Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 12-03-2024

‘International community must come together, recognise suffering of Palestinians’

Guyana’s first-ever Ramadan Village has been set up by the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT), the Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana, and the Government of Guyana to commemorate the holy month (Delano Williams photos)

‘International community must come together, recognise sufferings of Palestinians’

— VP Jagdeo says; emphasises importance of peace, unity, security, cultural diversity

By Trina Williams

ACKNOWLEDGING the sufferings and violence in Gaza, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said that Palestinians are starving because of the “failure” of the international community to come together and recognise what is going on. His call comes at a time when Muslims across the world are observing the Holy Month of Ramadan, a period of fasting, prayer and reflection.

In his address at the launch of the first-ever local Ramadan Village on the lawns of the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) ground, Dr. Jagdeo said: “Ramadan is a period of fasting and sacrifice. There is a part of the world where people are fasting involuntarily; I'm speaking about Gaza....

“Now we have tens of thousands of people in Gaza who are starving; and they are not starving because there is no food in the world, they are starving because of the failure of the international community to come together and recognise the suffering of the Palestinian people.”

Amidst the colourful décor at the Ramadan Village, many booths proudly showcased the sign, “Free Palestine”, and the respective exhibitors were enthusiastic about showcasing numerous aspects of the teachings of Islam along with garments, literature, local and international cuisine, including sweetmeats.

Amplifying the messages that were around, Dr. Jagdeo called out Israel for its continuous crimes against Palestine, and noted that prevarication around this issue has allowed Israel to defy the entire international community.

He said: “Israel cannot bring security to itself through wiping out the Palestinian people. And that is why we support a twoState solution to this issue; the

entire world supports a two-State solution to bring peace to that region to allow Israel to live in peace and security, but also the Palestinian people to live in dignity.”

Given the devastating situation in Gaza, the Vice-President said that Guyanese have to count their blessings, because they live in a country that is culturally, religiously and ethnically diverse.

He also firmly remarked that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government is steadfast in its efforts to unite all citizens.

“President Irfaan Ali recognises that the economic and social prosperity that is taking place in our country has to be buttressed by support for cultural diversity, and for things spiritual, because our nation will be incomplete if we only focus on those issues,” he said, adding that the Head of State, since assuming office, has extended his support to various cultural groups and religious communities.

“He doesn't believe that there is a single culture in Guyana, we [the PPP] believe that we must allow all of our people to feel comfortable with who they are,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

The Ramadan Village also serves as a platform for non-Muslims to learn more

about Islam, which, unfortunately, according to the Vice-President, has been “vilified globally for a long time and mischaracterised”.

The massive event has been organised by the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT), the Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYOG), and the Government of Guyana.

UNITY

Director of Education and Dawah, Shaykh Moeenul Hack touched on the importance of Ramadan and keeping the fast.

He pointed out that an objective of the fast is to strengthen one’s relationship with the Creator, through prayers, recitation, and listening to the Quran among other things.

Hack said: “This nourishment of the soul produces good thoughts, positivity, peace of mind, and strengthens our forbearance. We are humans because of a body and the soul. And through this fast, we are able to preserve our humanity.

“This fast, complemented by the remembrance of Allah, should take our relationship with our Maker to a higher level and make us better human beings.”

He underscored that the Ramadan Village creates the environment to achieve this

objective, noting that it offers another opportunity to educate the Guyanese community about Islam and its culture.

Head of GIT, Shaykh Abdool Aleem Rahim expressed similar sentiments, and in his presentation, he educated the crowd of Guyanese, both Muslim and Non-Muslim, about the importance of Ramadan and

unity. The Ramadan Village aided in setting the tone for what is marked as one of the greatest periods for Muslims. As the crowd was serenaded with a beautiful and melodious chant by a group of children and a Qaseeda by the Vice-President of the Muslim Youth Organisation Imran Ally, the sun had slowly set, and Muslims began

to lock their eyes on the sky in search of the new crescent moon.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and lasts for 29 to 30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

Scenes of the first-ever Ramadan Village (Delano Williams Photos)

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Multinational security support for Haiti

–– regional, international leaders conclude, as violence hits tipping point

–– US pledges more funding for security, humanitarian aid, following talks led by CARICOM on possible solution to ongoing crisis

WITH gangs now ruling Haiti’s capital Port Au Prince, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders have announced that multinational security support is being mobilised to assist Haitian authorities in restoring law and order.

On Monday, CARICOM’s Chairperson and Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali lead a multi-stakeholder meeting with both regional and international partners in Kingston, Jamaica.

After hours of intense meetings and discussions, Dr. Ali, during a press briefing, said that CARICOM’s ‘singular and primary concern’ remains the citizens of Haiti.

“We have held deep and honest discussions with our Haitian brothers and sisters who represent the political and civil society and faithbased leaders of the Haitian people, to attempt to arrive at the consensus around an effective, inclusive, transitional government structure to take country to general elections in the shortest possible time,” the Guyanese Head of State said.

Over the last few weeks, CARICOM leaders have been engaged in deep discussions with stakeholders in Haiti and across the region, following intensified waves of violence in the sister state.

“…We must all reach a consensus among ourselves and our support for the Haitian people, the difficult decisions we make here today would have to be in the in-

terest of the Haitian people and we must be clear sighted, strategic and laser focused on acting on their interest,” Dr Ali said while stressing that talks have not been easy.

The CARICOM Chair further noted that emphasis must not only be placed on an immediate solution, but also on the need for ‘building blocks’ for political stability and the long-term recovery and development of the country.

According to international news reports, heavily armed gangs attempted to take over Haiti’s main international airport, exchanging gunfire with police and soldiers in the most recent attack on important government locations in a wave of

violence that also included a mass escape from the nation’s two largest prisons.

They wanted to stop 74-year-old Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry from returning from his trip to Kenya, where he had travelled to in order to sign an agreement on the deployment of a multinational police force to the Caribbean island.

Henry had travelled to Kenya after attending the CARICOM summit.

The CARICOM country is still experiencing an upsurge in violence and in response to this the United Nations Security Council has approved multinational security support, Jamaica’s Prime Minster Andrew Holness disclosed, while addressing

the news briefing.

According to Holness, Haiti needs new cohesive domestic resolve, and the support of its partners.

“The people of Haiti deserve the opportunity to experience another way of being, to determine their destiny, to secure their rights and to be free from oppressive forces within and without.” Holness said.

Noting that Haiti is now at its ‘tipping point,’ Holness stressed that the multinational security support is a necessary and critical first step to restore basic law and order to the country, to allow for stability and the distribution of much-needed humanitarian assistance to citizens who have been

severely affected by the distress at the hands of criminal gangs.

MORE SUPPORT

To further support the country, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States’ Department of Defence will double its support for the mission from US$100 million to US$ 200 million; this will bring the monetary pledge to US$300 million.

Aside from this, the US has also pledged US$33 million for humanitarian aid.

“Only the Haitian people should determine their own future, not anyone else but all of us CARICOM, the United States, our other partners we can help…we can help re -

store foundation and security; we can address the tremendous suffering that innocent Haitians are experiencing,” Blinken said.

Two weeks ago, 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 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government.

Confidential meetings were conducted with Henry, who participated in the extended four-day summit.

At that meeting, it was revealed that a consensus was met for democratic elections to be held in the French-speaking state by August 2025.

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, who was later assassinated on July 7, 2021 at his residence in the capital.

The CARICOM country is still experiencing an upsurge in violence. Henry’s de-facto administration is being targeted for overthrow by Chérizier and his group.

Haiti’s de facto rulers have intensified their efforts to expedite the process of appointing a new presidential council to govern the nation.

Violence, suffering in Gaza, Haiti must end

–– President Ali says; calls on persons to utilise the auspicious month of Ramadan to stand in solidarity with persons affected by conflicts

THE following is the full text of a statement from President, Dr Irfaan Ali on the Holy Month of Ramadan:

“As-salamu alaykum,

“I extend best wishes to all of Guyana, particularly our Muslim brothers and sisters, as we embark on the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“Ramadan holds a profound significance in the Islamic faith. It is a month of reflection, prayer, and self-discipline. During this holy month, Muslims engage in fasting, dedicating

themselves to acts of charity, spirituality, and self-improvement.

“It is a time for deep introspection, fostering empathy, strengthening the bonds of family and friendship, and showing compassion and concern for those facing difficult circumstances.

“This year, however, our hearts are heavy with concern at the unimaginable suffering being endured by our brothers and sisters in Gaza.

“The relentless onslaught they face, tantamount to genocide, is a grave viola-

tion of human rights. The assault on the defenceless people of Gaza constitutes a modern-day crime against humanity.

“Ramadan is a month for showing and expressing solidarity. It is a time when the bonds of compassion and empathy are strengthened, and individuals come together to support one another in our spiritual journey.

“It is equally a time for us to stand beside those who are suffering and to extend our hands and hearts in support and solidarity with

them. “For it is written in the Holy Quran [2:177]: “Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah [God], the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveller, those who ask [for help]…. [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfil their promise when they promise; and [those who] are

patient in poverty and hardship… Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.

“During this Holy Month of Ramadan, I urge all of Guyana to remember, in their prayers and supplications, all those suffering because of conflict, including the people of Haiti. Let us dedicate a portion of our fasting and prayers to all their plights, praying fervently for their safety and well-being.

“Let us stand in solidarity with them, advocating for an immediate ceasefire and

an end to the violence that has inflicted such immense suffering on innocent lives.

“To our Muslim brothers and sisters, I extend my heartfelt best wishes for a blessed Ramadan. “May this month be filled with spiritual growth, peace and tranquility. May your prayers be answered, and your sacrifices be accepted by the Most Merciful!

“May the spirit of Ramadan inspire us to work towards a better, more just world for all.

Ramadan Mubarak!”

President of Guyana and Chairman of CARICOM, Dr Irfaan Ali and other high-level regional and international officials during a press briefing following a significant meeting on the situation in Haiti, on Monday (Office of the President photo)

Motorcyclist dies in accident at Mc Doom Public Service Commission clears backlog of more than 300 issues

POLICE are investigating a fatal accident which occurred around 21:35 hrs on Sunday, at Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara, in the vicinity of the Guyana Shore Base Inc.

The victim has been identified as 26-year-old motorcyclist, Domall Trim of Lot 16 Bel Air Village, Georgetown.

According to information from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the accident involved the motorcycle and a motor lorry #GAE 2805 owned by Guyana Shore Base Inc., and driven at the time by Nickell Higgins, a 24-year-old from Sparendaam Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the lorry driver was proceeding east on Rome Access Road to proceed further east across Mc Doom public road.

Dead: 26-year-old motorcyclist, Domall Trim

As the lorry approached Mc Doom public road, the traffic rank at the junction stopped all the vehicles that were proceeding south and north on both carriageways, and later gave the driver of the motor lorry directions to proceed east across Mc Doom Public Road.

While the lorry was crossing the eastern carriageway, a group of motorcyclists were proceeding south on the eastern drive lane of the eastern carriageway.

The motorcyclists pulled to the eastern side of the road, navigating alongside the stationary vehicles and started to proceed south at a fast rate, overtaking the line of traffic.

Trim’s motorcycle collided with the rear portion of the motor lorry, which caused him to fall onto the road surface and skid into the rear right-side wheel of the lorry.

As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist sustained injuries to his body. He was picked up in a semi-conscious condition and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty for multiple injuries to the body.

The motorcyclist died while receiving treatment. His body is currently lying in the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

THE Public Service Commission (PSC) has cleared a backlog of more than 300 issues that were pending prior to its taking office in July of 2023.

This was disclosed by PSC Chairman Manniram Prashad while speaking recently at the launch of the Public/Police Service Commission Website.

“Within a mere six months, the Commission successfully cleared a twoyear backlog of work; over 300-and-something issues were there pending, because there were no Commission earlier. Our commissioners worked beyond the call of duty to get up to scratch, and I can tell you, as of today, there is no backlog,” he stated.

He also lamented the discrepancies in the operations of the previous Commission.

“The last Commission issued only one vacancy circular on the 27th of June, 2019 for its entire three years; just one vacancy circular. That Commission spent over three million dollars to pay a few retired education officers to do shortlisting for the ministry of education only. Interviews were conducted with shortlisted candidates, and a few appointments were made, but it didn’t end there.

Qualified candidates were listed as unqualified, and were not shortlisted and interviewed. Persons were offered positions that they did not apply for; total chaos,” Prashad stated.

He noted that the discrepancies resulted in a dissatisfied education officer moving to the Public Service Appellate Tribunal (PSAT) to challenge the entire process.

