in such circumstances, with the national house so divided, so ramshackled? For everystephailedasprogress,Guyanacouldhaveandshould have, made at least ten times as many Our racial memories yoke us and weigh us down. We know this but have no desiretodoanythingaboutit. Leadershavenotmanifested any inclination to close the racial gaps, to heal the political divisions. Theuglystateofraceandpoliticalrelationsserve theirinterests,whichiswhyGuyanesearekeptapart.Witha united Guyana, the possibilities are endless. It would be morethantheWorldBankcancompileifwewereonlytoget going to get what is rightly due to us. Guyanese must work first to get past their racial hate and their political poisons. Then,thelanguage,postures,andpassionssurroundingrace and politics must take second place to the priority of our wealth, surrender to what is wise, to lead us to what authenticdevelopmentisallabout.

Need for national programmes to uplift Afro-Guyanese

DEAREDITOR, the African people! The making the IYPAD a The PNC also decided not to Guyana’s government declaration of the first success.’ participate since, according delegation to the opening of international decade in 2015 A National Steering to it, the process had not the Third Session of the was the outcrop of the 2011 Committee (NSC) for the received the imprimatur of Permanent Forum on People InternationalYearforPeople Commemoration of the recognisedAfricangroups.A of African Descent in ofAfricanDescent(IYPAD), International Day was consensually driven national Geneva, on Tuesday the main objective of which established by the Ministry plan did not materialize and 16thApril 2024 told its was to elicit international of Culture, Youth and Sport, the IYPAD plan was audience that the present and national action to raise but true to form, under the abandoned. People’s Progressive Party awareness of the challenges nonsensicalpretextthatitdid In 2015 the International (PPP) government supports facingAfricans and to foster not invite political parties, DecadeofPeoplesofAfrican the proposed declaration for discussions to generate the PPP government did not Descent (IDPAD) arrived, a second international proposals for solutions for invite the People’s National the APNU+AFC came to decade for people ofAfrican suchchallenges. Congress (PNC), the most government and IDPADA-G descent. ‘Guyana looks Countries were to representative organisation w a s f o r m e d w i t h forward to contributing to facilitate the development of ofAfricanpeopleinGuyana, government support. In the efforts toward improving national action plans to be to participate. However, 2020, the PPP returned with the conditions of people of submitted to the United some members of the PNC, a vengeance both to African descent both by Nations. And a press release apparently in their personal government and its policy to supporting the work of this from the Ministry of Foreign capacities, participated and suppress Africans and their Forum and by continuing to Affairs in April 2010 stated Mr Hamilton Green became organisations. This is the craft and implement that ‘government recognises the vice-chairperson of the context of its present efforts programmes that will and values the unique NSC and Mr Aubrey Norton to dismantle IDPADA-G redound to the benefit of contribution that Guyanese chairperson of the Political The result is that in 2024 the Guyanese of African of African descent have andCivilCommittee. United Nations Human Descent.’ madetothecountry’shistory By the beginning of Rights Commission voiced

This is not the first time and rich multi-ethnic 2011, the regime had; and its concern about ‘the the PPP has made such heritageandwillusetheYear sought to launch a plan but continued ethnic divide and pledges that have turned to to further promote greater the African Cultural and tensions’ in Guyana but its nothing because of its a w a r e n e s s a n d Development Association call upon the government to decades-long determination understanding by all (ACDA), referring to it as a redouble its efforts to end toproceedwithitsautocratic Guyaneseofthelegacy.’ [It] ‘government programme’ this situation is nothing but ethnic domination of the ‘lookedforwardtotheactive and refused to participate wishfulthinking! political space, which

(Continued on page 5)

c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d until a mutually agreed upon The‘governmentplan’ requires the suppression of participation of Guyanese in document be constructed

Solar farms in Guyana will always

be a big plus

DEAREDITOR, realisation of some actual On a wider scale, I just area.

The very idea that solar solarfarms. wish more and more With SUMEC Complete farms will be constructed at Editor, it is a work in Guyanese will become Equipment and Engineering Charity, Onderneeming, is progress and it will take time conversant regarding solar Company Limited and XJ e n o u g h t o s t i r - u p as to develop this particular farms. Group Corporation (the excitement. solar farm, the People’s The simple fact is that contractor) at the helm, the

In fact, I am fully Progressive Party/Civic solar farms use a reliable, goal is to make all of this cognizant that over the last (PPP/C) Government will clean energy source, but the happeninaround18months. few years, solar energy have to invest in heavy same cannot be said for As regards funds, the technology has advanced equipment to get the job energy sources such as fossil Guyana/Norway partnership leaps and bounds, and never done. So, the site visit in the fuels and coal. Solar farms is providing this with an h a s i t b e e n s o area was all about looking at are for sure better estimated $83 3 million environmentally friendly, the area and deciding where environmentally, as they do invested, and the Interyet quite cost-efficient to to build a sturdy enough not cause wide-spread and American Development turn to solar energy sources. bridge over the canal to hold heavy pollution, in Bank (IDB) is in charge of I think this is in the minds of the weight of the necessary comparison with most overseeing GUYSOL.All of those who are spearheading machine. conventional energy thisinputbreathesofquality, the Charity, Onderneeming All of this will take time sources. integrityandtransparency project. and effort. Too much is at I add here too that solar Guyana cannot go wrong The word I got from the stake but loads of profit can farms can still be used to where solar farms are press is that “... as part of betheendresult. farm crops and graze concerned For example, regional developments In terms of what will be livestock. Studies in 2018 China uses the most solar across the country and to accomplished,wearetalking and 2019 have shown that it power globally, generating ensure that every resident about “… having two solar is beneficial to co-locate over 224 GWh of electricity benefit from a more farms in the region: the one croplands and solar farms in using just solar, with a comfortable and enhanced at Charity will produce 3 a practice known as projected 370 kWh of lifestyle, matters in this MW, and the second one that “agrovoltaics.” If down the installedsolarby2024. regard were discussed w i l l b e b u i l t i n road,locallandownersorthe Then solar installations between the Regional Onderneeming will produce government wants to revert are becoming cheaper and Chairman of Region Two, 5 MW.” Overall then these thelandtosolelyagricultural are expected to increase in Vilma De silva, along with will redound in 8MW that u s e , t h i s c a n b e both residential and other regional officials and will be added to the grid in accomplished easily Land commercial U.S. marketsrepresentatives from the Anna Regina. So, it is well that was not used for crops with the potential of 1 solar Guyana Utility Scale Solar worth it, as it fits into the while functioning as a solar installation per minute in the Photovoltaic Programme plans of President Dr Irfaan, farm may even “maintain US by 2024. The future is (GUYSOL).” This is a great of ensuring that residents of soil quality and contribute to beckoningusinGuyana. start and hopefully it will be theareanotbeingaffectedby the biodiversity of the land.” Yours truly, fully embraced until the powershortageandoutage. It is really a ‘win’ in every HB Singh

Need for national programmes... I am not selling out this struggle and the people that need to be liberated from PPP oppression

From page 4 as compensation for the and training in key and has sections dealing with a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 0 critical areas to sustain the economic, political, social, plantations purchased by skills base of all the cultural, civil and legal the freed and manumitted communities; access to matters and if properly Africans but made into machinery and equipment to contextualised suggests that: villages by the British ensure sustainability and (1) the vast majority of Government without their revitalising of village African Guyanese do not consent; the establishment economies; infrastructural believe that they live in an of an effective land development comparable equitable system and their distribution mechanism with all other communities; vision of this inequitability with appropriate and establishing a coalition of is holistic, relating to the legitimate representation of representatives of African government, the private people of African descent; descendants to share best sector and all else;(2) the the promotion of a strategy practices and resolve

P P P g o v e r n m e n t to ensure Africans have development issues, and the understands this but has access to funds for business establishment of a research deliberately taken the path and land development, unit at UG to focus on o f e t h n i c / p o l i t i c a l entailing the establishment Africandescendants. domination; (3) the of a special revolving fund

In the political sphere, government as at present mechanism to enhance among other things, the constituted does not have confidence in and ensure programme demands the the political will or -after increased access of implementation of a system years of indoctrinating its Guyanese of African of governance in which supporters -the capacity to descent to the banking Africans are effectively address the African s y s t e m , a n d t h e r e p r e s e n t e d a n d requirements;(4) a national development of projects in participating and this resolution of the demands the agricultural and requires the establishment of made below will require manufacturingsectors inter-ethnic equity in the major compromises on all It also envisages socio- governance of Guyana, sides involving leaders in economic analyses to inter-ethnic equity in w h o m t h e v a r i o u s consider the health, representation on the Ethnic c o m m u n i t i e s h a v e education, skills base, youth Relations Commission, a confidence, and (5) expectation, etc. of various mechanism to ensure the interestingly, as noted the African communities, the approval by African present leader of the PNC, improvement of access organisations of adequate, Mr Aubrey Norton, was the roads, drainage and appropriate and legitimate chair of the Political and i r r i g a t i o n a n d t h e representation of their rights Civil Committee of the r e s u s c i t a t i o n o f and a mechanism to ensure IYPAD process and the cooperatives; strategies and that the interests specific to ‘government plan’ might the use of objective criteria peopleofAfricandescentare well provide an insight into for the allocation of the addressed. his and his party’s extant resources of the state to

Sincerely, thinkingandbeyond. AfricanGuyanesevillages. Dr. Henry Jeffrey

Among other things, the It calls for strategies for plan calls for the promotion involving African Guyanese of inter-ethnic equity in the in the fisheries sector; distribution of land for strategies to ensure African housing, business and villages are self-sufficient agriculture and foresees and sustainable; the access to arable state lands provision of scholarships

