Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 25-06-2023

Bigger victory in 2025

…Jagdeo tells Region Three residents

SBM Offshore commits US$37M in contracts for local businesses

CARICOM examines possible integration of local content legislation with existing treaty SEE

Finance Minister participates in global summit convened by French President

Three-day closure for Harbour Bridge

General Secretary of the PPP/C, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and President Dr Irfaan Ali, addressed scores of supporters at Leonora, West Coast Demerara on Saturday night (Latchman Singh photos)

Bigger victory in 2025

…Jagdeo tells Region Three residents

By Trina Williams

URGING residents of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) to become activists and play an integral role in their communities, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Saturday night said a “bigger victory” will be achieved in 2025 when Guyanese vote at the General and Regional Elections.

During a public

gender. And this is the strength of the People’s Progressive Party.

“We will move from this victory onto a bigger victory in 2025. But for that to happen, every one of you here tonight would have to play a role; not just a passive role, not just to come to meetings and vote; you have to become activists of this party. You have to talk about what we stand for. The positive things,” the General Secretary said to the large crowd.

according to Jagdeo.

“I expect all of you, as I’ve said before, not to be passive supporters. Often, the battle is waged online because a lot of negatives go there. Every day they have some of their trolls designed to pull down everything good that we build in this country.

“I expect all of you to go online, make sure you have your accounts; be bold enough – don’t get nasty – but be bold enough to state your opinions, defend the

He urged supporters not to be distracted by the Opposition’s efforts to create division.

“There is only one common future for is – one in which we are all united in one cause – the development of Guyana, the prosperity of Guyana, the advancement of every single family in this country.”

According to the President, with this massive victory, his party will work even harder.

“Now is not the time to stop and analyze… this is a time for us to push even harder forward…as all the good books say - the devil does not sleep – and

when they [the Opposition] see the results of this Local Government Election, they will try every single trick in the book, they will try every single dirty type of campaign you can think about to target the People’s Progressive Party.

“But this party is a strong party, it’s an all-weather party and it’s a party that believes in the people and the people believes in this party,” the Head of State said.

The President vowed that he will not allow the “lies and propaganda” of the Opposition to gain roots in the communities.

‘Thank You’ meeting at the Leonora Stadium, West Coast Demerara, following the PPP/C’s resounding victory at the recently concluded Local Government Elections (LGEs), the General Secretary, who also serves as Guyana’s Vice-President, told residents not to be “passive supporters” and encouraged them to challenge the misinformation being spread online by the political opposition.

“We have demonstrated in these elections that we are the only national party, our candidates look like Guyana, people of every race, every religion and every

The PPP now controls 67 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) following the LGEs and was able to garner more votes in the thousands in regions and communities that historically supported the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)

With a higher voter turnout in Georgetown this year, moving from 24 to 29 per cent, the PPP/C picked up well over 5, 000 additional votes, while the votes for APNU dropped by the hundreds.

In Region Three, the PPP/C won all the NDCs while APNU lost the 14 it gained in 2018,

changes and our history of fighting for freedom, democracy and development.

“If you’re afraid to do that, then this country would not have a future. You have to be able to stand up and defend our gains,” the General Secretary contended.

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who spoke after Jagdeo, also echoed Jagdeo’s sentiments about a bigger victory in 2025.

“All of us must take equal responsibility to ensure in 2025, we see the largest victory ever for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic,” President Ali said.

President Dr Irfaan Ali with supporters of the PPP/C (Latchman Singh photos)

A section of the massive crowd at the Leonora Stadium

Guyana still facing issues exporting honey to T&T

By Tamica Garnett

DESPITE many discussions to address it, Guyanese businesses continue to face the ageold issue of exporting or transshipping honey products to Trinidad and Tobago (TT).

The non-conformity of Trinidad and Tobago’s legislation governing the importation or transitting of honey has been a long-standing issue continuously raised before the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

The issue was once again raised on Saturday during a Business Breakfast Seminar held by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association under the theme, ‘The Original Jurisdiction of

the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Private Sector.’

Discussions were held on the rights of CARICOM nationals, move-

Presentations were made at the seminar by sitting judge on the CCJ, Justice Winston Charles Anderson and Director of External Trade at the

importance of the CCJ in presiding over matters where the rights of a CARICOM national or entity are breached. In this regard, Vice President of the GMSA, Rafeek Khan, pointed to the situation of Guyana’s inability to export honey to TT and sought the opinion of Dr. Ononaiwu and Justice Anderson.

ics of the problem, but highlighted that the issue is being dealt with by COTED.

The official acknowledged that this particular problem facing Guyana is a prime example of issues that continue to persist in the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME)

tain steps being taken.”

ment within member states and the jurisdiction of the CCJ to preside over and adjudicate on disputes over provisions in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC).

CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Chantal Ononaiwu, who spoke about the application of the CCJ Agreement and the provisions of the RTC that empowered the free movement of nationals, goods and services.

Both spoke on the

According to business officials in Guyana, the issue continues to persist, notwithstanding the commitment by nations of the region to address non-tariff barriers to advance the movement of food to increase the consumption of regionally produced products, or Guyana and TT signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last year to resolve trade restrictions.

Dr. Ononaiwu noted her preference not to get into details on the specif-

“Honey has been a long-standing issue on the agenda of the COTED.

“Under the Treaty, COTED has the responsibility to manage and oversee the operations of the CSME and that responsibility requires dealing with issues that concern the CSME not operating the way that it should. Without getting into how it's [honey issue] being dealt with, I would just indicate that this is a perfect example of a matter that is consistently on the agenda of the community. It's a complex system and its resolution requires cer-

Trinidad and Tobago’s honey, bees and bee products are guided by the island’s age-old Food and Drug Act of 1960 and Beekeeping and Bee products Act of 1935. Both of these, however, are not in keeping with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) as highlighted by COTED and has led to the total prohibition of honey from other countries to the island.

In 2012, a portion of Grenada’s honey was confiscated, while a U.S.$3,000 fine was imposed on Guyanese company Laparkan in 2015 for coming within one mile of the island’s shores.

COTED has since stipulated that Trinidad and Tobago’s legislation be amended to provide for the trade in honey from its fellow member states, however the conditions have not changed.

CARICOM examines possible integration of local content legislation with existing treaty

By Tamica Garnett

A WORKING group within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is currently looking at the development of measures that allows for the application of local content legislation within the context of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC).

This is according to the Director of External Trade at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Chantal Ononaiwu, as she addressed questions about how local content fits into the provisions of the RTC which focuses on integration. She was delivering a presentation at a breakfast seminar last Saturday at the Ramada Princess Hotel.

“The issue of local content is such an important one in the community that the Heads of Government have actually mandated a working group on local content to make recommendations, amongst other things, the development and application of local content legislation in the context of the revised Treaty and I stressed in the context of the revised Treaty because initiatives like

this have to be situated within the context of the obligations that Member States have assumed under the Treaty and the framework that the Treaty provides for the Member States to exercise flexibility,” Dr. Ononaiwu said.

Established in 2001, the RTC governs the establishment of the CARICOM and the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME), which seeks to implement provisions for the removal of trade and professional restrictions and facilitate the free movement of capital and the coordination of economic policies.

This Treaty provides, inter alia, for integration of efforts in economic matters, co-ordination of foreign policies and functional cooperation in a list of areas including labour administration and industrial relations and social security among subscribing states.

However, this has brought into question the need for countries to make provisions to ensure that its own citizens benefit from their patrimony and unfair disadvantage some States may be subjected to from competition by

larger firms from other nations.

To counter this, Guyana is implementing its local content legislation, which enshrines in law provisions that give preference to native citizens. Local content are policies imposed by governments that require firms to use domestically-manufactured goods or domestically supplied services.

With Guyana operating a nascent, but burgeoning oil and gas industry, and many foreign businesses circling the wagons to get in on a share of the pie, the government in 2021 secured a safeguard for Guyanese with the signing of the Local Content Act 2021.

Other Caribbean nationals, largely those from Trinidad, have questioned the compatibility of Guyana’s local content law with the provisions of the RTC.

However, both the Guyanese government and business community have remained firm that Guyanese must

benefit from our resources.

On Saturday, the issue came up for discussion during the seminar, which was hosted by

may at some point have to engage on that issue and I'm sure they will, whether it's through their advisory jurisdiction or otherwise,

the policy that is occupying the attention of the Community. The policy is clear that there are mechanisms like this that countries

the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA). Dr. Ononaiwu noted that Guyana was not the only country in CARICOM concerned about having some level of local content.

“I don't want to make a definitive pronouncement on how the local content legislation of Guyana is situated within the context of the Treaty. The court

provide guidance,” Dr. Ononaiwu said.

“This is more systemically being addressed. It’s not just about Guyana’s local content legislation but

feel that they have to have at their disposal. And so, the issue really is how do we develop measures like these within the context of the Revised Treaty.”

A section of the gathering at the breakfast seminar

Economic Diplomacy

THE PPP/C administration has embarked on an aggressive developmental agenda. Among the several elements of that development matrix are job creation, infrastructural development and an enhanced delivery of social goods including education, health, housing and water.

During a recent press conference, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo indicated that part of this development drive was being fuelled by efforts to enhance economic diplomacy with international partners.

According to the Vice-President, this agenda is facilitated by a robust diplomatic initiative, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels. Emphasis is now being placed on economic diplomacy which has opened

new doors to financial institutions. Only recently, Guyana secured a loan to the amount of US$150 which will be substantially utilized to advance the housing drive.

According to Dr. Jagdeo, this loan would allow for an acceleration of the housing programme. The PPP/C has already created 30,000 of the 50,000 house lots promised in its 2020 Elections Manifesto. And this is despite the fact that several prime lands that could have been used for housing- development purposes were given away by the previous APNU+AFC to cronies and friends.

The PPP/C has been doing an extraordinary job in terms of resource mobilization which is so critical to advance the massive infrastructural development

currently underway. This resulted, as noted by Dr. Jagdeo, from a shift from political to economic diplomacy where the economic interests of the country take precedence over political or ideological considerations.

This is indeed how it should be. The fact is that we live in a new and changing global dispensation in which economic interests are paramount. The end of the Cold War in the late 1980s has brought in its wake an end to a system of 'spheres of influence' in which access to development financing was largely based on where a country stood on the ideological divide.

Guyana during the past years paid a heavy price for its ideological meanderings, especially during the Burnham regime, reaching

a point where the country was literally blacklisted by the international financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which at one time regarded the country under the then PNC regime as 'uncreditworthy.'

Thankfully, all of that has changed following the restoration of democratic rule on October 5, 1992. Under the PPP/C, the country not only restored financial credibility but also benefitted from substantial developmental financing by way of debt relief, grants and concessional funding.

Forme r President and Vice-President Dr. Jagdeo must be commended for the role he played in debt writeoffs, both under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPIC) and the

Enhanced HIPIC terms and the subsequent mobilization of financial resources under the Low Carbon Development Strategy. The most recent carbon credits payment to the country is attributable to the hard and painstaking work done by the former President.

President Dr. Mohamed

Irfaan Ali's high-profile and proactive role in attracting foreign investments to the country has also been paying handsome dividends. Guyana is now seen as a country full of investment opportunities. Private sector collaboration between Guyana and several countries, both from the east and the west, has increased significantly over the past few years.