“For the eight months that we were in office, not one of our decisions were challenged; not one went to the PSAT, and all of the decisions were unanimous,” he emphasised.

Prashad emphasised the critical role of human resources in driving the suc-

gions, in which all parties are involved in the recruitment process by utilising the website. We encourage cooperation in the tracking and shortlisting of candidates, and promote an open and engaged culture,” he stated. Prashad noted the charge given by President Dr. Irfaan Ali for the Commission to explore innovative approaches to improve service delivery to the people. He stated that in response to this directive, the Commission has embarked on a mission to streamline processes, and leverage technology for the benefit of all.

cessful implementation of the 2024 Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), noting that the recently launched website will help these efforts by ensuring timely staffing and ensure resource allocation.

“In future, we see a vibrant collaboration between the PSC, ministries and re-

Manniram Prashad, Maurice Rudranauth Gajadhar, Melcita Agatha Bovell, Chandrawati Leila Ramson, Mohandatt Goolsarran, and Janice Isabella Bowen were sworn in as commissioners of the Public Service Commission on July 13, 2023. (DPI)

PSC Chairman Manniram Prashad

Works progress on $560.7M St. Mary’s Secondary School

By Cindy Parkinson

GIVEN the integral role that education plays in the growth of the country’s economy, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Education, continues to invest significantly in the sector’s development.

The Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand recently conducted an inspection at the site for the $560.7 million St. Mary’s Secondary School.

The modern state-of-theart, three-story facility with a capacity for over 600 students is said to house classrooms for information and communication technology (ICT), science and technology, home economics, and industrial arts on the top floor, 12 on the middle floor, and six laboratories on the lower floor.

St. Mary’s Secondary, like all the other secondary schools that are being constructed right now by the People’s Progressive Party Civic government, will have several fire safety features, such as escape doors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and fire escape exits.

In addition, metal ceil -

ings, fire-resistant ceiling panels, and minimal use of wood are all features of the building design, as are an auditorium, a canteen, a sanitary facility, and a teachers’ staff room.

According to a report from the signing ceremony in June of last year, in order to facilitate speedier completion, the work was divided into six lots.

K&S General Construction Inc. was given the building’s lot one, which is worth $286.194 million, and is responsible for the superstructure’s construction. The $135.59 million Lot Two Block Works was also awarded to the same company.

Also given to A. Ograsein and Sons General Contracting were lot three, which consists of plumbing work, and lot five, which consists of outside work, valued at $33.38 million and $12.97 million, respectively.

For lot four, which contains electric works, Cummings Electrical Company Ltd. was granted a contract worth $25.868 million, and for lot six, which includes finishing works, R&D Engineering Services was awarded a contract worth $66.663 million.

During the simple signing ceremony last year, Minister Manickchand made a brief statement, noting that the contracts signed would bring the secondary school closer to realising the ministry’s goal of achieving universal secondary education.

According to the minister, the Ministry of Education has been working extremely hard over the past three years to achieve that goal by rebuilding and expanding several secondary schools in addition to establishing a number of new secondary schools.

Ensuring that every child benefits from a comfortable learning environment in the country, the Government of Guyana continues to fund other schools, including Christ Church, Karasabai Secondary, Tuschen Secondary, Northwest Secondary, Hosororo Secondary, St. George’s High, and North Ruimveldt Secondary.

Further, new schools will also be constructed this year in several locations, including, but not limited to, Aishalton, Christianburg, Jawalla, Kopinang, Micobie, Kuribrong, Lake Mainstay, Pennack, Red Creek, Foulis, Mibicuri, and Tuschen.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand conducting a site inspection at St. Mary’s Secondary School

Protecting Guyana’s Democratic Soul

IN the wake of recent concerning remarks from opposition figures, President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s impassioned address at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne, resonates deeply with Guyana’s ongoing struggle to safeguard its democratic values.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), under his leadership, stands as a bulwark against attempts by opposition forces to compromise the very essence of Guyana’s national identity.

President Ali’s invocation of unity and shared identity reflects a poignant understanding of the soul of a nation, drawing parallels between its nurturing and the care of a newborn child. It’s a sentiment that strikes at the heart of the ongoing battle for the preservation of democratic principles upon which Guyana was founded.

Recent remarks by former Prime Minister Hamilton Green, hinting at the justification of election rigging, have sent shockwaves through the political landscape. Such inflammatory rhetoric not only undermines the democratic process, but also poses a grave threat to the fabric of Guyanese society.

President Ali’s firm condemnation of such remarks underscores the gravity of the situation and the imperative for collective action to combat such divisive ideologies.

Indeed, the President’s call for a united front against those who seek to spread racial division is not just a rhetorical flourish, but is also a rallying cry for citizens to actively engage in defending Guyana’s democratic foundation.

His emphasis on countering divisive forces with truth, facts, and political con-

sciousness is a testament to the resilience of Guyanese democracy and the unwavering commitment of the PPP/C to uphold its core values.

The importance of grassroots activism in this endeavour cannot be overstated. President Ali’s call to action urges citizens to become guardians of the nation’s soul, emphasising the need for unity, resilience, and a shared commitment to combating racism and preserving national unity.

It’s a sentiment echoed by Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who aptly highlighted the insidious nature of race-baiting tactics employed by the opposition to sow discord among Guyanese communities.

At its core, the struggle to protect Guyana’s democratic soul, is a battle against the forces of division and hatred. It’s a battle that transcends partisan politics and demands the collective effort

of all citizens who cherish the values of democracy, equality, and unity.

As we pay homage to the legacy of Dr. Cheddi Jagan this month, let us heed President Ali’s clarion call to stand strongly in defence of our nation’s soul and reaffirm our commitment to a future where the principles of democracy reign supreme. Anything less would be a betrayal of the sacrifices made by those who fought tirelessly to ensure Guyana’s place as a beacon of democracy in the region.

In these trying times, let us stand together, resolute and unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding Guyana’s democratic soul.

For it is only through collective action and a steadfast dedication to our shared values that we can overcome the challenges that threaten to undermine the very essence of our nation.

An open letter to Sharma Solomon, Mayor of Linden

Dear Editor,

QUITE recently, your outbursts have been contentious, scandalous and disrespectful. Your continuous tirade and untruths have been ongoing for years and they have been misleading. On behalf of myself and family, I will attempt to address some of the issues that are undermining my family and the well-being of Linden.

Your behaviour towards our success, coupled with your politicisation of town affairs, has led us to believe that you may very well be the worst mayor Linden has ever seen.

My recent endeavours to utilise a plot of land, once a dump site, for the development of affordable low-income model housing has been under scrutiny since you were elevated to being the mayor for reasons unknown; this attitude only signifies your bitter hatred and jealousy of me and by extension the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation.

Instead of supporting initiatives that benefit the community, you seem more interested in prioritising political agendas over the welfare of Linden residents. This Villa Project is a partnership with investors from Canada and Trinidad. Last year, we successfully hosted an Expo at the Villa Complex which was well accepted in the community.

You have been continuously enquiring who owns the land. Lindeners have been engaging the developers and two houses have been built to date.

Your hatred for the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation and myself was evident when

you supported Christopher Matthias over me when we contested for the presidency of the Guyana Football Federation.

Due to your questionable attitude, the same Matthias had cause to suspend you from all football activities. This brings me to the boycotting of the K & S Tournament, a move which contributed to the downfall of the level of football in Guyana as can be seen now, based on the standard and level of play that are being displayed today.

I hope your memory serves you well that it is the K & S Organisation that was responsible for a number of footballers, primarily from Linden, to earn overseas contracts which contributed to their level of play being uplifted.

The greatest footballer in the World, King Pele, visited these shores, compliments of K & S; it was one of our greatest achievements. The first and probably only time this ever happened. The Guyana National Stadium at Providence was filled to capacity when we hosted a football final including two local football teams.

Moreover, your apparent disregard for the importance of preserving tourist attractions, such as the Blue Lake, Kara Kara, Linden, in favour of pursuing personal vendettas is concerning. The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, which has been instrumental in organising events such as the Linden Town Week festivities, has faced unwarranted animosity from you and the Town Council. It is evident that your actions will lead to the decline of these events, which were once a source of

pride and economic benefit for the region.

The idea of Town Week was conceptualised by the K & S Organisation. However, your brutal abhorrence for K & S was evident when you honoured another individual who started Town Day implying that he stared Town Week.

The entire Linden community is aware of how it started, but you have been playing the proverbial ostrich. The Town Week was not formulated as a fundraiser for the Linden Town Council to benefit.

I urge you to leave the Town Week activities to the promoters, the vendors, the taxi drivers, the restaurants and all those who will benefit; focus on beautifying Linden, the Blue Lake which has garbage strewn all over and that needs to be cleaned and maintained.

I commend former Mayor Mrs. Arrindel for her efforts to beautify the community, including the creation of a theme park and playground. It is disheartening to witness the regression under your leadership, particularly your decision to shift the town’s birthday events to accommodate other interests.

The biggest mistake that happened in Linden is electing you to the mayorship. From 2015 to 2020, you were off the scene but suddenly you arose out of your slumber to curtail the development of the township of Linden.

When you were regional chairman, you organised street protests and picketing exercises for a number of things, including the acquisition of a TV station, but we are still awaiting this station.

Furthermore, your uncaring behaviour to-

wards my sons, who have continued our legacy of contributing to Linden’s development, are unjustified. While our family has worked tirelessly to bring benefits to the community, your sole contribution seems to be the monument of three martyrs at Silvertown which will be your only legacy.

The New Era Entertainment, spearheaded by my sons, has sought to enhance the infrastructure and services in Linden, including installing lights and pavilions at the Retrieve hardcourt and improving telecommunications services. Yet, your failure to respond to their requests for event dates demonstrates a lack of support for progress in the town.

Even former President, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger was affected by your behaviour when he visited Linden a few years ago.

Instead of fostering unity among Lindeners, you persist in causing division and promoting a political agenda. It is time for you to prioritise the needs of the community over personal interests and commit to the development of Linden.

In closing, I urge you to refrain from being uncaring as you go about your chores of trying to develop Linden. Mr Mayor, I have lots of other deficiencies to highlight that you perpetuated, but space does not permit me to address at this moment.

May Allah Bless you.

Sincerely, Aurbrey Major Sr. Kashif and Shanghai Organisation

Op-Ed

By the Rt. Hon. Lord Cameron, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

ON 11 March, some 2.5 billion of us came together to celebrate the Commonwealth family. Some 75 years after the London Declaration, I joined this family’s many nations, faiths and communities at a service at Westminster Abbey.

I was Prime Minister when the Commonwealth agreed a new Charter, a milestone in our family’s history. For the first time, we had a single document setting out our core values and shared goals.

Today, as Foreign Secretary, I want our family of nations working in partnership to uphold these values and fulfil these goals. I am proud of the work Commonwealth members do in partnership in areas ranging from the rule of law to protecting the environment.

We are bound together by our many connections and inspired by our incredible diversity. This makes us a strong and respected voice in the world, capable of addressing global challenges. It means all our citizens can benefit from belonging to this family in their daily lives.

Thanks to our strong ties, the cost of trade between Commonwealth members is more than 20 per cent lower than the costs of trading with non-Commonwealth members.

We have made enormous strides in recent years in empowering women and girls, backing 4,000 businesses owned by women across the Commonwealth to become more competitive.

And we are working hard together to pro-

Commonwealth: A reliable source of support

Rt. Hon. Lord Cameron, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

mote our values. The Commonwealth came together to stand by Guyana when it was threatened. And Commonwealth missions have observed dozens of elections since we agreed our new Charter.

The bonds our family shares matter all the more as we face great global challenges. I believe this is especially true for our small island members. Our Charter recognised their particular needs in building their resilience, especially in the face of climate change. This global challenge impacts these states relatively more given their geography.

It is to our families that we turn when we are most in need. I want these states to know they can turn to their Commonwealth family today.

We have a major opportunity this year. The Commonwealth Heads of Government will be meeting in a Pacific island country for the first time, gathering in Samoa this October. This gathering takes place a few months after the once-in-a-decade UN Small Island Developing States Conference in Antigua and Barbuda this May.

These states are already harnessing the power of nature to tackle the causes and impacts of climate change. Just look at Papua New Guinea, protecting some of the world’s most important forests, on which we all depend. Or take the 16 Commonwealth small island states working as part of the global coalition committed to protecting at least 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030.

We can offer much more support to these efforts. Britain is doubling its provision of international climate finance. And last autumn the Prime Minister made our biggest ever contribution to the Green Climate Fund, the largest global fund to support developing countries in responding to climate change.

