Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 15-04-2023

Agricola residents awarded over $23M in contracts for drainage works

FIVE persons residing in the community of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, were on Friday awarded some $23.2 million in contracts to execute drainage works in the community.

This is following a commitment made by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during a community engagement in February.

During the simple signing ceremony at the St. Anne’s Primary School,

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar urged the contractors to mobilise their teams and execute the projects efficiently.

“I told you all that this week we will start the work and I am here. I want each contractor to ensure you do the work properly… Treat the workers fairly, give them fair wages. When you are finished, it is the president’s expectation that you get continuous em -

ployment,” Minister Indar stated.

Each of the contractors will be hiring residents of the community to execute the project.

This is part of the administration’s effort to foster community development, as it allows residents to actively participate in infrastructural projects. Their participation will also ensure all parameters of the project are realised in keeping with the

Five persons residing in the community of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, were on Friday awarded some $23.2 million in contracts to execute drainage works in the community (DPI)

scope of work.

Further, Minister Indar highlighted that the involvement of residents is essential as it creates more opportunities for citizens to gain employment through

various sectors.

“There are a lot of houses that the Ministry of Housing is building and we want people to be trained so that they can go into those kinds of businesses, to continue

to work so that you can take care of yourself and your loved ones. We have been doing this in other areas,” the minister added. The project has a deadline of one month. (DPI)

$18M drill acquired to expand number of water wells countrywide

RESIDENTS of the hinterland and riverain communities will continue to get better access to treated water as an $18 million PAT-Drill, compressor, and mud pump were commissioned at the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) headquarters on Friday.

The PAT-Drill can dig wells up to 600 feet and is the second to be procured by the government. The machine will expand the GWI’s capacity to provide potable water nationwide.

During the simple ceremony, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, said there will be no hassle to move the newly commissioned drill to other regions.

A 12-member team from GWI will undergo training for two days to learn how to effectively operate the machine.

“Because of the geographical makeup of our country, much of the access is via the river. And so, this serves and allows us to put this on mobile, whether its boat or vehicle mobile to transport into particular villages,” the Housing and Water Minister said.

Minister Croal said the ministry is hoping to tender two other drills to advance the drilling of wells to meet its 2023 mandate.

Meanwhile, GWI’s Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh, said a well will be drilled at Silver Hill along

the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

He said the machine will then be transported to the Pomeroon where another six wells will be dug.

“We expect to complete these six wells by the end of the year. It’s a big task. This is a huge investment of the government,” Baksh underscored.

The ministry has budgeted some $1.8 billion to further upgrade and extend the water supply this year.

While the government continues to ensure that every citizen benefits from potable water, there is already 95 per cent water coverage in Region Nine. (DPI)

The team from GWI along with Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal

‘They do not speak for us’

- NTC Chair says APA must not be allowed to deprive Indigenous Peoples of opportunities for development

- villages stand to benefit from billions of dollars in direct cash deposits through the sale of Guyana’s carbon credits

CHAIRMAN of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Derrick John, has raised an alarm over the Amerindian Peoples Association’s (APA) ludicrous decision to unjustifiably complain against the Government of Guyana, which has only sought to create opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and their communities to prosper.

It was reported in the Stabroek News that the APA has utilised the grievance mechanism to lodge a formal complaint with the Winrock Architecture for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) Transactions (ART) Secretariat.

“I write to publicly state my alarm in learning that the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) had filed a ‘formal complaint’ to the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat against Guyana’s National Forest Carbon Programme – a key aspect of the LCDS 2030.

“I have since seen the 18-page letter with appendices dated March 8, 2023, addressed to the ART Secretariat and copied to several international institutions including the United States Department of State and the Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), among others. It is glaring that no person or agency in Guyana was copied; not even the National Toshaos Council (NTC), the legislated representative of the indigenous peoples of Guyana,” John said in a letter to the editor on Friday.

He went on to say: “As Chairman of the NTC, I categorically state that our council including its executive, was not informed, much less consulted on the

APA’s intention to file a complaint purportedly on behalf of our indigenous peoples, and we were not given even the courtesy of notification that the ART Secretariat was being contacted and a complaint registered.

“The APA goes as far as to recommend to the ART Secretariat that ‘the credits issued to Guyana that have not yet been purchased be frozen and suspended, and that no further credits be issued’ until the

high-quality, REDD+ jurisdictional carbon credits. And Amerindian communities in Guyana are set to receive at least US$112 out of the US$750 million in keeping with the government’s commitment under its hallmark Low Carbon Development Strategy.

The government is already looking at going through a competitive process for the sale of the remaining 70 per cent, to maximise ben-

engaged in developing plans and projects in consultation with their residents to determine development programmes for their respective communities.

“There is a hive of activity in all communities across our country. This is a process of selfdetermination regarding how the funds earned and already disbursed to our village bank accounts, under the carbon credit scheme would benefit our people, their livelihoods, and future generations.”

He went on to say: “The APA must not be allowed to deprive our villages, our communities, our people of the development funds we need to pursue the vision of our people.

“Editor, it is outrageous that the APA, a local NGO with a handful of members in two administrative regions, and with no legislated authority to represent indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in Guyana or anywhere for that matter, could be brazen enough to take such a position.”

therefore, we have not and could not give our consent to their letter and complaint to the ART Secretariat.

“In other words, the APA is guilty of the accusations they have unjustifiably leveled against the Government

and all Guyanese to see through this veil of deception.”

Vice-President Jagdeo believes the move by the APA is politically motivated by associates of the main opposition party, A Partnership for Na -

APA’s demands are met. This is presumptuous, totally unacceptable and does not represent the wishes of our indigenous people.”

Guyana was issued 33.47 million in forest carbon credits from the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions

(ART), The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES) for the five years between 2016 and 2020, after the conclusion of an independent validation and verification process and approval by the ART Board.

Hess Corporation had signed an agreement with Guyana to pay a minimum of US$750 million to purchase 30 per cent of the country’s

efit to the country.

According to VicePresident, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, at current prices, the country could earn over US$2 billion of which some 15 per cent stands to go to indigenous communities.

“That will be US$400 million that would be eighty something billion dollars will go to these communities. That would help to transform the lives of these 240 something villages that are now beneficiaries of this credit,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

ACTIVELY ENGAGED

Cognisant of this and other development plans, John said: “Our indigenous leaders are currently actively

According to John, it is “incredible” that one of the main accusations the APA leveled against the Government of Guyana is the alleged absence of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) regarding issues of our people.

Yet, the same APA appointed itself as spokesman of the indigenous peoples and is making demands and even challenging the integrity of government and international institutions while falsely claiming to be representatives of Amerindians, John said.

“The APA has not informed us of their intentions; they did not provide us with any information of their complaint or demands; we were not consulted and

of Guyana. The APA does not honour or respect FPIC,” he contended.

