Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 10-09-2023

Minimum wage, tax threshold adjustments imminent

Guyana records massive 59.5% economic growth

- in first half of 2023; non-oil GDP growth of 12.3% also recorded - President Ali reassures Guyanese of continued progress as major sectors continue along positive trajectory

US$10M quarry commissioned at Batavia

Market forces control foreign exchange

rates

- President Ali emphasises

Historic Milestone: Mahdia District Theater performs first surgeries in Region Eight

$36M front-end loader to enhance

‘I have no intention of reducing my interaction with the people’

- President Ali affirms; says engagements will increase

Region Two

projects

Guyana records massive 59.5% economic growth

- in first half of 2023; non-oil GDP growth of 12.3% also recorded - President Ali reassures Guyanese of continued progress, as major sectors continue along positive trajectory

By Trina Williams

AMIDST the massive economic boom taking place in Guyana’s oil and nonoil sectors, President Dr. Irfaan Ali revealed, on Saturday, that the nation’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by an estimated 59.5 per cent, in the first half of 2023 while the non-oil economy grew by 12.3 per cent.

During a press conference at State House, he said: “We are not a country pursuing a future of oil and gas. We are a country pursuing a balanced, holistic [and] diversified portfolio that will see sustainability and resilience of our economy, our country and our people,” adding that this positive trajectory is a result of the enormous injections being pumped into the non-oil economy.

The President then gave light to the real GDP growing by an estimated 59.5 per cent, in the first half of 2023.

However, he said that what was important to note was that the non-oil economy grew by 12.3 per cent in the first half of the year.

“And this is as a direct result of the policy matrix of the government in the country,” the President firmly

stated.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Sectors that were left to decay under the previous coalition government have been revived and reignited, according to the President, and are contributing largely to the expansion of Guyana’s economy.

Expounding on the significant growth in the traditional sectors, Dr. Ali gave recognition to agriculture’s continuous blossoming.

He said that agriculture, forestry and fishing expanded by a 7.6 per cent in the first half of 2023.

“Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, these were sectors that were completely destroyed in the five years of the last government,” the President said while unveiling that the forestry sector was in a state of bankruptcy under the former A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration.

Notwithstanding these hurdles, Dr. Ali said that his government transformed the agriculture sector that was previously seen as a burden to farmers.

Moreover, while reaffirming his government’s commitment to restoring the once revered sugar industry and reintegrating it back into the local economy, the President stated that when compared to the first half of 2022, the sugar industry grew by 30.1 per cent.

Reflecting on a time of despair that saw the closure of a number of sugar estates and the termination of thousands of workers, he went on to remark that despite masquerading and putting on a mask of concern, those persons who neglected the sugar industry will not be forgotten.

Furthermore, the Head of State related that there are ongoing consultations be -

tween him and sugar workers on a number of topics.

PROGRESS

In addition, the rice industry, in the first half of 2023, when compared to 2022, grew by an estimated 3.2 per cent.

The Head of State said that the growth can be linked to the continuous investment in drainage irrigation, fiscal incentives, the increase in the utilisation of technology, the expansion of research and development along with the opening up of new lands.

When it came to other crops sector, according to Dr. Ali, the area is estimated to have grown by 9.4 per cent in the first half of 2023.

Meanwhile, the livestock industry grew by an estimated 9.4 per cent in the first half of this year.

The President also positively related the statistics of the forestry sector and said that, despite his administration inheriting an industry in absolute ruins, it has now been transformed.

Notably, the forestry sector in the first half of 2023 grew by 4.5 per cent.

President Ali said: “Now, when you understand the nature of the growth of the productive sector, you will know that this growth is linked to critical competence

of the economy, transportation logistics, food, mechanical services, machining, machining services and drivers,” explaining that the expansion converts into the development and advancement of other sectors.

Noting that because of robust policy making decisions by his administration, the fishing industry was able to see new heights and thus, the sector expanded by 9.9 per cent in the first half of 2023.

Also, the extractive sector, that is: mining and quarrying, showed an overall growth of 89.9 per cent in the first half of 2023, with a strong growth in the petroleum sub-sector.

Speaking on the mining and quarrying industry, he said: “When we came into government quarrying was virtually dead. The production was at an all-time low, even when compared to 2015,” adding: “We have been able to bring the necessary measures and fiscal incentives to stimulate back the sector to the extent that in the first half of this year, other mining and quarrying grew by 45.2 per cent.”

The President further stated that the manufacturing sector is estimated to have grown by 17.7 per

cent and within the service industry; sales grew by 9.1 per cent.

“So, the construction sector has grown substantially in the first half of this year by 44.1 per cent. When you look at the monetary developments, you will see that credit to the private sector grew by 5 per cent and this growth is expected to further advance in the second half of this year,” Dr. Ali stated.

The Head of State also noted that the credit to business enterprises in the services and manufacturing sectors grew by 3.3 per cent and 8.9 per cent respectively.

While, real estate mortgages grew by 7.3 per cent, according to the President, this is largely driven by mortgages granted for private dwellings. He said that this growth also came with reduced interest rates.

In light of this, the Head of State remarked: “So, when we look at the state of our economy and the matrix of the economy, you would see it as reflective of the policy orientation of the Government and the spread of development. The spread of growth is exactly what we are pursuing for Guyana.”

I have no intention of reducing my interaction with the people

- President Ali affirms; says engagements will increase

By Trina Williams

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali

is unfazed by the criticisms for his direct meetings with the people of Guyana. He intends to maintain his regular engagements with citizens and elevate his efforts.

These remarks were made Saturday during a press conference where the President gave recognition to Guyana’s transformation from neglect and despair to positive growth.

“I have no intention of reducing my interaction with the people… Matter of fact, I’ll be stepping it up because I believe in the power of the people, I believe in their voices, I believe in their ideas

and I believe I have a strong responsibility to the people of this country who are the electorate and custodian of everything we have here,” Dr. Ali said.

Despite being bombarded within the past few weeks by accusations of not being inclusive, the President maintained he had done his constitutional duty and will continue to be accessible to everyone.

“My government is one of the most accessible governments and if someone has no interest in meeting, that’s it. That’s their choice,” the President said while shutting down the accusations of being non-inclusive.

Furthermore, the Pres -

ident said that he has had multiple engagements with numerous Members of Parliament (MP) and if one is to ask anyone of those persons they can give light to how co-operative and understanding the President of Guyana is.

In response to the allegations that his government is excluding Opposition members from State boards, the President refuted these claims and even said that affiliates of the former A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration hold senior positions within the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government.

“We are fully committed to ensuring that all of Guyana is represented on these boards,” President Ali firmly remarked.

While giving his opening remarks, Dr. Ali maintained that his PPP/C government has pursued a path of inclusionary democracy and, more so, it has worked tirelessly to alter the preconceived opinions that many had of Guyana.

“As you know, since assuming office, we have pursued a path of inclusionary democracy, one in which we sought to redefine the narrative about Guyana, as, at that point, our credentials, our democratic credentials, our credentials in relation to the

rule of law were completely lost, because of a group of persons who took it upon themselves, at the expense of all of Guyana, to rubbish democracy, the will of the people and the rule of law.”

The Head of State also said that, because of the number of developmental and positive initiatives that his government has rolled out, a complete 360 has occurred. He said this is clear by the viability of the economy.

He related: “We embarked on a task of reshaping and rebuilding the image of our country and in presenting Guyana as not only a democratic state that abides by the rule of law, but by action

and policy formulation, we have presented Guyana as a viable, sustainable economy worthy of every investment.

Today, we’re seeing that the rebranding and positioning of Guyana and the policy framework that we have pursued bring tremendous results for us as a country, and as a people.”

The President then said because of the fight for democracy, today one can see every International Forum requesting the presence of Guyana.

He further remarked that the nation is playing a lead role in many institutions and when it comes to important issues, Guyana is at the table.

US$10M quarry commissioned at Batavia

By Cassandra Khan

GUYANA’s flourishing construction industry has prompted the commissioning of the US$10 million EKAA HRIM Earth Resources Management Quarry in Batavia, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Saturday. It is expected to help meet the high demand for aggregates.

The initial investment phase for the quarry is underway, with an additional

- quarrying, mining sector grew by 45.2 per cent in first half of 2023

US$10 million to be invested during the second phase.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, at the commissioning ceremony, said that for the first half of 2023, quarrying and mining, as well as the construction sector, saw a growth of over 40 per cent each.

He said that government had to spend a significant amount on importing quarrying materials over the past three years in office, however, given the high demand,

they still cannot keep up with the pace at which development is taking place.

“We have had to spend a lot of resources over the last three years in importing quarry material. One of the things is that because of the demand and supply, the prices went up and we had to seek to bring in imports,” he said.

President Ali added: “We have maybe couple million tonnes in contracts and still this is not enough to keep

structure development will take place.”

He noted that this is just the first wave of infrastructure and in a few years, during the second phase of investments, it will require much more quarrying materials.

“This is the type of transformation that we are talking about when we speak about the investment in Guyana, which all requires quarrying materials and a significant increase in our production capacity and that is what this investment marks. It is about increasing our production capacity,” he explained.

He said that according to the quarry’s Chairman, Saju Bhaskar, the quarry will be delivering the quarry material at less than $9000 per tonne to Kingston, Georgetown which is against a market that is now $12,000 or $13,000 per tonne.

“Right now, the country is out of barges, every barge in contracted…all the quarrying material has to be barged. There is no cheaper option. This creates that opportunity of transport and logistics, which create an opportunity for boat captains, mechanics, engineers, heavy duty machine operators,” he explained.

15 residents are employed by the company. He noted that the development of the quarry to where it is now has moved at a fast rate and its management has been very helpful to the village and its residents.

pace with the type of development that is taking place and this is just the initial phase of development. After 2026, 2027, that is when the real phase of massive infra-

“That is a significant reduction. That would have a very positive impact on the construction sector, so as we get more and more production capacity and more supply in the system the prices will come down,” he said.

President Ali related that the investments into quarrying have created an opportunity in transportation and logistics.

Dr. Ali further noted that forming consortiums is beneficial and said that they must move away from the old tradition of family wealth creation and move towards more collective consortium type of activities, which will allow them to bring bigger partners and do bigger projects.

He said that they are now working on bringing about 100 miners together, to work as a consortium to go in the deeper pit.

President Ali also challenged the Chairman of EKAA to have all the heavy duty operators for the facility trained from Batavia.

“We should not only celebrate the commissioning of this facility but we should look at ways in which we can further expand on the opportunities created, like the training for young people,” he said.

According to Toshao of Batavia, Oren Williams, over

Meanwhile, Chairman Bhaskar said that they share the government’s mission of a prosperous Guyana, where they aim to set new standards in responsible mining and sustainable development.

“As part of our sustainable initiative, we are planning to power the entire mine with solar power, which will be established here in the form of solar farm in the near future. It is also in line with the Low Carbon Development Strategy of the country,” he explained.

Bhaskar said that the quarry will bring numerous opportunities from employment to new infrastructure in the community and noted that it is their pledge to not just extract the resources from the land but to give back to the land and the community.

The quarry, he said, aims to produce 100,000 tonnes per month by the end of the year and they will increase it based on the demand.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali along with Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat and others cutting the ribbon to commission the US$10M quarry company at Batavia

The US$10M quarry company commissioned at Batavia on Saturday

Market forces control foreign exchange rates - President Ali emphasises

— says Finance Minister to meet key stakeholders tomorrow to examine issues

By Trina Williams

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali has responded to ongoing talks about the foreign exchange market, noting that the government is no longer responsible for it. Instead, he said the area is largely driven by demand and supply.

The President made these remarks during a press conference at State House where he dealt with a number of pressing issues within the public domain and sought to enlighten the populace on the upwards growth of the economy.

According to the President: “I have been in communication with the private sector, businesses across the country and looking at some of the public commentary, and one of the issues in the public domain is the foreign exchange market, and I’ve seen a lot of debate in relation to the foreign exchange rate and availability of foreign currency.”

Dr. Ali firmly stated that the foreign exchange market and the rate on the market are no longer determined by the government but instead it mostly lies on the shoulders of the market forces

of demand and supply.

“Now, it is important for us to understand that the foreign exchange market and the rate on the foreign exchange market is no longer determined by the Government, but to a large extent by market forces of demand and supply…” he related.

Noting that the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, already elaborated on the role of hoarding by market players, President Ali said that when he examined the statistics from Bank of Guyana, cambios and even listened to the Governor of the Central Bank along with the technical team, it was said that there is adequate foreign currency to satisfy the existing demand.

The Head of State remarked: “…When I reviewed the statistics from the Bank of Guyana, and Cambios and listened to the governor of the central bank and the technical team, they are of the opinion, based on the data, that they have sufficient foreign currency to satisfy the existing demand, and there is continuous surveillance of this; there is a daily reporting mechanism on the clearing of the market by the central bank.”

However, on Monday, Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, will be

having a meeting with the private sector, central bank, all of the commercial banks, and other key stakeholders to discuss the issue.

The President then said that a report will have to be brought to him based on the consultations in order to further examine the matter.

