Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 07-03-2024

Nationalregistryfordonors,transplantstobecreated

President Ali vows action following Bartica mining community tragedy

–– Police Commissioner to collaborate with miners to enhance security

President Dr. Irfaan Ali participated in the funeral service, on Wednesday, for Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff, a miner who tragically lost his life, alongside his employee, Donovan Washington, during a robbery committed by bandits. Moreover, the president visited Washington’s residence and had a gathering with his family members in Bartica (Office of the President Photos)

Haiti’s ‘complex’ situation now at UN Security Council

–– CARICOM Chair says, maintains consensus among key players paramount

Data analytics platform on cards

–– as CARICOM nations inch closer to achieving food security targets

Mibicuri Hospital transforms healthcare landscape with $100M upgrade –– from X-Rays to ultrasounds, cardiac beds and expanded wards

Electoral fraud case: Trial remains in limbo

–– as Magistrate refers question of ‘constitutional considerations’ to the High Court –– ‘I’m fed up’ witness tells courts due to frustration over delays

Labour Ministry empowers workforce with vital workplace legislation seminar

Haiti’s ‘complex’ situation now at UN Security Council - CARICOM Chair says

— maintains consensus among key players paramount

By Naomi Parris

THE United Nations (UN) Security Council on Wednesday held a closed session in response to the recent waves of violence in

Haiti, according to current Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali.

The CARICOM chair, in a live broadcast statement, said the regional bloc over

the past three days have been engaging the Haitian private sector, civil society and religious organisations, however, a consensus between these stakeholders and the government has not been met.

“The situation is complex, with many moving parts. It is compounded by the absence of key institutions functioning, such as the presidency and the parliament,” the CARICOM chair said.

The situation, he said, is further being exacerbated by ‘outbreaks of violence and a lack of humanitarian aid.’

According to a UN Security Council report, criminal

gangs in the capital, Portau-Prince, have conducted coordinated attacks targeting police stations, prisons, critical infrastructure, and civilian sites in the city, beginning on February 29.

On March 2, armed gang members raided two penitentiaries and according to the UN, at least 3,800 inmates were freed during those raids.

Over the weekend, Haitian authorities announced a three-day state of emergency and imposed a nighttime curfew.

“We've been urging all Haitian stakeholders and the urgent need for a consensus given that they all agree that

the solution must be Haitian led and Haitian owned. Consensus, and getting a consensus is therefore of paramount importance,” Dr. Ali said.

CARICOM, he further noted, recognises the need for a political solution to anchor any stabilisation of the security and humanitarian efforts.

“The fact that more people have died in Haiti in the early part of this year than in Ukraine, must give everyone in Haiti and in the international community serious pause. This matter goes to the UN Security Council today in closed session. It is clear that Haiti, even with a home-grown solution, will need the support of not just Caricom but international community.”

Dr. Ali stressed that there must be a consensus among the key players in Haiti.

“We in Caricom are fully committed to utilising all our efforts and all our energies, dedicated as a collective on this pressing matter of Haiti.”

Just last week, CARICOM leaders, in a collective decision, determined that the regional bloc will take the lead in conducting a needs assessment to support the significant advancement in hosting elections in Haiti.

Leaders recently converged in Guyana for the

the

of CARICOM Heads of Government. Confidential meetings were conducted with Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, who participated in the extended four-day summit.

“The issue of Haiti was a very difficult task…this is of such importance to the region and the region has to provide the leadership on this issue that we cannot avoid at this time,” the CARICOM Chair had said while addressing journalists at a press conference for the summit.

Haiti is expected to host elections in August 2025.

According to the UN, over the weekend, gunmen tried to seize the Haiti’s main international airport; at least four police officers and five civilians have been killed in the violence since 29 February, while nearly 15,000 people have been displaced.

In 2018, protests began in communities throughout Haiti in response to increased fuel prices. Over time, those protests evolved into demands for the resignation of Jovenel Moïse, the then president of Haiti.

An interim government was installed after the assassination of Moïse; however, surges of violence continued.

46th Regular Meeting of

Conference

CARICOM’s Chairman and Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali

A demonstrator holds up a Haitian flag during fiery protests (Source: AP / Odelyn Joseph)

President Ali vows action following Bartica mining community tragedy

–– Police Commissioner to collaborate with miners to enhance security

By Naomi Parris

IN the midst of engaging miners in Bartica, Region Seven, President Dr. Irfaan Ali contemplated strategies for fostering greater collaboration to enhance security within the mining communities of the region

Tragedy struck in Arimu Backdam earlier this week, as two miners fell victim to masked gunmen who attacked and fatally robbed them.

During Wednesday’s engagement, a resident who identified himself as a miner recounted the recent events and requested assistance to improve security.

President Ali, in response, noted that he will initiate a meeting with the Police Commissioner [Clif-

ton Hicken] and miners to enhance collaboration.

The top cop, who was present during the engagement, is expected to meet again with miners and other stakeholders.

During the engagement, one of the concerned miners voiced, “A miner myself, I think we should get better security, especially in the interior area. Like patrols.’

Further, the Head of State noted that, while most miners have their own private security, a network could be established to enhance this.

“All you miners that are mining in a locality, when you go into the area, you have to build a network among yourself so that you can support each other,” President Ali said.

On Monday it was re-

ported that police are hunting for the two men in connection with the murders of Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff, a 50-year-old of Byderabo Road, Bartica, and Donvan Washington, a 26-year-old porter of Lot 11 Seventh Avenue, Bartica.

According to the police, the suspects, two masked men on a red ATV, allegedly carted off with 102 ounces of raw gold valued at $37M and two licensed firearms (a .32 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun) belonging to Sheriff.

Sheriff is the owner of a six-inch land dredge operation at Arimu Backdam.

On Wednesday Sheriff was laid to rest in Bartica, President Ali joined the family members and friends of the businessman for the funeral service.

President Ali on Wednesday attended the funeral of Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff, a 50-year-old miner who, along with his 26-year-old employee, Donovan Washington, was shot and killed by bandits during a robbery over the weekend

Remembering Dr. Cheddi Jagan: Region Two pays respect, honours legacy

ON the solemn occasion of March 6, Guyanese gathered at the Cheddi Jagan play park in Anna Regina to pay homage to the late President Cheddi Jagan, founder of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and a revered figure in the nation’s history.

Stalwarts of the PPP in Region Two convened for a heartfelt wreath-laying ceremony, commemorating Dr. Jagan’s enduring legacy of democracy and his unwavering dedication to uplifting the lives of all Guyanese.

The ceremony commenced with a poignant moment of silence honoring three departed comrades of the party - Ayube Khan, Puresh Kishore, and Shaundel Fernandes, deputy Toshao of Mainstay/Whyaka. Bhagans, poems, songs, hymns, tributes, and kaseeda filled the air, underscoring the profound respect and admiration for Dr. Jagan’s

contributions.

Addressing the gathered crowd of party supporters, Humace Oodit, the first secretary of the PPP in Region Two, reflected on Dr. Jagan’s profound impact on the nation.

He emphasised Dr. Jagan’s vision for a harmoni-

ous and prosperous Guyana, where every citizen could thrive in peace and unity.

Oodit praised Dr. Jagan’s simplicity, humility, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of all Guyanese.

Recalling the challenges faced during what he de -

scribed as “the dark days of Guyana,” Oodit highlighted Dr. Jagan’s initiatives to provide healthcare to the underserved, including equipping doctors with vehicles for home visits. He lauded Dr. Jagan’s relentless advocacy for free and fair elections, which

ultimately led to significant improvements in governance and democracy in Guyana.

Shanta Springer, representing the Women Progressive Organization (WPO), echoed Oodit’s sentiments, emphasising Dr. Jagan’s visionary leadership in educa-

tion. She hailed the establishment of the University of Guyana as a testament to Dr. Jagan’s commitment to expanding access to tertiary education for all Guyanese.

As a symbol of respect and gratitude, wreaths were laid at the monument honoring Dr. Jagan in the Cheddi Jagan park. Representatives from various party wings, including the Progressive Youth Organization (PYO), Anna Regina Town Council (ARTC), Rice Producers Association (RPA), and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), joined together with well-wishers to honor the enduring legacy of Guyana’s beloved ‘Father of the Nation.’

Through solemn remembrance and heartfelt tributes, the ceremony served as a poignant reminder of Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s indelible mark on Guyana’s history and his enduring vision for a prosperous and inclusive nation.

Some of the PPP members and representatives that laid wreaths at the monument honouring Dr. Jagan in the Cheddi Jagan park

Labour Ministry empowers workforce with vital workplace legislation seminar

IN a proactive move to ensure adherence to the country’s labour laws and foster a harmonious relationship between employers and employees, the Ministry of Labour organised a comprehensive one-day seminar.

The event, held at the Regency Suites Hotel, saw a robust attendance of over one hundred individuals representing sixty-four govern-

ment ministries, agencies, and private sector entities.

The seminar aimed to enlighten participants on various aspects of workplace legislation, ranging from the national minimum wage to workplace safety and health regulations.

Among the key topics covered were probationary periods, paid leave, overtime payments, severance pay, termination of employment

procedures, inspections, record-keeping, and reporting incidents of child labour.

Joseph Hamilton, Minister of Labour, underscored the significance of the seminar, stating that its objective was twofold: to empower individuals with a deeper understanding of their rights as workers and to fortify them against potential future challenges.

Minister Hamilton reaf-

firmed the ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of workers nationwide, emphasising that adherence to labour laws is imperative for both private and public sector employers.

“Protecting the rights and ensuring the safety of our workers is a paramount responsibility,” Minister Hamilton declared. “Any violation of labour laws will be

met with consequences, as the law applies to everyone.”

Highlighting the ministry’s readiness to champion workers’ rights and promote compliance with labour regulations, Minister Hamilton called upon agencies to collaborate closely with the ministry in this endeavor. Representatives from various prominent organisations such as the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Bureau of Statistics, Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, Edward B. Beharry Linden Hospital Complex, National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), National Association of Agricultural,

Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), National Data Management Authority (NDMA), and others participated in the seminar.

In the first quarter of 2024 alone, the Ministry of Labour has successfully attracted over one hundred entities, encompassing government ministries, agencies, and private sector firms, which collectively employ 24,916 individuals, through its educational labour seminars.

The seminar’s comprehensive coverage of vital labour laws and its significant turnout underscore the collective commitment towards fostering a fair and equitable work environment in the country.

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton

A section of the gathering at the one-day seminar to educate individuals and businesses on workplace legislation

Reflecting on Dr. Cheddi Jagan: India’s High Commission honours legacy, leadership

THE High Commission of India and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre paid heartfelt tributes to the late Former President of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, on his 27th death anniversary.

The officials and staff gathered on Wednesday to commemorate Dr. Jagan’s enduring contributions to Guyana’s independence and his role in fostering strong ties with India.

High Commissioner, Dr. Amit Telang, speaking solemnly at the occasion, reflected on Dr. Jagan’s significant impact on Guyana’s history. Dr. Telang spoke about the early collaboration between Dr. Jagan and Indian leaders, emphasising the common challenges they faced in their pursuit of independence.

“In his initial years, Dr. Cheddi Jagan worked closely

with many of our leaders, who were pivotal in our independent struggle.

