Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 19-06-2023

Celebrating fatherhood

As part of Father’s Day activities on Sunday, many families opted to take their celebrations into outdoor spaces These Shaniece Bamfield photographs capture some of these families picnicking and spending quality time together in the National Park and the Botanical Gardens

GuyAmerica seeks to transform Soesdyke with US$6M wharf

–– says it will facilitate easy transport of raw materials for construction projects in Region Three

IN an attempt to facilitate the easy transport of construction materials for infrastructural projects in Region Three , GuyAmerica has approached the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a permit to build a state-of-the-art wharf at Tract A Plantation

Soesdyke , East Bank Demerara

The local construction company said in its application that the wharf will be complimented by a mobile concrete batching plant.

According to a project summary submitted to the EPA, the facility will provide easy access to large quantities of raw materials which are required for several ongoing projects in Region Three including the construction of the Schoonord to Crane Four-Lane Highway

The company in its report highlighted that it has faced significant restrictions with crossing the Demerara Harbour Bridge

Additionally, there is a lack of large quantities

of materials available in Region Three, hence a wharf is needed to support the ongoing works “ This is critical for providing access to large quantities of raw materials we require for our project in Region Three [which was] awarded by the CHPA ( Central Housing and Planning Authority ) and future projects we intend to bid for ,” the company explained

The facility will feature a revetment on the western boundary to the Demerara River and will be fenced around the northern, southern and eastern boundaries

Within the compound there will be a reinforced concrete road with a portion of the land being the laydown area

Meanwhile, the proposed state - of - the - art concrete batching plant will provide the company with timely and to specification, ready-mix concrete for the company’s infrastructure and road construction contracts in Region Three

The project is being

financed through a private bank loan

According to the company construction will be done in two phases The first phase will encompass the site development which will include clearing all vegetation from the plot and excavation if required and sand filling

Construction of reinforced concrete road driveway within the compound will also be done

It is estimated that 7,500 cubic yards of white sand will be required to bring the site up to design grade . In this phase, excavators, sand trucks, wheel loaders, graders and bulldozers will be prevalent on the site

During the second phase , it is anticipated that 20-40 construction workers will be full-time on the project, the necessary equipment such as excavators, sand trucks, wheel loaders , etcetera will be prevalent on site Also, regular deliveries of construction materials are expected throughout this phase

Meanwhile the company intends to source materials from India for a state - of - the - art wet mix mobile ready - mix concrete plant capable of producing 60 cubic metres per hour

This will provide timely production of materials at the strength and standard required by clients.

During the construction phase some 50 people are expected to gain

meaningful employ -

ment Once operations commence, employment will vary depending on level of operations, client requirements and contract commitments

The project is expected to have a lifespan of 100 years and the company has committed to comply with all recommendations and regulations to ensure that there is little impact to the environment

“GuyAmerica Construction Inc intends to comply with all regulations and guidelines prescribed by the EPA as well as, those prescribed by other governmental entities, in all efforts to ensure that good environmental and industrial practices are maintained throughout the various phases of this project during construction and operation.”

GuyAmerica, a local construction company is seeking an EPA permit to construct a US$6M wharf

US Coast Guard seize over US$186M in cocaine

THE United States Coast Guard says it has seized cocaine worth more than US$186 million during operations in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean

In a statement , the Coast Guard said that more than 14,153 pounds of cocaine had been offloaded last Friday following nine separate interdictions in international waters It did not specify the period when these interdictions were carried out

“The contraband offloaded represents the professional expertise and dedication of US defence and law enforcement agencies working together to combat the flow of illicit drugs through the Caribbean region into the United States,” said Lieutenant Peter Hutchison, duty enforcement officer at Coast Guard District Seven

“This teamwork is imperative to the identification, interception and seizure of vessels engaged in illicit trafficking

and a testament to the hard work of these crews,” he added

Along with the illicit narcotics, the US Coast Guard said 12 suspected smugglers were apprehended and face prosecution in federal courts by the US Department of Justice

The US Coast Guard said the Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West, Florida conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs

“Once interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the US Coast Guard throughout the interdiction and apprehension,” said the US Coast Guard , adding that interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by its crew under the authority and control of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, headquartered in Miami. (CMC)

Greece boat disaster: Ship-tracking casts doubt on Greek Coastguard’s account

THE BBC has obtained evidence casting doubt on the Greek Coastguard’s account of the migrant shipwreck in which hundreds are feared to have died.

Analysis of the movement of other ships in the area suggests the overcrowded fishing vessel was not moving for at least seven hours before it capsized

The coastguard still claims that during these hours the boat was on a course to Italy and not in need of rescue

Greek authorities have not yet responded to the BBC’s findings

But the UN has called for an investigation into Greece’s handling of the disaster, amid claims more action should have been taken earlier to initiate a full - scale rescue attempt

Greek officials maintain those on board said they did not want help and were not in danger until just before their boat sank

The BBC has obtained a computer animation of tracking data provided by MarineTraffic , a maritime analytics platform

Their data shows hours of activity focused on a small, specific area where the migrant boat later sank, casting doubt on the official claim it had no problems with its navigation

The fishing boat had no tracker so is not shown on the map Neither are coastguard and military vessels which do not have to share their location.

OFFICIAL ACCOUNT CHALLENGED

Frontex , the EU ’ s border force , says it first spotted the migrant boat around 08:00 GMT on Tuesday and informed the Greek authorities.

Alarm Phone , an emergency hotline for migrants in trouble at sea , say they received a call at 12:17 GMT saying the boat was in distress

We have used video and photographs authenticated by BBC Verify, as well as court records and shipping logs , to analyse the movement of vessels in the area in the following hours.

The Marine Traffic animation shows a ship called the Lucky Sailor abruptly turning north at 15:00 GMT

The owner of the Lucky Sailor gave us its log book and confirmed it had been asked by the Coastguard to approach the migrant boat and give food and water

About half-an-hour later at 15:35 GMT , the coastguard helicopter found the migrant boat Authorities have continued to claim it

was on a steady course at the time.

