Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 12-07-2023

Chase’s death an ‘incalculable loss’ to Guyana

ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Ashton Chase, a founding member of Guyana's People's Progressive Party (PPP) and a prominent figure in the country's political, legal, and labour history, passed away on Monday evening.

Chase, 96, had been a key member of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) which preceded the PPP, and was hailed as one of Guyana's finest legal minds and a pillar

— President says, as last founding member of the PPP passes on

of the nation's trade union movement.

Having dedicated several decades to the legal profession, with a specialisation in labour law, Chase made significant contributions to the field.

He served as the President of the Guyana Bar Association and authored influential works on Guyana's labour scene, including "A History of Trade Unions in Guyana" and "133

Days to Freedom."

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali expressed deep condolences to Chase's family and emphasized the irreplaceable loss to the nation. He lauded Chase's remarkable contributions to Guyana's nationalist struggle and political history.

“His death represents an incalculable loss to our nation. His name and contributions will forever be etched in our country’s political, labour, and legal history. He made an exceptional contribution to Guyana’s nationalist struggle and political history…He was among our finest legal minds and was a pillar of our country’s early trade union activism, authoring the most authoritative work on our trade union history,” the President said.

The General Secretary of the PPP/C, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, also mourned the loss of Chase, acknowledging him as an extraordinary human being.

“Our country owes an eternal debt of gratitude to this outstanding son of the soil. Guyana has lost an amazing human being,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

Chase's political career was intertwined with the trade union movement and the prominent figures of his time. He worked closely with Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the father of trade unionism in Guyana, and former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

His involvement in the PAC, which eventually was transformed into the PPP, solidified his position as a

Following suspension of the constitution, Chase pursued further education in England, where he studied law and was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1957.

He later returned to Guyana and served as a Member of Parliament from 1964 to 1968. Although he did not hold political office again, Chase remained an influential figure in the legal and professional spheres. Chase's contributions extended beyond politics and law.

central figure in Guyana's politics.

Chase held the position of Minister of Labour, Trade, and Industry in the first PPP government in 1953.

One of Chase's notable contributions was his instrumental role in introducing a labour relations bill in response to a strike by the Guiana Industrial Workers Union seeking recognition from the powerful Sugar Producers' Association.

The strike, which received support from PPP leaders, caused concern among the United States, fearing its potential spread to other territories.

The British government, responding to the situation, suspended the constitution and removed Chase and the PPP government from office in October 1953. Chase had believed that this event altered the course of politics in Guyana and led to compromises that diluted the pursuit of meaningful change.

Chase served as a member of the Public Service Commission from 1970 to 1974 and held the position of Vice President of the Guyana Economic Society from 1971 to 1973.

Additionally, Chase was actively involved in the Guyana Bar Association, serving as its president for several terms from the 1980s to 1998.

He also played a significant role in legal education as a member and chairman of the Council of Legal Education, responsible for training attorneys in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

In his later years, Ashton Chase published several notable works, including "Trade Union Law in the Caribbean," "Glimpses of the Growth of Trade Unions in the Commonwealth Caribbean," and "Guyana—A Nation in Transit—Burnham's Role."

Chase was listed as one of the top 10 professionals for 2012 by the International Biographical Centre (IBC) of Cambridge, England.

Attorney-at-Law Ashton Chase (July 18, 1926 – July 10, 2023)

Three of the four founding members of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC): Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan and Ashton Chase

The late Janet Jagan with the 1953 cabinet members: Dr. Joseph Latchmansingh, Sydney King, Forbes Burnham, Janet Jagan, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Jainarine Singh and Ashton Chase

Obstacles to full advancement of women, girls being removed

— President Ali says concerted efforts underway to reduce gender inequality in education, employment, health, political representation, decision-making

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, in his message on World Population Day, pledged Guyana’s continued support for efforts to “unleash the power” of gender equality.

World Population Day 2023 was, on Tuesday, celebrated under the theme “Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities.”

Dr. Ali said: “Guyana is committed to creating a society where women and girls can aspire to realise their potential, fulfill their dreams and contribute their unique talents to shape a better world for future generations.”

The Head of State related that with the world’s population increasing rapidly and projected to surpass 8.5 billion by the end of this decade, it is essential that women and girls, historically the victims of marginalisation, be afforded better opportunities for economic, political, professional and social empowerment.

“By investing more efforts in reducing gender gaps and empowering women and girls, we can lay the foundation for more inclusive and prosperous societies while reversing the historical injustices meted out to women and girls,” President Ali said.

He added: “Gender disparities pose obstacles to women and girls realising their full potential. This is why my government is making a concerted effort to reduce gender inequality in education, employment, health, political representation and decision-making.”

Given that Guyana subscribes to equal opportuni-

ties for women and girls, he said that the government believes that by dismantling obstacles which stand in the way of female empowerment, their full potential can be unleashed, thereby contributing to the well-being of society.

While education remains a lynchpin of reducing inequalities, the government has launched initiatives such as the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), which proves as a potent tool in providing women

with the knowledge and skills, backed by certification that can allow them to grasp the increasing opportunities generated by the country’s national transformative national agenda.

He said that Guyana is also working assiduously to improve health care, including maternal and reproductive healthcare, and they have declared a policy of zero tolerance for domestic violence, since women are the principal victims of these crimes.

“The Government of Guyana is also empowering women economically. We have an initiative to encourage women and youth in agriculture, thus opening income opportunities for our women. Also, we are catalysing female entrepreneurship to boost female participation in business,” Dr. Ali said.

President Ali related that this year’s theme, reminds them of the continuing need to address gender inequality.

Meanwhile, the Chief Statistician of Guyana Bureau of Statistics, Errol La Cruez, in his message, said that this year's observance provides an opportunity for countries to take stock and reflect on their progress towards achieving gender equality, as well as creating a safe living and working environment in which women and girls can thrive and enjoy the best quality of life.

He said that tracking such progress and providing a framework for the evaluation of existing policies and introduction of new ones, relies on quality data and statistics.

“Today, statistics play a major role in guiding decision-making everywhere and at all levels. While in the past, the focus tended to be on economic and financial statistics, at a global level there is increased emphasis on

social statistics to address the wellbeing of people,” La Cruez said.

The Bureau of Statistics as the Central Statistical Agency of Guyana, plays a critical role in collecting, analysing, and disseminating economic, social, and demographic statistics for the country which guides decision-making and developmental planning, according to La Cruez.

“This data is also vital for measuring the effectiveness and impact of government policies and programmes. In execution of its mandate, the Bureau has collected and reported on population data across various dimensions. These include gender, age, education levels, employment status, occupation, access to health care, income levels and many other variables,” he said.

La Cruez said that the many data collection methods offer the opportunity to generate statistics and perform analysis across all strata of society, however, embedded in this process is also the

ability to harness data specifically for women and girls.

According to administrative data from the National Assembly, a six per cent increase was seen in female parliamentarians between the 8th and 12th Parliaments, which places women at the highest decision-making level and provides them with the voice to enact legislations that can have a positive impact on women and girls.

On the housing front, data collected shows that a total of 8,770 women were allocated house lots and houses from January 2021 to date. Women represent 43.99 per cent of total allottees for 2023.

He said that this data shows the significant contribution and participation of women in Guyana's economic and social systems, and underscores the importance of ensuring that there are good data systems to continue to monitor the conditions of women and girls in the country.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Time to realign public expenditures, increasing investment into agri-food systems transformation

GOVERNMENTS should rethink how they can allocate their existing public budgets to make them more cost-effective and efficient in reducing the cost of nutritious foods, and increasing the availability, accessibility and affordability of healthy diets, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said at a side event held on the margins of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (10-19 July).

Qu opened the high-level event titled “Financing for Sustainable and Inclusive Agri-food Systems and Food Crises Prevention and Mitigation,” organized by the FAO with support from the Governments of Brazil and Pakistan, which took place at the United Nations

headquarters in New York on Monday.

The event also saw the participation of among others Rabab Fatima, Under-Secretary-General, UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States; Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Lesley Ndlovu, CEO, African Risk Capacity via video message; Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN; Norberto Moretti, Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN; and Anne Dostert, Deputy Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the UN.

The participants dis -

cussed how targeted financing can help countries face a series of ongoing, often overlapping shocks, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate extremes, conflicts and the war in Ukraine, which have caused unprecedented supply chain disruptions, followed by a decrease of purchasing power, and rising food, fuel and fertiliser prices.

In fact, higher prices have increased the global food-importation bill to an estimated all-time high, surpassing $1.94 trillion, further stressing the balance of payments and increasing debt burdens, especially for net-importers of food.

The participants touched upon the need to provide enhanced support to the most vulnerable countries whose resources and budgets are under serous constraints, ensuring that they have financial tools and safety nets especially at times of shocks

(climate, economic, conflict and other unexpected factors) that result in higher prices.

They also agreed that global agri-food systems needed to be urgently transformed through effective policies, targeted investments and strengthened institutions. These actions are crucial since they are key to creating the conditions for an inclusive and sustainable transformation of economies and societies, and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Agri-food systems account for one-third of global GDP, with shares reaching 50 percent or higher in many low-income countries with 80 percent of the global poor living in rural areas whose livelihoods, directly or indirectly, depend on agri-food systems.

In Asia and Africa, for example, agri-food systems account for 40 to 60 percent of total employment, respectively.

AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION: KEY REQUIREMENTS

In his presentation, the FAO Director-General stressed that a sustainable economic future is not possible without increasing the efficiency, inclusivity, resilience and sustainability of agri-food systems. Qu outlined the key requirements for this purpose, which include meeting the increased demand for food, while reducing the pressure on natural resources; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; increased resilience to the impacts of the climate crisis; and ensuring decent employment.

Currently, agri-food systems use 60 percent of the world’s ecosystems, while agriculture generates around a quarter of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to biodiversity loss.

To this end, Qu noted that making such dramatic transformations would be a challenging task against a backdrop of weakened financial systems and limited fiscal space. He emphasized the need for mobilizing resources and increasing investment for the required changes as an effective strategy to alleviate poverty, fight hunger, boost productivity, tackle gender inequalities, adapt to and mitigate climate change, and accelerate structural transformation.

According to the FAO Director-General, there is enough evidence to suggest that reforming the way resources are allocated is

as essential as increasing them. Therefore, realigning of agricultural support plays a central role in sustaining public goods and services and improving nutrition.

RE-BALANCING HUMANITARIAN AND EMERGENCY FUNDING

In his address, the Director-General also spoke about the importance of re-balancing humanitarian and emergency funding in crises and emergencies and the need to implement the nexus framework.

International development finance will be needed for countries with low public budgets, he added, which will be key to ease the transition towards higher general services support to effectively bridge productivity gaps in the production of nutritious foods.

To support countries to shoulder the soaring costs of food imports and improve access to food, FAO proposed a Global Food Import Financing Facility that covered 62 countries with a total population of 1.78 billion people, and which was later adopted by the International Monetary Fund as part of its Food Shock Window.

Qu reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to support its members to explore innovative approaches and strategies that integrate mitigation and prevention of food crises, and the transformation of agri-food systems. (FAO)

— in order to secure a sustainable future, FAO Director-General says

Police Force breached procurement Act under APNU+AFC’s watch

— made full payment of $123M before items were delivered — Deputy Commissioner Brutus says contract was awarded at Cabinet level

THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday discovered that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) breached the Procurement Act in 2019 during the tenure of the APNU+AFC administration, by paying some $123.34 million as a full contract sum to a supplier before any items were delivered.

