Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 27-02-2023

–– President Ali reminds nation of opposition’s failure to promote Amerindians' development, says gov’t has consistently done more for them

be sidetracked’

‘You are part of Guyana’s massive transformation’

- President Ali tells Agricola residents

ten to individual concerns before sharing his message of the government’s eagerness to work with residents to find solutions to their respective issues.

“This morning I am here with a very simple message. That is a message that we are unified together, we must work together,

Police, Clifton Hicken, members of the private sector and several sporting personalities were also present.

President Ali stressed that the government’s vision for improvement in the Agricola community included the participation of the private sector and

to work along with the government to make the most of initiatives so as to ensure the improvement of the social welfare and their wellbeing.

“We want to hear from you what the gaps are, and how we can help in filling those gaps. How we can ensure that all our children

By Tamica Garnett

DURING an impromptu visit to the East Bank Demerara community

of Agricola on Sunday morning, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali told residents that they are part of the government’s transfor-

mation plans for Guyana.

Scores of residents warmly welcomed President Ali, who in his usual style, took the time to lis-

we must uplift each other together, and we must respond to each other,” the Head of State said.

“I want to thank all of you for coming out this morning on very short notice. We are here this morning on our journey to develop Guyana. Every single community, every single life matters to us. That is why this morning we want to talk development, progress, and about the advancement of our community,” he said.

The President was accompanied by a contingent of government officials which included members from the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson; Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd. Acting Commissioner of

civil society, guided by the critical involvement of the residents of the community.

“Are we together?”

President Ali asked. The gathering responded with resounding agreement.

“We want to do this with an engagement of the community itself. We want the people of this community to be part of the work to improve the community. It creates more ownership; it is your community [and] you will want to see it done better.”

Residents used the opportunity to raise concerns about a range of issues which mainly pertained to the roads, drainage and the health centre. Some expressed the desire to see more done for the youths in the community.

Aside from dealing with concerns raised by the residents, President Ali encouraged residents

stay in school. How [you] can …support the ambition of the government to have every single child completing education and completing school. How can we get more persons on the scholarship programme,” the President said.

The President also took the time to speak about the labour shortage that is currently facing the country in the construction sector. During his time in the community, he urged unemployed persons to take up jobs in the sector.

He also informed the gathering that the government is willing to work alongside interested residents to provide the required training for those persons so that they can become skilled workers.

“Then we can get you employed in the massive housing development that is taking place,” the President said.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali listening to the concerns of an elderly resident in Agricola (Office of the President photos)

President Ali engages a young man during his impromptu visit on Sunday morning

‘Don’t be sidetracked’

- President Ali reminds nation of opposition’s failure to promote Amerindians’ development, says

By Tamica Garnett

PRESIDENT, Dr Ir-

faan Ali on Sunday called out the political opposition as being hypocritical in their contention on how the government is disbursing funds from Guyana’s carboncredit sale to the Amerindian communities.

In an early-morning address which was livestreamed on his social media page, he reminded the nation that the opposition during their time in government (2015 to 2020)

“dropped the ball” regarding revenue that could be earned from Guyana’s forest preservation when they decided to dispose of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Both the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) political parties recently sought to lecture on how the government should distribute and spend money acquired from the carbon credit deal with the Hess Corporation, which will see the country earning a minimum of US$750 million.

The deal was a result of work under Guyana’s LCDS 2030.

“The LCDS was tossed aside by the APNU+AFC while they were in government. The credit that we sold included legacy credit that was available for the period of time they tossed aside the LCDS. Where was

their commitment then?

They tossed aside a strategy that the world embraced, that placed Guyana along an international path that not only brought recognition, but brought respect as we pursued sustainable development,” the President noted.

The LCDS was first developed in 2007, but was dumped by the APNU+AFC when they came into government in 2015. Instead of the LCDS, the APNU+AFC introduced the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

Approximately US$112 million (GYD$23.571 billion) from the carbon credit will go directly to Amerindian communities under an arrangement which will see 15 per cent of all proceeds from any sale of carbon credits going to those communities.

