Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 25-01-2023

Guyana’s international footprints increased significantly

— gov’t has repaired country’s ‘tainted’ image on the world stage, Minister Todd says — calls out Opposition for damage done while in office

WITHIN the last three years, the People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) led government has been in damage control mode

to rebuild Guyana’s international image which was tainted by the APNU+AFC administration.

This is according to Min-

ister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd, who during his contribution to the 2023 budget debate on Tuesday, re -

flected on the APNU+ AFC’s behaviour during the 2020 General and Regional Elections and the alleged attempts that were made to “steal the

elections.” Todd reminded the National Assembly that the international community intervened and eventually

called for the APNU+AFC administration to allow a “peaceful transition”. (Full story on page 3)

‘Come work with me’

-Minister Manickchand tells Opposition there’s lots to do for the nation’s children

-says gov’t focused on improving access to education, the welfare of all learners

By Tamika Garnett

WHILE inviting the Opposition to work with government to improve the education sector, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Tuesday said that the 2023 budgetary allocation places much emphasis on access to education, infrastructural works and measures which will ensure that learners are comfortable in the classroom.

Though she called out the main political opposition, A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), for not building a single secondary school during their five years in government, and

providing limited socialwelfare measures to learners, she said an offer to work together is on the table.

While making her contribution to the 2023 budget debate, she spoke about the various ways in which the Ministry of Education (MoE) is going to allow parents to have more disposable income in their pockets, even as the government focuses on improving the education infrastructure to ensure a better and stronger future for the country.

In highlighting several measures contained in the budget for education, Manickchand accused the APNU+AFC of trying to oppose the budget to stymy development in the educa-

tion sector.

“If the APNU continues to say they cannot support this budget they are essentially saying to the people of this country that they don’t want them to get $40,000 per child, they do not want schools to be built in the hinterland, they don’t want special education needs children to be served, they don’t want buses and boats, they do not want trained teachers, more teachers, they do not want teachers’ quarters in the hinterland,” Manickchand said.

Nonetheless, Manickchand extended an olive

invitation, come anytime. There is much we can do together for the children of this country, but I am also saying if you’re going to try to harm the children to gain cheap political points we will do this alone because our duty is to serve the children of this nation and serve we shall,” Manickchand expressed.

As the Opposition continued to call for measures in the budget to increase disposable income, Manickchand painstakingly pointed out that the budget already includes a host of measures that are geared at increasing the disposable incomes of all Guyanese.

branch, noting that the APNU+AFC members are perfectly welcome to come on board with the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government to work together towards the development of the nation’s children, or they can just sit on the sidelines and watch.

“We in the PPP are thankful that our visions are not hitched to the APNU’s wants and needs. We would like you to come along with us, I am inviting you… anytime you are ready to work with me I am ready to work with you…open

She said that the government has made a significant increase to the “Because We Care” cash grant, which along with the $5000 uniform allowance will see parents and guardians receiving $40,000 per schoolchild.

“There is no line item called disposable income in the budget. A whole host of measures taken are expected to lower the cost that people have to spend on their daily living, and allow them more money in their pockets,” Manickchand stressed.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand during the budget debate on Tuesday (Department of Public Information photo)

Gov’t has repaired Guyana’s ‘tainted’ international image

— Minister Todd says; calls out Opposition for the damage done while in office

By Clestine Juan

WITHIN the last three years, the People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) led government has been in damage control mode to rebuild Guyana’s international image which was tainted by the APNU+AFC administration.

This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd, who during his contribution to the 2023 budget debate on Tuesday, reflected on the APNU+ AFC’s behaviour during the 2020 General and Regional Elections and the alleged attempts that were made to “steal the elections.”

Todd reminded the National Assembly that the international community intervened and eventually called for the APNU+AFC administration to allow a “peaceful transition”.

He recalled that the Head of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Elections Observer Mission (EOM) to Guyana, former Prime Minister (PM) of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, had said that “the pernicious actions of a few, have wreaked considerable

damage to Guyana’s image and reputation.”

“This is what he had to say about the now Opposition, then-government. This is what he had to say that they (APNU+AFC) are tarnishing our image. We have spent time between 2020 and now rebuilding to the extent that our international footprints have increased dramatically,” Todd said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister told the House that the Guatemalans and the Dominican Republic are preparing to establish an embassy here in Guyana, as well as the Colombians are preparing to re-establish their embassy.

“Guyana’s international image has been repaired. It’s on the move and being led by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali,” Minister Todd said.

He explained that the character of the Opposition has always been one of a “wrecking ball.” According to him, the PPP/C “has to come and always rebuild and keep this economy on the right path towards development.”

In responding to the shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Amanza Walton-Desir, Minster Todd said that his gov-

ernment remains committed to building bilateral relations and bringing Guyana to the international stage.

“I want to bring to the attention of the honourable member Amanza Desir that it was President Ali’s leadership at the 9th Summit of the Americas back in June 2022 in Los Angeles, [that] led to the establishment of three committees being: food security, energy and finance,” he said to loud applause from his fellow government MPs.

Amid heckling from the Opposition, Minister Todd reminded the House that President Ali recently returned from India after leading a delegation of ministers and representatives from the country’s private sector.

This led to “fruitful engagement” with the Government of India in many areas which p resented numerous opportunities for Guyana, in keeping with the government’s development trajectory.

He further disclosed that Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips is currently in Argentina representing Guyana at 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of

Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC.)

Todd reminded the House that the PPP/C Government has been making waves in the international, political and democratic arena, however, the Opposition has been peddling false information to its supporters.

“I am trying to bring this to the attention of the people of Guyana so that we can have accurate information within the domain. We cannot encourage the Opposition to be sending this to the people of this country which are designed to mislead them.

“We are in government and we have a mandate to ensure that the people of this country are well prompt so that we can continue to provide them with the services … so that we can improve their lives, the quality of life and standard of living. That is our role,” Minister Todd said.

He also spoke about the Venezuela-Guyana border case at the ‘World Court’ in The Hague, Netherlands. The shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs had commended the government on the work done thus far.

While addressing the

House, Todd revealed that the government had written to the Opposition requesting that a representative be part of Guyana’s team.

Minister Todd said he was shocked to find out that the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, did not send his shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Walton-Desir, to be a part of the team.

Todd said that this begs to question if the Opposition did not have trust in the capabilities of their own members.

“I’m trying to show you, Mr. Speaker, that they are talking about representation. They are talking about leadership. They don’t have any sort of leadership on their side. There’s no representa-

tion, and they’re not true to form. They can’t even represent with their own people,” the minister added.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to rule soon on the preliminary objections that were raised by Venezuela in the border controversy case.

Venezuela had called upon the ICJ judges to dismiss the case filed by Guyana. It had claimed that it has territorial rights over the Essequibo region, Venezuela raised the Monetary Gold Principle, and contended that the ICJ is not competent to settle disputes between the two countries, unless it agrees to exercise jurisdiction regarding the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela).

Guyana maintains that a judicial settlement of the matter is the only recourse remaining, as it has exhausted all other measures.

Guyana seeks to obtain a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between the two countries, remains valid, and that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela.

BAFFLING STATEMENT

During her opening remarks, Manickchand called on the Opposition to explain a baffling statement made on Monday by an Opposition Member of Parliament, who claimed that education is not about access. Manickchand passionately attacked this notion, as she defended the need for more education infrastructure across the country to ensure that every child can be reached.

“I heard the most curious statement yesterday by [an] Honourable [member]. He said quality education is not about access. Any education has to begin with access. How are you getting this education if there is no access and I really want him to explain that because that’s an extremely profoundly, curious statement. But I understand why he might be saying that it might be

coming from a philosophy [of the Opposition],” Manickchand said.

The minister went on to outline a comparison of the diverging philosophies held by the APNU and the PPP/C, comparing some of the years of spending per child, and investments in capital education infrastructure in education budgets under the APNU government from 2015 - 2020, and the PPP/C government from 2020 to present.

She told the House that in 2014, when the school population was 185,000, the APNU+AFC government spent about $18.6 billion, averaging approximately $100,000 per child. In 2022, even as most of the world experiences learning loss and an increase in school dropouts, in Guyana, government is spending approximately $237,000 on each of the 193,000 learners registered in the public school system.

Minister Manickchand acknowledged that this year, a large

part of the $94.4 billion allocated to education will be spent on civil works, but proudly noted that this was essential to Guyana’s expanding education system and improved retention of learners.

She pointed out that in 2019, $3.7 billion of the budget for education was allocated for capital works, however, the coalition was unable to even expend the full amount and sent back 58 per cent, or some $1.6 billion to the treasury.

“It is because it’s not important to them. Access and building schools and institutions is not important. It is what the APNU philosophy is,” Manickchand stressed.

In 2017, the APNU+AFC allocated eight per cent of the education budget to capital works and six per cent in 2018.

It was pointed out that in 2022 the PPP/C allocated 23 per cent of the education budget to capital works, while in the 2023 budget,

a whopping 33 per cent has gone to that.

These works include the completion of the Good Hope Secondary school on the East Coast, the Prospect Secondary on the East Bank of Demerara, the Yarrowkabra Secondary on the SoesdykeLinden Highway and the St Mary’s Secondary, extension of the St Winifride’s and East Ruimveldt Secondary schools, and rebuilding of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary, St George’s Secondary, and Christ Church Secondary, which were all destroyed by fire over the past few years.

