Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 20-07-2023

Guyana, IDB discuss potential investment prospects

project

Discussions centred on the exploration of potential investment prospects in various fields, including infrastructure, technical support, agriculture, and climate financing, among others Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh was also at the meeting. (Office of the President photo)

400 part-time jobs, 250 business grants for Moruca residents

03

Vice-President Jagdeo urges persons within Region One to explore available opportunities for skills training as Guyana continues to grow

––

Gov’t moves to increase debt ceiling as development agenda accelerates

–– Dr. Singh says

Local investor markets Guyana as ideal destination for trade, investments

–– as Ghanaian counterparts signal interest in country’s oil-and-gas,

private sectors

President, Dr Irfaan Ali recently met with the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn, on the sidelines of the European Union-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) Summit 2023 in Brussels, Belgium

US$159M contract signed to advance gas-to-shore project

–– caters for installation of transmission lines, substations

PRIME Minister , Brigadier ( Ret ’ d ) Mark Phillips , has emphasised his government ’ s dedication to completing the gas - toshore project, which is anticipated to produce around 300 megawatts ( MW ) of electricity and is expected to reduce energy costs for citizens of Guyana by 50 per cent

The Prime Minister, who is also performing the functions of President , made those remarks during the signing ceremony of the Provision of Engineering, Procurement and Construction ( EPC ) Services contract , which will see the installation of transmission lines and substations for the integrated NGL Plant and 300 MW CCGT Power Plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara

Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL) of India was awarded the contract for this project which is expected to be completed next year

The contract was signed by Derrick Cummings, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister; Maurice Gajadhar, Chairman of Guyana Power and Light

Inc., and Mainak Majumdar, General Manager ( International Projects ), Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL) in the presence of Prime Minister Phillips

for

new power plants at Wales

According to the Prime Minister: “More than 60 per cent of the people of Guyana will benefit from this project; over 500,000 Guyanese will benefit from this project This project will once and for all bring not only reliable and stable electricity , with the other components that will bring power for over 500,000 Guyanese at a cost that is half what they’re paying now.”

Prime Minister Phillips, who holds responsibility for the country’s energy sector, further explained that the cost of electricity currently stands at an estimated $ 45 per kWh and will be significantly reduced to around $24 per kWh hour

He also said that this undertaking is in accordance with the pledge made by the PPP / C Government in its

manifesto to provide accessible and reliable electricity to the people of Guyana.

“We went to the elections in a manifesto in 2020 We made a promise to the people out there that once and for all, we will solve the electricity problem, the power problem for the households, citizens and the business community,” the Prime Minister said

During the event , the Prime Minister urged the contractor to stress the importance of completing the national - scale project on time

He added: “This is another manifesto promise that we are delivering to the people of Guyana, and you are playing an integral role in ensuring that the people

Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL) of India was awarded the Provision of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Services contract, which will see the installation of transmission lines and substations for the integrated NGL Plant and 300 MW CCGT Power Plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

400 part-time jobs, 250 business grants for Moruca residents

Vice-President Jagdeo urges persons within Region One to explore available opportunities for skills training as Guyana continues to grow

By Cindy Parkinson

RESIDENTS of Moru -

ca , Region One ( Barima - Waini ), will benefit from 400 part-time jobs and 250 business grants, as part of the government ’ s ongoing efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of persons living across Guyana

This was announced by Vice - President , Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, during a visit to the community to launch the part - time job initiative in the region

He said that the 400 newly employed persons will work for 10 days per month with the government, at the hospitals, village offices, and police stations, among other places, and will each earn $40,000 per month

According to the Vice - President , the government is also giving 250 business grants to people with existing businesses and potential business owners

He said: “We are hoping that these initiatives will assist many people in their villages to improve their lives, and also that 250 people will receive a business grant each Hopefully, with whatever they are doing, they can use the money to improve their lives.”

Vice - President Jagdeo also said that due to the failed leadership of the former APNU + AFC administration and the COVID - 19 pandemic , there was a decrease in employment

“We started with a job deficit of about 80,000 people who were [eligible for work] but didn’t have a job and that is why we promised to generate more jobs In Region four, we have labour shortages; if you need a carpenter, a plumber, or an electrician, we cannot find that skill because everyone is building , so we are training people rapidly right now,”

Dr Jagdeo said

Although he related that the people of Region One are better off today, the Vice-President acknowledged that there are other regions that still have unemployed people

According to him, this is because the investments have not gone to those regions as yet, adding that they have decided to launch the part-time job programme which will be a steppingstone towards more permanent jobs as well as an opportunity to get more women involved in the work force

Dr Jagdeo said: “We can train as many people as are needed here in these

communities to do plumbing , electrical work , or carpentry, and I hope that many of you will go into this training.”

With the necessary skillsets , he related that persons in the region could work for at least $ 8,000 per day

Dr Jagdeo also told residents, specifically the “ youngsters ,” that there are several opportunities for them to learn to operate heavy-duty machinery as well as become truck operators, since truck drivers are also in high demand

He related that the government is interested in ensuring that all of Guy-

US$159M contract signed to advance ...

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of Guyana are freed from unstable electricity , and blackouts come August 2024 So I look forward to working closely with the principals of Kalpataru and ensuring relief to the people of Guyana from unstable electricity to reliable and sustainable electricity at cheaper costs.”

Meanwhile, the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, during his address at the ceremony, underscored the importance of timely delivery and quality work

He said : “ Our government has made a national commitment that we run on our election campaign that we will cut the electricity by half, and

this aspect of the multiple moving parts needs to be completed on time Timing is a critical success factor but delivery now becomes of paramount importance.”

He related too: “For people to live comfortably, we have to cut energy costs, and that is the vision of our government, and that is what will be pressing forward.”

ana ’ s people , wherever they live, see the benefits of Guyana’s transformation

During one of his press conferences in May , Dr Jagdeo had said that with the implementation of the government’s part-time job initiative , residents in the hinterland regions are expected to gain access to an additional 2,000 job opportunities

The initiative was

launched in the coastal regions and has expanded to the hinterland communities The main objective of the programme is to provide economic relief for the citizens of Guyana In the 2023 Budget , the government allocated $10 billion to expand the programme The skillfully designed employment plan permits one person per household to work in governmental agencies for 10 days per month and earn $40,000 per year

Thus far , over 11,000 people have been hired since it began at a number of locations In Regions Two ( Pomeroon - Supenaam ), and Three ( Essequibo Island - West Demerara ), respectively, a significant recruitment drive has already resulted in the employment of over 2,000 locals Dr . Jagdeo , during his visit to Region One, was accompanied by the Minister of Housing and Water , Collin Croal ; Minister within the Ministry of Local Government , Anand Persaud , and the Regional Chairman of Region One , Brentnol Ashley.

