Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 11-02-2023

–– President Ali says move signals commitment to local content development

–– Education Minister says Region Two will soon have more trained teachers, school boats

Anna Regina Secondary School was earlier this week declared the CSEC ‘School of the Year’ by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). Minister of Education Priya Manickchand travelled to Region Two on Friday to celebrate with the township. The school’s top performers were also honoured during a special ceremony (Ministry of Education photo)

–– Vice-President addresses ‘sensationalised, misleading’ KN article ‘There

–– Chote assures as elections CoI closes; says commissioners should consider secondary evidence from the international community –– final report to reach President within seven months

‘It’s not just about headquarters anymore, the vision has evolved’

to invest'

‘We will continue to invest’

--Education Minister says Region Two will soon have more trained teachers, school boats

AS she joined residents on Friday to celebrate Anna Regina Secondary School being declared the CSEC

‘School of the Year’ by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Minister of Education Priya Man -

ickchand emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring all children have access to a world-class edu-

cation. She assured those at the function that all the necessary

resources, including more trained teachers and boats to transport learners and educa-

tors, will soon be available in

Continued on Page 5

The Region Two top CSEC performers with their proud parents

Education Minister Priya Manickhand interacting with students, parents and teachers during her visit to the Anna Regina Secondary School which has been named the CSEC ‘School of the Year’ by the CXC

GYSBI expands Houston operations with US$25M investment

–– President Ali says move signals commitment to local content development

–– applauds companies for investing over $25B along coastline in the last two years

By Shamar Meusa

LAUDED as a milestone in the development of local content in Guyana, the Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) on Friday commissioned their US$25 million heavy-lift berths, which represents a significant expansion of its operations.

about the Local Content Policy and his government’s determination to “ensure that our country and our people derive increased benefits from the oil and gas sector”.

“ Local content is a means through which we’re ensuring greater value retention and value-added from the oil and gas sec-

that over the last two and a half years, several companies have invested more than $25 billion directly along Guyana’s coastline for several operations to service the oil and gas industry.

nue to the country and has energized the East Bank corridor so much that it has become the hub of the local oil and gas industry,

GYSBI has been mainly providing services to ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). The two new berths will increase the company’s capacity to moor more vessels, and the overall services it offers.

During the commissioning ceremony which was held at GYSBI’s Houston, East Bank Demerara facility, a new crane dubbed the “Commander-in-Chief” was also commissioned.

In his remarks, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, commended GYSBI on the expansion of the facility and added that this investment is what local content is about.

He spoke extensively

tor,” he said.

According to President Ali, the Local Content Policy is playing its part in promoting economic diversification in Guyana and catalysing the development of new services and industries, as is evidenced by GYSBI’s presence and continued expansion.

“Just look around you and see the number and types of businesses that have emerged since oil production commenced.

Drive around, be honest, be open, and be critical. The business landscape of this country is being transformed. The level of sophistication in the local economy is improving and expanding.,” he added.

The head of state noted

Meanwhile, Executive Director of GYSBI, Robin Muneshwer told the gathering that the addition of the new berths is the culmination of a rapid expansion programme by the company that started operations just five years ago

While he mentioned that the company started with eight acres of laydown yard, two berths and one warehouse, it has since expanded to 155 acres, eight warehouses and now has four berths.

“This exponential growth has been largely fuelled by the unparalleled success Exxon has had in its exploration activities and the ability of GYSBI to fulfil its current needs,” Muneshwer said.

According to the Executive Director, the Guyana Shore Base Inc has brought millions of dollars in reve-

Muneshwer stated that hundreds of jobs have been created through direct and indirect employment as the company now has some 705 employees, of which 95 per cent are locals.

As a result, he added that long before a Local Content Policy was implemented, his company has been the poster child for local content in Guyana. The hundreds of jobs that have been created, he added, would not be possible without the shore base facility.

“The story of GYSBI is that of a local company, Muneshwers taking a tremendous entrepreneurial risk years ago in the preoil era, teaming up with foreign companies who brought their intellectual and financial resources to create a uniquely Guyanese story. We are the shining beacon of the industry,” Muneshwer said.

President of EEPGL, Alistair Routledge, shared

the same sentiments as he noted that the commissioning of the new berths marks another significant milestone in local content development in Guyana.

Routledge said that over the years, the company has provided services and with the recent expansion of the facility, some services that were being handled in Trinidad and Tobago are now being handled at the GYSBI facility.

He added that the facility has been an integral part of EEPGL’s operations in Guyana.

“This facility is absolutely critical to our operations offshore. It’s a multiservice one-stop shop, from drilling equipment, fuel, materials, chemicals, all critical to our production, operations, drilling operations, waste treatment and storage of spill response equipment. GYSBI is an integral part of our operations.”

According to Routledge, 25 of EEPGL’s 36 vessels came every week to the GYSBI’s port facil-

ity between January and November 2022, before the two new berths were added.

In December of that same year with the addition of berths three and four, he indicated that that number went up to over 30 vessels per week. He noted that the main driver behind this was the full operationalisation of the new berths.

With that, he told the gathering that the partnership between GYSBI and ExxonMobil Guyana shows what can be achieved at a significant scale within a short period with collaboration and a common longterm vision.

He noted that the shore base is a great example of the benefits of a strategic approach to local content growth to further foster and develop a resilient and diversified economy for the long term.

As such, he said that it was just last year that EEPGL signed an 11-year extension with GYSBI, which affords the company more opportunities for growth.

The ‘Commander-in-Chief’ crane that was commissioned on Friday

The ceremonial ribbon being cut to officially commission two heavy-lift berths and the ‘Commander-in-Chief’ crane at the Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI) Houston, East Bank Demerara facility (Office of the President photos)

Expand e-testing platform to include Paper II

––– Region’s most outstanding CAPE student urges CXC

By Naomi Parris

CREDITING her success to the efforts made by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to advance its delivery of education, Atishta Seenarine, this year’s recipient of the Dennis Irvine Award for her achievement as the Most Outstanding Overall Student at the 2022 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), is calling on the examination body to expand its electronic testing platform.

Seenarine, of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School in Guyana, is also the Most Outstanding Overall Student in the Natural Sciences at the CAPE level, having secured 18 Grade Ones, and is currently pursuing studies in medicine at the University of Guyana.

The teen, along with several other Guyanese students, were honoured on Thursday

for their exemplary performances at the 2022 CAPE and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

This year’s award ceremony was held in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), but Guyana and several other nations joined virtually.

Seenarine, shortly after collecting her awards, said: “I did a few of my exams; the Paper Ones. A few of the subjects, we did it electronically, and it was a good experience. So, definitely, I wouldn’t mind advocating for them to do more e-testing, and to take it to not only cover the Paper One but to the Paper Twos.”

According to the CXC, e-testing will allow learners to take their examinations on a computer or electronic device.

It said that the initiative is in keeping with the CXC’s commitment to observe global quality standards in the

delivery of examination services, and deliver enhanced learner experiences through the consistent use of technology.

In her acceptance speech, Seenarine thanked her teachers, Guyana’s Ministry of Education, and the examining body for their efforts and dedication to introducing new educational systems to cushion the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I must commend the regional ministries of education and schools for representing the students at the relevant levels, and also CXC for understanding the situation and reacting appropriately,” the teen said, adding:

“Furthermore, I would like to applaud CXC for embarking on the path to e-testing. In experiencing the e-testing platform for a few Paper Ones, the interface proves to be very friendly. Therefore, I look forward to hearing more about e-testing in CXC and its administration of examinations, and modernisation plans as it concerns education delivery and syllabi content across all

subject areas.”

