Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 21-10-2023

SATURDAY 21st October, 2023

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No.107240

Gov’t injects $3.6B in aviation sector for economic growth, safety 17 PAGE

Innovation, digitisation key to achieving regional food security targets 03 PAGE

–– President Ali says, touts holistic plans to include more technology and data in agriculture sector –– says more jobs for women and youth will be created

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Friday officially opened and toured the venue for the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where he highlighted that Guyana and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will work on upgrading the delivery of agriculture education with the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Studies in Agriculture.

US$4.5M hydroponics IFAD invests in Guyana’s AG calls out Opposition’s ‘A gross waste programme to benefit hinterland for rural 11 distortion of 14 of judicial time’ 300 more youths 02 development, social innovation ExxonMobil Cost Audit 16 Gov’t addresses early El Niňo effects in Region Eight 13 PAGE

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–– High Court throws out Sir Clive Lloyd’s lawsuit against Guyana Chronicle

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US$4.5M hydroponics programme to benefit 300 more youths

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

By Naomi Parris

THE launch of a hydroponics programme, valued at $4.5 million, will benefit approximately 300 youths residing in Regions Two, Five, and 10.

Speaking at the launch of the programme on the sidelines of the ongoing Agri.

Investment Forum and Expo, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, disclosed that the participants will be linked to direct markets, many of which will be in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The programme forms part of the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP) which was launched back in 2022 and sees the production of high-value crops such as lettuce, cauliflower and other leafy-type vegetables.

“There has never been such an exciting time for agriculture and development in our country than today.

Young people should be enthused with what is ahead of you. You should be excited about the prospects of

A hydroponics display at the Agri- Investment Forum and Expo (Ministry of Agriculture photo) Guyana. We as policymakers and companies with social responsibilities must create opportunities in which you can actively participate and realise your own potential.

This is a true demonstration for unlocking a critical set of opportunities,” the president

said.

Despite its significant profitability, the Head of State elaborated on the programme’s incorporation of all the ramifications of climate change on food production.

“This enables our young

people to develop their skills in marketing, packaging, marketing, and in promotion…they are not just growing crops, they are a part of the ownership of the profits and they are a part of the success story,” the president said.

The project is expected to have crops available early next year.

The project is funded by ExxonMobil under its Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) and is a part of the government’s efforts to reduce the regional food import bill by

25 by 2025.

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Mr. Alistair Routledge in brief remarks said the project is one that will transform whiles and take the country’s agriculture sector to new heights in a more effective and cost-effective way.

Meanwhile, Teesha Mangra, Chief Executive Officer of One Guyana Inc. pressed upon the gathered individuals to avail themselves of the opportunity.

“Through our shade houses we have not only nurtured plants, but the potential within each of our beneficiaries, as we embrace hydroponics, we embrace a future where our youths are given the continuous opportunity to be at the forefront of the agriculture revolution,” she said adding: “I encourage you to embrace this new chapter with curiosity and determination, you are the pioneers, you are the torchbearers of a greener, more prosperous future for our country and region.”

Gov’t distributes 77 black tanks to Whitewater, other satellite villages

THE government has distributed 77 black tanks to households in Bamboo Landing, Western, Sea-Kumaka, and Kursima which are satellite areas in Whitewater village in the Mabaruma sub-district, who will now benefit from an adequate supply of safe water.

Some 26 tanks were distributed to households in Bamboo Landing first; 34 tanks were then distributed to Western and Sea-Kumaka, and then 17 tanks to households in Kursima.

Kursima village also received one boat and an engine.

This distribution of the tanks and the boat engine forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Hinterland Environmentally Sustainable Agricultural Development (HESAD) programme.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal who was

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal handing over black tanks

accompanied by Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley, Regional Vice Chairman, Annansha Peters, and HESAD’s Regional Coordinator, Fahan Pearson, handed over the tanks to Toshao of Whitewater village, Deon Adams on Thursday.

Toshao Adams highlighted that this is the first time that the residents are receiving black tanks that are complete with fittings including gutters and pipes, which will be of great use to them.

“We must thank the HESAD project for completing this project now, where the people could get adequate water in the satellite areas,” he noted.

Based on the needs of the community, the government continues to provide programmes and policies required for the economic development of hinterland villages through financial and other support.

Innovation, digitisation key to achieving regional food security targets

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

–– President Ali says, touts holistic plans to include more technology and data in agriculture sector –– says more jobs for women and youth will be created

By Naomi Parris

IN order for the Caribbean region to attain its regional food security goals, innovation and digitisation will need to be pivotal factors.

In light of this, Guyana has proposed multiple initiatives to incorporate data and technology into its local food production industry.

The initiatives, which encompass the establishment of a proactive data system, a ‘situation room’, and innovative jobs for youths, were unveiled by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Friday, at the third regional Agriculture Investment Forum and Expo held at the Arthur Chung Conference

within the food, climate, and energy security sectors for young people.

In order to provide additional support, specialised training in the agriculture sector will be extended to youths from Guyana and other CARICOM states through a partnership with The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

“We are laying out a vision whereby we want to create innovative jobs for Guyanese, jobs of the future and we’re going to launch a programme where we want to have at least 3000 of our young people

President Dr. Irfaan Ali (Delano Williams Photos)

President Dr. Irfaan Ali along with other officials sampling juices at the third regional Agriculture Investment Forum and Expo being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal Centre, Liliendaal.

Dr. Ali, while addressing the gathering of stakeholders, stated that the initiatives will add to the rich set of policies already established by the officials here to attract more youth and women “As we develop this holistic plan and it’s not just agriculture, it’s our food development system. It is our core development system where we are focusing heavily on women and young people,” President Ali said.

By the year 2030, he said all modern and innovative farms established to address the issue of resilience and sustainability will be owned by women and youth.

He noted that policymakers here will make critical investments to ensure that innovative jobs are created

in these innovative jobs in the coming years.”

‘SITUATION ROOM AND PROACTIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM’ Meanwhile, to ensure that strategic investments are made, Guyana will establish a proactive information systems for farmers.

“We have recognised that technology gives us the opportunity to connect the farmers directly with extension officers instantaneously.

And part of the innovative investment that we will make here is to create a proactive information sharing and response platform.”

With the sector’s growth in mind, he highlighted the importance of undertaking meticulous data analysis to

ensure targetted investments are made to adequately support farmers.

“Today, food production and agriculture [are] changing globally. It is no longer guesswork, it is precise science. It is based on analysis of data. It is based on a timely dissemination of information.”

He remarked that the establishment of a ‘situation room’ at the regional level will enable evidence-based decision making and proactive planning to drive production forward.

“What we have is commitment to the development of ideas and deployment of ideas to improve the lives of

our people and that is what is key,” the president said.

In the coming years, he observed that crucial investments for the country’s development and competitiveness will be undertaken.

However, these will be accomplished through a balanced approach that connects food, energy, and climate security.

“We cannot delink food security and climate security that is why Guyana is proposing a new approach, a balanced approach and we have the credibility to speak about a global approach towards global development on energy, climate and food security,”

A section of the gathering at this year’s Agri. Investment

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Region Eight communities receive sports development funds

REGION Eight will receive monetary allocations from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to support the advancement of sporting facilities and programmes.

The Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, revealed this information during her visit to the region on Thursday.

She engaged with the residents in a community meeting at the Mahdia Secondary School.

“As a government, youth for us is important.

The development is important. The investment in young people is important both as it relates to education and all-round development,” Minister

Sukhai posited.

In this regard, the government has been majorly investing in infrastructure as part of its efforts to unleash the potential and develop the skills of young people.

“Between the two months, October to November, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs will

Some of the residents that were present at the meeting disburse $100 million to upgrade playfields for young people and community activities.”

Minister Sukhai stated that this money, combined with the $100 million allocated to the villages by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports during the recent National Toshaos Council Conference, will greatly revolutionise sports in the region.

Additionally, residents are slated to receive tre-

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

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mendous benefits from the first-ever Mahdia multipurpose indoor sports facility with construction scheduled to begin within weeks. The facility will measure 140 x 120 x 35 feet with excellent seating arrangements among other modern amenities.

The construction of sporting facilities across the regions is another commitment made by the government to ensure equal access to resources.

