Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 08-05-2023

Diaspora a

Ashby

- assures residents of the PPP/C’s commitment to improve lives - says there will be greater improvements for Georgetown once elected at the upcoming LGEs

- dozens trained, more operators licensed, other achievements recorded in April

Guyana’s tourism industry continues to blossom

- dozens trained, more operators licensed, other achievements recorded in April

GUYANA’S tourism industry has made significant progress over the past year, with critical investments from both public and private stakeholders.

The industry’s success continued in April, according to the Guyana Tourism

reached.

According to a statement from the GTA, 37 tourism establishments, tour operators, and tour guides have been licensed to date. Some of those establishments include Rock View Lodge, Baganara Island Resort, Rewa Eco

Authority (GTA), which recorded a productive month and concluded that, with the current achievements, the targets set for 2023 will be

Lodge, Millenium Manor, Bimichi Eco-lodge, Evergreen Adventures Inc., Wild Tales, Epic Tours, and more.

The GTA also conducted

inspection activities in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), on 34 tourism establishments. Once those businesses have passed the inspection process, they will be one step closer to becoming officially licensed by the GTA. Additionally, the GTA trained 187 individuals in various disciplines relevant to the tourism and hospitality industry.

The GTA also conducted various training sessions in April, including a three-day leadership and governance training with 17 participants.

The authority also launched its official Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) training for tourism businesses, following the first HSSE sensitisation session in collaboration with the Centre for Local Business

Development (CLBD).

A pilot session was held earlier in April, reinforcing the GTA's commitment to promote safe, certified tourism experiences to both domestic and international markets. Businesses such as Touring Guyana, Blackwater Adventures, Old Fort Tours & Resort, and 592 Tours participated in the training.

Other training sessions

conducted in April included mixology training, business & social media marketing, delivering quality service training, and successful taxi driver training. Additionally, the GTA aims to launch 15 new tourism experiences this year as part of its effort to expand and diversify its product offerings.

Participants of the business and social media marketing training

A scene from GTA’s Easter Welcome Session at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

Ashby aims to transform city, empower youths

- assures residents of the PPP/C’s commitment to improve lives

- says there will be greater improvements for Georgetown once elected at the upcoming LGEs

By Trina Williams

ON a mission to restore the once revered Garden City to its former glory, Odayson Ashby is contesting the Local Government Elections (LGEs) as a People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) candidate for Stabroek- WortmanvilleWerk-En-Rust, Constituency Eight.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Ashby remarked: “Guyanese have far too long seen the capital city, for the past three decades, stagnant, to some extent.”

According to the 36-year-old businessman, he is hopeful that residents of that constituency will give the PPP/C a chance to build a better Guyana at all levels, including at City Hall, which has been controlled by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

“…I personally believe if we want to see a change, we must become that change we

wish to see” he said.

When asked why he decided to join the political arena and in particular the PPP/C, Ashby said that it was the wrongdoings of APNU and the blatant abuse of democracy that made him stand up and want to effect change in society.

He said that during the period immediately after the passage of no-confidence motion against the APNU+AFC government, he made the promise to himself to become more involved in politics to ensure a transformative Guyana.

“So, we would have put together a very diverse list that reflects young professionals… that can truly transform Georgetown and City Hall,” Ashby affirmed, noting that the party’s list reflects Guyana.

With the aim of producing a One Guyana that is free from division, the PPP/C candidate said: “We are very committed to working with each stakeholder despite of whichever political party…”

Among several of his goals for constituency eight,

the young entrepreneur hopes to revolutionise City Hall by not only restoring transparency and accountability, but also making it more business-friendly with the implementation of e-services to further improve transactions.

Ashby then debunked the misinformation that is being peddled by the Opposition that once the PPP/C gets into office, they will remove the vendors.

He said that this is not the party’s plan, but instead they are aiming to make vending more conducive to everyone, in terms of health and safety.

“We will not be removing vendors,” he affirmed, noting that the PPP/C values this trade as part of the Guyanese culture.

Ashby also intends to emulate President Ali’s trademark quality of listening to the voices of the people.

He said that the issue of poor drainage has been a prevalent complaint from residents within the constituency, but the politician has

been steadily reassuring the residents and the business community that this issue

will be resolved once the PPP/C is elected at the June 12 LGEs.

“We will have talks with stakeholders and look at a more modernised system [of] ensuring that garbage disposal is done on scheduled days,” he said, adding that even with this implementation, they are also planning to come up with more environmentally friendly means of separating the garbage.

Ashby said too that he has recognised the concerning issue of unemployment within his constituency. Owing to this, he said that there are collaborations in the works with the various ministries such as the Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Education.

He then went on to add: “We are looking to strongly embrace youth empowerment, skills training and development for the young people.”

Ashby disclosed that in his plan to promote empowerment among the youths, he is also on the road to erase certain stigmas attached to the communities within constituency eight.

Guyana’s tourism industry continues to...

Given this, the authority provided product development support to the Mahaica River Tours by refining its itinerary and improving its tours and service quality.

They conducted site assessments to ensure that the experiences included in the official itineraries offered by the operator meet the highest quality standards in Region Five. The product is scheduled to be launched officially by the end of the second quarter of 2023.

Moreover, the GTA presented a cheque worth $3.6 million to Deputy Toshao, Delano Davis, to support the enhancement of the tourism package in his village. The funds will be utilised to complete two cabins in time for the official launch of the Toka Pottery Experience & Tours.

The release stated that the GTA & VR will supervise the

construction works to ensure that they meet the required building standards specified in the plan.

In addition, the GTA col-

including kayaking and paddle-boarding along a pristine and scenic route. A support boat will accompany the group during the tour, which

den Building Expo.

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce actively participated in the annual Rupununi Rodeo, which is part of the country’s official Easter celebrations.

The team set up the 'Discover Guyana' booth, where it engaged with local and international travellers from diverse cultural backgrounds. Those travellers took pride in highlighting their origins while seamlessly adapting to the Rupununi culture.

merce & Development in collaboration with hospitality and real estate specialists-Mast Village.

The event, which took place at Bond Road, Amelia’s Ward, provided the opportunity for the GTA to engage patrons on Guyana’s vast tourism product and its significant potential for development.

FROM PAGE 2

ernment and private sector to support Guyana’s tourism industry. Costa Rica has a similar eco-tourism product to Guyana and is keen on sharing its years of experience with Guyana’s growing tourism industry.

laborated with Rupununi Adventures to test a Kayaking and Paddle Boarding Experience at Manari Creek in Central Rupununi, Region Nine.

Experienced guides will lead this experience, which promises several highlights,

will last one hour and 30 minutes, starting from Manari Bridge and ending at Manari Ranch.

To reach a broader local audience, the GTA participated in various local events, such as the Rupununi Rodeo, Bartica Regatta, and the Lin-

As part of its commitment to support the event, the GTA presented a GY$1 million cheque to the Rupununi Livestock Development Board, to support the Rupununi Rodeo.

