Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 13-05-2023

Housing Ministry to recommence land regularisation in Prosperity/Barnwell North

MINISTER of Housing and Water Collin Croal on Friday reassured residents that the government intends to complete the regularisation of the house lots in Plantation Prosperity/Barnwell North, East Bank Demerara.

Minister Croal made the announcement as he listened to the concerns of residents during a community meeting held at the Mocha Primary School.

He explained that the matter will be handled by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) over the next few weeks.

“Prior to a week ago, I

did not have all the details, but now we have all the evidence, and have the documents to proceed, all the persons in Prosperity, you will be regularized, as well as be able to be processed for your transport,” the minister told the gathering.

“The land is under the purview of GuySuCo, so we will proceed to regularise the area. There’s a process when we have to transfer land, and have to go through that time period of gazetting, and publishing. I am giving myself six weeks, maximum, to have this sorted out, because what happens after transferring from GuySuCo to CH&PA, the CH&PA has to gazette in order to change the land use, so the land use also has to change,” he added.

However, even as he conveyed the government’s plans to make the area into a formal dwelling, he reiterated a zero tolerance for squatting.

The minister called on

officials have already been into the area, and have numbered the existing structures. They have also taken overhead drone shots of the current layout of the area.

With all of that in place, he insisted that no new structure will be recognised.

“The team [CH&PA] has already done some numbering; we have drone shots, [so] we know what the layout is like. So, no one can go and start constructing now, and claim to be included in what we are

the establishment of formal drainage and walkways or roads in the area. This may require the shifting of the boundaries of some of the lots.

In this regard, he called on the residents to be cooperative, as it is all part of ensuring that they are able to gain ownership of their lots.

“When you regularise an area, you have to cater for access and in doing that as far as is practical, the planners and surveyors will be coignisant of

residents to be vigilant, and ensure that other individuals do not use the announcement of the regularising of the lots as motivation to now go and squat.

Minister Croal explained that the CH&PA

doing now. Protect what you have there now, and do not allow further encumbrances,” the minister implored.

He also called on the residents to be mindful of changes that will need to be made to accommodate

existing structures, and craft out as far as possible without minimum disruption. But we need your cooperation. If anybody has to shift or move a fence or whatever, we are seeking your cooperation,” he added.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal addressing residents. He was part of a ministerial team that included Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill; Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha; Minister of Public Service Sonia Parag; and Minister of Public Affairs Kwame McCoy that paid the area a visit (CHPA photo)

Residents turned out in their numbers for the community meeting on Friday (Adrian Narine photo)

Family-oriented ‘green’ spaces promote community wellness

- President Ali says as beautification project reaches New Amsterdam - WiFi among special features to be installed

with a family-oriented space. This is not a rum-shop or a beer garden,” he said sternly.

Let them have a fresh environment; bring them to do psychical education.”

By Naomi Parris

WITH the government forging ahead with its plans to create more family-oriented ‘green’ spaces across the country, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Friday commissioned the One Guyana Recreational Park in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The Head-of-State, while addressing a large gathering of residents, students and regional officials said the

project was significant, given its importance in fostering family development, social cohesion, mental health development and physical health.

He emphasised that the government intends to promote development through community projects that will foster a change in society.

“It’s not only the transformation of roads, education and health [or] drainage that will make us a great country;

it is the transformation of our mind, the transformation of our thinking, the transformation of our behaviour, the transformation as a community and as a people and these are the small essential projects that aid the human transformation,” he said.

The construction of the park is a part of a countrywide initiative that is being rolled out by First Lady Arya Ali, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works.

“We want to build the community spirit. As you come out as people in the

community, and you sit together and talk to each other, you will be counselling each other indirectly. You will be sharing challenges [and] experiences; you will be able to know your neighbours, and that is what we want,” President Ali said.

He warned that the space should not be abused by loiterers.

“This space is meant to be treated with respect; it is a family-oriented space. This is not a space for abuse, liming and all the other types of activity that does not come

The facility consists of a walkway, parking lot, gazebos, benches, washroom facilities, and lights, and will soon be equipped with Internet connection and a stage to host cultural activities.

“We want to equip this facility with WIFI, so that you can come with your children, they can sit, and they can come and do their homework. We want this facility not be abused, too. This is not a facility for people to come and have free texting time; this is a facility to support our young people to support their dream,” President Ali said, adding:

“I want the schools to use this facility; bring your children here once every week to have open-air learning.

The president revealed that safety measures, including the presence of police ranks, will be added to the facility.

“Narrowly, someone would say this is just a park, but that is not it. This is far more than that, and we have to optimise the value,” he said.

The facility will be maintained by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and community officials and will see the value of properties in the area increasing.

Similar projects have been rolled at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD), and at the Kingston Seawall.

Guyanese businesses make ‘solid’ connections at Houston offshore conference

By Tamica Garnett

WITH a number of connections being formed, and businesses receiving capacity building, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Kester Hutson, has described Guyana’s attendance at the 2023 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas as a “mind-blowing” experience.

Hutson highlighted the successes gained from the

prestigious forum during a press conference at the entity’s Waterloo Street headquarters on Friday, where he was joined by representatives from some of the businesses that attended including Nations University, GTT, and Payroll Solutions Inc.

Measuring the success of the venture based on what was achieved by the participating Guyanese companies, Hutson said the attendance has gotten nothing but positive feedback.

“The feedback we got

from our delegation was one that the attendance was welcoming, overwhelming, minding-blowing and it gave a new perspective on what we should do as local companies to build in our capacity and to cater for the advancement of our companies,” Hutson shared.

This year was the fourth time Guyana has attended the event which was held from May 1 to 4, 2023, at the NRG Centre in Houston. This year the event was held under the theme, “Delivering the

Future of Offshore Energy.”

Held annually, OTC brings together offshore energy game-changers’ technical and scientific knowledge as they share best practices, technological innovations, energy transitions, and emerging trends. The conference has a strong reputation for a world-class technical programme.

“The level of exposure that we got, that I got, I really cannot quantify it,” commented Marlon George, a representative of Guyana

Payroll Solutions Inc.

This was his company’s first year at the event.

“Being there has allowed us to observe our own local

company and how they do things. It may seem simplistic so when you get out there it’s another level and we really did observe how they do things and learned a lot. We did make some solid connections in a way that we can now leverage back home. The plan is to definitely return next year with a strategic approach with how we will execute networking,” George said.

Chief Operations Officer of Nations Inc., Liam

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President Ali delivering remarks at the commissioning ceremony (DPI photos)

Children enjoying the play area at the new recreational park

The sign for the One Guyana Recreational Park was officially unveiled by the First Family on Friday

GCCI President, Kester Hutson

Steel, cement subsidy distributed to 79 Essequibians in second round

AS government works to improve lives and make building a house more affordable, the Ministry of Housing and Water, on Friday, handed over cement and steel subsidies to 79 Region Two residents.

This comes several weeks after 52 residents benefitted from a similar distribution exercise.

During her address, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said that government wants to assist citizens with home ownership.

“This is some further assistance to get you on the road to home ownership. This is the importance of the steel and cement subsidy. It is not a handout, it’s a

carefully crafted programme to help persons to start with their foundation and be able to construct their homes,”

Rodrigues said. She urged the beneficiaries to make full use of the subsidy and other measures

that government is putting in place to help them.

According to the minister, the initiative has attracted

over 1,300 applications and more than 700 have already been approved.

Meanwhile, many of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude.

Ken Samsundar, a father of two and resident of Aurora Village, told this publication that he is very happy for the assistance.

He explained that it will help him to start his foundation and he used the opportunity to thank the minister and her team for the much-needed assistance.

Lishanna Ramdharie-Sooklall of Golden Fleece and Mary Ally, a mother of five who lives in Capoey said they were overjoyed.