17/10/23- 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 21

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Electricity access: 243 more solar systems distributed in Region One

IN order to secure electricity provision for households in the hinterland and riverine areas, a distribution of 243 solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems was conducted across various communities in the Mabaruma sub-district of Region One. Some 54 households in

as time passed, we didn’t have this opportunity. Every resident will be happy to have light, in general,” Henry expressed.

As Guyana is experiencing the effects of El Niño, he added that the fans will help to keep everyone cool, since the nights are extremely hot.

Toshao Riley Henry ex-

across all three sub-regions in Region One under this programme.

Mabaruma sub-district will benefit from the distribution of approximately 2,300 solar panels.

Minister Croal noted, “This is what we do, as a government, every day.

We have been checking our list of what we committed,

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal handing over solar panels to toshaos from Lower Kaituma, Powaikuru, and Red Hill

Solar systems Kamwatta received panels, 24 in Lower Kaituma, 50 in Powaikuru, and 115 in Red Hill.

A few of the beneficiaries expressed that the distribution of the panels will further assist their communities.

Secretary of the Kamwatta Village Council, Herbert Henry highlighted that the solar systems will provide a boost in electricity in the community.

“I think this can be used effectively, mainly for the children to study, because

pressed similar sentiments.

“I am very grateful for the solar panels; we have a generator, but it works for six hours only during the night and morning time,” he said. “This solar panel will boost the electricity; we will use it according to what it came for,” he added.

During the first distribution at Kamwatta Primary School on Thursday morning, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal stated that over 8,700 solar panels will be dispersed

but more importantly, when you ask us ‘Where the resources are going when we earn more?’ It is here that it is going, which is to bring betterment to you, your children, and their future.

That is where your investment is going.”

On Monday, 147 panels were distributed to

Koko, 245 to Haimacabra and other islands, 360 to Manawarin, 96 to Mora, 74 to Waikrebi, four to Father’s Beach, 55 to Assakata, and 49 to Chinese Landing.

On Wednesday, 97 solar panels were distributed in Imbotero, 22 in Morawhanna, 58 in Hobodeia, 68

in Hotoquai, and Lower Koriabo received 12.

Some 11,000 solar panels were distributed to Amerindian communities back in 2012. The minister was joined by Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley, and Regional Vice-Chairman Annansha Peters.

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Editor

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Navendra Seoraj

Agriculture and youth empowerment

IN a significant leap towards agricultural development and youth empowerment, Guyana has unveiled the ambitious Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP), backed by a substantial US$4.5 million investment.

This forward-thinking initiative is set to revolutionise hydroponics farming in Regions Two, Five, and 10, benefitting more than 300 young people.

The AIEP’s funding is made possible through collaboration with ExxonMobil Guyana, the Greater Guyana Initiative, HESS Corporation, and CNOOC, reflecting a shared commitment to the nation’s progress. This project signifies a notable stride towards Guyana’s agriculture sector’s advancement, positioning itself as a key driver of national growth and development.

Guyana, like many nations, faces the dual challenge of climate change-induced extreme weather events and increasing food

costs. A crucial element of the AIEP is the integration of youth, particularly those in Regions Two, Five, and 10, into the agricultural ecosystem. In President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s words, it’s about “unlocking an equal set of opportunities” for young people, empowering them to become active participants in their country’s growth and prosperity.

What sets the AIEP apart is its emphasis on holistic engagement. The programme not only aims to bolster the agricultural sector but also seeks to provide young participants with a comprehensive education in marketing, packaging, and promotion. These skills are intended to equip them for broader roles, where they are not just growers but also part-owners of their ventures and contributors to the success story of their respective facilities.

With a target of establishing agri innovation and entrepreneurship centers in Regions Two, Five, and 10 within a mere three to four

months, Guyana is on the fast track to achieving self-sufficiency in food production. The AIEP’s efforts extend beyond the physical realm, aiming to include all sections of society.

A pioneering initiative is underway to create the world’s most innovative farms for people living with disabilities. By engaging diverse segments of the population, Guyana envisions a bright future where 50% of new farms are owned by youth and women by 2030.

Guyana’s partnership with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) heralds another significant development. The transformation of the Guyana School of Agriculture into the IICA Guyana Centre of Excellence is set to revolutionise agricultural education. This transformation is particularly focused on fostering innovation and resilience among young agriculturalists, preparing them for the evolving challenges and opportunities of the sector.

As a member of IICA, Guyana’s collaboration extends to offering training opportunities at the IICA headquarters in Costa Rica, benefiting the country’s youth and fostering regional cooperation. The partnership also involves the establishment of a ‘Situation Room,’ providing real-time data for evidence-based decision-making and proactive crop planning.

Guyana’s endeavours reflect a holistic approach to agricultural advancement and youth empowerment. With the modernisation of agricultural practices, the inclusion of diverse segments of society, and the support of international organisations, Guyana is poised for a bright future in the agricultural sector.

As the nation continues on its path towards innovation and sustainability, it sends a clear message that the youth and women of Guyana are the key drivers of this progress.

Helping the angels affected by Rett Syndrome – Your Support Matters

Dear Mr. Editor,

STATISTICS from the World Bank Group showed that one billion people experience some form of disability.

Rett syndrome is a very rare neurological disorder that affects brain development and functionality. Over 6,500 girls are born with Rett Syndrome each year.

That is over 17 girls every single day.

Rett syndrome is genetically caused by mutation in a gene located on the X chromosome.

Babies with Rett syndrome are born after a normal pregnancy and delivery.

Most infants with Rett syndrome seem to grow and behave ordinarily for the first six months.

However, signs and symptoms start to appear after. These symptoms are seizures, loss of speech, loss of motor skills, diminishing eye contact, breathing problems,

wringing and washing of the hands and scoliosis.

For better understanding, the symptoms of Rett Syndrome is a combination of Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s, Epilepsy and a variety of anxiety disorders.

Although there’s no cure for Rett Syndrome, potential treatments are being studied. Doctors can diagnose Rett by observing signs and symptoms at every stage of growth and development.

However, this is not possible in Guyana due to the lack of trained personnel and equipment in the healthcare institutions as well as the rarity of this disorder, as it can often be misdiagnosed as Autism. As a result, we were inspired and motivated to initiate an awareness campaign and non-profit organisation – Precious Angels Charity – in efforts to spread awareness and raising funds for the treatment of those who are silenced by this disorder.

The founder, Hadiyyah Mohamed, has initiated this organisation after being inspired by her niece who was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. If anyone has a relative or loved one experiencing peculiar signs and symptoms, be aware that help can be provided. Please reach out to us on our social media platforms, which you can find on our website: www.preciousangels.com.

Although diagnosis and full treatment are not quite present in Guyana for suspected cases of Rett Syndrome, it is definitely on our agenda.

Precious Angels Charity is 100 per cent nonprofit and our aims revolve around raising funds that will go towards research to develop a cure and aid those affected by this disability. However, we cannot achieve our goals without your help. We plead with you all to look at the greater cause and donate for the angels affected by Rett.

We host yearly fundraisers to raise money which will go towards further research, construction of the very first Rett Syndrome Clinic and Institution here in Guyana to care

for, diagnose and screen Rett individuals.

October is Rett Syndrome Awareness Month and purple is the colour. Sunday October 29th we will be having our 5th Annual Awareness Campaign at MYO Woolford Avenue with an awareness walk and BBQ sale afterwards. Come out and show your support to a worthy cause. Tickets are on sale for $2000 and t-shirts for $2500 at Mohamed’s Enterprise, 29 Lombard Street, and Nadia’s Avon in Hadi’s World Inc (City Mall). Registration and warm ups will be done at 9:00 hours and the walk will begin immediately after.

Then, a program to learn more about this disorder will follow. And finally, the BBQ and food sale will begin around 10:00 hours.

Tell a friend to tell a friend, purchase your tickets and t-shirts and join us in our fight to defeat Rett.

Yours respectfully, Hadiyyah Mohamed Founder Precious Angels Charity

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Tom Cotton personifies the moral decline of the USA

WHAT I am about to write here, I believe is deeply rooted in my academic thoughts.

I will repeat what I have reflected on several times in my columns over the years.

I believe there is no other group of lawmakers in any other country in the entire world whose mentality mirrors the Nazi mind more than many in the United States Congress from the Republican Party.