This is due in large measure to the emerging oil

and gas sector, but also to an aggressive foreign policy based on economic diplomacy, aimed at the continuing enhancement of the standard of living of the Guyanese people.

In the final analysis, the efficacy of foreign policy is determined by the extent to which it promotes the domestic agenda. Guyana under the previous PNC regime had an over-sized and bloated foreign service, but with little to show for it in terms of foreign investments in the country. Thankfully, all of that has changed and there is now a positive correlation between foreign-policy initiatives and advancement of the economic and social well-being of the Guyanese people.

GHK Lall does not understand the specificity of politics

Dear Editor, GHK Lall has declared that he does not care what others say about his daily broodings about Bharrat Jagdeo. Yet, we know from basic linguistics that speech and writing cannot be monological, meaning they are not uni-directional. On the contrary, the structure of communication is dialogical, that is, an endless back and forth among speakers. It is in this context that I address GHK Lall. Put differently, we know you care what others say, which is why you say you do not care!

I noted a few days ago that GHK Lall will fail in his

central objective, which is to ruin the prestige of Bharrat Jagdeo, and the PPP/C. I offered two reasons, namely, that his reliance on race to critique the PPP/C is vacuous, and secondly, that he has an acutely underdeveloped understanding of the carefully configured working relationship between President Irfaan Ali and Vice-President Jagdeo. I would now like to add a third reason for Lall’s immanent and imminent failure. The third issue takes us deep into political theory, in this instance, the work of Carl Schmitt. The work of this German theorist is at once brilliant and controversial. Let us get straight down to

business. The key insight of Schmitt is that politics is about power. Unlike other public institutions such as the church or trade unions that revolve around trust, salvation, negotiation, and cooperation, the raison d΄être of politics is to defeat the opponent. Schmitt frames politics as an existential struggle (in the political sense) between ‘friend’ and ‘enemy.’

Here is Schmitt – “Every religious, moral, economic, ethical, or other anthesis transforms into a political one if it is sufficiently strong to group human beings effectively according to friend and enemy. Note that ‘friend’ and ‘enemy’ are conceptual cat-

egories employed to build a theory of the political. Friend and enemy do not have plural forms because they are logical constructs, not sensuous entities with subjectivities. Put differently, the contestation between friend and enemy is about the LOGIC of POWER. This is what GHK Lall fails to apprehend.

His writings are mostly about how nice Irfaan Ali or Bharrat Jagdeo should be to the other side. He cringes when Jagdeo critiques the political ‘enemy,’ even in response to attacks against the PPP/C that are patently unfounded, or intentionally untruthful. GHK Lall wants the PPP, Irfaan Ali, and Bharrat

Jagdeo to be – shall we say, ‘ecumenical.’ In fact, he takes his theological thinking so far that he believes he himself has divine insights. Mr. Lall is so naive about politics, about the specificity of the political, that he thinks he can simply throw his own hat in the ring, just like that. He has indicated that he feels he has a calling and a following!

Guyana is going through a period of rapid change, transformational as President Ali has said. One of the downsides of the rapid economic transformation is the emergence of forms of malignant opportunism to flourish. Just look at Melinda Janki pontificate nonsense

on Newsmakers and you will know what I mean. Same for some of the columns in the mainstream broadsheets. While we do not have an economic crisis in Guyana, we do have an intellectual one. People who have no training in politics or in the political economy of development and underdevelopment have suddenly become talking-head experts. Most don’t understand the specificity of the political. The political is not about God; it is about the constitution of legitimate power and authority. This is true, response or no response.

Sincerely,

Dr. Randolph Persaud

Draft Petroleum Activities Bill a positive evolution for Guyana

MORE than eight years after Guyana’s first significant oil discovery and almost 40 years after the passage of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 1986, the government is now advancing the most significant changes to the petroleum governance framework in years.

The Ministry of Natural Resources announced last week the release of a draft Petroleum Activities Bill which is available for public feedback between June 20 and July 3. The draft bill is a comprehensive attempt to modernise Guyana’s petroleum governance structure to reflect years of successful discoveries and rising production.

In a press release, the Department of Public Information (DPI) stated that the proposed petroleum bill will “introduce improvements and safeguards related to safety, emergency response, cross-border unitisation, supervision and monitoring requirements, and authorises the minister to prescribe regulations about key administrative and operational aspects of exploration and production activities.”

This is a natural step for Guyana, as its regulatory capacity at agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grows stronger and the Government learns from its experience with oil development.

Guyana has steadily progressed in both discovery and production of oil since 2015 and the now prolific Stabroek Block is home to two projects in production and proven reserves of approximately 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Outside Stabroek, Guyana’s waters still remain largely unproven, but the government is eager to incentivise broader exploration—another reason

to ensure regulations are modern.

Passage of the bill could usher in positive changes in how Guyana manages its oil and gas resources in the decades to come and will be closely watched by the international investment community to see how it balances the need for strong environmental protection with attractive fiscal terms like those that have attracted more than US $30 billion in committed investments so far. That’s especially key as Guyana embarks on its first major public oil block auction.

The draft bill also follows significant investments in the areas of offshore safety and monitoring. Earlier this year, the government signed a landmark three-year agreement with Maxar Technologies, a Colorado-based space technology provider of satellite monitoring services. This agreement will provide Guyana with cutting-edge, satellite-based environmental monitoring services both offshore and onshore to identify coastal pollution, prevent deforestation and catch illegal logging and mining activities.

Of note in the forthcoming bill is a provision mandating oil and gas companies to make tangible contributions to the local economy on both a social level and capacity-building level. This requirement, paired with the requirements under the Local Content Act 2021 will create tremendous opportunities for Guyanese businesses, especially those that have taken the opportunity of training and certification.

This law should help codify many activities that are already taking place. The landmark Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) created by the Stabroek Block co-venturers in 2021 to support capacity develop-

ment across the country for the next decade has already made several investments in critical areas, including partnerships with the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETS) and the industry funded Center for Local Business Development.

The companies pledged GY$20 billion (US$100 million) to support the initiative, which includes programmes focused on building human capacity, advancing education, improving healthcare and promoting sustainable economic development in Guyana.

The bill also includes a framework for the permitting of pipelines and plants to transport and treat petroleum products. With the ongoing development of the Gas-To-Energy (GTE) project, this framework has major implications for the investment decisions by ExxonMobil Guyana and its partners.

The final investment decision on the GTE project likely won’t be official until the third quarter this year after the passage of the new law. The bill also lays the regulatory groundwork for cutting edge emissions-reduction technology like carbon capture and storage.

According to the DPI, supplemental regulations are expected to follow the bill in the coming months and changes to the draft language are likely in response to public comment.

The introduction of this bill is clear indication of the government moving in the right direction by strengthening existing frameworks to meet the moment. This is a natural evolution for a country that’s maturing quickly as an oil producer and a clear response to the progress being made.

Every CARICOM nation has its ‘Juneteenth’

teenth’ observances in the USA, most understandably unaware their homeland may have its own equivalent ‘Juneteenth’ date of national significance.

Take Saint Lucia…

others.

ON Monday, June 19, ‘Juneteenth’ events were celebrated across the USA in commemoration of June 19, 1865, when Slavery was officially abolished there. But ‘Juneteenth’ observanc-

es are not only for America. Instead, it’s another important date (in the history of Trans-Atlantic Slavery) to be remembered like Emancipation Day in the former British Empire, when slavery was

officially abolished on August 1, 1834 and as with April 27, 1848, when France officially abolished slavery.

Caribbean people, aut home and abroad, annually heartily follow the ‘June -

On June 18, 1795, Freedom Fighters – invariably called ‘Brigands’, ‘Maroons’, ‘Runaway Slaves’, ‘Insurgents’ and ‘Military Slaves’ -- defeated a British force led by Colonel James Stewart, chasing them from their garrison at Morne Fortune to neighbouring Martinique.

The date also marked one of the first genuine revolutions in the West Indies, influenced by the French Revolution of July 14, 1789 – which had also abolished slavery in its colonies.

The French Revolution, with its motto Liberty, Fraternity and Equality, was influenced by the 1776 American independence struggle in whicht enslaved Africans and their descendants participated.

But since the French had supported the 13 American colonies demanding independence from the British, the two European states started attacking each other’s West Indian colonies (including Saint Lucia).

Britain and France had already been warring at sea over the ‘Helen of The West’ from 1605 to 1763, for its strategic military location.

But in 1794 the French ‘Republicans’, having beheaded King Louis XVI, abolished slavery in the French colonies – and supported the freed ex-slaves by arming and training them to fight -- first for Liberty, then Fraternity and Equality.

The former ‘Military Slaves’ became a growing band of freedom fighters, attacking the British ‘Royalists’ and their plantations islandwide and encouraging revolts everywhere.

A significant role was played by Victor Hughes, a French revolutionary sent to fan the flames of revolt in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Lucia.

Saint Lucia’s freedom fight would take a serious turn in 1791 in Soufriere, when two men and a woman were beheaded for plotting a plantation revolt, their heads mounted on pikes and displayed publicly to discourage

However, the Soufriere decapitation enraged the enslaved everywhere and dozens escaped to join the armed freedom fighters, whose numbers grew quicker with support from Hughes and freed French ex-slaves.

In 1793, France declared war on Britain and in 1794 a British force arrived in Barbados, from where they attacked Martinique and Saint Lucia.

But the claimed ‘capture’ of Saint Lucia never happened because the British invaders had only captured the strategic hilltop military fortification at Morne Fortune in Castries.

In 1794, Hughes dispatched Gaspar Goyrand -one of his firebrand revolutionary agents -- to Saint Lucia, with soldiers and supplies from Guadeloupe and the local fighters, with new support, exacted serious blows on the British.

By 1795, Soufriere had become the stronghold of ‘Republicanism’ and the Saint Lucia hotbed exploded again after the liberationists beheaded a couple ‘Royalists’ before embarking on an island-wide military campaign against the British, using guerilla tactics in Dennery, Micoud, Vieux Fort, Choiseul, Soufriere, Canaries and Anse-la-Raye.

But the peak event took place in the shadow of The Pitons on April 22, 1795, when another British regiment landed in Vieux Fort and launched a series of lightning attacks against the freedom fighters there.

The local fighters retreated toward Soufriere, followed by the British -- in a planned tactical manoeuvre that led to the Battle at Rabot, the greatest fight for Saint Lucia’s freedom from slavery: the freedom fighters, led by Goyrand, were lying in wait at Fond Doux in Soufriere and after a brief eight-hour battle, the British suffered almost 200 dead and over 100 wounded.

Colonel Stewart and his remaining troops beat a hasty retreat to Vieux Fort, pursued by the freedom fighters through Laborie and Choiseul, shamefully boarded their ships and hastily retreated by sea to their post in Castries, at Morne Fortune.

After the victory at Rabot, the liberationists took control of the entire south of the is-

land and then proceeded north, where they joined colleagues and took the Vigie and Pigeon Island peninsula, a strategic naval location the British and French fought for many times.

By the middle of 1795, Saint Lucia was liberated and on June 18, Colonel Stewart and the remaining British troops were again forced to hastily and shamefully retreat, this time evacuating to Martinique.

Goyrand was appointed Governor of Saint Lucia and immediately declared Slavery abolished island-wide – and from then on, in short time, Saint Lucia became a revolutionary springboard from where large numbers of trained and experienced guerillas were dispatched to start and support revolts in St. Vincent and Grenada, supporting the fights led by Chatoyer and Julien Fedon, respectively.