There will also be the extension of the two dorms in Region Eight, the building of a school at Karasabai, in Region Nine, and the rehabilitation of all of the multilateral schools in Region 10. The completion of a number of practical instruction centres are also scheduled for this year.

Teachers’ quarters are also being catered for. A condition survey was also carried out at all dorm schools, so those projects will be executed as needed at several schools to bring the dorms up to standard.

The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to making university education free, as she took the opposition to task over the fact that even as they continue to chant for free university education, it was under the Opposition that fees at the University of Guyana were increased by 30 per cent.

“We said very clearly we are going to find a pathway to remove the debt that students have already occurred [sic] and make university free in the first five years. Do you know why people are not worried? Because every other promise we made, all the promises we made have been fulfilled,” Manickchand noted.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd

Nigeria opens ‘game changer’

billion-dollar, deep-sea port in Lagos

NIGERIA has opened a billion-dollar, Chinese-built deep-sea port in Lagos, which is expected to ease congestion at the country’s ports and help it become an African hub for trans-shipment, handling cargoes in transit for other destinations.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who inaugurated the port on Monday, has made building infrastruc-

ture a key pillar of his government’s economic policy and hopes this will help his ruling party win votes during next month’s presidential election.

Many of Nigeria’s seaports, inherited from the British colonial administration, are no longer functional or operate below capacity. Currently, most commercial activity goes through the two in Lagos and two others in and

around Port Harcourt, the nation’s oil capital, resulting in steady gridlock and logistics issues for imports and exports.

Local newspaper Punch reported Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as saying that “the size of vessels that will be coming here could be up to four

times the size of vessels that currently berth at Tin Can and Apapa Ports [Lagos’s existing ports].”

The new Lekki Deep Sea Port is 75 percent owned by the China Harbour Engineering Company and Singapore’s Tolaram Group, with the balance shared between the

Lagos state government and the Nigerian Ports Authority.

Authorities have said the new port, built at a reported $1.5 billion, is one of the largest in West Africa.

“This is a transformative project, game-changer project. This project could

create at least 200,000 jobs,” Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Cui Jianchun told Reuters after the port was commissioned by Buhari.

China is among the largest bilateral lenders to Nigeria and has funded rail, roads and power stations. (AL JAZEERA)

A view shows the newly commissioned Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria, January 23, 2023 [Temilade Adelaja/Reuters]

Latin America, Caribbean call for more international funding at CELAC summit

(Reuters) - COUNTRIES from Latin America and the Caribbean on Tuesday called for more international funding in the region following economic and climate crises, in a final declaration after a summit held in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires.

“We stressed the need for international regional financial institutions, such as the Multilateral Development Banks, to improve credit facilities through clean, fair, transparent and accessible mechanisms,” the document said.

The 111-point “Declaration of Buenos Aires” from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States’ (CELAC) seventh summit described how effects of COVID-19, cli -

mate change and the war in Ukraine had rippled across the region.

“We express our concern that several countries

emerged from the pandemic with higher levels of public debt,” it said.

The statement also stressed the importance

of democracy across the region, expressed support for negotiations between the Venezuelan government and its opposition,

CDB to study regional airlift issue

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Caribbean Development Bank, CDB, will be backing a study on regional airlift amid early moves to find a solution to the long-standing dearth of transportation that has been hobbled by limitations on free movement within CARICOM and exacerbated by the collapse of LIAT airline two to three years ago. For the Eastern Caribbean, the airline’s failure in 2020 cut airlift from 500 weekly flights to 50 now.

“We don’t have to have a critical mass of political will for us to get to a harmonious solution,” said CDB Vice-President Isaac Solomon at the bank’s annual news conference. But, he added, “we are encouraged because at least seven governments approached us in August last year to begin the study … it is the start of a process.”

A long-term resolution would require a system that addresses the cost of transportation, regulatory issues around transport, and the bottlenecks that hamper seamless movement

from country to country.

CDB President, Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon said the bank views dependable and cost-effective air transportation services as essential for the transformation of several of the region’s economies.

“Consequently, to safeguard the region’s future, governments need to take decisive and integrated action to reform the air transportation operating environment,” he said at the news conference.

He acknowledged that there would be a series of hurdles and issues to overcome, including the assets required, the financing of those assets, as well as the legal framework and environment in which those assets would be deployed.

“Then you have to have the political arrangements in place that would say we are all benefiting from this. Networks cannot exist in segments … they have to exist in their entirety, and so connectivity of a network becomes a global public good,” the CDB president said.

Leon said establishing a regional transportation system would require two phases,

starting with free movement among the 15-member CARICOM bloc.

“That is a major problem not only for the people, but equally for our heads of state, our governments…,” he said.

“Now, if we are citizens of the region, why can’t we ask for that right to be able to move free -

ly across the region? So transportation is part of the CSME [CARICOM Single Market & Economy] issue that we have to solve. We need to solve this urgent part now, and how we do it may or may not be optimal or efficient.” But: “We need to get a service going,” Leon added.

and demanded the United States lift its blockade on Cuba.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sent a recorded message saying he had chosen not to attend due to “permanent conspiracies, the permanent threat, calculated ambushes.”

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s presence at the summit meanwhile marked his first trip abroad since taking office on Jan. 1, as well as Brazil’s return to CELAC after his predecessor Jair Bol-

sonaro left the community.

Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou was a dissenting voice, calling on leaders to not have a one-sided vision according to their ideology, and saying “there are countries here that respect neither democracy nor institutions nor human rights.”

He did not identify any nation by name. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was voted to take over CELAC’s rotating presidency for 2023.

Argentina hosts the CELAC Heads of State and Government Summit

Making the Case

THE budget debate on the 2023 budget estimates presented by Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has commenced and from all indications, members from both sides of the House are passionately trying their best to argue their case one way or the other.

Without any doubt, this year’s budget of $781.9 billion is by far the biggest from the standpoint of the financial envelope available to the government. It is 41.4 per cent bigger than that allocated in Budget 2022 and the most comprehensive in terms of infrastructural and human development.

Of significance to note is the fact that the government plans to finance this budget

without implementing any new taxes.

Given all the positives contained in the budget, it will not be an easy task for the opposition side of the House to come up with any credible or substantial arguments to debunk what is clearly a forward-looking budget, one that is geared to further enhance the standard of living of the Guyanese people while at the same time consolidating the macro-economic framework for sustainable growth and development.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton who was the first speaker for the PPP/C Government, wasted no time in hammering the opposition for lacking the “political and intellectual capacity” to come up with a budget of comparable

stature as presented by Minister Singh.

And this is no idle boast. As pointed out by Minister Hamilton, the previous APNU+AFC had demonstrated during its tenure in office, a woeful lack of capacity to put together a people-oriented, comprehensive and developmental budget to bring any form of relief to the Guyanese people, especially the more vulnerable in our society.

It will be recalled that under the Granger administration, several measures were taken to reverse poverty-alleviation measures which were implemented by earlier PPP/C administrations such as subsidies for water and electricity for pensioners.

Instead, the regime imposed unconscionable value-added

taxes (VAT) on these items including VAT on tuition fees for students attending private secondary schools. Several taxes on basic food items which were zero-rated or altogether removed by the PPP/C administration were re-imposed by the then Granger administration.

The “Because We Care Programme” initiated by the PPP/C administration were unceremoniously dumped and many hard-pressed parents were left to provide for their children’s education on their own devices.

Not to mention the thousands of persons whose jobs and livelihoods were abruptly terminated by the previous administration mainly out of political or ethnic considerations.

All of those vindictive measures were remedied in this and

previous budgetary measures and more is being done to bring further relief such as salary increases to public servants, increasing the income-tax threshold and increases in old-age pension to name but a few.

In addition, significant sums of money has been allocated for housing, water and the delivery of basic services such as education and health.

The budget, for all practical purposes is pro-people and pro-developmental with the objective of further enhancing the working and living condition of the Guyanese people.

Given such a scenario, the opposition Members of Parliament will be hard put to advance any substantial arguments and, as pointed out by Minister within the Office of

the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy,

APNU

are now resorting to all manner of misinformation, distortions, half-truths and in some cases, outright lies in an attempt to score cheap political points.

Facts, however, are stubborn things as the members on the opposition are finding out much to their chagrin.

This year’s budgetary allocation will serve to further accelerate the growth momentum of the Guyana economy which saw an overall growth rate of 62.3 per cent with the non-oil economy showing a growth rate of 11.6 per cent.

Guyana is clearly along the path of improving lives and building prosperity for which

UG’s online architecture is on the cutting edge of learning technologies

ty – such as the digital gradebook and the management of SRMS and HRMIS.

