Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 02-03-2023

Democracy restored but past must never be forgotten

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GECOM Commissioners, PPP/C Executive Secretary say APNU+AFC should never be allowed to repeat actions of 2020; urge Guyanese to be vigilant

President Ali discusses urban planning with visiting Indian experts

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday, held discussions with a visiting team of experts on urban planning from India, at the Office of the President. This visit follows a commitment made by experts to President Ali during his visit to India earlier in 2023. The team was accompanied by the High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr. KJ Srinivasa. Several government officials, including Minister of Housing and Water, Colin Croal; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues; CEO of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Enrique Monize; Professor Jacob Opadeyi; Winston Brassington; Director of Presidential Affairs, Marcia Nadir-Sharma and representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources were also at the meeting. The rapid transformation of Guyana and resultant opportunities have been catching the eyes of Indian officials and investors, who expressed their interest in being a part of the country’s development to Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and President Ali. (Office of the President photo)

Works progress rapidly on Eccles to Diamond four-lane highway

SEE PAGE 5

Infrastructural advancements transforming hinterland regions

SEE PAGE 14

Guyana rice researcher to get prestigious regional science award

SEE PAGE 11

$1.8M in inputs distributed to Region Five farmers’ group

THREE farming groups in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) were on Wednesday the recipients of farming tools and other inputs,

the Cotton Tree Farmers’ Group, the Zee Zight Farmers’ Group, and the Number Nine Farmers’ Group.

The minister said that

Heads of Government meeting, our President made a presentation detailing how CARICOM can reduce its food import bill by 25 per

agriculture, there is no food security so we are making the funds available to ensure small farmers and farmers’ groups have the necessary resources to develop and increase their production,” Mustapha said.

Melina Vossey, President of the Number Nine farmers’ Group while receiving the items on behalf of the group, thanked the ministry and the government for the

donation.

She said: “We made a request last December to the ministry for some tools and assistance. This is the first time we’ve received farming equipment or any form of assistance from any government. I feel so good because our group was established last February.

“I was a part of another group that fell apart so we decided to form another

group. These tools will benefit our farmers because they cannot afford to buy some of the tools. Our members are very thankful and we will use it to develop our farms,” she said.

Some of the items handed over include motorised tillers, hoes, cutlasses, forks, shovels, water pumps, grass cutters, seeds, and other chemicals and inputs.

Paneer production begins at local milk plant

By Naomi Parris

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and representatives from the various farmers’ groups who benefitted from farming tools and other inputs

valuing $1.8M, to boost their production.

During a regional outreach at the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary-Agriculture Development Authority, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha handed over the items to representatives from

given Guyana’s leading role in CARICOM, as it relates to agriculture, the government has been making funds available so that farmers could benefit from resources to improve and increase their production.

“Two years ago, during a

cent by the year 2025. In Guyana, since we got back into office, a number of people are looking to get back into agriculture because they see that this government has taken an interest in the sector.

“We know that without

THE $150 million Amaya Milk Plant in Region Five has begun the production of paneer, as the facility awaits the importation of its main pasteurising plant for milk bottling production to commence, founder, Omkaar Sharma said.

“There is a delay with the pasteuriser and the building is basically ready and so we decided in the interim to start paneer. We just did a batch of paneer, yesterday we did our first batch, today we did our second batch,” Sharma told the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday.

calculate that, it’s $800 a gallon and that’s $480,000 per day times 30 days, that’s $14 million going back into the local economy,” Sharma explained.

Once fully operational,

pany to establish its local base, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among Amaya Milk Company, the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Once the facility is completed, Guyanese will see milk sold in returnable glass bottles, which will help minimise adverse environmental impacts and encourage recycling.

Sharma had previously said that the project will be rolled out in two phases, with the first phase focusing specifically on milk production. For this phase, the company has budgeted CAN$500,000.

During the initial stage of the project, the company will be producing whole and two per cent milk, after which they will make flavoured milk, specifically strawberry and chocolate, among other unique flavours.

Once the first phase has been completed and the market is responsive, the company, in about two years, will move ahead with phase two of the project, for which CAN$1 million has been budgeted.

With the production of paneer, livestock farmers in the region have already begun cashing in, with the company purchasing 3,000 gallons of milk daily.

“There is going to be tremendous economic benefit to the dairy farmers in Region Five because, we will be buying 3,000 gallons of milk per day… when you

it is anticipated that farmers could earn up to $75 million monthly.

“When you look at that, it’s a significant amount of money that is being put back into the community and not just the farmers will get that, there is the spinoff effects,” Sharma said.

In April of last year, the path was cleared for the com-

The company plans to eventually expand its production to include yogurt, cheese, and cream. As local dairy production increases, regional markets will be targeted.

The facility will not just create direct jobs, but will also allow local cattle farmers to sell their products and even increase their production to satisfy the demand.

Paneer produced by Amaya Milk Company

Omkaar Sharma, Director of Amaya Milk Company

Democracy restored but past must never be forgotten

- GECOM Commissioners, PPP/C Executive Secretary say APNU+AFC should never be allowed to repeat actions of 2020; urge Guyanese to be vigilant

MARCH 2 will forever be an infamous date etched into the minds of Guyanese both at home and those in the diaspora, who remember it for the notorious events that followed this date in 2020 that marked the start of what would be a harrowing, dragged out five-month long process in one of the most blatant attacks on democracy.

As Guyana’s Regional and General Elections began one early Monday morning three years ago, thousands of Guyanese ventured out to exercise their right in a process that many anticipated to last a week at best.

“Persons voted in what was a peaceful uneventful day, but clearly there was an attempt by some very deranged minds, who got together and decided they were going to subvert the electoral process. Depriving the electorate of their will,” Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner, Sase Gunraj recalls.

However, with the then A Partnership for National

Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government refusing to relinquish power for over a year since the passage of a no-confidence motion against them, the refusal remained staunch even after the hosting of the national elections. And a five-month long battle against democracy ensued.

Now, some three years since that fated day occurred, and with the passage of amendments to the National Registration Act (NRA) and Representation of the People Act (ROPA), many Guyanese are healing and beginning to let the March 2, 2020 and subsequent events ebb away.

But it remains a reality

that this ill-fated day should never be forgotten.

“I myself wish it never happened, so I didn’t have to forget it. But those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it,” Gunraj Said.

As a Commissioner on the elections body, Gunraj had a front row seat to the entire debacle as it unfolded, month after painstaking month.

Then People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Chief Scrutineer, Zulfikar Mustapha, also could not believe what played out before his very eyes. And given the work that many tireless civil soldiers played in upholding Guyana’s democracy, he

too believes Guyanese must never forget lest they give unscrupulous characters a window to repeat it.

“On the observance of the third anniversary of those elections and with freedom restored, we must never forget the disgrace the APNU+AFC coalition brought to our country and people. I urge that together we endeavour to ensure

they never get the opportunity to repeat such atrocities,” Mustapha said.

During that five-month period, the glaring attempts by the then APNU+AFC coalition government to steal the elections and deny the will of the Guyanese people, unashamedly unfolded in real time for all to see.

“They were ably assisted by their cohorts nestled within the secretariat of GECOM. In their attempts to rig those elections, they trampled upon the constitutional processes that are enshrined to protect and effect free and fair elections,” Mustapha said.

On the fated day, for nine of the 10 constituents, Districts One, Two, Three, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10 the tabulation process would go smoothly, with

preliminary results released by the next day.

But in District Four, where almost one-third of the voting population resides, mayhem unfolded. Following the declarations of fraudulent results, there were attempts to swear in APNU+AFC presidential candidate, David Granger. However, those efforts were impeded by an injunction by the High Court to blocking the declaration of the overall results of the elections until the issues in Region Four could be heard and determined.