Ally related that with the voucher, she will be in a position to start building her house.

Many of the other beneficiaries expressed their

happiness and satisfaction with the programme and thanked the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Housing for improving their lives.

Ken Samsundar (Indrawattie Natram photos)

Minister Susan Rodrigues documents a complaint during the outreach. Pictured to her left is Region Two Chairperson Vilma De Silva

‘Guyanese Critic’ approaches court to halt controversial GPA elections

- amidst concerns over lack of transparency, accountability in elections process

SOCIAL media commentator, Mikhail Rodrigues, who is well-known as the 'Guyanese Critic', has taken legal action against the Guyana Press Association (GPA) in an attempt to halt Sunday’s elections until his membership application is processed.

Rodrigues has filed a Fixed Date Application (FDA) against the GPA’s four remaining executive members: Nazima Raghubir, Denis Chabrol, Svetlana Marshall, and Rawle Toney. Ordinarily there is a nine-member Executive Council.

He has also filed a motion for an urgent hearing of his FDA, seeking an injunction against the elections if his application is not processed first.

The GPA represents media workers in Guyana, and Rodrigues is keen to become a member of the association. At the elections, office-bearers will be elected to serve for the next two years.

Rodrigues argues that his application for membership was rejected on arbitrary grounds, including the fact that he applied for membership before an upcoming election of the next council which is scheduled for Sunday, May 14.

He claims that the council's decision to reject his application for membership is contrary to the criteria

established by the GPA's Constitution and has adversely affected his interest and reputation as a journalist.

“In and around May 2023, I applied for membership in the Guyana Press Association. My application was rejected on arbitrary grounds inter alia that I have applied for membership before an upcoming election of the next council scheduled for May 14.

“The position of the council in its determination to reject my application for membership contrary to the criteria established by its Constitution has adversely affected my interest and reputation as a journalist as the association's disposition in the lack of endorsement may

cause hardships,” Rodrigues said in his court documents.

As per Rodrigues' court documents, the GPA has demonstrated an unreasonable, irregular, and improper exercise of discretion contrary to the constitution of the association.

Rodrigues asserts that the GPA's refusal to accept his membership application is arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable, which is contrary to the Constitution of the GPA and the principle of fairness and natural justice.

Moreover, he claims he has suffered financial losses due to the GPA's actions.

Rodrigues indicated that he is gainfully employed as the owner of "They Break News Inc." and the owner of

135 King Edward Street, Albouystown, with an approximate value of $50 million. He believes he will be able to abide by any undertaking as it relates to damages.

In light of these circumstances, Rodrigues has filed the FDA seeking an order from the court for the GPA to process his membership application. Additionally, he is seeking an order against the GPA from holding any election of officers without first processing his application.

The current President of the GPA, veteran journalist Nazima Raghubir, is seeking re-election and will go up against another long-serving journalist, Neil Marks. It remains to be seen what impact Rodrigues' legal action

will have on GPA's election process.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has accused the GPA of making orchestrated attempts to influence international bodies and their reports by continuing to criticise the PPP/C government.

He also suggested that the GPA President's accusations of media intimidation were a political ploy ahead of the GPA elections.

“It is to make some of the journalists feel that if they vote for a different person in there, that they are part of some government plot. It is like trying to shame the journalists or the members of the press association into voting for status quo. So, I believe that this is part of the campaign. I would urge Nazima Raghubir not to use the PPP/C as her campaign. We don’t want to be part of your internal campaigning,” he said while speaking at a press conference on Thursday.

Dr Jagdeo emphasised that while the PPP/C government supports freedom of the press, it believes that the GPA's criticism is an attempt to campaign against the current administration.

He noted that Guyana has made significant progress in terms of press freedom compared to the past and that the government will continue to defend the rights

Guyanese businesses make ‘solid’ connections...

O’Toole, also indicated that their experience was positive.

“It gives you a very broad of grasp of how big the oil and gas sector is in the world,” O’Toole said.

“The GCCI did a phenomenal job. I just want to say thank you to Mr. Hutson, the GCCI team, they did a wonderful job. It was a great success for us. We have had ongoing discussions with OPITO, a worldwide leader in health and safety and oil and gas education. We are now in the first step of rolling out a fundamentals in oil and gas course with OPITO and rolling out training on the technical side,” he added.

Guyana fielded a joint delegation of private sector

and government entities. Included were almost 40 private organisations of which 16 were from the GCCI.

According to Hutson, this was a first-time attendance for over 90 per cent of the GCCI members.

The government’s delegation was led by Chief Investment Officer, and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop.

A primary focus of attending the event is education, connection, and networking.

Energy professionals, engineers, executives, operators, scientists, and managers from around the globe and across all offshore energy sectors also attended the event.

Industry leaders dis -

cussed licensing, business opportunities, and recent advancements in technology.

“This is something we look forward to for the exposure and giving back to our membership. We continue to foster relationships via partnerships with international firms,” Hutson noted.

During the event, the GCCI was able to network with business chambers from Venezuela and Brazil and initiated discussions on developing a continuous relationship.

The GCCI also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South Louisiana Economic Council in the US.

During the OTC, local telecommunications giant, GTT, also announced its collaboration with WAN -

SAT to provide high-speed broadband internet to remote regions of Guyana after the successful launch of the ViaSat-3 Americas satellite into a geostationary orbit.

Speaking at Friday’s press conference, GTT Chief Operations Officer, Orson Ferguson, noted that the OTC was a great opportunity for the company to gain exposure and reassure foreign company of the services it can offer.

“It was extremely important for us to have been able to attend this conference. It is easy for [foreign] companies not knowing much about Guyana to assume we don't have worldclass services here. As companies think about coming to Guyana, we want companies to know that they

can depend on us to deliver reliable connectivity, and it was very important for us to be there to demonstrate that,” Ferguson noted.

of the media.

However, Dr Jagdeo criticised the World Press Freedom Index for ranking Guyana 26 spots lower and suggested that the report was bias and influenced by politically-aligned media practitioners. He also mentioned that the report did not include condemnation of the attacks on journalist Davina Bagot, which the administration had unreservedly denied.

Dr Jagdeo urged the GPA not to use the PPP/C as part of its internal campaign and instead focus on the issues at hand.

Mikhail Rodrigues, popularly known as ‘Guyanese Critic’

From left: Nazima Raghubir, Denis Chabrol, Svetlana Marshall and Rawle Toney (News Room photo)

A cloud of suspicion

The Guyana Press Association has undermined its credibility by withholding the list of eligible voters ahead of the election this Sunday. Several editors from media agencies nationwide called out the GPA for its lack of transparency and accountability.

The persons at the helm and executive are the same persons who were silent during the rigging of the 2020 election, even as international bodies issued statements of condemnation, and the same GPA with operatives covering the same elections pretended to be ignorant of what was happening.

The same Press Association that lambasted GECOM in 2020 for poor provision of public information is refusing to answer its members and

a candidate for leadership on a fundamental issue of the electoral process.

In a statement, the GPA said that the returning officer, attorney-at-law Ronald Burch-Smith, would make a list public on the day of the elections to preserve the confidentiality of members.

“Preserve the confidentiality of members,” when the media population is so small? The Association is even smaller and all who operate in the media landscape are known to each other.

Many persons have also left the media and the Association. Withholding names gives the impression that you are hiding people who are not supposed to have membership within the organisation, and giving them the ability to de -

cide the fate of the GPA, while shutting out current persons who are trying to gain membership but are being blocked from doing so.

The current GPA president and executive have squatted in office for over three years under the guise of COVID-19, since they were elected to office in January 2018, and elections should have been held in 2020.

As organisations around the world continued and made considerable strides in addressing procedures for making polling safe during pandemic conditions, the GPA took the opportunity to exploit the situation and squat in office until they were called out for delaying their elections.

