Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 24-07-2023

2,500 workers needed for Oko West mining project – Minister Benn says

By Clestine Juan

WITH the Oko West mining project poised to become one of the most advanced and promising ventures in the mining sector, there is an urgent need to find and train 2,500 skilled workers within the next 18 months

This is according to Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, during his address to stakeholders at a recent forum

He shed light on the project ’ s scope and the urgent need for a skilled and sizeable workforce to ensure its success

Reunion Gold Inc acquired the Oko West Project, a promising venture situated in the Cuyuni Mining District, with one Prospecting Licence issued on September 23, 2022, covering an extensive surface area of approximately 10,890 acres

The recent announcement by Reunion Gold Inc. of the initial Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at the Kairuni zone for the Oko West Project, has stirred excitement in the industry

The MRE revealed an astonishing 2.475 million ounces of gold in Indicated Mineral Resources contained within 41.789 million tonnes grading 1.84 g/t, and an ad-

ditional 1.762 million ounces of gold in Inferred Mineral Resources contained within 27.129 million tonnes grading 2.02 g/t Au

With such promising prospects , Minister Benn said that Oko West Project is set to become a new mining camp in the region, but the project’s success hinges on assembling a massive labour force

While addressing the multi - stakeholders forum on Guyana ’ s labour needs that was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre last Friday , Minister Benn highlighted the urgency of the situation

“What Oko West needs within 18 months is 2,500 men and women to build the project To run the project, you will need 1,600 men and women,” the Minister said Benn expressed concerns about achieving a balanced workforce composition similar to previous projects

He explained that the last time they made efforts at Omai and Aurora, the Guyanese workforce was 93 per cent of all persons employed

“ I ’ m worried that we may not get that ratio, that balance as we go forward even now , but that ’ s the challenge now,” the minister said

To meet the colossal demand for skilled workers , Benn said that the People’s Progressive Party / Civic ( PPP / C ) government has been investing in vocational schools, technical institutes, and even high schools to prepare the workforce for this extraordinary opportunity

“We have to support the vocational schools, the technical institutes, even at the high school level, we have to get people ready for this,” he said

The Oko West Project’s potential extends beyond immediate benefits The minister revealed an optimistic vision for the future of the region , stating : “ Over 10 years, you might get two or three large gold mines in that area, each one producing 300

or 500,000 ounces a year.”

The mining industry has been a vital driver of economic growth in Guyana , and the Oko West Project promises to amplify this impact However, with its ambitious scale, it necessitates concerted efforts from both the government and private sector to train and employ a capable and abundant workforce

Recently, President, Dr Irfaan Ali announced that “ a holistic upliftment of workers is underway in Guyana” since its interest and its human resources must be placed at the forefront

President Ali said that this “holistic” vision is aimed at ensuring that workers are equipped with the necessary tools and support to meet the

demands of a changing job market

However , by taking a comprehensive approach to uplifting workers, he hopes to create a more resilient and sustainable workforce that can adapt to changing circumstances and thrive in the long term

The government has been investing heavily in transforming the public service through initiatives like the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) Scholarship Programme, academic training , online scholarships , and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure that there is no shortage of skilled workers within the country

E-Communications and Transaction Bill laid in the House

MINISTER of Tourism , Industry and Commerce , Oneidge Walrond, on Thursday, presented the Electronic Communications and Transactions Bill to the National Assembly

The aim of this bill is to establish the legal framework for the use and acceptance of electronic records and signatures in government offices and agencies

According to the bill ’ s explanatory memorandum , consumers, the business community , and banks are increasingly using computers and other related technologies instead of paper documents

“Even though the general public is aware of all of these advantages , many members are reluctant to conduct business or conclude any transaction in electronic form due to the lack of an appropriate

framework,” the bill outlined

The bill also aims to enable the conclusion of contracts and the creation of certain rights and obligations through the electronic medium

The government is currently unable to move fully into e-government services due to the inadequate legal framework and protection and some existing conflicting provisions in various laws

The presentation of the bill stands as part of the government’s commitment to move the country forward, as there is an intention to implement e-government services

According to section two of the bill, electronic communication or transactions shall not be denied legal effect, validity, admissibility or enforceability solely on the ground that it is rendered or made available in electronic

form

Earlier this year, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, S C., said that the bill will formally introduce e-transactions and e - payments across central government and the state apparatus

Just one day prior to the Attorney General making that statement, Minister Walrond said that the government was creating an environment for businesses to thrive and as such will provide the legislative framework for this to happen

She added that the presentation of an electronic transaction bill will bring regulation to online contracts, transactions and digital payments thus giving businesses the confidence to participate in these types of transactions.

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

All teams mobilised, systems in place for ‘bridge closure’

installation plan created for smooth, efficient replacement of bridge span

MARAD officials to monitor river taxi fares

By Naomi Parris

ALL teams have been mobilised and systems have been put in place to ensure the smooth shuttling of commuters and goods from Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown, to facilitate the replacement of span nine of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB).

In an invited comment to the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works , Deodat Indar , af -

firmed that all systems are in place and officials from all the relevant agencies will be on the ground

“All of the plans that we put in place are fully mobilised at the bridge: speed boats , Transport and Harbours , MARAD ( Maritime Administration Department), the police, in terms of getting people across the river and back so, those are in place,” Indar said

Meanwhile, as it relates to the replacement of the bridge span, an installation

All teams have been mobilised and systems have been put in place to ensure the smooth shuttling of commuters and goods from Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown, to facilitate the replacement of span nine of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (Japheth Savory photo) system has been developed

“ With the removal of span nine and the replacement , the installation plan is in place Everything is in place We are going to be on the ground too,” Indar said.

To ensure that commuters are safeguarded against price gouging of taxi fares, officials from MARAD will be stationed at the various ports to monitor operators

Indar related: “We will not allow anybody to increase no fares , MARAD will be involved The mon-

itors and so on will be there to make sure that doesn ’ t happen.”

The bridge will be operational until 23:58hrs on Monday, July 24, and work will commence on the structure on July 25 It is expected to be reopened on July 28

At a recent public engagement with officials from the ministry, several stakeholders were given the opportunity to express their concerns and seek clarifications

The engagement saw

Contractors aim to fast track Cemetery Road expansion project

–– following delays, Minister Edghill affirms

MINISTER of Public Works, Juan Edghill, last week , told the National Assembly that contractors executing the Cemetery Road widening project will intensify efforts to complete ongoing works following delays.

The minister was, at the time, responding to a question posed by opposition Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson who inquired when the project will be completed

The project , which had an initial date of completion in late July, was delayed by several factors , including intense rainfall

Edghill said: “All of us would have seen and known that the drains in the cemetery road alignment have been consistently flooding and waters from the burial ground have been coming in.”

He related that they have been seeking engineering interventions so as to come to a solution of where to dispose of the water

Other issues that caused delays included contractors changing several teams and the delay in the removal of utilities that are in the way of the project

Edghill , however , said that despite these snags in the

project, the ministry has been engaging the contractors and engineers, and instructions have been given for the contractors to speed up the project

To facilitate this, he added: “The ministry has indicated that it has no objections to sub-contracting elements of the project, since there are two bridges , two culverts and a fence to be built , in addition to the widening of the road…”

Despite the hiccups , the Public Works Minister said that the government is anticipating the project ’ s completion before the end of the year.

truckers , business owners , police and coast guard ranks, airline officials, medical personnel and minibus operators discussing the measures put in place to ensure a smooth flow during the three - day closure

Already , suppliers of goods have taken steps to ensure that there are adequate supplies to Regions One , Two, Three and Seven

Additionally, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has committed that its ranks will work with citizens to enhance public order and safety ; a continuous shuttle of commuters from the Vreed-en-Hoop junction to

the ferry stelling in more than two 30-seater buses and the 24 - hour availability of the crossing between Wales and Grove

It was also suggested that buoys be placed as signals for the water taxis to stay in their lanes to avoid collisions will be addressed and action will also be taken to ensure that the Mayor and City Council engage persons around the Stabroek Market area to keep the lanes open for a smooth flow of traffic for those three days Meanwhile, a water ambulance will be in place to facilitate medical emergencies during the closure.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill

Sport Ministry launches music literacy camp

WITH the aim of nurturing the musical talents of the nation ’ s youths , the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, in collaboration with Republic

Bank , is inviting interested persons to register for the “Right Start Pan Minors Music Literacy Camp.”