DEAREDITOR, induced sleep at the condition do not take his

The small wooden beginning of the sermon, it life!” building was located at First was like the Lord had taken He reached into his Street, Silvertown. The sign my mother’s seat beside me pocket and took out a read, Victory Assembly of andwhispered.“Youwillnot handkerchief and wiped his God. Linden is known for its sleep through this one.”That face while resting his other churches. It was a simple morning, Pastor Preston was handontheBibleasifhewas structure with stairs to the on top of his game and the momentarily exhausted and front. At the age of eight, I story of Job captivated me. with a burst of sudden did not have a choice in the Strangely, it appeared that energy, he said “Satan matter of my visitation; I the pastor was looking caused Job to lose would be ushered into that directly at me as he preached everything. He brought the house of God by my mother about God’s most faithful worst afflictions to his body every Sunday morning. My andloyalservant. and Job was at death’s door only comfort in being there “The devil said to God, while the devil screamed for was the fact that I would Job only loves and is faithful him to curse God!” And sleepthroughoutthesermon. to you because he is covered almostinaninaudiblevoice

Pastor Patrick Preston by your power and

(Continued on page 6) was a gentle giant with thick protection, take that away glasses. He towered over the from him and leave him altar and his voice was alone and I will make him powerful. I agonised at the curse you to your face!” The thought of my sleep always pastorwaspacingaroundthe being interrupted by the altar his voice was full of strict rule of standing up to conviction. sing hymns. His wife, sister Pastor Preston screamed Tina was a prayer warrior out emphatically “God long before the term was accepted the challenge and coined and became popular saidtoSatan,takeJobanddo

One Sunday as I was whatever you want with him preparing for my self- but there is only one

Ukraine aid package could help Kyiv slow Russia’s advance

what might be coming. This son. Thepastsixmonthshas t o m e e t U k r a i n e ’s spending. Democratic aidmightsavethosecities.It not only revealed Russia’s requirements ” As for a delays aren’t exclusive to won’t give Ukraine the dominance, but Europe’s realistic goal this year for allies overseas - Ukraine has instant means to start inability to provide the same Kyiv, Mykola hopes this its own issues with liberating territory and force levelofsupportastheUS. American aid will help mobilising enough men for Russia back - but it gives a “We need to think about stabilise the front lines i t s w a r e f f o r t A window for that to happen in the hypothetical eventuality Despitethereturnofwestern controversial conscription the future. The consensus in the next package of US aid unity behind it, the issue for lawhasjustbeenpassedafter Kyiv and Washington is that might not pass,” says Ukraine has always been the months of debating and without this American help, Mykola Bieleskov, a time it takes for help to amendments. The challenge Ukrainewouldlose. research fellow at the arrive. for President Zelensky now ‘Better late than never’ Ukrainian National Institute Russian President is keeping the politics

The staging of Shakespeare’s

‘Twelfth Night’ was a success

On a miserable Sunday forStrategicStudies.“That’s Vladimir Putin certainly separatetothefighting.He’ll morning, the warmth of the why it’s up for the UK and doesn’t have to negotiate as be under pressure to make ( B B C N E W S ) isthepackagegoingtodo?It Kyiv metro will always beat continental Europe to many political hurdles when this latestAmerican offering President Volodymyr is likely to include air the wet streets above. It’s increase weapon production it comes to military count. Zelensky has expressed his defence systems, mid to where we meet Maxym, gratitude to the US House long-range missiles and who’s pleased with the US of Representatives for artillery shells. Ukraine’s aidfinallybeingapproved. approving a new $61bn recentlackofthemhasledto “I’m really happy about (£49bn) package of Russian forces capturing it,” he says. “I’m just a bit military assistance for hundreds more square disappointed it took so long. Ukraine after months of kilometresofterritory Anyways,it’sbetterlatethan delays. He said the aid When the aid arrives, never.” Maxym is frustrated could save thousands of Ukraine can potentially by the growing debate over lives. challenge Russia’s air whether Ukraine should

Whileit’snotuncommon superiority, frustrate their negotiate peace with Russia for a country’s future to be supply lines and slow at the expense of territory decided by politicians, a advancingtroops. “Russia doesn’t want to nation’s very existence For Vitaliy, a serving negotiate,” he explains hinging on a vote 5,000 soldier who we bump into in “Theydon’twantthismiddle m i l e s a w a y i s a s central Kyiv, it’s important ground that Europe and the extraordinary as it sounds. to focus on the positives. US think will end this war For Ukraine, the six-month “Every cent matters,” he Theywantitall.” wait for this military says “It is very much We also meet a woman, packagehasbeenascostlyas needed.Weneedeverything. Vita, holding her son’s hand ithasbeenfrustrating. Every cartridge, every cent, and pulling him off a train. Dwindling ammunition every positive thought. We “How else can Ukraine hascostitlivesandterritory. needallofit.”WhenIwasin survivewithoutit?”sheasks.

In this period of rare the Donetsk region last “Itcan’t.Wedon’thavesuch boosts for Kyiv, this was a month, soldiers said most of anarmyandweapons.” biggie - the arrival of the artillery rumbles were She then becomes American weaponry will coming from the Russian emotional. “It’s impossible. allow its beleaguered troops s i d e C i t i e s l i k e We really want help, for our todomorethanhangon.But Kostyantynivka and children to survive, so we it’s no silver bullet. So, what Kramatorskwerebracingfor wait.” She nods towards her

DEAREDITOR, production, superbly acted and directed by My Company ‘GEMS Theatre Ron Robinson and assistant director, Derek Productions’ just concluded the staging of Gomes. ‘TWELFTH NIGHT’ for 6 performances at I have seen and strongly disagree with an the National Cultural Centre which was opinioninthemediathatShakespeareshould sponsoredbytheMinistryofEducation. not be taught in our schools because it is a

I write, particularly, to congratulate the colonialhangover Whatnonsense? Ministry of Education for having brought Itisourdutyandresponsibilitytoeducate both teachers and students from Forms 3 to 5 our children, not merely to be citizens of fromeverysinglecornerofourcountry,from Guyana but citizens of the world and who in Orealla in the Corentyne River, North West the world would dare to deny the importance Secondary and Santa Rosa Secondary in ofShakespeare. Region 1, St Ignatius, Sand Creek and I anticipate and look forward to the Aishalton from the Rupununi, for example. Ministry of Education continuing with this They came to witness Shakespeare, which magnificent commitment to the education of theyhaveread,cometolifeonstage. ourchildren.

Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT is on Yours sincerely, theCSECSyllabus. Gem Madhoo-Nascimento

It was a much needed and welcome Producer

That potential tsunami risk

DEAREDITOR,

producing nations, did not suffer this

The revelation, in the Exxon EIA Report consequence. on its latest oil project of a potential tsunami Of course it might be different tectonic risk,isconcerningandtroubling. plates,faultlineandseismicactivity

We are all familiar with the devastation Nevertheless it is of major concern and anddestructionofsuchapossibility Scenes must be considered and factored in, in all from the 2004 Indian Ocean Boxing Day and discussions, deliberations and decisions 2011 Japan occurrences, among others, are going forward. In the meantime there is no freshinourminds. immediatethreatandnoneedtopanic.

On the other hand we are familiar that Sincerely, both Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela, oil Shamshun Mohamed

I am not selling out this struggle...

From page 5

walking away quietly from thatneedtobeliberatedfrom the pastor said. “But he the struggle and into the lair PPPoppression. didn’t.””Isaid,Jobdidnot!” ofthePPP We stood up to sing Thepastorshouted. I see weak people hymns and I looked up at my I look at those of us who showing their hands for mother and asked why Job betraythestruggleinandout handouts. did not curse God? She of Guyana today because Some in the PNC can looked down at me with that they believe the opposition turn against me and even try understanding look and a will not return to office. I to hurt me but I will never smile that indicated she was lookatsomanyofuswhoare give up the struggle for good proud I had listened to the facingchallengesinourlives overevil. sermon. and have given up our faith The PNC can try to leave She said, “He believed in in what is righteous and me but like Job, I am not God and was prepared to die bowing to an evil regime cursing Burnham to his face. forwhathebelievedin.”The while callingAli and Jagdeo Never! church lifted its voice in goodandgreatleaders. Like Job, I am being song. “ How great thou art, I see people who have tested now but I am going howgreatthouart..” benefited and been a part of down and out not selling out

Sincerely, the coalition government this struggle and the people Norman Browne

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the US support as “vital”

Guyana can save US$60M annually if corn, soya are grown twice per year-Min.Mustapha

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha has emphasised that Guyana stands to save almost US$60 million annually if corn and soya bean are grown twiceperyear

During Thursday night’s episode of Guyana Dialogue, Minister Mustapha underscoredthatGuyanaispoisedtobecome self-sufficient to produce all of its livestock feed by the end of 2025, while reducing its dependency on imports. Close to 10,000

acres of corn and soya beans were produced in2023.

“By the end of this year, we will move cornandsoyaproductionroughlytoabout 12,000 acres. If we do that two times per year,wewillproduceallthelivestockfeed and we will save approximately US$60 millionannually.Atthesametime,wewill beanetexporter,”hefurtherdivulged.

Minister Mustapha continued, “We are now going into large-scale production of

cornandsoya…Wearehopingthat,bythe end of next year, we can cultivate 25,000 acres of corn and soya.” Also, the cost for meat especially poultry will be reduced significantly

Government’s collaboration with the privatesectortoimplementthedevelopment of corn and soya bean has been very successful. Over the last three years, more than $1.4 billion was spent to develop the infrastructurewithintheTacamaareatomeet theregion’sproductionandcultivationgoals.

Some 41 kilometres of roads were constructed in the Tacama area The agricultureministerfurtherrevealedthatthe 12,000-tonne silo which was built will be extendedtoa18,000-tonnesilotoprocessthe cornandsoya.Currently,theaccesswharfin

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

the Tacama area is under construction, with completionexpectedin2024.