To maintain its credibility and public trust, the GPA should strive to

uphold transparency, adhere to ethical standards, and provide unbiased information to the public and its membership. Withholding important information, such as the list of eligible voters, can have significant negative consequences and undermine the association's role.

The consequences include lack of transparency, accusations of bias, loss of credibility, public backlash, legal and regulatory implications.

Transparency is a crucial aspect of journalism and Press Associations.

The Press Association fails to demonstrate transparency in its processes by withholding the list of eligible voters. This can erode public trust in the Association's credibility and impartiality. Withholding the list of

eligible voters can give rise to accusations of bias or favoritism. If the press association is perceived as withholding the list to manipulate the election outcomes or promote a particular agenda, it can damage its reputation and be seen as untrustworthy.

The press association's credibility rests on its ability to provide accurate and unbiased information. Withholding important information, such as the list of eligible voters, undermines its credibility and integrity, making it difficult for the public to rely on its reporting and analysis.

In an era where information flows rapidly, the decision to withhold the list of eligible voters is likely to face public backlash. Social media and other communication channels can amplify

criticism and discontent, potentially leading to public campaigns against the press association or calls for greater transparency and accountability.

The GPA is expected to adhere to certain standards and guidelines; failure to do so can result in consequences.

To maintain its credibility and public trust, the GPA should strive to uphold transparency, adhere to ethical standards, and provide unbiased information. Withholding important information, such as the list of eligible voters, can have significant negative consequences and undermine the association's role The forthcoming election of the executive of the Guyana Press Association is being held under a cloud of suspicion.

GPA elections fiasco worrying

Dear Editor,

IT is with grave concern that I note what's happening with the Guyana Press Association and the debacle surrounding the upcoming elections. Editor, permit me the space to express my surprise and worry at what I surmised to be the

pinnacle of journalism and professionalism. As vanguards of press freedom, the Association by its own accord is bound by principles of integrity, honesty, and fairness.

Suffice it to say that a statement released by a key member of the Association is indicative of remnants of a certain five-

month siege on democracy. The member indicated the list of persons who are eligible to vote would not be released until the day of the elections and not a day before. This secrecy is necessary to protect the identity of its members, by their own request, the statement said. Further, the ‘Returning Officer’

Attorney-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith will thus unmask the voters' list on the day of the elections.

Further, the Association stated that they, the key members, unanimously arrived at this decision after consultations among themselves. I will not draw upon conjecture to illustrate the implications of

this; however, I will muse on the following and encourage people to ponder as well. What are the rules governing the elections of the Press Association?

Additionally, an attorney-at-law who is bound by the moral fabric of his profession might need to reconsider the stance of protecting a list that is

steeped in a mire of secrecy and ambiguity, known only to a few.

Lastly, I ponder, the hubris and controversy surrounding the Association indicate to me, perhaps, it is time for some semblance of, dare I say, change.

Yours sincerely, Alvin Hamilton

Managing the politics of meaning: The case of the AP story on Guyana

Dear Editor, THE AP recently published a major report on Guyana foregrounded on an outreach to Ann’s Grove by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, accompanied by several cabinet ministers.

The news report, under the title, “Oil boom transforms Guyana prompting a scramble for spoils” (written by Dánica Coto), has generated much international interest.

It was reproduced in the Khaleej Times (UAE, May 12) and in the Daily Express (Trinidad & Tobago, May 9). The reproductions, however, were different in both coverage and meaning.

Whereas the Khaleej Times carried the article in full, and under the same title as the AP’s, the Daily Express, under the more sensational title, “Scramble for spoils in Guyana” axed more than five hundred words from the original piece.

Although the Daily Express might claim that it edited the article for length and had no political intention, the EFFECT of the editor’s scalpel is politically consequential, and must be exposed.

I should state upfront that the purpose of this article is to show how an editor can rightfully claim to be sticking to facts yet change the meaning of those same facts through deliberate pruning of a larger story.

In what follows I provide quotes from the original AP article that were not published by the Daily Express, followed by an analysis of the effects of the omissions.

1. “Guyana signed the deal in 2016 with the ExxonMobil consortium, which includes Hess Corporation and China’s CNOOC, but did

not make the contract public until 2017 despite demands to release it immediately.” Removal of this sentence clearly absolves the APNU+AFC of ownership and responsibility for the oil deal. The PPP/C has repeatedly stated that the deal should not have been signed in its extant form.

2. “The contract dictates that Guyana would receive 50 per cent of the profits, compared with other deals in which Brazil obtained 61 per cent and the U.S. 40 per cent according to Rystad Energy. But many have criticised that Guyana would only earn two per cent royalties, something Jagdeo said the current government would seek to increase to 10 per cent for future deals.” Omission of this sentence hides the fact that the Guyana deal, though unfavorable vis a vis Brazil, is better compared to arrangements with the US. More importantly, the erasure of the sentence completely silences the PPP/C commitment, as articulated by Dr. Jagdeo, to significantly higher financial yields for Guyana in future contracts.

3. “Aubrey Norton, leader of the opposition People’s National Congress that was part of the coalition that signed the deal, told AP that it made mistakes: “I have no doubt about that. And therefore, moving forward, we should rectify those mistakes.” This quote from Mr. Norton should never have been removed because the Hon. Opposition Leader, clearly, and without any ambiguity, admits his APNU+AFC coalition made the original mistakes.

4. “Guyana, a country of less than a million people, is poised to become the world’s fourth largest offshore oil producer in the world. Plac-

ing it ahead of Qatar, the United States, Mexico, and Norway.” The omission here, whether intentional or inadvertent, buries the most important thing about Guyana’s oil and gas sector, namely, it is of extraordinary magnitude by international comparison and that the country is wellpoised for an energy-based economy “take-off.”

5. In response to Norton’s fear of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer “Jagdeo, the vice president who once served as president, told AP that his party has created a special fund for oil revenues with safeguards to prevent corruption, including appointment of an independent monitor and a board of directors to oversee the fund along with the finance minister.” Leaving this sentence out is tantamount to a massive violation of the ethics of responsible journalism. The Daily Express should have preserved this sentence, especially given the way in which its own title frames the whole society as “scrambling.” A scramble conjures up uncontrollable lawlessness, desperation, and in philosophical terms, a return to the ‘state of nature’ in the vile sense meant by John Locke and Thomas Hobbes.

6. Further, according to VP Jagdeo, “Parliamentary approval also is needed to decide how the funds would be used, he said, adding that oil revenues currently represent only a third of Guyana’s budget and that increases in salaries might happen later: “At this point in time, we are not awash with money.” Leaving this out makes it appear that the PPP/C administration is not aware of the cost-of-living challenges in Guyana and the need to raise salaries.

7. “Dr. Jagdeo also acknowledged that Guyana must take a cautious approach to avoid mistakes made by other countries.” This omission again hides the fact that the PPP/C is determined not to repeat mistakes made by other countries or those made by the APNU+AFC.

The points above left out of the Daily Express article are central to a nuanced perspective of the oil and gas industry in Guyana and the direction the country is going.

The erasure of those cru-

cial points, such as Opposition Leader Norton’s admission that his party signed a bad deal and concealed it from the public, amounts to a kind of journalistic protection racket, or corrupt journalism if one wanted to be honest and direct. Keep in mind that the intent of the Daily Express is irrelevant. What matters is the effect of what the newspaper published.

Finally, I would like to offer two observations on the original AP article. Firstly, we did not have a

‘snap election.’ The truth is that the election should have taken place since March of 2019, but the APNU+AFC stole an extra year following the no-confidence vote in December 2018. Secondly, the AP article displayed some signs of intellectual laziness when is simple repeated that the PPP is an Indo-Guyanese party. That is simply not true.