“This laid the foundation for the close relationship between India and Guyana. Dr. Jagan’s life serves as an inspiration, particularly for those who trace their origins to India,” Dr. Telang said.

The High Commissioner acknowledged the hardships faced by Dr. Jagan and his family during the formative years, underscoring the resilience and dedication that led him to become a dentist.

He explained that Dr. Jagan’s return to Guyana during challenging times further solidified his commitment to the nation’s founding years after gaining independence from British colonial rule.

“For us (India), Dr. Jagan remains a symbol of what can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and devotion,” the commissioner

remarked, expressing admiration for Dr. Jagan’s enduring legacy.

Highlighting the collaborative efforts of leaders from India and Guyana, Dr. Telang

underscored their commitment to universal values of freedom and equality.

He acknowledged their role in working towards decolonisation, which led to

the independence of many nations.

“As we pay tribute, we must remember that this enduring relationship was built on the hard work of individuals like Dr. Cheddi Jagan,” he added, acknowledging the foundational efforts that strengthened the bonds between the two nations.

Dr. Telang delved into Dr. Jagan’s political journey, noting that his views were shaped by a dedication to politics and a fervent belief in the restoration of freedom and democracy.

In 1950, Dr. Jagan founded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and played a pivotal role in championing the cause of Guyana’s independence and advocating for greater trade union influence.

Providing a historical backdrop, Dr. Telang detailed Dr. Jagan’s familial roots in India, highlighting the challenges faced by his parents,

who arrived in British Guiana as indentured immigrants.

Dr. Jagan’s political evolution, from a romantic view of politics to a Marxist perspective, unfolded during his studies in the United States.

Despite being accused of having Communist affiliations, Dr. Jagan maintained strong diplomatic relations with Communist nations, international organisations and countries, which significantly impacted his tenure as President of Guyana from 1992 until his demise in 1997.

Throughout his presidency, Dr. Jagan continued to champion progressive policies and social change.

The Commissioner explained that the ceremony served as a poignant reminder of Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s enduring legacy, encapsulating the shared values that bind India and Guyana.

Misleading rumours prompt unwarranted gathering at Freedom House

By Cindy Parkinson

IN a perplexing turn of events, a sizable crowd descended upon People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) headquarters at Freedom House on Robb Street Georgetown, on Wednesday, seeking funds purportedly distributed by the PPP/C government, prompted by misleading information disseminated by opposition members, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) APNU+AFC.

Communities in several areas including Plaisance on the East Coast Demerara and parts of the East Bank were affected by these fabricated rumours, leading to a surge of individuals hoping to ob-

tain financial assistance.

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, took to the media to debunk these baseless claims, highlighting that such actions were characteristic of the APNU+AFC party.

He emphasised that the circumstances outside Freedom House were a direct result of misinformation spread by opposition operatives.

“What is occurring here this morning really reflects what is happening within communities by the APNU+AFC operatives who have been spreading a rumour in many of the communities that monies are being shared at Freedom House and that people should come down here today to collect their monies,” Minister McCoy explained.

He further expressed the PPP/C administration’s ongoing battle against false information propagated by the opposition through various platforms, aiming to sow discord and confusion among Guyanese citizens.

“APNU+AFC have been spreading misinformation amongst people about various grants and various activities that include the distribution of cash, and this is one of such,” Minister McCoy elaborated.

Recent information received by the government indicated that APNU+AFC activists were actively involved in orchestrating the gathering, even up to mere minutes before people began assembling at Freedom House.

“Just about 15 minutes ago, two persons from a part

of South Georgetown called to say that the APNU+AFC and the PNC activist were still directing and mustering up people to come to Freedom House to collect cash today. So, this is the reason why you see a crowd out here this morning, and it is pure mischief, absolute mischief,” Minister McCoy reiterated.

Addressing the matter of financial assistance, Minister McCoy outlined the government’s initiatives, particularly the small business grant programme aimed at supporting entrepreneurs across the country. He also reminded the public of the misuse of funds by the previous administration, citing instances where money allocated for public benefit was embezzled.

As the crowd persisted, Minister McCoy urged

citizens to disperse, emphasising the absence of any truth to the rumours of cash distribution at Freedom House. He implored people to seek information from credible sources and cautioned against being misled by misinformation.

Concluding his address, Minister McCoy condemned the actions of the opposition as

an act of “public mischief” and assured that the government would explore legal avenues to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

Additionally, he mentioned that the government will thoroughly investigate the issue from a legal perspective in order to prevent the recurrence of such hazardous conduct.

High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr Amit Shivkumar Telang during his presentation

Good sense prevails

IN the recent mediation process ordered by the High Court, an agreement has been reached between the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the government, signaling a much-needed resolution to the ongoing dispute that has disrupted the education system for weeks.

While the agreement mandates the GTU to call off the strike and return to negotiations with the government, it also underscores the importance of dialogue and compromise in resolving labour disputes.

It is evident that both parties have recognised the necessity of finding common ground to address the concerns

of teachers while ensuring the smooth functioning of the education sector.

Despite the initial standoff and attempts to portray the government negatively, it is commendable that talks have resumed, emphasising a commitment to constructive engagement.

The GTU’s struggle to maintain stability and credibility amid management scrutiny has been a longstanding issue.

The recent strike action only exacerbated these challenges, underscoring the need for effective leadership and accountability within the union. Moving forward, it is imperative for the GTU to prioritise the interests of its members while upholding principles of transpar-

ency and accountability.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s assertion of the government’s commitment to improving the lives of educators is reassuring. His call for a return to work and the continuation of the negotiation process reflects a responsible approach to addressing the grievances of teachers while ensuring the broader interests of society are upheld.

The agreement reached between the GTU and the government is a positive development that paves the way for stability and progress in the education sector.

As teachers return to classrooms, it is crucial for both parties to remain

committed to the negotiation process and address outstanding issues in good faith.

Parents play a vital role in supporting the return to normalcy in schools by encouraging their children to resume regular attendance.

The Ministry of Education’s call for parents to send their children to school for normal activities is a step towards restoring confidence in the education system and ensuring uninterrupted learning for students.

Through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect, Guyana can build a stronger and more resilient education system for the future.

Unsubstantiated claims against Agriculture Ministry, NDIA

Dear Editor,

I’VE taken note of a series of attacks in the print media against the Ministry of Agriculture and NDIA.

While I understand that government agencies are not exempt from scrutiny, these writers seem hell-bent on tarnishing the name of those charged with managing these two important entities. In an article published in the Letters to the Editor column in the March 5, 2024 edition of the Kaieteur News, another letter writer, who I believe is someone with a hidden agenda utilising a pseudonym, made a slew of unjustified and unsubstantiated accusations at the ministry.

I am not here to join the tribe of monkeys who find pleasure in these distasteful writings. I’m here seeking solid proof to back up these claims.

The writer accused the NDIA of purchasing the wrong equipment and tools.

I request the writer to provide a detailed list of such claims so that these claims can be verified by this publication, and published if it is indeed true.

The writer in his missive also accused several NDIA engineers of benefiting from bribes in the form of overseas vacations to approve non-working and unsuitable equipment as well as payments for non-performance. Again, I ask, where is the evidence? Present them to us so that the relevant authorities can take the necessary action.

On the issue of pumps that are alleged to have arrived from China, can the writer confirm this? Is the writer employed within the NDIA? Is the writer a contractor bidding for a particular contract to supply pumps? Was the writer part of the design process for the projects in the areas these pumps are expected to service?

And might I add, given the gov -

ernment’s ongoing issues with several pumps procured by the previous administration under an India line of credit which is being dealt with at the highest levels, it would not be in the best interest of the NDIA to procure pumps that do not meet the required specifications.

I, therefore, call upon the writer to provide us with the project(s) design, specifications for these alleged Chinese pumps, and the specifications that he claims are required for the project that these alleged Chinese pumps were bought for.

As someone who worked in a government agency and dealt with the procurement of these types of equipment for several years, I can say that a consultant is usually involved in the process. So, while the engineer will have to give their input, their input goes hand in hand with that of a consultant.

On the issue of the Andrews pump

station on the Essequibo Coast, I was able to reach out to a foreman attached to the contractor for this project. While hesitant, he confirmed that the company is now paying liquidated damages because of the delays in the project. I commend the ministry for taking action.

I will not address the accusation made about the Permanent Secretary and the Chief Executive Officer. Those matters were addressed by the ministry in a prior publication and have no merit as those accusations were confirmed to be inaccurate.

We must be wary of the things we say in hopes of garnering attention from the public. All accusations should be accompanied by solid evidence; otherwise, they are baseless attacks.

Yours sincerely,

Ron McKenzie

Op-Ed

By Mario Lubetkin

THE regional commitment to fight hunger and malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean has made significant progress thanks to the update of the Food Security, Nutrition and Hunger Eradication Plan of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) for the period 2024-2030, known as the CELAC FNS Plan.

This update was approved and ratified during the VIII Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC, held on March 1 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

This commitment serves as evidence of Latin America and the Caribbean’s substantial contribution towards expediting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals are focused on creating societies that are free from hunger, poverty, and inequality within the region.

Our latest estimates show that, in 2022, 6.5 percent of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean suffered from hunger; this represented 2.4 million fewer people than in 2021. But the situation remains critical; hunger continues to affect 43.2 million people in the region.

Likewise, limited access to resources and services, poverty, the aftermath of the pandemic, and conflicts as well as climate-related disasters, among other factors, are affecting the ecosystems on which food production and the livelihoods of farming communities depend and threaten efforts to ensure food

Regional commitment for food security, sustainability underway

Mario Lubetkin, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean

security, nutrition and the sustainability of agrifood systems.

In this scenario, the CELAC FNS Plan 2024-2030 is a concrete initiative, reflected in a unanimous response from more than thirty countries, which, at a ministerial level, agreed to update this document to address the challenge of hunger and food insecurity in the region.

The new plan, developed in coordination

Biofortified rice production is promising and poised for success

Dear Editor,

THE Ministry of Agriculture recently introduced a new variety of rice in Black Bush Polder, East Berbice, Corentyne which has been hailed as a triumph.

Not only is this new variety cost-effective, but it also offers a long-term solution for providing essential micronutrients to individuals who lack access to a diverse diet or other micronutrient-based remedies.

The benefits of this biofortified rice extend beyond its nutritional value, encompassing improved mineral and vitamin content, elevated levels of essential amino acids, enhanced fatty acid composition, and increased antioxidant levels in crops. By incorporating biofortification into crop plants, we can ensure that people receive the necessary calories to meet their energy requirements while simultaneously receiving all the vital nutrients needed for optimal health.

with the Pro-Tempore Presidency, currently led by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the thirty-three CELAC countries, included broad participation and analysis with technical assistance from FAO, ECLAC, IICA, and ALADI- has become a benchmark for other regions of the world. Its implementation represents a milestone example of the consensus and political commitment of Latin America and the Caribbean.

This plan, structured into four pillars, includes a conceptual basis to guide the countries concerning legal frameworks, sustainable production, access to healthy diets, and agrifood systems resilient to climate change.

The year 2024 could represent a decisive year for Latin America and the Caribbean to make progress in combating hunger and malnutrition and achieving more resilient and sustainable production systems. During 2023, we have consolidated a deep process of alliances, consensus, and dialogue that will soon be part of the FAO Regional Conference.

