Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 11-03-2023

US$35.4M contract signed to make ‘one card’ system a reality

–– President Ali says ISO certified, ICAO accepted card will reduce the cost of doing business, improve effectiveness, competitiveness, efficiency

YET another milestone has been reached to bring the vision of a single electronic identification card for all government and business transactions to reality, as a US$35.4 million contract was signed between Germany-based company, Veridos and the Government of Guyana, on Friday.

The implementation of the single electronic identification card allows for the issuance of work permits and resident identification through a more coordinated approach that will see holders of the registration numbers using that single identification for all transactions, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali said during a simple

signing ceremony at State House.

The government embarked on this process in October 2021, and sought the support of the United Arab Emirates.

Since then, two companies submitted prototypes which were assessed by technical teams from Guyana’s National Data Man-

agement Authority (NDMA) and the Office of the National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Advisor.

Yet another milestone has been reached to bring the vision of a single electronic identification card for all government and business transactions to reality, as a US$35.4 million contract was signed between Germany-based company, Veridos and the Government of Guyana (Office of the President photo)

Stop mischievous, misleading attempts to incite racial tensions

–– Joint Services Chairman says after Ogunseye calls for public disorder, resistance –– AG urges

not to ignore dangerous threats to strike the foundation of freedom

52 Essequibo residents receive steel, cement subsidy

–– beneficiaries eager to build their houses after receiving much-needed assistance

By Indrawattie Natram

HAPPY faces were seen in the audience at the Ministry of Housing and Water’s outreach in Region Two, where Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, announced that 52 persons

will be benefitting from the government’s cement and steel subsidy.

Addressing a large gathering at State House in Region Two, Minister Croal said that $15 million was disbursed to the beneficiaries.

Through the steel and

cement initiative, Guyanese constructing homes to the tune of $6 million and below could benefit from 80 lengths of ½ inch steel rods, 60 lengths 3/8 inch steel rods, and one sling of cement, while builders with estimates of above $6 million-$25

million will benefit from two slings of cement.

It was at the opening of International Building Expo 2022, that President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, first announced the government’s plan to put the programme in place to continue the government’s aggressive agenda of making homeownership more affordable, and to boost the quality of life of Guyanese.

The programme is part of several initiatives and programmes by the government to support the aggressive housing drive all across the country.

The government has pledged to provide 50,000 house lots by 2025, and is well on target to reaching that goal, having allocated over 20,000 house lots over the past two years,

in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine, and 10.

“Today, this initiative by your President and government is a support to help our citizens to fast track and cushion their infrastructure cost, help you with your foundation… the cement and steel initiative will see the injection of $15 million on the first 52 beneficiaries for Region Two” Croal said.

He said that his ministry, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), started in Region Four and continued to Region Two. The plan is to continue the roll out of this programme in various regions across the country.

“By the time we finish in March, it is expected that we will have close to 500 beneficiaries across the coastland region to

benefit,” Minister Croal said.

HAPPY FACES

Meanwhile, those persons who received the subsidy expressed profound gratitude to the President and the Ministry of Housing and Water for the much needed assistance.

One young beneficiary, Reneeta Latchman, said that she was very happy that she received the subsidy.

She is currently living in Lima and said that she has started building her house. The subsidy will assist her to take this project a far way. Latchman said that she thinks the subsidy is a positive move by the government.

Jeffery Bridgemohan of Queenstown village was also thankful. He said that he was happy to be in

the first set of beneficiaries to get the subsidy.

Nikoloi Nicholson, a father of two from Dartmouth Village in Region Two, expressed gratitude also. He said that, as a young parent, the subsidy will help him and he would be able to better allocate his financial resources.

Andrew Moore, a father of four children from Lima, said he was very thankful for the subsidy and thanked President Ali for helping people build their houses.

Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, said that she was glad that her region was benefitting from the subsidy.

She said that the region was going through massive infrastructural development and the subsidy came at an opportune time.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, presents one of the vouchers

A section of the gathering at the Ministry of Housing and Water’s outreach

US$35.4M contract signed to make ‘one card’ system a reality

–– President Ali says ISO

YET another milestone has been reached to bring the vision of a single electronic identification card for all government and business transactions to reality, as a US$35.4 million contract was signed between Germany-based company, Veridos and the Government of Guyana, on Friday.

The implementation of the single electronic identification card allows for the issuance of work permits and resident identification through a more coordinated approach that will see holders of the registration numbers using that single identification for all transactions, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali said during a simple signing ceremony at State House.

The government embarked on this process in October 2021, and sought the support of the United Arab Emirates.

Since then, two companies submitted prototypes which were assessed by technical teams from Guyana’s National Data Management Authority (NDMA) and the Office of the National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Advisor.

Veridos was the company that presented the best solution for Guyana.

Dr. Ali said the company is partly owned by the Federal Government of Germany, and a company that also prints currency.

The collaboration was facilitated by His Royal Highness, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum of the UAE.

In the Head of State’s view, the card will not only enhance the ease of transactions, but it will

also be one of the most technologically advanced systems.

He said that the cards will be compliant with 18013-5 of the ISO standard and will be accepted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for international travel.

The new electronic identification system, the President explained, would revolutionise how business is done in Guyana and, with its advanced security system, it will eliminate the need for certain documents.

“Through this card, the banking sector now can have fingerprint veri-

fication and validation of the person who’s before them. So, the need for proof of address and all the audit documentation is eliminated. The cost of doing business, the effectiveness, the competitiveness, the efficiency will all improve as a result of this technology,” Dr. Ali said.

The President said that the card’s capabilities are also in keeping with his government’s commitment to promote e-governance to improve the productivity of businesses and the delivery of government services through the introduction of e-health, e-education, e-security, e-agriculture,

electronic permit, and licence processing among other areas.

He said that the enhancement is necessary because there is an immediate need to implement a robust national identity management system that focuses on the integration of identification services across government agencies, security, ease of use, and acquisition of IDs.

“This ID system would improve access to all citizen-centric Government services and benefit the citizens, private sector and Government alike. This will bring us in line with solutions used by the most developed economies, and

services, the system will also benefit the private sector.

“So, the cost of doing business, the effectiveness, the competitiveness, the efficiency all improved as a result of this technology,” Dr. Ali reasoned.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

He said too that the system will adhere to the highest level of international standards.

“The system allows the capture of individuals’ biographical and biometric information based on international standards and stores it to provide identity-based services to individuals and other government offices. The ID and resident cards are laser engraved, black and white technology with secure, pre-printed designs and devices for a stateof-the-art polycarbonate document, which includes a chip that can integrate a variety of services to the individual,” the Head of State said.

position Guyana to be a competitive sphere in a world that is advancing drastically along a technological landscape,” Dr. Ali said.

The system and, by extension, the cards, according to the President, will also allow for the issuance of work permits and resident identification.

“E-ID systems promote the idea of one citizen, one identity by assigning a unique national registration number to each citizen for use by all government agencies,” Dr. Ali said.

The Head of State also noted that, in addition to improving government

The President said the system and software will be tailored for Guyana and will include implementation services, training of administrators and operators, local help desk support and 60 months of support and maintenance. The project is expected to have a 12-month implementation period.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar were also at the signing ceremony.

certified, ICAO accepted card will reduce the cost of doing business, improve effectiveness, competitiveness, efficiency

Yet another milestone has been reached to bring the vision of a single electronic identification card for all government and business transactions to reality, as a US$35.4 million contract was signed between Germany-based company, Veridos and the Government of Guyana (Office of the President photo)

WPA threatens to wage war on Joint Services

A SENIOR member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has threatened to incite violence in Guyana by waging war on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

The member was at the time speaking during a public meeting at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, on Sunday.

“A time is going to come in this country, very soon, when we will test our brothers and sisters…They will have to make up their minds

whether they live with us or whether they live with the PPP (People’s Progressive Party). And they can shoot us down and we will shoot them back,” he said.

The WPA member had a strong message to the servicemen and women, which was aimed at creating public discord in Guyana and among Guyanese.

