Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 14-04-2024

PPP/C left GPL with 76.9 MW of new power-generating capability in 2015

— developed from 2008-2015; while APNU+AFC added just 14.2 MW in five years, Dr. Singh says — dismantles ‘misrepresented facts’ on power sector; points to continued efforts by Dr. Ali-led administration to address demand, prepare for the future

PNC/R leadership puts ‘vice-like grip’ on members with differing views

— Ally points to mistreatment of Indians in the party

‘We didn’t sign this, but we are bound by it’ - AG says of oil agreement

$30M repairs on Parika stelling linkspan bridge completed

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and a technical team from his ministry inspected several bridges under construction in Canal Nos. 1 & 2 on the West Bank of Demerara (Photos: Ministry of Public Works) PG

Guyana's inaugural Game Fest ignites the future of E-Sports in the Caribbean

By Shaniya Harding

HUNDREDS gathered on the second floor of the Marriott Hotel, on Saturday, for Guyana's first-ever ‘Game Fest’. The event received overwhelming support from sponsors, the public, and Guyana's growing gaming sphere. Among the biggest sponsors were internet provider GTT, Zoon Online Shopping, and Smalta.

More than an exhibition, the event hosted tournaments where players competed in games such as PUBG Mobile, Mortal Kombat, and Call of Duty.

More than 200 young men and women competed for more than a million dollars in cash prizes. Although Game Fest saw countless people out to enjoy the playful and exciting atmosphere of the event, some participants embarked on the event with different intentions. To most people, gaming is a pastime that is left in childhood. Those attending Game Fest said the event was much more. It was the first step in developing E-sports in Guyana and giving visibility to a lesser-known community.

From Concept to Reality: The Launch of Guyana's First Games Fest

One of the many young minds behind the initiative is Trevon Gomes, who is the President of Game Fest. Amidst the excited people in attendance, Trevon shared the aim of Game Fest, the

Because of how new gaming and its accompanying aspects are to Guyana, business in the field is not something many people explore. Amid the hustle and bustle of the day was 'Klassy Kitty', a store focused on all things anime and games-related. Owner of 'Klassy Kitty', Kira Santos, was among the many booths present at the fest. Although she works a full-time job, Kira still takes time out to participate in conventions and events like Game Fest. She shared that, "I am a bit of a gamer. I play League of Legends and Super Mario. That's what I grew up on. It was the first game my dad introduced us to."

More than Gaming

Her business has been up and running for the past three years. In recent times, Kira says the industry and following for the community of gaming have grown. And with the implementation of Game Fest, she has

work that went into it, and the impressive plans he and his team have for moving forward.

"We are hosting major tournaments here today. We give players a chance to compete and win prizes and to also build the gaming community in Guyana. We have many different things we want to introduce." Virtual reality is something that Trevon sees as having the potential to grow in Guyana. Curator and stakeholder of the event, Dave Savory, sees this year’s event as the first small step of many. He shared, "Our hope for Game Fest is to grow the E-sports community here in Guyana and potentially in the Caribbean."

and competitors

The team has a cohesive plan for an array of events, with another Game Fest being held next year. The ambience and energy created by the event were by design, said Trevon, as they seek to create an experience.

The Business Side of Gaming in Guyana

no doubt it will continue to develop. She shared, "I work full-time too. I asked for the time off to be here. Since I opened the business, especially for all things anime, my customers love us. It has been good."

Igniting competition

When we think of sports, we imagine something fastpaced that requires skill and dedication; and E-sports is no different. Hundreds of people queued up to be part of the tournaments Game Fest had to offer. Although E-sports in Guyana is still growing, the industry as it stands is very competitive and has created a strong community. Among the gamers at Game Fest 2024 was Nathaniel Lee. Competing in Mortal Kombat, Nathaniel heard about the venue on Facebook. He saw

it as an opportunity and, although surprised, he is happy about the support gaming in Guyana is gaining. He shared, "I wanted to come along and compete and play with other people; to see how good I am. Now that I see how big Game Fest is, I can say that yes, gaming in Guyana is a big thing." He further shared that more events like this are needed to not only grow gaming but also to encounter more gamers. "As a gamer being here makes me feel more confident. And I want to see them continue this."

Among the groups of gamers and cosplayers, there were also families. Many parents brought out their children to be part of the event and immerse themselves in the atmosphere and community. One father, Michael Atherly, took his three children to the event. He shared that, as a family, gaming is something they love, "We love gaming. I've got two boys and a daughter who love gaming, so I said this is where we need to go."

Whereas some people came out for the games and ambience, Michael came for the experience. "It is a bonding experience for the family. In the sense that we get to experience it together, and it makes it memorable." Michael is like so many adults who see gaming as a hobby and a welcome escape from the stress of work. He shared that for him, jumping on a game is one of the things he does at the end of a long day.

"As an adult after a stressful day at work, I wean myself off with gaming. And now to have something like this, it brings a little more excitement. The nostalgia of when I was young and now I get to experience that with my kids."

Game Fest is the first of many steps toward growing an otherwise unknown industry in the region.

Trevon Gomes, President of Game Fest Avid gamer, Nathaniel Lee

Dave Savory, curator of Games Fest

Kira Santos (L) presented her ‘Mario Kart’ themed booth and games

Micheal Atherly and his daughter

The crowd gathered at Games Fest 2024 (Japheth Savory photos)

PPP/C left GPL with 76.9 MW of new power-generating capability in 2015

— developed from 2008-2015; while APNU+AFC added just 14.2 MW in five years, Dr. Singh says — dismantles ‘misrepresented facts’ on power sector; points to continued efforts by Dr. Ali-led administration to address demand, prepare for the future

By Trina Williams

SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service Dr. Ashni Singh has set the record straight, and said that while the current ‘blackout’ situation is frustrating, the government will not sit by and allow Opposition operatives to “misrepresent” facts on the power sector.

During a live broadcast on Saturday, he underscored that President Dr. Irfaan Ali is tackling the current challenges head-on, although there continues to be a misrepresentation of the facts.

The Senior Minister said: “We have continued to witness the customary misrepresentations, and in many cases, very blatant factual misrepresentations in relation to the sector.”

While pouring cold water on claims that the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) offered a better quality of service under the APNU+AFC, Dr. Singh said this is not “factually accurate”.

Setting the record straight, he related that the APNU+AFC benefitted from the investments that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government made prior to exiting office in 2015.

He said that it was the PPP/C that made “a succession of significant investments in the electricity sector”, and he gave an insight into some of the major ones that bolstered the sector.

For instance, Dr. Singh said that in 2009, the Kingston power

plant, under the PPP/C, received an installation of three 6.9 megawatts (MW) of brand new Wartsila engines, and in 2011, the government brought Online an additional two 7.8 MW of generating capability at Kingston, which gave them an additional 15.6 MW of generating capacity.

In addition, they brought 24/7 electricity for the first time in 2014 to Leguan and Wakenaam.

He also noted that the PPP/C left GPL with 76.9 MW of new, firm power-generating capability, and these investments by the PPP/C were as a result of their foreseeing that there was going to be a growth in demand.

“I want to say very clearly that when the APNU+AFC came into office in 2015, they met a GPL that had 76.9 megawatts or more of a new, firm power capacity, delivered as a result of

stalled 8.7 MW, while the PPP/C had installed in excess of 70 MW from 2008 to 2014 in that same interconnected system.

Upon assuming office in 2020, the minister noted, President Ali had pushed for emergency power since he understood that GPL was not capable of generating the electricity needs of the citizens.

to come on board shortly, this will carry the PPP/C government to having installed 127 MW of power from 2020 to date.

He added that the government is now procuring 33 MW of solar power to be plugged into Berbice and Essequibo, and that that is from the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) funds.

the recent history of the power sector is very clear.

On Friday, President Ali announced that the Government of Guyana has finalised an agreement for the supply of “emergency power” to address the increase in power outages.

the People's Progressive Party installing brand new engines; Wartsila and other engines between the period of 2008 and 2015, on top of all of the investments that we would have made in transmission and distribution, and putting aside, of course, additional interventions that we were doing in renewable energy...” Dr. Singh said.

While highlighting how the demand for electricity has grown, the Senior Minister provided some statistics, and noted that in 2014, GPL had 177,780 customers, and at the end of 2023 it had 227,067 customers.

However, although the PPP/C had laid the foundation for the rapid growth of the economy, according to Dr. Singh, within the five years that the APNU+AFC was in office, they only installed a meager 14.2 MW.

He said if you focus only on the DemeraraBerbice interconnected system, they only in -

He said: “They did not invest in new generating capability; they did not invest and maintain our engines adequately, and so when we returned in office, what we found was a completely dilapidated and even further dilapidating infrastructure at GPL, with a system that was completely incapable of generating electricity to meet the needs of the country.”

Against this backdrop, 9.6 MW of emergency power was installed within this current government’s first four months in office at Canefield, Onverwagt and Sophia, and with the expected 35 MW of power

Coming back to the untruths surrounding the power sector, the Senior Mnister made it clear that this government is not on a mission to assign blame, but it will not sit by and allow the situation to be twisted.

“This government really has no interest in playing the blame game; our focus is on delivering solutions.

“... But if the APNU+AFC is going to go out there and try to misrepresent the facts to rewrite history, I can assure you that we will not sit down and allow this to happen; we will respond and set out the facts,” Dr. Singh said while underscoring that

The government, through the GPL, finalised a time-charted agreement with UCC Holding for a “power ship” to be deployed to the country within three weeks.

“This arrangement will bring an additional 36 megawatts of power to the national grid to offset generation shortfalls,” Dr. Ali said.

The agreement will see the chartering of a power supply vessel that will be connected to GPL’s DemeraraBerbice Integrated System at Everton in Berbice, providing support to the generation capacity of the power company. The vessel will be in the country for a period of 24 months.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service Dr. Ashni Singh

Sydney knife suspect identified by police

(BBC) - A knife-wielding man who killed six people in a Sydney shopping centre before being shot dead has been identified by Australian police.

Joel Cauchi, 40, walked through the crowded Westfield Bondi Junction complex on Saturday afternoon, fatally wounding five women and a man.

A nine-month-old baby was among several others injured and remained in a "serious but stable" condition on Sunday, police said. Authorities say the attack was most likely "related to the mental health of the individual involved".

In an update on Sunday, New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said they were still trying to notify families of the

victims.

"Two of them appear to have no family in Australia," he told reporters. He said Mr Cauchi, who was from

Queensland, was previously known to police and had bought a storage unit in Sydney.

The assistant commissioner reiterated that the attacker did not appear to be motivated by "any particular ideology or motivation".

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians were "waking up to try to deal with the shock and trauma" of what had happened.

Describing the attack as "unspeakable

and really just beyond comprehension", Mr Albanese again praised the actions of a lone senior policewoman who confronted Mr Cauchi and shot him dead as horror gripped the mall.

"The wonderful inspector who ran into danger by herself and removed the threat that was there to others, without thinking about the risks to herself," the prime minister said, thanking her and emergency teams.

State officials said nine people had been taken to hospital after the incident, and another three people had sought medical attention overnight. About 40 paramedics were initially involved in the response.

The baby "had surgery overnight and is currently in a critical condition and is in ICU," Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC news.

"Now, we certainly are hoping that she gets through this but there is a long way to go."

Haiti decrees long-awaited transition council, but questions remain

(Reuters) Haiti's government formalized the creation of a nine-member transitional presidential council on Friday, a long-delayed move intended as the first step in restoring security to the gang-ravaged Caribbean country.