Your sincerely, Dr. Randolph Persaud

June 19 set for ruling in challenge to NRF Bill

properly passed in the National Assembly in December 2021, due to the absence of the Parliamentary Mace.

The Attorney-General, the Parliament Office, the Minister of Finance, the Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly are all listed as respondents.

Initially, Justice Singh had set March 17 for his ruling. It was later refixed to May 12. However, on

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Hybrid training for nurses to be rolled out in two weeks -1,000 already enrolled

it relates to how many persons will be needed moving forward, it was revealed that quite a lot more persons will be required.

“One of the things we decided is we have to scale up the training of our nurses,” the he said.

two weeks from now we will be launching this programme and we already have more than 1,000 persons enrolled in this programme,” Dr Anthony said.

JUSTICE Navindra

Singh has set June 19, 2023, to deliver his ruling in the case challenging the passage of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill, which was filed by Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones, and trade unionist Norris Witter.

The duo moved to the court in April, claiming that the bill was not

WITH the need to improve the human resource capacity of Guyana’s healthcare sector, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, on Friday announced that a hybrid programme for the training of nurses is expected to be rolled out in the next two weeks.

The Health Minister made this revelation during the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) International Nurses Day appreciation brunch.

During his address, Dr Anthony noted that the government has recognised that there is an urgent need to train a lot more persons in the field as there is rapid expansion taking place in the country’s health sector.

As such, he noted that with the three nursing schools that are currently facilitating the registered nursing programme, only about 250 persons can be trained every three years.

However, he noted that when a human resource assessment was done as

He added that over the last year, the World Health Organisation collaborating centre for Brazil was working with the ministry’s training division and they have reformatted the curriculum and as a result, this updated curriculum will be launched soon.

This hybrid programme will be launched in partnership with the global online learning platform, Coursera, and will see the

He added that they hope to add another 1,000 persons to the programme the following year.

Further, he remarked that as they look to expand the nursing workforce of the country, all persons who successfully complete the programme will be guaranteed a job upon completion.

In this year’s budget, the government had set aside some $620 million for the provision of nursing schools which is expected

theoretical content for the registered nursing programme being made available online.

For the practical components of the programme, he added that a number of simulation centres will be built out to facilitate that.

“So, in another maybe

to cater for the construction of a training facility at Anna Regina and the retrofitting of existing facilities. Several hospitals are currently under construction across the country which now increases the need for skilled medical personnel.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony (Delano Williams photos)

Nurses at the GPHC’s International Nurses Day appreciation Brunch held on Friday

Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, S.C.

Trade Unionist Norris Witter

Justice Navindra Singh

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones

Guyana, Saudi Fund sign US$150M agreement to finance housing infrastructure, Wismar Bridge construction

A US$150 million agreement was signed on Friday to finance infrastructural works in Guyana’s housing sector and the construction of the Wismar Bridge in Region 10.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility

Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its invaluable cooperation and partnership in Guyana’s development.

“As the Government of Guyana continues its aggressive drive to transform the country’s landscape, this transformation is particularly visible in the area of transport in -

get this term, with over 20,000 delivered in its first two years in office. In Budget 2023, $54.5 billion was allocated for housing development in new and existing areas, the release pointed out.

According to the Finance Ministry, Dr. Singh, on Thursday, attended the meeting’s opening cere -

for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, on behalf of the Guyana Government, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Saudi Fund for Development, Sultan A. AlMarshad, on the sidelines of the 2023 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group’s Annual Meeting which is currently underway in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Singh is leading Guyana’s delegation.

According to a Ministry of Finance press release, the MoU concerns the Saudi Fund’s participation in the financing of development projects in Guyana.

It added that during the signing, Dr. Singh, on behalf of the Guyana Government, thanked the

frastructure,” the release said, adding that work has advanced on several key projects including the new US$261 million high span bridge across the Demerara River, the US$190 million Linden to Mabura Road, and a bridge across the Corentyne River.

In Budget 2023, $136.1 billion was allocated for the enhancement of the roads and bridges network across the country.

With regards to housing and urban development, government has been working assiduously to fulfill its Manifesto promise of providing 10,000 house lots to citizens each year and it has been well on the way to achieving its 50,000 tar-

mony at the King Abdullah Congress Centre in Jeddah.

The theme of this year’s four-day forum is “Partnerships to Fend off Crises” and it ends today.

In attendance are delegations from the group’s 57 member countries in addition to observers from international and regional organisations who have gathered to discuss development issues and institutional matters.

The Saudi Fund for Development finances development projects in developing countries by granting them loans, the technical aids necessary for financing studies and institutional support, the release added.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Saudi Fund for Development, Sultan A. AlMarshad (Ministry of Finance photo)

June 19 set for ruling in challenge to NRF...

FROM PAGE 8

May 12, the matter was refixed for the third time and will now be dealt with on June 19 at 9:00 hours.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that on December 29, 2021, in a bid to defend the landmark Bill, which has since been assented to by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility

for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, was interrupted by what was referred to as the unparliamentary actions of members of the Opposition.

The second reading of the Bill was objected to by Jones, who requested that it be sent to a special select committee.

However, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir indicated his preference for listen-

ing to the arguments from both sides before determining whether or not the Bill should be sent to a select committee.

Minister Singh then took to the podium, but his presentation was interrupted by members of the APNU+AFC Opposition, who kept banging their desks and chanting demeaning words about the Bill.

After they failed to

prevent Minister Singh from speaking, Opposition Parliamentarian Annette Ferguson attempted to remove the Mace, but was unsuccessful.

This unprecedented act was foiled by Nadir’s personal assistant, who held the instrument tightly as he laid on the floor of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Jones, and Witter, who is the President of the

General Workers Union, through their attorneys Roysdale Forde, S.C, and Selwyn Pieters, are seeking judicial review and relief under the Constitution.

Nandlall and Minister Singh had asked the High Court to throw out the case.

In their affidavit of defence, which was submitted to Justice Singh, they claimed that the NRF

Bill was “lawfully, validly and properly” passed in the National Assembly on December 29, 2021. The pair verily believes that insufficient evidence was furnished by Jones and Witter to support the challenge. In the circumstances, they have asked the court to refuse all the orders being sought and challenged, with substantial costs.

Father of three remanded for murder of ‘Sir Mars’

A 24-year-old labourer was, on Friday, remanded to prison for the gruesome murder of well-known entertainer and educator, Kirwyn Mars, called ‘Sir Mars', who was stabbed eight times with a knife before being pinned between his car and a concrete fence at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The accused, Brain Richards, of John Fernandes Squatting Area appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond Magistrates' Court.

He was not required to plead to the capital offence which alleged that, on May 7, 2023, he murdered Mars. He was represented by attorney-at-law Bernard DaSilva.

The father of three was remanded to prison until June 24, 2023. The preliminary inquiry is expected to commence on August 7, 2023.

Outside of the court, Richards’ wife and relatives, who requested that their identities be withheld, claimed that he is innocent and was at home when the crime was committed.

Police headquarters had reported that that murder

occurred around 22:30 hours. However, Richards’ wife claimed that her husband was at home with her from around 21:00 hours on the same day.

According to her, her husband related that Mars had dropped him off at Industrial Site, an area that

- family says he’s innocent,

for further investigation

being wrongfully charged. She added that she had inspected Richards’ skin and saw no marks of violence.

“…So, I said who you holding out for, and he said he not holding out for anybody. My husband is definitely innocent. They have to get the footage from where I’m living from John Fernandes because he said Sir Mars drop he home,” the woman told members of the media.

When probed about the relationship between Mars and her husband, the woman said that she does not know.

