WOMEN will be an integral part of Guyana’s digital development, especially as the country continues to identi-
fy and address existing gaps between males and females within the technology sector, President, Dr Irfaan Ali
has said.
“We are confident that by highlighting the existing gaps between males and females within the technology sector that greater efforts will be made to devise policies and programmes that would encourage more participation from women in the digital sector,” Dr Ali said in a message to commemorate International Women’s Day 2023, celebrated under the theme: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.”
According to the Head of State, Guyana shares and supports the aspirations of the international community in reducing gender inequality within the digital sector.
Already, Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) prioritises digital development and narrowing gender gaps.
The original “LCDS” accelerated the country’s digital transformation, including investments in information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure. It also stimulated inclusive employment utilising ICT technologies.
With telecommunications liberalisation, the accelera-
tion of the country’s digital transformation is expected to increase, including in the areas of e-governance and access and connectivity. Those will all contribute towards
the goal of establishing a strong knowledge-based sector within Guyana’s economy, Dr Ali said.
“Our women can be assured that they will be an inte-
gral part of this emerging sector. We will be mainstreaming science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education within our secondary schools and tertiary educational institutions and, in so doing, encourage greater female participation, particularly in the technology and engineering streams,” the Head of State related.
The Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), for instance, has unlocked greater opportunities, including for women, to improve their knowledge and skills— prerequisites for enhancing female participation in the digital sector.
“I am confident that the initiatives we are taking will ensure a prominent role for women in our digital sectors,” Dr Ali said.
He further stated: “On this, International Women’s Day, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, I wish to extend best wishes to all the women of Guyana and its diaspora. I applaud their contribution to national development. I assure them that the ongoing local efforts to reduce gender and digital gaps will continue in the near and foreseeable future.”
SOME $254.5 million in contracts were signed between several contractors and the Region Nine Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for capital and current projects to advance infrastructural development and transformation in that region.
The projects included
the construction of a primary school with nursery classes at Quiko Village, South-Central District, totalling $12.621 million and a health post costing $13.482 million.
For the first time in history a school and health post will be constructed in the village, which will
bring tremendous relief and ease the burden of villagers travelling miles to seek health services and to attend school. These projects will benefit the villagers significantly, giving them opportunities that they never had before.
In addition, the Aishal-
THE collective commitment of tolerance, love and brotherhood that Phagwah celebrations in Guyana evoke in Guyanese people every year, is indicative of the aim behind government’s ‘One Guyana’ initiative, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips said on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister was at the time delivering an address at the India High Commission’s annual Holi/Phagwah event at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground.
Noting that government continues to build a country where Guyanese, at all levels, will be included in the policies, decisions and the direction that the country is moving in, the Prime Minister described the celebration of Phagwah as a display of the strength of Guyana’s multicultural heritage.
He encouraged all Guyanese to remember the important lessons of Holi and to apply them to their lives beyond just the celebrations on Phagwah day.
“Phagwah celebration is truly remarkable
for the sentiments and positive behaviours it evokes in Guyanese people every year. For that single day, the participants of this occasion are all an equal mix of colours beyond their race. Just as we are able to blend beneath a disguise of colours, then so too can we achieve “oneness” and unity in our minds through a collective commitment of tolerance, love and brotherhood,” PM Phillips said.
“This collective commitment is the aim behind our government’s One Guyana initiative. We believe unity and brotherhood will allow us to steer our country towards a prosperous future together for mutual enjoyment and benefits.
Customarily celebrated in the middle of March, Holi/Phagwah, also known as the Festival of Colours, Festival of Spring, and Festival of Love, is one of the most popular and significant festivals in Hinduism.
Though Holi is an ancient Hindu festival in Guyana, it is celebrated by Hindus and non-Hindus alike. For many, it is a festive day to meet
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Gods Radha and Krishna, and also signifies the triumph of good over evil as it commemorates the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu.
The Prime Minister reminded that though Holi is a joyous time that represents fruitfulness and spring, more importantly, it emphasises the teaching that good will always triumph over evil and truth will always prevail over untruth.
For the Prime Minister, Phagwah is a day of pure celebration where we can lay aside our inhibitions and indulge in brotherhood, togetherness and happiness.
“These tenets are evergreen lessons that can
be carried throughout our lives. And certainly, it is a blessing that we can be reminded of these lessons every year with the observance of Holi,” the Prime Minister added.
“There is also a cer-
spring and nature.”
The Prime Minister was one of several government officials who attended the event along with the British High Commissioner, Jane Miller and China Ambassador, Guo Haiyan, among others.
Several members of the Opposition APNU+AFC were also present.
Meanwhile, India High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, also spoke of the togetherness that evolves from Phagwah.
tain beauty about Holi that we cannot neglect to mention. It is a time of joy and colour exhibited through the symbolic celebration of adorning ourselves with coloured powder and water to celebrate the newness of
“Today the Festival of Colours has brought us all together. I am very delighted to see you all in such large numbers. Everybody here gracing this occasion, may this Festival of Colours bring happiness, joy, love, prosperity, health and peace to all of you. Spread the love and spread the Festival of Colours, happy Holi to all of you,” he added.
Dr. Srinivasa noted that Phagwah is an eagerly anticipated festival for the enormous joy that it brings, and what it signifies.
“We celebrate Holi at the end of winter signifying the ushering in of spring’s abundant colours. Today we are celebrating with these beautiful colours playing around with friends, with dance, with music and some good food. Holi signifies a good spring harvest. Here we are spreading the joy and happiness half way around the world,” he said.
Originating in India, the celebration of Holi has spread all across the globe and today is celebrated in many regions through the Indian diaspora.
“In a way it’s India’s Valentine Day. It is not only a Festival of Colours but also a Festival of Love. This is a feeling that keeps the Holi festival vibrant and at the same time touches our heart in spite of our busy lives.
Let us cherish this day together,” Dr. Srinivasa said.
WHILE noting the progress that has been made in reaching gender equality, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has noted that there is still a lot of work to be done.
The party said that the women of the National Congress of Women (NCW), are celebrating under the theme, “Cracking the Code - Innovating Food Security through Pot Agriculture” #EmbraceEquity.
“International Women’s Day (IWD) gives us the opportunity to recognise how far we have come in securing gender equality. It also serves as a reminder that the road to true equality is long, and there is much more work yet to be done. As we celebrate this progress, we must also acknowledge that progress is fragile and that in many parts of the world, and right at home in Guyana, women are fighting for the most basic human rights, including survival against high food prices,” the party said in a statement.
This year, IWD is being celebrated under the United Nations theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” along with the campaign theme, #EmbraceEquity.
“Today, Wednesday, March 8th, 2023, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, the socio-economic development in our country is benefitting no doubt from growing participation of women at all levels.
Over the past decades, women have won legislative reforms that have closed the gender gap in education and employment and have enhanced protections in women’s health and well-being,” the statement said.
It said that reports by several organisations, such as the OECD, ECLAC, and the UN-EGEEW, have shown continuous improvement in Latin America and the Caribbean, where women’s participation in the workforce is
among the highest. These and other gains, however, must be constantly guarded.
“The gains have slowed due to COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the spiralling food prices. This must be of concern to us all. Both government and organisations, such as the National Congress of Women (NCW), must be ready through policies and programmes that are gender responsive to the economic needs brought about by these global and national challenges. We must ensure we do not lose
the gains accomplished over the decades.
“The present challenges by our women to put at least one nutritious meal on the table highlight the unfinished Gender Agenda. This situation challenges the government to ensure that families can properly feed and care for their children,” the statement added.
It was noted that ac-
cording to the FAO 2022 Regional Review Report on Latin America and the Caribbean, ‘Food inflation has continued to rise, reducing the purchasing power of more and more households and putting their food security at risk.’
To this end, the party said that the cost of a healthy diet is more expensive in the Caribbean, while in Guyana and Suriname, it is the highest in the sub-region.
“We have had reports after reports, and they have all shown that the increases fall on the most vulnerable groups in our society, such as our indigenous people, women, and persons living in our rural communities. We are all aware that the effects of unhealthy diets carry great cost to our country socially, economically, and
mentally. This is a cost we cannot afford. With oil receipts, Guyana can readily eradicate hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity. We must demand no less.”
The party said that the FAO must be applauded for its exemplary efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean to alleviate rural poverty and hunger by recognizing the crucial role of agriculture.
“We in the NCW have committed to promoting ‘Pot Agriculture’ or pot farming among our women during 2023 to empower them to cushion the effects of high food prices and moreover, to alleviate some of the stress faced each day by our women to put a nutritious meal on the table,” it added.
PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, during a recent address at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre to mark the 26th death anniversary of former President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, lauded his contributions to Guyana and said ‘the ink of history will forever be fresh with his ideas, contributions, and sacrifices for freedom, democracy, equality, unity, fairness and upliftment of all of humanity’.
These observations were made against the background of some elements in our society who are seeking to downplay, if not denigrate Dr. Jagan ‘s stellar contributions to a free, democratic and pros-
perous Guyana, to which he dedicated his entire adult life.
According to President Ali, Dr. Jagan was a man of great principles, vision and courage. He was not a reactionary force, he was a thinking force.
As observed by President Ali, ‘he lived ahead of his time; comrade Cheddi was not a reactionary force, he was a thinking force so he was always ahead of his time. If you read the depth of some of the things he wrote, you will see how far in advance of society and thinking he was. Importantly, in his death, his teachings remain constant with reality. That is why his life is still applicable
to the social, political and economic transformation of Guyana and the region’.
Similar observations were made by former President and current Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo who described Dr. Jagan as ‘a freedom fighter, a visionary and a revolutionary’. He lauded Dr. Jagan’s deep interest and commitment to Guyana and the world. His call for a New Global Human Order has vindicated himself over those who look at the world with a narrow view. In fact, Dr. Jagan was awarded the Order of Liberation on December 18, 2007, at a ceremony on the lawns of State House.
The Order of Liberation is the foremost highest
national award that can be presented upon any individual who, by a lifetime of honourable achievements, dedicated his/her life to the improvement of fellow humankind.
Without a doubt, Dr. Jagan was a visionary. Vision, it is said, is that ability to see things not as they are but as they will be. It was that visionary thinking that led him to establish, in the then colony of British Guiana, the country’s first and only national university, the Bank of Guyana and the Guyana School of Agriculture among several other institutions and developmental projects. Dr. Jagan was a strong advocate for debt relief for Guyana and
several other highly-indebted nations which he saw as ‘millstones’ that impeded economic growth and development.
His call for a new global human order, world peace and cuts in military continue to resonate with people across the globe.
It was Dr. Jagan, it will be recalled, who called on the industrialised countries to compensate Guyana for the preservation of its standing forests, something that has now become a reality under the current PPP/C administration.
But it was his tenacity and indomitable struggle against colonial rule and later on PNC dictatorial rule that stood out as a de-
fining character of his long and glorious struggle to the cause of a better Guyana. That struggle culminated in his election on October 5, 1992 as the country’s first democratically elected Executive President of Guyana after nearly three decades of PNC dictatorial rule.
As noted by President Ali, Dr. Jagan’s legacy is an inspiration to all those who believe in the power of democracy, social justice and human rights. He was indeed a leader who inspired others to follow in his footsteps and someone who remains a symbol of hope for the oppressed and the marginalised.
Dear Editor,
THE advancement of digital technology is growing exponentially. With increased access to the internet, social media platforms, and online learning, many more opportunities are being created for women and girls. Whilst there are numerous benefits that come along with technological advancement, women and girls are even more vulnerable to new forms of disparities and inequalities. Despite all the odds, women continue to make significant contributions within the field of technology.
As we observe International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023, under the theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology
for gender equality,” we must reflect and take action against all forms of exploitation women and girls are facing within the digital field. Emphasis must be placed on the pervasive threat of technology-facilitated, gender-based violence that plagues women and girls in this digital age.
According to UN Women, “Technology facilitated gender-based violence is any act of violence committed, assisted or aggravated by the use of ICT on the basis of gender.”
Online gender-based violence against women and girls is oftentimes connected to offline violence and usually includes sexual harassment and stalking, which is becoming more prevalent as the digital world expands.
While the violence may
take place virtually, it can still have the same effect as offline violence and can cause extreme, tangible harm to women and girls. These range from physical (self-harm), psychological, social or economic effects. This type of violence against women and girls doesn’t stop when they log off from their virtual space, but can also lead to faceto-face interactions and therefore exposes them to trafficking and other forms of abuse.
As digital technology continues to be a crucial part of our lives, the online violence with which women and girls are faced prevents them from freely expressing themselves online and also threatens their advancement into the tech field. For women with disabilities and the LGBTQ+
community, the risk against online violence and discrimination is greater.
Most alarmingly, children, especially girls, are more vulnerable than before to online sexual predators. Today’s digital technology makes it easier for perpetrators to identify and make contact with their victims. In the digital world, perpetrators are able to create, post and share exploitative content that not only harms children but also encourages others to commit offences. Parents in today’s world need to be more aware of the use of the gadgets and how to monitor their children’s use to reduce exposure to platforms where predators are waiting for their next victim.
Like all other forms of gender-based violence,
online violence is terribly underreported, which only intensifies the need for urgent action. As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2023, we call for urgent action to be taken to eliminate technology-facilitated, gender-based violence against women and girls.
Legislative frameworks must be established with significant emphasis placed on the rights and well-being of women and girls. We call on activists and decision makers to place more effort into making the digital world a more inclusive, equitable and safer one for our women and girls.
Yours sincerely,
Omattie MadrayChildLinK Tieanna Jordan - Child-LinK
Ashome Clarke - ChildLinK
Sadia Persaud - ChildLinK
Bibi Ahamad - We Care Guyana
Indranie RamnarineEducators Pride
Beverley Braithwaite -
Chan Spotlight Initiative
Renata Chuck-A- Sang - Women and Gender Equality Commission
Kean Trotman - Attorney-at-law
Juanita Burrowes - United Bricklayers
Parbattie Ranglall - Patentia Achievers
Ann Greene - Retired
CPA Director
Ronetta Knights- Spotlight Initiative
Colin Marks - Help and Shelter
Dear Editor, ACCORDING to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, developing countries would require US$500 billion annually to enable them to overcome current levels of poverty caused by currency manipulation, high and unsustainable debt burdens and other structural
impediments.
This view is not new. Former President, Dr Cheddi Jagan nearly three decades ago, had written about the “debt trap,” which, he said, was not only unsustainable, but was also a big millstone around the necks of poor countries from a developmental perspective.
Guyana at one point under the previous PNC
regime was ranked among the highest indebted countries in the world, with debt repayments and servicing consuming over 90 per cent of government revenues.
It was not until after the return of the PPP to office on October 1992 that the debt burden was progressively reduced to sustainable levels.
It is a shame that de-
spite several promises by the developed world to make more financing available to poor countries, not much has been done. Instead, billions of dollars are wasted on unnecessary wars, raking in billions of dollars in the coffers of the military--industrial-complex and big businesses at the expense of the poor and the underprivileged.
As Mr Guterres pointed out in his recent address at the recent UN-sponsored conference on least developing countries in Doha, Qatar, the time for excuses is over and the rich industrialised nations must live up to the promises made to provide more financing available for poverty reduction and sustainable development.
Guyana, thanks to
prudent economic and financial management by the PPP/C administration, is now much better placed to manage its debt obligations. The issue of debt burden, however, still remains a drag on several other low-income countries.
Yours respectfully, Hydar Ally
THE Guyana National Stadium came alive with energy and excitement on Tuesday, when Phagwah— the Festival of Colours— was celebrated with great fervour.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of abeer, as hundreds of people gathered to participate in the festivity.
The stadium was trans -
formed into a sea of vibrant colours as people of all ages danced and threw coloured powder and water at each other.
Abeer filled the sky after one of the hosts of the programme instructed those present to throw the colourful powder into the air.
Before long, the stadium was covered by a large colourful cloud, even as water
‘rained down’ on the crowd from water trucks at the centre of the stadium
The sound of laughter and joy echoed through the air, as people celebrated the triumph of good over evil.
Those present were entertained by local singers such as Bunty Singh, Randy Ramdin and Vicadi Singh, along with a number of other artistes who kept the crowd alive with their
songs.
As the sun began to set, the stadium was bathed in a warm, orange glow, casting a magical spell over the revellers. The music grew louder, and the crowds grew more exuberant, as people danced and sang to the beat of drums.
The decorations were a feast for the eyes, with bright, colourful streamers and banners fluttering in the breeze.
As the night drew to a close, the crowds began to disperse, their faces covered in a rainbow of colours.
The memories of the Phagwah festival at the stadium would stay with them forever, a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Guyana and the enduring spirit of its people.
As people made their way home, they were greeted by the peaceful silence of the
night, but their hearts were still filled with the joy and happiness of the festival.
They knew that this was a time to come together, to celebrate their traditions and their community.
