Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 17-10-2022

1,000 men to be deployed

- to tackle ‘problems’ facing boys, young men across Guyana

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali on Sunday revealed that a new programme which he will be heading will bring together some 1,000 men from across Guyana to address the

problems facing boys and young men.

The Head of State made this disclosure during a Youman Nabi programme at the Leguan Masjid.

Being the first time that

he has spoken about this initiative, Dr. Ali said that the mission of the par ticipants will be to work to lift up those who are emotionally and socially affected, while also bring

ing positive living to all communities.

While addressing the gathering, President Ali noted that this initiative will also see men work ing to eradicate violence,

to make men and boys good and responsible men within society.

“So, 1,000 men will be deployed all across this country, from the business community and

every aspect. And we are going to fully integrate every single young person into the economic and social life of our country,” he said.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali flicked the switch to illuminate the ‘National Diya’ at Rahaman’s Park, Houston, East Bank Demerara on Sunday night. The President, in his message on the occasion, emphasised love for humanity, peace, unity, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair, and unity over division. The event was organised by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (Hindus for Selfless Service) (Adrian Narine photos)

Expressions of Interest out for 30,000 bpd oil refinery in Berbice

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali

PRESIDENT, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said the Govern ment of Guyana has invit ed Expressions of Interest (EoI) for the establishment of an oil refinery in Region Six.

President Ali made this announcement while speak ing at the opening of the 16th Berbice Exposition and Trade Fair at the Albion Sports Complex, Corentyne, Ber bice, on Friday evening.

“As I speak to you today, we are about to launch a new ad for requests for proposals, and that request for proposals is for a new 30,000-barrel [per day] refinery for national security to be built in Guy ana, here in Region Six.”

He said the government will be receiving those sub missions within two months from those who are interested in investing in the refinery.

Such a development will create enormous opportuni ties in the area of transport and logistics services and the construction and rental indus try that will bring tremendous benefits to the people of the region, the head of state highlighted.

“In all of this, Region Six is well positioned to be the centrepiece for growth and development,” President Ali emphasised.

Even as the PPP/C gov ernment is pursuing these large investments aimed at stimulating the local econ omy, it is investing in large projects to support these endeavours.

President Ali said the administration is working on an aggressive programme not only to construct a new Berbice highway, but also to implement other projects that support the national develop mental trajectory.

He said that the govern ment is currently evaluating the need for a new Berbice River Bridge that will not hinder development of the Berbice River.

“That will allow devel opment on both sides of the Berbice River like we have in the Demerara River. We are contemplating that and while we are contemplating that, we are at the stage of planning the work for the new highway all the way to Moleson Creek in prepara tion for the new Corentyne River Bridge.”

Other plans for Region Six include the develop ment of a new economic hub at Palmyra. The area will be equipped with a commercial zone, hotels and shopping malls and a national stadium. Plans are also in train to develop a municipal airport and to establish a national training institution to equip persons in the oil and gas and hos pitality sectors. Housing and Water Minister, Col lin Croal; Minister within the Ministry, Susan Rod rigues; Public Works Min ister Bishop Juan Edghill and Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha were also in attendance. (DPI)

President announces programme to tackle ‘problems’ facing boys, young men

at the Leguan Masjid.

Being the first time that he has spoken about this initiative, Dr. Ali said that the mission of the partici pants will be to work to lift up those who are emotion ally and socially affected, while also bringing positive living to all communities.

While addressing the gathering, President Ali noted that this initiative

that they will also provide training for those persons who may require it, so that they can acquire skills and access various job oppor tunities.

He highlighted that with such a plan, there will be no excuse for men to ne glect their responsibilities to their families and society at large.

This new programme,

network is built where boys and men can be comfort able, it can be of great help.

“Many people will say, why a President is speak ing on what they may term such a soft topic. This is not a soft topic; this is an issue that is integral to our society. This is an issue that is so immensely important to our society, that if we don’t address it, we will

President Ali while in Leguan spent, some time interacting with residents there (Office of the President photo)

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali on Sunday revealed that a new programme which he will be heading,

will bring together some 1,000 men from across Guyana to address the problems facing boys and

young men.

The Head of State made this disclosure during a Youman Nabi programme

President Ali was also briefed on roads works in the community of Good Intent (Office of the President photo)

will also see men working to eradicate violence, to make men and boys good and responsible men within society.

“So, 1,000 men will be deployed all across this country, from the business community and every as pect. And we are going to fully integrate every single young person into the eco nomic and social life of our country,” he said.

With this, he mentioned

which the president noted he will head himself, will see the coming together of senior officers of the Joint Services, religious leaders, entertainers, sportsmen and community workers among others.

While speaking about some of the issues facing men in Guyana and around the world, the President pointed out that men hard ly share their emotional thoughts, and as such, if a

not be able to stop the next generation, and stop every single aspect that brings negativity to the male pop ulation,” he said.

He added that this is a major mission that is being launched across the country that will see a number of other is sues like violence against women and children be ing addressed to make positive changes within society.

Catering consortium to be formed to supply food to oil and gas vessels

A CONSORTIUM com prising catering compa nies from across Guyana is expected to be formed soon to bid for contracts to provide meals and food supplies to floating pro duction storage and of

floading (FPSO) vessels.

This was announced by President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Sunday while he deliv ered remarks at a Youman Nabi service at the Leguan Masjid.

During this address, the

Head of State said that he instructed Minister of Nat ural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, to work on bring ing together a consortium of all major caterers in the country.

With this, he said the

consortium will participate in the bidding process to provide all the FPSOs off shore with food and food supplies.

These services are usu ally externalised, he said, adding that with companies

working together, this can change.

“We cannot operate in a mega-economy if we don’t bring together consortiums.

We bring 10 small people together; we get a medium company. We bring 10 me

dium people together, we get a large size company,” the president said.

As such, this mecha nism will be used to bring the country together as part of the One Guyana umbrella.

The President also inspected sea defence structures on the island (Office of the President photo)

APNU+AFC on a ‘wrecking exercise’ to block LGEs

GUYANA Elec tions Commission (GECOM) commis sioner Clement Ro hee has said that the opposition-nominated representatives con tinue their attempts to block the holding of Local Government Elections (LGEs) next year.

These comments were made by Rohee in a social media post where he noted that the

agents have embarked on a “wrecking exer cise” aimed at blocking GECOM’s efforts to hold LGEs in the first quarter of 2023.

He added that while LGE will not be held this year, from all indi cations, it can be held in the first quarter of next year providing that Minister of Local Gov ernment, Nigel Dhar amlall, acknowledges GECOM’s advice and

sets a date.

says Rohee

As these prepara tions are being made, he noted that the op position commissioners continue their targeted attacks on the chairper son, the chief elections officer (CEO) and the work planned for the elections.

As a result of the opposition’s efforts and claims that the CEO is incompetent, Rohee said that the CEO was compelled to return to the drawing board on nine occasions and re turn to the commission with several revisions of his work plan, which will guide the commis sion, the secretariat and staff for LGEs in 2023.

As this process reached its peak, he said that the GECOM chair was left with the option to write Minister Dharamlall concern ing the window for the holding of LGEs.

“In the circum stances, the chairman

must be commended for bringing an end to the tortuous back and forth engineered by the opposition-sponsored commissioners, whose sole objective is to frus trate any consensual agreement on an imple mentable work plan for the holding of LGEs in early 2023,” he said in the post.

As such, he men tioned that the oppo sition - APNU+AFC - appears to be work ing through their com missioners to frustrate GECOM’s commitment to holding early local government elections in 2023.

Recently, GECOM commissioner Sase Gunraj also called out the attempts by the opposition to de lay the LGEs. How ever, he noted that de spite these attempts, GECOM has already identified a timeline for the holding of the elections.