With efforts led by Bharrat Jagdeo, PPP/C General Secretary, the period saw Guyanese from all strata of society standing up to safeguard their democracy and their freedom to choose a

Here is a popular quote from Dr. Jagan in 1961:

“I believe that my first charge is to raise my people from the mire of poverty in which, for too long, they have suffered. I have never made any secret of my views. I have been thrown out of office. I have been subjected to violence, indignity and jail. I am willing to face these things again, and gladly, in the fight to free my people and aid them. Here I stand. Here I will stand until I die.”

This March marks the 105th birth anniversary and 26th death anniversary of the late former President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan

GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj

GECOM Commissioner, Clement Rohee

PPP/C Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha

Application process opens for US Fulbright Foreign Student Programme

THE United States (US) Embassy has announced the opening of the application period for the 2024 Fulbright Foreign Student Programme.

“Fulbright scholarship applications are now being accepted at https:// apply.iie.org/ffsp2024.

The application deadline is June 30, 2023,” the embassy said.

Sponsored by the US Department of State

Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme enables graduate students and young professionals from abroad to pursue a master’s degree or Ph.D. in the US.

Participants are selected based on their academic merit and leadership potential to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and find solutions to shared global

concerns.

Participants will be funded for up to two years of degree study. Scholarship awards are contingent upon approval and final selection by the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board (FSB), availability of funds, and successful academic placement.

Fulbright Foreign Student participants must return to their home countries for a minimum of two years upon completion of the programme.

“The Fulbright For -

eign Student Programme is part of the Unites States’ continued commitment to the prosperity of Guyana and the Caribbean region by building local capacity through higher education,” the embassy said.

Over 120 Guyanese have benefitted from Ful-

bright scholarships since the early 1960s and now have jobs in the public sector, academia, the arts, business, civil society, media, and education.

This programme is open to Guyanese citizens residing in Guyana who possess leadership skills, are highly motivated with a demonstrated commitment to community service, and have graduated

with a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree with a grade point average of 3.5 or above.

Interested candidates should visit the US Embassy’s website for full application requirements and programme details at:https://gy.usembassy. gov/education-culture/ fulbright-student-program/.

Democracy restored...

FROM PAGE 3 government of their choice.

Those efforts were supported by a number of local and international observer groups and diplomatic missions.

“Our country was in the international spotlight for the reasons as the selfish actions of the APNU+AFC coalition tarnished Guyana’s image,” Mustapha said.

Head of the OAS observer mission at the elections, Bruce Golding, stated that he had “never seen a more transparent attempt to alter the results of an election.”

Facing regional and international pressure, Granger subsequently agreed to a countrywide recount, which was not completed until June.

The results of the recount showed the PPP/C party as having a significant lead over the APNU+AFC. But even with this shown clear

as day, the APNU+AFC and their associates concocted a plan to delay the swearing in of PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali.

It would not be until August 2, 2020, that the official declaration would be made and the real President sworn in.

Dr. Ali’s leadership has since led to the restoration of the country’s international image, and the return of confidence in Guyana, a country now classified as a major investment and tourism destination with one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Despite the progress made, GECOM Commissioner, Clement Rohee, believes that Guyanese need to always be vigilant and alert, so as to ensure that the memories of the past do not become a reality of the future.

Works progress rapidly on Eccles to Diamond four-lane highway

AS the government continues to stand firm on its promise to not only modernise but expand Guyana’s infrastructure, efforts to complete the four-lane highway from Eccles to Great Diamond are progressing smoothly.

This was according to the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

Minister Croal said despite the previous obstacles hindering the construction of the highly anticipated highway, the government is on track with the project to improve the lives of thousands of Guyanese.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had included the four-lane highway from Georgetown to Timehri (CJIA) in its 2020-2025 manifesto under the heading, “Infrastructure Boom: Building

Works ongoing on the road to be completed by the end of March (Adrian Narine Photo)

for the Future.”

The party gave its commitment that it will revolutionise the outdated infrastructure in Guyana and initiate work on several transformative infrastructural projects, all in order to provide a flourishing economy.

According to Minister Croal, the government is also working towards a March 31 completion for the Eccles Industrial Site Access Road

Chainsaw operator nabbed with 335.9 grams of marijuana at Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling

ACTING on information, police ranks from Regional Division Three, on Wednesday, busted a 29-year-old chainsaw operator with 335.9 grams of cannabis at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling. According to information from the police, the officers visited the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling around 10:20 hours, when they saw the 29-year-old

man, Christopher Layne, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, seated in the front passenger

seat of a minibus, with a green haversack on his shoulder.

Layne was then told of the information received, and a search was requested to be carried out on him by the ranks, to which he agreed.

During the search of the man’s haversack, a black bulky plastic bag with a number of leaves, seeds, and stem suspected to be cannabis was

found.

Layne was told of the offence committed, arrested, and escorted to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, where the suspected narcotics were weighed and amounted to 335.9 grams. The 29-year-old man is slated to be charged. He is presently in custody at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.

project also known as the “dumpsite road.”

The minister further said that Lot Two, the small portion continuing from Lot One, is the only delay that it is expected. However, Croal related that this is just a minor challenge and will not hinder any progress.

The Industrial Site Access Road leads to the industrial area, Providence and other housing developments.

It is also part of one of the main connectivity for the Ogle, East Coast Demerara to Eccles, East Bank Demerara roads being executed through the Public Works Ministry.

This year, $54 billion was allocated to the housing sector for major infrastructural works, of which $7.3 billion will go towards the continuation of the highways at Eccles to Diamond, as well as an additional $5.4 billion for the Schoonord to Crane Road.

The minister informed the public that both projects are expected to be completed by the middle of 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Those investments in infrastructure will significantly improve the transportation network in Guyana and will play a critical role in driving economic growth and job creation in the country. (DPI)

Democracy Was Rescued

DEMOCRACY was rescued after five months of varied attempts by the APNU+AFC to hijack the March 2, 2020, elections. Democracy was threatened. Now it is in safe hands of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic!

Three years ago today, the world watched as Guyanese voted under the control of the PNC-led coalition and queried whether the ruling party would accept defeat were it to lose the election.

The PNC rigged every election from 1964 onwards, and the sole referendum (1978) in independent Guyana till 1992 to remain in office.

As it were, as Guyanese and the world feared, the then PNC-led coalition government attempted to influence the results of the March 2, 2020 election. It was all caught on camera, but the PNC was not embarrassed.

The party was not embarrassed by earlier electoral riggings. But one expected that party’s political culture and its lack of respect for democracy would have changed

some 28 years later (from 1992 when it was forced out of office by threats from the Carter Centre-led team of international observers) in March 2020, when democratic elections were being accepted globally.

After the 23-year experience with democratic practices (October 1992 to May 2015) in Guyana, one would have thought that the PNC would have embraced democratic concepts like respecting the outcome of a parliamentary no-confidence vote and democratically held free and fair elections. Everyone had hoped for a turning of the page of the PNC of the past. It was not to be.

On December 21, 2018, the PNC led coalition lost a no-confidence motion that it urged the then PPP/C opposition “to bring it on if they have 33 votes.”

Some 33 members of parliament (32 from the opposition and one person from the ruling coalition) did vote to bring down the government.

The coalition announced to the world that it had accepted defeat and that it

would follow the Constitution that mandated elections within 90 days.

Weeks later, the coalition backtracked, challenging the no-confidence vote. There was one delaying tactic after another resulting in judicial intervention.

The country’s apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice, ruled that the government had fallen and urged it to follow the Constitution and call an election. An election was not scheduled until March 2020, some 15 months after the defeat in the no-confidence motion. Voters were displeased with the various attempts to delay the holding of an election.

It took days to officially finalise the vote count when unofficial results were in the hands of every party and observer, as well as the media and GECOM.

The coalition claimed victory but could not provide legitimate numbers from statements of polls to back the claim. Spokespersons for the administration began refusing to accept the outcome, which was a victory for the

PPP/C.

