Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 18-02-2024

18th FEBRUARY, 2024

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See Inside No.107358

Tackling long-term effects of war, conflict on Guyana’s radar - during tenure at UN Security Council, President Ali says

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President Ali leads nationwide beautification exercise

President Dr Irfaan Ali repainting the median along the Agricola Public Road, as he led a countrywide beautification exercise on Saturday

Gov’t has a masterplan to improve lives of citizens

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- VP Jagdeo affirms

Bilateral trade between Guyana, China increases to US$1.23 billion in 2023 19 SEE PAGE

UG to collaborate with international flight school for aviation training

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

Tackling long-term effects of war, conflict on Guyana’s radar

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- during tenure at UN Security Council, President Ali says

By Trina Williams

WITH very limited attention being placed on the long-term effects of conflict and war, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has stated that Guyana will use its Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to address this and other pressing global issues.

The President outlined the country’s agenda during an interview with six-time Emmy Award-winning Television Producer Arick Wierson for Newsweek Magazine, in the US. “So, we want to use this period of our presidency to not only highlight the effects of conflict and war and the immediate action that is required globally, but also for us to bring to the fore the consequences on the environment and food security that are ultimately, critically integrated and linked to the prosperity of people and their ability to live a comfortable and rewarding life in the future,” he said.

Additionally, Dr. Ali highlighted that one of the many challenges when it comes to the topic of conflict and wars is that very limited attention is placed on the long-term issues such as the impacts

President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres

on food, the environment and the displacement of people.

The President related: “…So when we look at conflicts and wars, we pay very little attention to the damaging effect, the long-term effect. So there is no allocation of resources or there is no system that allows societies to be rebuilt, that allows structures to be rebuilt, that allows the environment to be regenerated after these conflicts and wars.”

While using Guyana’s Caribbean Community (CARICOM) sister state, Haiti, as an example, Dr. Ali said that conflict has made that country susceptible to a range of obstacles such as malnutrition and the destruction of the environment, to name a few.

The Head-of-State then went on to say: “But these issues are not given the type of attention that they should be given be-

cause the focus is on the war itself… it’s on how do we get a ceasefire in Gaza, well in Gaza how do we get food to the people, how do we get water?”

Adding: “But what about the damage to the environment? What about the long-term effect of all the people who will be displaced? How are we going to fulfil their needs? How are we going to ensure the system responds to these effects of war?”

Further, given the growing inter-connectedness of global challenges, there is a pressing need for the UNSC to explore Guyana’s proposed approach in order to uphold international peace and security.

Upon taking up the presidency of the UNSC at the beginning of this month, Dr. Ali decided to issue this call to action, last Tuesday.

This development

President Dr. Irfaan Ali chairing the special council meeting at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York

arises during Guyana’s ongoing two-year tenure on the Council, which is one of the UN’s six principal organs dedicated to preserving international peace and security.

Addressing a pivotal open debate in New York, President Ali highlighted the critical intersections among climate change, food insecurity, and peace and security, advocating for a comprehensive revaluation of how these issues are addressed on the global stage.

The Head of State started his address by highlighting the multifaceted crisis at the intersection of climate change, food insecurity, and conflict.

“The challenges to international peace and security continue to evolve.

And our understanding and approach to these challenges must also continue to evolve and [we must] effectively address them,” President Ali stat-

ed, highlighting the dynamic nature of global threats and the necessity for adaptive strategies.

He presented stark statistics to the council, which painted a grim picture of the current state of food insecurity, exacerbated by climate change and conflict.

With an estimated 149 million Africans facing acute food insecurity, up by 12 million from the

previous year, and a significant portion of these individuals living in conflict-affected regions, the urgency of the situation was made clear.

The President pointed out that these crises often create a vicious cycle of instability, driving up the need for humanitarian assistance and further straining international resources.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

Policeman dies in WCD accident, driver arrested

AUTHORITIES are currently investigating a tragic incident that occurred Saturday morning resulting in the death of a police rank on the public road in Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The accident involved a motor lorry bearing the registration number GAE 8523, owned by Pooran Brothers of Bella Dam, West Bank Demerara.

Reports indicate that at the time of the incident, the lorry was being driven by a 35-year-old

Dead: Devaraj Dhandreaw

individual from Tuschen.

The other vehicle involved was a motorcycle with the registration number CL 6178, which was owned and operated by Devaraj Dhandreaw, a 41-yearold Police Lance Corporal stationed at the La Grange Police Station.

Dhandreaw resided at Lot 1 Anna Catherina New Housing Scheme, WCD. Preliminary investigations indicate that the motor lorry was traveling west along the southern side of the road when the driver signaled a right turn

towards Newland Lumber Yard. Tragically, at that moment, the motorcyclist, who was also traveling west at a considerable speed, collided with the left rear portion of the lorry.

The impact of the collision caused the motorcyclist to fall onto the roadway, sustaining severe injuries. Despite efforts to render aid, the victim remained unconscious and was subsequently transported to Leonora Cottage Hospital. Upon examination by medical person-

nel, Dhandreaw was pronounced dead on arrival.

Following the tragic incident, the body of the deceased was conveyed to Ezekiel's funeral home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Authorities have taken swift action, with a notice of intended prosecution served on the lorry driver. Currently in custody, the driver is assisting the police with their ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

that, Lopes highlighted that it is equally important to host events that reach beyond that scope, to a wider audience.

"There are so many people here in this country, both local and foreign, that are interested in different genres of music, that are interested in different forms of entertainment, that don't fall in the typical party or events that you typically see here in Guyana," she said.

As a proud member of Tourism Stakeholders Guyana, Seishonen Guyana aims to promote tourism

at the entertainment level while also expanding the cultural experiences of Guyanese.

She stated that renaissance fairs are typically known for their cosplay, in terms of persons attending it dressing as fairies/ fae, but also through their promotion of businesses.

Lopes explained, "There's a lot of businesses in the fields of arts and crafts. In the fields of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, food, textiles, etc. that benefit from the

‘Fairre of the Ages’ to widen cultural experiences locally

By Faith Greene

GUYANA’s tourism product is quickly developing, and with it, so should our cultural experiences as a country.

To introduce Guyanese to a unique experience, appeal to those visiting

our country, and enhance our tourism development through event tourism, Seishonen Guyana will be hosting its first Fairre of the Ages on March 23, 2024 at the Promenade Gardens, Georgetown.

Seishonen Guyana brings unique cultural ex-

periences through events such as FUMACON, and now, Fairre of the Ages, a renaissance fair/festival that celebrates the medieval era.

Seishonen's Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Juliana Lopes expressed that at Seishonen, they are happy to bring that concept to Guyana.

She noted that one of the concepts behind the idea for Fairre of the Ages, is that most events in Guyana revolve around one theme.

The music played for exam-

ple, is typically dancehall and Soca due to our culture; and while there is nothing wrong with promoting/ attending/ supporting events or listening to music like

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

Gov’t has a masterplan to improve lives of citizens - VP Jagdeo affirms

AS Guyana continues to undergo an unprecedented surge in development, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has noted that the government has a masterplan that will enhance the lives of all Guyanese.

During a press conference on Thursday last of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Jagdeo stated that the government cannot place focus on just one sector.

“Some people believe that every cent must be spent on one sector and nothing else. We have moved away from that a long time. We have a master plan for this country that will see everyone improve, including teachers.”

Turning his attention to the education sector, Dr Jagdeo said that the PPP/C has laid out its vision on how to transform that sector.

Among the many benefits that teachers have reaped under the PPP/C government, is a $15 billion increase in salaries and wages, according to Dr. Jagdeo.

Moreover, while underscoring that these figures could be verified, the PPP/C General Secretary said, “On wages and salaries itself in the education sector, how much was it in 2020? It was $24.4 billion.

In 2023, the end of 2023, because we have not given the salary increase for this year as yet, it grew to $39.4 billion.”

He added, “So that’s a $15 billion increase… that’s a 61.4 per cent increase in allocation for wages and salaries for teachers.”

As he went on to address questions surrounding this, Dr. Jagdeo clarified, “You would see that the across-the-board figure

PPP/C General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

is lower than that and why is this so? Because we’ve hired more teachers and we have adjusted the graduate levels significantly, so that teachers who are better qualified would earn more.”

According to Dr. Jagdeo, the current government is investing more into the education sector when compared to the previous A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration.

“In the years that this government has been in office from 2020 to now, we have seen 162 per cent increase in the allocation to the sector. So, we’re spending more on almost every single area from training of teachers… to building up the infrastructure,” the PPP/C General Secretary noted.

Additionally, in November, President, Dr Irfaan Ali had announced increases to teachers’ salaries and other interventions.

‘Fairre of the Ages’ to widen cultural...

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renaissance fair; since these materials were popularly used in the renaissance era."

