Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 10-09-2023

Family fun: Our photographer Shaniece Bamfield captured families spending quality time together in the National Park and the Botanical Gardens on

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‘Holistic’ approach to judicial reform underway

–– JSC commences work to address vacancies, improve efficiency – President Ali

AMID ongoing concerns about extended acting appointments in key judicial positions , President Dr Irfaan Ali has stressed the need for the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to expand its role in comprehensively evaluating the judiciary with a view to addressing its needs and challenges.

President Ali , during a recent State House news conference , shed light on the new JSC, and sought to address concerns regarding the substantive appointments of Chancellor Yonette Cummings - Edwards and Chief

Justice Roxane George He emphasised the importance of the substantive appointment of the country’s two top judicial officers.

He explained that the JSC ’ s responsibilities encompass addressing vacancies throughout the entire judicial system

“I want the work of the

ing this process the right way, ensuring transparency and independence “ Now the Judicial Service Commission is in place, that commission will now conduct its work independently,” he said, before expressing his desire for the JSC’s work to be expanded to comprehensively under-

leaders in these positions

He said: “Our country is not without a Chief Justice or Chancellor; they have a very clear mandate, and are executing it in line with the Constitution.”

Furthermore , President Ali underlined his focus on creating an effective judicial system supported by the necessary technology and infrastructure

“ What I am concerned about is an effective judiciary system; one that we can rely on. One that the international community can rely on; one that is efficient and supported by the necessary technology and infrastructure that will make them efficient

“One in which we have the full complement of judges and magistrates; and that is what the JSC is working on So, I’m not going to be confining myself to individuals or posts I’m going to confine myself to the system and I am looking at a holistic system,” the Head of State said

Judicial Service Commission to be expanded, so that we can understand the fullness of the issues and challenges of the judiciary; so that we can approach this in a holistic way,” he said

President Ali highlighted the significance of conduct-

stand the challenges within the judiciary

Addressing concerns about the acting appointments of Chancellor Cummings - Edwards and Chief Justice George , President Ali assured the public that the country is not without

In July, Chancellor (ag) of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings - Edwards ; Former Chancellor Justice Carl Singh; Retired Appeal Court judge BS Roy; Chief Justice ( ag ) Roxane George ; and Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Manniram Prashad were sworn is as JSC commissioners by President Ali

Justice Cummings - Edwards will serve as the chairman, while Justice George and Mr. Prashad will serve as ex - officio members of the JSC

The JSC , which has a three-year life, is responsible for making recommendations for judicial appointments , and removing or exercising disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in judicial offices The

JSC also advises the President on the appointment of judges, except for the Chancellor and the Chief Justice.

There has been a 20-year impasse on judicial appointments, with the last substantive Chancellor being Justice Desiree Bernard

The current Chancellor and Chief Justice have both been acting in their respective positions for a number of years.

Teachers to be consulted on education reform

–– President Ali says

AS part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance education in Guyana and align it with international standards, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced plans for extensive consultations with teachers aimed at not only addressing salary adjustments but also fostering a holistic improvement in the sector “ We are also going to have consultations with our teachers. As soon as I return from the U N ., those consultations will commence,”

President Ali announced during a news conference at State House on Saturday

The United Nations General Assembly runs from September 19 to 26 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York

During the press conference, President Ali highlight-

ed that these consultations would go beyond the realm of salaries, indicating a more comprehensive approach to enhancing education in the country

“I don’t know what the teachers would raise with me, but, as you know, I have said before, like we did for the nurses, there will be an adjustment for teachers ,” he said

President Ali expressed his commitment to collaborating with teachers to identify and address various challenges within the education system “ Whatever the teachers raise with me , we will be working together on finding and looking at the macro ; having a macro view of what can be done not only to improve them individually and collectively, but what they

can do and how , together , we can strengthen their education system.”

One of the specific areas of concern mentioned by the President was mathematics

education

He disclosed that he had asked the Minister of Education to develop a policy within two weeks to boost Guyana ’ s performance in

mathematics

This initiative, the President said , would involve active participation from all Guyanese interested in contributing to educational

reforms

President Ali emphasised the transparency and inclusivity of his consultations, stating , “ My consultations are public; very open.”

Previously , the Head of State reaffirmed that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is progressively working to address the adjustment of salary scales for teachers, which he said will come at an appropriate time

The President said that they “are looking at salaries in a holistic way, and in a phased manner.” He added that his government will never walk away from the commitment it has made to teachers

Last December , President Ali announced that several categories of public servants would get salary increases, and he assured teachers that their increases were guaranteed

President Dr Irfaan Ali

FLASHBACK: Teacher Joycelyn Joseph during a lesson with her nursery school children during the COVID-19 pandemic (Delano Williams photo)

‘Car had no headlight on’

–– survivor of deadly Mahaica collision recalls; urges motorists not to drink and drive

VICKRAM Ramjawan, who survived Saturday night ’s horrific accident at De Hoop , Mahaica , said that the car they crashed into had no headlight on and was coming towards them at a fast rate

“The car was coming and it had no headlight and just ram into us I just see the driver mash up and the lil gurl was at the back; she and her father died, and the next lady got injured my seat belt save me I got some bruises from

President Ali sympathises with Morocco over deadly earthquake, offers support

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali, on Sunday, said he was saddened at the loss of over 2,000 lives and the injury and displacement of thousands of persons in Morocco as a result of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake

The earthquake, which occurred on Friday, struck below a remote cluster of mountainous villages south of Marrakesh and is the country’s deadliest in 60 years Guyana’s Head of State has offered his support.

“The Government and People of Guyana express our deepest sympathies to the Government and People of Morocco, especially those directly affected by this devastation We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured “My government will provide any support we can to the global efforts to help the people of Morocco in this difficult time,” he said.

the air bag and because of the juck it bran up my belly and I hurt my back,” he told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday

Kellon Jones , Jason Rudder and his 11-year-old daughter Jamela Rudder who were in the car with Ramjawan were killed along with Chris Gonsalves , who was identified as the driver of the other car.

Ramjawan, 21, a carpenter of Lot 4 Betsy Ground, East Canje , told this publication that he was on his way home after working the week in Georgetown

The father of a six-weekold baby said he joined the car at the Berbice car park and was seated in the front

son on Friday morning, said he was a well-known individual who would always “bright up” the people around him Jones, a father of one, has been plying the Georgetown to Berbice route for a number of years

‘SHE MADE ME PROUD’

Meanwhile , Jamela ’ s mother Synieka Henry told this publication that her daughter had promised to make her proud

Jamela was the National Grade Six Assessment ( NGSA ) top performer for Leeds Primary School She was awarded a place at St Joseph High School in Georgetown, but her parents opted

As a result , a head - on crash occurred and both drivers and those in Jones ’ car received injuries and were removed from the two vehicles by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Mahaicony Public Hospital Gonsalves was alone at the time of the accident

At the hospital , Jones , Rudder , his daughter and Gonsalves were pronounced dead

passenger seat at the time of the accident

Recalling the moments leading up to the accident, he said that the car was in a dark area when they noticed something dark coming towards them. He said that within a matter of seconds they realised it was an oncoming car

Jones of Fort Ordnance, East Canje Berbice, who was the driver of the car Ramjawan was in, reportedly did everything he could to avoid the collision

Amidst reports that Gonsalves who hails from Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, was intoxicated at the time of the accident , Ramjawan used the opportunity to plead with motorists to desist from drinking and driving

“ Look at the little girl [Jamela] just start off school and die already It’s not worth it If you drink just don ’ t drive,” he said Jones ’ mother Coretta Gomes , 53 , made a similar plea. “I think that when they drive, they are not to drink! I want to tell you don’t drink and drive,” she said amidst tears

She said the news of her youngest son ’ s death has shattered her Gomes, who last saw her

to send her to President ’ s College

Henry said during the week that she spent at her new school, she was full of excitement and has spent the time transitioning to high school and dorm life.