The decree, however, leaves many questions unanswered.

It does not name the new council members or establish a time frame for installing the council and replacing Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who pledged one month ago to step down once his successor was in place.

Indicating the unelected Henry will initially retain oversight of proceedings, the decree allows the current prime minister to make the "necessary arrangements" ahead of the new appointments. Those chosen must then "participate, in agreement with the prime minister, in the formation of an inclusive ministers' cabinet."

It calls on the council to help speed the deployment of international troops Henry requested in 2022 to aid police in their battles with armed and increasingly powerful gangs.

Nearly 95,000 people have fled the metropolitan area of the capital Port-au-Prince in the last month as armed gangs have cemented their control. Haitians are lacking basic goods as key ports remain closed, while the outgoing government remains absent.

The decree, published in Haiti's official gazette, names the nine political parties or social sectors to be represented on the council, including two non-voting observers, confirming an announce -

ment made last month. The transition plan was announced on March 11 as armed men mounted attacks on parts of Port-au-Prince they did not already control, while Henry remained stranded outside the country.

Friday's decree stipulates the council be headquartered in the National Palace in downtown Port-au-Prince, which has come under fire several times in the past weeks.

'VERY DIFFICULT'

After the decree was published, local media reported more gunfire in parts of Portau-Prince. An officer, Pierre Fritz Chenet, was shot dead while visiting relatives on the port side of the city, a police union spokesperson said.

The government said in a separate statement it had invited the designated coun-

cil representatives to submit documents to prove their eligibility at government offices in the capital.

The transition plan was

agreed with the mediation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The nine groups named by CARICOM a month ago and in Friday's decree have all put forward

council candidates, but their nominations have yet to be formalized despite frequent pledges that such an announcement was near.

Camille LeBlanc, a lawyer and former justice minister, said he thought some of the candidates put forward might be rejected and that it could take some time before the council is installed, given the difficulties of processing legal documents.

"It could be very difficult," LeBlanc told Reuters, adding that while he doubted the council's prospects, he supported it if it could move the country past the current deadlock, help reopen ports and bring essential food supplies to a country facing acute hunger.

"To declare the transition council must 'rapidly' name a prime minister is utopian," added Port-au-Prince lawyer Ca -

mille Fievre said it was "utopian" to expect the council to "rapidly" appoint a prime minister.

"Perhaps a time frame ought to have been determined. In the meantime, Mr Ariel Henry remains prime minister," Fievre said. "As it stands there is no guarantee the members already chosen will be retained, as no verifications have been carried out in this respect."

The delayed transition has prompted critics to accuse Henry's allies of hampering the process in order to hold onto power. The government has said it is working through legal and constitutional problems "as fast as possible."

CARICOM welcomed Friday's decree, reiterating the need for the new leaders to urgently address the security situation so schools and businesses can reopen and people can travel freely and access basic supplies.

Immediate solutions, long-term objectives

THE recent announcement by President Dr. Irfaan Ali regarding the agreement for emergency power supply in Guyana marks a significant step towards addressing the pressing issue of power outages in the country. However, it also underscores the challenges inherited by the current government, and the necessity for comprehensive long-term solutions.

The agreement to deploy a "power ship" to provide an additional 36 megawatts of power to the national grid within three weeks is indeed a timely intervention;

it demonstrates a proactive approach by the government to alleviate the immediate impact of power shortages on citizens and businesses. Such decisive action is commendable, especially in the face of inherited deficiencies in the power infrastructure.

President Ali rightly acknowledges the systemic issues plaguing Guyana's power sector, including a lack of maintenance, aging equipment, and a deficit in technical expertise. These challenges did not arise overnight, but are the result of years of neglect and insufficient investment. The

acknowledgment of these issues is the first step towards meaningful reform.

Moreover, the government's commitment to expand and enhance the capacity of the power infrastructure is encouraging. Investments in upgrading transmission lines, building substations, and improving network reliability are essential for meeting the growing demand for electricity in Guyana. However, these efforts must be sustained and accelerated to keep pace with the country's development trajectory.

One of the critical aspects highlighted by Pres-

ident Ali is the need to address the skill deficit within the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL). The plan to recruit additional engineers, including the possibility of assistance from skilled technical personnel from Cuba, underscores the government's recognition of the importance of human capital in overcoming technical challenges.

While emergency measures such as deploying a power ship are necessary in the short term, they should not overshadow the importance of long-term planning and sustainable solutions. The government's

gas-to-energy project, aimed at supplying around 300 megawatts of power, represents a significant opportunity to diversify the energy mix and reduce reliance on traditional sources. However, such projects require careful planning, investment, and regulatory support to ensure their success.

It is also essential for the government to address issues such as line losses and electricity theft, which not only contribute to revenue loss but also undermine the reliability of the power supply. By tackling these challenges head-on, the

government can improve operational efficiency and ensure the sustainability of the power sector.

Moreover, accountability and transparency are paramount in the management of public utilities. The government must engage with stakeholders, including consumers and industry representatives, to foster trust and ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the country. Only through collective effort and strategic vision can Guyana overcome its power struggles and emerge as a resilient and prosperous nation.

Agriculture has survived its worst period

Dear Editor,

THE Agriculture Sector has survived the worst period ever in the annals of our country, and this is not only because of the implementation of sound economic policies, but can be directly attributed to the incomparable leadership qualities of the subject Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha. His ability to be decisive, making high-quality and tough decisions on the spot; his visionary and inspirational leadership; his passionate and creative manner in executing his decisions; his approachable and humble characteristics allow him to have a free flow of information from stakeholders whom he contacted in his daily outreaches and which

he effectively utilized for their benefits and ultimately that of the nation. This is a far cry from the Coalition’s Agriculture Minister; and there is no comparison, only contrast. It is an undeniable fact that the Coalition woefully and willfully neglected the entire sector; there was no will for its survival, and the only plausible reason was to exact vengeance on the sector, which, since the days of the PNC of old, made little investments, and their only objective was to ‘milk’ the sector dry to enrich those affiliated to the Party. This approach was more evident in rice and sugar. In rice, the farmers had to fend for themselves, and when the Coalition took over in 2015, they ensured that steep rates

and taxes and a lack of investments in roads and infrastructure made farming impossible. It was deemed to be a private business by the Coalition. This speaks volumes of the clandestine intent of the Coalition which was laid bare. Every year, under the Coalition, the sector had to suffer billions in budget cuts, making it virtually impossible for the sector to progress. Sugar was marked for ‘special’ treatment under the Coalition. According to Ramjattan and Nagamootoo, the industry was the bottomless ‘dark hole’, and the sugar workers were the ‘raiders of the Treasury’.

The Coalition thought that it was better to make a surgical dismemberment of the sugar industry, which would make it impossible

for it to survive, and during its second term in office (the planned rigging would have ensured this) the complete dismemberment would be accomplished and the death knell of the industry would have been sounded. The sufferings of over 7,000 sugar workers are well documented, and their only crime was supporting the PPP/C. The Coalition, having willfully destroyed the industry, would then have ample justification for its closure. This cannot be denied, since the handiwork of the Coalition in destroying the cultivations and factories, even in the remaining three grinding estates, is still glaring for all to see. Canes can only come from the cultivations, and when thousands of hectares were wantonly abandoned, where will these canes

materialise from? When the factories are debilitated and in dire need of repairs, where will the available canes be ground? This Government has invested billions of dollars to rehabilitate and resuscitate the cultivations and the factories and Rose Hall Estate is the symbol of what this Government is capable of accomplishing and how the subject Minister can steer his Sector to achieve this monumental success. Soon all the fields will be machine friendly and production will climb astronomically, soon the cost of production will be drastically reduced and viability will return to Guysuco and soon ‘the cup will runneth over’.

The Agriculture Sector survived the willful and malicious assault from the Co-

alition for 5 long years. The bombardment was relentless and unceasing and it was only the PPP/C as a strong Opposition and Dr Jagdeo as an exemplary leader gave hope to those in the Sector. It was the promises of a bright future which kept hope alive in the breasts of all Guyanese, especially the promises to reverse all the wrongs of the Coalition which devastated the economy and to reopen the closed estates. As soon as the PPP/C took Office these promises materialized. However, this Government has had to deal with other challenges as well. The COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing and presented severe challenges not only to the financial resources but the human capital that had to be

A face to ace the PNC race

Dear Editor,

ONE may conclude that Austin Powers is a parody of James Bond. The term "Good" in Good Friday may seem paradoxical, given the sombre events it perpetuates. Similarly, so is the “good life” as accentuated from “the small man will be the real man,” all idioms paraphrased in promoting propaganda, which is a permanent and pertinent prerequisite to portray a particular PNC’s personality in their quest for victory in any election.

All eyes are more affixed on the upcoming PNC’s “Hunt for Green August” at their 22nd Biennial Delegates Congress, rather than the PPP/C’s “Hunt for Red May”, perhaps a foregone conclusion at their expected 32nd Delegates Congress.

Qualified contestants will be vying to form the New

Central Committee, more so, for the post of Leader and candidacy for the 2025 Presidency. With General Elections due next year, there is no uncertainty in the PPP/C camp. On the contrary, the PNC is acutely ailing as they are damagingly divided with disconcerting dissonance.

The PNC’s incumbent leader Mr. Aubrey Norton once found it laughable and mischievous that his ambitious challenger had insinuated in 2021 that he (Norton), wants to turn the PNC Party into a Black Party. In 2024, he deems himself as being “the best qualified”, while another party stalwart depicts him as being “not fit to be a leader”.

Roysdale Forde, a declared challenger, believes he has the support and experience to lead. Mahesh Mahipaul, a potential contender, may run, if nominated. Norton, in a dismissive mood, in-

sinuated his association with “baggage carriers”, those choosing ambition over party interest and lacking institutional knowledge.

The PNC Party was crafted by a dictator who angrily shouted, “It’s Leader or nothing”, and guided by his sinister motto, “The personal ends of power justify any means used to achieve them”. With his clever wit and charm, the selfish boaster “manipulated people like puppets on a chain”. Jessie Burnham once alerted Guyana about the envious and jealous founder of the Party, “Beware my brother Forbes”.

The PNC Party was once described in 2018 as a Party that “became a prisoner of the old order, constrained by the institutions and political culture of that order”. A functional member further advised that “the PNC is not a tribe”, and as such warned that members must refrain

from using the word “grassroots”. But a leopard never changes its spots.

The PNC has perpetually demonstrated that the Party is cloned into an icon moulded in distrust, enveloped in immorality, and engineered by corruption. Founded from the seed of animosity, it has borne fruition to the inseparable peas in a pod, racism and violence. Submerged in the ocean of deceitfulness, its leader can only salvage his or her ascension if consumed in the propagation of unrighteousness, because, a tiger can’t change its stripes.

Given the Party’s proven track record for disrepute and blemished DNA, a face to ace the PNC’s race will feature the following unfavourable characteristics: Must be an avid enabler to efficiently execute the cruel dictates of devious advocacy; must be the task bearer to uphold the Party’s noxious agenda; must

be a spoiled street fighter to play dirty; must be diplomatic by refusing to shake hands; must be an emulator; must be an imitator; must strive for the paramountcy of the Party in order to fly the PNC flag once again over the Court of Appeal building; must be desirous of abolishing foreign observers at Elections and exclude electoral matters from the jurisdiction of the CCJ; must abuse the privileges of the court by pursuing frivolous, vexatious and abusive litigations. must parrot, “The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC, and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese, and ah want one that is PNC”.