For many, it was a time to reconnect with family and friends. They shared stories, laughter, and love as they celebrated the arrival of spring. It was a time to forget about the stress of everyday life and to focus on the good in the world.
The festival had a special significance for young children. They ran around the stadium, giggling as they threw colourful powder and water at each other. For them, this was a magical time, full of wonder and excitement.
As the day went by, the memories of the festival lingered. People talked about it with fondness and joy, and they expressed great anticipation for next year’s celebrations.
NATURE and climate must undoubtedly cooperate to ensure a viable and resilient future for everyone on the planet.
Global climate change has considerably changed vast natural environment areas in so many different nations.
One strategy for containing climate change and addressing the related problem of the loss of global biodiversity is to use natural solutions.
Recent studies suggest that effectively planned nature-based solutions can significantly lower temperatures over the rest of the century.
A review of the evi-
dence suggests that, under a fairly ambitious scenario, nature-based solutions could prevent or remove up to 10 gigatonnes (Gt) of CO2 equivalent annually up to 2050, with altered land management practices accounting for 85 per cent of these saved emissions.
The preservation of standing forests, which includes forest conservation and restoration, is crucial to this solution because they can provide one-third of the mitigation needed by 2030 to keep global warming to the 1.5°C target.
If properly implemented, these solutions
also help to reverse the other environmental catastrophe of our time: the decline in biodiversity.
The majority of the terrestrial biodiversity on Earth is found in forests, which make up almost a third of the planet’s surface area.
They house 60,000 distinct species of trees, 80 per cent of all amphibian species, 75 per cent of all bird species, and 68 per cent of all mammal species worldwide.
Our current state is that our environments are being destroyed rapidly.
Nearly 15 per cent of world CO2 emissions are
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attributable to deforestation alone.
Tropical deforestation would have the third-largest national carbon impact in the world if it were a nation.
Conversely, it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions by seven billion metric tons yearly by protecting and restoring tropical forests, mangroves, and peatlands.
In a recent White Paper by the World Economic Forum titled ‘Forests for Climate: Scaling up Forest Conservation to Reach Net Zero’, we are reminded that forests are crucial for the climate, environment, people, and economy.
According to recent data, nearly 1.6 billion people rely on forests for work, food, water, and wood.
From an environmental standpoint, woods do a variety of things, such as store carbon, control our temperature, serve as flood barriers, recharge groundwater, filter air, and safeguard biodiversity.
According to the White Paper on Forest, the economic value of forests is assessed to be $150 trillion, almost twice as much as the val-
ue of the world stock markets when the analysis was done.
The greatest part of that total value—up to 90 per cent—results from forests’ capacity to control the climate through carbon storage.
As in any first aid situation, the goal should be to stem the continuous, life-threatening bleeding that is deforestation by conserving extant forests,
even though growing new trees is advantageous and necessary to restore those forests that have been lost or degraded.
This will safeguard both the carbon they store and the wildlife they support.
Our emphasis in Guyana over the past 12 years has been on maintaining the country’s leadership position as a high forest cover, low deforestation
country with more than 85 per cent of its forest cover still intact.
This study shows that forests are much more effective at storing carbon than freshly planted trees.
Guyana’s national monitoring programme has revealed that the country’s forests sequester or remove about 154 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere annually and contain about
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19.5 gigatons of CO2.
This impact’s scope is extensive and significant.
In Guyana, we know that our natural resources must benefit our citizens’ well-being and the fight against global warming.
Guyana introduced the first Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) from a developing nation in 2009. The strategy outlined a vision for inclusive, sustainable development for our people while concurrently maintaining the country’s forests, which comprise about 85 per cent of the country’s land.
The LCDS is a framework created to map a new development trajectory without creating pollution.
This aims to change the reality where forests are frequently worth more dead than alive so that people who live in forests and countries with forests can create employment and economic opportunity from an economy that works with nature.
Guyana is located below sea level and is frequently affected by extreme weather conditions like storms and droughts.
Climate change continues to harm the welfare of the entire planet, including Guyana, where extreme weather events are destroying livelihoods and damaging the country’s economy.
Early in 2021, after the nation had experienced the second-highest amount of rainfall since 1981, floods led to the proclamation of a national disaster.
In contrast to 2005, when flooding affected nearly 37 per cent of the population and resulted in economic losses equal to 60 per cent of GDP, the floods of 2021 affected every region of the nation and were classified as a national catastrophe.
Affected farmland totalled more than 130,000 acres (52,609 hectares), and 1.3 million animals perished.
The first Strategy, developed in 2009, was
expanded in Guyana’s LCDS 2030 to include new fields such as clean and renewable energy, ocean economy, biodiversity, and water management.
This extended vision is underpinned by a people-centred development strategy with the aims of boosting social well-being for all of our residents, creating climate-resilient structures, and expanding economic opportunities for communities.
Through a bilateral collaboration with the Government of Norway, Guyana received US$220 million between 2010 and 2015 for these efforts. This money was used to fund several low-carbon projects that have improved people’s lives and strengthened climate resilience in several communities.
Guyana has made steps toward the voluntary carbon market as it moves forward to the second stage of its low-carbon development roadmap.
Guyana has already achieved the first jurisdictional scale carbon credits ever awarded under the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART), The REDD+ Environmental Excellency Standard (TREES) programme, totalling 33.4M credits to date.
Additionally, a first commercial deal for selling 37.5 million credits to Guyana for $750 million has been finalised.
This will help fund Guyana’s LCDS 2030 by appreciating and safeguarding nature-based remedies for the good of the populace.
This demonstrates that, when done with the proper methodology, addressing difficult climate-related problems, safeguarding priceless forest resources, and enhancing human wellbeing are all compatible.
We still need help despite these achievements.
In Guyana, we need to ensure that ecosystem services are included in expanding nature-based
remedies.
Forest carbon must be combined with biodiversity and watershed concerns to safeguard the ecosystem as a whole.
Achieving a global impact will require scaling up this endeavour and applying the lessons learned.
We have learned from experience that a longterm solution for sustainable growth can be created when people and nature work together.
(This is part of a weekly series on LCDS). The author can be contacted at cparkinson0206@gmail.com
WITH COVID-19 restrictions no longer in place, Hindus and other residents of Region
Two celebrated Phagwah together on Tuesday. They were seen in their numbers in the streets with water guns, buckets of water and bottles of coloured powder. The day’s activities commenced as early as
06:00 hours with the smearing of the ashes from the burnt holika on each other’s face. Phagwah services were held at various temples at different times throughout the morning. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development with parliamentary responsibilities for Region Two, Nigel Dharamlall,
was on hand to partake in the celebrations and he used the opportunity to extend best wishes to everyone for the season. These Indrawattie Natram photos captured some of the fun moments in various parts of the region and Monday night’s burning of the holika
By Telesha Ramnarine
PURAN Brothers Disposal
Services is in the shredding business - disposing confidential documents, old tyres, and the like – but the budding oil and gas industry has led the company to research how practical the use of a tote shredder would be.
The company has found that it would be a useful method to assist oil companies to dispose of totes, which are essentially
bulk containers that are used for storing or transporting liquid substances.
Although some folks might be tempted to reuse the totes for storing water or something else, the companies do not generally promote this practice as unsafe, or even harmful chemicals, may still be in the containers.
“With our oil and gas industry in Guyana, we realised that some companies have been asking us if we know how to
dispose of totes, and we noticed a lot of them have been piling up,” Assistant General Manager, Kishan Puran, told Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.
Because they’d opt not to give away the totes, and because there’s no resale value for them locally, the companies have been stacking them up in hopes of exporting them, perhaps for recycling purposes.
“We noticed that there was a demand for how these companies can dispose of them so we
decided to bring in a shredder,” Puran reflected. The machine should be in the country within the next two weeks so that the company can begin offering this brand-new service to the public.
In the meantime, it has been assisting firms to dispose of documents that they ought to get rid of after a certain period of time, as required by authorities.
“We also identified a problem with tyres in Guyana. There was no practical solution, so we decided to import a tyre shred-
der. Because of the amount of tyres that take up the landfill, it’s very bulky… and burying them is also not effective,” Puran detailed.
As for the tote shredder, he explained that it will not just shred the plastic of the totes, but will also be able to shred the metal.
“There is a restriction that no one is supposed to use the totes but you know as Guyanese, they might want to use them to store something; that can be harmful. Some of them might have stored chemicals which may not be safe. So that’s why we came up with the idea of bringing in the tote shredder,” Puran shared.
certain services.”
