Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 23-04-2023

India’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was given a tour of the East Bank-East Coast Road Linkage Project (Delano Williams photo)

President, Dr Irfaan Ali greets Dr Jaishankar and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K J Srinivasa (Photo: Office of the

President of the India/Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Senior VP of the Chamber, Steven Jacobs with Dr Jaishankar (Delano Williams photo)

Enormous changes could be leveraged for great benefits

- Indian Foreign Affairs Minister says countries’ growth presents unique opportunity for mutual advancement

By Tamica Garnett

India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, reinforced India’s commitment to being a supportive partner to Guyana, as the two nations continue to accelerate relations both at the public and private business levels.

Dr. Jaishankar made the remarks as he delivered an address at a Business Roundtable event held on Saturday at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre in the capital city.

The event is part of a number of activities for Dr. Jaishankar’s official three-day visit to Guyana; he is accompanied by a business delegation from India, which includes the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

With India and Guyana undergoing mas -

sive growth to their economy, the unique position for the two countries to leverage their fast-paced development and be mutually beneficial to each other was highlighted.

“As Guyana embarks on this exciting

journey in its quest for prosperity and development, there is a strong interest on India’s part to be part of this journey,” Dr. Jaishankar noted.

Remarks at the forum surrounded how governments from the

two nations could work to translating their strong relationships into strong private sector partnerships.

Marking the first time an Indian Foreign Minister has come to Guyana, Dr. Jaishankar described the visit as a

very important one.

“For me, this has obviously been an important visit, politically, there’s a lot discussed in terms of how we see the world and work with each other. We take satisfaction in the new areas that have opened up in Guyana. We would like to be as supportive as we can.

“This is not normal business, it is one between the fastest growing economy in the world, and the fastest

growing major economy in the world, there is an enormous change in both our economies, both our societies, in our capabilities, and the challenge for policymakers. Like us is, how do we see that as an opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd and Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh reiterated the government’s position

Fmr. Cricketers leading India/Guyana Chamber of Commerce

AN India/Guyana Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) was launched on Saturday at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre during the opening ceremony of a business roundtable event hosted as part of the visit by India’s External Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Guyana.

Businessman and former national cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan, owner of Amazonia Mall in Guyana, has been selected as the Chamber’s President, while another former national cricketerturned-businessman, Steven Jacobs is one of the Senior Vice-Presidents. Jacobs is also a contractor, and the owner of Jacobs Jewellery and Pawnshop.

Alongside them are Lead

Director and Chairman of John Fernandes Limited David Fernandes (Senior VicePresident); Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Kalamazad Ibrahim (Vice President); Managing Director of Opulent Consulting Inc. Shaleeza Shaw (Treasurer); Founder and President of Texila American University Consortium Saju Bhaskar (Secretary); and Operations Director of Ekaa Hrim, Earth Resources Management Sreebala Kumar (Secretary).

Speaking with the Sunday Chronicle on the sidelines of the event, Sarwan said he was honoured to be selected as the inaugural President of this new body.

“I’m really excited about this. Given where Guyana is

headed, and the history that we have shared together with India, having a relationship with India provides a link for a lot more businesses to know about Guyana. We just want to ensure that every Guyanese is opened to as many opportunities, and also give the businesses in India opportunities as well,” Sarwan related.

He noted that discussions about the formation of the Chamber have only been ongoing for a short period of time, and so, the executives will be putting in much work over the next few months to finalise the Chamber’s structure and operations.

“It’s been just a few weeks that we started really and truly putting things together; we’re still working

on finalising some things, but we thought it would‘ve been a great opportunity to do it while the Minister from India is here. But we’re still in the process of doing some work,” Sarwan noted.

The Chamber is on a mission to serve region -

al businesses in India and Guyana through advocacy, economic development, connectivity, culture and education, and promoting trade and investment among the businesses.

The need for the Chamber was identified after a

number of high-level visits to India by delegations of public and private sector officials from Guyana. The Chamber was formed with the focus of continuing the connection between private sector members from both sides. (Tamica Garnett)

Officials at the launch of the new India/Guyana Chamber of Commerce

A number of government officials joined India’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in the roundtable discussion (Photo: DPI)

India’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (Photo: Delano Williams)

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Enormous changes could...

that “Guyana is open for business” as they spoke of the important role they see bilateral relationship and private sector connections with India playing in Guyana’s fastpace development.

“We’re opened for

business and want to do business with India because there’s a lot of trust, friendship and partnership. We will continue to work at the policy level to ensure that we are proactive that we respond in good timing to your needs and

to ensure interconnection between policy makes and business leaders,” Minister Todd commented.

He emphasised that the Guyana government has been doing a lot to ensure there is confidence and predictability at the political level, and will provide incentives to ensure that there is a balanced business environment.

“The landscape has been provided, there is access on either side. We are working on ensuring we have the right structure to allow for seamless flow and connectivity. So, we don’t have to worry about the distance anymore. We’re going to put all systems in place to ensure business environment here in Guyana is fair, has predictability and that you as business leaders can enjoy a very productive business environment in Guyana,” the Guyanese

Foreign Minister noted.

Adding to Todd’s comments was Dr. Singh, who pointed out that doing business in Guyana has a number of advantages for Indian companies.

“Guyana presents a great opportunity for Indian businesses looking to establish a presence or expand a presence in this hemisphere. We believe that it is extremely timely and opportune that this delegation of the Indian private sector would have visited Guyana. If we are to harvest the advantages associated with early movers, the move has to be made now,” the Finance Minister said.

Also speaking at the event were CII Chairman, Jaidev Shroff, and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K J Srinivasa.

During Saturday’s roundtable, a number of bilateral agreements were signed.

The roundtable discussion was attended by a number of prominent Guyanese and Indian business people (Photo: DPI) continue

Indian Minister given first-hand view of massive East Coast-East Bank Road link project

By Clestine Juan

INDIA’S External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was on Saturday given a guided tour of the ongoing construction site of the US$106.4 million East Bank-East Coast Road Linkage Project, which is expected to become a major transportation hub in the region.

Dr. Jaishankar, whose three-day visit to Guyana comes to an end today, was given a first-hand view of the massive road project by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, as well as the Indian delegation which included the Chief Scientist and Head of the International S&T Affairs Directorate of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr. Rama Swami Bansal. India's High Commissioner to Guyana Dr. K.J. Srinivasa was also part of the delegation.

The project is set to enhance the current road network from the East Coast to the East Bank, extending all the way south to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and the Soes-

dyke-Linden Highway, where the new Silica City will be established.

The contractor is Ashoka Buildcon Limited, an Indian company, and, once completed, the main thoroughfare will accommodate four-lane traffic that stretches 7.7km.

During the tour, Ashoka’s coordinator Aditya Parakh, gave an overview of the project.

“India has emerged as a nation with world-class infrastructure development capabilities; leveraging this expertise for the completion of prestigious infrastructure projects in Guyana is a win-win scenario for both nations. The exchange of knowledge, technology, skill, employment generation and other resources during this construction will facilitate socio-economic growth,” Parakh said.

He said the company is using new environmental technology, which enhances soil permeability and hastens settling. It speeds up building, and reduces cost, because the soil consolidates more quickly, because the water drainage path is shortened.

There are currently 341

employees and some 116 equipment and machinery being used on the project.

According to Parakh, one of the challenges to completing the project on time is high inflation in the Guyanese economy, leading to abnormal surges in all prices and shortages, and the lack of air connectivity for the movement of personnel. Other challenges include up to four months of shipping time for goods and equipment from India, and acquisition and utility issues.

In June 2022, a contract worth US$106.4 million was signed for the construction of the first phase of the ECD to EBD Road Linkage Project. The project is expected to be completed within 24 months, with an additional 10 months for the defect’s liability period.

The first phase of the road will be a four-lane highway spanning 7.8 kilometres, with each lane measuring 3.6 me-

ters wide. The road will also include a median, sidewalks, and other structures.

The government's overarching infrastructure plan is to improve connectivity not just within Guyana, but also between the country and its neighbouring nations, Suriname and Brazil.

This road will serve as a critical link from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri, in addition to a corridor

for communities on the East Bank, including Perseverance, Mocha, Providence, Eccles, and Peter's Hall.

It will also provide a bypass from the city, where most traffic flows daily, resulting in massive congestion and major delays. In addition to improving connectivity, the construction of this important piece of infrastructure

will also open up more land for housing, agriculture, and industrial development. The idea behind the new ECD-EBD road link was conceptualised by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government in 2014, and is set to transform transportation in the region.

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meeting with some employees who are working on the road project

Works ongoing on the US$106.4 million East Bank to East Coast Road Linkage Project (Delano Williams photos)

A Brighter Guyana

THE prospects for Guyana continue to be bright. According to the most recent Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) report, Guyana is on track to once again achieve double-digit economic growth this year after having experienced phenomenal growth rates in the previous two years.

According to the ECLAC report, Guyana’s growth rate for 2023 is projected at 37.2 per cent which is consistent with the projection of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This is a remarkable improvement of the country’s growth trajectory which a mere five years

ago recorded single digit growth rates. The drilling of oil by oil-giant ExxonMobil is an economic game-changer even though the full benefits of the emerging oil and gas sector are still to be realised.

The spectacular growth rates are all the more significant given the economic downturn of several economies as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

The meteoric increase in the country’s economic performance is a blessing by any standard. Indeed, there are already indications of progress in all facets of economic and social life. Yet, despite the manifest benefits that the

country is experiencing, there are still some elements in our society who continue to find fault with the contract between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil.

These are people who either have their own political agendas or who lack the ability to see development holistically and dialectically. The oil contract may not be ‘ideal’ from a Guyana perspective but like it or not, it had, as it were, already been sealed and signed under the previous APNU+AFC administration and little, if anything, can now be done about it.

The important thing, as emphasized by both President Dr. Mohamed

Irfaan Ali and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, future oil contracts will certainly be on much more favourable terms to Guyana.

But our economic and social progress transcended that of our oil and gas resources. It is also about the prudent management of the economy by the PPP/C administration and its pro-people development thrust. The economic base is being broadened and diversified to avoid dependence only on oil.

