Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 14-08-2023

Massive breeding programme to be rolled out soon

–– livestock farmers urged to form consortiums to take full advantage of opportunities

By Naomi Parris

LIVESTOCK farmers

in Guyana are being urged to form consortiums as the Agriculture Ministry looks to roll out its massive breeding project.

At a meeting with farmers in Region Six on Saturday, Agriculture

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha disclosed that Guyana has secured some 63 Brahman bulls from Texas, USA, to support the country ’ s efforts in boosting its local meat and dairy production

“ If you can form yourself in a group, I can give you proper breeding bulls so you can develop your stock ,” Mustapha told farmers

To support the breeding programme , the government will also be developing pastures in Regions Two, Four, Five, Six and 10 Additionally, works are underway for the construction of a state - of - the - art abattoir in Region Five

As it relates to the dairy industry , Mustapha disclosed that the government will be looking to establish three milk parlours by the end of the year

BLACK BELLY

SHEEP

Meanwhile , Minister Mustapha disclosed that Guyana has already secured 850 black belly sheep from Barbados.

The country recently received an additional 300 sheep from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and is expecting the remaining 150 to arrive soon

In August 2022, Guyana had received 132 sheep which included 112 ewes and 20 rams

This particular project

will see Guyana collaborating with Barbados to build a regional brand of sheep that will decrease the import of lamb and mutton products into CARICOM

The Ministry of Agriculture is also looking to spearhead a cross-breeding project using the Black Belly sheep and the locally bred sheep

Under the breed improvement programme, genetic insemination , embryo transplant and cross - breeding will be done.

Police looking for suspect in fatal stabbing of Leopold Street teen

THE police are currently on the hunt for a 25-yearold man who , on Saturday, allegedly stabbed and killed 18 - year - old Noel Fraser, called ‘Nunu’, of Leopold Street, during a fight. According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Sunday, the alleged murder occurred at about 08:00 hours at Leopold Street during a brawl involving the victim, suspect and others

Information from other sources disclosed that

Fraser was attempting to part the fight when he was allegedly stabbed by the 25 - year - old suspect , who subsequently fled the scene Fraser was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation by relatives, where he died while receiving medical attention

Several persons were questioned , and police are trying to locate the suspect and the other persons involved in the fatal altercation

Investigations are ongoing

SELF-SUFFICIENT

To support these initiatives, critical investments are being made to see the country increase its production of feed for livestock.

Mustapha said works on three 3,000-tonne silos to support the cultivation of corn and soya beans at the Tacama Landing are nearing completion

To further support the

expansion of this project, a wharf will be built to allow for the smooth transport of feed from the farm to the farmers

“We are now building a wharf where barges and ships can go there and collect the product in the Tacama savannahs.”

“ Corn and soya are necessary for the livestock industry Every year , we are importing approximately $US6 mil-

lion in livestock feed We are hoping that by 2025 we will produce all the corn and soya for Guyana’s needs By the end of this year, we will cultivate 3,000 acres and that will increase gradually,” he added

He explained that if the government is able to further expand production within the next three years, the country will not only become a supplier to the regional market, but will also be self-sufficient in producing its own feed for livestock

In 2021 , six local companies and a regional firm joined together to undertake the massive project that could see Guyana becoming self-sufficient in corn and soya bean over the next few years

The owners of Guyana Stockfeeds Incorporated., Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM wood, Dubulay Ranch, and Bounty Farm Ltd., along with the Brazilian - owned , N F Agriculture, have partnered to produce soya bean and corn for both the local and regional markets.

–– as gov’t seeks to increase meat, dairy production

Noel Fraser

Brazil’s Lula unveils $350 bln ‘growth acceleration’ plan

THE “growth acceleration” plan launched by Brazil on Friday foresees 1.7 trillion reais ($347.5 billion) in investments that will rely increasingly on public-private partnerships, while driving a new ecological transition plan,

the government said. The programme, known as PAC, revisits an initiative that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva first introduced in 2007 during his earlier term in office to raise investments in energy, logistics, and urban and social

infrastructure.

It was later expanded under his successor, former President Dilma Rousseff. Critics say it incurred excessive spending, exacerbating Brazil’s fiscal crisis, while failing to bring fundamental advances in infrastructure.

This time Lula’s government says the plan will follow a path marked by stronger partnerships be -

tween the public and private sectors, with more than 1.3 trillion reais estimated to be disbursed by 2026.

“This PAC is different from the other ones. The state will stimulate PPPs,” Lula’s Chief of Staff Rui Costa said at the launch of the program in Rio de Janeiro. He added there would be “fiscal and environmental responsibility” while looking after social needs.

“It’s time we buried the idea that social responsibility is fiscal irresponsibility,” he said.

According to the government, 371 billion reais - or 22 per cent of the total - are set to be invested by the federal government, while state-owned firms such as oil giant Petrobras (PETR4.SA) would inject 343 billion.

The private sector is seen investing a total 612 billion reais. The government did not immediately detail the fiscal impact of the initiative, or give a specific time frame for the plan.

Even though the plan includes several projects in the oil and gas sector led by Petrobras, and investment in the pre-salt offshore oilfields, Lula’s team empha-

sised its environmental goals and announced an “ecological transition plan.”

Lula has staked his international reputation on reversing environmental back-sliding under his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, when Amazon deforestation soared. Yet Lula is under pressure to deliver much-needed growth to poor, under-developed regions and he wants Petrobras to be an engine of growth.

The PAC does not included funding for paving of the BR-319 highway through pristine parts of the Amazon rainforest that the Bolsonaro government planned and environmentalists warn would cause irreversible damage.

Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said the ecological plan would be focused on establishing a regulated carbon credit market, issuing sustainable sovereign bonds and reformulating a climate fund that aims to bring down emissions.

“We’ll accelerate growth in our country and help stop degradation of our planet,” Haddad said in a speech. (Reuters)

A general view of the Copa Cabana beach during Independence Day celebrations, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 7, 2022 (REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes/ File Photo)

Caribbean urged to tackle development challenges together

SUB-REGIONAL Director for the Caribbean of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Diane Quarless says Caribbean SIDS (Small Island Developing States) must stop working in silos to tackle development challenges and unlock the full potential of the region.

Director Quarless was speaking in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at a meeting of Caribbean SIDS, where representatives from 16 countries are assessing progress on sustainable development and planning for the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Develop-

ing States in 2024.

“We are not small island states, we are large ocean states. We need to be taking full advantage of the potential and the possibility that you get from utilisation of the resources of the sea. We need to sit down and plan that. When last did we have a meeting that speaks to the potential of the blue economy among ourselves, and we need to stop working in silos, that’s the next thing. That is one of the things that we need to look at going forward. You don’t work at the national level when you can work regionally, you know, or inter-regionally. We all share the same challeng-

es.”

Presenting excerpts from the Caribbean Regional Synthesis Report, on progress in sustainable development, Director Quarless said Caribbean SIDS must be the ones setting the best practice for the region, “We need to lead by example, it is very important.” “Climate action. What can I say? The need for investment in adaptation and mitigation. The support… the need for funding adaptation, loss and damage, green climate funding to be replenished, the energy transition – all the climate adaptation issues that are being discussed

in the COP are critical… We need to be going green.”

Director Quarless also touched on other major challenges in Caribbean development including the vulnerability of the tourism-based economy, youth development, education, gender equality and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The countries and territories attending the meeting include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, British Virgin

Islands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.

All these countries are SIDS, which are challenged by the issues of climate change, small economies, while trying to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs (17 areas for improvement of human and environmental life) by 2030.

The UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Jinhua said “By fostering regional collaboration and partnerships, Caribbean nations can leverage their collective strength to overcome common challenges and embrace sustainable solutions.

The United Nations is committed to supporting these initiatives to improve the livelihoods of SIDS communities and contribute to efforts towards a more resilient and sustainable future.” Antigua and Barbuda will host the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in 2024. The Conference will bring world leaders together to focus on practical and impactful solutions to create a sustainable and safe future for people in SIDS and to deliver concrete actions to address challenges such as the climate crisis, biodiversity, and spiralling debt. (Loop News)

THE recent launch of Guyana ’ s MV MA Lisha, a vessel connecting the bustling Kingston port to the remote and vibrant Region One, marks a significant milestone in the nation ’ s quest for enhanced connectivity, trade expansion, and socio-economic growth.

This visionary initiative has the potential to transform not only the physical landscape, but also the socio-economic fabric of Guyana, fostering opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange

The MV MA Lisha’s route from the Kingston port , Georgetown , to Region One creates an invaluable link between two distinct regions that previously experienced a disparity in

development opportunities

This accessibility has the potential to reduce isolation, alleviate economic disparities, and promote a sense of unity among Guyanese citizens

Trade lies at the heart of economic progress, and the MV MA Lisha has unlocked a gateway for increased trade activities between Georgetown and Region One

The vessel’s ability to transport goods efficiently will not only stimulate local economies, but also open doors for businesses to reach new markets

Agricultural products , natural resources, and manufactured goods from Region One are now closer to national and international markets,

boosting the region’s economic prospects and supporting livelihoods

Moreover, the connection established by MV MA Lisha brings with it the promise of increased travel and tourism Region One , with its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and unique indigenous communities , has long remained a hidden gem waiting to be discovered

The improved accessibility offered by the vessel will undoubtedly attract adventurers, researchers, and curious travellers eager to explore the region’s natural wonders and diverse cultures This influx of visitors not only enhances tourism revenue but also promotes cross-cultural understanding and appreciation

While the launch of MV MA Lisha is undoubtedly a cause for celebration, it also necessitates careful planning and responsible management

Sustainability should be a guiding principle in the development of this new link

Measures to minimize the environmental impact, preserve local ecosystems, and engage with indigenous communities respectfully should be at the forefront of decision-making

As Guyana embraces this new chapter in its history , the nation has the opportunity to harness the transformative power of infrastructure to forge a more inclusive and interconnected future for all its citizens.