Fairre of Ages will see a bustling marketplace, featuring vendors retailing a wide array of products, like those mentioned before, as well as archery, which will be facilitated by the Archery Guild.

In addition, they will also have some live per-

formances, typically from belly dancers, and opera singers.

She noted, "We will also have a pub crawl. The pub crawl will feature a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, and besides those things that I would have mentioned, patrons can expect to have different things to do on the day, and these activities as I mentioned before, would be reminiscent of the medieval

era."

Seishonen has already engaged with artists, and theme designers to create concepts that people can expect on the day of the event.

To attend Fairre of the Ages and be a part of this one-of-a-kind experience, interested persons can get

tickets exclusively from Bad Monkey Merch locations at MovieTowne Guyana, Giftland Mall, Amazonia Mall, and the West Central Mall. In addition, patrons can visit Potsalt Events to purchase tickets online. General admission is $5,000.

These accumulated to a total of $1.9 billion.

Providing a scenario so persons could understand how the increases would apply, President Ali had said that a graduate Senior Mistress/Head of Department would have their salaries adjusted upwards from $243,069 to $262,917, and with the inclusion of the revision to education allowances, this represents an overall 12 per cent increase compared to the previous minimum salary paid to such persons.

In the case of a graduate Senior Assistant Mistress working in the hinterland, the minimum salary was adjusted upwards from $223,232 to $243,076, and with the inclusion of the revision to education allowances and Remote Areas Incentive (RAI), this represents an overall 16 per cent increase compared to the previous minimum salary paid to such persons.

Outside of salaries and allowances, all teachers

who hold a substantive appointment as a Senior Master/Mistress or above, and are within three years of retirement and have not previously received a duty-free concession on a motor car, are entitled to a duty-free concession for a motor car of up to 1500cc.

Approximately $135 billion dollars was announced for the education sector in this year’s fiscal package.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

A responsible global citizen IN the swirling currents of global geopolitics, where nations jostle for influence and prominence, Guyana has emerged as a shining beacon of careful planning, prudent management, and visionary leadership.

This South American nation, which has a small population but large landmass, has defied expectations and carved out a formidable presence on the world stage through a combination of astute diplomacy, responsible resource management, and a commitment to addressing pressing global challenges.

At the heart of Guyana's remarkable ascent lies its adept handling of its oil-

and-gas resources, a precious endowment that could have been a double-edged sword but has instead become a catalyst for progress.

Rather than succumbing to the resource curse, Guyana has leveraged its newfound wealth to fuel economic growth, foster social development, and bolster its standing internationally.

The government's emphasis on creating an enabling environment for investments has attracted interest from around the globe, laying the foundation for sustained prosperity.

But Guyana's ambitions extend far beyond its economic prowess. As evidenced by its current

roles as Chair of CARICOM and President of the United Nations Security Council, Guyana is actively shaping the global agenda on critical issues ranging from climate change to peace and security. President Dr. Irfaan Ali's commitment to multilateralism and principled leadership underscores Guyana's dedication to fostering peace and prosperity not only within its borders but also across the international community.

Central to Guyana's global engagement is its unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability and climate action.

Through initiatives under the Low-Carbon Develop-

ment Strategy 2030, Guyana is demonstrating that economic growth and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive. By harnessing its vast natural resources responsibly and advocating for global action on climate change, Guyana is positioning itself as a leader in the fight against environmental degradation.

Moreover, Guyana's focus on food security, energy independence, and human capital development underscores its holistic approach to national and global challenges. By investing in education, healthcare, and vocational training, Guyana is nurturing a skilled workforce capable of driving

Sadful experiments

Dear Editor,

One sadful week has been experimented with and a second week is being sorely examined by the grasping Guyana Teachers’ Union to extract an expected outcome which is expressed as primarily self-serving to a few at the expense of less than half of the nation’s “educators.”

Coming days after the Budget 2024 presentation, examination and passed by Parliament, this trillion-dollar figure is certainly too big for the beaten Opposition to grapple with and handle.

More so, what is driving fear is the repercussion. A well planned and executed premeditation, the strike (strife?) hit the dirt running with the hope of an atomic bomb exploding. Fortunately, the photographs presented do not paint the comprehensive

picture. Little wonder the smell of roasting “guinea pigs” is not a challenge to the Saharan dust.

What is worrisome is that, those clamoring for more, fail to recognise or choose to be oblivious, that in only three years of administration, the PPP/C Government has done more for the education system in totality, than their predecessor.

The systemic ramification of logistics and statistics assert the current enjoyed benefits and outweigh the achingly 2015-2020 harangue. What was the accepted settlement which ensued then? The agitated Opposition has always been poor mathematicians.

The question is, to compare or not to compare the teachers’ status versus the Public Service. Don’t public servants also have to eat, dress and travel to work?

Don’t they need living quar-

ters too and can utilise duty free allowances?

Perhaps, some teachers want an exquisite class system which is aloof of others.

And then, there is the porous call for equality. How quickly some choose to forget and override the plight of the 7,000 sugar workers and their extended families! What was the GTU’s response to the sugar workers’ dilemma in 2016/17 versus the termination of the 90 plus bauxite workers in 2019?

Is it fair to analyze the contributions from perhaps some of the striking educators as against their escalated compensation over the past few years in terms of increased performance?

Perhaps, this will be too presumptuous and should not be entertained.

Are the teachers giving real value as required? Why is the passing rate so alarm-

ing? Who is answerable? The Minister or the Head Master/ Mistress or those in charge of the class rooms? Is this opening a can of worms? Are we revisiting the blame game of pointing fingers?

Guyanese are well acquainted with “do as I say and not as I do.” How morally questionable should the ring leaders be? The Opposition has been great pace setters in convulsion. They have taken us down the distressed road of 33 years of doom and gloom, bankruptcy, corruption, expert mismanagement, racism and violence.

The long arms of the PNC’s tentacles are wrapped around some trade unions with their warped ideas and ideals. There is an obvious behavioural pattern which is apparently executed and exercised by the misled educated advocates.

Breaking up the one-day

innovation and prosperity in the years to come. This commitment to human development is not only a testament to Guyana's resilience but also a cornerstone of its vision for a brighter future.

Yet, amidst Guyana's rise on the global stage, it remains acutely aware of the tumultuous currents swirling across the world.

From conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza to democratic backsliding in various regions, the global community faces myriad challenges that threaten peace and stability.

Guyana's presence on the UN Security Council underscores its commitment to upholding the principles

of justice, democracy, and respect for international law.

As President Ali aptly notes, the country's journey to prominence has not been without its own internal challenges, including threats to democracy in the recent past. However, it is precisely these challenges that have strengthened Guyana's resolve to champion fairness, justice, and the rule of law, both regionally and internationally.

As it navigates the complex currents of global politics, Guyana stands as a shining example of what is possible when a nation dares to dream big and embrace its role as a responsible global citizen.

strike by the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union in the 1980’s over the “too many lines in a non-aligned country,” is a classic example of brute, force and ignorance, extolled by Burnham and his army of violent and murderous sycophants. Father Darke was brutally murdered while innocently taking pictures.

Famous Guyanese reporter, Ricky Singh, had to run for his life from this country.

Teargassing and shooting GAWU members in the 1960’s was a norm by the blood thirsty regime who was out to quell the cry of proletariats. Alice was crushed to death at Leonora. The elders whose hands are stained, now teach and preach while governed with volcanic and revolting conscience! But the GTU has nothing of the sort to worry about from the PPP/C Government.

COVID-19 enforced a revolutionary approach to the ongoing teaching system by the PPP/C Government.

The Ministry of Education remains challenged to parallel an advanced and modern

technology, embraced by global enhancements. They have been recognized for their sterling performance in this advent. How many of the striking educators can claim to be contributing factors to this success? Are the teachers responsible for molding students who top the Caribbean in classes or in the streets?

These days, the word sacrifice has a different meaning or none perhaps. How many teachers remain genuinely motivated toward their duties? It is not a case where their reasonable demands have been ignored by the ever-caring Government. More than 50% have been fulfilled. When teachers allow themselves to be misguided, misrepresented and mistaken, then, they become students of a different caliber.

Guyana’s portion of the oil revenue was reduced to 14.5 % by the Opposition who negotiated a lopsided contract. The PPP/C Government is not responsible for this quandary. Guyana will not become a Dubai overContinued on page 7

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

President Ali’s address to the UN Security Council was a signature event Dear Editor,

It is without any doubt that His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali can be considered the most energetic, wise, courageous, visionary and genuine president of Guyana who makes promises and fulfills them. Since taking office three and a half years ago, President Dr. Ali has exhibited all the characteristics of a true, prudent and informed leader in the sense that he has not only fulfilled

Sadful ...

From page 6 night. A careful, collective and calculated government will not go on a spending spree and empty the Treasury like the PNC would want to do.