All international and domestic observers as well as several parties that contested the elections stated that it was free and fair. They also stated that the outcome, as reflected in the publicly displayed statements of poll, were an accurate reflection of the vote. The PNC refused to accept defeat.

The numbers showed the coalition trailing after the SOPs of nine of 10 regions were certified. The SOPs of Region Four, a PNC stronghold, was last to be certified. The Returning Officer for Region Four mysteriously became ill and had to be taken to the hospital. There was a black out and bomb threat.

The vote count on SOPs for Region Four were magically changed. There were other attempted skullduggery including a failed attempt to change numbers on the computer that was used to officially store and tally the overall count.

All of this was being done under public glare –presence of witnesses and cameras. Observers were

there as were diplomats of the ABCE countries. Former Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding who led a team of OAS observers described the attempted fraud “as the most transparent attempt he had ever seen to rig an election.”

CARICOM intervened! An agreement was brokered to have a CARICOM-led audit (recount) of the ballots of all 10 regions. After agreeing to the recount, the coalition went to court to block it. The appeal court said the recount did not violate the Constitution.

Guardians of Democracy as watchmen to protect the ballot boxes, various people who fought against the attempted fraud, significant role of observer missions, and others who worked behind the scenes, and the US State Department intervened to save democracy.

The recount of ballots as reflected on new recount statements of poll (RSOPs) were almost the same as those on the original SOPS, recertifying a PPP/C victory. Several attempts were made

by the then CEO of GECOM to prevent the declaration of the numbers from the RSOPs. The coalition again tried to block the declaration of the winner by going to court. The Appeal Court ruled against it.

The US State department issued a warning statement urging the coalition to accept the recount. Eventually, the CEO did the right thing, declaring that the PPP/C won the elections and 33 seats; 31 seats went to the coalition and one seat to the joiner list of three parties.

Dr. Irfaan Ali, the PPP Presidential nominee, was sworn in as President on August 2, 2020, five months after the election.

Democracy was rescued after a long-fought battle of five months to certify the outcome that was preceded by 12 months of struggle to force the coalition to honour long held democratic conventions to hold an election after a defeat in a no-confidence motion. Since August 2020, democracy has flourished and is being further consolidated with the passage of new laws in Guyana.

Gone are the days of ‘Burnhamism’

GUYANA recently observed 53 years as a republic. It also coincided with the 100th birth anniversary of former President Forbes Burnham. Burnham was at the political helm both at the time of the conferral of independence and republican status.

As to whether Burnham’s birth anniversary and our republic celebrations were coincidental is not really important or material, even though given Burnham’s proclivity for ego gratification, it may not be one of sheer coincidence.

To say that Burnham played a contributory role in the underdevelopment

of Guyana during the immediate post-independence period would be an understatement.

Burnham was, in fact, the architect of Guyana’s economic and social decline, which at the time of his passing had reduced the country to the poorest in the western hemisphere and among the least developed in the world!

One of the main reasons for the difficult situation in which the country found itself was the rupture of the democratic fabric of the country. It is an established fact that all elections since 1968 were blatantly rigged by the PNC, which resulted in a deep political crisis, the

likes of which had never been experienced in the Anglophone Caribbean.

The political crisis gave rise to an economic crisis, which in turn resulted in a severe social crisis. For a significant period, the country experienced negative economic growth which only served to make a bad situation worse.

Guyanese were experiencing hell to make ends meet and many were forced into the underground economy in order to survive. The point in all of this is that there is a dialectical relationship between the political system and the other subsystems, including the eco-

nomic, social and cultural systems.

The political system impacts all aspects of life. Hence the importance of fixing the system in a way that it optimises the full developmental potential of the country and its people.

One can be charitable and give some credit to Burnham for the role Guyana played in the non-aligned movement and the anti-imperialist struggle at that time for which the PPP rendered “critical support.”

There are, however, many who saw such overtures as merely self-serving and a political smokescreen to institutionalise dictatorial

rule.

During that period, even in the midst of a severe economic crisis, the country had a bloated foreign service which, along with the Office of the President and the military, was consuming more financial resources than education, health, housing, agriculture and water combined.

It is important that Burnham be placed in a proper historical context, especially in light of recent attempts by some people to glorify his contribution to Guyana’s political evolution. His split from the PPP in 1955 and the subsequent rupture of the democratic fabric of the

country remain until this day an unfortunate, if not dark moment in our political landscape.

Fortunately, we have moved past that depressing era but, “Burnhamism” as a political philosophy, whereby the capture of state power by undemocratic and Machiavellian means should never be allowed to again raise its ugly head.

The way forward for Guyana is through, free, fair and democratic elections and constitutional governance. Any departure from such norms are fraught with danger.

Yours respectfully, Hydar Ally

Updates to petroleum legislation imminent

A new petroleum production bill to update and modernise Guyana’s existing legislation in the sector is currently in the pipeline and will be made public shortly.

This is according to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

Anil Nandlall S.C., during Tuesday’s edition of his weekly show, Issues in the News.

During the live broadcast, he said that while Guyana has a Petroleum Exploration and Production Act which was enacted in the 1980s, the government is working on a new petroleum production bill.

The previous act, Nandlall said, was enacted when the country was not a petroleum producer and since Guyana has moved successfully into that sector, the current piece of legislation has become outmoded and cannot be a proper regulatory framework for the current sector.

“We have recognised that a long time ago, and we are working on a brand-new bill that will take into account and will address the modern realities of Guyana as an oil and gas producer. So, that is in the pipeline and that will be made public shortly,” he said.

Additionally, Nandlall related that there are some other related legislations that the government is working on as it relates to

the oil and gas sector, and in due time those will all be made public.

Among some of those to be reviewed is the Local Content Act of 2021, which, he said, the government has made a commitment to reviewing and adding regulations to.

In this regard, Nandlall related that Guyana has now had the Local Content Act enacted for some two years and said that as more experience is gained, it

will be subject to reviews.

“We have acquired under our belt, two years of experience as an oil and gas producer, operator, exporter and I believe now we are at a particular vantage point that we can now review our experience and start to work on modernising and making adjustments to the local

content law,” the Attorney-General said.

This, coupled with bringing in additional regulations, he related, will strengthen the legislation to enable the government to achieve the core objective of the legislation which is to protect Guyanese and Guyanese companies in the oil and gas

sector.

The Attorney-General committed to the continual review of the legislation and ensuring that lessons learned in the sector are taken on board so that they could play a role in the updating and modernising of the legislation.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C., on Tuesday evening made it clear that businesses in Guyana are not permitted to demand payment in US Dollars only without relevant permission.

Nandlall made those remarks during the broadcast of his weekly show, Issues in the News, during which he addressed the issue of

businesses in the country demanding payment for services to be made only in US Dollars.

He related that under Guyana’s laws, the Guyanese Dollar remains the valid legal tender for trans-

States Dollars, converted at a rate agreed upon by the parties; normally the parties would refer to a prevailing cambio rate at a commercial bank or at a particular licensed cambio,” he said.

Nandlall related that it is permissible for one to transact business either in Guyanese Dollars or its equivalent in US Dollars.

What is not permitted, he said, is the insistence on the exclusive use of foreign currency to conduct a transaction in Guyana without the permission of the Minister of Finance.

actions being done in the country.

“However, the law permits that persons can trade, if they wish in either Guyanese Dollars or United

Nandlall added: “One must get the permission of the Minister of Finance to deal exclusively in foreign currency. To insist that transactions must be done exclusively in foreign currency without an approval from the Minister of Finance would be unlawful.”

Businesses not legally permitted to demand solely USD - without seeking requisite authorisation

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C.

Reflecting on the road to democracy

Timeline of events

* In November 2018, former President and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, filed a motion of No-Confidence against the coalition government, citing massive corruption and an unemployment crisis.

