Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 12-09-2023

Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his delegation visited Guyana on Tuesday for engagements aimed at fostering bilateral co-operation (Office of the President and DPI photos)

Guyana’s future does not revolve around oil and gas

–– President Ali declares

By Trina Williams

ALL eyes are on Guyana as it continues to record massive rates of economic growth and attract the interest of investors and world leaders from all corners of the world.

In a British Broadcasting Corporation ( BBC ) interview with Gideon Long , President , Dr . Irfaan Ali provided an in-depth analysis of Guyana ’ s massive transformation and how his government is using oil revenue to diversify and develop all sectors instead of exclusively focusing on oil and gas

Long also shed light on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) statistics, which revealed that Guyana ’ s economy grew by 62 per cent in 2022 and is anticipated to expand by another 37 per cent this year

After referencing the nation’s soaring Gross Domestic Product (GDP), he then focused on its ever-evolving oil and gas sector, which has

placed the country on the map with the biggest market players

During the interview , Long asked President Ali if he could feel the oil benefits in Guyana’s streets

In response to this, President Ali confirmed that development is visible and listed the substantial number of beneficiaries who are seeing a better quality of life, owing to the prosperities that have reached Guyana’s shores

He said: “The country, at this moment, is in transformation gear A lot of energy, a lot of infrastructure work, a lot of investment in education, health and housing...”

President Ali further said that the construction sector is the prime beneficiary because of the tremendous progress being made in the oil and gas sectors, hence the massive hotels , apartment complexes and so forth being established

Speaking from his administration’s perspective, he said that not all of their

in the traditional sectors

“… from the government ’ s perspective , we ’ re

also investing in some very key areas that will fuel the future of Guyana The future of Guyana is not set in oil and gas It is set in a very diversified economy ,” the President remarked, noting that transformation does not lie only in the oil and gas sector

With over 11 billion barrels of oil in the reserve and a production of 400,000 barrels of oil per day, however, the prospects for Guyana are great

President Ali said: “… by 2027 we are projected to have 1.2 billion barrels per day.”

Despite this projection, as Guyana forges ahead to become a global leader, Dr Ali said there is no rush to join the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) because it is not part his government’s policy

Instead , much focus is being placed on the areas of climate change, and energy and food security, according to him

Addressing how Guyana is already making waves in the area of climate security with its bountiful rainforest cover, Dr Ali also stated: “ In addition to the carbon credit market, we’re looking at biodiversity…, we’re investing heavily in ecotourism.”

On that note , he said that these investments need to be coupled with proper infrastructure, state-of-theart healthcare and education facilities/services, in order to not only develop the economy but also improve living conditions for the people

The interviewer then questioned Dr Ali on the contract that was signed by the former A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU + AFC ) administration and the comments that say Guyana was dealt the shorter hand

While the President believes in the sanctity of contracts , he agreed that the document benefitted the oil and gas giant, ExxonMobil, more

However, he said that

his government has constantly implemented measures and policies that seek to ensure that the people get more out of the deal.

BRIGHTER FUTURE

Regarding anti - corruption efforts , Dr Ali remarked that his government has set in place legislation to ensure that there is always accountability and transparency.

He made reference to several tools that aid in this approach, such as the National Resource Fund (NRF) Act that does not vest the executive with superpowers, and ensure that citizens are always made top priority

Dr Ali also shed light on a number of plans that are being executed in Guyana, such as the gas - to - Energy project

Being transparent about how Guyana’s small population size could affect the rate of development , the President said that he recognised the challenge and even referenced the ongoing labour shortage in the nation

To combat this, he said that a multitude of institutes and initiatives are being set out such as the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships and the technical institute being built to ensure that Guyanese are equipped with the necessary skills to work in the oil and gas sector.

Guyana has accomplished new heights amidst oil production, and according to Long: “… [Oil production] is expected to quadruple by the end of the decade [and] that will bring billions of dollars.”

Noting that most of Guyana is covered by rainforest, he said: “… The potential for growth per capita is massive It’s already gone up sharply back in 2015 when Exxon made its first discovery.”

Fast forward to 2023, the IMF has predicted that Guyana’s per capita GDP will see unbelievable growth.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali eggs will be put into the oil and gas basket, as his government is investing heavily

Guyana, Qatar strengthen partnership with new agreements

G ov’t of Qatar to establish a diplomatic mission in Georgetown

Below is the full Joint Communiqué on the State Visit of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani,

“ At the invitation of His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali , President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana , His Highness

Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad

Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar undertook a State Visit to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on September 12, 2023.

During the visit, the two leaders held fruitful discussions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest to strengthen their bilateral relations

Both leaders expressed their satisfaction with the existing friendly relations between Qatar and Guyana and recognised the potential to further strengthen co-operation in various fields , including trade, investment, energy , education , health , and culture

The leaders underscored the importance of promoting bilateral trade and investment and noted the significant potential for collaboration in sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy , infrastructure development, and tourism They encouraged business communities from

both countries to explore opportunities for partnerships and investment

Both countries pledged to prioritise sustainable practices and environmentally friendly technologies in their infrastructure projects, with the aim of achieving sustainable development goals and reducing environmental impact

The State of Qatar reaffirmed its willingness to finally support the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in its road infrastructure redevelopment initiatives

Both leaders emphasised the importance of regional and international co - operation in addressing global challenges, including climate change , terrorism and the promotion of peace and security They pledged to work together at global forums to advance their shared objectives, contributing to global peace and security

In an effort to enhance bilateral ties, Guyana and Qatar have signed an agreement to encourage and protect mutual investment between the two countries

Both states signed an -

other agreement regarding economic, commercial and technical co - operation between the government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Legal Co-operation

Lastly , both leaders expressed their confidence in the prospects for enhanced co-operation between Qatar and Guyana and agreed to work together to further strengthen their bilateral relations They expressed continued dialogue to advance co-operation

His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali welcomed the decision by the Government of Qatar to establish a diplomatic mission in Georgetown

Both leaders expressed confidence that this would provide greater visibility to the relations between the two countries in building bridges of co-operation and fraternity to contribute to strengthening joint work in the bilateral framework, and within the framework of international co-operation.”

The Amir of The State of Qatar:

–– leaders pledge to enhance co-operation in trade, investment, energy, education, health, other key areas

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, shares a light moment with His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, as Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo look on (Office of the President photo)

The agreements signed covered the Promotion and Protection of Mutual Investments and Economic and Technical Co-operation, while the MoU is on Legal Co-operation between the two nations The documents were signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd and Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr Saad bin Sherida Al Kabbi and Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Qassim Al Thani (Office of the President photos)

President Ali on a three-day visit to Washington DC

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan

Ali, on Tuesday, left Guyana for Washington DC, the capital of the United States of America, where he is expected to meet with a number of stakeholders from the US Congress and the State Department.

During his three - day visit, the Head of State is

also scheduled to take part in a number of private sector meetings and visit several universities, including the National Defense University

He is also expected to make a presentation at the Organisation of American States (OAS).

The President is joined

by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd; the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond ; Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force ( GDF ), Brigadier Omar Khan.

Attorney-General challenges Slowe’s ‘false narrative’

sets record straight on ‘constitutional atrocity’ under former APNU+AFC gov’t

ATTORNEY - GENER -

AL and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C., has publicly refuted claims made by former Police Service Commission ( PSC ) Chairman Paul Slowe, and has called him out for perpetuating a “ false narrative ” surrounding the appointment of former Police Commissioner ( ag ) Nigel Hoppie by the then APNU + AFC government.

In the letter penned by Nandlall , he takes aim at Slowe ’ s assertions in response to an article published in the Guyana Chronicle on September 2, 2023 In this article , Nandlall criticised what he referred to as a “constitutional atrocity” related to Hoppie’s appointment

Slowe’s letter, according to Nandlall , has attempted to challenge the veracity of Nandlall’s claims regarding the appointment process . Nandlall, however, contended that Slowe’ s arguments are misguided and that they do not align with the constitutional provisions in question

Nandlall ’ s remarks revolve around the appointment of Hoppie to act in the Office of Commissioner of Police on July 30, 2020

The letter indicating the appointment was issued by then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security following the retirement of Commissioner of Police

Leslie James

Nandlall asserted that Hoppie ’ s appointment as Acting Commissioner of

Police by the APNU + AFC Government was made via a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security. The letter, according to Nandlall, was addressed to then-Commissioner of Police Leslie James, who was slated to proceed on 274 days of pre-retirement leave The letter also granted approval for Deputy Commissioner Nigel Hoppie to perform the functions of the Commissioner of Police during this period

According to Article 211 of Guyana ’ s Constitution , the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police should be appointed by the President after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and Chairperson of the Police Service Commission

Furthermore, it outlines the procedures for appointing an acting Commissioner of Police in case of a vacancy or the incumbent’s inability to perform their duties

Nandlall maintained that Hoppie’s appointment did not align with the constitutional process, as it did not follow the prescribed steps outlined in Article 211

He argued that the use of the phrase “ to perform the functions of Commissioner of Police” in the letter from the Permanent Secretary cannot circumvent the Constitution’s clear language.

In his response, Nandlall highlighted the legal principle that the law considers substance over form, citing the English case of Street v Mountford ( 1985 ) as an example

He argued that regardless of the linguistic formulation used , an appointment “ to perform the functions ” of Commissioner of Police is, in essence, an appointment “to act” as Commissioner of Police

Nandlall also referenced the case of Christopher Jones v Attorney General and Clifton Hicken from 2022, when the Chief Justice described Hoppie ’ s appointment as a constitutional “non-compliance.”