Patience is virtue. Guyanese over the decades have been told of our carbon riches but several past exploratory drilling operations came up empty-handed. Now we are an oil-produc -

ing country and we are already benefitting in tangible ways from the proceeds of oil. And yet this is only the beginning of our economic journey along the road to economic and social prosperity.

As pointed out by President Ali in his Eidul-Fitr message, we all have the ability to be thankful for what we have. And even in our current developing economic circumstance, we are still ahead of the vast majority of the world’s population, a significant number of whom are forced to live on less than US$1 a day. The President also took the opportunity to stress the importance of contentment and the virtues

of endurance, submission and acceptance.

“This is the reality of the world we live in....400 million people have no access to health care. More than a billion people live on less than US$1 per day and half of the world’s population lives on less than GYD$1,300 per day,” President Ali noted.

The fact is that we have as a society much to be thankful for. Guyana is no longer a pariah state as it was at one time under the PNC regime. We are on our way towards a united, prosperous and cohesive society along the lines of the ‘One Guyana’ vision as articulated by President Ali.

Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has publicly expressed appreciation for the bold, supportive response they received on Nomination Day. The reactions, without a doubt, strengthen the party’s resolve to work even harder to assure our nation’s confidence.

Many are, for the first time representing the PPP/C side of the political divide, revealing an energised sense of objectivity rather than

blind racial or political allegiance. In addition, the commitment of almost two thousand youths, men, women, and more experienced adults from all ethnicities, religious persuasions, and the general business environment, draws massive plaudits.

Fearlessly, they have stepped forward on the party’s recommended list to contest candidacy for a role in improving the effectiveness of the councils in the various Local Authority Areas nationwide. As a symbol,

the kaleidoscopic dominance of the red, black, and gold was colossal and a statement of solid emphasis on the party’s intent to advance the pursuit of the all-inclusive ‘One Guyana’ platform, bringing our people together for the common good.

More than 2,000 quality candidates proudly wore the dominating colors supporting the PPP/C recommended list in all 600 constituencies. Observers and supporters who joined many of the processions to the

Guyana Elections Commission’s offices could not help but share the deserving sense of confidence and euphoria in response to a revelation of the demonstrated unity in diversity.

Experience, youth, ethnic and gender balance informed and defined the vitality of the PPP/C teams. One can easily rationalise that the PPP/C’s preparation resulting in the expanding support within all communities, cannot be understated. President Ali, General Secretary Dr. Bhar-

rat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Brigadier Retired Mark Phillips, and all of the ministers have continuously embraced our citizenry in every community.

Unsurprisingly, our eminent leaders of the PPP/C accompanied their proud guardians of democracy on the streets on Nomination Day. So naturally, the teams exhibited aggressive but peaceful confidence as the processions marched to present the Lists of Candidates for all the Local Authority

areas. Notably, the PPP/C’s willingness to accommodate people of all political divides on their list is heartening as this country is living the motto of President Irfaan Ali’s ‘One Guyana.’ Consequently, the confidence, optimism, and vitality we witnessed on Nomination Day sent a clear message of victory on 12th June.

Significantly, in these 2023 LGEs, the PPP/C is already enjoying a massive lead with no contest in ap-

A kaleidoscope of bright red, black, and gold dominated Nomination Day

Chris Ram exposed to challenges on his publicly articulated postures

Dear Editor,

I am writing in reference to a letter published by Stabroek News on April 4, 2023, authored by Gary Girdhari. The author sought to staunchly defend Chris Ram and described him as an outstanding accountant and attorney. Indeed, it is an indisputable fact that Chris Ram is a well-regarded chartered accountant.

It is quite perplexing, however, to fathom why it is that the author found my very mild and brief description of C hris Ram as one who seeks ‘relevance from time to time’ offensive. This is not a description without merit and justification of him, and arguably so. In this regard, I wish to publicly endorse two letters that were published in the Guyana Chronicle of April 1, 2023, with the caption “Chris Ram has a chance to prove that he is not a fossil”, and on April 4, 2023, with the caption “Chris Ram’s questionable actions”

As a public commentator and advocate, Chris Ram is subject to be challenged

because his analyses are not always impeccable. More so, since he is a longstanding, well regarded public commentator, he is societally obligated to defend, correct, or clarify his publicly articulated postures whenever he is so challenged. In doing so, this lends credibility to the individual. It is also a responsible thing to do.

I recalled reading a letter even by one his most respected colleagues or associates, Mr. Anand Goolsaran, who published a letter of apology in the Stabroek News for an inadvertent assertion he made in one of his columns. Chris Ram should learn from his respected colleague and take a page out of his book.

As a public commentator and analyst myself, I am also subject to the aforementioned. It can be publicly verified that I have been challenged by a few heavyweights, namely the likes of Rawle Lucas; former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan; Economics Professor, Kenrick Hunte, and Tom Sanzillo just to name a few, and all of whom I have rebutted; defended my positions

and analyses.

It would be remiss of me not to highlight to the readers a few notable flaws I had identified in some of Chris Ram’s most recent analyses other than the foreign exchange matter which I have already dealt with pending his response.

In a virtual discussion panel, Christopher Ram cited an incorrect figure representing the fiscal deficit obtained in 2022 of $193 billion. To arrive at this figure, I suspect that he used the 11.8% fiscal deficit reported by the Minister in the budget speech and using the (2021) GDP of about US$8 billion to calculate that fiscal deficit which was incorrect.

Mr. Ram failed to observe that the fiscal deficit of 11.8% reported by the Minister is actually on the non-oil GDP figure for 2022 which stood at G$1.107 trillion, while the fiscal deficit relative to the overall GDP (2022) which stood at G$2.918 trillion is actually 4.52%, or $132 billion. This figure can be verified in the budget estimate (Vol.1). Additionally, the fiscal deficit

A kaleidoscope of bright red...

FROM PAGE 6

proximately fifty per cent of the constituencies. The main PNC/R opposition or other shallow coalition support failed to field candidates contesting in these areas for many apparent reasons. This position is not overly unexpected, as many citizens may have become disgusted with the increasingly exposed untrustworthiness of the cabal leadership.

Naturally, one will reasonably anticipate the outcomes above because they characteristically resonate from the core of the party’s structure and methods. But critically, the unwillingness of their administrators to adapt to fair democratic practices will continuously provide reasons why their rejection is justified.

The coalition with the PNC and the ‘United Force’ (UF) in 1964 revealed that the PNC was untrustworthy. Further, the alliance in 2015 with the formation of the APNU+AFC was a revelation of total corruption and discrimination, which

provides testimony of the PNC’s determination to rule only in favor of a chosen few party ‘mercenaries.’ As was done with the UF in 1964, the PNC’s refusal to give any space to the coalition partners, even at the local council levels, was bound to destroy any meaningful alliance as an opposition.

Deservingly, the PPP/C is now enjoying the widespread support of the Guyanese people. The party leaders have worked hard and fearless in crafting a molding framework of openness, inclusiveness, and willingness to work in a transparent and accountable manner that is now materialising a ‘One Guyana.’

The massive development and transformation of Guyana is a reality. Among the many empowering initiatives are the successful housing drive and the accompanying supportive education and health sector push, which will firmly bed the required foundation for stimulating an open and meaningful development

projected for 2023 is lower than 2022 at $92 billion, $40 billion or 30% less than in 2022.

Another poor interpretation by Christopher Ram is in relation to the inflation rate where he posited that he does not believe that Guyana’s inflation rate is as low as reported. In Ram and McRae’s budget focus report, Mr. Ram contended that the 7.2% inflation reported for 2022 is the highest reported inflation in 20 years.

He cited in his report that the highest inflation rate reported in the last 20 years, barring the flood year in 2005 is 5.75% in 2021 which was attributed to imported price pressures, compounded by shocks in the agriculture sector. Again, Mr. Ram is incorrect in the foregoing assertion in his report. The last 20 years would span the period 2003 – 2023. The highest inflation rate was actually obtained in 2007 at 14% (see budget speech 2008).

did not adjust for consumption tax transitional relief and input tax credits that they would have benefitted from and merely added the value added tax on top of their existing prices” (Budget Speech, 2008).

For the readers’ benefit, when the VAT was introduced in 2007 at a rate of 16%, it replaced a consumption tax of 30% at the time. Furthermore, while Mr. Ram may have his reasons known to him only why he does not believe that the low inflation of 7.2% obtained in 2022 which is projected to slow below 5% in 2023, he ignored altogether the impact of the Government’s intervention to combat inflation that would have credibly and tangibly led to this outcome.

demand-pull inflation, and (2) the inflationary impact within the domestic economy is also driven by strong domestic demand across all sectors as demonstrated by the vibrant double-digit growth in the overall economy and in the non-oil sectors. The total estimated cost of the COL measures implemented by the government in terms of direct cost to the treasury and foregone revenue to the treasury–is approximately $89 billion. This represents 11.3% of the total budget, 28% of tax revenues, and 43% of the NRF withdrawal to finance budget 2023.

platform, changing our lives and progress as a united people.

In addition, the massive infrastructure development targets better roads, improvements in the drainage and irrigation system and expansive but more affordable food production, which is most encouraging. Guyana is rising, and our people are wiser and demonstrating more vital objectivity in political decisions. Together, the PPP/C will continue to develop our country technologically, economically, politically, and socially thereby creating advantages for citizens and making our country a better place to live.

We must, in one voice, ‘say no to rigged elections!’ Instead, we must sustain, strengthen and encourage the reasons behind the PPP/C’s kaleidoscope of colours on Nomination Day and, at these LGEs, unite our people with free and fair elections.

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar

This was attributed to “imported price escalation, particularly in fuel and food categories, unseasoned rains, and flood conditions in food-producing areas exerted upward pressures on domestic prices. These were compounded by challenges in the transition to valueadded taxes, where there was evidence that some retailers

To this end, as I have explained in my own budget analysis report, the Government implemented a suite of measures to combat inflation which is largely impacted by external factors within the global economy?that is, (1) imported inflation attributable to the fact that Guyana imports more than 80% of consumption goods, intermediate and capital goods.