This year, Amerindian communities will directly receive $4.7 billion (US$22 million)

government has “always consistently given the Amerindian people more,” while the APNU+AFC track record of its treatment of our indigenous peoples is less than stellar.

“They would want us to forget that this very APNU+AFC when in government took away more than 2,000 CSO jobs, took away almost $4 billion from our Amerindians; this government restored back the $4 billion,” the President said.

given to the Amerindian communities all in disrepair. We have bought new tractors for every community and this is aside from the 15 per cent going directly to the Amerindian communities,” he added.

The President also called out the opposition for the lack of movement on land titling of Amerindian communities during their time in office.

people know the truth. Every single one of those villages know the truth. They know when their lives are improving, and know when they went backward in their development.”

earned from the carboncredits sale. However, both the APNU and AFC have since contended that the Amerindian communities should get a larger amount.

However, the President reminded that the

“For five years APNU+AFC never built a single secondary school in any Amerindian community. We are fixing that. We came back into gov -

ernment and found all the tractors, vehicles, and equipment we had

“Let us not be sidetracked from the selfish desires of a bunch that cared nothing about hinterland and riverine development. We are committed to the development of all of Guyana, working with every single community,” Dr Ali said.

“We need to work with the people and the

Amerindian and hinterland communities are expected to see accelerated development this year as the government allocated some $35 billion for these communities in the 2023 budget. This sum will cover infrastructural improvements as well as programmes that will improve the well-being of Guyana’s Indigenous peoples.

There will also be the customary Presidential grants and investments in education, health and other areas.

gov’t has consistently done more for them

President, Dr Irfaan Ali

Amerindians will benefit greatly from the sale of carbon credits

Migrant shipwreck in Italy kills at least 59, including 12 children

AT least 59 people died, including 12 children, when a wooden sailing boat carrying migrants to Europe crashed against rocks near the southern Italian coast early on Sunday, authorities said.

The vessel, which sailed from Turkey and was carrying people from Afghanistan, Iran and several other countries, sank in rough seas before dawn near Steccato di Cutro, a seaside resort on the eastern coast of Calabria.

The incident reopened a debate on migration in Europe and Italy, where the

recently-elected right-wing government’s tough new laws for migrant rescue charities have drawn criticism from the United Nations and others.

Manuela Curra, a provincial government official, told Reuters that 81 people had survived the shipwreck. Twenty of them were hospitalised, including one person in intensive care.

Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, who travelled to the scene, said 20-30 people might still be missing, amid reports from survivors that the boat had been carrying

between 150 to 200 migrants.

The vessel set sail from the western Turkish port of Izmir about four days ago and was spotted about 74 km (46 miles) off the Italian coast late on Saturday by a plane operated by European Union border agency Frontex, Italian police said.

Patrol boats were sent to intercept it, but severe weather forced them to return to port, police said, adding that authorities then mobilised search units along the coastline.

A baby aged only a few months was among those found washed up on the beach, ANSA news agency said.

Emergency doctor Laura De Paoli described finding

another dead child, aged seven.

“When we got to the point of the shipwreck, we saw corpses floating everywhere and we rescued two men who were holding up a child. Sadly, the little one was dead,” she told ANSA.

His voice cracking with emotion, Cutro’s mayor, Antonio Ceraso, told the SkyTG24 news channel that he had seen “a spectacle that you would never want to see in your life ... a gruesome sight ... that stays with you for all your life”.

Wreckage from the wooden gulet, a Turkish sailing boat, was strewn across a large stretch of coast.

One survivor was ar -

Remains of a ship are seen along the beach where bodies of persons believed to be refugees were found after a shipwreck, in Cutro, the eastern coast of Italy’s Calabria region, Italy on February 26, 2023 (REUTERS/Giuseppe Pipita photo)

rested on migrant trafficking charges, the Guardia di Finanza customs police said.

‘FALSE PROSPECT’ OF SAFETY

Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, expressed deep sorrow for the deaths, and blamed human traffickers who profit while offering migrants “the false prospect of a safe journey”.