I believe there are no corresponding groups of legislators anywhere on Planet Earth whose words, fulminations, thought patterns, and mentalities are closer to the Nazi regime under Hitler than a large number of Republicans in the US Congress.

What Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas) said in October 2023 is a stark reminder of how the Nazi regime saw the world and other people 84 years ago.

Speaking in an interview on Fox News, Cotton said that Israel is justified in killing Palestinian women and children because Hamas killed Jewish women and children.

This is the identical expression of Nazi killers when partisan fighters from Nazi-conquered European countries attacked German soldiers.

The Nazi regimes would line up women and children and kill them in retaliation for the attacks of the partisan resistance guerrillas. Cotton went on to display a perfect Nazi mind when he told the interviewer that Israel should further bomb the places they have already reduced to rubbles so as to make the rubbles bounce. See that interview and hear it for yourself.

These Nazi-like words with unadulterated racial undertones came from the mouth

of a United States Senator. If any legislator from the parliament of a developing country in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine had said that, such a politician would never get a visitor’s visa from the US or Europe.

Let us repeat it so it can be driven neatly into your consciousness so it can stay forever in your mind. Mr. Cotton said that Israel is justified in killing Palestinian women and children because Hamas killed Jewish women and children. Here is an American senator barefacedly ignoring the subscription to international laws by a government that has a seat in the United Nations. This same senator condemned Russia’s violation of international laws when it invaded Ukraine.

Cotton is not the only American lawmaker with a Nazi mind. The Republican Party is full of them. To think that the US elected as president a man whose mentality is very close to Cotton’s is something you only see in science fiction movies. His name is Donald Trump. In the 21st century, what moral standards can the United States teach the developing world? The US is always lecturing governments in the Global South about democratic standards.

It took an unspeakable tragedy in Israel and Gaza to finally open the eyes of the world to the falling moral values of the United States. The war crimes by Israel in Gaza are glossed over by the US Congress, US Government, US governors, US media.

This is the country the people of the ex-colonies were told was the head of the free world and that Russia, Cuba, Iran, China, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, North Korea and other countries the US did not

like constituted a circle of evil. If what Cotton said isn’t pure evil, then what is evil?

Cotton’s remark at the time of writing has not been disowned by the US government, US Congress, state legislatures or the media. When Israel’s devastation in Gaza is over, Cotton will walk this world and be welcomed in the capitals of the world, and when he touches down, the particular country will provide him with official state courtesies.

Cotton should be declared persona non-grata by the international community.

He should be seen as a figure of hate. I call on Guyanese to so describe Cotton. The socalled free-world would see nothing wrong with the remarks he made, and he would be welcomed in those countries. This is the double standard the “free world” operates

with. If a Third World leader had said something in favour of Hamas, the “free world” would have banned him.

Sadly, the Ukranian people have become collateral damage in the destruction Israel is perpetrating in Gaza. Which country is going to rush and arrest Putin for war crimes after Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza and killed over 500 souls? Which country is going to see Putin as a war criminal and not Netanyahu?

But here is where the US will lose influence in the world.

If Netanyahu is cited for war crimes, the US and EU countries will not accept the arrest warrant but will still ask other countries to detain Putin.

At the moment Putin is the world’s happiest human.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

‘The way we think about agriculture needs to change’ –– Dr. Jagdeo says –– calls for implementation of better technology, infrastructure and more investments

By Trina Williams

WITH the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) forging ahead to tackle food insecurity and reducing its food import bill, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, called for more robust external engagements, investments, better infrastructure and technologies to be implemented.

The Vice President

made these remarks on Friday at the opening of the Agri Investment Forum and Expo, which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

Speaking on how the Low Carbon Development Strategy’s (LCDS 2030) can aid agriculture development, he stated: “We have to still be frank and we have to be open and we have to admit where our deficiencies

are if we want to really achieve the outcomes that we desire.”

As the exploration for a more sustainable regional agricultural industry continues, the Vice President expounded that this journey started over a decade ago and it was rooted in departing from a “peasant type” agriculture.

“If we want to achieve a sustainable agricultural industry that’s integrated

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo (Adrian Narine Photo) with the other sectors of our economy, then we need to do have this robust external engagement and do some of the things that I mentioned that we know what we should do but we haven’t done before,” Dr. Jagdeo asserted while adding that the way in which agriculture is being perceived needs to change.

He then asserted the necessity of a consistent policy environment to cultivate growth and emphasised the need for increased focus on budgetary allocations for the agricultural sector.

Given the lack of enabling environments and investments, Dr. Jagdeo posed the question: “How are we going to achieve a 25 per cent cut by 2025 if we don’t invest? And it requires money to achieve that … the goals are important but they have to be supported by the policy environment and investments both by the public and private

sectors to achieve.”

Highlighting the meager budgetary allocations in the region, he said: “If you track the budgetary allocation from most of the Caribbean countries, you will see an embarrassingly small sum of the budget dedicated to agriculture.”

While going more in depth on the need for better fiscal incentives, he related: “We have to have a sustained policy environment or we have to address this matter in a sustained way and that requires political capital to be expended. It requires an understanding and a commitment on the part of each country, to do the things that are necessary to allow the growth of a viable agriculture sector.”

The often neglected factor, which is, infrastructure, was also brought to light by Dr. Jagdeo.

He said: “For agriculture to prosper, you need

drainage and irrigation.

You need to tackle questions of the availability of water,” adding, “Investment in ensuring that the infrastructure, farm-tomarket roads, drainage and irrigation systems or advanced technology in water conservation are important.”

With technology being a challenge for Guyana, the Vice President was proud to announce that his government is investing in tissue culture laboratory, which will better the agricultural sector.

Furthermore, Dr. Jagdeo touched on some of Guyana’s ventures into a number of industries such as honey and sausage production.

He related: “We’re also exploring various other industries, such as sausage production, honey, aquaculture, and more.

These specific initiatives often require government and policy involvement.”

New safety measures for Demerara River vessels

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

NEW safety measures and protocols are being implemented for the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the new bridge under construction, aimed at facilitating the seamless passage of ocean-going vessels navigating the Demerara River.

These measures and protocols were developed and approved by the Ministry of Public Works in collaboration with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD), and the Coast Guard.

This endeavor aims to protect vital infrastructure and ensure the safety of maritime operations in the surrounding area.

MARAD’s Director General, Steven Thomas underscored the importance of preventing damage to the existing or new bridge structures.

MARAD Director General, Steven Thomas is one of the major arteries in Guyana, so we don’t want them to be damaged in any circumstance,” he emphasised.

He further highlighted the importance of ensuring that all mechanical gears on vessels are fully functional.

Thomas then advised against attempting to transit the bridge, stating that if there’s any suspicion of an efficiency issue, it can

DHBC General Manager, Wayne Watson bour bridge,” he cautioned.

Currently, the bridge is only open for daylight navigation, and all vessels must receive prior approval before transiting. Vessels exceeding 24 metres and tugs must be equipped with an automatic identification system.

Meanwhile, General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), Wayne Wat-

Stakeholders at the meeting He was speaking during the stakeholder meeting hosted at the T&HD Sports Club in Thomas Lands, Georgetown, on Friday.

Thomas said vessels are presently permitted to stem the tidal current, a measure designed to prevent any potential harm to either of the bridges.

“This new bridge is a transformative project and the current harbour bridge

compromise control.

Stakeholders were also advised to refrain from overburdening their vessels.

“When you charter under the bridge, please do not overload. Make sure that you have adequate clearance because failure to do so could lead to loss of control and a potential collision with either the new bridge or the current har-

son announced the installation of a security box on the Eastern Pontoon under the High Span Channel, which will operate on a 24-hour basis, seven days per week.

This security presence will primarily coordinate with MARAD and the Coast Guard in cases of any violation of the 6:00 am to 6:00 pm transit time.

He further noted that the retractor span schedule

will be published at least two to three weeks in advance each month to enable agents and vessel owners to plan their logistics efficiently.

Meanwhile, the New Demerara River Bridge is a remarkable engineering feat. It is a hybrid cable stay beam guarder concrete bridge, built to United States American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards.

The bridge will consist of four lanes and will span 2.6 kilometres,

connecting Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara to La Grange on the West Bank. Its total width, including the four lanes, shoulders, and median, will be 23.6 metres, providing ample space for safe and efficient traffic flow.

