Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 12-03-2023

of the Mon Repos Primary School, on the East Coast Demerara, enjoy their new library (Delano Williams photo)

‘Spread the Words’ opens library at Mon Repos

A NEW library was opened on Saturday at the Mon Repos Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara, through the efforts of ‘Spread the Words,’ a group led by Laura Ryan.

In her presentation, Ryan asked that the teachers, pupils and by extension the community of Mon Repos make use of the “precious gift of reading, have fun in the library and treat it with care.”

This is the third library that the foundation has erected in Guyana; the first and second are in Plaisance and Belle West Primary Schools, respectively.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, who was a guest speaker at the event said that the establishment of the library fits directly into the agenda of the Ministry of Education.

She said that the ministry has set a goal that every child must be a reader by Grade Four. According to the Education Minister, currently, at the exit examinations, there is evidence to show that many children cannot read.

She said that the

ministry is in the quest to ensure that every child across the country can exit primary school

fully literate. She said that the new library will not only serve the children attending the Mon

Repos Primary School, but also those within the community who attend other schools.

engage in projects and activities that will have a lasting impact on the lives of those around them.

now part of our school history and that has been created today for not only the school but the community as well.”

She said the school is in the process of seeking a librarian, which will allow them to incorporate a reading period into the school syllabus.

Additionally, Chief Librarian at the National Library, Emily King, encouraged the team to continue their work and go into more communities to establish similar facilities. She said that reading builds the minds and skills of every individual.

King suggested that the use of the library

She noted that the government is working to ensure that children are educated so that they can benefit from the development taking place.

Minister Manickchand thanked Ryan for her contribution and efforts. She said that it is important that people

Meanwhile, speaking with the Sunday Chronicle, Headmistress (ag) of Mon Repos Primary School, Rhonda James, said, “I am elated about what is happening here today, it is beyond what words can explain and we are happy that our school was one of the chosen ones. This is

should be integrated into the school’s programme and not be used when there is ‘free time.’

She encouraged the teachers to ensure that their learners utilize the library and to reach out to parents so that they can make sure their children are reading.

A section of the new library (Delano Williams photo)

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand; founder of the ‘Spread the Words’ foundation, Laura Ryan and pupils of the school cut the ribbon to the new library (Delano Williams photo)

Founder of the ‘Spread the Words’ foundation, Laura Ryan

‘Hatred, terrorism & racism’

President Ali rages against WPA’s divisive statements

DESCRIBING it as pure “hate, terrorism and racism”, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali on Saturday lashed out at divisive comments made by Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Tacuma Ogunseye, who sought to incite violence and encourage members of the Joint Services to engage in public disorder in rejection of his democratically elected government.

In an address to the nation which was streamed on his Facebook page, the Head of State reiterated his government’s commitment to working towards unity in Guyana, as he called on all Guyanese to condemn Ogunseye’s comments.

The President made specific reference to a public meeting held at Buxton, East Coast Demerara on March 9, where Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton shared the platform with several members of the WPA.

Playing a section of the video during his address, the President called on all Guyanese to view the clip and judge for themselves if the behaviour of the Opposition members at the event illustrated true leadership qualities.

In the video, Ogunseye insinuated that Afro-Guya-

nese are being oppressed, and called on the Joint Services, which is predominantly made up of Afro-Guyanese, to use their guns against this perceived oppression.

“…I don’t understand how people complain that they are oppressed and they are holding guns in their hands. They are the majority in the army, in the police, and they still say they are oppressed. And they still say our problem is our own making. Anytime we turn those guns in the right direction it is over,” Ogunseye is heard saying.

President Ali highlight -

ed that the comments and gathering were used to promote hate, racism, terrorism against the state and sought to influence people in a direction that can create havoc, disharmony and destroy any modern democratic society.

“No gun or bullet would stop us on this path of unifying our people, on this path of developing our country, on this path of uplifting the lives of our people of this country. This is clear hate, terrorism and racism that came off of that stage. All of Guyana should be upset,” the Head of State emphasised.

With the country current-

ly on a path of unprecedented growth and development, the President called on Guyanese to examine the behaviour of the political opposition.

Those speaking at the event included Leader of the Opposition and PNC/R Leader, Aubrey Norton.

“The Leader of the Opposition shared this stage that urged respectable, disciplined men and women in uniform to be part of a system that destroys democracy. They know nothing about unity and bringing our country together,” the President said.

“Are these the type of people we want to lead our

country?…To the private sector, ask yourself a very simple question, can these people who share that stage have the interests of Guyana at heart? To the religious community, in your own conscience as religious leader, do you accept this?”

Though he also called on civil society to condemn the behaviour, the President noted, however, that there will be those in civil society who would ignore speaking out against the behaviour because it does not suit their agenda.

“Do we understand the implication of this state -

ment? I’m very proud of the men and women in our Joint Services. And I know they’re right thinking people. Who would tolerate this,” the President said.

The President questioned why the political opposition chose Buxton to make those statements and urged the residents not to be used as a political tool.

“Why is it every time they make these dangerous call that they seek to utilise Buxton as a village? [Is that] the respect they have for Buxtonians? They will do anything for power because their understanding of power is to lord over the people,” the President said.

“These persons are just sheer racist, opportunistic dismantlers. They don’t understand what building is. They have never been associated with building anything that is good.”

The country’s Attorney General, Anil Nandlall has already called for a full investigation into Ogunseye’s statement, noting that it amounts to several criminal offences, including but not limited to, sedition, seditious libel, inciting riotous behaviour and exciting racial hostility in order to create a breakdown of law and order within the State of Guyana.

WPA endorses ‘racist’ comments of Tacuma Ogunseye

THE Working People’s Alliance (WPA) on Saturday issued a statement endorsing “racist and inciting” comments made by its executive member, Tacuma Ogunseye during a public meeting held on Thursday at Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

The WPA called the accusation of racism as “laughable” and defended Ogunseye’s words as freedom of expression.

“WPA stands with Tacuma Ogunseye and withdraws not a single word of his statements,” the WPA affirmed.

Ogunseye, at the public meeting, continued the political opposition’s rhetoric of unsubstantiated claims of oppression being faced by Afro-Guyanese under the current government. He took it a step further insinuating that members of the Joint Services, which is predominantly made up of Afro-Guyanese should “turn those guns in the right direction.”

“I don’t understand how people complain that they are

oppressed and they are holding guns in their hands. They are the majority in the army, in the police, and they still say they are oppressed. And they still say our problem is our own making. Anytime we turn those guns in the right direction it is over,”

Ogunseye asserted. He further stated: “We come to tell you that we will ensure that our brothers and sisters in uniform do the right thing and this thing will be over quickly.”

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali; the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall and other sections of society have since called out Ogunseye’s comments as racist utterances that can be seen as inciting violence between the Afro Guyanese dominated police force and soldiers and the mainly Indo-Guyanese supported People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government.

Chairman of the Joint Services, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, has since issued a statement calling for commentators to refrain from making

remarks which would incite racial tensions and deviate from the promotion of the peace and security, which the armed forces are mandated to maintain.

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

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

The Attorney General who is also Secretary of the Defence Board, also issued a statement, noting that Ogunseye’s inflammatory words cannot be justified under the rubric of freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution, since Article 146 which guarantees such freedom, expressly excepts

“…hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons.”

The, WPA, however, as-

serted that it stands in solidarity with Ogunseye.

“Mr. Ogunseye did not incite the forces as the statement insinuates.

He simply called on the

men in uniform to do the right thing and not turn their guns on Guyanese citizens protesting and resisting government overreach,” the WPA claimed.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

WPA Member, Tacuma Ogunseye

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

Essequibo communities get $1.3B infrastructural boost — through Housing and Water Ministry

By Indrawattie Natram

TAKING into account the ongoing works at two new locations identified for development at the Charity squatting area and Onderneeming, the Housing and Water Ministry has invested over $1.3 billion into Essequibo communities over the past two years as part of ongoing efforts to ensure that the requisite infrastruc-

ture is in place to facilitate access to adequate housing.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, during a recent outreach at State House in Anna Regina, said that $690 million worth of infrastructural works are ongoing at Charity alone. The sum caters for the construction of internal roads, culverts, pipe networks and bridges.

At Onderneeming Phase

I must inform all persons that were allocated in the Charity area, within another two months, maximum, we will start showing persons their lots,” Minister Croal said.

He related that part of the government’s programme through the Ministry of Agriculture is to install a new pump at Charity to provide better drainage for residents.

Minister Croal said one of the burning issues at Charity was squatting and the Community Development Department visited the area and addressed the issues.

road access for drainage. Similarly, we had a number of persons occupying land that belong to other persons, so it was a tedious exercise,” Croal said.

In 2022, persons in Charity were able to receive their Certificates of Title and the ministry through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is working to ensure the remaining persons receive their documents.

Minister Croal assured residents of Region Two that his ministry has listened to their concerns and is working to ensure that the matters are addressed.

WPA threatens to wage war on Joint Services

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four, over $408 billion is being spent for the construction of internal concrete roads, culverts and pipe networks.

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

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

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

The President called on Guyanese to recognise that

“If one should look at the investments in the two new housing schemes and I refer to Charity in general for which

his government is intent on embracing every citizen on development.

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

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

The Housing Minister said that it is not an easy process to regularise an area, and it requires a lot of planning.

“With it comes the decision of having to relocate persons who may fall within the range for when you do the design for

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

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

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

“I am living in Charity for years and getting our documents was always problematic and I’m happy that this is happening… we are thankful to President, Dr Irfaan Ali… we were all worried in this scheme, thinking we won’t get our documents,” Marcel Williams said.