More Than A Ferry Hamilton Green owes the nation an apology

Dear Editor,

IN the Kaieteur News dated August 11, Mr Hamilton Green in a letter captioned, ‘Where is GuySuCo’s money being gobbled up’ seemed deliberately oblivious of the justification given by the Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha for the supplementary sums critically needed for not only GuySuCo to become viable once again, but also for resuscitation of the entire agricultural sector which became the target of destruction by the coalition. He claimed that, ‘Mr. Editor, no one really knows how and where these billions of dollars are being gobbled up by GuySuCo management and the Ministry of Agriculture Speak with people in the industry and no one can give lucid answers.’

Definitely he spoke to the wrong persons, since his coalition comrades were provided with these definitive and precise answers in Parliament on numerous occasions, but they vehemently denied their involvement to annihilate the sector

On August 23rd, 2019, I wrote a letter in the Kaieteur News captioned, ‘The deliberate destruction of GuySuCo’ and therein I made

it clear that from 2011 to 2015, the PPP/C government invested $26 billion in GuySuCo and no estates were closed and workers’ livelihoods were secured In contrast, the coalition spent $32 billion in ‘subvention’ and $17.6 billion from a ‘blood-sucking bond - a total of $49.6 billion and unconscionably closed four grinding estates, pauperizing thousands of sugar workers This meant that these billions were spent basically on the three remaining estates Perhaps it would have been pertinent then for Mr Green to question the gobbling and guzzling up of those billions with absolutely nothing to show for it I wrote numerous letters on this issue and provided real statistics therein

In fact, the then Finance Minister claimed that some of the billions will be used to make the four closed estates fully operational to attract investors and some were to be used for co-generating plants on the grinding estates, mechanization of the sugar industry and setting up of a plant to produce plantation white sugar to capture the CARICOM market

The financial ‘genius’ Mr Jordan had said that, ‘We cannot keep them closed and mothballed , because when buyers come , they would probably not be as impressed as

if they were working.’ This was to further squander the money which they did. ‘Yard sales’ were done daily with the assets on the closed estates as friends and cronies ‘bought’ these for peanuts

Today, the four closed estates stand as a stark testimony to the diabolical acts of the coalition to just destroy the perceived PPP support base and to steal If the closed estates had remained operational it would have been a quite easy task to get them going again This is where the need to make right the devastating wrongs done to not only the sugar industry but also to the entire agricultural- sector It must be recalled that the budgetary allocation continued to get lesser and increasingly lesser under the coalition In 2019 it was a mere $19 billion It decreased by over a billion dollars annually.

The coalition and Mr Green should have visited these closed estates to fully ‘appreciate’ their handiwork in wreaking panoramic destruction across the cane- fields, the infrastructures, the factories, buildings, machinery and equipment and everything in sight They should visit now and witness the transformation done at the Rose Hall Estate These were never kept in operational mode

for the investors but were cannibalized, stolen and allowed to rot and decay. Therefore, the billions which are expended to reopen these estates are a result of the direct and deliberate destructive action of the Coalition Government They were not ‘mothballed’ but ‘cannonballed’ Mr Green They should never again object to any allocation to the agricultural sector

In conclusion, Mr Green, the Elder, was part and parcel of the gobbling up of the entire country and pauperization of an entire nation by the PNC The PNC bankrupted an entire nation and reduced it to a mendicant and again, thanks to the PPP/C this country has now become the fastest-growing nation in the world Green as an Elder should do the honourable thing and apologize to this nation.

I am extremely proud of the statement made by the Minister of Agriculture when he said that his government will continue to invest monies in GuySuCo to correct the great wrong done to this entity and make it viable once again.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Editor Navendra Seoraj

The story of Red Thread: Part 2

IN our first instalment we ended on the note of the political transformation of one of the founding members of Red Thread, Andaiye.

That transition of Andaiye, we said, will have to involve some amount of speculation since there is no body of facts to cite as to why she broke so deeply with the WPA

I think one shortcoming in the recording of history is that Joan records what she knows of Sunil, but Sita has a different story to tell and history misses it because Sita does not put down on paper what she knows This is an ongoing problem with history I will go on a brief digression because it emphasises my point

Guyanese history has not recorded the absolute class snobbery of members of the Mulatto/Creole class (MCC) that entered politics, particularly David DeCaires and Miles Fitzpatrick, because many who saw it were intimidated about criticizing the crème de la crème of Guyanese society Then there were others who just did not have the status to publish what they knew

Then there are those who could never see the faults of their friends because their friends never displayed those faults to them A good example is literary icon, Ian Mc Donald, a very decent Guyanese and decent human He would not have seen the class snobbery of DeCaires and Fitzpatrick because they had no need to manifest it in front of an iconic McDonald

So , there are missing links to the stories of many prominent actors, dead and gone, and those still alive I am glad that Miles Fitzpatrick confessed to Ravi Dev years before he died that he was the one who had ousted me as a columnist at Stabroek News What I am 1000 per cent absolute about is that he didn’t tell Dev the reason, he couldn’t He was shocked to the core that some - dark - skinned non-Christian, working-class boy from Wortmanville could have had the temerity of disagreeing with him

Back to Andaiye She came to the magistrate’s court when Mark Benschop and I were charged I thanked her for her show of solidarity and we briefly chatted in private One of the leading members of the MCC, Dr Alissa Trotz, has edited a posthumous book on Andaiye – “Selected Writings of Andaiye.” The book lacks completion because it failed to incorporate the thoughts of others to whom Andaiye had opened up

Finally, we take up where we left off

from part 1 Andaiye moved Red Thread away from the WPA for these two reasons, I believe Firstly, she saw the WPA as having no connection in the 21st century to its glorious past of the 1970s and 1980s She believed that was not the party she helped to birth and those were not the comrades she knew in the 1970s

Two devastating moments for Andaiye were the partnership between Ronald Waddell and her personal friend and one of the founders of both the WPA and Red Thread – Bonita Bone Andaiye found Waddell to be a dangerous throw back to the days of Wismar in the 1960s The second moment occurred in the office of Christopher Ram In Andaiye’s presence, Tacuma Ogunseye referred to the anti-Indian Buxton gunmen as freedom fighters She walked out of the meeting.

The second reason is a spin-off from the first one Disenchanted with the WPA, especially the WPA ’ s position on the mayhem in Buxton, and suffering from cancer with chemotherapy taking a toll on her health, Andaiye decided that the rest of her life should be spent on women rights issues

Lurking beneath the surface of Red Thread were dangerous women whose politics were a million miles away from Andaiye These women were from the Mulatto/Creole class who had deep hatred for non- Christian Indians and the PPP leadership These women were forced to suppress their cultural feelings once Andaiye was the de facto head of Red Thread After her death , Red Thread showed its true colour (no pun intended).

I hope to conclude the series in part 3 when I will analyze the tragic pathway Red Thread took which followed the identical direction of its father body – the WPA

In part 3 , I will reproduce my last words to Andaiye through email that I have kept Below are my works on Andaiye for those who are interested

1- September 16, 2017, “An iconic woman and her exit from the WPA.”

2- September 18, 2017, “The WPA: Demise or deterioration or decay or disuse?”

3- May 4, 2019, “Andaiye: A class analysis.”

4 - March 31, 2021, “Clive Thomas, Roopnaraine and Andaiye: The missing link.”

5- April 17, 2021, “What Walter Rodney and Andaiye would have said?”

6- December 24, 2022, “Andaiye’s book and Aubrey Norton’s words.”

Local oil mill to expand production with new processing plant

WITH an increasing demand for more local by-products on the market, Pomeroon Oil Mills Incorporated will be expanding its production with a $5 million copra-processing plant at Charity, Region Two.

The company which is popularly known for its Golden Brook cooking oil is currently seeking approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the processing facility

“ The project aims to meet the demands for quality copra edible oil and is in confirmation with the government objective to encourage industries based on locally available raw materials,” the company said in a project summary submitted to the EPA

The developers will be sourcing copra, which is the dried, white flesh of coconut from which coconut oil is extracted by farmers in the region

“The Charity area has small coconut growers who produce high-quality copra The project will utilise locally available copra from small growers which will help improve the local economy and also produce edible oil,” the company explained

The project also has the capacity to support the local livestock industry with copra meal for feed

The processing plant will occupy a tract of land situated on the right bank of the Pomeroon River known as Amazon, in the county of Essequibo

It was further stated that the production capacity is expected to be 40 metric tonnes a day at the copra mill and 15 metric tonnes a day at the refinery

Some 10 persons will be employed at the mill, four at the refinery, five at the packaging facility and three others (electrician, mechanic and welder).