Meanwhile, the teen urged students who are preparing to sit the examinations soon to “put your best foot forward”, while maintaining a healthy balance between their studies and their mental health.

“On my end, personally,” she said, “I would do different things to go away from the studies and …just have a different side apart from the studying. So, I would do things like painting, and I like to go on long drives, so those are the things that I would do.”

She added: “I think it helps a lot, because it helps you to just relax your mind after a while. And for me, when you relax your mind, and you go back to the studying, it really helps with getting your head back into focus.”

Meanwhile, CXC’s Chief Executive Officer and Registrar Dr. Wayne Wesley said that as the body celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is constantly working with education ministries to develop programmes that are relevant to the Region, so as to ensure the success of Caribbean

nationals.

“You must know that we at the Caribbean Examinations Council are working assiduously at making sure that we create qualification and opportunities to all students exiting the secondary education system,” Dr. Wesley said.

The regional educator pointed out that there is much concern over the number of persons who are exiting the school system without qualifications.

Noting that the examining body is also working to address this anomaly, Dr. Wesley said: “We look with great determination and fierce urgency to ensure that we arrest the problem that is causing many of our young people not to realise their fullest potential.”

At the Council’s second annual ministerial summit in November 2022, CXC’s Professor Hilary Beckles said that although significant strides have been made in reforming the delivery of education across the English-speaking Caribbean, the enrolment of young people into tertiary institutions remains at its lowest.

Atishta Seenarine of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan is the Most Outstanding Overall Student at the 2022 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (Delano Williams photo)

‘We will continue....

the region.

Minister Manickchand was at the time addressing students, teachers, parents and proud residents at a ceremony which was held on the school’s lawns.

As part of the celebrations, several streets in the township and the school’s compound were decorated with Guyana flags, and tassa drumming could be heard as the minister and the top performers made their way into the venue.

Outam Heeralall was declared the Most Outstanding Overall Student at the 2022 CSEC examination. He, along with Ramoll Baboolall, Daniel Dowding, Chavelle Solomon, Eshika Singh and Manisha Bhrimranie, were the highlight of the celebrations.

In her comments, Minister Manickchand said that the government, under the leadership of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, is aiming to ensure that resources are distributed “equitably” among all the regions.

She then emphasised that in order for this to become a reality, the government is continuing to invest in education.

“This government has consciously invested in schools across the country to make sure wherever you are living, or whoever your

parents are, the children of this country will be given an equal opportunity; regardless of your colour or how you pray, we want all of you to do well,” Minister Manickchand said.

She added that President Ali is passionate about delivering world-class education. Noting that this is not a cliché, the minister said that there is a deep understanding within the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government that resources must be provided to boost education delivery in the country.

The education minister informed the gathering that more teachers are currently being trained and will be deployed to the region.

She assured her audience that this year, the Pomeroon-Supenaam region will attain universal secondary education.

Meanwhile, she said that the region’s education department through the Ministry of Education will be procuring more than 15 boats to add to the current fleet in the region.

She said that currently more than 700 children and 34 teachers are travelling to school by boat.

According to her, with additional boats, buses and schools, the ministry will

be able to ensure that more children attend school.

She used the opportunity to urged parents to make the necessary provisions and to utilise the resources provided by government to ensure their children are in the classroom.

Further, she congratulated the parents who worked with their children during the CSEC examination period.

Regional Education Officer Shondelle Hercules during her remarks said that the moment was historic for the region.

“Special congratulations to the hard working headteacher, Lalljeet Ruplall and his dedicated hard working staff, the school’s Board of Governors, the PTA and the students,” Hercules said.

Region Two Chairperson and former student, Vilma De Silva, was beaming with pride.

She said the region is proud of the children’s achievement and she congratulated the teachers and parents for their dedication.

Minister of Local Government and Regional De -

velopment, Nigel Dharamlall who has responsibility for the Pomeroon-Supenaam region, was also present for the celebrations.

He too said he was proud of the school and the students. Aside from focusing on increasing the number of trained teachers, he said

government is ensuring that the region benefits from massive development so that residents can have a better quality of life.

Heeralall, a resident of Affiance, is currently making arrangements to pursue study overseas. He said he felt proud of himself since it was always his dream to top the Caribbean.

Improving Food Security

THE Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has met with Demerara Distillers Ltd. Chairman, Komal Samaroo, and his delegation to finalize a project with the LR Group to establish a dairy farm in Guyana.

The project is the first state-of-the-art dairy farm in the Caribbean and will improve food security in the region. Israel, a world leader in dairy farming and agricultural technology, is looking to deepen its relations with Guyana.

The LR Group, in a joint venture with Demerara Distillers, will bring expertise and experience in implementing similar projects to the dairy farm project. The LR Group also sees this as the first step towards broader co-operation with Guyana in various areas, includ -

ing commercial agriculture, water supply, renewable energy, and healthcare.

It has been reported that Guyana imports about US$25 million in milk products annually.

A large-scale dairy plantation is needed to bolster Guyana’s agricultural production and help with diversification efforts.

The company needs some 600 acres of land to set up its industrial-style farm, which will be used to house the buildings for some 500 heifers that will be imported, an administration building, a solar panel power grid, and the farm.

Reports indicate that the animals will not be on a free-range farm but rather in a confined environment equipped with temperature control for the animals to

function in a comfortable environment. This approach has been utilized globally in dairy production to ensure the energy of the animal is spent on milk production.

The farming shed will be equipped with irrigation and wind-blowing systems which will act as a cooling mechanism for the animals should the temperature be too hot.

Further, to prevent manure pollution, the company will collect the manure to treat it and spread it along their fields to improve the production of the forage crops, which will be used to feed the animals.

The company noted that the forage would be harvested, stored, and brought to the animals’ table, so they don’t have to go out and waste any energy searching

for food. In this way, more milk is produced from the smaller unit of production.

Apart from creating approximately 70 full-time employment opportunities, the dairy farm will also retail calves and older cattle to local farmers. This initiative can generate a spin-off effect and develop the beef production industry.

Additionally, the dairy farm initiative falls in line with CARICOM’s commitment to reduce its food importation bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

Meanwhile, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, in January, announced that a new regional agriculture technology campus will be built in Guyana as part of plans to leverage technology to increase food production.

As part of its efforts to expand the agriculture sector, President Ali noted that a regional agri-tech campus will be created to support the regional food hub. This is in keeping with the government’s commitment to advance the region’s food security strategy.

Recently, the first CARICOM Ministerial Taskforce (MTF) on Food Production and Food Security detailed their production data for 2022 and noted that products such as cocoa, dairy, meat, root crops, fruits, and poultry have already reached 96.13 per cent, 84.36 per cent, 72.28 per cent, 70.91 per cent, 70.77 per cent, and 70.19 per cent, respectively, for the targeted production volume set for the year 2025.

The MTF, in a statement,

also indicated that last year, Guyana produced an estimated 20,195 MT of ginger and turmeric, 144,289 MT of root crops, 21,870 MT of fish, and 40,749 MT of coconut.

Guyana’s Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, noted that these are outstanding achievements for the task force, explaining that with these mechanisms in place, a level playing field is being created, making way for easier trade in agricultural products intraregionally.

Mustapha, who chairs the MTF, said several priority areas had been identified for 2023, including agriculture insurance and financing, trade and E-agriculture, resource mobilization, and trade support.