* On December 21, 2018, former Alliance for Change (AFC) back-bencher Charrandass Persaud voted in favour of the Opposition-sponsored motion against his government, toppling what would become a one-term Presidency for

Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger. Persaud maintained that it was a vote of conscience.

* That night, former Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, led all the Government MPs, with the exception of Persaud, into an emergency meeting, where it was agreed that the debate on the motion was an open and transparent one and it must be recorded in Parliamentary democracy. At an urgent press conference that night, the Prime Minister conceded that the APNU+AFC

government was toppled by the motion.

* The successful passage of the motion activated a section in the constitution which stipulated the need for fresh elections within three months. But this did not happen

* On Christmas Eve, 2018, an interpretation for what constituted an “Absolute Majority” in the National Assembly was floated and later adopted by the coalition. The coalition argued that the PPP/C needed not one, but two extra votes for the motion to be successfully passed. The coalition proffered that half of 65 was 32.5, but since there could be no half vote, the figure would be rounded to 33. And, an absolute majority could only be garnered from 34 votes or more

* From this point forward, a lengthy legal battle ensued and began at the High Court, where the Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George ruled that the motion was validly passed. A dissatisfied APNU+AFC engaged the Court of Appeal and then the final appeal went to the Caribbean Court

a suitable candidate, Mr Granger and Mr Jagdeo finally agreed to appoint Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh as the Chairperson, but GECOM then had to deal with the cleansing of the voters’ list and house-to-house registration. Probes into fake certificates and concerns were conducted as GECOM began preparations for the polls

* By the end of September, March 2, 2020, was fixed as the date for Regional and General elections. This meant that the Regional and General Elections would be held more than a year after the No-Confidence motion was passed, and just a few months shy of when elections were initially, constitutionally due. On December 30, 2019 Parliament was finally dissolved

* Dr. Irfaan Ali, 40, a former Housing Minister was selected as the presidential candidate for the PPP/C on January 19, 2019

* On March 2, just about a week after Guyana commemorated its 50th Republic Anniversary, citizens went to the polls. At the end of that day, the elections were hailed as “free, fair and transparent”

* Before the next morning, the PPP/C completed its internal tabulations using their Statements of Poll (SOPs) from 2,339 polling stations. Throughout the official tabulation, the figures matched the SOPs and the party was poised to win the elections after the tabulation of Guyana’s largest voting region- Region Four. It seemed as though it would take a miracle for the APNU+AFC coalition to return to government.

of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s apex court

* On July 18, 2019, the CCJ ruled that the No-Confidence motion was successfully passed and 33 was indeed the majority of 65. Charrandass’ dual citizenship status was also legally challenged, but the courts ruled that this did not affect his vote in favour of the motion

* Elections were further delayed over the

* Clairmont Mingo, the Returning Officer for Region Four fell ill, stalling the tabulation of the region. His replacement also fell ill, and before long, it was night and the tabulation was stalled until the next morning. When the tabulation resumed, figures that did not match the SOPs secured by the PPP/C, were called out by GECOM; these inflated the votes garnered by the coalition and showed them coming back from certain defeat

* After a thinly-veiled threat to revoke accreditation and one bomb scare later, Mingo read out the figures which indicated a coalition victory, and another one-seat majority in the National Assembly.

selection of the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), when former President David Granger unilaterally appointed Justice (ret’d) James Patterson. The PPP/C challenged his appointment all the way to the CCJ; the CCJ ruled that Mr. Granger did not have the power to make the unilateral appointment and so, Patterson had to vacate the office

* After many months of exchanging lists on

* Immediately, an injunction, supported by the PPP/C was filed, blocking the swearing in of President Granger for his second term. This began the second round of court action. Chief Justice George annulled the results of Region Four and ruled that a partial recount should take place, verifying the results of the contentious region

* This recount, dubbed the Spreadsheet

Charrandass Persaud being abused by his colleagues on his left and right, minutes after he voted in favour of an Opposition-sponsored No-Confidence Motion.

Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George

Barbados PM, Mia Mottley, with CARICOM heads of government during a visit to attempt to mediate between the political leaders during the electoral crisis

TIMELINE...

edition, saw the tabulation resuming in the presence of party agents and observers. The twist was that Mingo read results directly from a spreadsheet, which did not match the SOPs gathered by the other parties. Something seemed amiss

* The International Community made it clear that the Mingo’s results were not credible and would not be accepted. And Chairperson of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley came to Guyana with a team of CARICOM Ministers in an attempt to mediate between Mr Jagdeo and Mr Granger. This is when the agreement for a full recount of all votes cast in all ten regions was reached between the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC. But then, Guyana started to record cases of the deadly COVID-19

* This recount, though demanding patience from all parties, was seen as a credible solution to the entire process, as claims of irregularities emerged in other regions. A private citizen, Ulita Grace Moore, was

* However, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, in his first elections report, stated that he could not determine the credibility of all votes. As such, he invalidated thousands of votes, giving the APNU+AFC a victory. Another private citizen, Eslyn David challenged the credibility of the recount. It was back into the courts again - albeit COVID-19 style - while “fresh elections” became the new clamour

* On June 22, 2020, the CCJ invalidated Lowenfield’s move to discard votes, and elucidated what constituted a “val-

legitimate and should be used to declare the winner of the elections. Furthermore, it was highlighted that the CEO’s actions should not stall the declaration any longer as he was not a “lone ranger”

* The declaration of Irfaan

Ali as the ninth Executive President of Guyana and his swearing in happened in one swift motion on August 2, following more than a year of delays manifested by the APNU+AFC coalition.

* Subsequently, Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence; Chief Elections

Officer, Keith Lowenfield; Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, APNU+AFC activist from Region Five, Carol Joseph; Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers, were all charged with electoral fraud. Their cases are still pending in the courts.

*Government fulfilled its promise in 2022 to have an

inquiry into the March 2020 Regional and General elections. The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was established by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali in September 2022 to expose the wrongdoings that occurred during the protracted electoral period. The inquiry has since been completed and the Commissioners will soon present their report

*In December 2022, the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) (Amendment) Bill of 2022 was passed in the National Assembly, paving the way for electoral districts Three, Four and Six to be divided for the purpose of the tabulation of votes. The Bill seeks to ensure that what transpired in 2020 never happens again.

*The hiring of a new CEO at GECOM and other structural adjustments have brought the Commission to a trusted level to facilitate another electoral process, the Local Government Elections

Former Attorney General, High Court Judge and Acting Justice of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean, Godfrey P. Smith; the Chairman of the CoI, Retired Justice of Appeal of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Stanley John and former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh

not pleased though; she filed for an injunction (yes, another injunction) blocking the national recount. As this matter engaged the judicial system, time passed by. And while the rest of the world battled COVID-19, Guyana was dealing with an electoral epidemic within the pandemic

* About two months later, on May 6, the national recount finally got underway, with COVID-19 precautions in place. CARICOM sent a three-member team to scrutinise the recount. But as the 34day recount went on, claims of dead voters, migrant voters and electoral fraud were highlighted by the coalition, but there was nothing substantial to invalidate the elections. A month later, the recount was completed and yes, it showed a PPP/C victory

id” vote. There was no other conceivable avenue that could be pursued to stall the swearing in of the PPP/C Presidential candidate yet, Lowenfield found one. He either submitted the incorrect elections report (that is, not based on the national recount) or just outrightly did not submit a report to GECOM so that a winner could have been declared. Somewhere in between visa sanctions, growing tensions and ever-increasing COVID-19 cases, Misenga Jones approached the courts aiming to deter the swearing in of a PPP/C government. The phrase “Res Judicata” was introduced; it meant that matters that were already adjudicated may not be pursued further by the same parties

* The Court of Appeal then ruled on Jones’ petition and determined the recount was

Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh takes the oath as GECOM Chairperson in July, 2019

PNC activist, Carol Joseph; PNCR ‘Chair’ and former minister, Volda Lawrence, and Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court in October

Regional science fair returns

THE Ministry of Education’s regional science fair was launched on Monday, after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a release from

the Education Ministry, the fair which opened in Georgetown, will run for three days at Queen’s College, under the theme: “Transforming Education through Innovation and

STEAM [Science, Technology Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics].”