They must endorse the “arbitrary, vindictive, malicious and politically motivated” art of “witch hunting”; must oppose any and all proposals litigated by the

Government in Parliament; must never support any Budget; must be “unwilling to accept election losses and intent on getting into government through the back door; must have “an extraordinarily courageous mind to present fictitious numbers when such a sturdy paper trail exists” during election; must reiterate the rhetorical questions, “You have to ask yourself how did the PNC gain office in 1964? Ask yourself how did the PNC remain in office, and what did it do during that period? Ask yourself, how did the PNC regain office in 2015, and ask yourself how will the PNC retain office after 2020?”

Like Bob Marley sang, “Who the cap fit, let them wear it!”

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

Agriculture has survived its worst...

From page 6

safeguarded. This had a negative impact on the agriculture sector but through sound socio-economic policies, it survived. But this was not all. When it rains, it pours and this happened in 2021 when a state of emergency had to be declared. Again, the Government team and the Min-

ister went to every nook and cranny to help communities combat the great deluge. Here again, the ineptitude of the Coalition and the dire neglect of the Sector was exposed and billions had to be spent to save not only the Agriculture Sector but the entire nation.

Again the Sector survived. From the devastation meted out by the Coalition, from

the dire consequences of the COVID- 19 and from the destructive floods in 2021 to now, since 2023, the El Ninothe most severe drought for a long time. But the Minister has never failed to take up the gauntlet. In 2021 and thereafter he ensured that flooding will be something of the past and has since worked assiduously to ensure

adequate irrigation to every area affected by the drought.

Since the dry spell began, the Ministry of Agriculture ensured that no expense is spared in saving the crops and livestock, thereby protecting the livelihood of the nation. Billions are again being expended to achieve this. Yet the Coalition is blind to see where the monies are

going and their spurious and vexatious presentations during the Budget debate can only be surmised as willful ignorance. They failed to do what this Government has achieved so successfully.

I am sure that in the latter half of this year, the Agriculture Sector will attain tremendous success and will reap the benefits of all

its sagacious, insightful and wise investments. Agriculture will always survive under this Government and its manifold benefits will have far-reaching positive effects not only to Guyana but for the Caribbean as well.

Yours sincerely,

Haseef Yusuf

Julian Assange, the Privy Council, CARICOM nations and Naipaul

I THINK the top three leaders in the world today are Irfaan Ali of Guyana, Mia Mottley of Barbados and President Lula of Brazil. I cannot find any president or prime minister from the world as having a more humane, progressive world outlook than these three leaders.

Barbados and Guyana are not geo-strategic, geo-political players on the global stage. They have small populations and small economies that do not allow them to penetrate the fortress of Western hegemony. Furthermore, stepping out too far can bring retaliation from which they do not have the required international canopy of protection.

Guyana is in a more sensitive mode than Barbados. We live with an authoritarian leader next to us who rigs elections and wants to use annexation claims of Guyanese territory to strengthen his non-existent acceptance among the Venezuelan people. Guyana then does not have wide latitude to act as a voice against hegemonic manoeuvres in international affairs.

Of the three, Brazil is far better equipped to confront global wrong-doings from powerful countries. President Lula has, on more than one occasion, called for the release of Julian Assange. But I believe he should be more forceful and consistent in his advocacy.

The leader who is forceful and consistent in his request for the freeing of Julian Assange is the Australian Prime Minister. Now it looks like his inexorability will pay off. President Biden has

announced that he is considering dropping charges against Assange. My thinking of the situation is that he will because of the election coming up.

What we must stress is that Assange’s arrest was as a result of a request by President Donald Trump. How could the world condemn Trump when he was in power, when he is out of power and now that he is running again for office and refuses to see that Assange was a victim of the vindictive politics of Trump? If you conclude that Trump was vindictive and a right-wing zealot when he was in power, then how can you not see the connection between Assange’s arrest and the authoritarian policies of Trump?

Yet Assange has been kept in a high-security prison in the UK for four years after Trump lost the presidency. It calls into focus how different is the Democratic Party leadership from the Republican Party. What we must never lose sight of are a few glaring facts. Assange never worked or lived in the US so he never revealed classified information as a US citizen.

Secondly, the documents Assange received and released were given to him by

an American security employee at the time – Chelsea Manning - who was charged for that act and pardoned by President Obama. Thirdly, Assange gave the documents to some of the leading newspapers in the world that published them. It was through the Manning-Assange connection and those newspapers that the world knows about what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If Manning is freed and the war data have been published, it has been argued extensively that Assange’s arrest does not make sense. He was not an American employee that engaged in spying but that is what he has been charged with by the Trump administration.

There are other dimensions of the Assange tragedy that need highlighting. He has been denied bail and is in a UK prison for five years now and has lost all of his appeals for acquittal against extradition. Enter the Privy Council (PC). After more than 50 years of Independence, some CARICOM nations still retain the PC in London as their final court of appeal.

In fact, it is the opinion of this academic and columnist that the CCJ is far more independent and isolated from political tentacles than in Western democracies that we were brought up to think as colonial subjects were paragons of judicial perfection.

A French court ruled last month that a Tunisian man who lived in France for 40 years should be deported for insulting the French flag. The court denied him the right to appeal. He was deported the next day. Jamaica and Trinidad still believe that the PC is safer than the CCJ. I don’t admire the political views of VS Naipaul but he was spot-on about the infertile minds of Caribbean leaders.

Why the PC? When the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was established, there were influential voices in Jamaica and Trinidad that argued for the retention of the PC because they felt that English judges were more independent. This argument is not only illogical but it cannot stand up to scholarly scrutiny. Many have argued that the Julian Assange trials have showed that the English judicial system may not be above reproach as many of our CARICOM leaders think.

The role of Geopolitical Alliances and Energy Diplomacy in the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy

IN the wake of Venezuela’s resurrected claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region and its resources, and the recent move to sign its December referendum into law, Guyana is actively strengthening its security and diplomatic relations with its global allies. Geopolitical

alliances and energy diplomacy play an integral role in mitigating international conflicts between nations.

Guyana’s efforts to protect its territorial integrity intersect with the formation of global partnerships that uniquely position the nation amidst a large cross-section

of allies who have expressed their support for the country’s right to develop its resources.

Regional leaders across South America and the Caribbean, represented by CARICOM, have been integral in mediating the ongoing controversy. In December

2023, a meeting held between Guyana’s President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, was facilitated by St. Vincent’s Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, in Argyle, with support from Brazil’s President, Luiz Ina-

Truth and a Neemakaram

GUYANA is a strange place with a group of people who are different and rare. Some would even venture to say Guyana is a place that breeds a different quality of politicians when one considers the bold concepts of truthfulness, completeness, integrity, morality, accountability, transparency, and decency.

It is the only country in the world where a former leader could come out of the woodwork, bating, to tell the person’s version of certain historical occurrences through a book, and at a price.

Alas when the event is finished, the cameras are down, and the lights go down, the person slithers away and goes back into the shadows to watch their stories and experiences make the rounds in certain circles. They know that their version might be crystallised and metamorphosised into ‘truth’, changing narratives and realities.

Sadly, those who do not challenge these stories and experiences told by these so-called elders and politicians are doing a disservice to the next generation of youths who are growing up in modern Guyana. Those who do not seek to set the record straight about Guyana’s history are part of the problem and could never be part of a solution.

Moses Nagamootoo lied, again, in his most recent book, ‘Dear Land of Guyana’ about the truth

surrounding the 2020 elections turmoil and delay. He has become a true snake oil salesman, telling tales and stories about his alleged experience leaving the prime minister’s official residence and office, politics in Guyana from the period 2011 to 2020, and certain historical developments in his earlier political years.

For the record, Nagamootoo did not tell the whole and complete story. Several prominent politicians, historians, columnists, and Guyanese who have read his book know too well that his book was little on truth and facts.

It was like reading the story of a Guyanese politician who was acting in a play called ‘Life’ and had to overcome many jaw-dropping and titillating challenges to be at the top. Let’s be clear, Nagamootoo lived a very privileged life and made the most out of every stage even though his family was considered working class. Most Guyanese back then endured some of the worst conditions, especially those who lived in rural Guyana, but one does not hear their stories or see them seeking attention.

Unfortunately, the former one-time prime minister played with the emotional consciousness of all who read his book, depicting under what circumstances he parted ways with state vehicles and premises.

While his account must be verified for accuracy, former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, would soon haul him over the coals, remembering his experience at the hands of the APNU+AFC politicians at that time.

He wrote in a missive to the media, “Changeover arrangements between the Hinds and Nagamootoo families were abruptly ended; a last walk-through was cancelled; the PM’s car was demanded but soon demoted to the backup position whilst I caught a minibus to travel to our city centre with my close man.”

And that is not all. Hinds spoke indirectly about the APNU+AFC or Nagamootoo’s attitude back then about the themes that underlie various chapters in his book.

Hinds waded into the book saying that Nagamootoo would know that we have a lot to clear from our chests. He asserted, much like this column, that “We need narratives

of whole truths for national reconciliation. It needs no saying that I keep hoping for a better contribution to national cohesion from Moses.”

One truth that Nagamootoo included in his work reads, “The coalition cannot absolve itself from blame for its removal from office. The complex but toxic mix of inter-party bickering, dependence on ethnic support, entrenchment of the impulse to rig elections, misuse of office to foist personality politics and party paramountcy, cannot be underestimated.”

But the book suddenly goes mute, robbing the public that spent their hardearned cash on details of these tales. These were the real things one would have thought he would have spent his words and pages describing and recalling. Instead, the book is surface-level and an insult to Guyanese who lived through the periods mentioned in the book and who knew for a fact that they, the APNU+AFC party, and

Nagamootoo used politics of race, racism, and party paramountcy when making certain critical decisions in Guyana, and with the elections of 2020.

How can this man who had had 50 years in Guyanese politics not admit that he was part and parcel of the process to rig elections? We want to hear the stories of a former prime minister standing up within the APNU+AFC grouping for Guyanese and saying ‘We have lost the election fairly and squarely’. Tell Guyana that story or tell us the story of that not occurring or you betraying your political upbringing and Jagan’s legacy. Don’t tell us a different story or another tale that seeks to set you in some great light. Where did you go over the past three years? What’s happened to the fighting spirit? Or are you a real snake or neemakaram as they say? Tell us why the coalition failed and say without fear of successful contradiction, who failed? Why did your party not

accomplish the constitutional reform mandate and national unity? Whatever happened to shared governance under the coalition?

Nagamootoo's book only serves provocateur of thought. It is neither factual nor historical as it relates to Guyana. It offers Nagamootoo’s perspective on the events which took place, not a true perspective. It misrepresents the truth and presents a crookish and twisted narrative with a cock-eye lens. It is one-sided and very biased because it lacks the will of a truth, earth-shattering and realistic auto-biography.

Finally, Nagamootoo must know that he has missed the mark with this book. There are still many questions than answers that abound, even this year. The book says nothing about nothing but a journey down the memory lane of his life as he saw it or thought he saw it. But next time one can only hope, that the senior politician releases a book entitled, ‘My Turn –A Book of Facts, betrayal and Thirst”.

If Nagamootoo still refuses, at this senior and spent age, to do the honourable thing and set the record straight about the Jagans, the 2020 elections and things that occurred during his political career, then the public will turn from him slowly, and he will always be remembered as ‘has been’ and ‘coulda been.’

The role of Geopolitical Alliances and Energy Diplomacy in the Guyana...