“ She said mommy if I pass to go town school, will you send me? I said yes, then for your birthday in November I will do a ball She said okay mommy I will work hard for this and make you proud and she did make me proud I prepared everything and pack up her cupboard,” she recalled

Henry told this publication that hours before the accident she prepared her daughter for an awards ceremony in Georgetown

“I bathe her, put on her shoes, tie her ribbon, carry her out the street and put her in a car with her father I called her 12 o’clock and she said mommy I didn’t finish yet; I will call when I finish. She didn’t call but last night I get a call that Jamela reach up in an accident and she and her father [are] no more,” she said She related that her daughter was full of potential She had an interest in business and was aiming for a career in that field

Henry said that before heading to PC she had reminded her daughter to remain focused and that she will achieve whatever she puts her mind to

She said she was planning to bring her home once per term or once monthly; however, because of the awards on Saturday, she came home on Friday

POLICE VERSION

Police said that the headon collision occurred around 18:35hrs

5Fifty - year - old Shelly Harry of Fort Ordnance , who was in the car driven by Jones, was transferred from the Mahaicony Hospital to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation ( GPHC ) where she is being treated for a fractured right leg

Police said that initial investigations revealed that the motorcar driven by Jones was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the De Hoop public road while the car driven by Gonsalves was proceeding west along the southern carriageway at a fast rate of speed when he overtook a car proceeding in the same direction and ended up directly in the path of PMM 7104

Ramjawan was seen by a doctor, treated and sent away while Harry was examined and transported to the GPHC

Just last week President, Dr Irfaan Ali had taken decisive action and instructed the police to launch an expansive road-safety campaign nationwide, following a troubling report from the Guyana Police Force which revealed that 92 road accidents had occurred from January to August of this year , resulting in 110 fatalities

At that time, he noted that the root causes of this problem including drinking and driving and excessive speeding must be addressed urgently

Among the most horrific accident is the one that claimed the lives of four teenagers at Canal # 2 Polder , West Bank Demerara (WBD), Region Three

Subsequently, 10-monthold Zainad Boyer was killed after the car she was in collided with another car at Dennis Street, Sophia, Georgetown

Statistics gathered by the police force have revealed that accidents occur mostly at nights and from Thursday to Monday

The force in July 2023 launched a “ Respect the Road” Road Safety Awareness Campaign as a response to the rise in road accidents and traffic-related deaths

Dead: Jason Rudder and his daughter Jamela Rudder

Dead: Kellon Jones Dead: Chris Gonsalves

Survivor: Vickram Ramjawan

Vincent Adams joins Granger and Thomas

THINGS happen in this country that you will never see in any other country on Planet Earth, now or forever

In which country will you find one of the leading newspapers condemning the use of traffic signals? Traffic signals are to civilised society what water is to plants

The Stabroek News wrote an editorial in which it dismissed the value of traffic lights. Google my column of Tuesday, February 22 , 2022 , titled , “ Traffic lights criticism : Guyana is a disappearing wilderness,” for more of this crazy country In which country will you find a president that has a weekly television programme and he stays completely away from any mention of any aspect of his five- year reign?

Former President , David Granger hosts a programme named “ The Public Interest” and avoids making reference to his presidency - 2015-2020

You will never , I repeat never, see that in another country The former presidents that do what Granger does will reflect about their time in government It is the same eerie tale with Professor Clive Thomas He and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine eventually took the WPA in power Formed since 1976, the WPA eventually got state power in 2015

Dr Thomas, since his party lost power in 2020, has been penning a weekly column in the Stabroek News but never is there even one word about his tenure in government -2015 -2020 Thomas and Granger have been joined by Dr Vincent Adams He just published a letter, one of many since 2020 But the missive is on the current PPP / C government Nothing is contributed to history because Adams does not inform us about the nature of the APNU - AFC regime that he worked for at a senior level

Adams begins his letter by referring to President Obama as great Adams is not a historian so he will not damage his credibility but if he was, I’m sure he would be laughed at After eight years as President of the US , what are in those eight years to have made Obama a great man?

On the contrary , Obama has left no legacy and 40 years from now , when historians write about transformational American presidents , Obama will get footnote mention

I suggest Adams read an incisive brilliant piece on Obama by Sankaran Khrisna titled, “Manhunt presidency: Obama, Race and the Third World” and “Violence and the Third World in International Relations” edited by our own Professor Randolph Persaud

Moving from Obama , Adams went on to inform us that the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) and himself are people “with decades of extensive international credentials in academia and industry dedicated to the solemn duty of giving back to our native land.” An in - depth examination of this statement would reveal that Adams has learnt nothing about the art of propaganda

Propaganda to be effective has to be intellectually well laid out with language that is so shaped that it comes across as appealing even though the facts are fictions Adams ends up being an incompetent propagandist because he uses shapeless words that are open to demolition Let’s do the demolition job on Adams’ propaganda

Firstly , if people like Adams and those in OGGN have “ extensive international credentials” then those endowments were not shared with Guyanese in Guyana Adams himself only made his presence felt when the APNU+AFC came to power in 2015 Prior to 2015 , he needs to tell about his “ solemn duty ” in giving back to his native land

Secondly, an examination of OGGN will reveal that they are still to fulfill their “ solemn duty ” to their country Dr Janet Bulkan works in British Columbia teaching forestry while UG has vacancies for such skills Dr Andre Brandli rolled off his qualifications in a response to the Attorney General but he is still to put those qualifications in the service to

Guyana He has lived all his life in Germany The rest of the OGGN folks are happy to serve the US, each having left Guyana decades ago. Thirdly, if one sees one duty as solemn , then in deconstructing the word, “solemn” one would have expected the OGGN people to have been here years ago Fourthly, in relation to Adams himself, he did come in 2015 but did he give back ? His government lost the election of 2020 , meaning that the

electorate didn’t recognise his “ charity ” of giving back

I will end with a question to Adams At an AFC virtual meeting of its leaders in July 2020 , one of them called for the racial partition of Guyana to which Adams himself objected and rejected the call

This AFC leader remains only the second politician in Guyana’s history to have done so

The question – will Adams write about that?

Foreign currency flow

IN the heart of South America, Guyana’s economic landscape is marked by its unique blend of rich natural resources and diverse industries

Foreign currency plays a pivotal role in this vibrant nation, facilitating international trade , investment , and economic stability President Dr Irfaan Ali’s explanation of how market forces, primarily supply and demand, dictate the flow of foreign currency in Guyana provides valuable insights into the country’s economic dynamics

Guyana’s foreign currency market is characterised by a delicate equilibrium influenced by a multitude of factors At the core of this dynamic market lies the principle of supply and demand This fundamental economic concept governs the ebb and flow of foreign currency, shaping Guyana’s economic destiny

On the supply side, Guyana benefits

from several key sources of foreign exchange The country is endowed with abundant natural resources, including oil and minerals, which have unlocked new avenues for foreign currency generation The government’s prudent management of these resources, often in collaboration with international partners , contributes significantly to the influx of foreign currency into the country

Moreover, Guyana’s exports, such as agricultural products , timber , and gold, bolster the supply of foreign currency International trade agreements and partnerships enhance these exports, serving as catalysts for the country’s economic growth

On the demand side, foreign currency is sought for various purposes, including imports, debt repayment, and investment As Guyana continues to

develop and diversify its economy, the demand for foreign currency is expected to rise The President’s acknowledgment of this growing demand underscores the importance of managing this aspect effectively to ensure economic stability

The Central Bank of Guyana plays a pivotal role in regulating foreign currency flows Through its monetary policy tools, it aims to balance supply and demand dynamics.

President Dr Irfaan Ali’s recognition of the interplay between supply and demand in the foreign currency market is testament to his commitment to economic transparency and sustainability By highlighting these market forces, he emphasises the need for strategic planning, and prudent fiscal management to ensure that Guyana continues to reap the benefits of its economic potential

As Guyana’s economy evolves, the government must remain vigilant in its efforts to manage the flow of foreign currency effectively

This includes diversifying the country ’ s revenue streams , encouraging foreign direct investment, and fostering a business-friendly environment to stimulate export growth Additionally, enhancing financial literacy among citizens and businesses can promote responsible foreign currency management at all levels of society

Market dynamics underpin the country’s economic well-being, and its ability to harness its vast potential

By embracing these principles , and implementing sound economic policies , Guyana can navigate the complexities of the global economy, and secure a prosperous future for its citizens

Race hate is an ugly inheritance

Dear Editor,

PLEASE permit me to address the recent emerging dynamics of some PNC support operatives in Guyana’ s political matrix and highlight their sinful attempts to disguise the overused race-hate phenomenon. The tactics are bound to fail as the voting public at home bears witness to and feels the non - discriminatory transitioning of our country.

The wicked intent of the orchestrators’ sinister plans is to heighten racial prejudices as a medium to secure race-based support that is unsurprising and only deserving of exposure for the shallowness and lack of worth in the propagandistic scheme

A key player is the vendetta - fuelled Rickford Burke, President of the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), who recently announced the organisation’s hosting of a September 18, 2023 conference in Washington DC, USA, with the deceptive theme, “Combating Racism, Inequality, Injustice, And A One Party Ethnocracy In Guyana.” All must strongly condemn such unqualified and unsubstantiated untruths

One’s examination of published media articles designed to attract the participation of the diaspora audiences would find it is not tricky to uncover the surreptitious concoction of hopeful persuasion through which the organisers have sought to propagandise Articles

captioned ‘Conference on rampant racism and nepotism in Guyana’ and ‘CGID to host a high-level conference on Guyana in U S come September’ deceptively make loaded, emboldened but unsupported pronouncements

The authors refer to research findings for which the framework and scope are unknown For example, pronouncing that 50 per cent of Afro children are school dropouts looking for work is outrageous while not providing any measure on the other ethnic groups in our population Further, there is no mention of the thousands of scholarships awarded to Guyanese of all ethnic groupings to aid the development of capacity to deal with our emerging economy Instead, the cabal seems more focused on lobbying the diaspora and U S Congress to ensure American ideals are imposed on the Guyana government

The reality is that Burke lacks credibility but, in line with the PNC’s decades of manipulation, wishes to portray himself, along with the likes of Mark Benschop, David Hinds, et al., as cohorts, as having the ordained authority to represent the rights of the Afro-ethnic people Yet , no other group has abused the rights of the Afro-Guyanese than these self-aggrandising backdoor power seekers who constantly self-proclaim racial spews The situation begs the question, ‘Where is the logic when the advocates of racial behaviour make accusations?’

