Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 17-03-2023

Hinds

The law will take its course

–– Benn says about racist, incendiary statements made by WPA members

MINISTER of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, on Thursday, while condemning the harmful statements made by members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), said that legal reviews are ongoing and the law will take its course.

The minister made those remarks on the sidelines of an event on Thurs-

day morning. He said that executive member of the WPA, Tacuma Ogunseye, appeared to be calling out persons or units of the Disciplined Services to take divisive actions which could be harmful to the country.

Ogunseye had continued the PNC’s rhetoric of unsubstantiated claims of oppression being faced by

Afro-Guyanese under the current government.

At that meeting, the WPA member went a bit further by saying that members of the Joint Services should, “turn those guns in the right direction.”

As such, Minister Benn told reporters on Thursday: “I’m condemning them in the strongest term… I’m saying while we are having

legal reviews of them they appear to me to be frankly seditious and if they are found to be seditious, the laws will take its course.” He went on to add that we cannot have persons making such insinuations and suggestions in a democratic environment, where there are systems in place like the courts, and parliament that persons can

approach if they feel aggrieved.

“There is representation in the parliament and there is also the courts, the legal system and we should not allow persons to… in a crowded hall of people shout fire or call one set of people to attack another set of people,” the Home Affairs Minister remarked.

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

Benn went on to add that for persons to suggest that those who have arms in a formal Disciplined Service background should turn the same against the state or against their fellow Guyanese should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

THE lives of 12 young professionals and their families have been completely transformed, as they are now owners of newly built young professional flats located at Prospect, East Bank Demerara.

The keys of the units were handed over to the beneficiaries on Thursday, by the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, together with Managing Director of First Change Builders Inc., Steven Jacobs and representatives of Demerara Bank

Limited.

Each home is approximately 1,700 square feet and sports three bedrooms, including one self-contained room, a kitchen and dining quarters.

One beneficiary, Jason Arjune, said that the opportunity is a significant step forward for his family.

“This is a very good start in life and it’s gonna mean the world to us,” Arjune, who was in the company of his wife, said.

Noting that the area was

previously virgin land, Minister Croal said that the government’s prudent foresight has resulted in tremendous development of the scheme.

Over 200 homes including low-income, young professional single flats and young professional elevated homes are being constructed in the area.

The scheme is also bordered by the Eccles to Diamond Interlink Road and is also in close proximity to the incoming Eccles to Great Diamond Four-Lane Highway.

“Now you can see total transformation here on the East Bank,” Minister Croal said.

The minister also related that the government is moving in a direction where more home construction will done to make homeownership easier for Guyanese.

He added that Thursday’s activity demonstrates both the banking industry’s and contractors’ increased responsiveness to the government’s housing drive, which in turn leads to the creation

of more job opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers; and boosts the nation’s economy.

Close to 600 homes have been handed over to Guyanese through the government’s housing programme in the past few years. Additionally, some 1,400 homes in different categories are at various stages of construction.

Meanwhile, Jacobs, in brief remarks, said that homeownership is a life-changing opportunity. He said the com-

pany is pleased to be help advance the government’s housing drive.

One of the beneficiaries, Dellon Caesar, praised the government’s initiative and the work of the contractor, as he stated that the home will provide a more comfortable environment for his family.

“I’m quite excited for the home…I am now starting a family, my wife and I have a newborn so it would be a good comfort zone,” Caesar said.

The lives of 12 young professionals and their families have been completely transformed, as they are now owners of newly built young professional flats located at Prospect, East Bank Demerara

‘This is a very good start in life’

–– young professionals say as they receive keys to new houses at Prospect

Lasting solutions needed to ensure resilience in all dimensions –– Finance Minister tells leaders at 49th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

AS the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change and other crises, long-lasting solutions are needed to ensure resilience in all dimensions.

This was according to Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, who was at the time addressing the 49th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Thursday.

Referencing the recent horrific earthquakes that rocked the Republic of Türkiye and northern Syria, Minister Singh said these events underscore the grave threat which natural hazards pose, and highlight the urgency with which leaders need to move as a global community to find lasting solutions aimed at reinforcing resilience in all dimensions.

In this regard, Minister Singh highlighted Guyana’s efforts in advancing the country’s climate security,

food security, and energy security.

“The climate crisis represents an existential threat to our planet and requires collective global action. Guyana welcomes the chairing of the upcoming COP-28 by the United Arab Emirates; we look forward to greater balance in the climate debate, including by bringing the development and poverty reduction imperatives back on the agenda,” he said.

He noted that a concerted action on forests preservation is needed, given the role of forests not only in the fight against climate change, but also in protecting biodiversity and in combating desertification.

“As a heavily forested country, Guyana calls on the global community to recognise that there is no solution to the climate crisis without forests,” Dr. Singh said.

Turning his attention to food security, the Finance

Minister related that the ongoing onslaught of climate change, along with COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, reversed many of the gains that the global community made in improving food security. However, Guyana has been able to get back on track.

Under the leadership of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Guyana is currently spearheading the preparation of a strategy for the Caribbean Region to address food security.

This strategy aims at increasing food production and productivity, ramping up agro-processing and value-added production, and

promoting agri-business and intra-regional trade in food products.

“We urge this Council to call on the global community to leverage financial resources both public and private to increase food production, deploy science and technology to raise productivity, and remove barriers to regional and global trade in food products,” Dr. Singh said.

He related, too, that energy security is inextricably linked to climate and food security, noting: “Adequate and competitively priced energy is critical for the viability of value-added production.”

Guyana is working to transition to clean energy in the fight against climate change.

“Ramping up energy production and transitioning to cleaner energy require significant financial investment by both the public and private sectors.

We urge this Council to call on the global community to recognize the crippling energy deficit in so many of our countries and to mobilize financial resources to help address this deficit while at the same time support the transition to cleaner sources of energy,” Dr. Singh said.

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

World leaders at the 49th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

Prison Service must focus on reintegration of inmates, respecting human rights

–Home Affairs Minister says

MINISTER of Home Affairs Robeson

Benn has charged the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) to aim for continuous improvement in its operations, while also placing emphasis on the reintegration of inmates.

The minister made this charge during his address at the opening of the annual three-day Guyana Prison Service’s Senior Officers’ Conference, Thursday morning.

It is being hosted under the theme, “Promoting Rehabilitation and Societal Reintegration of Inmates.”

To this end, inmates at the Lusignan Prison will soon commence classes at the new vocational school at the East Coast Demerara prison complex.

“Not only a vocational school, but to make up for the deficit in formal education that some people have missed by not having an opportunity and not paying attention in school. When we look at the prison system and the inmates, we see all of Guyana in there. We see each and every one of us in there,” Minister Benn said.

The need for prison officers to respect the inmates’ human rights was also highlighted by the minister, as government aims to achieve an exemplary prison

system.

“They [inmates] have rights and those rights are human rights and I have said that I don’t want men struck and abused…Only in the last resort to prevent a situation from getting out of hand or to bring things under control. We don’t want physical abuse and we don’t want emotional abuse,” Minister Benn emphasised.

Meanwhile, acting Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot said in 2022, over 1,400 inmates benefitted from training in literacy, numeracy and various skills.

Additionally, inmates were trained in behavioural modification, anger and stress management, and conflict resolution among other programmes.

The Fresh Start Initiative was also initiated and a number of inmates have benefitted.

“The prison service administration has commenced the Fresh Start Initiative under the leadership of Minister Benn. During that period, 10 inmates received tools and equipment to earn a sustainable income in the various fields,” he said.

These include cosmetology, tailoring, welding, carpentry, joinery and landscaping.

The acting director thanked the lead-

ership of the Ministry of Home Affairs and by extension the government, for its continuous support.

Some of the objectives of the threeday conference are to create synergies at the managerial level, to reflect on accomplishments, and challenges of operations in 2022 and to build cohesive and coherent strategies for improvement in 2023.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas; National Security Adviser, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Colonel Omar Khan; Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken; Chief Fire Officer (ag), Gregory Wickham, and several other prison officials were in attendance. (DPI)

Several officers attended the conference, which is being held under the theme, ‘‘Promoting Rehabilitation and Societal Reintegration of Inmates’'

Workplace Safety

ANY industrial accident, whether it results in serious injury or death, must be viewed as heart-wrenching.

It leaves behind unimaginable pain--both physical and emotional-- and a lifetime of grief.

The untimely death of BOSAI employee Neptrid Hercules comes on the heels of a number of fatal mining pit cave-ins and the unfortunate death of Gafoors delivery clerk, Cindy Jattan. In the latter case, a wooden rack with a variety of hardware materials and equipment fell from above, crushing the young woman and injuring two of her colleagues.

Hercules’ death is particularly devastating for several reasons: according to the reports out of Linden, Region 10, no one saw when the mining pit “swallowed” the bulldozer that the 59-year-old was operating.

In fact, the incident occurred around 04:00hrs while he was clearing overburden. The ravine was so deep that he was covered beneath approximately 100 feet of earth. It took four days of continuous digging and the use of metal detectors to find the machine and eventually Hercules’ lifeless body.

No one could hear his cries for help. The post-mortem revealed that he died from suffocation, which likely occurred within

minutes of him being covered.