Speaking about the diversity that is evident in the company, Puran pointed out: “We’re into ready mix, liquid waste disposal, construction, toilet and tent rentals; we are still trying to see what other areas we can get into. We also have our sandpit coming up very soon. We will be bringing the sand from our sandpit in Essequibo and using it for our internal projects; we will also be reselling.”
Meanwhile, at the recent International Energy Conference and Expo, where the company had a booth, Head of the Health and Safety Depart-
Tote: This is what the tote container that is used by oil companies looks like. They are unsafe for unhuman use and should be discarded when no longer needed
With the country’s economic situation looking up, he said they are continually looking to see how they can expand the services being offered by the company.
“Things look very promising. We have opportunities to invest today rather than later so that we can be one of the first players in the market for
ment, Jason Carter, had shared that the new shedding service would be of particular benefit to the oil companies.
“The totes that they bring their chemicals in are hard to get rid of; they try to destroy them. Doing so has been a challenge for the oil companies, but now we are bringing in shredders,” he said.
MINISTER within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues on Tuesday joined Hindu devotees in various communities on the East Coast of Demerara to spread messages of unity and hope.
In the spirit of togetherness, the minister sang bhajans and prayed for divine
blessings, peace, and prosperity for the nation during an early morning service with her children and the devotees of the Cove and John Ashram.
In her brief remarks, Minister Rodrigues echoed the call for peace and cohesion, saying, “As we apply these
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ton village Council was awarded a contract for the construction of culverts at Kabanawau Creek, Deep South Rupununi, totalling $9,504,000.
Contracts will be given to village councils to construct combination chairs for the region and other regions in the country. This decision was made after President, Dr Irfaan Ali, during a visit to Region Nine had observed the high quality of combination chairs that were built by the Aishalton Village Council.
Capital projects included contracts for the construction of two-apartment teacher’s quarters at Kokshebai Primary in the South Pakaraimas sub-district, construction of staff quarters in Aishalton village, construction of a number of concrete bridges at Caiman Creek, Baby Creek, Parishara Village, Makurpan Werimoor to Rupunau Village, Aishalton Farm Road, Deep South Rupununi and Dove Creek.
The construction of box culverts are scheduled for Jabari Creek, South Pakaraimas, and Yakarinta access road, in the North Rupununi .
The Taushida Primary is scheduled to benefit from $12.833 million in rehabilitation works, while repairs will be done at the Wowetta, Surama and Kaicumbay Primary Schools.
The perimeter fence of the St Ignatius Secondary School is also expected to be repaired at a cost of $12.965 million.
Speaking at the signing, Regional Executive Officer (REO) and Chairman of the Tender Board, Karl Singh, extended congratulations to the various contractors and encouraged them to fulfil their obligations in producing quality work in keeping with the Bill of Quantities and deadlines for completion of the projects .
Singh reminded them that the projects are an important part of boosting the economy of the region and improving the lives of people in the communities.
colours, we are no longer able to recognise the colour of each other’s skin. Today we have no colour; we celebrate as Guyanese, as this festival brings all our people together,” she said.
According to a statement on her official Facebook page, Minister Rodrigues
urged Guyanese to adopt Phagwah’s spirit in their everyday lives, saying, “We must aim to not live like this one day of the year, but all year round.”
Minister Rodrigues also emphasised that the government will stay committed in fostering harmony amongst
all Guyanese. “We [the government] want to work in mandirs, churches, and masjids to spread the message of unity, and we want all of you to do the same,” she noted.
Rodrigues also paid a visit to the Enmore Shiv Mandir, where she joined worshipers
for bhajan and prayers, and repeated her call for peace and harmony.
“I wish you health, strength, and prosperity as we all work together for a prosperous and vibrant Guyana. May peace and prosperity prevail. Happy Phagwah,” she asserted.
for
During a recently held graduation ceremony at the Bartica Community Centre, he was one of 75 graduates
who received certification in Heavy-Duty Equipment Operation, Electrical Installation, Welding and Fabrica-
tion, and General Building Construction.
The police sergeant stated that he has always been fascinated by how such heavy-duty devices operate and wished to learn how to do so. This, he added, began to take shape after he discussed the entire programme with Joseph Bharrat, the Regional Technical Officer of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).
He thanked the government for providing him with the opportunity to achieve his life objective, which he hopes to share with other interested persons.
Meanwhile, Alf DarrelWilson, who is also a police sergeant, expressed similar sentiments. He said he had a desire to learn critical knowledge and abilities in order to become a trained heavy-duty equipment operator.
“This was something that I wanted to do for a while now, but financially I could not afford it, and then this opportunity landed on my lap, so I pounced at it. I am now a certified heavyduty equipment operator, and I am really pleased with myself,” he told BIT officials.
This accomplishment, he claimed, was also made possible through assistance from his coworkers who participated in the programme.
The rank urged other police officers to take advantage of the free technical programmes offered by the Board of Industrial Training.
“It doesn’t matter whether they want to be members of the welding and fabrication or heavyduty equipment operating programmes; what counts is that they want to learn a new talent, especially in an age when having more than one skill is vital,” he said.
BIT’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Saskia Eastman-Onwuzirike, commended the graduates for completing their respective programmes despite the
hardships they faced.
She expressed hope that the graduates will consider their next step in becoming well-rounded individuals who are capable of accomplishing many things.
Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, in his remarks, stated that the graduation ceremony was a reflection of the government’s commitment to change the region’s trajectory by boosting the number of competent workers in the region.
He expressed his appreciation for the positive transition, which indicates the PPP/C administration’s willingness to provide its inhabitants with the necessary skills and knowledge to be employed. He noted that the government will continue to invest in its people in order to see such developments.
“We are shifting from spending $3.2 million in 2021 to spending $12.7 million in 2022 to train over 70 people, which will ultimately improve the country’s workforce,” the Labour Minister explained.
To fuel this momentum, a $10 million training school for the Board of Industrial Training will be constructed in the region for the first time.
There are plans to build a joinery, welding, and fabrication centre as an annex to the training school.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Bisram Kuppen, commended the graduates for gaining much-needed skills that will essentially help to alleviate the country’s skill deficit in the various industries.
He urged them to treasure their existing skills and to continue exploring numerous opportunities for furthering their own and the region’s development.
BIT’s Senior Technical Officer, Leon Greaves; Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall and other officials attended the graduation ceremony. (Board of Industrial Training| Public Relations Department)
AS construction on the new eight-inch well progresses smoothly, residents of Khan’s Hill and nearby communities in Region One will soon benefit from better access to potable water.
The drilling of the well is being facilitated through the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) programme.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the government remains committed to its manifesto promise of providing every household with potable water.
Efforts are being made to expand the service to other areas.
Once the well can produce a minimum of 20 cubic metres per hour, the service will be extended to supply Thomas Hill, Mabaruma Settlement, and the township area. This will be a major accomplishment for the government, DPI said.
This will be the second time an eight-inch well is being drilled in the hinterland region. In Port Kaituma, the first eight-inch well was drilled, and it was a massive success.
Recently, the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, recently inspected ongoing works at the well site at Khan’s Hill.
“We are working steadfastly because, within two years, it is expected that the entire Region One must be 100 per cent coverage. I can also assure you for the Mabaruma municipality zone, we will achieve by the end of this year, 100 per cent coverage
for everyone including Hobo Hill,” Minister Croal stressed.
This has resulted in a significant increase in hinterland coverage to 75 per cent by the end of 2022, he said.
“By the time we are finished this year, we will move the coverage of the hinterland to 89 per cent. One hundred per cent access of water services to all riverine and hinterland communities are targeted and must be achieved by 2025,” the minister said according to the DPI.
As part of its target for Region One, approximately 17 wells will be completed in 2023, and some $250 million is budgeted to execute the construction of these wells.
Among the areas to benefit from the drilling of new wells are Manawarin, Waramuri, Haimakabra, Kamwatta, Koko, Parakeeis, Cabora, Karaburi, Wallaba, and Santa Rosa.
Additionally, new wells will be drilled in White Water, Yarakita, Kamwatta, Black Water Savannah, and Wauna in the Mabaruma sub-district.
The government has invested more than $2 billion in hinterland communities.
Some $1.4 billion will be spent this year to increase access to clean, safe water in hinterland communities in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, and Nine. Some $17.7 billion was allocated in this year’s budget to expand water systems and management, DPI said.
— Khan’s Hill well nears completionMinister of Housing and Water Collin Croal examining the new well at Khan’s Hill, Region One
PERSONS of all races and religious backgrounds flooded the streets of Guyana, either drenched in water, covered in colourful powder or both, on Tuesday, to celebrate Phaghwah.