However, he pointed out that the appointment of Hicken as Acting Commissioner of Police was upheld as lawful and compliant with Article 211 in the same judgment

In her ruling, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George said: “It does seem disingenuous to

advance a strict application of the constitutional provisions on the appointment of the Commissioner of Police, when the letter from the PS suggests that there may have been a breach of the Constitution [in appointing Nigel Hoppie to act] as no reference was made to the art 211 process.”

Nandlall said: “Inexplicably, Mr. Slowe dedicated quite a few paragraphs to ranting and wailing against His Excellency ’ s appointment of Mr Clifton Hicken’s to act in the office of Commissioner of Police In a

21-page judgment rendered by George CJ in the case filed by Christopher Jones referenced above and widely carried in the local press , this appointment was upheld and declared lawful and in compliance with the Constitution.”

The Attorney - General contended that the appointment of Hoppie as Acting Commissioner of Police did not adhere to the constitutional process, and this issue should be addressed to ensure that the rule of law is upheld Nandlall’s revelation follows questions from the opposition over the extension of Clifton Hicken ’ s tenure as acting Commissioner of Police by President, Dr Irfaan Ali

Opposition member Carol Smith-Joseph, acting as the Chief Scrutineer for the PNCled APNU opposition, filed a Fixed Date Application (FDA) challenging this extension Smith-Joseph argued that there is no legal basis for the Head of State to prolong the term of an acting Police Commissioner

In her legal filings , Smith-Joseph contends that Hicken is currently serving in a temporary, acting capacity in accordance with Article 211 (2) of the Guyanese Constitution, not as a substantive Commissioner of Police

She argued that Hick -

en’s appointment as Police Commissioner was initially based on necessity due to the absence of a duly constituted Police Service Commission ( PSC ) and a Leader of the Opposition. However, these circumstances no longer exist

Nandlall had previously affirmed that President Ali acted in complete accordance with the laws when extending the tenure of Hicken as acting Commissioner of Police beyond his age of retirement

The Attorney - General addressed criticisms raised by Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, and Clinton Conway , which were centred on the legality of the extension

According to Norton, the appointment was deemed unlawful, owing to the belief that the Office of the Commissioner of Police could enjoy an extension only if the office holder had a substantive appointment.

Nandlall, however, countered this argument by asserting that there is no provision in the Constitution or any other law that restricts the extension of tenure solely to substantive appointees

He said that regardless of if the appointee is acting or is substantive, they enjoy all the powers , facilities , and privileges of the office.

WITH Guyana on the cusp of a technological revolution , there will be an AI Tech Expo on November 24, 2023, aiming to accelerate its progress by celebrating homegrown AI innovations which are driving change on a global scale with the captivating theme, “Democratizing Al”.

“ Get ready to immerse yourself in the future of artificial intelligence (AI) at the highly - anticipated ‘ AI - 4D Showcase ’ on November 24 This isn ’ t just another ‘tech expo’; it’s a beacon of innovation and inspiration, signaling Guyana ’ s emergence as a pivotal player in the global Al arena,” a press release stated

The AI - 4D showcase will shine a spotlight on

democratising Al for development, serving as a catalyst for meaningful conversations on Al’s role in shaping the future of developing nations like Guyana

The ‘ Al - 4D Showcase ’ will kick off with a mesmerising series of showcased , endogenous Al innovations, but the crown jewel of the event will undoubtedly be the grand unveiling of “TrueSelph”.

“ This globally applicable endogenous Al product promises to redefine the Al landscape, and will use this platform to make its public debut Prepare to witness TrueSelph charting a new course in the world of Al in Guyana,” the release said Following the grand unveiling, attendees will have

the opportunity to immerse themselves in a one - of - akind expo experience The event will transform into an expo-style spectacle, offering attendees a chance to interact with Al innovations at their respective engagement stations

Eldon Marks, the visionary behind the showcase , encapsulated the event ’ s essence , stating : “ The Al4D Showcase is not just an event; it’s a movement

We are on a mission to ensure that Al becomes a force for good, accessible to all, and a catalyst for positive change in Guyana and beyond. TrueSelph, along with the other remarkable Al innovations we’re showcasing represents the future we’re building together.”

Tech Expo, ‘AI-4D Showcase’, to ignite innovation

Attorney - General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall , S.C.

Former Police Service Commission ( PSC ) Chairman, Paul Slowe

Charting the course

THE month of September is significant for two main reasons. It is the month in which Guyanese celebrate Amerindian Heritage and it is also designated ‘Education Month’.

The theme for this year’s Amerindian Heritage Month is , “ Sustaining our Cultural Heritage and Identity while Contributing to One Guyana .” Education Month 2023 has as its theme, “Investing in People: Changing Lives.”

Both themes are mutually reinforcing and have in common the broad objective of enhancing the quality of life of the Guyanese people through education and culture

The importance of education in terms of cultural advancement and sustainable development cannot be over - emphasised Indeed, there exists a dialectical relationship between education and development both at the economic and cultural levels

Education plays a key and critical role in the fostering of important social norms and values especially in the

context of the One Guyana vision, as articulated by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali

The fact is that Amerindian development has now become an integral part of the overall national development process Gone are the days when our Amerindian communities were neglected and treated as the country’s ‘backyard’, both under the colonial administration and the previous PNC regime As pointed out by President Ali, under the previous administration, there was hardly any progress in all areas of hinterland development including land-titling which was meant to provide legal ownership of land to indigenous communities

The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) initiated by the PPP/C administration was shelved by the previous administration, despite the manifest benefits that could have accrued therefrom, including carbon credit payments, job creation and deforestation

Thankfully, under the current PPP/C administration, the country has already

commenced the disbursement of such payments of which 15% will be directly allocated to Amerindian communities And it was under the previous APNU+AFC administration that hundreds of Community Support Officers (CSOs) were relieved abruptly and vindictively of their jobs

Under the current administration, the focus once again is on the enhancement of the quality of life of the Amerindian people through an interlocking and multidimensional approach which include education and health care delivery , job-creation, environmental protection, good governance and the building of sustainable communities

At an even more fundamental level, the dignity of the Amerindian people is being upheld and respected This assurance was given by President Ali during his recent address to Amerindian leaders at the National Toshaos Conference According to President Ali, Amerindians must be treated with equal respect, dignity and honour Amerindians all across

Guyana , he said , must benefit from equal developmental opportunities like any other segment of the population

These are indeed the hallmarks of a caring administration as manifested in all successive PPP/C administrations which never faltered in its commitment to a better quality of life for Amerindians, ‘not just because we want to, but because you are no different ’ in the words of President Ali

There is no doubt that Amerindian and hinterland development has been greatly accelerated under the current PPP/C administration The developmental train has reached all corners of the country including the deep riverine and hinterland communities

All of this is by no means accidental but the result of a carefully crafted plan In the words of President Ali, ‘our plan is a simple plan

It is a plan that seeks to involve you in determining what is best for you and in charting a course that will deliver the best quality of life for you.’

The matter of reparations should not be ‘cause celebre’ for further ethnic division

Dear Editor,

MANKIND ’ S exploitation of mankind has existed from the beginning of mankind, whether in one form of slavery, enforced labour and brutish cruelty or another

African slavery by European colonizers, the Jewish holocaust by Nazi Germany and Indentured labour are all well documented examples but are not comparable

Our own country is the product of Black African slavery , Madeiran , Chinese and Indian (from India) indentureship, as well as Indigenous Indian

exploitation perpetrated by our former British colonizers

Most recently, the matter of reparation has brought the question of enslavement to public attention and into public debate here in Guyana, in the Caribbean and elsewhere, where mankind’s capacity to exploit mankind prevailed and was institutionalised

The recent visit and hosting at the University of Guyana of the Gladstone family on the matter of reparation has served as a catalyst , as Eric Phillips recently put it, for “multiple egregious comparisons of indentureship equaling slavery”.

None of this , in my opinion , is intellectually legitimate , nor is it of practical value to those of us who are the descendants of either one or the other, and live as citizens of a country in which we have a common obligation to build and share in together, in peace, under the rule of law and governed as a democracy

The matter of reparation, to those who are the descendants of African slavery and, perhaps, even indentureship, is meritorious in and of its own right, but it should not and must not become a “cause celebre” for further ethnic division in our country

It would be unfortunate, indeed, if the matter of reparation is used by the “racial entrepreneurs” identified by Eric Phillips to further divide our people

Certainly, Phillips, I know , and judging from all that he said at the University of Guyana’s launch of the International Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies and from his recent letter to the Stabroek News (September 11, 2023), is well aware of the real and present danger of this happening.

Yours sincerely,

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Outstanding mid-year performance of the economy

Dear Editor,

DR. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana , must be commended for his stewardship of the economy.