In 1796, a major force led by Major-General Ralph Abercrombie invaded and recaptured the island for the British, ending Saint Lucia’s year-long embrace with freedom -- but not before Goyrand and his revolutionaries had abolished slavery.

The 1795 Saint Lucia revolution took place nine years before the 1804 Declaration of Haitian Independence that led to the universally-recognized Abolition of Trans-Atlantic Slavery and establishment of the world’s first Black Republic.

It all started on the night of June 18, 1795 – Saint Lucia’s ‘Juneteenth’ -- with the first genuine revolution by ex-slaves in Europe’s ‘West Indies’.

But not all the significant revolutions (invariably called ‘revolts’ and ‘riots’ by the British and French) happened in June.

So, while ‘Juneteenth’ is appropriate to the American reality, Caribbean equivalents also happened in different months, leaving it to each nation to identify its own.

Like all other former British colonies, Guyana observes Emancipation Day on August 1, but also has its own ‘Juneteenth’ equivalents, which didn’t necessarily happen in June. In all cases, therefore, it’s just a matter of agreeing on which date.

My political life has been changed forever

elections, I voted for an Amerindian politician leading an Amerindian-based party. I wanted to see small parties play a role in governance. The election was won by

the PPP and I accepted that. I had no choice but to accept that because the right to vote was what I fought for. Then I discovered that those I embraced for the past 25

years did not accept the 2020 election results because of race and class, values I never had any use for. I was cruelly manipulated. I now can see the light.

THEY say in life you must never say ‘never’. But I am saying never and emphasizing it here. No one knows what life will bring tomorrow. We live in an existential orbit where there is space to plan for what we want, and where we want to go, but the sphere of the unknown has always been with civilization.

Intrusions we never could imagine, visit us and the shape of our lives take on different dimensions; that is why they say we must never say, never. But I am saying, I am never going back to my previous political life because I have become a new person since March 2020.

I want to be that new person and I believe the room for manoeuvrability that life allows us will empower me to proceed on a journey that will sustain my new existence. I am on that journey now, and if you know me then you can see the new pathway I am on. So, I am never going back to the Frederick Kissoon of my UG student days, the Frederick Kissoon of the 1970s, 1980s, and the Frederick Kissoon that I was for over 55 years. March 2020 opened my eyes. It was an epiphany. It was my Road-to-Damascus moment.

I have spent over 55 years in struggle for a progressive, equal, free, philosophical, racially united Guyana. That crusade brought me into associations, relationships, friendships and camaraderie with Guyanese of all ages, all types of class

positions, all categories of cultural/ethnic backgrounds, all shades of ideological orientations. Bonds were formed with large numbers of souls that I embraced and trusted implicitly and explicitly.

I was introduced to philosophy at an early age. I was a 16-year-old PPP polling agent in the 1968 general elections and after that I ended up as an employee with the PPP-owned Michael Forde bookshop. It was in that place philosophy took hold of me. Whoever ordered the books for the shop had a liking for philosophy, because a large number of the orders were books on philosophy. So, I read Socrates, Plato, Marx, Sartre over and over trying to understand what these men wrote. It is not easy to understand philosophy texts. I read my best philosophy book, Martin Heidegger, “Being and Time” four times when I was at McMaster University before I understood what he was saying about the purpose of human existence.

I would steal philosophy books from my workplace, take them home and read from morning to night, eschewing the normal happenings in the Kissoon household. It was philosophy books that shaped my worldview. I became convinced that humans must have justice and that justice must not be class based and that the poorer sections of society must be protected and served by the state to achieve their social elevation. I became an anarchist

as a UG student, despising power in itself.

My life as a radical left-wing person consisted of the belief that Guyanese must be able to vote for the organization of their choice and that power must never be ethically or class based. I opposed every government in Guyana from 1968 to July 2020. That was my life and it brought me into contact with an untold number of Guyanese whom I believe at that time shared my idealism. I came to respect and admire those persons.

From 1968 to 2020, I embraced a one-dimensional existence, one that was based on the struggle for rights over wrongs, and the need to bring the poor out of poverty. I never had any sense of the awareness of the ethnicity of the humans I socialized with.

Then came March 2020. I realized that the past 30 years, I didn’t know people at all. I realize that in March 2020 I was one of the most manipulated humans that came into existence on Planet Earth. People that I struggled with had set aside a purpose for me. I was to be used in a game of class and race pursuit. One can say in March 2020, over 55 years of multi-racial, working-class activism came crashing down. All the repression, oppression and sacrifice I endured for over 55 years just vanished in one month, the fateful month of March in 2020.

In the March 2020

Refugees…fleeing home

HOW many of us who live in relatively peaceful countries ever give a thought to the conditions under which people live in conflict zones and why they are forced to leave?

There were graphic pictures coming out of Syria, during the war on ISIS and recently out of the Ukraine showing the widespread devastation and destruction of homes and buildings, certain areas being rendered complete wastelands.

In several countries in Africa, the story is the same, with drought conditions compounding the suffering of thousands faced with the prospect of extreme hunger and starvation.

Perhaps the most touching scenes on our television screens are of orphaned children scouring the rubble in search of food and other items they could use.

When it seems that survival has become impossible in their home countries, these children, some with their families, seek refuge in neighbouring countries or travel thousands of miles looking for a better life.

According to the United Nations (UN), “Every minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror…” And of those fleeing it is estimated that half are children.

The gravity of this situation cannot be ignored, for in so many instances being a refugee means you can take nothing with you. Though many have lost all their belongings before leaving their home country, others have to leave their homes and possessions behind and flee with just “the shirts on their backs.”

Last Tuesday, the world celebrated World

Refugee Day, as it does each year on June 20 and today marks the end of Refugee Week, begun in 1998 as a direct result of media and community hostility towards refugees and asylum seekers.

This year’s theme, “Hope Away from Home,” aimed at fostering the hope of those who have been forced to flee their homes that they can build new lives and are always included.

This involves including refugees in the communities where they have found safety, which is seen as an effective way to help them contribute to their host countries. It is also thought to be the best way to prepare refugees to return and help build their home countries when conditions allow, or to thrive in the countries where they have resettled.

The refugee crisis is now at a record high of

110 million people and the UN Chief, Antonio Guterres has called on countries to support refugees by not closing their borders and coming up with more solutions to help displaced persons rebuild their lives.

“These are not numbers on a page,” Guterres said, “these are individual women, children and men making difficult journeys – often facing violence, exploitation, discrimination and abuse.”

And this year’s World Refugee Day has coincided with news that more than half a million people have now fled Sudan to neighbouring countries, prompting the current Chief of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR), Filippo Grandi, to declare, “Guns must fall silent if we want this exodus to stop.”

However, the guns continue to fire and every year millions of people are forced to leave their homes and their lives behind, travelling by any means of transportation available, often covering

hundreds of miles on foot, looking for a safer place to live. They struggle to find shelter, food and water on these dangerous journeys and many do not make it.

Those who do survive end up in refugee camps, which can be as big as cities, usually run by charities, often cramped, overcrowded and with poor living conditions. The implications for both mental and physical health can be devastating, particularly as a result of the hazardous journeys to these camps and the emotional trauma of the entire experience.

Many become preys of human traffickers, robbed of the money they paid for their journey and end up as slaves with no hope of a better life,

others have witnessed those who die on the way being thrown overboard or simply ‘falling by the wayside’ too weak to continue their perilous journey on foot. As the World Health Organization (WHO) points out, “Refugees may have unique needs due to their pre-existing health conditions, social circumstances and the hazards they may face during their journey.” However, perhaps the most pertinent comment, and one we should all consider, was made by UN Chief Guterres when he said, “The problems are war and hatred, not the people who flee.”

No special treatment

WHEN Former President David Granger rose to the presidency in 2015, there was an expectation that there would be more regular press and media engagements compared with his predecessor, former President Donald Ramotar. It was envisioned that Granger understood the need for good governance, and for his coalition government to be held accountable by the media corps with an air of honesty and accountability.

Granger was very well liked by the press corps. He started out ‘hot and sweaty’ only for his engagement to become fewer and fewer. This went on for months with Granger making the staged statements and issuing press releases through the Department of Public Information.

He would turn up to official state functions and events to cut a ribbon or declare an event open or even commission something. Then came the ‘Public Interest’ show starring Granger with a few of the selected media and journalists. Within a month of the show, it became clear as day that it was coordinated, and planned. The information flowing to the public was less than honest, true and factual. It was an attempt at pageantry as it was selective and sought to usurp both the role of the free press and rewrite the events. It was both reprehensible and a gimmick at best.

Also, the President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), Nazima Ragubir finally got the courage to stand up to her clandestine bosses; after all, there was sufficient cause to be concerned at

Granger’s treatment of the media.

Fast forward to both Kaieteur News and Stabroek News turning their attention sharply, switching gear to Granger’s troubling treatment of the media. Crying foul, headlines and editorials screamed loudly in 2018, saying: “President Granger’s two press conferences in three years…” and “Granger says not afraid of media …” in 2020 in the midst of all the unduly protracted electoral turmoil.

The same article in 2020 observed that, “May 17 press conference marked Granger’s first public appearance since March. The Granger presidency has been criticised for his refusal to hold open press conferences and questions sent to his press and publicity team primarily go unanswered. In 2018, for example, only after tremendous media pressure, including formal complaints by the Guyana Press Association, Granger held only his third press conference since coming to power in 2015.

“His first press conference was held five months into his tenure in October 2015 and his second one was over two years later in December of 2017.”

It is in this very context that the current Head of State and President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s record must be examined. One must never forget the past or display a wilful bout of selective amnesia when seeking after facts and mistruths.

Firstly, President Ali has had far more press conferences with the media in Guyana since his assumption of

office. Far more press conferences than five to 10 in a two-year period.

The public should know that President Ali does not shy away from answering the tough and difficult questions posed to him on the sidelines of public events and during interviews. Just ask Demerara Waves, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and other media ‘suspects’ just how brave, bold, candid and precise the President’s answers or engagement is with them in the media.

He is not coy and does not scramble for words or read from staged teleprompters or scripts. After all, President Granger did so all the time.

Secondly, the President has displayed a unique approach to public information. He prefers to go to the people and adopt a grassroots approach.

This explains his many engagements being streamed live and direct for the world to see in real-time as he visits different parts of the country meeting people, solving problems and informing the public about the policies of his government.

Anyone, including the media, could ask him any question and approach him for a comment relating to any issue. So, the president is accessible to the media by getting ahold of him via his office, phone or any appropriate internet software. He is available as far as his schedule and other engagements allow.

This fascination and obsession with the President holding media and press conferences, as engineered

CANU officers arrested for stealing from detainee

THE Guyana Police Force has taken two Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) Officers into custody to assist with investigations into an alleged case of simple larceny.

The incident occurred during a CANU Operation in Berbice, where the officers are suspected of stealing items from an individual who was detained.

Upon discovery of the alleged theft, CANU promptly handed over the matter to the Guyana Police Force, which has assumed responsibility for the ongoing investiga -

tion. The law enforcement agencies noted that they are committed to conduct-

by the private media, more particularly, the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News, and a sprinkle of so-called independent media, is not healthy and is disingenuous as there is no law in the Constitution that stipulates such practices.