Differentiating between want and need has to be a tempered and practical approach by any meticulous economics teacher. That is why the government has to be the prudent teacher, taking some degree of precaution and not become an enabler of disaster.

The art of teaching

most of the promises made by the PPP/C during the elections, but he has also done the same for those he made during his several outreaches across the country. In those outreaches, he has not only made promises to the residents, but he has solved many if not most of their outstanding problems, and in doing so, he has also made them hopeful and has inspired them to achieve their goals, especially the youths who are the country’s most valuable assets.

enriches the gift of love, compassion and understanding. It encompasses an articulation for communication.

Choosing this field is rewarding, not only monetary. Is there any teacher who can really compare their situation with an ordinary cane cutter? Innocent students have exams to prepare for. They are caught between a rock and a hard place. It’s time to look at the glass as half full and not half empty!

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has made the conscious decision to invest in the youths who are 65 percent of the country’s population by providing them with the necessary training to improve and or upgrade their skills and helped them to grow and mature into the most powerful, confident and happy versions of themselves. As evident in his “One Guyana” initiative which among other things is meant to unite the people and improve their well-being in their daily pursuit of happiness, the President has assured them that he will do everything in his power to make sure that everyone co-exists peacefully.

To achieve these goals, His Excellency has created a culture of inclusiveness and harmony in the country to reduce conflict and prejudices and to ensure that no one is left out of the development process and economic benefits and that everyone, regardless of race, status or party affiliation has access to all government programmes and resources.

President Dr. Ali has said many times that he is committed to govern in the interest of all Guyanese, determine the goals of the government, craft the strategies

and policies to achieve them, and embolden most if not all government officials from entry level to middle and senior management officials to implement them without fear or favour and without prejudice. He is aware of critics who will disapprove of his policies, but is not afraid to confront and challenge them to provide better alternatives.

His Excellency is known for his courage, vision, integrity, authenticity and influence which are some of the qualities of a true leader. He is also a very objective, practical and creative leader who is convinced that with its huge oil reserves, its high GDP and enormous development projects, Guyana will emerge as one of the most attractive and prosperous countries in the 21st century for both its citizens and foreign investors.

At the local, regional, hemispheric and international levels, President Dr. Ali has led by example, fostering strong relationships with his CARICOM and Latin America counterparts, the United States and the European Union, among others, particularly to counter the threats made by the Maduro regime in Venezuela to annex the oil rich region of Essequibo.

One month after gaining a

seat as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Guyana assumed the rotating presidency of the UNSC on February 1, 2024, which once again placed it on the global leadership under the governance of President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The Guyana Head of State who is currently the President of the UNSC, chaired a high-level open debate on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 under the theme, “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security.”

In his address to United Nations Security Council, His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali has fervently appealed to the members of UNSC to seriously address the issue of conflict and its harmful effects on food security and climate change. He underscored the critical need for a paradigm shift in addressing the nexus between climate change, food security, and international peace and security. He warned that climate change is expected to intensify and expand significantly as a driver of armed conflict which can induce food insecurity and the threat of famine as is currently the case in Africa where more than 150 million people are facing acute food insecurity.

The Guyanese Head of State acknowledged that these issues are not isolated but

are deeply interconnected with the health, safety and existence of the planet and hence globality stability.

Dr Ali called for a targeted approach by members of the UNSC to address these interconnected impediments which have exacerbated conflict and instability.

Leading by example, President Dr. Ali has emphatically stated that Guyana has been at the forefront of discussions related to several global issues including climate change, food security, energy security and international peace and security on the international stage. He was delighted to have the opportunity highlight to the UNSC members the possibilities to improve international efforts to strengthen the food systems, prevent acute food insecurity and foster preparedness. His address to the UNSC was aimed at promoting enhanced understanding and coordinated and proactive responses to address the linkages between food insecurity and climate change.

The high-level debate represented a signature event for His Excellency Dr. Ali as president of Guyana and the UNSC. Sincerely, Dr. Asquith Rose

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

Low-life people chased me from the seawall road ONE politician sued another after being called a “low life.” The famous social media influencer, Michael Rodriques, that uses the pen name, “Guyanese Critic” waded into the controversy and announced that he invented the term “low life.”

Actually, years ago I

used the term low-life to describe the bacchanalian crowd of fun-seekers that occupy the seawall road in the afternoon after 5 PM. I can remember doing two articles on these low-lives but I can only find one Saturday, February 13, 2021 – “On the seawall, Friday

morning: This is what Guyana has become.”

In that article I wrote the following; “I have seen well-to-do people park on the seawall road, west of Camp Road between Camp Road and the Kitty pump station and they make it difficult for you to pass – the seawall road is narrow.

Yet there is a huge parapet on the seawall road to park on. Yes, I have seen the ‘low life types’ do just that on the seawall road but I have seen the fools from the middle and upper classes do that too.”

Low-life, as commonly used, refers to certain groups of people from both the proletarian and the lumpen-proletariat.

The assignment of the term low-life, in many cases locally, is misleading. Lowlife is not a class role. Lowlife is a mentality that cuts across social classes. The horse-cart driver can be a low-life. The nouveau riche has members that are lowlife practitioners. They have no consciousness of what manners and etiquettes are.

I use the term low-life mostly in the psychological context rather than applying it to someone who throws an empty bottle out of his/ her car window. For me, low-life is also about lack

of values.

I came face to face with my definition of low-life by using the seawall road to get to the Eve Leary beach. I “grew up” on the Georgetown seawall because my father worked there. He worked as the head groundsman for Saint Stanislaus cricket ground.

As a 10-year-old boy, I would leave school and go and stay with my father. I did that for years and the ambience of the seawall crept into my DNA. I never left the seawall until I went abroad to study.

I came back in 1984 and I resumed my residence at the Georgetown seawall since then. You can find me and my dog there this evening. I live at Turkeyen.

So I would travel westward and enter the seawall road to get to the Eve Leary beach.

I was doing that for years until the low lives hijacked the seawall road and chased me away.

You cannot travel on the seawall road going east from

Eve Leary CID or going west from the Kitty pump station. After 5 PM each day (with Sunday night being total chaos), bacchanalian revelers take over that that part of the seawall that they are entitled to enjoy but not the actual roadway.

My 2021 column cited above was about that. Now I am writing about it in 2024.

I have no problem whatsoever with people enjoying themselves on the beachfront. The mighty Atlantic sits right in Georgetown to be enjoyed. And there is sufficient space for you to park and have your escapades. But why take over an important roadway that links Kingston with the East Coast?

People from the East Coast who work in the heart of the city use that roadway to go home in the afternoon.

People travelling from the East Coast to go to Marriott, the Pegasus, Eve Leary police departments and the DPP use that road. These low-life people have no

conscience. They park on the seawall road itself. The grassy parapet is so wide that you don’t need to put your car on the road.

These low lives are people from different classes and different ethnicities.

The most horrifying ordeal is that you cannot pass and they won’t move their vehicles and you dare not ask them to move. The police patrol the area every night and couldn’t be bothered with the confusion they see.

On Friday, Minister Edghill announced that widening of the road will begin shortly and the vendors will have to move.

I feel sorry for the vendors because it is the lowlives that have brought this on them. The low-lives park right alongside the vendors to buy their liquor, thus blocking the roadway.

But I have a question for Bishop Edghill. Why does he think the low-lives will not return after the road is widened and we go back to square one?

Tragic school shooting parents held accountable THE awful tragedy of yet another school shooting in the US took centre stage last week, in a landmark verdict handed down by the courts.

For the first time since these horrific shootings began, the mother of the 15-year-old boy who shot 11 of his schoolmates, killing four, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

The shooting took place at the Oxford High School in Michigan in November 2021 and Ethan Crumbley, now 17 is serving life in prison for the killings. His mother, Jennifer, was found guilty of allowing him to have a gun and ignoring signs that he was mentally disturbed.

According to BBC News, prosecutors at the trial presented evidence that the young man "had wanted

mental health help and complained of hallucinations, but said his parents did not get him treatment". However, his mother contended that she did not think her son had mental health problems.

Further, on the morning of the shooting the parents allegedly cut short a meeting about "a disturbing drawing" their son had done, opting to go back to work and deContinued on page 10

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

Debt Sustainability Analysis: Private and Public Sectors Debt Indicators, Impact on the Economy Introduction THE national budget for 2024 is financed by 37% debt, including both domestic and external sources, which translates to a fiscal deficit of 8.5% of GDP. The political opposition contends that the level of increase in the debt may not be sustainable, a view which is endorsed by other segments of commentators within the public sphere. However, this author contends that the proponents of this view have failed to examine the broader debt sustainability framework, which would show, as illustrated herein, that all of the debt sustainability indicators are well within the low-risk category.

More importantly, the impact of debt on the economy’s productive output, both within the context of the public and private sectors’ context, as well as household income have been ignored. This article seeks to address these dimensions of the discussion and analysis.