One attempt to answer his previous ques-

tion is that the illogical positions stem from the scriptwriter’s advancing personality dislike of the People’s Progressive Party Civic leadership and personal publicly expressed displeasure for Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

Consequently, the conspirators’ frontal schematics are merely to advance the dirty, false claims against the ‘progressive’ Irfaan Ali - led Guyana Government to sway our Diaspora’ s perception of the fundamental national transformation for the benefit of all Guyanese

Editor, in a plural society such as ours in Guyana, ‘Race’ did not appear as an issue overnight All the talks of racism and its causes and effects have genesis from poverty, exploitation, and the lack of trust and confidence in the systems we had to live in Today, we are better at dealing with these issues and must find a less abrasive path

While finding a unified path requires objective consultation at the national level, it is unacceptable for our elected President to beg the Opposition Leader for a modicum of decency One has to wonder what level of discussion would ensue if two parties with our nation’s future as the subject cannot engage in basic cordiality Some local and national media houses have argued that President Ali is responsible for fixing the Opposition Leader’s refusal to exercise decorum In recent press interviews, our President publicly clarified his readiness and willingness to accept Mr

Norton’s phone call to address national considerations at all times

Further, one cannot deny that President Dr Irfaan Ali and his highly respected government are working to make Guyana a better place to live Our history has never recorded such a proactive government with a robust plan and increased resources President Ali’s “One Guyana” motto is a providence of unity in diversity As a result, today, as one traverses around Guyana and visits different places, our people’s true togetherness is a reality Go to our schools, markets, all social events, and even our “religious activities” are punctuated with Guyanese of all ethnic groups One must, therefore, rationalise and prove that Burke’s CGID undertaking has no real foundation I will follow up with a subsequent appropriate article, as space does not allow me to be expansive

A perspective of the root cause of attempts to rig elections in Guyana is the racial overtones, which have always gotten more potent as the cycle of national Elections approaches

The PNC previously comprised a larger Afro-group, while the PPP knowingly attracted a larger Indo-grouping However, the PNC’s Party Paramountcy Policy’s instructive approach has always informed abusive rigging as the root cause of “racism.”

Today, with the meaningful progression

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Attempts to create false impression of conflict between the President and Vice-President

Dear Editor,

AN observable pattern is emerging whereby there is a coordinated strategy by a small group of PNC/AFC aligned members seeking to create a false impression of conflict between President Ali and the Vice-President Jagdeo.

This was demonstrated in two separate letters in Kaieteur News editions of September 8th and 9th, 2023, by Aubrey Reteymer and Dr Vincent Adams respectively Dr Adams, in particular, made some vile remarks about the Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, all of which have no basis in fact It was rather a distasteful politically motivated attack on the Vice-President

In his defence of the Vice-President, Dr Randy Persaud chronicled a masterpiece of a response to Dr Vincent Adams which I would not add or minus anything written therein but would urge your readers to consult with Dr Randy Persaud’s letter which can be accessed here https://demerarawaves com/2023/09/10/ opinion-jagdeo-is-a-world-class-leader-andno-letter-to-the-editor-can-change-that-fact/.

However, I wish to make a few comments in response to Dr Vincent Adam ’ s comparison of Dr Bharrat Jagdeo with Janette Bulkan First, let’s understand the distinction between honorary doctorates and doctorates earned via the traditional academic route Honorary doctorates are typically conferred onto persons who are practitioners in their fields for their outstanding contributions in a particular field or fields On the other hand, academically earned doctorates are conferred onto persons in academia who contribute new studies, findings, empirical evidences, and theories to the body of contemporary literature in a particular subject, via their PhD publication The difference between a practitioner and an academic is that practitioners contribute to shaping reality, whereas academics contribute to academia Dr Randy Persaud did an excellent job highlighting the Vice-President’s contributions to Guyana and internationally.

Dr Bharrat Jagdeo served in several capacities in the PPP/C government during the period 1992-2011, including as junior finance

minister, substantive finance minister, and the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana from 1999-2011 He played a pivotal role in turning around the economic fortunes of the country during that time

The state of the economy in the pre-1992 could be summarised as follows, which was inherited by the PPP/C government in 1992:

In the post 1992 era, Guyana transitioned from a centrally command and bankrupt State to a mixed- economic system, with more predominant features of a free market economy.

Guyana’s Debt-to-GDP stood at over 900 per cent at one time in our history (over three decades ago)

The highest inflation rate recorded for the period of 89.7 per cent in 1989, Highest interest rate (prime lending rate for the period) 37.5 per cent in 1989,

Negative growth rates recorded in 19881990,

Exchange rate devalued from G $ 4.25 / US$1 in 1985 to G$27/US$1 in 1989, G$112/ US$ in 1990, G$138/US$1 in 1994, G$178/ US$1 in 1999, G$200/US$1 by 2004.

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

There was no FDI pre-1992 FDI in 1992 was recorded at US $ 138M and averaged US$200M up to 2017

By the end 2011, the former President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo accomplished the following:

Real GDP stood at US$3.7 billion with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 47 pre cent, down from a high of 900 per cent in 1992,

FDI was recorded at US $ 308 million compared to a nil position in the pre-1992 era,

Net international reserve of US $ 750 million, Government Deposits held at the Bank of Guyana stood at $60.786 billion Government deposits up to 1991 was nil, and in 1992 was $1.3 billion

Inflation was recorded at 3.3 per cent in 2011, down from 89.7 per cent in 1989, Prime lending rate came down to 14 per cent from 37.5 per cent in 1989

Essentially, former President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, played a formative role in turning

around the economy from a state of economic depression and bankruptcy to economic stability and financial viability by the time he demitted office as President, in just two decades

Yet, this was not an ordinary task His accomplishments were against the backdrop of the following challenges, chiefly, political economy challenges during that era such as:1992-1997: there was a short period of street protests and violence having restored democracy, following which the economy took off (short period of stability).

1997-2001: prolonged street protests and disruption (elections time).

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

2004–2008: unrests, politically motivated disruptions

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

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

On the contrary, Janette Bulkan’s accomplishments are only limited to academia as far as I am aware There is no record of her making any tangible contributions to Guyana that would have aided the upliftment of its people And, arguably she has no ethical or moral standing for the reasons stated hereunder

Her endorsement for the APNU+AFC/ PNC is not one that is underpinned by the merit of their policies per se; rather it is based on the fact that her sibling served as a former minister under the APNU government In this respect, I confirmed that Ronald Bulkan, former minister of communities, is her brother This explains why Janette Bulkan has a track record of antagonising the PPP/C government in the pre-2015 era, she then went missing during the period 2015-2020, and re-emerged in 2020 to present

This is a clear case of political bias and conflict of interest given her positions on the government, considering she has never made any public disclosure to these ends. Unlike Dr Vincent Adams , he is a known AFC

Race hate is an ugly...

and leadership by the PPP/C, no one could determine a citizen’s Political choice by ethnicity.

