Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 19-04-2023

‘Respect the choices of people’

–– reaffirms commitment to build an inclusive society

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali has strongly denounced “disparaging and disrespectful” comments from opposition leaders about “money being used to buy Afro-Guyanese supporters” and the call for boycotts of businesses owned by persons of this ethnicity.

In a live broadcast from State House, the President called for a new paradigm in which national development, democracy, tolerance,

and respect are given priority over division and dishonour.

On Nomination Day, former Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green; former PNCR Councillor Trichria Richards; a former independent city councillor for the Albouystown/Charlestown constituency, popular radio announcer Malcolm Ferreira, and many others joined the PPP/C ahead of the Local

Government Elections.

The crossover of Chase-Green and other prominent figures has been seen as a major blow to the Opposition, which has since resorted to a campaign to discredit their former members’ credibility.

During the live broadcast, the President expressed his disappointment at the negative comments made by some leaders in politics,

particularly calling out Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton for his statements of “great cause for concern.”

“I’ve been reading comments from the Leader of the Opposition, someone who speaks about democracy and inclusiveness, and some of the statements that are attributed to him and that he’s making are of great cause for concern.

Guyana to experience further boost in international partnerships

–– with President Ali scheduled to visit UK, Brazil, DR, China, the US

and

Cuba

Bond condemns attack on PPP/C

Afro-Guyanese supporters

–– criticises Norton’s leadership of the PNC

Komal Singh elected new PSC Chairman

CARICOM declares ‘war’ on guns

The Private Sector Commission, on Tuesday, honoured communication specialist, Kit Nascimento and Major General (Ret’d), Norman McLean, for their years of commitment and dedication to the private sector in Guyana (Adrian Narine photo)

Guyana to experience further boost in international partnerships

OVER the next few months, President, Dr Irfaan Ali is scheduled to make a number of state visits and be involved in bilateral discussions with several countries including the UK, Brazil, The Dominican Republic, China, the US, and Cuba, as the government continues to enhance bilateral partnerships across the world.

In his remarks at the Private Sector Commission’s (PSC) Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, President Ali related that the government is working hard on the international front to solidify Guyana’s position as a global leader.

“Our leadership and vision of this country is no longer confined to our borders, it is inspiring others. We are strategically positioning our country to benefit from faster technology, transforming the country through these partnerships. I am convinced we will live in a much different world by 2030 here in Guyana,” the President related.

On the invitation of President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva, President Ali is expected to pay a visit to our southern continental neighbour.

“We will be discussing a very strong and robust plan for integration of this region. There are some massive transformative projects on the table with Brazil and I am convinced that this state visit that I was invited to will advance these; further, bring further tremendous opportunities for the local private sector and for Guyanese,” Dr Ali related.

Farther afield, very soon the President will also be making another visit to the United Kingdom to further strengthen the relationship between the two nations, advance projects and build more collaboration between the private sectors of the two nations.

The President will also use that visit to engage in very deep discussion with the European Union on further advancing Guyana’s partnership.

Bond condemns attack on PPP/C Afro-Guyanese supporters

–– criticises Norton’s leadership of the PNC

KNOWN People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) member James Bond has criticised Chairman of the APNU and Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform, Aubrey Norton, for being slothful and abandoning the party’s grassroots supporters.

stituents hope… you could appeal to your constituents [and say] ‘look we’ve got your back… come high water come low water, we are there for you’,” he said.

“Finding ways in which [the] private sector from the EU can play a greater role in partnership with our local private sector,” Dr Ali said.

Meanwhile, President of The Dominica Republic, Luis Abinader, is scheduled to pay a visit to Guyana, while President Ali would subsequently visit the island nation. Again, these bilateral conversations will surround arrangements for the mutual advancements of the two countries’ private sectors, particularly as it relates to financial investments.

“They are willing to work on projects and finance local projects here in Guyana. The Dominican Republic is also keen on working with Guyana to ensure their energy security,” Dr. Ali said. .

The visits to China and the US are slated for later in the year.

“Later this year, we intend to visit China where we will have great collaboration and discussion also on opportunities here. Also visiting Washington once more to further advance our collaboration on a number of transformative projects,” Dr Ali said.

Meanwhile, conversations with Cuba are expected to surround discussions on health care.

“Cuba has offered us some very strategic ideas on building out human-resource capacity for advancing health care and health services,” Dr Ali said.

The President will also be furthering discussions on Guyana’s development agenda and opportunities with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Dr Ali said there is hope that Canada could aggressively get on board with fielding a strong delegation to Guyana, as the country also sees the North American nation as a strong partner in its transformative agenda.

This comes in the wake of a poor turnout of supporters on Nomination Day for the upcoming Local Government Elections. The Opposition is not contesting all of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAA).

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), backed by 2,000 candidates and 26,000 supporters, is contesting in all of the LAAs, and their supporters turned out in large numbers to rally around the party on Monday.

“Let me be on record today, April 18, 2023, in saying I’ve never seen, in my 10-plus years of political life, a lazier bunch! I entered politics seeing comrades work today; the level of activism and militancy is ZERO!

“It’s a shame that under the leader who symbolises the grassroots, those who are supposed to work with him have abandoned the grassroots. Not to worry, though. Long live the PNC,” Bond said on his Facebook page.

Norton has recently faced increased scrutiny as more members of his party have spoken out against him. Some have accused him of being too authoritarian and not listening to the concerns of his colleagues.

Despite this criticism, Norton has remained steadfast in his approach and has not indicated any plans to change his leadership style.

Former Mayor and longstanding supporter of the PNC/R, Patricia Chase-Green, and former APNU member Trichria Richards are among many opposition supporters who have crossed over to the PPP/C, citing a loss of confidence for this decision.

In a Facebook live video, James Bond called out the opposition “social media” commentators for their attack on some of the new faces that have joined the PPP/C.

“All the social media commentators…that got talking about soup drinkers and house slaves and all that. Nobody is afraid of you. It ain’t got no time about the name-calling. You could call people right, could stop them from going to PPP/C and put on their red shirt.

“You could call any name, people ain’t get time with that right now. Except you could give your con-

He criticised the party for not doing enough groundwork and flaking on its supporters. Expressing his dissatisfaction, Bond said his heart “broke” when he saw the little support the party had on Nomination Day, but he is not surprised.

Based on photos, only Norton, his General-Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams, and Jermaine Figueira were out in the fields for Nomination Day, while the rest of the opposition members were nowhere to be seen.

James criticised the party for not putting the youth first to take over the mantle, thus robbing them of opportunities.

“...you’re losing the young people. You’re losing them because they are not in front. They are not taking the energy. You got to get the young people involved because if you don’t use the young people, you’re gonna lose the young people.

“But what are [sic] we been doing over the past couple of years? We have been calling each other house slaves. We have been calling each other soup drinkers. We have been calling each other slave catchers and all that, but you ain’t focusing on the people’s votes. So, you now running helter-skelter,” he said.

The APNU is currently facing backlash over comments made by executive member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), David Hinds, who disparaged a number of PNC/R Indo-Guyanese members for speaking out against racist and incendiary remarks made by the WPA.

Hinds had said that the PNC/R Indo-Guyanese members were only there to attract Indo-Guyanese voters.

Hinds referred to Indo-Guyanese PNC/R member Geeta Chandan-Edmond as a “slave catcher” for having condemned remarks made by WPA member Tacuma Ogunseye, who made racially charged remarks against East Indians at a public meeting at Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

Hinds had also directed comments at PNC/R Parliamentarians Ganesh Mahipaul and Natasha Singh-Lewis; Regional Chairman Daniel Seeram, and Mayor Ubraj Narine, who had issued a joint statement condemning the remarks of another WPA member, Rhonda Layne.

–– with President Ali scheduled to visit UK, Brazil, DR, China, the US and Cuba

‘Respect the choices of people’

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan

Ali has strongly denounced “disparaging and disrespectful” comments from opposition leaders about “money being used to buy Afro-Guyanese supporters” and the call for boycotts of businesses owned by persons of this ethnicity.

In a live broadcast from State House, the President called for a new paradigm in which national development, democracy, tolerance, and respect are given priority over division and dishonour.

On Nomination Day, former Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green; former PNCR Councillor Trichria Richards; a former independent city councillor for the Albouystown/Charlestown constituency, popular radio announcer Malcolm Ferreira, and many others joined the PPP/C ahead of the Local Government Elections.

The crossover of ChaseGreen and other prominent figures has been seen as a major blow to the Opposition, which has since resorted to a campaign to discredit their former members’ credibility.

During the live broadcast, the President expressed his disappointment at the negative comments made by some leaders in politics, particularly calling out Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton for his statements of "great cause for concern."

–– reaffirms commitment to build an

inclusive society

“That backward type of politics; that disheartening type of politics is something of the past. That can't win anymore in the future, Mr. Norton. That can't bring people together. That age-old strategy of yours has died understanding this,” the Head of State said.

He posited that Afro-Guyanese have the capacity to think and analyse for themselves, especially for the upcoming LGEs and the 2025 General and Regional Elections.

on Afro-Guyanese

supporters.

He underscored that such “backwardness” from the Opposition does not promote the building of an inclusive society or democracy in Guyana, especially voters' rights.

racial discrimination being fuelled by Opposition elements.

During an event at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne, Dr. Ali called on the nation to stand strong against forces which are hellbent on weaponising the topic of racism in Guyana.

“I've been reading comments from the Leader of the Opposition, someone who speaks about democracy and inclusiveness, and some of the statements that are attributed to him and that he's making are of great cause for concern.

“For example, using comments like money as a disposal for Black support. That is disparaging. You should care to respect our Afro-Guyanese brothers and sisters, and this is what you would say to them, that they can be bought?

“Why can't we let these elections be one where we're debating ideas, moving, and sharing ideas? Then you are saying that people were paid to put on a jersey. This is how you think and believe in our people? This is how you view our Guyanese brothers and sisters, especially our Afro-Guyanese brothers and sisters? That they are so susceptible, that they can be paid to put on the jersey. This type of disparaging politics; a disparaging view of people; it's disrespectful and I denounce it. I denounce that disrespect to our people,” Dr. Ali said.

The President also addressed comments made by leading members of the Opposition, who called for the boycott of businesses owned by PPP/C’s Afro-Guyanese

“Good leadership is to respect the choices of people. Respect - that is what democracy is. It gives people choices. We will continue to build a society that points to inclusiveness. I want us all to understand that joining a political party or a political system is part of your democratic right and value. You should not be chastised.

“This is so disheartening and coming from the leadership of the Opposition; believing that people with such disparaging comments; that people can be bought and people can be sold,” the President said.

NEW PARADIGM

Dr. Ali stressed that this was one of the reasons for creating a new paradigm in building “One Guyana” to advance the concept of unity towards national development.