The project, according to the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, reflects the two countries’ growing cooperation

Over the past 180 years, Guyana and India have enjoyed successful cooperation in several sectors, including agriculture , renewable energy, healthcare, infrastructure, defence, and education

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo engages residents of Region One, on Wednesday (Office of the Vice-President photo)

Local investor markets Guyana as ideal destination for trade, investments

— as Ghanaian counterparts signal interest in country’s oil and gas, private sectors

WITH Guyana’s economy rapidly growing, opportunities for investments in commercial trade and the private sector are vast.

This was according to local businessman and director of Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer, who, during a recent virtual discussion told several petroleum and private sector stakeholders from Ghana that Guyana is the ideal jurisdiction to start and operate a business.

The former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Private Sector Commission (PSC) head said that with few constraints, the country allows for the smooth trading of foreign currency.

“We have no currency control or restrictions, so profits that you make in Guyana can be repatriated to your own company.

For foreigners, you can trade in foreign currency if necessary, so as a foreign company looking to make foreign direct investments into Guyana there is very little restricting you from investing into Guyana, earning a profit in Guyana,” Deygoo-Boyer said.

He further said that Guyana has recently become a hub for commercial transportation with direct flights now being offered to several international states.

“In terms of being able to move people in and out of Guyana, we have flights to several major hubs, the US, flights to Miami, New York, to Toronto, Latin America, within the Caribbean, to Barbados and recently to Europe through the UK [United Kingdom],” Deygoo-Boyer related.

Meanwhile, the country’s main shipping port located in Georgetown pro-

vides traffic to several Caribbean and Latin America markets. He said: “For major

ports, currently, the main port is the port in Georgetown and there are quite a few sailings from moving goods out of places… the southern US is the main hub, as well as Panama where cargo is aggregated either from Asia or from other Latin American [states].”

He added: “Guyana is a very easy jurisdiction for you to enter into and to start business here.”

Meanwhile, President of the recently established Ghana, Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, said that many key players from Ghana’s petroleum industry and private sector are hoping to collaborate with their counterparts in Guyana.

“What we want to do is see how Ghana can share with our counterparts in Guyana, particularly the private sector, facilitated

of course by the petroleum commission, Ghana Gas, GNPC [Ghana National Petroleum Corporation] from our side and also, on your side, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Local Content Secretariat and of course the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry [GCCI] and the associations involved in the sector,” Otchere-Darko said during the discussion.

Come next month, the two countries are expected to exchange insights at the Oil and Gas Conference to be held here in Guyana.

The aim is for the two countries to learn from each other in areas of oil-and-gas production and local content laws.

The virtual discussion and conference are in line with the bilateral agreements that were inked between the two nations in December 2022.

Director of Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer

Gov’t moves to increase debt ceiling as development agenda accelerates

— Dr. Singh says

ceiling.

“As the economy grows, our capacity to borrow increases and we intend to use that capacity to finance an aggressive programme to modernise, and transform our country and improve the lives of Guyanese peoples,” Dr. Singh said.

In 2021, orders seeking to make the necessary adjustments to both the domestic and external debt ceilings were tabled in the National Assembly,

Dr. Singh had proposed to the National Assembly that the domestic debt ceiling of $150 billion be increased to $500 billion, and that the existing $400 billion external debt ceiling be increased to $650 billion.

Following intense debates

by both the government and the opposition, motions were approved by the House.

Dr. Singh anticipates that the opposition will object once again and attempt to undermine the government’s development agenda.

“They will object … they will first of all present this borrowing more and characterise that as a bad thing or a negative thing… and the reason for this really is very simple, they are well aware that we are contracting this borrowing for the purpose of financing development programmes and they don’t want development programmes to be delivered as long as the People's Progressive Party is in government,” he said.

IN order to finance several development projects as Guyana continues to progress rapidly, the Government of Guyana intends to increase the country’s debt

ceiling, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh has said.

Dr. Singh, during an in-

terview with the News Room, said that the government has been making significant investments and managing the country’s finances responsibly.

“Given all of these heavy investments initiatives and also ramping up of social programmes, we have of course been incurring a fiscal deficient, this is publicly known. It's reflected in our annual budget every year and so you finance the budget deficit by borrowing and we have been borrowing very prudently,” the minister said.

Now with Guyana’s economy rapidly growing, it is pertinent that the country makes adjustments to its debt

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

Tightening Guyana-China Ties

THE upcoming visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by President Dr Irfaan Ali couldn’t have been more-timely, coming at an important juncture in world history when new and old alignments are reshaping global affairs and just as Guyana gained a seat the United Nations Security Council

Guyana and China are in the midst of strengthening their international relations to improve and strengthen bilateral trade, business and other mutually-beneficial ties and common interests

Guyana – soon to be the fourth-largest offshore oil producer and being courted by Saudi Arabia to join the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), with the highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) levels in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and driving full throttle in the fast lane towards its flagpole as the richest nation in South America -- has also been re-setting the clock to reshape its global ties

Nine CARICOM nations -- Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Domi-

nica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago -- recognize the world’s only China through bilateral ties that have always been reliable and consistent over the past five decades, as reiterated during the June 25, 2023 visit to the PRC by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang

Her China counterpart reminded the Barbados leader that Beijing “stands ready to deepen relations and enhance cooperation” with the Caribbean, aiming “to inject momentum into post-pandemic global recovery and collective development, through its opening-up and modernization.”

Premier Li said Beijing is also “willing to enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen cooperation in various fields and build bilateral and multilateral relations into models of solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit for developing countries.”

China is always ready, he added, “to promote joint construction of high-quality Belt-and-Road projects” with its regional allies “and enhance exchanges and cooperation-related support to their economies, as

well as in trade, culture and other fields.”

Businesswise, China encourages its enterprises to invest and do business with its Caribbean partners and Premier Li said it also stands “ready to import more competitive Caribbean products” and “continue to provide assistance, within its capacity, for their economic and social development.”

The Premier said China “understands the situation and special concerns of developing island countries in coping with Climate Change and other issues and is willing to jointly seek solutions for financing difficulties, as well as “to support developing countries as they accelerate their energy transformation and achieve sustainable development.”

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told the ‘Global Times’ in Beijing that such visits by Caribbean leaders “provide good opportunities to further enhance political mutual trust, expand cooperation and bring bilateral relations toward greater heights and brighter prospects,” as well as “to provide a platform for open discussions to better answer the question of where glo-

balization is heading, against the backdrop of decoupling push by certain Western countries.”

The PRC ’ s diplomatic presence in Guyana today, under the leadership of Ambassador Guo Haiyan, is a fitting example of China ’ s commitment to joint pursuit of genuine South-South Cooperation; the China National Overseas Oil Corporation’s (CNOOC) ownership of a quarter of Guyana’s largest offshore oil bloc is another bright spot in that historical relationship; and Chinese companies in Guyana’s mining industry have already created over 2,500 local jobs

The Guyana President ’ s exchange with his China counterpart, President Xi Jinping, following on the heels of the recent visit to Guyana and attendance at CARICOM’s 50th Anniversary Summit in early July by China’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Madam Hua Chinyeng, will naturally provide yet-another opportunity for Georgetown and Beijing to continue to turn old challenges into new opportunities

Guyana Press Association and presidential press conference

Dear Editor,

As a frequent writer on issues of national importance, and public policy analysis, I have noted the recent missive by the Guyana Press Association (GPA) with interest, which was published on July 18, 2023, with the caption: “GPA fears return to media repression with new press conference guidelines.”