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, according to a press release, highlighted that

Guyana is on the cusp of development.

She related that the STEAM fair provides students with a platform to not only be creative, but also to mould their minds to become critical thinkers to make meaningful contributions in the future.

“These practical exercises are not gimmicks for us. For us in Education, we are asking and challenging our children to identify problems and create solutions for those problems. These activities are meant to pursue, augment, and complement the work in our curriculum,” the Education Minister said.

She further related that ev-

ery region across Guyana will host a STEAM fair leading up to the National Science, Technology Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics Fair which is scheduled to be hosted later this year.

Principal Education Officer, Immanuel Bridgewater, said there are five categories of participants: Nursery schools, primary schools, secondary schools, practical instruction centres, and observer groups. There are a total of 85 projects being displayed as part of the exhibition.

“From the projects that are here, we have seen evidence of our children using their imagi-

nation, creativity and knowledge of science, and what is happening in the environment to bring to life those experiences that can make the lives of all those individuals living in those communities better,” Bridgewater said. Science in the broadest sense refers to any system of knowledge which attempts to model reality. As such, this year, the National Science, Technology Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics Fair will not be limited to traditional sciences such as chemistry and physics, but will also accommodate areas such as social and behavioural sciences and home economics.

Ramps drops damages claim against State

TRINIDADIAN-OWNED Ramps Logistics, on Wednesday, dropped its claim of damages against the State and will now only be moving ahead with a possible settlement on costs.

This is according to one of the company’s attorneys, CV Satram, who addressed the acting Chief Justice, Roxane George, S.C., during a report hearing on the issues.

“We [Ramps] would wish to discontinue our claim for damages at this stage. However, the issue of the cost has not been settled.” Satram said.

Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke singled out his intention to “amicably resolve” the issues before the court.

The Chief Justice adjourned the matter until March 23, 2023, at 11:30 hrs, for the report on the issue of costs.

In November 2022, the Chief Justice ruled in favour of an application made by the company. Justice George, in her ruling, ordered the Local Content Secretariat

Chief Justice Roxane George, S.C.

(LCS) to issue a local content certificate to Ramps Logistics Guyana. The LCS had complied with the order and granted Ramps its certificate.

The logistics company, which was incorporated in 2013 and is parented by Ramps Logistics Limited out of Trinidad and Tobago, had moved to the court, arguing that its application for the certificate was unlawfully denied.

Ramps, through Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo and Attorney-at-Law C.V

Satram, had sought several orders to force the LCS to issue the document. The State is currently exploring all available options, including an appeal of the CJ’s ruling.

In June 2022, the LCS, after reviewing the company’s application, determined that the information submitted was insufficient for a proper compliance evaluation to be done by the secretariat, in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

It was reported that some 51 per cent of the company was sold to Trinidadian businessman, Deepak Lall, for G$210 million.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Lall has never represented Ramps Logistics publicly at any of its press conferences, and Trinidadian, Shaun Rampersaud, remains the face of the company.

Last year, Rampersaud was released on $500,000 bail for 10 charges of false declaration made over the past two years to the GRA. Rampersaud pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, observing a project at the regional science fair

Acting

Guyana rice researcher to get prestigious regional science award

GUYANESE agri-researcher, Dr. Mahendra Persaud, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Anthony N. Sabga Award, Caribbean Excellence for Science & Technology.

AS announced on Wednesday in Port of Spain by Awards’ Progamme Director Maria Neilson, Dr. Persaud and two other 2023 Laureates (women’s health doctor, Dr. Adesh Sirjusingh of Trinidad and Tobago and author Joanne Hillhouse of Antigua & Barbuda) will each receive TT$500,000 in recognition and support of their work at a gala ceremony in Trinidad in June.

“As Chief Scientist at the Rice Research Station at Burma, Persaud has developed high-yielding, disease resistant strains of rice that emerge well under flooded conditions. Under his leadership, Guyana’s rice yields are said to have risen from a national average of four tonnes per hectare to six tonnes per hectare - second only to top global rice producer, China,” a press release stated.

He is a respected academic who has published

widely in his field. In 2016, he received Guyana’s fourth highest national award, the Golden Arrow of Achievement, “for outstanding research as a scientist in the rice industry, resulting in high-yielding varieties with consequential increased rice production.”

He and his team are currently beginning research into the cultivation of wheat in Guyana, which could result in major benefits for regional food security.

The Anthony N. Sabga Awards, Caribbean Excellence have been awarded to Caribbean nationals who excel in the fields of Arts & Letters, Entrepreneurship, Public & Civic Contributions, and Science & Technology, since 2006.

This year’s three Laureates join a distinguished college of 57 awardees from across the Caribbean.

Nominations for the 2024 awards are now open at ansacaribbeanawards. com. The awards are administered by the ANSA McAL Foundation – the philanthropic arm of the ANSA McAL Group.

Dr. Mahendra Persaud

Private, public sector can join forces to provide free dialysis - Dr. Ramsammy

By Cindy Parkinson

THE government of Guyana has distributed 84 cheques worth $600,000 each to hemodialysis patients in an effort to help cover the cost of their medical care. While dialysis is free in the public sector, the government acknowledges that not all Guyanese have access to it, and the private sector is being asked to help in providing the free service.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, said, “while the public sector is offering dialysis for free, they are still unable to offer it to every Guyanese as they would like to. So, I am asking the private sector to provide dialysis so that no Guyanese is left out.”

He continued: “We started this programme last year, where we are giving every dialysis patient an annual grant of $600,000…...”

According to Dr. Ramsammy, in 2022, there were approximately 300 people who requested the grant and received it.

He also noted that they

anticipated there would be between 300 and 350 people this year.

Last year, it was in excess of $200M, and according to Budget 2023, $863 million was allocated to support those in need of medical treatment.

The former Minister of Health also noted that they believe it is very costly for families, and the government wants to ensure that the cost does not prevent persons from accessing dialysis treatment.

“It’s a lifesaving intervention, and therefore we are giving people a chance to live, and now that our transplant programme is growing, we might be able to give people a new lease on life through a transplant. Because it is an inconvenient and difficult health condition to live with for the rest of one’s life, our goal is to expand the transplant programme so that one day our people will not have to depend on dialysis in order to live productive lives,” said the former health minister.

Dr. Ramsammy further stated that this initiative is in keeping with the government’s “pursuit of equity” and ensuring that equitable

health care is available to all citizens of Guyana.

He also stated that the government will ensure that a lifesaving intervention such as dialysis is available to the wealthy and every Guyanese citizen who requires it, “regardless of where they are from or where they live.”

The plan, according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, is intended to provide financial assistance to people with kidney failure who need dialysis, a crucial treatment for the management of their condition.

“Last year, we introduced a programme where persons who are affected by kidney failure and have end-stage kidney disease receive an annual subsidy of $600,000, “ he said, noting that over $50M was paid out this year to benefit 84 patients.

Last year, some 327 patients benefitted from the annual $600,000 payout.

Persons requiring dialysis support can contact the Ministry’s Medical Treatment Department at (225 0113) for more information on how they can receive financial assistance.

Adviser to Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Infrastructural advancements transforming hinterland regions

THE development of infrastructure in hinterland communities has always been a priority of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government.

To this end, significant efforts have been made to improve the transportation networks and access to basic services in remote areas of the country.

In 2022, the government

initiated several infrastructural projects aimed at rehabilitating and constructing roads, bridges, and revetments in hinterland communities.

