Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 06-08-2023

Health sector underwent ‘intense period’ of revival

GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that despite inheriting a battered health sector from the former A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government, the PPP administration has been able to revive the sector and take it to new heights with critical investments.

Dr Jagdeo, during a press conference on Thursday, said: “Our track record is there to be seen. We can defend it in any circumstance; we can show that it is vastly superior to anything that APNU did.”

The PPP General Secretary said within a year, the PPP administration did more for the people of Guyana compared to the fiveyear tenure of the APNU+AFC.

Addressing specific issues regarding the health sector, he said: “So, recently we discovered we had a big backlog at the Georgetown Hospital,” adding: “Now, let me tell you the context. First of all, when we got back into office, we had to destroy about $10 bil-

lion worth of drugs that is medical supplies, etc…, that were already expired.”

This situation resulted in the PPP/C having to replenish the stock of drugs and cater to the increasing demand that existed.

Additionally, Dr Jagdeo highlighted that the APNU+AFC had also left the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in a deplorable state, with a number of equipment and laboratories inoperable.

He revealed too that there was no audit conducted on GPHC between 2015 and 2020, during the APNU+AFC’s reign.

“So, we had an intense period of trying to fix this. Do you know that between 2015 and 2020, not a single audit was done for the Georgetown Hospital? That is their [APNU+AFC] legacy. Not a single audit was done between 2015 and 2020,” the General Secretary said.

On the contrary, from the time that the PPP/C has been in office, GPHC has submitted their financial statements up to 2022.

“So, this administration has had to go

back now and recreate their financial statements from 2015 all the way to 2022… [those audits] are before the audit office now,” Dr Jagdeo said.

Today, the hospital and the entire sector is on an upward trajectory. It was reported recently that with the official pilot programme of an Electronic Medical Records system launched at the hospital, Adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, said that the government is aggressively moving to

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transform and digitise the health sector.

Dr. Ramsammy made those remarks during the recent launch of the EMR system at the GPHC, where he said the activity was deliberately designed to say to the

improving healthcare in our country.”

Along with this, he said that steps are being taken to implement digital systems in other parts of the hospital, and by extension the health sector.

Dr Ramsammy said

EMR system.

“We are working with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to ensure that Guyana rolls out a high-quality electronic medical record, so this is just the beginning of that effort,” he said.

country that the health sector is in a hurry to embrace technology.

He said: “We are making an aggressive move to transform the sector from a sector that made minimal use of digital technology to one that optimises fully digital technology in

that there is a functional laboratory information system that is being interlinked with all clinics.

Additionally, arrangements are being made for the pharmacy and laboratory to have inter-operability capacity to be linked into the

Further, Dr. Ramsammy indicated that while the GPHC has pioneered every advancement made in the health sector in the country, it plans, once again, to take over leadership of healthcare in the Caribbean.

Dr Jagdeo recalls PPP/C gov’t had to dispose of $10B worth of expired drugs inherited from APNU+AFC - GPHC functioned unaudited from 2015 to 2020

Expired drugs being dumped (DPI photo)

Young people stand to benefit more once they understand Guyana’s history

WITH justice, freedom and togetherness at the forefront of President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s agenda, the month of August, which serves as a period to reflect on both the abolition of slavery and the Demerara Revolt, stands as an opportunity for the younger generation to understand the hardships that the African ancestors endured to get Guyana to where it is.

President Ali, who on Friday evening hosted a dinner in honour of the 185th anniversary of Emancipation to reflect on the struggles that African slaves endured, as well as the unity of all Guyanese, said that the younger generation needs to be educated on Guyana's history because this is essential, given the two major events that occurred in August.

While giving his feature address, he remarked to the large gathering: “My friends, tonight we once

again reflect on Emancipation, but for us in Guyana, this month will be a prolonged celebration because in this month too, we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Demerara Revolt.”

He added that there will be a vast number of activities aimed at celebrating, educating and remembering the ancestors who fought for freedom and justice.

“Our young population, our young people and our children need to be embedded with this history, so that they will understand the sacrifice through which they came,” President Ali said.

Also, the Head of State said that, as a people, we have a duty to fight injustice and oppression wherever they lie.

“We as a people who are the inheritors of such sacrifice, we have a great responsibility and duty in the world today to ensure that wherever there is

injustice, wherever there is oppression of people, wherever the dignity of people is challenged, that

we must stand on the right side of history,” the Head of State said. He added: “If we are to

- President Ali advises

pay homage to the sacrifice our ancestors made, we cannot close our eyes to the inequity and the injustices in the world.”

To address the many issues facing the world, Dr Ali said that a collective approach is needed and Guyanese must be open to sharing their resources with the world.

“We, therefore, have a collective responsibility to build a collective future and we are not only speaking about a collective future for Guyana. The resources that we are blessed with must be utilised to build a collective future that brings prosperity to people in every single region and every corner of the world,” the Head of State said.

He further reminded of the government’s push to establish programmes and lead discussions on climate, energy and food security.

“We have presented the world with one of the largest standing forests in the world, storing 19.5 gigatons of carbon with the lowest deforestation rate in the world of 0.036 per cent…we have wars around the world around

energy, people’s freedom taking away in the fight for energy,” Dr Ali said, adding: “In both of these areas, we have been presented a natural gift and a blessing that we must utilise in the interest of humanity and the interest of people.”

The President also reminded that Guyana is currently leading the charge in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Latin American region to address food insecurity.

“This is done in recognition of the sacrifice, in recognition of the freedom our ancestors fought for,” the Head of State said.

Meanwhile, son-in-law of former President Forbes Burnham, Dr. Richard VanWest Charles, who also delivered remarks, said that Guyana under the leadership of President Ali is currently on an upward trajectory of building a strong future.

“We have multiple ethnicities, and we have in our motto, One People, One Nation, One Destiny and the president’s programmatic framework of One Guyana. That is important for us because it is building a nation,” Dr. Charles said.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali delivers his feature address at State House (Office of the President photo)

Teen activist talks climate change with President Ali

By Cindy Parkinson

WHILE the President of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, continues to have a significant international voice on environmental protection and climate security, 13-year-old Ismachiah Oduwole, a footballer from California, USA, is also playing his role in contributing towards the cause.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Chronicle, Ismachiah explained that the main reason for his visit to Guyana was to meet and have a conversation with President Ali about

a chance to see the lush green forest. I would like to thank him for the experience and the gifts."

He continued, "there are four reasons why I picked Guyana: the first reason is that Guyana is selling carbon credits because of its large rain forest, the second reason is that by selling carbon credits, Guyana is slowing down deforestation; and it is also contributing to absorbing carbon dioxide.

“My third reason is that Guyana has a full-proof programme for the citizens so that they can learn about the cause and prevention of climate

matter how old you are, you can make a difference. Ensure that you dispose of your garbage properly, and a simple gesture can go a long way. We can all make the world a better place. I went to Africa with my family, and I saw single-use plastic on the floor, and I thought to myself that the plastics were supposed to be in the trash and not just lying there. That’s when I decided that I wanted to do something to protect the climate and the earth."

Ismachiah further explained that he was a part of the two soccer/football leagues in California. According to him, he was pleasantly "surprised" and "ecstatic" to learn that his parents "saved up" the money to send him to the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar last December. Rather than just going to watch the match, Ismachiah said he was inspired by the work of his sister, Zuriel Oduwole, a 20-year-old filmmaker and education advocate who is also working to make the world a better place.

"So, I came up with the concept, which was to gather numerous soccer supporters from all around the world that were in Qatar and have them sign my climate balls. By signing the balls, they were making a pledge to take additional climate action and sustainability measures once they returned home. People from more than 28 countries signed

the balls; Brazil, England, Argentina, Senegal, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Columbia, the Netherlands, Morocco, South Korea and many, many more," explained Ismachiah.

The young American footballer then identified US and global companies that were making a clear mark in climate awareness as a good example for the next generation or in clear climate mitigation initiative reporting. He then began to invite the CEOs of such companies to sign a letter just for global executives and world leaders.

of the world's largest hotel group - Anthony Capuano of Marriott Hotels; the Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles; the CEO of a major US airline, Peter Ingram of Hawaii Airlines; the UK's top Premier League teams, Arsenal Football Club and Tottenham Hotspurs; the UAE's largest hotel resort (JA Resorts); the CEO of the world's biggest express shipping company, FedEx; the President of the Seychelles; Africa's Most Sustainable Country, and most recently, President Irfaan Ali, have all signed the ball and made a pledge towards

climate change. President Ali’s pledge on the ball reads, "We pledge to develop our country along a low-carbon path that is through the LCDS 2030."

In his meeting with Ismachiah, President Ali commended the young activist for his initiative and explained to him some of the facts about Guyana’s forest.

According to the President, "the forest that we have is a part of the Amazon Forest, and it stores 20 per cent of the world’s oxygen. Our forest is the size of England and Scotland combined; it stores 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon, and 15 per cent of all the revenues that we earn on the carbon sales go directly to the Indigenous People, which are the first people of the country. The revenue goes towards them to help them directly with their livelihood."

climate change.

According to the young activist, "my visit with President Ali was great; I told him about my mission and what got me into it, and he also signed my climate balls. Apart from that, President Ali offered my dad and me a trip to the rain forest, where I got to see the largest single-drop waterfall in the world, the Kaieteur Falls. I also got

change. The fourth and final reason why I choose Guyana is because Guyana is exploring hydroelectricity, which is when water is used to produce electricity."

In his quest for a cleaner and better world for mankind, the 13-year-old activist took the opportunity to speak to the people of Guyana, especially the children, saying, "It doesn’t

According to him, the CEO

President Irfaan Ali and Ismachiah Oduwole holding the signed climate balls

Ismachiah holding his climate change balls at the largest single drop water falls in the world, the Kaieteur Falls, a trip that was gifted to him by President Ali

A New Paradigm

THE PPP/C administration has just completed three years of its elected five-year mandate. To say that the country has made substantial economic and social progress during the past three years would be an understatement.