The Phagwah festival is a Hindu celebration in Guyana that honours the arrival of spring. It is celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm and is one of the most important events in the country’s cultural calendar.
The festival is characterised by the throwing of coloured powder and water, which symbolises the triumph of good over evil.
The Albouystown and Kitty communities are two popular venues for the festival, with thousands of people gathering to participate in the festivities. The streets were decorated with vibrant colours and festive decorations, which added to the already lively atmosphere. The celebration in those communities was a sight to behold and is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Guyana.
Odessa (only name given), a resident of Kitty, said that this year’s celebrations were better than last year’s.
“I feel good because last year it wasn’t so good and [is] a long time we ain’t come out and
get no holiday,” she said.
Odessa noted that people are supporting small businesses and “everything going good with the Phagwah.”
Another Kitty resident, Tiffon McRae, brought his dog to the Phagwah celebrations with his family and friends.
Although this year’s events were interesting, he stated that they have not reverted to the previous celebrations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before COVID-19, Phagwah was a “huge thing,” according to him, and the celebrations are now picking up steam again.
Sophia Gibson, a resident of Albouystown, played Phagwah with her family. There was even a blow-up pool in their yard where they could swim.
Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, she stated that they still had fun playing Phagwah the years prior to this one. Nevertheless, this year was much better.
Youths from Eccles who were playing Phagwah on the streets while out with their family and friends said they were having fun.
When compared to the pandemic period, one of the children said this year was a “brighter” experience.
GENDER imbalances in access to employment and working conditions are greater than previously thought and progress in reducing them has been disappointingly slow in the last two decades, according to a new ILO brief.
A new indicator developed by the ILO, the Jobs Gap, captures all persons without employment that are interested in finding a job. It paints a much bleaker picture of the situation of women in the world of work than the more commonly used unemployment rate. The new data shows that women still have a much harder time finding a job than men.
According to the brief, new data shines light on gender gaps in the labour market, 15 per cent of working-age women globally would like to work but do not have a job, compared with 10.5 per cent of men. This gender gap has remained almost unchanged for two decades (2005-2022).
In contrast, the global unemployment rates for women and men are very similar because the criteria used to define unemployment tend to disproportionately exclude women.
The jobs gap is particularly severe in developing countries where the proportion of women unable to find a job reaches 24.9 per cent in low-income countries. The corresponding rate for men in the same category is 16.6 per cent, a worryingly high level but significantly lower than that for women.
The brief points out that personal and family responsibilities, including unpaid care work, disproportionately affect women. These activities can prevent them not only from being employed but also from actively searching for employment or being available
to work at short notice. It is necessary to meet these criteria to be considered unemployed, so many women in need of a job aren’t reflected in the unemployment figures.
Gender imbalances in decent work are not limited to access to employment. While vulnerable employment is widespread for both women and men, women tend to be overrepresented in certain types of vulnerable jobs. For instance, women are more likely to be helping out in their households or in their relatives’ businesses rather than being in own-account work.
This vulnerability, together with lower employment rates, takes a toll on women’s earnings. Globally, for each dollar of labour income men earn, women earned only 51 cents.
There are significant differences between regions, the brief finds. In low and lowermiddle income countries, the gender disparity in labour income is much worse, with women earning 33 cents and 29 cents on the dollar respectively. In high-income and upper-middle income countries, women’s relative labour income reaches 58 and 56 cents respectively per dollar earned by men. This striking disparity in earnings is driven by both women’s lower employment level, as well as their lower average earnings when they are employed.
The new estimates shine light on the magnitude of gender disparities in labour markets, underscoring how important it is to improve women’s overall participation in employment; to expand their access to employment across occupations and to address the glaring gaps in job quality that women face. (International Labour Organisation)
(WEDNESDAY MARCH 8, 2023)
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Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) SA won by 87 runs
(2) Aiden Markram (SA)
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Which SA player has contested most Test matches to date?
(2) Which SA player has captained the team in most Test matches to date?
Answers in tomorrow’s
a draw in the opening Test.
The Guyanese’s figures were the best by a West Indies spinner in Tests – surpassing the legendary likes of Sonny Ramadhin, Alf Valentine, and Lance Gibbs.
Motie finished the two-Test series with 19 wickets to earn the Player-of-the-Series award and his first ever ICC Player-of-theMonth nomination.
Motie, who made his Test debut last June against Bangladesh, has picked up 19 wickets in his career at an outstanding average of 15.89.
He has taken 136 wickets from 37 first class matches at 20.41 apiece.
Brook, meanwhile, scored heavily in England’s recent Test series in New Zealand, gathering 329 runs at an average of 82, including a career-best 186 and two half-centuries.
The 24-year-old has played only six Tests.
Jadeja, 34, shone in the threematch series against Australia, picking up 21 wickets at an astonishing 13.9 runs apiece as the hosts claimed a 2-1 series win.
A left-arm spinner, Jadeja has taken 263 wickets from 63 Tests.
Australian Ashleigh Gardner, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt and South African Laura Wolvaardt are the three players nominated for the women’s Player-of-the-Month award.
always something happening on these wickets. You’ve got to really work hard for your runs. But it’s showed that the guys can
do it. You’ve got to work hard for them and you need some luck.”
If Australia can channel their positive outlook one more
time, it could secure a drawn series against the odds, and against the conditions. (Cricinfo),
By Andrew McGlashanAUSTRALIA’s bid for a series-levelling victory in Ahmedabad, which would go down as one of their finest results, could begin in front of a world record Test match crowd amid further intrigue over what the pitch will offer with India seeking to bounce back from a rare home defeat.
The opening day of the final Test will see a brief but elaborate attendance by the Prime Ministers of both countries with Narendra Modi, who the stadium is named after, hosting his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese.
Quite what the crowd ends up being around the first ball remains to be seen, but if it’s above the 91,112 which attended the first day of the 2013-14 Ashes Boxing Day Test at the MCG, then Melbourne will lose its crown.
However, the authenticity of the record could be up for debate given reports have indicated up to 85,000 families and students will be bussed to the stadium.
Parking the politics, there are some practicalities to consider should a huge and loud crowd eventuate when play gets underway. Perhaps most significantly will be judging reviews that are based around edges but also communicating with team-mates over other line calls.
“The talk has been excitement around actually playing a Test in front of that [size crowd] then actually just the logistics of it on the field - how you deal with reviews, all that sort of stuff, because the noise will play a huge part in that,” Daniel Vettori, Australia’s assistant coach, said earlier in the week. “Guys will be trying to be as pragmatic as possible around how it’s actually going to
play out.”
It’s uncertain what size crowd will attend on the other dayshowever long the game lasts - or indeed how many will remain in the stadium once the early formalities are complete. Both leaders are only expected to stay for around an hour of the first session.
Attendances have been encouraging during the series. But whether fans will get to see a fourth day for the first time was hard to judge two days out with what appeared a bit of further byplay going on around the pitches.
Two surfaces were covered and uncovered at regular intervals, as both were being considered for use, but just before Australia left a few of the squad did gather around the drier-looking of the two pitches.
Then when India began their training session there looked to be confirmation that it was the chosen pitch with Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma taking turns to ask for the cover to be pulled back. That was further reinforced when the television cameras were being put into place later on Tuesday afternoon.
The greener of the two surfaces may have come into play had India won in Indore. Before the game Rohit had raised the prospect of a more seamer-friendly pitch to aid preparations for the World Test Championship final. As it stands now, however, India still have to guarantee their berth against Australia, although the result in Christchurch, where New Zealand face Sri Lanka, may yet make the outcome in Ahmedabad irrelevant in that regard.
India were effectively beaten at their own game in Indore on a pitch that was rated “poor” by the ICC. The venues themselves have no control over the surfaces with
BCCI centralising the process but it’s unlikely the board would want to suffer back-to-back sanctions even if they plan to appeal the Holkar Stadium judgment.
The two Tests played at the Ahmedabad ground since its development were against England in 2021. The first, a day-night contest, ended inside two days with Axar Patel taking 11 wickets and Joe Root 5 for 8. The second only went a little longer with spin again dominating, although batters were able to succeed with Rishabh Pant making a century and Washington Sundar 96.
Pitch debate has dominated this series from the moment images emerged before the first match in Nagpur of the selective watering. After the Indore defeat, Rohit was unapologetic about the nature of the pitches, saying it was what India wanted and they accepted that it could go against them when conditions were extreme.
“Honestly, the pitch talk is getting too much, every time we play in India focus is only on the pitch. We focus too much on the pitch in India,” he said. “I don’t think that is necessary. Honestly speaking, these are the kind of pitches we want to play on. This is our strength, so when you’re playing at your home, you always play to your strength, not worry about what people outside are talking about.”