“We want them to be crystally clear and if the police and the army allow themselves to be used to slaughter African people, we will wage a war against

them,” he said, as he urged his supporters to “spread the message.”

Previously, President, Dr Irfaan Ali had called out the opposition for the use of propaganda of race and division.

“Your political narrative of using race as your mobilising tool has come to an end! Game over!” President Ali had said, adding: “We are going to destroy it, and bury it in the ground. As President, I am going to work in every single community.”

The President called on Guyanese to recognise that

his government is intent on embracing every citizen on development.

“Many persons who are seeing and working with us on this massive agenda in these very communities are being ridiculed,” the Head of State said, urging those persons to remain committed to their community’s development.

Recently, the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., called out the People’s National Congress Reform-led A Partnership

for National Unity (PNC/RAPNU) party for using the ‘race card’ to mislead its supporters into hindering development in Guyana.

The Attorney-General said that such behaviours from political leaders must not be condoned when they attempt to convert these issues into political and ethnic ones by manufacturing scandals.

Mayor Ubraj Narine, of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan

are currently before the court for allegedly attempting to incite racial and ethnic disunity in Guyana.

United States-based Guyanese and Opposition-aligned Rickford Burke is wanted in Guyana for the incitement of hostility or ill-will on the grounds of race in violation of the Racial Hostility Act, sedition, and use of a computer system to intimidate in violation of the Cyber Crime Act, seditious libel, inciting a breach of the peace, and inciting public terror.

Stop mischievous, misleading attempts to incite racial tensions

Joint Services Chairman says after Ogunseye calls for public disorder, resistance

–– AG urges Guyanese not to ignore dangerous threats to strike the foundation of freedom

CHAIRMAN of the Joint Services, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, has called on social and political activists and commentators to refrain from making remarks which would incite racial tensions and deviate from the promotion of the peace and security, which the armed forces are mandated to maintain.

His statement was part of a direct response to Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member, Tacuma Ogunseye, who said recently: “The Afro Guyanese dominated police and soldiers... would stand with Afro Guyanese in resisting the mainly Indo-Guyanese supported PPP/C.”

Ogunseye, in an address to persons at Buxton, also said: “We come to tell you that we will ensure that our brothers and sisters in uniform do the right thing and this thing will be over quickly.”

Brigadier Bess, in his response, reminded the citizens of Guyana that irrespective of its ethnic composition, the Joint Services of Guyana is an apolitical institution and will continue to uphold the noble position of service to the people of Guyana.

“It is guided by the con-

stitution which mandates it to stand firm in the protection of the law and in the execution of its duties, in keeping with its constitutional responsibilities, and not by any partisan values and interests,” the Joint Services Chairman said.

Further, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C., who is also Secretary of the Defence Board, said: “I feel compelled to condemn in the strongest possible terms, the exhortations by Tacuma Ogunseye to the Armed Forces of Guyana to join a mass uprising against the lawful and democrati-

cally elected Government of Guyana, referencing the Forces’ “ready access to weapons”, for them to be “battle ready”, and preying to the dominant Afro-Guyanese composition of the said Forces.”

Nandlall related that this “racist incendiary call” for public disorder and resistance, positioned as an alternative to the democratic process of Local Government Elections lawfully due, is capable of amounting to several criminal offences, including but not limited to sedition, seditious libel, inciting riotous behaviour and exciting racial hostility in order to create a breakdown of law and order within the State of Guyana, if not treason.

“Certainly, such inflammatory publications cannot be justified under the rubric of freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution, since Article 146 which guarantees such freedom, expressly excepts “…hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against

any person or class of persons” [Article 146 (3)],” the Attorney-General said.

He went on to say: “The unvarnished truth is that persons such as Tacuma Ogunseye and those of his ilk are of a bygone era, stuck in a time warp long

gone, and which have no place in modern Guyana, and indeed, in any modern democratic society. Nevertheless, we cannot become complacent and ignore these dangerous threats intended to strike at the foundation of the freedoms we enjoy and the rule of law, which protects us as a civilised nation.

Considering the seriousness of the utterances of Ogunseye, the Attorney General called on all right-thinking citizens to echo their voices against such perilous rhetoric, and said that the law enforcement agencies are obliged to take such action as they deem necessary.

“History has shown that when such conduct is ignored, it inspires the perpetrators with greater boldness to public detriment,” Nandlall lamented.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has said before that there

are persons who are bent on disrupting the efforts underway to unite Guyana and create opportunities for all Guyanese.

“[There has been] the use of propaganda, of race and the propaganda of division so intensely in their political work that the sight of ministers of government working in every community and destroying that narrative… is really hitting them hard,” Dr. Ali had said.

The Head of State went on to say: “Your political narrative of using race as your mobilising tool has come to an end! Game over! We are going to destroy it, and bury it in the ground. As President, I am going to work in every single community.”

The President called on Guyanese to recognise that his government is intent on embracing every citizen on development.

Chairman of the Joint Services, Brigadier Godfrey Bess

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

An Attractive Country

IN recent years, Guyana has been attracting significant attention from investors worldwide.

With a rapidly growing economy, abundant natural resources, and a government committed to promoting local and international investment, Guyana presents a unique opportunity for those seeking to expand their business interests in the region.

The discovery of significant oil reserves off the coast of Guyana has been a game-changer for the country’s economy. Since the first major oil discovery in 2015, several more fields have been found, with estimates suggesting that Guyana could eventually become one of the world’s top oil producers.

This has attracted significant interest from major oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Hess, and CNOOC, who have invested billions of dollars in developing the country’s oil industry.

But it’s not just oil that’s attracting investors to Guyana. The country is also rich in other natural resources, including gold, diamonds, and tim-

ber. In addition, Guyana’s location at the northern edge of South America makes it an attractive gateway to the wider Caribbean region.

The PPP administration has been actively promoting foreign investment, with initiatives aimed at streamlining the investment process and improving infrastructure to support economic growth. The country’s political stability and strong legal framework have also helped to reassure investors, while tax incentives and other financial benefits have made it an attractive destination for companies seeking to establish a foothold in the region.

Investments in Guyana have caused rapid work to build the necessary infrastructure to support the growth of new industries.

As the country continues to develop, we will likely see more and more investment flowing into Guyana, making it an increasingly important player in the global economy.

The President Irfaan Ali administration has made it clear that diversifying Guyana’s economy and expanding business ties with the United States,

Europe, the Middle East, and other regions is a top priority. To achieve this, the government has established a Diaspora Affairs Unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to encourage business ties with the Guyanese diaspora, particularly in the United States.

All companies operating in Guyana are required to physically register with the Registrar of Companies.

Newly registered businesses are encouraged to apply for a tax identification number (TIN) from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) immediately. Companies that employ Guyanese workers must comply with the National Insurance Scheme. Those operating in sectors requiring specific licences, such as oil and gas, telecommunications, forestry, mining, and banking, must obtain licences from the relevant authorities before commencing operations.

The Guyana Office for Investment, provides facilitation services to foreign investors, particularly in completing administrative formalities such as commercial registration and applications for land purchases or

leases.

Foreign and domestic investors have the same rights to purchase and lease land under the Status of Aliens Act. The Investment Act specifies that there should be no discrimination between foreign and domestic private investors or among foreign investors from different countries, and the authorities maintain that foreign investors have equal access to opportunities arising from the privatization of stateowned companies.

While the Government of Guyana is focused on attracting inward investment into Guyana, there are no restrictions for domestic investors to invest abroad.

Guyana has bilateral investment treaties with the United Kingdom, Germany, Cuba, China, Switzerland, South Korea, Indonesia, and several others.

The government’s emphasis on diversifying the economy and expanding business ties is encouraging and there is no doubt that Guyana has secured its place as a very attractive country.

Why would APNU/AFC falsify the nature of a simple handshake?

Dear Editor,

THE respected Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton, owes it to the People of Guyana to clarify why he apparently lied about the nature of his photo-op with Mr. Phillip Davis, the Prime Minister of Bahamas who also holds the position as Chair of CARICOM.

On March 3, APNU/AFC published a photo on its social media page of Mr. Norton and Mr. Davis together.