From page 8

cio Lula da Silva. This meeting resulted in both countries promising not to use threats or force against the other, pending the resolution of the long-standing border issue and resolve to peaceful coexistence. This is a prime example of the important role geopolitical alliances play in mediating matters of national, regional and international security.

The international calls for support of Guyana’s sovereign right to its territory are neither coincidental nor arbitrary. Guyana’s emergence as a leading player in the international petroleum scene has resulted in ramped-up interest from oil-producing nations, leading to increased diplo-

matic relations, investments and partnerships from nations across the globe, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, to name a few. Leading energy research companies such as Rystad Energy have also thrown their support behind Guyana.

In fact, following Venezuela’s objections to Guyana’s maiden bid round for its offshore oil blocks, Rystad Energy’s Managing Director for Latin America, Schreiner Parker, noted that Venezuela is an international pariah state with just a few states supporting its illegal claim to Guyana’s resource-rich territory.

With global calls rallying for legal means to settle

this decades-long controversy, Guyana is now in a position of amplified support from its international allies. The border dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela was legally settled on October 3, 1899, via the Arbitral Award in which both countries participated and were equally represented. Guyana remains resolute in its position that this matter will be resolved through the International Court of Justice, solidifying the country’s firm commitment to adherence to international law. The outpouring of support for Guyana underscores the vital role of geopolitics in maintaining global peace and stability.

President Ali among high-ranking officials to speak at Local Content Summit

THE Local Content Summit has returned, bigger and better, with emphasis being placed on bolstering local businesses in Guyana’s rapidly-evolving oil and gas sector.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali will be the keynote speaker at the opening plenary, according to a press release.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat will be the featured speak - er. Other speakers in- clude Martin Pertab, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Local Content Secretariat; Minister within Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar; Mrs. Abbigale Loncke-Watson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MBW Energy Support Services Inc; and Anita Ramprasad of Prestige Management Consultants.

understand the benefits of becoming local-content certified, and how to identify and capitalise on available and upcoming opportunities.

The summit will be held under the theme, “Creating Value, Driving Economic Expansion” on April 16 at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, in partnership with the Local Content Secretariat through the Ministry of Natural Resources.

private sector among other stakeholders,” the release noted.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has fully endorsed the event.

Additional speakers include Phillip Rietema, ExxonMobil; Cassandra Jaikarran, Ocean Air Logistics; Sharlene Seegolam, SLB; Martin Cheong, SBM Offshore; Renatha Khan-Bovell, Nobel Corporation; Dr. Natasha Gaskin-Peters, CLBD; Donna Rickford, Supreme Laundroma; Khrishan Singh, GAICO; Kester Hutson, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and many more.

According to the release, there will be a focus on knowledge sharing for local businesses in Guyana to

According to the release, the summit aims to discuss the current Local Content Policy and Certification process; Local Content for the Oil and Gas Sector as a driver for Economic Expansion; the role of Local Content in the Supply and Value Chain; local and international joint ventures, and bridging the capacity gap.

“The 2024 summit is a joint endeavour spearheaded by two locally-owned, women-led companies: MBWESSI and PMC. Together, they have meticulously curated a one-day session packed with valuable insights and networking opportunities after. The summit aims to bring together policymakers, regulatory and support agencies and organisations, educators, operators and sub-contractors, industry experts, vendors/suppliers, investors, and the local

“The ministry, via its Local Content Secretariat, recognises the vital importance of a conducive environment for local participation and development within Guyana’s petroleum sector. Further, as the unit legislatively empowered to monitor, implement and enforce local content in Guyanese have within that its promotion not only drives economic growth but also contributes significantly to sustainable expansion for local suppliers and the upskilling of Guyanese talent.”

It added, “Many forward-looking companies have invested in supporting this important forum as sponsors, including Sispro Inc. ExxonMobil, International SOS, Nobel, GBoat, Action Invest Caribbean (Who’s Who Magazine), MCCG Guyana, Tropic Construction Solutions, GAICO and Vistar Engineering and Contracting Services and the organizers extend their sincere thanks for the support, while assuring that there are more opportunities available for additional sponsors.”

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

Mother launches centre to help children with autism, train teachers

AUTISM Awareness month is celebrated in April annually, and it brings to light the great need for an increase in awareness and attention.

This year is no exception as it is celebrated under the theme, ‘Transforming the Narrative: Contributions at Home, Work, in the Arts and Policymaking.’

Early Childhood Services (ECS), a newly opened centre that zooms in on children with autism was officially launched at its 6 Duncan Street, Campbellville, Georgetown location, earlier this month, in honour of this year’s activities.

The centre provides screening for autism, autism intervention services and autism parent support groups, in addition to providing training services to teachers in mainstream schools.

Rosanne Farley is an Autism Consultant and the founder of ESC. She told this newspaper, during a recent interview, that her interest in autism started when her daughter was diagnosed in 2010 – time when there were no services available to help her child cope with the developmental disorder.

“There was just nowhere to go. There was no information out there so I was forced to do the work…to get all the information, to figure out how to work with her. So I attended every training programme that I could, every workshop. I did studies online, everything.”

Farley worked with her daughter consistently, ensuring she progressed. Because she can relate to other parents whose child may be autistic, she decided to use all that she learnt over the years to help parents, teachers, and most importantly, children with autism to thrive.

According to her, ECS was started to generally meet the needs of children with autism, “but more so children in mainstream schools who are on the spectrum, because very often what we find is that children with moderate to mild autism can go to a mainstream school, but they may need additional support, interventions and so on.”

Farley expressed that, very often, parents are reluctant to seek the therapy their child/ children may need in the Special Needs Schools. As a result, Farley saw it necessary to create a space that would be suitable

for children in mainstream schools as well.

“Not that I only cater to those children, but I do have them specifically in mind

when creating the Centre,” she explained.

The training for teachers provides them with strategies they can implement in the

classroom to help children on the autistic spectrum.

“Additionally, I also intend to start a vibrant, and impactful parent support group, because, as far as I’m aware, we do not have a parent support group; at least not with the vision I have in mind, how I would like it to function. Parents do need to have a place where they can share their challenges and successes, and be inspired to go and so on,” Farley said.

For Autism Awareness month, Farley said the ECS has reached out to certain en-

tities to provide sensitisation sessions, one of them being the Georgetown Nursing School, and the Josel Education Institute.

She affirmed that more must be done to bring awareness to autism in Guyana. Farley said autism is a wide spectrum; however, there are many common symptoms that a parent or guardian should notice. This includes poor eye contact and unresponsiveness to their names being called. A child can also be very aloof, have restricted interest, repetitive

behaviours, and may prefer solitary play, just to list a few.

At present, Farley works with six children daily, in addition to training and consulting with other persons who require her services.

On May 18, 2024, ECS will be conducting its second one-day training session for teachers in mainstream classrooms.

ECS can be contacted at 592-622-4201, or email ecservices.guyana@gmail. com and on Facebook, Early Childhood Services.

Rosanne Farley, Founder of ECS and Autism Consultant

Minister Manickchand commits to advancing campaign to eliminate cervical cancer

MINISTER of Edu -

cation, Priya Manickchand, has committed herself and the Ministry of Education to advancing the campaign to eliminate cervical cancer.

She made this commitment, on Friday, at the launch of the Ministry of Health’s Elimination of Cervical Cancer Campaign and Action Plan. The Health Ministry’s cervical cancer elimination strategy plan was distributed to stakeholders during a ceremony at the

Pegasus Corporate Suites. Cervical Cancer is amongst the top three most fatal cancers in Guyana for women and it is preventable and, if detected early, treatable. While it affects women, it is primarily caused by the HPV virus which also affects men.

Key components of the action plan include intensive awareness campaigns targeting both students and the wider community, emphasising the importance of vaccination and regular screening.

The HPV vaccine is available for children ages nine to 17 and adults ages 18 to 45. Going forward, the vaccination programme will be ramped up.

In line with the collaborative spirit of the campaign, the Ministry of Education pledged its full support to work hand in hand with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to achieve the shared goal of eliminating cervical cancer in Guyana.

Grove woman ‘busted’ with marijuana stashed in ceiling

A 34-year-old woman of Grove, East Bank Demerara, is now in police custody after over 100 kilograms of suspected cannabis were found stashed in the ceiling of an apartment reportedly occupied by the woman and her 57-year-old father.

According to Police Headquarters, acting on intelligence, a party of police,

led by a Detective Corporal, on Friday afternoon, went to the apartment located at Backstreet Grove where the woman and another female were present at the time.

Subsequently, a search was conducted during which the ranks found a plastic barrel in the ceiling that contained several bulky plastic parcels, packed with suspect-

ed cannabis leaves, seeds, and stems.

The 34-year-old woman was cautioned, arrested and taken to the Divisional Headquarters 4B. The suspected narcotics were weighed and they amounted to 101.7 kilograms

The woman remains in custody as investigations continue.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

The cannabis found by the police

GDF rank dies after training session

A GUYANA DEFENCE FORCE

(GDF) Corporal died on Saturday, hours after completing a training session at the Colonel John Clarke Military School at Tacama, Upper Berbice River.

Dead is Corporal Leroy Thom 22258 of 2 Infantry Battalion, who resided at Blueberry Hill, Linden. He was a student of the Army’s Section Commander Course.

The GDF, in a press statement, said Corporal Thom complained of feeling unwell during a

Man, 28, accused of child pornography

THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended cybercrime charges for a 28-year-old man who is accused of grooming and convincing children to send him explicit videos and photos.

A statement from Police Headquarters noted that Joshua Rambarran will be charged with five counts of “Distributing Child Pornography through a Computer System; Publishing Electronic Data that is obscene with intent to humiliate another person; Child luring and using a computer system to coerce, harass, intimidate, and humiliate a person.”

The Police Force launched an investigation following reports of offences of child luring and child pornography on March 27, 2024, and April 6, 2024. Investigators found that two children under 14 years of age were groomed and convinced to send explicit pictures and videos to a Snapchat account, and the said pictures and videos were then posted to a telegram group. Rambarran was then detained, questioned, and statements were taken.

routine training event. As such, he was taken to the medical centre where he was attended to by a registered nurse and medics.

Corporal Thom’s condition deteriorated, and, according to the GDF, a request was made for a medevac and a team of medical specialists from the Georgetown Public Hospital to attend to him. The team was air

dashed to the training school on board the Bell 412 helicopter. However, upon their arrival, efforts made to resuscitate Corporal Thom were futile and he was pronounced dead.

His body was thereafter transported to Georgetown for a post-mortem examination. The GDF said a Board of Inquiry will be convened to inves-

tigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

Corporal Thom’s family has since been notified of the incident, GDF said.

In the statement, the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, officers and ranks of the GDF extended their deepest condolences to Corporal Thom’s family, friends, and colleagues.

Dead: GDF Corporal, Leroy Thom

Joshua Rambarran

‘We didn’t sign this, but we are bound by it’ — AG says of production sharing agreement

ACKNOWLEDGING

that the Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) signed under the previous government is “lopsided”, the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall says the government is bound by it, or there will be legal consequences.

During a live broadcast on the National Communications Network (NCN) on Saturday, the AG criticised those who are misconstruing how a legal and binding contract works.

“The relationship between the government and ExxonMobil (Guyana) is the relationship that would exist between any foreign investor and a government,” he said, while underscoring that it is made up of contracts, licences, permits and the Laws of Guyana.

While speaking more on the “arms-length” relationship which has been twisted by detractors of development, the AG said that the government is keen on ensuring that the people of Guyana get the

best possible deal from the oil-and-gas sector.