The sum of $967.8 million has been budgeted in 2024 to increase the capacity of the Tacama facility which will include the installationofaconveyorsystem.Guyanais continuously diversifying its robust agriculture sector with the introduction of newcropstoachievefoodsecurity (DPI)

Too lazy to make the effort

A great many of our are forced to go to make and drink with their friends often are forced to have their parents. It is not just about children have met their these purchases because the while burdening their kids children with them after placingfoodonthetable. deaths after being sent to parents are too lazy to make with work. It is something school The children are There are many of us purchase items for their theeffort. that the Rights of the Child simply left to sit with their whose parents never had parents or simply being Sometimes it is not Commission should issue an parents wasting valuable enough to put on the table, allowed to roam free about cigarettes that the child goes advisoryon. hours. This too is a form of but gave us more in the time theircommunities. to purchase. Sometimes it is Another disturbing neglect which should be and attention that they things.

A great many of the rum for the parents to practice occurs when stampedout. dedicated to our rounded (The views expressed in children who are killed in imbibe. children are left to roam free It is hoped that the development. this article are those of the road accidents are those who There should be laws, if after school or during the relevant agencies can come That role needs to be a u t h o r a n d d o n o t weresentoutonsomeerrand there aren’t at the moment, holidays. All over Guyana up with a plan, including an revisited, especially at this necessarily reflect the bytheirparents. against the sale of alcohol this is a common practice, educational plan, to make time where the interests of opinions and beliefs of this

Often these children are and cigarettes to children. whereby parents simply parents more conscious of our children are increasingly n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s sentoutintheearlyevenings These laws should be allow their children to do as their responsibilities as being sacrificed for other affiliates.) to the shops to make some vigorously enforced But, they please once they return purchase for the home. On importantly, those parents homebeforenightfall. their way either to the shop who make a habit of sending If the child only slips up or when returning home, their children to do errands and returns home late, they they find themselves the which can be easily done, are greeted with a flogging. victimsofanaccident. should be counseled about The parent fails to

Yet the trend continues thedangerstowhichtheyare understand that they are whereby some parents exposing their children and contributing to the very act continue to entrust to small about the denial of free time for which they are children the responsibility to totheirkids. reprimanding the child by run errands, oblivious This is not to say that not supervising the child’s obviously to the dangers that children should not do freeorplaytime. thesechildrenface. chores But these chores

Allowing your child to Thereisalsoanotherside needtobewithinreason. roam free is an invitation for to this practice. Many of the Children should be your child to get involved in parents are too lazy to go out encouraged to wash dishes, mischief and trouble. Yet and get the items themselves make their beds, sweep the you see this all the time and behaving like exploiters home and keep the yard tidy where parents have little simply call on their children, And this should be a time for their children after interrupting whatever play collectiveeffort. school and during the activity the children may be Many parents, however, holidays. involved in, and order them s i m p l y a l l o c a t e This neglect may be togetwhatevertheywant. responsibilities to children forced on parents. Some of

Sometimes it may be a without sharing in the them may have to work and packofcigarettesorsimplya burden of the work. This is cannotaffordtohireasitter box of matches And n o t g o o d f o r t h e As such they either leave sometimes the children pay developmentofchildren. the child alone or send them for those simple purchases Children learn what they to some relative or friend with their lives, ending up see, and they should see the who may themselves be too deadafterbeingstruckdown chores to which they are busy or unconcerned about whileonthewaytotheshop. entrusted as part of their whatthechilddoes.

Why would any parent small contribution to the So instead of the child wish to take their child away work of the family They beingsupervised,heorsheis from the fun of playing or should be helpers rather than lefttodoasheorshepleases, whatever else the child may being assigned exclusive including associating with be doing just to go and responsibilityinanyarea. company that invite trouble purchase a packet of Many parents would andmischief. cigarettes? These children however prefer to sit and Then there are those are turned into servants and watch television or go out parents such as vendors who

Dem Boys Seh...

Eyes in the Sky, Boots Still on the Ground!

Dem Boys seh Georgetown turning into crimefromupthere,butifyoucan’trespond a real-life sci-fi movie with dis “Eyes in the downhere,what’sthepoint? Sky” operation. But lemme tell you, it ain’t Imagineyouseeamansnatchagranny’s no Hollywood blockbuster, it’s more like a purse from up in the clouds.You radio down comedyoferrors! to the ground troops, but by the time they

The Joint Services got dem drones reach the scene, that thief done disappear buzzing ‘round like mosquitoes at a picnic, quicker than a politician’s promises after andpeoplegettingmorenervous.Everytime electionday! dem hear that whirring sound overhead, And don’t even get me started on the you’d think it’s the end of the world! People logistics of it all. Who’s controlling dem hearing mosquito buzzing and thinking is drones? Some tech-savvy sergeant with a drones. joystick in one hand and a fried chicken leg

Now,demtellingwenottoworry,saying intheother? it’s all for security

But how we supposed to

We need real people on the ground, not feel secure when we can’t even check we somedronejockey!So,demboysseh,ifyou own cellphones without thinking Big gonna have eyes in the sky, make sure you Brother up there reading every message? got boots on the ground too. Otherwise, we Man,demdronescausingmoreparanoia. justgonnabestuckinanever-endingloopof Buthere’sthekicker,demboysseh:what surveillance without action, like a hamster goodishavingeyesintheskyifyouain’tgot onawheelgoingnowherefast! boots on the ground? You can see all the Talk half. Leff half...

No hotdog, no cash handout

I like the occasional hotdog. Beefdog,porkdog,orchickendog, it doesn’t matter, they are all the same to me, be they kosher or halaal. I am an equal opportunity carnivore, haram and an unreconstructed heathen. In New York, we called hot dogs street meatanddirtydogs. Whocares? I didn’t. NowIamlayingplansfora longtriptospendsomescarcecash. To buy hotdogs, of course. What else?

The plan is to travel to the Essequibo, say hello to some familyfrommyfather’sside,passa message or two onto resident Venezuelans, and splurge on some hotdogs. Twenty hotdogs, if the PPP sellers will allow me. I is ah maan dat duz put me money weh me mouth deh. As could be gathered,thisismorethanaplan,it is a strategy, and it is pure soulfulness.

For each hotdog purchased from the PPP, the expectation is to collect one cash grant envelope. Who will see, who will know, and whowilltalk? Thisisthegoodand bad about PPP Government inspiredcashgrants. Ihavealways said that they had teeth. Teeth to bite the resistant, and jaws to

woundtheunrepentant.

Becauseasthebigmansaidin the video, no hotdog, no handout. This is democracy in action, PPP style. Nomatterhowmuchmoney theseguysget,howmuchtheysay there are transformed capitalists, they are still dyed in the wool communists.

Communism is about control, total control. Look at how that extended even to the purchase of a GY$20 hotdog. These operators and fraudsters in the PPP make a big barrel of noise about honesty and decency, about openness and being straight up guys, then they shakedown weak and vulnerable and needy citizens (their own supporters) over the purchase of somethingasbasicasahotdog.

IfthisishowlowthePPPwould stoopforalousyhotdog,thenhow much lower and rougher would its controllers not get for bigger things. The PPP is always about how it is for human rights and democratic rights and constitutional rights, but about animal rights. Why those fall into thesewagesystem.

Unless Freedom House came up with the unprecedented, a vegetarianhotdog,somecoworpig

or member of the poultry family gave up its existence, so that the loversofhotdogcouldhaveafeast andgooncampaigningforthegood life. Have some respect for the involuntary suppliers of hotdog protein.

Very seriously, this is how the PPPfrom top to bottom vulgarizes anythingandallthings. Something clean passes through PPP hands and it becomes the contents of an ancient tomb in an instant. Some millions end up in their hands and PPPmen and women are driven to outpouringsofarrogance,excesses of excrescence, and just plain old duttiness.

These are a band of nasty and sicklypeople. Imagineputtingthe squeeze on poor Guyanese for failing to buy a hotdog. The word has come to me that it is the same practice from PPP henchmen and goonswiththe$40,000amonthfor part-timework. Itisputoutorpush off. Come out with a placard to greet some dumb minister Or stand up in line and denounce the PNC,whilespeakingtothevirtues ofthePPP

Or turning up faithfully and marking an ‘X’near to the cup. If that sounds like, smells like, and

looks like blackmail using the dollarsfromthepublictreasury,be assured that it is so. On this occasion, however, there has been no loudmouth to this point to give away the part-time job goose in public.

I do not believe that that PPP characterfromsomeGothichorror moviewouldhaveactedonhisown initiative. A mentality of that superior political quality has to haveitsrootsstraightinthebowels of Freedom House, possibly even StateHouse. Mygawd!Whatabig bag of snakes and repulsive creatureshere.

Ifthereisonethingthatmustbe said for the fella ranting about potentialnonhotdogbuyers,itwas that he threw caution to the four winds and just belted out the party line without care or restraint. For thatalone,hegetshighmarksfrom me.

A straight shooter who shot himself in the foot and drilled several holes into the People’s Progressive Party’s carefully woven tapestry of comforting but deviousnarratives.

In other words, the PPP lies whenitsaysthatitcares. ThePPP lies when it says that cash

distributions are without fear and favor

The PPP lies when it says that not a single Guyanese has to fear anythingaboutbeingleftoutorleft behind. Likethelate,greatBenE. Kingsangin Don’t Play that Song I say to PPP deceivers, “You know thatyoulie,youknowthatyoulie, youlie,youlie….”

If for a hotdog, why not for a halfpenny Ifthisiswhatcouldbe threatened over the purchase of somethingassimpleandminuteas ahotdog,thentherecanbenolimit to the many other harlotries in whichthePPPisengaged. Andall under the cover of clean governance, pure leadership, and democracy’s ideals. Today, it is threatsaboutahotdog. Tomorrow it could be a baldheaded or potbelliedhangmancoming.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaperanditsaffiliates.)

