Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 09-10-2023

Books authored by President Ali donated to Qatar National Library

IN a simple ceremony, Guyana’s Ambassador to Qatar, Safraaz Ahmad Shadood presented two books authored by His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali to Dr Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Minister of State and President of the Qatar National Library.

Ambassador Shadood indicated that the two books: “From Crisis to Opportunity” and “Post Covid - 19 , Ukraine - Russia , Ticking Time Bomb for CARICOM ” speaks to two global issues facing the world

Given the paucity of literature from small states on these issues , President Dr . Ali’s work brings a fresh perspective to the discussion and offers innovative solutions (DPI)

Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Minister of State and President of the Qatar National Library displays the two books as Guyana’s Ambassador to Qatar, Safraaz Ahmad Shadood, looks on

Guyana to produce three million pounds of ginger by year's end

–– corn, soya bean cultivation nearing target, President Ali says

CRITICAL investments in Guyana’s production of spices and grains will soon see the country increasing its local supply and being ideally positioned to export across the region.

According to the country ’ s Head of State , Dr Irfaan Ali, Guyana, by the end of the year, will produce three million pounds of ginger

The president , while addressing an event , organised by the Canada - Guyana Chamber of Commerce last Friday also disclosed that the country is near its target of being self-sufficient in the production of grains such as corn and soya bean “ By the end of this

year, I am told, just one project we are going after we’ll produce close to three million pounds of ginger, in excess of our national demand By 2025, we will produce all our grains locally , corn and soya [and] by 2027 we’ll be exporting,” the Head of State said

This publication had previously reported that some 250 acres of turmeric and ginger were being cultivated at farms in Mabaruma and Matarkai, Region One and , once harvested, farmers will be supplying spices to several local distributors across the country

The government, in a bid to increase the production of ginger and tur-

meric had allocated some $153 million in the 2023 national budget to improve processing capacity at Hosororo, Parika, and along the Soesdyke - Linden Highway

This investment will see over 300 tonnes of ginger and turmeric being reaped and a decrease in drying time from threefive days to eight hours per day, directly enhancing productivity

Speaking further on the country ’ s economic growth, President Ali noted that, while Guyana has been making a name for itself in the global arena, for the country to reach new heights , digitisation will have to play a major role.

“We want to set up a

production companies such as Amaya Milk and Demerara Distillers Limited have begun expanding their productions

“In 2030 the businesses must be supported by a strong technological platform , a platform that is driven and supported by technology that is ahead of our time,” he added

A farmer tending to his recently planted ginger crop country that is known for innovation, not only in the production of food , but how innovative can we do it Applying the best technology, increasing the number of women and youths and people living with disabilities, and owning farms and food production facilities, attaching a social value that creates higher value,” he said

The business community , according to him , must look at specialised production and invest in technologies that will see the country developing further

Already , some local

In October 2022, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha , had said that the government will continue to work with farmers to boost the productivity of spices

To boost the production of spices at the Hosororo

factory in Region One , Minister Mustapha put into operation several new pieces of machinery to the tune of $9.7 million for the NAREI spice- processing plant These tools included a Vibro sifter, a ginger washer, a ginger slicer, and a ginger grinder These investments are in keeping with the government ’ s commitment to increase agricultural production of non - traditional crops and draw Guyana closer to realising the region’s goal to reduce its food importation bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025

Jagdeo defends public statements about Goolsarran

says he will not apologise

GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party ( PPP ), Dr . Bharrat Jagdeo has defended statements he made about former Auditor - General Anand Goolsarran at a press conference, and at a public rally in March.

Law firm Sataram and Sataram , in a letter to Goolsarran’s attorney,

Khemraj Ramjattan made it clear that Jagdeo will not apologise for his comments, and that any legal proceedings that are filed will be strenuously defended

In the four-page letter, which was seen by this publication, Goolsarran’s time in office was scrutinised , and his constant commentary about Jagdeo

was highlighted

“Your client is a former Deputy Auditor- General, a former Auditor - General of Guyana, and is a public commentator writing weekly columns in a national newspaper The main focus of your client’s public commentaries is transparency and accountability in public life and in public office In the main, your client has dedicated most of his commentaries to publicly criticising our client , the government which he headed as President and of which he is now Vice - President ,

and the political party of which he is the General Secretary This has been ongoing for over two (2) decades and continues weekly

“Our client specifically denies that the statements about which you complain are defamatory of your client and / or malicious We contend that they constitute fair comment on a matter of public interest

Moreover, they were statements which our client had a duty to disseminate to his party supporters and the general public, of and concerning your client , who, on a weekly basis, lectures to the public on issues of accountability and transparency ,” the letter stated

It was explained that under the Constitution of Guyana, the principal function of the Office of the Auditor-General is to audit the public accounts of Guyana, and to prepare a report in respect of that audit, which said report is

required to be laid in the National Assembly for scrutiny and examination

“Constitutionally, this mechanism is perhaps the singular most efficacious vehicle through which parliamentarians are afforded an opportunity to interrogate and oversee the expenditure of public funds, in order to ensure accountability and transparency

The uncontroverted fact is that from 1982 to 1989, the Auditor-General’s Office did not audit the public accounts of Guyana, and did not prepare a report in respect thereof for onward transmission to the National Assembly, thereby denying the public the right , through their elected representatives, to interrogate and oversee the expenditure of public funds for nearly a decade

For several years , during this darkest period

See page 5

PPP General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

Jagdeo defends public statements...

of public accountability and transparency in Guyana, your client functioned as Deputy Auditor - General , the second-highest post within the Office.

His duties and powers were wide and extensive

They included : ( i ) Ensuring that the functions of the Auditor- General, under the different pieces of legislation and the Constitution, were carried out;

(ii) being responsible for the general administration of the Audit Office; (iii) giving directions to the Assistant Auditor- General and other staff of the Audit Office;

(iv) the preparation of draft final audit reports for the Auditor-General; and ( v ) preparing the Auditor-General’s briefs for the Public Accounts Committee ,” the letter added

According to Jagdeo’s legal team, Goolsarran was, in fact and substance , the functional head of the Auditor-General’s Office for many years when no public accounts were being audited, but continued his employment therein , without any known objections

PROMOTED

“ In fact , presumably , for his ‘ good performance ’, he was eventually promoted to Auditor-General in the year 1990.

Further , your client is on public record as citing a letter from the then Minister of Finance,

directing that no audit be done of the public accounts of Guyana during this period; a direction to which your client took no apparent umbrage , although the Constitution mandates that the Auditor- General, and, by extension, his Office shall not be subject to the direction, control or influence of any person or authority The undisputed fact is that in this toxic, non - accountable and non -transparent period , your client functioned as Deputy Auditor-General It is against this backdrop that our client made the statements in respect of which you are complaining , including suggesting that your client should have resigned if he had integrity In the circumstances, this must constitute fair comment on a matter of public importance , in respect of which our client enjoys qualified privilege Consistent with your client’s self-portrayal as an accountability tsar in his weekly commentaries , you claim that your client ‘almost single-handedly restored public accountability in Guyana after ten years of deficit accountability...,’

but you omit to mention, as we have pointed out above, that your client was the Deputy Auditor-General for several of those very years

You full well know that the restoration of public accountability in Guyana, for which your client ungraciously takes single - handed credit ,

was brought about by a change in Government in 1992, with the assumption of office of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic.”

It was further pointed out that Goolsarran published articles , including persistent public vilification of Jagdeo , his political party and his government

“Comparatively, however, your client’s arti-

cles are virtually silent on the APNU+AFC coalition, and the many allegations of corruption and financial scandals which erupted during their fiveyear tenure in government This leads to the reasonable inference that your client is a supporter of the APNU+AFC,” the letter said.