Pomeroon Oil Mills Inc. is best known for its Golden Brook cooking oil

22 graduate as pharmacy assistants

By Indrawattie Natram

TWENTY-TWO persons have successfully completed the pharmacy assistant training programme

ny, the Ministry of Health is in need of a minimum of 3,000 persons to be trained as nurses

“We want more persons to be trained in the health

According to Regional Health Officer Dr Ranjeev Singh, it was a historic day for Region Two since it was the first programme of its kind.

and will soon be posted to health centres across Region Two

This latest batch of pharmacy assistants was recognised at a graduation ceremony held at the Jaigobin Hotel at Henrietta on Friday

In his remarks, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said that the Ministry of Health is implementing programmes aimed at building the human capacity in the health sector

Dr Anthony emphasised that more health professionals will be needed , since several new hospitals are being constructed

“By the end of next year and in 2025, we are hoping that the health care delivery will be further boosted in this region We are doing similar ones (training programmes) across the country ,” he said , adding that construction of the new hospitals have started and they should all be completed by 2025

In addition to the massive infrastructural development in the health sector, the focus is also on encouraging specialised medical training With regard to the latter, he said scholarships are being offered to encourage persons to become health professionals Online studies are also available

According to Dr Antho-

field , and we have many areas open for trainings in the health sector we need bio-medical engineers and we are hoping to recruit more people this training must be an ongoing process,” Dr Anthony said

Speaking specifically about Region Two, he said that there are 32 health facilities but not enough persons trained to dispense medications to patients

Dr Anthony emphasised the need for trained pharmacy assistants to be placed at these locations

He said that the pharmacy assistants were given a stipend and were assured of jobs once they had completed the programme

According to the minister, the ministry is paving a career path where persons can move on from being pharmacy assistants to another level He said this can only happen if they have a desire to learn new things

Meanwhile, Region Two Vice-Chairman Humace Oodit congratulated the graduates for their dedication to the programme.

Oodit said that the new addition of 22 pharmacy assistants will be a big boost to health care delivery in the region

He said he is proud that despite the challenges, they all did well and were able to complete the programme

He said the trainees began the course on October, 31,2022.

“ Region Two has produced 22 quality pharmacy assistants They went through a rigorous programme , both theoretical and practical, so I am confident that they will serve this region well,” he added

He reminded them to be humble and to treat patients with the greatest respect.

Delivering the charge to the graduates was Tiwari Ramkellwan

He urged them to continue to study and to aim for higher heights

Best graduating student Meesasha Ramdass said

that the programme was interesting and that she had no regrets.

She obtained 11 As With this perfect score, she graduated with a 4.0 GPA

The first runner-up was Mark Fernandes, second runner - up was Kenisha Trim and the third was Zora Alphonso.

Some of the new pharmacy assistants

Best graduating student Meesasha Ramdass collects her certificate and trophy from Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony

More opportunities for Region Six as major infrastructural works begin

OPPORTUNITIES will soon increase as Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), like every other region, is greatly transforming with major infrastructural developments underway.

This is according to Regional Chairman David Armogan who was highlighting some of these projects at a recent event at the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce.

“ Right now, we are in the process of looking at 300 roads within the region which will be built before the end of the year. So, all those roads

will be going to tender within the next couple of weeks,” said Armogan.

The athletic skills of the region’s young people will be bolstered, as a number of sporting facilities are slated for rehabilitation.

“In the sports ground too, we are doing over a 105 sports grounds in this region and we are spending over $400 million to rehabilitate all these sports grounds,” the chairman noted. Region Six will also help to push the government’s agenda of making Guyana the number one tourist desti-

nation in the South American hemisphere.

Additionally, Armogan said the ‘Palmyra business area’ is currently being constructed. This, he noted, will see businessmen and wom-

en plying their trade while showcasing their products and services to the entire region.

As such, he encouraged both small and large business owners to take advantage of

the opportunities that are yet to come.

He said the region is heading towards an exciting future with the transformation taking place. (DPI)

Linden health centre gets new dental room

A brand-new dental room was commissioned by Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony at the Vivienne Paris Health Centre in Linden on Saturday.

The room was constructed using the $100 million Government of Guyana (GOG) allocation for 2023. Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said the Ministry is working towards expanding primary health care by making rehabilitation, ophthalmology and dental services available at various health centres in the region.

Over 6000 residents will now benefit from teeth extraction, cleaning, filling and even root canals (Ministry of Health photos)

An aerial view of the Hampshire Housing Scheme that is being developed in Region Six

David Armogan, Regional Chairman of Region Six

Linden Nursing School still operational

MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony has dispelled claims that the Charles Roza School of Nursing in Linden has been closed.

During a visit to Region Ten on Saturday, Minister Anthony conducted a tour of the facility.

He clarified that while a hybrid form of learning is currently underway, the school is still operational.

“As you can see, the school is functional. We have three nursing schools in the public sector: one at Georgetown Hospital, one here in Linden, and one in New Amsterdam. And instead of closing, what we want to do is expand the programmes, so… we’ll be looking at ways and means of how we can enhance learning in these facilities ,” Dr. Anthony explained.

The hybrid training model is one of these measures and sees 180 students learning using a combination of online and practical sessions. Dr. Anthony said this mechanism helps to train more persons at a faster pace.

“The classroom space here can only accommodate maybe about 20 or 30 persons at any given time, but if you’re working from home, a lot more people can be trained. So right now, we are training, from Region Ten, 180 persons. And if we go the traditional way, we’ll just have maybe about 20 persons

in the registered nursing programme. So, the nurses who are being trained in the hybrid nursing programme would require a space where they come to do their practicals. So, we’ll be having a room that is specially built to train people in the different processes that they have to do,” he said.

The minister further noted that at present, the intention is not to close down any medical learning institution, but to do the opposite, which is to expand and build capacity due to the need for medical personnel across the country.

Currently, around 20 persons are undertaking the registered nursing programme at the nursing school, with another 30plus persons training to become nursing assistants, and another group enrolled in the single-train midwifery programme.

In addition to training persons at the Charles Roza School of Nursing, 38 persons from Region Ten will soon be trained in the Community Health Workers programme, where they will learn the basics of administering medical care over a sixmonth period.

The government will also trained an additional 70 persons through the multi-laboratory technician and pharmacy assistant training programmes, which will be launched soon. (DPI)

––Minister Anthony dispels claims that facility is closed

Regional officials give Minister Anthony a tour of the facilities

10 Warapoka families to receive homes under the Hinterland Housing Project

OVER the coming weeks, the Village Council of Warapoka Village, in the Moruca sub-region of Region One, will commence the beneficiary selection process for the Hinterland

Housing Project

On Sunday, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, made the announcement during a community meeting in the village.

A total of 10 houses will

be built at an overall cost of $40 million. The timber to be used for the construction of the homes will be sourced from the village and likewise, the labour force.

The elevated structure

will measure 20×25 feet and features four rooms and washroom facilities with a 6×10 feet verandah.

According to Minister Croal, this project will aid in transforming the village’s economy. The Ministry will be paying two skilled workers for the construction of each unit while the beneficiary is expected to provide three laborers.

The timber will be paid for by the Ministry at the rates offered to villagers. A total of 5000 Bm of wood is needed for the construction of each unit.

In an effort to safeguard the beneficiary, Minister Croal explained that before construction the beneficiaries, both married or common-law will be made to sign a contract that will seek to safeguard them in the event of divorce or separation. Additionally, each beneficiary will receive a trestle and water tank to facilitate rainwater harvesting.

Meanwhile , Minister Croal announced that the village will benefit from a new well, which will be catered for in the 2024 National Budget.

According to Minister Croal, the new well for the village is part of a commitment made by the government to ensure improved

access to potable water in hinterland communities.

The Minister recalled that when he took office , the coverage for potable water in Region One, stood at 40 per cent. However, to date that has significantly improved and the coverage now stands at 70 per cent, as a number of communities in the region are now accessing potable water for the very first time.

Also, the Minister offered residents an opportunity to raise issues affecting them and invited suggestions that will aid in making their daily lives easier.

A number of issues were raised including the need for technical training for youths in the village, the need for repairs at the Primary School building, the need for training in the agriculture field and residents requested assistance for upgrading their recreational facility.

Accompanying the Minister were Regional Vice Chair, Annansha Peters; Guyana Water Inc. Hinterland Service Director, Ramchand Jailal; Hinterland Housing Project, Engineer, Cy Rodriques and other technical staff of the Ministry. (Ministry of Housing and Water)

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal engages a resident

Some of the residents in Warapoka, gathered at the meeting

$500M nursing school for Essequibo Coast

–– Health Minister

THE Ministry of Health will be spending $ 500 million on the construction of a nursing school in Region Two, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony has disclosed.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony held for persons who recently completed the pharmacy

assistant programme, he said that currently a tender is out for construction of the building

He said that the building will be located in the compound of the Suddie Public Hospital and will provide training programmes for all categories of health workers

“So, you will be getting a new nursing school and when we build the nursing school it will not be just for nurses, it will be a training facility for all these categories of workers whether its pharmacy assistants, medexes or multi - tech , the building will host all this,” Dr Anthony said

He added that the building will be equipped with simulation laboratories to facilitate training for the different categories

“We want to see development here and it is going to happen We also need people to take this seriously [and] join the health field,” Dr Anthony said

Additionally , Minister Anthony said that more persons need to be trained to work in the health sector and he called on young people in particular to take up a career in the nursing field

While emphasising the need for more nurses in Region Two, he used the opportunity to urge young people to start

The site that has been identified for the Region Two nursing school

studying

He also said that if persons have an interest in nursing but do not have the required Maths and English grades to enter the programme, then they can do a remedial course.