We are in the final stretch of preparation for our Regional Conference to be held in March in Georgetown, Guyana, where we will facilitate exchanges and discussions that will be essential to guide FAO’s technical

cooperation in the design and implementation of plans and projects tailored to the needs of the countries, and in line with the priorities defined by governments at the highest political level.

In this regard, the reflections and resolutions arising from the updating and subsequent approval of the new CELAC FNS Plan also represent a significant contribution to the FAO Regional Conference.

The preparation of the Regional Conference includes an extensive consultation process involving different stakeholders, such as the private sector, academia, civil society, and parliamentary groups; and of course, the participation of government officials from the thirty-three FAO Member Countries; as well as the presence of Heads of State and Ministers of Agriculture and other sectors committed to the search for more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

We hope that the results of the Conference, translated into FAO’s mandate, will be consolidated as a tangible response.

The success of these efforts will depend on the collaboration of all to make the hope of a world without hunger a reality.

The global market for biofortification was valued at approximately US $72 million in 2017 and has grown even further since then. This growth can be attributed to the rising demand for high-nutritional-value foods and advancements in agricultural technology.

The interest shown by farmers and the determination of the Ministry of Agriculture and the GOG will be critical to its success soon.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips said recently: “This rice is a good economic choice for farmers as it possesses excellent early vigour, a good plant type and high yield potential, (68 tonnes per hectare).

This will contribute to the economic growth of the country through preferential prices and increased market prices.”

Yours sincerely,

Jaipaul Harrinarine

WCCIG to host summit in time for Women’s Day

THE Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG) is gearing up to host its highly anticipated annual Guyana Women and Girls (GWAG) summit on Friday, at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

With the theme “Inspire, Invest, Include”, this year’s summit aims to foster empowerment and inclusion among women and girls across the nation.

The summit, scheduled for a one-day event, aims to unite women aged 18 and older, alongside girls aged 14 to 18, providing them with a platform to network and glean insights from each other. Central to the summit are informative panel discussions featuring prominent women in business and other non-traditional industries.

Martina Johnson, the Public Relations Officer for WCCIG, highlighted the significance of the summit in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, stating, “It allows girls; age 14 to 18 we cater to,

and they’re invited at no cost. It allows girls to come into this environment where they see women, business women, entrepreneurs, women who are managers in different industries; they get an opportunity to see what they’re capable of doing; what women are capable of achieving”. The event promises participants an opportunity to explore various career possibilities, engage with potential mentors and role models, network with industry ex -

perts, and seek advice on a plethora of topics. Panel discussions will feature experts from diverse fields including education, finance, business management, and representatives from renowned institutions such as The World Bank and Inter-Development Bank (IDB), among others.

Highlighting the growth of the summit, Johnson emphasised the increase in sponsors and exhibitors participating this year. Notable sponsors include ExxonMo-

bil Guyana, Digicel Guyana, Republic Bank Guyana Limited, SBM Offshore, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, GUYOIL, Massy, and several other prominent companies.

With over 100 women and girls from various sectors already registered, the GWAG summit stands as a beacon of empowerment and collaboration, poised to inspire positive change and progress within Guyana’s female community.

PM Phillips has exceeded expectations

Dear Editor,

IT is without any doubt that Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has been an outstanding and perhaps the best Prime Minister Guyana has ever had in recent times.

It is true that the Brigadier who spent most of his adult life (1980-2016) in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and became its Chief of Staff, has shown or had little interest in politics during that period.

As the head of the army, his primary responsibility was to protect and defend the territory integrity of the country, assist the civil power in the maintenance of peace, law and order when required to do so, and contribute to the economic development of Guyana, a task Brigadier Phillips had cherished and revered.

However, prior to assuming the second highest political office in the land as Prime Minister, he had developed a keen interest in politics and, by all accounts, has not so far made any significant mistakes in the execution of his duties, or has not been involved in any controversy or has caused any ill-will with the residents. He is fully aware that, as Prime Minister, his role is to serve the people to the best of his ability and with the powers vested in him without any bias, fear, or favour. Well, like his peers and Guyanese at home and in the diaspora, Brigadier Phillips has done far more than what is expected of him at this juncture. He is committed to support President Dr. Ali to advance the development of Guyana and make it one of prosperous, safe and well-respected country.

Prime Minister Phillips is an optimist and a loyalist, with unwavering support for President Dr. Ali and the government. He is devoted to the task of rapidly developing the country and improving the well-being of the masses, especially the poor and downtrodden. This is evident in his outreaches throughout the country to meet and greet the people, solve their problems, and to make sure that they have a bright and successful life.

The PM has made it quite clear that during the last three and a half years; the government has embarked on some robust programmes and good governance to make sure that all its citizens are treated fairly and equitably regardless of race, status, religious beliefs, or party affiliation.

On numerous occasions, PM Phillips has echoed the sentiments of His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali, who from time to time has told the nation that the development of the country is in everyone’s interest and that no one will be left out of the process. Prime Minister Phillips has all the qualities of a good leader and has assured the youth that the government will help them become the most successful, confident, and happy versions of themselves by making sure they have access to all the endowments they need to change their daily lives for the better.

As the head of the GDF, Brigadier Phillips military experience has taught him a valuable lesson about the nature of humans. He realised that people, especially youths, are not passive objects to be manipulated but active agents with great dreams, aspirations, and abilities who do not want to be managed but to be led, guided, inspired, motivated and empowered.

He is a wise, practical, and disciplined leader with unique qualities who believes in the principles of democracy, transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law. And while some have asserted that his leadership skills are derived from his tenure in the army, others have contended that he is a natural, rational, and gifted leader with some of the purest qualities ever found in home sapiens.

He is selfless, friendly, compassionate, and cheerful, and he bears no grudges. Neither is he vindictive nor acrimonious. He is a consummate and skillful politician, a distinguished leader, and a genuine, superb, and blessed Prime Minister.

Sincerely, Dr.

Asquith Rose

Guyana Women and Girls Summit 2023

Nameless, faceless enemies at the gate

DURING the oil conference last month, three anonymous full-page advertisements were published in the Stabroek News.

The first one appeared on February 21, and the caption screamed out: “Exxon lies and the planet dies.” The following day, the next one asked the question if Guyanese wanted a future with the oil industry with the sewage and noise pollution that accompany oil production.

The final one of February 22 has a bold headline: “A brighter future is possible and it does not include oil.” What interpretation should the analyst put to this action by nameless, faceless persons?

One of the common remarks you hear at every level of discussion, be it newspaper letter, dinner conversation, academic conference, road side chat, goes like this: “It can only happen in Guyana and no other country.” In this country you see things that are hard to imagine can occur in other nations.

Why would there be voices out there telling us that the oil industry is not good for Guyana, and we don’t need it because it is harmful and refuse to tell us who they are? What description do you put to such action –asininity, comicality or immorality?

If the oil industry is harmful to Guyana’s future, then what kind of morality a human has to lecture to a nation on this danger but remains nameless and faceless? What is wrong with such people? First, it is unadulterated arrogance and pomposity. These people feel that they can lecture to us and we must follow

them and we don’t need to ask them questions about what they are advising us about.

Secondly, deep immorality is involved here. You are telling a nation to leave its main industry that generates the revenue it needs for the reduction of poverty but you are wealthy enough to spend $1.2M in advertisements denouncing the oil industry. Each one of those full-page advertisement cost roughly about $400, 000. Add that $1.4 million to 15 court cases filed against the oil industry at an estimate of each case with high priced lawyers and litigation in all three tiers of our court system, costing $6M each. That is $90M.

Can you see the big picture? The anti-oil lobby is a group of very wealthy people who, because of their anti-PPP instincts are using their wealth to harass the government. In each court case, the government, whether it is the AG chambers or the EPA or the Ministry of Natural Resources, is burdened with legal defense.

One person who wants the Guyana Government to drag Exxon at the table to renegotiate the contract celebrated his 77th birthday with a dinner and dance at the Pegasus followed up the next night with a special programme at the Theatre Guild. That person is building a business head office at the cost of $700M.

If Exxon should refuse to renegotiate and walk away, the state’s revenue dries up, and poverty expands. UG will no longer pursue free education. But their children are foreign

citizens who have the luxury of attending any university they want to. Two sisters are the key players in the anti-oil lobby. These women come from one of Guyana’s most enduring super-wealthy, multi-billionaire family. They have never worked a day in their adult lives.

So now you know why the three advertisements were anonymous. Because if the names and faces are revealed, two graphic facts emerge that will be plastered on the walls of Guyana for the entire nation to see. One is that these are wealthy people that have no understanding of poverty and will never understand it. Professor Clive Thomas referred to their campaign against the oil industry as “crass inhumanity.” The professor went on to detail how the income from oil will finally enable Guyana to attempt substantial reduction in poverty.

Now it is important to note that the anti-oil lobby is a friend of Professor Thomas and they share the same disdain for the government so they have never sought to comment on the professor’s use of the term, “crass inhumanity” to describe them. But they cannot confront the professor on his label because they know it will embarrass them.

The other graphic fact that would have emerged if the three whole-page placements had carried the sponsors’ names would have been the defeat of the very purpose of the advertisements. If you are educating people to lobby against the oil industry and then when they see how you live, how your family lives abroad and the comfortable life you will always enjoy, your message will be rejected. More on the faceless, nameless enemies at the gate in a forthcoming column.

Electoral fraud case: Trial remains in limbo –– as Magistrate refers question of ‘constitutional considerations’ to the High Court –– ‘I’m fed up’ witness tells courts due to frustration over delays

IN another turn of events, the much-anticipated trial surrounding allegations of electoral fraud faces yet another delay, this time with key issues in the case being referred to the High Court for ‘constitutional’ considerations.

On Wednesday, Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, who is one of the lawyers representing the cast of characters involved, regurgitated his previous arguments and told the court again that Section 142 of the Representation of the People’s Act obstructs a fair trial for his clients.

People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) activist Carol Smith-Joseph; former Health Minister under the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance

For Change (APNU+AFC) government, Volda Lawrence; former Chief Elec -

tions Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield; former Deputy CEO, Roxanne Myers; former District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo;

and GECOM employees, Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller are accused of a number of offences, including misconduct in public office, uttering forged documents, and plotting to deceive the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of votes.

It is alleged that the defendants inflated or facilitated the inflation of results for Region Four, the country’s largest voting district, to give the APNU+AFC coalition a majority win at the March 2020 elections, when, in fact, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had won by over 15,000 votes.

All the defendants are on cash bail pending the hearing and determination of their matters.

This latest setback unfolded when Hughes argued that crucial documents, namely GECOM’s minute books and decision-making records, cannot be disclosed, citing Section 140 (2) of RoPA.

Special Prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani rebuffed these assertions, maintaining that the Act explicitly prohibits the release of such documents.

Originally scheduled to commence on Monday, the trial hit a snag as Hughes contended again that GECOM’s hands are tied due to the legal constraints imposed by Section 140 (2) of RoPA.

This provision, he argued, directly clashes with

Top row, from left: Volda Lawrence, Keith Lowenfield, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller. Bottom row, from left: Enrique Livan, Sheffern February, Clairmont Mingo, and Carol Smith-Joseph

Guyana brings first national scale carbon credits with CORSIA compliance

THE Guyana government has expressed its support for the newly available market compliance opportunities, which allows the country to introduce its first national-scale carbon credits to the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) compliance airline market.