The GTA also participated in the Linden Building Expo, hosted by the Linden Chamber of Industry, Com-

Region 10, one of Guyana's most consistent tourism development and promotion regions, will continue to receive the necessary support to achieve its developmental goals.

The Director of GTA, Kamrul Baksh, accompanied the Minister of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, on a fact-finding visit to Costa Rica.

The purpose of the visit was to establish collaboration with the Costa Rican Gov-

That visit was made possible through support from the Guyana Development Initiative (GDI). Other members of the delegation included Shyam Nokta, Consultant and Adviser to the GDI; Jorge Ramirez, Director of GDI, and Kayla Jeffrey, Project Coordinator of GDI.

The outcomes of that visit will buttress Guyana’s goals to improve product development, amplify marketing and investment promotional efforts, advance standards and certification, and support regional co-operation in conservation and protected areas manage -

Leader of the PPP/C’s Georgetown list and candidate for Constituency Eight, Odayson Ashby

A team from the GTA at the Rupununi Rodeo

US job creation robust despite banking crisis

JOB creation in the US remained robust last month, despite turmoil in the banking sector and the impact of higher borrowing costs.

Employers added 253,000 jobs, which was better than many analysts had expected.

The unemployment rate fell to 3.4 per cent, returning to a multi-decade low.

The gains were a reminder of the resilience of the US labour market, which has held up in the face of aggressive efforts by the US central bank to cool the economy.

The Federal Reserve

has raised its benchmark interest rate from near zero to between five per cent and 5.25 per cent in little over a year, an abrupt shift aimed at curbing prices that were soaring last year at the fastest pace in decades.

These increases have sharply increased the cost of buying a house or car, as well as making it more expensive to borrow to expand a business or take on other debt. In theory, that should reduce demand, leading the economy to slow and easing the pressures pushing up prices.

But while job gains

have moderated since last year, they continue to outpace the numbers that economists estimate are needed to keep up with population growth.

In its Friday report, the Labor Department said hiring had been weaker than previously estimated in February and March.

But last month, job creation picked up again, while wages were up 4.4 per cent from a year ago.

"Today's report clearly suggests weakening labour markets - most obviously in the downward revisions of prior months data - but from a very strong starting point," said Ronald Tem-

ple, chief market strategist at Lazard.

Many economists expect the US economy to

fall into recession later this year, noting big slowdowns in key sectors such as housing.

Recent weeks have seen a flurry of job cut announcements by big companies such as Facebook-owner Meta, Amazon, entertainment giant Disney, banks and other firms.

The rate rises also contributed to turmoil in the banking sector, which has been rocked by the most serious string of failures since the 2008 financial crisis.

But the head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, said, this week, that the continuing strength of the labour market made him hopeful that this time would be "different" - and the US could avoid a downturn that would throw millions of people out of work.

"That would be against history," he acknowledged. "I fully appreciate that."

Software engineer, Brian Zovko, was laid off from his job in the car industry in February.

He said he was surprised because his company had been posting strong profits. But, more recently, bosses had raised the prospect of cost cuts, noting that they were concerned about the impact of higher borrowing costs and a slowdown in the economy.

The 27-year-old, who lives in Texas, says he has been relying on savings and trying to spend cautiously. He said he sensed that the market has cooled over the past few months - but he remained hopeful he would find a new job shortly.

"I'm mildly optimistic that I should be able to get back on track," he said. However, he added: "it seems like there's a decent risk the economy gets worse." (BBC)

A transformational trade policy agenda needed to drive CARICOM’s trade performance

THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) must transform its trade policy to drive economic growth and sustainable development. CARICOM’s Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on External Negotiations (PMSC-EN) is calling for enhanced use of data, analysis and consultations to support the formulation of the Community’s trade policy.

The PMSC-EN, chaired by Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, met recently and stressed the importance of research and strategic engagement with the private sector in this push for a transformational trade agenda.

The Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee called for work to be done to update existing bilateral trade agreements with Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba and the Dominican Republic to meet CARICOM’s strategic objectives.

These updates should make these agreements more supportive of the needs of the Region’s producers and exporters and

aligned with the Region’s modern development priorities. The Heads further agreed to work more closely and continuously evaluate the Community’s ability to penetrate and expand in its external markets.

The Heads committed the Community to more frequent and sustained engagement with these hemispheric trade partners through the Joint Institutions under the respective trade agreements. These engagements will deliver trade and economic co-operation initiatives to improve bilateral trade and strengthen CARICOM’s trade performance.

The Sub-Committee also decided that the Community will use, more strategically, its Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIC) with the United States of America (USA), the Community’s largest trading partner. A meeting of the TIC will be held in the latter part of 2023.

The PMSC-EN affirmed the Community’s negotiating priorities

ahead of the Thirteenth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference scheduled for February 2024.

The PMSC-EN is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the external trade and economic negotiations of the Community. In addition to the Prime Minister of Jamaica, other core members of the Sub-Committee, are the Heads of Government of Barbados, Belize, Guyana and Saint Lucia. Participation is open to other CARICOM Heads of Government. (CARICOM TODAY)

A Great Save

GUYANA’S mature understanding of and adaptation to issues of global development today continues to surprise, even amaze, international observers; and it happens every time they get a real opportunity to hear and see the facts driving national and international policies here since 2020.

The latest occasion was last month’s Sixth Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development in Santiago, Chile (April 25-28), when and where Senior Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, both in terms of national policy and “our call to action by the international community.”

Demonstrating (to those who still don’t yet know) Guyana’s proper understanding of the nexus between national and international

economic policies, the minister also outlined several achievements, under this administration, that have allowed the country to become one of the fastest-growing economies on the world stage.

These include: rebuilding and strengthening of key state institutions, bringing the nation back from the brink of bankruptcy, regaining fiscal solvency and sustainability, rebuilding and steadily improving public infrastructure and social services -- and restoring its credibility as a destination for private investment.

The minister showed how Guyana has resumed and consolidated its place among democratic nations and called on the international community to recommit itself to those undertakings already agreed, “if we are to stand an even remote chance of achieving the lofty objectives of Agenda 2030.’

Addressing ‘Strategies

to Advance Implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean’, Minister Singh highlighted two particular strategies to advance the national and sub-regional agenda in a manner fully consistent with Agenda 2030: Guyana’s leadership of CARICOM’s Food Security Agenda ‘25 by 2025’ (which seeks to reduce CARICOM’s Food Import Bill by 25 per cent by 2025) and its second-generation Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

He noted that in November 2022, Guyana issued the world’s first jurisdiction-scale, sovereign carbon credits 9 as the next phase in its creation of a global model for forest climate services) which drew a minimum payment of US $750 million between 2022 and 2032 -reinforcing Guyana’s very strong climate credentials (plus that, as an oil and gas producer, Guyana remains

a net-carbon sink-well into the future).

Guyana subscribes to the view that the international system has failed the most-vulnerable countries of the world, but despite its challenges, we will continue to work towards meeting our objectives.

However, as the minister pointed out, notwithstanding Guyana’s relatively strong fiscal position, successful implementation of Agenda 2030 will require a level of investment that exceeds the still-limited fiscal resources available.