“I don’t want to go into the details of different sectors today, but I want to assure the Guyanese people that this is a Government they can rely on, and we are a Government that sticks to our commitment,” Dr. Ali affirmed.

COMMITTED

Earlier this year, President Ali underscored that his government remains committed to working in partnership with the private sector to address the extant challenges facing its membership and the country as a whole, including issues pertaining to any disruption to the availability of foreign exchange.

Previously, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) together with the Guyana Association of Bankers Inc. held cordial discussions with Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga regarding the ongoing challenges faced by local companies in accessing foreign exchange.

According to a press release from the PSC, stakeholders agreed that despite there being a shortage of foreign currency at some banks,

there is no overall shortage of foreign exchange in Guyana, given that the aggregate supply of foreign exchange is meeting the aggregate demand, and, therefore, the market remains in equilibrium.

The Governor of the Bank confirmed that while there is an intra-bank market which enables banks to share, the Central Bank must rely on moral persuasion in an effort to achieve a more efficient distribution of foreign currency availability, while emphasising the fact that it is the responsibility of the Central Bank to ensure that the government meets its macro-economic objectives.

The PSC, the Bankers’ Association and the Bank of Guyana had all agreed to address the issues raised and promised to collaborate and work together for the benefit of all concerned.

A Literate Society

INTERNATIONAL Literacy Day was observed on September 8 in Guyana, and for that matter, throughout the world. It is a day set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to focus attention on the importance of literacy, both for individual and for national development. It is also a reminder of the importance of literacy in terms of a dignified life and in advancing the agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.

The theme for Literacy Day in 2023 is: “Promoting Literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies.”

This theme is of particular relevance in today’s world in which there are so many conflicts and wars,

including the war in Ukraine which is having a devastating and disruptive effect on the lives of millions of people including children. Peace remains fragile and the best way of promoting a climate of peace is through education.

The importance of literacy cannot be overemphasised. Literacy empowers and liberates people. It improves lives by expanding capabilities, which in turn reduces poverty and increases participation in the labour market. It also has positive effects on health and sustainable development. As the saying goes, one cannot be educated and poor at the same time.

Yet, there are millions of people in the world who cannot read nor write. And even though there have been some improvements in global literacy rates, roughly 14

per cent of the population are unable to read or write. The situation is particularly pronounced in the poorer countries of the world where literacy levels are in some cases below 30 per cent!

Guyana is fortunate to have a relatively high literacy rate, thanks to the high emphasis placed by the PPP/C administration on the development of reading skills and on education as a whole. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has always been a strong advocate of reading and has consistently urged parents and guardians to encourage reading to their children. His ‘Drop Everything and Read’ campaign has gained the admiration of the Guyanese people. His call for parents to ‘stop what you are doing and read something’ and to work together to improve literacy in Guyana is well-received

and certainly gaining momentum. Indeed, images of President Ali personally reading to his son Zayd and the deep interest shown in his child’s educational and emotional growth is worthy of emulation and has certainly gained the attention and admiration of all.

The Ministry of Education is currently rolling out a number of activities in support of its literacy programme. And, as noted by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, even though there has been significant improvements in overall literacy rates, reading among children still pose significant challenges in terms of learning outcomes and performance at examinations. Several initiatives are being taken by the Education ministry to address this difficulty, including customised literacy packages for those

with reading challenges.

As the country advances along the path of modernisation and sustainable development, the need for a literate citizenry becomes not only a necessity but a national imperative. Developmental experts and practitioners have long established a strong correlation between education and development. In this regard, full credit must be given to President Ali and the PPP/C administration for placing education at the centre of its developmental objectives. The education system in Guyana, the President said, will ensure that no one is left behind especially against the backdrop of the ‘One Guyana’ concept and the ever-changing landscape of the country. The PPP/C administration, according to President Ali, will continue to invest heavily in the education sector. During a

roundtable discussion at the United Nations, the President pledged to further increase education spending to 20% of budgetary allocation. With education consuming a whooping $94.4B of the budgetary allocation this year, Guyana ranks among countries with the highest per capita spending on education.

We have come a long way since the days of substandard education delivery and embarrassingly high illiteracy rates. A functional literacy study done in 1989 by Professor Jennings, in collaboration with the University of Guyana, found that roughly 89% of out-of-school youths were ‘functionally illiterate’. Put differently, a mere11% of the out of surveyed population were considered to be functionally literate.

GHK Lall’s failed attempt to distort the truth

Dear Editor,

Evidently, Stabroek News colluded with GHK Lall to sanitise my essay which examined the audit reports of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) under GHK Lall’s tenure as Chairman of the GGB’s Board of Directors.

GHK Lall then conveniently responded to the sterilised version of my essay of which the original version revealed some damning findings. As such, I wish to devote this response to GHK Lall’s deceitful response that was published in the Stabroek News edition of

September 8, 2023.

GHK Lall claimed that he inherited the substantial increases in the administrative expenses which was continuously discussed at the Board level. This is blatantly false. The facts are that GHK Lall presided as the Chairman of the Board for the years 2017-2019. The administrative expenses of the GGB in 2016, the year before he was appointed, was $293 million (this is what he inherited). By the time he left in 2019, administrative expenses increased to $413 million in 2019, representing a cumulative increase of $120

million or 41%―that is, nearly 4 times the level of increase recorded for the period 2011-2014.

More importantly, I should point out that within 24 hours, GHK Lall issued three pieces of responses to my essay which exposed him, none of which dealt with the substantive matters highlighted. For example, the below audit findings remained unaddressed in his responses, which he is obligated to the Guyanese taxpayers to offer plausible explanations.

i) What were the items under the “other expense” line item that

accounted for the massive increase from $7.5 million in 2014 to $63 million by the end of 2019, an increase of 740%?

ii) The Guyana Gold Board acquired assets totaling $49.3 million as shown in the financial statements. Of this amount, the sum of $8.145 million for the purchase of generator set of $7.665 million and the supply and installation of CCTV cameras of $480k respectively. The Board was experiencing significant delays with the contractor in the completion of and handing over of the mercury abatement system with 50%

of the amount due paid.

To this end, there was no contract between the contractor and GGB, why was there no contract?

iii) Why was the due diligence procedure not invoked pursuant to the Guyana Gold Board Act for the issuance of and renewal of Gold Dealers licenses?

iv) Did he recover the $10.4 million paid to KNA construction? Was the building ever constructed at Liliendaal?

v) Why did he disregard the General Manager’s objection to the contract sum which was exorbitant of $60 million

to Axis Guyana Inc.? Why did GHK Lall insisted for the payments to be made, and the GGB received no value for money in return according to the auditors? The audit report stated that the GGB could not produce anything to show the benefits derived.

vi) Why did GHK Lall facilitated Axis Guyana Inc. to breach Guyana’s tax laws?

If GHK Lall’s integrity is intact as he claimed, he should have no difficulty providing answers to the above.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

The ‘inconvenient’ truth

A FEW weeks ago, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, when questioned by media operatives here, admitted that his direct engagement with the people of Guyana will not change.

He even declared that Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton’s attitude and demeanour towards him as President will never impact his attitude towards the people of Guyana. He was pellucidly clear that “he does not know” that he needs someone to broker talks with Norton.

The president also explained, in essence, that certain sections of the media appear to be peddling the narrative that he is not willing to meet Norton so political dialogue and talks could commence or constitutional appointments could advance. He reminded them of all the political shenanigans and formal skullduggery of Norton and the opposition whenever he tried to engage in constitutional talks following the letter the requirements of the said constitution.

Dr Ali then said that his “life’s blood” was dedicated to ensuring he does every single thing that is required of him in the execution of his duties. He told

them, in essence, that his engagement does not rest exclusively in an individual or office but he was open to talking and meeting with anyone for the betterment and progress of the people of Guyana.

He expressed his suspicion about the motive of certain media and press folks whom he accused of being “convenient” and peddling certain negative “narratives”. Dr Ali then said the truth was too “inconvenient” for these media and press folks but he will try again with the engagement of the opposition leader.

Firstly, Dr Ali is right and is standing boldly on the right side of history. He has tried to shake the opposition leader’s hand and be cordial at least twice. Understandably, he has even extended an olive branch to Norton, looking past the attempts of the APNU+AFC coalition to steal Guyana’s democracy.

If Norton knows this but does not even want to accept a handshake, then what is the President to do? Norton insists on being stubborn, indifferent, and strong-willed. It is clear that he does not want to talk. He does not initiate any formal or informal conversation

with the President.

Norton’s attitude towards the President both in public and private is telling and leaves much to be desired of a potential presidential candidate. It is nasty and frankly speaking, it stinks. It is puerile and unbecoming.

Secondly, the US has not signalled directly any interest in brokering talks between the president and opposition leader. Sarah Ann Lynch, as the US Ambassador, has never said that they want to be a broker of talks between the two sides to the President or officially to the ruling PPP/C Government. She appeared to buckle under the intense and unfair media questioning by Gordon Moseley. It is such a shame that so-called credible journalists allow themselves to be used to forward the opposition agenda in this way. It is reprehensible to suggest that Guyana which is an independent nation would require any foreign help, in this way, to solve a problem that exists internally.

Moseley, Demerara Waves, Stabroek News and the section of the media that supports this viewpoint or repeats it, are themselves part of the problem because

they are allowing Norton to get away with his attitude towards the President and talks. These media are, in this case, not really interested in seeing the truth. They have allowed as late Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on”.

They should report accurately, fearlessly and in a balanced manner the news relating to this matter. After all, the truth does not wear clothes and travels barefoot. These media houses need to get their acts together and stop manufacturing stories or narratives.

Thirdly, political talks or dialogue have to have trust. They must take place in an atmosphere of good faith. They cannot, reasonably, be expected to be unconditional.

More importantly, they must centre around the political

parties outside of constitutional things and the government. So, if it is this kind of discussion Norton and the opposition want, they must consult with the general secretary of the party in power, Bharrat Jagdeo and other politicians of the PPP/C.

They want to have discussions, conveniently now, about shared governance, a government of national unity, and all manner of political things but they are trying to trap the president. Recall, that the opposition tried a similar trick when they held the government at ransom in 2012. Sam Hinds, then Prime Minister, met the opposition in private, and the

rest is history.

Finally, the Philosopher Confucius once said the object of the superior man is truth. Truth requires transparency and political talk requires an environment of trust and good faith. Why, then Norton does not want to build trust and good faith with the President before he discusses the other things at a political level? The man has no truth in him.

He is using the Moseleys of our world, and will slither his way to power even if it means power through the backdoor. The truth is inconvenient and a hard pill to swallow.

Voyage of no return

HERE is how I got the title for this column, and I am glad it arrived the way it did. On Wednesday, I decided my piece for Sunday would be an analysis of Khemraj Ramjattan’s role in the recent demonstrations by some Berbice sugar workers. Of course, a columnist knows what he/ she wants to write on days before. And you ruminate on the title. The title for an article is something that never comes immediately because you want to get the right one for reasons of impact.

So, Wednesday night, I was going home late (something I seldom do) after the live recording of the Freddie Kissoon-Gildarie Show with guest, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Member of Parliament for the PPP. I always take the seawall roundabout that leads to the East Coast and drive along the Atlantic (with car windows down of course so the breeze can toss your hair around.)

In the car stereo was playing an orchestral disco song by Argentinean conductor, Bebu Silvetti, named “Voy-

age of no Return.” I got to love the song during the year I spent doing absolutely nothing with my time after I refused to do compulsory National Service as a UG student and was kicked out of UG. I have always loved that song. The strings just go on forever and they are interspersed with mellow, whispering Ray Conniff-like voices.

“Voyage of no Return” is one of my all-time favourite songs that reminds me of the fragility of everything, that reminds me of the core meaning of Martin Heidegger’s great philosophy text, “Being and Time.” If there is any song you should listen to while driving along the ocean with a strong wind ‘washing’ your face, it is Silvetti’s lovely orchestral output, “Voyage of no Return”

That night, I found the title for today’s article on Khemraj Ramjattan’s sad but silly exploitation of those sugar workers who have to reclaim their understanding of humans and the flaws that lie within them. How could sugar workers of all people have a discourse on

their problems with, of all people, Khemraj Ramjattan?

It was the sugar workers who made Ramjattan. It was sugar workers who were responsible for Ramjattan’s accession to power in 2015.

It was Ramjattan who publicly stated that it was he, and not President Granger or any APNU minister that initiated the closure of the estates that resulted in the retrenchment of 7000 workers which, when you take into account families and relatives, the victims may run into over 40,000 souls. The retrenchment was just the beginning of the nightmare. The APNU+AFC regime refused

to offer severance pay and the workers had to take the government to court. Don’t these sugar workers who went to Ramjattan for help know this?

Berbice sugar workers going to Ramjattan for monies they claimed the government owes them is simply surreal; such a thing does not happen in real life. It was this very man that just four years ago (not four decades) that put 7000 sugar workers out of employment, the very sugar workers that voted for him in 2011 and 2015.