This recent development expands upon Guyana’s efforts in climate finance, the initial one being a bilateral agreement with Norway and the second being a voluntary market-based arrangement with Hess Corporation.

In alignment with the initial offering of the compliance market opportunity for airlines, Guyana has the capability to supply airlines with the foremost certified carbon credits to fulfill their obligations during the inaugural phase of the CORSIA agreement, which is being facilitated by the United Nations and commences this year.

The Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, commended the recent development last Thursday. He also emphasised the extensive national and international endeavours spanning several years to establish a global compliance market, enabling forested countries to freely trade carbon credits. Despite the fact that airlines are currently able to obtain more than five million credits from the rainforests

of Guyana, Dr. Jagdeo acknowledged that this recent development holds considerable future potential for the country.

According to one of his statements to

reporters at his press conference, Dr. Jagdeo explained that “Guyana will continue to push the goalpost to get to a full compliance market.”

The Vice President also recalled that, under the new high-integrity carbon standard known as ART (Architecture for REDD+ Transactions), Guyana was the first nation to receive carbon credits through this high integrity standard. Noting that 33.47 million forest carbon credits were issued to Guyana for maintaining its high forest cover and maintaining low rates of deforestation and forest degradation between 2016 and 2020, earning Guyana at least US$750 million, Hess has made a commitment to buy Guyana’s premium REDD+ carbon offsets between 2022 and 2032.

Dr. Jagdeo related that “Guyana decided that it had to have a phased approach, and whilst the UNFCCC is still working on other decisions to guide how the compliance market will work in the future, there is enough available now through the UNFCCC to move forward. Guyana is showing how this could be done, using a practical and high-integrity approach. Now we have moved it forward with a compliance market, but we are fighting to have a full compliance market where credits can be fully traded in compliance markets additional to CORSIA, and prices are expected to increase substantially as this is done, and as a built-in mechanism, secondary markets also further develop.”

He stated that apart from Brazil, which possesses a significantly larger portion of the world’s total tropical forest compared to Guyana’s mere 1%, Guyana also engages in collaborative efforts with its neighbouring countries. Vice President Jagdeo further stated that he had engaged in dialogue with President Lula during his recent trip to Guyana.

Based on his explanation, the aim of those discussions was to ensure the fulfillment of requirements, while safeguarding the forest’s sovereignty and avoiding the imposition of a burdensome certification process.

“Not every forested country wants to go to full market base… many have land tenure issues that complicate this. I would be going to Brazil to talk more about this with the Brazilian authorities as we bring together all forested countries… and ensure more market-based funds while we preserve the individual approaches each country will take,” VP Jagdeo shared.

In addition, Guyana has obtained 7.14 million 2021 vintage carbon credits from the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART), which marks a significant achieve-

ment in the global fight against climate change. On Wednesday, the government of Guyana made an announcement regarding the first credits adjusted in accordance with the Paris Agreement, a significant action submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The ICAO’s CORSIA global carbon reduction programme is in its 2024–2026 phase, and these developments meet the standards to designate the credits as the first in the world that airlines can apply towards their targets.

Through jurisdictional REDD+ measures, Guyana has successfully maintained forest cover and kept deforestation and forest degradation at a low level. This accomplishment is in line with Guyana’s larger objectives under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, which aims to advance gender equality, social inclusion, and sustainable development in all spheres of society.

Dr. Jagdeo said, “These CORSIA-eligible credits represent the latest milestone in a journey that we began in 2009 when we set out a vision for forging a low carbon economy in Guyana.”

The Paris Agreement and ICAO procedures were successfully navigated by Guyana, according to ART Executive Director, Mary Grady, and this resulted in the market’s first post-2020 CORSIA qualified credits being issued.

Guyana’s initiative also establishes a precedent for other countries, as it is the first to disclose a corresponding role under the roles set out by the UNFCCC through the Paris Agreement and authorises the international transfer of emission reduction credits. This avoids double counting and guarantees compliance with international mitigation targets, both of which are essential for successful climate action.

For the indigenous peoples and local communities in Guyana, who have been actively involved in forest conservation initiatives, the issuance of carbon credits is extremely important. The proceeds from the sale of carbon credits are used to fund sustainable development and low-carbon initiatives, which directly benefit local people and support governmental efforts to increase climate resilience.

There is promise of bringing to reality, a sustainable future for our world, as Guyana sets an example in climate action and sustainable forest management. (This is part of a weekly series on LCDS.) The author can be contacted at cparkinson0206@ gmail.com

Vice President of Guyana, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Electoral fraud case: Trial remains ...

Article 144 of the Guyana Constitution, safeguarding the right to a fair trial.

Hughes urged Magistrate Leron Daly to escalate the matter to the High Court for a conclusive ruling.

Underlining the constitutional intricacies at play, Hughes highlighted that his clients like Mingo, Myers, and Lowenfield were acting on directives from GECOM, underscoring the necessity of obtaining records to effectively challenge testimonies.

In a concurrence, Magistrate Daly acknowledged her jurisdictional limitations in handling constitutional matters and referred the case to the High Court for thorough consideration.

As a result, the court will reconvene on April 2, 2024, and await the High Court’s determination on fundamental questions related to fair hearings and access to GECOM’s minutes.

This unexpected turn has injected further complexity into a case that has lingered in the courts for over three years.

The frustration surrounding the prolonged legal proceedings manifested dramatically when Communication Consultant Kit Nascimento, a member of civil society and

one of the over 90 witnesses in the case, expressed his exasperation during Wednesday’s hearing.

“I’m 92 years old, and I’m fed up,” Nascimento said in court, reflecting the sentiments of many grappling with the prolonged trial.

This delay also had a ripple effect on other witnesses, including Minister Sonia Parag and other notable figures like Head of the Diaspora Unit Rosalinda Rasul, former Region Four Police Commander Edgar Thomas, and Forensic Investigator Rawle Nedd who turned up on Monday when the trial’s

commencement was thwarted by the defence’s legal manoeuvres.

The state has already handed over flash drives containing certified copies of Statements of Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs), along with video interviews. Several bundles of documents were also submitted.

Hughes had previously argued for the case to be heard in the High Court, given the nature of the proceedings which they claimed might infringe on their client’s rights to a fair trial within a reasonable time.

Nevertheless, the Chief

Data analytics platform on cards

as CARICOM nations inch closer to achieving food security targets

By Naomi Parris

IN the near future, a data analytics platform will be implemented to enhance data collection in the agriculture sector, bringing Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations closer to their food security goals.

CARICOM’s Chairman and Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali revealed this during a recent press conference. He stated that all member states of the regional bloc are making progress towards the ‘25 by 25’ target. This goal, set by CARICOM, aims to decrease the $6 billion food import bill by 25% by 2025.

“Data collection and data analytics is a major issue that will be resolved with the investment of a data analytics platform here in Guyana that will support the entire region. We spoke about the use of innovation, hydroponics; we spoke about the involvement of young people and women to push production and to expand the pool of persons available for food production,” the chairman said.

The 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government took place in Georgetown, Guyana, last week, where regional leaders convened to discuss important matters such as food security, malnutrition, and hunger.

“The conversation is around and the eco-system around food production and not just agriculture; agriculture is just a component,” Dr. Ali added.

Dr. Ali revealed that certain leaders have expressed challenges, but efforts are underway to offer support as necessary.

“Some of states have difficulties because of the environment in which they are operating but we have come up with some specific initiatives that we can pursue in a very short time frame to assist those states in meeting the targets,” he explained.

MALNUTRITION & HUNGER

President Ali emphasised the importance of setting a new goal in the realm of food security, specifically

the eradication of malnutrition and hunger rates in the region by 2030.

“Our approach to food security is a holistic one, and that is why we have made so much progress and we are so confident about 2025 that I was comfortable enough to say that we are looking at 2030 now to end malnutrition and hunger within the region and that is a target we are setting our eyes on and we have a commitment from all the member states on achieving this.”

“Food insecurity has many dimensions. One is access, one is quality of access; thirdly is nutritional value, and it is all three of these aspects of food insecurity that we have to look at,” Dr. Ali explained.

The statistics previously shared by the Head of State indicated that approximately 57 per cent of the population in the region is impacted by food insecurity.

And according to him, these figures show “a significant rise” when compared to figures from February 2020.

(CoI) into the events of the 2020 General and Regional Elections found that there was collusion and collaboration between senior GECOM officials to divert votes to the APNU +AFC instead of safeguarding and preserving the integrity of the electoral system.

Chairman Stanley John and commissioners — former Chancellor, Carl Singh and Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith made these findings based on evidence from the many witnesses who had testified, along with the reports of the international observers.

Magistrate ruled that despite the voluminous evidence and the complexity of the case, the court has been proceeding with hearing of the case “expeditiously.”

In August 2021, Mingo, along with Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, and his deputy, Roxanne Myers, had their employment terminated by GECOM.

Those who rejected the results filed several legal challenges which ended up before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s highest appeal court.

In April 2023, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry

“…our inquiry reveals that there were, in fact, shockingly brazen attempts by Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers and Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo to derail and corrupt the statutorily prescribed procedure for the counting, ascertaining and tabulation of votes of the March 2nd election, as well as the true declaration of the results of that election, and that they did so – to put it in unvarnished language of the ordinary man – for the purpose of stealing the election,” the commissioners said in their report.

The report found that

Lowenfield blatantly made decisions and employed procedures in direct contradiction to the law and the will of the people. The findings revealed too that GECOM staffers ignored specific instructions from the court, used materials that were illegal and or manipulated, and sided with APNU+AFC agents to berate observers whenever objections were raised.

After careful scrutiny, the CoI commissioners concluded that there was a conscious and deliberate – even brazen – effort to violate the provisions of section 84(1) of the Representation of the People Act (RoPA).

In so doing, certain “senior GECOM officials” abandoned all need for neutrality and impartiality, and demonstrated a bias for the APNU+AFC and, in the course of events over those days, showed an “open connection” with that party, and by their efforts sought a desired result for the coalition.

As such, the commissioners said that after consideration and analysis of the evidence, Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers “were principally responsible for clear and deliberate attempts to frustrate, obstruct and subvert the ascertainment of votes in electoral district No. 4.”

Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes

Senior Magistrate Leron Daly

Special prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani, KC

Mibicuri Hospital transforms healthcare landscape with $100M upgrade —

from x-rays to ultrasounds, cardiac beds to expanded wards

By Rabindra Rooplall

OVER the past few years

– from 2020 to be exact –significant upgrades and expansions to the tune of over one hundred million dollars have been spent on the Mibicuri Hospital, including the introduction of cardiac beds equipped with 24-hour monitoring and the installation of an asthma bay.

Authorities have been expending these and other major efforts on the hospital at Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), in a bid to provide enhanced healthcare services to residents.

Led by Director-in-Charge, Dr. Sadhana Samtani, patient comfort and the provision of additional medical services are top priorities.

As mentioned, among the notable improvements at the hospital is the introduction of cardiac beds equipped with 24-hour monitoring for patients with heart and lung issues.

With the asthma bay now on hand, the hospital’s treatment room has also been extended for the first time to ensure better care for patients with respiratory conditions.

The rehabilitation and extension of the male, female, and pediatric wards have also been prioritised, providing privacy and self-contained rooms for each patient.