Satram and Satram maintains that , in the circumstances , their client is justified in the comments that he ’ s made and , again , was commenting on a matter of public interest and disclosing to the public, information to which they are entitled regarding a public commentator

RELENTLESS ATTACKS

Ramjattan was reminded that as a public commentator , moreover, one who is outspoken in his public commentary , Goolsarran would be measured and adjudged differently by the law of libel

“ For example , your

client has been relentless in his public attacks on Dr Ashni Singh, the Minister of Finance Apart from his weekly vicious outpourings in the Stabroek News, your client has written multiple articles in the Kaieteur News newspaper, including one published on 2016/5/18 under the caption , ‘ Ashni Singh shielded NICIL books from external auditors’; and one published on 16/5/01 bearing the caption , ‘ Ashni Singh should be sanctioned for crass investment agreement with Bai Shan Lin’. In these two articles , your client launched a most unwarranted, scathing public onslaught on Dr Singh These articles were simply randomly selected to make the point,” the letter said It was made clear that the law will not turn a blind eye to Goolsarran’s presumably exercising his freedom of expression and attacking others , but will punish

those who reciprocate and respond to him

“ The principle was recently affirmed by the Privy Council in Ramadhar v Ramadhar and Ors [ 2020 ] UKPC 7 , in which it was stated that those who are engaged in public life and court the media cannot expect to be free from scrutiny or criticism in public; anything otherwise would have a chilling effect on democratic debate,” Jagdeo’s legal team said before noting that the request for an apology is “rejected”.

Former Auditor-General Anand Goolsarran

One Guyana and One China!

THE People’s Republic of China (PRG) observed its 74th anniversary on October 1, 16 months after the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties with Guyana in 1972

At the 50th anniversary observances on June 27 last year, Guo Haiyan, the PRC’s Ambassador to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, aptly observed that under Presidents Xi Jinping and Irfaan Ali, the two nations were starting another stage of the relationship that actually started 60 years earlier in 1962, when Janet Jagan, as General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) of Guyana, visited the PRC and was received by Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai

The 1962 visit by Janet Jagan and the establishment of diplomatic ties under the then People’s National Congress (PNC) administration a decade later, reflected one of the rare foreign-policy commonalities between Guyana’s two major parties at the time and China’s commitment to support Guyana at all times

As the ambassador also correctly noted back then, “Mutual respect and equality are the principles of China-Guyana relations, which have been proven in the fact that after the first 50 years, bilateral trade volume bucked the pandemic trend and grew by 123 percent, reaching US $710 million in 2021, which has increased by nearly four - fold in the past decade alone , while Chinese investments in Guyana are growing rapidly…”

In 2018, China and Guyana also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), covering agriculture, energy and mining, transportation, telecommunications and many other fields that have surely injected new impetus into the mutually beneficial cooperation the two nations share

Medical cooperation has also been a bedrock of the ties between Guyana and China, as, in 1993, China sent a medical team to Guyana, which was the first to Latin America and the Caribbean; then, af-

ter the COVID-19 pandemic, Guyana was also the first Caribbean nation to receive China-made COVID vaccines in 2020

In addition, over the past 31 years, 18 consecutive China medical teams with hundreds of experts have been to Guyana, altogether collectively treating over 1.3 million cases and performing more than 70,000 surgeries

Guyana and China stand at key points in their respective drives to development and modernisation in 2023, with Guyana harnessing its new natural resources, with Chinese help as well, for a better future for all; and China taking confident strides toward its second centenarian goal of becoming a great modern socialist country in all respects, in this the 21st Century

As developing and emerging nations, Guyana and China also face major development opportunities today

Standing at their respective new historical starting-points, it’s clear that Ambassador Guo’s observation that under

the leadership of the Presidents of the two countries, China and Guyana took the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as ‘an opportunity to deepen mutual political trust, strengthen economic and trade cooperation, enhance exchanges and mutual understanding, and continuously write a new chapter of bilateral relations, so as to move together toward a brighter future of common prosperity.’

That much was underlined when Presidents Ali and Xi spoke by phone to mark the 50th anniversary and again last year when they met in China to take mutual ties to the next higher levels after the first half-a-century

As Guyana continues into the second half of the PPP/C’s current mandate and China heads towards its historic 75th anniversary of the PRC in 2024, the two nations are doing so, confident in their respective commitments to use their resources to better the lives of all their people, in the mutual interests of One Guyana and One China!

Prime Minister Phillips is non-partisan

Dear Editor,

SINCE assuming office three years ago, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips has tackled some of the most sensitive and difficult issues in the country, most of which dated back to more than five decades, and he is not afraid to do so

But first, it is worth mentioning that the Brigadier has not only changed the disposition of the Office of the Prime Minister into a more friendly and congenial atmosphere, but he has also redefined the role and function of the Prime Minister

He is very practical and effective not only on issues relating to his portfolio but in several other areas, including policy-making, labour relations, security and human rights, among others

On his several outreaches across the country, he has been courageous to visit some of the most hardcore PNC areas where he told the citizens that no one, regardless of their race or party affiliation will be left out of the rapid development that is taking place in the country and that everyone will be treated fairly and equally He is perhaps one of the most non-partisan leaders who has not shied away from addressing and perhaps attempting

to solve some of the most complex and delicate human issues such as the racial divide, disunity, bigotry, sexism, and intolerance, among others

Prime Minister Phillips is a trailblazer who on several occasions has reiterated that Guyana belongs to all Guyanese and the government’s acclaimed “One Guyana” initiative proclaimed by President Dr. Irfaan Ali is not a political gimmick or slogan, but an initiative to modernise the infrastructure, expand the health and education sectors, improve the well-being of the people and build a prosperous Guyana for all

The Prime Minister remarked that the “One Guyana” vision is the first of its kind to have ever been introduced in the country with the aim for everyone to put the country first, create a more equal and just society, reduce inequality in access to social services and guarantees that everyone is afforded the opportunity to lead productive and happy lives

Agreeing with the adage that we are our brothers ’ and sisters ’ keeper , the former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) appealed to every loyal Guyanese far and wide to assist one another and to support the “ One Guyana ” vision , which requires the commitment and action from everyone

to work together for the betterment of the country and promote racial harmony with the overall goal of achieving success

As mentioned earlier , Prime Minister Phillips, being a former Chief of Staff of the GDF has reprimanded those who continue to disregard and downplay the achievements of the government and tried to divide the nation. In one of his most courageous and blunt statements, Brigadier Phillips firmly rejected a motion from the opposition at a Washington D C Diaspora Conference for accusing the Ali administration of corruption and discrimination against Afro-Guyanese

He scolded the members of the opposition APNU/PNC for asking the US State Department to investigate senior government officials whom they claimed are allegedly involved in bribery and corruption. Prime Minister Phillips has categorically stated that it is a desperate attempt by unpatriotic members of the opposition to undermine the progress being made by the government to develop the country, unite the people, and improve their lives

Brigadier Phillips has made it clear that the document presented to the Black Congressional Caucus by the opposition is regressive, mischievous, malicious, and blatantly false

and was one-sided and does not accurately represent the actions and policies of the PPP/C government

He highlighted the fact that the “One Guyana” initiative has received the unwavering support of commitment from most Guyanese at home and in the diaspora He posited that it caters to all citizens and seeks to promote inclusivity, unity, equal opportunity for the sons and daughters of Guyana, regardless of their ethnicities and or party affiliations

He reiterated that since taking office in 2020, President Ali has vigorously advanced the “One Guyana” initiative to transform the socio - economic and political construct of Guyana and to foster an environment that will empower the citizens and in which everyone will have an equal opportunity to reap the benefits that the country has to offer.

The former army chief has steadfastly reminded the opposition that the country was built on values and a system that promote peace, dignity, honour, and respect for the constitution and the rule of law and that everyone must revere and appreciate these cherished ideals.