Dr Anthony said that the Ministry of Health

has tons of opportunities for young people and young people should grab them

Persons who participated in the pharmacy programme had related that the lack of classroom space and access to laptops were among their

challenges

However, the health minister said that construction of the new nursing school will rectify these challenges and ensure that there is a more comfortable and conducive environment for learning

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony

Restorative justice awareness session held in Region Five

ATTORNEY - GENERAL

and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., on Saturday conducted a public - awareness session on restorative justice at the Latchmansingh Primary School at Bushlot , West Coast Berbice

The public awareness session is part of a slew of activities under the Inter-American Develop Bank ( IDB )- funded Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) programme, intended to popularise the concept of restorative Justice , a press release stated

It was explained that earlier this year, Parliament enacted the Restorative Justice Act as a measure to overcome prison overcrowding by reducing pre - trial detention , reducing recidivism and increasing the use of alternative sentencing, among other things

The AG was accompanied by Seelall Persaud, Director of Restorative Justice; Faizal Jaffarally, Member of Parliament for Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Indira Anandjit, SCJS Programme Director

According to the release, Nandlall in his remarks told the hundreds of citizens gathered at the event that restorative justice is an approach to justice that seeks to repair the harm caused by the offender, by providing an opportunity for the victim and the perpetrator to interrogate the issue which caused the problem and to make amends either by

the payment of compensation or on such terms agreed upon by the parties

It was further explained that it also intends to observe manifestations of deviant behaviour and to address them very early, long before they engage the formal legal system

“

Significantly, restorative justice allows the lay public, such as community leaders, religious leaders , teachers , etc , to play a central role , both in the formal legal system as well as outside of the legal system

“The Hon Attorney General explained that in the formal legal system cases will be referred either by the Magistrate or the Director of Public Prosecutions to trained restorative justice officers located within each magiste-

Police Youth Group activity held in Aishalton Village

THE Aishalton South Sider Police Youth Group held an Art Painting Competition on Saturday at the Henry Winter Sports Club Ground in Aishalton Village , South Rupununi , Region Nine. An interactive session

was also held , during which several topics were discussed They included health and well - being, stealing and physical abuse

On completion , the youths were graded and rewarded for their outstanding artwork.

rial district and these persons will manage the engagement between the perpetrator and the victim In the non - formal legal system, teachers, for example, once properly trained, will be able to detect manifestations of problems in children ’ s behaviour in schools They will be required to interrogate these situations to determine the root causes It may be an abusive environment at home ,” the release said

He further said that once the problem is detected, steps will be taken to address it at this early stage, which means that this simple remedy can prevent a child from being prone to criminal conduct.

NEW CONCEPT

The AG noted that the

concept is fairly new, and will allow the courts to make Orders outside of the conventional penal nature of Orders that it is now circumscribed to make, and explore a whole host of potential and opportunities to address in a real, practical and pragmatic way, the circumstances that may have led to criminal conduct and for that conduct to be rehabilitated and for compensation to be paid

He also used the opportunity to clarify that the restorative justice concept is not open to all criminal offences but a few minor, petty offences which can be dealt with at a community level and allow for direct rehabilitative intervention

In this regard , offences such as murder, manslaugh-

ter , rape , robbery , sexual offences, offences involving minors , and other violent offences are exempted from restorative justice

The release said that during his remarks, Nandlall stressed that the concept of restorative justice allows for justice to be served in a way that promotes healing and accountability , while also reducing recidivism and keeping individuals out of prison who may not need to be there

However, he stressed that the approach can only work through support from members of the community and solicited their assistance to see the success of the programme

He promised the residents of Region Five that this is

only the first of many engagements and that the Director of Restorative Justice , Seelall Persaud, will return with a training programme to train suitably qualified persons who are willing to participate in the programme

Persaud who also delivered remarks explained that currently he is executing a pilot project involving several communities on the East Coast of Demerara Once that pilot is successfully completed , the system will be replicated across the administrative regions of the country

Members of the public were given the opportunity to ask questions and to seek clarity

The release said that with the enactment of the Restorative Justice Act in November, 2022, a Restorative Justice Centre was established in April, 2023 and is staffed by trained professionals who will work with victims, offenders, and their communities to develop individualised plans that focus on repairing the harm caused by criminal behaviour and preventing further offences

Teachers , community leaders, toshaos and religious leaders have already benefitted from this training

The training exercise will continue across Guyana.

A similar outreach exercise is scheduled to be held in Region Six (East Berbice - Corentyne ) before the end of August, the release added

The Ministry of Legal Affairs spearheaded an awareness session on restorative justice in Region Five which attracted hundreds of persons (MoLA photo)

Some of the children who participated in the competition

Ghanaian officials extend invitation to train persons for oil and gas sector

CHIEF Executive Officer of Ghana’s

Petroleum Commission Egbert Faibille Jnr on Thursday extended an invitation to have persons from Guyana trained in the oil and gas sector

Faibille extended the invitation during a panel discussion as part of the Ghana-Guyana Local Content Conference hosted by the Ghana Chamber of Commerce - Guyana

At the time, the four-person panel was discussing promotion of local workforce development in the oil and gas sector in both countries

Sharing Ghana’s experiences in this regard, Faibille stated that Ghana has regulations in place so as to ensure that corporations operating in the oil and gas sector train Ghanaians to participate in the sector

As he spoke about the various training programmes in which persons in the country have participated, he extended an invitation to Guyana to send youths to Ghana to study at technical and vocational institutes to gain the necessary qualifications to work offshore

He stated that when these workers return to Guyana , they will be snapped up after having received these techni-

cal certifications

Meanwhile, as the panellists discussed the upskilling of persons to further promote the development of the local workforce , Vice - Chancellor of the University of Guyana , Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin stated that over time the university has introduced several new programmes that were not on the

books before

Against this backdrop , she added that the university will launch a marine programme in about a month’s time and she noted that lots of work have to be done on that front in the sector

The Vice-Chancellor further added that the University of Guyana is also rolling out a new course that has to do

with infrastructure, construction and design Further, she noted that while there is an increasing need for engineers, the university is doubling the size of laboratories , even as she revealed that they have moved from 150 persons passing through the engineering programme each year to about 350.

Study underway for glass manufacturing here –– GMSA

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Ramsay Ali , has said that a study is currently underway to ascertain the feasibility of glass manufacturing here in Guyana.

Ali made this revelation during the GMSA ’ s mid - year dinner recently and added that this stands among some of the things that the association is pursuing to facilitate growth in the manufacturing and services sector

Noting that the association has two of the largest beverage companies under its membership along with several other mid-

President reveals

size companies and small agro-processors, he said that this could be of benefit to the sector

Against this backdrop , the GMSA President said that they approached the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) which agreed to fund the study

“ I am pleased to say that study has started and we have a timeline of about two months before we can get the results of that study,” he said

Ali noted that he was of the opinion that with all that is expected to take place in the energy sector in a short while, this project would make much more sense now than if they were to look at it 10 years ago because of the consumption of energy for such a facility.

Additionally, Ali stated that the organisation is interested in doing much more for expansion, especially for the agro-processors within its membership

He went on to add that the GMSA is approaching the government to look at the possibility of establishing industrial parks to facilitate agro processing

“I’m talking about a built-out facility that can house 20 or 30 agro-processors, equipment, warehousing and finished products,” he said

With this, Ali noted that these agro-processors have their own machinery and equipment and just need better spaces to manage their businesses better

He noted that there would be great possibilities for growth if some of these “ industrial parks ” could be located across the country.

From left: Nora Wahab, Professor Suresh Narine, Egbert Faibille Jnr and Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin were on the panel that discussed the promotion of local workforce development (Adrian Narine photo)

GMSA President Ramsay Ali (GMSA photo)

Lima Regional Hospital to be completed by next year-end

By Cindy Parkinson

IN order to ensure that all Guyanese have access to quality medical treatment, the government is investing in the construction of health facilities across Guyana.

Adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy , recently disclosed in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle that during Dr Frank Anthony’s (Minister of Health) recent trip to Region Two, he and some of the regional officials visited Lima, a village situ-

ated on the outskirts of the town of Anna Regina where a regional hospital will be constructed

“This regional hospital is one of the six modern hospitals that are being built by the Chinese contractors that are in the country This hospital and the other new ones will have three theatres, that is, one emergency theatre and two main ones, as well as CT scans, an intensive care unit ( ICU ) for adults , children , and infants, cataract surgeries that will be performed, and other services that will be available,” he said

The adviser further explained that it was vitally important to have the hospital in that community since it was more centrally located in the region, and more so in an area that is populated

“We have considered the location based on the population, and of course it was the central point on the coast”, he added

He said that more importantly, the hospital is designed to provide more efficient and modern services

“While we can upgrade the Suddie and Charity hospitals, which we are currently

Even though the Suddie and Charity hospitals are equipped with theatres, Dr Ramsammy explained that they are not suitable for the more modern surgical interventions that they are bringing to the country and , by extension, the regions

He also related that “we” have a leader (President Ali) who believes in taking the government to the people , and in that respect, he said, “We are taking health care to the region and its people.”

While persons will have to come to Georgetown for some procedures, Dr. Ramsammy said : “ The whole idea for these investments in the different regions is so that people wouldn’t have to come to Georgetown for a certain diagnosis ; they should be in comfort in their own regions where their families can attend to them as well. What we are doing across the country is building more hospitals and providing more efficient services that were never there.”

JOB CREATION

As it relates to job creation in the health sector, the minister’s adviser emphasised that , “ buildings are not hospitals, buildings are a part of a hospital.

