Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 15-08-2023

Access to clean and safe drinking water has been improved, enhancing public health and well-being.

New ecosystem being created to facilitate Guyana’s expansion

By Naomi Parris

OPPORTUNITIES for investment in Guyana are abundant, and officials here are creating an enabling environment through shared interest and collaborations with multinational states.

This was according to President , Dr Irfaan Ali during a recent visit to the Dominican Republic, where he sat down with Mercado Media Network following discussions and the signing of several collaborative memoranda of understanding (MoU) with President, Luis Abinader

“The work by President Luis and myself has been going on for a number of months, and we are setting the stage for massive collaboration between the two private sectors,” Dr Ali said during his interview with the DR press.

Last week, Dr Ali led a high-level delegation of the private sector and government officials to meet with his counterpart, President Abinader at the DR’s National Palace, where agreements for the oil and gas industry, the establishment of an oil refinery, a petrochemical plant, and a study for participation in Guyana’s Oil Exploration Block were signed by the countries’ respective representatives

Agreements were also signed to enhance the two nations’ agriculture, tourism and trade sectors.

–– President Ali says; maintains foreign, local investors being treated equally President, Dr Irfaan Ali

He added that Guyana’s infrastructure is currently being rebuilt, referencing the ongoing construction of several new road networks and hotels in the country

Dr Ali said that investments are also being made to improve the country’s health and education delivery

“We are creating an entirely new ecosystem to support the expansion of our country We are looking to position Guyana as a leader in the world in energy, food and climate,” the Head of State said.

Speaking further on the country’s partnership with multinational nations, he reminded that Guyana is among first countries to enter into an end-user agreement on carbon credits with international oil co-operation, HESS

He added that Guyana is creating a business environment in which private sectors can co-operate and conduct business in an efficient and enabling environment

“Foreign investors are treated equally as local investors In many other countries, there is a disparity between the treatment of foreign investment and local investors In Guyana’ s case, foreign investors are treated equally with local investors, but what we are looking at here is to create a new model, a model where foreign investors are local investors because of the way they partner with the private sector

Underscoring the importance of governments creating an enabling environment, Dr Ali said it is imperative that leaders send the right signals and build trust and confidence among private sector bodies

Dr Ali reminded of Guyana’s growth trajectory and

the potential the country has for diverse investments

“Our oil is estimated at 11 billion barrels reserve now; by 2027, we will be producing 1.2 million barrels per day those are massive expansions, so there is tremendous excitement and energy in the country,” he said

“So, we want to create a partnership for growth and development That is why we have the private sector meeting together and collaborating,” Dr Ali said

He added: “We have a strong history working with multinationals and, you know, our credentials are very strong At this time, one of the best destinations for your investment is Guyana.”

164 youths successfully complete music literacy programme

SOME 164 youths were successful participants of the 11th Republic Bank Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport

This annual workshop , which recommenced after a three - year hiatus , seeks to

awaken in Guyana’s youth the power to learn and succeed in the steel-pan art form while providing the opportunity to develop self-discipline and the spirit of team work

The camps were conducted in Regions Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven and 10, and

participants benefitted from both theoretical and practical training in the steel pan art form

The programme ran from July 24 – August 11, 2023, and the focus was on strengthening the skills of players from selected school bands

Having completed the pro-

gramme, participants are now able to read simple pieces from a single staff, play beginner-level pieces, play scales with key signature of up to one sharp or flat, and place chords to simple melodies

Graduation ceremonies were held on the last day of the programme, Friday, Au-

gust 11, 2023, at each camp where participants received their certificates and provided entertainment A closing ceremony for Regions Three and Four participants was held at Umana Yana , Georgetown

The Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme was

first introduced to Guyana in 2010 as part of the bank’s “ Power to Make a Difference” Social Investment initiative Republic Bank remains committed to supporting initiatives that positively impact and shape the minds of our youth.

Some 164 youths were successful participants of the 11th Republic Bank Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport

Guyana leading by example in oil, gas sector

with critical governmental decisions

GUYANA has become a hot name in the oil and gas sector, as all eyes are on the small South American nation because of its economic boom

In an article written by Cameroonian energy expert, Nj Ayuk, with Guyana being in the spotlight, headlines across the globe have labelled the nation the world’s “hottest frontier oil play,” a site of massive oil and gas finds with great promise for investors

Before, headlines would have been referring to Namibia, or another country in Africa; however, it is Guyana they are

coveries to production but also the legal, commercial and geopolitical aspects of oil and natural gas development

GUYANA OFFERS INVESTORS FISCAL GUARANTEES

In order to help the oil and gas companies protect their investments, Guyana includes a fiscal stability clause in its petroleum contracts, which states that if the host country makes legislative or regulatory changes, such as new tax codes, the contracting energy company will be

tional Offshore Oil Corporate (CNOOC), in 2015, their Liza Phase One project began producing oil Since then, a second project, Liza Phase Two, went online, and production at their third project, Payara, is expected to get started this year

ExxonMobil has also made a final investment decision on two additional projects: Production at Yellowtail is scheduled to begin in 2025, followed by the Uaru development coming online in 2026

Also, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, Dax Driver, recently praised Guyana for developing its oil and gas resources at a record pace

“For countries like Guyana and Suriname, with these massive oil resources in place, and some of them transitioning into reserves and some being produced, priority has to be to fast-track development of those resources,” Driver said, adding: “This is something which Guyana has done extremely well since its first discovery It is a world leader in fast-tracking its discoveries.”

With less than one per cent of known global gas reserves, Trinidad and Tobago became the world’s leading exporter of two gas-based products, ammonia and methanol, and went on to become one of the world’s top five liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters

Today, the country has one of the highest gross national incomes (GNI) per capita in Latin America and the Caribbean (US$17,640 in 2015) and following suit, is Guyana.

GUYANA CONTINUES TO DRIVE ITS ENERGY INDUSTRY FORWARD

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo, has spoken of the importance of monetizing the country’s natural gas resources and creating new revenue streams sources before the global energy transition reduces demand for fossil fuels.

Guyana’s leadership is working with technicians and consultants on a national strategy for using natural gas as a feedstock for petrochemicals and LNG

Notwithstanding this, Guyana’s government is constantly updating the nation’s oil and gas legal framework to ensure that there are ongoing investment and benefits for the Guyanese people

now referring to

The country that is snuggled among Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil and is situated on the northern coast of South America has blazed the trail with its vast oil discoveries

More than 30 massive offshore oil discoveries were made in the Stabroek Block, alone, since 2015 Moreover, US oil and gas giant, ExxonMobil, was the first to announce a discovery there and it was estimated that the block holds at least 11 billion barrels of recoverable resources

As of June, Canadian companies CGX Energy and Frontera Energy announced that their joint venture discovered oil in Guyana’s Corentyne Block, which also was the site of a light oil and gas condensate discovery in May 2022

Additionally, oil and gas companies have been lured in because of Guyana’s lucrative regulatory and fiscal regimes along with the nation’s vast hydrocarbon resources, and owing to this, various and detailed activities have been going on in the country

Owing to this, energy industry media outlets like Oil and Gas 360 have described Guyana as “Latin America and the Caribbean’s latest drilling hotspot,” while Bloomberg declares “Guyana Is the Most Exciting Story in the World Oil Market,” and Reuters calls Guyana an “oil powerhouse.”

Although Namibia is not forgotten, Guyana is receiving good press because of its remarkable implementations by its government and thus, Namibia should follow suit

While the African Energy Chamber is pleased to see Namibia’s government working to provide an enabling environment for upstream activity and updating its tax laws, the country must not stop there and ensure that ongoing exploration and production progress

The leaders will need to exhaust all measures that would demonstrate Namibia is investor friendly because that is what Guyana has been accomplishing

During African Energy Week in Cape Town from October 16-20, 2023, Namibia will take centre stage and there will be many discussions about moving from dis-

protected from negative economic impacts.

With energy exploration being risk-intensive, failing to provide a fiscal stability clause only adds to investing companies’ exposure and makes them more likely to consider channeling their efforts - and investment dollars - elsewhere. Failing to offer a fiscal stability clause also opens the door to prolonged contract negotiations and costly project delays

GUYANA FAST-TRACKS DEVELOPMENT

Guyana is also being acknowledged for its ability to keep the momentum in the oil and gas sector by not delaying projects, a quality that Namibia is being urged to adapt.

Less than five years after ExxonMobil’s initial Stabroek Block discovery with partners Hess (U S.) and China Na-

An example of this is the proposed Petroleum Activities Bill, which includes safety and emergency response measures, along with supervision and monitoring requirements, capacity-building requirements for energy companies, and a framework for permitting petroleum product transportation and treatment

It also includes cross-border unitisation, a legal framework for developing and allocating petroleum reserves that span across Guyana’s maritime boundaries with other countries

Perhaps one of the best examples that Guyana is setting is that it approaches its oil and gas industry with a sense of urgency Urgency to get as much value as possible from its petroleum resources, it gets policies right, so the country can continue attracting investments and reaping the benefits they offer

This sense of urgency, as much as the oil and gas resources beneath the ground, is why Guyana is making headlines for being an oil and gas hotspot. (Energy capital power)

Climbing the Ladder

THE Guyana Government isn’t in the business of beating its own drum regarding its already-acknowledged place, by any measurement, as the fastest growing economy in the world

Instead, it has consistently used the accolades to indicate it’s just the beginning of implementation of its long-term vision for Guyana that started in 2020.