THE government’s stance on supporting the construction of ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s (EEPGL) headquarters has not changed, but has merely evolved, reflecting the changing conditions of the situation at hand.

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo revealed this on Friday evening during a live interview with the ‘Guyanese Critic.’

Dr Jagdeo was at the time addressing a provocative article published by Kaieteur News on Friday with the headline, ‘Guyana’s oil to pay for Exxon’s US$160M H/Q.’

The article claimed that ExxonMobil Guyana’s Head, Alistair Routledge,

disclosed that due to Exxon’s current quarters reaching capacity, the company will be constructing new quarters to ensure that persons can work effectively and efficiently.

Routledge noted too, according to KN, that the cost of this new ‘fit-forpurpose’ building’s construction would be recovered.

In the live interview, Dr Jagdeo clarified that a vision of this type has never been unsupported by the government.

“I did say, [while] in opposition that the headquarters building that they were building at that time was several times the price of the Marriott. That is exactly what I said. And that for the scale of operatiosn

they had, they did not need such a headquarters building, and that that headquarters building, if it continues in that format, we will not support it—make it cost recoverable,” he clarified.

At the time ExxonMobil had announced plans for the construction of the headquarters, Dr Jagdeo further explained, Guyana had been producing 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

However, by the time the headquarters is actually completed, Guyana will be producing approximately 600,000 barrels of oil per day.

“It has evolved from just a headquarters building, to housing staff. They have 250 staff now, they are renting. That number

will evolve to 500 staff members, most of whom will be Guyanese that will work there. So, it is now no longer just a headquarters building. It’s a training facility, the operations site, the control centre for all the offshore operations will be done in that same building,” Dr Jagdeo pointed out.

He also called attention to facilities that will be

included in the headquarters, including fibre-optic cables connected to Exxon’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, which will allow for remote monitoring throughout the day, and provide operators with the ability to control offshore operations from their control centres.

“To manage a millionbarrel industry, where

we’re heading: a millionbarrel-per-day industry from a safety perspective, an operational perspective, you need a building of that nature. A high-end building with advanced capabilities. And so, that has evolved.”

He highlighted that constructing the new headquarters would be a more practical solution regardless, as the cost of rental for Exxon’s current location is equal to the approximate cost of amortising the building over time.

“ So, this concept evolved, but they made that look like it was different. If they had been building this building just for headquarters, we would have maintained our same position up to today,” Dr Jagdeo said. (DPI)

‘It’s not just about headquarters anymore, the vision has evolved’ – Vice-President addresses ‘sensationalised, misleading’ KN article

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

Remaining TSC members sworn in

SATTI Jaiserisingh and Lancelot Baptiste were on Friday sworn in as the two final members of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).

The duo took the oath of office before President, Dr Irfaan Ali, at his Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown office.

The Head of State in brief remarks congratulated the two commissioners and urged them to work collectively to ensure that educators are safeguarded.

“I want to congratulate and wish you well on this journey as we seek to further strengthen our education system as we build an institutional environment in which our teachers are

treated fairly, in which the process governance continues to improve and deliver in a manner which all can find acceptable standards and find good governance,” he said.

In December 2022, five persons were sworn in to sit on the commission which was last constituted in 2018. At that ceremony, President Ali had stated that teachers are the backbone of the education system, and they play a vital role in fashioning responsible citizens.

With that in mind, he said that great care and attention must be taken when making appointments to the teaching profession.

Equally important, he

said, is the disciplinary action against teachers being judicious, fair and in conformity with due process.

He noted further that placing ill-qualified persons to educate children can be disastrous to the children’s future.

“It is equally necessary that within the teaching profession, appointments and promotions are dispensed in a fair and just manner. If our children are to benefit from a high-quality education, then such appointments and promotions must be based on merit, and devoid of favouritism, cronyism or nepotism,” President Ali had emphasised on that occasion.

Additionally, he men -

tioned that establishment of the Teaching Service Commission was intended to insulate appointments, promotions and the disciplining of teachers from any interference or influence.

President Ali explained that the newly re-constituted TSC will play a pivotal role in enhancing professionalism within the teaching profession.

The five persons who

took the oath of office in December were Maydah Persaud, Doodmattie Singh, Joan-Ann Davis-Monkhouse, Shafiran Bhajan, and Mohamed Sadam Hussain.

Lancelot Baptiste taking the oath of office

Satti Jaisiersingh taking the oath before President, Dr. Irfan Ali (Delano Williams photos)

‘Agri’ Ministry commences Regional Extension Training exercise

WITH the aim of strengthening its extension services for the benefit of farmers in every part of the country, the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday commenced its regional extension training programme.

According to a press release shared by the Ministry, the first of many exercises was held at the Regent Street office and saw the attendance of extension coordinators and officers from all ten administrative regions.

Just after assuming office, subject minister Zulfikar Mustapha had expressed concern with the response or the lack thereof, of the extension arm of the ministry and noted that urgent changes were needed to ensure effective and

meaningful services were being offered to farmers across the country.

According to the release, Mustapha highlighted the importance of extension services in the successful development of the agriculture sector and

reminded that Guyana is leading the Caribbean’s food security efforts Minister Mustapha said that it was critical for extension officers to be given up-to-date knowledge related to the sector and be more all-rounded to be able to offer the necessary services and advice to further develop the agriculture sector.

He further stated that agencies needed to adopt a collaborative effort to avoid duplication of reports as the government moves ahead with developing an agriculture database to guide policy decisions to advance the sector. Several other training exercises will also be held over the coming months, the release added.

Extension coordinators and officers at Friday’s training session

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha (Ministry of Agriculture photos)

Prison Service absorbs 13 trained recruits

AFTER completing a fourmonth Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) at the Prison Training Centre, Timehri, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), on Friday, welcomed 13 recruits into the system.

According to a GPS statement, the 13 recruits were drawn from Swan Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, St. Cuthbert’s Mission, and Lethem. They were trained in both the theoretical and practical aspects of the job.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, addressing the recruits, said that the prison service administration is pleased to have the recruits join the GPS.

He noted that the prison environment is very complex

and multi-dimensional, and ranks are expected to execute their tasks effectively.

The recruits are to be transferred to various prison locations. Elliot urged them to familiarize themselves with the peculiarities of the different prisons, as there are significant differences between the multiple locations.

“It is important that you become aware of the conditions at each location in advance of your posting so as to facilitate an easier adaptation process,” Elliot said.

The prison director also told the recruits to ensure that the inalienable rights of the prisoners were not trampled upon during their incarceration.

“Law enforcement in the

wider society has a number of challenges because you are operating within the full view of individuals, however within the context of the prisons, it is taking place within the confines of the prison, and anything that is happening away from the eyes of the general public always comes under greater scrutiny,” he said.

Among the attendees were members of the recruitment board, Michele Baptiste and Eureka Duncan, along with staff welfare officer, Grace Roberts.

Persons desirous of joining the service can send their application and Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the Director of Prisons, Lot 46 Brickdam, Georgetown.

The new batch of recruits with senior members of the Guyana Prison Service

GPF signs MoU with US Mission for provision of security services

THE Guyana Police Force and the United States Mission to Guyana, on Friday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the force’s Liaison Unit providing supplemental security services.

In a press release, the police force said that Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, and U.S. Ambassador to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, signed the MoU in the Ministry of Home Affairs Boardroom.

The MoU, which is reviewed annually, establishes the terms under which the Police Liaison Unit at the United States Mission, which includes perimeter security for the US

Mission, its properties, the Ambassador’s residence, and a protective security detail for the US Ambassador (collectively the Mission Unit), will provide security services.