In response to a Stabroek News editorial which would have put forth the narrative that the announcement of the Whiptail development will not benefit the people of Guyana, Nandlall refuted these claims, and labelled the insinuation that the government is allowing the oil giant, ExxonMobil to use Guyana, as “hysteria, misinformation, and misconception”. While the discovery of oil was made under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s watch, it was under the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change

(APNU+AFC) that the PSA was signed.

In the 2016 PSA fiscal terms, the royalty was a mere two per cent, while the recoverable cost oil was 75 per cent.

While highlighting that like any company, ExxonMobil is profit-driven, and there is nothing “immoral or illegal” about that, he explained why the burden is on the government’s shoulders to get benefits for their citizens.

Even with the technicalities surrounding the sector, and the fact that an oil giant like ExxonMobil possesses a team of lawyers, the AG pointed out that the APNU+AFC gov-

ernment bestowed such an immense responsibility upon a subject minister, and that the PPP/C was informed that no expert advice was even given.

“We were not even told at the Parliament that they were negotiating this contract. No public consultations were held; no consultations of any kind were held,” he said, while noting that the PPP/C, which was in opposition at the time, and the Guyanese people were kept in the dark.

He then directed his attention to the US $18 million signing bonus that the APNU+AFC received from ExxonMobil, which was not made public until the then government came under intense criticism.

The funds were deposited into a Bank of Guyana (BoG) account before being moved into the Consolidated Fund.

“When we discovered the contract, we realised that Clause 33 of the contract provides for a signature bonus,” the AG said, while labelling the environment at the time the contract was signed as “nefarious”, given the

fact that the contract was hidden.

But why not ‘scrap’ the deal?

Noting that oil was in Guyana’s grounds for centuries, the AG said that the nation did not have the capabilities to exploit it, but this was changed because of foreign investments.

“I can’t point to a country anywhere in the world that has been built without foreign investments,” he said.

The AG then underscored that prudent foreign investors look for an accountable and transparent government, a stable society, respect for contractual obligations and modern laws within that country, etc.

“Guyana today is one of the most sought-after investment destinations in this western hemisphere. You are seeing investors here from all parts of the globe,” he said.

While there are individuals who are very vocal about the oil contract, the AG said that many of them have never even read it, although it is in the public domain.

He then explained that one of the provisions states that the government may not amend, modify, rescind, terminate, declare invalid or unenforceable, re-negotiate or seek to otherwise alter the agreement without the prior consent of the negotiator.

“But once it is signed and executed and it remains extent, valid and binding, this is what is says. We didn’t sign this, but are bound by it,” the AG stated.

Moreover, while refuting the claims that the government is “in bed” with the oil giant, Nandlall highlighted the number of measures that the government has put in place to safeguard Guyana.

For instance, he said, the “capping” of wells has been put in place to avoid oil spills.

“We have a mechanism also that allows us to monitor the oil in the reservoir; the amount that is discovered, etc. All of that are capabilities that we have ensured that were put into place,” he said.

Murdered Berbice woman died from fractured spine, wound to neck

A POST-MORTEM examination conducted on the remains of 52-yearold Ninawattie Nandalall known as ‘Sharda’, on Saturday, revealed that she died from asphyxiation, incise wound to the neck and fractured cervical spine.

Nandalall’s body was found at No.0 Village, Backdam, Corentyne, Berbice, on April 12. She resided at Lot 14 No. 0 (54), Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

According to reports, the woman was murdered sometime between 12:30 hrs on April 11 and 07:40

hrs on April 12 at the No. 0 backdam, Coretyne, Berbice.

Two males, an 18-year-old and a

25-year-old, who were arrested, remain in custody as investigations continue.

Dead: Ninawattie Nandalall

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC

Woman, 28, caught with ganja strapped to body

A 28-year-old woman was, on Friday, arrested after 500 grammes of cannabis were found strapped to her body with a bed sheet.

Two wanted over murder of gold miners

THE Guyana Police Force, on Saturday, issued wanted bulletins for two men in connection with the brutal murder of gold miners Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff and Donvan Washington.

Wanted are Kellon Fredericks, 21 and Romain Henry,19. Their last known addresses are Onderneeming Sandpit, Essequibo Coast and Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, respectively.

Police said they are wanted for questioning about the murders which occurred on March 03 at Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni River.

The wanted bulletins were issued days after two persons, Travis Fredericks, 32, and Fernando Fredericks, 28, both miners from Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, were charged with helping the men after the robbery and

murders.

Fifty-year-old Sheriff, a gold miner of Byderabo Roauyd, Bartica and Washington, a 26-year-old porter of Seventh Avenue, Bartica were shot and killed.

The scene was processed and one .32 magazine with eight live matching rounds, seven 9MM spent shells, and three .32 spent shells were found.

During the exercise, Police said the ranks observed the woman acting suspiciously. A search was then

Police headquarters said ranks conducted a search at the suspect’s Kaneville, Grove East Bank Demerara (EBD) house around 05:00hrs.

conducted on her person and the cannabis was found wrapped around her body in a bed sheet.

The woman was cautioned, arrested, and taken into custody.

Parcels containing the cannabis

Edghill engages residents on East Coast four-lane road project

RESIDENTS of Cummings Lodge, Industry, Better Hope, Beehive, Blygezight and surrounding areas along the East Coast corridor were engaged on the mitigation efforts that will be undertaken to lessen issues due to the ongoing four-lane highway from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau (Railway Embankment).

The 30.8 kilometres road network, which commenced in June 2023 and is expected to conclude in July 2025, is being executed by China Railway First Group.

Although some development causes inconveniences, the government is prepared to work with everyone to minimise their issues while governing through a consultative approach. This assurance was provided by Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill during several community meetings on Saturday after issues were highlighted by the residents.

The ultimate aim of these transformative projects is to bring immense relief to the citizens.

Minister Edghill elaborated: “So whatever we are doing, if it adversely affects someone, we

have to find a way of remedying that because our overall objective is not to make your life harder. It is to make your life better. That is what governments do. That is why we are doing a project. It is about improving people’s lives. Whenever we do something, ultimately it is the beneficiaries that we want to be satisfied.”

Minister Edghill stressed that any bridges, fences, and other property damaged during this period will be restored as part of the contractual obligations.

“The principle that we are working with is that while construction is going on…If we have to break anything, we have to give you temporary access. And when they are finished, they have to restore your access to the same quality you had before,” the public works minister emphasised. A systematic approach to suppress the dust issue in Beehive will be enforced, where the water truck will sprinkle water at the construction site twice daily.

Minister Edghill also met with residents of Duch Four who will be compensated for the damages to their properties due to the ongoing

road project.

In response to the upgrading of community roads in some of the areas, the minister told the residents, “On the East Coast right now, more than 300 roads we are doing…All the internal streets will be done eventually.”

The East Coast Road Project will also see the rehabilitation of the existing public road from Belfield to Orange Nassau spanning 5.3 kilometres.

Further, bridges, culverts, and drainage networks will be constructed, in addition to a bridge across the Hope Canal, also form part of this phase of the project.

Despite the challenges being encountered, residents from all the communities welcomed this significant project.

When completed, residents will see major benefits in the form of shorter commute time, less traffic, enhanced road safety protocols, and increased socio-economic opportunities due to enhanced accessibility.

The hotline number 703-7632 was provided to the residents to report any issues relating to the ongoing road project. (DPI)

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, contractor, engineer and others inspecting ongoing works on the road project

Residents of Better Hope, ECD, being engaged on the road project

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and others inspecting the road works

Additional theatres, imaging suite for Lethem Hospital

THE Lethem Regional Hospital in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is slated for a major upgrade, including brand-new operating theatres and an imaging suite. This initiative is in line with the government’s broader plan to enhance healthcare infrastructure nationwide.

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony disclosed this development on Wednesday during his visit to the region for the commissioning of a new ‘lab’.

“We have a plan that we are working on right now, and that is to extend, or more so develop a brand-new section of this Lethem Hospital.

“So, we have just completed the designs, and we have already advertised for persons to bid to do the job,” the health minister said.

Following the tendering process, construction will begin promptly. The imaging suite will facilitate ultrasound and x-ray examinations, as well as house a CT scan machine.

The introduction of the CT scan machine aims to reduce the travel expenses of residents who currently need to travel to Georgetown for such scans.

Additionally, it will enable the hospital to conduct various complex imaging procedures that are typically performed at better equipped facilities.

“Right now, in the public sector, we have one CT scan machine at the Georgetown Hospital, we have one at Bartica and New Amsterdam, and these were through donations that we received years ago that were never put into operation until we came into government,” Minister Anthony stated.

The minister emphasised that the government is committed to procuring state-of-the-art machines for the benefit of the people.

With the introduction of these new services in the healthcare sector, Minister Anthony encouraged residents to take advantage of the training opportunities available to contribute to the transformation of healthcare in the region. These developments are funded through the $110 billion allocated to the health ministry in this year’s budget, a substantial portion of which will be invested in infrastructure. (DPI)

‘Cops’ seize guns, ‘ammo’ during raids in Yarrowkabra

FIVE men are in police custody following the discovery of guns, ammunition and camouflage military shirts on Saturday morning.

Police Headquarters revealed that ranks from the Timehri Police Station conducted raids in the Timehri

Station District. The ranks went to Didco Farm, located at Yarrowkabra, where they contacted a 60-year-old resident of Kuru Kururu, and a 48-year-old resident of Yarrowkabra Extension, who are both security guards. A search was then carried

out in the presence of both men at their living quarters on the farm. During the search, a 12-gauge shotgun, eight 12-gauge cartridges, and two 12-gauge cartridge casings were found in the roof of the living quarters. They were both ques -

tioned as to whether they are holders of a firearm licence, and they responded in the negative. They were then cautioned and arrested.

Further searches were conducted on the said farm, leading to the discovery of two camouflage military

shirts in the living quarters of another security guard. He was also cautioned and arrested. The trio are presently in police custody.

Meanwhile, another search was carried out on the home of a 78-year-old resident of Yarrowkabra and his 48-year-old son. During this search, a shotgun was found.

As such, they were questioned if they were licensed to carry the firearm and responded in the negative. They were also cautioned and arrested and remain in custody.

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony with nurses and other health workers from the Lethem Regional Hospital

The guns, ammunition and other items found by the police during the raid

$30M repairs on Parika Stelling linkspan bridge completed

THE Parika Stelling linkspan bridge is operational again following a successful $30 million repair project, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, said during a site inspec-

tion on Friday.

The linkspan, a crucial drawbridge for vehicles using the MV Sabanto ferry, sustained significant damage and required immediate attention.

Minister Edghill high-

lighted that the remedial works were completed two weeks ago, restoring the MV Sabanto ferry’s daily operations of transporting passengers and cargo.

Superintendent of Parika Stelling, Tamesh Persaud, revealed that the repairs were carried out by a joint effort between the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) Corporation and private contractors. The collaborative approach aimed to swiftly restore ferry operations and alleviate disruptions caused by the damaged linkspan. Persaud said the rehabilitation works have significantly improved the efficiency of operations.

repair, smooth flow of traffic, no complaints at this point,” he stated. Additionally, the ministry, in partnership with the DHB Corporation is set to initiate the tender process for the rehabilitation of the catwalk at Parika Stelling.

The catwalk’s condition has deteriorated to the point of posing a safety hazard for staff, requiring immediate action.