A stalwart in the mining sector, having given some four decades of his life to the industry, he was scheduled to retire in September.

With that said, no amount of money can compensate the family for his untimely death. His devastated son who was among family members on site, was emotional after witnessing the remains of his father still pinned by earth in the barely visible excavator.

Some say that the family will at least get some closure because his body was recovered. But actually, this is the beginning of a long grieving process and search for answers.

Why he was doing that sort of work at that hour and without anyone around is anyone’s guess. The company has got to provide a proper explanation; the relatives, friends, the government and all Guyanese must accept nothing less. There must be no excuses and apologetic comments. There must be action.

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton has already said publicly that the company will be made “to answer tough questions on safety.” He has also promised that the preliminary report which will be ready any

day now will be made public. All of the company’s operations have been suspended indefinitely.

This is good news that will bring some level of comfort to Hercules’ grieving relatives.

Sadly, this is not the first tragedy to befall the company and most likely it will not be the last, unless those in authority put their feet down and put their words and recommendations into action.

In 2013, three employees were killed when a 767 truck ran over their pickup in a mining site. The following year, Bertram Pollard was crushed to death by a heavy-duty truck.

In 2021, Fabian Anthony, a former heavy-duty mechanic sued the company for close to $100 million in damages for a puncture he claimed he sustained to his skull while on the job in February, 2020. He said in his court documents that because of the company’s negligence he lost 85 per cent of his memory, some 75 per cent potency, and has spent millions on medical care. He said that the $2 million offered by the company as full settlement was grossly inadequate. It is unclear what the status of this case is.

The tragic reality is that most workplace deaths and injuries are avoidable and pre-

ventable and simply require awareness of proper safety protocols by both the employee and employer.

Poor lighting, ambient temperature, air pollution and noise pollution are among the environmental factors that can contribute to such accidents. Mechanical issues and human factors are also major contributors.

If all safety requirements are obeyed and there is constant communication between employer and employee, training, regular maintenance and inspection of machinery and equipment, the avoidance of shortcuts, good management of space and the use of safety gear at all times, the number of workplace accidents will drop dramatically.

Developing an employee safety plan with feedback from employees at all levels, ensuring supervisors are monitoring and reporting on the progress of all safety measures, providing avenues for employees to share safety concerns and ideas for improving safety and testing all equipment before use could be helpful.

The time for action is now.

Guyana cannot afford to lose another skilled worker to an industrial accident. All stakeholders must come on board to ensure that all workplaces are safe.

‘His language could have been better chosen’

despite widespread condemnation

LEADER of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Aubrey Norton, on Thursday said he supports the freedom of speech of Working People’s Alliance (WPA) member, Tacuma Ogunseye, who received widespread backlash for making racially inflammatory and violently inciting remarks at a recent public meeting.

During his weekly virtual press conference, Norton finally broke his silence on the issue, but instead of condemning Ogunseye’s incendiary remarks, the Leader of the Opposition (LOO) would only say that he did not agree with Ogunseye’s choice of words.

According to Norton, attacking Ogunseye and the Opposition will not solve the problem.

“The Opposition believes that Mr. Tacuma Ogunseye’s right to free

speech must be respected even though we believe that his language could have been better chosen. The choice of his language is his preserve,” Norton said.

Norton went on to further say: “Any attempt to use the law against Mr. Ogunseye will further erode the guardrails of democracy.”

Norton’s comments come days after fellow WPA executive member, David Hinds lashed out against Indo-Guyanese PNC/R members who had condemned the remarks made by Ogunseye, as well as those of fellow WPA member, Rhonda Layne. The comments were made at a public meeting held in Buxton last week Thursday.

According to Hinds, opposition members condemning Ogunseye’s statements, regardless of its veracity, is akin to delivering opposition prisoners to the “enemy” in

light of some having suggested that the remarks by Ogunseye constituted criminal offences.

In a statement, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affair, Anil Nandlall, S.C., issued a statement on the situation, noting that Ogunseye’s call for public disorder and resistance, is capable of amounting to several criminal offences, including but not limited to, sedition, seditious libel, inciting riotous behaviour and exciting racial hostility in order to create a breakdown of law and order within the State of Guyana, if not treason.

Norton’s take on the comments made by Ogunseye and Layne, however was not shared by several members of his party, who issued statements condemning the situation.

Members of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul, Natasha

Singh-Lewis, and Geeta Chandan-Edmond as well as Region Four Regional Chairman Daniel Seeram and Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine, all PNC/R members, denounced the remarks made by Ogunseye and Layne as derogatory and distasteful.

“We wish to condemn the speaker’s remarks where it referred to East Indians coming from the slums of India and living in deplorable places like pipes. These remarks further insinuated that the alleged conditions under which East Indians lived in India made them undeserving of lands in Guyana,” a joint statement from Mahipaul, Singh-Lewis, Seeram and Narine had said.

Chandan-Edmond, a former PNC/R General Secretary, had issued a separate statement publicly disassociating herself from the inflammatory remarks and

calling for responsible action and commentaries from politicians, civil society and activists alike.

The racially inciting remarks by an opposition member comes just months after Norton was accused of turning a blind eye to the constant racial hostility faced by Indo-Guyanese within his party.

In January, PNC/R Treasurer, Faaiz Mursaline, wrote the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) a damning letter outlining racial hostility, and financial impropriety. Mursaline’s comments followed rumors suggesting it was the very racial hostility that led to Chandan-Edmond resigning as General Secretary less than a year after being appointed to the position.

Questioned about his concerns of how these continued occurrences of racially divisive incidents

within his party is affecting the PNC/R’s ability to appeal to the Indo-Guyanese voters, Norton dismissed the situations as not having any effect on the party.

Editor Navendra Seoraj

–– Norton says of Ogunseye’s racist, inflammatory remarks; defends his ‘right to free speech’

PNC/R Leader, Aubrey Norton

Hinds labels persons, organisations as ‘slave catchers’

for

condemning WPA’s racist, inflammatory comments

EXECUTIVE member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), David Hinds, has lashed out against the media, the private sector, trade unions and Indo-Guyanese Opposition members for speaking out against racially incendiary remarks recently made by fellow WPA member, Tacuma Ogunseye.

On his weekly virtual programme “Politics 101” on Wednesday, Hinds referred to the Indo-Guyanese People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member Geeta Chandan-Edmond, the Stabroek News newspaper and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) as “slaver catchers,” for having condemned remarks made by Ogunseye.

Hinds also called out PNCR Parliamentarians Ganesh Mahipaul, and Natasha Singh-Lewis; Regional Chairman Daniel Seeram, and Mayor Ubraj Narine for their comments.

“We are going to begin to document all the slave catchers, from the private sector to FITUG, from FI-

TUG to Stabroek News and all those other slave catchers who are hunting down slaves to turn them in to the master…we are documenting them… there is life after the PPP. Those who are catching slaves to turn them in to the masters, may the wrath of the ancestors visit them,” Hinds said.

Ogunseye at a public meeting last week Thursday made several inflammatory statements that ranged from inciting violence against the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to calling on the predominantly Afro-Guyanese Joint Services to turn their guns on the predominantly Indo-Guyanese supporters of the governing People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) supporters.

Ogunseye’s comments were further compounded by further incendiary remarks made by fellow WPA member, Rhonda Layne.

According to Hinds, by refusing to remain silent, and standing up against what has been described as hateful and racist remarks made by Ogunseye, the Indo-Guya-

nese members of the opposition have fed into the belief that they are traitors.

“There is a strong view in the African community that Indians who belong to the PNCR are traitors. Once you are in a party that is not your natural ethnic home, people believe that you are traitors.

“When you behave in the way that you behave, you are giving fuel to the myth. It’s a myth that has very strong resonance to the community and you all have given fuel to that myth; you all have walked into that myth,” Hinds said.

Regarding Stabroek News, Hinds accused the media house of not doing enough to write their stories from the WPA’s perspective on the matter, going a step further to even accusing the newspaper of benefitting from the government.

“We are going to remember it. We are buyers of newspapers and we are going to remember it Stabroek News. We want Stabroek News to know there is life after the PPP. I’m not threatening anybody, but we have some power as the people. We understand why you all want to keep the PPP there, at the end of the day you all are benefitting from it, Stabroek News and others,” Hinds declared.

Though the WPA has

since issued a statement fully supporting the remarks made by Ogunseye and Layne, in the wider society the situation has received tremendous backlash.

Several organisations from the business and religious communities, including the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Guyana Pandits Council, Guyana Central Arya Samaj, Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana and the Guyana Inter Religious Organization (IRO) have issued official statements condemning the statements.

WPA executive member David Hinds

How to empower Caribbean women for political leadership

ON International Women’s Day (IWD) 2023, earlier this month, themes chosen regionally and internationally reflected current related trends, most based on levels of global support of, or urgency for, empowering women and reducing the gender inequality gap. How best to empower women is a question with as many answers as cases of related disempowerment, but since IWD started in 1975, the movement has grown considerably in the Caribbean, from fighting for attention to domestic violence and sexual abuse to Caribbean women today having largely earned successes from long fights for rights -- individually and collectively -- than thought 48 years ago.

