Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 03-06-2023

Leading from the front: Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan, Police Commissioner (Ag) Clifton Hicken and Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot display their inked fingers shortly after casting their votes (Photos by Adrian Narine, Guyana Police Force and Guyana Prison Service)

PPP/C has become a ‘force to be reckoned with’

Jagdeo tells mammoth crowd at Leonora rally

Smooth flow as police ranks cast their ballots

By Shamar Meusa, Trina Williams and Indrawattie Natram

SENIOR policemen and women led from the front on Friday as members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) participated in early voting for the much-anticipated Local Government Elections , which will be officially held on June 12.

The various polling stations set up across the country for the police, opened at 06:00 hours sharp, according to the information provided to this publication

Commissioner

of Police

( Ag ), Clifton Hicken told members of the media at the Police Officers’ Mess Hall, Eve Leary, that he was leading by example

Holding up his inked finger shortly after he had voted, Hicken said that all commanders were also leading by example in their respective districts

He indicated that the voting process was smooth and that he expected it to remain that way until the close of poll

“Why we started this early is because we ’ re disciplined people and so we want to get back to our normal

work; we’re going to finish here soon and so we can continue to police the nation,” he said

He noted that more than 5,700 ranks were expected to vote throughout the course of the day at the various locations

One female officer at Eve Leary who asked not to be named told Guyana Chronicle that the process was very quick; she was very pleased with this

Across the various stations in Georgetown , there were no reports of any incidents

See page 3

PPP/C has become a ‘force to be reckoned with’

Jagdeo tells mammoth crowd at Leonora rally

By Tamica Garnett

HIGHLIGHTING the number of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters who are crossing over, People’s Progressive Party Civic ( PPP / C ) General Secretary , Dr . Bharrat Jagdeo, on Friday, said the growing membership and the increasing diversity have strengthened his party.

He was at the time addressing a huge crowd at Kowsilla Park, West Coast Demerara ( WCD ), Region Three

He pointed out that the noticeable , growing shift of the party’s diversity, and its continued openness and acceptance of all ethnicities, are tearing down the racism rhetoric being peddled by the APNU

“Our party keeps growing from strength to strength

as we include new members into this family Do not ever underestimate the political party you belong to or support This party has an enormous history It has earned its place in this country because of what it has done to improve the lives of the people,” Dr Jagdeo said As it grows stronger, Dr Jagdeo boasted that the party has become a force to be reckoned with

“Since we won back the (General and Regional) elections, APNU supporters have seen that the only party that has Guyana’s interest at heart is the PPP / C The face of our party is changing , we are becoming stronger We are becoming unstoppable The work that we are doing now with the [community ] outreaches we are building massive support across the country,” Dr Jagdeo related Speaking to support -

ers, majority of whom were decked out in the party ’ s trademark red colour , Dr Jagdeo described the PPP/C as a credible party that has stood up against the lies of the APNU , which hoodwinked the populace in 2015 when they made broad lavish promises, many of never materialised

“ They tried to rig the [ 2020 ] elections for five months Three times they tried to swear in [ former APNU Presidential Candidate David] Granger We still defeated them in 2020 That takes a party that has credibility No ordinary party in the face of all of these odds could stand up and defeat a force like APNU And we have not remained static from that time to now because of our credibility What did they do in the five years [in office ]? It was evident to the country that they had no

plan to develop Guyana,” Dr Jagdeo remarked Friday’s meeting kicked off a series of rallies that the party will be holding over the weekend , as campaign action heats up in the run up to the June 12 Local Government Elections (LGE).

This year is shaping up to be a prosperous run for the governing party, which

has already won by default, no contest wins in 13 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) and a combined 291 of the 610 constituencies within the LAAs.

Due to its growing numbers, the PPP/C is the only party that is able to contest in all 610 constituencies across the country

On Friday, thousands of members of the disciplined services participated in early voting

Since last Thursday, Dr Jagdeo had put out an appeal to the members of the joint services to support the party that they believe has their best interest at heart He reminded of all the ways that the PPP/C has given back to the disciplined forces

As he spoke on Friday, he reminded the gathering

of the PPP / C ’ s upkeep of its promise to restore the disciplined services ’ one - month tax - free bonus, which had previously been removed by the APNU while they held office with the Alliance for Change ( AFC ) from 2015 - 2020.

Dr Jagdeo noted that the PPP/C government will continue to work for the people, even in the face of opposition from the APNU or its political partner, the AFC

“We take our promises seriously. Every single promise we stand behind it We are fighting them off because we believe in fighting for what is important to the people of this country,”

Dr Jagdeo remarked to roaring cheers from the vibrant crowd.

PPP/C General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo interacts with supporters during Friday’s rally (Delano Williams photo)

Ranks shortly after voting at the Sparendaam Police Station (Cindy Parkinson photo)

Barriers that hinder development, unity will be destroyed

By Trina Williams

WITH a caring government that prioritises the people of Guyana and keeps its promises , President , Dr . Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Friday said that the PPP will continue to be victorious against the barriers that are stymying the country’s development.

Referencing the “ smell and sight of victory,” he said the government wants all Guyanese to benefit from Guyana’s transformation

“And this victory is not based on the event of an election This victory is based on the commitment to you and the way in which the PPP has delivered to you what we promised...,” he told those gathered as a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) public meeting at Mabaruma in Region One

He told his audience that they should be proud to be a member of a party that is destroying barriers that aim to hinder national development and unity

“We believe that all of us as Guyanese are equal and all of us must equally benefit from the transformation of the country,” he affirmed

Furthermore, President Ali reflected on the number of advancements that his government has accomplished since returning to office and their countless efforts to bridge gaps and connect the regions in order to foster growth and development

–– President Ali tells Mabaruma residents

“ Our investments are geared towards removing the gap , eliminating the gap within and between regions so that all our people can live a better standard of life and have a better quality of life,” he said while explaining that the administration is aggressively picking up the pace in enhancing the national and community infrastructure

He said that these investments are already in place

“So that in your communities, you can live a more productive life a more comfortable life a life in which your dreams and aspirations can be supported by a government that cares.”

The President confidently reassured the citizens that the PPP/C cares and will continue to stay true to its commitments

“We saw an Opposition that tried every single day to stop these elections, to stop the evolution of democracy...” he related while adding that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is ashamed to face the people of Guyana considering their past of neglect and lies

Asserting that the Opposition is afraid of “ licks ,” at the upcoming LGE polls , President Ali boldly remarked that this is

linked to their lack of moral and ethical authority especially considering their poor track record of “bad governance” and “false promises.”

Emphasising on the fact that LGEs are important because it connects central and regional government along with the townships, he told the residents that they should be mindful of the Opposition’s way of hindering development

The President also disclosed that in the Opposition controlled Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), he is “shut out” even though he approaches these areas with plans of transforming the community and maintaining the well-being of the citizens

Underscoring the fact that the government is one that listens to the people, the President said that a vote means more to the PPP/C than just an X on a piece of paper

He informed the residents that he realises that when they cast a ballot, they are putting their trust in the government.

Moreover, he also said that no longer is Guyana being left behind because the nation is leading the way in food security, energy security, climate change, among other important subjects, in the region

Smooth flow as police ...

occurring at any of the polling stations while ballots were being cast.

Meanwhile, on the East Coast Demerara, the voting process was also said to be smooth

While proudly displaying their inked finger , officers at the Sparendaam Police Station expressed great joy at participating in the process of exercising their constitutional right to vote

This publication spoke with a number of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials and senior officers from the aforementioned police station who were on hand to make sure the elections went on without any issues

Government-appointed GECOM Commissioner, Clement Rohee, after observing the voting process at the Sparendaam location explained that different procedures have been implemented to ensure free and fair elections

Rohee said that his expectations of the elections were that it “would procced in a very smooth and orderly fashion.”

He did not anticipate any hiccups, having regard to the fact that “the system GECOM has put in place is one that I believe is very efficient and effective.”

Furthermore, he affirmed that given the previous elections and the dramatics that took place then, the commission has incorporated an extra layer of security to guarantee that the process is “transparent as possible.”

Deputy Superintendent of the Sparendaam Police Station, Jermaine Dufu, said that he and the other ranks are positive that the day

would proceed as planned

He remarked: “So far, we’ve been having a smooth process; a few of the ranks have already voted We don’t expect any of the excitement that [occurred] in the previous elections.”