“We are in a better position in terms of

The project will include relocating and repairing the catwalk, along with driving fender piles to rein -

force its structural integrity. Similarly, significant rehabilitation works have been carried out on the wharf’s deck geared at ensuring safety and uninterrupted traffic flow.

These interventions underscore the government’s commitment to maintaining crucial transportation infrastructure for the efficient operation of essential services, and, more importantly, the welfare of passengers. (DPI)

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, and Superintendent of the Parika Stelling, Tamesh Persaud, inspecting remedial works on linkspan bridge

The repaired linkspan bridge at Parika Stelling

PNC/R leadership puts ‘vice-like grip’ on members with differing views

— Ally points to mistreatment of Indians in the party

THE walls of unity and inclusion that the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) attempts to portray are slowly crumbling, as individuals within the party are coming forth with damning allegations of racism and being sidelined because they do not support the current leadership.

Since the launch of Opposition member, Roysdale Forde’s internal campaign to vie for the leadership of the party, the PNC/R has weathered tremendous turbulence.

This publication was informed by a reliable source that members within the party are being severely marginalised because of their decision to endorse Forde.

However, some individuals have taken a firm stance and protested against the incumbent Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton. Last week, the skeletons in the PNC/R’s closet were let out.

Former PNC/R General Secretary Amna Ally spoke out against Norton, and deemed him “unfit" to lead.

In response, PNC/R Chairman Shurwayne Holder, among other Opposition operatives, came out and hammered Ally for her statements.

In a Facebook post

last Wednesday, the PNC/R Chairman said that he does not believe Ally has “the moral authority to say who is unfit to lead the party”.

Ally, in an invited comment to the Sunday Chronicle said, “Well, the members are trying to silence me because I came out and said that I will support Roysdale Forde for the leader of the party,” adding: “On the other hand, I don’t feel that the present leader [is] doing what he should be doing as current leader of the party.”

In response to Holder’s statements about her, she said: “I am a member of PNC long before Shurwayne Holder was born, and so I have every right, as a member of the party, to say how I feel, and to support who I [want]… Holder can’t talk about me and moral authority; I don't have any time and space for rubbish like that.”

As it relates to allegations of division within the party, the former PNC/R General Secretary said that despite Holder accusing her of attempting to divide the party, this is not true.

“I would never try to divide the party; it is them... The first thing they did was to dismantle the party structure

the time he assumed the position of elected treasurer he was made to sign blank cheques with no supporting documents.

In November 2022,

in all the regions,” she said, adding: “That's why he couldn't contest the Local Government Elections, because he ain't got no structure in the regions for people to do the work.”

While the allegations of racism in the party are not new, former Mayor of Georgetown and PNC/R member Ubraj Narine on Friday called for the party to address the concerns raised by “loyal members who feel marginalised due to their Indian heritage or desire to challenge the party’s leadership”.

In support of this sentiment, Ally referenced two situations, the first having to do with Geeta Chandan-Edmond being forced to resign as PNC/R General Secretary.

Chandan-Edmond reportedly resigned from her post after growing concerns that she was not allowed to fully function in her capacity as GS.

Sources familiar with the situation had told the Guyana Chronicle that Chandan-Edmond had “endured” a lot before throwing in the proverbial towel.

Secondly, Ally referenced the former PNC/R Treasurer Faaiz Mursaline, who, in a previous interview with this publication, said from

he signed as many as 20 blank cheques.

“It is clear that he [Norton] sidelines everybody," she said, adding: “Since Norton come in, he says

one thing but he does something else and it is clear, I just told you about all those resignations, all are Indian. So, what reflection does it give?”

Men’s Caribbean Premier League 2024 Fixtures

Thurs 29 August, 7pm: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.

Fri 30 August, 7pm: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Guyana Amazon Warriors, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.

Sat 31 August, 7pm: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Warner Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts.

Sun 1 September, 10am: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Barbados Royals, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.

Sun 1 September, 7pm: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Saint Lucia Kings, Warner Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts.

Tues 3 September, 7pm: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Saint Lucia Kings, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.

Wed 4 September, 7pm: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Guyana Amazon Warriors, Warner

Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts.

Thurs 5 September, 7pm: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.

Fri 6 September, 7pm: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Barbados Royals, Warner Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts.

Sat 7 September,7pm: Saint Lucia Kings vs Guyana Amazon Warriors, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia.

Sun 8 September, 10am: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Warner Park Sporting Complex, St Kitts.

Tues 10 September, 7pm: Saint Lucia Kings vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia.

Wed 11 September, 7pm: Barbados Royals vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Thurs 12 September, 7pm: Saint Lucia Kings vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia.

Fri 13 September, 7pm: Barbados Royals vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Sat 14 September, 7pm: Barbados Royals vs Guyana Amazon Warriors, Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Sun 15 September, 7pm: Saint Lucia Kings vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia.

Tues 17 September, 7pm: Barbados Royals vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Wed 18 September, 7pm: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Guyana Amazon Warriors, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad.

Thurs 19 September, 7pm: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad.

Friday 20 September, 7pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Sat 21 September, 10am: Saint Lucia Kings vs Barbados Royals, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Sat 21 September, 7pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Sun 22 September, 10am: Barbados Royals vs Saint Lucia Kings, Guyana National Stadi-

um, Providence.

Sun 22 September, 7pm: Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Kitt & Nevis Patriots, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad.

Tues 24 September, 10am: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Saint Lucia Kings, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad.

Wed 25 September, 7pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Barbados Royals, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Fri 27 September, 7pm: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Royals, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad.

Sat 28 September, 10am: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Saint Lucia Kings, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Sun 29 September, 7pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Tues 1 October, 7pm: Eliminator – 3rd place vs 4th place, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Wed 2 October, 7pm: Qualifier 1 – 1st place vs 2nd place, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Fri 4 October 7pm: Qualifier 2 – Winner of Eliminator vs Loser Qualifier 1, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Sun 6 October, 7pm: Final – Winner Qualifier 1 vs Winner Qualifier 2, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

I Am Maximus wins Grand National at Aintree ahead of Delta Work

By Frank Keogh

BBC Sport at Aintree

I AM Maximus stormed clear to win the Grand National for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins.

The 7-1 joint favourite triumphed by seven and a half lengths at Aintree from runner-up Delta Work, with Minella Indo third and Galvin fourth.

"What an unbelievable race and unbelievable horse," said Townend.

There was early drama in the famous race as last year's winner Corach Rambler unseated jockey Derek Fox at the first fence.

Mac Tottie, who was pulled up, was treated by vets but was cleared to return to trainer Peter Bowen's yard. There were no concerns about any other runners.

Of the 32 starters, 21 horses completed the race -- the highest number across the finish line since 1992.

Rachael Blackmore

year and a purchase which enabled him to ride in the race for the first time.

But it was the team of Mullins, Townend and owner JP McManus who triumphed as I Am Maximus led home an Irish 1-2-3-4.

At the 13th attempt, Townend claimed his first National win while it was a second for Mullins after Hedgehunter in 2005 and McManus' third triumph following Don't Push It (2010) and Minella Times (2021).

"Aintree is the first race you see, it's the first race everyone in racing wants to see. Fantastic stuff, you just couldn't make it up," said Mullins.

Last year's race had been delayed by 14 minutes after animal rights activists entered the track, but there was no disruption this time.

looked as if she might secure a second National win as Minella Indo challenged, while Kitty's Light finished fifth for Welsh trainer Christian Williams, whose young daughter Betsy is being treated for leukaemia.

Sixth went to amateur jockey David Maxwell, riding Ain't That A Shame, a horse he bought earlier this

Premier League...

The other 7-1 joint-favourite, Limerick Lace, also owned by McManus, was hoping to become the first mare to win the race since Nickel Coin in 1951, but made a couple of early mistakes and drifted to the back of the field, eventually finishing 10th.

The number of runners had been reduced from a maximum of 40 following a safety review.

Other safety measures included a standing start for the race, which went off at the first time of asking, a reduction in height to one of the fences and added foam and rubber toe boards on every fence.

Victory means Mullins is now favourite to win the British trainers' championship, which concludes at the end of this month.

Manchester City thrash Luton to go to top of table

MANCHESTER City moved to top of the Premier League for at least a day with a predictably dominant victory over struggling Luton Town.

City led after only 65 seconds at Etihad Stadium, when Erling Haaland's wayward volley hit Luton's Daiki Hashioka before flying into the net.

It took City more than an hour to double their lead through Mateo Kovacic's sweet, rising strike from near the edge of the area.

Haaland put the game beyond any doubt with a penalty after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Fred Onyedinma.

Just after City made a double change, Ross Barkley took advantage of a Matheus

Nunes’ mistake to pull one back for the Hatters.

But Doku cut in from the left to slot a fine solo goal into the bottom corner.

The impressive Doku set up City's fifth as he picked out Josko Gvardiol, who slammed a beauty into the top corner - the defender's second goal in a week having not scored for City before that.

City are two points clear at the top, although Liverpool - at home to Crystal Palaceand Arsenal, who host Aston Villa, can move back above them on Sunday.

Luton remain in the relegation zone.

City win without Rodri

City have done something they have not managed yet

this season, winning a league game without Rodri.

The influential midfielder has missed three league games this season through suspension, the only three defeats City have experienced in the league.

He said he needed a rest after Tuesday's 3-3 Champions League quarter-final thriller with Real Madrid and manager Pep Guardiola obliged. Rodri was on the bench but City did not need him.

Ederson was back in goal after a month out and he had a comfortable afternoon to ease back into the action.

It was a comfortable afternoon for everyone in a light blue shirt.

Haaland should have

scored in the first minute when he was sent one-onone by Kevin de Bruyne. His shot was saved by Thomas Kaminski and his follow-up was going wide before being deflected in by Hashioka, who was almost knocked out by the effort.

CONCACAF Schedule

It was non-stop pressure and dominance from City, who lived in Luton's defensive third, but it took them until their 27th shot to double their lead through Kovacic's half-volley from Julian Alvarez's cross.

Haaland looked set for

another frustrating afternoon in front of goal until Doku was chopped down by Onyedinma, and the Norwegian converted a penalty for his 20th Premier League goal of the season.

After Luton pulled one back, Doku again took on Onyedinma - who this time dared not lunge in - before finding the bottom corner.

Gvardiol netted a fine goal in Madrid on Tuesday and got another in stoppage time from Doku's pass.

How long defending champions City remain top depends on Liverpool and Arsenal. Guardiola's side need the pair to slip up at least once in the closing weeks.(BBC Sport)

CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 championship groups and schedule announced

MIAMI, Florida, CMC – Jamaica, the only English-speaking Caribbean Football Union side remaining in the tournament, will face a difficult task in the group stage of the CONCACAF men’s Under-20 championship to be staged from July 19

to August 4 in Celaya and Irapuato, Mexico.

CONCACAF announced that the Jamaicans will face the traditionally strong pair of United States and Costa Rica, as well as feisty CFU neighbour, Cuba, in Group A, after the official draw took place on Thurs-

day at the confederation’s headquarters in the United States.

Honduras, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Canada will form Group B, and hosts Mexico, as well as Panama, Guatemala, and Haiti will contest Group C.

The Young Reggae Boyz

booked their place in the Championship after winning all their matches in Group F in February at the SKNFA Technical Centre in the St Kitts & Nevis capital of Basseterre – 1-0 against Martinique, 2-0 against Grenada, and 3-2 against Bermuda.

After round-robin play in the group stage from July 19 to 27, the top two finishers in each group and the two best third places will advance to the quarterfinals.