Editor, I wish to make a few comments on the foregoing referenced missive The GPA equated restrictions on the Presidential Press Conference to that of repression But would the GPA appreciate and acknowledge the fact that most of the journalists asked too many questions on unrelated matters to the press conference, and on matters that have already been fully dealt with by the administration?

That aside, I think it is imperative for one to appreciate that typically, Presiden-

tial Press Conferences are protocol driven and conducted differently from other press conferences , such as the format employed by the Vice President, which is more liberal

And, I dare say, too liberal sometimes — for this, I commend the Vice President’s patience and tolerance in dealing with redundant and repetitive questions, for instance, from Kaieteur News publisher

Notwithstanding the above, my substantive commentary and observations are as follows:

The GPA’s missive failed to highlight in what way the President’s press conference was repressive other than restricting the number of questions per journalist I , personally, see no problem with this , considering the President’s time, and respect for protocol It was up to the media to make the best use of the press conference

and arguably they didn’t Further, even though they’ve asked more questions than they were allowed, the President graciously provided answers without allowing the moderator to disallow them His Excellency must be commended for this

There is this complaint about limited number of questions and that there are many pressing questions they (the media) would like for the President to address

Yet, the missive failed to highlight what are those questions

I think what the media and/or the GPA failed to acknowledge is that it is unfair to only examine the issue narrowly that is, the President hardly holds a press conference The President is the Head of State

The fact is that the government conducts press conferences frequently and adequately Apart from press conferences, there are many other public forums throughout the year where government of-

ficials engage the public, and disseminate information on the government’s work, to the public, through the media

Additionally , media houses oftentimes engage government ministers for exclusive interviews on topical issues I don’t think all of the media entities take advantage of this, other than a few There is hardly any question or concern that the media or any other stakeholders have, that the government has not dealt with or has disclosed its rationale and justification for its position

I end by asking what are the pressing questions the GPA would like the President and by extension, the government, to address? And, if I may, what questions, issues, or concerns, in the GPA’s view, remained unaddressed since assuming office in 2020?

Yours respectfully, Joel

Bhagwandin

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Justice Kissoon’s decision is unusual

DESPITE the enormous power of the judiciary as one of the three branches of power in society, judges are seriously constrained in their area of operations This restriction is a priceless point that all humans, whether educated or layperson should permanently internalise

A judge’s jurisdiction extends only to what the constitution and the national body of laws stipulate The judiciary interprets societal impulses based on actions that are in compliance with the constitution and the body of laws

A president or a prime minister has no power to make a decision that is in violation of the constitution or statutes While in power, the courts overruled President Granger several times for decisions that were not in accordance with constitutional guarantees

The judiciary, as the third branch of power, is thus confined to one area of societal life The legislature is allowed by the constitution to make laws once they do not conflict with the constitution

It is important at all times that society allows for the independence of the legislature to make laws and for the executive to initiate policies once those policies do not derecognise the constitution or infringe on the nation’s laws

The legislature and the executive consist of elected actors that must be allowed to govern without restriction by the judiciary

If society did not allow for the separation of powers, then the will of the electorate becomes a mockery

If a law or a policy is laughable or repugnant or dangerous, once it does not collide with the Just, one example should suffice If the government announces that all female walkers on the seawall esplanade must not wear high-heels, then in what ways is that a violation of the constitution? As it stands, a high school graduate must have Mathematics and English to enter the public service or UG That cannot be challenged in court

We come now to Justice Kissoon ’ s ordering a private company on how much money it must set aside in the event of an oil spill The group I referred to as the usual suspects and a few politicised civil society groups argued after Justice Kissoon’s decision that the ruling does not cost Exxon one cent It is a guarantee of unlimited coverage that Exxon must agree to

They are right Exxon does not have to find even one cent Exxon simply has to put pen on paper agreeing to unlimited insurance The problem arises because the constitution and the body of laws in Guyana do not give the courts the jurisdiction to tell a government, an individual or a company how much it must spend in a transaction

Justice Kissoon’s decision in my opinion violates the sanctity of private property This must be understood and not be confused with the collapse of Guyana should there be an oil spill. If there is an oil spill here, one shudders to think what will happen But despite that frightening thought, the constitution and laws of Guyana still

offer individuals and companies the right to run their business as they see fit

If Exxon did not agree to Justice Kissoon’s ruling then Exxon’s permit would have lapsed The courts should not have the jurisdiction to stop a foreign investment venture once its operations do not conflict with the laws That is judicial excursion into the arena of policy-making We may not like the company but its retention is a government decision not the courts’

What Justice Kissoon ’ s decision involved was a dictate to a company of how much it must spend in a particular area The courts do not have that latitude never mind that the judge and the litigants and Guyana as a whole must be obsessed with the imagination of what an oil spill must bring

It must be remembered at all times in an-

alysing the courts’ decision that the litigants brought the case on the fear of what may happen if there is an oil spill The litigants never argued that the limited insurance by Exxon was a violation of the constitution

The implications of Justice Kissoon’s decision will be far-reaching if the court of Appeal or the CCJ does not reverse it A simple example is in order Let us say that a company comes to Guyana and it orders a fleet of cars for its operations

A concerned citizen then takes the company to court asking that the brand of cars be changed because they are unreliable. The litigant wants another maker. Simply put – the courts cannot tell the company what types of vehicles it must use. Justice Kissoon’s decision is one I disagree with.

Laluni residents plan to utilise carbon credit funds to establish citrus hubs

COMMUNITY development leaders and residents of Laluni aim to become one of the nation’s Citrus Hubs by investing in, and increasing productivity in, the agriculture sector, using funds from the recent sale of Guyana’s Carbon Credits

The village is home to over 300 residents, many of whom are farmers They cultivate income crops like cherries and oranges on a smaller scale and also raise livestock.

In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle newspaper, the Community Development Council (CDC) Chairman, Julian Mohabir, revealed that numerous consultations and community meetings with the residents were held to build and define robust strategies to address the community’s demands

According to him, “The residents of the community decided they wanted an excavator; we decided to purchase the excavator, and soon the excavator will be in the village The excavator is to reopen the old road for farmers so they can get to the market The road was abandoned, and farmers had to fetch their loads a far way to reach the vehicle, and that will help them.”