The training aims to

provide a stepping stone for budding musicians , offering them the opportunity to learn the art of playing the steel pan and grasp the essential elements of music theory

With its rich cultural roots embedded in the Caribbean region, the steel pan is an iconic musical instrument that has captivated audiences worldwide

Through this programme, the ministry aspires to instill a love for the distinctive art , and create a platform for the next generation of steelpan players

The camp provides an excellent opportunity for persons 11 to 18 years old to explore their musical inclinations , and embark on a journey of creative

expression

This pioneering endeavour consists of six camps, each aiming to host 35 students

It ensures aspiring musicians are captured from different regions Camps are set to take place in Regions Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven, and Ten

The partnership between the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport and Republic Bank exemplifies the transformative power of public - private collaborations in advancing cultural development and fostering an artistic community

Persons interested in participating in the programme can register at https :// docs google com/…/1FAIpQLScT…/ viewform (DPI)

Cuban economy minister says no quick fix to devastating crisis

CUBA’S economic growth is less than two per cent this year and remains eight percentage points below pre-pandemic levels , while production in sectors such as agriculture, mining and manufacturing was further behind, Economy Minister Alejandro Gil said on Saturday.

Speaking before the country ’ s parliament , Gil said the primary sector , which includes agriculture, mining and other basic production, was down 34.9 per cent compared with 2019, while manufacturing was off 20 per cent A third sector that includes services such as tourism, communications and education was down 4.9 per cent

Cuba, heavily dependent on food, fuel and other imports, largely blames U S sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic for more than a 50 per cent decline in its export earnings, which are needed to purchase imports, while admitting that market - oriented reforms have moved too slowly in the Communist-run country Gil said export earnings

so far this year were $1.3 billion , 35.7 per cent of what had been expected , while imports were $ 4.4 billion , also well below the Cuban government ’ s forecast

The minister said inflation was raging at a 45 per cent clip this year, on top of last year’s 39 per cent jump, a figure many economists say underestimates the rate as it does not adequately account for a growing informal market driven by

scarcity.

Cuba has resorted to increased price controls to slow inflation , with little success to date, while conceding that other factors are driving up prices, such as low productivity and output

“ If there is no supply and production, we will not achieve effective price control,” Esteban Lazo Hernandez, the president of Cuba’s parliament , said during a session earlier this week

Gil said the crisis, which

has left residents reeling , protesting and leaving the island nation, was “complicated,” but he added that the government was working on solutions

“The gradual recovery of the Cuban economy has not yet reached the necessary pace,” he said. “ Growth ( this year ) is very light at 1.8 per cent and also asymmetric In other words , it does not occur in productive sectors.” (Reuters)

Latin American migrants holding informal jobs hamper their integration

–– report says

MIGRANTS in Latin America are more likely to work in informal jobs despite having higher qualifications compared to native workers, hindering their integration, a joint report by three international organizations showed on Friday

Over 50 per cent of migrants in the region are likely to find informal work, the study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) showed

That trend has been registered

in at least half of the 12 countries analysed

Migrants tend to end up with more temporary contracts and longer shifts , working 50 hours or more per week , than native labourers , 45 per cent of whom work informally on average, the report added

The poor quality of jobs found by migrants reveal a failure to take advantage of the opportunities that migration can bring to these countries, the report said.

It noted that in the last 10 years, only Chile , Colombia , Ecuador , Peru and the Dominican Republic have implemented special permits and visas to regulate the situation of immigrants

Migrant women tend to be more educated than migrant men, the report said, but added that “the proportion of working - age male migrants who are employed exceeds that of female migrants by more than 27 percentage points.”

Mexico is the country with the second lowest proportion of migrants relative to its total population, with about 66 per cent born in the United States and most of them children of Mexican citizens who returned to the Latin American country

Mexico , however , is home to the precarious smuggling of migrants en route to the United States, which ended in notable tragedies in recent years. (Reuters)

The Recipe for Success

DURING the late 70s and early 80s here in Guyana, many public roads were , by and large , deserted . Vehicles were few in number, and in some villages they could have been counted on one hand

The roads , in some areas , were playing grounds mostly for football and cricket It was a given that the makeshift equipment, like the goalpost or “wicket”, would be moved whenever a vehicle approached Given the infrequency, that was not necessarily a deterrent.

Those images were symptomatic of the challenges the country faced at the time; economic, social and political, as major ones Economically, the country was almost stagnated, and, for many, there was little room for personal advancement through the acquisition of wealth or assets The preoccupation was for survival, and the roads offered an alternative outlet from the unusable playfields

Fast forward decades after to the present, the roads are now inadequate

to meet the growing volume of vehicles The images now are of daily, lengthy heavy traffic congestions that unavoidably precipitate frustration

On some roadways, when the traffic is flowing, there is the challenge of being able to cross The inherent danger looms with frequent fatal accidents Roads once used for sporting activities are no longer within the realms of contemplation for such today, and sensibly so

These current images speak to many things, and, none the least, the massive and unprecedented transformation of the country that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government initiated after coming to office in 1992

For that transformation to be realised, the enabling environments for personal advancement had to be created and be easily accessible This is evident from the many Guyanese who have been able to acquire their own homes and other assets, including vehicles

All across the country, the physical landscape has rapidly changed ,

and there is no sign of letting up The country has become unrecognisable for those who left during the oppressive time , pre - 1992 , and would have returned subsequently. Those who resided here, throughout, and witnessed the transformation are still in awe of what transpired between 1992 and 2015

During that period, there was unprecedented and sustained economic growth , and Guyana was described as the shining light of the Caribbean, with many of its policies, including the robust housing drive, lauded However, there was economic slowdown between 2015 and 2020, but not necessarily as a result of global challenges

A cursory analysis of that period would reveal that the economic downturn resulted from inept management and a lack of vision, along with what seemed unbridled self-interest by the previous administration That period was fraught with the implementation of poor decisions , and burdensome economic policies that imposed hardships on the citizenry, and, inevitably,

stymied progress at the individual and national levels

Following the change in government in 2020, at this point it is difficult to keep abreast of the many interventions and developmental initiatives that continue to positively impact residents across the country

These are on all fronts of development, from social, physical infrastructure, security, stimulus etc exposing a stark contrast to what transpired under the previous government That, in itself, speaks volumes to the difference in management and priorities with regard to the welfare of citizens

The images today speak to the return of progress, confidence, freedom in thinking, and bigger dreams, knowing that realising them is no longer unattainable

They also speak of a country about to unlock its vast potential; one that has been placed at the cusp of transformative development, and one that is prudently managed to bring about a brighter future for all

Thank you, GHPC, for saving my life

Dear Editor,

PLEASE permit me some space in your newspaper to acknowledge the sterling services I received from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation neurosurgery team and indeed from the entire staff with whom I came into contact

On April 17, 2023, while I was critically ill during a week about which I have no recollection, my friends and relatives made a life-saving decision to fly me out of Region Nine to the GPHC

I was told that I was picked up at the

Eugene Correia Airport at 16:30hrs and rushed to the GPHC A&E Department, where doctors and support staff did four different diagnostic tests and a complete evaluation

It was recommended that I have immediate surgery for removing blood clots from my brain. By 20:00hrs or a mere three hours later, my surgery was successfully done by a team of seven neurosurgeons led by Dr Dookie While recovering, my relatives updated me on the sequence of events leading up to the surgery and about the swiftness and professionalism with which every

member of staff with whom I came into contact, responded to my sickness

I would like to go on top of the mountain and shout out my appreciation to all of the staff at the GPHC and especially to doctors Dookie , Singh , Fredericks , Alicock and the rest of Dr Dookie’s team

The nursing care I received in the surgical ward was exceptional Friendly, courteous, professional and at times humorous nursing care is what I received Thank you nurses The attendants were all caring and supportive and assisted me as if I were their relative I want to say a special thanks to them too

I have heard and read so many negative things about the GPHC , but my experience has been very different I want to congratulate the management and staff for the quality of healthcare that is being delivered from the GPHC, despite the capacity and other challenges that they face. Thank you all for saving my life.

I also want to thank the doctors , nurses and other staff of the Lethem Hospital also for the care they provided me before I was flown to the GPHC

Yours sincerely, Hemwant Persaud

Editor Navendra Seoraj

The New Cold War [Part Two]: The American empire

THE US never won the hearts, minds and souls of the peoples of the Third World (TW) and now that the sun is setting on the American empire, it certainly will not.