Seven countries now fully powered by renewables

...but Jagdeo claims same cannot be done in Guyana

The Government of Guyana (GoG) is adamant that renewable energy cannot be used to supply stable electricity for the country; however seven states are now using these sources to supply nearly all oftheirelectricityneeds.

A recent report by the ‘Independent’ highlighted that the countries, Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo produced more than 99 7 per cent of the electricity they consumed using geothermal, hydro, solarorwindpower.

As the global transition to net zero picks up pace to slowthenegativeimpactsof climate change, more countries are incorporating the use of renewable energy toreduceharmfulemissions.

D a t a f r o m t h e InternationalEnergyAgency (IEA) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) revealed that a further 40 countries generatedatleast50percent of the electricity they consumed from renewable energy technologies in 2021 and 2022 – including 11 Europeancountries.

ProfessorMarkJacobson of Stanford University was quoted by the Independent saying, “We don’t need miracle technologies we need to stop emissions by electrifying everything and providingtheelectricitywith Wind, Water and Solar (WWS), which includes onshore wind, solar photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, geothermal e l e c t r i c i t y, s m a l l hydroelectricity, and large hydroelectricity.”

Figures released by the IEAinJanuaryshowthatthe UK generated 41.5 per cent of its electricity from renewablesourcesin2022–up 10.5 per cent from the yearbefore.

In Scotland, renewable energy technologies generated the equivalent of 113 percent of the country’s overall electricity consumptionin2022.

“These record-breaking figuresareamajormilestone onScotland’sjourneytonetzero, clearly demonstrating

the enormous potential of our world-class renewable energy resources,” Claire Mack, chief executive of ScottishRenewables,saidat thetime.

While Scotland’s electricity generation was dominated by wind power, researcherspredictthatsolar willcometodominateglobal electricity supplies over the comingdecades.

T h e r e h a s b e e n significantprogressinrecent years with improving efficiency rates for solar cells, primarily boosted by the so-called ‘miracle material’perovskite.

Commercial costs have also fallen, which led scientistsattheUniversityof Exeter and University CollegeLondontoclaimlast year that solar energy has reached an “irreversible tippingpoint”thatwillseeit become the world’s main sourceofenergyby2050.

Their 2023 paper, published in the journal Nature Communications, foundthattechnologicaland economic advances meant thetransitiontocleanenergy is not just reachable, but inevitable.

While countries around the world transition to renewable energy, Guyana has taken a different approach and said it would provide the electricity needed through the use of naturalgas-acleanerfuelin comparison to the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) presently used to generate the country’selectricalneeds.

The Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project is likely to cost the country over US$2B,withthethreemajor components, the pipeline, Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and power plant current pegged at US$1.7B. There are also plans to upgradethetransmissionand distribution network and buildanewcontrolcenter Stakeholders previously shared concerns about the cost of the project and its potential to deliver more affordable and stable power for the country In fact the government had faced criticisms for failing to conductathorough

Nearly 50 countries now generate more than 50% of their electricity from renewable energy sources (The Independent)

Women Expo held at National Aquatic Centre

The two-day ‘WE LIFT 4’ exposition kicked off on Saturday at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, where over 250 women-owned businesses and fashion designers proudly displayed their goods and services.

Officially declaring the women-centric expo opened, MinisterofHumanServicesandSocialSecurity,Dr Vindhya Persaud said the event promises a celebration of female entrepreneurshipandinnovation.

“Women are eager for the opportunity and we are providingitinsomanyways.Itisimportanttoinfluence and inspire generations of women every day so that they canseetheirownself-worth,theirpotentialandnotleave it there but to utilise in the many ways, you are seeing it unfoldthisafternooninsuchacreativeway.”

TheDepartmentofPublicInformation(DPI)spokewith several exhibitors, each brimming with enthusiasm to showcasetheirventuresatthewomen-centricevent.

Felicity Sonaram, the proud owner of Pixie Hallow Makes,acrochetbusiness,expressedherexcitement.“Ithink this is really, really great. It allows small businesses like myself,upcomingbusinessestogetthewordouttheretolet peopleknowheyIamhereandthisiswhatIdoandIamreally excitedfortheopportunitytodoso,”shesaid

Amirah Ally, owner of Rads Custom Rugs, shared her perspective on the expo, highlighting its importance for businesseslikehers,whichareintheirbeginningstages.

“Thisisactuallyreallygoodbecauseinthiswayitallows ustoputourselvesouttheresootherswillgettoknowabout our product because like me I am home based and I rely on theseeventstogetabitofexposure.”

EventheyoungestentrepreneursfoundaplatformatWE LIFT4.Eight-year-oldAshianaSinghseizedtheopportunity to showcase her budding seasoning business, expressing gratitudeforthechancetosellhealthyproductstopatrons.

Amongthearrayofbusinesses,TheSeaMossSanctuary stood out, owned byAbedaAlexander.The sanctuary offers seamossandseamoss-infusedjuicesandproductsaimedat nurturing people’s health through nature Alexander emphasisedthesignificanceofplatformssuchasWELIFT,in empowering women and encouraging them to explore and expandtheirhorizons.

“Consideringthefactthatwomenareusuallyinoppressed situationsitisagoodplatformtoempowerwomenaswellas toencouragethemtogoout,expand,andexplore,”shesaid. AstheexpocontinuesintoSunday,April21,from2:00hrs.to 20:00 hrs., citizens are encouraged to partake in the largest women-centricexpo,freeofcost.(DPI)

Minerfounddeadafter screaminginsleep

Aminer died on Friday night after reportedly screaming out loudly in sleep at Rock Point Backdam, JawallaVillage, RegionSeven.

ThedeadmanwasidentifiedasAdrianSteveStephen,20, ofKakoVillage,UpperMazaruni,RegionSeven. Hisdeathis turning out to be a mystery in his village. Some locals are blaming the “Kanaima”- a creature that some believe exists whileothersarefirmthatit’sathingofmythsandfolklore.”

Nevertheless,hiscolleaguesareleftinastateofshockat hisdeath.

Theytoldpolice,heworkedwiththemintheminingpitall day until around 17:00 hours without eating breakfast or lunch. After returning to the camp, the 20-year-old miner prepared them dinner but did not eat again. Instead he went straighttobedaround19:30hrs.

Atabout23:00hrs.oneofhisco-workerswasawakened by Stephen’s loud screams. He assumed that Stephen was probablyhavinganightmarebutwhentheywentovertowake him-up,hewasmotionlessandunresponsive.

He alerted his co-workers and after Stephen failed to wake-up they informed police that he was dead. The following day around 11:00hrs his body was examined by a nurse in the presence of a detective. No marks of violence were found on his body and police are now awaiting an autopsytofindhiscauseofdeath.

Investigationsareongoing.

One of the exhibitors at the WE LIFT 4’

The US$11.5 million army boat in Guyana’s waters

LaPenitenceMarketvendorsrobbedatgunpoint US$11.5Marmyboatarrives

TheUS$11.5milllion115Defiantmonohull patrolvesselthatGuyanaboughtforitsarmyhas arrivedinthecountry,PresidentIrfaanAlistated yesterdayonhisFacebookpage.

PresidentAli posted, that “The 115 Defiant monohull patrol vessel, designed and built by Metal Shark, has arrived in Guyana to join the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) fleet”. Metal Shark is anAmerican Company that specializes in the designing and building of custom vessels for commercial, defence, and law enforcement purposes.

GovernmentonMay20,2021haddippedits handsintotheContingencyFunds(moniesonly used for emergency purposes), to procure the boat and a month later during a Sitting of the National Assembly explained that was an emergencyforGuyana.

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira,atthetimesaidthattheneedwasurgent to protect Guyana from possible invasion and piracy

AdownpaymentofUS$3M(G$618M)was made and the government was required to pay follow-upinstallmentsuntilitarrived.According to the minister, the agreement that was signed with the company provided for a six-payment schedule(thefirstmadeonMay20,2021).

InAugust last year, the government went to parliament for cash to pay off, transport and delivery of the boat. It was scheduled to arrive months later in October but has finally reached theseshoresaftersometrialruns.

Thevesselissaidtobeacustombuiltonethat willsuitGuyana’sneedandwasdesignedbythe GDF

Two vendors were during the wee hours of Sunday robbed by four masked bandits reportedly armed with guns and knivesattheLaPenitenceMarket,Saffon Street,Georgetown.

The victims were identified as stall holders Shoba (only name given) and her husband(Bisnauth).

Shoba told Kaieteur News that four bandits-twoofthembrandishingfirearms and others wielding knives- leaped over the counter of their stall and demanded that they hand over their cell phones, jewellery,andanundisclosedsumofcash.

The men then escaped. No injuries werereported.

Massive labour shortage in Guyana now hinders growth of other industries

...also limits the country’s overall economic potential - GMSA President

Despite a 25 percent increaseinbusinesslastyear in the Manufacturing and Services Industry, there is a reported massive skill and labour shortage in Guyana that hinders the growth of industries and limits the country’s overall economic potential.

This is according to President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Ramsay Ali, who in his annual report presented this past week reiterated, “in an effort to remedy this challenge, we met with representatives of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill School of Business and Management to discuss training needs in themanufacturingsector.”

Tothisendhenotedthat “we agreed that research is first needed to identify the specific skills and knowledge gaps within industries. By conducting this research, targeted trainingprogrammeswillbe developed to equip individuals with the necessary skills to fill the labourshortage.”

According to Ramsay, “This will not only benefit themanufacturingsectorbut also other industries in Guyana He posited a d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e collaboration with the UniversityoftheWestIndies will ensure that the training programmes are of high quality and align with international standards

After the meeting, a M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding was signed bytheUniversityoftheWest Indies Cave Hill School and GMSA, solidifying our commitment to addressing thesegaps.