Sincerely,

Asquith Rose

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Where are OGGN, DeCaires, Trotz, Bulkan et al?

MY September 5 piece was on the need for Guyanese in the diaspora to write and inform us here in Guyana about crucial and sensitive issues in the world’s most important countries that they live in.

The Government of Guyana has been receiving a profusion of opinions, suggestions, and demands since August 2020 from Guyanese who have citizenship of some of the world’s most influential nations

Almost 100 per cent of the people who are on this bandwagon are not contributing to Guyana’s educational system, the Treasury, or work part-time or temporary in Guyana’s economy Their existence is embedded in the country they embraced as their new home when they left here decades ago They hold or held comfortable occupations in other countries where they have citizenship.

These foreign - based Guyanese who write volumes in the media both print and online editions and on social media are trained minds that Guyana can use in its education system But these folks never contribute even a month of no-pay leave to help share their skills

Some of the names are well known because of their huge presence in the media Dr Vincent Adams wrote recently the following words

about these expatriate Guyanese, “people with decades of extensive international credentials in academia and industry.’ I replied to Adams to let him know he came back in 2015 to serve the APNU+AFC government when he was in his early seventies after retiring in the US where he worked all his life

One of the greatest ironies in current political debate is the website of a frenetic anti - government organisation named Oil and Gas Governance Network ( OGGN ). If you go on its webpage, it extols the education credential of its leadership and did something silly that opens it to plausible condemnation It lists the names of its hierarchy and their careers All the careers were built in foreign countries and those names are either retirees or people still working Where is the contribution to Guyana?

Three names come up all the time Dr Alissa Trotz lives and works in Canada She informs us a few years ago in a letter to the Stabroek News she has tenure in her job at the University of Toronto (my alma mater).

I have lived all my life in Guyana and taught 26 consecutive years at UG and never saw Ms Trotz even working at UG for a day Dr Nigel Westmaas left Guyana decades ago and has parted

ways with Guyana

There is the co - owner of Stabroek News, Isabelle DeCaires She criticised the clothes the President wore when receiving a leader from the Middle East She wrote in her newspaper that Guyana should not have any relationship with Saudi Arabia

Ms DeCaires is British and never worked in Guyana

My question is, why they do not want to educate us who live here about the dangerous directions their own countries are going into ?

Ms DeCaires is one of the signatures to a letter in the Stabroek News of November 17, 2022 in which the writers demand that Guyana, with

immediate effect , stop oil production

But in Ms DeCaires ’ own country , her Prime Minister two weeks ago backtracked on zero emission in the foreseeable future I refer Ms DeCaires to a sound rejection of what her PM did by well-known Guardian columnists, Martin Kettle and Caroline Lucas Their columns of September 20 are devastating Former Prime Minister of the UK, Liz Truss, said recently that the British people are not in favour of economic sacrifice for zero emission Can Ms DeCaires analyse what is going on in her homeland

for us?

Why can ’ t Vincent Adams who I understand currently lives in the US tell us if there is danger for Guyana in a Trump presidency Can he tell us if Trump will win the presidency and therefore invade Venezuela which will have repercussions for Guyana?

What about the OGGN on the same subject of a potential Trump victory? How does OGGN feel about the response Secretary of State , Blinken , gave the Australian Prime Minister about the mistreatment of Julian Assange He justified the continued incarceration of Assange. Does OGGN

agree with that?

In Canada where Alissa Trotz lives, the ruling Liberal Party has a minority government which stays alive through the support of one of the Opposition parties, the NDP The NDP is headed by a Sikh The Canadian Prime Minister has accused the Indian government of being behind the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada Can Trotz analyse this complex situation for us in Guyana? Finally, Dr J Bulkan wants Guyana to halt oil production.

She needs to tell us about rising racism and hate speeches in her home town of British Columbia.

‘Drastic situations require drastic measures’– AG warns

–– says gov’t will pursue legal action, review insurance laws to address property damage and reckless driving

By Clestine Juan

IN recent months, the nation has witnessed a surge in vehicular accidents leading to significant loss of lives and damage to public infrastructure.

As such, the government has taken a strong stance against this and will be addressing the need for potential reforms in the motor

vehicle insurance sector

Attorney - General and Minister of Legal Affairs ,

Anil Nandlall , made this announcement during his weekly Facebook programme , “ Issues in the News,” where he discussed these critical issues He also used the opportunity to highlight the government’s commitment to protect public assets and promote road safety

“For too long the state and government agencies have turned a blind eye to wanton destruction of public properties, state properties and government properties These properties are damaged recklessly, negligently, maliciously, and sometimes intentionally

“ Whatever may be the case, in addition to criminal charges, the state, as a mat-

ter of policy, will sue those implicated for compensation for the work done to rehabilitate and we will also sue for damages, for recklessness, negligence , and carelessness, as the case may be,” he said Nandlall expressed the government’s commitment to pursuing legal action against individuals who damage public property, ensuring that it extends beyond mere compensation

Nandlall cited an example where a driver allegedly caused damage at the newly constructed Eccles / Haggs Bosch roundabout The driver has been ordered to repay the government a staggering $2.1 million for repair costs

sation to those affected by accidents, leading to financial hardships for victims

To address this issue, the Attorney General pointed out that the government might consider revisiting the existing motor vehicle insurance laws

“Right now, because of the law, it’s at a minimal level where the compensation that insurance companies pay out bears no resemblance whatsoever to the loss that people sustain and suffer from these accidents,” Nandlall explained before highlighting the disparity between insurance payouts and actual losses incurred by victims.

For the first two weeks of September, 20 people died in road accidents in

or face legal proceedings

The AG highlighted that such actions, whether related to traffic accidents or other forms of property damage, would not go unaddressed

Nandlall also addressed concerns surrounding the inadequacy of motor vehicle insurance coverage for accident victims.

He acknowledged that the current third-party insurance coverage falls short of providing sufficient compen-

ADEQUATE COMPENSATION

He further elaborated on the challenges posed by the current insurance framework, stating, “It’s called third - party insurance, and the coverage is very minimal and as a result, innocent people have to spend a lot of money either looking after themselves or repairing their vehicles or properties without any money coming

from the insurance companies of the guilty party.”

While acknowledging that raising insurance coverage would likely lead to higher premiums , Nandlall emphasised the need to strike a balance between affordability and adequate compensation for accident victims

“The law has been kept that way because if the law is changed, the insurance

Guyana

Attorney - General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S C

‘Rafeek & Moore’, Bertling Logistics in joint venture to service O&G sector

RAFEEK & Moore Customs Brokerage Firm , a 100 per cent owned and operated Guyanese company , has expanded its services by forming a joint venture with Bertling Logistics to meet the needs and demands of the growing economy

According to a press release, the customs brokerage firm is managed by Amanda Rafeek and Colin Moore, who are both licensed customs house brokers and tax consultants. “They are a strong team with over 52 years combined experiences in the industry,” it added Bertling was founded

in Germany more than 158 years ago and has since developed from a local chartering and ship-owning business to a globally recognised logistics and shipping company offering complex project freight forwarding, GFF and resupply transport solutions, as well as worldwide leading ship-owning, chartering and brokerage services to its global clients

According to the press release, the joint venture is ideally positioned to provide end - to - end turnkey logistics , customs brokerage, warehousing and shipping services to the energy, mining and construction , infrastructure ,

renewables , and petrochemical industry

“Clients will have access to state - of - the art transport management tools, real-time tracking/ tracing , reporting and overall digitalization solutions to build sustainable, highly visible and efficiently run supply-chains for transports and projects of any scale,” it said

Colin Moore , Rafeek & Moore’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) stated that his company has been providing customs brokerage services for over a decade, adhering to the Customs Laws of Guyana and satisfying local and international clients

‘Drastic situations require drastic ...