Over in Region Two, police ranks arrived at their respective polling stations early

According to Regional Commander Khemraj Shivbaran, there was a smooth flow of voting in the region and no hiccups were recorded

Shivbaran said that 193 ranks were expected to cast their ballots at three polling stations: 122 at Anna Regina, 50 at Suddie and 21 at Charity

According to the senior rank, the atmosphere was calm There was also no evidence of long lines in the region

Ballot boxes will be returned to GECOM after the voting and will be kept in the custody of the Chief Elections Officer

The ballots will be sorted according to the Local Authority Area and constituency and will be dispatched to the respective returning officers for intermixing on June 12

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali addressing Mabaruma residents (PPP/C photo)

Detective Webster shortly after exiting the polling booth at the Suddie Police Station (Indra Natram photo)

GDF ranks cast their ballots incident-free

Rohee says ‘very efficient’ system was put in place

By Naomi Parris and Cindy Parkinson

EARLY voting for Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks got off to a smooth start on Friday morning at Base Camp Ayanganna, and at the close of poll there were no reports of any incidents that threatened to undermine the integrity of the process.

GDF ’ s Chief of Staff , Brigadier Omar Khan was among several top - ranking officers to cast his ballot just after the polling station opened at 06:00 hours

Khan later told members of the media that approximately 2,799 ranks were expected to vote at the 23 polling stations that were established across the country, by the close of poll

“ This morning our voting process began at 06:00 hours and so far, I have been informed that it is going

smoothly in our total voting population , we have 2,799 ranks that were expected to vote today and the uniqueness of the military and the joint services [ is ] we have ranks across many locations. I believe we have 16 locations with 23 polling stations,” he said Ranks who reside in no contest Local Authority Areas (LAA) will not be voting

Some 9,093 GDF, Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Guyana Prison Service (GPS) ranks were expected to vote on Friday It is customary for these ranks to vote days ahead of the general public as they are in charge of security on the official day of the elections

The general public will head to the polls on June 12.

SMOOTH Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Com -

mission ( GECOM ), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, expressed satisfaction with the “smooth” voting process

Singh , while observing the voting exercise at Base Camp Ayanganna, said that all systems are in place for the general public to vote While no hiccups are expected , she said , commissioners from the various political parties may raise some concerns and those will be addressed

“All systems are in place now but commissioners have a way of raising issues and those will be dealt with in due course,” she told members of the media

Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Aneal Giddings later reassured the nation that all systems are in place for a smooth voting process on June 12

“We have concretised all of the polling stations at this point , 1 , 574 to be exact ,”

Giddings said

Meanwhile , the GDF ’ s Coast Guard ranks turned up in their numbers at the Coast Guard Headquarters, at Ramp Road, Ruimveldt, to cast their ballot for the representatives in their constituency

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle , one of the Coast Guard officers , Michael ( only name given ), said: “It was very important for me to vote for the leaders in my Region Three community who I believe will represent us properly I want to encourage everyone to vote on June 12 and let them know that the process is a very simple one, and the GECOM officials are also very helpful in guiding you through the process.”

The other ranks who were present at the time of Chronicle’s visit expressed similar sentiments

While the Coast Guards were casting their votes, gov-

ernment-appointed GECOM Commissioner, Clement Rohee, told this publication that “this is one out of a number of visits that I’ve made this morning to the different balloting stations on the occasion of the LGE and the voting by the discipline services

What I can say is that the process has so far been going smoothly, even though some of the stations started off a bit slowly compared to the others.”

DRESS REHEARSAL

Rohee explained that he is not surprised that ev-

erything is progressing so smoothly since the system that GECOM has put in place is “very efficient”.

According to him, it also helps that the party agents are observing the process to ensure that there is transparency as well as to provide guidance to persons who need it

“GECOM has a system for the discipline forces and LGE , and I am convinced that systemically it is doable and workable We have enough man power and there has been a lot of training in preparation for it,” he added

According to Rohee , Friday’s voting serves as a “ dress rehearsal” for what will happen on June 12

He also added that as a commission, GECOM will sit and assess the individual appraisals of the June 6 process and make the necessary “tweaking” in terms of the legality of anything if the need arises

This publication also spoke with opposition - appointed commissioner, Desmond Trotman at the Sparendaam Police Station on the East Coast Demerara

He expressed hope that all who were registered to vote at that location would be able to do so

GECOM Commissioner, Clement Rohee (Cindy Parkinson photo)

Thucydides and Vice President Harris ‘come’ to Guyana

WITH the arrival of the internet, there is so much information available that one’s brain simply cannot process even half of it. But all you need to know can be had on the net instead of leaving your home to go to a bookstore to buy a book or magazine to further your knowledge about something that caught your eyes.

I wonder how that famous magazine, TIME, still publishes. It is a weekly publication that is printed days after an event occurred. What can TIME offer you that you would not get from thousands of daily newspapers, daily television newscasts, daily blogs by educated people, daily social media outpourings etc?

By the time, TIME comes out you know everything you wanted to know about the incident. This is what the internet has done for the pursuit of knowledge. You don’t have to read a voluminous book on international relations if you want to find out what the ancient Greek historian, Thu-

cydides said about the inevitability of inter-state warfare. Just go on the internet.

Thucydides’ book, “The Peloponnesian Wars” remains the first book in the evolution of Western civilization to instruct humans that war among countries is inevitable because countries will always want to have a geostrategic, geopolitical and trade advantages over others.

For the generation that grew up after 1950, it was told that the Cold War was a zero sum fight between two halves of the world that opposed each other’s ideological make-up. One was capitalism, a free-market world where individual pursuit to get wealth should be sacrosanct.

The other was communism where people’s rights and liberties were contexualized in the need of the state to share the wealth of the nation equally. The collapse of the USSR and global communism after 1989 showed the post 1990 generation the power of the thinking of Thucydides. There was no longer the USSR.

Russia had become a very successful capitalist country. And you thought there would have been an enduring friendship between former rivals after the Cold War.

That was not to be. The Americans and Russians continued their “Peloponnesian” competition. In the 21st century, the prediction is that Russia will fade as an international powerhouse, and the new cold war will be between the US and China.

Thucydides wrote his famous text thousands of years ago and did not live to see that one day the world will not have ten countries but hundreds. Today, there are over 200 sovereign nations. Thucydides did not live long enough to see that his core theory about competition among huge states will have complications because some nations will not join the fight.

The birth of the NonAligned Movement in the late 1950s did complicate Thucydides’ theory and will continue to do so. In the 20th century, some nations chose not to take

sides in the Cold War because they wanted to beg both sides for things. So they would ask the Americans to build a road and they would ask the USSR for a tractor. This is the way international relations stand today.

There was no new Cold War when Bill Clinton became president and met with all the leaders of CARICOM. Nothing came out of that meeting and here is the proof as provided by Sir Ron Sanders. He wrote: “The 14-nation independent states of the Caribbean Community have been at the bottom of US official development assistance for decades. In 2019, for instance, total US foreign

assistance globally was US$47 billion, of which collectively, CARICOM countries received US$338 million or 0.7 percent. For emphasis, that is less than one percent of the global total. Haiti alone received US$268 million of that US$338 million intended for all 14 CARICOM states, leaving the other 13 to share US$70 million only. For 9 of the 13 countries, the sum provided did not amount to US$1 million.”

Now a new Cold War is shaping up and the Americans are coming to Guyana. An unusually large congressional team came here in March recently and here are the exact words of the leader of the group, Congressman, Jason

Smith: “America must be committed to outcompeting China around the world….” Vice President Kamala Harris will be meeting all the CARICOM Heads in the Bahamas shortly. No doubt China will be on the top of the agenda. That is the American agenda. What will be on the top of the CARICOM agenda?

Guyana’s Ambassador to the US, Samuel Hinds, recently appeared on the Freddie Kissoon Gildarie Show and asserted that Guyana needs all types of friends in the world. Why? Because you can ask different friends for the things you want.

Gunraj: GECOM ‘well prepared’ for June 12 LGEs

By Cassandra Khan

GUYANA Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner and attorney-at-law, Sase Gunraj, on Friday, assured that everything is in place for the successful holding of the Local Government Elections (LGEs) on June 12.

Gunraj spoke about the commission’s preparations moments after observing prison officials voting at the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) Sports Club on Camp Street. These officials are among more than 9,000 joint services ranks who were voting in advance as they have critical roles to play in ensuring law and order is maintained on the day of the elections.

During his visit to the GPS Sports Club, Gunraj reported that as of 09:30 hours, there had been no significant issues reported. He said there were a few minor hiccups that were promptly addressed and resolved on-site.

“There are one or two minor issues which were resolved very quickly on the ground. So far, from what I've observed, we have no real issues occurring this morning,” he said.

He said that the Disciplined Services’ ballot day is an important part of the successful execution of LGEs which is no doubt important for the overall success of the process.

Gunraj stated that he foresees no further issues and is optimistic about the LGEs being concluded successfully and efficiently.