Furthermore, it is foolish when one considers the wealth of press engagements and conferences that are held by Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo and other ministers of government that deal with every single issue that the media would be interested in discussing with President Ali.

Thirdly, it seems as though these media entities want special treatment when it comes to the President and his government. They want the formal sit-down and chat with him in the offices with air-conditioning away from the watchful eyes of the public so they can generate their stories after, mislead the public and sow seeds of confusion and doubt.

This President is way too smart and in control of setting his own public narrative. From his actions, he prefers to engage the media publicly. Any responsible

and objective media house would see how his policy has changed and differed from time to time, depending on the circumstances.

The media will never successfully pressure the President into holding a press conference like Granger if he does not see the need to!

Turn up where he is and ask him the difficult questions, and work diligently for the news! Nothing is ever easy in the ever-evolving and ever-changing fastpaced world of the internet and telecommunication era.

ing a thorough and impartial inquiry to uncover the truth surrounding the incident.

Not enough being done to sensitize CARICOM nationals about their rights

UNDER the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME), CARICOM nationals and businesses are afforded an extensive range of free movement of skills, goods and services and capital, along with several avenues to seek recourse when such rights are breached.

However, many CARICOM nationals remain in the dark about this, because of a lack of sensitisation on the matter. But a multi-stakeholder approach that involves the CARICOM Secretariat, in conjunction with governments, civil society and the private sector, is needed to get the message spread within respective members states to ensure nationals are informed.

This was shared by Director of External Trade at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Chantal Ononaiwu on Saturday morning, as she made a presentation, and answered questions during a Business Breakfast Seminar held at the Ramada Prin -

cess Hotel by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

During her remarks, Dr. Ononaiwu spoke about the rights and obligations, which primarily benefitted the private sector, as contained in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC), the covenant that governs the parameters of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

During a question-and-answer segment following her presentation,

persons commented about learning many of the rights and obligations for the first time, particularly as it pertains to the private sector. When asked if she thought enough was being done to ensure nationals are aware of their rights, Dr. Ononaiwu acknowledged that the area was lacking.

“My short answer is no; enough isn't being done. Enough isn't being done if we're having a sensitisation session like this, and so many

members of an organisation like the GMSA are saying [learning about their rights as CARICOM nationals] is news to them. So that's my litmus test for whether or not enough is being done. So, my short answer is more can be done; we need a multistakeholder approach,” Dr. Ononaiwu said.

Though she acknowledged that the CARICOM Secretariat has a leading role to play, she highlighted the need for governments and other sectors of society to also play their part in bringing about awareness.

“The need for sensitisation is a preoccupation of my colleagues at the Secretariat; we support sensitisation, in the context of our own capacity constraints at the Secretariat, but the best way to do it is we have to partner with the member states. The Community can’t be the only one engaging in sensitisation; Member States have to do so, the private sector has to do so, there's civil society. It has

to be multiple stakeholders across the community,” Dr. Ononaiwu said.

The rights and obligations of CARICOM nationals was discussed within the context of the theme of the seminar, which was “The Original Jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Private Sector”.

In its original jurisdiction, the CCJ discharges the functions of an international tribunal, applying rules of international law in respect of the interpretation and application of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.

All members of CARICOM are signed on to this function. The CCJ is also meant to function as the region’s final appellate court, however, not all of the CARICOM members are signed on to this jurisdiction.

Also making a presentation at the seminar was Justice Winston Charles Anderson, who spoke about the CCJ’s function as an adjudicator of disputes pertaining

to provisions of the RTC.

However, Dr. Ononaiwu noted that should a CARICOM national have their rights breached, there are avenues where persons can find redress before having to resort to the CCJ.

“There is a CARICOM complaints mechanism that’s there to avoid something escalating to the point where we have to seek redress in court. This complaint mechanism, which is standardised throughout the region, allows anyone who has any situation to literally lodge a complaint.

“The complaint focal point varies from country to country, and then that focal point should then follow up and do some investigation. It was recognised that you have to give nationals the opportunity in the heat of the moment to lodge a complaint about instances where the CSME is not operating as it should,” Dr. Ononaiwu said.

Director of External Trade at CARICOM’s Secretariat’s Directorate of the Caribbean Single Market and Trade, Dr. Chantal Ononaiwu (Photo: News Room)

East Bank farmers to benefit from agriculture & livestock programmes

well.

“We have already started a programme on the highway, where livestock farmers were given high-bred pigs, and now we are looking at giving these livestock farmers in this community that same opportunity as well,” he said.

Minister Mustapha said he was very pleased with the manner in which the engagement went with the residents.

TO ensure that all farmers across the country benefit from the rapid growth and expansion of one of the most important and productive sectors of Guyana's economy, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha met with the farmers of Coverden, East Bank Demerara.

In a follow-up meeting with the primarily crop and livestock farmers last Friday, he announced that a team from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will soon start working to help with flood mitigation in farming areas along the entire East Bank.

According to the agriculture minister, he will ensure that in a matter of days, a team of NDIA engineers led by Chairman Lionel Wordsworth will return to the area to do an assessment, following which a thorough drainage plan would be established to direct the operations.

Additionally, the minister said that officials from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Livestock Development Agency (GLDA) will travel to the Coverden area to assist farmers there. He related that in addition to planting supplies, farmers will get help raising livestock animals, as well as technical support for growing fruits and vegetables, cash crops, and coconuts.

Speaking with the Sunday Chronicle, Minister Mustapha said, “Vice-President Jagdeo met with those farmers before the Local Gov -

ernment Elections (LGEs), and he promised them that I would pay them a visit and hear what their concerns were. And that was the reason for my visit. The farmers raised a number of issues regarding drainage and irrigation, as well as some issues about planting materials and livestock. I am happy to say that we will fulfil all of their requests, and deal with all of their issues.”

The minister also said, “Firstly, I have to ensure that I have a plan, going forward, and that is why I will be sending Lionel Wordsworth, who is the NDIA head, and

According to him, the people were “very receptive and complimentary” to him and the Vice-President for the interest that was shown to them.

“These residents were very receptive and complimentary to us; they said that this is the first time that politicians have made these types of commitments to them in the community, and are delivering on them immediately. They were also very happy that the VP came back, and not only spoke with them, but he also told them that he will work with the residents to ensure that the community is enhanced for the betterment of all,” Minister Mustapha said.

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who was

he will lead a team to go into the community and assess the situation. While that will be happening, NAREI will also be doing an assessment to see what type of planting materials they will need, and the types of crops that they are cultivating there. All the planting materials will be given free of charge.”

Minister Mustapha also said that the officials from GLDA will pay them a visit and give them the necessary assistance in that field as

also at the meeting, along with Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs Kwame McCoy, added that the agriculture ministry will soon involve locals, and begin teaching them to help with tasks such as grafting at the ministry's plant nursery in Timehri.

Dr. Jagdeo also said that he will help make sure that there are enough planting supplies at the facility.

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo (centre), Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs Kwame McCoy (left), and Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha

Some of the residents of Coverden listening to the VP and Minister Mustapha at Friday’s meeting in the village

Residents during the meeting

Finance Minister participates in global summit convened by French President

SENIOR Minister at the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, last week attended the ‘Global Summit for a new Global Financial Pact’ which was convened in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The summit brought together over 100 global leaders including the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz; Brazil’s President, “Lula” da Silva; US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and President Joe Biden’s Special Envoy and

former US Secretary of State, John Kerry.

The aim of the summit was to advance a reform agenda for the major global financial institutions, including a significant focus on the Bridgetown Agenda championed by Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley. The new President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga and Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva took part in discussions focused on how these institutions can be reformed to be relevant to the challenges of the 21st cen-

tury – with a specific focus on supporting debt sustainability, climate finance and the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in all countries.

Minister Singh expressed his appreciation for President Macron’s leadership in convening leaders to focus on modernising these institutions. He commended the work that institutions such as the IMF, IDB and World Bank had done over decades, pointing out that they had supported Guyana when democracy was restored in the early 1990s

and the then government had to deal with the PNC’s legacy of unsustainable debt and widespread economic mismanagement.

However, the minister also highlighted the urgent need for the institutions to modernise to deal with the challenges of today. He joined other developing country representatives in calling for more nimble responses to small countries who faced crises – such as those of the Caribbean who face economic and environmental shocks on an increasingly frequent basis.

He also stressed the need for the institutions to support all countries – large and small -- in dealing with the challenges of investing in climate security, energy

Finance Minister

Dr Ashni Singh

security and food security, echoing the comments made by President Irfaan Ali at the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking after the summit, Minister Singh said, “President Macron is to be commended for gathering so many leaders in Paris to face up to the long overdue need for major reform in the global financial institutions.

“Today’s summit is just the start. Most countries present at today’s

summit did not exist as independent countries when the IMF, World Bank and other global institutions were founded –which is why the reforms championed by Prime Minister Mottley and others are so important. The heads of these institutions and their major shareholders all recognised this today – so I hope the coming months will see action to take forward the agreements of the last two days.”

Gov’t remains committed to safeguarding migrants’ rights

- Min. Teixeira says

Among several other promises to those in need, she said: “We will continue to work, to ensure that people coming in are not exploited, not abandoned, not being used by traffickers and others.”

BUILDING BRIDGES, NOT BARRIERS

that migrants undergo harsh treatments even after migrating, the Ambassador said: “We must remain committed to addressing these challenges.”

inclusion from the Amerindians in Region One (Barima-Waini) towards Venezuelan migrants.

WITH thousands being forced to flee their homeland because of detrimental phenomena such as oppression, war, economic instability or natural disasters, Guyana remains “A Hope away from Home,” as the nation is striving to provide security and betterment for migrants.

These sentiments were expressed by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, in her address, on Friday, at the Marriott Hotel, during the observance of World Refugee Day.

According to her: “What we have to do is to work harder on how we are able to create synergies and collaboration

between different sectors and agencies such as the UN and the government and other funding agencies, so that we’re all working in sync.”

The minister, in her heartfelt speech said, as humans we should be disturbed by the grave situations that refugees undergo in order to attain improved conditions for them and their families, referencing the recent Greek migrant boat disaster, which left at least 78 people dead.

Emphasising that humans need to take a humanitarian approach, she related that Guyana is working diligently to create synergies and collaboration between the

government and international and regional organizations.

While noting that migrants are more than statistics, Minister Teixeira stated: “Sometimes I get very worried about what is happening in the world,” explaining: “We have a moral obligation as a people.”

She noted that Guyana is on the move to provide all the necessary support for those who have left their country, with sometimes just a shirt on their back.

“We offer free public healthcare to all those who are in need whether illegal or legal, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion....” she disclosed.

With more walls being built instead of bridges, Guyana’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), George Talbot, said that the plight our fellow humans endure should not be ignored.

Underscoring the fact

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Henry Sylvain Yakara, stated that the rise in the number of migrants is a cause for concern.

Highlighting the hospitable nature of Guyanese, Yakara said that he has seen tremendous resilience and a drive to foster

Approximately 30,000 migrants from Venezuela are presently residing in Guyana.

The number of people who were forcibly displaced increased to 108 million last year, according to a 2022 UNHCR Global Report, with the majority of these people being hosted by low- and middle-income nations.

