Guyana Chronicle E-paper 09-07-2023

Guyana

utilises increased attention to highlight global leadership abilities

- in areas of climate change, food security, energy security, President Ali says

Pixels-Guyana expands digital platform

- launches app, cameras to provide live traffic updates, other services in Region Three

Guyana Fire

saves the day

- rescues five Chinese citizens from burning supermarket - manages to contain blaze from spreading to nearby buildings

Charity Market vendors affected by fire to get support

Modern military, civil aviation school being conceptualised

- President Ali gives green light for team to develop a possible plan for this initiative, as Guyana receives new aircraft

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan

Ali, on Saturday, said he has granted authoritisation for the conceptualisation of a local modern military and civil aviation school, which would benefit the entire Caribbean.

“I have authorised work to be concluded before the third quarter in this year to have a full presentation to the Defence Board of a military and civil aviation school to be run by the air corps, to be managed by the Air Corps,” the President Ali said.

The Head of State made this announcement during the commissioning of the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF)’s 8R-1GY (KingAir350) aircraft and the new 8R-AYA 412 helicopter.

President Ali said that

they hope to have all of the formalities completed before the end of 2023, so that by 2024’s first quarter, the aviation school would be in full operation, both for the GDF, military and security personnel in the Caribbean region, and also to train civilian pilots and commercial pilots in Guyana.

“We are sparing no effort in ensuring that we put our Guyana Defence Force and the Air Corps in the frontline of modernisation and transformation, and creating an environment in which we are second to none,” he related.

President Ali said that this vision requires transformation in thinking and their approach to work and the workplace culture.

“The workforce culture

must change and change rapidly. Aviation requires additional discipline, additional responsibility and we are going to hold the leadership of Air Corps accountable,” he said.

The Head of State said that this is not the time to be

laid back, but a time for the military to be transformative in what they do.

“I am confident that we have the skills, the capacity, the talent in Air Corps to achieve all of which we set ourselves to achieve. Your country has invested tremen-

dously in you,” Dr. Ali said.

Further, the President related that they must break the tradition of losing highly skilled personnel, after they would have invested heavily in training and building capacity.

He said that there are plans to reach out to retired Air Corps officers and those regionally, as they seek to build one of the most modern advanced aviation schools.

“We can only do so if we create a comprehensive pathway for career development also. Those who are pilots and engineers, those who are safety officers must see their journey not ending after retirement, but see right in Air Corps, the ability to transition into a new form or service and that is what the

school will allow us to do,” Dr. Ali related.

He said that this is a comprehensive and holistic strategy in which they must be serious about, as they are not going to “idle” their way around the transformation of the Air Corps.

The Head of State expressed his expectancy of a deep sense of responsibility and commitment towards the transformation they wish to see.

“We are committed to your development. We are committed to the development of the Air Corps and the Guyana Defense Force, but you must also be committed in what you do,” President Ali said.

Guyana utilises increased attention to highlight global leadership abilities

- in areas of climate change, food security, energy security, President Ali says

SINCE the discovery of oil, Guyana has attracted significant attention from the international community and government is harnessing this interest to showcase the country's capabilities of addressing pressing global challenges.

This was according to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali during a joint press conference with United States Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, at State House, on Thursday.

President Ali said that Guyana’s intention is to leverage its oil discoveries to foster strong global leadership in these critical areas.

“We're utilising that interest to showcase Guyana

not as an oil and gas producer, but as a country that has the ability to provide strong global leadership on climate change, food security, and energy security,” the President said.

Acknowledging China as one of Guyana's development partners, President Ali drew attention to the Asian country's global footprint and the aggressive approach of Chinese companies in pursuing business opportunities.

He said that this assertiveness is now being mirrored by investors from various parts of the world, who are increasingly interested in Guyana.

The President said that, prior to oil, Guyana was rela-

tively unknown globally, but the discovery of oil and gas resources has sparked significant international interest.

The Head of State highlighted the significant increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Guyana over the past three years, particularly from the United States.

“I said before, publicly, that the aggression from the US private sector was not there in terms of going after the opportunities, but as a result of the strong bilateral relationship over the last few years and setting that tone and creating that policy environment, and building that trust we have seen a complete change from the

US private sector.

“And this is as a result of both countries at the policy level, saying to the private sector, saying to the investors there is the opportunity, we are welcoming that opportunity. And that has created a positive shift, more and more investment is coming from the US,” the President said.

He also announced that, in 2022, Guyana witnessed a historic rise in foreign direct investment from the United States, reaching an impressive US$4.2 billion.

The President attributed this achievement to the strong bilateral relationship and a conducive policy environment that has fostered trust between the two na -

tions. The collaborative efforts of both countries in encouraging private sector investment have led to a notable shift, with US companies now actively pursuing opportunities in Guyana.

The Head of State referenced the fruitful partnership with the Export-Import Bank of the United States of America (Exim Bank), which has unlocked a substantial $2 billion programme for Guyana.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two entities encompasses diverse sectors such as infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, water treatment and sanitation, and agriculture, identifying those as key areas for future

projects.

President Ali highlighted that Guyana's investment portfolio has diversified, with a growing reliance on financing from the United Kingdom's export credit agency, UK Export Finance (UKEF).

Expanding its financing network, Guyana has also entered into partnerships with countries in the Middle East. President Ali mentioned successful programmes with the Islamic Development Bank, the Saudi Development Fund, and ongoing collaborations with the Qatari Development Fund and the United Arab Emirates.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Saturday, said he has granted authoritisation for the conceptualisation of a local modern military and civil aviation school, which would benefit the entire Caribbean (DPI photos)

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and other officials with the new aircraft that were acquired by the GDF

The new 8R-AYA 412 helicopter in action

Region Five residents to get support after heavy winds damage houses

- VP Jagdeo affirms; CDC delivers building materials to affected households

REGION Five residents whose homes were damaged by heavy winds on Monday were met by Vice-President (VP) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday, who assured them of the government's assistance in rebuilding.

The vice president is scheduled to meet with 13 affected families and other residents from the region next week for further discussions.

“When I reach with the 13 families in Georgetown, they will receive more help and we will also talk about the sporting facilities across the whole region,” Dr. Jagdeo told residents.

The vice president also noted that residents of No. 28 Village will soon see roads within their commu-

nity being rehabilitated, and new ones constructed.

“This year we will be doing 100 roads in this region, just like every year, so before you know it all the roads will be done. We are doing concrete roads in some areas and so persons from that area will get the work,” he noted.

Meanwhile, after the tragic incident, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) quickly responded to the residents of No. 22 and No. 28 villages, Union, Trafalgar, and Bel Air on Tuesday, and conducted a needs assessment.

On Friday, officials from the commission returned and distributed building materials for reconstruction of the affected houses.

Michelle McPherson told the Department of Public Information (DPI), “I’m glad that we are getting the help to do back our house. Now that we have some of the materials we would like to start rebuilding as soon as possible.”

Another resident, Tamekea McPherson who lives with her parents, said, “I

am thankful for the help because it will ease them a lot from spending more money, since they are both pensioners and they aren’t working anywhere.”

The woman hopes to help rebuild her parents’ home as soon as possible with the materials from the CDC.

Although she resides with her mother most times, Fiona Massiah has a house that she is gradually moving into, but its roofing was removed by the strong winds.

“I am grateful for what the CDC is doing at the moment for me because I can

say I started building my house from scratch without help and to start all over again would be really hard for me,” the young teacher stressed.

Meanwhile, Region

Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal stated that the government will always support its people.

“Because some of them don’t have the resources to rebuild, the government has come on board to assist and it was prompt. That is the way we operate and how the government responds to the needs of the people,” he added.

Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo engaging Region Five residents on Friday

The CDC distributed building materials for reconstruction of the affected houses

Some of the residents during the engagement

ERC summons Norton for remarks against First Lady

- David Hinds also called in

Dr. Hinds was also written to and asked to appear before the Commission given that he failed to condemn the post and/ or disassociate himself from it.

Additionally, the Commission would have also reviewed a Live Facebook broadcast purportedly from the profile of Norman Browne.

video recording of a recent public meeting during which the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, addressed the gathering and made comments referring to the First Lady, Arya Ali.

THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) since its reconstitution on March 21, 2023, has received a number of complaints which were reviewed.

Two recent complaints, according to a press release, were referred to the Guyana Police Force for further investigation over alleged breaches of the country’s cybercrime laws.

The complaints were made following statements or remarks arising from a post by Albert Morgan on a Live Facebook broadcast

hosted by Dr. David Hinds, titled Politics 101.

“The Commission, having reviewed the post, found it to be a serious threat to life and sought the assistance of the Guyana Police Force for further investigation. Having been advised by the Police that Mr. Morgan was taken into custody, the Commission provided two statements reflecting its concerns and its firm belief that the said post transgressed the Laws of Guyana, including the Cybercrime Act,” the Commission stated.

The Commission, having found the contents of the said broadcast to be racially divisive and included threats to life and a transgression of the laws of Guyana including the Cybercrime Act, wrote seeking the assistance of the Guyana Police Force for further investigation.

The video in question is believed to be broadcast sometime on the evening of Monday, June 12, 2023; Local Government Elections Day.

Further, the Commission similarly reviewed a

“The ERC is of the firm view that the context and explicit reference were unnecessary, demeaning, provoking and not in keeping with the esteemed Office of the Opposition leader. It outlined in its letter that it was necessary to advance an atmosphere of respect and responsible behavior during public discourses which are tenets vital to the promotion of peace and harmony,” the ERC said. Two complaints were received pertaining to comments allegedly made by Tacuma Ogunseye at a public meeting in March, 2023 at Buxton, East Coast Demerara. The ERC confirmed that the matter is currently engaging the at-

tention of the GPF.

Additionally, a number of complainants have opted not to pursue their respective matters for complaints which were received by the Secretariat in 2022. Several other complaints are currently under review and the necessary action will be instituted.

The Commission re -

minded the public that complaints could be made via the ERC’s website @ www.erc.org.gy; email @ ethnic.relations@yahoo. com or through a walk-in process. The Commission remains committed in ensuring that its mandate of promoting harmony and good relations is upheld.

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton

WPA Executive Member, David Hinds

THE results of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) have once again demonstrated that our children are doing well at examinations, both at the national and regional levels.

The most recent results at the NGSA have shown a positive trend of enhanced student-attainment levels in all the regions of Guyana, including at the rural and hinterland levels. The results indicate not only the increasingly competitive nature of the exams, but also a much better geographic spread of student-attainment levels.

This speaks well of the efforts made by the PPP/C administration to make the delivery of quality education more accessible to children all across the country. The

performance gap between urban and rural schools is closing, as is also the case between coastland and hinterland schools.

It is a fact that hinterland schools were underperforming relative to coastland schools due to the neglect of the education-delivery system in those communities by the PNC regime during its 28 years of undemocratic rule.

Thankfully, all of that has changed since the return of democratic rule on October 5, 1992. One of the main priority areas of the PPP/C administration when it took power in 1992 was to reverse the decline in student attainment both at the national and regional levels. Since then, the country has been making steady

progress in terms of student attainment.

What we are seeing in effect is a continuing democratisation of the education-delivery system to children all across the country. Gone are the days when top performers came only from a limited number of city schools. There is a much better spread of results encompassing not only urban and rural schools, but also public and private schools.

The democratization of education access is also seen in the measures taken by the administration to universalize secondary education, making it possible for all students, regardless of their performance at the NGSA to access discrete secondary education.

This is in sharp contrast

to what happened in the past when more than 50 per cent of the students who sat the then Secondary Schools Entrance Examinations were sent to community high schools or to the tops of primary schools.

The school drop-out rates from those institutions were particularly high as the vast majority of those children were denied the opportunity to write the Caribbean Secondary School Certificae Examination (CSEC).

The implementation of the Secondary School Reform Programme (SSRP) initiated by the PPP/C administration and the several measures taken to increase the secondary school cohort have impacted significantly in terms of student performance at the post-primary

levels.

Only recently, several contracts were signed for the construction of new secondary schools, including a new school in Kwebanna in Region One, which when completed will be one of the most advanced in the hinterland.

This is not to suggest that challenges in terms of education delivery do not persist, especially in the critical subject areas of Language and Mathematics.

The good news, as pointed out by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, students’ performance in Mathematics at the NGSA have shown an overall improvement.

It is quite obvious that the investment in the education sector by the PPP/C

administration is paying dividends which augurs well from the standpoint of human-capital formation so critical for overall national development.

A whopping sum of 94.4 billion dollars is allocated to the education sector in this year's budget estimates amounting to $237,000 per child, a more than twofold increase compared to that allocated by the previous APNU+AFC regime.

All of these achievements are consistent with the overarching goal of a new society as adumbrated by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, one in which no individual will be left behind and where all Guyanese all be given the opportunity to develop to the full limit of their potential.