The global acknowledgments of Guyana ’ s increasing pace of development in 2023 follows similar performances in each year since this PPP/C administration returned to the helm of the ship of state; and while it can easily be said it all has to do with oil & gas earnings, it’s also more to do with the management of the incomes from the republic’s new energy resources

Naturally, not all are happy with Guyana’s global rankings, so some entities find unorthodox ways and means to place it lower down the ranks

Take the most recent assessment of

the Top 10 ‘fastest growing economies’ referred to in a recent report quoting International Monetary Fund (IMF) figures to skillfully lower Guyana’s ranking by putting a non-nation ahead, placing China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in top place among nations of the world

According to a June 2, 2023 article by Yash Sharma for BSEHExam Org (Best Social Education Helper for Exams), the Top 10 ‘fastest-growing economies in the world’ by IMF measurements, are: Macao SAR [58.9 per cent] and Guyana [37.2 per cent], followed by Libya [17.5 per cent], Palau [8.7 per cent], Senegal [8.3 per cent]; Maldives [7.2 per cent]; Fiji [seven per cent]; Democratic Republic of Congo [6.3 per cent]; Côte d’Ivoire [6.2 per cent] and Rwanda [6.2 per cent].

First of all , what the report doesn ’ t make clear is that ‘Macao SAR’ is part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), so

whatever economic miracles achieved there are part of the PRC’s overall national economic plan, as with other SARs in China

This, therefore, removes any case for special treatment of Macao outside of acknowledging its part of China’s ongoing tradition of annual economic growth, including now, when the rest of the world is facing post-COVID Supply Chain and Ukraine economic trauma with increased food and energy prices and increased hunger

Secondly , when Macao is excluded , the statistics show Guyana with almost a 20-point lead ahead of the next qualifying country, with all the rest in single digits

China is one of the earliest nations to express doubt about the accuracy of using only Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as an appropriate international yardstick to measure true national economic development

But while many other similar concerns exist and have been repeatedly punctuated

at the IMF, World Bank, World Economic Forum , G - 77 , Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other North-South or international economic gatherings and entities, it’s still the dominant measurement Guyana well understands the vagaries of the continuing changes in the global economic and financial climate and the need for adjustments along the way, which is why it’s been able to achieve such milestones under the leadership of President, Dr Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister Brigadier General (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Vice-President and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and the Ministry of Finance, state planners and finance and economics analysts, etc. who’ve led the way to make it happen That’s why (to quote the late superstar Tina Turner) Guyana is repeatedly rated worldwide, over time, as “Simply the Best” and “Better than all the rest…”

The merits, demerits of the AFC’s proposed amendments to the Petroleum Bill

Dear Editor,

SHADOW minister for oil and gas , David Patterson, had proposed several amendments to the Petroleum Activities Bill in the National Assembly, all of which were rejected by the government.

As such, the bill was passed by the National Assembly with no further amendments

These proposals , however , have been the subject of public dialogue by several stakeholders and media entities

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

The Opposition MP proposed a formula ranging from a minimum of 6040 and not higher than 70-30 percent production sharing to be included in the Petroleum Activities Bill

COMMENTARY

It appears that this is in relation to

the cost-recovery ceiling of not less than 60%-70%, based on my interpretation on how it was reported in the media It can be argued that this is an inconsequential proposal given that the new-model PSA has already catered for this, wherein the cost recovery ceiling is capped at 65% down from 75%

Additionally, the cost-recovery ceiling forms part of the fiscal framework which is prescribed as part of the terms and conditions in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). The reason why it is not included in the petroleum law itself is because it is the law that would give effect to the PSA and vice versa

In that regard, section 12 of the Petroleum Activities Bill establishes that, “the minister may enter into an agreement, not inconsistent with the Act, with a company for – The grant of a licence or permit pursuant to section 6;

The conditions to be included in a licence or permit granted or renewed under this Act;

Any matter incidental to or connected with paragraphs (a) and (b)

Also , section 33 establishes that “ where an application is made under section 32 (1) for a petroleum production licence, the minister may grant the licence, on such conditions as the minister determines are necessary to give effect to this Act.”

The conditions referred thereto are those conditions established pursuant to the revised Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). In so doing, it gives the government the flexibility to change the fiscal terms and conditions, inter alia, the PSA without having to amend the legislation through the National Assembly

The Opposition proposed to block operators from recouping their exploration costs by restricting comingling exploration with production costs . It goes on to state that a strict separation shall be maintained between exploration and production activities, costs, and

production activities can be charged to exploration activities.

COMMENTARY

This proposal ignores completely the standard accounting rules in petroleum activities.

It reflects the lack of understanding of the nature of the industry as well

There are four broad categories of costs in the petroleum industry, namely, exploration , development, production, and operating costs

The exploration and development costs are the costs incurred to first discover whether there is crude oil in commercial quantities in an oil field, and the development costs are those costs incurred to prepare the field for production The cost for the FPSOs, for instance, is part of the development costs

So, both exploration and development costs would be considered the

Editor Navendra Seoraj

The merits, demerits of the AFC’s proposed ...

capital expenditure (CAPEX), or the investment needed to bring an oil field into production

Bearing in mind that it takes about 15 to 20 years to explore, discover and develop an oil field before production commences, provided that the oil field is found to be commercially viable

With that in mind, the oil companies, like any other normal business, must recover their invested capital (exploration and development costs). In this respect, the invested capital can only be recovered from the revenue generated from the production activities wherein the crude oil is extracted and monetized

So , to propose that oil companies must not recover their exploration costs from the revenues from the production activities, is effectively to propose that oil companies must not recover a significant portion of their invested capital. Such a proposal, if made into law, would not attract any oil companies in the market, and would drive away current interests

“Should the Cabinet grant the minister approval to conduct direct negotiations, the minister is required to seek the approval of the National Assembly before issuing the licence.”

COMMENTARY

This provision seems to cater for country-to-country collaboration as the government had already disclosed their intention to explore this in the future.

To this end, one would recall that the Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had indicated that the government reserved a few oil blocks for government-to-government partnerships /collaboration in the future

In my view, it is not necessary to subject the terms and conditions originating out of a direct negotiation between two governments, or any direct negotiation to parliamentary approval Based on my understanding of the Guyana Constitution, this would be regarded a function of the Executive Branch of Government and not the Legislature/ National Assembly

Therefore, it may be deemed a violation of the Constitution should the National Assembly make any law (s) that confers or transfers a function of the Executive to the National Assembly, unless the Constitution is amended accordingly pursuant to the procedures prescribed therein to so do

PETROLEUM COMMISSION

The government is on record signalling its intention to establish a Petroleum Commission to regulate the industry.

There is no requirement at this stage for the Petroleum Activities bill / Act to address the Petroleum Commission, because any such Commission would require a separate piece of legislation for its establishment

There are also some practical concerns to consider that may be the likely reasons why it has not yet been put in place My take on this is that the government need to establish the pre-requisite framework first

This includes a new, modern petroleum law, the updated PSAs, the Local Content Act, which is in place, strengthening the capacity of other agencies such as the GRA, EPA, GGMC, and the ministry

That said, before a Petroleum Commission is established, I believe that the above pre-requisites must be met, and more importantly, is that the government need to build the requisite technical capacity of its human resources As it is right now, the country does not have all of the technical human resources as yet

This would take some time to develop In the meantime, the ministry is carrying out the regulatory functions with the aid of international firms and consultants And in so doing, the government is building out capacity simultaneously through knowledge transfer, training, and development

With that in mind, now is not the

right time for the Petroleum Commission, therefore, this should be pursued in the medium term

OTHER COMMENTARY

Other proposed amendments by the opposition include training fees per well of US$1.5 million annually and that the cost-recovery audits should be concluded within nine months.

However, the new PSAs addressed these, wherein US$1 million is required for training annually though not per well It is unclear what is the opposition ’ s justification for the “per well” model, considering that there may be dry wells With respect to the audit , the new PSA provides for 24 months for the cost-oil audit to be concluded, which is reasonable.

The opposition’s proposal of nine months would be insufficient , given that there needs to be adequate amount of time to cater for disputes that may arise, which may have to be arbitrated, as in the case with the current audit.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

The New Cold War: Part 3 – China

THIS article concludes my series on the New Cold War The other parts looked at Russia and the USA separately . At the beginning of the series , I opined that China will outmanoeuvre the US and will have more support from the nations of the world than the US.

