Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 07-01-2024

7th JANUARY, 2024

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See Inside No.107316

Massive enhancement works for Kitty SEE PAGE

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- drainage, other infrastructural works, skills training in the pipeline for community, President Ali says

Works have commenced on the development of the popular Joe Vieira Park at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, into a modern recreation space (Office of the President photo)

The GDF’s Metal Shark 115 Defiant patrol boat undergoing a sea trial (Office of the President photo)

St. Cuthbert’s City Hall needs Mission unveils to rebuild, latest infrastructural restructure, achievement re-strategise

SEE PAGE

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SEE PAGE

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- 17 projects completed; six new ones slated for 2024

- President Ali says

Public Service employees to be trained to interact in Spanish SEE PAGE

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- programme to commence in first quarter of 2024, Minister Parag says

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Massive enhancement works for Kitty

- drainage, other infrastructural works, skills training in the pipeline for community, President Ali says

By Trina Williams STAYING consistent with the commitment of developing every inch of Guyana, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Saturday, told Kitty residents that starting next week, they will see a new wave of works in the community.

The President during an impromptu visit to Kitty, addressed issues regarding drainage and irrigation, security, road works, among other things.

A large group of residents were eager to engage the President and he used the opportunity to say: “We are here to interact with you, to listen to you, to hear your perspective, but more importantly to involve you in the development of the ideas and the development of the solutions to your problems,” adding: “You know the problem better than anyone here.”

He also said that within the last three years,

the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has focused on executing massive infrastructural works within the city such as better roads.

In one week, Dr Ali said a robust plan will be rolled out to deal with the challenges that were spotlighted by residents. Also, ministers and their respective technical teams such as the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development

will be working on this.

Commencing his community visit at Dowding Street and Vlissengen Road, although the Head of State received a warm welcome and praises for the initiatives that the government has been pursuing within just three years in office, residents, however, complained about the issue of drainage and irrigation.

Wasting no time, the President told residents that the issue will be ad-

dressed next week. However, a more in-depth inspection of the community left the President stunned at the absolute neglect by the City Council.

Clogged alleyways and poor drainage, according to Dr Ali, will be addressed by Central Government since the APNU-controlled City Hall is displaying no intention of rectifying such pertinent issues.

It was said that Kitty

has roughly 15 alleyways which are in deplorable states and are often used as dump sites by many residents. This also led to the President calling for residents to be more responsible and take care of their community.

On the topic of security, Dr Ali also recognised this as a common issue among residents of Georgetown, and with the Kitty Police Station currently undergoing construction works, he called for more police outposts to be present so citizens can feel safe. And as he walked through the community, the President earmarked a potential spot for one of the outposts to be situated.

Also accompanying the Head of State were Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, and recently-appointed Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali during the community visit

The deplorable drains and alleyways within Kitty (Delano Williams Photos)

“There will be massive works [in] the entire community. But beyond the physical work and infrastructure, there a lot of human work that we have to do here that we’re committed to do,” he said, while emphasising that the youths within the community will benefit from skill development programmes and subsequently, employment.

Moreover, Minister Indar, during brief remarks to the media, said that the President’s community visit to Kitty is just one of many that he does.

“But what will happen in 2024, what you will see in Guyana and respective to Georgetown in specific, is many more of these…,” he said, while adding that all of the actions promised by President Ali will be promptly followed up.

From next week, all of the drains within the community will be desilted and road works will commence, according to the minister.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

City Hall needs to rebuild, restructure, re-strategise

- President Ali says PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali, has said that an analysis needs to be done on how to rebuild, restructure, and re-strategize the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) into an institution that caters for the needs of the people.

During an impromptu community outreach in Kitty, dozens of residents flocked President Ali to inform him of the deplorable state of the area.

President Ali remarked: “One thing about good countries and democracy is that when people fail you, the institutions never fail you and we [need to] build our institutions in such a way that the institutions never fail.”

The conditions of some of the drains (Delano Williams Photos)

He added: “And that is what we have to look at, how do we ensure that the institution of the City Council is rebuilt, restructured and reorganized, re-strategized, realigned, to the needs of the people.”

Dr Ali also pointed out how engaged the People’s

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillors are with the citizens.

“I hope that they [APNU Councillors] take an example from the work that our councillors are doing and to work the way they’re working,” the Head of State underscored.

He further said that he has expressed his views on the APNU-controlled City council countless

times and it is now up to the people to decide. “… When we went to the Local Government Elections, we explained the consequences of not having good leadership, so this is in the hands of people. Sometimes we have to stop speaking and let the work continue... I hope people are seeing…,” President Ali said while adding that he is hoping that Guyanese

have opened their eyes and recognise the reality.

But concerning the issues that are plaguing the community, poor drainage and irrigation stood out, as this was a common nuisance in the area.

From drains covered in tall grass to clogged alleyways being used as dumpsites, the President, when he got a deeper insight into how neglected the community really is, expressed much disgust with the City Council.

“What is city hall really doing?” he asked after

visiting one of the alleyways and being told that there are others that are in worst conditions.

There are approximately 15 alleyways which are in a deplorable state and not being cleaned. This is a responsibility of the M&CC. Nevertheless, the Head-of State remarked that initiatives will be taken to fix these issues.

“In front, to avoid people from going and dump garbage, we’ll put a big grilled gate with a padlock,” the Head of State said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Over 50 Kitty youths to be enrolled in skills - President Ali says development programmes

By Trina Williams

OVER 50 youths will soon be part of a skills development programme, according to President, Dr Irfaan Ali. He made those remarks during an impromptu community visit to Kitty.

As the President walked through Alexander Street, he saw a group of youths in conversation and decided to approach them.

“I want our youths to be engaged in a skills development programme; so right now, we have a shortage of machine operators, welders, construction workers,” he remarked.

The Head of State told the group that Monday, a team led by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, along with Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar will be meeting with the youths to discuss a way forward.

Additionally, he urged the young men to think about life and become a key component of this opportunity.

“I want all of you to be registered in a training programme and we are going to get you employed after,” Dr Ali related, adding that a stipend will be given to participants during their course of training.

He then went on to say

President, Dr Irfaan Ali interacting with the youths (Delano Williams Photo)

that persons who already possess a skill, especially in the area of construction, will be “absorbed into the housing sector.”

In 2023, a grand total of 4,444 individuals from all 10 administrative regions successfully completed free skills training programmes organised by the Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

BIT certified 187 individuals in Region One, 646 in Region Two, 320 in Region Three, 1,224 in Region Four, 254 in Region Five, 697 in Region Six, 265 in Region Seven, 118 in Region Eight, 190 in Region Nine, and 543 in Region 10.

The programmes being offered have enabled the graduates to take on independent projects for personal growth while earning an income.

BIT has certified about

11, 275 persons in various occupational areas in three years.

The agency offers a

slew of courses, including fibre optic installation, building construction, boat building, welding, and fabrication, cosmetology, electrical installation, heavy-duty equipment operation, early childhood development, and commercial food preparation, among others. People who wish to complete more than one course through BIT can do so without any difficulties. However, they must pursue a course that complements their certification.

Last year, Dr Ali disclosed that more than

US$100 million will be invested to offer free training in several sectors. “ We a r e s p e n d i n g more than US$100 million on creating a new state-of-the-art national skills-training centre, not only for the oil- and-gas sector, but for every single sector in our country, and every single skill that will be required to take our country forward,” Dr. Ali said.

The proposed national skills-training centre is to be established at Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

According to President Ali, persons interested in obtaining such skills will be trained free of cost, as the initiative is intended to contribute to the ongoing economic expansion taking place across all the country’s sectors.

“We have already granted more than 26,000 scholarships under the GOAL scholarship programme. Before 2025, every Guyanese will have free university education in Guyana…

This is a journey of development,” he said.

Public Service employees to be trained to interact in Spanish - programme to commence in first quarter 2024, Minister Parag says

FORMER Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, on Friday, said that as part of the ministry’s 2024 mandate, they are looking to have persons in the public sector trained in Spanish.

The minister, who was recently appointed Local Government and Regional Development Minister, made this announcement at the ministry’s end of year press conference for 2023, where she said that the government is focused on upskilling the public sector.

She said that the ministry has begun a partnership with

online learning platform, Coursera, to ensure that public servants are versed in the language of Spanish.

“In 2024, the Ministry of Public Service’s mandate through Coursera will be to train all public servants in Spanish… and we have already begun that partnership,” she said.

When asked by reporters when this programme will commence, Parag noted that the programme is scheduled to start around March 2024 and will run for about 16 months.

She added: “We will ad-

vertise, persons would be able to apply through an online process and Coursera has their requirements for the programme as well.”

Further, Parag added that this plays into the development and modernisation path that the government is currently on, and, as such, wishes not to have public servants left behind in this development.

The programme will not be mandatory; however, public servants will be encouraged to join and upskill themselves.

This move is in line with

President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s vision to foster integration with South American partners and ensure that persons are competitive internationally.

Just last year, President Ali announced that as part of the government’s commitment to enhancing education at all levels, Spanish would soon be a mandatory subject from the primary school level.

At that time, he said, that the government will engage bilateral partners to support Guyana with the necessary human resources for the process to commence.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

The engine keeps running

THE holidays are now behind us and it is back to business. This is indeed the case with President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the entire PPP/C administration as the work of government continues to pick up momentum from the past years.