Based on Policy and delivery, we have witnessed more considerable crossover support for the PPP/C

Only as we approach election time can we witness the incensed racism radicalisation Our country was united in 1992 when the Political Committee in Defence of Democracy struggled as a united front for free and fair elections in Guyana Again, in 2020,

our country has to be supported almost globally to arrest the abusive undercurrents of the most flagrant attempts by PNC operatives to undermine our democracy While many PNC / APNU leaders continue to act like the abuses never occurred, they have no moral authority or track record to criticise the PPP / C about racism or discrimination Our people voted; our people saw your behaviour and witnessed the recounts, and the results proved your rejection of the PNC/APNU

Government

However , it must be necessary for our people to know that both significant political parties have a cross - section of Guyanese in their membership However , the PNC / APNU still seeks pride in insulting ‘ Indians ’ conveniently . Only recently , party leaders called an Indo-PNC General Secretary a house slave because she spoke of wrongdoings by her colleagues Further , several Indians were recently removed from the

PNC leadership following the trend when the PNC / APNU + AFC entered the government in 2015 At that time, they dismissed seven thousand sugar workers, the vast majority of the Indo group , and two thousand Amerindians from employment The ‘haters’ conveniently use racism for their political mileage Significantly, it is of note that some of the vicious mouthpieces of racism are political baggage In the USA, David Hinds worked closely with the PCD to see

affiliate / member, so his political activism is justified

That said, imagine Janette Bulkan has the audacity to pretend as though she cares in a genuine way for the Amerindian people, while she labeled the carbon credit deal fraudulent A deal that will transfer tangible benefits to the Amerindian communities to finance their village development programmes Thus, it is reasonable to question her integrity and credibility at this point since she had no such concern for this same group of people during the period 2015-2020 under the former government

One would recall that the former government terminated some 2,000 Amerindians who worked in their communities as Community Support Officers (CSOs), effectively taking away about $4billion annually from the Amerindian villages This is not the only injustice to the Amerindians by the former government that Janette Bulkan supports The former government also added VAT on domestic air transport which increased the cost of goods and airfares for the people residing in hinterland communities It is worth mentioning that the Amerindian Land Titling project was left dormant under the former government

The above-mentioned are just a few of the atrocities inflicted upon the Amerindian communities by the former government However, it is the same Janette Bulkan who now pretends to be the champion for the very people whom she had no interest in fighting for their rights to be restored, much less for more benefits

In closing, there is absolutely no conflict or division between the President and the Vice-President The example cited by Dr Adams about the refinery is inconsistent with the facts

The fact is that the Vice-President did not say anything outside of what is stated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana and the Dominican Republic.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

the end of PNC ’ s deadly rigging However, he eventually , opportunistically , after running away from the PNC riggers , became a hater of democracy because he did not get what he demanded. “Benschop” also worked closely with the PPP / C administration before radicalising He was subsequently pardoned for ‘Treason’ and escaped the U S before becoming an opportunist, cursing the PPP/C government

Significantly, no person could talk about racism in our schools , hospitals , transportation system, markets , and social activities while our people are living in greater peace and harmony Gone are the

‘kick-down ‘doors’ bandits Slavery and indentureship were the bad days , and things would get better with convenient speed under a caring and purposeful PPP/C Government

We must collectively ensure that we eliminate all forms of electoral rigging and that those facing charges before the Courts for serious election fraud face justice Race hate is an ugly inheritance to eliminate , but there must be no backdoor entry to our political power. Those elected must face and earn the confidence of our people

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

From page 6

Refreshing News

Dear Editor,

IT was refreshing to hear about the economy’s performance for the first half of 2023 from President Dr . Irfaan Ali at his press conference on September 9, 2023 After being starved of this type of news for five years prior to his assumption of office in 2020, the citizens must be elated to learn that the economy is not only propelled by the new oil and gas sec-

tor but the traditional sectors as well.

At the most recent press conference, the President announced that the economy grew by 59.5 per cent during the first six months of 2023 Even more remarkable is the 7.6 per cent expansion in the agriculture , fishing and forestry sector, which the APNU-AFC government systematically destroyed between 2015 and 2020 Every industry in this sector reported robust growth

for the first time in over a decade The sugar industry, which was singled out for particularly cruel treatment by the uncaring and myopic APNU+AFC government, and which as a subsequence was received by the Ali Government in a totally decimated and ruined state, has risen like the mythical phoenix , from the ashes to register a mammoth 30.1 per cent growth This achievement must be considered nothing short of spectacular ,

as this turnaround has happened in as little as three years The forestry sector, which the APNU + AFC government crippled with burdensome taxes on machinery and equipment , posted an impressive increase of 4.5 per cent during the first half of this year Meanwhile , after being buried in punishing land rentals, denied appropriate drainage and irrigation (D&I) and starved of international markets, the rice industry grew by 3.2 per cent during the corresponding period The other crops, livestock, and fishing sub - sectors also increased by 9.4 per cent, 4.7 per cent, and 9.9 per cent, respectively for the first half of 2023, and all of this is occurring even as the nascent oil and gas sector continues to boom The performance of these industries is not accidental or based on ‘good luck’ but due to deliberate policies and initiatives pursued by President Ali’s government The strong performance of the sugar industry may be attributed

to the investment made by the government to reopen and capitalise the shuttered estates and the reversal of the punishing taxes on machinery and equipment used in the forestry industry, contributed massively to its sterling performance Meanwhile, the investment by the government in D & I infrastructure, the rolling back of the debilitating land rental, access to seven new markets for rice, and the provision of fiscal incentives, are all responsible for the remarkable performance of the rice industry

Editor, the growth in the agriculture , forestry , and fishing sector is beyond commendable for several reasons This sector is labor - intensive and sustains citizens from many rural and often poor communities Growth in the sector , means more jobs and income for citizens, especially those in rural areas who rely on farming, livestock, fishing, and logging to make a living Aside from the labour and income benefits of vibrant agriculture in these rural areas , it also serves as a direct food source, for the many farming households in those rural communities

The sector’s strong performance is a clear signal that the government is serious about strengthening our traditional industries and diversifying the economic base of our country With a more diversified economy, Guyana is becoming more resilient to external shocks; something successive PPP/C governments have made priority, while the obviously clueless APNU + AFC , have only paid lip service to, during their deservedly brief sojourn The growth in this sector is also irrefutable evidence that the policies and initiatives implemented by the government are bearing fruit and , once sustained, will make our country even more food secure , and establish us as the breadbasket of the Caribbean

Editor , with your permission , I wish to commend President Ali and his team for fulfilling the PPP/C’s Manifesto promise to ‘Rescue Our Productive Sector’ by pursuing a development vision the president described as ‘structural, pragmatic and in service to the people ’ rather than ideological.

Regards, Kevin Persaud

Eight formal invitations ignored by Opposition Leader - President Ali says

reaffirms commitment to fulfilling constitutional duties

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his unwavering dedication to fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities, amid a standoff with Opposition Leader , Aubrey Norton , who has refused to engage in formal discussions on governance issues and constitutional reform

During a news conference held at State House on Saturday, the Head of State defended his commitment to fulfilling his constitutional mandate and expressed his perplexity over the Opposition Leader’s stance despite him extending formal invitations on eight separate occasions

“ For a matter of fact , I formally reached out to the Leader of the Opposition on eight occasions between April 22 and June 2023, in relation to fulfilling my duties in accordance with what the Constitution requires

“So, you would not find me wanting when it comes to fulfilling my constitutional mandate Because I believe strongly in constitutional rule and keeping the constitution of our country,” the President said

The President’s remarks come in response to Norton’s assertion that he refuses to formally “ ask ” President Ali for talks on governance issues

President Ali continued,

“Now, let me say to you that I have fulfilled my constitutional mandate and I intend to continue to do so. Now, I do not understand why this burden is at my foot Because I’m saying to you that I’ve fulfilled all my constitutional mandates in relation to consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the issue of constitutional reform.”

Highlighting the upcoming plans for constitutional reform, President Ali stated, “That is, as you know, the consultation for constitutional reform will commence, as I said, in the last quarter of this year I think the mechanism is in place, the institutional mechanism is being put in place now That is the last update I had from the AG (Attorney General) so, that the national consultation on constitutional reform could commence.”

He added : “ And of course, there is a formula for the establishment of that con-

sultative body, and the Opposition is very much a part of that So, I don’t know what else is needed What stops him (Norton) from calling.”

At events, President Ali had extended his hand to the Opposition Leader twice , only to be rebuffed Back in 2022 , Norton had accused the President Ali of bullying him into a handshake at an event held by the British High Commission residence At another event in Berbice, Norton and other members of his delegation refused to shake the President ’ s outstretched hand They instead chose to bow their heads

Key among the disputes is the delay in appointing a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice Norton, who assumed the role of Opposition Leader in April 2022, expressed willingness to meet on this issue.

However , the lack of progress led Opposition Member of Parliament , Vinceroy Jordan to file a case challenging the perceived delay

Justice Younge ruled that both the President and the Leader of the Opposition bear the responsibility of

reaching an agreement on appointments

Although the Constitution does not impose a specific timeline for consultations, Justice Younge emphasised the importance of acting swiftly

Norton has been criticised for the opposition ’ s refusal to engage in other constitutionally mandated consultations The appointment of crucial positions such as Police Commissioner and the Police Service Commission ( PSC ) were met with the opposition ’ s inaction

Additionally, the opposition’s failure to contribute meaningfully to important legislative amendments , including the Representation

of the People Act ( RoPA ) and the new Production Sharing Agreement ( PSA ), has raised concerns about their commitment to the well-being of Guyanese citizens

President Ali, determined to uphold his responsibilities despite the ongoing disputes, proceeded with the appointment of constitutional commissions despite Norton ’ s legal threats

The opposition took legal action to challenge the appointments of the PSC and Clifton Hicken , as well as the passage of the Natural Resource Fund Bill. However, these legal challenges were ultimately dismissed by the courts , validating President Ali’s actions as lawful and within his rights as the Head of State.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali

bold and venture into new opportunities’

– Minister Singh tells Berbicians at Muneshwer’s job fair

A NUMBER of Berbicians now have the opportunity to become gainfully employed following a successful job fair hosted by Muneshwer’s Limited, a Guyanese - owned conglomerate with headquarters in Georgetown.