The only thing that seems to be happening in the photo is the PM gifting Mr. Norton a copy of “Cat Island,” a book authored by his son.

On March 6, an online media outfit, Caribbean Life, amplified APNU/AFC’s claim that Mr. Norton had travelled urgently to Nassau to “brief” the PM “on a range of issues relating to the racially-charged governance in Guyana.”

Caribbean Life, it appears, made zero effort to verify Mr. Norton’s spin. Its head-

line shouted: “Opposition says Guyana’s Indo-led government is starkly racist.”

On the other hand, credit must be given to Denis Chabrol of Demerara Waves for his effort to verify the claims with the Office of the Bahamian PM.

In his Saturday March 4 article, two days before Caribbean Life’s article was published online, Chabrol quoted Mr. Davis denying that he was briefed by Mr. Norton.

The PM said his meeting with Mr. Norton lasted between four to five minutes and said it was a courtesy handshake as a favour to a mutual friend. The PM also reiterated that he met with Mr. Norton as PM and not as the Chair of CARICOM.

Why would APNU/AFC, Mr. Norton and their echo-chamber go to such lengths to falsify the nature of a simple handshake?

Back to Caribbean Life’s spin, APNU/ AFC is determined to sell a lie to the international diplomatic community.

Anyone who is prepared to make a charge of racism ought to have a modicum

of decency to tell the truth, especially when a simple email to a sitting PM in the Caribbean region can clarify what occurred and didn’t occur in a meeting.

The writer believes that by repeating a tired lie often enough, sooner or later, some people will start believing it is true. The socalled evidence that the government of Dr. Irfaan Ali is racially targeting the PNC, pertains to the PNC’s headquarters in Lethem (Region Nine) — a building that the PNC has illegally occupied for 50 years.

The article in Caribbean Life claims that the PPP ordered the building to be demolished when, in fact, there is absolutely no proof the PPP issued any injunction to this effect. The claim is a lie. On the contrary, the PPP has offered to allocate land to the PNC, provided they apply.

Based on the 2018 Auditor General’s report - during the Presidency of the PNC’s Mr. David Granger - grave concerns were raised at the alarming number of properties that the PNC has illegally occupied, not

only in Region Nine but all across Guyana.

The article fails to mention that the PNC was served three notices by the REO of Region Nine with respect to the Lethem property. In 2021, a letter was sent to the former APNU/AFC minister, Amna Ally. Two additional letters were sent to the same party’s General Secretary, Geeta Chandan-Edmond.

The PNC failed to acknowledge the notices and is now claiming foul. It is a wellknown fact that the REOs of the regions that make up Guyana are the ones that often get slammed when they appear before the Public Accounts Committee, something that the article glossed over.

This particular property in Lethem was earmarked years ago for a health facility aimed at providing badly needed quality medical services to the deserving residents of Region Nine.

Yours respectfully, Nazim Baksh

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Observing International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month

Dear Editor,

ON Wednesday, March 8, 2023, Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing International Women’s Day under the United Nations’ theme: “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for gender equality.”

March is also Women’s History Month which was first observed in the United States in 1987 to commemorate and encourage the study of women’s contributions to history, culture and to appreciate the vital role of women in society.

Many did so acknowledging that there is still a long way to go but are mindful of the progress that has been made in relation to gender equality, women’s right to equal access to health care and education, and ending domestic violence and sexual abuse of women.

International Women’s Day provided an opportunity for all to reflect on what needs to be done to respect and treat women as equal partners. Spurred on by the universal female suffrage movement, International Women’s Day originated from the labour movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th Century.

It was first observed in the United States on February 28, 1908 in honour of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested poor and

inhumane working conditions and low wages.

Two years later, March 8, 1910, President William Howard Taft proclaimed International Women’s Day to be an annual celebration to recognise their achievements, embrace gender equity and improve the focus on women’s rights.

For years, women have been outperforming men in various fields and have achieved parity with men in terms of education and management performance; yet, they are denied equal participation in the realm of politics.

Today, many women are heads of companies and organizations but they remain the underdogs in society, which suggests that the theory of the glass ceiling is intact.

The solution to gender inequality must involve a set of mixed strategies that are critical to securing sustainable human development in the country, but the male dominated societies of the world have not fully adjusted to match this reality. However, women are hoping that the United Nations’ mandate of gender parity by 2030 will be achieved.

In terms of politics, women have not been accorded the opportunity to become leaders of the two major parties in Guyana. Since their formation more than six decades ago, these parties have been dominated

by men, who since Independence in May 1966, have become Head of State. Of the nine Presidents Guyana had, only one from the PPP/C was female despite the fact that women are 53 per cent of the country’s population.

Women should not only be appointed as ministers and head of sub-groups by their parties but as leaders as well. The private sector is also guilty of not promoting gender equality. Its record shows that the gender equality gap is wider than expected, which means that the old boys’ club mentality/network is not only unbroken, but it seems to be stifling the advancement of women in all sectors.

However, the promotion of gender equality must start in the schools where teaching should be expanded beyond the study of the administrative organs of the State, or the narrative of nationhood. Schools should emphasise women’s rights, and the role of women in the country’s history and culture in civic studies.

The curriculum ought to be expanded to include the role and status of women, gender equality and respect for women. The media which is considered the fourth estate should also promote gender equality,

women’s rights, and an end to domestic violence against women, and educate men to accept, respect and treat women as their equal.

Similarly, the government, churches, and organisations, and private and public sectors must take the lead in promoting gender equality and ending domestic violence and sexual abuse of women.

Today, the idea that men are still deemed the head of the household is troubling and has become a real challenge for women who manage the home equally with their male spouses. Since the turn of the 20th Century, women have been battling with this idea which has frustrated those who must choose between a family and a career.

This along with absentee fathers have been the real problem of parenting and for women to have a career outside the home.

Children are innocent and gullible and even though music is a huge part in their lives, parents, especially mothers, should not allow their children to listen to lewd and sexist lyrics. Unfortunately, the message from these vulgar lyrics is against gender equality and women’s rights.

While some progress has been made with the election of women to political office, and the appointments of heads of companies and organisations, much more needs to be done to close the gender equality gap.

All nations observing International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month in 2023 should ensure that all in society are

given equal opportunity to contribute so that each nation makes maximum use of all its human potential.

Helen Reddy’s song: “I am woman hear me roar,” should empower women and girls to achieve their goals and encourage men to respect them.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Asquith Rose

PSC honours eight women for ‘exceptional’ work in the private sector

THE Private Sector Commission (PSC), in observance of International Women’s Day, on Thursday, honoured eight women who made exceptional and dedicated commitment to the growth and development of the private sector.

Those who were recognised at a presentation ceremony held in the boardroom of the PSC are: Dr. Marie Correia, Chief Executive Officer of Correia & Correia Limited; Natasha Gaskin-Peters, Director of the Center for Local Business Development; Luanna Persaud, Country Director of Qualfon Guyana; Rowena Elliot, President of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Briony Tiwarie-Gabriel, Director of BK Group of Companies; Gomatie Gangadin, Public Relations Officer of Guyana Shore Base Inc.; Mona Bynoe, Project Coor-

dinator of Forest Products Association of Guyana, Onicka Jones, Public Relations

Officer of the Private Sector Commission.

During the ceremony,

Chairman of the PSC, Paul Cheong, expressed gratitude to the women for the tremendous contribution they have made to the business community and encouraged them to continue to demonstrate tenacity and leadership which will inspire confidence

in women and girls.

Similar sentiments were related by other members of the Executive Management Committee including Vice Chairman, Ryan Alexander; Corporate Coordinator, Manniram Prashad; Honorary Secretary, Ra -

mesh Dookhoo; President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Rafeek Khan, and Communication Consultant, Kit Nascimento. Over the years, the PSC has been encouraging more women to take on leadership roles.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC), in observance of International Women’s Day, on Thursday, honoured eight women who made exceptional and dedicated commitment to the growth and development of the private sector

There will be no shortage of laws, policies for gender equality, equity ––

Minister Teixeira says

MINISTER of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, has said that the government will continue to implement initiatives and policies that will advance the cause of gender equity and equality in Guyana.