GECOM Commissioner Clement Rohee

Prime Minister joins Muslim community in Youman Nabi observance

PRIME Minister

Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Sunday joined mem bers of the Islamic community for a You man Nabi event at the Mon Repos Sunnatul

here today. It is impor tant that we teach them young; it is important that we involve our youths in the religious belief and cultural prac tices that we have in Guyana,” the PM said.

vision of a better future for all.

“As Prime Minister, ‘One Guyana’ is a con cept that I am prepared to continue working with all Guyanese to realise, especially at the

in unity, and don’t be divided,” he said.

The Prime Minister, the release stated, also noted that the Islamic community is wellknown for its chari table efforts, and that

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips speaking at the event on Sunday (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

the government will continue to support and collaborate with the community.

Youman Nabi com memorates the birth

and death anniversa ries of Islam’s Holy Prophet, Muham mad, whose teachings emphasise peace and unity.

A section of the gathering at the religious function at the Mon Repos Sunnatul Jamaat (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

Jamaat, on the East Coast of Demerara.

According to a re lease, the Prime Min ister, in remarks to the gathering, emphasised the importance of re ligious tolerance, and said that the govern ment will continue to respect religious rights.

“As a government, we will continue to up hold the Constitution of Guyana, and to support and defend your rights as Muslims to continue the practise of your re ligion here in Guyana in a safe and secure environment,” he said.

The Prime Minister also used the occasion to praise the level of youth participation in religious events, em phasising the impor tance of cultural and religious education in preserving religious customs.

“I’m happy that youths are involved in the practise of Islam

Speaking on the ‘One Guyana’ initia tive, he emphasised the importance of working together to realise the

time when we have the additional revenue that can make our lives bet ter. It is very important that we live and work

In good hands

GUYANA has been given high marks by the Inter national Monetary Fund (IMF) for its handling of the economy, especially in the context of the coun try’s emerging status as an oil-and-gas producer.

The IMF is a global multinational financial in stitution which has, over the decades, provided not only financial assistance to member countries but also policy and technical advice. As such, the views and opin ions of the IMF cannot be dismissed or brushed aside, since they could influence the decision-making pro cesses of other financial institutions.

This is not to suggest that the views of the IMF are sacrosanct or always correct. There are instances when the policy prescrip tions of the IMF had re sulted in protest actions in several countries because of its sometimes harsh con

ditionalities on borrowing countries. In the final analy sis, borrowing from the IMF remains a sovereign decision and cannot be im posed against the will of a sovereign state.

Guyana, under the previ ous PNC regime, had bor rowed heavily from the IMF to service its unsustainable debt burden and address severe balance-of-payments difficulties. Such was the extent of the economic dev astation under the Burnham regime that Guyana was declared by the IMF as ‘un creditworty’ and further loans to the country had ceased. It is apposite to recall that under the previ ous PNC regime, no report by the Auditor-General was presented to the National Assembly for 12 consecu tive years, an indication of the extent to which empha sis was placed on transpar ency and accountability by the previous regime. The

economy had reached rockbottom and life for the aver age Guyanese was a living hell.

That narrative has now changed thanks to pru dent economic and fiscal management by succes sive PPP/C administrations. Indeed, the IMF has now applauded the current ad ministration on its progress in strengthening Guyana’s anti-corruption framework and fiscal transparency. At the recently concluded 2022 Article 1V consultations with the Guyana Govern ment, the IMF highlighted several pillars that have been fortified by the PPP/C administration to ensure transparency and the stand against corruption.

Among the several pil lars identified are the Integ rity Commission, the Public Procurement Commission, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, the Auditor-General

reports and the implemen tation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives. No less signifi cant from a governance and transparency perspective are the amendments made by the PPP/C administration to the Natural Resources Fund Act which, according to the IMF, “set clear ceilings on withdrawals from the fund for budgetary spending and promote transparency in the management and use of oil resources.”

It is not a matter of sur prise that Guyana has been removed from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and the European Commission’s Money-laun dering blacklists. This fact has not escaped the notice of the IMF which has of fered technical support to the Guyana Government as it seeks to further strengthen its macroeconomic and fis cal management, develop its financial market infra

structure and strengthen its statistical capabilities.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and cli mate change, the Guyana economy continues to be robust. The oil Gross Do mestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow over 100 per cent in 2022 and by 20 per cent on average per year during the 2023 to 2026 period. And, according to the IMF, Guyana’s commer cially recoverable petroleum reserves are expected to reach 11 billion barrels, one of the highest per capita level in the world.

The Guyana Govern ment came in for high praise by the IMF for the massive decline in public debt and favourable debt dynamics and the administration’s commitment to maintain debt sustainability.

Given the significant economic strides made over recent years due in large

measure to the impact of oil, the temptation to appre ciate the Guyana currency vis a vis the United States dollar could be strong, but this has to be tempered by the net benefits accruing to the country based on cur rent exchange rates, while allowing for some flexibil it y to absorb shocks and maintain competitiveness. As observed both by Presi dent, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, such a move to appreciate the Guyana currency could have severe implications for Guyana, especially in terms of our export competitive ness.

There is no question that the economic health of the country is in good hands, thanks to good governance coupled with sound economic manage ment principles adopted by the PPP/C administra tion.

Guyana is an independent country with full national sovereignty

Dear Editor, I WRITE in response to Arthur Deakin’s claim “…that Guyana… needs the participation of an independent and international body in the monitoring of these [NRF]funds to ensure appropriate and trans parent spending of the revenues.” Mr Deakin is the Director of Ener gy Practice at American Market Intelligence, a Florida-based out

fit. His concern is that the executive branch of the GoG has too many ties to those bodies and individuals responsi ble for drawing on the funds from the NRF.

Mr Deakin does not appear to know that Guyana is an independ ent country and has full national sovereignty.

The suggestion is not only without merit, but it is also disrespectful.

If we follow this ad

vice, then Deakin wants us to minimise the role of, if not altogether by pass, the Board of Di rectors of the NRF, the Public Accountability and Oversight Commit tee, and the Investment Committee. In effect, we are asked to question the judgement and integrity of some of the most ac complished citizens in this country, including Major-General (ret’d) Joseph Singh, Ambas

sador Carolyn Rodri gues, Professor Compton Bourne, Dunstan Barrow, Ramesh Dookoo of the Private Sector Commis sion (PSC), Clement Sea ley, Wendell Jeffery, Abu Zaman, Ryan Alexander, Dawn Gardener, Aslim Singh, Teni Housty, Desmond Sears, Savitri Balbahadur, Shaleeza Shaw, Michael Munroe, Richard Rambarran and Lauris Hukumchand.

And then what about

Cabinet ministers, the Prime Minister, VicePresident, and President Ali? Mr. Deakin should recognise that account ability and transparency are invariably tied to those who have been democratically elected. No international body would have the type of legitimacy to come here and dictate how our re sources should be used for national develop ment. The most effective

and important consulta tion is for the Govern ment of Guyana to con sult the people of this country.

Technical advice on how to make use of our resources for budget ary support could al ways be sought from a plethora of experts available both locally and internationally.

Yours sincerely, Dr Randy Persaud

Response to Prof Hunte, et al (Series 2, Part II)

Dear Editor, PROFESSOR Hunte appears to be having great challenges defending his magicnomics on the Production Sharing Agree ment (PSA), and by extension great difficulty debunking my counter arguments on his nonsensical and flawed analysis. Failing to rise to the challenge on the back of his own academic wherewithal, he brought out an army of professors and self-anointed experts to his rescue, despite their failed attempts to com prehensively rebuff the coun terarguments and analyses by the undersigned.

