Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 25-07-2023

More beautification projects underway in Berbice

UNDER the Office of the First Lady ’ s National Beautification Project , recreational spaces are being developed at Lonsdale and Brothers, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

This was according to a post on President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s official Facebook page, on Monday

The National Beautification Project not only aims to enhance the scenic qualities of Guyana’s roadways and urban and rural spaces, but it also strives to foster a more environmentally friendly society

Just recently, due to acts of vandalism at several recreational facilities , which were revamped under the beautification project, First Lady Arya Ali , addressed the issue of property destruction, where in a statement , she highlighted the legal consequences awaiting the perpetrators who destroy recreational facilities

“I take this time to re-

mind the perpetrators that the laws of Guyana provide for persons to be charged with damaging public or private property under the Administration of Justice Bill Similarly , penalties exist for litterbugs including businesses,” she said in her statement

The First Lady also highlighted that there are constant reports of patrons

‘Cut Rose’ project rakes in $4M in first half of 2023

–– 12,067 roses produced so far

PRESIDENT , Dr Irfaan

Ali ’ s ‘ Cut Rose ’ project , which was conceptualised to create employment for single parents , continues to make significant progress and has earned over $4 million for the first half of 2023

The project’s production continues to increase with 12,067 roses harvested as of June 2023, with a weekly projection of approximately 500 roses

This was according to Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha during a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Minister Mustapha said that the project contributes to the income of single parents by enhancing their livelihoods

The implementation of the projects saw more flowers being grown locally , reducing the demand for imports “ When we started it ,

many people thought that this will not be successful Today , we have a lot of young, single mothers who are getting help from this project in terms of purchasing roses at a very low cost and selling it back,” Minister Mustapha related The project is being carried out by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

“I think when you look

improperly disposing of their waste at these facilities , despite the fact that there are adequate garbage receptacles

Vendors who ply their trade in or around these spaces are also guilty of improperly disposing of their waste , which pose health and environmental risks

This news agency had previously spoken to some

citizens who also expressed their displeasure at the acts of vandalism at several recreational facilities

Lanterns, tables, chairs, and other decorative structures which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and have either been donated by citizens or purchased with taxpayers’ money, have been maliciously damaged at several parks across the

country

Addressing the issue of property destruction , the First Lady recently issued a statement highlighting the legal consequences awaiting the perpetrators “ I take this time to remind the perpetrators that the laws of Guyana provide for persons to be charged with damaging public or private property under the Administration of Justice Bill . Similarly, penalties exist for litterbugs including businesses ,” she said in her statement.

Nurse, husband on $1.5M bail each for alleged theft of millions worth of raw gold

at it now, we are expanding

For example, in government services, bouquets and other gifts come from the cut rose project We are supplying and giving free roses to a number of areas This project will help a lot of single parents in the future We have scope for expansion,” the Agriculture Minister said

The project is expected to reduce rose imports by 30 per cent by the end of 2023. (DPI)

A 22-year-old nurse and her 25-year-old husband were, on Monday, released on $1.5 million bail each for allegedly stealing $76.9 million worth of raw gold from the nurse’s uncle

Anjali Singh-Mangal and Rohan Mangal, both of Delph Street, Campbellville, Georgetown , appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with simple larceny.

The couple was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that between September 1, 2022 and July 19, 2023 at Sandy

Babb Street, Kitty, they stole 208 ounces of raw gold valued at $76,960,000, property of Deepak Persaud

The Guyana Chronicle was made to understand that the raw gold was left at the home of Anjali’s mother, who is Persaud’s sister

The couple was granted bail in the sum of $1.5 million each. The case was adjourned until August 14, 2023, for a report on the status of the investigation The husband and wife duo were represented by attorney-at-law Bernard DaSilva.

An artist’s impression of recreational spaces that are being developed at Lonsdale and Brothers, Region Six, under the Office of the First Lady’s National Beautification Project (Office of the President photos)

Guyana better positioned to be net exporter of poultry meat

intervention by gov’t to secure cheaper loans for poultry farmers could help slash CARICOM’s US$149M poultry-import bill

CARICOM heads must now address non-tariff barriers, regional private sector body says

FOLLOWING the implementation of a series of measures to assist poultry farmers and boost local production , Guyana is now better positioned to potentially be a net exporter of poultry meat to the Caribbean market, according to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Private Sector Organization (CPSO).

In a press statement on Monday , the regional private sector body said that Guyana will also be able to address the region’s US $ 149.0 million poultry-import bill

Over the weekend, the Guyanese Head of State Dr Irfaan Ali, who holds responsibility for Agriculture and Agricultural Development in CARICOM, announced that reduced interest rates on bank loans will become available to poultry farmers across the country.

In addition to this, the government will be looking to set aside more land for the cultivation of rice and other grains to produce its own feed for livestock

According to the CPSO, poultry meat is among the 19 agri-food opportunities highlighted in the region’s 25 by 25 goals for extra-regional import displacement, and the measures outlined by Dr Ali will properly address the critical issues of the “cost of finance” and the “cost of feed,” which have been two major concerns of farmers and processors in Guyana and across the Community.

“ The announcement by President Ali of interest-rate reductions to poultry farmers and expansion in crop production as an adjunct to poultry feed , positions Guyana and other CARICOM producers to

potentially become “net exporters” of poultry meat to CARICOM markets within the construct of a harmonized CARICOM single market for poultry meat,” the CPSO reiterated.

Meanwhile , the CPSO said that CARICOM heads now have to examine the most critical policy shift , which is the establishment of a genuine single, regional market for poultry meat , which will provide equal market access by all poultry meat producers in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) markets

According to the CPSO, the removal of the remaining non-tariff barriers must now be addressed “Relative comparisons of the market access for poultry meat imports into CARICOM Member States demonstrate wide variations in the Common External Tariff ( CET ) and market access According to the CPSO ’ s work , such variations in the import market access among Member

States, highlight the scope for the possible introduction of a CARICOM-wide Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) regime, underpinned by a harmonized CET , the removal of remaining Non - Tariff Barriers (NTBs), adherence to the CARICOM Poultry Standard and a CARICOM Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary (SPS) regime,” CPSO said

The respective government heads, the CPSO suggested , could introduce a TRQ regime for poultry meat, intra-regional imports could substantially displace imports from extra-regional sources

The CPSO added that the initiatives announced for Guyana can also spur closer collaboration and “ scaling up ” among the regional poultry industry , particularly , Barbados , Belize , Guyana , Jamaica , and Trinidad and Tobago, among others

In February , CARICOM’s Ministerial Taskforce (MTF) on Food Production and Food Security

announced that it has collectively achieved 57 per cent of its “ Vision 25 by 2025” target

It was reported that products such as cocoa , dairy , meat , root crops , fruits , and poultry have already reached 96.13% , 84.36%, 72.28%, 70.91%, 70.77% , and 70.19% , respectively, for the targeted production volume set for the year 2025

Moreover , countries such as Guyana , Belize Barbados , Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines , Suriname, Dominica, and Jamaica have made significant advances in the production of commodities such as ginger , turmeric , corn, soya bean, root crops, fruits, cocoa, poultry, meat, fish, table eggs, and dairy

In October, CARICOM heads are expected to meet once again for the second Agri-Investment forum and ‘ expo ’ to be held here in Georgetown Guyana’s Agriculture

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha , who chairs the special ministerial task force for food production and food security in CARICOM , previously shared that this year ’ s forum will see officials engaging investors and

key stakeholders within the agricultural sector to secure funding for a new project proposal titled , “Building Food Security through Innovation, Resilience, Sustainability and Empowerment , curated by Dr Ali

Heatwave in US Southwest region to expand east

A heatwave baking the US Southwest for weeks is set to expand into central and eastern regions.

Beginning in the Midwest, the hot weather will extend east as far as the southern tip of Florida by Wednesday, say meteorologists.

Temperature records were surpassed in several major cities over the weekend, and some 59 million Americans began Monday under extreme heat advisories.

July is now expected to be the Earth's hottest month since records began.

On Sunday, the city of Phoenix, Arizona,

extended its streak of temperatures above 43C (110F) into a 24th day, well past the previous record of 18 days set in 1974.

It is on course to be the first major US city to average over 100F (38C) for an entire month, according to NOAA statistics and a Washington Post analysis.

At least 18 heat-related deaths have occurred in surrounding Maricopa County since April, with 69 more deaths under investigation.

Meanwhile, in the border town of El Paso, Texas, residents experienced a 38th consecutive day at temperatures

above 38C (100F).

The National Park Service has also reported at least four deaths among visitors to its parks in the southwest region.

Two female hikers were found dead in the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada on Sunday, amid temperatures as high as 45C (114F). Po-

lice have not yet released their identities or a possible cause of death.

Extreme heat is the number one weather-related killer in the US.

Ocean temperatures in South Florida and the Keys could reach unprecedented highs as the heatwave extends east in the coming days.

According to BBC

Weather, the heatwave has been caused by a "heat dome", a large area of high pressure.

Within this dome, air is heated from the surface and trapped in place by sinking hot air from above.

"Through this week, the heat dome will expand, bringing hotter weather and above average temperatures to pretty much the whole of continental US," said meteorologist Simon King of BBC Weather.

The National Weather

Service's Climate Prediction Center says this latest heatwave will last another two weeks.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows the US has this year set or tied more than 13,000 high temperature records, as well as 16,000 low temperature records.