“The government is committed to preventing departures, and with them the unfolding of these tragedies, and will continue to do so, first of all by calling for maximum cooperation from the countries of departure and of origin,” she said.

Meloni’s administration has said migrant rescue charities are encouraging migrants to make the dangerous sea journey to Italy, and sometimes work in partnership with traffickers.

Charities strongly reject both accusations.

“Stopping, blocking and hindering the work of NGOs (non-governmental organisations) will have only one effect: the death of vulnerable people left without help,” Spanish migrant rescue charity Open Arms tweeted in reaction to Sunday’s shipwreck.

However, the coast off Calabria has not been patrolled by NGO ships which operate in the waters south of Sicily. That suggests they would have been unlikely to intercept the shipwrecked migrants regardless of Meloni’s crackdown.

The head of the Italian Catholic Church, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, called for the resumption of an EU search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean, as part of a “structural, shared and humanitarian response” to the migration crisis.

A spokesman for the United Nations’ International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in the same vein, appealed on Twitter for the strengthening of rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

Flavio Di Giacomo also called for the opening of “more regular migration channels” to Europe, and action to address what he said were the multiple causes pushing people to try the sea crossings.

Earlier on Sunday, Pope Francis, the son of Italian migrants to Argentina and long a vocal advocate for migrants’ rights, said he was praying for the shipwreck’s victims.

Italy is one of the main landing points for migrants trying to enter Europe by sea, with many seeking to travel on to richer northern European nations. But to do so, they must brave the world’s most dangerous migration route.

The United Nations Missing Migrants Project has registered more than 20,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014. More than 220 have died or disappeared this year, it estimates.

Red Cross, corporate T&T tackle country’s period concerns

PRIMARY schools in this country’s capital city, as well as those located in the rural areas of Trinidad, are facing the challenge of menstruating girls flushing cloth into the toilet as a result of period poverty.

This was among the “shocking findings” that community liaison monitoring and evaluation officer at T&T Red Cross Society, Alejandra Mendez, said was made during focus groups with over 100 principals in the eight educational districts in T&T.

“In rural areas and also in Port-of-Spain schools are having challenges with their plumbing because girls are using cloth, because they don’t have access to products and that clogs the system and they only understand this because they have to bring a plumber and the whole thing has to be opened. It is financially really expensive for the schools to go through this process,” Mendez said.

“But what is happening to girls in T&T is that they are using whatever cloth because they do not have access to products. It is happening in Port-of-Spain, it is happening in other districts like the South Eastern district, it is happening in the St Patrick district so this is something that should raise concerns,” she said.

Another thing that came from the study, Mendez said is that primary schools in Trinidad do not have a budget for menstrual health and hygiene.

“This means they do not have disposable bins available for girls,” Mendez said.

This she said is especially problematic as girls

are starting to reach puberty around the age of 8, 9 and 10.

“They are still in primary school; however, primary schools don’t have a budget for that because nobody is looking at it. It is something that they try to manage but sometimes the solutions

on that, there are many NGOs,” she said.

INTERVENTIONS

Mendez highlighted the work of the Helping Her Foundation, The Pineapple Foundation, and Feminitt who were all playing their part in addressing menstrual health.

on menstrual health and hygiene.

“Our end goal is mainstream menstrual health and hygiene as a matter of gender equality and social inclusion because we cannot speak about women’s rights and gender equality when the biological needs of 50 per cent of the population are not met,” she said.

Mendez said one of the goals of the programme is to assist in getting a draft policy on menstrual health and hygiene which will address period poverty but increase access to materials.

that they come up with are not best for the experience of girls,” she said.

In Tobago they already cater for menstrual health and hygiene in primary school, she said.

Mendez said these discoveries were made during discussions with the principals as part of the TTRCS’ Know Your Flow programme.

Mendez said the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated period poverty in this country, affecting both nationals and migrants.