With a height of 50 metres, the bridge is specifically designed to accommodate Handymax vessels passing underneath. The minimum horizontal width of the navigation span is 210 metres, but the final design is anticipated to have

a more extensive horizontal span. Importantly, this bridge is engineered with a lifespan of 100 years.

This project is expected to be completed within 24 months, with the major works scheduled for completion on December 31, 2024.

Its ambitious scope and transformative potential underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and facilitating safer and more efficient transportation throughout the region.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

New well to benefit Aracuru residents in six weeks A TOTAL of 378 Aracuru residents in Whitewater, Mabaruma, Region One, will gain initial access to clean drinking water, through the installation of a new well.

The well drilling operation, to be undertaken by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), has a scheduled completion period of six weeks.

The community is currently receiving water from a handdug well.

This endeavour aligns with President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali's dedication to ensuring the provision of clean, easily accessible water to the residents and marks a significant stride in that direction.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, visited the well location on Thursday, along with Toshao of Whitewater, Deon Adams and regional officials.

Relating to the project, Minister Croal said, “We had

committed to drilling [a well] at Wauna, that is to help on the Mabaruma township.

And we committed, then, that the rig would come as soon as it was finished in Wauna.”

Now that the rig has arrived in the community, the housing and water minister highlighted that preparatory works, including land clearing, are being executed to set the rig to commence the drilling of the well.

The rig that will be used to drill the new well This year, various com- 40 new wells in Regions While giving an overview of the well’s depth, munities are benefitting from One, Two, Seven, Eight, Minister Croal explained new water distribution sys- and Nine in 2024, in order that “it normally goes as far tems in Region One, includ- to enhance water coverage as we can find the water. We ing Manawarin, Waramu- in hinterland communities. are very optimistic because ri, Haimacabra, Kamwatta, This extensive programme the terrain here is not out Koko, Parakeeis, Cabora, will empower the governlike Mabaruma Central. And Karaburi, Wallaba, Santa ment to attain the goal of there are other shallow wells Rosa, Whitewater, Yarakita, ensuring 100% accessibilKamwatta and Black Water ity to drinkable water in here.” rural and river communiNotably, the well at Wau- Savannah.

The government in- ties by 2025. na is expected to be commistends to drill an additional sioned shortly.

Landlord accused of theft, property damage gets $60,000 bail KAVITA Singh, who is accused of breaking into her tenant’s apartment and carting away over $600,000 worth in household items, was released on Friday on $60,000 bail for the alleged crimes.

Singh, a resident of Duncan Street, Campbellville, appeared before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded not guilty to the two charges brought against her.

Details of the first charge alleged that, on April 4, 2023, at Duncan Street, Singh unlawfully broke into Nadia Simmons’s dwelling house and made off with a flatscreen television, a microwave, $140,000 worth of jewellery, and $180,000 in cash, cumulatively valued at over $600,000.

The second charge relates to an alleged incident on the same date at the same location, where Singh is accused of unlawfully and maliciously damaging a chair valued at $85,000.

For the first charge, Singh was granted bail of $40,000, and for the latter, she was granted bail of $20,000.

In her defense, Singh informed the court that Simmons was her tenant who failed to pay rent for the past eight months. Consequently, Singh started legal

Kavita Singh proceedings, which ultimately resulted in a magistrate’s order requiring the outstanding rent to be paid.

Singh further alleged that the charges brought against her by Simmons were fabricated in retaliation for Singh’s pursuit of legal action to recover the unpaid rent.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

IFAD invests in Guyana’s hinterland for rural development, social innovation

THE UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is contributing to rural development and social innovation in Guyana’s hinterland.

Through an ongoing longterm project, the UN Fund is improving rural communities’ lives and livelihoods by supporting activities that generate income, improve nutrition, and help small-scale farmers to adapt to climate change.

Guyana is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including flooding and drought, which destroy cassava crops. These affect the food security of a country where cassava is a centre piece of the Amerindian diet. Overall, access to a healthy diet in Guyana has become more expensive in recent years and surpasses the average costs in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Maija Peltola, IFAD’s Country Director in Guyana, made those statements Friday, during the opening session of the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal to promote investment in agriculture and food production, as Guyana aims to reduce its reliance on food imports.

In a time of rapidly changing dietary habits, “Guyana has the opportunity to boost local production and strengthen food security, rather than depending on imported industrialised products. Amerindian produce has a high nutritional value, and by investing in these villages we are building a more resilient and inclusive food system for the future,” Peltola stated.

Peltola referred to the

Through IFAD’s global portfolio and expertise, the Government of Guyana can tap into the latest practices in climate-smart farming, nature-based solutions, and the

Mabaruma Settlement’s Golden Laced Poultry Group built a chicken pen with the support of HESAD project, funded by IFAD progress made by an IFAD-funded project, executed by the Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana. Since 2017, the Hinterland Environmentally Sustainable Agricultural Development Project (HESAD) has financed more than 300 initiatives, including supporting people to develop business plans, promoting public investments in rural infrastructure and implementing training programmes.

“Around 30,000 Amerindians are experiencing positive outcomes from project services, half of them are women and a third are youth,” she stated.

Through an innovative participatory approach, communities identify business needs and opportunities in coordination with facilitators from the Ministry of Agriculture. Some of the business plans are related to smallscale poultry farms and cattle rearing, crop production, and agro-processing. They also include bakeries, eco-tour-

ism initiatives and community-managed grocery shops, in an effort to diversify and increase incomes of rural families. The first 50 businesses launched have generated US$340,000 in income, supporting rural communities.

IFAD has financed the construction of small-scale rural infrastructure such as roads, bridges and docks, which have contributed to improve transportation for agricultural products, and strengthened community resilience. Many of the supported communities have chosen to refurbish or improve their school kitchen to provide a hot meal to children.

HESAD is also championing innovative approaches to gender equality, youth inclusion and nutrition behaviour change, combining formal training with creative methods like street theatre and radio serials. This approach not only benefits Amerindian communities but also contributes to a culture of innovation within the Ministry of Agriculture.

Oil Audits: ExxonMobil Guyana blasts KN over ‘sensational’ front page

EXXONMOBIL on Thursday called out Kaieteur News (KN) for portraying a “false impression” in Friday’s front-page story surrounding the oil giant cost-recovery audits.

“It’s irresponsible to create the false impression that this ongoing audit process has been finalised or that ExxonMobil Guyana has done anything wrong,” the statement said.

The statement underscores the company’s commitment to responding to any audit requests from the government or their appointed technical experts in support

of a fair and professional resolution.

It points out that the audit process is functioning as designed, providing an opportunity for the government to review the costs allocated to the cost bank and raise queries on unclear items so they can collaboratively find solutions.

“Sensational headlines aside, the news report illustrates that the audit process is doing exactly what it is designed to do: provide an opportunity for the government to review the costs allocated to the cost bank and raise queries on items that

are unclear, so we can work together to resolve them,” Exxon said.

ExxonMobil Guyana highlights that audits are a standard practice for the company, and they regularly undergo audits by both internal and external auditors. They also mention their Stabroek block co-venturers, who share the government’s interest in ensuring all costs are accurately accounted for and documented.

The company reiterates its commitment to adhering to international best practices in its operations.

use of digital tools. Through South-South cooperation, the project has the opportunity to access knowledge and best practices from similar environments, like neighbouring

Brazil.

IFAD has been working alongside the Government of Guyana since 1986, financing four projects with a total budget of US$40 million.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Gov’t addresses early El Nino effects in Region Eight

WITH the ongoing extensive dry spell sweeping across the entire country, the government is taking action, in partnership with the Ministries of Housing and Water, and Amerindian Affairs, to mitigate the hardships faced by the residents of Region Eight due to the early onset of El Nino weather patterns.

During a visit to the region, on Thursday, Ministers Collin Croal and Pauline Sukhai visited the Salbora Spring, one of the water sources, to see what percentage of water is flowing in the region and to brief the residents on the government’s immediate interventions.

“The source is where GWI has established a reservoir that distributes water to the township. You can see that the source is actually dried up and has been having a severe impact on households and businesses,” Minister Sukhai stated.