IN response to the increasing number of requests for clarity flooding into the University of Guyana over the last 24 hours regarding its online offerings and architecture, the university is pleased to indicate the following:

1. In October 2020, in rapid response to the COVID-19 lock-down, the Tactical Online Service Unit was created. It is the umbrella unit which houses five different departments as follow:

a) IT Governance, Research, Innovation, and Security (IGRIS) deals with all issues and policies relating to cyber security, ethics, and general safety of students, faculty, and staff while carrying out functions using the university’s eLearning platform.

b) Software Services and Educational Technology Applications (SSETA) oversees all communication platforms and applications used by the university, and the administration needs of the universi-

c) Infrastructure and IT Services (also referred to as the Centre for Information Technology, CIT) oversees the physical aspects and communication channels for the university by addressing connectivity, communication accounts, and maintaining a repository of software that the university’s communities use.

e) Client, Core Services, and Enterprise Support (CCSES) oversees aspects relating to payments, refunds, and some types of accounting for the University. This unit also provides client services and support for students, faculty and staff including management of repairs, rent-to own and loaners of systems and software to staff and students.

f) Educational Onlining Support Services (EDOSS) focuses on capacity building of faculty, staff, and students as they migrate to online mode. It currently works out of the University of Guyana’s Centre of Excellence

for Teaching and Learning (CoETaL).

2. Zoom is only one platform which is used, however the following are some of the other proprietary and UG developed applications which form part of an array currently deployed to support our students online experience Moodle, Turnitin, Examsoft, IntelliBoard, Online Timetabling, Online Career Fair, E-Grading, End-to-End Online Registration and Document Handling in our Online Students Records Management Systems (SRMS), Fully Online payment systems for most services to name a few. By embracing and adapting to the rapid development of hitherto unknown technologies the University of Guyana has leaped past many institutions to gain a competitive advantage during the COVID-19 period. It is still honing these abilities and technologies.

3. Additionally, the University of Guyana has acquired, under funding from Greater Guyana Initiative and its own resources, 20 specially equipped ZOOM

Rooms deployed in labs and special subject areas which require this capacity for agile demonstrations.

4. Indeed, over 18 new polices were created during the last two years to support the proper and robust implementation of the university’s online offerings.

5. The University’s Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning has offered over 100 training courses and programmes on teaching online, selected faculties have also benefitted from courses and full programmes in online instruction, design and assessment. In fact UG has been offering its support and services to other national and regional training institutions to support their own efforts at robust online offerings.

6. Additionally, UG’s Library has a digital version and is fully online for 24 hours for all nine campuses including IDCE and available as a click interface for each student whether online or face-to-face.

7. The university is also pleased to note that almost 90 per cent of all its support

services are now synergistically online either deployed or in pilot testing phase including home grown IT applications modeled to suit Guyana’s specific laws and regulations.

8. The university wishes to note that comparing a 60-year-old university which is a national, regional and international institution with over 152 distinct programmes and 100 international affiliations, with fledgling two-year-old programmes is not useful, gracious or productive since these entities are incomparable in age, function, output and track record among many other metrics that can be applied. Each should have its own merit and should be addressed accordingly.

9. Celebrating the 60th year of its existence this year, and acknowledging the need for continuous growth, refinement and development “UG” sincerely welcomes all forms of support and resources which are currently desperately needed for its development, evolution and the fulfillment of its mandate

of relevant, robust, portable, and inclusive education of the highest quality now enshrined in its ACT and BluePrint 2040.

10. Going online in this comprehensive way allowed the university to graduate close to 9,000 students since 2020 and to continue to instruct over 11,000 more for Guyana and the world.

11. We sincerely thank those wishing to understand the university and its offerings. Thank you for continuing to contact the university. Persons may wish to visit the university’s online information systems as follows:

The University of Guyana’s Tactical Online Services Unit (TOS) should go here: https://www.uog.edu. gy/tactical-online-services.

Those wishing to peruse the University’s menu of over 150 distinct programmes should go here: www.uog.edu.gy.

Those wishing to learn about the University’s 60th Anniversary Celebrations and events should go here: https://celebrateug60.com/.

the

and AFC

the PPP/C administration must be commended.

Statement from the University of Guyana:

Perpetrators of school fires will face the full brunt of the law

— Home Affairs Minister says

CONSIDERING the alarming number of school fires, the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, has said that he empathises with students, teachers, supporting staff, and parents affected by these recent fires, and noted that the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Home Affairs remain committed to attend to the needs of those affected.

In a statement sent out by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Minister Benn said that those buildings have a rich history as part of Guyana’s colonial past.

He, therefore, strongly condemned those persons trying to wreak havoc and create future weakness and uncertainty within the school system and the nation.

The most recent fire at Christ Church Secondary,

which occurred on Thursday, January 12, 2023, affected 503 students, 39 teachers, and nine ancillary staff, while 397 students, 33 teachers and four ancillary staff at St George’s High School were severely affect-

ed on July 20, 2022.

“The ministry is aware that school fires will create a negative ripple effect on the education system and calls on all agencies and citizens to be vigilant to ensure the protection and sustainabili-

ty of the education sector,” Benn said.

He noted that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has rendered quick assistance and aid to the displaced teachers and students of the

recent fire.

” Likewise, in June 2021, North Ruimveldt saw the displacement of 444 students, 40 teachers and five ancillary staff, the same way 610 students, 38 teachers and 11 ancillary staff were affected by the September 2021 North West Secondary Fire,” the Ministry of Home Affairs stated.

It should be noted that of the four school fires within the last two years, two were maliciously set by a person or persons who have no regard for the future development of the nation’s children.

Minister Benn remind-

ed the public that there are harsh penalties attached to arson attacks, and once identified; the perpetrators will face the full brunt of the law.

The use of smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, water sprinkler systems, and other fire-prevention measures is recommended.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged teachers, parents, students, and supporting staff of all schools to remain vigilant in their surroundings and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.

‘Broken’ health system gets new life under PPP/C

— undergoing world-class transformation, Health Minister says

By Shamar Meusa

MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony has said that the task of the government is not only to fix the broken health system that was left by the

previous administration, but to also transform it into a world-class system. Making his contributions on day two of the 2023 national budget debates, Minister Anthony said several projects set

out in this year’s budget will continue the health sector’s transformation, which commenced after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) entered office in 2020.

The minister related

that this transformative agenda came after five years of broken promises by the APNU+AFC administration.

Against this backdrop, he noted that among the litany of promises made by that administration, was for the setting up of a paediatric cardiac health facility, a state-of-the-art hospital at Liliendaal, a new lab for the food and drug department and even a mental health institute, none of which were delivered to the people of Guyana.

Dr. Anthony said: “This is their legacy, a lot of broken promises, but absolutely no delivery, this is what incompetence and mismanagement looks like.”

With that said, he mentioned that since entering office, the government has taken up the task of not only fixing what was broken, but also embarking on a transformative agenda which would see the country’s healthcare system transformed into one that is world-class.

Dr. Anthony said, the government, between 2021 and 2022, upgraded some 250 health centres and health posts across Guyana, and has collaborated with the Pan American Health Organisation to develop a comprehensive package of services to deliver more than 216 interventions at these health posts.

These interventions, he said, includes maternal and child health care, working to put improve diagnosis for infectious diseases and chronic non-communicable diseases, providing immunisation and ensuring that citizens can be

provided with eye screening, dental check-ups and screening for hearing aids.

As it relates to eye screening, Dr. Anthony said that the government began the distribution of some 4,500 spectacles to communities in the hinterland, thus easing the burden on persons in the hinterland.

Additionally, he said that even up to last year, persons who were in need of hearing aids would have had to pay $65,000. However, more than 500 persons were screened across the country and hearing aids were delivered to them free of cost.

In this year’s budget, he said the government intends to deliver another 1,000 hearing aids for persons who need that service across the country.

In relation to the hinterland communities, he said that his ministry has provided approximately 31 all-terrain vehicles, 14 ambulances, 24 boats and nine motorcycles to improve the transportation of medical personnel and patients within those communities.

Added to this, he mentioned that some 200 health workers were trained over the last two years to supplement the teams in those communities.

FIXING WHAT THEY BROKE

“This is what progress looks like… all that I just spoke about was fixing the things that they broke,” he said.

Meanwhile, in relation to fostering the transformation from rudimentary to world-class, innovation and the application of tech-

nology are required.

With this in mind, Dr Anthony said, the government has started remote e-medicine clinics in several hinterland communities, which will see those persons having access to doctors in other parts of the country through the use of technology.

This programme, he noted, is being piloted in four communities in Region Nine and will be expanded as stipulated in the 2023 budget.

The Health Minister further outlined that while in the past many district hospitals did not have surgical theatres, new theatres have been constructed at eight facilities across the country.

For the further expansion of services at various facilities, he even mentioned that some 13 new x-rays will be installed at facilities within the next six months.

Six new regional hospitals will be built at various locations, and each will have over 75 inpatient beds, modern theatres, new accident and emergency areas, new imaging suites and more.

A seventh facility, he said, will be added at Bartica in Region Seven, for which the design has already been started and will feature similar amenities.

To this end, he said that the government will continue on its path to equip the health sector with the necessary tools inclusive of human resources to continue the transformation to a world-class health system.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony (DPI photo)

Low-input mining and sustainable forestry

GUYANA has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, rates of deforestation in the world, making its forests essential resources in the worldwide fight against climate change.

The vast forests of Guyana’s territory provide a variety of important ecosystem services aside from those related to carbon and climate. Mining and forestry are significant sectors of Guyana’s economy, but historically, extractive industries produce jobs and economic value.