From page 8

premiums will have to be increased drastically

As a considerate government, we have deliberately kept the insurance at a particular level because of the impact it will have on persons being able to afford insurance

“ That is why we have kept it because once that law is changed, and the insurance coverage increases, then minibus fares will increase , taxi fares will increase , and it will have a ricochet effect on the cost of living,” Nandlall said.

He acknowledged that many people are currently dissatisfied with the existing insurance system and called for a reconsideration of the situation

ADDRESSING RECKLESSNESS

According to Nandlall, tackling the issue of reckless driving and negligence on the nation’s roadways requires a multifaceted approach.

As such, the government is reviewing policies and implementing measures to promote road safety and responsible driving

“We have passed laws, we are reviewing policies,

and we are implementing measures as we continue to fight against the reckless use of our roadways It’s a work in progress to bring order, civility and decency to the manner in which our roads are being used. We have to seriously address it and drastic situations require drastic measures,” he said

Startling statistics from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) revealed a troubling trend From January 1 to August 28, 2023, 109 people lost their lives in 91 accidents, a significant increase compared to the same period in 2022

The National Assembly recently passed a regulatory framework for the use of electric bikes It will address the alarming increase in road fatalities and incidents involving electric bikes

Meanwhile, in November 2022, the National Assembly passed the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2022 to promote and enforce safe driving

For the first two weeks of September alone , 20 people died in road accidents in Guyana, including an 11 - year - old girl and a 10-month-old baby

Among the most recent

This collaboration , as encouraged by the Government of Guyana for local companies to expand their resources, will now satisfy the oil and gas sector, but, more

importantly, it epitomizes the true essence of what the Local Content Act represents by bringing together a 100 per cent homogenized Guyanese company, owned,

licensed and operated by Colin and Amanda with Bertling Logistics, an internationally renowned partner in the area of International Logistics, the release added

road fatalities are 11-yearold Jamella Rudder , her father Jason Rudder , and two others

The four people perished in a two - vehicle collision at De Hoop, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The two other deceased persons were the drivers of the vehicles – Kellon Jones and Chris Gonsalves

An accident that resulted in the death of four teenagers has prompted calls for more action to be taken to protect road users and to promote road safety

The driver of the car the teenagers were in was reportedly speeding when he collided with a parked truck and a concrete fence at Canal #2 Polder, West Bank Demerara ( WBD ), Region Three

The victims of this devastating accident were identified as the driver, 17-yearold Daveanand Singh , 19 - year - old Amiesha Jaikaran, 18-year-old Divyanie Narine and 19-year-old Daniel Tirbeni

Further, 10-month-old Zainad Boyer recently died in an accident at Dennis Street , Sophia The infant’s father was reportedly speeding when he collided with another car.

‘Frivolous’ legal cases draining judicial resources

– AG says; urges courts to take proactive stance

ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs , Anil Nandlall , SC ., has raised serious concerns over the increasing number of “ frivolous and vexatious” legal cases being filed against the state and has called on the courts to award appropriate costs when dismissing such matters, which, according to him, are wasting valuable ju-

dicial resources.

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George recently threw out a case filed by three women activists against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which sought to halt the flaring of gas offshore by ExxonMobil

She found that the application lacked evidence and merit and was one of several cases brought by

litigants with similar intentions The respondents were ordered to pay EPA $150,000 in costs

In a recent address during his weekly Facebook programme, “Issues in the News,” Nandlall highlighted that these cases often lack merit and consume valuable judicial resources, both in terms of time and finances

He expressed his deep

concern about individuals filing abusive cases that , in the end , prove to be without merit Despite this, the courts do not consistently order appropriate costs against the litigants even though considerable expenses are incurred by the state and other parties involved

In her ruling, Chief Justice George meticulously examined the evidence pre-

sented in the case In her ruling, she emphasised that the applicants had failed to adequately substantiate their claims

She noted that the evidence provided was confusing and primarily comprised opinions, either from the applicants themselves or from their legal representatives

The court also acknowledged that , during the course of the proceedings, the applicants had abandoned several requested reliefs due to a lack of evidence

“These litigants go on the internet, they pull down a whole set of information about the environment , pages and pages of documents , half of which are irrelevant and 99 per cent of which are inadmissible as evidence because the maker of those documents is not before the court ,” Nandlall remarked during his programme

Commenting on the case, the AG stated that the courts need to take a more proactive stance in discouraging frivolous litigation by awarding appropriate orders for costs when dismissing such cases The state was awarded only $150,000 in costs despite a lengthy and resource-intensive legal battle

Meanwhile, in another case , High Court Judge , Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, dismissed a challenge to the environmental permit granted to the gas-to-energy project, ruling that “no good to the public” can be done by granting its relief In that case, no order has been made as to costs

The permit was issued by the EPA to ExxonMobil Guyana (Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited- EEPGL) for the project and associated activities The challenge was by Vanda Radzik and Elizabeth Hughes

In her ruling , Justice Sewnarine-Beharry found that the applicants had not cogently articulated what real or substantial public wrong occurred to them or the wide Guyanese popu-

lace upon the grant of the environmental permit facility, which would justify quashing the decision of the EPA

Nandlall stressed that while public - spirited citizens have a duty to discharge in pursuing legal cases, these cases must be just and not frivolous As such, he urged the courts to send a clear signal that frivolous litigation will not be tolerated and that the costs associated with such cases should be borne by those responsible

“ We have an overworked judicial system that is nationally recognised We have people with genuine cases involving their properties, freedoms, and families Cases that put people’s lives on hold, and those cases remain languishing in the system ,” Nandlall lamented Against this backdrop, he stressed the importance of a balanced approach to litigation , where genuine cases are heard without impediment , and frivolous cases are discouraged through appropriate legal measures.

Nandlall said that his concerns were not unfounded, as Guyana had recently witnessed several legal challenges against state agencies and environmental permits In some instances, he said , these challenges had been dismissed as lacking merit, while in others, substantial costs had been awarded to the respondents “ I believe that these cases are of the same mould but all I am asking for is that when these cases are dismissed, the court must express [its] displeasure It must send a message that it will not allow its processes to be used in this frivolous manner It costs a lot of money to hear and determine one of these cases,” the AG stressed.

He concluded by calling for a more judicious use of the legal system which reflects the broader issue of judicial efficiency and responsible legal resource management in Guyana.

Essequibians participate in breast cancer awareness walk

SCORES of Essequibians joined the Seeta Ram Radhay Shyaam Mandir on Sunday morning to show support to all those who are living with breast cancer.

According to the organizer , Bharrat Parmanand , the members of the mandir, which is located at Sparta on

Scenes from the breast cancer awareness walk in Essequibo this publication

the Essequibo Coast, felt it was an important event, as it would involve members of the public, and signal to those battling the dreaded disease that they are not alone

The walk commenced from Jaigobin Hotel , at Henrietta, and ended at the mandir Everyone who par-

ticipated was dressed in pink “ We are a religious group, and we want to use our efforts in supporting those cancer patients , especially during the month of October . From the time we said we would have the walk, there has been positive feedback,” Parmanand told

Security guard killed in Ogle accident

–– driver in custody

A LORRY driver is currently in police custody following a fatal accident at Ogle, East Coast Demerara , which claimed the life of 63 - year - old security guard, Patricia Hutson , early Sunday morning.