This was brought to light as the PAC examined the Auditor General’s Report for 2019 on the former Ministry of Public Security, now Ministry of Home Affairs.

It was stated in the report that four contracts totalling $123.344 million were awarded to the one supplier in December 2019, and the full contract sum was paid to the supplier in January 2020 before items were supplied; this was in breach of the conditions of the contracts.

Further, the supplier did not supply the items within the stipulated time as it was stated that as of early October 2020, items totalling $36.91 million were still outstanding.

As such, agency representatives were questioned as to who this supplier

was, among other things. In response, Deputy Police Commissioner (Administration), Calvin Brutus told the committee that the company that was awarded the contracts was MS Trading and further added that the awards were at the Cabinet level.

Brutus, who was not in that position at the time, went on to add that the items were subsequently supplied, but he believes there was the issue of the

global pandemic which had impacted shipping.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, in addressing the issue, said: “The gravamen isn’t just the late supply… the gravamen in terms of procurement is that the supplier was paid up front the

entire cost of the contract without delivering anything, so there are two breaches that took place.”

She went on to add that the law stipulates what percentage is to be paid to suppliers based on the type of contract, and what is retained for final delivery and in some cases defects

liability.

Additionally, Teixeira said that having paid all

the money, the police had nothing to hold on to, but had to wait until the supplier was able to deliver; this, she said, is the reason that all funds are not paid up front.

“That was a breach of the Procurement Act,” Teixeira lamented.

Added to this, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas, agreed with the minister and said that it was indeed a clear breach of the procurement system and added that that system is no longer in place. She went on to state that the items were delivered and that record will be provided to the committee. The Permanent Secretary further said that it appeared to be an oversight by Brutus’ predecessor.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Guyana Police Force representatives at Monday’s PAC meeting

A Critical Turning Point

ONE true indicator of a country ’ s growth potential is its ability to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

In this regard, Guyana is ahead of the curve and is, in fact, a major destination for foreign investment This is indeed a remarkable development, especially at this exciting stage in the country’s economic life

Just a few decades ago, the country was experiencing its worst economic moment. The World Bank , in its 1993 report on Guyana had the following to say: “Guyana is one of the poorest country [sic] in the southern hemisphere with a per capita income of only US$290 in 1991 During the 1980s , real gross domestic product continually declined, averaging 2.8 per cent per annum during the 1980-88 period The level of recorded output in 1988 was only 68 per cent of the 1976 level.”

According to the report, inflation averaged 20 per cent per annum By the mid1980s, the government was unable to meet its debt-service obligations

The worsening economic situation lowered real wages and consumption and

many talented Guyanese migrated abroad to more lucrative opportunities, further limiting the government’s ability to deal with its problems.’

Fast forward to Guyana today under the PPP/C administration According to the most recent Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) Report, Guyana has maintained its position as the top foreign direct investment destination in the Caribbean

The report highlighted the impact of Guyana’s growth trajectory on regional economic growth, driven in large measure by the country’s hydro-carbon resources Foreign Direct Investment grew by 116 per cent in 2021 compared to the previous year, representing a 65 per cent increase in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This is indeed a meteoric rise in the economic fortunes of the country Foreign investment is a significant contributor to national development , both in terms of financial inflows and job creation

The fact that Guyana has solidified its position as the leading FDI destination in the Caribbean for the second running year

is indicative of the country’s developmental pull as the premier investment destination in the Region and beyond

Guyana, according to the ECLAC report, is ranked ahead of the United States, Mexico and Norway in terms of consolidation of its position as the world’s fourth largest offshore oil producer by 2035

But, as pointed out repeatedly by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, economic growth, important as it is for overall development, is not an end in itself but the means to a much greater end, namely, to enrich the material and spiritual life of the Guyanese people

The revenues generated from our oil resources and from the sale of our carbon credits have been substantial Several developmental projects encompassing all facets of life are currently underway, including the development of house lots and creation of new housing units; construction of roads and bridges; construction of new schools and hospitals and by no means least, funds specially earmarked for Amerindian development

These are all tangible benefits impacting directly the quality of life of the

Dr.

Dear Editor,

Dr Janette Bulkan, an eccentric environmental activist, argued recently that the government engaged in a fraudulent transaction in respect of the sale of carbon credit, alleging that the proper legal approval for same was not obtained from the Village Councils. Readers would recall that this author challenged the environmentalist’s contentions in letters to the editor dated July 4 and 10 2023

In her letter of the July 11 edition of the Stabroek News, the environmentalist made a complete 360-degree turn in her contentions , when notable facts were presented to her by this author in relation to the subject of contention

Her argument radically shifted from “the government engaged in a fraudulent transaction” to “the National Toshaos’ Council cannot usurp the powers of an Amerindian Village.”

This 360-degree turn suggests that the environmentalist does not appreciate the facts on the issue, such that it is the indigenous communities that stand to benefit in a tangible manner, and accept that this in

of itself is a positive development

Pursuant to the Amerindian Act (2006), section 20 states that:

A Toshao-

Is a member and Chairman of a Village Council;

Is a member of the National Toshaos Council;

Is responsible for ensuring good governance including accountability and transparency within the Village Council; and

Is responsible for keeping peace and order in the village

The Toshaos are elected leaders of the villages who are entrusted with the power to act on behalf of the village following the approval of and/or agreement of the villagers

The Government of Guyana sought the explicit approval and/or support of the National Toshaos Council ( NTC ), inter alia, a resolution by the NTC endorsing the LCDS 2030 inclusive of all its elements

Additionally, the government and the Chair of the Toshaos emphasised the need for Toshaos to stay involved, as the implementation of the LCDS moves ahead

Moreover, it appears that the environmentalist activist failed to appreciate and recognise an important fact that is, her argumentation thus far questions the legality of the procedure in which the government proceeded with the LCDS

However, the fact is that the government has gone above and beyond the bare minimum legal requirements of a box ticking exercise for an explicit legal approval from the Village Councils to one in which their wholesome involvement were sought in shaping the LCDS, and involvement in its implementation

So, with this background in mind, the question of legality is a non-issue and an irrelevant unsubstantiated argument in my humble and respectful view

It is not unreasonable to presume , henceforth, that Dr Bulkan’s contentions are now even more suspicious and questionable in terms of her underlying modus operandi

As demonstrated in her latest response to the undersigned, when challenged, the learned professor made a radical 360-degree turn in her argumentation from the government acting fraudulently to questioning the legality of the NTC’s involve-

Guyanese people

Despite the manifest benefits of the revenues from our petroleum resources, there are still a few who seek, as it were, to paint a picture of gloom and doom

Both President Ali and Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo have acknowledged that the contract entered between the previous APNU+AFC administration and ExxonMobil was not in the country’s best economic interest and have given full assurance that any new contract entered into will have to be negotiated on more favourable terms

This is indeed a fair and balanced position. But to continue to bemoan the past and seek to have the contract re-negotiated as some opposition elements are advocating, could be inimical to the country’s best interest, especially in terms of investor confidence which is now at an all-time high

The economic health of the country is not only good but is also in safe hands

Full credit must be given to our visionary PPP/C leaders for successfully steering our economic ship along the path of turbulent international waters.

shifted her argument from gov’t acted fraudulently to legal technicality: A radical 360-degree turn

ment in the process which is a completely different matter albeit a baseless case

To my mind, her new contention is now a question of legal technicality rather than the legality of the procedure employed based on her previous substantive arguments

To this end, the environmentalist activist said that the NTC did not provide legal consent which could only be obtained from each village separately.

But, as I previously pointed out, the government went far beyond merely obtaining legal consent to the point of inclusivity, wherein the Village Councils were involved in the crafting of the LCDS and were encouraged to remain involved in its implementation

In closing, I do hope the readers, particularly the Indigenous Peoples of our country recognise the learned professor’s inconsistency on this matter now that she was challenged Effectively, the professor has cleverly demonstrated that her modus operandi is questionable.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Bulkan

Foreign policy analysis requires specialised training

Dear Editor,

COLUMNISTS and other opinion makers in the daily papers can say all they want about domestic politics because personal involvement provides an alibi for even the most biased and self-serving claims and propositions

It is much harder to do this in the analysis of foreign relations because unless you have participated at the highest levels, the only other avenue for providing sensible commentary is through formal training in international relations

You see this limitation is the elliptical offerings of GHK Lall who thinks that poetry can replace analysis

In his KN H@rd Truths column yesterday, Reverend GHK Lall gives the impression that he is related to Christopher Columbus by supposedly “revealing” that the Unites States is a hegemonic power that seeks to press its national interests globally

This is something every student in IR will learn on the first day of class in any respectable university

Yet, Reverend Lall makes it sound like the major finding of a doctoral dissertation supervised by Jean-Jacques Rosseau The sad thing, however, is that Reverend Lall does not understand that all Great Powers in history

have acted much like the United States

This is a fact, not a defense of US foreign policy The conduct of American foreign policy is more based on the structural logic of the international system, rather than on evil spirits of the devil

If GHK Lall wanted to offer an informed critique of American foreign policy, he could have easily drawn on the Christian Realism of someone like Reinhold Niebuhr

Professor Niebuhr well understood the paradox of morality and power which is why he drew on Christian theology to theorise the dynamic of power in the international system, without collapsing into “self-righteous purism” (V Paipais, 2021).

GHK Lall is one of those who believe that the Third World states (used in the spirit of Bandung here) and the peoples of the ‘South’ have no intellectual capacity to understand how great powers think

More tellingly, he along with Janet Bulkan, Melinda Janki, and Nigel Westmaas are of the view that Third World countries like Guyana have no agency for independent action They seem to think that only a handful of Moray House elitists can figure out what the Americans want, and how Guyana should react.

Further still, they seem to think that the praise and pat on the back they receive from

NGO-class White Cosmopolitan Liberals is of greater value than the efforts expended by Foreign Minister Hugh Todd, Foreign Secretary Robert M Persaud, and the staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Some key points in GHK Lall column are embarrassingly contradictory Thus, while he condemns US action in Chile and Panama, only days ago he was calling for President, Dr Irfaan Ali to emulate Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, and General Musharraf of Pakistan

The former imprisoned, tortured, and murdered thousands; the latter aided and abetted Osama bin Landen Both received some GHK Lall approved foreign assistance Lall appears to favour despots from the Philippines and Pakistan over those from Iran, Panama, and Chile This is a new brand of political realism – a new raison d’ vulgaire

Let us get back to some basics The United States is a great power and it is behaving like one I do not always like or condone many of the policies.

I have written extensively not only describing wrongdoings, but also contributed to the theorisation of Western dominance and hegemony. It is the same vein that I am critical of President Obama’s drone war campaign in Afghanistan and elsewhere

At the same time, I take seriously that we live in a real world where power is not something I can wish away I take the position that while small states can do little to repel the play of power-politics, carefully crafted engagement with sound leadership can allow us to extract resources from the regional and international system.