“I’m not eating, I’m sad. My children are crying asking for their dad. I got to keep saying that their dad gone out to come back. It’s sad on me… The lil one is taking it on,” the mother of three said.

to the family, and they are feeling ignored. Additionally, the family is alleging that Richards is illiterate and he was given a statement to sign by the police when he cannot read.

Richards was arrested on May 9, 2023, at his workplace in Georgetown, after CCTV footage from Green City Bar, where the duo was drinking before the incident, was reviewed.

According to a police report, Mars and Richards had a “misunderstanding” that escalated, and both parties armed themselves with knives, resulting in injuries to both of them.

Mars attempted to escape from the vehicle, but the suspect reversed Mars’car, hitting the victim and pinning him against a fence on the eastern side of the street, which runs north

DEAD: Kirwyn Mars

to south. Richards then exited the vehicle and fled on foot in a southern direction. Following his arrest, he reportedly confessed to the crime, but claimed Mars’ death was accidental.

leads to their community.

“My husband is innocent. He was at home at the time when this scene happen,” the woman said as she explained that the family can provide a solid alibi for him.

The woman explained that her husband is crying for his children especially since he knows that he is

Richards’ family is calling on the police to conduct further investigations and review the CCTV footage.

“No marks of violence, nothing…Everybody does feel it for their own but right is right and wrong is wrong, if he did it, he supposed to have marks of violence,” Richards’ sister added.

She said that the police are not providing answers

Brian Richards

calls

Guyana among several Caribbean countries with worrying hypertension rates

WITH a population of less than one million, Guyana’s arterial hypertension rate is a growing concern and health officials are being urged to intensify their efforts in managing the chronic condition.

At a virtual press conference held on Thursday, the Pan American Health

Organisation’s Director of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr Anselim Hennis, disclosed that 24.5 per

- PAHO urges promotion of healthy lifestyles

cent of Guyana’s male population and 21.5 per cent of the female population are currently living with hypertension.

According to Dr. Hennis, these numbers can be addressed with more focus being placed on promoting healthy lifestyles and increasing food production.

“Producing more food,

region.”

Trinidad and Tobago was also listed as one of the Caribbean nations with a high hypertension rate.

Meanwhile, PAHO’s Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has urged countries to intensify efforts to improve the management of hypertension.

more fruits and vegetables for a country like Guyana has a lot of capacity. Guyana comprises of 82,000 square kilometers and a population of less than a million people, it can well be the Caribbean food basket in terms of food production in terms of fruits and vegetables,” he said, adding: “These initiatives would make a tremendous difference in the quality of life and food production in the CARICOM sub

According to Dr. Barbosa, with much more emphasis being placed on targetted initiatives and the implementation of ongoing projects, some 420,000 lives can be saved in the Americas each year.

“While hypertension affects 180 million people in the Region (18 per cent of adults) it often has absolutely no symptoms nor signs and is therefore frequently undiagnosed and untreated,” Dr. Barbosa.

He said countries must intensify the “scale-up” and ensure equitable access to care for hypertension and provide training to ensure that the latest approaches for diagnosis and

treatment are practised in primary health clinics across the region.

Some of these initiatives include PAHO’s HEARTS programme, a model of care for cardiovascular risk management being implemented in 3,000 clinics across the region.

“This is serious because undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension can lead to heart attack, heart failure or stroke,” he stressed.

TURN TO PAGE 14

PAHO’s Director of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr Anselim Hennis

PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa

Lima Sands residents receive land titles after two-decade wait

MINISTER within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, on Friday, distributed certificates of title to 48 residents of Lima Sands in Region Two.

The one-day distribution exercise was held at the Region Two State House at Anna Regina and is the first of many.

During her address to the large gathering, Minister

and Coffee Grove to start the process of applying for their land titles.

She said the ministry and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) are ready to start processing the titles once persons come forward.

The minister told the gathering after the outreach that residents can visit the regional housing office at any time to sign up for their

She said that her ministry is almost up-to-date with house lot applications and allocations.

The minister disclosed that from 2020 to present, 706 house lots were distributed in Region Two with over $3.5 billion spent on the infrastructure.

She said that 122 roads across the region were upgraded.

Minister Rodrigues

Rodrigues said that the Ministry of Housing remained faithful to a commitment it made to the residents to resolve the title issue which had existed for over two decades.

“We had over the years several plans drawn for the area because of how the area had started through informal settlement. We had a very constant issue where people were shifting boundaries, so every time we go back to the area for verification, things were changing so it made it difficult,” Rodrigues said.

The minister used the opportunity to invite residents of communities such as Henrietta, Hampton Court

land titles.

“So those who are here to sign up today, we will process you, we will work through to finish [and] those who miss today can come and sign up for their title for their area,” she said.

She added that the ministry was able to verify over 600 lots in the Lima Sands area and is currently processing those.

Meanwhile, with regards to the housing needs in the region, she said that while the demand is not high, the regularisation of informal settlements and the issuance of ownership documents are priority issues for many residents.

urged residents to work with the ministry as it continues to serve in their best interest.

Some of those who attended the outreach said that they were happy with the outcome. They related that they were living on plots for many years and did not have any documents to show that they owned the land. With the ministry’s intervention, they can now take steps to upgrade their property.

“I am very happy about this; I want my title so I can go to the bank and be able to take out a loan and improve my life. I am happy the ministry is doing this,” Margret Williams said. (Indrawattie Natram)

A resident collects his title from Minister Rodrigues

Scores of residents attended an outreach at Anna Regina during which 48 received the title for the land they are currently occupying

Armed robber jailed for four years

A MAN who admitted that he participated in the knifepoint robbery of a couple, will be spending the next four years behind bars.

Brian Singh appeared

turned home and, while sitting in their car, Singh and another man who was armed with a knife approached them.

The two men robbed the woman of her valu -

before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court on Friday, on two counts of armed robbery.

Singh admitted that he robbed the couple of $190,000 in cash and personal items.

The court was also informed that, during the incident, the woman was raped, after the boyfriend fled the scene, leaving her to fend for herself. However, no rape charge was filed against Singh since the police are still investigating that aspect of the case.

According to reports, the couple had just re -

ables and ransacked the car. She was then raped. Singh apologised to the court for his actions and begged for leniency. He denied committing the rape.

He said that he was recently released from prison after serving an 18-month sentence for breaking into Nirva Supermarket on Sheriff Street in 2021 and stealing $700,000 worth of toys.

Magistrate Daly sentenced Singh to four years in prison on each count, which will be served concurrently. This means, he will only serve four years.

Guyana among...

FROM PAGE 12

In the Americas, over one-third of men and a quarter of women with hypertension (aged 30 to 79 years) are unaware they have the condition, and of those who are aware they have hypertension and receive treatment, only a third (36 per cent) have it under control.

He further reiterated the implementation of interventions to promote healthy diets, such as front-of-package warning labels on processed and ultra-processed food products, and measures to reduce salt intake.

According to PAHO, lifestyle changes and lifelong use of antihypertensive medications are also key to reducing and controlling the condition.

World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 each year to raise awareness of the urgent need to promote the prevention, detection and control of hypertension. The theme this year is ‘Measure your blood pressure accurately, Control it, Live Longer.’

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Saturday May 13, 2023)

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Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Manish Pandey (KKR)

(2) Glen Maxwell (Kings XI)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who scored most runs in IPL 2014?

(2) What was the highest individual score made in IPL 2014?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue …………………………

…………………………………………………………

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Canadian Racing Tips

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Race 1 I’m A Bourbon Girl

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Race 3 Mendeljohn

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11:55

West Indies Women’s Super50 Cup… Knight, Joseph help Barbados remain unbeaten; Guyana scores first win

CMC – A maiden List A hundred from Kyshona Knight and a destructive spell from her international teammate, Qiana Joseph, marked the third round of matches in the West Indies Women’s Super50 Cup on Friday in St Kitts.

