Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 11-10-2023

WEDNESDAY 11th October, 2023

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International partners, over 100 exhibitors, agro-processors for Agri Investment forum 15 PAGE

President Ali talks up ‘food rich’ concept

–– highlights country’s plans for agricultural resilience, food security

–– Lobbies for technical support at IICA summit to advance Region’s food-security goals

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The nation’s first all-girls robotics team took part in the First Global Challenge held in Singapore. From a pool of 191 teams, the girls have emerged as one of the top 24. This year’s challenge is ‘Hydrogen Horizons’, where teams innovate and compete with robots simulating electrolysis. Participants will recreate the process of extracting renewable energy by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Gov’t warns contractors NDMA refutes 13 against extortion cybersecurity firm’s successful 11 attempts on cyber-espionage incomplete projects claims PAGE

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Traffic Chief urges responsible parking –– Chief Education Officer tells CoI to prevent hazards 09

School dormitories neglected under previous gov’t 21 PAGE

–– Former Home Affairs PS says no agency lacked funding

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UN urges global unity to ensure every girl can lead, thrive 18 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

President Ali talks up ‘food rich’ concept

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

–– highlights country’s plans for agricultural resilience, food security

–– Lobbies for technical support at IICA summit to advance Region’s food-security goals

By Naomi Parris AIMING to build an agriculture industry that will withstand the effects of climate change and secure income for citizens, President Dr. Irfaan Ali recently proposed a unique ‘food rich’ concept to representatives of the Inter-American Institute on Cooperation in Agriculture, (IICA).

Dr. Ali, while engaging IICA’s Director-General, Manuel Otero, in Costa Rica last week, explained that the concept will explore the use of technology and the sciences to advance the country’s agriculture sector into one that is sustainable and economically friendly.

“Food rich is a concept I have coined that speaks to nutritional values; it speaks to replenishment value because you could be producing food but destroying the environment and all this constitutes what I term a food rich environment,” the Guyanese Head of State said further explaining: “It’s one where you become richer with the food you produce from an environmental standpoint and an economic standpoint”.

Such a concept, he said, will also see the country working towards making the industry much more attractive for the private sector, women, and youths.

“Agriculture is not just the production of food, for us agriculture is a business; it must be able to be competitive, it must be able to earn, it must be able to be profitable, it must be able to generate proposals that are bankable and make sense for the private sector.”

While IICA has already been supporting Guyana and several other countries to achieve their food security goals, President Ali noted that continued sup-

President Ali in discussion with IICA’s Director-General, Manuel Otero, in Costa Rica last week (Office of the President photo) port will see countries in the region being able to advance their respective agriculture sectors.

“IICCA has an important responsibility in bridging the inequality gap between and among countries’ access to technology, access to data, access to resources in building human capacity, training and development.”

WOMEN AND YOUTH The Guyanese Head of State further highlighted several ongoing initiatives to include more women and youth in the sector and adapt to newer technologies.

“We have already launched a programme in Guyana where we said we want 35 per cent of all the new farms to be owned by women and young people and we are already on target

with this.”

He added: “All the new agro-phonics, shade houses that we are doing young people are involved, the marine cage project, not only young people but the indigenous communities.

Teaching them how to apply technology.”

“We have already launched a programme in Guyana where we said we want 35 per cent of all the new farms to be owned by women and young people and we are already on target with this.”

He further touted plans to transform the country’s agricultural sector as a major income earner for men, women and especially young people.

He explained that the government was working assiduously to position Guyana’s agricultural sector along with the food-production system into a business

market for citizens.

The aim is to make the sector more attractive for women and youth.

He also reiterated Guy-

ana’s current role in reducing the CARICOM Region’s high food-import bill.

President Ali, along with Guyana’s Agricul-

ture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, currently hold leadership roles in advancing the Region’s food security.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

‘An act of sheer evil’: Biden pledges support for Israel after attack

(Reuters) - PRESIDENT Joe Biden, his voice gripped with emotion, condemned the deadly attack against Israel by the Hamas militant group as “an act of sheer evil” and stressed U.S. support for Israelis mourning the slaughter of more than 1,000 people.

A visibly upset Biden, in remarks at the White House, voiced concern for any Americans who may be held hostage

by Hamas, the Iran-backed group that launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza on

Saturday.

At least 14 Americans died in the attack. National security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters the U.S. believed 20 Americans were missing but that it remained unclear if they were being held hostage.

Biden said Washington will share intelligence with Israel and deploy additional experts on hostage recovery.

Sullivan said no American forces would be deployed on the ground.

Biden stopped short of an

overt plea to Israel to show restraint to avoid Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza as Israel girds for a possible ground offensive against Hamas.

But he said he told Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a phone call on Tuesday, that militants intentionally target civilians while democracies like the United States and Israel are “stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law.”

“There are moments in this life, and I mean this lit-

erally, when the pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend,” Biden told reporters at the White House.

Biden described what he called “stomach-turning” reports of “parents butchered,” “babies being killed,” “entire families slain” and “women raped, assaulted and paraded as trophies.”

Biden said Hamas had threatened to execute hostages, including survivors of the

President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in New York on Sept. 20.

Nazi Holocaust, in violation of decisive and overwhelming.” “every code of human moralBiden outlined the U.S. ity.” He said the group’s bru- military assistance being sent tality and “blood thirstiness” to help Israel in its fight and was a reminder of the “worst said he would ask Congress to rampages of ISIS.” take urgent action. The White “This is terrorism, but sad- House is considering submitly for the Jewish people, it’s ting a request to Congress that not new,” Biden said. would include military aid to The incident had brought both Ukraine and Israel, said to the surface memories of a person familiar with the antisemitism and the genocide matter. of the Jewish people, he added.

The White House, on In an apparent reference Monday, said it expected to to Iran and Iranian-backed fulfill additional security regroups such as Lebanon’s quests from Israel as quickly Hezbollah, Biden said he had as possible. Biden promised a message for any country or replenishment of interceptors organization thinking of taking used by Israel’s Iron Dome advantage of the situation - “I missile defense system as well have one word: don’t.” as ammunition in addition to Israel pounded the Gaza redoubling U.S. military presStrip on Tuesday with the ence in the region. fiercest air strikes in its Biden also offered support 75-year-old conflict with the for American Jews and said Palestinians, razing whole they should be allowed to districts despite a threat worship in peace in the United from Hamas militants to exe- States. Biden said last month cute a captive for each home that antisemitism in the Unithit without warning. ed States had risen to record levels.

BIDEN PROMISES Israel’s embassy in ISRAEL SUPPORT Washington said the death Biden spoke after his toll from Hamas’ weekend third phone call in four days attacks had surpassed 1,000, with Netanyahu, telling him dwarfing all modern Islamist if such an attack happened attacks on the West since the in the United States “our Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the response would be swift, United States.

Wednesday, October 04, 2023

C 02 04 07 14 20 26 12 Saturday, October 07, 2023

K 01 04 05 11 20 22 07

10/10/23 - 04, 07, 17, 20, 24

10/10/23 - 5 3 1

10/10/23 - 2 8 3

10/10/23- 08, 11, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

New housing projects in Dominica incorporate climate-resilient designs

DOMINICA continues to forge ahead with groundbreaking climate-resilient housing projects.

One of the cornerstones of Dominica’s climate-resilient housing strategy is the adoption of sustainable and robust construction materials.

Conventional building materials are being replaced with more resilient alternatives capable of withstanding the most extreme weather conditions.

These measures include reinforced foundations and roofs, as well as the installation of impact-resistant windows and doors, bolstering homes against the devastating force of hurricanes and strong winds.

This has been the case ever since Dominica start-

ed its Housing Revolution Initiative, in partnership with international organisations and developing companies like MMC Development Ltd., which has completed thousands of housing units for the Caribbean island over the last seven to eight years.

At a recent site visit, Dominica’s housing minister unveiled the blueprints used at a few housing projects in Paix Bouche, Vieille Case and Penville constituencies.

Melissa Skerrit said that every house is constructed with a concrete roof and windows made from shatter-resistant glass. Furthermore, by integrating energy-efficient architectural features and robust materials along

with effective ventilation systems, each residence will serve as a secure sanctuary during natural disasters.

In addition to these attractive duplexes and garden-style homes, those who receive them will

also gain access to agricultural land, which aims to encourage backyard farming and promote healthy eating habits.

Skerrit also expressed that these homes, designed to withstand hurricanes, exemplify the gov-

ernment’s dedication to achieving the distinction of being the world’s first climate-resilient nation.

She emphasised, “Once completed, the structures will be spectacular but, more importantly, built to last for generations to come!”

The housing projects in Paix Bouche, Vieille Case, and Penville have

Perspective Plans that encompass a variety of housing options, including 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom bungalows, as well as 1-bedroom and 3-bedroom duplexes.

These residences are nearing completion as part of the ongoing housing initiative in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

(Caribbeannewsnow)

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Editor

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Navendra Seoraj

Conflict in the Middle East

THE situation in the Middle East has taken a turn for the worse following a recent early- morning strike on Israel

by Hamas. The strike killed over a 1,000 people, the majority of whom were civilians.

The attack sent shockwaves across the world in what is viewed by many as a failure of Israeli intelligence to detect in advance a strike of such intensity and magnitude.

Israel in response declared a ‘state of war’ and launched a series of attacks on the Gaza Strip killing hundreds of innocent people and destroying several buildings and infrastructure. In addition, Israel cut has cut off electricity, water, food and medical supplies in a retaliatory move.

This is indeed a worrying development and has once again brought to the surface a volatile situation spanning several decades. Despite several peace efforts by the United States and other bodies, including the United Nations, the problem remains largely unresolved

with dire consequences.

The genesis of the conflict lies in the end of the British mandate in May, 1948, when Israel unilaterally declared its independence despite a United Nations decision to have a two-state resolution involving Palestinians and Jews. This was met with fierce resistance from Palestinians and other Arab states. A British Mandate, it should be recalled, was created in 1923 and lasted until 1948. That period saw a flood of Jewish migrants, many of whom were fleeing Nazism in Europe.