This is reflected in the mid-year report for 2023 and the IMF staff concluding statement of the 2023 Article IV Mission All of the sectors recorded positive growth for the first half of the year, and outperforming the growth recorded for the corresponding period, except for the agriculture sector which recorded a lower positive output compared to the corresponding period

The IMF mission lauded the government for the continued rapid growth, supported by the government’s modernisation plans, including the unparalleled oil sector expansion

The IMF noted that the outlook for the medium-term growth is better than ever before Growth in the construction sector and

strong public investment may support higher than expected short-term non-oil growth

On the downside, the IMF cautioned that this could lead to inflationary pressures and appreciation of the real exchange rate beyond the level implied by a balanced expansion of the economy, overheating, and the crowding out of the private sector Adverse climate shocks , and volatile lower than projected commodity prices, may also negatively impact the economy

However , it should be noted that the downside risks are always present, but now amplified with the rapid growth of the economy In this regard, the careful management and fiscal discipline exercised by the government, which were cited by the IMF staff, have so far led to the minimization of these risks

Of note, the IMF 2023 mission has commended the government for positive strides made in several aspects of the governance framework These include:

Progress made in strengthening the AML/ CFT, governance, anti-corruption frameworks and support further advances in their effective implementation;

Progress in strengthening the management of the oil wealth and its fiscal transparency;

The government ’ s climate efforts ( the LCDS);

Efforts to modernise official statistics, which the IMF is supporting through capacity development; and

Efforts to improve the business climate, and address labor shortages

Under consecutive PPP / C governments , Guyana remains an interesting case study and country of interest to the IMF. The 2023 report is indisputably one of the best positive country assessments Guyana has ever received from an international financial institution This is on account of the tirelessly hard work by the government, the policies, programmes,

Satire on fire

Dear Editor,

WELL, last week, a lot of people say how dem had fun and dey enjoy reading King Lear Dem swear that Guyanese need a lil break even though a lot of true things does pass as jokes So

Geeze man, is all of u nickname me Loo Now, don’t mix up Loo with Low Is na me mek all u hanging yu heads low with shame from since time start I know add maths but when dem bais bring in PNC maths to prove is modern maths, dats when trouble start and dem brats start playing with 240 watts

No wonder some of dem children getting a hard time to pass dem maths exam nowadays. Dem picknee too confuse in school Now is up to dem new teacha bhaiya, to mek things right again

Yu know dat ranger turn stranger He is a good dance man, he does dance not only in the rain but also between the rain drops But he know who to tango with, and is not with Bingo and Low

He wash he hands of de hole affair, lack he self behind closed door, enjoy what coming his way, turn on Mozart and tell de rest of them, “all u try dey.” Now de man reading “West On Trial.”

After all, he is a QC bai Dem other QC from the bar had to face a different music Dem face lang and sour because de CCJ mek dem look like lil bai Dem robe stain fu life and no amount of washing and rubbing can erase dat

Dats why you should pick and choose You can’t be rang and play strang Dey should a listen to de man who say, “if yu vex, yu vex wid yu own face.” Dey should a do what he did to stay clean quit, na stay quiet De man find heself and stand up like quite a man He stap teking eye pass No bady gon try to make him look like a fool

He tek blows and share blows when he say nuff nuff thing.

He say, “enough is enough.” Then he shut up, pack up his traps and leff dem to clean up dem mess Today, de man is as happy as a lark and singing, “all a we NA one familee.” Me, I croaking with plenty more crap to pack….

All u know in dis country, dem bais looking fu nick name yu wid a false name Nick is a familiar name but too close to de word neck and all u know ah like me neck, just like de neck in de fowl curry or curry chicken

Is de same thing, yes? I is still a Guyanese in dis One Guyana But ah like it with me dhal puri and all u know who does mek good dhal puri Just ask de black pudden man, he know He crave fu de same ting but de man too mix up He na know if to stay or na stay in de cold He can’t mek up his mind if to choose black or white pudden, hat or cold De man get plenty kina De man does switch color like fairy light, he doesn’t wait fu Christmas

But plenty of dem getting up dear now and dey say, “make hay while de sun still shining.” Lang time done, shart time leff When to start, dat is de question To be, or not to be truthful? Dem elders getting worried Some tink dey gon stick around forever just like how dey thought dey gon remain in power for ever How dem go face de maker wid dem every day lies? Maybe, when dey go upstairs, dey gon confess when no bady around to hear dem When dem downstairs, dey painting picture like Michael Angelo. When dem go upstairs, dem can’t paint any picture because Customs don’t allow any paint brush or oil paint on de flight

Is de same ting dey talking about de oil Oil get money but is funny how de honey na taste de same fu dem who want de oil fu stay below fu some other fellow

Never mind a putting me neck on de block everyday fu those who laughing me behind me back Don’t get me wrang I ain’t get no share in any oil block If I can’t afford to go to Barbados, yu tink I gon go to Texas?

and development agenda being pursued by the government

Historically, when Guyana was a bankrupt state, it was the IMF’s economic reform programme that aided the country’s economic recovery Following this, in just over a decade (by 2006), Guyana exited the IMF programme because it had attained economic stability by then

To achieve economic stability from a state of bankruptcy in such a short period is not an ordinary achievement

There are many countries that had sovereign debt crises in the late 80s and early 90s, like Guyana, and many of those countries still haven’t recovered to a state of economic stability three decades later.

Yours respectfully,

Joel Bhagwandin Director of Financial Advisory SphereX Professional Services Inc

A man like me got to look all around first, listen to everybody, think carefully and then before I make de rang move Now a studying who really to satisfy, like a studying fu exam Yu know, a get dis feeling dem only using me and dis Loo name is not good for fame Is a lot of tings on me mind and everybody na so kind

But right now, ah can’t concentrate nor hesitate, a get dis bowl an….. Well, we gon talk more later na….

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall.

The mangled politics of Ms. Mangal-Joly

I wrote recently that I could do two columns a day because of the emanations in the press that are horrible, terrible , obnoxious , prejudicial , bizarre, sickening, insane, unbearable and downright immoral.

A columnist sets about preparing his commentary, and there appears before him some ghoulish offering, and anger compels you to leave what you plan and respond

For example, some misplaced souls want the public consultations by Exxon for its six deep water exploration to be put on hold because CPL cricket is in town There are untold numbers that will not watch the cricket and will not go to cricket

Journalist, Leonard Gildarie and I host the popular talk show – the Freddie Kissoon-Gildarie Show We put on a show each night last year when all the CPL finals were in town The viewership for those programmes was the same as when we had our shows when there was no cricket

What is the point? Life goes on even when there is a huge, national event This year , Gildarie and I will do the same Those who like cricket will watch it Those that want to see the Freddie Kissoon-Gildarie Show will watch it We live in a psychologically corrugated society To ask that Exxon postpone its important event because of cricket is a foolish thing, but the society will remain silent on such an atrocity

I lived in this country all my life except for studies abroad and a short stint

with the Maurice Bishop Government in Grenada I witnessed one of the most dangerous and tragic moments in the entire history of Guyana – five months of a systematic assault on the March 2020 national elections

Mr Dominic Gaskin, the son-in-law of then President Granger and at the time one of the leaders in the AFC will discuss that event tonight on the show He will do on the programme what people like a lady named Simone Mangal-Joly (SMJ) is yet to do

I read a letter by SMJ and was so enraged that not even on my sick bed would I have been deterred from replying I will quote from SMJ and then juxtapose my comments bringing out the deep-seated hypocrisy of minds like SMJ Her letter is a condemnation of what she perceives to be mistreatment of recent protesting sugar workers

SMJ: “These actions remind me of what I have been experiencing and witnessing first hand since 2021, with the psychologically hostile way the State has been responding to legitimate concerns….”

Comment: Why since 2021 and not 2020? Where was SMJ at the beginning of 2020 and at the end of 2018 when a legitimate no - confidence motion was ignored in contempt of the constitution by the ruling APNU+AFC?

SMJ : “ Some individuals attack citizens who voice valid democratic concerns.”

Comment: I do not know if SMJ has any training in sociology or political the-

ory, but I think she has unwittingly exposed her hypocrisy by telling us about citizens who are concerned with democratic values She will be hard-pressed to tell us what are democratic concerns and if the rigging of a national election is not the most evil threat to democratic values

I hope SMJ has some respect for the long political activism of the former Speaker of the House, Mr Ralph Ramkarran For the sociological education of SMJ, I will quote what Mr Ramkarran wrote 10 days ago Can SMJ tell the nation if she thinks she is included in the list that Mr Ramkarran referred to? If I was asked that question, I would say yes

I hope she internalises the words below and let them guide her when she continues her pretense of knowing Guyanese politics

I hope SMJ knows that Mr Ramkarran belongs to an opposition party (ANUG) and is a critic of the government

I quote: “It was, therefore, no sur-

prise to me that at this time there were only a few muffled voices protesting the attempt to rig the elections of 2020 and that the vociferous civil society that does not spare the PPP or its governments, fell largely silent Civil society must not now complain when some articulate what they believe to be its tarnished record.”

SMJ: “What kind of nation do we envision for ourselves? One that suppresses and shames or one that listens, understands, and reforms? Do we expect the latter to emerge from silence? And do we not see our democratic power in collectively breaking this silence?”

Comment : The last person that should utter those words is people like SMJ who stood silent when Guyana was near the precipice in 2020 Mangal-Joly is either a jolly lady that is misguided or a lady whose mangled words could threaten Guyana’s democracy.

Big Weekend in Cuba for G-77+China and Global South

GUYANA and fellow CARICOM member states are preparing to attend the upcoming G - 77 + China summit in Havana, Cuba, this weekend , as the region and the rest of the developing world gear-up for a 2023 United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA ) that promises great opportunities to address new and old challenges and opportunities for the Global South in the new unfolding international era.

Global alliances are being forcibly reshaped by regional and national developments as developing countries start determining their future with more determination and demanding control of their raw materials like never before

While the G-7 richest Nations in the world and the European Union (EU) and US and NATO forces have been caught in a backfiring quagmire in Ukraine that’s costing hundreds of billions of dollars while EU citizens pay the cost of ineffective sanctions against Russia and China, the developing nations have been reordering their priorities away from traditional imperial and imperialist hegemony and circling their own wagons to defend and attack (in self-defence) when and where necessary.