According to a police release , the accident occurred at around 06:30hrs, and involved Motor Lorry # GAE 8189 , driven by a 26-year-old male of Supply, East Bank Demerara, and Hutson , of 13th Avenue , Diamond Housing Scheme , East Bank Demerara “

The lorry driver alleges that he was proceeding east along the southern driving lane of the northern carriageway on Ogle Public Road when he saw

the traffic light in his direction change from green to amber , then red On seeing this, he tried to apply brakes, but did not get any (the vehicle failed to stop),” the release said

As a result, the driver told the police, he changed lane from the southern to the northern side of the road , where the lorry ’ s back wheel collided with Hutson, who had moments before disembarked a minibus and was waiting to cross the road

Due to the collision , Hutson fell onto the road’s surface, causing her to sustain injuries to her head and body She was picked up in a semi-conscious state and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where she was seen

DEAD: Patricia Hutson

and examined by a doctor and admitted as a patient in the Emergency Unit However, she succumbed to her injuries about two hours later

The body is at the GPHC’s Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination, while the driver of the lorry is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation.

He said he was very happy with the turnout, and is hoping to make the walk an annual one

Parmanand advised wom-

en and men to visit their doctors regularly for a checkup

The month of October is known as Pinktober, and the national breast cancer awareness month

The month is used to raise awareness of the disease, and also to enlighten persons about its cause , prevention , diagnosis , treatment, and cure.

Leonora farmers’ market

THE Ministry of Agriculture’s farmers’ market day which was held on Sunday at the National Track

and Field Centre, Leonora, Region Three, has been deemed a major success by consumers, farmers,

and other stakeholders. Consumers who turned out in their numbers were able

to buy fresh produce at significantly reduced prices. Commodities that were on sale included chick -

ducing, and persons who are now in the process of farming. It is also beneficial for the consumers be-

from stall to stall picking up her goods.

She told the DPI that it felt amazing going to the market

en, shrimp, beef, pork, eggs, coconut oil, fruits, vegetables, plants, juices, and ground provisions.

Linden Clay of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, was among the massive crowd that flocked the stalls. He expressed his satisfaction with the event being hosted in the region.

“Today’s event is a very good initiative, especially for farmers, persons who are pro-

cause when you come around here, you will be able to get commodities at a reasonable price, apart from going into the market,” Clay told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Clay said it would be an exceptional move for the initiative to be hosted continuously for residents to benefit.

Bibi Bacchus’ face was brimming with smiles as she moved

day, especially since she benefitted from affordable prices.

“This is so good because the government is doing a great job and they must continue doing it,” Bacchus expressed.

Govinda Sami, who has been farming for some 46 years in the Parika area, said at first, he was hesitant to attend the activity after witnessing the busy Leonora Market on Saturday.

Scenes from the Leonora Market Day

day deemed successful

“The stuff that we brought has finished. My son had to go home to bring some more again. A lot of

came in at 5:37 am,” Ramadin stated.

President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce,

markets’ because this was one of the budget measures that was passed, that we will start farmers’ markets across the country… We have trucks that will be going across the country to sell meats and eggs,” the agriculture minister

emphasised.

He stated that farmers’ market day prevents significant price inflation by bringing the cost down to a level that consumers can afford.

“I am looking forward that every week now, we will have

at least two farmers’ markets across the country. We will be looking to ensure that consumers receive a fair price and for farmers to receive a fair price for their produce…I am hoping that we can be able to control the prices for

these across the country, so that the middle men would not increase their prices…” A similar event is being held at the Albion Community Centre along the Corentyne Coast. (DPI)

persons came and complimented us and our prices,” Sami expressed.

Meanwhile, Representative of Basdeo’s Dynasty, Trevor Ramadin was very happy with the turnout and noted that most of their produce were almost sold out.

“It is a very good initiative and I think they should do it as a yearly something. The turnout has been great. I saw the first shopper

Premendra Parsan is extremely happy that the activity brought together farmers in and out of the region.

Highlighting the dire need for farmers’ market day, Minister Zulfikar Mustapha explained that over the past few weeks persons have been complaining about the prices of certain commodities in the markets.

“So, I said, ‘we will start these farmers’

Guyana’s housing programme ‘a star’ in the region

MINISTER within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, has said that Guyana’s current housing programme is “a star” among similar initiatives in the region

The minister made this remark during an airing of her show , “ Making the case”, where she indicated that Guyana’s political will sets its housing programme apart from those around the world

At the time , she was speaking of her recent visit to Ecuador where she attended a housing forum and discussed the ways in which Guyana is addressing the

housing deficit

She noted that she explained a lot about the housing programme at that forum including how it operates , how subsidised lands are transferred to low - income families and middle-income families and how housing units are being constructed to enable persons to acquire home ownership as fast as possible

“

I went through the whole programme in detail so that those countries that are represented there can understand how we are working to reduce the housing deficit in Guyana,” she said Rodrigues went on to add

that while no country has been able to respond to 100 per cent of the demand for housing, there will always be a demand for housing in any jurisdiction and as such it is important that new ideas are discussed and new technologies employed

“

I was very pleased to share our experience here in Guyana and to share some of the ideas on the subsidy programmes that we have here so that those other countries that we have here that are interested in implementing similar programmes we can share those ideas and they were very happy to receive those,” she shared

–– Minister Rodrigues

Meanwhile, the housing minister indicated that , as she heard about how other countries are addressing their deficit, she realised that what has set Guyana apart is the political will

She emphasised that the People ’ s Progressive Party / Civic government has always supported the housing programme and treated housing as a major pillar of the economy

“We have always regarded the housing programme as very important to the development and transformation of the personal lives of our people and because we are convinced that it has this transformational effect on people’s lives, a positive effect on people’s lives that we continue to invest in the housing programme and that is what really sets us apart,” she said

Added to this , Rodrigues iterated that the government has increased the housing budget significantly and that in itself speaks to the government ensuring that it continues to invest in housing and in providing housing to all Guyanese.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, during one of her presentations in Ecuador

US$29M specialty hospital earmarked for East Bank

NIGHTINGALE Super Specialty Hospital Inc. ( NSSH ) has submitted a project proposal to the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) for the construction of a US $ 29M specialised healthcare facility at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

According to a project summary prepared by the company, a team of highly trained and skilled professionals, including doctors in general and specialised practice, as well as technicians

The NSSH is registered under the Company Act of Guyana with its registered office located at 137 Sheriff Street, Georgetown The company was incorporated in March 2021and has a vision to bring to Guyana, a high quality of medical services

The construction timeline of the facility which will have 100 beds , is

nine to 24 months based on experience and past projects During the construction phase, 100 jobs will be created, followed by 90 full-time jobs once the facility becomes operational

Serving as a vital cornerstone of medical care, the facility will play a pivotal role in diagnosing, treating , and preventing various illnesses and injuries

Additionally , it will contribute to medical research advancements and provide training for healthcare professionals

The EPA has since revealed that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will not be required for the construction and operation of the facility.

The agency, in a public notice, stated that the project will not significantly affect the environment , and is therefore exempted from the requirement to conduct an EIA

Providing a further detailed explanation , EPA said impacts from noise will be low to moderate, short- term and localised during construction

In cases of a power outage during operation, a low noise energy efficient and fume-controlled power generator system will be used to reduce noise emissions

Noise emissions are not expected to exceed 90 dB(A).

Secondly , impacts from dust pollution will be moderate during construction Dust control measures such as dampening the work area, covering loose soil materials, and implementing water spraying systems to suppress dust emissions will be undertaken

Meanwhile , general construction waste will be placed in skip bins and will be disposed of at an EPA-approved sanitary landfill.

Labourer killed during argument with man who troubled his wife

POLICE are currently on the hunt for a man who allegedly stabbed 25-year-old Mark Hilliman to death on Saturday night.