Previously, male and female patients shared facilities without separation for privacy. Moreover, two separate rooms for infectious diseases, particularly pertinent during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been created, with the entire ward now fully air-conditioned.

Reports indicate that in the last quarter of 2023, the x-ray department underwent rehabilitation, introducing a digital x-ray machine after more than 20 years.

Since its inauguration in September 2023, over 200 x-rays have been performed, significantly improving diagnostic capabilities.

The laboratory has also been upgraded to offer a range of services, including biochemistry, hematology, urine analysis, stool, and serology, benefiting geriatric and disabled patients who previously had to travel to

other facilities for tests.

According to the Ministry of Health, for the first time, the dental department now offers daily services, including cleanings, and conducts weekly outreaches to local schools and communities.

Additionally, EKG ser-

Moreover, the hospital now offers monthly ultrasounds, benefiting pregnant women, and has seen improvements in pharmacy services with increased drug availability and the addition of pharmacy assistants. The facility has witnessed over

enhanced diagnostic capabilities and quality care.

When contacted by this publication, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, Director-General of the Ministry of Health, emphasised that these upgrades align with the government's mandate to provide better

vices are now available daily, aiding in the timely diagnosis and management of heart conditions. Monthly specialist services, including dermatology, endocrinology, physiotherapy, and counseling, are also provided, reducing the need for patients to travel to other hospitals.

9,000 patient contacts per year over the last four years, with decreased referrals to regional hospitals due to

icant investment in Region Six, with over $400 million spent between 2021 and 2023 to upgrade primary and secondary healthcare facilities.

“This is in keeping with the mandate of His Excellency President Ali to provide better services to residents in their communities. Over the period 2021 to 2023, in addition to the regular regional budget, over $400M was spent in Region Six to upgrade primary and secondary level health care facilities to provide services,” Dr. Mahadeo explained.

He explained that new and more modern equipment have been procured and installed to provide better and more modern services. Additionally, the availability of medical supplies and medicines has increased from below 20 per cent of the national essential drugs list to over 90 per cent, across the country. More specialist services are also available in facilities.

In Region Six, Dr. Mahadeo added that a new diabetic care programme has started. The leadership of this initiative is comprised of five specialised doctors in diabetes from the Cuban Medical Team, along with an angiologist and endocrinologist. The team is dispersed throughout the region and is offering services in alignment with the Ministry of Health's new approach to addressing chronic diseases.

The Minister of Health, he noted introduced the new protocol for the management of diabetes and hypertension last year, which included updated treatment guidelines and the introduction of new medications.

In conclusion, Dr. Mahadeo noted that the renovations and enhancements at Mibicuri Hospital mark a significant step forward in providing accessible, high-quality healthcare services to residents in Black Bush Polder and surrounding areas, aligning with the government's vision of prioritising the well-being of its citizens.

healthcare services and take services directly to the people.

He highlighted the signif-

“All of the changes are in keeping with the direction of the PPP/C government to provide better care for our people and to take services to the people,” he underscored.

Dr. Sadhana Samtani speaking about the role of diet and exercise in managing diabetes in the waiting area indoors of the Mibicuri Hospital

The first ultrasound done at the Mibicuri Hospital

The medical staff, including Nurse Cort (right), Dr. Samtani (centre), and Nurse Fraser (left), diligently monitoring a patient with a cardiac monitor around the clock

The dental department now offers daily services, including cleanings, and conducts weekly outreaches to local schools and communities

Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo

The Mibicuri Hospital, in collaboration with the blood bank of the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital (NARH), has conducted over 16 blood drives, collecting an average of 480 units of blood over the past four years

Guyana Lands and Surveys commission addresses claims on Carifesta Avenue Lands

THE Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) released a press statement Wednesday in response to claims made by the Mayor and Town Council of Georgetown regarding the ownership of lands along Carifesta Avenue.

The GLSC reiterated its position on the matter, providing detailed historical and legal context to clarify the ownership status of the disputed lands.

The Commission referenced Transport Number 235 of 1863, which delineates two plots of land at Plantation ThomasLot Number One containing 240 ½ acres and Lot Number Two containing five acres. It was emphasised that while Lot Number Two was transferred to Quintin Hogg, the remaining 240.5 acres are still held by the government.

Moreover, the GLSC clarified that there is no evidence indicating that Quintin Hogg transferred the five-acre parcel to the Mayor and Town Council (M&CC). The Commission highlighted the conditions of the transport, which stipulated that the government is responsible for maintaining the Sea Dam and Bridges, given the lands’ adjacency to them.

Below is the complete press statement issued by the GLSC:

The GLSC holds Transport Number 235 of 1863 (Deeds Registry Number) 30 of 1863 (Department of Lands and Mines Number) for two plots of land at Plantation Thomas called out as Lot Number One containing 240 ½ acres and Lot number two containing five acres, these are said to be shown on a Plan by C. Chalmers, Crown Surveyor dated June 1863.This transport was passed by the Attorneys for Phillip Charles Cavan, Neville Lubbock, Henry Mc Chelery and William Renuie of London for 1000 dollars. (Not Quintin Hogg who was born in 1945 and would have only been about 18 years old).

Plantation Thomas was initially very large and included Albertown and Queenstown which were later divided, Queenstown by the Town Council.

The said Transport is annotated to say that Lot Number two was transported by government to Quintin Hogg by Tr No 52 of 1886. This consists of five acres only. It means therefore that the remaining 240.5 acres is still held by the government.

GLSC never said that Mr. Hogg transferred those five acres to the M&CC, in fact we are not too bothered about who it went to because there is no endorsement on Hogg’s transport of him transferring it further. The GLSC also has a copy of the advertisement in the Official Gazette of August 1st 1863 whereby the transport was advertised for passing as required.

A main condition of the said transport was that the government was responsible

for the maintenance of the sea dam and bridges. The lands being adjacent to it.

The M&CC released a copy of the last page of the said transport, claiming that the lands at Carifesta Avenue belongs to the Council under that transport. Those with knowledge of the subject would understand that one needs to read the first two pages to determine where and how much land is referred to.

The GLSC has examined the actual transport that has been in its possession for some time now and the back page seems to match Transport 337 of 1886. The GLSC has used this transport many times as a reference whenever the Commission deals with surveys and land transactions in Plantation Thomas.

The Council however, did not refer to the contents of the Transport, herein where the mischief is being perpetuated. GLSC will now seek to give the location and the amount of land referred to.

The said transport is referenced as Number 337 of 22 nd December, 1887 (Demerara) and describes three portions of land as Follows:

Firstly 15 Acres, being Part of Pln. Thomas as shown on a Plan by J. P Prass, dated 8th December 1887 SLS. This plan is lodged at the Deeds Registry and is referenced by all subsequent surveys in the area. The area herein being called “Non Pariel Park” with conditions that the said land can only be used for Public Park, Gardens and such like.

Secondly 18.035 acres on the same Plan, marked “A”

Thirdly 10.235 acres on the same Plan marked “B”

There are some other conditions pertaining to bridges, access and drainage which are not very relevant at this time.

The total area is approximately 43 acres. This is said to be shown on a Plan by J.P. Prass, Crown Surveyor and lodged at the Deeds Registry, all references to this plan by a succession of surveyors says it was seen at the Deeds Registry, the GLSC does not have it on their records. It was not compulsory then to lodge it with GLSC although many such records were subsequently obtained. Surveyors are basically trained to conduct research and retrace property with limited information and this is done by examining every piece of available record found.

Prior to the passing of the said transport, a survey was initiated on behalf of the Council by Luke Hill, Town Superintendent and Sworn Land Surveyor (acting for the Mayor and Town Council) in 1886 which pre-empts the intended transfer from Quintyn Hogg, quoted on plan as the owner. This plan (Number 2253) shows a survey diagram that clearly defines the location of the lands to be transferred, it also offers explanatory notes to that effect, a certified copy of this plan is part of the GLSC records.

That plan shows the area as being from Camp Street to a block of private lands that adjoins Vlissengen Road (lands later owned by Caetano) and from Cummings Canal (inclusive of) going north up to the drain south of Longden Park (now Queens college).

The area was subsequently surveyed back by C. Chalmers, for passing of transport to the Council, a plan that was lodged at the Deeds Registry and not at GLSC.

Since obtaining the transport the Council has issued several leases and numerous surveys were done, these surveys refer to Transport 337 of 1887 and gives clear descriptions as to location, all of these surveys were done on the North and South of Woolford Avenue, none on Carifesta Avenue (which was Kelly’s Dam before). Most of these surveys were actually initiated by the Council for the purpose of issuing leases.

The first such survey by J.T Seymore covers the entire block of land held under the said Transport 337 of 1887 (the Council’s Transport) whereby they sought to lot out the greater portion of the eastern part into house lots save and except the area to the west where GTI now lies and opposite GTI where the tennis court lies, this area being called Non-pariel Park on that plan and in the transport. Even though the total area is not shown the GLSC has been able to scan and use software to scale back that plan to obtain the approximately 43 acres quoted with the reserve for Cummings Canal which is not clearly defined on that plan. It may have been possible that Woolford Avenue could come out of that exercise since the 1886 plan did not show it but 1919 plan showed it.

This scheme obviously failed due to the restrictions on the transport preventing house lots and the Council aborted the process. All subsequent surveys were for education or recreational purposes.

Plan 11019 by R. Jaggernauth SLS in 1964 created 4 large plots for the Town Council refers to Seymore’s plan, claims to supersede it and quotes Transport number 337 of 1886 as its basis, the plan claims to have superseded the 1919 plan.

GTI was acquired through the public acquisition process by government in 1951 and surveyed by R.M Wong, the Council’s Transport 337/1887 is duly annotated on this.

Other surveys were done for the Council to issue leases for many other organisations such as Indian Education Trust, Central High School, Muslim Youth Council, Ghandi Youth Organisation, among others. The annotations are again on their transport.

In terms of the Carifesta Avenue area the Government of British Guiana and subsequently Guyana surveyed and gave out leases north of Kelly’s dam to organisations such as East Indian Cricket Club

now Everest (6.17 acres), B.G Boy Scout, next to Everest, Teachers Training Centre, Cable and Wireless (GTT now) Youth Council (later NIS obtained a lease), Saint Stanislaus College and on the Southern side to Demerara or Georgetown Golf Club (now National Park), , , Rifle range (now Camp Ayangana), YMCA, Catholic Youth Club (now Marian Academy). Queens College, Cosmos Sports Club (now GMRC) Maltenoes Sports Club, Transport Sports Club, Post Office Cricket Club (now PSU). This is as far back as 1930’s and 40’s and covers the entire 240.5 acres. Many of these leases expired and were re-issued to the original lessees or new ones where the entities did not exist anymore.

The GLSC continued to issue leases in the area and is currently processing GMRC and Maltenoes. These lands along Carifesta Avenue exceeds 43 acres and cannot be misinterpreted to that held under Transport 337/1887. In fact, the Northern side has about 45 to 50 acres. Save and except for a lease for a dam (Wireless dam, near GTT) there is absolutely no record of a survey or lease issued to anyone by the City Council for any area along Carifesta Avenue. GLSC choose to ignore that because we felt that they control dams and such reserves.