The US - led G - 7 and EU alliance have of late been reaching - out to developing nations in the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean with the stated aim of ‘countering China’s influence’ globally, resulting in high-level summits and state visits like US President Joe Biden’s hosting of African l3aders at yet another fruitless summit earlier this year, followed by Vice President Kamla Harris’ recent ‘whirlwind tour ’ of several African nations, ramping-up of tension as in the South China Sea and reignition of military tensions in the Korean Peninsula, while fomenting fear in the China - Taiwan Strait

The new Philippines and Japan administrations have joined US military drills with more fervor and the Biden administration is now seeking to enlist Vietnam into a US-led anti-China axis

But the US and EU are in turbulent and uncharted [ waters ] everywhere , starting with Europe postCOVID and post-Ukraine sanctions and France’s cur-

rent comeuppance in Africa’s Sahel region and the fast-forward emergence of the BRICS grouping that’s now expanded beyond Brazil , Russia , India , China and South Africa to include Saudi Arabia and six other major developing nations to represent the most people in the largest countries on earth with the majority of the natural resources the world needs – and a capacity to represent a greater share of the world economy than the West combined

Following the successful BRICS summit in August, the G-20 Summit in India saw the African Union ( AU ) join ( representing 55 nations ), but didn’t achieve the Western aim of driving a wedge between India and its BRICS nations , even though the Western press stressed more on the absence of China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin – notwithstanding that China was represented by its Premier Li and Russia by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

President Biden has the dance floor all for himself at the G-20, where the US and EU failed, like at the recent ASEAN Summit in Bali, to get the head to agree on final communiques that reflect anti-Russia and Anti-China new Cold War sentiments , instead of addressing the real political, social and economic issues that affect them – like facing US - backed and EU-approved military administrations violating rights of minorities in several nations

On the other hand, the BRICS nations have not only expanded but also established their New Development Bank that will certainly eventually bring better order to world trade and reduce dependence on the US dollar for international trade

Similarly , Russia invited African leaders to a summit where it pledged more economic , investment and food support with grain supplies – all in the vein of longstanding Soviet Union ( USSR ) ties with Africa that are still very much valued by nations supported and armed by Cuba and the USSR in their independence struggles, as well as by the new breed of African military leaders not trained in US and European military academies as in Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Guinea

Following the success-

ful BRICS Summit and the blunting of the thrust of the Western nations at the ASEAN and G - 20 Summits, the next big hurrah for the global south will be in Havana on September 15-16 for the G-77=China Summit

The G-77+China group is chaired by Cuba and Cuba ’ s UN Ambassador Pedro Luis Pedros says one of its main aims is “closing the huge gap between developed and developing countries, to move towards a common future of sustainable development, peace and respect for all human rights for all.”

The summit also comes within a context of what the ambassador described as “human rights and dignity for every country and every people,’ adding that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is also “ top - priority at the center of preparations for any outcome.”

Chronicles of a Chronic Guyana Chronicler

By Earl Bousquet

“ The Summit of the Future ,” he said , “ should strengthen multilateralism to move towards a fairer, equitable, non-discriminatory and sustainable world that advances towards the prosperity of all countries, in line with the non - discriminatory and sustainable world that advances towards the prosperity of all countries, aligned with the UN Charter.”

In this regard, Pedroso said, “a future world cannot be conceived without lifting and refraining from

enacting and applying unilateral economic, financial or trade coercive measures that are not in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.”

CARICOM nations and their Latin American neighbours in the CELAC grouping will be interested in all the agenda items that affect the region, but the Havana meeting will also be the last stop before New York, where CARICOM, AU and CELAC member states are also expected to put the issue of Reparations for Slav-

ery and Native Genocide on the Agenda and lobby fellow southern nations to support growing calls for a Second UN Decade for People of African Descent. The Cuba Summit and the UNGA will also allow for Guyana to extend its growing international diplomatic outreaches in pursuit of expanding possibilities for widening international trade in oil and gas, carbon credits and deepening ties with neighbours and friends, near and far

Health sector gets $38.7B boost in first half of 2023

AS Guyana continues its thrust for the modernisation and transformation of the country’s health sector, some $ 38.7 billion has been expended for the first half of the year

This is according to the 2023 Mid-Year report produced by the Ministry of Finance , which indicated that this sum is part of the $84.9 billion that was allocated to the sector for the year 2023.

During the first half of the year, works commenced on the construction of a modern paediatric and maternal hospital, with a total of $2.2 billion being expended

Additionally , works have commenced on the construction of regional

hospitals at Lima , Enmore , Bath , and Diamond, with a total of $3.1 billion being expended on those initiatives

The report further highlights that plans are being finalised for the construction and extension of hospitals at Kato , Moruca , Kamarang , and Lethem , which are expected to have capabilities for telemedicine . Designs are also being finalised for the construction of the Bartica Regional Hospital

“ The sum of $ 721.7 million of a budgeted $1 billion was expended to retrofit and upgrade health centres , health posts, and other facilities nationwide Additionally,

a sum of $372.5 million of the budgeted $1.3 billion was expended on the maintenance of health facilities across the country,” the report said

Additionally , contracts for the upgrade of Karasabai , Annai and Sand Creek health centres to district hospitals along with the design , supervision and construction and rehabilitation of health science training facilities in Regions Two and Six, are expected to be awarded in the fourth quarter of this year

As the sector aims to increase the stock of medical and non-medical equipment , $ 459.7 million was expended for the procurement of equip-

ment across all regions

Against this backdrop, it was reported that while undertaking the task of rectifying bottlenecks in supply chain man -

agement of drugs and medical supplies, the Materials Management Unit has achieved a 75 per cent fulfilment rate as of June 2023

The report highlighted that improvements in procurement and distribution are expected to result in higher fulfilment rates by the end of the year.

In relation to the improvement of management systems across the country, a total of four government medical officers and 10 nurses were deployed to hinterland regions during the first half of the year

Added to that, there has been an increase in the intake of nurses due to the newly adopted hybrid approach in the professional nurses training programme which utilises both virtual and face - to - face classes.

AS Guyana continues to make a name for itself in both the regional and international arenas, renowned institutions are constantly recognising the transparent and good leadership that is pushing the country forward.

In a report documenting the conclusions of its Article IV Consultation with local authorities, the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) applauded the Government of Guyana for its continuous efforts to strengthen the management of oil wealth and its fiscal transparency.

“ Staff commend the authorities ’ progress to strengthen the management of oil wealth and its fiscal transparency,” the IMF said

The report then placed special emphasis on the NRF Act which was passed in 2021 by the People’s Progressive Party ( PPP ) government The aim of the Act was to repeal clauses imposed by the previous APNU+AFC administration

The IMF report further read: “The NRF Act, amended in 2021, enhanced transparency and accountability of the use of oil revenues,” adding that : “ In 2022 , the governance of the NRF was strengthened with the appointment of three critical bodies: The NRF Board of Directors , the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee, and the Invest-

ment Committee.”

It was further highlighted that 2022 marked the first year when oil revenues were transferred from the NRF to the budget and the process continued with the 2023 budget

The IMF report also highlighted : “ At the same time , the authorities made progress in implementing the recommendations of the 2019 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ( EITI ) reports , notably on the reconciliation with the fiscal regime.”

The international organisation pledged its support to the PPP government, which is committed to tackling the existing gaps within the system “ Staff support the authorities’ efforts to address remaining gaps, including in moving towards electronic disclosure and adequate follow-up,” the IMF said

Additionally , a more modern Petroleum Exploration and Production Act came into play owing to the PPP government’s recognition of the rapid expansion of Guyana’s oil and gas sector

“The new Act enhances the regulation of exploration and production of oil, and further paves the way for developing the oil and gas industry,” the IMF said

The document also placed focus on the new Profit Sharing Agreement (PSA), which has been cus-

tomised

Notably, the new PSA will be used for the auction of 14 new oil and gas blocks , and will increase the government share of oil profits.

TRANSPARENCY

The new NRF Act replaced the previous act , which was “ rushed through ” the National Assembly in January of 2019 , by a “ defunct ” APNU+AFC government, which was already toppled with the passage of a no - confidence motion in December 2018 The 2019 legislation did not benefit from the input of the then PPP Opposition.

Soon after its passage , the 2019 legislation was heavily criticised by a number of stakeholders , including the Inter-American Development Bank ( IDB ), one of Guyana ’ s leading financial partners , which described the act as being one that “departs from good practices.”

The IDB said too that the complexity of the legislation essentially conspires against fiscal transparency and public understanding

As a result of those “ inadequacies ,” the then APNU + AFC government was initially able to deny having collected a US$18 million signing bonus from ExxonMobil Guyana

IMF commends gov’t for management of oil wealth, fiscal transparency

Electoral Fraud Case: ‘We are ready’

over 90 witnesses will testify, special prosecutor says

SPECIAL PROSECUTOR Darshan

Ramdhani, KC, who is representing the state in the electoral fraud case involving former District Four (Demerara-Mahaica)

Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; former People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Chairperson Volda Lawrence; PNC/R activist Carol Smith-Joseph and four others, has expressed his readiness to commence the trial.

The trio, along with Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Bobb-Cummings and Michelle Miller, are before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of votes for the 2020 elections They are facing a number of charges

by declaring a false account of votes cast in the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections

Additionally, Miller was slapped with a separate charge which alleged that between March 3-5, 2020, at the GECOM command centre at Ashmin’s building on High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, she conspired with persons to defraud the people of Guyana by not using the figures from the Statements of Poll for the purpose of ascertaining the figures to make the declaration of the results for the said District Four, thereby resulting in a false declaration being made for the said district

The defendants’ attorneys had previously argued for the case to be heard in the High Court, given the nature of the proceedings which they claimed might infringe on their client’s rights to a fair trial within a reasonable time

Nevertheless, the Chief Magistrate ruled that despite the voluminous evidence and the complexity of the case, the court has been proceeding with hearing of the case “expeditiously.”

