Guyana Times - Monday, May 13, 2024

Cargo passing through CJIA increased

Mentallyill woman sets Berbice house on

MOM hands over new house at Farm to single mother of 3

The Mother and Daughter pageant was held at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday evening. At the end of a four-hour presentation, Desiree George & Jhené were adjudged the winners of the junior category while Keysha Williams & Nakeisha copped the middle category title and Joyce Carter & Anisa came out as the winners in the senior category

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 13 – 22:00h-23:30h and Tuesday, May 14 –23:00h-00:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

CGX pushes start-up of Berbice Deep-Water Port to late 2024

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily. Monday, May 13 –07:10h-08:40h and Tuesday, May 14 – 08:05h-09:35h.

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions interrupted by light rain showers in the early-morning to early-afternoon hours are expected during the day, with clear to partly-cloudy skies and light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 07:40h and 20:22h reaching maximum heights of 2.34 metres and 2.13 metres.

Low Tide: 13:50h reaching a minimum height of 0.91 metre.

Canadian-based CGX Energy Inc’s Berbice Deep-Water Port (BDWP) Project continues to face delays as its operationalisation has once again been pushed back to later this year.

Through its local subsidiary – the Grand Canal Industrial Estates (GCIE), CGX has undertaken the construction of the US$130 million deep-water port in the Berbice River which includes a wharf facility and a trestle as well as a cargo terminal. The port facility is being constructed to support oil and gas activities offshore of Guyana.

In an update back in March, the company had said that cargo operations at the port were slated to start in the second quarter of 2024. However, in its Quarterly Highlights for the first three months of 2024, which was published on May 8, CGX reported that operationalisation has been shifted to the third quarter of this year.

“Initial cargo operations at the port are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2024, projected based on expressed interest from third parties

gates for construction purposes.

The BDW Project is also aimed at enabling the provisioning of oil operators and vendors in the territorial waters of both Guyana and Suriname.

GCIE had also previously reported that there were some minor setbacks with the project, due to revisions that were needed to the design of its wharf and trestle in the Berbice River.

to utilise the Port for the importation and storage of aggregates,” the Energy company said in its Q1 Highlights.

This is not the first time the highly-anticipated and touted project has faced delays with CGX hoping to start operations in 2022. Over the past year and a half, the commencement timeline has been shifted on several occasions.

Being built on 30 acres of land adjacent to Crab Island on the eastern bank of the Berbice River and some 4.8 km from the Atlantic Ocean, the BDWP facility is intended to serve as an offshore supply base for the oil and gas industry, and as a multi-purpose terminal to service agricultural import/export, containerised and specialised cargoes, including aggre-

As the lowest bidder, GAICO Construction and General Services Inc. was selected to construct the 160-foot access trestle and wharf and to perform the required dredging operations for the BDWP facility to the tune of US$2.1 million.

In its Q1 Highlights, GCIE said “Work on the 50 x 12 m access trestle built from the quayside yard westward into the Berbice River was completed in August 2023 without any HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) related incidents.”

The company added that so far, it has performed various developmental works on the site including the installation of vertical drains and geotechnical treatment of the quayside land. It add-

ed that riverside construction is completed on approximately 500 m of rip rap flood protection; a 10acre quayside laydown yard built to a five tons per square metre load bearing capacity; an access bridge to the main Corentyne highway and 2.6 km access road, both built to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ("ASSHTO") standards; concrete drains and driveways for residents along the roadway and extension of municipal water and power to the port site.

According to the company, Requests for Proposals (RFP) were advertised for the wharf platform and access trestle, capital dredging program, design and construction of all gates, buildings, firefighting and first aid structures, and covered storage areas.

The port will be capable of loading and offloading vessels, mainly aggregates, from the completed trestle, as well as the storage of material at the completed port yard.

This, GCIE explained in its Q1 Highlights, will require the construction of a ramp to access the trestle as well as the installation of mooring piles to aid in bringing vessels alongside. This work will commence in early May 2024.

Operation of the full cargo terminal aspects of the port is forecasted for the first half of 2025 and operation of oil and gas support is forecasted for the second half of 2025, subject to construction schedules, financing, and supply chains.

The Company is currently constructing a security fence around the port

yard. Work will commence in May with the construction of a trestle extension and ramp as well as driving piles for fendering and mooring to aid in bringing vessels alongside.

Meanwhile, as it prepares to commence cargo operations later this year, GCIE said it continues to develop and foster partnerships between Brazilian and Guyanese companies; necessary to begin handling cargo from and to Roraima and Amazonas, the northern states of Brazil.

Previously, the Guyana Government had expressed concerns over the slow pace of the BWDP Project and made CGX relinquish two oil exploration blocks offshore Demerara and Berbice to the State so that the company could focus on operations in the Corentyne Block, where it made significant oil discovery, as well as on the deep-water port facility.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has on multiple occasions, emphasised the importance of a deep-water harbour in Guyana as part of his administration’s push to have the country become a major logistics and trans-shipment hub in the South America and Caribbean regions.

With work ongoing on a paved road through Lethem to connect to Northern Brazil, and with the Corentyne River Bridge to connect with Suriname pending, the aim is to use Guyana as a transshipment hub to get cargoes moved to neighbouring countries as well as to other nations in the region.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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

Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

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

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

The PPP 32nd Congress

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) held its 32nd Congress on from May 3 to 5. The great expectations aroused in the citizenry were not disappointed by the time the curtains were dropped. With elections scheduled next year, it was accepted that from an organisational standpoint, the party would be trying to elect its strongest possible Central Committee and Executive Committee to guide it to victory to secure a second term. The 31st Congress was held in 2016 at Cotton Field on the Essequibo Coast after the Party lost office the year before to the APNU/AFC coalition. A concatenation of events that included a successful movement of a vote of no-confidence against the APNU/AFC Government; the COVID pandemic; the attempted rigging of the 2020 elections and a five-month rearguard action by the APNU/AFC coalition to cling on to power, pre-empted the scheduled biennial Congress until now. However, it was clear that the resolution of the 31st Congress to limit the APNU/AFC coalition to one term was taken seriously and they returned to office on August 2, 2020.

At the 31st Congress, the then newly-elected General Secretary Jagdeo had exhorted the delegates: “We need to carry a message across the villages and the wards of the city in our country that we are open to people, even if they did not support us in the past, we have to stop being exclusionary.” That there were three thousand delegates to the 32nd Congress at the ACCC signalled that the Party had heeded the call. Once again, the number of delegates from the hinterland regions and their overall diversity were very striking.

While it is usually the election of office bearers to the CC and ExCo that garner the most interest, this time it was the motion brought by the Leonora Group – home of President Ali – for all mention of “socialism” and “Marxism-Leninism” to be expunged from the Party’s constitution that became the cynosure of all eyes. Leonora – also the home of the martyr Kowsilla – has always been a militant and progressive party group and it was clear they had read the mood of the Party correctly when an overwhelming majority carried the motion.

This will make the 32nd PPP Congress historic since those terms had defined the PPP’s ideological worldview and modus operandi since 1969 as described by the 22nd Congress of 1985: “[T]he Party decided in 1969 to commence a process of transformation from a loose, mass party into a disciplined Marxist-Leninist organisation, capable not only of widely disseminating Marxist-Leninist ideology but also of more effectively organising and uniting all working people in the struggle for a socialist Guyana…

“Since 1969 a series of steps have been taken to reorganise the Party’s structure, promulgate a Programme, develop a disciplined core of cadres and membership imbued with the ideology of Marxism-Leninism, undeviatingly apply the principles of MarxismLeninism to everyday problems, apply the principles of democratic centralism and criticism and self-criticism and such other principles as were necessary to achieve our objective. In this regard since our decision to transform the Party, our work on the ideological front of the class struggle has been strengthened in the fight against right and left deviationism…

“Our international work is based on proletarian internationalism… We are generally recognised as and accorded the status of a communist party by all other fraternal parties…The prestige of our Party both locally and internationally has never been higher. We can say with confidence at this 22nd Congress that our Party has been transformed into a Communist Party.” [“PPP is Marxist-Leninist”, Thunder, Third Quarter, 1985, p. 6]

The changes that have been just adopted at the 32nd Congress had been long in coming – directly after the PPP under Cheddi Jagan acceded to office in 1992 and they embraced a pragmatic approach towards the IMF Structural Adjustment Program that had been accepted by the PNC Government in 1989.

In the dispensation in which Guyana presently finds itself, the dropping of the ideological jargon should assist in the Party continuing its pragmatic course.

The Guyana Coast Guard Essequibo is still floating and looks beautiful in the sunset after 22 years of service. This vessel was made in 1985 for the Royal Navy for mine-sweeping purposes, but it was then converted to a patrol vessel for the Guyana Coast Guard in 2001. This photo was taken by Jason Archer and is one of the entries in the Ministry of Tourism’s 58th Anniversary Independence Photography Competition

Look back and be honest – Guyana ‘spokespeople’

Dear Editor,

The theme of this year's World Press Freedom Day was “Journalism and Freedom of Expression in the Context of the Current Global Environmental Crisis.” This, I must admit, was necessary and quite timely. However, amidst the Global Environmental Crisis, my mind is locked into Freedom of Expression where Guyana is concerned, especially regarding what now obtains as against what used to be in a bygone era.

Firstly, let me emphasise that a fearless, free, and independent press is a vital element in any democracy. It gives citizens the information they need to hold their leaders accountable and promotes economic development. The right to press freedom is enshrined in the founding documents of the United Nations as well as in many national constitutions.

I add that generally, in a dictatorship, a ‘fearless, free and independent’ press is missing as citizens do not have rights in a dictatorship. They are not allowed to criticise or challenge the government, speak their minds, practise the religion of their choice, and be safe in their homes from governmental or law enforcement intrusion. And this was not so for a very long time in Guyana, namely the pre-1992 era.

Back then, LFS Burnham’s People’s National Congress (PNC) used its youth arm to terrorise political opponents. Christened the Young Socialist Movement (YSM), this pack, at one point, was led by Robert Corbin and worked in close collaboration with the House of Israel in carrying out acts of violence and intimidation against WPA members especially.

The horde terrorised innocent

have no fear today

Guyanese and politicians who opposed the repressive politics of President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. This PNC youth arm, with full support from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), meted out beatings and killings as tactics in suppressing innocent Guyanese who dared to challenge the decisions and status quo set by the LFS himself.

During those years the PNC recruited myriads of Guyanese youths and trained them in various forms of political thuggery to accomplish the principles of party paramountcy. I recall the murder of many innocent persons because of their perceived support for the Dr Rodney-led Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the Dr Cheddi Jagan-led People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Incidentally, Rodney became a victim of the regime in this era.

Editor, space allows me to just skim the surface – the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney (as mentioned before), and numerous other murders – Father Bernard Darke, a Jesuit priest; Ohene Koama, and Edward Dublin (WPA activists, killed in 1979 and 1980 respectively); or Jagat Ramessar and Jack Parmanand, shot down by soldiers during the 1973 rigged elections, as they attempted to prevent soldiers from confiscating ballot boxes. These are mere snippets of political violence that have profused from the vague corners of Congress Place.