Hilliman , a labourer of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, was killed around 22:00 hrs between Longden and Croal Streets, Georgetown

“Investigations so far revealed that, around 21:35 hrs, the victim’s reputed 28-yearold wife (who is employed at the KFC outlet on Water Street) was on duty when the suspect, who is not known to her, went into the KFC outlet and was interfering with her “ During the said time , the victim (Hilliman) went into the KFC outlet to visit his reputed wife, and, after he observed what was happening, he told the suspect to

desist from interfering with his wife,” the police said in a release

According to the police, a heated argument ensued between the men who both armed themselves with knifes and left the KFC outlet

The duo headed East between Longden and Croal Streets , and the suspect stabbed Hilliman to the left of his chest

The victim walked a short distance and fell to the ground , while the suspect made good his escape on foot in a southern direction

The victim was picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was pronounced dead on arrival His body is currently at the hospital ’ s mortuary , awaiting a

post-mortem examination

Several persons were questioned and CCTV cameras in the area are being reviewed by investigators

The police said that “ Checks were made to locate the suspect but without success” as the investigations continue

DEAD Mark Hilliman

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday, October 09, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Australia

(2) India

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who was the winner of the 2007 Cricket World Cup?

(2) Which was the other team that contested the final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ENGLISH

WOLVERHAMPTON

15:00 hrs Bernie The Beer

15:30 hrs Mutanaaseq

CANADIAN RACING TIPS

FORT ERIE

Race 1 Hiatus Race 2 Whisper Me A Song Race 3 Bend In The River Race 4 Ein Wahrer Soldat Race 5 Don't Stop Dreamin Race 6 Orbiting The Sky Race 7 Dot's Vision

AMERICAN RACING TIPS

FINGER LAKES

Race 1 Ruby's Mission

Race 2 Seminarian

Race 3 Fiery Heat Race 4 Boldlee Race 5 Shanty Shack

14:00 hrs Genesuis

14:30 hrs Tallulah

Myla

Race 6 Grey Invasion

Race 7 Kierkegaard

Verstappen wins third F1 world title in Qatar sprint race

RED Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched a third world title by finishing second in a chaotic and incident-packed sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Three safety cars triggered by a series of accidents and collisions created a dramatic spectacle under the lights at the Lusail circuit won by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen fought back after dropping from third on the grid to fifth on the first lap but could not quite catch Piastri.

McLaren’s Lando Norris passed Mercedes’ George Russell late on to take third.

Verstappen’s championship success was effectively confirmed when his teammate Sergio Perez was taken out in a three-way collision also involving Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg.

Verstappen had only to

ensure he did not lose more than five points to the Mexican to secure the title so Perez’s retirement made the Dutchman champion regardless of his eventual result.

Verstappen said to his team over the radio: “I don’t know what to say. Incredible year. Thank you for provid-

ing me with such a car. It has been a pleasure so far this year.”

The incident that took out Perez – triggered when Ocon moved across on Hulkenberg, who had Perez on his outside – brought out the third safety car and set up a five-lap race to the finish.

By that stage Verstappen was already passed the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz into third place, behind Piastri and Russell, who had exchanged the lead twice in the opening phases of the race.

Verstappen despatched Russell straight after the final restart but despite setting two fastest laps was unable to catch Piastri, who crossed the line 1.8 seconds ahead.

The result – Piastri’s first F1 victory on the same day as he took his first pole –confirmed the Australian as a major star of the future as his his impressive rookie season goes from strength to strength.

Piastri, who started on the medium tyres, lost the lead to Russell, on soft tyres, on lap three, just after the restart from the first safety car, caused by a first-lap spin off the track by Alpha Tauri’s Liam Lawson.

Russell held the lead through a second safety car, caused when Logan Sargeant lost his Williams straight after the first restart.

But when the race resumed on lap eight, Russell’s tyres were already beginning to fade and Piastri re-took the lead on lap 11, just before the Ocon-Hulkenberg-Perez crash.

His win means that just 17 races into his career he has taken a victory – albeit in a sprint not a grand prix – before team-mate Norris, who began his career in 2019.

The race devolved into a battle between two different tyre strategies, using the soft and the medium.

During the final safety car, Russell was pleading for a pit stop for fresh tyres but was told they would score no points if he made it.

But his fears were realised as first Verstappen passed him and then Norris

did so, too.

Russell’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who chose medium tyres, moved up from 12th on the grid to take fifth place, passing the Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc on soft tyres in the closing stages.

Sainz fought hard to hold off Leclerc, who was struggling less with his tyres, but the result means Ferrari lost ground to Mercedes in their battle for second place in the constructors’ championship.

Leclerc was later penalised five seconds for leaving the track multiple times, demoting him 12th.

Williams driver Alex Albon proved that medium tyres were the right choice by taking seventh place, after starting 17th, passing the soft-shod Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso close to the end, who claimed the final points-paying position of eighth after Leclerc’s penalty. (BBC Sport).

Matthews-less WI crash to humbling loss Canada clinch T20 World Cup spot after Bermuda stumble

BRISBANE, Australia, (CMC) – Captain Hayley Matthews was missing and so was West Indies Women’s spark as they crashed to a humbling eight-wicket defeat to Australia Women in the opening One-Day International of the threematch series here Sunday.

Sent in, the Caribbean side collapsed to a hugely

liveries with seven fours, stand-in captain Shemaine Campbelle (14) and former skipper Stafanie Taylor (12) the only other players to reach double figures.

disappointing 83 in the 28th over, their lowest ever ODI total against the Aussies and their joint seventh lowest of all time.

With Matthews out with a muscle injury, only Aaliyah Alleyne showed any mettle with 35 from 39 de-

Seamer Kim Garth led the hosts with three for eight while off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner (2-17) and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham (230) picked up two wickets apiece.

As expected in reply, Australia Women coasted to their target in the 15th over with captain Alyssa Healy top-scoring with 38 from 36 balls with seven fours, and Ellyse Perry finishing on 20 not out.

Healy put on 57 for the first wicket with Phoebe Litchfield (16) and when both perished in successive overs, Perry lashed four fours in a breezy 13-ball knock to take her side over the line.

Seeking to build on their encouraging showing in the preceding Twenty20 series, West Indies Women were let down by a poor batting effort, in the absence of batting star Matthews.

Rashada Williams gave Garth her second wicket in her second over when she scooped to Perry at point without scoring while 18-year-old left-hander

Zaida James, dropped in the third over before she had scored, followed in the seventh over to a catch at short backward point.

The most productive stand of the innings came when Campbelle and Taylor put on 24 for the fourth wicket but once they fell 13 balls apart with only five runs added, all hopes of a competitive total disappeared, despite Alleyne’s resistance.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, (CMC) – Bermuda’s worst fears were realised when they stumbled at the final hurdle, as Canada trounced them by 39 runs to clinch their spot in next year’s Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States.

In a contest reduced to 18 overs per side due to rain at the National Stadium, Bermuda failed to chase down 133, collapsing to 93 all out in the penultimate over.

Bermuda entered the final fixture of the ICC T20 World Cup Americas Final in pole position after defeating Canada in the tournament opener a week ago and then playing unbeaten to top the table.

However, Canada also played undefeated since their opening loss, while racking up a superior net run rate.

The scenario left Saturday’s game as a do-or-die affair for both teams, after Friday’s penultimate round of games were washed out by heavy rains associated with the passage of Tropical Storm Philippe.

Choosing to bat first, Canada battled their way to 132 for four with opener Navneet Dhaliwal top-scoring with 45 from 38 deliveries and Barbadian Nicholas Kirton blasting a 10-ball unbeaten 26.

Dhaliwal, a 34-year-old right-hander, struck four fours and a six as he put on 28 for the first wicket with Aaron Johnson (15), 28 for the second wicket with Pargat Singh (9) and a further 39 for the third wicket with Harsh Thaker (21).

When Dhaliwal perished at the start of the 16th over, Kirton picked up the

slack in a cameo comprising a brace of fours and a six as he posted 37 in an unbroken fifth- wicket partnership with Dillon Heyliger (10 not out), to rally the back end of the innings.

In reply, Bermuda suffered an early setback with the loss of Tre Manders for one in the second over with two runs on the board.