The US emerged as the only superpower after WW2 and its introduction to the TW was one of aloofness, cultural contempt and political domination

The USA won the old Cold War not because of strategic relations with any other part of the world including its ideological allies in Western Europe

The US triumphed because its rival imploded all by itself President Reagan gave himself the honour of defeating the USSR but the USSR defeated itself, a collapse that was in the making since the 1980s

The Americans will not win the new Cold War because the Americans are an identical replica of its post 1945 self The strategic partnership to win the new Cold War has to be the TW but American behaviour around the world is one of empire imposing itself

It will never win the rivalry with China this way and the US will not change its way because empires have congenital traits of flippantly treating powerless countries as subordinates The US is no different in this respect to empires gone by

A good place to start in analysing how the US imposes itself on the TW is right here in Guyana No embassy in this country is so formidable and daunting like the US embassy on Young Street The British, our former colonial invader, has a very small simple building on Main Street The US embassy

is ringed with barricades, traffic cones and security personnel

The embassy has taken over a part of the southern section of Young Street and you are not permitted to walk pass the embassy from that southern side

Last week, I left the Ministry of Natural Resources and turned east on Young Street to go to the police training school I was on the southern side of the road outside the embassy and a local security indicated that I should go over to the northern side of the road

It happened on Monday, July 17, between 10:15 hrs and 10.30 hrs The security cameras should verify that

You can walk pass the embassies in Guyana of some of the most powerful countries in the world including the superpower, China

The list includes Brazil and India The Brazilian Ambassador lives on Peter Rose Street opposite Herdmanston Lodge I have to pass his residence three times a week to do the Gildarie-Freddie Kissoon Show and many times I see him at the window relaxing

The US is building an embassy in Trinidad at the cost of half a billion dollars It is a strange decision because Trinidad holds no special geo-strategic importance for the US When that building is completed, maybe you won’t be able to walk past it as is the case in Guyana. Back to the Americans in the old and new Cold Wars In competing with China, the TW becomes an extremely crucial factor But for the US to persuade the developing countries to delink from China is as we

say in Guyana, “like throwing water on duck’s back.”

The peoples of the developing nations, especially Africa, will not easily forget the US role in preserving apartheid The most strategic African country on the continent, South Africa, will never forgive the US for its role in the apartheid era South African will never abandon Russia because the memories of solidarity are indelible

The TW will not join the Americans in a new Cold War against China because the developing world knows that the US has sided against national liberation movements, post-colonial nationalist governments and has been penny-pinching with aid

Here is a quote from Sir Ron Sanders about US aid to poor countries, especially the CARICOM region Writing in his column of October 17, 2021, he argued that the TW

will not take sides in the new Cold War He wrote: “The 14-nation independent states of the Caribbean Community have been at the bottom of US official development assistance for decades

“In 2019, for instance, total US foreign assistance globally was US$47 billion, of which collectively , CARICOM countries received US$338 million or 0.7 per cent For emphasis, that is less than one per cent of the global total Haiti alone received US$268 million of that US$338 million intended for all 14 CARICOM states, leaving the other 13 to share US$70 million only For nine of the 13 countries, the sum provided did not amount to US$1 million.”

There is a new Cold War alright between China and the US but developing countries are not going to take sides In part three, I will look at China

Guyana to host high-level side event at COP 28

to share extensive knowledge on forestry preservation, carbon market, President Ali says

By Naomi Parris

GUYANA is expected to host a side event at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference / Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC also known as COP 28

This was according to President , Dr Irfaan Ali , during a recent press conference, following his return from the European Union ( EU )- Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit in Brussels, Belgium

The Head of State said that both the presidents of the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank have signalled their support of the country’s venture at the conference slated to be held from November 30 – December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“Guyana will be hosting a side event at COP 28 with UAE and we are hoping that the EU will be a partner in that also,” Dr Ali said

The country will provide guidance on its extensive knowledge of forestry preservation and the carbon market

“It will be a very, very high-level, high-profile programme in which we will present our leadership on the forest and present the formula and the strategy , through which forestry is the leading role on the climate change agenda,” the Head of State said

This year ’ s conference is being held with a view to building on previous successes and paving the way for future ambitions to effectively tackle the global challenge of climate change

According to the United Nations, this year’s conference will see the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28), the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 18), and the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the

Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 5).

GUYANA’S CARBON SALE

In December 2022, the Architecture for REDD + Transactions (ART) issued the world ’ s first TREES credits to Guyana

This marked a milestone, as it was the first time a country was issued carbon

credits specifically designed for the voluntary and compliance carbon markets for successfully preventing forest loss and degradation — a process known as jurisdictional REDD+.

Following the completion of an independent validation and verification process and approval by the ART Board of Directors , ART issued 33.47 million TREES credits to Guyana

for the five-year period from 2016 to 2020

This paved the way for a historic agreement between Hess Corporation and the Government of Guyana , whereby the oil giant opted to purchase about one-third of all Guyana’s credits (issued and anticipated) up to 2030

The agreement will generate a minimum of US$750 million for Guyana over the coming decade and represents a major milestone on the journey towards a vision first set out in 2007

During a recent interview, Guyana’s Vice-President , Dr Bharrat Jagdeo , disclosed that the country’s carbon credits have been attracting more global buyers

Carbon credits , also known as carbon offsets, are permits or tradeable licences that represent the removal or reduction of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere

While the sale of the

carbon credits had garnered mixed reactions with some complaints being made that the funds were inadequate, Dr Jagdeo contended that a look into the global voluntary market showed that the country received a good deal for its lush rainforests and environmental stewardship

He further explained the arrangement can provide far more money if credits increase in value when traded in secondary marketplaces

A way to value the carbon trees store is by issuing forest carbon credits by independent verification organisations

Companies can purchase these tradable credits as a way of recognising that carbon stored in forests is one aspect of the solution to achieve a global climate , where one tonne of carbon dioxide has been decreased, avoided, or sequestered for every carbon credit

Over 200 Indigenous communities in Guyana are slated to benefit from the sale of carbon credits

President, Dr Irfaan Ali

Gov’t business incubator empowering women entrepreneurs

THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s business incubator ushers in a new era of opportunity for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs , in an effort to foster empowerment and drive economic growth among women

The core mission of the business incubator is to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary tools , guidance , and support to navigate the intricacies of starting and running a successful business

To achieve this , the

incubator hosts business clinics , a vital platform where participants are exposed to the nuances of entrepreneurship Business Incubator

Economic Empowerment Officer , Nalini Persaud , is spearheading the initiative and expressed the government’s dedication and vision in helping to shape the future of small businesses in the region

“ The business clinics play a crucial role in enlightening participants about the challenges and rewards of running a business Whether they are newcomers in the

entrepreneurial world or established business owners seeking growth opportunities, the clinics offer valuable insights into various aspects of business management ,” she told the Department of Public Information (DPI) recently

The transition from the informal to the formal economy is a significant focus at the mentorship facility

Several individuals in the informal economy have exceptional skills and talents but lack the knowledge and resources to establish themselves in

Shelves displaying products at the Business Incubator the formal sector, which the incubator aims to address to take their venture to the next level

Meanwhile , after attending the business clinics, participants gain access to expert assistance in formulating their business plans

Recognising the constraints of physical accessibility, the entrepreneurial support hub has

adapted to the digital age by offering online support as well This inclusivity ensures that talented entrepreneurs from various backgrounds and locations can also benefit from the programme

Accordingly, the business incubator is witnessing a remarkable trend, with an increasing number of women entrepreneurs seeking its

services , which cover several topics such as how business planning promotes growth , what makes a great business, business plan writing , and what banks look for in a business plan, among others

In addition, business owners can display their products on the shelves of the business incubator

APNU+AFC’s tenure marred by distrust,

weak

leadership on anti-corruption, social cohesion

THE APNU + AFC tenure under former President David Granger was plagued by weak leadership on addressing corruption and social cohesion, according to senior officials who were close to the former administration

Former APNU + AFC member of parliament, Michael Carrington said Granger gave his ministers freeway and wasn’t so much a good communicator in terms of communicating with his non-Cabinet MPs

“ Right through we had problems till[sic] 2020 between APNU , AFC ,” the former MP told host Freddie Kissoon on the GildarieFreddie Kissoon Show on Wednesday

He added: “To me, there wasn ’ t any co - operation ,

there was always that fear and the fear mostly came up APNU always feared that the AFC will climb the ladder and if they climb the ladder too much , then you may have to give them more and that was one of the biggest fears…”

–– former coalition officials reveal in salaries for MPs which was unfortunately justified by the AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo who served as Prime Minister at the time in the coalition administration “ Then the corruption with the drug bond You have a minister who is clearly corrupt and Granger who is this great President, did nothing,” Bissessar said.

Rajendra Bissessar , a former AFC senior executive, who also appeared on the show, said nothing was done by the then Ministry of Social Cohesion, but the subject minister was not held accountable

“ He [ Granger ] refused to hold his ministers accountable I put you there to perform I need results, you don’t give me results, I put somebody else he just left it to flow He did not lead,” Bissessar said.