“We can only do this when we bring leaders, where we incubate new leaders. And that is what took place…we saw a demonstration of the incubation of new leadership. Leadership across all ethnicities and religious lines. A leadership that is hungry for a better Guyana, a unified Guyana,” he said.

Dr. Ali urged all Guyanese citizens to set aside their differences and work towards a better future for themselves and their communities, emphasising that the PPP/C is committed to serving all Guyanese.

Last month, the President pledged to eliminate all “weapons of racism” that are directed at the government and its citizens, amidst a wave of

The President reminded that it is important for political leaders to prioritise the well-being of the country and its people, rather than engage in divisive rhetoric that only serves to further polarise the nation.

“They only weaponise this one great asset that we have; the one great asset is our diversity as a people. It is not a negative; our diversity is a great asset to us, but there are those who cannot help themselves but weaponise this asset.

“Today, I say that no weapon formed in the clothing of racism will succeed, once this People’s Progressive Party is alive. And we don’t intend to die; we will stay alive. We will disband, destroy and completely wipe out the weapon of racism that continues to be used against the people of this country.

“And those who handle the weapon must understand that their days are numbered, and their days are coming to an end, because that weapon is being destroyed, globally. And that weapon will be buried here in Guyana,” President Ali had said.

The Opposition is currently facing criticism for incendiary remarks made by the Working People Alliance (WPA). The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led APNU has also been accused of inciting racial tension and deviating from the promotion of peace and security in Guyana.

These accusations have caused significant concern among citizens who long for a united and peaceful Guyana.

––

President Ali condemns opposition’s ‘disparaging, disrespectful’ attack

Patricia Chase-Green, Trichria Richards, Malcolm Ferreira and others with General-Secretary of the PPP/C, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo (Adrian Narine photo)

President, Dr Irfaan Ali

CARICOM declares ‘war’ on guns

THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has declared “war on guns” to combat the illegal exportation of guns from the United States of America.

This declaration followed the conclusion of the regional symposium in Trinidad and Tobago, where leaders sought to

address crime and violence as a public health issue.

The CARICOM leaders registered their concern over the increase in the illegal exportation of guns from the United States of America, which is a direct threat to the region’s democracy.

“We declare a war on guns to combat the illegal

trade which provides the weapons that contribute significantly to crime and violence in our region, causing death, disabilities and compromising the safety of our citizens.

“We call on the United States of America to join the Caribbean in our War on Guns and urgently adopt and take action to stop the illegal exportation of firearms and ammunition into the Caribbean,” CARICOM said.

The bloc lamented the disproportionate share of its members’ national budgets that are allocated to measures to address

crime, violence and national security as well as mental health and other health-related challenges, that directly result from the illegal exportation of guns to the region.

“We underscore our commitment to utilize all human, financial and other resources to rid our Region of the scourge of illicit weapons. We reiterate that the Caribbean must be a zone of peace, which will allow us to achieve our goal of a secure, stable and prosperous community for all our citizens,” CARICOM said.

State-of-the-art psychiatric department opens at GPHC

THE newly refurbished state-of-the-art Psychiatric Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was launched on Tuesday. It marks a significant step forward for mental health care in Guyana.

At the simple opening ceremony, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, noted that it is designed to provide a conducive space where patients can receive care in a dignified and respectful manner.

He noted that it is in stark

contrast to the claustrophobic space that previously existed.

“This facility that we are in is one of the first steps in that direction where we are providing equal care, the environment must be good… everybody must have the same access, clean spaces, nice place in which you can get your care,” the minister emphasised.

The psychiatric department will offer a range of new services, including electroconvulsive therapy, ketamine services for depression, neuropsychiatry, and

forensic psychology.

These are in addition to the adult and child psychology, geriatric psychology, and support services that are currently being offered.

Medical personnel will be trained in Northwell, New York to ensure that the department is staffed with highly trained professionals who are equipped to provide the best possible care to patients.

Minister Anthony also noted that, historically, much of the emphasis has been placed on physical health, neglecting mental health

care in the process. This has resulted in a situation where a substantial portion of the population is affected by various mental health illnesses.

As such, the government has made improvements to the mental health legislation as part of a broader effort to address the neglect of mental health care.

The act includes a new section that deals with the human rights of mental health patients. This is a relatively new concept, and Guyana is one of the few countries that has legislated

the rights of mental health patients.

The new legislation ensures that mental health patients are treated with dignity and respect. It also protects their right to privacy and ensures that they do not face discrimination. These are important steps in creating a more open and inclusive society that values the rights and well-being of all its citizens.

Meanwhile, coupled with the mental health act is the newly reformed suicide prevention act.

Suicide is a particularly pressing issue in Guyana, and the new legislation includes provisions for a multi-stakeholder commission to address this issue.

Minister Anthony said the aim is to create a society where suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility and not just that of the health institutions.

He also highlighted that psychiatric services are being decentralised to ensure that persons in remote areas have access to similar health care.

Local Democracy

DEMOCRACY in Guyana is alive and kicking. From all indications, Nomination Day went smoothly and the mood appeared good.

The PPP/C took centre stage with party members and supporters appearing confident of their chances of winning. It is now for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to put in place the necessary mechanisms to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Nomination Day was characterised by a significant number of new and fresh faces which augur well for democracy, especially at the grassroots level. There are also cases of candidates changing political allegiances, which is not unusual in any functioning democracy.

The right to belong to a party of one’s choice is a fundamental democratic right and it is good to know that there are people who are not constrained by past political allegiances, and who are prepared to do what, in their opinion, is politically correct to do.

This, in essence, is what democracy is all about. It is about providing eligible

voters with the opportunity to choose from among the political parties, organisations or candidates vying for political office, who can best be trusted to administer the affairs of the communities on their behalf.

There was a time when that right to vote was taken away by the PNC regime. This was true for both national and Local Government Elections.

Those “elected” to serve at the various levels of governance were in effect “foisted” on to the people against their will. For nearly three decades Guyanese were forced to endure undemocratic and dictatorial rule.

Thankfully, all of that has changed and we now live in a democracy, even though our democracy still remains fragile as the experience of the March 2020 national and regional elections demonstrated, when attempts were made by the then APNU+AFC coalition to subvert the will of the electorate.

The upcoming Local Government Elections provide yet another opportunity for voters to have their say on which individuals or groups should be at the helm of the governance process.

And even though the contest will be closely watched in all of the local government areas, the main focus will be in the City of Georgetown, which had always been under the political control of the PNC/R, but has now seen some significant inroads by the ruling PPP/C alliance with former Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Greene and a former PNCR Councillor Trichia Richards now switching sides in favour of the PPP/C.

This move has been warmly embraced both by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Vice-president, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. Commenting on this development, President Ali said: “We welcome you with open arms and with love, and you are part of a group that is committed to national development. You are part of a movement that is committed to the upliftment of every single Guyanese; we can send an even stronger message that this is a national party representing every single stratum of the Guyanese society.”

And in a similar vein, Dr Jagdeo, who is also General-Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, had this to say: “For a very,

very long time, they [PNC/R] characterised the PPP/C as a racist party, but a few weeks ago, as I said, we’re the only multi-racial party in this country. And once again, they have demonstrated this; and those that are new to us, you will see that once you become part of this family, we warmly embrace our family, not based on their race or their religion or their ideology, but because they are part of our collective which wants to move the country forward.”

The PPP/C is the only political organisation that has fielded candidates in all of the contested areas. With 20,000 candidates and 26,000 backers, the writing is seemingly on the wall. Party supporters decked in party colours dominated the political spaces, significantly in Georgetown and Linden, which were once considered PNC strongholds.

The PNC, for its part, seems content to settle for what it considered “politically safe” areas.

In the final analysis, it is the voters who will have the final say, but from the way things look, the PNC Leader has every right to exercise caution.

Don’t shift the blame!

Dear Editor,

IN response to an article in the Stabroek News publication on April 17, 2023, under the headline: “Linden seems to be ignored in ‘One Guyana’ theme,” where in a press release, the Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, is quoted as saying: “The town of Linden appears to be excluded from the government’s “One Guyana” theme as numerous requests for assistance for its annual week of activities have been ignored.”

It is appalling to know that after two Local Government Elections and six years in the Linden municipality, Linden’s mayor still doesn’t understand her role at the Linden municipality and that of the central government.

So, please permit me to educate the Mayor of Linden again about the role of the municipality in the town, because it seems as though my efforts for the three of the six years in which I served with her and pleaded with the entire council to read the 28:01, went in vain, and my words fell on deaf ears.

Simply put, a municipality is the response of the state or government to the needs of the people for certain public services, for example, waste disposal, police and fire protection, water supply, health services etc…, in addition to what is available at the regional or other local government level.

Now tell me how the annual Linden Town

Week entertainment event is the government’s responsibility, let alone its ministers’ or ministries’ concern. These entertainment events allow corporate society to give back to their supporters and promote their businesses.

Therefore, the organising and execution of these activities by default are entirely private and solely at the expense of the municipality and whichever private or public company/ companies wish to sponsor.

So, Madam Mayor, don’t try to shift the blame to the government for you and your council’s inability to attract sponsors to support your weak event.

You exploit them by charging them from $15,000 per day, per spot, to as high as $50,000 for residents to vend during the Town Week period.

For those who can’t afford your vending fees, those spots are sold to businesses from out of Linden, and now you come trying to score cheap political points by blaming the government.

Why don’t you take this media time to explain to the residents of Linden what you and the council have been doing with the money from the Town Week hosted by the council for the past six years that you were a part of?

Or what you did with the $20 million of unused funds released to the M&TC for the Centennial Park?

Speak the truth and speak it ever, cost it

what it will. Linden has never looked brighter and better under the PNCR/APNU as it now looks under the PPP/C, and that’s the truth.

Before the PPP/C in 1992, Linden was no better than it was under the days of “Banam” people having to stand in long lines for everything, even down to cow’s milk.

Before 1992, Burnham Drive Wismar was impassable, especially at the Wismar police station area, and it was under the PPP/C government that it was repaired.

The Wismar Market was rehabilitated, and a new Mackenzie Market was constructed. Many roads, bridges, drains and culverts were built before 2015, and you are talking about Linden being ignored.

Waneka, you and your council are the ones who refrain from working with the government to develop the town of Linden.

That is being ignored because you want to politicise everything instead of seeing how the development could help the people you are supposed to be serving. Since 2017, we all complained that the Granger Government had abandoned Linden and placed more focus on Bartica.

Now here you are, accusing this administration of supporting the Bartica Regatta and the Lethem Rodeo. I was reliably informed that companies such as Farmer’s Supplies, ExxonMobil, and Grill King heavily invested in the Bartica Regatta 2023.