One of the notable projects

was the rehabilitation and construction of the Moruca Main Access Road (Phase Three) in Region One. The project was awarded to Mohamed Ramzanali Khan Construction at a cost of $197,015,910. The contractor was tasked with upgrading one km of rigid pavement. This completed project has improved access to the com -

networks in Region Seven, which saw Associated Construction Services being awarded the rehabilitation of Five Mile Housing Scheme Road Network at a cost of $94,289,160.

The project was a continuation and involved upgrading of one km of asphalt road. The project was completed and has improved access to the Five Mile

munity.

The government also prioritised the rehabilitation of internal roads in Lethem, Region Nine.

In Tabatinga Drive, Region Nine, some 3.7 km of road was upgraded to asphaltic concrete. Rehabilitation works were executed by Theodore Faria General Contracting Services to the tune of $182,620,357.

munity that was previously cut off from the rest of the country during the rainy season.

In addition to the Moruca project, the government also awarded the rehabilitation and construction of the Mabaruma to Hosororo road to United Contracting Supplies at a cost of $194,020,785. The project involves upgrading one km of rigid pavement, and so far, it is 80 per cent complete. The concrete road was completed, but the bridge approaches are outstanding.

Rehabilitation works on the San Jose Main Access Road (Phase One), Region One, was awarded to Mohamed Ramzanali Khan Construction at a cost of $113,526,315 and saw 600m of rigid pavement and revetment works being executed.

The government also prioritised the rehabilitation of road

community.

A&S General Contractors was awarded the rehabilitation of West Bartica Secondary Road Network at a cost of $84,027,090. The completed project involved the upgrading one km of asphalt road.

The government also awarded the rehabilitation of roads in Kaburi (Phase Two), Region Seven to Associated Construction Services at a cost of $61,402,950. The project involves rehabilitating eight km of laterite roads in the community, and it is 90 per cent complete.

The placing of laterite is ongoing, and the project is expected to be completed soon.

JSB Investment Inc. was awarded the rehabilitation of roads in Karrau in Region Seven at a cost of $69,897,535. This saw the rehabilitation of five km of laterite roads in the com-

Another significant project was the rehabilitation of Moco Moco Main Access Road and bridges in Region Nine. Modern Construction and Trucking Service was awarded the contract at a cost of $80,808,850 to repair timber bridges and perform sectional repairs on 20 km of roads. The project is 90 per cent complete with materials placed on the road waiting to be compacted. The bridges were completed. Also, the rehabilitation of the Ituni internal roads and drains in Region 10 was awarded to O&O General Contracting Services. This saw 200 m of concrete drains being installed.

Overall, the infrastructural development in these hinterland communities is an essential step towards promoting economic growth and improving the living standards of the residents. (DPI)

Completed road works in Region Nine

Moruca Main Access Road

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Thursday March 02, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Ridley Jacobs—113* (Barbados, 2001)

(2) Andrew Hudson-163 (Barbados, 1992)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who is the first WI bowler to take a five-wicket haul in Tests against South Africa?

(2) Who is the first SA bowler to do so against the WI in Tests?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Alzarri Joseph hauls West Indies back in contention

CMC – Inspired pace bowling – led by Alzarri Joseph – in a lively half-hour before the close enabled West Indies to creep back into the first Test against South Africa on Wednesday.

After their batting collapsed to skilful, if not palpably menacing fast bowling from Anrich Nortje, the Caribbean side defied an explosive start from opener Aiden Markram and reduced the South Africans to 49 for four in their second innings at the close on the second day at SuperSport Park.

West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph screams his delight after taking a wicket against hosts South Africa on the second day of the first Test on Wednesday in Centurion.

(WIPA photo)

Joseph has so far taken two for 17 from four overs to follow up his maiden Test ‘five’r earlier, and Kemar Roach and Jason Holder each grabbed a wicket, and West Indies strongly finished a day on which 16 wickets fell – all to the pacemen.

The visitors will have their work cut out on Thursday trying to stop the Proteas from building on their current lead of 179, with first innings century-maker Markram not out on 35 that already includes six boundaries.

“We know that we have been in this situation already a few times, so we know what we have to do, and we have the confidence in our bowlers to go out there and get the job done,” West Indies vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood said in a TV interview after play.

“As batsmen, we did not go out there and put the runs on the board that we wanted, but we still have a second innings, and once we can go out there and get the ball in the right areas, I think we can have a bat again (on Thursday).”

The Caribbean side had dismissed South Africa for 342 in their first innings inside the first half-hour of play, but their batting crumbled after tea under the pressure of stifling pace bowling from the hosts – led by Nortje

– and they were bowled out for 212 about 10 minutes before the scheduled close.

Trailing by 130, West Indies had a bright start when Joseph got left-handed opener Dean Elgar caught at third man in his second over for one.

The lanky Antiguan added the scalp of Temba Bavuma caught behind in his next over for a one-ball duck, condemning the Proteas captain to becoming the fourth player to get a pair on Test captaincy debut after Mark Taylor of Australia, Rashid Latif of Pakistan, and Habibul Bashar of Bangladesh.

Roach survived a bit of rough treatment from Markram and got left-handed Test newcomer Tony de Zorzi caught behind for a one-ball duck, and Holder, bowling from wide of the crease, trapped Keegan Petersen lbw for seven with his first delivery in the final over of the day to claim his 150th Test wicket.

“This pitch is not flat,” Blackwood added. “I think, as a bowler, if you put the ball in the right areas over a period of time, you will reap rewards.

“Our bowlers have learnt that from the first innings –the first few overs they started a bit too short, and they gradually pulled it back – but once generally they bowl in the right areas, they will get the rewards.”

West Indies learnt that lesson the hard way after South Africa resumed from their overnight total of 314 for eight, and Joseph claimed the last two wickets to end with five for 81 from 18.3 overs.

The Caribbean side were reasonably placed at 169 for three about 35 minutes after tea with left-hander Raymon Reifer, whose career-best 62 was the top score, in the midst of anchoring two stabilising partnerships with Blackwood and Roston Chase.

But they imploded, losing seven wickets for 43 in an aimless hour of batting that undermined the resolve shown over the first two sessions, with Nortje destroying

the bottom half of the batting to finish with five for 36 from 16 overs – his second best figures in 19 Tests. West Indies were set back early when pacer Kagiso Rabada bowled their captain Kraigg Brathwaite for 11 with a peach of a delivery that angled into the batsman, then moved away off the pitch, and hit the top of off-stump.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul had just got into the swing of things when he was caught

at gully for 22, becoming the first Test wicket for debutant pacer Gerald Coetzee in the final 20 minutes before the Caribbean side reached 71 for two at lunch.

After the interval, dogged batting, exemplified by Reifer and Blackwood in a stand of 64 for the third wicket, carried West Indies comfortably past the 100-run mark before Nortje made his first intervention into play.

Blackwood was caught

behind for 37 in the third over of a second spell from the South African speedster when he drove at a yorker length delivery and got an inside edge, a dismissal confirmed after the batsman unsuccessfully reviewed the decision of umpire Marais Erasmus.

The visitors went to tea on 136 for three, and Reifer reached his 50 from 117 balls after the break and had put on 47 with Chase before he

was caught behind off beanpole left-arm pacer Marco Jansen.

West Indies were 169 for four, and Reifer’s departure ignited a collapse that started when Chase was caught at first slip for 22 off Rabada before Nortje claimed the next four scalps in three successive overs to end with five wickets in an innings against West Indies for the second time in Tests.

GBA to facilitate Blake’s IBA Cutman Technician Course in India Rain has final say as E’bo reach 57-3

WITH an emphasis on empowering and certifying its technical officials, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will afford Three star Coach Sebert Blake the opportunity to participate at the IBA Cutman Technician Course, which is being conducted at the Women's World Championship in New Delhi, India from March 15-31.