This aspect of inflation is impacted by events in the global economy such as supply chain disruptions leading to cost-push inflation and

Editor, permit me to end with an irony. In the same virtual panel referenced earlier that Chris Ram appeared on to discuss the budget 2023, he maliciously described the senior minister with responsibility for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh’s budget presentations in the National Assembly, as “dirty retail politics”. Isn’t this disrespectful for him to do so? Dr. Ashni Singh is undeniably one of the most truly honorable and distinguished scholars in Guyana, and in his capacity as a senior minister in the Government.

Yours sincerely,

Joel Bhagwandin Financial and Public Policy Analyst

The Caribbean – A gangster’s paradise?

Part 5: Different strokes for different folks

FROM Bob Marley’s ‘I shot the sheriff’ to Tupac Shakur, from DMX’s bullet-ridden Hip-Hop ballads to Coolio’s ‘Gagsta’s Paradise’ to Eminem’s ‘When I’m Gone’, popular Caribbean and Black American singers have tried to explain the inexplicable intricacies of living in the fast lane, whether in a Caribbean ghetto or a classic American ‘hood’ (neighborhood).

Using only the sound of music – tempo, beat and rhythm -- as an elastic yardstick to measure and adore singers, the last thing on the minds of Caribbean and African American fans of the types of music they love will allow them to search for hidden or ignore clear

messages sung between the lines blurted by their favorite singers.

So, admiration trumps any inclination to hear or feel any ‘bad vibes’ while going with the flow of the rhythm.

Bob Marley’s explanation of why “I shot the sheriff, but I didn’t shoot the deputy” and Coolio’s question “Why are we so blind to see the ones we hurt are you and me?” both do underline how each can be heard and seen as both good and bad – and in between – but never as glamorising or warning against gunplay. Why? Because when it comes to music, Caribbean people hear and sing what they want (to).

However, just as Caribbean and American so-

cieties degenerated into violence as gang warfare accelerated in scale and sophistry over time, so did the rise of violent lyrics in Caribbean and Black American music.

Not that the music is actually encouraging violence, as some claim, but songs preaching violence, anti-women and/or even anti-LGBTQI sentiments can be more popular and therefore earning more for singers and producers than songs and music promoting ‘Peace and Love’.

Likewise with crime reporting: the mainstream media’s narrative, dictated by headlines that can grow profits, always settles for simply reporting deadly facts and statistics, with gruesome details.

But the Caribbean re-

ality is far different from that being painted by those who feel it’s already a gangster’s paradise.

As it turns out, outside eyes see the state of crime within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) quite differently to Caribbean citizens and governments, police and security forces, rights advocates, and the press.

They obviously use different spectacles, some shaded more by dark or red-alert statistics and geography than homicides corruption and gang-related crimes.

Take two recent global listings of the 10 countries said to have the worst crime rates globally, half of which are in the Caribbean and Central America, each including three CARICOM member-states in the world’s worst Top Ten countries by crime.

The World of Statistics (WOS) and the World Population Review (WPR) last week issued separate lists of the “most criminal” countries in the world.

The WOS List of ‘The Top Ten World’s Most Criminal Countries’ are: 1. Venezuela, 2. Papua New Guinea, 3. Afghanistan, 4. South Africa, 5. Honduras, 6. Trinidad & Tobago, 7. Guyana, 8. Syria, 9. Somalia and 10. Jamaica.

The WPR’s listing of the Top Ten countries with the “The highest crime rates globally” are: Venezuela (83.76), Papua New Guinea (80.79), South Africa (76.86), Afghanistan (76.31), Honduras (74.54), Trinidad and Tobago (71.63), Guyana (68.74), El Salvador (67.79), Brazil (67.49) and Jamaica (67.42)

Interestingly, according to the two lists, the

‘most criminal’ countries are not necessarily those with the ‘highest crime rates’ and while one claims five of the Top Ten from The Caribbean and South America, the other increases the number to seven.

Even more interesting, while three CARICOM member-states are included in both Top 10s, the USA ranks at No. 55, the UK at No. 65 and India at No.77, with Qatar ranking lowest at 136, with a crime rate of 12.13 per 100,000.

The WOS website describes itself as “a global network of nearly 2,360 organisations worldwide committed to compiling statistics to increase public awareness”; and the WPR states it’s “an independent US-based statistics agency without political affiliation”.

But while the Caribbean press tends to assess national crime rates mostly by the number of homicides, WOS and WPR have found different and more-elastic yardsticks to measure crime, which lump death, theft and misdemean ors together with geography and population.

The Louisville, Kentucky mass shooting a week ago marked the 146th already this year in the USA, but by the two measurements, that’s only one yard out of a mile measured

But the region’s press continues to cling to old traditional headlinegrabbing approaches that see, for example, a major Trinidad & Tobago online newspaper’s headline for the related story was ‘T&T ranked 6th most criminal country in the world’.

The story quoted selected sections of the reports that unfairly compare Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and Jamaica’s rankings (6th, 7th and 10th respectively) with those of Scandinavian and other European countries – and the republic’s National Security Minister as saying he had no comment.

But nothing in the reports noted that the methodology used to assess and conclude is totally different from that employed in the Caribbean, where the state of crime is assed according to what the media highlights most.

The vast majority of CARICOM memberstates didn’t even make it on the list of 136 nations and territories (including Hong Kong, Puerto Rico and Taiwan), but just the fact that three did has resulted in headlines and assessments that amount to no less than self-inflicted wounds by the regional media to the region by swallowing wholesale and regurgitating reports on the state of crime in the region.

That not only spits in the face of both perception and reality, but also confirms that when it comes to keeping crime records clear where they look most dirty. Our media simply unconditionally accepts that when it comes to the Caribbean, those outside looking in are free to use different strokes for different folks.

Meanwhile, we continue to wonder and ponder over whether there’s any merit in trying to figure out whether the Caribbean is a gangster’s paradise.

An Analysis: Nomination Day revisited

THE race to elections on June 12 this year has begun with both the ruling party and the opposition firing shots and verbal salvos at each other.

For the most part, they accused each other of electoral fraud and called on the Guyana Elections Commission along with the Guyana Police Force to probe their concerns.

All in all, Nomination Day went smoothly and was a joy to watch as Guyanese truly participated in demonstrating that they understand the concepts of local democracy and community development.

It also meant that they were demonstrating proudly that they could support the party of their choice, whether it was the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), or an independent individual or group.

While the PPP/C party welcomed all the candidates competing in the local government polls regardless of race and other underpinnings, the APNU, who notably was upset and bitter, alleged that those Afro-Guyanese who endorsed the PPP/C were paid, induced or enticed to do so.

From the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton’s reaction to the ‘red wave’ created by the PPP/C with young, black, joyful and intelligent candidates, one would know that it bothered him and there was a panic running through the opposition’s camp. This panic was made abundantly clear when the opposition parliamentarians’ usual visibility morphed into ‘barebones’ and virtual nothingness.

While Norton gave a half-baked explanation for this, he completely forgot to sing praises about the APNU’s list or areas where they are contesting the polls. Norton did not address the diversity of their list which was supposed to be national or the

fact that they are purportedly losing party members, and electoral support.

Also, Norton did not speak to many of the germane facts surrounding the party; the party’s financing and the party infighting that was blatantly exposed in party groups in the lead-up to nomination day proceedings. He behaves like a ‘one-party-knows-it-all man’ relying on the PNC/ R’s grassroots support and clinging to the hope that they will sway the voters to them as they did in previous elections.

Firstly, the Opposition Leader must take full responsibility for the coalition’s poor showing on Nomination Day 2023. If there was a time to show up the PPP/C’s lack of popularity, it was on this day.

Norton kept everyone in suspense, saying little or nothing about the local government polls, only to contest locally in 24 out of 80 democratic organs. Make that make sense against the backdrop of the party’s diatribe against the ruling party and its mantra that it is allegedly being discriminated against.

Norton and his party’s sad attempt to resurrect former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon and others, would serve as contributing to the public perception that he has failed to muster an acceptable crowd to rally for the PNC/APNU coalition. No amount of deflection or explanation will suffice other than saying that this smells like an abysmal failure on Norton’s shoulder.

And, the party finances, a technical campaign for an alleged clean list, and the availability of MPs, could hardly be the cost for this political failure in the opposition camp.

Secondly, Norton’s party failed to even contest in a majority of local areas, aesthetics aside. Was the message of race discrimination not strong enough? Racism allegations did not stick in the public’s mind?

Norton apparently is weakening the PNCR/APNU’s hold in the business of local democracy and elections. His alleged strategy of leaving the room or way open to independent groups or individuals, and the ruling party, could backfire at the national level because the business of politics could be tricky and uncertain.

Not only did he commit political suicide, but Norton also failed to say that they were only contesting in 42% of all the constituencies in the country as more candidates have withdrawn their support.

It is safe to say that the list for the PPP/C is diverse and national in the sense that it is more pro-black and more mixed. It is reflective of the demographics in Guyana’s case while the APNU’s list, sadly, cannot compare in either diversity or ethnic soundness.

The APNU, staying true to form, perhaps has declined to an Afro-Guyanese party and there is no shame in that if that is the reality in Guyana, but it most certainly is not!

Thirdly, there was not enough attention given in both camps to their youthful and intelligent candidates in the upcoming polls. The public is not concerned with the crossover candidates per se. They are much more interested in the new and budding candidates who could lead the country at the local level, making decisions, and using the new trends in technology and information communications technology, to improve the management of NDCs, councils and mayoral districts.

The focus must be placed on the newcomers for parties and independent groups so that the public could understand their outlook on things that they will change at the local level.

Clearly, the younger voting population will decide the local government

polls for both parties at the elections so it is only right that they be given a chance to prove their worth.

Finally, the media must disabuse its mind from focusing on the obvious trends but must focus its attention on more uniquely interesting things coming out of local government elections and GECOM.

They must focus attention heavily on the public perception and balance that out with the facts con-

cerning any issue that they come up with during the next month and a half.

The big takeaway from Nomination Day is that the PPP/C really has no decent and moral partner to compete against for the local government polls in the country minus the independent individuals and groups. The APNU is still searching for a calm, cool, unemotional and rational man or woman to lead it into victory against the

The problem is not some people at the party. It is like-minded people like Norton who have, maybe, a false sense of consciousness and pride that they cannot recognise when defeat is imminent and it is time to go. This election will prove that Norton is not the leader he promised to be, and the PNC/APNU will disintegrate faster.