Editor, I must say that I am humbled, given this recent de velopment in which there is now an army of four including Chris Ram, against me. The army of four include Professor Hunte who ran for cover under Profes sor Andre Brandli to help defend him (Hunte), and Nigel Hinds who also ran for cover under his long-standing partner in crime, self-anointed expert, Chris Ram to his (Hinds’s) defence. It is quite telling when an army of

four heavyweights team up to take on a one-man army who is deemed their junior, and a new comer operating in their space that they once monopolised through intimidatory tactics for years if not decades.

Nonetheless, for clarity though, let me state categorical ly that I never attacked the aca demic credentials and personal integrity of Professor Hunte, this is not my style. I respect Professor Hunte’s credentials. I have been critical, however, of Professor Hunte’s arguments which are quite normal in aca demia. So, when I said that his analysis bewilders the intellec tual faculties of the intellectu als and confounds the mind of the layman, these are not just my opinion. These are in fact feedbacks I have received from readers who have been follow ing the ongoing debate between the undersigned and Professor Hunte. People are confused with the stuff he writes on the PSA. Not just the layperson, highly educated professionals are also confused with his ramblings.

Before I get into the sub

stance of my rebuttal to Hunte et.al, I would like to point out that Professor Hunte still doesn’t seem to understand the difference between CAPEX and the recovery of the CAPEX, he has conflated the issue and the argument altogether. He has in fact contradicted his colleague, Professor Andre Brandli, whom he ran to for help with his own defence. Professor Brandli has a better understanding of the 75 per cent cost-recovery cap and how it works. Professor Brandli explained in his letter that the 75 per cent includes both the recovery of CAPEX and OPEX and that the operators are al lowed to recover the CAPEX continuously from the revenue. Professor Brandli is correct. Professor Hunte on the other hand, still doesn’t get it. He can’t understand why the recov ery of CAPEX is included in the 75 per cent, which I explained umpteen times before, that it is the recovery of the CAPEX / or the invested capital.

Professor Hunte also con flates what is fixed cost and variable cost by arguing that the

A special treat for the elderly

Dear Editor,

AT a simple but special lunch eon held on Friday 14th, Octo ber, at the spacious Jaglall res idence in the President’s vil lage, Leonora, dozens of sen ior citizens from the villages of Stewartville, Leonora and Anna Catherina were given a

month, all the retirees would each receive a food hamper consisting of groceries to the value of US$25. Light and live entertainment was provided by a host of Karaoke singers including Krishna Sobryan, Saruj, Lallman, Vidya and Anand Persaud. Unavoidably

man, Saruj Hardat, Tara Lakeram, Anna, Deo Lakeram –New York; Vidi Naraidu, Anjanie Seecharran, Sona & family, Reuben Bisnauth –FL. This occasion was ably supported by a contingent of Guyanese volunteers who are friends and families of

CAPEX is a fixed cost. CAPEX is not a fixed cost in this case.

CAPEX or the invested capital is all of the cost invested for exploration and developing the oil fields. This is an invest ment. The estimated investment and actual investment are usu ally not the same. For example, the estimated total investment or CAPEX for Liza 1 was just over US$5 billion, but the actual cost came in lower at US$4.3 billion. Further, in my response, I said that OPEX includes both fixed and variable costs. A variable cost is one that varies with the level of production. Companies have control over their variable costs because they can cut down or increase production to change them. Examples of variable costs include the cost of materi als that go into the company’s product, or the cost of hourly labour needed for production.

However, workers who have long-term salary contracts might not count as variable cost if their salaries are fixed in the contract. Fixed cost in the oil and gas business, on the other hand, would include the costs

of regulatory compliance which will not vary much with the level of production. The oil company may have workers with long-term contracts, such as company officers or consult ing geologists who help them find oil. Rental of buildings, and other facilities, insurance, the lease for the FPSOs would also be fixed costs–that are all part of the operations.

Professor Hunte posed the question, why is it that the oil companies have to recover their capital first before Guyana gets a higher share of profit? The answer is very simple. Let me put it this way: if Professor Hunte invested US$100,000 of his own money in a ven ture, will he wait for 20 years later to recover his investment plus return on his investment? Taking into consideration the time-value factor of money as well as opportunity cost? And if he decides to so do, wouldn’t he want to recover his invested capital upfront, as quickly as possible plus the return that comes with it? Considering also that he could lose his money if

there is no commercial find in the case of the oil business or for any other venture, if it fails, he loses all of his money. That is the risk this type of investment comes with on top of a 20-year waiting period to recoup both of the invested capital and return on investment. Professor Hunte should reflect on this and answer this question honestly, and not with any ulterior motives. Just be honest.

Editor, in a separate [forthcoming] letter, I will respond to the contentions of Professor Andre Brandli, who is trying to bat for his colleague, Professor Hunte. I must acknowledge, though, that Professor Brandli seems to have a much better under standing of the fiscal terms and its application in the PSA than his colleague Hunte. However, Professor Brandli weighed in on a different di mension of the debate, thus, warranting a separate re sponse from the undersigned.

Yours faithfully, Financial Analyst Joel Bhagwandin

special treat. It was not short of the Guyanese delicious meals and the sweet Diwali delicacies for dessert. This applaudable event was admi rably organised and financed by the ‘Daughters of Guyana,’ a group of West Demerarian ladies from the diaspora, re siding in the USA and Canada.

The generous ladies flew in especially to meet and greet the wonderful elders. Every

absent to grace the occasion were the First Lady Arya Ali, Human Services and Social Security Minister Vindhya Persaud and the Permanent Secretary Shannelle HusseinOutar. Minister Persaud con veyed her appreciation and thanks to the diaspora for their care and concern for the treasured members of the community. The diaspora team present were Gai Latch

the sponsors: Nirupa Per saud, Nikki Mohabir, Reena Chung, Bimla Rasul, Ruth Shivraj and Jaglall Lakeram. The “Daughters of Guyana” is being approached by more senior citizens who are seek ing help and assistance. The elder folk also expressed their thanks for the help they are receiving.

Petro Dollars and Sense!

This series examines Guyana’s oil & gas op tions globally on the eve of the Final Quarter of the 21st Year of Century 21, as the world’s richest nations pay higher costs to fight inflation and try to avoid pending reces sion, while also scurrying to secure adequate alter native energy supplies to replace Russian gas.

THE sliding value of the British pound has al ways rubbed Caribbean people in the UK the wrong way, reducing the value of their earnings and monthly remittances sent home.

Born in Britain or not, black and brown fami lies living below or just above the poverty line have always been feeling the squeeze from the slide of the quid (pound).

But blue-blooded Brit ish pride was badly bruised when, after just a month on the job, Prime Minister Liz Trust and Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwa si Kwarteng announced policies that caused the pound’s deepest slide against the US dollar ever (1 Pound = US $1.14).

When PM Truss -- the UK’s fourth prime minister in seven years -- appointed

her friend (Kwarteng) as the fourth chancellor in as many months, she’d also given him the top post held by Rishi Sunak, who’d opposed her in the race for the top job of Conserva tive Party leader -- and next PM.

Sandwiching herself between Kwarteng and new Home Affairs Min ister Suella Braverman on the Tory front bench at Westminster, she was accused by critics of win dow-dressing with dark optics to put the Opposi tion Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer in the shade.

But when, very early in the game, Kwarteng joined his friendly boss to fulfil her leadership campaign promise to grow growth without taxation, the two were accused of flirting with suicide.

Their approach was to avoid a ‘windfall tax’ on the richest corporations, si lently rejecting the United Nations Secretary Gener al’s call for doing just that, plus a serious warning by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that cutting taxes to grow an economy is a non-starter.

From there, it was downhill for Britain’s first

Black Chancellor, who’d replaced the brown can didate who fought Truss for the not-so-colourful party’s leadership.