Blake, who is part of a small cadre of Three Star coaches in the Caribbean, is the first ever Guyanese to partake at such an important seminar. He will also serve as the trainer for Caribbean Junior Champions - siblings Alisha and Abiola Jackman - at the prestigious competition. The rising stars were also successful at the recently concluded Patrick Forde Memorial Championship.

The course is only for officials affiliated to the national federation and who are already registered for the impending Women’s World Championship in the capacities of team coaches, doctors and/or physiotherapists.

According to an official correspondence from IBA, which was signed by Development Officer, Chris Roberts, OBE, the primary objective of the course is the development of the Cutman Technician in each national team which will provide the pugilists with the essential treatment to avert and manage injuries such as hematomas, lacerations and nose bleeds. It will also reduce hand injuries with the mastery of hand-wrapping techniques.

“The main objective of the course is to help develop our Cut Technicians and increase the pool of specialists around the world as well as to broadening the knowledge of coaches, doctors and physiotherapists about hand-wrapping techniques and facial injury care of the athletes”, the release stated.

Following the removal of head-guards, IBA states that the importance of experienced cutmen to assist boxers cannot be understated. Thus, the world governing body crafted a course

GCB’s four-day Inter-County Cricket…

that will train and equip cutmen with the requisite aptitudes to prepare combatants before, during and after fights.

The examination process comprises four sections. Theoretical sessions will be conducted for one day, while practical training will last for the duration of half a day. Continuing in the same vein, the written examination will encompass a period of an hour, whilst half a day will be required for the practical assessment.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle said he anticipates that Blake will emerge successful from the arduous examination which will equip him with the necessary knowledge to further aid in the development of the discipline. "Similarly, his participation highlights the association’s unrelenting commitment to the development of not only its athletes but its technical officers, who are vital to the advancement and evolution of the sport," Ninvalle said.

UDCA T20 Cricket Tournament …

Royal Champions Take Lead

RROYALS Champions have taken the lead in the Upper Demerara Cricket Association’s T20 cricket tournament currently being played in the Mines area of Linden.

The team leads the table with five points having played three of their six games in this seven team tournament.

Behind them is Yariah Young Warriors, Aroiama and West Watooka each with two points after two completed games.

Young Achievers also have two points from three games played, while Malali are on one point from one game and Coomacka without a point from two games played.

Meanwhile, the next round of fixtures, weather permitting, is a double header scheduled for Saturday when Yariah Young Warriors face Malali at 9.30hrs and West Watooka take on Malali at 13.00hrs.

In results from matches played so far, Royal Champions defeated Young Achievers by four runs after their rain-delayed match started the competition.

Sent in, Royal Champions made 145 for 2 from 12 overs as Cleon Adams and Sukraj Fredericks each hit 32 while Mall Richards chipped in with 25, as extras were credited with 17 runs.

Timothy Peters took 4 for 13 off three overs and Hershey Niles 2 for 24 from 3 overs.

Young Achievers fell short making 141 for 6 off their 12 overs as Tyric Ettienne top

scored with 78 not out and Marlon Fredericks 10 as extras accounted for 27.

Dereck Richards took 2 for 26 from three overs and Michael Fredericks 2 for 33 bowling for the winners.

Royal Champions, who won the toss and sent Coomacka in to bat, bowled them out for 91 off 12 overs as Gary Suavings got 39 and extras accounted for 21 runs. Replying, Royal Champions hit off the runs making 92 for five from 8.5 overs, as Michael Fredericks knocked up 26, Mall Richards 24 and Rastaf Oselmo 15.

Young Achievers then beat Yariah Young Warriors by one wicket after Yariah, batting first, made 140 all out from 18.1 overs, as Marcus Lorrimer hit 37, Deron Jones 26 and Leon Jones 12. Bowling for Young Achievers G. McDonald took 4 for 21 off 4 overs and Marlon Fredericks 3 for 26 from his four overs and Eon Reynolds 2 for 24 from 4 overs.

In reply, Young Achievers won scoring 141 for 9 from 19 overs as Tyric Henry top scored with 44. Ray Peters 32 as extras accounted for 37 runs. Yariah Young Warriors’ best bowling was recorded by Leon Jones with 2 for 15 off four overs and Delon Jones took 2 for 16 and Kishan Jones 2 for 27.

Yariah Young Warriors then defeated Coomacka by 68 runs after Yariah, batting first, made 135 for 4 off 15 overs with Nick

Estwick top scoring with 56, Dale Jones 54 and Marlon Jones 15. Replying, Coomacka fell for 67 off 9.3 overs with S. Griffith making 32 as Kesh Jones took 2 for 11 off 2.3 overs as Derion Jones took 2 for 8 from 2.2 overs and Wendell Courtman 2 for 14.

Then Royal Champions versus Malali game was washed out as Malali posted 125 for 6 off 15 overs as Keno Fiedtkou got 29, Orlando Williams 25 and D. Pollard 24. Bowling for Royals Champions, Mall Richards took 2 for 22 from 3 overs. Replying, Royal Champions made 22 for no wicket from 2.2 overs when rain interrupted play. Mall Richards was 17 not out and Michael Fredericks yet to score.

Malali and Royal Champions, because of this shared the points with one each.

The next game was between West Watooka who won their game against Aroiama. Winning the toss and batting first, Aroiama made 73 for 7 off their allotted overs as Glenrick Lyte hit 25 and Kellon Phillips 10. West Watooka’s best bowling was from Julian fortune 2 for 9 off 2 overs, Clayton Vanhurst 2 for 13 from 2 overs and d. Sears 2 for 20 off two overs.

West Watooka reached their target getting 74 for 7 from 10 overs as M. Austin made 16. Aroiama’s best bowling came from Glenton Lyte 4 for 2 from 2 overs. (Joe Chapman)

Rain had the final say at Providence yesterday (Sean Devers photo)

By Sean Devers

ON a rain-affected first day of the second match of the first round of the GCB’s four-day Inter-County Cricket at the Providence Stadium yesterday, Essequibo, opting to bat after play started two hours 15 late, were 57-3 against a GCB Select X1 when rain resulted in the day’s play being called at 4:00pm after two stoppages.

In hazy sunshine, Avinash Persaud was LBW to pacer Sylus Tyndall for a duck before Essequibo had scored while Kevin Boodie (17) had his stumps disturbed by Carlos Larose at 32-2.

National batter Kemol Savory joined Renaldo Renee and the pair carried their team to 51-2 in overcast conditions before rain stopped play at 12:20 pm when lunch was taken with Renee on 22 and Savory on 10.

When play resumed at 2:05 pm, Renee who was looking good on 22 with five boundaries, touched one that left him for wicket-keeper

Nathan Persaud to accept the offering as national fast bowler, Demitri Cameron, struck at 57-3.

But the rain returned at 2:22 pm after two overs were bowled and sent the players off the field for a second time and final time as rain had the final say.

Today, play is scheduled to commence from 9:00am

Scoreboard

MVP Sports teams up with PETRA for remainder of the year

MVP Sports, the sport apparel company has come onboard in a big way with the PETRA organization on Wednesday.

At a brief ceremony at the Spice Garden Restaurant in Campbellville, the company announced that it will be onboard with the PETRA organization for their programs throughout 2023.

Company representative Selvin Apple told the media that they are quite pleased with the work that they have been seeing from the Petra Organization throughout the year hence them throwing their support.

He added that MVP sports, will continue to support the development of sports in Guyana as it a principal that the company aligns itself with.

Meanwhile, Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca contended that the organization is happy to have secured such a prestious partner for the remainder of the year’s activites.

He added that the partnership is testament to the brand of work that the organization has been doing at the grass root level.