According to the release, the Government of Guyana (GoG) recognises its responsibilities under international law, as reflected in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the US diplomatic mission and to prevent any attack on US diplomats or their family members.

As a supplement to fulfilling these obligations, the GPF, acting on behalf of the GoG, will provide the supplemental

security services specified in the MoU.

The security detail’s high professionalism and work ethics were noted by Ambassador Lynch, who also conveyed her appreciation for the job its members are performing, the release added.

Also present at the signing event were Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken; Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ Calvin Brutus; Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ Ravindradat Budhram; DEA Attaché Chris Smith; Regional Security Officer, Mayan Shih; and Assistant Regional Security Officer, Chester Maloney.

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch (fourth from left); Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn (centre) and Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken (fourth from right), with US officials and senior police ranks following the signing of the agreement. (Guyana Police Force photo)

‘There is no political agenda’

step in and help, especially when the Constitution was being infringed.

By Clestine Juan

EMPHASISING that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the events of the 2020 General and Regional Elections does not have a political agenda, Senior Counsel Sophia Chote of Trinidad and Tobago, has urged the commissioners to scrutinise documents and other pieces of evidence that are in the possession of international observers.

Just before the CoI wrapped up its public hearings on Friday, Chote summed up all of the evidence that was presented.

Noting that six representatives from political parties had given evidence before the commission, she stated that the CoI does not have a “political agenda.”

“These people were adversaries for the 2020 elections. But yet when they come to give you the evidence, there is a remarkable coincidence in the account of what they have presented to you,” she told the tribunal.

She urged the commissioners to pay attention to the “live” evidence that was before it.

“I think we can safely put aside any question about political affinity in the conduct of this commission in its inquiry, and certainly in its analysis of the evidence, and its report…,” she added.

In her closing address, Chote said that while Chairman Stanley John and commissioners — former Chancellor, Carl Singh and Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith have a lot of evidence to consider from the many witnesses who testified, they should also look at the reports of the international observers.

“…We have secondary evidence which may assist you…Documents such as the reports of the observer

missions who were here… Significantly, we have reports from the Carter Centre, the OAS and the CARICOM,” Chote said.

She said that the CoI was provided with details of how some GECOM employees participated in the suspected plot to divert votes to the APNU +AFC instead of safeguarding the electoral system.

Additionally, witnesses had testified about the actions of Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo and Livan during the vote count. Some of the GECOM employees are before the court on electoral fraud charges.

Further, she said that the CoI was provided with details of how some GECOM employees participated in the suspected plot to divert votes to the APNU +AFC instead of safeguarding the electoral system.

During the hearings, the CoI was told that GECOM staffers ignored specific instructions from the court, used materials that were illegal and or manipulated, and sided with APNU+AFC agents to berate observers whenever objections were raised.

Some of the “highquality” witnesses were members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), other political parties, former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerald Gouveia and police officers.

Former Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence; APNU+AFC activist Carol Smith-Joseph; APNU+AFC-appointed commissioner on the Local Government Commission (LGC), Nicola Denise Trotman; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Karen Cummings; former Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield; his Deputy Roxanne Myers, former GECOM District Four

(Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo; and GECOM staff members Sheffern February, Denise Babb-Cummings, Carolyn Duncan, Enrique Livan and Michelle Miller, along with Senior Superintendent, Phillip Azore, all opted to remain silent and not testify before the CoI.

Smith-Joseph has been named by witnesses testifying before the CoI as one of the persons who threatened to stomp attorney Pauline Chase, an observer representing the Bar Association, in the face, and also threatened to spit in the face of private sector representative, Kit Nascimento.

Joseph had also told diplomats from the ABCE countries to “get the f– out of Guyana.”

Testimony was also provided that Dr Cummings had received a call and then passed that phone onto Myers during an encounter at the Ashmin’s building, the headquarters of the Region Four Returning Officer where the final tabulation was taking place.

COMMENDABLE

Chote used the opportunity on Friday to commend those who came forward and did their “civic duties.”

She said that the CoI’s “lone star” is Assistant Registration Officer Alexandra Bowman, who must be commended for her bravery.

Additionally, she singled out Rosalinda Rasul, who served as an elections observer for the American Chamber of Commerce Guyana (AmCham), who had provided the CoI with “on-the-ground” evidence of what happened during the elections.

“… She was clearly a witness who was intelligent, articulate, [and] familiar with the process. In terms of hours spent at the sites in question. She was there for almost all of

it. She had a large body of contemporaneous material which she had documented from 2020.

“ She had recorded times when things occurred and I think she gives a good starting point to look at the evidence,” Chote said.

She said that “two juggernauts” in the political race - PPP/C and APNU+AFC both had Statements of Poll (SOPs).

According to Chote, everything went well until March 4, 2020, when Mingo did not show up to the command centre to restart the counting of the votes.

“There is no word from him. There is no account for his absence. There is no indication as to when he will be there…

What we then have is a convoluted process of delay, changes in procedure, a lack of transparency, a lack of accountability and deliberate manipulation of the process to make it as opaque as possible,” she said.

Tracking back through the evidence, Chote said that Rasul told the CoI that Myers had informed everyone that Mingo was ill.

However, shortly after Myers returns and said that Mingo is “feeling better” and that the tabulation process will restart upon his arrival.

“What happens over the next two days is quite frankly, nothing short of bizarre. Don’t think any other would appeal to the mind of a reasonable person looking back. There’s really no reasonable and lawful explanation for what took place over the next two days,” she said to the commissioners.

DANGEROUS

In her comprehensive submission, she said that there was so much compassion, and physical capacity for transparency at the com-

“Nobody with legal authority intervenes to try to get this train back on track. No, but what we have instead, to say what [had] gone from bizarre to absurd… [was] for an Attorney General, who is a legal adviser to the then government to say to all those who guarded, be it international and otherwise, that these numbers are subjective is nothing short of absurd.

mand centre, but “the actions of those who wanted to pervert the court of law, turning GECOM into a dark and opaque place... could have led to very serious consequences for this country.

“I hope those who decided to take such actions as they did have by now recognised how dangerous what they did was to the legal and social and moral fabric of Guyana,” she underscored.

Turning her attention back to Mingo, who had vacated his duties, Chote said there was a broken line of authority from Lowenfield and his deputy, Myers, who kept interfering with the independent process.

Among other things, she said that there was “little cohesion” between the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (retired) Claudette Singh and party commissioners.

On the issue of the infamous flash drive’ fiasco, Chote said that Bowman testified about receiving the device from Livan with the pre-populated spreadsheet without her knowledge.

“There was a departure from the process and there was no explanation to the employee why this was done,” she said. Other witnesses testified to seeing Livan with the laptop and his computer.

The Trinidadian lawyer said that while reviewing the evidence she wondered why Former Attorney General Basil Williams did not

“The rights of voters, the rights of electors on that night were not protected by those legal entities and officials who had the authority to protect them,” Chote said.

The CoI commenced hearing back in November 2022.

According to the Terms of Reference, the commissioners will make recommendations as deemed fit and necessary to permit GECOM to discharge its statutory functions as prescribed by the Representation of the People Act.

Upon completion of the CoI, the commission will present “its report, findings and recommendations” to the President, in writing, within seven months.

Guyanese, after casting their votes on March 2, 2020, had to endure a fivemonth wait for the results of the elections, as they witnessed alleged unlawful acts and a slew of legal challenges.