The Lethem Rodeo was no different, as private investors seized the opportunity to showcase their products and services. This was all made possible by the hard work of the organisers who hosted those events.

Madam Mayor, shame on you for spewing untruths and misinformation to mislead residents regarding the government’s One Guyana Initiative. You and the PNCR/APNU have ignored Linden for six years.

Residents have been bitterly crying for better representation, accountability and transparency, better services and a chance to meet their local officials and councillors and to date, only one town hall meeting was held (virtually), two weeks ago for the first time since you became mayor, just because of Local Government Elections.

Imagine Lindeners have seen more government ministers than their municipal, regional and parliamentary representatives combined.

Shame on all of you! So, don’t shift the blame; accept responsibility for the part you have played in the PNC’s betrayal of the trust of the local electorate in their stronghold.

Yours respectfully, Lennox Gasper

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Familiar opposition personalities continue misinformation campaign

Dear Editor, I WRITE with reference to a letter under the title, “These assaults on journalists in Guyana exhibit the characteristics of authoritarian countries” (published on April 18, 2023).

The letter by a group of 26 well-known anti-government operatives is pregnant with manufactured misinformation that would make Noam Chomsky run for cover. There is no doubt that the group which boasts several PhDs and other professional and business types is ad -

ept at turning their failure to influence the Guyanese population into narratives of victimization and suffering.

I might also add that this bunch of mostly urban politicos with practically no contact with the grassroots of the country are equally innovative when it comes to grabbing the attention of the diplomatic corps, who incidentally is their main audience.

The latest ploy of the group of 26 is to cry about gender discrimination, and this only after their language games on race and environmentalism only succeeded

(though inadvertently so) in Tacuma Ogunseye’s diabolical theatrics of aggravated racialism and state subversion.

Let us be clear about the question of gender. A reply to a letter to the editor signed by mostly women does not, in any way, make it an “attack” on women. The reply is to the content of the letter, and is oblivious to the gender of the signatories.

The group of 26 claims that they stand against all forms of violence and against racism. Yet, not one of them, either individually or as a group, has to date publicly condemned the vile, danger-

ous, and racially-charged call for violence against East Indians and the Afro-Guyanese leaders and supporters of the PPP/C.

To boot, these high-class people, many of them living the high lives overseas, claim to speak on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana, something that must at once be characterised as a theft of voice.

The reader must know that while many in the group of 26 are preparing for a conference in Argentina where they will no doubt go and “bad talk” Guyana, the PPP/C is having direct,

people-to-people, face-toface contact throughout the country.

Only recently, President Ali and a team met for two days with villagers from Karasabai, Parikwarnau, Yarong Paru, Tiger Pond, Ananaputa, and Annai, in Upper Takutu, Region Nine. And then days later, Vice-President Jagdeo and Cabinet ministers met with people of the grassroots at Golden Fleece, Windsor Forest, and Leonora. The Office of the President itself was moved to New Amsterdam, and Leonora, and will soon be temporar-

ily located for face-to-face problem-solving outreaches in all the other administrative regions in the country.

While the PPP/C administration is busy doing actual work for the people of this country, those from the group of 26, individually and at times in smaller groups, only engage in letter writing, always with the assurance of being published by Stabroek News (in particular). Their so-called activism might be best characterised as conative, meaning here, attempted action, as distinguished from making real,

See page 9

Familiar opposition personalities continue misinformation . . .

substantive contributions. This writer has interacted extensively with the people from the villages of South PK and North Rupununi in Region Nine, to the villages across the country, including but not limited to Skeldon, No 66, 67, and 71 Village Corentyne, Tain, New Amsterdam, Rosignol, Onverwagt, Paradise, Enmore, Enterprise, Annandale, Mon Repos, Triumph, LBI, Success, Plaisance, Cummings Lodge, Diamond, Grove (EBD), Canal No. One, Crane, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, Leonora, Uitvlugt, MetenMeer-Zorg, Tuschen, Suddie,

Anna Regina, Pomeroon, and, of course, all across Georgetown.

I can tell you that the noise generated by Danuta Radzik, Vanda Radzik, Wintress White, Michelle John, Janet Bulkan, Melinda Janki, Simone M. Joly, Alfred Bhulai and the others, is not in sync with the issues and concerns raised by the working class and middle class across this country. What are the key differences you might rightfully ask?

Grassroots Guyanese are concerned with better residential and farm-to-market roads, improvements to

schools, street lights, GOAL scholarships, start-up capital either in kind (sewing machines, for instance), or cash grants, improvement of sports facilities, sports equipment, health care access, farming supplies from small things such as cassava sticks to larger requests for tractors and ATVs, and a range of other ‘actionable’ items such as contracts for small operators.

Many are also keen on learning about how to tap into the opportunities availed through the Local Content Act. By contrast, the group of 26 are concerned with a

conference that is coming up in Argentina, or one that just wrapped up in British Columbia, Brussels, Geneva, or Washington DC.

Whereas the people of Guyana are keen on how the oil and gas sector will better their lives and that of their children; this group of 26 is bent on shutting down these new sources of livelihoods for the people.

Whereas the people of Guyana are themselves the primary drivers of the choices we should make as a nation and a people, the highfalutin 26 from Danuta Radzik to Simone Joly are pushed or

cajoled to conative performance by that all-too-amorphous force called liberal cosmopolitanism.

The anti-government group that signed the letter noted above have free and unencumbered access to the established media in Guyana.

Unlike my letters which are only published once in a blue moon, and only after being cut by as much as 80 per cent, the group of 26 can publish anything, anytime, and practically everywhere.

On the other hand, those like Freddie Kissoon, who are critical of the duplicity of these so-called civil soci-

ety groups, have been fired, sidelined, and disciplined by those rich families that control the established media houses in Guyana.

In closing, I challenge the signatories to the letter under consideration to publicly affirm their support for the multi-racial ticket of the PPP/C just launched for the June LGEs.

I also call on Red Thread and the GHRA for the last time to condemn Ogunseye’s inflammatory racialism.

Yours sincerely, Dr Randolph Persaud

Using renewable energy to transform Guyana

GUYANA, a new oil producer, is at the peak of a new era of development with over 11 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, one of the highest per capita levels in the world, with GDP growth rates and fiscal revenues rising enormously over time.

As part of aggressive climate change promises (such as achieving 74 per cent

clean and renewable energy by 2040), the government of Guyana is also implementing an ambitious transformation for domestic electricity generation as outlined in the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030.

The Government of Guyana has worked with several partners, including the Government of Norway, in advance of its renewable energy

programme.

This is a main component of Guyana’s plans for low-carbon development that chart the pathway to 2030 and beyond.

As a result of the bilateral co-operation agreement with the Government of Norway, preserving the quality of Guyana’s forests will help the nation meet its climate objectives and be paid for

Source: Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030

performance on this target. Over US$220M was earned under this partnership.

With these finances earned by Guyana’s first LCDS, a significant project on renewable energy is being implemented -- the Guyana Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL), which commenced in June 2022.

This programme will help the nation migrate, in about three years, to a grid that uses 19 per cent renewable energy.

Through funding renewable energy initiatives, Guyana is working with several partners, including the IDB and the Government of India, to expand the renewable energy sector. These partners have supported Guyana’s shift towards energy diversification through several operations, including investing in microgrids, rooftop solar panels on public buildings, and smaller solar farms in the countryside. This would mean that Guyana would progress toward

achieving the ‘green line’ of low emissions targets using clean and renewable energy.

A technological shift in the way power is produced in Guyana is being brought about by GUYSOL, which is moving swiftly toward a higher percentage of renewable energy on the electricity networks. Three electrical systems in Guyana—the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System, the Essequibo System, and the Linden System—are served by GUYSOL’s investment in eight solar farms totalling 33 MWp and 34 MWh of battery energy storage. Once completed and operational, the projects should prevent 75,277 tons of CO2 emissions. Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has begun accepting bids for this work, starting with this transformational programme.

The programme is anticipated to replace costly and environmentally damaging fossil fuels like diesel and heavy fuel oil used to generate energy and enhance

Guyana’s LCDS goal of creating a cleaner and more diversified electrical generation matrix. A crucial aspect of the operation is that it will support the interior utilities’ transition from manual analogue processes to digital, real-time, automated monitoring and control systems. The GUYSOL Programme will support these infrastructure investments by promoting diversity and inclusion in the upkeep and administration of renewable infrastructure, creating local skills and apprenticeships with a focus on opportunities for women, and enhancing local skills and capabilities.

After the project, Guyana will contribute to an unprecedented move ahead on the country’s renewable energy landscape, illustrating how forests are a nature-based asset that pays returns on energy diversification and climate action.

(This is part of a weekly series on LCDS.) The author can be contacted at cparkinson0206@gmail.com)

Source: Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (NG – Natural Gas, RE- Renewable Energy)

Gov’t urges improvement of inter-bank foreign currency transactions

ALTHOUGH the government is prepared to make any intervention necessary to address a detrimental shortage of foreign currency, analyses carried out by the government have concluded that there is no shortage in Guyana.

The private sector has consistently highlighted the challenges faced by local companies in accessing foreign exchange.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday, underscored that his government remains committed to working in partnership with the private sector to address the extant challenges facing its membership, and the country as a whole, including issues pertaining to any disruption to the availability of foreign exchange. However, the country has not reached the point of a need for intervention.

“We have done an analysis of the foreign currency market and we are not convinced there is any shortage; our analysis and our discussions with private sector organisations have prompted us to urge improvement of inter-bank foreign currency transactions.

“This, we believe, would improve the efficiency of the local foreign exchange markets. We are monitoring the

situation and will make any interventions that are necessary since we recognise that any depreciation or shortage of foreign currency will have an effect on inflation and commerce,” the President said.

Last month, the PSC together with the Guyana Association of Bankers Inc. held cordial discussions with Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga regarding the ongoing challenges faced by local companies in accessing foreign exchange.

According to a press release from the PSC, stakeholders agreed that despite there being a shortage of foreign currency at some banks, there is no overall shortage of foreign exchange in Guyana, given that the aggregate supply of foreign exchange

is meeting the aggregate demand, and, therefore, the market remains in equilibrium.

The Governor of the Bank confirmed that while there is an intra-bank market which enables banks to share, the Central Bank must rely on moral persuasion in an effort to achieve a more efficient distribution of foreign currency availability, while emphasising the fact that it is the responsibility of the Central Bank to ensure that the government meets its macro-economic objectives.

The PSC, the Bankers’ Association and the Bank of Guyana had all agreed to address the issues raised and promised to collaborate and work together for the benefit of all concerned.