And what a better start than that of taking up its membership at the United Nations Security Council for a two-year term 20242025. The flag of Guyana was installed by Guyana's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Am-

bassador Carolyn Rodrigues alongside those of other members of the Security Council.

This honour could not have come at a better time as Guyana is currently playing a lead role in pushing the peace agenda in the region.

This would give the country an added voice which could be used to promote world peace and the search for a more equitable and just global architecture.

As pointed out by Ambassador Rodrigues, Guyana will seek a people-centred

approach including the involvement of women and youths in search of solutions, mindful of the fact that conflict is a driver of poverty and underdevelopment and therefore inimical to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The theme of Guyana's participation in the Security Council is very apt and relevant, addressing major global issues such as climate change, food insecurity, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, women empow-

erment , protection of children in armed conflict and youth, peace and security.

At the domestic level, the PPP/C administration is pushing ahead with its people-oriented approach to development with emphasis on job creation, enhanced social welfare and infrastructural development.

Among these are the US$35 million Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge in Linden, the contract of which was signed early in the new year.

Ongoing works are progressing well on a number

of mega-projects such as the Corentyne River Bridge, the new four-lane Demerara River Bridge and the Gas-to-shore projects which when completed would have a transformative impact on the Guyanese people.

These major infrastructural projects are closely aligned to the economic boom the country is currently experiencing especially in oil and gas but also in the other sectors such as agriculture, mining and tourism.

The overall impact of these developments is an

increase in the size of the national pie which in turn will allow for more resources to be channeled in the area of sustainable human development.

Guyana's international profile has been greatly enhanced with its recent election to the United Nations Security Council.

Credit must be given to President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Foreign Affairs ministry for the hard and proactive role in putting Guyana on the international spotlight.

Peeping Tom and Elson have committed a fundamental error

Dear Editor,

The anonymous (weakling) author of the Peeping Tom column in the January 6, 2024 edition of the Kaieteur News, contended that… “The Natural Resource Fund, as at the end of 2022, had received more than US$1.7B in inflows of royalties and profit oil. In that year, the fund accrued US$17.5M in interest alone. From the inception of the fund to the end of 2022, the total interest payments for 2022 would have amounted to G$3.6B….

Interest earned would have increased during the first 11 months of 2023. The government earned more than G$16B in interest for 2023, a sum that is more than enough to grant a 13% increase in wages and salaries to public sector workers for 2023.”

The foregoing contention by both Peeping Tom and

Elson Low, however, is a classic illustration of their unfamiliarity and/or ignorance; lack of appreciation for the legal operations of the Natural Resources Fund Act (2021) (hereinafter NRF Act), and more so their profound ineptness altogether in the area of public financial management in general.

Section 19 of the NRF Act states: “The amount that the Minister shall request the National Assembly to approve as withdrawal from the Fund for the next ensuing fiscal year shall be included in the annual budget proposal and shall not exceed, for that year, the ceiling calculated in accordance with Section 17 and the First Schedule plus any amount required for emergency financing”.

This means that the withdrawal from the NRF is based on the previous fiscal year’s balance. For example, the NRF withdrawal for the fiscal year 2023 would be

NRF Quarterly Report, September 2023

based on the closing balance for the fiscal year ended 2022. Similarly, the NRF withdrawal for the fiscal year 2024, would be based on the closing balance for the fiscal year ended 2023.

For the avoidance of any doubt, though anyone could independently verify the NRF balance and interest earned as per the relevant NRF reports on the Bank of Guyana website, the table below is extracted (snipped) from the September 2023 quarterly report.

The interest earned for the fiscal year 2022 was $2.4 billion, which would have been available for with-

drawal from the Fund for the fiscal year 2023. The year to date (YTD) interest earned for 2023, based on the NRF balance amounted to $12.5 billion, and the cumulative interest earned from the inception of the NRF, which is since 2021, amounted to $16.1 billion.

The Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, is therefore absolutely correct where he said that the interest earned in 2022, which would have been available for withdrawal in 2023, is inadequate to finance the 6.5 per cent salary increase, which amounted to approximately $8 billion.

Conversely, it is un-

equivocally incorrect and impractical to base the argument for salary increases on the cumulative interest earnings over multiple years (2021-2023), to finance salary increase, which is an annual recurrent expenditure.

Even if, for argument sake, one were to use the cumulative interest earnings of $16 billion as at September 2023; equivalently, one would have to examine the cumulative increase in the total employment cost for the same period. In so doing, the result remains the same, such that it would be inadequate to finance the increase.

To this end, the total

level of increase in employment cost for the period 2021-2023 (B) amounts to $28 billion, reflecting an increase from $78 billion to $106 billion. Evidently, this level of increase is nearly twice (1.75 times) the size of the cumulative interest earned on the NRF for that period.

Finally, as illustrated herein, in their haste to disprove the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, by pointing out some “rudimentary error”, while failing miserably to do so, the author of Peeping Tom and Elson Low have not just committed a rudimentary error; but a fundamental error. Worse, it is unarguably a classic demonstration of their deep lack of knowledge in public financial management.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Two distinguished Guyanese OP-ED women commanded attention during Week One of 2024

JANUARY 1, 2024 marked the 74th anniversary of one of the Commonwealth’s most successful political parties, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

This note is not about the remarkable history of the PPP, but it is noteworthy to reflect on two of the many credentials of the PPP – it has always, continuously for 74 years, aggressively throughout its history, promoted women and youth in leadership. It would be difficult to find another political party in the Commonwealth or in the world that can match the PPP’s record of empowering youth and women.

In the same week as the PPP celebrated its 74th anniversary, during the very first week of 2024, it is no accident, it is no coincidence that two distinguished young women commanded attention, both locally and internationally.

Guyanese, no matter what their political affiliation, no matter what their religion or race, had to feel pride when Carolyn Rodrigues took the stage at the UN and hoisted Guyana’s Golden Arrowhead, our flag, as Guyana took its place for a two-year term in the Security Council on January 2, 2024.

Only 15 countries sit in the Security Council. Five countries - the US, the UK, France, China and Russia are permanent members of the council; 10 other countries, like Guyana, are temporary members, serving two-year terms.

The other countries, besides Guyana, that serve temporarily are Algeria, Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

Note than nine CARICOM countries have never served on the Security Council in the 70 years of its existence.

While Guyanese feel pride that our country is one of a small handful of de-

Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues

veloping countries sitting in the Council, it could not have escaped any of us that a young Guyanese indigenous woman took her place on a council dominated by old men. Guyanese women must have felt enormous pride, but so must all Guyanese, men and women.

This is the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Carolyn Rodrigues. In 2001, she was appointed as Minister of Amerindian Affairs when she was barely 25, being among the youngest ministers and MPs in our history as a country.

She was the first Amerindian woman to be a minister.

Distinguishing herself and piloting the Amerindian Act in Parliament, she was promoted to be the first ever Amerindian and first ever woman to be a minister of Foreign Affairs.

For a period between 2015 and 2020, she served at the FAO headquarters in Rome, before returning to be Guyana’s UN Representative, being the first woman, other than a short stint by Janet Jagan, to hold that post. Carolyn makes us all proud as she is one of the most respected UN ambassadors in New York at this time.

On the same day, January 2, 2024, as Ambassador Rodrigues took her place on the Security Council, President Irfaan Ali announced on January 2, 2024, the appointment of Sonia Parag as

the new Minister of Local Government and Regional Development. The Honourable Sonia Parag became the first ever woman to be appointed as a Minister of Local Government and Regional Development.

The Honourable Sonia Parag is a relatively newcomer to politics, having joined the PPP’s 2020 election campaign team. After the swearing in of President Ali on August 2, 2020, she was appointed as a young Minister of Public Service.

At the Ministry of Public Service, Minister Parag

Newly-appointed Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag

was entrusted by President Ali to deliver on the PPP’s manifesto promise of 20,000 scholarships for Guyanese by 2025. Two years to go still and she nearly accomplished this goal already.

Like all the PPP ministers, Minister Parag has crisscrossed Guyana, meeting people in all 10 regions of our country. Sonia Parag has rapidly become a role model for girls and women in our country.

Clearly, Carolyn Rodrigues and Sonia Parag in the very first week of 2024 underlined the continued el-

evation of women leadership in Guyana. The accomplishments of these two young Guyanese women, further solidified in the first week of

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

2024, continue to underline two of the many incredible PPP credentials.

Both of these distinguished Guyanese are youthful and women. Since the formation of the PPP, 74 years ago, when women such as Janet Jagan, Jessie Burnham, Jane Philips-Gay, Jessica Huntley, etc., played leadership roles, the PPP has been in the lead in the Caribbean and the Commonwealth, promoting women’s rights and equality, rejecting the notion that youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and promoting the notion that youth must play leadership roles now. Since its formation in 1950, the PPP has always had youth playing

Continued on page 8

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

The construction of Hope-like canals will be significant to our country Dear Editor, With the new year just a few days in, it would be remiss of me not to wish everyone a prosperous and productive 2024.

This is a critical phase for government officials to pick up from where they left off in 2023 to continue along its developmental path.

The Ministry of Agriculture will be looking also to continue to provide its impeccable service to Guyanese and more so, Region Six where I was born and bred.