Long before the blow back from Kwarteng’s rec ommended fateful dose of Trussonomics, a-la Thatcherite Reaganomics, the market was asking how he planned to pay back the 50+ billion pounds the richest would gain from her not increasing their tax rate by only six per cent (from 19 per cent to 25 per cent).

Kwarteng promised to provide the urgent pre scription on October 30, but the Bank of England (Central Bank) sent early warning signals that the government’s plan would drown without a lifeline.

The bank’s seat-belt? It would buy billions worth of government bonds, at least to help shore up the quid.

Meanwhile, the long Tory knives have long been drawn at Truss’s back, and she’s clinging to power today, as her party’s top brass consider whether she’s more of a liability than an asset ahead of the 2024 national poll.

With Britons facing their highest economic

nightmare in four decades, clear warnings of reces sion in 2023 and the UK having the highest energy bills across Europe, PM Truss seems to be increas ingly losing Tory trust.

Some top Tories are actually saying Sunak was ‘embarrassingly right’ when he warned that growth couldn’t be fuelled without taxes, some even also calling for turning to him to clean up her mess.

Some argue it would be ‘absurd’ to change leader a fifth time in as many months, while those wield ing the daggers say they feel that dumping her ear lier than later ‘may just be the less toxic option’ to ‘reduce the damage’ the electorate looks like it will unleash on the party at the next general elections, if called tomorrow.

But it’s the new PM’s energy policy that’s at tracting quiet attention from climate watchers, including the new King Charles III.

PM Truss has also promised more drilling of North Sea oil, making it clear that, like Germany returning to nuclear power for energy, she too is ready to fuel Britain’s energy with fossil fuels.

Buckingham Palace announced last week

that Downing Street had ‘advised’ King Charles against attending the up coming UN 27th Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) Summit.

Europe is dumping all previous commitments to clean energy and eas ily returning to the same fossil and nuclear fuels they’d opted out of over time, putting political cor rectness ahead of practical economic realities.

Developing nations, Guyana and the Carib bean included, have been put on clear notice that the planet’s major pollut ers are less committed to even their own political commitments, once they consider their wider trans national, continental or global interests are under threat.

Just like how Britain shields its Overseas Ter ritories operating as off shore secret banking ju risdictions for super-rich deposits, while clamping down on Caribbean and other developing nations’ efforts to create similar offshore tax-free jurisdic tions, the G7 nations -- the world’s seven richest -- are also showing their readi ness to switch their gas lines on and off, accord ing to political need and irrespective of economic

consequences.

PM Truss may have changed chancellor, but not approach -- and she’ll still also be expected to invest more in digging deeper for fossil fuels, instead of following La bour’s advice to invest in green energy.

Some are actually re portedly advising it might be better and cheaper to follow up on her prede cessor Boris Johnson’s undertaking to do Oil & Gas business with Guyana to address Britain’s gather ing energy storm, which started getting gusty under his watch.

But energy market and Oil & Gas analysts and observers in the UK and other parts of the Com monwealth, including cau tious, producing nations, are also warning that South American and Caribbean petroleum and natural gas producers such as Guy ana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela and Brazil should also take warning from the ease with which Europe and North America are ready and willing to switch off when the pressure is really on – like now.

Meanwhile, the quid’s pound-to-pound fight with the greenback con tinues.

Thousands of acres of farmland opened up

with commissioning of #58 Village farm-tomarket access road

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the govern ment will continue to make a number of critical investments that would ensure that food produc tion becomes one of the main pillars of Guyana’s economic future.

He said that these in vestments would encom pass modern strategies to decrease the cost of production, and increase the yield.

“Food production and agriculture is a major branch of the develop ment transformation of our country… For us to increase our productivity, and for us to increase our yield and reduce our costs of production, there are a number of things that must occur. The state of the infrastructure to sup port agriculture and food production must be trans formed to support a more effective transportation and production system…”

The Head of State made this assertion during his

address at the Commis sioning of the #58 Village farm-to-market access road on Friday afternoon. The road is 6.4KM (approxi mately four miles) long, and was completed to the tune of $1,018,000,000.

The President also pointed to the importance of research and develop ment, which he said is critical to delivering “bet ter yields, better crops; better variety”.

He also stated that sys tems will be put in place to ensure that the government utilises the best possible technology to enhance sus tainability and resilience.

“We know that we are faced with many chal lenges, including climate change, so our method of agriculture must be re silient, so as to mitigate against the consequences of climate change. Another important aspect is our hu man resources,” he said.

The government, Presi dent Ali emphasised, has addressed these important

considerations in the devel opment of strategies for the agriculture sector. He re minded his audience of the tremendous investments in the sector, in every region, over the past two years, while reiterating that his administration remains focused on enhancing productive capacity and making the “right invest ments” that will ultimate ly broaden the economic base, create job opportuni

ties, provide a medium for new investments, and also “support the expansion of our economy and the growth and development of our people”.

The newly-commis sioned farm-to-market road, he said, is part of a large infrastructure plan that will lead all the way to Canje Creek, and, in totality, will open up over 50,000 acres of land for

production.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill, and Minis ter within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar were also at the event.

Prior to the commis sioning of the new road, the President and his del egation visited two other agriculture-based com munities in Region Five

(Mahaica-Berbice), Bel ladrum and Cotton Tree, where he interacted with residents and listened to their concerns.

As to the importance of these engagements, he said that continuous dialogue and connec tion with the people are critical to delivering good governance to all citizens. (Office of the President)

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill assisting in the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon for the opening of the #58 Village farm-to-market access road as Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, and President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and others look on (Office of the President photo)

Is this the job for you?

WOULD you like to work with children as a Social Worker or Child Protection Officer?

Many say they would, and proceed to attend College and University to earn degrees and di plomas, enabling them to secure their desired positions. They may en ter the profession fresh from learning, and as pire to climb the lad der one day to a more prominent position. But acquiring ac colades and fulfilling a desire is the easy part. Working with children and families is not a walk

in the park; many vulner able and abused children need help, advice, and maybe even a shoulder to cry on. It is a job that re quires tact, determination, and a genuinely caring personality.

Some people develop empathy and a caring personality through ex perience. They may have survived years of trials and tribulations, which build their resolve, re silience and emphatic nature. They know how to interact and commu nicate with people from a place deep within; one of humanity and concern.

Others are born with the natural urge and ability to help those in need.

Officers who intend to help people and heal families must hone these skills, including rever ence and patience with clients. Such qualities are necessary, not to camou flage one’s true feelings about the job and the cli ent’s situation, but be cause genuine virtues are needed to reach out to and help clients. In addition, workers must be flexible in their approach, and able to communicate with each client on their level.

Building good ‘peo

ple skills’ does not hap pen overnight. Regardless of the number of diplo mas achieved, and hours worked in a public-facing role, if a worker cannot put him or herself in the client’s shoes and com municate appropriately, the objective, which is to help children and fami lies, is lost.

Communication skills involve greeting people respectfully, making eye contact, effective listen ing without interruption (except for clarification of a point), asking only relevant questions (and not those that spring from personal curiosity), and giving consideration to matters raised and av enues to explore.

When children and families need help, they rely on qualified officers to solve their problems with trustworthy advice and support. They don’t need someone unhappy in their role who greets them with an unwelcoming demeanour, or an officer with little or no interest in them or their outcome, who fobs them off with out due attention and con sideration.

Officers need to be a solution-orientated when dealing with clients. The ability to not wallow in present problems, and efficiently seek solu tions saves time. Com mon courtesy skills with the human approach will make clients feel assured that help is on the way. Officers must not fall short, but extend them selves where necessary with follow-up and feed back to clients.

A public servant help ing vulnerable or abused children and their families must have a positive and

open-minded attitude; they must process infor mation carefully before making assessments and reaching decisions. A child’s future can hang in the balance while fami lies and the Officer work together to achieve a suit able conclusion to a case.