–– President Ali says analysis shows there is no shortage but authorities prepared to step in if the need arises

Toshaos’ Council maintains APA’s complaint not supported by Indigenous Peoples

–– sees Association’s move as a 'secret attempt' to derail the hard work villages have put in to mobilise forest carbon credit resources

THE following is the full statement by the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) responding to the actions of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA):

“The National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) was made aware by external sources that the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has written to the ART Secretariat to ask for the carbon credits programme that has recently seen over US$22M disbursed to 242 villages, to be stopped.

The NTC has been reliably informed that in the APA’s communication to the ART Secretariat dated March 8, 2023, the APA has asked for ‘credits issued to Guyana that have not yet been purchased be frozen and suspended, and that no further credits be issued’ until the APA’s ultimatum has been met.

This position taken by the APA has not been consulted on at the level of indigenous villages, and needless to say, is not supported by indigenous villages. In actual fact, indigenous villages are totally unaware that the APA is advancing this stance at the level of the international community.

The APA is also not authorised to represent the views of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana. They are not elected to do so by the indigenous villages, and they have no authority to speak on behalf of the Amerindian villages and community in Guyana.

The National Toshaos Council is the national body that is elected by village leaders of each indigenous village and community in Guyana. Each of Guyana’s 10 administrative region also elects a regional focal point that has an appointed NTC lead.

This is a democratically elected body that represents every indigenous village in Guyana. The NTC therefore feels compelled to denounce the APA’s complaint to ART that has secretly been done, with no consultations with indigenous villages or the NTC.

The APA’s positions on matters regarding Guyana’s engagement in ART TREES, consultations on the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 and the revision of the Amerindian Act 2006, among other areas that the APA has apparently expressed complaint about, are not shared by the indigenous villages of Guyana.

The APA has alleged that there have not been sufficient consultations on Guyana’s application to ART TREES and the LCDS 2030.

The APA sits on the Multi Stakeholder Steering Committee of the LCDS and has absented itself from many meetings held so far.

There was an open invitation for all MSSC members to lead LCDS consultations, a role which many MSSC members undertook.

The APA did not participate in this process

Toshaos’ Council maintains APA’s complaint not ...

though invitations were extended on several occasions to attend community meetings and to support communications and consultation activities.

The NTC also distances itself from any assertions made by the APA that the revision of the Amerindian Act, a process that has already started, in any way prevents this programme or any other programme on forest governance to go ahead. Certainly, to any reasonable mind, as policies see revisions, and as legislations see updating, national programmes should not be held in wait.

The most apparent fallacy outlined in the APA’s complaint is regarding the Amerindian Land Titling Programme. It is entirely false to convey a position that there is some move to stall or slow down the Amerindian Land Titling Programme.

There is an expressed Government commitment to complete all outstanding land claims and demarcations under the current land titling project funded under the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund project which is ongoing. This commitment is publicly known and for the APA to say otherwise is entirely misleading.

More directly on the LCDS 2030, the APA on several occasions, sought to misrepresent and mislead the public by undermining and seeking to create confusion about the clear mandate of the NTC. As the elected body of Indigenous Leaders, the NTC within its mandate under the Amerindian Act, represents Amerindian villages in national programmes. The engagement in ART TREES is one such example.

At the national meeting of all Toshaos in July 2022, a resolution was passed supporting the LCDS 2030, including the benefits sharing mechanism that was consulted on, supporting a direct benefits share of 15 per cent of all revenues from carbon credits sale going directly to indigenous villages. The resolution also recognises that the LCDS is clear [of] an additional uncapped amount being invested through national programme.

In this resolution, villages recognise that each village will chart its own path to development as the direct payment to villages will be continuous as long as Guyana earns and sells carbon credits, and village plans development by villages will be well resourced.

This is empowering village level decision making, project implementation, livelihoods and wellbeing. The APA is seeking to distort this reality and this should be called out in unambiguous terms.

The NTC is on record in its position of advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples. Where there are challenges, the NTC has facilitated engagement with villages and technical agencies. We also urge that these matters be discussed at the national level and solutions sought at the level of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

The lines of communication must be open to discuss ideas for improvement on all fronts, and identify challenges early and work together on solutions. The APA’s current adversarial approach is unhelpful and destructive to the livelihoods and lives of indigenous villages.

In seeking to stymie the recent forest carbon credits programme by asking for its suspension, the APA is preventing sustainable livelihood activities from advancing at the village level.

The NTC calls on Amerindian villages to be aware of the efforts made by the APA to suspend this programme; a programme that will bring livelihood opportunities to each village.

The NTC sees this as a secret attempt to derail all the hard work that village have been doing on village planning with the aim of mobilising the forest carbon credits resources and worse yet, doing so without consulting with the people they purport to represent.

The APA complaint is not supported by the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana; it runs counter to the desires of villages, is being falsely presented as being representative of the broad consensus in Guyana, and should be denounced in every way.”

Dr Kanhai throws hat in the ring for upcoming LGEs

Dr. JOSH KANHAI, Independent Candidate for Constituency Five, Georgetown Municipality, Sophia, Turkeyen, and Pattensen, will be vying for a spot on City Council at the upcoming Local Government Election (LGE).

“I stand before you today as a candidate for the upcoming local government election, humbled by the opportunity to represent you and our beautiful city. I am running as an independent candidate, free from the shackles of political parties and special

interest groups so that I can truly serve you and work towards a brighter future for us all,” he said.

Kanhai noted that Georgetown has great potential but faces numerous challenges that have been neglected for far too long. But he is here to bring change.

“Our roads need repair, our children and young people require better resources, the garbage need control, the flooding needs a solution and our businesses need support to thrive. It is time for a change, and I am here

to bring that change to our city,” he said Dr. Kanhai said that he believes in transparency, accountability, and accessibility.

“As a leader, I will be fully transparent with my decisions and actions, ensuring that you are involved in the decision-making process every step of the way. I will be accountable to you, the people, and will work tirelessly to ensure that your voices are heard and your needs are addressed,” the contestant related.

He continued: “I will be accessible to each and every one of you, and will make your concerns my top priority.”

His vision for Georgetown is one of growth, development, and prosperity, and he envisions a city where every citizen has access to quality education, healthcare, and job opportunities.

“I envision a city where businesses are thriving and contributing to the growth of our local economy. And most importantly, I envision a city where all citizens are treated

with respect and dignity, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status,” he noted.

Dr. Kanhai said that he could not achieve his vision alone, and he needs the support, trust, and vote of others.

“Together, we can bring about the change that Georgetown deserves. Let us unite as a community and work towards a brighter future for ourselves and future generations,” he related.

Dr. Josh Kanhai, is a Medical Doctor attached to the Pathology Department

Dr. Josh Kanhai, independent candidate for Constituency Five

of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and the chairman of the United Republican Party (URP).

Arson destroys Herstelling building, two homeless

A FIRE on Monday night destroyed a two-storey wooden and concrete building at Lot 399, Third Street Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), leaving its two occupants homeless.

The Guyana Fire Service noted that the fire resulted from a malicious setting by an unknown person or persons.

Reports indicated that

64-year-old Maharanie Mohan, the owner, and 61-year-old Ramesh Pritipaul occupied the building.

The fire service received a call at 19:01 hours. Two fire tenders, a water bowser, and a landrover from the West Ruimveldt and Diamond fire stations were immediately dispatched to the location.

Upon arrival, firefighters saw a two-storey wood-

Taxi driver dead, passenger injured in highway accident

ALVIN Dubar, a 48-year-old hire car driver of Lot 5 Section ‘B’ Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara (EBD), lost his life, in an accident on Monday afternoon, on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving, which flipped several times before coming to a halt.

According to a police report, Dubar was driving a hire car, HD 808, a silver-grey Toyota Spacio, and was travelling north along the western side of the Soesdyke/Linden Highway at a fast rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle. There was a passenger in the vehicle.

As a result, the driver was flung from the vehicle and ended up on the western grass parapet, where he received injuries to his head and about his body.

Dubar was picked up by Police ranks and public-spirited citizens in an unconscious condition and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, EBD.

Upon arrival, the driver was examined by doctors on duty, and he was pronounced dead.

The passenger, 49-year-old Rayan Khan of Soesdyke, was also taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty, and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was admitted as a patient in the Male Surgical Ward, suffering from lacerations to the head and about the body. His condition was regarded as stable.

Khan regained consciousness at around 13:25 hours on Tuesday afternoon. He was subsequently discharged from the GPHC and escorted to the Police Highway Patrol Base at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

The body of Dubar was then transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Mortuary for storage, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Further investigation is in progress.

en and concrete building engulfed in flames. Also affected by the blaze were two houses located at Lots 398 and 400 Third Street, Herstelling. Due to radiated heat from the building of origin, a quantity of PVC ceiling, guttering, telephone cable, windows, tiles, and a northern wall were severely damaged.

A scene of what was left of the building after the fire

Dead: Alvin Dubar (Guyana Times photo)

Karasabai farmer dies in motorcycle mishap

MIKEY Francisco, a 57-year-old farmer from Karasabai Village, died after an accident on Sunday, on the Shiwan Access Road, South Pakaraima District.

According to reports, the 57-year-old man, who, at the time, was operating a Brazilian registered motorcycle, NAR 8584, was returning home from his farm. The vehicle was not equipped with a headlamp. While in the vicinity of Shiwan Access

Road, approaching the Shiwan Bridge, the man lost control of the cycle and collided with the bridge rail.

As a result of the collision, the man and the motorcycle fell off the bridge into the creek on some rocks, with the motorcycle landing on him and ‘pinning him down’.

At about 13:45 hours on Monday, relatives who went in search of the 57-year-old man found him in the creek in a motionless state with the

motorcycle on both legs.

The man was picked up and taken to the Karasabai District Hospital, where he was examined by a medical practitioner, who immediately referred him to the Lethem Regional Hospital.

Francisco was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The man’s body is at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination as further investigations are underway.

The Shiwan Bridge

National Toshaos Council receives Iwokrama’s support

THE National Toshaos Council (NTC) and the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (Iwokrama) on Monday announced their collaboration in supporting the Council’s mentorship of indigenous villages and communities to prepare Village Sustainability Plans (VSPs).

According to a press release, the VSPs, which are being discussed and prepared by each indigenous village and community across Guyana, provide details on the projects developed and decided upon by the residents of each respective community.

These plans will be financed by revenues earned under the Forest Carbon Credits Programme of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS)

2030.

At their request, the NTC’s executive members and technical staff are guiding villages and communities in developing their village plans. Iwokrama’s support to the Council would cover expenses associated with these exercises in Deep South and South Central Rupununi, Region Nine.