The case was thereafter transferred to Magistrate Daly

In August 2021 , Mingo , along with Lowenfield and his then deputy Roxanne Myers, had their employment terminated by the commission

INFLATED RESULTS

It is alleged that the trio inflated or facilitated the inflation of results for Region Four, the country’s largest voting district, to give the APNU+AFC Coalition a majority win at the polls when, in fact, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had won by 15,000 votes.

and are currently before Senior Magistrate

Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court

On October 3, a case management conference (CMC) will be held to set the timeline for the matter

During a live programme on social media, Ramdhani provided an update

“When we go to the court in October, we’re also going to say that we’re in a state of readiness, and we’re hoping that the court will deal with any other preliminary issues that can arise very quickly,” Ramdhani said

He explained that on that date, timelines, including a commencement date will be set

It was disclosed that the prosecution has over 90 witnesses to call to the stand to testify

“The prosecution has a ton of evidence to lead We have the certified copies of the Statements of Poll (SoPs), we have the videotapes, we have the witnesses on ready and we know the courts have been trying their best to deal with these matters as judicially as possible,” he said

Ramdhani along with attorneys- at- law

Glen Hanoman, Mark Conway, Ganesh Hira, Arudranauth Gossai, and George Thomas are all on record for the state

Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes, Eusi Anderson, Ronald Daniels and Konyo Sandiford are representing the defendants

It is alleged that Lawrence , Smith - Joseph , February , Livan , Bobb - Cummings and Miller between March 2 and August 2, 2020, at Georgetown, conspired with former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and Mingo to defraud the electors of Guyana

Those who rejected the results filed several legal challenges which ended up before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s highest appeal court

A lengthy recount of the votes eventually declared victory in favour of the PPP/C, and Dr Irfaan Ali was sworn in as the President of Guyana on August 2, 2020

In April 2023, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the events of the 2020 General and Regional Elections found that there was collusion and collaboration between senior GECOM officials to divert votes to the APNU +AFC instead of safeguarding and preserving the integrity of the electoral system

Chairman Stanley John and commissioners — former Chancellor, Carl Singh and Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith made these findings based on evidence from the many witnesses who had testified, along with the reports of the international observers

“… our inquiry reveals that there were, in fact, shockingly brazen attempts by Chief Election Officer ( CEO ) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Election Officer ( DCEO) Roxanne Myers and Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo to derail and corrupt the statutorily prescribed procedure for the counting, ascertaining and tabulation of votes of the March 2nd election, as well as the true declaration of the results of that election, and that they did so – to put it in unvarnished language of the ordinary man – for the purpose of

Top row, from left, are: Volda Lawrence, Keith Lowenfield, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller. Bottom row, from left, are: Enrique Livan, Sheffern February, Clairmont Mingo, and Carol Smith-Joseph

Special prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani, KC

Shulinab community to receive additional health facilities, services in 2024

RESIDENTS of Shulinab South Central Rupununi , Region Nine ( Upper Takutu - Upper Essequibo) and its satellite villages will benefit from additional healthcare services, as Region Nine ’ s Regional Democratic Council ( RDC ) plans to propose several health projects in its 2024 budget.

During the recent visit of Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony , to Shulinab, South Central Rupununi, Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Cerdel McWatt outlined some of the plans in the pipeline for 2024

With accessibility being difficult during the rainy season to the South-Central administrative village, Sand Creek, Shulinab ’ s health centre will be upgraded to offer additional health services that can benefit the communities

The RHO said he wants to ensure services, including rehabilitation , audiology , and occupational health therapy are offered right at Shulinab “We need to have an inpatient facility whereby we can handle not just temporary holding for patients , but patients who need prolonged care…..”,

Dr Mcwatt highlighted

This , he explained , will eliminate the need for patients to travel to Sand Creek and Lethem Additionally, Dr McWatt informed that the region has proposed for a cottage hospital to be established in Shulinab , therefore bringing more health services to residents of the South Central Rupununi

To complement this new development , staff quarters will be catered for in the national 2024 budget for Region Nine A doctor’s quarters has already been commissioned in the community “ We would have de -

Shulinab’s health centre is expected to undergo major upgrades

cided to not only have a doctor’s quarters but have a staff complex at Shulinab and that is catered for in the 2024 estimates We’re looking to have something like seven-quarters facilities, so that you can not only house a doctor but I am advised that we have at least two of the pharmacy

assistants from Shulinab and we have nursing assistants,” said the Regional Health Officer

It is important to note, that the Shulinab Health Centre underwent upgrades over the last two years, including advancing from a health post to a health centre.

Electoral Fraud ...

From page 11

stealing the election,” the commissioners said in their report

UNLAWFUL ACTS

The report found that Lowenfield blatantly made decisions and employed procedures in direct contradiction to the law and the will of the people.

The findings revealed too that GECOM staffers ignored specific instructions from the court, used materials that were illegal and or manipulated, and sided with APNU+AFC agents to berate observers whenever objections were raised

After careful scrutiny, the CoI commissioners concluded that there was a conscious and deliberate – even brazen –effort to violate the provisions of section 84(1) of the Representation of the People Act (RoPA).

In so doing , certain “senior GECOM officials ” abandoned all need for neutrality and impartiality, and demonstrated a bias for the APNU+AFC and, in the course of events over those days, showed an “open connection” with that party, and by their efforts sought a desired result for the coalition

As such, the commissioners said that after consideration and analysis of the evidence, Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers “were principally responsible for clear and deliberate attempts to frustrate, obstruct and subvert the ascertainment of votes in electoral district No 4.”

$13.5B expended on pensioners during first half of 2023

FOR the past three years , the government has been exponentially pushing to foster investment, development, and transformation in its country while having the well-being of its people remain its number one priority.

As such, the Ministry of Human Service and Social Security has so far expended $ 13.5 billion on old age pension for the first half of the year, according to the Ministry of Finance ’ s mid - year report

Made effective from January 2023 , old - age pensioners saw an increase from $ 28,000 to $ 33,000 every month

Contrary , in 2021 , pensioners received $25,000

which was then increased to $28,000 in 2022

With this most recent increase , it has since placed an additional $4.4 billion of disposable income in the hands of over 70,000 old-age pensioners

It is helping these persons to sufficiently provide for themselves , cushioning their daily life expenses

Additionally , 30,071 elderly persons received subsidised water charges for the first half of the year This has helped these persons who have a registered Guyana Water Incorporated ( GWI ) account to pay a small amount on their water bill every month

Moreover , the report

noted that 5,497 elders were given home - based care in Region Two , Three , Four , Six , Nine and Ten for the past six months, while 262 benefitted from free eye tests and spectacles

To aid in home-keeping, the ministry has since trained some 246 persons to provide various healthcare services to these elderly populations

As the government continues to improve the facilities for elders, a new physiotherapy room at the Palms Geriatric Home is being built and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023

These recorded investments were made and announced during this year’s budget which was

It is just the mammoth of measures that the government has

been putting in place to fit the comfortability of its elders. (DPI)

themed, “Improving lives today, building prosperity for tomorrow.”

Representatives from the Ministry of Human Service and Social Security engage old age pensioners

Guyana, Qatar further strengthen economic,

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali and the State of Qatar’s Amir, His Highness

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad

Al Thani held bilateral discussions on mutual areas of interest, after which

their delegations participated in plenary discussions.

President Ali was joined by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; VicePresident Dr. Bharrat Jag -

deo; Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd; and several

ministers and other government officials.

The Amir was accompanied by his Chief of the Amiri Dawan, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani; the Minister

of State for Energy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida Al Kabbi; the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Qassim Al Thani; the Minister of

State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi; and several other senior members of his Government. (Office of the President photos)

economic, diplomatic partnership

Caribbean Airlines partners with Guyana’s Tourism Ministry for Cricket Carnival

CARIBBEAN Airlines has announced its partnership as a sponsor for the much - anticipated Cricket Carnival, set to dazzle Guyana from September 8 - 25,

2023. According to a press release from Caribbean Airlines, Cricket Carnival is a vibrant two - week extravaganza that celebrates the

cultural richness of Guyana, showcasing the best the South American nation has to offer Hosted by the Guyana Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce in collab -

oration with stakeholders including Caribbean Airlines, this event promises a fusion of cricket and carnival like never before

What makes this collabo-

ration even more exciting is that Cricket Carnival aligns perfectly with Guyana’s hosting of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League ( CPL ) T20 Cricket tourna -

ment

Caribbean Airlines , which is known for uniting the Region , is also a main sponsor and the designated carrier for the CPL games 2023

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Caribbean Airlines, Garvin Medera , expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership , noting : “ Carnival and cricket are ingrained in our regional culture, and this sponsorship perfectly aligns with our “Welcome Home” campaign. As such, Caribbean Airlines is delighted to support Guyana’s Cricket Carnival, which provides a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in Guyana’s vibrant culture, delectable cuisine, and dynamic music scene.”

Medera continued: “Guyana holds a special place in Caribbean Airlines ’ destination portfolio, and we are committed to strengthening our relationships with our valued stakeholders As the official airline carrier for CPL T20 cricket, famously known as the biggest sports party in the Region, we look forward to many more years of collaboration on initiatives that unite our Region and its people.”

Guyana ’ s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, applauded Caribbean Airlines for its support of Cricket Carnival

She said that the partnership is strategic and critical to the successful hosting of the much-anticipated event Minister Walrond commented: “When any destination is hosting a major event, the availability of airlift is always a crucial consideration This collaboration with Caribbean Airlines has guaranteed seats and a predictable service for patrons interested in being a part of this captivating fusion between cricket and carnival.”