The real hospital is the patients who come, and the people who are employed there ; that ’ s what makes a hospital a hospital Clearly, a 75 beds hospital with full diagnostic, full rehab, and full, in-patient facilities, including intensive care, will require a large staff It is not only nurses, doctors, and medical staff who will be employed at these institutions There will also be opportunities for support staff such as cleaners, porters, security, and much more These facilities will create thousands of jobs for

health workers and persons from the community.”

Furthermore , Dr Ramsammy explained that it isn’t rocket science to figure out that “ we ” in Guyana , the whole of the Caribbean, and like all developed countries, have a problem with nurses and not having enough of them in the health sector

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony (centre) and other officials being briefed at the construction site for the Lima Regional Hospital in Region Two working on and will continue, these older hospitals are not designed to provide the kind of services that we need to introduce in Region Two and the other regions, and that is why we are working on building new hospitals, and not having to build separate buildings, and the services are fragmented,” he told this publication

“ Along with the construction of these hospitals, we have also started a new nursing programme where we had about 150 to 250 nurses in the intake class , each year, but for this year we had about 1,200 nurses, and we are hoping that the number will climb to 1,500 next year. That is inclusive of online training as well, and a number of these students would be studying in their own communities and not having to travel and stay in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, or Linden, where we have our nursing schools.”

However, he added that at some point in time they will have to have “in-house training,” which is why he said the government is constructing additional housing for such persons

He also revealed that one of the new nursing schools, which will be inclusive of dorms, will be located in the Suddie Hospital compound, and it is expected to be ready by the end of next year

“With these training programmes, and training facilities, we are hoping to have enough of our own health workers in these new institutions”, Dr Ramsammy said

Finally , Dr Ramsammy disclosed that the Lima Regional Hospital which is slated for completion in December 2024 , is one of 10 new hospitals that will be constructed

The others will be located at Number 75 Village in Region Six , Bath Settlement in Region Five, Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara , Little Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, De Kinderen on the West Coast of Demerara, and will have the same services that are available at the New Amsterdam and Linden Hospitals, while the other four will be built in the hinterland.

Firms being engaged to offer farmers insurance for losses

FARMERS in Guyana can soon look forward to having better insurance for their crops and other produce as discussions are underway between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Caribbean insurance firm, Grace Kennedy.

At a meeting over the weekend with farmers in Region Six, Agriculture Min-

assessment showed that the agriculture sector was most affected, with some 92,000 acres of farm and farmlands completely affected , and approximately $23 billion or more in loss of production

The sugar industry suffered estimated losses of more than $1.5 billion in the fields, while more than 50 per cent of mining operations

ister , Zulfikar Mustapha , disclosed that the ministry was also in talks with a local firm to establish insurance packages for farmers to safeguard their produce in the event of a loss

“I have started to discuss with Grace Kennedy , the Caribbean insurance company and also a local company to see if they could ensure our farmers ’ crops so that if they lose, they can have reimbursement. “

Mustapha noted that that initiative was among several plans the ministry was looking at to protect the interest of farmers.

Back in 2021, President Dr Irfaan Ali had declared Guyana to be in a state of disaster by virtue of the ongoing floods at the time

In June of that year , a total of 28,228 households were affected by flooding, some with water entering their homes , domestic animals and livestock in distress , or farmlands inundated.

The floods , caused by heavy rainfall , resulted in some 300 communities being directly affected for a protracted period of time An

were affected

The rice industry had seen the loss of approximately 50,000 acres of produce with more than 2,000 farmers affected Some 2,000 livestock farmers were also affected

The National Assembly subsequently approved a supplemental budgetary allocation of $10 million to provide immediate interventions to farmers and other citizens who were gravely affected by the floods

Farmers within the context of a homestead had received $ 100,000 each ; those with kitchen gardens received $50,000 each, and households excluding homestead and kitchen garden received 50,000 each

Other support in the form of seeds , tools and other incentives were provided to farmers

The supplementary fund for flooding had also facilitated the execution of critical emergency repairs to a number of public infrastructures such as roads and bridges that had been destroyed by the unprecedented levels of floodwaters

Flash Back: Cattle in flood-hit Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara

A farmer tending to his pepper plant

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday August 14, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) IND won by 7 wickets

(2) Suryakumar Yadav (IND)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who are the defending CPL champions?

(2) Who were the losing CPL 2022 finalist?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Successful Commonwealth...

nation proud."

He further conveyed that, "Your accomplishments transcend individual success, showcasing the excellence of our nation. Whether in victory or defeat, when you bear the flag of Guyana, we all share in the pride. Collectively, we can declare that we are among the best."

Ramson concluded by affirming the government's commitment to invest in the success of its citizens. He also expressed the honour and privilege of welcoming back accomplished athletes after their successful international endeavors.

Director of Sport,

Steve Ninvalle, highlighted the upward trajectory of the young athletes' performances. He singled out Springer for her impressive feat of winning three international gold medals within six months. Springer triumphed in her 400m races at the CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas, the South American U-20 Championship in Colombia, and the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. Ninvalle remarked, "This serves as a testament to the power of effective planning and its execution. The Ministry (of Sport), the National Sports Commission, and by extension, the Government (of Guyana), stand ready to support you in realising and implementing your plans, thereby continuing to bring honor to our nation."

The welcome ceremony also featured brief congratulatory speeches by Monroe and Hermonstine. Additionally, there was a spirited steel pan performance, a tribute to the success in Trinidad and Tobago, and a captivating dance performance by the Riverside Angels.

FROM BACK PAGE

What lies ahead for Australia as their Test side enters a transitional phase?

…With their key batters and bowlers ageing, Australia need to find worthy replacements, and fast

By Ian Chappell

David Warner's plight is currently a big subject of discussion but there are actually a number of Australian positions that will require serious attention as the Test team enters a period of evolution.

The cloud over Warner concerns whether he will achieve his desired Test retirement at the SCG in January 2024.

Warner set himself a challenge when he gamely announced the contest against Pakistan as his final Test appearance. Nevertheless there are no other batters whose strike rate worries opposing captains like the current Australian opener's does. The three candidates to replace Warner are Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft.

None of them come close to Warner's ebullient style, and whoever Australia chooses, it means taking a step back. Though Warner is not the player he used to be, he is still good enough to succeed in Australia and he should meet his preferred final destination at the SCG.

Of the replacement candidates, Bancroft is receiving a lot of coverage for his success in Sheffield Shield cricket. The problem with Shield cricket is, it's no longer the competition great West Indies allrounder Sir Garfield Sobers described in the '60s as "the toughest in the world outside Test cricket".

Because international players now rarely compete in the Sheffield Shield, it's not necessarily the best competition for judging future potential.

Despite those deficiencies, the chosen player will have an opportunity to score runs against a struggling West Indies attack and this will be a cosy re-introduction to Test cricket. The tour of New Zealand in February 2024 will then provide a much tougher challenge.

Renshaw was harshly dealt with when he was previously dropped on poor first-class - rather than Test - form. However choosing him would still be a gamble as at age 28 he's the only opening candidate under 30.

That begs the question: where are the skilful young opening batters? This is a major concern when the other opener, Usman Khawaja, while extremely successful, will turn 37 during the summer.

Age is important when you consider what fine former West Indies pace bowler Andy Roberts once said: "You've got to pick fast bowlers while they are still really quick"

The fast-bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all have mighty records but the latter pair are now well into their thirties and replacements will soon be required.

When the Australian fast-bowling stocks were decimated last season, why wasn't genuine paceman Lance Morris tested against West Indies at Adelaide Oval? It's one thing for Morris to challenge Shield players with sheer pace but the selectors needed to find out if he could cause a similar reaction at Test level.

If chosen this summer, Morris will be 26. Age is important when you

consider what fine former West Indies pace bowler Andy Roberts once said: "You've got to pick fast bowlers while they are still really quick." A fast bowler only has so many years where he's genuinely quick.

Then there is the case of the highly successful Test offspinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon just suffered a serious injury and he has also bowled a mountain of overs, so his future is clouded. Todd Murphy is an adequate replacement but he'll need to expand his repertoire to fill Lyon's big shoes.

The other player whose position was debated in the UK is captain Pat Cummins. Cummins is a good captain but a leader's position is often questioned, especially when the team has a bad day.

That debate raises the question: if you demote Cummins who is the next captain?

Former captain Steve Smith is available, but at 34, he isn't a choice for the future. The other options are Travis Head, Alex Carey, and perhaps Mitchell Marsh, who will all be 30 or over.

A captain has to be appointed while he still has some peak years remaining, so he can provide playing inspiration.

If fast bowler Cummins is injured or unavailable, Australia need to appoint a captain who can eventually do the job in the future. In the meantime Cummins is by far the most inspirational player in the Australian side and the best man to captain the Test team. (Cricinfo.com.)

End of an era: Australia will have several positions to fill in the next year, from openers to the pace-bowling attack • PA Photos/Getty Images

CPL and WCPL to introduce ‘red card’ to battle slow over rates

NEW penalties for slow over rates have been introduced for the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) ahead of the 2023 season.

As is customary in the T20 format, each team will have 85 mins to bowl their overs, but this will be monitored more closely at this year’s tournament. The fielding side is expected to have completed the 17th over of the innings after 72’15, the 18th by 76’30 and the 19th by 80’45. Over rates will be monitored by the third umpire and communicated to the captains via on-field umpires

at the end of every over, as well as to the crowd and TV audience, with graphics

showing how far they are behind (or ahead of) the over rate. Dispensations will be

given for injuries, DRS and time-wasting by batting side where appropriate.