The APA, according to John, is a member of the national multi-stakeholder steering committee (MSSC) which takes decisions and oversees the LCDS 2030 implementation including the forest carbon credit programme.

“I have confirmed that the Committee was not informed of this move by the APA and I am sure that the Guyana Organization of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP), The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG), Amerindian Development Foundation (ADF) and the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC), all of whom are representatives of our IPLCs and are MSSC members, were not consulted or informed by the APA either

“I call upon my fellow Toshaos and other community leaders to call out the APA on their offensive actions,” John said, noting: “I urge the ART Secretariat, our international partners,

tional Unity (APNU), led by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

Executive Director of APA, Jean La Rose, was a candidate for the APNU in the 2015 elections. Dr. Jagdeo reminded that it was the APNU that has scrapped the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which facilitated Guyana’s development of its carbon credit sector.

After assuming government in 2015 the APNU replaced the LCDS with the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS). This is not withstanding the country having earned an initial US$250 million under the first LCDS.

“The green state strategy was never adopted at the country level because it had no sustainability. It brought only further obligations on the state of Guyana to make expenditures in a manner that would have displaced expenditure from other important tasks in this country,” Dr. Jagdeo noted.

Chairman of the NTC, Derrick John

Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

VP dismantles Norton’s narrative of govt discrimination against Afro-Guyanese

VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has once again exposed the untruths being peddled by Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton about Afro-Guyanese being subjected to discrimination by the government.

The Vice-President was addressing the media on Thursday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

“His [Norton] problem is a bigger issue. He doesn’t

want Afro-Guyanese to progress in this country so that it can fit into his jaundiced narrative of discrimination. So, they will come out hard against any progressive Afro-Guyanese, or people who are developing,” he highlighted.

VP Jagdeo also called out Norton for his attempts to paint the PPP/C government in a negative light, claiming that Afro-Guyanese were not being given contracts, only

to backtrack when they are awarded contracts, saying that they received contracts as a result of political affiliation.

Addressing Norton’s criticisms of the ICC standard facilities being installed at grounds in Linden, the VP said: “Norton said that Linden plays football. They want a ground up to the FIFA standards, rather than the ICC standards. And then he goes on to say, if we want an ICC ground, we should use the one that Kashif and Shanghai used to hold a dance on, for playing cricket.

“He is implying that people in Linden, they play football. Afro-Guyanese, football, and Indo-Guyanese, cricket. And [that] cricket is not of any major importance to the people of Region 10, particularly Linden.”

While the statement is typically what one might expect from the opposition leader, Dr Jagdeo pointed out: “He [Norton] is very upset about who holds dances on the ground and all of that. A very petty-minded person. But behind this, all is a narrative. They are very sour, they don’t want Afro-Guyanese

to make any progress, for the simple reason that they can go and campaign that the PPP has been discriminating.”

Dr Jagdeo explained that a FIFA standard football field will be present at the Bayrock facility, where a synthetic track is currently being installed.

The Mackenzie Sports Club ground will be upgraded to a multipurpose sports facility to a similar standard as the one at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Another one of these grounds, which has not been touched for some 40 years, will be constructed in the community, Retrieve.

The development would allow three Linden schools to have access to a sporting ground for the first time after many years.

“But the fact is that we’re not trying to steer people. It’s not a racist thing, Mr. Norton. We’re for the first time developing two grounds; in fact, three grounds in the town of Linden that would allow us to play international-type cricket there and International Football. Now, contrast that with the APNU five years, in office when they did practically nothing in these areas… He should be ashamed to even mention this issue at a press conference,” the Vice-President highlighted.

Some $179 million has been allocated for completion of the Bayrock facility, and some $250 million was earmarked in the 2023 budget for ground enhancement across the country.

Largest ever Rupununi Rodeo deemed a success

THE largest ever Rupununi Rodeo which was held between April 8 and 9 has received high commendations, and was deemed a success by hundreds who travelled to Region Nine for the highly anticipated Easter event.

Many spectators expressed contentment with the smooth journey to the village due to the recently rehabilitated road. The rehabilitation was undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works.

Member of Parliament, Dharamkumar Seeraj, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) he foresees the event growing more rapidly in the coming years.

“But this one is the best so far for most people and visitors and I think that the future of the rodeo event here

in Rupununi is great. I expect for the next year with the road being better you will have more people visiting,” MP Seeraj said.

Chattergoon Jadoopat was among the scores who travelled from the capital city. He noted that he was intrigued by the various competitions that were

hosted.

“This year is better because of the people that come. People just want to see what it is like. For me, I was participating also in one of the events yesterday. It was fun, so a lot of people enjoyed themselves,” Jadoopat expressed.

Attending the Ro -

deo for the first time, Jaisarran Rajaram stated: “I enjoyed it a lot… the horse racing was beautiful and then I end up taking a ride with a friend’s horse as well, so it was lovely.”

A Brazilian national, Priscilla Ramsarran, commended the event organisers for working extremely hard to

execute such as wellplanned event which she said has helped with sales for vendors.

“Every year we come and work. This year was very nice and the organisers worked very well, better than before and I enjoyed it. Business is good,” the foreigner said.

Amen Flatt who is from the Rupununi but resides in Georgetown expressed his excitement about travelling to

his birth village. Flatt told DPI that he did not travel due to the two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event saw the attendance of Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall; Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai. (DPI)

Horseback riding at Rodeo 2023

Health Sector Development

THE Ministry of Health’s latest initiative, in partnership with Ministry of the Public Service and Medical Aid International, is a much-needed step in addressing the shortage of biomedical technicians and engineers in Guyana’s health sector.

Currently, government is offering a three-to six-month online and selfpaced course to equip Guyanese with the necessary skills to fix health equipment. This programme will not only create job opportunities, but will also improve the quality of healthcare in the country. The first cohort of 39 participants, selected from various regions of Guyana, will have jobs guaranteed upon successful completion of the programme.

Participants are urged to develop maintenance plans for equipment in their respective hospitals to reduce the time taken to service and fix them.

To ensure success of the programme, some participants received kits

containing a manual covering the range of things they are expected to know by the end of the training, a laptop, and other instruments. With new infrastructure and equipment being brought in, the minister stressed the need for biomedical technicians in each place. The programme will begin with essential equipment, but participants will be trained to service more advanced equipment entering Guyana’s health system.

Guyana can only provide high-quality care if the country has its own biomedical engineers, since one major issue that hampers the health sector’s progress is equipment occupying space at hospitals, which cannot be used because few have the knowledge and skills to fix them. This programme aims to change that.

The programme is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in biomedical engineering as designing, developing, and maintaining critical medical equip-

ment requires skilled professionals who can ensure the delivery of quality healthcare.