Nurturing Great Minds The young girl needs to reclaim her life!

Dear Editor,

LET me be pellucid! I condemn sexual assaults, including rapes, domestic violence, murders, or any felony. It was my deep concern for the state of crimes (murder, rape, physical and other forms of violence) that I proposed a national conference on crime and the penal system during the APNU rule. There was no enthusiasm then, but I revived my call for this in 2022 and was advised to discuss my proposal with the University of Guyana (UG), a neutral institution, that hosted a similar conference in 1984. I plan to pursue this shortly with UG. What is important is to match words with action?

As a parent, when the Dharamlall story broke out, without knowing the details, I was stunned. I, like many others, was initially swayed by the flow of social media reports and commentaries.

However, upon subsequent reflection, I recanted my position as I obtained some information from non-social media sources. I also reckon that the avalanche of negative reports and comments would play to the advantage of APNU and disadvantage to the PPP/C government. And it was for this reason that President Ali accepted Mr. Dharamlall’s resignation from the Cabinet and the Parliament, even though he was not charged by the police.

What is also evident is that the reaction by the opposition and others to the allegations of rape and sodomy has been spontaneous, unlike the reaction to other significant issues, such as ignoring the attempt by APNU coalition in collusion with rogue elements in GECCOM to steal the 2020 national elections in the full glare of the world. The opposition and critics feel that, for the very first time, they have an issue

to put the PPP/C government on the defensive. And they spared no time to politicize this issue.

President Ali had asked Guyanese to allow the legal system to work (due process) and that whenever a decision on the status of the investigation is made by the police, he would take appropriate action. And he did. But Mr. Dharamlall’s resignation from Cabinet and Parliament does not satisfy some critics and opposition elements. The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), for example, says, “the public interest demands trial in Dharamlall case.” How could a trial proceed when the virtual complainant withdraws her complaint? In response to other questions, if the President had fired Mr. Dharamlall or asked him to resign as soon as the story broke out, these critics would then say: “the President knew that he is guilty and that’s why he took

the decision to fire him or ask him to resign.”

The critics also seemingly want to discard the established “due process” procedure as well as the judicial doctrine of “a person is innocent until proven guilty.” Why do they want to shift the burden of proof from the state to the accused, Mr. Dharamlall? Do they also want this shift for all future cases? Should this ever happen, the entire criminal justice system would crumble.

Murders and rape are crimes that pose a great threat to society and generate much anxiety among citizens. Victims’ privacy and human rights are violated in these dastardly acts. In 2022 the murder rate was 16.46 per 100,000 while rape was almost double that,32.29 per 100,000. For the first half of 2023 the number of murders was 82, of which 33 were domestic-related and 32 connected to disorderly conduct.

I was unable to get any data on rape for 2023.

Of note, however, is that all crimes of rape or sexual abuse do not carry the same level and intensity of public reaction. The same is true for murders. The reaction varies depending on the modus operandi, gravity, and who are the victims and who are the accused. If the accused or the victim is from the middle class or occupies a position of power in the political system, the public’s reaction would be spontaneous and intense. Thus, Mr. Nigel Dharamlall’s conduct is judged at a higher standard compared with rape committed by a lower-status citizen. Vidyartha Kissoon makes a crucial point: while much focus is rightfully given by journalists to the victims of rape and sexual abuse, a proportionate consideration is not given to the families of murder victims. He enquired about the status of counselling, therapy,

and material assistance to families of victims. This disparity needs to be addressed. Being driven often by emotions and sensationalism, some critics have been making reckless statements that the teenager’s family has been intimidated and the case was mishandled; that the Child Protection Agency (CPA) has been compromised; and that the teenager was denied access to legal representation. They have failed to produce any evidence of intimidation, while the CPA adhered to Standard Operating Procedures, and categorically rejected critics’ claim that the teenager was denied private legal representation (CPA: 6/26/23). All these falsehoods are designed to show that the process was perverted, as well as to excite the public’s agitation. The police also issued a statement saying that their conduct was professional,

The UK drops its climate protection fund

I SPENT all my life in struggle for a better and freer Guyana, and I say from the deepest recesses of my heart, mind, soul and psyche, that in over 55 years of struggle, nothing has destroyed my tolerance level than a letter that appeared in the November 13, 2022 issue of the newspapers in this country that calls for the immediate and permanent rejection of the oil and gas industry in Guyana and signed by over two dozen Guyanese I will come to this incredible, monumental ignorance and inhumanity (to use the word of Professor Clive Thomas) below because it is the raison d’être for this column, but an important point that all readers of this analysis here need to digest is what the British Government has decided.

It will no longer stick to its pledge of giving 11.6 billion British pounds to climate protection. But your anger at those people who penned the infamous

letter will become uncontrollable when you read of one of the reasons for the withdrawal of the money –money has to be found for Ukraine.

The 11 billion pounds was part of the yearly $100 billion global commitment to climate change. The withdrawal of this money will affect 25 island-states in the Commonwealth. Foreign Office Minister, Zac Goldsmith, who resigned last week, said the following: “Small Island states in particular, whose votes in the UN are no less valuable than ours and which are routinely needed by us, will be left feeling utterly betrayed.”

The Environment Minister of Gabon, in reaction to the removal of the 11 billion pounds had this to say: “Developed nations, have to do the heavy lifting –but all too often they make false promises and fail to provide true leadership or even honour their modest financial commitments.”

We need to remind

Guyanese that our own Guyanese, Professor Clive Thomas last month, in rejecting the people who wrote that letter said that such an attitude was crass inhumanity (his words) because Guyana needs oil revenues because such an income holds out the promise of poverty eradication.

In an interview with David Hinds, Professor Thomas was livid when he asked if these people do not care about poverty eradication. He went on to make the point that the developed world has the resources to bring about climate change than a country like Guyana.

Against the backdrop of the 11 billion dollar removal and the words of Gabon’s Environment Minister and Professor Thomas, let’s quote the sentiments of these two dozen Guyanese, half of whom live in countries where the fossil fuel industry had made them post-modern societies.

I quote from the letter: “We are deeply concerned that the government’s poli-

The young girl...

FROM PAGE 6

and they followed the law. Critics would continue to make false claims because the outcome was contrary to their expectation.

We cannot afford to be duplicitous in cases of morality. I find no compelling evidence that critics do care for the welfare of the girl. Their focus is to humiliate the government for the alleged misconduct of one of its members. I wonder if some of these critics have suddenly found their moral compass, which was missing when the PNCR strongman, Mr. Carl Parker, the Regional Officer of Region Nine, was accused of sexual assault of an Amerindian woman and was acquitted when the authorities filed the charge under a wrong section of the law. And some of these critics would know of the rape allegation against Mr. Robert Corbin, a then

PNC MP who later became the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Corbin did not resign. And what about the sexual assault case against a former APNU+AFC Speaker of the National Assembly? He did not resign either. Where do critics stand on an APNU MP who was accused by her husband for abusing him? Does she have any moral basis to attack anyone for sexual abuse?

Regarding the Dharamlall case, John Mair notes that no one comes out with any glory: “not the political elite (on all sides), not the police and the DPP, not the screaming hordes on social media, not the tiny NGOs making noise, not the man himself or his ritzy lawyer.” He continues: “The only one to suffer is the poor young lady in question. Time for the (too many) interested parties to butt out and leave the police and the rel-

cy to pursue economic development based on oil and gas is bad for Guyana… oil and gas are a threat to Guyana. We cannot support the policy to produce oil and gas when gas pollution causes loss of life in African countries. We call for a national moratorium on all petroleum operations to allow for us, Guyanese, to pause so as to take stock of the oil and gas situation.”

Let’s comment on this unbelievable journey into human folly. If oil and gas pollution results in loss of life, why did this letter single out Africa only? Why not say that it kills people around the world? Why only African countries. Is there a Freudian meaning to the selection of African people only? Of course

there is and it demonstrates the habit of race baiting in these people.

What do the signatories mean by us, Guyanese?

Who speak for the Guyanese people? In the Saturday, July 1 editorial of the Stabroek News, Exxon is attacked for raping our resources and these words are used: “Guyanese don’t appreciate the rape being rubbed in our face.”

Really! Who speak for Guyanese? After three years of unholy attacks by the two private newspapers about the government giving away our resources, the ruling party increased its votes substantially in last month’s LGE, and in urban areas where the opposition is electorally strong.

Do the Guyanese people

want the immediate or even long-term abolition of the oil industry? I saw several videos of Mr. Glenn Lall on a country-wide walk to denounce the oil and gas industry.

At no time did I see more than three persons with Lall. So I ask for the third time; who speaks for the Guyanese people?

When Dr. Janet Bulkan went to the OAS and asked them to intervene to stop oil exploration in Guyana, who did she consult? I don’t think anyone in Guyana and the OAS knows who Janet Bulkan is? Will the usual suspects write to the British Prime Minister about the loss of the 11 billion British pounds?

evant authorities to do their work...” (SN: 7/5/23).

Finally, the Dharamlall case must be viewed in a wider context of a social system where alcoholism, suicides, domestic violence, sexual abuse, other forms of violence, decay of family values, family breakdowns, the rise of single families, and despair combined to further erode the social and moral fabric of our society. Consequently, it is imperative that social issues be elevated to centre stage politics and given the attention these deserve.

The young girl needs to reclaim her life. Critics and others should respect her privacy while she continues to receive counselling, including trauma-responsive therapy. She is under the professional care of the CPA.

Yours sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

CARICOM, holidays and holy days

HOLIDAYS are sacred to Caribbean people – so much so, that historians and social scientists will agree and argue over whether the extent the obsession is with a day away from work, or true recognition of the reason for the day-off.

But holidays – including Holy Days – are dear to every Caribbean heart, with several examples.

Take Saint Lucia, where December 13 has been a holiday from time immemorial: First as ‘Discovery Day’ (when Columbus was supposed to have seen the island on the Feast of the Patron Saint of the Blind), but reluctantly renamed ‘National Day’ after Colum-

bus’ diaries confirmed he was nowhere near on that day.

It was then referred to ‘National Horseracing Day’, but even though the horseracing died with COVID, December 13 is still a national public holiday without meaning – all of 44 years after Independence.

Just as interesting, the island became Independent on February 22, 1979 – but that date didn’t become a holiday until many years later after a subsequent government decided to dump the ‘Queen’s Birthday’ holiday to belatedly make Independence Day a holiday, like December 13.

Saint Lucia’s holiday

anomaly is also toxic with 13 public holidays – and quite a disincentive to investors.

Further, under inherited colonial laws, each independent nation has a ‘quota’ of inherited holidays that come with a British royal seal and cannot be changed easily, resulting in several nations creating their own National Orders.

But in most cases, residual colonial thought dominance still sees most Caribbean societies give more immediate recognition to a ‘Sir’ this or ‘Lady’ that than to a holder of a National Medal of Honor of Distinction of no less equal import.

Likewise with the mat-

ter of agreeing on what holidays to be officially declared public and the ease or difficulty of declaring national holidays across the Caribbean.

Take May Day, observed in most CARICOM member states on May 1 as a holiday for International Workers Day, but on May 23 in Jamaica and June 19 in Trinidad & Tobago.

And ditto CARICOM Day, observed in most member states on July 4, except in Guyana, which explains the celebration was always meant to be on ‘the first Monday of every July’ – thus Monday July 3, 2023.

Curious observers have always wondered why the CARICOM Heads would have selected July 4, the US National Independence Day since 1776, as the date to launch the regional grouping, even though it didn’t come into effect that day.

The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which came into effect on August 1, 1973.

But August 1 (like July 4) was also already a holiday: Emancipation Day.

The leaders at the time all had their feet in the same wrong shoe, stuck between island rocks and mainland reefs, having to choose between being accused of encroaching on an American holiday and a British one they grew up with.

Their choice was to steer clear of August 1, which most citizens have known as an annual holiday all their lives, without caring about what it actually meant.

So, CARICOM nations have observed both the July 4 and August 1 holidays for the past five

decades – eating both cakes, without any attempt to put either into proper historical context for the majority citizens of African and Indian Descent whose forebears came on the same ship, through Slavery and Indentureship, to keep the plantations running before and after Abolition and Apprenticeship.

CARICOM has therefore helped perpetuate the August I Emancipation Day myth, while ignoring the United Nations (UN) call – since 1997 -- been urging ‘All Member-states’ (including CARICOM and all nations washed by The Caribbean Sea and/or affected by Trans-Atlantic Slavery) to annually observe August 23 as ‘International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition’.

The date was chosen by UNESCO, “to pay tribute to all those who fought for freedom, and to continue teaching about their story and their values.”

Why? Because on the night of 22 to 23 August 1791, “men and women, torn from Africa and sold into slavery, revolted against the slave system in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) to obtain freedom and independence.”