They say a picture paints a 1000 words and one picture on the internet will show who will win the New Cold War

The President of Dem -

ocratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was warmly greeted at the airport in Beijing by the Chinese President and his wife When he visited the US, not even a Cabinet member was at the airport

The DRC is not a key player in Africa, yet President Xi, the leader of a superpower nation , greeted him at the airport

That simple video clip tells the story of the difference between the US and China in their rivalry The

US empire started out as a militaristic venture and it has remained like that since 1945 The US has over 250 military bases all over the globe

It sees power in militaristic terms For example , the US has put enormous sanctions on Russia for invading the Ukraine Do you think you can correctly guess which import from Russia that the US buys that is exempted? It is uranium

China on the other hand,

sees the quest for global control through economic ventures, thus its strategy of the Belt and Road Initiative

The simple fact of the matter is that China learnt from the lessons of the infamous American mistakes

The US dominated the world after 1945 through coercion and militarism, with aid taking a low priority

In the 1970s, the United Nations adopted a policy of asking developed countries to spend 0.7 per cent of their Gross National Income on development aid to the Third World The only developed country that never met the 0.7 per cent requirement was the US

China has done the opposite to the US It is seeking global influence through the use of resource donations

There is only one word to describe the prodigious delivery of Chinese resources to the Third World – fantastic

The Chinese is the world’s busiest superpower and the world ’ s most generous superpower to date . China is all over the Third World and the world in fact, using investments as a mechanism of extending their global reach I just saw on YouTube , a social media influencer boasting about that Chinese infrastructural aid to

Jamaica

The second lesson the Chinese have learnt is that while the Americans and Western powers have canopied their presence in the Third World through special housing areas, the Chinese have not built exclusive districts for themselves in the Third World

The Chinese are astute enough to know that the surest way of alienating the local population is appearing like colonials

Glenn Lall, Ravi Dev and I once had dinner with a Chinese ambassador It was phenomenal to see the modesty of this man. He summoned the consular officers to meet with us It was equally phenomenal to see how modest these young men were

We went through no metal detector examination I could never imagine any Western ambassador behaving with such friendliness

The Americans woke up one day and found out they have a superpower rivalry – China. But the Americans are still to ask themselves why the Chinese became so globally dominant And even if they know the answer, they are afraid to acknowledge it

The Chinese did not come with offers of building a military base to confront

the “bad guys” who want to dominate the world When they came they ask which economic programme they can be of assistance with

The third lesson the Chinese have learnt from American domination of the world is the need to avoid supporting international wrongs

One US ministry alone has about the same staff that a combined 10 ministries of another developed country has

Yet you wonder how capable was and is the US in understanding the world It took the side of the apartheid regime and in that conflict it stood alone among other world powers

The US is the main backer of Israeli governments past and present that have reduced and are reducing the Palestinian people to living in a mode of apartheid

How in a game of superpower rivalry with China, the US hopes to have the Third World on its side when the US sides with such inhuman treatment of an entire race of people?

Space has run out, but I will close with an assertion; given the philosophical differences in how the US and China see people and the world, my bet is China will win the New Cold War.

‘Joshie’ remanded for allegedly murdering Olato Sam

plead to the charge and was remanded to prison until September 26, 2023

on Monday remanded to prison after being charged for the murder of Olato Sam.

According to a police press release, he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court #1 before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool, where the charge was read to him He was not required to

The police said that Archer was arrested on August 5, 2023, by Deputy Superintendent Dufu

He has pending matters of possession of firearm and ammunition without a licence and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Trial in those matters has commenced and continues on August 24, 2023.

Archer

JOSHUA Martin Archer, called ‘Joshie’, a 22-yearold labourer of Robert Road , Plaisance , East Coast Demerara ( ECD ), was

Joshua

$38M health centre commissioned at Fort Ordinance

facility to benefit over 3,000 persons

By Nafeeza Yahya

OVER 3,000 persons will no longer have to travel long distances to access primary health care following the commissioning of a $ 38 million health centre at Fort Ordinance, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), on Monday

The facility is equipped with three examination rooms, two doctors’ rooms, a waiting area, kitchen and a spacious compound Three nurses will be stationed at the health centre while two doctors are expected to do regular visits

During his address at a simple commissioning ceremony, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said the government has been making critical investments in order to enhance health care delivery in Region Six, and across the country

He said the government, through his ministry, has been working towards the objective of creating a world-class health care system in Guyana

In keeping with this, two

new hospitals will be constructed in Region Six, Dr Anthony said , noting that construction has already commenced on a new Skeldon Hospital, while very shortly, the construction of the new New Amsterdam Hospital , which will be a Level-Five hospital, is expected to start soon

Additionally, across the country, 12 new hospitals will be built, while $100 million was allocated to each region for the upgrade of health centres and dwellings for health care workers

Regarding the Fort Ordinance health centre , Dr Anthony said it was necessary because of the growing population

The community currently has approximately 3,000 residents ; however , a new housing scheme is being developed and more persons will eventually reside there

Dr Anthony said: “There are gaps in population growth in certain areas, and we don’t have a healthcare facility in that area, and, therefore, we need to think about how we

will serve that population

“And one way of serving the population is to make a health care facility in that area so , when we look across this region, we recognise there are various gaps; your community was one of them, and that is why we built this facility so you can access services closer to where you live, so with that in mind, this facility was built.”

While acknowledging that an increased population dictates the need for more services , Minister Anthony related that they are working to ensure that the health centres not only offer Maternity and Child Health Care services, but over 216 services

He said that the health sector is growing at a phenomenal pace and persons will see unprecedented transformation as promised by President, Dr Irfaan Ali

“ When the President spoke about having a worldclass health care system, it’s not an empty promise We are backing that up with the interventions that we are doing; we are backing that up

Georgetown Mayor unsure of City Hall’s financial status

–– says audit needs to be done

THIRD-TERM Councillor and newly-elected Mayor of Georgetown , Alfred Mentore , has announced that he is unsure of City Hall’s financial status , and has committed to having an audit of the organisation.

The Mayor , during the City Council’s first statutory meeting since the election of new councillors , blamed his predecessors, majority of whom were from the People’s National Congress - Reform ( PNC - R ), for the current , questionable financial status

“ I am not going to take blame,” Mentore said, adding: “ We don ’ t want to be taking blame for some previous councillors.”

Claiming that it is an administrative duty to ensure City Hall’s financials are in order , Mentore maintained that he will not take blame for the local organ’s position

He related that the Council is ready and willing to outsource the necessary expertise to audit City Hall

“We want a full audit of this place, we want a full understanding of what is going on…,” Mentore said

Earlier this year , Vice - President , Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, had accused City Hall of a number of corrupt practices and according to him ,

there is consideration to have the audits ordered by central government

“ Through the ministry , we can direct the audit and we will do so,” the Vice-President said

He acknowledged too that there are still remaining concerns over the selling and leasing of lands in the capital city through the City Council, which is controlled by APNU/ PNC-R

There has also been reported cases of obscure transactions involving the writing off or wavering of taxes to businesses arbitrarily without proper records of how amounts are arrived at or how the agreement came about

“ I am concerned about Georgetown too. Georgetown is another place where I know for sure and I raised this on the campaign trail, that there are some individuals who have been identifying plots of land owned by the city and going by private businessmen to get them sold or give them leases in exchange for payment on the side

“Unfortunately, some of those same individuals are backed by APNU on the City Council APNU have a way of spinning things, you have to admire them for telling the big lies and stick with them,”

with the resources; it is the first time in the history of this country that we are building so many hospitals Think about that, we have in this country about 22 district hospitals; we are building just in this short period of time, more than 12 new hospitals; that is a phenomenal kind of thing that we’re doing; it’s the first time it is happening in the history of our country.

“There are lots of improvements that you will see, and we want the community to work with us to make sure that these assets that we are putting down, that you protect them,” Dr. Anthony said.

HEALTH CENTRES Regional Chairman

of Region Six , David Armogan , said that across Region Six , the demand for health care has been increasing significantly over the past few years, so three other health centres will be

constructed namely at Canefield , Mara and Chesney

This, he said, will help mitigate the patient load at the regional hospitals and make the lives of citizens much easier.

Third - term Councillor and newly - elected mayor, Alfred Mentore (Japheth Savory

Dr Jagdeo said

photo)

In 2018 , during a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into City Hall it was exposed that the Council had leased a land on Lombard Street referred to as the “Sussex Street Wharf,” despite not having ownership of the land

After the businessman spent considerable money developing the area, and paying the lease, he was later approached by two other entities that claimed ownership of the property It remains unknown how that issue was resolved

That very COI also unearthed cases where businesses were given tax waivers by the then Town Clerk, but was later told to pay over millions to the Council.

An examination room that caters for children at the Fort Ordinance Health Centre

New well commissioned in Kwebanna community

By Cindy Parkinson

IN a continued effort to provide essential services to residents across Guyana, the government is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring access to clean and potable water for both coastal and hinterland communities. In a recent development, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, unveiled a significant milestone during his visit to the Barima-Waini region.