I do not want Guyana to become another Grenada Do you recall Prime Minister Bishop’s challenge to the American military days before the invasion of his country? If you do not recall, he said he will be waiting for the US Army on the beaches

He, like GHK Lall, believed that ideology is actual power That, my friend, is extremely dangerous in a world system that is not only fraught with, but defined by, the most relentless politics of self-help

The current world order is indeed driven by a lot of bullyism but the best option not to “suskay like a susuboy.” Rather, currently, we need to become even more rigorous in our analysis of what obtains in conduct of global governance.

On a friendly note, Mr Lall, there is no ‘h’ in Antony Blinken. Auto correct, I am sure.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Randolph Persaud

Finding a Sustainable Balance: Indigenous communities thrive economically while tackling climate change

GUYANA ’ S dedication to preserving its forests and their role in stopping climate change is highly significant.

During a recent meeting , President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali informed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about Guyana ’ s environmental initiatives, including efforts to protect forests and potential collaborations to address climate change.

President Ali emphasized a historic agreement in which Guyana will receive at least $ 750 million from the sale

of globally certified carbon credits to the Hess Corporation over the course of the following 10 years, with at least 15% of the proceeds being allocated to indigenous communities

“The agreement that Guyana reached with a private corporation is of great significance and demonstrates in a very powerful way how Guyana is all at once, using responsibly, the funding resources that it now has at hand, while also making investments in the climate future and making investments in the transition

to renewables,” Dr Ali said

In his remarks, Secretary Blinken praised Guyana for being a pioneer in the preservation of forests and for serving as an example of how responsible fossil-fuel use can coexist with climate mitigation and environmental protection

He also agreed that Guyana is a crucial national carbon sink because 86 percent of its land is covered with trees Through the Export - Import Bank, the Secretary of State said that the United States is actively working with the

Guyana government on a significant gas-to-energy project that aims to reduce emissions by half, while utilizing American knowledge to support Guyana’s rapid economic development and improve regional energy security.

The leaders also emphasized the significance of food security , particularly in the Caribbean area , which has faced tough challenges because of the continuous hostilities the COVID-19 pandemic, and global climate issues

Both nations reaffirmed

By Cindy Parkinson

their commitment to addressing these challenges and noted ongoing co - operation through programmes such as the US-Caribbean High-Level Action Committee on Food Security

In order to increase food security in the area, Guyana has been at the forefront of initiatives to increase small farmers’ access to technology, lower trade barriers, and upgrade transportation infrastructure

In keeping with its commitment to promote growth and prosperity in Indigenous villages, Guyana has already allocated $1.3 billion in carbon - credit funds from the $ 4.7 billion for indigenous villages, received from Hess Corporation from the sale of 30% of the country’s forests During a recent Regional Toshaos / CDC Chairpersons Conference 2023 for Region One ( Barima - Waini ), which was sponsored by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Minister of Amerindian Affairs , Pauline Sukhai , revealed the information

The minister also disclosed that 37 communities in the Barima - Waini region have already withdrawn the funds deposited into their bank accounts

According to her, “There’s no problem with finances

When I visit villages, I expect to see a hive of activities, new and spanking infrastructure being worked on, and engaging communities and villages -“I would like to see women ’ s projects on the rise; I would like to see projects relating to young people, youth, and sports development; I would like to see that you are paying attention to the elderly.”

The Village Sustainability Plans (VSPs) for 197 of the 242 Amerindian villages in Guyana have been submitted, enabling those communities to use the funds that are available in their bank accounts The minister also advised leaders

to complete their projects on time so that villagers can benefit when more funding is made available to indigenous settlements These include the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF), the Presidential Grant Programme , the $ 10 million COVID - 19 investment fund and the $3 billion supplemental budget for Amerindian development that was designated in the last National Toshaos’ Conference (NTC).

Minister Sukhai encouraged villages to submit their budgets to the ministry in order to be eligible for funds from the $3 billion supplemental fund She also urged the Amerindian leaders to uphold accountability and serve in the best interests of the people and the villages

Developing low - carbon opportunities all across Guyana, is a major focus of LCDS 2030.

Guyana ’ s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 outlines the approach and action that Guyana, as a nation, can take to develop and grow for the inclusive benefit of all in a non-polluting, low-carbon way It involves utilising Guyana ’ s natural resources in a sustainable manner while combatting climate change and its adverse effects such as floods and droughts The strategy has a global ambition to show how Guyana can sustain its world-class ecosystem services for the long term by integrating with the global economy and receiving payments for ecosystem services – payments which then go to transforming village economies and fostering national development

LCDS 2030 aligns with and contributes to global climate goals, including net zero carbon emissions and keeping global temperatures below 1.5˚C

(This is part of a weekly series on LCDS.) The author can be contacted at cparkinson0206@gmail.com.

His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali (left), and the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his recent visit to Guyana (Delano Williams photo)

I’ve been around so I know civil-society hypocrisy

I WATCH people from my corner and because of my vast experience, I can see through them I have had several requests to write something about the daily letter writer who says he is deeply Catholic

I was the very first Guyanese to have written about this guy when he came on the scene about 12 years ago

I saw through this guy as he began to write letters and some columns for the Stabroek News in which he deliberately set out to show people that he knows grammar and the English language But he ended up as a national joker because no one knows what he was writing The guy was looking for publicity As the years unfolded, it was clear to me that this re-migrant was looking for his 15 minutes of fame

I know those types like the back of my hand In his

insane quest for publicity, the daily Catholic writer befriended the Stabroek News then the Kaieteur News . Not only was he looking for fame but also to make a living in Guyana He came back from his 10 th - rate citizenship from the US to Guyana and with two small children to support, so he had to make a living I have no quest to deny a person the right to earn a living That would never be me

The daily Catholic writer is not in the intellectual category of those who hate the PPP government and use their intellectual training to condemn the government I think such people need to have their arguments and activism examined, but not the quotidian anti - PPP hate that the uneducated daily writer puts out in Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and Demerara Waves

I am not going to comment on the anti - government poison that the daily Catholic writer puts out

The reason is that I do not think his output should be commented on because it is not intellectually based

The daily Catholic writer perhaps never heard about Plato or Karl Marx Why engage such a numb mind?

I will not do it Let the man make his living

There are those who put their intellectual training in the service of anti-government commentaries; that is their right, but people like me should use our intellectual training to confront the narratives of these people One such intellectual is Dr Desmond Thomas who back in 2020, formed the civil society entity, Electoral Reform Group (ERG). Dr Thomas’s deputy, former UG lecturer , Alfred Bhulai , was the guest on the Gildarie -Freddie Kis -

soon Show last Monday evening

I asked him as I did the ERG leader Dr Thomas in June 2021, why the ERG has not issued a statement about the attempts at fraud in the 2020 national elections? For my 2021 request to Dr Thomas, please see my column of June 26 , 2021, titled, “Why the refusal to describe the March 2020 election as attempted rigging?”

Mr Bhulai did not answer but informed us that he published a letter in his own name asserting that there were attempts to rig the 2020 poll

Well, the ERG is still to offer an official statement on the illegal manoeuvrings in the 2020 poll But Dr Thomas is in the news again, so once more I will renew my de-

mand on him about the ERG ’ s position on the 2020 elections Writing in the newspapers on June 4, 2023, Dr Thomas had this to say: “The country continues to be in the grip of a completely unsuitable governance structure with a toxic atmosphere of political acrimony and disaffection that cannot signal a path to progress.”

So Dr Thomas knows what the shape of Guyana’s sociology is His opinion is a huge insight into what he thinks Guyana has become Yet , this very gentleman is still to pen a statement about what he and his group make of the 2020 elections

But wait! Dr Thomas knows more about what goes on in Guyana On July 6, 2023, again in the newspapers, he noted: “The

Dharamlall case will seriously undermine the credibility of the police , the social protection services, and the DPP in the eyes of the public.”

So, I continue where I left off in June 2021 with my question to Dr Thomas, but with an extension of my query Did Dr Thomas read the report of the commission into the 2020 elections?

If he did , would he agree that what is in that report has seriously undermined the credibility of the Guyana Police Force? More importantly, since his group is concerned with electoral reform, does he think it is more relevant on his part to comment on the election report rather than Guyana ’ s sociology and the Dharamlall case?

Scores of persons secure on-the-spot jobs at GYSBI career fair –– attendance surpasses 1,000 people

MORE than 1,000 persons showed up at the Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYBSI) career fair, which was held on Sunday, July 9, 2023 at the West Demerara Secondary School

Several persons were hired on the spot to fill various positions including excavator operators , human resources officer, dispatcher, banksmen, QHSSE officers, QA/QC field inspector, technical administration assistants , cleaners , and operations assistants , among others

These persons will be supporting a component of the gas to energy project , which is being undertaken by the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil Guyana in the same region

Human Resource Manager of GYSBI ¸ Lilowtie

Chintamani , said that the turnout was unexpected, but the company was able to hire skilled technical people on the spot since many of them met all requirements.

“ It was indeed a shock to me to come out here and see so many people We said

we would interview persons and look at their documents and then call them, but for all those persons who had all their relevant documentations , we hired them on the spot, especially those we would like to start working on Phase One of the project

“There were some technical spots like excavator operators/heavy duty operators and persons walked with all their certificates and other documentation that were required, so we hired them,” she said

The HR Manager related

that since the project site will be based in Region Three , the company was desirous of hiring people who came from that area

“ It would be easier for us to hire persons from over here because of the timings for this project I must say that when I talked about our shift system of work for this project, people didn’t react the way they used to a year or two years ago

“In previous times when you tell persons about shift work , they would usually turn it down but most of the people who came out here were open and willing to work the shifts , which are from 6am in the morning

From an HR perspective, we are very pleased,” she said Chintamani indicated too that the activity also provided the opportunity for GYSBI to receive curricula vitae from the attendees, which will help to scope out the skillsets and expertise, which are available in the region , to fill other

employment opportunities on the project

Public Relations Manager of GYSBI , Gomatie Gangadin, said that 95 per cent of the attendees were young people, many of whom were looking for an opportunity to work and participate in any capacity in the oil and gas industry While the company was looking to directly hire workers from Region Three, she said that there were also persons who came from Regions Four, Five, Six, and 10

Dominic Bess , 18 , was one of the lucky persons who was hired on the spot In an invited comment , he said :

“ The interview today was great for me The staff were really professional I was hired on spot, and they said they would call me within a week so I am just looking forward to starting at GSYBI I think it is a great company and I am excited to start.”

Tenisha Bandhu , a 22 - year - old who was also hired on the spot , in brief

remarks , noted that she is grateful for the opportunity as it will not only assist her financially but will also provide much - needed job experience

“ I must say that I was hired on the spot for the position of Technical Admin and the position and salary are way better than what I am currently earning This is a really good opportunity for me because I was looking for betterment and I am studying to go into the oil and gas sector

“This job will also help me to get the experience I need to aid in my studies I am just really overwhelmed by this opportunity ,” she said

GYSBI serves as the premier shore base and onshore logistics hub for the oil and gas industry here in Guyana It is a Guyanese company and one of the leaders in local content development . More than 95 per cent of its workforce are Guyanese citizens

More than 1,000 persons showed up at the Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYBSI) career fair, which was held on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the West Demerara Secondary School

New APNU councillor exposes City Hall’s shortfall in waste management — in attempt to criticise Central Gov’t for garbage disposal issue

ALTHOUGH it is the responsibility of City Hall to execute a number of local government duties such as waste collection, the Council, which is controlled by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has constantly been criticised for its shortfalls in this regard.