Global Context To t a l g l o b a l d e b t (public plus private debt stocks) declined 10 percentage points of GDP and reached 238% of GDP in 2022. In U.S dollars, global debt remained stable at US$235 trillion.

The fall in public debt slowed compared to the previous year, as it fell 3.6 percentage points of GDP to 92% of GDP in 2022.

The fall over the last two years reversed about half of the surge during the pandemic. Private debt by households and non-financial corporations made the largest contribution to the overall decline, as it dropped to 6.4 percentage points of GDP to 146% of GDP in 2022. In many countries, especially in advanced and emerging markets, excluding China, private debt is now below

pandemic levels.

ties have far outpaced the level of debt undertaken that was partially attributed to these outcomes.

The two years of large declines, amounting to 20 percentage points of GDP, only partially reversed the spike from the pandemic, as global debt remained 9 percentage points above its pre-pandemic level in 2022. Global debt appears to have returned to its historical upward trend.

Managing debt vulnerabilities should be key.

Discussion and Analysis Debt is neither bad nor good. Debt facilitates the creation of wealth, viz-á-viz, increasing the money supply, thereby increasing wealth. But debt has to be managed sustainably because there are multiple risks associated with debt. When debt is undertaken to finance consumption expenditure, this should always be contained to a minimal extent. Consumption activities do not generate future income streams. Debt financing, on the other hand, when channeled towards productive activities that would generate and expand future income streams is necessary, albeit within a sustainable framework.

With that in mind, debt is not an isolated, absolute variable. Debt is dependent on other variables.

Primarily, debt is relative to (1) the productive capacity (potential future revenue streams) and productive output (current levels of production) of a country in the case of public debt, of a firm in the case of corporate debt, of an individual in the case of household debt.

Thus, debt is also relative to (2) the revenue (cash flow) derived from the productive activities, and (3) relative to the market value of total assets utilised to generate the productive output when put to work. Generally, these are the fundamentals that

are of key importance to always bear in mind when conducting a debt sustainability analysis, whether it is within a household context, corporate context, or a country’s context.

In the case of a country, the productive assets of a country include the physical resources, human resources (population), and the natural resources. The productive activities carried out by individuals, firms, and the State/Government, in turn generate national income and/or wealth for the country, its people (households) and firms (Gross Domestic Product (GDP)).

Over the last two decades (2001-2023), total public debt increased threefold (from $276b to $940b). Considering this, it is worth noting that for the same period, GDP (the economy’s productive output) increased by nearly thirtyfold (2,829%) or 10x the level of increase relative to public debt; non-oil GDP (the non-oil economy’s productive output) increased ninefold (827%) or 3x the level of increase relative to public debt; central government revenue increased twelvefold (1,110%) or 4x the level of increase relative to public debt; household net income increased twelvefold (1,080%) or 4x the level of increase

relative to public debt; business enterprises net income increased eighteenfold (1,676%) or 4x the level of increase relative to public debt; and altogether, national income increased thirteenfold (1,209%) or 4x the level of increase relative to public debt.

In light of the foregoing, wherein the level of debt employed is relative to other factors such as current levels of income and productivity as well as future income earning potential, based on the investments undertaken therefor. The economy’s productive, income and/or wealth generating capaci-

Therefore, it is safe to conclude that Guyana’s public debt indicators are well below the low-risk category in accordance with the IMF risk profile benchmarks, whereby countries with a debtto-GDP ratio of <50% are considered low risk, 50-90% are considered moderate risk and >90% are considered high risk.

To this end, public debtto-GDP ratio is 24% as of 2023, which is projected to increase by three (3) percentage points at the end of 2024. The public debt service indicators are also well within the low-risk range, with a debt service-to-revenue ratio of 6% and non-oil Continued on page 11

Hardened Resolve

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TOMORROW some teachers will start trickling back into schools across the country after being away from class for two weeks since the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) began strike-action against the ruling PPP/C Administration.

Others who are determined to get tied up in opportune politics and political shenanigans in the lead-up to the 2025 election, will continue on the streets and will be on strike indefinitely.

What is sure is that the GTU will argue its case before the courts to seek to stop the PPP/C Administration from making subtractions from the teachers’ March salaries for being away from the classrooms, and joining in what it calls an illegal and political strike.

So far, the government has shown no signs of weakness and caving in. It also hardened its resolve to not meet with the union and engage the striking teachers while they are engaged in a full-blown industrial action, albeit illegal, given the untrue rhetoric and false narratives spread by the GTU and its political ‘sponsors’.

The government is choosing to stand on the side of the law, legality and the constitution, and is ready to fearlessly and passionately defend its actions in court if it needs to. This government is also hardening its resolve to prove a political point to the GTU, which is being egged on by the opposition PNC/R-APNU/ AFC political grouping, that it has no desire to surrender or give in to illegality, spiteful and unreasonable demands.

It is showing the political heads behind this strike that they are unmasking the true motive of so-called industri-

al action, which is to use a segment of the labour force or trade unions to cripple the government, thereby setting it back and withholding the development of the nation’s education sector.

Also, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday last announced that the government, through the Ministry of Education, may have to seriously consider exploring online methods that will ensure that students are provided with tuition and benefit from being actively engaged in learning.

This, he said, is not entirely new as during the COVID-19 period when online teaching was the order of the day, most teachers did not teach but were still paid.

Jagdeo said if the strike continues, Guyana may have to do like most of the world and look at “a hybrid system of looking more at online methods and a combination of the classroom…, We have started preparing the material etc…We may have to find alternate ways of ensuring that our children are educated.”

This is part and parcel of the government’s hardened

resolve and disdain for the political bosses of the GTU, who only seek self-aggrandisement at the expense of the striking teachers, and children.

Firstly, nothing has been accomplished by the Union since February 5 to 18.

The GTU has called out its teachers and engaged in street politics and shenanigans. It has miscalculated its hand and was grossly misled by its General Secretary, Coretta McDonald.

McDonald has abused her position. She has misled teachers to think that if they strike or protest, it would move the government and force them back to the table. It did not accomplish this goal but led to a much more hardened government stance.

Teachers are not richer or better off than when they joined the picket line. If anything, sadly, they will pay if the government goes through with the deduction of their salaries for days of illegal strike action.

This strike has not even caught the attention of the government or elicited the type of bureaucratic response it should have gotten had it come at the end of a breakdown of talks and negotiations. The union walked

away and ran into the PNC/ APNU/AFC’s arms which is gearing up for elections next year.

Teachers have a just cause, and rightfully so, but this cause cannot be respected by all right-thinking Guyanese because the teachers did not follow the process before engaging in the action.

McDonald is like the snake oil salesman and the teachers, though intelligent, were misled into thinking their problems could be remedied in this manner.

Secondly, the whole exercise is futile and teachers are looking crazy in the hot sun and streets while the usual politicians, who show up at ‘any rally’ or ‘picket or protest’ to get the limelight and cheap fame, are happy and contented with the outcome.

After all, the opposition politicians McDonald, Gary Best, Nima Flu-Bess, Darren Wade, Jermaine Figuera, Venessa Kissoon, Simona Broomes, Dawn Hasting-Williams, and others were not concerned about teachers when they were in government nor did they respect the collective

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024 bargaining process. They did not care about the conditions of teachers' work nor did any of them make representation for teachers when Keith Scott said that striking teachers were “selfish, and uncaring”.

So, what gives? How come they are on the picket line giving interviews and criticisms of the government now?

It suits the opposition's false narrative of racism, discrimination and violence. It's playing politics and getting the labour union riddled up. All the other union leaders who present on the picket line are anti-development proponents and anti-PPP. The public knows Norris Witter, and Lincoln Lewis from the damage they engineered on Bauxite Workers and trade unionism in Guyana during the 80’s and early 90’s.

So, they are political jokers who will not help the teachers in their fight.

Finally, GTU plans to test the government and bring it to its knees with the help of the teachers and other unsuspecting public servants while the government has shown that it will not yield to political pressure.

The education budget has grown by 162 per cent since 2020. Salaries of teachers have moved up from $24.4 billion in 2020 to $39.4 billion in 2023, representing a $15 billion increase or a 61.4 per cent increase in the allocation.

Teachers' working conditions have seen more quanti-

tative improvement from 2020 to 2023 than achieved by PNC/ APNU/AFC Administration during the period 2015 to 2020.

The PPP/C Administration is working aggressively to bring further relief to not just teachers but all workers. For this reason alone, any sensible Guyanese should trust and be patient while the government labours for sustained salaries of the public working population.

Getting involved in opportune opposition politics is not the answer or striking against the government while they are engaging in labour talks is not the answer. The government will not engage the GTU while it is striking.

GTU must have a conscience as it expects the same from the government. It must take the concerns and criticisms of the government on board and address its issues with accountability and transparency of its finances as well as membership. It must open itself to the Auditor General and make things right with the Deeds Registry.