The Minister of Foreign

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Minister of Amerindian Affairs addressing the residents of Mahdia at a community meeting Affairs informed the gath- we are doing throughout ering that the government is the country. We are collabclosely monitoring the situ- orating with the councils. ation, especially in far-flung We have been collaborating with municipalities and areas like the hinterland.

He noted that the admin- the regions, etc.,” Minister istration was doing what- Croal added.

Salbora Spring provides ever it can to assist the water to approximately tworesidents of Mahdia.

“Majority of Mahdia thirds of the region’s popuitself depends on this Sal- lation. However, because of bora as a source. So, as a the weather, it is operating result, we are making some at around 40 per cent presinterventions in Mahdia as ently.

Water is also being distributed to the Mahdia residents through the Seven Miles and Admin Wells.

However, just like the Salbora Spring, these wells are not sustaining water pressure at a maximum capacity.

In their address at a community meeting at the Mahdia Secondary School, the ministers provided assurance to the residents that the government has augmented resources to alleviate the consequences of the dryness.

Stating some of the interventions made thus far, the housing and water minister explained, “We have strategically placed some black tanks within the community. So, that is the first intervention that we made for access. The second is that the gentlemen from GWI have brought in a booster pump.”

According to the minister, the pump has already been connected and is located at Hill Foot, close to the

Regional Democratic Council (RDC). This pump will help to increase the pressure of the water to higher areas.

Additionally, Minister Croal said works on the potable water well which was scheduled to be built in the region by 2024 will have to be advanced.

“With approval from the National Procurement and Administration Board (NPTAB), the government has fast-tracked the resourc-

es for the drilling of a new well. By this week, the rig will be set up to commence the drilling process,” Minister Croal disclosed.

Presently, the contractors are mobilising to the area and the well is expected to be completed within two to three weeks.

This well is scheduled to be drilled and constructed at the entrance of Campbelltown at a cost of $15 million.

The Salbora Spring, one of the water sources in the region

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

AG calls out Opposition’s distortion of ExxonMobil Cost Audit

- Exxon refutes APNU’s claims of being informed about “agreement” to lower US$214.4M cost oil queries

THE Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall has accused the opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), of spreading false narratives about the audits of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) oil costs.

This occurs subsequent

to the EMGL President, Alistair Routledge, vehemently refuting accusations by the Opposition of a mutually agreed upon reduction in contested cost oil claims from US$214.4 million to US$3 million.

During a press conference at the company’s Kingston, Georgetown headquarters, on Tuesday,

Routledge explained that, in keeping with the company’s “open door” policy, he met with the opposition last month and informed them that no formal agreement was made between the government and Exxon to reduce the oil claim.

“We did not have any formal agreement from the ministry. And indeed,

as the ministry, the Minister or the Vice President, made it clear that there is the expectation that the GRA [Guyana Revenue Authority] is the ultimate authority. So, to be clear, I did describe the process to the Opposition, but I did not say we had reached final agreement that was authorised by the GRA or

From left: Attorney General and Minster of Legal Affairs and ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) President, Alistair Routledge the Ministry,” Routledge said.

Nandlall, during his programme ‘Issues in the News, said that this is backed by what the government has been saying, which was that only GRA is the authoritative body overseeing the audit.

“I believe that question has been answered…

Exxon, has come out and has stated for the public record, that the government is correct. I hope that this statement by Mr. Routledge would bring clarity to this matter. And once again, I believe that the opposition has been proven to be spreading false narratives but that is nothing new.”

“The opposition is regularly found to be peddling inaccuracies and they simply have no shame. They make these outlandish accusations, they make these outrageous allegations, they produce no evidence in support. And when they are proven to be inaccurate, they just move on to something else as if nothing happened,” Nandlall said.

The GRA is designated

as the sole agency authorised to release and assess the audit findings pertaining to the country's interests.

In auditing Exxon’s expenses from 1999 to 2017, the British Consultancy Group hired to perform the audit, IHS Markit, flagged a US$214 sum of questionable spending. This figure received a no-objection from GRA, and an indication to close the US$1.6B audit of Exxon’s expenses.

However, following this no-objection, it was revealed that Senior Petroleum Coordinator at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Bobby Gossai Jr., engaged ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, formerly known as Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), in reducing the US$214 million to US$3 million.

Gossai is currently facing is facing “disciplinary measures” over the unauthorised meeting with Exxon. Meanwhile, GRA has maintained that US$214.4M is final disputed figure in cost oil audit.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Jagdeo: APNU+AFC breakup was false

Dr. BHARRAT Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), characterises the split between the AFC and APNU as deceitful, crafty, manipulative, and fraudulent.

His conviction that the two political parties had terminated political relations in 2022 was not swayed, and the press conference earlier in the week further affirmed his position on the partnership.

The “Cummingsburg Accord” signed by the APNU and AFC on February 14, 2015, saw the parties uniting in a coalition that would see them win the 2015 elections, but that seven-year partnership officially ended on December 31, 2022, as was announced by AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan.

“That so-called divorce that AFC and APNU spoke of in

PPP/C General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

2022…has been exposed as a fallacy,” Dr Jagdeo stated as he addressed the media.

Jagdeo said he long believed that the move was a gimmick because the AFC has lost its base.

“I dismissed it as a gimmick. The AFC had no base [and] had lost its base totally in its support because of the corrupt practices of the AFC members in government.

And because of their excesses, not just in terms of financial matters, but in policy matters and also their arrogance in their

interaction with people.

They forgot their base totally, and therefore they lost it,” Dr Jagdeo stated.

This was exacerbated by the policy actions surrounding their indifferent handling of matters such as the sugar industry and taxation, among other things.

Jagdeo asserted that he possessed an impenetrable sense of discernment and could not be swayed from the ominous message displayed before him. The AFC, he emphasised, never walked away or divorced the APNU but

instead sought to manipulate the Guyanese into believing it did, using a false pretense.

“I pointed out that it was just talk. Many people saw this as a sign that the AFC was intent on rebuilding and going back to the core ideals that it professed…that it had before 2015 which were democracy, being a good third force and a force for good and for accountability…That they were attempting to go back to that.

“Well, this press conference disabuses people’s minds that there was a divorce between these two organisations. They are all together and they will go to the elections together,” Dr Jagdeo said.

In criticizing the political choice of the two, Jagdeo described Ramjattan as a ‘lapdog’ who had been involved in ‘lapdog’ skills and politics.

“So, we saw Ramjattan in his usual mode,

Ramjattan was in his full lapdog mode. He has honed this skill admirably, the lapdog skill. So, he was there, every time adding to Norton. I saw his comments. Norton made a statement, and he said ‘Before you take questions, I want to say my presence here is in full support of the statement made by the opposition leader’. He had to interject that.

“Then along the way, he said ‘Let me add that

Aubrey is absolutely right about the issue’.

That was his presence at the press conference.

It was to support Aubrey Norton in the lapdog mode. Because AFC is nothing practically without the PNC”, he said. The general secretary predicted the AFC together with the APNU in the upcoming 2025 elections against his party, as they have done in every major general election since 2015.

‘A gross waste of judicial time’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

- High Court throws out Sir Clive Lloyd’s lawsuit against Chronicle

By Clestine Juan

HIGH Court Judge, Navindra Singh, has thrown out the lawsuit filed by Former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd against the Guyana Chronicle for defamation, finding that the application was “frivolous and a gross waste of judicial time.”

In his application, Sir Clive claimed that the newspaper attributed to him disparaging comments made about all-rounder Jason Holder, himself now a former West Indies captain.

The article titled, ‘Holder has outlived his usefulness in the position, says Lloyd’, was published on March 13,

2021, over the byline of Rajiv Bisnauth. The newspaper had also apologised for its publication of the story.

Lloyd has contended that the article made him out to be a person who is intemperate, hostile, mean-spirited, unfriendly, disloyal, disrespectful, malevolent, and unduly intrusive into the affairs of West Indies cricket.

Besides the facts stated above, it must be noted that the article published by the Chronicle was based on an apparent misinterpretation by its former sports writer, Rajiv Bisnauth, of an article he read on the World Wide Web. That article, by Earl Best, was apparently based on a call made by Sir Clive to a call-in programme called

“Mason & Guest” where a discussion was ongoing and included the fact that the West Indies cricket team had just defeated Bangladesh in a test series where another player, Kraigg Braithwaite, was the captain, where upon the Claimant was asked his opinion about whether Jason Holder should be replaced

by Braithwaite as captain of the team.