New batsman Terryn Fray, who topscored with 30 from 35 balls with two fours and two sixes, then led a recovery in a 50-run, second-wicket stand with opener Kamau Leverock who struck a four and a six in a run-a-ball 23.

Once the partnership was broken, however, things fell apart quickly as leftarm pacer Kaleem Sala (3-4) and former Guyana first-class fast bowler Jeremy Gordon (3-6) dismantled the run chase with three-wicket bursts.

Off-spinner Nikhil Dutta supported with two for 16 as Bermuda lost their last nine wickets for 41 runs, Allan Douglas’s 13-ball 22 coming in vain.

2023 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase in the Pitlane after the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on October 07, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Aaliyah Alleyne pulls during her top score of 35 for West Indies Women on Sunday

Former Guyana fast bowler Jeremy Gordon destroyed Bermuda’s innings. (file photo)

Virat Kohli’s 85 helps India start with win over Australia Cricket World Cup

VIRAT Kohli made a crucial 85 as World Cup hosts India overcame an early collapse to begin their campaign with a six-wicket win over Australia.

Steve Smith (46) and David Warner (41) topscored in Australia's total of 199 after they won the toss and batted.

India were in trouble after the loss of early wickets left them teetering on 2-3 before Kohli and KL Rahul rebuilt.

Kohli was caught at mid-wicket off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood (3-38) but Rahul (97 not out) saw India home.

South Africa had pummelled the highest score in World Cup history when they made 428-5 as batting records were shattered against Sri Lanka on Saturday, but this contest was a sub-continental one-day international throwback.

The pitch in Chennai did not lend itself to expansive hitting down the ground, or innovative 360 strokeplay, and inevitably became a low-scoring

2023

arm-wrestle which bucked the trend of many modern white-ball matches.

India managed just three sixes in their innings, and Australia two.

Warner played the most fluently for Australia while Smith had shown resilience, but India's spinners strangled their opponents in the middle overs.

Spin accounted for six of Australia's top sevenspearheaded by left-arm tweaker Ravindra Jadeja's 3-28 - paving the way for their quicks to later deliver the coup de grace.

In the 10 ODIs played at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium since 2011, the average score was 238 so Australia's total felt comfortable for the hosts.

Yet India began their response in a jittery fashion as Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer all fell without scoring to a combination of ill-judged aggression and fine bowling from Mitchell Starc (1-31) and Hazlewood.

Kohli and Rahul saw off a tricky period and once the shine went off the

CWI and GCB headed

Cricket West Indies (CWI) issued a statement Saturday in response to the concerns raised by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) regarding the validity of the election for the position of Vice President during the Annual General Meeting held on March 25, 2023.

In a letter dated October 4, 2023, the GCB had expressed doubts about the fairness and legality of the election process. They claimed that they had officially withdrawn their nomination of Mr. Azim Bassarath for the position of Vice President during the AGM. The GCB is demanding Bassarath’s resignation adding that if he

white ball and it stopped swinging, Australia's attack looked unthreatening and skipper Pat Cummins bereft of ideas on how to take wickets.

The India pair were content to accumulate and then showed more attacking intent to punish the bad ball as they enjoyed a stand of 165 for the fourth wicket.

Rahul and Hardik Pandya took them over the line with 52 balls to spare after a blitz of late boundaries.

KOHLI KEY AS HE HELPS NERVY INDIA TO VICTORY

In a country with a population of 1.4 billion, where cricket is akin to religion, there was inevitable frenzied scrutiny on the hosts in their opening World Cup match.

The tag of home favourites did not seem to weigh heavily on the shoulders of India's players in the field, though.

for legal showdown over election of Vice-

fails to demit office they will seek legal recourse.

CWI, in its statement, affirmed its confidence in the fairness and transparency of the election process, asserting that it had been conducted with utmost regard for the rights, views, and opinions of all stakeholders of CWI Inc.

Furthermore, CWI highlighted that after the conclusion of the election, the elected Vice President had received congratulations and unwavering support from all shareholder members.

The Board of Cricket West Indies emphasised that they had thoroughly examined the concerns raised by the GCB and affirmed that

the election for the Vice President position had been carried out in strict accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the organization. They reiterated their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency

in all their operations, including elections.

Despite the ongoing dispute, CWI expressed its dedication to finding an amicable resolution to the matter, stressing the importance of unity among shareholders and the cricketing commu-

nerves as panic briefly set in and silenced the vociferous home crowd.

Inevitably, the man for such a crisis stepped up when India needed it.

Kohli was a stoic presence at the crease, calmly rotating the strike with the equally unflustered Rahul, as he adjusted to the pace of the pitch and intelligently worked the ball into gaps.

Their chests were puffed out during the national anthem and their self-belief did not waver, as they rolled Australia for 199 with disciplined bowling and fielding.

India's blueprint of stifling the runs through the middle overs through spin, bookended by menacing spells from their pace bowlers did the trick.

But when Starc and Hazlewood made early inroads into their batting it exposed some underlying

He did offer a chance in eighth over - spooning a pull to a short ball from Hazlewood which Mitch Marsh dropped sliding in when wicketkeeper Alex Carey was better placed to take the catch.

The psychological blow had India lost their stellar player at that point, despite Rahul's serene knock, might have influenced the outcome.

Until his dismissalthanks to a smart catch by Marnus Labuschagne at mid-wicket after Kohli came a cropper on the pull - this was a flawless knock from the 34-yearold in what could well be his final 50-over World Cup.

President Bassarath in March

nity at large. The Board implored the members of the GCB to prioritise the interests of cricket above all else.

CWI remains steadfast in its mission to promote and develop the sport in the region and hopes that all parties involved can come together to resolve this matter promptly and harmoniously.

The GCB had previously sent a letter to CWI President Kishore Shallow, asserting that the process leading to Bassarath's appointment as Vice President was "flawed and illegal" in their opinion. They claimed to have withdrawn their nomination of Mr. Azim Bassarath for the post of Vice President during

the AGM.

In a virtual meeting held at CWI's request on September 21, the GCB reiterated their stance on Bassarath's appointment, asserting that he was "illegally occupying the position" and should step down to facilitate a new and legal process. The GCB had expressed their dissatisfaction with the outcome of that meeting.

In their recent letter dated October 4, the GCB made it clear that they had "unanimously decided to demand the resignation" of Bassarath and indicated that non-compliance within 14 days would result in "legal recourse."(Sportsmax)

Vice- President Azim Bassarath

An icey and calm partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul helped India manage to secure a six-wicket victory over Australia at Chennai’s Chepauk stadium to kickstart their ICC Cricket World Cup campaign with a win

GCA’s Atlantic Marines, Suzuki T20 2nd Division final

Transport Sports Club (TSC) beat Police by six wickets to lift the inaugural trophy

DESPITE a belligerent 81 from Police’s Andrew Lyght (Jnr), TSC defeated the lawmen by six wickets on Saturday, at the DCC ground, to capture the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) inaugural Atlantic Marines/ Suzuki T20 Second Division Cricket tournament.

In hot conditions, on a good track and fast outfield, Police made 194-7 off their 20 overs before TSC, watched by a large crowd which came from the Inter-County final at Bourda for the second-half of the match, responded with 196-4 with six balls to spare.

Police was led by an explosive 81 from 42 balls decorated with 10 fours and two sixes on the small Queenstown venue, by Lyght, the son of the late Andrew ‘Monster’ Lyght, who played for Guyana and the West Indies ‘B’ team.

But After Troy Benn was LBW to off-spinner Kevin Ross for a duck, no other Police batter, except Lennox Andrews who made 29 from 22 balls with four fours and a six and Kyle Michael who scored a run-a-ball 28 with two fours and two sixes, contributed important runs without going on when well set.