This will help. But the biggest challenge these states face is accessing the international funding itself. Despite being low emitters

uniquely exposed to the threat of climate change, they receive a minuscule proportion of such funding.

So many of these states said to me at COP – “we keep hearing announcements about green finance, but it seems so hard to get hold of the money and get projects financed.” That is what I want to fix.

A dedicated Commonwealth hub has helped to mobilise more than $310 million of climate finance for our small island members since 2016. This year, as members of the same Commonwealth family, let’s build on this and go much further.

Britain has particular leverage as a major donor to the big multilateral development funds and banks. We are working particularly closely with these banks to scale up by hundreds of billions of dollars the funding they offer developing states.

But all members can play a role. Many of us are donors. Others have experience to share in accessing finance from such funds and banks themselves, and making best use of them on the ground.

This year, in Samoa, we have a chance to show them and our other small island members just what the Commonwealth means: an effective association, a unique network, a reliable source of support; in short, a family.

Guyanese can be assured of a bright future

Dear Editor,

PRESIDENT Ali’s impassioned delivery at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, to commemorate the 27th death anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Dr Cheddi Jagan, took his 2023 speech to another level.

In 2023, he made it clear that the APNU+AFC was attempting as it did over the years, to convert our greatest asset-our people-as destructive weapons to achieve its political ambition at any cost.

However, this year, President Ali’s speech at Babu Jaan can be categorised among the best speeches ever delivered- a speech so inspirational and clear in its message that the massive crowd kept on cheering throughout its duration.

The speech was delivered with deep humanity, candour and raw emotions which resonated with the people. The President ignited the political consciousness of the people to attain new heights.

What is equally remarkable is the fact that it was the most multi-racial and multi ethnic crowd I have ever seen in any part of this country-- past and present -- and that speaks volumes of the achievement of the PPP/C government.

The One Guyana vision is materialising rapidly and the rapid transformation has taken

a firm hold on the ‘soul’ of the people.

This year, the President highlighted to the massive crowd at Babu Jaan that the PNC had attempted to destroy the ‘soul’ of the Guyanese nation which Dr Jagan through hard work, sacrifice and perseverance had painstakingly crafted during the darkest period in Guyana’s history, when the PNC-the evil and dark force-was utterly bent on destroying the fundamental values of this nation.

Dr Jagan was the beacon of hope for the oppressed masses and that hope kept the soul of the people alive, for without hope man becomes beasts.

“Man is diminished if he lives without knowledge of his past; without hope of a future he becomes a beast.”-P. D. James. At Babu Jaan, the Guyanese people were reminded of what the reality of the past was, since it is easy to lose sight of this as had happened in 2015 and in so doing embrace the “evil and dark forces” which had again raised its ugly head to devour the “soul” of this nation.

We must not allow any of the “evil and dark forces”, some masked as intellectuals to drag us down the dark abyss of socio-economic deprivations.

History will bear testimony to the fact that from the 1960s to 1992, and as recent as 2015 to 2020, the PNC disguised as APNU+AFC

has wreaked havoc on this nation, severely disintegrating racial unity as its leaders preached perceived marginalisation by the PPP and inciting some of its members and followers to attack, rob, rape and kill innocent Indo-Guyanese during violent street protests.

These acts were meant to destabilise the PPP/C government at different times during the period mentioned. Their supporters have now realised how much they were lied to and used to further the political ambitions of their leaders.

The Guyanese people of all races have endured untold hardships under the PNC and then under the guise of the Coalition, but they have now come to full political consciousness and maturity-the people will no longer be used and abused.

The PPP under the late Dr Cheddi Jagan has always preached racial unity, but the PNC was always successful in derailing this process but after Dr Jagan’s demise, his party shouldered and embraced fully his legacy and continued the quest to unite the races, affording equal opportunity to all, regardless of colour, class or creed.

Today, the PNC has become impotent against this avalanche of unified goodwill which the PPP/C has extended to each and every Guyanese.

The words of the President rang true

when he declared that, ‘The soul of the nation is its identity, its values and aspirations then you know by now that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic has consistently stood on a value system that protects the rights of people, that fights for democracy and freedom, that upholds the oppressed and that leads in the revolution of thinking and advancement of our country…the soul of our country though tested is alive and well….’

The General Secretary, Dr Jagdeo in his own inimitable style made it pellucid that the PPP/C is the only party which can offer sustainable progress, whilst the APNU ‘is fighting for themselves’ only.

He gave a stark reminder to beware of empty promises of ‘moon and stars’ and Guyanese must peruse and compare the programmes (manifestos) and track records of political parties. The period 2015 to 2020 is not such a distant memory.

When a country has leaders like Dr Irfaan Ali and Dr Jadgeo, Guyanese can be assured of a bright future, Dr Jagan’s party is in good hands and his ideals and legacy are alive and thriving with each passing moment.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

We pray that peace in Palestine will soon be a reality

Dear Editor,

FIVE months into a vicious war on the people of Gaza, Muslims have now entered the holy month of Ramadan with a heart burdened by the pain of insurmountable suffering. Ramadan is a time for Muslims to seek out God’s mercy, his forgiveness and respite from the torment in store for the wicked on Judgement Day.

It is a month during which Muslims celebrate the Quran that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in Arabia over 1,400 years ago.

But as Muslims in Guyana observe the fast of Ramadan from dawn to sunset, abstaining from water and food, many will assuredly weep much for the children, women and men of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, who continue to be resolute in their devotion to God while surrounded by death, destruction and misery.

On Sunday March 10, I attended a rally in Georgetown organised by a team of inspired youth - “Guyana for Palestine.” Like protests in major cities around the world, the organisers called for a permanent ceasefire and the Government of Guyana to examine its diplomatic and economic ties with the State of Israel.

The vast majority of those who participated in the rally were Muslims, but shockingly, only a very small sliver of the community turned out. Glaringly absent, were key members of the so-called Muslim leadership. It appears that our moral compass is in tatters and our priorities are skewed.

Our religion insists that we be witnesses

to the truth. That is not a slogan, it is an imperative that goes to the core of our identity as people of faith.

What example are we showing our children and grandchildren when we refuse to demonstrate our solidarity with millions of Palestinians who have suffered 76 years of occupation, colonisation and imperialism and who are now facing annihilation?

Have we become like the person from Iraq who dared to ask the learned companion of Prophet Muhammad, Abdullah ibn Umar, about the legal ruling of mosquitoes’ blood getting on one’s garment? And although the question was valid and Ibn Umar was qualified to answer it, his response elevated the spilling of Muslim blood at Karbala in what is today’s Iraq over the blood of a mosquito.

If Muslim leaders refuse to unite around what is so evidently a catastrophic genocide that is unfolding before the eyes of the international community, how can we expect our Christian, Hindu and Rastafarian brothers and sisters to stand shoulder to shoulder with us?

The reality of this genocide is glaringly manifest. No amount of ‘barefaced’ lies can hide what people are facing at the hands of the Israeli Occupation Force (IDF). Israeli officials go on CNN and the BBC to say that their war in Gaza is aimed at freeing hostages and destroying Hamas. It is an audacious lie repeated to pacify the ill-informed. There is a deep inclination to believe there are untruths in statements made by Benjamin Netanyahu, especially when he repeatedly spoke about Hamas’ sexual assault of women, the mass

killing of babies, killing a holocaust survivor and other horrendous atrocities his government claims to have taken place on October 7 in order to ‘sell their war’ on Gaza, a Gaza (and West Bank) that did not appear on a map showing Netanyahu’s “new Israel” which he proudly displayed at the United Nations two weeks before October 7.

But Netanyahu knows there are loads of eager buyers and sellers of his war in the American political and entertainment industry.

Gal Gadot, star of the Wonder Woman superhero movies, organised a screening of “Bearing Witness to October 7 Massacre,” a 47-minute propaganda film produced by the IDF. In the old days as it is today, propaganda was a tool to weaponise genocide. Those who attended Gadot’s screening and others like it, were required to sign ‘non-disclosure’ documents. What is even more shocking and utterly disgusting is that the screening of the IDF film was held at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

Reputable media outlets that had once reported Israel’s falsehoods as truths are only now beginning to fact-check the IDF and Israeli officials. But ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu is banking on how much tolerance many Americans have for liars.

According to the Washington Post, former President Donald Trump told 30,573 lies during his four years in office and yet he stands a good chance of being re-elected to the Oval Office. Netanyahu, the leader of Israel amidst this evil genocide, is fond of often repeating his favourite mantra that “our

war is your war.”

Those who showed up on Sunday’s March are sending him and his war machine a clear message - THIS IS NOT OUR WAR!

Israel continues to imprison 7,000 Palestinian men, women and children in contravention of all international norms and standards. While the international media gazes in stupendous awe at the destruction in Gaza, armed Jewish settlers have staged 600 vicious attacks against Palestinian villages in the West Bank since October 7, while the IDF stood by and did nothing. According to the United Nations, these attacks have resulted in the death of over 400 Palestinians, mostly poor farmers and members of their families.

Netanyahu’s IDF has also been busy supervising the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. According to the United Nations, Israel has permitted the construction of 500 new illegal residential units for approximately 25,000 Jewish settlers on stolen Palestinian land in the West Bank since October 7. Promises of a two-state solution is a cruel joke when no land will remain for the people of Palestine to call home.

To the far too few who marched with “Guyana for Palestine,” I say ‘don’t despair,’ history has recorded your voices and will amplify it.

To you I also say, may all your prayers this Ramadan be answered and that a permanent peace in the occupied territories of Palestine will soon be a reality.

Yours respectfully, Nazim Baksh

Why do these people avoid condemning election-rigging?

LAST week, I had just finished reading the first ever published biography of Forbes Burnham by Guyanese professor Linden Lewis.

The contents were still fresh in my mind when I saw a published letter (last Sunday) by one of the former hierarchical leaders of the WPA, Ms. Bonita Bone-Harris.

Ms Harris’ letter was on the value of teachers and I suspect she had the recent teachers’ strike in mind when she wrote: “One of the outcomes of treating teachers with disrespect both by way of remuneration and how they are treated, is that we are discouraging future generations from entering the teaching profession.”

Ms. Bone-Harris went on to make reference to what happened to her as a teacher in the 1970s but it is the way she put it that caught my eyes, and since the contents of the Burnham biography was still fresh in my mind, the idea came to me to pen this article here. She wrote: “Although driven out of the formal education sector in the late 1970s by the authorities of that time….”

This is putting it mildly as compared to what Professor Lewis described Ms. Bone-Harris as saying when she was pushed out by the Forbes Burnham regime.

Professor Lewis on pages 142-143 reproduced the correspondence of Ms. Bone-Harris to the Ministry of Education that led to her removal from the teaching profession. It is long so I will quote the part I find interesting against the backdrop of her use of the term, “the authorities of the time.”

Here are Ms. Bone-Harris words: “This recent period has been characterised by the sharply escalated levels by the illegal PNC government.”

I cannot understand why Ms. Bone-Harris chose not to say the “Forbes Burnham Government.” Equally important is the description of the Burnham Government as illegal.

If the world did not intervene and put relentless pressure on the APNU+AFC regime which included the WPA, then we would have had had another illegal PNC regime after 2020. I will apologise to Ms. Bone-Harris if she contradicts me, but I have not seen any published condemnation from her on five months of dangerous

conspiracies to alter the legal results of the March 2020 elections.

Ms. Bone’s document in the Lewis book is a superb account of what becomes of a country in which people do not have the right to vote. I quote from her correspondence once more: “This illegal regime and all its institutions have no lawful jurisdiction over any individual in this state.”

She offers vivid example of the terrible things an unelected government can do.

Ms. Bone-Harris is right about the priceless value of teachers but teachers and all other professions cannot exist in a country where there is a government that cannot be removed by the right to vote.

I became a transformed person with a transformed psyche after I saw what was taking place on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. It was a laceration of my psyche that cannot be put into words. I lived under a presidency that was not elected and occupied by a man who was a narcissist and a megalomaniac (please see my review of the Burnham biography for Tuesday, March 5, 2024, captioned, “Book review: Burnham’s biographer omits Freudian methodology.”).

If Burnham had not died in 1985, I think his belief in his monarchial divinity would have destroyed this country and October 1992 would never have happened.

I can understand why someone like Dr. Alisa Trotz chose not to dwell on rigged elections in her column, “In The Diaspora.” She was a child in the 1970s and never lived under an illegal regime.