In most instances, there are several factors to consider when sorting out families and children. Other agencies and es tablishments may need to be involved, eg. the school, the police, reli gious bodies, medical professionals, and legal representatives. All or ganisations and families need to collaborate and work together to protect the child, and for a suc cessful outcome.

At times, officers may need to think on their feet to protect children and make decisions that will be later reviewed, such as removing a child from their family home and placing them in foster care. It is a traumatic ex perience for all involved, but the safety of children and the child’s best inter est must be at the heart of choices made on their behalf. It is never easy to separate children from their loved ones, but the law states that children at risk must be protected.

Lastly, those who wish to work in this field must find their ‘centre’, and maintain balance in their life and lifestyle. Suppose officers carry unresolved emotional issues from their childhood, live with a violent, abusive partner, or are in any other dys functional circumstance?

These burdens can affect and shape their work and decision-making skills. Their home life need not

be perfect, but should be sufficiently stable to reflect their ability to work without bias, and with compassion and re spect for those they seek to help. Their personal and emotional problems should not be brought to the workplace.

Practising mindful ness or meditation will help to relax the mind. Reflecting, and self-eval uating one’s performance is taught in the curricu lum. Officers should ask themselves occasionally: How did I do today? Did I do my best to help oth ers? How do I feel about my approach? Could it be improved? Where could I have done better or learnt more?

Officers will encoun ter cases that keep them awake at night and con sume their thoughts if they do not learn how to manage their workload, and when to switch off, wind down and relax. A public-service role brings a variety of people from different backgrounds to officers daily, each one with a problem they need to solve. Whether they are the first clients of the day or the last, they must be greeted with humility, respect and concern. Do you have the heart to do a job like this? A high level of commitment is required for the role.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail. com

China to advance high-quality economic development agenda

- as President Xi defines security plan at 20th party congress

By Samuel Sukhnandan in Beijing

CHINA will continue to vigorously pursue a highquality economic develop ment agenda over the next five years and beyond, as part of the country’s social ist modernisation drive.

President Xi Jinping made this announcement in a report at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Sunday, which was attended by more than 2,000 delegates at the Great Hall of the People.

“We must fully and faith fully apply the new develop ment philosophy on all fronts; continue reforms to develop the socialist market economy; promote high-standard open ing up and accelerate efforts to foster a new pattern of development that is focused on the domestic economy, and features positive interplay between domestic and inter national economic flows,” he said.

According to President Xi, the country will move faster to build a modernised economy, but in doing so, it will ensure that China’s industrial and supply chains are more resil ient and secure, thereby ex panding its economic output.

He said: “In pursuing economic growth, we must continue to focus on the real economy. We will advance new industrialisation and move faster to boost China’s strength in manufacturing and product quality.”

The Chinese President said the world’s second-largest economy had enjoyed historic growth in the past decade, with its Gross Domestic Prod uct (GDP) rising from 54 tril lion yuan to 114 trillion yuan and its share of the global economy climbing from 11.3 per cent to 18.5 per cent.

In outlining his vision for the emerging global su perpower, President Xi said the party will leverage the strength of China’s enormous market, attract global resourc es and production factors, and amplify the interplay between domestic and international markets and resources.

“We will foster a worldclass business environment that is market-oriented, law-

based, and internationally integrated. We will promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initia tive, “he added. He also said the country would speed up efforts to achieve greater selfreliance in science and tech nology.

Turning his attention to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Xi said the Chinese government had protected people’s safety and health to the highest degree and achieved significant, positive results in coordinating epi demic prevention and control and social and economic de velopment.

The Chinese leader did not give any indication of a pos sible change in the approach to the pandemic, although it has had a significant impact on China’s economic develop ment this year.

WORLD PEACE

Addressing the opening of China’s most important politi cal meeting in five years, Pres ident Xi also recommitted that the country will continue to

play a major role in promoting world peace and development and building a human com munity with a shared future.

He said the deficit in peace, development, security, and governance is growing, and the world has once again reached a crossroads in his tory, where the future course can only be decided by the world’s people.

“China is prepared to in vest more resources in global development cooperation. It is committed to narrowing the North-South gap and support ing and assisting other devel oping countries in accelerating development, “he added.

Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping told the top brass of the Communist Party on Sun day that Beijing would also do its best to achieve peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but noted that it was up to the Chi nese people to find a solution.

“We will adhere to striving for the prospect of a peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and greatest efforts, but will never commit to aban

doning the use of force and reserve the option to take all necessary measures,” he said, maintaining that the complete reunification of the country must be realised.

SECURITY

President Xi also called for accelerating military and technological development to propel rejuvenation and said the People’s Liberation Army, the world’s secondlargest military after the Unit ed States, needs to “safeguard China’s dignity and core in terests.”

“We will work faster to modernise military theory, personnel, and weapons.”... “We will strengthen the mili tary’s strategic capabilities in order to defend China’s sovereignty, security, and de velopment interests,” he said in a nearly two-hour speech.

On the domestic front, the Chinese President said his party will continue to work to improve the well-being and quality of life of the Chinese people, advance the Healthy China initiative, pursue green

Chinese President, Xi Jinping addressing the opening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Sunday (Credit: Xinhua)

development and continue the campaign against corruption in government.

He also said that the Com munist Party, which has 96 million members, has won the largest battle against poverty in human history.

At the conclusion of the congress, President Xi could be reconfirmed as the party’s general-secretary, cementing his position as China’s most powerful leader since Mao

Zedong.

The congress will culmi nate on Saturday, October 22.

(Reporting courtesy of NCN Editor, Samuel Sukhnandan. Sukhnandan is currently in Beijing on the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) 2022 Fellowship at the invitation of the China Public Diplomacy Associa tion (CPDA).

More

Scenes from the lighting of the ‘National

‘National Diya’ at Rahaman’s Park

(Adrian Narine

Building good community relations

THE police are staying true to their efforts to maintain a good relationship with members of the communi ties within Regional Police Division 4(B).

According to a release, Sergeant Craig, who is the

driver for the Regional Di visional Commander, earlier on Sunday, came together with ranks of the Guyana Police Force and residents of Mocha-Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, to construct a new bridge at the Mocha Police

Outpost.

The new bridge makes it easier for members of the public to visit the outpost.

“Big thanks to all of Mocha,” the police said in a Facebook post.

Essequibo Coast Praant

ushers in Diwali with Deep Jale

After the grand light-up at 19:00hrs, a rich cultural programme followed with songs, dances and speeches.

The Swarswattie Dance Academy and the Khandiya Dance Troupe performed at the event. Lakshmi prayers were recited by Pandit Kay dar Persaud, who is Presi dent of the Praant.

Addressing the gather ing in the town of Anna Regina, on the lawns of the Anna Regina Town Council, Persaud said the Praant joins in hosting the Deep Jale, a countrywide event organ ised by the Dharmic Sabha.

He urged the gather ing to use the occasion to remain optimistic and to eradicate darkness in the form of hatred, jealousy and negativity.

THE Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Essequibo Coast Praant on Saturday evening set the pace for observance of Diwali, the Festival of Lights in Re

gion Two, with the hosting of Deep Jale.

A symbolic diya was lit up by executive member Reema Natram, who was assisted by other members.

Also extending pre-Di wali greetings was council lor from the Anna Regina Town Council, Mohan lall Suelall. The Morning Glory Inc, which support ed the event, distributed packs of the cereal to those in attendance.

Work being done on the bridge (left) and the completed bridge (right)

A dancer next to the diya that was lit up

Boost for spice production in Region One

“I assure you that they (NAREI) will purchase all your spices so that you will have a ready market for your spices. You wouldn’t have to send your spices all over the place, come here… I will assure you that they will purchase it. So, the farm ers, I am challenging you to increase and NAREI will work with you,” Minister Mustapha added.