“So that is how ‘Know Your Flow’ was born which is our menstrual health and hygiene programme. That is how it started when we saw the need for access to menstrual material,” Mendez said.

“We started thinking about period poverty and then the question came about how sustainable is it for the Red Cross and for any other NGO because not only is Red Cross focused

In the quest to see how sustainable it was to address the issue, Mendez said the TTRCS started researching to see how it could launch an impactful intervention.

“And when we address poverty of any kind, we have to look at education. You cannot really address poverty in any way if you don’t tackle knowledge and education. If you don’t … develop people’s capacity and strengthen their capacity, you don’t create resilience,” she said.

Period poverty is one of the pillars of the Know Your Flow programme which seeks to address access to materials for women and girls especially in vulnerable communities.

“We also target the cultural and the societal norms around the subject of menstruation because believe it or not it is still taboo,” she said.

Mendez said what they are trying to achieve is a national baseline study,

“So, we are hoping that after the baseline study we can get together with other organisations, other NGOs and draft a national policy that we can present to the government to assist and tackle these issues,” she said.

“We also hope to develop a curriculum for girls and boys. And this is the other thing our problem does not only target women and girls but also boys and men because if 50 per cent of the population does not understand the needs of the other 50 per cent we have a problem,” Mendez said.

The programme is divided into three phases, boys and girls 17 and under, women 18-45 and women 45 and over.

“Now we are going to start in March to meet with girls and boys in the eight educational districts. We are going to do more than 3040 focus groups nationally, we are going to meet with girls in correctional facilities, we are going to meet with girls with disabilities, and with migrant girls as well,” Mendez said.

GATHERING DATA

She said when they gather all of the data, they will bring in an expert to analyse it and present the findings.

“And then based on those findings we are going to develop a curriculum to address the lack of knowledge,” she said.

Mendez said there is currently a competition for girls to draw a character that they feel represents their menstrual cycle.

They also have to write five questions that they have about menstruation.

“With these, we are trying to understand from another point of view. What we are doing is formative research so we are doing qualitative research, quantitative research but this is participatory research,” she said.

The boys are also being asked to write the five first words that come to mind when they think of menstruation and five things, they would like to know about it.

“We are trying to give voice to everyone. After we have all that, after we finish with menopausal women, then we can have

enough evidence to suggest or draft a menstrual health and hygiene policy that the government can benefit from and polish and bring experts too because they will have all the data and that is how red cross works,” Mendez said.

Mendez said she feels the study is important as the issue of menstrual health and hygiene was barely mentioned in the National Sexual and Reproductive Health policy that was published in 2020.

She said both the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Education have been supportive of the Know Your Flow campaign.

“We just go through the motions and we don’t educate ourselves and we have not been educated enough in the subject of menstruation and what is best, what are the products that are available in the market, which should be used,” Mendez said.

“We need to develop the capacity in the society to address menstrual health and hygiene and generate that positive outcome for future generations,” she said. (Trinidad Guardian)

Talkers and Doers

IN any situation, because of human nature and various personalities, there will always be people who are good at talking the talk but not delivering tangibly, and those who let their actions speak way louder than words.

One such case in point is the APNU and AFC’s paltry attempt to lecture the PPP/C government on how much of the funds earned from the sale of carbon credits should be disbursed to Amerindian communities.

On Wednesday, February 16, 2023, toshaos across Guyana began the process of receiving funds set aside for their villages as a result of a multi-year deal that Guyana signed last year with Hess Corporation for the sale of jurisdictional carbon credits

for at least US$750 million. Guyana is receiving the funds in tranches, and at the end of it, Amerindian communities would benefit directly from injections of at least US$112 million.

First of all, the decision to disburse 15 per cent of those funds directly to Amerindian communities is a direct acknowledgement of the First Peoples own efforts to protect the country’s forests and natural ecosystem.

Without hesitation, the PPP/C government incorporated this initiative into its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, which has other measures that will not only ensure that Guyana’s forests are protected, but also that revenues are generated through this process and passed on to

the people of Guyana, either directly or indirectly through key investments.