He also explained that, in addition to rebuilding a few farm-to-market road that had been abandoned for a while, the excavator will also build dams, clear land, and improve drainage He also added that the community had received approximately GY$24 million, of which $19 million had been put aside for the purchase and maintenance of the large pieces of equipment The remaining monies, according to him, will be utilised to maintain

and repair a community canter so that farmers can transport their commodities effectively Mohabir further stated that “the main crop in the village right now is citrus, mainly cherry Laluni produces the most cherries in the country, and the roads and transportation are the main issues most farmers and residents have This canter will really help them so they can market and sell.”

In addition, Mohabir revealed that the council has developed a 10-year plan that focuses on diversifying the community ’ s economy, empowering the young, encouraging tourism, and developing education which he said he hopes can also be funded by carbon credits

The first carbon credits under ART TREES credits in history were issued to Guyana by the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) in December 2022 This was a significant occasion since it was the first time a nation was issued jurisdiction scale carbon credits created especially for the voluntary and compliant carbon markets for effectively maintaining Guyana ’ s pristine forests ( a procedure known as jurisdictional REDD+).

Guyana received 33.47 million TREES credits from ART for the five-year period from 2016 to 2020 after an independent validation and verification process was finished and approved by the ART Board of Directors This opened the door for a historic deal between Hess Corporation and the government of Guyana, whereby the international private company purchased nearly one-third of all the country’s credits (issued and projected)

through 2030

The arrangement will bring in at least US$750 million for Guyana over the next ten years and is a significant step towards realising a goal that was first outlined in 2007

Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, vice president of Guyana, revealed, in a recent interview that more foreign purchasers are becoming interested in the nation’s carbon credits Carbon credits, commonly referred to as carbon offsets, are a means of removing or reducing greenhouse gases to offset emissions generated in other places Carbon credits are permits or tradeable licences

A study of the worldwide voluntary market, according to Dr Jagdeo, shows that the country earned exemplary commercial terms, for its thriving rainforests and environmental stewardship He went on to say that if credits rise in value when traded in secondary markets, the arrangement can pay out much more

money

The worth of the carbon that trees store can be determined by the issuance of forest carbon credits by independent verification organisations Companies can buy these tradeable credits recognising that the carbon stored in forests is one component of the solution to reaching a global climate where one tonne of carbon dioxide has been cut, avoided, or sequestered for every carbon credit

Following meetings with more than 200 indigenous groups, Dr Jagdeo declared, in February of this year, that each community would receive between GY$10 million and GY$35 million, or 15% of the proceeds the nation made from the sale of its carbon credits

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

Smart Hospitals Initiative executed in Guyana a blueprint for the world

–– UK High Commissioner says

WITH five smart and fully climate - resilient hospitals commissioned in Guyana , this is a blueprint that should be used in other parts of the world, British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller has said.

She made those remarks during a reception in celebration of the United Kingdom’s Smart Hospitals initiative, which was recently completed here

According to Miller , with the completion of this initiative, the UK now has a toolkit for retrofitting these facilities , and that has been adopted by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

She added that while this was first presented at the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP26) as a mechanism

for improving health infrastructure throughout the world, they believe that it is going to be presented at COP28 and is being discussed at the World Health Assembly, noting that Guyana is a trailblazer on this path.

“So, I feel hugely privi-

leged that something that’s become global really started in this region and is now new standards that are going to be used across the world in terms of making the resilience ,” the High Commissioner said Miller told the gathering that about seven

years ago the UK government started the initiative whereby they wanted to ensure that health facilities become more resilient

Subsequently, she revealed that an assessment of facilities across the entire Caribbean, including Guyana , began and five facilities were chosen in Guyana to be retrofitted. Miller said that the intention was never to end at the retrofitting of facilities but to develop a blueprint

“The whole idea of the project was to develop

a blueprint to develop a toolkit that will enable facilities to be retrofitted or facilities to be built with better facilities or with better standards in mind,” the High Commissioner said

Among the key things they were looking for, she said , were to make the facilities more resilient to natural disasters and also greener with the use of renewable energy, among other things

In Guyana , the five facilities that were retrofitted were Mabaruma ,

Lethem and Leonora Hospitals; the Diamond Hospital, and the Paramakatoi Health Centre Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony during his address , said that in addition to the retrofitting that took place at these facilities across the country, the government is also working to make additional investments in these facilities to bring them to an even higher standard

Against this backdrop , he said that the ministry has been adding lots of things to these facilities He said they added a maternity ward at Leonora , while at Mabaruma , they have worked to ensure that the facility would be able to have oxygen on site He went on to add that the ministry is also now adding an intensive care unit

“And there are other things that are being done to improve and make these facilities…so it has been a really good partnership for us,” Dr Anthony said

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller (Japheth Savory photo)

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony (Japheth Savory photo)

CDB to invest US$1.8M into Caribbean’s creative sector

THE Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has committed US$1.8 million to support the development of the region’s creative industries.

This Bank ’ s Board recently approved the injection into the institution ’ s Creative Industries Innovation Fund ( CIIF ), a multi - donor endowment , established in 2017 to encourage innovation , job creation and improved enterprise sustainability within the sector

According to Daniel Best , CDB ’ s Director of Projects: “We are pleased to support this initiative Given the challenges faced by our creatives , this fund will continue to fill a prevailing void by providing resources to create an enabling environment for the sector

“We anticipate support for trade and export facilitation, marketing and distribution , human resource development and research as well the development of legal and policy frameworks in our 19 Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs).”

Globally , the creative

economy is recognised as a growth sector and a meaningful contributor to Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ), having the capacity to spur innovation and knowledge transfer across all sectors of the economy

It is a critical sector to foster inclusive development, possessing both commercial and cultural value, while presenting opportunities for human imagination and spreading important social and cultural values

Commenting on CIIF , Lisa Harding , the Bank ’ s Acting Head, Private Sector Division, added that “Caribbean cultural entrepreneurs, Micro , Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs ), and Business Support Organisations (BSOs), which support the creative industries will benefit from grants and capacity building aid to increase competitiveness and improve data intelligence and analysis as we continue to construct programmes to enhance the creative economy.”

Beneficiary MSMEs and other eligible entities are expected to contribute a

minimum of 10 per cent of project costs in cash and or in-kind

The CIIF, which is governed by a cross section of regional organisations and administered by CDB, has since inception financed approximately US$1.2 million in a variety of initiatives spanning music production, distribution, sales and events, audio visual, film, animation and gaming, festivals and carnivals, fashion, and contemporary design

EITI stands ready to work with Guyana to address key recommendations

–– Executive Director says; commends gov’t, other stakeholders for efforts to lift recent suspension

JUST weeks after the official lifting of Guyana’s suspension by the international secretariat of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the body has reaffirmed its willingness to assist Guyana in addressing the challenges that led to the delayed implementation.