The agriculture minister

noted that Guyana is con suming 60 per cent of the food being produced.

He also alluded to the budget allocated in the agri culture sector.

“This year’s budget in the agriculture sector is once again, $28 billion, we have moved it, we have doubled it. And that will be a contin uous process where we will use money from the other sectors to develop the agri

culture sector in our country. That is very important for us to get food security.”

Food security is still a top priority for the govern ment’s development plans and the PPP/C administra tion continues to lay the necessary foundation to accomplish food security, and achieve CARICOM’s aim of reducing the food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025 goal. (DPI)

NAREI’s representative explaining the process of grinding ginger to Minister Mustapha and others

AS part of Guyana’s im plementation of climatesmart agriculture prac tices, the government continues to expand the production of spices which include turmeric, ginger, and black pepper in Re gion One.

On Wednesday, during the commissioning of the coconut nursery in Hoso roro, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha indicated that the government will continue to work with the farmers to boost the pro ductivity of spices, among other crops.

To boost the produc tion of spices at the factory, Minister Mustapha put into operation several new pieces of machinery for the Na

tional Agricultural Research and Extension Institute’s (NAREI) spice processing plant.

These tools include a Vi bro sifter, a ginger washer, a ginger slicer, and a ginger grinder to the tune of $9.7 million.

Minister Mustapha pointed out that Guyana has two main components (fresh water and flat arable lands) to develop the agriculture sector.

The minister noted that as a result of the Agri-In vestment Forum and Expo, which was held back in May, investors are interested in Guyana.

“Today, we are seeing the result of that exhibition where a number of investors

are coming to Guyana now to invest. We have investors that will be coming to do spices… and I want you, the farmers, to take advantage of what we are doing here in Region One,” the minister urged.

He emphasised that the government will work with the farmers to find a market for their produce.

“We know that’s a num ber one, here for you, in Region One….That will be a thing of the past… we will work with you to find a market for your produce.”

Minister Mustapha in formed the farmers that NA REI will work along with the farmers to increase the cultivation of spices particu larly ginger and turmeric.

Guyana positioned to become breadbasket of the region, says Agri Minister

MINISTER of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has em phasised the need for Guyana to act now to create the environment to achieve its potential of feeding the entire Caribbean region.

He made these remarks during a World Food Day event held at the Albion Sports Complex, Corentyne, Berbice, on Sunday.

The activity was celebrated under the theme, “Leave no one behind... Better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all”.

In his address, the minister pointed out that Guyana is now ideally positioned to provide the food and nutrition security which is vital for the Caribbean region and other countries.

He noted that the government, over the last two years, has worked above and beyond to strategically place Guyana on the road that leads the agriculture agenda. This, he said, is crucial to the realisation of ‘Vision 25’, which aims to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

In ensuring food security, the minister noted that there will be scope for sustainable employment opportunities for youths, women and other vulnerable groups.

In emphasising that this will help to improve livelihoods, he said, “Food security should not stop at increasing produc tion, but should be inclusive of increasing accessibility and improving nutrition for all Guyanese.”

Minister Mustapha assured those at the function that the government is working on creating the enabling environment for sustainable food systems, ensuring intergenerational eq uity, and encouraging the strengthening of local food produc tion and consumption.

“Championing food security, and leaving no one behind requires development beyond the traditional agriculture; it requires different actions from the business as usual. Excep tional times call for exceptional actions. Guyana’s agriculture sector must be expanded, diversified and mordernised, and made resilient to be a competitive sector in Guyana and CARICOM,” he said.

The minister used the occasion to highlight the many ongoing transformational projects intended to boost food se curity and reduce imports. These projects target the increase in rice production by 25 per cent, or approximately 860,000 tonnes by the year 2025; the increase in sugar production to 100,000 tonnes in the next three years; the opening up of over 150,000 acres of new land for cultivation in the Number 58 Village, Corentyne area; the increase in technology and mechanisation by 15 per cent; cultivation of 25, 000 acres of corn and soya by the year 2025 to produce livestock feed for the livestock industry; and the expansion of the coconut industry by 15 per cent.

The plans also include the increase in onion cultivation, so as to satisfy the national demand; the commencement of wheat production so as to reduce imports; the establishment of an industrial hemp industry; and the establishment of inter national standard beef and swine abattoirs, such as the ones that are being constructed at Rising Sun, West Coast Berbice, and Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara.

Minister Mustapha also announced that during next year, Guyana will be hosting the 38th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC38).

Ministers of Agriculture and high-level officials of the region will meet in Guyana to deliberate on priority matters related to food and agriculture, including the promotion of regional coherence on global policies in the agriculture-food sector.

Programme Manager, Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Shaun Baugh, in his remarks, highlighted that the 25 by 25 initiative has been a game changer.

Among the other speakers were Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Country Representa tive Wilmot Garnett; Commissioner and Chief Executive Of ficer of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC) Enrique Monize, who launched the Small Island Developing States’ multi-country soil management initiative for inte grated landscape restoration and climate-resilient food system project; Executive Director of the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Management Calvin James; and Food and Agri culture Organisation (FAO) representative Dr. Gillian Smith, who read the global remarks of UNFAO Director General.

Other attendees included Region Six Vice-Chairman Zamal Hussain; Major General (Retired) Joe Singh; Min istry of Agriculture staffers, and students of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA).

English Racing Tips

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08:30 hrs Vondelpark

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12:00 hrs Another Od yssey

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Storm

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13:30 hrs Aussie Banker 14:00 hrs The Thames Boatman

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garet

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American Racing Tips

Finger Lakes Race 1 Tosconova Prin cess

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Canadian Racing Tips

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South Africa Racing Tips

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Netherlands scrape to victory over UAE

(ESPNCRICINFO)Netherlands scrapped their way to victory in a low-scoring game in Group A, dashing UAE’s hopes of defend ing a below-par target of 112 off the penulti mate ball in Geelong. They were in trouble at 76 for 6 in the 14th over, before a vital low er-order stand between Scott Edwards, the Netherlands captain, and Tim Pringle got them within sight. Prin gle fell in the 19th over but Edwards was there to hit the winning run.

After watching Na mibia comfortably de fend 163 against Sri Lanka earlier in the day, UAE captain CP Rizwan decided to try and put a score on the board, but his side was unable to get to grips with the sur face or unusual ground dimensions, and went at below a run a ball throughout their innings. Opener Muhammed Waseem top-scored with 41 off 47, but only one

batter (Kashif Daud) managed a strike rate over 100. Their tally of three fours, in addition to three sixes, across the innings was the lowest in a completed T20 World Cup innings.

Netherlands’ chase demonstrated what might have been achieved with a steeper asking rate.

Max O’Dowd slammed a six and three fours in 23 off 18 -- ultimately his side’s top score -- to help get them ahead of their requirement, and al though Junaid Siddique’s three-wicket haul kept UAE in contention, Ed wards put his knowledge of Melbourne conditions to good use to steer his side to victory.

No Dowd about Neth erlands’ approach

Although Siddique later threatened to turn the game for UAE, his loose opening over set the initial tone, with Vikramjit Singh twice carving boundaries through backward point. Singh fell in the second

over, slogging across the line at Basil Hameed, but his opening partner O’Dowd crunched his fourth ball into the stands towards deep midwicket.

By the time he had belted two fours off Karthik Meiyappan in the fourth over, Netherlands had al ready equalled the UAE boundary count. But the dismissal of O’Dowd, bowled by a Siddique off-cutter in the final over of the powerplay, enabled UAE to drag the scoring rate back, as Netherlands grafted their way to 76 for 4 after 13 overs and still seemingly on course.