I particularly look forward to the massive works set to be executed by the National Drainage & Irrigation Authority where works on Hope-like canals will start.

Farmers, over the years, have endured enormous losses whether it is due to improper irrigation or excessive flooding caused by heavy rainfall; the last massive flooding was even

worse with farmers still trying to “catch their level”.

The Ministry of Agriculture, notably, has been working with farmers around the clock to provide solutions and will deserve all the support they can get from supporters and the opposition who only seek to hunt for all the faults they can find.

Recently, it was reported in the news that works on these Hope-like canals will commence by February but work on the embankment for these structures will start within two weeks. Now with these initiatives, farmers will feel relieved when it comes to having proper irrigation and ultimately aiding in the release of excess water from the water conservancy into the Atlantic Ocean during extended periods of rainfall.

Touching a bit on the East Demerara Water Conservancy (Hope Canal) to highlight how important the project was when it was conceptualized and how

important it remains today, this multimillion-dollar investment is one of Guyana’s largest drainage projects and was constructed following the 2005 major flooding that tore through agriculture and residential areas.

Since its construction, there have been no reports of major flooding and overtopping of the conservancy embankments but of course, it attracted criticism from the then useless and unproductive opposition; have they ever supported a major project embarked upon by the PPP? I will let the public answer that!

It must be noted that after the construction of the eight-door sluice structure, residents and farmers had praised the initiative over the years while noting that it had spared them from the heavy flooding they had experienced before its construction, and so with the implementation of structures similar to that in Regions

Five and Six, I am certain the benefits will be enormous and the praises will be just as loud despite the empty opinions of criticisms of the opposition.

To date I cannot find a major project spearheaded by the former Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, but the APNU/AFC finds the time to trash talk projects executed under the Ministry of Agriculture led by the Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha.

Minister Mustapha is taking a proactive approach when it comes to dealing with matters that could become key issues in the future, and the people of Region Six continue to look forward to his visionary leadership and providing innovative ways of enhancing the agriculture sector.

Respectfully, Fawaz Harry

Two distinguished Guyanese...

From page 7 leadership roles.

Cheddi Jagan was in in his twenties when he became an MP and was barely 30 when he became the first leader of the PPP. He was not yet 35 when he became Premier, even if his premiership lasted for just 133 days before the British used its military might to depose and lock him up.

Ashton Chase was just a little older than 20 when he became the youngest minister ever in the Commonwealth.

Carolyn Rodrigues, like Irfaan Ali and Bharat Jagdeo, was barely 25 when she became a senior minister in government. There is no disputing the PPP’s credential of empowering youth.

In the present PPP government, the President is a youthful PPP member, Dr. Irfaan Ali. There are several other youthful members of the Cabinet. Among these youthful members are women such

as Priya Manickchand, Sonia Parag, Susan Rodrigues, Vindhya Persaud and Oneidge Waldron.

But Carolyn Rodrigues taking the seat on behalf of Guyana during week one of 2024 at the Security Council and Sonia Parag taking up the ministerial leadership role in Local Government and Regional Development remind us all that the PPP has an incomparable record when it comes to women equality and empowerment.

We must not forget that a woman has served as a prime minister and as a President in Guyana with a PPP government. It was also the PPP who put forward a woman, Elizabeth Harper, as a Prime Minister Candidate during the 2015 election campaign. It was the first time that a party had placed a woman as its Prime Ministerial candidate in an election.

It would be remiss on

our part in this context not to note the presence in the Cabinet of a veteran woman, Gail Teixeira, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance. She served as a young woman when she was appointed as Minister of Health in October 1992.

Thirty-two years later, she is still serving as a minister.

She also served previously as a Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and as a Minister of Home Affairs.

There is no denying that the PPP stands way above most political parties in the Commonwealth when it comes to empowerment of youth and women. The first week of 2024, through the accomplishments of Carolyn Rodrigues and Sonia Parag, remind us all that the PPP has stood firm to two of its missions, first articulated 74 years ago, that women and youth are to be empowered.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Maybe a justified accusation against me in 2023

Last year was a memorable year in my life. I was not surprised even in the tiniest way as to what happened to me last year.

I am in my early seventies and over the long decades I have come to know this country. Three things happened in 2023 to me.

One is, I parted company with the Kaieteur News (KN), a newspaper I participated in birthing and that I have written in for 30 years.

Secondly, a part of my life was exposed for plausible criticism with the accusation that I am not the principled, philosophically quixotic person that I describe myself as because I only criticized Mr. Glen Lall and the KN after I was removed from writing. I am going to spend the rest of this column explaining that because I think people who have appreciated my praxis of over 55 years and my 35 year old media career should be given an explanation.

The third occurrence was the complete silence of the society over two

negatives. The fall out at KN on Mr. Lall’s dropping my column rejecting the opposition’s claim that there is apartheid in Guyana and the Editor-in-Chief of the Stabroek News, Anand Persaud, referring to me as a PPP lap dog. I will devote elaboration in another column to this third occurrence.

One of the most complex, existential choices a human faces in life is whether to stay within an order or a group or a process and seek changes that are not forthcoming and changes that you think the order or the group or the process must pursue or to remove oneself and become an outsider seeking transformation as a quixotic crusader.

It is not an easy choice and it has its tormenting moments. I stayed at KN but should not have remained because the tsunamic wrongs I saw over my 30 years there should have galvanized the moral veins and conscience in me to leave. Why did I stay? It has to do with my awaken-

ing when I became a UG lecturer teaching the first year course in philosophy.

My students did not know or ever heard about Sigmund Freud, Franz Fanon, Jean Paul Sartre and Edward Said. My students did not know anything about the Holocaust.

As I settled down at UG in the 1980s, I got two opportunities abroad. But I wanted to teach Guyanese students about philosophy, the golden subject that explains everything about life.

Each year, I showed them the movie, Schindler’s List.

Many years, I took them late into the night to visit the haunted house at Hague to demonstrate the role of imagination in shaping one’s existence.

The exact psychology in me existed at KN. I wanted to write. I wanted to be a public intellectual that informed Guyana about wrongs that must be righted. I wanted to bring philosophy to the wider Guyanese audience as I did for my UG students. Here is a little story with me and journalist, Denis Chabrol.

It was in 2010 when the Wikileaks cables on Guyana were made public and I recall vividly, it was a Saturday morning. I was standing at Fix It Hardware store on Main Street. He was on the opposite side at Banks DIH outlet. He came over.

He told me because of who I were I should stop writing.

I am not going into details because I do not want a libel writ from Chabrol. Here is how I reacted.

I pointed to the avenue on Main Street and I told him that should I stop writing, one day he will see me walking in the avenue and will say: “He was a good

columnist.” I told Chabrol I appreciated his perception of me but I wanted to write.

I stayed at KN and looked the other way because I wanted to write. But it was not as simple as that. I was never a silent human.

I taught for 26 years at UG and each year I was catapulted into a controversy.

My quixotic crusade at UG is readily available at Google. What is not available and not known is that over the 30 years that I spent at KN, there were tempestuous confrontations between me and Mr. Lall on the one hand, and me and the editor, Adam Harris on the other

hand.

There are two witnesses to one such confrontation - diaspora Guyanese, Dr. Asquith Rose and deputy CEO of the now defunct, SARA agency, Aubrey Retemyer. Anyone who worked at KN will tell you, it was never an easy relationship with Lall. I spoke up and defended my integrity. If you think I should have left KN long ago for moral reasons, then, maybe I should have based on who I said I was. I don’t have the answer but you have an apology.

Prosperity unveiled: Anticipating economic growth and increased citizens’ benefits in the upcoming budget

THE 2024 budget is expected to be read this month with significant funding from oil revenues. It is anticipated that this budget cycle will see increased benefits from the oil sector reaching citizens by way of development projects.

To put this in context; oil revenues funded 23 per cent of 2022’s $553 billion budget which was 44 per cent larger than the 2021 budget. Then, in 2023, oil revenues funded 30 per cent of the $781.9 billion budget. This steady increase in the country’s

budget speaks directly to the government’s ability to up its developmental spending because of increased revenues from the oil sector.

The increased budgets over the last few years have also resulted in a growing number of developmental projects, including six new regional hospitals, several roads and roundabouts, as well as ongoing plans for the much-anticipated Gas-to-Energy project at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

This project is aimed

at reducing electricity costs by 50 per cent while using additional gas to supply Guyana’s domestic needs. According to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) 2023 report, the country’s booming oil and gas industry was credited as one of the main drivers of economic development, as well as the decline in unemployment.

Job creation has been a target of the government, which resulted in initiatives such as scholarships for Guyanese and the implementation of the Board

of Industrial Training programme.

In 2023, over 350,000 Guyanese benefitted from almost $70 billion in oil revenues. Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo highlighted that over 200,000 children, 74,000 pensioners, and 54,000 public servants were beneficiaries of those funds. In anticipation of the 2024 budget, it is projected that allocations towards all sectors, will surpass last year's sums.

As a reminder, the health sector received $84.9 billion, which saw

the development of hospitals and significant facility upgrades to other health institutions. The education sector received $94.4 billion, which provided more access to quality education. The Human Services and Social Protection Sector received the sum of $40.4 billion.