In order to avoid backlash for the subpar management, Opposition members have resorted to twisting the truth and peddling narratives that central government is responsible for these shortcomings.

Recently, newly-elected APNU councillor of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Travis Ellis, on a programme streamed on APNU’s Facebook page, said that Albouystown, which is APNU controlled, did not have frequent garbage collection for about two weeks.

Although the newly appointed councillor highlighted a known issue of improper waste management within Georgetown, there was no mention that City Hall is responsible for waste management in

the City.

“…And all of a sudden Albouystown garbage stop pick up over two weeks and [that’s] a big concern right now for me in my constituency because the garbage is piling up there…,” Ellis related.

In his view, the irregular garbage collection is evidence that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will not work with APNU; however, it is up to the Council to maintain the cleanliness of Georgetown.

Ellis, however, stood behind what he was saying and even went a step further and remarked that APNU will try to fix the waste collection issue since the PPP did not do it.

He went on to blame PPP candidate and Albouystown resident, Malcolm Ferreira, who, on a few occasions, attempted to keep the environment clean through various efforts.

Ellis went on to suggest that the current waste management issue in Constituency 10 (Albouystown-Charlestown) is the sole fault of the PPP and not City Hall.

Additionally, he said that poor garbage collection is also connected to the solid waste management unit, which falls under the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

For over 27 years now, the City Council has been dominated by the People’s National Congress (PNC)/APNU.

However, notwithstanding the PNC’s dominance, the PPP has been incrementally making significant inroads in Georgetown, as well as a number of other traditional PNC strongholds.

In the 2016 LGE, the PPP/C won two out of 30 seats, while in the subsequent 2018 LGEs, they won seven seats.

Earlier this year, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, said that he along with all PPP appointed councillors, will push for accountability, transparency and justice regardless of if they win a constituency or not.

Although the party did not win a majority, the PPP added four more seats at the 2023 Local Government Elections (LGE) to the seven it had won in 2018.

A build-up of waste within the city during January this year

Inaugural 'Youth Environmental Ambassador' training concludes

THE Guyana Environment Initiative (GEI) hosted its two-day inaugural 'Youth Environmental Ambassador' training event at the Pegasus Hotel on July 7 and the National Park on July 8.

According to a press release, the training was one of several activities being executed by GEI as the implementing partner for Guyana under the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) project "Advancing Climate Democracy in Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago" to develop climate champions.

Similar trainings are being executed in partnering countries, Suriname and Trinidad. The project seeks to advance advocacy related to environmental and climate-related issues in the region.

With over 50 participants in attendance, the training sought to equip the youths with knowledge, skills, and materials to execute their new roles as environmental ambassadors.

The content covered during the two-day training

included an introduction to environmental concepts, public speaking and presentation skills, pathways to being a youth ambassador, digital communication, the importance of wildlife, grey and green sea defence systems, environmental laws, careers related to the environmental field and the next steps towards climate action.

The participants benefitted from presentations and interactive activities, which were all delivered by young professionals from various fields, including environmental, legal, communications, public and private sectors, and international relations background.

Additionally, the young people had the opportunity of in-person interaction with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.

During the live interview session, the participants asked Ramson about his path to leadership as a young government minister.

During the session, Ramson urged the participants to continuously develop their talents, skills,

and knowledge in order to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

The founder of the organisation, Gomin Camacho, called on the youths to take their learning back to their communities and schools to share with others and execute meaningful action towards fostering sustainable environmental practices.

She urged that as Youth Environmental Ambassadors, they must lead by example and ensure their daily actions are geared toward creating a cleaner and healthier environment.

Notably, the participants, ranging from ages 13- 21, were representatives of the rich diversity of the country. Youths came from as far as Regions Five, Six and 10. Many more from Regions Three and Four were also in attendance.

At the end of the training, the participants shared their excitement and motivation to put what they had learned into action. They were extremely appreciative of the training.

Scenes from GEI’s inaugural 'Youth Environmental Ambassador' training event

Brassington to get $3.6M more from KN for defamation

FORMER Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, was on Friday awarded $3.6 million in damages after he won another set of defamation lawsuits against the Kaieteur News for words that were published in its ‘Dem Boys Seh’ column.

The damages in the claims filed by Brassington through his attorney, Senior Counsel Timothy Jonas, against the Kaieteur News’ publisher, Glenn Lall, was handed down by High Court Judge Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln.

In his lawsuit, Brassington, who now heads the Gas-to-Shore Taskforce, complained that in 2014 the KN published in its “Dem boys seh” column, words pertaining to him that sullied his reputation.

During the trial, KN’s attorney Christopher Thompson had informed the court that given the multiplicity of claims and the findings made in other proceedings, Lall would consent to judgment on

liability with damages to be assessed.

Brassington’s evidence is that he was made the subject of ridicule and suspicion as a result of this and other publications and that his friends would telephone him about the publications.

“The plaintiff gave evidence with respect to what his children reported to him was allegedly being said by their school mates and teachers. There is no evidence that the plaintiff suffered psychological trauma, mental anguish or social loss as a result of the publication,” the judge said in her ruling.

The judge said that bearing in mind that the objective of an award of damages in defamation is to compensate rather than penalize, she found that the previous award of damages for words of similar effect which were published in close proximity should operate as a form of mitigation of damages.

“This mitigating factor must of course be balanced against the fact that these are further publications of defamatory words which impute some form of

criminality to the plaintiff and the further effect which it may have caused to the plaintiff’s standing and feelings,” the judge said.

Weighing all the aggravating and mitigating factors and having regard to the purpose of an award of damages, the judge awarded Brassington $900,000 in damages on each of his four suits – totalling $3.6M

Lall was also awarded a total of 450,000 in costs.

In 2021, Justice Navindra Singh awarded Brassington $10M in another lawsuit against Kaieteur News. The court found that the publication clearly attacked Brassington’s character, labelling him as a dishonest person that engages in fraudulent or criminal practices, without setting out, factually, any conduct from Brassington to justify such a comment.

Meanwhile, in 2020, Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln, in five separate judgements ordered Kaieteur News to pay approximately $18 million in damages to Brassington.

Winston Brassington Glenn Lall

$1B to be expended for infrastructural works in Region Nine

SOME $1 billion in infrastructural works will be executed in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan

Edghill, during a consultation with various stakeholders at the Regional Democratic Council office in Lethem.

He said that government will continue to modernise and enhance the road networks in

the region.

“We have an allocation that we want to programme for the rest of this year, of $1 billion - to be executed between now and December 31,” the minister related.

These works will complement the $1.8 billion already set aside for works in several areas, including Lethem, Central Rupununi, and South Pakaraimas. These are areas that have been identified, examined, and

integrated into the public works ministry’s work programme.

Minister Edghill noted that consultations help to highlight key areas in need of development, and form part of government’s strategic approach to people-centred development.

“This consultation is part of the approach we are taking, as opposed to just our officers coming to us with roads that need fixing or a letter from the mayor or a request from the regional chairman. What we want to do is sit with all the stakeholders and discuss what has been done,

what is being considered, how much money is available and how best we can use that to bring the greatest impact and benefits to the people,” he said.

Further, the minister assured that systems will be put in place to employ contractors and engineers from within the region.

The minister’s visit to Region Nine saw the inspection of the 45 bridges linking Mabura to Lethem.

Present at the consultation were Regional Chairman, Bryan Allicock, Lethem Mayor John Macedo, as well as members of the town council.

THE government will construct two new water-distribution systems in Annandale and La Bonne Intention (LBI) on the East Coast of Demerara at a total cost of $260 million, as part of efforts to increase access to potable water along the coast.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is inviting eligible contractors to execute the project which entails the construction and drilling of potable water wells.

The sum of $130 million has been allocated for each of these projects. Once completed, residents of Annandale, LBI, and the surrounding communities will enjoy the benefits of a more reliable water source.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said the construction of new water-distribution systems and the expansion of existing infrastructure align with the

government’s housing drive along the East Coast corridor.

“As new areas are created on the East Coast, we have to ensure all the amenities like water networks, electrical networks are in place. We are also looking to expand existing water systems as the demand increases,” she told the Department of Public Information recently.

A complete set of bidding documents can be purchased from the cashier at the GWI Shelter Belt, Vlissengen Road and Church Street, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Bids must be deposited into the tender box located at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Main and Urquhart Streets, Georgetown, on or before Thursday, July 27. This year, the government allocated $17.7 billion to further improve access to potable water throughout the country.

Annandale, LBI residents to benefit from $260M water-distribution systems

A potable water well drilled on the East Coast of Demerara

Gov't expands land acquisition efforts to fulfill affordable home ownership commitment

ADDITIONAL lands are being acquired in various regions to match the aggressive housing drive as the government is dedicated to making affordable home-ownership possible for all Guyanese

Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, made these remarks during his feature address on Monday at the ‘Dream Realised’ housing drive, where around 800 house lots were distributed along the East Coast of Demerara corridor

The housing drive was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) under the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

According to Minister Croal: “And if you notice, the recent allocations for region four have all been [an] East Coast Demerara allocation,” underlining that: “The work continues as we move towards our overall target of 50,000 [house lots].”

Disclosing that the Ministry is working effortlessly to make home-ownership a reality for all Guyanese, the Minister stated: “The work for us continues for us to acquire new

lands,” adding that: “This year alone, our focus will have Regions Four, Three, One, Six and a portion in Five. [Region] 10 has already been identified Region Seven has already been identified.”

While underlining that the aforementioned regions will receive the spotlight in order for the Ministry to achieve their goal, Croal revealed: “But it’s not an easy exercise because the resources that are now required to develop these lands are much more costly.”

Owing to the increased cost per lot, the senior government official remarked that this results from the Housing Ministry having to move inwards in order to find land

“As we keep going inwards, it means we’re going closer to conservancy,” Minister Croal said, emphasising that the proprietary work required for the lands is much more when compared to the lands on the Coast

The Minister further stated that because of this, citizens would notice an increase cost

He then said: “Right now we have contracts for the development of new areas If you take out the four lane roads, we have contracts that are signed to at least about $36billion dollars for development of new infrastructure, new areas for persons like yourselves.”

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Susan Rodrigues, during her remarks elaborated on the tremendous investments being pumped into the housing sector by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration

She said that the party has already achieved its manifesto promise of providing affordable housing with 10,000 house lots being distributed annually, but according to Minister Rodrigues, the efforts will not stop there

Stressing that her government is always striving to make home ownership a reality for all Guyanese from different walks of life, Minister Rodrigues remarked: “Of course, it is easy for us to tick a box and say that we have delivered our manifesto commitment of 50,000 house lots.”

In addition to this, she noted that the PPP administration aims to provide not only a home but also an environment that the owners and their families can feel safe in The Minister said that her government is one that empowers the people and not one that keeps them down

Apart from the aggressive housing drive, she also mentioned that the massive infrastructural works along with job creation are byproducts of it and therefore, East Coast residents will surely feel the positives from the large scale investments that help to stimulate the economy.