Overall, the health ministry’s programme is a much-needed step towards addressing the shortage of biomedical technicians and engineers in Guyana’s health sector. By creating job opportunities and improving the quality of healthcare, this programme is a step in the right direction.

Meanwhile, some 2,000 Computed Tomography (CT) scans are currently being conducted monthly at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). This is a drastic increase from the mere hundreds that were previously conducted.

Up to last year only a couple of hundred CT scans were done per month, but now close to 2,000 CTs are being done per month at the GPHC.

The increase comes after the government implemented a policy last November, which saw all CT scans at

the facility being conducted at no cost to the patient and administered based on the urgency of the issue.

The monumental move by the government was met with praise, with multiple patients stating that the removal of the fee would greatly assist in lifting the financial burden of healthcare.

Before November 2022, the cost of a CT scan ranged from around $15,000 to over $50,000 in some instances.

The government’s intervention assisted in removing financial constraints as well as expedited the treatment and care of patients, as there was no delay for patients who face difficulty in covering the cost of their CT scans.

The Government of Guyana is currently working to modernise and transform the health sector.

A slew of new measures that are being implemented will see every person in Guyana receiving access to high-quality and affordable healthcare over the next few years.

The APA must not be allowed to deprive our villages, people of development

Dear Editor,

I WRITE to publicly state my alarm in learning that the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has filed a “formal complaint” to the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat against Guyana’s National Forest Carbon Programme, a key aspect of the LCDS 2030.

I have since seen the 18-page letter with appendices dated March 8, 2023, addressed to the ART Secretariat and copied to several international institutions, including the United States Department of State and the Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), among others.

It is glaring that no person or agency in Guyana was copied; not even the National Toshaos Council (NTC), the legislated representative of the indigenous peoples of Guyana.

Further, as Chairman of the NTC, I categorically state that our council, including its executive, was not informed, much less consulted on the APA’s intention to file a complaint purportedly on behalf of our indigenous peoples, and we were not given even the courtesy of notification that the ART Secretariat was being contacted and a

complaint registered.

The APA goes as far as to recommend to the ART Secretariat that “the credits issued to Guyana that have not yet been purchased be frozen and suspended, and that no further credits be issued” until the APA’s demands are met. This is presumptuous, totally unacceptable and does not represent the wishes of our indigenous people.

Editor, it is outrageous that the APA, a local NGO with a handful of members in two administrative regions, and with no legislated authority to represent indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in Guyana or anywhere for that matter, could be brazen enough to take such a position.

It is incredible that one of the main accusations the APA levels against the Government of Guyana is the alleged absence of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) regarding issues of our people.

Yet, the same APA appoints itself as spokesman of our people and is making demands and even challenging the integrity of government and international institutions, while falsely claiming to be our representatives.

The APA has not informed us of their intentions; they did not provide us with any

information of their complaint or demands; we were not consulted and therefore, we have not and could not give our consent to their letter and complaint to the ART Secretariat.

In other words, the APA is guilty of the accusations they have unjustifiably levelled against the Government of Guyana. The APA does not honour or respect FPIC.

Editor, the APA is a member of the national multi-stakeholder steering committee (MSSC) which takes decisions and oversees the LCDS 2030 implementation, including the forest carbon credit programme.

I have confirmed that the committee was not informed of this move by the APA and I am sure that the Guyana Organization of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP), The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG), Amerindian Development Foundation (ADF) and the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC), all of whom are representatives of our IPLCs and are MSSC members, were not consulted or informed by the APA either.

I call upon my fellow toshaos and other community leaders to call out the APA on their offensive actions.

I urge the ART Secretariat, our international partners, and all Guyanese to see through this veil of deception.

I am at a loss as to why the APA would take such an extreme position which is not based on fact. However, I am almost certain that their views and opinions do not represent me, my village, or the totality of 242 villages, communities and satellites of our Guyanese indigenous sisters and brothers.

Editor, our indigenous leaders are currently actively engaged in developing plans and projects in consultation with their residents to determine development programmes for their respective communities.

There is a hive of activity in all communities across our country. This is a process of self-determination regarding how the funds earned and already disbursed to our village bank accounts, under the carbon credit scheme would benefit our people, their livelihoods, and future generations.

The APA must not be allowed to deprive our villages, our communities, our people of the development funds we need to pursue the vision of our people.

Yours sincerely,

Derrick John Toshao, Moraikobai Village, Region Five Chairman, National Toshaos Council

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Jagdeo challenges Lall to produce evidence of ‘secret’ Marriott investors

–– says hotel 100 per cent gov’t owned

Ltd., had agreed to come on board as private investors, acquiring 67 per cent of the equity of AHI for US$8 million.

VICE-PRESIDENT,

Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday went to great pains to definitively affirm that the Guyana Marriott Hotel is wholly and completely owned by the Government of Guyana, dispelling persistent rumors of secret investors having a stake in the hotel.

During a press conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Dr Jagdeo sought to address persistent allegations by daily newspaper, Kaieteur News and its publisher Glenn Lall, of mysterious private investors being behind the hotel, seeking to benefit from the government’s move to sell its shares in the hotel.

Addressing the media corps, that included Lall, Dr Jagdeo maintained government’s full equity in the property.

“I saw a headline implying that I said that we’re selling [the Marriott] to pay off private investors. And then Mr Lall again said that there are some secret private investors who are hiding behind the Republic Bank.

“So, I don’t know about secret private investors hiding behind Republic Bank but let me make it clear today, now, the government of Guyana owns 100 per cent of this hotel,” Dr Jagdeo affirmed.

In a spirited discussion, Dr Jagdeo dared Lall to come forward with any evidence to corroborate his fixation with private investors being behind the funding of the Guyana Marriott.

“If you could provide a single shred of evidence that there was a private secret investor that got a cent from the Marriott I will resign now. If you cannot, you must apologise and stop lying to the people of this country,” Dr Jagdeo said.

Located in Kingston, the US$52 Guyana Marriott, which opened in 2015, is funded through public investments and a US$27 million syndicated loan from Republic Bank Ltd.

The government invested US$30 million through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), and owned the hotel via Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), a special- purpose company established to build the hotel.

In 2017, as AHI encountered difficulties in servicing the loan, the gov-

ernment took over the loan.

Dr Jagdeo acknowledged that while the initial plan was for the hotel to be developed as a public-private partnership, with equity investment from a firm from Hong Kong, that arrangement was never completed.

“We couldn’t go forward, we said we will do it on our own. That’s why we had to take a loan now because part of it was coming in as equity and part as

a loan. So, the investor was going to bring in some equity and a loan. The government for was the take and less of a return and its equity share at the beginning to encourage the private equity investor. That didn’t happen. So, it is 100 per cent of by the government of that,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

Two Hong Kong businessmen who are principals in the British Virgin Islands (BVI)-registered ACE Square Investments

Ace Square Management Ltd., affiliated company of ACE Square Investments Ltd., has been selected to operate the Entertainment Complex and secure the outfitting cost.