During this time, the patience of the electorate was tested, as electors observed what were described as attempts by the then APNU+AFC administration to rip the democratic fabric of the nation with “delay tactics” which were openly criticised by Caribbean leaders and international observers.

It was only after the legal challenges and international intervention that a national recount of all votes cast was convened and the figures showed that the PPP/C had received 233,336 votes, while the APNU+AFC coalition got 217,920 votes.

- Chote assures as elections CoI closes; says commissioners should consider secondary evidence from the international community - final report to reach President within seven months

Senior Counsel Sophia Chote of Trinidad and Tobago

Bureau of Statistics to measure poverty levels using multidimensional method

THE Bureau of Statistics is now better positioned to measure poverty levels in Guyana using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), with the training of several staff members.

According to a press release, this recently concluded hands-on capacity-building exercise conducted at the Bureau’s headquarters in Georgetown was facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and will see Guyana utilising this method for the first time.

Previously, measurement of poverty levels in Guyana by the Bureau was primarily done using the Consumption Expenditure method, which utilises data on household expenditure. Other agencies have also used the income method which relies on household income data. However, in-

comes are often understated and therefore not the most reliable metric for poverty measurement.

According to facilitator of the training exercise and the UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Specialist, Rena-

ta Pardo, the MPI method is a complementary one which examines other dimensions to poverty which are not covered by monetary measures.

These include school attendance, educational

achievement, barriers of access to health services, unemployment, food insecurity and overcrowding in homes, among others.

While Guyana has a Multidimensional Poverty Index calculated at a

global stage, the specialist explained that there are dimensions of poverty that are unique to each country.

Ensuring that the participants of the training have a greater understanding of those dimensions was

therefore a main aspect of the exercise, the release stated before noting that this will now allow for the design and computation of the country’s first Multidimensional Poverty Index at a national level.

Meanwhile, Chief Statistician, Errol La Cruez, highlighted the important role of the Bureau of Statistics in providing accurate, quality, and timely data and analysis that is vital for policy and decision makers to construct plans and interventions that reduce poverty, promote development and improve people’s quality of life.

Therefore, this training and the subsequent measurement of poverty using the MPI would be very useful to all stakeholders in identifying areas for development and tracking progress in this regard, the release added.

Those who participated in the training exercise, which was facilitated by the UNDP

Welding works suspected cause of destructive Parika Market fire

- millions of dollars in goods destroyed

HUNDREDS of vendors were on Friday afternoon displaced after a fire destroyed a large section of the Parika Market.

According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), at 15:14hrs it received a report about the fire and five water tenders, one water bowser, and two support

vehicles from the Leonora, La Grange, Eccles, Campbellville, Central, and West Ruimveldt fire stations were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Some vendors and persons in the area have since said the Fire Service took more than one hour to respond.

Many of the vendors were seen running from the fiery blaze and shielding themselves from the thick black smoke. They had no choice but to leave all their belongings behind.

According to Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, who was at the scene, it is suspected that the fire might have been ignited after sparks from welding works that were being done in a section of the market came into contact with flammable substances.

“We understand but will have to confirm later that there was welding going on in the building and that sparks fell down into flammable substance. That is what we understand so far as to why this has happened,” he said.

Minister Benn reassured the vendors that officials from the government will be meeting with them shortly.

“We intend to meet with those who claim they have losses and make listings for consideration, evaluation and assessments and then we will take it from there,” he said, while adding that the issue must be approached in a systematic way.

As firefighters battled the blaze, they were forced to use water from the nearby Esse -

quibo River. During that time, vessels were unable to offload produce and passengers at the ferry stelling.

Head of the Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc) Halim Khan who was also at the scene, said that this will be a hard economic hit for the region.

“Everyone knows that the market here has been existing for decades. We have goldsmiths, we have all other persons selling electronics and everything is completely destroyed; and so everyone who sells in the market here, they have to start back from scratch,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement last night, the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R3CCI) said that it was saddened by the incident.

“The very unfortunate event will not only impact the purchase and sale of several products, but also has the potential for serious short-term financial impact on the vendors and the community,” the release said.

The organisation said it is “hopeful and confident” that the vendors will be able to get back up and running in short order. It also extended a helping hand to those affected before reiterating that fire safety reduces the risk

of injury and building-damage that fires cause.

R3CCI urged its members and businesses, especially

those in Region Three, to develop and implement firesafety protocols at their places of business.

Minister Robeson Benn at the scene (Ministry of Home Affairs photo)

Firefighters working to bring the fire under control (Ministry of Home Affairs photo)

Finance Minister urges international development partners to improve access to concessional financing

DURING his remarks at a regional panel discussion forum facilitated by the World Bank, Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh on Friday called on international development partners to improve access to concessional financing for the region.

He also noted that the Caribbean has to be prepared to think outside of the box and come up with creative solutions for building resilience through sustainable development financing, especially since the region faces the challenge of being peculiarly vulnerable.

A release from the Ministry of Finance stated that despite this vulnerability, the region “does not qualify for the typical treatment that low-income countries would be treated to in terms of debt relief, and consideration for concessional development financing.”

Regional finance and international banking representatives were part of the panel discussion, which was held under the theme, ‘Building resilience through sustainable development financing in the Caribbean’.

Alluding to Guyana’s economic history, which he noted is very similar to all of the Caribbean countries, Dr. Singh reminded that three decades ago, the country underwent economic hardship and was a heavily indebted poor

country with debt to GDP ratio at one time exceeding 600 per cent.

“We were spending more than 100 per cent of our revenue to service debt. We set about a task of restructuring the economy, opening and liberalising the economy, diversifying the productive sector and in particular, implementing a series of fiscal reforms aimed at restoring fiscal solvency to the country and restoring our status as a credit worthy country. We went through the whole HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) process. This was not at all easy by no stretch of the imagination,” the finance minister recalled. He noted that in many cases it took mobilising of international advocacy to help Guyana’s case,” he was quoted as saying.

Further, he said: “When we started the HIPC process, a fiscal window for HIPC eligibility didn’t exist and if you look at our debt vulnerability indicators….the debt vulnerability indicators in those days were defined based on external sustainability or balance of payments and our balance of payments did not meet the thresholds that were specified. They didn’t indicate that we would have qualified for HIPC but our fiscal position was so bad that we simply were not in a position to service these debts even if the external accounts indicated a slightly

less fragile situation,” Dr. Singh.

INDEBTEDNESS

He added that it took technical work and advocacy to convince the international community that something called the fiscal window under the HIPC debt relief initiative should be introduced in order to measure debt sustainability or unsustainability not only from the external perspective, but also from the fiscal perspective and Guyana subsequently qualified for HIPC debt relief under that fiscal window.

Against this backdrop, he noted that it is well known in the region that there is a serious problem with indebtedness and the region is not being treated with the seriousness that the matter deserves because of ‘the middleincome illusion’.

“ When we speak of sustainable development financing in the Caribbean we have to put this question of debt sustain-

NAREI donates plants to prison service

THE Guyana Prison Service’s “Grow More campaign” recently received trays of 20 pak choi and 10 trays of lettuce from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

According to NAREI in a press statement, the plants were presented to

the prison service’s training instructor, Shamaz Ally, by NAREI representative Daniel Chand at the Plant Nursery located at #63 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Ally expressed gratitude to NAREI for the donation, adding that it will further expand the prisons’

ability squarely on the front of the table. We have to accept and confront the reality that the Caribbean faces this peculiar vulnerability that has to be taken into account for the purposes of mobilising financing, both through new resources and also debt relief and the World Bank is uniquely placed and uniquely endowed with the intellectual assets to articulate this case in a rigorous way,” Dr. Singh emphasised.