Guyana was the first CARICOM nation to legislate proportional representation of women in the National Assembly, and the number of women being elected to top offices regionally can be seen in current CARICOM Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, as well as continuing appointments of women as Presidents and Governors-General, Chief Justices, Police Commissioners and other top-bracket public service jobs earlier treated like domains for “only men.”

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Saint Lucia Government, on March 3, commemorated IWD 2023 by highlighting gender disparity in political participation and leadership on the island, through a one-

Chronicles of a Chronic Guyana Chronicler

By Earl Bousquet

day exercise in its House of Assembly (the national parliament), attended by women interested in politics, governance and leadership

at the highest level in policy decision-making.

The event also attracted past and present female parliamentarians from both sides of the island’s two-party political divide, including former and current MPs, ministers, civil society representatives, women and youth.

Saint Lucia Senate President, Alvina Reynolds, says the exercise “exposed participants to some of the issues” and “strengthened and empowered them” -- particularly young women – “to enter the political arena.”

According to the leading Senator: “It is something many women are still afraid of, but there is a need for that balance in the political landscape for decision-making at the highest level and through sessions like this, we are trying to make that happen.”

Lilly Ching Soto, resident representative of the General Secretariat of the OAS in Saint Lucia said, “Women’s political participation has significantly progressed over the last few decades. However, independent of the commitments adopted on women’s political rights, progress on their implementation has been uneven and slow.”

She noted too, the startling fact that “The World Economic Forum estimates that we will need another 132 years to close the gender gap.”

The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) also participated in the Saint Lucia exercise, which followed its own 95th anniversary (February 18).

Ching Soto said it was “a notable effort to make visible the under-representation of women in politics, and encourage dialogue with political actors about the existing challenges.”

Also, that it “seeks a path towards equality in political representation and leadership positions, with a view to creating pathways for the

substantive representation of women in decision-making positions.”

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, speaking before the event, posited that, “Although politics in the Americas has progressed in the inclusion of women in senior decision-making positions, there is still a long way to go.”

He reaffirmed the OAS’ “institutional commitment to eliminating the gender biases and global injustices that still exist,” citing creation (in 2022) of the High-Level Group to Promote the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Electoral Observation Missions on the Political Participation of Women; and the recently-established Plan for Gender Parity in Decision-Making Positions of the OAS General Secretariat.

Almagro said too that “Beyond a mere matter of justice, the benefit of parity and equality is for all of society -- and not just for women.”

He added, “The demand that more women participate in decision-making must go hand-in-hand with men not only accepting the agenda for equality from a formal point of view, but also accepting the values that women bring to public life, to the extent that they contribute to the transformation of public affairs and place the challenge of equality at the forefront of decision-making.”

CIM’s Executive Secretary, Alejandra Mora Mora, said the event addressed many of the recommendations made by the 2021 OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Saint Lucia’s General Elections, “in terms of eliminating the barriers and creating enabling conditions for women’s full and equal participation in politics and decision-making.”

Ching Soto noted that “February 18 also marked

the ‘Day of Women of the Americas’ and CIM’s first goal was to extend the right to vote to women.”

CIM, she added, “has played an essential role in the transformations that have occurred in the role of women in the Americas over last near-century; and it has the validity and the strength necessary to continue to play this role in the transformations still pending and necessary to change both minds and realities.”

The joint OAS and Saint Lucia effort is commendable, alongside all the other actions taken and statements made on IWD this year to honour Caribbean women and their roles historically, especially over the past five decades.

Guyana has also, this year, taken some more commendable steps, out of the ordinary, to empower women in jobs traditionally dominated by men – as in the 500 women being trained to handle heavy equipment and the 500 police officers trained to better handle domestic violence cases and complaints.

But while the pace of progress is commendable on many fronts, it still lacks sufficient steam in others, like translating the higher number of women in leadership in business and public affairs regionally to a commensurate increase in the number employed.

The road to empowering women in politics only grows shorter over time and it’ll still be some time before the realisation of the OAS Secretary General’s call for “men not only accepting the agenda for equality from a formal point of view, but also accepting the values that women bring to public life…” and Madam Soto’s call for attention to “the transformations still pending and necessary to change both minds and realities…”

Cuban companies show great interest in Guyana

COMPANIES in Cuba have turned their attention to Guyana, where significant public and private investments are pushing the country’s economy to heights never seen before in its history.

Representatives of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce expressed their enthusiasm in Guyana’s economy during a recent engagement with Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed.

A high-level team from APICUBA, led by Felix Cordero Alvarez, Deputy Director, visited the Guyana Embassy on March 10, with the aim of exploring ways and means of collaborating with Guyanese in the area of the production of honey.

APICUBA is the largest producer of honey, bees wax and royal jelly in Cuba. It has under its control some of the largest hives in Cuba,

producing some 10,000 to 12,000, tonnes of honey annually.

The previous day, March 9, Ambassador Majeed visited the DINVAI Construction Company, at the invitation of Ariel Rueda Ortiz, the company’s president, who explained, in great detail, how his company operates and what are some of the company’s plans for 2023.

DINVAI, which serves as general contractors and project managers, provides architectural and engineering designs, among other things, and has an active presence in several CARICOM States, Colombia and Vietnam.

Both APICUBA and DINVAI related that they would be an integral part of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce team expected to visit Guyana later this year.

GCCI calls on local banks to highlight hindrances to access to finance

THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has called on the local banks to take a more proactive approach to sharing possible hindrances, whether legislative, economic, social or environmental restricting better access to finance for the local private sector.

Although several members of Guyana’s private sector have publicly voiced their concerns about the issue, along with several notable public charges by Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance

Dr. Ashni Singh, the banks have not been forthcoming with the information.

Access to finance is one of the most critical issues facing the business community, and the Chamber believes that the banks play a major role in mitigating the existing challenge.

The banks’ failure to respond to the concerns of the private sector, according to the Chamber, leads to the assumption that the issue of access to finance may be a question of internal diffidence at their level, as opposed to a national legislation or policy concern.

“The private sector needs to have access to multiple instruments of borrowing, such as invoice factoring, accounts receivable financing, contract borrowing, and movable property lending to increase its competitiveness in the oil-and-gas sector.

The local private sector risks becoming unable to compete with regional and international counterparts, if this issue persists,” GCCI said.

Companies in Cuba have turned their attention to Guyana, where significant public and private investments are pushing the country’s economy to heights never seen before in its history

Draft model PSAs reflect gov’t’s commitment to environmental conservation

THE draft models of the government’s Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) for petroleum exploration, development and production are yet

another example of the PPP/C Government’s commitment to ensuring the protection of the environment.

The Deep and Shal -

low Water PSAs help the country to manage and develop its resources more effectively by allowing the host country to retain ownership and control of its oil

and gas reserves, while enabling international oil and gas companies to invest in and develop those resources.

In Article 3– Rights and Obligations of the Contractor of the 90+ page documents, the government outlines a number of obligations which oil and gas production companies must follow.

One requirement is that the contractor or company takes all necessary steps to ensure that its operations are executed with ‘as low as reasonably practicable impact on the environment’, specifying that activities must have the lowest possible Greenhouse Gas (GHG) operational emissions.

The specification is important, as Guyana has made significant efforts towards environmental conservation in recent years, particularly in the preservation of its forests and biodiversity.

These include the establishment of a network of protected areas, including the Kaieteur National Park, the Iwokrama Forest Reserve, and the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area.

Other incentives and initiatives by the government, such as the monetization of its low deforestation rate in the form of carbon credits, and the gradual shift towards renewable energy, have established Guyana as a global leader in sustainable development and environmental conservation.

The agreements also include, among other provisions, the need for contractors to repair any environmental damage that may occur as a result of their operations—activities including removal

of equipment, structures and debris, pipelines, the establishment of compatible contours and drainage, replacement of topsoil, re-vegetation, slope stabilisation, filling of excavations, or any other appropriate actions; as well as the need for contractors to carry out petroleum operations in accordance with the best existing international standards and practices regarding environment protection.

These requirements include the employment of modern, efficient machinery, and the application of suitable technology to maximise the efficient recovery of Guyana’s oil and gas resources.

Companies operating offshore Guyana will also be contractually obligated to provide all information, environmental impact assessments and specific technical studies required for the purposes of obtaining applicable environmental licences from the relevant authorities.

The agreements also emphasise the need for operators to provide descriptions of technical solutions aimed at preventing and minimising environmentally harmful discharges and emissions, as well as safety management systems, including estimates of the maximum quantity of fuels and oil that will be stored in drilling units or production facilities.

Guyana is one of only eight countries in the world to have achieved a net zero target. As the government continues to make investments in renewable energy, Guyana moves closer to the globally coveted goal of achieving 70 per cent renewable energy. (DPI)

Questions loom over legitimacy of Guyana Human Rights Association

THE Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is under scrutiny as searching questions are being raised about the named directors, reports from annual general meetings, accountability for monies and other matters relating to general operations.

When contacted by the Guyana Chronicle, selfstyled President of GHRA, Mike McCormack would only confirm that the association was registered in 1979, but would not name the current directors, stating that he could not remember the names.

He also said that he wanted to protect the directors and requested that the Guyana Chronicle find a published report done three years ago that listed the directors.