Guyana’s forestry industry employs over 20,000 people and has an annual export value of between $40 and $60 million. There are also 580 small concessions and 17 large concessions, all of which are leased to and run by private individuals or businesses and community forest operators.

The Guyana Forestry Commission oversees and regulates the operations of forest concessions to ensure that operators follow strict sustainable forest management norms and guidelines and that applicable forest legislation is efficiently carried out. Mining is a long-established industry

in Guyana (at small, medium and large scales).

Further, 56.4 per cent (1,017.1 million US dollars) of Guyana’s export revenue and 16 per cent of the country’s GDP came from the mining industry. Around 12,000–18,000 Guyanese are employed in the mining industry, which includes the quarrying industry (representing roughly 4–6 per cent of Guyana’s total labour force). The mining industry produced around $211.1 billion in Guyana during the year 2019, with exploration efforts mostly focused on discovering gold,

diamonds, bauxite, loam, manganese, oil and sand.

Over the years, Guyana has maintained minimal deforestation with ongoing mining activities, and over 99 per cent of Guyana’s forest cover has been maintained. LCDS 2030 advances the objective of integrating the planning and management of the mining and forestry sectors, supporting sustainable forest management, and advancing low-impact mining to strengthen efforts to achieve the necessary balance between enhancing the employment and economic benefits created

by the forestry and mining sectors while also fostering efforts to safeguard Guyana’s ecosystem services.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global standard that supports transparent and accountable management of natural resources. It aims to improve confidence, bolster corporate and governmental processes, and provide information for public discourse.

Guyana first got involved with the EITI on May 4, 2010, when the country’s Prime Minister declared interest in putting it into practice. Guyana submitted its applications to the EITI International Secretariat in August 2017, and on October 25th, 2017,

the country was formally accepted as an EITI implementing country.

Additionally, 2019 saw the release of Guyana’s first EITI report, which covered the fiscal year 2017. This was followed by its second report in April of 2021 which covered the fiscal year 2018. These reports provided data on mineral production and hydrocarbon sector exploration operations.

Sustainable Forestry Practices Guyana has one of the best managed sustainable forestry systems in the world, thanks to excellent timber harvesting codes of practice, the use of Reduced Impact Logging techniques, strict adherence to forest governance and

legality, and careful planning before and after harvesting.

As a result, the majority of the supply chain for Guyana’s timber is largely deforestation-free. The amount of harvest is regularly lower than the annual maximum levels determined using data from the forest inventory. To ensure the effective management of forest resources, sustainable forest management is required, including forest monitoring and enforcement as well as ongoing development of the related codes of practice. Guyana stands out among forest countries for its exemplary forest governance in the sector and strong systems of sustainable forest management.

APNU+AFC knew contract for embassy in Brazil was ‘fundamentally flawed’ -Minister

NOTING that taxpayers’ money went to waste, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd said on Tuesday that the APNU+AFC government was very much aware that the contract it signed for the establishment of an embassy in Brazil was “fundamentally flawed.”

He was at the time participating in the 2023 budget debate and was specifically addressing the $525 million that was allocated for completion of the construction works.

The flawed contract was signed by the APNU+AFC administration and the sod was turned on July 1, 2017, to mark the construction of a permanent building.

At that time, the government officials were tight-lipped about the project, but local media outlets were able to confirm that the final cost for construction was set at US$4.3 million.

Minister Todd had previously said that the project that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government inherited had mounting inconsistencies and raised eyebrows about transparency and accountability of the people’s money.

He had said that the PPP/C government had to do a lot of investigations since the project could not stand up to scrutiny, especially

surrounding the contract and the design submitted.

The contract for the construction was previously done through a partnership between a local firm and another construction firm in Brazil.

The PPP/C government had scrapped the contract for the construction, but at the start of 2022 had re-committed to completing construction of the embassy.

The project total is listed in the 2023 budget as $978.9 million, which will be fully financed by central government. Prior to 2021, $36.2 million was allocated to the project with another $407.3 million allocated in 2021 and $10.4 million in 2022.

While providing an update to the House on Tuesday, Min-

ister Todd said that the previous government wasted taxpayers’ money on the project. He pulled out a report from his ministry that purported to show that 64 per cent of the project has been completed to date.

“This was a contract that was

Todd tells National Assembly

fundamentally flawed knowingly, and there are members on the other side who are sitting members of the Opposition, who presided over a contract knowing that they could not have delivered on it,” he said.

He told the House about a

“light chat” he had with former APNU+AFC Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Karen Cummings, who reportedly said to him, “I was not involved, I inherited.”

According to Minister Todd, this meant that Dr Cummings acknowledged that the APNU+AFC

“cannot run anything, much less dealing with our foreign relations.”

“We, on this side, clearly show that we can manage this country’s affairs and provide policy development to the people of this country,” Minister Todd said.

Part of Guyana’s forestry

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd

Over 60 Jamaican businesses explore local opportunities

--Dr Singh outlines avenues for potential investments

SENIOR

Finance Minister

Dr Ashni Singh, on Wednesday participated in a breakfast engagement with over 60 Jamaican business persons at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, where discussions centred on how Guyana and Jamaica can improve growth in trade and investment between the two countries.

According to a press release from the ministry, the engagement provided an excellent opportunity for the forging of closer ties between Guyana and Jamaica’s private sectors and for accelerating investment and trade.

The trade mission was led by Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill, while Minister Singh was accompanied at the meeting by Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond.

The Jamaican Trade Mission to Guyana stems from an earlier trade mission to Guyana in October 2022, when the Jamaican minister and team visited to explore export and investment opportunities here.

Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Jamaica Promotions Corporation, the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association partnered to make the missions possible.

During the meeting, Dr Singh alluded to Guyana’s continuing economic growth and posited that the country will continue to be a major centre of strong economic growth going forward well into the medium term, as it will move from producing about 350,000 barrels of oil per day to producing over one million barrels per day by the year 2027.

He said the government recognises the importance of a strong, diversified economic base and since the early days of oil production placed a high level of focus on the non-oil economy, which has since been doing well since 2020, when the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) was elected to office.

“This [oil sector] has triggered a wave of activity necessary for the production of oil,” Minister Singh said, noting that in addition to all the major works taking place on the public sector side, “we currently have an unprecedented

build-out of infrastructure on the private side.”

“There isn’t a sector that has not been visited by positive spill overs as a result of the growth in the oil and gas sector. If you take training, the demand for skilled personnel right now, there is an unmet demand for skilled labour.

“We are of course, on the part of the government responding by providing as much training as we possibly can, but I make the point really to say too that even in the training and human- capacity development space there is a huge surge in demand,” Dr Singh told the enthusiastic Jamaican mission.

Minister Edghill, while addressing the team of business persons, outlined a large number of the infrastructural projects ongoing in the country, as well as those in the pipeline, including the New Demerara Harbour Bridge, the bridge across the Berbice River, the Deep-Water Harbour in the Berbice River, the Linden to Lethem Road and the Ogle to Timehri Road among others.

“In the quest of modernizing Guyana, we also want to transform Guyana. We want to move Guyana from being just a primary producer of raw materials. We would really like to come into the value-added stream. Our biggest challenge has been the cost of electricity and as a result of that we have a transformational, major project that we’ve undertaken,” Minister Edghill said, as he alluded to Guyana’s gas-toshore project.

“There is great room for private-sector involvement in this modernizing and transforming that is taking place and our flagship which I think is second to none in the Region in terms of housing development,” Minister Edghill posited, drawing reference to the

government’s massive housing drive.

Minister Walrond told the trade mission about Guyana’s unique tourism product, including its rich and diverse culture, its lush forests, flora and fauna, mountains, waterfalls and abundant rivers.

She referenced the various exciting and attractive places they can visit while in Guyana and she also outlined the several internationally-branded hotels, which are under construction, as well as the various major events usually held in Guyana in terms of entertainment and the facilities being constructed to accommodate the large influx of visitors to the country during these events.

“These are just some of the opportunities and initiatives happening in different parts of the country. I want to thank you for your interest in Guyana. The fact that you are here and the fact that you are interested, we appreciate it and we hope that you don’t leave here without a project or two to take back to your boards. I have just listed a few,” she said.

The trade mission to Guyana presents an excellent opportunity for both Guyanese and Jamaican companies to forge closer ties and for expansion of the Jamaican business presence and relations in Guyana.

Guyana is considered currently as one of the premier investment destinations in the world with attractive investment opportunities available in the oil and gas sector, infrastructure and requisite support services.

There also exists avenues for investment and expansion in the non-oil extractives, such as gold, bauxite, agriculture, tourism and hospitality, ICT and energy. The trade

be in Guyana

January 28.

mission will

until

SENIOR Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh; Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, on Wednesday participated in a breakfast engagement with over 60 Jamaican business persons led by Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill

Budget 2023 reflects government’s values, commitment to providing social services

says in response to Opposition’s empty budget claims

manage spending in a way which ensures that inflation is restricted to a mangeable level, and the country can grow at a pace which can be sustained.

This is how Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, explained her take on Budget 2023, when she rose to the floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday to make her contribution to the debate.