Here is a piece of information about Ramjattan only revealed by me about three

years ago and I am repeating it now. Well known cricketer commentator, Naim Chan has a daily morning programme on channel 6. Ramjattan was once his guest. Chan described to Ramjattan the expressions of Charandass Persaud that he was the AFC’s parliamentary representative for Berbice but he knew absolutely nothing about the decision to close the Berbice sugar estates. He was never informed about it.

You are not going to believe what Ramjattan told Chan. He said that the PNC’s Chief Whip, Amna Ally, was assigned the task to liaison

with Charrandass and inform him of government’s policies in Berbice. I sincerely do not believe that there are moments of asininities in modern Guyanese politics that can match this one.

The AFC is half of a coalition government, has a parliamentary representative for Berbice, yet it is a PNC leader that has to dialogue with the AFC’s Berbice representative to inform him of government’s plans in Berbice. Prominent Berbice lawyer, Ryan Crawford told me that he would play dominoes at his gate with Charran and retrenched sugar workers would pass and cuss Charran, referring to him as a traitor. Is this the man those protesting sugar workers went to for advice?

Someone needs to visit those protestors, both the ones who made bail and the ones who cannot raise bail to tell them about the disappearance of Ramjattan. He made a voyage after 2015 from which there was no return. Ramjattan’s voyage lies in depths deeper than where the Titanic now rests.

GuySuco surpasses weekly target for grinding estates

THE weekly target at all three grinding estates (Albion/Port Mourant, Blairmont, and Uitvlugt) was exceeded during the week ending September 9, 2023, according to GuySuCo. The corporation can achieve its output goal for the second crop if the current favourable weather pattern continues for the remaining nine weeks of this cropping season.

According GuySuCo, as the crop enters its eighth week of production, it is clear that the individual teams on the estates have taken advantage of a number of tactics to increase worker participation.

“This week, the industry was fortunate to have been able to commence the process of changing the tires on some 40 prime movers in the field

(tractors), and they are continuing to pay keen attention to the harvesting standards to improve the efficiency around the punt weight.”

The sugar company noted

that while there is still room for lots of improvement in the industry, it is a work in progress, and the work pro-

Continued on page 9

Unemployment continues a downward trend

IN late August, The International Development Bank (IDB) released a report that found unemployment in Guyana has continued to trend down as oil production ramps up. The report titled “Global and Regional Economies at a Crossroads” notes that Guyana’s high rate of economic growth is largely driven by a growing oil production sector, which has reduced unemployment and improved access to finance for the private sector.

The picture is not the same across the region, with many economies still facing the headwinds of higher commodity prices and above-average inflation. Guyana is on surer footing than most of its Caribbean neighbours owing to what the IDB calls “the hydrocarbon - fuelled extraordinary growth…. that dwarfs the economic growth of all countries in the Western Hemisphere.”

The report found that the unemployment rose slightly in 2021 during the pandemic but started trending down by the end of that year. “The Unemployment rate declined from 15.6 per cent in 2021

Q1 to 14.5 per cent in 2021

Q3, driven mostly by declines in the unemployment rate of men, which dropped to 12 per cent in 2021 Q3 compared to 18.4 per cent for women. The International Labor Organisation (ILO) estimates further declines in the unemployment rate in 2022, falling to 12.4 per cent, (11 per cent for men and 14.4 per cent for women).”

The drop in unemployment is great news for the economy and Guyanese as more workers will increase earnings for families and ultimately lead to an improved standard of living. However, Guyana will still need to add significant workforce capacity in the years to come as more offshore developments in and outside the Stabroek Block demand a higher number of skilled and specialised labourers.

Growth in the oil sector is also expected to have a spillover effect in other sectors. According to the report, “The main drivers of growth in the non-oil economy in 2022 were agriculture, services, and construction, which grew by 11.9 per cent, 9.0 per cent, and 26.3 per cent, respectively. For 2023, these sectors are

projected to grow by 7.2 per cent, 5.6 per cent, and 17 per cent.” A growing economy and a wealthier population will also expand the range of goods and services needed in the non-oil economy.

Earlier this year, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, forecasted that the economy would expand by at least 25 per cent per year in the next three to four years. Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by an additional 37.2 per cent in 2023 with the arrival of the third Floating, Production, Storage, and Production (FPSO) offshore.

According to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), it is estimated that Guyana will need at least 160,000 more workers to sustain the economic growth brought on by the exploration for and development of its oil and gas resources. The MPI expects most of the workers will have to be sourced from overseas, through a combination of remigration of Guyanese living outside the country and attracting skilled labour from within and outside the region. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has

GuySuco surpasses weekly...

From page 8

cess is moving in the right direction. These operational interventions, coupled with good weather, played a major role in the production performance this past week.

The good news, GuySuCo noted continues to boost the morale of all employees as the workers secure, for a second successive week, the weekly performance incentive on top of their weekly wages, inclusive of their personal incentives.

The Chief Executive Officer, Sasenarine Singh, encouraged all the workers to redouble their efforts with clarity of mind to ensure the cane-cutting standards are improved. He also called on

them to ignore the distractions and remain disciplined in the efforts of the industry by focusing first on the economic well-being of their family by pushing past these targets and taking home more money rather than spending it in the Magistrates Court to defend an illegal action outside of the Collective Labour Agreement with the Unions.

The CEO thanked the workers on the job for their consistent efforts, which are chipping away at the annual target, which, from all indications, is very achievable based on the weekly work plan over the next nine weeks.

The Executive Management congratulated the management and workers

cited a similar finding that Guyana will need to attract a minimum of 100,000 workers to realise its full growth potential.

Guyana has the benefit of a youthful population where the median age is 26.2 years and there is tremendous potential for youth to be engaged in the oil and gas sector and other sectors. The youth unemployment rate for the first quarter of 2021 was 31.4%, and more young women are unemployed (41.9%) compared to young men (23.7%). That signals that there is still much to do to ensure the youth are educated, trained, and employed. Harnessing the talents

of Guyana’s youth will be key to providing the skilled workforce needed in the oil and non-oil sectors. President Dr. Irfaan Ali recently spoke on plans by the government to implement legislation to manage artificial intelligence and digitisation to aid that effort.

“We are bringing more and more digitisation in the education delivery system so that the children who are coming up will not be placed at a competitive disadvantage. That is how the working class is benefitting, that is how the children of the workers are benefitting from this government,” he said. This effort is also joined by

an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to see some 150,000 Guyanese students benefit from training in coding.

The government has committed to creating 50,000 jobs by 2025, increasing the number of scholarships for students, and enhancing the skillsets of the population. While there is much work to be done, continued investment in the upskilling and training of Guyanese is already bearing fruit. Guyana can expect to continue to reap the benefits of these investments in the years to come.

of the three grinding estates and urged all current and former sugar workers to turn out every week to utilise the special dry period to increase their earnings, recognising that the industry had above-average rainfalls for more than one year between November 2020 and January 2023. The Executive Management encouraged all to strive towards repeating the recent admirable performance so that their families could benefit from their increased earnings. The final walkthrough visit at the Rose Hall Estate was recently conducted by the Board of Directors, Executives, Estate Management, and Engineers.

‘French Spring’ blooming in Africa!

WESTERN analysts are running out of words to describe the growing number of cases of African soldiers peacefully leading bloodless military coups overthrowing decadent regimes propped-up by France across the continent over the long decades since French colonies gained their independence in the latter half of the 20th Century.

The latest popular changes in Burkina Faso, Gabon, Mali and Niger were all heartily welcomed by citizens, including opposition parties.

They have long ensured abhorrence of the likes of the French multinational oil company TOTAL, that’s been extracting in Gabon for the past 90 years, while the family of deposed ex-President Ali Bongo ruled for over 50 years, France and its African crony leaders together draining and squandering public funds while Gabonese starved from hunger.

Likewise, France has been depending on Niger to provide much of the uranium for its nuclear power, but Niger is largely without electricity, which it sources from neighboring Nigeria.

However, unlike the past, when coups were usually carried out by US and European-trained soldiers, the new breed of African military leaders is mainly hometrained, highly intelligent and well-schooled in French and

international political and diplomatic strategies and tactics.

Their language differs greatly from their predecessors, stressing on protecting and preserving national resources, enforcing respect for sovereignty and eliminating institutions created to ensure and preserve permanent exploitation of former colonies decades after independence.

Burkina Faso, Gabon, Mali and Niger are all up against an arrogant refusal by France to accept that its former African colonies are in hot rebellion, Paris simply refusing to recognize the realities and instead fanning flames of possible military intervention, conflict and loss of lives on all sides.

In Burkina Faso, French troops ordered to depart are destroying everything - from motor cars to barracks to weapons - to ensure they leave nothing behind that works.

In Niger, the army is protecting the expelled but reluctant French Ambassador’s residence from being attacked by thousands, while France is praying for any excuse to justify intervention in the name of protecting its citizens or ‘interests’ there.

Paris is also praying that pro-Western regimes in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will provide the fig leaves for African-led military intervention in Niger with ‘international’ support.

But Burkina Faso and Mali have given the clear message that any attack on Niger will also be seen as one on them.

In Nigeria, with the strongest contingent in the military forces ECOWAS can command and deploy, the parliament has voted against any military intervention in Niger. Similarly, the populations of neighbouring nations, especially in border regions, already suffering the difficulties created by border closures and sanctions, fear for the worse if ECOWAS was to do the West’s bidding by invading any of the freed nations in transition.

Africa’s new military leaders are not in the tradition of Idi Amin or Robert Mugabe, but they think and talk more like Kwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta, Jerry Rawlings and Thomas Sankara, whose common denominator was putting their people and nations first -- and seriously confronting the entrenched colonial order after independence.

The leader of Burkina Faso – the youngest on the continent – best represents the new thinking, insisting (for example) that if France, Europe and the USA want to continue using Africa’s uranium for nuclear energy, they should establish nuclear plants in Africa.

He also says desperate Africans should be discouraged from risking their lives boarding rickety boats to seek better in Europe and instead encouraged to march on the national palaces where their decadent rulers live in extreme luxury.

Today’s younger African political leaders are also not about to hide their preparedness to seek assistance from Russia, if ECOWAS, African Union (AU), French or NATO troops enter, even under UN cover.

Unwilling to accept the stark new realities in Africa, France and other Western nations continue barking up a wrong tree and demanding the impossible -- like immediate release of deposed dictators and return to depen-

dence on the same unfree and unfair election machines they created to keep their families winning every poll, as in the case of the Bongo dynasty in Gabon.

Indeed, what’s turning out in Africa in 2023 is what former African Union (AU) Ambassador to the United States, Arikana Chihombori-Qao, exposed a couple years ago, when she revealed that France had tied its former African colonies to continuing post-independence exploitation through several outrageous agreements.

Those included unfair pacts for compulsory use of France’s national currency after independence and depositing their foreign earnings in the French national bank, with only limited and conditional access to 20%, while Paris invests the African nations’ deposits profitably.

Mali has cancelled such agreements that ensured French companies continued to exclusively extract all the natural resources on unfair terms -- from oil to uranium

and gold, plus other precious natural resources.

Any look at the map of any African nation today will still reflect the straight lines drawn at the Bandung Conference in Germany in 1885, when the continent was carved-up and shared between Europe and the USA.

What’s actually happening today is not a re-drawing of the lines dividing the continent, but of lines of engagement between former colonial masters and a brandnew breed of African leaders committed to finally confronting the former colonial powers.

France will eventually be forced to back-down; and the UN will also have to withdraw its tens of thousands of so-called Peace Keeping Forces (PKFs) that have miserably failed to keep any peace or protect citizens in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso – and now in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where 50 persons protesting against PKFs were killed by soldiers last week.

Yes, it’s another dawn of yet another new day in yet another part of Africa, very-much akin to the socalled ‘color revolutions’ of the ‘Arab Spring’ that the West initiated and supported from Tunisia to Egypt – only this time, it’s everything of a blooming ‘French Spring’ in Africa!

Lucky Digicel customers bag millions on ‘Deal or No Deal’ Game Shows

Digicel has concluded a summer promotional campaign aimed at expressing gratitude to its loyal customer base.

As part of this initiative, the company hosted two iterations of the popular television game show “Deal or No Deal,” offering five customers who qualified for each show the opportunity to compete for a two-million-dollar cash prize.

The game shows, characterised by suspenseful decision-making and strategic choices, brought together customers eager to try their luck and capitalise on the substantial cash reward. Each contestant faced the pivotal moment of selecting a case, hoping it contained the coveted two- milliondollar prize.

Digicel invested in creating an authentic “Deal or No Deal” experience, complete with elaborate stage setups, dynamic lighting, and a seasoned hosts,

Surida Nagreadi and Akelo Elliott who adeptly guided participants through the challenging decision-making process.

Throughout both shows, contestants deliberated the age-old question: “Deal or No Deal?” as they considered offers from an unseen banker, weighing their instincts against

the collective support of the audience.

At the culmination of this promotional campaign, Digicel remained true to its commitment to reward its loyal customers. While not every participant emerged as a millionaire, several fortunate individuals walked away with one million

dollars, while others secured substantial cash prizes, significantly impacting their financial standing.