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

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

The Housing and Water Ministry has invested over $1.3 billion into Essequibo communities over the past two years as part of ongoing efforts to ensure that the requisite infrastructure is in place to facilitate access to adequate housing

GUYANA CHRONICLE, S aturday, March 11, 2023

Guyanese walk to raise awareness on consumer rights, clean energy

MEN and women, both young and old from across the country turned out early Saturday morning to participate in a fitness walk to commemorate World Consumer Rights Day 2023.

World Consumer Rights Day being held on March 15 under the theme “Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions”, aims to educate the public on consumer needs and rights, and draw attention to market malpractices.

The walk, hosted by the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC)

in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce’s Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), saw participants assembling at the Bank of Guyana on Main Street, then moving along Main Street into High Street, onto Young Street, then along Carifesta Avenue to end at the Kitty Pump Station roundabout. Director of Business at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, John Edghill, who participated in the walk, told reporters that its aim was to garner a large turnout in order to raise awareness and involvement

in the transition to clean energy.

“We know that globally, and in the UN, a lot of countries have signed on to cut their carbon emissions and transition into clean energy sources by 2050. So, this day, we have commissioned a walk to be able to bring out numbers. And today, we have had a really good turnout,” he said.

He made reference to the government’s gas-to-energy and Amaila Falls projects, noting that projects of that nature are important in the transition to clean energy.

“We are already a leading

dimension in the world of clean energy, and Guyana is already net neutral in terms of carbon emissions. So, we are doing great work in this country, and we want to bring that awareness to it,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency, Dr Mahender Sharma, told participants gathered at the walk’s endpoint that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 plays an integral role in the shift towards cleaner energy.

He outlined the plans for the gas-to-energy project and the emissions it would reduce, and explained that while natural gas is still a fossil fuel, it is much cleaner, as it doesn’t contain sulphur and carbon like most fossil fuels do.

“So, by simply switching out from heavy fuel to natural gas, we are already achieving clean energy, but it doesn’t stop there. We are also advancing initiatives to develop hydropower on a massive scale to allow us to have greater levels of energy security so that we can utilise renewable energy in our mix. And it still doesn’t stop there,” he said.

A number of organisations also turned out in large groups to participate in the event.

These included the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Digicel Guyana, and others.

Director of Business at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, John Edghill

Representatives from a number of organisations participated in the fitness march to commemorate World Consumer Rights Day 2023 (Photos: DPI)

Race baiting

THERE are indications that some elements in our society are hell-bent on sowing the seeds of ethnic discord in our society.

Such attempts will not only fail, but they certainly go against the grain of the Guyanese people, the vast majority of whom live with each other in a state of utmost respect and cordiality.

Only recently, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall had cause to reprimand an opposition activist who, at a public meeting in Buxton, organised by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), reportedly said: “The Afro-Guyanese-dominated police and soldiers…would stand with Afro-Guyanese in resisting the mainly Indo-Guyanese-supported PPP/C....we come to tell you that we will ensure that our brothers and sisters in uniform do the right thing and this thing will be over quickly.”

Such statements are at best unfortunate coming at a time when President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C administration is doing everything possible to unify the whole of Guyana under the One Guyana initiative. Such vile and divisive statements emanating from a leading member of the WPA cannot be

countenanced and must be condemned by all those who cherish the ideals of a peaceful, harmonious and cohesive society.

Chairman of the Joint Services, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, was prompt in his call for social and political activists and commentators to refrain from making remarks which would incite racial tensions and deviate from the promotion of peace and security, which the armed forces are mandated to maintain.

He made it pellucidly clear that irrespective of its ethnic composition, the Joint Services of Guyana will continue to uphold the noble position of service to Guyana. It is guided by the Constitution which mandates it to stand firm in protection of the law and in the execution of its duties in keeping with its constitutional responsibilities and not by any partisan values and interests.

It is important to note in this regard, as observed by the Chairman of the Joint Services, that the Joint Services of Guyana is an apolitical institution and has a duty to uphold the noble position of service to the people of Guyana.

And the Attorney General, who is also Secretary of the Defence Board, in

response to the statements, said, “I feel compelled to condemn in the strongest possible terms the exhortations by Tacuma Ogunseye to the Armed Forces of Guyana to join a mass uprising against the lawful and democratically elected Government of Guyana, referencing the Forces ‘ready access to weapons for them to be ‘battle ready’ and preying to the dominant Afro-Guyanese composition of the said Forces.”

According to the Attorney General, this “racist incendiary call for public disorder, positioned as an alternative to the democratic process of Local Government Elections lawfully due, is capable of amounting to several criminal offences, including, but not limited to, sedition, seditious libel and order within the State of Guyana, if not treason.”

Mr. Ogunseye is no stranger to politics and would have been around during that dark period of PNC dictatorial rule when Forbes Burnham boasted that “his steel was sharper” in response to the militancy of Dr. Walter Rodney, who was the then-leader of the WPA. The degree of repression culminated in the assassination of Walter Rodney and the killing of several other opposition

activists.

It is unclear whether the position taken by Mr. Ogunseye is reflective of that of the WPA, which, from all indications, has now lost its way and for all practical purposes is now a spent force. Regardless of its current political status, it has a moral and political obligation to state its position on the remarks made by a leading executive of the party. Its refusal to do so could be seen as an endorsement of what was said and the likely repercussions of such incendiary political rhetoric.

President Ali, for his part, has made it abundantly clear that nothing would stand in his way in the realization of his One-Guyana initiative. The One- Guyana vision, according to the President, is not an option but a national imperative, one that is about promoting greater inclusion at the legislative, political and social levels.

It is about creating a more equal society, one that guarantees that every Guyanese regardless of race, religion or political affiliation is afforded the opportunity to lead productive and happy lives.

The right-wing, racial populism of the WPA

Dear Editor,

THE WPA is an enigmatic political force in Guyana, and only serious analytical and historical effort will help unravel their excursions into race-based political mobilization, and their recurring calls for violent actions against the state. I submit some arguments for your consideration below.

Before we proceed with the actions of the WPA, we need to establish a few key concepts from political theory and political sociology. First, we must distinguish between progressive and regressive ethnic nationalism. Progressive ethnic nationalism has its roots in the long historical struggles of the peoples of the Third World who fought against white racial supremacy. This fight was simultaneously a fight for national liberation and political

independence. The objective was the national sovereignty for Black and Brown peoples worldwide.

Regressive nationalism occurs when political actors try to build support by falsely claiming to be victims of ethnic and racial exclusion and oppression. In the US, for instance, right-wing elements falsely claim that White folks are the real victims, and that they have been left behind because liberals give Black people and immigrants privileges poor White folks do not enjoy.

Further, readers must note the fundamental difference between aggregation and mobilization. Aggregation is the method of democratic politics through free and fair elections. Aggregation of interest is done through political parties that compete for votes. Mobilization is when people are “amassed”, as when the

military mobilises an army to fight war.

We also need to understand populism. Most definitions of populism are based on a charismatic leader who claims to be the savior of an oppressed people, and who promises through a rhetoric of grievance, to mobilize individuals while telling them that they are the “real” people. Populist movements can be from the left or the right. In recent times, right-wing populism has been based on notions of protecting ethno-racial identities.

Theda Skocpol, the renowned historical sociologist at Harvard University, for instance, found that the most prominent issue in the founding of the right-wing Tea Party was the rise and election of Barack Obama. Most of their members, as did most Americans at that time, also saw Obama as a Muslim. The Tea Party movement was a conduit to Trumpian

populism.

Now, I am arguing here that the WPA began as a progressive Ethno-Marxist (as distinct from Western Marxist) movement based on a critique of global racial capitalism. When Rodney entered the politics of Guyana, he brought that critical perspective with him. He did, however, also believe in armed struggle, not only in Guyana, but elsewhere.

The WPA was not (and is not now) an electoral party, meaning its modus operandi was not to win elections.

After Rodney was assassinated, the WPA continued its politicking but it became increasingly regressive.

During the days of the PCD, for instance, the WPA was adamant that Cheddi Jagan should not be the

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Guyana to see more exploration

EXXONMOBIL Guyana recently submitted an extensive Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cover a planned 35-well drill campaign during the third quarter of this year.

The CIA outlines that the proposed campaign’s goal is to discover new finds and evaluate existing hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Stabroek Block to support future development projects in the area.

CIAs are important steps to analyse and help minimise the impacts of projects like the drill campaign. While the exact location of those 35 wells is still being finalised, the campaign is expected to have insignificant to minor impacts on physical, coastal biological and marine biological resources.

Right now, it’s being discussed that some of the wells will be drilled for exploration purposes and the other wells may be drilled as appraisal wells to assess the physical attributes of the oil and gas deposits already found.

With drilling scheduled to begin in the third quarter this year and continue

through 2028, Guyana is likely to see increased potential for more development and revenues in the coming years. To date, ExxonMobil Guyana has made over 30 discoveries on the Block since 2015, and its third producing project, Payara, is on track to come online by the end of the year.

In addition to this proposed campaign, the Stabroek Block co-venturers and the government are discussing the relinquishment of a portion of the block which would help facilitate the administration’s plan for direct partnerships.

According to Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo “[next] year, ExxonMobil will have to give up 20 percent of their holdings. So, all of those will be available for some form of bilateral engagement, where we can actually see joint production or exploration-related activities.” These blocks will be set aside by the government and not offered in the ongoing licensing round.