I could understand why Moray House has never held a symposium on the March 2020 election fiasco. Its administrator, Stabroek News co-owner, Isabelle DeCaires was a mere child in the 1970s and knows nothing about Burnham’s semi-fascism. But Ms. Bone-Harris knows what it was like for a country to be dominated by a dictator that cannot be removed. Professor Lewis quotes her extensively.

Karen DeSouza of Red Thread and Mr. Mike McCormack of Guyana Human Rights Association know what it was like in Guyana when rigged elections kept Mr. Burnham and his party in power.

I know they were part of the emotional bandwagon for free and fair elections because I was with them in the struggle.

Eric Phillips wrote an extremely informative and instructive letter

Dear Editor,

I have read with considerable interest, the extremely informative and instructive letter from Eric Phillips, Chair of The Guyana National Reparations Committee, published in the Stabroek News, 11th March, 2024, headlined “Highly recommended that CARICOM establish separate commissions for indentureship and colonialism in relation to reparatory justice”. It is the first I have been able to read a

How do you explain that both of these organisations were eerily silent for five months when Guyana was about to return to the 1970s?

Of course there has to be an answer. I

have provided that answer maybe in hundreds, (yes hundreds) of columns since March 5, 2020. Here it is once again. I think class, colour and culture became a priority over love of country.

lucid and constructive distinction being made between the horrors of “Chattel Enslavement”, the cruelty and violence and betrayal of Indentureship and the economic exploitation and oppression of Colonialism. As a descendant of Indentureship and a Guyanese dedicated to the unity and oneness to all of the people of Guyana, I congratulate Eric for his letter.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

‘APNU fighting for themselves, not for the people’ –– Jagdeo says

PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, flayed the Opposition for working for the betterment of themselves instead of having a genuine concern for Guyanese.

Jagdeo gave Berbicians this “food for thought” at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne, where a mammoth crowd paid homage to the party’s late founder, Dr Cheddi Jagan.

While reflecting on how the PPP has uplifted the nation and restored prosperity, he said that this development is not for one group, but instead for all Guyanese.

“So, some people may believe, oh, APNU is fighting for us, they’re not

fighting for you, they’re fighting for themselves,” Jagdeo said.

He added: “The only party that you can find a home in, if you’re Afro Guyanese or Amerindian, or Mixed or Indo Guyanese that would ensure that you and your children see progress, sustainable progress, is the People’s Progressive Party.”

Jagdeo then went on to say: “...If you look at this crowd, if you look at our activities, if you look at our programmes, and that’s the worst nightmare for APNU, that’s all [for] our people right across Guyana, in spite of their race, they’re benefiting from the People’s Progressive Party, that’s a fundamental difference between us.”

He also argued that APNU’s focus was elitist, benefiting only a few individuals, while the majority of the country suffered.

While highlighting

how the Opposition left the economy battered after leaving office in 1992, Jagdeo said the evidence is there as to how the PPP moved the country and the

people forward.

“We are very fortunate that Dr Jagan laid out a philosophy for a party to which we remain faithful,” he said.

Jagdeo also asserted that the PPP, under the leadership of President Irfaan Ali, remains faithful to Dr Jagan’s philosophy.

He stressed the party’s commitment to national unity, bringing together people of every race and religion. And according to him, this unity is essential for Guyana’s full development and to reach its true potential.

Accusing APNU of using racism as a political tool, Jagdeo stated: “Today, again, the buzzword for APNU today again is racism. That’s the only political tool they use to

mobilise people.”

He argued that the opposition selectively highlights issues that play on the emotions of their supporters, neglecting the broader progress made under PPP/C governance.

Addressing the mistreatment of Afro-Guyanese under the APNU+AFC administration, Jagdeo presented specific examples.

“Afro-Guyanese were some of the worst-treated people in the five years they were in office,” he claimed.

Pointing to unfulfilled promises in areas such as Linden, he highlighted the disparity between commitments made and the actual support provided to the citizens.

Women in law enforcement praised for their ‘incredible strides’

THE Guyana Police Force, in collaboration with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) Guyana, is hosting its 2nd Annual Women in Law Enforcement Summit 2024 at the Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary.

According to the police force, the summit, which opened on Monday, is being held under the theme, “Inspire Inclusion: Advancing Women in Enforcement”. The theme reflects a shared vision where diversity thrives and women are not only active participants but leaders in building safer and more secure communities.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Calvin Brutus in his remarks at the opening ceremony, lauded the “incredible strides” of women in law enforcement and said that they are the embodiment of strength,

resilience and unwavering commitment to the safety of Guyana’s citizens.

According to Deputy Commissioner Brutus, the summit is a testament to understanding that true progress requires a multipronged approach, one that fosters inclusion from within law enforcement and builds bridges with communities.

Brutus said: “We stand here today, recognising with immense pride the incredible strides women have made in law enforcement.

From the pioneering detectives who shattered glass ceilings with their relentless pursuit of justice to the patrol officers who bravely serve on the front lines, your dedication and courage are an inspiration. You are the embodiment of strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the safety of our citizens.”

He noted that the journey towards true inclusion is far from over; adding that while

statistics tell a story, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions within law enforcement agencies.

According to the Deputy Commissioner, this not only hinders the potential of a talented pool of officers, but it also weakens the fabric of community trust and undermines the effectiveness of policing itself. Brutus posited that a diverse force that reflects the communities it serves, fosters greater understanding and collaboration eventually leading to a safer environment for all.

He stated that over the next few days, the GPF will delve into critical topics that hold the key to unlocking the full potential of women in law enforcement.

He said: “We will explore concrete strategies to dismantle unconscious bias in promotion processes. This includes implementing fair and transparent evaluation procedures, utilizing blind selection panels, and

creating opportunities for targeted training programs focused on leadership development for women,”

He added, “Let’s create clear pathways for women to reach leadership roles, shattering the glass ceiling that has held them back for too long.”

The Deputy Commissioner also spoke on building strong mentorship and support networks, building community trust, and leveraging technology for safety and efficiency.

He encouraged the women in law enforcement to use the summit as a springboard, to connect with peers, share experiences, and inspire one another. “Let your voices be heard at these discussions, advocate for change, and never shy away from showcasing your leadership potential. Your voices are crucial in shaping a future where women thrive in law enforcement,” Brutus stated.

He urged them to be -

come “champions for inclusion” and to challenge biases, advocate for equal opportunities, and celebrate the power of diversity in law enforcement.

He stated that a force that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities fosters greater understanding, trust, and ultimately, a safer society for all. He said that the path to a more inclusive future starts now.

“The women gathered

here today – officers, leaders, supporters – represent the collective force that can drive this change. Let us harness the power of collaboration, share best practices, and create a future where women not only serve but thrive in law enforcement. Together, we can build a safer, more just society where everyone feels protected and empowered,” the Deputy Commissioner concluded.

PPP/C General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

Deputy Commissioner, Administration, Calvin Brutus (GPF photo)

Dochfour residents to be compensated for property damage caused by road construction - Minister Edghill

MINISTER of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill has assured residents of Dochfour that any damage to their properties due to the ongoing road construction either on the Railway Embankment (Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau) or on the East Bank Public Road to Mahaica, will be compensated once proper verifications are

made, and are checked against the contractor’s initial pre-conditional survey.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, the ministry said that the pre-conditional survey is a requirement of these projects.

Earlier in the day Minister Edghill met the affected residents after being made aware of the situation.

He requested a full report to have this matter addressed as soon as possible. The exact area of contention is just across the Hope Bridge (heading in an eastern direction) where there are depressions in the road.

“We followed the procedure, so now that there are concerns about damages [sic], all we need to

Three buildings destroyed by fire at Eteringbang

A FIRE of unknown origin destroyed three buildings at the Eteringbang Landing, Upper Cuyuni River, Region 7 on Sunday.

According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the fire occurred at around 03:00hrs on Sunday, resulting in the destruction of three wooding buildings.

It was disclosed that Raimundo Lucio Dos Anjos Oliveira, a 52-year-old mixedrace Brazilian national residing at Eteringbang Landing, claimed he noticed the fire erupting from the circuit board area of his two-storey building, which consisted of a total of 10 rooms.

Oliveira attempted to extinguish the flames with water, but this proved to be futile as the fire quickly spiraled out of control, engulfing his building and two other abandoned structures nearby.

The brave efforts of Oliveira, along with community members who rallied with water pumps, contained the fire from spreading to additional buildings. Fortunately,

there were no reports of casualties.

At this time, the estimated value of the damage remains unknown. The authorities are actively investigating the cause of the fire.

The GFS, in an effort to educate the general public on ways they can combat electrical fires, has provided tips on what to do if an electrical fire occurs. They advise persons to keep calm and avoid panic; safely turn off the power supply to the affected area, if possible, and if a suitable fire extinguisher is available, use

it from a safe distance.

According to the GFS, water should never be used on an electrical fire.

“If the fire is spreading, or you can't control it, evacuate immediately. Call for help by dialing 912 to report the fire; never use water on an electrical fire, as it can worsen the situation, and allow trained firefighters to handle the situation. Do not re-enter the area until it is declared safe,” it added.

do is compare the pictures of what was there before the work started, along with what is there now,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Approximately nine homes within the 30-metre range of the project have been affected, with an additional four persons outside of that parameter also making claims, to which

the Public Works Minister has given the go-ahead for every affected household present at the meeting to be properly checked out, the statement added.

Minister Edghill told residents it is not the government's desire to have citizens inconvenienced or their lives disrupted for prolonged periods, during the execution of these ma-

jor projects.

Further, he said while there will be some periods of discomfort, the government has ramped up monitoring of projects to ensure effectiveness and value for money.

“The government’s interest is in protecting citizens’ welfare,” the minister stated.

Guyana remains committed to integrating Venezuelan migrants into local society

— Foreign Affairs Minister tells multi-agency coordinating committee

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Hilton Todd, on March 8, 2024, chaired a meeting of the Multi-Agency Coordinating Committee to address the influx of migrants from Venezuela into Guyana.

According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first committee meeting for the year was attended by the relevant government stakeholders and international partners who collectively set the agenda in principle for the committee to continue its work with regards to providing the necessary humanitarian assistance to those migrants, inclusive of returning Guyanese fleeing the economic hardships in Venezuela.

The minister in his opening remarks reminded the committee that the policy of the government remains intact as it relates to support for the migrants from Venezuela.

He noted that the long-term objective is to integrate them into Guyanese society but in the meantime, the respective agencies are tasked with combining resources to provide services in key areas such as healthcare, education, labour, sanitation, shelter, food and clothing for the most vulnerable.

Minister Todd tasked the committee to organise another outreach activity at the earliest possible opportunity, which will be undertaken in Region One on this occasion, as a result of the high concentration of migrants from Venezuela.

The fire at Eteringbang that destroyed three buildings

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Monday met residents of Dochfour after receiving complaints of the road construction damaging properties in the area (Public Works Ministry photos)

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Hilton Todd, on March 8, 2024, chaired a meeting of the Multi-Agency Coordinating Committee to address the influx of migrants from Venezuela into Guyana

Alternative dispute resolution to play key role in revamping justice system

–– Attorney-General says

GUYANA’S justice sector is undergoing significant transformation with the introduction of alternative dispute resolution methods and streamlined plea bargaining, aiming for greater efficiency and adaptability.

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C., on Monday said several new pieces of legislation have been presented in the National Assembly to achieve this.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Restorative Justice Practitioners Training, at the Police Officers’

Nandlall emphasised.

Meanwhile, the revamped Criminal Procedure Bill is designed to tackle the backlog of cases currently straining the system.

It will allow for plea agreements to be made between defendants and state prosecutors before a guilty verdict, expediting resolutions and freeing up court resources for more serious cases.

With proper implementation, the legislation creates wide avenues for the defendant and the prosecution to sit outside of a trial environ-

Nandlall, S.C.

Mess Annex in Georgetown, AG Nandlall highlighted the massive benefits that these approaches will have on citizens and businesses.

Last year, the government tabled the Arbitration Bill and the Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion, Plea Agreement, Plea Assistance Agreement) Bill of 2023, taking another tangible step in providing faster and more amicable alternatives to traditional litigation.

Arbitration allows disputing parties to reach an agreement with the help of neutral arbitrators, potentially saving time and money.

The bill will allow for top-class arbitrators and companies offering arbitral services to set up in Guyana.

“Our country’s commercial sector is expanding like never before and therefore we have to incorporate into our legal system new and innovative measures that will allow this growth,” AG

ment and work out a plea deal that will satisfy the basic tenets of the community’s sense of justice.

The Attorney-General made it clear that these solutions do not apply to serious offences such as murder and human trafficking.