McCormack has been called out by Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh for taking a biased stance against the PPP/C government over the years, while giving the APNU+AFC a pass on national issues.

On Monday, the GHRA issued a press release calling for a pause of the e-governance programme and for it to be submitted to Parliament.

The Ministry of Finance believes that the GHRA’s contention is another show of the association’s politically partisan advocacy, and selective inflections.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry said the statements made by the GHRA have no basis in fact whatsoever, and are further undermined by virtue of having been made by an entity devoid of any credibility and any legitimacy whatsoever.

“The unfortunate but stark reality is that the GHRA is a sham organisation, comprising a oneman show, conducted by an individual who is highly partisan and who is incapable and unprepared to display any modicum of independence or objectivi-

APNU+AFC dictatorship. Now, suddenly, the GHRA has awakened from its slumber and found its voice,” the Ministry of Finance said.

The ministry further questioned the validity of the GHRA’s own struc -

ture, of which most Guyanese remain unaware, despite the association being in existence for over 40 years, being indefinitely headed by Mike McCormack.

“The GHRA itself is a questionable entity, with

a president who is apparently serving for life, and with a membership and an executive who are largely unknown if they exist.

It is unclear when the GHRA last held an annual general meeting for its membership, sub-

mitted audited financial statements and annual reports on the stewardship of its executive, and submitted its executive to a competitive election by the general membership,” the Ministry of Finance said.

ty in the public postures he takes,” the statement from the Finance Ministry read.

The ministry related that it is surprising that the GHRA has found its voice to comment on the e-ID programme, after having “maintained a stoic and stony silence” for several years as multiple instances of abuse of power and liberties were exercised under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change coalition, which was in government from 2015 to 2020.

Instances directly named by the Ministry of Finance, for which the GHRA remained silent under the APNU+AFC, included the unconscionable firing of over 2,000 Amerindian Community Support Officers and over 7,000 sugar workers, which placed workers and their families on the breadline and stifled whole communities.

Other examples included the saga with the single-source procurement of the services of the rental of the controversial Sussex Street Bond, and the single-source procurement of vehicle scales that were paid for in full but were never delivered. There was also the use of public money to purchase personal gifts for ministers, the Ministry of Finance said.

“On all of these atrocities and more, the GHRA maintained a stoic and stony silence, turning a blind eye to the lawlessness and excesses of the

President of the GHRA, Mike McCormack (Guyana Times photo)

Duo charged over assault of West Berbice teacher on $15,000 bail each

TWO men were, on Thursday, granted $15,000 bail each for allegedly assaulting Fort Wellington Secondary School teacher, Marlon Daniels, earlier this week.

Tray McPherson and Dishon Daniels appeared before

Magistrate Peter Hugh at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.

The pair denied that, on March 13, 2023, at Fort Wellington, they assaulted Daniels causing him actual bodily harm.

The men were each

placed on $15,000 bail and ordered to stay 50 feet away from the victim.

The matter was adjourned until March 30, 2023.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that, on the date in question, Daniels was verbally attacked by a fourth

form student, who cursed him while in class.

That matter was reported to the headteacher of the Region Five school. The lad later stormed out of the school and threatened to involve his uncle in the matter.

After school, Daniels

was allegedly confronted by the teen’s uncle and his friends outside the school compound.

The uncle reportedly restrained the teacher to allow the lad to beat him with an instrument. They then made good their escape.

The teacher’s face was bloody following the attack. The matter was reported to the police and the men were arrested.

Meanwhile, this publication understands that the student will have to undergo counselling.

Cemetery Road expansion progressing smoothly

WORKS on the carriageway at Cemetery Road are progressing smoothly, President, Dr Irfaan Ali said in a post on his official Facebook page.

According to the President, it is being extended into four lanes with the expectation of easing traffic congestion. The project also includes the enhancement of Independence Boulevard into three lanes.

Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, in an invited comment, said that work commenced on July 19, 2022, and a completion date of July 19, 2023, is set as per the contract.

Minister Edghill stated that 65 per cent of the project’s time has passed, so to complete the work in time, the contractor will need to add more resources.

“In order for us to finish on time, the contractor has to add additional resources,” he said.

The upgrades to the existing two-lane carriageway at Cemetery Road into four lanes were in August 2022 announced by Minister Edghill, during the launch of enhancement works for Cemetery Road and Independence Boulevard in Albouystown.

Aside from the expansion of Cemetery Road, the $1.4 billion project includes the enhancement of Independence Boulevard with the road being extended into three lanes and the establishment of a recreational promenade.

Minister Edghill said

the project aims to align the community with modernisation of the capital city and country.

“Albouystown must move from being [a] shantytown into being part of the development of the Georgetown city as this country modernises,” Edghill said.

He went on to say: “We are making this community attractive so your property value must go up. People will want to come and live in this neighbourhood. When they come and see how it looks – green spaces for children to play, safe neighbourhoods – they will want to start moving in.”

Additionally, the minister disclosed that a fence will be erected at Le Repentir Cemetery which is necessary to facilitate upgrading of the road.

Meanwhile, in Independence Boulevard the enhancement project will see the erection of a double-lane carriageway on the northern side and a single lane on the southern side, with a recreational promenade for residents and children.

“Between those two carriageways, we are going to have [a] promenade, just like we did on Lamaha Street. It will be three metres wide and about just over 10 feet (approximately three metres). In that promenade, you will have all the necessary lights and the rest of it. On both sides of the road, we are putting in concrete drains,” he added.

Works ongoing on the carriageway of Cemetery Road (Office of the President photos)

Musician Dellon Hinds makes time for ‘young’ artistes — will soon release three new dancehall projects

APART from being a policeman for the past 10 years, Dellon Hinds has been using his time on the side in the music industry to help local artistes produce their music.

He recalled that, over the years, he has worked with names in the music business such as Azariel, Bnick, Kurt Lee, Rxxdical, Determine, Junior Bee, Lil’ Million, Accidic, and Jonathan Tailor, among others.

His work includes “Nothing Nah Bother Me”

mental from Jonathan Tailor, who is regarded as one of the leading instrumental makers in the country.

“Tailor is also an artiste and an instructor in the software used to make instrumental music, which are pro-tools and FL-studios. It was the ideal instrumental for Edmondson’s song, which he had penned for seven years and was on the hunt for a suitable beat,” Hinds shared.

For the final product, some live drums were added, which were done by the Fame Band, a local group of performers led by Edmondson.

Meanwhile, Hinds announced that he will be releasing three dancehall projects by the end of the month, featuring some big names in the local scene.

for singer Kwasi ‘Ace’ Edmondson, which was said to be the leading song for this year’s Soca Monarch competition.

“It was well-received, making it one of the favorites among the patrons,” Hinds told Buzz this week.

Recalling how it started, Hinds said he reached out to the artiste via social media after purchasing the instru-

“Guyana’s most talked-about dancehall artiste, Azariel, will be featured on one of the projects, ‘Thug Lovin Riddim’. ‘When I Dead’ singer, Kurt Lee, who has been making a name for himself in both the soca and dancehall scenes in Guyana, will be featured on the Late Night Riddim,” Hinds said.

Azariel won Dancehall Artiste of the Year in 2022 from Dem Rock Music Award, a Guyanese-owned company based in the United States of America.

Some of the other local artistes who will also be

Continued on page 17

Musician Dellon Hinds

Policeman Dellon Hinds has been making a valuable contribution to the local music industry

Musician Dellon...

From page 16

featured include Roach, Accidic, Common, and King Mandela.

Hinds’ music engineer, Adrian Johnson, who is a household name locally and abroad, has been mixing and mastering all his music projects for the past three years.

With the assistance of

AJ, he was able to launch a teenager project, which features young artistes between the ages of 13 and 18.

The recording, mixing and mastering will be done by Legendary Records, while distribution and publishing will be done by Dellon Entertainment.

promoter says ‘artiste after artiste’ will be on stage

Non-stop partying at ‘Clash of the Titans’ tomorrow night —

By Telesha Ramnarine

‘CLASH of the Titans’, a massive chutney show that will bring the Guyana National Stadium alive tomorrow night, promises to be the best and biggest one yet, according to promoter Mahendra Ramkellawan, who has been at the helm of Fire Fest Productions out of New York.

The March 18 show, which will feature a whopping 45 artistes from several countries, has been in the works for some time now. It is returning to the local entertainment scene after about seven years.

“Preparations are coming good. We will blow away everybody in Guyana and around the world,” Ramkellawan has said.

In an interview with Buzz this week, he recalled how previously, the show would only feature artistes from Guyana and Trinidad.

“Now, we are bringing artistes from around the world; like we have Kanchan’s daughter [who] is coming from India,” he shared.

A band from Holland will be performing for the first time, along with those from Suriname, Canada, and New York. All of the popular artistes from Trinidad and Tobago, including Ravi and Nisha B from Karma Band, KI, and others, are set to grace the stage.

These are in addition to all

of the top artistes in Guyana who have been creating waves in the music arena, both locally and internationally.

“The show starts at 7 pm and ends at 3:30 am. It’s non-

stop; artiste after artiste will be performing on stage,” an excited Ramkellawan related adding, “All of the previous shows have been sold out, but this one is totally bigger than any one we had.”