He cited the increase

He believes that had the APNU+AFC accepted the results of the no-confidence motion and the subsequent 2020 elections results that the parties would have been in a better position to return to office

Leonard Craig, a former AFC member , indicated that the weakest aspect of the APNU+AFC government was the politics, despite there being some bright spots.

Women receiving training

Gov’t committed to public consultation on infrastructural projects –Public Works Minister says

By Clestine Juan MINISTER of Public Works

Bishop Juan

Edghill has reiterated the government ’ s commitment to community consultation regarding infrastructural projects across Guyana , to ensure that citizens have a meaningful say in shaping their nation’s future

During a recent community stakeholder consultation held at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute at Cove and John, Minister Edghill highlighted the government’s pol-

The Public Works Minister acknowledged the rapid pace and scale of development in Guyana , noting: “Simultaneously, there are several major projects happening at the same time.”

He said that this reality necessitates an even more proactive and regular approach to consultations with the public, in order to ensure that no community is left behind in the process of national transformation

During the consultation, project consultant of the engineering company,

structural developments

He said that the projects are designed to benefit not only the immediate communities but the entire nation , adding : “ Guyana is being modernised and transformed, and I think all of us know, but what we don’t know is the rate of that modernisation.”

The event concluded with Minister Edghill expressing gratitude for the constructive feedback received from the residents

He affirmed that the government ’ s policy of consultation will continue to be a cornerstone of all

The road-widening project underway from Belfield to Mahaica

way First Group Company Limited and a few years later , Guyana and China signed a $ 9.6 billion (US$45.5 million) conces-

sional loan for completion of the widening of the road between Better Hope and Belfield

This year, over $150

billion has been set aside in Budget 2023 for the advancement of major infrastructural projects across the country

icy of ensuring there are consultations with communities before , during , and after infrastructural projects.

The meeting focused on the second phase of the public road-widening and improvement project from Annandale to Mahaica , and expansion of the Railway Embankment from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau, which are set to significantly impact communities along the East Coast of Demerara

In his address to residents of those areas, Minister Edghill said : “ The government ’ s policy as it relates to consulting with citizens is this : we don’t believe in bullying, we don ’ t believe in just showing up and people not knowing what is going on, so we consult.”

He underscored the importance of engaging communities and keeping residents informed about the projects that might affect their daily lives in the short term

Boston Consulting Incorporated, and the manager of China Railway First Group ( Guy .) Inc ., presented detailed information about the upcoming infrastructural projects

The objective was to provide the residents with a comprehensive understanding of the scope, benefits, and potential impact on their communities

After the presentations, Minister Edghill encouraged open dialogue and feedback from the audience , particularly from residents of neighbouring areas such as Haslington and Golden Grove

He said that the government values the citizens’ input and concerns, since their voices matter in shaping these projects that will affect their lives and the future of Guyana

Throughout the session, Minister Edghill reassured the gathering that the government remains committed to ensuring that residents will not face displacement due to the infra-

major infrastructural initiatives in Guyana

The projects will include extension of the Railway Embankment Road into four lanes from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau, extension of the main East Coast roadway from Orange Nassau to Mahaica, as well as rehabilitation of the existing East Coast Demerara Road from Belfield to Orange Nassau, which will allow for additional lanes

This will also see the construction of 48 bridges and 22 culverts , and another bridge across the Hope Canal The loan for the project is being provided by the Exim Bank of China

Phase I of the project was done during the previous term of the People’s Progressive Party / Civic Government (PPP/C) and included the extension of the East Coast Demerara main road

In 2014 , the Government of Guyana awarded the contract to China Rail-

Residents during the community stakeholder consultation at Cove and John

CANU seizes $17M worth of cannabis at Crabwood Creek

According to CANU : “ A thorough search of the area revealed several parcels of suspected cannabis hidden in a clump of bushes at the seaside.”

The suspected narcotics was taken to CANU’s Skeldon Office in Coren-

tyne Berbice where it tested positive for cannabis, weighing about 127 lbs (approximately 57.6 kg), with a street value of approximately $17 million No one was arrested but investigations are ongoing.

THE Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit ( CANU ), on Saturday, seized $17 million worth of cannabis during an operation in the vicinity of the sea dam , located in Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.

The seized cannabis

Director-General urges all FAO members to reduce drivers of migration

MIGRATION can be a positive force in development but increased international collaboration is needed, QU Dongyu , Director - General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said today at an International Conference on Development and Migration in Rome

“ Migration should be a choice , and not a decision

with the most vulnerable to provide them with a better future and a better life, and ensure that no one is left behind,” he said

The conference took place on the eve of the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment, to be held at FAO headquarters in Rome from 24 to 26 July.

The high - level event seeks to drive countries on

Forced migration poses different challenges, especially as the most vulnerable people often do not have another choice

based on hunger , poverty , conflict or climate extremes,” he said , noting that a large share of migrants come from rural areas where livelihood opportunities are scarce and under strain

“We need to work collectively to ease the pressures that force people to migrate,” Qu told participants in the conference, convened by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy to address the root causes behind migratory trends

The FAO Director-General encouraged FAO members to adopt innovative policies that reduce the drivers of migration and noted that FAO welcomes and stands ready to support Italy ’ s proposed “ Rome process ” to develop and implement a five-year plan to boost growth, investments and sustainable development in countries where out-migration trends are greatest

He also highlighted that priority should be given to agrifood systems transformation and rural development , and partnerships are crucial “ Let us act in solidarity

the path towards sustainable and resilient agri-food systems, aimed at improving livelihoods , providing food security and nutrition for all, generating decent jobs and helping the rural poor and those who rely on agriculture, pastoralism and fisheries to adapt to contemporary challenges.

MIGRATION DYNAMICS

While forced displacement should be tackled, Qu said that migrants also bring “immense contributions” to host countries that should be positively acknowledged, noting that most migrants move within their own region

“Well-managed migration can be an engine of sustainable economic growth,” as migrants can help in areas facing labour shortages, ageing populations and skill gaps in specific sectors, including agriculture, he said

“ They can be agents of change, bringing in ideas and innovation, both new and traditional,”

Numerous FAO projects involve supporting people who have been forced to move They aim to help migrants and internally displaced persons to engage in agri- food systems and agricultural livelihoods , actions that require accessing land and assets in host communities

The FAO has also worked closely with national and local partners to train youths and returning migrants in countries such as Tunisia , Ethiopia , Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal and Uganda

Furthermore , the organization collaborates with UN partners to facilitate the return and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons from Mali, Somalia and the Central African Republic.

Through the ambitious Great Green Wall Initiative in Africa, for example, the FAO is helping to mitigate outbound drivers in the Sahel, North Africa and the Horn of Africa by restoring degraded lands and building climate-resilient and sustainable livelihoods , the Director - General noted

The FAO is also collaborating with the Economic Community of West African States on the development of social-protection frameworks in ways that benefit migrants and both their host and home communities.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu addresses the International Conference on Development and Migration in Rome

Cuba to help Guyana boost honey production

CUBA is known for its large - scale production of honey and Guyana is looking to leverage the island-nation’s expertise to boost production here

This was according to President , Dr Irfaan Ali , during a media engagement following bilateral talks with the Cuban Head of State , Miguel Díaz - Canel , at the recently concluded European Union (EU)-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit in Brussels , Belgium.

“Cuba has also extended support for us in building the honey industry ; you know they have tremendous capabilities in the honey industry,” Dr Ali said

Meanwhile , President Ali noted that Guyana’s food security efforts have been taking the world by storm,

and several international stakeholders have signalled their interest in collaborating

“Our leadership on food is being recognised and we are looking at ways we can gather and collaborate on the issue of food security,” the Head of State said

According to a recent article published in the Bee Culture - The Magazine of American Beekeeping, Cuba produced more than 10,500 tonnes of honey in 2021

Figures provided by the publication stated that there are a total of about 500 organic beekeepers in the country

Supported by the government, Cuba’s honey-making industry has continued to grow , with record exports of 8,500 tonnes in 2021 , mainly destined for markets in Western Europe, Canada,

Japan , the Bahamas , and Martinique

Meanwhile , the global honey market size is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2 per cent from 2022 to 2030, and expanding Guyana’s honey industry is high on the government’s agricultural development agenda

In 2022 , Guyana produced over 3,700 gallons of honey and the Ministry of Agriculture here has vowed to support bee farmers

Agriculture Minister , Zulfikar Mustapha, in a report earlier this year , said that the ministry, through the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), has been working to develop the industry , especially in the hinterland communities

“The GLDA was tasked with developing a comprehensive plan for the industry

and has commenced working with new and existing beekeepers so that they can either establish or expand their operations This will continue in 2023,” Mustapha said During the course of 2023, persons from Regions One , Five , Six , and Nine

will benefit from additional support to further develop Guyana ’ s honey industry . This, he added, will enable persons to view bee rearing as an economic activity

In 2021, the global honey market was said to be valued at US$8.58 billion

With honey being a natural sweetener and an excellent source of numerous nutritional ingredients including vitamins , minerals , calcium, and antioxidants, the global demand for pure and unadulterated honey continues to increase.