UNESCO insists that the Haiti uprising set forth events that eventually led to the abolition of the slave trade,”, which is why “The Commemoration on that day is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples.”

The success of this August 23 slave rebellion is described by UNESCO as “a deep source of inspiration today for the fight against all forms of servitude, racism, prejudice, racial discrimination and social injustice that are a

legacy of slavery.”

UNESCO is actually still hoping for annual August 23 observances every year, by all member states, “will offer an opportunity for collective consideration of the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of this tragedy, and for an analysis of the interactions to which it has given rise between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.”

The Director General also advised that “every year, on that date,” member states should “organize activities involving the entire population of their country -- and in particular, young people, educators, artistes and intellectuals.”

But here again, CARICOM member states are yet to adopt the 26-yearold UNESCO recommendation to observe the date the UN observes as representing the final act by formerly-enslaved Haitians that led to the eventual universal abolition of Slavery in Europe and the USA.

Not so with the Holy Days, however, each of which is enjoyed – and similarly revered – by all.

Meanwhile, plans for Emancipation Day 2023 observances continue across the region, but with increasing efforts -- like in Saint Lucia with its second observance of Emancipation Month this year -- encouraging citizens to explore all the angles of Slavery and Abolition, Emancipation, Apprenticeship and Indentureship, including from the standpoints of the apologists for slavery and the enslaved victims whose legally-enforced misery continued long after the many Proclamations of Abolition.

Largest-ever exploration campaign greenlit by EPA

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced, on July 2, that it granted the ExxonMobil Guyana-led consortium approval for a 35-well exploration and appraisal drilling campaign in the Stabroek Block.

With drilling expected to begin by third quarter this year, the consortium has permission to explore offshore with a combination of well types beginning in 2023 and concluding in 2028, or potentially sooner. This is the single largest drilling campaign ever approved in Guyana.

The EPA’s decision comes after nearly a year of careful assessment.

The agency announced last July it would require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to assess any cumulative effects from the proposed project and surrounding activities in the block.

Prior to issuance of the approval, the law required the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) to ensure that both the Environmental Impact Statement and EIA submitted by the companies were in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act. In its statement, the EPA said that the campaign could be conducted in “a manner that avoids, prevents and minimises any adverse effects which could result from the activity.”

While sites for the 35 wells are yet to be finalised, ExxonMobil Guy -

ana said, “The project is being developed to discover new and re-evaluate existing recoverable hydrocarbons from reservoirs in the Stabroek Block, thereby enabling potential future development projects.”

This is important as estimates are often based on the best available data at the time of drilling. Further drilling could show additional resources in previously assessed areas in the Stabroek Block and identify new resources in frontier areas that remain less explored.

The wells campaign will include appraisal wells and exploration wells. Appraisal wells are drilled to establish the extent and size of a petroleum deposit that has already been discovered and an exploration well is drilled to establish the existence of a possible petroleum deposit or to acquire information to map an established deposit.

Four areas of interest have been identified by the company and, while exact locations are unknown, it is expected to be mostly in the centre and south-eastern sections of the block, home to Liza, Payara and Yellowtail discoveries. These prolific discoveries have put Guyana on the map and in the lead for offshore discoveries over the past few years, according to Rystad Energy.

Guyana’s Stabroek remains the only producing

block, with proven reserves of about 11 billion barrels of oil resource. Analysts estimate that total reserves could be almost double that number, but it will likely take substantial investment and exploration to uncover them.

While the Stabroek Block has boasted an impressive series of discoveries, it took decades of initial exploration and billions of US dollars in investments to open that door. The reserves that have been found are in “ultra-deepwater” areas that require sophisticated operations and heavy investments to develop.

Many areas offshore that are yet to be explored are even deeper and remain high-risk for investors.

Although Guyana’s reserves are impressive for a previously non-producing nation, they are just a drop in the global bucket. A recent analysis from Rystad Energy found that global recoverable oil reserves saw an increase of 52 billion barrels from 2022 and now stand at more than 1.6 trillion barrels.

Of global recoverable oil reserves, mega-producer Saudi Arabia and the United States account for 250 and 200 billion barrels respectively. Although Guyana lags far behind these mammoth numbers, it will still hold the title of one of the world’s largest per capita oil producers in the next

few years.

With Guyana expected to offer up to 14 blocks in the upcoming oil block auction, proven reserves will hopefully rise quickly in the years to come and continue to generate significant revenue for the country.

Already, the two producing projects in the Stabroek Block, Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two,

generated close to US$2 billion for the Natural Resource Fund since production started, with a record GY$240 billion in 2022, a 200 per cent increase in royalty payments and 13 lifts of profit oil barrels.

Guyana has demonstrated that its regulators have the capacity to safely advance projects on a timely basis while

adhering to the strictest international standards and best practices. The newly sanctioned campaign is expected to yield additional positive results for Guyana, and the EPA should be standing by to ensure that the interests of the people and the environment are protected in the process.

Guyana’s development path

By Joel Bhagwandin, MSc.

GUYANA is projected to experience sustained double-digit growth over the next decade with continued oil production and exploration.

The government is pursuing an expansive economic diversification and transformative development agenda. Macroeconomic stability, high investors’ confidence―and from a global perspective, perceived low-to-moderate political risk―are the hallmarks to achieving the transformational development that the government is advancing.

On July 5, 2023, this author participated in a debate organised by the students’ association of the University of Guyana against Economic Adviser to the Leader of the

Opposition, Elson Low. The moot of the debate was “Guyana is not on the right path to development given its newfound oil resources”. Elson Low was proposing, and this author was opposing.

One would expect that given the moot, Elson Low would have presented a blueprint of an alternative development path―which he failed to do.

His argument was deeply incoherent and lacked substance, such that even a third form secondary school student by the name of Reginald Brown from St Stanislaus College, recognised the weakness of Low’s arguments. The student posed the following (brilliant) question to him (Low) during the floor debate segment:

 “What would be an alternative development path you’d propose and what sectors would you prioritise?”

In response to the student’s question, Elson Low visibly fumbled and exhibited nervousness. But to appear smart, he rambled and bluffed his way stating that “there should be no poverty that we need to model a vast amount of scenarios, he thinks tourism has some potential, and manufacturing…” And he rambled on for about three minutes and could not have answered the question.

At minimum, it was expected of him to use the op-

portunity to expand on the Opposition Leader’s 10 points plan he presented in the National Assembly in his budget 2023 debate, as his substantive arguments. Disappointingly, he did not. The debate would have been a bit more interesting had he done so.

So, again, one has to ask, where is the opposition’s alternative blueprint? To argue that Guyana is not on the right path of development, is effectively arguing against transformational projects such as the gas-to-energy, the new road networks (four-lane highways) across the country, a secondary city (Silica city), the reintroduction of railways, the Low Carbon Development Strategy, new modern hospitals across the country, the 20,000+ scholarships, road connecting Lethem to Georgetown so that Northern Brazil international markets through Guyana, leading to Guyana becoming a transshipment/trading hub aided by the deep-water ports, the regional food and energy security agenda, and positioning Guyana as a strategic and geopolitically important country within the Region (CARICOM), South America and Globally, etc.

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

In my presentation, I argued that Guyana’s development path is a journey that began three decades ago under the current government, and

that development is not an overnight process. In so doing, I highlighted Guyana’s economic history, how the economy evolved, and some of the key developmental challenges and needs. In this regard, reference was made to the 1996 National Development Strategy (NDS), which was not prepared by a United Nations intern, but, over 200 Guyanese stakeholders, including the

ised by the following:

 Human Capital/ Labour Market Constraints: skills deficit, less than five per cent of the working population possess tertiary level education (Guyana Labour Force Survey Report, 2021 Q3). The labour force participation rate was among the lowest (49 per cent (2021), below the global average of 60 per cent. Low-income countries’ labour

ment in 2011-2014, leading to snap elections in 2015 (Gov’t encountered difficulty in passing budgets and laws in the National Assembly, political deadlock) Guyana was placed on the grey list internationally for failing to enact certain legislative amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

PRE-OIL ECONOMY BY 2014 (OIL DISCOV-

Macroeconomic indicators (1985-2016)

political opposition.

ECONOMIC HISTORY

PRE- AND POST-1992

Guyana was once a Centrally Command State where more than 80per cent of the productive sectors were controlled by the State. In the post 1992 era, Guyana transitioned from a Centrally Command and bankrupt State to a mixedeconomic system with more predominant features of a free market economy. Guyana’s debt-to-GDP stood at over 900per cent at one point in time.

During this period, Guyana recorded the highest inflation rate of 89.7 per cent in 1989, the highest interest rate (prime lending rate for the period) of 37.5per cent in 1989, negative growth rates were recorded in 1988-1990, the exchange rate devalued from G$4.25/US$1 in 1985 to G$27/US$1 in 1989, G$112/ US$ in 1990, G$138/US$1 in 1994, G$178/US$1 in 1999, G$200/US$1 by 2004. Additionally:

 Net International Reserve pre-1990 was nil. By 1990, net international reserve (US$103M). Until 1992, we had a positive net international reserve of US$15M.

 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 1992 was recorded at US$138M and averaged US$200M up to 2017.

DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES

Guyana’s development challenges can be character-

force participation rate averaged 70 per cent (ILO study).

 Energy: energy cost among the highest averaging US$0.30 cents per kwh;

 Infrastructure Deficit: physical, social, technology;

 Ease of doing business/red tapes / bureaucracy; and

 Political stability/investors’ confidence historically: several periods of political instability.

Development Challenges: Periods of Political Instability and (1) Natural disaster (post1992)

 1992–1997: there was a short period of street protests and violence having restored democracy, following which the economy took off (short period of stability).

 1997–2001: prolonged street protests and disruption (elections time)

 2002–2003: prison break, crime wave spiraled out of control and politically motivated disruptions.

 2004–2008: unrests, politically motivated disruptions

 2008–2012: Lusignan, Lindo Creek, Bartica massacre, violence erupted when protestors blocked the Wismar Mckenzie bridge.

 The 2005 flood (natural disaster) estimated economic loss of $93B representing 60 per cent of GDP (Budget speech, 2006).

 Minority Govern -

ERED IN COMMERCIAL

QUANTITIES IN 2015)

Despite all of the foregoing challenges, by 2014, Guyana achieved macroeconomic stability from a bankrupt state in 1992 with the following macroeconomic outcomes:

 Real GDP stood at US$4B from US$200M,  Per capita income moved to US$5,000 from less than US$300,

 Net International Reserve stood at US$652M from US$15M,  Exchange rate stabled at G$208.5/US$1,  Prime lending rate (weighted average) down to 11per cent from 37.5per cent,  Debt-to-GDP Ratio down to 40 per cent from a high of 900 per cent,  GDP growth rate of four per cent, and  Inflation rate 1.2 per cent down from 89.7 per cent.

CURRENT ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE – POST OIL (2022)

 Real GDP stood at US$14.3B, non-oil GDP stood at US$5B,  Per capita income US$18,333,

 Net International Reserve stood at US$932M,  Exchange rate stable at G$208.5/US$1: stable exchange rate since 2004 (19 years),  Prime lending rate (WA) 8.23 per cent,  Debt-to-GDP Ratio

Reginald Brown, a brilliant third form student of St Stanislaus College

(Ministry of Finance, Bank of Guyana Reports)

Guyana Fire Service saves the day

- rescues five Chinese citizens from burning supermarket - manages to contain blaze from spreading to nearby buildings

THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS), on Saturday morning, managed to contain a large fire at a Chinese supermarket located at Saffon and

Sussex Streets, Georgetown, opposite the La Penitence Market.

According to the GFS, the fire started at approximately 02:26 hrs and

six water tenders, one hydraulic platform, one fire boat, and a hose layer from Central, Alberttown, Campbellville, West Ruimveldt, Eccles, and Fire

Guyana’s development...

FROM PAGE 10

26 per cent,

 GDP growth rate of 62.3 per cent, and non-oil GDP 11per cent, and

 Inflation rate of 7.2 per cent, below the global average of 8.7 per cent.

DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Guyana has a major infrastructure deficit: Infrastructure needs include roads, bridges, ports, moving development towards the South (inland), new secondary city to be developed (Silica City);

 Climate Resilient infrastructure (expanded LCDS),

 Modern Public Health Care and Infrastructure,

 Making Education affordable and accessible, overhaul the Education curriculum, designed to equip the future labour force with the skills and competences for the future economy

 Government is aiming to provide free tertiary education by 2025

 Affordable housing across the country targeting 50,000 new homes by 2025,

 Strengthening national security,

 Investing in people, human resources of the public

sector, better wages, salaries, and working conditions.

ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

 Major transformational projects include the gas-to-energy and the Amaila Falls Hydro-electric projects aimed at reducing energy cost by 50 per cent,

 Economic transformation from a largely primary producing economy to a tertiary producing economy,

 Major focus and investment in economic diversification, agriculture, Agro-processing, the services industry, manufacturing, ICT, and eco-tourism, and building out the oil and gas value chain, and

 Regional food and energy security agenda, thereby tapping into a US$5B and US$1B market, respectively.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Guyana is projected to experience sustained double-digit growth over the next decade with continued oil production and exploration. The government is pursuing an expansive economic diversification and transformative development agenda.

The medium-term focus areas are investment in

public infrastructure sector, agriculture /agro-business/ agro-processing, transforming the energy landscape with cheaper and reliable energy supply. Other key focus areas include education, health and digitising the IT infrastructure of the public sector to aid improved efficiency in delivering public service.

Noteworthy, the projected earnings from the oil and gas resources is modest when juxtaposed with the massive development needs of the country, and the need for climate resilient development within the Low Carbon Development framework. It is important to note that macroeconomic stability, high investors’ confidence―and from a global perspective, perceived low-to-moderate political risk―are the hallmarks to achieving the transformational development that the government is advancing.

Joel Bhagwandin, MSc. is the

Service Headquarters responded to the scene.

Firefighters rescued five Chinese nationals who were trapped in the building. Three of them

were sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation, along with one of the GFS’s firefighters.

Firefighters also managed to prevent the

fire from spreading to the market and nearby buildings located to the south and east of the building of origin.

Director

of Corporate Finance & Investment Advisory, Business Intelligence, Financial & Economic Analysis at SphereX Professional Services Inc. He can be reached at jbhagwandin@spherexgy.com.

Scenes from the Chinese supermarket fire on Saturday morning

UG debate: A financial analyst schools a so-called economist

THE public is always interested and excited whenever there is going to be a debate on the direction of public policy and the way it is being implemented by the government of the day.

They get a chance to zoom into the thinking patterns of the persons at the centre of the debate, understanding their positions on a wide range of issues that run to the core of societal development, progress and growth.

This is particularly true if the public has concerns with the manner, type, and form of good governance systems, and institutional or legislative systems in place which result in the necessary checks and balances.

So, the debates are a big deal at home and abroad. Therefore, one should not accept offers lightly to engage one’s opponent if one is not confident in the policy positions that one is putting forward or defending.

Similarly, one cannot debate effectively if one is not au fait with the topic or moot of the debate. Simply put, one cannot debate effec-

tively if one has no clue and one has a set of fictional constructs of policy intentions.

After all, William Penn said in his works that “in all debates, let truth be thy aim, not victory or unjust interest.” His position is supported by Jim Lerher, who said “A debate has one purpose, one purpose only, and that is to facilitate an exchange of ideas directly between two candidates, and that’s it.”

This week, the public got the opportunity to witness in person, and via social media, two very different personalities debating the moot, which reads: “Guyana is not on the right path to development given its newfound oil wealth.”

The two persons were Economic Adviser to the Leader of the Opposition who insists on referring to himself as an economist, Elson Low and a Public Policy and Financial Analyst Joel Bhagwandin.

Within the first 45 minutes of the debate, Low advanced all the public-policy positions adopted and adumbrated by the combined opposition under the leadership

of Aubrey Norton.

He delved into Guyana’s poverty-reduction efforts, stating that the country still has not achieved much because it has a population that has 40 per cent of its people living below the international poverty line.

Low blasted a series of policy initiatives that allegedly were useless because they were ineffective due to what he claimed was the incompetence of the government of the day, which he said enjoyed more than 25 years in power. He looked at the example of worrying developments in the oil and gas sector with respect to audits, and the gas-to-shore project.

Low’s presentation was highly emotive, as he played with those present on the topic of making university free.

He did not present factual arguments and quantitative analyses of the policy measures which were pivotal to supporting the moot. It was bare and a politician’s stage for Low as far as any rational mind is concerned, with the sheepish section of the public falling prey to his

illogical rants.

Soon, Bhagwandin took the podium to make his arguments, discrediting the moot with bare statistics and a quantitative approach to the issue of public-policy positions which were adopted by the government of the day that brought Guyana from a bankrupt nation to a developing state.

Using his confidence and showing that he was least interested in being popular, Bhagwandin used examples of hurdles and challenges to the country’s economic growth and stability to get his audience to appreciate the gains made on the path of development. He crushed Low’s arguments on the gas-to-shore project and the oil and gas sector, pointing to fallacies and holes in the latter’s reasoning.

In the end, Bhagwandin appeared to be the front-runner as far as his style of using facts and quantitative data to show how the moot was wrong, and Guyana was on a strong path to development as the government of the day was implementing a series of

fiscal and legislative policies that will redound to Guyana’s development in the long term.

He seemed to struggle with getting the public to understand that that approach would result in continuous economic growth and stability, coupled with the short-term measures put in place to deal with the cost of living and other realistic occurrences.

This, sadly, was missed by the part of the audience which was clamouring to Low who seemed to be championing giving out the resources to people and spending on their needs now as opposed to looking at the future.

This debate was good as it clearly paints two choices and perspectives on the moot.

Bhagwandin’s arguments would be endorsed by any right-thinking Guyanese who understood the challenges of nation-building and policy-making towards development.

Also, his analyses would find strong favour with the political parties who under-

stand governance and governance challenges, as well as those in government who are thinking in a futuristic and modern way, especially with the new wealth of oil and gas resources.

The normal man would find his reasoning to be sound and true as real economists hardly talk about giving people large sums of money and entrusting them to spend it on their needs as opposed to wants as Low did so many times during his debate.

But then again, it takes a low level of intelligence and an equally low reasoning ability to understand that Low was giving a lesson to the public on how to take Guyana down the path of bankruptcy in the modern age.

Apart from the good points that he made generally on checks and balances that need to be in place, he was playing politics and giving a lesson on ‘jumbie economics’ from someone who has no business being an adviser on economics or an economist.

Pixels-Guyana expands digital platform

By Cindy Parkinson

AS the government continues to invest in thousands of additional roads to enhance the country and tackle various issues, Leonard Gildarie, the Managing Director of Pixels-Guyana Inc., has launched the Pixels-Guyana app and added two more cameras in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) for over two million dollars.

The former journalist, who is now a businessman, mentioned in an interview with the Sunday Chronicle that the cameras have both internet capabilities and the ability to stream live traffic situations on the road, just like the others. The feed will be uploaded on the company's Facebook page, as per his suggestion, enabling drivers and commuters to decide the ideal time to use the freeway.

Gildarie said, “I would first like to thank the CEO of E-net, Vishok Persaud, for giving us free internet to broadcast the feeds to the cameras, and to Mr. Gary Hall, one of the directors from GPL, for providing us with the necessary electricity. It was a collaborative effort among us, and without these two companies, this would not have been successful. I know the pain of being stuck in traffic for

a long period of time, so I understand how frustrating it can be, so when we came up with the idea of monitoring the traffic our company became operational in June of last year.”

He continued, “I am happy to say that today we have the most modern digital screens throughout the entire Caribbean. These are the outdoor boards, and we have installed three of these digital screens on three overpasses, at Houston, at the Habour Bridge, and at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara. We would have also installed some traffic cameras to monitor traffic last year. People saw while we were testing it on Facebook, and they shared their views on how helpful it was for them and requested that we keep it up online, which we did. It has grown since, and I can say that today we have eight cameras.”

The managing director added he is “extremely happy” that they are able to launch an additional two on the West Coast of Demerara. According to him, “today I am happy to say that I am very excited to be launching these cameras; the people from Region Three have been asking for this for a long time, and we are finally here.”

The former journalist said that he recognised

that on several occasions the traffic is built up at the bridge. “People from Region Two and the other Islands, along with the residents of this region, can now see what the traffic is like at the

- launches app, cameras to provide live traffic updates, other services in Region Three

way over the bridge from Georgetown. Now, with our app, the view of the traffic is just at your fingertips, so we believe that it will greatly help Guyanese. The other camera is installed at Vreed-

technology freak; I always like to follow technology and see what capabilities could happen. I like to fiddle with cameras and drones and things like that,”

Future Plans

ic Guyanese,” he is giving back to his country and his community by providing the service to them at no cost.

According to him, “Our intentions are to install these cameras across Guyana, at

bridge before they leave their homes, as well as the people who will be making their

En-Hoop.”

Gildarie said: “I’ve always been somewhat of a

While the initiative is not cheap, Gildarie said that as a company and as a “patriot-

Leonora, Parika, on the East Coast of Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo Coast. Each of these cameras is worth in excess of a million dollars. I have a very young and vibrant team, and I am very proud of them.”

Gildarie revealed that the first 3D screen in Guyana will be at the Amazonian Mall in a matter of months. He stated that he and the Guyanese ex-cricketer and owner of Amazonian Mall are collaborating on the said project.

In attendance at the launch was the Regional Chairman, Mr. Inshan Ayube, who explained that the installation of Pixels-Guyana Inc. would be a “game changer” for the Region. The Regional Chairman said he hopes others will praise the gesture and calls on other businessmen to come forward and give back to their communities through similar initiatives.

Managing Director of Pixels-Guyana Inc., Leonard Gildarie (fourth from right), Mr. Gary Hall, one of the directors from GPL (second from left), and other representatives from Pixels-Guyana Inc. and GPL

Pixels-Guyana Inc. Installed a camera on the West Coast of Demerara (Harbour bridge area)

Charity Market vendors affected by fire to get support

-VP Jagdeo affirms

By Indrawattie Natram

CHARITY Market vendors

who were affected by a massive fire on Thursday evening, were assured of the government’s full support during a meeting with Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat

Jagdeo, on Saturday. During the engagement with 33 vendors, the Vice-President said that two ministers visited the site immediately after the incident, and assessments are being conducted.

Dr. Jagdeo assured vendors of the government’s full

support, and informed them that the government will be exploring the possibility of a new design.

Once a design is agreed upon then the funding will be sought for construction, he said, noting that such could be costly.

In addition to the market, vendors highlighted the need for a shopping mall and other

new amenities at Charity.

In response, Vice-President Jagdeo said that indeed the region needs a few shopping malls, which could be achieved through private investments.

“We need everything to be sectionalised…. food, clothing everything different and a mall can be done, a proper facility is needed,” a

vendor said.

Vendors also made a request for a branch of the fire department to be established at Charity. They also called for cameras to be installed at the market for security purposes.

“We are going to look at the short term, and this will go to the Cabinet… for me, I will like to work on

something long term, something that will create a good experience for Essequibians, with movie theatre’s, a good experience,” Vice-President Jagdeo said.

The Guyana Fire Service is currently investigating the cause of the fire, and the area is being drenched to avoid any further blaze.

Newly elected Mahdia Mayor urges unity, full co-operation in development

FORTY-ONEYEAR-OLD businesswoman, Eslyn Romascindo-Hussain has been elected as the new Mayor of Mahdia, while twenty-three-year-old Akita John will serve as Deputy Mayor.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, accompanied by Chairman of the Local Government Commission (LGC), Norman Whitaker, witnessed the swearing-in of the newly elected councilors, on Thursday, in the town.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) shortly after the elections, the new mayor pledged to push for more development in the town and urged

residents to work together.

“I am willing to work with the township, with the folks. I would look into various areas where I see we need development … I would like them to work along with me with unity and full cooperation,” she expressed.

Meanwhile, Minister Sukhai, who has parliamentary oversight for Region Eight dubbed the event as significant.

“I believe that Mahdia Township needs good leadership, leadership that will express and put enough effort to increase services, improve access to services, and also to improve the infrastructure,” the minister

expressed.

She added that the newly constituted body must immediately start engaging the people and begin to address the concerns and the challenges that are being experienced by the residents.

The minister emphasised that “It is important that the new council remains engaged with the people because the people’s priority and our manifesto will drive the actions that should bring betterment for the township.”

The mayor and the deputy mayor will be taking their Oaths of Office in the presence of President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Eslyn Romascindo-Hussain is the new Mayor of Mahdia

Newly elected Deputy Mayor, Akita John

Sheriff Group redefines luxury living in the Caribbean

By Cindy Parkinson

DUE to Guyana's rapid oil and gas expansion and fast-growing economy, local business moguls are investing billions in modern rental homes, with the potential for the country to become the next Dubai of the region.

Ameir Ahmad, proprietor of Sheriff Group of Companies, is one such investor. In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Ameir said, “We have been hearing that we will become the Dubai

and upcoming events like the Caribbean Premier League matches.

Ameir's company will

- invests over $6B in ultra-modern rental homes

nival events are coming up, and we are targetting the tourists that will come to Guyana for those events, but we are also hoping to make it in such a way that Guyanese can offer international standards in their home rentals as well,” he explained.