These are just a fraction of the $781.9 billion 2023 budget.

As Guyana’s economy continues to experience robust growth, it is important to highlight and understand that these developments were made

possible with the support of earnings from just two Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels.

The third FPSO, Prosperity, will soon achieve its initial production target of 220,000 barrels per day and will contribute significantly to Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund. With more oil revenue from the Prosperity FPSO, Guyana’s development will intensify, leading to more benefits for Guyanese.

10

Freeing UG

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

OVER the past few months, I have listened to many stories of students of the University of Guyana. These stories are first-hand accounts of the struggles, plight, and challenges they endure on an almost daily basis while studying at the University.

One student said since his father has become temporarily unemployed, it has been rough for his family.

He tells of scraping up monies to pay his tuition fees, and the oddjobs he has had to do to get monies to cover the many other fees that UG demands students pay such as hefty library, badges, and facilities fees.

He is dying under the financial pressure that is placed on him

by UG. That is not all.

He already is thinking about how he is going to pay back the government for the loan he took when he was pursuing a diploma. It is reaching the point that his parents are nagging that he will have to get a job full-time and quit ‘the UG thing’, because “it’s not working out”.

He is stressed out, and depression is gripping him.

So, when he heard President Irfaan Ali’s N e w Ye a r M e s s a g e about making UG free, and the promise of dealing with the student loan dilemma this year, he was ecstatic, satisfied, and overjoyed, to say the least.

All students, except a few critics and skeptics, were elated to hear Ali’s announcement yet again. After all, Outgoing President of Student Society Shaqwaun Gill, in an interview, said the students are indeed happy, but they are waiting

for this move to become a reality.

Gill, who appeared to be hiding or holding back his apparent excitement, said “they will believe it when they see it.”

This move means the government was not ‘mamaguying’ them and seeking to fool the young people into voting for them during the last election, when it promised that they would have free tertiary education at UG. It is well known that some ‘politicians cannot be trusted and lie’, but this government is proving that to be an outright fallacy.

Firstly, the government is undertaking a huge, difficult, and tricky task of making education free at UG. It is no easy task, considering the amount of debt that UG has incurred due to mismanagement.

While agreeing with the critics that education at all levels is supposed to be free, as enshrined in the Guyana Constitution, the government must ensure that it carefully considers the steps to clear the way for students to truly benefit from this right.

It must ensure that the UG gets the funds it needs, or thinks it needs, to restructure its finances.

It also must use its resources carefully to substitute the shortfall

in revenue that will arise from its bold decision to make tertiary education free again.

In other words, whatever steps the government takes to accomplish this policy of making tertiary education free again, the university must be able to stand on its own two feet, and be allowed to manage its resources as it sees fit.

Secondly, the government and education stakeholders must impress upon UG’s Administration that even though they will ‘purse’ this task, they expect better financial management.

This is key because just now when access to tertiary education at UG is made free, the public will hear that UG suddenly is still cashstrapped or cannot pay its other bills, even with the money for the students’ tuition.

There must be tough discussions with UG about the need for accountability and transparency, once it is receiving more funds from the public purse.

If it will receive a bigger sum to maintain itself, offsetting students’ loans and fees, then UG must realise that there needs to be value for money, and must work double times harder at making sure it addresses its high dropout rate, high turn-over rate of lecturers, and

such-like issues.

Thirdly, while the government is keeping its promise and working in the interest of many Guyanese families and young people, like the one aforementioned, UG must not get complacent and allow its quality to drop or shrink.

It must maintain the same entry requirements, and professionalism, save and except the mandatory tuition fee.

In other words, this burden that is being lifted off the backs of young and poor Guyanese must result in higher levels of performance, and better levels of quality.

Finally, young people would get the opportunity, when it becomes fully available, to focus on their studies more.

If they study and focus more, then UG will be aided to become one of the best knowledge centres in the Caribbean and the world. The government knows this, and is listening to the masses with this move towards freeing up UG from the burden of students’ tuitions and loans.

Already, the government has implemented its GOAL programme, which is achieving remarkable success across geopolitics, sex, gender and age. This, making UG free, now will be icing on the cake.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

11

President Ali’s commitment

Pomeroon benefits from enhanced drainage, agricultural support ­‑ farmers rejoice as excavators ensure flood-free lands

By Cindy Parkinson

IN light of the fact that the Pomeroon was previously perceived as a region prone to flooding due to land drainage into the Atlantic Ocean, Regional Chairman Vilma DeSilva has stated that the measures implemented by President Ali and his government, including the deployment of two excavations, have effectively mitigated the issue of flooding, particularly in agricultural areas.

During her recent visit to the Pomeroon River, the regional chairman expressed great satisfaction at the residents' ability to resume agricultural activities on their farmlands without the threat of flooding.

According to her, “I am pleased to say that this is the first time in the history of Pomeroon that an initiative such as this one has been done for the Pomeroon people, and we are thankful for President Ali and his government…We were given these excavators by the government to facilitate drainage on the farms and persons’ lands.

I am happy to say that this initiative has made a tremendous impact on the residents and the development of their land.”

DeSilva further explained: “What we did was open up the drainage canals that lead to the savannahs so that they could help drain some of the excess water into the river. With this action, we do not have a backlog of backlog water in the savannahs anymore, and with the intervention of the dredging of the mouth of the Pomeroon River that has started, we have brought significant relief to the residents, especially the farmers.”

On a visit to Pomeroon last year, the regional chairman revealed that President Ali has pledged to provide two extra excavators to the residents. This decision came

after acknowledging the significant involvement of over 1,800 farmers in the agriculture industry.

“When the president visited last year, he saw the volume of work and the number of farmers we have in Pomeroon—over 1,800 farmers that have their own lands. President Ali offered to give free drainage to the residents with the two machines that he gave, but he also recognised that everyone wants the drainage work now, so he intervened by doing the bed and drain project for the farmers who own like five acres and below. Those works were contracted to six different private operators, and that is additional to the work that the two fixed excavators are conducting in

tion, she clarified that work is still in progress; nevertheless, she expressed her delight in reporting the complete drainage of over 130 farmlands, making them primed for planting. Furthermore, she emphasised that the initiative has not only greatly enhanced the drainage system for local residents and farmers, but it has also served as a source of motivation for farmers who had previously abandoned their land due to insufficient drainage to resume cultivation.

“While these farmers are grateful for all that is happening to them by President Ali and his team, I would also like to add that His Excellency has made a commitment to have two additional excavators for the Pomeroon, so

Regional Chairman for Region Two (Pomeroon Supenaam) Vilma DeSilva (centre) on a recent trip in the Pomeroon River, distributing solar panels to the residents

Pomeroon nursery with coconuts

the river.”

DeSilva's findings indicate that more than 545 farmers have been able to benefit from the additional assistance provided by the two extra excavators. In addi-

we will have a total of four excavators that will remain in the Pomeroon to facilitate ongoing drainage, which is huge for the residents and the farmers,” DeSilva stated.

Meanwhile, the regional

chairman stated that although the farmers appreciate the “significant help” provided by the government, she also remarked that “these farmers are very thankful to President Ali for all the help that

they have been given and for the revetment, that is, these lands are not like the coastlands...everyone is on their individual farms, so what the government has also done is to assist at least 50 vulnerable

farmers who cannot afford to fix their kokers.”

The Pomeroon River's sanitation has been acknowledged by the regional chairman, who praised Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha for considering it as one of the designated areas in Guyana eligible for fiber machines.

“On the coastland, the roadways are used for travelling from one place to another, so likewise, the waterways are the roads for the residents of the Pomeroon River or for people travelling in and out of the river, and it can get dangerous for water users. I want to commend Minister Mustapha for considering Pomeroon as one of the places that deserves a few fibre machines. Coconut production is huge here, but I am pleading with the residents to refrain from throwing the husk into the river. When the fibre machines are here, the husk will process and be used for mulching the plants, so please do not litter the waterways; we will dispose of it in the proper manner,” DeSilva pleaded.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Building bridges, building futures

St. Cuthbert's Mission unveils latest infrastructure triumph — 17 projects completed; six new ones slated for 2024

The Taylor’s Creek bridge while undergoing construction

By Shaniya Harding THE recently completed construction of a new bridge at Taylor's Creek, St. Cuthbert's Mission in Region Four is the latest addition to a series of successfully executed projects in the community, made possible through the assistance of the parliamentary supplementary fund, according to Toshao of the village, Timothy Andrews.

The community has witnessed the completion of 17 projects in recent years, all of which were carried out under the supervision of the latest village council. Among the most recent and most impactful is the new concrete bridge at Taylor’s Creek.

The newly constructed bridge had an estimated cost of $3.8 million and will now function as a significant entry point to the community.

The labourers responsible for constructing the bridge were villagers from St Cuthbert's Mission. Remarkably, they completed the project in just 16 days.

During an interview with

the Guyana Chronicle, Timothy Andrews, Toshao of the village, asserted that the newly established infrastructure will have a profound economic influence on the community.

He stated: “The projects are also helping to develop our economic sector. It is providing jobs because the workers are from the village. The funds are going directly into the village. Except for us purchasing materials, the labour and rest of funds are going directly into the village. So, it helps on the economic side of things as well.”