In the course of his comments, in answering the question, the Claimant stated that he played a part in getting Holder as captain. He also stated; “It’s obvious that Kraig would be slightly ahead of Jason… And I’m sure Jason is not the guy who will say, oh, you know, I’ve got a bad deal or a raw deal.”

Former West Indies Test and ODI captain, Sir Clive Lloyd Justice Singh found that the words are incapable of being defamatory of Holder.

He explained that the words, whether uttered by the Claimant or not, simply conveyed the view that Holder was no longer the best option to be captain of the West Indies cricket team and it was based on the fact that Braithwaite had just led the team successfully in a test

series against Bangladesh.

“It is indisputable that both statements convey the same view, that Holder was no longer an automatic choice for the role of captain; in fact, the actual words spoken by the claimant are more likely to be interpreted to mean that he preferred Braithwaite to Holder than the words published. This is important because it seems that the Claimant’s concern is that the language attributed to him is intemperate, hostile and unfriendly.

“The Claimant acknowledged that he ‘played a part

in getting Jason as captain’ and though the remaining words may be an exaggerated statement of his actual opinion, that is to say, his opinion was that Holder was not an automatic choice as captain as opposed to Holder should no longer be a choice for captain, it does not amount to defamation of the Claimant’s character,” Justice Singh said in his ruling.

Applying common sense to the facts and law as stated, the Judge found that the words published and complained of are incapable of being defamatory or bringing Sir Clive’s character into disrepute. Further, the misquoting of the Claimant is not actionable, under these facts, as defamation. In addition, Sir Clive has failed or in fact not attempted to prove that he suffered any damage or loss as a result of the publication.

“The suit was frivolous and a gross waste of judicial resources,” the judge said as he ordered Lloyd to pay $750,000 in cost before November 30, 2023.

CANU seized 400 rounds of ‘ammo’ at Mocha

Ammunition removed from the abandoned building at Mocha RANKS from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit have seized 400 rounds of ammunition, following a raid at an abandoned building at Mocha Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara According to a release, on October 19, 2023, officers from CANU’s Special Operations section conducted an operation at the Mocha Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara.

A subsequent search of an abandoned building located in the said area led to the discovery of 186 9x19 mm rounds, 150 .32 auto rounds, 44 .38 mm rounds and 20 .223 rounds.

The ammunition was transported to CANU headquarters, and investigations are ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Gov’t injects $3.6B in aviation sector for economic growth, safety

By Clestine Juan ACKNOWLEDGING the significant impact of aviation on Guyana's economic development and the need to ensure secure transportation of people and goods domestically, the People's Progressive Party/Civic Government has invested $3.6 billion in the aviation industry in the past two years.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, in recognition of International Day of the Air Traffic Controller, acknowledged the relentless efforts of these individuals in ensuring safe and efficient air travel.

He said that air traffic controllers worldwide, including those in Guyana, have a pivotal role in maintaining the safety of air transportation.

Against this historical context, the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Associations (IFATCA) was established 61 years ago and has since expanded to include 133 member associations, which together represent over 50,000 air traffic controllers worldwide.

The Minister said that the PPP/C government understands the importance of aviation for the economic development of the country and the importance of moving people and goods in a safe and secure aviation apparatus. “.... more than $3.6 Billion dollars have been injected to the aviation sector in the past two years, with $1.6 billion being spent in 2023 on the rehabilitation and maintenance of hinterland airstrips at Eteringbang, Karisparu, Paruima, Imbaimadai, Matthews Ridge and Ekereku Bottom, to make the infrastructure safer for aviation operations,” the Minister said.

He pointed out that

Guyana continues to witness a steady increase in aircraft movement within its airspace and new additions of airlines to the Guyanese market, the most recent being British Airways, Fly Always and Canada Jetlines.

This growth, he said, requires additional air traffic controllers to manage the country’s airspace effectively and efficiently.

Thus, the Civil Aviation Training School (CATS) has been given the resources to support the training programmes.

This year alone, 40 persons have benefited from training in various areas of air traffic management.

Minister Edghill said to further enhance aircraft navigation, the government introduced an upgraded Instrument Landing System (ILS) and the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) System, which aim to improve operational efficiency and strengthen the air traffic control system’s safety.

Minister Edghill lauds the efforts of air traffic controllers, stating, “Today, I celebrate the individual Air Traffic Controller who strives each minute to give the utmost in service to the flying public, to bring them safely to their destination.”

Every day, air traffic controllers in Guyana handle an average of 140 landings at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, 18 offshore flights, 12 landings at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, and 45 aircraft overflying Guyana’s airspace.

Notably, from January to September this year, the international passenger movement at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport has witnessed a remarkable 13 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, reaching 545,052 passengers.

These statistics, the

minister said, reflect the dedication and hard work of Guyana’s air traffic controllers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

NYPD-GALEA holds memorial service in Guyana for fallen rank

Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Ravindradat Budhram (centre) flanked by Chief Clint McPherson and GALEA President, Detective Fayette Jafferalli

Guyanese-born detective, Randolph Holder

IT has been a devastating eight years since Detective Randolph Holder tragically lost his life on October 20, 2015, while bravely responding to a report of gunshots and a stolen bicycle in Manhattan, East Harlem, USA. Detective Randolph

‘Randy’ Holder was the first Guyanese-born uniformed member of the NYPD to die in the Line of Duty.

On Friday, a team of ranks from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) held the annual memorial service for Detective Randolph

Holder at the Brickdam Cathedral and Le Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown.

The NYPD team

was led by Chief Clint McPherson and President of Guyanese American Law Enforcement Association (GALEA) Detec-

After being accused of spreading false information by Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, on October 19, 2023, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton stuck to his false claims and even added more untruths.

On October 17, 2023, Norton, alongside AFC

Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, asserted that Venezuelan migrants, primarily in Region 2 of Guyana, were being granted a "pathway to citizenship" and could potentially compromise the integrity of Guyana's upcoming 2025 General and Regional Elections if they were allowed to vote.

However, during a press

conference on October 19, 2023, Jagdeo presented evidence from the Guyana Elections Commission's (GECOM) Continuous Registration cycle, which began on July 4, 2023. According to the most recent data available as of October 18, 2023, there were 2,073 requested changes and corrections, 1,673 requested transfers,

and 13,679 new registrations. Jagdeo emphasized that these numbers did not support Norton's claims and were consistent with previous registration and regional population data. He accused Norton of creating baseless fears about Venezuelan migrants influencing the elections.

Despite these facts, Nor-

NYPD ranks and local law enforcement ranks at the annual memorial service for Detective Randolph Holder at the Brickdam Cathedral and Le Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown tive Fayette Jafferalli.

Among those present at the memorial s e r v i c e t o d a y w e re Deputy Commission-

er (Operations) Mr. Ravindradat Budhram, Officer-in-Charge of Tactical Services Unit Superintendent Brian Lowenfield, Assistant Superintendent Jilian Moore and other Senior and Junior ranks and the Guyana Police Force.

Norton resorts to untruths when confronted with the facts

Aubrey Norton ton, in a press conference on October 21, 2023, claimed that Jagdeo had used statistics from 2022 to mislead the Guyanese public. He stated, "The Second Vice President used statistics for 2022, thus seeking to browbeat the nation... the fact is he used last year's information."

When GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj was

contacted for confirmation regarding the accuracy of the numbers, he affirmed that the figures represented transactions recorded from July 4, 2023, when the Continuous Registration Cycle began, until October 18, 2023. This registration process is set to conclude on November 30, 2023.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday, October 21, 2023)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD - 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Steve Waugh (2) Shane Warne Today’s Quiz: (1) Who was the winning captain of the 2003 World Cup? (2) Who was voted Man of the Match in the final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue ……………………………………………………………………

AMERICAN RACING TIPS KEENLAND Race 1 Bulcan Race 2 Dancing Nancy Race 3 Kingmaker Race 4 Viareggio Race 5 Sweet Gal Of

Mine Race 6 Verifying Race 7 Ben Franklin Race 8 Haughty Race 9 Alva Strarr

CANADIAN RACING TIPS WOODBINE Race 1 Pennyjet Race 2 Good News Money Race 3 Novel Race 4 Gamble's Orb Race 5 Kimberlina Race 6 Silent Sky Race 7 Ghostly Perfection Race 8 Sacred Dancer

ENGLISH RACING TIPS ASCOT 08:15 hrs Trueshan 08:50 hrs Kinross 09:25 hrs Time Lock 10:05 hrs Nashwa 10:45 hrs Mostahdaf 11:25 hrs Awaal CATTERICK 08:45 hrs Mercury Day 09:20 hrs Ludden Lass 10:00 hrs Musica 10:40 hrs Vintage Clarets 11:20 hrs Quest For Fun 11:55 hrs Flash Bardot

12:30 hrs Ebony Man WOLVERHAMPTON 11:12 hrs Hitched 11:50 hrs Island Native 12:25 hrs Princess Alice 13:00 hrs Glamorous Express 13:30 hrs Granny B 14:00 hrs Gerrots 14:30 hrs Tarjeeh 15:00 hrs Sexy Rexy 15:30 hrs Liberty Mountain

IRISH RACING TIPS LEOPARDSTOWN 08:20 hrs Harbour Gem 08:55 hrs Shamsuddin 09:30 hrs Glamorously 10:01 hrs Military 10:36 hrs Naval Force 11:11 hrs Andromeda 11:46 hrs Kinesiology 12:21 hrs Noble Anthem

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS TURFFONTEIN 08:30 hrs Shoemaker 09:05 hrs Emporium 09:40 hrs Destiny Of Souls 10:15 hrs Rain Or Shine 10:50 hrs Crepuscolo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Leclerc takes pole as Verstappen time deleted (Formula 1) Charles Leclerc came out on top after an enthralling qualifying hour in Austin, as the Ferrari driver put in a sublime late effort to take pole position ahead of rivals Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton for the United States Grand Prix.

Leclerc was on provisional pole after the first runs in Q3 and improved on his final attempt by two-tenths, with his lap of 1m 34.723s giving him his third pole position of the season.

Norris wound up second, over a tenth off Leclerc, while Hamilton looked on course to take pole, but ended up third in his upgraded Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz was fourth for Ferrari, with George Russell rounding out the top five.

M a x Ve r s t a p p e n looked to have placed

his Red Bull on pole but had his time deleted for exceeding track limits at the penultimate corner and will start the race from sixth, ahead of the Alpine of Pierre Gasly in seventh.

Esteban Ocon was eighth for Alpine, ahead of the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez, with the McLaren of Oscar Piastri down in 10th.

AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda narrowly missed out on a place in Q3 but qualified in 11th for the second race in a row, and he will start ahead of the Alfa Romeos of Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas.

Kevin Magnussen was the lead Haas down in 14th, while the other AlphaTauri of Daniel Ricciardo had his fastest time deleted in Q2, meaning he is set to start Sunday’s event from 15th on the grid.

Leacock leaves...

FROM PAGE 29

reached 258 for six after they were sent in to bat.

Brooks struck three fours and one six in a 69 from 89 balls, and Hope supported with 65 from 76 balls that included four fours and one six.

They added 88 for the third wicket after West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite made 45 and he too, put on 88 for the second wicket with Brooks after Parnell got left-handed opener Kyle Mayers caught behind for one.

When Hope was caught behind off pacer Nicholson Gordon in the 45th over, Pride were 202 for four, but Drakes came to the crease and beefed up the total with two fours and three sixes in 40 not out off only 18 balls.

Parnell and Gordon both ended with two wickets for the Scorpions.

The tournament continues with a double-header on Saturday when Leeward Islands face West Indies Academy at Queen’s Park Oval in a contest starting at 9 a.m.

(East Caribbean Time), and Guyana Harpy Eagles meet hosts Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in a day-night contest starting at 1 p.m.

(EC Time).

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Leacock leaves Scorpions’ defence in a spin – 6th match

Oct 20, CMC – A care e r- b e s t s p e l l f ro m leg-spinner Javed Leacock topped a blistering 94 from Chadwick Walton, and Barbados Pride beat defending champions Jamaica Scorpions by 47 runs in the West Indies Super50 Cup on Friday in Trinidad.

Leacock, playing only his sixth List “A” match, grabbed four for 43 from eight overs, and the Scorpions, chasing 259 to win, were bowled out for 211 in 44.3 overs in the sixth match of the 50 overs-a-side tournament at the Frank Worrell Field.

Walton smashed six fours and six sixes from 112 balls to lead the Scorpions batting, Jeavor Royal had a late flourish of 44 from 34 balls, and West Indies Test vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood made a resilient 30, but no other batsman reached double figures.

Left-arm pacer Dominic Drakes, son of Pride head coach Vasbert Drakes, the former West Indies all-rounder, took two for 14 from 3.3 overs, and Roston Chase supported with two for 37 from eight overs to keep things steady in the middle of the Scorpions chase.

The result gave the Pride, beaten semi-finalists last year, a winning start to the tournament, but it condemned the Scorpions to a rock start to their defence, as they slid to their second defeat in their first two matches after Leeward Islands Hurricanes humbled them by eight wickets in a low-scoring contest two days earlier at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Drakes made the breakthrough for Pride when he got left-handed opener Kirk McKenzie caught at midoff for three in the fourth over, but Blackwood joined Walton and they made sure

the Scorpions did not lose another wicket in the Power Play to reach 60 for one after 10 overs.

Chase struck in his fourth and sixth overs to respectively remove Blackwood caught at mid-wicket, and Andre McCarthy, an old nemesis of the Pride, caught at long-on for nine, and Scorpions stumbled to 109 for three at the halfway stage.

The Pride bowlers – specifically Chase, Kyle Mayers, and left-arm Raymon Reifer – continued to bowl steadily, and three wickets – two to Leacock – fell in the leg-spinner’s first over.

Nkrumah Bonner was run out for nine off his first ball in a bad mix-up with Walton before Leacock exploited the susceptibility of Scorpions and West Indies Twenty20 International captain Rovman Powell to legspin and got him caught at slip for a first-ball duck, and trapped newcomer Shalome Parnell lbw for a fourth-ball duck.

Leacock then got Fabian Allen caught at slip for two in the 33rd over, and the Scorpions slumped to 125 for seven.

This was a signal to attack for Walton, whose 50 came from 52 balls, and he helped to spoil the figures of Chase and Leacock with an attractive array of stroke in the company of Royal, and they put on 53 for the seventh wicket to give the Scorpions a sniff of a comefrom-behind win.

Scorpions entered the final 10 overs needing 81 to win, but Leacock foiled their plans for a dramatic finish when he got Walton caught at long-on in the 41st over.

Earlier, half-centuries from Shamarh Brooks, and Pride and West Indies Oneday International captain, Shai Hope helped their side TURN TO PAGE 28

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Split decision defeat for Pompey Boxing, Bad- for Guyana …Pan American Games in Chile Swimming, Swimming minton, and Taekwondo

Boxer Emmanuel Pompey went down via split decision at his first Pan American Games at the Olympic Training Centre in Santiago, Chile.

In the Men’s 92kg bout, Pompey fell to Antiguan Tabukuo Aska and, on reflection, would rue not winning as he had moments of brilliance.

The five judges had it

29-28, 30-27, 28-29, 3027 and 30-27 in Aska’s favour.

Pompey’s fight was the only competitive action for Team Guyana on Friday, but on Saturday,

will be in action as the Games shift a gear after the opening ceremony on Friday evening at the Julio Martínez National Stadium from 20:30hrs.

Events on Saturday

Raekwon Noel – Men’s 400m Freestyle – Heat One – 09:18hrs.

Taekwondo Ceili Peterson – Women’s Kyorugi -49 Kg – 10:30hrs – 14:30hrs Boxing (Round-of-16

in Men’s 80kg) Desmond Amsterdam (GUY) v (ARG) Gabriel Buonarrigo – 13:30hrs Badminton (Women’s Singles Round-of-32) Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) v (BRA) Juliana Vieira – 18:30hrs

Australia beat Pakistan by 62 runs

(ESPNCRICINFO) Australia may have drawn level with Pakistan today, but really, they were one step ahead all evening. A game that briefly threatened to break into a thriller ultimately had Australia clinching a routine win, the havoc unleashed by centuries from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh too much for Pakistan to overcome in the end. Pakistan fought back to contain - to the extent that word can be used for a team that posts 367 - Pat Cummins' side, and gave the chase a good go. But despite a 134-run opening stand between Imamul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique, Australia began to chip away with regular wickets, with Adam Zampa taking four for the second consecutive game. Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan looked to take the game deep, but eventually Pakistan would lose six wickets for 36 runs as Australia won by 62.