He continued: “It is a lot of investment, yes, but I am proud to say that with every investment that we pool into, we are employing thousands of Guyanese, and we are also purchasing our materials locally, so in every way we are giving back to our fellow countrymen.”

of the Caribbean, and we have seen the possibilities of that happening with Guyana’s rapid growth and development. However, we cannot depend on the government alone to make that happen; we in the private sector have to contribute as well. I believe that if we are to become the next Dubai, we have to start investing now and we are setting the trend. With that in mind, we are building our branded Sheriff Homes.”

The Sheriff Group has invested heavily in various sectors in Guyana due to the increase in tourism, investment,

take a leap of faith and invest more than $6 billion in 25 state-ofthe-art rental homes in Providence Housing Scheme on EBD.

“We are taking a huge risk by investing over 6 billion dollars into these homes that will be used for rental purposes, and we are also taking a leap of faith. How else are we supposed to progress? With these great risks, we are also hoping to make great profits. That’s the goal of any investor, and while I take pride in seeing our company grow, we are also helping the country grow. The CPL cricket and cricket car-

Two rental homes in Richmondville Estate are finished. The homes have a large living room, kitchen, and garage on the lower level. A floating stairway leads to the upper flat that has two self-contained master bedrooms with their own balconies, a conjoining single room, a living room, and a rooftop view of Winsor Estate for events or relaxation. The homes are also fully furnished with Ashley’s brand furniture and all modern amenities. Ameir also related that every home will be equipped with Sheriff Security alarms and customised steel doors for security purposes.

Three homes at KB Estate in Eccles are almost done. With a work-hard-play-hard mentality, Ameir said, “We are living in an era where people are working hard for their money, and they don’t mind spending it to enjoy and experience the comfort and luxuries of

life, but we should not have to travel overseas to get that experience either. We can have that right here in Guyana, we are giving that experience as well as ensuring that safety and security are intact too. It’s not all about the money; people need to feel safe too.”

Additionally, Ameir is giving back to the community by building roads in the areas where these homes are located.

According to him, “I am building these homes, but I am also building the roads that are leading to the homes as well. Again, I will say, we cannot wait on the government to do ev-

erything. It is costly, yes, but it is not fair to just build the part in front of the homes

have elders, medical workers, and children who have to use these roads every day. You

and leave the rest. We are living in the neighbourhood and if we can contribute to its development, I believe that we should. We

may not have money to give back, but you can give back by being of service too. I believe in that.”

Three of the soon-to-be completed rental homes at KB Estate in Eccles (Adrian Narine photo)

One of the proprietors of Sheriff Group of Companies, Ameir Ahmad

One of the master bedrooms (Adrian Narine photo)

Living room and kitchen on the lower flat of one of the completed houses (Adrian Narine photo)

Two out of the 25 completed homes in Richmondville, Providence, EBD (Adrian Narine photo)

Frederick Rampersaud celebrates 27 years in the broadcasting industry

FREDERICK Rampersaud, a beloved television and radio personality, recently marked an impressive milestone, celebrating 27 years on television and 22 years as a radio broadcaster in Guyana. With his captivating presence on media platforms, Rampersaud has garnered a loyal following not only

ous occasion by hosting lunches, providing refreshments, and organizing giveaways for his listeners. The atmosphere was electric as fans expressed their admiration and gratitude for his years of entertaining and informative broadcasts.

Rampersaud, who is from Region Three, was joined by Head of the

testament to the unique connection he fostered within his fan community,” Khan noted.

In addition to his celebrations, Rampersaud

demonstrated his commitment to giving back to the community by presenting 47 hampers to La Grange Primary School. This gesture

aimed to support the graduation of nursery students and contribute to their educational journey.

Notably, Rampersaud

has expanded his platform on NTN radio, creating a united community of fans from various countries. His fan club

TURN TO PAGE 20

within the region, but also across the globe.

To commemorate this significant anniversary on July 2, 2023, Rampersaud treated his devoted fans during his live radio show on 89.1FM, broadcasting from the National Television Network (NTN), located at Brickdam and John Streets, opposite the Guyana Headquarters of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgetown. He shared the joy -

Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc), Halim Khan to celebrate the occasion.

“Rampersaud’s journey in broadcasting has been filled with numerous accomplishments, from hosting talk shows and conducting insightful interviews with influential figures to expanding his platform to connect with fans worldwide. His ability to unite listeners from different countries through your radio programmes is a

Frederick Rampersaud

Inter-district kayaking competition set for July 16

THE Inter-district National Kayaking Competition will take place in Linden, Region 10, on July 16, and schools from different regions in Guyana will compete.

A fun-filled day of activities for all ages is promised at the oneday event hosted by Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours.

Owner of Elite Kayaking, Deon Anderson, noted that the activity takes the same format as the national athletics competition, but focuses on water sports.

“Here in Guyana we are quite accustomed to water when it comes to swimming, but when it comes to water sports there is a myriad of activities that are involved. So, we are expecting this new concept of sports tourism to blossom into something novel and into something that is ingrained into the fabric of sports in the schools,” he said.

Anderson hopes to expand the activity to include schools across the Caribbean.

“We have so many

riverain communities. We have the indigenous communities and they use canoeing for transportation purposes and recreational activities, and what better way to put their way of life into a sport recognised worldwide.”

There are seven categories of competition; long-distance kayaking, relay (which brings together athletics and kayaking skills), and short races in both male and female categories.

Winners will receive trophies and other prizes, while the overall winner will receive medals, cash prizes, and other prizes.

The winning team will receive $200,000 which will go towards the students academic development and the school’s sports committee.

Other attractions will include a kids’ zone and novelty games. A water ambulance with lifeguards and medical personnel will be present to ensure safety.

One of the many scenes at Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours

Over 360 Lindeners employed for Linden-Mabura Hill Road Project -

workforce could increase to 600, Minister Edghill

THE Linden to Mabura Hill Road Project currently employs more than 360 Lindeners, as reported by Bishop Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works, in a comment on Friday afternoon.

The contractors are set to speed up work on the significant project, and he mentioned that the number is likely to increase to around 600 in the coming months.

“This is in keeping with the promise we made when we signed and launched this project,” the minister underscored, when he inspected the project’s ongoing works.

Minister Edghill met with the Brazilian contractor, Constructora Queiroz S.A, and discussed measures to expedite the progress of the road.

Advancing the construction process

The contractors were instructed to adjust their work plan to reflect a February 2025 completion date for substantial work, ahead of the contracted June 2025 mark.

This is to allow for the

successful completion of the grunt work, leaving ample time to complete the final touches.

“We have just finished one year into this project, and the Government of Guyana wants to be assured that we will have this project delivered within the timeline,” Minister Edghill

says

is awaiting the no-objection from the Caribbean Development Bank.

“The issue of time management, and putting in more teams is one that we have discussed. We are looking for substantial completion by February 2025, and when we talk about substantial comple-

stressed.

He highlighted that one issue affecting the progress of the project is the methodology of preparing the subbase (a cement-stabilised base), which requires agreeable weather for completion.

“There is a proposal, and a methodology that has been examined by the supervisory consultants, which may see some changes, by way of value engineering, where we could get the same structural number and the same strength of road, but using another methodology so that even if the rain falls, we will not lose the time that we are using, and that is the use of lime and limestone,” the minister explained.

He said this procedure

tion and construction, we mean between 90 and 95 per cent completion, most of the big, civil extensive work,” the public works minister underscored.

He added that the government anticipates the completion of 10 km of road by September, and that his ministry intends to hold contractors accountable to the standard of completing a minimum of five km of road per month.

A contract was signed in December 2020 between the government, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the United Kingdom Government to fund the US$190 million project. The road will be approximately 121 kilometres long and 7.2 metres wide.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, engages contractors on the site of the Linden-Mabura Hill Road project

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, inspects ongoing works on the Linden to Mabura Hill Road project

Frederick Rampersaud celebrates...

FROM PAGE 17

continues to grow rapidly, fostering a sense of camaraderie among listeners. Furthermore, Rampersaud has been actively involved in numerous charitable ventures, such as donating face masks, motorbikes, hampers, and even a public address system. These initiatives have been made possible through the generous financial assistance of his fans and corporate sponsors.

Reflecting on his illustrious career, Rampersaud acknowledges his humble beginnings and passion for broadcasting. Despite lacking formal training in the field, his innate talent and ambition propelled him. As a youngster, he was drawn to radio and aspired to become a radio announcer, an accountant, and a lawyer. Encouraged by his Christian upbringing and public- speaking skills, Rampersaud initially gained recognition by hosting pageants, catching the attention of renowned media perso nalities, Mr. CN Sharma and his wife, Savitri, who provided him with his breakthrough opportunity.

Rampersaud's exceptional talent shone through, as he swiftly progressed from a talk show host to interviewing influential figures. Within his first six months on the job, he had the honour of conducting a one-hour interview with the late President Cheddi Jagan at State House. Furthermore, his journey took him to Trinidad, where he had the privilege of interviewing Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the first female Attorney General who later became the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

Throughout his remarkable two-de -

cade-long career, Rampersaud has utilized his platform not only to disseminate information, but also to spearhead significant charitable initiatives, especially during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to his radio and television programmes, he has ventured into internet online broadcasting, hosting shows on Seductive Sounds, Wee Radio Online 87.7 FM New York, and 100.1 NY live from the United States of America (USA).

Demonstrating his commitment to personal growth, Rampersaud recently completed his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Guyana (UG) with aspirations of obtaining his Legal Certification, he aims to continue expanding his knowledge and contributing to the legal profession.

Despite his substantial achievements, Rampersaud remains hopeful that his unwavering dedication and contribution to Guyana will be recognized and duly rewarded.

Notably, he has voluntarily funded his television and radio programmes for all 27 years, a testament to his passion for the media industry and his commitment to providing quality content to his viewers and listeners.

As Frederick Rampersaud enters a new chapter in his broadcasting journey, his fans eagerly anticipate the next exciting endeavours he will undertake, eagerly following the footsteps of this remarkable media personality who has touched the hearts of many in Guyana and beyond.

Charismatic media personality Frederick Rampersaud with one of his fans who brought a working Phillips brand radio through which he listened to Rampersaud’s voice over 20 years. Also holding the radio is R3PSInc Head, Halim Khan (centre), along with an NTN official

Second AfriCaribbean Trade, Investment Forum to be hosted in Guyana by October

THE second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF23) will be hosted in Georgetown, Guyana, from 30 to 31 October 2023, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Government of Guyana (GoG) announced on Saturday.

Organised under the overarching theme “Creating a Shared Prosperous Future”, and convened by Afreximbank and the GoG, ACTIF23 will focus on consolidating commercial collaboration between the Caribbean region and Africa, for increased inter-regional trade and investment; building on the successes of the inaugural edition that was held in Barbados, in September 2022.

Commenting on the announcement of ACTIF23, Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-peration, Guyana underscored that “Guyana looks forward to hosting the second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum. We are keen to actively harness the potential of our economic relations as we build on the historic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.”

“We are excited to announce the second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum,” said Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank. “Going by the impressive gains we have recorded in less than one year since ACTIF2022, we have every reason to look forward to a further deepening of commercial relationships between Africa and the Caribbean when we meet in Georgetown,

Guyana. We are exceedingly grateful to the Government of Guyana for agreeing to host this important bridge-building Forum.”

The AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum was introduced in 2022 to enhance the growth of trade and investment between Africa and the Caribbean, including promoting airlinks, tourism, technology transfer, financial stability, food security, industrialisation and cultural ties. The inaugural event welcomed over 1,267 delegates from 108 countries, including participants from 50 African countries, 13 Caribbean countries, and regions as far away as Oceania.

There has been growing commercial co-operation between Africa and CARICOM supported by Afreximbank. Eleven CARICOM member countries are now participating States in the Bank and the Bank’s Board approved a limit of USD3 billion for Caribbean economies to enhance trade and investment opportunities between the two regions. The bank is launching its representative office in Bridgetown, Barbados; and providing technical assistance towards the establishment of the CARICOM Export-Import Bank, and the deployment of the Pan African Payment and Settlement System in the Caribbean.

ABOUT AFREXIMBANK:

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years,

the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa.

FAO Food Price Index declines further in June

THE benchmark index of international food commodity prices declined again in June, led by price decreases for all major cereals and most types of vegetable oils, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has reported.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 122.3 points in June, down

1.4 per cent from May and 23.4 per cent from its peak in March 2022.

The FAO Cereal Price Index declined 2.1 per cent from May. International coarse grain quotations in June decreased by 3.4 per cent, driven mostly by increased maize supplies from ongoing harvests in Argentina and Brazil and improved output prospects in key producing areas of the United States of America.

