PRESIDENT , Dr . Irfaan
Ali on Monday said that he will soon be naming a person to fill the vacant post of Minister of Local Government and Regional Development
This announcement was made at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre , where President Ali administered the Oath of Office to mayors and their deputies of the 10 municipalities , along with the Vice-Chairman for Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
On the sidelines of the event , the President told reporters that the replacement for former Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamall , will come “ very soon sooner than you could imagine.”
Amidst the allegations levelled against Dharamall, the President had issued a statement , noting that he would allow justice to run its course and reiterated that he values the welfare of women and children
“ From the inception , I
advised the population that I would allow the system to work I would never and the government would never intervene in the system We’ve allowed an independent investigation; the minister proceeded on leave to ensure that an independent investigation was conducted,” the statement read
The President went on to say: “However, Minister Dharamall has advised that he will tender his resignation,
as the interest of the government is important to him and he will not want anyone to bring the government into disrepute.”
Dr Ali mentioned that the allegations affected Dharamall personally and thus, he offered to resign as minister and as a Member of Parliament
The President accepted his resignation as a Cabinet member and a Member of Parliament.
WITH Guyana soaring to new heights because of its rapid progression across the board , President , Dr Irfaan Ali, reiterated that this is not a time for division but for unity at all levels, including local government.
Dr Ali made those remarks on Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre , where he administered the Oath of Office to the 10 Mayors and their deputies along with the new Vice - Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice).
President Ali, while urging the officials to stay on track with central government’s developmental agenda, said: “Local Government Elections are over; it is now the time to work collectively to pursue the development and advancement of the people.”
He went on to say: “The remaining years of this decade promise to be one of rapid growth and establishment of a more modern, diversified, resilient economy,” adding: “We are building the foundation and setting the framework for a country , 2030 and beyond, that will advance development not only for those living here, but it will advance development in this entire region.”
The Head of State further pledged that he would contin-
ue to head a government that would construct an advanced and integrated framework for development, while also working to put Guyana on the map as a leader in terms of food, energy, and climate security over the next few years
“This is why local government is important , it is vital that the dividends to development permeate from our towns, villages and communities,” he said
President Ali affirmed that in order to take Guyana to new levels , a fresh approach in governance is needed in areas such as revenue collection and commu-
He went on to say : “ I offer a hand of friendship , support to all local government bodies...,” emphasising that local government stands as a key player in Guyana’s development
Dr Ali said that his government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to work with everyone to put forth a unified Guyana and more so, they are committed to enhancing the infrastructure in the various towns
“Over the last three years, this government has led the massive transformation in every sphere and development of national life ,” President
PRESIDENT , Dr . Irfaan
Ali has extended the tenure of Clifton Hicken as acting Police Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
The Head of State , responding to questions from reporters on the sidelines of an event on Monday, said an official letter has been issued to extend his services
“I’ve already issued a letter extending the services of the Commissioner of Police,” Dr. Ali said.
The timeline of the extension, the President said, will be determined at a later date
In March 2022, Hicken was appointed to act as the country’s Commissioner of Police, following the retirement of Nigel Hoppie, who
previously held the post Hicken reached the age of 55 years last month
He previously headed the Police Force’s Operations and served in many capacities including Commander of the then ‘ A ’ Division (Georgetown) and ‘B’ Division (Berbice). He was also the head of the Force’s Training Centre.
Ali remarked , highlighting the progress made in housing, education, among other sectors
He then went on to say: “We don’t have the luxury of time to indulge in sideshows , to indulge in side performances ; our time is spent and must be spent on the magnitude and task ahead of us in building this country, and building it quickly, and building it strong, and building it in a unified way.”
President Ali reminded the appointees that Guyana’s constitution states that sovereignty originates from and belongs to the people , and that the democratic will was
exercised through free, fair and credible Local Government Elections (LGEs).
While highlighting that persons were elected to act on the various responsibilities that lie within the respective offices , the President remarked: “Today, I am pleased to have administered the oath of office to the respective Mayors and Deputy Mayors for our country ’ s municipalities and also to the Vice-Chairman of Region 10.”
Meanwhile , the various Mayors and their deputies
expressed excitement and commitment to work harder in their capacities
In an interview with the Deputy Mayor of Lethem , Indira Singh, she said: “We [she and the Mayor] would have [sic] established a very bright plan for the town, and we want to continue with that.”
The People ’ s Progressive Party (PPP) councillor said that she will continue being on the ground to hear the concerns of the people, as that is the drive of her party.
Ali, on Monday, announced that this Wednesday, the Commissioners for the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly Mahdia “dorm” fire, which claimed the lives of 20 children, will be announced and by the end of this week, they will be sworn in.
The President made this announcement when he was questioned by reporters on the sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
President Ali told reporters: “Yes definitely,” adding that by the end of this week, he intends to name the full
team and swear them in.
The Head of State went on to say that stakeholders are finalising the names, and then they will proceed.
In June, President Ali announced that retired Chiefof-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Major General Joe Singh, will head the team that will conduct the inquiry into the deadly fire.
On May 22, just a few days before Guyana celebrated Independence Day, a tragic fire gutted the Mahdia Secondary School’s female dormitory. At the time of the fire, 56 of the girls were present, as three had gone
home with their families for the weekend.
The children housed at the ‘dorms’ came from the communities of Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie and Chenapao.
Initially, 18 girls from the “dorm” and a five- year-old boy, who was the son of the ‘Dorm Mother’, perished in the fire, but a 20th student who was injured in the fire, passed away a few days later.
President Ali had committed to the launching of a CoI to investigate the causes and circumstances of the deadly Mahdia fire, and guide the way forward.
I STARTED as a columnist at both the Catholic Standard ( CS ) and the Stabroek News ( SN ) at about the same time.
As time went by, I became close to the CS’ editor Father Andrew Morrison and distant from the SN’s editor David DeCaires. Father Andy was a superb editor Not only was I a columnist at CS, but I also contributed to the journalism of the newspaper
I spent an inordinate time with Father Morrison And I learnt a lot from him There were times, when stories of a fascinating nature came in on Thursday afternoon, the night of which the paper was published for the coming weekend Despite the breathtaking content of some of these stories, Father would say, check it out first
I would say three things to him in my reaction We don’t have time Secondly, the story would be turnmilk by the time we go to press in a week’s time. And thirdly, we got to go with trusted sources . ‘ Father ’ would listen and say if we don’t have eye-raising news in the current issue, so be it, but let’s check out what we received
It was invaluable advice and I learnt from it and it saved me in my journalistic career many, many times.
I think the most vivid moment was when I was investigating the mayhem in Buxton, 2002-2005 One of my sources in Buxton was a youth who grew up in front of my eyes in Wortmanville , and shopped in my mother-in-law’s supermarket on Hadfield Street
One day we met at the junction of Barr and Alexander Streets and he told me about a high-level, politician from the then opposition party that would visit the gunmen and socialise with them
This was on a Saturday midday and the deadline for my Sunday column was just hours away It was a mouth-watering scoop, but when these things happened I would remember Father Morrison’s words – check it out first
It turned out that indeed a big name in the opposition was a frequent visitor to the gunmen, but I did not run with the story for the next day It turned out that he confused two opposition leaders. It was not the one he pinpointed but another of similar built Days after I was able to include that personality (without naming him) in another column
Last year , a friend of mine, Carlyle Goring, former AFC City Councillor, called me to ask what prob-
lem I have to land me in trouble at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court I was confused about what Carlyle was asking me
He told me a good friend just told him that he heard my name called out in the court. If Carlyle didn’t check with me and was wild and reckless, he could have spread a fiction about me His friend probably heard Alfred Kissoon and thought he heard, Freddie Kissoon
You don’t have to be in journalism to know it is commonsense to check out what you are told On Sunday , Mikhail Rodrigues, popularly known in Guyana as “Guyanese Critic” (GC), told me he will be suing the women group named Red Thread (hope they don’t see red when the marshal brings the writ).