A $20M well has been commissioned in the community of Kwebanna, underscoring the government's commitment to improving the quality of life for its citizens.

Minister Croal, while addressing media outlet

the Guyana Chronicle, emphasized the importance of the new well, which is expected to serve 95 percent of Kwebanna's population. He noted that this project is emblematic of the government's dedication to fulfilling its promises and prioritizing the welfare of

all Guyanese.

Minister Croal clarified that the remaining five per cent of the community, residing in western areas and along riverbanks, might not benefit directly from the well due to geographical limitations. Prior to 2023, a mere 10 percent of Kwe-

efforts within the region, disclosing that wells in Wallaba and Wauna are still in progress. Moreover, the government's aspirations extend to the community of Warapoka, where plans are underway for a new well. The administration has allocated a substantial budget of $1.4 billion for water-delivery networks and well-drilling in the hinterland areas for this year alone. Minister Croal affirmed that the ultimate goal

nities mirrored a collective sentiment of gratitude towards the government for its initiatives. The residents expressed their contentment with the endeavours aimed at improving their quality of life.

With a substantial financial allocation of $17.7 billion for this year, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is committed to expanding access to potable water across the nation. Around $108,850,000 of this alloca-

banna's residents had access to water from a shallow well and a few standpipes within the village.

The initiation of the new well marks a transformative shift. Minister Croal conveyed his satisfaction, stating, "I am very happy to report that almost all the residents—over 95 percent of them—will have access to drinkable water due to this new well, and they are also very happy for that."

He attributed this accomplishment to collaboration between the Kwebanna District Council, local residents, and Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

The GWI internal team spearheaded the well's drilling, which extended to a depth of 34 metres and employed the use of a newly acquired Pat Rig valued at $4 million. The comprehensive project, totalling $16 million, encompassed the establishment of a distribution network, a photovoltaic pumping system, a storage facility, and a protective perimeter fence.

Minister Croal also underscored the ongoing

is universal access to clean water for all residents in these regions by 2025.

During commissioning of the Kwebanna well, GWI's Hinterland Services Director, Ramchand Jailall, accompanied Minister Croal to the site. Jailall urged the local community to safeguard the newly established infrastructure for its longterm sustainability. He emphasized that under GWI's guidance, the Kwebanna Village Council played a pivotal role in overseeing execution of the project.

Earlier in July, Minister Croal had revealed plans for a forthcoming well in the Turkeyen community, as well as ongoing drilling of coastal wells and numerous other developmental initiatives in the region. He emphasized that such projects are vital to eliminate inadequate, treated water supply in households, particularly considering the limitations of the Sophia water system.

Reactions from members of the Cummings Lodge / Turkeyen commu-

tion will be directed towards the drilling of water wells in five villages within Region One. Notably, tenders have already been opened for drilling in Haimacabra, Kamwatta, Waramuri, Mabaruma Settlement, and Black Water Savannah. Moreover, another encouraging development is the commencement of drilling of a $15 million well in the Arakaka community of Region One. This project, expected to serve over 100 households, highlights the government's dedication to addressing water-accessibility challenges.

In the 2023 budget, the government's commitment to enhancing access to potable water remains evident with an allocation of $17.7 billion. As Guyana forges ahead, this commitment underscores the nation's focus on elevating the quality of life for its citizens through fundamental infrastructural improvements.

Minister Croal drinking water from the newly commissioned well

The Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, Regional Officials, GWI representatives, and some of the residents of Kwebanna commissioned a new well

Artificial island adds 44 acres of land to Guyana’s coastline –– M.V

Galileo Galilei departs

IN just under eight months, the M . V Galileo Galilei , hailed as the largest dredger to ever arrive in the Demerara River, has delivered on its mission.

According to a press release, the M V Galileo Galilei, owned and operated by the Jan

after successful dredging ‘mission’

De Nul Group , NRG Holdings ’ joint venture partner , was deployed last year to the project site

The vessel’s key mission was the sand key reclamation phase of the project During this phase, the dredger cleared the existing area and began the

process of adding reclaimed material for the creation of an artificial island, where the new terminal will be situated

During its deployment in Guyana, it helped maintain the channel, and it has added more than 44 acres of land to Guyana’s coastline

The Vreed - en - Hoop Shorebase Inc. (VESHI) has completed the 200 - metre quay wall construction, and works are now focused on fitting fenders and bollards, excavation in front of the quay wall, pavement, electrical and lighting, buildings,

and utilities

The VESHI has also recently advertised for more local service providers, as it moves closer to the December completion date

“ The company is now receiving information for the potential engagement

of between 30-90 services. The VEHSI is actively seeking local companies in its request for foundational and facility management services for its shore base in Region Three and additional services in Region Four,” the release stated.

In just under eight months, the M V Galileo Galilei, hailed as the largest dredger to ever arrive in the Demerara River, has delivered on its mission

Bishops High School Alumni enhances learning with media equipment

THE Bishops High School

Old Students Association

New York Tristate Incorporated unveiled a remarkable educational initiative by presenting cutting - edge Media Equipment to the esteemed Headmistress, Shandrina Welcome Lee, of the Bishops High School

The symbolic ceremony , held recently at the school premises, marked a pivotal moment in the institution’s journey towards technological advancement and improved learning experiences

During the event, two dedicated alumni members, representing the current school board, took centre stage to convey the donation

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle , Gail Nunes, the liaison for the tristate chapter in New

Jersey, highlighted the Association’s commitment to enhancing student well-being

Nunes expressed, “This project, conceived by our

past president, reflects our continuous efforts to ensure that Bishops High School students thrive and succeed on par with any other institution Our primary

Region Ten youths gear up to become community health workers

YOUNG people embarking on the sixmonth training course to become Community Health Workers in Region Ten have expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to improve their lives and serve in a critical sector

The Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke to a few persons following the launch of the programme at the Bamia Health Centre on Saturday, where participants will be trained over the period

Eighteen - year - old Rohan Debideen , who is the only male in the programme, hails from the community of Swan He explained that he applied for the programme because he felt it was an opportunity to change his life for the better.

“It feels good to be accepted by the programme and just help the persons in the community to help [improve] their lives,” he said

Seventeen-year-old Latchmi Mangar of Speightland said she applied for the programme because she was eager to assist in making a much-needed change in the health sector

“I wanted to be one of the persons to step out and help So, when I got accepted, I was just thankful That’s the main thing, I was very, very thankful,” she stated

The aspiring paediatrician further related that, “I like helping people, and that’s the main thing I am expecting to gain everything that I need from this programme.”

She also expressed thanks to the Government of Guyana for the programme

Meanwhile , Kayla Fredericks , from Wairuni along the Berbice River , also thanked the government for what she said is a ‘wonderful initiative’.

“I decided to apply for this programme because we need more health workers in our village. There are two, and our village is very large Sometimes they are not in the area, and people need help

I know that I can make a difference in my community, so that’s why I applied I want to pursue this Community Health work and I want to upgrade, be a nurse, and I know that I can make a difference in my community,” she explained

She expressed her happiness at being selected to receive the training, and voiced her intention to encourage others from her village to enrol in upcoming programmes so that they, too, can benefit from job opportunities after the training ends

Another trainee from Great Falls, Upper Demerara River, Teshana Couchman, told DPI, “I applied for the programme because I have always wanted to get into the health stream, and I feel really happy to know that I’m selected.”

Couchman, who is an aspiring midwife, committed to working her way up from being a Community Health Worker and continue climbing the ladder to reach her goals.

“I want to thank the government for bringing up this programme, and I’m really thankful for what they’re doing,” she related. (DPI)

objective is to provide students and staff with a state-of-the-art media room equipped with advanced computer technology.”

The media room ’ s strategic purpose lies in bridging the digital divide, enabling both remote and in-person students to stay connected, access resources, and collaborate effectively

This facility not only eliminates challenges associated with internet connectivity but also offers a conducive environment for focused learning

Nunes emphasised that the successful realisation of this endeavour was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the former president , whose vision led to the acquisition of the appropriate equipment The New York Tristate chapter has consistently strived to invest in students’ futures, ensuring they remain attuned to the ever-evolving landscape of modern technology

Gillian Rodrigues Sue,

the Ex - President of the New York Tristate chapter, shed light on the association ’ s enduring commitment to Bishops High School. “Our involvement extends beyond financial contributions We undertake mentorship programs and periodic interactions with the students, culminating in the establishment of the media room This initiative, initiated in 2018, has now come to fruition.”

In response, Shandrina

Welcome Lee , the headmistress of Bishops High School, conveyed her gratitude for the impactful donation She stressed the donation’s significance in supporting both students and staff in their educational pursuits. Lee disclosed that a spacious room had been designated for the media equipment, already set up for seamless integration into the educational framework

Lee further revealed that the Ministry of Education had strategic plans to infuse information and

communication technology (ICT) into the school’s daily operations, in alignment with contemporary educational paradigms

She recognised the Tristate chapter ’ s multi - dimensional support , including scholarship provisions and essential student feeding programs

The Bishops High School ’ s achievements , particularly in basketball training, have been boosted by collaborative efforts , including sponsorship from the Tristate area and local banks Lee emphasised that this holistic approach aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals while fostering an enduring sports legacy

In her closing remarks, Lee conveyed the collective gratitude of the students and expressed heartfelt appreciation to the New York Chapter for their impactful donation , underscoring how it would profoundly enhance the educational journey of all stakeholders involved.