To ensure that games are finished in good time, penalties for slow over rates will kick in from the 18th over, and will be as follows:

If behind the required over rate at the start of the 18th over, one additional player must enter the fielding circle (for a total of 5)

If still behind the rate at the start of the 19th over, two additional fielders must enter the fielding circle (for a total of 6)

If still behind the rate

at the start of the 20th over, teams will lose a player from the field (selected by the captain) and have six inside the fielding circle.

There will also be an onus on batting teams to keep the game moving. After a first and final warning from the umpires, the batting team will be given a 5 penalty for each instance of time wasting.

Michael Hall, CPL’s Tournament Operations Director, said: “We have been disappointed that our T20 games have been getting longer and longer each year,

and we want to do what we can to arrest this trend. It is the duty of those involved in cricket to ensure that the game keeps moving and we have sensitized both the franchises and our match officials to this duty ahead of the tournament. Our hope is that these in game penalties are not needed, but we believe they are proportionate and necessary.”

The 2023 CPL gets underway on Wednesday with defending champions, the Jamaica Tallawahs, facing the St. Lucia Kings.

THE year 2023 has been a historic one for football in Jamaica.

In fact, President of the Jamaica Football Federation, Michael Ricketts, described it as the greatest year in Jamaica’s football history at a press conference held at the JFF headquarters on Thursday.

“We are delighted to be here this morning basking in the glory of a number of the achievements of a number of our national units,” Ricketts said.

“I would say without apology that, so far, this must go down in history as the most successful year ever in the history of football in this country,” he added.

The biggest of those achievements is, undoubtedly, the recent exploits of the Reggae Girlz who became the first Caribbean team to ever advance to the Round of 16 at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Four years after their maiden World Cup appearance, the Girlz progressed from Group F which included powerhouses France and Brazil, securing draws with both, along with a 1-0 win over Panama to finish with five points and progress to the Round of 16 where they suffered a 0-1 loss to Colombia on Tuesday.

“The girls really, really made us proud. I want to reiterate the fact that these girls have impacted the whole

world,” Ricketts said.

“Sometimes we don’t understand the magnitude of the achievement until we meet people overseas and they are so amazed that Jamaica, with less than three million people and hardly any world class facilities, cannot just qualify for the World Cup, but also be competitive. I know their performance would’ve provided a catalyst for young girls and boys in Jamaica to want to play the sport,” Ricketts added.

temala for the first time in 11 years and Trinidad & Tobago for the first time in seven years. Individually, Demarai Gray was named player of the team of the tournament.

The Reggae Girlz made it to the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup

Some other achievements for Jamaican teams included the Under-20 Reggae Girlz defeating a Central American team at the CONCACAF U-20 Championships since 2020 with a 4-1 win over Panama.

On the men’s side, the Reggae Boyz got to the semi-finals of the Concacaf Gold Cup for the first time since 2019 and, in the process, got their biggest win ever in the tournament with a 5-0 group stage win over St. Kitts & Nevis.

The Gold Cup also saw the Reggae Boyz defeat Gua-

The Under-15 Reggae Boyz are currently in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf U-15 Championship for the first time. They will take on Honduras on Thursday.

Jamaica also produced the youngest scorer in the history of the CAC Games when 18-year-old Shaniel Buckley scored in a 1-1 draw with Puerto Rico. (Spoartsmax).

New penalties to battle over rates

JFF President Michael Ricketts describes 2023 as `the most successful year ever in the history of Jamaican football’

Joshua knocks out Helenius in seventh round

HEAVYWEIGHT Anthony Joshua spectacularly knocked out Robert Helenius with one punch in round seven, after boxing tentatively in the first half of the fight at London's O2 Arena.

The 33-year-old Briton - who was jeered by fans during the bout - landed nothing of note until a huge right to the jaw ended Helenius' night.

The win - Joshua's first stoppage victory in two-anda-half years - sets up a blockbuster fight with American Deontay Wilder in January.

"It's a fickle sport, you've got to be real about this industry and not get caught up. I've done my job tonight," Joshua told BBC Radio 5 live.

When asked in the ring about the potential fight with Wilder, Joshua joked: "My back's gone, is there a doctor in here? I want to carry this heavyweight division to the top."

After the knockout, an emotionally charged and smiling Joshua climbed out of the ring, high-fived fans and shared a beer with Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor.

Helenius needed oxygen

after the heavy knockdown, but recovered and left the ring unassisted after congratulating Joshua.

Anthony Joshua celebrates

heavyweights he is not yet done.

Helenius made his way to the ring in a packed out arena at the late time of 23:10 BST. Fans were offered a

troductions, who mockingly clapping bac

Helenius took the middle of the ring and swung a wild left in the first few seconds. The 'Nordic Nightmare' looked unfazed by the hostile atmosphere but neither man landed anything of note in a cagey opener.

Joshua was moving freely, looking to set traps but throwing single shots and not imposing himself on the stand-in fighter.

Fans started to become restless as early as the third. Boos echoed around the arena. The crowd wanted to see combinations, not this tentative approach.

hand," Joshua told trainer Derrick James. The American replied: "Keep trying."

Joshua adhered to the instructions. Those fans who left their seats missed what promoter Eddie Hearn described as the "knockout of the year".

A double feint followed by a right sent the Finn to the canvas, with referee Victor Loughlin halting the contest.

'We hope Wilder fight is imminent' - Hearn

Representatives from Saudi Arabia were in attendance, keen to conclude negotiations for a Joshua-Wilder mega-fight in the Middle East early next year.

when the two heavyweights collectively held all four world titles.

Boxing politics starved it from happening then, but it appears the money offered for a Middle East showdown will be too good for either fighter - or their promotersto turn down.

The winner will be propelled back towards world-title contention, the loser consoled by a career-high purse.

Alabama's Wilder is one of the most ferocious punchers in heavyweight history.

Joshua extends his record to 26 wins - with 23 stoppages - and three defeats.

Finland's Helenius - who took the bout on a week's notice after Briton Dillian Whyte failed a voluntary drug test - loses his fifth pro fight in 36 outings.

From cautious start to vintage 'AJ' finish

Joshua struggled to find any rhythm but the manner of the finish may just be the confidence-boosting win he so desperately needed, and a gentle reminder to other

full refund when Whyte was withdrawn from the card, but such is the draw of Joshua there were no empty blue seats once the main event started.

The Briton confidently strode to the ring to a medley of a violinist playing the title song from the film 'The Godfather' and then the more upbeat 'Insomnia' by Faithless.

The 2012 Olympic gold medallist - fighting at the O2 Arena for the ninth time - kept his eyes firmly locked on Helenius during the in -

Joshua had not knocked out an opponent in the first half of a fight since beating Eric Molina in 2016, a staggering statistic for someone once considered one of the heaviest hitters in boxing.

The Watford-born fighter landed a solid left in the fourth which sent Helenius backpedalling, but there was no sustained attack to follow.

Helenius grew in confidence, landing jabs to mark Joshua under the eye in the fifth. There were more jeers from a bored crowd at the halfway stage.

"It's hard to find the right

All Joshua had to do was avoid a potential banana skin in Helenius. Fortunately for him and Wilder, there was no slip-up.

"We hope it's imminent," Hearn said. "That's why he wanted the Dillian Whyte fight, it's hard for him to get up to fights like this.

"If he hits Wilder on the chin then it's over. This is about Anthony Joshua now, it's not about pleasing others. He's given everything to British boxing."

Joshua-Wilder is a fight which has been mooted several times before, notably

'The Bronze Bomber' stopped Helenius in under three minutes in October, and Joshua was under pressure to deliver an equally devastating, statement win.

Despite the sensational finish, there are still plenty of question marks surrounding Joshua's performance. The same cautious approach may not be wise against Wilder.

"I just want to see AJ fight someone of the calibre of Robert Helenius and treat him like Wilder," former world champion David Haye said on BBC 5 live.

"He can't just stand there and jab, it doesn't work against Wilder. He will run through him."(BBC Sport)

England hopeful of convincing Stokes out of ODI retirement for World Cup defence

…Archer a ‘high chance’ to be named in England’s provisional squad, despite missing the home summer with injury

Matthew Mott, England's white-ball coach, has said he is "still hopeful" that Ben Stokes can be convinced out of his retirement from ODIs in time for England's World Cup defence in October-November.

Stokes, England's Test captain and the Player of the Match in the 2019 World Cup final, quit ODIs last year citing an unsustainable schedule. He has been on holiday with his family since the end of the Ashes, while most of his

England team-mates have been playing in the Hundred instead.

Stokes has been battling a chronic left-knee injury which has flared up this year and limited his ability to bowl. He said before the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval that he would have "some serious conversations with medics" during the six-month break before England's next Test against India in January.

England are due to pick a preliminary squad for the World Cup this week and

will also select squads for bilateral white-ball series against New Zealand and Ireland. Mott said that Jos Buttler, England's whiteball captain, would be in touch with Stokes to "see if he's keen" to reverse his retirement.

"Jos will probably lead the way on that communication, but Ben's pretty straight with all of us. We will see if he's keen," Mott told the Mail on Sunday newspaper in an interview.

"There has not been a clear direction on what he's going to do yet, but we are still hopeful. I've always

said his bowling would be a bonus, but just look at what he brings with the bat, even in the field.