Palestinians were alarmed by their country’s changing demographics, which over time resulted in several conflicts involving Arab nations and Israel. Palestinians were effectively their homeland and for several decades lived under the shadow of an occupying power.

Gaza which is home to roughly 2.3 million people with an area of 365 square kilometres, is one of the most densely populated regions in the world and had experienced several military assaults by Israel. This ongoing assault

has no immediate end in sight as the Israeli Prime Minister vowed to take all necessary action to avenge the killings.

The killing of civilians and the taking of hostages cannot be justified and certainly does not advance the cause of any party to the conflict. Such an approach is inconsistent with international law and a violation of the right to life as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

Collective punishment of an entire society is against the laws of war, as in the case of the current bombardments in the Gaza Strip by Israel.

The only way forward is to create the conditions for peace and the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on full respect for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed Guyana’s long-standing solidarity with the Palestinian people and support for their dignified existence in accordance with the two-state solution.

During his recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, he urged

member states to do more to move past rhetoric so that the peace process can progress.

This call is more timely and relevant today, as it was at any time in the history of the conflict. The time is long overdue for a permanent solution to this festering problem. The root cause of the conflict must be addressed, namely, a free and independent Palestinian state.

This most recent escalation of the conflict is yet another grave reminder that the cost of inaction on the part of the international community to deal with the Palestinian issue can be catastrophic for people not only in the Middle East, but also for humanity as a whole.

This current conflict has grabbed the international headlines and, for the first time in months, has pushed the war in Ukraine on the backburner.

One can only hope that this current conflict situation will come to an early end and not allowed to be dragged out for months as in the case of the war in Ukraine.

Fixing NIS, passport backlogs most commendable

THE announcement by President Ali to fix problems at NIS (National Insurance Scheme) and fix slow processing of passports are to be highly commended.

We need the same for Birth Certificates, TIN numbers, other government documents and approvals. High fives for the President. It means people will get NIS benefits before they die. It shows the President understands these ongoing issues that are vexations to the working class.

When Government agencies fail to do their jobs or operate in a persistent inefficient mode, that brings much embarrassment to the President’s administration. It also means ministers are not on top of things at their ministries. The ministers themselves are problems when they don’t return your calls, texts, or you can’t meet with them.

Ministers being arrogant and inaccessible is not good leadership. They are supposed to be servants of the people. The Public Service Ministry should lead in this area.

Maybe find better ministers or train the current ones what good customer service looks like. I can do [this] for free.

The NIS has forever been a poster child

for governmental inefficiency in Guyana.

After dealing with the NIS on my 88-yearold cousin being given the royal run around for 28 years, I have concluded that the NIS is like Humpty Dumpty – all the King’s horses and all the King’s men cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.

The NIS was supposed to be a safety net for retired people at a time when they are most vulnerable and in need of support.

When you call the NIS and can’t reach anyone, when you call until you are blue and they will not return your calls, when they deal with you in callous ways devoid of any empathy or sympathy, this agency needs a makeover with a new crew. President Ali is doing the right thing to jack them up. With 10,000 angry, upset, frustrated people, the NIS can cause the Government to suffer electorally. Ten thousand working-class people given the runaround are almost two seats! In my cousin’s case, the Minister’s Office arranged meetings for us to meet the General Manager, but she cancelled twice and never responded to many emails. The NIS keeps saying my cousin is missing contributions, when in fact he did work.

Not because NIS does not have all your contributions means you did not work.

It means the NIS did not do its statutory duty in monitoring employers and making sure all records are up to date. They bully people. So when you reach 60 and you apply for NIS, it is then you find out they had not been doing their jobs and your contribution record is incomplete. So why is NIS punishing poor people when missing contributions record is not their fault? The courts had already ruled that if employers had deducted money from your paycheck for NIS but did not turn the money in, you still have to give the employee credit. It was not the employee’s fault.

There needs to be a similar court ruling or policy change for cases where employers did not submit complete records of employees’ contributions. Mr. President, there needs to be a more worker-friendly, humane approach when contribution records are missing and incomplete. Punish the NIS for doing a bad job, don’t punish the employee. Since incomplete records are not the fault of the employees, how will the NIS resolve that issue? They simply cannot

tell people we don’t have your records, you do not qualify for monthly benefits, go away. That’s what they said to my cousin and many others.

Regarding the Passport Office, not too long ago, you could get a passport in one week. Then it moved to one month. Now they tell you come back in 10 weeks. The reason why people come to Georgetown for passports is because it takes longer in the regions. If the regions can process as quickly as the Georgetown Office, we can eliminate the daily long lines in the Georgetown Office.

Can we stop this inequity in treatment and reduce the sloth in the regions? Let’s end this culture of inefficiency, which seems calculated to fuel the bribery industry.

On the brighter side in the Government, the Drivers’ Licence Section needs to be commended as you can get a licence renewed the same day at the Georgetown Office. Congratulations to the GRA. Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

The MCC is refusing alliance politics with Norton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

TODAY’S article is part 13 in the series on the history of the political deportment of the Mulatto/ Creole class (MCC).

In two previous sections, I referred to the political suicide of the MCC. The reason for the use of the word “suicide” is because, throughout its history, the MCC went into partnerships that became victimhood.

First, it was the National Democratic Party in the 1950s; the PNC in the fifties too; the United Force in the 1960s; the WPA in the 1970s; the Hoyte presidency in the 1980s. After these marriages, it was the AFC and the PNC under Granger. Since March 2020 MCC has been dancing with political suicide. As a social class, the MCC will never die and will continue to be present in the sociology of Guyana for a long time to come. I will explain later.

Since March 2020, when the MCC realised not only that the PPP returned to power, but the shape of Guyana’s politics will be done by the PPP for a long time to come, because the PPP will not lose power in a hurry, the MCC has refused to form any type of political alliance, thus courting political suicide. I think it was this thought of PPP permanency that sent the MCC into a tailspin after the declaration of the PPP victory in July 2020.

This was a “dread” moment, as they say in common lingo, for the MCC. From the time the MCC emerged as a class force in Guyana, out of the ex-house slaves after emancipation, and with the arrival of the Portuguese into British-Guiana, the MCC’s dedicated journey was for Guyana to join other Caribbean countries as a Western, Creole society.

Cheddi Jagan’s organising of Indian people outside the sugar estates was a development that the MCC was not prepared to tolerate. The MCC thought that with its success in getting the colonial office to deny Indian people the franchise, that would have been the end of the road for Indian political awakening, but Jagan put an end to that.

The MCC finally put an end to Jagan when the British and American governments pursued violent upheavals in Guyana, leading to the ouster of Jagan.

Despite Burnham’s defection from the MCC’s agenda, the MCC was never unhappy with permanent power through rigged elections. They saw rigged election as the MCC’s staying power. This explains why Mr. Ramkarran wrote recently that the MCC (he didn’t use the term) were all adamant about free and fair elections, but when Burnham died and Hoyte rigged the 1985 election, they became silent.

My contention is the WPA kept the PPP out of the loop because the intention in the 1970s was to overthrow Burnham and install an MCC regime with Walter Rodney and the WPA thus keeping Cheddi Jagan out of power. This explains the revelation by Ralph Ramkaran that, despite years of cooperation, the WPA felt that the time had arrived to remove Burnham in 1979. When the PPP leaders asked for information on the strategy, the WPA denied giving the PPP the details.

I am contending that, looking back at the WPA ramparts in the 1970s, it was not a genuine revolutionary moment but another attempt at the hegemony of colour and class by the MCC. Revisionist history will not be kind to Rodney because his

politics were driven more by colour and class than

by Jaganite revolutionary socialism. I am researching a column that will answer my own question as to how Rodney would have reacted to the rigging of the March 2020 poll. I will not be kind to him because my research will not allow me to be such.

So why is the MCC not in an alliance, whether thin or tiny, with Aubrey Norton? I answered this question when Norton became the leader of the PNC. Please Google my column of Friday, December 24, 2021, headlined, “PNC election results 2021, part 2: Norton faces colour and class.”

I quote from that column: “If Corbin was despised in 2002, Aubrey Norton will be treated with the same disdain the MMC has forever shown the Indians. The MMC will not associate with Norton. They believe he is not MMC material, just as Corbin wasn’t.

They will not give the PNC any funds. The businesses that bankrolled Hoyte and Granger will chase away Norton.”

I wrote that in December 2021. Today it is public knowledge that the PNC has money shortage. The MCC isn’t giving and will not give Norton any funds.

The MCC is prepared to go it alone as it has been doing since March 2020, Why? I will answer that in part 14.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Natural Resources Ministry Lorry driver granted $1M bail for fatal accident clarifies misinformation on Guyana’s 2022 Bid Round

THE Ministry of Natural Resources has taken steps to address recent articles published in the Kaieteur News that contained misleading information concerning certain aspects of the Guyana 2022 Bid Round.

To provide clarity on the matter, the Ministry released several key points to correct any misconceptions: The notice for tender regarding the 2022 Bid Round was issued in accordance with the recently repealed Petroleum Exploration and Production Act of 1986.

This notice was published in the Official Ga-

zette on December 9, 2022.

It invited interested parties to participate competitively in the bidding round, with access to a virtual data room for which a fee was required. Crucially, this notice also included the coordinates of the area where interested parties could submit their tenders.

The Petroleum Activities Act, known as Act 17 of 2023 (PAA 2023), officially came into effect on September 1, 2023. This legislation extended the 2022 Bid Round. Furthermore, updated guidelines for the bid round were issued through a notice dated September 11, 2023.

At the conclusion of the bid round, after the evaluation of bids, the most substantially responsive bidder(s) for a specific block will be invited to apply for the grant of a petroleum exploration licence. This process is in line with the established legal framework under the PAA 2023.

The Ministry of Natural Resources noted that it will ensure that these applications are gazetted in accordance with the provisions of the PAA 2023.

Further, the Ministry underscored its full compliance with all relevant laws of Guyana pertaining to the Bid Round, emphasising its

commitment to transparency and adherence to legal regulations.

This clarification comes as Guyana continues to attract significant attention and investment interest in its oil and gas sector, with the country positioned as a key player in the energy industry.