In order to account for the Council’s lands, we are providing a list of surveys registered at GLSC by various surveyors who refer to the lands held by the Council, many done at the request of them, all in the Woolford Avenue area, some of these leases are annotated on the Council’s Transport. Most of these also calls out the Transport number 337 of 1887.

Even though this transport is very old there are Noticeable annotations as follows:

Public Acquisition from M&CC for Government Technical Institute, 2.459 acs. on a Plan by R.L Wong, which when checked was acquired by Order 27/1951.

Lease by M&CC to Portuguese Club (Later called Non Pariel Park Tennis Court) in 1931- 3.09 acres.

Lease by M&CC to Indian Education Trust College No 347/1960 for 99 years-4.479 Acres. Now Richard Ishmael Secondary and North Georgetown Primary.

Lease by M&CC for Central High School, later shared by Critchlow Labour College and Tutorial High. 1.96 acs. and 2.088 acs.

M&CC to BG Teachers Association (now GTU) -2.436 Acs

BG Boy Scout from M&CC -3.525 Acs

Sprostons Sports Club (now GNEC) -3.539 Acs

Acs This seems to be GITC based onM&CC to Labour College- 1.361 Acs

Guyana Lands and Surveys commission...

This seems to be GITC based on the date.

St Joseph High School and Stella Maris- 5.88 Acs, Surveyed for Mayor and City Council.

GYO 2.2 Acres

An area between GYO and North Georgetown 1.8Acs

All surveys executed on behalf of the M&CC has been in the same area between Camp Street and

Vlissengen Road and from the southern boundaries of Queens College to Cummings canal. The surveys all refer to Transport no 337 of 1887.

The Council only has 43

The Table below provides some details of these surveys:

NOTE: North Georgetown seems to be on the Caetano Land and not part of Transport 337 of 1887 as such it was not included. These lands were acquired by Government for the construction of Irving Street.

The approximate area obtained for the various properties as well as Cummings Ca-

nal reserve basically covers the entire Council property as described in the Transport number 337 of 1887. Instead of a North Canal mentioned in Luke Hill’s plan the route seems to have been changed to rebuild Cummings Canal and fill the North Canal shown on that plan.

We hope that this infor-

acres and most of this has been basically accounted for through the above surveys. A very large reserve as much as 70 feet and 44 feet) for Cummings Canal was left in most of the surveys.

mation brings to an end all the claims and threats made against the government and we are prepared to defend the transport and lands held by the government.

The respective Plan Numbers are included for anyone to check at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Head Office.

Quiko village thrives with cash crop farming initiative

QUIKO, a small Amerindian village located in South Central Rupununi, Region Nine, has made notable progress in attaining food security and financial stability through the implementation of extensive cash crop cultivation.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai commissioned the four-acre savannah farm during her visit to the community on Monday.

Cultivation of crops such as sweet peppers, bora, eschalot, and watermelon, among other varieties, is taking place on the savannah farm.

Ronald Ignatius, Senior Councillor of Quiko, emphasized, in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), that this project will provide vital support to the hot meal programmes for school children.

“Our main crop is cash

crops as you can look around. We have eschalot… those crops that are cash crops to supply hot meals, private entities that do catering and so (on),” he expounded.

While income generation is an important factor, creating employment opportunities for residents is another crucial element of the project.

“(We are) creating job opportunities (by) having this large farm. We decided to employ persons in the community that have children attending secondary schools in order to have an income at the end of the day (and) other young people to have a knowledge of this farming (techniques),” the senior councillor said.

Ignatius noted that this initiative was conceived holistically by the community, recognising the importance of food safety and while they faced some challenges in its develop-

ment, they were able to persevere.

Meanwhile, Minister Sukhai commended the leadership for the initiative and congratulated the village on their achievement.

This achievement was made possible through the provision of $9 million in funding made available through the sale of Guyana’s carbon credit under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2030).

Revenues earned from the sale of carbon credits became possible after the government in 2023 signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement with global energy giant – Hess Corporation – that will see 2.5 million in credits being sold to the company annually.

The first payment of US$150 million was received in 2023. And, aligned with the commitment contained in the LCDS 2030, US$22.5 mil-

– Min. Sukhai commissions savannah farm

lion (GY4.7B) was disbursed to over 200 Amerindian, hinterland, rural and riverine communities/ villages.

This has enabled villages like Quiko to strate-

gise their own growth and prosperity while attaining self-reliance through investments in key sectors like agriculture, tourism, women and youth empowerment, and other reve -

nue-generating endeavours.

Quiko serves as a remarkable illustration of how strategic investments in remote areas can yield a favourable and enduring influence.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, Regional Vice Chairman Bertie Xavier and Senior Councillor Ronaldo Ignatius at the four-acre savannah farm in Quiko

National registry for donors, transplants to be created

By Shamar Meusa

IN line with the continuous efforts to modernise Guyana's healthcare system, a national donor and transplant registry is currently being established following the enactment of the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant bill.

Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran, the Director of Medical and Professional Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), revealed this information during the broadcast of the Ministry of Health's "Health Matters" program.

Dr. Rambaran has indicated that the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Act includes provisions regarding the creation of a donor list, allowing individuals to voluntarily join, as well as a recipient list. Additionally, he believes it is important to inform individuals with chronic renal disease about the process of being included on the recipient list.

“So, the agency is actively putting together both lists, with regards to the latter list that would be the ones who

would potentially receive or be recipients of donations,” he said.

In addition, he stated that individuals with chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease have the potential to become recipients, although a suitability assessment process will be implemented.

In order to ensure clarity, the director stated that not all individuals with the disease are eligible to receive a donation. Consequently, a prioritisation process will be implemented, taking into

account various factors.

The list will undergo regular updates to ensure that individuals are considered for organ donation as soon as organs become available.

“With regards to persons opting in on a list, there certainly will be a list available and it is more so an expression of your wishes so some persons wear it as a wristband or they have something in their wallet to say that they wish to be a donor, so both will be formalised,” he said.

In addition, Dr. Smolana

Swan, an Intensive Care Specialist at GPHC, emphasised the significance of individuals engaging in conversations with their families regarding their potential desire to become organ donors. She said, “A simple discussion at home with your family to let them know what your wishes might be in the event of an unexpected circumstance… in terms of your wishes and that in itself can make it so much easier on relatives when they have to make a decision whether

to say yes or no to organ donations.”

The establishment of a National Donor and Transplant Registry is provided for in Part Three, Section 13 of the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Bill 2021.

The registration will include the consents, amendments, and revocation of consents from adults regarding the donation of their organs, tissues, cells, or biofluids, among other things.

Moreover, individuals who are in need of organ,

tissue, cell, and biofluid transplantation, as well as those who have received such treatments, will be included in the registration process. To fulfill this requirement, the Organ Tissue and Transplant Agency, as specified in the legislation, will assume the responsibility of managing, operating, and preserving the donor registry.

The act further sets out, “The Agency shall keep proper records of all its dealings in relation to its functions under this act which shall include annotations and inventories of organs, tissues, cells, cell explants, cell lines and biofluids and other substances available and those used and how used.”

In January 2022, the National Assembly approved this bill which establishes the legal framework for the extraction of human organs, tissues, cells, and biofluids for transplantation and utilisation in regenerative medicine, including cell therapy, gene therapy, and various other scientific and medical research purposes.

Intensive Care Specialist, Dr Smolana Swan

Director of Medical and Professional Services at GPHC, Dr Navindranauth Rambaran

Lyon keen to exploit a chink in Williamson’s armour in milestone Test

WITH Kane Williamson all set for his 100th Test appearance in Christchurch, rival Nathan Lyon is ready with a plan to curb the prolific batter.

When he walks out on the field at Hagley Oval on Friday, Williamson will add yet another feat to his rich cricketing career.

Along with long-time teammate Tim Southee, the former New Zealand captain will join Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori, Stephen Fleming, and Brendon McCullum in having played 100 Tests for the side.

On the way to this special century, Williamson has already broken several records.

He has the most Test runs for a Kiwi batter, with the next best Taylor almost 1000 runs behind him and has a stranglehold on the No.1 ranking for Test batters.

His Test average is also the best for New Zealand, with a stipulation of a minimum of 10 Tests.

Besides, the batter also won the World Test Championship Final 2021 as a captain. How-

ever, a Test series win over neighbouring rivals Australia continues to evade Williamson..

And with a loss in the first Test in the ongoing trans-Tasman Trophy in Wellington, New Zealand can at best share the honours in the two-game series.

Despite averaging 55.25 in his career, Williamson’s form takes a dip against Australia. The prolific batter averages 37.26 in 10 games against them.

In his most recent outing, he fell for a duck after falling short of the crease while going for a poorly judged run in the first innings. In the second assay, Australia’s off-spinner Lyon came around the wicket and had the batter caught at leg slip by Steve Smith for nine.

Captain Pat Cummins and the Australia team heap praise on star spinner Nathan Lyon at the ICC World Test Championship Final

Speaking later, Lyon let out that Williamson’s dismissal, which came three deliveries after he’d switched around the wicket, was part of a plan.

“That was a plan, and it's nice when plans come off pretty well straight away. I've noticed something in Kane's batting against my bowling, so I tried to exploit that," Lyon said.

However, the experienced

spinner refused to divulge any further details about his “plan” for Williamson.

“There's one Test to come, mate,” Lyon let out cheekily.

Australia’s third-most successful Test bowler in terms of wickets, Lyon, picked his fifth 10-wicket haul in the first Test of the series, securing a solid 172-run win.

For his part, Williamson praised Lyon’s effort on a wicket that gave some help to the spinners. Speaking ahead of his momentous 100th Test, Williamson said, “(Lyon is) an incredible bowler and the surface in Wellington certainly was a competitive surface. It brought the spinners into play more than we thought going into it.

“And the quality he has, he certainly made the most of that and was quite a handful. As a player, you're always trying to improve, get better, adapt quickly.”

The second Test begins on Friday. (ICC Media)

Adrian Hetmyer to lead Guyana at CWI Rising Stars U-15 tournament in Antigua

TALENTED batsman Adrian Hetmyer has been appointed Guyana’s captain for the upcoming Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Under-15 tournament in Antigua later this month.

Hetmyer, the nephew of Guyana and West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer, will have prolific opener Emmanuel Lewis as his deputy in the 14-man squad.

SQUAD: Parmeshwar Ram, Justin Dowlin, Danvir Seegobin, Emmanuel Lewis, Adrian Hetmyer, Rovaldo Pereira, Richard Ramdehol, Khush Seegobin, Sohail Mohammed (WK), Shamar Apple, Brandon Henry, Gilbert

13:30

14:30

15:00

15:30

16:00

16:30 hrs

09:50

Race

Race 3 Bewport Bridge

Race

Race

Race

Race 2

Race

Race

Race 5

RESERVES: Trilok Nanan, Reyaz Latif, Bhomesh Lall, Feeaz Baksh, Kumulchan Ramnarace, Eron Benjamin and Mickle Sharma.

The squad was selected following the Inter-County 50-over competition, which Demerara won in early February.

The team is being sponsored by OES Guyana Inc., whose sponsorship will assist in preparing and outfitting the players for the regional tournament, set to bowl off on March 24.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Thursday March 07, 2024)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Ritchie Richardson (WI vs AUST, Barbados, 1991)

(2) Mudassar Nazar (PAK vs IND, Faisalabad, 1984)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who is the first batsman to be left stranded on 99 in a Test match?