The minister made those remarks at the launch of the inaugural Women in Law Enforcement Summit on Thursday.

During the launch, Teixeira said that the efforts made by the government continue to yield results as women continue to perform well and, in many cases, have been dominating certain sectors.

The country’s education, health, housing and political sectors have seen

rapid development which has been aided and even piloted by women.

Teixeira related that while much has been achieved in relation to gender equality, there are gaps that still exist for which collaborative effort is required.

Regarding the Guyana Police Force, she said that more could be done to further uplift women officers in the male-dominated field.

Minister Teixeira highlighted that a key issue faced by women in the Police Force is striking a balance between having to single-handedly manage their families and furthering their careers.

She said: “We can say as women that we are improving, that we are making

great strides and it is true we are. And that is because of constitution, laws, programmes, policy programmes that give women opportunities and choices of what they want to do.”

The minister went on to recognise the support that daycare facilities offer mothers in the Police Force, and added that the establishment of a night

Women urged to pursue leadership roles

MINISTER within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, has called on women and girls to take up leadership positions.

The minister made those remarks during the opening of the debates of the National Assembly of Girls which was hosted by the Parliament of Guyana as part of the International Women’s Day celebration.

During her remarks, Rodrigues said that, globally, women and girls have limited access to technology. Even as women make up more than

half of the population and are the group most impacted by policies and programmes, she added women and girls are frequently excluded from decision-making processes.

Against this backdrop, she highlighted that, in the past few years, the government has made significant strides in attaining gender parity in Guyana, as housing, education, and training, among other things, are now more accessible to women and girls.

With that, it can be noted that the 2022 Global Gender Gap Report by the World

Economic Forum ranked Guyana 35th out of 146 countries on gender parity, which is 18 levels higher than the country’s 53rd position in 2021.

While there is still much to be done in order to attain equality, Rodrigues went on to add that women must pursue financial independence and higher education in order to expedite their journey to the top.

She then noted that women who are able to climb the scale must assist others who are seeking elevation.

care facility could further these efforts.

“We as a country have

made a lot of achievements. And as someone said, we came on the backs of those

before us and those of us who are here now prepare the ground for the next generation, and the next generation.

“That is our role, to be able to ensure that our society is progressing and that we are bringing up the next generation to be able to take on the mantle of leading this country, and leading the Police Force, and leading private sector and so on.

In every sector you can see women are grasping, seizing opportunities,” she said.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira (sitting at centre) at the Inaugural Women in Law Enforcement Summit (DPI photo)

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues (standing at centre), along with members of the diplomatic corps and participants of the National Assembly of Girls (DPI photo)

Xi Jinping re-elected to office for third term

XI JINPING was re-elected on Friday and will be returning to office for a third term as President of the People’s Republic of China and as Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

The elections took place at the third plenary session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in China’s capital, Beijing.

President Xi Jinping received 2,952 votes in his favour, making him

the longest serving Head of State in China’s history.

The voting process was also witnessed by hundreds of journalists from China and around the world, including a representative from Guyana, in the Great Hall of the People, where President Xi Jinping made a public pledge of allegiance to the Chinese Constitution and resounding ovations from the top legislators.

Among other leaders elected were China’s Vice

President Han Zheng and Chairman of China’s 14th National People’s Congress Standing Committee Zhao Lejie.

In China, voters are represented in the National People’s Congress by Deputies (or representatives) whom they elected based on competence and a track record of good leadership to the people’s congress at various levels, including from the armed forces, special administrative regions, and ethnic self-government areas.

Xi Jinping was re-elected on Friday and will be returning to office for a third term as President of the People’s Republic of China and as Chairman of the Central Military Commission

Region Two schools get reliable, stable electricity from solar power

--after energy agency installs PV, storage systems

IN February, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) installed six kWp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems along with a 28.8kWh Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Siriki and Marlborough primary schools in Region Two.

The Siriki Nursery

School and the Marlborough Nursery School were also connected to the electricity supply from the solar-powered system.

The GEA provided the items installed at the Marlborough Primary School and the Siriki Primary School, all in keeping with the government’s sustainable energy interventions for communities and public buildings.

Marlborough Primary School, which is located along the Pomeroon River, approximately 12 km from Charity, Essequibo, will see over 70 students, 10 teachers, and five ancillary staff benefitting from this project, which will deliver a renewable, sta-

ble, and reliable electrical supply to the schools and the kitchen for daily operations.

Meanwhile, at the Siriki Primary School, which is located along the Pomeroon River approximately 10 km from Charity, it is expected that for the everyday operations of the schools and the school kitchen, this effort will provide a renewable, steady, and dependable electricity source. This will assist about 44 students, nine teachers, and 11 ancillary staff.

Notably, for both schools, in exercising its mandate the GEA provided support for the transportation and installation of the solar PV and

battery-energy storage systems.

The teachers who were present when the solar PV system was installed expressed their appreciation for the initiative and said it will help them make better use of the school’s resources and give the pupils more learning opportunities.

Solar PV array (6kWp) installed on the roof of the Siriki Primary School (GEA Photo)

Teachers from the Siriki Primary School benefitting from the electricity provided by the solar PV system (GEA Photo)

Region Two schools get reliable, stable electricity from solar power

--after energy agency installs PV, storage systems

IN February, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) installed six kWp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems along with a 28.8kWh Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Siriki and Marlborough primary schools in Region Two.

The Siriki Nursery

School and the Marlborough Nursery School were also connected to the electricity supply from the solar-powered system.

The GEA provided the items installed at the Marlborough Primary School and the Siriki Primary School, all in keeping with the government’s sustainable energy interventions for communities and public buildings.

Marlborough Primary School, which is located along the Pomeroon River, approximately 12 km from Charity, Essequibo, will see over 70 students, 10 teachers, and five ancillary staff benefitting from this project, which will deliver a renewable, sta-

ble, and reliable electrical supply to the schools and the kitchen for daily operations.

Meanwhile, at the Siriki Primary School, which is located along the Pomeroon River approximately 10 km from Charity, it is expected that for the everyday operations of the schools and the school kitchen, this effort will provide a renewable, steady, and dependable electricity source. This will assist about 44 students, nine teachers, and 11 ancillary staff.

Notably, for both schools, in exercising its mandate the GEA provided support for the transportation and installation of the solar PV and

battery-energy storage systems.

The teachers who were present when the solar PV system was installed expressed their appreciation for the initiative and said it will help them make better use of the school’s resources and give the pupils more learning opportunities.

Solar PV array (6kWp) installed on the roof of the Siriki Primary School (GEA Photo)

Teachers from the Siriki Primary School benefitting from the electricity provided by the solar PV system (GEA Photo)

AFC to completely boycott elections that promote local democracy

THE Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, has said that the party will not be participating in the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), which is intended to promote and sustain local democracy.

During a press briefing on Friday, Ramjattan was questioned on whether or not the party will be participating in the June 12 elections or if it will be throwing its support behind the People’s National Congress Reform-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

“We are certainly not participating, and we have stated our reasons why. And we are going to ask, I personally will ask that people not turn up. Boycott the thing. We are not supporting the arrangement here… that might be for other parties. We are boycotting on very good grounds,” Ramjattan said.

The AFC intends to completely cast aside the significance of local democracy because its unfounded calls for a new voters list were not validated.

It is well documented that the list of electors scheduled to be used in 2023 is the same one used in 2015, when the APNU+AFC won the seat of government.

It is also the same list of electors used in the 2016 and 2018 LGEs. Even when contesting at that level, the AFC has suffered immense defeat; this was seen particularly in 2018, when it attracted a mere four per cent of the votes.

Vice-President Bharrat

Jagdeo had dismantled claims by the APNU+AFC regarding the Official List of Electors (OLE).

He had said that the PPP/C government accepts there is a method for cleaning dead people

from the list.

Jagdeo related that the new Representation of the People Act would require the names of deceased persons to be drawn from the General Register Office (GRO) by GECOM, and those names would have to be published by the elections body.