The challenge of financing sustainable development is further compounded when our inherent vulnerability -especially to climate change and other external shocks -- is taken into account.

But from what the minister told his regional partners about what this PPP/C administration has done, is doing and plans to, development partners continue to

feel assured that Guyana’s economy in good hands.

And, halfway through its five-year term, this government, led by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and the ruling alliance led by Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Anthony Philips, has rescued the country from the steep decline of 2015-2020 and is gaining from new admiration and support of fair-minded Guyanese of all walks of life –including former opponents who’ve come to personally experience the difference between what they heard and were told about how the PPP’s leadership operates and what they’ve seen and felt.

That Guyanese who genuinely love their country and their community are prepared to sink ethnic and partisan differences to support continuity of the progress they see and feel, speaks loud volumes about how Guyanese generally

feel about the two choices they face in next month’s Local Government Elections (LGEs).

That the hapless opposition will resort to personally and physically attacking and assaulting ex-members who’ve democratically changed their minds and decided to put country first, insulting and treating them like garbage, is another loud indication that speaks volumes about the character of the current leadership of the opposition.

But the failure of the opposition (and others up to no good) to convince other than the blind abroad, or anyone living the reality at home, that Guyana is doing other than good – and better – is yet another indication (if one was needed) that the opposition has already been completely-rejected by Guyanese, even before the first vote is cast next month.

Regional administration invites bids for 13 developmental projects in Region Seven

THE Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) is aiming to execute several public works projects, costing over $72 million.

According to an ad in the May 7 edition of this newspaper, the RDC has officially opened bids for eligible and qualified persons. The region intends to do maintenance on 13 roads.

According to the engineer, $10.17 million is estimated for the maintenance of ‘Benji’ Street Road, Bartica, while $7.23 million for that of Byderabo Back Road. Meanwhile, maintenance

of the road at Eighth Street, between Second & Third Avenue, Bartica and the road at First Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, Bartica, are both estimated to be $6.26 million each.

Also, approximated at $4 million each, is maintenance of the Kamarang/Waramadong farm-to- market road and the Kako/Kamarang farm-to-market road.

The RDC office has advised that tender documents for the projects can be purchased from the Regional Administration Office in Bartica for a non-refundable fee of $2,500 per copy.

Bidders are asked to adhere to all of the necessary requests for information found in the tender documents, and valid certificates of compliance from the Guyana Revenue Authority and the National Insurance

Scheme must accompany the standard bidding documents.

the government has allocated over $667 million for development of the resource-rich region.

The RDC said completed documents could be deposited in the tender box at the RDC Office by 09:00hrs on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Within the 2023 budget,

Within the budget, over $113 million was given to improve the public works sector within the region. Some of the planned projects to be carried out are: rehabilitation of roads at Byderabo Hill; construction of a bridge at Mora Camp and the construction of revetments at Karrau.

In an effort to enhance education delivery and provide more schools and education facilities, $278.5 million was handed to the region.

The provision for water-supply systems at St. Martin's and 72 Miles Primary Schools, construction of living quarters at Bartica and the health post at Eteringbang, along with the rehabilitation and extension of health posts at Kangaruma, Batavia, Puruni and Quebenang are on the cards for Region Seven. Meanwhile, in the health sector, over $229 million has been allocated to improve the health services with projects such as: the purchase of river ambulances, boats and outboard engines.

East Indians who settled at Anna Regina remembered

THE sterling contributions of the East Indian immigrants who settled in Region Two, were celebrated on Sunday during an enlightening and colourful cultural programme.

The event which was held at Cotton Field where they had settled, was organised by the region’s events committee.

The programme featured bhagans, hymns, poems, dances, reflections and qaseedas. The Guyana and Indian flags were hoisted in the section where the East Indian Settlement Monument was erected to remember them.

In 2021, the Arrival Day Committee and the Region Two Administration had recommissioned the monument which is located approximately five minutes from the Cotton Field Public Road.

The 56 immigrants settled in the area in 1838. They were brought from India on the Whitby and Hesperous and sent to the Anna Regina Sugar Plantation to work as labourers.

Retired headmaster and educator, Sir Parmeshwar Lall, in reflecting on the rich history of the settlement, told the gathering that his grandfather and great grandmother came from India in 1907 and settled in Region Two.

“Things were very bad in terms of economics. Research has shown that there were 38 sugar estates in Region Two and they were doing badly, and so the planters went and brought the Indian ancestors to work,” Lall said.

He said that the Indians were not kidnapped, but were fooled into thinking that they would have a good life in Guyana.

Brackish water shrimp rakes

in $274M in first quarter

- production increases by almost 50 per cent, Agriculture Minister says

AGRICULTURE Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has said that brackish water shrimp (Peneaus schmitti) production has increased significantly when compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

“For this year, our farmers were able to produce 182.89 metric tons (182,890 kilograms) of

According to Sir Lall, the Hesperous ship took 90 days to reach Guyana and when it arrived, 56 Indians were dispatched to Bushlot. In 1839, he said the Indian government had suspended indentureship until the British managers of the estate made conditions favourable for Indians.

He said the Imam Baksh family was an “outstanding” family that settled at Bushlot after the Hamburg beach was flooded in 1876.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairperson Vilma De Silva said that Guyanese must be reminded of the hardship endured by the Indians during the 19th century.

She emphasised that this period was a turning point in Guyana’s history. Those Indians left a legacy which is still evident in the dances and music, she said before

urging persons to read up about this part of history during their quiet moments.

“Every day we are experiencing the tradition and culture the Indians left in Guyana and their footprints

are everywhere. Their culture and traditions are [being] preserved,” De Silva said.

Regional Vice-Chairman, Humace Oodit; Regional Executive Officer,

Susannah Saywack, and Police Commander of Region Two, Superintendent Khemraj Shivbaran were also in attendance (Indrawattie Natram)

black water shrimp in the first quarter, earning over $274 million. When we look at the production figures for the first quarter of 2022, we are seeing an increase of almost 50 per cent.

“This is in keeping with our goals for the industry and a testament to

This dance from the Swarswatite Dance Academy captivated the audience

Shrimp farmers from Region Six

Guyanese nature enthusiast treks to Mount Everest base camp

By Baytoram Ramharack

GUYANESE nature enthusiast, Brian Ramphal, has successfully trekked to the infamous Mount Everest base camp.

Ramphal is the co-founder and CEO of RBS TechCenter Inc., a technology-based company located in Station Street,

Kitty.

He was a scout when he attended St. Stanislaus College in Guyana. Today, he is a successful technology entrepreneur and an avid outdoorsman.

The nature enthusiast is wellknown as a multi-year donor to the Berbice Cricket Board.

As an outdoorsman, Ramphal has hiked the Inca trail to

Machu Picchu in Peru, OMG trail to Kaieteur Falls, as well as the Mount Whitney and San Jacinto Mountains in California. These are all high-altitude locations.

His love for nature and willingness to challenge the natural world is energised by his genuine appreciation of the beauty nature has to offer, and

the willingness to take on the challenges of nature to be able to explore its natural beauty.