A model hive on display at the inaugural Agri Investment Forum and Expo last May

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday July 24, 2023)

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

Answers to Sunday’s quiz:

(1) 774 runs (4 Tests, 1971)

(2) Doug Walters- 242 & 103 (Sydney, 1968-69)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) When and where did the WI win a Test match in India for the first time?

(2) When and where did the WI win a Test match against India in the WI for the first time?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

IRISH RACING TIPS

15:10 hrs

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THISTLEDOWN Race 1 Can I Go Too Race 2 Leombruno Race 3 Feeling Easy Race 4 The Equinest Race 5 Shell Fire

Race 6 Mansfield Tiger Race 7 Map To My Heart

ROHIT Sharma and Ishan...

FROM BACK PAGE

himself a bit unlucky, with ball-tracking also returning umpire's call on impact.

In the next over, Siraj went wide of the crease, tricked Jason Holder into playing for the inward angle, but got the ball to swing away and kiss the edge. Siraj proceeded to snip off the tail with his wobble-seam inducker and outswinger. He led India's players off the field and was warmly welcomed back by bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.

India had needed less

than eight overs - and less than an hour - on the fourth morning - to bowl West Indies out in their first innings. However, there wasn't as much swing on offer for India in an extended posttea session. So, Siraj and co. shortened their lengths, but Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul were up for the task.

Brathwaite was busier than he was in West Indies' first innings, driving and punching Siraj for fours. Chanderpaul spent 21 balls on 2, and 62 balls without a

boundary, but was largely unperturbed. The opening partnership, though, ended on 38 when Ashwin had Brathwaite splicing a sweep to short fine leg in his fourth over. In his next over, Ashwin trapped Kirk McKenzie for a duck immediately after changing his angle to round the wicket.

Ravindra Jadeja also extracted sharp turn and bounce, but Chanderpaul and Jermaine Blackwood ushered West Indies to stumps without any further damage.(Cricinfo).

SCOREBOARD

Vingegaard retains Tour de France title as Meeus claims surprise win in Paris

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard sealed his second successive Tour de France triumph as Jordi Meeus sprinted to a surprise win on the final stage.

Meeus, 25, edged Jasper Philipsen in a photo finish in Paris to deny his fellow Belgian a repeat of last year's win on the iconic Champs Elysees.

Vingegaard, 26, finished seven minutes and 29 seconds clear of nearest rival, two-time winner Tadej Pogacar.

Britain's Adam Yates was third overall, one place above his twin brother Simon.

"I'm happy of coursewe're winning it for the second time and it's amazing," said Vingegaard.

"It's been a super hard race and a super good fight between me and Tadej. Of course, I hope to come back next year to see if I can take the third win."

Only eight men have taken three or more Tour wins since the race's first edition in 1903.

Vingegaard's more immediate target is victory at another Grand Tour, the Vuelta a Espana, which starts at the end of August.

(nb3)

He will ride alongside his Jumbo-Visma team-mate and three-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic - winner of this year's Giro d'Italia - as they target a first clean sweep of the sport's three biggest stage races.

Vingegaard revealed he will take no more than a week off before starting his preparations for Spain, but will find time to celebrate his success.

"It's been an amazing year, what a Tour de France for us," he added.

"We started the plans early and once again I could not have done it without my team. I'm so proud of every one of us.

"Tonight we will celebrate, have a good dinner,

Did not bat: V Kohli, A Rahane, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, J Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar

Fall of wickets: 1-98, 2-102

Bowling: Roach 4-0-46-0, Joseph 4-0-37-0 (nb1), Holder 4-0-26-0 (w1), Gabriel 6-0-33-1, Warrican 6-0-36-1.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (Target: 365 runs)

K Brathwaite c Unadkat b Ashwin 28

T Chanderpaul not out 24

K McKenzie lbw b Ashwin 0

J Blackwood not out 20

Extras (b2, lb1, nb1) 4

TOTAL (2 wkts, 32 overs) 76

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-44

To bat: A Athanaze, +J Da Silva, J Holder, A Joseph, K Roach, J Warrican, S Gabriel

Bowling: Mohammed Siraj 8-2-24-0, Mukesh Kumar 5-4-5-0 (nb1), Unadkat 3-21-0, Ashwin 11-2-33-2, Jadeja 5-1-10-0.

Position: West Indies require a further 289 runs with eight wickets intact.

Umpires: Marais Erasmus, Richard Kettleborough; TV – Michael Gough India strike after setting West Indies 365 target

it will be a nice evening. Thanks to my opponents who have been amazing, it's been an amazing three weeks fighting with you guys."

Meeus was probably the most unlikely man to make it to the top of the podium in the French capital.

Racing in his first Tour, Bora-Hansgrohe rider Meeus claimed the biggest win of his career by a rim from Philipsen, racing in the green jersey having won four stages of this year's contest.

Meeus said: "It was a super nice experience already so far and to take the win today was an indescribable feeling. Everything went perfect."(BBC Sport)

Verstappen wins as Red Bull set record with 12th consecutive victory

MAX Verstappen's dominant victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix set a wins record for his Red Bull team.

The Dutchman's seventh victory in a row and ninth of the season was Red Bull's 12th consecutive win, dating back to the final race of 2022 in Abu Dhabi.

The achievement broke the record of 11 straight wins set by McLaren with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1988.

McLaren's Lando Norris fended off a threat from Red Bull's Sergio Perez to take second place.

Lewis Hamilton, who had started from pole position, closed on Perez in the final laps but was not able to attempt an overtake and had to settle for fourth.

Verstappen's run of five consecutive pole positions was ended by Hamilton on

Max Verstappen has won the past seven F1 races and nine of 11 so far this season

Saturday, who took his first pole since 2021.

The seven-time champion always felt he would struggle to challenge the Red Bull given its strong race pace, but any hopes Hamilton might have had of mounting a challenge were gone within a few seconds of the start.

A better getaway by the Red Bull driver had Verstappen alongside the Mercedes on the inside on the run to the first corner.

Verstappen claimed the

lead as they turned in, and motored away into a race of his own at the front. His win moves him into a 110-point championship lead over Perez.

Hamilton's attempts to hold on to the lead by squeezing Verstappen tight to the inside cost him two further positions, as the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Norris also passed him and demoted him to fourth place.

Piastri swept around the outside of the corner to take second place ahead of his team-mate, and Norris then passed Hamilton at Turn Two.

But the McLaren drivers' positions were reversed at the first pit stops when McLaren stopped Norris first and gave him the chance to use his fresh tyres to 'undercut' ahead of the Australian.(BBC Sport)

Vingegaard crossed the finish line on the Champs Elysees with his Jumbo-Visma team-mates

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on board Kares One Guyana T10 Blast

THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport is onboard the inaugural Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast set for July 29-30 in Georgetown.

Minister Charles Ramson Jr. and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Kashif Muhammad, recently met with the organisers at the Ministry’s Main Street location.

Both the Minister and the Chairman applauded the organisers for creating a viable product and hopes to see it grow to involve more teams and be contested over a longer period.

The Minister suggested the idea of the future finals being stated at the National Stadium, Providence, given the magnitude of support for community-based tournaments.

The organising team - FL Sport - comprised of John Ramsingh, Romario Samaroo, Yusuf Ali and Akeem Greene, took up the Minster’s challenge to expand the tournament in the future.

This year, the tournament has 32 teams, who have come from all regions except Region Nine.

More so, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, the tournament’s patron, recently recommitted

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. receives his tournament jersey as he could feature in the celebrity match for Charity on July 30

his support for the tournament, noting it is an event that will bring many people together from varying communities under the ‘One Guyana’ banner.

The President also unveiled the specially-made hand-crafted winner’s trophy.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips was also present, and he, too, pledged his support towards the tournament.

Several active and former national players will feature for their teams over the twoday extravaganza.

Preliminary matches will be staged at the Police Sports Club, the Guyana Defence Force, Queen’s Col-

lege Ground, YMCA, and Transport Sports Club, while the finals will be held at the Everest Cricket Ground on July 30.

To progress to the championship match, a team must win three matches on day one and their semi-final on day two.

They will then qualify to compete for the first prize of $1M cash and the specially crafted One Guyana Trophy.