The winners are: Carlos Cummings - $2M, Waheeda Kaouim - $700k, Ryan Sobers - $1M, Ramona DeMattos$600k, Premanand Dhaniram$1M, Rwanda Bentham - $1M,

Mary Williams - $1M, Godfrey Gardner - $700k, Shonetta Roberts - $500k and Rean Ghani - $1M.

Chief Executive Officer, Digicel Guyana &Suriname, Deonarine Gopaul, expressed the company’s gratitude to the customers, saying, “Our customers are at the heart of ev-

erything we do, and we wanted to show our appreciation in a big way. The ‘Deal or No Deal’ shows were a thrilling way to give back to those who have supported us over the years. We are overjoyed to have witnessed our customers walk away with life-changing amounts of money, and it was heartwarming to see those winning from farflung areas such as Port Kaituma, Linden and Essequibo. It speaks directly to our slogan, ‘The Network for Everyone, Everywhere’.”

The success of this summer promotion reaffirms Digicel’s commitment to its customers and its dedication to creating unique and memorable experiences. As a company that continues to innovate in the telecommunications industry, Digicel looks forward to more opportunities to engage with and reward its loyal customer base.

Winner of the grand prize of $2M, Carlos Cummings and family

The game show with hosts Surida Nagreadi and Gabriella Chapman

THE government is currently re-evaluating the country’s revenues and projected revenues and, based on the outcomes of the evaluation, further adjustments to the minimum wage and the income tax threshold will be implemented.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali made this announcement during a press conference on Saturday, at State House in Georgetown.

“So, this is something that I am presently reviewing with an aim at the border adjustment in a daily minimum wage….Also reviewing the absorptive capacity at further

advancing liquidity in your pocket…by an adjustment in the tax threshold,” he underscored.

President Ali stated that the administration was carefully scrutinising the numbers and ensuring that any decisions made align with the sustainability of the economy, as that remains the utmost priority.

The minimum wage for the public sector is currently $75,000. In June 2022, the minimum wage for private sector employees rose from $44,200 to $60,000.

In the 2023 budget, Finance Minister, Dr. Ash -

THE government is streamlining the system that deals with the issuance of public assistance to People Living with Disabilities (PWD), ushering in an era of change, and more efficient as well as accessible services.

Public Assistance for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWD) will soon be managed by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Support Services for Persons with Disabilities Unit.

This will reduce the hassle and burden as well as the bottlenecks faced in the system that see the public assistance for PWD taking an extra-ordinarily long time

before being issued. Technical Officer Responsible for the Support Services for Persons with

ni Singh, proposed raising the income tax threshold to $85,000. This placed an additional $303B into the hands of taxpayers.

The government has been actively addressing salary increase issues for various categories of public sector workers.

Last year, the government announced substantial salary increases, amounting to over $1 billion, benefitting 8,000 members of the disciplined services.

Furthermore, more than 5,000 healthcare workers received significant salary

boosts, totalling $1.5 billion, with raises ranging from 36.4 percent to 74.7 percent.

These increments were implemented, in addition to an eight percent across-theboard raise for all public servants, which was made retroactive to January 1, 2022.

The president has committed to addressing specific categories of public sector employees, with a particular focus on teachers, through a consultative process that not only considers salary adjustments but also housing and other needs.

Minimum wage, tax threshold adjustments imminent Gov’t aims to make disability assistance more efficient

Disabilities Unit, Mahendra Budhram, recently announced this groundbreaking shift in the administration of public assistance programmes emphasising the ministry’s commitment to improving the management of this essential service.

“The unit will take over the management of the public assistance for persons living with disabilities. We are trying to give more information and have information on hand so that when persons inquire about public assistance for permanent disabilities, we can have that information to give them and they will feel much more at ease. We know that there are issues right now

but when we take over that we envisage that it will slowly be reduced and eventually be eliminated,” he said.

Applications will be received by the outstations of the ministry, which will then be sent to the office that is managed by the unit which is responsible for ensuring that the form reaches the unit that issues the booklet.

Subsequently, persons living with disabilities will be informed to uplift their booklets.

This streamlined process will bring much-needed efficiency to the distribution of assistance, reducing unnecessary delays and bureaucratic hurdles that PWDs often

face.

Moreover, the new Unit will take proactive steps to keep applicants informed about the status of their requests.

This transition is a welcome change for PWDs and their advocates, who have long called for improvements in the public assistance system. The move towards improved management by the Ministry reflects a commitment to better serve the most vulnerable members of society.

Meanwhile, the ministry is poised to provide enhanced support services, information, and resources to individuals with disabilities.

Opportunities underway with potential investments in luxury eco-lodges

GUYANA’s tourism is expanding and the government is continuously working to provide more accommodation facilities for visitors.

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce had invited expressions of interest for the construction of luxury eco lodges in various parts of the country.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Friday, Minister Oneidge Walrond says investors have responded.

“There has been a lot of interest involved but as a government, we still have

to be careful, make sure that people are not languishing with the projects so we want to make sure that the projects are ready to go forward. So, that is what has delayed somewhat the actual announcement that sod turning, but it’s happening and there has been a lot of interest generated,” Minister Walrond noted.

The government has also met the potential investors.

“We have had interviews; we have met potential investors. As you know, we have to meet and interrogate these investors, making sure that they are ready to start their projects. So far there have been two very serious po-

tential investors and we took them around to the different

locations this week to let them identify which areas, so that has been going well,”

the minister said

The minister noted that there are precautions that have to be taken when building eco-friendly luxury facilities and this is taking time.

“It has to fit into the environment. It has to be environmentally friendly. So, we just can’t take any development. It has to be a development that is eco-friendly. So, finding the right partner to develop the project will take some time because it’s not just like the branded hotels. We were able to have

those projects moving very fast but we have to be very careful and discerning about the eco-lodge facility,” the minister stated.

She highlighted the Blue Lakes in Linden, the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and the great lakes of the Essequibo Coast as potential locations for luxury eco lodges.

Once negotiations are finalized, Local Content legislation will ensure that members of the community and Guyanese generally are employed in the construction and operation of the facilities.

Technical Officer Responsible for Support Services for Persons with Disabilities Unit, Mahendra Budhram

Drone photo of Lake Mainstay (DPI photo)

Teen climate activist deems Guyana ‘most impressive place’ he’s visited

By Cindy Parkinson

LEAVING a favourable and enduring impression on people's minds speaks volumes about a nation, especially with so many places in the world to choose from. Well, that is the case with

ramaniam, signed with a specific pledge, led by their sustainability project called “Priority Earth”.

During a recent visit to Guyana, the 13-year-old climate change activist was gifted a trip to Kaieteur Falls, the largest single-drop waterfall in the

Holland America (Carnival Corporation), to have his climate balls signed by the officials there. He asserted that when the president of the cruise line company, Jan Swartz, asked him which location was the most spectacular he had been to, Ismachiah

ball on behalf of the entire group.”

Ismachiah further stated that when Ms. Swartz asked, “where has been the most impressive place my climate and sustainability ball has travelled to? I said Guyana. I couldn’t help but recall and share my experience of being in Guyana with her. So, I told her of my visit to Kaieteur Falls and how it was a gift from President Ali.” Ismachiah also related to the Guyana Chronicle that his main reason for visiting Guyana was to meet with the leader of the “most sustainable South American country” and have him sign his climate ball.

the young climate change activist, Ismachiah Oduwole, who, after leaving Guyana’s shores, has described the country “as the most spectacular” he has visited for his climate soccer ball project.

A teenager's dream to save the world is being realised by sending a football around the world to be signed by major international leaders, businessmen, and athletes.

Marriot Hotels was the initial company to sign the climate ball, with CEO Anthony Capuano committing his company to continue its fight against climate change through global initiatives. The ball received its second signature from Peter Ingram of Hawaiian Airlines at their corporate headquarters in Honolulu. JA Resorts, the biggest hotel resort in the UAE, was also privileged to sign the climate ball in Dubai. After JA Resorts, the FedEx CEO, Raj Sub-

world, by His Excellency, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

Despite the tendency of many adults to turn a blind eye to the urgent issues surrounding our changing environment, a child's viewpoint can be all it takes to spark change. Ismachiah Oduwole and his climate ball are travelling the world to prevent future disasters and encourage people and businesses to take action.

Ismachiah pursues his goal of getting world leaders, corporate partners, athletes, and other prominent individuals to sign his “climate change balls,” pledging to have a positive impact on the environment for a cleaner and better future.

Ismachiah, who lives in Los Angeles, California, told the Guyana Chronicle, in an exclusive interview, that he went to the world’s largest cruise line company, Carnival, and

said, “Guyana.”

The activist said, “In an intimate ceremony, Jan Swartz, the President of Holland America, which owns Princess Cruise,

“I came to Guyana last month because I was doing some research for my climate soccer ball project, and I learned that the country was the most sustainable South American country. So, I wanted to recognise them in the world and meet President Irfaan Ali, to sign my climate ball,” said Ismachiah.

Additionally, the teen activist said that after he related the story of his

paid a visit to President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Upon his visit with the president, Ismachiah explained the reason for his visit and why he had chosen to have him sign the climate ball. With President Ali having a significant international voice on environmental protection and climate security, he was impressed with Ismachiah’s initiative and gifted him and his father a trip to the Amazon rainforest so that he could experience one of the wonders of the world, the majestic Kaieteur Falls.

is that by selling carbon credits, Guyana is slowing down deforestation; and it is also contributing to absorbing carbon dioxide.”

He continued: “My third reason is that Guyana has a full-proof programme for the citizens so that they can learn about the cause and prevention of climate change. The fourth and final reason why I chose Guyana is because Guyana is exploring hydroelectricity, which is when water is used to produce electricity.”

P&O Australia, Seabourn, and Alaska Cruise, and in her capacity as the director of all Carnival Corporation’s sustainability initiatives aboard all 90 vessels the group owns, met with and signed my climate

visit to Guyana to Ms. Swartz, she told him that Guyana would definitely be added to her bucket list as one of the places that she would visit someday.

Earlier in August, Ismachiah and his father

After returning, Ismachiah told the Guyana Chronicle, “my visit with President Ali was great; I told him about my mission and what got me into it, and he also signed my climate balls. Apart from that, President Ali offered my dad and me a trip to the rainforest, where I got to see the largest single-drop waterfall in the world, the Kaieteur Falls. I also got a chance to see the lush green forest. I would like to thank him for the experience and the gifts.”

He went on to say, “there are four reasons why I picked Guyana: the first reason is that Guyana is selling carbon credits because of its large rain forest; the second reason

In his quest for a cleaner and better world for humanity, the 13-year-old activist spoke to the people of Guyana, especially the children, saying, “It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can make a difference. Ensure that you dispose of your garbage properly, and a simple gesture can go a long way. We can all make the world a better place. I went to Africa with my family, and I saw single-use plastic on the floor, and I thought to myself that the plastics were supposed to be in the trash and not just lying there. That’s when I decided that I wanted to do something to protect the climate and the earth.”

Ismachiah Oduwole, 13, on his visit to the largest single-drop waterfall in the world

President Irfaan Ali and Ismachiah Oduwole holding the signed climate balls at State House, Guyana

Ismachiah Oduwole with the President of the World’s Largest Cruise Line Company, Carnival and Holland America, Jan Swartz, holding the signed climate ball in the USA

Gov’t backs Chevening scholars’ new education journey

by doing an LLM-Master of Law in oil, gas and renewable energy,” explained Benn.

He added that his friends also saw the potential that he held and encouraged him to take the journey.

The young man noted that he would love to make a difference in his community.

This is the 40th anniversary of the Chevening Awards for Scholars.

British High Commissioner Miller congratulated the recipients and encouraged them to do their best.

FOUR new Chevening scholars will have a life-changing experience studying in the United Kingdom, according to an announcement by the government on Thursday. They will later contribute to their country's development after successfully completing their studies.

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, told the scholars that they will be exposed to diverse cultures and people.

He made the comments during an award dinner hosted by the British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller.

Dr Singh, who is also a Chevening scholar, expressed the government’s well-wishes and appreciation on behalf of the four awardees for the opportunity.

“UK universities over the years have established themselves as amongst the

preferred choices for students seeking higher education from around the world. Spending a year in the UK at a British university gives you an opportunity to be exposed to perhaps a more diverse population,” said Minister Singh.

Also, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr., said that the scholarship is helping to identify leaders who can work for the benefit of their country.

“The appetite for education in the country especially amongst young people who are already doing tremendous things [is recognized]. It shows how it is and it also shows that, as a country, we are already fortified, crystalized in our view that education is an important passport out of poverty and the development of ourselves,” Minister Ramson stressed.

The Minister of Culture encouraged the awardees to focus on their school -

ing while at the same time taking in all the changes and experiences that come with it.

Meanwhile, the awardees expressed their gratitude to the UK for granting them this exciting opportunity.

As the first person to be selected for Chevening from the fashion industry, Keisha Edwards said that she was ready to study in her favourite fashion country in the world.