Once that is done, all the names would be sent to the political parties and once there is no objections, the names would be removed from the voters’ list.

As it relates to the removal of non-resident Guyanese, Jagdeo relied on a previous court ruling that Guyanese cannot be removed from the voters’ list because they are not resident in Guyana, a measure which was agreed to by all parties involved in the reform of the Constitution of Guyana in the early 2000s.

“You cannot vote from abroad, but you can come back and vote because no longer is ‘residency’ a requirement to be on the list,” the VP clarified, noting that the position of the APNU+AFC would go against the Constitution, which is Guyana’s supreme law.

Articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution clearly establish the qualifications and disqualifications of electors.

Articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution prescribe that a person who is 18 years or older, who is a citizen of Guyana or a Commonwealth citizen, who is not a citizen of Guyana, resident in Guyana and has been so resident for a period of one year, immediately preceding the qualifying date, qualifies to be registered; and once registered has an unconditional right to vote.

“Any constitutional change has to be to enfranchise, not disenfranchise,” Dr Jagdeo maintained.

--Ramjattan says will personally tell persons not to turn up

Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan

Guyanese group gets prestigious Field Museum award

THE Field Museum has announced that a leading conservation group in the megadiverse South American country of Guyana is the recipient of the museum’s prestigious Parker/ Gentry Award for its efforts to preserve wildlife, engage young people, and support traditional livelihoods in the Rupununi region.

The Field Museum is awarding the Parker/Gentry Award, an annual prize for outstanding and underrecognised conservation models around the globe, to the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS).

The museum stated, in a press release, that it recognises the significant impact the group has had on Guyana’s natural and cultural heritage through its research and conservation of native species, and its thoughtful stewardship of the places they inhabit.

“The Guyanese government is making a major push to safeguard the country’s biodiversity,” said Dr. Lesley de Souza, chair of the Award Selection Committee at the Field Museum and an expert on Guyana’s freshwater fish.

She added: “It’s a real honour to support that mission by recognising one of the country’s most inspiring and effective local conservation groups.”

Originally founded in 1998 by a group of friends eager to reverse the decline of certain species native to the area, SRCS’s work is firmly rooted in the forests, savannahs, and wetlands of Guyana’s Rupununi.

This globally-celebrated biodiversity hotspot is home to a large number of Indigenous communities, many of which lend their expertise to the society’s conservation goals.

The experts who staff and currently lead SRCS come from all walks of life—from tour guides and teachers to business leaders and scientists. Since 2002, its mission is to preserve

the wildlife, environment, and culture of the Rupununi region of Southern Guyana through community-based conservation, environmental education, and research.

Leroy Ignacio, the current president of SRCS, is grateful to see conservation become a collaborative effort among conservation experts.

“It is an honour for SRCS, the people of Rupununi, our friends around the world, and Guyana to receive this prestigious award from the Field Museum,” Ignacio said, adding: “In our experience, collaboration between local experts, the scientific community, and national entities provides a model that promotes local efforts to produce tangible conservation impacts. Thanks to the Field Museum for acknowledging our local efforts at this critical time of global pressure on natural resources and traditional livelihoods.”

The society’s projects to date include population studies of globally threatened birds such as the Endangered Red Siskin (Spinus cucullatus), Vulnerable Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), environmental education and traditional knowledge programmes in Indigenous communities, habitat preservation and restoration, and work to restore populations of globally Vulnerable Yellow-spotted River Turtles (Podocnemis unifilis). A hybrid award ceremony will be held at the Field Museum in April.

According to the press release, the Field Museum is a forward-thinking scientific leader on a mission to explore, protect, and celebrate nature and culture.

From exhibitions that inspire journeys of discovery in visitors, young and old, to the groundbreaking research and conservation efforts driven by its 40 million artifacts and specimens, the organisation is on a mission to spark public engagement with science and uncover solutions for a brighter world.

--for contributions to the preservation of nature, cultural heritage

Members of the South Rupununi Conservation Society in 2020

ICT roadshow launched to improve stu dents’ digital knowledge

HUNDREDS of secondary school students in forms four to six are expected to benefit from the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) roadshow, which was launched on Friday by the Office of the Prime Minister’s (OPM) Industry and Innovation Unit.

Under the theme, “Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Digital Innovators,” the initiative aims to bridge the digital gap and raise awareness among the younger population about the importance of ICT.

In delivering feature remarks at the launch which was held at Colgrain House, Camp Street, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, said that the initiative is important as it will contribute to the educational upliftment of citizens.

“Guyana’s continued development will not be possible unless you have an educated population,” he said.

The PM used the opportunity to reassure citizens that the administration remains committed to

ensuring that Guyana is not be left behind but is part of the digital future.

He added that purchasing devices to bridge the digital divide would be a futile effort for those lacking knowledge of ICT.

PM Phillips emphasised that bridging the gap would be difficult if there is a lack of knowledge. ICT is very

important to every aspect of our lives, he added.

Touching on the government’s target to introduce a one-card system, he affirmed that the initiative is just one of a number of measures the government wants to use to propel Guyana’s technological advancement.

Meanwhile, Andre Grif-

fith, Director of the Guyana Telecommunications Agency, also praised the introduction of the initiative.

He stressed on the importance of young people understanding the significance of ICT as it relates to social and economic development.

Even though Griffith labelled the younger genera-

Prime Minister,

address tion as “digital natives”, he said they still need to understand the “safe use” of ICT.

Phillips delivering his

Moreover, Jennifer Persaud-Boodhoo, the Outreach Officer at the OPM’s Industry and Innovation Unit, in brief remarks, stated that she believes “a roadshow will give hard ice knowledge, dialogue and inspire our young people to develop and reinforce tools that can enhance Guyana’s technological frontier with professionals from both government and private sector agencies.”

She further explained

that in order to educate youths about the various ICT programmes offered by the government, the roadshow will be hosting several key ICT agencies.

Notably, students from Regions Two to Six will be educated on ICT for seven days. This may serve as a means of inspiring them to pursue education and careers in fields related to technology, or at the very minimum help them to develop an understanding of the rapidly changing field that is having a significant impact on our society.

Brigadier (ret’d), Mark

feature

From left to right: Jennifer Persaud-Boodhoo, Outreach Officer at the OPM’s Industry and Innovation Unit; Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d), Mark Phillips; and Andre Griffith, Director of the Guyana Telecommunications Agency

EU shares methods on how to attract Guyanese diaspora

AS the Diaspora Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation gears up to roll out the mapping of skillset within the diaspora, the unit was engaged virtually by the European Union’s Global Diaspora Facility (EUDIF) on Thursday.

This webinar saw com -

prehensive presentations from EUDIF on how Guyana can carefully implement mechanisms and models that exist in other countries to encourage persons in the diaspora to return to Guyana and provide support and required skills in the various sectors.

EUDIF Capacity Development Specialist, Diana Hincu,

underscored that diaspora skillset is not merely centred on the economical capital they have to share, but also their reputation which can lead to access to their networks and social capital.

“When we talk about diaspora capital, we mean not only the financial capital. Lately there’s a growing interest in

tapping into diaspora human capital, so diaspora can also offer skills, knowledge, experience and social capital,” she explained.

While adding that Guyana has an important role to play in diaspora skills transfer, Hincu highlighted two mechanisms that could target the Guyanese diaspora for their return, and those include Talent Attraction Programmes and Short-Term Human Capital Transfer.

Those, she said, could be implemented in the long term or short term by the government, private sector and other organisations.

EUDIF Knowledge Management and Research Officer, Dr. Fanny Tittel-Mosser, also contributed to the discussion, adding that, in order to ascertain the willingness of the diaspora to participate, one must fully understand the skills of the diaspora.

In doing so, she referenced a diaspora study that was conducted in Madagascar, where steps were pursued through preparation, identifying gaps and the collection of data.

In commending the models that EUDIF has engaged with in different countries, Deputy Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Ritesh Tularam, said that it is necessary to understand how Guyana could operationalise and institutionalise those models while understanding the significant transformational agenda currently taking place in Guyana.