CHARRIA Naitram, a 26-year-old lorry driver hailing from Supply Village, East Bank Demerara, is on $1M bail following a fatal accident that occurred on Sunday, October 8, 2023, around 06:30hrs on the Ogle Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

Naitram was charged with the offence of ‘Causing Death by Dangerous Driving’ of Patricia Hutson, a pedestrian who tragically lost her life.

Naitram appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court #1 before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Tuesday, where the charge was formally presented. Naitram entered a plea of not guilty and was subsequently grantCharria Naitram ed bail in the amount of $1,000,000.

In addition to the primary charge, Naitram faces several other charges related to the incident: unlicensed motor vehicle, uninsured motor vehicle, and uncertified motor vehicle For each of these charges, the accused also pleaded not guilty and was placed on bail in the sum of $25,000 for each offence. The case was adjourned to November 21, 2023, for further proceedings.

The incident in question occured while Naitram was operating a motor lorry with registration GAE 8189 and struck down Patricia Hutson, a 63-year-old security guard who resided in 13th Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

World Mental Health Day….

Community-Based Psychiatry: Guyana’s approach to mental health revolution

ON October 10, 2023, Guyana joined the global community to commemorate World Mental Health Day, with a resolute commitment to raising awareness about mental health issues and destigmatizing mental illnesses.

This year’s theme, “Mental Health is a Universal Right,” underscores the necessity of fostering a compassionate and empathetic society.

In a message, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said in recent years Guyana has made notable strides in the field of mental health, with Parliament enacting two progressive pieces of mental health legislations aimed

at safeguarding, caring for, and treating individuals with mental illnesses through a human-rights framework.

He explained that the antiquated Mental Hospital Ordinance of 1930 has been supplanted by the Mental Health Protection and Promotion Legislation, while the Suicide Prevention Legislation effectively decriminalized suicide in Guyana.

These new laws, Minister Anthony noted, seek to supplant the institutionalization of patients with a more community-based psychiatry approach, decentralizing psychiatric services to different regions.

Further, he explained that the introduction of Tele-Psy-

Traffic Chief urges responsible parking to prevent hazards MOTORISTS are being advised by the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department to obey traffic laws when parking their vehicles on the road, especially in areas with heavy traffic.

In his appeal, Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh pointed out the frequent occurrence of dangerous parking at important public agencies in the city.

Officer Singh clarified that roadways are blocked, causing traffic to come to a halt. This also presents a hazard for pedestrians, potentially causing fatalities.

“We at the traffic department, we are seeking to sensitise as Traffic Chief, Senior much as possible to Superintendent cause a realignment of Mahendra Singh focus on each motorist, to ensure they understand the implication when such an act is being committed,” underscored the traffic chief.

He said the warning is being issued to protect road users from legal consequences.

“We are asking you to comply with the rules of the road and directions of police in uniform. We are asking you to be considerate to the extent that you will park your vehicles in designated places or spaces and to resist the temptation to become an errant motorist,” he emphasized.

He added, “We are taking this step to inform you, to empower you, to assist you so as to cause you not to be in receipt of a ticket.

The traffic chief appealed to road users to exercise caution and utilize roadways responsibly in order to maintain the safety of all stakeholders.

chiatry Services in specific communities is another key development. The Mental Health Unit within the Ministry of Health is actively engaged in providing training to doctors and nurses, equipping them with the requisite skills for early diagnoses and management of mental health illnesses through the WHO Mental Health Gap (mhGap) programme.

Moreover, he underscored that the Ministry of Health is set to collaborate with various stakeholders to promote mental health awareness and public education. The imminent launch of a new national strategic plan for mental health is expected to chart their course for the next five years.

A collaborative effort with the Ministry of Education, PAHO, and UNICEF, the “Friendship Bench” programme is introduced to support the mental health of school students. This initiative will provide counselling and guidance to young people who need a listening ear. It will initially be piloted in 25 schools across Guyana.

During the launch of this programme, Minister Frank Anthony emphasized the critical role of mental health in overall well-being. He underlined the collective responsibility to foster an environment where individuals can seek help without fear of discrimination or judgment.

World Mental Health Day

stands as a poignant reminder of the commitment to this cause.

The call is for everyone to actively participate in the various activities and initiatives organized in celebration of World Mental Health Day. By uniting and creating a supportive community, significant progress can be made in promoting mental health and overall well-being in Guyana.

For more information on World Mental Health Day activities in Guyana or to get involved, please contact the Mental Health Unit at 225 0804 or the Psychiatric Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) at 227-8241/227-8245.

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony

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GDF trains 151 ranks in specialised military courses

ONE hundred and fifty-one ranks from various units across the Force have commenced training on three military courses administered by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Training Corps.

The Skill-At-Arms Instructor Course (SAAIC)

will be conducted for a period of seven weeks, while the Section Commanders’ Course (SCC) and Junior Leaders’ Course (JLC) will be held for 11 weeks. The SAAIC has 12 students participating, SCC 73 students and JLC 66 students.

The three courses were

officially declared open during a simple ceremony held at Base Camp Seweyo, Linden Soesdyke Highway.

Commandant of the Guyana National Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd Souvenir, in his feature address to the ranks reminded them of the value they

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

bring to the GDF and urged them to give their best.

“Our Non-Commissioned Officers are the backbone and the unsung heroes who bridge the gap between Officers and enlisted personnel, leading by example and making our missions successful,” he said.

Colonel Souvenir also urged the ranks to embrace the opportunity to become well-rounded leaders.

“As you undergo these courses, you will be exposed to a wealth of knowledge and skills that will enhance your abilities as a leader. You will learn about

tactics, weapon systems, drills, communication and the art of leading by example.

Embrace this opportunity to become well-rounded leaders who can adapt to any situation, inspire trust, and foster a culture of excellence,” he urged.

Soldiers from various units across the Force have commenced training on three military courses administered by the Guyana Defence Force Training Corps

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Gov’t warns contractors against extortion attempts on incomplete projects –– Public Works Ministry addresses allegations, highlights fiscal irregularities

The stalled work on the Leguan Stelling THE Ministry of Public Works in Guyana has issued a stern warning to contractors and vendors providing services to the government, cautioning against any attempts to extort or manipulate the government into paying for incomplete projects.

This statement comes in response to recent allegations made by Contractor Sattrohan Maraj of S Maraj Contracting Services regarding stalled work on the Leguan Stelling due to outstanding payments.

In an article published on Monday, October 9, 2023, in Stabroek News, Contractor Sattrohan Maraj claimed that the Leguan Stelling project had come to a halt due to unpaid funds owed by the government.

However, the Ministry categorically refutes this claim, asserting that the government is committed to addressing the project’s issues responsibly.

Under the direction of the then Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, a contract totalling $413,259,260.00 was signed to complete the six months project, with the contractor receiving up to $199,435,000 in payments which amounted to about 50 per cent of the contract sum at the time, and yet the project was still incomplete a year later.

Underlining the disregard for procurement practices and a breach of the Fiscal Management Accountability Act during the previous government’s tenure, the project remains a significant challenge for the current administration. Only 2 per cent of the work is said to be remaining on the project, with the contractor accused of trying to extort additional funds.

The Ministry points out

that the contractor has consistently sought opportunities to claim additional payments for activities typically covered in the original contract.

Notably, these claims have included clearing the riverbed of obstacles and cutting prestressed concrete piles to the design cutoff level after driving.

The Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), responsible for stellings, has attempted to resolve these claims through negotiations and has successfully addressed ten variation orders under Addendum No.1, ratified in December 2022.

Contrary to the contractor’s allegations, the Ministry maintains that it has been willing to resolve legitimate claims and has worked toward a harmonious project completion. The contractor had committed to completing the project expeditiously by the revised contract sum of $607,259,260.00, but has failed to meet this commitment.

Additionally, the contractor’s delays in executing critical works, specifically the linkspan bridge installation, have been detrimental to the project’s progress.

While the T&HD has provided the necessary cash flow for this aspect of the project, it is currently three months behind the stipulated completion date in Addendum No.1 (i.e., June 5, 2023).

The Transport and Harbours Department has issued directives to the contractor regarding the linkspan bridge installation, and outstanding claims for payment will be resolved in accordance with the provisions of the Addendum. Should the contractor fail to fulfill their project obligations as directed, the Ministry will apply recourse and compensatory

provisions for nonperformance in accordance with the Contract and national

procurement framework.

This development underscores the government’s

commitment to fiscal responsibility and project completion while ensuring

transparency and accountability in its dealings with contractors and vendors.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Senior Finance Minister attends Caribbean Ministerial Meeting

– as IMF, World Bank annual meetings underway AS part of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings in Marrakech, Morocco, Se-

nior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, representing Guyana, joined fellow Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors

from the Caribbean Region in a crucial meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

The annual meetings are being held over the period October 9-15, 2023.

The discussions, held at the Caribbean Ministerial

Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh is with Afonso Bevilaqua, IMF’s Executive Director for Brazil Meeting, revolved around macro-critical issues pertinent to the Caribbean Region, aligning with the theme of this year’s meeting: “Fiscal and Growth Challenges in the Caribbean.”

The sub-themes guiding this year’s discussions encompassed securing a sustainable fiscal position and rebuilding buffers, as well as boosting sustainable and inclusive growth.

Accompanying Dr. Singh at the meeting were Safraaz Shadood, Ambassador of Guyana to Qatar, and Dr. Gobind Ganga, Governor of the Bank of Guyana.

Notably, Dr. Ashni Singh had recently praised the IMF for providing an “independent, balanced, and objective assessment of the state of Guyana’s economy” during an interview on the Dr. Randy Persaud show. He highlighted that the IMF’s report on Guyana reflected positively on the country’s economic development and management.

“I would say that we consider it to be a good, solid, balanced and objective assessment of the state of the economy right now and we’re happy to get

that balanced and objective assessment coming from an independent source,” the finance minister had indicated.

He had also said that the concluding statement of the IMF’s mission to Guyana drew attention to the appropriateness of the government’s fiscal and monetary policy stance.

The IMF in the conclusion of its Article IV consultation with local authorities, said that Guyana has experienced record real Gross Domestic Product growth with some 62.3 percent increase in 2022.