Police probing suspected murder/suicide at Long Creek

POLICE have disclosed that they are treating the death of Ajay Budhan , a 26-year-old farmer of Long Creek, Soesdyke-Linden Highway and Ashley Singh, an 18-year-old female of Soesdyke, as a murder/suicide.

According to a press release , the incident occurred between 00:30 hours and 06:30 hours on Monday on a trail at Long Creek.

Investigations revealed that Budhan was a licensed firearm holder of a semi - automatic 12 - gauge shotgun and the owner of a white Toyota Tundra , GAD 8403

Budhan and Singh were said to be in a relationship, and at around 00:30 hours, they left a resort located at Hill Foot, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, in Budhan’s vehicle

According to a 23-year-old labourer of Long Creek, he was riding a motorcycle that he had borrowed from a friend when he saw the white Tundra parked on the northern side of a trail with its lights on and what appeared to be a bullet hole in the right side front door glass He became suspicious and reported this to the police

Police arrived at the scene and found Singh slumped in the right-side front seat with what appeared to be a gunshot entry wound on the right side neck and an exit wound to the left side neck and shoulder

Budhan was seen on the ground, face up, on the left side of the vehicle, with a gunshot wound to the right side of his head To the right of his body was his shotgun

The shotgun was examined , and a round was found in the breach. 18 empty 12-gauge casings and nine live 12-gauge cartridges were found at the scene

Two Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max cellphones, one belonging to Budhan and the other to Singh, were also found

Budhan’s body was identified by his brother Aaron Budhan , a 30 - year - old farmer of Loo Creek, while Singh was identified by her cousin, Roland Baya, a 29-year-old of Hill Foot

The bodies were escorted to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where they were pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor

They were then escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination

Gail Nunes (Right) Member of the Bishops’ High School’s NY Tri-State Chapter and Shandrina Welcome-Lee (Left), Headmistress of Bishops’ High School

Three children drown after boat capsizes in Essequibo River

THE Essequibo River claimed the lives of three children on Saturday when the boat in which they were travelling capsized.

Information received by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) indicates that Linda Joseph (12), Norsha Ayaw (3), and Newton Ayaw (11 months) were among seven passengers on a small boat that was going from Parabara Village to Masakenari Village in Region Nine.

It was disclosed by the police on Monday that the incident happened near Piri Piri, Essequibo River

around 3:00pm.

Information received by the police from by the Masakenari Village District Development Officer Donny Charlie revealed that the 35-foot wooden boat propelled by a 30 HP outboard engine was also transporting 72 sacks of cement and three gasoline drums.

The 27-year-old boat Captain, Joseph Ayaw, told police he collided with a rock during the journey and the boat capsized, flinging all the passengers and contents into the river. Ayaw, along with six other passengers,

managed to swim to shore while the three children drowned.

The captain is the father of two of the victims (Norsha and Newton Ayaw), while Linda Joseph’s parents were also on the boat at the time.

The bodies of the children were later recovered floating in the area. Their faces were partially eaten by piranhas.

The children were laid to rest on Sunday at Masakenari Village. According to the police, the bodies will be exhumed at a later date as investigations are ongoing.

A funeral service was held on Sunday for the three children in Masakenari Village (GPF photo)

National Labour Committee to be established

–– to address local shortage of skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled labour

THE government is mulling the establishment of a National Labour Committee to address the shortage of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour in Guyana, as the country develops rapidly

Although at the proposal stage, the establishment of a central committee, under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour , has been iden -

tified as a viable solution to addressing the shortage which has caused concern , especially in Guyana ’ s oil and gas sector

This was the consensus at the follow-up Multi-Stakeholders Meeting on Guyana’s Labour Needs , held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, on Monday

The forum, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Af-

fairs and International Co-operation ’ s Diaspora Unit , brought together key stakeholders from government and private sector agencies to address challenges faced by the labour market and to craft a national response to address the labour shortage in the country in the short, long and medium terms

Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud said the country ’ s

accelerated approach to development can be stymied by a lack of adequate labour

He outlined that a proactive approach is necessary, in addition, to tapping into the diaspora

“ There is so much that we can do in encouraging , networking and reaching out to the global diaspora, but we cannot wait forever for them to be responsive , because these projects cannot sit and wait for us to find these Guyanese So , we have to be creative and innovative,” he said

The previous meeting identified several key factors that contribute to the labour shortage, such as skills mismatched in the labour market, and cultural rigidity

While the government continues to invest heavily in training to equip the local workforce with the necessary skills to meet industry demands , partnership with the private sector to develop a more comprehensive approach to bridging the gap was seen as necessary

So, the National Labour Committee was identified as a deliberate and holistic solution, since this unit would be tasked to receive information on the demand and supply of labour in all sectors

Head of the Diaspora Unit, Rosalinda Rasul, who facilitated the discussion , said the discord in relation to training with little insight into the needs and plans of companies and sectors has been taken into consideration

Given that both the private and public sectors make up the demand for labour , their labour needs would be shared with the unit Based on this information, the unit will assist the companies , ministries or contractors in sourcing the required labour

The proposed model

for this committee features five components , namely , scouting, matching, foreign workers, communication, and manpower surveys

The unit would deploy scouts to every community to ascertain how many persons are looking for jobs, as well as their requisite skill sets, and compile this data Based on that database, the matching process would see the connection of persons with the relevant skill set with the entity, contractor, or ministry that requires it

To address any gaps, foreign workers would be engaged, as the unit would be tapping into other countries through diplomatic missions or otherwise to see where labour can be sourced “Communication is also important because a lot of the gaps are created because of a lack of information floating around , so we would have a subsection that is strictly responsible for creating content,” she said Manpower surveys and studies are the final component , and this should be conducted frequently, given the changing dynamics in each sector

Meanwhile, the information garnered by the committee would be filtered to the various academic institutions, so that the training correlates with the labour demand

“If, for example, we know that within the next five to ten years, we need to get 3,000 engineers or 500 doctors , then, once that information hits these training institutions, they know exactly what they have to do,” Rasul said

A number of stakeholders expressed intentions to contribute to facilitating the implementation of this model, including the Ministry of Education and the Public Sector Commission

The follow-up multi-stakeholders meeting on Guyana’s labour needs was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, on Monday

Eccles All...

From page 28

Vipers by 32 runs under lights at the National Stadium, Providence.

Eccles posted a commanding 154-5 from their 10 overs and, with arguably one of the better pace attacks in the tournament, strangled the powerful V-Net Vipers batting unit to 122-7.

Jonte Thomas smashed a whirlwind 76 from 29 balls, hammering eight sixes and five fours, while Quazim Yusuf was in equal support with 47 from 23 balls (2x4s; 5x6s) in a first-wicket stand of 103 from 7.1 overs.

Troy Gonsalves added the final touches with two sixes in his four-ball 15.

Kemol Savory (2-14), Joshua Jones (2-32), and Antony Adams (1-42) were in the wickets.

National Speedster Shamar Joseph once again led the bowling charge for Eccles, snaring 2-21 in his three overs.

It was another all-around bowling effort by the East Bank Demerara unit as all of their bowlers nipped wickets and kept the pressure on V-Net, who never got through the gears early in the massive chase.

The dangerous Quentin Sampson went for 16 from eight balls, while David Williams (33), Richie Looknauth (21), and Kemol Savory (20) kept them in the hunt, but the run rate soared beyond reach.

Eccles won the first prize of $1M, while Vipers took home $300,000, and the two losing semi-finalists received $100,000.

Earlier, Eccles restricted Team Corruption to 71-9 and chased it down in 6.4 overs for losing three wickets, while Vipers defended 122 to beat Tarmac Titans by five runs.

The competition was sponsored by Kares Engineering Inc., Mohamed’s Enterprise, GT Beer, Rainforest Water, Star Party Rentals, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc., ENet, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Trophy Stall, Premier Insurance, Cricket Zone USA, Beacon Café, Continental Transport, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, RS53 RestoBar and Lounge, Jacobs Jewelry and Pawn Shop, First Change Builder Inc. Impressions Inc., Sicko Mode, 94.1 BOOM FM, Assuria Insurance, Montra Restaurant and Longue, Gafoors and Hard Rock Café.

Individual awards: Most Runs: Omesh Danram (Village Rams) - 3 innings; 163 runs; HS: 62*; Strike Rate: 281.67

Most Wickets: Shamar Joseph (Eccles All-Stars)5 innings; 8 wickets; Econ: 5.57

Most Valuable Player: Omesh Danram (Village Rams) - 19.932 points Player of the Final: Jonte Thomas (Eccles AllStars) - 76 from 29 balls

Carmel beat St. Ignatius...