Experts say heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change.

Washington state’s Democratic governor Jay Inslee told ABC News Sunday the heatwaves reported around the world are evidence that “the Earth is screaming at us”.

“The fuse has been burning for decades, and now the climate change bomb has gone off,” he said.

“The scientists are telling us that this is the new age. This is the age of consequences.”(BBC News)

A Nasa official predicted July may be the Earth's hottest month on record in centuries

Foulis residents to benefit from enhanced infrastructure

VICE - PRESIDENT , Dr . Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday visited the community of Foulis, East Coast Demerara, where he met with residents and inspected a number of community roads in the village

The meeting was fulfilment of a promise made in the lead-up to the Local Government Elections ( LGEs ) 2023, when residents sought his intervention to address the deplorable state of roads in the community

The VP was accompanied by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs , Anil Nandlall and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar

Since the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic ’ s (PPP/C) returned to government in 2020 , new infrastructural projects have transformed the country’s landscape, especially along the coastland, where new road linkages are not only complementing the development of new housing schemes ,

but also opening new lands and making travel easier for commuters

In 2022 alone, the PPP/C Government built and maintained more than 180 bridges, and some 1,651 kilometres of roads along the coast and across the hinterland

The government also built and maintained more than 180 bridges, and some 1,651 kilometres of roads along the coast and across the hinterland

The 2023 budget saw massive increases in funds for key infrastructural upgrades , such as roads and bridges, housing, and power generation

Comparatively, in 2019, total investment on roads and bridges through the budget amounted to $11.8 billion, while in 2023, some $131.5 billion was allocated to this area. In the area of housing development, less than $1 billion was spent in 2019 , but in the 2023 budget, that area received $53.1 billion

Vice-President Jagdeo

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday visited the community of Foulis, East Coast Demerara, where he met with residents and inspected a number of community roads in the village (Office of the Vice-President photos)

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs ; Anil Nandlall, S.C. and Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar

New Era of Hope

OVER the course of their tenure from 2015 to 2020, the APNU+AFC government faced numerous challenges that greatly hindered Guyana’s progress

A pervasive sense of distrust , weak leadership on anti - corruption measures , and a failure to foster social cohesion were among the critical issues that marred their rule However, the subsequent rise of the PPP/C government in 2020 brought a refreshing change, as they actively addressed these deficiencies and initiated a new era of hope and progress for all Guyanese

The APNU + AFC government ’ s five years in power were marked by a lack of transparency and trust , as they seemed disconnected from the people they were meant to serve

The opaque decision-making processes and disregard for public opinion eroded confidence in the government ’ s ability to represent the interests of the citizens This distrust manifested itself in various forms, hindering investments and economic growth, as potential investors were hesitant to commit to a government whose credibility was in question

Furthermore, the APNU+AFC’s weak stance on anti-corruption measures further

exacerbated the already existing issues of graft and embezzlement Rampant corruption not only siphoned off funds meant for development, but also undermined the public’s faith in the government’s ability to tackle issues head-on

This failure to act decisively against corruption eroded the credibility of the government and hindered their ability to bring about real change

The lack of efforts to foster social cohesion was another major letdown during the APNU+AFC’s tenure Instead of uniting Guyanese of diverse backgrounds and promoting inclusivity, their policies seemed to perpetuate divisions and fuel animosities between different communities This divisive approach hindered the nation’s progress, as it failed to harness the collective strengths and talents of all citizens

However, with the rise of the PPP/C government in 2020 , a fresh breeze of hope and progress swept across Guyana The new administration recognised the deep - rooted issues left behind by their predecessors and pledged to address them head-on

One of the most significant achievements of the PPP/C government has been

their commitment to transparency and restoring public trust From day one, they embarked on a path of open governance, engaging citizens in decision - making processes, and ensuring accountability at every level

By promoting transparency, they have set a precedent for responsible governance and inspired confidence among both domestic and international investors, leading to increased economic opportunities for Guyana

The PPP/C government has also taken robust measures to combat corruption effectively They strengthened anti-corruption institutions, ensured the autonomy of the judiciary, and promoted a culture of integrity within the public service Their commitment to upholding the rule of law and their unwavering stance against corruption has resulted in improved governance and a more business-friendly environment, attracting investments that are vital for sustainable development

Moreover, the PPP/C government has worked tirelessly to foster social cohesion among Guyanese communities

Through the “One Guyana” initiative, by promoting inclusivity and respecting

the cultural diversity that defines Guyana, they have sought to unite the nation under the banner of progress

Social cohesion initiatives have encouraged dialogue and understanding between different groups, nurturing a harmonious environment that encourages collective growth and development.

Since 2020, the PPP/C government has made substantial progress in areas such as infrastructure development, education, and healthcare

Their comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of all Guyanese, regardless of their socioeconomic background, has resonated with the population, instilling a sense of hope for a better future

Though the journey from distrust to progress is ongoing, the PPP/C government’s commitment to inclusive growth and social development gives hope for a brighter future for every Guyanese

Their dedication to transparency, strong leadership against corruption, and efforts to foster social cohesion have paved the way for a more prosperous and united Guyana

As they continue to build on their successes, it is evident that every citizen will benefit from Guyana’s progress.

Guyanese need to be alert of being bamboozled

Dear Editor, Media reports on Guyana leave people perplexed, daily.

Television, newspapers, social media all convey varying versions of the country’s actualities.

Most notably, some individuals seek ways on how to bamboozle the average Guyanese, reinventing themselves as experts on oil production and oil revenue, national politics, governmental affairs, poverty, and even on Irfaan and Jagdeo.

These experts - perhaps more appropriately, pseudo-experts - and dedicated propagandists’ relentless attacks on the PPP/C administration leave one wondering how Guyana’s economy and social structural foundation continue to exhibit signs of development and progress never witnessed before.

Let’s focus on two examples since it will take a band of analysts to cover the majority of dedicated anti-government naysayers.

First, in his article of July 18, 2023, in the Kaieteur News entitled, “The state of Guyana today…,” Lincoln Lewis used several phrases and statements to deride the government and country such as: People on “starvation wages,” “government deceit,” “years of mis-

management,” “atrocity committed … by man against man,” “manage nation’s resources in a discriminatory manner as a political weapon,” “living in a land of shrinking freedoms and dignity,” lack of “equitable access to opportunities,” “ among some other choice negative phrases.”

Guyanese who suffered from the late 1960’s to 1992 should sincerely thank Lewis for reminding them what life was like under Burnham-Hoyte-Greene’s regimes.

Every negative description he used in his letter is an apt depiction and stark reminder of the social, economic, and political repressive conditions under Burnham-Hoyte-Greene.

Could it be that Lewis repressed consciousness of the sufferings inflicted on the nation by Burnham-Hoyte-Greene are now manifesting themselves in his confused timewarped hallucinations between then and now? I leave it up to the reader to mull over.

Second, Professor Kenrick Hunte, a man with reputable credentials. Within the last few months, Hunte scripted a few articles through which he sought to promote himself as a notable analyst on oil production, market cost, shares, revenue, etc…

Anyone familiar with statistical analysis quickly realises that the good professor, and former ambassador, presents flawed infor-

mation. Here’s a look into two of his articles.

In an article June 21, 2023, he stated that he based his analysis “for the period 2020 to 2023.” Yet, he presented figures in his Table One for years 2020, 2021, and 2023. Data for 2022 are clearly missing. Why? Is it to mislead, or misrepresent the facts?

In Table Three, of the same article, he presented price per barrel of oil for 2020, 2021, and 2022, without disclosing if the cost data covered all 12 months of each year. Most people know that the price of oil fluctuates regularly. What statistical analysis did Professor Hunte perform to normalise the data set?

In his article on July 13, 2023, Professor Hunte claimed his data covered March 11, 2020, to June 16, 2023. The astute reader quickly realises 2020 data was for a period of 9.6 months, and 2023 data presumably covered 5.6 months. Should one then assume that data for 2021 and 2022 are for 12 months?

If, as professor Hunte claimed in his article on June 13, that he used data for year 2020 (supposedly 12 months data), why then did he use only 9.6 months data a month later in his July 13, article? And, by the way, year 2023 is only midway. Where is the data equivalence (monthly/yearly) for the four years on which he claimed he based his analysis?

In both cases, Hunte utilised secondary data drawn from different sources without testing the veracity of the various data sets/ sources.

His sources of data-information are extremely limited, mostly kaieteurnewsonline, sometimes Investopedia, onepetro.org, and/ or the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Overall, Hunte’s analyses are questionable. If he meant them to be comparative analyses, then his use of incomplete data suggests attempts at misrepresentation. If he intended them to be trend analyses, then what statistical methods did he utilize, with error rate specified?

In both of Professor Hunte’s analyses, incomplete and flawed data, do not produce valid results, and trend analyses necessitates long term data and specialized statistical analyses to be valid.

Furthermore, it is erroneous to make predictions using descriptive statistics, and Hunte did predict the depletion of oil in 8.81 years, using such analysis. As Nobel Laurates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo state, “Economists seem to have a

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Unfair characterisation of PPP and Dr. Jagdeo

Dear Editor, POLITICAL commentary in a newspaper with a national reach should have a strong evidentiary basis in support of sweeping claims.