The fund pointed out as well that the growth is expected to continue in 2023 with a projected 38 percent increase in real GDP, as Guyana continues to build its image as a top destination for investment and its report noted further that Guyana’s current expansionary fiscal policy stance is an appropriate one and further projected real GDP growth on an average of 20 percent per year during the 2024 to 2028 period.

The Caribbean Ministerial Meeting gives Governors and Alternate Governors to the fund a forum to have open and See page 13

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

NDMA refutes cybersecurity firm’s successful cyber-espionage claims –– investigates alleged spear-phishing attack on gov’t network, questions firm’s motivation

THE National Data Management Authority’s (NDMA) Cybersecurity Division has refuted claims made by a cybersecurity firm regarding a successful cyber-espionage malware attack on the Government of Guyana’s network.

The cybersecurity firm alleged that a government agency in Guyana fell victim to a spear-phishing campaign in February, 2023.

However, after conducting thorough investigations, the NDMA stated that the cybersecurity firm had exaggerated the threat.

The initial claim by the cybersecurity firm, which surfaced on October 5, 2023, prompted the NDMA to deploy its team of cybersecurity analysts and specialists to assess the situation.

NDMA General Manager, Christopher Deen, emphasized the government’s commitment to cybersecurity and said, “We have launched extensive investigations both within and outside the government’s network to determine the validity of this report. Based on the information currently available, a spear-phishing attempt was made against a government ministry, but our security systems intercepted and neutralized the threat.”

NDMA has also raised questions about the motivations and ethics of the cybersecurity firm in disclosing sensitive information without stakeholder consultation.

It is unusual for cybersecurity professionals to single out specific incidents without explicit permission from the affected party.

The incident serves as a reminder of the prevalence of phishing attacks in the digital world.

NDMA General Manager, Christopher Deen Mr. Deen also highlighted the ongoing efforts of NDMA in countering cyber threats, revealing that in the first quarter of 2023, the NDMA detected and mitigated 442 malware attacks at government agencies.

While investigations are ongoing, the NDMA has reached out to the cybersecurity firm that made the claims to obtain additional information, verify the data shared, and identify the firm’s sources. However, as of now, the cybersecurity firm has not responded to the NDMA’s request for further information.

Senior Finance Minister attends ...

From page 12

constructive dialogue with the Managing Director and Deputy Managing Directors of the fund on macro-critical issues relevant to the Region and offers a venue for sharing experiences, perspectives and priorities and for building solutions for problems afflicting the Region.

It is also an avenue for management of the fund to share developments within the fund that are of interest to the Region.

The Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group (WBG) bring together Central Bankers, Ministers of Finance and development, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook and economic development.

Forbes, in a June 2023 online article reported over five hundred million ( 500,000,000) phishing attacks worldwide in 2022, highlighting the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

The NDMA noted that the agency remains committed to promoting safe cybersecurity practices within government ministries and agencies. They operate a 24/7 security operations centre and the Guyana Na-

tional Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) to provide technical support and incident handling. Additionally, the NDMA conducts cybersecurity awareness training initiatives and programmes.

In line with the global theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, the NDMA will facilitate training sessions across the country to empower citizens with cybersecurity

skills and knowledge. The initiative aims to educate individuals on safe online practices, recognizing and mitigating cyber threats, and ensuring online safety.

The NDMA urges the public to stay vigilant and follow best practices to protect against cyber threats while emphasizing the importance of responsible reporting and handling of cybersecurity incidents.

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Fire prevention takes centre stage at City Mall THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS) conducted an outreach at the City Mall located at Camp Street, Georgetown, on Tuesday.

Fire safety and prevention were discussed with roughly 160 shoppers and passersby by staff from the Fire Prevention Department.

They learned about the importance of having smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in homes and businesses, as well as the

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

equipment and methods used by the Fire Service to put out fires.

As part of the outreach, EMTs offered free blood pressure and blood sugar testing to 70 individuals.

The GFS will be conducting visits to schools today along Woolford Avenue in Georgetown to educate students and teachers on the dangers of fires and how to prevent them.

Scenes from the GFS outreach at City Mall

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

International partners, over 100 exhibitors, agro-processors for Agri Investment forum

By Naomi Parris

ANTICIPATED to be the biggest event of its kind in the Caribbean, the Agri-Investment forum and expo will bring together around 150 exhibitors and 100 agro-processors, along with regional heads, investors, donors, and agriculture stakeholders.

On Tuesday, Guyana’s Zulfikar Mustapha revealed that at a press briefing at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

Mustapha, who currently chairs the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) ministerial task-

force on food security, told reporters that 60 per cent of booths have already been sold for the much-anticipated event.

“Once again our country, along with our CARICOM colleagues and investors, will put on display, individual and collective potentials to develop the regional agriculture sector,” Mustapha said.

The grand exposition will be held under the theme, “Achieving Vision 25 by 2025’ and will feature stakeholders from various countries across the world, along with local agro-processors who will showcase a diverse lineup of agricultural produce.

“As the host and lead

country for agriculture within the region, Guyana is demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the development and modernisation of the sector while realising its potential of once again becoming the breadbasket of CARICOM.” Mustapha further disclosed that several Caribbean officials and international partners have also signalled their participation in this year’s event.

The event is being held as (CARICOM) takes decisive steps to reduce its US$6B food-importation bill by 25 per See page 16

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, engaging stakeholders ahead of the conference (Yohan Savory photos)

This year’s conference is being held from October 20-22, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre and contractors have been working overtime to set up the venue

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Gov’t infrastructural projects transforming lives in Charity

By Cindy Parkinson

THE Government of Guyana, led by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), continues its efforts to enhance the quality of life in communities by investing in infrastructural development.

Residents of Charity on the Essequibo Coast, in Region Two, are expressing their appreciation for the government’s initiatives to rebuild roads, making access to their homes easier and more convenient.

The Guyana Chronicle spoke with residents of Charity who shared their gratitude for the ongoing infrastructure improvements in their community.

Edward Albert, an attendant at Charity Hospital, recounted the challenges he faced due to the poor state of the roads.

He explained how he had to allocate a significant portion of his earnings to repair the damages his vehicle sustained while navigating the rough terrain.

Albert stated, “Getting

these roads is very beneficial to all of us, especially the children going to school. The previous roads were causing me to buy vehicle parts every month, and I know it’s not just me. We are all happy for these roads, and we thank the government for the great work they are doing for Guyanese across the country.”

While celebrating the progress, Albert also made an appeal to fellow residents to refrain from dumping sand and dirt along the newly constructed roadways.

He emphasised the im-

One of the completed roads in the community of Charity portance of preserving the infrastructure by saying, “Now that we have good roads, some individuals, including private business owners, are dumping sand and mud on the roadsides for days, forcing drivers to drive onto the pavement.

This can harm the roads in the long run. Let’s clear the roads within 24 hours if we need sand.”

Another resident, Heston Boyce, a labourer, praised the government for fulfilling its promises to rebuild the roads.

Boyce acknowledged the positive impact on schoolchildren and the relief from difficulties caused by deteriorating roads during rainy seasons. He expressed gratitude, saying, “It’s one thing to hear a government say they will do something for you, but to

actually see it happening is a very nice sight.”

Boyce also requested attention to be directed towards roads in the old scheme leading to the main road, citing the challenges faced by residents in that area.

Bruce, a taxi driver serving the Charity market area, spoke about the significant improvements in his daily work since the road upgrades.

He recounted the financial burden of vehicle repairs caused by the previous road conditions and expressed happiness that this government is delivering tangible improvements. He said, “We are thankful to President Ali and his government. It feels good to know that this government is giving us what we need.”

Minister within the Min-

istry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, emphasised the government’s commitment to community development and employment generation through infrastructure projects.

He stated, “President Ali and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo are working diligently to ensure that every community throughout Guyana is developed.

We are also ensuring that through these community development projects, we are creating employment for the people in the respective communities.”

The government’s dedication to improving infrastructure and the livelihoods of its citizens is receiving praise from residents, who hope to see continued progress in their community.

International partners, over 100 exhibitors, agro-processors ...

From page 15 cent in the next five years (25 by 25).

“New emerging prospects in CARICOM’s agriculture, including technological and logistical solutions will be in the spotlight.”

Mustapha further revealed that Guyana will be commissioning the region’s first and largest hydroponics farms on the sidelines of the event.

This project, he explained, was one of the many investment outcomes of the previous forum.

“Last year we would have seen [that] a number of investors had started to invest in various countries in CARICOM.” At the 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM held in Belize back in

2022, it was announced that Guyana would host the region’s first agriculture Regional Agri-Investment Forum and Expo.

The second was held in Trinidad & Tobago later that same year.

This year, in Guyana, the conference will be held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, from October 20-22.

Already CARICOM has achieved 57 per cent of its food production targets.

It was previously reported by the region’s Ministerial Taskforce that products such as cocoa, dairy, meat, root crops, fruits, and poultry have already reached 96.13 per cent, 84.36 per cent, 72.28 per cent, 70.91 per cent, 70.77 per cent, and 70.19 per cent respectively, for the targetted production volume set for the year

2025.

Moreover, countries such as Guyana, Belize, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Dominica, and Jamaica have made significant strides in the production of commodities such as ginger, turmeric, corn, soya bean, root crops, fruits, cocoa, poultry, meat, fish, table eggs, and dairy.

The taskforce had also indicated that, for 2022, Guyana produced some 20,195 tonnes of ginger and turmeric, 144,289 tonnes of root crops, 21,870 tonnes of fish, and 40,749 tonnes of coconut.

Already priority areas have been identified for 2023. These include agriculture insurance and financing, trade and E-agriculture, resource mobilisation, and trade support.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

International Day of the Girl Child …

UN urges global unity to ensure every girl can lead, thrive

ON the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child, United Nations Secretary-General emphasised the urgent need for global action to empower girls and ensure their equal rights, as the world faces serious challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

International Day of the Girl Child is internationally observed on October 11. The theme of this year’s commemoration is, “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being”.

In his message, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, highlighted the alarming reality that, based on current trends, the goal to end child marriage was still 300 years away.