Additionally, the minister pointed out that a lasting solution to the fiscal challenges faced in the region will not be achieved until the region is able to achieve productive diversification.

“So, there also has to be a conversation with the World Bank and with our other development partners on how we find a lasting solution to the challenges of limited opportunities for productive diversification. Many of our economies are pre -

dominantly tourism-based economies, Guyana has the good fortune of being a resource-based economy and we have a couple others in the room. We probably have more opportunities for diversification but a serious conversation has to be had about what are the investments that are needed to achieve viable diversification of the real sector in the Caribbean,” he added.

FINANCIAL INFLOWS

Further, the finance minister alluded to Guyana’s standing forest through which he reminded that government has mobilised a source of financial inflows for the country.

“The climate services that are provided by our standing forest are now being remunerated. We just got our carbon credits certified by the ART TREES Secretariat globally and we just sold [our] first batch of carbon credits in the global market place and we have planned to continue to do this so for the first time we are using a market-based mechanism to mobilize revenue from our standing forest. This is new and it is innovative. We need to continue to think about similar innovations across the region. Here again, the World Bank is uniquely placed to support us in this regard,” the Senior Finance Minister urged the forum.

Guyana received its first payment for carbon credits under an agreement with Hess Corporation, a United States Oil Company last month with HESS making a payment of US$75 million under the agreement that will be worth a minimum of US$750 million up to 2030. Two further payments of US$37.5 million each will be made during 2023, bringing the total amount programmed in the country’s 2023 National budget to US$150 million. The payment stemmed from government’s continued recognition of the important role that Guyana’s forests play in not only the development of the country, but in combatting climate change globally and was fostered through government’s groundbreaking Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.

On December 1, 2022, the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions announced the issuance of 33.47 million TREES credit to Guyana for the five-year period from 2016 to 2020. The Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) is a global initiative that seeks to incentivise the reducing of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), as well as restore forests and protect intact ones, the release noted.

agricultural sector. He further noted that inmates will cultivate the plants under the supervision of officers.

The inmates tend to the various farms operated by the GPS, which offers them practical farming knowledge. They are also exposed to theoretical lessons.

Inmates display some of the trays of pak choi and lettuce donated to the prison service

Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh makes a point during the panel discussion

GNBS recertifies R Sookraj Jewellery

Due to quality concerns for gold articles produced by local jewelers, some have joined the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Product Certification Scheme; among those jewelers, one is R. Sookraj Jewellery.

According to the GNBS, what began as a simple workshop in 1998, founded by Ramanand Sookraj, is now a family business certified by the GNBS to produce quality gold articles, including custom-made pieces, not only for locals but also for those visiting Guyana to experience its collective tourism product.

Sookraj began learning to craft jewellery at the age of 11 from an older goldsmith.

“The goldsmith work is what I can compare to a science project; the task of fitting tiny parts together to make something beautiful fascinated me, and that is what I fell in love with,” the jeweller said, adding:

“The goldsmith’s work is about using your hands to create new pieces. After seeing your work, it makes you want to create something special and different every time, so that’s why I really enjoy it. I also enjoy the praises when people

look at some of my creations and exclaim, Wow! This is beautiful!”

In 2018, the company was allowed to join the GNBS Product Certification Scheme, and Sookraj jumped on board without hesitation.

This programme provides third-party assurance that jewellery manufactured by certified gold jewellers conforms to requirements of the Guyana Standard, GYS 50:2022 Specification of Gold Articles (12 karats and 14 karats) and/or other normative documents.

The businessman noted that he was excited

TURN TO PAGE 18

R. Sookraj Jewelry Manager, Corena Sookraj (standing at centre) receiving certificates from GNBS Technical Officers, Rosmarie Liliah and Yan Yi Zhu

GNBS recertifies R Sookraj...

FROM PAGE 17

to pursue certification to show that small businesses can also attain quality benchmarks.

“All the other big jewellery companies moti -

vated us to be part of the big team that has been

certified, because customers feel reassured that they are getting quality for their money,” Sookraj related.

R. Sookraj Jewellery had its certification renewed on Friday by the GNBS, after first being certified in 2019. It has seen the many benefits of taking this step, including a significant boost in customer confidence and sales.

With the regular influx of visitors to Guyana, and the highly anticipated Republic celebrations just around the corner, R. Sookraj Jewellery, with its sales outlet in the busy Giftland Mall, is looking to engage with its clients to create custom-made pieces to their liking.

Among the certified designs offered by the jewellery establishment are intricate filigree pieces formed from a delicate manipulation of thin strips of metal woven and twisted for incredible texture and detail.

The businessman stated that his business can produce any jewellery, and has even incorporated a 3D printer into its operations to increase efficiency.

Further, he said that prices are set based on accurate tests and the percentage of gold in the products, and with certification, fewer persons are questioning the prices for the jewelry.

He advised other jewellers to pursue certification to the National Standard.

“I would advise every business in Guyana to get certified with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, because customers will be assured that they are receiving quality for their money, and because it’s very good for the business in general,” he said.

The GNBS also certifies PVC pipes, hollow concrete blocks, and bathtub and shower units based on National Standards.

Taylor in doubt as West Indies women opener looms

CMC – Former captain Stafanie Taylor’s involvement in West Indies Women’s crucial Twenty World Cup

not featured for almost five months, also missing England Women’s tour of the Caribbean last December, and captain Hayley

park. Everyone wants to 100 per cent be out there and playing.

“And like I mentioned before, [we’re] hopeful

wake of veteran all-rounder Deanra Dottin’s international retirement last year.

With Taylor one of several first team players sidelined by injury during the Tri-Nations Series here, selectors were forced to turn to the Under-19 side for replacements.

And they have gone for the Under-19 World Cup trio of Zaida James, Trishan Holder, and Djenaba Joseph in their 15-member squad, hoping to rejuvenate the unit.

“I think we would have seen some of them progress through that Under-19 World Cup and we felt like it was the right time to bring some young players in and [it] gives them a really good opportunity not only to be here, but to learn from this experience as well,” Matthews explained.

“I think we definitely had a lot to learn from last series [against England],” said Matthews.

“But at the same time, we’ve got the opportunity now for a lot of our players who’ve previously done well against England to be back in the set-up, which I think is a really good opportunity for us to go there and play a really good game.”

She added: “It’s going to be really good for us that we can get out there and have a strong group of players to pick from.

“And obviously the prospects of Staf hopefully coming back in that first game tomorrow is going to be something really good to see.”

SQUADS:

opener against England Women remains in doubt late Friday, as the batting leader continued to struggle to recover from injury which ruled her out of last month’s Tri-Nations Series.

The 31-year-old has

Matthews said while she was hopeful over the Jamaican’s return for Saturday’s contest, a decision was yet to be made by tour management.

“I think we’re still monitoring her at the moment,” Matthews told a media conference here.

“Obviously, the medical people as well as the coaches are keeping a close eye on her. Obviously, we’d love to have her out there, but still day-today decisions that we have to make on that.”

She continued: “I think everyone’s ready to get out there and get on to the

that she’s going to be ready. But if it comes down to a case where she doesn’t end up being in the 11, we have multiple other players that are ready to get out there and get going.”

Taylor was included in the final squad for the tournament but missed both official warm-up games earlier this week as she continued to battle for fitness.