He did note however, that “this past year can be described as making significant engagements, collaborations, and strides towards fostering a more robust manufacturing sector in Guyana. As the national budget for 2024 indicated, thegrowthinnon-oilGDPin 2023 by 11 7 percent resulted in the expansion of the manufacturing industry by 25 percent and services by10.3percent.

In his remarks, Head of State, President Irfaan Ali, credited the 25 percent

increaseinbusinessinpartto an increase in fabricated metal and non-metallic products, which he said, “played a pivotal role in driving this unprecedented success, underscoring how the oil and gas sector is fuelinglocalexpansion.”

According to President Ali, the services sector also demonstrated commendable growth, with output increasing by an estimated 10.3 percent across various industries adding that “this broad-based expansion highlights that our economy is growing on numerous fronts, thus increasing economic resilience and diversification.”

He was adamant the expansion of manufacturing and services remains a key pillar of our plans for economic diversification and that “government is committed to retooling and rebooting the traditional primary commodityproducing sectors such as sugar, rice, bauxite, gold, timber,andfisheries.Butitis also keen on enhancing value addition to propel these sectors up the value chain.”

Expressing optimism however, President Ali, observed the emergence of the oil and gas sector “as a transformative force in the economy creates an urgent need to invest in manufacturing and support services to capitalize on the opportunities presented by thisburgeoningindustry.”

Speaking directly to the employment regime and opportunities, the President in referencing the local contentlegislation“aimedat

Residents of Maria’s Lodge, La Harmonie, Catherina Sophia, and surrounding areas on the Essequibo Coast will soon enjoy better access to farmlands, homes, and schools as an all-weather road is slated to be constructedthere.

The first mile will begin construction shortly, boosting transportation options for residents and farmers alike. Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustaphaheldacommunity meeting in the area on Saturday,wherehemadethis andothercommitments.

commitmentshemadetous, and for delivering on land clearing, drainage, and irrigation Now he has promised us an all-weather road…andit’sagreathelpto thepeopleinthisareahere,in terms of our livelihood, our livestock, and farming in general,”heexplained.

manufacturers and service providers in the oil and gas sector.”

He was adamant, “this legislation not only creates opportunities for local businesses to thrive but also ensures that our nation benefits fully from the development of our natural resources.”

Tothisend,thePresident posits “the successes we enjoyed over the past year were by no means accidental; They were carefully crafted in c o n s u l t a t i o n a n d collaboration with the main representative body of manufacturers and service providers in Guyana, the GMSA.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry and Commerce, OneidgeWalrond, in her remarks noted that “this year’sreportcomesatatime whenGuyanaisbeginningto see tangible results of strategicinitiativeslaunched by the government a little over three years ago as we setouttobuildasustainable andresilienteconomyinthe context of the gamechanging oil and gas discoveries.”

According to Minister Walrond, “Guyana’s remarkable economic growth has garnered international recognition, solidifying our position as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. In 2023, Guyana achieved a phenomenal real GDP growthof33.1percent,with oil production reaching 142 9 million barrels, a nearly 50 percent increase from2022.

It would be poignant to note,Governmentrecently

Thismeetingisafollowup to several previous engagements, where the minister pledged to develop some200acresofpastureto support cattle rearing. The farmers will also receive planting materials, free of cost. The residents thanked the minister for his continuousinterventionsand were all eager to see the implementation of the allweather road, as it would bringgreatrelief.

O n e r e s i d e n t , Christopher Singh, who is a coconut farmer, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that these interventions auger well for the development of these communities “The access road here, because this piece here is bad, some

With a herd of 25 cattle, Sarju also divulged that the minister’s pledge of new grazinglandswouldbeabig help to him “He [the minister]promisedusthathe will help us with different things, and I want to thank the minister and the government for assisting the farmers in this area, and we welcomeit,”Sarjusaid.

Similarly, Vicky Clenkain, who has been living in Catherina Sophia for over 20 years, said that the road and other commitments made by the minister will empower residents, promoting greater easeofbusiness.

“We’ve been suffering a lotwiththeroad,especiallyin the rainy weather Now, with the dry weather it was better, but with the rain, we had a terrible time Sometimes not even a motorbike could ride onthisroad So,wearereally thankful for the minister saying they’ll do the road because it will benefit the whole community,” he shared Clenkain further noted

we are thankful for these things because whenever he comestothecommunityand whatever he promises us, they fulfill it on their part,” he divulged Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha outlined ongoing initiatives to supportlocalfarmers,noting that of the promised 200 acres,almost120acreshave alreadybeencompleted.

“AsIamspeakingnow, thelandisbeingdeveloped, the machinery is there Also, the grass is being planted, and we will fence it. So, they will have 200 acres of land to rear their cattle. Also, we will help them with some breeding animals Simultaneously, we are doing the land clearing,”hestated.

The agriculture minister assuredthattheofficersfrom his ministry and various agencies will continue to work closely with the farming community to ensure that optimal productioncontinues.

“I am contemplating that if they can have the amount of produce…then we can also build a small agro-processing facility heresowecanhelpthemto package their produce properly and at the same time make it more valueadded,” the minister disclosed.

personsusuallyhavetocross the river to get to work. So, whenthismileiscomplete,it will help those persons,” he said.

Like Singh, Isaac Sarju believes that the area is poised for massive development. He said that over the past two years, the agricultureministerhasbeen extremely instrumental in helping to improve the lives ofresidentsinthearea.

“We’d like to thank the m i n i s t e r f o r t h e

that with the closure of the Wales Estate under the previous administration, manypersonswereunableto sustain themselves and their families. He said that the government’s interventions have been helping in this regard.

“A lot of people, who couldn’t elevate themselves by buying things like vehiclesandsuchcoulddoit [whenwehavetheroad].The cattle farmers would be able tobringoutouranimals…so

Otherconcernsrelatedto water and electricity were also addressed Minister Mustapha committed to following up with the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, to address water woes, and the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar,regardingelectricity He also reminded residents that with the gasto-energyprojectsettocome onstream in 2025 in Wales, they will also soon have access to clean, reliable and affordableelectricity.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha engaging residents and farmers of La Harmonie, Catherina Sophia and Maria’s Lodge on the West Bank Demerara

Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Ramsay Ali

Exxon’scontractorSchlumberger saysInt’loildrillingboosts itsfirstquarterprofits

(OILPRICE.COM) Schlumberger,

the world’slargestoilfieldservicesproviderand a contractor for ExxonMobil Guyana on Friday reported 14% higher net income for thefirstquartercomparedtothesameperiod last year, amid strong international drilling demandthatmorethanoffsetaweakerNorth Americanmarket.

SLB has been saying for several consecutive quarters that it expects strong internationaldrillingbusinessgoingforward, boostedbyareboundinoffshoredrillingand growingdemandforoilandgas.SLBsawits netincomerisetoUS$1.07billionforthefirst quarter, up by 14% year-on-year and in line withanalystexpectations.

Revenues of US$8.71 billion increased by 13% compared to Q1 2023 and were slightlyabovetheanalystconsensusestimate of US$8 7 billion Strong international revenuegrowthof18%offsetasofterdrilling demand in North America, where SLB’s revenuefellby6%year-over-yearinthefirst quarter of 2024, chief executive Olivier Le Peuchsaidinastatement.

“During the quarter, we continued to benefit from our favorable exposure to the internationalmarkets,withremarkableyearon-yeargrowthof29%intheMiddleEast& Asia,inadditiontogrowthof18%inEurope &Africa,”LePeuchadded.

Followingan“excitingstarttotheyear”, SLBexpectsgrowthmomentumtocontinue, the executive noted. “The oil and gas industry continues to benefit from strong market fundamentals driven by a growing demand outlook. This is resulting in a significant baseload of activity, particularly

in the international and offshore markets, closely aligned with the strengths of our business,”LePeuchsaid.

In its report the company mentioned that inGuyana,itstechnologiessetanewstandard for performance in an open-water-work campaign for ExxonMobil Guyana

AdvancedSLBtoolsdeployedinthe13-well campaignimprovedtherateofpenetrationby 60%, reduced the time for gyro surveys by 85%,andimprovedsteeringby20%.

The campaign saw the first use of a 26inch polycrystalline diamond cutter bit in Guyana, the application of the GyroLink™ definitive gyro-while-drilling service, and thefirstglobalimplementationofanine-inch DynaForce™ high-performance drilling motor integrated with the DynaPower XE™ extreme-environmentmotorelastomerinthe PowerDrive vorteX™ powered rotary steerable system. The first use in Guyana of an AccuStrike™ short-makeup drill bit expanded the performance capabilities in complextrajectorywells.

Also in Guyana, the SLB SureRock™ enhanced sidewall coring solution was utilized as a key enabler to avoid drilling a bypass well for whole core in the Stabroek Block. Using advanced digital capabilities and real-time insights from nearby wells, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) and SLB established an efficient strategy that acquired118sidewallcoresinonlytworuns, representingarecoveryrateof96%.

Through elimination of the bypass well, EMGLsaved15daysofrigtime,equatingto 2,550 metric tons of CO2 emissions, while achievingallformationevaluationobjectives

Massive labour shortage in...