Additionally, he pointed out that, by 2030, an estimated 110 million young women and girls who should be receiving an education may be deprived of this fundamental right. Furthermore, approximately 340 million women and girls are expected to continue facing the harsh challenges of extreme poverty.

The Secretary-GenUN Secretary-General, eral underscored that António Guterres girls still confront tra(Reuters photo) ditional forms of discrimination, and, in some cases, those forms were worsening. He highlighted the plight of girls in Afghanistan who are restricted from exercising basic rights and freedoms, including access to education and economic independence.

Moreover, the Secretary-General drew attention to the emergence of new forms of bias and inequality, particularly the digital divide that excludes many girls from the online world. Algorithms shaped by the experiences of men and boys perpetuate and amplify sexism in digital spaces.

Despite these challenges, the Secretary-General celebrated the resilience and determination of girls worldwide, who are actively challenging sexism, stereotypes, and driving change in various spheres, including sports, education, and public discourse. He urged the international community to stand in solidarity with these girls.

The Secretary-General mentioned his proposal for an SDG Stimulus to get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track, emphasising the need for investment in girls’ leadership. This year’s International Day of the Girl Child focuses on girls’ leadership and aims to support their ambitions while promoting gender equality.

He reiterated that when women and girls assume leadership roles, they can influence attitudes, drive change, and advocate for policies and solutions that address their unique needs.

In conclusion, the Secretary-General emphasised that women and girls possess the potential to lead society towards a fairer future, calling for a collective commitment to creating a world where every girl can lead and thrive.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Education Ministry spent close to $79M on Mahdia fire tragedy

IN response to the Mahdia fire tragedy, the government, led by the Ministry of Education, dedicated $79 million to aid the affected families, assist the surviving victims, and alleviate funeral-related expenses.

During the devastating fire in May, the Education Ministry contributed to supporting the affected families. This was revealed

by Chief Education Officer (CEO), Saddam Hussain,

who testified on Tuesday before the ongoing Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly fire.

“In all, we spent about…$79 million on the entire post-Mahdia tragedy,” the CEO said during the inquiry while referring to the expenses in total. He was not able, at the time, to give a full and detailed account of the figure at the inquiry but said it included other activities such as the

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Saddam Hussain, testifying before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) reflection night.

Asked by Attorney-at-Law Keoma Griffith, what was the first thing that the ministry did when they heard about the horrific fire late May 21, the CEO said that it dispatched a team early the following morning to Region Eight.

According to him, the team provided ‘immediate emergency assistance’ in the form of $100,000 to the affected families.

“We have a list of all the persons that we gave monies to. Our list indicates that about $5.7 million was distributed. At that time, we could not have asked persons to sign a voucher and those things,” the CEO explained.

This money was to ensure that the parents and siblings of the afflicted students could easily get around gathering necessities for them.

He noted that, on the second day, another team went into the area to help coordinate activities between all the ministries and to further assist the parents of both the affected students and the 20 deceased students.

Moreover, Hussain told the CoI that his ministry has since kept a spreadsheet of the various expenses that were paid for from money within the education

sector.

“From that list, we tried to compile everything that we spent money on. We spent more than $34 million on air transport bringing out parents, bringing out children, and bringing out the deceased bodies,” Hussain said.

Additionally, the CoI was informed by the education official that more than $12 million was spent by the ministry to accommodate the parents and other family members at different hotels.

Meanwhile, as it pertains to the storage of the bodies and pre-funeral arrangements, it was revealed that around $7 to $8 million were expended at Memorial Gardens in an effort to prepare the bodies for burial.

“We went so far as to spend money on what the family said they wanted. When they came to Georgetown many of the family members had limited forms of communication, so they said they wanted some cellphones and we were able to get those. When the funeral had to happen, the family advised us that they wanted commemorative T-shirts just as a form of closure and we were happy to facilitate that,” the education officer recounted. (DPI)

School dormitories neglected under previous gov’t

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

–– Chief Education Officer tells CoI

–– former Home Affairs PS says no agency lacked funding

By Trina Williams

REVIVING the education sector has proven difficult, due to the immense neglect by the previous government, according to Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain.

On Tuesday, the CEO testified under oath at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the devastating fire at the Mahdia dormitory that claimed the lives of some 20 children.

Hussain discussed in detail how the previous government eliminated specific assessments designed to maintain a certain standard at these facilities. According to the CEO, this analysis commenced between 2011 and 2014, but was terminated when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) left office.

To this, he remarked: “That was not a priority of that [APNU+AFC] government.”

Hussain attributed the deteriorated state of the dormitories to the negligence of the previous administration, not the current government.

“The dorms did not come [to] what they are in 2020. It is [because of] a long series of neglect,” he related.

Additionally, Hussain clarified that the reports sent to the Ministry of Education (MoE) regarding the Mahdia dormitories didn’t include requests for fire protection, but instead focused on expansion.

“In that report none of them said that there were issues with fire extinguishers and firefighting tools…

Each one of them said that there was a need for expansion,” he reported.

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain As a result of the devastating Mahdia fire, he explained how school dormitories underwent inspections and implemented stringent safety measures.

“One of the first things that followed the fire…[is] the Ministry Of Home Affairs, went ahead and did an inspection of every single dorm in the country....

That list was submitted to the Ministry of Education,” he said, adding that the Home Affairs Ministry even procured some fire-prevention tools such as fire balls.

The CEO then went on to say: “Every single dormitory facility has [now] been equipped with the necessary fire equipment…”

When questioned about what measures were taken to improve the conditions of the facilities, he said: “No steps were taken in 2017, 2018, 2019 [and] 2020… From September to December 2020, that’s when the discussion began about the status of all the dorms and so within a matter of 18 months, See page 22

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

School dormitories neglected ...

From page 21

we were able to begin work…”

According to him, over 70 per cent of dormitories have started rehabilitation or are already finished, except in Region Two where staffing and fire equipment are pending.

Hussain also said: “Generally, the Ministry [of Education] only has the authority over policy,” while underlining that the MoE cannot tell any school how to utilise their funds and care of facilities.

SUFFICIENTLY FUNDED Meanwhile, Former Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Home Affairs Ministry and current MoL PS, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas noted that no efforts were spared when it came to ensuring that the needs of agencies, in this case, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), were met.

While testifying under oath, she revealed that the GFS was not deprived of funding.

“Each agency, in this particular instance, the Fire [Service], they have to tell us what is required of their agency and once it is there…we will take it to the Ministry of Finance and we will defend it at the level of Parliament,” she said.

Furthermore, Thomas pointed out that the requirements of those agencies are not solely based on budgetary requests, but also on inspections carried out by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn.

“We would always have a first-hand approach with our minister and regular discussions. Whatever any of the agencies were lacking under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in this particular case, the Guyana Fire Service, and we would have made for it,” she said.

Thomas stressed the ministry’s open-door policy, emphasizing the in-

Former Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Home Affairs Ministry and current MoL PS, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas clusivity and responsiveness required due to the unpredictable nature of emergencies.

“The door was always there,” Thomas related.

On May 22, the country was plunged into mourning after the fire, which the authorities later determined was maliciously set, ravaged the dormitory.

At the time of the fire, 56 of the girls were present, as three had gone home to their families for the weekend.

The children housed there were from Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie, and Chenapau, all remote communities in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Several of the survivors were airlifted to Georgetown for emergency care. One critically injured girl was medevacked to a New York health facility for further treatment, and has since been released.

The CoI is tasked with investigating and reporting on the events leading up to the dormitory fire, as well as the causes. Additionally, the CoI will examine the actions taken to provide care, medical attention, and support to the injured and deceased and their relatives in a timely manner.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

‘Cut Rose’ Project to expand nationwide THE ‘Cut Rose’ has been a very valuable project and has benefitted especially women and single parents since its inception.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, noted that the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC)will now collaborate with the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to provide marketing assistance.

“GMC will provide some marketing assistance too because we have been targetting single parents and females especially. We are hoping that we can have more of these people take part in the project because this has been providing valuable help in terms of their income. We are seeing more income generation from these vulnerable groups now,” Minister Mustapha noted He noted that the project is a valuable one and will continue to expand and make a difference in

Locally grown roses from the ‘Cut Rose’ Project at NAREI people’s lives.

The minister said that the programme will be replicated in the regions to produce roses there.

“We have increased the number of roses that we have been producing. I’m hoping that we can expand it more in the new year. For example, we will put more shade houses in that area so that we can provide them right across the country. Mostly you see people from the urban area coming to purchase roses here …we will look in the future to expand our cultivation,” Minister Mustapha stated.

DPI, earlier this year, reported that the project, which was conceptualised to create employment for single parents continues to make significant progress and has earned over $4 million for the first half of 2023.

NAREI sells the roses for 500 dollars and they could be resold at up to 2500 dollars.

Minister Mustapha said the success of the ‘Cut Rose’ project shows that Guyana has the potential to embark on new crops.

He noted the success of the Corn and Soya Bean project and other high-value crops like lettuce and cauliflower.

He noted that Guyana was taking a lead in agriculture in the Caribbean and as Guyana succeeds in these projects other countries in the region will follow suit.

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Suriname Golf Open

LGC President takes the crown in B Class

LAST Sunday, the action on the final day of the Suriname Open did not disappoint.

The Guyanese team brought their ‘A’ game and posed a formidable challenge to the Surinamese team.

In the end it was LGC President Patanjilee Persaud who stood out, after claiming first place in Flight B. Avinash Persaud and Shanella London bagged second overall best gross for male and female. While Sabi Dhori took second place in her flight and Eureka Giddings taking the longest drive.

The Guyanese contingent played with great fervor and persistence as the tournament reached its final stages. Speaking at the end of the tournament was LGC President Patanjilee Persaud, who said, “ You know, I would say golf has become so competitive.

As for my performance, I thought it was excellent. I put a lot into it. But I feel, I really feel that the challenge of the greens was much more. I’m sorry we didn’t retain the championship trophy for Flights A and C. However, I am still grateful that we were able to claim second place for those categories.”

Persaud also mentioned that it was sad to see the ladies not excelling to the point of catching the number one trophy. However, he noted that it was still a great tournament for both the men and the ladies. “The tournament was lots of fun and we saw a lot of Guyanese coming out and we just want to thank Surinamese for being so hospitable,” Persaud shared.