(2) Who is the last player to suffer this fate?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Australia off-spinner, Nathan Lyon

Griffith, Jathniel Nurse and Arif Khan.

Adrian Hetmyer to captain Guyana in CWI Rising Stars Under-15 tournament

Cavaliers overturn 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Boston Celtics

THE Cleveland Cavaliers fought back from 22 points down in the fourth quarter to earn a thrilling 105-104 win over the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics looked on course for a 12th successive win when they opened up a 93-71 lead going into the fourth quarter.

But Dean Wade scored the winner with 19 seconds remaining to complete the comeback.

"It feels good, my teammates had the trust in me," Wade said.

"Them just having that belief in me gave me the confidence and motivated me, and luckily they [the shots] went in."

Wade finished with 23 points, including six of nine from three-point range, with eight rebounds. The Cavaliers, who were

Shanto stars as Bangladesh level series with comfortable win

BANGLADESH put in an all-round performance to win the second T20I against Sri Lanka by 8 wickets and level the series 1-1. The result beautifully sets up a decider on Saturday, again in Sylhet.

Put in to bat first, Sri Lanka set Bangladesh a target of 166, a far cry from their effort in the first game and a middling prospect which needed to be backed up by some good bowling. But Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a fifty and played a captain’s knock, keeping the visiting bowlers at bay and helping his side chase the total with 11 balls to spare. We were 20-25 runs short and that was the point and quot; reckoned SL captain Charith Asalanka after the game.

Opting to bowl first, Taskin Ahmed struck in the second over of the game and grabbed a return chance to send back Avishka Fernando for a seven-ball duck. Kusal Mendis (36 off 22) and Kamindu Mendis (37 off 27) then added 66 runs for the second wicket, but both fell in the space of seven

balls; while Kusal was caught behind off Soumya Sarkar&#39s bowling, Kamindu was run out after a mix-up with his batting partner. That led to another phase of recovery led by Charith Asalanka (28 off 14), Angelo Mathews (32* off 21) and Dasun Shanaka (20* off 18) but all it could get SL to was 165/5 despite an average day out for Mustafizur Rahman who returned figures of

4-0-42-1.

A brilliant 63-run powerplay got Bangladesh off to exactly the kind of start they were looking for.

Openers Litton Das (36 off 24) and Soumya Sarkar (26 of 22) were eventually dismissed by Matheesha Pathirana but Shanto (53* off 38) and Towhid Hridoy (32* off 25) ensured no more wickets fell and took the series to a decider with a convincing run-chase.

missing key players Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus, sit third in the Eastern Conference with a record of 40-21.

Boston remain comfortably top of the Eastern Conference with a 48-13 record, despite this late collapse.

"We just went cold," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "I thought we had some good possessions where we didn't make the shot. But credit to them. Wade played really well."

Elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns held on to clinch a 117107 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets.

The Suns had led by 22 points in the third quarter

but scored just 12 in the final period.

Kevin Durant scored 35 points and Grayson Allen added 28, including eight three-pointers, to seal the win.

"We missed 10 straight shots in the fourth quarter - but that's the name of the game, you just stick with it," Durant said afterwards.

Meanwhile, Luka Doncic scored a 39-point triple double with 10 rebounds and 11 assists but it was not enough as the Dallas Mavericks lost 137-120 to the Indiana Pacers.(BBC Sport)

Harpy Eagles recall for Smith, Persaud for FourDay Championship

3.4 overs. His final over was eventually completed by Angelo Mathews.

Also part of the Chennai Super Kings for the upcoming IPL 2024, all the eyes would be on how and when the slingy pacer recovers. (Cricbuzz)

GUYANA Harpy Eagles have called up fast bowler Nial Smith and all-rounder Akshaya Persaud for the fourth and fifth rounds of the West Indies Four-Day Championship, with leftarm spinner Antony Adams and fast bowler Neiland Cadogan making way.

Harpy Eagles, sixth on the points table in the eightteam tournament, will take on Barbados Pride at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua from March 13.

In round five, starting March 20, the defending champions will take on Windward Islands Volcanoes

at the same venue.

Harpy Eagles won their last game against West Indies Academy by 221 runs; prior to that, they lost to Leeward Islands Hurricanes and had a rain-affected draw in the first round against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

SQUAD: Tevin Imlach (Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Matthew Nandu, Kevlon Anderson (Vice-Captain), Raymond Perez, Kemol Savory, Kevin Sinclair, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Isai Thorne, Nial Smith and Akshaya Persaud.

Spotted cramping the other night, Pathirana was seen holding his left hamstring and walking off the field after bowling

Dean Wade scored 20 points in the final quarter to help his side to victory

Harpy Eagles pacer, Nial Smith

Hossain Shanto struck an unbeaten half-century to help Bangladesh win the second T20I

Windies Women’s Super50 Cup second round Nation stars with bat in another Jamaica victory, wins also for Guyana and Barbados

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Their bowlers set it up, and their batting, led by Chedean Nation, carried Jamaica Women to a nine-win win against Leeward Islands Women in a low-scoring West Indies Women’s Super50 Cup match on Wednesday in St Kitts.

The 37-year-old discarded West Indies Women’s batsman struck 14 fours in an unbeaten 61 off 29 balls, and the Jamaicans successfully chased 99 to win their second-round match in the 50 overs-a-side tournament at the Conaree Cricket Centre.

Jamaica Women were set back early in the chase when Amanda Edwards bowled Keneshia Ferron for a duck in the second over, but Nation came to the crease and drew on her vast experience to dominate the rest of the proceedings.

She shared an unbroken 93run stand for the second wicket with West Indies Women’s opener Rashada Williams, not out on 29, and the Jamaicans cruised to

their target in 11.2 overs to claim their second successive win in the tournament.

Earlier, Vanessa Watts grabbed three for 15 from 7.1 overs, and former West Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor supported with three for 16

CWI selection system still under review, Grave says

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Cricket West Indies chief executive officer, Johnny Grave, said the West Indies selection panels and systems are currently under review and new policy and personnel will be revealed after July 1 this year.

Grave said there were no immediate plans to replace Barbados-born England batsman Roland Butcher on the men’s selection panel.

“The selection policy and the selection panel are currently under review by director of cricket, Mile Bascombe, and I don’t expect that report to go to our board before announcing our 15-member squad for the [ICC Men’s Twenty20] World Cup,” Grave said, during a radio interview with i95 FM.

“Obviously, [head coach] Daren Sammy and [incumbent T20I captain] Rovman Powell will have a view about the players

they want to select, and Desmond Haynes will obviously lead that process as the lead selector.”

He added: “The current structure, having had such a successful year last year, we beat South Africa in South Africa, and we followed it up with series wins against India and England, but obviously we lost the series in Australia 2-1, but we won the last game.

“Hopefully, that means we will have a settled squad barring injuries leading into the World Cup, so the changes that we expect to make in terms of selection policy and selection panel won’t happen until after the World Cup.”

The contract for Haynes expires at the end of June this year, and Grave said he hoped to have a new selection system in place at that time, including a new selection policy and new selection panels.

from seven overs, and Jamaica Women dismissed the hosts for 98 in 35.1 overs after they chose to bat.

Former West Indies Women’s wicketkeeper-batsman Reniece Boyce hit the top score of 37 for Leeward Islands Women, but no other batter reached 20, and the home team sunk to their second successive loss.

Elsewhere, Guyana Women beat Windward Islands Women by 45 runs at Warner Park and defending double crown champions Barbados Women rebounded from a first-round humiliation with nerve-jangling, five-run win against Trinidad & Tobago Women at the St Paul’s Sports Complex.

Shabika Gajnabi led the Guyanese batting with 62 off 105 balls that included only five fours, and fellow West Indies Women’s international Shemaine Campbelle, her captain, supported with 42 to be the cornerstones for their side’s total of 208 for eight off 50 overs after they were put in to bat.

Steady bowling, led by Plaffianna Millington, Ashmini Munisar, and Nyia Latchman, then stifled the Windwards Women, and they were dismissed for 163 in 40.2 overs – Nerissa Crafton leading their batting with 47.

Left-handed batting stalwart Kycia Knight defied destructive bowling from West Indies Women’s off-spinner Karishma Ramharack and fellow tweaker Samara Ramnath to hit the day’s top score of 90 off 134 balls that included seven fours and one six and lead the Barbadians to a respectable 185 all out in 48.4 overs.

Ramharack ended with four for 20 from 9.4 overs, and Ramnath bagged three for 38 from nine overs after Barbados Women won the toss and chose to bat.

Consistent batting from the top order led by West Indies Women’s batsman Britney Cooper with 34 and Ramnath with 32 appeared to put T&T Women on course to hand their arch-rivals another defeat in the tournament.

But West Indies Women’s pacer Aaliyah Alleyne and long-serving leg-spinner Keila Elliott grabbed two wickets apiece, and the run outs of stalwarts Lee Ann Kirby and Kirbyina Alexander late in the chase further undermined the Divas.

Women’s Super50 Cup Super 50 Cup Results

– Results from matches in the second round of the West Indies Women’s Super50 Cup on Wednesday in St Kitts.

Scores:

At the Conaree Cricket Centre: Jamaica Women beat Leeward Islands Women by nine wickets.

LEEWARD ISLANDS

WOMEN 98 all out off 35.1 overs (Reniece Boyce 37; Vanessa Watts 3-15, Stafanie Taylor 3-16).

JAMAICA WOMEN 99 for one off 11.2 overs (Chedean Nation 61 not out, Rashada Williams 29 not out).

At Warner Park: Guyana Women beat Windward Islands

CARICOM classic chess tournament

Women by 45 runs.

GUYANA WOMEN 208 for eight off 50 overs (Shabika Gajnabi 62, Shemaine Campbelle 42, Ashmini Munisar 29 not out, Sheneta Grimmond 21; Carena Noel 3-47).

WINDWARD ISLANDS

WOMEN 163 all out off 40.2 overs (Nerissa Crafton 47, Zaida James 21; Plaffianna Millington 2-23, Ashmini Munisar 2-31, Nyia Latchman 2-38).

At St Paul’s Complex: Barbados Women beat Trinidad & Tobago Women by five runs.

BARBADOS WOMEN 185 all out off 48.4 overs (Kycia Knight 90; Karishma Ramharack 4-20, Samara Ramnath 3-38).

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO WOMEN 180 for eight off 50 overs (Britney Cooper 34, Samara Ramnath 32, Lee Ann Kirby 26, Djenaba Joseph 21; Aaliyah A Alleyne 2-33, Keila Elliott 2-33).

Guyana in line for podium finish after third win in Round 4

THE country’s senior chess team led by Fide Master Anthony Drayton and Candidate Master Taffin Khan delivered another superb victory for the host, on Tuesday evening, at the Ramada Princess Hotel, in round 4 of the inaugural CARICOM Classic Chess Tournament.

Guyana came up against Suriname who provided good competition in round 4, and the country’s national champion, Khan, who is undefeated in the competition, playing with the black pieces, defeated Shaief Chashawa with white pieces to stay flawless after 4 rounds.

Drayton started off against Jason Yeung whom he overwhelmed.

Shazeeda Rahim also beat Suriname’s Maylee Tjong with Women Candidate Master Jessica Callender losing out to Victoria Kaslan.