From page 28

keeper Ray Richards would make for the remainder of their 90 minutes.

The slim lead lasted only three minutes, when Carmel’s Marcus Layne chipped one over the head of the St. Ignatius goalie for the equaliser.

Then in the 28th, Carmel standout player, Ian Daniels outfoxed the defender on the – wing and with a perfectly placed right-footed shot, brought the scores to 2-1 in Carmel’s favour.

The remainder of the half went quietly and though St. Ignatius started the second with fresh intensity, they were unable to get past Richards in the nets.

Carmel’s Captain Shem James, found himself in the right place at the right time

in the 78th to head a set piece into the net for his team’s third goal in their 3-1 victory.

In the third place playoff, Bevon Jones added 6 goals to his already large tally to lead D.C Caesar Fox (Waramadong) Secondary to an 8-0 victory over Waramuri Primary Top. Adding to Jones’ 6 was Carrington Isaacs and Dominic Elliman, who netted one each. For individual awards, Carmel’s Ian Daniels was the most valuable player of the tournament, while Waramadong’s Jones was the highest goal scorer with 21 goals. Carmel’s Ray Richards won the best goalkeeper in the tournament accolade. The top four teams will receive $1M, $500,000, $300,000 and $200,000 respectively for a school project of their choice.

South Africa call up Dewald Brevis for Australia series

...Keshav Maharaj, who has been out since March with an Achilles injury, has been included in both the T20I and ODI squads

DEWALD Brevis has been named in South Africa's men's squad for their upcoming white-ball series against Australia. The 20-year-old batter, who was the top run-getter at the Under-19 World Cup in 2022, has already featured in multiple franchise competitions including the IPL, CPL and MLC and has now earned a long-awaited international call-up.

Brevis has been named in the squads for both the T20I and ODI series, which are South Africa's only competitive outings before the World Cup in October-November. The aim is to introduce Brevis to the biggest stage and not necessarily auditioning him for a spot in India. South Africa's coach Rob Walter confirmed at a press conference that Brevis, if part of a starting XI, will bat in the middle order, and not in his usual opening spot. There are also no expectations from him to do anything other than ease into the senior team.

"It's nice to be able to give him an opportunity. He is one of our up-and-coming youngsters. We want to just broaden our base a little bit and this Australia series is an opportunity to give him a run," Walter said. "I won't be calling him Baby AB [de Villiers]. We will leave AB to be AB. He [Brevis] is a fairly

grounded young guy. It's just about creating an environment to express himself in."

Instead, all eyes will be on Keshav Maharaj, who has made an earlier-than-expected recovery from a ruptured Achilles and is in contention for the World Cup.

Maharaj suffered the injury in a Test match against West Indies in March and was expected to be out for the rest of the year but has progressed steadily enough to be included. "He has done exceptionally well to this point. He is ahead of where we thought he would be, so things look positive," Walter said. "It's difficult to guesstimate the last portion of his recovery and when he will be match ready but I am quietly hopeful he will be ready for those T20s."

Maharaj has been named in the squad for the second and third T20Is, albeit dependent on match fitness. Management are hopeful he will then play in the ODIs ahead of the World Cup. South Africa will name an initial World Cup squad on September 5, before the ODI series, but changes can be made to that group until September 27. It is likely that Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin are competing for two spinners' spots in the final X1.

Those are the only big debates that South Africa will

be having ahead of the World Cup with the bulk of the ODI squad made up of familiar faces. Of those, Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada, who played at the MLC and in Klaasen's case also The Hundred, will be rested from the T20Is to ensure they are at their best for the ODIs and the World Cup. "Ninety-five percent of our squad is tried and tested," Walter said. "And then there is potentially an opportunity for a younger flair."

The newcomers are mostly in the T20I squad with two uncapped batters in addition to Brevis. Matthew Breetzke has

been included as top-order cover and Donovan Ferreira comes in as another middle-order option. The wicketkeeping role for the T20Is is between between the two of them and Tristan Stubbs, with all of them part of Walter's future plans.

"We're going to give guys opportunities and we might spread the load a little bit," Walter confirmed. "Donovan was involved in a lot of league cricket. One of the areas in our batting we want to pay attention to is the ability to finish and clear the rope so that's why he is in. Matthew is top-order cover. All the coaches on my support staff as well as Shukri [Conrad,

Gower slams 'ugly' Lord's Long Room treatment of Australia as 'out of order'

DAVID GOWER believes the reaction of the Lord's Long Room to Australia during the Ashes was "ugly" and "out of order".

Alex Carey's controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow on day five of England's eventual second Test defeat at the start of July caused a furious reaction from the crowd at the usually reserved Lord's.

That preceded an altercation between Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members and Australia's players at the lunch break in which Usman Khawaja and David Warner were confronted in the Long Room.

Three MCC members were suspended as a result, and while Gower embraces the rivalry between England and Australia, he also feels there is a line that was crossed in the recent series.

"The rivalry should be on the field," Gower told Stats Perform. "The rivalry should be contained on the field, where you give 100 per cent.

"Each and every man gives 100 per cent each and every day. You bowl your bouncers,

hit fours, your sixes, you take people on, there's a bit of banter. That's fine. That's where it should be contained.

"Obviously, in an Ashes series for many years now we've seen both Down Under in Australia and in England now, the fans are very partisan.

"That incident at Lords was ugly, and I'm afraid to say that those members of the MCC in the pavilion at Lord's were horribly out of order."

Gower defended Carey's actions, saying: "For the record, I

have no problem with what Alex Carey did.

"I just thought Jonny Bairstow was careless, made an assumption he shouldn't have made. And it could have easily been avoided if Jonny just looked behind him and put his bat down. Not out, carry on with the game. And then England actually might still have had a chance of winning that game."

Gower also believes fans should move on from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal for which Warner and then-captain Steve

the red-ball coach] speak very highly of him."

There is also the possibility of one new T20I bowler in Gerald Coetzee, who has played Tests and ODIs for South Africa but is yet to make his T20I debut. The T20I squad also sees a return for Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen, who were dropped for the home T20Is against West Indies earlier this year. "When they were left out, it was a performance-based thing but I was also specific saying it's our job to get them back in." Walter said. "Rassie has been at the Global T20 in Canada and Temba was working hard here. It's the perfect opportunity for them to show they are able to maneuver their games and grow their games."

South Africa have not played any cricket since their World Cup Super League series against Netherlands, which ended on April 2. The ODI squad will assemble next Monday for a three-day cohesion camp in the Kruger National Park, with training for both outfits to start on August 24, and the first match against Australia scheduled for August 30.

"Our guys are playing in five or six different environments throughout the year so the camp is about creating a platform for our players to connect with each

RACING TIPS

other. When pressure moments arrive, it's our connection with each other that is going to hold us up," Walter said, while acknowledging the scant game time is not ideal ahead of the World Cup. "You are never going to replicate world cup pressure in the nets but we are trying your best to get there. We speak of trying to create the right environment that has got a bit of an edge to it. Still, it's always a tough one."

SOUTH

South Africa T20I squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Temba Bavuma, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams and Rassie van der Dussen.

South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Dewald Brevis, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, and Rassie van der Dussen.

Smith received 12-month suspensions, with chanting referencing the incident audible during the 2023 series.

"This whole thing, I find it actually quite distasteful to be honest," Gower added.

"Yes, some years ago, they did use sandpaper. [But] they've done everything possible to get over it. They've tried ever so hard to be nice, while still not losing that competitive edge.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday August 15, 2023)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD

-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Jamaica Tallawahs

(2) Barbados Royals

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many games were scheduled in the inaugural CPL season (2013)?

(2) How many matches are slated for this season’s CPL?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

AFRICA SQUADS

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins leads his team out at Lord’s in the second Test

Dewald Brevis was the highest run-getter at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup • ICC via Getty Images

Bahamas star sprinter Terrence Jones hoping to emulate idol Usain Bolt

AT just 20 years old, Bahamian sprinter Terrence Jones finds himself on a meteoric rise in the world oft track and field. Jones, a self-proclaimed "goofy middle child," has left his mark on the track with his astonishing speed, leading him to aspire to be like his idol, Usain Bolt. As he gears up to represent his country at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest from August 19-27, Jones reflects on his journey and dreams of Olympic glory.

Hailing from the Bahamas, Jones admits that he is still coming to terms with the incredible path his speed has charted for him. "I don't think me from five years ago would even believe that I'm a real person," he mused in a recent interview with Olympics.com. "If you go back to 10th grade me, I don't think he would have had enough

confidence to say that I would reach this level."

Earlier this year, Jones achieved a remarkable feat by tying the Bahamas national record for the men's 100m, clocking an impressive 9.91 seconds. This time matched the record set by Derrick Atkins, who secured silver at the 2007 World Athletics Championships. Jones' achievements also

include an indoor national and NCAA record in the 60m, where he clocked a lightning-fast 6.45 seconds.