PPP/C.

Body image: Fat/body shaming

By Vanessa Cort

IN recent years, social media platforms have been increasingly criticised for contributing to the alarming rise in body shaming, Instagram has been singled out as a major culprit by allowing posts which highlight ‘perfect bodies’, influencing young women, in particular, to strive for this idealised look.

However, body and fat shaming did not begin with social media. For decades tabloid magazines, television and movies have been pushing unrealistic images of what is a desirable female figure.

Writing for Healthline, Carolyn Abate observes that, “There is an established notion, they say, that a thin ‘conventionally pretty’ woman is what all women should strive toward and that anything outside that realm isn’t worthy.”

Happily, people of colour in this part of the world and in Africa do not generally subscribe to the idea that only slim women are attractive.

Indeed, in many African countries, like Nigeria, a thin woman was – until relatively recently – considered unhealthy and in need of some ‘meat on her bones’, while a ‘thick’ woman was openly admired. Even the definition of ‘thick’ can vary considerably in terms of a woman’s size.

Back in 2006 the film, Phat Girlz, written and directed by Nnegest Likke and starring African-American actress, Mo’Nique, attempted to portray a favourable image of a ‘Thick Madame’. But the film received a host of negative reviews, mainly because of what was seen as sloppy directing and a ‘thin’ script.

Entertainment Weekly made the telling observation that the romantic comedy did itself an injustice by actually focusing on the size of the lead character/actress.

“Mo’Nique is fat. Almost every scene in Phat Girlz… is about how she’s fat.”

In a kinder review, the San Francisco Chronicle said the film had a lot of “heart and soul” and humorously likened it to the movie, Pretty Woman, “without all the bony butts.”

In a scathing criticism

of the current Nigerian bias towards ‘things American’ – which could also apply to the stance of many Guyanese women – Nigerian writer, Morenike Taire, says, “…our adoption of American culture had been so complete at some point that we were becoming more American than the Americans.”

And of course, this spills over into the growing acceptance of the US/European idea of body shape as ‘the norm’ and the spread of body/fat shaming in countries where plus-sized women were previously accepted and admired.

Generally, body shaming is all about a person’s size/weight and can therefore translate as fat shaming, where women, in particular, are criticised and insulted if they are seen as ‘heavy’ or overweight, though conversely, a thin person may suffer the same fate. Still, a legion of young girls is either pressuring themselves or others to fit into the ‘slim mold.’

Social media, because of its widespread access to people across the globe, has taken body shaming to “a new level” and according to Healthline: “Today, a teenage girl is inundated with a tsunami of ‘perfect’ body images through their social media feeds. In addition, people comment on these (self) images, sometimes in disparaging and dismissive tones.”

Body shaming is considered one of the most common forms of cyberbullying, perpetuating weight

bias and causing mental and physical health problems.

African-American, Sabrina Springs, author of the book, “Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia,” found that during the 19th century white-owned magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, began exhorting middle-class and upper-class women to watch what they eat. This was in a bid to turn attention away from the curvy black woman, who was seen as a threat.

“And they were unapologetic in stating that this was proper form for AngloSaxon Protestant women. And so, it was important that women ate as little as was necessary in order to show their Christian nature and also their racial superiority.”

Writer, Ariane Resnick, also notes that, while in our current society thin bodies are thought of as healthy and desirable, historically the reverse was true, as in the 1800s when “plumpness was revered” and considered a sign of health and wealth.

Like Ms. Springs, author Amy Farrell traces this shift to mid-19th century England and the advent of the first diet books, which were centred around women.

Perhaps the most reasonable advice on the subject is given by the ‘Stop Weight Bias’ group, which reminds us that “obesity is a complex disease with multiple causes” and urges us to build a better world free of weight bias, “…where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.”

Guyana’s ongoing cost recovery audit

THE cost recovery audit of ExxonMobil Guyana’s expenses has recently generated significant public interest and for good reason. Guyanese deserve a full accounting of the expenses the Stabroek consortium are seeking to recover as this has a direct impact on Guyana’s earnings and ultimately the monies available to meet ambitious goals on education, agriculture, and health as an example. There are, however, misconceptions around audits that often lead to claims of secrecy and misguided conclusions.

It is important to understand there are two audits that are currently the subject of discussion. The first is a cost audit by global consultancy IHS Markit looking at ExxonMobil’s 1999-2017 costs for its Stabroek Block precontract costs such as expense of extensive seismic and geologic surveys and early- stage exploration beginning in the 1990s that led to the eventual discoveries and the costs for developing Liza Phase One.

The second and most recent cost recovery audit covers expenses by ExxonMobil Guyana for 2018-2020 and is being done locally by a consortium of Guyanese companies including Ramdihal and Haynes Chartered Accounting and Professional Services Firm, Vitality Accounting and Consultancy Inc., and Eclisar Financial & Professional Services in partnership with partnered with the Oklahoma-based Martindale Consultants Inc. and Swiss technical company SGS.

Audits are just one of the tools available to

the Guyanese regulators to ensure the terms of the production sharing agreement (PSA) are being properly followed. They are far from simple exercises, however, and require significant investments of time and capital. The cost recovery audit is being done under the 2016 PSA governing the Stabroek Block with a goal to verify the legitimacy and validity of costs claimed and recovered against revenues generated from oil production.

The initial cost recovery audit by IHS Markit has been faulted by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for lacking in key areas and continues to be the subject of negotiations. Recently, a copy of the IHS Markit Interim Audit Report covered in the press has stirred claims that the results are being deliberately withheld from the people and have been available for more than two years. However, the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia has emphasised that the “leaked” report is not final and is still being reviewed by the GRA.

It is understandable how claims of secrecy can arise due to the complex nature of the audit process which can be tedious, detailed, and lengthy and often requires multiple rounds of consultations which require companies, regulators, and auditors to flag areas of concern, provide explanation and continue that process until all areas are addressed. Governments frequently go back to consultants and auditors to request more, leading to multiple draft reports. That process continues in earnest.

While the public pressure to provide details on those findings to the Guyanese people is understandable, draft reports may not con-

vey the full picture. Cost recovery audits are a routine and necessary part of production contracts globally and help

to verify costs and ensure that governments and companies are aligned on the best way to categorise expenses. The concept

of an audit can have a negative connotation in Guyana, long associated with investigations of cor-

TURN TO PAGE 12

‘A walkover victory’ - Nandlall foresees a PPP/C win at LGEs

WITH the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) running candidates in all 610 constitu-

encies across the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAA) for the June 12 Local Government Elections, Execu -

tive Member of the ruling PPP/C, Anil Nandlall, is confident that they will emerge victorious.

In a live broadcast on Friday, Nandlall expressed confidence in his party, highlighting that the main political opposition, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is only contesting in 279, or 45 per cent, of the 610 constituencies and 24 LAA.

“What it means electorally is that the PPP, which is the political party contesting all the local authority areas, and every single seat in these local authority areas, will get a walkover victory. And the PPP would be in control of all these LAAs,” Nandlall said.

Currently serving at the country’s Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Nandlall emphasised that the PPP/C will have a chance for the first time to control the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, which has been under the PNC for the last 60 years.

“ Almost every year, the central government has had to bail out the city council. They are the largest revenue collection local authority in the country, and perhaps they do the least when one looks at the revenue that they receive and what they have been able to accomplish; they have been an abject failure.

“So, it is not a bad thing

that they [APNU] will not have a presence in these local authority areas that they are not contesting. The country’s experience with them has been that they are more obstructionist than constructive in their engagement,” Nandlall said.

He added that under the opposition, the Georgetown City Council has been obstructing development, rather than working along with the PPP/C government.

“On the other hand, unfortunately, you will have supporters of theirs - a dwindling number - who will be without representation. Because whether we want to accept it or not, not everybody will vote for the People’s Progressive Party, there will always be a certain section of the population who will not vote for

the party, and that is their democratic right.

“However, when they don’t have elected representatives, they may not have their views effectively represented. But then again, when you have representatives, like the ones that they have, it is better if you don’t have any because as I said, their track record is one that shows that they are obstructionist in their engagements,” he said.

Nandlall pointed out that the opposition’s “obstructionist” behaviour could be seen in December 2021 when APNU+AFC Parliamentarian Annette Ferguson attempted to remove the Speaker’s Mace but was unsuccessful.

“What constructive contribution do they make in the Parliament? Any person who looks at the parliamentary proceedings can see when they are not there, the business flows smoothly. When they are there, we would like them, I personally and we as a government have repeatedly called upon them to make constructive engagements, make constructive criticisms, and present constructive alternatives- they do no such thing.”

Local Government Elections is set for June 12, 2023; it was last held in 2018.

Guyana’s ongoing...

FROM PAGE 11

rupt government deals and shady business practices but it is critical to understand that such audits in large international business deals are routine, not punitive.

The audit process is a good-faith arrangement between the government and companies and an important pillar of transparency and governmental oversight of the oil and gas industry. It is just one of many activities taking place under the Ministry of Natural Resources Guyana Oil and Gas Capacity-Building Project.

Additionally, this process has also been an opportunity for a wealth of knowledge-building as the contract for the second cost recovery audit done

by the local consortium included provisions for knowledge transfer. This lets local accounting firms learn auditing best practices from international partners about the complex cost recovery audit process. The GRA is also steadily improving its own capacity to conduct cost audit reviews internally for the oil sector.

Understandably, a delay in the availability of audit results can unfortunately be fertile ground for false conclusions. However, some misconceptions are mere cases of misinterpretation. For example, the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat during his budget presentation this past February speaking to the concerns around timing of the second au-

dit report said, “I think from the inception when the contract was signed there was a bit of misunderstanding. In the contract it says 120 working days and I think there was a lot of misconception… that it would be 120 running days or calendar days, but its 120 working days.”

As we wait for the final reports, it is worth emphasising that once the audits are completed, they’ll be made public and submitted to the Auditor General’s Office for public inspection. Some things take time, including a transparent and diligent auditing process. Until then, Guyanese should take pride in our ability to consistently maintain international standards.