Further, he noted that the disciplined services’ day of voting, usually offers a “bit of a dry run” before the rest of the country votes.

“As far as I'm advised… the reports that we have received from the Secretariat, I believe that we are ready and well poised for the holding of those elections,” he related.

While acknowledging that the LGEs had been delayed for some time due to various reasons, he said that the issues raised by opposition members were thankfully resolved by the courts.

He said that that the extraction of the list was one of two issues dealt with.

“This was an issue that we dealt with since last year, which in fact, led importantly, to one of the delays in holding of these elections. You recall that there was a routine that was previously set… [The] date had to be pushed back because of that issue and notwithstanding the resolution of that issue, at the commission

level, it was faced with a court challenge, and the court has ruled in favour of the GECOM, insofar as it has justified the position that was taken by the commission,” Gunraj explained.

As for the issue of the demarcation of the boundaries and the collapsing of divisions into constituencies for the purposes of holding elections, he recalled that the commission understood the challenges sounding those issues and came up with a resolution.

“We made a decision on that since January of this year, and in May, after all the preparations were already in full swing the day for elections, nominations day had already gone, there was another court challenge that was thankfully dealt with very swiftly by the Chief Justice, who also found that GECOM was without wrong in those circumstances,” he related.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, who was also at the location said that there was a total of

493 persons registered to vote, however, 63 of them would not be taking part in the process.

“63 of them will not be voting because of one person contesting in that locality area and we have 430 persons who are expected to cast their votes today,” he explained.

Elliot noted that the process was simple and related the GECOM staff’s professionalism in their engagement with himself and his officers.

He related that he did not foresee any difficulties or challenges during the remainder of the day.

Meanwhile, Gunraj visited a number of other locations including the Coast Guard Headquarters in Ruimveldt where he once again commented on GECOM’s

preparations.

He said that from a policy perspective, everything is in place for June 12 and that GECOM has provided the neces-

sary guidance for the successful execution of the LGEs. “I expect everything to flow smoothly and properly,” he said.

No faith in Norton

IN recent weeks, the growing evidence of internal dissent within the opposition party has brought to light a concerning situation for Aubrey Norton, the Leader of the Opposition. It is apparent that Norton does not enjoy the support of his members, who appear to have no faith in his leadership ability.

This revelation was underscored by a viral video featuring Opposition Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson, engaging with a businessman from Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, and explicitly expressing doubts about Norton's future as the Opposition Leader.

Beyond mere claims and promises, Norton now faces more pressing concerns as his own party seems to be turning against him. Last week, a Member of Parliament publicly stated that Norton's tenure would be short-lived. Her statement serves as undeniable proof of a significant internal problem within the party, particularly considering it was made during a quiet moment, indicative of a shared sentiment among many others vying for leadership positions within the party.

Since assuming the role of Opposition Leader in April 2021, Norton has struggled to garner support within his own party and

failed to gain national appeal necessary to solidify his position at the helm of the opposition. His popularity within the party base has declined, with other figures surpassing him in ratings. Moreover, Norton lacks cross-over ethnic support and fails to attract floating or middle-ground voters critical for winning elections.

Compounding Norton's leadership challenges are allegations of discrimination and racial hostility, tarnishing his reputation just one year after taking the helm of the People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R), a party he served for decades. Additionally, Norton has been criticised

APNU needs to run on its record, not run from it

Dear Editor,

WE have entered the final days of campaigning for the 2023 Local Government Elections (LGE) with early voting by members of the Disciplined Services and candidates making their final pitch to voters for an ‘X’.

Thus far, the campaign shows that the PPP/C has the overwhelming political momentum ahead of the June 12 polls.

The party has benefitted from the fact that several Local Area Authorities (LAA) are not being contested because the opposition did not field candidates for those areas.

The PPP/C has won over several APNU supporters and independents, particularly in the latter’s so-called stronghold areas of Linden, New

Amsterdam and Georgetown.

Social media is being flooded with advertisements from the PPP/C that highlight the horrid track record of APNU/PNC in managing the affairs of Georgetown.

Given the 50 plus years that the opposition has maintained control of the city, one expected there to be more information in the public space about their track record.

Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Where are the achievements over the several decades, the ongoing plans and the future plans to enhance the city?

Since there appears to be little evidence of a record on which to run for reelection, it is a given that Aubrey Norton has resorted to overt smear tactics, smoke screens and mirrors.

for his hypocrisy and constant dissemination of misleading information to the citizens of Guyana.

At a time when Guyana is experiencing the highest point of oil and gas revenues, Norton's unrealistic assertion of providing $1 million per household raises questions about his grasp of economic realities. Such unfounded claims undermine Guyana’s credibility and hinder its ability to be taken seriously on the international stage. How can we expect an Opposition Leader to be involved in meaningful policymaking when the entire opposition engages in far-fetched assertions while disregarding

established facts?

In stark contrast, the PPP/C Government is committed to a massive development trajectory that will establish a strong foundation for Guyana's future economy. Their focus lies in areas such as food security, agro-processing, ecological preservation, financial services, technological advancement, healthcare, and manufacturing. The government recognises the importance of investing in skills training and scholarship opportunities to equip the nation with the necessary human resources to support this development.

The waning support for Aubrey Norton within

his own party jeopardizes the opposition's viability as a meaningful political force. The internal divisions and doubts surrounding his leadership abilities hinder the party's ability to challenge the government effectively. Guyana cannot afford to be led by a leader who fails to inspire confidence or exhibit a comprehensive understanding of the country's needs. It is imperative that the opposition party resolves its leadership crisis swiftly to restore its credibility and provide a robust alternative to the government's vision for a prosperous Guyana.

Unwarranted attack on government

Dear Editor, UNDOUBTEDLY, Glenn

A few weeks ago, I listened to the PNC/R Leader Aubrey Norton at the launch of the party’s LGEs campaign. His utterances were directed at the PPP/C as if it was a national campaign with several reasons why not to vote PPP/C.

I am aghast that the APNU can feel justified in presenting excuses for the poor management of Georgetown, our capital city.

When the party is not making excuses, it is conveniently attributing blame for the obvious mess to the governing PPP/C, which is threatening to seize control of the city through the ballot box.

The PNC candidates must run on their track record not on lofty plans for the future.

Yours truly, Anson Paul

Lall and the Kaieteur News is once again hell bent on unleashing its vehement attack on the PPP/C’s government. We have seen this media house leading the corruption mantra which came to a screeching halt from 2015 to 2020, during the tenure of the Coalition Government when all forms of corruption rose to unprecedented heights. This had resulted in an increase in inequality with the gap widening between the ‘have’ and the ‘havenots’, cronyism, poor or no accountability, gross mismanagement of the economy, blatantly corrupt deals, squandering and widespread stealing of funds, burdensome taxation and rising frustration and hardship among citizens.

Moreover, it was also in 2016 when the Exxon Contract was signed by the Coalition and the Coalition played a three-card trick with the $US18 million signing bonus.

Yet Kaieteur News heard and saw no evil and there was no cross country walk or fasting in front of the President’s office nor any TikToking, no comical radio show and daily articles targeting the Coalition and Exxon.

It would have appeared that these did not happen since it would have not served his mephistophelian agenda at that time. However, the publisher of KNews did a Rip Van Winkle as soon as the PPP/C assumed office in 2020. Suddenly, he became the ‘messiah’ for the poor and downtrodden and the ‘crusader’ against the PPP/C Government and Exxon. He saw ‘corruption’

in every nook and cranny. He saw nothing worthwhile mentioning since the PPP/C Government took office in 2020. Would he have done the same if the Coalition was still in power? Absolutely not!

In addition, I am yet to see a Glenn Lall piece on the several attempts by the Coalition to steal an entire country in plain sight. He was nowhere to be seen ranting and raving on his facetious show. There was no protest walk or hunger strike. The Kaieteur News adopted an independent posture during this infamous period of severe anguish and agony experienced by the Guyanese people.

It is an established fact that Glen Lall and Aubrey Norton’s statements are devoid of facts and logical reasoning but instead packed

My views were mischaracterised

Dear Editor, IT has never been my intention to respond to people who deliberately mislead and distort my views about events. My views are always guided by reason and evidence. Sadly, other people's views tend to deviate from this pattern and culminate in a lack of civility and decorum.

A person by the name of N Sahadeo has launched a written assault on me and my views as expressed in a letter dated June 1, 2023, and titled: “Tara Singh – try some humanity, stop the callousness.” It is perplexing that this individual has taken so much time to totally mischaracterise and distort my views.

The central theme of my letter was to establish some basic facts about the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory.