From the left to right: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Henry Sylvain Yakara; Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira and Ambassador George Talbot (Delano Williams Photo)

Kross Kolor Records secures UNESCO grant

- to train youths in becoming independent emerging music producers

By Telesha Ramnarine

TWENTY youths between the ages of 13 and 17 will undergo a fourmonth training in music production and recording engineering, with the objective of becoming independent emerging producers capable of creating professional sounding rhythm tracks.

Of this number, five will eventually be granted mini studios to create their tracks, meaning that they will be provided with all of the equipment needed to facilitate more of a mobile studio.

This is all thanks to a grant that is being awarded to Kross Kolor Records through UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and CARICOM; it is being administered by the University of the West Indies.

The course will cover basic music theory, and use of keyboard controller to make rhythm tracks within standard music creation/ audio software. It will also feature audio engineering basics for sound recording, music marketing basics, and understanding the functions of music industry specialists like producers, arrangers, publishers, road managers, music managers, etc.

“There’s a chronic lack of training of persons in the field…to make rhythm tracks and standard music creation; audio software, audio engineering, and stuff like that,” Manager of Kross Kolor Records Melissa Roberts, wellknown as ‘Vanilla’, told the Sunday Chronicle, adding, “We are very low on people to build tracks, so we are creating an incubator programme and the idea is to work with teenagers; secondary school students.”

According to her, the idea is for the participants to be able to utilise the skills learned for commercial purposes also. “It’s not just for them to just go to school, but to acquire a skill that they can earn

from.”

The intention is to start the programme by the end of July. “Even though it will start with 20 persons, it will come down to five whom we will be giving a mini studio; your own computer, keyboard, microphone; a small production studio for them to be able to build the tracks; they wouldn’t have to buy anything,” she shared.

“We will have an audition period where we will be choosing 30 to 40 students to bring it down to 20; then down to 10, and five for the mini studio prizes, although the others will get other prizes. We really want to ensure that we get the best persons,” she added.

The project will be advertised by Kross Kolor Records, and secondary schools will indicate their desire to participate in the project by filling out an online form.

The schools will then put out a call within the school and send a list of four interested students. Experts will subsequently invite the students to an audition where they will go through an aptitude and attitude compatibility test. Following this exercise, two students from the 10 participating schools will be selected for the project.

On successfully completing the course, the top 10 students will be selected for internship at various institutions for two months during the August holidays. Additionally, the top five will be presented with music production equipment and non-exclusive licensing contracts to become Kross Kolor Records generation next music producers.

many clients as possible. Kross Kolor Records will continue to be available to assist all participants beyond the project.

The music company will engage in this project for two years following the initial project in collaboration with corporate Guyana and the Ministries of Culture, Youth and Sport, and Education.

and producer with more than 30 years in the industry. His vast experience and expertise in the field include teaching music for many years, touring with bands; arranging, producing, writing, and publishing music, and running the company located on Duncan Street, in Georgetown.

The contract will be non-exclusive since the objective is to allow them to sustain their craft by working for and with as

Roberts shared that head of the training will be Director of Kross Kolor Records, Burchmore Simon, a local music teacher

“We believe that there’s a lack of trained persons within this field. Our aim is always to grow the music industry in Guyana,” Roberts expressed.

Manager of Kross Kolor Records, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts

Director of Kross Kolor Records, Burchmore Simon, a local music teacher and producer, will be the lead instructor

First of its kind ‘Locfest’ set for today

By Naomi Parris

GUYANA’S first loc fest, an event aimed at celebrating Rastafarian culture is being held today in Linden, Region 10.

Pioneered by local loc-

tician, 35-year-old Setra Oselmo, the event will feature several local vendors, creatives and artistes from the Rastafarian community and will see a host of panel discussions and fanfare activities.

“The event was birthed out of things that I have been looking around for quite some time that disturb me and, not only that, I wanted to be a part of something that I feel expresses who I am,” Oselmo

told the Sunday Chronicle. Being a Rastafarian herself, Oselmo noted that while the community and religion are well known across Guyana, it’s not one that is celebrated or often respected.

“It’s a dream of mine that one day I can see a whole space of people with locs embracing our culture, our people, who we are, our lifestyle and be respected by that.”

While some may see ‘locs’ as a simple hairstyle or fashion trend, ‘locs’ she explained is a symbol of spirituality.

Through knotting, twisting, and tying the hair, many believed that they could preserve more energy in the body which would lead to greater amounts of physical and spiritual strength. And Rastafarianism is most notably recognised for pursuing this.

DISCRIMINATION

In western society, however, the religion has faced discrimination because of the hair and other beliefs.

“We face a lot of challenges being Rastafarians growing up, being accepted into schools [and] being accepted into work. It’s a joy for me to see kids with locs going into schools without having an issue, without persons telling them they have to cut their hair even with some jobs.”

She reiterated the importance of having such an event that builds public awareness and breaks down the perceived thoughts of what Rastafarianism is.

Reflecting on her own personal experience, Oselmo recalled her earlier school days, when herself and siblings were constantly penalised for their appearance.

“My siblings and I, there are eight of us, we have been through it getting into schools, getting into jobs. My family we loved to take trips and whenever the police saw a bus load of Rastafarians, it was a search from A-Z.”

Guyana has come a long

way in building awareness, and while discrimination against Rastafarians is not as prevalent as it once was, it is a conversation she believes must continue.

“I am happy now that we are opening our eyes and embracing who we want to be and our identity and that should be respected.”

IT’S NOT ‘DREADLOCS’

‘Locs’ to Rastafarians is much more than just a hairstyle. It represents a connection to Africa and a rejection of western societal norms. It’s a renewed sense of pride in African physical characteristics and Blackness, which ties in with their belief about keeping things natural.

“In Rastafarian culture, we honour you the way we see you as kings and queens.”

According to Oselmo, there are many types of ‘locs’ and it’s not only limited to the African or the Rastafarian culture but not many are aware of this due to cultural brainwashing.

“In our culture we don’t say ‘dreads’ because there is nothing dreadful about our locs, it either ‘natty’ or ‘locs’, there is nothing dreadful about what we wear, no matter how long, how short, what type, that’s who we are and we embrace that.

“It’s the western society that gave it that name and without the knowledge we didn’t know it was something that we were implicating on ourselves. If we call it dread locs, that’s all people see the dreadful site of us and we don’t want that.”

Interlocked hair she says goes beyond Rastafarianism, its lifestyle that is natural, healthy and mentally conscious.

Local loctician, Setra Oselmo

Oselmo and her family

SBM Offshore commits US$37M in contracts for local businesses

SBM Offshore Guyana, last week, engaged 70 representatives of local businesses at its Vendor Day and committed to spending some US$37M in contracts for local vendors.

A statement from company noted that ‘Vendor Day’ is one of the company’s annual activities geared towards updating local suppliers about procurement opportunities, requirements, and its compliance processes.

The activity provided an opportunity for participating businesses to learn more about the company’s expectations for suppliers when conducting business, its vendor qualification/renewal process and timeline; performance measurement criteria, key Purchase Order and invoicing requirements; Local Content initiatives and commitments, logistics and delivery requirements.

“The company’s drive for sustainable packaging, vendor compliance measures and key Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) procedures were also among the discussions held with vendors,” the press release noted.

During their presentations, Flavia Werneck, Supply Chain Support Manager, and Recardo Bovell, Procurement Lead, provided an overview of the checks and balances the company has in place when procuring services. These include vendor monitoring processes which assess the vendor’s qualifications and performance.

Local Content Officer, Garri Fraser, said the company’s Local Content Annual Plan for 2023 made provisions for over 700 hours of training to be conducted with major vendors.

He noted that 200 hours of training and certification will be done with contractors, inclusive of Human Rights training. Twenty-four hours of forums and webinars will also be held with vendors, as well as clarification sessions on the Requests for Information process. Vendors will also be advised on the creation of bid packages.

“From the procurement side, we have committed about

US$37 million dollars to spend to local vendors. Now, that is huge when you look at the total commitment to local content in Guyana, which is US$51 million dollars,” he said.

Sustainability and Social Impact Programme Development Officer, Gwenetta Fordyce, stressed the need for vendors to review and understand the company’s Human Rights Standards and HSSE policy.

Compliance Ambassador, Nevellean Dundas, highlighted the company’s expectation for vendors to embed transparency, courtesy and impartiality into their business conduct, stressing the need for compliance with the laws and regulations of the country.

Shaneeza Alli, Accounting Lead, provided insight into the company’s payment and invoicing processes and explained the invoicing best practices for the vendors in attendance.

Richard Govinda, Warehouse Supervisor, provided insight into the company's logistics, packaging and preservation requirements when conducting business at the warehouse, including the necessary documentation.

Speaking at the event, SBM Offshore Guyana’s General Manager, Martin Cheong, said by actively engaging local suppliers, contractors and vendors, the company is not only creating opportunities for employment and economic advancement but also supporting sustainable development.

“Vendor Day 2023 serves as testimony to our organisation’s unwavering commitment to support local businesses and nurture local capacity,” he said.

In 2022, SBM Offshore Guyana received approval for its Local Content Master Plan, the first of the Prime Contractors to achieve this milestone in Guyana.

In May, the company received approval for its 2023 Local Content Annual Plan and Certificate of Compliance. The company holds this responsibility in high regard and remains steadfast in pursuing local content development in Guy-

ana through the utilisation of Guyanese companies in its operations.

Three-day closure for Demerara Harbour Bridge …to

replace span nine

MINISTER of Public Works, Juan Edghill, on Saturday announced that the Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed for three days in the last week of July to allow for replacement of span nine of the bridge.

This closure is scheduled to start from 11:59 pm on July 24, 2023 to 11:59 pm on July 27, 2023.

Advised by his technical staff at the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, the minister said this specific time period is based on the tide between

of this replacement and is committed to seeing this project through, as this new retractor which is 170 feet long and 40 feet wide and is valued at $1.2 billion, will result in a much smoother operation (retractability) in the future, which will also enable wider vessels to pass through the channel.

“The minister is appealing to commuters and businesses for their understanding and support during these three days of closure of the bridge, as the replacement of span nine cannot be done while traffic is flowing,” the

the 24th of July to the 29th of July.

“While the logistics for this replacement were also meticulously planned during the closure of the school term, to ensure a smooth transition, and as little inconvenience to the public as possible.

“This notice is also being made one month ahead of schedule to ensure persons and businesses make requisite changes where necessary: persons travelling out of the country at the time of the closure, those with doctors’ appointments and other important engagements, etc., are being urged to note these changes,” the Public Works Ministry noted in a statement.

According to the statement, Minister Edghill said the government understands the significance

statement noted.

Last year September, span nine was damaged when the Panamanian flagged vessel MV Tradewinds Passion crashed into the bridge during a retraction period and rendered the bridge inoperable for several days.

Since then, that damaged section of the bridge had to be repaired several times, while plans were being made to replace the unit altogether.

Repairs to span nine were undertaken by a local company, Industrial Fabrications Inc (InFab), which was completed in late 2022. In May this year, span nine was transported from the dockyard to the bridge for the perfect time and tide for installation.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday June 25, 2023)

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(2) Who has led AUST in most Tests against ENG to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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Slack Windies fall...

From page 32

an over.

Mayers was caught at longoff in the 21st off pacer Wellington Masakadza trying to add to the eight fours and one six he struck from 72 balls, and Raza bowled Hope in the 24th

SCOREBOARD

over with a delivery that kept a bit low.