While one can appreciate that in the world of politics anything is fair , the limits of the possible are quite stretched when there are unsupported accusations of corruption

In this context, I think Ubraj Narine owes the PPP a formal apology for the direct attack put forth in his letter in the media on July 24, 2023 Mr Narine is also encouraged to review his mediocre performance as Mayor of Georgetown

Ubraj Narine should also apologise to the people of Georgetown for the rude way he demitted office Protocol and tradition are important things in good governance Arrogance and contempt from an outgoing public official are performances of immaturity and should not be tolerated

Narine should also reflect on the inferior performance and legacy of his own tenure, and those of his comrades

The Auditor General Report found that “[f]rom 2006 to 2011, no financial statements were submitted; during the period of 2012 to 2015 financial statements were submitted but the information required could not have allowed auditors

to express an opinion; and no financial statements were submitted 2016 to 2020 In 2021, a special audit into M&CC revealed similar discrepancies” (Guyana Chronicle, 5/26/2021).

There are specific instances of warped governance by M & CC under Narine evidenced in a $21 million solid waste contract that was not properly reviewed

According to a reliable report, “Mayor Narine openly declared that the Council ignored his request for an additional review of the figure and went ahead and endorsed the $21 million contract” (Ibid). Narine’s explanation for not examining the contract as is required by standard operating procedures is that “…he and Chairman of the Finance Committee , Oscar Clarke had to leave the country…” (April 1, 2023).

What Ubraj Narine fails to state is that without PPP support, Georgetown would have been in a much deeper state of disrepair and drudgery Between 2016 and 2019 City Hall received $1 billion from the Central Government under the Georgetown Restoration Programme

“Under the GRP, City Hall had received incremental disbursements of $300 million in 2015, $200 million in 2016, $200 million in 2018, and $300 million in 2019 The funds were disbursed by the now disbanded Ministry

of Communities under the former APNU+AFC administration, which was in office from 2015 – 2020” (Ibid).

Ubraj Narine ’ s direct attacks on the Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo makes him part of an industry dedicated to ruining the domestic and international prestige of Dr Jagdeo

Dr Jagdeo was a brilliant president who was the essential force behind the Low Carbon Development Strategy The revised 2030 version under President , Dr Irfaan Ali has given innovative ideas, life, and momentum to what was already a path breaking set of development innovations

Let us recall that under the PPP/C, Guyana signed the first ever bilateral avoided deforestation deal (with Norway) to the tune of US$250 million That was under Dr Jagdeo

And only recently, Guyana signed the

first deal within the ART-TREES framework for US$750 million

Some 15 per cent of those funds are being distributed to over 240 Indigenous/ Amerindian communities in Guyana Despite the externally driven cost-push inflation, the shortage of skilled labor, and the backward bending mentality of those like Ubraj Narine, this country is on the rise

Morality and justice can surely be found in uplifting the lives of the Guyanese people regardless of race, class, religion, or region

This is happening at an accelerated pace now Narine is welcomed to join this effort By so doing, he may be able to extract some measure of badly needed professional and moral recompense.

Sincerely,

Dr Randolph Persaud

Guyanese need to be alert ...

compulsion to make predictions that are almost doomed to fail.” Is such the case of Professor Hunte?

The above provides just a glimpse into the multiple flaws in Hunte’s analyses, including his use of IMF data. As the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the IMF stated in a 2016 report:

…there have been instances where data inadequacies have led to a wrong assessment of a country’s situation … Instances of data that subsequently prove to be wrong or incomplete are probably quite frequent … Most of those involved the fiscal deficit and its finances and the level and liquidity of the central bank’s international revenues.

The quote from the IOE leaves one with concerns about Professor Hunte’s intent on (a) not testing the validity of the data he continues to use, and (b) in utilizing incomplete data from questionable sources to draw conclusions and make predictions. As the saying on flawed data goes “Garbage in Garbage out (GIGO).”

Professor Hunte should reassess his presentation of flawed analyses which he then utilises to claim that the government needs to renegotiate the oil contract, an oil contract which he does not disclose

From page 6

the APNU+AFC government negotiated in 2016. Why then he insists that the PPP/C renegotiate a fixed contract that resulted from the incompetence of the APNU-AFC government is in itself perplexing.

Despite the daily barrage of attacks, the PPP/C government continues to steer Guyana on a steady course of development and progress.

But, it seems, that the discovery, and black colour of oil, have darkened the hearts and minds of some, and gave rise to the formation of a new occupational category called professional critics and bamboozlers.

This professional group of critics and bamboozlers invent and reinvent ways to discredit or destabilize the government.

Daily they fabricate analyses, hurl insults at the government, or at Irfaan and Jagdeo, and any other with whom they disagree, all the while ignoring and downplaying the fact that People Prefer Progress Completely (PPPC).

Regards, Narayan Persaud, PhD Professor Emeritus

Why are Guyanese accepting these light sentences?

A FEW weeks back, the daughter of a murdered businessman contacted me and journalist Leonard Gildarie to discuss over the show, the Gildarie-Freddie Kissoon Show, her mental torment over the extremely light jail term the killer of her father received.

A month ago, she came to Guyana to speak to us after she read about the light sentence her father’s killer got, but her Berbice stay got complicated and she could not make our schedule at the studio

Her dad owned a hotel on the beach at Number 63 village in Berbice A young man attacked the elderly security rank, Harry Prashad and killed him, then entered the hotel and savagely tortured and brutally killed the owner, Vivekanand Brijbassi Gomeswhar Perez pleaded guilty to manslaughter Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall assigned four years in jail

A High Court year is actually nine months People with grammes of cocaine, with small amounts of cannabis, go to jail for longer jail terms.

Now, this man did not get into a fight and killed someone He invaded private property, murdered the guard and the hotel owner in a most bestial manner in which body parts were found at the scene After speaking to that daughter, I don’t think this young lady will ever be the same again She cannot cope mentally with the verdict

People get four years of imprisonment for possession of unlicensed firearms An Amerindian man got two years in the Magistrate’s Court for possession of a spent

shell If you think that is an exaggeration, then think again It happened Magistrate Faith McGusty decided on a jail term Please see my column of Thursday, February 15, 2018, titled: “Jail for spent shell: We are heading for another bloody mayhem .” The famous Mashramani designer Bernard Ramsey wrote last week that nothing prepares you for Guyana

Ramsay had politics in mind, but I have always argued in my columns that nothing prepares you for Guyana in the general sense, not only in politics Our politicians are more rational people than Guyanese who operate in different spheres in the life of this country

Now, on Thursday, July 20, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced Raymond O’Selmo to 10 years which I remind you ; a year is nine months What did “O’selmo do? A young woman, Nadina Kalamadeen, a mother of five, was walking home when O’Selmo accosted her She rebuffed him He took out a knife from his pocket and stabbed her to death

O’Selmo got 10 years for the crime (don’t forget a year is nine months) after pleading guilty Is that all? No! Wait until you read who O’Selmo is.

He got 15 years for raping a 12-yearold girl Then he got another jail term for discharging a loaded firearm A sentence must be based on previous convictions This is commonsensical A recidivist receives a longer prison sentence based on past criminalities

I ask by what logic a man can get 10 years for stabbing a mother of five children to death when he has a predatory past of raping a child and trying to kill another person? A mother is going home to her children, is molested on the roadway, she rebuffs her attacker, he kills her, and he gets seven and a half years

I will resign from this column , and the Freddie Kissoon Show, if anyone can show me the evidence from another country where an accused rapes a 12-year-old, serves 15 years then kills a woman and gets seven and a half years in jail

There is hardly a rape conviction where jail time is below 20 years It was reported in the media last week that such a conviction resulted in life imprisonment Who is Raymond O’Selmo? Is this man a special person in Guyana?

He gets 15 years for child rape which should have been 50 instead of 15 He gets a light sentence for discharging a loaded firearm, then he stabs a woman to death and gets seven and a half years Why is O’ Selmo such a lucky person?

If Mr Bernard Ramsey is reading this, he better move off of politics and put another context to the exclamation, “Nothing prepares you for Guyana.”

So, I ask the question: “Is a sentence shaped by previous conviction?” Should you not get a longer jail term if you are convicted of car-stealing and you have four previous incarcerations for the same offence? I end with a belief I will never change

They say never say never. But I will never change my belief in the death penalty

Oil and gas sector expects 732 new hires for 2023

ployed in the petroleum sector , with 1,500 comprising new hires

WITH thousands of Guyanese being employed in order to support the growing oil and gas sector, recent statistics show that hun -

dreds more will be hired in 2023, all thanks to the continued efforts of the government to ensure that locals are able to benefit

from opportunities in this area.