Despite the completion of all major infrastructure work on the bridge, Toshao Andrews has informed that a curing process will be carried out and the bridge will be open to traffic by the end of January.

He explained: “The project is being funded through the supplementary fund allocated in 2022 that was allocated by the government. The bridge is completed. It is made of cement and it is on our main public road; so, it will have to be cured for

21 days. The use of the bridge will start from the

18th of this month.”

Apart from aiding in

traffic, the bridge also solves major irrigation issues the community faced previously. The Toshao explained: “The bridge is one of our major access roads. One of the main reasons we built that bridge is because when we have excess rain, it would be a main creek head and it would wash away from time to time. And it causes a lot of hazards with traffic in and out of the village.

That is why we prioritised that project.”

With the work completed throughout the previous years, the community has big plans moving forward.

New projects are well under way, while several others are about to begin.

Funding has already been allocated for various projects, including the en-

Toshao Timothy Andrews (centre) and his team standing on the completed bridge

hancement of both play grounds in the village and the development of two small water wells. Funding has been acquired through the LCDS programme, as well as the Covid grant funds, while certain projects have been funded through private individuals and multiple nonprofit organisations.

In accordance with the Toshao, he and his community possess a sense of optimism as they progress forward, primarily due to the robust backing provided by the government.

He made reference to the road project, valuing $89 million, which was successfully concluded last year. He emphasised that the project was pledged by His Excellency, President Dr Irfaan Ali and executed under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Works.

At present, the community is engaged in the completion of a mile-long stretch of road, alongside the construction of culverts within the community. Toshao Andrews stated: “Apart from the building of that bridge we are also building some cement culverts in the village in our access road. We are also in the village working on some cement culverts. We are building up one mile of our road leading up into the village as well.”

He went on further to explain that the only issue hampering construction is the arrival of heavy-duty machines, stating that, “We are depending on heavy duty machines and as of right now heavy-duty machines are what are is delaying the process to an extent. We are awaiting the arrival of machines such as a roller, because we already have an excavator on the ground.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Timely publication of EITI report signals local commitment to institution’s principles, good governance

THE Multi-stakeholder Steering Group (MSG) of the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI), on Friday, December 29, 2023, approved and launched Guyana’s 5th EITI Report, covering the fiscal year 2021.

According to a press release from GYEITI, the report includes material payments made by mining, oil and gas, agriculture, and forest companies to the Government of Guyana.

The report shows an increase in extractive revenues from G$93.78 billion in 2020 to G$127.66 billion in 2021, representing a net increase of 36 per cent.

For the financial year 2021, oil and gas recorded G$112.43 billion, representing 88 per cent of revenues from the extractive sector, while mining recorded G$13.9 billion (11 per cent), and forestry recorded G$1.18 billion

(one per cent). Earnings from the fisheries sector were also recorded.

The MSG recruited Hart Group/ BDO Guyana as independent administrator to produce the report.

In keeping with requirement 7.2.c of the EITI Standard, data contained in the report is also published in an open data format on GYEITI website at: https:// eiti.gy/reports/explore-guyanas-fifth-eiti-country-reportfy-2021/.

To build on these efforts, the MSG has also approved the 2024 work plan, which includes implementing the Beneficial Ownership Roadmap, feasibility study on systemic disclosures of EITI data, awareness and community outreach, publication of Guyana 6th EITI report, amongst other activities.

Timely publication of Guyana’s 5th EITI Report demon-

strates the government and MSG’s commitment to fully implementing the EITI principles and upholding the norms of good governance by providing the public access to activities in the extractive sectors.

The Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is a part of the global initiative, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

The EITI seeks to promote revenue transparency in the extractive sector in resource-rich countries. It strives to ensure transparency over payments made to and revenues received by the Government from companies in the extractive sectors.

Guyana joined the EITI in 2017 and has published five EITI reports. GYEITI is governed by a broad coalition of government, civil society, and the private sector.

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Family Violence Bill to bring about comprehensive legal reforms to be tabled in Parliament this year

T H E c o m p re h e n s i v e Family Violence Bill, which takes a modern and holistic approach, has been finalised and will be presented on the parliamentary floor this year.

Its purpose is to effectively address violence and contribute to its reduction in society.

When approved, the Family Violence Bill will replace the current Domestic Violence Act. Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, said the bill benefitted from widespread input from civil society and stakeholders hoping to provide more coverage for victims through the law.

“It is a bill that offers much in coverage whereas before the Domestic Violence Act dealt with more inter-personal violence.

This gives wider coverage so if there is any kind

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud

of violence in the family, people will be able to have more recourse to the law,” she told the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Wednesday.

The bill will also facilitate more punitive measures and the removal of discretionary powers from

the police to ensure action is taken.

“There is not a discretion that will be used in terms of when they act, but once there is visible evidence of bodily harm they must take the report,” Minister Persaud explained.

Additionally, the minis-

ter revealed that the draft of the harassment bill will be finalised this year. The bill is tailored to address general harassment, especially in the workplace.

Similarly, the ministry is looking to table bills relating to protecting children and child care this year as well. These include abduction of the child and child maintenance in alignment with the Hague Convention.

“We need real protection to be provided to these women, we need them to understand what the law does for them, we need them to understand what a protection order is and we need the perpetrators also to understand what it means to flunk the protection order,” the minister noted.

Meanwhile, to ensure Guyanese are familiar with the various bills, the ministry has made it accessible on their website.

GDF Air Corps officer to benefit from US military training

GDF Air Corps Lieutenant, Kevin Wills is set to participate in a 17-month long course in the United States to increase his knowledge and proficiency in the field of military aviation

G U YA N A D e f e n c e Force (GDF) Air Corps Lieutenant, Kevin Wills is set to participate in a 17-month long course in the United States to increase his knowledge and proficiency in the field of military aviation.

“His participation in the course reflects the GDF deep commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting the nation’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty,” the US Embassy said in a post on its official Facebook page.

Further, according to the embassy, Wills’ participation in the course also highlights the close partnership between the United States and Guyana, and both nations’ commitment to regional stability.

15

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Anna Regina Mayor highlights importance of community involvement to town’s growth IN an enlightening conversation with the Guyana Chronicle, Mayor Devin Mohan of Anna Regina, Essequibo, provided a fresh perspective on the town’s trajectory, focusing not only on immediate infrastructure developments but also on a forward-looking commitment to green initiatives and sustainable growth.

Mayor Mohan discussed the work done in the township and their plans moving forward as the relatively new council is working towards continued development, particularly in the town’s infrastructure sector.

Among the new infrastructure work is the addition of the bridge that will serve as a linkage point to the town of Anna Regina and the village of Henrietta.

The mayor ex-

Mayor of Anna Regina Devin Mohan (Japheth Savory photo)

plained that “construction of the bridge started in August last year and is completed. This will link Anna Regina to Henrietta.”

He continued to elaborate that the progress of infrastructure in the area will have extensive implications.

He stated that “the bridge has had a major impact in terms of accessibility. It will also ease traffic congestion.

Infrastructure work will also create jobs for the young people in the

region.”

The mayor went on to cite the upgrade of roads in the municipality, stating that, “In the municipality, some of the streets that were mud and so on were upgraded to asphalt.”

Regarding the matter of funding, Mayor Mohan revealed that all town projects are funded exclusively through the annual subvention granted by the central government.

He stated: “It is being done under the $18

million dollar subvention, and that is a yearly something. We would use that to do developmental works like infrastructure work in the municipality.”

Following the completion of the Henrietta bridge, the mayor and town council have implemented a forward-looking developmental plan. The mayor clarifies that, in an endeavor to allocate funds in the communi-

ty's best interest, they will streamline projects.

The mayor stated that “the municipality has a strategic plan moving forward for this year. We also have a budget, which is a subvention from the central government. What we did was streamline projects for each constituency, and we have eight constituencies.

And that will be projects like streets, cul-

verts, and so on.”

The mayor expressed commendation for the governments and anticipates ongoing relations.

Additionally, he acknowledged the residents' contribution to community development, emphasising the significance of community meetings and consultations to gather their desires and needs.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Youths impress in speed-chess ‘tourney’

VERSATILE junior chess players Sachin Pitamber and Kyle Couchman outplayed senior and junior players alike, and emerged clear winners in separate rapid/blitz chess tournaments contested at School of the Nations during the last weekend of December 2023.

Thirteen-year-old Pitamber amassed eight- and-a-half out of a possible nine points and won the first-place cash prize of $50,000 in the Open category of the Rapid Tournament on Saturday, December 30, 2023.

FIDE Master Anthony Drayton earned second just under Pitamber with eight points, and received the $30,000 cash prize.

Veteran player Justino Da Silva came in third with six-and-a-half points; he received the $20,000 prize.

The Best Female prize of $20,000 went to 14-year-old junior Ciel Clement. This is a commendable accomplishment for Clement, who continues to improve her game.

In the U-20 category of the same competition, first place went to Ricardo Narine, who scored 7.5 points. The former Junior Champion was awarded a cash prize of $30,000. Reigning Junior Champion Keron Sandiford also secured 7.5 points with

second place on the tie-breaker; he was awarded $20,000. The third position went to junior player Alexander Zhang with 7 points; he received $10,000.

Best female in the U-20 category went to up-and-coming 13-year-old Aditi Joshi, who managed to hold her own against rated players; she received a $10,000 cash prize.