The Caribbean reached 139 for four at the halfway stage with Chase, former captains Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder, as well as vice-captain Rovman Powell all due, still potentially enough batting for

them to make a successful chase, but they could not find the right formula.

Pooran was lbw to Nagarava in the 32nd over swinging across the line, and Powell was lbw to Muzarabani for one in the 33rd over playing across, and West Indies needed 89 from 103 balls.

Holder got 19 and carried West Indies past 200 in the company of Chase before he dabbed at a delivery from Chatara and was caught behind in the 41st over with 52 needed from 59 balls.

The wickets of Keemo Paul lbw to Raza for one trying to reverse sweep, and Chase bowled chopping on a delivery from Chatara in the span of seven balls practically ended the resistance from the Caribbean side.

The final wicket of Alzarri Joseph, fittingly caught at mid-wicket by Player-of-theMatch Raza off Chatara for three, formalised the result when 32 balls remaining.

on 112 for four at the halfway stage. The Caribbean side let things slip with a few dropped chances, and an important 87run stand for the fifth wicket

between Raza, whose run-a-ball 68 was the top score, and Ryan Burl with an even 50 from 57 balls anchored the Zimbabweans to 268 all out in 49.5 overs.

Keemo Paul was the most

successful Windies bowler with three for 16 from 10 overs, while fellow pacer Alzarri Joseph and left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein grabbed two wickets apiece.

Fall of wickets: 1-63, 2-73, 3-90, 4-112, 5-199, 6-227, 7-232, 8-243, 9-243.

Bowling: Holder 9.5-2-46-0 (w2); Joseph 10-2-42-2 (w4); Mayers 8-0-42-1 (w3); Paul 10-0-61-3 (w3); Hosein 8-0-45-2 (w1); Chase 4-0-27-1. WEST

The result meant that Zimbabwe climbed back to the top of the standings with six points, and West Indies fall to third behind the Netherlands against whom they play their final group match on Tuesday at the Takashinga Cricket Club.

“There will be challenges, both on and off the field, especially trying to get the guys motivated to understand what we need to do and what is required to get us through to the next stage and into the final,” he said.

TOTAL (all out, 44.4 overs) 233

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-46, 3-110, 4-134, 5-175, 6-180, 7-217, 8-222, 9-224.

Bowling: Masakadza 7-0-39-1 (w2); Chatara 9.4-0-52-3 (w3);

Muzarabani 7-1-33-2 (w1); Nagarava 6-2-25-2 (w2); Madhevere 2-0-14-0; Williams 2-0-14-0; Sikandar Raza 8-0-36-2 (w8); Burl 3-0-15-0.

Result: Zimbabwe won by 35 runs.

Points: Zimbabwe 2, West Indies 0.

Toss: West Indies.

Player-of-the-Match: Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe).

“We have to make sure we harden ourselves because we knew what we need in this game, and now it’s a lot more that we need to do moving forward. I think it is best for us to have a day off to get all of this out of our systems and come back really hard on Monday. We know we have our work cut out, and there are no excuses now.”

Before a partisan capacity crowd at the Harare Sports Club, West Indies chose to field and delivered crucial blows in the first half of the Zimbabwe innings and had the hosts wobbling

West Ruimvedlt open...

From page 32

East Coast Fixture when they beat BV 4-0. On the score sheets for the LBI side were Anil Melville (5th), Deshawn Dennis (36th), Jamal Geddes (37th) and Kareem Prince (44th).

NIS ground action continued with Richard Ishmael Secondary beating Freeburg 7-0 in game seven with Christophe Augustus scoring in the 8th, 38th and 56th minutes, along with Joshua Heart (16th), Gary Nedd (18th), Isaiah Braithwaite (45th) and Tyshawn Greene (61st) ensured that the Woolford Avenue side moved onto the

next round.

Queen’s College closed off the day with a 2-0 win over Christchurch thanks to Suraj Persaud (39th) and Owen Hooper (50th).

The tournament will have legs in each of the ten administrative regions.

Following the regional rounds, a round-of-32 teams will make up a national championship, of which 13 schools will come from Georgetown.

The National Champions will receive $1,000,000 and the championship trophy with second, third, and fourth-place finishers getting $500,000, $300,000, and

$200,000, respectively.

All incentives will go towards a school project with prizes also expected for the Highest Goal Scorer, Best Goalkeeper and Most Valuable Player. Chase’s Academic Foundation are the two-time defending champion, after claiming the title in 2016 and 2017, before the six-year hiatus arose.

This tournament was dominated by Christianburg/Wismar Secondary, who won the title consecutively from 2012 to 2015 when they dethroned the inaugural champion, Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI).

Region 9 teachers complete FIFA Football for Schools training

Last week, Teachers in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) participated in a two-day FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) training session which was organised by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

The group attended theoretical and practical sessions on June 20 and 21 as part of their FIFA coach-educators training which gives them the responsibility of training children from the age of four to 14 in fundamental football and life skills.

GFF President Wayne Forde said the teachers were taught the technical competencies necessary for delivering coaching sessions and the life skills development component of the F4S programme.

“The GFF is ramping up the training of school teachers who are actively involved in the delivery of the FIFA Football for School programme (F4S) across the nation's eleven school districts. The aim of this training is to provide teachers with the technical competencies necessary for delivering coaching sessions and

the life skills development component of the F4S programme. The training will also cover key elements of the FIFA child safeguarding programme,” President Forde said.

Football for Schools, which was launched in Guyana in May 2022, seeks to make football more accessible worldwide to both boys and girls by incorpo-

rating football activities into the education system and contributing to the development and empowerment of children.

The initiative was developed by FIFA in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and is being rolled out in all 211 countries which are a part of FIFA.

Issues addressed in the cur-

Discrimination in cricket report to finally be published on Tuesday

riculum include self-confidence, teamwork and learning to win and lose.

Teachers are critical to the success of the initiative since they are positioned to effectively implement the programme in schools across Guyana.

Guyana was the first country in the Caribbean region selected to pilot the programme.

Guyana Harpy Eagles contract six new players following the CWI/CPL Draft

THE Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) named six new faces who will earn contracts for the upcoming season following Thursday’s 2023/24 Cricket

West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricketers Draft.

The respective Territorial Board Franchises drafted five additional players from a poll of roughly 90 to add to the ‘Protected 10’ players submitted to CWI prior to the draft for their squads ahead of the new season which features the CG United Super50 Cup and the West Indies Championship 4-day first-class tournament.

Among the new faces are Junior Sinclair, Mavendra Dindyal, Shamar Joseph, Rampertab Ramnauth, Matthew Nandu & Kemol Savory. In keeping

with draft rules, at least two of the selectees were required to be under the age of 25 on October 1, 2023.

As such, the Harpy Eagles drafted some six Under-25 players to their side this season. Those players include Dindyal, Sinclair, Ramnauth, Anderson, Nandu and Joseph, all of whom had success with Guyana or West Indies during their Junior levels, which include Under-19, Under-17 etc.

Kevlon Anderson regains a contract after being contracted as a CWI Emerging player last year.

Savory in particular had been among those who continuously performed and developed over the last few seasons, in both 50 Overs and 4-Day Regional matches. The wicket-keeper was one of the Harpy Eagles’ prolific run-getters in the last 4-Day season, with an unbeaten century

and half-century under his belt, helping his team to yet another Regional championship title.

GHE seasoned core of young veterans, like Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Ronsford Beaton, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Tevin Imlach and others form a young, yet experienced side.

List of 15 Contracted players for 2023-2024 season.

Veersammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Tevin Imlach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Kevlon Anderson, Antony Adams, Shamar Joseph, Rampertab Ramnauth, Mavendra Dindyal and Junior Sinclair.

A long-awaited report into discrimination in cricket will be published on Tuesday.

The findings of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) had initially been due for publication last autumn before being postponed until early this year.

The ICEC confirmed on Friday that the report would finally be posted on its website on June 27, the day before the start of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.

It is also the same day as a sanctions hearing for Yorkshire related to the club’s handling of allegations of racism and bullying made by former player Azeem Rafiq.

ICEC chair Cindy Butts has previously promised the report would “put up a mirror” to the sport and confront the race, gender and class barriers which exist within it.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson says he expects the report to be “challenging”.

The ICEC was announced in March 2021 by the ECB to evaluate the state of cricket. The commission opened an online survey in the winter of 2021 which Butts said “captured the lived experience of 4,125 people”.

She said last October that commissioners had met with over 70 individuals and organisations and collected over 550 documents from cricketing bodies and experts.

“We are absolutely certain we would not have developed our knowledge and understanding of what can be done to improve equity across the game without the tremendous contribution from the public, current and former players and cricketing organisations,” Butts said.

“As a commission we have been humbled by the level of courage demonstrated by so many who want to help the game to be equitable, diverse and inclusive.”(Sportsmax)

The participants of the training take a photo-op

— Savory, Nandu, Joseph, Ramnauth, Dindyal and Sinclair earn first time contracts

Junior Sinlcair Kevlon Anderson

Former Yokshire player Azeem Rafiq

Soca Warriors and Sugar Boyz feature in Gold Cup group stage showdown today

MIAMI, Florida, (CMC)

– Trinidad & Tobago Soca

Warriors and St Kitts & Nevis Sugar Boyz kick off their campaign in the Concacaf Gold Cup today in the United States, where they meet in an all-Caribbean Football Union affair.

The Sugar Boyz, the CFU’s No. 12 ranked side, will be looking to add another chapter to their historic run to the group stage of the tournament with an upset win over the Soca Warriors, the CFU’s No. 3 ranked side, in the match at the DRV PNK Stadium in city of Fort Lauderdale in the state of Florida.

CFU No. 1 Haiti will be seeking to give guest team Qatar a chilly reception when they face off at the NRG Stadium in Houston in the state of Texas, where eighttime champions Mexico meet Honduras in the night cap of a double header.

This Gold Cup has already been a dream come true for St Kitts and Nevis after they qualified for the preliminary stage as a League C group winner from the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League, but the group stage of this tournament is familiar territory for T&T in what is their 12th appearance.

The Boyz have defied the odds to get to this stage, and they will again depend on their all-round team effort to

get past opponents that have beaten them 12 out of 13 times in the past.

Their captain and goalkeeper Julani Archibald has been a tower of strength between the uprights, and the dynamic duo of Tiquanny Williams and Tyquan Terrell have been wreaking havoc and will keep the T&T defence busy.

There is no shortage of experience on the Warriors side, beginning with Colum-

bus Crew winger Kevin Molino and former Inter Miami defender Joevin Jones.

Molino has played in 10 Gold Cup matches across three different editions and has four career goals, and Jones also has 10 Gold Cup appearances under his belt in three different editions and was the top scorer for T&T in the Nations League with three goals.

The Haitians have met

the Qataris only once, a 1-0 victory for the Caribbean squad in an international friendly 13 years ago at the Khalifa International Stadium in Rayyan, Qatar.

Haiti came close to winning the tournament four years ago, when eventual champions Mexico needed extra time to beat them in the semi-finals, which speaks to their pedrigree, and no less than 11 players from that squad return for this edition.

Duckens Nazon leads them with seven goals in Gold Cup play, and he is one of the many options up front for the Haitians, alongside Carnejy Antoine, who was their leading scorer with five items in the Nations League.