“We are a society that believes in strong punishment, and none of these measures are intended to dispense with strong punishment in appropriate cases,” he said.

The concept of restorative justice aligns with this agenda. The Restorative Justice Bill was passed in 2022 and already, significant progress has been made in implementing its principles.

Toshaos, community leaders, religious leaders, and other legal and social actors nationwide are being trained in various aspects of the doctrine, to ensure that it becomes part and parcel of Guyana’s socioeconomic landscape. (DPI)

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil

China Medical Team advances cervical cancer prevention in Guyana

–– Conducts HPV screenings at West Demerara Regional Hospital

IN a significant stride towards bolstering public health initiatives, the 19th China Medical Team landed at the West Demerara Regional Hospital on March 9th.

Their mission? To conduct vital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) screenings aimed at preventing cervical cancer. This endeavour marks a crucial step forward in enhancing early detection and treatment efforts for this preventable disease in the region.

With precision and efficiency, the medical team successfully completed sampling for 17 individuals during its recent visit. The screening campaign, pivotal in the fight against cervical cancer, is especially critical in developing countries where women are disproportionately affected by the disease. Through early detection of pre-cancerous conditions, timely interventions can be initiated, potentially saving

countless lives.

The commitment of the China Medical Team extends far beyond the recent screenings. Pledging ongoing support for cervical cancer prevention in Guyana, the team aligns with the vision set forth by Minister of

Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who advocates for a more aggressive HPV vaccination programme.

Future plans of the China Medical Team include expanding HPV screening programmes to reach more women and raise awareness

about the significance of regular health check-ups.

This dedication to sustained collaboration underscores China’s commitment to international healthcare cooperation and its role in providing enduring solutions to global health challenges.

By continuing their efforts in Guyana, the China Medical Team aims to fortify the healthcare system, effectively managing cervical cancer risks, and improving overall population health.

The success of the initial mission in West Demerara

sets the stage for broader outreach and engagement.

The China Medical Team plans to extend its services to other regions within Guyana, including Georgetown, Linden, and New Amsterdam. This expansion ensures that more women have access to life-saving screenings and fosters widespread knowledge about cervical cancer prevention.

As the China Medical Team looks towards the future, its ongoing presence in Guyana signifies a promising horizon for the nation’s health and well-being. The 17 HPV screenings conducted, coupled with the training provided to local staff, represent just the beginning of a transformative period for cervical cancer prevention in Guyana.

The continued efforts of the China Medical Team will undoubtedly play a pivotal role, bringing hope and improved health outcomes to the people of Guyana.

UN Security Council calls on international community to redouble efforts to support Haiti

The following is the full text of a statement from the United Nations Security Council on Haiti:

“THE members of the Security Council were briefed on March 6 by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), María Isabel Salvador, on the situation in Haiti.

“The Permanent Representative of Kenya, the Permanent Representative of Haiti, and the Permanent Representative of Jamaica, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), participated in the meeting under Rule 37.

“The members of the Security Council reiterated their deep concern over the security and humanitarian situation and stressed the need to address the multidimensional crisis in Haiti.

“They reiterated their strong condemnation of the increasing violence, criminal activities, mass displacement of civilians, and human rights abuses that undermine the peace, stability, and security of Haiti

and the region, including kidnappings, sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, homicides, unlawful killings, and recruitment of children by armed groups and criminal networks.

“Members of the Security Council strongly condemned the continued destabilising criminal activities of armed gangs and stressed the need for the international community to redouble its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the population and to support the Haitian National Police, including building its capacity to restore law and order through the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.

“They condemned in the strongest terms the attacks carried out by armed gangs on the country’s main prisons and other critical infrastructure, which allowed gang leaders and other prisoners to escape the facilities. They expressed their deep concern at unacceptable threats of targeted violence against the police and members of the government.

“Members of the Council heard Kenya’s briefing on the ongoing planning efforts on the deployment of the MSS mission to Haiti and the international pledges made to the mission.

“They expressed the expectation and hope for the deployment of the MSS mission to Haiti as soon as possible, as requested by Haiti and authorised by the Security Council through resolution 2699 (2023).

“They welcomed pledges made by member states to the MSS mission in the form of financial,[sic] personnel, and in-kind commitments and the establishment of the

United Nations Trust Fund for this mission.

“They stressed the need to create security conditions conducive to an inclusive political process, and free and fair elections in Haiti.

“The members of the Security Council expressed concern at the limited progress in the political process in Haiti. They urged all political actors to engage constructively in meaningful negotiations to allow the holding of free and fair legislative and presidential elections and restoring democratic institutions as soon as possible, and acknowledged the ongoing efforts of

CARICOM in this regard.

“The members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at the illicit flow of arms and ammunition to Haiti that remains a key factor of instability and violence.

“They reiterated its demand for member states to take the necessary measures to implement the arms embargo in accordance with resolution 2699 (2023) and resolution 2700 (2023), and called for further actions by the Security Council.

The members of the Security Council urged the armed gangs to immediately cease their destabilising

actions.

They reiterated the Council’s call for the perpetrators of these abhorrent acts to be brought to justice and emphasised the Council’s role in placing and enhancing sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for or complicit in actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of Haiti, in accordance with resolution 2653 (2022) and 2700 (2023).

They also reiterated the need for meaningful progress into the investigation of the assassination of the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse.

The members of the Security Council urged the Government of Haiti and all relevant parties in Haiti to protect the safety of UN staff and all civilians, including foreign nationals.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their continued solidarity with the people of Haiti and expressed their support for the work done by BINUH and the United Nations country team towards a better future for Haiti.”

Members of the 19th China Medical Team landed at the West Demerara Regional along with hospital officials. They conducted vital HPV screenings aimed at preventing cervical cancer

Education, regular check-ups keys to combatting chronic kidney disease

– gov’t physicians

By Feona Morrison

IN the continuous fight against chronic kidney disease (CKD), specialists are using education as a potent tool more and more.

Proactive steps to combat this crippling ailment are more important than ever, as CKD affects millions of people globally, and is becoming more common.

The Ministry of Health is stressing that healthcare education is more crucial than ever as the world gets ready for World Kidney Day, which is celebrated every year on the second Thursday in March.

According to nephrologist at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Baldeo Singh, CKD, characterised by the gradual loss of kidney function over time, poses significant health risks if left unchecked. However, with the right knowledge and awareness, he said individuals can take steps to prevent, detect, and manage the disease effectively.

During a recent episode of the ministry’s “Health Matters” show, he made this assertion.

According to him, the main functions of the two kidneys that most individuals have are to filter blood, remove waste from the body, and maintain the proper balance of bodily fluids.

However, these functions become irregular with kidney failure, Dr. Singh stressed.

“When you have kidney failure, those functions become abnormal. So, what really happens... you’re unable to get rid of your waste products, and it makes you sick.

You’re unable to get rid of the excess fluids, and you start to notice swelling...”

UNNOTICEABLE SYSMTOMS

He went on to explain that symptoms of kidney failure may not be noticeable until the condition is advanced.

Dr. Singh said: “The funny thing about kidney disease is that there are five stages: Stage one, stage two, stage three [go] unnoticeable, meaning that the patient might not even know they have kidney disease, and that they are already at stage three.

So, it is important to have follow-ups, especially given

that the most common risk factor for kidney disease is diabetes, and diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease in the world as well as hypertension.”

He said there are two types of kidney diseases: Acute kidney injury and chronic.

The physician clarified that certain drugs, such as those older people take for joint pains, can harm the kidneys.

He added that renal failure can strike at any time in life, and that there are several factors, including genetics, that might damage the kidneys and eventually lead to kidney failure.

“Then, there is herbal treatment that patients take that can lead to kidney

failure… Even snake bites can lead to kidney failure. I’ve had a few patients that have had kidney failure from snake bites, from malaria, from dengue,” Dr. Singh noted.

The nephrologist said that although there is no cure for chronic kidney disease, it can be slowed down before it reaches the end.

“When I say the end, it’s either you need dialysis or transplant when the kidney fails,” he explained.

According to Dr. Singh, people’s glomerular filtration rate (GFR) starts to decrease between the ages of 50 and 55. Your kidneys’ ability to filter blood is gauged by your GFR.

Kidney disease can therefore result from this, in ad-

dition to any underlying illnesses, he noted.

Furthermore, because kidney and eye disorders are related, Dr. Singh stated that having kidney disease increases your risk of developing eye diseases.

He emphasised that heart disease is the primary cause of death for people with kidney disease, and that kidney illness significantly raises the risk of heart disease and vice versa.

TAKE CONTROL

For her part, Dr. Nandishaw Ramsingh, government’s Technical Officer for Diabetes and Kidney Care, urged persons to take control of their health.

“You feel ill or you don’t feel ill, still go to a health centre that is nearby to you.

When we talk about screening, especially in kidney disease, a simple blood test and urine test is all it takes, especially if you’re diabetic or hypertensive. Do your regular check-ups; advocate for yourself to your doctors…You would like to get your test done; every six months it is recommended, but ensure that you have this simple blood test that looks at your kidney function.”

She said the health ministry has launched programmes

to ensure that individuals with kidney disease have enhanced access to essential medical services, including screening, diagnosis, treatment, and support.

Furthermore, according to Dr. Ramsingh, the importance of family support cannot be stressed on enough, because families are essential in providing emotional, practical, and sometimes even medical assistance to their loved ones who are navigating through kidney disease.

In 2022, the government launched an initiative geared at providing financial support to persons suffering from kidney failure, and require dialysis, a much-needed treatment for the management of their condition.

Persons who are affected by kidney failure and have end-stage kidney disease receive an annual subsidy of $600,000. Then, in January, doctors at the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) made history by performing the first laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in Guyana.

The operation was performed on a woman who donated her kidney to a 17-year-old male relative. The youngster has been battling chronic kidney failure.

GTT, WANSAT enhance efficiency in the operations of rural cell towers

THE GTT, in partnership with WANSAT, has successfully backhauled cellular traffic from the hinterland to Georgetown via an international satellite and fibre connection.

According to a press release, the project is being managed entirely from WANSAT’s Network Operations Centre (NOC) in Georgetown and is a first implementation of its kind for any telecom operator in Guyana.

Cellular backhaul is the process of connecting remote cellular base stations (towers) to a mobile operator’s core network, allowing them to transmit voice and data traffic to and from mobile devices.

The town of Lethem was the first to be successfully activated, and the last of

several remote base stations was successfully activated on March 7, 2024, further extending the reach and capabilities of this innovative cellular backhaul solution.

This groundbreaking achievement paves the way for increased efficiency in the operations of rural cell towers and represents a monumental step forward as it relates to cost optimisation and resource allocation for GTT.

Chief Operations Officer of GTT Mobile, Randall Hewitt, said the achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the WANSAT and GTT teams.

“This milestone not only reinforces our commitment to delivering cutting-edge telecommunications solutions, but also positions us at the forefront of technological

innovation in Guyana and continues to show that we are an operator that keeps our promises,” he said.

Additionally, WANSAT in partnership with GTT recently provided reliable internet to the family home of West Indies cricketer and right arm fast bowler Shamar Joseph, miles into the Canje river in East Berbice –Corentyne (Region Six).

Andre Jones, Chief Executive Officer of WANSAT, commented that “At WANSAT we pride ourselves in bringing innovative technologies and solutions to the Guyanese public. Leveraging GTT’s vast telecom experience and WANSAT’s expertise in modern satellite communications technologies will enable us to provide cutting-edge solutions for

–– with cellular backhaul technology

Part of the GTT-WANSAT team that executed the buildout at Port Kaituma

the Government of Guyana, enterprise customers, and residential customers in the remotest regions of the

country. There are still tens of thousands of people in Guyana without any access

to affordable, high-quality, reliable broadband internet connections—we’re changing that narrative today.”

Dr Baldeo Singh

Dr Nandishaw Ramsingh

The brazen hypocrisy of former President Granger

By Joel Bhagwandin, Financial Analyst

FORMER President, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger, has absolutely zero standing on the very subject that he sought to pretentiously, innocently, and cleverly present to the unsuspecting Guyanese people.

The evidence, however, is overwhelmingly to the contrary in respect of his own actions, intentions, decisions, and policies as the Leader of the Opposition (2011-2015) and as the Ninth Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (2015-2020).

The former President’s foremost stated philosophy was to rebalance the economy. Although it was unclear at the outset what he meant by rebalancing the economy, as time elapsed, having analysed his policies thereof, his intentions became strikingly crystalised.