The action - packed Cricket Carnival kicked off at the Leonora Stadium on September 8 and features an array of exciting events, including the Regional Food Festival; Welcome Home to Pan on the Avenue, and the Super Concert at the National Stadium “ Caribbean Airlines is proud to be part of an event that celebrates the vibrant culture and spirit of the Caribbean , reinforcing its commitment to connecting people , cultures , and communities across the Region

Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments for this unforgettable Cricket Carnival experience,” the company said

358 traffic cases made during GPF enforcement exercise

ACROSS all regional divisions, the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Traffic Department, under Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh’s leadership, made 358 cases on September 11, 2023.

According to a GPF Facebook post, the number of cases included 123 for speeding and two for driving under the influence The unbiased efforts have been intensified to curb motorists’ poor and reckless usage of the road Traffic ranks across all divisions have been engaging daily in countrywide empowerment sessions and road safety lectures

Vendors nabbed with marijuana at Mahdia

RANKS of the Mahdia Police Station , on Tuesday, nabbed two vendors, 55 - year - old Cecelia Ann Roberts and 37-year-old Kwame Roberts of 111 Miles , Mahdia with 557 grammes of marijuana.

According to a press release, between 04:45 and 05:10 hours, acting on information received, the ranks carried out a search at the mentioned address in Cecelia and Kwame’s presence

The ranks found a handbag , and inside were 33 transparent zip - lock bags containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems sus-

pected to be cannabis

A further search was carried out, and the ranks found two plastic bags containing suspected marijuana and several empty packs of zip lock bags , tobacco leaves, and scissors

They were arrested and escorted to Mahdia Police Station, along with the suspected cannabis

The cannabis was weighed in the presence of the two individuals and it amounted to 557 grammes

They were then placed in custody pending further investigations and charges

Scenes from the Guyana Police Force’s enforcement exercise on Monday

The cannabis and other items seized by police

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

September 13, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Zouks vs TKR

(2)

Sammy (Zouks); Dwayne Bravo (TKR)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who scored most runs in CPL 2018?

(2) Who took most wickets?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Linden moves to continue basketball training for primary and secondary school kids

FORMER national player and basketball coach, Abdulla Hamid of the Joy / Hamid Basketball Foundation and Dennis Niles (Jr.) or the KidRock Basketball Foundation, will continue their pursuit to reach the very young basketball players who attended recent summer camps in Linden, during this new school term.

Veteran basketball coach Hamid, who was in charge of the Joy / Hamid Summer camp in July, has reportedly spoken to Department of Education officials in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) and will visit various primary schools in the coming week starting next Monday to establish a programme which will target pupils at that level so that when they reach the secondary school they are aware of what the game of basketball is

He did tell those who attended his programme that it will be a continuous schedule for the promotion of basketball among the youths

And Niles (Jr.) of the Kidrock Basketball Foundation has already started his follow-up sessions for school-aged children from 5 to 18 at the Amelia’s Ward Basketball Court with sessions from 8:00 hours to 11:00 hours on Saturdays.

Towards the end of August there were three more successful summer basketball clinics , conducted by the Victory Valley

Royals Basketball Club, Live Up Basketball and KidRock Basketball Foundations in the mining town of Linden, following the first for the holidays which was staged by the Joy/ Hamid Foundation Clinic which ended in July

The Victory Valley Royals Club summer clinic which had 43 kids attend inclusive of 10 females, came to an end at the Silvercity Hard Court in Wismar, where for one week clinic sessions were conducted by coaches Chris Pollydore, Orlando Glasgow , Yannick Tappin and Harold Adams which was supported by the Youth Basketball Guyana’s Chris Bowman, Nyron and Singh’s Gas Station

Prior to that, the second annual Live Up Basketball Foundation ’s one month clinic basketball clinic was concluded at the Block 22 court in Wismar, where certificates were handed over to the kids who attended

Coach Patrick Clarke said the clinic got started on July 24 and ended on August 23 with boys and girls ages 9 to 14, attending the sessions which were from 7:30 hours to 11:00 hours Mondays to Fridays

He said residents of the Bock 22 community and former basketball players now residing in the United States provided funding for his clinic which was staged after the first year last year.

The KidRock Basketball Foundation’s

Aspirant referees attended GFF introductory course

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) recently held a Beginners ’ Refereeing Course in Linden from Friday September 1 to Sunday September 3 at the Mackenzie High School Auditorium, where there were two days of classroom and one practical outdoor session

Some 19 aspirant referees attended this introductory course according to Head of the Refereeing Body in the Upper Demerara region Mr Abdulla Hamid, who noted that the GFF conducted this basic course using Head of GFF’s Referees Department Mr Lenval Peart and instructors Mr Abdulla Hamid, Ms Natasha Lewis and Mr Sherwin Johnson

Hamid in an exclusive interview told Chronicle Sport: “The GFF had launched a programme to develop referees around the country so we started in New Amsterdam in June and then shifted to Linden The Linden introductory course was a pretty well organised course, it was good; we saw 19 participants attending and this was through the drive of developing young male and female referees to be part of refereeing to develop the game especially in Linden and around Guyana.”

According to the former FIFA official “This programme is one that would enable young men and women reach to the highest level once they are committed

Once we have 98 per cent pass from this course it means we can see a vast development for refereeing in and around Guyana This 2023 Beginners’ Course was pretty much an eye opener because there

is a shortage of referees in Linden and the rest of Guyana because a lot of the referees here in Guyana are aging and FIFA, CONCACAF and CFU are looking for younger referees and putting them at the international standards.”

“In my time, FIFA Referees used to be going to Under 14, 15 tournaments and then move on FIFA is going for the Under 14 Challenge where the Under 14 tournaments now are seeing young referees that have potential, you don’t have to be in your late 20s you can be there before; once you have the potential say 16, 17, 19 years old you get the opportunity to go to these tournaments and continue going until you reach the age that they can recommend you to get to the FIFA Referees,” Hamid reported

From those who participated 21-year-old Mr Jeremiah Cummings topped the course and Hamid indicated: “So the guy who that topped the course was 21-year-old Jeremiah Cummings, all eyes are on him So we have to fast track him and get him in football as fast as possible so we can push him out to be exposed and you can see, maybe in a year or two, he can make it to the FIFA list

The only current Linden FIFA recognized officials are Mr. Shavin Green and Ms. Denisha Isaacs while another nationally recognised referee Ms. Kenesha Prescott, who is a vastly improved upcoming official went to the Challenge

14 Under tournament in Antigua this year and performed excellently as everybody from CFU and CONCACAF are excited about her

clinic came to an end at the Amelia’s Ward Basketball Court where over the one week training period, some 70 boys and girls were taught the fundamentals of basketball

That clinic also in its second year was organised by the KidRock Basketball Foundation where coaches Dennis Niles (Jr.) and Kevin Joseph were in charge

At the conclusion Niles told the gathering at the venue “I want to thank all the parents for allowing their kids to be part of the KIDROCK Basketball Foundation 2023 summer camp basketball programme.”

Looking back at the sessions Niles added “Our main focus was teaching the kids basketball is more than just playing with the ball on the court, it has morals that govern the sports such as discipline, humility, dedication and commitment We strive to help the kids to be who they are because a lot of us are so fluent and active than when

we are off the court

So a lot of kids find who they are on the court so we try to make them comfortable throughout the camp to execute the drills and most of them were executing the drills, but when they come off the court they are entirely different and that is what basketball does. When you are with your peers you tend to see who you really are so we allow them to find themselves while teaching them and developing them through the game.”

There were skills challenges and shooting competitions at the closing ceremony where the winners won basketballs, backpacks and other prizes

“We say thanks to ExxonMobil for supporting us, Semple and Sons Hardware Store and other private businesses in the community who helped in the provision of water and beverage for the kids who attended the camp.” said coach Niles

Leguan Warriors complete sweep of OSCL B Division titles

LEGUAN Warriors, as expected , completed a clean sweep of the B Division titles when the Ontario Softball Cricket League ( OSCL ) 2023 season concluded at the Ellesmere ground, Scarborough , Canada on Sunday.

Already assured of the T-20 Regular season, T - 15 and T - 10 crowns , Leguan Warriors added the T-20 Playoffs title to their collection with a lop-sided 74-run victory over Malvern All Stars Led by a pugnacious boundary studded 125 from former Guyana Under-19 player Krishna Deosaran, who completely dominated Leguan Warriors innings, the eventual winners reached 187 for six in their allotted 20 overs, after being inserted , then limited their opponents to 113 all out in 19 overs

The left - handed Deosaran , who blasted four fours and an incredible 15 sixes in his 58-ball knock, shared in two important partnerships, dominating both He added 91 for the third wicket with Abdool Azeez ( 31 ) and 49 for the fifth with Adil Parasram whose contribution was only two Sriram Banasa took two for 40 from his four overs

Malvern All Stars , who were playing in

their first final at this level, huffed and puffed their way to 113 before they were dismissed for in 19 overs with useful contributions coming from Vic Mangal ( 25 ), Ganesh Menoram ( 16 ) and Vishundat Parsram ( 11 not out ), the only three players to reach double figures.

Bowling for Leguan Warriors, Sheikh Parsram ended with three for 19, skipper Ravi Bodo took two for three and Azeez two for 24 Deosaran took the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the winners

The consistent Deosaran was also instrumental in his team ’ s semi - final win the previous day at the same venue , hitting an unbeaten 56 as Leguan Warriors won from Bacchus Ruff Ryders by five

wickets

Set 100 for victory , after Bacchus Ruff Ryders were dismissed for 99 in 19.1 overs, Leguan Warriors achieved the required target with 44 balls remaining despite being 56 for five at one stage. Deosaran spanking eight sixes in 56 not out.