Unlike the former APNU+AFC administration which failed in five years to contribute tangibly to improvement of the lives of Amerindians despite making big promises, the PPP/C made a commitment and stuck to it as soon as the opportunity arose.

“In every country there are the doers and the talkers… there are the builders and the destroyers. But if we allow the falsehoods to ever take root in any society then we will build a country and a society that is not built on the truth,” President, Dr Irfaan Ali said in an impromptu Sunday morning public statement.

In direct response to the

APNU and AFC’s criticisms, Dr Ali said he finds the position of the opposition parties hypocritical, but marked it down as the “opportunistic” nature of persons within those groups.

The PPP/C administration is the only one that has offered to pay (or reward with various resources) indigenous communities for protection of the forests in their communities. Jobs and other economic opportunities are created with the funds. While emissions are reduced in the forests, the economy of indigenous communities grow, enriching the people and improving their standard of living.

Although the remoteness of communities has created gaps in development between the hinterland and

coastland, there is no doubt that the PPP/C government has been working towards eradicating any existing disparities and creating a better life for all.

This is evidenced by critical investments in the improvement of healthcare, education and social welfare across hinterland communities. Despite the impediments that exist, President Ali has made it clear that he intends to do everything that is possible to ensure that every Guyanese benefits equally and equitably from the government’s investments.

The Amerindian Land Titling project is ongoing; the CSO programme that was terminated by the former APNU+AFC administration has been restored,

returning billions of dollars to Amerindians, and Indigenous Peoples are also benefitting from the education grant and other initiatives that are being implemented nationwide.

“We are the doers… we will continue to build. Together, we will build a Guyana that is strong and secure and prosperous in which every Guyanese will be proud to be a part of, and will be part of the transformation,” President Ali said. Considering his track record of delivering on his commitments, there is no doubt that Dr Ali and his administration are doers, who will surmount any challenge to deliver a better life to all Guyanese despite the efforts of naysayers.

Dr. Gonsalves said it best when he urged leaders to address social ills

ON February 14, 2023, I was privileged to attend the opening ceremony of the second International Energy Conference and Expo in Georgetown Guyana.

Once again, the coordinator and his astute team has done an exceptional job at hosting the four-day event in an atmosphere filled with

the buzz of economic growth, innovations and business expansion with prosperity for all Guyanese, and our visiting business executives from world-class international corporations who are seeking inroads to fortify their pathway to share in the prosperity of our most rewarding natural resource.

One cannot dispute

that the Master of Ceremonies and all the presenters were of exceptional calibre, and have delivered inspiring, brilliant and dynamic speeches.

However, the most impactful speaker to me was none other than the Honourable Dr. Ralph Gonsalves – Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

During his speech, Dr. Gonsalves chose to move away from the traditional political discourse which is often decorated with politics, economics and promises.

Rather, he chose to redirect his thoughts and attention to the audience by highlighting the socio-economic challenges which are prevailing in our society. He has called

on the leaders to focus on the importance of the unique family structure, domestic abuse, assault, divorce, poverty, teenage pregnancy and incest, alarming rates of obesity, high school dropouts, illiteracy, alcohol use and abuse in Guyana and the Caribbean.

I echo Dr. Gonsalves’ appeal and call upon our educators, our local civil

society leaders, our politicians, and leaders in our religious institutions to be cognisant of the ills and declines of the moral fabric of our society. Do not shy away from the challenging issues. Work on addressing these matters urgently!

Yours respectfully, Nazar Mohamed Businessman

Speeding trucks contributing to deterioration of Demerara Harbour Bridge

- authorities mulling stiff penalties, say bridge will be closed again in March for further repairs

AS repairs works progressed as planned, Chair of the Demerara Harbour Bridge board, Ravie Ramcharitar, on Sunday evening, said that speeding trucks are damaging the aging structure which was left weakened after an oil tanker slammed into it last October.

He made this disclosure shortly after Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and his team viewed the ongoing works on the bridge which was closed early Sunday morning to facilitate urgent repairs.