The findings of such analyses conducted by this author during his presidency were that (i) rebalancing of the economy meant destruction of the private sector through raising taxes, increasing the cost of doing business, deliberately creating an unfriendly business environment, deliberately seeking to create a parallel private sector by enabling, in particular, the Trinidadian private-sector players into Guyana freely, and obtain lands and access to other resources freely and easily; and (ii) all this at the expense of enriching a small elitist group associated with the APNU+AFC government.

Former President, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger, in a virtual programme titled “The public interest,” sought to deliver a history lesson, albeit one that was factually skewed. The former President accused the PPP/C of terrorist violence during the GAWU strike, during the disturbances from March to July 1964, in their bid to seize control of the country.

For the purpose of this article, this author intentionally ignored the multiplicity of politically motivated violence and crime perpetrated on the Guyanese people under the former president’s idol, the late L.F.S Burnham―and during the 1990s and early 2000s when the PNC was out of power.

Instead, it is more worthwhile to examine the former President’s ludicrous and brazen hypocrisy by way of exposing his own moral dilemma, wherein (i) lest we forget, the vicious attempts to not seize, but transparently influence the outcome of the 2020 regional and general elections, that would have resulted in him being foisted upon the people against their will, as their illegal, unrecognised President in 2020, had they succeeded; and (ii) his efforts during his tenure as Opposition Leader in the period 2011-2015, to paralyse the country and by extension the people, motivated by his quest to control the country.

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger as Opposition Leader: 2011-2015

Prior to his election as the eighth Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in 2015, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger served as the Leader of the Opposition for the period 2011-2015.

For the first time in Guyana’s post-independence history, the combined political opposition had a one-seat majority in the National Assembly during that period, thus a minority government. This dispensation had enabled the combined political opposition to exercise control of the National Assembly.

It is, therefore, a timely reminder to note that by virtue of the foregoing dispensation, the political opposition led by David Granger sought to paralyse Guyana’s development in

more ways than one.

That was the period when budgets tabled in the National Assembly were cut, major development projects were blocked such as the Amaila Falls Hydro power project, investment in new state-of-the-art hospitals, and the new bridge across the Demerara River, to name a few.

Worse, owing to that political dispensation, the government was unable to enact critical amendments to the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Legislative framework (AML/CFT).

Consequently, the country was grey listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and was on the verge of becoming blacklisted.

The consequence of this would have led to a complete cut off from the international payment systems that in turn, would have crippled the economy. These were some of the main issues that necessitated snap-elections in 2015 as the country had become practically ungovernable.

Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger as the eighth Executive President: 2015-2020

Former President Granger’s foremost stated philosophy was to rebalance the economy. It was unclear at the outset what he meant by rebalancing the economy, until time elapsed so that proper analyses of his policies thereof could have been performed.

The findings of such analyses conducted by this author during his presidency were that (i) rebalancing of the economy meant destruction of the private sector through raising taxes, increasing the cost of doing business, deliberately creating an unfriendly business environment, deliberately seeking to create a parallel private sector by enabling, in particular, the Trinidadian private-sector players into Guyana freely, promising that they could obtain lands and other resources freely and easily; and (ii) all this at the expense of enriching a small elitist group associated with the APNU+AFC government. In fact, the former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was on record at a forum in Trinidad & Tobago promising to distribute lands to Trinidadians.

With the aforementioned in mind, former President Granger’s track record as President should be examined further, with the view to exposing his brazen hypocrisy. In this regard, the following section sought to delve into some of his most infamous accomplishments as President.

Violation of the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMA) Act (2003): Public financial mismanagement, misappropriation and unaccountability perpetrated under the former David Granger-led government during the period 2015-2020, as outlined hereunder:

A perusal of the Auditor General’s reports for the period 2015-2020 revealed that the sum of approximately G$930 million was unaccounted for―whereby there were missing payment vouchers;

The controversial US$18 million signing bonus, which was hidden, then subsequently transferred to the Consolidated Fund following a move to the court to do so, triggered by actions of the PPP/C in opposition. The manner in which the Granger government handled the bonus was also in breach of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act;

The overdraft on the government’s deposit accounts totalling G$128 billion as of September 2020. These sums were unlawfully withdrawn as the former Finance Minister Winston Jordan effectively circumvented the approval of, and scrutiny of the said withdrawals by the National Assembly, inter alia, in violation of the FMA Act. Section 60 (1) of the FMA Act states that…” the Minister may approve the use of advances in the form

of an overdraft on an official bank account to meet cash shortfalls during the execution of the annual budget.” While the Act provides for the deposit accounts to be overdrawn, Section (2) of the FMA Act states that…” the Minister shall repay in full all advances in the form of an overdraft on an official bank account on or before the end of the fiscal year during which that overdraft was drawn”. The overdraft balances were never cleared for the entire five-year period (2015-2020) until the incumbent government assumed office in 2020 and made the necessary provisions to regularise those overdrafts in accordance with the FMA Act, which was effected in May, 2021; and

Following the successful passage of the no-confidence motion (NCM) in December 2018, the David Granger-led government, in accordance with the provisions in the Guyana Constitution, was deemed to be a caretaker government. In the premises, the government had no authority to expend monies from the capital budget. This was nonetheless blatantly disregarded and the full capital budget in 2019 was expended to the tune of over G$66 billion, exclusive of the sum expended during the period January to August 2020.

Altogether, the approximate sum of public funds deemed to have been misappropriated, unaccounted for and mismanaged in a reckless fashion by the David Granger government amounted to a whopping G$200 billion or US$1 billion, representing almost 100% of the annual pre-oil tax revenue and 20% of non-oil GDP.

Deteriorating Performance of the Economy: Under the David Granger-led government, export earnings excluding gold shrank by 20% for the period 2015-2020 relative to the corresponding period. To this end, cumulative export earnings excluding gold during the period 2009-2014 amounted to $624 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 41%. Conversely, during the period 2015-2020, cumulative export earnings excluding gold amounted to $557 billion, thereby reflecting a loss of G$67 billion.

The Bank of Guyana international reserves as at the end of 2014 represented nearly five months of import cover, which weakened to less than three months import cover by the end of 2020. The Granger-led government inherited nearly G$100 billion in liquid cash sitting in the government’s deposit accounts in 2015. By the time the former president demitted office in 2020, those accounts were in deficit balances as previously highlighted.

The tax burden imposed upon both households and firms increased by nearly 60%, resulting in additional tax collection by the Granger-led government of approximately G$100 billion, on account of contractionary fiscal policies, versus expansionary fiscal policies as is the case with the incumbent PPP/C government.

Job creation in Granger’s Plantain Chip Economy: One would recall that in an exclusive interview with former President Granger, he was asked about his plans for job creation. His instantaneous response was that it was not his government’s responsibility to provide jobs. He then reasoned that people could sell plantain chips, cassava chips, cook-up rice, and pepper sauce.

His response did not only evidently expose the degree of his unintelligible view of economics, but the former president was clueless how to, by way of sound economic policies, create a vibrant industry for processed food products such as those that he mentioned. That framework never existed during his presidency, rather, it was destroyed.

So, when he spoke of plantain chips and pepper sauce, he was not referring to same on a grand scale to the extent where there would be investments in food-processing facilities by providing the incentives for such; he was merely referring to such activities within a narrowly constrained conception to the street-vending format.

Setting the framework to rig the 2020 Regional and General Elections: Former President Granger consistently claimed that he had nothing to do with the attempts to influence the outcome of the 2020 elections. He has a tendency to claim ignorance of certain issues.

Yet, his actions, decisions, and policies as president, were to the contrary that are too numerous to mention, such as, his gross violation of the Guyana Constitution when he unanimously appointed the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

In 2017, lest we forget, during one of former President Granger’s visits to the United States, he delivered the feature address at a forum where the central theme was “retention of power in 2020”.

The former President’s key message of emphasis at that forum was his reminder to the audience of how the PNC retained power in the past. While he did not expressly state or acknowledge, the world knows that the PNC’s history he was referring to were the days of election rigging under the party’s founder, L.F.S Burnham.

In fact, Burnham had militarised the state to the extent where the military was used to facilitate the rigging of elections. It is public knowledge, too, that Brigadier (Ret’d) Granger was a senior officer in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in the dark era of election rigging in Guyana.

It so manifested that in 2020, the APNU+AFC government attempted to do just that, which former President Granger had hinted that he would do to retain power (at all costs it seemed), almost three years prior to the elections.

Despite the foregoing, the former President would claim innocence out of ignorance, and that as president he had agreed to the recount in 2020.

But the irrefutable facts were that (i) he agreed to the recount because he was under intense pressure, particularly from the international community, (ii) he risked being subjected to personal sanctions had he successfully suppressed the will of the people through the ballots, and (iii) Guyana would have become an isolated and ultimately failed state.

CONCLUSION

Against the aforesaid background, the former President Granger has absolutely zero authority on the very subject that he sought to pretensively, innocently, and cleverly present to the unsuspecting Guyanese people.

The evidence, however, is overwhelmingly to the contrary in respect to his own actions, intentions, decisions, and policies as the Leader of the Opposition (2011-2015) and as the eighth Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (2015-2020).

Financial Analyst Joel Bhagwandin

Parika man, 24, arraigned for wife’s murder

A PARIKA ‘Backdam,’ East Bank Essequibo (EBE) man was remanded to prison on Friday after he was charged with the capital offence, that is, the fatal stabbing of his reputed wife.

The accused, 24-yearold Melroy La Rose was brought before Senior Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul in the Leonora Magistrate’s Court. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It is alleged that on March 4, 2024, at Parika ‘Backdam,’ he murdered Nikesha Sutton, a 24-yearold housewife. La Rose was

remanded to prison until March 28, 2024.

A police report stated that Sutton was murdered

around 17:00hrs on March 4.

Investigations have revealed that around 15:00hrs that day, La Rose arrived home under the influence of alcohol when a heated argument ensued between him and his partner.

During the argument, La Rose left the home, according to the police. However, around 17:00hrs, he returned home with two alcoholic beverages in his hand at which point a heated argument ensued again between him and his wife, which resulted in a scuffle.

The sister of the deceased woman told the

Dead: Nikesha Sutton

police that she tried to intervene to stop the scuffle. Thereafter, the police said the man told Sutton to pack her clothes and leave their home.

According to the police, Sutton had placed some clothes in a bucket and was making her way through a track to her sister’s house nearby when La Rose picked up one of the beer bottles, broke it and dealt Sutton one stab to her neck.

He then fled the scene on foot.

An injured Sutton was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. An autopsy gave her cause of death as stab wounds to the neck.

Following the killing, police had issued a wanted bulletin for La Rose, who was arrested last Wednesday at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Murder accused: Melroy La Rose

Samuda, Soutar remember Lawrence as champion for athletes and sports development

JAMAICA Olympic Association (JOA) president, Christopher Samuda and chairman of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), George Soutar, said the void left by Hubert Lawrence will be hard to fill, as they paid tribute to the respected track and field analyst, whose untimely passing has cast a pall of gloom over the sporting fraternity.

Lawrence, 64, who was also well-known for his authorship, and historical documentation, passed away at his home last month.

Samuda remembered Lawrence as an authority on Jamaican and global track and field, who played a crucial role in television coverage of various athletic events, including the Olympics, World Championships, and local meets.

The veteran analyst had been an integral part of the track and field commentary for more than three decades, his passion for the sport evident in his dedicated contributions to both tele-

vision and written media.

“Hubert Lawrence was not simply an encyclopedia of statistics and historical data of others, but, more importantly, he was himself a landmark that gave a nation in his commentary a self-portrait in track and field. A man in the mirror vision of where an athletic fraternity stood in his development and the journey must take in order to progress and mature,” Samuda shared.

“He gave statistics context

in his written and spoken word, so that players could understand the culture of the sport more, their role and responsibility, and be guided by the principles of Olympicism, which is pen-inked in personalising successive Olympic Games. The Olympic family mourns his mortality, but is assured and assures his family that his soul now rests eternally,” he added.

Beyond his on-screen presence, Lawrence was a prolific author, having written and

co-authored significant books on track and field. Some notable works include "Champs 100" in 2010, "The Power and the Glory: Jamaica in World Athletics, From World War II to the Diamond League Era" in 2012, and "50 Days of Fire" in 2022.

Lawrence, who Soutar described as a true champion for athletes and sports development in Jamaica, inspiring generations with his passion and knowledge, leaves behind a profound impact on the track and field community in Jamaica and beyond.

“He was well known for his balanced and insightful commentaries and interviews, not only to local sports but also in the region and internationally.

“Jamaica has lost a dedicated, and one of our most knowledgeable sports analysts and commentators. On behalf of the Sports Development Foundation, our condolences go out to his family and the sports fraternity,” Soutar said. (Sportsmax).