International wheat pric-

- international quotations for all major cereals decline, but high domestic food prices threaten vulnerable countries

es dropped by 1.3 per cent, as harvests began in the Northern Hemisphere, influenced by ample supplies and a lower export tax in the Russian Federation, along with improved conditions in the U.S. International rice prices declined by 1.2 per cent amid subdued demand for non-India varieties and efforts by Pakistan to attract export sales.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined by 2.4 per cent from May, as lower

world prices of palm and sunflower oils more than offset increases in quotations for soy and rapeseed oil, influenced by weather conditions in major growing regions.

The FAO Dairy Price Index declined by 0.8 per cent in June, led by lower international cheese prices, even as world butter prices rose, driven by active demand for spot supplies, mainly from the Middle East.

The FAO Sugar Price Index declined by 3.2 per

cent, its first drop after four consecutive monthly increases, mainly triggered by good progress of the sugarcane harvest in Brazil and sluggish global import demand, particularly from China.

The FAO Meat Price Index was virtually unchanged in June, with poultry meat prices rising on the back of high import demand from East Asia amid ongoing supply challenges linked to the widespread avian influenza outbreaks. International pig meat prices also rose, while those of bovine and ovine meats dipped due to increased exportable availabilities from Oceania.

CEREAL PRODUCTION PROJECTED TO REACH RECORD HIGH

World cereal production is predicted to hit a record high in 2023/24, according to the latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief.

FAO raised its 2023 global cereal production forecast to 2,819 million tonnes, indicating a 1.1 per cent increase from the previous year.

The higher forecast almost entirely reflects better prospects for global wheat production, now pegged at 783.3 million tonnes, buoyed by improved outlooks in several countries, including Canada, Kazakhstan and Türkiye. However, global wheat production is still seen falling below last season’s output by 2.3 per cent,

Global coarse grain output for the year is now forecast to grow by 2.9 per cent from 2022 to 1,512 million tonnes. Likewise, world rice production in 2023/24 is expected to rise by 1.2 per cent above the 2022/23 reduced level, to 523.7 million tonnes

World cereal utilisation in the season ahead is expected to expand by 0.9 per cent to 2,805 million tonnes, led by expected increased use of coarse grains, especially of maize for animal feed.

FAO raised its forecast for world cereal stocks by

the close of 2023/24 seasons to 878 million tonnes, some 2.3 per cent higher from the previous season. At this level, the global cereal stocks-to-use ratio would remain unchanged at 30.6 per cent, “indicating comfortable supply prospects in the new season.”

FAO’s latest forecast for world trade in cereals in 2023/24 points to a likely 0.9-per cent contraction from 2022/23, with volumes of wheat seen declining from record levels.

HIGH FOOD PRICES WORSEN FOOD SITUATION IN VULNERABLE COUNTRIES

High food prices, economic downturns, conflict, droughts and the impending risk of El Niño weather patterns in several regions are aggravating food security concerns in many parts of the world. A total of 45 countries around the world are assessed to need external assistance for food, according to the latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, a quarterly publication by FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS).

High domestic food prices, a measure divergent from the FAO Food Price Index, are a driver of worrying levels of hunger in most of the 45 countries, 33 of which are located in Africa, 9 in Asia, and also Haiti, Ukraine and Venezuela.

While world cereal production is forecast to expand by 1.1 per cent in 2023 from the year before, it is predicted to contract in the group of 44 Low Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), pushing up import needs, the report said.

The quarterly report offers detailed information about food insecurity and price trends people face on the ground in the affected countries. It also provides a detailed assessment of regional production and trade prospects around the world. (FAO)

RACING TIPS

The Ashes: England beat Australia by five wickets at Lord's to win T20 leg 2-1

England beat Australia by five wickets in a rain-affected third T20 of the multi-format Ashes at Lord's, inflicting a first series defeat on the world champions since 2017.

The result also narrows the overall points-based Ashes scoreline to 6-4 with three one-day internationals remaining, each worth two points.

England were set a revised target of 119 in 14 overs and reached it with four balls remaining, set up by Alice Capsey's electric 46 from 23 balls.

They suffered a late wobble, losing Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight with just two runs needed, before Danielle Gibson emphatically reverse-swept her first ball for four.

The match also set a new record attendance for a women's bilateral fixture in England, with 21,610 packing inside Lord's.

Earlier, Australia finished their 20 overs with 156-7 before rain delayed the start of England's innings.

On a slow pitch, Australia's batters struggled to get going and trudged to 98-4 after 14 overs before Ellyse Perry's 34 and Grace Harris' 25 pushed the visitors to a competitive total.

England rued some missed chances in the field, dropping five catchesthough Charlie Dean's effort in her follow-through to dismiss Beth Mooney on eight was particularly difficult.

But the two in the final

Lara hails attitude of rookies McKenzie...

221 during the Headley-Weekes Tri-Series last April, while two of his fifties came on the tour of Bangladesh a month later.

Athanaze, meanwhile, scored heavily for Windward Islands Volcanoes during the recent first-class season, gathering 647 runs at an average of 64 with two hundreds.

over were simple, and arguably handed Australia the momentum at the halfway stage.

Unfazed by the delay and the difficult revised target on a slow, wet pitch, England opener Danni Wyatt led a rapid start with six fours in her 26, followed by Capsey's onslaught which included four fours and two sixes as she lit up a raucous Lord's.

The 18-year-old was supported by all-rounder Sciver-Brunt, who hit a runa-ball 25, and was visibly distraught when she holed out off seamer Megan Schutt.

The one-day international series starts at Bristol on Wednesday 12 July at 13:00 BST.

Capsey shines on the biggest stage

Coming into this game, Capsey was under pressure with just 17 runs in her last five T20 innings.And the incredulity of Australia's dominance in women's cricket is highlighted by the fact she was just 12 years old when they last lost a series in any format.

England's target of 119 in 14 overs meant they had to attack almost from the first ball, and that seemed to help Capsey, who was able to free her arms and play with fearless intent.

The world's best bowlers were heaved over the ropes with trademark power - she particularly enjoyed Jess Jonassen's left-arm spin - and each boundary received a grateful roar from the crowd.

Capsey had the perfect companion in the calm Sciver-Brunt, though her dismissal at the end of the 13th over sparked a slight panic - an Australia comeback is never out of the question, such is their strength.

But Gibson's winning runs, scored from a reverse-swept boundary, exemplified England's positivity and intent to attack.

Since losing the first T20 at Edgbaston, every game has been must-win for England but they have relished the pressure, and for the first time in six years, Australia are in a fight.(BBC Sport)

Berbice maul Essequibo in opening round of GCB Intercounty 50-over tourney

LED by a man-of-thematch performance from Mathew Pottoya, Berbice mauled Essequibo by 10 wickets in the opening round of the GCB Under-17 Inter-County Super50 Tournament at the Port Mourant ground, in Corentyne, Berbice yesterday.

Essequibo, who arrived at the venue without their uniform, surprisingly opted to bat when the game began late and were blown away for

59 in 34.3 overs.

Pottoya led the way with 4-7 off nine overs while Salim Khan (2-8) and Sanjay Algoo (2-9) also bowled for Berbice who galloped to 60 without loss in just 7.5 overs.

National Under-17 wicketkeeper batsman, Kevin Kisten, scored an entertaining 36 off just 26 balls while Rampersaud Ramnauth made 17 off 21 balls to make light work of a small target.

Earlier, Rajendra Ram -

The left-hander also sparkled with a half-century on his recent One-Day International debut against United Arab Emirates.

They will be part of a squad led by opener Kraigg Brathwaite, and attempting to win their first Test against India in two decades.

And Lara, who was part of the squad’s training camp in Antigua over the last week, said even though India presented a difficult prop-

From page 32

osition, West Indies had the ability to push the Asian powerhouses.

“Obviously, we’ve got two important Test matches which start that two-year cycle for us against India which we know at home, away from home, they’re one of the top teams in the world,” said the former West Indies captain and master batsman.

“And I think the guys have been moving in the right direction in terms

of when we started the camp and where we are at this present moment.

“We’re only a few days off from the first Test match in Dominica. It’s a young group, ably led by Kraigg Brathwaite but I feel some of the guys can really come into their own in this series.

“It’s tough opposition but I believe that’s the way we can get the best out of them.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday July 09, 2023)

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

Answers to Sunday’s quiz:

(1) Malcolm Marshall-76 wickets (17 Tests)

(2) Kapil Dev-89 wickets (25 Tests)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) What is the highest individual Test score made by a WI batsman against IND to date?

(2) What is the highest individual Test score made by an IND player against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GFF's 2nd tier Leagues gather momentum

Regional Associations (RAs) of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) have begun their respective Leagues across the nation in quest to determine their Champions and give them the opportunity to be elevated to the top tier of the country's football, the Elite League.

The East Bank FA opened with an explosion of 16 goals in the first two matches played at the Timehri Red ground yesterday. This year a new Champion will be crowned as defending Champion Grove Hi-tech is not competing.

balli with 16 from 49 balls and Harold De Matas with 11 from 69 balls gave Essequibo a slow but solid foundation before Ramballi was run out in the 16th over at 31-1.

This triggered a colossal collapse as 10 wickets tumbled for 28 runs despite extras contributing 12.

The tournament will continue today with Berbice playing the GCB Select XI at Port Mourant from 09:30 hours. (Sean Devers)

In a commanding 2nd half display, Diamond United routed St. Cuthbert FC 7-3 after trailing 3-0 by the opening 20 minutes. Shafran Glenlian (12'), Tino Simon (16') and an own goal in the 20th minute by Diamond's custodian gave St. Cuthbert hope of an opening 3 points.

A spirited turn around by Diamond quickly cancelled out the lead. Shaquan Joseph(30'), Brad Phang (35') and Brian Dass on the stroke of half time made it 3-all. And on the resumption Brazilian- born Ixiox Da Silver netted a double in the space of 8 minutes(47' and 55') to take the fight out of

the St. Cuthbert boys. Joseph then added two in the 89th and 90th minutes to complete his hat-trick and the demolition of their opponents.

The 2nd game ended in a 3-3 stalemate, but also produced another come from behind effort as Samatta Point rebounded from a 3-goal deficit to share a point each with Swan FC who led through goals from Michael Williams (8'), Bruno Hrnritol(14') and Ernest Adams(30').

In reply, Sherlon Hetymer(37'), Daquan Bovell(70') and Matthew Austin(83') were on target for Samatta.

The 9-team East Bank Men's Senior League will continue today (9th July) with another double-header at the Timehri Red ground, beginning this morning at 11 hrs. when Friendship tackle Timehri Panthers and at 1:30 it will be Soesdyke Falcons versus Herstelling Raiders.

In the City, the GFA's league continued on Friday as GFC secured their first 3 points with a hard fought 2-1 win over Order and Discipline thanks to strikes by Sherwin Evans (47') and Meshack Grant(73'). Jamal Benjamin got the consolation goal for the

losers in the 86th minute.

In the night cap the Escobar brothers gave Vengy their 2nd win from as many games as they humbled Camptown FC 2-0 In a heated game. Elder brother Carlos netted the opener in the 80th minute and 6 minutes later David sealed the 3 points that pushed them to the top of the table with Beacons.

The GFA's 9-team competition will continue today at GFC ground with a triple-header beginning at 3 pm when Eastveldt meet Order and Discipline. At 5 pm Pele FC will face Black Pearl and in the final game set for 7 pm Beacons FC take on Riddim Squad.

Last Friday also saw action in the Bartica FA's competition where only 1 game was possible after heavy rains brought a premature end to the night and without Wolves United and Lazio taking the field.

CUP holders Rivers View made it 2 wins from 2 games as they overcame Potato Strikers 2-1. A 2nd double in as many games by Andrew Simmons(17' and 87') clinched the win while Daniel Gardener converted for Strikers in the 37rh minute.

Alice Capsey ensured England's chase stayed on course • (Getty Images)

Gurbaz-Zadran record stand helps Afghanistan seal series Bangladesh were never really in the chase and limped along to 189

Afghanistan lorded over Bangladesh in a 142-run win in the second match in Chattogram, completing their first bilateral ODI series win against this side.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz blazed 145 while Ibrahim Zadran glided to 100 as they added a record opening stand of 256 runs in a powerful start.

The home side were no match for the visitors' formidable 331-9, stopped at 189 for 9 in 43.2 overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi ensured Bangladesh's chase never took off, taking three wickets each while and Rashid Khan picked up two wickets. It is Afghanistan's biggest win against Bangladesh in ODIs.

(Scores:(Afghanistan 331 for 9 (Gurbaz 145, Zadran 100, Shakib 2-50) beat Bangladesh Bangladesh 189 for 9 (Mushfiqur 69, Farooqi 3-25, Mujeeb 3-40) by 142 runs).

Gurbaz and Zadran also put on Afghanistan's highest ODI partnership for any wicket, beating the 218 put on by Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad for the sec-

ond wicket against Scotland in 2010. Bangladesh's bowlers did mount a fightback in the last 14 overs of the Afghanistan innings, taking nine wickets for 75 runs. But it was never enough after the big opening stand.