From humble beginnings, Jones' journey took an incredible turn when Texas Tech sprint coach Zach Glavash identified his potential during a meet in the Bahamas. Jones recalled Glavash's unwavering belief in him, even during moments of self-doubt. This support ignited a fire within Jones, propelling him to dedicate himself to his training and aspirations.

For the past three seasons, Jones has been a proud member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, competing in Lubbock, Texas. His determination and hard work paid off when he clinched the bronze medal in the men's 200m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June, achieving a personal best time of 19.87 seconds.

Despite his remarkable times, Jones maintains a focus on executing his races effectively rather than fixating on numbers. He believes that consistent execution will naturally yield impressive times. "How my coach explains it to me is, 'All you have to do is execute, and the time will come after,'" he emphasized.

As he looks ahead, Jones draws inspiration from the legendary Usain Bolt, who won his first Olympic championship at the age of 21. With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the horizon, Jones aims to follow in Bolt's footsteps. "I hope I see a little bit of correlation," he says with a smile. As he aspires to make his mark on the international stage, Jones remains focused on his journey, excited to see where his remarkable speed will take him next.

T&T's 3-Star refereeing judge Beckles arrives in Guyana today

TRINIDAD and Tobago

3-Star Referees/Judges

Assessor James Beckles will arrive on local shores on the 15th to conduct two important training seminars during the prestigious Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys/Juniors Championship.

Beckles, who has the distinction of being the only 3-Star Referee/Judge Assessor within the English-speaking Caribbean, will conduct an intermediary forum to provide clarity and educate the respective participants on the recent rule changes that were implemented by the world governing body, the International Boxing Association (IBA). Beckles will also administer a beginner seminar to emerging and aspiring participants. Both forums will occur from the 16th-20th.

Chelsea agree £115m deal for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo for a British record fee of £115m.

Liverpool agreed a £111m deal for the 21-yearold Ecuador player on Friday.

But Caicedo's preference is Chelsea and they have finally succeeded with a bid after having a succession of proposals rejected by Brighton this summer.

The fee means Chelsea will break the British record twice in 2023, following the £107m purchase in January of Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Caicedo, who was left out of Brighton's squad for their season-opening win at home to Luton Town, is still to have a medical.

It is understood the initial fee is £100m, with half of the additional payments said to be easily achievable, while Brighton have also negotiated a sell-on clause.

Brighton had set a fee in excess of £100m for Caicedo this summer and said they felt no-one would reach it. Chelsea are believed to have bid £80m previously.

and judging.

The Joint Services in the form of the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, and the Guyana Prison Service have also been invited to partake in the respective seminars.

tice within the international sporting fraternity, and simply not an actuality or element of boxing. This is development personified!”

In his news conference before the Seagulls' season-opening game against Luton Town, manager Roberto de Zerbi said he had "already forgotten" about Caicedo, adding: "Bigger clubs can buy our players but they can't buy our soul or spirit."

Practical evaluations will occur during the morning period at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, whilst the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, will serve as the setting for the theoretical assessments. Both workshops are being conducted with the sole purpose of improving the quality of local refereeing

GBA President Steve Ninvalle said, “The two forums are of the GBA’s developmental apparatus. As an association, we inherently recognise that the advancement of referees and judges, who are pivotal members of the sport’s human capital, is synonymous with the growth and development of the discipline. This is the soft infrastructure that we have continued to enhance and evolve each year. Boxing cannot develop without the advancement of its technical and judicial officers. We are aware of such a reality which is a best prac-

He further said, “The seminars are also twopronged in their developmental scope. The decision to invite the Joint Services, who have a cultural and historical affinity and heritage within the discipline, was done with the simple premise of expanding the pool of judges and referees which will serve the longterm growth of boxing. This is a mechanism for blooding and exposing new talent who will eventually transition into the senior realms of authority within their respective judging and refereeing corp. This is certainly an investment for the future that will benefit the sport.”

Caicedo joined Brighton from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle for £4m in February 2021, although he did not make his Premier League debut until April 2022.

He asked to leave Brighton in the January transfer window earlier this year and Arsenal had multiple offers turned down for the midfielder before he signed a new contract until 2027 in March.

Caicedo will be Chelsea's eighth signing of the summer, following Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Angelo Gabriel, Robert Sanchez and Diego Moreira.

New manager Mauricio Pochettino has been tasked with overhauling the squad and vastly improving on last season's 12th-place finish in the Premier League.

Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ethan Ampadu, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Abdul Rahman Baba and former captain Cesar Azpilicueta have all departed so far this summer.

Chelsea opened their Premier League season with a 1-1 home draw against Liverpool on Sunday.(BBC Sport)

Terrence Jones shares the Bahamian national record of 9.91 with Derrick Atkins

3-star Referee Assessor, James Beckles

GCA T20 Cup 1st Division Cricket GCC’s Wade, Everest’s Chanderpaul & Police’s Troy Benn shine on Sunday

By Sean Devers

ON another day blessed with glorious sunshine, the second round of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Frist Division T20 Cup bowled off Sunday at various grounds.

At Everest, the hosts, led by a 105-run opening stand which lasted 15 overs between Test batter Tagenarine Chanderpaul who made 58 from 54 balls with six fours and a six and Ushardeva Balgobin whose 49 was decorated with seven fours and lasted 44 balls.

Troy Gonsalves (19) and Akshaya Persaud (15 not out) were the other batters to reach 15 as Everest reached 164-4 from 20 overs.

Troy Benn, who bowled Chanderpaul and removed Gonsalves, took 2-27 for Police who were bowled out for 147 off the last ball of their 20 overs.

Troy Benn top scored with 47 from 45 balls with three fours and a six while Kemol Savory who made 28 from 27 balls with four fours and Kevin Boodie (16) supported Benn in a losing cause.

Clinton Pestano and Persaud had three wickets each while Gonsalves had 2-18.

At the GDF ground, GCC beat GNIC by seven wickets; making 88-3, replying to GNIC’s 85-6 despite Quincy Richardson’s 22. Left-arm spinner Devon Lord had 3-5.

Joshua Wade followed up his 73 on Saturday with 47 (three sixes and two fours) for GCC on Sunday while National U-19 batter Mavindra Dindyal made an unbeaten 22 to see GCC to victory.

In their second game of the day at the GDF ground, GCC defeated the Army by six wickets.

GDF, led by West Indies over-40 selectee Randy Lindore with 41 and Quincy McPherson 26, reached 164-8.

Renaldo Ali-Mohammed had 3-20 and Lord took 2-13.

GCC replied with opener Martin Pestano-Bell making 47 not out and Ali-Mohammed, who scored an unbeaten 28 with four sixes, featuring in an unbroken 43-run fifth wicket stand to see the Bourda boys to 165-6.

At Everest, MYO beat Transport Sports Club by 65 runs after making 187-7 and restricting Transport to 122-5.

Sheldon Alexander reached the boundary three times and cleared it thrice in an aggressive 37 from 20 balls while Alex Rodrigues hit five fours and a six in his 19-ball 32.

GCC 10-day cricket camp bowls off at Bourda

— Coach satisfied with first day’s work

Safraz Esau 22, Omesh Danram 21 and Keon Morris who blasted three sixes in 29 from 13 balls, took a liking to Akeem Redman who had 2-54 including wicket of Berbice batter Seon Hetmyer, the older sibling of West Indies player Shimron Hetmyer and father of Guyana U-15 all-rounder Adrian Hetmyer.

Ewart Samuels also captured two wickets for Transport, whose leading scorers were Adrian Hinds and Alvin Mohabir who both scored 34.

Morris had 2-18 while Farnum Housain took 2-19 for MYO.

The tournament is scheduled to continue this weekend.

James Harden calls Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey a 'liar' over trade talks

JAMES Harden says he will not play for the Philadelphia 76ers while president Daryl Morey remains in charge.

The 10-time NBA AllStar guard, 33, made the comments two days after it was reported the 76ers had ended talks about trading him.

"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of," Harden said.

"Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of."

Harden, who was named the NBA's most valuable player (MVP) in 2018, is thought to want a move to the

Los Angeles Clippers. According to ESPN, talks between the 76ers and the Clippers broke down because of the demands set by his current team.

The 76ers are thought to have told Harden they plan to bring him back to their

training camp for the start of the season.

That appears to have triggered the comments from Harden, who was speaking during a promotional event in China on Monday.

Morey was general manager of the Houston Rockets

when Harden spent more than eight seasons with the franchise.

The pair's relationship was a key factor in Harden moving to Philadelphia in a trade which sent Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets.

The 76ers, who lost to rivals the Boston Celtics in last season's Eastern Conference semi-finals by blowing a 3-2 lead, still hope to have Harden playing alongside reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid in the upcoming season.

The regular season starts on 24 October, with the 76ers playing the Celtics in their first pre-season game on 8 October. (BBC Sport)

By Sean Devers

The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) located at the world famous Bourda, the venue of West Indies’ first Test win in 1930, first staged a cricket nursery in early 1980s under the late Desmond ‘Wato’ Watkins.