“Understanding Guyana’s cultural and socio-economic position, what would be a pos-

sible model Guyana can adopt and implement to ensure that we derive maximum benefit from the diaspora?” Dr. Tularam questioned.

Acknowledging that this is a long journey, Hincu said that there is a need to look into what Guyana needs; this requires a vision, and functional and structural systems.

She also said that the process must be undertaken in phases such as assessment of sectoral needs (profiling the diaspora), creating mechanisms to target the diaspora and evaluating the pilot phase.

President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Rafeek Khan, weighed in on the discussion by pointing out that understanding sectoral needs has been ongoing over the years, and needs assessments were done by various organisations in Guyana.

He said that human resource, professional services, electrical and mechanical fields are in high demand.

“At this point, we should try to get the Private Sector to engage volunteers who are anxious to be involved in every sector,” he suggested, while also sharing his optimism to disseminate information that will assist in connecting skills in the diaspora.

Contributing to the conversation was Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Paul Cheong, who endorsed that this engagement is necessary because Guyana is at a stage of development, where different programmes must be implemented to attract the diaspora.

“With the growth of our

economy, the size of our population and the level of economic activity, we need much more human resource to execute the different projects and we, therefore, must develop programmes to reach the different skills we’re targetting,” Cheong said.

In reiterating portions of the presentations by EUDIF, Head of the Diaspora Unit, Rosalinda Rasul, said that in order to ascertain whether Guyana has the capacity to absorb certain skills, information is needed from the various sectors in order to place the people accordingly. She also acknowledged that Guyana can learn from the models and practices adopted by other countries.

This April, the Diaspora Unit will be hosting a Multi Stakeholder Forum that will see government officials, private sector leaders, Ministry of Labour, Guyana’s missions overseas and others coming together to develop a model that will determine how to attract and engage the diaspora and tap into to their skills across all sectors.

Also attending and participating in the webinar were Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States, Samuel Hinds; Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed; representatives of the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency of the Ministry of Labour, other recruitment agencies and members of Guyana’s Missions overseas including the United Kingdom, Suriname, Canada, Trinidad and Barbados.

Diana Hincu

Dr. Fanny Tittel-Mosser

Bavuma’s century puts West Indies under pressure

(ESPNCRICINFO )

- Temba Bavuma’s second Test century lifted South Africa from a precarious position and put them in command of the second Test against West Indies on day three at the Wanderers.

It was a century he had long waited for, 88 innings to be precise. Only New Zealand’s Adam Parore (92 innings) had to wait longer after his first Test ton to get to his second.

He finished the day unbeaten on 171, with South Africa’s lead swelling to 356, a seemingly untenable position when West Indies dominated the first session and left them at 69 for 4 at lunch.

Bavuma came to bat early in the day , after Kyle Mayers had Dean Elgar steering a catch to gully and Tony de Zorzi chopping on.

Bavuma and Aiden Markram played watchfully till Kemar Roach got Markram to nick off with a jaffa. He then held down fort with Ryan Rickelton, but Rickelton got an edge to Joshua Da Silva off Raymon Reifer just before lunch.

Bavuma flicked Roach through midwicket to bring up his half-century off 107 deliveries, but two overs later, Alzarri Joseph returned to the attack and got Klaasen to topedge a pull that Da Silva claimed. The South Africa captain was joined by Wiaan Mulder at the crease then, and the two ensured they didn’t suffer any further damage in the

second session, with the lead beyond 200 at tea.

In the evening session, Bavuma had a nervous moment as Roach drew the outside edge, but the ball fell short of second slip and was deflected to the boundary rope. In the same over, he cut Roach behind point to move to 90. He was helped along in the nineties when Jermaine Blackwood’s throw from midwicket missed the stumps at the striker’s end and ran away for four overthrows.

Joseph, at this point, switched to the shortball tactic, especially targeting Mulder. His first bouncer to the allrounder hit him on the glove and Mulder needed some medical attention.

Batting on 99, Bavuma thrashed Joseph over cover in his second over of the spell to reach his century. The relief and joy on Bavuma’s face was palpable.

The century came in his second Test as South Africa’s captain , after bagging a pair in his first.

In fact, at SuperSport Park, he lasted just three balls across the two innings - the shortest stint for any Test captain.

Once he got to his century, he put the afterburners on for a short phase, hooking Joseph twice to the fine leg boundary.

Mulder also joined in, deciding to attack Joseph to counter the short ball barrage that was being thrown at him by the fast bowler. He got to 42 - his highest Test score - before he miscued a pull off a back-of-length de-

livery that cramped him for space to deep square leg. The pair had put on a stand of 103 runs off 160 deliveries.

Bavuma reined in his aggression after Mulder

fell, but started rotating strike with greater frequency as he was joined by Simon Harmer at the crease. It took him just 62 deliveries to move to 150 as West Indies’

bowlers started to tire. Even when the second new ball brought about a bit of extra bounce, Bavuma remained largely untroubled.

Jason Holder, who

bowled economically without reward through the innings, finally gave West Indies another breakthrough, trapping Harmer lbw in the third over before stumps.

Archery Guyana’s 2022 National Outdoor Championships…

Salim, Mangra among winners

The 2022 National Archery Outdoor Championships were run off last weekend at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence where local archers from various affiliated clubs waged a battle for the top spots.

A total of 27 competitors shot in the Ranking Rounds on Day 1, Saturday, and in the Eliminations and Match-play Rounds on Day 2, Sunday.

In the Match-play Eliminations leading up to the Finals on day 2, Guyana’s top archers in the Men, the U-18 Men, Women’s and U-18 Women categories, battled for the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in both the Barebow and Recurve divisions.

Beginning with the Barebow Division, Vishal Manbode won 6-0 against Fabian

Ramdatt to face Jeewanram Persaud, while Sean Duncan won 6-0 against Alex Mangla to face Nicholas Hing.

Hing won 6-0 over Courtley Rodrigues to face Duncan, father & son Afzal and Saeed Karim faced each other with the younger, Saeed Karim, winning 6-0 to face Mohammad Zamaluddin, and Mehandra Chatargum also took a 6-0 win over Faraad Gani to face Anand Mangra. In the Semi-finals, Jeewanram Persaud won 6-0 over Vishal Manbode, while Sean Duncan won 7-3 over Hing, Zamaluddin won 6-0 over Karim, and Mangra won 6-0 over Chatargum. In the Final, Mangra beat Duncan for the Bronze while Persaud emerged victorious with Gold over Zamaluddin’s Silver.

The Women Barebow saw Bibi Saleema Salim win against Karim. Toppin 6-0. Salim then beat Theresa Jaikishun 6-0 to go through to the Final as Roshini Boodhoo took 6-0 over Julie Ann Williams through to the finals also. Jaikishun and Williams then battled for the Bronze medal with Williams emerging the winner for Bronze, and Salim taking the Gold over Boodhoo’s Silver.

In the Barebow Men Under 18 category, Saifullah Gani won 6-0 against Nicholas Sookdeo through to the semi-final, while Lucas Chung edged out Luzigue Stanley 6-5 to go through to the finals against Christian Craigen. Gani and Stanley shot for the Bronze with Stanley emerging the winner, as Craigen and Chung fought for the coveted Gold. The Gold eventually went to Craigen and Chung settled for the Silver.

The Men’s Recurve was fast-paced as Anand Mangra eliminated out Nicholas Hing early, as did Vishal Manbode against Saeed Karim, Sean Duncan against Farad Gani, and Jeewanram Persaud against Fabian Ramdatt. The Semi-finals saw Mangra advance to the final after defeating Manbode 7-1, and Persaud pushing past Duncan with 6-2. Manbode and Duncan shot for Bronze with Manbode emerging the winner, and Mangra edging out Persaud 6-2 for the Gold, with Persaud settling for the silver.

In the Recurve Men’ s U-18, Christian Craigen ad-

vanced to the final by defeating Nicholas Sookdeo 6-0, while Lucas Chung did the same against Saifullah Gani with 6-0. Sookdeo then won against Gani 6-0 for the Bronze, while Craigen claimed Gold against Chung in the final match.