The simple signing ceremony held at Iwokrama’s Georgetown office was attended by Programme Coordinator Nandanie Jerry, who represented Toshao Derrick John, NTC Chairman.

She thanked Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dane Gobin and Director for Resource Management and Training Dr. Raquel Thomas for Iwokrama’s timely support.

Gobin expressed his satis-

faction with the opportunity to support the NTC’s important work with the villages as part of the LCDS 2030. Further, he said Iwokrama’s interest in strengthening ties with the NTC was in collaborative research, sustainable natural resource management, and preserving indigenous culture, among other areas.

The NTC is the representative body of all Toshaos.

The Council engages with the government and other partners on behalf of all villages; promotes good governance practices; advocates for sustainable management of natural resources; and prepares, implements, and supports policies, plans, and projects to enhance the lives and livelihoods of Guyana’s indigenous peoples.

CEO of Iwokrama, Dane Gobin and NTC Representative, Nandanie Jerry, sign the agreement

UG students on internship at Timehri, Lusignan Prisons

BASED on a mutually agreed-upon partnership between the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and the University of Guyana (UG) Department of Sociology, eight final-year Social Work diploma students will complete their practical assessment at the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) attached to Georgetown, Timehri, and Lusignan Prisons.

The students are required to complete 200 hours of attachment to graduate.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, said the as-

sessment would enable interns to acquire knowledge and a greater understanding of the roles and functions of the Guyana Prison Service’s Welfare and Corrections Sector.

“It will also enhance their research, analytical, observational, and evaluative skills, and enhance their ability to acquire practical knowledge and develop a professional orientation towards the Prison System”, Elliot related.

The Officer-in-Charge of Prisoners’ Welfare and Corrections, Marielle Bris-

tol-Grant, urged the interns not to approach the venture with fear but to be courageous, confident, and assertive while reminding them that helping professions are never easy and require dedication.

Meanwhile, the Officer-in-Charge of the location, Senior Superintendent of Prisons, Deoraj Gyandat, said the assessment is a valuable research experience for undergraduates and can be one of the most rewarding aspects of their respective courses.

(From Right) Lusignan Prisons Officer-in- Charge, Senior Superintendent Deoraj Gyandat, with the final-year social work diploma students

GWI delivers on promise to hinterland residents

THE Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has installed a new hand pump at Farm Core and built and delivered rainwater harvesting stations at the Village Church and Primary School at Imbetero, Region One.

These facilities were built by GWI, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund

(UNICEF), under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme (WASH).

WASH is an ongoing programme to improve sanitation and hygiene among the migrant and local populations in targetted hinterland locations.

The installation of the hand pump and construction of rainwater harvesting stations are a promise deliv-

ered by GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh, to the residents, during a visit to the region on March 10-11, 2023.

On that visit, he was accompanied by a team that included Sanitation Manager and WASH Coordinator, Rensforde Joseph and Communications Manager, Tamika Jeffrey.

The Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has installed a new hand pump at Farm Core and built and delivered rainwater harvesting stations at the Village Church and Primary School at Imbetero

Security measures in place at Kingston Seawall ‘beautified space’

TOURISTS and locals desirous of relaxing in the beautified space at the Kingston Seawall could now be assured of heightened security with the installation of a police outpost at the venue.

The facilities for that outpost are already in place, and the booth will be operationalised soon. The initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Works and the Commissioner of Police.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, made this disclosure during a recent live update.

Persons frequenting the area will also benefit from access to free Wi-Fi, as well as a restaurant area. The seawall bandstand, which Minister Edghill described as a historic site, is also being rehabilitated.

“We are pleased to be, in association with the office of the First Lady, in the execution of these beautification projects. For the Kingston seawall area, which I believe in Guyana might be one of the most high-traffic areas in terms of people frequenting constantly…a tremendous amount of work has been done there,” Bishop Edghill said.

He stated that a number of upgrades were previously made in the area, including the installation of lights, the repair of broken facilities such as drains, and the creation of a play park for children, which was fenced for increased security.

“The fact that we have those motorcycles and cars that sometimes recklessly traverse, the area of play for children was a major consideration. So, we have put in place a fence in the area by Rabbit Walk, where the children can actually go in and their parents could relax while the kids play,” he related.

The minister added that the contractors, under the leadership of project engineer, Kevin Samad have thus far been able to bring development all the way down to the ‘I love Guyana’ sign at High Street; as such, he commended them on their efficient work.

“The last time when I spoke about this issue a few weeks ago, we were wrapping up the work in terms of the surface work, laying of the blocks, the casting of the concrete, and beautifying it. So, I believe that everyone who went out to the Kingston seawall for Easter would have found a highly enhanced, totally transformed environment that would have been beautiful to the eyes and surprising to many,” he said.

Other enhancements to the Kingston seawall area include the consistent rental of portable toilets, as well as a ramp for wheelchair access to the seawall.

Minister Edghill urged citizens, however, to be cognisant of their waste disposal habits when frequenting the area.

“So, while we beautify… facilities, I think we need to bring citizens along into creating that culture, your boxes …and so on must not be left at the seawall, or thrown on the ground…We have to be able to keep the area in good shape,” he said.

With the support of the Office of the First Lady, various booths will be assigned to operators, so that agreed-upon services can be provided.

An oversight committee will also be implemented to ensure the maintenance and smooth running of the facilities.

He said that while the intent is to build massive structures, bridges, highways, and roads, the government must also cater for people, their recreation and happiness.

“They must be able to do so in safe and environmentally friendly areas. The Office of the First Lady has put out a particular mission that she would like to achieve. Here at the Ministry of Public Works, we are lending support to that, and bringing benefits to the people of Guyana,” Bishop Edghill expressed.

These include projects at New Amsterdam, Skeldon, West Demerara, Essequibo, and Supenaam.

Other locations are currently being considered for beautification as well. (DPI)

China keen on strengthening tourism with Caribbean

By Suelle Findlay-Williams in Beijing, China

AS China pursues its modernisation agenda through various avenues, including sharing its rich history and culture with the world, it is keen on strengthening its tourism initiatives with Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean.

Director-General of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign

Affairs Cai Wei, at a briefing with journalists from the region, disclosed that the Chinese government has challenged its local air carriers to identify convenient travel routes between China and the Caribbean.

According to Cai, travel from China to Caribbean countries proves particularly challenging. Currently, persons travelling to any Caribbean country would have to book several flights and travel extremely long hours

Director General of the Department of Latin America and Caribbean Affairs, Cai Wei and representatives from the CCDC with journalists from the Caribbean to arrive at their destination; this sometimes amounts to days.

“It is a difficulty for us… so far, I have not found a very convenient air route from China to the Caribbean. Before the pandemic, we used to have to travel from China and Montreal on to Havana. Some of the tourists go through the United States or Europe, but it’s still difficult for us,” Cai said.

He related that China has been exploring the possibility of partnering with Mexico to facilitate flights from China to transit. He said that the technicalities are still being sorted out. The other option would be to establish routes via Europe.

Responding to questions regarding the possibility of China implementing a plan to facilitate Caribbean nationals of Chinese descent who wish to travel to China to trace their roots, Cai said that discussions are ongoing with the various embassies.

“Not just Chinese tourists going to the Caribbean but also members of the Caribbean coming back to China.

So, you can see that that’s why we are so des-

perate to have direct air contact between China and the Caribbean,” he said.

CHINA-CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Cai related that one of the fundamental reasons for establishing the China-Caribbean Development Centre (CCDC) is to foster closer relations with the Caribbean.

“We feel that the centre would be home for the Caribbean, and we have proposed for them to do exhibitions… We want to see the colourful world, and in this colourful world, the Caribbean is very important,” he said.

The CCDC, which was launched in 2022, serves as a bridge in promoting mutually beneficial co-operation and achieving common development goals between China and the Caribbean.

It also indicates China’s commitment to strengthening co-operation with the Caribbean for development and creating an even closer China-Caribbean community to achieve a shared future.

CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of GAICO, Komal Singh, was elected the new Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) during the commission’s 31st Annual General Meeting at the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday.

According to a press release from the PSC, as is customary, the business section of the AGM saw the council electing the executive members of the Private Sector Commission, who will serve for the period 2023-2024.

“The commission is pleased to announce the election of Mr Komal Singh as Chairman, re-election of Mr Ryan Alexander as Vice-Chairman, Mr Paul Cheong as Honorary Secretary, Mr. Haimwant Persaud as Treasurer and Dr Natasha Gaskin-Peters as Corporate Coordinator,” the PSC said.

It added: “The PSC intends to continue being the

leading advocate for the private sector on articulated and shared positions on national issues, which will promote socio-economic growth and development through the creation of strategic partnerships with the government and stakeholders.”

Komal Singh elected new PSC Chairman

New PSC Chairman Komal Singh

Canada to launch new grant mechanism for the Caribbean

to address key development issues related to the environment, gender equality and other areas

THE new local development initiatives grant mechanism “Local Engagement and Action Fund” (LEAF) will be launched on Thursday by Emina Tudakovic, High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica, Rajani Alexander, High Commissioner of Canada to Belize and Mark Berman, High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana.

The launch will take place on the Local Engagement and Action Fund’s Facebook page - https:// www.facebook.com/canadaleaffund from 11:00 hrs –12:30 hrs.

According to a press release, LEAF is the local development initiatives grant mechanism under the Field Services Support Project –Caribbean (FSSP-C). The event will be held in Jamaica (in-person) and livestreamed to stakeholders in Belize, Guyana and Suriname.

The launch will alert stakeholders about the Field Services Support Project – Caribbean (FSSP-C) and particularly about the Lo -

cal Engagement and Action Fund (LEAF). This will include information on the overall goal of the LEAF along with updates on calls for proposals, who can apply, thematic areas, capacity building, collaborative learning opportunities and what to expect for 2023-2024.

The attendees include Global Affairs Canada (GAC) representatives, government agencies, the FSSP-C team, and relevant stakeholders based on the thematic areas and eligible organisations.

The LEAF initiative will support local organisations in eight Caribbean countries, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname, to address their key developmental issues.

40,000 residents to benefit from Eccles water well

THE drilling of a water well at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, is a major infrastructural and system upgrade project being undertaken by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to significantly improve the level of service

to the immense housing development on the East Bank corridor.

The Eccles well is one of 12 wells being dug this year, and several other projects are being undertaken to deliver treated water to 90 per cent of

There will be an annual call for proposals from 20232026; the first one will be in May 2023 (Guyana and Suriname), June 2023 (Belize and Jamaica) and September 2023 (Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines).

“The main objective of LEAF is to strengthen organisations working in vulnerable sectors by improving access to financial resources to enhance their mandate.

LEAF may respond to issues related to Gender Equality, Human Rights, Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Gender-Based Violence and Youth Engagement. Each call for proposals will specify which themes will be focused on,” the release stated.