Ramphal has lived by a simple motto, one which he never fails to relate to and encourages others to do: “Go outside and enjoy nature!”

He embarked on one of his most challenging nature trips last month – a trek to Everest Base Camp.

Hiking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, the Kaieteur Falls in Guyana, and Mount Whitney in California were in a sense a calculated preparation for his most challenging task yet. It was in preparation, he feels, for the massive trek he had undertaken in April 2023 with a few friends to reach Mount Everest Base Camp.

This idea, he recalls, was conceived by his friend, Udnauth (Sham) Mathura, who encouraged him to journey on this new, exciting, and challenging trek.

Ramphal hoped that from this trip, he would be able to better understand how climate change affects the roof of the world.

He said that trekking to the Everest Base Camp is an expensive venture, which might discourage others from taking on such a challenge.

A rough estimate of the cost is about US$25,000, which includes a mode of transportation and a round-trip flight from California, where he resides, to Kathmandu, Nepal.

The plan was to fly by helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla and join the trek on foot from Lukla to Everest base camp. He and his team planned to return from Gorokshep to Kathmandu via helicopter.

The trek started from the town of Lukla, which is 2,860 meters above sea level in a temperate zone. It ended at Everest base camp, which

stands 5,364 meters above sea level in a very cold mountainous zone.

Ramphal, according to available information, was the first Guyanese to accompany a team and the first Guyanese to trek to Everest base camp. His teammates included six persons altogether - two Guyanese, one local Nepalese guide, and two local Nepalese porters (Sherpa) to assist with their travelling gear.

The team encountered several adversities on their way to Everest, such as spending time in the tea houses with no heat in 30 degrees temperatures, having to adjust to special dietary meals, no hot water for showers, and one of Ramphal’s trekking partners experienced acute high altitude sickness. Nevertheless, he said that “the trek was thrilling, difficult, and an epic experience…and a thrill of a lifetime!”

Brian and his trekking partners

Brian Ramphal at the mountain overlooking Kaieteur Falls (Guyana)

Over 50 persons benefit from medical outreach in Region Three –

OVER 50 persons, including children, benefitted from a medical outreach hosted by the Region Three Mother’s Union, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health .

The outreach was held

Hospital’s Medical Outreach Coordinator, Calvin Roberts, applauded Mother’s Union for undertaking such a great initiative that was geared towards providing optimal healthcare services.

He commended the col-

West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), on Saturday

ships.

Region Three officer of the Mother’s Union, Elaine Montague, expressed her satisfaction at the successful hosting of the medical outreach.

Montague also offered heartfelt appreciation to Calvin Roberts and his team for their invaluable service to the union.

She added that the organisation has been engaging persons through hospital visits, women empowerment programmes, and care for the elderly, and the agenda saw a recent addition of medical outreaches.

The Mother’s Union is a worldwide organisa -

in 1876.

The organisation was conceptualised by the wife of Reverend Canon Jones, Maude Jones, both of England and formed in Guyana, New Amsterdam, at All Saints Anglican in 1926.

The organisation aims to strengthen and preserve

marriage and Christian life.

It encourages persons to uphold Christ’s teaching on the nature of marriage and promotes its wider understanding.

It also focuses on the worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship, and ser-

vice. Mothers’ Union in Guyana is involved in numerous community outreach initiatives and projects throughout the country, in urban and rural areas. The organisation will celebrate its 97th year of service in a matter of days. (DPI)

at Parish Hall, Meten-MeerZorg, West Coast Demerara, and is the second of its kind.

Persons benefitted from a wide array of free services, including blood pressure and blood sugar testing, ear, nose, and throat examination, physiotherapy, and free medication.

A blood drive was also conducted simultaneously, considering the consistent need for blood in the healthcare system.

West Demerara Regional

laboration and said he looks forward to future partner-

tion of Anglican churches, first launched in England

Brackish water shrimp...

FROM PAGE 7

the government’s commitment to increasing local production, lowering the food import bill, and increasing both our production and export capacities. We are working towards producing 1.5 million kilograms annually by the year 2025,” the minister said.

Mustapha related that with the successes seen thus far, the ministry is now working to have the programme replicated in other regions, the next being Region Five.

“So far, we’ve assisted farmers with constructing ponds in Region Six and we’ve started preliminary works in Region Five. We’re also looking at other places like Region Two and so on. In the first few months of the project, we

were able to increase production by 203 per cent and those levels have continued to increase over the years,” the minister said.

Minister Mustapha further stated that some 37 farms in Region Six have been developed comprising a total of 133 ponds.

He added: “Before we started this project in July 2021, farmers were producing just about 10,000 kilograms monthly, just about 120,000 kilograms annually. We announced that this was the direction we wanted to take and that farmers would be given the support to expand. To date, we’ve been able to construct 133 ponds, and this has contributed to us exceeding initial production figures.”

In an effort to boost

productivity, the Government of Guyana partnered with United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to conduct a study and gather information for the piloting and implementation of a strategy to enhance shrimp production in Guyana and several other Caribbean states.

Recently the ministry received three manuals that were developed collaboratively by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Wildlife Fund – Guianas (WWF-Guianas), and the ministry’s Fisheries Department; one of which will be used to guide brackish water shrimp production in Guyana.

Priest of the Parish Hall, Father John Isaacs seeking medical advice from Dr Yudith of WDRH

Dr Chung of WDRH attends to a patient

‘Top Cop’ promises solution to Mahaicony cattle farmers’ woes

COMMISSIONER of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, on Sunday, met and interacted with scores of cattle farmers from Mahaicony to discuss several issues and concerns affecting their livelihood and plaguing their community.

The meeting was held in the Mahaicony Police Station compound, and allowed for frank discussions on issues such as cattle rustling, farming and other pertinent matters.

Some cattle farmers complained about the prevalence of cattle rustling and the need to apprehend the perpetrator(s) and bring them to justice.

During the meeting, issues and concerns raised by residents were immediately addressed by the Commissioner, who instructed that Community Policing Groups (CPGs) to work along with Police ranks within the division to mitigate cattle rustling and other crimes in the community.

Hicken further assured the residents that there would be a heightened police presence, which will allow them to conduct their business in a comfortable environment.

He also said that because of his commitment to the Guyana Police Force, wherever there are reports of any kind, he will seek, as far as possible, with the intervention of the Commander, to have those reports addressed.

The residents thanked the ‘Top Cop’ for his

timely intervention and pledged their support to the Police for the development of the community and to fight against crime.

Among those present at the meeting were Commander Regional Division Number Two, Assistant Commissioner, Kurleigh Simon; Officer-in-Charge Mahaicony Police Station, Assistant Superintendent Leslie Eastman; Station Sergeant Eroy Williams and other ranks attached to the Mahaicony Police Station.

RICKY Singh, a 35-year-old fisherman of Skeldon, East Berbice, was, on Friday, arrested after being found with 6.4 grams of suspected cocaine.

At around 18:20 hours on Friday last, ranks of Regional Police Division Number Two were on mobile patrol duty in Charity on the Essequibo Coast, when they observed Singh walking with a bag on his back,

acting in a suspicious manner.