The two days of action were nothing short of miraculous, as the Guyana contingent put their heart and soul into every stroke on the course. As expected, golfers from all over, including Suriname, will participate in the GTT Guyana Open tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) at the end of October. They will be competing against the local side, who will also be vying for glory.

THE RESULTS OF THE TOURNAMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS: Flight A - Mike Mangal 4th, Avinash Persaud 5th, 11th Vishal Dhani, 20th Rakesh Harry, 22nd Miguel Yunes, 23rd Andre Cummings Flight B - 1st Patanjilee Persaud, 4th Pope Emanuel London, 5th Brian Hackett, 6th Rohan Albert, 9th Lakeram Ramsundar, 10th Roy Dhori Flight C - 3rd Carlos Adams Flight D - 3rd Shanella London, Flight E - 2nd Sabi Dhori, 3rd Eureka Giddings Senior Category - 5th Morris Deo Best Overall Gross 2nd (Men) - Avinash Persaud Best Overall Gross 2nd (Ladies) Shanella London Other awards: Eureka Giddings - Longest Drive, Ladies Shanella London - Nearest to Pin, Ladies

ENGLISH RACING TIPS LUDLOW 09:10 hrs Minella Plus 09:45 hrs Grain Of Hope 10:20 hrs Sure Touch 10:55 hrs Lisnamult Lad 11:30 hrs Police Academy 12:05 hrs Quick Draw 12:35 hrs Bobby’s Fortune NOTTINGHAM 09:02 hrs Gundagon 09:37 hrs Sanction 10:12 hrs Midair 10:47 hrs Spanish Poet

11:22 hrs Yorkstone 11:57 hrs Stressfree 12:30 hrs Come To Pass KEMPTON 11:17 hrs Mezzo Soprano 11:52 hrs Age Of Baroque 12:25 hrs Imperial Guard 13:00 hrs Middlesex 13:30 hrs Royal Supremacy 14:00 hrs Give A Little Back 14:30 hrs Mount Olympus 15:00 hrs Give A Little Back

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wedneday October 11, 2023) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) India (2) Sri Lanka

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who won the 2015 Cricket World Cup? (2) Who took the runners-up spot?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Former footballers and club coaches complete coaching workshop for new grassroots programme

A group of former players with experience in club coaching in Georgetown has transitioned into the role of grassroots coaches after completing an intensive workshop organised by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for the rollout of ‘Access’, a new national grassroots initiative.

The Coaching Department conducted the twoday comprehensive theoretical and practical training programme on October 3 at the GFF Headquarters Boardroom, and on October 6 on the NIS Ground, both

opment initiatives to foster greater football participation of boys and girls between the ages of five and twelve with particular focus on inner city communities.

The GFF’s current grassroots initiatives is funded through the Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP) and encompass a range of programmes, including the nine regional Academy Training Centre (ATC), Regional Associations year-round Grassroot Programmes and football clubs, who are now being trained and resourced to integrate

activities being organised within our ATC programme, by our regional football associations and by our football clubs. If we able to get complete buy-in, we will rapidly multiply the number of young boys and girls involvement in football. The ‘Access’ grassroots initiative is an additional tier of the grassroots ecosystem we are building in order to widen the catchment area for young children who because of various challenges, may not be part of the established football structure.”

The coaching workshop

The coaches and GFF officials (Photo: GFF) located in Georgetown.

The football stalwarts Gordon Braithwaite, Dennis Hunte, Vibert Butts, Colin Tasher, Lloyd Smith and Troy Wright were immersed in the federation’s national youth coaching philosophy and provided with thorough instruction and guidance on the necessary skills and knowledge to become effective coaches and mentors for the GFF Access Grassroots Programme.

GFF President Wayne Forde explained that the Access Grassroots Programme is an additional component integrated into the existing youth devel-

grassroots activities into their youth development programmes.

“Grassroots football is where the dream begins for every child. The first time they experience the game of football, the quality of that experience usually influences whether they will remain as a lifelong player or fan. Grassroots is where we usually identify talent in its earliest form, but this is more than talent identification, this is really about growing participation by granting children more access to football.”

GFF boss Forde shared.

“Our long-term goal is to have weekly grassroots

was held by GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph, Coaches Education Officer Lyndon France and Coach Mentor Linsworth Gilbert.

Various aspects of coaching were covered, including child safeguarding, grassroots structure, technical development, the grassroots player and coach and the importance of fostering a positive and inclusive environment.

Technical Director Joseph added that the federation will roll out the initiative as a pilot programme and will employ a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation component to guide the national rollout

A notable aspect of the Access Grassroots Programme is that coaches will be mobile -- travelling from one venue to another -- in order to train young individuals in the fundamental skills of the sport (Photo: GFF) in the coming months.

“The programme is off to a great start. We’ve had a theoretical session where we have gone through with these stalwarts what are the expectations of the programme, what we expect from them and the overall objectives of what we’re trying to achieve. We’ve been able to spend some time discussing child safeguarding, the structure and also ways how they can connect with individual communities.”

A notable aspect of the

Access Grassroots Programme is that coaches will be mobile -- travelling from one venue to another -- in order to train young individuals in the fundamental skills of the sport.

The GFF will furnish each coach with adequate supply of grassroots equipment to be able to execute the programme wherever they chose to.

“The whole programme is going to be based on these coaches being mobile, not being at one particular ground but moving from venue to venue to conduct

sessions,” Joseph said.

Coach Gordon Braithwaite said he is happy to “be a part of this and I hope by the next six months we can hope to see a great improvement in football at this level.”

The GFF is committed to empowering aspiring young footballers through its grassroots initiatives by providing them with access to knowledgeable coaches, a safe learning environment and adequate football resources so that they can excel in the sport. (GFF release)

Education Officer Lyndon France interacting with the youngsters (Photo: GFF)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Pakistan complete record World Cup chase to beat Sri Lanka

PAKISTAN superbly chased a World Cup record 345 to beat Sri Lanka in the game of the 2023 tournament so far in Hyderabad.

At 37-2 their target seemed a long way off but a superb partnership of 176 off 156 balls between Abdullah Shafique and Muhammad Rizwan laid the platform.

Shafique, who came into the team for Fakhar Zaman, made 113 off 103 balls before being caught at point, but Rizwan and Saud Shakeel then shared 95 for the fourth wicket.

Rizwan received treatment on a back injury, and cramp in his calf, but battled through the pain in heroic style.

The wicketkeeper finished unbeaten on 131 from 121 balls, and overcame the dismissal of Shakeel for 31, to hit the winning run and see his side home, alongside Iftikhar Ahmed (22*), with 10 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka made 344-9 from their 50 overs with Kusal Mendis smashing a brilliant 122 off 77 balls and Sadeera Samarawickrama 108 off 89.

The match is the first in World Cup history to have four centuries.

Pakistan have won their first two matches, while Sri Lanka have lost both theirs.

In Tuesday’s other World Cup match England recovered from their opening-game defeat with an emphatic 137-run win over Bangladesh.

Previous record chases in the Men’s Cricket World Cup 328 - Ireland v England, 2011 322 - Bangladesh v West Indies, 2019 319 - Bangladesh v Scotland, 2015 313 - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, 1992 310 - Sri Lanka v England, 2015

Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan put on a big stand for the third wicket.

TODAY’S WORLD CUP ACTION P I T S H O S T S I N D I A A G A I N S T A FGHANISTAN IN DELHI Pakistan perfectly time chase to deliver history At times Pakistan’s approach felt laboured and perhaps too slow to chase the mammoth 345.

Ultimately it was perfectly timed.

The required run-rate crept as high as 8.5 with Rizwan and Shafique left 163 from the final 20 overs.

Years ago, teams would have stood no chance, but the advent of T20 cricket has made that sort of chase the norm.

Even in those final 20 overs it felt like Rizwan, Shafique and Shakeel were controlling the

tempo of the game.

There were no rash shots. It was punishing the bad balls - and there were plenty with Sri Lanka well below the standard coach Chris Silverwood would want - and running hard.

Rizwan opens the batting for Pakistan in T20s and him set on 55 when they reached that many overs remaining left them as strong favourites.

His 131 was a career best and he took it upon himself to see Pakistan home.

Making sure he recovers from any ailments is going to be crucial for Pakistan’s hopes in this tournament, especially with their game against arch rivals India next up on Saturday.

Sri Lanka start well but fade away After 30 overs Sri Lanka had blazed their way to 229-3.

Mendis took down the Pakistan attack at will, hitting six sixes, including a mammoth one over mid-wicket to bring up his century.

At the interval Samarawickrama said it got harder to bat as the innings went on, but on reflection Sri Lanka may feel they left runs out there.

Another 20-30 runs may well have been beyond Pakistan and Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva (25 from 34 balls) and captain Dasun Shanaka (12 off 18 balls) may question if they went hard enough.

In the field, they bowled 25 wides, often bowled a leg-stump line and dropped Shakeel on 20 and 23.

That left them unable to build any pressure on Pakistan, let alone substantial pressure, with the absence of the experienced Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga felt.

Silverwood’s side will need to bounce back

against Australia on Monday or their tournament may effectively be over after three games.

‘Every player had the belief’ - what they said Pakistan captain Babar Azam: “It’s good for us, the way the top order didn’t perform, that the middle order stepped up for the match.

“I’m very happy and impressed with the way he’s [Shafique] playing in I think his fifth match and his first World Cup. “The way he and Rizwan built a partnership helped us.”

Player of the match Muhammad Rizwan: “It’s always a proud moment for you when you perform for your country and performances like that, when you win the match, is speechless for you.

“It was difficult because when you have a chase like that it’s always special for you. The thing for us is that when we went to the dressing room every player had the belief that we can chase that.”

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka: “Kusal [Mendis] is in another zone at the moment. It was a brilliant hundred. It is his time in this tournament and there is more to come from him.

“I thought with the way the wicket behaved we were 20-25 runs short. They were bowling really good slower balls and the pitch was helping.