Frompage14 signedoffonasixthprojectfor the ExxonMobil-led consortium operating in the Stabroek Block, but its expanded production poses a risknotonlytotheavailability of skills for the domestic labourforce,butpotentiallyan increase in cost of living for citizens

Thismuchisdocumented in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that was s u b m i t t e d t o t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the approvalprocess

In that document, it

outlines that with the US$12 7B Whiptail Development Project, there willinfactbenodirectimpact o n t h e c o u n t r y ’s administrative divisions, population distribution, or education systems, socioeconomic conditions, employment,andlivelihoods

Furtheritsaidthat“areafor work will be small and thus willnotresultinanychangein the overall population distribution” What in fact is projected, is a potential increaseinthepricesforgoods and services on the domestic market, meaning an even

steeper increase in cost of living

Expounding on its rationaleforitsconclusion,the EIA notes “The Project’s potential for adverse impacts onsocioeconomicconditions, employment, and livelihood include a potential increased costoflivingandcompetition among local businesses for qualifiedworkersduetolocal hiringandspendingassociated withtheProject”Meaningthe domesticsectorwilllosemore ofitsskilledemployeestothe oil sector with the expanding of ExxonMobil’s operations offshoreGuyana

Sevencountriesnowfullypowered...

Frompage11 feasibilitystudyontheproject,evaluatingor comparing the use of gas to other renewable optionssuchassolar

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has howeverdismissedthepossibilityofsolaras a base load supply for the country, arguing thatitwouldnotbestablewithouttheuseof batteries which would then prove uneconomical. There was no independent study done to confirm the Vice President’s assertion, even as reports indicate that solar power is now cheaper than other sources of energy,especiallygas.

The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP)ina2022Reporttitled: “Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping

our Future in a Transforming World”, revealedthatpowergenerationthroughsolar has become far cheaper than which is being reported.

In the document which was released on September 8, the organisation explained, “Contrary to the projected average annual cost reduction of 2.6 percent between 2010 and 2020, solar photovoltaics costs declined by15percentayearoverthesameperiod.”

This means that the price of electricity fromsolardeclinedby89percentinthese10 y e a r s . R e a d m o r e h e r e :

https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2022/ 09/11/solar-power-supply-costs-declinedby-15-yearly-between-2010-and-2020undp-2022-report/

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Elements in the State apparatus hampering efforts of

ruling party to bring society together

While efforts are being made to bring all civic and political factions together in a Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC), the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has noted that other elements in the State apparatus were busy driving them apart.

column dedicated to slandering Miles Fitzpatrick and David DeCaires, two politically independent lawyers, now deceased…”

completely subject to party control as at present.

- GHRA

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In a media release on Sunday, the GHRA pointed to instances in which the elements associated with the government have been using their platform as means of division.

Alluding to examples, the GHRA noted that last week, inter alia Guyanese were treated to a full-page advertisement in the Sunday Stabroek, paid for by a wellknown PPP camp-follower accusing many named private individuals of remaining silent over rigging of the 2020 elections.

The human rights association went to explain that “The advert also singled out individual opposition parliamentarians for their supposed ‘heinous acts’.”

“The following day the State-owned Guyana Chronicle published a

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“Later in the week, the GHRA said “the Chronicle devoted an entire column to ridiculing and slandering a former opposition politician, Eusi Kwayana, now 99 years of age and living abroad for many years. At the same time, a Minister of Government was berating a well-known Guyanese female media presenter in a foul-mouthed rant on Facebook for commenting critically on the current electricity supply crisis.”

According to the GHRA, not since the worst period of the 1970s and ‘80s has, the State-owned media been so

The human rights association noted further that abusive threats and character assassination by the ruling party for both the recent and distant past are no doubt intended as a deterr ent to public comments on current scandalous official actions.

All of this, the GHRA said bodes ill for the recently announced Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC).

The Association said that by bringing the political and civic sectors together in the formal structure of a CRC could be a step in the right direction of strengthening decent relations between them and would also help to weaken the political

However, it pointed out that the evidence provided this week would suggest respectful relations as a priority of the ruling party ranks lower than keeping independent opinion suppressed.

The GHRA emphasized that rather than bring the sectors together, current trends reinforce civil society tendencies to regard the State as inherently the enemy, rather than (even potentially) the friend, of human flourishing.

It pointed out that “Civic activists are almost always temperamentally on the outside, mistrustful, ever vigilant for evidence of a breach of faith.”

Netanyahu to reject any sanctions on army units

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reject any sanctions on the country’s military, after reports that the US plans to cut aid to one unit.

“I will fight it with all my strength,” the prime minister said on Sunday.

Earlier, the Axios news site said the US would target Israel’s Netzah Yehuda battalion over alleged human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.

The BBC understands any move would come under a US ban on aid to foreign units credibly implicated in violations.

When asked last week about reports that US military aid to the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) units could be cut over allegations of human rights abuses in the occupied West Bank, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “I’ve made determinations; you can expect to see them in the days ahead”. Washington – Israel’s main ally – has never suspended aid to an IDF unit before.

The Israeli military said Netzah Yehuda was operating in accordance with international law.

“Following publications about sanctions against the battalion, the IDF is not aware of the issue,” the military is

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. “The IDF works and will continue to work to investigate any unusual event in a practical manner and according to law.”

Reuters”If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the IDF, I will fight it,” Mr Netanyahu said

On Saturday, Axios cited three US sources with knowledge of the issue as saying that Mr Blinken was expected to announce measures against Netzah Yehuda within days.

It said the move would be over alleged abuses in the West Bank, including one incident in which a Palestinian-American man, 80-year-old Omar Assad, died after being bound and gagged

by Israeli soldiers during a search in the West Bank in January 2022.

At the time the US called for a “thorough criminal investigation and full accountability” in the case.

The IDF later said it regretted Mr Assad’s death and that the Netzah Yehuda commander would be “reprimanded”over it. It added that two soldiers would barred from serving in senior positions for two years, but would not be prosecuted. It said Mr Assad’s death had been caused by a pre-existing medical condition.

Mr. Assad’s family, many of whom are based in the US, condemned the decision to close the case.

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Nearly 200 bodies found in mass grave at hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis

(ALJAZEERA) - Palestinian al-Shifa – the largest medical civildefencecrewshaveuncovered facility in the coastal enclave. a mass grave inside the Nasser Israel’s war on Gaza has killed Medical Complex in Gaza’s Khan more than 34,000 Palestinians, Younis, with 180 bodies recovered according to local health officials, so far, Al Jazeera has learned, as devastatedGaza’stwolargestcities Israel has continued bombardment and left a swath of destruction of the devastated coastal enclave acrosstheterritory formorethansixmonths. At least two-thirds of the

The discovery on Saturday, and casualties are children and women. continuing into Sunday, comes It also says the real toll is likely after the Israeli military withdrew higher as many bodies are stuck its troops from the southern city on beneaththerubbleleftbyairstrikes April7. or are in areas that are unreachable

Palestinian health workers unearth a body buried by Israeli forces inside Nasser hospital compound in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on April 21, 2024. [AFP]

Much of the Khan Younis is for medics. Israel launched its war now in ruins after months of on Gaza after fighters from Hamas relentless Israeli bombardment and and other Palestinian groups heavy fighting. “In the hospital carriedoutanattackinsideIsraelon courtyard, civil defence members October 7 killing about 1,139 and paramedics have retrieved 180 people and taking more than 200 bodies buried in this mass grave by peoplecaptive. the Israeli military The bodies Israel kills 18 children in Rafah include elderly women, children Meanwhile,Israelistrikesinthe and young men,”Al Jazeera’s Hani coastal enclave are ongoing, Mahmoud reporting from Khan includingonthesouthernGazacity YounissaidonSunday of Rafah, where overnight raids airraidsonRafah,wheremorethan threats of a looming ground calls for restraint, including from In a statement late on Saturday, killed 22 people, including 18 half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 invasion in Rafah were “growing”. theUnitedStates. Palestinian emergency services children, health officials said on million has sought refuge from “Entire families are being directly However, the US continues to said: “Our teams continue their Sunday The first strike on early on fightingelsewhere. targeted inside the residential provideweaponspackagestoIsrael search and retrieval operations for Sunday morning killed a man, his The second strike killed 17 homes they shelter in,” he said. while pushing for an end to the remaining martyrs in the wife and their three-year-old child, children and two women, all from “Thereisashatteredsenseofsafety hostilities in the six-month war On coming days as there are still a according to the nearby Kuwaiti the same family, according to and security for people already Saturday, the US House of significant number of them ” Hospital, which received the hospital records. An air strike in traumatised from fleeing from one Representatives with broad Earlierthisweek,amassgravewas bodies. The woman was pregnant, Rafah the night before killed nine place to another.” Israel has also bipartisan support passed a $95bn discovered at al-Shifa Hospital andthedoctorsmanagedtosavethe people,includingsixchildren. pledged to expand its ground legislative package providing following a two-week siege. It was baby,thehospitalsaid. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud offensive to the city on the border security assistance to Ukraine, oneofseveralmassgravesfoundat Israel has carried out near daily reporting from Rafah said the with Egypt despite international IsraelandTaiwan.

Clippers defeat Mavericks in Game 1 of NBA playoff series

James Harden scored 28 had plenty to get past the many as 29 points on P.J. Washington scored points and Ivica Zubac set Mavericks with 22 points multiple occasions in the 11 points for Dallas, which his playoff career high with from Paul George, while thirdquarter shot 22 percent in the first 20whileadding15rebounds Terance Mann and Russell Luka Doncic scored 33 halfandamere9.5percent(2 as the Los Angeles Clippers Westbrook each added 13. points with 13 rebounds and of 21) in the second quarter, made a statement in Game 1 Mann had nine rebounds KyrieIrvingadded31forthe when the Clippers turned a of a first-round Western while Harden had eight Mavericks. Dallas had an 34-22 lead into a 56-30 Conference series with a assists. impressiveendtotheregular advantage. 109-97 victory over the Los Angeles’ high-level season when they won 16 of Mavericks centre Daniel visitingDallasMavericks. defencewaspresentfromthe 18 games before using Gafford played just six

The No. 4-seed Clippers start, holding Dallas to just mainly reserves over the minutes in the first half after were playing without star eight points in the second final two games, both he rolled his left ankle but Kawhi Leonard because of quarter and 30 in the first defeats, after their playoff returned in the second half. knee inflammation, but they half. The Clippers led by as seedwasdetermined. Irving was 1 of 6 from the floor in the first half, while Doncic was 4 of 13. The star duowas1of10from3-point range in the opening two quarters.