The organisers are grateful for the support of Kares Engineering, who quickly committed to being the title sponsor, and Mohamed’s Enterprise, who funded the first-place prize and offset the transportation cost for

- Minister Ramson Jr. hopes to see

further growth of tournament

team Moruca.

More so, Banks DIH, through GT Beer for fueling the weekend, Star Rentals, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc., ENet, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Trophy Stall, Premier Insurance, Cricket Zone USA, Beacon Café, Continental Transport, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, RS53 RestoBar and Lounge, Jacobs Jewelry & Pawn Shop, First Change Builder Inc. Impressions Inc. and Sicko Mode, 94.1 BOOM FM, Assuria Insurance, Montra Restaurant & Longue.

The first-ever champions will pocket $1M, while the losing finalist will collect $300,000.

The two losing semi-finalists will walk away with $100,000 each. There will also be prizes for outstanding individual performances.

Additionally, there will be a celebrity match before the championship match where the winning side will be rewarded $200,000, which will be donated to a charity of their choice.

The celebrity match could feature President Ali, former national and international cricketers, entertainers,

sponsors, media members, athletes, former and current Ministers, and other influential persons in Guyana.

The organisers reminded that players will not only walk away with their pockets filled as there will be numerous instant prizes for the fans who participate in cricket novelty activities.

At the same time, the children will be pampered with free rides, games, and treats in the Banks DIH Fun Zone.

There was a change in fixtures to accommodate the usage of normal mud pitches, as unanimously requested by participating teams.

Round of 16 matches commences at 13:30h at all five venues, while Super Eight matches start at 16:00h and will be at QC, Police and Guyana Defence Grounds only.

The semifinals and final are on July 30 at Everest Cricket Ground.

Matches starting at 09:00h

1. Eccles All Stars v Hero Riders – Queen’s College Ground

2. Ministry of Human Services and Social Security v Bartica Bulls – Queen’s College Ground

3. Avinash All-Stars v

PB Contractors – YMCA

4. Continental Transport v Moruca XI – Guyana Defence Force Ground

5. Eastsye v Airport XI – Guyana Defence Force Ground

6. The United Crew v Spartan Strikers – Guyana Defence Force Ground

7. Village Rams v Young Steppaz – Transport Sports Club

8. Ministry of Housing & Water v Central Stars –Police Sports Club Matches starting at 11:00h

9. Ariel XI v Movements Family – Queen’s College Ground

10. Big B’s Blairmont Blazers v MS 13 XI –Queen’s College Ground

11. Team Corruption v Upsetters – YMCA

12. Guyana Power & Light v Laluni – Guyana Defence Force Ground

13. 1Name Brand v Storm Chasers – Guyana Defence Ground

14. Tarmac Titans v EC Express – Transport Sports Club

15. Diamond Gunners v Region Three Police – Police Sports Club

16. Avery Lounge v V-Net Vipers – Police Sports Club

Guyana surrender both boys & girls team titles to Barbados

By Sean Devers

DEFENDING team cham-

pions Guyana returned to the Island of St Vincent where the inaugural junior CASA Championships were held in 1981 in an unsuccessfull attempt to defend their team title they won last year in Guyana.

Both the boys and girls teams again qualified for the team finals which were played last night.

In the Saturday morning session, the boys team beat Bermuda 3-1 while the girls defeated Bermuda 3-0 in their respective semi-final matches.

In the girls final Guyana lost 3-2 against Barbados

in some very hard-fought games while the boys team fared even worse, going down 3-0 to Barbados boys.

Earlier in this tournament, Guyana had captured

10 medals including golds from Avery Arjoon, Louis Da Silva and Nicholas Verwey in the singles and another in the mixed doubles from Nicholas Verwey and

Kirsten Gomes. Kaylee Lowe, Mohyran Baksh and Kerstin Gomes won three silver medals for the Guyanese while Ethan Bulkan Micheal Alphonso

and Justin Ten Pow won three bronze.

The girls team matches began on Friday with Guyana beating the host nation 5-0.

Gomes defeated Nadira Morgan 11-4, 11-3, 11-1, Safirah Summer beat Zoe Martin 11-2, 11-1, 11-4, Rylee Rodrigues got the better of Ciara George 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3, Avery Arjoon beat Naira-Skye John 11-1,11-1, 11-2 and Kaylee Lowe beat Caeli George 111,11-5 11-1.

In the evening session the Guyana girls beat Jamaica 3-2 as they got a walk over in their last match.

Gomes beat Savannah Thompson 4-11, 11-7, 11-2,

11-3; Jamaican Katherine Risden beat Summer 11-3, 11-3, 11-5; Mehar Trehan of Jamaica defeated Rodrigues 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 before Lowe beat Marley Price

The Guyana girls also beat the Cayman Islands 5-0

The boys beat the Cayman Islands 5-0, British Virgin Islands 4-1 and T&T 4-1

Guyana seniors are also the defending champions after winning the Senior CASA last year in Jamaica. They will now attempt to recapture that title in the Cayman Islands from August 21-26.

Both Guyana boys and girls teams lost to Barbados in the Junior CASA finals

Nicholas Verwey

CWI and governments need to collaborate on improvement of facilities, Shallow says

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC )– Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dr Kishore Shallow said facilities development and facilities management was one vital area for functional cooperation between his organisation and the governments of the Caribbean.

In the Trinidad capital for the historic second Test between West Indies and India at Queen’s Park Oval, Shallow said CWI officials and the Caricom prime ministerial sub-committee on cricket were scheduled to meet this coming week to further discuss areas for functional cooperation.

He said facilities at the venues around the Caribbean where international matches were played needed improvement, and the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup, to be staged next year in the Caribbean, was the perfect time to get things started.

“The governments have

a massive role to play in the development of our cricket, and I understand the difficulties that the global challenges that they face in terms of finance, but they can definitely play a part in facilities improvement,” Shallow said during an in-studio interview on the iSports radio show this past Thursday on i95.5 FM in Trinidad.

“Around the corner, we have a massive opportunity to do it when we host the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup next year, so facilities and access to resources, and they have tremendous experience with administration, so there are different ways we can complement each other.”

He added: “With the infrastructure, indoor facilities, where players can train morning, noon, and night regardless of the weather conditions is absolutely necessary.

“We have seen the inconsistency with pitches, compare what we had in the first Test in Dominica

to what we have here in Trinidad. We need more consistency, and we need to lift the standards because CWI cannot go into a country and dictate year round how the facilities are kept.”

Shallow said it was vital that the governments around the Caribbean understand the important role they must play, but he felt it was also important for CWI to sensitise them and all stakeholders about how they can contribute to the success of West Indies cricket.

“From the preliminary discussions we have had

(with the sub-committee), we are all on the same wavelength in terms of greater collaboration,” he said.

“I have stated clearly that I am quite open to having an inclusive environment and working closely with the government across the Caribbean.”

He said: “There was some discussion that there was some hostility over a period of time, and Caricom heads of government did not feel as though they were welcomed and that was expressed to me.

“Under (predecessor) Ricky Skerritt, there was the intention to collaborate, and we met with a few prime ministers, but COVID-19 came and that hindered the progress, and we are at a stage now where we are saying, ‘let’s work together’.”

Shallow said he valued the role that governments could play in the further development of the sport in the Caribbean, but there needed to be frank discus-

sions about the boundaries for the relationship, so that there will not be direct “involvement” into certain affairs.

“It’s about the communication between the two sides and it’s just like how we can’t go and get involved in their affairs,” he said. “It is the information that we share with them because at all times in any relationship, it’s the information that you have that helps you to make better and informed decisions.

“I think that is all it is. We need to communicate better. They are critical stakeholders. They invest in cricket, and in sports generally, across the Caribbean, so we have to understand and appreciate why they have a vested interest in cricket.”

He said: “I would prefer to replace the word ‘interfere’ with the word ‘involvement’, so they want to be involved, and I absolutely welcome that and I think they understand my position. I am not passing

over the management and leadership to governments in the region because they are quite busy already.

“From what I have heard from the conversations we have had, they all want to see an improvement of West Indies cricket because they all appreciate the value of West Indies cricket. We have had fruitful discussions, and I expect our conversations going forward to be quite similar.”

Shallow said he had met with sub-committee during the last Caricom heads of government meeting from July 3 to 5 in the Trinidad capital that coincided with the West Indies’ failure to qualify for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 India in October.

He said the passion he saw from the leaders during that meeting he hoped could be channelled into “harmonising resources” and try to “identify opportunities to improve further”.

Bollywood star and cricket greats combine to launch World Cup campaign

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) and The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have joined forces to unveil a new campaign ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in India later this year.