Left-hander Knight slammed 144 and set up defending champions Barbados for a commanding 205-run win against Jamaica Women to remain unbeaten, and left-arm spinner Joseph followed up a handy knock with a career-best six for 20 from her allotted 10 overs, but failed to inspire Windward Islands Women and Trinidad & Tobago Women beat them by two wickets.

In easily the most competitive match of the day, Guyana Women held their nerve to take a one-run win against hosts

Leeward Islands Women, after a career-best 74 from Amanda Edwards threatened to take the match away from them.

The results meant that Barbados have now solely assumed the top position in the standings on 12 points, T&T and Windwards have eight points each, Jamaica and Guyana have four points each, and Leewards are yet to win a match and have no points.

AT CONAREE SPORTS

CLUB: Knight hit 19 fours and one six from 119 balls and led Barbados to 318 for eight from their 50 overs after they chose to bat.

Leg-spinner Keila Elliott followed up with four for 19 from 5.4 overs, and Jamaica were bowled out for 113 in 28.4 overs, batting one player short because former West Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor was injured while fielding.

The wickets of openers Rashada Williams and Keneisha Ferron to West Indies Women’s pacer Shamilia

Connell in each of her first two overs respectively, set the Jamaicans back early, and the Barbadians, led by Elliott, tightened the screws.

West Indies pair of Chedean Nation, with 32, and Natasha McLean, with 27, led the way for Jamaica, but there was little support around them to make a fight of the contest.

Batting at three, Knight shared three successive half-century partnerships that was the cornerstone of the innings after her twin sister Kycia fell cheaply in the first over.

She put on 77 with West

Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews, 86 with international teammate Aaliyah Alleyne, and 85 with Trishan Holder, another international, before off-spinner Vanessa Watts bowled her in the 43rd over.

Holder supported with 36, Matthews, the Barbados captain, made 31, Alisa Scantlebury got 27, and Alleyne added 18.

Pacer Neisha-Ann Waisome was the most successful Jamaica bowler with three for 65 from her 10 overs, and newcomer Nicole Campbell got two for 39 from 10 overs.

AT ST PAUL’S SPORTS COMPLEX: T&T defied Joseph to squeak to victory thanks to a half-century from international opener Reniece Boyce and a few tidy innings down the order.

Chasing 151 to win, Boyce cracked five fours and three sixes in the top score of 53 from 47 balls and dominated an opening stand of 58 with Shunelle Sawh.

Joseph sparked a collapse, and T&T plunged to 118 for eight in the 30th over, appearing in danger of coming up short.

West Indies Women

off-spinner Karishma Ramharack came to the rescue of T&T with 23 not out and dominated a stand of 34 with Samara Ramnath to get her side over the finish line.

West Indies Women

leg-spinner Afy Fletcher had earlier propped up the Windwards batting with an even 50 off 71 balls that included only two fours and one six and Joseph supported with 29 before their side was bowled out for 150 in 44.3 overs.

Ramharack led the T&T bowling with three for 24 from 9.3 overs.

AT WARNER PARK: Edwards hit 11 fours from 124 balls and had Leewards well placed in a chase of 168 for victory.

No other Leewards batter followed her example, and she was stumped off international off-spinner Sheneta Grimmond with 16 needed from the final 12 balls trying to keep her side on track.

With three wickets standing, the Leewards still stood a chance, but West Indies Women’s pacer Shakibi Gajnabi drew on her experience in the final over and got Tynetta McKoy lbw for 13 with the third-to-last ball, and Tonya

Martin, the bowling hero for the hosts earlier in the day, was run out off the final delivery of the innings trying to seal the deal.

Gajnabi had earlier given

her side a target to defend with a top score of 49 and international teammate Kaysia Schultz made 25, and the Guyanese posted 167 for nine from their 50 overs.

Martin was the pick of the Leewards bowlers with four for 36 from her allotted 10 overs.

The tournament continues on Monday when Bar-

bados face Windwards at St Paul’s Sports Complex, Jamaica meet Guyana at Warner Park, and Leewards play T&T at Conaree Sports Club.

WIFBSC 2023 Championships-Individuals

Braithwaite is still ‘King’ of the range

Calculated shooting whilst relying on all his experience was enough to ensure

that the reigning ‘King’ of the full-bore ranges in the Caribbean, Lennox Braithwaite (461.35) retained his crown and bragging rights for another year when the 2023 edition of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Individual Championships ended yesterday afternoon at the Crabbs Rifle and Pistol Range in Antigua and Barbuda.

After finding himself behind, Trinidadian Dr.Varma Rambaran at the end of the first day of the three-day competition, Braithwaite re-calibrated and never looked back as he gradually fired back into the lead at the end of the second day and maintained that advantage throughout the final day yesterday.

Braithwaite and countryman Roberto Tiwari both achieved Possible at the 500 yards range with scores of 35.3 and 35.1, respectively. Woodman (35.2) and Patel (35.3) were the other shooters achieving Possible at the 500-yard range.

Shooting as a guest, Canadian Geoff Woodman ended at the top of the X-Class leaderboard with 467.41. Rambaran’s ascendancy after the first day was not replicated over the next two days as he ended out of the top 10. Guyana did not only dominate the X-Class category but the O-Class as well which was won by USAbased Guyanese, Sigmund Douglas.

Douglas, a veteran marksman, was on top of the leaderboard in his class from day one and never relinquished the lead as he ended with 430 points and 8 V-bulls. The Tiro or Sharp Shooter Class for beginners, was won by Antigua and Barbuda’s Zuber Patel with a score of 444.20. He finished 5th of 45 shooters.

Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) Fullbore captain, Dylan Fields (436.18) ended 9th overall; Roberto Tiwari (430.16) was 15th, Sherwin Felicien (418.15) 22nd, Ryan Sampson (410.17) 27th, Leon Romalho (408.17) 28th, Peter Persaud / O-Class (403.20) 29th,

John Fraser /O-Class (378.6) 38th and veteran Ransford Goodluck (333.12) in the 40th position.

The top female was Jamaica’s Karen Anderson who ended 11th overall with a score of 432.21. Bajan Jennifer Jordon was 14th (430.17), and countrywoman Shellyann Hinds (422.18) was 19th.

Braithwaite shared his thoughts on retaining the championship as the best marksman in the Caribbean: “First of all, I want to give God thanks for keeping me in good health and strength. Preparing for this tournament, I spent much time working with the team members trying to raise their game. Getting into the actual match, we discovered there were different lots of ammunition, which affected the quality of our shooting. Nonetheless, success was because of my experience and of course team support. Again, thanks to all the sponsors who have contributed towards the team members being here, and as we promised, we would deliver, and we have done so far.”

Captain Fields complimented all the shooters for holding their own despite the challenges whilst stating that the focus will now turn towards the Short-Range Team Match set for tomorrow, Saturday.

“I am happy that Lennox and Sigmund have swept the X and O titles. We knew that they could do it. The performance of all the team members speaks for itself and I look forward to leading the team come Saturday.”

Guyana lost by a single point to host nation Jamaica last year and is focused on regaining this trophy.

The GuyanaNRA is extending sincere gratitude to The Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, the Guyana Olympic Association, Industrial Safety Supplies Inc., Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc., Queensway Security Service Inc., DHL, Citizens Bank, Sterling Products, and Star Party Rentals.

- Douglas wins O-Class; Zuber Patel is the Tiro champ

East Coast Cricket Board Under-17 Tournament 2023

Enmore claim victory by 111 runs

Vickash Wilkinson and Romeo Deonarain scored brilliant half- centuries while Hemraj Haripersaud’s four wicket haul supported Enmore to claim victory over Lusignan in the final of the East Coast Cricket Board under 17 tournament.