Among those who attended the recruitment drive on Saturday at the Tain Campus in Berbice, was a 21-year-old female welder who Executive Director , Robin Muneshwer said was full of potential despite her limited job experience Many like her turned up to apply for job openings in more than 10 different fields

Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance

Dr Ashni Singh who attended the event, used the opportunity to call on all

be mobile is very important in the modern economy ,” he said

He told the media that the government is doing its duty by creating an environment that fosters investment and provide training

Noting that the private sector is responding positively, he said that the population needs to be able to take advantage of the opportunities as they present themselves.

“We welcome the creation of good-quality jobs and we welcome good-quality jobs being filled by Guyanese In fact, equipping the Guyanese people to fill the good- quality jobs that are now being created in greater numbers in the new and emerging economies is a task that we take very seriously and in particular, training the Guyanese to fill those jobs To perform those jobs is something that we attach the highest level of importance to and you could not ask for better evidence that jobs are out there,” he said, before adding that the good-quality jobs that are available require technical skills and will have very good earning potential and good upward-mobility potential

and said that with the continuous and rapid expansion, workers are needed. It is with this in mind that the recruitment drive was brought to Berbice

He explained that his grandfather and founder of their company was originally from Port Mourant and he moved to Georgetown to start a business, which has since grown into one of the largest in the country

Against this backdrop, he expressed hope that Guyanese in other parts of the country will be given an opportunity to be recruited and to realise their full potential

“…we decided to make this outreach to Berbice since the government has been advocating companies to come to Berbice and

Guyanese to be open-minded and flexible to new opportunities that are being created in Guyana, especially in the new and emerging sectors

“ Adaptability , agility , nimbleness, mobility be willing to move and I ’ m

not speaking about geographic mobility here, that is moving from one region to another . I ’ m speaking about occupational mobility it is important within the labour force that we need to convey more widely that flexibility, agility and nimbleness, willingness to

“I want to emphasise that government would do its part to create the training opportunities and government would also do its part to encourage companies like Muneshwer’s to do their part; and it’s obvious the private investors are doing their part, but it ’ s essential that at the individual and household levels they do their part as well,” he said

HIGHER AGENDA

He cited the recently launched heavy - duty equipment operator training programmes in Berbice which will accommodate more than 220 persons and the forging of a partnership with five leading manufacturing companies, through which 43 persons will be trained through a joint venture between the Canada - based George Brown College and the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).

Upon completion of the latter programme, those persons will fill programmable logic controller (PLC) vacancies. He explained that this is a highly computerised environment that is used in manufacturing operations.

The Senior Minister reiterated that these are clear illustrations of the higher agenda the government is rolling out to equip people with the skills that are relevant in today’s economy

He said that it’s a welcoming initiative by Muneshwer ’ s and he used the opportunity to encourage other companies to emulate them by rolling out similar fairs across the country to recruit locals for available jobs

Muneshwer ’ s through its sister company Guyana Shore Base Inc held several other jobs fairs which resulted in hundreds of persons being employed

“I want to encourage the working population to explore new types of employment opportunities, to be open-minded and willing to be flexible to adapt; to explore new frontiers, acquire new skills for new vocations, new opportunities,” he added.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

Meanwhile in an invited comment , Robin Muneshwer alluded to the human-resource challenges facing many companies

create opportunities for this area, because as you know there is heavy concentration in Georgetown Companies are looking at other parts of the world to recruit people , but we also said why go halfway across the world when there might be people 20-40 miles away That’s why we are here,” he said

Berbicians came out in their numbers to be considered for the openings with many expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to be considered

The process was smooth and quick with persons queuing up to be interviewed

Among the applicants was an experienced welder of New Amsterdam who said he felt very confident after the interviewing process.

He said that he will be able to make the transition to the capital city once selected

Dr Ashni Singh interacting with a family on Saturday at the Muneshwer’s Job Fair

Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh with Executive Director of Muneshwer’s Limited, Robin Muneshwers and General Manager Chandradat Chintamani

An applicant gathers information at the job fair Staff

Muneshwer’s

Set fires at Mahaica, Mon Repos leave four homeless

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THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS), on Sunday, disclosed that its officers, between Saturday night and the wee hours of Sunday morning , fought three fires that were said to be maliciously set.

This disclosure was made in a press statement which indicated that, around 23:45 hours on Saturday, firefighters from the Mahaica Fire Station responded to a building on fire at Mosquito Hall , Unity , East Coast Demerara

When they arrived on the scene, officers discov-

ered a two-storey wooden building, owned and occupied by one Kubram Ramlall, was engulfed in flames

That fire, according to the GFS, was maliciously set It destroyed the building leaving Ramlall homeless

Added to this , a one-storey wooden building at the same Mosquito Hall address was also destroyed as a result of the heat from the building of origin That left Shirley Pitambar and Desmond Randall homeless

Meanwhile, the GFS has determined that two

other fires were also maliciously set

The first occurred around 23:39 hours on Saturday at Blueberry Hill , Wismar , Linden where an abandoned two-storey building was set on fire and resulted in the first floor of the building being severely damaged.

The second occurred around 04:19 hours on Sunday at Mon Repos Squatting area , East Coast Demerara. That fire destroyed a one-storey wooden building and left the owner, Kevin Mohamed, homeless.

abandoned Linden house severely damaged maliciously

The building ablaze at Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden (GFS photos)

The Mosquito Hall fire

PPP/C honours Region Five’s outstanding CSEC, NGSA performers

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) held its 10th annual Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) examinations and National Grade Six Assessment ( NGSA ) award ceremony on Saturday to recognise the academic achievements of

our beautiful nation This yearly award ceremony is a treasured occasion and initiative as it provides the party with an opportunity to reflect on the academic achievements of the students in the community and region and address the whole community

while enhancing the repository of skills available for national development,” Mustapha added

According to the release, Malique Washington from Rosignol Secondary received prizes for the most outstanding CSEC Student He secured 12 Grade Ones, six Grade Twos, and two Grade Threes

Diana Hariprashad from Cotton Tree Primary received prizes for the most outstanding NGSA pupil having secured 502 points, earning her a spot at the Queen’s College

To date, the government has spent approximately $ 3 billion on textbooks. By the end of 2023 , all primary and secondary school students will have access to a minimum of four textbooks per student Additionally , a total of 87,634 students are also benefitting from the national school feeding programme , of which 42,735 are receiving juice and biscuits, 29,691 are getting hot meals , and 15,208 breakfast, the release added.

the youths in the Mahaica-Berbice region.

The 35 youths who excelled , received trophies , laptop computers , school supplies, and gifts during the event which was held in Dundee, Mahaicony, and saw members of the party’s Executive Committee, regional officials, relatives and residents from villages across the region in attendance, a press release from the party said

While delivering remarks , Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, who is also the party’s Executive Secretary, said the yearly award ceremony was a treasured occasion and initiative as it provides the party with an opportunity to reflect on the academic achievements of the students in the community and region and to address the whole community

“ You are here today because you have exhibited such great qualities that will not only help you in achieving your goals but also bring the glory of success to your families and

Through this ceremony, we can publicly celebrate the success achieved through the sheer hard work and perseverance of our students , teachers , parents , and guardians,” the minister was quoted as saying

He further stated that the government considers the nation ’ s children as the country ’ s future and that exposure and opportunities to attain proper and sound education are essential since they play a crucial role in students having a bright future.

“It is students like you who are responsible for the continuous growth and development of our country It is against that background, that our government is so committed to enhancing our educational sector even more than in previous years As pointed out by our President, education is a core element of Guyana ’s social transformation Investments in education, he said, are aimed at unlocking the potential of our students to help them realise their aspirations

PPP / C Executive Secretary , Zulfikar Mustapha hands over several prizes to Region Five’s most outstanding CSEC student, Malique Washington

The region’s most outstanding performers with regional and party representatives (PPP/C photos)

Region Five’s top NGSA pupil, Diana Hariprashad collects her prizes from PPP/C Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha

$608B in total revenue projected for 2023 – Finance Ministry

GIVEN the continuous strong economic performance, Guyana has so far recorded increased revenues and it is projected that this could amount to some $608.8 billion by the end of the year.

This is according to the Ministry of Finance’s midyear report which indicated that the improved economic performance across several sectors has increased Central Government’s revenues

For the first half of this year, the report said revenues amounted to $280.1 billion

It was stated that the current revenue collections net of the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) withdrawal and carbon credit inflows amounted to some $191.4 billion thus showing a growth of about 26.5 per cent.