Executive Member of the PPP/C, Anil Nandlall

Four Miles to receive water in one week

and Director of Hinterland Services at GWI, Mr. Ramchand Jailal, presented certificates to approximately 30 Community Service Officers (CSOs) and staff of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) who successfully completed a Water Sanitation and Hygiene training programme for the operation and maintenance of water facilities in hinterland communities.

The two-day training, which was led by GWI engineer, Mr. Khemraj Persaud and quality analyst, Mr. Sewnarayne Bisesar, included sessions on water quality monitoring and sampling, understanding photovoltaic systems, management and operations of water distribution systems, and reporting.

Minister Croal stated that while the govern -

ment is developing more water systems, training is required to guarantee that these systems are adequately maintained. The training of the CSOs is done through a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs so that indigenous communities have safe water and issues are detected and addressed early.

RESIDENTS of Four Miles, Port Kaituma, Region One are expected to start benefitting from potable water supply within another week.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, visited the community on Friday, where he told residents that a new pump had been procured and would be installed through the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). The minister was, at the time, accompanied by Regional Chairman, Mr. Brentnol Ashley.

Minister Croal explained that the new pump will be connected to the Two Miles Water Supply System to increase water pressure so that residents at Four Miles can receive water, since the well was drilled to serve both com-

munities. This will ease the current water woes at Four Miles.

Wells drilled at Fitzburg and Oronoque over the past two years will also be interconnected to provide better water service.

The minister reminded residents that when the Irfaan Ali-led Administration took office in 2020, the hinterland (Regions

mission (GLSC) and the education and agriculture sectors. These matters will be addressed through the relevant agency heads.

Croal told the residents that the government is making significant investments in the area to create a variety of industries so as to ensure that the resources are used for their intended purpose. He stressed that

One, Seven, Eight and Nine) only had 45-50 per cent water coverage. This has since increased to 75 per cent and the government is working to achieve 100 per cent water access in hinterland and riverine communities.

Residents also raised, at the meeting, several other issues in their communities related to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Com-

the regional officials must implement accountability and transparency procedures. He also underlined that the council members play a significant role in ensuring that the problems in their districts are resolved quickly and effectively.

Meanwhile, Minister Croal, along with the Regional Chairman of Region One, Mr. Brentnol Ashley,

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, addressing residents of Region One

Residents of Four Miles, Port Kaituma, during the meeting

Some 400 Ann’s Grove, Clonbrook & Dochfour families to get land titles

By Cindy Parkinson

THE government is moving to fast-track the regularisation process of a housing scheme stretching from Ann’s Grove, Clonbrook and Dochfour on the East

Coast of Demerara and some 400 families are set to get titles to the lands they’ve been occupying for 50 years in a “matter of months,” Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, told

…as gov’t fast-tracks regularisation, fixes ‘Co-op’ issues

the Sunday Chronicle.

In a follow up meeting with these residents on Saturday, the Attorney-General made it clear to the residents that they cannot live as “glorified tenants” forever, and so, efforts will be made to

ensure that they are given their land titles in the shortest possible time.

During a Cabinet outreach to the communities last week, several residents raised the long-standing land issue, noting that a defunct co-op society is preventing them from owning the lands they occupy.

The issue with the housing scheme pertains to lands that were leased to the residents of the Ann’s Grove Two Friends Multi-Purpose Co-op Society over 50 years ago. However, as members of the co-op society died, private residents have since made claims to the land.

In this regard, the Attorney-General told this newspaper that the issues with the co-op society have no bearing on the residents owning the land; however, he

be conferred with title which will not only legitimise them as owners, but will empower them to use these titles as collateral, security for borrowing, as well as permit them to transmit these lands to their beneficiaries. This constitutes not only the empowerment of the current occupants, but

you,” Minister Nandlall said.

Meanwhile, at Saturday’s meeting, the Housing Minister, Collin Croal, revealed that an ‘occupational survey’ to verify the number of people residing in the housing scheme will commence on Wednesday.

Minister Croal also noted that the associated fees to expedite the procedure would be subsidised to make it easier for the residents.

“The main objectives here in Ann’s Grove are what we are trying to do across the country for all citizens. You have people who have been living in a particular space or occupying a particular area for decades, but have not been able to complete their ownership for one reason or another,” he said.

explained that the Ministry of Labour will step in to resolve whatever issues exist within the Society.

Nandlall was adamant that the State will move ahead to regularise the housing scheme, and issue the titles to residents; he explained that different plots of land will be processed faster than others, because some houses are on reserves etc.

“These families have been in occupation of these lands for generations, and, for the first time, they will

also of future generations to come,” the Attorney-General contended.

He urged residents to cooperate with the various ministries involved in the process.

“How successful we are going to be, and how expedient this process will be is dependent on your cooperation with the process. Those who are prepared to cooperate will get their business sorted out early, and those who want to play hard ball, well, we will have to play hard ball with

“However, many of these areas fall under the Co-operative Society (Co-op), and the Co-op has been operating as lords over themselves. We have had a number of issues about accountability and transparency in the Co-op areas, and so we have set out to bring a conclusion to a number of people who fall under the Co-op,” he added.

The neighbourhoods in question consist of Doch Cab Housing Scheme and Ann’s Grove (Sertimer Scheme). Approximately 187 lots are anticipated to be regularised in the Doch Cab region.

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, meets with a resident during the meeting

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton (left) and Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal (centre) with another official, during Saturday’s meeting

Gov’t aiming to protect 30 per cent of country’s landmass - Foreign Secretary

FOREIGN Secretary and Chairman of the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) Board of Directors

Robert Persaud on Saturday outlined the government’s efforts to identify and increase the number of protected areas.

This is as the country joined in observing World Earth Day 2023 under the theme, “Invest in Our Planet.” Speaking at a tree planting exercise in the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown, the Foreign Secretary noted: “The Protected Areas Commission, as part of the government’s policy, is working with international and local partners to identify certain areas for protection. So far, close to 17 per cent of the national area has been identified as protected areas, and the government aims to increase this to 30 per cent by 2030.”

The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 is the guiding document for achieving the objective of striking the balance between the country’s development and the protection of the environment.

Highlighting that Guyana has the second-highest forest density and cover in the world, with its intact rainforest almost the size of England, Mr. Persaud said this demonstrates the country’s commitment to

environmental preservation.

In his Earth Day message, he pointed to the significant investments already made in clean and renewable energy and improving Guyana’s capacity to tackle pollution in a more effective manner.

“In spite of these achievements, there is much more work to be done and in this regard, Guyana stands ready to partner with Government, non-governmental institutions, and States to restore and build back a better planet for present and future generations,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Indian Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who is on an official visit here, noted the cumulative effect of planting multiple trees and the significant difference it makes. Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally.

Indian High Commissioner, Dr. K. J Srinivasa, Commissioner of the PAC, Jason Fraser, other staff of the PAC, and senior government officials and stakeholders were also in attendance. (DPI)

Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud (right); Indian Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (center) and Indian High Commissioner, Dr. K. J Srinivasa (left) plant a tree

Air services agreement with India opens investment opportunities

- GCAA says as it inks agreement

GUYANA and India, on Saturday, signed an Air Services Agreement, paving the way for investments in both countries, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) noted on Saturday.

The agreement was signed between Guyana’s Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill,

and the High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa. This agreement will allow for easier travel between the two nations. According to a press release from the GCAA, India has an emerging and growing aviation sector and presently there is no direct flight between

Guyana and India. However, this agreement puts in place the legal framework that opens market access for airlines of both States to operate and enhance competitive air transport services, trade, and economic growth between the two countries.

According to the release, the Agreement was signed in the presence of India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar; Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Elizabeth Harper; Director General of the GCAA, Lt. Col. (ret’d) Egbert Field, and other Technical Officials from India and Guyana.

Dr Jaishankar is on an official three-day visit to Guyana.

“The signing of the Agreement is in keeping with the Government’s commitment of connecting Guyana with the rest of the world and will complement the more than 50 Air Services Agreements Guyana has established with other

ICAO states for the development of the airlink amongst States,” the GCAA noted.

The agreement promotes international air services between the two countries and an international aviation system, based on competition among airlines.

The agreement addresses pertinent matters such as Grant of Rights, Designation and Authorization of Airlines, Revocation or Suspension of Operating Authorization, Principles governing operation of Agreed Services, Application of Laws, User Charges, Customs Duties and Charges, Aviation Safety, Aviation Security, Commercial Opportunities, Cooperative Marketing Arrangements, among other areas.

“The Agreement opens investment opportunities and caters for Guyanese-owned airlines to have direct market access to international airports in India and vice versa,” the GCAA noted.

Guyana and India have enjoyed good diplomatic relations since Guyana gained independence in May 1966.

The agreement was signed between Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, and the High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, in the presence of India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other officials (Photo: GCAA)

U.S. Embassy, WeLead Caribbean launch academy for women entrepreneurs in Reg. 10

WITH its mandate to develop, support, and promote women entrepreneurs, WeLead Caribbean has, for the second year, partnered with the United States Embassy Georgetown to launch the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs on Thursday, this time at Linden.

Twenty-five women entrepreneurs from Region 10 who have, either already started businesses, or are in the process of starting a business, have been selected to participate in the Dream Builder training and entrepreneurship programme.

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) will be managed by the founder of WeLead Caribbean, Abbigale Loncke-Watson, who is an alumnus of the Department of State Young Leaders of America Program, and supported by the Inter-American of Cooperation on Agriculture for training on local product development. In her remarks at the launch, she assured the participants that she was where they are, at the start of their journey as entrepreneurs.

“Take advantage of these training sessions and you will see new opportunities emerge as you progress through the programme, and you will come out better equipped to manage your businesses,” she encouraged the participants.

Sharing remarks to the participants at the launch,

U.S. Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, commended the efforts of WeLead Caribbean’s Founder, Mrs. Loncke-Watson, to expand the availability of opportunities for improvement of women-led businesses here in Linden.

She provided confirmation of the Embassy’s continued support of these efforts, stating that “The Embassy is committed to increasing inclusion of minority groups in the social, economic and political spheres.”