"Watching him throughout the whole Ashes series, he had such a great presence. He's done it for years when it comes to performing in one-day cricket and so he's an invaluable commodity."

Mott added that there was "a high chance" that Jofra Archer will be named in England's provisional World Cup squad, despite missing the entire home

summer to date through an elbow stress fracture.

"There is a high chance that we will take a risk on a proven performer that has done it on the world stage," Mott said in the same interview. "We are planning for him to be available.

"Obviously, a lot of things have to go his way and it will be a tight timeline but with players like that you are going to give them every opportunity to prove their fitness, and so we will keep an open mind."(Cricinfo).

Anthony Joshua secured his first knockout since 2020

Ben Stokes has been battling a chronic leftknee injury • (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Reggae Boy finds winner for Fulham, Spicy Boy Beckles nets own goal

LONDON, (CMC) –Reggae Boy Bobby Reid came off the bench to net a second half winner as Fulham opened the new English Premiership season with a 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.

With the contest locked nil-all at the break in the northwest on Saturday, the 30-year-old produced a clinical finish from close range in the 73rd minute after coming on as halftime substitute, to secure the points for the visitors.

“It’s always nice to start with three points,” said Reid, who turned out for Jamaica at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States last month.

“We’ll continue to build, we’ve still got a lot of room for improvement, and we’ll get on the training pitch and we’ll do that.

“It’s always nice to get three points away at Goodison Park. The lads worked really hard in difficult conditions. [Everton] were really at it and

we weathered the storm, and thankfully we got the goal.”

Everton claimed the early momentum, striker Abdoulaye Doucoure forcing a low save out of goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the fourth minute and Neal Maupay unable to convert from point blank range

after Alex Iwobi’s free kick fell nicely for him in the 33rd.

Maupay was once again denied by Leno in the 41st minute as Everton reached half-time with a hatful of chances but nothing to show for them.

Fulham responded after the break, Raul Jimenez striking the post and Reid putting the follow-up over the top.

The hosts had another excellent chance to take the lead on 67 minutes, Iwobi’s 20-yard drive scrambling Leno into a save at full stretch, and full back Nathan Patterson blasting the rebound against the crossbar.

Against the run of

play, 58th minute substitute Andreas Pereira swept a cross across the box and Reid arrived at the far post unmarked to tap in the finish.

Reid had another chance late on but put Harry Wilson’s cross over.

“I probably should have gone with my head, I’d need to see it back,” said Reid.

“It was great play by Harry Wilson, we know he’s capable of doing that. I was in the right area, and next time I’ll probably score.”

In League One, Grenada’s Omar Beckles scored an own-goal for

newly promoted Leyton Orient as they slumped to a heavy 4-0 defeat to Portsmouth at Brisbane Road in east London.

Marlon Pack (23rd) and Colby Bishop (44th) handed the visitors a 2-0 lead at the break before Beckles’s 51st minute error and a Kusini Yengi penalty in stoppage time sealed the result.

In the National League, Antigua and Barbuda international Ashley Nathaniel-George scored in stoppage time at the end to help 10-man Maidenhead United pull off a 2-0 victory over Dorking at Meadowbank in the southeast.

Chelsea and Liverpool share spoils in frantic opener

MAURICIO Pochetti -

no’s first match as Chelsea manager ended in a breathless, hard-fought home draw with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Both sides attempted to kick off the new season with a bang after disappointing campaigns, with the Blues particularly bruised, having finished 12th at the end of a humiliating season.

Former Tottenham favourite Pochettino has been tasked with turning Chelsea around and oversaw a promising performance in their Premier League opener, with debutant Axel Disasi cancelling out Luis Diaz’s effort in a 1-1 draw.

The sides also saw one goal apiece ruled out for offside in a helter-skelter encounter that showed how much both would benefit from a midfielder like Moises Caicedo or Romeo Lavia.

Chelsea and Liverpool will renew their transfer battle for a number six after Sunday’s action-packed clash in the Stamford Bridge sunshine.

Mohamed Salah saw an early effort rattle the crossbar before expertly slipping in Diaz to score a goal that the Egypt star then coolly added to, only for it to be ruled out on VAR review.

Chelsea made the most of that let-off. Disasi levelled from a looping header by Ben Chilwell, who soon rounded Alisson to score only for the VAR to rule him offside as well.

The teams played out an entertaining second half without a winner and Salah looked irked to have been taken off as Liverpool hunted a second.

Chelsea ended strongly but made an uneasy start to Sunday’s game.

Carney Chukwuemeka was booked in the fourth

minute for a high foot and Diogo Jota mishit poorly after good work by debutant Dominik Szoboszlai.

Liverpool played with more edge than the newlook hosts, with Salah recovering a poor Cody Gakpo pass, turning and continuing to curl a 20yard right-footed effort off the crossbar.

The former Chelsea player started the afternoon with the bit between his teeth and produced a moment of magic in the 18th minute.

Salah collected the ball on the right, ran at homegrown debutant Levi Colwill and fizzed an exquisite left-footed pass through for Diaz to slide home.

Liverpool’s travelling hordes – who had been subject of unsavoury chants from some Chelsea fans – celebrated wildly.

The west Londoners pushed for a leveller, but

their defence continued to look susceptible.

Thiago Silva produced a key block to deny Salah and soon afterwards Trent Alexander-Arnold’s brilliant pass put the forward through to coolly dink over new Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

It looked like a potentially decisive goal, only for the VAR’s intervention to give Chelsea renewed hope. Salah had strayed marginally offside and Pochettino’s Blues quickly capitalised.

Alexander-Arnold sent a threate ning Raheem Sterling cross aimed for Nicolas Jackson behind his own goal and Liverpool failed to deal with the resulting corner.

Chilwell kept his cool as Chelsea kept the pressure on, looping a header over for Disasi to stretch and turn past Alisson, sparking 37th-minute

celebrations.

Within two minutes the volume went up several more notches. Enzo Fernandez‘s nudged pass put Chilwell through to round Alisson and turn home what Chelsea thought was their second, only for the VAR to step in for offside once again.

Salah and Jackson had further shots as a frantic first half ended 1-1, with play continuing in similar fashion when play resumed.

There was an audible gasp when new Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk whistled just wide from the edge of the box, before Diaz’s weak headed attempt hit Jackson’s hand and went behind. He survived a VAR check for a penalty.

Chelsea had chances at the other end. Chilwell forced Sanchez into a save, skipper Reece

James sent a speculative free-kick over and Jackson raced through to get a shot on Alisson’s goal.

Jurgen Klopp rang the changes in search of a winner and Salah looked unhappy to be withdrawn, ripping the strapping off his wrist as he angrily walked off the pitch.

Debutant Sanchez nearly gifted Liverpool a late winner, with his poor pass cut out by Alexis Mac Allister, but Darwin Nunez was unable to capitalise.

The substitute striker saw a curling effort from distance defect narrowly wide in stoppage time, with Chelsea then going close on the counter.

Mykhailo Mudryk went around Alisson following Jackson’s lung-busting run, but Ian Maatsen got crowded out from the cutback.

Fulham’s Reggae Boy striker Bobby Reid

Phillips launches PM T20 Cup S/ball League at MYO

Female winner’s prize increased to $300,000

By Sean Devers

YESTERDAY at the MYO ground on Woolford Avenue, Prime Minister (Ret’d)

Brigadier Mark Anthony Phillips officially launched the seventh edition of the Prime Minister’s T20 Cup Softball League.

Organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League

All Stars (players of any age), Masters (over 40), Legends (over 50) and female All Stars (players of any age) and Regal are the defending Champions of the Masters and Legends while Ariel Knight Riders won in the last Male All Stars and 4R Lions will defend their title in Female All Stars segment.

The inaugural competi-

was happy to be present at the launching.

“Last year I pledged an increase in prize money and when I looked at prize money for the winners… $600,000 for the Males and only $50, 000 for the females, I thought that was too much of disparity and so I am increasing it from $50, 000 to $200,000. I will check our budget to see if we can possibly increase the prize money for the Masters” promised the Prime Minister Phillips

“This is a truly Guyanese sports and I am sure everyone here played Softball cricket so I am very pleased to a part of the Prime Minister’s Cup.

Inc (GSCL) in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, this tournament; the Brainchild of Mahendra ‘Anil’ Hardyal, proprietor of Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, has been supported by 41 sponsors with over $2 million up for grabs.

Set to be contested at seven venues, Guyana’s premier Softball tournament is scheduled to be played from Friday, September 29 to Sunday, October 1 with four categories.

The categories are; Male

tion was held in 2017 with two categories (Open & Masters) while a female division was introduced last year with four teams participating.

It was disclosed that for the first time a registration fee of $60,000 will be charged with teams being refunded $20, 000 once they play a match.

Registration forms will be available at Regal Stationery & Computer Centre at 64 Seaforth Street in Campbellville

Prime Minister Phillips informed that he only arrived from overseas yesterday and

When this tournament started Moses Nagamootoo was the Prime Minister and I expect whoever is the Prime Minister of the day they would be happy to endorse this tournament” said the Prime Minster, who said that he was told that there would be a charity game and infored he would be practicing for that game.

He encouraged more teams to register and said that he would try to see if could get teams from police and GDF to participate.

“I am sure that with increase in prize money we could see more female teams want to be a part of this year’s Prime Minister T20 Cup” said the left-handed Prime Minster who is big cricket fan.

After the Prime Minis -

ter’s comments, the owner of the ARD (a you tube channel that takes viewers on virtual tours of Guyana under his tag line ‘it can’t get better than this) added $100, 000 to female winner who will now collect $300,000.