The bridge official in

Minister Edghill also expressed concern about this issue.

“I know you want to be able to maximise the amount of trips you make per day to deliver your sand or your stone, but if we continue to be reckless, sooner rather than later we will have no bridge,” he said.

With regards to the repairs, he said that everything that is happening on the bridge tells every Guyanese there is need for a new structure.

“This work that is going on here is just part of what will actually have to considered the sum total

after that accident but that was a quick fix and with that quick fix every time we use the bridge…with the speeding trucks and the tonnage, more and more damage [will] occur along the bridge…”, he said.

He recognised the inconvenience caused to citizens and thanked the public for their co-operation.

“I would like on behalf of the President and the cabinet, to express gratitude to all the citizens of Guyana for the peace, the calm, the understanding with which you conducted yourself while we get

this going. With your cooperation and with your support we will be able to get span nine in place and we will be able to get this bridge structurally sound to be able to keep it moving until we get that high span four-lane new Demerara Habour Bridge,” he said.

Meanwhile, the bridge’s general manager Wayne Watson said that as at 20:00 hours the repairs were about 60 per cent completed. He said that a delay was caused when they realised that the collision had caused

more damage to one of the panels than was initially thought.

He said that they had to regroup and sort out that issue which took about three and a half hours.

Watson added that with the ongoing emergency works, the previous estimate of $1 billion has increased.

“That was the initial estimate but as we get into the works, we recognise it is much more than that. I can’t say how much more but I know it is more than

TURN TO PAGE 8

his comments said that the structure is taking a “severe pounding” from speeding trucks and it has been decided that strict and harsh measures will be put in place to deal with those errant drivers.

Among the recommendations is the banning of those who consistently speed on the bridge.

In responding to questions from the media, Ramcharitar explained that when the drivers speed then hit brakes, they cause damage. He added that those vehicles, even when empty are very heavy.

overall…we are dealing with span eight and we still have to replace the entire span nine and that is a more tedious, difficult and time-consuming job than dealing with…span eight,” he said, as he announced that sometime in March the bridge will have to be closed again to deal with span nine.

He took the opportunity to publicly thank his technical team, the bridge’s general manager, the engineers and technicians and the contractor and his team.

“They have done fantastic work of getting this bridge functional again

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill at the Georgetown Ferry Stelling on Sunday night (Department of Public Information photo)

Work being done on span eight of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (Minister Deodat Indar photo)

Speeding trucks contributing to...

FROM PAGE 7

that,” he said.

ORDERLY

Prior to his visit to the bridge, Minister Edghill visited the Georgetown Stelling and Vreed-enHoop stelling, to observe the situation and to engage boat operators and commuters.

Given the closure of the bridge, the Demerara Water Taxis Service remained operational.

According to a harbour master, the traffic flow

was reasonable.

“The traffic was good because there was a steady flow of passengers, no buildup on either side,” the harbour master said.

He noted that the passenger movements were orderly.

“So, there was no clashing of passengers, no incidents,” he noted.

He explained that on Sunday morning, some operators were found trying to get more money from passengers.

He stated that these operators will be sanctioned for trying to raise the fare and that the suspension of the licences for a standard time of three weeks is being considered.

Minister Edghill acknowledged and gave thanks to the Commander of the Guyana Police Force, the Commander of the Region Three Division, the coastguard, and others who are overlooking the transport of persons between the stellings.

He explained that once the closure of the bridge was announced, Maritime Administrative Department, the Transport and Harbour Department, the GPF, the coastguard, and the Guyana Fire Service put the necessary measures in place to ensure that emergencies could be adequately handled.

“We have a standby river ambulance if anybody needs to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, that will not be a problem,” he noted.

The Public Works Minister shared that at that time, there were no reports of robbery, assault,

or misbehaviour.

A passenger who travels regularly over the DHB, but had travel by

boat given the bridge closure, told this publication that the amount of traffic was nothing compared to what one might see on a weekday.