In actual fact, the entire economic and social fabric of the society is changing at lightning speed, with Guyana now having reached a stage where it is no longer seen as a poor developing country, but as a high-income nation.

This meteoric rise in the nation's economic status in just a matter of a few years is not fortuitous or accidental, but the result of astute and visionary leadership by the PPP/C and its leaders.

Indeed, a new era has now dawned, characterised by higher levels of inclusivity and participatory democracy. The economic and social

landscape of the country is experiencing catalytic changes; the transformation and modernisation of the country is there for all to see.

Yet there are some who are so blinded by prejudice against the PPP/C administration that they simply cannot see things objectively and in a rational and unbiased way.

Only recently, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had cause to comment harshly on a Stabroek News editorial which painted a picture of gloom and doom, completely oblivious to the monumental transformative changes that are taking place in the country.

This is nothing short of hypocrisy. By not focusing on the positives and only on perceived shortcomings, the people of Guyana are provided with a one-sided and distorted picture of develop-

ment in the country, which runs counter to the norms of fair and balanced reporting by the mass media.

The concept of Development Support Communication is pushed in the background and only “news” critical of the PPP/C administration seems worthy of publication by the so-called independent media.

According to Vice-President Jagdeo, who is also General Secretary of the ruling PPP/C, the current administration has done more in a single year for the people of Guyana in terms of welfare than the previous APNU+AFC administration did in five years.

He outlined the several achievements in several facets of national life, including the regulatory and management framework of the oil and gas sector.

According to Dr. Jagdeo,

Guyana has one of the most aggressive agendas for improving the regulatory and management framework for the oil and gas sector.

“We have amended the Natural Resource Fund (NRF)...today it has gained international kudos because of the amendments we made. Significant amendments that vastly enhanced the transparency in the use of resources” the Vice-President stressed.

However much the political opposition may wish to deny, the fact of the matter is that the PPP/C administration has delivered in substantial ways.

This point was made by President Ali who pointed out that the manifesto promises of the PPP/C have been fulfilled and, in some cases, surpassed to a point where the country has now progressed to an advanced stage of development, one that has

brought prosperity to every Guyanese home.

What the country is experiencing, according to President Ali, is a new paradigm; one that will provide valuable opportunities for Guyana and position the country as an important global leader on a number of global issues including food security, energy and climate.

“We are laying the framework now to ensure that we present a Guyana that by 203 0 will be[a] sustainable, highly competitive, developed, advanced country in which citizens of our country will enjoy the best health care, enjoy the best educational services.

“Where prosperity will come to every home; where we will be singing from a singular Guyanese hymnbook that we are one, that we are together,” the

President said.

The above are some facts which opposition elements would rather not acknowledge, if only to lend “credence” to their false narrative based on lies, half-truths and distortions. These, for the political opposition, represent “inconvenient truths” which they will conveniently ignore.

As the nation celebrates three years of the current PPP/C administration in office, the prospects for a prosperous and inclusive society have never been better.

Guyana is today experiencing one of its best moments. The pace of growth and development is picking up momentum, thanks to dynamic and visionary leadership of President Ali and the PPP/C administration.

Delivering on campaign promises and beyond

Dear Editor,

During its three years in government, the PPP/C has led an aggressive development agenda aimed at delivering on manifesto promises to the people of Guyana. The Ali-led government campaigned on a very ambitious manifesto and has worked tirelessly during its time in office to deliver on these promises.

The PPP/C Government is being lauded by many as a proverbial “breath of fresh air” following the APNU+AFC's stint in office that was marred by

their inability to deliver on campaign promises. The APNU+AFC now forms the main opposition and has demonstrated to many their tenacity to anti-agents of development. Their constant race-baiting and propaganda spreading seek to undermine the president's drive to unite and develop the country under his “One Guyana” mantra.

The People of Guyana are, however, not fooled as we continue to witness the unfolding of the government’s massive development agenda. The gov-

ernment is three years in and is well on the way to delivering on all campaign promises on issues such as employment, housing, health care, and education. The robust public infrastructure improvement plan continues to impress the masses as many enjoy the bounties of the improved road network while awaiting development such as the new Demerara Harbour Bridge

In addition to delivering on campaign promises the PPP/C government is also working to finish works

started and failed under the APNU and further correcting their many atrocities. Since taking office the government had to undo the many taxes imposed by the previous government to ease the burden on Guyanese while providing cash grants and other such assisting programmes to rescue the people from the hardships imposed by the previous government

In a recent interview, the Prime Minister boasted of works done to improve ICT accessibility in the hinterland. In the

same interview, he spoke of the fact that the government was able to actually liberalise the telecommunications sector, something that the opposition campaigned heavily on before taking office in 2015 but failed to deliver.

As a proud son of the soil, I have nothing but commendations for the government and its efforts at improving the lives of the people of Guyana and bringing large-scale development to local shores.

We appreciate the president and the cabi-

net for not insulting our intelligence with halfbaked schemes and political language but actually developing projects and programmes to improve the lives of all Guyanese. We thank the government for a progressive and successful three years and look forward to many years of continued success under the stewardship of President Dr Mohamed Ali.

Yours truly, Alvin Hamilton

Exxon, and the descendants of slavery, are owed an apology

Dear Editor,

The sign reading “Exxon is Guyana’s New Slave Master” published in the Guyanese media on August 3, 2023, is unimaginably offensive to the descendants of slavery, and to Exxon. Exxon (Hess and COONOC) delivered Guyana from an insurmountable starvation of capital (in the form of FDI) and brought our oil and gas resources from the bowels of the ocean, to markets across the world. By so doing, it has given the people of this nation the opportunity to move from the oft stated “second poorest country in the Western hemisphere,” to the fastest growing economy in the world.

The idea that FDI by Exxon et al constitutes a new form of slavery is not only unfounded but betrays a base-level ignorance of what slavery was as a matter of daily life. The key to slavery was violence. It was the violent extraction of economic value defended by an ideology of racial supremacy. The other key aspect of slavery was that it denied the humanity of the humans it subjugated through what Achille Mbembe has called “founding violence.”

But slavery was not

only about economic exploitation, nor was it only about racism. It was a physically brutal system of punishment and death.

Some random (but official reports) can help the reader understand what real slavery was like, even if it is minimal. Here is a report on punishment from Berbice, March 1829. The offence - slaves supposedly not doing sufficient work.

“The Fiscal [Sheriff] pronounced on the Negroes. The men were flogged this morning…receiving 50 lashes each except old Primo who received 39. The women to be confined in the Stocks every night till Easter, and then during the holidays” (Alvin Thompson, 2002: 107). The year before (1828), 2173 slaves were punished by Stripes (lashes and other methods of beating) in Berbice. Solitary confinement was widespread.

Between January 1 and July 1, 1828, 5,633 slaves were charged with a crime, most of them having to do with the Master demanding more labor. One thousand, eight hundred and thirteen (1813) charges of so-called “Bad work and insufficient…” were placed on the heads of those already having their labor forcefully extracted (Thompson,

2002: 114). Here is a more detailed report filed by James Stephen (an abolitionist lawyer) regarding the conduct of the Deputy Protector of Slaves, at Plantation Enfield, Berbice.

“His arrival seems to have excited a species of riot, especially among the females, whom he describes as vociferating for nearly an hour without interruption. Their grievance appears to have been that they were employed at task work instead of working at regular hours. It appeared to the satisfaction of the protector that the complaints were without foundation. After quieting the tumult by placing some of the foremost in the stocks, he directed the women to be sent back to the ordinary system of labor for one week to convince them of their misconception of their own interest on the subject of task work. He then proceeded to adjudge that three of the ringleaders of the male slaves to receive 50 lashes each, and other two to receive 40 lashes” (Thompson, 111).

Almost exactly 200 years ago on August 18, 1823, slaves at Plantation Success began a revolt against their oppression. The revolt spread to 37 estates, including Bach -

elor’s Adventure Plantation, where 200 slaves were gunned down. After the revolt “[h]undreds of rebels were hunted down and killed, including two hundred who were beheaded as a warning to other enslaved people. Fourteen rebels were hastily tried and sentenced to be hanged” (https://www.blackpast. org/global-african-history/ demerara-rebellion-1823/).

Guyanese also know of Damon of Plantation Richmond in Essequibo who was hanged in front of the Parliament Building in Georgetown for resisting continued forced labour after 1834 when slavery was abolished. A so-called apprenticeship till 1838 was instituted to help planters recoup their investment in human bodies as labor machines. It was met with disdain because it was a continuation of slavery.

In the 1763 revolt in Berbice, 1,800 slaved were killed, and 24 of them were burnt alive by the real slave masters. How about those accused of being “Guyana’s New Slave Masters.” This is not rhetoric based on ignorance, because we all know better. The motive behind this spectacular misrepresentation is economic, in the sense that sensationalism sells newspa -

pers. Secondly, and without doubt, there are clear political motives. The idea is to scare off foreign investors to halt economic and social development.

The fact is as pointed out by Joel Bhagwandin “ExxonMobil’s/EEPGL investment alone as of 2022 in the Stabroek block is a whopping G$1.8 trillion or US$8.61b. When other oil majors lacked confidence to explore in Guyana, Exxon remained steadfast to the commitment and continued their exploration until it discovered commercial quantities in 2015.

For perspective, it should be noted that Exxon’s invested capital alone is equivalent to two times Guyana’s pre-oil GDP. Moreover, because of this investment and Exxon’s presence in Guyana, the country has earned more than G$425 billion cumulatively as of 2022 in profit oil and royalty, which is two-times the tax revenues of the government prior to oil production. Additionally, the local businesses and Guyanese workers benefit from another US$700 million annually in local content spent in-country. Keep in mind also other related revenue streams such as the US$ 750 million from the ART-TREES framework

paid by Hess Corporation. ExxonMobil took on a huge financial risk in their investments in Guyana and had to wait a long time for the first profit oil. It took them 15 years before oil was discovered in commercial quantities, and another 5 years for development before going into production. That is 20 years of injecting capital continuously to finance exploration and development activities, before generating a dollar in revenue. Further, Exxon was pumping investments into Guyana while it was carrying overall losses. In 2020 alone, it lost US$ 22.4 billion. Earlier this year, it announced a major failure in oil exploration in Brazil after investing US$ 4 billion. Another US$ 4 billion in the same country has not yet yielded a dime of profit.