“I can’t ask too much from my bowlers. Me and the coaching staff have simple plans but we need to focus on bowling in tight areas and the number of extras. We gave them too many runs and that is my concern.

The only way is to encourage them.”(BBC Sport)

Cricket World Cup 2023:

England bounce back by thrashing Bangladesh as Dawid Malan hits century

ENGLAND responded to defeat in their World Cup opener by comprehensively beating Bangladesh by 137 runs in Dharamsala.

After last week’s heavy nine-wicket loss to New Zealand, Dawid Malan’s superb 140 from 107 balls formed the basis of a much-improved England’s 364-9.

Malan put on 115 for the first wicket with Jonny Bairstow and 151 from just 117 balls with Joe Root, who made a typically composed 82 from 68.

Root and Malan took the score to 266-1 in the 38th over but the loss of eight wickets for 96 runs meant England failed to take full advantage.

Their score still proved plenty, however, with seamer Reece Topley, brought in to replace spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali, bowling a fine new-ball spell.

He took two wickets in as many balls in the second over and bowled Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan for one in the sixth.

Liton Das held firm with 76 and Mushfiqur Rahim made 51 but the required run-rate was always climbing.

Topley returned to dismiss Mushfiqur - the left-armer finished with figures of 4-43 - and Bangladesh slowly slid to 227 all out in 48.2 overs.

The win means England move to Delhi, where they play Afghanistan on Sunday, with momentum and confidence boosted.

Perhaps crucially, their net run-rate is also significantly boosted.

MALAN STANDS TALL FOR ENGLAND

become England’s leading run-scorer in World Cups, played in his trademark style, reaching 40 without fuss and becoming increasingly aggressive.

The pair put England’s record World Cup total of 397 under threat but, after Malan was bowled trying to heave away spinner Mahedi Hasan, the middle order failed as Bangladesh improved by mixing their pace and fielding well.

Buttler, who promoted himself to number four dragged on for 20, Root then skied a catch to Mushfiqur to depart for 82 and Liam Livingstone was bowled by Shoriful Islam next ball while Harry Brook picked out long-on, also on 20.

While not perfect, this was England looking more like their fearless selves.

Dawid Malan hit a career-best 140 in 107 balls England struggled to 282-9 in their tournament opener as they started their World Cup defence with an alarming thrashing by the Black Caps.

Malan edged to a 24-ball 14 in Ahmedabad but in the foothills of the Himalayas - at one of the most scenic grounds in the world - he showed a superb mix of power and placement to record his first World Cup ton.

The opening stand eased English nerves. Malan got into his work by flicking Mustafizur Rahman over deep square-leg for six early on.

He then drove anything too full and clubbed the Bangladeshi bowlers when they regularly dropped short and reached his century in 91 balls.

Bairstow was bowled for 52 - he went back to a quicker ball from Shakib - but afterwards Root, who passed Graham Gooch’s tally of 897 runs to

TOPLEY SHINES ON RETURN England’s large total gave them breathing space when it came to defending on the controversial Dharamsala outfield, which was covered by bare, sandy patches.

It was notable how fielders from either side often refrained from dives and slides.

Topley was brought in because the venue, which is almost 1,500m above sea level, aids pace bowling. He found movement to catch the edge of Tanzid Hasan’s bat and gift Buttler a simple catch, before the dangerous Najmul Hossain Shanto drove loosely to point a ball later.

Shakib looked to dig in but could do nothing when he was bowled by a beauty from Topley which nipped in and clipped the bails.

While Topley impressed, opening partner Woakes struggled with the new ball, as he did against New Zealand.

His first four overs cost 34 but he found the

edge of Mehidy Hasan Miraz in his fourth over, before returning to take a feather of an edge from Das in his second spell.

As Mushfiqur tried to take the game deep by running ones and twos, the left-armer had him caught on the boundary after slicing an edge to deep third.

The Surrey quick’s one error was dropping Mahedi at mid-on off Adil Rashid but that, with Bangladesh crawling along to protect their net runrate, only delayed the inevitable.

‘A really good performance, but we can still improve’ - what they said England captain Jos Buttler: “I think it was a really good performance to bounce back from a disappointing first game and we still feel there are areas to improve.

“I thought it was a fantastic score on that pitch, it got harder towards the end but we could’ve got more at the back end.”

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan: “It was colder weather than the last game, you could even see the snow. That could have helped our bowlers, but we didn’t start well enough. If you give them a sniff, they will always come hard.

“We had a good plan, but we couldn’t execute.

The ball swung nicely for five or six overs, but we couldn’t land the ball often enough.

“They could have scored 380 or 390, but we restricted them well. 330 we might have fancied our chances, but we needed a good start and didn’t get that.

“It’s a long tournament and we can’t put our heads down. We have to move on and think all of the positives we have been doing, focus on one game at a time.”(BBC Sport

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Defending Super50 champions name Barnes and Parnell in their squad

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC )– Former West Indies Under-19 batsman, Brad Barnes, and little known left-arm pacer Shalom Parnell were named in the Jamaica Scorpions squad to defend the West Indies Super50 Cup, starting on October 17, in Trinidad.

Barnes, 25, a former Jamaica Under-19 captain, made his List A debut for West Indies “B” in the 2018 Super50 Cup, but this is the first time he will be

playing for the Scorpions in this tournament.

He displayed good form with the bat – stroking a hundred and a pair of half-centuries – and bowled a number of tidy spells during a series of practice matches leading up to the selection of the 14-member squad.

“I am so happy to be in the squad because I have put in a lot of work over the last couple of months by batting more balls and working on the mental side

of my game,” he told the Jamaica Gleaner.

“I have always been a batting all-rounder, but the opportunity wasn’t given to me to bowl much. If I get a chance to play in this tournament, I want to do well and showcase my best to the region and the world.”

Parnell celebrated his selection with a tidy allround performance for Melbourne in the final of the all-island 50 overs-aside tournament, but Jamaica Defence Force success-

fully defended the title with a five-run win on Saturday at Sabina Park.

The Scorpions squad includes 10 players that enabled them to win the title last year, including West Indies Twenty20 International captain Rovman Powell, who will again lead the side, with West Indies white-ball batsman Brandon King named his deputy.

The squad has been boosted by the return of West Indies T20I all-round-

er Fabian Allen, while West Indies Test opener Kirk McKenzie will also play for the side for the first time after making his List A debut for the West Indies Cricket Academy last season.

Scorpions beat Trinidad & Tobago Red Force by three wickets in the final to win the Super50 Cup last November at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

The Jamaican franchise open this year’s tournament against Leeward Islands

Hurricanes in a day-night contest, starting at 1:00 p.m. on the second match day on October 18 at the Brian Lara Cricket Ground.

Squad: Rovman Powell (captain), Brandon King (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Brad Barnes, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Dennis Bulli, Sheldon Cottrell, Nicholson Gordon, Kirk McKenzie Jr, Shalom Parnell, Jeavon Royal, Odean Smith, Chadwick Walton.

Women boxers issue statement Manchester United come from calling for 12 three-minute behind to draw with PSG rounds in title fights

Amanda Serrano (left) retained her undisputed featherweight titles with victory against Heather Hardy.

AMANDA Serrano and other women boxers want the choice to be able to contest title fights over 12 rounds like their male counterparts.

Undisputed featherweight world champion Serrano, along with more than 20 current and former women boxers, said in a statement they also want to be able to fight three-minute rounds.

Women’s title fights are usually for no more than 10 two-minute rounds.

“In our sport we have made progress but there is still far to go,” they said.

“We stand together with the desire and dedication to have the choice to perform on the same stage, with the same

rules, as men in professional boxing.

“We have earned the choice of three-minute rounds, with 12 rounds for championship fights to demonstrate our skill and greatness.

“We have earned the choice to build a more equal future for fighters everywhere.

“We hope boxing stakeholders support us just as we have supported them throughout our careers.

This is our time, our right and our choice. We are boxing.”

Britain’s two-weight world champion Natasha Jonas and retired fighter Laila Ali, daughter of the

legendary Muhammad Ali, also gave their name to the statement.

Serrano’s unified title bout against Danila Ramos this month in Orlando is set to be fought across 12 rounds of three minutes each.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) said the move was supported by the WBO, WBA, and IBF. “We are advocating for the ability to choose,” Serrano said.

“Female boxers compete in MMA with five-minute rounds, the same as their male counterparts.

Even in bare-knuckle boxing, women and men compete with the same rules.”

MANCHESTER United came from behind to draw with Paris St-Germain in their first Women’s Champions League match.

Substitute Melvine Malard, on loan from Lyon, headed in from a corner in the second half to cancel out Tabitha Chawinga’s opener in the second qualifying-round tie.

As in their opening two Women’s Super League games, a United substitute made a scoring impact as Malard’s goal ensured they head to Paris next Wednesday with the tie finely balanced.

PSG had wasted several big chances in the first half, including Sandy Baltimore’s strike which was pushed wide by goalkeeper Mary Earps, before eventually taking the lead with a clever ball over the top.

But United responded and finished strongly in Leigh as Leah Galton and Geyse came close, Millie Turner’s header was saved and Ella Toone struck inches over the bar.

A deflected corner was also cleared off the line by PSG’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto as United showed their pedigree against the French two-time finalists on their debut in the qualifying rounds of the competition.

It was a worrying start by Manchester United as they struggled to cope with the relentlessness of Paris St-Germain’s wide attackers.

Baltimore’s pace and silky feet caused problems for the defence, while Jayde Riviere and Hannah Blundell were being overrun down United’s righthand side.

England goalkeeper Earps was kept busy and her save to deny Baltimore kept United in

Melvine Malard also came off the bench to score in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal on her debut on Friday the game, while she continued to Her curling through ball to gather in crosses and parry away Galton later in the second half shots from PSG. was one of United’s best chancAn injury to PSG’s Oriane es of the match - but Galton Jean-Francois, who was taken fizzed it wide of the post from off on a stretcher after appearing close range. to hurt her ankle in a challenge, PSG struck a blow when halted play momentarily and in they broke the deadlock - Baldoing so, helped United regroup. timore curling it over the top As the first half wore on, for Chawinga to coolly flick they began to settle and Unit- past the onrushing Earps ed had a few glimpses of hope but that only seemed to stir a when Lucia Garcia and Galton response from United. won possession high in the opFrom then on, Skinner’s side position half - though neither were relentless in their pursuit of could capitalise. an equaliser and it deservedly When the whistle went for arrived after 70 minutes. half-time, United appeared to At full-time there was a have come through a period of ripple of disappointed reaction PSG dominance, and while the in the stands as United knew visitors rued numerous missed they had gathered momentum chances, Marc Skinner’s side and in the end, had missed an knew they had quality they opportunity to pick up a crucial could turn to on the bench. home victory.