Then, it must save face and reveal the true motive of this strike which is political and sinister, before it gets the opportunity to negotiate with the government.

Right-thinking teachers demand it. Parents and children demand it or the hardened resolve of government will continue right into gridlock.

Tragic school shooting...

From page 8 clining to take the boy back home. School officials too failed to check his backpack, which contained the gun.

Evidence was produced by prosecutors to show that Mrs. Crumbley, prior to this school meeting, had expressed to a friend the fear that her son would do "something dumb."

In her defence, the boy's mother blamed her husband, who will face similar charges in a separate trial, for presenting their son with the gun, saying she did not "feel comfortable" being responsible for the purchase and left her husband to deal with it.

While we, in this country, have never experienced school shootings, there are nonetheless two important lessons to be learned from this awful incident and its repercussions.

First and foremost is the fact that the parents have been held culpable for the actions of their son and face 'jail time' as a result.

Judgement has already been passed down in the case of the mother, who has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, each carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years.

The BBC News stated that, "The question at the heart of the trial was wheth-

er the mother could have foreseen and prevented the deadly crime." The verdict indicates that the jury clearly felt that she could.

And this is portentous for parents, both at home and abroad, whose children carry out acts of violence on school grounds. There has been a spate of such incidents in schools here, where teachers have been attacked by parents and students alike. The ruling could well 'open the door' for legislators around the world to begin holding parents accountable for violent acts perpetrated by their children and placing them before the courts.

Secondly, it serves as a warning that mental health problems in our children should not be ignored, for there is a very real danger that the result could be harm to others or possibly even to themselves.

In this case, the young man had actually complained of a mental health condition and his parents did nothing, despite the fact that his mother seemed to sense that something was indeed wrong and that her son was on the verge of 'acting out'. His actions turned out to be deadly.

I can only, once again, urge parents to take note of their children's behaviour and seek professional help should they see any signs of

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

Debt Sustainability Analysis: Private and ...

From page 9

revenue of 9.5%, down from a high of 125% in 2001.

Moreover, Guyana’s total debt, which includes both public and private sector debt represented 35% of GDP at the end of 2023. This is 203 percentage points below the global debtto-GDP as of 2022, which stood at 238%.

The global public debtto-GDP was 92% in 2022, whereas Guyana’s public debt-to-

GDP is less than 30% of GDP, about 65 percentage points below the global level.

Conclusion Taken together, all of Guyana’s debt indicators are well within the low-risk range and more importantly, far below the global levels.

This trajectory is expected to remain in the low-risk range over the near to medium term.

About the Author Joel Bhagwandin,

MSc., is the Director of Financial Advisory, Market Intelligence, and Analytics at SphereX Professional Services Inc. SphereX provides in-depth analyses on national cross cutting issues surrounding public policy, business and finance in Guyana, and regional and global issues in economics and finance. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author.

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Local content to take centre stage at Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo Since Guyana’s oil and gas industry emerged over the last nine years, there has been a notable shift in the

frequency of conferences and seminars being held in the country—a change which has been a catalyst

for an increased influx of potential investors.

Tomorrow, February 19, the Guyana Energy Confer-

ence and Supply Chain Expo will open at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. The conference is the rebranded International Energy Conference, which will be running for the third consecutive year. In 2023, the conference boasted 1,200 attendees, over 60 speakers, and more than 180 exhibitors. Many of the participants were international visitors hailing from a wide range of countries including, but not limited to, Belgium, the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Germany, and several states in Africa and the Caribbean.

This year will feature some 200 exhibitors and hundreds of participants from 21 countries, including foreign Heads of State. While this conference is not the first of its kind in the country, the magnitude of these events has been increasing over the years. In 2018, the inaugural Guyana International Petroleum Summit and Exhibition was launched (GIPEX).

That event saw 200 foreign participants and 30 foreign companies. There were over 210 international participating businesses the following year.

These numbers are not just reflective of an influx in travelers to the country, with economic benefits for tourism; they speak to a marked increase in investor interest in the nation. In fact, they have resulted in partnerships being formed between local and international companies. The inaugural GIPEX saw five

partnerships being formed between local and international companies, and this continued in the conferences that followed.

The influx of foreign companies, attracted by the lucrative opportunities Guyana now offers, has ignited a surge in interest and investment, marking a new era of economic prosperity. These conferences are not merely events; they provide strategic platforms for local companies to forge critical partnerships and joint ventures with international entities, thereby bolstering the global integration of Guyana's energy sector.

This week, under the theme ‘Fueling Transformation and Modernisation’, the Conference will underscore the supply chain's critical role and the new avenues for local companies, facilitating unparalleled growth, collaboration, and global exposure.

This thematic pivot is designed to showcase the symbiotic relationship between the burgeoning energy sector and the diverse elements of the supply chain, highlighting the mutual benefits of international co-operation and local empowerment.

With ExxonMobil as the titled sponsor for the third consecutive year, their unwavering support and commitment to local content development, international collaboration and sustainable community benefits, sets the stage for an event that promises not just to discuss the future of energy but to

actively shape it.

Since the enactment of the Local Content Legislation in 2021, Guyana has witnessed significant milestones in integrating local companies into the oil and gas industry's value chain.

This legislation has been instrumental in amplifying the contributions of local entities to the sector's development, catalysing job creation, technology transfer, and community development.

The legislation's success is evident in the flourishing partnerships and collaborations born out of industry conferences, which have become crucibles for innovation and growth, demonstrating the tangible benefits of prioritising local content in the sector's expansion. Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat stated that this week’s conference will build on this.

This assembly not only reflects the sector's vibrancy but also signals the myriad opportunities awaiting local businesses, poised to leverage these platforms for expansive growth and international collaboration.

The ability to attract such a vast and diverse array of participants reflects the confidence and enthusiasm the international community has for Guyana’s energy future, much of which can be credited to the country’s conducive business environment.

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GDP growth not linked to distribution of income - Dr Jagdeo

WHILE clearing the fog of misinformation, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has made it clear that the growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is not correlated to the distribution of income and one must analyse the growth in revenue to understand how far the country has progressed.

While speaking at a press conference of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic on Thursday last at Freedom House, he said, “I pointed out that growth in GDP; it's not that direct link or directly correlated to distribution of income. And secondly, you don't look at growth in GDP…you have to look at growth in overall revenue.”

T h e Wo r l d B a n k ’s “Global Economic Prospects” report forecasts remarkable growth for Guyana, with the economy expected to significantly outperform its Caribbean counterparts.

The forecast predicts an astounding 38.2 per cent growth in 2024 and 15.2 per cent in 2025 for Guyana, the highest in the Caribbean.

This growth is underpinned by burgeoning oil production, anticipated to reach around 550,000 barrels per day with the Payara field’s operation.

Moreover, sectors like agriculture and construction are expected to bolster non-oil GDP growth, with the IMF previously estimating a 38.4 per cent GDP growth in 2023 and non-oil real GDP growth exceeding nine per cent.

Looking ahead, Guyana is poised for a robust growth trajectory, driven by private investments in oil, gas, and service industries, and substantial public capital spending, primarily funded by oil revenue transfers.

The IMF projects that the economy will double by 2028, with sustained non-oil GDP growth at 5.5 per cent as the government continues addressing developmental needs.

According to Dr Jagdeo, if one mirrors the growth of teachers’ wages and compares it to the growth in revenue, then one will see how high it is as a share of revenue.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Additionally, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has advised Guyanese to stay the course, as the government is working to ensure that everyone lives a better quality of life.

“Everybody believes that all the resources are available now. In 2027, then is when the real growth in revenue coming in would be seen in the country. And I said to our teachers, our nurses our public servants, and I say to them now again that we are committed to giving you the best life possible,” the Head of State remarked during a live broadcast, last Sunday.

While stressing that patience is key, Dr. Ali assured public servants that the PPP/C administration is pursuing policies and strategies to provide the best welfare package to the country’s valued workers.

He remarked, “But I assure them even today that this government will ensure that the total package is the best welfare package they can have in this region as time progressed. You don’t need to down tools because you are pushing up open doors. We are committed to this, but you have to have patience.”

The President said measures to improve the lives of all Guyanese will continue “even before the end of this year.”

Dr. Ali related, “We build systems that empower people, uplift your standards, and give you a better shot at life. That is why we are investing in your education, healthcare, giving everyone an opportunity to earn a degree.”

IMPROVING LIVES President Ali, in the broadcast, said that the government has already announced a series of measures to improve the lives

of teachers, nurses and other public servants, and by the end of the year, much more investments will be announced, making educators the “prime beneficiaries of the development and advancement” of Guyana.

According to the President, in September 2020, the government invested $700 million to correct the scales used to calculate teachers’ salaries and increases.

Additionally, an allowance of $10,000 was provided to all teachers with a university degree.