My views about the victims’ families are well known and described elsewhere. Suffice to say that apart from urging community and religious leaders to initiate vigils in the victims’ honour, I have organised a group to render other forms of support.

“Ms. Sahadeo, my work among some Amerindian communities for decades, is well known.”

I never chastised Ms. Sahadeo, whom I do not know, nor anyone else for their comments on the Mahdia fire. Rather, I differ with their opinions. As stated before, it was my belief that if some basic facts/evidence about the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory are known, this could lead to better understanding/ conversation of the situation. It was in no way intended to minimise the grief, excruciating pain, trauma of victims, and their

Unwarranted attack...

FROM PAGE 6

with emotive utterances. Appealing to emotions and using deliberate and concocted misinformation is deceitful.

For instance, I have heard that Glen Lall misstated that Exxon gets 98 per cent of the oil profit and Guyana gets a mere 2 per cent. I have also heard Norton stating that he will give each household $US5,000. Not having a clue whether the oil revenue Guyana receives will sustain this disbursement. This was skillfully debunked by Dr Jagdeo at his recent press conference who explained that the revenue received so far is below the $US1.7 billion which is required annually to make this disbursement.

Predictably, I have not seen this reported in the KNews. The Vice President went on to explain why the PSA already signed cannot be renegotiated and the fact that all future contracts will resolve the issues of the Stabroek PSAs. Unfortunately, KNews attempted to twist the statements made by the Vice President.

There is no doubt that Guyana must make use of the momentum described by him in order to sustain the level of planned investments since there is indeed a ‘tiny window’ of opportunity and many variables to deal with.

I have read a masterpiece written by Professor Emeritus Compton Bourne captioned, ‘Guyana on the right path to economic transformation’ and I would recommend that Glen Lall and Aubrey Norton do a thor-

families. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous.

My letter was not filled with acrimony, and I did not allow my emotions to conquer my judgement. Unfortunately, Ms. Sahadeo, supposedly a fountain of morality, has proven that she is not short of a litany and often misplaced expletives. For example, she states: “I have asked all the benchwarmers in Parliament to vacate their seats and let competent people do the job they obviously have not been doing or else those 20 young children would not be dead.” Isn’t this arrogant to the highest order? Did the benchwarmers in Parliament set the building on fire?

Ms. Sahadeo continues with

her tirade: “Tara Singh wants us to believe that the proverbial buck does not stop at the person who is enjoying ALL the privileges of being Head of State.” I can discern Ms. Sahadeo’s subliminal remarks here. I hope the reader does too! The Mahdia dormitory falls under the authority of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Once again for Ms. Sahadeo’s edification, the Minister of Education does not manage school dormitories, except those in Georgetown.

What a colossal distortion of reality by Ms. Hello Sahadeo! “Tara Singh is telling the First Peoples of our Nation that their lives and welfare is not the concern of the ruling party/government and that basically....” Where did I write or say those words suggesting insensitivity?

Why does Ms. Sahadeo methodically seek to substitute the simple meanings of my statements with her own minted words and meanings to suit her corrugated style of narrative? This is a classic case where she bastardizes the English language.

I want Ms. Sahadeo to know that I have done more for the Amerindian community in Guyana than most Guyanese. When I founded the Guyana Watch Inc in 1992, Amerindian communities have always been a priority of our medical and humanitarian mission. My work in the humanitarian area is well known and I do not need to elaborate on this. Furthermore, when the news broke out of the Mahdia fire and its destruction known, I immediately called upon community leaders to organise a vigil, including the exploring of

other ways in which we can help the victims’ families.

I hope that Ms. Sahadeo is not lost in an ocean of confusion. What is her motivation for excessively misinterpreting and distorting my views? Finally, she asks: “What silver lining Tara?”

Ms. Sahadeo, every life is precious and the statement, 'a silver lining,' is a metaphor which is a reminder that whatever excruciating pain victims’ families endure, they must never lose hope. What is wrong with this statement?

I stand by my position. I would not allow my emotions to run havoc with my power of discrimination. Reason is not my enemy.

Sincerely, Dr

Tara Singh

ough analysis of this article (https://www.stabroeknews. com/2023/05/30/features/ guyana-on-right-path-to-economic-transformation/).

In the introduction, he summarised the article as follows: ‘Production and marketing of Guyana’s abundant oil and natural gas resources provide unheralded opportunities to substantially raise levels of living for its resident population. Transformation of the economy is a critical requirement for the improvements in levels of living to be sustained for current and future generations. Some fundamentals of economic transformation are a massive investment programme in economic and social infrastructure; economic diversification; capacity expansion, cost efficiency, and reliability in the domestic electricity and energy supply sector; and diffusion of economic opportunities. All things considered Guyana is on the right path to economic transformation.’ The Professor went on to explain in detail how the government is constructing this path to economic prosperity. This will coincide with what Dr Jagdeo explained at his recent press conference.

I encourage all Guyanese to examine deeply Professor Bourne’s article and listen attentively to Dr Jagdeo’s Press Conference on June 1 to expose the lies and emotive trash peddled by the Kaieteur News publisher and Aubrey Norton. Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Gov’t to assist displaced Hill Foot squatters

SQUATTERS of Hill Foot, Soesdyke were engaged on Friday morning by Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy, and Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Sherwyn Greaves, regarding an ongoing dispute between them and property owner, Lawrence Almeem.

The meeting was held at CHPA’s Brickdam, Georgetown Headquarters. CHPA Director of Community Development, Gladwin Charles, was also present. The ongoing conflict stems from the demolition of

squatters’ structures by the private landowner on May, 31, 2023, following a civil court ruling.

Through CHPA, the government is implementing a relocation and resettlement programme to ensure the families are in a safer environment. CEO Greaves stated that each household will be offered a plot of land or a turn-key house, based on their preference.

He indicated that all the applications would be fast-tracked and urged the squatters to work with the agency. The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) is also offering

the squatters land at Long Creek. Additionally, persons have the option of remaining at the Hill Foot land and applying for prescriptive rights.

Meanwhile, Minister McCoy further assured the squatters that the government will work with all those who are displaced. He reaffirmed that the government is in no way responsible for the eviction and urged them to ignore the falsehoods spewed by the political opposition.

Squatters are also urged to refrain from unlawfully blocking roads and damaging property.

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, addresses the ongoing dispute between the squatters and property owner, Lawrence Almeem

Exercising their right to vote

SCORES of Joint Services ranks turned up at designated polling stations across the country to

vote, ahead of the official Local Government Elections which are slated for June 12, 2023. Prime

Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips, GECOM Chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette

Singh and the government and opposition-appointed commissioners visited several

Exercising their right...

FROM PAGE 10

of the locations in Georgetown and surrounding areas to observe the voting process. These Department of Public

Information, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service and Guyana Defence Force photographs captured some of the scenes

at polling stations in Georgetown, on the East Coast of Demerara and in Regions Two, Three, Five, Six and 10

Former Prime Minister and President of Guyana receives Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award from top Canadian university

SAMUEL Hinds, the Guyanese Ambassador to the U.S. and former prime minister and president of Guyana, visited his alma mater in Fredericton, Canada, last week, where he was honoured with the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award and inducted into the Engineering Wall of Fame at the University of New Brunswick (UNB).

Born and raised in Guyana,

Ambassador Hinds came to UNB on a scholarship to study chemical engineering and says that his training in Canada was one of his formative experiences.

“I learned a lot from my professors and met many interesting people while I was at UNB. I made friends and broadened my knowledge not just in engineering but in business and political science,”

Ambassador Hinds said.

After graduating in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from UNB, Ambassador Hinds returned to his home country to begin working in the aluminum industry as a process engineer.

When the ALCAN subsidiary he worked for was nationalised, he remained with the company and eventually advanced to the position of head of chemical engineering.

In 1990, he joined the political opposition in the country and was elected Prime Minister in 1992, serving in that role almost continuously until 2015 (he also briefly served as President of Guyana in 1997).

Over his career, he was responsible for the mining sector in the country which relies on bauxite, gold, diamonds and aluminum. Under his leadership, Guyana became the world’s leading producer of bauxite.

With a strong commitment to democratic processes, social reform and personal freedom, Ambassador Hinds always pursued what is practical and realistic.

“I wish I could have done more. I hope I made good use of the opportunities in Guyana as a developing country which gained its independence in 1966, just one year before I returned,” he said.

“There were challenges and fragments of the population, and we had to come together as one. But that is a long process that occurs over a number of generations, centuries even.”

In 2021, he became the Guyana Ambassador to the United States, the first time he and his wife Yvonne have lived outside of Guyana since 1967.

He is both optimistic and concerned for the future; as ambassador to the U.S., he will

do his part to make the world a better place.