However, in 2015 the businessmen pulled out of the investment plans.

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

More specialised training for doctors

–– as Health Ministry and Chinese Medical Brigade sign MoU

THE Ministry of Health on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China for more training opportunities for Guyanese resident

With this format, he said that they were able to include more persons and in the end the training was efficient.

“I think our discussions have led us that we are going to continue these

various exchanges and projects.

Haiyan added that both countries attach great importance to healthcare and noted that it is part of practising ‘people-centred’ development. China has ad-

doctors through a collaboration with the 18th Chinese Medical Brigade here and the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital.

The MoU was signed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Resource Centre, where Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony said that the ministry has been looking for ways to expand training opportunities for doctors here.

He related that they have been in discussion with the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana on ways to expand training in several areas

Last year, for training, they experimented with having a number of doctors come in for other training and to do online work.

types of training and I’m sure more and more people would come on board as we do these types of training, because they are now recognizing the benefits of this training,” Dr Anthony said.

He added that the ministry will continue to explore opportunities for collaboration and add to the vision of where they would like to take healthcare in Guyana.

The government’s vision is to make Guyana a hub for medicine in the Caribbean region which, Dr Anthony said, is already being seen.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan said that China is committed to working together with Guyana and carrying out

vanced significantly with medical technology, and the country is in a great position to assist Guyana with its vision through collaboration.

The ambassador said China will continue to support the development of healthcare services in Guyana.

Further, delivering remarks at the ceremony was President of the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Mu Genglin, who said that while they are in Guyana, they hope to find cooperation opportunities in medical treatment, education, scientific research, management and other areas.

A separate MoU was signed during the ceremony for the establishment of Friendship Hospitals.

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony (third from right) and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan (third from left), during the signing ceremony on Friday

‘Nand Persaud’ producing GNBS’ Made in Guyana certified rice, plastic products

NAND Persaud & Company Limited established its first rice mill in 1992, producing one ton of white rice per hour.

Today, the company located at #36 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, has the capability to produce up to eight tonnes of parboiled rice and 12 tonnes of white rice per hour under the brand ‘Karibee Rice.’

The packaging aspect of the company has the capacity to produce 30 tonnes of packaged rice per day.

On November 22, 2022, the company received its permit to use the Made in Guyana Standards Mark from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards’ (GNBS).

This prestigious mark which boosts competitiveness of local products, is now affixed to the packages of parboiled long grain rice and white long grain rice manufactured under the ‘Karibee’ brand.

The Chief Executive Officer of Nand Persaud and Company Ltd., Mohindra Persaud, said: “The GNBS’ certification would improve the marketability of the products and provide our (Karibee) brand of products

[with] a voice for all of our customers, both locally and internationally.”

According to the company’s Quality Manager, Kulina Laljiet, it is important to provide customers with quality food.

Laljiet said: “Customers have the right to demand that the food they buy and eat is both healthy and of the highest calibre. The look, size, form, colour, consistency, texture, flavour, and nutritional value are some examples of these quality features.”

With 160 employees, she said: “The business has committed to investing financial and human resources to put in place the

necessary controls required during the various stages of manufacturing, processing, and packaging of the rice.”

The Made in Guyana certification adds to the company’s ISO 22000 certification received in 2019 after completing a successful Technical Assistance programme with the GNBS.

The ISO 22000 standard addresses Food Safety Management Systems and helps organizations identify and control food safety hazards.

and North America.

Nand Persaud and Company Ltd. further manufactures Karibee pet rice and uses the by-products bran and cornhusk for animal feed. Labelling and branding of rice for other local and foreign companies are also done.

TURN TO PAGE 10

The Karibee rice brand can be found in all supermarkets countrywide and is exported to the other countries in South America, Caribbean, Europe

Managers and employees of Plastific Inc.

Workers packaging Karibee Rice at the Nand Persaud & Co. Ltd. Rice Mill, Corentyne

‘Nand Persaud’ producing GNBS’ Made...

FROM PAGE 9

Meanwhile, over the years the company has diversified its business to include Agriculture Machinery Department (spare parts store), a call centre, NPG Packaging & Plastific

Inc.,

Flexotech Inc., and Green Power Solutions Inc.

On March 17, 2023, Plastific Inc. also joined the GNBS’ Made in Guyana Certification Mark Programme with its range of products. The certificate

was handed over by the GNBS’ Head of Certification, Andrea Mendonca, to the company’s Assistant Manager, Togeshwarie Ganesh.

Located at Wellington Park, Corentyne, Berbice,

Plastific Inc. was established in 2018 and produces plastic bottles, preforms, cups, plates, spoons, storage containers in various sizes and cutlery. It caters to the local market and has the capability of producing up to six tons of products per day.

According to Ganesh, the company has been following the quality standard and has strived to produce

the best products for its customers. She advised that a company’s success and reputation are directly impacted by the quality of its products.

She said: “When we create high-quality products that continue to meet customer demands, it leads to lower production costs, a higher investment return, and an increase in revenue. We also create products to

fill a need in the market, and customers expect the products to meet that need as the company advertises them.”

The Management of Nand Persaud Group of companies takes this opportunity to urge more local manufacturers to pursue certification to achieve the GNBS’ Permit to use the Made in Guyana Standards Mark.

Funds to be disbursed directly to 55 Afro-Guyanese representative bodies

THE government will be allocating some $100 million to individual organisations representing Afro-Guyanese across the country.

During a hearing, on Friday, before acting Chief Justice, Roxane George, the International Decade for People of African Descent- Guyana (IDPADA-G)’s lawyer, Vivian Williams, said that talks broke down during mitigation of the lawsuit and the parties were unable to arrive at an agreement after being at loggerheads since last year.

Given the circumstances, the acting Chief Justice gave timelines for submissions to be laid over from both parties. The matter was adjourned until June 13 for arguments.

Following the hearing, the Chambers of the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, S.C., in a statement, said that the government “remains committed to honouring the objectives” of IDPADA-G, which spans the period January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2024.

“As a demonstration of its commitment, the government has allocated money for the advancement of the objectives of the Decade since it assumed office in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and will continue to so do until the end of the Decade in 2024.

“While a part of the budgeted sum for the year 2022 is, unfortunately, the subject of legal proceedings, the money budgeted and appropriated for the year 2023 is not. The government plans to disburse the 2023 subvention to 55 organisations representing Afro-Guyanese across the country, who are the founding members of the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana to pursue the objectives of the Decade,” the release said.

In the 2023 budget, through the Department of Culture, $100M was allocated to IDPADA-G for the support and development of AfroGuyanese.