Please see my column of Friday, August 4, 2023, “A hit man, $10M and commonsense.” The article is about what Red Thread allegedly did ( I am not sure if the word, “alleged” should be used because Red Thread (RT) did release its press statement publicly of which I am in receipt) and what the press release stated, Guyanese Critic (GC) said he did not do
This is a disturbing situation and I want to repeat it in case you did not read
that column last Friday RT issued a media statement on July 28, which contains a communication they received from GC warning them of the intent of a businessman to harm them and the US Embassy
In that media statement, RT called on the police to investigate But GC is contending that RT did not investigate but ran to the press telling the Guyanese nation
that it received notice of violent action against them and the warning was sent by GC who left his email address Guyanese Critic is asserting that he never sent any email or notice whatsoever to Red Thread Some things are missing here Guyanese Critic is a name that is known throughout the length and width of Guyana
Why Ms Karen De Souza who signed the press release did not send an email asking GC for more information? Had she done that, then maybe the imminent lawsuit would have been unnecessary
But more importantly, why release the name of your so - called protector to the public? That trial should be a fascinating one
THOSE persons who are still living and who were alive under the People’s National Congress’s (PNC) control before 1992 can speak to the modernisation that took place during the 23-year rule of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which transformed Guyana.
The number of projects and their beneficial effects on Guyanese lives cannot be listed in this space
The National Stadium , the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the University of Guyana Tain Campus, several hospitals, schools, critical road networks, and uncountable initiatives to better the welfare of all Guyanese, are projects that may be seen with only a casual glance
Additionally, the development of the private sector and the installation of multiple facilities, including banks across the nation, have improved transactional convenience The housing initiative and development boom during the PPP/C government are significant and exceptional
To enable common people to own homes , enabling conditions had to be created, including those through financial
institutions This went beyond simply providing a piece of land
The freedom and independence that come with home ownership as a result are unfathomable In turn, prospects for furthering the growth of people and families were made possible by the acquisition of collateral.
For many Guyanese who might not have been able to own their homes otherwise, that event alone profoundly altered their lives. It was the fulfilment of many, if not all, of those people’s hopes
The improvement of Guyanese lives through social or infrastructural interventions was the top priority for the 23-year PPP/C administration’s tenure, from 1992 to 2015
And it remains the case as the Dr Irfaan Ali-led administration continues its stellar work which started in 2020, after they overcame the painstaking and nerve-wracking protracted 2020 General and Regional Elections
Guyana was a deeply indebted, impoverished nation in 1992, but has since seen years of uninterrupted economic progress
and is now regarded as a developing nation Guyana was hailed as the Caribbean’s shining beacon during those 23 years
Those accomplishments weren’t a coincidence; rather, they were the result of wise and forward-thinking leadership that was committed to making life better for all Guyanese.
The PPP / C government has set the foundation for many Guyanese to have a way out of poverty by fostering the conditions that enable common Guyanese to possess not only homes, but also cars, machines, and other items essential for growth and development
Thousands of lives have improved as a result Sadly, this direction was altered, and development was stalled from 2015 to 2020 under the APNU+AFC administration
Against the backdrop of what happened in 1992 and then in 2020, it appears as though history had repeated itself ; rebuilding was essential on both occasions in the wake of economic destruction and mismanagement by the APNU+AFC and its preceding expressions
The PPP/C government has been swift-
ly advancing the nation on a trajectory of prosperity for the past three years, putting it on the verge of additional revolutionary growth that will eventually lead to the realisation of its potential
Many more Guyanese aspirations are also becoming reality Several people have received house lots over the past three years
When compared to the APNU+AFC government’s whole five-year term, the number allocated within this period is astounding It’s significant because the dispersion spans populations of all ethnicities and is not restricted to a single location
On another front, thousands of Guyanese are obtaining online scholarships with the explicit goal of developing human potential for both personal progress and to fulfil the expanding expectations of the country in this transformative phase
The ability to improve lives has been demonstrated to be a distinguishing characteristic of the PPP/C government, in sharp contrast to the APNU + AFC , and is essential to the progress of Guyana.
PLEASE allow me to respond to two letters that appeared in the media on August 7, 2023 The piece by Mike Persaud is predictably pretentious. Mike thinks that a couple of references to Steve Coll’s 2012 book – “Private Empire” would burnish his otherwise vacuous claims about Exxon in Guyana.
Much is made about what Coll had to say about Chad, namely that the country has no sovereignty Well Mike is unaware that Exxon sold its oil interests in Chad and neighboring Cameroon
Savannah Energy ( UK ) purchased Exxon’s 40 per cent interest in the Doba oil project, as well as a 1,081 km pipeline that takes the crude oil from land-locked Chad through Cameroon After the deal was struck, Chad nationalised the oil assets, preventing Savannah Energy from proceeding with further development of Doba
Mike should know by Guyana’s experience that nationalisation is an extreme form of exercising national sovereignty Chad now has plenty sovereignty, but they are in an economic, political, and security mess
What Mike does not know is that since Exxon’s exit, Chad has been thrown into a worse economic situation than it had been in before
When Exxon embarked on the Doba
project which began a little over two decades ago, Chad was expected to produce 225,000 bpd Because of intense nationalism both from General Idriss Déby (a dictator), and so-called civil society groups, Shell and Total withdrew from Chad
In 1999 and a new structure was formed among Exxon, Chevron, and Petronas (the latter being a Malaysian energy consortium). President Déby (following advice like that provided by (OGGN regarding Guyana), chased away Chevron and Petronas.
That left Exxon alone, which in turn also decided to bolt due to OGGN type advice exercised by General Déby. (General Idriss Déby dies in 2021, and his son Mahamat, also a General, took over).
Here is what the World Bank has to say of the situation – “Oil revenues have been volatile and downward trending, declining from 16 per cent of GDP in 2012 to three per cent in 2016 At nine per cent of GDP in 2021, it remains low and constrains Chad’s fiscal space, leading to a decline in capital expenditure, slow economic growth, and recessions Therefore, bold actions are needed to reverse this course and to spur economic growth” (IBRD).
The Chadian economy declined by 1.2 per cent in 2021 but bounced back in 2022 mostly due to oil
“The high revenue from the oil sector
resulted in a fiscal surplus of 4.5 per cent of GDP in 2022, while the non-oil fiscal deficit was at 7.4 per cent (C N Temgoua & A Savadogo, 7/10/2023).” But now, the oil is gone due to Exxon’s divestment, and the President Mahamat Déby’s nationalisation efforts Would Cde Mike and Cde Girdhari, please inform the people of Chad where to find foreign investments, or otherwise offer any advice on domestic capital formation?
Cde Girdhari deposit in the press is shallow and elliptical, as is expected. He thinks that by using Dr Cheddi Jagan ’ s name he will automatically have an alibi
But Jagan, who at one time was a hardline champion against international capital, himself modified his perspective when he became president in 1992 Jagan was a pragmatic socialist in his later years
This is unlike Gary Girdhari who is an unreconstructed 1970s ideologue who thinks that foreign investments are automatically instances of “imperialism.”
Gary Girdhari has made numerous personal attacks against me including in the Guyana media on August 6, 2023 I hope my response will be printed so that Mr Girdhari gets it
The man frames me as a “ professed scholar…,” which implies that I misrepresent my status Here is some data for Gary Girdhari You can check Google
Scholar where you will see I have dozens of publications in some of the top academic journals and presses in the world Academia edu reports that over the past twelve months alone , scholars from 91 countries, 543 cities, and 359 universities have downloaded my work 787 times
More than 1,500 pages have been downloaded Girdhari wants to know if my “… coffers [are] overflowing.” Yes, that is his critique of my defense of FDI in Guyana Don’t you have any shame Sir?
Let me be direct about Exxon, Hess, CNOOC, and other companies like Omai, the latter being in the mining sector FDI is vital to the upliftment of the standard of living in Guyana FDI alone, however, cannot do the job
It must be accompanied by a solid understanding of the needs of our people, the opportunities and constraints in international markets, the prevailing trends in the multilateral institutions, and the general dynamics of the states’ system
I am certain that the PPP/C administration under President Ali is leading us in the right direction
In the meantime, Mike and Gary can continue to live in a city that is among the worst polluters in all human history
Sincerely,
Dr. Randolph PersaudA FORMER prominent ambassador sought to disparage President Dr Irfaan Ali ’ s recent visit to China . His insinuations and characterisation of the President was utterly distasteful, quite an unbecoming trait for a former diplomat.