According to the Local Content Secretariat, for 2022, 2,700 Guyanese were em -

Notably , among several other accomplishments by the Secretariat in 2022, around US$700 million was spent in the areas of procurement, employment and capacity development , and moreover, 1,800 training programmes were offered

On the business side , around 850 Guyanese companies and businesses registered with the secretariat

With the technical area within the oil and gas sector booming with job prospects, the area is expected to have 323 new hires for 2023. This was according to the calculation obtained using data from the Annual Plan Submissions of 25 major Tier-1 Sub-contractors operating in Guyana

Following closely is the skilled arena , which comprises of positions such as the plant and machine operators, stevedores, warehouse coordinators and much more The skilled field is expected to see 294 new hires for 2023

As for the areas of administrative, health, business/

finance and information technology (IT), there will be 69, 27, 16 and three new hires for 2023, respectively

Earlier this year , President Dr Irfaan Ali, had said that his government will stay “on the ball” in order to ensure that opportunities for Guyanese within the oil and gas sector are being utilised to the fullest “ We are going to push to ensure that every service we can provide as a people will be provided I am now working on a plan to go much larger, one in which every single cent we can mobilise as a country to invest in a business opportunity in the oil and gas sector to create an infrastructure that all those investors can invest and one in which even ordinary Guyanese will be able to invest so that they too can be part of the growth and development, not of this sector, but of all the opportunities around the sector. I will launch that very soon,” the Head of State said

It was under Dr Ali ’ s government that Guyana ’ s Local Content Act was passed into law, which paved

the way for Guyanese to gain equal opportunities and access in the oil and gas sector, and to ensure maximum benefits for Guyanese businesses

The Act outlines 40 sub-sectors which would legally require oil companies to procure goods and services, as well as, employ specific percentages of Guyanese in their day-to-day operations It also sets out what defines a local company

And the government has maintained that the legislation would not be set in stone , noting that amendments can be made to guarantee increased employment and business opportunities for the people of Guyana, as citizens train more and provide more services to the oil and gas sector

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C., has also continuously reiterated the government’s commitment to updating the country’s local content laws to reflect the growing oil and gas sector.

‘Global Tours’ looks to redefine travel experiences for business, leisure travellers from Guyana

IN support of President , Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision to make Guyana a hub for business, tourism and other economic activities in the Caribbean, Latin America and South America , and with the plethora of new airlines now offering services here , Global Tours and Travel – GlobalTT has opened a local office to provide a full line of travel/logistics services for both corporate / business and personal/leisure travel

Chief Operating Officer ( COO ) of GlobalTT , Tyler Orderson informed the Guyana Chronicle that after carefully studying Guyana’s developmental trajectory , and all of the business and economic activities currently underway in Guyana as part of its transformational agenda, the company recognised the need for an effective journey and destination-management company

It was established to better facilitate and coordinate the international travel needs of both local companies and their employees, and foreign entities and their personnel operating from Guyana, along with agencies operating within the governmental sector

The COO said that with Guyana cementing its place as the fastest-growing economy in the world, and with the new era of prosperity being enjoyed within the country, GlobalTT was launched in January of this year to fulfil the business-travel needs of both the private and public sectors of Guyana, and it is also geared to satisfy the leisure-travel needs of private individuals, couples, families and groups

For business travel , Orderson advised that

GlobalTT provide end - toend travel services that include airport transfers, airline bookings and ticketing, meet-and-greet services and executive - lounge access at airports , ground transportation and auto rentals , and hotel accommodations at destinations around the globe

Orderson confirmed that they work with a slew of well - known international brands in the airline industry in the hotel sector, with popular and well-renowned chains , and with the top auto rental companies in the world

GlobalTT, he said, definitely has the skills and connections necessary to create itineraries needed and to satisfy the travel requirements of the various corporate clients , including those from the oil - and - gas industry , import/export and manufacturing sectors , and public / governmental agencies

Pedro Pablo Martínez

Azcuy - Director - Caribbean

Leisure Travel of The Global Tours and Travel Company, revealed to this newspaper that in addition to providing end - to - end travel services to the public-sector entities,

governmental institutions and agencies, and local and foreign private-sector companies , GlobalTT is also making its specialised services available to private persons to allow for much more seamless, convenient and cost-effective personal and leisure travel

Azcuy said that GlobalTT has a special team that he heads, dedicated to creating leisure itineraries that reflect their clients’ personal interests , allowing persons to enjoy the joys of travel

Their services include courtesy shuttles to and from the airport, airline reservations and ticket sales, executive-lounge access at airports, ground transportation and auto rentals, accommodations including lodges , hotels and resorts, tours and other tourism-related activities, cruises and event travel such as destination weddings and honeymoon holidays , along with carnival and festival packages

Azcuy opined that Cuba was the underrated jewel of the Caribbean, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world such as Playa Paraiso, to the historic Bay

of Pigs and the picturesque Old Havana.

He said that GlobalTT intends to give Guyanese the opportunity to experience the true beauty and vibes of that amazing island with its Cuba vacation packages for all tastes, from enjoying all-inclusive resorts in Cayo Coco , Cayo Guillermo or Cayo Santa Maria, to spending time in Varadero which has world-class golf courses and restaurants around the best beaches

Holguín, he said, is ideal for nature enthusiasts and eco - adventurers , whilst visits will be arranged to top cities in Cuba, such as Havana, for Cuban history and architecture.

SPECIAL SUMMER CAMPAIGN

For this July / August / September period , Global Tours and Travel has embarked on a special summer campaign titled , “Good Times, Good Vibes, Vacations ” on its Caribbean destinations which include Barbados , Cuba , Jamaica, and Saint Lucia, and in which it has on

offer “bundled packages” that include air fares, hotel accommodation and activities at specially discounted prices.

In rolling out its “ ultra-value-holidays” packages for this year to the Caribbean and many other iconic destinations that include Miami, New York City, and Houston in the US , and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the Middle East , GlobalTT is encouraging Guyanese to take advantage of these great offers by “swapping the computer screen for the sunscreen” for the summer holidays Professor Aubrey Mendonca, Executive Director at GlobalTT, in his interview with The Guyana Chronicle, said that their Journey and Destination Management Company intends to maintain and provide international-level standards both in its corporate travel-management services and for its leisure - travel services , including for the expat market

in Guyana to which it also has a focus GlobalTT has intentionally built a multilingual workforce to effectively communicate with its international partners, product and service suppliers and customers Mendonca said, and has a special team dedicated to engaging with the oil-and-gas sector, along with foreign missions and international organisations resident in and operating out of Guyana

The executive director said that in keeping with the latest technology trends , the company is investing in technology in order to provide clients with secure online access to its services and products, and to seamlessly explore its many exciting destinations through its web page which can be found at www.globalttgy.com, and through its Facebook and other social media pages

2,000 charges made for traffic offences, 4,000 tickets issued

far for 2023; ‘Respect the Road’ campaign launched

ACTING Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, during the launch of a road safety campaign on Monday , said that for 2023, the Guyana Police Force ( GPF ) has issued in excess of 4,000 traffic tickets and have had more than 2,000 persons charged with traffic offences before the court.

Despite those successes, the Police Commissioner ( ag ) said there will be greater efforts to improve road safety, as there was a 30 per cent increase in road

accidents when compared to the corresponding period last year

Additionally , fatalities increased by 33 per cent when compared to 2022 Guyana has also been ranked at number 63 by the World Health Organization (WHO) in road traffic accidents deaths

In order to aid in reducing road fatalities, a Road Safety Awareness Campaign, “Respect the Road,” was launched by the GPF in collaboration with the Government of Guyana and

to promote road safety

Impressions

Hicken said that through their collaboration with Impressions, they will be able to have road safety signs, which can be understood by nursery school children right up to adulthood

Reanna Nickram, a representative of Impressions, said that together, the entities have crafted a comprehensive and impactful campaign , for which the core elements comprise a multi-pronged approach designed to engage citizens of all ages and backgrounds

“Our branded road safety materials we believe that a powerful visual presence can reinforce the message of road safety through billboards , signs , bumper stickers and other media we will saturate our streets with reminders to be vigilant, cautious and respectful on the roads,” she said

Nickram related that the hope is for these visuals to serve as constant reminders of the dangers of using the roadways , urging drivers , pedestrians and passengers to prioritise safety at all times

Another part of it is their social media campaign, a potent tool for spreading awareness and influencing positive behavior change.

“Our social media campaign will engage citizens through informative content, eye-catching graphics and inspiring stories , encouraging everyone to be active participants in promoting road safety by sharing experiences , tips and best practices, we can build a united front in the fight against road accidents ,”

Nickram related

There is also a road safety school campaign , which aims to instill road safety habits from an early age

“ We have designed a designated mascot , Cautious Chris, who will interact with students making learning about road safety fun and memorable This mascot will visit schools across the country teaching our young generation to be responsible users and ambassadors of safety ,” she said

Another aspect of the campaign is a road safety event, bringing communities together and conducting outreaches and workshops to foster a deeper understanding of road safety principles

“ Our workshops will be tailored for various demographics , drivers , pedestrians , cyclists and passengers. By promoting dialogue and interaction , we can create a sense of ownership and collective responsibility for road safety,” she said Nickram said that through this collaborative effort, they are seeking to ignite a profound and long lasting change in road safety behaviour.

Additionally, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, said that the statistics clearly identify which cohort is mostly involved in fatal road accidents.