“I’m encouraged that we are on a course to becoming one world and one human race with all of our diversities of language, religions, cultures and histories. But we still have contradictions and contentions to deal with,” he said.

“I think we must move forward from the hurts of the past while not forgetting them. We must learn to contribute today wherever we are to improve our own situation and the situation of our world. Making a contribution is very important.”

Bridging the divides between cultures, religions and countries is important to Ambassador Hinds. A key influence on this strongly held value was his grandfather, “a person who lived in the countryside and often read to me from his favourite passages in the Bible.”

“I eventually became aware that in the same way the Bible was an important book for me, other religious books were similarly very important for other religions and peoples around the world. I grew up along with Hindus and Muslims in Guyana and we stayed very separate. I began realising as a student that we must do better to get past that and come together as one people.”

The Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award recognises a UNB engineering alumnus who has demonstrated core values of excellence, integrity and leadership and has attained prominence and achievements through his or her career. Ambassador Hinds was also awarded an honourary Doctorate of Science by UNB in 1994, and in 2011 he received Guyana’s highest national award, the Order of Excellence.

Gov’t, UN host meeting to review region’s achievement of SDGs

THE Government of Guyana (GoG) and the United Nations (UN) System in Guyana, recently convened the Joint Steering Committee of the UN Multi Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF), which met for its Annual Coordination Meeting on May 22, 2023.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Finance, the Joint Steering Committee assessed the UN’s response to regional development priorities during the first year of implementation of the UN Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework (MSDCF).

In his welcome remarks, Roberto Valent, Regional Director for the UN Development Coordination Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, thanked participating governments for their continued partnership with the UN.

The release added that Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh who co-chaired the meeting with the UN Resi -

dent Coordinator in Guyana, Yeşim Oruç said: “We, in the Caribbean, are proud members of the United Nations and active participants in its various institutions and organs. We welcome the opportunity to meet through this annual consultation to take stock of where we are and to articulate our vision in relation to how we move forward”.

The Senior Minister also

pointed out the peculiarities and vulnerabilities of the region due to the climate change phenomena and other externalities as he lamented the non-implementation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and the delivery of the 0.7 per cent GNI of ODA rich countries to assist poor countries.

Meanwhile, Yeşim Oruç, UN Resident Coordinator in

Guyana, highlighted that “a regional cooperation framework delivered at national levels that is fit for purpose resulted in the UN responding to the calls of Small Island Developing States, especially the Caribbean, to deliver more tailored support to countries and territories,” the release said.

The Joint Steering Committee is part of the governance mechanism of the implementation of the Caribbean MSDCF and comprises ministerial representatives of the 19 country signatories to the Cooperation Framework, as well as representatives from 23 UN Agencies, Funds and

Programmes that implement development projects in the region.

The release related that the hybrid meeting saw discussions on food systems, data and digitalisation, and how the UN can support countries across the region to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and agreed on strategies for strengthening this mechanism.

“The Multi Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) is the most important instrument for planning and implementation of the UN development activities towards the fulfil-

ment of the 2030 Agenda in the Caribbean,” the ministry explained.

It added that the UN and the governments in the region are committing to contribute to significant structural changes in the economies and governance systems of participating countries towards: economic resilience and shared prosperity; equality and well-being; resilience to climate change and shocks, and sustainable natural resource management; and peace, safety, justice, and the rule of law.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Yeşim Oruç (Ministry of Finance photo)

Empowering small-scale farmers, farming collectives and vulnerable women through the enhancement of National Social Protection Systems

THE Government of Guyana, through its National Pathway for Food Systems Transformation, is strategically poised to bolster rural livelihoods, diversify the economy, and advance the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)'s regional food security agenda via the implementation of the 'Twenty-Five by 2025 Ini-

tiative'.

In alignment with this national endeavour, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have extended their support through the Joint SDG Fund, facilitating the government's mission to expand social protection in Guyana.

As part of this initiative, farm input supplies and a one-time cash grant were offered to smallholder farmers and participants of ongoing socio-economic empowerment programmes throughout the country. The project was coordinated by the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator to foster coherence and collab-

oration between the two UN agencies, support efforts to enhance intergovernmental coordination, and amplify the impact of national initiatives.

CASH TRANSFERS

In a concerted effort with the World Food Programme (WFP), the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS) dispensed a one-off cash grant to participants engaged in the Women Innovation and Investment Programme (WIIN), or the 'WIIN in Business' initiative. This initiative is designed to empower women and girls by equipping them with the requisite knowledge and skills to augment their economic engagement within their respective communities.

As a crucial component of the programme, the Ministry conducted a workshop focused on business skills development, imparting prac-

TURN TO PAGE 15

Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, presents a cash grant to a participant

Empowering...

FROM PAGE 14

tical competencies such as drafting business plans, networking, and finance procurement. Encouraged to conceive proposals for income-generating activities, the participants subsequently received a cash grant from the Ministry, supported by the WFP, to address their immediate needs and foster their proposed ventures.

Approximately USD79,000 was distributed among 225 participants nationwide, intending to generate economic opportunities that enhance community livelihoods and resilience.

"With the cash grant money, I will seek to expand my business," declared a 46-year-old female from Region Three. Another participant, a 31-year-old from Region Four, expressed gratitude, stating, "I am thankful for the cash grant which will enable me to start the business earlier than anticipated."

Besides providing cash assistance, the WFP sustained its collaboration with the Ministry, offering technical assistance and support in programme lifecycle management, specifically in areas such as vulnerability assessment and mapping, beneficiary targetting, reconciliation and reporting, and post-distribution monitoring of the activity.

The programme also probed potential avenues for sustained engagement with the Ministry and other stakeholders, focusing on the crucial long-term capacity-building needs of small-scale farmers, farming groups, and associations with women participants from the Ministry’s innovation and entrepreneurial skills development programme.

"I am thankful because I learnt to save, do a budget and calculate a profit," shared a 59-year-old food vendor from Region Three.

AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENTS

The FAO, with the backing of the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and the Guyana Livestock Development Authori -

ty (GLDA), conducted a two-day workshop. This event was tailored to equip farmers with knowledge on new and cost-effective feed and fertiliser alternatives, thereby boosting production and productivity. The workshop was attended by approximately 19 farmers from 17 communities and 23 extension officers from five coastal regions supporting livestock, rice, cash crops, and roots and tubers farmers.

Norman Alves, a farmer of cash crop, rice and ground provision, enthusiastically expressed, "This training was exciting; I learned how to fertilise crops in the rainy season by digging and placing them under the soil. I also learned how to use compost tea to enhance plant growth and how to use remains from my cassava and sweet potato crops to make animal feed."

FAO remains committed to supporting vulnerable populations, including youth and women. The majority of participants at the workshop were female farmers and extension officers, followed by young farmers.

Jaikumarie Persaud, a livestock and cash crop farmer, commended the training, saying, "The training provided was excellent. …. I learned a lot and received my certificate. I was able to use the 4 R’s (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place) in my farm and share these techniques with my farming group."

Moving forward, farmers are also set to benefit from input supplies provided by the FAO.

The government, on its part, persists in its commitment to expand social protection by widening the reach and enhancing the benefits of existing social assistance programmes while introducing new labour market strategies.

The Joint SDG Fund supports countries to accelerate their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to deliver on the commitment of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind. (UN)

Coconut fibre machines being procured to help farmers, the environment

- expected to be a ‘game changer’ for agriculture sector

By Cindy Parkinson

DUE to the rapid expansion of the coconut industry, the Government of Guyana plans to purchase more coconut fibre machines which will be a game

changer for farmers across the country as well as the environment.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, recently told the Guyana Chronicle that one of the machines is presently at the Hope Coco-

nut Estate, and two others are in Panama, awaiting shipment to Guyana. Five more machines are expected to be in Guyana by September.

According to the minister, the machines will add "tremendous" value to the

agriculture sector. "These machines will help us to add value to the husk that we have been throwing away or was burnt over the years. The husk will also help us to beef up production in the different crops in terms of mulching. With the shredded fibre, we

will be able to put it around the roots of the plants so that they can be kept cooler, which will help in us having healthier and more productive plants. We are expecting El Nido later this year, and having the fibre machines will be a game changer for the agriculture sector and the farmers in a tremendous way,” he said.

The minister also explained that the aim is to make use of every part of the coconut.

"We are not looking at water alone, but we are looking beyond that. When we look at places like the Pomeroon in Region Two, and on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, we have places like Kairuni where they have a lot of coconut plantations there as well as the Mahaica-Mahaicony areas on the East Coast of Demerara," Mustapha said.