He related that a professional order is in place in terms of the artistes’ appearance on stage. It is for this reason that he’s encouraging everyone to be early so that they do not miss the performance of their favourite singer.

“Come early so you can catch the performance of your favourite artiste,” he advised.

So far, the show has been receiving great response from people all over the country, some of whom will be coming from distant locations and will be camping out in the vicinity of

the stadium.

“I always want to be on top of my game in terms of quality entertainment, timing; starting on time, making sure the MC and everybody is on time,” Ramkellawan expressed, noting, “The good thing is that some of these companies have worked with me on events before like Traveler’s Sound System, Star Party Rental, etcetera. They know exactly what it is.”

According to him, all of the parking will be inside of the stadium.

“And the security will be amazing. The Guyana Police Force has a massive plan when it comes to security. We are over 90 per cent sure that the President will be there, so that will also boost security for us,” he added.

Hinds’ work includes “Nothing Nah Bother Me” for singer Kwasi ‘Ace’ Edmondson

Azariel will be featured on the “Thug Lovin Riddim”

The show has been heavily promoted and is coming back after seven years

Thousands are expected to flock the Guyana National Stadium for the ‘Clash of the Titans’ show tomorrow night

Promoter

Mahendra Ramkellawan

Nelsion Nurse kept creative edge alive during pandemic ‘downtime’

— deservingly wins ‘Designer of the Year’ title for Mashramani 2023

By Faith Greene

GUYANA’S Mashramani celebrations returned this year in all its grandeur with beautiful floats and costumes being displayed during the February 23 parade.

While several “big names” were behind the floats that made their way through the streets of Georgetown, one costume and fashion designer’s work, captured the attention of the judges thus earning him the title, “Designer of the Year.”

In an interview with the Buzz, Nelsion Nurse revealed that while Mashramani celebrations were postponed due to COVID-19 for two years, he did not let that hinder his creative streak.

He explained that during that time he was still creating

various costume concepts for Mashramani.

Speaking directly about the designs that were presented on the road this year, Nurse related that he paid keen attention to the various ministries’ budget presentations and what their focus would be on. He then used that knowledge to craft the various designs.

“So, it’s easy for me to put that into a concept. If education is big on technology, I’ll do a concept based on technology because I know that’s their focus for that year,” he said.

This year, the designer said he worked with four bands: Heritage, which was his band; the Ministry of Education’s band under the theme, “Wheels of Progress,” the Ministry of Natural Resources’ band under the theme, “Guyana Rising, The Potential of Eco-Friendly Mining,” and the Ministry of Public Service.

Nurse said that he began working on his designs for this year on February 7, and he and his team worked from 08:00 hours to about 23:00 hours.

He went on to note that

many days they had to push in extra hours in order to complete the costumes on time.

He told the Buzz, “I have a quote I live by. ‘Do what you love, love what you do and always deliver more than you promised.’”

In this year’s competition, the designer copped first place in the semi-costume category, the king of the band costume (Ministry of Natural Resources) and the queen of the band costume (Ministry of Education). He also won both the male and the female individual costume categories.

Additionally, his designs placed second in the non-commercial float category. Further, Nurse took the first, second and third positions for the full costume in the small band category and placed third in the full costume, medium band category While the Mashramani season is over, he noted that he has already started to mentally prepare for next year’s events. Nurse noted that it will be hard work but he is ready and excited for the 2024 season following the grand return of Mashramani this year.

Nelsion Nurse Nelsion wearing one of his designs on Mash Day (Amanda Richards photo)

One of his creations for the Ministry of Education (Amanda Richards photo)

A section of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ band (Photo sourced from the ministry’s Facebook page)

More activities on the cards for Rupununi Rodeo 2023

female vaquero.

“Other than the regular beer run and watermelon eating, we’re going to have additional activities for the spectators like a dancehall competition,” she also noted.

Labelled as “one of the biggest events” not only in the region but in the whole country, Kenyon stated that every year they anticipate a bigger “turnout.”

park with a ferris wheel.

One must not forget the pleasant aroma of appetizing foods from various cultures, along with fusion of Bra -

zilian and Guyanese music, which creates the perfect setting for many “rodeo lovers.”

Kenyon expressed gratitude to the sponsors, es -

pecially the government, who she explained provides them with year-round support.

THE highly anticipated Rupununi Rodeo is all set for the upcoming Easter weekend and will include a number of new attractions.

Patrons of all ages will be in for a treat when they flock Lethem, Region Nine, for the event.

According to the organisers, it will be “ram-packed”

with activities for both tourists and locals.

Vice-Chair of the Rupununi Livestock Producers Association (RLPA), Michelle Kenyon, recently told Buzz that patrons are in for a blast especially with the introduction of new activities, which include a competition for the best dressed male and

Dozens of persons from across Guyana, particularly coastal communities, attend the widely-loved spectacle in the savannah area which is located near the Guyana-Brazil border.

Although the focus of spectators naturally shift to the risky bull riding competition and the bareback bronco, the rodeo is much more than vaqueros, cows and horses.

The Rupununi Rodeo usually offers a wide range of attractions, including a play

Spice sends tongues wagging with baby bump photo

DANCEHALL artiste Spice has returned from her social media hiatus and she apparently has company --- the ‘Queen of Dancehall’ is sporting a baby bump.

Posing in a gorgeous tulle blue dress, which exposed a burgeoning stomach, Spice whose real name is Grace Hamilton captioned the post “God has been good to me”.

And while her comments section was immediately flooded with messages of congratulations from many followers there were those who expressed their doubts that Spice was actually pregnant.

“Bwoy due to how Spice love trick we, mi a wonder if a one music video this fa,” one user commented.

“Mi cya bada enuh. Spice a 1 big drama, congrats if it real tho,” another commented.

These comments are no attempt to sour what is generally a celebratory moment but are warranted. Spice has built a reputation of using pranks to engage her fans.

In 2018, she posted a photo of her with lighter skin, which sent tongues wagging that the artiste who has always expressed her pride in her black skin, was now bleaching it. For that stint, she birthed the song Black Hypocrisy.

She later revealed that she was airbrushed to appear ‘caucasian’ for a music video for the track, which highlighted colourism.

Spice has also reportedly broken up with her boyfriend of two years, American cinematographer, Justin Budd, in August 2022.

“Me love if you want man fi control yuh, mek you no go deh wid him?” she asked fans who were curious about

the breakup in an Instagram Live video.

In November last year, she was reportedly hospitalised after developing sepsis. The usually interactive Spice has since been mainly quiet on Instagram.

Spice, who is 40 years old, is a mother to two children, a 16-year-old son, Nicholas Lall Jr, and a 12-year-old daughter Nicholatoy. (Loop News)

Flaskback: A participant in the Boys Under-12 Calf Riding Competition in action at Rupununi Rodeo 2019 (Delano Williams photo)

What is dancehall queen Spice cooking up now? (Photo: via Instagram/@spiceofficial)

West Indies...

From page 28

having scored twin tons against the Leewards and, arguably the best batter in the tournament, looked in sublime form and got off the mark with a delicate flick for four as Beaton strayed on his legs.

The elegant left-hander, who turned 34 last month, cut Beaton for four before executing an imperious ‘Brian Lara like’ extra cover drive and the approximately 85 fans in the stands would have gotten their $20 entrance fee worth from that shot alone.

Solozano, who reached the boundary twice in his patient 15 from 61 balls, failed to cover the line of the ball and a played a loose drive off Paul and had his off-stump disturbed at 51-2 after the 50 was posted in 20 overs.

But the fired-up Beaton was bowling with genuine pace and aimed some fast short ball at Bravo’s rib-cage…not even the great Lara enjoyed balls in that area…and Bravo didn’t either; fending the ball over the head of Matthew Nandu at short-leg.

Nandu dived full length to his left to take a stupendous catch and the ‘big fish’ was

caught for 12 at 59-3.

Mohammed’s first three scoring shots were boundaries off Paul.

Mohammed was then bowled by Nial Smith’s ‘noball’ on 15, but swivelled and disdainfully pulled the next ball for four as Smith pounded it in short.

At Lunch the score was 81-4 and after the interval Jud Goolie stroked Permaul gloriously past cover and back past him for boundaries, but like so many modern West Indian batters, he tried to pull one from Paul that ‘got big’ on him and lobbed a catch to mid-off when well set on 22 at 117-5

When Tion Webster was caught and bowled by Permaul for duck at 150-6, the last four wickets, which included Mohammed, who was ninth out, fell for 10 runs.

Beaton had the wickets of Brian Charles (0) gloving a wicked bouncer to the ‘keeper’ as he took evasive action, Mohammed who edged a catch to the Keeper and last man Justin Manick (0) LBW, while Permaul bowled Khan (2).

West Indies Championship – 2nd day, 3rd round

From page 28

24, Devon Thomas 20, Hayden Walsh Jr 20; Dominic Drakes 3-38, Chaim Holder 2-7, Jair McAllister 2-36, Shamar Springer 2-48) and 13 without loss.