The 'It Takes One Day' campaign was launched in Mumbai just 77 days out from the start of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

The 'It Takes One Day' campaign was launched in Mumbai on Thursday, just 77 days out from the first match at this year's World Cup, with the campaign aiming to connect fans across the world to the

‘Navarasa’ which symbolises the nine emotions fans most commonly experience during a cricket match.

A film featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan -- along with renowned cricketers JP Duminy, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Karthik, current World Cup winning captain Eoin Morgan, Muttiah Muralitharan, Jonty Rhodes and Jemimah Rodrigues -- was released in conjunction with the campaign launch and showcases many decorated moments in the history of the Men's Cricket World Cup.

The campaign displays the journey of raw emo-

tions experienced by both players and fans collectively over One Day, with the film connecting the nine ‘Navarasa’ emotions -- anguish, bravery, glory, joy, passion, power, pride, respect and wonder -- and explores how it takes one day to experience this rollercoaster.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice was thrilled to launch the campaign and is eagerly awaiting the commencement of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 5.

“This campaign is a true celebration of One Day International cricket and builds a sense of anticipation of what we

can expect when the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 returns to India. The emotions, or Navarasa, are felt by fans and players alike during One Day and this campaign brings to life that shared experi-

ence," Allardice said. “Cricket and cinema are at the heart of Indian psyche, and we’ve infused the two to create appeal far and wide. The involvement of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan together with an exceptional line-up of cricketers will only help us deepen our connect in this country, while captivating the attention worldwide.”B -

CCI Secretary Jay Shah echoed Allardice's sentiments.“The ODI format holds an unparalleled significance with its ability to deliver thrilling moments, intense battles, and unpredictable outcomes that will truly captivate fans

globally. As we embark on this journey, we are proud to see the launch of the Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign and create real excitement for the event across the world," he said.

“We are fully committed to creating a world-class event that will witness the birth of a new generation of heroes, providing fans with unforgettable experiences and we believe the campaign does this.

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India will be a celebration of cricketing excellence, cultural diversity, and the unifying spirit of the game.” (ICC Media)

CWI president Dr. Kishore Shallow

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan with the World Cup trophy

Ben Stokes rues Old Trafford rain after ‘pretty much perfect’ performance

England captain proud of team’s attempts to force pace, targets squared series at The Oval…

BEN Stokes believes England did "literally everything we possibly could" to force a result in the drawn fourth Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford, delivering a "pretty much perfect" performance in a game they "completely and utterly" dominated.

England led by 275 runs on first innings after winning the toss, bowling Australia out for 317 before racking up 592 in 107.4 overs, and led

by 61 runs heading into the final day with Australia five wickets down in their second innings.

But after rain had limited the fourth day's play to 30 overs, it forced a total washout on Sunday, denying England the opportunity to push for victory and leaving Australia 2-1 up heading into the final Test at The Oval next week - thereby retaining the Ashes urn.

"The cricket we got in,

in this game, was potentially an opportunity for a team to play it safe; to wait and see what the outcome might be," Stokes said. "We didn't do that. We definitely didn't shy away from what we needed to do.

"We're always putting our front foot forward and trying to press the game as hard as we possibly could. As a captain, that's something that makes me very proud as a leader of the ten other guys

Sweden rally for late victory as Jamaica make history

SWEDEN got their Women’s World Cup campaign up and running in dramatic fashion while Jamaica claimed a historic point on day four of the tournament.

The Swedes, who finished third in 2019, battled back to beat South Africa while Jamaica held France and in the day’s other game, the Netherlands claimed a narrow win over Portugal.

Here the PA news agency takes a look at all of Sunday’s action.

Netherlands down debutants

Stefanie van der Gragt’s header saw the Netherlands open their challenge with a 1-0 victory over debutants Portugal in Dunedin.

The defender beat Ines Pereira after 13 minutes but needed to wait before the effort was awarded by VAR.

Jill Roord and Danielle van de Donk missed good

higher than them in the FIFA rankings.

Kadidiatou Diani saw one shot saved by Rebecca Spencer, another deflect just wide and headed against the woodwork late on as France were left frustrated.

New Gunners signing seals Sweden comeback Amanda Ilestedt’s late winner saw Sweden come from behind to beat South Africa 2-1 at Wellington Regional Stadium.

The new Arsenal signing’s header came in stoppage time to break South Africa hearts after Hildah Magaia put them ahead minutes into the second half.

out there. It's just unfortunate that we managed to get three hours in over the last two days."

The draw was the first of Stokes' tenure as permanent captain, after 12 wins and four defeats in his first 16 Tests in full-time charge. "I think it's the first draw for us, through no fault of our own," he said. "We try and take the positive out of these things. We did literally everything we possibly could.

"The weather didn't help us and we can't change that. It's a tough pill to swallow, knowing that's the reason we sit here with a draw, but we've done everything we possibly could in the hours of play we managed to get. We were completely and utterly dominant throughout the hours of play we had. It's a shame, but, oh well."

Ben Stokes believes his team have "already done wonders" for Test cricket in England

When asked to compare how he felt in Manchester to his emotions after England's defeats in the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord's, Stokes said: "I think they're completely different.

"We obviously played some brilliant cricket in those games, [but] we played some cricket that we knew we could have been better at. But in this game I can't actu-

ally look back and think, 'We could have been better there', because we were pretty much perfect throughout the whole game.

"Bowling Australia out and then scoring the runs that we did at the pace that we did - I can't really say we got anything wrong about this game, to be honest. It is tough to say we ended up with a draw when we've dominated the cricket that we've managed to get in."(BBC Sport)

Australia retain Ashes after final day washout forces draw

ENGLAND’s hopes of an Ashes comeback were heartbreakingly ended by rain that left the fourth Test as a draw and ensured Australia retain the urn.

chances to extend the lead for the Dutch, who are without injured record scorer Vivianne Miedema. Portugal substitute Telma Encarnacao had a late effort saved by Daphne van Domselaar.

Reggae Girlz hold on to make history

Jamaica secured their first-ever point at a Women’s World Cup by drawing 0-0 with France in their Group F opener.

The Reggae Girlz had skipper Khadija Shaw sent off late on but held on against a side 38 places

But Sweden, who beat England in the third-place play-off four years ago and were runners-up in 2003, recovered with Fridolina Rolfo equalising in the 65th minute. Defender Ilestedt then nodded in the winner in the 90th minute.

Picture of the dayPost of the dayQuote of the day Jamaica manager Lorne Donaldson: “I would say it is the number one result we have had so far. The number one result, men or women. Just look at the rankings. You would say this result, on this stage, has to be number one.”(Sportsmax).

On a hugely frustrating and disappointing fifth day at Old Trafford, persistent bad weather prevented a single ball from being bowled.

There was a brief gap that allowed a start to be scheduled for 13:00 BST, only for the rain to return.

It meant England did not get a chance to push for the final five wickets they needed to force a win. Australia remained on 214-5 in their second innings, 61 runs behind the home side.

At 2-1 up with only one match to play, holders Australia will at least hang on to the Ashes they have possessed since 2017-18 and will now look to complete a first series win in the UK in

22 years.

For an England team playing such a thrilling style of cricket under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, the wait for a first Ashes win since 2015 goes on.

After losing the first two Tests they were attempting to become the first England team to come from 2-0 down

to win an Ashes series, but it was too big an ask.

This result also extends an England winless run in Ashes Tests at Old Trafford that dates back to 1981, with the next Ashes Test here not scheduled until 2031.

The final Test of the series at The Oval begins on Thursday. (BBC Sport)

Ben Stokes wears the look of a man who can see it all slipping away • (Getty Images)

Jamaica had lost their previous three matches at a Women’s World Cup before the draw with France

On a hugely frustrating and disappointing fifth day at Old Trafford, persistent bad weather prevented a single ball from being bowled (Photo: Getty Images)

Elite League champions GDF unbeaten in incredible championship run

AN epic showdown was promised and a thriller it was, when the final game of the KFC Elite League Season 5 was staged on Saturday night.

After 90 minutes of exhilarating, high-quality football action at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Football Club did more than needed to lift the spanking new, BACIF-curated Elite League trophy.

Scores of spectators flooded the East Bank Demerara (EBD) venue where the thrills began as early as the 5th minute of play in the final league game between the GDF and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC.

The very first goal of the game was witnessed after backto-back corner kicks, taken by the GDF outfit. While the first attempt was not successful, Stephen McDonald was perfectly positioned metres in front of the keeper on the second attempt. McDonald headed the ball out of the keeper’s reach and into the back of the nets for GDF’s first.

The second strike followed not too long after coming off the boots of Ryan ‘Bom Bom’ Hackett, who also sported the GDF’s captain’s armband for the half. A pass found Hackett just outside of the 18-yard box, who after shifting to his left foot, sent his trademark long shot into the top-

right corner of the box, escaping the clutches of the GPF keeper by centimetres in the 11th.