Minister of Housing , Collin Croal ( Shaniece Bamfield Photo)

Bounty Supermarkets partners with ‘!nnovate Guyana’ for ‘buy local’ initiative

AN initiative of the Guyana Economic Development Trust, !nnovate Guyana (!G) and Bounty Supermarkets, funded through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Lab, have resulted in the unveiling of a game-changing “Buy Local at Bounty” initiative.

According to a press release, this initiative puts local agro-processors in an advantageous position to ignite sales.

The “Buy Local at Bounty” initiative offers the opportunity for awardees of !nnovate Guyana's Economic Development Accelerator (EDA) to

showcase their high-quality products on “buy local” display units in, as well as on the coveted shelves of the Bounty Supermarkets Water Street Branch.

The goals of this initiative are to unlock valu-

able shelf space; provide a spotlight for EDA-awarded, international-level local brands and attract a wider customer base, thereby fuelling sales for the parties involved.

The EDA is a business

accelerator programme that provides a nurturing environment and plays a pivotal role in propelling businesses toward scalability.

The EDA awardees could expect growth and scale from increased distribution of their locally manufactured agro products.

“The “Buy Local at Bounty” Supplier Development Programme is a real game changer, and creates an enabling environment for agro-processors in Guyana to benefit from access to key markets. USAID is proud to support such innovative initiatives for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise growth,” said

Mervyn Farroe, USAID’s Regional Representative for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

“Bounty Supermarkets embraces this partnership with enthusiasm because “Buy Local” embodies the retailer's unwavering commitment to community and support of local enterprises,” the release noted.

It was further said: “By dedicating a section of their bustling supermarket to the campaign, Bounty provides a prominent platform for EDA-awarded agro-processors, driving home the point that local brands can engage consumers at the same level as international brands.”

The “Buy Local at Bounty” initiative will be

unveiled to local shoppers at the Water Street location, starting on Saturday, July 15, 2023; the campaign will run through late September.

Bounty patrons will discover a variety of locally-produced goods ranging from instant microwaveable cook-up, lemongrass and ginger tea, pure lime juice concentrate, corn flour with cinnamon, an antimicrobial skin rub, artisanal dark chocolate, and much more.

On selected days, consumers will also have the opportunity to meet EDA representatives, who will be available to answer questions at the supermarket.

Bids extended by gov’t for major sea defence works

THE Ministry of Public Works has issued a call for bids for a number of major sea defence works in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10, as the government advances its agenda for developing infrastructure.

According to an Invitation to Bids (IFB) recently published by the Guyana Chronicle, on the ministry’s agenda are boulder face protection works to river defence structure at Bendorff, Wakenaam Island, Region Three, estimated at a cost of $13.80 million.

Additionally, $27 million was set aside for both the incorporation of timber revetment along earthen embankment at Good Success and at the timber revetment along earthen embankment at Palmyra, both located in Wakenaam Island.

The island of Leguan will also undergo myriad sea defence works ranging from the incorporation of timber revetment along earthen embankment at Kingston and at Richmond Hill, both are estimated to be $13.65 million each.

Some $13.75 million was further set aside for the incorporation of gabion mattress rock slope

along earthen embankment at Thierens.

As the government continuously aims to better the nation, works will also be executed in several areas on the East Bank of Demerara.

According to the engineer’s estimate, $10.5 million in maintenance works will be done to earthen embankment along Providence to Great Diamond, $8 million to earthen embankment along Great Diamond to Craig, and $10 million to earthen embankment along Craig to Friendship.

Works in Region Five, on the West Coast of Berbice, are also scheduled to take place at an estimated cost of $12.25 million each, entailing maintenance works to earthen embankment between No. 28 Village and Hope, maintenance works to earthen embankment between Hope to No. 7 Village, and maintenance works to earthen embankment between No. 7 Village to De Edwards.

Further, maintenance of earthen embankment and incorporation of Timber Revetment along Korthberat Outfall, East Bank Berbice, at an estimated cost of $13.85 million, are on the agenda.

Xi stresses proactively lifting China's opening up to new level — amid complex int’l situation

but at the same time we urgently need to make up for shortcomings in some key technologies and achieve independent breakthroughs," Cong said.

This is the second meeting of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform under the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The first meeting, held in April, focused on innovation as a crucial step to achieving sci-tech self-reliance and strength and support for the private economy. (Global Times)

CHINESE President Xi Jinping, on Tuesday, stressed efforts to put in place new systems for a higher standard open economy and to proactively lift the country's opening up to a new level, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Xi made the remarks while presiding over a meeting of the central commission for deepening overall reform. He also stressed that the focus should be put on institutional opening up and deepening reforms in key areas of global exchanges and cooperation such as investment, trade, finance and innovation.

The meeting pointed out that China's development is facing a complex and difficult international situation at present, while stressing efforts to improve the top design for new systems for a higher-standard open economy, deepen institutional reforms in trade and investment, expand market access and compressively optimise the business environment.

The remarks send a powerful message of support for increased international exchanges and cooperation as well as a rejection of growing unilateralism and protectionism in certain countries, analysts noted.

"Maintaining a high level of openness has always been a key theme of our country's development. Even though some Western countries have been trying to disrupt our efforts in recent years, we have always maintained a mutually beneficial and win-win opening up strategy," Cong Yi, a professor at the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Cong noted that while the US and other Western officials focus on "decoupling, de-risking and breaking supply chains" and are even deliberately trying to undermine and contain China, China is showing that its door will only open wider and many Western businesses are still actively seeking broader cooperation in China.

"We cannot be disrupted in this," he said.

Defying calls in the West for "decoupling" or "de-risking," since the start of the year many foreign executives including Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook, have visited China seeking greater cooperation.

Apart from opening up, Tuesday's meeting also pointed out that China will adhere to the bottom-line thinking and extreme-scenario thinking, pay close attention to improving the national security system and mechanism, and strive to improve the ability and level of supervision in opening-up, according to Xinhua.

The meeting also pointed out that China will actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system by closely linking the building of new systems for a higher-standard open economy to the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

At the meeting, several documents were reviewed and approved, including a guideline on building new systems for a higher-standard open economy, a plan for deepening rural reform, a guideline on carbon emissions control, a guideline on reform of salary systems at universities and research

institutes, a guideline on enhancing national oil and gas supply security, and a guideline on institutional reform in electricity, according to Xinhua.

These are key development priorities in China, as the country steps up efforts to pursue high-quality development, while fending off external risks and challenges, analysts noted. The focus on reforming compensation systems at universities and research institutes, for example, aims to encourage basic research and major technological breakthroughs.

"China's manufacturing advantages are extremely competitive in the world,

Daxing hydrogen energy zone powers China's green drive

AS a step of phasing out non-capital functions and achieving transformation and upgrading, the Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone has become a new highland for energy scientific innovation in the southern suburbs of the capital Beijing.

The demonstration zone, covering hydrogen R&D, utilisation, production, exhibition and exchange, was established in Sept 2020, and was included in the Beijing Hydrogen Industry Development Implementation Plan (2021-2025) in August 2021.

The whole project is divided into three phases.

Phase One, covering an area of about 50,000 square metres, was put into operation in 2021 and has become a demonstration zone covering a hydrogen refueling station, an exchange and exhibition centre, R&D incubators and other relevant services.

With a daily hydrogenation capacity of 4.8 tons, Hypower is the largest hydrogen refueling station in the world, said Wang Kun, a project leader of the Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone.

Phase Two, which kicked off construction in 2021, was put into operation at the end of 2022. This section consists of testing zone, office buildings and workshops, further promoting the industrial chain of fuel cells.

Phase Three started construction in late June. It is expected to have a national testing centre for fuel cell vehicles, build an integrated test and certificate platform of hydrogen

products, leading healthy development of the hydrogen energy industry.

As China steadily pushes ahead with its green drive, the central and local governments are making efforts to promote the hydrogen energy industry, laying out specific hydrogen development plans to drive the industry.

According to the plan on the development of hydrogen energy in the medium and long term (2021-2035) released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration in March 2022, by 2035, the proportion of hydrogen produced from renewable energy in terminal energy consumption will increase significantly, which will play an important supporting role in the country's green energy transformation.

Globally, countries are pushing forward hydrogen development, and China's hydrogen energy sector has entered the fast lane of development over the past two years.

However, multiple difficulties still remain, especially in transport and storage. The cost of equipment material for hydrogen storage is relatively high. If this issue is solved, the price of hydrogen will see a decline.

China is the largest hydrogen producer in the world. The China Hydrogen Alliance predicts that by 2025, the nation's hydrogen energy industry will be valued at 1 trillion yuan. By 2050, hydrogen energy is expected to account for more than 10 per cent of its overall energy system.

Local CHI surgeons use cow tissue to reconstruct patient’s heart

Dexter and his family demonstrated immense courage and consented to undergo the procedure.

Since undergoing surgery on June 22, 2023, Dexter has exhibited remarkable improvement.

According to Dexter: “Physically I get a little pain but I am happy, I

know I haven't fully recovered as yet but I know I will get there soon, I am just trying to push myself with my exercises so I can be okay.”

Dexter also expressed gratitude for the surgical team's efforts and remains hopeful for a complete recovery.

The Caribbean Heart Institute, located within the Georgetown Public Hospital, continues to be at the forefront of cardiovascular care and research. To date, the institute has seen and treated approximately 25,000 patients with various heart ailments.

THE Caribbean Heart Institute’s (CHI) team led by CEO and Guyanese born heart surgeon, Dr. Gary Stephens, successfully conducted an open-heart surgery utilising cow tissue to reconstruct a patient's heart.

This procedure is the first-ever open heart surgery of its kind, to be performed in the country. The life-saving surgery, conducted on 24-year-old Dexter George, involved the complete removal of a cardiac tumour, partial removal of the right atrium, and the utilisation of bovine pericardium, a tissue derived from a cow's heart, for the reconstruction of the damaged right atrium.

According to Dr. Stephens: "the procedure challenged the conventional understanding of the heart's resilience, illustrating that substantial

portions of the heart can be removed with positive outcomes.”

He added: “This remarkable feat could pave the way for more aggressive approaches in similar cases, pushing beyond traditional boundaries.”

Dexter had been diagnosed with a severe cardiac condition earlier this year. A small lesion in the right atrium, initially believed to be a blood clot, rapidly grew into a massive tumour over the course of nine months. The tumour compromised heart function, and severely affected his daily life.

Given the advanced stage of the tumour, the surgical team initially had limited options. However, they proposed utilising tissue derived from the lining of a cow's heart to reconstruct the damaged right atrium. Despite the chances of success being less than one per cent,

— procedure has less than one per cent chance of survival

The Caribbean Heart Institute’s (CHI) team led by CEO and Guyanese born heart surgeon, Dr. Gary Stephens, successfully conducted an open-heart surgery utilising cow tissue to reconstruct a patient's heart

CEO and Guyanese born heart surgeon, Dr. Gary Stephens

Aquaculture training empowers teachers to prepare students for work

–– Education, Agriculture ministries collaborate

By Cindy Parkinson

TO make sure that each child leaves school fully equipped with the knowledge and practical skill sets for the world of work, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Department have initiated a twoday practical training programme for teachers on Tilapia and Aquaculture at the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

The Assistant Chief Education Officer within the Ministry of Education, with the responsibility of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Unit, Ms Marcia Andrews (Ms Paddy), told Guyana Chronicle that the training session is the first of its kind to be held in Guyana

Assistant Chief Education Officer within the Ministry of Education Marcia Andrews (centre), along with education ministry representatives and staff from the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station explaining how to identify the gender of an adult Tilapia (Delano Williams photo)

Some of the teachers were listening to representatives as they explained different fish foods

According to her, “We have introduced a programme called the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), and we have so far introduced 19 occupational areas in the school system, and for the first time we are going into the aquaculture field.”