Qatar are back for their second appearance in the Gold Cup after making their debut two years ago when they were one win away from the final before falling to

eventual champions, United States.

For the fifth time in the Gold Cup, Mexico and Honduras are group foes, and they also meet for the second time in this competition in Houston, where they played in the 2011 semi-finals.

The Mexicans will field almost the same squad they did for the Nations League final, only substituting Roberto Alvarado for the injured Alexis Vega.

Honduras has championship aspirations, and they are hoping to re-create the run to the final in the inaugural edition of the tournament 32 years ago.

Mexico lead the all-time series with four wins, twice tying, and once losing to Honduras in one of the most frequently played matches in the history of the Gold Cup.

Royal Ascot:80-1 Khaadem wins Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes as Frankie Dettori says farewell

Khaadem, an 80-1 outsider, claimed a shock victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ridden by Jamie Spencer, Khaadem became the biggest-priced winner in the race's history.

It pipped Sacred (9-1) to the line, with 11-4 favourite Highfield Princess finishing third.

Frankie Dettori, on the final day of his last appearance at Royal Ascot, had five races but could not add to his career tally of 81 wins at the event.

The 52-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, said: "It's been some journey. Thirty-five years. I have enjoyed every minute of it.

"I didn't really have time to reflect on it all today because I was so busy. I was a little bit sad but I've a really good run at it.

"When I walked into the weighing room today, I felt

like I was 16 again. This place has been lucky for me.

"Maybe it was a good thing I didn't win my last race as I might not have handled the razzmatazz."

Despite not being able to bow out with a victory on Saturday, Dettori recorded four triumphs across the week, notably in Thursday's Gold Cup.

The Italian rode Courage Mon Ami (15-2) to glory to claim his ninth Gold Cup, and also claimed the Queen's Vase on Wednesday and two more wins on Friday.

He is the second most successful jockey in Royal Ascot history behind Lester Piggott, who notched up 116 wins.

Khaadem pulls off huge upset

In the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, Khaadem, trained by Charlie Hills, started well before powering through the field.

Highfield Princess was among the leaders throughout, but Spencer maintained patience and, within the final

furlong, Khaadem strode past the leaders to claim victory.

The win was the second big-priced triumph of the week for Spencer, 43, who rode Witch Hunter to victory on Thursday at 50-1.

"It's difficult for me to put into words what Jim and Fitri [Hay, owners of Khaadem] have been like as friends

to me for a long time," the jockey said.

"Even my children are watching now, and in years before, when I was flying at this meeting, they were too young to understand. Now it's nice when you get texts saying, 'Well done'."

Hills said he had "always believed in" the seven-yearold horse. "He does have his quirks but most sprinters do. It's just amazing that we've got to where we have now at his age," the trainer said.

"I just really wanted to run him over six [furlongs] here. Last year he won the Group Two over five [in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood] and I was really keen to take the blinkers off him and train him like a proper horse.

"I thought Jamie was the perfect jockey. With this horse, anything can happen."(BBC Sport)

Members of the Senior Men’s National team St. Kitts and Nevis Sugar Boyz training on one of the training pitches at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Friday

Dettori ended his Royal Ascot career on 81 wins

Khaadem was priced at 80-1 prior to the start of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on Saturday

‘I failed my preliminary exams twice’

...Test Umpire Nigel Duguid takes questions at GCUSA classes

By Sean Devers

THE third session of the Georgetown Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association’s (GCUSA) training classes were held on Friday in the Umpires room at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and commenced with a review of Wednesday’s classes by GCUSA’s president, Ryan Banwarie.

But the highlight of the classes was an interactive session with Test umpire, Nigel Duguid.

The 53-year-old Duguid has stood in his one Test Match, so far.

He joins Badge Menzies, Cecil Kippins, Compton Vyphuis, David Narine, Clyde Duncan and Eddie Nicholls as Guyanese who umpired in Test matches.

“I played as a left-arm spinner for GCC in the mid 80s and early 90s before playing Dominoes. Umpire (Compton) Vyfhuis encouraged me to get into umpiring and I decided to write the exams” informed Duguid.

Vyfhuis died January 23, 2009 at the age of 76 after standing in six Tests and the very first ODI in the West Indies when the host beat Pakistan at Albion in Berbice.

“The first two times I wrote my preliminary exams

I failed but I did not allow that to deter me and in my third year I passed. So, if you don’t make it the first time, learn from it and try again,” said Duguid, who has ascended to the highest level.

The aspiring Umpires are required to attend 15 days of classes before a mock exam, to be be held on August 2, 2023, before the preliminary exam is held.

Asked if he ever made mistakes, Duguid replied in the affirmative but warned that never try to make up for mistakes by giving the batter ‘out’ when you realise the ‘not out’ verdict you previously give was wrong… since that means that you

will be making two wrong decisions.

“All Umpires make mistakes but the very good ones make less. I use technology because it’s available and will ensure the correct decision is made if the Umpire is unsure,” said Duguid, who became the 497th umpire in the world to officiate in Test cricket and the 53rd West Indian.

Duguid, who discussed Laws 9, 10 & 11, told the gathering that umpires must possess professionalism, integrity and honesty, but first and foremost a love for the game and the profession.

“At club level you won’t earn much but as you prog-

ress to the Regional and International level you will be able to live a comfortable life,” disclosed Duguid, who has officiated in three ICC Under-19 World Cups.

Duguid told the females that with the increased amount of Women’s’ cricket being organised means there will be a need for more female umpires.

“The mistake that sticks in my mind at the international level was made in my first Test in Barbados when I gave Jermaine Blackwood not out and England did not review the decision. Blackwood went on to get a hundred.

The replay showed the ball would have hit the wicket, so Blackwood has to thank the umpire and the England team for that hundred,” revealed Duguid, who encouraged players and the cricket media to attend the classes to learn the Laws of cricket.

Only one player (Ranole Bourne) was present for the last session which runs for two hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The next class is set for tomorrow from 17.00hrs and T&T’s International Umpire, Peter Nero, will provide a lecture on Laws 12 to 15.

Henry returns from injury, Munisar and Sawh get maiden call-ups in Windies Women’s squad

GROS ISLET, St Lucia –

All-rounder Chinelle Henry is fit again and was named in the West Indies Women’s 16-member provisional squad for the first two Oneday Internationals of their home series against Ireland’s Women on June 26 and 28 in St Lucia.

According to a Cricket West Indies news release, Henry, 27, has fully recovered from the injury that kept her out of the West Indies Women’s Super50 Cup and Twenty20 Blaze tournaments that took place last month in St Kitts.

West Indies Under-19 Women’s captain and off-spinner, Ashmini Munisar, and her teammate, wicketkeeper-batsman Shunelle Sawh, were named in the senior squad for

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed called up by England for second Ashes Test

the first time.

Lead women’s selector Ann Browne-John said both players have shown their potential with the Under 19s and have earned their place.

“A number of the younger

players will be transitioning from the shorter (Twenty20) format to the 50-over format,” she said. “They definitely have the potential, and it is important that the policy of identifying young players and

developing the talent pool is continued,” she added.

Browne-John said the selectors are also trying to encourage the batsmen to use the opportunity to step up their performances.

“The ODI series against Ireland gives a good opportunity for batters to focus and to stay longer at the crease and build an innings,” she said.

“The squad shows a great balance of batting coupled with a variety of bowling styles, which is something that has been lacking in the recent past.

“Victory will provide valuable points as the team attempts to move up in the rankings and qualify for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.”

Hayley Matthews will continue to lead the side with

Leicestershire leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has been added to the England men's squad for the second Ashes Test.

Ahmed, 18, marked his Test debut with seven wickets against Pakistan in Karachi last winter.

He has been called up as cover for spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali, who struggled with a finger injury during the dramatic first Test, which Australia won by two wickets.

The second Test at Lord's starts on Wednesday, 28 June.

Ahmed will join the rest of the squad this weekend in London. The group is now up to 17 players, with none dropping out after the first Test at Edgbaston. His selection comes amid doubts over the fitness of Moeen, who came out of Test retirement after Jack Leach was ruled out for the series with a back injury. Moeen suffered a blister on a finger at Edgbaston that saw him bowl significantly less during the second innings than England would have wanted.

Ahmed was the youngest English male cricketer to make his Test debut when he faced Pakistan in December, at the age of 18 years and 126 days.

During Pakistan's second innings Ahmed took a five-wicket haul, becoming the youngest male Test debutant to do so.

England squad for the second Test against Australia: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood. (BBC Sport)

wicketkeeper-batsman Shemaine Campbelle being her deputy.

A final squad of 13 will be named before each of the matches, which are the team’s only home fixture for the year.

The three ODIs on June 26, 28, and July 1 at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground are the team’s third fixture in the ICC Women’s Championship, where they are pushing to earn points to achieve a top five position to qualify directly to the Women’s CWC 2025.

West Indies and Ireland are the two bottom teams after playing six matches each so far, with the Caribbean

side having won once and the visitors yet to open their account.

The three T20Is will all be played on July 4, 6, and 8 at the same venue. Squad:

Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Qiana Joseph, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Shunelle Sawh, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams.

Nigel Duguid (left) talks with Stephon Josiah & GCUSA’s President, Ryan Banwarie

Rehan Ahmed has played one Test, one ODI and two T20 matches for England

Chinelle Henry missed the recent Super50 Cup and T20 Blaze (CWI Media)

England's Tammy Beaumont hits record 208 but Australia build lead in one-off Test

AUSTRALIA took control on day three of the one-off Ashes Test with a lead of 92, despite Tammy Beaumont's record-breaking 208 for England.

The hosts were bowled out for 463 in their first innings at Trent Bridge, trailing Australia by just 10, but openers Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield steered the visitors to 82-0 at the close.

Beaumont's innings, the first double-century in England women's cricket, put England into a decent position but some loose bowling at the start of the innings eased all pressure on Australia.

She beat an 88-year-old record set by Betty Snowball, who scored 189 against New Zealand at Christchurch in 1935, in making England women's highest score.

England started the day 255 runs behind Australia's first-innings 473 and dominated the morning session as Beaumont and all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt added a third-wicket partnership of 137.

Sciver-Brunt overturned an lbw decision from the first ball of the day and went on to score 78, before Test debutant Danni Wyatt struck an aggressive 44 from 49 balls to edge England closer to parity.

But Beaumont eventually ran out of batting partners as England lost their last four wickets for 15 runs, with spinner Ash Gardner finishing with 4-99 and Tahlia McGrath taking 3-24.

England then produced a sloppy spell of bowling with the

new ball, the seamers going at 5.15 runs an over as Litchfield and Mooney finished unbeaten on 41 and 33 respectively.

Beaumont's brilliance defies Australia

Beaumont's journey in an England shirt has not always been smooth, with the batter struggling to nail down a place in the side and batting as low as number eight until 2016.

More recently, she has found herself out of England's T20 set-up, but in front of an appreciative crowd at Trent Bridge she provided a Test batting masterclass and a reminder of her value to England at the top of the order.

Beaumont's intent had the usually unflappable Australia a little rattled.

Edges burst through the slip cordon, rare fumbles crept in from the fielders and loose wide balls were accepted gratefully by Beaumont to thrash through the covers.