But two-and-a-half hours later around 18:00 GMT , another vessel, the Faithful Warrior, travelled to the same area and also gave supplies to the boat

The owners of Faithful Warrior referred us to the investigating authorities

Video has emerged -- reportedly shot from the Faithful Warrior -- claiming to show supplies being delivered to the migrant ship via a rope in the water No other ships can be seen

BBC Verify checked it and found the vessel -- which is not moving in the footage -- matched the shape of migrant ship seen in photos and

the weather conditions were a match for those reported at the time It’s not known exactly when this video was filmed

Between 19:40 until 22:40, Greek officials originally claimed the boat was keeping a “steady course and speed.”

Their initial statement claimed they observed from a discreet distance , but a close - up image they later themselves published -- from this time-period -- suggests the migrant boat is not going anywhere

A government spokesperson later said the coastguard had attempted to board the boat to assess the danger but that those on board removed

a rope that had been attached and did not want help

All of the shipping activity of the past seven hours between was focused around one specific spot, suggesting the migrant boat had hardly moved

The scale of the animated map suggests it travelled less than a few nautical miles , which may be expected of a stricken vessel buffeted by the wind and the waves in the deepest part of the Mediterranean Sea.

The actions of people in distress, rocking the vessel, would also have contributed any movement

During this time period, Greek officials have insisted it was not in trouble and was

instead safely on its way to Italy and so the coastguard didn’t attempt a rescue

At 23:00, the boat sank with hundreds on board and the tracking animation shows a frenzy of ships coming to help

This included the Celebrity Beyond, from which footage of the aftermath of the disaster was filmed and later sent to the BBC

A luxury yacht , the Mayan Queen , is then instructed to help take some of the 104 survivors ashore

Those rescued reached the safety at the port of Kalamata, but left behind a series of troubling questions about the whole Greek response. (BBC)

The overcrowded vessel was pictured a number of times before tragedy struck (Greek Coast Guard photo)

Taking Care of Business!

FIRST Vice-President of the European Commission (EC), Frans Timmermans on Wednesday congratulated the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on its landslide victory in this year’s Local Government Elections (LGEs).

Timmermans described the win as an illustration of the citizenry’s high level of gratitude for the level of development the PPP/C has been bringing to the country.

The highest-level European Union (EU) official to ever visit Guyana spoke at a signing ceremony for another bilateral agreement, this time for a mangrove protection and restoration project along the nation’s coastline.

He also saw the victory as appreciation “for the

efforts the government is undertaking to take Guyana into the future.”

Timmermans was the first international diplomat to congratulate the PPP/C after the results came, but he’ll certainly not be the last, as the entire international community is always pleased when electors anywhere vote for continuity, instead of backwardness.

Caribbean governments and institutions also have better experiences developing regional trade and cooperation ties with this PPP/C administration, such as Barbados, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.

Guyana participated in the recent Brazil Summit of 12 South American nations; and last week at the

CARICOM-US Summit in The Bahamas, co-hosted by Vice-President Kamla Harris.

Guyana has also successfully taken its century-old dispute with Venezuela to the International Court of Justice, while also joining other CARICOM nations in The Bahamas to call on the US to lift sanctions against the neighbouring Bolivarian republic.

This administration has admirably cultivated good relations with North and South and is enhancing South-South Cooperation, while strengthening ties with traditional allies, West and East.

Ties have deepened and widened lately too with Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, China, Europe,

India, Gulf and Middle East Arab states.

Nations and investors big and small, have, for the past three decades, also showed more favour for and comfort with PPP/C administrations, which can always be expected to play by international norms, unlike other administrations more bent on separate development according to race and religion, class and geographic (partisan) location.

Guyana is again respected worldwide, a process started under the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan and his successors after 1992.

Following Dr Jagan’s death and the electorate’s decision to vote for continuity by electing his wife -- and in her own right as the PPP/C’s candidate and

longest-serving member of the National Assembly -- the Opposition resorted to violent demonstrations to try to deny her the presidency on the basis of race and birthplace.

Like in 2020 and now in 2023, the same Opposition, even though under different leaders each time, is again refusing to accept being roundly defeated by the PPP/C.

It is for these and other reasons, including admirable handling of ties with allies and investors, that Guyana’s international standing has grown with renewed vitality on the world stage – so much so, that it’s now a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

The local business community has also long warmed up to this admin-

istration’s demonstrated capacity to deliver on its promises to make Doing Business easier in Guyana for both traditional and new, innovative investors and entrepreneurs.

Local business has benefitted from the local Content Act that guarantees them a place in servicing the rapidly-expanding oil and gas sector, as well as in the new infrastructure and development projects under way in all 10 regions.

Guyanese of all races, religions and cultures, have felt the change at home and abroad; and that’s just one of many reasons the vast majority voted to allow this administration to continue taking care of Guyana’s business.

The other side of 2023 LGEs the analysts must describe

THE opposition PNC, AFC, the lunatic fringe (TLF), the usual suspects (TUS) and members of the Mulatto/Creole middle class (MCC), and the two private newspapers – Kaieteur News (KN) and Stabroek News (SN) - have rejected the interpretation that the PPP did fantastic in the 2023 LGE results.

Completely ignoring context (whose usage is compulsory in understanding life in general), these anti-PPP schools have advanced their own theories about the PPP’s achievements in the 2023 LGE. We will examine each paradigm separately. We begin with the PNC, AFC and TLF. Their conclusion centers of massive bribing of the electorate.

This is jumbie theorizing that is so bizarre that it further dents the credibility of the PNC. As to the AFC and TLF, they have none. So, let’s confront the bribery factor. You could never get a guarantee if you bribe someone to vote for you. The most telling example of such a foolish game was in the 1964 elections. The rich Portuguese commercial community actually gave away nice goodies for people to vote for its party, the United Force (UF).

The target group was Indians since the UF knew Africans would vote PNC and all the light-complexioned Guyanese would go for the UF. So, the UF actually spent resources enticing Indians in the areas adjacent to Georgetown to vote for it. But I heard people laughing at the UF because they took the gifts but still voted PPP.

If the PPP bribed over 8,000 African Guyanese to vote for it, then bribery turned into loyalty because those numbers actually, in secret balloting, voted for the PPP. If they have taken the money (assuming that the PPP did give it away) and planned to fool the PPP, they did not do so because the PPP collected handsome multiracial ballots.