The Recurve Women was the last match of the day as Shereeda Yusuf won 6-2 against Bibi Saleema Salim. Yusuf then faced Samira Duncan with Duncan winning 6-0, and Roshini Boodhoo conceding to Theresa Jaikishun’s 6-2, leaving Boodhoo and Yusuf on the battle for the Bronze which Boodhoo eventually claimed. It was then Duncan and Jaikishun’s turn to each try to get the gold. Duncan held her ground, eventually leaving Jaikishun to settle for the Silver.

In both the Women’s U-18 Barebow and U-18 Recurve matches, Malaika Bynoe was unchallenged in her category, and was awarded Gold in both divisions.

At the Presentation Ceremony after the event, President of Archery Guyana, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, thanked the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; Sports Minister Charles Ramson; the National Sports Commission and Director of Sport, Mr. Steve Ninvalle, for their usual kind support and for the use of the wonderful facility for the hosting of this National event. She went on to thank all the participants for attending the two-day event.

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Dale Steyn - 439 Test wickets (93 matches)

(2) Makaya Ntini - 13/132 (vs WI, Trinidad, 2005)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) What are the best innings figures by a SA bowler in Tests to date?

(2) Who is the first SA to claim a Test hat-trick? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Part of the action during the Archery Guyana’s 2022 National Outdoor Championships

CTES & Jacobs Jewellery support RT 3x3 Classic

CENTURY Tamara Energy Services Inc. (CTES), and Jacobs Jewellery have collaborated to support the third edition of the Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic, which is slated for March 18 – 19 at the Burnham Basketball Court.

Earlier in the week, at the CTES headquarters in Campbellville, organiser of the event, Rawle Toney, revealed the details of the partnership in the presence of CTES Business Development Officer, Varshnie Rampersaud.

CTES’s inaugural voyage with the RT 3x3 Classic sees them covering the cost of the four championship rings that will be presented to members of the team that reigns supreme this year. The sponsorship amounts to a figure above $500,000.

Jacobs Jewellery, under the proprietorship of former national cricketer, Steven Jacobs, was the first entity to undertake this venture when they came onboard for the staging of the second edition of the fast-paced tournament.

Rampersaud said, “We are pleased to show our support for the Rawle Toney 3x3 Tournament. Century Tamara Energy Services understands the importance of sports to

our daily lives and our community. We are proud to support this tournament and the athletes that will be participating and we believe that these tournaments not only bring individuals together but they create a sense of pride and unity.”

“CTES also recognizes the hard work and dedication that goes into organising such events and as such we would like to extend well wishes to everyone that will be in this successful tournament.

Toney was also gratuitous in his remarks that echoed around the support of the private sector, which

he disclosed, funds 100 per cent of any move the RT 3x3 Classic makes.

He added that preparations for the tournament have been going swimmingly with the only foreseeable hurdle being the unavailability of immediate flights out of Guyana for the St. Lucian team. This is due to the country not being on the airline’s daily flight schedule.

A total of 16 teams for Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Lucia, Suriname and USA will compete for this year’s top prize of $400,000 while the runner-up will have to settle for

Kings Basketball club 4 X 4 tournament … Semi-finalists decided

THE Kings ‘A’, Kings ‘B’, Kwakwani and KidRock

‘B’ teams are the semi-finalists of the Kings Basketball Club- organised Under-17 4 X 4 competition which began last weekend.

The event will conclude today from 14.30hrs at the Retrieve Hard Court in Mackenzie, Linden.

In the preliminary round of the tournament which was played at the Silvercity Hard Court in Wismar, Kings ‘B’

who finished with three wins and one loss to Kwakwani, ended on 58 points . They will face Kings ‘A’ who finished fourth on 34 points from two wins and two losses.

Kwakwani and Kidrock B, who both ended with three wins and a loss, also placed second and third on 45 and 35 points respectively, will battle in the other semi-final.

The teams which were eliminated following last Saturday and Sunday’s preliminary round of play were Block 22 Flames, Victory Valley royals A, Victory Valley Royals b, Raiders and Kidrock A.

At stake in this competition are trophies and replicas donated by former coach, Gary Stephens and the Brusches Basketball Foundation. (Joe Chapman)

$200,000, both sponsored by Team Mohamed’s. The team finishing third will pocket $100,000.

Additionally, this edition’s Most Valuable Player rides away with a new motorcycle, compliments of Rock

Auto Trans and Spare Parts. Other partners onboard for this event include Team Mohamed’s, Hennessy, E-Net, VSH Shipping, Rock Auto Spares, Slingerz Entertainment, Shi-Oil and Hot Spot Bar.

CTES Business Development Officer, Varshnie Rampersaud (left), hands over the sponsorship cheque to RT 3x3 Classic’s team member, Bianca Marques, in the presence of Organiser, Rawle Toney.

This is what the Rawle Toney 3x3 C/Ship ring will look like.

New Chapter Boxing/Shoba promotions

All roads lead to Police ground this evening

By Sean Devers

ALL roads will lead to the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, this evening for the second Shoba promotions New Chapter Boxing Card, which is scheduled to commence at 18:00hrs.

Apart from what is anticipated as plenty of fistic fury inside the ring, fans can expect lots of added attractions including Ring Girls, pulsating vibes from the Sound System and food and beverage Bar.

According to the Promoter, Shoba DaSilva, the only female Boxing Promoter in Guyana, fans are being encouraged to support the concept of ‘Culture and

Colours’ by coming out dressed in the garb of your various Culture under the theme ‘One Guyana’

Eight entertaining bouts are on the card including what is expected to be an exciting female contest between PPBG’s Tofina Barker and Akeia De Florimonte representing the Guyana Police Force. Admission price for ring-side, where table and chairs will be placed is $5000. Admission elsewhere, including for stands, is $1000.

The following bouts are expected tonight at the Eve Leary Ground Keon Britton (VBG) VS Khumda Alexander (PPBG 2). Shaquan Marshall (VBG) Vs Ryan Rodgers (PPBG)

3. Chance Niles (PPBG) Vs Jerimiah Mc Garell (VBG)

4 . Female bout: Tofina Barker (PPBG) VS Akeia De Florimonte (police) ELITES

5. Dexter Wrahy (police) Vs Jullius Kesney G.D.F.

6. Quince Boyce-G.D.F. Vs Moheen Scott (police)

7. John Campayne -POL Vs Troy Glasgow (G.D.F)

8. Kevin Isaac (police) Vs Compton Layne (police)

Guyana Fitness Games gain support of KFC

Beharry Restaurant Holdings Inc. through its KFC Guyana Franchise has joined in supporting the Guyana Fitness Games on March 12 at the National Park.

In a release to the media, Marketing Manager of KFC Guyana, Pamella Manasseh, stated, “We at KFC Guyana are always on board to support sports and fitness. KFC Guyana has a history of sponsoring our local talent in this arena, and this event is just as special to us.”

The Marketing Manager further stated, “We look forward to an exciting and fruitful competition featuring our nation’s athletes & fitness enthusiasts.”

Noshavayah King, one of the co-ordinators of the event expressed

immense gratitude for the support of KFC Guyana and promised a thrilling and competitive day of mental and physical test-

ing.

Male and female athletes will compete in three categories: Teens, Elites and Masters.

Co-ordinator Noshavayah King (left) collects the sponsorship from KFC Guyana Marketing Manager, Pamella Manasseh

Promoter Shoba DaSilva

Dexter Wray is a main attraction tonight

GCB’s four-day Inter-County cricket

Philips’ 4-14 helps Essequibo to 8-wkt win over Berbice

By Sean Devers

LED by 4-14 from left-arm spinner Garfield Phillips, Essequibo romped to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over a depleted Berbice side yesterday at Enmore in the second round of the GCB four-day Inter-County cricket tournament.

Essequibo, who beat the Select X1 in the first round, are now in line for only their second title at this level after their 1980 success.