Ponting plots Rishabh Pant return in latest ICC Review

DELHI Capitals coach Ricky Ponting has revealed how he plans to use returning star, Rishabh Pant, during the upcoming Indian Premier League season.

Pant is attempting to return from a major car accident in December 2022 and make his comeback to professional cricket for the Capitals later this month. The wicket-keeper/ batter has already stepped up his recovery by appearing in a series of match practice sessions alongside India teammate Hardik Pandya at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review, Ponting said he is expecting Pant to captain the side from the start of the tournament should his fitness allow.

“It's a big decision we'll

have to make because if he is fit, you'd think he'd step straight back into that captaincy role,” Ponting said.

“If he's not entirely fit and we have to use him in a slightly different role, then we've got some decisions to make there.”

In the latest edition of the ICC Review, Delhi Capitals coach and ICC Hall of Famer, Ricky Ponting, gives his insight on how wicket-keeper/batter Rishabh Pant will reintegrate into the IPL setup.

Ponting said Pant had done a mountain of work to try and return to the cricketing scene and the recent hitouts at the NCA should keep him in good stead for Delhi’s opening match of the IPL against the Punjab Kings in Mohali on March 23.

“He's actually played some practice matches over the last

couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging for us,” Ponting said.

“I know he's worked incredibly hard on his body and his fitness to get back to the level that he's at now. He's kept in one of those games, he's fielded in these games and the batting hasn't seemingly been an issue for him so far.

“We've obviously had worries and concerns that he might not have made it in time to be ready for the IPL this year. I mean, he was a huge loss for us last year and what he went through, we can't even begin to describe what he's been through the last 12 or 14 months.”

Ponting spoke for everyone when he went on to discuss how the entire world was waiting for Pant to return to cricketing action after many difficult few months in recovery.

“I'm very hopeful, not from a selfish point of view as the coach of the Delhi Capitals, but I want to see him back playing cricket again.

“I think the whole world wants to see him back playing cricket again and just playing with that youthful exuberance that he has. If he does that, then I know he'll win some games for Delhi and we'll have a good time

along the way this season.”

Acknowledging the natural talent of the swashbuckling Indian wicket-keeper, the former Australian skipper was confident that he would get into his stride as soon as he returned to play.

“Knowing Rishabh, it probably won't (take time to adjust) because he's such a natural talent and just knowing the sort of person that he is, I don't think he'll be awed,” Ponting said.

“I don't think he'll be scared by the comeback. The fact that he's missed 15 months of cricket, I don't think it'll faze him too much.

“I think he'll just go out there and certainly, that's my job anyway – I'll be telling him to go back out and play the way that he's always played and I think if he does that, I think the game will come back to him a bit quicker. If he goes out there and tries to find his way and get back into the groove, I think it might take him a little bit longer.

“But at the end of the day, that's what these practice games now have been for, that's what the camp has been for, for us to get his skills and his mindset back into a place where he can just go out and play the way that he's always played.”

(ICC Media)

(From left) JOA president, Christopher Samuda, Hubert Lawrence and SDF chairman, George Soutar

Coach Ricky Ponting (right) and Rishabh Pant

Carey, Marsh carry Australia home in tense finish at Hagley Oval

ALEX CAREY produced a brilliant knock under pressure to crush New Zealand's bid for a famous victory as Australia ran down a tough 279 runs in a nerve-jangling chase at Hagley Oval.

Australia's bid to win the second Test and seal the series 2-0 appeared in major trouble at 80 for 5, after the early wicket of Travis Head on day four. But Carey and Mitchell Marsh, who made 80 after being dropped on 28, combined for a brisk 140-run sixth-wicket partnership to inch Australia within 59 runs.

Scores: Australia 256 (Labuschagne 90, Henry 7-67) and 281 for 7 (Carey 98*, Marsh 80, Sears 4-90) beat New Zealand 162 (Hazlewood 5-31, Starc 3-59) and 372 (Ravindra 82, Latham 73, Cummins 4-62) by three wickets

Debutant Ben Sears, bowling in the mid-140 kph, flipped the match on its head with the wickets of Marsh and Mitchell Starc on consecutive deliveries to revive New Zealand's hopes.

Carey, however, was unperturbed and finished Australia's hero with an unbeaten 98.

He found calm support through Pat Cummins, who again helped Australia over the

…The pair combined for a brisk 140-run sixth-wicket partnership

line much like he memorably did at Edgbaston in last year's Ashes. Cummins made 32 and hit the winning boundary at an increasingly gloomy Hagley Oval as the batters embraced mid-pitch. Australia had only run down 279 or more in the fourth innings on 13 previous occasions and only twice since 2006. Only three teams in Test history had scored more runs after the fall of the fifth wicket in a successful

fourth-innings chase.

The victory capped a hectic period of Test cricket for Australia, which has played 22 Tests in the last 15 months. But they will have a long breather from the format with their next assignment not until next summer against India in a five-Test blockbuster.

It was a satisfying triumph for Australia, which, before this, had only one won series away

from home since its last Test tour of New Zealand in 2016.

But New Zealand was left bitterly disappointed as its misery against Australia continued, having only beaten them once in the past three decades. With their next series against Australia not due until 2026-27, several senior players in the team might never again have a chance to beat their neighbours.

After a stirring fightback

Davis makes NBA history as Lakers beat Timberwolves

ANTHONY Davis scored 27 points with a season-high 25 rebounds on a historic night as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-109.

Davis added five assists, seven steals and three blocks to become the first player in NBA history with at least 25 points, 25 rebounds, five assists, five steals and three blocks in a game.

Team-mate LeBron James chipped in with 29 points.

"I think we're hitting our stride," Davis said.

"We're just trying to keep going, keep pushing, knowing that just like last year, all we got to do is get in. We feel like it's tough for anybody to beat us in a seven-game series. We like our chances against anybody at that point."

The win at Crypto.com

Arena leaves the Lakers ninth in the Western Conference after back-to-back victories,

while third-placed Minnesota have lost two in a row.

Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks, who are second in the Eastern Conference, responded to successive losses to earn a 124-117 win on the road at the Los Angeles Clippers.

in the Western Conference, were unable to extend their winning run to three.

ever since being bowled out for 162 in their first innings, New Zealand had been in the box seat heading into the fourth day's play, which was delayed by an hour due to rain.

Resuming at 77 for 4 and needing a further 202 runs, Australia's hopes seemingly rested with Marsh and Head who had combined for 43 runs late on day three after a top-order collapse.

In overcast conditions, Marsh went for broke off Tim Southee's first ball when he hit a bullet to backward point only for Rachin Ravindra to drop a chance.

But New Zealand's agony was short-lived when, on the next delivery, Head replicated Marsh's full-blooded stroke and Will Young made no mistake at point. It completed a tough season for Head, who scored just 150 runs in 11 Test innings outside of his match-winning century against West Indies in Adelaide.

With Josh Inglis breathing down his neck, Carey's place in the team had been in the spotlight having only made two half-centuries in his previous 18 innings. Buoyed by a record-equalling 10 dismissals by an Australian wicketkeeper, Carey looked solid as he quickly moved to 19 until he was given out lbw after being trapped on the knee roll by Matt Henry bowling from around the wicket.

nerves heightened.

Entering the innings on the back of consecutive ducks, Marsh rediscovered his form from the Australian summer as he and Carey notched their half-centuries and Australia reached lunch needing a further 105 runs.

A single from Marsh after the interval notched the pair's century partnership and reduced Australia's deficit to under a hundred, with batting becoming easier against the older ball. New Zealand's fading hopes seemingly rested with Henry, who was also seeking a 10-wicket haul, but Marsh continued to counterattack and whacked his bouncer for six.

Southee desperately turned to Sears and it proved a masterstroke as he trapped Marsh lbw after hitting him in front of middle and leg. Marsh reviewed in the hope that the ball was sliding down the leg side, but it was upheld in an umpire's call to spark New Zealand.

It was bedlam at a near-capacity Hagley Oval when on his next delivery Sears had Starc hitting straight to square leg. Sears almost completed his hattrick when Cummins nervously edged in front of second slip.

Damian Lillard led the way for the Bucks with 35 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 34 to ensure the Clippers, placed fourth

At Kaseya Center in Florida, the Washington Wizards upset hosts the Miami Heat to claim a 110-108 victory with Kyle Kuzma scoring a gamehigh 32 points along with nine rebounds, four assists

and two blocks.

It was a second successive win following a franchise-equalling 16-game los-

ing streak for the Wizards and means the Heat have now lost three in a row, their worst run since seven successive defeats in January.

The Philadelphia 76ers halted a three-game losing sequence as Kelly Oubre Jr collected 18 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in a 79-73 win against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Cam Thomas, featuring in just his second game following a six-match absence due to an ankle injury, scored 29 points in 31 minutes to help the Brooklyn Nets to a 120-101 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Nets move within three and a half games of 10th-placed the Atlanta Hawks, who lost 116-103 against the New Orleans Pelicans, in the race for the final play-off berth in the Eastern Conference. (BBC Sport).

But Carey was saved by the DRS with ball tracking deeming the ball to be sliding down the leg side. He calmly resumed his innings and kept the runs trickling along, but did have an anxious moment on 37 when Scott Kuggeleijn loudly appealed for caught behind. New Zealand unsuccessfully reviewed as their

But Sears was then thwarted by inventive batting from Carey and an unruffled Cummins, who continued his knack for ice-cool batting in run chases. Both batters endured some anxious moments as Southee reverted to Henry for one last push but it was in vain. Carey fell short of a deserved century as Cummins sealed victory with a punch through point and he let out a roar in celebration.(Cricinfo).

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday March 12, 2024)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Mahela Jayawardene- 2921 runs in 27 Tests (Shinalese Sports Club, Colombo)

(2) Brian Lara-1650 runs in 14 Tests (ARG, St. John’s)

Today’s Quiz

(1) Who is the first player to crack an ODI hundred?

(2) Who is the first WI player to hit an ODI century? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Alex Carey and Pat Cummins embrace after Australia got the winning runs • (Getty Images)

Anthony Davis scored 27 points with a season-high 25 rebounds on a historic night as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-109

RHTYSC and Poonai Pharmacy honour Under-11 and Under-13 champions

“We are very proud of you for winning the titles and for upholding the rich tradition of the RHTYSC. Our objective is to dominate cricket at all levels in Berbice by working as a collective unit and be focused, disciplined and dedicated. Use this reward as an incentive to do similar feats in the future.”

Those were the words of RHTYSC Secretary Hilbert Foster at a simple ceremony to honour members of the Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy Under-11 and Under-13 teams for emerging champions of Berbice at their respective levels.

The ceremony was sponsored by Poonai’s Pharmacy

and organized by the management of the RHTYSC, MS.

The Poonai’s Pharmacy Under-11 team defeated arch rivals Albion in the finals of the BCB/Rickey Moore and Sons tournament. Foster described the championship win as a great surprise as Albion had defeated their Rose Hall Town counterparts twice before in the preliminary rounds of the tournament.

Club cricket manager Robby Kissoonlall stated that the players were determined to emerge as champions and dedicated themselves to working hard to correct mistakes in their game.

He stated that the full time return of Foster to the

Phillips far off her mark in NCAA Div.1 400 metres final

… McCurdy takes silver at NCAA Div 2 Collegiate Championship

KENISHA Phillips, competing in the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championship, failed to finish on the podium in her women’s 400 metres at the Track at New Balance Boston Massachusetts Stadium.

Phillips first came up against stiff competition in the preliminary round as she finished in 52.42 seconds to advance to the final.

The Guyanese representing Indianan State had a tough final race as she finished in 53.92 a far cry from her personal best time of 51.72 seconds for 8th place.

However, by virtue of being in the top eight in the USA college system, Philips was awarded track and field All-American athlete for the women’s 400 metres event.

The honour is bestowed on athletes who finish in the top 8 in any event regardless of age in NCAA collegiate division 1 in the United States of America.

Phillips said on her social media page that ‘I got to experience my first of many things this season and one of them that I am really proud of is going to the NCAA Championship and being honoured All-American’.

Meanwhile, in the NCAA Division 2 men’s triple jump, Guyanese Lloyd McCurdy representing Limestone University had a leap of 15.73 metres to take silver medal behind Pittsburg State Tre Betts who leaped 15.79 for the gold medal.

Shyrone kemp was third in 15.60 metres.

club after his resignation at the Berbice Cricket Board has had a positive impact on all the cricketers.