The other nonsensical dimension to the bribery paradigm is that it is impossible in Guyana to bribe 8000 persons without that becoming a public secret. It is a virtual impossibility. It will never happen in a country like Guyana given our sharply divided society along political and ethnic lines. I am contending absolutely that if the PPP had made financial inducements to 1000 persons, we would have a tell-tale defector much less more than 8000 persons.

TUS and MCC offered a different perspective on why the PPP did good. They argued that the government went on a spending spree and voters went for it. Two rebuttals are in order. TUS and MCC would have found something anyway to deny the PPP’s achievement in 2023 LGE. That is the extent of these people’s poison.

The second rebuttal is that incumbents all over the world spend money to do things for the country. That is why all governments have a yearly budget. By what logic an incumbent would cease state expenditure simply because an election is coming up? That does not happen in the real world and it will never happen. TUS and MCC had to find a theory to knock the PPP and they found a convenient one in arguing that the government went on a spending spree.

This brings us to the private media. Both KN and SN and their anti-government columnists (for clarification – Ralph Ramkarran is not an SN columnist but SN has his permission to reprint his blog titled ‘Conversation Tree’) took the identical line that the PPP failed in the LGE in 2023 because with an oil economy swimming in petro-dollars, the PPP should have won over the PNC’s traditional bastions.

Both KN and SN are too ashamed to admit that their daily anti-PPP ranting for over three years did not hurt the PPP at the poll. When

you have two newspapers on a daily pursuit against the government of the day with ugly and vicious editorializing for over three years, then the PPP should have been vanquished last Monday. On the contrary, the PPP increased its strength in every major opposition stronghold.

Kian Jabour of ANUG exclaimed on social media with Timothy Jonas at his side that for over three years, Newsroom has not said one words against the government. So, I asked Jonas for a reaction to my reaction to Jabour that for over three years,

there has not been one SN editorial about anything positive about the government. In a forthcoming column, I will examine the media landscape in the context of the revelation

by presidential advisor, Professor Randolph Persaud that SN is refusing to publish his letters. How do you explain the PPP’s phenomenal showing in the 2023 LGE when for

the past 3 years there has been a daily dose of anti-government basking from KN, SN, TLF, TUS, and MCC? It just goes to show who the Guyanese people take seriously.

Region Two family gets new, fully furnished house through MoM initiative

A BETTER Success family of nine will now be living under better conditions after they received the keys to a new , fully furnished house , on Sunday , through the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative.

The project was funded by businessman Parmeshwar Jagmohan of International Import and Supplies located at 15 Garnett Street , Campbellville , Georgetown , Guyana

The two-storey concrete building was constructed by N and S Contracting and Supplies Service

Tackoor and Rookmin Chowtie could not contain their emotions

They will now be sleeping in comfort

Rookmin who was

in tears explained that the previous house they occupied was in a deplorable state and the roof leaked whenever it rained The woman explained that her children after returning from Venezuela where they were facing economic hardship , move into the house she and her husband occupied

The simple handing over ceremony was done on Father’s Day

Speaking on behalf of the businessman was the company ’ s Manager of Projects , Ravi Budram

He said that Jagmohan endorsed the president’s MoM initiative and made the commitment to construct the house

He said that when the Managing Director

heard of the family ’ s situation , he decided to fund the project He

collaborated with the region’s MoM members to make the handing over possible

A commitment was also made for another house to be built for another family in December

Meanwhile , Region Two Vice Chairman Humace Oodit, who is also the Chairperson of MoM said that from the time he saw the family , he knew that they needed help

He therefore extended thanks to the businessman and his company for the selfless act

Oodit emphasised that the businessman has been doing a remarkable job which others should emulate

“The president’s initiative is to help transform society, and public partnership is important Government cannot do it by themselves, so it’s important that businesses come onboard. ‘One Guyana’ is important,” he added

He said that he is also very thankful that the businessman has made the commitment to fund the construction of another house by year end

As part of Father ’ s Day activities Jagmo -

han distributed hampers to 40 fathers and gave monetary donations to several others.

The MoM initiative was announced in 2022 by President , Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali , as a way of bring men from across together in a meaningful way

Members of the Guyana Defence Force ( GDF ), the Guyana Police Force

( GPF ) and religious leaders are among those who are part of the initiative.

The initiative aims to support the construction of approximately 150 homes for vulnerable persons across the country

Meena Bafan, 85 of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was the first to beneficiary.

The family receive the keys to their new home from Ravi Budram, the Manager of Projects, International Import and Supplies. Also pictured is Region Two Vice Chairman Humace Oodit (left)

Andrea Chowtie, 17, inside her new home. She, along with her parents and siblings, was living under deplorable conditions

Contracts signed for roadworks, nursery school in Region Two

RESIDENTS of Region

Two will soon see major infrastructural enhancements in several communities, following the signing of three contracts totalling approximately $53.4 million for capital works on Friday.

Of the three, one contract totalling $31.9 million was signed for the construction of a revetment at Golden Fleece. This is expected to be completed within four months.

The project was awarded to R.I.V.A Investment by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.

A $10.7 million contract was also signed for the upgrading of Tomesh Street, Windsor Castle, and will be executed by A. Bacchus Contracting and Trucking Service.

This project will see a new concrete structure coupled with concrete drains on both sides, as well as the construction

of walkways to allow for easy access for residents. It is expected to be completed within three months.

Another $10.8 million will be expended for concrete upgrades to Second Cross Street, Old Housing Scheme and Charity, providing residents with improved access to their homes.

This project was awarded to Golden Key Construction and Supply and is expected to be completed within three months.

More contracts are expected to be signed for additional infrastructure works in the region in the coming weeks.

Additionally, as government advances its bid to expand access to education across the country, a $23.7 million contract was also inked on Friday for the construction of the Mashabo Nursery School along the Essequibo coast.

The contract was

awarded to Rose’s Enterprise by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board and is expected to be completed within four months.

The design caters for four classrooms, a headteacher’s office, a kitchen, a sick bay, janitorial closet, and a store room. It will also cater for terrazzo floors and porcelain tiles for the washrooms along with water-resistant sheetrock ceilings.

Currently, the 22 pupils enrolled in the nursery school are being accommodated at the primary school.

Regional Executive Office, Susanah Saywack; Regional Engineer, Kawan Suchit; Civil Engineer, Harindra Nandalall; Engineer from Anna Regina Town Council, Brian Alves, and Superintendent of Roads, Saywack Persaud were all present at the contract signing.