YOUNG MEN MOST INVOLVED

“Young men between 18 and 42 The days are the weekends from Thurs-

day night to Monday morning,” he said

Minister Benn said that currently for 2023 , there have been 70 deaths due to road accidents and it is unlikely that there will be below 100 deaths for the 2023 , as opposed to the previous two years, where there were under 100 fatalities

The Home Affairs Minister said that aggressive enforcement action is needed

Gerry Gouveia, National Security Advisor, urged the Commissioner of Police , Hicken, to ensure that they review driving schools and ensure that there is accreditation with approved and accredited driving instructors, who teach according to the Guyana Police Force’s curriculum

“If driving schools are telling students they will get them driver’s licenses it’s a serious thing We are putting dangerous people on the roads,” he related Speaking on behalf of the Private Sector Commission, Deputy Chairman Rafeek Khan, related that as Guyana builds out its tourism sector, they want to promote Guyana at every level when a tourist comes to Guyana

“You want them to leave with an impression of courtesy on our roads We ’ re building out eco-tourism in all levels,” Khan said

He said that there needs to be a change in the mindset of Guyanese, knowing that persons are going to be touring Guyana , and need assurance that they are going to be safe on the roads of Guyana

From left : Deputy Commissioner , Administration ( ag .) Calvin Brutus ; National Security Advisor , Captain Gerry Gouveia ; Minister of Home Affairs , Robeson Benn ; Commissioner of Police ( ag ), Clifton Hicken ; Deputy Commissioner , Operations ( ag .), Ravindradat Budhram ; Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum , and Traffic Officer Dennis Stephens ( Troy Van Rossum photo )

Guyana backs India’s launch of Global Biofuels Alliance

WITH New Delhi’s goal of expanding deployment of biofuels as a low-carbon pathway, 19 countries, including Guyana, have joined India as initiating members of the “Global Biofuels Alliance” (GBA).

According to a press release from the High Commission of India in Guyana, the “fuels for future” was one of the elements that took top priority at the Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting

On the sideline of the Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting, a stand-alone event on consultations and recommendations for the GBA was organised on July, 22 2023 in Goa

The release read : “ This event re -

Uganda, and international organisations such as the Biofuture Platform, International Civil Aviation Organisation, International Energy Agency, International Energy Forum, International Renewable Energy Agency, World Bank, World Biogas Association, and World Economic Forum

Moreover, Guyana was represented by its CdA a i based at the High Commission of Guyana in New Delhi

After consultations of the alliance held on the sidelines of the G20 14th energy transition ministerial meeting in Goa on Saturday, an Indian Oil Ministry statement , which quoted India’s Petroleum Minister Hardeep

showcasing the production processes of 2G Ethanol , Sustainable Aviation Fuel, CBG & Biodiesel Green Energy gave a glimpse into a sustainable future powered by Biofuels Brazil, Italy, Kenya, and the UAE were among the nations that emphasised the significance of exchanging best practises in terms of implementation, technology, and policy

The meeting commended the Indian presidency’s intention to advance towards the formation of the global alliance, because it was acknowledged that solving difficulties including feedstock management, standards development, and technical innovations

The alliance’s significance was emphasised by Mr Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira, Brazil’s Minister of State for Mines and Energy, who said that a variety of energy sources will be needed to meet the world’s needs for sustainable energy

Additionally , international organisations such as the IEA and IEF emphasised the vast potential of biofuels for other nations and the significance of standardisation, waste recycling, and investments to maximise the potential

The ICAO related that more than 600 billion liters of SAF are required to replace all fossil fuels, translating into more than US$3 trillion in investment

ceived strong support from countries within and beyond the G20 Nineteen countries expressed their interest in being the initiating members of the alliance with 15 countries and nine International Organizations attending the event ,” adding : “ This signifies a momentous step forward in advancing the development and deployment of biofuels through a multi - stakeholder global alliance.”

This GBA event witnessed participation from the energy ministers of 13 countries and heads of nine international organisations

Among the many countries that welcomed the initiative were: India, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Guyana, Italy, Kenya, Mauritius, Paraguay, Seychelles, the United States, UAE and

Singh Puri, noted: “True success of Global Biofuels Alliance will depend on moving this project from a project of the government to the project of the people.”

Minister Puri stated: “The vision of PM Shri Narendra Modi is giving renewed thrust to collaborative efforts & knowledge sharing in the world’s green energy journey.”

An exhibition at G20 in Goa on July 22, traced the evolution of biofuels from ancient times to the present era An “interactive Wall” detailed processes through which Biofuels are manufactured, along with a display of various feedstocks

Furthermore , it was said that the exhibition also featured an Ethanol Cookstove, while technological models

needed a collaborative approach.

The attraction of biofuels as a low-carbon option was also emphasised by ministers from a number of other nations, who also emphasised how vital it is to support clean energy efforts The leaders emphasised that despite the enormous potential of biofuels as a significant low-carbon development pathway, a number of obstacles still prevent their widespread use.

The press release also stated: “Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy, US , remarked that the United States recognizes the establishment of a Global Biofuels Alliance as a critical step in their biofuels journey and that they look forward to moving from “test tube to test drive and field to fuels.”

by 2050

Only two per cent of garbage is now recycled, according to the World Biogas Association, and this lack of recycling to edible products increases methane emissions International Organisations have shown their eagerness to help the coalition as well

“The forum recognized that overcoming challenges such as feedstock management, standards development, and technological innovations requires a collaborative approach and welcomed the initiative by Indian Presidency to create the global alliance,” the release further stated

This consultative process resulted in the energy ministers recommending establishment of GBA to the G20 Leaders.

Some scenes from the Global Biofuels Alliance

Work on Leguan Stelling nearing completion

GUYANESE and tourists alike will soon have an enhanced experience when travelling to Leguan, Region Three.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, on Monday, told the Department of Public Information ( DPI ) that the remaining works will be completed shortly and that “the light is at the end of the tunnel

now.”

Minister Edghill said the last set of concrete casting of the northern section of the stelling was completed on Saturday

“The entire deck for the stelling is now cast ,” he related

The modern link - span bridge that will facilitate the embarking and disembarking of passengers and ve-

hicles between the stelling and ferry is already manufactured This is slated to be transported to the site and assembled shortly

The remaining works also include the installation of lights and guard rails around the stelling “ This will be wrapped up no later than one month I wanted this stelling to be completed since 2020 but

we are wrapping up ,” the minister added Meanwhile, the project undertaken by S Maraj Contracting Service consists of two components geared at achieving the complete rehabilitation of the timber structure, and the expansion of the stelling platform , through the construction of the reinforced concrete stelling that will be adjacent

and adjoining to the existing structure

All of the rehabilitation works on the existing timber carriageway have been completed and that work involves the replacement of deteriorated foundation piles

The new reinforced concrete section of the stelling will be constructed on 228 pre-stressed concrete piles

and will measure some 160 by 130 ft

These components will significantly contribute to the seamless connection between the island of Leguan and Georgetown, as it will improve accessibility, streamline transportation, and create opportunities for economic growth and development in the region.

Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance NDC welcomes developmental works along ECD corridor

By Trina Williams

OWING to the massive developments along the East Coast Demerara ( ECD ) corridor, residents within the area have welcomed the transformation because it provides myriad opportunities.

Chairman of the Mon Repos / La Reconnaissance Neighbourhood Democratic Council ( NDC ), Jagroop , during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday , said that he and his colleagues are working hand - in - hand with central government to continue the progress

With community enhancement being a priority for him, Jagroop said that his NDC and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development are working together in order to have the new Mon Repos Market up and running by October, so

Owing to the massive developments along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridor, residents within the area have welcomed the transformation because it provides myriad opportunities

vendors could ply their trade in a more favourable environment

Noting that the Mon Repos Market is one of the biggest in the country, he said that the new structure will be able to house more vendors and provide more amenities to accommodate both the vendors and consumers

Apart from a food court, the market will have security along with washroom facilities, among other things

Considering it a step in the right direction for community development, Jagroop said that the upgrades will transform the once deplorable and congested market into a state-of-the-art facility

The Chairman also remarked that the government is revamping a number of markets in Guyana , which is staying in tune with the commitment to ensure that all Guyanese, regardless of race, religion or gender, have the best quality of life

Additionally , regarding the recent “Dream Realised”

housing drive which saw the allocation of 800 house lots in Good Hope, Lusignan and Two Friends, Jagroop lauded the government for its rapid housing developments along the ECD, especially within the confines of his NDC

He said: “I am very happy and proud that this PPP / C government is investing heavily in housing,” underscoring that this motivates him, as Chairman, to continue his hard work in order to better the communities

Highlighting the tremendous investments being pumped into the housing sector, the Chairman emphasised that even though the PPP/C administration is delivering on its manifesto promise of providing affordable housing, with 10,000 house lots being distributed annually, they are still working to make home ownership a reality for all Guyanese.

The East Coast Demerara

has witnessed an unprecedented surge in infrastructural development, with significant investments totalling $21 billion over the past three years

Maintaining that central government cannot smoothly carry out their developmental works without support from the local level , the NDC Chairman, said that he runs on accountability, transparency and unity, and one way of doing this, is to have an open-door policy

He commented that an example of doing so would be the upcoming Saturday meeting with the residents, to discuss the road expansion works that the government is doing along the ECD corridor

Jagroop said that he is aiming for co - operation , since an uninformed community will not be co-operative if they are left out of important discussions

Business now made easier with passage of Single Window Bill

GUYANESE looking to conduct business in the housing and construction industries will now be able to do so hassle-free, following the passage of the Planning and Development Single Window System Bill just before midnight in the National Assembly last Thursday.

During the third reading of the bill , Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal said the amendments that preceded the conclusion of deliberations on the bill take into consideration Guyana’s changing dynamics in terms of elec-

tronic payments

It also gives Guyanese the opportunity to access the relevant information they need from any part of the country

“ We are intending as a country to improve our positioning and the actuality of doing business and the ease of doing business, reducing, therefore, a number of frustrations,”

Croal said

The updated legislation, he further said, will see business transactions being done in a timely and transparent manner

“This intervention will

become a necessary tool for doing business and , therefore , the gaps will be reduced, and the deficiencies that we have in the system that have been frustrating applicants [will be addressed].