Guyana had been suspended due to a failure to submit its 2020 report to the secretariat

The EITI’s Executive Director, Mark Robinson, Wednesday morning, congratulated Guyana on making all the necessary efforts to ensure the suspension was lifted

“The commitment of all stakeholders, including your government, and the allocation of adequate resources for EITI implementation for adequate capacity and good functioning of the MSG continue to be key elements for ensuring timely disclosures and effective EITI implementation,” Robinson said in a letter

He expressed keenness, on behalf of EITI, to work with Guyana to address recommendations and corrective actions identified in the EITI’s 2022 Validation, which he noted were the executive director’s focus last year

The EITI’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Francisco Paris, has since been tasked with exploring the best means of supporting Guyana

in this regard.

The EITI board had temporarily suspended Guyana earlier this year for failing to publish its 2020 EITI report

In line with EITI standards , it was agreed that the suspension would be lifted if the EITI board is satisfied with the publication of the outstanding report within

through non - reimbursable grants

Of note were the piloting of a dedicated CIIF Haiti programme that served 90 direct beneficiaries through the implementation of three Accelerator partnership grants; the development of a Community of Practice model to increase collaborative learning and sharing

between creative stakeholders; the development of online resources, toolkits and learning materials and over US$ 100,000 in prize grants built into Accelerators

The Bank ’ s continued investment in the fund will lead to the increased contribution by the Creative Industry sector to economic outputs and foreign ex-

change earnings by improving the enabling environment , enhancing data collection and reporting, and improving the competitiveness of beneficiary MSMEs This will build social resilience by ensuring no one is left behind and contribute to economic resilience for inclusive growth (CDB)

six months of the deadline

On June 30, 2023, the EITI confirmed that Guyana published its 2020 report, and thus met the condition for the suspension to be lifted

Following the initial suspension , President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, had reaffirmed his government’s commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in every aspect of governance , particularly in the extractive industries

He also vowed to hold those responsible for the delay in the preparation of the report accountable and expressed the government’s confidence that all systems will remain in place to ensure Guyana is not placed in a similar position in the future.

Berbice residents to benefit from $83M vocational training centres

PERSONS residing in the towns of New Amsterdam and Corriverton, Region Six, will soon have access to training centres being constructed at a total cost of over $83 million, through the Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT), following the sod turning ceremonies on Wednesday.

Both facilities will be erected in accordance with the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) standards and will have two levels with each floor measuring 2,000 square feet

Construction company, NK Enterprise Inc., is tasked with constructing the training facility at New Amsterdam to the tune of $44.8 million, while Perba Trading and Construction will build the Corriverton skills centre at a cost of some $39.9 million

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, said it was part of the government’s broader developmental plan to provide various opportunities for Guyanese to be highly skilled and certified

He noted that the buildings will aid in the development of both towns by providing employment

Persons residing in the towns of New Amsterdam and Corriverton, Region Six, will soon have access to training centres being constructed at a total cost of over $83 million opportunities and life-long skills to residents

“This ceremony, while it might seem simple , is groundbreaking and a game changer in large effect Regions Five and Six will be exposed to the call for people that are highly trained and technically competent to function in

a lot of the facilities that will be installed around here This will prepare the region for the new development that will happen in the region and Guyana ,” Minister Hamilton said Regional Chairman , David Armogan highlighted that the government

recognises that training was important to satisfy the demands of a changing society

“In Guyana today, with all this innovation and investment taking place , there’s going to be a need

for all different kinds of skills We at the Board of Industrial Training have to be able to accomplish that mandate that was given to us by the government,” the chairman noted New Amsterdam Mayor-elect, Wainwright McIntosh assured that the facility will be utilised to bring skills development to the residents

“I wish to say, on behalf of the Mayor and Town Council , we are pleased with this developmental initiative And as far as possible, we will be lending support to this particular programme,” he expressed

Similarly, Corriverton Mayor-elect, Imran Hamid welcomed the undertaking, noting that it speaks to growth countrywide and showcases the government’s competence

Construction works for both training schools will commence shortly , and every effort will be made to have them completed by year end.

Housing Ministry working to regularise Mocha/Arcadia informal settlement

THE Ministry of Housing and Water, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority ( CHPA ), is working to regularise an informal settlement located in Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara

On Tuesday afternoon, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal along

land

Both ministers have been engaging residents on the matter for some time

In November 2022, CHPA conducted an inventory and recorded a total of 357 occupied and unoccupied structures in the area

While outlining the regularisation plan , the minister stated that the

throughout each step As such , a team from the ministry will continue engaging residents and monitoring the area

The minister urged all persons to work with the agency He also called upon them to discourage others from squatting in the area, as this will prolong the process and to

with Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, met with the residents to address the issue

The land in question comprises five fields and falls under the purview of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Minister Croal said that his ministry will be engaging GuySuCo for the transfer of the land Once this acquisition process is completed, the agency can then move forward with the regularisation process and residents can be granted legal ownership of the

three fields , which are densely populated will be regularised Those residing outside of the three fields will be moved within the designated alignment Additionally , a number of persons who fall within the buffer zone of the four-lane highway will be moved further inward

He emphasised that the government’s intention is not to displace individuals but to facilitate a structured process and that the Housing Ministry is committed to working closely with residents

report the construction of additional structures

“

The government is committing to working with you but this process can’t move quickly if you don’t hold your end of the bargain ,” Minister Croal said Minister Parag shared similar sentiments, as she noted the government’s agenda for inclusive growth and development. The ministers also listened to and addressed concerns raised by residents at the meeting. (DPI)

The Ministry of Housing and Water, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), is working to regularise an informal settlement located in Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara

Massive infrastructural transformation continues

GUYANA’S infrastructural landscape is undergoing massive transformation with the construction of new highways and housing schemes.

Among these projects is the Mandela to Eccles highway seen among the photos from the Office of the President. To complement this major thorough-

fare, works are simultaneously being done to develop massive housing schemes and community roads.

Digicel invests in training to support over 2,000 children living with disabilities

IN keeping with its commitment to invest in special needs training for individuals and professionals who work in various areas that relate to persons living with disabilities, Digicel Guyana donated in excess of $5.9 million on Tuesday

Jemima Crosse, 26, received $1.748 million to pay her tuition for a Master ’ s Degree in Physiotherapy at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

By investing in her education, Digicel Guyana aims to cultivate a highly skilled workforce of physiotherapists who will play a pivotal role in improving the lives of individuals with special needs

An additional $4.16 million was donated to support 40 Guyanese professionals who will participate in an autism training programme offered by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).

Those persons include occupational therapists , speech therapists , special needs teachers , and social workers , who will all be equipped with specialised knowledge and skills to better understand and support

individuals living with autism, ensuring they receive the highest quality care and assistance

Those contributions are part of Digicel Guyana ’ s larger commitment of $ 60 million to enhance the skillset of professionals dedicated to supporting individuals with special needs

Commenting on these donations , Deonarine Gopaul , the Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Guyana, expressed the company ’ s enthusiasm and dedication to making a positive impact

He said : “ At Digicel , we are deeply committed to supporting the development of professionals who work tirelessly to enhance the lives of individuals with special needs By funding the Master’s degree in Physiotherapy and providing support for the autism training programme, we aim to empower these professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to make a lasting difference These contributions reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering excellence in the healthcare and education sectors.”