At the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, Guyana:

WINDWARD IS -

LANDS VOLCANOES

217 (Alick Athanaze 81, Justin Greaves 50, Tevyn Walcott 22; Derval Green

11-3-30-5, Nicholson

Gordon 2-26, Jamie Merchant 2-39) and 298 (Alick Athanaze 97, Kavem Hodge 82, Justin Greaves 33, Sunil Ambris 23; Patrick Harty 3-62, Marquino Mindley 2-44, Nicholson Gordon 2-59).

JAMAICA SCORPIONS 101 (Derval Green 33, Jamie Merchant 24; Justin Greaves 10.3-4-346, Shermon Lewis 2-29, Ryan John 2-38) .

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad:

GUYANA HARPY

EAGLES 324 (Kevin Sinclair 69, Leon Johnson 62, Anthony Bramble 56, Keemo Paul 46, Kemol Savory 44; Imran Khan 4-86, Bryan Charles 3-85, Uthman Muhammad 2-31) and 96 for three (Kemol Savory 34 not out, Matthew Nandu 33).

TRINIDAD & TO -

BAGO RED FORCE 160 (Jason Mohammed 50, Jyd Goolie 22; Ronsford Beaton 4-31, Veerasammy Permaul 3-36, Keemo Paul 3-37).

Lewis Hamilton sure he'll claim F1 wins again but 'it's going to take some time'

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia

-- Lewis Hamilton is convinced he will win races again in Formula One but says he knew his Mercedes team was in trouble as soon as he set eyes on its new car this year.

Hamilton finished fifth at the opening race of the season in Bahrain after Mercedes emerged from preseason testing with the fourth fastest car.

After the first race two weeks ago, Hamilton said his team hadn't listened to his feedback on what changes needed to be made to the car over the winter, although he said on Thursday that those comments were "not the best choice of words".

With rivals Red Bull winning by such a large margin in Bahrain, it raised the question of whether Hamilton, who is 38 years old and yet to sign a new Mercedes contract beyond the end of this year, would ever be in a position to win again in F1.

Asked exactly that ahead of this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton answered: "I will win again. It's just going to take some time.

Hamilton, who was 50

RACING TIPS

seconds adrift of Verstappen by the chequered flag in Bahrain, said he had prepared himself to be off the pace at the start of the year but had not anticipated such a large gap to the front.

"[We knew] we probably wouldn't hit the ground straightaway at the front, but we thought should be there or thereabouts, so it was a bit of a shock when that wasn't the case," he said.

"I knew that we weren't in the right place when we saw the car for the first time, it looked so different to that

of our competitors. It's always nerve-wracking in that moment."

Hamilton insists he is not considering leaving Mercedes due to its recent struggles, but called on the team to make bold decisions going forward in order to return to the front.

"Of course, there are

times you're not in agreement with certain team members but what's important is we continue to communicate, we continue to pull together," he said. "I still have 100 percent belief in this team. It is my family and I've been here a long time so I don't plan on going anywhere else.

"We all need a kick, we

all need to get on. The proof is in the pudding, we've seen where the performance is and how people are extracting the performance and we've got to now start making some bold decisions, some big moves in order to close the gap to these guys [Red Bull] otherwise they will run away with it probably this year unless

Ferrari stop them. "We'll wait and see. Hopefully at some point during the year we're hopeful we might be able to close the gap but at that point it will probably be too late in terms of fighting for a championship but we can still turn some heads hopefully."

Lewis Hamilton finished fifth in Bahrain on March 5 with team mate George Russell seventh while champions Red Bull won one-two with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

| Photo Credit: Getty Images

India wary of tight turnaround for WTC final after IPL

(REUTERS)-India will monitor the workload of their players in the build-up to the World Test Championship final against Australia, says captain Rohit Sharma, with some set to play key roles with their teams in the IPL.

Rohit, whose side sealed a 2-1 homes series victory over Australia to qualify for the WTC title clash, will also explore the possibility of sending some players to the UK earlier than scheduled to prepare for the match.

The IPL kicks off on March 31 and the final is scheduled for May 28, while the WTC decider begins at

The Oval on June 7.

"I think it's quite critical for us," Rohit said. "We're going to keep in constant touch with all our players who are going to be part of that final and to monitor their workload and what's happening with them."

India pacers Mohammed Siraj (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans) and Umesh Yadav (Kolkata Knight Riders) are among those expected to be heavily involved in the domestic Twenty20 competition Rohit said India would make sure the trio were ready for the WTC final.

"We're sending some (red) Duke balls to all fast bowlers as well," Rohit said.

"I believe in preparation and it's again going to be key for us. Around May 21,

there will be six teams who will possibly be out of the IPL playoffs, so whichever

players are available, we'll try get them to the UK as early as possible."

India's success against Australia came on turning tracks but Rohit expects a different ball game at a neutral venue.

"Both teams have played lot of cricket in that part of the world and I won't say it'll be alien conditions," Rohit said.

"But yes, compared to what it's like playing India in India or Australia in Australia, it's not going to be like that, it'll be slightly different. I'm sure both teams will prepare for it."

NBA star Ja Morant suspended for eight games without pay

MEMPHIS Grizzlies guard

Ja Morant has been suspended for eight games without pay by the NBA after a video showed him holding a gun in a Colorado nightclub.

The All-Star, 23, was in an intoxicated state and his conduct was "detrimental to the league", the NBA said.

Morant apologised following the live Instagram broadcast on 4 March.

"I don't condone any type of violence, but I take full responsibility for my actions. I made a bad mistake," he told ESPN.

Morant has missed five games while the NBA investigated the incident and, as the suspension is backdated,he can return against the Dallas Mavericks on 21 March.

"I feel like in the past we didn't know what was at stake," said Morant.

"And now finally me having that time to realise everything, have that time alone, I realise that now.

"I realise what I have to lose and, for us as a group, what we have to lose."

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who met with Morant in New York on Wednesday, said his conduct was "irresponsible, reckless and potentially very danger-

ous".

"It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him," said Silver.

"He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behaviour.

"Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court."

Bucks become first team to reach NBA play-offs

It is legal to carry a gun in Colorado with some exceptions, including possession while under the influence of alcohol.

Glendale Police Depart-

ment did not find enough evidence to charge anyone for a crime.

The incident occurred hours after the Grizzlies lost 113-97 to the Denver Nuggets. Morant has not played since, while the NBA investigated.

An NBA statement read:

"Based on the information obtained during the investigation, the league did not conclude that the gun at issue belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period.

"The investigation also did not find that Morant possessed the gun while traveling with the team or in any NBA facility, and the Colorado authorities did not find sufficient cause to charge Morant with a crime."(BBC Sport)

With just over a week between the IPL final and World Test Championship showpiece in London, India will closely monitor players that go deep in the T20 tournament

Ja Morant was drafted second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA draft

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says 'way more' football is needed after re-election

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says there is a need for "way more" football after being re-elected until 2027.

World football's governing body has this week announced an expanded 2026 World Cup and unveiled a new 32-team Club World Cup.

But the expansion of the football calendar has been criticised by player unions and La Liga.

"When I hear there is too much football, yes, maybe in some places, but not everywhere," said Infantino.

"In fact, in most parts of the world there is not enough football played.

"We need way more and not less competitions, we want football to develop worldwide.

"We are discussing organising a women's Club World Cup and a Fifa World Series in March every two years, when teams are free from playing qualifiers."

The 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, will see the number of teams increase from 32 to 48.

The tournament will have 104 matches rather

than a projected 80, after Fifa changed a proposed format of 16 three-team groups to 12 groups of four.

There will also be a new last-32 round and countries will have to play eight matches to win the tournament, compared to seven at the 2022 World Cup.

The 32-team Club World Cup will take place every four years from June 2025.

Players union Fifpro and the Professional Footballers' Association have raised concerns about the demands on players, while La Liga said Fifa's plans showed a "complete disregard" for the football community.

'It might be necessary to introduce a salary cap' Infantino, who was re-elected at the 73rd Fifa Congress in Kigali, Rwanda on Thursday, also discussed the possibility of bringing a salary cap into football.

"We must improve our regulations and the Fifa statutes," he said.

"We will continue to evolve our good governance principles and look at the transfer system, and maybe have a discussion to improve transparency of transfer fees and salaries.

"It might be necessary to

introduce a cap, we have to think how we can do that. We will look at it with all stakeholders and see what we can do."

Speaking about the women's game in his closing remarks, Infantino also said the total prize money for the 2023 Women's World Cup will be $150m (£124.3m) compared to $15m (£12.4m) in 2015.

Last year's men's World Cup in Qatar had a total prize fund of $440m (£364.7m).

"Our mission will be able to have equality in payments for 2026 men's and 2027 women's World Cups," Infantino said.

The 52-year-old succeeded Sepp Blatter as Fifa president in 2016, retaining

the role in 2019 and has been re-elected unopposed for another four-year term.

During Infantino's time in charge, Fifa has looked into staging the World Cup every two years in a concept that has faced criticism from federations, leagues and players.

There was also controversy at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when the build up to the tournament was dominated by the country's treatment of migrant workers, along with its stance on same-sex relationships and its human rights record.

A number of European nations planned to wear a OneLove armband during matches to promote diversity and inclusion but did not do so because of possible

sanctions from Fifa.

"It is an incredible honour and privilege, and a great responsibility," said Infantino following his re-election.

"I promise to continue serving Fifa and football around the world.