It took Berbice 21 minutes’ yesterday to wrap up the Essequibo innings as the last pair of Wasim Mohammed and Garfield Phillips who joined forces on the opening day at 149-9, resumed yesterday with their team on 156-9. They were bowled out for 175 with leftarm spinner Nigel Deodat taking 6-49.

The pair added 19 runs before Deodat had Benjamin (9) lbw to finish with 6-49 as Mohammed remained unbeaten on 22.

Berbice began their second innings needing 82 runs to avoid an innings defeat but were immediately put under the pump.

The small gathering present included National selectors, Peter Persaud and Royan Fredericks, along with Essequibo players, Kemol Savory and Anthony Adams, who left this morning for T&T as part of the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad.

Alex Algoo (5) was bowled by Cadogan at 6-1 while Javid Karim (2) was bowled by Ricardo Adams before Garfield Benjamin was lbw to Cadogan for a duck, as two wickets fell with the score on eight.

Skipper Seon Hetymer, who scored a classy ton against TT in Barbados in 2008 at the U-19 level, was joined by Shamar Angel and the pair carried the score to 23 before Angel (11) edged Adams to the Keeper.

The elder Hetymer looked technically correct and his front foot drives were a joy to watch.

However, it was one of those shots that unfortunately caused the demise of Jason Sinclair.

Hetymer executed a glorious straight drive off Quinton Sampson and the ball was deflected off the bowler’s right palm onto the wicket with Sinclair backing up too far

Action packed weekend set for Ministry of Education Ground

TWO more playing days of action are billed for the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue as the MILO Schools U-18 Football tournament continues this weekend.

From 11:00hrs, Cummingslodge Secondary takes on newcomers St. Cuthbert’s Secondary in match nine of the tournament with Vryman’s Erven Secondary taking on the 8th of May Secondary from 12:45hrs.

At 14:00, football juggernauts, the Christianburg/Wismar Secondary, plays West Demerara Secondary School while Dolphin Secondary oppose St. Stanislaus College at 15:45hrs.

On Sunday from 11:00hrs, New Amsterdam Secondary takes on Santa Rosa Secondary with Charity playing New Central High School at 12:45hrs.

14:00 hrs brings together Mackenzie High School and President’s College with a 15:45hrs clash between West Ruimveldt Secondary and Vergenogen Secondary closing off the day.

The competition is sponsored by Nestle’ (MILO) through MASSY Distribution and is sanctioned by the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Football Federation.

It is being co-ordinated by the Petra Organisation and with support from MVP Sports, GenEquip Guyana Ltd. and GINMIN Guyana.

SCOREBOARD

B’ce 1st inns 94 all out

E’bo 1st inns O/N 156-9

Kevin Boodie c Hetymer b Deodat 7

Avinash Persaud b K Sinclair 4

Renaldo Renee lbw b Deodat 38

Malcome Hubbard c Deodat b

Dhani 16

Ricardo Adams c wkt Jason

Sinclair b Deodat 23

Sheldon Charles lbw b Deodat 0

Quinton Sampson not out 2

Wasim Mohammed not out

22

Leon Swammy c Ramesh b

Deodat 10

Neiland Cadogan b Deodat 0

Garfield Phillips lbw b Deodat 9

Total 175 all out in 53.2 overs

Extras 11 (b-10, lb-1)

FoW: 11, 11, 55, 92, 94, 103, 134, 149,149, 174

Bowling

K Sinclair 11-3-31-1, Deodat

16-4-49-6, Ramesh 11-2-50-1, Dhanai

8-0-20-0, Hetymer 7-0-14-0

B’ce 2nd inns

Alex Algoo b Cadogan 5

Javid Karim b Adams 2

Garfield Benjamin lbw b

Cadogan 0

Seon Hetmyer b Phillips 28

Shamal Angel c wkp Renee b

Adams 11

Jason Sinclair run out 9

Nigel Deodat c Cadogan b Phillips 30

Suresh Dhanai

Keon Sinclair c Mohamed b

Phillips 4

Gourav Ramesh not out 1

Extras 1 (lb-1)

Total 105-9 innings closed

Did not bat Junior Sinclair

FoW: 6, 8, 8, 23, 33,83, 86 103

Bowling

Cadogan 7-5-9-2, Adams 18-360-2,

Sampson 5-0-2-0

Phillips 6.2-1-14-4

E’bo 2nd inns

Kevin Boodie c Wkt Ceaser b K

Sinclair 0

Avinash Persaud

Renaldo Renee

Malcome Hubbard

Extras 1 (lb-1)

Total 25-2

FoW: 0, 15

Bowling

K Sinclair 4-1-12-1, Dhanai 4.4-1-8-1

Deodat 1-0-4-0

Nailand

and being run out for nine at 33-5.

Another well-timed straight drive by the elegant Hetmyer almost caused the stylish Deodat to be also run out at the non-striker’s end, but he kept his bat grounded.

In blazing sun and an outfield that had gotten a bit faster and on a dry track which produced prodigious turn for Man-of-the Match Adams, the pair carried their team to 45-5 by Lunch.

After the interval, with Berbice still needing 37 to avoid the embarrassment of an innings defeat, Hetmyer stroked Sampson back past his ankles for four while Deodat caressed a full toss from Adams to the extra cover boundary.

Hetymer used his feet and deposited Adams over long-on for sixes while Deodat, who favoured the sweep, swept Adams for four to

ensure Essequibo had to bat again.

However, with the score on 83 and the lead just two, Hetymer danced into Philips, ‘yorkered’ himself and was bowled. His 28 lasted 91 minutes and 61 balls and his partnership with Deodat was worth 50 from 60 balls. Deodat, looking good on 30 from 41 balls, in 44 minutes at the crease, then fell to Phillips at 86-7. Phillips removed Keon Sinclair (4) and Suresh Dhanai (14) while Junior Sinclair, who injured his leg batting in the first innings, could not bat.

Needing 25 to win Essequibo lost Kevin Boodie and Renaldo Renee before Avinash Persaud (8) and Malcome Hubbard (8) saw Essequibo to a rare win at this level. Today, defending Champions Demerara face the Select X1 at Bourda from 9:30am.

Friendship Secondary School Taking Golf Seriously!

Thirty-two students from Friendship Secondary School took full advantage of the opportunity provided by the Nexgen Golf Academy on Woolford Avenue to prepare for their CSEC examinations.

The players excelled at their first attempt at golf and again the numbers were heavily tilted in favor of girls with a 27-5 ratio in favor of female players. And once again, the girls demonstrated great mastery of the techniques taught by the Academy and that was reflected in the perfect scores put up by 8 of the girls.

Coaches Philip Haynes and Harry Dhanai, Friendship Secondary PE Teacher Ms. Marcelle McIntosh-Griffith joined Head Coach Aleem Hussain to teach the students the basics of the game and all were impressed by the rapid results demonstrated by the students in a very short time.

Friendship Secondary was one of the Pioneer

schools that took Golf at CSEC for the first time in Guyana’s history and it seems that there will be a 300% increase in the number this year as Rosignol Secondary, Bushlot Secondary, Wisburg Bartica, Berbice High, Anna Regina Multilateral, President’s College and Queens College will send up dozens of students for PE CSEC.

With the Nexgen Golf Academy now officially an

LPGA Foundation Girls site under Site Director Philip Haynes, this opens a career path for Guyanese women to earn scholarships and potentially a place on LPGA tour. To become a member of the LPGA/USGA girls club, simply contact the Nexgen Golf Academy at 645-0944. Registration is free.

President of the Guyana Golf Association Aleem Hussain hinted that there is a major announcement forthcoming that will en -

hance Golf in Guyana in the coming weeks but declined to expound on the matter, simply saying that golfers should stay tuned for the news.

Nexgen Golf Academy is the only three Hole golf course in Guyana and is fully lighted, serving as both a training facility and beginners Golf course. There are no membership fees to join the club and it is open to the public daily from 9 am-9pm.

Cadogan was impressive yesterday and tested Seon Hetmyer (28) with a bouncer (Sean Devers photo)

Students of Friendship Secondary alongside coaches and teachers