GCA T/20 Trials at DCC ground

Reon King’s XI defeated Roger Harper’s X1 by 68 runs at the DCC ground yesterday in the GCA t20 cricket trial match for the upcoming Demerara Inter Association T20 tournament

Team Reon King won the toss and batted and scored 183/9 in 20 overs with All-rounder Keon Morris top scored with 90 not out sixes and nine fours while Alvin Mohabir 20, Dave Mohabir 15, Adrian Hinds and Brandon Jaikarran 12 reached double figures.

Dwayne Dick 2/29 and Riyad Latif 2/20 had two wickets each for Team Roger Harper, who were bowled out for 115 in 15.1 overs with Christopher Barnwell scoring a quick-fire 52 with eight fours and two sixes to be the only Batter with a double figure score as Extras contributed 19.

Bowling for Team Reon King, Nkosi Beaton took 3/20, Left-arm pace bowler Mark Cumberbatch

Chris Barnwell continued his good form with another fifty yesterday at DCC

2/16, Dave Mohabir 2/11 and Ricardo 2/10. (Sean Devers)

GCA Atlantic Marines/

The pair shared in a 65-run partnership before Andrews departed to Redman, who soon removed Dwayne Dick and Kelvin Leitch cheaply before dismissing Pernell London.

London clobbered 22 from eight balls with five boundaries, including a six,

but he was the only Police batter to reach double figures as Akeem Redman grabbed 4-22.

When the Thomas Roadbased TSC began their chase, half-centuries from Adrian Hinds and Alvin Mohabir led their team to victory while

Riyad Latif chipped in with an unbeaten 34. Hind’s 60 lasted 26 balls and included five fours and four sixes before he was run out, while Mohabir reached the boundary eight times and cleared it twice in his 59 before he fell to Dick’s off-spin.

After Emmanuel Lewis

(5) departed, Latif’s 34 took him 29 balls and included two fours and a couple of sixes and along with Redman (2) saw their team home. The sponsors have committed their sponsorship for the 2023/24 season.

(Sean Devers)

Kelvin Kiptum shatters world marathon record in Chicago

Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum shattered the men's marathon world record in Chicago as he beat compatriot Eliud Kipchoge's previous mark by more than 30 seconds.

The 23-year-old finished in a time of two hours 35 seconds.

"I feel so happy. A world record was not in my mind today," he said after beating Kipchoge's time of 2:01.09, set in Berlin in September 2022.

Dutch runner Sifan Hassan set the second-fastest women's time in marathon history as she won the female event.

Her time of 2:13:44 is behind only the record of 2:11.53 set by Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa

in Berlin last month.

Kiptum broke the tape three minutes 27 seconds ahead of countryman Benson Kipruto, with Belgian Bashir Abdi in third.

It was his third victory in as many starts over 26.2 miles. He tri-

umphed on his debut last December at Valencia and then won the London Marathon in a course record in April.

He waved and blew kisses at spectators before raising his arms when crossing the finish line.

His extraordinary run shaved more than three minutes off the previous Chicago Marathon record set by Kenyan Dennis Kimetto in 2013 - and brings closer the possibility of the twohour barrier being broken.

"I saw the time in front of me. I felt good inside of me, maybe a little adrenaline. I said let me try - maybe I can run under 2:00," he said. "I knew one day I would be a world-record holder."

In the women's race, Hassan finished one minute 53 seconds ahead of Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich, with Ethiopian Alemu Megertu in third.(BBC Sport)

TSC took the inaugural

Suzuki T20 second division title

Andrew Lyght Jnr scored 81 for Police in a losing effort

TSC’s Akeem Redman had a 4-for in the final

Kelvin Kiptum sank to his knees after only his third marathon race

Battering a learning experience, says optimistic Head coach ShaneDeitz

BRISBANE, Australia,

injury.

stead moving forward.”

(CMC )–

Head coach Shane Deitz believes West Indies Women’s capitulation in the opening OneDay International against Australia Women, will serve as a learning curve for the young side.

West Indies Women were bundled out for just 83 at Allan Border Field – their lowest-ever ODI total against the Aussies and their joint seventh lowest of all time.

Australia comfortably chased down the target to win by eight wickets, and take a 1-0 lead in the threematch series.

“Funny enough, I thought some of the things we did were really good. We sent some youngsters out to give them an opportunity and they did their best,” said Deitz, in his first series with the Caribbean side after being appointed in July.

“They’re learning international cricket so they’ve got a lot to learn, and ob -

viously when you have a loss, it’s a great opportunity to learn more so plenty of learnings to go on.

Chinelle Henry walks off after being dismissed cheaply in the first ODI against Australia.

“We’ve got a few days between now and the next

game so [we have a] fair bit to do.

“I know the result looks really, really bad but I think we’re here to learn, especially those youngsters.

“In these conditions against the world’s best, it is a perfect opportunity to learn

great things and next time when they come here, we’ll be better prepared for these conditions with the younger players a bit older.”

West Indies Women were hampered by the loss of captain and leading batsman Hayley Matthews who missed the game with a leg

Her absence resulted in the teenaged pair of Zaida James and Djenaba Joseph opening the batting, a partnership exploited by the Aussies as both perished cheaply, West Indies Women slipping to five runs for three wickets after being sent in.

Aaliyah Alleyne was the only one to pass 20, top-scoring with 35 from 39 deliveries before she was last out.

Despite the batting meltdown, Deitz said he saw encouraging signs from a technical perspective.

“Just the movement into the ball, we worked on some technical things with the bat and just getting into the ball more and committing to trying to take the opposition on,” said the Australian.

“It starts with your movement and your thought processes which I thought were good so that was quite pleasing, and that’s what’s going to hold us in good

Matthews was the leading scorer in the preceding Twenty20 series, scoring a hundred and two half-centuries to finish with 313 runs and top the aggregates on either side.

And Deitz said with the second ODI scheduled for Thursday in Melbourne, Matthews would be afforded the time to further recover.

“She’s in recovery mode a t the moment,” he explained.

“She was reasonably close to playing today but there’s a few days between now and the next game so it gives us a bit more time to heal and let her try to be as close to a hundred per cent as she can be.

“It’s pretty tough if you’re trying to play on one leg. Mentally you’re not right up for it. We’ll see how it goes [over the] next few days.”

Hope leads star-studded Pride for Super 50 cup campaign

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – West Indies one-day captain Shai Hope has been predictably named to lead a star-studded Barbados Pride unit for their Super50 Cup campaign starting later this month in Trinidad and Tobago. West Indies ODI captain Shai Hope.

The 14-man squad includes Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite, a former captain Shamarh Brooks, along with West Indies stars Roston Chase, Kyle

Mayers, Raymon Reifer, Dominic Drakes, Akeem Jordan and Jomel Warrican.

Hope, appointed OneDay International skipper last February, is the region’s leading white-ball batsman and is ranked number 12 in the ICC World rankings.

He averages nearly 49 from 153 List A games and 50 from 118 ODIs, inclusive of 15 hundreds.

The stylish righthander was the leading scorer in the Caribbean

Premier League which concluded last month, dominating the region’s premier Twenty20 league with 481 runs at an average of 51.

Pride open their account against title-holders Jamaica Scorpions on October 20 at UWI’s Sport and Physical Education Centre at St Augustine, in an eight-team group format which will see each team facing the other once.

The top four teams qualify for the semi-finals

on November 8 and 9. Last year, Pride reached the semi-finals where they were knocked out by losing finalists Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

SQUAD – Shai Hope (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Dominic Drakes, Akeem Jordan, Javed Leacock, Kyle Mayers, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Roshon Primus, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Smith, Jomel Warrican.

West Indies one-day captain Shai Hope

Chinelle Henry walks off after being dismissed cheaply in the first ODI against Australia