According to the lawsuit drafted by Attorney-at-Law Eusi Anderson, Chairman of IDPADA-G, Vincent Alexander, is claiming in excess of $150 million for damages and special damages from VicePresident, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, for statements he had made.

Alexander is also seeking a public apology, and the retraction of the information that was broadcast over the electronic media.

The Statement of Claim lists Jagdeo, the Department of Public Information (DPI), and the Attorney-General of Guyana as respondents.

The Vice-President, in his defence, claimed that IDPA-

DA-G, of which Alexander is listed as a beneficial owner, holds itself out to be a representative organisation for the advancement and development of Afro-Guyanese and persons of African Descent in Guyana.

According to Jagdeo, IDPADA-G received approximately $500 million of State funds during the period 2018 to 2020.

In the year 2020, the organisation received $100 million, of which approximately $42 million was paid as salaries and allowances, while only $343,000 was actually disbursed by way of grants.

In his court document, lawyers representing the VicePresident outlined that only “a small proportion” of the said State funds had been disbursed as grants to ordinary AfroGuyanese.

Jagdeo contended that he received numerous complaints from persons in AfroGuyanese communities and intended beneficiaries about being unable to access funds from IDPADA-G, and excluded from any and all decisions regarding the use and allocation of the sums.

Lawyers for the VicePresident contended that the payment of about $343,000 or 0.343 per cent of the annual allocation for the ultimate benefit of Afro-Guyanese and the payment of about $42,000,000 or 42 per cent of the said allocation as salaries was akin to “parasitism”.

“The term ‘parasite’ was used to refer to the consistent conduct of the Claimant and other members of International Decade for People of African Descent AssemblyGuyana Inc. in allocating a large portion of the said State funds to their own use and benefit.

“The term “parasite” was used to refer to the fact that …the Claimant and other members of the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly- Guyana Inc. were the principal beneficiaries of the said funds. The Claimant derived a greater benefit from the said funds than the recipients of grants disbursed by International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly- Guyana Inc,” Jagdeo’s defence document read.

Among other things, the Vice-President is contending that he is “politically, legally and morally” enjoined and duty bound to speak out and condemn acts of illegalities, corruption, nepotism and cronyism, and has a further duty to expose excesses, abuse of power, mismanagement, incompetence in public office,

misuse of state resources and violations of the law and the Constitution.

Jagdeo said the words highlighted by Alexander were fair comments and an expression of honest opinions on matters of public importance. The words were published on a matter of public importance and their publication was for the public benefit.

Chairman of IDPADA-G, Vincent Alexander Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George

15 new telemedicine sites for remote communities

MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said that remote communities, in 2023, will benefit from 15 new telemedicine sites in Region One (BarimaWaini), Region Seven (Cuyuni Mazaruni), Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).

The health minister disclosed that during the launch of a biomedical training programme at the National Racquet Centre on Friday.

“This year, we are adding 15 more sites, so we will be putting four in Region One, four in Region Seven, four in Region Eight and four more in Region Nine,” he said.

The telemedicine system allows doctors in the capital city to easily contact community health workers (CHWs) in rural communities.

He noted that they have to start using more technology to do medicine.

Further, he said that they had started four pilot

sites where telemedicine was being done. However, the health sector requires persons to maintain computers, connectivity, internet, and devices.

“We need people who understand how to fix these things and maintain them,” the health minister related.

He added that they would need technicians in the area of digital health which will require a training programme.

“So, that is a course that will [be] run and we will have to look for suitable

partners who can help us in doing that,” he noted.

The government has set aside some $1.8 billion to implement the telemedicine programme in isolated Amerindian communities.

The National Telemedicine Programme, a pilot project, was officially launched in December 2022 in Masakenari, ‘Gunns Village’ and is being carried out in other remote communities, including Nappi, Yupukari, and Parikwarinau in Region Nine.

Marishah Singh, a Region Nine community health worker, communicating with a doctor at the GPHC

Harbour Bridge acquires $73M mobilised barge for improved operations

- adds $40M self-loader vehicle to assist with accidents, wreckage

TO minimise commuter encroachment, the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, commissioned a $73 million mobilised barge for the Dem -

hicle was also commissioned to aid in the quick removal of immobile and or accidentwrecked vehicles from the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

a lifeboat, among other safety equipment, in case of emergencies. There are also plans to train and revise employment for persons to work on the barge.

erara Harbour Bridge on Friday.

The Minister added that the rental of barges exceeded $12 million in just a few days due to the most recent disaster that struck

This specially designed vehicle, a threein-one combination of a crane, wind system and motorised tray, is the first vehicle for the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation.

the Harbour Bridge. He further asserted that Government investments of this nature strive to save expenses while preventing traffic congestion when maintenance is required.

The minister claimed the barge was refurbished and equipped with the required amenities. The barge includes a safe platform for people with two attached 300-horsepower Mercury engines.

Further, an over $40 million self-loader ve-

Moreover, Wayne Watson, General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, remarked that the mobilised barge was required since they constantly sought ways to maintain the age-old structure without inconveniencing the local populace.

Watson said that the barge will be utilised to conduct maintenance and house the equipment.

Furthermore, the barge will soon possess

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and other officials at the commissioning of the new ‘state-of-the-art’ mobilised barge

The brand-new $40M self-loader vehicle

The state- of- the art mobilised barge

Bids open for reconstruction of St. George’s High School

THE Ministry of Education has officially opened bids for contractors to rebuild St. George’s High School, which was ravaged by a fire earlier this year.

According to an invitation for bids (IFB) issued by the Ministry of Education and published by several

print and online media platforms, reputable contractors are being sought to reconstruct and furnish the school.

Bids for the project are to be submitted by May 11, 2023 at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office.

According to the IFB, bidding will be conducted through the National Committee Bidding (NCB) procedures, as specified in the Procurement Act 2003 and Regulations 2004.

No estimated cost for the project has yet been released; however, some $12.4

(Flashback) The destroyed St. George’s High School billion was allocated to the ministry for the construction, rehabilitation, extension, and maintenance of education

facilities across the country in the 2023 national budget.

On July 20, 2022, a fire confirmed to be of electri-

cal origin ravaged the St. George’s High.

The Guyana Fire Service

TURN TO PAGE 17

Programme launched to address shortage of biomedical technicians

- jobs guaranteed after successful completion

By Cassandra Khan

A NEW programme launched by the Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service and Medical Aid International, will see Guyanese completing a three- to six-month online and self-paced course, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to fix health equipment.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, at the launch ceremony at the National Racquet Centre, expressed the dire need in the health sector for biomedical technicians and engineers.

Thirty-nine persons in the first cohort were selected from the different regions of Guyana to be a part of the programme.

The Health Minister related that jobs are guaranteed for them after the successful completion of the programme and urged the participants to ensure that they have maintenance plans for the equipment in their respective hospitals.