As exploration campaign plans get approved and work begins, it means there will be more jobs and opportunities to

train Guyanese on industry-specific skills needed to participate in the local oil and gas sector.

Already, thousands of Guyanese are employed in supporting the industry, but according to a study from the International Labour Organization, despite progressing well, Guyana’s labour market still faces a significant technical skills gap.

However, the government and private sector can continue to develop and adapt their expanding array of education and training programmes to keep up with the changing socio-economic environment. The latest exploration campaign will, hopefully, one day, translate into projects. Developing workforce capacity now is an important step to ensuring that Guyanese continue to play ever-increasing roles in that development. The preemptive efforts already undertaken by government and industry are indications of the long-term investment in Guyana’s success.

More exploration could one day mean more oil revenues. Already, Guyana is on good footing after starting the year with its national budget being almost 30 per cent funded by oil and gas revenues.

The Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, highlighted earlier this year that real GDP is expected to grow by 25.1 per cent this year, putting Guyana’s economy among the top five fastest growing economies in 2023.

Guyana is ripe for opportunity, and with new developments on the horizon, the government is making positive steps to capitalise on its resource while educating, equipping and developing its workforce for long term engagement in the country’s local oil and gas sector.

Guyana is solidifying itself as a major emerging oil producer and taking its place as a key influencer in the Caribbean.

The right-wing, racial ...

presidential candidate because he, according to WPA ethno-analysis, would not have been acceptable to Afro-Guyanese.

Yet, WPA intellectuals such as Dr. David Hinds found it fit to insist that the same Desmond Hoyte who had been a top participant in rigged elections, must be the presidential candidate. Paul Tennassee of the DLM rejected the idea of Hoyte as head of the ticket because, as he rightfully claimed, Hoyte was an “electoral bandit”.

The position of the WPA in the PCD regarding the 1992 elections was a portent of things to come. Bit by bit, the WPA moved away from critical, progressive, anti-racist politics, to one of ethno-racial mobilization; one where the only acceptable outcome is when there is an African president. It does not matter if an election is rigged or “frigged”. The most important objective of WPA politics is a “Black” president.

Rodney was able to pull in large multi-racial crowds.

But it is rather ironic that the same WPA that never fails to make this point, always constructs the WPA as a Black movement. Figures like Rupert Roopnarine, Moses Bhagwan, or Wazir Mohammed are simply ignored in the ethno-racial performances of WPA intellectuals. Put differently, in the very moments when the WPA claims to be non-racial, they practice ethno-bullyism against their own comrades! This is a predictable outcome of regressive ethno-nationalism.

The so called non-electoral approach by the WPA worked when they had a man of the caliber in the person of Rodney, a person steeped in the history of this country, and someone who had a global view of things. Absent Rodney, the WPA has no credibility to even call a public meeting. This has left them with two options.

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page 6

The first option is to kill history by joining the same PNC that, according to WPA pronouncements, harmed numerous of its members. The WPA loves APNU despite the PNCR being at the leading edge of the 2020 rigging attempt. This is a direct consequence of regressive ethno-nationalism.

Despite its permanent state of leader-lessness, the WPA has become a champion of racial populism.

This means that its discourses are invariably couched in the language of “Black suffering.” All persons of African descent, whether in high state offices, or private sector leaders, are considered house slaves because they have become successful and do not share in the populist bitterness of the handful of political recalcitrant that refuse to heed the dynamic of change going on in this country.

A race traitor for the WPA is defined as any person of African ancestry in Guyana who is successful, excepting for those that are part of the movement of WPA type African racial populism, Guyana style. The WPA’s historic underbelly of opposition through violent rhetoric is still intact and forms an integral part of WPA’s vision.

The current re-invention of Burnham by some WPA activist is indicative of a new “grounding” in regressive ethno-nationalism and racial populism. In this way, the WPA has moved from a progressive, Marxist, working-class movement to a right-wing, ethno-nationalist movement based on racial populism.

As Attorney General Nandlall has warned, the violent threats associated with this new direction could be deemed criminal, or even treasonous.

Sincerely,

Dr. Randolph Persaud

Will Rishi Sunak be the first UK PM to engage CARICOM on reparations?

WILL Rishi Sunak be the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) to engage CARICOM on reparations?

That’s the multi-million-dollar question on minds across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, after a UK MP of British and Caribbean parentage on March 8 called on Prime Minister Sunak to engage 14 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments on ‘Reparations for Slavery and Native Genocide’ in the former British West Indies, which today are

still part of the British Commonwealth.

Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South, called publicly this week for Sunak to start negotiations with Caribbean leaders on paying reparations for Britain’s role in, and benefits from, Slavery.

His call followed a historic move by a British family that apologised and established a Reparations fund in Grenada on February 27, to atone for its proverbial Original Sin.

Speaking at the debate on ‘The UK Gov-

PSC condemns ‘ugly’ WPA statements

ernment’s role in promoting financial security and reducing inequality in the Caribbean’, Lewis said Reparations could not be dismissed as “an obsession among a small group of so-called woke extremists” – as being claimed by conservative critics and families unwilling to apologise or atone for their slave-owning ancestors.

A week earlier, Lewis had raised (in Parliament), the issue of UK Parliamentarians whose families benefitted from Trans-Atlantic Slavery needing to also atone for their fore-parents and make amends to the descendants of the millions of Africans enslaved by British companies, churches, universities and businesses.

He had rhetorically asked the Speaker why any fellow MPs hadn’t followed the example of the Trevelyan family, which recently launched a £100,000 fund in Grenada to account for their family’s role in the slave trade, including owning more than 1,000 slaves and six sugar plantations on the island.

is yet to enter into serious discussions with the island of Grenada and the Caribbean community in regards to reparations.”

Lewis noted that in 1837 the British government saw fit to give 40% of the Treasury’s annual income – 5% of GDP -- to compensate slave owners, “but there was no compensation for the enslaved, or to help correct the deep and structural legacy of slavery.”

Lewis said of the Trevelyans: “They did what no British government has ever done before: They apologised for their ancestors’ part in the exploitation of the 1,000 slaves they owned on six plantations.”

whole until these issues are resolved.”

Among what The Guardian described as a “handful of MPs at the debate” was Labour’s Nadia Whittome, who supported Lewis’ call for the Sunak administration to engage with CARICOM on Reparations.

CARICOM leaders sent a joint letter to the UK and other European Union (EU) member-states since 2013, requesting a discussion of a 10-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice.

However, approaching a decade later, Brussels has not shown any sign of entertaining any such discussion.

horrors of slave trade.

The Drax family’s ancestors pioneered the slave and plantation system in Barbados and the West Indies in the 17th century, as well as in the US.

The family’s historical wealth was inherited from Sir James Drax, one of the first Englishmen to colonize Barbados, who also owned (at least) two slave ships (named ‘Samuel’ and ‘Hope’) -- and the family also owned a plantation in Jamaica, which it sold in the 19th century.

Full statement from the PSC:

THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) has been made aware of and condemns in the strongest possible manner a public statement broadcast on the internet and for national public consumption, on March 9, on the platform of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), at which the Leader of the Opposition was participating; an undisguised, deliberate and ugly attempt to promote insurrection against the elected Government of the day.

The WPA statement is yet another attempt to pursue and advocate racial confrontation and conflict, an abject and wholly unacceptable pursuit of political racism intending to divide the people of our

country.

The statement by the WPA, a former member of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), is utterly irresponsible and completely reckless and must be rejected out of hand by every citizen of our country.

The Private Sector Commission fully and unreservedly supports Attorney General, Anil Nandlall and His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali in condemning this attempt to create political mayhem and economic instability in our country.

The PSC calls upon the leadership of every political party in our country to condemn and reject this kind of political behaviour aimed at threatening the peace and security of our nation and to speak out with one voice against it.

In 1835, the Trevelyans were allocated £26,898 – worth millions of Euros and US dollars today - in compensation from the British government for the abolition of slavery a year earlier.

But the enslaved men, women and children received nothing after 1834 and were forced to work a further eight years as unpaid “apprentices”.

After welcoming the Trevelyans’ actions in Parliament, Lewis asked (in his Twitter account): “If this family can do it, then why can’t our government?”

He told fellow MPs, “I find it disturbing that the British government

He continued, “They acknowledge the financial and cultural advantage this has generated for them and (they) urge the British government, as I do today, to enter into meaningful negotiations with the governments of the Caribbean in order to make appropriate reparations.”

Lewis also said the Trevelyan family had “opened the door of this debate just a little wider”.

The MP behind the motion likened the relationship between the UK and the Commonwealth to “an abusive one” in which “one partner has endured 400 years of the most hideous abuse, and one who now seeks not charity, but restitution”.

He also warned that the UK “will not be able to move on as a cohesive

Whittome said, “The case for former colonial powers to pay reparations to the descendants of enslaved peoples is particularly strong,” since the UK government compensated families up to as recent as eight years ago, in 2015.

“The reason why reparations is the right and fair thing to do,” she added, ‘is because of the legacy of slavery and because wealthier countries like ours extracted and underdeveloped those societies… and because of our role in the climate crisis – and the fact that this threatens the very future of the Caribbean.”

Wednesday’s discussion also followed fresh calls in the UK – also last week -- for British MP Richard Drax to hand over his family’s 250-hectare estate in Barbados to islanders, to help compensate for the

The family received almost £5,000 -- another very large sum in 1836 -- for freeing 189 enslaved people when slavery was abolished across the British Empire in 1833.