My point is that ‘press freedom’ was not even a topic back then. So, when today, I hear of people criticising the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for intimidating Journalists or stymieing ‘press freedom’, I am most aghast.

Indeed, like Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with re-

sponsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, I cannot help but admit that the “PPP/C Government (is) Gov’t resolute in its commitment to press freedom.” Many cowards back then have now found courage, and not being fearful anymore, they are now merely agents provocateurs. They seem unable to contain and constrain themselves in the milieu of unbridled freedom and overriding democracy. Their captiousness is all too predictable and nauseating and hopefully will end.

In this vein, I am pleased that Minister McCoy, during his address at a Climate Town Hall forum, held in observance of the 31st United Nations World Press Freedom Day, noted that “Freedom of the Press has always been a cornerstone in the ideological outlook of the current administration (PPP/C), and it is not accidental that successive PPP/C Governments have forged an enabling environment for Guyanese media operatives to work freely and thrive.”

Today in Guyana, irrespective of the issue, whether environmental, crime, or foreign policy, there is an inhibited and free media culture prevailing. Indeed, almost daily, journalists – and those who defend them – face immense risks to their safety, and the safety of their families, on account of their profession. The number of deaths and incidents of violence, harassment, threats of arbitrary detention, censorship, and intimidation among journalists as they pursue reporting are all increasing.

My question is “When and where in Guyana can we see this?

Yours truly, HB. Singh

On the Plantations: Housing Georgetown must be remodelled into a modern city

By Ravi Dev

Directly after being delivered to their assigned plantation, the workers would be addressed by an Overseer whose words would be translated by a “sirdar” or “driver”. The men would be divided to join “work gangs” in which the Overseer felt they would produce the most labour – cane cutting for the strongest; then shovel men and cane planters. The weakest would join the women in the weeding gangs while the children went into Creole gangs that supplied fertilisers to the roots of the cane plants. There were numerous miscellaneous tasks that would be later assigned such as cleaning canals; leading mules (mule-boys), gardeners and maids for the managers and overseers, etc. There was supposed to be a “seasoning” period for new immigrants, but this was rarely followed.

The immigrants would then be taken to the “free homes’ they were promised. In the beginning, these were the “logies” or “barracks” that had been vacated by the freed Africans in the “Nigger Yards”. Every plantation had one of these closest to the sugar factory and retained the name until the logies were

all removed in the 1950s and 1960s. Each logie had either five or ten rooms, each 10’ X 15’ fronted by a 6’ wide undivided gallery that ran the length of the peaked building. “Firesides” or “chulhas” would be constructed in front of each room to which a family or 3 bachelors would be assigned. The gallery’s floor was packed earth, but the rooms were on raised wooden floors one-foot high.

As more Indentureds were imported, they outgrew the Nigger Yards and new logies were built to accommodate them around the sugar factory. Over open drains, latrines were built for the faecal matter to float to the drainage side-line canal. On most estates, the immigrants defecated in the cane field or scrub. New logies were raised 3’ off the ground and eventually there were some 2-family cottages built in the 1920s and 30s.

One official report of 1914 – three years before the abolition of indentureship described the living conditions as follows:

“The defects noted at Estates visited by us were leaky roofs, drains which did not run off water, inadequate arrangements for collecting and storing water, insufficient ventilation, absence of latrines, and the existence of vegetation in the vicinity of the buildings. The only general defect was the want of latrines… Surface drains which are mere channels cut in the soil will seldom be satisfactory. Even with zealous supervision they tend to become a chain of small stagnant pooIs.

Dear Editor,

In a previous article in the press, I highlighted the fact that there needs to be a general overhaul of Georgetown. I am talking about a total restructuring of the present outlay of the city. Having said this, we must now direct our attention to the strict adherence to town planning. It entails the planning and design of all the new buildings, roads, and open spaces to make the area more attractive and convenient, for those who live and conduct business there. Town planning is the process of managing land re-

sources; it involves the control of existing features as well as the establishment of new requirements for the urban area. It is a dynamic process that changes in response to policy, development proposals, and local needs.

Making a quick comparison of Georgetown to what town planning rules stipulate, we find the city taking on the appearance of a large ghetto fabulous place where anything goes. Ad hoc situations are existing everywhere, with no order as it relates to the use of space. The Central Business

Proposed amendments to the Constitution of Guyana

Dear Editor, Please publish my suggestions for the reformation of our constitution. For brevity, I have not elaborated on why I think these changes are necessary. I hope that these suggestions will serve to inform the commission looking into this and initiate conversations at the street corner level on what it means to be a citizen of Guyana.

Colonialism and the politics that it birthed have inculcated within our society an attitude of “learned helplessness”, we need to undo this. As Marley said only “ourselves can free our minds”.

Proposed amendments to the Constitution of Guyana

1. Sanctity of the human body: the body of a citizen is sacred and no procedure can be mandated there-onto by any authority, religious or governmental. These procedures are defined as but not limited to branding, chipping, and medical procedures.

2. State of Emergency; a State of Emergency within the boundaries of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana can only be declared by the Executive President of Guyana. The Executive President of Guyana after declaring a State of Emergency must place before Parliament a bill to vote into law this State of Emergency within eight days. This bill must have a sunset clause and must re-

District (CBD) which forms a giant T-shape takes in the areas of Stabroek, Avenue of the Republic, Water Street, and the full length of Regent Street. It is an area that is highly congested, marked by a conglomeration of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and buyers and sellers all competing for that limited space.

The resultant effect is a foul-smelling, garbage-filled, rat-infested mess, these are the vector-like conditions that greet you every day. Georgetown has to be remodelled, and the time for such a renewal is now!

ceive the votes required to change the Constitution to be enacted. Should this bill fail to be enacted in the legislature, the Executive President of Guyana within 30 days of proclaiming this State of Emergency shall use a referendum of the citizens wherein a simple majority will keep this State of Emergency with its sunset clause.

3. Citizen legislation; any citizen or group thereof can petition the High Court to change and/or enact a piece of legislation when they have convinced more than two-thirds of the number of electors that elected the current government to support this petition, for this court to direct the Elections Commission to put this petition to a referendum wherein a simple majority will be sufficient for the success thereof. An annual referendum of accumulated qualified petitions can be held for convenience.

4. Representatives of the Citizens; citizens must be able to elect to the legislature a representative of their choice without that representative having to belong to a group, political party, or being part of any list. These representatives are to be elected every four years and will form the legislature of Guyana. The Executive will be elected every five years and will form the Government of Guyana.

Sincerely,

Mohamed F Khan

Firstly, to remove that present stigma attached to Georgetown, one must get down to serious town planning a redesign of the city. The second aspect, which, in my view, is of utmost importance, is doing away with petty politics that impede progress, get down to solving the real issues facing the city and you will see the grand renewal of a city named Georgetown.

I have highlighted some areas that need immediate attention.

2. The vacant spaces remaining after the vendors have been removed can be used for the parking of route buses and taxi operators.

3. In this way, the streets of Georgetown can be properly cleaned, the alleyways and gutters cleared of all debris and proper drainage restored.

4. Construct a highrise car park in the heart of the city, the Bourda Cemetery is the ideal location. This long condemned burial ground would accommodate vehicular traffic coming into the city to conduct business. A High-rise car park would also solve the problem of illegal parking in the city. There could be no excuse for illegal parking.

The proposed plan for a modern city is in keeping with the development of Guyana as a whole. For this plan to achieve its full potential, the municipality of Georgetown must adopt and adapt to the broader future outlook.

Respectfully,

1. Build a modern mega-market at Big Market, that is, the entire area that covers The Stabroek Block of buildings. This plan goes for the Bourda, Kitty, and East La Penitence Markets. It will also bring a swift end to street vending, as all street sellers would have been accommodated in the new markets around the city.

Neil Adams

A raised logie at Enmore 1935

Logies on the ground

Page Foundation

3. A man started a journey at 09:30 hrs and arrived at his destination in the same time zone at 13:30 hrs the same day. If his average speed was 30 km/h, then the distance in km for the journey

CSEC MATHS

(D) 430

8. 25×130 is the same as

(A) (25×100) +30

4. The median of these eight scores 10 15 4 7 8 8 1 4 is

(A) 4

(B) 7.25

(C) 7.50

(D) 8

5. A rectangle has rotational symmetry of order

(A) 1

(B) 2

(C) 3

(D) 4

6. If the sum of the interior angles of a polygon is 4 right angles, then the polygon is a

(A) triangle

(B) hexagon

(C) pentagon

(D) quadrilateral

7. 500eight written in base ten is the same as

(A) 5×83

(B) 5×82

(C) 5×8

(D) 5×80

(B) (25+30)×100

(C) (25×30) +(25×100)

(D) (100×30) +(100×25)

9. If p = 3(a − q) , then 6a is equal to (A) 2( p + 3q)

(B) 2( p + q)

(C) p + 3q

(D) p + q

10. A clock costing £210.00 in the U.K. is exported to Trinidad. The rate of exchange is U.K. £1.00 = TT $3.40. How much will the clock be worth in Trinidad

(A) $ 61.66

(B) $ 71.40

(C) $617.60

(D) $714.00

Guyana’s wood-tracking system to be overhauled, replaced with digital system – EU Ambassador

– to ensure Guyana can monitor legal compliance in forestry sector

Guyana’s wood tracking system, which is important for ensuring loggers are complying with the law but relies heavily on paper will soon be digitised.

This was according to European Union Ambassador to Guyana, René Van Nes who stated that this will be accomplished very soon.

“The development of a comprehensive digital wood tracking system…will be launched soon. The digital system will replace the (comprehensive) paper-based system currently used,” the envoy explained.

“This completely digitalised system will be used by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) to track wood products in near real-time, thereby allowing it to monitor legal compliance of Forest Sector Operators (FSOs) more effectively and efficiently,” he added. He also underscored the importance of fostering co-operation between the bloc and Guyana while highlighting several initiatives that were being spearheaded in Guyana to focus on increasing joint attention to the environment and climate change, peace, and sustainable development.

He explained that the EU was prepared to further develop other initiatives with the same goals, and this

would be facilitated through the provision of financial and technical support, capacity building, and research,

Unidentified pedestrian died after being struck down by cop

An unidentified male pedestrian of East Indian ancestry is now dead after he was struck down by a Police Constable at Coldingen Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Sunday.

According to police reports, a motorcar bearing registration number PAE

2960 driven by a Police Constable was proceeding along the Coldingen Public Road when it is alleged that the pedestrian walked into his path.

Despite applying brakes, the driver collided with the pedestrian. As a result of this collision, the pedestrian fell

onto the roadway and sustained injuries to his body. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The Policeman was subjected to a breathalyzer test but no alcohol was found in his system. He was nevertheless served with a notice of intended prosecution.

among other areas.