“ This platform , Mr Speaker , will bring predictability, will eliminate bureaucracy , bring total transparency to the table and most importantly it will bring to bear what the deficiencies you see in the system , whereby applications are done,” the Housing and Water Minister said, adding: “One can

describe this bill as a landmark one for our country.”

The bill aims to ease the burdensome planning process by introducing a single-window electronic processing system

This system will enhance business efficiency, particularly in the housing and construction industries , which have been experiencing significant growth

The legislation now includes provisions for the establishment of a Planning Oversight Committee, which will centralise functions related to land-

use preparation and development It also aims to define the committee’s responsibilities and associated matters.

Several agencies will become part of the single window This includes Central Board of Health , the Ministry of Public Works, River and Defence Board, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Fire Service, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority , National Trust of Guyana, Guyana Office for Investment, Land and registry Deeds registry,

Guyana Water Incorporated , all Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and the local authorities, inclusive of the municipalities among other agencies

The implementation of the single-window system forms part of the government ’s efforts to create a business-friendly environment, and improve the ease of doing business through an electronic portal that allows investors to submit planning and building permits, and check the status of the permits from anywhere in the world.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday July 25, 2023)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD

-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Kolkatta, 1948-49 (Innings & 193 runs)

(2) Bridgetown, 1953 (142 runs)

Today’s Quiz:

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

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

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

RACING TIPS

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Borges scores hat-trick as Brazil beat Panama 4-0

ARY Borges scored the first hat-trick of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup as Brazil cruised to victory over Panama.

The winger netted a double in the first half and set up Bia Zaneratto shortly after the interval with a backheel, before heading home the fourth goal.

It means Brazil maintain their perfect record of winning all nine of their opening games at Women's World Cups.

They are well placed to qualify from Group F, after France were held by Jamaica.

Both of Brazil's goals in the opening 45 minutes came in similar fashion - perfectly clipped crosses from the left by Debinha, met by the head of Ary.

The first header beat Panama keeper Yenith Bailey, while the second was kept out but tucked away by Ary on the rebound.

Ary unselfishly gave up a chance to seal a hattrick, laying off for teammate Zaneratto to finish a superb team move into the roof of the net - but she completed her treble after 70 minutes by heading through Bailey's legs.

Panama - one of eight

first-time contenders in 2023 - were completely outclassed, rarely able to escape their own half.

Bright sparks Brazil impress in Adelaide

Like their male counterparts, Brazil have qualified for every edition of the Women's World Cup. Unlike the men, they have never won the competition.

Other than reaching the 2007 final, their history in the competition has been one of underachievement. In the last two editions, they have exited in the round of 16.

While signs here of a Brazil capable of going further must be taken with a pinch of salt, given the limited opponents, this comfortable and stylish win is a further indicator of a fresher, younger side which will be worth watching in what appears a very open field of competitors.

Hat-trick heroine Ary is one of 11 players in the squad featuring at their first World Cup, and the emotion of doing so told after she broke the Panamanian resistance on 19 minutes, covering her eyes and dropping to the turf in tears.

There is still room for the old guard. Marta, the competition's all-time record goalscorer, replaced

Ary in the second half as the 37-year-old appears at her sixth World Cup.

Far tougher tasks lie ahead for Brazil - starting with France in a Saturday blockbuster - but the new Selecao have made a strong first statement.

Eight debutants, eight defeats

The same optimism and praise cannot be directed the way of Panama, the last of the debutants to make their bow.

Like the other seven, they lost without scoring; but even compared to the others, the central Americans looked very limited - constantly overrun down the flanks, easily dispossessed in the middle and toothless in attack.

They were indebted to goalkeeper Bailey for keeping the score down. She made a fine one-on-one save from Adriana after just 45 seconds and produced a fine one-handed save to keep out a curling Luana effort.

Panama face Jamaica next in a game they must win - and produce a radically improved performance - in order to have a chance of progression.(BBC Sport)

Brazil winger Ary Borges was overcome with emotion after opening the scoring against Panama

Shafique, Masood extend Pakistan's advantage after Sri Lanka fold cheaply

PAKISTAN dominated in all facets and ended day one of the second Test trailing Sri Lanka by just 21 runs. Abdullah Shafique was unbeaten on 74, and alongside him was Babar Azam on 8, as Paki -

stan raced to 145 for 2 off 28.3 overs, before bad light brought an end to play.

As for the hosts, they were architects of their own downfall, capitulating for 166 before tea after batting first on what looked like a pret-

ty good surface. It was not the performance Dimuth Karunaratne envisioned when he elected to bat following a delayed start due to rain.

A combination of poor shot selections and outstanding field -

ing saw just four Sri Lankan batters reach double figures before the innings folded. Of those, only Dhananjaya de Silva passed fifty, top scoring with 57. For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed ended with 4 for 69, while Naseem Shah picked 3 for 41, as they ran roughshod over the Sri Lankan batters. But it was once again Pakistan's fielding that was the highlight.

(Scores: Pakistan 145 for 2 (Shafique 74*, Masood 51, Fernando 2-41) trail Sri Lanka 166 (Dhananjaya 57, Chandimal 34, Abrar 4-69, Naseem 3-41) by 21 runs)

Shan Masood, whose 47-ball 51 would assert Pakistan's dominance later in the day, set the tone at the start of the game itself, effecting a direct hit to run Nishan Madushka out in the third over of the day. He would repeat the trick to run Prabath Jayasuriya out towards the close of the innings

In between, Sadeera Samarawickrama was caught expertly at short leg for the third time in

as many innings, while Dhananjaya was also dismissed courtesy of a sharp catch in the deep.

And when Pakistan weren't producing such brilliance on the field, Sri Lanka's batters were offering up gifts, such as when Angelo Mathews edged through poking outside off, or when Kusal Mendis carved straight to point, as well as Dinesh Chandimal top-edging gently to midwicket. You could include Ramesh Mendis in this as well, but by the time he fell, any prospect of the innings being salvaged was all but gone.

At this point, it was already clear that Sri Lanka had squandered good conditions, but to ram home the point further, Pakistan sprinted along at nearly seven an over for large parts of their innings.

After Imam-ul-Haq was caught out cheaply, looking to fend off a short one, Shafique and Masood proceeded to dismantle the bowling. No area of the ground was safe, but both particularly favoured the

straight boundaries, with three sixes being pummelled down the ground. The pair put together 108 runs at a rate of 5.58 before Masood top-edged one for Kusal at midwicket to take a sharp catch with the ball falling over his shoulder. While Pakistan's rate of scoring reduced considerably following this dismissal, that was just as likely down to the skies darkening and the day winding to a close.

Sri Lanka didn't help themselves either, failing to take up a review on a lbw that was turned down against Shafique, with replays showing that it would have been overturned. Shafique was then saved by DRS just prior to stumps when he was given out lbw on-field, but replays showed the ball bouncing over.

Pakistan have been brave with their approach, and it could be a long day in the field for Sri Lanka if the visitors continue with the same approach.

Abdullah Shafique remained unbeaten on a brisk 74 • (AFP/photo)

...Abrar picked four wickets while Naseem took three to bowl Sri Lanka out for 166 on day one

Cummins admits need for tactical reconsideration after Manchester escape

PAT Cummins has conceded that a tactical reconsideration was on the cards after Australia got out of jail in the rainmarred Old Trafford Test to retain the Ashes urn.

The visitors can no longer lose the series after England's dominant position was scuppered by the inclement weather in Manchester, but the hosts will still carry the momentum they earned in Leeds back to London for the fifth Test at The Oval, where the hosts will look to rubber-stamp their recent dominance by drawing the series.

The Australians, who are still hoping to win their first Test series in England since 2001, have had to put a lid on their celebrations at retaining the Ashes given how far behind England they were in the fourth Test. "I don't think there will be huge celebrations," Cummins told reporters on Sunday (July 23). "Maybe a bit of a pat on the back for retaining the (Ashes). There's been a lot of work gone into putting us into a position where a draw does make us retain the Ashes. But there's a Test match starting in three days so that's going to be our full focus."

The worst of Australia's performance came in the middle session on day two when En-

gland scored at over seven runs to the over. Zak Crawley blasted a 189 at over a run a ball while Jonny Bairstow added 99 off just 81 deliveries. Three other England batters passed 50 as between them, the experienced trio of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh conceded 392 runs.

"That two-hour block in the middle session wasn't our best," said Cummins. "We tried to throw a few different plans at them and maybe on another day they work; a couple of the edges carry through or some of the catches go to hand, but I thought they batted well."

Cummins himself was very far from the kind of performance

that had him occupying the second spot in the ICC rankings for Test bowlers. His 23 overs cost 129 runs -- the most he's conceded in a Test innings -- at nearly six runs to the over. To add to his bowling woes, Cummins dropped a straightforward catch and another half-chance.

Perhaps it was the pressure of captaining in an away Ashes series against a marauding opponent but Cummins himself couldn't put a finger on his offkey performance.