I would like to address one of his misinformed contentions where he criticised Guyana for its possible collaboration with China to finance the Brazil / Guyana road link and the deep-water port
In so doing, he likened this initiative to the failure of a similar project referencing Sri Lanka, implying that such a project with China’s involvement could expose Guyana to similar risk of economic crisis that Sri Lanka is experiencing
Other well-credentialed persons have also subscribed to this view in the recent past, such as former Auditor General , Anand Goolsaran and a few other accountants who dabble in Guyana ’ s politics
However, the proponents of this view failed to perform a comparative analysis of the economic and political situation of the two countries, which is vastly different China’s belt and road initiative was not the causation of the economic crisis that Sri Lanka experienced
According to the IMF and UNDP country reports, there are principally four
underlying factors that were responsible for Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
The first is the Sri Lankan civil war which lasted for more than two decades from 1983 – 2009 By 2007, up to 70,000 persons had been killed Second, there was the 2017 drought which crippled the agriculture sector, third the 2018 political crisis and fourth , the 2019 terrorist attacks
These events , coupled with other exogenous factors virtually caused the Sri Lankan economy to collapse In 2021, the debt level represented 119 per cent of GDP and even a US $ 4 billion bail-out from the IMF was deemed insufficient to save the country
Contrasting the Sri Lankan situation with Guyana , fortunately for Guyana , we’ve never had a civil war, and was never the victim of terrorist attacks Guyana ’ s political and economic history are immensely different, one in which the country evolved from a bankruptcy in the early 90s, to economic stability before oil discovery in 2015
Before I elaborate on the Guyana situation further , in contrast to Sri Lanka , I have also noted the shadow finance minister describing the recent increase in the debt ceiling as “ reckless borrowing”. The fact is that Guyana’s debt sustainability indicators are well within the sustainable prudential benchmarks
The latest increase of the
debt ceiling represents 56.9 per cent of 2022 real-GDP and 45 per cent of the GDP forecast for 2023 As of 2022, the debt-to-GDP ratio was recorded at 26 per cent and debt service to revenue ratio was seven per cent
This means that seven per cent of the current revenue of the government is used for debt service payments Even if the oil revenue is excluded and only consider the debt payments to be serviced by the non-oil economy, the debt repayment represents 12.5 per cent of the non-oil revenue for 2022 This is also well below the sustainable maximum benchmark of 30 per cent of revenue The external debt-to-GDP ratio as of 2022 was recorded at 11 per cent and projected to grow by one percentage point in 2023 to 12 per cent, while the overall debt-toGDP forecast for 2023 is 25 per cent
For context, the debt burden per capita (per person) in the case of Guyana is US$4,679 Conversely, the debt burden per capita of the United States is US$91,743, almost 19 times more than the debt burden per person in Guyana.
Now, let’s test the shadow finance minister’s argument to determine whether a decline in oil price could actually plunge the economy in a real crisis
Based on the table , in 2020 the debt-to-GDP ratio represented 24 per cent of overall GDP and 38 per cent
of non-oil GDP, while the debt service to revenue ratio was eight per cent of current revenue Based on the projections for 2023, the total public debt represents 25 per cent of overall GDP and 78 per cent of non-oil GDP, while the debt service to revenue ratio is seven per cent of current revenue, and 13 per cent of non-oil revenue
This means that even if oil revenue is nil (in a worsecase scenario), the non- oil revenue is sufficient to service debt payments which is well below the maximum sustainable benchmark of 30 per cent
Furthermore, from looking at the projected growth in debt repayments from 20202023 relative to the projected growth in current revenue for the same period, current revenue is projected to grow by 154 per cent while debt service payments are projected to grow by 107 per cent or by 47 percentage points less than the growth in revenue
As such, this is another good indicator of financial prudence whereby the rate of growth in current revenue is greater than the rate of growth in debt service payments If the inverse manifests , then there would be cause for concern
Against these backgrounds, whether the government wishes to engage China to build a deep-water port and the road linkage between Guyana and Brazil or not, these developments are unlikely to pose any detri-
Now is the time to build these infrastructure which will aid in creating new industries and new streams of revenue for the country all within a sustainable economic framework
In the final analysis ,
the notions that the level of borrowing is reckless and that declining oil prices could push the economy into a crisis, are farfetched at this point
Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin
In 2020 the debt-to-GDP ratio represented 24 per cent of overall GDP and 38 per cent of non-oil GDP, while the debt service to revenue ratio was eight per cent of current revenue Based on the projections for 2023, the total public debt represents 25 per cent of overall GDP and 78 per cent of non-oil GDP, while the debt service to revenue ratio is seven per cent of current revenue, and 13 per cent of non-oil revenue (Source: Budget Speeches/Bank of Guyana Reports/Author’s Calculations)
Dear Editor,
PLEASE publish this letter on behalf of the National Accreditation Council (NAC) on the passing of its council member, Dr Olato Sam
The NAC was shocked at the news of the sudden and tragic passing of Dr. Sam on Friday August 4, 2023. To his family and relatives, the Council offers its sincerest condolences
Dr Sam was an outstanding member of the Council who provided critical reviews of proposals that were laid before the Council
At the time of his passing, he was seeking funding for the strengthening of institutional capacity to aggressively pursue the implementation of NAC five-year strategic plan
His contribution to the Council’s business through his wisdom and known intellect and experience as an outstanding educationist and administrator will be sadly missed.
Yours sincerely
National Accreditation Council mourns the passing of Dr. Sam
Dear Editor, “ BIGGER and Better ” is the name of the game for the 45 - year - old Demerara Harbour Bridge’s new “ Span Nine ,” which will accommodate the passage of larger ships
The new span will now retract from 54 metres to 70 metres
The 1.15 miles long floating bridge with 61 spans supported by 114 floating pontoons, was commissioned on 2nd July 1978 and was the longest floating bridge in the world then Today it is ranked as number four.
It is a crucial and critical link between Georgetown , Berbice, Cheddi Jagan Int Airport, Linden, the hinterland and the West side of Demerara, networking with Essequibo and the islands
On average , some 17,000 vehicles traverse daily
Initially designed to enjoy a life span of 10 years only (others claim twice the
amount), it has outlived and out lasted the useful years and continues to limp along to provide a much - needed service
During the PPP / C Party’s former governance, then Public Works Minister Benn in 2014 had submitted a proposal for a new bridge to be built Had the PNC Government followed through with that plan when they came into office in 2015, Guyanese would have been enjoying a new bridge already
But their hindsight and selfish reasons, caused Guyanese to be suffering the agony of the current dilemma! Guyanese need to be reminded of the PNC’s breaches in procurement due to “unsolicited proposals ,” which delayed those plans
Auditor General Deodat Sharma had flagged many breaches of Guyana’s financial laws Once again, it is the PPP / C Government which has to correct another PNC shortcoming! A new bridge
is on its way!
During the shutdown from midnight Monday, July 24 to Thursday 27 evening, a carefully well managed team under the auspices of Prime Minister , Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill; Minister Deodat Indar; Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn and a group of devoted and dedicated men and women, diligently and dependably managed the supervision of a well-executed plan to complete the replacement exercise, hours ahead of the scheduled time Perhaps , it shines as some sort of record in the annals of the history of the bridge.
All should be highly commended and accept a salute Apart from an accident-free period , safety and security played a pivotal part in this exercise It was heartening to see police officers from the very high ranks themselves engaged in administering traffic regulations along with
their support staff on both sides of the Demerara River
Inclusive also were officers from the Fire Service All the anticipated hurdles failed to materialise as bottle necks due to the diligence and expedience of the planning committee Commuters were relieved to experience a trouble-free three days shut down of the bridge
Several instituted changes contributed to the smooth flow of traffic, avoiding any chaos and confusion or any large gathering of crowds waiting to join the water taxies To begin, many police officers were assigned duties to help direct traffic from the junction at Vreed - en - Hoop all the way to the stelling They ensured that all vehicles kept a constant flow so that drivers were not allowed to back up traffic Also, there were adequate officers on the wharf itself to control passengers embarking and disembarking in an orderly manner and to keep moving
There was no jumbling or fumbling with passengers!
Those joining the boats to go to Georgetown were kept on the right - hand side and those arriving from Georgetown were kept separately on the left-hand side
A similar exercise was conducted at the Georgetown end The placement of barriers facilitated passengers staying on their exit and entrance pathways Passengers were gently but firmly ushered in their respective directions with the help of friendly police officers
There were no vehicles to block or impede traffic Vehicles along with vendors were kept at a safe distance in order to allow passengers to move along quickly and not at a snail’s pace In particular, vendors had their stalls on one side of the street leading all the way to the eastern junction
We have witnessed how Guyanese can co-operate to help in a challenging situation and abide with instructions when instituted by the relevant authorities
The question is , is it only in a given situation that Guyanese will behave accordingly, or is it only in the presence of the law will Guyanese abide with requests or orders? Will Guyanese not comply by using their initiative and do what is right and avoid what is wrong?
Do these sociological enquiries question the cultural behaviour of Guyanese or their temperament or their intellect? Is it a case where
a precedent was created and now it ’ s taken for granted that , that behaviour is the norm?