Among the agencies paving the way for this charter were the Guyana Forestry Commission, ChildLink Guyana, the Amerindian Peoples Association, and the Guyana Marine Conservation Society.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips stated during the reception that the European Union was an integral partner for Guyana’s development across the economic, environmental, and security spheres.

According to Phillips, Guyana’s partnership with the European Union is rooted in shared democratic values and co-operation. On this point, he had posited that the EU was one of the world’s foremost integration movements, fostering the goals of cooperation and peace among its member states.

Last year March, the Guyana Government had signed a contract worth more than $1 billion with the EU to increase forest preservation activities in the country, as well as to foster sustainable development within local communities that are dependent on the forest for their livelihoods.

The contract was inked by President Dr Irfaan Ali and Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Helena KÖNIG. This $1 billion agreement falls under the Forest Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between Guyana and the EU back in November 2022 on the sidelines of COP 27 in Egypt, for the provision of a €5 million grant to advance efforts towards sustainable forest management and preservation here.

In July of last year, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen had signed a roadmap for the implementation of the GuyanaEuropean Union (EU) Forest Partnership with the aim of managing Guyana’s forests and promoting the forest bioeconomy. This roadmap established the EU and Guyana’s commitment to reaching a set number of targets by 2030. These include: maintaining 12.5 million hectares of sustainably managed forests; expanding protected and conserved for-

ests to 30 per cent of terrestrial and marine species; increasing restored forest to 200,000 hectares; increasing the number of forest-related decent jobs; and maintaining the rate of deforestation of natural forests below 0.01 per cent per annum.

In 2020 alone, the Aliled Administration injected $350 million into the then cash-strapped Guyana Forestry Commission to cover operational costs and wages for staff for the remainder of the year.

Strategies aimed at boosting the financial performance and management capabilities of the GFC were undertaken and in 2021, the forestry sector was able to make a positive turnover and manage on its own.

One achievement of the sector in 2021 included getting stakeholders, particularly small-scale loggers back into the business which resulted in the construction boom, and an increase in log production, with over 400,000 cubic feet declared.

Meanwhile, the GFC’s monthly revenue collection was increased from $70 million in 2019 to over $90 million in 2021 while over 100 new concessions were issued to small loggers. (G-3)

EU Ambassador to Guyana, René Van Nes

Shooting of GDF rank

Police yet to arrest gunmen, victim remains critical

As investigations continue into the shooting incident involving Azim Khan, a 22-year-old member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), a relative stated that no one was arrested.

Khan was shot and injured during a home invasion last week. He remains in a critical state in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Injured: Azim Khan

The incident occurred two Sundays ago as Khan and his family came under attack by intruders at their Block 8, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

Two masked men forcibly entered the premises and attempted to relieve Khan of an undisclosed sum of cash and a quantity of jewellery.

Khan reportedly put up a fight with the intruders during which he was shot in the vicinity of his heart.

On Sunday, a relative told the Guyana Times that Khan was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital following the shooting incident. Khan suffered injuries to his heart, spleen, and lungs

thus leaving him unable to communicate or move.

Medical professionals estimated his chances of survival at 50-50.

However, on Sunday the relative stated that the young soldier is currently recovering at Georgetown Public Hospital and is showing signs of improvement. The family is urging for swift justice and the apprehension of the suspects.

Meanwhile, the police are still on the hunt for the suspects as they continue their investigation.

Revising…

…dogmatism

The British economist John Maynard Keynes – after whom a whole “school” of economic thought is named – once remarked, “Practical men who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist”!! So imagine the situation of those IMPRACTICAL men who enthusiastically announce they’re followers of that economist who lies in Highgate cemetery!! When alive, he didn’t actually lie – but was so dogmatic about his mistakes that he convinced some, even more than a century since he was interred.

In Guyana, of course, Burnham and Jagan insisted they were followers of that bearded, pock-marked fella who developed carbuncles sitting in the Library rooms of the British Museum!! Burnham’s opponents, however, were convinced he was just a poseur who wanted to look “radical”. “Radicalism” – which simply meant tweaking the coat-tail of Uncle Sam – was the flavour of that age!! Anyhow, there’s evidence there are still some true believers around!

One of them’s the elderly fella from that era who still scribbles the defunct ideas in one of the dailies. Back then, he’d advocated that Guyana cut all links – trading and otherwise – with the Yanks and their “running dogs of capitalism”. Yes…that’s how they spoke!! Quite overwrought, don’t you think?!! For instance, the fella in Highgate's most famous call was “Workers of the world, unite!! You have nothing to lose but your chains!!” Ironically, since then the greatest dream of the world was to BECOME workers –and presumably acquire their chains!!

Hoyte had jettisoned the Marxist-Leninist jargon as soon as Burnham passed on – after getting his dying wish to eat condensed milk he’d banned! Hoyte promptly banished all the Marxist ideologues and accepted a loan from the guardian of the capitalist order – the IMF!! He privatised Burnham’s nationalised “commanding heights of the economy” and devalued our currency to the accompaniment of Sparrow’s “Ten to one is murdah!!”

Over in the WPA, they in effect dumped the Marxist lingua franca as they morphed into Black nationalists. The ideologue agreed to shut down four sugar plantations – throwing 7000 Indian workers out of work!! But this ideologue in 2018 – even before oil and revenues started flowing – the fella – had demanded that every household be given an annual cash grant of US$5000 ANNUALLY!! He grandiosely called it the “Buxton Declaration” in imitation of Burnham’s “Declaration of Sophia”!!

But last Sunday – on Indian Arrival Day – the PPP pulled the biggest shocker of the millennium when they dumped all references to “socialism” and “Marxism-Leninism” from their Party’s constitution!! They’re gonna follow the capitalist path to development – as even communist China had done – to deliver prosperity to the poor!!

Change is inevitable…stagnation is death!!

…of Mother Day?

Yesterday, as the nation went into overdrive in sending flowers, consuming lunches and dinners and calling their mothers, your Eyewitness – who lost his Momma a while back – reflected on some of the contradictions in the overwrought emotions. Right up there, of course, is the mind-numbing level of violence inflicted on mothers – women and girls who’ll become mothers – by men. Isn’t there some kinda contradiction there?

What he couldn’t explain was how come these men could carry on so maudlinly about their mothers and not be bothered when they raise their hands against females. Some even against their own mothers!! Your Eyewitness has heard about compartmentalising your minds – but this is ridiculous!! But what’s even more of an enigma is that each of those men who beat up on women was raised by a woman – their mother!!

To reverse this unacceptable violence against women and girls, your Eyewitness suggests that all women be explicitly taught a course in raising their sons to not hit females. And ditto for males!!

…of the free market

It’s been quite an adventure for the Government after they put the Marriott on sale. There were the lowball bids – not surprisingly all rejected; then the knight in shining armour with a US$90M bid. Then he went and passed!! Oi vey!!

Cargo passing through CJIA increased by 84% – CJIA Chair

– says over 11 million kilos of cargo passed through CJIA compared to 6.1 million in 2015

In keeping with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s ambitions to turn Guyana into a transshipment hub, cargo passing through Guyana has increased by dramatic proportions over the past few years.

During a sitting of the National Assembly called to pass, among other things, amendments to the Guyana Civil Aviation Act, Member of Parliament and Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Chairman Sanjeev Datadin, revealed that there has been an 84 per cent increase in the shipment of cargo.

“Last year, we had a total of 729,450 people pass through the airport. As compared to 504,032 people in 2015. An increase of approximately 45 per cent. The increase in cargo is even more. We had, in 2015, 6.112 million kilograms of cargo,” Datadin said.

“This has increased by a phenomenal 84 per cent, to 11.726 million kilograms. We have had an increase in car -

riers. And we’ve had an increase in the number of flights. We know and it is now public knowledge, that British Airways is flying in Guyana.”

In addition to British Airways, which began its flights in Guyana back in 2023, the CJIA Chairman cited several other flights. In fact, he noted that these flights have astronomically increased Guyana’s air traffic.

“So, we have flights twice weekly to London. Recently, we have United Airlines doing three flights per week to Houston. This is in addition to us having Jet Blue, American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, in -

ter Caribbean Airlines, all using the airport.”

It was only in March that President Ali had said that Guyana is well positioned to be an important transshipment hub, not only in South America, but beyond. He had pointed out that with Guyana’s geographical location, the country remains the most financially viable route for Brazilian exports through the Panama Canal.

Also in March, President Ali had held bilateral discussions with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Arthur Chung Conference Center. Recognizing a timely opportunity to strengthen economic integration, the Governments of Guyana and Brazil had agreed to advance co-operation in infrastructural connectivity, private sector integration, and greater defense mechanisms.

“For Guyana and Brazil, there is an opportunity that can highly integrate our economies and create enormous opportunities

for the people of our two countries. We discussed the connectivity of infrastructure not only through roads, ports and air transport but we discussed the connectivity of our people, the involvement of our private sector, and how we can get our private sectors more integrated,” the head of state had disclosed.

The two sides will work towards organising a mission from Guyana to Brazil in the second quarter of 2024, comprising officials of the government and the business sector, to ex -

pand trade and investment between the two countries.

Speaking on infrastructural linkages between both countries, President Ali informed that both countries will be working on the financial mechanism for projects that will further connect Guyana and Brazil.

One of the main infrastructural linkages to Brazil will be the Linden to Mabura Hill road, which will eventually reach to Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The US$190

million contract for the road was signed in May 2022 with Brazilian company Construtora Queiroz Galvao SA for the construction of the 121-kilometre road. Then there is the regional ferry, another strategy aimed at boosting regional integration and the transshipment of cargo. In January of this year, it was reported that the Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet had approved the use of that country’s Galleons Passage vessel to operate the ferry service between the twin-island republic and Guyana.

In 2022, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) had approached the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for funding to establish this intra-regional ferry service. At the time, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) was tasked with ironing out a proposed roadmap study for a fast ferry service with an initial focus on trade between Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and Barbados. According to a communiqué at the end of the 43rd Regular Meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government, held in July 2022 in Suriname, it was noted that this initiative falls into the myriad of measures agreed to by the Region’s leaders to advance the reduction of the Caribbean’s food-import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

CJIA Chairman Sanjeev Datadin

One of the largest cargo aircraft at CJIA

Father of 4 brutally stabbed to death on minibus park – 2 juveniles apprehended, another at large

Police have detained two juveniles in connection with the tragic stabbing to death of an excavator operator at the 44-minibus park in Georgetown on Saturday evening.

The dead man has been identified as 32-year-old John Williams of Third Street Marthasville, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Based on the information received, Williams was walking along Water Street with a green haversack on his back and as he turned onto Commerce Street, he was confronted by the three suspects from behind.

Police stated that a 15-year-old held onto Williams’ haversack but he put up a resistance

during which another suspect stabbed him several times to his chest with a knife.

The injured man immediately collapsed onto the roadway and remained motionless. The suspects then fled the scene.

The Emergency Medical Technicians were summoned, and Williams was pronounced dead. However, a quick response by the police led to the arrest of a 14-yearold and a 15-year-old.

During interrogation, the teens claimed that the intent was to rob the victim.

Manesha Ali, the victim's wife, told the Guyana Times that the last conversation she had with her husband was around 19:30h on Saturday.

"He was coming home from work and had just gotten paid from his boss man. He usually gets paid every fortnight... when he told me he was waiting for a bus, I called back around eight something.

When I called back, his phone rang out, and I thought maybe he was traveling. I kept calling after that, and he never answered," she shared.

Ali further recounted that around 21:00h, she received a telephone call from the police instructing her to visit the Brickdam Police Station in Georgetown. Unable to leave due to her infant child, she said she sent her father in her place.

Upon arrival, she said the police informed her father that three juveniles had assaulted Williams on his way home, and robbed him. She further stated that her father was not told that her husband was dead.

“The police asked him if he knew John

Williams… he told my father that John was robbed, and took my father to the hospital to identify him. My father said when he went in, he saw John lying down wrapped up in a sheet with blood. He was dead,” she stated.

"It was a robbery because he had money on him, I don't know how much, and if the police have it or not. This is very hard. I don't know how I am going to make out. I plan on asking for help. He was the sole breadwinner for the family. He took care of me and my father, who is a pensioner”.

With deep concern, Ali told this publication that she does not even know how she will be able to stand her husband's funeral expenses.

"I don't even know how I will be able to stand the cost of the funeral. I don't really have relatives that can help me. I am finding it very hard... we have four children; 11, 8, 4, and 8 months. This is hard. I need justice for my husband."

Meanwhile, it was reported that a third suspect remains at large, prompting an ongoing investigation by the police.

Mentally-ill woman sets Berbice house on fire

Atwo-storey house at Kingsley Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) was on Saturday destroyed by fire which was deliberately set by a 19-year-old woman who is reportedly mentally ill.

According to information received, the two-storey wooden and concrete property belonged to Jean Harte and was occupied by her and her daughter-inlaw who is of unsound mind.

However, on the day in question at about 11:00h, the daughterin-law informed Harte that she had lit a mat -

tress in one of the bedrooms on the lower floor of the house.

In a panic, the woman rushed to the lower flat where she observed smoke and immediately started to disconnect the gas cylinders. After doing so, the suspect and the victim both ran out of the house, and within minutes the fire had engulfed the bedroom and other sections of the house.

The fire service was summoned and upon arrival extinguished the fire but by that time, the building was gutted. The mentally ill woman was later arrested.

Dead: John Williams

The house that was destroyed by fire

Guyanese author Tarik Braithwaite publishes 1st children’s book,

– hopes to spread message of sharing through poetry

Author of “Trapped” and “The Art of Blooming”, Tarik Braithwaite, has published his first children’s book, ti tled ‘Crocodile Benji’.

The book targets chil dren between the ages of 6 and 10 years old, is penned in poetic verse, and offers a delightful blend of imagina tion and moral lessons sur rounding friendships and sharing.

The story revolves around the eponymous char acter Benji, a formidable and grumpy crocodile who fiercely guards his swamp from intruders. With an un wavering determination to keep his domain to himself, Benji shuns the company of his fellow swamp dwellers, refusing to share his space with anyone.

have fun with the project. It is good when we can educate children around the world, but I don’t think you can take away, at this stage, the fun from learning so the two kind of work antagonistically,” Braithwaite told this publication.

The evolving world of children’s literature

However, as the narrative unfolds, Benji embarks on a transformative journey, guided by the universal values of friendship and togetherness. Through a series of heartwarming encounters with his friends, Benji learns the importance of sharing and cooperation, ultimately realizing that true happiness lies in companion-

represents a departure from the conventional narrative structure. It embraces the fluidity of poetic verses to captivate young minds by infusing the story with themes of sharing and friendship. The author hopes to also promote empathy, compassion, and a sense of community among readers.

Author’s vision In a world in which children’s literature is under-

as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. Speaking about the inspiration behind the book, Braithwaite told Guyana Times his hope is for Crocodile Benji to fill a void in the literary landscape by crafting a narrative that not only entertains, but also instills valuable life lessons.

“My hope is to get them (children) to interact with the characters, interact amongst themselves and

In an era marked by technological advancements and shifting cultural dynamics, the landscape of children’s literature is undergoing a profound transformation. Gone are the days of simplistic narratives; today’s young readers crave stories that challenge their imagination and stimulate their intellect.

In response to this evolving landscape, many authors are pioneering new storytelling techniques and thematic explorations to cater to the diverse needs of young audiences.

In essence, Crocodile Benji represents a shining example of this literary evolution, offering a narrative that not only entertains, but also enriches the minds and hearts of its readers. In

this regard, the 28-year-old author takes pride in the ability to hand draw all the characters before they were digitally illustrated.

“As writers, we need to evolve as well with the generation, if we want to appeal to them. We can’t appeal to them using traditional methods, so we need to evolve and develop new methods, methods that could apply to them. This is one of the gaps I think we need to touch on, because it’s not that children are no longer into reading books, but it’s how we put it over to them,” Braithwaite added.

Future projects Braithwaite, who majors in law studies, promises his readers quality and timeless content. In this regard, he is currently working on several new projects, including his first novel, ‘Red Light City’, which will narrate the history of mining in Guyana, specifically in the Amerindian community of Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

According to Braithwaite, this project compiles multiple short sto-

ries based on the art and culture of pork-knocking, challenges, and common myths and legends.

“The Red-Light City is going to be a book that I am going to focus a little bit more on bringing out my Guyanese culture and Caribbean culture. I have always wanted to dedicate a book specifically to that; because, when you go around the world, you will still be seen as a Caribbean writer, but yet the question is posed as to how you can be a Caribbean writer when none of your content is Caribbean-based… And I think that’s where the RedLight City comes into play, because you are going to see a lot more use of creole language and familiar content that Guyanese can relate to,” Braithwaite disclosed.

Crocodile Benji can be purchased at business outlet Book Hub or Book Cub. It is also available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.

Local author Tarik Braithwaite during an interview with this publication

MOM hands over new house at Farm to single mother of 3

Forty-seven-year-old

Nicola Fraser, a single mother of three from Farm, East Bank Demerara (EBD), is now the newest recipient of a two-bedroom house, constructed under President Dr Irfaan Ali’s Men on Mission (MOM) initiative.

Fraser received the keys to her new home on Sunday during a simple handover ceremony.

Brimming with gratitude, she commended the government and the MOM

for their intervention, reflecting on the challenges she has had to overcome.

“On this Mother’s Day, I am very elated to em-

bark on this new chapter of my life. I have always dreamed and longed for a home, or to own my own house. I truly believed that I would have already

had my own home, but many obstacles and illnesses prevented me from working and derailed that plan,” a tearful Fraser expressed.

However, she never gave up hope.

The house that was handed over to the mother of 3

Minister Kwame McCoy and Nicola Fraser cutting the ceremonial ribbon on Sunday

– A true epitome of a mother’s unwavering love

Every year, on Mother’s Day, Robin St. Marthe and her family celebrate the matriarch of their clan. To her children and grandchildren, she is more than just a mother; she is a pillar of strength, a source of wisdom, and an embodiment of love.

Robin St. Marthe has always put her family first. Coming from the kind of loving home in which she grew up to now having her own family and working tirelessly to provide for them, she has been making every sacrifice necessary to ensure their needs are met and their happiness is secure. Her daughters shared briefly their fond memories of how Robin would stay up late at night, helping them with school projects despite having worked long hours at her job.

“She never complained,” they shared. “Her only concern was making sure we were taken care of.”

As a grandmother, Robin continues to shower her two grandchildren, Nakiyiah and Emmanuel, with love and af-

fection. Nakyiah, 11, shared how Robin is always there for him, “whether it’s taking us out for treats, or offering words of encouragement during tough times”. “My grandma is my biggest cheerleader,” he said with a smile.

Robin capitalizes on every opportunity she gets to spend time with her grandchildren, and revealed that it’s a joy for her to see them living with the kind of love she instilled in her own daughters.

Becoming a mother certainly comes with great responsibilities. Robin herself admires her mother for having taken care of her and her four siblings while her dad, who was self-employed as a mason, worked hard to

play his part in the family. Because of this kind of up bringing, she knew she had to make similar sacrifices, and focus on bringing up her children as well.

“The Bible says, train up a child, and when they reach the age of accountability, they will not depart from it. So, as a Christian mother, I tried to, with prayers, keep them in church; of course, with my parents around,” Robin ex plained.

Robin with family

But perhaps what stands out the most about Robin is her unwavering love and support during difficult times. When her youngest daughter went through her first pregnancy, and delivered a premature baby which died the same day, it was Robin who held her hands and reassured her that everything would be okay.

“I had to be strong for her even whilst standing there in tears, but I knew at the time I had to encourage her because she felt like giving up,” Robin recounted with tears in her eyes.

So, this Mother’s Day, Robin and her family will come together - as they do every year - to honour and celebrate the woman who has been their rock through thick and thin. Robin continues to be a good influence to her children, and a good example as she leads them to live for Jesus. In bringing them up, she ensured they knew of the sacrifices she made and still makes to this day. Those sacrifices were all for them.

“They did not call me. I, along with their dad, brought them into this world, and it is our responsibility to make sure they live a peaceful and comfortable life,” Robin shared.

“This is why they must be given a firm foundation, allowing them to grow strong and have provisions made for them. So, in return, they do so for their children.”

One thing’s for sure, Robin believes that each child knows their calling. She believes parents should allow their children to live their own lives, even while still teaching them to know and understand who they are and what their responsibilities are.

“I have put in the work with my children, and that’s what I would advise any mother to do”, she said. “Teaching them to live in love, respect each other, look out for one another, and help when you can”.

As the sun sets on this Mother’s Day, Robin will look around at her loved ones with a feeling of gratitude for the gift of motherhood and the bond that holds their family together. And in that moment, as laughter fills the air and love surrounds her, she will know that her legacy of love lives on in the hearts of her children and grandchildren.

Mothers, you are role models for your children. They look to you as their biggest influencer, not anyone else, and certainly not some man or woman. Be prepared to sacri-

fice your time, and do it without hesitation. Remember, once they have that foundation, they surely can grow strong in your belief. Give them quality time, share at least one meal a day with them, and you will be surprised at what a big difference that can make.

Robin performing at church

Robin with family

Guyana’s 1st CARIFTA Games gold medalist Vigil Lewis remembers his 1977 triumph …believes new generation can earn Olympic gold

Iwaited in the starter’s blocks, my ears alert for the sound of the starter’s pistol. I badly wanted to win a medal — any medal -- for myself (and) for Guyana. The Games were almost over, and we were in danger of returning home empty-handed.

I was used to feeling earth and grass beneath my feet when I ran, (so) this red synthetic surface was unlike anything I’d run on.

I’d even come to the Games with the wrong spikes for running on synthetic. An Olympic sprinter had given me the correct spikes just in time for this race. As if all this wasn’t enough, it had begun to rain…

RUNNING AT SIX

It was at age six that I discovered that I had a talent for running. Back then, we attended church in the afternoon, and sometimes they would hold athletic events. I remember being taken to one of these events on the West Coast of Demerara and winning a race.

My father was a policeman, and when I was nine, he would take me and my older brother Gordon to the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, to race against other children.

Gordon won the 60 metres’ race for the under-11 and 12 age group. When he grew older, I took over and also won the same events twice.

MY FIRST TRACK RIVAL

At St. Stephen’s Government School, which we attended, Gordon would win the

under-12 and under-14 events. I wanted to follow in his footsteps, but our coach, a “Mr. Green”, seemed to only be interested in training Gordon and a sprinter named Brian Dey, (whom) we called “The Flying Saucer.”

In 1975, Gordon transferred from St. Stephen’s to East Ruimveldt Secondary, while I began attending East La Penitence Government School. I took my running talent with me, excelling in the 100 and 200 metres and the 4x100 relay (boys’ under-12). That earned me the school’s ‘champion boy’ status.

Meanwhile, there was another ‘champion boy’ at St. Stephen’s School. He was my old rival Brian Dey, “the Flying Saucer”. It was only a matter of time before we clashed. That finally happened in the Inter-School Championships at the Georgetown Sports Club Ground.

The coach, Mr. Green, was also there, and I boldly told him, “You made a mistake in not coaching me. I’m going to beat ‘Flying Saucer’.” I proceeded to win the 100 metres in 11.9 secs, and I was only 11 at the time. Then I beat ‘Saucer’ in the 200, and in the 4x4 100-(metre) relay for under-12 boys.

Until I turned 13, all our running was done barefoot. Gordon and I began to train at the National Park.

Around 1975, I was awarded a Chronicle scholarship to East Ruimveldt Secondary. “Back School”, as we still call it, had some of the country’s top junior athletes, like my brother Gordon; high-jumper and shot-putter Wilbert Angoy; and long-distance runners Oliver Alves, Wayne Mathurin and Brian ‘Chinaman’ Griffith.

I dominated in the 100, 200, and 400-metre races, while Gordon dominated in the 100 and 200 metres. We trained hard. We would run 10 miles on roadways to build our endurance, then 400, 600,

700 and 800 metres on the track. By 5:30a.m, we would be on the seawalls, running in the water to build our endurance.

The only supplements we knew of were Vitamin B12 tablets and glucose. My mother made every possible sacrifice to nurture our athletic careers. She gave us a steady diet that included soup, porridge, and lots of cow’s milk. She would sell milk, black pudding, and bread to invest in our athletic careers. She even sewed our track suits. Nobody actually trained us. Luckily, I had Gordon to guide me. We would practise in front of mirrors to see if our running posture was right, or if your knees crossed. If they crossed, that meant you were out of stride. We never did weight training, which is now a basic part of athletics training. We did pull-ups on a beam at home, and ran up the long steps in the stands at the National Park, or in the sandy hills at Linden.

In April, 1976, at age 16, I got my first big overseas break when I was selected for the Bahamas Junior CARIFTA Games. That was my introduction to ‘rubber’ tracks. I found out how different these surfaces were to the grass tracks that I ran on back home. For instance, you have to learn to ‘bounce’ when you run on synthetic tracks. The long spikes we used on grass tracks were inefficient on this material.

I didn’t have the shorter spikes. In fact, I didn’t even have my own running shoes! The one I was wearing were Gordon’s. I managed to reach the finals in the 100 and 200 metres, but failed to earn a medal. However, our long-distance athletes Oslyn Barr copped silver, while Oliver Alves, my ‘Back School’ colleague, earned a bronze in the 800 metres. That race was won by a very good Barbadian distance runner, Trevor Small. I redeemed myself five months later at the Inter-Guyana Games in Suriname.

Running again on a grass track, I won the 200 metres (boys under-17). I won another gold when our team won the 4x100 boys under-17 relay.

OFF TO BARBADOS

The Lewis brothers — Gordon and me — were Guyana’s top sprinters in our age group.

That earned us selection for the April 1977 CARIFTA Games, which were held in Barbados. Guyana took its largest contingent of athletes. There was my brother Gordon, Eugene Phillips, Wilbert Angoy (high jump), Waveney Benn (800 metres) and sprinters Marilyn Dewarder and Gem Barrow.

We were certain that this would be our best CARIFTA games’ performance.

Former sprint champion Rocky McPherson was our coach. We encamped at the Guyana National Service base for two weeks of intense training with the GNS ranks. I later travelled to Springlands, Corentyne, where it was quiet, to train undisturbed.

Most of us were visiting Barbados for the first time, and I guess we were a bit distracted at first. For me, my initial distraction was the memory of the Cubana disaster. It was just six months earlier that a terrorist’s hidden bomb had caused Cubana Airline Flight 455, with 11 Guyanese among the passengers, to crash in the sea off Barbados. One of the victims was medical student and athlete Eric Norton, whom I had met at the Inter-Guyana Games in Suriname.

The Holiday Inn, where our team stayed, was close to the ocean, and I often found myself staring at the sea and wondering where the plane had crashed.

Waveney Benn with her 1977 CARIFTA Games bronze medal

Vigil Lewis

Guyana’s 1st CARIFTA Games gold...

Eventually, we went to the Barbados National Stadium, and I saw a track that I’d never seen before. It was a red Tartan all-weather synthetic track.

“I never ran on a track like this,” I said to Gordon. “The Bahamas track wasn’t like this.” None of us had the correct spikes for this track.

The Jamaicans had the largest contingent. Their athletic attire alone scares you, and of course they had all the right equipment. Perhaps because they did weight training, the Jamaican and Trinidadian athletes were muscular. Compared to them, I was skinny.

On Guyana’s grass tracks, I’d clocked 11.6 seconds in the 100 metres and 23.2 seconds in the 200. These were excellent times for my age, so I was expected to do well in these events. But without the right spikes, on that strange red track, I could only manage a disappointing fifth in the 200 metres.

Things were also going badly for the rest of the team. We were being blown away by the Jamaicans (their medal haul would be 34 gold, nine silver and

seven bronze) and the Bermudans. The sight of Gordon being outrun in the 100, 200, and 400 metres (men’s under-20) was a discouraging sight. Jamaica’s 200-metre sprinters, Small and Lee, seemed to ‘fly’ rather than run.

The Games were winding down, we had no medals, and the mood was low. But I still had two events: the 100 metres and the 400 metres (boys under-17).

OLYMPIC CHAMP TO THE RESCUE

My 400-metre event came first, and luck was with me. Trinidadian 1976 Olympic gold medalist Hasley Crawford was at the stadium. He had brought extra spikes for synthetic tracks, and he readily assisted me.

But then I was placed in a lane in which I was unaccustomed to running. And it had begun to rain. “I never ran in lane seven,” I complained to Gordon. “You trained for the race, just run your race,” he said. Still, I was so nervous that I asked Gordon to follow me through the tunnel that led to the ground. “Just walk out with me,” I said.

Wilbert Angoy, our high-jumper, was on the field preparing for his event. I intended to run the first 200 metres extremely fast, so I asked him to let me know how far ahead I was of the others when the race started.

As the drizzle continued, I settled into my starting blocks. I focused my attention on Trinidadian Londsdale Demming, who was just ahead of me in the staggered lane on my right.

The starter’s pistol broke the silence, and I bolted from the blocks. By the first 15 metres, I had already passed the Trinidadian.

WORK YOUR ARMS!

“At least I’m going to get a medal,” I thought. You see, at that point, I was content with even a bronze. I completed the first 50 metres…I was still ahead! Now I dared to think ‘gold’. I was all alone on the turn when Wilbert Angoy shouted, “You have ten metres on them!” I could hear the Guyanese in the stadium shouting, “KEEP GOING!”, and Gordon, still standing near the entrance, yelling, “WORK YOUR ARMS! WORK YOUR

ARMS!”

But I had started fast; maybe too fast. In a race like this, you have to focus on when to accelerate. You don’t want to ‘die’ coming down to the end, but that was happening to me. Now my legs were practically gone, that was why Gordon was urging me to pump my arms. The more I worked my arms, the more I could lift my legs. I kept going. Had Gordon not been there, I would have ‘chucked.’

And now all of the training, all of the technique, all of the encouragement from my coach, came into play. Then, with 60 metres to go, the Trinidadian drew alongside me. “No way you beating me,” I thought, and sprinted to the tape just ahead of him.

I had won Guyana’s first CARIFTA Games gold medal. I had done it in 50.1 seconds! I had just broken the under-17 CARIFTA Games record!

That record (had) stood for years.

I followed up this victory with a bronze medal in the 100 metres (boys under-17).

Then our long-distance queen Waveney Benn gave us another bronze in the

800 metres (under-20 category).

My mom later told me that she’d been praying all the time when I was running. Then she overheard radio sportscaster B.L Crombie announce that I had won a gold medal. She’s now a healthy 104, and still asks people, “You know who is my son?”

DISAPPOINTMENT

On my return, I continued to put in excellent performances on the track. In 1978, I was offered a scholarship to a United States university, but an embassy official turned me down. He said that Gordon and my sister had already gained scholarships. I think one of the reasons I was rejected was that some other local athletes never finished their scholarships.

Being turned down for the scholarship destroyed my motivation to train seriously. I was very good back then. Had I gained that scholarship, I believe that I would have been ready for the 1984 Olympics. People who have seen me run still say, “You were fast.”

FUTURE BRIGHT FOR UPCOMING ATHLETES

Guyana had very good athletes during my time, like James Wren-Gilkes, Anthony October, Clifton Shultz, my brother Gordon, and Eugene Phillips and Barr and Alves, but we didn’t have the exposure and the modern facilities.

Jamaicans who know that I used to run track, sometimes tease me by asking how many Olympic gold medals Guyana has, and I have to say we have none.

But the future looks much brighter for our young athletes. They have the synthetic tracks, the training equipment, the coaches, and knowledge we didn’t have. They can view footage of themselves and international athletes.

Guyana has come a long way. We have Tianna Springer (who won the under-20 girls 400 metres in record time at the 2024 CARIFTA Games, and also the 400 (metres) gold medal in the 2023 CARIFTA Games).

All I want is for our young athletes to win an Olympic gold medal. All Guyana needs now is a gold medal.

(Recounted by Vigil Lewis to Michael Jordan)

GPS allows female inmates to spend time with families on Mother’s Day

Female inmates at the Timehri Prison were granted a unique opportunity to spend quality time with their families in a setting that aimed to normalise their interactions.

The initiative, labelled “Mother’s Day family bonding visits,” allowed families not only

to reunite but also to share a meal with their incarcerated loved ones.

The atmosphere during these visits was emotionally charged, fuelled by the love and affection that only family ties can generate.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot commended the dedicated staff at the correctional facility

MOM hands over new house at Farm to single...

She held onto the vision of a future with her own home, a beacon that guided her through these difficult times.

“I kept my faith and continued praying that God would make a way and open doors for me. I am thankful that he did this through Men on Mission. I am utterly grateful to the president…and would like to thank all the other members.”

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsi-

bility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy said MOM is a driving force behind fostering co-operation and empowering communities. He added that this gesture reflects the mandate of the government to improve the lives of Guyanese.

“We have demonstrated over and over as a government our willingness and our ability to work in every segment of our society, to work with people, various stakeholders, to be able to develop communities and create

wholesome families and to make sure that altogether it adds up to a country in which we can all be proud of,” the minister said.

Similar homes are being constructed in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten.

The MOM initiative was launched in 2022 to reintegrate men into society through skills training and productivity.

Beyond building homes, this group has impacted vulnerable communities through a range

FROM PAGE 17

of vital humanitarian initiatives.

To date, MOM has piloted several campaigns and events to advance this agenda, including health outreaches, job fairs, and summer camps.

This year’s $500 million budgetary allocation promises even more support for vulnerable Guyanese.

who played a crucial role in overseeing the success of the initiative.

Recognising the profound impact that incarceration can have on family life, Elliot emphasised that the role of the Prison Service is not to hinder but to actively promote and maintain familial bonds.

Additionally, Officerin-charge of Prisoners’ Welfare and Corrections, Tessa McGarrell related

that the initiative forms part of the rehabilitative process.

However, this initiative is an ongoing effort by the prison administration to bring families of inmates together to strengthen the bonds and provide support to inmates.

Last year, children of male prisoners were also given a rare opportunity to see their fathers on Father’s Day through the GPS, “Father’s Day Bonding Visits” initiative.

The director of Prisons had also joined several of the inmates at the Lusignan Prison for lunch. During his remarks, he posited that family preservation is a priority in the prison system’s correctional approach.

Incarcerated mothers interacting with their families

Reg 2 healthcare workers recognised for selfless contribution to society

In a heartfelt tribute to their unwavering commitment and invaluable service on the frontlines of healthcare, Region Two Regional Health Services, in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), honoured nurses and midwives on Saturday.

The event, dedicated to celebrating the tireless efforts of nurses and midwives in providing essential care to the people of Pomeroon to Supenaam, aimed to recognise their dedication and pivotal role in shaping the healthcare landscape.

This year's commemoration, themed "Our Nurses Our Future, the Economic Power of Care," underscored the profound impact of their contributions on both individual lives and the wider society.

Speaking at the event, Representative of the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Health and Sanitation Committee in the Region, Arnold Adams extended heart-

felt gratitude to the nurses and midwives for their outstanding contributions to society.

He assured them of the government's unwavering support through the Health Ministry, promising to uphold their best interests and provide a con-

ducive environment for their continued service.

"Healthcare is paramount, and we deeply appreciate the invaluable contributions of our nurses and midwives," Adams stated while emphasising their indispensable role as the lifeline of the health-

care system.

Further, Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Ranjeev Singh, echoed similar sentiments, expressing profound appreciation for the nurses and midwives' dedication and hard work across various specialties.

He emphasised that nursing is more than just a profession - it is a noble calling dedicated to serving humanity. He highlighted the pivotal role nurses play in the healthcare eco-

system, highlighting their irreplaceable value in society.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Anna Regina, Devin Mohan commended the nurses for their remarkable impact on society, describing them as beacons of hope to countless individuals.

He extended heartfelt gratitude for their selfless contributions and announced the dedication of an entire week to celebrate

their exemplary service.

As a token of appreciation, awards were presented to outstanding nurses, midwives, and community health workers across various healthcare facilities along the Essequibo Coast.

Notable awardees included Lavita Persaud as the OJHD Most Outstanding Nurse; Adassa Albert as the OJHD Most Improved Nurse and Anette Singh as the OJHD Most Punctual Nurse.

In addition, Alicia Lynch-Bell was honored as the Public Hospital Suddie Outstanding Nurse; Sister Locrecia Inniss as the Public Hospital Suddie Most Professional Nurse; Cassia Wallace as the Public Hospital Suddie Most Improved Nurse; and Niomie Rampersaud as the Public Hospital Suddie Most Punctual Nurse.

Further, Patricia Ramnauth was recognised as the Most Improved Nurse in Primary Health Care; Natasha Best Layne as the Most Professional Nurse; Malacie Sealey as the Most Punctual Nurse, and Dianne Sandy as the Most Outstanding Nurse, all in Primary Health Care.

Healthcare workers being awarded for their selfless contribution to society

LTW 2024 records high influx of visitors compared to previous years – Sears

– says increase in accommodations was a major factor

As the curtains were pulled on the 2024 Linden Town Week, Committee Member, Devin Sears reported that there has been a spike in attendance when compared to previous years. This he noted, was due to the increased accommodations that were made available for the event.

He highlighted that accommodations were up by 15-20 per cent from last year, all of which were booked out since December 2023. Additionally, he noted

that more hotels are expected to come on stream soon to further bolster the hospitality sector.

In fact, he noted that a four-storey hotel which will make another 25 rooms available in the mining town is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

This year’s town week also saw a different approach from the previous years, with a focus on making the events more ‘inclusive’. This year saw a comprehensive blend of cultural, recreational, and educational activities to showcase the history of Linden.

TURN TO PAGE 27

LTW Committee member, Devin Sears

18MW of electricity from power ship added to grid – GPL

The 36-megawatt (MW) power ship has been successfully connected to the Guyana Power and Light’s grid, generating some 18MW of electricity.

This was announced by GPL in a post on its Facebook page on Saturday.

According to the Staterun power company, “Currently, 18 MW of generation from the power ship is injected into the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).”

GPL added that the remaining generation would be added to the grid incrementally during the course of the coming week.

The power company said in addition to its internal Engineering Services Division, Transmission and Distribution, and Protection and Instrumentation employees, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA); GAICO Construction and General Services Inc and E-Networks made an “invaluable contribution” towards realising this initiative.

The floating power plant arrived in Guyana on May 1 and has been docked at Everton on the East Bank of Berbice in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where it will be stationed for the next two years as it sends electricity into the DBIS.

Over the past few weeks, GPL has been preparing the necessary infrastructure for the 36-MW power ship to be connected to the national grid.

GPL Chief Executive

Officer (CEO) Kesh

Nandlall told Guyana Times on Saturday evening that the vessel had been connected to the grid since Thursday, but that connection had been on and off.

“There was a lot of testing that had to be done, synchronising [the ship] to the grid so we had been working throughout Thursday night to ensure everything is working well, because that is a lot of power – it’s a new power plant so you had to ensure you do all the testing and procedures and so on,”

the GPL Head explained.

GPL had said on Thursday that it completed testing the engines, transformers, fuel, metering, and telecommunication systems on the power ship.

Nevertheless, as efforts continue to gradually push the vessel’s generation to its 36-MW capacity, Nandlall noted that specialists have been brought in to ensure that this was done without any hiccups.

“They are taking their

time, documenting the procedure and they will execute this successfully,” he assured.

Nandlall further stated that during the process of connecting the power ship to the grid, including the testing phase, there was no major issue encountered.

Only Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, during his weekly press conference, said the Government hoped that this connection would be able to stop the frequent blackouts experienced by Guyanese in recent months as a result of low generating capacity. In the same breath, however, he said there could still be some power outages.

“We’re hoping that with the 36 megawatts now added to the system, that we’ll have enough power in the system to end the current spate of blackouts which comes from the unavailability of power… There may be isolated instances, because of the poor transmission and distribution system,” he

stated.

Jagdeo said the Government was still looking to get an additional 30 megawatts of power through a similar arrangement until the much-anticipated Gas-to-Energy Project comes on stream next year.

Last month, GPL signed a multimillion-dollar deal

with Qatar-based Urbacon Concessions Investments, W.L.L (UCI) for the rental of the 36-MW floating power plant for two years in a move to add much-needed capacity to the grid.

As part of that deal, GPL has already paid a US$1 million mobilisation fee. The power company

also has to pay a fee of 6.62 US cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as a monthly charter fee for the power ship and a monthly operation and maintenance fee of 0.98 US cents per kWh based on electricity generated. GPL is also required to provide Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) for the operation of the generators onboard the vessel.

The State-run power company has been experiencing generation shortfalls due to an unprecedented rise in electricity demand coupled with challenges from its aged equipment. In March, two of GPL’s engines failed disrupting power generation across the country.

Before this vessel connected to the grid, GPL was generating about 165 megawatts of power. However, the peak demand is about 180 megawatts. (G8)

Experts onboard the power ship monitoring the connection to the grid

The transmission lines from the power ship connecting to GPL’s DBIS network at Everton, Berbice

LTW 2024 records high influx of...

These included the first-ever trade exposition and art walk, debate competitions, pageants, kayaking, tours to both historical, and bauxite mining sites.

According to Sears, these events received major support from businesses and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). One of the highlights of the town week events was the Career Guidance Booster programme hosted by SBM Offshore which provided the necessary educational material and guidance to secondary school students about careers in the oil

and gas sector. Another such programme is expected to take place before the end of the year.

The committee member who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) expressed gratitude to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the efforts to ensure the safety of the locals and visitors throughout the Town Week activities. There were no reports of any major crimes or accidents during the celebration despite a high influx of traffic in the region.

Meanwhile, he stated that while the event was successful, there

were some areas for improvement. Come 2025, the committee is looking forward to providing chartered flights for Guyanese living overseas among other initiatives.

This year’s Linden Town Week commenced on April 26 and ended on May 6 with a grand performance by international rapper, Rick Ross. The 54th anniversary of the town was held under the theme “We are One People! One Nation! One Destiny! Linden, the Heart of Guyana!”. Town Week 2025 will be launched in the third quarter of 2024.

SUDOKU

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Giving in to your emotions will lead to unnecessary purchases. If you are in the spending mood, look for sales or put your wallet away. Think before you act.

Look for opportunity and jump at the chance to make a change. It’s up to you to inspire others and set trends. It’s time to take the lead when it comes to getting things done.

Establish what’s important and work to make your dreams a reality. March to the beat that captures your heart and makes you feel good about the things you do and the difference you make.

Be open about what you think and want to do, and you’ll discover that you are not alone. Step up and start a movement or make improvements in all aspects of your life.

Don’t let emotions lead to drama. You hold the power, and what you do with it will make a difference. Update your skills to fit what’s trending in your profession.

An open mind will encourage you to expand your horizons. Don’t limit what you can do to spare someone else. Your happiness begins with you. Seek out what makes you passionate.

Draw on your resources and put energy into planning and getting things done. Take action to avoid getting stuck in a rut. Reach out to someone for a needed pep talk.

Allow yourself to establish how you feel and what you want before dealing with a puzzling situation. Time is on your side and your creativity is soaring. Apply your energy to new concepts.

It will do you good to get out and about. Taking in what’s happening around you will spark your imagination and encourage you to see your problems differently. Explore what’s available.

Focus on what’s doable, not on the impossible. Take care of personal business, contracts and domestic issues to alleviate worry. Don’t let others stop you from doing what’s best for you.

Overreacting isn’t the answer. Keep busy and concentrate on learning and handling unfinished business. Blow off steam, run errands and stick to lighthearted conversations.

Focus on what you can accomplish. An energetic approach and a positive attitude will help you work faster and lead to a resounding success. Make long-term plans your focus.

Simarjeet and Gaikwad keep CSK's campaign alive

Chennai Super Kings signed off their home league campaign with a win, giving themselves a decent chance of coming back to Chennai for the last two play-off games. Despite losing their 11th toss out of 13 and being asked to field in the afternoon heat 40 hours after finishing their last match in Ahmedabad, the CSK bowlers used a slow pitch expertly to keep Rajasthan Royals down to 141, which they chased down with relative ease.

The slow pitch was right up the home bowlers' alley, and they kept Royals quiet in a wicketless powerplay after which Simarjeet Singh kept getting wickets every time Royals tried to push back. Royals never really succeeded in mounting an attack, which CSK's New Zealand batters, Rachin

pected to be available for the final week.

RR's power-less-play

These are the two slowest teams in the first two overs of the Indian Premier League (IPL). They like to suss the pitch out before they start attacking. Royals stayed true to form, scoring just

Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, successfully did to put their chase on course with Shivam Dube putting them on top.

The win took CSK up to 14 points from 13 matches, level with Sunrisers Hyderabad who have a game in hand, and two points clear of the nearest challengers outside the top four. Royals suffered their third straight defeat, which will be a cause for concern for them going into the playoffs, especially with Jos Buttler not ex-

seven off the first two, but they couldn't kick on even after that with Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, and Shardul Thakur giving them nothing to drive. Their 42 for 0 was the slowest wicketless powerplay of IPL 2024, one run behind their 43 for 0 against Punjab Kings, but that came in a small chase. Usually, CSK go to Ravindra Jadeja in the seventh over, but perhaps because of the right-left

combination, which didn't let their orthodox spinners bowl in their last match against Gujarat Titans, they bowled Simarjeet in the seventh over. Playing only his third match this year, Simarjeet had ground to make up after going for 60 in that Titans match. On this slow pitch, he was immediately on target: hard lengths and no room. When Yashasvi Jaiswal tried to take him on, the ball got big on him and resulted in a skier to cover. In his next over, Simarjeet became the beneficiary of an odd shot from a frustrated Buttler: a ramp on a slow pitch with fine leg back on the fence.

With Royals' only left-hand top-order batter gone, Jadeja rattled through his four overs for just 24 runs to go with Theekshana's four overs for 28. Sanju Samson just kept looking for singles while Riyan Parag tried the odd boundary. It seemed as if Royals had decided they needed to get somewhere around 160 and not aim too high.

The final kick doesn't arrive

Even to get to 160, they would need two a ball for the last six overs after getting to 89 for 2 in 14 overs, which is when the spinners bowled out.

Singh got rid of Sanju Samson in his second spell

Royals were banking on cashing in on pace, but just when they tried to go hard, they handed Simarjeet another wicket: Samson caught at midoff. Again Royals were pushed back.

Deshpande and Thakur stuck to their plans in the death overs, and Royals never got the big overs. Only Parag's 47 off 35 took them to 141, which was 23 less than the lowest total successfully defended in this IPL. Royals attacked just 30 balls in their innings, the sixth-lowest figure this season in non-all-out innings when setting a target.

Ravindra, Mitchell get chase going CSK have been the only team slower than Royals in the early goings, but they were mindful of not letting the bowlers settle into their defence. Ravindra flicked Sandeep Sharma for a six over midwicket in the second over, and went after compatriot Trent Boult in the third. Even though R Ashwin got Ravindra out in the fourth, Mitchell kept up the intent. Their 56 for 1 was their fourth-highest powerplay of this IPL.

Royals claw back, but Dube breaks chase open In the middle overs, Royals clawed their way back. Yuzvendra Chahal got Mitchell, the spinners kept Moeen Ali and Ruturaj Gaikwad quiet, Moeen got out for 10 off 13, and 39 balls went without a boundary. Still it was 50 needed off seven overs. This was when Ashwin came on to bowl his last over with

Dube on strike. Dube took the veteran spinner on for 6, 4, 4, with a legside wide in between, and while Ashwin came back with Dube's wicket, CSK needed 35 off the last six.

Captain Gaikwad stayed true to his anchor role for this chase, and saw his team home despite Jadeja getting himself out obstructing the field.(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Rajasthan Royals (20 ovs maximum)

Yashasvi Jaiswal c Gaikwad

b Simarjeet Singh 24

Jos Buttler c Deshpande

b Simarjeet Singh 21

Sanju Samson (c)†c Gaikwad

b Simarjeet Singh 15

Riyan Parag not out 47

Dhruv Jurel c Thakur

b Deshpande 28

Shubham Dubey c Dube

b Deshpande 0

Ravichandran Ashwin not out 1

Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 7.05) 141/5

Did not bat: Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 6.2 ov), 2-49 (Jos Buttler, 8.1 ov), 3-91 (Sanju Samson, 14.2 ov), 4-131 (Dhruv Jurel, 19.1 ov), 5-131 (Shubham Dubey, 19.2 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Tushar Deshpande 4-0-30-2

Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-28-0

Shardul Thakur 4-0-32-0

Simarjeet Singh 4-0-26-3

Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-24-0

(c) not out

Ruturaj Gaikwad flashes a smile

Riyan Parag finished unbeaten on 47

Simarjeet

Patidar, bowlers keep RCB in play-offs race with NRR-boosting win

Afifth successive win not only kept Royal Challengers Bengaluru in contention for a play-offs spot, but also lifted them to fifth spot on the points table, just above Delhi Capitals who have the same points as RCB but an inferior net run rate.

The M Chinnaswamy had gone all quiet when RCB lost Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli inside four overs. It seemed their batting troubles from the start of the season had come back to haunt them. Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar put to rest any such worries with a counter-attacking partnership, but the DC bowlers struck back

Premier League (IPL) outing, Kohli had a relatively easy opponent first up: Ishant Sharma, against whom he had scored 93 off 67 balls without being dismissed. He kept out a sharp inswinger on the first ball of the match and then pulled one over square leg for a six on the last ball of the opening over.

In Ishant's next over, he hit a four – via an outside edge – and a crisply-timed no-look shot over wide long-on for a six off successive balls before nicking one behind to the wicketkeeper. With a 13ball 27, Kohli made his intent clear, but failed to do justice to the Midas touch

with a near-perfect deathovers show to restrict RCB to 187 for 9.

With the Bengaluru crowd firmly behind them, the RCB bowlers had their tails up. They reduced DC to 30 for 4, which included the massive wicket of Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was run out at the non-striker's end after a straight drive from Shai Hope deflected off Yash Dayal's fingers onto the stumps.

his head.

At the other end, Jacks also hit Kuldeep for a six in each of his first two overs as RCB put the dismissals of their openers behind them. Thanks to the assault from Patidar and Jacks, RCB scored 49 in the four overs after the powerplay. In the process, Patidar brought up his fourth half-century in his last five innings, and his first in Bengaluru this season. That the fielders missed four chances in 11 balls, including two dropped catches in a Kuldeep over, did not help DC.

DC fight back through Khaleel, Salam

turned 2 for 23 from his three. DC conceded only 40 in the last four overs, and picked up five wickets, to keep RCB under 200 on a surface where the ball was gripping.

Axar fights a lone battle Fraser-McGurk played true to his form and struck left-arm spinner Swapnil for a massive six over wide long-off to get going. Among those who have faced at least 30 balls of spin in IPL 2024, no batter strikes it higher than Fraser-McGurk's 262.85. But a lucky break for RCB meant the DC opener

walked back cheaply.

This was after David Warner, back in the side after missing four matches, was out for 1 off two. Dayal had bounced out Abishek Porel cheaply. It was only the second time this season that RCB picked up four wickets inside the powerplay – earlier, they had done so against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

In the middle overs, RCB seamers had a clear plan of hitting the good length and denying the batters room to free their arms. Between overs eight and 11, they bowled 16 deliveries on either good length or just short of it and gave away just 15 runs off them.

Only Axar, leading for the first time in the IPL, managed to offer some resistance with his second half-century of the season. He bookended Jacks's only over with sixes to bring up his fifty off 30 balls. But long before he top-edged Dayal over the backward point, where du Plessis back-tracked and

SCOREBOARD

took a tumbling catch, the result was a foregone conclusion. (ESPNcricinfo)

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he seemed to be in.

Patidar and Jacks make DC pay

Before Sunday, Patidar had been dismissed by pace in eight of his 11 outings in IPL 2024. But here, he raced to 15 off eight balls with the help of three fours in a Mukesh Kumar over. When Axar Patel, the stand-in Captain for DC, brought himself on in the sixth over, Patidar duly slogged him over deep midwicket. He also tore into Kuldeep Yadav, bashing him straight over

DC brought Rasikh Salam on in the 11th over and he could have dismissed Patidar first ball, but Axar failed to hang on at cover. But Salam exacted revenge in his next over with a hard-length ball. Patidar looked to force it over the off side off the front foot, but ended up miscuing it towards cover, where Axar moved to his right to pouch that. That brought curtains to his 88run stand with Jacks, who fell soon after to Kuldeep.

But Mahipal Lomror and Cameron Green combined to take 22 off Kuldeep's final over, the 17th of the innings, to raise RCB's hopes. Khaleel Ahmed, who was taken for 23 in his first two overs, struck twice in three balls in the 18th over to dismiss Lomror and Dinesh Karthik. He finished with figures of 2 for 31 from his four overs. Salam got rid of Swapnil Singh and re-

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (20 ovs maximum)

Virat Kohli c †Abishek Porel

b Sharmar 27

Faf du Plessis (c)c Fraser-McGurk

b Mukesh Kumar 6

Will Jacks c Patel

b Kuldeep Yadav 41

Rajat Patidar c Patel

b Rasikh Salam 52

Cameron Green not out 32

Mahipal Lomror c †Abishek Porel

b Ahmed 13

Dinesh Karthik †c Kuldeep Yadav

b Ahmed 0

Swapnil Singh c Kushagra

b Rasikh Salam 0 Karn Sharma run out

(Hope/Mukesh Kumar) 6

Mohammed Siraj run out (†Abishek Porel/Mukesh Kumar) 0

Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 7) 10

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 9.35) 187/9

Did not bat: Yash Dayal, Lockie Ferguson

Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Faf du Plessis, 2.2 ov), 2-36 (Virat Kohli, 3.4 ov), 3-124 (Rajat Patidar, 12.3 ov), 4-137 (Will Jacks, 14.4 ov), 5-174 (Mahipal Lomror, 17.4 ov), 6-174 (Dinesh Karthik, 17.6 ov), 7-176 (Swapnil Singh, 18.3 ov), 8-185 (Karn Sharma, 19.5 ov), 9-187 (Mohammed Siraj, 19.6 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Ishant Sharma 3-0-31-1

Khaleel Ahmed 4-0-31-2

Mukesh Kumar 3-0-23-1

Axar Patel 3-0-24-0

Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-52-1

Rasikh Salam 3-0-23-2

Delhi Capitals (T: 188 runs from 20 ovs)

David Warner c Jacks

b Swapnil Singh 1

Jake Fraser-McGurk run out (Yash Dayal) 21

Abishek Porel †c Ferguson

b Yash Dayal 2

Shai Hope c Sharma

b Ferguson 29

Kumar Kushagra lbw

b Mohammed Siraj 2

Axar Patel (c)c du Plessis

b Yash Dayal 57

Tristan Stubbs run out (Green) 3

Rasikh Salam c Jacks

b Green 10

Kuldeep Yadav

b Yash Dayal 6

Mukesh Kumar c Lomror

b Ferguson 3

Ishant Sharma not out 0

Extras (lb 1, w 5) 6

TOTAL 19.1 Ov (RR: 7.30) 140

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (David Warner, 0.4 ov), 2-24 (Abishek Porel, 2.1 ov), 3-24 (Jake Fraser-McGurk, 2.2 ov), 4-30 (Kumar Kushagra, 3.3 ov), 5-86 (Shai Hope, 9.3 ov), 6-90 (Tristan Stubbs, 10.6 ov), 7-127 (Rasikh Salam, 14.6 ov), 8-128 (Axar Patel, 15.4 ov), 9-135 (Mukesh Kumar, 17.4 ov), 10140 (Kuldeep Yadav, 19.1 ov) • DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Swapnil Singh 1-0-9-1

Mohammed Siraj 4-0-33-1

Yash Dayal 3.1-0-20-3

Karn Sharma 2-0-19-0

Lockie Ferguson 4-0-23-2

Cameron Green 4-0-19-1

Will Jacks 1-0-16-0

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The Kohli-Ishant duel lights up the start

In his 250thh Indian

Jake Fraser-McGurk hit the first ball he faced for a six

Rajat Patidar showed plenty of attacking enterprise with the bat

KFC U8 Football Funday scheduled for May 18

The Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) will be hosting a KFC Under-8 Football Funday on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the St Stanislaus Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

The event is free and open to all boys and girls who wish to participate in this fun day of football. VMFA founder Vurlon Mills has reiterated the Academy’s commitment to providing a safe and professional environment for children and introducing more children to all the positive benefits of

the beautiful game. He said, “This Under-8 Football Funday provides a unique opportunity for children and parents to be introduced to the game at a tender age in an organised environment with professional coaches who deliver fun-filled sessions.”

KFC Guyana Director of Marketing, Sadia Strand said: “At KFC Guyana, we are committed to fostering the growth of Guyana’s youth through sports and culture. Team sports build character, foster healthy sportsmanship, encour-

age teamwork and boost self-confidence and independence. Vurlon Mills is an excellent coach who goes above and beyond to make positive changes in his students’ lives by making football as accessible as possible. We are thrilled to be able to support VMFA in their mission of providing a safe and fun environment for children to explore their love for football starting with the KFC U8 Football Funday.”

The VMFA, operating at the St Stanislaus Ground, Carifesta Avenue, was established

Guyanese horse owner proud after 1st win in Jamaica

Guyanese horse owner Jermey Rachpaul is over the moon after his horse Easy as ABC clinched victory at the Caymanas Racing track in Jamaica. Easy as ABC of the Night Eyes Racing stables won the four-year-old and up native bred and imported horses in the seven-furlong race.

Experienced jockey Roderick “Teddy” DaCosta, who rides at Woodbine in Canada, displayed skill and class on Saturday last in Jamaica. Rachpaul, who is the owner of well-known horse Jessica’s Pride, explained the challenges he faced with Easy as ABC, and how satisfying this win was for him.

“I feel elated, grateful, and thankful. It has been a trying road with Easy as ABC since he got to Jamaica, trying to get used to the surface. We had a mishap with the horse during quarantine, with some injuries. That took a toll and that resulted in some poor performances prior,” Rachpaul said.

Easy as ABC, who is the son of Arrogate, has a big reputation. According to Rachpaul, his journey racing horses in Jamaica began when he received an invitation from Colin Elcock.

“I was very interested with the structure in Jamaica, and they have some very good hors-

es. The Mouttet Mile in Jamaica is one of the biggest races in Jamaica. It is their version of Guyana Cup and it is one of the richest purses within the Caribbean. This year’s event is running off for US$250,000.

“I will be in the Guyana Cup with Jessica’s Pride. The boys (other horse owners) are bringing in some new horses, and I am looking to do something similar,” he added.

The Guyana Cup is set for August 11, and legislation will be put into action. Rachpaul is welcoming the legislation, and he sees it as an opportunity for horses and trainers in Guyana to be well-recognised worldwide.

“Legislation in Guyana has been a long road; hopefully, we can get it implemented in time and get things going and not talk it. We will have rules where we will all follow, so we would be recognised

in 2019, with the motto “Practice winning every day” and has successfully facilitated football and personal development sessions for hun-

dreds of children between the ages of 4 and 17, with flagship initiatives such as the Annual KFC Football Summer Camp, the Annual ENET

Football Festival and SBM Offshore Guyana Women’s Development Football Programme.

The VMFA expressed gratitude to KFC Guyana for its generous support in making the event possible for our future stars. It also thanked Beharry Automotive Limited and MVP Sports for their commitment to the development of youths. For more information about the Vurlon Mills Football Academy and its initiatives, please contact Vurlon Mills on 613-1361 or Marisha Fernandes on 600-3332.

GABF U23 Championships… Kobras

secure

1st win while Ravens stay unbeaten

Prospect Kobras secured their first win while North Ruimveldt Ravens remained unbeaten as the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s Under-23 Club Championships, held at the National Gymnasium on Saturday, May 11, 2024, continued with a showcase of shooting skills for jubilant supporters.

internationally. It would be amazing to have horses coming in worldwide; it will be amazing to have all these horses coming in to race at Jumbo Jet’s Guyana Cup.”

“For horses to leave Guyana and return would also be amazing. My dad talked about Durban Park days, where horses would come from England and race. Some would return, some would stay. Legislation will put us on the map and put things in place. There are some good horses in Guyana, and they can compete with horses around the Caribbean. As Guyanese it will help us to be recognised as trainers as well,” Rachpaul explained.

This is the first time Rachpaul has won in Jamaica. Rachpaul ,who was born in Guyana and departed for Canada when he was 10 years old, is grateful to be racing around the world.

Kobras managed to set themselves as favourites to win the tournament as they secured their victory against Bartica. They started the game on a high to lead the first quarter against a very strong team with the scoreline reading 19 -10.

The second quarter saw many shots at the basket, with both teams showing their class, which saw, at the end of the quarter, both teams scoring eight points, resulting in Kobras’ total points being elevated to 27 and Bartica, 18.

The Kobras continued to keep their composure and showed their class, as Bartica managed to show their determination as the teams scored a level 17 points in the third quarter with Kobras’ total points at the end increased to 44 and Bartica's, 35.

Kobras went on to secure the win in the final quarter with a scoreline

of 60-53.

In the second game of the night, North Ruimveldt Ravens established themselves as a powerhouse of the tournament as they secured their second win against the Meadowbrook Nets.

From the jump ball, Ravens managed to secure a lead in the first quarter, with the score reading 19-9.

In the second quarter of the game, the Ravens, with a bit of experience, conquered the defence of the Nets as they scored 19 points, pushing their score to 38 points, as the Nets were restricted to 13 points for a total of 22.

In the ensuing struggle of the third quarter, the Nets seemed to be making a comeback, with this quarter being on the defensive side with both teams failing to reach double digits with the Nets scoring 8 points, el-

evating their score to 30 while the Ravens scored two points for a total score of 40.

In the final quarter, the Ravens sealed the deal, breaking through their opponents’ defence with the scoreline reading 63-49 in their favour.

Ravens Captain Atilla Williamson, in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, shared that the win gave the team confidence and highlighted areas they needed to work on.

Williamson divulged: “ I feel more confident going into the tournament knowing that we had to come out here and make a statement, ‘cause we know the other team was out and heavy than our previous performances. I think we need to work on our conditioning and we need to play together and I believe togetherness, we got this.”

KFC Guyana Director of Marketing, Sadia Strand

The connections of Easy as ABC after the horse won in Jamaica at the weekend (Photos: Caymanas Racing)

North Ruimveldt Ravens

owner proud after 1st win in Jamaica

KFC U8 Football Funday scheduled for May 18

Jamaican Kemar Beckford

Jamaican striker Kemar

“Bushy” Beckford will play for Slingerz Football Club for the second leg of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League, set to recommence on May 18.

the league.

Beckford's move sees him departing the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) side, Vere United FC, where he was the club’s top scorer this season.

During the first round of the league, Slingerz FC maintained an unbeaten record, with their only setback being a goalless draw against

the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Heading into the second half of the season, the club, guided by the youthful prowess of 19-year-old Marcus Tudor, the league’s leading scorer with 12 goals, and Darron Niles, who follows closely with nine goals, aims to strengthen their attacking force with the addition of Beckford.

Despite sharing the same points tally (25) with GDF, Slingerz FC trail the defending champions by a narrow margin of three goals, having netted 33 times in

Coach Alex Thomas is optimistic about Beckford’s seasoned expertise augmenting the team’s offensive capabilities.

“We’re short on attack. That’s what we noticed in the first half of the league, that is why we went out and get this player. He came to bolster our attack and add to the group and to help Slingerz FC win the league in the end,” Thomas said.

Thomas, who shares

Jamaican roots with Beckford, highlighted the striker's previous spells with ADR Jicaral in Costa Rica and Jocoro in El Salvador, stressing that Beckford's wealth of experience and understanding of the game will serve as a valuable asset in nurturing the development of younger players.

Meanwhile, Beckford, expressing his excitement and eagerness to join the GFF/ KFC Elite League, declared, “My aim here is simple – to do what I do best: score goals and win trophies.”

"I've been closely following the league even before my arrival in Guyana, so I understand the expectations. I'm ready to contribute and make an impact on the field with the team," Beckford added eagerly.

“It’s just me coming here

to do my best, and share my experience, because it’s a very young team, but a very good team, so with my experience, I know we’re going to do well. Watch out for Kemar Beckford and Slingerz FC,” Beckford highlighted. Slingerz FC are set to kick off the second round by facing Monedderlust FC at

09:00h on the opening night. In their previous encounter earlier in the season, Slingerz FC showcased their dominance over the Berbice-based club with a 7-0 victory. Tudor stole the spotlight with an impressive five-goal haul, while Niles and Ricardo Halley each contributed with a goal.

Slingerz FC Coach Alex Thomas and Kemar Beckford

Kemar “Bushy” Beckford