One of the key reasons Australia were able to fight back in Indore was because they have not taken a negative view to it, rather embraced the challenge to finding solutions.
“Personally, I really enjoy playing on these kind of wickets,” Steven Smith said after Indore. “I prefer this than just a genuine flat wicket that goes five days and can be boring in stages. There’s
..They are embracing the challenge of trying to level the BorderGavaskar series 2-2 in AhmedabadThe fourth India vs Australia could witness a record-breaking crowd (BCCI).
BRUNO Fernandes should not captain Manchester United again following Sunday’s humiliating 7-0 defeat by Liverpool, says Chris Sutton.
The Portuguese, who deputises in the absence of club captain Harry Maguire, was criticised for his behaviour and attitude in the game.
“There are people that are
far better qualified to be captain,” Sutton said.
“Fernandes is not their best leader. There are more suitable candidates than him, Casemiro being one.”
Speaking on BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, former Premier League striker Sutton, who also suggested Raphael Varane as another option, added: “I think he should never put on the armband again for Manchester United.”
Fernandes, 28, has 57 goals and 50 assists in 166 games for the club in all competitions, but his body language at Anfield was called “disgraceful” by former United captain Roy Keane, while another former skipper Gary Neville said he was “embarrassing at times”.
He also appeared to push the referee’s assistant in the 81st minute. No action was taken by the referee at the time and the incident is not being investigated by the Football Association
BBC Sport has also been told he did not ask to be substituted towards the end of the match, after questions were asked about a gesture he made to the bench.
At one point, when Liverpool’s Stefan Bajcetic went past him by the touchline, Fernandes stopped rather than giving chase to the midfielder.
“That was a standout moment,” added Sutton.
“However bad United were, you cannot just let someone run away from you and give up. That’s what the captain of Manchester United did - and that’s a bad look.
“I don’t think he has any real arguments if he does get stripped of the captaincy,” he added. “I think Bruno’s days have to be numbered.”
The defeat came seven days after Manchester United won the Carabao Cup - their first trophy since Erik Ten Hag’s arrival as manager last May.
They are third in the Premier League and have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals, as well as the last 16 of the Europa League.
Ten Hag, who described his side’s performance against rivals Liverpool as “unprofessional”, dropped the in-form Marcus Rashford earlier this season after the
striker missed a team meeting, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract was terminated by mutual consent in November.
“The way Ten Hag has dealt with Rashford, Ronaldo, it’s a situation he needs to get a grip of,” added Sutton. “Ten Hag has no option but to let him know who is boss.”
On the United captaincy, football journalist Rory Smith said: “Fernandes is a fighter, he has a win at all costs mentality. To me he looks petulant and whiny, but maybe to other players they just see that as he is desperate to win.”
Smith added: “As much as Bruno was the most eye-catching shortfall, I would query what happened to Casemiro and also Ten Hag’s substitutions. There were more failures than just Bruno Fernandes.”(BBC Sport)
JASPRIT Bumrah has undergone a back surgery in Christchurch and the news from New Zealand is that the operation was successful and the cricketer is doing fine. The surgery was done by Dr Rowan Schouten, a noted orthopaedic surgeon attached to the Forte Orthopaedics
since September last year, is doing well and is on way to full recovery. An official of the hospital, however, declined a comment stating that “Any questions regarding Jasprit will be best directed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).”
Dr Schouten, the hospi-
ment surgery.” As previously reported by this website, he has treated many sportspersons, including cricketers like James Pattinson and Jason Behrendorff besides Jofra Archer.
It is believed that Dr Schouten’s name was recommended to the BCCI by Shane Bond, a former New Zealand pacer who is now a bowling coach of Mumbai Indians, the team that Bumrah plays for in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Bond himself, though refuses to say that the current treatment was his suggestion. During his career, Bond was treated in the Christchurch facility by Schouten’s predecessor, Graeme Inglis.
Hospital in Christchurch.
Sources from New Zealand have confirmed the development stating that Bumrah, who has been out of action
tal website says, “is a New Zealand trained orthopaedic surgeon specialising in the management of adult spinal conditions and hip replace -
The BCCI is yet to put out a statement but sources in the board say the recovery will take 24 weeks maximum and the pacer should be in a position to hit the nets by August. It may not be possible for him to play in the Asia Cup, likely in September, but there is an air of optimism that Bumrah could be fully ready for the World Cup. (Cricbuzz) India will host the World Cup in October-November
NATIONAL Under13 all rounder Richard Ramdeholl is the latest young cricketer to benefit from “Project Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”, a joint initiative between Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)
Executive Anil Beharry and Kishan Das of the USA
The kind gesture was made possible through the kind courtesy of Cumberland based Young Warriors Cricket Club
Rose Hall Community Centre CC. His elder brother Ricardo Ramdeholl also represented Guyana at the youth level. “Thank you gentlemen for the gear and I promise I will care them and make full use in helping me to progress in my cricket career” Ramdeholl said after the gear were handed over. In response, Dhanai wished him well on behalf of himself and the joint initiative and advise him to educate himself as far as possible.
In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area received from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also collected one box of red cricket balls each while RHCCCC received two, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket keeping gloves and
a set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board and the Town of Lethem were also beneficiaries.
Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipi-
ents. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify talent. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit. Distribution will continue. Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.
captain and professional banker Suresh Dhanai. At a simple ceremony, held recently, the Canje Secondary School student, who represented his country at the recently concluded bilateral Under- 13 series between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, received one cricket bat, one pair of batting pads, two pairs of batting gloves, one thigh pad, one arm guard and one helmet.
Ramdeholl represents
Total cricket related items collected so far: $310000 in cash, two trophies, 13cricket boots, 22 pairs of batting pads, 26 cricket bats, 20 pairs of batting gloves, 21 thigh pads, one pair of wicket-keeping pad, four arm guards, two boxes, six cricket bags and four helmets. In addition to the above, $600 000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket-keeper/batsman.
To date, 52 young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from three junior gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 21 bats, two boxes, four helmets, 19 pairs of cricket shoes, 13 pairs of batting pads, two thigh pads, one bat rubber and 19 pairs of batting gloves.
POLICE have begun an investigation into a video appearing to show Memphis Grizzlies player Ja Morant holding a gun in a Colorado nightclub.
The All-Star guard has apologised following a live broadcast on his Instagram page on Saturday and has been suspended for “at least two matches”.
Local police are now investigating whether the 23-year-old broke gun laws.
They confirmed the incident occurred in Glendale, near Denver, and are “investigating the matter”.
It is legal to carry a gun in Colorado with some exceptions, including possession while under the influence of alcohol.
The incident occurred hours after the Grizzlies lost 113-97 to the Denver Nuggets. Afterwards Morant said
he took “full responsibility”, adding that he would “get help”. The NBA is investigating.
Morant is averaging
the Grizzlies, currently second in the Western Conference, lost to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. They play the Los
27.1 points and 8.2 assists per game this season and made his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance last month.
In Morant’s absence
Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. (BBC Sport).
Caption:
Ja Morant was drafted second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA draft.
THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Women’s Development Football League Playoff got off to an impressive start with Pakuri Warriors and Foxy Ladies Football Clubs securing wins on Saturday last.
In front of cheering fans, Pakuri Warriors defeated New Amsterdam United Football Club 5 - 0 at the St Cuthbert’s Village Ground.
The home team took the lead 39 minutes into the game with a goal from Britney Poonsammy. The striker and crowd favourite went on to score three more goals, while teammate Sabantho Simon cemented the victory with a fifth goal in the 61st minute of the match.
Meanwhile, Foxy Ladies came out on top against Essequibo United Football Club by winning a dramatic penalty shootout 4-3 at Anna Regina Multilateral School Ground in Cotton Tree, Mahaica-Berbice.
The score was tied at 2-2 at the end of official match time thanks to Foxy Ladies’ Jencel Edmonson 21st and 51st minute
goals; and Essequibo United’s Aliyah Henry and Keisha Thomas goals in the 31st and 60th minute of the game, respectively.
Women’s Football Association (WFA) president Andrea Johnson congratulated all the
teams from Saturday’s matches and encouraged Guyanese to continue supporting women in football as the WFA works assiduously to give players more match time.
“Congratulations to all the
teams. WFA in partnership with the GFF has put together an exciting playoff that is a pathway for players to be accepted into existing national programmes. We are committed to growing the participation of women in football in Guyana and we encourage everyone to continue supporting the sport,” Johnson shared.