"As a bowler it's frustrating that I didn't bowl very well at all, not up to the standards I try and keep myself to," said Cummins. "I don't think [captaincy was

a factor]... Just execution. I let through more boundaries than I normally do. Probably just one or two bad balls an over.

"I don't know [why] really. Rhythm felt pretty good, I felt like I was pretty clear in my own mind with plans, so I don't know."

Australia's batting didn't fare much better either with only Marnus Labuschagne managing a 50 and a 100 in the two innings even as the rest of the top-order continued to be troubled by Mark Wood's pace. Cummins admitted that improvements were needed across the board and with their tactics heading into the fifth Test, which starts in three days' time.

"You definitely look at what you can try and do differently next time. That will be part of this week for sure," he said. "I think there are some obvious things we could do a little bit differently. Maybe some plans, the way we executed our bowling. As a group, proud that we've retained the Ashes but it's off the back of not our greatest week. We know we've got a fair bit of work to do for next week, a few improvements to make."

(Cricbuzz)

ICC unveils first-ever Umpire education course

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday announced the release of its first-ever education course for aspiring Match Officialsthe ICC Umpire Foundation Certificate.

The entry-level course is designed to introduce learners to the basic fundamentals of umpiring so that they can gain the knowledge and the confidence required to officiate games at club level.

The entry-level course is designed to introduce learners to the basic fundamentals of umpiring so that they can gain the knowledge and the confidence required to officiate games at club level.

This newly released resource is completely free to access and delivered entirely online through an innovative micro-learning approach, which enables courses to be completed at any pace and through short, sharp modules whether at home on a computer or on the move via a mobile device.

As participation continues to grow across global cricket communities, the newest offering furthers the ambition of the ICC Training and Edu-

Banks DIH to provide free Kids Zone at Kares One Guyana T10 Blast

TEAMS are finalising their preparations for the highly anticipated Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast, which is just days away.

The first ball is expected to be bowled at 09:00hrs on Saturday, July 29, across five venues in Georgetown, while the semi-finals and the grand final will be played the next day at the Everest Cricket Club.

The organisers have promised high-quality and competitive cricket from the 32 teams in the knockout 10-overs-per-side tournament, while there will be live streaming for the world to see the product. The grand prize is $1M, while many individual prizes are on offer.

Additionally, spectators can win instant prizes from sponsors by participating in a novelty cricket-related event.

In what turns out to be the perfect family-oriented event, the organizers have promised to set up a specially designated area dubbed the Kidz Zone. The children will enjoy free rides in the child-friendly zone, including a bouncy castle. Moreover, in partnership with sponsor Banks DIH Limited, there will also be free ice cream, soda, snacks, and water.

cation programme, ultimately seeking to improve the playing experience in member nations by improving access to worldclass education resources.

Aspiring coaches and umpires can sign up to study ICC Training and Education courses by registering here.

The ICC Umpire Foundation Certificate follows the successful release of other resources as part of the Training and Education programme. The programme launched in October 2021 with the release of the ICC Coaching Foundation Certificate – the first step on the ICC’s coach education pathway which recently celebrated its 6,000th global graduate.

Other courses that have since experienced strong global uptake have been the ICC Coaching Course Level 1, the ICC Pitch Curator Foundation Certificate, and the criiio Cricket Programme Facilitator Training Course.

Speaking on the launch of the ICC’s first-ever certified umpire education course, General Manager – Development William Glenwright commented, “The release of the ICC Umpire Foundation Certificate

represents a landmark moment in the development of the sport. With better access to education courses than ever before, the ICC continues its commitment to improving the playing experience for participants around the world.

“This course complements the other resources we have launched over the last two years to drive a better standard of coaches, umpires and curators in member nations.”

Further courses are also scheduled to be released later in 2023, including the ICC Coaching Course Level 2.

Key to the future success of the course will be the workforce trained by the ICC to accredit umpires across 108 member nations. Following a week-long workshop delivered in Dubai last month, the first cohort of 18 Umpiring Master Educators undertook theory and practical sessions in preparation for the launch of the new course.

ICC Master Educators represent the top tier in the workforce hierarchy that supports the delivery of education programmes in ICC Member nations. They are responsible for training and accrediting

ICC Tutors – while Tutors themselves deliver courses to accredit prospective coaches, umpires and pitch curators.

Glenwright added, “By training a global workforce of Master Educators, we are able to ensure that every ICC Member has the tools necessary to train a local workforce so that they can deliver the different elements of the ICC Training and Education programme as and when they need to.”

Certified among the first cohort of ICC Umpire Master Educators in Dubai last month, Claire Polosak commented, “I am thrilled to be part of the first group of Master Educators delivering ICC Umpire education courses to passionate communities in my region.

“The ICC Training and Education programme has already enjoyed profound success in growing the number and standard of qualified coaches around the world, and myself and the rest of the group are excited to see the impact that this resource will have on increasing the number of high-quality umpires officiating cricket matches around the world.” (ICC Media)

Co-Director of the tournament, John Ramsingh, said, “Banks DIH have demonstrated their generosity previously, but this is above and beyond. Words are not enough to say thank you. With this excellent idea, parents will have peace of mind with their children in the safe zone, while they [parents] either play or watch the action on the field. It is a win for everyone.”

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is the patron of the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast, which begins with the round of 32 on day one at 09:00hrs, followed by the round of 16 at 13:00hrs, then the quarter-finals at 16:00hrs at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, Queen’s College, YMCA, Transport Sports Club, and GDF Base Camp Ayanganna.

The inaugural tournament is supported by Kares Engineering, GT Beer, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Premier Insurance, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, the Guyana Tourism Authority, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Continental Transport Inc, Assuria, Ansa Motors Guyana, Star Rentals, E-Net, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, USA Cricket Zone, First Change Builders, Impressions, Jacob’s Jewellery, the Beacon Café, RS53 RestoBar and Lounge, Zeus Enterprise, Hits and Jams Entertainment, Montra Restaurant and Lounge, The New Doctor’s Clinic and Trophy Stall.

Australia captain Pat Cummins

England name unchanged squad for Oval Ashes Test

ENGLAND have named an unchanged 14-man squad for the fifth Ashes Test at the Kia Oval, as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of drawing in Manchester with a win to square the series.

Despite being "pretty much perfect throughout", in the words of captain Ben Stokes, England were unable to force victory at Old Trafford as heavy rain over the weekend meant only 30 overs were possible on day four and none at all on day five. The result meant Australia retained the urn with a game to spare.

As in 2019, England go to south London unable to win the series but with the incentive of denying Australia their first win on these shores since 2001. "It is a massive game for us and 2-2 sounds a lot better than 3-1," Stokes said.

England will have to assess the fitness of Chris Woakes, who has had a major impact in his two appearances and is the side's

second-leading wicket-taker with 12, but has reported feeling quad stiffness.

The Headingley Test was Woakes' first in the format

since England toured the Caribbean in March 2022 and he said last week, before the fourth Test started, that he had pulled up "extremely

Bollers added to national

By Sean Devers

BATTING all-rounder, 13-year-old Joshua Bollers was added to the Guyana U-13 team after initially being relegated to the list of stand-bys for a bilateral U-13 series against host Trinidad & Tobago which starts on July 30.

The squad, which has been encamped from Sunday at the dorms at the LBI Chetram Singh indoor facility on the East Coast of Demerara, was selected on Saturday after completion of the U13 Inter-County game on Saturday last

The 13-member squad was to be sent to the media yesterday morning after being ratified by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

However, it came to the attention of this writer that Bollers, a right-handed batter from Malteenoes, was not in the touring party despite him scoring the most runs (165 Ave 55 with

two 50s) in the Demerara Cricket Board’s (DCB) U-13 franchise tournament, which was used to select the Demerara team for the GCB’s inter-county tournament.

Chairman of the GCB

Junior selectors was called for verification that Bollers, the Player of Match in the first inter-county game against Berbice at Bourda, and who did not bowl against Essequibo in the ‘finals’ despite taking three

sore" after bowling 35 overs across the match in Leeds. He added that playing back-to-back Tests "won't be an issue" if selected to play

at The Oval, and that "the adrenaline and the occasion" would get him through. But with a World Cup in India looming later this year, En-

gland may decide not to risk one of their main all-format players.

"There are some tired bodies and we have a short period until the Oval so we will have to see who is fit then," Stokes told the BBC.

Mark Wood's workload is also likely to be monitored and England could face a decision over whether to include James Anderson in their XI. Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, said the selection of Anderson - who has four wickets at 76.75 in the series - had cost England at Old Trafford and his place could come under threat from Ollie Robinson or Josh Tongue.

England squad for the fifth Test: Ben Stokes (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood , Chris Woakes and Mark Wood.(Cricinfo)

team for series in T&T

leg-spinners were picked (Bollers played as batter and was not given the opportunity to bowl in the second game) he was left out.

“This was the best team we picked and I was not the only selector,” said Latchman Yadram. The other selectors are Balram Samaroo (Berbice) and Dinesh Joseph (Essequibo).

This writer posted a Facebook post questioning the non-selection of the talented lad in his final year at this level.

be captained by left-arm spinner Brandon Henry, with his deputy being Richard Ramdeholl and includes batters, USA-based Guyanese Khush Seegobin, MVP of the inter-county tournament Bhomesh Lall, Lomar Seecharran, Joshua Bollers, Justin Dowlin and Makai Dowlin.