The Guardian claims that as of December 2020, Richard Drax was worth around £150 million and owns several properties across Dorset and Yorkshire.

But whether the Drax family will follow the Trevelyans’ footsteps, or if PM Sunak will take MP Lewis’ call seriously, are still both sixty-million-dollar-questions awaiting answers on all three sides of the lucrative Great Triangle and both ends of the perilous Middle Passage for kidnapped Africans, sold into Slavery in the Caribbean and The Americas and the profits of the Chattel Slave Trade shipped to Europe.

Chairman of the PSC, Paul Cheong

Preserve your cardiovascular health

CARDIOVASCULAR health is frequently being referred to as heart health but it also encompasses the health of blood vessels that supply all other organs.

The build-up of plaques within the arteries mainly due to high cholesterol and other substances, narrows the passage for blood flow resulting in a condition called atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular events which include heart failure, heart attack and stroke are preventable and manageable. Some of the causative factors are uncontrollable high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes along with poor diet, exercise and stress management, which are preventative most of the times.

Cardiovascular disease is more prevalent in men than women and is the major cause of reducing life expectancy to below 70 years. If the patient survives a cardiovascular event, it can impact on their social and economic well-being since they are no longer able to be as productive prior to the disease.

According to a 2022 publication of FIP (International Pharmaceutical Federation), cardiovascular deaths account for 32 percent of the current global deaths. It is projected to increase to 32.3 million by 2030, a steady incline from 18.9 million in 2020 and 12.1 million, three decades earlier in 1990.

Globalization and urbanization across all levels of global economies have created major changes in diets and lifestyle where the highest incidences of cardiovascular events occur in the poorest countries.

However, modifications can be made in all of the following categories of persons who are at risk for cardiovascular diseases:

• Overweight or obese persons –

BMI calculation verifies your category

• Physically inactive persons

• Consumers of unhealthy diet

• Smokers

• Excessive alcoholic consumers

• Those persons affected by chronic stress and psychosocial factors

• Those persons affected by sleep disorders

• Hypertensive patients

• Dyslipidemia patients – elevation of low density lipids, total cholesterol and serum triglycerides

• Diabetic mellitus patients – elevations of blood sugar levels due to poor dietary, behavioral and lifestyle choices

So, persons are encouraged to seek guidance on disease prevention and on their progress of monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels; also medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications by managing diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking cessation and de-stressing, are to be addressed.

A DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is the heart healthy one recommended, comprising of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, less than one teaspoon of salt per day, less than 5 to 10 percent of daily intake from simple sugars and lean proteins such as legumes (beans, peas, and lentils).

Currently, there is a trend noted with kids where there is a reduced consumption of vegetables and fruits.

Saturated and trans fats, salt and sugar and low fiber intake are the culprits in a healthy diet. Meal planning and preparation and reading food labels are the way to mindful eating. Indulgence in foods at social gatherings and cultural celebrations can be

silent killers.

So, restrict your taste buds for treats such as fast foods (French fries, fried chicken, fried rice, hot dogs); snacks made with lard such as pastries, bread, pizza, and most desserts like cakes, cookies, ice cream, chocolates, sodas or frizzy drinks, puddings and pies. Some cultural sweet meats are also loaded with sugars and fats such as parsad, sirnie, halwa, vermicelli, mithai, kheer, goja, gulab jamun and peera.

It is believed that 80 percent of cases such as heart failure, heart attack and stroke do not have to be experienced if patients were to take their medications, cease smoking, follow a heart friendly diet and do a minimum of 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity or 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.

Sleep deprivation due to insufficient sleep and a late onset sleep from 11pm may induce high levels of stress hormones causing a 25 percent increase in heart events as compared to those who sleep at 10:59 pm or experience good sleep hygiene. Those include a quiet, clean and cool bedroom; reducing blue light levels from gadgets, limiting stimulants such as coffee, nicotine and alcohol just before bedtime; eating at least four hours before bedtime and getting enough exercise, but not close to bedtime.

Stress reduction and psychological therapy is recommended by referral to a specialist only if the first steps to exercise, mediate and enhance sleep quality have failed to address the stressors.

Cost, access and quality of care were the areas of concern for practitioners and researchers when they designed a more comprehensive model of care to address the scale of the escalating global epidemic

of this non-communicable chronic illness.

The goals of addressing cardiovascular health are:

• Prevention

• Screening

• Clinical management by physician

• Therapeutic optimization by a team of physician, pharmacist and nurse

So, in more developed countries there is training in prevention by reducing risk factors, screening of high risk persons and medication management, which encompasses a review for medication compliance, identify medicine related incidents, flag for dosage adjustments and provide long term solutions by addressing weight and behavioral habits of smoking, binging of alcohol and stress relieve.

Pharmacists can spot drug-induced hypertension and can quickly suggest corrective actions either by limiting usage or avoiding altogether the following list: caffeine, alcohol, cocaine, decongestants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, systemic corticosteroids, herbal supplements, amphetamines, antidepressants and oral contraceptives.

In more developed countries the Kozma’s ECHO (Economic, Clinical and Humanistic Outcomes) model is the metrics used to measure the progress of the pharmacy and other services offered to patients.

For further discussion, contact the pharmacist of Medicine Express Pharmacy at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets.

If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic, kindly forward them to medicine. express@gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg. Tel: 225-5142.

Death toll climbs to five in horrific Greenwich Park accident

MINIBUS passenger, 71-year-old, Tella Parhoo, succumbed to injuries she sustained in the gruesome Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo accident, which occurred Monday last.

According to a police statement, Parhoo died at the Georgetown Public Hospital around 15:30 hours on Friday, while receiving treatment for her injures; the death toll is now five.

The four others who died in the March 6 accident were: 50-year-old, minibus driver of Bent Street, Wortmanville, Vernon Prowell and minibus passengers Margaret Kennedy, 72, of Tuschen; Olga Reddy, 57, of Parika; and Elvis Charles, 40, of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo.

The accident occurred around 09.30

hours and involved a motor lorry (GZZ 2285) driven by Ewart Stewart and a minibus (BWW 8364) driven by Prowell.

Stewart, 38, was charged on Thursday with four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and remanded to prison; he was also charged with driving an uninsured and uncertified vehicle.

Police had reported that the truck was speeding east along the northern side of the road while approaching a pedestrian crossing and the minibus was heading in the opposite direction.

The truck driver claimed that a car in front of him made a sudden stop at the pedestrian crossing and so he applied brakes and swerved to avoid a collision. As a result, the truck crashed into the minibus.

Scenes from the accident at Greenwich Park Public Road

Zero points for Tucuma Ogunseye

EVERY politician that strives to become Guyana’s President must understand the politics of this land, the mood of the people, and their competitors’ game plans.

This is essential for their success in elections, because one bad move or blunder could cost them their entire

political strategy.

For instance, if they could read the mood of the people, they could know what type of political language, political linguistics, and political behavioural patterns are seen as responsible, lawful, and necessary when addressing the general public. They would also know

what can be said, and what cannot be said, as it would be deemed reprehensible, vile and politically stupid.

Recently, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA)’s Executive Member Tacuma Ogunseye was a speaker at a rally held in Buxton, East Coast Demerara. He launched an attack on the

People’s Progressive Party Civic and President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s Government.

From all indications, Ogunseye was speaking, as they say, ‘in the moment’, and was at home among his Afro-Guyanese supporters. He also launched a verbal assault on the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police

Force members that were Afro-Guyanese who he said “should be battle-ready”, have “ready access to weapons”, and “do the right thing” in the “struggle” to forcibly remove the PPP from government.

He appeared to be, in essence, calling on not only this part of the Armed Forces which he considers to be Afro-Guyanese, but all Guyanese to engage in acts of illegality, resistance and public disorder.

Firstly, all right-thinking and law-abiding citizens should condemn the WPA and Ogunseye’s utterances and political behavior, as it is reckless, seditious, and irresponsible. One may even think that it borders on treason and illegality.

His political language used at the rally can only be described as provocative, inflammatory, and inciteful, in the context of Guyana’s laws.

To think that the WPA has not even had the courage to upbraid this leader is telling, both of its new political ideology and mental capacity going into the planned Local Government Elections, which are billed for June of this year.

Secondly, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton must be held equally responsible for appearing to support Ogunseye’s unhinged and crass statements.

While Norton expressed a difference of opinion on participation in the upcoming polls, he did not reject or rebuff his statements or utterances of intended violence and appeal to the race of the Armed Forces.

That, in itself, points out the Opposition Leader’s inability to read the mood of the people in Guyana. Norton’s street-style politics did not allow him to distance himself or the PNC-led APNU from the insensitive and provocative things that Ogunseye was inciting in Buxton.

This proves the argument that Norton likes confrontational politics, and his silence is taken as consent, though not explicitly.

Also, Norton is gambling on the ethnic vote, and is calmly stoking the fire of racism and division during this election season. He wants deniability, but cannot bring himself or the party to condemn WPA’s Ogunseye’s utterances and provocation.

Norton is weak, too, because he supports this racist incendiary call for public disorder and resistance.

The public, therefore, cannot become complacent and ignore these dangerous threats made by Norton and supported by his silence and cowardice.

This is ‘yard-fowl’ behaviour, and it is frowned upon. If such conduct is ignored, it will inspire the perpetrators with greater boldness, to the public’s detriment.

Thirdly, where are the public commentators and civil society voices who are bold enough to condemn this despicable act committed by Ogunseye, apart from the President, PPP/C, and Joint Services Head?