The suggestion that Exxon is Guyana’s new slave master is not only baseless, nonsensical, sensationalist, and dangerous; it is also downright disrespectful to those who toiled in one of history’s most disgraceful institutions, that is, slavery. And without ExxonMobil, Guyana would still be a fly over country.

Sincerely, Dr

Randolph Persaud

The government should derecognise the OGGN

Dear Editor, Readers would recall that in my recent writings, I challenged the OGGN to verify that it is a legitimately registered organisation, as it claimed to be under the United States tax laws―that is, a 501 (c) (3) organisation, and whether the OGGN is in compliance with the provisions thereof.

To that end, I argued that the OGGN is likely to be in violation of the 501

(c) (3) provisions because pursuant to the 501 (c) (3) requirements, it ought to disclose and/or publish its financial statements, i ts income tax returns and its bylaws.

None of this information is published on the OGGN website, hence, it is safe to conclude that the OGGN has violated not only the thrust but its legal obligations as a 501 (c) (3) organisation.

Moreover, it should be noted that 501 (c) (3)

organisations are subject to stringent rules and regulations pursuant to the U.S tax laws enforced by the IRS.

Particularly, such organisations are prohibited from engaging in political work. Yet, the OGGN engages in a covert political advocacy agenda and excessive advocacy work. These violations can be summarized as follows:

a) OGGN is involved in a covert politi-

cal campaign in Guyana

b) OGGN is engaged in excessive lobbying activities

c) OGGN refused to disclose or provide a copy of Form 990

d) OGGN failed to report employment, income, or excise tax liability, and/or disclose this information to the public

e) I would argue that the OGGN is engaged in deceptive fundraising practices (given

the lack of transparency surrounding its financials)

Despite all of the foregoing unquestionable violations by the OGGN, it has the audacity to make demands of the government continually, and hypocritically in its latest letter to the media dated August 5, 2023.

Unless the OGGN can subject itself to its legal obligations of transparency and ac -

countability, it has no modicum of authority to make any demands of the government in the manner it operates.

Finally, I would also like to urge the government to derecognize the OGGN if it has previously considered it to be a legitimate and genuine stakeholder group. Evidently, the OGGN cannot be considered as such.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

Dr. Irfaan Ali: One of the better leaders in today’s world

DR. CHEDDIE JAGAN

remains the most pleasant and admirable leader Guyanese politics has produced. The enduring theory about Jagan was that he was a good human that was incapable of being discriminatory, arrogant and authoritarian.

It is difficult to assess his four years in power because of two reasons. He inherited a political economy and political sociology that were not flowing and gushing, and he needed time to plan his re-shaping.

Secondly, he didn’t have that time, so there was no settling down period, so he could have buckled down to his transformative agenda. In the case of Dr. Irfaan Ali, Guyana’s 2023 political economy bears lit-

tle resemblance to Guyana in the period 1992 to 1997 when Dr. Jagan ruled.

Dr. Ali has far greater room for maneuverability to plan his holistic transformation. In those three years, he has gone beyond the boundary, and it is my assessment as both a political analyst and social activist whose years of experience take more than half a century, that Guyana may be on the verge of getting one of the better leaders in global politics.

It is almost impossible that if he is in good health in 2025 not to be the PPP’s presidential candidate.

Any competent political analyst assessing the political sociology of Guyana would defy rationality and logic to conclude that Dr.

Ali would lose the 2025 poll. What this means is that with seven more years at his disposal, the new Guyana, the new political culture, the new way of us looking at ourselves, and the new way of the world looking at us will be with this nation, and in that context, this young man would have taken his place not in Guyanese history only, but also in the pages of the general textbook on leadership and transformative changes.

As I wrote above, my experience is over 55 years and in that period, I think a capacity has emerged in me to extract a feeling from my psychology about the mind of leaders in this country that I have interfaced with.

I sat down with Dr. Ali

last Friday after I requested to see him to right a wrong that involved a lack of conscience on the part of a certain big-wig.

I only got that feeling of goodness and greatness about a human being lurking inside my psychology when the conversation flowed with five other persons in my entire life – Cheddi Jagan, Anil Nandlall, Father Andrew Morrison, the Jesuit priest that was the editor of the Catholic Standard, Sister Mary Noel Menezes, the Sister of Mercy history professor at UG, and Yesu Persaud.

Friday morning was one of the revelations I have

had in my life. As he spoke to me, I listened, and my mind was in concentrated moods. My sensory perception was in overdrive. I was old enough to know I was seeing and talking and listening to a unique person that will achieve greatness.

You tend to feel it with your advanced age because that is what experience teaches you. I was right about Nandlall. He was a young lad in my philosophy class at UG, and everything about his expressions in tutorial sessions told me this was going to be a youth that is going to achieve greatness in his career. I get the same feeling when I am in deep conver-

sation with the Guyanese president.

Could he end up being the definitive Third World leader that the post-colonial world has not yet seen? He has some serious competitors in Nehru from India; Manley from Jamaica; Bishop from Grenada; Nyerere from Tanzania; Mandela from South Africa; Lula from Brazil, among others.

I have excluded Burnham and Hoyte from Guyana; Castro from Cuba; and Lee Kuan Yew from Singapore because they had authoritarian instincts in which their leadership was marked by very wrong things done to their respective countries; for example Hoyte and the highly questionable 1985 election.

But Dr. Ali has seven years more to fill these big shoes. If he keeps the ship steady as he has been doing over the past three years, there is no reason why he cannot emerge as “numero uno” in CARICOM’s history and take his huge place in the annals of Third World evolution.

This week marked his third year in government, and I say with a tinge of emotion, you have to be an immoral soul unworthy of social acceptance if you cannot see that he has achieved a remarkable performance as a leader that reaches out to his population, interacts with them and tries to deliver to them what they ask for. But I guess there are those too evil to accept that others are greater than them.

Second quarter earnings hint Guyana is a long-term investment

LAST week, both Hess Corporation and ExxonMobil held their second quarterly earnings calls for 2023. Both reported lower profits compared to last quarter but outlined extensive plans to continue investing in Guyanese production for the longterm.

ExxonMobil, the operator of the Stabroek Block, emphasised that it is driving greater efficiencies across its global operations while aiming to operate in the safest and most effective way possible. Previous reports have indicated that the company is reinvesting most or all of its local profits into expanded exploration and development in Guyana, boding well for the future.

Hess’s Chief Executive Officer, John Hess, was also quick to explain that the

world will “require reliable, low-cost oil and gas resources for decades.” Guyana can play an integral role in meeting this requirement, thanks to its rapid pace of development, which was evidenced in the first three months of this year.

The country is already playing an important role in supplying Europe with oil as it turns away from Russian imports and analysts predict that high-quality and relatively low-emission Guyanese crude oil will continue to be highly sought-after.

The Stabroek remains the only producing block, with proven reserves of about 11 billion barrels of oil resource. Analysts estimate that total reserves could be almost double that number, but it will likely take substantial investment

and exploration to uncover them.

Hess expressed its eagerness to help lead that investment, alongside partners CNOOC and ExxonMobil. Executives explained the optimism and long-term implications of its investments in Guyana, indicating that in terms of “resource growth with multiple phases of Guyana developments coming online… we can deliver highly profitable production growth of more than 10 per cent annually through 2027.” The company’s reported dip in revenues was due to lower realised selling prices, but Hess noted that higher production volumes in Guyana was a bright spot.

In the second quarter this year, oil and gas net production averaged around 380,000 barrels of oil equiv-

alent per day.

One of the main themes of the earnings call was interest in continuing exploration in the Stabroek Block. Chief Operations Officer and President of Hess Corporation Greg Hill mentioned plans to drill at the Basher-1 and Lancetfish-1 sites, as well as the Lancetfish-2 appraisal well.

Guyana’s oil and gas sector continues to grow, with increased exploration and production at the Stabroek Block. Additionally, Hill shared on the call that exploration and appraisal activities are planned for the southeast portion of the Stabroek Block “to better understand the longer-term potential of this area.”

A steady stream of new developments will be essential to nurture the growing set of local industries that

are servicing the projects offshore.

ExxonMobil also highlighted continued investment in the Fangtooth area, a potential seventh development in the Stabroek Block.

Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods cited progress both in Guyana and globally towards meeting the world’s needs for energy, essential products and reducing emissions.

The exploration and production expeditions and drill campaigns across the Stabroek Block are a clear sign of Hess, ExxonMobil and CNOOC investing back into Guyana.

While both companies did report declines in profits, ExxonMobil in particular showed more efficient operations and higher profitability compared to their second quarter in 2018,

under comparable industry commodity prices—a promising sign that the company is working efficiently and keeping costs low. Additionally, the company made it clear that it is constantly driving greater efficiencies across its global operations with a goal of operating safely and effectively at all times.

For Guyana, profits are not merely abstract. They mean more money available to invest and reinvest in the country and the more assets on hand in case of any accident. This is a good thing for Guyana as more investments mean increased production, which in turn leads to more oil revenues that the country can invest into social programmes, other industries, and vital infrastructure.

People’s partnership, skilful politics amidst challenges

SINCE it ascended to office on August 2, 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) knew it was going to face insurmountable challenges, both politically and economically, not forgetting socially.

The party was expecting stern and reasonable opposition to its plans and policies for fast-tracking and accelerating the development and growth of Guyana, once they were found lacking. The PPP/C, nonetheless, rose to the challenge of governing a country which almost had its democracy and freedom stolen, and was on the brink of chaos.