As a result, the ranks stopped and informed him that they wanted to conduct a search on his person and his belongings to which he agreed.

Whilst conducting the search, the ranks found a plastic bag containing 25 pieces of cream-like rocklike substance suspected to be cocaine.

A further search was conducted and, in

his left-side trousers pocket, two smoking pipes used as smoking utensils were found.

Singh was told of the offence committed and cautioned, to which he replied: "I just buy it from someone."

H e was arrested and taken to the Charity Police Station, where the suspected cocaine was weighed in his presence and amounted to 6.40 grams.

Scenes from the engagement among cattle farmers, Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken and other officers of the Guyana Police Force

Skeldon fisherman arrested after found with 6.4 grams of suspected narcotics

Massive infrastructural development underway in Region Two

WITH the recent completion of the Abram Zuil Secondary School and several ongoing infrastructure projects, residents of Region Two can

Vice-Chair

will help to improve life for all residents.

He said one of the top priorities is ensuring that the region’s children are provided with comfortable

He informed that during community outreaches in Mashabo, residents requested that a new nursery school be built there. He said that the relevant authorities took note of the request and recognised that there was need for a new school.

It is expected that the children in the community will soon be occupying a new building.

“We will continue to be on the ground and continue to listen to residents. Our government is committed to serving everyone in the various communities in Region Two,” Oodit added.

expect easier access to top quality services as well as a better quality of life.

This is according to Region Two Vice-Chairman, Humace Oodit, who recently told the Guyana Chronicle that the region was experiencing massive infrastructural development across all sectors.

Oodit disclosed that some 70 per cent of the region’s capital projects have been completed thus far and the focus now is on the completion of the remaining projects, which

learning spaces so that they can excel.

In April, the Abram Zuil Secondary School was completed. The $584 million state-of-the-art school can comfortably house 750 students and consists of science laboratories, a cafeteria, a multi-purpose hall, drama room, art and home economics rooms,

In addition to the focus on school infrastructure, he disclosed that, in the riverain communities and on the Essequibo Coast, learners are receiving meals through the Ministry of Education’s school feeding programmes. Pupils from all of the primary schools in the region are given breakfast.

Oodit urged parents to allow their children to benefit from this great initiative, before emphasising that government

as well as several fully air-conditioned offices.

According to Oodit, the new secondary school was built given the region’s growing population.

will continue to work to provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure that learners are comfortable. (Indrawattie Natram)

Regional Vice-Chairman, Humace Oodit

The new Abram Zuil Secondary School which was completed in April

- Regional

says education sector a major focus

Guyana-China Friendship Park for 2024 completion

Bank of Demerara

soon as next year, as preparatory and construction works are

progressing smoothly. This was according to Chinese Ambassador

to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, during an invited comment at the com -

an amphitheatre, a picnic lawn, a stand canopy over a pond, twin pavilions, and grounds for football, tennis, and basketball.

When the implementation agreement was signed for the initiative, Ambassador Haiyan noted that although Guyana is rich in green spaces which serve as tourist attractions, many of them are in remote areas.

As such, she said that the new park will provide persons on the west bank with a modern public space near their homes, where they can enjoy the lakeside views, picnic times, fitness exercise, cultural events, and recreational activities.

The park, upon its completion, is set to be the equivalent of what the National Park is to Georgetown, to residents of the West Bank.

missioning ceremony for the Chinese-style pavilion, which symbolises 50 years of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Haiyan said that the company contracted to design the park has already done its evaluation, and technicians from the construction company have already begun preparatory works.

“We have done some coordination to ensure the project…will go smoothly. If you visit there, you will see that there is already progress. We are planning to have our sod-turning ceremony soon,” the ambassador said.

The Guyana-China Joe Vieira Park is set to feature a Guyana-China Friendship Monument,

The People’s Republic of China and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana established diplomatic ties on June 27, 1972.

Since then, the two countries have enjoyed collaboration in several areas, inclusive of education, sports, health, construction, and investment, among others.

In 2022, the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of their friendship through multiple ceremonies and activities, among which were a China-Guyana table tennis tournament, a Chinese film festival, the issuance of a $50 commemorative coin valued at $6,500, an online cultural photo exhibition, and an investment webinar.

THE Guyana-China Friendship Joe Vieira Park on the West

could be completed and commissioned as

Belladrum farmers to get much-needed relief

- Agriculture Ministry recommits to addressing land, drainage issues

LAST Wednesday, farmers from Belladrum and other surrounding communities in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) met with Agriculture Minister

have a canal midway of Plantation Foulis from the railway embankment to the Atlantic Ocean. That canal has been clogged up for a while now. Secondly, the koker that con-

the minister said.

Minister Mustapha also told farmers present who raised additional drainage issues that a team comprising officers and engineers from

(MMA-ADA) and the NDIA will visit the areas to conduct an assessment, after which, recommendations will be made on how to move forward with the works needed.

In addition to drainage issues, Minister Mustapha gave farmers an update on where the government stood as it relates to requests made for assistance with land clearing for agricultural purposes in backlands of Paradise and Eldorado.

Surveyors from the MMA, after engaging agencies like the Deeds Registry were only able to source supporting documents for a few farmers.

Minister Mustapha, while explaining where the government stood on the matter, said that although the government was willing to assist, farmers needed to have the relevant documentation.

ident asked that we establish ownership of the land. We received a list about two months ago and we are in the process of verifying the names. We have about sixty names but we were only able to verify nine. So, we’ll start the process while we are in the process of clearing the land while we are verifying the others,” the minister said.

Zulfikar Mustapha to discuss issues faced in the communities.

The visit came one day after President, Dr. Irfaan Ali met with a small group of farmers while attending an event in the region. During the meeting, the Head of State told farmers that the minister would visit the area to address their concerns.

Farmers, on Wednesday, raised concerns about drainage, community infrastructure, and other community-related and personal issues.

One farmer told the minister that there was a canal in the community that was in urgent need of maintenance. The farmer also said that infrastructural works on one of the access roads in the communities had resulted in a koker becoming defunct.

“Pertaining to drainage and irrigation, we

nects the southern part of the road to the northern part of the road that takes the water out to the Atlantic Ocean, when the road project was going on, it was dissolved,” he lamented.

While responding to the farmer’s issues, Minister Mustapha said that engineers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will visit the area to see what work is needed to bring relief to farmers.

“We did a number of projects within the MMA Scheme and within this community. The canal that you spoke about, our engineers will visit the area and we will get those works done. Regarding the koker, we’ll engage the Ministry of Public Works to see how we can resolve that matter because they were responsible for that road project,”

the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agriculture Development Authority

Prior to the meeting, several farmers had engaged both the Head of State and the Agriculture Minister seeking assistance with land clearing to do agriculture. While the government expressed willingness to move forward with the project, most of the farmers did not have the relevant documentation to prove ownership of the said lands.