Are they sleeping, or practising selective condemnation, because what he said is precisely what they hope for?

Coming on the heels of the 2020 elections fiasco, which threatened the peace and tranquillity of this country, it is reasonable to think that the PPP/C Government must act swiftly to look at getting the authorities to charge Ogunseye for his unprovoked outburst at the public rally.

With the upcoming local polls nearby, any political leader who embraces Ogunseye’s rhetoric and racial behaviour publicly must be dealt with according to the laws.

Fourthly, Buxtonians, Afro-Guyanese and all Guyanese must shun political leaders like Ogunseye who start the conflict but run from the scene of the crime when they are met with lawful and legal resistance to bring order and control back to society.

Similarly, they must not heed the calls for unlawful activity and unrest; they must not allow themselves to be used or tempted by the Opposition provocateurs. They must remain calm, and trust in Guyana’s democracy to pave the way for a new government structure at the local and regional levels.

Guyanese must turn away from acts of aggression, thuggery and bullyism that Ogunseye appears to champion with his talk of ‘struggle’ and ‘war’. Finally, political violence must be condemned, and those who support it in public must be jailed.

Those who appeal to, incite, violence or cause public disorder must be dealt with according to the law; Guyanese must start to change their tolerance levels until they have no more.

PM Phillips calls for collective commitment to disaster risk reduction

PRIME MINISTER, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips, recently attended the VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean (RP23) and called for governments to collectively reaffirm their commitment to disaster risk reduction and the Sendai Framework and its targets as a pathway for sustainable development with investments for the sustainable growth and development of the region.

The event, held in a hybrid format in Punta del Este, Uruguay, under the theme “Science and Technology for Integrated Disaster Risk Management,” brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to discuss and address disaster risk reduction.

During his remarks at the platform’s closing ceremony, Prime Minister Phillips, who holds ministerial responsibility for Disaster Risk Management, also called for a paradigm shift in disaster

risk reduction and management with specific attention to the fields of science and technology.

“Our governments must make greater use of science and technology, including the information and communication technologies available to us.”

The Senior Government Official went on to say that greater use of science and technology is needed for disaster risk reduction, and that collective experiences, when shared, provide an opportunity to reduce combined risks and promote the development of the Americas and the Caribbean Region.

“We must leverage these collective strengths in accordance with target G and all the other targets of the Sendai Framework to enhance co-operation and to support and complement national action. We must also elevate disaster risk reduction as a national policy priority and mainstream disaster risk management into all aspects of our individual country’s development efforts in order to achieve the global and

regional targets in coherence, with the climate adaptation and sustainable development

agendas.”

He also emphasised the importance of applying scientific and technological knowledge in a people-centred manner to effectively mitigate disasters.

“We must utilise our vast knowledge of science and technology within the Americas and the Caribbean, in a people-centred whole of society manner, get ahead of the curve ahead of the next pandemic, ahead of the next earthquake, ahead of the next hurricane and indeed, ahead of the persistent floods that are also a common feature of our region.”

The Prime Minister also stated that the effects of climate change are likely to exacerbate the recurrence and intensity of extreme events, therefore multisectoral risk governance and sustainable finance scaling up, consistent monitoring, and swift, decision-making efforts are needed in the changing risk landscape.

Prime Minister Phillips also praised the leadership of the Uruguayan government and RP23.

He congratulated them

“For the adoption of the ministerial Declaration and the adjusted regional action plan for the implementation of the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction 2015-2030. Your leadership has given us a much-needed focus on the priorities in light of the lessons learned over the last four years”.

At that meeting, the Ministerial Declaration of the Fifth High-Level Meeting of Ministers and Authorities on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in the Americas and the Caribbean was adopted, along with The Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean.

World Kidney Day 2023: A message from the Kidney Foundation of Guyana

APPROXIMATELY 850 million people worldwide are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) which represents more than 10% of the world’s population. Risk factors for CKD include diabetes, hypertension, older age and being female. CKD is a leading cause of death globally and the number of deaths associated with CKD continues to increase despite advances in treatment.

Developing countries have a higher burden of CKD and less resources to properly treat CKD making these countries vulnerable to disasters. The rise in risk factors such as obesity and diabetes have resulted in rising rates of kidney disease in low- and middle-income countries, especially in the Caribbean. With limited resources to deal with the rising demand for dialysis and kidney transplants, it is imperative that we prevent CKD by screening for risk factors and addressing these risk factors in primary care settings. Active screening for kidney disease can identify early stages of chronic kidney disease and given the right interventions, kidney failure can be prevented, or it can be significantly delayed.

Globally, health care systems have faced several disastrous events, these include natural disasters such as the

COVID-19 pandemic, earthquakes, floods, and extreme weather, and man-made disasters such as wars, crimes and political unrest. These disasters lead to disruption of access to services such as proper food, medications, laboratory testing, dialysis, kidney transplants and follow-up care.

The World Kidney Day Steering Committee dedicated 2023 to preparing for disasters since the COVID-19 pandemic was a clear example of the challenges faced by health care systems in providing essential health services to patients with chronic diseases. Planning, anticipation, and preparation for disasters with a forward-thinking approach and being proactive will help to mitigate some challenges when the next disaster arrives.

As the kidney community was launching the theme ‘supporting the vulnerable and preparing for the unexpected’, Turkey and Syria experienced a massive earthquake which killed more than 40,000 persons including health care providers and front-line workers, flattened hospitals, destroyed airports and access roads, limiting delivery of supplies and human resources, and resulted in significant damage.

Persons trapped under rubbles and buildings are at high risk of kidney failure due to

dehydration, and crushed muscles which releases a product of muscle breakdown called myoglobin that is toxic to the kidney. Emergency dialysis is often required for persons with crush injuries. Anticipating crush injuries and early intervention are crucial for survival in disasters such as earthquakes and wars.

The most famous disaster that affected heath care in our time is COVID-19 pandemic which placed an added strain on persons with kidney disease who have had to deal with the risk of becoming infected while visiting health facilities, or indeed the suspension or cancellation of non-COVID-19 care due to health service capacity limits and lockdown policies. Health services have struggled to provide access to the ongoing incidence of new chronic disease cases needing diagnoses, management, and care. With no actual cure or treatment to prevent progression of CKD, the under-detected and unhindered progression of CKD to kidney failure will most certainly increase the global need for life-saving costly treatments of dialysis and transplantation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated an already insufficient global political health commitment on chronic diseases. During this pandemic, it was clear that those with non-

communicable diseases were more likely to develop serious illness and die, as the needs of providing and prioritizing ongoing complex care for these patients were deprioritized in favor of acute health responses.

Data from the United States and England showed that deaths for those with kidney failure and persons who received a kidney transplant were higher than anticipated during the pandemic which may have been a reflection that chronic diseases were not prioritized during the pandemic. The global health community has recognized that there is a real need for health care systems and jurisdictions to develop more resilient systems.

Chronic diseases are too often incorrectly perceived as due to poor lifestyle choices, with policy deficits compounded by allocation of insufficient public health funds that focus on management rather than prevention, and of only a few of the recognised non-communicable chronic diseases – cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease. Yet, it is estimated that 55% of the global non-communicable chronic diseases burden is attributed to diseases outside of this group, such as kidney disease.

Furthermore, the burden of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respira-

Dr. Areefa Alladin, Chair of the Kidney Foundation tory disease is amplified in the presence of kidney disease, frequently co-existing. The World Kidney Day Steering Committee calls for public health policies that reflect preventative strategies and the importance of both the magnitude and synergistic aspects of kidney disease as part of the non-communicable chronic diseases burden.

Preparation for unexpected events is incredibly important for kidney patients. Prioritizing prevention, early detection, and management of non-communicable chronic diseases, including kidney disease can improve health outcomes. Health equity and proper access to care for

chronic patients in times of emergency along with emergency preparedness plans are recommended by the World Kidney Day Steering Committee. In addition, persons with chronic diseases, including kidney disease should plan for emergencies by preparing an emergency kit that includes food, water, medical supplies, and medical records.

In conclusion, as the burden of chronic kidney disease continue to rise globally, we are encouraged to implement effective primary preventative measures and treatments to prevent and slow the progression of kidney disease. Chronic kidney failure is devastating, and irreversible, active prevention is the best option. Anticipating and planning for disasters as a global health community, being cognisant of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, can improve health outcomes.

The Kidney Foundation of Guyana, the Chronic Disease Unit of the Ministry of Health, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Regional Health Services, and the Guyana Diabetic Association are working together to increase awareness of kidney diseases in Guyana. Details on events, medical outreaches, screening programmes, and medication education sessions are on our social media pages (https://www.facebook. com/GUYKIDFOUN).

(Adapted from the World Kidney Day Steering Committee 2023 editorial)

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips

New ‘app’ to expand children’s vocabulary, achieve early reading success

By Cassandra Khan

THE Ministry of Education’s (MOE) National Literacy Department, in collaboration with the Nursery Education Sector, on Friday, launched the Animal Friends Learning App at the Tuschen Nursery School, West Coast Demerara, East Bank Essequibo.

The application is an adaptation of the Animal Friends Timehri Reader Readers Workbook series which is expected to provide a sight word-based programme in an effort to develop the nursery children’s word recognition skills along with the expansion of their vocabulary to achieve early reading success.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, speaking at the launch, said that children now have access to the workbook series on a fun and interactive app that can be used without internet connectivity and is available on the Google Playstore.