Monday April 22, 2024

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

You're on your own when it comes to financial matters, Aries. This may not be what you want to hear, but it's how things are. Trust that your business acumen will pull you through.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Today would be best spent alone behind closed doors, if possible There's a lot of tension in your household for some reason. Since there isn't much you can do about it, try toavoiditaltogether

GEMINI(May21–June20)

There is a lot of tension in the air today, Gemini. It isn't just affecting your home environment - everyone you meetseemsoutofsorts.You'll behappiestifyouspendmuch oftodayinsolitude.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You feel that life would run more smoothly if money didn't exist! The amount of time and energy you spend sorting out your financial affairsisfrustrating.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You feel invincible, Leo, as though you can do anything. Enjoy this abundance of energy, for it's certainly unusual. Take care not to overdo it If you haven't joggedinawhile,runningfive miles today will leave you prettysoretomorrow

VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)

This would be a good day to putter about the house, Virgo. It isn't a good day to travel or beginanymajorprojects.This couldbejusttheexcuseyou've needed for taking a day off fromyourlife!

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

This isn't the best day for gettogethers, Libra.What starts as a friendly lunch could wind up a gossip-fest. No one wins in that situation. You could fear leaving the table because of whatthey'dsayaboutyou.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

Don't take anything you hear today at face value, especially where money is concerned. A well-meaning friend could approach you with an opportunitynottobemissed.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

This would be a good day to stay home and spend much of the day in bed, Sagittarius! You've been working especially hard lately, juggling both home and work with your usualaplomb.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Love is very much in the air today, Capricorn, so take advantage of this auspicious environment!Inviteyourloved one over to play hide and seek underthebedcovers!

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

This is a day to stay close to home and organize the house. Youmightbethinkinghowyou can best utilize your living space. It's clear that some improvements are in order Perhaps you could begin by tackling all those minor repairs thatyou'vebeenputtingoff.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

You need rest, Pisces. Even though you have a long list of tasks,seeifyoucanleavesome for later All signs indicate that youshouldn'tstraytoofarfrom home today if you can help it. You're easily distracted, which makesyoupronetoaccidents.

Dallas was much improvedinthethirdquarter, scoring 34 points to top its first-half total, but still went into the final period with an 87-64 deficit. Irving had 20 points in the third quarter on 8-of-8shooting.

WI women beat...

From page 21 stitch any partnership of note. Maroof held one end up as she recorded her 20th ODI fifty off 91 balls. She was the seventh Pakistan wicket to fall with the score on 196 in the 42nd second over

For West Indies, while Ramharack and Fletcher cut a swathe through the middle order, Henry cleaned up the tail. That Pakistan reached 2 2 3 w a s d o w n t o wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi’s28-ball25.

In the chase, while West Indies lost opener Rashada Williams relatively early, Hayley Mathews kept the innings going with 44. Once she fell, it was Shemaine Campbelle and Taylor, who kept the innings chugging along.

Theduoadded88off106 balls for the third wicket going toe-to-toe in a bid to reach their fifty Campbelle got their first, reaching the landmark in 70 balls, while Taylor reached their three ballslateroff61balls.

Taylor kept the innings goingevenasCampbellefell but Dar brought about a flurry of wickets to silence the visitors. Sadia Iqbal took out Taylor in the 47th over while Dar picked two wickets in the 49th to tilt the scales marginally in Pakistan’s favour But Ramharack kept her cool when it mattered the most. (ESPNcricinfo)

Ryan Garcia floors Devin Haney three times in epic majority-decision upset

One of the most unusual professional record. Against build-ups to a major fight in all odds that’s exactly what recent memory delivered an happened. even more sensational On paper it was the outcome on Saturday night caliber of event that’s all too when Ryan Garcia scored rare in boxing today: a three knockdowns of Devin matchup between two of Haney and handed the WBC America’s brightest young super lightweight champion stars,both25yearsoldandat the first defeat of his the front of their athletic professional career in a primes with ample top-flight dramaticupset. experience.

Garcia,whowentoffasa Butitwasalmostentirely 6-1 underdog, dropped overshadowed by Garcia’s Haney in the seventh, 10th erratic behavior both in and 11th rounds behind an person and on social media, explosive cocktail of speed which descended into a and power to win a majority disturbingblurofconspiracy decision by scores of 115- theories and apparent cries 109,114-110and112-112. forhelp. than hurt the first time. He The promotion had three. But while Garcia may there’s no question Haney

Their scheduled 12- “Come on, guys, you jumped on me, like we knew largely been marketed be the bigger celebrity today came in as the more round meeting at Brooklyn’s really thought I was crazy?” he would, but I was just around the pair’s rivalry in – with upwards of 10.5m accomplished professional Barclays Centre had been Garciasaidafterward. sleeping. I thought the ref let the amateurs, six bouts in all Instagram followers with and the overwhelming downgraded to a non-title ’m disappointed with my him turn his back and hold a with each fighter winning 7.5m more on TikTok – favouriteonmerit. bout on Friday when Garcia performance,” Haney said. littletoomuch.” weighed in at 143.2lbs, a “But I showed I’m a true Garcialanded106of285 yawning 3.2lbs above the champion and I can fight blows (37.2%) according to division limit and a debacle after being knocked down C o m p u b o x ’s p u n c h that was interpreted as a sign andhurt.Hecaughtmeearly, statistics, compared to 87 of of ill preparation and tumult caught me by surprise. We 214 for Haney (40.7%). But within his camp. It also trained for [the left hook], the disparity in power shots created a situation where but I got in there and I fell made all the difference with Garcia could no longer take asleep, and he caught me Garcia landing more than Haney’s championship, only withit. twice as many (95) as his h i s u n b l e m i s h e d “I was more surprised opponent(45).

Celtics start fast, roll past Heat 114-94 in Game 1

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball in game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden

TheBostonCelticsreceived23points,10 minutes.

rebounds and 10 assists from Jayson Tatum Bostonscoredthegame’sfirst14points. and breezed to a 114-94 victory over the Miami didn’t get on the scoreboard until visiting Miami Heat on Sunday in Game 1 of Adebayo made a jumper with 8:44 left in the a first-round Eastern Conference playoff firstquarter Bostonled17-2with8:26toplay series. in the quarter, but the Heat outscored the

The top-seeded Celtics made 22 of 49 Celtics 19-9 the rest of the way to make it a attempts from 3-point range (44.9 percent). 26-21gameafter12minutes.

All eight Celtics who saw playing time made The Celtics had their largest lead of the a 3-point attempt. Eighth-seeded Miami was firsthalfat18pointsafterTatumcappeda9-0 12of37(32.4percent)from3-pointrange. run with two free throws that put Boston up Derrick White (20 points), Kristaps 48-30with7:03toplaybeforethebreak. Porzingis (18), Jaylen Brown (17), Sam The Celtics made 12 of 30 attempts from Hauser (12 ) andAl Horford (10 ) also scored 3-point range in the first two quarters and led in double figures for Boston, which won all 60-45athalftime.

threemeetingswithMiamiduringtheregular Boston held Miami to 14 points in the season.Miami’sBamAdebayoledallscorers third quarter The Celtics went on a 15-0 run with 24 points. Delon Wright came off the and had an 89-57 advantage when White bench to score 17 for the Heat, and Jaime madea3-pointerwith31.9secondsleftinthe JaquezJr added16. third. Boston made 7 of 13 attempts from Miamiuseda26-7runtopullwithin103- distanceinthequarter 88,with3:58remaining,buttheHeatfailedto Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is get any closer than 14 points in the final WednesdayinBoston.

Ryan Garcia knocks down Devin Haney during Saturday’s fight at Barclays Centre.

Photograph: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy

Slingerz FC, GDF undefeated

- KFC Elite League continues tomorrow with double-header

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the 87th minute, ahead of their upcoming SlingerzFCmaintainedtheirunbeatenstreak clashwithGuyanaPoliceForce. inthisseason’sKFCEliteleague,clinching3

Both GDF and Slingerz FC are now tied –0victoriesonSaturdayevening. on 21 points after Saturday’s matches, with Defending champions, GDF, defeated GDFholdingafive-goaladvantage. Ann’s Grove, while Slingerz FC, the GDF has netted 38 goals in seven games inaugural Elite League champions, had the while conceding just four, whereas Slingerz betteroftheir‘WestSide’rivals,DenAmstel. FC has scored 32 times and conceded only

UndertheguidanceofcoachJoseph‘Bill’ three goals, making them the league’s most Wilson, GDF seized control after a goalless defensivelysoundteam. first half, with Obumchi Benjamin netting a A showdown with GDF on May 4 will brace (59’, 74’) and Amos Ramsay sealing marktheendoftheShi-Oil-sponsoredteam’s thewinwithagoalinthe87thminute. firstroundofmatches.

Inthe‘WestSide’derby,SlingerzFCtook

FortheGDF,priortotheirencounterwith an early lead with MarcusWilson finding the SlingerzFC,willfaceDenAmstel. net 22 minutes into the game, a lead they

The action continues tomorrow with maintained until Curtez Kellman extended it Monedderlust taking on Buxton United at inthe58thminute.RicardoHalleycappedoff 6:30pm,followedbyWesternTigersbattling the victory for Coach Alex Thomas’ side in FrutaConquerorsinthenight’ssecondgame.

WI women beat Pakistan in thrilling second ODI

Stafanie Taylor‘s 73 on the back of tidy three-wicket hauls from Chinelle Henry and Karishma Ramharack helpedWest Indies beat Pakistan by two wickets in the second ODI, but not beforealatetwist.