Yesterday, the GCC bowled off a 10-day cricket Camp which has attracted 30 participants between the ages of 7-17 with being dedicated the fittness and fielding drills.

The camp, which cost $5,000 to register, is set for every weekday from 9AM to 1PM.

According to GCC Committee member Jonathan Yearwood first day went and expects more participates the register today.

“The biggest challenges are the financial aspects of the Camp and getting the full complement of participants. We cater for between 40-50 but only 30 may come.

Registration fee is $5,000 but includes refreshments and use of gear for those who don’t have.

The Coaches are; Head Coach Peter Persaud, Orin Bailey and Clive Grimmond with some of our National U-19 players

helping out.,” disclosed Yearwood at the conclusion of the day’s activities.

The 56-old Persaud, who played at the Regional U-19 level in 1985 and 1986 before playing for Demerara at senior level, also expressed satisfaction with was transpired yesterday.

“We had good day and young lads were very excited. Last we had four girls but have registered so far…I am encouraging girls to join” posited Persaud, the elder sibling of former First-Class opener Paul Persaud.

Persaud informed that in addition to on-field sessions the participants were introduced to Mr Yearwood and briefly told of the of rich his history which hosted 30 Test Matches and 16 players who played Test Cricket with Vishaul Singh being last.

“We hope that one of the benefits for the club is that we will see at the completion of this camp some of the serious players that will join the club” Persaud concluded.

It was disclosed that some of the topics to be taught apart from cricket skills; are etiquette, discipline and classroom work.

Joshua Wade had a good weekend with the bat for GCC

Troy Benn scored 47 before taking 2-42 for Police against Everest in a losing cause (Sean Devers photo)

Tagenarine Chanderpaul scored quick-fire 58 for Everest in the GCA T20 Cup on Sunday

James Harden made his comments about the Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey during a promotional tour in China

Peter Persaud (right) and his charges at the Camp

Triumphant Windies T20 Captain Rovman Powell at a loss for words as team celebrates series victory over India

A wave of exultation swept over West Indies T20 International captain Rovman Powell as his team clinched a thrilling victory in the fifth and final match of the series against India.

The euphoria was palpable as the West Indies secured an eight-wicket win, sealing the series 3-2. This momentous triumph marked the team's first multi-game series victory against India since 2016.

Chasing India’s total of 165-9 from their 20 overs, West Indies cruised to 171-2 from just 18 overs thanks to the efforts of Romario Shepherd who took 4-31 to help restrict India. Brandon King, who scored an unbeaten 85 and Nicholas Pooran, 47, then laid the foundation for the emphatic victory.

Sunday's showdown in Lauderhill was laden with significance, as the West Indies, after an initial surge of triumph, had endured set-

backs in the form of consecutive losses in the preceding matches. An emphatic defeat by nine wickets in the fourth match had cast a shadow of doubt. However, the tides turned dramatically, propelled by the career-best performances from Shepherd and King.

"I struggle to find the right words to describe this feeling. Adjectives fall short to capture the magnitude of our emotions. This series is massive for us, defeating India on our home turf amidst all the challenges we're facing," Rovman Powell expressed, his voice brimming with elation. The captain's pride in his team's accomplishments was evident, as they not only played for personal satisfaction but also for the collective spirit of the Caribbean people.

Acknowledging the pivotal role of the coaching staff, Powell shared insights into the team's resilience.

"Last night, after our resounding defeat, we gathered and deliberated. Our response wasn't about just putting smiles on our faces; it was about uplifting the spirits of the people we represent." Despite the setbacks, the team

demonstrated unwavering determination and resolve.

"For me, individual performances are paramount. When individuals excel, the team reaps the rewards," Powell emphasized, highlighting the synergy between

individual brilliance and team success. The captain's words resonated deeply, reflecting his commitment to fostering a culture of growth and achievement.

As the celebrations ensued, Powell showered praise

on key contributors, particularly Nicholas Pooran, who was named Player of the Series for the series-leading 176 runs. "Pooran is a standout performer. We relied on him to step up in three out of five games, and he delivered brilliantly." He also commended the bowling unit for their commendable efforts in taming India's formidable lineup.

Throughout the challenging journey, the unwavering support of the fans played a pivotal role, both on and off the field. "Credit to the fans who rallied around us, offering encouragement and support through thick and thin. Their presence physically and virtually, through social media, underscores the profound impact of cricket as a unifying force," Powell declared, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between the team and its dedicated supporters.

Palm Court, ReadyMix Cement donate $2M to ‘Cricket For Charity’

PALM Court and ReadyMix Concrete Limited combined resources to donate $2M to the ‘Cricket for Charity’ match that raised over $17.5M.

In release to the media, the companies indicated the President’s inspiring performances with bat and ball spurred them to make a further contribution to the noble cause.

Initially, for every four and six the President struck, Palm Court indicated they will donate G$5,000 and G$10,000 respectively, while the entertainment spot will donate G$25,000 for every wicket he captures.

The President carried his bat for a boundary-less 21 but got three wickets for his winning Team Roraima.

The funds from the match will be distributed to

eleven orphanages, the Salvation Army, Dharm Shala Home of Benevolence for

All Races, and two animal welfare groups in Guyana, Tails of Hope and Paws for

a Cause. The Private Commission secured the funds through

generous donations from various individuals and businesses.

After the match, President Ali applauded the organisers, for a fantastic tournament and noted, “It will grow bigger,” highlighting how sport is a unifying factor in bringing people together to help others.

He further thanked the private sector, as in less than 24 hours, they raised $17.5M in funds for charity, and it shows, “We are truly One Guyana, One Guyanese.”

On the day, several businesses pledged further donations based on how many runs or wickets the president took in the match.

West Indies T20 Captain Rovman Powell with the Player of the Series trophy that was won by Nicholas Pooran. The Trinidadian batsman had to skip out on the closing ceremonies to catch a flight

President Dr. Irfaan Ali drives through the covers during the ‘Cricket for Charity’ match on Saturday at the National Stadium, Providence

Kares One Guyana ‘Cricket for Charity’ raises over $17.5M in funds

THE Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast Cricket for Charity match led by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has raised over$17.5 million at the National Stadium on Saturday evening last.

The funds will be distributed to 11 orphanages, the

Salvation Army, Dharm Shala Home of Benevolence for All Races, and two animal welfare groups in Guyana, Tails of Hope and Paws for a Cause.

The Private Commission secured the funds through generous donations from various individuals and busi-

nesses.

President Ali's 'Roraima' beat Guyanese Cricket Legend Lennox Cush's 'Kanuku' in the showpiece at the National Stadium.

After the match, President Ali applauded the organisers, for a fantastic tournament and noted, “It will

grow bigger,” highlighting how sport is a unifying factor in bringing people together to help others.

He further thanked the private sector, as in less than 24 hours, they raised $17.5M in funds for charity, and it shows, “We are truly One Guyana, One Guyanese.”

On the day, several businesses pledged further donations based on how many runs or wickets the president took in the match.

MATCH SUMMA -

RY: Team Roraima 125-4 from 12 overs (Shemroy Barrington 42, Dr. Irfaan Ali 21*, Joshua Wade 19;

Ramnaresh Sarwan 3-8, Devendra Bishoo 1-13) beat Team Kanuku 119-8 from 12 overs (Christopher Barnwell 42, Sachin Singh 37, Sewanarine Chattergoon 14; Dr. Irfaan Ali 3-13, Imran Tahir 2-25) by six runs

President Dr. Irfaan Ali is all smiles after taking a wicket

‘Cricket For Charity’ provided a significant boost for many charitable organisations in Guyana

Carmel beat St. Ignatius 3-1 to win 2023 Digicel Schools' Championship

CARMEL Secondary, on Sunday evening, etched their name into history by becoming the 2023 winners of the Digicel Schools' Football Championship.

Having missed out on the top four of the Georgetown Championships, Carmel roared back to defeat three Regional Championshipwinning teams on their way to the coveted title.

The final showdown between the eventual champi-

ons and Region 9’s St. Ignatius Secondary got underway at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue, with the majority of spectators backing St. Ignatius.

The motivation helped the visitors to an early lead as Romel Ernest opened the scoring with a left footed strike in the 13th minute.

However, that was the last mistake that Carmel’s

Continued on page 22

Mission Accomplished!

Eccles All-Stars storm to Kares One Guyana T10 title

BEFORE the final of the inaugural Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast, Eccles All-Stars were deemed the ‘giant killers’ after taking down formidable sides such as The Guards and Movements Family (Mahdia).

After the final, they are deemed the champions and undoubtedly the best tapeball team in Guyana.

In last Saturday’s final, they produced a well-rounded display to trump the powerful V-Net Eccles All-Stars celebrate as champions of the inaugural Kares One

Continued on page 22

Carmel Secondary clinches 2023 Digicel Schools' Championship (Shannece Bamfield Photo)

Guyana T10