“We now have Animal Friends, with Pat and Roy that all of you grew up with, on a device. Pat and Roy are now in an app where your children get to sound that out or move it around…and manipulate it,” she noted.

According to Manickchand, while enrolling in Nursery school is not compulsory in Guyana, the country does have one of the highest enrollment rates in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

The reason for this, she said, is that all parents want their children to “do better than them” and the only way to do this is through education.

According to Manickchand, upon re-en -

tering office in 2020, the ministry was tasked with finding ways to keep children engaged, but because of the level of concentration nursery school children would have, engaging them online was a challenging task.

“Engaging them online was very hard given their level of concentration and the attention they need, so, we had to find various ways of engaging nursery children that were not only online. We did worksheets and packages and we gave every nursery child in this country a developmental kit,” she related.

The education minister believes that nursery is the most important education level.

“You give me a solid nursery education and I could give you a child that passes CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) even if they did not pass NGSA (National Grade Six Assessment), but you got to give me a solid nursery education,” she said.

While investments are being made in the nursery level of education, the minster said that there is not a proportionate rise in read-

ers coming out of nursery schools and “it is a frank conversation we must have.”

“Our aim is to ensure that every child by Grade Four is a reader. You have to be able to comprehend what you read and write back what you read and have an intelligent conversation, in or around the particular topic,” she stated.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO)Literacy, Samantha Williams, said this initiative was birthed at the time when the pandemic had disrupted learning at all education levels.

“The Government of Guyana, through the

diately provide access to Guyanese remote regions first as they were most vulnerable during the pandemic.

The distribution process has benefitted over 130 nursery schools in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni Mazaruni), Eight (Pataro-Siparuni), and Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) and the riverain communities of Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

“The tablets have

of the MOE’s nursery resources which include textbooks, worksheets, as well as the new learning app.

Some additional apps are Kids Picture Dictionary, Kids Preschool Puzzles, Hooked on Phonics, an app that helps them to develop their life skills called Digital Well-being, and more.

The apps are appropriate for both year one and year two learners. There are evaluation activities included in the app which allow teachers to stop and check to see how learners are progressing.

Devendra Persaud, an Assistant Chief Education Officer-Nursery, during his address at the launch, said that the app was completed and handed over to the MOE on July 12, 2022.

Persaud noted that in September of 2023, they will be identifying model schools in each region and Georgetown to be the recipients of multiple learning materials as well as certificates to further enhance child-friendliness.

MOE, has strived to implement distance and alternative learning for children even during the pandemic period and while we faced many issues, such as limited internet connectivity, limited ICT (Information and Communications Technology) competencies of teachers, and a lack of learning tools and instruments, today we are able to say that we were able to distribute more than 2100 tablets to hinterland and riverain communities,” she related.

Williams explained that phase one of the electronoic tablet procurement and distribution plan seeks to imme-

been preloaded with over 40 programmes to support learners’ development in linguistic communication, mathematical competence, knowledge and interaction with technology, processing of information, digital competence, artistic and creative thinking, competence for learning to learn and developing their personal initiative,” she explained.

Additionally, the tablet initiative provides the scope for active classroom participation and increased attendance at school.

Available on each electronic tablet is all

“Thirty-one additional big books will be written and developed and placed in each nursery classroom to enhance literacy skills,” he added.

The producer of the Animal Friends Learning App, Khaimwattie Seenarine, said that it was her experience as an early childhood educator that inspired her to create the app.

“I would usually try different methods and strategies to foster teaching and learning. However, I would have observed, over the past years, that children have been coming with different interests and energies,” she said.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and nursery school children engaging the Animal Friends Learning App

Children and teachers test the new mobile application

Bringing your fantasies to life with sweet treats — Chef Britannia

SHE is the perfect example of a self-taught woman who has turned her hobby and skill into a growing business.

Fantasy Cakes owner, 39-year-old Britannia Natasha Sobers, says that she always liked cooking and credits her mother with giving her encouragement.

“She had me cooking from the age of l0 years without supervision,” she recalls. And this led Chef Britannia, as she is now known, to study Food and Nutrition at Christ Church Secondary School, which she attended back in 2000.

However, rather than pursuing cooking, she branched off into nursing and was a student nurse at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital before migrating to Belize in 2007, where she continued her nursing career.

“It seems God had a different plan for me”, Chef Britannia said with a smile in her voice, as she told of how friends persuaded her to follow up her talent for

‘Zero tolerance for those who perpetuate racial agendas’ - GCCI

Full statement from the GCCI: The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has noted public utterances recently made by agents operating in the political sphere.

The Chamber wishes to state that it has absolutely no tolerance for any agent or agency desirous of inciting racial tensions, hostility or ill-will against any person of a specific gender, class or race.

The Chamber would also like to emphatically state that violence, and the urging of violence, has no place in a modern and democratic society.

It is disheartening and appalling to see a fossilized way of thinking being resurrected and urgings in the direction of sowing havoc, disharmony and the destabilization of our democracy.

There is no place for this type of behaviour in the landscape of Guyana. The rule of law should be respected and obeyed by all citizens.

As a racially diverse nation it is important that we remember to respect each other and refrain from uttering reckless statements that are void of promoting unity in diversity. Each citizen must act as sentinels of our fledgling democracy.

baking.

In particular, she was swayed by someone who tasted one of her baked treats and quoted from the book of Proverbs, telling her that her talent would bring her success.

So, after giving birth to her third child in Belize in 2014, she decided to focus on cake-making, though still considering it a hobby.

But as she began to take orders from friends, who regularly complimented her, Britannia’s popularity grew. She then decided to introduce Guyanese pastries to a skeptical Belizean public.

Here she proved true the well-known saying ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating’. Her tasty pastries were a hit and orders began to flow.

Still largely self-taught, this vivacious Guyanese entrepreneur, decided to take a course with an established cake-maker in Belize, “just to make sure I was on the right track,” while also watching YouTube videos on the subject.

And this brings me to this year’s International Women’s Day celebration, last Wednesday, under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.

Britannia Sobers is one of a minority of women who have made full use of digital technology to improve their knowledge of their craft.

As UN Women says, “Today a persistent gender gap in digital access keeps women from unlocking technology’s full potential.”

The pervasive threat of online and gender-based violence has been held responsible, along with the lack of legal recourse, for forcing women out of the digital spaces they occupy.

However, UN Women credits digital technology with, “opening new doors for the global empowerment of women and girls and other marginalized groups.”

Certainly, Chef Britannia not only honed and broadened her skills by watching those YouTube videos, but has also used social media to post pictures of her cakes and advertise her business, gaining even greater recognition.

The few negative remarks she has received she refers to as, “part of the territory”, saying, “I just use negative comments to propel me forward to do better.”

In fact, it was while scrolling on Facebook re-

cently that I saw one of her cakes – a Torginol paint can complete with dripping paint brush - that totally fooled me into thinking it was the real thing.

My reaction, which has become Chef Britannia’s banner tag line, “That’s a cake?!” led me to contact Fantasy Cakes immediately, where she confirmed, “My real love is making realistic cakes.”

Her friends in Guyana were so impressed by her ability to produce these true-to-life creations that on her return home in 2020 they ‘forced’ her to get into business by inundating her with orders. And though she had not yet brought her supplies from Belize, she had to buy equipment here and “get going.”

“I wasn’t planning on

doing any business,” Chef Britannia laughingly said. But in 2021, one year after her return, she started Pastry Friday, where she offered five pastries for $1,000 and her business ‘took off’.

She has converted part of her home at Second Avenue, Diamond, to accommodate her business and has branched into full-scale catering, following an order she received to supply a canteen with meals and baked goods.

This innovative female entrepreneur is what International Women’s Day is all about – a global day celebrating the achievements of women in all spheres of life – and embracing equity. Keep the ‘Fantasy’ alive, Chef Britannia.

Mobile offices launched …cater to needs of Guyanese businesses

A NUMBER of mobile offices have been launched in Guyana with the aim to not only help businesses save money but also prioritise the well-being of employees, among other things.

Vista Services was created by businessman, Orson Ferguson, who believes that the need for functional yet

remote spaces is long overdue. Ferguson is also the Chief Marketing Officer of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT). He contended that the objective is to offer portability and sufficient capacity to satisfy the requirements of businesses on the go.

According to Ferguson,

the company’s idea also arose from the government’s commitment to making Guyana’s infrastructure a top priority. He also holds the view that Guyana’s infrastructure needs to be enhanced in order to support an economy that thrives.

Without a doubt, there is already a large volume of

portable hubs for employees from diverse industries; however, Ferguson explained that they are not conducive work environments.

With these mobile offices, employees will be able to perform their duties in a spacious unit which consists of lights, a door, a window and an outlet, he said. Moreover,

the easily collapsible mobile offices are about fifteen feet long.

The cost-effective units, which can hold at least

40 persons, caters to both small and big businesses. These easily accessible offices are available for rental and sale.

Mining pit ‘swallows’ bulldozer with Linden resident inside

A MINING pit that collapsed on Saturday morning ‘swallowed’ a BOSAI employee and the T-9 bulldozer he was operating at the time.

The Sunday Chronicle understands that the employee has been identified as Linden resident, Neptune Hercules. The incident occurred at around 04:00 hrs. and up to press time, his body and the equipment were not yet located.

This newspaper was told that a large area of the mining pit collapsed, making it even more difficult for the authorities to locate the man’s body and bulldozer.

A search party is using metal detectors to assist in the location of the machine.

Hercules was slated to retire in September of this year, after dedicating 40 years to the mining industry.