She is the side’s most experienced batsman, averaging nearly 36 from 111 T20 Internationals and taking 98 wickets, and her absence has proven difficult to fill, especially in the

“So you might be able to see one or two of them throughout the World Cup. And yeah, like I said, just a great learning experience for them being here.”

West Indies were whitewashed 5-0 by England Women in December and lost all four matches in the Tri-Nations Series, and will be desperate to break their wretched international losing streak.

They will also be hoping to make amends for their 2020 T20 World Cup campaign in Australia when they won just a single group stage match, to miss out on the semi-finals.

WEST INDIES WOMEN – Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams

ENGLAND WOMEN – Heather Knight (captain), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt.

IN DOUBT: Former captain Stafanie Taylor battling for fitness

‘Tage’ is 10th WI batter to convert 1st ton into a ‘double’

By Sean Devers

SINCE 1877 when the first Test was played in Australia, 19 father/son pairs have been involved at the highest level but for the first time in the long and rich history of Test cricket, a son has matched his father by scoring a double century.

When West Indies opening batter Tagenarine Chanderpaul scored an unbeaten 207 against Zimbabwe, he and his father became the only father/son pair in the world to achieve the feat of both scoring a Test ‘double.’ The 26-year-old Tagenarine, known to his friends as ‘Brandon,’ scored his double recently against Zimbabwe, while his father Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored an unbeaten 203 on his captaincy debut against South Africa on his home ground, GCC Bourda, in 2005 . Tage, who made 15 in the second innings to take his aggregate to 382 from three Tests at an Average to 76.40, is one of only 10 West Indian batters that converted their made maiden century into a double.

Sir Garfield Sobers converted his first hundred into a record breaking triple century when he made 375 against Pakistan at Sabina Park in Jamaica in 1958.

Sobers’ record lasted until Brian Lara broke it against England in 2004.

Jamaican Lawrence ‘Yagga’ Rowe converted his first

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

bats for Guyana

(Sean

ton into 214 and followed it up with an even 100 in the second innings of his debut Test, while Bajan Kyle Mayers is the only other West Indian to convert a debut hundred into a ‘double’ when he made 210 against Bangladesh last year.

Brian Lara’s first of his 34 centuries was made against Australia in 1993 while Rohan Kanhai’s first double (256) was made against India in India in 1958. Kanhai’s 256 in 1958 is the highest Test score by a West Indian against India.

Sherwin Campbell’s first ton was converted in 208 in

Barbados against New Zealand in 1996; Seymour Nurse’s first century was 258 against New Zealand in New Zealand in 1969 while Dennis Atkinson converted his first century into 219 against Australia in Barbados in 1955.

Guyana’s Faoud Bacchus’ first ton was converted into a double before he was dismissed in bizarre fashion. Bacchus, when on 250, hit off-spinner Shivaramakrisna Venkataraghavan for six, only to hit his wicket while completing the shot.

Bacchus’ feat was accomplished on the 1979 tour of India when Alvin Kallicharran led a second string side to the sub-continent while Guyana’s Clive Lloyd was leading an almost full strength West Indies side that played in the Kerry Packer Super-Test Series in Australia.

Tagenarine also joined 30 other West Indians to score a double century with four of those going on to register triple centuries.

Lara’s nine scores of over 200 is the most by a West Indian and only behind Australia’s Sir Donald Bradman (12) and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakara (11) while Lara is the only batter to breach the 400 mark which he made against England in 2004.

Gordon Greenidge has four double centuries (226, 223, 214, & 213) while Sir Vivian Richards (291, 232 & 208) and Chris Gayle (333, 317 & 208)

have three doubles each.

Kanhai (250 & 217), Ramnaresh Sarwan (291 & 261), Panama- born Sir George Headley (270 & 223), Sir Everton Weeks (207 & 206) and Sir Frank Worrell (261 & 237) have in excess of 200 runs twice in Test cricket.

Clifford Roach, Conrad Hunte, Seymour Nurse, Denis Atkinson, Basil Butcher, Clyde Walcott, Bacchus, Wavell Hinds, Jimmy Adams, Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Kraigg Braithwaite, the present West Indies captain, have also scored a ‘double’ during their careers.

Since making his firstclass debut in 2013 against the Leewards in Antigua, Tagenarine has scored 3226 runs with seven centuries and 12 fifties from 54 matches with a highest score of 207* and an average of 37.95.

Tage Chanderpaul is among eight Guyanese batters with double centuries with Kanhai (2), Sarwan (2), Bacchus (1) Butcher 1 (209*), Shiv Chanderpaul (1), Lloyd (1) and Hooper (1) achieving the land mark.

Tagenarine, who bowled right-arm leg-spin and left-arm orthodox at U-15 level, is now at the start of his Test career and has the right temperament to score ‘big’ runs.

Can he develop the burning desire to keep improving his craft with hard work and dedication and be consistent?

These were the hallmarks

Poor pitch conditions force Guyana vs Montserrat game to Barbados

The 2022-2023 Concacaf Nations League March 28 match between Guyana and Montserrat will be held at Wildey Turf Stadium, Wildey, Barbados.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has confirmed that the League B, Group B Match #99 will kick-off at 19:00 (7 p.m.) local time (19:00 ET).

The decision to move the match from Guyana to Barbados was approved by

CONCACAF following a thorough review of facilities here, including the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

The GFF General Secretary Ian Alves in a letter to CONCACAF explained that the pitch at Leonora is in poor condition “inclusive of sparse grass coverage in many areas.”

“The stadium authorities have recently treated the grass for infestation,

which makes it possibly injurious to the health of players. This situation would have to be monitored and evaluated in a few weeks to ascertain the reduction or total removal of this threat,” the letter added.

Guyana is second on the table behind Haiti in the 2022-2023 CONCACAF Nations League.

The Golden Jaguars will also play Bermuda

on March 24 which the Bermuda Football Association has expressed its willingness to host, Alves confirmed.

In early January, the Senior Men’s National Team resumed training with Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz at the GFF’s National Training Centre, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Guyana must win both matches to qualify for the Gold Cup.

of his father, one of eight West Indies batters to average above 50. His dad’s 164 Tests are the most by any West Indian while his 30 centuries and 11,867 runs, is only behind Lara’s 34 tons and 11,912 runs.

If Tagenarine, who lives with his mother Annelie in Guyana, can inculcate his

father’s attitude to batting into his game, he could have a long and successful ‘red ball’ career.

Matching his father’s stats will be hard for any West Indian to achieve especially with the low number of Tests played by West Indies now.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Friday, February 10, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Jimmy Adams - 101* (Jamaica, 2000)

(2) Andy Flower - 113* (Trinidad, 2000)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who is the first WI bowler to take a five-wicket haul against ZIM in Tests?

(2) Who is the first ZIM bowler to take a five-wicket haul against the WI in Tests?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Devers photo)

Sir Gary Sobers converted his first ton into a record 365 in Jamaica

Sixteen teams for Republic’s ‘Beach Soccer’ tournament in Linden

By Joe Chapman

SIXTEEN teams

drawn from several communities across Region 10, Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice are slated to contest the Republic Classic Beach Foot -

ball Tournament.

The tournament is being organised by the Pinnacle Promotions from February 26 through to March 7 at the Christianburg Community Centre ground, Linden.

According to orga-

nizer Collis Gifth, the aim is to ensure the calendar in Linden is inclusive and caters to all genres of entertainment; sports being an important category for the mining town.