According to the report, this performance can be credited to increases within several categories, including tax revenue collections which accounted for the larger share as these grew by $36.7 billion owing to higher collections of income and value-added taxes

Non-tax revenue collections also increased by $3.4 billion which reflects growth in the private sector and Bank of Guyana profits

The report went on to add that internal revenue collections amounted to $117.3 billion which shows an

increase of 32.4 per cent when compared to 2022 As such, this reflects improved private and public sector performances even as it was noted that private sector corporation tax generated an increase of $9.9 billion while the public sector’s increased by $1.2 billion which is above the 2022 levels.

“This performance is attributed to increased collections from private companies in oil and gas, wholesale and retail trade, and financial and insurance sectors

Further, increased revenue collections of $7.7 billion or 28.6 per cent were recorded from personal income taxes and $7 billion or 30.8 per cent for withholding taxes, driven by improved collections from the oil and gas sector,” the report noted.

Among the increases recorded were the collections of value-added and excise taxes in the sum of $49 billion, a 13.5 per cent increase over the same period last year

Added to this, collections from imported goods and services also grew by $2 billion as a result of the higher demand for items like broilers, machinery and mechanical appliances

However, excise tax collections decreased by $239.6 million with the zero-rating of the excise tax rate for petroleum products combined with reduced collections from tobacco products and alcoholic beverage imports

Meanwhile, it was revealed that withdrawals from the country’s NRF contributed $83.2 billion to total revenue, while $4.7 billion was deposited from carbon credit inflows at the end of June this year

To this end, for the second half of 2023, it is anticipated that $125.2 billion will be withdrawn from the NRF while an additional $26.5 billion will be deposited from carbon credit inflows

The report noted that, with these significant developments, the total revenue for the year 2023 is currently projected at $608.8 billion

Agriculture Minister ‘optimistic’ catfish ban will be lifted soon

GUYANA has submitted the protocols and relevant documentation to remove the current ban on catfish to the United States of America (USA) to the relevant government bodies, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, has said.

“We are continuously making representation We are very optimistic that we can get that ban released as early as possible. Only recently, we submitted a number of documents that they would have asked for,” Mustapha said in an invited comment

Mustapha recently engaged the outgoing US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch

During their meeting , the two officials discussed the partnerships that were developed to promote and develop

country was unable to meet several requirements in keeping with US standards

For Guyana, these requirements included the lack of inspectors on plants along with insufficient documentation detailing the sanitation and hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) process, along with how the industry manages adulterated catfish products

“This was a result of the ineptitude of the last government … they were told two years prior to the ban and they never put a system in place,” the minister added

EARLY WARNING

Exporters of catfish were required by the US Food and Safety Inspection

Outgoing US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch and Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha

Failure to do this within the timeline, however, saw the United States imposing a ban on catfish imports from Guyana in September 2017

Since assuming office as the agriculture minister in 2020, Mustapha and a

team of technical officers from the fisheries department have worked to remove the ban

Exporters of catfish have been severely affected over the past few years as a result of the ban.

Guyana’s agriculture sector during the ambassador’s tenure, as well as the steps taken to address and resolve several sectoral issues

Back in November 2017, Guyana and several other countries were temporarily banned from exporting catfish The

Services (FSIS) to provide documentation to verify that their inspection system was in keeping with US standards. This protocol came into effect in 2016.

Exporters here were given a transitional period to update their regulations and provide the relevant documentation

Joint efforts lead to reduction in illegal mining – Iwokrama

GOLD mining in the Siparuni area has drastically decreased due to the combined efforts of Iwokrama’s rangers, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Police Force, the Iwokrama International Centre has said

According to an annual report from the rainforest conservation body , in 2022, a decrease in illegal mining was recorded

While the report did not reveal any specific statistics, it did, however, state that some persons still continue to defy the law and continue to trespass into the Iwokrama Forest Nevertheless, the report said that monitoring continues with the implantation of a comprehensive monitoring system, through which data is collected and analysed, to monitor changes in naturally dynamic systems and the impact of human activities on the ecosystem.

It includes social, bio-physical, road and river, forest impact, wildlife, water quality and boundary monitoring

Social monitoring applies a Driver - Pressure - State - Impact - Response (DPSIR) framework that allows for the identification of trends and implementation of mitigation measures

Bio - physical monitoring identifies target components to monitor pressures acting upon the ecosystem The information, when analysed, is used to detect and identify trends over the period and informs management systems and forest management planning

Meanwhile, Iwokrama has existing memoranda for co-operation for community co-monitoring with Surama, Apoteri and Rewa villages, the three indigenous communities located near the rivers that border or pass through the Iwokrama Forest.

New tissue culture ‘lab’ will take Guyana’s food production to new heights – Minister Mustapha

CONSTRUCTION work for a tissue culture laboratory at La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara, is underway, and once completed, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded

ty products for the regional and international markets

He also revealed that the facility will feature a food-safety laboratory

“This here will take our production level to new heights , where we will

specially formulated nutrient media Under the right conditions, an entire plant can be regenerated from a single cell Plant tissue culture is a technique that has been around for more than 30

local production in several agricultural industries

Among these discussions was the use of tissue culture

Both Vice - President Jagdeo and President Dr Irfaan Ali had visited the South-Asian country earlier this year

Jagdeo had explained that Guyana will need varying expertise for this to happen.

“We need the expertise

from many parts of the world to transform these industries into agri - businesses ,” he’d said, adding: “In India, there are higher levels of productivity The variety of cane will give you probably two to three times the output that we are getting from a single acre of cane here Similarly, the rice varieties yield much more.”

He ’ d also shared that

India is able to see exceptional yields with its use of nano-fertilisers, which are said to produce high-yielding crops , and are more advantageous compared to the traditional fertilisers used here in Guyana Nano - fertilisers are also said to increase soil fertility yield and quality parameters of the crop. They are non-toxic, and can also minimise cost while maximising profit

project will see Guyana improving its food production standards.

In a recent invited comment to the Guyana Chronicle , Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha stated that the project will see the country being able to produce high-quali-

produce and comply with international standards Our produce will be of a better quality to export , and we will be ready for the global market,” Minister Mustapha said

Tissue culture involves the cultivation of plant cells, tissues, or organs on

years

Back in March of this year , Vice - President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that works had begun to solidify a workplan with experts from India to leverage research and innovative technologies , with the aim of boosting

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday September 11, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: GAW vs TKR Cameron Green (GAW); Dwayne Bravo (TKR)

Today’s Quiz: Who were the CPL 2019 finalists? Who led the teams in the 2019 final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GCA’s T20 Cup … Pereez’s blazing 58 spurs DCC to another title

By Sean Devers

A BLAZING 58 from Man-of-the-Match Ramond Pereez powered DCC to their third title in a week when they beat a powerful Everest line-up by seven wickets at the picturesque Everest Ground on Sunday in the GCA’s T20 Cup final.

Watched by a large and raucous crowd under a cloudless sky, Everest won the toss and opted to bat on track, with good ‘carry’ and a lightening fast and parched outfield

Led by an elegant 79 from Skipper Akshaya Persaud, the tournament’s most consistent batter, and a solid 40 from Richie Looknauth, Everest reached 161-5 after being 120-1.

Persaud, who is hoping for a National re-call for next month’s Regional Super50, hit two fours and eight sixes from the 40 balls he faced, and added 103 for the second wicket, with Looknauth hitting 40 from 48 balls with three fours and a six, while the former West indies opener contributed 15 from 17 balls with a boundary

Carlton Jacques had 2-31, while fellow speedster Dexter George took 2-24, and Sachin Singh the other wicket to fall

DCC, on the other hand, made 162-3 in 16.4 overs, on the back of an entertaining 25-ball 58 from Man-of-theMatch Ramon Pereez, who shared in a 71-run opening partnership with the left-handed Singh, who stroked a shot-filled 36 from 21 balls with four fours and two sixes, and a further 69 runs with Tevin Imlach, who was unbeaten on 45

National pacer Clinton Pestano, who removed Pereez and Joshua Persaud in two balls with the score on 120, finished with 2-22

Set 162 to win at a required rate of 8.3 runs per over, DCC, aided by high-intensity running between the wickets and an array of scintillating stroke-play, reached 54 without loss in five overs, as the pair picked the gaps with surgical precision, and ran the Everest fielders into the ground in scorching heat

The right-handed Pereez took on Pestano with back-toback boundaries on both sides of the wicket before Singh struck consecutive sixes.

National fast-bowler Sharmar Joseph was struck for a glorious cover boundary before being whipped off for four past mid-wicket off the next as Pereez looked in sublime form

Singh, not to left out, drove Joseph for a magnificent boundary in an over which cost 18 runs to end the six-over power-play on 71-0

When Singh was run out, Imlach, who got going with a swept boundary off Looknauth, had the DCC fans dancing in the stands

Pereez played like a man possessed, and after a noball was called when Keeper Joseph Perry took the ball before it passed the wicket, which caused a dispute since the players seemed not to comprehend the laws of cricket, he deposited the free-hit from Looknauth onto Carifesta Avenue in an over that cost 19 runs

Imlach, who made 162 against Bel Air Rubis in the preliminary round, played some delightful shots, including an improvised reverse sweep for four, before he was taken on cover boundary

Pestano , running in and bowling fast, produced a perfect bouncer, which Joshua Persaud tried to hook, and was caught behind to leave DCC on 120-3, and him on a hat-trick

But Imlach and Nkosi Beaton (12 not out) ensured the Queenstown side won with plenty of overs to spare, to add this title to their GCB National U-23 club title after winning the Demerara title the day before at Bourda.