Crosse said that this commitment to funding her studies helps to support her

passion for helping children with special needs and will enable her to serve with excellence

Meanwhile , commenting on the 40 trainees at IBCCES , Director of the Disability and Rehabilitation Services Department, Dr Ariane Mangar noted that over 2,000 children will benefit from this investment

“ This has been a great commitment from Digicel Guyana We’ve recently had four speech therapists attend the University of North Carolina and the University of San Hosea where they spent two weeks submersed in programmes to upskill their supervisory skills and learn the best practices, new ways and ways we don’t have here in Guyana , to work with children with autism and other children with disorders So this will impact so many lives as these staff members were selected from across the various regions,” she said

By investing in the development of professionals specialising in various areas related to disabilities, Digicel Guyana aims to contribute to a more inclusive society and improve the overall well-being of the people of Guyana.

In keeping with its commitment to invest in special needs training for individuals and professionals who work in various areas that relate to persons living with disabilities, Digicel Guyana donated in excess of $5.9 million on Tuesday

well-positioned to deliver comprehensive connectivity options to businesses

company’s COO tells Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisation conference

GUYANA Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT)’s Business Solutions

Chief Operating Officer (COO), Orson Ferguson, on Tuesday, said that, with the company’s ongoing investment in network infrastructure, including both mobile and fibre solutions, GTT is well - positioned to deliver the most comprehensive connectivity options available to businesses in the market

“We are investing in our network; we have the most

expansive network in Guyana when you combine fibre and mobile we are focusing on ensuring that businesses have the access they need to engage in commerce,” Ferguson said

He made those remarks during an entrepreneurship forum titled “defining a path for customer satisfaction in the dataverse,” at the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organization’s (CANTO) 38th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition in Miami, Florida

Ferguson said GTT is going to exit the year with close to 70 per cent of buildings in the country having access to fibre, enabling businesses to take advantage of the numerous benefits of a robust digital infrastructure

He added that the company is dedicated to empowering businesses to engage in commerce with confidence and providing them with the best - in - class customer support

The GTT COO added : “ We spend a lot of time

GTT’s Business Solutions COO, Orson Ferguson, reiterated his company’s commitment to empowering businesses to engage in commerce with confidence and providing them with the best-in-class customer support

working with the business support organisations and listening to our customers ; we have people in the streets knocking on doors and really trying to understand what their needs are”.

He said by listening to customers , the company launched its conneX +mobile solution that has really taken

the market by storm Ferguson related: “As simple as it sounds, conneX + mobile has been instrumental in providing reliable connectivity to a growing number of businesses.

Nearly 60 per cent of fibre customers are already utilising the conneX + mobile solution, benefitting from the versatility and efficiency it offers.”

Ferguson added that GTT enables businesses to stay connected, productive, and responsive in an increasingly dynamic and mobile business environment.

GTT , as a member of the ATN Group of Companies, is a platinum sponsor of this year’s CANTO conference

GYSBI launches scholarships to support technical studies across Guyana

THE Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI), one the country ’ s premier onshore support facilities servicing the oil - and - gas industry , has announced the launch of its technical scholarship, which will be aimed at supporting educational opportunities for persons between the ages of 16 and 25 years old at the various technical institutes across the country

According to a press release, those scholarships will be available at the Essequibo Technical Institute , Government Technical Institute, Linden Technical Institute, Mahaicony Technical Institute, New Amsterdam Technical Institute, and the Upper Corentyne Technical Institute for the 2023/2024 Academic year.

The initiative will cover expenses such as travel, uniforms , study materials , registration, and examination fees, among others

The programme is designed to offer internships to successful applicants during their semester breaks so that they can gain valuable handson training and knowledge transfer At the end of their studies , they will also be afforded the opportunity to be fully employed within the company

Robert Albiez , General

Manager of GYSBI , in an invited comment said that the company wanted to create a programme which will benefit young Guyanese and ensure that they are equipped with valuable lifeskills and are positively engaged

“This initiative is simply our investment in the young people of Guyana so that they can benefit from the bountiful

of the economy as well

“What we have found is that a lot of persons who are working in operations have 10 or 20 years of experience because they were informally trained, or because they worked in the mining industry, etc., but they do not have formal education certificates

opportunities existing in this country

It is our intention to offer approximately 10 scholarships per year in any area of study selected by the successful applicants at the identified technical institutes and we are looking forward to having our first cohort come September 2023,” he said

Albiez related that the initiative was birthed after realising that while many possess the experience and technical skills needed to fill the positions on the operations side of the oil-andgas sector, they lacked the proper academic certificates It, therefore, aims to build a cadre of qualified workers, supervisors , and managers not only for the oil-and-gas industry, but the other sectors

“So we want to be able to create and develop a workforce which will be both experienced and certified three or five years from now GYSBI, as a Guyanese company, has always focused on creating tangible opportunities for Guyanese and this is just another one of our initiatives geared at doing that,” he said

As it relates to eligibility, anyone who is between the ages of 16 and 25 years, has been accepted for a programme at any of the institutes ( new and current students), and is willing to serve an internship at GYSBI during semester breaks, can apply.

Each beneficiary of this initiative will have their yearly academic expenses up to the sum of G$500,000 fully paid

To access the application form and list of documents required , please visit Gysbi gy / scholarship-form/. The deadline for submission of applications is August 18, 2023.

West Indies looking...

FROM PAGE 21

better batting pitch than Dominica.”

West Indies were toppled for totals of 150 and 130 in Dominica, while failing to dismiss India, who piled up 421 for five, declared.

And with their spinners bagging just two wickets between them, selectors have called up uncapped off-spinner Kevin Sinclair to the 13-man squad, to boost the slow bowling resources.

He is now expected

to make his debut, with fellow off-break bowler Rahkeem Cornwall ruled out through illness, a development which has res ulted in Raymon Reifer being drafted into the squad again, after being dropped a few days ago.

SQUADS:

WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood (Vice-Captain), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabri-

el, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.

INDIA: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-Captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, KS Bharat, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat.