This is to cut down on time taken to service and fix equipment.

Additionally, some participants received kits

that included a manual covering the range of things they are expected to know by the end of the training, a laptop, and other instruments.

With new infrastructure and equipment being brought in, the minister said they need biomedical technicians in each place.

He said they would start with essential equipment, but once they get the knack for it, they will be trained to service more advanced equipment entering Guyana’s health system.

Additionally, Adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, said they could only provide the high-quality care they hope to attain if Guyana has its own biomedical engineers.

“This is a country where when the Minister and I joined the sector, we could not do a simple test like HP... in our country today, we are doing open heart surgery and transplants,” he related.

Ramsammy stated that, without technology today, the health sector would not be able to deliver the quality of healthcare desired. However, one major issue faced relates to equipment occupying space at hospitals, not used because few

Bids open for...

FROM PAGE 16

later revealed in a report that a nonfunctioning electrical outlet at the school caused the fire.

The fire had begun in the Social Studies Department on the northeastern wall of the institution.

Some 421 students were displaced. The fire was the third at a secondary school in less than two years. The North Ruimveldt Multilateral School in Georgetown went up in flames in June 2021, while the Mabaruma Secondary School in Region One

have the knowledge and skill to fix it.

“Sometimes a simple thing like a fuse — a very expensive piece of equipment — has been sitting at GPHC for three years because we couldn’t figure it out, but that is about to change,” he said.

Meanwhile, Emily Spessert, Head of Academic Research and Engineering

Development at Medical Aid International, said that the programme is designed to provide the students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in biomedical engineering.

“ You can design, develop and maintain the medical equipment that is critical to deliver quality healthcare,” she said.

was also destroyed by fire in September 2021. Meanwhile, the Christ Church Secondary School was razed by fire earlier this year.

According to one news report, over 220 students were placed at new schools after the Ministry of Education (MoE) facilitated the move. No new students were placed at this school following the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results.

Grade Six pupils are placed in a secondary school based on their performance at the NGSA.

(From right) Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony; Standards and Technical Director of the Ministry of Health, Julian Amsterdam, and adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, inspect instruments and kits that will be used during the programme

Brook’s unbeaten ton...

FROM PAGE 24

his half-century off 25 balls. He tried to go big on the next ball as well but holed out at deep midwicket.

Brook brings up his hundred

In the 15th over, Knight Riders re-introduced seam in the form of Ferguson. And Brook was back hitting boundaries, sending the bowler for four fours and a six in a 23-run over. Abhishek Sharma, meanwhile, took over Markram's role and looted 32 off 16 against spin. He didn't even spare Sunil Narine, hitting him for a four and a six in the 17th over. Those

were the only two boundaries

Narine conceded in his 4-0-280. Abhishek faced just one ball of pace, and was out on that.

Brook kept picking up the occasional boundary, and moved to 95 off 52 with one over left. He was tiring by then but found just enough energy to hobble a couple of twos and a single to bring up his hundred.

Knight Riders start poorly Bhuvneshwar Kumar dealt Knight Riders an early blow when Rahmanullah Gurbaz sliced the third ball of the chase to deep third. In the fourth over, Marco Jansen dented them further by removing Venkatesh Iyer and Narine off successive deliveries. Iyer, who came in as Impact Player for Suyash, hit a couple of boundaries before miscuing one to Markram at mid-on. Narine was cramped for room and was also taken at mid-on, leaving Knight Riders 20 for 3.

Nitish Rana's counter-attack

It looked like Knight Riders would surrender without a fight, but their captain Rana resuscitated the chase. In the sixth over, he hit Umran Malik for 4, 6, 4, 4, 4, 6. Not every shot came off the middle of the bat, but

English Racing Tips

Aintree

08:45 hrs Jonbon

09:25 hrs Good Time Johnny

10:00 hrs Irish Point

10:35 hrs Sire Du Berlais

11:15 hrs Beauport

12:15 hrs Mr Incredible

13:20 hrs Centara

Newcastle 08:00 hrs Nights In Venice

08:35 hrs Sound And Fury

09:15 hrs Glittering Love

09:50 hrs Word Has It

10:25 hrs High Moon

11:00 hrs Ex S’elance

11:40 hrs Enemy At The Gate

Wolverhampton

12:30 hrs Deby Dinks

13:00 hrs Tranquil Rose

13:30 hrs Dubai Dawn

14:00 hrs Kensington Agent

14:30 hrs Marmara Star

15:00 hrs Well Prepared

15:30 hrs Carlos Felix

the 28-run over helped Knight Riders end the powerplay on a solid 62 for 3.

N Jagadeesan gave Rana good support with his 36 off 21 before Mayank Markande had him caught at deep midwicket. Russell, who had walked off twice during the first innings with cramps, didn't last long either, holing out in the leg-spinner's next over.

At that stage, Knight Riders needed 133 in 9.5 overs. Rana and Rinku kept the fight on, adding 69 in 6.2 overs for the sixth wicket. The pair was also helped by some lapses in the field -- both Rana and Rinku were dropped once each, and later, Thakur was dropped twice. With 70 needed from 23 balls, Rana got two full tosses in a row from T Natarajan. He smashed the first one for a six but ended up hitting the second to sweeper-cover, where Washington Sundar held on to the chance.

Rinku hit three fours off Natarajan in the 19th over to reduce the equation to 32 needed off six, but as Rana himself said after the game, miracles don't happen every game.

Anerican Racing Tips

Keenland

Race 1 Magical Power Race 2 Kate’s Concerto Race 3 James Aloysius

Race 4 C’mon Man

Race 5 Really Good Race 6 Zeitos

Race 7 Master Game Race 8 Oeuvre

Aqueduct Race 1 Conman

Race 2 Looms Boldly Race 3 Celestial City

Race 4 Life And Light

Race 5 Union Trap Race 6 No More Talk

Race 7 Bomb Squad

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Saturday April 15, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Suresh Raina (CSK)

(2) Sachin Tendulkart (MI)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who scored most runs in IPL 2010?

(2) What was the highest individual score made in IPL 2010?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Brook’s unbeaten ton gives SRH win over KKR

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Harry Brook put behind a string of low scores with an unbeaten 55-ball 100 that included imperious hitting against pace and calculated strike rotation against spin. Aiden Markram was equally destructive, scoring 50 off 26 balls, as Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 228 for 4,

the highest total of IPL 2023 so far.

In response, Kolkata Knight Riders were 96 for 5 in the 11th over and in need of a miracle for the third game in a row.