“There was a reasonable amount of people traversing the stellings and I was really impressed with the ease of movement, both in foot traffic and the movement of vehicles at the Vreed-en-Hoop end,” she said.

She noted that at the Vreed-en-Hoop stelling, there was a heavy police presence along the road to

the stelling, which helped to keep the traffic in order and also gave commuters a feeling of added security.

She said they needed the extra security because one “never knows who can take advantage of these situations.”

“I also saw that they already had floodlights set up for when night fell, so you felt like the whole thing will be safe.

“It was also nice to see that the boat operators were not taking advantage of the situation and charging $200 instead of the $100 they are supposed to charge,” she said.

Commuters using the water taxis (Delano Williams photo)

Heads seeking collaborative approach on regional transportation

CARICOM Heads of Government will explore working with companies servicing the Caribbean to find a solution to the current transportation woes facing the Community.

“We’re looking at what kind of construct we can bring into play, recognising that there are existing companies that are servicing our islands, and how we can work with those existing entities to seek to alleviate the current challenge,” Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, said.

He was speaking at a press conference at the conclusion of the 44th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Nassau, The Bahamas.

In response to a question from the media, the Prime Minister said that intra-regional transportation is an ongoing discussion and that the Heads of Government had received a report from the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

In his address at the opening of the Meeting on 15 February, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, highlighted the difficulty and high cost of travel within the Region and called for greater collaboration to make it easier for people to move.

“Coming to this meeting in the beautiful Bahamas is an example of a disconnect between our countries. A number of delegations had to transit through Miami, and perhaps overnight there before flying to our sister CARICOM-member destination. It should take less than 24 hours to move from country to country within our Region,”

he argued.

Among the objectives of the Community’s Transport Policy identified in Chapter Six of the Treaty are the organisation of efficient, reliable, affordable transport services throughout the Community, as well as the promotion of cooperative arrangements for the provision of transport services.

Prime Minister Drew acknowledged the work being done by the Caribbean Development Bank and other key players “to seek a sustainable solution to bridge the gaps that exist and breathe life into the provisions of Chapter Six

of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Reliable intra-regional transportation and connectivity are also key elements of the Region’s quest for food security. “If we don’t have transportation, then all our efforts would be in vain. In this regard, reliable transportation by sea and by air is imperative and urgently requires attention. It is imperative and urgently demands attention,” Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Honourable Gaston Browne said last year at the Agri-Investment Forum in Georgetown, Guyana. (CARICOM Today)

Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit (CARICOM photo)

Another batch of Lindeners certified

ONE hundred and thirty-one residents of Linden in Region 10 are now certified in six technical disciplines offered by the Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

This is the second batch of beneficiaries to be certified out of the 584 residents seeking empowerment from the agency in 2022. Out of the batch, 214 residents were certified in late 2022.

The remaining persons are currently undergoing training.

Welding and Fabrication, Heavy-Duty Equipment Operation (HDEO), Electrical Installation, General Building Construction, Commercial Food Preparation, and Garment Construction were among the skills taught to the graduates.

At the graduation ceremony, Michael Turner, a BIT board member, spoke about the Board of Industrial Training’s role and purpose and how it has now meaningfully enriched the graduates’ lives forever.

He urged the graduates to build on the investment by taking advantage of additional educational opportunities provided by the government to contribute to nation-building.

Turner also urged them to fulfil their patriotic duty as Guyanese citizens by contributing in any way they could to help the country reach new heights for future generations.

Saskia Eastman-Onwuzirike, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Industrial Training, thanked the graduates for successfully completing their respective programmes, despite the

challenges they may have faced.

She stated that their perseverance and presence must remain among the pillars required to advance their careers and livelihoods as there are redeeming qualities.

Eastman-Onwuzirike also encouraged them to visit the ministry’s Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA) regional office to learn more about regional vacancies.

Meanwhile, Joseph Hamilton, Minister of Labour, praised the graduates for choosing to empower themselves through skills training that can now be used as a stepping stone to further educational opportunities.