English Racing Tips

Hamilton

09:20 hrs Valour And Swagger

09:50 hrs Rain Cap

10:25 hrs Bashful

10:55 hrs Botanical

11:25 hrs Trabajo Detecho

11:55 hrs Spanish Hustle

Worcester

12:05 hrs Captain Ivan

12:40 hrs Dicey Rielly

13:10 hrs Rock The House

13:45 hrs Gambie Trip

14:20 hrs Zucayan

14:50 hrs Woodie Flash

15:25 hrs Genever Dragon

15:55 hrs No Way Pedro

Epsom

12:55 hrs New Heights

13:30 hrs Inner City

14:00 hrs Street Strength

14:35 hrs Golden Maverick

15:05 hrs H Key Lails

15:40 hrs Spritzin

Irish Racing Tips

Leopardstown

11:45 hrs Special way

12:15 hrs Slinga Ghealai

12:45 hrs Who Not What

13:20 hrs Opera Singer

13:50 hrs Cordouan

14:25 hrs Bold Discovery

14:55 hrs Saturn

15:30 hrs Baile Locha

Riach

South Africa Racing Tips

Vaal

08:35 hrs Cape Lights

09:10 hrs Kaula’s Vhamp

09:45 hrs Moonshiningthrough

10:20 hrs Fort Lauderdale

American Racing Tips

Saratoga

Race 1 Feathering

Race 2 Antonio Of Venice

Race 3 Sugar Grey Leonard

Race 4 Pretti Xtreme

Race 5 Rock Star Boy

Race 6 Kodiac Winter Green

Race 7 Call Me Harry

Suriname fields over 25 cars for Drag Wars 2.0 - T&T

THE Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) has named Tropical Shipping, a leading shipping company, as the official title sponsor for the July 29 & 30 Drag Wars 2.0, the highly anticipated drag-racing event in Guyana.

As part of their support, Tropical Shipping has generously shipped five

high-performance drag cars from Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana, thereby adding an international flair to the competition that is set for Timehri’s South Dakota Drag Strip.

Suriname, Guyana’s neighbouring motor racing rival that is known for its vibrant drag-racing scene, will also be well represented at the Tropical Shipping Drag

Wars 2.0 with a big posse.

Over 25 cars from Suriname will participate in the event, and the visitors will be keen to showcase their talent and bring fierce competition to the track, in their quest to foster friendly rivalries and help solidify the regional motorsport community.

Moreover, Drag Wars 2.0 will feature the top

drag-racing teams from Guyana, which will be eager to defend their home turf. These skilled drivers and their powerful machines are anticipated to push the boundaries of speed and precision, thrilling spectators with adrenaline-fueled performances.

The very large local motorsport fanbase will expect a captivating display of skill,

sends five

strategy, and sheer horsepower throughout the event.

Team Mohamed’s vs Team Daby’s newly acquired drag car will be one of the main attractions on the July 30 race day, while the Saturday July 29 event will feature qualifications.

Tickets for Tropical Shipping Drag Wars 2.0 are priced at $3000 for adults, and $1000 for chil-

dren, making it an affordable outing for families and individuals alike. According to a release from the club, by offering accessible ticket prices, the GMR&SC aims to attract a diverse audience, and create an inclusive atmosphere for everyone to enjoy the excitement of motorsports.

Ongoing modernisation of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall moving apace

THE rehabilitation of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Homestretch Avenue is moving apace as the plan to beautify the sporting facility inches closer to fruition.

The Sports Hall is one of Guyana’s most active facilities for indoor sport activities, ranging from Boxing to Hockey and Basketball among other events.

The long-overdue upgrade comes courtesy of the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports

embarking on the journey to give CASH a new look, one that is befitting of a developing country like Guyana.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle was Eworth Charles Sangster of E.C.S Constructions and General Supplies, who provided an update of the historic venue.

According to Sangster, his phase of construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.

“So, we’re working for that,” Sangster said, adding: “Within two weeks, we’re going to put in the VIP

rooms, and the roof that’s outstanding.”

And while there are other contractors on board the project who are working on their allotted phases of the rehabilitation, Sangster said he can only speak on his part of it.

According to previous reports, the facility will be the first air-conditioned sports hall in Guyana, and, on completion, will have box seats and other modern amenities. (Faith Greene)

West Indies looking to make fresh start with second Test today

(CMC) - West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said Wednesday that the under-pressure Caribbean side is looking to make a fresh start in their 100th Test against India starting here today, after putting to rest the nightmare defeat in last week’s first Test.

The home side was thrashed by an innings and 141 runs inside just three days at Windsor Park, and faces a monumental task now of avoiding yet another clean sweep by the Asian powerhouses, in the upcoming contest at Queen’s Park Oval.

Speaking to reporters, Brathwaite said it is important for his side to move on from the recent debacle, especially with everything

to play for in Port of Spain.

“[It is] not difficult [to pick ourselves up]. We had some good discussions once again, and the guys are looking forward to it (the Test),” Brathwaite said.

“It (first Test defeat) is gone; we can’t do anything about it. Every game you play; first game or second game, is history, so you can’t change the result.

“But I think it’s all about our mental preparation going into this game, especially as ‘batters’. We have to play the situation a lot better, and just be smart.

“But the main thing for the guys is to enjoy it; what is gone is gone. You can’t bring it back, and we’ve got to go out and aim to make the region proud.”

The two teams are meeting for the 100th time in Tests, following their first-ever game 75 years ago. But on the evidence of the first Test and the last two decades, India are already firm favourites for the win.

West Indies have not beaten them in a single Test since 2002, and the recent Windsor Park debacle only helped to confirm the gulf in quality between the two teams.

And with the West Indian public understandably disenchanted with the side, Brathwaite urged supporters to have patience, as they chased an improved performance in coming days.

“We need the support. What is gone is gone; we

cannot bring it back, regardless of whatever you say,” said the seasoned opener.

“So, we just need the support; we’re giving it our all. We’re disappointed, yes! As individuals and

human beings, you would know that. We know where we have to improve, and we’ve just got to do it.

“It’s simple: If we don’t do it, we won’t improve. So, we ask [you the fans] to come out and support us.”

The Windsor Park surface has been the topic of discussion ever since West Indies’ defeat, the pitch providing plenty of turn, which was exploited by veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for his 12-wicket match haul.

However, Brathwaite said that while he expected the Queen’s Park Oval strip to take turn late in the game, he anticipated a surface which would also be helpful to the faster bowlers and batsmen alike.

“I think it’s a good batting surface; it will have in a bit for everyone,” Brathwaite pointed out.

“Later down, it may have in a little spin on Day Four and Day Five, but I think it will be a much

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to soon become a state-of-the-art sporting facility

Kraigg Brathwaite talks to Jermaine Blackwood•Jul 13, 2023•AFP via Getty Images

Inter-County first round washed out at Bourda

THE eagerly anticipated GCB U-13 Inter-County 40 overs cricket match between Demerara and Essequibo at Bourda on Wednesday suffered an unexpected setback without a ball being bowled.

After four days of blue skies and sweltering heat, heavy rain in the city, which started around 16:00hrs and lasted well into the afternoon, forced to Umpires to call off the game.

The second round between Berbice and Es -

Digicel U-18 Schools Football tournament 2023…

sequibo is scheduled for today, from 10:00hrs at Bourda.

The washed-out first round could be replayed at the completion of the third and final round between Berbice and Demerara, on Friday, at Bourda.

The inter-county tournament is being held as Trials to select the Guyana U-13 team for a bilateral series against Trinidad & Tobago in the Twin-Island Republic.

Guyana will depart for Trinidad on July 30.