Twelve clubs, featuring senior and junior national players, will play in venues across Guyana over the next month, inspiring a new generation of fans and female footballers.
The playoff is sponsored by MVP Sports and Urban Life. The league was launched in June 2022 with 37 teams from across Guyana to give female players more competitive playing time.
The 12 clubs in the playoff are: Bartica All Stars FC, Potaro Strikers FC, Essequibo All Stars FC, Foxy Ladies FC, Milerock FC, Coomacka FC, Pakuri Jaguars FC, New Amsterdam United FC, Guyana Police Football Club, Guyana Defence Force FC, Fruta Conquerors FC and Santos FC.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, ,( CMC) –Bermuda’s golden girl Dame Flora Duffy has announced she will focus on longer distances in a bid to boost her chances of successfully defending her Olympic triathlon title in Paris next year – which she describes as her “big goal”.
In addition to her Olympic title, Duffy has twice won Commonwealth Games gold, six Xterra World Championships and a record four World Triathlon Series Championships (WTSC), but was a notable absentee when the new WTCS season opened in Abu Dhabi last weekend.
Instead, the 35-year-old has signalled her intention to step up in distance and compete on the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) 100-kilometre Tour this season, which begins in Ibiza, Spain, on May 6, the Royal Gazette newspaper said.
“My whole life goal was to win at
the Olympics, and I did that,” Duffy, the only Bermudian ever to win Olympic gold , said in a new PTO video feature on fulfilling her childhood dream in Tokyo in 2021. “Anything that I do in my career from now is icing on the cake
“My goal for this year was to do some different types and styles of racing. I’ve only actually ever done one sort of longer-course race, and that was in the beginning of 2020, which feels like a lifetime ago because that’s pre-pandemic.
“Paris [2024 Olympic Games] is my big goal, but I would also love to jump into 100k distance.
“The distance is not what I’m comfortable with, but it’s new for me to be somewhere where I’m uncomfortable or unsure of how the race will play out for me.”
Despite her relative lack of experience over the longer format, which consists of a two-kilometre swim, an 80-kilometre bike ride and 18-kilometre run, Duffy heads into the campaign 12th in the PTO rankings after encouraging displays at the 70.3 World Championships, US Open and Collins Cup displays last season. She
A TERRIFIC 70 from skipper Meg Lanning and an allround performance from Jess Jonassen helped Delhi Capitals pick up their second straight win in the inaugural WPL on Tuesday. Lanning’s fireworks at the top of the order and Jonassen’s finish saw Capitals post an imposing 211 on the board. Even though Tahlia McGrath went one step ahead by smashing an unbeaten 90, a lack of support from the other end saw Warriorz lose comfortably by 42 runs in the end.
Quite interestingly, Shafali Verma took a backseat with Lanning running the show. She struck two fours in the opening two overs of the contest before hammering a six against Shabnim Ismail, who was playing her first game. Shafali joined the fun in the following over with another six but it was Lanning doing all the damage finding the boundary regularly. At the end of the powerplay, DC already had 62 on the board with Lanning racing to 43. Kiran Navgire then took an excellent catch to get rid of Shafali as Warriorz hoped for some respite.
Lanning continued to make merry as she brought up her fifty with a six and the bowling side had to rely on a rain break to temporarily halt the Australian’s charge. After a 20-minute delay, Warriorz quickly got rid of Marizanne Kapp and even though Lanning found the boundary thrice in the span of four deliveries after the dismissal, she was also sent back as Warriorz plotted a comeback. However, Alice Capsey came in and signalled her intentions immediately by clearing wide long on for a six off just her second delivery.
Following Capsey’s dismissal, the onus was on Jemimah Rodrigues and Jonassen to capitalise on the start and provide the ideal finish for the Capitals. While Jemimah was
also won Ironman 70.3 South Africa in January 2020.
Duffy is aware that she will be in the unfamiliar position of underdog on the tour, which boasts a star-studded line-up headed by Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf, a five-time winner of the Ironman World Championships and Ironman 70.3 World Championships.
“I come in as the reigning Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion and I guess my reputation pre-
content initially to just rotate the strike, Jonassen teed off with a six over extra cover. The penultimate over saw Jonassen and Jemimah cause more damage as they ended up scoring 19 runs off Tahlia. More punishment was in store for Deepti Sharma in the final over as the Australian fetched her third six of the night to move into the 40s whereas Jemimah found the boundary to finish unbeaten on 34. If scoring 42 off just 20 deliveries wasn’t enough, Jonassen was at it again, this time with the ball. Alyssa Healy found the boundary four times in the first two overs of the tall chase. However, Jonassen’s introduction in the 4th over worked wonders for Capitals as she deceived her countrymate in flight to land a telling blow. In the same over, she also removed Navgire as Warriorz were pegged back very early. She wasn’t done for the night though after the double blow in her first over. Coming back at the death, she added one more wicket to finish with a three-wicket haul that duly fetched her the player of the match award.
Not really!! After Jonassen’s early strikes, Kapp inflicted more damage as the batting side made only 33/3 in the powerplay. While Tahlia was up for the fight right from the outset, she just couldn’t find support at the other end. Deepti Sharma was stranded on 1 off 10 balls at one stage as the required rate kept mounting.
Tahlia made an attempt to go hard at the bowling attack to keep her side’s slim hopes alive as they reached 71 at the halfway mark. But with the required run rate touching 13, they needed something special. Unfortunately, Deepti was dismissed immediately following a terrific catch from Radha Yadav as the equation slowly came down to an almost improbable 103 from 30. (Cricbuzz)
cedes me a little bit,” added Duffy, who was beaten by Ryf in the opening race of the Collins Cup series in Bratislava, Slovakia in August last year.
“For me, I haven’t proven myself over this distance at all. I’ve done one race and to be perfectly honest, it wasn’t the best performance at all. So I think I have a lot to prove that I can race well at this distance.”
Despite Duffy’s reservations, Ryf, also 35, says she is sure the Bermudian will cope with the transition to the longer distance after observing her incredible success over the past few years.
“I raced her back when we were juniors, and it’s amazing to see how she has developed as an athlete,“ Ryf said.
“She had amazing races and then was also for a while, I think, struggling. It’s really impressive how she turned around and really brought up this amazing career
“The last couple of years, she’s just been absolutely brilliant. She improved that performance when it really counts. When the pressure is on, some people crack, Flora won’t crack, she’s very tough.”
ALL six executive members of the Canadian Cricketers Umpires Association (CCUA) remained intact when the entity’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place last Sunday at the Number 43 Police Division Community Room, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
Based on the CCUA’s constitution, only three places were up for grabs: Vice-president, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer/PRO and Certification Officer. Bisham Singh, Frederick Halley and Matthew Francis all retained their respective positions unopposed.
Popular businessman Albert Ramcharran (President); Secretary Azad Khan and Treasurer Terry Mathura continue to serve in their respective designations
which were secured at least for another year based on the constitution.
The CCUA is currently gearing up for the 2023 cricket season which is scheduled to get underway on May 6 while its annual training seminar starts on Sunday, March 12 at Number 43 Police Division Community Room, prompting the president to urge all umpires to make full use of the opportunity to attend the classes.
According to Ramcharran, “based on the number of complaints received last year about the standard of umpiring, we are very proud of the performances of most of our umpires. Nevertheless, like in any association, there remains a few who are
consistently causing problems. We intend to meet with these umpires with a view to ironing out their issues and explain the need for them to strive to uplift their standards.”
Ramcharran also told the umpires that he was extremely pleased with the turn out at the Appreciation Lunch, held at the District Lounge on Sunday, February 19 and assured them that the event will continue to be an annual affair.
Ramcharran was high in praise for the renewed cordial relationship with the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL). According to him, “our relationship with the OSCL, which hit a snag on the first weekend of
the previous year, also improved when new President Shiv Persaud took over. Following a meeting with Persaud and his executives to iron out the issues, we agreed to officiate in the 2022 season once there was no interference.”
The CCUA President is also looking forward to an audience with Cricket Canada to iron out issues pertaining to CCUA qualified umpires being given opportunities to officiate in matches administered by the governing body.
Ramcharran, however, told the umpires, that while no decision has been taken at the executive level, those who are desirous of sitting the Cricket Canada exams should ensure that they
are registered as part of Cricket Canada umpiring database so that they can be eligible for participation in the National Board programmes.
He pointed out that those desirous of pursuing this medium can be provided with the necessary guidelines and contacts. The deadline for registration is March 31, 2023 while the exams are scheduled to be held on April 29.