The Stabroek Market has always been a sore sight and point It is an issue where many dodge the bullet The hectic scene has multiplied in commotion and compounded the problems as the years go by
From a dilapidated infrastructure to a criminal environment, the ambience has developed into a health risk with garbage littering the pavements and inside the market itself , while overflowing with carefree vendors and customers unconcerned with the pride of civil and civic responsibility
This is not a name blaming game but it ’ s obvious that the perpetual problems grew and generated with the mayor’s office and their lackadaisical attitude and/or their refusal to grab the bull by its horn!
Hopefully , the current mayor will cut the bull out and attend to and amend his predecessors’ follies by making Georgetown the garden city again from a garbage city Also , those changes implemented around Georgetown Stelling during the shutdown period, should become permanent changes
Will the Mayor step up to the plate, or, will the PPP/C Government be the default rescuer once again?
Yours respectfully, Jai Lall.
SHAMAR Charles, a 20-year-old resident of Swan, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, was on Sunday night killed in a hit and run accident.
Police reports indicate the accident occurred at about 19:50 hours at Swan, involving Charles and a motor car The driver’s name, address and the vehicle number are so far unknown
Enquiries disclosed that the motor car was proceeding South along the eastern side of the road at a fast rate At the same time, Charles ran from East to West across the road, and the car collided with him
As a result of the collision, Charles fell onto the road surface, where he received injuries to his head and about his body The unknown motor car drove away from the scene
Public-spirited citizens picked the pedestrian up in an unconscious state and placed him into a vehicle which took him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre
He was seen and examined by a doctor on duty and was pronounced dead on arrival
The body was escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home for storage, awaiting a post mortem examination.
REGIONAL Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), Caribbean public health stakeholders and other representatives of member states are taking steps to ensure that their voices are heard in the process of developing a convention, agreement or other instrument for pandemic prevention , preparedness and response.
This was the purpose of the Second Special Meeting of the Chief Medical Officers, facilitated virtually by the CARICOM Secretariat on August 3, 2023.
The meeting of the World Health Assembly , December 21 , 2021 , acknowledged the disparity that existed between developed and developing states with access to the distribution of essential health commodities required to elicit an adequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic
The body agreed that a legally binding convention, agreement or other instrument should be drafted to address prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemics, hereafter referred to as the “accord.”
In February 2023, the Zero Draft of the convention , agreement , or other instrument on pandemic prevention , preparedness and response was drafted by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body ( INB ) and updated in June 2023
Since this time, decisions on the content and terms of this convention are being negotiated
However, while individual Caribbean member states have been involved in these negotiations , CARICOM , as a community of member states, is still developing a unified position on the proposed articles of the accord and representation in these negotiations
The CARICOM Secretariat convened the Second Special Meeting of the Chief Medical Officers to address this gap .
In addition to the pandem-
ic - preparedness accord , World Health Organisation ( WHO ) member states are also negotiating amendments to the International Health Regulations ( IHR ) in Geneva
The IHR is legally binding for member states. Concurrently, governments are also negotiating a Political Declaration of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in New York for adoption in September 2023
Participants of the meeting also considered the need for the Region’s input in these ongoing negotiations
UNIFIED VOICE
Specifically, the meeting facilitated collaborative discussions among CMOs and other Caribbean public health stakeholders on a precise pathway to ensuring that the Region is fully represented and all concerns and recommendations are incorporated in the negotiations surrounding the accord.
In addition, the meeting provided the opportunity for member states to understand the process of negotiations and to discuss what coordinating mechanisms can be utilized to formulate a unified position on the content of the accord
Over 46 regional public health stakeholders and other representatives of Caribbean member states, CARICOM Secretariat officials and technical officers participated in the meeting which was chaired by Dr Julio Sabido, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Belize
In his remarks, Dr Sabido referred to the disparity and specifically stated that the Region did not have adequate access to essential health commodities necessary for the COVID-19 response
“ Indeed , many member states of the Caribbean Community experienced challenges in procuring, among other things , vaccines and medical equipment”, stated Dr Sabido
He further expressed
gratitude to the CARICOM Secretariat for convening the meeting and advocated for full participation by all stakeholders, since the accord negotiations must reflect the voices of the Region.
Representatives from the Pan - American Health Organization ( PAHO )/ World Health Organization (WHO), the INB , the Third World Network and the Ministry of Health and WellnessJamaica presented on the instrument for pandemic prevention , preparedness and response. The presentations
aimed to fully equip CMOs and other stakeholders with the relevant knowledge on the process concerning the accord negotiations
Following a rich discussion by all stakeholders , CMOs reiterated the need for full participation by the
Region in the negotiations currently underway and made specific recommendations to ensure the Region’s voice is included in the decision-making
Ms Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary General , Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat, acknowledged the recommendations and informed that the Secretariat would respond with substantive proposals on a coordinating mechanism for unified representation in the negotiations
The ASG emphasised that the CARICOM Secretariat is committed to its coordinating role in ensuring that the Region is significantly represented in the negotiations for the pandemic prevention instrument with the overarching aim of safeguarding public health across the Region. (CARICOM Today)
EIGHT Amazon rainforest nations are expected to face divisions over proposals to block new oil drilling and end deforestation when they meet on Tuesday for their first summit in 14 years.
The meeting of the Amazon Co-operation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) gathers heads of state from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela for two days in the northern Brazilian city of Belem
They will aim to forge unified policies, goals and positions in international negotiations on some 130 issues ranging from financing for sustainable development to indigenous inclusion
But at a pre - summit meeting last month , Colombian President Gustavo Petro pushed his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to block all new oil development in the Amazon Brazil is weighing
whether to develop a potentially huge offshore oil find near the mouth of the Amazon River.
“ Are we going to let hydrocarbons be explored in the Amazon rainforest?
To deliver them as exploration blocks? Is there wealth there or is there the death of humanity?” Petro asked in a speech alongside Lula
Days later , Petro underscored the issue in an
op-ed in the Miami Herald, writing: “As heads of state, we must assure the end of new oil and gas exploration in the Amazon.”
The debate over drilling for oil near the mouth of the
Amazon has sparked fierce infighting in Lula’s sevenmonth-old government, pitting advocates for regional development against environmentalists
Asked whether oil would factor into an accord at the summit , Brazilian diplomats told journalists last week that a joint statement was still being negotiated and economic development more broadly was under discussion
A Brazilian government official, who was not authorised to speak to the media, said that Colombia was in an easy position to propose no new drilling in the Amazon because it did not have significant oil reserves there, unlike Brazil or Peru
For his part, Lula pushed at the pre-summit meeting in Leticia, Colombia, for all countries in the region to pledge an end to deforestation by 2030 Only Bolivia and Venezuela have not yet made such a commitment
Bolivia could be a barrier to such a regional 2030 pact, the Brazilian government source said Primary forest loss there rose 32 per cent last year amid fires and rapid agricultural expansion, according to Global Forest Watch
The Bolivian government did not respond to requests for comment
Other differences that could surface at the summit are more subtle disagreements about priorities Colombia hosted the pre-summit meeting where top on the agenda was cross-border collaboration to address the rising threat of drug traffickers perpetrating environmental crimes in the Amazon Brazil , by contrast , has emphasised opportunities for sustainable development , reflecting Lula’s campaign platform focused on poverty reduction and conservation. (Reuters)
THE Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) on Sunday, while conducting a routine operation at a cargo company next to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timehri , found $27 million in cocaine.
According to CANU , officers intercepted a motor car with registration number PWW 5561 driven by a lone occupant
A subsequent search of the motor car led to the discovery of 23 brick-like parcels of suspected cocaine and a 9mm pistol and a magazine with 14 matching rounds
Christopher Michael Douglas , a 37 - year - old of 1070 Providence East Bank Demerara and 127 King Edward Street, Albouystown, Georgetown was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters along with the suspected narcotic
Arrested: Christopher Michael Douglas
The narcotic tested positive for cocaine, weighting approximately 26.016 kilograms, almost 57.35 pounds, with a street value of approximately $27 million Investigations are ongoing.
To prevent narcotics from being transshipped via passenger or cargo, CANU is collaborating with other stakeholders at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Eugene F. Correia International Airport
WE extend our deepest sympathies [sic] and condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dr Roger Luncheon, who recently passed away after a long struggle with poor health.