At Lusignan, Enmore won the toss and elected to

bat scoring 168 all out from 46.5 overs of their allotted 50 overs.

Vickash Wilkinson top scored with a well-composed 58 and Romeo Deonarain contributed an unbeaten 50. Nicholash shiopersad collected 3 for 21 while M. Outar, Alex Datterdeen and N. Bani took two wickets each.

In reply, Lusignan

struggled to reach their target and fell for 57 in 23 overs with Alex Datterdeen scoring 11 and being the lone batter to reach double figures. Hemraj Haripersaud was the most destructive bowler grabbing 4 for 20 while Romel Persaud, Romeo Deonarain and S Ganganram collected 2 wickets respectively.

Suryakumar takes down the Titans with first IPL ton

(ESPNCRICINFO) - For a little while, it looked like Suryakumar Yadav would actually finish a T20 without playing that one shot that made people's jaws drop. And then he hit the most incredible six. It propelled him to his first IPL century and Mumbai Indians to a comfortable victory over the defending champions Gujarat Titans.

You know how Kane Williamson dabs to third man to get singles? Well, Suryakumar accessed the same area, except he cleared the boundary. He saw a ball on off stump. He knew he could get under it. At the point where he made contact, he opened the face, just as Williamson does, and then the strengthen in his forearms and his wrists did the rest.

This is Suryakumar. He sees T20 cricket the way nobody else sees it.

Titans came into this game knowing a win would not only secure a spot in the playoffs but give them two shots at making the final. And they turned to their main man to make it happen. Rashid Khan produced four wickets for 30 runs in a format that continues to be hostile to his kind. Even

today, Suryakumar spent 49 balls proving that bowlers and their plans exist just so batters could come in and rip them all to shreds.

But Rashid wouldn't buy that. He had Rohit Sharma caught at slip with a gorgeous leg-break. He upended Ishan Kishan by a simple change in length, the premeditated sweep shot failing against a ball that was too full for it. Titans saved the last six balls they had from Rashid for the match up against Tim David. Those are high stakes. It was the 17th over. This is the time David comes to life. Except he couldn't because Rashid took him out for 5 off 3.

Very few are capable of producing wickets on demand like this. Even fewer are able to do so when the opposition comes hard at them.

As good as Titans are in a chase, they were up against it very quickly when all of their top three batters fell for single digits.

Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya and Wriddhiman Saha totalled 12 runs between them.

Vijay Shankar kept hopes of the improbable alive with a sweet little cameo. But he fell to Piyush

Chawla's first ball of the match, this IPL legend having the best season of his career at 34 years of age.

Way on the other end of the spectrum is Akash Madhwal. He came into the tournament because Mumbai were having so much trouble with their bowling attack. This was only his fourth game of the IPL and the 26th of his T20 career. And already he has shown an appetite for the tough job. Bowling at the death, bowling to big hitters, bowling with games on the line.

Madhwal has a lovely yorker. And now, it appears his other balls are just as deadly, because when he hits a hard length, they keep skidding through. He bowled Gill with one that stayed lower than the batter expected. And he had David Miller lbw in just the same way.

Rashid carried the Titans with the bat as well, making his highest score in T20s, 79 off 32 with 10 sixes. A total of 103 for 8 in 14 overs rose to 191 for 8 in 20. But it was not enough. Imagine going three-fourth of the way to a century after picking up one short of five wickets and still losing the game.

The winning Enmore team

GTTA to host two ITTF programmes this month

THE Guyana Table Tennis Association, in collaboration with the International Table Tennis Federation, will be hosting two international programmes this month.

The first is the ITTF level one Table Tennis Coach’s certification training programme scheduled for May 16 to 20 and a ITTF High performance training camp for cadet and Junior players from May 20 to 25 May 2023.

Both camps will be held at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, and will be facilitated by Oscar Roitman from Argentina. Roitman has a wealth of experience and knowledge. He has conducted several clinics and functioned in the capacity of National Coach Director of Youth Olympic Games 2018 TT Programme, headed Argentina Junior TT pro -

gramme, National Development Director, Argentina, ITTF Course instructor.

Author of the book Breaking Method, Roitman gives a new approach to teaching table tennis using tools and a very didactical and clear narrative.

The foundation of all these tools are the author's own experiences as a table tennis player and as a coach. He has given many lectures in Argentina, always showing a ludic way of teaching, not only centred on "recipes", but giving "keys" to develop the student ́s/athlete ́s own way of playing or teaching and all its variants.

The programme sessions will commence on the 16th May 2023, at 9:00 am and run to 4:00pm daily on the days outlined and comes as part of the ITTF member association support.

ITTF coach’s certification is an international and

globally recognized certification programme aimed at arming coach’s with the correct fundamentals, techniques, methodologies, philosophy and skills for orienting student athletes to the game of table tennis at the beginners intermediate and

advance levels.

The course is a thirty-hour programme with an optional Para component of an additional six (6) hours. The para component exposes participating coaches to the methods of working with

“differently-abled athletes.” (Coaches who complete the additional 6 hours will be ITTF + PTT Level 1 Coaches).

The ITTF Level 1 Coaching Manual contains the syllabus, course material and covers and forms the basis for key aspects of certification based on completion of the listed modules.

Those are Club Coach Course (12 hour), ITTF Level 1 Course (24 hour), Community Leader Course (Three hour) and School Teacher Course (Six hour).

All courses are cumulative leading to full certification.

After the course, 30 hours of coaching practice must be completed. This coaching practice should be predominantly group coaching, benefitting the table tennis school’s community or junior or school groups.

From the 30 hours coach-

ing practice, 5 hours must be supervised by the ITTF Course Conductor or a person appointed by the ITTF Course Conductor.

“Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and with ITTF restarting it’s in person training programmes, we sought to capitalize on building a new nucleus of coaches to service the schools and community and developmental needs of the association with a view of also advancing these coaches into the national framework over time.

“The GTTA views coaching as a critical and pivotal pillar upon which the sport must be built in order to improve the technical and tactical capacity of our players and, by extension, the structural foundations of the game development. There needs to be higher levels of accredited coaches,”

Sammy appointed T20, ODI coach; Coley to head Test, A team units

(CWI) Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced the appointments of the new head coaches for the West Indies Senior Men’s teams. Andre Coley has been appointed Head Coach for the Test and ‘A’ Teams and Daren Sammy has been appointed the Head Coach for the white ball One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) teams.

The new head coaches were selected following an open and transparent interview process, and the appointments were confirmed following the CWI Board of Directors meeting on Thursday 11 May.

Daren Sammy’s first assignment will be the threematch ODI Series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Sharjah in June, ahead of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe.

Andre Coley’s first assignment will be the two-match Test Series against India in the Caribbean in July.

Sammy is a former West Indies captain in all three formats, who led the West Indies to the ICC T20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016. Since retirement, he has coached franchise teams in the Pakistan Super League and the Caribbean Premier League. Coley is a former Jamaica wicket-keeper/batsman who has coached at all levels in West Indies cricket. He was Interim Head Coach of the West Indies team on the tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa earlier this year with his most recent assignment being as Head Coach of the West Indies Academy.

The 39-year-old Sammy said: “It will be a challenge but one that I’m ready for and excited about. I’m re-

ally looking forward to the opportunity, especially looking at the players we have and the impact that I believe I can have in the dressing room. I believe I will bring the same approach as I had as a player: the passion, the desire for success, and my undying love for West Indies cricket. When I look around there is an abundance of talent, and what I saw in South Africa in the white-ball matches under new captains Shai Hope and Rovman Powell and the leadership provided by Andre Coley, there is great belief that we can do well. I’m looking forward to imparting my knowledge, my tactical acumen, my communication skills and my man-management skills. I get excited about putting the plans together and seeing the players execute them.”