“If you look at the budget you will see that almost one third of all spending is dedicated to

providing social services which directly impacts [sic] hundreds of thousands of Guyanese, every day, in every county, in every region, in every town, in every village, in every community in the country. That is the real reflection of our values,” Walrond said.

“If you examine budgets of the PPP/C government over the decades you will see those values consistently reflected in them. I see all the fundamental objectives to which the PPP/C

THE more than $250 billion or almost one third of the 2023 budget that is dedicated to massive provisions

for health, education, housing and water, and other social sectors, is a true representation of what the People’s

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government values.

However, the government’s challenge is to

-Minister Walrond

Budget 2023 reflects government’s values...

has always been committed. But still the Opposition says there’s nothing in the budget for ordinary people, and we must treat with that,” she said.

According to Walrond, successive PPP/C governments have always focused on and

FROM PAGE 11

paid attention to several fundamental development imperatives, which include ensuring that all citizens have access to education, healthcare, to safe drinking water and affordable access to basic food items.

“We cannot take them

for granted because it is evident that our colleagues on the Opposition benches neither understand nor believe in the importance of these things for development,” she added.

However, the minister questioned how these

fundamental imperatives are valued by the main political Opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) led by the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) and the Alliance For Change (AFC). “When the Opposi -

tion says to the people that there is nothing for them in the budget that provides over $250 billion …[for] healthcare, education, housing and portable water for hundreds of thousands of Guyanese. This is simply a reflection of the fact that the Opposition places no value on these things,” Walrond contended.

She further asserted that the main Opposition continues to maintain a claim of there being nothing in the budget for the people is because the Opposition looks at each budget in isolation, rather than see them as part of a multi-year programme, which is why the budget is framed in the context of a mediumterm expenditure framework.

SUSTAINABLE MEASURES

Walrond challenged the sustainability behind many of the measures being lobbied for by the main Opposition, including doubling of the minimum wage, and provisions of subsidies for utilities and fuel.

According to the Opposition, government should use the money being garnered from the sale of the country’s oil and gas to supplement these measures.

However, Walrond called on the Opposition to say how the country is to deal with the fall out if there is to be a sudden drop in oil prices on the world market.

“Their attitude is basically we have oil money so spend it. With this type of thinking, what would they have us do when surely as night follows day the oil prices drop.

“We’ve seen oil prices as high as $140 per barrel and as low as $20 per barrel. When we no longer have oil revenue to apply the subsidies, will they have us remove all those subsidies and expose Guyanese to massive sticker shock? If increasing the wage bill to unsustainable levels, will they have us do massive retrenchment? We can look to history again to see what they will do when the

oil prices drop after they rack up the expenditure to unsustainable levels.”

She pointed out that this does not mean that the government is not cognisant of the effects global inflation has been having on the Guyanese people, or has not been putting measures in place.

Noting that the largest contributor to inflation is the price of fuel and petroleum products, including fertilisers, which is critical to Guyana’s agriculture industry, Minister Waldron pointed to the government’s decision to completely remove the excise tax on fuel, and distribute $1 billion in free fertiliser across the country as just two measures from last year when the government stepped in to cushion the impact of the cost-ofliving increases.

In the 2023 budget, the government has also sustained the removal of excise taxes on fuel.

“Were it not for these policies, food prices would have been far higher than they are now. So how can anyone rationally contend that we have done nothing to deal with the cost of living?”

“The IDB in its Caribbean quarterly report recognised all of these measures as policy responses aimed at easing the impact [of rising cost of living] on the population. The IDB recognises them, but the Opposition tells people they don’t exist.”

Questioning the Opposition’s policy on employment, Walrond reminded that if the APNU+AFC believed in people’s ability to earn a living through dignified work, then they would not have dismissed over 7,000 sugar workers, and over 2,000 community service workers during their time in office. Nor would they mock the current part-time work initiative implemented by the government.

“No party if it truly cares for people would retrench almost 10,000 people and walk away without a backward glance. There is a lesson here, that lesson is that value matters,” she added.

Police investigating alleged food tampering scheme

POLICE have launched an investigation into an alleged food tampering scheme, in which labels of expired food items are being replaced and sold by some city businesses.

Reports are that food and drug authorities are in possession of samples of those items, in addition to invoices.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that authorities are working closely with police to find the persons responsible.

The Government of Guyana views this

as a serious matter that can have severe consequences for the health and safety of consumers. The pub -

lic is, therefore, being urged to be vigilant in their purchase of food items.

The item with its real expiry date

The item marked with a fake expiry date

‘No one is above the law’

— CCJ tells Basil Williams before dismissing his application

THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday threw out an application filed by Basil Williams, who served as Attorney General under the APNU+AFC coalition government.

Williams had moved to the CCJ seeking an extension of time to appeal and leave to appeal, so that he may challenge the decision of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana ordering that he should remain

a defendant in a defamation claim matter brought against him by former Deputy Solicitor General Prithima Kissoon, for words uttered and published while he held the office of the AG.

The Attorney General of Guyana and the Guyana National Newspapers Ltd (Guyana Chronicle) were also defendants in the defamation matter.

Williams reportedly believed that Kissoon was sympa-

thetic to the opposition political party, and those sympathies led to her deliberately undermining court cases involving the Attorney General’s Chambers and the opposition.

After the Attorney General vs Jagdeo case, which was under Kissoon’s care and control, was dismissed, Williams ordered that she be removed from all political cases.

“According to Ms Kissoon, Mr. Williams abused and vili-

fied her in the press. Ultimately, each of them published in the press their side of this sorry episode resulting in the proceedings,” the CCJ said in its ruling.

Williams was joined to the proceedings in his personal capacity as the first-named defendant. Williams objected to this and applied to the High Court to have the case struck out against him.

However, on April 9, 2019, the High Court dismissed Wil-

liams’ application but gave permission to Kissoon to amend her claim to add the office of the Attorney General as a third defendant, which she did.

However, on June 5, 2020, the Attorney General applied to the High Court for an order striking out the claim against Williams in his personal capacity.

It was contended that the joiner of Williams in his personal capacity breached the State Liability and Proceedings Act Cap 6:05 (‘the Act’).

The High Court granted this application and struck Williams out from the claim.

Dissatisfied, Kissoon appealed this decision to the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Justice, which consisted of three judges, one of whom was Kissoon’s brother-in-law.

The Full Court of the Supreme Court allowed Kissoon’s appeal and restored Williams as the first-named defendant in the proceedings.

The decision was delivered to the parties via email on March 31, 2021, but Williams alleged that the decision was emailed to an incorrect email address, therefore he did not learn of the decision until April 13, of that year.

This led to him filing an application for leave to appeal the decision of the Full Court to a judge of the Court of Appeal in chambers.

His application was out of time and so he also filed an application for an extension of time to lodge that appeal. The latter application was premised on the fact that the Full Court’s judgment had been sent to him at an incorrect email address.

A Court of Appeal judge sitting in chambers struck out his application on the basis that he (the appellate judge) did not have any jurisdiction.

Williams then approached a full panel of the Court of Appeal to review the decision of the single appellate judge.

On July 14, 2022, the full panel dismissed Williams’ application. The full panel found that Williams’ delay in making the application was neither slight nor inordinate, as the motion was filed almost seven weeks out of time.

Eventually, Williams applied to the CCJ for special leave to appeal the decision of the full panel of the Court of Appeal.

He argued that the court should restore the June 2020 order of the High Court by striking him from the claim in his personal capacity.

Both the Attorney General and GNNL respectively filed notices of non-opposition to Williams’ application.

The CCJ in its ruling said that “In light of these and other authorities, the court is of the view that nothing in the Act prevents an alleged wrongdoer employed by the State from being sued in their personal capacity for acts or omissions in the performance of their duties as agent or servant of the State.”

According to the CCJ, Williams may not have expressly couched his arguments in this way but, essentially, what he is claiming is that the Act has the effect of immunising him personally from suit on account of his then status as Attorney General.

“That is a fallacy. No one is above the law. It would be a remarkable thing for a court to hold that any office holder should be so immunised unless the Constitution clearly so prescribes, as it does in relation to the President while the latter holds that office.

“If a public official is vexed by the bringing of unmeritorious suits against them, the rules of court contain adequate provisions for the court summarily to strike out actions that are frivolous or that stand no realistic chance of success,” the CCJ said.

The court underscored that the purpose of the State Liability Act is not to immunise public servants from suit for alleged tortious acts, but to assure any person who is harmed by such acts, that the State will be liable for any damages awarded and that the public official will not personally have to pay.

As such, the Court found that the Full Court was “entitled and right” to restore Williams to the suit as a defendant in his personal capacity.

In dismissing the application, the CCJ said it found that Williams’s substantive appeal lacked merit.

Basil Williams, who served as Attorney General under the APNU+AFC coalition government

Attorney Prithima Kissoon

St Vincent secures loan from Demerara Bank for pre-fab houses

DEMERARA Bank Limited last Friday executed a loan agreement with the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to finance the purchase of 50 prefabricated timber houses from a supplier in Guyana.

The agreement was signed in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines by General Manager of the Bank, Dowlat Parbhu and Prime Minister of the island-nation, Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

According to a press statement from the bank, this collaboration will see the creation of an important model that will foster an environment for increased regional trade between Guyana and the Caribbean.