In the other semi-final, played on the adjoining ground, Malvern All Stars got the better of Essequibo Coast Batting first , Essequibo Coast were dismissed for a paltry 70 in the 19th over Malvern All Stars raced to 71 for two in the 11 th over , registering a comfortable eighth wicket victory with Amit Balram and Vic Mangal unbeaten on 34 and 33 respectively

Krishna Deosaran poses with the MVP and winner’s trophies

The victorious Leguan Warriors and supporters pose with their winnings along with OSCL executive members

Guyanese quartet selected for West Indies women tour of Australia

THE Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s Selection Panel has announced the 15-member squad for the tour to Australia in October.

Fresh from the Women’s Caribbean Premier League, Guyanese Shemaine Campbelle , Cherry - Ann Fraser , Shabika Gajnabi and Ashmini Munisar have been selected

The six - match Series comprises three T20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One Day Internationals (ODIs).

Following the West Indies Women’s clean sweep against Ireland Women in the CG United ODI Series and the T20I Series in Saint Lucia earlier in the summer , the panel has named an unchanged squad for the Australia tour under the leadership of Captain Hayley Matthews The tour will be the first for new Head Coach , Shane Deitz who arrived in the West Indies at the end of August

The inclusion of the ‘Rising Stars ’ quartet of Ashmini Munisar, Djenaba Joseph, Zaida James, and Jannillea Glasgow will see some of our youngest talent in the team having their first opportunity to test their skills against the current T20I and 50-

Over World Champions Australia.

Lead Selector for Women ’ s cricket Ann BrowneJohn said “ The selection panel has chosen to maintain most of the players who were victorious in the home series against Ireland Jannillea Glasgow, after having an outstanding Rising Stars Women’s Under 19 tournament, has been included in the 15-member squad and we see the return of Karishma

Browne - John added , “ This team is one we believe will continue to build and develop as our game evolves in the rapidly growing landscape and high - performance setting of women ’ s cricket We have continued to place confidence in some of the developing players

Several of the players are coming off title-winning performances in the Massy

Caribbean Premier League so we are expecting them to continue their good run of form

This is a team we believe can produce competitive cricket against a top team like Australia, under the guidance of the new Head Coach and led by the captain Hayley Matthews who’s enjoying a very productive 2023 thus far.”

The ODI series against Australia is West Indies ’

fourth fixture in the ICC Women ’ s Championship 2022-2025 after playing New Zealand , England and Ireland

Each match provides West Indies with opportunity to win valuable points to climb the Championship table where they currently lie 9th out of 10 teams (see table here).

After the Australia Series, West Indies Women will have four more three-match

ODI series to play over the next two years

At the end of the cycle, the top five teams in the ICC Women ’ s Championship and will book a berth for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025 as well as hosts India. The remaining teams will have to go through the ICC Women ’ s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. (CWI) Squad : Hayley Matthews ( captain ), Shemaine Campbelle ( vice - captain ), Aaliyah Alleyne , Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser , Shabika Gajnabi , Jannillea Glasgow. Chinelle Henry, Zaida James . Djenaba Joseph , Ashmini Munisar , Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams

MATCH SCHEDULE

1 October : 1st T20I at North Sydney Oval, Sydney

2 October: 2nd T20I at North Sydney Oval, Sydney (night)

5 October: 3rd T20I at Allan Border Field, Brisbane (night)

8 October : 1st ODI at Allan Border Field, Brisbane

12 October: 2nd ODI at Junction Oval, Melbourne

14 October: 3rd ODI at Junction Oval, Melbourne

Jordan underlines form but WI U19s crumble

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, (CMC) – Jordan Johnson carved out a half-century to extend his heavy scoring but off-spinner Vihas

Thewmika ’ s five - wicket haul crippled West Indies

Under-19s on the opening day of the second Youth “Test”.

The left - hander , who struck a magnificent hundred on the final day of the first Youth “Test” here last week , top - scored with 52 but the visitors crumbled from 57 without loss to 127 all out in their first innings

Thewmika spearheaded the attack with five for 43 while leg-spinner Malsha Tharupathi supported with three for 16.

In reply, Rusanda Gamage struck an attacking 58 as Sri Lanka Under - 19s

closed on 191 for four – a lead of already 64 runs on first innings

Ravishan de Silva chipped in 43, opener Pulindu Perera got 41 while Dinura Kalupahana finished on 23 not out.

Starting the decisive “Test” hoping to build on their second innings performance in the opener, West Indies flourished early after choosing to bat first, thanks to a 57-run, opening stand between Stephen Pascal (28) and Steve Wedderburn (24).

Pascal faced 69 deliveries and struck four fours while Wedderburn counted three fours in 45-ball knock

Once the stand was broken, however, the innings unraveled quickly , and it was left to Johnson to

squeeze out runs for his side in a breezy knock requiring 49 balls and half - dozen fours and two sixes

West Indies U19s made a bright start with the ball, 16-year-old pacer Deshawn James removing captain Sineth Jayawardene without scoring in the fourth over with 12 runs on the board.

A series of partnerships ensured the hosts prospered, however

Ravishan was the pivot for the first two , the right - hander putting on 51 for the second wicket with Perera and a further 72 for the third with Gamage

Ravishanan struck half-dozen fours and a six in a positive 47-ball innings while Gamage faced 52

deliveries and hit 10 fours, before falling lbw to leftarm spinner Nathan Sealy Both fell in a space of 12 balls with six runs

added, but any thoughts

West Indies Under-19s harboured of making inroads were dashed, as Dinura Kalupa Hana (23

not out ) and Sharujan Shanmuganathan (21 not out) Frustrated them in a 40-run , unbroken fifth wicket partnership.

Ramharack.”

From left: Shemaine Campbelle, Ashmini Munisar, Cherry-Ann Fraser and Shabika Gajnabi

Jordan Johnson hit 52 off 49 balls

Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep handed four-year ban for doping

TWO-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has been banned for four years following breaches of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.

An independent tribunal determined the 31-year-old Romanian had committed "intentional" anti-doping violations.

Halep said in a statement she intends to appeal against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"I am continuing to train and do everything in my power to clear my name of these false allegations," she said.

Halep tested positive for the use of roxadustat at last year's US Open.

She was also found guilty of using an unspecified prohibited substance or method in 2022 after irregularities were found in her biological passport.

The tribunal accepted Halep's argument she had taken a contaminated supplement, but decided that would not have resulted in the concentration of roxadustat found in her urine sample.

Roxadustat is an anti-anaemia drug which stimulates the production of red blood cells in the body.

The panel also stated they had no reason to doubt the unanimous "strong opinion" reached by three independent experts that "likely doping" was the explanation for the irregularities in her biological passport.

Halep has been provisionally suspended since October 2022, which means she will be able to play again on 7 October 2026, by which time she will be 35.

The findings of the tribunal, however, can be appealed against and Halep indicated that she would challenge the verdict.

She said: "The last year

has been the hardest match of my life, and unfortunately my fight continues. I have devoted my life to the beautiful game of tennis.

"I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance. I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban."

Halep said she "adjusted" her nutritional supplements on the recommendation of her team before the hard court season in 2022 and that "none of the listed ingredients included any prohibited substances".

However, she acknowl-

edged that "one of them was contaminated with roxadustat" and she also planned to "pursue all legal remedies against the supplement company in question."

Halep added: "I was tested almost weekly after my initial positive test through early 2023, all of which came back negative.

"I believe in a clean sport and in almost two decades as a professional tennis player, through hundreds of tournaments and two Grand Slam titles, I have taken 200 blood and urine tests to check for prohibited substances - all of which have been clean."

The Professional Tennis Players Association called the "repeated and unexplained delays" in Halep's case "both unfair and unacceptable" and said it was "fully committed to supporting her in any future appeals."

Halep, who won the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon the following year, is the highest-profile tennis player to fail a drug test since Maria Sharapova in 2016.

She has won 24 WTA tour singles titles and earned £32.2m ($40.2m) in prize money and was ranked number one in the world in 2017 and 2018.

A damaging verdict for a popular champion - analysis

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

Simona Halep has been far from silent in a case which, to the frustration of all sides, has taken a year to reach a verdict.

She said in one social media post that her name had been "soiled in the worst possible way" and accused the tennis authorities of "killing her reputation".

But now the verdict has arrived, it is an incredibly damaging one.

A four-year ban is, to all intents and purposes, the most severe penalty she could have received - although a further two years could have been added had the panel considered it an "aggravated" offence - and underlines the tribunal's view that Halep had been doping "intentionally".

The Romanian was a popular champion at both the French Open and Wimbledon, and many will be shocked that if her appeal is unsuccessful, she will not be able to play for another three years.

Halep did consider retiring in the early part of 2022 because of a series of injuries which she said left her "no more power to fight".

But she gradually rediscovered her love for the sport, reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon and won the WTA 1000 event in Toronto in the two months before her ban.

Halep's 35th birthday is 10 days before her ban is currently set to expire. Even Serena Williams won only one Grand Slam title after she turned 35 and such an achievement would be nigh on impossible after four years away from the tour.

Stella Maris Primary crowned Future Warriors Tapeball Champions

THE first is always the best, and the first team to cop the Future Warriors Tapeball title is Stella Maris Primary School after another dominant day in the field.

Led by outstanding captain, Tafari Softleigh, Stella Maris stormed to the title via a 10-wicket win over F.E Pollard Primary School at the Guyana Defence Force Ground on Sunday.