(DPI)

A $23.7 million contract was inked for the construction of the Mashabo Nursery School

Three contracts were signed for capital works in Region Two totalling approximately $53.4 million

Regions One, Two and Nine to see major water improvements

THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has opened bids for the construction of six potable water wells in Regions Nine and the construction of water- supply systems in Regions One and Two.

According to an invitation for bids (IFB) issued by the GWI and published by several print and online media platforms, reputable contractors are being sought for the various works.

Bids for these projects are to be submitted by June

30, 2023, at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board’s (NPTAB) office.

It was stated in the IFB that bidding will be conducted through the National Committee Bidding (NCB) procedures as specified in the Procurement Act 2003 and Regulations 2004.

Potable wells are to be constructed in Rupertee and Fairview, Region Nine, at an estimated cost of $17 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, wells are to be constructed in Hio-

- as GWI issues bids for potable wells, water-supply systems

wa, Quatata, Shiriri at Katoonarib in Region Nine at an estimated cost of $16.5 million respectively.

Additionally, $15 million has been budgeted for each water-supply system that is to be built in Arakaka in Region One and Karawab in Region Two.

The Government of Guyana has embarked on a five-year strategic plan which aims to ensure that 100 per cent access to clean and safe water is provided nationwide by the year 2025.

Improved access and

One of the commissioned water-supply systems enhanced quality of water in several communities have positively impacted the quality of life and

health of Guyanese.

In support of these investments, the government expended $9.9 bil-

lion in 2022 and has allocated $17.7 billion in the 2023 budget to further drive their agenda.

Hybrid nurses training set for roll-out today

1,000 persons have already enrolled in the programme even as they noted that they hope to add another 1,000 persons to the programme the following year.

AS the country’s health sector continues to expand, the Ministry of Health is set to officially launch its hybrid programme for the training of nurses.

In an advisory, the Ministry announced that its Health Sciences Education Division in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) will launch the professional nursing

training programme today.

This comes as the government has recognised an urgent need to train more persons in the field due to its rapid expansion.

In early May, the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, said that with three nursing schools currently operating in the country for the registered nursing programme, some 250 persons can be trained every three years.

As such upon having a

human resource assessment done, it was indicated that quite a lot more persons will be needed in the field.

The hybrid training programme is being launched in partnership with the global online learning platform, Coursera and will see the theoretical content for the nursing programme being made available online.

Just last month at an International Nurses Day programme, the Minister had said that more than

During the presentation of the 2023 National Budget, Dr Anthony revealed that funding will aid in the migration of the programme from regular classroom space to an online space.

He added that some $620 million has also been set aside for the provision of nursing schools which would cater for the building of a nursing school at Anna Regina and the retrofitting of existing facilities like the New Amsterdam nursing school.

While the pro -

gramme is going to be moved to an online platform there will be a need for simulation centres to provide per-

sons in the programme with the practical experience that would be needed as part of the learning.

Another pageant title for Guyana

Miss India Guyana, Aruna Sukhdeo, on Sunday, won the Miss India Worldwide title at the prestigious international pageant held in Pune, India. Sukhdeo’s performance has bettered that of her predecessor Maya Persaud, who had placed in the top five when she competed in 2022. Additionally, Teen India Guyana Netu Lal, secured the first runner-up position in her category, while Reanna Arakhan earned herself a spot in the top five of the ‘Mrs’ category of the international pageant.

From left: Mrs India Guyana, Reanna Arakhan; Miss India Guyana, Aruna Sukhdeo and Teen India Guyana Netu Lal

The new Miss India Worldwide, Aruna Sukhdeo with local franchise holders Hashim Alli and his wife Melicia (Miss\ Mrs\Teen\ Mr India Worldwide Guyana photos)

Urgent action needed to address food security in Haiti

THE Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, on Friday, convened a special meeting of Member States, observers and UN partners with representatives from civil society, the private sector and international financial institutions to address the urgent food security needs of

Haiti and to save lives

Food insecurity is of great concern in Haiti, where the situation is deteriorating on a daily basis. This year, 4.9 million people in Haiti, almost half of the population, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity. Urgent action is needed.

The Most Hon. An -

drew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, delivered the keynote address at the special meeting which ProTempore President of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines also addressed.

The meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York, was convened on the proposal of the Chair of the ECOSOC Ad-Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti (Canada). The Special Meeting placed focus on mobilising action for both emergency food assistance and emergency livelihood assistance,

and on building sustainable food systems in Haiti.

The forum followed a meeting of the CAR-

ICOM Eminent Persons Group with Haitian Stakeholders in Jamaica 11-13 June. (Caricom Today)

Second Global Parliamentary Summit reaches historic pact against hunger and malnutrition

THE Second Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition closed on Friday in Chile with a new Global Parliamentary Pact to work towards the transformation of agrifood sys-

“This event has demonstrated that the first meeting of parliamentarians in 2018 in Spain was not a coincidence. A process has begun today in Chile that will continue in other continents. The Food and Agri-

nical support to legislative actions that contribute to guaranteeing the right to adequate food”, said Mario Lubetkin, FAO's Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the

In the text, over 200 parliamentarians, 15 presidents and vice-presidents of national and regional parliaments and parliamentary bodies from 64 countries agree to commit themselves to work for a transition

conducive to the realisation of the right to adequate food for all.

The Pact calls for greater participation and involvement of parliaments to strengthen political commitment as well as for concrete initiatives, legislation, partnerships and budget allocation, among other actions.

The parliamentarians also committed to measuring their progress by reporting on the efforts towards agrifood systems transformation including initiatives undertaken and laws adopted.

The text also requests FAO to assist in the further development of technical ways to support the implementation of the Pact, such as reviewing existing data collection and reporting systems; exploring ways to develop global reports; facilitating the support and cooperation among parliamentarians; and supporting awareness raising and capacity development activities.

and for a Third Global Parliamentary Summit, to be organised no later than 2026.

A GLOBAL MEETING

Over two days, parliamentarians from all over the world met in Valparaíso to reaffirm the urgency of ending hunger and malnutrition as part of the global goals, underscoring the crucial role that they have in transforming agrifood systems by adopting legislation, approving public budgets, and monitoring the implementation of public policies and government commitments.