The prefabricated houses, built by Duravilla Homes, a local company in Guyana, comprises one, two and

three-bedroom models and are engineered to withstand up to category four hurricanes.

The houses are expected to be delivered in March, 2023, and will greatly aid efforts by the Vincentian government to rebuild and repair communities that were devastated by the eruption of La Soufrière volcano in 2021.

The Prime Minister mentioned at the signing that almost 20 per cent of the population was displaced by the eruption and that the government is purchasing these homes to replace, free of cost, those houses that were damaged during the eruption.

He further stated that to his knowledge, this is the first time that the government will be accessing financing from a local indigenous bank in Guyana and thanked the board and management of

Demerara Bank Ltd for their support.

Parbhu related that the bank is deeply honoured to partner with the Govern -

ment of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in its recovery efforts and that the facility, which was granted over seven years, is one of many op-

portunities that the bank will explore to foster and enhance trade and investment within the region.

Demerara Bank opened

its doors to the public in 1994 and has served as a catalyst for growth in Guyana’s economy.

It continues to focus its strategies on providing a differentiated customer experience and leverages on sustainable long-term relationships to support major developing sectors in Guyana.

The bank recently announced that a $900 million revolving fund was established with the Government of Guyana to support the forestry sector, and shortly before inked an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through their Trade Finance Facilitation Programme (TFFP) for a US$7 million Line of Credit Facility to support shortterm international trade-financing requirements.

Dowlat Parbhu of Demerara Bank and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves

Truck porters not allowed on top of logs during travel – Traffic Chief

The Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department, in collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), met with ‘log truck’ drivers and owners at Riverside Drive, Watooka in Mackenzie, Linden.

The collaboration aims to reduce road accidents and fatalities and make the roadway safer for all users.

Traffic Chief, Superin -

Opposition MP cautioned over comments on Guyana-Venezuela border controversy

MINISTER of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, on Tuesday had reason to caution APNU+AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Shurwayne Holder, over his comments relating to the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

Standing on a point of order, Minister Teixeira said the MP ought to be responsible in the comments he makes about the case, which is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“I’m asking for him to be responsible with the innuendos he’s throwing out to do with the country we have a border issue with… such statements can cause problems at the courts,” she noted.

In his budget presentation, Holder made strong remarks regarding Venezuelan companies investing in Guyana; this, the minister said, would be hazardous.

“I’m, therefore, asking the member to be sensitive and careful and not reckless,” she asserted.

Guyana currently stands before the ICJ as the oral hearings began in mid-November last year.

In the hearings, Agent of Guyana in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, Carl

tendent Dennis Stephen, who addressed the meeting, told the log truck drivers and owners that they are responsible for the trucks being in a safe operating condition. “All trucks must have reflectors installed to enhance visibility at night and during a breakdown on the roadway.”

Additionally, the Traffic Chief instructed that they

use no less than four chains and other fastening straps to secure each load while travelling on our roadways.

He also reiterated to the log truck drivers that they should no longer allow porters to be seated at the top of logs when traveling; instead, they should be in the truck’s cabin.

Superintendent Stephen also reminded the log truck

owners that it is their responsibility to have all of their drivers licensed because this can have serious consequences. On this note, the Traffic Chief said he was informed that some of the trail drivers are unlicensed, and they bring the log truck up to a point, and a licensed driver takes over.

He also warned the drivers not to consume alcohol

while driving.

Deputy Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Tasreef Khan, also spoke to the truck drivers and owners. He welcomed the collaboration and assured those present of his and the GFC’s full support to make our roads safer in order to save lives.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira

Greenidge, highlighted that Guyana will demonstrate that Venezuela’s primary objections are legally unsupportable and entirely without foundation.

Guyana is represented by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C.; Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira; Agent of Guyana in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, Carl Greenidge; Co-Agent and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper; Director of the Frontiers Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Donnette Streete; and Adviser to the Leader of the Opposition on Frontier matters, Ambassador Ronald Austin. (DPI)

Traffic Chief, Superintendent Dennis Stephen

Smooth relocation for Cameron Dam informal settlers — as Housing Ministry offers support

THE Ministry of Housing and Water/Central Housing and Planning Authority will explore some new measures to aid 42 families of Cameron Dam, West Bank Demerara, in their relocation process.

On Monday, the 42 families were re-engaged during an outreach led by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Community Development Director, Gladwin Charles.

The agency’s Community Development Department holds direct responsibility for the relocation and regularization of informal settlers.

During the meeting, Minister Croal explained to the families that they would benefit from the government’s Steel and

Cement Housing Subsidy programme and the Home Construction Assistance Facility.

Under the first programme, families can receive cement and steel to advance the foundation of

their new home, while under the second initiative, for those interested in building their homes, this can be facilitated through a loan from a commercial bank, and the Ministry will supervise construction. Additionally,

the Ministry will be offering support to families who are interested in having their existing structures relocated to their new house lots.

Forty-two families have already been assigned residential lots at the Lust-

en-Rust housing scheme and have begun making payments for those lots. In total, 46 families have been occupying Cameron Dam, which is a reserve between Canals No. One and Two.

During Monday’s out -

reach, representatives from the New Building Society were also conducting interviews with people interested in obtaining a loan.

The Ministry first engaged Cameron Dam residents back in September 2022, when residents were told of plans to have them relocated. Forty-two of those families readily took up the Ministry’s offer for legitimate residential lots; two are finalizing their allocation, and two other families were found to have been previously allocated.

Monday’s meeting is a result of President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s direct intervention, as residents reached out to him during his recent outreach to Region Three.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal addressing residents

Informal settlers will be moved from Cameron Dam, West Bank Demerara

Australian Open tennis Azarenka beats Pegula to set up Rybakina semi-final

VICTORIA Azarenka continued her quest for a third Australian Open title - a decade on from her last - by knocking American third seed Jessica Pegula out in the quarter-finals.

The 33-year-old Belarusian, seeded 24th, made a confident start and used the momentum to win 6-4 6-1.

Pegula was the highest seed left but must wait for a first Slam semi-final.

Azarenka faces Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the last four after the Kazakh beat Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4.

Rybakina, 23, fired 11 aces and 24 winners as she claimed a dominant victory over Latvia's 17th seed Ostapenko.

The Kazakh, who is seeded 22nd, wrapped up victory in one hour and 19 minutes following a lengthy rain delay on Rod Laver Arena.

"I'm super happy to be in the semi-finals for the first time," said Rybakina, the youngest player left in the women's draw.

"Of course I was nervous,

especially in the last game. I'm super happy I managed the emotions and I played really well today."

Azarenka 'creating new memories' by not looking back

Having won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, Azarenka is a player who thrives in Melbourne and showed it once again as she dismantled a below-par Pegula.

The former world number one was back in the quarter-finals for the first time since she became a mother - having given birth to son Leo in 2016 - and reached the last four for the first time

since her last triumph.

Despite her rich pedigree at Melbourne Park, Azarenka says she does not "really look back and think about" what she has achieved.

Instead she prefers to "create new memories" and applying this forward-thinking approach before the new season is paying dividends.

"I felt last year my tennis wasn't bad but I was not mentally ready and played with fear and anxiety. It was difficult to play brave," she said.

"I worked a lot on my mindset in the off-season, challenging myself on things

I wouldn't really do before.

"When you have achieved great success, you can become conservative and and hesitant to try new things.

"I tried new things, put my head down and worked hard."

An aggressive start full of clean hitting enabled Azarenka to move into a 3-0 lead and, after being unable to convert four set points and losing serve for 5-4, she broke again to clinch the opening set.

The second set was even more one-sided. Azarenka, playing at a consistently high level reminiscent of her best, broke three times and conceded just 13 points as a despondent Pegula fell at the quarter-final stage of a major for the fifth time.

"I don't think I was thinking about that [quarter-final record] at all," said 28-yearold Pegula.

"Once you're out there it's another match and you're trying to win. Losing sucks but I don't think that had an effect on me. (BBC Sport)

lone defeat in last season’s triumph came at the hands of the Eagles at the Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago.

Barbados Pride squad: Shane Dowrich (Captain), Camarie Boyce, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Drakes, Keon Harding, Chaim Holder, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton, Jair McAllister, Shayne Moseley, Zachary McCaskie, Shamar Springer and Kevin Whickham.

The head coach is Vasbert Drakes and Ryan Hinds is his assistant.

Guyana Harpy Eagles squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice-captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Tevin Imlach, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Akshaya Persaud, Ashmead Nedd and Shamar Joseph.

The Manager is Albert

Former world number one Azarenka is the 24th seed at Melbourne Park

Clements, Head Coach Ryan Hercules, Assistant Coach Garvin

Rohit and Gill outdo Conway as India go No. 1 with 3-0 win

NEW ZEALAND restricted India to 385 after an opening stand of 212 at over eight an over, but India's bowlers kept picking up regular wickets to scuttle a chase that was alive until the 37th over, which was the first time they let the asking rate go past nine an over. This was only the fifth time in ODIs that three openers scored hundreds in the same match, each a stunning innings scored with enough time available to convert them into doubles.