It was at this juncture that the battle gained intensity when the tournament’s highest goal scorer, Nicholas McArthur, pulled one back for the policemen.

The soldiers’ keeper, Jamaine Cumberbatch, misjudged McArthur’s ability to collect a high pass, meeting the striker outside the box. McArthur, however, was able to execute the shot before the keeper collided with him. The ball made its way safely into the net for the 21st minute strike.

The goal visibly lifted the spirits of the Police camp, but the euphoria was shortlived as the voice of veteran journalist and announcer, Allan La Rose, filled the venue again. “GOAL!”

It was the soldiers’ third strike, this time off the boots of the capable Kelsey Benjamin, who capitalized on an assist in the box to add his name to the scoresheet in the 29th.

The score at the end of the half remained stuck at 3-1, but this would change early in the second segment.

Stephen McDonald completed his brace in the 58th, which turned out to be the last goal of the 4-1 encounter between the disciplined forces’ teams.

“In retrospect, I must say that the work on the field is a

reflection of what happens behind the scenes. I thought that the players were committed, I thought that the support was there and that’s what showed out in all nine games in the league,” GDF Head Coach Joseph Wilson said about the team’s victory.

Wilson added, “The players were determined, the players actually gave up their stint in the national team training programme to be part of this success, because the players see it as an important part of their future going forward.”

The victory brought the GDF outfit to 25 points from nine games played, to clinch the trophy. Sneaking into the second position was Western Tigers FC, who finished the league with 22 points. The policemen had for settle for the third position, after the loss to GDF left them on 21 points.

When it came to individual awards, Nicholas McArthur’s 18 goals from nine games, not only afforded him the highest goal scorer accolade, but the forward carted off the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. GDF’s Jamaine Cumberbatch was also adjudged the tournament’s best goal-keeper, conceding only one goal in nine games.

Meanwhile, Den Amstel came from behind to upend former champions Fruta Conquerors FC in the penultimate game

CPL’s local box office to begin ticket sales on Tuesday

LOCAL fans can secure their entry for the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League matches in Guyana as the local office opens its doors from Tuesday, July 25, 2023, from 09.00hrs to 16.30hrs on weekdays and 09.00hrs to 13.00hrs on Saturdays.

Tickets will be available to be purchased at the modern box office conveniently located at 233-234 Camp Street, or alternately online from www.cplt20.com for both Guyana Amazon Warriors’ home matches and neutral matches.

The Guyana leg of the tournament will begin on September 13 with Warriors taking on defending champions, Jamaica Tallawahs, from 19.00hrs. The following day, Warriors return to battle St. Lucia Kings from 19.00hrs.

Fans are urged to purchase tickets early

On September 16, there will be a double header as Tallawahs face St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots at 10.00hrs before Warriors go up against Trinbago Knight Riders at 19.00hrs.

September 17 will also see a double header with Tallawahs returning to play Kings at 10.00hrs, followed

by the Warriors and Barbados Royals clash at 19.00hrs. All matches will take place at the National Stadium, Providence. Ticket prices are set at $2,500 for the Grass Mound, $3,500 for the Orange Stand, $5,500 for the Red Stand and $6,000 for the Green Stand.

of the league. At the end of the first half, Fruta led 2-0 with goals compliments of Dennis Edwards and Samuel Garnett in the 12th and 41st respectively. However, Den Amstel’s Stephon Jupiter and Cleavon

Murray cut out the deficit with goals in the 55th and 56th, while Malcolm Dainty handed the West Coast outfit the lead in the 64th. Andre Hector then made it a 4-2 game in Den Amstel’s favour

in the 72nd, via penalty. Although Deandre Linton struck for Fruta in the 83rd it was not enough to bar Den Amstel from the 4-3 win.

Different game plan for Panama, says Spence

SYDNEY, Australia, (CMC) – Jamaica Reggae Girls midfielder Drew Spence says the Caribbean side will have to be more attacking in their next game against Panama, if they are to collect full points and progress in the group stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Playing in their opening Group F game at Allianz Stadium here Sunday, Jamaica frustrated powerhouses France to earn a precious point in a nil-all draw.

A positive result against the Panamians in Perth next Saturday will see the Jamaicans claim their first-ever World Cup win and position themselves for a place in the next round of the showpiece.

“We’ve got a result against France and probably no-one expected that. Now we’ve got a big game against Panama. We’ll have a different game plan,” Spence said afterwards.

“I think we need to get forward more and support the frontline. We can create a lot more chances and we’ll work on that this week.”

Jamaica did not have an abundance of chances against the French, their best opportunity coming in the first half when Manches-

ter City star Khaija Shaw forced a diving save out of goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, with a superb free kick from nearly 30 yards out.

Shaw, Jamaica’s talismanic captain, was sent off in stoppage time at the end for a second yellow card and will now miss the contest against Panama.

Despite being ranked 38

“We were confident we could get a result and this is huge for us. I can’t tell you how big this is. We knew we could do this. I had a good feeling about it all week.

“I think a lot of people didn’t even think we were going to make it to the World Cup because we had a tough group in the Concacaf qualifiers, and now we have another tough group here.

places below fifth-ranked France, Spence said the Reggae Girls had not been intimidated by their opponents.

“We know the quality we have in the team and the confidence and spirit we have,” said Spence, who features for Tottenham Hotspurs in the English Super League

“We don’t mind people writing us off, though, it just motivates us.”

Jamaica are also grouped together with South American nation Brazil who they play in their final game.

GDF’s Skipper Kenard Simon receives the championship trophy from KFC Guyana Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh

Jamaica’s Drew Spence controls the ball during her side’s nil-all draw against France

India strike after setting West Indies 365 target

ROHIT Sharma and Ishan

Kishan switched into T20 mode to set up India’s victory push on another rain-interrupted day at the Queen’s Park Oval

Rohit hit a 35-ball half-century - his fastest in Test cricket - before a promoted Kishan pulled off a near-perfect impersonation of Rishabh Pant with a 33ball fifty as India set West Indies 365.

The hosts closed out the day at 76 for 2 on a Port-ofSpain pitch that was more responsive to the spinners. The forecast for Monday is also fairly grim, so India will have to step up a gear with the ball as well if they are to beat both West Indies and the weather.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's downthe-track six over extra-cover off the first over, bowled by Kemar Roach, was a portent for the carnage that was to follow. In Roach's next over, Rohit lofted him over the midwicket boundary with more gusto.

(Scores: West Indies 255 (Brathwaite 75, Siraj 5-60, Jadeja 2-37) and 76 for 2 (Brathwaite 28, Chanderpaul 24*, Ashwin 2-33) need a further 289 runs to beat India 438 and 181 for 2 dec (Rohit 57, Kishan 52*, Gabriel 1-33)

Rohit had led a charmed life - he was first dropped by Shannon Gabriel on 25 and then by Alick Athanaze on 29.

Both were fairly straightforward chances, bringing

West Indies' sloppy fielding into sharp focus once again. In the ODI World Cup qualifier in June-July, West Indies had botched a number of chances in the field, with white-ball coach Daren Sammy labelling them the "worst

didn't mess it up. Jaiswal then helped India reach 100 off 12.2 overs - the fastest team hundred in Test cricket (where known). When Jaiswal tried to up the ante even further, he ended up skying a slog-sweep to the

sun was out, Kishan successfully slog-swept Warrican to the midwicket boundary.

Kishan also flat-batted Warrican over his head before unleashing Pant-esque one-handed sixes. Moments after Kishan zoomed to his

off 37 balls to that total.

That India were in a position to push for a win was also down to Mohammed Siraj, who had dismissed West Indies for 255, from an overnight 229 for 5, in their first innings. Siraj, the leader

It was debutant Mukesh Kumar who had struck in the first over of the day when he pinned Athanaze lbw with an inswinger from over the wicket. After being given out by on-field umpire Marais Erasmus, Athanaze went for

fielding side" around.

Rohit made West Indies pay on Sunday before he was eventually caught at fine leg, where Alzarri Joseph

wicketkeeper off Jomel Warrican for 38 off 30 balls. Inclement weather allowed only three overs in the afternoon session, but once the

fifty with one such one-handed six, Rohit declared India's second innings at 181 for 2 in 24 overs. Shubman Gill had contributed an unbeaten 29

of India's inexperienced pace attack, lived up to his billing and bagged career-best figures of 5 for 60 in challenging conditions.

a review almost immediately, but HawkEye suggested that it would have just clipped leg stump. Athanaze could count

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Rohit Sharma slammed his fastest 50 in Test cricket