On New Year’s Eve, the blitz tournament saw repeated participation by some players.

Young Couchman emerged as the winner, finishing with 7.5 points.

The 14-year-old was awarded $20,000.

Coming in second place was

The respective winners

Sandiford, who also tied with 7.5 points and received a cash prize of $15,000. Justino DaSilva defended his spot with 7 points as he earned third place and $5,000.

The Best Female prize again went to Aditi Joshi, who received a $5,000 cash award.

The Guyana Chess Federation executed several tournaments in the 2023 game season for their male and female, junior and senior players to earn, maintain or improve their rankings. The end of the year was no different for the organisers, and, as expected, there was an excellent turnout of players to compete. The events saw almost 30 competitive chess

players vying for the top 3 rankings in the two One-Day chess tournaments.

For context, rapid and blitz chess games have the same rules as classical chess, but each player has much shorter time limits to score victories. Chess players were each allotted 15 minutes with five-second increments and 5 minutes with five-second increments for the respective events. For both competitions, the Open category contested was for First, Second, Third, and Best Female positions. The Under-20 category contested for First, Second, Third, and Best Female positions.

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20

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Australia climb to the top of WTC points table after SCG win

India are now second, while three teams are tied for the third spot AUSTRALIA have reached the top of the Wo r l d Te s t C h a m pionship 2023-25 points table with their eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Sydney.

They now have 56.25% points from eight Tests.

Pakistan, who lost the series 3-0, are now sixth with 36.66% points.

India were on the top after their seven-wicket win over South Africa in Cape Town, but their stay lasted just two days.

They are now second with 54.16% points from four Tests. South Africa, meanwhile, have moved down to joint-third with New Zealand and Bangladesh. All three teams

have 50% points from their respective two games.

There were four teams in action in the Boxing Day and New Year's Test - India, South Africa, Pakistan and Australia.

It was South Africa who came out on top in Centurion hammering India by an innings and 32 runs inside three days with Dean Elgar leading the way in his farewell series. India, however, came back strongly as they dismantled South Africa in Cape Town in what turned out to be the shortest completed Test ever.

The two Australia-Pakistan Tests in

Melbourne and Sydney ebbed a flowed a bit more, but it was the hosts who held their nerve.

Australia survived a scare at the MCG when Pakistan, chasing 317 in the fourth innings, had moved to 219 for 5. But Captain Pat Cummins came to his side's rescue and eventually, Australia won by 79 runs. In Sydney, they gave David Warner a fitting farewell from Test cricket with yet another win.

West Indies (16.67%), England (15%) and Sri Lanka (0%) occupy the bottom three spots.

Australia, the current World Test Champions, will have a chance to

further strengthen their position later this month when they host West Indies for two Tests. India, the runners-up, have a five-Test home series coming up against England that gets underway on January 25 in Hyderabad. England registered two wins, two losses and one draw in the Ashes but have only nine points to show for it, as they faced a 19-point penalty for slow over-rate.

South Africa's next assignment is a twomatch Test series in New Zealand in February, but they have picked a second-string squad for that. (Cricinfo)

Pat Cummins’ Australia beat Pakistan 3-0 to climb to the top of the WTC standings • ( AFP/Getty Images)

Joshua to face ex-UFC fighter Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, confirms promoter Hearn

ANTHONY Joshua will fight former UFC star Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, says promoter Eddie Hearn.

Ngannou lost to Tyson Fury on his professional boxing debut in October.

Joshua, 34, was set to face Deontay Wilder after beating Otto Wallin, but the American's loss to Joseph Parker scuppered plans for their big showdown.

Hearn posted "it's a done deal" on X on Friday, and added: "Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou collide on a huge night in

Anthony Joshua is a two-time heavyweight champion

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia."

A March 9 date has

been mentioned, but Hearn said a press con-

ference would be held in London on 15 January

with more details about the fight "dropping soon".

Cameroon-born Ngannou, 37, was ranked the number 10 heavyweight by the WBC after he almost stunned WBC heavyweight champion Fury, losing on a controversial split decision in their Saudi Arabia contest.

Saudi organisers had already pencilled in a Joshua-Wilder bout for this year, but the 38-yearold Wilder's defeat by New Zealander Parker on the same card as Briton Joshua's win over Wallin meant a highly-anticipated

mega-fight slipped away.

While no contract had been signed, the pair were expected to enter the ring post-fight and announce a deal to fight at some point in early 2024.

Meanwhile, Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 when they finally clash on 17 February in Saudi Arabia.

Briton Fury, 35, is the WBC champion, with Ukraine's Usyk, 36, holding the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

Brazil’s four-time World Cup winner Mario Zagallo dies at age 92

By Jack Skelton

Brazilian football legend Mario Zagallo, who won four World Cups as a player and coach, has died at the age of 92.

Zagallo was a winger in the Brazil team who won back-to-back World Cups in 1958 and 1962, starting in both finals.

He managed the side widely regarded as the greatest international team of all time, including Pele, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto, to glory in 1970.

Zagallo's final World Cup triumph came as Carlos Alberto Parreira's assistant coach in 1994.

He returned as Brazil manager after that tournament and led them to the final in 1998, where they were beaten by hosts France.

Zagallo was the first person to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager - a feat that has since been matched by Germany's Franz Beckenbauer and France's Didier Deschamps.

"With enormous sadness, we inform you of the death of our eternal four-time world champion Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo," a statement on his

Mario Zagallo is the only man to have been part of four World Cup-winning teams

official Instagram account said.

"A devoted father, loving grandfather, caring father-inlaw, faithful friend, victorious professional and a great human being. Giant idol. A patriot who leaves us a legacy of great achievements."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Zagallo was "one of the greatest football players and coaches of all time".

"Zagallo was an example of a Brazilian who never gave up," he added on X (formerly Twitter).

"It is this lesson and spirit of affection, love, dedication and overcoming that he

leaves for our entire country and for world football." `Key figure in Brazil's decorated history Brazil is the most successful nation in World Cups, with five titles, and Zagallo is one of the most instrumental figures in that history.

As a teenager on national service he was one of nearly 200,000 in the Maracana Stadium who saw hosts Brazil stunned by Uruguay in the decisive final match of the 1950 World Cup. Speaking to BBC Sport in 2013, Zagallo said: "That day has never left my mind."

He made his Brazil debut

aged 26 shortly before the 1958 tournament but became a key part of the team that alleviated some of that pain from 1950, as a 17-year-old Pele inspired the Selecao to victory over Sweden in the final, with Zagallo scoring the fourth goal in a 5-2 win.

Zagallo had been the last surviving member of Brazil's 1958 World Cup-winning team who played in the final.

With Pele injured in the early stages of the 1962 World Cup, Zagallo again played a crucial role, tracking back to help in defence during an era where it was unusual for forwards to do so, as Brazil beat Czechoslovakia in the final.

Zagallo, who played domestically for America, Flamengo and Botafogo, retired in 1965, having won 33 caps for his country.

He started his managerial career at Botafogo before he replaced Joao Saldanha as Brazil boss aged 38 shortly before the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

The tactically astute Zagallo, nicknamed 'The Professor' and 'Old Wolf', pulled together a side filled with the attacking talents of Pele, Jairzinho, Gerson, Tostao

and Rivellino and made them irresistible.

Brazil won all six of their games and swept to a 4-1 victory over Italy in the final.

Zagallo stayed on as Brazil coach for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, where they finished fourth.

He subsequently managed Brazilian clubs and national teams including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, helping the latter qualify for their maiden World Cup in 1990, before returning as coordinator in Parreira's coaching set-up before the 1994 World Cup. Brazil would go on to win their fourth title and first since 1970 as they beat Italy on penalties in the final in the United States.

'Idol of Brazilian football' Zagallo's side began the 1998 tournament as favourites but were beaten 3-0 in the final by France, with star striker Ronaldo having had a mysterious fit on the day of the game.

Brazil won their fifth title in Japan and South Korea in 2002 under Luiz Felipe Scolari, with Zagallo attending the tournament as a special adviser.

He returned as Parreira's assistant in 2006, where Brazil were knocked out by France in the quarter-finals and he subsequently retired.

Zagallo's wife of 57 years, Alcina de Castro, died in 2012. They had four children.

Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues said: "The CBF and Brazilian football mourn the death of one of its legends.

"The CBF offers solidarity to his family and fans in this moment of sadness at the departure of this idol of our football."

FiIFA president Gianni Infantino said Zagallo's "influence on football, and Brazilian football in particular, is supreme".

"In times of need, Brazil has looked to 'The Professor' as a calming presence, a steering hand and as a tactical genius," added Infantino.

"He will be remembered as the godfather of Brazilian football and his presence will be sorely missed by everyone in the game but especially here at Fifa." (BBC Sport)

Villa beat Middlesbrough for first FA win since 2016

Aston Villa's Matty Cash hit an 87th-minute winner against Middlesbrough to earn his side a first win in the FA Cup since 2016 at a vibrant Riverside Stadium.

Championship club Boro were close to earning a replay when Cash's attempt from outside the box took a heavy deflection and beat Tom Glover.

Australian keeper Glover had earlier frustrated the Premier League visitors with a string of saves to keep out young Colombia forward Jhon Duran (twice) and Captain John McGinn.