It was an innings of remarkable concentration and endurance as well as brutal strokeplay, her 200 coming from 317 balls - the second-fastest of all time after Australia legend Karen Rolton's 306-ball effort in 2001.

She was given a reprieve on 152, overturning an lbw as the review showed the ball to be marginally pitching outside the line of leg stump, but it was an otherwise chanceless innings against the best bowling attack in the world.

Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt's aggression took the pressure off Beaumont, allowing her to bat in her own style against their counter-attack.

Australia may be in the ascendancy, but Beaumont has etched her name into cricket history with a performance that will live long in the memory of those lucky enough to witness it.

England compete but Australia's class prevails

NYSCL Independence Cup set to bowl off Friday

Despite Beaumont's heroics, England were served a harsh reminder of the class of their opposition as Australia's openers cashed in on a flat pitch. With just 10 runs separating the sides after one innings, the game was almost perfectly balanced, and a couple of early wickets - or at least a conservative run-rate - could have seen England going into day four with the opportunity to set up victory.

England have committed to playing their attacking brand of cricket so far, but with the new ball the seamers gifted Mooney and Test debutant Litchfield plenty of width to capitalise on and it felt like the game had slipped from their grasp.

Against such formidable opposition England cannot afford to keep gifting so many scoring opportunities.

Once again Heather Knight was forced to turn to her trump card Sophie Ecclestone early, after her 46-over spell in Australia's first innings, to offer any element of control.

Australia's bowlers struggled during the day, but faced with England's tail they pounced - whereas their own lower order added a remarkable 158 from their final four wickets.

And Australia's batting prowess was exemplified by all-rounder Annabel Sutherland scoring a flawless century from number eight on day two, so England's task - which was at one point on a relatively flat trajectory - is now firmly uphill. (BBC Sport)

Countdown begins for GMR&SC Circuit Racing Championship

THE countdown has begun to the second round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) Circuit Racing Championship.

Dubbed the South Dakota Grand Prix, the circuit racing championship round two is set for July 9th.

During a competitors’ briefing on Friday evening at the Club’s Thomas Lands Office, participants were briefed on the procedure for race day.

Clerk of the Course and GMR&SC executive member, John Chin, said there are expected to be nine different classes on display come race day.

Those classes range from Rookies, Street Tuners, Sport

..Start time set, competitors briefed

to form a grid, which will of course will be determined by how many competitors register prior to race day."

Meanwhile, the club has taken the decision to move the first race time from 11:00 to 10:00 to allow for this change.

“Time trials [Qualifying] will be done on Saturday from 13:00 and we will release that schedule along with the race programme shortly,” Chin continued.

By Frederick Halley

THE 18th edition of the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Independence Cup is set to bowl off Friday at venues in Brooklyn and Queens and, based on reports emanating out of the “Big Apple,” the stage is set for three days of intriguing and exciting softball.

Unlike previous years, when the Open category was touted as the “crowd catcher,” in tournaments staged in New York, Guyana, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and to a lesser extent Toronto, the Over-50s seemed to have changed that notion.

Unbeaten in finals since entering the Over-50 Division, Regal Legends are aiming to extend that unbeaten streak after completing what was described as “mission accomplished,” when defeating home team Orlando in March, ensuring they were crowned champions in all tournaments at home and abroad. Skipper Mahendra “Anil” Hardyal, while exuding an air of confidence, is once again warning against complacency, something which was touched on repeatedly prior to the start of the Orlando tournament.

According to Hardyal, although preparations haven’t been that ideal, due to the inclement weather, “we are ready to compete against any team. We know that Regal Legends are being targeted but we are prepared for the challenge ahead.”

Among the other teams expected to pose threats to Regal Legends dominancy are the home side NYSCL Legends, Toronto Blizzards and Orlando. While Regal Legends made light work of NYSCL in their preliminary round fixture in Orlando, they were made to fight on the two previous occasion the two teams clashed in finals in New York and Guyana.

Set a target of 155 in last year’s Independence Cup, Regal fell behind the required run rate and then lost wickets in a heap but still pulled off the heist with five wickets and three balls to spare thanks to composed batting from Mohendra Arjune and Ramesh Narine and the cool temperament from Throy Kippins. In another thrilling final versus the same opponents, played at the Guyana National Stadium, as part of the 2022 Prime Minister’s Cup, Regal Legends seemed dead and buried at 104 for 8 in the 16th over, chasing 147 for victory. They were however rescued by a stunning 45-run partnership between Rudolph Baker and Hardyal, rallying to a thrilling victory with four balls to spare.

Toronto Blizzards, who have been dominant on the local scene and are currently unbeaten in the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-50 tournament, are quietly confident they are capable of winning the championship, which they did previously in 2018.

Their batting hinges around former Guyana players Sunil Dhaniram, who blasted a boundary studded 193, and Skipper Shiv Seeram, who slammed 121 last weekend in Toronto. Lal “Dingo” Singh leads the bowling attack.

Meanwhile, Regal Masters Over-40s, who won their last two finals in Fort Lauderdale and Guyana in 2022 but did not participate in Orlando in March, are also primed and ready to get back in winners’ row.

The star-studded combination is being led by the versatile Mahendra “Bobby” Parasnauth with the experienced Chien Gittens as his deputy and includes the likes of Patrick Rooplall, Tyrone Sanassie and Samuel Kingston, who registered a blistering century last year in Fort Lauderdale.

Several other teams, including the homesters NYSCL, will however have a say in halting Regal Masters aim for another successful campaign.

The draw for the tournament, featuring the Open All Stars and Masters Over-40 and Legends Over-50 categories, will take place at Johnny’s Restaurant & Bar, Rockaway Boulevard, Queens, where all the participating teams will receive their packages containing the competition rules and other correspondence.

NYSCL president Eric Ferrier wished all participating teams good luck and “for coming into this exciting, flamboyant and colourful city, and welcome in advance to the 18th edition of this friendly and competitive tournament.”

Tuners, Starlet Cup, Group Two, Three, and Four as well as superbike A and B classes.

“Should subscription permit, we would like to run the 1500cc (Street Tuner) and the 1600cc (Sport) tuner as separate races instead of

what we did in round one. That can allow for a little bit more racing action for the 1500 guys who normally go up in groups.”

"We will also make provisions for the 125CC motorcycles should they decide

Competitors had a chance to voice their concerns ahead of the race meet.

Registration for the event has begun and closes on July 6.

Competitors can register in person or via the club's website.

Regal squads: Over-40 – Bobby Parasnauth (captain), Chien Gittens (vice-captain), Patrick Rooplall, Lennox Mark, Lakeram Roopnarine, Balram Roopnarine, Roy Persaud, Tyrone Sanassie, Shaun Deonandan, Krishnanand Balgobin, Mohamed Arjune, Khemchand Dindial, Sheldon Perch, Samuel Kingston and Anand Persaud.

Over-50 – Mahendra Hardyal (captain), Mohendra Arjune (vice-captain), Unis Yusuf, Ramesh Deonarine, Wayne Jones, Eric Thomas, Rudolph Baker, David Harper, Eion Abel, Parsram Persaud, John Sumair, Throy Kippins, Laurie Singh, Lyndon Lyght and Surijdeo Ramdeen. Manager Ian John is making his maiden overseas trip.

England’s Tammy hit a record-breaking 208

A section of the competitors meeting on Friday evening (GMR&SC photo)

…Regal Legends, Masters in quest for supremacy

Mahendra “Anil” Hardyal Bobby Parasnauth Sunil Dhaniram

Slack Windies fall to energised hosts Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe, (CMC)

– Sloppy fielding and careless batting, along with their opponents sense of purpose epitomised by all-rounder Sikandar Raza combined to send West Indies crashing to a 35-run defeat against hosts Zimbabwe in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier on Saturday.

Chasing 269 to win, the Caribbean side lost their way after a 64-run, third wicket stand between Kyle Mayers, whose 56 was the top score, and his captain Shai Hope, and they were bowled out in 44.4 overs in the Group A match.

Roston Chase made 44, Nicholas Pooran made a typically dashing 34, Hope got 30, and opener Brandon King added 20,

but Tendai Chatara was the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers with three for 52 from 9.4 overs, and fellow pacers Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani, as well as Raza, bowling his offspin, took two wickets apiece to undermine the batting of the visitors.

“To be honest, too much is on my mind right now; I don’t know if I can explain it,” Hope said during the post-play TV interview. “Certaingly, a lot of hurt and disappointment, but the tournament is not over as yet.

“The aim is to play our best cricket, regardless of who we are playing against. We did not do that. We let ourselves down in the field and that pretty much cost us.”

He added: “We still need to

2023 Digicel Schools Football Championship

take the positives out of it. If we were asked to chase 260-odd before the game, we definitely would have taken it as a batting group. “We let ourselves down in a lot of areas, and we still have a lot of work to do, and the tournament is not over as yet.”

West Indies ended the first Power Play on 55 for two after opener Brandon King and Johnson Charles were defeated by unpredictable bounce from the pitch and were caught at slip and square leg respectively.

Hope came to the crease and with Mayers got the visitors moving in the right direction with typically sound batting, the pair scoring at close to six runs

Continued on page 27

West Ruimvedlt open tournament with strong statement

co-director, Troy Mendonca, Digicel’s Chief Commercial Officer, Simone Pierre, who did the kickoff, and other officials.

50th).

Braces from Malachi Wray (6th and 45th) and Shamar Griffith (47th and 48th), along with single strikes from Trevor Brent (28th) and Joshua Chance (49th) meant the scoreline read 12-0.

while East had Onesi Dunn (30th) and Tyrese Jacobs (42nd).

WEST Ruimveldt opened the 2023 edition of the Digicel Football Tournament with a statement, thrashing IAE 12-0 as the marquee schools tournament opened in Georgetown yesterday.

Following the March past

at the Ministry of Education ground, the action was shared between that venue and the neighboring NIS ground as the Georgetown leg commenced. Present at the March past were organisers of the Petra organisation through

It was at the former venue that West Ruimveldt dominated game six of the day thanks to hat-tricks each from Donovan Welcome (14th, 19th and 40th) and Wayne Solomon (30th, 46th, and

In the opening game, Sahle Butts (1st, 30th, 34th), along with Ryan Greene (25th), and Jamal Leomile (60th) helped Tucville beat Queenstown.

Game two saw the first penalty shootout of the tournament with East Ruimveldt and South Ruimveldt going down to the wire; the former winning by five goals to four.

The regulation time scorers for the winners were Shaquille Dalrimple (56th) and Jaheim Harte (58th)

Game three had Marian Academy brushing off Ascension 7-0 thanks to goals from Bradley Walton 17th, 24th, 39th), Justin Ten-Pow (7th), Nicholas Jones (11th), Kishon Shamsudeen (34th) and Jeffrey Yargil (43rd).

Game four, the first at NIS ground and one of the two East Coast fixtures carded for the day saw Bladen Hall beat Plaisance with goals from Xavier Ignatius (10th and 50th) and Joel Lallman (12th), Amanackie Jack (55th) and Trevin Drakes (59th).

LBI were also winners at the NIS ground in the second

Continued on page 27

Player of the match Sikandar Raza is pumped up after dismissing Shai Hope (ICC/Getty Images)

Action on day one of the Digicel Schools Football tournament (Delano Williams Photos)

Chief Commercial Officer of DIGICEL, Simone Pierre, kicks off the 2023 Digicel schools football tournament