At home, Guyana was changing not positively, but rapidly. Poor governance and poor policy-making by the APNU+AFC government, throughout the 2015 to 2020 August period, were now affecting the business people and ordinary Guyanese alike.

The former government had crippled all the institutions that criticized it. Civil society and independent commentators would not dare say a word. The country, though it recorded a positive growth rate, was heading down the wrong economic and financial path from 2015 to 2020.

The APNU+AFC had no

plans for development and progress, but had promised every Guyanese would be enjoying the ‘good life.’ The David Granger government proved it was big on words and rhetoric but slow on action, right up to the time the PPP took office. There were in excess of 100 damaging scandals involving the APNU+AFC officials and the last, the election delay of five months.

Additionally, Guyana like most of the world, back then, was battling a pandemic and spiralling cost of living and inflationary prices.

Today, Guyana is changing still, but fast and in a more positive light. The Irfaan Ali government used its experience and knowledge to set the economy back on the right footing, emphasizing that the government will do its part, but the engines of growth must be businesses and the private sector.

The government started by getting the finances in order, according to its philosophy, and quickly tying up the loopholes so Guyana could breathe again.

When it was finished, Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, quickly got to work on the natural resources, energy sector, and oil and gas sector, securing gains which

had not been previously imagined.

Three years after, Guyana has the most aggressive agenda for improving the regulatory and management framework for the oil and gas sector. They amended the Natural Resources Fund and there have been significant amendments that vastly enhance transparency in use of the resources and the receipt and accounting for those resources.

Apart from the hallmark local content bill and secretariat that was established, the Ali government is launching auctions, moving away from this first-come first-served basis on which oil blocks were issued in the past. There is a newly drafted PSA and they are now passing the petroleum activities bill.

In every single sector, be it legal affairs, housing and water, health, foreign affairs, human and social services, local government and regional development, culture, youth and sports, crime and security, public affairs and public service, the Ali government is doing a phenomenal job managing the sectors, despite the issues which flare up because of politics. Education and agriculture are leading sectors with President Ali focusing his efforts on the

knowledge and intelligence economy, as well as food security and climate change.

In three years, the image and character of the Ali government have not had a major scandal of people stealing, mishandling the public purse and corruption, unlike the APNU+AFC government which has several of its ministers and lead politicians before the courts. There have been accusations but no one has come forward with evidence that can be proven.

Also, the government is carefully spending even in the face of the rising cost of living and constant food security threats. Ali’s administration continues to roll out relief for farmers, fishermen, ordinary Guyanese, pensioners, disabled children, and other groups in society from 2020 to 2023, all while handling the threats and crises like

a boss, instead of spending precious resources wildly. It has shown it will use its brains efficiently and has shown little appetite for being a reactionary and kneejerk government.

Three years is a good point to celebrate and stop to focus on the accomplishments and achievements of the government, but this current government is showing it has no interest in slowing down the pace as it is moving its work agenda forward.

There, perhaps, will be a joyous occasion in Guyana and the PPP/C when the Gas-to-Shore Energy Project comes on stream, coupled with the new Demerara Harbour Bridge project, 12 new hospitals and major hotels among other hallmark projects conceptualized by this government.

The people’s partnership that the Ali government is

pursuing via its “one Guyana” mantra and theme, is reaping benefits and breaking the barriers that keep Guyana in captivity.

This was only recently demonstrated when the PPP/C had a resounding victory at the local government polls and citizens rejected the messy opposition. It is bearing fruit when Guyanese demonstrate high levels of religious tolerance and racial inclusivity.

But despite this, unfortunately, the PPP/C’s progress will be threatened by the very desperate politics of the opposition who cannot wait to get into power, either by legal means or their ‘backdoor’ methods. Aubrey Norton, though foolish and incompetent, will give way to this wave of dangerous politics that is coming. Wait and see…

Ode to Dr. Roger Luncheon (Part I)

- The Wise Old Doc of Home!

MY good friend, Jomo, hardly calls, but when he does, it’s either good or bad news. So, when he called early on August 2, I hesitated before answering; when I picked up, Jomo was very brief: “Good Morning, Comrade,” he said softly.

“Brother Roger Luncheon passed this morning…”

Jomo spoke through a loop in his throat, having known Roger very well, and for very long.

The son of veteran retired People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Parliamentarian, Shir-

ley Edwards, Jomo served in the Presidential Guard, and knew Roger both as Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) and a leading member of the PPP.

Last February, I’d indeed seen Dr. Luncheon’s name, in unusually huge letters, on

a fixed signboard in the main car park for senior staff at the Office of the President.

But I had no idea Roger’s headlights had moved from low-beam to dim, or that he now walked with a walker, or had to be wheeled by chair.

Not that I’d known Roger

to be athletic. On the contrary, he was always “too busy” to attend unnecessarily long meetings; hardly ever had time for recreation in public, and would even leave a Party congress to attend to a medical emergency, without asking, ‘Who?’

Dr. Luncheon’s health had been failing him for some time, but the Party and family, friends and others observed the privacy he deserved, particularly while undertaking surgical and other sensitive medical treatment, in and out of hospital.

For the last six months, there were many suggestions that Dr. Luncheon was “going anytime now…”

But, obviously, as Jomo told me outside Shirley’s home in Lodge back in February, “Roger just ain’t ready to go…”

Fast-forward eight years, and if the goodly doctor had the godly fortune of actually being able to choose the date and time of his ultimate departure from his earthly domain, the Wise Old Doc of Home (as I liked referring to him) couldn’t have chosen a better day.

He died just after 4:30am on August 2, the third anniversary, to the day, of the PPP/Civic finally taking office, after the shameful 2020 electoral debacle that had left the winning party out in the cold for five months, after the real losers refused to accept their loss.

Dr. Luncheon lived long enough to see, just five months after August 2020, US President Donald Trump also borrow from the APNU-AFC coalition’s elections playbook, and likewise refuse to accept he’d lost.

The doctor would defy the fabled Grim Reaper between 2015 and 2020, and would return to the Presidential Secretariat (as an adviser to President Dr. Irfaan Ali) in November 2020.

He’d already served previously (between 1992 and 2015) as HPS, Cabinet Secretary, Secretary for Defence, Chairman of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Government’s chief spokes-

man.

The excellent communicator he was always allowed Dr. Luncheon to carefully, slowly and easily spell out facts and figures, statistics and comparative indices, with such linguistic clarity and simplicity that eliminated any need for follow-up questions or clarifications.

The defiant fighter in him also ensured the ‘Doc’ saw his 74th birthday on July 16, and lived to see the dawn of the third anniversary of the PPP’s sixth return to office since 1992.

Dr. Luncheon’s PPP journey was almost five decades long, during which time he served the Party and country bravely, loyally, and honestly at all levels, and also always at great sacrifice to himself and family.

He walked and worked, talked and taught with every fluid ounce of blood, and every bit of bone and flesh, for as long as his body would allow, even in the darkest of times after his vision basically bade him goodbye.

Ashton Chase’s death would eventually bring Dr Luncheon out of the dark shadows of his rapidly-declining health, as Guyanese paid attention to the fall of the last man standing from among the PPP’s founding members.

With Chase gone, all thoughts automatically flowed in the direction of the remaining Afro-Guyanese stalwarts with long PPP legacies, many of whom have also died since August 2, 2020, among them the late fiery trade unionist and parliamentarian Cyril Belgrave, and Philomena ‘Fireball’ Sahoye-Shury.

I also had the distinct pleasure of knowing and working with Brindley Benn, and once meeting his legendary wife, Mrs. Patricia Benn, a former head of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), the PPP’s women’s arm, who also spoke at the graveside of the legendary Kowsilla at Leonora in 1964. Kowsilla was crushed by a tractor during that year’s

Significant section of ECD-EBD road link almost completed

ROAD works are 80 per cent complete on Lot Four of the transformative East Coast Demerara (ECD) to East Bank Demerara (EBD) bypass road.

The work is being undertaken by KP Thomas and Sons Inc. and is expected to be completed by the end of August. The company was given an extension to fully complete works.

“We are working diligently to finish [by] this month end…we are fully equipped to finish off everything in the time given,” site foreman, Moses Wilson, told the Sunday Chronicle.

In January when this newspaper visited the site, Wilson had explained that four months of work was delayed due to the refusal of

squatters to relocate.

But since the squatters moved, works progressed at a rapid pace with labourers working an additional six hours every day to get back on track.

“If the squatters weren’t there, we would have been at final lift with the sand; the stabilisation to cast,” Wilson explained.

A US$106.4 million contract was signed in June 2022 for the construction of the first phase of the ECD to EBD road linkage project.

At the signing ceremony, which was held at the intersection of the Rupert Craig Highway and Ogle Road on the East Coast of Demerara, it was announced that an India-based construction company, Ashoka

Buildcon Limited, will take on the project which is expected to be carried out over 24 months.

The first phase of the road is expected to be a four-lane highway that stretches some 7.8 kilometres, with each lane being 3.6 metres wide. The road will also feature a median, sidewalks, and several structures along the way.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh had said this massive project is being supported through a concessional line of credit worth US$50 million from the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of India.

He related that the road is not a stand-alone proj-

ect, as it cannot be seen in isolation from what is happening across the rest of the country.

“Each one of these

projects must not be seen as stand-alone or isolated projects unconnected within an elaborate and comprehensive master -

plan; an elaborate and comprehensive plan for the transformation of infrastructure across Guyana,” Dr. Singh said.

Ongoing works by KP. Thomas and Sons Inc. on Lot Four of the East Coast-East Bank bypass road (Adrian Narine photos)

Police ranks will be sanctioned if found violating Indigenous Peoples rights

- Jagdeo says

GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday emphasised that any security personnel found violating the rights of Amerindian people will be heavily sanctioned,

especially in the case of the Chinese Landing issue.

According to Dr. Jagdeo: “If we find any Police [Officers] who have been violating the rights of the people in not just Amerindian communities,

but anywhere in the country, but more particularly in this case, there would be heavy sanctions.”