“I feel really good to be here, to be selected for this prestigious scholarship. I didn’t know that Chevening was an opportunity for me and when I knew it was and I applied and got selected it was an incredible journey,” said the excited young woman.

She encouraged other designers like herself to apply for the next entry, as she guaranteed that it will also be a life-changing experience for them.

Additionally, Joshua

Benn, another recipient, stated that it was his love to study oil and gas that pushed him to apply for the scholarship.

“I thought that this would be a good stepping stone for me and giving the direction that Guyana is going in with the oil and gas and the focus on renewable energy, I thought what a better way to kick start this

Meanwhile, Amrita Narine’s motivation came from steadily interacting with various Chevening alumni, whose leadership she greatly admires.

“When I learned about the scholarship, I was just about 20 years old. I will be studying for my Masters in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for the creative industry, it’s a niche that I enjoy. So, I’m super excited to explore the UK and also bring my skillset back to Guyana,” an excited Narine said.

“We have chosen future leaders in a variety of areas whether it be academia, in government, in civil society, captains of industry, throughout the fabric of society,” stated the High Commissioner.

According to Miller, the UK has since provided 157 scholarships in Guyana. She said that the next round of applications will be opened on the 12th of September, and encouraged persons to apply. The Chevening Award allows persons to study any subject of their choice in the British country.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller (centre), flanked by the four recipients of the Chevening scholarship

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr

29 students begin Pharmacy Assistant training in Region Nine

THE first batch of Pharmacy Assistants training programme for Region Nine was launched by Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, at the Indigenous People Conference Hall in Lethem on Friday

This programme, which is being offered through the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Health Sciences Division, will see 29 students being trained over nine months.

While touching on the new programmes during his featured remarks, Dr Anthony highlighted that soon a trainer of trainer workshop will be held for ultrasound technicians.

Minister Anthony encouraged the first batch of trainees to work hard and seek a career or pathway within the health sector and assured them that upon completion, employment with the Ministry of Health is guaranteed.

He also disclosed that when the Lethem Regional Hospital completes its upgrades, a CT scan machine will be established at the facility.

“When we upgrade

the new hospital here in Lethem, one of the new pieces of equipment you will have is the CT Scan, and this is going to be connected via the internet. So when we take the image here, if you don’t have a radiologist to read the scans, it will be able to be read real-time at Georgetown Public Hospital,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer Dr Cerdel Mc Watt, during his remarks, disclosed that very soon, the region will be launching a Medical Laboratory Technician and Community Healthcare Worker Training Programme.

Among those present at Friday morning’s launch were Hinterland Coordinator, Mr Michael Gouveia; Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr Ertensia Hamilton; Coordinator of Pharmacy Assistant Programme, Mr Sunil Singh; Regional Chairman Mr Bryan Allocock; Health Education Officers, Kim Fraser-Bristol and Himwatie Persaud, among other officials.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony flanked by the first batch to be trained as pharmacy assistants in Region Nine

GOAL, Canadian institution partner on programme for manufacturing sector

- George Brown college partnership contributes to skills development

THE Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and George Brown College (GBC), one of Canada’s leading experiential learning institutions, are launching the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Technician Certificate Programme for manufacturing companies in Guyana.

The Government of Guyana, through GOAL, will manage the programme. PLC training is crucial for industrial automation, helping to enhance efficiency and reduce costs by providing seamless control and monitoring of machinery and processes.

An inaugural cohort of forty-three (43) practitioners have been selected by their employers to participate in this programme. GBC’s key priorities include engaging and building international connections that contribute to skills development and a better future for learners. The training commenced in August 2023, allowing manufacturing practitioners in Guyana to learn and receive instructional support from GBC’s dedicated online student support centre.

The programme provides theory and hands-on experience on PLC systems through simulation laboratories and computer-based testing. It will also cover essential manufacturing industry topics, including PLC hardware and software, ladder logic programming, fundamental troubleshooting techniques, system integration, and machinery maintenance.

The partnership between the GOAL and GBC demonstrates a strong commitment to investing in human capital in Guyana. It is in line with the commitment of His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to award 20,000 online scholarships that will give Guyanese the opportunity to enhance their skills and academic qualifications through online learning.

“Therefore, by introducing the PLC technical programme, we aim to bridge the skills gap in our manufacturing industry, giving individuals the necessary competencies to operate, troubleshoot, and maintain PLC systems efficiently. This initiative creates new job opportunities and raises Guyana’s industrial sector to global standards, increasing its competitiveness,” President Ali stated.

His Excellency urged participants to “seize this opportunity with dedication”, emphasising that the skills acquired from this certification will enhance their career prospects and contribute to the nation’s

technological advancement. In addition, he applauded Professor Jacob Opadeyi, the Director of GOAL, for his exceptional ability to establish partnerships with international institutions and work with the private sector in Guyana in line with the government’s objective of nurturing a skilled workforce.

Sonia Parag, Minister of Public Service, Government of Guyana, who is responsible for all government scholarships, said the training opportunity will equip employees with the skills needed to excel in the field of industrial automation.

“The programme marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing quality technical education to our students and represents our government’s unwavering commitment to advancing technical education and fostering a skilled workforce. Together, let us embrace the future and build a prosperous nation,” she said.

“The use of advanced technology and machinery is revolutionizing the workforce, which is why George Brown College is thrilled to collaborate with GOAL to launch the PLC Technician programme,” said Dr. Gervan Fearon, President of George Brown College. “The partnership is committed to equipping students in Guyana with the skills and knowledge they need to enter the rapidly growing industrial automation and control sector, and to further contribute to the industry’s overall efficiency.”

“Canada is a known leader in the education sector globally and this collaboration showcases another aspect of the Canada-Guyana relationship. It is a recognition of the excellent online education provided to students and workers by George Brown College. This partnership also demonstrates the ability of Canadian institutions to customise their curriculums with expert educators to meet workforce needs, in Canada, Guyana and abroad. I hope to see more initiatives like this one in the near future,” said H.E. Mark Berman, High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana.

“The partnership reflects the vision of GOAL, which is shared and supported by GOAL and GBC, that is, to empower individuals and drive economic growth through education and skills development,” said Minister of Education for the Government of Guyana, Hon. Priya Manickchand. Creating a talented pool of PLC technicians will help contribute to the growth and development of the country’s industries, she said. “The PLC Technical Programme is a step in that direction. Our

goal is to produce graduates who are not only proficient in using PLCs but also possess problem-solving skills, critical thinking abilities, and a strong work ethic.”

ABOUT GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE

Toronto’s George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples. George Brown pre-

pares innovative, adaptable graduates with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. With three campuses in the downtown core, the college blends theory with experiential learning, applied research, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships, and degrees. www. georgebrown.ca

For more information:

For more information: Saron

Aneka Edwards, Programme Manager, Communications, aneka.edwards@goal.edu.gy

Fanel, External Communications Specialist, saron. fanel@georgebrown.ca

Yarrow Dam road project finally completed

Minister Indar underscores accountability in infrastructure projects

By Cindy Parkinson

WHILE prioritising the improvement of community infrastructure, the People's Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/C) Government is also strict in monitoring contractors to ensure projects are completed on time.

In addressing the late completion of the Yarrow Dam road project in Ruimveldt Georgetown, the Minister within the Ministry of Infrastructure, Deodat Indar, explained to the Guyana Chronicle that President Ali and his government are working diligently to ensure that they improve the lives of all Guyanese and their communities.

He noted that while the government is understanding of some situations that contractors may encounter, it will not tolerate any frivolous claims or any lackadaisical attitude regarding the completion of any infrastructure.

Minister Indar said, “There was a delay with the contractor claiming that he wasn’t getting the supply of concrete, and the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, asked that I go and see what was the hold-up with the roads. When I got there, I had a stern conversation with one of the contractors, and I told him that his contract would be terminated if the roads were not completed soon. However, he managed to get the concrete after a couple of visits that I made to the area.

I am now pleased to say that the roads for Yarrow Dam are finally complete.

Around 3:00 a.m. this morning, the contractors poured and levelled the final batch of concrete

along the new roadway.”

He further stated that while he was “on the ground” on Friday last, he also met and spoke with the concrete supplier, and he explained the importance of the contractors getting their concrete on time so that they can finish the work.

The minister further related that they are currently working to improve the conditions of the roads in the community of Non Pariel on the East Coast of Demerara.

“Now that the roads are finally completed in

Yarrow Dam, I am happy to say that we have started preparatory work on four of the major roads in Non Pariel, and in the new week we will be paving those.”

While communities such as Melanie, Enterprise, Foulis, and recently Yarrow Dam, among others, have benefitted from the road enhancement projects, Minister Indar asks that the residents of the other communities be patient since every road cannot be fixed at once.

Additionally, the min-

wants two cars to pass, but what do we do? Remove the electricity poles and cut the power, or remove the water mains on the other side and cut the water?” he questioned.

He continued, “the reality of these communities is that the access ways are very narrow, and all that we are doing is making over the dilapidated roads with either concrete or asphalt. We are giving you all proper, drivable roads, but realistically we cannot make them wider; however, where they can become wider, we are making them wider.”

ister noted several comments on social media about the width of the roads. However, he said that consideration has to be given to the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) lines and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) electrical poles.

“In existing communities, there is only so much space from one drain to the next in which you can build the roads and accommodate utilities. Meaning, with the water main on one side and the electricity poles on the other side, everyone

Finally, Minister Indar also clarified why the drains in the communities are not concrete. According to him, people are also questioning why the drains are not concrete, but what they need to understand first is that the government has to make sure that priorities are met first.

“You cannot want us to concrete the roads and the drains in one community right away and leave the roads in another community. We are trying to ensure that every community gets better roads, as well as the roads that lead to schools, hospitals, and all other institutions. We have to first pave the roads, and then we will deal with concrete drainage. Everything cannot be done perfectly at once, and that is what some people expect of us, but it doesn’t work like that. So, I am hoping that Guyanese can understand this. The roadways are not broad; that is why they are called community roads and not highways,” said Minister Indar.

The final works on the now completed Yarrow Dam Road project

One of the completed roads in the Yarrow Dam community

Minister Indar has a stern talk with the contractor for the Yarrow Dam Road project

$14M Yupukari medical staff quarters commissioned

IN order to ensure doctors and nurses have safe and comfortable housing, a staff quarters facility in Yupukari Village was officially opened by Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, during his visit to Region Nine on Friday.

With funding made available by the government, through Region Nine’s Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the staff quarters facility was constructed to the tune of $14 million.

The newly built facility comes with a solar power system that can power it and

house two medical personnel and their families.

Dr Frank Anthony, who

is responsible for the health sector, explained that around $100 million was set aside to

upgrade all health facilities in the Rupununi region. Another $100 million was earmarked for Region Nine to build facilities to accommodate medical staff in villages.

“We also recognise that if we put down a health post or centre, sometimes the staff is not necessarily from the village, which makes it a problem because they don’t have anywhere to stay and we took a decision that we must build good staff quarters so that persons who are not from the village will be able to use those quarters,” Dr Anthony explained.

Meanwhile, Yupukari is expected to benefit from an ambulance in 2024 that will also serve the satellite villages in times of emergencies.

He highlighted, “In the regional budget, we’ll make an allocation to buy an ambulance. Now, if we get that when the final budget comes out, then certainly we’ll buy that ambulance for your community but I am sure it will benefit other surrounding communities.”

The village is also benefitting from other government initiatives including the telemedicine system that is being

piloted within the village. Youths were also urged to take advantage of the various training programmes being offered by the Ministry of Health, as the government seeks to build out the health infrastructure into a worldclass health system.

Minister Anthony was accompanied by Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock, Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Cerdel Mcwatt, and Ministry’s Hinterland Coordinator, Michael Goveia, among other personnel.

$36M front-end loader to enhance Region Two projects

THE Regional Administration commissioned a new front-end loader to upgrade more roads and streets in Pomeroon-Supenaam. The commissioning will assist the ongoing road development projects in the region. The equipment will supplement the current vehicles in the region at the Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) compound. The equipment was bought for $36M, under the agriculture programme of the region.

Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, expressed happiness with the beneficial equipment that was received.

She said that the new equipment will assist the region’s Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) department to deliver the services to the people.

De Silva said that the current Government is an “action-oriented” one and Guyana is currently undergoing massive transformation.

The Regional Chairperson said that the new equipment will facilitate the clearing of a backlog of requests that were made by residents and farmers within the region. She also mentioned that the region recently received a grader which was currently assisting in the region.

Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud, said that the commissioning of the frontend loader will aid in the massive development that is ongoing in Guyana, particularly in Region Two.

Minister Persaud said that the request was made by residents and farmers in the region and, as such, it was purchased to satisfy the needs.

“Development is key for everyone, and we in the People’s Progressive Party since the formation has worked tirelessly for all the people in this country… the development is happening all over Guyana” Minister Persaud said.

Minister Persaud said the front-end loader was a testimony to the massive developmental projects that were taking place in Region Two. He said equipment is given to various communities to assist in the upgrading of infrastructures.