The outcome of this game was, in hindsight, set in stone by the halfway stage of the first in-

acceleration they had eyed never really came, thanks primarily to superb death bowling from Afridi, who managed a five-for with wickets off successive balls in the 50th over - the second time he was on a hat-trick in this game. The last six overs had just 29 runs scored as Pakistan carried the momentum with them into the break.

Marcus Stoinis struck first ball to break Pakistan’s century opening stand (AFP/Getty Images)

nings. Marsh clobbered Shaheen for six in his first over to set the tone, and both openers treated Hasan Ali with similar initial disdain. But Pakistan's golden chance was yet to come, which Usama Mir - coming in for Shadab Khan - would fail to grasp. Batting on 10, Warner skied Shaheen Afridi to mid-off, with Mir given enough time to set himself and get underneath it. It hit him in the chest before it fell, and Shaheen fell to his knees in despair.

Collectively, Pakistan would spend much of the next two hours in that position. Haris Rauf - on a rare bad day - was clobbered for 24 in his first

over, and that was the cue for both openers to ignite. Starting with that over Australia ransacked 101 runs overs a 10-over period, getting themselves well ahead of the game, both openers hurtling towards centuries. They would get there off consecutive deliveries in the 31st over, by which time the 200 was up, and 400 looked a near-certainty.

Pakistan's fielding would only go from bad to worse, with Shafique grassing Warner once more in the deep before Babar Azam put Steven Smith down at first slip.

Afridi - the only Pakistan bowler who truly emerged with credit - removed both

Marsh and Glenn Maxwell, promoted to three, off consecutive balls as Pakistan finally looked to rein Australia in.

They would go on to enjoy their most dominant spell in the game. The final third of the Australian innings saw Pakistan completely on top, with regular wickets falling as Australia's run rate came to something of a screeching halt. That was especially true after Warner finally fell, though not before another huge six off the hapless Rauf had taken him to within a whisker of his highest ODI score, and Australia were marching past 350 at any rate. But the further

Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up a five-for, one reason for Pakistan fans to cheer•Getty Images They began brightly with bat, too. While there was little strike rotation and plenty of dot balls, they had brought up 40 in the first five overs before Australia found that line just short of a length to put the brakes on. Kept quiet through most of the rest of the powerplay, it wasn't until the field spread out that Shafique freed his arms, a four and a pair of sixes off Cummins signalling Pakistan's intent.

They brought up the 100 partnership in the 17th over, but Pakistan knew they needed much, much more. Only two ODIs have ever been lost outright when a side

posted a score as high as Australia's 367, and it would require big partnerships and probably big hundreds. That is where it seemed Pakistan would fall short as Stoinis struck with his first ball to remove Shafique, and returned to get Imam to hole out to deep point the following over. A couple of wickets turned into a bit of a cluster as Babar, who looked sublime in the brief period he was there, muscled one straight into the opposing captain's hands at short midwicket, the wild look of delight on Cummins' face indicating what a huge moment that was.

It sunk Pakistan back into a rebuilding phase as the asking rate climbed. Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan were just about keeping the runs ticking along, Shakeel taking a liking to the pull shot in front of square which fetched him a few boundaries. It would also prove his downfall, though, as one miscue flew up towards cover on the offside, where Stoinis completed an excellent catch.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Courts Optical Pee Wee U-11 Tournament…

Semi-finalists to be decided today The semi-finalists in this edition of the Courts Optical Pee Wee will be decided today when the final eight spring into action at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

At noon (12:00hrs), the defending champion, Enterprise Primary, will go head-to-head with the impressive Potaro Primary.

At 13:00hrs, the second encounter of the fourmatch card is set to unfold between West Ruimveldt Primary and Den Amstel Primary.

Marian Academy’s team is billed to collide with the 2022 runner-up and former champion, St. Pius, in the penultimate showdown of the day at 14:00hrs.

After that, Redeemer and St. Stephens will take centre field to decide who secures the last semi-final spot up for grabs.

Their clash commences at 15:00hrs.

Meanwhile, the teams that concede defeat today will not be eliminated, but move on to play for final placement (5th – 8th) when the tournament resumes

next weekend at the same venue.

On Thursday, the Petra Organisation hosted a simple press briefing at Spice Garden, located in Brandsville Hotel, where they gave a brief update of the tournament’s status heading into the final stretch.

Petra Co-Director, Troy Mendonca, said, “I think we have had a very exciting tournament thus far; we hardly had any lopsided-games. I think this year we have seen a serious level of maturity from most teams and I believe

the teams that are in the quarterfinals deserve to be there. So, we anticipate some very good match-ups this Saturday.”

Mendonca also took the time to extend his gratitude to everyone who has played their part in the successful hosting of the tournament this season.

The Unicomer-sponsored event is also supported by the Ministry of Education; Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; the Guyana Football Federation, Sterling Products Limited and MVP Sport.

Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, takes a photo op with team member Lavern Fraser-Thomas following Thursday’s press briefing

One-Guyana Premier League

Eagles looking to maintain their top form

The One Guyana Basketball Tournament continues at the National Gymnasium this evening with three highly anticipated games.

The Jaguar Conference tips off at 17:00hrs with the Stabroek Eagles taking on Lamaha Park/Springs Pepsi Sonics in a mustwin match-up for Sonics as the Travis Belgrave led Eagles look to continue their unbeaten streak.

The following game will bounce off at 19:00hrs

Action between UG Trojans (defence) and Republic Bank Nets last Saturday

by the young and trending team Cummings LodgeUG Trojans going up against the Leonora D-Up Rising Star.

To end the night's action, the Kitty/Campbellville Ravens will compete against the Wortmanville Pacesetters in the feature game of the evening.

During the league, teams from the Jaguar and Harpy Eagle Conferences will face each other twice within their respective groups. The top four

teams will progress to the playoffs, where the firstranked team will compete against the fourthranked team, and the second-ranked team will take on the third-ranked team.

The victors of these playoff matches will move on to the Conference Finals, where they will engage in a best-of-three series to determine the finalists for the National Championship.

The championship-winning team will

receive a prize of $1 million, along with trophies, while the runners-up will be awarded $500,000, along with trophies.

The successful execution of this tournament has been made possible through sponsorships from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; G-Boats Guyana, National Sports Commission, Guyana Basketball Federation, and Georgetown Basketball Federation.

Thorne, Sampson earn Guyana Harpy Eagles professional contracts

The Guyana Cricket Board has announced the signing of Isaiah Thorne and Quentin Sampson as newest members of the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) team.

The players were given the nod following their progression and development in recent times.

Thorne, the Windies youth pacer, has been making waves with his pace and his budding potential.

He is currently plying his trade with the Combined Campuses and Colleges

(CCC) in the ongoing Super50.

Sampson, the hard-hitting all-rounder from Essequibo, is among the most devastating batters on the local scene, known for his power-hitting prowess as well as his ability to produce wickets with the ball.

Sampson is currently with the Eagles team on tour as they seek to bring home this year’s 50-Over title.

With the pair of Gudakesh Motie and Tagenarine

Quentin Sampson Chanderpaul being given CWI retainer contracts, two new slots opened for the Guyana Harpy Eagles side.

Isaiah Thorne Complete list of GHE 2024 season: franchise players 20231. Matthew Nandu

2. Tevin Imlach 3. Kemol Savory 4. Kevlon Anderson 5.

Rampertab Ramnauth 6. Mavendra Dindyal 7. Kevin Sinclair 8. Nial Smith 9. Shamar Joseph 10. Ronsford Beaton 11. Veerasammy Permaul 12. Anthony Adams 13. Junior Sinclair 14. Isaiah Thorne 15. Quentin Sampson

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, October 21, 2023

Split decision defeat for Pompey SEE PAGE

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…Pan American Games in Chile Emmanuel Pompey (blue) did not have his best performance at the Pan American Games in Chile

Courts Optical Pee Wee U-11 Tournament…

SEE PAGE

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Semi-finalists to be decided today

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| SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023