Under the new partnership, MVP sport will

co-sponsor the milo school football, ExxonMobil Boy and Girl’s under 13 schools football tournament, The LIMACOL Senior Football competition, The Turbo Knock-Out Tournament, Tertiary League Tournament, GUYOIL Secondary School League and KFC goodwill championship. The company will also the title sponsors of their own Girls under 11 football tournament in a thrust to ensure that young women are awarded the same level of playing time as their male counterparts.

GSSF/P&P Insurance Brokers’ Sport Shooting Competition… Baksh, McKinnon take top spots

THE Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation’s Steel Challenge Section commenced its year on Sunday with Ryan McKinnon taking the Limited class and Imam Baksh taking the production division.

Both were the most outstanding in their classes at the 8th Annual P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants-sponsored Steel Challenge Match at the GDF Camp Stephenson, Timehri.

Ryan McKinnon (61.82 seconds) finished ahead of Pravesh Harry (63.40 seconds) and Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon (101.27 seconds) in the limited division while in the Production Division, Baksh (91.70 seconds) finished ahead of Romain Muniram (107.46 seconds) and Roul Bhudu (108.80 seconds).

Opening remarks were made by Match Director, Captain Bhu-

du who welcomed participants, identified the officials for the afternoon session and declared the tournament open.

The three-stage match consisted of sanctioned S.C.S.A. stages, namely Accelerator, The Pendulum and 5 To Go.

After the presentation of trophies, a special announcement was made as to a decision made to award medals to the shooters in the unclassified beginner category.

Romain Muniram (107.46 seconds) finished first ahead of Mikail Qualander (140.14 seconds) and Imran Khan (146.49 seconds).

Match Director for this event, Captain Roul Bhudu, expressed appreciation to P&P Insurance Brokers for their continued support to the promotion and building of the sport in Guyana.

Van Lange and Watson win two titles at Mash TT tournament

TEENAGE sensation

Jonathan Van Lange and the ever-improving Akira Watson surged to two titles when the National Sports Commission/ Guyana Table Tennis Association Mashramani Table Tennis Tournament was played at the National Gymnasium over the weekend.

Other winners included Natalie Cummings, Orin Hickerson, Jasmine Billingy, Malachi Moore, Chase Outar, Darius Daniels, Aadil Haniff and Zion Hickerson.

In the Men’s Singles,

without the likes of reigning National champion, Christopher Franklin, or Former Caribbean U-21 champion Shemar Britton, the title was Van Lange’s for the

Prem’s electrical takes...

From page 24

associated with the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s group two class in a very major way. My company and I have been a long-time supporter of motorsports in Guyana and this is just another testament to that support,” Managing Director, Mr Nirmal Sukhram commented.

He said, “We chose the group two class because we have seen the action that goes on in that class year after year and we feel it’s a group that aligns with our goals of hard work bring-

ing success; it’s actually a principle that we founded our business with many years ago.”

“When we saw this opportunity, we jumped at it because it deemed excellent exposure for our company while supporting a sport we enjoy. GMR&SC has been growing every year and it's been great supporting them every time.”

Under the Prem’s Electrical Group Two Challenge deal, which is valued at GYD $2M, registered and qualified competitors will earn cash for points scored throughout the 2023 sea-

son.

There is also the added benefit of cash prizes for the top three overall finishers at the end of the year, adding spice to an already interesting class.

With some of the big names in racing including Rameez Mohamed, Chet Singh, Paul Vieira and Shan Seejatan, the battle for the Prem’s Electrical trophy at the end of the year will come down to the season finale in November.

The first meet of the circuit-racing calendar is set for March 19, 2023.

taking.

He faced a challenge from senior national player Joel Alleyne in the final, but in the end he emerged victorious, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 (3-0).

In the semi-finals, Van Lange was tested by Orin Hickerson. The game could have gone either way, with Hickerson using his experience to counter the exuberance of the eventual champion.

Van Lange eventually won 3-1, however, the first three games went down to the wire (12-10, 12-10, 9-11 and 11-3).

In the other semi-final, Alleyne defeated Elishaba Johnson in another very close encounter. That clash

ended 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 14-16 and 11-9).

Van Lange’s other victory came in the 19-and-Under Boys division, when he defeated Colin Wong 115, 11-8, 11-8. Third place went to Uman Percival (who lost to Vanlange) and Ebo McNeil (who lost to Wong).

Natalie Cummings also surged to victory when she competed in the Women’s Singles against some upand-coming youngsters. She defeated Billingy 3-0, Thuraia Thomas 3-1 and Samara Sukhai 3-0.

Billingy finished second after beating Thomas and Sukhai 3-1 each, while Thomas placed third.

In the “B” Class Open final, Orin Hickerson defeated Levi Percival 117, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8 (3-1), while joint third places went to Niran Bissu (who lost to Hickerson 0-3), and Colin France (who lost to Percival 2-3) in the semis.

National U-21 champion, Billingy surged to the 19-and-Under title, while Sukhai finished second and Watson third.

Watson held her own in the younger age group, with wins in the 15-and-Under and 13-and-Under.

In the older age group, she defeated Billingy in the semi-final and Sukhai with a come-from-behind win in

the final (10-12, 11-7, 11-8 and 11-3).

Billingy and Seona Barker finished joint third.

In the 13-and-Under Girls round-robin finals, Watson also came out on top. Billingy finished second and Sukhai third.

In the 15-and-Under Boys’ final, Malachi Moore defeated Ebo McNeil 11-5, 11-9, 5- 11, 13-15 and 118. Joint third place went to Zion Hickerson and Chase Outar.

Outar came out on top in the 13-and-Under Boys’ final, after he defeated Darius Daniels 11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8. Joint third place went to Kayden Meusa and Ransfield Belfield.

Daniel and Zion Hickerson also won titles. Daniel defeated Zion in the 11-and-Under Boys final (9-11, 11-7, 13-11). Noel Persaud and Aaron Hopkinson finished joint third; while in the Nine-and-Under Open, Zion defeated Raina Benfield 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 in the final.

Meanwhile, in the Novice final, Aadil Haniff defeated Jadon D’Aguiar 1311, 11-2, 12-10; joint third places went to Shane Razak and Musab Hassan.

The presentation of prizes is scheduled for this afternoon (Wednesday, March 1) at the National Gymnasium from 17:00h.

Prize Winners 2023 of P&P sponsored GSSF’s Steel Challenge Match. (At centre (in green) is winner of Limited Division, Ryan McKinnon and on his left is 1st place Winner for Production Division, Mr. Imam Baksh.

Jonathan Van Lange won the Men’s Singles title

Akira Watson won two titles

Alzarri Joseph hauls West Indies back in contention

See Page 21

Prem’s

electrical takes over GMR&SC Group Two for 2023

provide excellent service nationwide and throughout the Caribbean.

As an ISO 9001-certified company, Prem’s Electrical Store distributes high-standard electrical supplies that guarantee value and quality service to customers and consumers with state-of-the-art technology that can enhance any electrical needs with an extensive on-hand inventory.

THE 2023 edition of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s Group Two class will be branded by Prem’s Electrical.

The company, located at 177 Alexander Street, Georgetown, will be the title sponsor of the group two class, now rebranded the

Prem’s Electrical Group Two Challenge.

For over 25 years, Prem’s Electrical has been a proud distributor of Residential, Industrial & Commercial electrical supplies throughout Guyana.

Founded in 1992, Prem’s Electrical Store strives to

A leading business that you can depend on, Prem’s Electrical Store has a wide variety that can accommodate wholesale, large projects, and commercial and residential demands.

“Prem’s electrical is obviously very pleased to be

Continued on page 23

See Page 22

Alzarri Joseph celebrates with his team after removing Temba Bavuma (Feb 28, 2023•AFP/Getty Images)

Troy Mendonca (right) is all smiles as he collects a sponsorship cheque from MVP’s Selvin Apple (Adrian Narine Photo)