“Not only are we giving this allowance to trained teachers and trained graduates, but we are making the opportunities to teachers available in their school to earn that degree through the GOAL scholarship programme, through Online teachers training programmes, through the associate degree programme,” President Ali said.

“Every teacher in the system now has a free opportunity. The government is investing on their behalf so they can upgrade their skills,” he added.

In addition to this, the government is giving $6,000 to every teacher with a post- graduate diploma and has granted a $20,000 allowance to all teachers with a master’s degree.

Meanwhile, an allowance of $30,000 for educators with a doctoral degree was also granted.

“All of these allowances are not just granted in an environment in which there is no opportunity to achieve all of these degrees and added qualifications.”

Other incentives to support educators who work and live in remote areas were increased by 100 per

Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

cent, moving from $9,000

to $20,000 per month.

Dr Ali said: “We went further; we had a provision of more than 3,800 scholarships to teachers…to qualify themselves and earn a higher salary. We are incentivising the system, giving teachers an opportunity to empower themselves, while at the same time incentivising them to do better for themselves, incentivising them to do better for the teaching system.”

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‘China will never be absent in supporting Guyana’s development’

- Chinese Ambassador says; trade grew to US$1.23 billion in 2023 - 2,000 Guyanese currently hired by ACEG member companies

By Trina Williams AS Guyana and China continue to strengthen and foster greater trade relations, China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, boasted that within 11 years, the bilateral trade volume grew from US$180 million to US $1.23 billion in 2023.

While celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year at New Thriving Restaurant, Providence on Friday night, people from all walks of life bonded over tasty Asian dishes and were blown away by stellar cultural performances.

During the dinner reception hosted by the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana (ACEG), the Ambassador commended the advancements made by ACEG, which was founded in 2013 and the significant progress made in building commercial and business ties between the two countries.

She stated, “Over the past 11 years, the Association has been committed to the economic and social development of Guyana… it has effectively promoted economic and trade co-operation between China and Guyana.”

Furthermore, it was stated that ACEG is playing a major role in bolstering the employment rate. According to Ambassador Haiyan, “…Its member companies comply with and actively

respond to local content law, they are currently employing about 2000 local workers, and cultivating local talents through staff training, internship and scholarships for study in China.”

Notably, over the past 11 years, coupled with the support of the Guyanese Government and various sectors of society, the Association’s membership has expanded to 21, with some member companies being state owned and listed in the Fortune Global 500, while others are competitive private companies with “special advantages.”

These companies are engaging in energy, infrastructure, mining, agriculture, among other sectors.

As the bounty of vibrant and mouth-watering Asian Cuisines decorated dozens of tables and the gathering listened keenly to the Ambassador, she decided to take that moment to reflect on her wonderful experience in Guyana.

“From my two years of working experience in Guyana, I have the deep feeling that Guyana is an open, inclusive, friendly, vibrant and dynamic country. With the development of [the] oil and gas industry, Guyana has become the fastest growing economy in the world.

“The Guyanese Government is formulating a modernisation blueprint focusing on the main themes of energy, food, and climate securi-

ty, and committed to create a fair, open, and inclusive business environment…”

She then went on to proudly state, “In supporting Guyana's development, China hasn't and will never be absent.”

CO-OPERATION Guyana’s Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips, who was present at the reception along with other government officials, reflected on the ties between the two nations, noting that it is “steeped in rich history.”

“Our long and fruitful friendship has grown from strength to strength over the last 50 plus years, with both countries actively engaged in strategic and beneficial exchanges in almost all areas of national development,” the Prime Minister said.

He highlighted that Guyana has been benefitting from the Chinese Medical Brigade, which according to him, is saving thousands of lives in Guyana.

“Seeing this promising and long-standing show of support presently has further committed to the establishment of a China-Guyana investment and economic co-operation working group, Chinese projects in the country and investment in economic co-operation,” PM Phillips said.

Furthermore, ACEG’s Vice President Andrew Jin, during his opening remarks, lauded the umbrella of posi-

Scenes from the extravagant dinner reception hosted by the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana (Japheth Savory photos)

China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan

tivity and harmony that was being witnessed during the reception.

“We shall continue to collaborate with local business community to make our positive contribution in building a prosperous Guyana. We applaud the vision that by the Government of Guyana which is preparing Guyana from a developing

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips

country into a developed country in a decade and we are honoured and proud to be part of this history making process.”

The Chinese New Year 2024 is a Year of the Dragon, more specifically, Wood Dragon, starting from February 10, 2024, and lasting until January 28, 2025.

With Chinese people holding the belief that what one does at the beginning of a new year will affect one’s luck in the coming year, during the dinner reception, red packets were shared.

This is done to cast away the bad luck (demon Nian) and bring good luck in.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

UG to collaborate with international flight school for aviation training

VICE CHANCELLOR of the University of Guyana (UG), Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin, recently announced that the university will collaborate with an international flight school to increase the number of aviation courses it offers.

As Guyana's oil and gas and transport and logistics sector grow, more aviation specialists are required to serve the industry.

H o w e v e r, D r M o hamed-Martin said that the country lacks considerable experience in the field, necessitating UG's partnership with an international aviation school.

This means that the foreign school will provide the technical aspect, and UG will teach what it can, she added. A dual degree will be granted upon completion of four years.

UG will offer this discipline using a "modular approach," according to Dr. Mohamed-Martin.

With its Faculty of Engi-

UG’s Vice Chancellor, Dr Paloma Mohamed-Martin

neering and Technology, UG presently provides a two-year Bachelor of Science (Aviation Management).

In order to be admitted to this programme, applicants must possess an Associate of Science in Aviation Management, or any other qualification that the university deems comparable.

The university also offers a Certificate and Associate’s Degree in this field.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will open an

aviation school by the end of this year to train military and civilian pilots for the local and Caribbean markets, according to a July 2023 announcement made by President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The school will be run by the army’s Air Corps.

In order to establish "one of the most modern, advanced aviation schools in the Caribbean, here in Guyana, to provide training for all of the Caribbean," President Ali had stated that Guyana

The entrance to UG’s Turkeyen campus

will make use of retired Air Corps pilots as well as other aviators in the region.

According to earlier reports, Guyana is in need of more flight attendants, pilots, air traffic controllers, operations technicians, and aircraft

mechanics and avionics technicians.

Presently, the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School (AWHWAES) offers an Associate Degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s Licence (AMEL) without Type Rating.

It is a four-year full-time ab-initio programme.

In the meantime, the

Guyana Civil Aviation Training School contributes significantly to the advancement of aviation by providing a range of courses, including the Area Control Refresher Course, Radiotelephony Training Course, General Ab-initio Training Course, and Airside Vehicle Operators Personnel Certificate Course.

Tragic accident claims Deputy Toshao’s life in Central Rupununi

— Intoxicated driver arrested A FATAL accident that occurred Friday evening on Quarrie Access Trail in Central Rupununi, Region Nine, has left the community mourning the loss of Carl Lewis, a 52-year-old Deputy Toshao of Shulinab Village, South Central Rupununi.

The incident involved a motor pickup bearing the registration number PVV 1398, owned by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), and driven by a 39-yearold resident of Lethem.

Additionally, a motorcycle, operated by Lewis, was also involved in the tragic collision.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the motorcyclist was travelling

Dead: Deputy Toshao of Shulinab Village, Carl Lewis

south along the eastern side of Quarrie Access Trail, while the driver of the pickup was reportedly consuming alcoholic beverages at Katoonarib Village.

Subsequently, the pickup departed for Lethem, TURN TO PAGE 21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

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Guyanese children ready for ‘Mash’

Children from all over Guyana tramped from Parade Ground to the National Park in Georgetown for the Unit of Allied Arts, Ministry of Education, Children’s Costume Parade 2024. Themes ranged from education, culture, unity, health, and infrastructure. Sunday Chronicle photographer, Japheth Savory captured the beautiful display.

Tragic accident claims Deputy ...

FROM PAGE 20 proceeding north along the eastern side of Quarrie Access Trail at a high rate of speed, directly into the path of the motorcyclist.

Police reports indicate that despite efforts by the pickup driver to swerve away from the oncoming motorcyclist, a collision became unavoidable. The impact of the crash caused Lewis to fall onto the trail surface, sustaining severe injuries, while his motorcycle became engulfed in flames.

Following the incident, Lewis was promptly assisted by the police and members of the public, who found him in an unconscious state.

He was immediately transported to Lethem Regional Hospital, where

medical personnel, including Dr. Lefane Luxmana, attended to him. Tragically, Lewis was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The body of the deceased has since been conveyed to the Lethem Regional Hospital's Mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Authorities have taken the driver of the pickup into custody as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident continue.

The untimely passing of Deputy Toshao Carl Lewis has deeply saddened the community of Shulinab Village and the wider Central Rupununi region.