Gurbaz and Zadran teed off from the word go, hitting eight boundaries in the first Powerplay. This included Gurbaz's first sixes, off Mustafizur Rahman, a straight six over the bowler's head, and a powerful pull, both in the eighth over. Zadran survived a tough chance in the following over when Towhid Hridoy couldn't latch on to a

tough chance running in from long-off.

Another spate of eight boundaries in the next ten overs followed, as the power hitting got even more spectacular. Gurbaz hoisted Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz for three sixes during this phase. Their 100run partnership came up in the 15th over; it was the first opening century stand against Bangladesh since the 2019 World Cup.

Gurbaz pressed ahead with the big-hitting as he raced to his fourth ODI century. He got it with a single off Shakib, having already

struck six of his eight sixes, and eight boundaries in the run-a-ball century. It was a long celebration from the Afghanistan wicketkeeper as he soaked up the applause of an enthralled stadium.

Zadran got struck with his first six around the same time, as the pair ramped up the pressure on the Bangladesh bowlers. From the 31st over till Gurbaz got out, the pair added 69 runs in the next six overs. Gurbaz cracked Mustafizur for a four and a six, before blazing four boundaries in an Ebadot Hossain over. Gurbaz's last six came off Najmul Hossain Shanto, before he fell to Shakib in the 37th over.

The first wicket triggered Afghanistan into a batting collapse as the subsequent batters only tried big hits. Rahmat Shah, despite surviving an easy run out when Mushfiqur crashed into the stumps before completing the run-out, pulled one to Mustafizur Rahman at fineleg, off Ebadot.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz got captain Hashmatullah Shahidi bowled for two in the

Deitz appointed new WI Women head coach

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Australian

Shane Deitz has been appointed the new head coach of West Indies Women, replacing West Indies legend Courtney Walsh who was sacked in April.

The 48-year-old, a former first-class player who represented South Australia as a wicket-keeper/ batsman in 66 first-class matches, will formally take up the role late next month before overseeing his first assignment when the Caribbean side tour Australia in October.

Cricket West Indies chief executive, Johnny Grave, said Deitz had emerged as the leading candidate following a “robust global recruitment process”.

“Shane is well equipped for the role having coached

extensively in both the men’s and women’s game, in his native Australia, as well as other parts of the world,” Grave said.

“He is dynamic, energetic, and is very familiar with the requirements of the women’s game.

“He brings the right skills and experience to drive the team and the women’s game in the West Indies forward.”

Deitz brings to the role over a decade-long experi-

ence, serving as head coach of Bangladesh Women and currently as head coach of Netherlands Women.

He said he was joining a side with a “great blend” of senior and emerging players, and believe West Indies Women could become a world class side with “good planning”.

“I am very honoured to have the opportunity to coach the West Indies Women’s team,” Deitz said.

“West Indies cricket both men and women have a great history of success whilst playing entertaining cricket and my aim is to continue with that formula.

“The team has a great blend of world class senior players and some talented younger players which is a good starting point to build from.

“We have a lot of work

following over, before he removed Najibullah Zadran caught at long-on in the 44th over. Ibrahim Zadran got out shortly after reaching his century, caught top edging a pull off Mustafizur Rahman. Shakib had Rashid Khan stumped for six, before the tail caved, unable to support Mohammad Nabi who was stranded on an unbeaten 25 off 15 balls.

Mustafizur, Mehidy and Shakib pulled things back really well, conceding just 41 runs in nine overs out of the last 14 overs. They also picked two wickets each.

Hasan Mahmud also took two wickets while Ebadot picked up one scalp.

Bangladesh's batters hardly made any headway in that late momentum grab by their bowlers. Fazalhaq Farooqi removed both openers Litton Das and Mohammad Naim in the first nine overs. The left-arm quick cramped Litton in the fifth over, as the Bangladesh captain top edged a pull shot to Nabi at short midwicket. Naim played on to his stumps against a Farooqi short ball.

In between these two wickets, Mujeeb bowled the delivery of the ODI series; the 100kph delivery zeroing on middle-stump before sharply moving to hit Shanto's off-stump.

A brief resistance followed but Rashid ended Bangladesh's hopes with two beautiful googlies. The first was a peach that nipped through Towhid Hridoy's forward prod. He misread the hand, ending up bowled for 16. Afif got a googly first ball, edging it to Nabi at slip.

In between these two wickets, Nabi accounted for Shakib's wicket in the 18th over. The allrounder missed an arm ball that swung into him, having made 25 off 29 balls.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy added 87 runs for the seventh wicket, but once they were separated in the 37th over, the Bangladesh tail caved in quickly. Mushfiqur was the last wicket to fall, when he pulled a catch to give Farooqi his third wicket, and Afghanistan the series. (Cricinfo)

to do though as reality is we are behind the top few sides in the world and we need to bridge that gap and become competitive again to challenge for World Cups in the future.”

He continued: “I do believe though the nucleus is there to create a world class competitive side and that is what I will aim to do.

“The standard of women’s cricket is at an all-time high and we need to strive to reach those heights through good planning, a lot of hard work and then executing on the pitch.

“I am very excited about that challenge and can’t wait to start working with this talented squad.”

West Indies Women are ranked sixth in both the One-Day International and Twenty20 International formats.

Rising Stars Under-19 Men’s Championship – 3rd round

Wins for Guyana and Jamaica

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, (CMC) – Results from the third round of matches in the Rising Stars Under-19 men’s championship here Saturday.

Scores:

At Arnos Vale: Guyana won by 54 runs (DLS)

GUYANA 178 for nine off 50 overs (Rampertab Ramnauth 35, Jonathan Rampersaud 31, Zachary Jodah 28; Nathan Sealy 2-14, Isaiah Folkes 2-21)

BARBADOS 104 for eight off 27.2 overs (Zion Brathwaite 31; Jonathan Rampersaud 3-20, Jeremey Sandia 2-21)

At Sion Hill: Jamaica

won by six wickets (DLS)

LEEWARD ISLANDS 157 off 40.3 overs (Michael Greaves 60, Michael Palmer 33, Carlton Bowen-Tuckett 26; Tamarie Redwood 4-24, Alex Hinds 3-22)

JAMAICA 121 for four off 20 overs (Jordan Johnson 59 not out)

At Park Hill: No-result.

TRINIDAD & TO -

BAGO 123 off 24.4 overs (Narad Kissoondath 28; Kervin Gassie 4-22, Tarrique Edward 2-20)

WINDWARD IS -

LANDS 62 for one off 9.2 overs (Ackeem Auguste 27 not out, Reshawn Lewis 22 not out)

Ibrahim Zadran celebrates his fourth ODI century • (AFP/Getty Images)

Photo saved: Zadran

Australian Shane Deitz

Mark Cavendish out of race after crash during stage eight of Tour de France

MARK Cavendish has crashed out of what is set to be his final Tour de France before retirement.

The Manxman, 38, was involved in an innocuous-looking crash 60km from the finish of the race's eighth stage -- a 200.7km run from Libourne and Limoges.

Widely regarded as cycling's greatest sprinter of all time, Cavendish came into this year's Tour level on 34 stage wins with Belgian legend Eddy Merckx.

Jasper Philipsen denied him a record 35th stage win during Friday's stage.

Cavendish hit the deck after touching wheels with Pello Bilbao, well before Mads Pedersen held off Philipsen in the uphill finish

to win Saturday's transitional stage.

He suffered a suspected broken collarbone and went into an ambulance, with his team Astana Qazaqstan confirming he was forced to abandon the race.

Mark Renshaw, who was Cavendish's lead-out man from 2009-2011 and in 2016, and joined Astana as a sprint adviser prior to the Tour added: "Second yesterday, and today, to have this happen to Mark... it's hard because we know his shape's here, we know he has the legs.

"I won't lie, I cried. Everyone in the team is hurting."

Cavendish was the fifth rider to abandon this year's Tour, after Enric Mas, Rich-

ard Carapaz, Jacopo Guarnieri and Luis Leon Sanchez.

Steff Cras, who was involved in a late pile-up with Simon Yates and Mikel Landa, then became the sixth, with all those withdrawals due to crashes.

It marks the seventh time from 14 appearances that Cavendish, who made his Tour debut in 2007, has not finished the race.

After a two-year absence, and having not won a Tour stage since 2016, he returned in 2021 to win four and move level with five-time Tour winner Merckx.

'Everybody here wanted him to win one stage' - reaction from the peloton

Two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar:

"When I heard in the race he [Cavendish] had crashed it was a sad moment because he was in good shape. I think everybody here wanted him to win one stage and yesterday he was super close. It's a bad moment.

"He was one of my favourites when we were kids. Him sprinting on the Champs-Elysees, we just wanted to have his style and his legs. They were good moments."

Yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard: "I spoke with him a few times in my first Tour de France and again this year.

"He is a super nice guy and I would have loved to have seen him take the 35th stage win. I still remember

when I was a kid and I was watching him and all his celebrations. He was my big idol. It is really a shame for him and I hope he is OK."

Stage eight winner Mads Pedersen: "For me it was a pleasure to be able to ride with Mark Cavendish. I al-

ways had a good relationship with him in the peloton. It's so sad for a legend to finish the Tour like this.

"He still owes me a jersey, for a jersey swap. Hopefully I can do some of the last races he does."(BBC Sport)

Wimbledon 2023 results: Carlos Alcaraz beats Nicolas Jarry to reach last 16

WORLD number one

Carlos Alcaraz held off a spirited challenge from 25th seed Nicolas Jarry to move into the last 16 - and match his best Wimbledon run.

The 20-year-old Spaniard won a four-set thriller 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 7-5 on Centre Court in an absorbing third-round tie that took almost four hours.

Alcaraz will play 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini of Italy after he beat German 19th seed Alexander Zverev.

Elsewhere, third seed Daniil Medvedev defeated Hungary's Marton Fucsovics.

Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, playing for the fifth successive day after beating Andy Murray on Friday in a match that began on Thursday, beat Serbia's Laslo Djere.

Tsitsipas won 6-4 7-6 (75) 6-4 and will meet unseed-

ed American Chris Eubanks, who won three tie-breaks to overcome Australia's Chris O'Connell.

Berrettini beat Zverev

6-3 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-5), despite a rain delay on Court One as they had to wait for the roof to be closed during the second set after it had been opened before the match started.

Alcaraz broke Jarry's serve in the seventh game to

take the opening set, but lost the second on a tie-break.

The match began under the roof and tournament rules meant it had to stay closed despite the hot and sweaty conditions, with a number of spectators repeatedly using handheld fans in an attempt to keep cool.

Alcaraz instantly got back on track in the third set, producing some excellent passing shots and deli-

cate drop shots as he broke in the fourth game to go two sets to one ahead.

But the fourth did not go entirely to plan as the big-serving Jarry led 3-0 and 4-2, although Alcaraz fought back to seal a memorable win against the 27-year-old.

Underarm serve failure costs Davidovich Fokina

The third-round tie between sixth seed Holger Rune of Denmark and Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina lasted a minute short of four hours and went five sets.

But Davidovich Fokina, 24, was left rueing a failed attempt at an underarm serve in what proved to be the penultimate point.

His underarm serve, at 8-8 in the fifth set match tiebreak, was spotted by Rune and easily dispatched to give the Dane a match point, which he then converted.

Rune admitted his sur-

prise at Davidovich Fokin's underarm serve and said: "I wouldn't do it, but every player has a different style.

"If he made it, it would have been the right shot, but yeah, I wouldn't have done it - I would trust my serve."

Rune will have to wait until Sunday to discover who he plays next as the match between Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and American Frances Tiafoe, seeded 21st and 10th respectively, was suspended in the third set with Dimitrov leading 6-2 6-3 1-2.

Third seed Medvedev is most comfortable on hard courts but said after the second round that, while not totally at home on the grass, he is "knocking on the door".

He immediately struggled on serve against Fucsovics, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist who is more dangerous than his world number 67 ranking implies.

His serve was exceptional in the first set, with Medvedev often standing back by the line judges to receive, and an early break was enough to help him clinch the opener 6-4.

However, Medvedev responded quickly, breaking Fucsovics to love on his way to levelling the match, before starting the third set with an immediate break of serve.

With Fucsovics battling a foot problem as the match slipped over the three-hour mark, Medvedev was able to serve out victory in clinical fashion, taking the fourth set 6-4 to reach the fourth round for just the second time.

Medvedev will face Jiri Lehecka in the last 16 after the Czech Republic player eliminated American 16th seed Tommy Paul, winning a five-set encounter that lasted four hours, four minutes.(BBC Sport)

Mark Cavendish was helped into an ambulance having suffered a suspected broken collarbone

Carlos Alcaraz also reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2022, losing to Italy’s Jannik Sinner

Woakes and Head star to leave England needing 251 to keep Ashes alive

Australia slipped to 170 for 8 after a long rain delay before Head cut loose to kept them afloat

IT took six hours to get there amid the rain, but the third day at Headingley produced an electrifying final session where both sides traded blows in their attempts to set up victory. England struck early through Chris Woakes, but Travis Head counterattacked with the final two wickets for company to leave a target of 251.