The tournament, sponsored by ExxonMobil, will now see Stella Maris have meaningful engagements with the Guyana Amazon Warriors and even play a novelty match

against the Warriors at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, on Tuesday.

Though the intention was just for the winning team to interact with the Warriors, who arrived on September 11 for their home matches, the organisers, FL Sport, indicated the other two finalists, F.E Pollard Primary and St. Pius Primary School, will be invited.

Stella Maris aced the chase of 47 in just three overs led by Brandon Frank, who smashed 28 (2x4s; 3x6s) from 10 balls, while Softleigh made 19 (1×4; 2x6s) from eight balls.

Softleigh ended the tournament with 135 runs from five innings, with a top score of 63, for the most runs in the tournament while Christian Seenauth of F.E Pollard took seven wickets.

F.E Pollard reached the final after they defeated St. Pius in the virtual knockout match by three runs, managing to defend 55-2 from their eight overs.

The top three teams were decided after matches on Saturday at the Everest Cricket Club.

Ten schools participated in the inaugural tournament, and

according to the Managing Director of FL Sport, John Ramsingh, the tournament was fascinating and created a platform for talent development.

Similarly, ExxonMobil Guyana Community Relations Adviser, Ryan Hoppie, applauded the organisers for a well-run tournament and charged the participants to keep playing the sport and find a balance between academics and sport. Stella Maris Primary and the Amazon Warriors will head into the match unbeaten.

Champions! Stella Maris Primary celebrate being crowned champions of the Future Warriors Tapeball tournament (PHOTO: FL Sport)

Simona Halep has not played in a Grand Slam tournament since a first-round exit at the 2022 US Open

Jaguars claw 3-2 win against Bahamas at Leonora

By Calvin Chapman

TEENAGE Prodigy Omari

Glasgow netted his 11th and most important goal for Guyana's senior men's side; the Golden Jaguars, last night at the National Track & Field Centre, Leonora, when he equalised in the 44th minute in the 3-2 victory against Bahamas in their second Concacaf Nations League B Group D match.

The goal; a curling corner that evaded his teammates, Bahamas' defence and goalkeeper, to slip into the top

right corner, was a lucky but deserved break for the Golden Jaguars who had dominated the match up to that point but found themselves trailing.

Guyana bombarded Bahamas' final third with constant attacking plays during the first 38 minutes but failed to find the finishing product, and Bahamas went ahead in the 39th minute after Wood Julmis made no mistake from the spot.

Bahamas would've been cognisant of the attacking threat of the Guyanese that drubbed Antigua & Barbuda 5-1 in their opening Nations

League game, last Saturday, and had a clear plan to stuff players behind the ball and try to counter attack.

However, that counterattacking ploy proved ineffective throughout the game because the Jaguars back line was resolute.

Ironically, both Bahamas' goals came via penalties; the second, a consolation in the 86th minute which was also converted by Julmis, after they were already trailing 3-2.

The game was deadlocked 1-1 at halftime but the home side showed ominous

signs and the 400 spectators were calm.

Glasgow pulled out all the tricks in the second half and assisted the remaining goals. The first was a beauty from Queen's Park Rangers' Stephen Duke-McKenna in the 54th minute who cut into the left side of the box and curled an unstoppable shot into the top right corner.

Glasgow's second assist was tucked in nicely by Kelsey Benjamin who had to really stretch to get onto a close range pass in the 58th minute.

In this season of the Gold

Cup, Benjamin now has three goals from the two matches played while Glasgow has four. But, the young men could've added extra goals to their tally with more than a couple fantastic chances being squandered.

Jeremy Garrett and Colin Nelson were great in defence. Besides the two penalties, there were only two recorded shots on goal.

Liam asked many questions of the Bahamas' defence and was especially menacing in the latter stages of the match.

During the post-match in-

terview, Jaguars' Head Coach Jamal Shabazz, expressed disappointment with the condition of the pitch, noting that it is unacceptable for international play.

Stephen Duke-Mckenna, who put the Jaguars ahead, shared, "We have a good team. It was tough (playing on the pitch) but we as players have to adapt. And, we did so and came out on top."

Guyana will play Puerto Rico in their next match Concacaf Nations League B Group D match at a date yet to be decided.

Jofra Archer trains with England on comeback from injury

FAST bowler Jofra Archer trained with England on Tuesday, raising hopes he could still travel to the World Cup as a reserve to the frontline squad.

Archer, 28, has missed the entire home summer with a stress fracture in his right elbow.

He was not considered fit enough for a place in the 15-man World Cup squad, but could be one of three reserves.

England must finalise their party for the tournament in India in October and November by 28 September.

Archer famously bowled the super over in the thrilling 2019 final when England lifted the trophy for the first time by defeating New Zealand. His career has been hugely hampered by injuries since

Jofra Archer has played 13 Tests, 21 one-day internationals and 15 Twenty20s for England

then. Though he made an England comeback earlier this year on the limited-overs tours of South Africa and Bangladesh, the latest elbow injury robbed the Sussex man of the opportunity to play in the Ashes.

Archer bowled in the nets at The Oval on Tuesday as England trained before the third one-day international against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Speaking when an initial World Cup squad was an -

nounced in August, selector Luke Wright said a best-case scenario would be for Archer to travel to India as a reserve, with the potential to play a part in the second half of the tournament.

"There has got to be a duty of care with Jof," said Wright. "We know how desperate we all are to have him, but we've also got to get it right for him.

"He's been very unfortunate with these injuries, so we do have to get it right."

In 2019, Barbados-born Archer had only just qualified to play for England and his inclusion in the World Cup squad came at the expense of David Willey.

Willey has been named in the World Cup party this time around and said that Archer looks "in a good place".

"I don't know where he's at fitness wise but he's bowling good wheels out there today," said Willey.

"Everyone knows how good is he is, what he's capable of and how he can impact games. So to have him close or not far away from being fit is obviously fantastic news."

'Nothing will ever be as bad as that' Willey, meanwhile, said another World Cup omission would be "tough to take".

While Willey is in the squad named for the tournament, England can still make changes right up until 28 September.

"Until you're on that flight out there you can't rest on your laurels," the Northants bowler said.

"Of course it can change, they've not got to finalise

until the end of the month. It's out of my control. It was out of my control in 2019.

"I'd have given my left arm to be a part of the last World Cup. Anything that happens to me in cricket now is never going to be as bad as that."

When asked what he brings to the squad, Willey emphasised his physical durability.

"Call me a donkey if you want, but to take a donkey out to what could be a tough trip, you just might need a donkey," he said.

"Staying fit is probably an asset to the group, with guys who sometimes struggle with niggles and things. They keep going, donkeys, don't they?"

England's opening game of the World Cup is against New Zealand on October 5.

Omari Glasgow on the go for the Jaguars last night

Guyana’s Jeremy Garrett about to take the ball out the net after Omari Glasgow scored the equaliser (Yohan Savory photos)

ExxonMobil, Guyana Amazon Warriors extend partnership to seventh year

ON Tuesday, ExxonMobil Guyana and the Amazon Warriors celebrated their exclusive sponsorship agreement with great fanfare at the Marriott Hotel.

Most of the Guyana Amazon Warriors players and management interacted with numerous school students and budding cricketers during the lively ceremony to signify the seventh year of ExxonMobil Guyana's collaboration with the home franchise for the Caribbean Premier League.

After the interactive ceremony, the unbeaten Amazon Warriors faced the Future Warriors from Stella Maris Primary School in a match. Still, the Warriors took their first loss for the season against the youngsters.

Delivering feature remarks at the event, ExxonMobil Guyana Country Manager, Alistair Rout -

ledge spoke of the alignment in values between the Warriors and the oil giant.

“This is a partnership which has been forged on the spirit of partnership, one where we have

very aligned values; our commitment to compete, our commitment to community, our commitment

to team work, just as I know many of you have in sports and everything that you do,” Routledge shared with the gathering.

Meanwhile, GAW’s Public Relations Manager Romario Samaroo hailed the partnership as instrumental.

“Our partnership with ExxonMobil has been instrumental in our journey thus far, fuelling our aspirations and fostering the growth of cricket in our region. Their unwavering support reflects their commitment to sports, youth development and teamwork.”

Amazon Warriors have already qualified for the playoffs and will play four home matches from tonight until Sunday.

Then the playoffs start September 19.

6,000 free CPL tickets for school children

CARIBBEAN Premier League (CPL), the Government of Guyana, and Guardian Media Group have combined resources to provide 6,000 tickets for school children to attend the two-morning matches at the National Stadium, Providence, free of cost.

On Saturday, Jamaica Tallawahs face St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, while on Sunday, Tallawahs face St. Lucia Kings. Both matches commence

at 10:00 hours and will be followed by the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ night matches against Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados Royals.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. spoke on its significance and reflected on the young days of attending cricket and sitting in the bleachers and the high interest it sparked among youngsters for the sport.

The Minister indicated that given its previous im-

pact, it was something they were eager to support again.

Last year, numerous students attended the matches and reveled in the fun of the sun.

CPL organising indicated free face painting and hot dogs for the children.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) will be in action tonight in their first home game of the season at the National Stadium, Providence, from 19:00 hours.

From left: Abigail Mohabir, General Manager of the Cricket Carnival Committee; Amazon Warriors Coach Consultant, Lance Klusener; Warriors’ captain Imran Tahir; Minister Charles Ramson Jr.; CPL Head of Marketing, Chris Watson, and Dr Ritesh Tularam, Deputy Chief Education Officer at the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday

Guyana Amazon Warriors players along with the top brass of ExxonMobil Guyana at the Marriott on Tuesday