Earlier, Chandrika was looking set for a big score when he chased a wide short ball from Jacques, and was caught behind at 17-1 before Persaud and Looknauth joined forces

But 103 runs later, Looknauth was taken in the deep off George, who soon bowled Pestano for duck, before Jacques got rid of Troy Gonsalves (8) at 136 Persaud was bowled by Singh after he reached his second fifty in the tournament, but in the end, it was all in vain

DCC walked away with the Champion’s trophy and $200,000, while Everest got $150,000. Members of both teams were presented with Medals.

County Championship: Zak Crawley hits century as Kent dominate Notts

ENGLAND opener Zak

Crawley hit a century as Kent dominated the opening day of their clash against Nottinghamshire at Canterbury

The Ashes star cashed in after being dropped when he was on two, making 158 from 153 balls, hitting three sixes, before he was caught and bowled by Calvin Harrison, who was Notts’ most potent bowler with his 2-103

Daniel Bell-Drummond was Kent ’ s next highest scorer with 60, while Jack Leaning and Harry Finch were unbeaten on 54 and 42 respectively at stumps

Kent were barely recognisable from the side that lost by 321 runs at Trent Bridge in July and gave debuts to spinners Yuzvendra Chahal, and Aron Nijjar , who has signed on loan from Essex

The major talking point, however , was the ongoing

Asia Cup:

absence of club captain Sam Billings.

Billings had taken a break from red - ball cricket earlier in the season and although he was included in the squad, Leaning remained captain and Finch retained the gloves

Nottinghamshire handed a debut to Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando, just 24 hours after he had arrived in the UK, and he finished on 1-63

It looked like a vital toss to win and after choosing to bat, Kent’s openers put on 95 after Crawley had been put down by Dane Paterson at point in the second over Crawley punched his way past 50 when he straightdrove Paterson for four while Ben Compton, after one expansive early effort, ebbed his way to 18 before he was bowled trying to reverse sweep Harrison four minutes

before lunch

Crawley brought up his century off exactly 100 balls and reached 150 when he pulled Fernando for one through fine leg before Harrison clung on to a drive to remove him

Bell-Drummond was out to the next delivery when he tried to hook Fernando and went to an acrobatic grab by wicketkeeper Tom Moores, but Tawanda Muyeye pulled the final ball of the afternoon session for six to leave the hosts on 260-3 at tea Muyeye and Leaning put on 59 for the next wicket, before the former went for 35, nicking to Harrison at slip Finch joined Leaning to earn Kent a third batting point and the skipper brought up his half-century when he flicked Mullaney to third man for four in the penultimate over.

India vs Pakistan to go into Monday’s reserve day after rain in Colombo

INDIA against Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super Four stage will be finished on Monday ’ s reserve day after heavy rain in Colombo

The reserve day was only added by organisers on Thursday, and is the only game, bar the final on 17 September, to have an extra day allocated Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl, with India reaching 147-2 off 24.1 overs when the rain arrived.

They will resume today, with play due to start at 10:30 BST

It means India will be playing on three successive days, with Rahul Dravid’s side due to face Sri Lanka, who have won 13 straight one-day internationals, on Tuesday.

The rain did clear, with groundstaff attempting to dry the outfield with towels and hairdryers , with inspections at 15:00 and 15:30 BST, but heavy rain returned just as the umpires

were due to inspect again Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusinghe criticised the decision to add a reserve day, saying: “I haven’t seen this kind of thing in another tournament, this changing rules in the middle of the tournament “ I am sure there is a technical committee that has representations from every participating countries They

must have decided for some other reason Yes, it is not ideal.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the decision, advising spectators to hold on to their tickets, while Bangladesh posted on X

saying : “ To clarify on the position , the decision was taken with the consent of all four participat-

ing teams and ACC [Asian Cricket Council].”

The match between India and Pakistan in the initial Super Six was washed out , while India ’ s game against Nepal was reduced to a 23-over chase, which they won Any of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are able to qualify for the final currently.

Zak Crawley went on to score 158 after being dropped while on two in the second over

Members of the groundstaff attempted to dry the outfield with towels.

Luis Rubiales resigns as president of Spanish FA over Jenni Hermoso kiss

LUIS Rubiales has resigned as president of the Spanish Football Federation following criticism for kissing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup final presentation ceremony.

Hermoso , 33 , said the kiss after Spain beat England was not consensual and she filed a legal complaint last Tuesday

He released a statement saying he had submitted his resignation to federation acting president Pedro Rocha “ I cannot continue my work ,” Rubiales said on ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’.

The 46-year-old has also resigned from his position as vice-president of Uefa’s executive committee

Rubiales claimed the kiss was “mutual and “consensual” but had been provisionally suspended by football’s world governing body FIFA.

Hermoso ’ s legal complaint means he could face criminal charges

“After the quick suspension carried out by FIFA , plus the rest of open proceedings against me, it is evident that I will not be able to return to my position,” Rubiales’ statement read

“Insisting on waiting and holding on is not going to contribute to anything positive, neither to the federation

nor to Spanish football.”

Rubiales said he hoped his departure would boost Spain’s joint bid with Morocco and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup

He added: “I have faith in the truth and I will do everything in my power to prevail

“My daughters, my family and the people who love me have suffered the effects of excessive persecution, as well as many falsehoods , but it is also true that on the street, more and more every day, the truth is prevailing.”

On 29 August , Spanish prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into

whether the incident amounts to a crime of sexual assault

At the time, Spain’s top criminal court said it was opening its investigation in light of the “ unequivocal nature” of Hermoso’s statements, saying it was necessary “to determine their legal significance”.

“Given the public statements made by Jennifer Hermoso, the sexual act she was subjected to by Luis Rubiales was not consensual,” a statement said Rubiales, who prior to the kiss had been seen grabbing his crotch while celebrating Spain’s 1-0 win against En-

gland, had repeatedly refused to resign from his position

Earlier this month , Spain’s national sports tribunal (TAD) opened a misconduct case against him, ruling he had committed a “serious offence” by kissing Hermoso

However , the TAD stopped short of the “ very serious offence ” the government had requested, that would have led to his suspension

Some 81 Spain players, including all 23 World Cup winners , said they would not play for the national team again while Rubiales was in charge. (BBC Sport).

Australia’s top order lay down their World Cup marker

IT is hardly revolutionary

to see a team blaze away at the start of a one - day innings , but Australia ’ s mindset in the first two matches against South Africa has given a clear indication of how they will approach the World Cup And it won’t involve seeing out the new balls.

Their gameplan also brought two contrasting outcomes in Bloemfontein

In the opening match their scorecard read a somewhat bizarre 113 for 7 in the 17th over chasing 223 before Marnus Labuschagne , who himself had rattled along to 36 off 20 balls after being subbed into the contest, and Ashton Agar settled into a more conservative tempo to secure victory

It was notable after the first game how stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh, who is leading in place of the injured Pat Cummins, made a point of saying he was pleased with the intent shown even though it left the team in trouble

Two days later, just about everything clicked as David Warner and particularly Travis Head cantered to 102 in

the first ten overs There was some loose stuff served up by South Africa’s attack but sustaining 10 an over was still a notable achievement

Even when Head , after making 64 off 36, and Marsh fell in consecutive balls there wasn’t really sustained consolidation Warner and Labuschange added 151 in 20.4 overs, the latter playing as freely as he ever has in ODI colours to leave the selectors plenty to ponder in the next few weeks, and Warner needing just 33 balls for his second fifty After a sluggish start, Josh Inglis also joined in with a maiden ODI fifty off 36 balls having been 13 off 19 at one stage

“We saw the lack, probably, of intent from South Africa the game before, so for us we had to get on the front foot,” Warner said. “Our goal is always to try to target the first ten Then from there try to build a partnership outside of the powerplay We got a couple of probably free shots outside the off stump, especially with Travis , his leg stump is his off stump, he can create that off-side play whenever he feels like it, but

our gameplan was to take the first ten on and build from there.”