LEAF has two types of grants – short term (sixtwelve months) and longterm grant (12-24 months).

Each call for proposals will determine the specific types of grants being offered. Short-term grants are CAD$20,000 to CAD$50,000 and longterm grants CAD$50,001 to CAD$100,000. LEAF will fund capacity building, technical support, administrative services and other direct project-related costs.

Organisations that are registered not-for-profit entities and fall in the following

categories can receive funding under LEAF – non-government organisations, community-based organisations, women’s rights organisations, benevolent societies, foundations, charitable organisations, associations, public educational institutions, national and sub-national government entities and regional organisations.

The organisation must, however, operate in one of the eight eligible countries.

and supply of potable water to residents of Eccles to Providence in Guyana.

The new well at Eccles will be connected to the Eccles treatment plant, via a transmission line.

The well is part of the Government of Guyana’s massive investment to improve water infrastructure and system upgrades in response to the increasing demand for potable water, due

the population by 2025.

The Eccles project is expected to serve some 40,000 residents from Eccles to Providence, and when the well is fully operational, residents could expect a significant improvement to the level of service and quality of water.

The project is being funded by the Government of Guyana to the tune of US$105 million.

The drilling rig in action

RACING TIPS

Prabath Jayasuriya heroics help Sri Lanka to a massive Test win

PRABATH Jayasuriya picked up his second ten-wicket haul in a Test match to lead Sri Lanka to an innings win over Ireland in Galle in the first Test.

Unbeaten hundreds from Dinesh Chandimal and Sadeera Samarawickrama after Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis’ massive knocks had given Sri Lanka a big total on day two.

Prabath Jayasuriya then went on to dominate the Ireland batters, taking a five-wicket haul on day two and ending with a seven-fer in the innings.

Bowled out for 143, Ireland couldn’t do much better following on, finishing on 168 with Harry Tector, Curtis Campher and George Dockrell getting starts. The innings and 280-run victory gives Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. .

Chandimal has been in good form in Test cricket, making over 1000 runs in his last nine Test matches, averaging 91 in the format with three hundreds and five half-centuries.

His unbeaten hundred came after a well-set platform, and led Sri Lanka to a massive first innings total. Chandimal’s purple patch is one he hasn’t managed previously in a career that is more than a decade long.

In seven of these last nine Tests, Chandimal has made at least one fifty-plus score. This includes a career-best 206* against Australia at this very same venue.

Ireland spinners made a decent impression in Bangladesh, but here in Galle, against a strong batting line-up, they couldn’t quite make inroads.

Andy McBrine, George Dockrell and Ben White picked up three wickets between them, but conceded close to 400 runs, each

going at more than four runs per over.

Ireland may have managed just 143 and 168 in the two innings here, but across the Bangladesh series and this Test, there was enough on display to suggest that the team can develop its red-ball batting.

The likes of Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher and James McCollum showed the tenacity and resilience required in batters in the longest format. For a group of players who haven’t had too much first-class cricket behind them, these were appreciable performances

in alien conditions.

Tucker’s fine century in Bangladesh was followed up by a 73-ball 45 in the first innings here. Tector showed character in both innings, facing over 150 balls across both innings.

In six Tests thus far, Prabath Jayasuriya has five five-wicket hauls in an innings and two match hauls of 10 wickets or more. The left-arm spinner, who won the Player of the Match award, finished with figures of 10/108.

He has already raced to 43 Test wickets, 39 of those coming in Galle alone, where he has now

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Wednesday April 19, 2023)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 70 matches

(2) 10 teams

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many games were scheduled for IPL 2011?

(2) Which two teams contested the first IPL game in 2011?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

played four Tests and taken five five-wicket hauls.

His tally of 43 wickets after six Tests is the joint-

third-best in Test cricket history. Only Charles Turner (50) and Vernon Philander (45) have more

after the first six Tests. The second and final Test begins in Galle from April 24. (ICC Media)

Prabath Jayasuriya has been sensational in his six career Tests so far

NBA play-offs:

Sacramento Kings beat Golden State Warriors to take two-game lead

THE Sacramento Kings defeated defending champions the Golden State Warriors 114-106 to take a two-game lead in the NBA Western Conference play-offs.

It is the first time the

Warriors have suffered backto-back play-off losses since the 2019 NBA Finals.

De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis each scored 24 points for the Kings at the Golden 1 Centre

in Sacramento.

The game got heated when Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected after stamping on the chest of Sabonis.

The pair became entan-

gled under the Golden State basket, with Sabonis hitting the floor after a bump from Klay Thompson.

As Green attempted to run down the court, his foot landed on his opponent's chest which resulted in a flagrant foul two and immediate

ejection.

"I've got to land my foot somewhere," Green told TNT television.

"I can only step so far when I'm pulling my leg away. It is what it is."

Sabonis added: "We were both fighting for the rebound,

we fell on each other, stuff happens, it's basketball. We've got to move on to the next play."

The seven-match series heads to San Francisco for game three on Thursday.

In Monday's other playoff game, the Philadelphia 76ers took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference series by beating the Brooklyn Nets 96-84.

Trailing by 10 points in the second quarter, the Sixers overcame a slow start and outscored Brooklyn 24-14 in the third before wrapping up victory as Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Centre.

The series moves to Brooklyn with game three taking place tomorrow. (BBC Sport).

Youth coach benefits from Project ‘Cricket Gear’

COACH Travis Mohamed was gifted one box of red cricket balls from the “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana,” the joint initiative of Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA.

The balls will assist Mohamed with his coaching programmes. At a simple ceremony held recently, Mohamed expressed thanks to the initiative for the balls while Beharry pledged to continue to support young and talented cricketers in Guyana.

Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: 13 coloured cricket uniforms, two trophies, 17 pairs of cricket boots, 30 pairs of batting pads, 31 cricket bats, 28 pairs of batting gloves, 21 thigh pads, three pairs of wicket-keeping pads, four arm guards, two boxes, nine cricket bags, six bat rubbers and six helmets. $330 000 in cash was raised as well. In addition to the above, $600 000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket-keeper/ batsman.

To date, 53 young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from three junior gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 21 bats, two boxes, four helmets, 20 pairs of cricket shoes, 13 pairs of batting

pads, two thigh pads, one bat rubber and 19 pairs of batting gloves.

In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area received two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also collected one box of red cricket balls each while RHCCCC got two, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board and the Town of Lethem were

also beneficiaries. Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify talent. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit. . Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.

Sabonis stayed down for a few minutes as the officials reviewed the play after Green stepped on his chest

Anil Beharry (left) hands over the box of balls to Travis Mohamed

Ben Stokes named world's leading cricketer by Wisden

ENGLAND captain Ben Stokes has been named Wisden's leading cricketer in the world for the third time in four years.

Stokes, 31, has transformed the fortunes of the Test team and played a starring role in the T20 World Cup final win against Pakistan in November.

England team-mates Ben Foakes and Matthew Potts are named among the five Cricketers of the Year.

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell plus India women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur are also on the list.

England had won only one of their previous 17 Tests when all-rounder Stokes was appointed captain last April.

They have since won 10 of their past 12 matches by playing a daring style of swashbuckling cricket.

Stokes has previously been named the leading cricketer in the world in 2020 and 2021.

"It's hard to think of any other cricketer who could have transformed his team's fortunes so suddenly as Ben Stokes," said Wisden editor Lawrence Booth.

"He was forceful with both bat and ball, scoring a series-turning century against South Africa in Manchester.

"Later in the year, he steered England to the T20 World Cup with the defining innings of the final against Pakistan in Melbourne - the icing on the cake for a cricketer who has transformed the way the game is played."

Batter Beth Mooney was named the leading women's cricketer in the world for the second time in three years after being part of an Australia team that won World Cups in 50-over and 20-over formats as well as gold at the Commonwealth Games.

The five Cricketers of the Year are chosen by the Wisden editor, a tradition that dates back to 1889. Performances in the English summer are a major factor and no player can win the award more than once.

Seamer Potts, 24, took 20 wickets in his first summer playing Test cricket for England, while 30-year-old Foakes backed up his superb work behind the stumps with some vital innings with the

T&T set up crucial decider with Puerto Rico after second win

MIAMI, Florida, (CMC )– Trinidad and Tobago set up a critical Group D showdown on Wednesday with fellow unbeaten side Puerto Rico, after holding off a spirited challenge from Guadeloupe to win their second match of the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship qualification tournament.

Playing at the Rignaal Jean Francisca Stadium in Willemstad on Monday, T&T got a brace from J’Eleisha Alexander as they broke a 1-1 half-time deadlock to come away with a 3-2 victory.

With the win, T&T moved to six points but lie second to Puerto Rico based on an inferior goal difference, the Spanish-speaking side battering Cayman Islands 6-1 in the other game at the venue.

Alexander’s eighth minute penalty put the Trinidadians ahead but their hopes of stretching that advantage were squashed when Laëtitia Echard levelled three minutes before the break.

However, Alexander then netted twice in 10 minutes to put her side up 3-1 before Sergnya Loubli’s 84th minute penalty injected nerves into the contest late on, as Guadeloupe hit back.

In Group C in Santo Domingo, Si-Hanna Mars netted half-dozen goals as Guyana also maintained their unbeaten run with carushing 10-0 victory over Dominica at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium.

Mars struck five times in the first half to fire Guyana to a 6-0 half-time lead, with Jalade Trim scoring

bat.

Wicketkeeper Blundell, 32, and Black Caps' teammate Mitchell, 31, were both prolific with the bat despite New Zealand going down to a 3-0 Test series defeat in England in June.

Harmanpreet, 34, led her

team to a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games then inspired a first one-day series win in England since 1999 in September.

England batter Jonny

Bairstow was awarded the new Wisden Trophy for the outstanding individual Test

performance of the yearhis twin hundreds in the record-breaking win over India at Edgbaston in July. Meanwhile, India batter Suryakumar Yadav was named as the leading Twenty20 cricketer in the world. (BBC Sport).

in either half – the first and last goals – to round off a dominant outing for her side.

Guyana also enjoyed a strong win in their opener last Saturday when they thrashed Suriname 6-0, and now lie second on six points, only behind the unbeaten Dominican Republic on goal difference.

The two teams clash in the group decide rtoday.

In Group F in Managua, St Lucia lost their opener heavily when they crashed to a 9-0 defeat at the hands of Costa Rica at the Nicaragua National Football Stadium.

The St Lucians were punished by Alexa Herrera’s first-half hattrick, Sheika Scott and Samira Roper adding a brace each as Costa Rica stormed to a 6-0 halftime lead.