The knockout stage will include eight teams, starting with the quarterfinals on July 30 and 31, then the

semi-finals on August 2, and the final, where the new champions will be crowned, on Sunday, August 4.

The four teams reaching the semi-finals will also guarantee their participation in the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile.

Both of Mateo Kovacic's domestic goals this season have come against Luton Town

I Am Maximus' victory is jockey Paul Townend's first in the Grand National

On this day in 2004: Brian Lara makes record Test score of 400 not out

ON this day 20 years ago, Brian Lara regained the individual Test score world record on his way to an unbeaten 400 against England in the fourth Test in Antigua.

Ten years after hitting 375 to claim the world record for an individual innings against England at the same venue, Lara exceeded that effort by becoming the first player in history to score 400.

By doing so, he became the first player to hold the individual Test innings record twice.

ter who you are playing against, it’s very hard.

“It’s a great feeling, but it’s dampened by the series result. Ten years ago the match ended in a draw, but this time we’re looking for a result.”

Upon achieving the record, Lara was greeted in the middle by Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua, while England captain Michael Vaughan hailed Lara as “one of the all-time great players”.

better than us for those two days,” Vaughan said.

“He is one of the alltime great players, he has achieved something that has never been achieved before even with the amount of pressure he had on him before the start of this Test.

“He will go down as one of the greats of the game and it will take some player and some performance to beat his 400.”

Lara reclaimed his record from Australian Matthew Hayden, who, only six months earlier, had broken the record with 380 in Perth in October 2003.

Lara’s mammoth innings steered the West

“Matthew Hayden must have batted very well against Zimbabwe because it doesn’t mat -

Indies to a total of 751 for five before declaring and reflecting on his achievement, he said: “When I scored it before I didn’t know what to expect –this time it was very tiring, but I’m here again.

“We all set out to achieve greatness, but he is a gifted, gifted player – throughout his innings we tested him with a few things but he was much

Mahela Jayawardene went close with 374 for Sri Lanka against South Africa two years later but Lara remains first and third on the list two decades on.(Sportsmax).

Nepal's Airee makes history by smashing six sixes in an over — Big-hitting finisher joins Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard in T20I cricket's elite list

DIPENDRA

last over against Qatar in their ACC Men's Premier Cup match in Al Amerat on Saturday.

Starting the final over on 28 off 15 balls and Nepal on 174 for 7, Airee smashed medium pacer Kamran Khan for six sixes to end on 64 from 21. Nepal's 210 for 7 then proved too much for Qatar as they went down by 32 runs.

Airee also took two wickets in the chase.

That put his name on a list which only had Yuvraj Singh (off Stuart Broad in Durban in the 2007 T20 World Cup) and Kieron Pollard (off Akila Dananjaya in Coolidge in 2021) so far. In ODI cricket, the feat has been achieved by Herschelle Gibbs and USA's Jaskaran Malhotra.

Airee, the 24-year-old playing his 60th T20I to go with 55 ODIs, is no stranger to the feat though. He had

achieved it once previously, though the six consecutive sixes on that occasion were spread across two overs.

That was during the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September 2023, against Mongolia. It was made even more spectacular because those sixes came off the first six legal deliveries he had faced. The first five came in one over off Mungun Altankhuyag, and Airee completed the set off the first ball he faced next over from Luvsanzundui

Erdenebulgan. Airee had scored 52 not out in ten balls that day as Nepal put up a mammoth 314 for 3 and then bowled Mongolia out for 41. It was the first 300-plus team. total in a T20I match, and the nine balls Airee took to get the fastest-ever T20I fifty in history, topping the mark of 12 held by Yuvraj, Chris Gayle and Hazratullah Zaza. (Cricinfo)

Scotland ponders scaled-down 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

GLASGOW could step in with a scaled-back offering should no other host be found for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Last week, Singapore joined Malaysia in ruling out a bid, after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host in July because of rising costs.

Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) say their pro-

posal would involve "no significant ask of public funds".

It would include a core programme of 10 to 13 sports - down from 20 at Birmingham 2022. The last resort plan would "utilise existing venues and accommodation options" in Glasgow, where the Games were held in 2014.

This week the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said it was "consider-

ing multiple proposals" amid continued uncertainty over the event's long-term future.

"Our priority is to ensure a Games takes place in 2026 and we are encouraged by the news that the CGF are in advanced discussions with other nations.

However, if an alternative solution cannot be secured within the coming weeks, we are ready to ex-

plore our concept with the CGF and key partners in greater detail, with the aim of delivering a world class sporting event in Scotland using a model that could be replicated across the Commonwealth for future editions," CGS said.

"A feasibility study was commissioned in December 2023 to assess Scotland's viability as a cost-effective

alternative host, following the CGF's decision to make available £100m to host nations for a 2026 Games as part of the Victoria settlement agreement.

"We are satisfied that the concept developed could see a refreshed format for the Games, that would see it be delivered on time and on budget, providing significant benefit to the Scottish econo-

my and a potential blueprint for a sustainable Games model of the future," it added.

CGS also pointed out that additional funding for the estimated £130-150m budget would come from commercial income, including ticketing, sponsorship and broadcasting.

A final decision from the CGF is expected by the end of May. (Sportsmax)

Singh Airee, Nepal's big-hitting finisher, entered the record books as the third man to hit six sixes in an over in an international T20 game, achieving the feat in the

Dipendra Singh Airee: third man in T20Is and fifth in all internationals to achieve the feat • ( ICC)

Ten years after hitting 375 to claim the world record at the Antigua Recreation Ground(ARG), Brian Lara exceeded that effort by becoming the first player in history to score 400

Demerara Volleyball Club League

GDF breaks Vanguard volleyball club’s defence to emerge victorious

JAHLEEL Roberts

led his Guyana Defence Force team to a comfortable straight sets victory on Friday evening when action continued into round 3 of the Demerara Volleyball Association Club League at the National Gymnasium.

It was a blow-out performance for the Army men side as they dominated the five- set affair to win in straight sets, 3-0, to reclaim the top spot on the leader board.

They took the first set 25-12 then the second set by the same margin 25-12 before upping the ante to show their prowess in the third, 25-7 for the overwhelming victory.

Roberts led the way with 10 points for the soliders as they outplayed their rivals in every department for the win.

Steffon Norah was also fabulous with a 100 percent efficiency rate when attacking to capture 10 crucial points for his team.

GDF’s Mark Stanley, and Osworth Dash also contributed with 7 and 6 points.

GDF top striker Omari Joseph also had

a share in the victory with 7 points as he increased his lead at the top of the individual points table with 52 points after 4 games for the soldier men.

Next on the individual points table is Castrol striker Corwyn Richards with 48 points followed by Trevon MaRae on

45 in third.

The latest win put GDF to the top of the points table once again on 11 points, just a point adrift of second place Castrol Striker on 10 points with Premier Eagles third on 9 points.

The other participating teams in the 7 team league are Alphas, Venguys and Classic Ball Blasters.

The league continues with round 4 from April 22-26 at the National. Gymnasium.

Alphas meet Venguys, Classic Ball Blasters play GDF, Premier Eagles face off with Alphas, and GDF come up against Castrol Strikers and Vanguard take on Premier Eagles in the next round of matches.

Party stand tickets go on sale from tomorrow

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC )– Organisers of the ICC

Men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and United States are hailing the start, on Monday, of sales for party stand tickets for matches in the tournament.

The announcement came on Friday from the ICC, the sport’s world organising body, to coincide with the 50-day countdown to the start of the tournament.

“The countdown is truly on with 50 days to go,” tournament director Fawwaz Baksh said. “The upcoming launch of the official tournament anthem, led by Grammy Award winner Sean Paul and soca icon Kes, comes as we get ready to launch party-stand tickets, which is something fans have been eagerly awaiting. “Adding to the already hyped excitement, the World Cup trophy tour is now in the Ca-

ribbean, and people from all walks of life are looking forward to seeing the coveted trophy in person. It’s an exciting time in the West Indies and USA, and we are looking forward to welcoming fans from around the world to be part of an out of this T20 World Cup experience.”

Party stand tickets will retail for U.S. $25 and can be purchased from 10:00 hours East Caribbean Time, on Monday, from the web-

site, tickets.t20worldcup.com.

According to an ICC news release, general tickets are also available for purchase on the ticketing website and will be available at box offices around the Caribbean when they open in the coming weeks.

Party stand tickets will be available for all matches across the Caribbean, including those for the Group Stage, Super 8, semi-finals, and final.

Additionally, limited hospitality package options are available for all matches across the Caribbean.

In the United States, packages to all eight matches in New York, including for India vs Pakistan on June 9, are now available for purchase.

Building on the wave of excitement marking 50 days to go and following the international launch of the trophy tour on March 18 in New

York, where two-time T20 World Cup champion, Chris Gayle and United States pacer, Ali Khan, lit up the Empire State Building, the Caribbean leg of the trophy tour started on Friday in Barbados, the venue for the final.

The men’s T20 World Cup will feature 20 teams for the first time, making it the biggest global cricketing showpiece ever.

GDF volleyball club after its victory over Vanguard

Kieron Edwards to lead new TTFA administration

Edwards has

elected new President of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

Edwards, leading Team Progressive, defeated Colin Wharfe and his Transformation team at the Elective Congress 38-19 on Saturday morning at the Home of Football in Couva.

The new administration will be the first self-governed TTFA in more than four years.

This, as William Wallace's administration was removed months after he was elected in November 2019, as FIFA intervened and installed its Normalisation Committee in March 2020, citing financial concerns.

In keeping with the amended TTFA constitution, members were only asked to vote for a president. Edwards’ entire slate will serve alongside him.

“Our slate [did] the work and left it in the hand of the membership, and they made the decision,” said Edwards.

Edwards pointed out that his team will meet on Monday to hit the ground running to move football forward in the twin island republic.

His administration comprises Colin Murray, Osmond Downer, and Jameson Rigues as the three vice-presidents, while Alicia

Austin, Inspector Andrew Boodhoo, Allan Logan, Ryan Nunes, and Shelton Williams are the ordinary members.

Looking ahead, Edwards revealed that his administration will review the positions of all TTFA staff

including that of General Secretary Amiel Mohammed, who was hired by the Robert Hadad -chaired Normalisation Committee.

“He is the general secretary currently and I will work with him until further notice,” said Edwards.

County Championship…

“Coaches that[sic] are under contract, we will honour those contracts and we will work with them. It is not a situation of moving this one (or that one), it is about giving support and enhancing what we do to ensure that we qualify for

tournaments, and we do well in tournaments. That is the objective of the next executive going forward," he added.

He was gracious too to the outgoing Normalisation Committee, which included Nigel Romano and Trevor Nicholas Gomez, as well as members of Wharfe’s slate.

“It is one TTFA and we will work together with all members and your voice will be heard. It is about inclusion; the Normalisation Committee played a crucial role, and we need to acknowledge the service they did for Trinidad and Tobago," Edwards noted.

Meanwhile, Wharfe promised to continue doing what he can for football in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We at Team Transformation accept the result and will continue to work for football in any way that we think possible. I will continue to do my job (as TTPFL CEO) and the new executive will make determinations in terms of what tomorrow would look like,” he said.(Sportsmax).

Warwickshire makes second-highest first-class score

WARWICKSIRE piled up the second-highest total in their history to put Durham under serious pressure in their County Championship Division One game at Edgbaston.

The home side, led by Alex Davies' maiden double-century, amassed a mammoth 698-3 declared to leave Durham needing 549 even to avoid the follow on.