With the government halting all mining operations at Chinese Landing, the PPP General Secretary underscored that his administration intends to respect the ruling of the Inter-American Commis-

sion on Human Rights (IACHR), and moreover, a multifaceted team will be visiting the area and dealing with environmental, social and mining rights. He also said that after the team’s visit, a report will be prepared and sent to the IACHR. In response to the organisation’s precautionary mea-

sures issued to Guyana on July 21, 2023, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance has stopped all mining activities in Chinese Landing, temporarily, so as to allow for a more conducive environment to address the concerns of the community and all concerned.

This comes in re -

sponse to the claims contained in the IACHR Resolution that community members “feel unsafe to even pass through the concessions to the other side to farm, hunt and fish, and to visit our families.”

Cocaine, ‘ganja’ found at Region One resort

POLICE have arrested three persons in connection with the discovery of 831 grams of marijuana, and 20 grams of cocaine at the Lorenzo and Deneve (L&D) Resort in Kumaka, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Reports are that Deneve Ramzan, the 32-year-old owner of the resort; her brother, Alister Peters; a 26-year-old maintenance worker; and her boyfriend, Roberto Miggins, are currently in custody.

According to the police, at around 22:30hrs,

Four, which at the time was occupied by the owner. The search was done in the presence of her brother, Peters.

During the search, the police reportedly found a black plastic bag containing a quantity of seeds, leaves and stems of what appeared to be cannabis. A further search of the washroom area, unearthed a plastic bag containing a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine, under the face sink.

ranks went to the L&D Resort, where a search was conducted in Room

When cautioned about the seriousness of the offence that had been committed, Deneve reportedly told the

cops: "Those things belong to my boyfriend,

her up” because of a fight they’d had.

ters, but nothing unlawful was found therein. A search of an abandoned fridge, however, unearthed a rice bag containing a quantity of seeds, leaves and stems of what appeared to be cannabis wrapped with brown scotch tape.

The brother and sister claimed that the illegal drug belonged to Miggins.

The siblings were then arrested, and on the way to the Police Station, they saw Miggins walking on the road, and immediately pointed him out to the police.

Whilst at the station, the narcotics in the black plastic bag were weighed in their presence, and it amounted to 382 grams. The cocaine was weighed, and it amounted to 20 grams, and the narcotics wrapped in the brown scotch tape amounted to 449 grams.

Roberto Miggins," who she said was staying with her for a few days, and was trying to “set

Police then searched room number six, which was occupied by Pe -

Miggins was told of the allegation, which he denied. However, he was arrested, placed in custody, and escorted to the Mabaruma Police Station.

Also at the station, Deneve made a report against Miggins, whom she claimed assaulted her. She was escorted to seek medical attention at the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, where she was seen by a doctor on duty who treated and sent her away.

She was also issued with a medical certificate.

Some of the narcotics that were found at the resort

The journey to prosperity for all

The US$5 million West Central Mall in Region Three is nearing completion. Economic diversification measures by the government have attracted investment, fostered growth, and opened doors for both businesses and individuals

Van-West Charles hails President Ali’s leadership

EXECUTIVE member of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, has publicly commended President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ agenda and his plethora of initiatives, which are aimed at bringing the Guyanese people together.

During an Emancipation Dinner hosted by President Ali at State House on Friday night, the son-in-law of the former PNC President, Forbes Burnham, said that Guyana is on the right track to development and unity with President Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ initiative.

According to Charles, Ali’s programmes and initiatives will not only foster peace among Guyanese from all walks of life but also unite the people as the country forges ahead on the path to development.

“That is important for us, because it is building a nation; it’s saying who we are,” he

said, adding, “We have multiple ethnicities, and we have in our motto, one people, one nation, one destiny and the president’s programmatic framework of ‘One Guyana’. That is important for us because it is building a nation.”

Van-West Charles, who served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) during the APNU+AFC’s term in office, noted that President Ali is on a fast-paced track to achieving Guyana’s exceptional transformation.

“As we go forward in Guyana with all our newfound resources with a President such as Dr. Ali, who is my friend, committed to our development, we have to not only celebrate this point but we have to be soldiers in the field, in the office [and] in the factories.”

Furthermore, he urged Guyanese to continue working hard, noting that with the President’s plans, everyone

will benefit.

“I want to encourage you as we go forward…

[that] we work together to ensure that we build a country that is for all and I’m

sure my friend and my colleague, Dr. Ali, will provide us with the leadership as

we go forward,” Van-West Charles said.

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Dr. Richard Van-West Charles at the Emancipation Celebration at State House on Friday night (Office of the President Photo)

Driver dies, porter injured in accident

AN accident at Lion Mountain trail, CuyuniMazaruni, on Friday, has resulted in the death of a 27-year-old truck driver identified as Alli Edwards of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Police Headquarters reported that Edwards was driving motor lorry GWW 2078, with 19-year-old porter, Andrew Bromes, also of Kuru Kururu. It is alleged that Edwards lost control of the truck while descending a hill and collided with a mud wall (Baranka).

The truck overturned multiple times, causing the driver and passenger to sustain injuries. In an unconscious state, Bromes was transported to Bartica Regional Hospital where he later regained consciousness. He is admitted to the Male Surgical Ward as a patient.

Police said Edwards was unresponsive and was trapped inside the cab of the truck. After being extracted and taken to the Bartica hospital, he was declared dead by a doctor.

The body is currently at the mortuary of the Bartica Hospital awaiting an autopsy.

The scene of the accident at Lion Mountain trail, Cuyuni-Mazaruni

Minister Rodrigues inspects works at Caledonia water-treatment plant - promises improved water quality

By Cindy Parkinson

THE commitment to provide purified water for every home was reinforced when Minister Susan Rodrigues visited the new water treatment plant site at Caledonia, East Bank Demerara.

According to Minister Rodrigues, the water-treatment plant, which commenced in January 2023, is scheduled to be finished in December 2024 and will produce a daily capacity of 6300 cubic metres. With the removal of iron from the water, Minister Rodrigues added that residents can look forward to an improved quality of water, as well as the pressure that will flow through their taps at home.

Following the inspection of progress of the water-treatment plant, the minister explained that she had no doubt that the project would be finished earlier than expected. She also stated that even though the government hopes to attain 90 percent treated water coverage on the coastland by 2025, Minister Rodrigues said that the initiative will have a substantial influence on the lives of the people.

new ground-storage tank; the creation of a chlorine room; the setup of a room for blowers, and the design of a pump room. So far, foundation work has been completed for the chlorine and pump rooms. Further, the filters and contact tank are supported by driven piles.”

The report also stated that “the plant at Caledonia forms part of the $8.5 billion contracts signed in October 2022 for seven treatment plants under the GWI’s Coastal Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme. The other plants will be developed

other treatment plants in Regions Two, Three, Five, and Six.”

Earlier in July, the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, told the Guyana Chronicle that, because of the magnitude of some communities on the coastland, they are installing treatment plants and wells at a cost of $125 million, so that the people can have easier access to water supply in their homes.

According to him, “we have started to drill a new well at Cummings Lodge New Housing Scheme, and that will supply the new

He continued, “It is very much needed in that area because of the capacity of the community, and while we are considering the population of these communities, I must mention that we are also drilling another well at Turkeyen, which is at the back of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).”

While Minister Croal said that the well at Turkeyen will commence shortly, he also shared that several other coastal wells are being drilled, along with many other developments that will happen in the area. The housing minister also stated that, in order to eliminate the problem of residents not receiving adequate treated water in their homes, such proj-

Works are progressing at the new watertreatment plant site at Caledonia on the East Bank of Demerara

ects are very necessary. According to him, the Sophia water system alone cannot provide the different communities with the required amount of water. However, considering that most of the

areas are fairly new or are now developing, the minister said that it is one of the main reasons the government has seen the need for the water plant and well initiatives.

According to a report from the Ministry of Housing, “some $681 million is being invested for this development. SIGMA Engineering from Bangladesh leads as the contractor. The scope of the work includes the introduction of a contact tank; the deployment of three filters; the establishment of a

at Onderneeming, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam); Parika, Region Three, Wales; Lust En Rust in Region Three; Cummings Lodge and Bachelor’s Adventure in Region Four. The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) also recently approved funding for five

treatment plant that we are also installing there. The area will obviously be supplied through the treatment plant, but even though it is for the Cummings Lodge community, we would normally interlink the system so that the neighbouring communities will also benefit from it”.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, in discussion with authorities about the Caledonia water-treatment plant

Ongoing works at the new water-treatment plant in Caledonia on the East Bank of Demerara

Teenager reportedly murders brother in Mon Repos

THE Police are investigating the murder of Henry Sam Bowin, a 20-yearold fisherman from Smith Creek, North West District. A press statement from Police Headquarters, on Saturday, noted that Bowin was temporarily staying at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, with his 18-year-old brother who allegedly stabbed him to death.

The incident occurred at around 09:00 hrs on Saturday. It is alleged that the suspect visited a neighbour’s yard with a knife in his hand, sat in front of the verandah and mentioned that he had just “bore up” his brother. He had what appeared to be blood on his chest.

After receiving the call, the Police arrived and found

the suspect sitting in the neighbour's yard.

Ranks took possession of the knife, which was lodged. The suspect was arrested and escorted to the Beterverwagting Police Station, where he was placed in custody. He appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were sum-

moned, and the victim was pronounced dead. Bowin’s body was examined, and what appeared to be a wound was observed on his throat. There was also a wound on his right hand.

The body was taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home and is currently awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Ode to Dr. Roger...

FROM PAGE 10

political protests against the PPP being cheated out of office.

I’d also learnt in Guyana about another brave PPP heroine, Jessie Burnham, who, with her brother, Forbes, had been among the resolute Afro-Guyanese in the leadership of the PPP.