(Scores): India 385 for 9 (Gill 112, Rohit 101, Pandya 54, Tickner 3-76, Duffy 3-100) beat New Zealand 295 (Conway 138, Nicholls 42, Thakur 3-45, Kuldeep 3-62, Chahal 2-43) by 90 runs

With the 3-0 series win, India moved to No.1 in the ICC ODI rankings to go with the top spot in T20Is. India will be satisfied they did it while defending with two of their best bowlers in this series, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, rested.

Hardik Pandya provided the opening blow in their absence and Kuldeep Yadav remained a wicket-taking threat in the middle overs, but it was Shardul Thakur's triple-strike in the 26th and 28th overs that broke the back of the chase.

This was always going to be a tough day for the

bowlers: Indore has a flat pitch, small boundaries and a quick outfield. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Devon Conway made the most of the conditions, scoring 351 runs between them in just 263 balls. India hit 19 sixes and New Zealand 13 as bowlers were forced to figure out ways to survive.

It was Rohit's first century in three years, and Gill's third in four innings. Rohit went past Sanath Jayasuriya's 270 sixes to reach No. 3 on the all-time list, Gill equalled the record for most runs while playing three or fewer matches in an ODI series: 360. While Rohit and Gill batted, India looked set to have a shot at the first 500 in ODIs. Two double-centuries in an innings didn't look out of reach either as both of them reached their hundreds

in the 26th over.

The bowlers' task became apparent in the third over when Rohit clipped Jacob Duffy past midwicket at no great pace, but the ball kept getting away from the chasing fielder.

In Duffy's next over, the pitch presented itself in all its beauty. Gill hooked a short ball over long leg for a big six without going hard at it, and Rohit drove a shortof-a-length ball down the ground for a six that was higher than it was long.

Lockie Ferguson, who had bowled a maiden and conceded only six runs in his first three overs, was then taken for 22 runs in his fourth. Apart from one fulltoss, he didn't bowl a single bad ball. Gill just trusted the pitch and used the quick outfield.

It was now almost a competition. Rohit responded by taking 17 off the tenth over, both hooking and charging at Duffy. As Gill hit fours with a leg glance and an extra-cover drive to bring up his fifty, Rohit matched it with two sixes off Mitchell Santner to bring up his own.

Pushes went away for fours, mis-hits sailed for sixes, and the batters flicked from outside off and hit sixes without reaching the pitch of the ball. Most of the shots, though, were just sweetly timed. One ball that properly summed it up for bowlers was when Daryl Mitchell got excited when Rohit hit one high in the air, but was left frustrated when it cleared long-on.

Mitchell was bowling possibly because New Zealand didn't want to feed off-

spinner Michael Bracewell to the two set right-hand batters. When Bracewell finally came on, Gill welcomed him with a chipped four over extra cover and a massive slog-swept six to join Rohit in the 90s.

Still New Zealand had taken 9 for 173 in the last 24 overs. Even though they were chasing a total bigger than has ever been chased in India, it didn't look like an intimidating task on the evidence of how easy batting had become in the back half of the first ODI.

Even though Pandya sent back Finn Allen in the first over, Conway performed the dual role of taking New Zealand into the back half with wickets in hand and keeping the asking rate under control. Conway had to take more risks than Gill and Rohit, but

GDA thanks government for its input in 2022 …Calls

LETTER TO THE SPORTS EDITOR

IT would be remiss of me, as the ex-president of the Georgetown Dominoes Association (GDA), to not say ‘thank you’ to the Government of Guyana for its input into dominoes in 2022, through the auspices of the energetic Honourable Charles Ramson, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Two competitions, during 2022, were fully sponsored financially by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and further support of trophies and

access to venue – the Gymnasium -- were also given.

These sentiments are in recognition of walking the talk. I recalled the Honourable Prime Minister, Mark Phillips. in the opening of the National Sports Disciplines Forum in 2021, saying that the Government of Guyana intends to support all the various sports played in Guyana.

Albeit that most sponsorships were in Central Georgetown, I wish to take this opportunity to urge the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport to make an allocation from the 4.3 billion dollars allocation to sports in budget 2023 to the resuscitation and structuring of dominoes like the other sports and also to place it on

its calendar of events.

Although unheralded as a major sport in Guyana, playing dominoes is the most widely played past-time in Guyana. This game is played by the entire strata of our population and perhaps at one time or another in every household in Guyana, even negating gender bias.

Moreover, arguably, as alluded to by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, “playing of dominoes because of its popularity and spread has the most potential of embracing the expressed desire [of] our President, His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali” – “One Guyana”. Dominoes, if you look at the game in progress images this through the ca-

maraderie and bonds it creates among players regardless of colour, race or creed.

My team and I stand ready to assist in building the bridge between the resurging Guyana National Dominoes Federation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to make this aspiration (playing competitive dominoes, nationally) a reality.

Further, the World Council Dominoes Federation (WCDF) tournament is slated to be staged in August 2023. I therefore think that a “One Guyana” competition prior to the championships presents a great impetus to unionization of a wide cross section of our people now and for future, by continual inputs hereafter.

they came off at an alarming rate for India. Pulls, slogsweeps and reverse-sweeps all flew away for runs. When he missed, he missed entirely. When he wasn't close to the ball, he made sure he went hard because there was every chance he would clear the small ground.

Even when he was cramping, Conway kept slog-sweeping with abandon. At the halfway mark, Conway was 108 off 78, and New Zealand had eight wickets in hand to score 8.08 an over. Enter the profligate Thakur.

He is the least economical bowler with at least 50 ODI wickets, but he also has a strike-rate of nearly two wickets every 10 overs. That is because he has the license to attack with his lengths. He did just that, getting Daryl Mitchell with a bouncer, Tom Latham with a knuckle ball first up, and Glenn Phillips with another short ball.

Now it was about Conway's wicket, which came through a pull drilled straight into the midriff of Rohit at midwicket.

However, India knew from experience that it is not over until you get Michael Bracewell. Kuldeep did that with a deliberate wide down the leg side with Ishan Kishan making up for a missed stumping earlier. Now it was really over. (Cricinfo)

I humbly suggest that this opportunity be seized.

Respectfully,

Lyndon Boston Ex-President Georgetown Dominoes Association

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

‒ A three-wicket burst from Thakur proved crucial after the three openers scored tons in an Indore run-fest

Rohit Sharma applauds Shubman Gill on his century (BCCI) Devon Conway kept New Zealand's chase alive with a 100-ball 138

Hosts win last-ball thriller;

Kiwis hammer Pakistan to march into final four

LeBron James inspires comeback win for Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James scored 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers clawed back a 25-point half-time deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 121-112.

Trailing 71-46 at the break, the Lakers outscored the Trail Blazers 75-41 to equal the second-biggest second-half comeback in franchise history.

"You can either go out, lay down and get ready for the next game or you can see what happens in the third quarter, make a game of it," James said.

"We're not a lay-down team."

James, 38, is now just 233 points short of NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record of 38,387 points.

Anfernee Simons topscored with 31 points for the Trail Blazers, who suffered a third straight defeat and have lost 12 of their last 16 matches.

THE penultimate day of Super Six action at the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup saw New Zealand produce another highly professional display to beat Pakistan and guarantee a qualification spot for both themselves and England in Group 2.

South Africa survived a nerve-jangling final over to beat Sri Lanka by one run to end their World Cup campaign on a high.

Even with victory, South Africa were unable to edge India or Australia on net run rate, with only Bangladesh now able to snatch one of the qualification places from Group 1.

A composed 43 from Kayla Reyneke gave South Africa the base to build a competitive score after they had opted to bat first, with Madison Landsman (21 from 12) and Jenna Evans (22 from 15) giving a bit of impetus to the innings.

The Lankans appeared to get marooned in the chase, with the scoring rate extremely slow as Miane Smit and Kayla Reyneke proved tough to get away, taking 1/13 and 2/16 from their

respective four overs.

Nethmi Senarathna’s 36 had set a bit of a platform, and the acceleration came from Dewmi Vihanga Wijerathne (37 from 23) and Manudi Nanayakkara (17 from 9).

Sri Lanka required 12 off the final over to win the game, which went down to seven from the last three deliveries.

But a run out was followed by a stumping to leave new batter Rashmi Nethranjali requiring a six to win the game, and although she found the boundary, it fell short of clearing the rope, prompting jubilant celebrations from the tournament hosts.

Relentless New Zealand win by 103 runs

New Zealand continued their hugely impressive run through the tournament, seeing off Pakistan with relative ease in Potchefstroom to guarantee qualification for the final four.

The Kiwis have been brutal with the bat during this tournament, and were close to their explosive best again, scoring 178/7 off their 20 overs.

It looked for a while like the total could have been considerably bigger, with Emma McLeod (32) Anna Browning (31) and Georgia Plimmer (53) getting things off to a flier.

The pace of scoring slowed slightly, but with Plimmer anchoring one end, New Zealand were still able to lift themselves to a daunting target, with the top-scorer falling to the penultimate ball of the innings.

A wicket off the very first ball of the chase set the tone, with Anna Browning dismissing Shawaal Zulfiqar for a golden duck.

And the key batter Eyman Fatima also departed without scoring to leave Pakistan in trouble.

None of the top five reached doubled figures as New Zealand’s bowlers cranked up the pressure, with Pakistan managing to avoid the ignominy of being bowled out, but finishing seven wickets down and still 103 runs short of their target.