"To those that love me, and I know there are many, and those who hate me ... I love you all."

Time to 'walk the walk' on human rights

The congress also included a video address by Michael Llamas, chairperson of the Fifa sub-committee on human rights and social responsibility, who said Fifa was committed to assessing the human rights legacy of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Human rights organisations claimed thousands of migrant workers had died in Qatar since the country was awarded the World Cup but Qatari authorities denied this, and stressed the country was making labour reforms.

Lisa Klaveness, the head of the Norwegian Football Association, who led the calls for Fifa to address the issue, welcomed the pledge as a first step in

the process.

"The most important thing with Mr Llamas' statement today was that he did not put human rights up against football, he did not say 'we are not the Red Cross'," Klaveness told BBC Sport.

"He established human rights as something fundamental that should be embedded in everything we do. Of course then you have to walk the walk but it was very important that he talked the talk today."

Human rights organisation Amnesty International welcomed Fifa's pledge but said workers had "already waited far too long for justice".

"Any review must focus on exactly how Fifa will ensure that workers and their families are compensated for the abuses they suffered — including illegal recruitment fees that have been paid, wages that were stolen and lives that have been lost — rather than whether they intend to do so at all," said Amnesty International's head of economic and social justice Steve Cockburn. (BBC Sport).

FIFA drops Saudi sponsorship for Women’s World Cup

FIFA has dropped plans for Saudi Arabia to sponsor the 2023 Women's World Cup, says Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

It follows a backlash from co-hosts Australia and New Zealand, players and sponsors about the proposed deal.

Infantino said talks had taken place with Visit Saudi, the gulf country's tourism arm, about sponsoring the tournament.

"At the end this discussion didn't lead into a contract," he said, calling the affair "a storm in a teacup."

The Swiss official, who has been re-elected unopposed as Fifa president,

also said Fifa is aiming to have equal prize money for the men's and women's World Cup by 2027.

Infantino said he would not have seen an issue with Saudi Arabia sponsoring a World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as "Fifa is an organisation of 211 countries, for us they are all the same," and given that there is $1.5bn worth of trade between Australia and Saudi Arabia every year.

"This doesn't seem to be a problem," he said. "But between a global organisation like Fifa and Visit Saudi this would have been an issue. There is a double standard here, which I really don't understand.

"There is no issue and no contract. There are discussions and of course we want to see how we can involve Saudi sponsors in women's football generally, how we can involve Saudi sponsors in men football, or we can involve Qatari sponsors in women's football and men's football, and all other sponsors from all over the world."

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said: "We welcome clarification from Fifa regarding Visit Saudi."Equality, diversity and inclusion are really deep commitments for Football Australia and we'll continue to work hard with Fifa to ensure the

Women's World Cup is shaped in this light, and it is a historic event for our nation, showcasing the world's greatest female players and advancing the game globally."

Fifa targets equal prize money for 2027.

The question of prize money was brought up by Infantino as part of a threestep plan for the women's game.

Women's World Cup prize money is rising to £126m for this year's tournament, from £25m in 2019. However, at the men's World Cup last year in Qatar the prize money on offer totalled £365m.

The money for the 2027 Women's World Cup would match the 2026 men's tournament in Canada, United States and Mexico, Infantino said.

Along with prize money in the three-step plan announced by Infantino on Thursday, another will be equal conditions and services, such as accommodation and flights, for all men and women playing at World Cups.

Step three is to have pay parity by the next men's and women's World Cup in 2026 and 2027, which Infantino said will be the "most complicated", as he also criticised

broadcasters and sponsors for offering much less financially for the women's tournament compared to the men's.

World players' union Fifpro welcomed Infantino's comments on equal pay, saying: "The progress announced today demonstrates the intent of the players and Fifa to work proactively towards greater equity and equality for the industry."

The 2023 Women's World Cup, which will be the first to feature 32 teams, runs from 20 July to 20 August and will be broadcast on the BBC and ITV in the United Kingdom.(BBC Sport)

Gianni Infantino was re-elected at the 73rd Fifa congress in Kigali, Rwanda

Former Guyana wicket-keeper Sheik Mohamed donates uniforms to Cold Fusion

FORMER

Guyana wicket-keeper/batsman, Sheik Mohamed, owner and CEO of Star Sports, Award and Trophies of Logwood, Enmore, East Coast, Demerara has contributed 13 coloured cricket uniforms for Cold Fusion Cricket Club of Zeelugt, East Bank, Essequibo.

The club was formed in 2017 under the guidance of former Superintendent of the Guyana Police Force, Boodnarine Persaud, who has since retired. At a simple ceremony, held recently, Tavendra Mangra and Keon Alexander, captain and vicecaptain of Cold Fusion, were thankful for the uniforms and wished Mohamed and the “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana” programme well.

The initiative is the brainchild of Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) executive member Anil Beharry and Kishan Das of the USA. According to Beharry and Das, their aim is to keep youths off the streets by getting them engaged in sports.

Total cricket-related items received so far: $310 000 in cash, 13 coloured cricket uniforms, two trophies, 14 cricket boots, 23 pairs of batting pads, 27 cricket bats, 21 pairs of batting gloves, 21 thigh pads, one pair of wicket-keeping pad, four arm guards, two groin guards, six cricket bags and four helmets. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik

MCYS & NSC 'Learn to Swim' programme begins this June

THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), in partnership with the National Sports Commission (NSC), will conduct a ‘Learn to Swim’ programme every Saturday during the month of June at the Colgrain Swimming Pool, Camp Street, Georgetown.

This was disclosed by an official press release. The programme will run from 16:00hrs-17:00hrs and 17:00hrs-18:00hrs respectively during the aforementioned period.

Mohamed.

To date, 52 young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefitted from three junior gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 21 bats, two groin guards, four helmets, 19 pairs of cricket shoes, 13 pairs of batting pads, two thigh pads, one bat rubber and 19 pairs of batting gloves.

In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefitted from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees

and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, Cold Fusion Cricket Club 13 uniforms while RHCCCC received two, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board and the Town of Lethem were also beneficiaries.

Cricket-related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and

promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify talent. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit.

Distribution will continue. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.

Rain delays the start of Windies era of ‘hope’ – 1st ODI

EAST LONDON, (CMC) – West Indies will have to wait a bit longer to start a “new era” of leadership under Shai Hope after persistent rain forced the first One-day International against hosts, South Africa, to be abandoned without a ball being bowled on Thursday.

The day-night match

was called off at 4:30 p.m. local time (10:30

a.m. East Caribbean Time), about 3-1/2 hours after the scheduled start, without a toss being spun, and no hope of play at Buffalo Park.

Rain and clouds dominated all day long at the ground, which was staging its first ODI in six years, and though there were a few brief

spells when the rain stopped, they never lasted long enough for the groundstaff to carry out substantial mopping-up operations.

The teams will return to the venue for the second ODI on Saturday, when the forecast appears far more promising. The third and final ODI of the series will be next Tuesday in Potchef-

stroom.

The series is valuable to both sides as they look ahead to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India later this year.

Neither has yet qualified and both face the prospect of going through a qualification tournament in June and July in Zimbabwe.

Additionally, the release disclosed that the yearly Easter Vacation Swimming Programme will ensue from April 1st-15th at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal and the Colgrain Swimming Pool. Correspondingly, swimming lessons during the above-mentioned identical window will also be conducted at the Watooka Swimming Pool, Linden and at the Albion Estate Pool, East Berbice.

In-person and online registration for the Easter Swimming Programme commenced yesterday, and will conclude on March 26th. The link for online registration, which can also be found on the MCYS’s website, is https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-1s7HRb01M-rAjgqTkT2N27DYpm19OZHnT5t299guekf.

A replica of the child’s or children’s birth certificates must be presented by the parents or guardians upon in-person registration. The programme is for children aged 6-18.

Supplementary information can be ascertained from the Colgrain Swimming Pool and the National Aquatic Centre on telephone numbers 226-0387 and 222-1306, respectively, from 08:30hrs – 16:00hrs. Details can also be garnered from swimming coach, Paul Mahaica, via telephone number 615-5714. To guarantee participation, immediate registration is essential.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Friday March 17, 2023)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Christchurch, NZ, 1992

(2) Ritchie Richardson & Kepler Wessels

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which WI player has contested most ODIs against SA to date?

(2) Which SA has played most ODIs against the WI to date? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Mangra, Alexander, and Beharry pose with one of the uniforms

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport; Charles Ramson Jr. (Delano Williams photo)

Orlando Softball Cup bowls off today

…Regal Legends on mission to win maiden title

By Frederick Halley, in Florida

AFTER COVID-19 forced the organisers to abandon the staging of the Orlando Softball Cup in 2021, excitement is at fever pitch for the highly-anticipated three-day tournament which bowls off today with several preliminary round matches in the Open, Masters Over-40 and Legends Over-50 categories.

The draw was set to be held last night at the Legends Resto and Lounge, International Drive, Orlando, while the tournament climaxes on Sunday with the finals in all three categories.

Guyana is being represented by Regal Legends and Trophy Stall Lions in the Legends Over-50 category, two teams who have had a long history of rivalries over the years prior to the advent of the Over-50 division.