Ambassador Lynch also shared that having been involved in three launches of the programme, she was encouraged that it would positively impact the lives of women across Guyana, remarking that “This program is part of our continued effort to promote prosperity for all Guyanese,” as she welcomed the new co-

hort to the fraternity of those who will be trained under the AWE programme.

The four-month programme, which will be coordinated in Region 10, in partnership with boutique strategic and operational management firm, The NICO Consulting, Inc., aims to support Guyanese women in areas such as personal development, building and financing their dream, food safety, label and package development, marketing and branding.

After the training is completed, the participants will be provided with practical tools to start their businesses and be engaged in mentorship programme provided by the Cheri Blair Foundation.

Founder and President of The NICO Consulting, Michelle A. Nicholas, singled out her heritage as a proud

Lindener as both her inspiration and commitment to be integrally involved in the programme, sharing that, “As a Lindener, today, I join you with great excitement at this opportunity. I am sure you will agree with me that the main purpose of an opportunity is to serve as the basis for any action that results in profit and business growth. And it is these opportunities that allow businesses to create and implement ideas and innovations and improve their performance.”

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs is a part of

the U.S. Embassy’s ongoing effort to empower women in Guyana to fulfill their economic potential, create conditions for increased stability, security, and prosperity for all Guyanese people.

Other speakers at the launch, who all encouraged the participants to grasp the opportunities provided through this programme, included Regional Chairman, Deron Adams, Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell and President of the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development, Lyndon Younge.

Founder of WeLead Caribbean, Abbigale Loncke-Watson (third from left) and U.S. Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch (fourth from left) and other officials at the launch

Waste oil from unauthorised National Hardware facility affecting residents

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Saturday revealed that waste oil emanating from an unauthorised facility owned by National Hardware is affecting residents at Coverden, East Bank Demerara.

A press release from the EPA noted that the agency re-

ceived a report on Friday last that a considerable amount of waste oil was being released from an operation at Coverden.

As a consequence, the EPA’s emergency response protocol was activated and a team of environmental officers arrived at the location to conduct an investigation.

“This facility is manufacturing concrete bricks and is not authorised by the EPA. The volume of waste oil released is undetermined at this time as further investigation is needed in order to establish the amount,” the EPA said.

The agency’s probe further found that seven resi-

dences are being affected by the waste oil release. An initial site clean-up is being carried out by workers of the company and the EPA is assisting them with this process.

“The EPA will issue a Clean-up Order directing the operator to clean-up all contaminants. Further, a Pro-

hibition Notice will also be issued for the operator to cease all activities at the location. The agency will also determine other enforcement actions against the developer,” the release noted.

According to the EPA, it will continue its investigations in conjunction with the Civil Defence Commission

(CDC) and other relevant authorities.

“Residents within the affected area are advised to limit their use of ignition sources (cigarette smoking, lighters etc.) at this time. Further information will be provided upon the conclusion of the investigation,” the EPA said.

Carol Smith-Joseph supports PNC’s plans to avoid accountability - With verbal assault on Guyana Chronicle

WEDNESDAY’s unprovoked verbal assault by Carol Smith-Joseph on Tamica Garnett, a female reporter at the Guyana Chronicle, represents another chapter of systematised attacks against the fourth estate by the People’s National Congress (PNC).

The hurling of expletives at the reporter to avoid legitimate questions about the PNC candidates for Local Government

outbursts in the past.

Many still recall her verbal battering of reporters who were invited to Congress Place by her party’s leader to cover a press conference on the 2018 LGE.

The PNC must prove both in words and actions that the party’s leadership is serious about the protection and upliftment of women across Guyana by taking decisive action to

Elections (LGE) must be roundly condemned by all right-thinking Guyanese and civil society organisations.

Smith-Joseph’s subsequent backhanded apology essentially espouses the initial injurious insults as justifiable based upon the baseless and unsubstantiated premise of media bias.

The apology further exposes the Opposition as being willing bystanders in sacrificing transparency and accountability on the altar of political expediency.

Smith-Joseph has a lot to gain from intimidating reporters who have been updating the nation on her 14 counts of fraud with which she is charged for the alleged theft of $6.1 million from the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS) while a member of its Board of Directors.

For many, this latest venomous approach to reporters by the former petroleum advisor under the David Granger administration, is predictable based on her thuggish public

relieve Smith-Joseph of all leadership positions within the party’s women group.

Leadership within the PNC, both past and present, has so far proven unwilling to rein in and restrain Smith-Joseph because she serves the party’s mob-like agenda as an enforcer; intimidating anyone, including supporters, who are seen as a threat to the paramountcy of the party.

The PNC’s track record where accountability to the citizenry is an alien concept is alive and well. In the well-documented history of dictatorship, the PNC while in government, directed the state apparatus to intimidate and inflict pain against journalists who refused to ignore the atrocities taking place at the time.

Reporters in the state media, like their counterparts in the private media, have an inherent constitutional right to exist and exercise their freedom to express themselves as citizens of Guyana while carrying out their mandated duties.

Carol Smith-Joseph

GFF proud of Lady Jags’ performance in CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship Qualifiers

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is proud of the Under-20 Women’s National

Team’s overall performance at the just concluded CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship Qualifiers in the Dominican Republic.

Guyana drew 0-0 with the Dominican Republic on Wednes-

day, finishing second in Group C of the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Championship Qualifiers.

The young ‘Lady Jags’ fought hard to secure a win in the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo, but were unable

to break through the host nation’s defence. Both teams finished on seven points, with two wins and one draw.

But the Dominican Republic advanced to the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Champion-

ship on goal difference – Guyana scored 16 goals, while Dominican Republic scored 18.

GFF president, Wayne Forde, said the federation is proud of the team’s overall performance and that the focus now is to continue to build on the established foundation for women’s football in Guyana.

“I am deeply proud of the outstanding performances our girls were able to deliver in each game that they played. The final game against the Dominican Republic was a true test of will and spirit and our girls fought and defended as though their lives depended on a positive outcome, which they achieved with a draw. I know that I speak for the players and coaching staff when I say we are all a bit heartbroken over this result, but I am equally confident we all share in the collective pride we feel as a GFF family and as a nation,” Forde said.

He added: “This is a young team and many of the players will have a second shot at qualifying for the Concacaf Championship next time around. It is now my task to continue to build on an already sturdy foundation, which has enabled the steady progress we are making in women’s football. I would like to close by thanking our colleagues from the International Support Group

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(ISG) for their hard work and dedication to the programme.”

The young ‘Lady Jags’ defeated Suriname 6-0 and Dominica 10-0 in earlier group matches. Their victories were as a result of strong defence strategies and teamwork.

Head Coach Paul DeAbreu said Guyana played brilliantly over the last three weeks and that they should be proud of their performance throughout the tournament.

“As a team we are very happy to have been one of the competitive teams in Group C of Concacaf U-20 Qualifiers. Coming into this tournament, our main goal was to qualify for the Championship, and the team played brilliantly over the three matches but came up short in our last match against the Dominican Republic. Our girls held their own against a very good Dominican Republic team and should be proud of the overall performance throughout the tournament. I will leave you with this, the best team didn’t win, but the lucky team did.”

A record 32 teams in six groups competed in the qualifying round with the winner of each group advancing to the June 2023 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship.

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CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday April 23, 2023)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Chris Gayle-608 runs (RCB)

(2) Paul Valthaty-120* (Kings XI vs CSK vs)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who took most wickets in IPL 2011?

(2) What were the best bowling figures in a single game in IPL 2011?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Aussies steel themselves for Test tour like no other

AUSTRALIA will play six Tests in a little over seven weeks – on two occasions with as few as three days in between – in what promises to be a hectic tour

Even before a coin is flipped or a ball is bowled, Australia's upcoming Test tour to England looms as a campaign like no other for the national men's team.

Straight off the bat, instead of the 12 warm-up games (occupying six weeks) that preceded the opening Test of the 1948 'Invincibles' schedule, or the elaborate all-Australia intra-squad practice match that kicked off the previous visit in 2019, the team's preparation will comprise of fitness programs and net sessions.

Furthermore, the first competitive outing will not involve a local opponent but will instead be Australia's maiden appearance in the ICC's biennial World Test Championship Final, where they

will meet India on neutral turf at The Oval in south London from June 7-11.

From there, Pat Cummins' men will launch directly into a five-Test Ashes series that – even allowing for England's present penchant to play the long-form game in fast-forward – seems summarily squeezed into a frenetic window extending just six and a half weeks.

For the first time in more than 140 years of Tests between the two nations in the UK, the Ashes summer will not extend into August and there is no scope for a solitary tour match between Tests that are – on two occasions – scheduled just three days apart.

As a consequence, Australia's national selection panel have taken the unprecedented (in away Ashes series) step of nominating a squad for the first half of the eight-week tour with that group

to be revisited and possibly revised following the second Test at Lord's.

"It feels like this is becoming the norm for Test tours, around tour games," selection chair George Bailey said yesterday in

Nikola Jokic stars for Denver Nuggets as Hawks & Knicks win

A Nikola Jokic triple-double helped the Denver Nuggets to a 120-111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and one game from the conference semi-finals.

The Western Conference top seeds now have a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven play-off series.

In the Eastern Conference, Trae Young's 32 points helped the Atlanta Hawks beat the Boston Celtics 130122.

And the New York Knicks took a 2-1 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 99-79 victory.

Jokic, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 20 points with 11 rebounds and 12 assists to put the Nuggets on the brink of progressing, and was one of six players to score double figures.

No team has ever overturned a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven

Nikola Jokic is

series, but the Timberwolves must win today to have any chance.

"We know they're going to go even more aggressive in two days," Jokic said. "So we just need to keep our composure and we know what to expect."

The Hawks avoided going 3-0 down thanks to their victory against the Celtics. They could level the series in game four today.

The Celtics' Jayson Tatum scored 29 points and had a chance to level the scores with 58 seconds left but missed his three-point effort.

"I've got to play better; this one tonight is on

me," he said.

The Knicks made it a night to remember with their dominant win over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden, in what was the first play-off contest to be held there for two years.

But it was a night to forget for the Cavs, who became the first side to score fewer then 80 points in the NBA this season, and Darius Garland in particular.