He therefore called on all the NDC’s leaders and the operators who will utilise the front-end loader to care and maintain it.

He made it clear that the equipment should not be used for friends and family of “comrades” but it is there for

anyone who wants to see development in the community.

Regional Vice Chairman, Humace Oodit, said that the region needed such equipment. He said that it will assist rice farmers in the region.

Speaking on behalf of the rice farmers was Tabindra Ramcharran. Ramcharran said that, for a long time, the region needed such intervention and therefore showered praises on the Government of Guyana.

Another rice farmer, Kaydar Persaud, also expressed gratitude to the relevant authorities. Persaud said while the region got a new equipment it still needs more vehicles to clear the backlog of requests in the system.

Attending the commissioning was Mayor of the town, Devin Mohan. A symbolic coconut bursting ceremony was done in the Region’s D&I compound, after which the operator turned the keys for the brand-new equipment.

The $14 million staff quarters that was officially declared open on Friday

The newly commissioned front-end loader

Historic Milestone: Mahdia District Hospital performs first surgeries in Region Eight

— Operating Theater officially commissioned

IN a momentous event for healthcare in Guyana, the Mahdia District Hospital (MDH) Operating Theater (OR), under the

leadership of Director General of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo and Dr. Sheik Amir (Surgeon

at GPHC), achieved a significant milestone recently by performing the first-ever surgeries in Region Eight at the Mahdia

healthcare delivery with increased staff, modern equipment, and a consistent supply of medicines and medical supplies.

However, the absence of a functional operating theater meant that patients in need of surgery had to be flown to Georgetown, often at advanced stages of their illnesses.

When contacted by this publication, the Director General said that the transformation of healthcare in Region Eight commenced in 2021, when discussions began between the MOH and then Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Ravendra Dudnauth, regarding the need for surgical capacity in the region.

In 2022, he explained that the budget for infrastructure and medical

in familiar surroundings both before and after their procedures.

The surgeries encompassed a diverse range of procedures, including Cholecystectomies and Herniorrhaphies.

Additionally, the medical team conducted over 130 ultrasounds, laboratory tests, and general clinics during their visit.

The inauguration of the MHD Operating Theater signifies a significant transformation in healthcare for Region Eight, Dr. Mahadeo noted.

By the end of 2023, the MDH aims to have its own team of general surgeons, specialists, and OR nurses on staff, enabling not only elective surgeries but also

District Hospital.

The hospital was also officially commissioned on August 26, 2023, by Dr. Mahadeo. On that day, a medical team, comprising 20 nurses and doctors from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and MOH embarked on a journey to Mahdia.

Over two days, a total of twenty-one surgeries were successfully completed, benefitting patients aged 21 to 64 years.

This landmark occasion marked a significant leap toward equitable and accessible healthcare services for all Guyanese, aligning with the PPP/C Government's manifesto promises.

Region Eight, also known as Potaro-Siparuni, has long strived to enhance

equipment for the OR was approved, leading to substantial construction progress by December of the same year. Further adjustments were made to ensure the OR's readiness for surgical procedures, reflecting the MOH's commitment to safety and efficiency.

Patients travelled from various villages within Region Eight, including Mahdia, Micobie, Tumatumari, Paramakatoi, Kopinang, and Campbelltown.

The Director General explained that their gratitude was profound, as many expressed that they would have otherwise endured pain rather than travelling to Georgetown for surgeries. They emphasised the comfort of having their relatives with them and being

emergency procedures.

This initiative, the director general added is projected to reduce referrals to GPHC by an estimated 60 percent, further reinforcing the region's healthcare autonomy.

This achievement brings the PPP/C government, President Irfaan Ali, and the Minister of Health one step closer to realising their vision of providing quality healthcare to all Guyanese.

It underscores the government's commitment to improving healthcare access and services throughout the nation, contributing to the overall well-being of its citizens.

A part of the medical team from the GPHC and MOH that achieved a significant milestone recently by performing the first-ever surgeries in Region Eight at the Mahdia District Hospital

Ministry of Health Director General, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo

New director heads PANCAP coordinating unit

Caribbean. She will lead the PANCAP Coordinating Unit to ensure the delivery of regional public goods supporting national programmes and advancing PANCAP’s regional objectives.

Before joining PANCAP, Dr Telgt Emanuelson was a National Consultant on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organisation (WHO) Office in Suriname. She has vast knowledge and experience in public health policy development and implementation and has led a number of national public health programmes in Suriname.

A Surinamese national, Dr Telgt Emanuelson holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Public Health from the Central University of Nicaragua, a Master of Science Degree in Public Health from Walden University, USA, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioural Science from Andrews University, USA.

THE Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the mechanism that provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic welcomed its new Director, Dr Wendy Telgt Emanuelson, who was appointed with effect from

September 1, 2023.

Dr Telgt Emanuelson will lead PANCAP’s dialogue with CARICOM governments, international donors and partners, and other stakeholders in the continued implementation of a coordinated and structured regional approach for an AIDS-free

Dr Telgt Emanuelson brings to PANCP a wealth of knowledge and experience in strategic health policy development and will certainly advance the Coordinating Unit's work in its programme planning and execution in the continued fight against HIV and AIDS in the Region.

Soldiers commence Grade Three chef course training

The 12 soldiers currently undergoing the eight-week training in the grade three chef course, along with senior ranks (seated)

TWELVE soldiers are currently undergoing training on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Grade Three Chef Course.

The students will be engaged in training for eight weeks as they strive to gain the knowledge and skills needed to maintain good

hygiene in the preparation and storage of food, in accordance with the GDF doctrine.

The students will be exposed to training in various areas including, Hygiene Procedures, Menus, Simple Nutrition, Cookery Terms, Basic Food Preparation Principles, and Values and Stan-

dards of the GDF.

The course was officially declared open on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at a simple ceremony held at the Lecture Hall, located at Base Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands.

Dr Wendy Telgt Emanuelson

Australia 35-15 Georgia… Wallabies begin World Cup bid with first win since Eddie Jones’ return

AUSTRLIA subdued Georgia at Stade de France to get their World Cup campaign underway, and claim the first win of coach Eddie Jones' second stint on the job.

The Wallabies have lost all five of their Tests since the former England coach returned in January, but found form when they needed it with Jordan Petaia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, and Ben Donaldson crossing for tries.

Successfully negotiating their opener puts Australia in the early lead in a pool that also contains Wales and Fiji, who meet in Bordeaux today.

Georgia, with a November 2022 victory over Wales on their record, and the home fans' support, thanks to a 12-strong clutch of French-based players in their squad, had talked-up the prospects of an upset.

However, Australia was too

strong, structured and ruthless to get bogged down in a battle with the underdogs.

The strength and speed of Will Skelton, Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, and Richie Arnold kept up a supply of front-foot ball, while the hard running of Samu Kerevi and, in particularly, Marika Koroibete made inroads out wide.

Some wobbly kicking from hand from fly-half Carter Gordon will give Jones food for thought, having already stripped his only specialist fly-half of duties off the tee, while scrumhalf Tate McDermott's apparent concussion - sustained in a collision with Beka Gorgadze's knee - will be a concern.

Georgia will have a fortnight to review and reassess before taking on Portugal, while Australia faces Fiji, two places above them in the world rankings, next.

Australia drew some of the sting from the encounter inside two minutes, as Nawaqanitawase's drilled 50:22 gave them field position, and Petaia twisted through the tackles of wing Akaki Tabutsadze and full-back Davit Niniashvili to score.

Koroibete's storming kick-return run set up a second try soon after with Nawaqanitawase profiting from McDermott's blind-side dart, and Petaia's deft offload.

Georgia's hopes of dominating the scrum to gain a toehold in the game came to nothing, as a super-sized Australia pack held firm, and even forced penalties of their own.

Donaldson, in contrast to Gordon's 20% success rate in the Wallabies' final warm-up Test against France, proved reliable off the tee, as Australia ticked along to 18-3 after 20 minutes.

Georgia stemmed the bleed-

ing, and then came out fired up for the second half, with flanker Luka Ivanishvili loitering out wide to gather a long mis-pass, and slide into the corner.

At 21-8 down, the underdogs, belatedly and briefly, began to snarl. Their resistance came to an end just as their

hopes were highest, however.

Niniashvili broke up-field to a roar from the crowd but, short of support, he flung a loose pass straight to Tupou, who flipped a pass over to Donaldson to hare up the other end, and land a killer sucker-punch.

Donaldson picked his way

through an understaffed defence for a second, as the game ran out of steam with replacement Beka Gigashvili's late barge over giving Georgia the final say, but little else, from the contest.

Conway and Mitchell tons lead New Zealand to opening ODI win

By Ffion Wynne

ENGLAND were beaten by eight wickets as New Zealand comfortably won the opening one-day international in Cardiff.

Set an imposing 292 for victory, unbeaten centuries from Devon Conway (111 off 121 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (118 off 91 balls) saw the Black Caps home with 4.2 overs to spare.

The pair added 180 for the third wicket in a patient run-chase on a slow pitch.

All-rounder Ben Stokes made 52 on his return to ODI cricket, as England posted 291-6.

Opener Dawid Malan made 54, captain Jos Buttler top-scored with 72, and Liam Livingstone entertained with a 39-ball 52.

Harry Brook, who was drafted into the squad as late batting cover, opened alongside Malan in the absence of Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, who missed out through a shoulder injury and back spasm, respectively. However, the Yorkshire batter was scratchy for his

25 from 41 balls.

But despite several making good starts, none of England's batters were able to kick on in the style of the chanceless Conway, and Mitchell, who made the most of being dropped on 49.

Pace bowler Gus Atkinson, who has been named in England's provisional World Cup squad, made his ODI debut, but went wicketless for 47 runs from his seven overs.

The second ODI in the four-match series is in Southampton today.

ENGLAND HUMBLED

The talk around England's World Cup defence has been bubbling, even throughout the drawn T20 series against the Black Caps that preceded these ODIs.

And in a repeat of the memorable 2019 final, and what will be England's opening fixture in India in 27 days' time, it was New Zealand who made a strong statement.

Conway and Mitchell were disciplined through-

out, before capitalising late in the innings when they targeted the spin of Adil Rashid and Livingstone to cruise to victory.

Conway struck 13 fours in his knock before launching Livingstone down the ground for a winning six.

England did not bowl particularly poorly; New Zealand expertly withstood the economical spells of Chris Woakes and David Willey, but they were largely unthreatening.

They are likely to rotate their bowlers throughout the series, and have the pace of Mark Wood and guile of Sam Curran to call upon after they were left out of this opening match.

The players in England's 16-strong World Cup squad are not going to feature in the ODIs against Ireland that conclude the summer, which leaves coach Matthew Mott and Buttler with just three more matches to figure out their strongest XI.

And they are no closer to answering the questions that remain, particularly around whether Brook, who is in

the squad to face Ireland, should be included, and the make-up of the bowling attack in Indian conditions.

GLIMPSES OF CLASS

With four half-centuries, there were promising signs for England's batting line-up, but they lacked the dominant contribution that would have allowed them to post a winning total.

The makeshift opening partnership of Brook and Malan felt like a straight shootout for a World Cup spot, though it remains only speculation that Malan, who is in the squad, is under pressure.

With an ODI average just shy of 55, he is one of England's most reliable players in the format, but perhaps receives criticis m because of his more traditional approach, and therefore lower strike-rate, in comparison with some of the line-up.

But he and Brook gave England a solid start with an opening stand of 80 before both fell with no runs added in the space of five balls. Joe Root then depart-

ed for six, leaving Buttler and Stokes to rebuild.

They did it efficiently, resorting to a more orthodox style of ODI cricket than England have played in recent years, scoring at five or six an over with minimal risk and punishing the bad ball.

There were glimpses of their brilliance, with a Buttler straight six and Stokes' off-side power, while Livingstone fulfilled his role perfectly with his destructive hitting at the death.

But, ultimately, England's batters were unable to build on the foundations, while Mitchell and Conway were ruthless in ensuring their starts were not wasted.

WHAT THEY SAID

England captain Jos Buttler on Sky Sports: "It's disappointing; at halfway, I thought we actually had a pretty good score.

"Credit to them, it was a fantastic partnership. We couldn't find a way to break that, and it opened the game up.

"The way the schedule is, we've got to look after

a few guys. It's a quick turnaround, so we'll give opportunities, and look after guys as well."

Player of the match, New Zealand's Devon Conway on Sky Sports: "I'm pretty happy with the way the innings went; it was nice to get some time in the middle, and get the win.

"We thought England's score was just above par, but the bowlers did well to restrict them on that surface. We just knew that if we built those partnerships, it would get us over the line."

England bowler James Anderson on BBC Test Match Special: "When Bairstow and Roy are back, they come straight back in, that probably takes out Brook and Livingstone, meaning Moeen to come back in.

"It's not a major worry for England; they've got so much experience in that team. Ben Stokes, Joe Root, these guys love this competition and the big moments." (BBC Sport)

Mark Nawaqanitawase improved his strike rate to five tries in eight Tests for the Wallabies

Gaur and Lauren Filer star as hosts win first ODI

By Stephan Shemilt

ENGLAND bounced back from their shock

T20 series defeat by hammering Sri Lanka in the first one-day international at Chesterle-Street.