“We came, the President made a commitment and we said we’ll execute based on his instruction. I asked MMA to work with you to determine ownership of the land because there was a big issue with the ownership of these lands. Some canals were dug and when we went in to complete the work, we were told by some that we’ll be taken to court.

“This is why the Pres-

Mustapha said farmers whose information was verified could expect land-clearing operations to commence in the coming week.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall and Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag, were also present at the meeting to discuss issues affecting residents in the various communities.

Some of the Belladrum farmers who were engaged at the meeting

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, engages Belladrum farmers

Measure of world food prices rose in April for first time in a year

- FAO Food Price Index increases amid higher international quotations for sugar, meat and rice - prices for wheat, maize, dairy products and vegetable oils decline

THE benchmark index of international food commodity prices rose in April for the first time in a year, amid increases in world quotations for sugar, meat and rice, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported recently.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 127.2 points in April 2023, up 0.6 per cent from March.

At that level, the Index was 19.7 per cent

below its level in April 2022, but still 5.2 per cent higher than in April 2021.

The FAO Sugar Price Index rose 17.6 per cent from March, reaching its highest level since October 2011, due to reduced productions expectations and outcomes in India, China, Thailand and the European Union caused by dry weather conditions as well as to a slow start of the sugarcane crop harvest in Brazil, along with higher international crude oil prices, which can increase demand for sugarcane -based ethanol.

The FAO Meat Price Index rose 1.3 per cent

during the month, driven primarily by higher pig meat quotations, fol-

lowed by poultry prices, which increased amid Asian import demand and

production curbs spurred by animal health issues.

International bovine meat

prices also increased due to a decline in cattle supplies for slaughter, especially in the United States of America.

In the meantime, price indices for other major food commodity categories, with the exception of rice, continued their declining trend.

The FAO Cereal Price Index dipped 1.7 per cent from March and averaged 19.8 per cent below its April 2022 value. International wheat prices declined by 2.3 per cent, due mostly to large exportable availabilities in Australia and the Russian Federation.

A sugar warehouse in Brazil

Measure of...

FROM PAGE 14

World maize prices fell 3.2 per cent as supplies in South America seasonally increased with ongoing harvests. On the other hand, against a backdrop of reduced harvests caused by higher input costs and adverse weather, especially outside of Asia, sales to Asian buyers sustained an increase in international rice prices.

“It is important that we continue to track very closely the evolution of prices and the reasons for increases in prices. As economies recover from significant slowdowns, demand will increase, exerting upward pressure on food prices,” said FAO Chief Economist, Maximo Torero.

“At the same time, the increase in rice prices is extremely worrisome and it is essential that the Black Sea initiative is renewed to avoid any other spikes in wheat and maize,” he added.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined by 1.3 per cent in the month, registering its fifth consecutive monthly decline. World palm oil prices were stable, while quotations for soy, rapeseed and sunflower oils declined in step with seasonal harvest pressure from a potentially record soybean crop in Brazil.

The FAO Dairy Price Index dropped by 1.7 per cent, impacted by the persistent slack global import demand for milk powders and higher cheese export availabilities in Western Europe. Updated production and trade forecasts

In a new Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, also released today, FAO adjusted its world wheat production forecast for 2023. The global outturn is now pegged at 785 million tonnes, the second largest on re -

cord, but down from last season mostly on declines in Australia and the Russian Federation from their record 2022 outputs.

For maize, Brazil’s production is expected to reach a record high, while that of Argentina is projected to drop below average levels due to prolonged dry conditions and heat waves. Conducive weather conditions have bolstered yield expectations in South Africa, which expects the second highest harvest on record.

Meanwhile, 2023/24 prospects for rice production along and south of the equator are mixed, largely due to the regionally varied impact of the La Niña event. Going forward, the possible emergence of the El Niño phenomenon during the northern hemisphere summer will need to be closely watched.

FAO raised its earlier projection for world trade in cereals in 2022/23 to 472 million tonnes, now some 2.2 per cent below its record level in the previous season. Global wheat trade is forecast to rise by 2.3 per cent, while global trade in coarse grains will likely decline by 5.5 per cent. International trade in rice in 2023 is predicted to contract by 4.4 per cent year-to-year.

World cereal utilisation in 2022/23 is forecast at 2,780 million tonnes, and world cereal stocks by the close of seasons to stand at 855 million tonnes. Based on these latest forecasts, the 2022/23 global cereal stocks-touse ratio would stand at 29.8 per cent, down slightly from 30.8 per cent during the previous 12 months, but still indicating a relatively comfortable supply level globally, FAO said. (FAO)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday May 08, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Dwayne Bravo-32 wickets (CSK)

(2) James Faulkner-5/16 (RR vs Sunrisers)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which wicketkeeper effected most dismissals in IPL 2013?

(2) What was the highest partnership recorded in IPL 2013?Answers in tomorrow’s issue

AMERICAN RACING TIPS

Finger Lakes

Race 1 Tripp Road

Race 2 Ruler Of The Night

Race 3 Flattery’s Music

Race 4 Pretty Miss Keens

Race 5 Royal Kaz

Race 6 Schiffhauuer Strong

Race 7 Lockbox

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS

IRISH RACING TIPS

Dottin fails as Thunder ties Central Sparks

CMC – Retired West Indies superstar Deandra Dottin failed for the first time, as Thunder pulled off a dramatic tie with Central Sparks in a rain-marred contest in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Saturday.

Sent in at Old Trafford, Thunder racked up 234 off 47.1 overs, Sophie Ecclestone top-scoring with 74, and Emma Lamb getting 56.

Dottin, arriving at Number Five, scored only eight.

Matthews out of T20 Blaze owing to workload management

CMC – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews will miss the T20 Blaze chapter of the West Indies Women’s championship which bowls off today.

According to Cricket West Indies, the stylish right-hander and off-break bowler who also leads her native Barbados, “has been granted a recovery period after the CG United Super50 Cup as part of CWI’s player workload management.”

This means Matthews will feature only in the 50over format which precedes the T20 phase, when Barbados take on traditional rivals Trinidad and Tobago at Warner Park here Monday. Jamaica, meanwhile, will be without their West Indies all-rounder Chinelle Henry who is still recovering from an injury sustained in the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

CWI said Henry was on a “return to play rehabilitation programme.”

The Super50 Cup runs from May 8-17 while the T20 Blaze will be played from May 20-27.

“Our regional Women’s tournaments will be our focus over the upcoming period as we provide a window for our best female players to showcase their

Lamb, who struck eight fours off 68 balls, put on 42 for the first wicket with Naomi Dattani (16), before putting on 63 for the second wicket with Fi Morris, who made 31.

Dottin was part of a collapse which saw four wickets tumble for

15 runs, but Ecclestone lashed eight fours and a brace of sixes in a 65-ball knock to rescue Thunder. She posted 31 for the sixth wicket with Liberty Heap (17), and then dominated a 38-run, eighth wicket stand with Tara Norris (8).

Set a revised target of 224 off 45 overs, captain and opener Eve Jones topscored with 69 off 106 ball s with seven fours, while Erin Burns got 37, and Ami Campbell, 28, but Sparks still required eight runs from the last over.

Last-wicket pair Davina Perrin (27 not-out) and Grace Potts (seven notout) then scraped seven of the runs needed to ensure the scores finished level. Dottin scored 51 and 41 in her previous two outings in the tournament.

talent,” said CWI director of cricket, Jimmy Adams.

“Players and teams will hopefully put in strong performances across both formats to impress for selection to international, ‘A’ and Emerging Player squads.”

Barbados, defending champions in the Super50 Cup, boast a strong team with the likes of seasoned West Indies campaigners Shakera Selman, the Knight twins Kycia and Kyshona, Aaliyah Alleyne and Shamilia Connell all included.

Reigning T20 champions Jamaica, who will be captained by former West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor, will feature West Indies stars Rashada Williams, Natasha McLean and Chedean Nation, with former international Vanessa Watts also named in the squad.

Trinidad and Tobago is being led by veteran West Indies off-spinner Anisa Mohammed who has not played serious competitive cricket in eight months, after taking a self-imposed break last year.

West Indies stroke-maker Shemaine Campbelle will lead Guyana while her international team-mate, veteran leg-spinner Afy Fletcher, captains the Windward Islands.

Batsman Deandra Dottin

SRH heist win from Rajasthan Royals

( ESPNCRICINFO ) - Just when Rajasthan Royals thought they had collected two points by defending 214, and had started to celebrate , their last - ball wicket transformed into a no-ball from Sandeep Sharma (called belatedly by the Third Umpire), and Abdul Samad smoked a straight six off the free hit to get Sunrisers Hyderabad the four more runs they needed , sparking wild celebrations in the orange camp, while the players and home fans in pink were left stunned.

Royals were well ahead of Sunrisers almost throughout the chase, with the asking rate rising and wickets falling regularly towards the end Sunrisers, however, kept fighting back with big hits The biggest turnaround came when they needed 41 from 12, and Glenn Phillips, in for Harry Brook, blasted three sixes and a four to reduce it to 19 off eight The chase turned again when he fell on the next ball, and they needed 17 to win from the last over with Samad on strike

Samad was nearly caught twice in two balls, first dropped by Obed McCoy at short third, resulting in two runs, and then hitting a six just over Joe Root’s fingertips at long-on Sandeep ’ s near - yorkers conceded just four off the next three, and with

five to win off the last ball, Samad found long-on while attempting another straight six, and Sandeep lifted his finger in celebration But those smiles soon disappeared , because Sandeep had overstepped, and when he re-bowled the last ball - another attempted yorker, the length off by a few inches - Samad completed Sunrisers ’ heist with a successful straight six right over the bowler’s head

Royals will rue the two dropped catches and a run - out chance in between, which meant Jos Buttler’s scintillating return to form with a 95 off 59, and Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 66 off 38 went in vain

Despite their third loss in a row and fifth loss in six games, Royals are still in fourth position on the table, but RCB, Mumbai Indians, and Punjab Kings are level with them on 10 points, and all have a game in hand. Sunrisers lifted themselves off the bottom , and pushed Delhi Capitals back to the last spot

BRISK BUT NOT THE QUICKEST START FOR SRH

After dropping Mayank Agarwal and Brook, Sunrisers were off to a brisk start with quick knocks from their top three.

Anmolpreet Singh opened with the in-form Abhishek Sharma, and started finding the boundaries, especially against the experienced Sandeep and R Ashwin Abhishek joined in as well, and with three fours off Sandeep in the fifth over, Sunrisers looked set for a strong powerplay finish, except that Yuzvendra Chahal had Anmolpreet caught off a sweep for 33, and the visitors were a middling 52 for 1 after the powerplay

SRH ( SEEMINGLY ) LEAVE TOO MUCH TOO LATE

Soon after the powerplay ended, the asking rate shot up over 12, but Rahul Tripathi and Abhishek started with the big hits only when they needed 142 from 11 overs

Tripathi started with a six off M Ashwin, and Abhishek collected sixes off both Ashwins before edging to short third for 55, when attempting another big shot

With Heinrich Klaasen promoted to No. 4 and the equation at 98 off 42, Samson gave M Ashwin a third over despite his first two going for 23, and despite having other bowling options around, and he leaked another 19 which kept Sunrisers in the game

Yuzvendra Chahal strikes before Glenn Phillips takes charge

Samson turned to Yuzvendra Chahal, who was taken for a six and a four in the first four balls of his spell before fighting back with wicket of Klaasen for 26 off 12 With 57 to get from 24, Tripathi got a life when Samson dropped him down the leg side off McCoy, and he cashed in with a six off the next ball In his last over, when SRH needed 44 off 18 , Chahal landed the big blows when Tripathi found deep midwicket right on the boundary, and Markram missed a reverse sweep to be given lbw Finishing with 4 for 29 after a three-run 18th over, Chahal also went level with Dwayne Bravo for the most IPL wickets, and had almost done the job for Royals

The steep equation of 41 from 12 - and having not batted in a match situation for more than a month - didn’t make any difference to Phillips He belted out three sixes at the start of the 19th when Kuldip Yadav missed his yorkers, and edged one for four before another twist came in the form of Phillips ’ wicket when Shimron Hetmyer completed an excellent catch running towards the boundary on the leg side With Sunrisers needing 17 from the last over, Samad kept going after the straight boundaries, and eventually left Royals bewildered.

Titans almost through to IPL Playoffs

( ESPNCRICINFO ) - Gu -

jarat Titans are all but through to the playoffs of IPL 2023 after their 56-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in Ahmedabad. Titans now have 16 points from 11 games and a net run rate of 0.951, by far the best in the league

The win was set up by Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill who added 142 in 12.1 overs for the first wicket - the highest partnership for Titans Saha scored 81 off 43 and Gill finished on an unbeaten 94 off 51 to power them to 227 for 2

In response, Quinton de Kock, playing his first match of the season, and Kyle Mayers gave LSG a start of 88 in 8.2 overs But once Mohit Sharma dismissed Mayers to

break that stand, the incoming batters couldn’t keep up with the required rate

The contest was also significant because Hardik

Pandya and Krunal Pandya became only the second set of brothers to captain their respective sides against each other in T20 cricket . The Hussey brothers faced off twice during the Big Bash League in 2015-16 when Mike was leading Sydney Thunder and David Melbourne Stars

SAHA BLAZES AWAY

At Titans , Saha ’ s role with bat is to attack in the powerplay, and he couldn’t have done more justice to it

He started with two fours off Mohsin Khan in the opening over The first one had come

via an outside edge but that didn ’ t bother Saha In the next over, he picked up a six and four off Avesh Khan Mohsin came in for more punishment in the fourth over with Saha hitting two fours and two sixes By the end of that over Titans had cruised to 53 ; Saha ’ s contribution was 46

With a six over longon off Yash Thakur , Saha brought up his half-century, off just 20 balls in the sixth over By the halfway stage, Saha had moved to 74 off 37 but his innings came to an end when he dragged Avesh Khan to deep square leg

GILL TAKES OVER

Gill had spent most of the powerplay watching Saha from the non-striker’s end He faced just five balls in the

first four overs and was on 9 off ten at one point But soon he was matching Saha shot for shot, even outshining him

It started with a six off Krunal ; Deepak Hooda jumped at long-off and tried to lob it back but failed Shortly after that , Gill launched Ravi Bishnoi for two sixes in one over , and raised his fifty off 29 balls There were six sixes but no four in his first 68 runs

After Saha fell, and Gill started tiring a bit in the harsh Ahmedabad heat, Hardik and David Miller chipped in with cameos Gill had reached 85 when Thakur started the last over of the innings He hit the first two balls for a six and a two, reaching 93 with four to go But that was followed by a dot and single Miller pulled the penultimate ball

for a four and took a single off the final one, with Gill finishing six short of what would have been his maiden IPL hundred

Mayers, de Kock respond in kind

Mohammed Shami started Titans ’ defence with a four-run over. But in the next three overs, Mayers and de Kock smashed nine fours and six With LSG racing to 50 in four overs, Hardik was forced to introduce both wristspinners Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad inside the powerplay

Still, there was no respite for Titans The LSG openers hit three fours and a six in the Afghan duo’s first two overs

Mohit brings Titans back

When Titans were batting, a couple of slower balls had stuck in the surface Mohit used the same trick to

dismiss Mayers as the batter miscued one towards deep square leg , where Rashid , after running in diagonally to his right, completed the catch with a slide

Mayers ’ wicket slowed LSG down drastically The next six overs, including the one in which he fell, brought LSG just 33 runs It left them needing 107 from the last six overs

De Kock tried to revive the chase with a six off Mohit but the bowler bounced back by dismissing Marcus Stoinis with yet another slower ball . In the next over, Rashid sent back de Kock to effectively end the game Ayush Badoni tried to reduce the margin of the loss before Mohit dismissed him and Krunal to finish with 4 for 29.

Victory

Valley Royals win

LABA U23 3x3 Championship

Shi-oil, Guyana Breweries Inc hailed for sponsorship

VICTORY Valley Royals

were crowned champions of the inaugural Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) U23 3x3 tournament following their 14 – 4 win over Kid Rock Blazers on Saturday evening.

Played at the Retrieve Hard Court, Royals, led by Yonnick Tappin, played undefeated in the seven-team tournament to win the firstplace trophy, compliments of Guyana Breweries Inc

While for most of the players , the LABA tour -

nament was their first time playing the 3x3 format , Tappin was critical in helping Guyana win bronze at the Caribbean Games last year in Guadeloupe when he teamed up with Stanton Rose Jr, Timothy Thompson and Kimol Grimmond

For Kid Rock Blazers, Teishaun Kitt, Jennis Benjamin and Leslie Campbell finished top of their group to set up the showdown with the Royals, where they were outmuscled and outplayed

Rawle Toney , the LABA president , said he

was impressed with the level of competition, while also thanking the Colts basketball club for participating

Toney thanked local fuel importers, and distributors, Shi-Oil, along with Guyana Breweries Inc, for supporting the tournament

The U23 3x3 tournament marks back - to - back events in the LABA following the conclusion of the Kevin Joseph U23 club championship , which was won by Retrieve Raiders following a closely-contested final against Royals on

Swag Entertainment defend Guinness Street Football title in Linden

Friday According to Toney, the LABA will start its league, followed by a series of tournaments, to keep the clubs and players in the Mining

Town active

“The LABA is encouraged by the level of support shown by the clubs and players in Linden , and as such, we intend to keep them

active,” Toney said Toney said the executive committee will meet with the clubs shortly to ascertain the way forward after the league.

Tiger Rentals U-13 League Cup ...

Unbeaten, East Coast clinch championship

IN a sizzling display , Swag Entertainment grabbed their third Linden Guinness Greatest in the Streets football title as the ninth tournament ended on Saturday evening.

Swag won, 2-1, against Universal Ballers in the final of the tournament at the Mackenzie Market Tarmac in Linden.

In front of a huge partying crowd which graced the venue , Swag , led by the Most Valuable Player Colwyn Drakes, rebounded from an early setback

Universal Ballers , through Mortimer Giddings , led 1-0 after five minutes of the final

It was one that stunned the Christianburg - based crowd favourites who were seeking to defend their two-time crown

Urged on by the dazzling speed of Deon Charter, the acrobatic J Charter produced a superb equalizing goal scored in the ninth minute of the game

Swag Entertainment

would soon take the lead for good , courtesy of Drakes in the 13th minute,

and the crowd went into a frenzied celebration

Along with their third straight crown, the Swag unit picked up $ 400,000 cash first, with Universal Ballers settling for second and $300,000 and a Trophy

Third place was won by Anybody Got It , who won against Speightland, 4-3, on penalty kicks, after there was a scoreless regulation play period

Anybody Got It pocketed $150,000 and a trophy , with the losers receiving $80,000

By Calvin Chapman

THE dust settled on the first - ever Tiger Rentals under-13 League Cup Championship football tournament yesterday at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)’s National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, with favourites East Demerara living up to their hype and emerging victorious

East Coast defeated Bartica in the final, 1-0, due to an own goal, but it was the heroics of the Region 7 goalkeeper, Zico DosSantos, who eventually was named Goalkeeper-of-the-Tournament, that ensured the score remained 1-0

The Anthony Benfield-coached East Coast side was way more organised in defence, and coordinated in their attack, with most offensive plays coming through the wings.

East Coast followed up their win in the National League with this success in the League Cup to erase any doubts about their superiority

In fact, East Coast won every match played in the two tournaments, with the exception of a lone draw during the National League

During an invited comment with the Guyana Chronicle following yesterday’s win, Head Coach of East Coast, Anthony Benfield

said, “I am very proud of my team; they did themselves and the coaching staff proud They followed the gameplan and got the success; I am excited to see these players’ development in the years to come They are the future of Guyana’s football.”

Tyrel Walcott , who was awarded Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) of the tournament , was pivotal to East Demerara ’ s triumph in the League Cup, while his teammate was recognised as one of four exciting prospects West Demerara’s David Dacosta, Adrian Samuels of the Berbice Football Association, and Jonathon Rodriques of Essequibo were the other three players identified

Rupununi won the third - place playoff against Georgetown, 3-1, with Joao Hamlet spearheading the victory with a hattrick, while Travis Grogan scored the consolation for Georgetown. Hamlet’s hattrick took him to 10 goals in the League Cup tournament, which was enough to see him cart off the highest goal-scorer trophy

The standings for the League Cup, from fifth to 10th, are as follows: Upper Demerara, East Bank, West Berbice, East Berbice, Essequibo and West Demerara.

Victory Valley Royals following their 14-4 win over Kid Rock Blazers in the LABA U23 3x3 finals.

Linden Guinness Champions Swag Entertainment pose with Banks Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart (third left), as Banks Linden Manager Shawn Grant hands winners the trophy

Bartica’s Kennard Halley netted the own goal to give East Coast the win (Adrian Narine Photos)