He missed 17 of his 21 shot attempts and then injured an ankle after stepping on a courtside photographer's foot.(BBC Sport).

announcing the 17-man squad for the WTC Final and first two Ashes contests.

"It feels like there's more tours that you don't have one (a tour match) than when you do, so our team's reasonably well prepared in terms of knowing what you need outside of those (and) the opportunities that may have happened on past tours.

"We do it across every Australian summer – we name a squad for the first couple of Tests, and then revise just depending on how guys are going

"I think we do carry bigger squads for challenging conditions or if you know you're going to be touring somewhere that's out of the season at home.

"It's good to have as much back-up as you can so you know exactly what you need to bring in, and when you need to bring it in.

"On that front, just makes sense that we get a bit of a lay of the land and know exactly how individuals are tracking from a physical point of view

"We'll know what the wickets are doing, and what's happening as far as results go.

"It's so we've got more information to review and to be specific, and we don't end up – come the fourth or fifth Test – with players that might not be used."

It's the unwillingness to have significant numbers of surplus players attached to the touring party that helps explain the selectors' decision to cap the group at 17, as well as the rationale for several of the more noteworthy exclusions.

For example, Marsh Sheffield Shield Player of the Season Michael Neser would have been unlikely to figure as a first choice in the initial Tests given the availability of four rival quicks ahead of him – Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.

And despite his impressive batting credentials, having scored the second century of his firstclass career in last summer's Shield competition, Neser could not realistically be considered an allrounder capable of slotting into

Australia's top six as can Cameron Green or Mitchell Marsh.

So rather than have him run drinks and be involved in the few full-scale training sessions the cramped schedule will allow, Neser will continue playing competitive cricket with county outfit Glamorgan to ensure he's matchready should form or fitness dictate his recruitment to the squad.

The same applies to the two batters considered closest to snaring a place in the touring party, with Peter Handscomb (Leicestershire) and Cameron Bancroft (Somerset) gaining ever-more experience in England conditions should they be called upon during the summer.

"It's great to have so many players playing county cricket," said Bailey, noting Australia limited-overs representative Sean Abbott is another on the fringe of Test selection currently playing in the UK with Surrey.

"We keep an eye on all the guys that are over there playing.

"Specifically, around the bowling front we've got our firstchoice four quicks and if we do need to call on another quick, we can be really specific on who we need and why, and not necessarily have someone in the squad who ends up being superfluous."

Despite the packed itinerary and the demands it will place particularly on fast bowlers from both teams, Australia enter the UK campaign with four frontline quicks compared to the five they deployed on their previous visit in 2019 – Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle.

But a crucial difference between the most recent Ashes quest in the UK four years ago and the one that formally begins next month is the presence of allrounders Green and Marsh who – now that the latter has returned to bowling – combine the benefits of a genuine seamer with a top-six batter.

An unknown element will be Hazlewood's capacity to slot back into Test cricket given he has played just two matches in the past year and was ruled out of the recent series in India with the recurrence of an Achilles tendon injury.

While his fellow fast bowlers have been taking a break from competitive cricket since the India tour, Hazlewood is currently involved in the Indian Premier League although he has yet to make an appearance for his Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise.

"Hopefully he gets a few games over there in the back half of that tournament and starts to ramp up his return," Bailey said of Hazlewood.

"He's reasonably experienced, and he's very professional so he knows exactly what and

where he'll need to be to be at his best for the Ashes.

"We're in constant communication, as we are with all of the players around that, so he'll be building and in some ways that smaller workload – through fourover bursts in the IPL – might be a nice build for him."

Bailey has noted claims from England captain Ben Stokes that he has requested fast, flat pitches for the five Ashes Tests, but indicated Australia would wait and see what sort of decks were served up rather than reading too much into pre-series headlines

But he declined to rule out the possibility one or more of Australia's pace-bowling battery might play all six of the Tests in England despite the proximity of the matches, noting Cummins was the only one of the five-pronged attack to play all five Tests in 2019.

Given the high-octane, highrisk 'Bazball' approach England have adopted to Test cricket under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, the prospect of matches extending to all five available days seems as unclear as the likely weather for a series that will be finished before Britain reaches high summer.

And that's another reason why Bailey was reluctant to speculate on how gruelling or otherwise the previously untried playing schedule will be for the 17-man squad

"You just don't know the workload they're going to get, from innings to innings or what days you end up bowling in Test matches," he said.

"There's two or three occasions when there's very, very short turnarounds (between Tests) so we have to be aware of that.

"And knowing you've got some depth there, and some confidence in the guys you can bring in means you've got the opportunity to make sure you've got cherry-ripe bowlers whenever you need to.

"Clearly they (England) are playing some really good cricket, so we'll deal with that as you do with any team when you get there.

"But I think our focus will primarily be on the way that we're wanting to play."(Cricket.com.au)

2023 Qantas Tour of the UK World Test Championship

Final: Wednesday June 7-Sunday June 11, The Oval

First Test: Friday June

16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

Second Test: Wednesday June

28-Sunday July 2, Lord’s

Third Test: Thursday July

6-Monday July 10, Headingley

Fourth Test: Wednesday July

19-Sunday July 23, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: Thursday July

27-Monday 31, The Oval 1.

Australia captain Pat Cummins (left) and vice-captain Steve Smith

a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player

RIYAD Mahrez scored the first hat-trick in an FA Cup semi-final since 1958 as Manchester City kept their quest for the Treble on course by outclassing Sheffield United at Wembley.

The Blades battled gamely throughout and even missed a big early chance when Iliman Ndiaye saw his shot saved by Stefan Ortega but once Mahrez scored his first from the spot two minutes before half-time, City made their class count.

The Algerian opened the scoring after Daniel Jebbison fouled Bernardo Silva, before taking advantage of a wide-open Sheffield United defence to score the second with a solo effort just after the hour.

Mahrez then got his third - the first in a semi-final in this competition since Alex Dawson achieved the feat for Manchester United in 1958 - when he swept Jack Grealish's cross past Wes Foderingham after 66 minutes.

It gave City manager Pep Guardiola the luxury of taking off key men such as

Leaders Bayern Munich suffered only their fourth Bundesliga defeat of the season at Mainz.

Three goals in 14 minutes from Ludovic Ajorque, Leandro Barreiro and Aaron Caricol saw the hosts stun Thomas Tuchel's side.

Bayern took the lead in the first half through Sadio Mane's header after he got on the end of Joao Cancelo's cross.

Borussia Dortmund have the chance to go top of the league when they face Frankfurt later on Saturday.

Ajorque equalised for Mainz after he head-

Erling Haaland, Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan in readiness for what is shaping up as a defining Premier League title meeting with current leaders Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

City and Guardiola have had a highly satisfactory week after reaching the Champions League semi-final, setting up an FA Cup final with either Brighton or Manchester United and seeing main rivals Arsenal drop points in the league.

Relentless Man City march on Manchester City manager Guardiola could have been forgiven for making widespread use of his vast resources of talent following his admission that they were "exhausted" after successfully coming through the Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich, and with that clash with Arsenal on the horizon.

Not a bit of it.

Guardiola made adjustments, such as playing Ortega ahead of Ederson in goal, but

the sight of Haaland up front made his and City's intentions clear.

They want all three big prizes - the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup - and are currently on one of those relentless rolls that gives them a huge chance of matching Manchester United's feat in 1999.

On this occasion there was no need for Haaland's goals - the Norwegian handing over penalty duties to Mahrez after missing in Munich.

Guardiola always appears to have one player, and many more, who rises to the occasion and this time it was Mahrez.

City look an increasingly ominous proposition and they have put themselves in the perfect position to have the greatest season in the club's history.

Blades still have eyes on the prize

The debate about whether FA Cup semi-finals should be played at Wembley opened up again as vast swathes of emp-

Mahrez hat-trick sends Man City into FA Cup final Leaders Bayern Munich suffer defeat at Mainz

ty seats were in evidence for what is traditionally regarded as one of the great showpiece occasions.

There is no question the atmosphere was subdued at times as this one-sided game played out but the counter argument might be made by Sheffield United's fans who clearly relished the Wembley experience and gave their team magnificent support.

In reality, they will have known it would have been a huge shock had they toppled Manchester City's selection of superstars but come the final whistle they were already turning their attention to what is undoubtedly their top priority this season - promotion to the Premier League.

The Blades are in a superb position to go up automatically as they stand seven points clear of Luton Town in third place with a game in hand and going up, along with reaching an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, would constitute a truly outstanding season for manager Paul Heckingbottom and his team. (BBC Sport)

Curran inspires Punjab Kings to win over Mumbai Indians

ed home from close range when Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer couldn't keep hold of Lee Jae-sung's effort.

Barreiro slotted past Sommer after getting

on the end of Karim Onisiwo's pass before Caricol sealed the victory as he finished into the bottom corner from Andreas Hanche-Olsen's lay-off.

Mane, who returned to the starting line-up following suspension, also had an effort ruled out for offside following a VAR check.(BBC Sport)

Sam Curran starred as Punjab Kings beat Mumbai Indians by 13 runs in the Indian Premier League.

Curran smashed 55 off just 29 balls before falling to England team-mate Jofra Archer as Punjab reached 214-8.

Fast bowler Archer ended with figures of 1-42 on his return after four games out with an elbow injury.

Mumbai Indians could only reach 201-6 in reply, with Arshdeep Singh taking 4-19 and another England star Liam Livingstone taking 1-23.

Punjab's innings was stalling at 105-5 after 15 overs but they went on to smash 109 runs off the next six, including Curran's spritely half-century and 41 from just 28 balls by Harpreet Singh Bhatia.

Despite losing opener Ishan Kishan early in their reply, Rohit Sharma's 44 from 27 and Cameron Green's 43-ball 67 kept Mumbai in the game.

Suryakumar Yadav then maintained the momentum with a rapid half-century as Mumbai reached 182-3 midway through the 18th over, needing a further 33 runs to win.

But India seamer Arshdeep took the crucial wicket of Yadav for 57 before keeping his composure in

the final over, conceding just two runs and bowling Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera as Punjab coasted to victory.

Late collapse seals win for Titans

In Saturday's earlier game, defending champions Gujarat Titans took four wickets in successive deliveries in the final over to seal a seven-run win over Lucknow Super Giants. Chasing a relatively modest 136 for victory, Super Giants looked to be easing to the win with 12 runs needed from the final six balls and with seven wickets remaining.