Indeed, Jessie would pen a popular and stinging rebuke of her brother, Linden Forbes Sampson (LFS) Burnham, when he broke with the PPP in 1964 to cheat it out of office through a post-election alliance (or marriage of political convenience) between Burnham’s People’s National Congress (PNC) and the United Force (UF).

Jessie’s telling chronicle was entitled, ‘Beware My Brother Forbes!’

Another indication of the level of Afro- Guyanese support for the PPP back then was the fact that one-thirds of the 34 PPP activists arrested and detained in the 1964 battle for democracy were Black.

The likes of me would enjoy drifting down memory lane, in the positivity of selective amnesia, every time such a stalwart goes, from my attendance at the funeral of EMG (Earl Maxwell Gladstone) Wilson, where Dr. Jagan cried while delivering the tribute to this lifelong supporter and leading PPP activist and organiser in Beterverwagting (BV), on Guyana’s East Coast.

During my six years living and working in Guyana (1993-1999), before and after my memorable ‘multi-everything’ wedding at the Brickdam Cathedral

(August 2, 1996), I also had the good fortune of growing close to Shirley (Edwards) and her family in Lodge.

I also occasionally talked to the ever-silent and resilient Agriculture Minister Clinton Collymore, and parrying with Georgetown Mayor & City Council Chair, ‘Fireball’ Sahoye-Shury.

And then there were Brentnol Evans and Sam Hinds, both of Linden fame, the former to become Guyana’s Consul-General to New York and the latter to be Prime Minister in 1992 and President in 1996 after President Dr. Cheddi Jagan died.

And then there’s Eddi Rodney (Walter’s brother), whose vast accumulated knowledge of Guyana and world history still very easily flows from his memory to his fountain pen whenever he has to write for the PPP’s weekly newspaper, ‘The Mirror’.

Dr. Luncheon grew up in the PPP in the shadows of all these stalwarts, gone and still-around, whose earlier (pre-1980s) examples and sacrifices will also have influenced his decision to live and die serving the only Party he trusted all his life.

The ‘Doc’ is being spoken of today, just as he’ll always be remembered.

He was referred to (several years ago) as a wise man who wore his white beard “as a Badge of Honour” of his long life of “Service to Guyana and PPP, as a fearless Servant of the Public!”

For me, however, while Roger’s gone, he’ll never go away!

Man arrested as cops probe discovery of gun, ‘ammo’

POLICE have arrested a man in connection with the discovery of a .38 revolver, and one live .38 ammunition.

The incident, the police say, occurred between 03:20 and 03:45hrs in the vicinity of a supermarket on Essex Street, New Amsterdam where the items were recovered, and that a 29-year-old security guard attached to J’s Supermarket claimed that he saw Oswain Lawson, called ‘Blacka’, running towards the supermarket with a male and female hot on his heels.

The guard said after Lawson threw what appeared to be a firearm into the compound of the supermarket, he was immediately pounced upon by the man and woman, who kept asking him what

he did with it.

Reports are that after Lawson managed to escape from the duo, the guard immediately informed the police of the incident, whereupon ranks were sent to J’s Supermarket, where the revolver and matching ammunition were found.

Police took the firearm and ammunition to the Central Police Station, where they saw Lawson, who had gone to make a report about the incident.

In his defence, Lawson told the police that he and the woman had had a misunderstanding, and during the scuffle that ensued, she pulled out what appeared to be a firearm from her waist, and as a result, he lashed her with a Guinness bottle on the right hand, causing the firearm to fall

to the ground.

Lawson said he picked up the firearm and ran through Essex Street, and the male and female gave chase behind him with pieces of wood in their hands.

He said that as he ran, he threw the firearm into the supermarket compound after he realised that the man and woman were gaining on him.

Marks of violence were seen on Lawson’s body,

and Police took him to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital for medical attention. He is presently in police custody assisting with the investigation.

The suspected firearm and ammunition

were marked, sealed and lodged in his presence at the Central Police Station. Efforts by the police so far to locate the identifiable man and woman have proven futile.

The .38 revolver and matching ‘ammo’

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday August 06, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Evin Lewis - 125* (Kingston, 2017

(2) Rohit Sharma - 111* (Lucknow, 2018)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many T20 International wickets Dwayne Bravo has taken against India?

(2) How many Sheldon Cottrell has taken against India?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Powell and Windies...

FROM BACK PAGE

or me, as the captain, to ask players to miss the leagues so that we can stay in the Caribbean and spend time together.

“It is something that is not feasible, but when we do get together, the little time that we have together, we have got to cherish it and see if we can mould together as one faster… But the guys are in a good frame of mind for this series. India is always a team that the guys want to play against, and want to do well against, so that in itself is a positive for us.”

Bowling appears to be the strength of both sides, but batting may very well unlock the outcome of this match and the third T20I to be played at the same venue on Tuesday because the pitch typically plays low and slow.

Powell said the surface looked like it could be better than the strip they played on in the first match, but the proof of this will come on the day.

“It seems a little bit better, and hopefully when we come (on Sunday) we do conclude it is a better pitch,” he said. “It’s a very important game, and the guys are very upbeat about our chances of beating India.

“If we can go 2-0 up, the pressure will totally be on India, and it will just be up to us to close out the series, but we are not looking too far ahead. This is a very important game, so hopefully we can do some good stuff.

“Complacency is

the furthest thing from our minds. India is 1-0 down, and we expect them to come hard, but if we can find ourselves with a 2-0 lead, that will be very, very important.”

The last time West Indies beat India in successive T20Is was seven years ago when they followed up a seven-wicket win at the Wankhede Stadium in the Indian city of Mumbai with a onerun score at the Central Broward Regional Park in the United States four months later.

Two of the last five T20Is at the Guyana National Stadium were washed out, and the totals of the team batting first in the three completed matches were 146, 157, and 163, with the chasing team winning twice.

Squads: WEST INDIES

(from): Rovman Powell (captain), Kyle Mayers (vice-captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas.

INDIA (from): Hardik Pandya (captain), Suryakumar Yadav (vice-captain), Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Umran Malik.

Dukes owner pledges to investigate controversial ball change during Oval Test

…He also suggested it was unlikely that the ball might have been part of the 2018 or 2019 batches of Dukes, which offered more for seam bowlers

THE owner of Dukes has pledged to investigate the controversial ball change in Australia's second innings during their 49-run defeat in the fifth men's Ashes Test at The Oval, while casting doubt on a theory that a five-year-old replacement ball might have been used.

The ball was changed in the 37th over of Australia's chase, after Usman Khawaja was hit on the helmet by a Mark Wood bouncer. Khawaja said after Australia's defeat that he had immedi-

ately queried the choice of replacement ball - which looked visibly newer than the previous one - with umpire Kumar Dharmasena.

Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, labelled the choice of replacement ball "a huge blunder that needs to be investigated" while Zak Crawley, the England opener, described it as "a good break for us [which] probably made the difference".

Dilip Jajodia, the owner of British Cricket Limited, the company which manu -

factures the Dukes ball, told Code Sports: "I'm going to investigate myself, because it affects me … my name is at stake so it's important they don't mis allege something wrong with the ball."

Code Sports reported that "whispers have emanated out of the English camp" since the conclusion of the Test suggesting that the ball might have been part of the 2018 or 2019 batches of Dukes, which offered more for seam bowlers, though Jajodia suggested that was

unlikely.

"I can't imagine they would risk putting a ball in there with a different date on it," Jajodia said. "Frankly the match referee should be on top of it. We do bang that number in quite hard, so even if the gold comes off, the ball is imprinted. It wouldn't be easy to get rid of it. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's not likely."

Ponting was among those who questioned whether a sufficiently broad range of balls had been presented to

the umpires to choose a replacement ball. But Jajodia explained that his company supplies balls directly to venues rather than to the ECB or the ICC.

"On this particular occasion, the balls would be done by Surrey," he said.

"Surrey get the supply of balls from us before the season starts and then they start knocking them in, getting them into wear and tear… in my view, they're probably not doing it that accurately." (Cricinfo.com)

Nathan Lyon gives his verdict on ‘Bazball’

AUSTRALIAN spinner

Nathan Lyon has said that he "didn’t really see BazBall" during the two Tests he played against England in Ashes 2023.

Lyon played the first two Tests of the thrilling Ashes series — at Edgbaston and Lord’s — before a calf injury ruled him out.

The spinner was brutal in his assessment of England's style of play under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, fa -

mously dubbed 'Bazball', and played down the hype around it.

“I know everyone keeps talking about BazBall, to be honest, I didn’t really see BazBall… throughout my two Tests against them,” Lyon told SEN Cricket.

The Australian said that the aggressive brand of batting deployed by England should be complemented by the flexibility to change gears when needed.

"I’m 2-0 in my Tests against BazBall," Lyon said, reminding that Aus-

tralia did not lose both Tests he featured in during the Ashes.

"I look at the Australian cricket team and the batters we’ve had, David Warner for example. I’ve seen him score hundreds in a session and that’s off playing an attacking brand of cricket.

"I think there’s a lot of smoke and mirrors with BazBall, if I’m being honest with you, and I feel like if you’re going to play an aggressive brand of cricket

anyway, it’s about being able to go up and down in gears and understanding the moments in the game."

Australia won both games in which Lyon played while losing two and drawing one in the last three matches of the series

The off-spinner, who turns 36 this year, did not rule out the possibility of returning to England in 2027 for another Ashes series, stating that his "hunger for the game has probably

gone to a new level" after some time away due to injury.

"I'll tell you one thing, I’m definitely not joking about going back to the Ashes,” Lyon said.

"I’m definitely not writing off going back to England for the Ashes… the finish line for me hasn’t even popped up in my eyesight yet, I’ve still got a lot of cricket left in me in my eyes."(ICC. com)

Japan beat Norway to reach World Cup quarter-finals

JAPAN took a step closer to a second Women's World Cup title when they beat Norway to reach the quarter-finals.

The 2011 champions made the ideal start when Norway defender Ingrid Engen turned Hinata Miyazawa's cross into her own net.