Siddique’s sideswipe

Any sense that Neth erlands would motor on, perhaps looking to improve their net run rate ahead of clashes with Namibia and Sri Lanka, was shattered by Siddique’s third over. Tom Cooper, the Australian-raised mid dle-order batter who has previous experi ence of playing at Gee

long’s Kardinia Park, was trapped lbw by the first delivery of the 14th over, and Siddique

ond ball. Only one run came off the over, but it could have been even better for UAE had

then produced a fabu lous in-swinging york er to clean up Roelof van der Merwe sec

Rizwan not dropped a straightforward chance at cover after Pringle miscued his second de

livery. Pringle and Ed wards focused on scor ing in ones and twos as they pieced together a crucial seventh-wicket stand that took Neth erlands to the brink of victory.

Namibia beat Sri Lanka in World Cup opener

(ESPNCRICINFO)Jan Frylinck and JJ Smit blasted Namibia out of a desperate situ ation, then their seam ers scythed their way through Sri Lanka’s batting order -- Ben Shikongo taking two wickets in two balls inside the powerplay, while David Wiese and Frylinck also made key breakthroughs.

In the end, the match wasn’t even close. Sri Lanka, never having seemed on top of the chase of 164, could not get a partnership goingBhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasun Shanaka mustering

the best of their innings, with 34. Namibia’s bowl ers kept mixing up their pace on a slow Geelong surface that rewarded pace off the ball. Sri Lan ka’s batters kept holing out. They were eventually all out for 108 at the end of the 19th over.

Namibia, meanwhile, had pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in the histo ry of their men’s side. In the last T20 World Cup, they’d beaten ICC Full Member, Ireland, to make it into the main draw. This time, they’ve taken down the freshly-crowned Asia Cup champions, and a side that had won their

last five successive T20Is.

Frylinck and Smit blaze their way through the death

If you’re looking for a turning point in the match, this is it. Namibia were 93 for 6 with 34 balls remaining in the in nings. They seemed head ed for a total of less than 140, given how quickly wickets were falling, and that their most reputed batters were already out.

But this is when Frylinck and Smit put on a spectacular sev enth-wicket stand. In the 16th over, Frylick blasted Dushmantha Chameera square on the legside for

four to begin their salvo. Next over, Smit walloped Wanindu Hasaranga over deep midwicket. The runs came quickly after thatSmit hitting another six over deep midwicket, as Frylinck motored to 44 off 28, and he to an arguably even more im pressive 31 not out off 16. Together, they had reaped 70 runs off the last 34 balls, and made their total competitive.

Sri Lanka falter in the powerplay

Sri Lanka’s openers had been crucial in their Asia Cup campaign, but here Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka could

not get out of single fig ures. Mendis was out first, top-edging a Wi ese delivery that he had tried to pull in the second over. Nissanka was the first victim of Shikongo’s double-strike, failing to clear mid-on with a loft ed drive. Danushka Gu nathilaka nicked the next ball to the wicketkeeper, and Sri Lanka were 21 for 3. Their powerplay brought only 38.

The middle order un ravels

The middle order’s collapse was perhaps even more dramatic. Fol lowing Shanaka and Ra japaksa’s brief attempt

at recovery, the climbing required rate had Sri Lan ka’s batters looking for boundaries. They failed abysmally, as Namibia’s bowlers used the slow ness of the surface to excellent effect. Between the 10th and 17th overs (42 balls), Sri Lanka lost five wickets, and made 25 runs, hitting zero bound aries. In fact, in the whole batting card, only four batters managed to hit a boundary.

Namibia’s seamers were impressive in this period, but so was leftarm spinner Bernard Scholtz, who took 2 for 18 from his four overs.

Scott Edwards played a crucial hand in a tight chase (Oct 15, 2022•ICC via Getty Images)

Guyana U-13 Girls win team event at Caribbean Mini and Pre-Cadet Championships

Tobago 1 settled for joint third.

In the Girls U-13 team battle, Guyana 1 defeated Ja maica by a score of 3-1. The country’s top junior female player, Jasmine Billingy was able to surge to a 3-0 win (11-7, 11-6 and 11-5) against Kayan Denton, while Samara Sukhai went down to Keeara Whyte 0-3 (8-11, 8-11 and 4-11).

West Indies begin World T20 quest

CMC – Embattled West Indies begin their quest to qualify for the main draw of the Twenty20 World Cup when they face Scotland here Monday, with captain Nicholas Pooran hailing the strong morale in his inexpe rienced squad.

The Caribbean side have been installed in Group B

two weeks now. I think the guys are ready to go and accli matizing to these conditions.

“A lot of these guys hav en’t played in Australia. This will be the first time, but the guys are confident, they’re happy. The preparation has been really good, and we just can’t wait for tomorrow to start our game.”

experience was important, performance not personalities, would be key to any West Indies success in the coming weeks.

“I think it should be a balance with experience and younger players,” the left-handed batsman pointed out.

GUYANA’S U-13 Girls romped to a team victory on day-three of the Ca ribbean Regional Table Tennis Federation (CRT TF) Mini and Pre-Cadet Championship, which is currently underway at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown.

Guyana’s male teams also finished at the podium, but they had to settle for bronze and silver medals respectively in the team events of the U-11 Boys and the U-13 Boys.

Jamaica defeated Trin idad and Tobago 3-1 in the U-11 final, with Guyana 1 and Guyana 2 settling for joint third.

Guyana 1 fared better in the U-13 Boys team final,

but they ended up losing a heartbreaker to St Lucia 2-3 in the championship battle.

St Lucia’s Leshon Fran cis started the final with a 3-1 come-from-behind win against Ebo McNeil (7-11, 11-7, 11-3 and 11-9) before Guyana’s Malachi Moore drew the game even with a 3-1 win (11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9) against Manie Eleuthere.

Guyana went ahead in the partner battle 3-0 (11-7, 1412 and 11-6) between McNeil and Moore against Francis and Eleuthere, but the singles proved their downfall.

Francis got the better of Moore 3-1 (11-9, 11-7, 3-11, 13-11), before McNeil lost to Eleuthere 10-12, 6-11 and 7-11.

Jamaica and Trinidad and

In the partner battle, Billingy and Sukhai were able to defeat Denton and Whyte (11-8, 9-11, 11-8 and 11-5) before Billingy sealed the win with a 3-0 victory (11-7, 11-9 and 11-9) against Whythe.

In the semi-finals, Guy ana 1 defeated Guyana 2 by a score of 3-0. Billingy had gotten past Akira Watson in a tough 3-2 battle (11-8, 11-9, 13-15, 7-11 and 11-8), while Sukhai defeated Seona Barker 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 1513) before they combined to beat Watson and Barker 3-0 (11-2, 11-7 and 11-7) in the partner battle.

Jamaica defeated Trin idad and Tobago 3-1 in the other semis. Both Guyana 2 and Trinidad and Tobago finished joint third.

The competition is expected to continue to morrow and conclude on Wednesday.

of the qualifiers, and will also meet the likes of Ireland and Zimbabwe over the next week, with the two top teams advancing to the October 22 to November 6 showpiece.

Group A comprises Na mibia, the Netherlands, Unit ed Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka.

And even though West In dies enter the qualifiers on the heels of three straight series defeats, Pooran said the twotime champions were positive about their chances.

“It’ll be a challenge but our guys are confident,” Pooran told a media confer ence on Sunday.

West Indies are fielding one of their most inexperi enced squads ever at a T20 World Cup, with only four players – Pooran, Evin Lewis, Jason Holder and Akeal Ho sein – having featured at the last edition staged in United Arab Emirates last year.