Nitish Rana's 41-ball 75 kept their hopes alive, and with 58 required from the last three overs, they had Rinku Singh and Shar-

dul Thakur -- their miracle-makers from the previous two games -- in the middle. Rinku fought hard with an unbeaten 58 off 31 but this time, it wasn't to be. Brook shows his class

Coming into this game, Brook had 29 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 74.35. But one felt it was only a matter

of time before he stepped up. On Friday, he started by hitting the first ball of the innings, bowled by Umesh Yadav, through the covers for four. He picked up two more fours in the over, pulling and scooping the bowler with little fuss.

Against Lockie Ferguson, he exposed his stumps and dispatched a slow full toss to the cover boundary. He used the same strategy in Umesh's next over with even better returns; two back-to-back sixes. Thanks to Brook, Sunrisers raced to 43 for no loss in three overs.

Russell's double-strike

Andre Russell hadn't bowled this season so far, but it took him just one ball to make an impact. While Brook seemed unstoppable, Mayank Agarwal was struggling. Russell ended his agony by having him caught at short third for 9 off 13 balls. Rahul Tripathi hit a couple of fours but ended up top-edging a pull on the last ball of the over, giving Russell his second wicket.

Markram takes over

In their spinners, Knight Riders found a way to keep Brook quiet. In the first six overs of the innings, Brook had smashed five fours and two

sixes. In the next eight -- seven of which were bowled by the spinners -- he didn't find a single boundary, and instead focused on rotating the strike. That, though, didn't mean Knight Riders could breathe easily. Markram took the baton and ransacked 42 off 22 balls against the spinners. He was severe on Suyash Sharma, in particular, taking him for two sixes and a four in the 12th over of the innings. In the next over, he hit successive balls from Varun Chakravarthy for a four and a six, the second shot bringing up

TURN TO PAGE 23

Taylor plays small role but Tornadoes make it to Fairbreak final

CMC – Former West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor played a small role but it was enough to help her Tornadoes to an emphatic 55-run victory over Sapphires in their fifth-place playoff in the Fairbreak Invitational.

Playing at the Kowloon Cricket Club here Friday, Taylor top-scored with 24 from 17 deliveries as Tornadoes rallied to 115 for five from their 20 overs.

In reply, Sapphires collapsed to 60 all out in the 15th over, Player-of-theMatch Winifred Duraisingam

(3-8), Sita Rana Magar (317) and Chanida Sutthiruang (3-22) all picking up three

wickets each to destroy the run chase.

Sent in, Tornadoes lost

Hope not giving up test dream

CMC – Shai Hope said he has not given up on the dream of forging a successful Test career, despite having not played the longest format in nearly 17 months.

Already 29, the stylish right-hander has continued to struggle in Tests, averaging 25 from 38 matches with only

or what format it is, is to score runs. I’ll try to learn from my experiences.

“It’s about not dwelling too much on the past and learning quickly from the experiences you’ve been through.”

The peak of Hope’s Test career came at Headingley

England’s Natasha Miles cheaply for five with the score on six in the fourth over but Taylor held the innings together, posting 35 for the second wicket with Sterre Kalis (19) and a further 33 for the third wicket with Mary-Anne Musonda (18).

Taylor, who struck a half-century earlier this week, counted four fours before perishing in the 13th over and it was then left to Aliya Riaz (19 not out) and Sutthiruang (12 not out) to see the innings out in a 25run, unbroken sixth wicket

stand.

In reply, Sapphires lost both openers Sibona Jimmy (4) and Gaby Lewis (1) in the third over with 12 runs on the board and wickets continued to tumble, leaving the innings without hope of a recovery.

two hundreds – both coming in the second Test at Headingley six years ago.

His last four innings – in a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle – yielded a disappointing 53 runs.

“It hasn’t been going the way I’d like in the longer format,” said Hope, who has scored heavily in One-Day Internationals with an average of 50 despite his Test misery.

“But any opportunity I get to play Test cricket for the West Indies again, I’m keen to grasp with both hands and turn things around in my Test career.

“The aim is for me, regardless of where I’m playing

where he produced knocks of 147 and 118 not out to steer West Indies to an astonishing final day victory over England, the visitors chasing down a difficult 322.

Hope’s feat represented the first time in over 100 years of first class cricket at Headingley that a batsman has scored hundreds in both innings of a game.

“I had no idea about the record. I wasn’t thinking about anything other than getting us over the line,” Hope said.

“Anything you do like that is special, and it’s something I will live happily with.

“But I don’t concentrate

on records and statistics as much as some people may think. As long as I’m winning, that’s all that matters.

“I’d rather have a sub-par personal record and win more matches.”

Hope, recently appointed ODI captain, recently returned to Leeds for a threematch County stint with Yorkshire, where former West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson now serves in the top role.

In his first outing last week, he carved out a typical fluent 83 in the second innings but found himself on the losing end as Leicestershire chased down 389 on the final day.

“The thing about the game of cricket is that anyone can win on any given day or week,” Hope said.

“It’s just about making sure the team learns from the mistakes made. There were a lot of positives we, and I, could take from that game.

“Hopefully, we can crack on in this game [against Gloucestershire] if we get on and move into the season as well.

“It was a tough start against Leicestershire, but there are a lot of good signs.”

Yorkshire’s hopes of a quick turnaround against Gloucestershire in the Division Two fixture have been scuppered, with the first two days of the four-day match rained off.

Former West Indies captain, Stefanie Taylor

West Indies batsman Shai Hope

UCI-sanctioned T&T Easter International cycling grand prix… Guyana’s veteran James ‘Joelyn’ Joseph secures gold

By Joe Chapman

Guyana’s United Statesbased James ‘Joelyn’ Joseph, a former Caribbean cycling champion, returned to familiar hunting ground of his heydays in Trinidad, securing gold medals at the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation’s Easter International Grand Prix last week -

end.

The veteran snagged gold in the Masters 60-69 years old of the International Cycling Union (UCI)-sanctioned event.

On the opening night Friday at Skinner Park, San Fernando, the Linden-born veteran, with an entry ‘unattached club’ status, won his first event in the Masters 60-69 category 3-lap race from

Wayne Samuel of Hummingbird Club and Cyril Fook of Valkyries Club respectively.

On Saturday also at Skinner Park, Joseph copped the 4-lap race from Wayne Samuel (Hummingbird International) with the third position taken by Joel Browne of Arima Wheelers; Marlin Wharwood of the Hummingbird In-

ternational Club finished fourth.

The Easter Grand Prix ended on Sunday, when the action was shifted to the National Cycling Centre in Balmain, Couva, Trinidad.

The 65-year-old Joseph, who, in his prime, specialized in track cy -

cling match sprinting, was 9th overall in match sprints in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia and competed same in the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

It must be recalled that in October 2017, the veteran Joseph, riding in the 60-64 age cate -

gory, set the 200m Flying Start world record of 11.42 seconds at the International Cycling Union (UCI) World Masters Championship in California, USA, erasing the previous record of 11.73 set by Victor Copeland.