Before being rebranded Trophy Stall Lions, the then Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFCA) defeated Regal Masters in the final of the Over-45 category in Orlando in 2018.

GFSCA’s victory was engineered by a brilliant century from Essequibian, Ramesh Deonarine, who has since switched allegiance and is donning Regal Legends colours.

Another player of note, who was also part of the star-studded GFSCA’s XI, was Uniss Yusuf, the hard-hitting opener. Like Deonarine, he is also a permanent fixture in the Regal Legends outfit. Veteran Wayne Jones, who represented the GFSCA Over-50 Legends in Orlando in 2018 and subsequently skippered Mike’s Wellman,

joined Regal Legends last year following the death of owner Lakhram “Mike” Singh and the subsequent exit of the teams in international tournaments.

According to Regal Legends long-standing captain, Mahendra “Anil” Hardyal, his team is on a mission to win their maiden title in Orlando and he’s confident of lifting the only trophy that has eluded the well-organised Guyana unit.

Regal Legends have won in New York, Fort Lauderdale and in Guyana but is yet to add the Orlando Cup to their

bulging collection and Hardyal is eager for his charges to hit the ground running when the tournament bowls off today.

Hardyal pointed out that preparations for the tournament have been good and “we are ready to compete against any team. We know that Regal Legends are being targeted but we are prepared for the challenge ahead.”

Regal Legends registered a two-wicket victory in last year’s final of the Prime Minister T20 Softball tournament over the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL), played at the Guyana National Stadium with defeat staring them in the face. Set 157 for victory, they were in dire straits at 104 for eight in the 16th over before the heroics from Hardyal and Rudolph “Gussy” Baker ensured they maintained their supremacy.

Apart from the two Guyanese contingent, several teams from the hosts, Canada, Fort Lauderdale and New York will be vying for honours and three days of exciting softball cricket is anticipated.

Teenaged trio invited to emerging players training camp

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Teenagers Trishan Holder, Zaida James, and Djenaba Joseph are among 15 players that Cricket West Indies have invited for a West Indies Women’s Emerging Players high-performance camp from March 16 to 30 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) .

The trio was part of the West Indies Women’s Under-19 team that played in the ICC Women’s Youth Twenty20 World Cup this past January in South Africa, where they also played in the West Indies Women’s senior team at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup a few weeks later.

CWI high-performance manager Graeme West said the camp was geared towards players aged 25 and under as

German’s Restaurant supports Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic

part of developing the pool of women’s talent.

“The camp will offer activities and support across technical, tactical, physical, mental, and personal development areas with individualised programmes following each player’s involvement in the senior and Under-19 sides in the last six months,” he said in a CWI news release.

“We are looking to increase our investment in our most talented young female players, and the introduction of an Academy programme later in the year will provide a further 15 players with fulltime support, training, and competitive opportunities as they make their way through the CWI high-performance pathway.”

Other players with international experience who will

be participating are allrounders Jannilea Glasgow, Kaysia Shultz, Sheneta Grimmond, Qiana Joseph, and Shabika Gajnabi.

Senior team players Cherry-Ann Fraser and Mandy Mangru will also be attending as part of their rehabilitation work from injury.

“The camp represents an opportunity to prepare some of the players that will be strong contenders for Academy places, while sharpening the skills of several players that have already performed on the international stage at the senior level,” West added.

“These players will benefit from a fortnight of intensive work leading into a busy summer schedule with regional tournaments and international series planned.”

“We also have Cher -

ry-Ann Fraser and Mandy Mangru who will come in for rehab from injuries that have held up their progress, so we hope to help them along their way with the intention that they will be fit for the senior women’s regional tournaments in May.”

The players will work under the guidance of head coach of the West Indies Women’s Under 19s programme, Steve Liburd.

Squad:

Earnisha Fontaine, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannilea Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenba Joseph, Qiana Joseph, Ashmini Munisar, Abini St Jean, Shalini Samaroo, Shunelle Sawh, Kaysia Schultz, Steffie Soogrim, Kate Wilmott.

ONE of Guyana’s premier food establishments with over 50 years of service yesterday aligned its brand to Rawle Toney 3X3 Classic.

The 16-team tournament set for March 18 - 19 at the Burnham Basketball Court, according to organiser Rawle Toney, will mark the competition’s third installation.

Toney told the media that gathered at the German’s Restaurant Georgetown location, that the tournament is fully funded by corporate Guyana.

Toney highlighted that it was German’s Restaurant proprietor, Clinton Urling, who reached out and offered his support.

“It was really good to know that there was someone who’s paying attention and seeing my effort to bring quality basketball to Guyana and providing a platform for our players,” Toney said.

The tournament’s organiser further noted, “It’s because of businesses like German’s Restaurant and people in the corporate community like Clinton Urling, that I’m able to execute this event, even with all the challenges faced, to pull it off.”

Meanwhile, Urling said supporting the tournament was an easy decision, given the fact it brings familiarity to a format of basketball that’s not common in Guyana. “I didn’t know about 3X3 basketball until now, and I didn’t even know that we have a national team in the format. But apart from that, I think it's important that corporate Guyana supports sports in the country. As you know, I’ve been doing my part in other disciplines, but we need more companies supporting events like the Rawle Toney 3x3 and basketball in Guyana,” Urling noted.

The former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee Chairman said sports is a big business, and companies in Guyana in the Oil and Gas industry should align their brand with federations and associations that are properly functioning and those that can be held accountable.

Urling lamented that German’s Restaurant is pleased to support the Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic and considers it an initiative that they will continue to support.

Ramesh Deonarine Mahendra Hardyal

German’s Restaurant proprietor, Clinton Urling (right), makes a presentation to Rawle Toney ahead of the March 18-19 3X3 Classic

West Indies Championship

Beaton (4-31) Paul (3-37) & Permaul (3-36) put Guyana in control

By Sean Devers in Trinidad

ON another extremely hot day which resulted in several bush fires in South Trinidad, the Guyana Harpy Eagles were 96-3 in their second innings of the third round West Indies Championship match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force when the second day’s play ended yesterday at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, a venue 30.8 miles from Port-of-Spain.

Leaders Guyana enjoys an overall lead of 260 runs with seven wickets in hand going into the penultimate day today.

The Red Force were dismissed for 160 with only Jason Mohammed, who made 50 from 103 balls with seven fours, and Jud Goolie (22) were the only batters to reach 20 as they shared in a 58-run fourth wicket stand.

Ronsford Beaton, who bowled with plenty of hostility, had 4-31 while Kemo Paul and Veerasammy Permaul had three wickets each for Guyana, who did not enforce the follow-on, enjoying a lead of 164-runs.

However, once again Guyana lost two early wickets to be 31-1 as Tevin Imlach (3) skied an upper cut high to point and for the second time in the game Daren Bravo removed debutant Kevlon Anderson (15).

Nandu and Savory added 49 to take the score to 80 before Imran Khan removed Nandu for 34 from 65 balls with four fours while Savory (34) and Skipper Leon Johnson (9) saw Guyana to close.

Earlier, resuming overnight on 7-0 in reply to Guyana’s 324, Jeremy Solozano and Keggan Simmons batted carefully on a track with some bounce.

With the score on 38, Simmons, who faced 58 balls for his 15, edged Paul to second slip as the batters were never allowed to score freely on the fast outfield.

Daren Bravo, the leading run-scorer in the tournament,

GFF Blue Water Under-15 girls’ league kicks off in Berbice

Continued on page 22

West Indies Championship – 2nd day, 3rd round summarised scores

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Summarised scores at the close on the second day of the third round of matches in the West Indies Championship on Thursday.

At Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad:

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Blue Water U-15 Girls’ Development League was launched on Wednesday in New Amsterdam, Berbice with an impressive match between Cougars Football Club and Vryman’s Erven Secondary School.

Cougars Football Club won 2 - 0 at the Scott School Ground in

New Amsterdam thanks to goals by Annalisa Hinds and Xianna Castello. The match was played before cheering teammates, classmates, parents and supporters.

Women’s Football Association (WFA) president, Andrea Johnson, congratulated both teams.

She added: “WFA and GFF will continue to work assiduously

together to have tournaments that will help foster our young girls and women in football so they can become better individuals in our society.”

So far, six secondary schools in New Amsterdam have signed up for the development league, which is also being played in Georgetown, Linden and the

GFF president Wayne Forde and the Council are committed to elevating women’s football through the identification of new talent and creation of strategic developmental programmes, including the Blue Water U-15 Girls’ Development League.

BARBADOS PRIDE 322 (Shane Dowrich 124 not out, Chaim Holder 43, Kevin Wickham 41, Zachary McCaskie 26, Jonathan Drakes 22, Dominic Drakes 22; Rahkeem Cornwall 24-7-50-6, Sheeno Berridge 2-39) and 78 (Zachary McCaskie 29, Shayne Moseley 27; Rahkeem Cornwall 7.2-119-5, Devon Thomas 9-1-22-5).

LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES 154 (Jahmar Hamilton 30, Jeremiah Louis 24, Colin Archibald

Continued on page 22

LQ Pacer Ronsford Beaton about to dismiss Daren Bravo for 15 on his way to 4-32

Rupununi.

Cougars football team Vryman's Erven football team