During thematic sessions and side events, they also identified and shared examples of good practices, particularly relating to the development of innovative legislation.

tems and to promote the right to adequate food for all.

culture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will continue to provide tech -

Caribbean, welcoming the Pact at the Summit’s closing ceremony.

towards agrifood systems that are sustainable, inclusive, equitable, resilient and

Finally, the Pact calls on international partners and donors to support these efforts, requests the Committee on World Food Security to establish a mechanism for the representation of parliamentarians fighting hunger and malnutrition,

The Summit was organised by FAO, together with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the National Congress of Chile and the Government of Chile, and had the support of the European Commission, the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) and the Parliamentary Front against Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean. (FAO)

Parliamentarians from all over the world reunited in Valparaiso, Chile

Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica

High Court to rule today in challenge to NRF Bill

JUSTICE Navindra Singh is expected to deliver his ruling today in the case challenging the passage of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill, which was filed by Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones and trade unionist Norris Witter.

The duo moved to the court in April, 2022, claiming that the bill was not properly passed in the National Assembly in December 2021, owing to the absence of the parliamentary mace.

The Attorney-General, the Parliament Office, the Minister of Finance, the Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly are all listed as respondents.

The ruling will be handed down at the Demerara High Court at 09:00hrs.

Initially, Justice Singh had set March 17 for his ruling. It was later refixed to May 12. However, on May 12, the matter was refixed to June 19.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that on December 29, 2021, in a bid to defend the landmark bill, which has since been assented to by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for

Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, was interrupted by what was referred to as the unparliamentary actions of members of the Opposition.

The second reading of the bill was objected to by Jones, who requested that it be sent to a special select committee.

However, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, indicated his preference for listening to arguments from both sides before determining whether or not the bill should be sent to a select committee.

Minister Singh then took to the podium, but his presentation was interrupted by members of the APNU+AFC Opposition, who kept banging their desks and chanting demeaning words about the Bill.

After they failed to prevent Minister Singh from speaking, Opposition Parliamentarian Annette Ferguson attempted to remove the mace, but was unsuccessful.

This unprecedented act was foiled by Nadir’s personal assistant, who held the instrument tightly as he laid on the floor of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Jones and Witter, who is the President of the General Workers Union, through their attorneys Roysdale Forde,

Man nabbed with

S.C, and Selwyn Pieters, are seeking judicial review and relief under the Constitution.

Nandlall and Minister Singh had asked the High Court to throw out the case.

In their affidavit of defence, which was submitted to Justice Singh, they claimed that the NRF Bill was “lawfully, validly and properly” passed in the National Assembly on December 29, 2021.

The pair verily believes that insufficient evidence was furnished by Jones and Witter to support the challenge.

In the circumstances, they have asked the court to refuse all the orders being sought and challenged, with substantial costs.

worth of cannabis in Berbice

A 44-year-old man is currently in custody, following the discovery of 33 pounds of cannabis hidden in a clump of bushes at the No. 73 Village Koker, Corentyne Berbice.

According to the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), Nereshchand Deochand called ‘Richie’, of No. 72 Village, Corentyne Ber-

bice is currently in custody assisting with investigations.

On Saturday, CANU ranks conducted an operation at No. 73 Village Koker, which led to the discovery of a large brownish bag, containing six bulky plastic wrapped parcels of suspected cannabis in a clump of bushes.

Deochand was arrested

and escorted to CANU Berbice Headquarters.

The substance was confirmed to be cannabis, weighing approximately 14.8 kilograms (around 33 pounds), with an estimated street value of $4.5 million.

Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, S.C.

Trade Unionist Norris Witter

Justice Navindra Singh Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones

Nereshchand Deochand called ‘Richie’

$4.5M

‘Agrifood systems must be part of the solution to the biodiversity and climate crises’

- FAO Director-General says

AGRIFOOD systems must be part of the solution to the loss of biodiversity and the climate crisis facing our planet, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, told a

change, emerging pests, pathogens and changing ecological conditions; we need species diversity for diverse foods; and we need healthy ecosystems to provide water, regulate the climate and provide resilience against disasters.

And yet, many driv-

meeting of G20 Agriculture Ministers on Friday.

"Despite progress, today we are facing alarming rates of biodiversity loss, jeopardising food security and nutrition, poverty eradication, prevention of natural disasters and climate-change mitigation and adaptation," Qu said in his address to a High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Food Security, which took place in the Indian city of Hyderabad.

With as many as 828 million people worldwide facing hunger in 2021, and 3.1 billion unable to afford a healthy diet in 2020, "the urgency is clear," he said.

The FAO Director-General emphasised that we need genetic diversity to adapt agrifood systems to climate

ers of biodiversity loss can be found in inappropriate agricultural practices.

"My message is clear: agrifood systems must be part of the solution to the biodiversity and climate crises," Qu said.

“This means promoting improved practices that can help address trade-offs, maintain ecosystems, improve land and soil quality, reduce input use, and strengthen the resilience and adaptation capacity of farming systems to extreme weather events linked to climate change,” Qu said.

WORKING ON SOLUTIONS

The interlinkages between food security and biodiversity are recognised in the recently adopted Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which

sets out an ambitious pathway for a world living in harmony with nature. More than half of its 23 targets for 2030 are directly related to agrifood systems, which encompass the full food and non-food range of agricultural products, from production to consumption.

Agriculture Ministers attending the G20 were therefore encouraged by Qu to be actively engaged in ensuring that their biodiversity commitments "are holistically implemented, considering environmental degradation, social impacts and economic opportunities for the agricultural sectors."

FAO is already working with its members and partners to scale up biodiversity-friendly practices in crop and livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture through its Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors.

FAO's support includes practical guides, tools and other normative or policy instruments for implemen -

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu addresses G20 Agriculture Ministers

Motorcyclist dies in Friendship accident involving drunk driver

A 22-year-old motorcyclist was on Saturday night fatally struck down by a drunk driver on the Friendship Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara.

Dead is Oliver Collins of Lot 70 Friendship, East Coast Demerara. The 22-year-old driver who was involved in the accident is currently in custody assisting with

‘Agrifood systems...

FROM PAGE 16

tation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and Aquaculture, sustainable forest management, diversification approaches, integrated pest management and agroecology.