The visitors closed the second day on 178-3, with Alex Lees, unbeaten on 94, leading the resistance, but with a huge amount of work still to do to dig his side out of trouble.

Warwickshire captain Davies amassed 256, his maiden double century, from 311 balls, while Rob Yates (191 on the opening day) and Will Rhodes (178 not out) also filled their boots. Debutant Callum Parkinson delivered the most expen-

sive analysis by a Durham bowler in first-class cricket with 2-206.

Warwickshire resumed on the second morning on 490-1, and former Lancashire opener Davies advanced implacably onwards, and it was a surprise when, after 445 minutes at the crease in which he struck 28 fours and three sixes, he was beaten in defence and bowled by Parkinson.

The spinner then made it two wickets in three balls when he produced a beauty to bowl Ed Barnard.

Dan Mousley hoisted his third ball into the crowd at the City End for six, and settled in alongside the relentless Rhodes to add an unbroken 132 in 22 overs before the declaration arrived half-an-hour into the after-

noon session.

The pitch continued to offer the bowlers little, but, after Durham eased to 42 without loss, Warwickshire's seamers managed to prise two superb deliveries from it in nine balls. Scott Borthwick edged a brute of a lifter from Olly Hannon-Dalby, behind, and Colin Ackermann nicked a perfectly-shaped outswinger from Craig Miles.

Lees and David Bedingham knuckled down to add 94 in 25 overs before off-spinner Yates had Bedingham (49) caught at short mid-wicket.

Lees' concentration remained absolute, and, with Ollie Robinson, saw out the last 16 overs. (BBC Sport)

KIERON

been

Alex Davies struck 28 fours and three sixes in his 256

Newly-elected TTFA president Kieron Edwards (left) and Robert Hadad, chairman of the outgoing Normalisation Committee

Chase’s seven for 67 fires Barbados Pride to nine-wicket win

PORT OF SPAIN,

Trinidad, (CMC) – Off-spinning all-rounder Roston Chase

conjured up a brilliant seven-wicket burst to complete a second ten-wicket haul in first class cricket, as Barbados Pride marched to a nine-wicket win over Leeward Islands Hurricanes late on Saturday’s final day.

The 32-year-old Chase, who hit a hundred in the Pride first innings, finished with seven for 67 and match figures of ten for 114, an effort which sent a defiant Hurricanes to 311 all out in their second innings at Queen’s Park Oval, in their

sixth round match of the West Indies Championship.

Resuming the morning on 98 for one - still 156 runs

behind after being asked to follow on - Hurricanes got half-centuries from rookie opener Mikyle Lou-

CCC put up resistance but Red Force triumph

ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad,(CMC) – Opener

Damel Evelyn, Test batsman Shamarh Brooks and wicketkeeper Demario

Richards all carved out fifties but were unable to prevent Combined Campuses and Colleges’ slide to a 123run defeat to Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

Resuming day four of their sixth round match in the West Indies Championship on 67 for one, requiring a further 382 to complete an improbable victory, CCC surrendered for 325 late in the final session at the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground here Saturday.

Test batsman Shamarh Brooks.

Evelyn, unbeaten overnight on 43, top-scored with 73 while Richards chipped in with an unbeaten 66 and Brooks, 62, the trio providing much of the fight required.

Number nine Romario Greaves struck a cavalier 47

late on but off-spinner Bryan Charles snatched four for 46 and left-arm spinner Khary Pierre, three for 90, to power Red Force to their third win of the campaign.

The loss kept CCC winless this season, the University side logging their sixth straight defeat of a frustrating season.

Pierre provided Red Force with an explosive start to the morning when he bowled nightwatchman Zishan Motara (0) before CCC had added, and then also bowled Ordain McCatty without scoring to leave the visitors tottering on 69 for three.

Evelyn and Brooks then combined to patch the innings up in a third wicket stand of 96, a partnership which lifted CCC to 154 without further loss at lunch.

The 22-year-old Evelyn faced 182 deliveries and struck seven fours while Brooks, 35, hit nine fours off 101 deliveries to mark his

second fifty of the campaign.

Part-time off-spinner Vikash Mohan got the breakthrough in the third over after lunch when he trapped Evelyn lbw and Brooks followed at the start of the next over, bowled playing back to one from fast bowler Anderson Phillip which kept slightly low.

With CCC stumbling again on 165 for five, Richards produced a defiant knock to energise the lower order. The 25-year-old lashed eight fours and two sixes in a 149-ball knock, inspiring stands of 31 for the sixth wicket with Roshon Primus (13), 52 for the seventh with Yannick Ottley (19) and 77 for the eighth with Greaves.

Once Greaves holed out to mid-on off Charles after blasting nine fours in a 77ball knock, CCC lost their last three wickets without a run added.

is (80); West Indies whiteball stroke-maker Keacy Carty (69) and West Indies leg-spinner Hayden Walsh (60).

However, Chase accounted for all three, as Hurricanes finally succumbed in the final session, leaving Pride with an uncomplicated target of 58 for victory.

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who made 189 in the first innings, then struck an unbeaten 30 off 38 balls with four fours as Pride collected their fourth win of the campaign, to remain in contention for the title ahead of next week’s final round.

Unbeaten on 45 at the start, Louis forged a second wicket stand of 88 with Carty, who was yet to face a ball after Kieran Powell was dismissed for 52 with the final delivery of Friday’s penultimate day.

The 23-year-old Louis, already with a half-century in the first innings, counted eight fours and two sixes in a knock lasting 194 balls, as he passed 500 runs (549) in his maiden first class season, while Carty faced 112 deliveries and struck five fours and a six.

Chase got the breakthrough in the fourth over

before lunch when he got Louis to tug a return catch off a short ball, leaving Hurricanes on 192 at the break.

After lunch, Chase scythed through the Hurricanes innings as six wickets tumbled for 56 runs, Carty among the casualties, clipping an innocuous Chase delivery to Kevin Wickham at short mid-wicket to be seventh out.

Walsh counter-attacked, belting four fours and three sixes in a 92-ball stay and helping to add 34 for the ninth wicket with Colin Archibald (10), before Chase knocked over both.

Off-spinning all-rounder Roston Chase

West Indies Championship

Harpy Eagles crush Scorpions to notch fourth straight win

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – THE Guyana

Harpy Eagles stormed to their fourth win of the West Indies Championship with a crushing 212-run verdict over hapless Jamaica Scorpions on the final day of their sixth- round match here Saturday.

Resuming the morning at Sabina Park with the hosts on 123 for two in pursuit of 419 for victory, Harpy Eagles removed the last eight wickets for only 83 runs as Jamaica were dismissed for 206.

West Indies lefthander Kirk McKenzue

added just one to his overnight 39 while Peat Salmon chipped in with 30, as left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and

off-spinner Kevin Sinclair finished with identical figures of three for 32 to extend Harpy Eagles’ winning streak.

Since drawing their opening match of the campaign and losing their second, the title-holders have gone on an impressive run, thrashing West Indies Academy by 221 runs, outlasting Barbados Pride by 33 runs and hammering Windward Islands Volcanoes by 254 runs.

Guyana wasted little time in making the breakthrough when fast bowler Nial Smith uprooted Brandon King’s middle stump in the third over, after the West Indies white-ball right-hander had added just two to his

overnight 13.

And the left-handed McKenzie’s 124-ball vigil ended three overs later with only two runs added to the total at 127, when he prodded forward to Motie and was taken low down at short leg by Raymond Perez.

Salmon, who faced 62 deliveries and counted four fours and a six, then tried to hold the innings together, putting on 32 for the fifth wicket with Abhijai Mansingh (17) and a further 30 for the seventh with Derval Green (19).

However, key strikes

derailed that effort. Nineteen-year-old speedster Isaiah Thorne (2-30) struck twice at the start of the third over following the drinks break, going through Mansingh’s defence and bowling the right-hander before getting new batsman Romaine Morris to nick a drive at a full length delivery, to be caught behind without scoring.

And once Motie got Green to hole out to cover, the Scorpions lost their last four wickets for 17 runs, to slump to their fourth loss of the campaign.

Hetmyer cameo powers Rajasthan Royals to top of the table

RAJASTHAN Royals (RR) produced an excellent bowling display but nearly fluffed their lines in a chase of 147 on a slow and two-paced surface at Mullanpur.

Eventually what seemed a routine chase came down to the league leaders needing to get 34 off 18. Shimron Hetmyer scored a 10-ball 27 not out to take the team to their fifth win of IPL 2024 off the penultimate ball. The defeat, the fourth of Punjab Kings' season, kept them rooted to the bottom half of the table.

A-listers from both sides missed out on this contest due to niggles. While PBKS welcomed back Liam Livingstone, they lost their captain Shikhar Dhawan. Atharva Taide took up the vacant opening slot while Sam Curran assumed captaincy.

In the pink corner, Jos Buttler and R. Ashwin missed out with Tanush Kotian and Rovman Powell coming in for their IPL debuts. The visitors, however, had the advantage of playing with a target in front of them after Sanju Samson won an important toss.

Of the five lowest powerplay scores in IPL 2024, three of them belong to the Punjab Kings,

underscoring the big pain point of their season so far. Yesterday, they were further hamstrung by the absence of their leader and opener Dhawan. As ever, the Kings turned to their lower middle-order in search of scoreboard respectability. Jitesh Sharma led the revival with an excellent, inside-out

six over extra cover off Chahal before a six down the ground off Kuldeep Sen. The returning Liam Livingstone struck a six and a four himself in a 17-run takedown of Sen, but just as the partnership was blossoming than Jitesh fell to Avesh Khan. After Livingstone was run out, courtesy of an improvised flicked throw from Samson, the onus was on Ashutosh to provide the finishing kick. And he managed just that. Two sixes came in the 19th over from Avesh Khan before he added a four in the final over to finish with an impressive 31 off 16.

With Buttler absent, the Royals sent out all-Mumbai pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tanush Kotian to open the chase. The Royals went through the powerplay without losing a wicket for the first time this season, but they managed only a modest 43

runs in this time.

The early go-slow didn't seem to affect the Royals’ chase as Jaiswal and Sanju Samson continued to keep them ticking, slashing the equation down to a very gettable 66 off 51 before the returning Rabada got Jaiswal to mistime an uppercut to third man. After getting to 39 off 28, the prodigious opener couldn't cash in and it opened a window of opportunity for the hosts. Rabada then sent a pacy delivery onto Samson's leg and trapped him in front of the stumps. The South African star finished his four overs for figures of 2 for 18 and his final two overs got the visitors to crack under the pressure applied.

The in-form Riyan Parag top-edged a pull off Arshdeep while Sam Curran gave away just six singles in the over prior. It left the Royals needing 34 off 18. Curran could have bowled the 18th over himself but threw the ball to Harshal Patel. The Haryana bowler dismissed Dhruv Jurel but ended that over with two soft balls which Hetmyer swung away for a four and a six. Rovman Powell then hit Curran for a brace of fours to start the 19th over. That meant four straight balls had cost 18 runs and even though Curran came back well to dismiss Powell and Maharaj in his last over, Arshdeep was left to defend just 10 off the final over. The left-armer bowled two dots to start but missed his yorker at the third time of trying and conceded a six. Hetmyer helped himself to another six off a full toss to condemn PBKS to another close defeat. (Cricbuzz)

Shimron Hetmyer went bang, bang at a tricky time for the Royals • (BCCI photo)

Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie finsished with figures of 3-32