Pointing out that the coconut has become one of the most valued crops in Guyana and around the world, he said that it brings in a lot of revenue for the country because of "us" becoming a member of the international coconut community.

He said that he had projected the increase in coconuts by 1000 acres in less than three years and saw the tremendous increase to 5000 acres.

He also said that he had to consider the amount of husk that would be produced as well, and as such the coconut fibre machines were thought to be the best solution.

Minister Mustapha went on to explain that the President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, are putting in "enormous" effort to ensure that Guyana and Guyanese grow accustom to a pollution-free environment which includes "us" making use of every coconut husk in the proper manner.

The agriculture minister also said that the two leaders are encouraging the planting of coconut trees along the coastline and the banks of creeks and rivers to help stop erosion.

This publication also spoke with the General Man-

ager of Hope Estate, Ricky Roopchand, who stated that the coconut fibre machines will shred the husk of the coconuts and produce two products: coconut fibre and coconut peat.

According to him, the coconut peat has a finer particle, which when mixed with other soil, can be used in the seedling nursery. On the other hand, the coconut fibre is used for mulching in the cultivation of coconuts and vegetables.

"The one machine is presently at Hope Estate so that we can generate some fibre for our nursery, especially now that we recently received the other set of Brazilian Green Dwarf coconuts. This is the first batch that will be germinated by the use of the coconut fibre as part of the mixture," he added.

Roopchand also stated that another advantage of using the fibre is that it holds almost ten times its mass, which will allow farmers to conserve water.

He explained that it also suppresses the growth of weed and the product itself is very cheap to manufacture given that it is readily available. It is also organic and biodegradable.

Apart from the common uses of the fibre, Roopchand said that the government will also consider using it as padding for vehicle seats.

According to him, "the fibre has to go through another process before we can use it for padding for car seats, and even though we are not at that stage right now, the government’s longterm and future plan is to set up pilot projects around the country to move it from the fibre stage to something that is actually marketable, in terms of packaging."

Roopchand also noted that the government and Minister Mustapha are awaiting the arrival of several coconut specialists from India. They will be in Guyana "shortly" to give guidance to those in the coconut industry.

He explained that they will capitalise on this visit and ask the specialists to assist with the setting up of the pilot projects.

Zadran, bowlers earn Afghanistan comfortable win over Sri Lanka Djokovic battles past Fokina at French Open

AFGHANISTAN coasted to a six-wicket win in the first of three ODIs against Sri Lanka in Hambantota. The visitors, chasing 269, were given a flying start by Ibrahim Zadran, whose century stand with anchor Rahmat Shah laid the platform for the middle order to stroll across the line, getting to the target with six wickets and 25 balls to spare.

Earlier, Afghanistan had won the toss and opted to bowl first against Sri Lanka. Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up early wickets of Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis to set the hosts back early, and Fareed Ahmed soon got rid of the experienced Angelo Matthews to set

Sri Lanka back considerably. Pathum Nissaka, who had gritted his way through this, eventually fell and Sri Lanka were reeling at 84-4.

SCORES: Sri Lanka 268 all out in 50 overs (Charith Asalanka 91, Dhananjaya de Silva 51, Fareed Ahmed 2-43)lost to Afghanistan(Ibrahim Zadran 98, Rahmat Shah 55, Kasun Rajitha 2-49)by 6 wickets

It was then that Dhanajaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka pulled off a rescue act, stitching together a stand of 99 runs and thereby putting Sri Lanka on the path to a more respectable total. Lower order contributions from Shanaka and Hemantha added important

runs, with Asalanka staying put until the final over as Sri Lanka managed to play out 50 overs despite losing all ten wickets. The Afghan bowlers exhibited a complete performance, with the fast bowlers encashing the new ball, and the spinners coming into play with the older ball. The run-chase started off poorly for Afghanistan, who lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz for just 14, knocked over by Lahiru Kumara. However, Ibrahim Zadran led a counterattack with Rahmat Shah in a supporting role, putting on 146 runs in 148 balls, sparing no one, and putting Afghanistan on course for a successful run-chase.

Matheesha Pathirana, who

eventually got rid of Zadran for a well-deserved 98 to earn himself his first ODI wicket, went for a 17-run over early on and received some serious stick on his ODI debut, going at 7.5 runs per over.

Rahmat Shah departed soon after for a gritty fifty, but sensible contributions from Mohammad Nabi and Hashmatullah Shahidi ensured that Afghanistan strolled over the line comfortably, and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The 2nd ODI is set to be played on Sunday (June 4) and the third ODI on Wednesday (June 7), both at Hambantota. (Cricbuzz)

NOVAK Djokovic successfully navigated a tricky encounter with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to continue his quest for a record 23rd men's Grand Slam singles title at the French Open.

The animated Serb, seeded third, beat the Spaniard 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.

He will face Polish 13th seed Hubert Hurkacz or Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas in the fourth round.

"I knew it was going to be a difficult match, a physical match," 36-year-old Djokovic said.

He is through to the fourth round at Roland Garros for the 14th successive year.

Earlier, seventh seed Andrey Rublev was knocked out after

"He competed very well, he's an amazing fighter and an amazing player," Djokovic said of his opponent. "There are not many weaknesses in his game and he played a great match.

"A win is a win. I thought if I lost the second set we would probably play five hours today.

"You have to be ready, that is what Grand Slam tennis is all about. It takes a lot of effort but you have to believe in yourself. I am proud of the performance today for sure.

"Three hours for two sets is obviously a lot. It required a lot of energy and my priority now is to recover. Tomorrow I will have a day off and I'll be ready to play again."

It was a shock defeat for Rus-

letting slip a two-set lead against Lorenzo Sonego.

Italian Sonego won a five-set thriller 5-7 0-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 on the Roland Garros clay.

Djokovic is yet to drop a set at Roland Garros this year but came closer than he would have liked against Davidovich Fokina - a player he lost to on the Monte Carlo clay last year - with the first two sets going to tie-breaks and lasting more than three hours combined.

It is in Paris that Davidovich Fokina, ranked 34th in the world, has enjoyed his best success at a Grand Slam, reaching the quarter-finals in 2021, and he came out swinging against Djokovic with big hits and sublime drop shots causing all sorts of trouble for the former world number one.

After edging a first set in which he was twice a break down, made four double faults and received a time violation, Djokovic saved set point in the second before squeezing past his opponent in a second tie-break and then celebrating wildly.

Before the start of the third set, he received medical attention to his left leg but, geed up, dominated the remainder of the match to end Davidovich Fokina's hopes of an upset.

sia's world number seven Rublev, who has reached the quarter-finals in his last three Grand Slam appearances.

World number 48 Sonego will play 11th seed Karen Khachanov next.

After losing the first two sets, Sonego started playing more aggressively and pulled back the third set before winning a tie-break in the fourth to force a decider.

He broke Rublev's serve to go 5-4 up and serve for the match, sealing it when the Russian volleyed into the net on Sonego's first match point.

The victory is Sonego's first against a top-10 player at a Grand Slam, while it is the first time Rublev has been defeated after being 2-0 up.

"I think I played my best tennis this year," Sonego said. "There was a lot of things in my mind, but I tried to stay focused every point and enjoy the moment.

"I think this is the most difficult win of my career, for sure."

Earlier on Friday, Russia's Khachanov came through his third-round match in four sets, beating Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-4 6-1 3-6 7-6 (75).(BBC Sport)

Novak Djokovic won the French Open in 2016 and 2021

Pope, Duckett conspire to crush Ireland at Lord’s

- England batters re-write Lord’s record books to set up third-day victory push

overs after the interval to bring up his ton by advancing and whipping McBrine past mid-on for a single.

Photos/Getty Images

IT had to be six. In England's new Test era, his double-century just one run away it was only fitting that Ollie Pope passed the milestone with a skip and a heave to dispatch Andy McBrine all the way down the ground. This was Bazball, only it wasn't - because it didn't need to be.

So, as Pope and Ben Duckett etched their names among records and onto the Lord's honours board, the only takeaways from England's mismatch with Ireland were ruminations over what will happen against Australia in exactly a fortnight's time - and a bit of gold leaf.

In fairness, there were also a maiden Test wicket - plus two more - for debutant seamer Josh Tongue, forced to wait until Ireland's second innings after 13 impressive but fruitless overs in the first, as well as a trip to the medical room for opener James McCollum, who twisted his right ankle horribly swivelling on an abandoned pull shot in Tongue's second over of the day to deepen Ireland's considerable woes.