Villa's frustrations grew when Ezri Konsa's glancing header bounced back off a post before

when Isaiah Jones clipped Moreno in the second half.

But with no video assistant referee (VAR) in operation at grounds outside the Premier League, play was allowed to carry

on.

With a replay at Villa Park looming, Cash found the net following an assist by substitute Douglas Luiz.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Aston Villa had not won an FA Cup tie since 2016

Poland full-back Cash struck his fourth goal of the season in three different competitions.

Middlesbrough have already enjoyed one impressive cup run this

season after reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they face Chelsea over two legs on Tuesday and 23 January.

But they managed just one attempt on target

against Unai Emery's side when Emiliano Martinez kept out Morgan Rogers before half-time.

Villa, second in the Premier League, felt they should have won a penalty

(Sunday January 07, 2024) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD – 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Brian Lara-277 (Sydney, 1992-93) (2) Adam Voges-269* (Hobart, 2015-2016) Today’s Quiz: (1) What are the best Test innings bowing figures by a WI against AUST to date?

(2) What are the best Test innings bowling figures by an AUST versus the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………..

22

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

PM Mottley hails Barbados

‘organisation’ after securing WC final

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley has lauded the country’s “high level of organisation” after Kensington Oval was awarded the final of this year’s Twenty20 World Cup. In a statement Friday, Mottley said the country had “firmly established itself as a cricketing mecca” while the storied Kensington Oval had cemented its place among the world’s leading sporting venues.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Friday that Barbados could host the final of the June 1-29 showpiece, in addition to three Super Eight, second round games and five group stage matches.

“It is with a sense of pride and excitement that I join cricketing fans here and across the region, in celebrating Barbados being

Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley

selected to host the International Cricket Council 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup Final,” Mottley said.

“That Barbados will host this final, as well as eight other games throughout the tournament, three of which are Super 8 (quarter-finals) games, is nothing short of a privilege and an honour.

“It is a historic moment for our country as well, as

this will be the third global cricketing final Kensington Oval has hosted, confirming its place among the world’s premiere sporting venues.

“As a Government, we believe this is a testament to the high level of organisation Barbados has displayed throughout the years, having hosted the 2007 Men’s Cricket World Cup Final and the 2010 Men’s T20 World

Cup Final.”

Barbados will be one six Caribbean host venues for the ninth edition of the ICC T20 World Cup, with Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines all hosting matches.

Dominica had also been announced as a host venue but pulled out last month, citing insufficient time to complete required stadium upgrades.

Barbados will welcome its first group stage game on June 2 when Namibia clash with Oman, and will also stage two of World champions England’s games – against Scotland on June 4 and a blockbuster against Australia on June 8.

“It is equally a reflection of the fact that cricket is intrinsically linked to the identity of Barbados. Quite simply, it is in our DNA,”

Mottley continued.

“Throughout our history, our nation has firmly established itself as a cricketing mecca, producing some of the greatest male and female players to have played the game, including the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen, our National Hero The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers.”

The Oval, located on the outskirts of the city, will now undergo a multi-million renovation in time for the T20 World Cup, and Mottley said collaboration with all stakeholders was now crucial in order to make the venture a successful one.

“The planned renovation of Kensington Oval is tangible evidence that Barbados has already started its preparations,” she said.

“Over the coming months, we will continue to work with all stakehold-

ers, in and outside of the sporting arena, to ensure the thousands of fans who gather here from across the world experience a safe, enjoyable and successful tournament and final.

“On behalf of the Government and all Barbadians, I wish to express sincere thanks to the ICC and Cricket West Indies for selecting Barbados and Kensington Oval as the location of choice to host this ICC 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup Final.

“As Barbadians, I say let us all work together to make sure this tournament is a resounding success. And in so doing, let us reflect the pride and industry we possess as a people, and share it with the world.”

Guyana will host the first semi-final on June 26 while Trinidad and Tobago will stage the second semi-final the following day.

Full fixtures for the ICC Men’sT20 World Cup 2024 BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Following is the playing itinerary for the 2024 T20 World Cup announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday: FIXTURES: Sat. June 1 – USA vs Canada (Dallas) Sun. June 2 – West Indies vs Papua New Guinea (Guyana)

Sun. June 2 – Namibia vs Oman (Barbados) Mon. June 3 – Sri Lanka vs South Africa (New York) Mon. June 3 – Afghanistan vs Uganda (Guyana) Tue. June 4 – England vs Scotland (Barbados) Tue. June 4 – Netherlands vs Nepal (Dallas) Wed. June 5 – India vs Ireland (New York) Wed. June 5 – Papua New Guinea vs Uganda (Guyana)

Wed. June 5 – Australia vs Oman (Barbados) Thur. June 6 – USA vs Pakistan (Dallas) Thur. June 6 – Namibia vs Scotland (Barbados) Fri. June 7 – Canada vs Ireland (New York) Fri. June 7 – New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Guyana) Fri. June 7 – Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh (Dallas) Sat. June 8 – Netherlands vs South Africa (New York) Sat. June 8 – Australia vs

Playing groups for the 2024 T20 World Cup BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC )– Following are the playing groups for the 2024 T20 World Cup announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday: GROUPS: Group A – India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, United States Group B – England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, Oman Group C – New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea Group D – South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Nepal * The top two teams from each group progress to the Super Eights.

England (Barbados) Sat. June 8 – West Indies vs Uganda (Guyana) Sun, June 9 – India vs Pakistan (New York) Sun, June 9 – Oman vs Scotland (Antigua Mon. June 10 – South Africa vs Bangladesh (New York Tue. June 11 – Pakistan vs Canada (New York) Tue. June 11 – Sri Lanka vs Nepal (Florida)

Tue. June 11 – Australia vs Namibia (Antigua) Wed. June 12 – USA vs India (New York) Wed. June 12 – West Indies vs New Zealand (Trinidad) Thur. June 13 – England vs Oman (Antigua) Thur. June 13 – Bangladesh vs Netherlands (St. Vincent) Thur. June 13 – Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea (Trinidad)

Fri. June 14 – USA vs Ireland (Florida) Fri. June 14 – South Africa vs Nepal (St. Vincent) Fri. June 14 – New Zealand vs Uganda (Trinidad) Sat. June 15 – India vs Canada (Florida) Sat. June 15 – Namibia vs England (Antigua) Sat. June 15 – Australia vs Scotland (St. Lucia) Sun. June 16 – Pakistan vs Ireland (Florida) Sun. June 16 – Bangladesh vs Nepal (St. Vincent) Sun. June 16 – Sri Lanka vs Netherlands (St. Lucia) Mon. June 17 – New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea (Trinidad) Mon. June 17 – West Indies vs Afghanistan (St. Lucia) (Super Eights) Wed. June 19 – A2 v D1 (Antigua) Wed. June 19 – B1 v C2 (St. Lucia) Thur. June 20 – C1 v A1

(Barbados) Thur. June 20 – B2 v D2 (Antigua) Fri. June 21 – B1 v D1 (St. Lucia) Fri. June 21 – A2 v C2 (Barbados) Sat. June 22 – A1 v D2 (Antigua) Sat. June 22 – C1 v B2 (St. Vincent) Sun. June 23 – A2 v B1 (Barbados) Sun. June 23 – C2 v D1 (Antigua) Mon. June 24 – B2 v A1 (St. Lucia) Mon. June 24 – C1 v D2 (St. Vincent) (Semi-finals & Final) Wed. June 26 – Semi-final 1 (Guyana) Thur. June 27 – Semi-final 2 (Trinidad) Sat. June 29 – Final (Barbados)

23

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

2023 was record-breaking for Regal cricket teams

IN the year 2023, Regal cricket teams have dominated softball cricket in and out of Guyana and are eager to continue in 2024. On the field there were three teams because in softball cricket there are three categories for competition; Open, Masters and Legends. While the Legends have proven themselves as true champions the other Regal teams were not too far behind.

The Legends, with players 50 years old or older, entered five major tournaments and won all five titles. It was a year of fists for the Regal Legends as they won the Orlando Softball Cricket League title in March for the first time. Before 2023, it was the only trophy that was missing from their cabinet.

With the bat, Rudolph Baker, Ramesh Deonarine and Unis Yusuf turned up when it mattered the most while David Harper, Khamraj Sumair and Parsram Persaud were consistent with the ball

in chilly weather especially in the final against the home side, Orlando Legends where the temperature was as low as eight degrees Celsius.

In April, the Legends copped the inaugural Speaker’s Softball Cup which was organised by the Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown.

The Mahendra Hardyal-led side won all of their matches in this tournament with consistent performances from Eric Thomas (now deceased), Wayne Jones and Baker.

In July, the champs returned to the United States of America, this time to New York City. When the dust was settled on the 4th July weekend, the Regal Legends emerged as the champions once again. This was a hard fought tournament and in the final against Toronto, the Regal Legends were pushed but eventually held on thanks mainly to Sumair, Deonarine, Thomas, Throy Kippins and Hardyal.

Then Guyana became the battle field for two major

Regal Legends Captain Mahendra Hardyal (right) lifting the ‘Eagle’ - the symbol of supremacy in softball cricket in New York

tournaments.