Over the last couple of series, as attention has turned more specifically to the ODI World Cup, Australia’s tenover powerplays have produced some hefty returns

In the last eight games, their lowest score in that period has been 53 for 2 against

England in Sydney; on six occasions they have gone at better than a run a ball and twice have flayed over 100

Aside from yesterday in Bloemfontein , the other triple-figure return came in Visakhapatnam when Head and Marsh crunched 112 in ten overs to almost complete a chase inside the powerplay With such a small target

there are fewer consequences should it go wrong , but the success Head and Marsh had together in India briefly raised the question of who should open at the World Cup When Warner returned for the final game of that series he batted No 4

But Warner and Head have a formidable record together : after their latest partnership the pair’s average is 100.55 with four century stands Since returning to the ODI side in 2022, Head has had a phenomenal impact with 736 runs at a strike rate of 117.76 And for all the angst over Warner ’ s Test performances, his white-ball cricket has never provided the same concern They will be together for the World Cup

“He [Travis] had a bit of a crack at me from the last game getting out on zero, it killed our partnership average he said,” Warner joked. “We know each other’s game plan very well, we are trying to put the pressure back on the bowlers and today, without swinging conditions, it probably enhanced that a little bit for us to go after them If

there is a bit of swing we’ll have to deal with that.”

The desire to embolden the top order to keep playing with freedom is a big reason why Australia are stacking their batting down to at least No 8, although on Saturday the lower middle order was the only part of the game that did not quite click with Tim David, Alex Carey and Aaron Hardie making 10 off 19 balls between them, but it was the smallest of blemishes “ Thought the way they batted was just outstanding to have 110 [ 102 ] off the powerplay, Heady and David Warner were amazing, then for Marnus to bat the way he did just carried it on ,”

Marsh said . “ Thought our intent throughout the whole innings was something that we’ve spoken about and our execution today was as good as it gets with the bat.”

It was, in fact, only Marsh who really missed out on the fun

“

I ’ ll probably put the reverse sweep away first ball, I think,” Marsh, who now has five wins from five matches as Australia captain, said.. (Cricinfo).

Marsh terms his team’s batting “as good as it gets” after Head blazes away followed by hundreds for Warner and Labuschagne

Travis Head and David Warner added another big stand to their opening partnership • AFP/Getty Images

Luis Rubiales

Magnificent Motie defends six to keep Warriors unbeaten

THE Guyana Amazon Warriors maintained their unbeaten start to the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League ( CPL ) with a last - over thriller against the Barbados Royals.

The Amazon Warriors won the toss and opted to bat first, and despite losing a flurry of wickets at the back end of their innings , they posted an ominous 181-9 Scoreboard pressure saw the Royals lose early wick-

ets in the Powerplay , but they were always in sight of the required run rate in their reply

Having seemingly timed their chase to perfection, the Royals needed six runs from the final over, but Gudakesh Motie held his nerve to seal a dramatic win for the Amazon Warriors

Earlier , Amazon Warriors had surprised everyone by opening with Motie and Saim Ayub and the experiment did not bear fruit as Motie fell for seven runs inside the opening nine balls

Ayub and Hope laid a foundation following that dismissal to leave the Amazon Warriors handily placed on 83-1 at the halfway stage of the innings

The 98-run partnership was eventually broken when Carlos Braithwaite dismissed Ayub caught and bowled for 57.

Azam Khan fell shortly afterwards, but the Amazon Warriors continued to force the pace before Obed McCoy got Hope to chop on to his stumps for an even 50

Late-over fielding penalties saw the Royals get punished , but Brathwaite continued to be a thorn in the Amazon Warriors side dismissing Shimron Hetmyer , Romario Shepherd and Odean Smith in the 19th over before Jason Holder followed suit in the last over to remove Dwaine Pretorius and Keemo Paul

The Amazon Warriors still posted an imposing total

of 181-9 that left the Royals an almighty task ahead

While 182 to win was always likely to be a tall order the Royals did not help their assignment by losing both their openers inside the Powerplay. However , the Royals reached the six-over mark at 54-2 and ensured they had a base from which to mount a charge

`Just when it seemed the

Royals were going to fall to defeat, captain Rovman Powell blasted 39 from 19 balls to leave the Royals the equation of 31 runs needed from 19 balls

Once Braithwaite and Justin Greaves had got the equation down to six off the final over it looked a forgone conclusion, but the Warriors and Motie closed out a famous win (CPLT20)

Beacons defeat Rivers FC to stay unbeaten in BFA league

THE crowd erupted in celebration on Saturday night in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) as Beacons Football Club emerged victorious over defending champions Rivers View Football Club to remain at the top of the Bartica Football Association Senior Men’s League table

In a thrilling showdown at the Community Centre , Beacons Football Club delivered a spectacular performance, clinching a 1 - 0 victory with a late goal by striker Shaquille Hopkinson (81st).

The highly anticipated match marked the inaugural meeting of the season between the two top clubs Both teams entered the game with a sense of anticipation and excitement

It was an impressive display of talent and sportsmanship, as both sides gave their utmost on the field However, Beacons Football

Club exceptional defensive prowess consistently foiled the defending champions’ every attempt at scoring.

In a post - game interview, Beacons Football Club Coach ; Linden Wallerson ,

said his team continues to put in the work in training with an aim to remain undefeated throughout the league “ We ’ ve worked hard , we’ve covered all our bases We will finish this league

unbeaten,” shared a jubilant Beacons Football Club Coach Linden Wallerson.

Bartica Football Association Senior Men’s League kicked off in June and has nine football clubs - Beacons,

Rivers View , Rising Stars , Lazio Agatash United , AK Galaxy, Potaro Strikers, Mil Ballers and Wolves Unitedcompeting for the title

In an earlier match on Saturday night, Potaro Strikers Football Club secured an impressive 5-1 victory over AK Galaxy Football Club

The Strikers ’ dominant performance showcased their skill and determination on the field with Daniel Gardner as the driving force behind the victory, securing a remarkable first- half hat trick in the 13th, 39th, and 41st minutes

The team ’ s relentless attacking continued in the second half, with Shamar Stephen and Derron Baksh adding to the scoreline in the 56th and 70th minutes, respectively. Despite the loss, AK Galaxy Football Club managed to find some consolation as Samuel Mentore netted a goal in the 46th minute

The League is currently in

round two, and according to Bartica Football Association President Alden Marslowe, the community continues to witness a display of incredible skills on the field

“A lot of families come out to view football,” Marlowe shared

“It gives the senior men an opportunity to be recognised for their talents and abilities At Bartica the senior men’s league is a great inspiration to the younger folks

He added: “We were able to get the teams organised, get the League started and it’s running quite smoothly.”

Guyana Football Federation ( GFF ) President Wayne Forde in June presented $ 12.4 million in cheques to the nine Regional Associations (RAs) through the Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP) in preparation for the highly anticipated 2023 Senior Men’s League

Gudakesh Motie (#68) is mobbed by teammates after his magnificent final over on Sunday (Photo: CPLT20).

Shai Hope (left) and Saim Ayub both made 50s for the Warriors (Photo: CPLT20)

Action between Beacons (left) and Rivers View

Pereez’s blazing 58 spurs DCC to another title

Djokvic wins record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title

NOVAK Djokovic won a record - equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title by outlasting Daniil Medvedev in a punishing US Open final in New York

The 36 - year - old Serb won 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 but the straight - set scoreline does not tell how deep he had to dig

A comfortable opening set was followed by a brutal second which lasted one hour and 44 minutes

After the pair exchanged breaks early in the third ,

Djokovic took control to level Margaret Court ’ s 50year record

“It obviously means the world to me,” said Djokovic on winning his 24th major.

“I ’m really living my childhood dream to compete at the highest level in this sport , which has given me and my family so much from difficult circumstances.

“I never thought I would be here but the last couple of years I thought I had a shot at history Why not grab it

when it is presented?”

Second seed Djokovic had looked physically troubled, particular in that gruelling second set , but showed all the hallmarks of his greatness to win a fourth US Open title

Djokovic , who surpassed Rafael Nadal ’ s previous record tally of 22 men’s major titles earlier this year , has matched Australia ’ s Court at the second attempt after losing the Wimbledon final in July.

He has won three of the four Grand Slam titles in 2023, becoming the first man to achieve this feat on four occasions

Now the incoming world number one has the chance to surpass Court at January’s Australian Open - where he has already won a record 10 titles

It felt fitting Djokovic set up championship point by winning another lengthy rally and, after being made to wait to serve by shouts from the crowd, sealed vic-

tory when Medvedev hit a forehand into the net

After shaking hands with his opponent, Djokovic sobbed as he knelt on the court before picking out his daughter from the crowd

Further tears followed as he went to celebrate with his nearest and dearest, which included parents Srdjan and

Dijana, wife Jelena, son Stefan - and Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey

Djokovic also pulled on a T-shirt which paid tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his friend who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2020 and wore 24 in his playing days.(BBC Sport).

DCC Captain Jamal Hinkson is presented with the Parliamentary Mace from Speaker of the House Mansoor Nadir

Champions DCC takes team photo after their 7-wicket win yesterday Stooping, at left, is Man-of-the-Match Ramon Pereez (Sean Devers photos)

Novak Djokovic beat Medvedev to avenge his defeat by the Russian in the 2021 US Open final. (Getty Images