Ben Stokes has led England to 10 wins in their last 12 Tests

Chelsea exit Champions League as Real Madrid finish job

CHELSEA's hopes of salvaging success from a season of abject mediocrity were ended ruthlessly by Real Madrid as the holders advanced into the Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were always battling against the odds to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in the Bernabeu and their cause was not helped by a familiar failing as a battling performance was undermined by missing a succession of clear chances.

N'Golo Kante missed a glorious first-half opening while Marc Cucurella was blocked by former Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois when he looked certain to reduce Real's advantage.

The Spanish champions had moments of their own and there are few sides more adept at making opponents pay for wasted opportunities and so it proved.

A lightning counter attack led by Vinicius Junior ended with Rodrygo putting the tie to bed with a close-range finish just before the hour

The Brazilian forward then walked in the second after brilliant, unselfish work by Federico Valverde with 10 minutes left.

Carlo Ancelotti's quest for an historic fifth win as a coach in this tournament will continue with a semi-final against either Bayern Munich or Manchester City while Chelsea's interim

manager Frank Lampard, who now has four defeats from four games, must somehow lift the grim mood of despair around the club.

Chelsea flaws exposed again

In among the many mistakes made by Chelsea's new ownership group led by Todd Boehly, one of the most obvious is shelling out £600m in a madcap transfer spree but failing to acquire someone who deals in the most precious commodity of all, namely goals.

Chelsea gave a very decent performance here, certainly the best of Frank Lampard's short reign, but a painful lack of end product meant there was almost an air of inevitability they would eventually be punished by the street wisdom and quality in

Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Kante had Chelsea's best opportunities while Cucurella and substitute Mykhailo Mudryk also failed to cash in on good positions, although the latter's chance came with only minutes left and the tie over.

Chelsea are currently languishing in 11th place in the Premier League. They will not be in the Champions League next season, a big pull for potential purchases, while Boehly and the Clearlake group must find a manager to mend the fractures in the club after the sackings of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter this season.

It will have to be ambition and reputation that lures that man because all the elite names who may come into contention

Taylor: 'Selectors should stick with Warner for WTC final and first Two Ashes Tests'

will invariably wish to ply their trade in the Champions League.

Lampard will need to show some serious powers of motivation to inspire an upbeat end to the season at a club that has lost its way.

Real on the march again

Real Madrid's reign as the kings of Europe continues into another Champions League semi-final and they will pose a massive threat to whoever they meet - most likely Manchester City as they hold a 3-0 advantage from the first leg against Bayern Munich.

They not only have the competition's most successful manager in four-time winner Ancelotti but possess a team of such vast experience that knows exactly how to get the job done.

Chelsea followed Liverpool in being put away in the Champions League with the minimum of fuss.

Real are always able to find a hero from somewhere when it matters and here it was Rodrygo with two simple finishes, although man of the match was the outstanding Uruguayan Valverde.

This is a club that always believes it is their destiny to win the Champions League and they will be getting the old familiar feeling as they move into the last four once again.

(BBC Sport)

Arjun Tendulkar takes first IPL wicket as Green leads Mumbai to victory over Hyderabad

MUMBAI Indians claimed a third straight win in the Indian Premier League, beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 14 runs.

Cameron Green's unbeaten 64 from 40 deliveries helped propel the Indians to 192-5 from their 20 overs on Tuesday, with Arjun Tendulkar's first IPL wicket then sealing victory.

Green came in after the loss of Rohit Sharma (28) in the fifth over, with Mumbai 41-1, and put on 46 for the next wicket with Ishan Kishan (38) before the second Indians opener was caught by Aiden Markram off Marco Jansen's bowling.

Jansen swiftly dismissed Suryakumar Yadav, too, but Green, with able support from Tilak Varma, put the Indians in control.

As Green clipped his way to a first IPL half-century, Varma plundered 37 from just 17 deliveries to up the run rate, with the Sunrisers set a daunting target.

Harry Brook's departure in the second over presented a stuttering start to Hyderabad's chase, with Rahul Tripathi following soon after.

Mayank Agarwal offered stubborn resistance but saw Aiden Markram, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen – who blasted 36 from 16 balls to give the Sunrisers hope – come and go before finally succumbing on 48.

Against the odds, Hyderabad had a slim chance heading into the final over, from which they required 20 to win, but Tendulkar – son of India legend Sachin – rounded out the win with a superb show of death bowling

to have the Sunrisers out for 178 with one ball remaining.

Green does the business with bat and ball

Before Tendulkar stole the show, Green was Mumbai's star performer with the bat and stepped up with the ball, too.

The Australian finished with bowling figures of 1-29, taking the key wicket of Sunrisers captain Markram for 22.

Remember the name

Arjun Tendulkar has quite the legacy to live up to, but he

...The former Australia captain urges the selectors to opt for Bancroft or Renshaw as the back-up opener

made his mark in some style with a fantastically composed final over.

And his big moment came with the wicket of Bhuvneshwar Kumar to finish with figures of 1-18 in the most economical performance of all Mumbai bowlers.

"I just had to focus on what was in hand, the plan, and executing it, that's all," said Tendulkar. "Me and dad talk about cricket, discuss tactics.(Cricinfo).

MARK Taylor reckons David Warner should be given three Tests to fight for his spot in England, while urging Australia's selectors to make Cameron Bancroft or Matt Renshaw the next opener in line.

Selectors are expected to name a squad for the World Test Championship final against India and the Ashes this week, with the focus firmly on the top of the order.

Warner is expected to be named in that squad and picked for the WTC final at The Oval on June 7 before the Ashes begin, returning from an elbow injury that cut short his India Test tour.

The heat remains on the opener to produce runs early in England. Warner's double century against South Africa at the MCG last December is his sole triple-figure score in 32 innings, while he averaged 9.50 on the last Ashes tour in 2019.

But Taylor, who will be in England as part of the Nine Network's Ashes broadcast, believes Warner should play in the first two Tests against England if selectors pick him to face India.

"If I am reading the tea leaves right, it sounds like they will stick with David for the World Test Championship at The Oval," the former Test captain told AAP. "And if that's the way Australia are thinking about the World Test Championship, then yes, they have to start with him for the Ashes.

"It would be very hard to have Usman Khawaja and Warner open the batting and then change a week later for the first Test at Edgbaston. Whoever they think is our best opening combination for the World Test Championship, should do the first three Tests of the summer."

The selectors have previously indicated they will break the English summer into two blocks of three Tests, with the squad to be re-evaluated after the second Ashes Test at Lord's.

Taylor is also adamant the selectors should opt for Bancroft or Renshaw as the back-up opener ahead of Marcus Harris. Harris was handed a national contract ahead of the two, despite the Victorian not playing a Test for 15 months.

Chief selector George Bailey indicated at the time that Harris is seen as a preferred back-up option outside of the subcontinent, with Renshaw's recent Tests on spinning wickets.

Bancroft has not played a Test match since the 2019 Ashes, but was the leading run-scorer in this summer's Sheffield Shield with 945 at an average of 59.06. But Taylor said he was surprised by the selectors' contract call earlier this month.

"My old way of thinking, I always like a right-and-lefthander combination. So I would love to see Cameron Bancroft get another opportunity at the top of the order," he said. "I see Renshaw has been making runs in New Zealand [for Australia A], but Bancroft has made a heap of runs in the Australian summer.

"One thing I do like about Bancroft, which I also like about Renshaw, is their ability to catch in the field. In the next year or two, we're going to need to find two openers. The one thing that has worried me about Marcus Harris is his fielding.

"The way this series is looking like panning out, fielding is going to be crucial. I think that will go against someone like a Marcus Harris, whose fielding is not great."(AAP)

Aussie Test opener David Warner had a torrid run during the recent series in India • (Getty Images)

Rodrygo’s goals against Chelsea took his tally to five in this season’s Champions League

Mumbai Indians claimed a third straight win in the Indian Premier League, beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 14 runs

Mila see off Napoli to reach Champions League semi-finals

AC Milan reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 2007 as they saw off Serie A rivals Napoli in an incident-packed game.

Milan could face Inter Milan in the last four, with their city rivals going into Wednesday's second leg with Benfica holding a 2-0 lead.

Serie A champions-elect Napoli dominated early on - but Milan won a penalty with one of their first attacks, although Olivier Giroud's spot-kick was saved by Alex Meret.

The veteran Frenchman got the opening goal, though, to make it 2-0 on aggregate when he tapped in following a sensational 70-yard run by Rafael Leao to set him up.

Napoli were then gifted a way back into the game when Fikayo Tomori handled in the box, but visiting keeper Mike Maignan saved Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's penalty.

They did eventually score, through a Victor Osimhen header with seconds remaining in the match - and there was not enough time to create an-

other chance.

Napoli, who are 22 points clear of Milan in the league table, have lost form at a critical time and failed to take a host of opportunities, with 39 efforts across both legs.

Can Milan go all the way?

Milan, soon to be deposed by Napoli as Serie A champions, were seconds away from keeping a remarkable six consecutive Champions League clean sheets.

WI selectors...

From page 40

ducts himself while playing an innings, in his approach at various situations the state of the game might impose, for instance how his bowling stands up after being struck for some boundaries.

Of course, I’m applying principles pertaining to the game of cricket where the bowler is not limited to a number of overs, but combines his art of bowling with attempting to exploit a batsman’s weakness in order to dismiss him or to reduce the run rate, using strategic field-placing to gain an advantage over the batting team.

And that is what cricket is about and why the selection of teams has to do with selectors reading a cricketer’s value through his natural ability, temperament, and disposition, plus a fighting, never-say-die spirit. (TT Newsday)

But they will not worry too much about that as they celebrate their best European season for 16 years.

Stefano Pioli's side have focused on this competition, having rested all 10 outfield players in last weekend's Serie A draw with Bologna.

The Rossoneri seem to have the number of Napoli too, with two wins and this draw against the same team in April. They won 4-0 on their league

trip to Estadio Diego Armando Maradona earlier this month and beat them 1-0 in last week's first leg in Milan.

They rode their luck somewhat in the early stages, although captain Davide Calabria did brilliantly to control Napoli winger Kvaratskhelia.

They were awarded the penalty when Mario Rui caught Leao, but Giroud was denied by Meret in Milan's first shot of the game.

But the 36-year-old made no mistake after Leao's brilliant run that had vibes of George Weah's solo goal in 1996 for Milan against Verona.

They held off Napoli's attempted comeback with determined defending and, unless Benfica turn things round on Wednesday, will face Inter in a Champions League semi-final derby.

Napoli stumbling at terrible time

Luciano Spalletti's Napoli are close to a first

Serie A title since 1990 and the days of Diego Maradona, and surely cannot let a 14-point lead over second-placed Lazio slip with eight games left.