Skinner wasted no time in However, their second-half bringing on summer signing display will have given United Geyse, who won the Cham- plenty of confidence for the pions League with Barcelona return leg in Paris - their first last season, and her impact performance in Europe had was instant as she struck over plenty to be excited about, the bar within minutes and while there were clear teething continued to create several problems in the first half.(BBC chances.

Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Permaul to lead strong Guyana team in CWI Super50 in Trinidad

By Sean Devers

LEFT-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul is one of eight Berbicians in the 14-man Guyana Harpy Eagles squad named by the Ramnaresh Sarwan-led National Selection Panel to participate in this year’s Regional Super50 in Trinidad from October 17.

The experienced 34-yearold Permaul with 136 wickets from 102 List ‘A’ matches, will lead the side while Tevin Imlach is his deputy.

On pitches likely to favour spin, the selection panel, which also includes Norman Fredericks, Peter Persaud and Albert ‘Smith’ Clements’ have gone for Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, and part-time spinner Chanderpaul Hemraj to support Permaul in a strong

Sherfane Ruyherford

Shimron Hetmyer

Tagenarine Chanderpaaul

Guyana spin attack.

Fast bowlers Ronsford Beaton and Nial Smith will be complemented by all-rounders Romario Shepherd, Quinton Sampson and Sherfane Rutherford.

The batting of the Guyana team could be their biggest worry in Trinidad, with ‘big name’ batters failing to demonstrate good shot selection and application during the recent inter-county tournament used to select

this team.

Hemraj could consider himself a bit lucky to retain his place on the side but none of the batters not selected pressed their case for selection.

Test Batter Tagenarine

CWI reprimands BCA’s Conde Riley for ‘breach of trust’

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) president, Dr Kishore Shallow, has reprimanded the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) head, Conde Riley, for “serious breach of trust” and bringing “the entire CWI organization into disrepute.”

In a strongly worded letter to Riley on October 5, Shallow outlined a number of issues which he said reflected poorly on the Bajan’s stewardship.

The most egregious, Shallow said, was the 70-yearold Riley’s appearance on the Mason and Guest radio show on September 26, when he claimed Barbados had been awarded the rights by the International Cricket Council to host the final of the 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup. The World Cup is being held in the West Indies and US, with Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana reportedly vying to host the final. No announcement has been made by the ICC or CWI about the venue for the final.

CWI vice -president Azim Bassarath recently told i95.5FM: “I know for a fact that decision has not been made as yet, and the reports that we’ve had from the ICC and from our people that represent CWI at ICC, is that some time in November that decision will be made.”

A clearly upset Shallow told Riley: “Your inaccurate public statement that a letter from the ICC to the BCA advising that Kensington Oval had been awarded the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final not only misled the public but also constituted a serious breach of the trust placed in you as a CWI director. Such actions not only reflect poorly on your personal integrity but also bring the entire CWI organization into disrepute.”

Shallow urged Riley to familiarize himself with Article 51 of the memorandum and articles of association of CWI and the code of ethics for the board of directors.

Shallow said there was hesitancy to throw the book at Riley, but warned that such considerations “may not be extended in the future.”

Shallow added, “This letter is issued with the expectation that you receive it with due gravity, CWI is an organization with sterling reputation, and as directors, we must act responsibly, in good faith and to maintain the best interest of CWI. Our collective actions must consistently uphold the highest standards of CWI.” (Sportsmax)

Gudakesh Motie Chanderpaul needs to find the gaps more and rotate the strike but he could be the glue that holds the innings and a lot will depend on Shimron Hetymer, Imlach, Kevlon Anderson, Kemol Savory, Rutherford and the

all-rounders, Sinclair and Motie, who has a first-class century.

With Keemo Paul unavailable due to injury consideration might have been given to Chris Barnwell but the selectors opted for youth.

The GHE squad reads: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kemol Savory, Tevin Imlach (vice-captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Captain), Kev Anderson, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Ronsford Beaton, Nial Smith, Quentin Sampson, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Romario Shepherd.

Head Coach is Ryan Hercules, Manager, Albert Smith Clements; Asst.

Coach Garvin Nedd; Physiotherapist Angelica Holder.

Alzarri Joseph named Hurricanes Super 50 captain

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Leeward Islands Hurricanes have elevated West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph as captain for the West Indies Super50 Cup, starting next Tuesday in Trinidad.

Joseph replaces long-standing wicketkeeper-batsman Jahmar Hamilton in the position, and he was given a huge vote of confidence in a media release from the Hurricanes that indicated the 26-year-old Antiguan has “consistently demonstrated his prowess on the field”.

“His exceptional bowling skills and strategic acumen make him the perfect choice to lead the team in the white ball format,” the media release stated. “The Leeward Islands Cricket Board has full confidence in his ability to inspire and guide the team to success.”

Joseph will have burly off-spin bowling all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall as his deputy for the tournament, and the Hurricanes will aim to improve on their performance last year, when they narrowly missed out on the semi-finals.

All but four members of the

Leewards and West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph squad are returning from last year, with Joseph, fellow West Indies pacer Oshane Thomas, Barbadian all-rounder Justin Greaves, and teenaged West Indies Under-19 wicketkeeper-batsman Jewel Andrew giving the side an edge.

Joseph said he was excited about the opportunity to lead the Hurricanes, and he looked forward

to forming a lethal attack with the chunky Thomas. “it’s good to have both of us in the same team because we can back each other up, and even in the middle overs, we can follow up,” he said. “It’s always good to have someone that can help you share the workload when it comes to bowling fast and being aggressive.”

Hurricanes finished third in their group last year, but they failed to qualify for the semi-finals ahead of Barbados Pride because of an inferior net run rate.

They open this year’s tournament against defending champions Jamaica Scorpions in a day-night contest on the second match day of the tournament next Wednesday at the Brian Lara Cricket Ground.

Squad: Alzarri Joseph (captain), Rahkeem Cornwall (vice-captain), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Terrence Warde, Daniel Doram, Karima Gore, Justin Greaves, Jahmar Hamilton, Kofi James, Jeremiah Louis, Kieran Powell, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, October 11, 2023

One Guyana Basketball Premier League

Kwakwani, Colts and Kobra win on tournament’s resumption

By Calvin Chapman

THE One-Guyana Basketball Premier League returned last Saturday at the National Gymnasaium on Mandela Avenue &

Princes Street, following a one-month break during the Caribbean Premier League.

Kwakwani Untouchable picked up where they left off with a 68-59 win against

Samuel Downer of Pepsi Sonics trying to dribble his way out of a double team (Delano Williams photo)

Plaisance Guardians to maintain their unbeaten run in the Harpy Eagle Conference while Kobras also went three wins from three games played after beatind D-Up 55-41, topping the Jaguar Conference in the process.

Jamal Gilkes led the scoring for Kwakwani with 21 points in their win. He netted 10 of his 13 FG attempts, grabbed eight rebounds and two steals in his game winning performance. Meanwhile, Stanton Rose had 14 points with five successful FG from his 13 attempts. Skipper Domair Gladstone supported with 10 points as well.

Carlos Edwards was the star for Kobras in their win against D-Up. He scored 16 points inclusive for one three-pointer and seven from 10 on the free-throw line.

Pepsi Sonics suffered an embarrassing 95-19 defeat at

the hands of Bounty Colts.

Romeo Vaughn led the scoring with 17 points, scoring eight from 10 attempted FG and one from six from the free throw line. Carmelo Man Son-Hing and Shaine Webster both netted 15 points in the win.

The official sponsors of the One-Guyana Premier League include the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; G-Boats Guyana; National Sports Commission; and Guyana Basketball Federation.

There are 14 teams in the One-Guyana league, and they are grouped into the Harpy Eagle Conference and the Jaguar Conference.

During the league, teams from the Jaguar and Harpy Eagle Conferences will face each other, twice, within their respective groups. The top four teams will prog-

Carmelo Man Son-Hing (with ball) netted 15 points for Colts in their massive win against Pepsi Sonics on Saturday (Delano Williams photo) ress to the playoffs, where the first-ranked team will compete against the fourthranked team, and the second-ranked team will take on the third-ranked team.

The victors of these

playoff matches will move on to the Conference Finals, where they will engage in a best-of-three series to determine the finalists for the National Championship.

A section of the fans (Newsroom photo)

Essequibo drag racing fan support overwhelming –– Roshandin –– Hints at adding event to annual calendar

LAST weekend’s historic drag race event in Essequibo was met with resounding support from both racers and fans according to vice president of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sport Club, Mohamed S. Roshandin.

The one-day event,

which took place at the Mainstay Airstrip in the Cinderella County, drew crowd support that lined the sides of the strip.

So much so that the club is considering doing another event next year according to Roshandin.

“We were blown away

by the support by the crowds and the fans and everyone here. We couldn’t have asked for better on our first visit here.”

Even last [Saturday] evening, at our car show on the tarmac, you could feel that there was a lot of energy going around;

a lot of excitement to see these cars out here.”

I knew the sport had fans in Essequibo but not this much. We have definitely found another place with which to host drag racing and it’s definitely something we are going to do next year”

Roshandin added that the support from the racers as well, in planning and executing the event made it the success that it was.

“We cannot begin to thank those that made the trip; the cars that came from Georgetown to support the event made all the difference and we are grateful to

them.”

He explained that other drivers who just came to spectate have already begun making plans to attend the next event.

Sunday’s event was done via the ‘Hand-drop’ system with competitors and fans also praising the speediness and effectiveness of the event.

Suriname Golf Open

LGC President takes the crown in B Class see story on page 30

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2023