However, Norway equalised a few minutes later when Guro Reiten headed home.

Risa Shimizu's heavily defected strike restored Japan's lead before Hinata Miyazawa raced through to score a third and seal her side's progress.

The goal cemented Japan's place in the quarter-finals and kept Miyazawa on target for the Golden Boot - she leads the scoring charts in Australia and New

Zealand on five.

"I am really happy to have scored the goal but it is because all of the team worked for that," she said.

"I want to score more."

Norway were second best for much of the game but almost set up an exciting finish when goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita superbly kept out Karina Saevik's bullet header.

Japan will play either defending champions the United States or Sweden in the last eight.

"The team is very positive, kept up the pace and I think we have become tougher than before," Japan

coach Futoshi Ikeda said.

Slick Japan keep on rolling

Japan are seeking their first Women's World Cup

title in 12 years and they have barely put a foot wrong at this tournament. They breezed through the group stage without dropping a point, including an eye-catching 4-0 win against fellow quarter-finalists Spain in their final group game.

In that game they played devastating counter-attacking football - winning despite having just 23% possession to show they can dig in and grind out victory against a tough opponent.

Reiten's goal is the first they have conceded at this

World Cup but apart from that header they once again delivered a strong defensive display.

On the rare occasion their defence was beaten, Yamashita was there to make an incredible save.

Toothless Norway pay the price

Norway were hoping to reach the quarter-finals of a Women's World Cup for a second successive tournament - but in truth they have been out of sorts in 2023.

The 6-0 victory against the Philippines in their final group fixture ended a run of six games without a win and Japan were always going to provide a sterner test.

Norway's cause at this tournament has not been

helped by an injury to star forward Ada Hegerberg, who had not played since the 1-0 loss to New Zealand in their opening fixture prior to taking a place on the bench in Saturday's game.

She came on with 16 minutes remaining in the last-16 game but could not affect the outcome.

It is unlikely that even a fully fit Hegerberg could have changed much against Japan, who had their opponents pegged back inside their own half for almost all of the second half.

"Credit to Japan for how they played and how they broke us down," said coach Hege Riise.

"We were solid in defence at times, but not quite good enough."

England benefitted from the ball replacement on the fourth day of the fifth Test (AFP/Getty Images)

Australian offspinner Nathan Lyon

Japan have scored 14 goals at the Women’s World Cup and conceded just one

Digicel Schools Football Organisers expect ‘keenly contested’ Digicel Schools’ Football quarter-finals

FROM 32 schools drawn from across Guyana, only eight remain to vie for the 8th Digicel Schools Football Championship. The matchups slated for today at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue promise nothing but action from the opening whistle to full time. Opening proceedings are Tucville Secondary and

Region 9’s St. Ignatius Secondary at 13.00hrs, while it’s an all-Georgetown affair at 15.00hrs, with Dolphin Secondary taking on Carmel Secondary.

Meanwhile, DC Caesar Fox (Waramadong, Region 7) clash with Georgetown powerhouse, Charlestown Secondary, at 17.00hrs. To crown the day’s play, reigning Milo Schools

Champions, Santa Rosa, will face regional counterparts Waramuri at 17.00hrs.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, Petra Organiation’s Co-Director Troy Mendonca sang the praises of all the teams; “I expect a keenly contested quarter-final stage. I think every team that is in the quarter-finals deserves to be there. The number of hinterland teams that we see in the latter stages of the tournament is a direct reflection of the effort they put into the game. Football is a daily part of their life and it reflects in their style of play and enthusiasm.

The four Georgetown teams have been involved in tournaments throughout the year which is the Milo tournament at that age group and the Exxon Mobil U-14. Some of these players were able to participate in that tournament; so, you can see the result of participation in tournaments in regards to the Georgetown teams reaching

Imran

arrested again, sentenced to three years in prison

this stage.”

Touching on the importance of the revival of the Digicel-sponsored tournament, Mendonca revealed; ““Digicel coming back on board is a tremendous plus. First of all, it gives teams an opportunity across the country to be involved. Even though it is a straight knockout tournament, it allowed different teams in the varying regions to get prepared. One of the things, going forward, I would like to see leagues played in the various regions during the period of October-January, so that the different teams can be well prepared when it is time for the Milo and Digicel tournaments.”

He continued; “This is a massive opportunity presented by Digicel’s sponsorship where we can now include all

All eyes will be on Dolphin Secondary (in green) as they strive to reach the final

the teams from the outlying regions.

There is a substantial cost associated with engaging teams from certain regions and Digicel has afforded that opportunity to them. If Digicel can continue their sponsorship we can expect to see

nothing but good, and real talent being displayed in the upcoming tournaments. We have had experiences with organising this tournament and you can expect us to put things in place to avoid cheating and teams circumventing rules.”

Zambia coach accused of sexual misconduct at Women’s World Cup

officials on and off the field of play.

FORMER

Pakistan captain Imran Khan, who served as the country's Prime Minister between 2018 and 2022, has been arrested and sentenced to three years in jail.

A Reuters report said Imran, 70, had been sentenced by a Pakistan trial court for not declaring the proceeds of state gifts to the Election Commission of Pakistan. His political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has already filed an appeal with the country's Supreme Court. In previous instances, any attempts to arrest Imran from his residence were met with significant resistance from his supporters, foiling at least two arrest attempts. When he was finally arrested on May 9, protests and rioting erupted across the country, leading to a severe crackdown against his party and a bill to try his supporters in military courts, a move

that violates international law.

When Imran was arrested in May, he was ordered to be released two days later by the Supreme Court, which declared the arrest illegal.

Since Imran's release was ordered by a judge on May 11, he has been ordered to appear in Pakistan's courts in more than 150 cases reg-

istered against him. He has repeatedly said he risks being imprisoned in interviews and broadcasts on his social media channels.

This case, in which a judge declared him guilty for concealing revenue earned from the sale of state gifts from the Election Commission of Pakistan, is locally known as the Toshakhana case. The court has imposed the maximum possible penalty allowed under the law, three years in prison and a fine of PKR 100,000. Imran's lawyers said they have already appealed the verdict. Under the law, the appellate court can suspend the sentence until a verdict on the appeal is reached.

Before entering politics, Imran represented Pakistan in 88 Tests and 175 ODIs for Pakistan and led them to the World Cup title in 1992. (Cricinfo).

FIFA is investigating an official complaint that Zambia head coach Bruce Mwape sexually assaulted a player at the Women’s World Cup.

Mwape is accused of rubbing his hands over the chest of one of his players during a training session in New Zealand on July 29.

“A complaint has been received,” a FIFA spokesperson said.

But the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) said “it has not received any such complaint” and it is a “surprise”.

The alleged incident is said to have taken place during a training session two days before their final group match against Costa Rica, which Zambia won 3-1 for their first victory at a World Cup.

FIFA’s spokesperson added: “FIFA takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident.”

Zambia have returned

home, having been eliminated after finishing third in Group C.

“All the training sessions for the Copper Queens [Zambia] were filmed by the FAZ media team and offers no such footage,” the FAZ said.

“Additionally, a FIFA film crew attached to the Zambian team at the World Cup was present at all training sessions.

“We, however, wish to reassure the public that FAZ maintains the highest standards of integrity and transparency and always demands unwavering ethical conduct of the players and

“We therefore would not hesitate to take disciplinary measures and act on any misconduct once we are in receipt of an official complaint or when presented with evidence pertaining to an alleged incident.”

A New Zealand police spokesperson said: “We were made aware of an alleged incident and after making initial enquiries, no further action was required to be taken.”

Sexual abuse allegations against Mwape, who took charge in 2018, also emerged last year on social media. The FAZ said at the time that it had received no official complaint, but had opened an investigation, adding that “we consider these allegations very serious”.

Mwape was repeatedly asked about those allegations at the World Cup but he denied any wrongdoing and insisted they were “fake”. (BBC Sport)

Bruce Mwape has been in charge of Zambia since 2018

Imran Khan was also arrested in May this year before being released after a couple of days (AFP/Getty Images)

Khan

- Former Pakistan captain charged with concealing sale proceeds of state gifts received by him as Prime Minister to the election commission

Santa Rosa Secondary (in gray) are one of the favourites to win the 8th Digicel Schools Football Championship

High Commissioner hosts team India ahead of T20I

Before the second T20I match against the West Indies today\, Team India was kindly welcomed by the High Commissioner of India in Guyana.

High Commissioner of India, Dr K. J. Srinivasa, on Friday evening last, hosted Team India at his former residence at Happy

Acres, East Coast Demerara ahead of the second T20I.

Dr Srinivasa completed a four-year tenure as the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana this week. He is set to return to India to work for the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Guyana beat YGCA to take series 2-nil

Lewis (68), Hetymer (48) shine in second game

By Sean Devers

ON another day blessed with glorious sunshine at Bourda, Guyana beat the Young Genius Cricket Academy (YGCA) by 145 runs yesterday to take the threematch 40-over U-15 series 2-1 with the final match

Both the West Indies and India teams arrived on Friday morning last ahead of the second T20 battle at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence set to be played today.

Windies, having already drawn first blood by winning the first T20 on Thursday by 4 runs in

Trinidad and Tobago, will be keen on taking the series 2-0 come today\ when the two teams lock horns from 10:30hrs.

Accompanied by their full coaching staff, both sides arrived a little before midday on Friday at the CJIA Timehri.

Grenada confirms five pugilists for Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Junior C/Ships

added 49 for the fourth wicket.

Thirteen-year-old off-spinner Pranav Narayan spun webs around the Guyanese batters to finish with 4-43 and got support from Akhil Kotaru, who had 2-28.

Narayan dismissed both openers -- Ramdehol and

scheduled for today at the same venue from 9:30hrs.

Guyana elected to bat on a good track and fairly fast outfield and were led by an 85-run opening stand between Emmanuel Lewis, who reached the ropes four times and cleared it thrice in his 68 from 86 ball and Romario Ramdehol, who made 25 from 58 balls with two fours.