The juniors however only managed to salvage ½ points out of their clash with St Lucia as they lost 3 ½ to 1/2.

The ½ points came after Kyle Couchman got a draw against Justin James.

Keron Sandiford was de-

feated by Arvin Nicholas, Sasha Shariff went down to Tris- Ann Richards and Aditi Joshi was beaten by Chelsea Wahid.

Meanwhile, earlier on Tuesday, in the third round, the seniors edged St Lucia 3-1 while the juniors lost to Jamaica.

On Monday, in the opening round, the seniors got pass their junior counterparts 4-0.

The second round saw the seniors drawing with Jamaica

2-2 and the juniors losing to Trinidad and Tobago 3-1.

Guyana is fielding two teams in the competition as the host nation.

The action resumes today (Thursday) with round 5 and 6 at the Ramada hotel with the event concluding on Saturday.

The competition sees teams battling over 9 rounds, the winning nation collects US$1500 dollars with US$1000 for second place

and US$500 for third.

The tournament is sponsored by the CARICOM secretariat, ExxonMobil, E-net Guyana, Texila American University, Republic Bank Guyana Limited and DDL’s Topco.

The competition was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, Caribbean Chess Association and world governing body FIDE and the CARICOM secretariat.

Chedean Nation struck an unbeaten 61 off 29 balls

Shazeeda Rahmin after her fourth round victory

Undefeated CM Taffin Khan in action Fide Master Anthony Drayton after his fourth round victory

GFF President Wayne Forde concerned about lack of suitable football grounds in Linden

...hopes to assist the UDFA for a return to competitive footballl in the Mining Town

THE Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) is battling to stage competitive football due to some challenges it faces with regards to playing facilities in Linden.

Chronicle Sport spoke with Mr. Wayne Forde, president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on matters relating to concerns of the UDFA, and his take on the way forward.

GC: The UDFA has been plagued without a proper playing facility to develop football in Linden, Region 10 over the past couple of years. The Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) is currently out of commission and this has resulted in the local authorities being seriously handicapped. Is this a concern of the governing GFF and what measures are in place to rescue this situation?

WF: It is always a grave concern whenever a statutory member of the GFF is unable to meet its constitutional obligations to the Clubs, players, officials and fans within their respective jurisdiction. The running and organisation of football competitions at all levels is a

fundamental responsibility of Regional Associations (RA) of the GFF and the foundation on which players are developed. At the moment we are aware

that Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) has no proper venue for playing football within the Linden community and we are very concerned about

this. Linden is a traditional football community who have produced some distinguished footballers in the past. While we continue to engage key stakeholders in an attempt to resolve this issue, we have asked the UDFA to identify a venue within their jurisdiction that the GFF would be able to upgrade to a level suitable for the playing of football.

Over the years few players from this region have been able to be permanent fixtures on senior national teams since the exit of stalwarts like Collie Hercules and Charles Pollard to name a few. And the absence of a club to compete in the Elite League suggests this may continue in the immediate future.

GC: Can anything be done to first get football back to a competitive nature and how can the GFF assist?

WF: The GFF is fully aware of the plethora of talented young men and women with the UDFA and continue to provide the Association with tremendous support through the M-FAP programme. We are providing both

financial and material support for competitions, capacity building, etc. The role of the GFF is to support our members; it is the duty of the UDFA to lead the developmental programmes with its jurisdiction.

However, we are aware of how stymied they are by the state of football infrastructure within the region which is badly affecting the staging of competition through which these players progress to the National Team programme. I remain optimistic that, together, we will find a way to mitigate the severe infrastructure challenge in the near future and create more opportunities for our players to play competitive football.

GC: The UDFA has won the recent GFF staged NAMILCO U17 tournament which is a good sign that all is not lost. Is the GFF seeking to provide measures to facilitate such young talents to help the UDFA regain prominence at the senior club level as in the past and not cause these players to move to other regions to develop their talent?

WF: I would like to place

DCB’s GFSCA Inter Association 50-overs U-19 cricket

on record my congratulations to the UDFA Under-17 Boys on winning the national playoff of the NAMILCO Flower power U-17 Boys league. These boys are the beneficiary of the GFF Academy Training Centre (ATC) programme. Through the M-FAP programme, the GFF will once again be providing significant support funding for the staging of the 2024 Senior Men’s League. These boys will be able to enjoy significant game time once we are able to resolve the venue challenges quickly, which is the immediate focus of the GFF and the UDFA.

GC: Are you aware that the Linden Synthetic Track at Bayrock has a football field within the track? How best can this be utilised and how soon?

WF: I am aware of this; however this is not a venue under the control of the GFF and I am therefore unable to comment on the details regarding the conditions under which the UDFA may be able to access this state facility.

Upper Demerara and West Demerara register wins

By Sean Devers

AN important 16-run last wicket partnership between the level headed Tyriq Walters (12) and Andy Ramgolam (3) helped Upper Demerara snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against host East Coast at the Lusignan ground yesterday in the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) sponsored DCB U19 Inter-Association Super50 Tournament.

In the low scoring contest played in fluctuating weather conditions, Upper Corentyne made a ‘meal’ of the paltry target before struggling to 67-9 in 26.1 overs to secure a one-wicket win as Skipper Shilo Adams top scored with 16.

Earlier, only Nicolas Seepersaud (17) reached double figures as East Coast were bundled for 66 in 30.4 overs on a damp track. Renaldo Greenville who cap -

tured 4-11, Stephon Sanker had 3-6 and fast bowler Walters 2-17, did the damage for Upper Demerara who had no players from that sub-Association.

When rain stopped play, East Coast were 65-9 and an early Lunch was taken and when the rain subsided and played resumed home were quickly dismissed.

When Upper Demerara began their reply Gabriel Rookhum (6) was removed by Seenarine Haricharran who then bowled.

Jeremiah Hohenkirk (4); looking to drive, to leave his team, comprising the #39; Standbys ' from the other four sub-Associations, on 11-2.

Alex Daterdeen sent back Rishi Seodat (5) and Joshua Persaud, for a first ball duck at 31-4.

Neeran Bani trapped Greenville (0) a run later before rain again stopped play at 3:02pm with the score on 39-5 in 13.4 with Adams on 16.

When Adams, arguable the team’s most accomplished batter, played a half-hearted pull to a longhop from left-arm spinner Nirvana Bani and lobbed a simple catch to short backward square off the second ball after the resumption, his team was wobbling on the ropes on 39-6.

Bani, who captured 4-26 in the truncated game which was reduced to 42 overs per side, got support from Daterdeen (3-15) as they reduced the visitors to 52-9.

The handful of East Coast fans who were present on a working were already celebrating an expected victory.

But the towering Walters, a budding Sports Journalist at NCN TV, joined Ramgolam when Andy Sookdeo (7) was caught off Daterdeen.

The pair, with Walters taking most of strike, inched towards the victory target with intelligent batting.

Walters broke the shackles with boundary over extra

cover off Bani and got a single next ball to reduce the target to two.

Arun Gainda, the tournament leading wicket-taker with eight scalps from his two matches including one of only two five-wicket hauls, was surprisingly not used until the 24th over with seven runs to win.

In the other rain affected game at Farm on the East Bank, West Demerara beat East Bank after being bowled out for 136 as the openers Parmeshwar Ram (33) and R Reene (16) added 34 for the first wicket.

But Sachin Balgobin with 24 was only other batter to reach double figures Krsna Singh had 4-15 and got support from Zauld Mohammed who took 3-24.

East Bank were then dismissed for 126 as no batter reached 25 as L. Ramond had two wickets.

The next round is scheduled for Sunday.

GFF president Wayne Forde

Renaldo Greenville (right) captured 4-11 while Stephon Sanker had 3-6 for Upper Demerara

Thirty athletes set to compete at KFC Fitness Challenge on Sunday

THE Guyana Fitness Games are ready to host the KFC Fitness Challenge, which 30 athletes have registered to compete at the National Park on Sunday, March 10.

The organisers revealed at their official launch on Tuesday evening that athletes from The Bahamas, Czech Republic, and Suriname will compete against their Guyanese counterparts.

Noshavayah King, who has over 15 years of experience in the fitness industry, is the event’s lead coordinator and promised that the event that started in 2015 and has become a staple in the fitness community will be “bigger and better.”

This year, the Fitness Challenge will have categories for Elite RX, Masters, and Teens, all aimed at creating a platform for athletes to display and challenge

their fitness levels. RX will have five events, while the Masters will do four or five events. There are increased financial benefits this across all events, which King believes will motivate athletes further.

While there are cash prizes from G$200,000 –G$100,000 for the top three Elite podium finishers, and G$150,000 to $80,000 for Masters, there are also cash incentives for winning the various events on the day.

The first event starts at 06:00h on March 10 in the National Park with a onemile run followed by eight rounds of workout and then another one-mile run.

The second stage of the event commences at noon.

Admission is free for the morning session, but patrons will pay $2,000 to enter the National Park tarmac from noon.

Curators workshop series to be staged across T20 World Cup venues

AS preparations continue for the hosting of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, organisers will be hosting a series of workshops for the pitch and outfield curators as well as other members of the ground staff who will be responsible for the venues and facilities across the region.

Over 50 staff members in the six host nations in the West Indies will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) officials when the workshops and developmental courses are conducted from March 6-27.

Roland Holder, CWI Manager of Cricket Oper-

ations and Head of Cricket for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, outlined the reasons behind the series of workshops. He said the upcoming series is crafted by CWI and designed to upskill existing curators across the region by exposing them to international best practices for pitch preparation and applicable maintenance, while simultaneously expanding the cadre of curators by identifying new talent with the appropriate combination of theoretical knowledge and practical exposure, to lend further expertise to match venues as we seek to deliver a world-class event in June.

“We are enthusiastic about these workshops and

educational seminars across the region. It is great to know that over 50 members of our ground staff will benefit from this series of seminars which

has been strategically set-up in the six region host territories for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” Holder said. “This is geared towards ensuring that the persons with responsibility for the pitch, outfield, and other facilities on the ground will benefit from the knowledge available, in line with international best practices and in keeping with the highest standards. We are aware this is for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but also post-World Cup, as good pitches lead to good cricket with an even contest between bat and ball. This is an essential area of preparation for what will be the biggest event ever hosted in the West

Indies.”

The workshops will include both indoor educational sessions and outdoor practical events. They start at Antigua and Barbuda from March 7-8 and will move to Saint Lucia from March 1112, then on to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from March 14-15.

From there the series moves to Barbados from March 18-19, and Guyana for the period March 21-22 before concluding in Trinidad and Tobago from March 25-26.

These six countries will host matches in the ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which will be played from June 1-29. West

Indies, which hosted the event in 2010, will hold matches at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Kensington Oval, Guyana National Stadium, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Arnos Vale, and Brian Lara Cricket Academy. The event will be the largest in the tournament’s history with 20 international teams playing 55 matches across nine locations.

It is the first time USA will host matches at a T20 World Cup, with 16 firstround matches split between Nassau County International Cricket Stadium (New York), Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium (Dallas), and Broward County Stadium (Lauderhill). (CWI)

CWI Manager of Cricket Operations Roland Holder

Athletes, organisers and sponsors after the official launch of the event on Tuesday evening at Herdmanston Lodge in Queenstown