FAO, along with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), also co-leads the UN Decade on Ecosy stem Restoration – partnering to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.

PLENARY ADDRESS

While attending the G20, the FAO Director-General also addressed its Plenary Session on Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security and Nutrition.

Here, Qu reminded his audience about the multiple challenges facing our efforts to feed a growing global population sustainably. These include conflicts and economic hardship; weather extremes, such as heavy rains, tropical storms, cyclones, flooding and drought; as well as rising food, fuel and fertilizer prices.

"To transform our agrifood systems to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, we need to accelerate and intensify actions and boost investments in agriculture," Qu said.

FAO has developed two important strategies in this regard: the Strategy on Climate Change and the Science and Innovation Strategy.

"Their implementation should get us closer to the Zero Hunger goal," Qu said.

FAO is also hosting the Food Systems Summit Hub and developing a roadmap to lower greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities to achieve the 1.5 degrees Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement, while enabling the sector to step up to the challenge of eradicating hunger.

"Achieving Zero Hunger under 1.5 degrees will require significant investments, and FAO is working through its Hand-inHand Initiative to accelerate investments for the transformation of agrifood systems," Qu said. (FAO)

investigations. According to the Guyana Police Force, the incident occurred around 20:39hrs and involved a motorcar with registration number #PAE 137 and Collins.

“Enquiries disclosed that motorcar #PAE 137 was proceeding east on the northern driving lane and the motorcycle was proceeding west on the

northern driving lane, when the motorcar drove into the path of the motorcycle where a collision occurred, causing the motorcyclist to fall onto the road surface,” the release said.

As a result of the crash, Collins sustained severe injuries to his body. He was picked up by police in an unconscious state and escorted

to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he succumbed while receiving treatment.

His body is currently at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the motorcar driver, which indicated alarming alcohol levels of 121 per cent and 112 per cent.

DEAD: Oliver Collins

FINGER LAKES

Race 1 Remember Normandy

Race 2 Saratoga Beauty

Race 3 Never Early

Race 4 English Laughter Rave 5 Khozando

Race 6 Cross Talk

Race 7 Redemption Road

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS GREYVILLE

08:05 hrs Arrow’s Mark

England lose openers as Australia edge forward on rain-hit day

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Aus-

tralia took two wickets for two runs in a compelling 22-ball micro-session between rain breaks to edge ahead in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, as England lost both openers within four balls of one another.

England resumed their second innings on 26 for 0 after a 75-minute delay, with thick, dark clouds hanging over the floodlights. Only 20 minutes of play were possible before another thunder shower brought the day to a premature close, but that was enough time for Pat Cummins and Scott Boland to remove Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley respectively.

Duckett looked longingly at the ground staff moments before his dismissal, who were getting the hover-cover ready on the midwicket boundary as the rain drew closer. As his focus returned to Cummins at the top of his mark, he pushed away from his body at a ball in the channel outside his off stump, and Cameron Green swooped low to his left to add another

brilliant gully catch to his extensive collection.

Crawley had been worked over by Boland in the previous over, twice struck on the pad by good length balls that nipped in off the seam. He was forced to play at the first ball of the next one, drawn forwards to defend another in-ducker, and his thin edge flew through to Alex Carey. For the first time in the Test match, Australia's bowlers

were the protagonists. It was a stark contrast to the final stages of play before lunch, when the same players had subsided meekly to give England a seven-run first-innings lead. Australia's innings finished with a collapse of four wickets for 14 runs, as Ben Stokes set increasingly funky fields as if to see whether the lower order would manage to pick them out.

They duly obliged: Nathan Lyon pulled Ollie Robinson straight to deep backward square leg, Boland fended Stuart Broad's bouncer to silly point and Cummins mowed Robinson down the throat of Stokes himself at deep midwicket. It felt like a waste of the work that Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey had done, adding 118 across two days to trim the deficit.

Carey offered England a

chance in the first over of the day, inside-edging James Anderson's inswinger through to Jonny Bairstow as he shaped to drive through cover. But Bairstow's difficult return to Test wicketkeeping duties continued: he dived low to his right, only to put the catch down.

He edged Anderson for four in his next over, then peeled off two in a row with a cut and a flick, but fell straight after. Anderson's wobble-seam ball nipped in from a good length, beating Carey on the inside edge and pinging into the top of the stumps.

Moeen Ali's 36th birthday celebrations started with the news that he had been fined 25 per cent of his match fee for spraying a "drying agent" on his bowling hand and it quickly became apparent that a workload of 29 overs in his first day of red-ball cricket in 21 months had taken its toll on his spinning finger.

He was thumped down the ground for six by Khawaja in his first over of the day and let two full tosses slip

to Cummins, who clobbered the second of them over midwicket. Cummins slammed a second six down the ground three balls later, but Australia were dried up by England's short-ball ploy as Moeen left the field and the seamers returned.

Stokes set a subcontinent-style field for Khawaja, first deploying four short midwickets and then the close catchers in front of the wicket on either side of the ground. Khawaja skipped down, trying to squeeze the ball through point, but only managed to york himself; Robinson gave him a sendoff, but Khawaja wandered off to a standing ovation.

Crawley and Duckett made a busy start after lunch, ticking over the strike with Duckett deftly paddling Lyon for a single boundary before the showers started. The rain cleared up just enough for a quick burst under dark skies; England quickly wished it hadn't.

Verstappen wins in Canada

(Formula1) - Max Verstappen made it six victories from eight races in 2023 with a dominant display during Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, leading home the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, as Red Bull maintained their 100% winning record for the season so far.

Verstappen’s lightsto-flag triumph also gave Red Bull their 100th victory in the sport, 18 years on from the team’s debut, while the Dutchman made more history by drawing level with the legendary Ayrton Senna on 41 wins

– extending his championship lead in the process.

Alonso and Hamilton traded places on multiple occasions throughout the race, Hamilton getting the jump at the start but falling back behind when the strategies unfolded, meaning it was the Spaniard who finished runner-up to the record-setting Verstappen.

George Russell missed out on a potential podium fight in the other Mercedes after an early crash caused major damage to his car and dropped him to the foot of the order, with the resulting Safety Car leading to different

strategic approaches.

Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were two of only five drivers – along with Red Bull’s Perez, Haas man Kevin Magnussen and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas – to stay out under the Safety Car, giving them track position that they converted into P4 and P5 respectively.

Perez took a lonely sixth, and the fastest lap bonus point, as he did his best to limit the damage after a third successive compromised qualifying session, while Albon made the most of his top 10 starting spot – and a well-

timed single stop under the Safety Car – to give Williams a much-welcomed haul of points in seventh.

Albon had to fend off a train of cars in the closing stages of the race that included Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, McLaren’s Lando Norris, the aforementioned Bottas and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, benefitting from the upgraded FW45’s strong straight-line speed.

Norris would lose his points finish after the chequered flag, though, having been given a five-second penalty for “unsportsmanlike con -

duct” behind the Safety Car, the McLaren man accused of backing up

the pack to clear the way for a McLaren ‘double-stack’ in the pits.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday June 19, 2023)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Ian Botham-148 wickets (36 Tests)

(2) Shane Warne-195 wickets (36 Tests)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) What is the highest individual Test score made by an Englishman against AUST to date?

(2) What is the highest individual Test score made by an Australian against ENG to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

It was a high-intensity short session of play from Australia between two rain breaks on the third afternoon • Getty Images

ICC World Cup Qualifiers… Singh’s hundred not enough to deny West Indies

-

CMC – Guyanese Ga

janand Singh returned to haunt West Indies with a counter-attacking maiden One-Day International hundred but veteran Johnson Charles headlined a quartet of half-century makers as the Caribbean side coasted to a 39-run victory over the United States.

In their opening Group A game of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers on Sunday, West Indies rallied to a competitive 297 all out in the final over with veteran Johnson Charles top-scoring with 66 off 80 deliveries.

Jason Holder struck a swift Man-of-the-Match 40ball 56, fellow all-rounder Roston Chase chipped in with a run-a-ball 55 while captain Shai Hope punched

54 from 60 deliveries.

In reply, the United States were quickly reduced to 55 for four in the 14th over, medium pacer Kyle Mayers (2-30) snatching two of the early wickets to fall.

However Gajanand, who represented West Indies at the 2006 ICC Under-19 World Cup and also played first class and List A matches for Guyana, nearly turned the game on its head with an unbeaten 101 from 109 balls which got the Americans up to 258 for seven off their 50 overs.

The 35-year-old lefthander struck eight fours and two sixes, engineering partnerships of 42 for the fifth wicket with former Barbados first class batsman Aaron Jones (23), 59 for the sixth

wicket with Shayan Jahangir (39) and 76 unbroken for the eighth wicket with Nosthush Kenjige (34 not out).

“I think we need to be a bit more ruthless. We need to make sure that we bowl a lot more in consistent areas and think more positively moving forward,” Hope said afterwards.

“We need to plan better and execute even better. We need to get off strike better and when the balls are there [to be hit], we have to capitalise.”

The favourites to go through from their group, West Indies endured a nightmare start when both openers Brandon King (0) and Mayers (2) perished cheaply inside the first six overs with only 14 runs on the board.

However, West Indies then strung key partnerships together to rebuild the innings and propel themselves to the cusp of the 300-run mark.

Charles spearheaded the revival, lashing seven fours and two sixes in his second 50 in only his third innings since returning from a seven-year spell on the sidelines, posting a crucial 115 for the third wicket with Hope who counted seven fours and a six in his knock.

When both fell within the space of six balls to leave West Indies perched on 137 for four in the 28th over, Chase and Pooran combined in a 55-run, fifth wicket partnership to keep the innings humming along.

Chase struck four fours

and one six in his first half-century in four years while Pooran drove the scoring with two fours and three sixes, before picking out deep cover on the ropes with off-spinning all-rounder Steven Taylor (3-53).

Off the very next delivery, Rovman Powell holed out in the deep to depart for a first-ball ‘duck’ and suddenly West Indies were stumbling on 192 for six at the end of the 36th.

Holder arrived to launch a counter-attack, smiting two fours and three sixes to wrest the advantage back from the Americans, dominating a 74-run, seventh wicket partnership with Chase.

United States’ steady start to their chase was undermined, the innings slumping

from 35 without loss in the eighth over to 55 for four in the 14th over, four wickets tumbling for 20 runs in the space of 36 deliveries.

Gajanand then took control, gathering his first 50 off 67 balls in the 36th over with a boundary to mid-wicket off fast bowler Alzarri Joseph (268) before completing three figures off a further 42 deliveries in the final over of the game with a single off Chase.

Jahangir also resisted with three fours and a six off 49 balls before he squirted Joseph to mid-wicket in the 34th over and Kenjige notched two fours and a six in a 34-ball knock, providing support to Gajanand.

West Indies take on Nepal in their next game on Thursday.

Spain wins Nations League final on penalties

(BBC) - Croatia missed out on their first international trophy after losing on penalties to Spain in the Nations League final.

Dani Carvajal calmly chipped home the winning effort to seal a 5-4 victory on spot-kicks after Unai Simon had saved from Bruno Petkovic.

The contest in Rotterdam had finished goalless after extra time.

It is Spain's first international trophy for 11 years, since their victory at Euro 2012.

"We're so happy, it was a really tough game and this is so difficult to do," said Spain midfielder Rodri, who was named man of the match and for whom this trophy follows winning the Treble with Manchester City and scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final.

Rodri thinks this could be the start of another succession of Spanish titles, with the squad featuring several exciting young players including Gavi, Ansu Fati and Yeremy

Pino.

"This generation promises a lot. We were very strong mentally. There are things to improve, but winning is always good - we have to celebrate," he said.

Victory also means Spain become the second nation to win the World Cup, European Championship and Nations League following France, who beat the Spanish in the 2021 Nations League

final.

They could have won the shootout earlier after Simon saved from Lovro Majer, only for Aymeric Laporte to slam Spain's fifth penalty off the crossbar.

It did not matter, however, as Simon kept out the subsequent effort from Petkovic, allowing Carvajal to be the hero.

"For us it was a unique opportunity, we went out early in another tourna -

ment and today we had to take advantage," Real Madrid defender Carvajal told Spanish broadcaster TVE.

He was referring to the 2022 World Cup, where Spain suffered a shock last-16 exit at the hands of Morocco via a shootout where they failed to score a single penalty.