Outside view of the mobile office

Missing: Neptune Hercules

Search parties actively trying to locate the body

Gill leads strong Indian reply to Australia

( ESPNCRICINFO ) -

Second week into the third month , Shubman Gill scored his fifth international century of the year to lead India’s response to Australia ’ s 480 . For long periods , Australia did well to keep a lid on the scoring rate, but Gill was not to be denied for too long: his 128 off 235 was a contrast to the 152 the others managed off 361 balls between them.

India ended the third day 191 behind with seven wickets in hand Virat Kohli scored his first fifty since the Cape Town Test at the start of last year , and ended the day with the promise of a hundred

There was a little more

turn and misbehaviour available from the pitch, but it was not nearly enough to make survival difficult So Australia did the next best thing possible : bowl to one side of the pitch and wait for mistakes The batters discovered that while there might not have been great threat to their wicket , scoring wasn’t the easiest either This Test has been the opposite of the other three in many ways One of them was a return to the old Indian trend of batting being easier against the new ball . India ’ s early assault on Mitchell Starc meant the first 15 overs of three of the four new balls used in this match had gone for 193

runs and no wicket Perplexingly , Starc bowled predominantly around the wicket , failing to create rough for his two off-spinners

Once Australia went to spin at both ends , the runs dried up , and a loose stroke arrived Rohit Sharma punched an innocuous-looking delivery from Matt Kuhnemann straight to short extra cover The six overs leading up to the wicket had brought just 10 runs

The start to the partnership between Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara wasn’t quite swift, but once Australia went back to pace , the tap opened again The second ball of Starc’s new spell was

cover-driven to bring up Gill’s fifty In Starc’s next, Gill played the short-arm punch through midwicket for four more Leading up to lunch, Pujara, too, got a move on

Although a couple of deliveries had disturbed the surface in the first session, there wasn’t anything dramatic Australia came back with more focused plans It often involved

seven-two leg-side fields with everything turning in After the two initial boundaries off Cameron Green , India spent 16 overs in the middle session without a boundary.

Mitchell ton; Henry blitz put New Zealand in control

( ESPNCRICINFO ) -

A Daryl Mitchell ton followed by a Matt Henry blitz put the hosts in pole position for the first time in the Christchurch Test, as New Zealand’s lower order wrestled control away from Sri Lanka on a riveting third day of play at the Hagley Oval

Blair Tickner further pressed home the advantage , picking up three wickets in the final session, as the visitors ended 65 runs ahead with seven wickets in hand; but the momentum still lay with the hosts

Much of the damage was down to the efforts of Henry , whose 72 off

only 75 balls from No 9 knocked the wind out of Sri Lanka’s sails at a point when they might have been entertaining thoughts of obtaining a considerable first - innings lead And like any good onslaught, Henry’s destructive cameo came about unexpectedly and brutally

Seemingly catalysed

by the wicket of Mitchell - who had fought his way to 102 from 193 deliveries - over the course of a subdued if not attritional day of cricket barring a brief period prior to lunch, Henry, having trundled to 20 off his first 45 deliveries, produced 52 off his next 30

off-breaks were the first to get the treatment, as two slogs over ‘ cow corner ’ for six were followed by a back-foot scythe through cover

That was just the entree, before Henry feasted off Kasun Rajitha a few overs later, taking the until - that - point miserly seamer for 24 in an over, which included five consecutive boundary blows, including a monumental straight six

By the time Henry fell - courtesy of a yorker from Asitha Fernando - New Zealand’s deficit had instead transformed into a five-run lead Henry’s heroics almost obscured Neil Wagner at the other end, who scored 27 off 24 balls

in the process To add to all of that , Tim Southee ’ s quickfire 25 from 20 deliveries meant New Zealand’s last four added a decisive 126 runs off 124 balls after they were 188 for 6 at one stage, still 167 behind Sri Lanka ’ s first-innings total

And prior to Henry ’s devastating intervention , New Zealand’s gains had been steady if not exactly express Leading the way was Mitchell

The first hour of play saw the Sri Lankan seamers being unable to replicate the consistency of the previous day, perhaps guilty of trying to force the issue; and Mitchell had a large role to play in this

Dhananjaya de Silva’s

Daryl Mitchell gestures after bringing up his century • AFP/Getty Images

South Africa blow out West Indies

(ESPNCRICINFO) - South Africa completed their home summer and World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a massive win over West Indies that saw them move to third on the points table.

Whether they will remain there will depend on the outcome of the Sri LankaNew Zealand series For now, it’s four spots higher than where they finished in their first WTC

Asked to chase a record target of 391 at Wanderers, West Indies were blown away by the lunch break

They were 34 for 6 inside 19 overs and were eventually dismissed for 106 Kagiso Rabada , who recovered from a third-day back spasm to lead the attack , made the early inroads before South Africa ’ s two specialist spinners, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, took advantage of the turn on offer to share five wickets between them. Gerald Coetzee mopped up the lower order with three wickets postlunch.

Rabada bowled an extended new-ball spell of seven overs and did the early damage

He removed West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite for the fourth time in four innings in the series - this time lbw with a ball that straightened and beat the outside edge - and strangled Raymon Reifer down the leg side

Wiaan Mulder was not available to share the new ball, as he did in the first innings, because he was sent for a scan on his right index finger after being hit while batting on the third day The scan revealed no fracture and Mulder was cleared to play but did not bowl.

Instead , Simon Harmer opened the bowling from the Golf Course End and found significant turn from his first ball Harmer looked threatening throughout and eventually found Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s outside edge which deflected off Heinrich Klaasen’s gloves to give Dean Elgar the catch at second slip

Harmer thought he had another off the next ball when Roston Chase was given out caught behind but reviewed immediately and replays showed the ball had missed the inside edge and flicked the top of his front pad on its way through At the other end, Maharaj took over from Rabada and bowled Chase with his fifth ball

Jermaine Blackwood pulled out a full-blooded swipe against a shorter delivery from Harmer and sent it straight to Temba Bavuma at midwicket and West

Indies’ troubles deepened when, on the stroke of lunch, Maharaj asked for a review after he beat Kyle Mayers’ forward defence and hit him on the pad It proved to be successful but, when taking off to celebrate, Maharaj went down with what looked like an Achilles’ injury He was stretchered off the field at the interval.

With two bowlers unavailable, South Africa’s attack had to work a little harder in the afternoon session

Joshua Da Silva and Jason Holder put on 48 runs for the seventh wicket against a hostile spell of fast bowling from Coetzee.

He was consistently in the mid-140kph and used the short ball liberally

One of them hit Holder in the box and he required some on-field treatment before continuing

In Coetzee’s next over, he dished up a wide delivery, Holder went for the drive and played on

Da Silva was bowled four overs later and it was only a matter of time before the result was secured

Kemar Roach sliced Coetzee to Keegan Petersen at point and Alzarri Joseph was stumped as West Indies were dismissed 10 minutes after the afternoon drinks break

Earlier, South Africa’s last three wickets fell for 34 runs in 36 minutes and 46 balls Bavuma added only a single to his overnight score of 171 before he holed out to deep square leg in the second over of the morning.

Bavuma departed to applause from a small but growing Saturday crowd Maharaj went in similar fashion but not before starting the day with a cracking cover drive off Mayers.

Rabada then made the most of his licence to thrill

He middled just about every ball he faced and sent a Mayers leg-cutter and Holder short, slower ball over midwicket and long-on for sixes in successive overs

Holder cranked up the pace three balls later, cramped Rabada for room, and he top-edged a pull to give Holder his third wicket.

Despite West Indies ’ efficiency in the field on the fourth morning, they still faced a huge ask The highest successful chase at the ground is 310, reached by Australia in 2011, while the most runs ever scored in a fourth innings at the venue is 450, which South Africa put in a draw against India in 2013

In the end, West Indies did not even come close.

Milo schools Football tournament

Twenty-one goals scored on day three

A total of twenty one goals were scored on day three of the Milo Schools U18 Football competition when yesterday’s action concluded at the Ministry of Education ground.

In the opening game, a closely knited game of football took place between Cummings Lodge and St. Cuthbert’s Secondary.

Cumming’s Lodge’s Keyshawn Millington opened the scoring in the 22nd minute but St Cuthbert’s responded two minutes later through Eyon Simon.

From then, it was game on and eventually, Dequan Thom on the resumption of the second half (47th) ensured that Cummings Lodge would win 2-1.

Vryman’s Erven went down to the 8th of May Secondary 3-7 in game two after braces by De Angelo Davidson (10th and 15th), Simeon Douglas (20th and 52nd) and Sachel Marks (38th and 50th) while Leon Farrell scored a single strike in the 60th minute.

Akeem Hosannah (17th, 57th) and Joshua Dougall (55th) accounted for Vry -

man’s Erven three goals.

Linden’s Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary also recorded a 5-0 win over West Demerara, with braces for Kelvin Hintzen (13th, 20th) and Kristian Lewis (40th, 56th) and a single strike from Amani King (47th).

St Stanislaus College beat Dolphin Secondary 2-1 with Omarie Nelson (17th) and LeBron James (45th) leading the cause. Dolphin had Cad-

well Peters (20th) on target.

Four more matches are carded for today.

From 11:00hrs New Amsterdan Secondary takes on Santa Rosa Secondary with Charity playing New Central High School at 12:45

14:00 hrs brings together Mackenzie High School and President’s College with a 15:45hrs clash between West Riumveldt Secondary and Vergenoegen Secondary clos-

Republic Classic Beach Football…

— Knockout places on the line tonight

THE knockout spots of the Pinnacle Promotions-run Republic Classic Beach Football championship will be determined tonight when the final group stage matches are played at the Christianburg Community Centre ground in Linden.