Gifth said “With the reintroduction of con-

tact sports following a two-year long halt as a result of COVID-19, there has been the hosting of a plethora of tournaments catering to many disciplines of sports, however beach football has not taken a prominent role in

Jordan produces four-wicket burst to seal Pride win over scorpions

captain Paul Palmer for only one, the lefthander dragging on a drive at a wide delivery.

Seamer Shamar Springer (2-38) hit Aldaine Thomas in front for three and Jordan then claimed his fourth when he had Abhijai Mansingh caught at the wicket without scoring, the right-armer ending with match figures of seven for 113.

CMC – Fast bowler

Akeem Jordan produced a devastating four-wicket burst to set up Barbados

Pride’s six-wicket victory over Jamaica Scorpions inside three days here Friday.

The 28-year-old snatched four for 65 to wipe out the top order as Scorpions, resuming the morning at Coolidge Cricket Ground on six without loss in their second innings, crumbled meekly for 151.

At one stage, the in-

nings tottered on 56 for seven before rookie opener Kirk McKenzie, who top-scored with 56, staged a fightback in a 50-run, eighth-wicket stand with Ojay Shields (22) and number 10, Gordon Bryan, chimed in with a breezy 42.

Left with an uncomplicated 77 for victory, Pride still lost four wickets before overhauling their target, opener Zachary McCaskie top-scoring with 26 and left-arm spinner Patrick Harty picking up three for 26.

A premature end to the contest was not on the cards when Scorpions resumed with all 10 wickets intact but the rattle started from as early as the second ball of the day when Jordan bowled Leroy Lugg before the right-hander added to his overnight two.

In his next over – the third of the morning –Jordan accounted for Lugg’s opening partner Tevin Gilzene (9), taken at cover off a leading edge at 19 for two before sending back

The left-handed McKenzie, in his third first class match, counter-attacked in a 78-ball knock that included four fours and three sixes before becoming one of three wickets to fall to pacer Jair McAllister (3-35).

Bryan also frustrated Pride, lashing seven fours off 78 balls before he was last out.

McCaskie then got Pride up to 54 for one courtesy of two 27-run partnerships; Harty triggering a collapse that saw three wickets tumble for nine runs before the reigning champions got over the line.

Organiser, Collis Gifth

this reintroduction in Linden and nationally. This absence has certainly created a high level of excitement amongst the beach football community inclusive of players and fanatics. In this regard, the decision to host such a tournament will reinvigorate that enthusiasm locally.”

This Republic Classic football tournament, Gifth offered, was designed to give players and fans the opportunity to enjoy one of the most in -

vigorating forms of football in an organized and competitive setting, sharing fabulous sportsmanship moments together. Teams will represent such communities like Timehri, Kuru Kuru, Yarrokabra, Kwakwani, Ituni, Aroima, Coomaka Mines and other communities in Region 10, Linden, and the competition has the support of the Guyana Football Federation, according to Gifth.

UDCA male T20 set for today

THE Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) will start its male T20 cricket competition today with three matches at two venues in the Upper Demerara area.

Today, Coomacka and Malali will square off from 9.30hrs in a Group A match while over at the Ituni ground, the hosts will play West Watooka from 10.00 hrs.

The third game planned will see a Group B fixture where Young Achievers take on Royal Champions from

13.00hrs at the Maria Elizabeth ground.

Tomorrow, there is one game planned for the day as Yariah face Aroiama at the Maria Elizabeth ground from 10.00hrs.

The eight-team competition is divided into two groups with Group A having malali, Coomacka, West Watooka and Ituni while group B has Royal Champions, Young Achievers, Aroiama and Yaria.

This competition will continue at various venues next Saturday and Sunday. (Joe Chapman)

Fast bowler Akeem Jordan.

Harpy Eagles require 259 for win

CMC – GREENHORN

pacer Shamar Joseph grabbed his maiden firstclass five-wicket haul to hurt Windward Islands Volcanoes and leave Guyana Harpy Eagles with a tricky but achievable run chase on Saturday’s final day of their second-round match in the Regional Four-Day Championship.

The 22-year-old ended with five for 41, a spell which sent the hosts crashing to 168 all out in their second innings on day three at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada.

Fast bowler Ronsford Beaton, a 30-year-old who played two One-Day Internationals for the West Indies six years ago, supported with three for 35.

Set a challenging 294 to win, Harpy Eagles navigated their way safely to the close, finishing on 35 without loss

with Justin Greaves – who struck two fours off 61 balls – to add an important 37 for the fourth wicket.

Greaves’s demise, taken behind off the seventh delivery after lunch from Joseph, led to a slide where four wickets went down for 28 runs – the enterprising Joseph accounting for every scalp.

ricanes finished the day on 243 for seven with Carty stroking 95 and out-of-favour West Indies all-rounder Rahkeem Cornall chipping in with 33 not out.

Carty held together his side’s top order in an innings which required 205 balls and just over 5-½ hours, and included five fours and three sixes.

Pierre (2-51) and skied a simple return catch, becoming one of three wickets to fall for 25 runs.

Cornwall then struck a four and two sixes in a 68ball innings, inspiring an important 43-run, unbroken eighth wicket partnership with Hayden Walsh Jr (18 not out).

to put up a fight for the Guyana Harpy Eagles

Nandu will start today looking

– requiring a further 259 on the final day.

Chandrapaul Hemraj retired on three with as many on the board but 19-year-old opener Matthew Nandu (18 not out) and Tevin Imlach (13 not out) combined to see off the Volcanoes’ late salvo.

Resuming on 48 for two, Volcanoes lost wick -

ets steadily and had to be propped up by two partnerships. Kavem Hodge failed to add to his overnight 13, falling to the day’s second delivery with one run added to the total, edging a beauty from Beaton to be taken at the wicket.

Ambris, unbeaten on 18 overnight, then combined

Preston McSween (25) and Kenneth Dember (15) added a crucial 30 for the ninth wicket to lift their side from the peril of 129 for eight.

At the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, West Indies white-ball batsman Keacy Carty missed out on a third first-class hundred as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force took control of their contest against Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Replying to the visitors’ 418 for nine declared, Hur-

Tiger Rentals under-13

After Kieran Powell perished for one with five on the board in the fifth over, Carty posted 47 for the second wicket with Montcin Hodge (23), 61 for the second wicket with Kofi James (23), 35 for the fourth wicket with captain Jahmar Hamilton (15) and a further 27 for the fifth wicket with Terrance Warde (21).

The 25-year-old was in sight of triple figures when he heaved recklessly at left-arm spinner Khary

Earlier, Imran Khan endured his share of frustrations when he missed out on a second first class hundred, dismissed for 92 after resuming the morning on 67 with Red Force on 368 for eight in their first innings.

All told, he struck 11 fours off 139 deliveries in a shade over three hours, stretching his ninth wicket stand with Pierre (33 not out) to 65 before holing out to deep mid-wicket off left-arm seamer Colin Archibald (3-111).

Four matches today at Providence

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ Tiger Rentals Guyana under-13 football intiatiative continues today at the National Training Center (NTC) Providence with two matches from 10:30hrs in National inter-association/club leg.

This will be match day four ans in the first match, West Berbice will clash with East Coast while East Berbice will Bartica in the second match.

Upper Demerara and East Bank will match skills in game three while West Demerara will be pitted against Georgetown in a very much anticipated encounter.

Match-day three of the inter-association/club leg of the Tiger Rentals Guyana sponsored GFF National under-13 development football initiative saw Georgetown and East Coast ATCs going top of the points table with seven points each.

Tiger Rentals under-13

Poor pitch conditions force Guyana vs Montserrat game to Barbados

Matthew