Dr Luncheon’s passing on August 2, 2023, has left the health sector and medical profession in mourning His loss is deeply felt in the health sector and across Guyana
Dr Luncheon left a lasting impact on our country through his contributions to politics and healthcare His legacy will be remembered for many years to come
Dr. Luncheon received his education and training in the USA He became Guyana’s first Nephrologist and dedicated almost two decades of service at the Georgetown Hospital During his early years, he worked alongside a group of renowned doctors, including Dr Deen Sharma, the only urologist on staff; Dr Ramsundar Doobay, the medical specialist; Dr Bud Lee, the surgeon; Dr Moti Lall and several others He returned to Guyana in the early 1970s and served as a public servant from the very beginning of his return
From the moment he returned to Guyana he was a devoted supporter of Dr Cheddi Jagan For over two decades, from the early 1970s to 1992, he served the Georgetown Public Hospital with unwavering dedication. He not only provided his patients with the best quality medical care, but he also showed them kindness and patience
He made himself available to see patients at his home and even visited them in their homes Known as “Doc” to many Guyanese, he was beloved by thousands Even as he pursued political work throughout Guyana, he always made time to visit those who were sick
Despite his long career in Guyana, he never accepted payment as a private doctor and relied solely on his public servant sal-
ary His home visits and medical services were always provided pro bono, as acts of generosity.
During the 1980s, Dr Luncheon played various roles in the healthcare industry He worked as a doctor at the Georgetown Hospital and also served as a mentor to many doctors who are now considered veterans in Guyana
Additionally, he was a teacher and lecturer at the University of Guyana’s Medical School when it was established in the late 1980s Dr Luncheon taught several of the medical school’s brightest students, who are now shining stars in the field
Roger Luncheon was a trusted adviser to the Ministry of Health for nearly 50 years, despite his political opposition to the government prior to 1992
He continued to provide guidance to the Minister of Health and government officials until his passing on August 2, 2023 Although his role may not have been necessary or well-received between 2015 and 2020, he remained willing to offer any assistance he could
During his time as the Head of the Presidential Secretariat from 1992 to 2015, Dr Luncheon coordinated all Cabinet Sub-Committees, including the Sub-Committee on Health
He played a vital role in advancing healthcare in Guyana by overseeing the development and implementation of programmes such as Cardiology, Transplant, Dialysis, and Radiotherapy
Dr Luncheon ’ s unwavering support ensured the successful establishment of a post-graduate programme in surgery, despite opposition from many within and outside of Guyana This programme has grown to 18 specialist areas
Additionally , he provided significant support for other programmes at the University of Guyana, including the nursing and physiotherapy degree programmes Without Dr Luncheon’s contributions, these programmes would not have been possible
During the Ministry of Health’s efforts to reform and transform the legal and legislative framework for the health sector , Dr Luncheon provided valuable support to Health Minister Gail Teixeira
Specifically, he played a vital role in the introduction of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill in Parliament and supported amendments to the Medical Council and Nursing Council laws
Dr Luncheon also contributed to the creation of several important acts, including the Ministry of Health Act, the Health Facilities Licensing Act, the Allied Health
GUYANA ’ S economy continues to experience massive growth that has allowed Guyanese to grasp better opportunities in the private and public sectors, creating greater labour mobility.
Despite some shortages in the local job market , the government is taking proactive steps to address this issue
Training opportunities are being provided through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and the Board of Industrial Training ( BIT ), among other accredited institutions, as well as through job creation across sectors.
A technical school is also being established at Port Mourant in Region Six that will provide training and job opportunities to Guyanese
According to PPP General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo , labour mobility should be celebrated, since people are now being presented with more choices in the job market.
“You’re going to continue to have labour mobility There is no position in the government where we can restrict that and it’s hard to compete with the alternative
“ It ’ s a right that citizens should have [and] this
is something that should be celebrated too There was a time when people felt they had no option than to stick with one job for life ,” Dr Jagdeo expressed at a recent press conference
It is difficult for companies to find persons skilled in plumbing , carpentry , masonry and other technical skill sets, therefore, pushing them to import labour However , this is unique to Region Four, Dr Jagdeo pointed out
“ The situation is not the same in other regions of the country [and so] we don’t want to allow large numbers to come here
when our people in other parts of the country are still looking for a job. But because they don ’ t have the same level of economic activity in those regions, they can’t find one as yet
“ That is why we are bolstering this with a parttime job We’re focusing on training people, we are urging them to be trained, we’re urging labour mobility,” the General Secretary highlighted The government has also engaged companies to establish facilities to accommodate labourers from other regions, as a way to promote labour mobility.
Practitioners Act, the Pharmacy Practitioners Act, The Regional Health Authority Act, The Blood Transfusion Act, and The GPHC Incorporation Order
His contributions to the legislative framework were significant and greatly appreciated He also worked on the draft Tobacco Control Bill, which became law in 2016
In the 1980s, when the Guyana Medical Association had become defunct, Dr Luncheon, working alongside other iconic doctors such as Deen Sharma and Walter Ramsahoye, ensured a new vibrant Medical Association was established
By 1989, the group was agitating for more independent control of medical practitioners and in 1991, the government relented and permitted a bill to be introduced. The present Medical Council functioning is still largely based on the 1991 Medical Practitioners Act This Act was slightly amended to add two non-medical members in 2006
In 1992, Guyana’s new president, Dr Cheddi Jagan , asked Dr Luncheon to serve as Head of the Presidential Secretariat, which interrupted his full-time job as a doctor
However, he continued to provide medical services to his colleagues and ordinary Guyanese whenever they needed it Numerous individuals have sought him out for their medical requirements, particularly in the field of nephrology Dr Luncheon has never refused assistance to anyone
Guyana’s health sector has suffered a great loss with the passing of a champion. Although we cannot replace him, his contributions have made a lasting impact on the sector . The Ministry of Health honours him as one of our most valuable assets and a true hero in the field of medicine.
ONE person died and two others have been hospitalized after a motor vehicle accident on Cotton Tree Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB) around 02:00hrs on Monday morning.
According to the police, the accident involved motor car with registration PWW 5977, driven at the time by Rajendra Deonarine, a 22-year-old of Bath Settlement, WCB, with two occupants, a 29-year-old female and a 20-year-old male, and motor car with registration PTT 7168 driven by now deceased Carlton Maltay, a 60-year-old of East Canje, Berbice
Maltay also had two occupants in his vehicle at the time, Jurjan MacAndrew and Auria Maltay
Enquiries disclosed that motor car PTT 7168 was proceeding east on the northern drive lane at a fast rate While negotiating a turn, Maltay lost control of the vehicle and collided with motor car PWW 5977, which was proceeding west along the southern drive lane
As a result of the collision, the driver of motor car PTT 7168 and occupants Auria Maltay and Jurjan MacAndrew received injuries and were picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital, where Auria and Jurjan were seen and examined by a doctor on duty, then transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where they were admitted
Carlton Maltay was pronounced dead on arrival and his body is presently lying at the Fort Wellington Public Hospital Mortuary
The other vehicle’s driver, Rajendra Deonarine, was admitted to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital for observation
The two occupants in his vehicle were not injured Investigations are ongoing
THE Ministry of Labour (MoL), on Monday signed a contract worth $23.7 million with Perba Trading and Construction , for the rehabilitation of a Learning and Resource Centre for the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) at Unity, Mahaica
Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, at the contracting signing said that this facility will be the first of its kind in
said that they are refurbishing a facility in Lethem where training is to be done, as well as at Annai, North Rupununi
During consideration of the budget estimates, Minister Hamilton had related that the ministry plans to inject $20 million into the facility to advance development and training for North Rupununi
Some $10M in rehabilitation works are also ongoing at the Bartica Learning
Guyana and is expected to be completed by year-end.
The building will be utilized as a training centre to certify and accredit persons who already have a skill
“The intention of the Ministry of Labour is to use that building to ensure that all the technical people we have, they are certified and accredited,” he said
Additionally, there will be a welding area attached to the building, where persons will be retrained and certified
“We have to prepare our people for the world that is before them,” Minister Hamilton related
Persons such as carpenters, masons, and electricians who don ’ t have the requisite certification and qualifications would be retrained, certified and accredited, which would open up a variety of opportunities for them, given the ongoing development in Guyana
Just recently, the MoL signed two contracts valuing approximately $84 million for the construction of two new Board of Industrial Training (BIT) facilities in New Amsterdam and Corriverton, Region Six
The two centres are expected to be completed in six months and will pave the way for the region to have a skilled workforce
A total of $139 million was allocated in Budget 2023 to construct and rehabilitate several training centres
In Region Nine, Minister Hamilton
This initiative aligns with the government’s policy of delivering technical and vocational training programmes, which aim to address the demand for skills in various sectors
Minister Hamilton said currently, BIT offers many skills-training programmes that are accessible to citizens countrywide
He said these programmes were mostly centred on the coastland and its environs, and were not available to persons elsewhere
This , he noted , changed when the PPP/C administration assumed office in August 2020 This move was to ensure that the programmes are more inclusive, and accessible to all citizens
“BIT is available in every region and sub-region of this country Every hinterland region, river, every creek, and so the expansion you talk about has already happened…the expansion started in August 2020,” Hamilton added
In relation to training, he highlighted that some 5,600 persons graduated from BIT programmes in 2022
He said the government remains committed to providing the necessary support for persons to be employed or to become entrepreneurs
This year , BIT intends to train almost 8,000 persons countrywide.