But Mohit Sharma removed KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis, before Ayush Badoni and Deepak Hooda were run out attempting risky second runs.

A dot ball with the final delivery left Super Giants just short on 128-7.

Hardik Pandya earlier top-scored with 66 from 50 balls and opener Wriddhiman Saha hit 47 from 37 as Gujarat Titans reached 135-6.

The win leaves Titans fourth in the table and one of five teams on eight points, including Super Giants, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals - who top the table on net runrate.(BBC Sport).

ENGLAND all-rounder

Ludovic Ajorque equalised for Mainz as they stunned Bayern Munich by scoring three goals in 14 minutes

Liam Livingstone took the crucial wicket of Mumbai Indians opener Rohit Sharma for 44

RHTYSC Congratulates Anderson on his maiden first-class century

England Test captain Ben Stokes suffers injury 'setback', says IPL coach

THE president and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club would like to congratulate our talented member, Kelvon Anderson, on scoring his maiden first-class century -- 153 versus the Headley X1 in the Cricket West Indies Headley/Weekes Tri team series in Antigua.

The Club is full of pride and joy at Kevlon’s achievement and we are confident that it would be the first of many more to come in the future.

Kevlon joined the RHTYSC in 2011 when he was accompanied by his older brother to practice and, in 2013,

his talent was recognised when he was named the Cricketer of our 3rd annual cricket academy, which attracted over one hundred youths from across the county.

Kelvon has represented the club at the Under 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 levels along with intermediate, second and first division.

He is presently the captain of the Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour First Division team and has been one of the top performers with the bat over the last five years. He is one of several exciting young players that has emerged from the

RHTYSC as a result of a carefully developed plan.

The others include West Indies player Kevin Sinclair; Amazon Warriors All-rounder Junior Sinclair; promising pacer Slyus Tyndall; off-spinner Jonathan Rampersaud, West Indies female players Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi; Inter-County players Matthew Pottaya and Jeremy Sandia, among many others.

The RHTYSC would like to salute the official sponsors of the club who have all contributed to the development of Anderson’s cricket -

ing career -- Farfan and Mendes Ltd, Bakewell, DDL/Pepsi, Gizmos and Gadgets and NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour.

A special thank you also to the numerous coaches who work with our youths, especially Winston Smith. The RHTYSC is committed to upholding our pattern of excellence and we look forward to producing more players like Kelvon in the future.

We would also like to urge him to remain focussed and to remember the club’s formula of success as he patterns his career -- faith in God, hard work, honesty, discipline.

ENGLAND Test captain Ben Stokes faces a week on the sidelines after suffering an injury setback, says his Indian Premier League coach Stephen Fleming. Stokes has played just two of six matches for Chennai Super Kings since the start of the IPL season in March.

The 31-year-old all-rounder had a pain-relieving injection in his knee before flying out to India.

"He had another little setback yesterday, so he's probably a few days or a week away at least," said Fleming.

There is no suggestion Wisden's newly crowned leading cricketer in the world has suffered further issues with his long-standing knee problem.

A toe injury saw him miss recent games and while the Chennai coach did not elaborate on the latest injury, reports in India say he has a heel problem.

Stokes was bought by Chennai for $1.98m (£1.6m) in the IPL auction in December and is expected to lead the England Test team in this summer's home Ashes series, which starts in June.

Fleming, speaking after Chennai's seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, said: "This is a challenge. Our priority is getting Ben fit and ready to play, that's what we are concentrating on. At the moment, he's not quite ready."

Four-time champions Chennai face Kolkata Knight Riders in their next match on Sunday.(BBC Sport)

Kevlon Anderson celebrating his maiden first-class century

Ben Stokes last played for Chennai Super Kings on 3 April

11 footballers to benefit from GFF/MACORP scholarship training programme

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president, Wayne Forde, and MACORP CEO, Guillermo Escarraga, on Friday last signed a MoU for one (1) year to allow the continuation of the excavator and technician scholarship programme for footballers in Guyana.

The simple but significant ceremony was held at MACORP Headquarters at Providence and also saw representatives from the Board of Industrial Training and the Ministry of Labour.

This groundbreaking scholarship was launched in 2021 and a total of 21 male and female footballers have completed the three-week training programme and are now certified MACORP operators. This new 2023 MoU provides for an additional eleven (11) young

footballers to access this life-changing skills development scholarship programme.

Forde, during his address, noted that the partnership between the Federation and MACORP will continue to have a positive impact on the lives of footballers by equipping them with a key skill that is now in high demand in Guyana, thus enabling them to be better prepared for life after football.

“The skills and the certification they would have earned is going to benefit them whether they choose to use that skill today, or two to three years down the road. For many of them, they are acquiring an invaluable skill at a time when the demand for skill labour in Guyana is at its highest in our country’s history. This is

due primarily to the aggressive transformational national development agenda being pursued by President Ali and the Government of Guyana.

“These young men and women will be much better prepared for life after football, much more so than many former players that would have paved the way for the bounty of opportunities this new generation of footballers are enjoying.”

“The GFF is a player-centred organization; It is therefore my vision to create more skill and educational opportunities for our footballers and to encourage and challenge Corporate Guyana to consider and perhaps emulate MACORP’s example of goodwill towards the youths of our Nation.”

Meanwhile, Escarraga

added that, “the past graduates did very well. They actually attended all the classes and we had good feedback from our trainers.” The CEO mentioned that his company wants the graduates to utilise the skills acquired by working in the industry.

“We want to see engagement. That is very important that they actually see this as an opportunity...a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not everybody would have that chance, so we want to see those selected to show up on time, make sure that they do the assignments and to be able to provide the trainers with feedback.

“We want them to be engaged in the industry. At the end of the day, this is what really matters that they can actually go and perform.”

(From left) MACORP CEO, Guillermo Escarraga and GFF Head, Wayne Forde during the presentation on Friday last

9th Milo football final kicks off this evening despite inclement weather

IN a release to the media, the Petra Organisation has noted that despite the inclement weather, the final and third place playoff of the 9th annual Milo Football Tournament will kick off today as scheduled at 16:00hrs and 18:00hrs respectively.

This decision was taken in light of the imminent commencement of CSEC Exams for the U-18 players and the logistical challenges associated with the Santa Rosa Secondary school team’s participation as the finalist in this year’s tournament.

The released detailed, “Petra wishes to thank all our supporters, fans, school teachers, players (students), the media, the MoE, the GFF, Referees, the Medical team: and our sponsors -- Milo, Nestle, Massy, GINMIN, Genequip, Farmsup, Yellow Steel , Westzyde Marine Inc and MVPSports for their invaluable support to date.”

At 18:00hrs, Chase Academic Foundation and Santa Rosa Secondary will clash in the final, while at 16:00hrs, Mackenzie High School and Carmel Secondary will play for third place.

This tournament commenced in February and saw two hundred and twenty five (225) goals being scored in the preliminary stages of the competition, while knockouts had a total of fifty eight (58) goals so far.

Going into toady’s final, Roy Vansluytman, captain of the Santa Rosa Secondary School, is one of the tournament’s leading goal scorers, with six (6) goals.

proud of Lady Jags’ performance in CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship Qualifiers

See page 27

Young hails Windies Academy win against seasoned opposition

ST JOHN’S, (CMC) – West Indies Academy captain Nyeem Young said hard work paid off for his side in their seven-wicket win against Team Headley, a side that included no less than eight West Indies internationals, in their opening match of the Headley-Weekes Tri-Series in Antigua.

Destructive three-wicket bursts from Young and hometown pace bowling prospect Kelvin Pitman enabled the Academy to formalize the win on the third day of the four-day, first-class contest at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, where Team Headley, trailing by 64 on first innings, were bundled out for 122 in their second innings.

The Academy – led by opener Keagan Simmons – knocked off the 58 needed to win with relative ease, though Barbados Pride off-spinner Chaim Holder added a bit of drama with a three-wicket haul of his own.

“I’m very happy, and it just shows that hard work, good dedication, and the willingness to win prevails in the end, and I thought that we fought really hard over the last three days, and we are very happy with the result,” Young told CWI Media in a post-

match interview.

The result meant the Academy ended the match with a haul of 18 points and put them in a favourable position to strongly challenge for the title in the three-team tournament that also features Team Weekes, led by Windward Islands Volcanoes captain Alick Athanaze.

The result, perhaps, also gave reassurance that the depth of playing talent in the Caribbean is still there, something which before the match, Young said, his side was going to try to prove.

“Some guys have played first-class, and some were making their debut, but the main focus for us in this Tri-Series is to be as comfortable as possible and to

execute how we normally play, and we did that amazingly well over the last three days and the result was good,” he said.

“The match was a bit up and down. Josh (Da Silva) played an amazing innings in the first innings (for Team Headley) and that pushed us back a bit. Then Kevlon Anderson did something you don’t see every day, he scored more than half the runs for us, and we are thankful for his innings, and a few contributions from others.”

He added: “In the second innings, to come out and bowl the way we did was just amazing, and to finish it off was very good.

“Yogi (Johan Layne) also played an amazing role for us.

He got five wickets in the first innings for us, and he put good energy behind the ball. Then he came and scored 38 not out, and he is bragging that he has one of the best (batting) averages within the squad, so we reaped good rewards from the good practice sessions we had.”

Team Headley finished with only five points, and they will hope that Team Weekes can slow the roll of the Academy when those two sides meet in the second match of the tournament, starting next Wednesday at the same venue.

“First, we have a few days off, first-class cricket is quite hard on the body, so the next two days off will be very welcomed within the camp,” Young said. “We will get back into it next week, and we will be looking forward to get going against Team Weekes.”

The Tri-Series is an initiative of CWI to provide the best performing players in the West Indies Championship, fringe players of the West Indies Test side, and emerging players in the Academy with more playing opportunities because of a shortened first-class season due to the financial constraints of the organising body.

(From left) Seon Cato of Chase Academic Foundation and Roy Vansluytman – Santa Rosa

GFF

The Ladies finished second in their group

West Indies Academy pacer and captain Nyeem Young