She continued: “We have embarked on training our teachers so that they can deliver this programme effectively to each student. Since we do not have the relevant trained personnel within the Ministry, we have sought to collaborate for the first time officially with the Ministry of

Aquaculture training empowers teachers ...

Agriculture, and we are very grateful to them.”

While this is their first collaboration, it is not the first time the two ministries have worked together

Ms Andrews explained that the Ministry of Agriculture has been supporting the educational programmes in the hinterland areas as well

She related that although they may not have worked on a “wide scale level,” they have been supporting the crop production programmes within the region to provide materials, technical support, and much more

Ms Andrews further stated that the aquaculture programme and the training sessions of the teachers will enable the Education Ministry to share the knowledge gained with all 116 secondary schools across Guyana

She explained, “What we have been doing is the traditional rearing and selling of fish, but what we want to capture with this programme is to ensure that students can venture out into the exportation of fish to other countries We know that we have a wide variety of fish that is in demand, but we have very few people in this field, so we want to change that by providing them with these opportunities.”

With the onset of oil and the expansion of all the industries across the country, Ms Andrews added that the Ministry of Education recognised that students need skills training, and that is one of the main reasons why they have implemented the CVQ

According to her, “CVQ is a competency-based programme; the students are not required to write any theoretical exams at the end, but they are required to acquire competency, skills, and attitudes I am not putting the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) down because it is very valuable, but when our student writes the CSEC, they have the theoretical knowledge and some aspects of practical, but by completely completing the CVQ, it means that they have the skills.”

Finally, Ms Andrews added that even though students may have their CXC qualifications to enter the workplace, many times the industries have to train them so that they can function better in their work capacity

She also noted that they can proceed to any higher institution, whether level two, three, or upwards. “With this, they can also travel anywhere in the Caribbean and complete their studies, return to Guyana, and be employed. CVQ is also big on occupational safety and health, and all our students will be trained to handle that aspect in the workplace as well Skill training is what is in demand now,” said Ms Andrews

The Guyana Chronicle also spoke with several teachers during the training session, and they were all in agreement that the session had enhanced their knowledge

One teacher noted, “We learned so much about these fish that we hadn’t known, but we are also in a better position to teach our children in a practical way, and we are sure that they will be captivated as we were.”

An adult Tilapia

Tilapia in an aquarium at one of its many stages

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Wednesday July 12, 2023)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD

-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Jeff Dujon (60 dismissals – 58 catches/2 stumpings in 19 Tests)

(2) M S Dhoni (48 dismissals – 40 catches/8 stumpings in 12 Tests)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who faced the first ball in the current WI/IND Test series? Who delivered it?

(2) Who are the captains involved in the current WI/IND Test?

RACING TIPS

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

13:30

14:00

14:30

15:00

15:30

16:00

Irish

Fairyhouse 11:50

12:20

15:50

16:20 hrs Corballis Flyer

American Racing Tips

Finger Lakes Race 1 Princess Sonya Race 2 Flattery’s Music

Race 3 Disco Deano Race 4 Robin’s Empire Race 5 Timed Out

Race 6 Alarra Race 7 Conformist

South Africa Racing Tips

Kenilworth

08:20 hrs Dean Street

08:55 hrs Grand Bay

09:30 hrs Que Shieaz

10:05 hrs Doubling Up

10:45 hrs Easy Money

Fixtures for Kares...

From page 31 other influential persons in Guyana.

The Co-Director reminded that it is not only players, who will walk away with their pockets filled as there will be numerous instant prizes for the fans who participate in cricket novelty activities. At the same time, the children will be pampered with free rides, games, and treats in the Banks DIH Fun Zone.

Round of 32 fixtures: Matches starting at 09:00h

Eccles All Stars v Hero Riders – Queen’s College Ground

Ministry of Human Services and Social Security v Bartica Bulls – Queen’s College Ground

Avinash All-Stars v PB Contractors – Queen’s College Ground

Continental Transport v Moruca XI – Guyana Defence Force Ground

Eastsye v Airport XI – Guyana Defence Force Ground

The United Crew v Spartan Strikers – Guyana Defence Force Ground

Village Rams v Young Steppaz – Police Sports Club

Ministry of Housing & Water v Central Stars – Police Sports Club Matches starting at 11:00h

Ariel XI v Movements Family – Queen’s College Ground

Big B’s Blairmont Blazers v MS 13 XI –Queen’s College Ground

Team Corruption v Upsetters – Queen’s College Ground

Guyana Power & Light v Laluni – Guyana Defence Force Ground

1Name Brand v Storm Chasers – Guyana Defence Ground

Tarmac Titans v EC Express – Guyana Defence Force Ground

Diamond Gunners v Region Three Police – Police Sports Club

Avery Lounge v V-Net Vipers – Police Sports Club Round of 16 matches commences at 13:30h at all three venues, while Super Eight matches start at 16:00h and will be at Police and Guyana Defence Grounds only.

The semi-finals and final are on July 30 at Everest Cricket Ground.

Fixtures for Kares One Guyana T10 Blast hints at thrilling action

The 32 teams are confirmed, and now the fixtures are out for the inaugural Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast set for July 29 and 30 in Georgetown.

The fixtures, computer-generated to avoid any biases in the selection and offer a fair chance for every team to make the semi-finals, have hinted from match one that it should be cracking action from 09:00h on Saturday, July 29.

The ten overs per-side tournament will be played in a straight knockout format with matches on the opening day at the Guyana Defence Force Ground, Police Sports Club Ground, and Queen’s College Ground, while the semi-finals and grand final will be on July 30 at the Everest Cricket Club Ground.

To progress to the championship match, a team must win three matches on day one and their semi-final on day two.

They will then qualify to compete for the first prize of $1M cash and the specially crafted One Guyana Trophy.

Commenting on the draw, the Co-Director of the tournament, John Ramsingh, stated, “We as a team were stunned after the fixtures were generated, and I truly believe it will be like a final from match one. I wish I could

be in three places at once to watch all of the matches, but I can’t, so I hope fans come out in their numbers and do the same, keep taking photos and videos.”

He added, “It is hard to pick any favoured side, and we love that it gives all teams a fair chance to reach the final four, where there will be cash prizes. My wish again is for teams to follow the rules and be respectful of the umpires, whose call is final. The finals are expected to be streamed live, and we want to show the world we have a quality product in Guyana.”

Ramsinigh noted that teams have until July 14 to submit final squads after previously submitting preliminary squads.

Furthermore, the Co-Director expressed immense gratitude for the support of Kares Engineering, who quickly committed to being the title sponsor, and Mohamed’s Enterprise, who funded the first-place prize and offset the transportation cost for team Moruca.More so, Banks DIH, through GT Beer for fueling the weekend, Star Rentals, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc., ENet, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, V-Net Communications, Trophy Stall, Premier Insurance, Cricket Zone USA, Beacon

First Windies-India Test bowls ...

Athanaze, the 24-year-old lefthander who has made a massive impression over the last year with his prolific scoring.

He is one of two uncapped players in the squad, the other being free-scoring 22-year-old opener Kirk McKenzie.

“You only debut once and it will be great if he gets one at home in front his home crowd with his family [watching]. He will feel very proud,” Brathwaite said.

“But it’s just for him to enjoy it and for us as a group to make him feel comfortable and to play his game.

“I know he has a strong mind and he’s a solid individual, so I look forward to great things from him in the future and as well for West Indies cricket.”

In their only Test series this

Café, Continental Transport, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, RS53 RestoBar and Lounge, Jacobs Jewelry & Pawn Shop, First Change Builder Inc. Impressions Inc. and Sicko Mode.

The first-ever champions will pocket $1M, while the losing finalist will collect $300,000.

The two losing semi-finalists will walk away with $100,000 each. There will also be prizes for outstanding

individual performances.

Additionally, there will be a celebrity match before the championship match where the winning side will be rewarded $200,000, which will be donated to a charity of their choice.

The celebrity match will feature the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, former national and international cricketers, entertainers, sponsors, media members, athletes, former and current Ministers, and

Continued on page 30

From page 36

year, West Indies were beaten 2-0 away to South Africa.

SQUADS:

WEST INDIES – Kraigg

Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine

Blackwood (vice-captain), Alick

Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican

INDIA – Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya

Rahane (vice captain), KS

Bharat, Ishan Kishan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.

Wimbledon 2023 tennis

Elina Svitolina beats Iga Swiatek to set up Marketa Vondrousova semi

WIDCARD Elina Svitolina stunned top seed Iga Swiatek to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals and will face Marketa Vondrousova, who also caused an upset.

Ukrainian Svitolina, who returned to the tour in April after having her daughter in October, won 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 as Swiatek's forehand crumbled.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," former world number three Svitolina, 28, said.

She will now take on unseeded Czech Vondrousova, who beat American fourth seed Jessica Pegula 6-4 2-6 6-4.

Asked how she was going to prepare for Thursday's semi-final, Svitolina replied with a grin: "Well, first of all I am going to have a beer probably.

"I'm going to enjoy this with my team. At the beginning of the tournament if somebody would tell me that I will be in the semi-final and beating the world number one, I would say they are crazy."

As well as coming just nine months after becoming a mom, her achievement of matching her best Grand Slam result has come against the backdrop of war in her home country.

Swiatek has been wearing a yellow and blue ribbon in the colours of the Ukrainian flag in support of the country since the invasion and Svitolina voiced her appreciation in her oncourt interview.

"Iga is not only a great champion, she is also an unbelievable person. She was one of the first who helped the Ukrainian peo-

ple and was a huge help for Ukraine," she said.

"So, for sure it's not easy to play against someone that you share a lot of good moments and I think for her it was not easy but, in the end, I was really proud with the effort I did today."

Svitolina's unexpectedand popular - run continues

Svitolina had not expected to make it this far - she had to sell the Harry Styles tickets she had for a concert in Vienna on Sunday that clashed with her fourth-round match - but on this performance the world number 76 may now want to clear her diary for the rest of the week.

She got off to a bad start, conceding a break in her opening service game with a double fault but then it was Swiatek, whose game unravelled in dramatic fashion while serving for the first set at 5-4.

She sent three successive forehands long and handed over the break with a double fault before another four forehand errors gave Svitolina a straightforward hold. The mistakes continued into the next game and she gifted the Ukrainian the set when she sent a backhand wide.

The Centre Court roof was closed at the end of the set as rain clouds gathered again above the All England Club in the latest weather disruption to hit the championships this week.

That delay could have interrupted Svitolina's momentum but instead she immediately held to love.

Swiatek briefly stopped the rot, breaking and then going 3-1 up but the tenacious Svitolina again dictat-

ed from the baseline to get the break back as she once again demonstrated she has returned to the tour playing some of her best tennis.