IN a significant move to address mental health concerns among students , the Ministry of Education and the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF), 18 students participated in a students’ mental health video competition
In February 2023, the Ministry of Education and IDRF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on several targetted initiatives to support addressing mental health treatment , awareness, and evaluations among students in Guyana
According to a press release, the IDRF did this with funding support from the Government of Canada under the Safeguarding the Human Dignity Rights of Populations At - Risk for Ill-Mental Health (SPAR) Project
Since the signing of the MoU , the IDRF has undertaken Mental School Audits in 15 public schools and three private schools in Guyana and has kickstarted several awareness and advocacy initiatives, including a Students ’ Mental Health Video Competition
At the award ceremony for the Students’ Mental Health Video Competition, acting Chief Schools’ Welfare Officer Vickram Mohabir reiterated the ministry ’ s commitment to strengthening the availability of Mental Health programmes and support services to students across Guyana
These initiatives are aimed at driving greater support for children facing Mental Health Challenges in Guyana
IDRF ’ s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mahmood Qasim in his remarks commended the students’ efforts and charged them to continue to influence positive changes
Eighteen students entered the competition , and the top three prizes were awarded to Ganesh Ghansham of Zeeburg Secondary ; Kimberely Angela Sparman of Christ Church Secondary and Akaida Simpson of Hope Secondary School.
The top three awardees of the Mental Health Video Competition
(Tuesday August 08, 2023)
CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD
-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Obed McKoy-6/17 (St. Kitts, 2022)
(2) Ravi Bishnoi-4/16 (Lauderhill, 2022)
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Which WI cracked the first T20 Int’l hundred against India?
(2) Which IND scored the first T20 Int’l century against the West Indies?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
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12:30 hrs Gentle And Kind
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13:20 hrs Aracadian Friend
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15:20 hrs Next Second
15:50 hrs Mud Skipper
From page 21
has formed since Wiegman's arrival in September 2021.
James will miss the quarter-finals and could face a longer suspension should FIFA deem it worthy.
Her loss will certainly be felt given she is England's leading scorer at the tournament, having also popped up to provide the winner in the 1-0 victory over Denmark in the second group game.
"I don't know what my heart rate is, I just know I'm 10 years' older," said manager Wiegman.
"I was not worried. It was a really intense game. Nigeria has done really well in the group stages so we were not underestimating them at all and they showed what a good team they were.
in escaping a group containing Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia and plucky debutants, the Republic of Ireland.
He said victory over European champions England could have had "significant implications" for the development of women's football in Nigeria, but they can exit the tournament with their heads held high.
They more than matched England and carried momentum going into extra time, but just could not provide the ruthlessness that was needed.
"We can be and should be one of the top teams in the world. I think we have shown we're capable of playing with anybody."
England captain Millie Bright made numerous last-ditch blocks, Earps faced more shots in the first half than in any other game under Wiegman and Nigeria rattled the Lionesses.
All signs had started to point to a historic Nigeria victory - they were seeking to become the first African nation to win a knockout tieand even a corner from Stanway floated out of play in a rare break-up of Nigeria possession late in the second half.
"We had trouble getting out of their press. We could do a little better but I also think we should give them credit."
"[The players] have been fantastic all tournament," said Waldrum. "We've played four matches, including against the Olympic gold medalists and the European champions and had clean sheets in those games.
Nigeria leave with heads held high
Nigeria manager Randy Waldrum had already praised his side's efforts
"I'm so proud of them. They have such a bright future. The players came together in an unbelievable way. They just played their hearts out and I couldn't be more proud of them.
From page 24
Rutherford’s knock included three fours and two sixes. Captain Chris
Lynn also contributed 31 while Russell hit 20* off just six balls including the match-winning six off the final ball with the Tigers needing two to win.
Iftikhar Ahmed tried his best for the Jaguars with 2-8 from his four
overs.
But in the end England found a way, as they so often have under Wiegman, and it was the familiar sight of Kelly - who netted the winning penalty in the shootout victory over Brazil in the Women's Finalis and scored the Euro 2022 winner against Germany - who ran away celebrating at the end.(BBC Sport). the successful chase with a responsible 38* off 29 balls as the Tigers reached 135-5 off 20 overs.
Rutherford ended the tournament with 220 runs from eight innings at an average of 44. Barbadian Matthew Forde took 15 wickets to finish as the top wicket-taker. (Sportsmax)
Women’s World Cup last-16 tie
COACH Lorne Donaldson says Jamaica are prepared for a "boxing match" with Colombia in Tuesday's Women's World Cup last-16 tie in Melbourne.
Both sides were among the biggest surprises from the group stages, with Jamaica progressing at the expense of Brazil, while Colombia won Group H.
Donaldson wants his side to give their all as they aim to book a quarter-final against England or Nigeria.
"We won't change much, but we will give it a good shot," he said.
"This is like a boxing match, someone will go down. We want to be standing when the game is over."
Jamaica's passage to the knock-out stages was built on defence, as they are the only team yet to
concede a goal at the World Cup.
They have only scored once, through defender Allyson Swaby in their 1-0 victory over Panama, between goalless draws against France and Brazil which secured second place in Group F.
"A lack of goals is not a major concern," added Donaldson. "We have played some good teams, two of the top teams, we were supposed to lose by six or seven.
"We so have to try to score to win this game, so we will put our best foot forward."
Colombia are set to start 18-year-old defender Ana Maria Guzman in place of the suspended Manuela Vanegas.
She will be the second 18-year-old is Colombia's likely XI, alongside Linda Caicedo.
"This is a great opportunity," Guzman said. "To be in such a national team is a blessing, to give my best for national team and team mates.
"Yes, we are the youngest players, but on the pitch we are very skilled."
Rachel Brown-Finnis' prediction
Colombia have been my surprise team of the tournament so far, and they fully deserve to be in the last 16.
They've been brilliantly organised and have come up with some big moments in attack - their last-gasp winner against Germany was technically excellent, in the way it was created and scored.
Jamaica have shown a lot of resolve too, but Colombia have more ideas when it comes to unlocking the opposition.(BBC Sport)
MANCHESTER, England, (CMC) – Deandra Dottin missed out on runs but her Manchester Originals did enough to beat Birmingham Phoenix by five wickets in the Women’s Hundred here Monday.
Retired West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin. (file photo)
The retired West Indies all-rounder managed only six as Originals chased down a small target of 88 at Old Trafford, to win their first completed game.
Their opening two matches – against Welsh Fire and London Spirit – were both abandoned
without a ball bowled, due to rain.
Sent in, Phoenix were bowled out for 87 off 96 balls with New Zealand’s Sophie Devine the only player to pass 20 with 27 off 25 balls.
She put on 39 for the first wicket with captain Eve Jones (18) but wickets tumbled thereafter, off-spinner Fi Morris ripping through the innings with five for seven and left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone claiming four for 11.
In reply, Originals lost Emma Lamb to the third delivery of the chase without a run on the board
but Laura Wolvaardt topscored with 38 in a 69-run second wicket stand with Ami Campbell (28), to revive the innings.
Once the stand was broken, Originals lost four wickets for 16 runs including that of Dottin’s, the veteran 32-year-old run out at the non-striker’s end after Ecclestone’s drive deflected from the bowler’s hand onto the stumps. However, captain Ecclestone (six not out) and Kathryn Bryce (four not out) held their nerve to see Originals home with a ball to spare.
ENGLAND scraped through to the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Nigeria despite Lauren James' red card.
Georgia Stanway fired wide with the opening penalty but Nigeria missed their next two efforts and the European champions secured their spot in the last eight when Chloe Kelly smashed in the winning kick.
In an outburst of frustration, James stamped on Michelle Alozie's back in the 87th minute after losing possession and was rightly shown a red card following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
England were given an almighty scare but face Colombia or Jamaica next at 11:30 BST on Saturday.
It was an excruciating watch for England
supporters in Brisbane as the Lionesses played 120 minutes on a knife's edge and were largely second best to Nigeria.
James' petulance meant England had to navigate extra time with 10 players, and Nigeria had their tails up following a sustained period of pressure prior to the Chelsea star's sending-off.
The nine-time African champions executed their game plan to perfection, frustrating England, causing them problems on the break and winning almost every duel.
They hit the crossbar in each half, Ashleigh Plumptre's powerful drive ricocheting off the woodwork before Uchenna Kanu's header looped over goalkeeper Mary Earps and bounced off the top of the bar.
Earps was kept busy throughout, needing to produce smart saves to deny Plumptre at her near
post in the first half and later keeping out Uchenna Kanu, who had an excellent performance.
Sarina Wiegman's England side thought they had a penalty in the first half when Rachel Daly went down claiming a push by Rasheedat Ajibade, but it was overturned by VAR.
Eventually, England stumbled to the end of normal time lacking the fluidity they showed in abundance in the impressive display against China and held on to seal the deal in a shootout.
Only 24 hours earlier, back-to-back champions the USA were knocked out of the competition, and England were forced to show resilience to overcome one of their most challenging matches of Wiegman's tenure.
James' red card puts dampener on impressive tournament
In the build-up to England's last-16 tie there
was plenty of praise for James, who has been simply sensational so far in Australia.
The 21-year-old stole the show in Adelaide when she scored two goals and assisted three in England's thrashing of China in their final group game.
But, as Wiegman has often reminded people, James is still young in terms of international experience, with this only her 15th appearance since making her debut a year ago.
She struggled to get on the ball in the first half as England's buildup play was slow and disconnected - a far cry from their slick attacking play against China.
As the game wore on, several England players became frustrated. They were fortunate James' stamp did not prove too costly and they showed the type of resilience that
FORMER Pakistan captain
Inzamam-ul-Haq has been appointed the chief selector of the national men's selection committee for a second time. The post had remained vacant since Haroon Rasheed quit as chief selector last month.
The selection committee, which also includes team director Mickey Arthur, head coach Grant Bradburn, and Secretary Hasan Cheema will be in charge of selecting the senior men's team and Pakistan Shaheens.
ESPNcricinfo understands Inzamam will no longer be part of the PCB's cricket technical committee, which he was appointed to last week. Inzamam, who was also chief selector from 2016 to 2019, begins his second term ahead of a crucial period for the Pakistan side. His first task will be the announcement of a squad for the three-ODI series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka, which begins on August 22. It will be followed by the ODI Asia Cup. Those two squads will be announced by Inzamam at a press conference on August 10.
Inzamam, who named the squad for the 2019 World Cup as chief selector, will also be tasked with selecting the 2023 ODI World Cup squad. The tournament takes place in India from October 5 to November 19.
"I had a good run in the last tenure," Inzamam said.
"We had famous victories with the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 being the highlight, but my most important achievement is that around 70 to 80 per cent of the cricketers - selected back then - form the core of today's sides. That team was in transition, but this team is stable and I would not face the same challenges.
"Heading a selection committee is already a tough job in Pakistan, but it is going to be more challenging this time with the ACC Men's Asia Cup and ICC Men's Cricket World Cup around the corner followed by the tour of Australia. But, I know I can deliver in this role and I will try to do better than I did the last time. Despite the paucity of time, we will announce the best possible sides."
Inzamam had been appointed to the PCB's cricket technical committee last week alongside Mohammad Hafeez, with Misbah-ul-Haq heading it. One of the tasks the technical committee had was to appoint the national selection committees, though the PCB said the decision to appoint the chief selector was made by the board's chairman Zaka Ashraf, rather than the committee he appointed to make decisions of this nature.
"I am delighted that Inzamam-ul-Haq has agreed to head our national men's selection committee at a crucial juncture. He is a legend and has served the game with dignity," PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said. "Inzamam's last tenure brought us success as we not only won the ICC Champions Trophy, but also unearthed some outstanding talent that continues to serve Pakistan cricket to date. I have no doubt that his new innings will add to the laurels and bring more talented cricketers to light."
While the role in the cricket technical committee was unpaid, the chief selector will be remunerated. The PCB confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that a replacement for Inzamam in the technical committee would be announced in due course.
(Cricinfo)
Leading Edge Sports Store, owned by Former National Cricketer Christopher Barnwell, yesterday signed U17 National Cricketer, Johnathon Van Lange as Brand Ambassador for his CB 90 gears and Leading-Edge Sports Store at a simple signing ceremony held at the business premises at Regent Multicomplex Mall, Georgetown.
Van Lange, who also represents Guyana in table tennis, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given by Barnwell and promised to be an excellent ambassador both on and off the field.
The 36-yearold Barnwell is happy to have Van Lange, his DCC club mate, on board with his brand. Barnwell, who played six T20Is for the West Indies, also stressed that discipline and hard work is key for any athletes’ success, adding that the 16-year-old Van Lange is the perfect representation of that.
Barnwell, who scored two first-Class tons for Guyana, encouraged Van Lange to stay grounded as he continues to excel in the sport.
The sponsorship was done by the Guyana committee of services (GCOS) and Leading-Edge sport store and apart from Van
Pakistan still has "deep concerns" about security; no decision yet on whether they will play India in Ahmedabad
By Danyal RasoolPAKISTAN will send their cricket team to India for the 2023 men's ODI World Cup in October-November this year, ending months of uncertainty over the country's participation.
"Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics," Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "It has, therefore, decided to send its cricket team to India to participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations
"Pakistan's decision shows its constructive and responsible approach vis-àvis India's intransigent attitude, as the latter had refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.
arrangements for Pakistan at the World Cup. "Pakistan, however, has deep concerns about the security of its cricket team," the statement said further. "We are conveying these concerns to the International Cricket Council and the Indian authorities. We expect that full safety and security of Pakistan cricket team will be ensured during its visit to India."
to their fixtures.
On Saturday, ESPNcricinfo reported that the Cricket Association of Bengal had requested the BCCI to have Pakistan's game against England moved from November 12 to November 11, to avoid a clash with another Hindu festival, Kali Puja.
Lange, talented National U-15 batter, 14-year-old
Berbician Adrian Hetmyer, nephew of West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer,
was presented with a bat by former National Hockey player Trevor Wharton on behalf of the GCOS. (Sean Devers)
While the statement effectively guarantees Pakistan will participate in the World Cup, it also suggested significant areas of divergence remain. ESPNcricinfo understands Pakistan has not yet taken a decision on whether they will agree to participate in the group stage game against India in Ahmedabad, or demand to have it moved elsewhere. The statement, however, does not mention a desire for a change of venue.
The statement also signalled a lack of complete confidence in the security
ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB will reach out to the ICC for security guarantees once there is more clarity on arrangements.
The World Cup schedule has been hit by several delays and tweaks. Pakistan's fixture against India was brought forward by a day to avoid a clash with the Hindu festival of Navaratri. That created a knock-on effect, with Pakistan's earlier game against Sri Lanka on October 12 moved to October 10 to give them enough time to prepare, arrangements that the PCB agreed to. The PCB accepted those date changes
The PCB has privately expressed frustration at the potential change of date for the England fixture, and the constant rejigging of fixtures affecting Pakistan. It is understood there has been no communication between the PCB and the BCCI about the fixture change, and no clarity on when a decision will be reached or how it will be communicated to the PCB.
The World Cup is scheduled to begin with reigning champions England taking on New Zealand On October 5, and end on November 19, but there is still no update on when the tickets will go on sale.
West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching the Level 1 ICC Code of Conduct in the second T20I against India. Pooran flouted Article 2.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to public
criticism in relation to an incident occurring in an international match.
The incident occurred following the review of an LBW decision in the fourth over of the India innings. Pooran criticised the umpires for having to use up a player review for a decision which he thought was clearly not
out. There was no need for a formal hearing after Pooran admitted to the offence and accepted the sanctions levelled by on-field umpires Leslie Reifer and Nigel Duguid, third umpire Gregory Brathwaite and fourth official Patrick Gustard and proposed by match refer-
ee Richie Richardson.
In addition, one demerit point has been added to Pooran’s disciplinary record, which was his first offence in a 24-month period.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty, a maximum penalty of 50% deduction from a player’s match fee, and
the addition of one or two demerit points to the player’s record.
Pooran played a crucial role with the bat in West Indies’ win in the second T20I that put them 2-0 up in the fivematch series. Chasing 153 to win, the former skipper smashed a 40ball 67, coming into bat
in the first over after West Indies lost two wickets.
Despite India’s rallying back with the ball later, West Indies’ ninth-wicket pairing of Alzarri Joseph and Akeal Hossein took their side to victory with an over to spare. (ICC)
FROM 32 teams, it is now down to four in the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast set to conclude Saturday, August 12, at the National Stadium, Providence.
The first semi-final pits the rampant Eccles All-Stars against Team Corruption from 14:00 hours, followed by V-Net Vipers, who ousted Village Rams, against Tarmac Titans from 16:00 hours.
The Charity match will be at 18:00 hours, then the grand final from 20:00 hours, and fans are reminded that admission is Free.
Many players are ecstatic about the chance to play Tapeball at Guyana’s premier sporting facility and under lights.
Though some teams boast several national players, some embody the grassroot culture of Tapeball cricket, and the opportunity to play at the National Stadium was one they never foresaw could occur.
It is a reality that came to fruition after the rain hampered the tournament's opening day on July 30.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali, the tournament’s patron, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., supported by ensuring the matches were moved to the National Stadium.
President Ali noted the event will bring many people together from varying communities under the ‘One
GUYANAs best pair of Amateur pugilists Olympian Keevin Allicock and Desmond Amsterdam have both qualified for the Pan Am Games scheduled for October/November in Santigo, Chile.
Both boxers were scheduled to fight last night in the Semi-finals AMBC Continental Champions Qualification in Cali Columbia.
Speaking from Columbia, Head Coach and Technical Director of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Terrence Poole MS, informed that the feeling is great that they have qualified knowing that is what they are there for.
“The condition is similar to Guyana and they are much confident now going into the semifinals,” disclosed Poole,
the Coach of the Defence Force Boxing Club.
Allicock won his quarter- finals bout against Juan Reyes Sonia of GUA on points on Sat 5th. Amsterdam won his round of sixteen bout against Eliezer Omar of Puerto Rico on points and on Sunday in a quarter final bout against CEDRIC B of Haiti, he also won on points.
Allicock, from the Forgotten Youths Foundation (FYC) was scheduled to come against Cabell Josue of PUR in his semi-final bout last night while Amsterdam who fights for the Army, was set to box against Trujillo Barillas of GUA in his semifinals bout also fixed for last night.
(Sean Devers)
Guyana’ banner.
According to the organisers, while they are confident of a thrilling end to the tournament given the quality of teams present, they are happy to announce numerous fan prizes.
Two persons will win cell phones compliments of ENet, two will win an overnight
stay at Jaigobin Hotel in Essequibo, two gift vouchers from Pressy Gift Store, and K-Tronics, Lunch and Dinner for persons at Heliconia Restaurant.
Banks DIH also reaffirmed their commitment to hosting the free ‘Kidz Zone’ at the National Stadium, aback the Green Stand.
The children will enjoy free rides in the child-friendly zone, including a bouncy castle and free ice cream, soda, snacks, and water for the young.
Only the Green Stand will be open for usage, but the Red Stand will be opened if there is an overfill.
Below the Green Stand will host the Corporate Village and have all amenities such as food and drinks for the fans.
The first-ever champions will pocket G$1M, while the losing finalist will collect G$300,000.
The two losing semi-finalists will walk away with G$100,000 each. There will also be prizes for outstanding individual performances.
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the series will receive a motorcycle valued at over G$250,000, compliments of Assuria Insurance.
Additionally, there will be a celebrity match before the championship match where the winning side will be rewarded G$200,000, which will be donated to charity.
The competition is sponsored by Kares Engineering Inc., Mohamed’s Enterprise, GT Beer, Rainforest Water, Star Party Rentals, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc., ENet, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Trophy Stall, Premier Insurance, Cricket Zone USA, Beacon Café, Continental Transport, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, RS53 RestoBar and Lounge, Jacobs Jewelry and Pawn Shop, First Change Builder Inc. Impressions Inc., Sicko Mode, 94.1 BOOM FM, Assuria Insurance, Montra Restaurant and Longue, Gafoors and Hard Rock Café.
· Match 29 – Eccles All-Stars v Team Corruption – 14:00 hours
· Match 30 – V-Net Vipers v Tarmac Titans16:00 hours
· Match 31 – Charity Match – 18:00 hours
· Match 32 – Final -20:00 hours
DANIEL Vettori, a former left-arm spinner for New Zealand, was previously head coach at Royal Challengers Bangalore from 20142018 and is currently working as the assistant coach with the Australia men's team.
The latest update means Sunrisers will have a fourth head coach in six seasons, with Tom Moody (2019 and 2022), Trevor Bayliss (2020 and 2021), and Lara (2023) preceding Vettori.
Lara had replaced Moody ahead of the 2023 IPL season, but the side finished last (tenth) with four wins and ten losses.
At the moment, Vettori is head coach of the Birmingham Phoenix men's
team at the Hundred, and since May 2022, has been with the Australia men's national side. His coaching resume also includes stints with Barbados Royals in the CPL, with Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League and with Middlesex in the Vitality Blast, all as head coach, and a spell as spin-bowling consultant with the Bangla -
desh men's national team.
In his previous run as a head coach in the IPL, Vettori helped RCB get into the playoffs in 2015 and the final in 2016 where, incidentally, they lost to Sunrisers.
This is now the third high-profile coaching appointment ahead of the 2024 IPL season, with Justin Langer taking over
from Andy Flower at Lucknow Super Giants and Flower later joining RCB in the same role.
Sunrisers have had a lean time of it in the IPL in recent years, perhaps explaining the revolving door for the coaches. Since IPL 2021, they have won only 13 games while losing 29.
From 2016 (when they were champions) to 2020, Sunrisers reached the playoffs every season, but they have failed to replicate that success since. They will now hope to end a three-season streak of finishing outside the top four with the combination of Vettori and captain Aiden Markram at the helm. (Sportsmax).
– Nicholas Pooran expects an improved showing from West Indies, especially in the batting department, as the Caribbean side chase a rare series win against India in the third Twenty20 International here today.
West Indies won the opener in Trinidad last week by four runs before securing a nervy two-wicket victory in the second T20 International at the National Stadium here Sunday, to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
While praising the effort by bowlers in restricting India’s batsmen, Pooran said there was still more to come from West Indies’ batsmen.
“I think at the moment we’re doing really well in patches,” said Pooran, whose 67 in the second game led West Indies’ successful pursuit of 152.
“We’re bowling extremely well, I must say kudos to the guys. Everyone is putting their hands up in the bowling department.
“[In] the batting, we’re getting there every single
game. Everyone wants to perform and wants to win games, which is important.
“I’m expecting a better batting performance from everyone because I know they want to perform for us.”
Despite their winning start to the series, West Indies’ only bright spark in the batting has been Pooran, the left-hander scoring 41 in the opener at Brian Lara Stadium.
And while Captain Rovman Powell top-scored with 48 in that game, the batting has been lackluster, with players getting starts but failing to carry on.
Of concern for West Indies will be the type of collapses like what occurred in the last game when four wickets tumbled for three runs in the space of 13 deliveries, to nearly derail the chase.
Today, represents a massive chance for the Caribbean side to win their first multigame series against India in seven years but Pooran said they were now accustomed to such pressure.
“We’ve been under pressure in T20 cricket since we won those two World Cups,”
Pooran pointed out.
“It’s all about focusing on what we can control and just getting better at our skills,
game awareness and trying to put a complete performance together.”
He continued: “We haven’t won anything (the series)
yet. It’s all about recovering and coming back on Tuesday, putting on a performance and winning the game.”
The series will conclude
with the final two T20 Internationals at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida next weekend.
The Montreal Tigers are champions of the 2023 Global T20 Canada after a five-wicket win over the Surrey Jaguars in the final at the CAA Center in Brampton on Sunday.
The Tigers restricted the Jaguars to a modest 130-5 from their 20 overs
after winning the toss and electing to field first.
Jatinder Singh led the way for the Jaguars with an unbeaten 57-ball 56 while Ayaan Khan made 26 off 15 balls including two sixes.
Montreal’s bowling effort was led by 17-year-old
Aayan Afzal Khan who took 2-21 from his four overs while Andre Russell also bowled well for his 1-24 off four overs.
Player of the Match and player of the series, Sherfane Rutherford, then led
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