Faced with 25 minutes to see out the day, with the sun bursting through, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett slashed 27 off the target while Australia also burned a review for a leg-side catch against Duckett.

Last season England chased 296 against New Zealand and, of course, there needs little reminding of 2019 so they certainly won't be overwhelmed by the pursuit. From where they were at lunch on the second day, 142 for 7 and trailing by 121, England would have gladly accepted this position.

After regular showers during the day, played eventually began at 4.45pm but only one over was possible initially before another brief stoppage. A further three overs were trimmed from the allocation, but what remained produced a further passage of gripping cricket in a series that has been compelling from the start.

It felt as though Woakes had made decisive blows when he claimed Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey and when Pat Cummins fell to Mark Wood, Australia were 170 for 8, a lead of 196. Head was then able to add 54 in seven overs for the last two partnerships with what could prove one of the most important innings of Test career, in which he has already produced a series of match-changing and match-defining scores, albeit usually in the first innings to set up a game

Woakes was tremendous

when play resumed for the second time, finding the outside edge of Marsh, after he had again looked in excellent touch, when he tried to withdraw the bat. He soon added Carey, who had earlier been part of one of the more bizarre stories of the series involving false allegations of a non-paid haircut, as he also tried to leave the ball and played into his stumps.

While Wood's return to the side has brought many

of the headlines given the blistering pace, Woakes' comeback has been equally impactful. His list of wickets in this match reads: Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Head, Marsh (twice) and Carey.

Mitchell Starc briefly played confidently before falling to Wood's short ball, the top-edge spiralling backward of square where there was nearly a horrendous mix-up with Jonny Bairstow

seemingly bailing out of the catch, leaving it to Harry Brook who sprinted from short leg and pulled out a full-length dive.

As he did in the first innings, Wood gave Cummins a brief and very effective working over and Headwho was 34 off 82 balls at the time - knew it was then time to change gear, although Murphy had cover-driven his first ball from Wood to the boundary.

In the next over, from Woakes, Head pulled and carved two boundaries then against Wood collected another brace which took him to fifty off 94 balls. England persisted with the short ball to Head, sometimes with nine men on the boundary, and it did not always look the most sensible approach, although when Woakes went to length he also got sent over midwicket for six.

Murphy was worked by a classy over from Broad when he returned from the Football Stand End, but there was time for Head to do some more damage. He pulled Wood for consecutive sixes over the leg side before falling attempting something similar off Broad which found deep midwicket. Given their recent history, a chase of 251 is well within England's reach but, with the Ashes on the line, surely there is a twist or two to come yet. (Cricinfo)

T20 Blast: Laurie Evans helps Surrey to quarter-final win over Lancashire

SURREY bounced back from a run of three successive defeats at the end of the T20 Blast group stage to beat Lancashire Lightning by 13 runs and reach Finals Day for the eighth time.

In the first T20 meeting between the two sides for 18 years, the visitors posted a total of 187-5 at Old Trafford, built on a 72-run partnership between Laurie Evans and Jason Roy.

Evans overtook opening partner Will Jacks as Surrey's leading run scorer with 70 off 41 balls and Roy made 50 off 34 in only his second innings in this year's competition

after injury.

Lightning were well placed at 97-1 in the 11th over of their chase, but Jos

Buttler went for 42 and when Chris Jordan yorked Steven Croft for 55 at the start of the penultimate

over, there was too much for them to do and they finished on 174-6.

Surrey will now play

Somerset, who beat Notts Outlaws, in one of the semi-finals at Edgbaston on 15 July.

It was Lancashire's first home defeat in the domestic game's shortest format since September 2020 and means they miss out on a chance to go one better than last year when they lost to Hampshire Hawks in the final.

Having won five of their last seven T20 games, losing only one, Lancashire named an unchanged XI, but Jordan won the toss and chose to bat first as Surrey drafted in spinner Dan Moriarty for his first Blast game of the season.

The ramp shot was key to Evans' innings, with two sixes in three balls off

Tom Bailey before Jacks tried to do the same and was caught by Luke Wells for eight.

Evans reached his 50 off only 28 balls and Lancashire were mightily relieved when he was bowled by skipper Liam Livingstone's second ball of the game.

Roy's dismissal, slicing a catch to Croft off Luke Wood, left Surrey 140-3 after 15 overs, but Jamie Overton (21 off 12) and Jordan (12 not out) eked out vital runs to push the total beyond 180.

Buttler and Phil Salt launched Lancashire's chase with a flurry of shots

and Croft helped keep the healthy tempo going after Salt was caught at mid-off for 13 in the fourth over, bowled by Sean Abbott.

But having hit the first two balls of a Sunil Narine over for six over long-on, Buttler fell with the score on 97 as Moriarty justified his selection with the most important wicket of all.

The dangerous Livingstone managed only seven and following Croft's dismissal, Lancashire needed 19 from the final over and could only score five as Surrey joined Essex, Hampshire and Somerset in the final four.(BBC Sport).

Laurie Evans has scored 563 runs in this season's T20 Blast14 more than opening partner Will Jacks

Chris Woakes made vital inroads after the delayed start•Getty Images

Guinness Snr Nat. Squash C/Ships

Shomari Wiltshire wins most eventful match of the night

By Sean Devers

IT was action galore on Friday night at the Georgetown Club on the fourth and penultimate evening of the Guinness Senior National Squash Championship, with the match between defending Champion, Shomari Wiltshire, and Samuel Ince-Carvalhal having all the ingredients for the most entertaining match of the night.

The game, which had a few ‘lets’ for physical con-

tact by the players resulting in Shomari’s goggles being broken and Samuel’s Raquette being knocked out his hand and the sole of Samuel’s shoe becoming loose causing him to the change it during the match.

The action was fast and furious as both players were engaged in long rallies in a contest of high-quality Squash from the pair who have played at the senior Caribbean Level.

The superb execution of back hand drives and well-

timed drop shots and the mental toughness shown was ideal preparation for this year’s senior CASA scheduled for next month.

The contest ebbed and flowed as Shomari, who looked bigger and stronger, took the first game 11-5 before the left-handed Samuel won the second and third games (11-6, 11-4) to jump to a 2-1 lead in match.

But Wiltshire went on to win the next game 11-7 before taking a physically and mentally draining final

game, 12-10, to close out the absorbing match 3-2.

The first match between the Wilshire siblings (Larissa and Akeila) set the tone for what would be an exhilarating night of high standard Squash.

Watched by their da -former National Champion Garfield Wiltshire -- the sisters went at each other in long rallies with the older and more composed Akeila taking a 2-nil lead; winning 11-8, 12-10.

But the fitter looking Larrissa, who showed her emotions more, rebounded to take the next three games 115, 12-10, 11-3 to prevail 3-2 over her southpaw sibling.

The 40-year-old Nicolette Fernandes used her vast ex-

perience to get the better of her younger and taller cousin, Taylor Fernandes Henry, 113, 11-6, 11-8.

In the final game, Taylor took a three-point lead but Nicolette changed her tactics and fed Taylor ‘lob’ servers to take the game and the match.

As the night progressed, the crowd, which included National Junior team Coach Carl Ince and legendary Guyanese Singer, Dave Martins, increased and at the end of the night they were well entertained.

The action was scheduled to conclude yesterday with the finals starting at 11:40 AM.

Results:

Women’s draw: Larissa Wiltshire beat Akeila Wilt-

shire; Avery Da Silva beat Malia Maikoo; Ashley Khalil beat Mary Fung-a-Fat; Victoria Arjoon beat Safirah Summer; Nicolette Fernandes beat Taylor Fernandes Henry; Rylee Rodrigues beat Emily Fung-a-Fat.

Men’s draw: Louis Da Silva beat Jonathan Antczak; Demetrius De Abreu beat Chad De Abreu; Shomari Wiltshire beat Samuel Ince Carvalhal; Josh Verwey beat Lee Fung-a-Fat; Justin Ten Pow beat Nandishraj; Alex Arjoon beat Jason Ray Khalil; Reagan Rodrigues beat Jeremy Ten Pow; Nicholas Verwey beat Jerazeno Bell, and Steven Xavier beat Michael Alphonso.

Jackson enters elite group with new world-lead

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Reigning

World champion Shericka Jackson unleashed a world-leading 10.65 seconds to become the fifth fastest woman ever, as she successfully defended her national 100- metre title here Friday night.

Running out of lane five in a women’s final that included reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, the 28-year-old easily separated herself from the field after only 40 metres, storming to the

line without any serious challengers.

Shashalee Forbes, in lane six, finished second in 10.96 while Natasha Morrison, in lane four, was third in 10.98.

Thompson-Herah was only good enough for fifth in 11.06.

“Every time I touch the track, I want to run fast. If it doesn’t happen, I’m still grateful. But if I do run fast, I’m super grateful,” Jackson said afterwards.

Jackson’s clocking was the fifth fastest time ever,

drawing her alongside disgraced former American sprinter Marion Jones.

Only the late Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49), Thompson-Herah (10.54), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.60) and Carmelita Jeter (10.64) have gone faster.

In the process, Jackson also erased American Sha’Carri Richardson’s previous world-leading time of 10.71, established only 24 hours earlier in Eugene.

Akeila Wiltshire (left) was beaten by her younger sibling Larissa 3-2 at the GT Club (Sean Devers photo)

Shomari Wiltshire (left) was pushed to the limit by Samuel Ince Carvalhal on Friday at the GT Club (Sean Devers photo)

Reigning world champion Shericka Jackson

MCY&S Summer swim camp launched

THE historic summer edition of the 'Teach them Young' Swimming Programme, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCY&S), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), was launched yesterday at the National Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal. The programme, aimed at children between the ages of six and 18-yearsold, is the third initiative of its kind for this year, following the successful Easter edition and the recently concluded 'Adults Learn to Swim' platform.

Minister Charles Ramson Jr., who conceptualised the event, was present to officially open the swimming camp, along with Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle.

The 'Adults Learn to Swim' programme, held in June, was a direct result of

the popular April 'Teach them Young' initiative, which attracted over 2000 participants.

The programme will be conducted at four facilities across the country to reach a wider audience. These facilities include the National Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal, the Colgrain Swimming Pool in Georgetown, the Watooka Swimming Pool in Linden, and the Albion Estate Pool in East Berbice. The experienced national coach, Paul Mahaica, will once again serve as the programme co-ordinator and lead trainer.

During his address, Ramson Jr. underlined the importance of skill-sharing and setting goals.

He stated, “As your kids grow, it's all about achieving goals. Set small/ realistic goals and move step by step towards them. And, the more they get comfortable

by taking these steps, the more comfortable they will become in achieving goals.”

In addition, the Minister of Sport led the warm up of the attendees and even demonstrated how to do a conventional push-up.

The overwhelming support for the initiative has been described as a proverbial tsunami by Ninvalle. He noted that, “I am really happy to be a part of this event. Mostly because I am seeing progress as we move forward. We started this year with the Easter Swim programme where we had over 2000 persons registering. Now in Georgetown alone, we have over 2000 registrants for the summer programme.”

Ninvalle concluded that it is the aim of the NSC and the MCY&S to have as much Guyanese as possible equipped with the valuable life skill of swimming.

Lara hails attitude of rookies McKenzie, Athanaze

ROSEAU,

Dominica,

(CMC) – Legend Brian Lara believes the rookie batting pair of Kirk McKenzie and Alick Athanze, possess the attributes to succeed at the highest level, despite lacking extensive first- class experience.

McKenzie, 22, along with Athanaze, 24, were both named in the West Indies squad for the first Test against India starting here next week.

While Athanaze has already featured in 30 first class games, McKenzie has played only

nine but Lara said their willingness to listen and learn could prove critical for them.

“They are very capable players – young. Of course, you would love if they had a lot more experience especially in the first-class arena but looking at their style of play, their attitude, they do have what it takes to perform at the highest level,” said Lara, who is West Indies’ performance mentor for the upcoming series.

“It may take some time but obviously as an international cricketer if

you are at this stage, it doesn’t matter what age you’re at, you’ve got to learn very, very quickly and I think they have that sort of attitude to learn and willing to listen, and I look forward to bigger things in the future.”

McKenzie has scored consistently since his first-class debut last year, averaging 39 while notching one triple-figure score and four half-centuries.

That triple-figure score was a brilliant

Continued on page 27

Charles Ramson Jr. addressing the participants during yesterday's launch

Brian Lara (centre) with Kirk McKenzie (left) and Alick Athanaze during West Indies’ preparation for the first Test