They are without the likes of superstars, Sunil Na rine and Andre Russell, and have included fast bowling all-rounder, Raymon Reifer and leg-spinning all-rounder, Yannic Cariah, both of whom only made their debuts in the two-match series against World champions Australia a fortnight ago.

“If you look at it, there were a lot of big names when we won those two World Cups (in 2012 and 2016), but we also had a lot of big names in last year’s World Cup as well, and we didn’t qualify.

“[Experience] plays a part. I think not only the big names but experienced players, and it is not about any particular players, but it is about our team performance.

“Obviously, Australia won last year and they didn’t have too many big names, but they obviously had a team and that was proven that that was enough for them to win the World Cup.”

He continued: “So coming back to us, we don’t have the big names but we have formed a team here, and that’s been really important. Once the guys play for each other and stay together, it’ll be fine.”

West Indies’ opening clash is set for 3:00pm (midnight, Eastern Caribbean time) at Bellerive Oval.

“We’ve been here for over

Pooran said even though

SQUAD – Nicholas Pooran (captain), Rovman Powell, Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cot trell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lew is, Kyle Mayers, Obed Mccoy, Raymon Reifer, Odean Smith

Beaton, Paul steer Essequibo past Demerara in low-scoring battle CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

HOSTILE bowling from Essequibo pacers, Rons ford Beaton and Keemo Paul helped the Cinderella County men pull off a 10run heist versus Demerara, sealing a spot in the finals.

Batting first, Essequibo were shot down for 156 all out in 41.2 overs with wick et-keeper/batsman, Kemol Savory, returning to form with a solid 66. following his first match hundred.

A lower-order knock of 22 from Wazim Mohamed

saw him and Savory add 48 runs as seamer Ronaldo Alimohamed snatched 3-28, with Steven Sankar returning 3-28 following a good spell of leg-spin, to lead Demer ara's bowling efforts.

The chase, which was meant to be a stroll, turned out to be a nightmare pursuit as Demerara were bowled out for 146. Beaton bagged 4-38, thus earning the MVP award while Paul was also clinical, capturing 4-50 as the duo gained form ahead of the

Regional Super50.

Demerara captain, Leon Johnson and young Tevin Imlach both looked good for 28 runs apiece, with Akshaya Persaud stroking a classy 36. But the combined efforts of Beaton and Paul were too much for the opposition who found themselves rattled by the pair of speedsters.

Essequibo will now face Berbice in the day/night finals set for Tuesday Oc tober 18, bowling off at 14:00hrs. (Clifton Ross)

(Monday October 17, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Quiz:

scored the most runs

the

Jasmine Billingy (centre with the Guyana sign) was instrumental in the gold-medal performance

West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran bats in the nets during a practice session ahead of Monday’s opener against Scotland

Overseas-based Guyanese donates to local cricket programme

USA-based Guyanese Raj “Rebels” Mathura is the lat est person to provide cash support of $20,000 to this joint initiative by Kishan Das of USA and Anil Beharry, Special Technocrat with re sponsibility for Governance, Marketing and Finance, Guy ana Cricket Board.

Raj visited Guyana recently during CPL 2022 and presented the cash to Beharry.

“I am happy to assist with this noble initiative, “said Raj as he presented the cash. He is a top softball cricketer who participates in tournaments in the USA, Canada and Guyana. Beharry expressed gratitude in response.

The total cricket-related items collected so far include $270,000 in cash, two trophies, twelve cricket boots, nineteen

pairs of batting pads, twen ty-five bats, fifteen pairs of batting gloves, nineteen thigh pads, one pair of wicket-keep ing pad, two arm guards, six cricket bags and three hel mets. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket-keeper/ batsman.

To date, forty young play ers from all three counties of Guyana have already benefitted from three junior gear bag, two trophies, two arm guards, fifteen bats, one box, three helmets, twelve pairs of cricket shoes, ten pairs of batting pads, one bat rubber and twelve 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 while RHCCCC received fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keep ing gloves and a set of stumps and bails.

Cricket-related items, used or new, can be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana.

Skills, discipline and ed ucation are important char acteristics of the recipients. Talent-spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist in identi fying same. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit. We take this oppor tunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex; the Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish

Dolphin maul Friendship, CCWS beat Cummings Lodge

Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Ro mash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Hark ishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Dennis Mang ru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Ra jendra Sadeo, Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mo hamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies and Ajay Gain da of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabin dranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh, Denesh Chan drapaul, Dr Cecil Beharry, Davo Naraine of UK and Latch Mohabir and family.

Raj “Rebels” Mathura

Thanks to the media for the role they are playing in pro moting this venture. Distri bution will continue. Anyone

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

Gibson ‘talks up’ strategy rethink for West Indies ahead of world Cup

CMC – Ottis Gibson, one of the architects of West Indies’ Twenty20 World Cup in 2012, believes the Caribbean side may re quire a rethink of strategy in order to find success again in the shortest for mat.

West Indies beat Sri Lan ka in the 2012 final and returned to edge England in the 2016 final in a dramatic finish, but have since fallen down the pecking order and are ranked number seven in the International Cricket Council charts.

In last year’s edition, West Indies lost four of five first round matches to miss out on the semi-finals and automatic qualification for this year’s tournament.

have, because in people like Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder, we have world-class players.”

He continued: “I feel like West Indies is at that stage at the moment where they need to relook the strategy that they’re using with the personnel that they have right now.

“I still feel like they have fantastic T20 players who can be world-class. And when it comes to T20 World Cups, you can never dis count West Indies – I don’t believe so.”

had come at a point when their impact on a “fast-mov ing” game was already di minishing.

“T20 cricket is so fast-moving. You have to decide how you’re going to win games. T20 games are also won in the field,” Gibson, a former West In dies fast bowler, told ESPN Cricinfo.

THE GUYOIL/Tradewind

Tanker U-18 Football League continued on Sun day with four games at the Ministry of Education ground, with goals aplenty on day five.

Dolphin Secondary beat off Friendship 6-0 in the opening fixture with four goals coming off the boot of Jequan Cole (1st,34th,51st

and 68th) while there were single strikes from Jamal Williams (58) and Daniel DeHaarte (68).

Christianburg/Wismar Secondary found the same level of success, albeit by a smaller scoreline over Cum mings Lodge Secondary 4-0.

They had Demoll Warner (28th and 69th) on target twice with support from

Kelvin Hintzen (26th) and Amani King (34th).

The same scoreline was how North Ruimvedlt got past their Western counter parts, a goal each from Hans jie Camacho, Omar Sam, Je von Pluck and Jayden James.

Meanwhile, Golden Grove and President’s Col lege played to a goal-less stalemate

“I think what they did in recent World Cups can be done again,” said Gibson, the current head coach of Yorkshire County in En gland.

“West Indies needed per sonnel changes – which have obviously happened – but then perhaps the strategy also needs to change.

“They need to look at whether they are getting the best out of the players they

West Indies have trav elled to this year’s T20 World Cup with a relatively inexperienced unit, leaving behind the likes of superstars Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Shimron Hetmyer.

The move by selectors was a departure from the 2021 policy which saw emphasis placed on senior players, the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul all included in the squad at the expense of younger, in-form players.

Gibson, head coach of West Indies for the 2012 triumph, said the recall of these experienced players

“If your squad is ageing, then that will catch up with you. That squad was an ageing squad. And while experience matters, the game changes very quickly, and you have to be able to keep moving your squad along with the game.”

West Indies are not among the favourites for the showpiece which got under way Sunday with the qual ifiers at Bellerive Oval but Gibson said they remained a dangerous side.

“They’ve got world-class players. Hopefully, they can find a way to come together as a group and understand how each person needs to play their part,” he said.

“I feel like they’ve got a great chance. Like I said, you can never discount West Indies.”

Beaton, Paul steer Essequibo past

in low-scoring battle

team

wins

Essequibo