The end result has been four major Cricket titles within the last four months at the U-11,U-13, U-23 and first division level.

The club has to date reached the quarter- finals of the Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi Under-15 and the Under-17 while the senior team has also reached the finals of the BCB Premier T20 tour-

nament.

Each member of the Under-11 team received a financial stipend and an educational package as their reward. The members of the Under-13 team received a financial stipend and a special MK watch for emerging as champions of the Romario Shepherd Under-13 tournament.

The team defeated Rose Hall Canje by six wickets at the Canje Ground to win their second overall Berbice

title. The Poonai’s Pharmacy Under-13 team has reached all four finals of tournaments organised by the BCB since the introduction of Under-13 cricket in the county. Assistant Manager, Keith Hicks urged the players to continue working hard and committed the club management to provide all the necessary support.

He noted that the team since its formation has produced several Berbice and Guyana players including

Tameshwar Deonadan, Rafael McKenzie, Balraj Narine, Dinesh Singh, and Leon Reddy. Sponsor Poonai Bhirooj congratulated both teams on been crowned champion of Berbice and for representing his company brand well on and off the field.

Meanwhile, the RHTYSC handed over a pair of wicket keeping pads and gloves to Sohil Mohammed on his selection to the Guyana Under-15 team. Foster wished Mohammed well on the tour to Antigua and urged him to represent the club’s brand well. The Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes U-15 player is a solid middle order batsman and wicket-keeper, who has played for Guyana in 2022 and 2023 at this level.

Foster stated that Mohammed is the 8th RHTYSC member to gain national selection in 2024 following Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair, Shemaine Campbell, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabiki Gajnabi, Plaffiana Millington and Trisha Hardat. Mohammed expressed gratitude to the club for the donation of the gear.

Powell blasts 18-ball 30 as Zalmi clinch top two spot

KARACHI, Pakistan, (CMC) – West Indies T20 skipper Rovman Powell weighed in as Darren Sammy’s Peshawar Zalmi defended a small total to edge Kieron Pollard’s Karachi Kings by two runs in their final group game of the Pakistan Super League here Monday.

Choosing to bat first at the National Stadium, Zalmi stumbled to 147 for six off their 20 overs, the stellar Babar Azam top-scoring with 51 and Powell blasting an 18-ball 30.

In reply, Pollard scored only one as Kings came up short, after failing to get four runs from the final ball of the run chase.

New Zealand opener Tim Seifert top-scored with 41 while Irfan Khan struck an unbeaten 39 but Kings had to be content with 145 for five

off their 20 overs.

With the win, Zalmi guaranteed themselves of a top two finish on 13 points, one ahead of Multan Sultans who are currently second on 12 points with one game left.

Kings, meanwhile, finished one from bottom on eight points following their full complement of group games, Monday’s defeat

marking their sixth of the campaign.

Babar’s fifth fifty of the tournament required 46 balls and included five fours and a six, and was the anchor of a 55-run opening stand with Saim Ayub (19).

However, wickets tumbled thereafter leaving Zalmi on 113 for five in the 17th and it was left to Powell, who

clobbered three fours, to control the back end in a 32-run, sixth wicket partnership with Aamer Jamal (eight not out).

Seifert then gave Kings a great start, striking eight fours in a 30-ball knock to inspire a 61-run, opening stand with James Vince (21).

Three wickets then went down for seven runs to leave the chase in strife at 68 for three in the 11th over, but Irfan countered in a 49-run, fourth wicket partnership with Shoaib Malik (22), to haul their side back into the game.

Needing Pollard to fire after Shoaib perished, the former West Indies whiteball captain survived just four balls before holing out to Powell at long on in the penultimate over, and Kings lacked the firepower thereafter to get home.

West Indies T20 Captain Rovman Powell

Kenisha Phillips with her Indiana State College team

The combined Under-11 and Under-13 teams pose with RHTYSC officials

Henry shines with hat-trick as Jamaica crowned Women’s Super50 Cup champions — Wins also for Guyana and Barbados

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Jamaica crowned themselves Women’s Super50 Cup champions with a game to spare when they pulled off an edgy three-wicket victory over Windward Islands in the penultimate round here Monday.

Asked to chase a tricky 176 at St Paul’s Sports Complex, Jamaica overhauled their target at the start of the 37th over with West Indies batsman Rashada Williams top-scoring with 72 off 101 balls at the top of the order.

Her West Indies teammates Natasha McLean (50) and Chedean Nation (29) produced important knocks as Jamaica remained unbeaten in the tournament with their fourth consecutive victory.

Earlier, Windward Islands gathered 175 for nine in a contest reduced to 45 overs per side, 41-year-old Pearl Etienne rolling back the years with a top score of 58 off 75 balls and Jannelia Glasgow (38) and captain Afy Fletcher

(31) playing supporting roles.

The innings was highlighted by a final over hattrick from Chinelle Henry who finished with superb figures of six for 31 with her medium pace.

She got Glasgow to sky the third ball to cover, hit Earnisha Fontaine in front with the next ball before removing Amiah Gilbert’s leg stump with the last ball of the innings.

Choosing to bat first, the Windwards slumped to 69 for five before Etienne and Glasgow combined in a fruitful 87-run, sixth wicket stand to repair the damage.

In reply, Keneshia Ferron fell cheaply for two in the third over, lbw to Etienne’s seam with six runs on the board but Williams and Nation put on 46 for the second wicket to stabilise the Jamaica run chase.

When Jamaica slipped to 61 for three in the 13th over, the experienced Williams took responsibility for the innings by anchoring an excellent 93-run, fourth wicket partnership with McLean.

While Williams counted seven fours and a six, McLean thumped three fours and two sixes in a run-a-ball fifty.

The contest became nervy

when another three wickets went down for 19 runs but Jamaica held their nerves to get home safely.

Meanwhile, Guyana and Barbados both posted their third wins to keep Trinidad and Tobago and Leeward Islands winless.

At Conaree Sports Club, Guyana beat T&T by 61 runs, West Indies Vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle top-scoring with 52 to get the winners up to 156 for eight off their 50 overs.

Campbelle struck four fours in an 81-ball knock, putting on 69 for the third wicket with Shabika Gajna-

bi (33) to pull the innings around from 31 for two in the 14th over.

Twenty year-old off-spinner Ashmini Munisar then wrecked the Trinidad and Tobago innings with a spell of five for 15 to send the innings crashing for 95 all out off 42 overs.

At Warner Park, Barbados comfortably chased down a challenging 256 to beat Leeward Islands by five wickets with 22 balls to spare, left-hander Kyshona Knight top-scoring with a composed unbeaten 88 off 107 deliveries and Aaliyah Alleyne lashing a breezy 59

off 55 balls.

Barbados found themselves tottering on 92 for four in the 21st over despite opener Kycia Knight’s 42 off 54 deliveries but Kyshona joined with Alleyne in an excellent 152-run, fifth wicket partnership which ended the game as a contest.

Kyshona struck nine fours and Alleyne, eight.

Leewards had earlier posted an impressive 255 for five off their 50 overs with Shawnisha Hector (56), captain Amanda Edwards (55 not out) and Divya Saxena (51) all carving out half-centuries.

Jahzara Claxton, 17, missed out on one when she belted 46 off 74 balls.

Leewards lost an early wicket to be ten for one in the third over but Hector added 101 for the second wicket with Saxena, before Edwards and Claxton posted a further 94 for the fifth wicket.

India extend lead at No. 1 in the World Test Championship, Australia move up to second …They had slipped to fifth after the defeat in Hyderabad, but are now firmly back on top

INDIA have extended their lead at the top of the 202325 World Test Championship (WTC) points table by beating England in Dharamsala to win the fivematch series 4-1.

The 4-1 series win also helped India overtake Australia at the top of the ICC's Test rankings and they remain No. 1 even though Australia beat New Zealand in Christchurch. India are also the topranked ODI and T20I side at present.

India had slipped to fifth place in the WTC points table after losing the first Test of the series against England

in Hyderabad, but climbed back up to No. 1 by winning the next three matches. The innings victory in Dharamsala extended their percentage points to 68.51%, having earned 74 out of 108 points after playing nine matches (six wins, two defeats, one draw) in the ongoing WTC cycle.

According to the WTC points system, a team gets 12 points for a Test win, six for a tie, four for a draw, and nothing for a defeat. And they are ranked according to the percentage of points won because each team plays a different number of Tests in

the WTC cycle. Points are also deducted for slow over rate penalties, which is why England have only 21 points despite winning three Tests in this WTC cycle. They have lost 19 points for slow over-rate penalties and are in eighth place with only 17.5 percentage points after playing ten Tests.

Australia are presently second with 62.50% points and New Zealand are third at 50%. With only a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test series to go before the IPL season begins on March 22, India are set to remain No. 1 for a

few months.

Bangladesh, on fourth place behind New Zealand in the WTC points table, have played only one series in the ongoing cycle. They are followed by Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka.

The top two teams at the end of the WTC cycle will play the final at Lord's in June 2025. India had qualified for both the previous WTC finals so far, but lost to New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023. World Test.

Chinelle Henry Ashmini Munisar Shemaine Campbelle

Briton John storms to victory at Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle race in Berbice

BRITON John won the Berbice leg of the Cheddi Jagan Memorial cycling race on Sunday in three hours, 15 minutes, and 10 seconds.

The United We Stand Cycle Club rider emerged champion of the gruelling race, which started in front of Freedom House in New Amsterdam, proceeded to the Springlands Police Station, and returned to Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, for the finish. John, who also won the first leg of the memorial race in West Demerara, won ahead of Curtis Dey, Paul

Chooweenam, Alexander Logan, Alex Mendes, and Aaron Newton, in that order.

In the Junior category, Alexander Leung won ahead of Sidwel Sabdy, while Ian Jackson won the Over-50 category, with Junior Niles and Raymond Newton finishing second and third, respectively.

Chooweenam was the top Under-50 rider, with Mendes second, and Roy Mangru third.

During the simple prize-giving ceremony at the Babu Jaan Memorial Site, Executive Secretary of the

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Zulfikar Mustapha said that the event marks the 27th death anniversary of the party's founding father, Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

He said the PPP takes pride in celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Jagan, who has made tremendous contributions to the country's development while forging a path out of bondage, and exploitation of the Guyanese people.

The third and final leg is slated for March 31 in Essequibo.

Sammy: Batting primed for World Cup challenge — bowling needs adjustments

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – West Indies white-ball coach Darren Sammy has praised the strength of the regional side’s batting ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup, but said adjustments were needed in the bowling department in order to make the side a truly formidable unit for the June showpiece.

The Caribbean side captured all three of the series they contested last year against heavyweights South Africa, India and England, winning eight of the 13 T20 Internationals up for grabs.

And while they tasted defeat at the hands of Australia in a three-match series Down Under last month, Sammy said the batting had contin-

ued to impress.

“The way my batters batted, I think it’s the first time a team had scored over 200 three consecutive times, whether batting first or chasing, and it speaks volumes of the power that we have in that squad,” Sammy said.

“Obviously, we need to tinker and work on some different bowling roles, and that myself, James Franklin and the captain (Rovman Powell) have been speaking to various persons that we want to execute different roles.

“I’ve been speaking and working diligently with our analysts, looking at grounds; different venues we’re going to have [for the T20 World Cup], and the different dimensions and different con-

ditions in the surface and making sure we have the right personnel to fill in those key roles.”

West Indies ended on 202 in pursuit of 214 in Hobart, and then gathered 207 in the second T20 International in Adelaide, after the Aussies piled up 241.

In the Perth finale, West Indies stormed to 220 batting first, to beat Australia by 37 runs and salvage some pride from the series.

As joint hosts, West Indies enter the T20 World Cup from June 1-29 as one of the favourites, and will do battle in Group C with New Zealand, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and minnows

Uganda.

Sammy, appointed to the top spot last year, said preparations for the showpiece were already intense, with plenty of work being undertaken behind the scenes.

“The preparation both on and off the field is going good,” said Sammy, a twotime former World Cup-winning captain.

“Leading up closer to the World Cup, I think a few of my boys will be in the IPL playing. We have a series probably just before the World Cup – three matches against South Africa – so building up to that, we’ll be ready.

“And again, we’re at

home, we know the conditions, it’s not about adapting. It’s just about making sure we execute well when the day comes.”

West Indies won the 2012 T20 World Cup in Colombo and repeated the success four years later in India.

However, they have suffered massive disappointments in the last two events – failing to get out of the group stage of the 2021 edition and then missing out on qualifying for the group stage a year later in Australia.

West Indies T20 head coach Darren Sammy

Briton John (right) receives his prize from PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha