Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 21-01-2024

21st JANUARY, 2024

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See Inside No.107330

Culture change critical to Guyana’s progress - President Ali says; announces Presidential Commission to address critical societal gaps

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50 low-income landowners identify house lots at Enterprise 14

Paving has commenced on the Conversation Tree four-lane road.

The contractor has until the end of this month to complete the works (Photo: Office of the President)

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Gov’t worked hard to restore years of neglect in the education sector during 2015-2020 - CoI uncovers

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Another successful farmers’ market SEE PAGE

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Both UG, GOAL necessary for an educated population – VP Jagdeo

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Culture change critical to Guyana’s progress

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

- President Ali says; announces Presidential Commission to address critical societal gaps

By Trina Williams BEHIND many of society’s contemporary issues is a culture that is in dire need of changing, according to President, Dr Irfaan Ali. During the handing over of the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly Mahdia dormitory fire in 2023 on Friday, President Ali made this call and underscored that the government is rolling out a holistic approach to the range of obstacles the nation is facing.

“What is critically needed in our country, is also to have value assessment and we are going to have a cross section of Guyanese coming together under a Presidential Commission to do a value assessment of the investment that we’re making to demonstrate to the population how we’re changing…”

He then went on to say: “We have to be hon-

est with ourselves; we have to change the culture.” “…Yes, there will be challenges and weaknesses that we must be willing to address as a society that is evolving and developing with more resources available, we have already started the process of building into the future where every aspect of life is taken into consideration in our public facilities and our public institutions,” President Ali remarked.

While explaining how the underpinning of Guyanese culture impacts almost every sphere of society, the President used the Education Ministry and its challenges to show why there must be change.

Because of the behavioral patterns within schools, Dr Ali said that there must be systemic interventions to enforce discipline. With that being said, he remarked that the government must work to deploy these kinds of

President, Dr Irfaan Ali

measures.

Moreover, the manner in which children are moulded must be tackled head-on, in order to bring forth a change in society, according to the Presi-

dent.

While counselling is on the table as a means of solving the emerging issues, Dr Ali said that this is the last resort, meaning, the obstacles that are af-

President, Dr Irfaan Ali with a school child during a walkabout in the community of Plantation Farm on the East Bank of Demerara (Office of the President photos)

fecting a well-functioning society must be targeted at its roots.

The change must start at home and even in these children’s place of worship, the President put forth.

“The religious community...must now play a more robust role in moulding our young people…” he said.

The Head of State added, “All of this, we have to address in a holistic way, it is not just what I will call a hard sign of change, which is physical infrastructure, but [it] is how we change the internal system, which includes our own way of thinking and our own way in which we process things, to support this, however, requires and enabling environment.”

Additionally, while speaking on how certain sectors play an integral role in ushering in an evolved society, he commended the Attorney General (AG) Chambers for their hard work as it pertains to crafting leg-

islation.

Using road culture as a typical example, the Head-of-State remarked that the AG Chambers is a major player in the efforts to change the behaviour on the roadways.

Furthermore, he said that just after the budget, more interventions will come onboard.

Speaking on the judicial arm, Dr Ali said efforts are being made to extend the bench and to have all the seats of the Court of Appeal filled as well as adding more magistrates.

He said that there must be a level of quality to support the nation’s legislative arm, however, according to the President, “all of that can be lost if we don’t have the quality of implementation.”

“That is why we’re taking a holistic approach to this, we are not cutting any corners, we are not cutting costs, we are making all the investments that is necessary…”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Iran warns air strike on Syria wil not go unanswered

(BBC) - Iran's president said an air strike on the Syrian capital that killed five senior members of Iran's security forces will not "go unanswered".

Ebrahim Raisi said Israel was to blame for the attack, which also killed a number of Syrian forces.

Israel has not commented. For years it has carried out strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria. Such strikes have intensified since the Israel-Gaza war began following Hamas's 7 October attacks on Israel. In a statement posted on the president's officials website, Mr Raisi expressed his condolences to the families of the "high-ranking martyrs".

He vowed to avenge their deaths, and described the attack as a "cowardly assassination of five of Iran's

most distinguished advisors".

The statement described the strike as "terrorist and criminal" and said it "shows the height of [Israel's] desperation and weakness against the combatants of the resistance front".

"It will not remain unanswered," said the statement.

Iran's foreign ministry said the attacks were an "aggressive and provocative" act by Israel, urging international actors to condemn them.

Senior figures among the Iranian Revolutionary Guard - a major military, political and economic force in Iran - have been present in Syria since the civil war began there in 2011, helping to support the regime of President Bashar al-Assad against widespread rebellion to his rule. Saturday's attack took place in the Mazzeh

neighbourhood, south-west Damascus, an area home to a military airport, as well as the UN headquarters in Damascus, embassies and restaurants.

Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency said the attacks killed the IRGC's Syria intelligence chief and his deputy, as well as other Guard members. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UKbased campaign group, said 10 people were killed in the strikes, including leaders of the Revolutionary Guard.

The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency quoted a military source as saying it had managed to stop some of the missiles, but that the attacks - which it said had hit a residential building - killed and

injured some civilians. Buildings were also destroyed, it said.

A resident told AFP news agency that they saw "explosions" in the western Mazzeh area and "a large cloud of smoke".

"The sound was similar to a missile explosion, and minutes later I heard the sound of ambulances," he added. Last month a suspected Israeli air strike just outside Damascus killed a senior IRGC commander.

The Middle East has been on heightened alert since 7 October, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,300 people, mainly civilians, and taking 240 hostages back to Gaza. More than 132 hostag-

es are thought to still be held in the territory.

Iran's sudden strikes show just how perilous region has become More than 24,900 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military response, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Israel says its ground and air operation in Gaza is aimed at destroying Hamas.

The conflict has raised concerns about a wider war spreading around the region, particularly between fierce rivals Israel and Iran, and amid a series of overlapping crises.

Israel is targeting the Palestinian group Hamas, which is supported by Tehran. It has been carrying out precision strikes across the border in Syria for some time now, bombing weapons supplies heading for its Iran-backed foe, Hezbollah, or taking out key figures in that supply chain, and it is also exchanging fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria are also targeting US forces in the region, and the US and UK have struck the Houthis - another Iran-backed group - in Yemen, who have been attack-

ing ships in the Red Sea. Fears about an even wider conflict were further heightened this week, when Iran exchanged strikes with its neighbour Pakistan. On Tuesday, Iran admitted carrying out a missile and drone attack in south-western Pakistan, killing two children, saying it was targeting an "Iranian terrorist group" in Pakistan.

Days later, Islamabad hit back, launching strikes it said were targeting "terrorist hideouts" in south-eastern Iran, killing nine people.

Although both sides insisted they were targeting militant bases in each other's countries, Iran and Pakistan withdrew their ambassadors from the respective capitals.

But following talks, diplomatic ties were restored. Iran has hit targets in Pakistan, Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan, Turkey has also bombed Kurdistan, while Jordan has attacked drug smugglers across its border with Syria.

The US is still hitting ISIS in Syria and simultaneously fighting off drone strikes

by Iran's proxies there and in Iraq.

There is no common policy behind these attacks, other than the well-worn pretext of "acting in national self defence".

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Gov’t worked hard to restore years of neglect in education sector during 2015-2020 - CoI uncovers

THE immense mistreatment of the education sector under the previous coalition government left the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) grappling to restore the years of “neglect.”

This is according to the findings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly Mahdia dormitory fire in 2023.

The report was handed over to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Friday by the CoI Chairman, Major-General (Ret’d) Joe Singh, who was accompanied by fellow commissioners, Chairman of the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) Derrick John, and Attorney-at-law Kim Kyte-Thomas.

The CoI commenced the hearing in September last in accordance with its Terms of Reference, which outlined that the commission would investigate and report on the events leading up to the dormitory fire, as well as its causes that led to the death of the 20 children.

According to the Presidential CoI, in 2015, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, the Education Minister at the time, ordered an investigation to evaluate the state of education in Guyana.

Within this context, the “Ed Caesar” report, which was a baseline analysis of Guyana's public education system aimed to provide recommendations for broad strategic guidelines for improving public education, was used.

The CoI comprised

The 20 victims who perished in the Mahdia dormitory fire

of former Chief Education Officer (CEO), Ed Caesar; representatives of religious organisations, Ronald Austin (Jnr) and Ms. Jennifer Dewar; IT specialist, Lance Hinds and a representative of the private sector, Ramesh Persaud. They were assisted by a team of technical and administrative officials.

The Commission presented its Preliminary Report to the Minister of Education on April 28, 2017 and according the findings, the report placed high emphasis on the “deplorable state” of student dormitories and made recommendations that they should be addressed.

However, the previous administration did not take any measures to rectify the issues, Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussain, said during his testi-

mony.

Hussain said: “Nothing was done by the Government at that time to implement the recommendations of the Report…No steps, no steps were taken into 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, up to July…

The Report identified dorms. I have seen from that document, a checklist on issues raised, whether those have been fixed from 2017, and dorms was not ticked. Nothing was done. Absolutely nothing was done, which is callous.”

With the current PPP/C Government being made aware of the MOE/UNICEF consultancy report, which aimed to improve live-in dormitory facilities, immediate interventions were made.

Hussain said, “Following that Report, immediately systems began to be put in

place for the implementation and the subsequent renovations to the dorms. What has to be understood is the costing of this Report is close to about three billion Guyana dollars that had to be found in order to fix all of the dorms. This was middle of 2022,” while underscoring that budget had already passed and so there was not a $3 billion lying around.

As a result, he said that it felt that the better option at that time was to gradually repair the dorms.

“I can say at this point…. I could add at this point, up to today, $882 million has been expended on dorms from 2022 to current.

By the end of the year, we expect to touch a billion dollars because we are still awaiting a number of awards for these dorms…” he further stated.

RECOMMENDA-

TIONS The Commission suggested implementing the recommendations of the MOE/ UNICEF Gender Sensitive Standards for Dormitory Schools in Guyana as much as is practically achievable.

In addition, an Inspectorate should be established to visit the retrofitted or upcoming dormitories and assess how well they adhere to the suggested Gender Sensitive Standards for dorms.

The CoI recommended that the visits ought to make it possible to examine fire suppression systems, evaluate first responder firefighting drills and capabilities, and review emergency evacuation protocols.

The statutory deadlines for fire drills at schools and dorms must also be followed, and they must be strictly enforced.

“We recommend that technically competent individuals are included in such inspectorate teams, and reports on the extent of compliance achieved are to be submitted to the relevant agencies for evaluation and follow-up action,” the CoI said while adding that the grills should be replaced with a modern security system.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Facts triumph over lies

FACTS, it is said, are stubborn things. They cannot be dismissed or wished away.

One fundamental fact of our current situation is that the country has been making extraordinary progress since the return of the PPP/C to office in August 2020.

This progress is all the more significant when consideration is taken of the fact that the country was on the brink on a political and constitutional crisis following the refusal of the then APNU+AFC regime to abide by the norms of democratic and constitutional

governance.

But, as pointed out by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the crisis the country found itself in during the previous administration was pervasive. As pointed out by the President, the PPP/C inherited many 'free fall' sectors from the previous administration.

Unlike the fragmented, piece-meal approach to development by the last administration, the PPP/C government in its fiscal package has outlined a holistic plan to develop the country, taking into account the sectoral needs of the country. This was all the more

necessary given the precarious state of the economy and declining production levels.

The sugar industry, for example, declined by 31 billion dollars; forestry by 9 billion dollars and bauxite by 9 billion. Gold reserves in the Central Bank declined from $25 billion to $800 million, a 97% decline from when the APNU+AFC assumed office to when they left office.

No less worrying was the fact that Central Government overdrafts at the Bank of Guyana increased by more than $114 billion.

Central government deficit

moved from $9.3 billion to $30 billion.

It does not require a trained economist to see that the country was on a downward spiral economically, thanks to economic mismanagement by the previous administration. Thankfully that trend of economic and social decline was arrested and reversed with the assumption to office of the PPP/C on August 2020.

The numbers do not lie and painted a dim picture of the state of the economy under the previous Granger administration. This stood

in sharp contrast to the economic miracle the economy experienced under the new PPP/C administration. The economy is today among the fastest growing in the world despite the years of mismanagement by the previous administration.

Indeed, as noted by President Ali, the new administration had to unravel all that took place during the five years of APNU+AFC misrule including the removal of over 200 new taxes imposed on private businesses and consumers. The net

result of those tax measures was an increase in tax revenues and an extraction of wealth from the pockets of consumers. Value-added tax increased by 43% with the overall tax rate effectively moving from 15% in 2024 to 22% under the previous administration.

This year's budget estimates will further consolidate the economic and social gains made by the PPP/C administration while at the same time laying the foundation for the modernisation process currently underway.

Andre Brandli is wrong about the Jagdeo Doctrine

Dear Editor, I WRITE in response to ad hominem attack against me by one, Andre Brandli (Stabroek News, 1/20/2024).

Brandli’s letter is littered with elementary errors that must be corrected for the record.

Readers should know that despite his very lengthy article, Brandli does not refute a single point I made about either Bharrat Jagdeo, or about the Jagdeo Doctrine of 2023. Instead, Brandli jumps around from one inaccuracy to another, from one name-calling to another, and from one emotional outburst to a congeries of personal insults.

Brandli states that if someone does not know Guyana, they would, based on my article, think Jagdeo is the president. But unlike Bradli, the reader would have seen from the first sentence that I addressed Jagdeo as the General Secretary of the PPP. Jagdeo’s speech at Babu John, which was the fulcrum of my article, was also in the capacity of General Secretary. Let’s get to the core of The Jagdeo Doctrine of

2023 which Brandli does not address.

I wrote – “The core of the Jagdeo Doctrine is worth restating - We will fight people with all of our strength, whichever quarters they come from who seek to divide our people along ethnic lines and to reverse the progress that we have made and who tried to take away our freedom,” (emphasis in the original).

I made it clear that “[t] he Jagdeo Doctrine is partly in response to a new variant of political subversion. This strain is composed of an admixture of foreign and domestic social forces who use the global history of Black Oppression to disguise their own virulent strategy of racialised political mobilisation. When they do this, they knowingly attempt to divide the people of Guyana into racial enclaves. Their intended objective is to take state power through a politics of racialisation.”

In the above, I clearly state the content of the ‘doctrine.’ I also provide a rationale for its emergence and situate in the historical and

contemporary dialectics of Guyanese society. But more than that, I go the extra mile to provide General Secretary Jagdeo’s own reasoning of the doctrine from within the womb of the PPP. On this score, Bharrat Jagdeo did something truly remarkable.

He admitted that the PPP had not done enough to diversify the party, and publicly committed himself to fixing the problem. Note that I specifically pointed out that President Ali construction of One Guyana is another form of the same politics of inclusion called for by Jagdeo.

None of these fundamental points is addressed by Brandli. Instead, this man of research simply cut and pasted parts of my article without evaluating any of them, or without the most minimal effort at analysis.

Rather than a sober, or even passionate engagement with what I argued, Brandli is content to make fantastic and irresponsible connections such as likening Jagdeo to Putin and Xi Jinping. I have bad news for the alienated Professor Brandli, Jagdeo was elected president of

Guyana more than once, and he is the only leader in the history of the Caribbean who signed a term-limit which took him out of office.

For a man who does research, Brandli does not have even the most basic information about the object of his emotional outburst. Let me help him.

First, I hold the title Professor of International Relations, not Associate Professor. Brandli knows the difference between the two is vast, but laziness prevented him from getting my title right. Secondly, the whole of Guyana and even those in the diaspora know that I am employed by the Government of Guyana in the capacity of Adviser in the Office of the President.

Yet, Brandli wants to know if I work pro bono!

Brandli says he has worked at several universities and “…never came across such a clumsy and ingratiating propaganda…”

Well, had Brandli only read what has come out on the Iraq war from places like Yale and Harvard on inter-

national affairs or comparative politics he would never have so publicly embarrassed himself.

For my part, I have spoken at University of Guyana, UWI (T&T); University of Toronto; McMaster; Guelph University, Carleton University, City University of New York (Graduate Centre), UCLA, Georgetown University, New York University, University of Kentucky, University of Connecticut, Virginia Tech, Tufts University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Brown University, Johns Hopkins University, Wake Forest University, Queen’s University (Belfast), University of Sussex, City University of London, London School of Economics, University of Nottingham; University of Kent, University Trento (Italy), International Institute of Social Studies (The Hague), Chubu University (Nagoya, Japan), University of Science and Technology (Tokyo, Japan), Korea University, National Chengchi, (Taiwan); and The American University of Sharjah, UAE.

I have also consulted with the World Bank, US Department of State, Council on Foreign Relations, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, and inter alia, the United Nations University.

I can tell you despite my wide-ranging international experience, I have never seen something as mediocre as Professor Andre Brandli’s response to my arguments about the internal transformation of the politics of the PPP. What is particularly sad about the alienated Professor Brandli, is that rather than join the fight against the racialisation of politics, he has chosen to be a foreign rabble-rouser, all for a little of attention.

Sad! Brandli should know that the Jagdeo Doctrine of 2023 is emancipatory and here to stay. It is the new social ontology of the PPP/C. Sincerely, Dr Randy Persaud Adviser, International Affairs, Office of the President

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

President Ali, PM Phillips are genuinely devoted to build Guyana and defend its territory

Dear Editor, PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips have emerged as the two most skillful, talented, and adept leaders of Guyana in recent times.

Not only are they a solid and well-coordinated team, but they are also visionary leaders with the ability to develop the country, uplift the people and in three years transition Guyana from an underdeveloped country to a developed nation. They are also very fortunate to have the experience of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo to guide and provide them with the practical and functional advice on governance.

Mr. Jagdeo, who is longest reigning President of Guyana (1999-2011) is perhaps the most knowledgeable, skillful and proficient leader in the country. He is considered one of the most informed and experienced leaders in the country and perhaps in the Caribbean.

President Dr. Ali in particular, has exalted the values of the people

and praised them for their cooperation and bravery during its most difficult times, especially the sudden and unfortunate deaths of five senior military personnel and the on-going border controversy with Venezuela.

Not to mention the conflagration at the Madhia dorm that claimed the lives of twenty precious children. During these major crises President Dr. Ali and Prime Minister Phillips were courageous and steadfast in their commitment and determination to defend the sovereignty of the country and prevent such disasters from happening as they led the nation in prayers and healing.

On the border controversy, no one can dispute that it was heavily on the minds of most Guyanese, however, their fears were calmed by His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips who assured them that they are doing everything in their power to make sure Guyana will not yield a square inch to Caracas.

His Excellency was

forthright in his efforts to apprise members of the international community of the dangerous threats by the Maduro regime to use force to seize the county of Essequibo which comprised of 74 per cent of Guyana’s territory. At all regional, hemispheric and international forums, President Ali has emphasised the need for stability, peace and cooperation in the Western Hemisphere, but has insisted that the Maduro regime intention to unilaterally to seize Essequibo could destabilise the Caribbean region, which has been designated as a zone of peace. Venezuela is fully aware of the peace that has existed in the Caribbean but has chosen to ignore it.

While President Dr. Ali was informing the international community about the threats posed by Venezuela, Prime Minister Phillips was addressing the nation at home. He told the people that the government and the opposition are fully united in their resolve that the 1899 Arbitral Award is the ‘full, final and perfect’ settlement of the matter

and that he and President Ali are confident that the border controversy will be settled peacefully at the ICJ. The Prime Minister has reassured the citizens that the claims by Venezuela are bizarre and baseless and that Essequibo which is rich in minerals belongs to Guyana. In his address to the Organisation of American States (OAS) in November 2023, Prime Minister Mark Phillips has made it abundantly clear that Guyana is a peaceful nation, and that the Maduro’s regime unfounded and baseless claim of Essequibo has no validity, bearing, or standing in international law.

Many social scientists have contended that the two-prong approach which was brilliantly crafted and used by President Dr. Ali and PM Phillips has yielded positive results. It has not only caught the Maduro regime by surprise, but it has isolated Venezuela from the international, hemispheric and regional organisations, especially the OAS, CARICOM, and the Commonwealth of Na-

tions, among others.

A dumb-founded and desperate Maduro quickly realised that his credibility has been shattered and that he had lost the support of and respect from the international community.

As tensions mount over the border controversy, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines hosted a meeting between Presidents Nicolas Maduro and Dr. Irfaan Ali. However, President Dr. Ali held the firm position that the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela was not up for discussion, as the matter is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He insisted that the government of Guyana remained committed to a peaceful and legal process to resolve the border controversy in order to secure and protect the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and that Essequibo is integral to the development of Guyana.

Based on media reports, the meeting which has been a success for peace for the Latin Amer-

ica and the Caribbean region was attended by several organisations and government representatives from the Caribbean and Latin American. The meeting ended with a commitment by Venezuela and Guyana to not use military force and cooperate to prevent incidents on the border; and a continued dialogue to tackle all outstanding issues.

Guyanese at home and in the diaspora regardless of their status, ethnicity, race or party affiliation should commend President Dr. Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier Phillips for their spirited and strong-willed approach to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Such a heroic display of patriotism, courage and dedication is a testimony of their genuine and devoted love for Guyana.

If nothing else, they have succeeded in reducing or ending the threats by the Maduro regime and hence, ease the fears of the nation.

Sincerely, Dr. Asquith Rose

Dear Editor, JUST in case anyone forgets, the government, through NICIL, between 2016 and 2019, usurped thousands of acres of GUYSUCO’s land. In particular, lands at Wales were sold off by the government to handpicked persons and entities. Across the country 4,600 acres

of freehold land, conservatively valued by GUYSUCO at $80B were transferred out o f G U Y S U C O . We still owe that money to GUYSUCO. Since 1976 when the Forbes Burnham-led PNC Government clumsily nationalised sugar, the Government of Guyana through illegal taxation in the 1970s,

loans from GUYSUCO’s accounts in the 1980s, the sugar levy and transfer of land from GUYSUCO to government owes GUYSUCO billions of dollars.

As Minister of Agriculture between December 2011 and May 2015, I often reminded Guyanese and the world that any subsidy

that GUYSUCO might receive since 2010 from Government is no handout, but repaying GUYSUCO partially for the enormous amount of money owed to the corporation. Billions of dollars earned through the sweat, blood and sacrifice of sugar workers have been siphoned off by government in the 1970s and 1980s

and again between 2015 and 2020. Incidentally, GUYSUCO is also saddled with a 2016 $30B loan taken by the David Granger-led government through NICIL. Most of that money never led to any meaningful investment into GUYSUCO. Khemraj Ramjattan’s response, his only response up to Saturday, January 19, a whole

week after Budget 2024 was presented by Minister Ashni Singh, was that the $6B subsidy allocated for GUYSUCO is a waste of money. He demanded that the $6B should be withdrawn from GUYSUCO and added to the $4B subsidy allocated for the University of Guyana (UG).

In fact, the allocation for

Ramjattan shamelessly wages war and vengeance on sugar workers

TURN TO PAGE 11

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Why speak of Guyana, and not your own country?

THE newspapers in Guyana can refuse to carry letters on Guyana written by persons living in other countries. But we in Guyana can ask them why they don’t write commentaries on their own countries so we in Guyana can get an analytical angle on what is happening in their part of the world.

The genocide in Gaza has exposed those Guyanese who like to criticize Guyana’s democracy but remain silent on questionable democracies in their own countries. The genocide in Gaza should galvanize each citizen of the world to expose their own country’s support for such anti-civilization instincts.

There has been no act of genocide in the 20th and 21st century outside of Nazi Germany. There are controversies as to if the Armenian people were victims of genocide during the First World War. To date, 34 countries have accepted that there was genocide against the Armenian people.

That would make it two cases of genocide since the First World War with disputes

as to whether genocide took place in the USSR under Stalin, Cambodia under Pol Pot and Rwanda under Hutu leadership. Genocide is defined as the deliberate extinction of one race by another. It is doubtful that in the USSR and Cambodia the criterion is met because no particular ethnic group was targeted.

Rwanda comes close to meeting the definition of genocide but there is a kissing link. Genocide is carried out by governments as a policy using military force.

In Rwanda, a substantial number of deaths came from communal violence where the Hutu ethnic community killed people from the Tutsi tribe and Hutus also.

In the case of Armenia, Nazi Germany and Gaza in 2023/2024, the victims were murdered through the use of force by the state. In Gaza, it is the air force that is systematically killing Palestinians of which the majority of the 23, 000 victims are women and children. This has been a long introduction to the commentary that will now follow on a letter written by

Dr. Andre Brandli, a German citizen of Guyanese ancestry (so he says). Readers will see the relevance as I go on.

Dr. Brandli takes objection in his letter in the newspapers yesterday to a commentary written by Professor Randy Persaud in praise of Guyana’s Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo. This column here is not about Brandli’s take on Jagdeo but on Brandli’s juxtaposition on democracy in Guyana and what he referred to as liberal democracy in the countries he lives in. Guyana does not come out favourable in his view. His country, Germany, will now come out favourable in my view.

There is a colossal difference in the academic training between Dr. Brandli and I. He is a molecular biologist. I studied history, international relations and philosophy at three universities including one of the best in the world – University of Toronto. I know nothing of and about biology but I have immense knowledge of political theory and comparative politics so I can debate anyone on what liberal democracy should be.

L e t ’s q u o t e B r a n d li on what Professor Persaud wrote: “To be frank and blunt, I have rarely read such a sycophantic pamphlet praising a country’s de facto leader, certainly not in any

country that considers itself a liberal democracy.”

I once described Brandli as having more of style of Bruce Lee when he wrote that over 600, 000 ballots were cast in the 2020 general elections in Guyana. No one, not even the political parties in Guyana made such a stupid and ignorant claim. Total ballots cast were 464, 565.

So, is Germany the country that Brandli lives in a liberal democracy? And have there been sycophantic praise of leaders by academics, editors, and politicians in those liberal democracies? To debate Brandli on this issue, is to assault one’s dignity so I would not pursue this line

any further except to say Brandli needs to reads more on world politics as he reads on biology.

So, do leaders in liberal democracies support the perpetuation of genocide? They cannot do so because that would be antithetical to what liberal democracy stands for but they have included the leader of Brandli’s own country – Germany. The German Chancellor was the second leader of a liberal democracy to go to Israel while it was bombing Gaza and like the first leader, showered sycophantic praise on Netanyahu, a Prime Minister facing criminal charges.

The German Government has rejected the South African testimony in front of the International Commission of Jurist that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. So, Germany committed genocide in 1945 and in 2024 is denying genocide in Gaza and siding with the perpetrators of genocide in Gaza. I once advised Brandli to stick to biology and stop writing nonsense about my country.

Energy Excellence in Budget 2024: Guyana's Oil Sector Milestones

ON January 15, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh announced a $1.146 trillion national budget for Guyana’s development in 2024. This has thus far been the largest budget in the country’s history, representing a 46.6 per cent increase from the $781.9 billion 2023 budget.

Noteworthy is the fact that the oil and gas sector’s contribution to the country’s developmental thrust in 2024 will see an increase of 91.9 per cent from the2023

figure—meaning that while $125.1 billion from oil revenues supported the national budget in 2023, this year a whopping $240.1 billion from the Natural Resource Fund will be used to cushion the trillion-dollar budget.

The oil and gas industry has significantly benefited the country’s economic development, both by the direct increase in revenues through earnings from Guyana’s profit shares, as well as the economic boom that was triggered by the emergence of the sector. For context, from 2015—the year of the first

oil discovery to 2024, the national budget has increased by over 518 percent. For context, the 2015 budget was $221 billion. By 2019, the year production began, the budget increased to $300.7 billion. After just over a year of production, the 2021 budget was announced as $383 billion. This steady increase continued, taking us to the current point of a trillion-dollar sum.

The oil and gas sector expanded by 45.9 per cent in the past year with an unparalleled production of 142 lifts of one million barrels each

in 2023, up from 101 in 2022.

This increase in production is also reflected in Guyana’s increasing profit share of oil, which translates to an increase in the sum gained yearly from the sector. In fact, the Minister of Finance shared that Guyana received over US$1.6 billion in proceeds from the oil and gas sector last year, inclusive of royalties. This, too, with two FPSOs in production.

Over the last several years, the increasing budget has resulted in tangible infrastructural benefits for Guya-

nese through the injection of oil revenues into infrastructural development such as improved roads, healthcare facilities and upgraded utilities. These transformative investments will benefit the quality of life of Guyanese, while also increasing the country’s investment prospects.

Guyana is poised to become a major player in the global energy landscape, cementing itself as a beacon of progress and prosperity.

With continued financial backing from the oil sector, the momentum is expect-

ed to continue throughout 2024, notably with three FPSOs in production— with the Prosperity FPSO now adding to the daily production numbers. This upward trajectory sets the stage for future budgets.

The milestones achieved in the country’s oil industry mark a pivotal moment in the country’s development.

Guyana’s future is promising and with the benefits of the oil being widely distributed, the citizens can all enjoy a higher standard of living with bountiful opportunities yet to come.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

The circus needs a clown

TOMORROW, the national debates are scheduled to commence in the National Assembly with a focus on the 2024 budget presented by the Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh.

Dr Singh presented a historic budget, totalling 1.146 trillion dollars which was the biggest ever presented in Guyana. That budget has crafted, inside, the PPP/C Government’s bold and laudable economic plan for 2024 which focuses largely on the people, and meeting their needs through increased social sector spending in health, education, human services, social services for the poor and needy, and housing.

This year, the budget also has a continued focus on public infrastructure which is important in meeting the needs of the people who stand to benefit immensely from the start, advancement, and completion of certain largescale projects. So, without quoting the large figures and numbers, the budget at first glance, has a mixture of social and economic measures aimed at taking Guyana further along the development trajectory if implemented as thought.

It also appears to be people-centred and oriented, meeting the needs of the small man pragmatically while still being public and private-sector friendly.

Any mature, reasonable, critical, and sensible individual would conclude that this budget is remarkably good and has something for every Guyanese from the school child to the young people, the differently-abled community to the poor and vulnerable sections of society, the pensioners to the working-class people and the public sector to the private sector man.

This applies to everyone except for those Opposition Members of Parliament and the combined opposition who have been criticizing the budget when they have not read it and

its accompanying financial documents, volumes and appendices. The public could appreciate this when one hears the unjustified assault on the budget that is taking place right before our eyes.

Led by opposition chief Aubrey Norton, the opposition has started to preach the same old criticisms of the budget. Years come and years go by, and it’s the same dialect, lyrics and rhetoric that the opposition is saying. It's like the opposition is incapable of understanding the principle which says ‘reading is fundamental’ and ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’.

B u t A m a n z a Wa l ton-Desir, an opposition MP, could not wait for her five minutes of fame and camera time, unleashing her great dismay and disgust at the budget. Stating for the world to see, her ignorance and foolishness alongside her contempt for truth, facts and proper analyses. Walton-Desir has been opportunistic and politically puerile. One may even say it looked like she was a political rabble-rouser and pariah because her ideas and opinions were jaundiced and distant from the truth.

Her comment about the amount of increase for pensioners was distasteful even though she struggled, according to her, to understand the PPP/C ideology and budget. It is either the poor MP was not au fait with budget and what was promised by the PPP/C in its 2020 Manifesto, or could not comprehend a simple mathematical equation.

The MP could not be so dull and hungry for stardom when she commented that she could not see that the PPP/C was almost doubling the old Age Pension compared to the APNU+AFC Administration. Surely, she knows that APNU+AFC gave the pensioners a mere $1, 475 on average in 5 years, accounting for less than a $7,375 increase.

Additionally, her party shamelessly axed the water

and electricity subsidy for the pensioners. What is she in dismay over?

The PPP/C budget has made the provision for 76,000 persons and will pay out $2.6B this year Only Thursday, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said, “We have increased it so far by 75%...

So, it's 36,000 now, it will go to 41,000 next year.

That's consistent with our manifesto promise that we made…If you multiply $3,000 by 76,000 people by 12 months a year, it gives you $2.7 billion that the pensioners are getting now more than last year.

But, if you take what they will get next year or what it's costing us so far, it's costing us already $14.1 billion more per year than 2020. Because that is how much we have increased it, by increasing it by $13,000…since 2020, it's costing now $14.1 billion more”.

This is not to say that pensioners do not deserve more money. In fact, anyone would support her stance but this year’s budget is based on practicality and financial sustainability, two concepts which are distant to Desir and members of the opposition.

The other things and criticisms made are symptomatic of the confusion the budget has caused in the opposition camp. They want to distract from the good things, and laudable about this budget. The opposition has gone into peddling lies and rhetoric of destruction because the PPP is staying the course and accomplishing what it set out to do.

So, expect that tomorrow the opposition will come with subtle and open attacks on the budget and the government’s flagship projects such as the Gas-to-Shore project, New Demerara River Crossing, and the Wismar Bridge in Linden. One will expect them to ‘holler and buseout’ about the 1.146 trillion dollars that the government plans to spend on its citizens and for Guyana’s development.

Everything will take on a pure political spin for the opposition. They will, no doubt, bring the drama and unjustly emotional arguments. They will say PPP’s friends, family and favourites are going to benefit hugely. Expect an appeal to be made to cut spending in one area or some very bizarre recommendations and proposals to be highlighted during the debates, if any at all.

But what will be missing from the opposition’s debates are reason, facts, and factual information.

No. They will oppose with-

out proposing or they will propose to appease the presence of the cameras.

This opposition has proven that when lights and cameras are present, they become the greatest showmen. The most important takeaway from the coming two weeks of fame and media attention is that they do not care about the people and their livelihoods or they would be singing praises and making factual criticisms.

The circus needs a clown! For 30 pieces of silver, can the opposition please prove me wrong

during the debates? Act like opposition legislators and not political children and animals. Act like civil adults and put forward strong factual arguments to the House. Give an indepth financial analysis and factual economic insight into the shortcomings and failures of the budget. Leave out race and emotions, and prove that the opposition is ready to be the next government. We dare you to give us the debates without proving that you are political masqueraders.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Talking truth to growling Goliaths in Towers of Babel!

OVER 100 days after the fateful Hamas attack that took 1,139 Israeli lives and sparked the all-out war of obliteration on Gaza that killed 28,000 Palestinians, Israel’s killing spree simply continues while the world discusses the legal prospects and parameters of South Africa’s compelling genocide case against the Zionist State before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The Jewish State stood in the dock before the World Court at the start of 2024, accused of multiple war crimes, human rights violations, and flouting international conventions and rules of engagement in its brutal war on Hamas and citizens of Gaza.

But Israel remained defiant, assured of the backing of the usual suspects -- US, UK, Canada, Germany and other western G-7 Europe-

an Union (EU) and NATO sponsors -- trying to justify its collective punishment of a defenseless population with nowhere to run, hide, or shelter by blaming it all on Hamas’s October 7 attack.

Israel’s legal team pleaded absolutely Not Guilty to all charges brought in the 84-page South African submission, and instead argued every charge against it, blaming the victim for its aggression.

On the same day, Israel’s lawyers pleaded ‘not guilty’ before the ICJ in The Hague: • The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was killing 250 Palestinians per day; • The IDF bombed at least 150 targets that day and night; • Israeli bombing had destroyed over-65% of schools and educational facilities, including those

serving as shelters for the displaced; • 270,000 homes were reduced to rubble; • Over-90% (2 million) of Gaza’s 2.3 million people were forcibly displaced; • 70% of hospitals were forcibly closed by Israeli attacks and/or lack of water, medical supplies and electricity, while patient numbers increased by 500% for those still open; • 350 Palestinian health workers and 152 United Nations (UN) employees were killed; • 155,000 pregnant and lactating mothers were facing nutritional deficiencies; • The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that an entire population faced everything, from famine and diseases to massive health crises, while food and water became brutal Weapons of War. And in the midst of it all, 117 Palestinian journalists and other media colleagues were killed, many targetted by Israeli drones while covering The Gaza Nakba, as the aggressor played victim while exacting bloody revenge on a displaced population.

On Day 100, Palestinians in Gaza, the West

Bank, East Jerusalem and other occupied territories, backed by supporters and sympathisers protesting worldwide, said the suffering was “More Like 100 Years” and simply “100 Days Too many!”

That message was (and still is) also growing louder and clearer in Israel, with more frequent and larger mass public protests against the Benjamin Netanyahu government’s complete failure to achieve any of its set goals: To ‘completely eliminate Hamas’ and destroy its military facilities, and ‘bring the captives home’.

With at least 60 Israeli captives killed by Israeli bombs on Gaza, and more soldiers dying since the October 31 ground invasion into north, south and central Gaza, increasing numbers of Israeli citizens have also joined calls for an end to their government’s

bombardment to ensure a safe return of relatives, and further, for Netanyahu to step down as PM and call early general elections.

But the beleaguered Prime Minister has no incentive or intention to step down, or to stop the war, either of which can lead to his conviction and/or imprisonment on outstanding corruption charges that preceded his government’s unpopular effort to weaken the judiciary, leading to nationwide mass protests up to October 6, 2023.

However, on the 100th Day, the world also far better understood why South Africa, a former Apartheid State, was able to copiously identify the countless ways and means by which Israel is using a fatal combination of religion and violence to obliterate Gaza, and subject Palestinians to a 21st Century Zionist version of Apartheid.

Indeed, even while answering to charges at The Hague amounting to a Holocaust Against Gaza, Israel intensified its continuing bombardment of Central and Southern Gaza, since then taking the death toll to close to 28,000 Palestinians (including over-10,000 children and more than 7,000 women and adding the over-8,000 still missing).

I n a d d i t i o n , o v e r60,000 Palestinians have been injured to date by the Israeli attacks.

As the war speeds towards its fourth month, Israel’s global sponsors continue to play for time in world courts and the global public square, allowing the Jewish State to continue its massacre and demolition in Gaza, while splitting tongues and parting hairs over language and procedures, creating distractions to justify starting a regional war against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Yemeni Defense Forces, in the name of protecting global supply chains, with no apparent care for the cause of 2.3 million Gazans.

Indeed, US Secre-

tary of State Anthony Blinken’s five trips to the region have yielded nothing but an escalation of the conflict beyond Palestine.

But the phenomenal global awareness of the atrocities played out before people’s eyes everywhere would have been impossible without the work of the Palestinian journalists covering the war from inside Gaza, while their international colleagues are still denied entry.

Thanks to the exposure of the bloody carnage by Palestinian journalists and media houses committed to showing and telling the truth about what’s happening in Gaza, the world has also seen the emptiness of the coverage by the traditional international media houses that usually parade in the name of Press Freedom, with unholy blessings of imperial emperors in fortified glass houses on Towers of Babel.

Palestinian journalists and international colleagues not at the beckand-call of the traditional mainstream international media demonstrated high levels of courageous resilience in the first 100 Days of Israel’s long and brutal war on Gaza, and the numbers killed also continue to rise.

For 100 Days, they spoke the quiet truth to the growling Goliaths of the northern plains, ensuring world public opinion was better informed about the worst war with the most casualties known to Humankind in modern history: A nuclear power carpet-bombing the most overpopulated strip of land on Planet Earth, killing citizens in their sleep with million-dollar bombs, engaging in the clearest case of ethnic cleansing before the eyes of the world.

C l e a r l y, w h a t t h e world saw during the first 100 Days of Israel’s War on Gaza was proof-positive of the deadly combination of Zionism and Apartheid through Genocide.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Ramjattan shamelessly wages...

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FROM PAGE 7

UG is bigger than the budgeted $4B. There is also the allocation of over $1B that would go towards paying off the loans owed by students.

It is remarkable how obnoxiously obsessed Ramjattan and his colleagues in the PNC-led APNU/AFC are over the GUYSUCO subsidy.

Listening to Ramjattan and others one would think that GUYSUCO is the only beneficiary of subsidies from government. No mention is made, for example, of the $5B subsidy given to Region 10 for paying the larger part of the cost of electricity that both private homes and businesses use.

The rate for electricity charges in Region 10 is a fraction of what the rest of the country pays. This subsidy has been in place since the nationalisation of bauxite in 1976. During his dictatorship, Forbes Burnham threatened to withdraw the subsidy because he maintained that the subsidy was always intended to be phased out. But Ramjattan and the rest of the opposition pretends this large subsidy is nowhere in Budget 2024. In fact, cumulatively, this subsidy between 1976 and 2024 is now more than $100B in today’s value.

President Irfaan Ali’s Government, like the governments led

by President Cheddi Jagan and President Bharat Jagdeo, have demonstrated integrity and honour in maintaining the electricity subsidy for Linden and Kwakwani for the foreseeable future. As the population of Region 10 increases around Linden and Kwakwani and as electricity utilisation increases in this fast-growing region, the subsidy keeps growing.

President Ali’s government continues to

unconditionally honour the commitment to the residents of Linden and Kwakwani, even as electricity utilisation increases significantly. It is approaching 50 years since this subsidy has been in place. Subsidies to GUYSUCO has been in place for less than 15 years. It is also a subsidy that has always been on a sunset basis, meaning that it was always intended to be temporary.

Ramjattan and his friends ignore the fact that the GUYSUCO subsidy maintains a productive sector, more than 17,000 employees and their families, support the local economies in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six, provides infrastructural and operational support for drainage and irrigation in these regions, at a cost of billions. While attacking the GUYSUCO subsidy, these charlatans are people protective of the now $5B subsidy to Linden and Kwakwani.

We each must judge for ourselves. For me, there is no ambiguity – the position of Ramjattan and his colleagues in the PNC/APNU/AFC is purely, obnoxious racism.

To his credit, Ramjattan confessed this when they were in government. Remember when Ramjattan famously, or rather infamously, screamed across to Bharat Jagdeo telling him that the PPP want to keep sugar opened because the sugar workers and their families are their supporters?

A large part of the subsidy, in fact, should be considered as payment to GUYSUCO for providing drainage and irrigation for rice and other agriculture and for the residents in Regions Three, Four, Five, and Six. But keeping GUYSUCO alive is not just

about the sugar workers.

The more than 17,000 employees of GUYSUCO support the economies of communities on the West Coast Demerara in Region Three, East Coast Demerara (Region Four), West Berbice (Region Five), Canje and New Amsterdam and Fyrish to Manchester in Region Six. The tailors and seamstresses, the shops, the markets the taxi drivers, etc. struggled when the sugar estates were closed and downsized. When the factories are not operating, these communities come to an almost standstill.

The bottom line is that the subsidy is not a handout; it makes economic sense. Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, David Granger and all their colleagues knew this in 2015 when they promised sugar workers and the Guyanese people that no estate will be closed, that sugar was “too big to fail”.

But there is something else that Ramjattan and his colleagues must never forget – it is sugar that kept their dictatorship alive in the 1970s, 1980s and up to 1992. They must never be allowed to forget the more than $100B in today’s value that they ripped out of GUYSUCO through the shameful sugar levy. The sugar works have not forgotten how they took out billions every year from GUYSUCO for almost 26 years, until the PPP ended the levy in 1997.

But, in addition, they borrowed money from GUYSUCO that amount to billions also. Thus, our country is now paying back for some of the loans we took from GUYSUCO in the 1980s.

In fact, when the PNC and Burnham na-

tionalised sugar in 1976, they used the windfall from high prices for sugar that emerged in the 1970s to pay off the debt Guyana owed to GUYSUCO. More than $US120M, the equivalent of more than $G25B in today’s value, was paid to Bookers and others for nationalising GUYSUCO. That money was earned by sugar, but was used to pay a Guyana government debt. It robbed GUYSUCO of much-needed resources to recapitalise its factories and its field operations.

In 1974, when the PNC instituted a tax on sugar exports, the workers were robbed because the tax was based on the gross earnings, rather than profits. It meant that workers were taxed twice. By 1977, the workers were owed more than $US85M, almost $G17B in today’s value. This led to the famous and valiant

135-day strike during which Burnham brought in 6,000 soldiers and public servants to work in the fields and factories, while jailing many sugar workers.

This is simply Ramjattan’s shameless, disgraceful, reprehensible vendetta against sugar workers. While making big promises to sugar workers in 2011, only a small number of sugar workers bought their false promises in 2011.

When the false promises were even more extravagant in 2015, Ramjattan, to his utter chagrin, discovered that many of the small band of sugar workers they fooled in 2011 abandoned them and supported the PPP in the 2015 elections.

Were it not for manipulation in the Region Four votes in the 2015 elections, they would have lost that election and lost all the gains they made in 2011.

Ever since, Ramjat-

tan and his opposition colleagues have waged an unholy war against sugar workers.

Outside of the electricity subsidy for Region 10, the government is providing more than $4B in subsidy for UG and also another $1.5B in loan forgiveness for students at UG. By next year, President Ali has promised to make UG free. Ramjattan and his colleagues had also promised to make UG free within their first 100 days in government in 2015. Instead, they raised the fee and also introduced other charges and introduced VAT for educational services and items. They betrayed the Guyanese people.

People expect politicians to spin. But waging war and vendetta on innocent people is unequivocally evil and reprehensible.

Sincerely, Dr. Leslei Ramsammy

12

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Human Services Ministry to expand support, empowerment services to vulnerable populations

WITH a budget of $48.3 billion, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security plans to continue its efforts in supporting and empowering those vulnerable groups, inclusive of women, children, men, and the elderly.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security,

Dr. Vindhya Persaud in a recent interview highlighted that Budget 2024 is an important one, because it follows investments that would have been made from 2022 to 2023.

“From those early initiatives and investments, we saw the results. Whether it was human resource development, infrastructur-

al development or investment into traditional sectors, giving people more opportunities to gravitate towards financial independence, economic empowerment,” the Minister explained.

She noted that the budget allocated to her ministry for this year accounts for people across Guyana,

Minister of Human Services & Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud

specifically, those vulnerable populations.

According to the minister, these vulnerable populations include persons living with disabilities, and women under gender equality and gender inclusion.

Minister Persaud noted that when the PPP/C came into government, there was not much focus on persons living with disabilities.

Acknowledging the permanent disability benefit, the minister highlighted that this has significantly increased from 2020 to 2024, where persons living with permanent disabilities receive $19,000.

She said included in this is the complimentary and the infrastructural programmes. Minister Persaud mentioned that at

the Learning Lab, which opened in Mahaica last year, from then to now, they have trained a significant number of persons living with disabilities.

This year, they are earmarked to train approximately 496 persons living with disabilities.

“While we set those targets for ourselves, we always try to exceed those targets because the manner in which we reach out to those persons, would be not only at the learning lab, but at a community level where we take training and take services, of the ministry to people. And that is also complimented by our assistive aids programme.

“We have seen the incremental movement of this programme by offering people living with disabili-

ties anything from a wheel chair to a walker, to a white cane. Referring to Ministry of Health for hearing aids, because we want to improve quality of life,” she said.

To ensure persons with disabilities can access these opportunities, some nine buses will be provided.

Minister Persaud stated, “Whether we speak to the special needs programme where children have to go to school, whether we speak of the Learning Lab were people have to go for technical and vocational skills, transportation makes this possible.”

She added, “We will see the widening of training opportunities, offered to persons living with disabilities and their access to finance is also important if we’re going to rain because, while we have the very well-known WIIN programme that offers empowerment opportunities to women primarily, persons with disabilities can benefit from a revolving fund administered by the Ministry of Tourism Industry and commerce, and we’re seeing person gravitating to that initiative, because empowerment really centres around independence.”

Furthermore, Minister Persaud noted that under the ministry’s Gender Affairs Bureau, they will focus on gender equality and gender inclusion, as well as a policy.

From 2021 to 2023, the minister shared that the Ministry has maintained its successful eye care services in remote, rural and hinterland communities, and to an extent the coastland. Thus far, more than 1,000 persons have been served, with $23 million expended in eye care.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

$1.2 billion budgeted to complete, rehabilitate several community markets

COMMUNITY markets are frequently dubbed the hub of local economic activity and in an effort to enhance local government services, the government has allocated $1.2 billion to complete and rehabilitate several markets.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh in his budget presentation remarked: “This government will continue to provide support to all municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), including institutional assistance to foster accountability and transparency and advance infrastructure development and enhancement across communities.”

A total of $417.2 million was spent in 2023 to continue works at five community markets at Charity, Hydronie, Leonora, Mon Repos, and Parika.

This year, a budget of $1.2 billion has been allocated for the completion of these markets and rehabilitation of Corriverton, Kumaka, and Suddie markets.

Notably, it was reported, earlier this month that the construction of a state-of-the-art multi-

million-dollar market at Charity, Region Two, has commenced and is progressing smoothly.

This was confirmed by Regional Vice-Chairman Humace Oodit, who informed the Sunday Chronicle that fabrication works have started.

The market, when completed, will measure 152×164 feet. It will cost $286 million and is being constructed by Builders Hardware and General Supplies Construction.

Oodit said that 22 vendors were relocated by councillors of the Char-

ity/Ursara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to facilitate the smooth execution of the project. They will return to the location when the structure is finished.

The Regional Vice-Chairman said that two vendors were not complying and as such they had to be written to. Vendors are now operating in an area next to the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

Oodit said he is satisfied with the pace of work and called on all vendors to cooperate. He said that the new market will provide a comfortable space for vendors.

Chairperson of the Charity/Ursara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Chandrawattie Comal, said that the construction work was being monitored by the NDC and regional officials.

“We are happy for the prompt actions and we commend the government and the Ministry of Local Government for this move.

We are thankful for this intervention,” Paula Simon, a vendor said.

A fire of electrical origin on July, 6, 2023 destroyed 25 stalls in the market. The Guyana Police Force had disclosed that ranks and fire responders observed that sparks and smoke were coming from an electrical meter.

Moreover, as it relates to Mon Repos Market on the East Coast of Demerara, vendors can look forward to a modern structure equipped with a food court, washroom facilities, security and other amenities that will enhance the comfort and quality of life for the vendors and consumers.

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

50 low-income land owners identify house lots at Enterprise

MORE than 50 low-income allottees of Block EP, Enterprise, New Scheme, East Coast Demerara were invited to identify their respective residential lot on Saturday, as the Ministry of Housing lot identifica-

tion exercise continues.

This exercise commenced at the beginning of the year across new housing schemes in the country, and is aimed at increasing the occupancy rate on schemes.

Having identified their re-

spective lots, these families can proceed with home construction.

Importantly, these exercises are done in batches, and every allottee will be contacted to participate when their block is ready.

Just on Friday, the first batch of allottees at Golden Grove Block 9 and Block 11, East Bank Demerara was among those who benefitted from the lot identification exercises.

These landowners also

fall within the low and moderate income categories. As infrastructure developments advance in the housing scheme, the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) Surveys Unit will be conducting additional

on the East Coast Demerara, where approximately 160 landowners within these brackets were a part of the identification process.

At La Reconnaissance Housing Scheme on Wednesday, some 120

Allottees participating in the lot identification exercise (Photos: Ministry of Housing)

exercises.

Earlier this week, hundreds of allottees within the low, moderate, and middle income brackets were invited to identify and mark their lots.

These happened at Enterprise, Hope, and La Reconnaissance Housing Schemes

moderate income allottees participated in the lot identification exercise.

According to the CH&PA, the La Reconnaissance Housing Development boasts over 1,400 residential house lots spanning various income categories.

15

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Public Health issues being addressed in a finite manner - Dr. Jagdeo says

STAYING committed to ensuring that all Guyanese have access to quality healthcare, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said that the government is aiming to address public health issues in a finite manner in which expenditure does not become recurrent.

He made these remarks during a press conference on Thursday at the Office of the President.

“We are trying to tackle public health issues, but in a way that is finite, and the expenditure doesn’t become recurrent,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

Of all the numerous initiatives, the Vice-President touched on the eye care measures set aside for pensioners and youths.

For context, a budget of over $840 million has been allocated to providing a $3,000 voucher for an eye test to over 205,000 schoolchildren and 76,000 pensioners.

It was Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh who revealed the availability of a $15,000 voucher for those who require spectacles, which will be funded at a cost of $955 million. In total, this intervention adds up to $1.8 billion.

Dr. Jagdeo, while explaining the benefits of initiatives like these, said: “Sight is important; it changes the quality of life.”

Continuing on the topic of sight and its value, the Vice-President stated: “When we invested in the Ophthalmology hospital in Berbice, APNU ran it down....”

The National Ophthalmology Hospital located in Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), continues to have a tremendous impact in providing eye care, with over 1,500 surgeries conducted in 2022.

The hospital was established in 2009 under then President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, under the Guyana-Cuba collaboration programme, to offer specialised eye care, including surgeries for cataracts and other conditions, thereby giving persons access to affordable and quality eye care services.

After highlighting the large number of measures that are within Budget 2024 for the people of Guyana,

The dispensary at the Aurora Health Post in Region Two Dr. Jagdeo debunked the investment our Private Secnarrative that this year’s fis- tor individuals are making cal package does not have in the healthcare system; incentives for the ordinary building up their capacity, and we are showing confiman.

Apart from the $129.8 dence in their investment billion allocation to the health sector, which is a significant increase when compared to the allocation made under the previous APNU+AFC government, Dr. Jagdeo said: “It’s not for aliens; it’s for people… All of these initiatives are for the people of this country.”

Furthermore, in a live broadcast following the presentation of the country’s largest fiscal package of $1.146 trillion to the National Assembly, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the budgetary measure brings parity of service between the minimum thresholds of healthcare services that must be available to all the citizens of the country.

“This is an amazing measure of Budget 2024.

When we campaigned, we said we want people to live in dignity; our pensioners and our children must have equity and access… We are keeping true to this promise.”

“We have sat down with all the local providers of this service, and the cost of an eye test is $3,000 to check your vision. Every pensioner, every schoolchild will get a voucher for $3,000 to go and check their eyes… We are talking here about 205,000 school children and 76,000 pensioners,” President Ali said during his presentation.

Meanwhile, the President disclosed that a special mechanism will be established to deal with children and pensioners in the hinterland and riverine areas.

“This measure would cost almost $1 billion outside of this. And, as you can see, this measure is also targetted at supporting the

by allowing our children and pensioners to cash this voucher at any facility in the programme that is doing it for this $3,000,” he explained.

The investment, he reiterated, builds out a system that supports the welfare and well-being of citizens.

“Taking care of the eye health of our children and our pensioners is an investment of about $2 billion, getting all our children, bringing parity, bringing parity of service and giving them a choice to choose between the public or private entity where they want to go and test their eyes. That is what builds equality,” the Head of State said.

Another successfu

16

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, and its sub-agencies, hosted a farmers’ market on Saturday at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.

The farmers’ market seeks to provide additional support to farmers, while also bringing great deals to customers. Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said this is the first such

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

market for 2024, noting that many people were happy to participate.

He noted that this harbors well for them as he has seen a tremendous growth in the agriculture sector over the last year. The minister stated that they have reached their target, and they have seen growth, not only in the agriculture sector, but all sub-sectors.

The agriculture minister

expressed that this achievement shows that Guyana is now up to the challenge of producing food for the Caribbean and other parts of the world.

Minister Mustapha stated, “When you look at the investments that we’ve made over the last three years today Guyana is a force to reckon with in the production of food.”

Minister Mustapha noted

that the locally produced, processed foods have been imported in previous years …. now these products are being produced locally in attractive packaging.

“For me, and everyone will agree with me, but the most important sector for us is the agriculture sector where we are producing food. Food security is important, so we’ll continue to produce.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, stated that the GPF, guided by its strategic plan, focuses heavily on partnership. The Police Commissioner explained that this partnership places them in a position to interact frequently with members of the public, and various organisations.

“This is the second of its kind. And we’re doing it because Eve Leary is strategi-

Scenes from the farmers’ market at Eve Leary (Photos: Ministry of Agriculture)

cally located, and it is easily accessible. The last time it had 90 stalls, this time it has 93. And so, we’re growing all the time.”

Commissioner Hicken noted that they will continue to have ventures like this one, which allows the public to not only shop but interact with senior officials of the Police Force.

ul farmers’ market

17

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Scenes from the farmers’ market at Eve Leary (Photos: Ministry of Agriculture)

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Jagdeo says both UG, GOAL necessary for an educated population

Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

VICE President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo recently emphasised the importance of investing in both the University of Guyana (UG) and the Guyana Online Academy of Learning

(GOAL) scholarship program to achieve a well-educated population.

During an engagement with reporters last Thursday, the former president emphasised that GOAL and UG cannot be compared as similar institutions, since GOAL offers courses provided by international institutions whereas UG only provides educational services.

H o w e v e r, h e e x pressed that UG must be able to consolidate its programmes to offer high-quality education that must be recognised worldwide. Dr Jagdeo added that the government is utilising taxpayers’ money to fund the institution and the value for money and strong leadership must be ensured at the local institution.

“They need to have good quality degrees, first degrees particularly around a core number of areas and quality is important … I believe we need UG but we need the other programmes,” the vice president emphasised.

Dr Jagdeo also highlighted the importance of GOAL, explaining

that negotiations are facilitated with institutions from around the world based on price and quality before they can offer education services.

“These institutions have to through the quality and the review of the curriculum to the technical staff of GOAL … they have to have a certain standard before you can be chosen to offer education services,” he said.

In 2021, the GOAL programme was launched by the PPP/C Administration to deliver on its commitment to providing 20,000 online scholarships within their first tenure in government.

To date, over 21,000 Guyanese have received scholarships through the GOAL programme in various fields, filling human resource gaps in the economy and according to the vice president, around 35,000 online scholarships will be awarded by 2025, surpassing the initial target.

Other training programmes are also being offered including at the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and other technical institutions across the country. (DPI)

19

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Sheriff Construction Inc. purchases 50 dump trucks …to start operations soon SHERIFF Group of Companies, led by serial investor Ameir Ahmad and his father, Shareef Ahmad, say they are once again prepared to make an impact in Guyana's construction industry by purchasing 50 dump trucks and an additional 50 to be delivered by the end of 2024.

According to Ameir, the significant investment in the dump trucks is a strong indication that Sheriff Construction Inc. is determined to become a dominant force in the construction industry.

“Sheriff Construction Inc. specialises in civil construction and employs a team of highly experienced engineers and professionals with vast field experience. This huge investment reflects the company's desire to become a key player in the construction industry. I am also proud to say that we are focused on civil construction, and our company has a team of highly experienced engineers and experts with considerable experience in the industry,” he related.

He also stated that the company's expertise is well-suited to handling a wide range of construction

ymous with excellence and reliability in the construction industry. We are in the process of securing local content certification and all other necessary certifications to align with international standards,” the young businessman said.

He explained, “In all of our business ventures, whether it is Sheriff Hospital, Sheriff Security, Sheriff Construction, or any other of our businesses, we are ensuring that with our investments, Guyanese are benefiting.

“This is a commitment that we have made as a company, and it is a commitment that our president has been talking about since he took office. So, like President Ali said in many of his presentations, while we are developing the infrastructure of Guyana, we have to also develop and help our fellow countrymen. The Sheriff Group of Companies is pleased that we can play our part in doing this, and we will continue to; it's the only way Guyana will grow; we have to help each other.”

He continued, “With the purchase of these trucks, for example, we have to employ

Some of the dump trucks purchased by Sheriff Group of Companies investments."

Although the company was officially established in April 2023, Ahmad noted that his team has successfully completed various projects over the last five years.

According to him, some of the significant projects include the construction of the Sheriff General Hospital in Leonora, in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara), 25 luxury houses, and a three-story

Proprietor of the Sheriff Group of Companies, Ameir Ahmad projects, from commercial structures to infrastructure development. According to him, the qualities demonstrated by his company's commitment to provide quality construction services that meet the highest industry standards are second to none.

“One of our key objectives is to ensure that this company becomes synon-

drivers and porters. Like every other business that we do. One of our main priorities is safety, which also means that we must cater for the employment of mechanics, and we have to also purchase tyres, among other things. So, like I said, we are proud to know that I am helping to make a difference in people’s lives through our

office building on Da Silva Street in Georgetown.

C u r r e n t l y, A h m a d shared that his crew is now working on the Sheriff Mall in Palmyra in Region Six (East Berbice Corentyne) and two condominiums in the Richmondville Housing Scheme in Providence on the East Bank of Demerara.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Over 1,700 police ranks trained in 2023 MORE than 1,700 police ranks were trained in 2023 by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) both locally and internationally, demonstrating the emphasis placed on improving the force’s capacity, a year-end report by the Ministry of Home Affairs has stated.

An allocation of $169.9 million was expended by the police force in 2023 to facilitate training for its ranks and provide scholarships in various areas.

The government allocated the funds to support the development and growth of the security agency, ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge to serve the public effectively. During 2023, 34 overseas courses were offered, training a total of 85 ranks exposed

to international best practices in law enforcement and policing, while 1,746 ranks completed 82 local courses offered by the police force.

Additionally, 25 ELT Officers and Regional Commanders completed the Train the Trainers Programme facilitated by the Justice Education So-

ciety of British Columbia (JES).

Moreover, three senior officers attended the Police Academy in Idaho, United States (US), in-

dicating a proactive approach to learning from established institutions in other countries. Also, four police officers graduated from the Hugh Wooding

Law School with their Legal Education Certificates.

From 2020 to 2023, 2,750 ranks participated in 100 courses to enhance their investigative skills and increase prosecution rates in the country.

Meanwhile, 302 scholarships were awarded by the police force covering varying areas including aviation, law and general academic pursuits while 17 Memorandum of Agreements have been signed with external learning institutions.

Another notable achievement includes the police academy achieving international accreditation on August 24, certifying that it meets global standards for law enforcement education and training.

(DPI)

21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Work to commence soon on $15.8 billion state-of-the-art government complex

WORK is set to begin in the first quarter of this year on the highly anticipated $15.8 billion state-of-the-art government office complex, which will house numerous ministries and government agencies, according to the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill.

During an analysis of the trillion-dollar 2024 national budget, Minister Edghill stated that the Government of Guyana, in its mordernising on a transformational agenda, will build a modern office complex inclusive of four towers, 12 stories high, with the capacity to accommodate approximately 6,000 staff.

According to the Public Works Minister, the state-ofthe-art office building is set

to be built on 20 acres of land in the ‘highly connected and developed’ area of Houston, East Bank Demerara, approximately 1 km from the new Eccles/Haags Bosch, also known as the Jaguar roundabout.

“This office complex will give people access as they come over the New Demerara Harbour Bridge, people out of Georgetown using the Eccles-Mandela interlink, people coming from the East Coast using the new Eccles, Providence roads, which are the East Bank and East Coast link roads that are being built by the Indians,” Minister Edghill related.

With the aim of alleviating the hassle for citizens to travel to the different minis-

tries throughout Georgetown, the minister also outlined that the new facility would meet all of the criteria in order to provide services to the public in the most effective way possible without having to deal with parking issues or traffic congestion. “People will be able to get government services in a modern facility without getting into the congestion in Georgetown,” he explained.

Meanwhile, at his 2023 press conference, Minister Edghill said, “rather than people running from different places to get service from an agency, several agencies will be in one complex. So, when you drive there, park, and come out, you could get several services done."

The contract for the facility was signed on December 30, 2022 with Caribbean Green Building Inc. and is set to be completed within 30 months of the beginning of construction.

Edghill noted that the $2.6 billion, which was approved in the 2022 budget, was paid to the contractor, to be used as a mobilisation advance for the office towers as well as to facilitate geotechnical studies and designs.

Edghill also stated that $4 billion was allotted “to cover costs associated with steel and other associated pre-fabricated, and quantity being vetted by engineer (VIKAB engineering).”

He said the Ministry of Public Works is currently conducting its business from several offices due to the lack of space, and as such

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill According to him, Budthey will be the first to profit from the move after comple- get 2024 “is people-centred, tion. He added that while the focuses on people, a budget Maritime Administration and that is geared at improving the Transports and Harbours the lives of people, and Department are agencies takes care of a number of under the Ministry of Public issues that were not adWorks, they are housed inde- dressed before.” pendently.

22

Adele releases second book titled, ‘Epitome of my Life’

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

- a collection of genuine accounts, personal narratives

GUYANESE US-based writer Adele Rampersaud, heartened by the overwhelming response to the first book she wrote, Beau-

ty in Broken, decided she wants to press on with her writing and so, her second book, Epitome of my Life, has recently been released,

both available on Amazon, kindle version.

Having worked in the media for a decade, Adele developed a love for

writing and wanted to share her life experiences which she believed could have served as a “survival path” for younger women.

“Not only women, but older adults too can also benefit from reading the books, both men and women. All of the stories are real-life experiences. Based on the feedbacks from book number one, I've decided to embark on book number two. The responses have been overwhelming thus far and I will move on to book number three, four and onwards,” Adele shared with the Sunday Chronicle recently.

Within the pages of her most recent book lie a collection of genuine accounts, personal narratives drawn from her experiences. “Each story encapsulates real life moments that traverse the spectrum of human existence. From triumphs to tribulations, these tales offer an authentic glimpse into the author’s remarkable journey,” Adele explained.

She expressed that these stories are a compelling testament to her journey of faith, doubt, rebellion, and ultimately, reconciliation with God. They are narratives that people can relate to, as they reflect on the struggles and challenges that have to be navigated in life.

“They illustrate the complex and often tumultuous nature of faith journeys, highlighting the importance of personal choice and responsibility in life, as well as the capacity for individuals to seek reconciliation and renewal in their relationship

Guyanese US-based writer Adele Rampersaud with God. Even in the midst of chaos and confusion, self-introspection and finding one’s way back on their spiritual path can turn situations around,” she said.

The inspiration to write her first book came one night in January 2019 as she

in love, and I hadn’t the courage and strength to walk away,” she reflected.

She started writing her feelings and soon after, realised that it was not only an avenue to express how she felt, but it was therapeutic as well. She then started writ-

The first book, Beauty in Broken sat on her bed and thought about ways she could express her bottled-up emotions. “I was at the time an emotional wreck. I was battling with a toxic relationship which made me sad most of the time. I was

The cover of Adele’s second book, Epitome of my Life

ing about her past traumatic experiences, some of which she was still processing and battling with, in addition to her relationship drama at the time.

“Upon completion of the book, it dawned on me that I have been through a lot. And regardless, I remained resilient. Despite all my misfortunes, the result is beautiful. I have been using my testimonies to encourage and inspire younger women. My mistakes and calamities have become other people’s, especially young women’s, survival path.”

Adele’s word of advice to persons who face similar circumstances: “No matter what you are going through, never give up.

Train your mind to extract the positive from every situation, like I did, every time I wanted to give up and throw in the towel.”

Her inspiration also came from her favourite author, Danielle Steel.

“I read a book name 'Kaleidoscope' written by her when I was 16 years old and I said to myself that I wanted to become an author like her. The book had me in tears from the beginning to the end.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Saumy Pandey leads India to victory; England ease past Scotland

Saumy Pandey registered figures of 4 for 24 • ICC/Getty Images

(ESPNCRICINFO) - BANGLADESH Under-19s, who had beaten India Under-19s in the Asia Cup in December last year, threatened to cause another stir when left-arm seamer Maruf Mridha took five wickets in the Under-19 World Cup in Bloemfontein. Maruf's strikes kept India to 251 for 7, but Saumy Pandey trumped Maruf with 4

for 24 and bowled his team to victory.

Musheer Khan, the younger brother of Sarfaraz Khan, pitched in with two wickets, including that of Mohammad Shihab James, who top-scored for Bangladesh with 54 off 77 balls. The rest of the batters collapsed around James as Bangladesh were bowled out for 167 in 45.5 overs. Musheer also

effected a direct-hit to sink Bangladesh. Pandey was the most economical bowler on the day, conceding just 2.44 an over.

Earlier in the day, India's innings was built around half-centuries from opener Adarsh Singh (76 off 96) and captain Uday Saharan (64 off 94). Aravelly Avinash (23 off 17), who was picked

by Chennai Super Kings in

Pakistan Under-19s 284 for 9 (Shahzaib 106, Baig 55, Khalil 4-51, Bashir 2-52) beat Afghanistan Under-19s 103 (Numan 26, Ubaid 4-26, Zeeshan 3-17) by 181 runs

the IPL 2024 auction, and Sachin Dhas (26 off 20) then gave the innings some late impetus.

Pakistan Under-19s 284 for 9 (Shahzaib 106, Baig 55, Khalil 4-51, Bashir 2-52) beat Afghanistan Under-19s 103 (Numan 26, Ubaid 4-26, Zeeshan 3-17) by 181 runs.

Ubaid Shah, the younger brother of Naseem Shah,

and Mohammad Zeeshan, who has been part of Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, took seven wickets between them to skittle Afghanistan Under-19s for 103 in their chase of 285 in East London.

Opener batting Shahzaib Khan had laid the platform for Pakistan Under-19s' 181run victory with 106 off 126 balls. His knock contained ten fours and three sixes. He added 92 for the third wicket with Saad Baig, who hit 55 off 52 balls, to set Pakistan up for a big total. Khalil Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan, returning 4 for 51 in his 10 overs.

Pakistan's total looked even bigger when Ubaid and Zeeshan ripped through Afghanistan's top and middle orders. Wicketkeeper-batter Numan Shah was the only Afghanistan batter to pass 25 in the chase. Amir Hassan and Ahmed Hussain picked up a wicket each as Pakistan bundled Afghanistan out in 26.2 overs.

England Under-19s 178 for 3 (McKinney 88, Denly 40, Faisal 2-30) beat Scotland Under-19s 174 (Gould 48, Dunk 40, Farhan 3-22, Benkenstein 3-41) by seven wickets

England Under-19s enjoyed a winning start to the Under-19 World Cup, easing past Scotland Under-19s in Potchefstroom.

Luc Benkenstein, the son of former South Africa international Dale, sealed the victory with an unbeaten cameo after setting it up for England with a three-wicket haul. Farhan Ahmed, who is the brother of England international Rehan, also bagged a three-wicket haul to help England dismiss Scotland for 174.

Captain Ben McKinney then hit 88 off 68 balls to rush his side to victory, with seven wickets and 142 balls to spare. He forged a 106-run partnership for the first wicket with Jaydn Denly, who made 40 off 50 balls.

After Scotland were asked to bat first, they never got going and lost wickets in clusters. They didn't even have a single half-century stand in their entire innings. Owen Gould top-scored for them with 48 off 61 balls, including five fours and a six. The other nine batters scored a combined five boundaries.

Harry Armstrong was absent hurt for Scotland.

Luc Benkenstein picked up key wickets in the middle overs • ICC via Getty Images

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

TATA sponsors IPL for another five years

(ESPNCRICINFO) - The Tata Group has extended its title sponsorship of the IPL for another five years, from 2024 to 2028, for INR 2500 crore (US$301 million approx.), making it the "highest-ever sponsorship amount in the history of the league," a BCCI statement said. The group were the IPL title sponsors in 2022 and 2023, and are also the title sponsors of the Women's Premier League (WPL).

"The collaboration with TATA Group for the title sponsorship of IPL 2024-28 is a significant milestone in IPL's journey," IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal said.

"The record-breaking sum of INR 2500 crore by TATA

Tata will hold the IPL title rights until 2028 • BCCI

Group is a testament to the immense value and appeal

that the IPL holds in the world of sports.

"This unprecedented amount not only sets a new

benchmark in the history of the league but also reaffirms the IPL's position as a premier sporting event with global impact. TATA Group's commitment to cricket and sports is truly commendable, and we look forward to scaling new heights together and providing fans with unparalleled cricketing entertainment."

The Tata Group had replaced Vivo as IPL title sponsors for the last two seasons.

The BCCI had temporarily severed ties with Vivo, a Chinese mobile and technology company, following political tensions between India and China in June 2020. Vivo had originally bagged the title sponsorship for 2018 to 2022 for INR 2199 crores

(US $341 million approx. at the time), but for the 2020 season, it was replaced by Dream 11, before Vivo returned for the 2021 season.

Tata's bid for the next five years is a 13.7 per cent increase over what Vivo had paid for 2018-22.

"This collaboration embodies the spirit of growth, innovation, and a mutual dedication to excellence," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said. "The unprecedented financial commitment reflects the immense scale and global impact of the IPL on the international sports stage."

The 2024 IPL will be played from March 22 and run till the end of May, just before the men's T20 World Cup kicks off on June 1.

potential injuries.

"Declan Rice was feeling a sensation in his hamstring, so we didn't want to take any risks at 3-0," Arteta told TNT Sports.

"Gabriel [Jesus] had a tackle in the first half on his knee. I hope it's not [too serious] but we will see."

But, overall, it was a very pleasing afternoon for Arte-

ta, who said giving players confidence was key if they want to achieve success this season.

"We will try our best and love our players and make sure they feel trusted, because if they feel like this, they can get to a level you would never imagine," he said.

Saka says FA Cup hurt will fuel premier league title

Arsenal were 1-0 up within 11 minutes against Crystal Palace

(BBC) - Bukayo Saka says the hurt Arsenal felt when they were knocked out of the FA Cup will spur them on to fight for the Premier League title.

Arsenal lost to Liverpool, who are currently top of the table, in the third round of the FA Cup this month.

But the Gunners bounced back with a resounding 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the league on Saturday.

"This match was so im-

portant to build the momentum again," England winger Saka told TNT Sports.

"Going out of the FA Cup really hurt me, so I'm sure we'll use that to push in the Premier League and the Champions League next month. When you look at the league, you want to be first; not fourth, or sixth or third.

You want to be first."

Mikel Arteta's side returned reinvigorated from their warm-weather training

camp as a Gabriel header, Dean Henderson own goal, Leandro Trossard finish and two late Gabriel Martinelli strikes sealed the three points.

"Dubai was really nice for us to have that break," Saka added. "We weren't in the best form before that, and it helped us refresh and work on the things we needed to.

"We all knew we could score goals. We believe in ourselves, and you saw that

because we scored five, and we're happy with our performance.

"I needed the [rest] to be honest; the break came at the right time. We're all hungry to push strongly until the end of the season."

Arsenal were five points behind Liverpool before their victory over Palace, but they now sit level with second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

It was their first victory in five matches, having lost three successive games across all competitions.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said it was a "critical day" for Arsenal.

"If they didn't wake up, they would have fallen away from the title race," he said on TNT Sports.

"These next three games, including this win, could change Arsenal's season. I think they are very much back in the title race."

The win at Emirates Stadium was the perfect comeback from Arteta's side, whose only concern will have been the late substitutions of midfielder Declan Rice, and forward Gabriel Jesus with

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday January 21, 2024)

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Answers in tomorrow’s issue

29

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

Increase in number of tests will lead to improvement

CMC – Captain Kraigg Brathwaite believes an increase in the number of Tests played by West Indies will lead to an improvement in the side’s batting, providing the crucial experience needed for the young unit.

The seasoned opener, a veteran of 88 Tests, said with the number of inexperienced players in the current side, more international cricket was required in order to quickly bring them up to speed, especially against world-rated attacks like Australia’s.

“We need to play a lot more games. Last year we played six games; I pretty much wouldn’t mind if we played six games or back-toback series, because I think you’ve got to play to learn,” Brathwaite said in the wake

Kirk McKenzie brought up a maiden Test fifty•Jan 17, 2024•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

of West Indies’ 10-wicket defeat in the opening Test at Adelaide Oval.

“And I think it’s hard for a guy to play [a series] – let’s say he fails or he succeeds – but then your next Test match is six months away.

“So, it’s pretty hard to learn as a batsman because I think you learn when you’re out there playing and experiencing what world class bowlers do, so I think we need a lot more Test cricket.”

He continued: “This year

is pretty good for us. To be honest, [we have] nine games, which is great for us. We have first class cricket when we go back, so it’s a good year. But I just think, generally, the more games we can play, plus obviously funding, would be great.

“But we need to play more cricket for us guys to gain that experience then to go on and continuously perform against world class players.”

West Indies will play the final Test of the short twomatch series in Brisbane starting Thursday, and are also expected to face Pakistan, England and then South Africa later in the year.

The Caribbean side fielded a plethora of inexperienced batsmen in the first Test here this week, with

debutants Kavem Hodge and Justin Greaves surrounded by the likes of Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze and Kirk McKenzie, none of whom have yet played 10 Tests.

Predictably, they struggled against Australia’s pace attack, collapsing for 188 and 120 as West Indies suffered a 10-wicket thrashing inside three days.

The only real standout was 23-year-old left-hander McKenzie who made a fluent half-century – exactly 50 – in the first innings and followed up with an equally polished 26 in the second innings.

Brathwaite said McKenzie’s example was one for the entire batting group to follow.

“I think they should get a lot of confidence from playing the number one team and

the number one bowlers, and it shows them that they can do it,” Brathwaite said.

“Kirk got a fifty and 20odd in the second innings so it shows he has the ability to score runs against world class bowlers. And the other guys, they didn’t get runs but from watching Kirk they know that ‘well look, we can get it done.’ It’s all mental.”

He added: “Obviously [the Australian bowlers] are very consistent but you will get a bad ball in between. We keep having the conversations but for me it’s all around being mentally tough because they’re going to come at you.

“They’re the number one bowlers in the world and that alone could put a batsman under pressure but Kirk showed you can get runs against these.”

Shepherd fireworks prove vital to Joburg super kings

CMC – ROMARIO Shepherd’s fireworks proved vital as Joburg Super Kings broke their frustrating winless skid in the SA20 with a six-wicket win over Pretoria Capitals here Saturday.

Without a win in four outings, Super Kings chased down 168 at The Wanderers with two overs to spare, to make their first real impact on the tournament.

Romario Shepherd

West Indies fast bowler Shepherd helped set up the win for Super Kings, grabbing three for 39 from four overs to restrict Capitals to 167 for nine off their 20 overs.

Kyle Verreynne led with an unbeaten 72 off 52 deliveries, crunching seven fours and a six as he pulled his side around from a perilous position of 67 for six in the ninth over.

He put on 43 for the seventh wicket with Wayne Parnell (22) and 35 for the ninth with Adil Rashid (15).

Shepherd’s presence was key at the back end, making key strikes to help hamper the Capitals scoring rate.

In reply, Super Kings looked in danger of defeat when they collapsed to 16 for two in the fourth over but Donovan Ferreira (56

not out), Sibonelo Makhanya (40) and Leus du Plooy (33) all stepped up to rescue the chase.

Makhanya and du Plooy posted 70 for the third wicket and when both fell in the space of 14 deliveries, Fereira dominated a 77-run, unbroken fifth wicket stand with Englishman Moeen Ali (25) to see Super Kings home.

Dortmund beat Cologne despite ‘chocolate coin’ protest

(BBC) - Borussia Dortmund comfortably beat Cologne after a stoppage in their Bundesliga match when fans threw chocolate coins on to the pitch in protest against an investment proposal by the German Football Association.

Supporters from both clubs threw the gold coins during the 12th minute to symbolise their role as the '12th man'.

It led to an eight-minute break in play, while players from both teams helped stewards remove the confectionery.

Dortmund went on to win 4-0 in Cologne.

In December, a majority vote by German clubs approved a proposal to sell some Bundesliga TV rights in exchange for investment capital.

Supporters threw tennis balls on to the pitch during Bochum's 3-0 win over Union Berlin last month, and there was a 12-minute stoppage during Heidenheim's 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg on Saturday as part of league-wide protests.

Bochum's 1-0 home win against VfB Stuttgart was

also delayed by 40 minutes after fans of the visiting side unfurled flags which blocked fire exits.

Donyell Malen gave Dortmund the lead in the 12th minute on Saturday before the protests began, and hostile chants about the German FA followed throughout the match.

Malen doubled his tally in the second half, adding to Niclas Fullkrug's penalty and a stoppage-time goal from Youssoufa Moukoko.

Players from both clubs helped stewards clear the chocolate coins from the pitch before play resumed

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

GSA ‘thrilled’ at sport ministry’s budgetary allocation

The Guyana Squash Association is thrilled to see the unprecedented $4.6 billion allocation to sports in the 2024 budget.

The commitment to allocate the highest-ever funds reflects a profound understanding of the sig-

nificance of sports in the health and socilisation of our youth, and the pivotal role it plays in fostering national pride and unity.

The increased funding opens doors for talent development programmes, grassroots initiatives, and elite training opportuni-

ties, ensuring that young athletes from all backgrounds have a fair chance to excel.

In addition, the inclusion of duty-free access for sporting equipment will facilitate easier access to quality gear for athletes nationwide. This progres-

sive step will undoubtedly enhance training facilities for many of the sports in Guyana; hopefully allowing wider access to more potential athletes.

In essence, the elevated sports budget brings in a new era of athletic excellence and national pride. It

symbolises a commitment to the holistic development of our youth and sets the stage for a thriving sports culture that goes beyond individual successes, contributing significantly to the overall growth of sports in our country.

The GSA looks for-

ward to continuing to build on the strong relationships we have with the Ministry of youth Culture and Sport and other governing sport associations to move squash and other sports forward into the international arenas.

ister Ramson Jr announced legislation to regulate horse racing will be tabled in Parliament shortly" Habibulla revealed.

Slingerz Racing Stable whose owner, Javed Ali, who is involved in the sport explained, "Shi Oil is the

leading Guyanese-owned fuel distribution company in Guyana. They have a lot of customers countrywide.

Especially in the whole region of Berbice, and the rice farming communities. The company is always giving back in different sporting disciplines. We are part of the horse racing fraternity, and it is only right that we give back, and help grow the sport. It is the first time the company is adding its band in sponsoring the races.

The company continue to do more, and is now supporting the horse racing industry to develop."

Habbulla also thanked sponsors, AJM Group of Companies, Kp Jagdeo General Contractors, T&R Construction Services, Eagle Eye Constructions Company, Jumbo Jet Group of Companies, Bank DIH, and Ramesh Sunich's Trophy Stall.

He shared, "It will be a very exciting race day with a mix of USA-bred, Brazilian-bred, and T&T-bred and home bred horses. So do not miss out on a race card in which the majority of races are written to highlight Guyana-bred horses in action."

Post time for the seven-race card is scheduled to get underway at 13:00 hours.

New sponsors branding with horse racing

CONFIDENCE in the future of horse racing increased many folds after the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr announced on January 12, at Arthur Chung Culture Centre, that Legislation to regulate the sport should be laid in Parliament in the coming months.

This announcement propelled a renewed confidence in the sport according to racing promoter, Fazal Habibulla, who will be staging the new season's Day 2 race card on Sunday January, 28 at his Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC), West Coast, Berbice.

Habibulla, whose father is the late racing icon Sonny Habibulla served the industry with Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) race course, and by importing horses from Trinidad, also followed in his dad's shoes. As he took the baton, and continued the trade prior to his dad's death one year ago. Habibulla stated, "There is a big demand for horses, and this increased significantly after the Honourable Ramson Jr's announcement that legislation to regulate the sport will be laid in Parliament shortly."

Habibulla outlined, "Min-

New sponsors on board for next week’s horse racing at Rising Sun

ister's announcement has paved the way for the sport to grow. I can tell from the interest shown by new owners to get a horses. I am staging racing at Rising Sun next Sunday.

A number of new sponsors have come on the racing

band wagon. They realised that horse racing can take their product to a wider audience."

"For example Shi Oil, Fuel Distributor is a first time sponsor. This company is the largest oil supplier adding their name to the sponsorship

of the 1,100-metre feature event for horses classified E & Lower. We also have Just Friends - comprising Stuart Gonsalves, Zaid Khan and Densil Jagroop. This just goes to show how interest is peaking in the sport.

This happened after Min-

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

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Increase in number of tests will lead to improvement

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 21, 2024

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Kirk McKenzie brought up a maiden Test fifty•Jan 17, 2024•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

New sponsors branding with horse racing SEE PAGE

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New sponsors on board for next week’s horse racing at Rising Sun

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| SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024