Tongue replaced Stuart Broad - as he did in Ireland's first innings when Broad claimed a five-wicket haul - in the seventh over and struck with his first and sixth deliveries, trapping PJ Moor lbw with one that kept low and drew an outside edge as Andy Balbirnie played away from his body only to find Jonny Bairstow's gloves. An England review secured his third when Ultra-Edge revealed the ball had brushed Paul Stirling's glove as he attempted a pull and Bairstow collected behind the stumps again so that at the close Ireland still trailed by 255 runs.

Ben Stokes declared with a lead of 352 when Pope fell, immediately after bringing up his 200 off 207 balls, again shimmying out of his crease as McBrine tossed the ball up outside off stump and Lorcan Tucker whipped off the bails.

Having reached his half-century - and 11,000 Test runs - just before tea, Joe Root fell just three balls into the evening ses-

sion, bowled by McBrine as he came down the pitch to one that turned between bat and pad and into the stumps.

It was Duckett who set the tone though, sharing a 252-run stand for the second wicket with Pope after the pair resumed on 60 and 29 respectively and with England 20 runs in arrears overnight. Duckett scored 101 in the morning session as he and Pope added 173 runs from 29 overs.

But this wasn't the muscular, chest-thumping, roaring aggression we have become accustomed to in the year since Stokes assumed the captaincy and Brendon McCullum became head coach. Only occasionally did Duckett and Pope look like they were trying to make things happen. Mostly they cashed in on some loose Ireland bowling as the gulf between the sides was laid bare.

Pope saw Duckett's 182 and raised it. He survived an Ireland review for lbw on 76 when debutant Fionn Hand struck him just above the knee roll with one that came back sharply as ball-tracking showed it was going just over the top of middle stump. Having lunched on 97 not out, Pope comfortably navigated the six balls he faced across two

Duckett helped himself to 14 off three deliveries in McBrine's next over, including a slogsweep for six, and it took the replacement of a misshapen ball for Ireland to remove him, trying to cut Graham Hume's delivery which pitched on a length and angled in to find a thick outside edge and ricochet onto off stump. The replacement ball kept Pope and Joe Root on their toes for a time as the Ireland bowlers found more movement. But the England duo settled into a 50run stand off 49 balls with Root, who faced 15 balls for his first five runs, contributing 16 off 23. From there they found their stride with Pope and Root each peeling a six off McBrine, Pope down the ground and Root wide over mid-on.

The first of back-to-back fours off Curtis Campher took Pope past the 150-mark in 166 balls, equalling the previous record for the fastest 150 in Tests at Lord's held by Sir Donald Bradman and which Duckett had smashed by reaching the milestone at a-run-a-ball in the morning session.

Pope also equalled Duckett's earlier feat of adding 100 runs in a session shortly before tea, but there was still time for Root to bring up his half-century and take England past the 500-mark with a pulled four off Campher. Next ball, a leg-side single left Root unbeaten on 52 at tea.

By the time Root fell, he had added 146 runs with Pope and, as England maintained a staggering run-rate of 6.34, it was done with an air that was more clinical than brutal. There is no doubt whatsoever that the hosts will be preparing to unleash the beast once more when the Ashes begin. (Cricinfo)

Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope take a run • PA

Jokic powers Denver Nuggets to opening win against Miami Heat

DENVER Nuggets eased to a 104-93 victory over a disappointing Miami Heat in the first game of the 2023 NBA Finals.

Nikola Jokic was the standout player as the Nuggets centre picked up a triple-double - double figures in points, assists and rebounds.

Denver never looked like losing in front of their home crowd in their first finals game for 47 years.

It puts them 1-0 ahead of Heat in the best-of-seven series.

Jokic rose to the occasion, finishing with 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, as Heat had no answer to the 28-year-old Serb.

"Right now, the most important thing is to win a game, and I'm trying to win a game in any possible way," Jokic told ABC.

"I don't need to shoot and I know I don't need to score to affect the game, and I think I did a good job today. Everybody contributed."

Jokic was assisted by

Jamal Murray with 26 points, while Aaron Gordon added 16 and Michael Porter Jr 14.

"I think that's the beauty of Nikola," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "I learned a long time ago the defence tells you what to do, and Nikola never forces it.

"One thing about Nikola is he takes great satisfaction in making plays for others. He really does. I think he takes more joy in that.

"I don't think he cares if he scored 27 points or not.

He cares that we're up 1-0."

For Heat, Bam Adebayo put in a strong showing as he picked up 26 points but had little help from his team-mates.

"They were in a pretty good rhythm, especially in that first half," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of the Nuggets.

"Our disposition, the efforts, the resolve in the second half was much better. But when you get to this level, it has to be complete games."(BBC Sport)

Spain-based Ruth Adams in CAC Women’s 3×3 team

THE Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has announced its Women’s 3×3 team for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in San Salvador, El Salvador.

The Games will run from June 23 to July 8, with the 3×3 basketball games scheduled for June 30 to July 2.

The team will be led by Ruth Adams, a point guard currently playing in Spain’s second division Women’s professional league with Miralvalle.

Adams, who hails from Plaisance, migrated to the US at eight years old and had a successful NCAA Division 2 collegiate career

and stated that her willingness was encouraging for the governing body for basketball in the ‘Land of Many Waters.’

He explained that other Guyana-born players in several professional leagues overseas were contacted, but though they were eager to represent Guyana, the CAC Games scheduled was not friendly to their club obligation.

The other members

Thomas is a former youth national football player with the ‘Lady Jags.’ The team’s coordinator for the event in El Salvador will be Abdullah ‘Zico’ Hamid, a former national player turned coach.

Singh said the GBF is committed to developing and exposing the country’s top female players to competitions both locally and overseas.

By Sean Devers

with St. Thomas Aquinas College before turning pro and heading to Spain.

Michael Singh, President of the GBF, expressed his happiness that Adams chose to represent Guyana

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Saturday June 03, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Mohit Sharma-3/36 off 3 overs (GT)

(2) 5 times (2010/2011/2018/2021/2023)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who has played most IPL matches for CSK to date?

(2) Who has scored most runs for CSK in IPL cricket to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue.

of the team were selected from players who excelled at the recently-held National Women’s 3×3 Championship.

Kennesha Leacock, the tournament MVP, will be joined by her Kwakwani teammate, Shania Sears, and Kristy Thomas from

To prepare for the CAC Games, the team will begin their training this weekend, and the GBF plans to host a series of events to simulate the high-intensity level of basketball expected at the tournament.

AFTER winning the Men’s doubles in the 2023 Latin American and Caribbean World Cup of Darts Qualifiers event earlier this month in San Jose, Costa Rica, Guyanese Sudesh Fitzgerald and veteran Norman Madhoo have qualified for the Professional Darts Corporation World Cup of Darts in Germany June 15-18

After the hard work the pair had to do to win an international qualifying tournament , their participation in the main event is in limbo due to lack of funds.

On Thursday, the hopes of the Guyana Darts Association (GDA) participating in Germany was significantly lifted when the Association paid a visit to Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle.

According to GDA’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Edward Richmond, the Association needs approximately $ 6.7 million and , Ninvalle, on behalf of the NSC and the Guyana Government, which is very supportive of Sports since they came into Office, promised to assist a ‘significant’ amount of the cost for

airfares, accommodation, meals and transpiration.

The 36-year-old Fitzgerald and veteran 59-year-old Madhoo will have little time to prepare mentally for Germany where they are expected to be very competitive when they represent not only Guyana but Latin America and the Caribbean.

Those desirous of contributing can contact the Association’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Edward Richmond on telephone number 592-6004694.

Bartica.

Nikola Jokic towers above Miami Heat players during the second quarter (Photo: Kyle Terada/ USA Today Sports)

GDA receives ‘significant’ assistance from NSC for World Cup of Darts in Germany

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle

Ruth Adams is a point guard currently playing in Spain’s second division Women’s professional league with Miralvalle

From left: Shania Sears, Kristy Thomas and Kennesha Leacock

GCB in ‘fruitful’ meeting with GCUC

By Sean Devers

ON Thursday at the Guyana Cricket Board’s Office on Regent Road, some of the newly elected executives of the Guyana Cricket Umpires Council (GCUC) met with the ruling body for cricket in Guyana to discuss issues affecting the GCUC.

At the end of the near two-hour discourse in which several compromises were made, both parties described the meeting as cordial and

fruitful.

High on the list of topics was the remuneration for umpires for Inter-County at all levels.

Accommodation and travelling expenses for those officiating in matches in locations far away from where they reside, a ‘space’ for a GCUC’s office and the availability of umpires for inter-county games at the U-17, U-15 and U-13 Levels, especially on week days, were also discussed.

President of the GCUC, Essequibian Dawchan Na-

gasar, along with GCUC’s executives from all three Counties negotiated with GBC's Anthony D'Andrade, Davteerth Anandjit and Kavita Yadram.