In the meantime, a four-man committee, headed by Treasurer Mathura has been tasked with
pursuing the issue with Cricket Canada. The others on the committee are Daniel Singh, Ramnarine Prashad and Malik Ghaswala.
The CCUA is affiliated to the West Indies Crickey Umpires Association (WICUA), which also includes members from Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, United States and Windward Islands. (Frederick Halley)
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, (CMC) – Unfazed by their first Test defeat in Centurion, West Indies are seeking an improved performance, especially from their batsmen, as they look to win the second Test at the Wanderers starting here today, and avoid their ninth straight Test series defeat to South Africa.
The Caribbean side found themselves in with a chance on the third day of the opening Test when they mowed the hosts down for 116 in their second innings, but the resulting target of 247 proved beyond West Indies, the run chase collapsing just after tea for 159, to leave them with an 87-run loss.
Vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood, who counter-attacked in a top score of 79, was the only batsman to pass 20 and was just one of two in the top six to reach
double figures.
The underwhelming performance left captain Kraigg Brathwaite on Tuesday urging his batting group to show “clarity” in their approach.
“I think it shows we aren’t far off,” Brathwaite said of the experience in the opening Test.
“Obviously South Africa is a tough team at home as normal, and it goes to show that with a little more application especially for the batters – myself included – we could do well here in these conditions.
“It gave us that belief that we can do it and we’ve just got to keep believing, and it doesn’t matter which team we play in the world, we’ve always got to believe. We had a lot of positives in the first Test and we have to just keep improving.”
He continued: “Test cricket is all mental and it’s just to figure out how you want to score runs against each bowler. We got some dismissals [in the first Test] where balls were wide so it’s important to have the clarity to know which balls you want to play and which balls you want to leave, and that’s what batting is.
“It’s batting for long periods against world class bowling and knowing how you want to score [runs]. I think mentally we’ve got to be in that right place to firstly believe we can do it – believe we can bat and score runs.
“And then it’s to do it. We’ve got to do it. It’s as simple as that.”
West Indies will have to cope with the threat of spin after South Africa drafted 33-year-old leftarm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, and 34-year-old off-spinner , Simon
Harmer, into the final XI.
Fast bowler Anrich Nortje , who grabbed five wickets in the first innings at Centurion , has been sidelined due to injury, and has been replaced by fast bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder while another seamer, Marco Jansen, has been left out.
Brathwaite said even without Nortje, South Africa’s attack remained potent and called on his batsmen to back their plans.
“I wouldn’t say it (Nortje’s absence) affects us. Obviously, we know he ’s a world class bowler who has some pace and I think whoever comes in for them … those guys are obviously good bowlers,” Brathwaite explained.
“We would’ve seen some footage, a few of the guys have played against them already and as I said, it’s important we know how we want to go about it.
“We [should] know how we want to score our runs, we [should]
know how we want to get singles, rotate the strike, be aggressive to which bowler – it’s important we take these plans into the game.
“Obviously a game, it involves a lot of pressure [because] you’re playing Test cricket, and it’s important to do it when you’re under pressure. It’s never easy but we can do it and I’m backing the guys 100 per cent.”
West Indies boast a dire record against the Proteas, having won only one of their last 11 Tests over the last 16 years.
But having taken 20 wickets in Centurion last week, Brathwaite believes his side see a way to end the losing streak.
“I think that would be great [to square the series]. I think it was very good for us as a bowling group to get 20 wickets [at Centurion]. I thought that was very important,” he said.
“The first two sessions on the first day, we were a bit too expensive and obviously that cost us a bit
with South Africa getting a big first innings total.
“And as a batting unit we’ve got to improve. We’ve obviously got to spend more time [in the middle]. South Africa will come hard no matter the XI they play, so we have to be up for it.”
Play gets underway at 10:00am (4:00 am Eastern Caribbean time).
SQUADS:
SOUTH AFRICA (XI) – Temba Bavuma (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen, Wiaan Mulder, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada
WEST INDIES – Kraigg Braithwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Akeem Jordan, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Devon Thomas.
IN order to facilitate those who are desirous of attending the final leg of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and participate in the seventh edition of the Prime Minister’s T20 softball tournament, the organisers -- Georgetown Softball Cricket League
(GSCL) Inc. -- are aiming to stage this year’s threeday extravaganza on September 29 – October 1.
The final leg of the CPL is set to take place during the latter half of September, Chief Executive Officer of the League, Pete Russell, told News Room Sport last
month.
According to Russell, the tentative window is September 14-24, with Guyana set to host the final and playoff games for the second time in a three-year agreement.
Once those dates are ratified, following the draft in June, the GSCL is confident
the Prime Minister’s Cup T20 tournament could be staged five days later.
At last year’s launching of the tournament, Prime Minister Mark Phillips praised the strides made by the GSCL ahead of the sixth edition, citing the competition as one he hopes will continue to grow from strength to strength with every coming year.
The Prime Minister indicated that he was happy to be associated with the tournament. “It is a big tournament. This is a signature event for us; this is an event people look forward to.” He noted that it’s impressive how the fraternity ensures that the tournament grows bigger with each edition and made a special request to have more women on board since it is a huge part of their
development too.
“We want to contribute and put our money where our mouth is. We also expect better performances from the women. This tournament must grow as it helps to add to the tourism of Guyana”, added the Prime Minister. Four women teams were part of last year’s tournament, a first since it started in 2017.
PRESIDENT of the Women’s Football Association (WFA), Andrea Johnson, is attending the prestigious FIFA ‘Women in Football Leadership Programme’ in Switzerland that will run from March 6th - 10th.
The five-day FIFA and UEFA programme is being held in Lausanne, Geneva to promote women in leadership, while creating a strong network of leaders who will influence the improvement of the sport worldwide and be role models for other women.
“I consider it a high honour and privilege to represent the GFF at this prestigious FIFA/UEFA programme. I am indeed humbled by the confidence placed in me by President Wayne Forde and the GFF Council and will endeavour to represent Guyana well and use the knowledge gained to contribute more, and build on the tremendous progress we have already made in the growth of women’s football in Guyana,” Johnson shared.
A total of 36 women from around the world will benefit from specialist leadership training and one-to-one coaching.
Johnson will also have a chance to share and listen to personal leadership experiences of women in football, from challenges to victories.
The GFF remains committed to developing the women’s game through continuous investment, training programmes for players and officials at all levels and national and international tournaments.
This is the fourth edition of the FIFA ‘Women in Football Leadership Programme, which was launched in 2018.
FIFA is investing heavily in the women’s game, doubling their funding to US$1 billion with the objective of growing the game and increasing the number of female players to 60 million by 2026.
Johnson will share her experiences and training with women in football in Guyana upon her return.
THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), on Saturday, announced the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for the third round of the West Indies four-day Championship
against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy from March 15.
One of the excluded names from the squad is batsman Shimron
Hetmyer, who is understood to be available for selection.
Hemyer had missed earlier rounds due to his commitments in the United Arab Emirates T20
League, however, after being named in the Berbice squad for the Senior Inter-County four-day squad, he opted out due to what was reported to be “family commitments.”
Chairman of the Senior National Selection panel, Ramanaresh Sarwan, has indicated that Hetmyer’s selection to the Guyana Harpy Eagles would hinge on him playing Inter-County cricket.
According to Sarwan, he has spoken to Hetmyer on numerous occasions and would trust that a “mature” Hetmyer would make the necessary choices.
“I have spoken to ‘Hetty’ numerous times before and I think ‘Hetty’ is mature enough and old enough to make the right decisions and he has to know what he wants,” Sarwan stated on Saturday when questioned on Hetmyer’s availability for selection.
The chairman indicated that it is the policy of the Guyana Cricket Board that for players to be eligible for national duties they must play inter-county cricket, with the potential exceptions being West Indies duties or injury.
Hetmyer last represented Guyana at the Super50 in November 2022, prior to which he played in the Inter-County Super50.
“It is difficult to answer for ‘Hetty’, the board has a policy that once you play inter-county, you become eligible for selection to Guyana. In terms of if ‘Hetty’ wants to play local cricket that is totally up to him. I don’t believe as a selector I can force him to do that,” the former West Indies captain added.
West Indies left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie
LONDON, (CMC) – Rookie West Indies left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie is one of three players nominated for the International Cricket Council men’s Player-of-the-Month for February.
The 27-year-old was named alongside England batsman Harry Brook and veteran India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, in the nominations announced Tuesday by cricket’s world governing body.
In only his third Test last month, Motie snatched a record 13 for 99 to spin West Indies to an innings and four-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second and final Test in Bulawayo.
Motie’s performance earned the visitors a 1-0 series win following
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