Adrian Hetmyer, the nephew of West Indies batter Shimron Hetymer, hit an attractive 48 from 36 balls decorated with three fours and six while Trilok Nanan (19), Dhanish Persaud unbeaten on 16 and Skipper Dave Mohabir (14) were the other double figures contributors for Guyana who made 227-8 off 40 overs.

Hetmyer and Mohabir

Player-of- the-Match Lewis -- but by then the foundation was already set.

The visitors were bowled out for 82 in 35.5 overs as Skipper Kotaru hit two boundaries in 23 but only Daniel Pydana (10) and Sanjay Kanumari with 18 not out reached double figures.

In a rare occasion, a brother and sister batted together in a competitive game, as Sanjay and his sibling Saravya Kanumari shared a 10-run last wicket stand before Saravya was removed by Dhanish Persaud to end the contest.

Pacer Shane Prince (27), Arun Gainda (2-11) and Ramdehol (2-9) were the architects of destruction for Guyana.

FOLLOWING the acknowledgment of Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in the prestigious Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys/Juniors Championship programmed for August 18th-20th on local shores, the Grenada Boxing Association has officially confirmed a 5-member contingent for the tournament.

The confirmation emanated from the Grenada Boxing Association President, Neil Roberts, who submitted the relevant documentation to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) yesterday.

The team, which will be under the tutelage of Coach Stephen Benjamin, comprises Joshua Clyne [81-91 KG Heavyweight]; Jonathan Clyne [7580 KG Light Heavyweight]; Kino Griffith [50-52 KG Light Bantamweight]; Corey Joseph [70-75 KG Middleweight]; and female Norddisha Williams [70-75 KG Middleweight].

The aforesaid combatants will be making their debut at this juncture and will compete in the Junior Category. Grenada is slated to arrive on the 16th.

The National Gymnasium on

Mandela Avenue will serve as the setting for the event, which was birthed by GBA President Steve Ninvalle in 2016. The 2023 iteration is expected to feature the largest contingent of nations. To date, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Jamaica have also signaled their impending participation, whilst Aruba, Grenada, the Bahamas, and St Maarten are also anticipated. Guyana has walked away with the overall Champion Country accolade in each edition.

GBA President Ninvalle said, “With the confirmation of the second nation, the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys/Juniors Championship has truly begun to take shape. Grenada’s participation, like every other impending country, is a testament to the value of this product and brand, a significance that stretches beyond the competitive physicality of the squared circle.

This worth is rooted in community, as the tournament brings together a region under a common banner, and while everyone has a respective competitive aim, the primary objective which can be viewed as an unwritten dogma is the development

of the sport.”

He further said, “That is the real and true value of a tournament that not only ignites the competitive drive of the region but unifies the community. While this is Guyana’s conception, the competition is essentially a Caribbean Championship. It is uniquely our thing.”

The GBA had commenced its arduous selection process with its monthly U-16 Championships, which were hosted at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym, Albouystown. Upon the end of the previous competition in July, combatants were selected and will be encamped for two weeks prior to the start of the regional tournament to continue their preparation.

Grenada's Full Boxing Roster

(1) Joshua Clyne Junior [81-91 KG Heavyweight]

(2) Jonathan Clyne Junior [75-80 KG Light Heavyweight]

(3) Kino Griffith Junior [50-52 KG Light Bantamweight]

(4) Corey Joseph Junior [70-75 KG Middleweight]

(5) Norddisha Williams Junior [70-75 KG Middleweight]

The Indian cricketers had a dinner with outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Guyana on Friday night last

Adrian Hetmyer (left) and Player of the Match Emmanuel Lewis spearheaded Guyana to victory

Jonathan Clyne

Norddisha Williams Joshua Glynej

Pakistan players set to receive ‘historic’ hike in new contracts

…Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi could be in line to earn as much as PKR 4.5 million a month as a retainer

PAKISTAN players are set to receive "historic" increases in their new central contracts, even as negotiations on their participation in overseas T20 leagues continue. Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, in the top category of contracts, could be in line to earn as much as PKR 4.5 million (USD 15,900 approx) a month as a retainer, four times as much as was on offer to top players in last year's contracts.

The new contracts are likely to do away with last year's format where red- and white-ball players were split, and return to previous years with four different categories of players. Babar, Rizwan and Afridi, as captain and cross-format stars, will be in category A.

Category B players are in line to receive in the region of PKR 3 million (USD 10,600 approx), while those in category C and D will get between PKR 0.75-1.5 million (USD 2650-5300 approx). The retainer values, if signed off on, represent the biggest increase in years, as part of an overall offering that was, according to officials, "historic".

The hike is offset somewhat by the sharp depreciation of the Pakistan rupee in the last year, as well as an economy in which inflation has been spiralling out of control. But even accounting for that, the retainer increase is more than double, at least across the top category. It also comes a year before the ICC's new revenue distribution model kicks in, in which the PCB's annual earnings of PKR 9.6 billion approx (USD 34 million) are more than double what they were over the last ICC rights cycle.

That will make a significant difference for players who have been among the lowest paid internationally, a position exacerbated by often restrictive policies around playing in foreign T20 leagues. Pakistan's players are not allowed to play in the IPL and their participation in other leagues has been subject traditionally to changing policies each time a new administration comes in.

Only last year, leading players delayed signing the contracts because they were unhappy with the restrictive terms around playing in leagues, under the then administration of Ramiz Raja. That was the second time since 2019 that players had expressed unhappiness with terms, which is as close to a labour dispute as is possible in a landscape without a players' association.

The number of leagues players will be allowed to participate in next year has not yet been finalised but is part of ongoing negotiations. As things stand, players in the top two categories are to be allowed one league other than the PSL, with those in the lower categories to be allowed more than one.

But there is likely to be flexibility on the issue and that clause could change by the time the contracts are finalised. Usman Wahla, the PCB's international director, and more recently Misbahul-Haq, as an advisor to Zaka Ashraf, have been leading discussions, talking to a group of senior players.

Importantly, there is a recognition within the PCB that players who are not a part of these leagues are missing out on big, potentially life-changing earnings. In some cases, senior players in demand on the league circuit could make two to

three times more per year from league deals than they do now.

There is also an acknowledgement that, in terms of planning, the league circuit needs to be treated as a separate 12-month calendar and players' commitments worked out accordingly. Najam Sethi, Ashraf's prede -

cessor as board head, had also been planning a more open policy with regard to leagues and had been negotiating with the ILT20 about the participation of Pakistan players this season.

The ILT20 was a particularly thorny issue last season, the PCB demanding a fee from the league for each

player who took part. Part of that was also because the ILT20 took place in a busy home season for Pakistan in which their best players were bound to be taking part.

Domestic contracts will also be presented to players soon, with likely increased retainers as well as the prospect of enhanced earnings

by playing in two first-class tournaments, one for regional teams and one for department-based sides.

Final discussions are due to take place with players over the weekend, the results of which will be presented to Ashraf early next week.

MCY&S/NSC/GASA August Vacation ‘Teach Them Young’ Swim programme concludes

THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCY&S), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), achieved remarkable success with the inaugural Learn to Swim programme in April and that success increased with the August Vacation ‘Teach Them Young’ programme. The programme concluded yesterday at the National Aquatic Centre following four weeks of activity that commenced on July 8th, amassing over three thousand participants.

The prestigious ‘Teach Them Young’ swimming programme provided a platform for young swimmers to learn, grow, and potentially pursue competitive swimming as a career. It served as a crucial stepping stone towards nurturing future national athletes while also promoting overall health and wellness among the youth and adults alike. It aimes to instill valuable life skills, more so ensuring a positive impact among youth in the local communities.

The Minister, who was unavoidably absent at the closing ceremony, in a previous interview explained the importance

of investing in sports and youth development, saying that this approach plays a pivotal role towards shaping the country’s future and ensuring a brighter and healthier tomorrow for all Guyanese. Minister Ramson, in partnership with the Director of Sport, Steve

Ninvalle, remains committed to the cause, as the Government of Guyana continues to inject the needed support to all sport disciplines countrywide.

Also present at the event was head of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Godfrey

Munroe, who praised the programme for being an incubator of talent and encouraged all the student-athletes to stay active and focussed to achieve success.

Pivotal to the smooth running of the programme was National Coach Paul Mahaica,

who was on the ground working assiduously towards the success of the programme. During his address yesterday, he stated that he was, “Grateful for the opportunity to teach a life skill and pass on something that no one can take from you.”

Powell and Windies eager for back-to-back wins against India – 2nd T20I

PROVIDENCE, Guyana, (CMC) – West Indies captain Rovman Powell said he and his teammates are keen to “change the narrative” around the side at the moment, and the second Twenty20 International against India today in Guyana is a good place to start.The Caribbean side take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series into the match at the Guyana National Stadium, after they won the first T20I by four runs on Thursday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad in a tense finish.

“I think it starts with personal pride,” Powell said during a news conference on the eve of the match. “Personal pride of wanting to win games for West Indies. Personal pride of wanting to change the narrative around West Indies cricket.

“Recently, I listened to two prime ministers talk about West Indies cricket – the Barbados prime minister and the Guyana prime minister – about how impactful West Indies cricket is

on not just us as players, but the wider Caribbean.

“The guys are upbeat about our chances and being consistent. The guys are working hard, to be honest, behind the scenes to try to be consistent, but consistency will come over time, and it’s just for us as individuals to try to find our way in international cricket.”

Powell said he found that players were taking too long to find their feet on the international

stage, and this has got to change quickly to enable his side to be far more competitive, especially against stronger sides such as India.

“I think, maybe, one of the reasons is that we have not spent enough time together as a team,” he said. “But spending a lot of time together as a team will be very difficult… because there are so many T20 leagues around the world, and it’s just not feasible for the board

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Officials and participants of the August Vacation swim programme take a photo-op (Emmerson Campbell photo)

West Indies T/20 captain Rovman Powell