The increase in fees across the board was agreed to by both parties while the GCB agreed that umpires in another County could travel the day before match day and would be accommodated at the Chetram Singh Centre of Excellence at LBI in rooms in a different section from the players.

Among some of the oth-

er issues agreed to were the updating of GCUC Bank account to facilitate a better payment structure and training classes to have more qualified umpires available for GCB competitions at the lower levels.

The sending of playing conditions to coaches and umpires as early as possible was also discussed while with regards to the request for ‘office space’ the GCB promised to explore the possibility of finding a place

upstairs of the GCB office or at LBI.

Both parties promised to work in the best interest of each other for the development of Guyana’s cricket.

Sammy says coaching style will mirror captaincy style from playing days- ‘Leave the ego at home’

New Head Coach of the West Indies Men’s ODI and T20I teams, Daren Sammy, gave some insight in the coaching style he wants to implement going forward with the regional outfit.

Sammy, 39, was hired as West Indies coach in May, with his first assignments coming very soon when the West Indies tackle the UAE in three ODIs from June 4-9 before attempting to secure a spot in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup set for India from October 5-November 19 when they contest the ICC World Cup Qualifiers from June 18-July 9 in Zimbabwe.

The St. Lucian and former West Indies captain has previously coached the likes of Peshawar Zalmi in the

Pakistan Super League and the St. Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League.

The former all-rounder says his coaching style will be similar to his leadership style during his playing days.

“My coaching style is

similar to my leadership/ captaincy style. The first thing I said when I spoke to my staff is that when we pack our bags, just leave the ego at home. Pack everything else but leave the ego at home. That’s how I’ve lived my

life,” Sammy said.

“Yes. I’m the head coach, but it takes a team effort in order to move things forward. I believe myself and the captain must be in sync with the way we want to play. Also, the selection panel, everybody must understand what the plan and the vision is for the team and it will take all of us to make it happen” Sammy added.

He also outlined that delegation will not be a big part of his philosophy as head coach, instead promoting a more inclusive approach to preparing the team.

“On the ground, I have to be a part of the system. I will not be true to myself if I said ‘hey, you take on this now.’ I have the head coach role

by name but it doesn’t mean I’m going to designate; I’ve never been that type of leader. I’ve always incorporated everyone into the world and the job that has to be done. That’s why it’s a team. It’s not Tennis or Golf.”

With his inexperience in the role of head coach in mind, Sammy said he plans to use methods learned from the large number of head coaches he played under during his career to develop his own coaching style and methods.

He did, however, single out two coaches he reached out to for guidance, namely former West Indies coaches Otis Gibson and Phil Simmons.

“The number of coaches

I’ve worked through throughout my career, whether it be through franchise cricket, the West Indies team or different teams I’ve played for, I’ve gathered so much knowledge. I see the good things they do that I can implement for myself,” he said.

“Otis Gibson and I are quite close. We’ve always been in contact from way before he came into the setup. We had a very good relationship in terms of planning the cricket and how we presented to the guys. I also worked with Phil (Simmons) and we won a Championship together, so everybody has their own styles,” Sammy added. (Sportsmax)

Windies A earn series win despite draw with Bangladesh A

SYLHET, Bangladesh, (CMC) – West Indies A failed in their attempt to finish their tour on a winning note when international discard Mahmudul Hasan Joy hit a defiant, fourth first-class hundred to earn a draw for hosts Bangladesh A in the third “Test” on Friday.

Guyana Harpy Eagles off-spinner Kevin Sinclair bagged three for 94 from 27 overs to offer the Caribbean side a slice of hope, Mahmudul slammed an unbeaten 114, and the Bangladeshis ended on 306 for

four in their second when the four-day, first-class contest drew to a close at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

West Indies A won the series of three “Tests” 1-0 after they won the second “Test” that finished last Friday by three wickets at the same venue, where the first “Test” ended in a draw the previous Friday.

The visitors had set Bangladesh A 461 to win and had the entire final day to conjure up a bit of magic after the host resumed from their overnight total of 47

without loss, but Sinclair was their only effective bowler, and Mahmudul held things together in a near 7-1/2 hour innings that included 14 fours from 268 balls.

West Indies A knew they had a battle on their hands when Mahumudul and fellow opener Zakir Hasan extended their overnight stand to 93, but Sinclair grabbed two wickets in the span of 11 balls to set them back.

He got Zakir caught behind for 43, and trapped another international discard Mominul Haque lbw

for five, and the Bangladeshis were 107 for two, but Mahmudul shared two successive, significant partnerships to put trash the plans of the Caribbean side.

The visitors met roadblocks when Mahmudul added 53 for the third wicket with Saif Hassan, who made 38, and put on a further 117 for the fourth wicket to drag the home team out of danger with Yasir Ali, whose 67 contained six fours and four sixes off 85 balls in a little more than two hours.

President of the GCUC, Dawchan Nagasar (right) in discussions with GCB’s Antonty D’Andrade and Davteerth Ananjit (Sean Devers photo)

New West Indies white-ball head coach, Daren Sammy, speaking to Nicholas Pooran

‘Return of the Scorpions’ set for tonight at National Gymnasium

..main event between Dharry and Ronald expected to be sizzling hot

expect to be a capacity crowd come fight night” said Ninvalle who reminded the fans that the card also includes the Jackman siblings who were recently given world rankings after

There was a buzz of anticipation for tonight’s card with Bristol, GBBC’s Andrew Thorne, the boxers and Lennox Blackmore, who won the Commonwealth lightweight

Don Saxby, and will be in Dharry’s corner tonight

Tickets can still be purchased at the sole location of Hot & Spicy Creole Corner. The prices are: VVIP $10,000, VIP $6000, Ringside $3000, and Stands $1000. All tickets bought for the May 21 Card can be used for tonight’s event.

Apart from the Dharry and Marques fights, there will be a female fight between Natalya Delgado from Panama and Estefania Matute from Venezuela, while Guyanese

Terrence Adams battles Richard Blackman from Barbados, and Guyanese Anthony Agustin goes toe to toe with Bajan Emmanuel Anderson.

In the Amateur bouts, Aleojoundre Young (VBG) VS Nikhil Ramsaroop. Keyon Britton (BVI VS Curtis McDonald (RHJ) Kenroy Hamilton (RHJ) VS Joel Hinds (VBG), Britney McFarlane (JAM) VS Alesha Jackman (GUY) and Lee ANN Boodram (T&T) VS Abiola Jackman (GUY)

By Sean Devers

TONIGHT at 19:00hrs the bell for the first fight will ring to usher in a riveting night of fistic fury at the National Gymnasium when promoter Seon Bristol hosts the ‘Return of the Scorpions’ Pro-Am bout, described as the biggest boxing card of the decade.

USA-based Bantamweight pugilist Elton Dharry will match gloves with Columbian Ramos Ronald in the main event of 10-bout Card which features Pro bouts and a similar amount of amateur fights.

Dexter ‘the kid’ Marques (122.5 lbs) will battle Columbian Luis Carrillo (123.5) in the main supporting bout.

At the Everest Cricket Club, where the final press conference was held and where the 37-year-old

Dharry is scheduled to fight for the WBC Silver which is one level down from a World Title, was a hive of activity as the weigh-in of the boxers were held.

Dharry, with a Pro record of 33 fights, 26 wins, 6 defeats and 1 draw with 15 of his win coming by way of Knock-outs, last fought on April 22, 2023 when he defeated Orlando Ponabla at the Providence Stadium for the vacant WBC International Super Fly title.

Speaking at yesterday’s press conference, Director of Sport and President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle stated that this is one of the best Cards in Guyana in decades.

“I have known Seon Bristol for a long time from Amateur fights and the card should be very entertaining for what I

their

sojourn in India for the Women’s world boxing Championships.

Dharry, who weighed in at 118.6 pounds, said it was always an honour to fight at home and promised his fans a great fight.

His opponent who took the scale at 117.5 and, speaking in Spanish, said he will give the Guyanese a good fight, adding that the fight ‘is a very good thing for Guyana’s development in Boxing.

title in 1977, all spoke at yesterday Gala Event which culminated with lunch being served to the specially invited guests.

Blackmoore, who was a challenger for the World Boxing Association (WBA) World light welterweight title against Aaron Pryor, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) FECARBOX light welterweight title against Antonio Cervantes, travelled from the USA, along with

Elton Dharry (left) and Ramos Ronald will battle in the main event (Sean Devers photos)

Dexter Marques (left) will face off with Luis Carrilo in the main supporting bout

Venezuelan Estefania Matute (left) will battle Delgado of Panama