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GCB senior inter-county women’s T20 tournament

Fraser stars as Demerara dethrone Berbice in low-scoring finale

By Sean Devers

A 15-year wait was finally over for Cherry-Ann Fraser’s Demerara team, after she led from the front yesterday in a low-scoring encounter to take the GCB senior Inter County Women’s T20 title by five wickets.

Played at the Malteenoes ground, Demerara ended Berbice’s 15-year winning streak thanks to the West Indies’ fast bowling all-rounder.

Fraser, who bats left-handed and is one of the quickest female right-arm pacers in the West Indies, grabbed 4-9 from her four overs and got support from Nidia Andrews who had 2-12 as the pre-tournament favourites Berbice were dismantled for 34 in 15 overs.

Berbice, who had recently won their 15th consecutive 50-overs title, were asked to bat in sunny con-

Cherry Ann Fraser collects another trophy from the GCB’s Beharry

ditions on a track which offered some help for the bowlers.

The defending champions started badly in Demerara’s backyard; losing Cristal Durant, Realanna Grimmond and international player Shabika Gajnabi to leave them

on 5-3.

Fraser charged in and bowled fast while Andrews bowled with good control.

When Skipper and West Indies batter Shamaine Campbell was given out after being hit high off Andrews for five and stormed

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday February 18, 2024)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD - 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Andre Russell-71 (Perth) (2) Glen Maxwell-120*(Adelaide) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who claimed most wickets for the WI in the just-concluded T20 Int’l series versus AUST? (2) Who bagged most wickets for AUST? Answers in tomorrow’s issue ……………………………………………………………………………………………

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off the ground angrily, Berbice were 17-4 and never recovered as mostly poor shot selection orchestrated the demise of their batters.

Extras top scored with 11.

Demerara, not helped by two run outs, then struggled to reach 35-5 in 13.2 overs as West Indies left-arm spinner Kaycia Schultz hit a boundary in her unbeaten 10.

Demerara were made to work hard for their upset win after West Indies batter Mandy Mangru, the leading scorer in the 50-over format, was brilliantly stumped

by Campbell off Ashmani Munisar for one, while Naomi Barkoye (1) was lbw

to Gajnabi before Tilleya Madramootoo (4) played an impetuous shot to deep mid-wicket as Phaffiana Millington struck to leave Demerara on 3-9.

When Fraser (3) was run out in a terrible mix-up with Barkoye, the hosts had slipped to 14-4 and the large gathering with included the Essequibo team, were rooting for Berbice.

Cianna Barkoye (3) was also run out at 20-5, but Schultz and Andrews (3) kept their heads and saw their team to victory.

Fraser who scored the most runs, took the most wickets and won the Playerof-the-Match Award, lament-

ed the lack of cricket played by the players who are not at the international level.

“We can got go to camps but if more cricket is not played for these ladies, then if the International players don’t get runs… we will be bowled out for scores like this at the regional level,” said Fraser, who said this is her best inter- county tournament and was happy with her all-round performance.

Berbice Coach Winston Smith said that while there could have been a higher standard of umpiring for senior inter-county cricket, he blamed the poor total on reckless shot selection.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

Doha World Championship

- Scott says Persaud and Noel will peak for Paris Olympics GUYANA Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) President Dwayne Scott says that Aleka Persaud and Raekwon Noel will peak heading into the summer Olympic games.

The athletes are the country’s lone male and female swimmers at the ongoing World Aquatics Championship in Doha, Qatar.

Scott told Chronicle Sports, “They put up credible times but it is early in the season, so we didn’t expect them to be peaking now, as they come closer to the games, we know that we will see better times.”

He is encouraged to see how

the swimmers are doing months out from the summer Olympics, adding that, “it is not either of their best times but it was as expected.”

In the pool on Saturday Aleka Persaud was again off her best when she competed in her favorite event.

Persaud going into heat six ranked number two finished in a time of 28.60 seconds to place 9th overall with Bolivia’s Adriana Giles first in 26.60 seconds.

Persaud went into the race with a personal best time of 27.42 seconds which is the national record and that would have placed her in second place.

However, her execution was off as she finished near bottom in her second event of the championship.

The 17-year-old finished 8th place in her 100-meter freestyle on Thursday also with a slower time than her PB (personal best).

Meanwhile, Raekwon Noel captured two podium finishes in his 100 butterfly and 100 meters freestyle.

In the 100 meters butterfly on Friday, Noel coming out of lane two, finished well to clinch second place behind St Lucia’s Jayhan Odlum-Smith in 56.24.

Odlum-Smith stopped the clock first in 55.66 seconds.

Third went to Nigeria’s Clinton Opute with a time of 56.95.

Noel also won his 100-meter freestyle heat on Wednesday beating off strong challenge from swimmer Jash Tarere from Papua New Guinea.

He finished in 52.59 seconds, a far cry from his PB of 51.98 seconds.

Persaud returns to England and Noel is set to return to the United States where they will continue to ramp up their efforts and gain enough ranking points to represent Guyana at the Paris Olympic games later this year.

Noel (right) and Persaud are Olympic prospects

Mashramani Street Championship…

Champs Back Circle start as favourites to retain title

TITLE holders of the Mashramani Street Championship Back Circle made an emphatic statement to all pretenders that they are in no mood to entertain claimants to their throne without a battle.

This declaration was made evident after surviving an enthralling clash in the final of the tournament they hosted on their home turf in East Ruimveldt on Friday.

Playing against another tough opponent in North East La Penitence, the reigning

Mash champs prevailed in sudden death penalty shootout following a fierce battle in the final.

Tonight’s one night of action among the 16 top teams is anticipated to produce fireworks for the start as teams fight for over $1million in prize monies and trophies, at the National Park.

The winning team will cart off $500,000 and trophy, while second, third and fourth place runners-up will take home $250,000, $150,000 and $100,000 along with trophies

respectively.

The champs come into the tournament brimming with confidence, but they also know that the gap between the so-called established teams and the new cadre of sides have narrowed immensely.

Previously, teams such as Sparta Boss, Gold is Money, Bent Street and Festival City were favoured to be among the last standing, but this notion has changed in recent tournaments so fans can expect impressive performances from the new brigade of aspi-

rants in the format.

Teams such as LA Ballers, Team Cruel, Ballerz Empire, California Square and Lodge All Stars are all loaded with players skillful enough to spring upsets.

According to Organiser Edison Jefford, the shortened format is the new direction sport is taking, pointing to the exciting Twenty20 cricket as a prime example to underscore his point.

“I have an opportunity to create an atmosphere allied with the Mashramani celebra-

tions which is adorned with color, pomp and ceremony and fans can be assured that that is what I will deliver along with the on-field intense fireworks.

Jefford extended thanks to all members of the corporate community who have supported the event, while Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken was also praised for his continued assistance in ensuring that security remains a high priority, during the night’s proceedings.

Meanwhile, the fixtures

for tonight’s showdown are as follows: Back Circle vs.

Family; California Square vs. Agricola; Gold is Money vs. Lodge All Stars; Stabroek Ballers vs. Ballerz Empire; Sparta Boss vs. Unstoppable; Festival City vs. LA Ballers; Bent Street vs. Team Cruel and North East La Penitence vs. Team Xtreme.

Kick-off time is 18:00 hrs and teams are expected to be on time for a prompt start failing which a walkover will be awarded to the compliant team.

CWI regional four-day championship…

Cornwall blasts through Harpy Eagles batting Harpy Eagles now seventh in CMC – A destructive spell from their burly captain and champion off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall powered hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes to a historic 273-run win against defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles in the West Indies Championship on Saturday in St Kitts.

Cornwall bagged six for 61 from 34 overs, and the Harpy Eagles, chasing a highly improbable, if not impossible 460 to win, were bowled out for 186 in their second innings on the final day of their second-round match at Warner Park.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Doram supported with two for 48 from 17 overs and helped Hurricanes demolish the Harpy Eagles batting to complete their second biggest win in the Championship in terms of runs.

Several Harpy Eagles batsmen got starts, but they failed to carry on – West Indies Test

opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul led the way with 47, Veerasammy Permaul made 30, Kevlon Anderson got 26, Kemol Savory added 24, and Raymond Perez and Kevin Sinclair hit 23 each.

Pacer Jeremiah Louis formalised the result when he got Permaul caught behind about 20 minutes before the tea break, and Hurricanes completed only their fifth win in 15 matches against Harpy Eagles in the Professional Cricket League era of the Championship since 2014.

Unofficial calculations suggest the result meant that Hurricanes have moved into second in the standings – behind leaders Windward Islands Volcanoes – while Harpy Eagles are seventh in the eight-team table.