Pace bowlers Mahika

Gaur and Lauren Filer, both making their ODI debuts, were impressive in picking up three wickets apiece as Sri Lanka were knocked over for only 106.

Leg-spinner Sarah Glenn also claimed 3-20, while wicketkeeper Amy Jones pouched five catches, an England women's record.

England struggled with the bat during the T20 series, but made no mistake when faced with such a modest target.

Tammy Beaumont made 32, and Emma Lamb 27, while Maia Bouchier, England's third debutante, hit the winning runs in her 17 notout.

England completed their seven-wicket win in only 18 overs, and can wrap up the series with victory in the second ODI at Northampton on Tuesday.

England were abject in the T20 series, Sri Lanka inspired, and the 2-1 scoreline was simultane-

ously one of England's all-time worst results, and one of Sri Lanka's best.

This, though, was efficient and ruthless from England, dispatching a Sri Lanka team that had beaten them only once before in ODIs, and are playing their first 50-over series in this country.

On a green-tinged pitch in Durham, England pounced on the opportunity to bowl first, and Sri Lanka had little answer to an attack spearheaded by Gaur and Filer.

With Beaumont and Nat Sciver-Brunt returning to a batting line-up that underperformed in the T20s, it never felt likely that England would struggle in the chase.

And, defending such a small total, Sri Lanka's skillful spinners had no opportunity to make an impact.

ENGLAND IN A STATE OF FLUX

The retirement of Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Anya Shrubsole have left the England pace attack in a state of flux, but Gaur and Filer are showing that the future is in safe hands.

Gaur, aged only 17, caught the eye in The Hundred this summer, and 22-year-old Filer made an impact when she was called up to play

in the Ashes Test.

Gaur, with the ability to swing the new ball, has developed a habit of bowling wonderful deliveries. Here, she bowled Sri Lanka captain and star batter Chamari Athapaththu with a superb ball that nipped away and, from that moment, the visitors' chances of posting a big total evaporated.

Gaur also bowled Anushka Sanjeewani, and later returned to dismiss Udeshika Prabodhani in the same fashion, to wrap up the innings.

In between, Filer bowled with pace and bounce to have Hasini Perera caught down the leg-side, and was on a hat-trick when both Kav-

isha Dilhari and Nilakshi de Silva poked behind.

Harshitha Samarawickrama batted calmly for her 35, but when she tickled the off-spin of Alice Capsey down the legside, and was given out caught behind on review, it was the beginning of Sri Lanka losing their last four wickets for 11 runs.

Neither Beaumont nor Lamb were chosen for the T20s, and they brought solidity to the top of the order with an opening stand of 61.

When they fell, Heather Knight had the opportunity for a confidence-boosting not-out, but she gloved a sweep to be caught behind for 22. This, along with some

scruffy ground-fielding, was the only low part of England's day.

It was left to Bouchier, playing her first ODI after 22 T20s for England, to punch Athapaththu through the covers to seal victory barely four hours after the game began.

WHAT THEY SAID

England captain

Heather Knight: "I am really pleased; it was a good toss to win, because it wobbled about a bit early on. The way the bowlers bowled and made the most of it was outstanding.

"Mahika bowled some pretty magic balls, and is a really exciting talent.

Lauren Filer in the middle too, she is always a

crowd favourite, and gets everyone up and about. It was nice to get back to winning ways.

"We will see some rotation; we've got a big squad, and Mahika is only 17, too. She's exciting, but we want to look after her as well."

Player of the match Mahika Gaur: "It was a great day; I really enjoyed myself out there, and it was good to get a win as well.

"It's about bowling your best ball for longer. I've not played much 50over cricket, but I think it's good for the bowlers, as the batters don't go as hard at you.

"I've had the conversation with Heather and the coaches; they've told me to do what I do best, swinging it in."

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu: "A tough day at the office. T20 is a different format; Mahika and Kate Cross bowled well in the first hour. We didn't handle that pressure; we needed 250 or 260 on this pitch.

"We have to talk about positive things, but we have to improve our batting. Patience is important, but I think we can bounce back, and play really good cricket." (BBC Sport)

Brazil’s Neymar overtakes Pele’s goal record in win over Bolivia

NEYMAR has surpassed Pele as Brazil's male all-time top scorer with two goals in a 5-1 win over Bolivia.

The forward, 31, who went into the World Cup qualifying match tied with legend Pele on 77 goals, missed a penalty before scoring twice in the second half on his 125th appearance.

"I never imagined reaching this record; I'm no better than Pele or any other player for the national team," he said. Marta has scored

a record 122 goals in 189 matches for Brazil's women's team.

Pele, who died in December aged 82, scored 77 goals in 92 appearances between 1957 and 1971. He was widely regarded to be one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game.

His official account on social media platform, X, paid tribute to Neymar's achievement.

"Congratulations Neymar for surpassing

the King in goals for Brazil. Surely Pele is applauding you today!" it said.

Brazil coach Fernando Diniz said: "He came to do what he did: Have fun, score two goals, and break the record."

Neymar became the world's most expensive player when he joined Paris St-Germain from Barcelona for £200M in 2017.

join Saudi Pro League team, Al-Hilal.

"He is a very big idol; people must recognise him and accept him," Diniz added.

Elsewhere, Uruguay started their South American qualifying campaign with a 3-1 win against Chile, under their new coach, former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa. (BBC Sport)

He left the French side in

to

the summer

Mahika Gaur was Player of the Match for her 3 for 26 • (PA Images via Getty Images)

Neymar was presented with an award for surpassing Pele’s record by his country’s football federation after the game

Zampa completes Australia rout after Labuschagne, Warner tons

— Australia raced to their third-highest total in ODIs, and defended it with ease

DAVID Warner struck his 20th ODI century, and Marnus Labuschagne his second, as Australia put on their third-highest total in the format and second-highest against South Africa. They fell seven runs short of the record in Bloemfontein, on a surface as tame as the one England scored 399 on more than seven years ago, and took advantage of a home attack that did not find its rhythm.

Warner's hundred was his fifth against South Africa, equalling Sachin Tendulkar's century count against this opposition, and a record 46th as an opener in all formats - going past Tendulkar. Labuschagne's was his first since March 2020, when he scored 108 against South Africa in Potchefstroom, and he has given Australia's selectors a headache they did not expect to have.

They left Labuschagne out of Australia's World Cup squad, but, with the form he is in, may have to rethink their decision ahead of the September 28 deadline.

South Africa has more serious concerns. Their first-choice seamers looked both hapless

and careless, and Anrich Nortje left the field with lower-back spasms after bowling only five overs.

Andile Phehlukwayo, who lost his central contract earlier this year, and was nowhere near the World Cup playing group until this morning when he was brought into the squad as cover for Sisanda Magala, looked the best of the quicks. Aiden Markram and Tabraiz Shamsi each bowled their full quota of overs, and, between them, conceded at just under seven runs an over.

Australia took advantage of the width offered by Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada up front, and brought up 50 inside seven overs. Nortje threatened to pull things back with an opening over that cost three, but then completely lost his lengths, and conceded 36 runs off the next two overs he bowled.

South Africa was forced to turn to parttime spin in the powerplay, but Markram's fortunes were no different to the rest. Australia racked up their third-highest powerplay score in the format, of 102 without loss, with Travis Head the aggressor of the early exchanges. He went to 52 off 26 balls when he sent

Nortje over midwicket for his second six.

Head only added 12 more to his score, before he tried to hit Shamsi over mid-on, but David Miller ran back to take a good catch. Shamsi's success continued straight away when Mitchell Marsh missed a reverse-sweep first ball, and South Africa reviewed the on-field notout call. Ball-tracking showed the ball crashing into middle stump.

Enter Labuschagne, who was actually on the team sheet this time after he had replaced Cameron Green as a concussion substitute in the first ODI. Four fairly quiet overs followed, with the only shot in anger Labuschagne's first boundary, off Markram, but the noise didn't stop once it began.

Warner reached 50 off 52 balls, and took only 33 more to get to a hundred. It was his second-fastest century in the format, and included all his usual back-foot power hits, as well as a down-on-one-knee loft over long-on off a Phehlukwayo slower ball, and a massive launch over long-on when Jansen took pace off. The century came off a pull from a Shamsi longhop, and was followed by a signature leaping

celebration.

At the other end, Labuschagne had one nervy moment when he bottom-edged Phehlukwayo, but de Kock, who was standing up to the stumps, could not hold on to a difficult chance. Labuschagne was severe against spin, and showed off exquisite footwork.

He took 66 runs off the 45 balls he faced from Markram and Shamsi. He got to 50 off 54 balls, and then, like Warner, accelerated. His next 50 runs took just 26 balls. Together, Warner and Labuschagne put on the second-highest third-wicket partnership for Australia against South Africa, and it seemed that they would not be separated.

It took a delivery from Phehlukwayo, playing his first ODI since October last year, that stayed low to beat Warner's pull and bowl

him. Warner left the field with a smile, and to a standing ovation.

With 17.2 overs still to be bowled, Josh Inglis, in his 5th ODI, had a licence to play freely, but at first, he didn't seem able to take it. Another Phehlukwayo ball kept low, and Inglis did well to keep it out, and he survived a South African review for lbw off Markram, which found a thin under-edge. But he showed his class with a late glide off Phehlukwayo, and then raced

to a 36-ball fifty. He holed out off the very next ball, which allowed South Africa to mount a small fightback.

Starting with the Inglis dismissal, they took five wickets in 27 balls, including Labuschagne's, and gave away only 26 runs, which ensured that Australia was kept to under 400. Shamsi finished with the second four-fer of his ODI career, and his success was celebrated by his teammates, even as they may have been a little worried.

The surface showed some signs of the variable bounce that made run-scoring so difficult on Thursday, but they will take some comfort in knowing that the only higher total Australia scored them - 434 - was chased successfully.(Cricinfo)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday September 10, 2023) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD

-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) GAW

(2) SKNP Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who were the CPL 2018 finalists?

(2) Who were the captains involved in the 2018 final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

David Warner scored a record 46th hundred as an opener in all international cricket

Patriots end losing jinx with win over Kings

AROUBA, Trinidad, (CMC) – St Kitts and Nevis Patriots finally won their first game of the 2023 Caribbean Premier League campaign, when they pulled off a nervy run chase to beat St Lucia Kings by four wickets here Saturday.

Struggling badly throughout the tournament with six defeats in their eight previous outings, Patriots ended their run of poor form by overhauling a target of 150 at the Brian Lara Stadium with a single ball to spare.

They were inspired by experienced West Indies opener Andre Fletcher, who batted superbly for an unbeaten 93 off 64 balls, striking half-adozen fours and five sixes.

With nine required from the last over, Patriots lost Corbin Bosch (12) to the third delivery from off-spinner Roston Chase (2-25), but Fletcher quickly allayed his side’s fears by clobbering the fifth delivery over mid-wicket for six, with six runs required from the last

two balls.

“It feels very good, to be honest. We’ve been trying to get that first victory, and to get it today, it feels very good,” said Evin Lewis, who alternated with Sherfane Rutherford as captain throughout the tournament.

Sent in, Kings rallied to an inadequate 149 for sev-

en off their 20 overs, with Shadrack Descarte striking 43 from 31 deliveries, and opener Johnson Charles hitting 42 off 38 balls.

The innings was in turmoil at 22 for three at the end of the fifth over, after left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (2-14) struck twice, but Charles and Descarte mount-

Ramnauth ton powers

4R Lions to win

ed a crucial recovery effort in a 73-run, fourth-wicket stand.

Charles struck seven fours, while Descarte belted a four and three sixes before both fell in the space of 15 deliveries, leaving Kings on 117 for five in the 16th over, and it was left to captain Sikandar Raza, with a 17-ball 22, to get his side up to their eventual total.

Patriots’ run chase never found momentum, and they needed Fletcher’s vast experience to remain afloat.

Lewis fell to the ninth ball of the innings for one with three runs on the board, before Fletcher dominated a 32-run, second-wicket stand with Will Smeed (2).

When two wickets fell in quick succession to leave Patriots on 49 for three in the seventh over, Fletcher again kept his cool, putting on 35 for the fourth wicket with Rutherford (17), 26 for the fifth with George Linde (9), and 33 for the sixth wicket with Bosch.

Andrew Flintoff makes first appearance since Top Gear crash — after joining England back-room

staff

ANDREW Flintoff has made his first public appearance in nine months after joining England's backroom staff in an unofficial, unpaid role for their four-match ODI series against New Zealand.

Flintoff is recovering from serious injuries sustained while filming for the BBC show, Top Gear, in December. He was airlifted to hospital after crashing a car at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome, when he broke ribs, and suffered facial and jaw injuries.

He is close friends with Rob Key, the managing director of England men's cricket, and has gradually returned to the public eye this summer, attending

several days of the Ashes series as a spectator, although on those occasions he sought to shield the extent of his injuries from the cameras.