Carvajal added: "We had confidence with the penalties and it went well, I knew how I was going to

shoot it, and I knew I was going to be sixth. I wanted to take it 'Panenka' style and it went well."

Heartbreak for Modric

Having reached the final of the 2018 World Cup and finished third at Qatar 2022, Croatia were desperate to go one step further and clinch a maiden title.

They were certainly well backed in Rotterdam, with a sea of Croatian flags and red and white shirts in the De Kuip stands.

It was also a chance for Luka Modric, earning his 166th international cap, to top off a stellar career with a first piece of international silverware.

The pressure of this may have contributed to a slow start by Croatia, with Gavi almost capitalising as Spain pressed high only to drag a shot wide from a good position.

Croatia soon hit their stride, however, their direct style causing issues for Spain with their high defensive line and only

a fine tackle by Laporte denied Andrej Kramaric when a ball over the top seemed to have set the striker free.

As the game wore on towards extra time, Croatia continued to apply more pressure. However it was Spain who had the better chances with Marco Asensio coming close with a header, Fabian Ruiz chipping narrowly over and Ansu Fati denied on the line by Ivan Perisic in the second half.

Extra time brought no winner so penalties decided the outcome, bringing glory to Spain and despair to Croatia.

It remains to be seen whether this was Modric's final chance to deliver a trophy for his country, with the 37-year-old former Ballon d'Or winner set to make an announcement on his international future this week.

Defeat may yet see him stay on to play in next summer's European Championship in Germany.

Dani Carvajal chipped in the winning penalty to secure Spain’s shootout win after disappointment at the World Cup

Britton Qualifies for Pan American Games 2023

GUYANA’S current highest internationally ranked male table tennis player has qualified for the 2023 Pan America Games to be held in Santiago Chile.

Shemar Britton, who was seeded amongst the 10 players contesting the Pan American

Games Special Qualification Singles competition in Lima, Peru, got a bye in the round of 16.

He lost to Julian Ramos of Colombia in some keenly contested matches by the margin of 4-2.

He then bounced back in round two of

knockouts by defeating DeAndre Calderon of St Lucia 4-1 to advance to the qualifying match.

He once again faced Ramos who took him to the brink, requiring a match point at 10-9 in the 7th set.

Britton prevailed with a forehand loop into the backhand of

Ramos and fell to his knees in a release of emotions.

Britton will shift attention to preparation and participation on the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador, beginning on June 23.

Guyana inch closer to Gold Cup’s main draw after beating Grenada on penalties

IN Saturday’s final match at the DRV PNK Stadium, Guyana defeated Grenada 5-3 on penalties to advance to the second round of the Gold Cup Prelims and move within one game of qualifying for the Gold Cup group stage for the second time ever.

The Golden Jaguars had the first big chance in

the contest.

A 17th-minute handball on Grenada’s Mackell Gannes led to a penalty being awarded, but Grenada GK Reice Charles-Cook denied Neil Danns.

While a saved penalty usually generates a lot of momentum for the defending side, Guyana immediately responded

with a cracker of a goal.

In the 22nd minute, Omari Glasgow launched one into the side netting from well outside the penalty area to give the Golden Jaguars the lead.

The 19-year-old scored three times for Guyana in the most recent edition of the Nations League and continues to prove himself as one of

the best young forwards in the region.

Grenada hit back in the 60th minute thanks to Jacob Berkeley Agyepong’s fantastic run into the box; goalscorer Kairo Mitchell barely had to do anything other than let Agyepong’s cross bank off his boot into the net.

The remaining third of the game saw neither

BCB/ ARMCO Ltd Inter Secondary School Cricket Tournament….

team able to muster an additional goal, so the game proceeded to penalties.

Both sides traded off taking excellent spot kicks, and after three rounds, it was knotted up at 3-3.

In the fourth round, Guyana created some separation when GK Kai McKenzie-Lyle reached

back to stop Agyepong’s penalty.

Daniel Wilson stepped up to drill the decisive shot and give the Golden Jaguars a 5-3 shootout victory.

Guyana will have a few days to prepare for their clash with Guadeloupe on Tuesday from 16:30hrs, with a place in Group D up for grabs.

Lower Corentyne Secondary Defeat Port Mourant Secondary

A destructive spell of off spin bowling by Deeraj Ramjit led Lower Corentyne Secondary School to an easy eight wickets victory over arch rivals Port Mourant Secondary to lift the championship trophy for the Berbice Cricket Board organised ARMCO Ltd tournament.

The tournament was for secondary schools in the Lower Corentyne area and was sponsored by Mr. Armand Ramdial, a popular contractor of Kildonan village.

Playing in front of a sizable crowd, Lower Corentyne Secondary won the toss and elected to put PMSS to take first strike. They were bowled out for 98 in 22 of their allotted 25 overs. The

match was reduced to 25 overs from the original 30 due to CSEC exams at both schools.

Ravin Budwah top scored with 34 while Romesh Bharrat and Matthew Pottaya each scored 10 in a disappointing batting display by the strong PMSS team. Bowling for LCSS, Ramjit had the remarkable figures of six wickets for 14 runs from five overs.

In reply, LCSS cruised to an eight-wicket victory as Ari Afrizal Kadir struck a solid 56 not-out and received support from Nyron Hicks 13 and Devin Lalbeharry 12 not-out. Romel Budwah was the only successful bowler for PMSS. It was a sweet revenge for LCSS, who last week lost the RHTYSC/

GBTI title to their arch rivals at the same venue.

BCB President Hilbert Foster congratulated his former school on winning the Lower Corentyne title and urged them to continue training for the overall Berbice championship which would be played later in the year.

The respective champions of the four sub zonesWest Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne would play in a knockout event to determine the overall Berbice champions.

Each school also received a supply of gear to assist them to play.

Bush Lot Secondary last week had won the West Berbice leg of the countywide tournament while the New

Amsterdam/Canje finals would be played next week between Vryman Erven and the Berbice Educational In-

stitute at the Rose Hall Canje Ground.

LCSS received fifty thousand dollars’ worth of

educational material and the runner up thirty thousand dollars.

LCSS Captain Damion Cecil receives the winning trophy from Anand Ramdial of ARMCO Ltd

Shemar Britton