The game all but seemed to be heading in West Indies’ direction when they were placed at 180-3 after 41 overs, chasing 224 However,captainNidaDar‘sfourwicketburstbroughtPakistanback tolife.

West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals to slip to 219-7 in the final over needing five off six. Fatima Sana then conceded just support from the rest of the batting unit as two off the first five balls which included the Pakistan were bowled out for 223 in 48.5 wicketofAfyFletcher. overs.This despiteWest Indies conceding 30

But with three needed off the final ball, extras (21 wides and nine leg byes) in their Ramharack got an edge to squirt just past the innings. wicketkeeper’s left for a four and spark Henrystruckwithherthirdballtakingout deliriousscenesintheWestIndiescamp. Muneeba Ali for one. Ameen and Maroof

Withthewin,WestIndiesalsoclaimedan then added 80 for the second wicket to take unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI Pakistanforward. series.

Ameen fell for 50 lbw to Fletcher, and Opting to bat, Sidra Ameen and Bismah onceshewasdismissed,thehostsfailedto Maroof struck fifties, but didn’t get much

(Continued on page 19)

ExxonM Linden Inter-school football semis on today

TheExxonMobilLindenSchoolsfootball witharesounding2–0victory tournament, hosted by New Era The heroics of Pharez Nobel, who struck Entertainment,hasreachedtothesemi-finals, twice in the 26th and 60th minute, propelled setting the stage for a thrilling day of football Harmony Secondary to an unforgettable win, at the Wisburg School ground. Kicking off sinceitwastheironlywinforthetournament. the action at 2:00 pm today, Mackenzie High Mackenzie High School closed out their School will clash with Linden Foundation in group matches in style, securing a decisive 2 ashowdownbrimmingwithanticipation. –0winoverLindenTechnicalInstitute.

Meanwhile, the defending champions, In a high-stakes encounter, Mandela ChristianburgWismarSecondary,areprimed McRaeandDexterMilorosetotheoccasion, to take on the formidable Kwakwani findingthebackofthenetinthe64thand68th Secondaryinabattleofwills. minute respectively, clinching a crucial

In the conclusion of the Group Stage, victoryforMackenzieHighSchool. Harmony Secondary orchestrated a As the semi-finals loom large on the sensational upset, stunning last year’s title- horizon, the stage is set for an exhilarating holders, Christianburg Wismar Secondary, displayofskill,passion,anddetermination.

Dharry KO Marques to win WBA...

people”twoyearsagoiswhatfiredDharry’s “I’m always fighting for 83,000 square approach on Sunday morning against miles and the people within it. Thanks to Marques. everyone for supporting me, this would not

“I turned myself into an animal after I have been possible without their support. heardthes**ttalkinginGuyanaandmyown They will live to see I become a world people talking s**t. So, I said let me show champion for Guyana- I will fly this flag them who the hell the little Indian guy is,” a high.” visiblypumpedDharryrelated. “I’ve been doing it in the amateur world

“This means a lot, this is the biggest title and now I’m in the professional to reign and I’ve won. I’ve won eight titles, I’ve fought rule.” fortheworldtitleandthisistheclosestthing

OTHER RESULTS toaworldchampionyoucangetotherthana In the lone female fight of the night, worldtitle.” Nataly Delgado of Panama got the judges

For Marques, it was simply a case of not nod, securing a Unanimous Decision win being able to match his more superior overJohanaZunigaofVenezuela. opponent. The announcement by Ean McPherson

“I think Dharry was the better guy that Delgado won 96-94, 96-94, 97-93 was tonight. Both of us trained very hard for this met by boos as fans felt Zuniga had done fight, but God doesn’t make mistake, enough to win the WBA Fedelatin Super whoever deserves to get it (will get it),” Flyweighttitle.

Marquessaidafterthefight. The highly anticipated six-round

“Iwishhimthebestfortheworldtitle.” Catchweight contest between Laured ‘Lion’ Marques said he is looking to step up in StewartandImran‘Magic’Khanprovedtoa weightclasstoBantamweightand“anybody one-sided affair, with Stewart boxing his at118-122I’mfighting.” way to a fourth round TKO, while Jean ALLICOCK TURNS PRO… Carlos Rodrigues of the Dominican LIKEAPRO! Republic and Rafael Marquez of Venezuela

At the weigh-in the night before, fought to an intense draw in their six-round Olympian and fan favourite Keevin Flyweightclash.

‘Lightning’ Allicock promised an early Edmond Declou prevailed with a knockout on his professional debut and that Unanimous Decision victory over Bajan he produced against Bajan Jusean Shepherd Charwin Estwick in their six-round intheirsix-roundJuniorLightweightclash. Middleweightfight,PedroSanchezearneda Like Dharry, Allicock had entire arena TKO win over Terrence Adams in the final roaring in support, and the 2020 Tokyo round of their six-round Super Olympic boxer dictated the pace of the Bantamweight showdown and Bajan contest, forcing Shepherd to go on the Ricardo Blackman won via Majority defensiveearly DecisionagainstGuyaneseStephanDaSilva “Tonight it all went to plan,” Allicock intheirsix-roundBantamweightfight. told News Room Sport. (Newsroom/ Avenash Ramzan)

Action between the GDF and Ann’s Grove in the KFC Elite League

Latest action in the ExxonMobil Linden Inter-School football tournament.

Stafanie Taylor

Chase’s Academic powers five past Bartica Sec’ to book semi finals spot Bar

- President’s College, Waramuri Top and Dolphin Secondary also into semis

Chase’s Academic Foundation, Bartica Secondary, East Ruimveldt President’s College, Waramuri Secondary, Ann’s Grove Top, and Dolphin Secondary have Secondary, West Ruimveldt emerged as the top four contenders Secondary, Chase’s Academic to advance to the semi-finals of the Foundation, President’s College Petra/Milo Schools Under-18 (PC), Waramuri Top, and Dolphin Football tournament, after Secondary clinchingvictoriesonSundayatthe In a gripping opener, Chase’s MinistryofEducationground. Academic Foundation dominated The tournament, which kicked defending champions Bartica off on March 23, has reached a Secondary in a resounding 5-0 crucial stage in determining the victory 2024 champions, following intense Bryan Wharton, NeeiazBaksh, quarter-final clashes featuring Omar Sam, Isaiah Ifill, and Mark

Glasgow each found the net, them as strong contenders for the matchwitha1-0victory showcasingastellarteameffort. title. Looking ahead, Chase’s Baksh and Sam set the pace Meanwhile, in another quarter- Academic will face off against withearlygoalsinthe20thand21st final showdown, Waramuri Top Dolphin in the first semi-final, minutes, while Captain Wharton asserted their dominance over East while President’s College will lock extendedtheleadto3-0bythe40th CoastAnn’s Grove Secondary with horns with Waramuri Top in the minute. Glasgow and Ifill sealed a convincing 3-0 win. Early goals othersemi-final. the deal with individual goals, from Rondell Peters and Chetram SponsoredbyNestleMILOand securingChase'semphatic5-0win. Thomas put Waramuri in control, endorsed by the Ministry of President’s College claimed a with Odel Holmes sealing the Education with approval from the comfortable 3-1 victory over a victoryinthe62ndminute. Guyana Football Federation decent East Ruimveldt side, thanks Dolphin Secondary secured (GFF), the tournament enjoys to the heroics of DanielAlexander, theirsemi-finalberthbyedgingout widespread support from entities IyshownMorriah, and Shamar the resilient West Ruimveldt such as the Ministry of Sport, Barrington.

ThevictorypropelsPC Secondarywithasolitarygoalfrom Ministry of Local Government, into the semi-finals, positioning Ezekiel Frank David, ending the YellowSteelInc.,andMVPSports.

President’s College goal scorers (from left) Daniel Alexander, Iyshown Morriah and Shamar Barrington

Chase’s Walcott (right) challenging an air-ball against Bartica’s winger.

Some of the action between PC and East Ruimveldt Secondary.

Waramuri’s striker intercepted by Ann’s Grove defenders during quarterfinals matchup

Dharry KO Marques to win WBA Super Flyweight Gold title

-Allicockmakesimpressive debut,StewartKOKhan

US A - b a s e d move. slugfest that saw him knockeddown. fight the next best Guyanese let’s give me some respect- I G u y a n e s e Marques was afforded (Dharry) dropping to the They didn’t see anything fighter and I’ve shown them want that from the people in fighter Elton little time to settle, with canvas twice in the final else. I take that as an insult,” who Elton Dharry is. Two boxinghere.”

Dharry delivered a clinical Dharry advancing and round at the National Dharrysaid. decades, 20 years, I’m Thereactionfrom“the performance in the wee forcing his opponent to the Stadium,Providence. “Tonight I came home to undefeated in Guyana, so (Continued on page 21) hours of Sunday, stopping ropesforthemostpart. Doubling as a promoter, compatriot Dexter Marques Dharry, with his 16th like he did for this card, to win the WBA Super career knockout, improved Dharry still managed to pull Flyweight Gold title at the to 28-6-1 and moves closer off a Unanimous Decision Everestground. to that much sought-after win and cop the WBC The 38-year-old Dharry world title shot, while International Super dominated the feature Marquesisnow18-4. Flyweighttitle. contest of the Guyana Fight An emotional Dharry, “I give it my best that Night card from the onset, speaking after the bout, night- I was knocked down going on the offensive with reminisced on his 2022 fight twice- and my people, all the crowd behind his every against Orlando Penabla, a they saw was me getting

Keevin Allicock (left) taking full control of his first professional against Barbados’ Ju-Sean Shepherd.

Nataly Delgado (left) evades a punch from Johana Zuniga for the WBA Fedelatin Super Flyweight fight.

Elton Dharry celebrating his win over Dexter Marques at the Everest Ground.