But Swiatek, who had been appearing in her first Wimbledon quarter-final, started to find the right side of the lines with her forehand again and when a casual Svitolina missed an easy shot at the net when leading 40-0, it was the start of a drop in her level that let the Pole back into the match. Swiatek went on to break in that game and eventually went on to force a tie-break, where she fell behind in the breaker but clawed her way back and took the match to a deciding set when Svitolina overcooked a forehand.

But her errors returned in the third as she went a double break behind, with Svitolina holding her nerve to serve out the victory, which she claimed on her second match point when Sw iatek sent - as was the story of her afternoon - a forehand into the net.The Ukrainian dropped to her haunches, looked in shock and then blew kisses to an adoring Centre Court crowd who had been willing her stunning run to continue as she seeks to become only the woman - after Kim Clijsters at the 2009 US Open- to win a Grand Slam title as a wildcard.

Since returning from maternity leave, Svitolina has reached the French Open quarter-finals, won the title in Strasbourg and is now into a second Wimbledon semi-final following her 2019 appearance.

(BBCSport)

Elina Svitolina topples top seed Iga Swiatek to reach Wimbledon semis

NAMILCO under-17 football Dynamics FC clinches East Coast title

out the tournament while maintaining their discipline and exemplary conduct.

Jacobs revealed that he is excited by the potential of the team going forward and acknowledged that this is just the beginning of Dynamics FC’s dominance in football not only in the EDFA but nationwide.

Melanie FC finished third in the tournament with 14 points while Haslington were

THE East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) National Milling Company’s (NAMILCO) Thunderbolt ‘Flour Power’ Under-17 football tournament has concluded with the Dwain Jacobs-coached Dynamics FC side being crowned champions following seven exciting rounds of play.

It was a thrilling finale and when the curtains fell, Dynamics (18 points) were neck and neck with Buxton Stars FC (18 points) that had home advantage since most of the tournament’s games were played at the Buxton Community Centre ground. However, Dynamics FC superior goal difference of 20 goals trumped Buxton Stars’ eight.

Head coach of Dynamics, former Golden Jaguars forward and local star striker, Jacobs, shared with the media that he was extremely proud of his troops. He shared that even if they had not won, he would’ve still been happy because of the fight his team showed through-

third with 12 points followed by Mahaica in fifth with seven points, BV/Triumph sixth with six points, Ann’s grove seventh with four and Victoria Kings bottom of the table with three points. Please see the full league points standings below.

Andrew Simmons inspires champions to third win

Rivers View 22-year-old

Andrew Simmons netted his 3rd consecutive double from as many games to ensure a perfect start for the defending champions when the Bartica FA's Senior Men's League continued last Monday.

It was not an easy walk in the park as the cup holders had to come from behind twice to overcome the challenge of Wolves United at the Region's community centre ground.

Simmons twice cancelled out the Wolves lead before Antonio Jones produced the winner in the 56th minute.

Fenton Wessle gave Wolves the opening lead in the 30th minute, but within 5 minutes the goal-hungry Simmons levelled the score. On the stroke of half time, Jahcure Thomas, gave Wolves the advantage again, and once more Simmons responded for the Champions one minute into the 2nd half.

Simmons, who was the top marksman and pivotal in Rivers View's successful run last season, has picked up from where he left off, increasing his tally to 6 goals

so far. The inclement weather then intervened and prevented any play in the other fixture between Potaro Strikers and Beacons FC.

There was no play as rains also had the final say in last Sunday's matches of the Georgetown FA and the Berbice FA. The Berbicians, for the 2nd consecutive week were unable to play due to a water-logged Rosignol Community Centre ground.

In Cinderella County, action in the Essequibo FA's season opener last Saturday resulted in the defending Champions, Henrietta FC, going under to Queenstown United before a sizeable crowd at the Anna Regina Multilateral School ground. The game's decisive strike came from the boot of Mario Walcott in the 21st minute.

The 2nd game of the double-header ended in an easy 3-1 victory for Charity Extreme over Tapakuma FC.

Akeem Norton(5th min), Akeel Abraham(12th min) and Carlos Rodrigues(17th min) netted for the winners while Babeto Holder got the consolation goal in the 35th minute for the losers.

The lone fixture on Sunday turned out to be hopeless for Good Hope FC as they were dominated by Dartmouth Dominators 9-1. Stephen Clake led the onslaught with a treble scored in the 13th, 55th and 60th minutes. Shamar Dawson (20th and 40th) and Marvin Garraway(31th and 35th) each had a brace and there was one a piece for Ridley Williams(25th) and Martin Garraeay (43th). Sadam Henry(25th) got the lone goal for Good Hope.

At the Timehri Red ground on Sunday as well, only one game was played after the Friendship All Stars did not take the field for their encounter with Timehri Panthers.

Goals by Albert Adams (24th) and Adrain Price(38th) gave Herstelling Raiders a 2-1 triumph against Soesdyke Falcons in the other scheduled match. Tyrone Man's 30th-minute strike was the only joy for the Falcons in their opener in the East Bank FA's Senior Men's League.

Dynamics FC, champions of the EDFA Namilco under-17 league

EDFA league final points standing

Rising Stars Under-19 Regional cricket

Jamaica eye title after fourth victory, T&T grab first win while Leewards rebound

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent. (CMC) – Jamaica marched to their fourth consecutive victory here Monday to put one hand on the Rising Stars Under-19 men’s title with one round to spare.

Playing at Sion Hill, the Jamaicans chased down a paltry target of 111 to beat Windward Islands by eight wickets and install themselves as heavy favourites, on the heels of triumphs over Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Leeward Islands in the previous rounds.

At Arnos Vale, beleaguered Trinidad and Tobago secured their first victory of the tournament with a 38-run victory over Guyana courtesy of Duckworth-Lewis.

And reigning champions Leeward Islands inflicted Barbados with another defeat while picking up their second in a five-wicket verdict at Park Hill.

However, Jamaica made all the headlines even though the in-form left-hander Jordan Johnson did not feature in the fixture.

Sent in, Windwards were restricted to 110 in the 32nd over with number

nine Kervin Gassie (23 not out) and captain and opener Stephan Pascal (23) the only players to pass 20.

With the innings slumping at 65 for eight due to three wickets hauls from left-arm spinner Alex Hinds (3-27) and seamer Nashane Meade (3-28), Gassie came to his side’s rescue in a 31run, ninth wicket stand with Divonie Joseph (7), to give the total some respectability.

In reply, Jamaica slipped to 39 for two in the ninth over but Steven Wedderburn topscored with an unbeaten 48, anchoring an unbroken third wicket stand of 73 with Brian Barnes (28 not out), to deny

Windwards.

Wedderburn faced 68 balls and struck two fours and a six while Barnes lashed four fours in a 36-ball knock.

The weather, meanwhile, thwarted T&T’s pursuit of 147 but when the match was abandoned, they were well placed on 136 for four after 38 overs, and ahead of the par score.

Kyle Ramdoo struck 37 and his opening partner Justin Jagessar, 31, the pair putting on 75 for the first wicket to lay a solid foundation for the chase.

Earlier, Andrew Rambaran claimed four for 27 and fellow left-arm spinner

Ramsammy dominates GBBF Stage of Champions

Ronillster Perreira picked up three for eight to reduce Guyana to 146 all out in the 41st over.

Number nine Thaddeus Lovell led Guyana with a counter-attacking run-a-ball 33 with four fours and two sixes while Shamar Yearwood clobbered three sixes in 29 from 35 balls.

Leewards, too, enjoyed an uncomplicated run chase after dismissing Barbados for 168 in the 44th over, marching to their target in the 45th over thanks to Michael Greaves’s patient unbeaten 64 from 132 deliveries.

The chase was in trouble with the cheap dismissals of Michael Palmer (1) and Malique Walsh (5) but Greaves struck half-dozen fours, and found allies in Jewel Andrew (31) and Tyanick Honore (28), to see off Barbados’ challenge.

Barbados had flourished earlier through Joshua Dorne who made 68 from 115 balls with four fours at number three but he lacked support and only Nimar Bolden with 29 and Nathan Sealy (20) showed any resistance thereafter.

Pello Bilbao dedicates victory to Gino Mader after winning stage 10

SPANISH rider Pello Bilbao dedicated his victory to his late Bahrain-Victorious team-mate Gino Mader after winning stage 10 of the Tour de France.

Mader died aged 26 in a crash at last month's Tour de Suisse.

"It was the only reason [for the win]," an emotional Bilbao said at the finish. "It was a special one, for Gino."

Jonas Vingegaard kept the overall lead but Bilbao moved up to fifth place, above the British trio of the Yates twins, Adam and Simon, and Tom Pidcock.

Bilbao's sprint for the line came at the end of a thrilling day of racing over a hilly 167km route that had started at the Vulcania theme park.

Vingegaard and his closest rival, two-time winner Tadej Pogacar, were involved in an early break as the race resumed at a frantic pace following Monday's rest day.

The stage only took shape when 14 riders went clear to form an escape group with 80km to go, with Bilbao among them.

Latvian rider Krists Neilands attacked his breakaway companions over the top of the final climb and opened up a 35-second gap, but he was caught with 3km to go, before Bilboa beat him and four other riders in the race for the line.

Bilbao's win was his first at any of the Grand Tours at the age of 33, and he paid tribute to Mader afterwards.

"It was hard to prepare the last two weeks with him in my mind, but my family helped me a lot to just keep calm and positive and put all my positive energy into doing something nice in the Tour," Bilbao said.

"I wanted to do it in the first few stages [in his native Basque

country] as it was so special for me but it was not possible, so I just waited for my moment.

"I was maybe thinking my position in the overall was going to be a problem but I decided to a make an all-in move and in the end it was the right movement.

"My first victory in the Tour after 13 years as a professional is such a special moment for me."

Today’s stage 11 takes the Tour 179.8km from Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins and features three more categorised climbs, but is expected to end in a bunch sprint at the finish

The stage only took shape when 14 riders went clear to form an escape group with 80km to go, with Bilbao among them.

Latvian rider Krists Neilands attacked his breakaway companions over the top of the final climb and opened up a 35-second gap, but he was

AT the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBF) 'Stage of Champions 5' event held at the Ramada Princess Hotel on Sunday last, local bodybuilders, Darious Ramsammy and Emmerson Campbell, along with Surinamese athlete Charelle Mayer, emerged as the winners in their respective categories. Ramsammy, known as 'Razor,' claimed the overall bodybuilding title, showcasing his impressive physique and winning the under-176-lb class. Campbell secured his fourth victory at the event in the Men's Physique category while Mayer displayed her aesthetic talents and won the top prize in the Miss Bikini segment.

Ramsammy's exceptional performance earned him the champion's trophy and a first prize of $500,000. Anthony Nekry from Suriname, who won the over 186lb class, received half of Ramsammy's winnings, while Sanajnaveed Lewis from Barbados, the under 164-lb class winner, pocketed $150,000.

Campbell, wearing crisp white and blue board shorts, claimed the first-place prize of $300,000 in the Men's Physique category. Rafael Kromokaryo from Suriname took home $200,000 for his second-place finish, and Odel Cato from Grenada received $100,000 for securing third place.