Pakistan’s defeat means England are also now guaranteed a toptwo spot in Group 2. (ICC Media)

LATEST NBA RESULTS

There was another dra-

matic comeback in San Francisco as Kyrie Irving scored 38 points to inspire the Brooklyn Nets to a 120-116 victory over NBA champions the Golden State Warriors.

Two free throws by Stephen Curry gave the Warriors a 116-115 lead with just one minute 12 seconds to go.

However, Irving's ninth assist of the night set up Royce O'Neale for a three-pointer before he scored a pair of free throws

himself to seal the win.

"Kyrie had been getting to the basket, hitting tough shots and at that moment, he drove, two people double-teamed and he found me open," said O'Neale. "I just needed to have the confidence to knock it down."

Irving added: "Royce being wide open, I felt like that was the best shot for our team so I gave up the ball, trusted him to make it and luckily it went in."

(BBC Sport)

Lady Ira Lewis helped save boxer Clive Atwell’s life

…Now back home to give to the less fortunate

By Sean Devers

CLIVE Atwell, a former Caribbean Featherweight and WBC–CABOFE Super Lightweight Champion was in a title fight against fellow Guyanese, T&T-based Dexter Gonzales at the Giftland Mall on October 24, 2015 when he fainted.

He was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with Subdural Hematomas Hemorrhage and had an emergency surgery done to decompress the swelling which was jamming on his central nervous system.

The surgeon cut his skull to release the pressure and the ‘patch’ (hole in his head) had to be left open for several days to ensure that the swelling decreased.

However, due to the lack of a bone bank in Guyana the surgeon discarded the piece of bone from his skull which should have been used to cover the hole.

He was discharged from the hospital, partially blind, with short term memory loss and poor motor skills.

The former World rated pugilist, with a professional

record of 17 fights, 13 wins, 3 losses with 7 KOs, first met Lady Ira Lewis in the USA through the Guyana Committee of Services (GCOS)

Ira is no stranger to the GCOS. Ira recalled her long friendship with Leslie Black, who called her to assist the pugilist after his brain injury and she could not say no.

The GCOS led Atwell to the USA where he met Lady Ira, Monica Sanchez and Matt Farrago, from Ring 10, who assisted in making arrangements for the successful surgery which was done on August 17, 2016 at the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, where a titanium mesh was used to cover the hole in his skull.

Atwell has now recovered and coaching young boxers in Australia.

United States based Lady Ira, founder of Guyana American Heritage Foundation (GAHF), is not only on vacation here but she is also giving back to Guyanese children and adults.

Ira is doing what she knows best… giving back to the community.

She recently handed out school items, shoes, meals, snacks and food hampers to residents of Lane Avenue where she grew up. Ira also handed over a barrel with food items to Leslie Black, member of the Guyana Committee of Services (GCOS).

Lady Ira also has a centre for youths in Agricola and over the years she hosted spelling ‘B’ competitions for the youths and lots of other events for the kids of the community.

Lady Ira said she is pleased to be of assistance to the GCOS which supports young athletes and others.

ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup

South Africa celebrate their thrilling one-run victory over Sri Lanka

Lady Ira presents the barrel with the goods to be shared out to the GCOS members

The LA Lakers are the first team to lose a quarter by 30 or more points and still win the match since the Boston Celtics against the Buffalo Braves in 1972

National Sports Policy to be completed in 2023 – Min. Charles Ramson Jr.

MINISTER of Culture, Youth & Sports, Charles Ramon Jr., during his budget debate speech yesterday, highlighted the fact that locally, sports marked some major achievements in 2022 and the Government of Guyana (GoG) has made a commitment to continue the upward trajectory in this industry. More so, the historic 2023 $4.3B allocated for Sports is testament to the ambition and vision for sports by the Dr. Ir -

Ali-led PPP/C administration.

Apart from the major infrastructural works for sports, which were announced during Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh’s initial presentation, Minister Ramson’s announcement of the completion of a National Sports Policy in 2023 is amazing news for sports in Guyana since the source of many of the issues in sports locally arrive from the lack of a National Policy.

Charles Pollard back as Head Coach of Slingerz FC

DECORATED former National player, Charles ‘Lilly’ Pollard, has returned to the Slingerz Football Club as the ‘West Side’ Champion's head coach.

Pollard, 49, served as head coach from 2013 –2014, when his team won the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) League and the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer Cup.

A former National captain and one of the most feared defenders during his long and illustrious playing career, Pollard, following his transition to coaching since retiring as a player, has had considerable success.

Apart from leading Slingerz FC to several titles, he also won the recent GFA League as head coach of Western Tigers Football Club.

The former Caledonia AIA, San Juan Jabloteh and North East Stars captain and TT Pro league winner is the Golden Jaguars' assistant coach.

Pollard said he's “extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead Slingerz FC in battle against some of the top teams and players in Guyana.”

“I’ve been here before, and I will be looking to continue adding to the club’s legacy of being successful,” Pollard said.

Pollard will be leading the team following their fruitful return to football last June after stepping away from the sport in 2016.

The team’s former head coach, Vurlon Mills, will

serve as Pollard’s assistant.

Meanwhile, Slingerz FC president and founder, Javed Ali, lauded Pollard’s return to the club.

Ali noted, “Pollard is re-joining the team at a critical time since we’re also nurturing some of the best young talents in Guyana. It is important to have someone as accomplished as Pollard leading the team since the youths can learn from someone who is a true professional and a very accomplished player and coach.”

“Pollard played an important role in the success of Slingerz FC before we regrettably stepped away from the sport and his return is to also help the club reclaim the top spot in Guyana’s football once again,” Ali said.

Apart from capturing the first edition of the GFF Elite/National League, Slingerz FC won the Bank Cup (2013-2014), West Side Mashramani Knockout tournament (2013 & 2014), WDFA League (2013, 2014, 2022), Mayor’s Cup (2015) and the Kashif and Shanghai tournament (2015).

The aforementioned infrastructural works include construction of the state-of-the-art stadium at Palmyra, Corentyne, multi-purpose facilities in the hinterland; rehabilitation of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall; construction of stands and grass mounds in Regions Two and Six; extension of the Squash court at the National Racquet Centre, and the procurement of sport gear. (Calvin Chapman)

Brathwaite, Hope, Joseph picked in ICC teams-of-the-year

LONDON,

against the hosts starting next month.

“I have been putting in lots of hard work and the hard work will continue here in Zimbabwe where we are preparing for the two Test in a few days time.

The 30-year-old averaged 62 in seven Tests during the last calendar year, scoring two hundreds – a marathon 160 against England in Bridgetown and fine 110 against Australia Perth last month.

Brathwaite’s West Indies teammates, batsman Shai Hope and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, were also honoured by the ICC, named in the men’s One-Day International Team-of-theYear.

“I’m very privileged and honoured to be named as a member of the Test team,” said Brathwaite, who recently arrived in Zimbabwe for the two-Test tour

“One of the outstanding performances for the year was the series win against England at home.

“It was my first time as captain against England and we worked really hard to beat them on our home soil… that was fantastic from a team perspective, and for me the big moment of the year.”

England all-rounder Ben Stokes was named captain of the Test squad which also includes the stellar Pakistan stroke-maker and skipper Babar Azam, Australia run-scoring machine Marnus Labuschagne and South Africa seamer Kagiso Rabada.

Dowrich to lead Barbados Pride against Guyana Harpy Eagles

OUT-of-favour West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich has been given the reigns to Barbados Pride for the upcoming Regional Four-Day Championship that starts February 1.

Pride, who are chasing a third straight Four-Day title, will open the season against Guyana Harpy Eagles at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua after which they face Jamaica

Scorpions from February 8 while the Eagles travel to Grenada to face Windward Volcanoes.

Due to the West Indies' two-Test tour of Zimbabwe, Pride is without the services of Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Raymon Reifer, Jomel Warrican, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers and Kemar Roach.

However, their replacements are more than handy, as some of them

Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

Hope, meanwhile, kept up his consistency in the game’s shorter format in 2022, averaging 35 with three hundreds from 21 ODIs. He was among only seven players to pass 700 runs for the calendar year.

The 26-year-old Joseph, meanwhile, was also among the leading wicket-takers in ODIs for 2022, snaring 27 at an average of 25 from 17 matches for West Indies.

He was the leading fast bowler in the world last year among countries in the top tier of world cricket.

The ODI team is being led by Babar and includes the likes of India’s Shreyas Iyer and New Zealander Trent Boult.

Neither the men’s Twenty20 International Team-of-the-Year nor the women’s ODI and T20 squads, comprised any West Indies players.

formed the core of the squad that surged to success last season.

Just like Pride, Harpy Eagles, for varying reasons, are missing the likes of Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Vishaul Singh, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford along with Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Gudakesh Motie, who are in Zimbabwe as well.

However, Pride would be cautious since their

faan

Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport Charles Ramson Jr.

Charles Pollard is back as head coach of Slingerz FC

(CMC) – West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite has been named in the International Cricket Council’s men’s Test-team-of-theYear, following a successful year with the bat.

West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite

Shane Dowrich last represented the West Indies in Test cricket in December 2020