This was their first European Cup quarter-final and expectations were high.

But the top scorers in this season's Serie A and Champions League are not finishing the season as they would have hoped.

They had only lost three games in all competitions before April. Had the returning Osimhen not headed in late on for a second-leg draw, they would have lost as many against Milan in this month alone.

And they lost Rui and Matteo Politano to firsthalf injuries.

Kvaratskhelia, despite being handled well by Calabria, was their most lively player, but missed several efforts including the penalty as the Georgian sensation's first Champions League season ended in disappointment.

Now their attention will turn back to domestic competition and making sure they get the four wins they need to clinch the crown. (BBC Sport)

Shemar Britton beats Aaron Wilson...

southpaw is fresh off leading his country to a bronze medal in the Men`s team events at the recently concluded Caribbean Championships held in Guyana in March.

Britton defeated local star player and Carenage Blasters player, Aaron Wilson 3-1 (11:8; 7:11; 11:8; 11:4) in the final.

In the previous round, Britton swept Luc O’ Young (Carenage Blasters) 3-0 (11:7; 11:9; 11:4) whilst Wilson defeated Javier King (UTT) 3-0 (11:6; 11:7; 11:7).

Britton said, “It is great to win another tournament especially this one being my first Classified and to play against a great player like Aaron Wilson in the final. Our rivalry and matches are well-doc-

umented, so it is good to put this one in my win column.” Britton added, “I can now say that I hold all four major titles in TT that I’m eligible to play which was a goal of mine when I first came here.”

Ambika Sitram (WASA) claimed her maiden senior women`s singles title after winning the Women`s A Division on Saturday.

Sitram edged out national junior and senior player Imani Edwards -Taylor (QPCC) 3-2 (3:11; 11:7; 10;12; 13:11; 11:7). The 17-yearold Edwards-Taylor has now been defeated in three consecutive women`s singles finals.

In the semis, Sitram outclassed national player Priyanka Khellawan (Powergen) 3-1 (6:11;

11:6; 11:7; 11:3). Edwards-Taylor won in straight sets against veteran Linda Partap – Boodhan of Tunapuna Hindu (11:7; 11:8; 14:12).

Edwin Humphreys of Arima

Table Tennis Club won the A2 Division by defeating Nicholas O` Young (Carenage Blasters) 3-0 (12:10; 11:2; 11:7). Humphreys brushed aside Jean Marc Lee Fai 3-0 (11:9; 11:6; 11:8) in the semi-final. In the other semis, O` Young came from behind to beat Wesley Dookhoo of (Guaracara) 3-1 (7:11; 11:7; 11:4; 11:5).

Men`s B Division: 1st Josiah Joseph (Powergen); 2nd Adesh Ramphalie (Warrenville); 3rd Kymani Holder (QPCC); 3rd Donald Humphrey (Couva).

From page 40

Women`s B Division: 1st Lyllana Boodhan (Tunupuna Hindu); 2nd Mikah Stroude (Crusaders); 3rd Derah Ramoutar; 3rd Jerisse Elder (Oxford)

Men`s C Division: 1st Ronnie Gueverra (Couva); 2nd Bachan Singh (Couva); 3rd Jewel Serrette (Warrenville); 3rd Vivek Bahadeosingh (Warrenville)

Women`s C Division: 1st Jacquelin Coutain (Enterprise); 2nd Shernika Jones (WASA); 3rd Kedesha Ruiz (ATTC); 3rd Marlene Phillip (Siparia United) Novice Open: 1st Zayden Sagramsingh (Warrenville); 2ndNekeisha Lewis (Siparia United) (TT Newsday)

Olivier Giroud, 36, is the fourth oldest goalscorer in Champions League knockout games

WI selectors try new approach to development

By Bryan Davis

THE West Indies cricket selectors have come up with a fresh idea for choosing their team to participate in international cricket in 2023.

They have selected two teams of 13 players each from available cricketers.

Although in effect, trial matches, to ensure seriousness, have been enhanced with first-class status.

Guyana won the recent regional tournament with a superb win against the Leeward Islands in the final round of competition. It was the victory of a terrific team that was well balanced in all departments, plus they were united in team spirit and determination – which translates as well led by the captain Leon Johnson, who had announced before the start of the series that he would retire at the end of it. A surely super way to say goodbye!

Then, in a new twist to competition, Cricket West Indies decided to hold a contest between two teams

of the best players, in their selectors’ opinion, named after two great West Indian cricketers of the past, whose names embellish the prize the regional teams compete for, the Headley/Weekes trophy – named for George Headley and Everton Weekes.

Both teams consist of 13 players each. There is an added team, for flavour, the Emerging Players.

However, because there are no really outstanding players to speak of, it became a very interesting exercise. And, I guess, the hope of

Sir Desmond Haynes, the lead selector and his fellow selectors, is to come up with a competitive bunch of the recent regular players, plus some exciting and worthy newcomers who could develop into mature and confident cricketers of the future.

It was wise and interesting to see them give Joshua Da Silva, WI wicketkeeper, the opportunity to gain the experience to lead at this level, as he seems one for the future, based on the observation of his cricket at the top level and the way he’s always

GCB, GOG, MCYS 3-Day U-19 Inter-County tournament

Berbice & Demerara locked in intriguing battle on day one

By Sean Devers

THE opening day of the first round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Government of Guyana (GOG) and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) three-day U-19 tournament at Everest yesterday saw 16 wickets tumbling.

Defending Champions

Berbice were 111-6, still 11 runs behind Demerara’s 122 all out when stumps were drawn.

Mavindra Dindyal and National U-19 captain, Alvin Mohabir, picked up two wickets as Tomani Ceaser (32), Rampertab Ramnauth (22) and Hemendra Gurdayal (14) all wasted starts.

Earlier, Demerara lost Jaden Campbell (3) caught at slip off Isiah Thorne from a quick, short ball that got ‘big’ on him at 16-1 before Lawrence Pellew, who reached the boundary twice in 12, fell to off-spinner Johnathon Rampersaud at 31-2 while Mohabir (2) was removed by Rampersaud at 37-3.

Dindyal played well for his 20 with four boundaries

and was looking the best of the home team batters on a track with bounce which produced prodigious turn.

But when set, Dindyal pushed forward to left-arm spinner Jeremey Sandia, failed to keep the ball down and was taken at short-leg at 43-4 before Anthony Khan was caught and bowled by Sandia for a duck.

By Lunch, with their best batter already dismissed, Demerara were in a precarious position on 60-5. But with Shamar Yearwood unbeaten on 10, there was still hope of the home team posting a challenging total.

After the interval, Yearwood (10), who has played at the senior inter county tournament, played an irresponsible shot and skied off-spinner Leon Cecil for Zeynul Ramsammy to hold the offering on the square boundary.

But fast bowling all-rounder Phillips hit eight fours and a six from 86 ball and almost two hours of batting in an entertaining 57 while Krisna Singh fell to Thorne for a duck, Anthony

in the game and spurring his team on.

Also Alick Athanaze, captain of the Hurricanes, a fine cricketer who forces himself to be noticed by his maturity and his natural ability, together with a hint of leadership qualities which could be enhanced by this opportunity and the right approach.

Da Silva and Athanaze are two exciting cricketers who hopefully will develop, from this chance in their learning curve, to continue their development by listen-

ing and sifting advice from respected and recognised cricket experts, in addition to some reading of the game, in order to broaden their perspective on how to satisfy one’s players and allow them to achieve at the highest level.

By doing this, one will doubtlessly improve one’s own game. There’s nothing better than one’s own experience.

Selection

If the selection of cricket teams were based only on statistics, there would hardly

be any need for selectors. A group of administrators could get together and pore through the figures and pick those with the best analyses in batting and bwling. The problem with that is, you wouldn’t get the best team, and those who have scored well during a season or tournament can very well fail to fire when chosen to play at a higher level.

Although, of course, the stats are vital for recognition and direct the player to positions for observation, what is noteworthy is that a player’s lower achievement does not necessarily indicate someone with less ability. That is precisely why selectors should be knowledgeable, not only of the intricacies of the game itself, but also of the character of the cricketer, whose temperament and depth of emotional control should add up to the manner in which he handles himself in particular situations.

Hence, a selector must observe the way a player con-

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Shemar Britton beats Aaron Wilson to win Classifieds table tennis final

Lim (1) was removed by Cecil and Rudranauth Kisson fell for no score off Sandia. Nehemiah Hohenkirk was left unbeaten on six.

Sandia had 3-33 while Thorne, Rampersaud and Cecil had two wickets each for Berbice.

Meanwhile, at Bourda, 14 wickets fell as Essequibo reached 51-4 in reply to the GCB Select X1 209 all out.

Kevin Kisten scored 63 from 86 balls with four fours and two sixes while Ezekiel Wilson made 55 from 85 ball with seven boundaries but only Nityanand Mathura with 27 of the Select X1 batters offered fight.

Aryan Persaud had 5-69 and got support from Myhiem Khan who got 3-29 while Josh Charles had 2-26 for Essequibo who lost four quick wickets before the close.

Shaahid Vieira is unbeaten on 28 while Khan made 15 as Dillion Ramsaroop has so far taken 2-20.

Today is the second day in both matches and play is scheduled to commence at 10:00am

Men's A1 division champ Shemar Britton and Women's A1 division champ Ambika Sitram (R) display their trophies after winning the Classified Table Tennis Tournament, on Sunday, at the Eastern Regional Indoor sport Arena, Tacarigua. (Picture, courtesy of TT Newsday)

GUYANA’S Shemar Britton was crowned champion of the Men`s A1 division of the Classified Table Tennis Tournament at the Easter Regional Indoor Sport Arena (ERISA), Tacarigua on Sunday.

Britton, who represents the local club, Queen`s Park, and is a law student at the University of The West Indies, has won four consecutive senior singles tournaments. The

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Kenya’s Chebet retains Boston Marathon title

KENYA's Evans Chebet successfully defended his Boston Marathon title - with two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge back in sixth.

Chebet won in two hours five minutes and 54 seconds, with compatriot Kipchoge finishing 3:29 behind him.

It is only Kipchoge's third defeat in his previous 18 marathons.

Kenya's Hellen Obiri, competing in just her second race over the marathon distance, won the women's race in 2:21.38.

Chebet is just the sixth man in history to retain the Boston title and the first since 2008.

Switzerland's Marcel Hug won his sixth Boston title in the men's wheelchair race while

Evans Chebet (left) has won three marathons while Hellen Obiri's triumph in Boston is her first marathon win

Joshua Da Silva

Alick Athanaze

home hope Susannah Scaroni won the women's event. Tributes were paid in the city on Sunday to mark 10 years since the Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured 280.(BBC Sport).