At the end of September, the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup was played for the first time right after the conclusion of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) rather than the traditional date of early November. However, a brand new tournament was launched and played in mid-November, the Vice President’s Softball Cup which was full of hype.

While the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup attracted overseas participation and the finals were played

In nippy conditions, Regal Legends copped the Orlando Cup for the first time

under floodlights at the Demerara Cricket Club the Vice President’s Cup was made up of local teams. Again, Regal Legends humbled all opponents to take away the championships. The Regal Masters also clinched the championships in the same tournaments on home soil to emulate their seniors.

In Orlando, the Regal Masters (40 years and older) began their year on a winning note and also took the Speaker’s Cup at Everest Cricket Club on May 1. However, in the Big Apple the Campbell-

ville-based side stumbled at the final hurdle. Since then the Masters side regrouped to claim the year-end titles but captain ‘Bobby’ Parsnauth is looking for a clean sweep in 2024. With the likes of Patrick Rooplall, Tyrone Sanasie and Roy Persaud they have the artillery to conquer all tournaments in the new year.

The Regal All-Stars side were not afforded the opportunity to play in every major tournament like the Masters and Legends but gave a fair account of themselves on the rare occasion. They missed

out on participating in the Orlando Cup and in the New York Softball Cricket League Independence Cup while there was no Open Category in the Speaker’s Cup but got their opportunities in the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup and the brand new Vice President’s Softball Cup in Guyana where they made hay while the sun shone.

The All-Stars lost in the final of the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup under the lights at DCC but bounced back to end the year with the Vice President’s Cup which they won at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary where a large crowd turned up.

With a similar calendar set for 2024, the Regal sides will be working hard to sweep all tournaments to consolidate their position as the best softball teams in the arena in and out of Guyana. Look out for the guys in the uniforms sporting the colours of the Golden Arrowhead as they head to a tournament near you.

Warner signs off from Test cricket with a medley of his greatest hits

By Andrew McGlashan

THE stage was set, and David Warner didn't disappoint. Signing off from Test cricket with a century was beyond even him with a target of only 130 against Pakistan at the SCG, but he did the next best thing, as a punchy fifty allowed him to raise the bat around the ground one last time.

He couldn't quite make it to the winning moment, trapped lbw by the feisty Sajid Khan, but it allowed him a lone walk off the arena.

The final tally: 8786 runs, average of 44.59, strike rate of 70.26, 26 hundreds and 37 fifties. He ends at No. 5 on Australia's all-time Test run-scorers list.

"It meant the world to me," Warner said of the reception. "I've given absolutely everything to play this game, and sacrificed a lot of things to be in the position I am [in]. Lots of ups and downs; [I] have had to come back and overcome adversity.

Think I've done that very, very well. Think it's been well received from a lot of

people, and think today just showed to me that I do have a lot of support. I'm very grateful and very thankful for that."

At the start of the day, Pat Cummins gave Warner the chance to lead the team onto the field when play resumed.

"Thanks Dave" had been painted on the grass at the ground for today alongside an image of Warner's trademark leap. He was wearing his original baggy green, which had found its way back to the hotel the day before, after vanishing on the eve of the game.

As is standard for Warner, he hadn't worn it earlier in the second innings, but for his swansong as a Test cricketer, there had been little doubt he would give it a final airing.

There was a final catch, too, when he snaffled the chance at leg slip to remove Mohammad Rizwan. He has been a superb close-in fielder. When Nathan Lyon bowled Hasan Ali, Warner jogged off to pad up for the last time in his Test career.

Khawaja then hung back,

David Warner was given a guard of honour by Pakistan • (Getty Images and Cricket Australia)

allowing Warner to lead the way. Shan Masood lined his team up for a guard of honour, and shook Warner's hand. At the end of the line, he was also acknowledged by umpires Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth.

The pair rotates first strike in an innings, so it was Khawaja facing. He was gone before Warner had faced a ball, no opportunity for a final end-of-over midpitch chat. Australia 0 for 1, Sajid pumped, the pitch biting and turning. A reminder there was still a Test match to win.

Warner defended his first ball from Mir Hamza, then

two deliveries later was skipping down the crease. The intent was clear, as has so often been the case. Cheers greeted the punched shot that got him off the mark. Two overs later, an almighty thrash through the covers brought his first boundary. Then it soon became something of a greatest hits collection.

A switch-hit sweep off Sajid; a shuffle down the pitch and loft over mid-on; a reverse sweep; a full toss disdainfully dispatched over midwicket; a thumping drive through the covers; and an inside-out drive over the off side to take him to 49. Then, on his 56th ball, a nudge into

the on side to reach fifty, acknowledged by a long, loud standing ovation from a crowd of more than 20,000.

Away from the sentimentality of the occasion, this was a brilliant little innings from Warner on a tough pitch. A lot of the discussion around his replacement is now focused on scoring rates, and Warner's final innings in Test cricket was a reminder of how he had been a game-changer when he emerged into the scene Test cricket you play in all kinds of conditions, and losing someone who has played 100 Tests is pretty hard to fill," Cummins said. "[He] brings out the reverse sweep, starts using his feet to the spinners, and gets ahead of the game. A good reminder of what an experienced and high-class cricketer Davey is, and that we are going to miss [him]."

Lunch arrived with Australia needing 39, so Warner had the chance for one more - somewhat lower key - walk to the crease.

Inevitably, the closing stages were not without a

little more drama when he survived an lbw shout from Sajid that was umpire's call, but dislodging the bails significantly more than when Alex Carey was bowled yesterday.

There was a final, feisty duel with Sajid, who pleaded and pleaded for numerous lbw appeals, before, at last, the DRS upheld one in Pakistan's favour. Sajid immediately shook Warner's hand, and to a man the Pakistan players went up to him in acknowledgement.

Warner soaked in the walk-off, waving his bat to the full 360 degrees of the ground as the crowd rose to their feet. The incoming batter, Steven Smith, waited, and they hugged - two players who have been through a lot together - before Warner made his way up the pavilion steps to the dressing room. An extraordinary career now drawn to a close.

"Today was the end, I wanted to go out my way," Warner said. "I really enjoyed it."(Cricinfo)

24

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 7, 2024

GFF Elite League promotional playoff on tonight

TONIGHT, the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue will host the highly anticipated Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League’s promotional playoff final between Slingerz and Monedderlust football clubs.

Fans can expect an exciting double-header, beginning with the Women's League Division One final match at 17:00 hrs, featuring a clash between the Guyana Defence Force

and the Guyana Police Force.

Following the women's final, the spotlight will shift to the eagerly awaited showdown between Slingerz and Monedderlust at 19:00 hrs.

The victorious team will secure an automatic spot in the upcoming Elite League Season Six, scheduled to commence in February, along with a one million dollars preparation grant. This change in venue and date was

necessitated by a scheduling conflict at the Police Progressive Youth Club (PPYC) ground.

The GFF Elite League p romotion al p lay o ff, which began on December 17, witnessed nine successful teams from the Member Associations' Leagues fiercely competing for entry into the prestigious Elite League Season Six. The Women's League Division One, launched on October 14, featured

Slingerz’ Leo Lovell (on the ball) in action against Winners Connection during their semifinal win

seven top-tier female clubs: Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Fruta Conquerors Force, Potaro Strikers, Pakuri Jaguars, and

Santos. The Women's league champion stands to claim a cash prize of $200,000, with the second-placed team receiving $100,000. The third-

placed finisher will be awarded $75,000, while the fourth and fifth placed ones will receive $50,000 and $25,000, respectively.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow anticipates windfall for the Caribbean

Cricket West Indies (CWI) President, Dr. Kishore Shallow, lauds the unveiling of the highly anticipated fixtures for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The tournament, slated to unfold across the Caribbean and the USA from 01 June to 29 June 2024, promises an unparalleled celebration of cricket excellence and an opportunity to showcase the region's cultural richness on a global platform.

"Similar to many stakeholders, I share the excite-

CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow

ment with the unveiling of the fixtures for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This represents remarkable

progress with the preparation of this historic event," stated Dr. Shallow.

He added, “The ICC

Men’s T20 World Cup holds immense promise for the Caribbean, not just in terms of cricketing fervor but also as a catalyst for economic growth and regional development."

Dr. Shallow highlighted, "This tournament is projected to yield over USD 300 million in direct economic impact for the Caribbean.

Moreover, it is anticipated to captivate more than a billion viewers worldwide through television broadcasts, further elevating the global stature of the Caribbean as a sporting and tourist destination."

"This influx of visitors,

heightened tourism, and burgeoning business prospects will create a ripple effect," emphasized Dr. Shallow.

"The impact on jobs, revenue streams, and the overall quality of life for our citizens will be substantial."

Furthermore, Dr. Shallow reiterated CWI's unwavering commitment to collaboration, stating, "Cricket West Indies remains steadfast in its collaboration with international partners to ensure the resounding success of the ICC T20 World Cup. Together, we aim to deliver an unforgettable tournament that not only

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captivates cricket enthusiasts worldwide but also leaves an enduring legacy of unity, sportsmanship, and economic prosperity across the Caribbean."

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup sets the stage for a significant economic windfall for the Caribbean, providing a unique opportunity for the host nations to showcase their cultural heritage and allure to a global audience while leaving an indelible mark on the world of cricket.

(Sportsmax)

| SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024