Flintoff arrived in Cardiff overnight, and was involved in fielding

drills during England's eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand on Friday. He was also seen wearing an England bucket hat while chatting to fellow coaching staff on the dressing-room balcony.

"He's been starting to

do some stuff in cricket," said Jos Buttler, England's captain who played alongside Flintoff when he made a comeback for Lancashire in the T20 Blast in 2014. "It's just great for him to be around.

"He's obviously an England legend, and it's just nice to have him around the group," Buttler added. "He's not been brought in with any specific role; just to be around and observe. A few of the lads can pick his brains a little bit, and he's settled in really well."

Flintoff's involvement is not expected to last beyond the fourth ODI at Lord's next week, and he will not travel to the World Cup in India next month. He has had limited

RAMPERSAUD Ramnauth’s 73-ball 107, with 18 boundaries, powered 4R Lions to an emphatic 98-run victory over Bel Air Rubis, as action in the GCA’s NBS 40-over Second- Division Cricket Competition continued yesterday at the MYO Ground.

Such was Ramnauth’s dominance that only Sachin Balgobin, who struck seven fours in his 42 runs, reached 20 after Ramnauth’s more known elder brother, Rampertab, was run-out for one, as 4R-Lions were dismissed for 278 in 33.2 overs.

Rudranauth Kissoon had 3-28, and got support from Andrew Samaroo took 2-58 for Bel Air Rubis who were bowled out for 180 in 30.4 overs, despite Kissoon (28) and Samaroo (20) retuning with the bat to offer token resistance.

Arun Ganida chipped in with 21 in a losing cause, as Natron Gill (3-31), Rashad Gafor (3-32), and Matthew Pottoya (2-33), did the damage with the ball.

At QC Number 1 Ground, Transport Sports Club (TSC), on the back of a 127-run stand by Adrain Hinds, who hit two sixes and five fours in 54 from 41, and Ryan Latif, whose 59 lasted 56 balls, and included eight fours and a six.

Emmanuel Lewis hit two sixes and a couple of fours in his 31, as TSC reached 192-6 in 24.1 overs, before bowling out Ace Warriors for 189 in 27.4 overs.

Dave Mohabir took 4-39, while Nehemiah Hohenkirk and Rafeal Singh picked up two wickets, as only Diquan Murray (48), Lawrence Pellew (40), Roger Aarons (24), and Deryck Babb (22) offered a fight.

At QC Number 2 Ground, Queen’s College made 194 in 26 overs, with Owen Andrews (43), and Anthon Lim (31), doing most of the scoring, as Ryan Mangal took 4-36, while Shaquil King and Ryan Phillips had two wickets each. Ace Warrior were 38-8 innings closed in 8.2 overs, as Andrews had 4-12, and Akeem McCalmont took 4-19. (Sean Devers)

involvement in cricket since leaving the game as a player, beyond occasional work as a broadcaster and commentator.

Flintoff's series-defining contribution to England's victory in the 2005 Ashes made him an icon for several members of their ODI set-up. Those include Liam Liivngstone, who said it was "incredible" to have Flintoff with the squad: "He's obviously been one of my heroes growing up," Livingstone said.

Flintoff's sons, Corey (17) and Rocky (14), are both part of Lancashire's age-group sides, and he has visited Emirates Old Trafford several times this summer. "I've been around Fred a little bit at Lancashire, and he's around a bit more now with his boys coming through there,"

Livingstone said.

"When you see someone like Fred around, it's always good to chat, especially while the team is batting. There's three-anda-half hours to pick the brains of someone who has been there and done it. He's probably a national hero, so everybody loves that Fred is going to join us for this series."

Livingstone briefly shared a dressing room with Flintoff in 2014, when he played for Lancashire's Second XI while preparing to make his comeback in the Blast.

"That was pretty cool as a 20-year-old, playing with Andrew Flintoff in a second-team game at Arundel. He's a great lad to chat with, and I'm sure the boys are enjoying having him around."

(Cricinfo)

Andre Fletcher celebrates after leading St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots to their first win of the 2023 CPL (Photo courtesy CPLT20/Getty Images)

GCA’s NBS 2nd division 40-over cricket…

Andrew Flintoff, sporting facial scars after an accident during the filming of Top Gear, looks on from the England dressingroom • (ECB via Getty Images)

Concacaf

Golden Jaguars maul Antigua 5-1

GUYANA’s Senior Men’s national team; the Golden Jaguars, got their 2023 Concacaf Nations League B tournament off in emphatic fashion with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Antigua & Barbuda, led by a hat-trick from teenage prodigy Omari Glasgow.It was the 19-year-old’s first international hat-trick.

Glasgow, who plays with MLS side Chicago Fire B, netted in the14th, 29th (penalty) and 87th minutes of the game.

Glasgow now has 10 international goals from 14 caps.

Forward Kelsey Benjamin netted the other two goals for Guyana with his strikes coming in the 33rd and 62nd

minutes.

Antigua & Barbuda’s consolation goal was netted on the stroke of halftime after Raheem Deterville had his strike deflected.

The Golden Jaguars will play their next Group D at home on Tuesday the National Track and Field Centre against The Bahamas.

2023 FESUPO South American Men's Classic Powerlifting Championships…

Nations League Mohamed sets new M1 Squat record

— on his way to five gold medals — Trotman snares three bronzes

improvements, to the extent that the Fesupo executive decided to introduce a second platform to speed up the lifts, as the lone one in place couldn’t have sufficed, and would have resulted in much more late nights into the wee hours of the morning.

The organisers even introduced having presentation ceremonies during the course of the day, which resulted in way less time being spent at the competition arena.

240.0kg, benchpress 165.0kg, deadlift 272.5kg, and a new Fesupo record, whilst his total was 677.5.

Mohamed, who also entered the South American Men's Classic Bench Press Championships, pressed his way to the gold. Enrique’ scores were: Squat 202.5kg, benchpress 132.5, deadlift 232.5kg, and total 567.5.

GUYANA’S rich medal form at the 10th FESUPO Regional South American Men's Classic Powerlifting Championships here in Lima, Peru continued on the third day of competition, Thursday, when the athletes from the ‘Land of Many Waters’ raked in a total of eight (8) medals.

Headlining the day was Wazim Mohamed (93kg M1 class),

who not only obliterated his only challenger to sweep all the available gold medals, but set a new Fesupo Men’s Masters 1 deadlift record in the process to cap a fabulous day on the platform.

Having to face multiple challenges, owing to a lack of proper organising during the course of the first two days of action, Day Three saw great

As their female colleagues (Sarah Sanmogan and Keisha Abrigo) did on the opening day of the competition, Mohamed and Trotman ensured that the medal count for Guyana increased handsomely.

Tapia Hidalgo Gustavo Enrique of Chile, Mohamed’s only opponent as Coimbra David of Brazil who was registered to compete did not do so, Mohamed bettered his Chilean rival in all the lifts. His best squat was

Leroy ‘The Underdog’ Trotman, battled in the Men’s Open 93kg category, and landed the overall bronze, apart from bronze medals in the squat (240.0kg), and deadlift (285.0kg). He registered a benchpress of 142.5kg for a total of 667.5kg.

The gold medal was taken by Chile’s Bernado Ibenez with a total of 735.0kg (squat 270.0kg, benchpress 180.0kg, deadlift 285.0kg), with the silver taken by Brazilian Denis Gibson, whose total was 702.5kg (squat 272.5, benchpress 165.0kg, deadlift 265.0kg).

On Day Two, the other Guyanese debutant for Guyana, Kheon Evans did not place in the top three of the 83kg Open division, despite a good performance. He was plagued by a shoulder injury, and Bjorn Williams was also not able to place in the 105kg Open division.

Despite Guyana’s medal tally going into the final day, Saturday, with Masters 4 athlete Naranjan Singh being the only

athlete to lift in the Equipped contest was as follows: Gold 11; Silver 2; Bronze 5.

The GAPLF wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, Guyana Olympic Association, John Fernandes Limited, the National Milling Company of Guyana, and 592Tees for making the team’s trip to Peru a reality.

Potaro Strikers stay in contention with 8th win

AFTER ten rounds of matches the top three teams in the Senior Men’s League of the Bartica FA are each separated by a point.

In Friday night’s action at the Bartica Community Centre ground, Potaro Strikers registered their 8th win in an effort

less performance to put away AK Galaxy 5-1.

The team’s leading scorer Daniel Gardener converted his 2nd treble to inspire the victory with strikes in the 13th, 39th and 41 minutes. Shamar

Stephen added one in the 66th minute and 4 minutes later Derron Baksh

made it five. Samuel Mentore’s strike in the 46th minute was the only moment of celebration for Galaxy.

The three points elevated Strikers to 25 points and 2nd place in the points table while Galaxy’s 5th defeat left them in 6th position on

11 points.Unbeaten Beacons lead the table on 26 points and cup holders Rivers View are 3rd on 24 points.

The other fixture of the double-header resulted in a 2-2 tie between Lazio and Agatash United. A Javon Harris double (1’ and 22’) gave Lazio

an early lead that eventually was cancelled within a minute. Dishon Stephen pulled one back after 32 minutes and immediately after Travis Hercules produced the equaliser. Lazio are kept in 7th place on 9 points from 10 matches while the one point for Agatash was their 2nd as

they hold up the table on 2 points aftet 9 outings. The Bartica FA’s Senior Men’s League is mainly sponsored by funding from the Guyana Football Federation through its Members-Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAF).

Mohamed Wazim shares the podium with second-placed Chilean, Bernado Ibenez. Guyanese Level 11 IPF Referee, Andrew Austin is at right

Mohamed Wazim in record-breaking deadlift mode in Peru

Omari Glasgow

Gauff beats Sabalenka to win first Grand Slam

American teenager Coco Gauff fulfilled the potential she has long promised by landing her first Grand Slam title with a fightback win over Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.

Gauff, seeded sixth, started slowly in front of an expectant home crowd but grew in confidence to wear down second seed Sabalenka in New York.

Gauff, 19, clinched a 2-6 6-3 6-2 win on a delirious Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I feel like I'm in a little bit of shock at the moment," Gauff said.

"I feel like God puts you through tribulations and trials and that makes this even sweeter," added

the American, who lost in her only other major singles final at the 2022 French Open.

"I'm thankful for this moment. I don't have any words."

Australian Open champion Sabalenka, meanwhile, must wait for a second major title but the 25-year-old Belarusian can at least console herself with the knowledge she will become the world number one for the first time.

Gauff will rise to a career-high third when the latest rankings are released on Monday - but claiming her first major at her home Grand Slam is what really matters.

When sealing victory with a backhand winner on her first match point, Gauff immediately fell on to the court and sat on the sideline with her head in her hands.

Almost the whole 24,000 crowd, which provided boisterous support throughout as they willed Gauff to victory, erupted in a frenzied celebration.

Gauff, overcome with emotion, made a heart sign to the fans before going up to the stands to see her parents Corey and Candi.

All three hugged and jumped in a circle as the family's sacrifices and hard work had resulted in one of the sport's biggest prizes.

Mike Parris schoolboy & girl C’Ships…

RHJ dominates with Best Gym, Best Coach, Best Boxer awards

ALTHOUGH there was a power outage throughout the duration of yesterday’s Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Mike Parris Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Boxing Championship at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown, it did not disrupt the fistic fury demonstrated by the young pugilists on show.

When the dust settled just after 16:00hrs, the Rosehall Jammers (RHJ) from Corentyne, Berbice, were fittingly adjudged the Best Gym, while Coach Cort of RHT was named the Best Coach, and RHT’s Travis Sancho was awarded the event’s Best Boxer.

There were seven fights, including a female exhibition

bout between the Barker siblings, Melani and Tofina, while one of most enterprising bouts of the tournament was between Berbician Sancho and Wayne Castello of Forgotten Youths Foundation (FYF).

The lads went at each other from the first bell, with both fighters executing some good shots, much to the de-

light of the small but raucous gathering made up of mostly boxers.

As the contest progressed and the boxers began to tire, Sancho was able to throw the more effective punches, with a mixture body shots and jabs to set up clinical rights to the head of Castello to win the fight.

Another good contest

was between Tiquan Sampson and RHJ’s Shemroy Wintz, in which the technically correct Sampson caused the Referee to halt the fight in the third round, after Wintz was backed up on the ropes by a flurry of left-right combinations.

In the other results, Pace and Power’s Roopesh Balgobin lost to RHJ’s Reshawn

Ma

Wilfery; Ken Harvey of RHJ beat Gym-mate Aubrey Austin; and Yusuf Edwards of P&P injured his right shoulder, causing his fight against FYF’s Ryan Rogers to be stopped in the third and final round.

rlando Cameron of RHJ defeated Khumdu Alexander (Sean Devers)

Coco Gauff was appearing in her second Grand Slam singles final GBA’s

The winners show off their hardware with their Coaches and GBA officials yesterday

Best boxer Travis Sancho (left), with Coach Cort after a successful trip for the Rosehall Jammers

Castello grimaces as he is hit in his chest by a crunching left from Sancho (Sean Devers photos)