Next round, starting this coming Wednesday, Hurricanes face Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the same venue, and Harpy Eagles travel to the neighbouring island of Antigua,

where they will the Cricket West Indies Academy at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Harpy Eagles started the day on 67 for one, and they were set back in the first hour when Cornwall bowled Raymond Perez in the ninth over of the day after the batsmen added only three to his overnight score and put on 63 for the second wicket stand with Chanderpaul.

The wickets of Chanderpaul to pacer Colin Archibald and Harpy Eagles captain Kevlon Anderson to Doram either side of the visitors reaching 100 put them further in the hole, and they limped to 120 for four at lunch.

Cornwall swung the match decisively in the first hour after the interval when he trapped Sinclair lbw before removing Ronaldo Alimohamed, Savory, and Anthony Adams in successive overs, and Harpy Eagles sunk to 158 for eight.

Doram struck with the fifth ball after the drinks break when he bowled batting bunny Neiland Cadogan for a duck, and Permaul indulged himself while he brought the match to a flourishing end, striking three fours and two sixes from 29 balls.

The match will long be remembered for rookie Hurricanes opener Mikyle Louis using the comforts of home to accomplish the rare feat of scoring hundreds in each innings of the match after the Kittitian followed up his first innings 113 with 130 in the second innings to set the foundation for his side’s win.

Louis anchored Hurricanes to 352 in the first innings, and he extended the lead of the home team after they had bowled the Harpy Eagles out for 188, propelling them to 295 in their second innings, setting up the improbable run chase.

eight-team championship

DEFENDING regional four-day champions the Guyana Harpy Eagles are languishing at the bottom of the championship table following their second-round loss to the Leeward Islands Huricanes yesterday.

Yet to register a win after two rounds of competition, the side is only ahead of the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners.

Windward Islands Volcanoes (39.4 points) hold the lead ahead of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes (24.8), Jamaica Scorpions (24.4), Trinidad & Tobago Red Force (23.2), Barba-

dos Pride (22.8), Cricket West Indies Academy (20.4), Guyana Harpy Eagles (10.4) and Combined Campues & Colleges Marooners (9.6) The third round of matches are set for Wednesday, February 21 to Saturday, February 24.

The Volcanoes play the Marooners at Chedwin Park in Jamaica, Scorpions take on the Pride at Sabina Park in Jamaica, Hurricanes and Red Force clash at Warner Park in St Kitts, and CWI Academy vs Harpy Eagles battle at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

Kellogg’s Under-14 Indoor Hockey League - Saints’ minions plunder goals on opening day

THE Guyana Hockey Board’s annual Kellogg's Under-14 Indoor League blasted off on Friday at the Marian Academy auditorium with pulsating action.

The top side on the day was Saints Hockey Club’s minions; last year’s losing finalists came back with blood in their eyes to put other contenders on notice.

Saints Minions first came up against Multi Rockets and it was an exhibition in scoring as Jaron Isadore plundered the North Ruimveldt multi defense.

Isadore recorded a hat-

trick in a four minutes pan soon after the opening whistle as they took a sizable lead by the end of the first half, 9-0.

Jarel Isadore also came to the fore with a brace in the first half.

After the break, Multi still found no answers as Jaron came back to finish with five goals in the match with the whole team getting in on the action.

Allister Paul and Fayed Mohammed registered doubles to cap off the 19-0 win.

Minions next had to face GCC Pitbulls and continued

in the same vein.

Jaron Isadore was not done for the day, collecting a triple in his side’s commanding 6-2 victory.

In other clashes defending champion Old Fort Dominators put Multi Rockets down with a 10-0 drubbing.

Leeman Mohaber was pivotal through-out the match-up as he ended with four goals.

Micah Smith was the star striker for his team with a helmet of goals as the champions took an impressive win.

Old Fort’s first game was

a tough one as they suffered a 3-2 defeat to GCC pit bulls who were led by Kristian Viapree’s double.

Old Fort Gladiators played to a draw with Hiker Hatchets 2-2.

The lone female contest for the opening day saw Hikers Junior Jets edging Saint’s Sensations 3-2.

Amya Norville gave jets the lead four minutes into the game before Kaiyra Scott found the equalizer for Sensations.

Goals from Hikers Trinity Graves and Nayana Balram saw the scores tied 2-2 at the

Action on Day One of the Kellogg’s Under-14 Indoor Hockey League

break.

Greaves would return to

give Jets the winner 13 minutes into the second half.

Cotton Tree’s star bowler Waqar Hassan aims to top charts in AJM T20

COTTON Tree Die Hard star bowler Waqar Hassan is a man on a mission, as he aims to top the wicket charts at the upcoming AJM T20 tournament, which bowls off on February 24 at Bush Lot Sports Complex, West Berbice.

Hassan, who ended with 17 wickets in the AJM second-division tournament last December, and won the best-bowler accolade, said he is also aiming to contribute

with the bat.

“Well, the last tournament was very competitive, and I really enjoyed the game with [the] ball, especially with those five-wicket hauls.

I’m looking forward to dominating again this tournament, not with the ball alone, with the bat as well.

“The last AJM tournament I had a five-wicket haul along with a four-wicket haul as well.

I am mostly a left-arm

spinner that contributes in the bottom order with the bat as well, but during the tournament I did not have many opportunities with the bat, but I dominated with the ball,” Hassan said.

Hassan also continued his form after that AJM tournament, where he played the Jafarally T20 final against Achievers ‘B’ and he was the best bowler and man of the match with figures of 4-27.

In the AJM final, which

was held on Boxing Day, Hassan had 2-10 from four overs, a Player-of-TheMatch effort.

“From my perspective I want to take the game more serious[sic] and yes, looking forward to win another title and be the leading wicket-taker [in] this tournament,” Hassan added.

Four teams in the West Berbice area will be on show at the AJM Mash It Up T20 tournament on February

24: namely AJM defending T20 champions Cotton Tree Sports Club, D’ Edward Sports Club, Achievers ‘A’ and Bush Lot Sports Club.

The day’s activity will commence at 09:00hrs and the final will be played under lights. There will be big screen, commentary and live scores at the venue with Crown Vibes International providing sounds.

This tournament promises a CPL atmosphere, the

organisers have promised.

Cheerleaders will be on show, in addition to other side attractions.

AJM Enterprise aims to develop cricket in the West Berbice area and provide quality entertainment to the cricket-loving population.

This event is sponsored

by AJM Enterprise and Jumbo Jet and is powered

by Banks DIH Limited.

2024 Bounty Farm Ltd ‘Mash’ Handicap Squash C/Ships…

Alex Arjoon among those to qualify for finals

WATCHED by a small gathering on the penultimate night of the 2024 Bounty Farm Ltd ‘Mash’ Handicap Squash Championships at the Georgetown Club on Camp Street on Friday, Alex Arjoon with a handicap of -3-18, defeated Peter de Groot 12-15, 15-12, 15-8 in a keenly contested Elite match-up.

In a game of long rallies and clinical drop shots, the left-handed Arjoon recovered from one down to win the next two games in an entertaining contest between the pair as Arjoon emerged as one of 12 players to reach Saturday’s finals.

Results: Rising class Kristian Viapree defeated Ella Fernandes 13-15, 15-13, 15-14 Tehani Munroe defeated [3] Matthew Daby 7-15, 15-14, 15-13

Jonathan Antczak (left) beat Taylor Fernandes-Henry 15-9, 15-4

Egan Bulkan defeated [1] Zion Hickerson 10-15, 15-1, 15-9 [2] Kaiden Alli defeated [4] Jibril Alli 15-7, 7-15, 15-11 Open Class

Miguel Wong defeated Justin Bulkan 8-15, 15-11, 15-14 Malia Maikoo defeated Justin Goberdhan 15-13, 15-14 Lloyd Fung-A-Fat defeated

Ryan Rahaman (left) defeated Alysa Xavier 15-13, 11-15, 15-11

Blake Edwards 15-11, 15-9 [3] Ryan Rahaman defeated Alysa Xavier 15-13, 11-15, 15-11 Elite Mary Fung-A-Fat defeated

Deje Dias 16-14, 16-14 [1] Alex Arjoon defeated Peter de Groot 12-15, 15-12, 15-8 Elite Jonathan Antczak defeated Tay-

lor Fernandes-Henry 15-9, 15-4 [2] Jason-Ray Khalil defeated [4] Steven Xavier 5-15, 15-3, 15-12

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 18, 2024

GCB senior inter-county women’s T20 tournament

Fraser stars as Demerara dethrone Berbice in low-scoring finale

SEE PAGE

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Champions Demerara with GCB officials Anil Beharry and Anthony DeAnrade after they beat Berbice yesterday

2024 Bounty Farm Ltd ‘Mash’ Handicap Squash C/Ships…

Alex Arjoon among those to qualify for finals SEE PAGE

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Alex Arjoon (right) defeated Peter de Groot 12-15, 15-12, 15-8 (Sean Devers photo)

Cornwall blasts through Harpy Eagles batting

SEE PAGE

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| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024