The bowling will be led by pacers Raffel McKenzie, Thierry Davis and Makayah Holmes, while leg-spinner Reyaz Latiff and Henry will lead the spin attack.

wickets on the previous day, was not in the 13-man squad.

The Chairman of the GCB selectors, who was present at the DCB matches said that Bollers’ name came up, but because three

The post was seen by a GCB official who promised to deal with the issue and subsequently confirmed that arrangements were made with the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) to allow Bollers to be added to the travelling contingent.

It was also reported that the GCB President contacted the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) President to apologise for the mistake.

The Guyana team will

The Guyana U13 Team: Justin Dowlin, Bhomesh Lall, Richard Ramdeholl (V/C), Khush Seegobin, Lomar Seecharran, Tameshwar Deonandan, Nathaniel Ramsammy, Reyaz Latif, Joshua Bollers, Brandon Henry (Captain), Ethan Silas, Makai Dowlin, Raffel McKenzie, Thierry Davis, Makayah Holmes

Standbys: Nathan Bishop, Darrius Pearson, Ruel Dindyal, Arif Marrimutoo, Usain Fredericks.

...Ben Stokes says "tired bodies" will affect selection with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood likely to be assessed

Chris Woakes has picked up 12 wickets in his two appearances • (Getty Images)

From left: Skipper Brandon Henry, his deputy Richard Ramdeholl, Bhomesh Lall, Joshua Bollers and Khush Seegobin (Photos: GCB)

Hetmyer, Oshane return but Holder, Pooran ‘unavailable’ for India ODIs

Goal-feast in East Bank

Senior Men’s League competition

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Selectors have handed shock recalls to left-hander Shimron Hetmyer and speedster

Oshane Thomas for the three-match One-Day International series starting Thursday in Barbados.

The 26-year-old Hetmyer has not featured for West Indies in nearly a year and has not played a single ODI in two years while Thomas, also 26, returns to international cricket after an 18-month spell on the sidelines and nearly 3-½ years away from ODIs.

IT was goals galore over the weekend when the Senior Men's League of the East Bank FA continued at Timehri Red Ground.

On Saturday, it was St Cuthbert Jaguars who were on the receiving end as they were dubbed 7-1 by Soesdyke Falcons.

Trebles by Timothy Glasgow (16', 19’ and 51') and Tyrone Khan(9', 56' and77') and one from Colin McLean (17') resulted in the lop-sided scoreline. David Schuman netted the consolation for the Jaguars.

On Saturday, as well, there was another no-show by Friendship All Stars in their scheduled fixture against Diamond United.

In yesterday’s matches, Timehri Panthers swamped newcomers Circuit Ville 10-0 and Herstelling Raiders had the better of Dean FC 3-1.

Leading the Panthers’ onslaught with double strikes were Shaw Steele (12' and 61'), Johnston Bailey (36' and 67'), Anthony Denny (32' and 68') and Tyrone Burnette (55' and 90'). Kevin Scott (76') and Tyrel Khan (26') added one apiece.

Raiders’ victory was spearheaded by strikes from Albert Adams in the 9th minute, Johnaton Conyers a penalty in the 51st and Raheem Angus in the 77th minute. For Swan, Edwin Williams converted in the 15th minute.

They will be part of a 15-man squad led by Shai Hope which will be missing the services of former captain Nicholas Pooran and marquee all-rounder Jason Holder.

Cricket West Indies said Monday the pair were “both unavailable for selection.”

Hetmyer made headlines last year when he was controversially dumped from the Twenty20 World Cup squad for Australia, after missing a rescheduled flight to join the team Down Under.

CWI said then selectors had “unanimously decided” to remove Hetmyer from the squad, to be replaced by Shamarh Brooks.

Hetmyer averages 35 from 47 ODIs with five hundreds.

Thomas, meanwhile, fell off the wagon after bursting

onto the international scene five years ago, plagued in recent times by lack of fitness and loss of form.

He has taken 27 wickets from 20 ODIs at an average of 32, with a single five-wicket haul.

“We welcome Oshane and Shimron back into the group,” said chief selector, the Most Honourable Desmond Haynes.

“Both have played at the international level before, with some success, and we believe they will fit well into the set-up.

“Oshane brings pace and is a potential wicket-taker with the new ball. Shimron’s style of batting will offer a lot especially in the middle stage of the innings and he is also a potential finisher.”

Meanwhile, CWI offered no reason for the unavailability of Pooran and Holder, both of whom were part of the failed World Cup qualifying campaign in Zimbabwe last month.

Pooran is currently in the United States where he has been playing franchise cricket for MI New York in the inaugural Major League Cricket.

Holder, a fixture for West Indies in all formats, featured in the two-Test series against the Indians which concluded here Monday with the drawn second Test.

The trio of fast bowler Jayden Seales, leg-spinner Yannic Cariah and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie have all recovered from injury and have been included

in the squad but all-rounder Keemo Paul has been ruled out with injury. Kensington Oval will host the first two matches of the series on Thursday and Saturday before the teams return here to Trinidad for the final match at the Brian Lara Stadium on August 1. West Indies have not beaten India in an ODI series in nearly two decades.

SQUAD – Shai Hope (captain), Rovman Powell (vice captain), Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Dominic Drakes, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Oshane Thomas.

GBA taking boxing expansion initiative to Linden

WITH the resuscitation of the Linden boxing scene firmly on the agenda of its developmental programme, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will conduct an important registration initiative from August 3rd4th in the 'Mining Town,' Linden.

The first phase of the registration process, which is aimed at the creation of a new boxing gym in the town, will occur on August 3rd at the Post Office from 12pm-5pm. The second and final phase of the procedure will occur on August 4th from 12pm-

5pm at the gym’s intended location.

The quartet of Lennox Daniels, Seon Bristol, Lancelot ‘Wild Pine’ Easton, and Cuban national Francisco Roldan are tasked with supervising the impending procedure on behalf of the GBA.

Steve Ninvalle, President of the GBA, said, “The expansion of the discipline is an absolute necessity for the association if the best talents are to be unearthed. Linden is a hub of athletic excellence but in recent time has stumbled in the sport of boxing. We at the association are con-

fident, given the region’s rich sporting history, of extracting

and nurturing quality talents from the community.”

According to Ninvalle,

“This is another facet to our developmental scope. Infrastructure expansion is expected to be realised in this community as we aim to resuscitate the ‘sweet science.’

“As such, the expected infrastructure must be married with the equally important human capital that will be realised through our recruitment drive as we aim to not only revive a discipline that sadly has experienced dormancy in this storied region, but to re-establish and elevate the sport to its rightful and historical status.

“This once again high-

lights our commitment to the evolution of the sport through a strategic approach, as we aim to spread our reach to various areas, regions, villages and communities throughout the breadth of Guyana. This is the only way we can continue to engineer success and create an assembly line of talents which will continue to sustain our evidential dominance within the English-speaking Caribbean region. This is the way forward for the overall growth of boxing,” Ninvalle further stated.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle

Soesdyke Falcons goal scorers: From (L to R) Timothy Glasgow, Colin Mclean and Tyrone Khan

West Indies left-hander Shimron Hetmyer

Rain ruins West Indies final day chase at Queen’s Park Oval

PORT OF SPAIN, Trin -

idad: – Persistent rain spoiled the final day of an absorbing contest, forcing a disappointing draw in the second and final Test between West Indies and India here Monday.

With the home side set to resume the day on 76 for two in pursuit of an improbable 365 for victory, rain at Queen’s Park Oval, virtually all day, ensured players remained off the field, and there was little surprise when match officials pulled the plug at the scheduled tea interval.

The showers had eased up long enough in the morning session for ground-staff to remove the covers but once the adverse weather returned in the afternoon, there was little or no chance of play becoming a reality.

“We showed some fight with the bat in this game. That was a good fight,” Captain Kraigg Brathwaite said afterwards.

“Bowling wise, we could still be more disciplined. Generally, it was a good comeback by the batters in this game. We lost five wickets for just 20 runs yesterday

… the key from here is obviously to be consistent.”

The game was set up nicely with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (24 not out) and vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood (20 not out) already having posted 32 in an unbroken third wicket stand.

They pulled the innings around from an unstable position of 44 for two in the final session on Sunday’s penultimate day when veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin struck twice to remove Brathwaite for 28 and debutant left-hander Kirk McKenzie without scoring.

West Indies had lost their last five wickets for 26 runs inside the first hour on Sunday to be all out for 255, conceding a first innings lead of 183.

India then quickly rattled up 181 for two declared, to leave West Indies with a very difficult chase.

Seamer Mohammed Siraj was adjudged Man of the Match for his five-wicket haul.

India captured the series 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Dominica by an innings and 141 runs.

THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) president, Steve Ninvalle, yesterday met with Azumah Nelson, one of the greatest featherweight and super featherweight boxers of all time.

Ninvalle met with the former world champion in Accra, Ghana. The two had a one-hour meeting at Nelson's residence where the Ghanian's possible assistance to Guyana's boxing was discussed inter alia.

Nelson is considered to be the greatest boxer to have come out of Africa and was a feared opponent during the 80s and 90s.

Persistent rain spoiled the final day at The Queen’s Park Oval, yesterday

GBA president meets Hall-ofFamer Azumah`The Professor’ Nelson in Accra, Ghana

Ninvalle (right) greeted by Nelson on arrival at the residence