In the Miss Bikini segment, Mayer impressed the judges with her blend of muscularity, symmetry, beauty, and style, earning her the top prize. Melitha Anderson and Christina Ramsammy were recognized as worthy opponents in the category. The prize packages for the Miss Bikini segment were the same as those for the Men's Physique class.

The event received significant attendance and garnered support from corporate sponsors such as Fitness Express, New GPC Inc, West Indies Sports Complex, Space Gym, Twins Manufacturing, The Outdoor Store, Western Scientific, and others. The organisers deemed the fifth edition of the show a success and revealed plans for the sixth edition, scheduled for next July.

caught with 3km to go, before Bilboa beat him and four other riders in the race for the line.

Bilbao's win was his first at any of the Grand Tours at the age of 33, and he paid tribute to Mader afterwards.

"It was hard to prepare the last two weeks with him in my mind, but my family helped me a lot to just keep calm and positive and put all my positive energy into doing something nice in the Tour," Bilbao said.

"I wanted to do it in the first few stages [in his native Basque country] as it was so special for me but it was not possible, so I

just waited for my moment.

"I was maybe thinking my position in the overall was going to be a problem but I decided to a make an all-in move and in the end it was the right movement.

"My first victory in the Tour after 13 years as a professional is such a special moment for me."

Today’s stage 11 takes the Tour 179.8km from Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins and features three more categorised climbs, but is expected to end in a bunch sprint at the finish. (BBC Sport)

Jamaica celebrate a wicket during their fourth victory on Monday

From left, organiser Videsh Sookram, Emmerson Campbell, Charelle Mayer and Darious Ramsammy

Pello Bilbao celebrated his first win at the Tour de France, at the age of 33

GCB’s Inter-County 50 overs U-17 tournament

Demerara beat Select X1 by 109 runs

By Sean Devers

IN scorching heat at Everest yesterday home team Demerara, led by a 107 opening partnership, beat the GCB’s Select X1 by 109 runs in latest action in the GCB’s 50-over Inter-County U-17 cricket tournament.

Demerara were bowled out for 222 in 45.1 overs as Vikash Wilson made 50, Stephon Sankar scored 40 and Deonarine Dindyal contributed 38 while there were 30 Extras in the innings.

Dave Mohabir had 4-24 and Davon Wharton took 2-32 for the GCB’s Select X1 who were bundled out for 113 I 41 overs.

Omari Smith top scored with 31 with two fours and three sixes from 42 balls but only Mohabir (15), Shiloh Adams (16) and Parmeshwar Ram (19) reached double figures.

Earlier, Demerara opted to bat on another spin-friendly pitch and shortened boundaries, Wilson raced to 50

from 37 ball aided by five fours and three sixes while Deonarine Dindyal’s 38 lasted 51 balls and was decorated by three fours and two sixes.

The pair scored freely on a much faster outfield which was baked by the extremely hot sun for two days, to post 107 before Wilson fell to Mohabir in the 13th over to trigger a mini slide which left the hosts on 117-4 in the 19th over.

Nicolas Seepersaud (2) was run out, Dindyal was removed by Arun Gainda and Jonathan Van Lange, with 158 under his belt from the last match, was bowled off the under-edge by Mohabir for a first ball duck.

His demise sparked wild celebrations from the Select X1 players and their fans in the stands.

Sachin Balgobin (15) was looking set for a good score before fell to Jaden Dowlin, the son of former West Indies batter Travis Dowlin after adding 28 with Nityanana Mathura to leave Demerara

on 145-5. Mathura (16) was dismissed by Avishar Beharry 167-7 before Sankar and Alex Datterdeen (16) put together 41 for the seventh wicket.

But both batters fell with the score on 208-7. San -

Athanaze relishing opportunity against Indian juggernaut

kar was bowled by Wharton while Datterdeen fell to the impressive Mohabir before Wharton and Mohabir wrapped up the innings with 29 balls remaining, The tournament continues today at Everest.

GSCL’s Ofimak-sponsored softball set to bowl off July 28

RECOGNISING the need for the return of softball at the local level, the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc, through sponsorship from Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, of 69 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, is inviting entries for a tournament, set to start on Sunday, July 30.

According to the GSCL, the 20-over tournament will be played in three categories – Open, Over-40 and Over50 under the Ofimak office supplies brand of which Regal Stationery and Computer Centre are the sole distributors in Guyana.

Matches will be played at various venues in Georgetown and East Coast, starting at 9.00 am and teams will be allowed half hour grace periods after which walkovers will be granted. Players in

the Over-40 category must be 40 years and older, similar to those in the Over-50 who are required to be 50 years and older. Trophy Stall balls will be used in all three categories.

Interested teams have until Friday, July 28 to submit entries along with 15 registered players.

The winning teams in the Open and Over-40 categories are guaranteed $100,000 while the runners-up will take home $50,000. The Over-50 division, which is expected to have a larger influx of teams, will see the winners carting off $200,000 and the runners-up $50,000.

Winners and runners-up trophies plus other incentives will also be up for grabs.

Interested teams are asked to contact the following phone numbers: 6107902, 611-8073, 6621021.

ROSEAU, Dominica, , (CMC) – Rookie left-hander Alick Athanaze says he is champing at the bit to face star-studded India in the opening Test here starting today.

The 24-year-old is poised to make his Test debut against the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravi Ashwin and said he was relishing the opportunity to showcase his skills against the world’s best.

“My main focus right now is to really do well and to help the team and contribute to their success as much as possible,” Athanaze said ahead of the encounter at Windsor Park.

Playing and looking at those men on TV and actually getting to play against them, you couldn’t ask for more, especially with it at home. I’ll cherish it and relish the opportunity.”

Athanaze has made a sensational rise to the ranks of the senior team after scoring heavily in the last first class season, gathering 647 runs at an average of 64 while notching two hundreds and four half-centuries for Windward Islands Volcanoes.

That form saw him gain favour with selectors for the Test tour of South Africa earlier this year – though he did not play – and then for the West Indies A tour of Bangladesh where he averaged 44 from three four-day “Tests”.

He subsequently made his senior team debut in a One-Day International against United Arab Emirates last month, lashing a rapid 65 off 45 deliveries.

Athanaze said he was a naturally attacking player and there were no plans to change his approach against the Indians.

“We have planned as a batting unit … but it is up to me to formulate how I will score runs against them,” he said.

“But my game plans basically remain the same. I am an attacking player and I will try to carry that throughout the Test match [but] just being more responsible.”

Athanaze, a former West Indies Under-19 star, said he had benefitted much from the presence of team performance mentor, legendary batsman Brian Lara.

“I’ve been working hard. I’ve been working closely with Brian and he has contributed a lot to my game mentally,” Athanaze explained.

“I wouldn’t say much tactically but mentally, and that has helped me to carry my form right throughout the year.”

West Indies have not beaten India in a Test series in two decades, and have also not won a single Test against them during that period.

Devon Wilkinson (left) receives the MOM trophy from Match Referee Grantley Culbard

Alick Athanaze (left) examines balls with head coach Andre Coley during a net session (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

First Windies-India Test bowls off today in Dominica Skipper Brathwaite pleads for consistency – again

ROSEAU, Dominica, (CMC)

– Not for the first time, captain Kraigg Brathwaite found himself urging West Indies for consistency, as they geared up for the start of yet another daunting Test series against powerhouses India starting here today.

The Caribbean side enter the two-Test series battling the weight of history, having not beaten the world number one in two decades, during which time they have also failed to win a single game home or away.

And Brathwaite, a veteran of 85 Tests – 11 of which have come against the south Asian side – said if West Indies were to take anything away from the series, they would need to be consistent from the first ball at Windsor Park.

“We look forward to the challenge. I think we also look forward to the support of the Dominican public,” Brathwaite said on the eve of the encounter.

“And we had some number discussions on how we want to go about playing and the key is consistency. We want to be

consistent and that is from first innings right through the whole Test match into the second Test, and for us we look forward to doing that.

We obviously would always have challenges in the way – good bowling spells, good batting, good partnerships – but as a bowling group we have to stick together and put our heads together.

“But we look forward to the challenge here in Dominica and we look forward to the crowd coming out and giving up some good home support but we’re ready to go.”

When the two sides last met four years ago in the Caribbean, the hosts were on the receiving end of harsh defeats – going down by 318 runs in Antigua and 257 runs in the Kingston second Test.

Only five players who featured in that second Test are still around – Brathwaite, the then-captain Jason Holder, fast bowlers Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach, and off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, the latter of whom has been recalled follow-

ing two years on the sidelines.

Despite West Indies’ lack of success over the last four years, however, the 35-year-old Roach has displayed exactly the consistency Brathwaite has asked for, taking 68 wickets from 22 Tests at an average of 28 to move into fifth place on the all-time West Indies bowling charts with 261 scalps.

And it was no surprise that Brathwaite pointed to the enduring Barbadian as one of the keys to unlocking India in the upcoming series.

“It’s great to have Kemar around, especially with his experience in the dressing room,” Brathwaite said.

“On the field he always lends that advice and helping hand to the fast bowlers as well – even spinners at times.

“So, it’s great to have him. He’s a legend of West Indies cricket and I look forward to many more years of Kemar doing well for West Indies.”

Today could also see a Test debut for home town lad Alick

ENet, Guyana Squash Association form corporate partnership until 2024

ENet, Guyana’s fastest mobile 5G network, will be the pillar of funding for the Guyana Squash Association until the end of 2024.

The two groups announced Tuesday as the Association readies its team for the upcoming Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from July 15 to 22.

It was labelled a transformational move for the sport to gain the support of the leading player in Guyana’s telecommunications sector, ENet, who will be a key partner for the next 18 months.

Robert Hiscock, Head of

Mobile Networks at ENet, and a former squash player, is confident the team will return with the Junior CASA title, and it was a honour to support one of Guyana’s most successful associations.

More so, Pamella Manasseh, Marketing Manager of KFC Guyana, was elated that they can support an undoubtedly talented group of players.

Guyana will enter as the defending champions after winning both the boys' and girls' titles when they hosted in 2022.

However, this year, there are concerns over the strength and depth of the girls’ squad,

given the inexperience.

The full squad reads:

Under-19 Boys: Nicholas Verwey, Michael Alphonso Jr., Demetrius De Abreu

Under-17 Boys: Louis Da Silva, Mohryan Baksh, Shiloh Asregado, Joshua Ver-

wey, Chad De Abreu, Jeremy Ten Pow, Demetri Lowe

Under-15 Boys: Richard Rodrigues, Avian Wade, Blake Edwards

Under-13 Boys: Justin Ten Pow, Jabob Mc Donald

Under-11 Boys: Ethan Bulkan, Zion Hickerson

Under-19 Girl: Kirsten Gomes

Under-17 Girls: Safriah Sumner, Rylee Rodrigues

Under-15 Girls: Avery Arjoon, Malia Maikoo, Emily Fung-A-Fat, Jnae Singh

Under-13:Kaylee Lowe, Tianna Gomes

Under -11: Zoey McDonald, Tehani Munroe

Fast bowler Kemar Roach (right) chats with opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul during a net session

(Photo courtesy CWI Media)

Pamella Manasseh (far left), Marketing Manager of KFC Guyana, Robert Hiscock (centre), Head of Mobile Networks at ENet, Manager of the team and President of the Guyana Squash Association (far right) along with players and coaches at the Georgetown Club on Tuesday