After two nights of intense rivalry in the fourgroup stages, the claims for spots remain interestingly open.

Yesterday’s matches, which commenced at 18.30hrs, saw Young Kings oppose Coomacka Mines, before Hard Knocks took on Haynes Hardnose Ballers.

ing off the day.

The competition is sponsored by Nestle’ (MILO) through MASSY Distribution and is sanctioned by the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Football Federation. It is being co-ordinated by the Petra Organisation with support from MVPSports, GenEquip Guyana Ltd. and GINMIN Guyana.

Blue Water under-15 football league — East Ruimveldt records latest win

CHASE Academic Foundation went down 4-0 to East Ruimveldt Secondary School in a dramatic match last Friday afternoon in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ Blue Water U15 girls’ development league.

East Ruimveldt dominated the game contested at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.

The winning team’s striker, Dellanna Small, said she was happy with the final score because her team trained hard over a short period to prepare for the league. She scored three goals, while her teammate Fayon Harry scored the 4th, cementing their school’s victory.

“The game was ve ry good. We put in a lo t of work and I’m glad that we came out on top,” Small shared. Her coach, Colin Tasher,

added that the fixture was his team’s first competitive game after a break and limited practice sessions due to inclement weather, but he is happy with the victory.

“They didn’t play to their potential, but they will get better as the time goes along.

I’m very excited.”

The second match be -

East Ruimveldt Secondary School

tween Charlestown Secondary School and Lodge Secondary School ended in a 0-0 draw.

This league was launched in Georgetown in May 2022, and in Linden in February 2023. The aim of the league is to increase the number of young girls playing football, identify new

talent, raise the profile of female football and provide coaches with more hours to work with young female footballers. The league is being played as a national school competition across all school districts and is being supported by the Ministry of Education.

Kwakwani Warriors were also in competition against Underdogs, with Young Warriors meeting Coomacka Mines, Aroaima challenging Timehri Panthers, Golden Stars colliding with Hardnose Ballers and Dave and Celena matching skills with Underdogs.

In Group A, Turf Kings are leading on four points from two wins, ahead of Young Gunners who have two points after winning their lone game. Young Kings, having played two games and Coomacka Mines one, are still to record points.

Group B has joint leaders in Hard Knocks, with both teams having four points each. Hard Knocks having played two matches which they have won, are ahead of Hustlers who has two wins and a loss. They are followed by Haynes Hardnose Ballers with one loss and Golden Stars two losses.

Group C is led by Hi Stars who have four points from three matches, winning one, losing another and drawing another. Underdogs and Kwakwani Strikers are both on two points with Underdogs winning their lone game while Kwakani have two drawn results.

Group D leaders are Aroiama and Timehri Panthers jointly with four points. However, Aroiama has won their two matches played while the Panthers have won two and lost one. Kuru Kuru Warriors follow on two points with one win and two losses while Ituni have played three games without a win.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday March 12, 2023)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Hugh Tayfield-9/113 (vs ENG, Johannesburg, 1957)

(2) Geoff Griffin (vs ENG, Lord’s, 1960)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who has fashioned most Test centuries for SA to date?

(2) Who has bagged most five-wicket hauls in Tests for SA to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Day three saw a total of twenty-one goals being scored (Delano Williams Photo)

GCB four-day Inter-County cricket…

Massacre at Bourda!

Ali-Mohammed (94) Yearwood (94*) brutalise innocuous bowling attack

By Sean Devers

IT was a massacre at Bourda as defending champions Demerara reached 360-8 at stumps on the opening day of the second round of the GCB Senior four-day Inter-County cricket tournament yesterday.

Renaldo Ali Mohammed (94), Shamar Yearwood (94*) and Akshaya Persaud (40) brutalised an innocuous Select X1 bowling attack on lightning fast outfield in sweltering heat.

Demitri Cameron (2-49) Kelvin Umroa (2-91), Jonathan Rampersaud (2-75) and Shane Wong (2-67) toiled all day for their limited success.

Ali-Mohammed feasted on a diet of ‘help yourself’ bowling; clobbering six fours and nine sixes from just 62 balls and 98 minutes in his destructive 91 and added 89 for the the fifth wicket with stylish left-hander Akshaya Persaud.

Persaud himself reached the boundary once and cleared four times in an entertaining 40 from 62 balls and 72 minutes; both throwing away their wickets on a flat track just after reaching their respective landmarks.

Ali-Mohammed shared in a 77-run sixth-wicket stand with Yearwood who reached the boundary five times and cleared it on four occasions in his unbeaten 94.

With him is Stephen Sankar on 11.

Raymond Perez hit four boundaries in 35 and shared in a 51-run second wicket-stand with Sachin Singh, who made an out of character 17 from 103 minutes with two fours.

Perez came to the crease at 7-1 after national pacer Cameron, the only bowler who looked threating, induced Navindra Persaud (2) to edge a catch to the ‘keeper.’

On a day blessed with glorious sunshine, former West Indies batter Rajendra Chandrika won the toss and surprisingly opted to field and at 7-1 his decision seemed just fine.

However, Perez played in positive fashion while Singh was content to play the supporting role as the partnership increased before Umroa removed them both to leave them on 58-2 and at 66-3 at lunch.

When the impressive Cameron had Skipper Chris Barnwell caught behind for 10 at 80-4 shortly after the interval, the Select X1 were in the game.

But their celebrations were short lived as the ‘Ali-Mohammed and Persaud show’ commenced launching a vicious attack on the hapless bowlers.

Persaud, looking for a big score to regain his place in the Guyana team, deposited Rampersaud for six before dumping Umroa for consecutive sixes over long-on to the delight of a fair size gathering which included former first-class batter, Nolan McKenzie, back home on

vacation.

The talented but temperamental Ali-Mohammed got going with successive boundaries off Carlos Larose and followed up by smashing Umroa over cover for four before pulling Cameron for six when he tried a bouncer on the docile pitch.

Persaud looked elegant when he cover-drove and was not afraid to go over the top while Ali-Mohammed slug-

Scoreboard

Demerara 1st inns

Sachin Singh lbw

b Umroa 17

Navindra Persaud c Nathan Persaud

b Cameron 2

Raymond Perez b Rampersaud 35

Akshaya Persaud c Mohabir

b Umroa 40

Chris Barnwell c wkp Persaud

b Cameron 10

Renaldo Ali Mohamed c Scott b Umroa 94

Shamar Yearwood not out 94

Richie Looknauth c Larose b Wong 10

Ashmead Nedd Stp Persaud b Wong 25

Stephon Sankar not out 11

Extras 22(b-16, 1b-3, nb-3)

Total 360-8 off 90

Fow: 7, 58, 58, 80, 169, 246, 300, 342

Bowling Cameron 15-4-49-2 Larose 14-349-0, Williams 4-1-10-0, Rampersaud, 24-7-75-2, Umroa 20-3-91-2, Wong 13-0-67-2

swept Rampersaud for a massive six and soon reached his 50 from just 36 balls with four fours and six sixes.

But when 10 short of what would have been an entertaining fifty, Persaud flicked a full toss from Umroa to mid-wicket at 169-5 to bring Yearwood to the crease, who along with Ali-Mohammed, capitalised on poor bowling.

Ali-Mohammed on 94, tried

GFF under-13 football

to reach his century with a six but Jerimiah Scott at long-off took the catch over the ropes and with his feet off the ground, tossed the ball back into play, to come back onto the field to complete the catch for Umroa, who struck at 246-6.

Yearwood kept going and the body language of the Select X1 suggested they were hoping for the day to end as Yearwood galloped to his 50 from 67 balls with five fours and two sixes.

Richie Looknauth (10) drove

Shane Wong to cover at 300-7 while a six from the left-handed Yearwood almost hit a lady coming up the stairs to the top of the GCC Pavilion.

Ashmead Nedd reached 25 before he was stumped at 3428 but Sankar and Yearwood remained to the end in another sub-standard day in this year’s tournament as the Select X1 players chased leather all day.

Today is the second day and play is scheduled to commence at 9:30AM.

East Coast and Georgetown still rule

By Calvin Chapman

EAST COAST and Georgetown both notched wins during yesterday's play at the National Training Center, Providence, in the Tiger Rentals Guyana-sponsored Guyana Football Federation (GFF) under-13 development inter-association league.

The lads from the East Coast Football Association remained top of the points table with a better goal difference than Georgetown thanks to Mark Glasgow's

late winner that allowed them to needle the resilient Upper Demerara side.

Meanwhile, Vurlon Mills oversaw Georgetown's narrow 2-1 win over the highflying Bartica, who won their previous three matches. Justin Tenpow drew blood first for the eventual winners in the 12th minute before Riley Tracey equalised for Bartica in the 20th minute. However, Joshawn Haynes' second-half strike was enough to give Georgetown three points. West Demerara and

East Berbice shared a point each after their match drew 2-2. Keon Grant (West Demerara) and Xavier Andrews (Berbice) each netted a brace in the exciting clash.

In the fourth and final game of the day, East Bank gained a commanding 3-0 win over West Berbice. The EBFA had three different goal-scorers in that win: Emmanuel Francois (48th minute), Michael Correa (50th minute) and Jadon Tashem (58th minute).

Renaldo Ali Mohammed plays a rare defensive shot during his 94 at Bourda yesterday (Sean Devers photo)