The COTECC Trinity Cup U-14 final in T&T

By Sean Devers

Brandon Bridgewater of Curacao defeated Guyana’s Nathan De Nobrega 7/6, 6/2 in the COTECC Trinity Cup U-14 final held at the National Racket Centre in Tacarigua, Trinidad on Thursday evening.

De Nobrega led 5/3 40-0 in the first set and seemed poised to take the set, but Brandon had other plans. He crawled his way back in the set with grit and consistency. With Nathan visibly exhausted and demonstrating some form of discomfort in his left leg, Brandon capitalised on that, along with the momentum from the first set to close out the match.

Nathan qualified for the

final after defeating Trinidadian Nirav Dougdeen 6/4,6/3. DeNobrega broke his opponent's service game early in the first set to go up 2/0, but lost his service game immediately after. They traded breaks throughout that set

charges being involved in this tournament and looked ahead to his trip to Barbados.

until Nathan finally held his nerves and closed it out 6/4.

Nirav started strong by breaking Nathan's opening service game and again in the third game to move ahead 3/0, but the fight that Nathan has would not allow him to let that set just slip by. He settled and rallied to win six consecutive games to take the set and the match to qualify for last evening final.

Rebel’s Tennis Club head coach, Andre Erskine, spoke of the benefits of his young

“The players gained lots of experience over the last three weeks. The tournaments here were of a very high standard and attracted players from the USA, Australia Canada, Curacao, St. Lucia, Barbados, El Salvador, and Peru, among other countries.

As the U-14 players head to Barbados, we expect a greater fight and ultimately take home the winner's trophy,” said Erskine.

The Barbados tournament is scheduled to commence today and the Guyanese contingent was booked to arrive in ‘Bim’ last Evening.

Brandon Bridgewater of Curacao (left) defeated Guyana’s Nathan De Nobrega in the COTECC Trinity Cup U-14 final (1)

Guyana’s Nathan De Nobrega wins ‘Silver’

Guyana gearing up for 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games

…Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) drops CAC ball

NINE sports disciplines have qualified to represent Guyana at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games.

The 2023 edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games are scheduled for June 23rd to July 8th, 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador and Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic.

The multisport Olympic cycle event will see thirty-seven (37) nations from the CAC region competing in over 54 sporting disciplines and events. Guyana will be represented in the fields of boxing, squash, badminton, swimming, table tennis, archery, basketball 3x3, hockey and athletics.

The newly elected executive committee of the GOA has confirmed that experienced sports administrator, Dr Karen Pilgrim, will serve as Guyana’s Chef de Mission for the CAC games.

The disciplines of squash, badminton, and table tennis have all qualified their male and female teams, basketball qualified their female 3x3 team, hockey, which will be played in the Dominican Republic, have qualified their male team while boxing has qualified on the basis of their elite boxers’ rankings and performance in regional competition.

However, Guyana’s athletics team’s participation is currently in limbo due to the submission of an incomplete and inadequate Long List biographical information of athletes and non-submission of officials by the AAG. This information is necessary to allow for the accreditation of their submitted list of athletes and officials into the CAC games accreditation system within the deadline outlined by the organising committee.

Despite repeated formal requests and extensions of deadlines to the AAG for the provision of data on the named athletes based on the organising committee of the CAC games requirements, the AAG has failed to comply.

The organising committee of the Central American and Caribbean Games has indicated that due to the short timeframe before the games, there would be no extension of deadlines for submissions of athletes and official long list information, since they are battling logistical issues to ensure a quality games.

The GOA is still exploring ways to seek compliance from the AAG, with a view to ensuring members of Guyana’s athletics team participate at the prestigious games.

With the qualification po-

GCB, GOG, MCYS

50-Over U-19

Inter-County…

Vincent, Persaud bowl E’bo to 96-run win over select X1

By Sean Devers

sitions of the respective disciplines being outlined, the Guyana Olympic Association is currently working with the respective national federations to ensure that all the co-ordination elements are aligned for Guyana’s successful participation at the 2023 edition of the games.

The final names and composition of the respective sports disciplines will be revealed on finalisation of their respective teams.

LED by incisive bowling from pacer, Bruce Vincent, and left-arm spinner, Aryan Persaud, Essequibo beat the Select 1X by 96 runs in the penultimate round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Government of Guyana (GOG) and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) 50-over U-19 tournament at the Everest ground yesterday.

Essequibo made 148 all out in a game reduced to 40 overs due to a late start caused by overnight and morning showers. Rajendra Rambal -

li (19) and Shaahid Viera (15) put together 38 for the first wicket before Ronaldo Schouten (24) and Quincy

Sampson (15) added 25 for the seventh wicket.

Shaazif Mohammed (18) and Joash Charles, who made an unbeaten 17, all got starts in a team effort.

Rashad Gaffur 2-14, Matthew Pottaya 2-37 and Nityanand Mathura 2-10, got wickets for the Select X1 who were buddled out for 56 in 25 overs as only Kevin Kisten, who hit four fours in 19, reached double figures.

Vincent took 5-20 while Persaud bagged 4-1 from 5.2 overs.

Essequibo will face Demerara in the final round tomorrow at Bourda.

By Sean Devers

It was an exciting climax to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Government of Guyana (GOG) and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) 50-over U-19 Tournament yesterday as Shamar Yearwood edged a big drive in the final over with 14 to get and was caught at point as Zynul Ramsammy struck the final nail in Demerara’s coffin.

The left-handed Yearwood, who scored 40 from 68 balls with two fours and couple of sixes, miscalculated the run chase, batting with the lower order and lacking game awareness as Demerara were bowled out for 108 with three balls remaining in a game reduced to 30 overs due to rain.

Only Zakary Jodah with 15 of the other Demerara batters got into double figures

on a ‘raging turner’ in hazy sunshine.

Off-spinner Salim Khan had 3-17 including the prized scalp West Indies U-19 batter Mavindra Dindyal (1) who opted to play no shot to a big turning off-break and was trapped LBW.

Khan got support from Ramsammy who had 3-33 for Berbice who made a below par 120-8 when their 30 overs expired.

Rampertab Ramnauth again looked a class above his peers before he was one of three batters to be run out for 29.

Hemendra Gurdyal (17), Tomani Caesar (16) and Johnaton Rampersaud (13) were the only other Berbice batters to reach double figures.

Defending Champions Berbice will face-off with the Select X1 tomorrow at Enmore and a win will give them this year’s title after already taking the T20 Crown.

GCB, GOG, MCYS 50-Over U-19 Inter-County Khan spins B’ce to last over victory over Demerara

Bruce Vincent had 5-20 for E’bo yesterday at Everest

Harry Brook gave Sunrisers Hyderabad a big total (Apr 14, 2023 • BCCI)