Coley, 48, said: “I am

honoured to be appointed West Indies Men’s Head Coach of the red-ball team after serving in the interim role on the Zimbabwe and South Africa tours. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead, as well as the opportunities as we sharpen our focus on moving up the Test rankings, and qualifying for the World Test Championship final in June 2025. I also look forward to working with all our stakeholders, deepening relationships and fostering a high-performance mindset. I am also excited to be working closely with the ‘A Team’ as we seek to optimise opportunities for teams to play competitive cricket outside of our first-class competition and giving players greater exposure to different conditions at the international level. I believe that my expertise in the use of ana-

lytics, my leadership style and technical knowledge, along with collaborative efforts alongside Daren, will make a positive contribution to player development and team performances.”

In March, CWI announced that the role of Head Coach for the West Indies Senior Men’s Teams will be split into two separate positions, a decision made with reference to the recommendation by the independent three-member World Cup Review Group to consider splitting coaching duties as one factor to help improve team preparation.

Johnny Grave, CEO of CWI said: “We are delighted to announce the appointments of Andre and Daren to the positions of red-ball and white-ball Head Coaches of the Senior Men’s teams. They

are well equipped for their roles, and we are confident they will bring different perspectives, skills and real passion to the West Indies dressing room. The introduction of separate coaches signals the start of a new approach for the West Indies Men’s teams, and we know it will enable greater focus on player communication, team planning and preparation to the benefit of our players and West Indies cricket.”

The recruitment process for a Head Coach of the West Indies Women’s team has commenced and the deadline for applications of Wednesday 17 May. Further information on the timing and process for appointing a new Head Coach of the West Indies Academy to replace Coley will be announced at a later date.

ITTF approved Course Conductor, Mr. Oscar Roitman

Archery Guyana now full GOA member

Archery Guyana is now fully affiliated to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) with full affiliate status.

This was unanimously agreed at the most recent Council Meeting of the GOA, after re-submission of complete documents for full membership and affiliation.

The Executive Committee of the GOA recognised that two of Archery Guyana's members, namely Wayne DeAbreu and Devin

Permaul Persaud, recently participated in the IX Copa Meringue in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2023.

The Copa Meringue is a World Ranking Event and was the second Qualifier Tournament for the Pan Am Games and was held at the Archery Facility at the Parque del Este sports complex in Santo Domingo. With the support of their National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Ministry

of Sports (MIDEREC) there in Santo Domingo, the Archers were given an extraordinary experience inside the competition field as well as a cultural opportunity.

According to Assistant Secretary of the Guyana Olympic Association, Ms. Emelia Ramdhani on Tuesday 9th May, 2023 at the National Gymnasium, it gives great pleasure for the Guyana Olympic Association to lend support to Archery Guyana's members.

Woodpecker Junior Nationals…

Receiving the support on behalf of Archery Guyana was Treasurer and Director Mr. Robert Singh who shared the wonderfully exciting news that Archery Guyana’s Devin Persaud-Permaul has earned a spot at the Pan Am Games. He expressed sincere thanks to the GOA for the support which will go a far way towards the athlete’s participation.

Eight-year-old wins in U-13s while ‘big guns’ fire

By Sean Devers

Most eight-year-olds would usually be in bed watching cartoons but not little Zion Hickerson, on Thursday night at Georgetown Club he

beat Kaiden Alli, almost five years older than him, on night four of the Woodpecker Junior Squash tournament in a pulsating match which ended 3-2.

On a night with a

handful of spectators watching, the big Guns; Louis De Silva and Canada-born Chand DeAbreu, fired on all cylinders in the U-19 and U-17 respectively, with De Silva winning twice.

ECCB Navin/ Hanso 1st Division Tournament 2023…

Enmore; Lusignan advance to final

Enmore CCCC and Lusignan SC have advanced to the finals of the East Coast Cricket Board Navin/Hanso 1st Division Tournament 2023, scheduled tentatively for May 21, 2023, weather permitting.

Amir Khan's all-round performance helped his Enmore side register the first spot in the finals.

In the first semi-final at Enmore, Better Hope SC won the toss and chose to take the first strike scoring 156 from 42.4 overs of their allotted 50 overs. M. Mangal scored 25, while N. Singh chipped in with 24. Bowling for Enmore, Satesh Jainarine grabbed 4 for 30 while Cheatram Balgobin, Y. Dayal and Amir Khan collected 2 wickets each.

In reply, Enmore reached their target in 33. 5 overs, with former West Indies Under 19 player Amir Khan hitting a well-con -

structed 75 while supported by V. Ramlakan, who contributed 38. R. Rohoman collected 3 for 39.

National Youth Spinner

Nigel Deodat spun Lusignan to the Finals with the help of Vishun Ramjit.

In the second semi-final at Lusignan, LBI SC won the toss and elected to bat, scoring 158 all out from 46.3 overs. Ravindra Samaroo top scored with 47 while Emran Mohamed and

Romeo Deonarain contributed 41 and 29, respectively. Nigel Deodat collected 4 for 21, and Rajindra Naikbarran took 2 for 28.

In response, Lusignan SC accomplished their DLS target of 116 for 1 from 26 overs. Vishun Ramjit scored an unbeaten 31, while Robin Williams and Shazam Ali scored 28 and 22 individually. Kemol Savory was the lone wicket-taker.

With Ethan Bulkan already assured of the U-11, Hickerson, a talented student of St Gabriel’s Primary who also loves Tennis, took on Alli in U-13 division and lost the first game 7-11.

Hickerson, playing excellent squash for his age, engaged Alli in fairly long rallies as the second game ebbed and flowed with Hickerson eventually winning 1311.

The third game was just as competitive with Hickerson winning 1412 before Alli, showing a ‘never say die’ attitude won 7-11 and. at 2-2, a deciding fifth was needed to produce a winner.

Hickerson won 11-7 and his dad, who was among the small gathering, must have been a proud man as the self-confidence and calm demeanour demonstrated by pint-size Hickerson, made some jokingly declare ‘this looks like a big man in little boy’s body’.

In the U-19 division, De Silva played excellent squash to beat Shiloh Asregado 11-3, 11-2, 11 before beating Demitri Lowe in the U-19 division,11-1, 11-4-11-2 for his second win of the night.

Chad De Abreu, watched by his mom, beat Jeremy Ten Pow 3-1 in the most entertaining

match of the night.

This encounter had almost all the shots in squash as both Boys had long rallies and accurately placed drop shots.

De Abreu raced to a 11-7 win in the first game before winning 12-10 in keenly fought second game.

Ten Pow, with nice use of the Court and crisp

GT Club, like many of streets in the City, was under water from heavy and persistent rain, four matches were contested in the Boys U-15 division.

Blake Edwards beat Nickolas Sawh 11-4, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, Richard Rodrigues beat Justin Goberdhan 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 and Brenno Da Sil-

back hand drives, played the better Squash in the third stanza as the long rallies continued as Ten Pow took the game 9-11. But De Abreu would win the fourth game 11-5 to close off the match.

On a night in which the drive way and most of Parking Lot at the

va beat Avian Wade 11-8, 9-11, 11-4,11-9.

In the lone Girls match played for the night, Emily Fung-a-Fat beat Tiana Gomes 11-7, 11-1, 11-2

The action was scheduled to continue yesterday and conclude today.

At left, Assistant Secretary of the Guyana Olympic Association, Ms. Emelia Ramdhani hands over sponsorship cheque to Mr. Robert Singh, Treasurer and Director of Archery Guyana

Amir-Khan Vishun Ramjit

The smallest & Youngest player Dion Hickerson (left) beat Kaiden Alli at the GT Club 3-2 in a hard fought battle on Thursday night at the GT Club (sean Devers photo)

Andre Coley