He also increased the Prize money for the Legend’s winner from $600,000 to $1milion. Regal has won every Legend catorgety in history of this exciting tournament.

The tournament has so far has attracted 23 teams in the various categories while there are prizes for player of the series in each division.

President of the (GSCL) Ian John informed that this competition is usually played in November.

“The overseas teams (3 from NY & 3 from Canada) asked that the tournament be played just after Cricket Carnival (which includes the

CPL matches in Guyana) is concluded since they wanted to be in Guyana during that period.

The final is unusually held at the Providence Stadium but due to preparations for the CPL, the final will be played under lights at DCC.

All of the games will be played with Trophy Stall branded ball and team will be provided with the Blue Water branded water while they have to provide their own meals” explained John.

Public Relations Manager John Ramsingh said the PM’s T20 Softball Cup has grown and is now an International tournament since 2017 when the prize money was $200, 000.

Matches are fixed for DCC, MYO, GYO, Police Sports Club, Queen’s College, Lusignan Sports Club and the GDF grounds.

According to Ramsingh,

Softball cricket is the people’s game and Guyana’s gift to the World and was high in praise for the contribution of Chairman of the tournament Hardyal who was the one responsible for getting overseas sponsors

“For the first time live steaming of the finals day will be done by FL Sport by International commentators and can be followed on the GSCL’s Facebook page, FL Facebook page, FL You Tube Channel and www.flsport.gy

Sponsors Dr Tom Yesudas (CEO Rajiv Ghandi University) and Nateram Rampersaud also told the gathering they were pleased to be a part this tournament and promised continued support.

Phoolkumari Coopsammy performed the duties of MC

Barbados enters the ring for Caribbean Junior Boxing Championships

Barbados has officially confirmed an 11-member travelling party for the prestigious Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys/Juniors Championship scheduled for this weekend (August 18-20) at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The ‘Land of Flying Fish’ has officially submitted its team, which features a two-member technical staff, and a nine-fighter squad, to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).

The aforesaid cadre will be supervised by head coach Figuerado Bowen, whilst Kimberly Gittens will serve in the capacity of manager.

Their combat roster comprises Malachi Estwick - School Boys - [Light Bantamweight

- 50 - 52KG]; Jaquan GrantSchool Boys - [Featherweight

- 54 - 57KG]; Cai Reid - School Boys - [Light Heavyweight - 75

- 80KG]; Lizzie Haney - School Girls - [Middleweight - 7075KG]; Jaheim Estwick – Juniors - [Light Welterweight - 60 - 63KG]; Jazari Narine-Mayers

- Youth - [Featherweight - 5457KG]; Abishai Baptiste – Youth

- [Light Welterweight - 6063KG]; Nathan Walcott – Youth[Welterweight - 63 - 67KG]; and Dave Richards – Youth - [Light Middleweight - 67 - 71KG].

To date, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago have officially confirmed their participation. Involvement is also expected from St. Lucia, and Jamaica, which are slated to announce their squads shortly, whilst Aruba, the Bahamas, and St. Maarten have signaled interest in partaking. Guyana has emerged as the overall champion country in each

edition.

GBA President Ninvalle said, “Like Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago before them, we are delighted to have the participation of the Barbadian team, which gives further credence and overall integrity to this significant regional championship. The participation of Barbados adds to the international flavour of the tournament, which has now become an immutable attribute of this burgeoning venture. It is also suggestive and even symbolic of the importance being placed by the confirmed nations on their respective nursery, of which this tournament empowers and exposes.”

He further said, “The 2023 edition is certainly poised to surpass the prestigious itera-

tions. The GBA anticipates the addition of other Caribbean countries, in the process cementing, via their corresponding participation, the relevance of the event which has mutated into a legitimate Caribbean Championship with each edi-

tion. This speaks to value, which has been built through a concerted effort and vision of GBA. A vision not only to develop Guyana’s boxing fraternity but to evolve and advance the entire Caribbean ecosystem.”

BARBADOS BOXING TEAM

Technical Team Coach - Figuerado Bowen

Manager - Kimberly Gittens

Boxing Roster

(1) Malachi Estwick School Boys [Light Bantamweight - 50

Left-right: Nateram Rampersaud, Telesha Ousman, GSCL President Ian John, Prime Minister (Ret’d) Brigadier Mark Anthony Phillips, Dr Tom Yesudas, John Ramsingh and Phoolkumari Coopsammy (Sean Devers photos)

Telesha Ousman presents a ball to Prime Minister Mark Anthony Phillips

Successful Commonwealth Youth Games team returns home to triumphant welcome

AMIDST a symphony of flower-strewn greetings and the rhythmic beat of drums, the contingent of young athletes who proudly represented Guyana at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago returned to a heartwarming reception on Saturday at the Cheddi Jagan International Air-

port (CJIA).

The exceptional teenage athletes, who clinched an impressive four medals at the games, including a remarkable 4x400m mixed medley gold and a meet record, were warmly welcomed back home. Among those present to greet them were Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson

Jr., Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, President of the Guyana Olympic Association, Godfrey Monroe, Amanda Hermonstine, acting head of Athletics Guyana (AAG), as well as proud parents, well-wishers, and the media.

During the seventh edition of the August 4-11 games, Team Guy-

ana was represented by five track and field athletes and three swimmers. The standout performer was Tianna Springer, who garnered the most attention and accolades. In her games debut, the 15-yearold sensation secured two gold medals. She dominated the women's 400m final and later anchored the mixed 4x400m team

to victory, setting a new record in the process.

Joining Springer in the record-breaking quartet were Malachi Austin, Narissa McPherson, and Javon Roberts. Austin and McPherson also achieved personal triumphs in the men's and women's 400m events, securing silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Minister Ramson began with a hearty "Welcome Home!" and proceeded to express his pride in the team's accomplishments. In his featured address, Ramson emphasised, "Your achievements are well-deserved, and you have not only made us proud, but you have also made our

TURN TO PAGE 22

King reigns as West Indies take T2OI series over India

FORT LAUDERDALE, Flor-

ida, (CMC) – Brandon King lashed a career-best unbeaten half-century as West Indies thrashed India by eight wickets to notch their first Twenty20 International series win over the Asian giants in seven years.

Tasked with overhauling

166 in the decisive fifth game at Central Broward Regional Park here Sunday, West Indies galloped to their target with two overs to spare, to finally end their series drought against the Indians with a 3-2 verdict.

Opener King was at the forefront of the run chase, top-scoring with 85 not out off 55 deliveries with five fours and half-dozen sixes, marking his seventh fifty in his 40th game of the format.

Crucially, King out on 107 for the second wicket with Manof-the-Series Nicholas Pooran, whose 47 required 35 balls and included one four and four sixes.

The partnership turned the game in West Indies’ favour after Kyle Mayers’s poor run

continued when he perished for only 10 with 12 runs on the board in the second over.

Brandon King goes on the attack during his unbeaten fifty on Sunday.

When Pooran departed just following a 40-minute break for rain, Shai Hope arrived to smack a breezy unbeaten 22 from 13 balls, in a 52-run unbroken third wicket partnership with King, to erase any doubts over the result.

“It’s difficult to put words to it. Adjectives are inadequate in describing how we feel,” Captain Rovman Powell said afterwards.

“The guys are elated. It’s a big series. You mention all the stuff that is going on in West Indies cricket, so it’s a very big series for us to beat India at home.”

Fast bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd had earlier

set the stage for the Caribbean side’s domination, picking up a career-best four for 27 to help restrict India to 165 for nine off their 20 overs.

Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2-24) and another fast-bowling all-rounder Jason Holder (2-36) both ended with two wickets apiece as India, choosing to bat first, stuttered and stumbled as wickets fell regularly.

Only Suryakumar Yadav with 61 from 45 balls and rookie Tilak Varma, with 27 from 18 balls, showed any enterprise and were the only ones to pass 20.

Hosein accounted for both openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal (5) caught and bowled off the fifth ball of the morning and Shubman Gill (9) missing a sweep and falling lbw in the third over at 17 for two.

The right-handed Suryakumar then held the innings together, stroking four fours and three sixes and inspiring a 49run, third wicket stand with Varma, adding 21 for the fourth with Sanju Samson (13) and a further 43 for the fifth wicket with captain Hardik Pandya (14).

His dismissal towards the end of the 18th over, lbw to Holder, proved a massive blow to India’s hopes of a strong finish as Shepherd struck twice to stall their progress at the back end.

In reply, West Indies lost Mayers, the left-hander holing out to Jaiswal at mid-off off

left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.

However, King and Pooran took control of the chase in an exhilarating stand which put West Indies in complete control.

King raced to his fifty off 38 deliveries, bringing up his landmark in the 13th over by lifting leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal over the ropes at long off.

Pooran was equally dashing, and appeared to be heading for his second fifty of the series when he bungled a reverse sweep at a full length delivery from Varma and was taken at slip.

King continued unfazed, twice clearing the ropes for back-to-back sixes at the end of the 16th over from Chahal, before hitting Varma for a straight six in the next over which leaked 12 runs and left West Indies needing only six runs to win.

Hope put the finishing touches on a clinical chase when he elegantly struck leg-spinner Jaiswal back over head for a straight six at the end of the 18th.

West Indies celebrate their series win with the T20I trophy

Minister Charles Ramson and other officials take a photo-op with Team Guyana. (Adrian Narine photo)