Sandiford dominates MILEX National Junior Chess

AN eight-round victory against defending Junior Chess Champion Ricardo Narine brought Keron Sandiford to the top of the scoreboard, and heading into the final round of the Milex National Junior Chess Championship.

Sandiford now has seven points after eight rounds. Last evening, he faced Kishan Puran.

Sandiford’s closest challenger is Under-14 Champion Kyle Couchman, who has trailed him closely throughout the tournament.

Couchman has 6.5 points currently, and faces young Nicholas Zhang in Round Nine.

Depending on the outcome of these two decisive matches for the front-runners, there is still hope for Couchman to edge Sandiford to claim the victory.

This is only if Sandiford loses or draws his match tomorrow against Puran.

Couchman lost his point advantage in Round Eight when he drew his match against Matthew Singh. The two played a tense match, which ended with

Dolphin beat Excelsior to take Georgetown final

DOLPHIN Secondary are winners of the Georgetown leg of the DIGICEL schools football tournament, following the final on Wednesday at the Ministry of Education Ground. Their opponents, Excelsior, took an early lead in the match, through Albert Adams in the 2nd minute, which left many at the Ministry of Education Ground stunned.

Almost immediately, Dolphin were placed on the back foot, and had to fight their way back to an even keel, and in the 31st minute, thanks to Jequan Cole, things were level.

The half-time whistle sounded with both teams looking for the ‘go-ahead’ goal, but neither got the result they required.

However, on the return of the second Gerry Burnette (46th) minute thrust Dolphin into the lead of the game for the first time, much to the delight of the fans.

Try as they might, Excelsior could not find the comeback, despite getting close on many occasions, leaving them no alternative but to resignedly settle for second in the Georgetown district.

an almost symmetrical end position, with both players having connected Rooks on open files, and four Pawns each on the King's side.

Qualifying champ

Ethan Lee has 5.5 points, following victories over siblings Alexander and Nicholas Zhang on Day Four.

Oluwadare Oyeyipo

and Mathew Singh are both on five points.

Ricardo Narine is now on four points, having defeated Alexander Zhang on Tuesday, and subsequently losing to title challenger Sandiford. Ronan Lee has 3.5 points, and will face Singh in the final round. Alexander Zhang has 1.5 points.

Games are being live-

streamed on livechesscloud.com and youtube. com. The final match on Wednesday, July 19 brought to a close the National Junior Championship, where a new National Junior Champion for 2023 was set to emerge.

The Guyana Chess Federation is fielding a team to the U-18 XIV Youth Chess Festival in Trinidad next month.

Meanwhile, in the third-place playoff, West Ruimveldt Secondary beat Charlestown Secondary, 2-1, with goals coming from Donovan Welcome and Jos Sharples, while Charlestown had Elijah Marcus on target.

The Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) final wraps up today, with Bartica Secondary taking on D.C Caesar Fox Secondary (Waramadong) at the same venue from 17:30hrs.

(Sean Devers)

Demerara were depending on their best ‘batter’, Joshu Bollers (Sean Devers photo)

Ronan Lee vs Keron Sandiford (right)

Sears 20/20 Vision Centre partners with Victoria Kings Football Club

KFC Elite League 2023

Western Tigers; Santos finish season five on high notes

ON Wednesday, Sears 2020 Vision Centre donated a quantity of footballs to Victoria Kings Football Club for its men’s senior programme.

Located at 101 Regent Road Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana, the entity has joined the fray of support for the sport on the East Coast of Demerara.

The above-mentioned Optical Service came onboard in 2023 as one of the sponsors of Victoria Kings Football Club.

The management and players wish to thank Sears 2020 Vision Centre for their continued support over the past seven months.

WESTERN Tigers

FC and Santos FC ended their KFC Elite League Season 5 campaign on strong notes with commanding victories on Tuesday night.

The double header took place at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Western Tiger’s clash with Ann’s Grove United FC, who were also playing their 9th and final game of this year’s league, was up first, on a night where another double header had been scheduled.

Malachi Grannum opened Western Tigers’ account in the 27th, following a promising start from Ann’s Grove defensively. Just a minute before the half ended, William Europe found the back of the net, to push the score to 2-0.

It was once again another good start from Ann’s Grove, but it fell away quickly as Daniel Wilson looked hungry to add a third. After several offside calls and awry attempts, Wilson finally found the back of the net in the 71st minute and again

in the 77th to complete his brace. Second half substitute, Raushan Ritch eventually added the cherry on top with Western’s fifth strike in the 86th minute, to end the season with a 5-0 win.

In the following encounter between Santos FC and former Champions Fruta Conquerors FC, Bevo Marks was the marksman on show, as his hat trick led Santos to a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Fruta Conquerors man-

aged to hold off Santos for the entirety of the first half, which ended in a deadlock, but Marks would have none of it in the second. He first beat the goal keeper in the 61st minute and then again in the 75th and 90th+4 for the hat trick.

This year’s 5th edition of the Elite League is set to conclude this Saturday, July 22nd 2023, at the same Providence venue. There, Fruta Conquerors will take on Den Amstel FC from

18:00 hours, followed by the feature clash of the season at 20:30 hours.

With both teams having a chance to clinch the 2023 title, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC will lock horns in the highly anticipated ‘final’ of the league. While the Police men will need a victory to clinch their first title, all the soldiers will need is a draw to seal the top spot.

Guyanese start doubles senior CASA with win

THE Guyanese started the doubles at the 2023 senior CASA in St Vincent on Tuesday Evening with Michael Alphonso and Mohryan Baksh joining forces to beat Neil Bascome and Brodey McComb 11-2, 11-4 in the Boys Doubles.

In other matches played by Guyana on Tuesday Evening, Avery Arjoon and Safirah Summer beat Vincentians Ciara George and Nadira Morgan 11-9, 11-4 in the Girls Doubles, while Nicholas Verwey and Kirsten Gomes defeated Skye John and de Vere James of St Vincent 11-1, 11-1 in the mixed Doubles.

Early in the day yester-

day, the Bajan pair of Sumairaa Suleman and Eboni Atherley beat Avery Arjoon and Safirah Summer 11-6, 11-8 in Girls Doubles, while Nicholas Verwey and Kirsten Gomes beat Dominic Wilson and Joanna Atkins 11-9, 11-6 in the mixed Doubles.

Guyana’s duo of Nicholas Verwey and Kirsten Gomes were set to team up against Barbadians Alex Stewart and Aidan Parris at 19:00 hours yesterday.

Guyana won nine medals in Singles, including three Golds from Avery Arjoon, Louis Da Silva and Nicholas Verwey. (Sean Devers)

Secretary of Victoria Kings Football Club - Calvin Marks receiving one of the footballs from Melissa Sanmoogan of Sears 2020 Vision Centre at their 101 Regent and Cummings Streets Branch, Georgetown

Nicholas Verwey and Kirsten Gomes (left) beat Dominic Wilson and Joanna Atkins yesterday in the mixed doubles

Action from Tuesday evening’s games