This, he said, satisfies the ministry’s agenda of changing lives through vocational and technical training opportunities. It is also consistent with government’s manifesto promise to provide equal access to opportunities such as education, health, and agriculture.

As such, he hopes they will explore ways to improve community development and share their knowledge with others interested in their respective fields.

According to Minister Hamilton, the agency plans to spend $66 million in 2023 to provide its training programmes in the region to maintain the positive change seen by residents over the last two years.

Senior Technical Officer, Leon Greaves; Technical Officer, Tenesha Dennis and other officials were present at the ceremony. (Board of Industrial Training Public Relations Department)

Some of the graduates with Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton and BIT officials

Region Nine to benefit from major transformative projects – Minister Dharamlall

GOVERNMENT is working assiduously to pursue transformative projects in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) in areas such as health, education, employment, social development.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall made the disclosure during his address on Wednesday last during the regional flag raising to commemorate Guyana’s 53rd Republic Anniversary.

Government continues to work steadfastly to ensure that each community across the country receives the necessary support.

The efforts of the President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali-led Administration are to ensure that the hinterland regions benefit equally.

“You have a government that is at the foremost to make sure that we build a platform where everyone can benefit equally and equitably. That is why, practically everything we do, we focus on building a One Guyana,” Minister Dharamlall noted.

The local government minister said shortly, Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo will be visiting Rupununi to launch the employment programme which will benefit many persons.

Government remains cognisant that healthcare is important across the region, as such, the Lethem Hospital is earmarked to be transformed into a first-class hospital to provide tertiary services.

“Very soon, you will see a US$20 million further expansion of the Lethem Hospital. Whilst we’re doing so, we are also building and upgrading regional hospitals in Regions Two, Three, Five,

and Six,” the minister highlighted.

Hospitals at Aishalton, Annai, Karasabai and Kato in Region Eight are also slated for upgrades.

In education, some $1.77 billion was made available for a new dormitory, new school and science laboratories in the region.

And for the first time, approximately 500 children in the South Pakaraimas will get a new secondary school next year.

Upgrades will be conducted at several schools which include Sand Creek, St Ignatius, and Maruranau, as well as the dorms at Aishalton.

Further, every school in Region Nine has greater stock in relation to furniture and equipment.

In December 2022, several Rupununi villages were contracted to construct school furniture.

“We are doing this because we would like our village economies to be transformed. We want the people in our villages to become rich. You have a government that is a strong partner in ensuring that this happens,” the minister said.

The minister noted too that the earnings from the sale of Guyana’s carbon credits will facilitate millions of dollars in developments in hinterland and riverine communities.

Highlighting the infrastructural works in the

region, hundreds of kilometres of hinterland roads are being upgraded.

Before 2025, all of the roads in Lethem will be upgraded to asphaltic concrete, the minister added.

Importantly, Minister Dharamlall stated that, “We have to make sure that this ambassadorship of unity of ensuring that the asset called our diversity, something that is very special to our country. Not many coun-

tries are as diverse as our country…Everyone in this country has the opportunity to work with a government that is accessible, humble, visionary, and respectful to move our country forward.”

Regional Vice-Chairman, Bertie Xavier; Deputy Mayor, Deborah King; Regional Executive Officer, Karl Singh, and other regional officials were also in attendance. (DPI)

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall and other officials at Region Nine’s flag raising ceremony

‘Everyone will benefit from our progress and transformation’ – Minister Todd

– at Region 10 flag-raising ceremony

RESIDENTS of Region 10

have been assured that the PPP/C government remains committed to the development of its citizens.

This is in keeping with its mandate of ensuring that everyone benefits from the transformative initiatives and resources, as the nation continues to experience unprecedented growth.

This was highlighted by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, during his address at the Region 10 flag-raising

ceremony to usher in Guyana’s 53rd republic anniversary on Wednesday last.

Reiterating the ‘One Guyana’ initiative, the minister stated that this vision promotes inclusivity all across the length and breadth of Guyana, which is to ensure that everyone is afforded equal opportunities in every sector.

“We always have to understand that our diversity is our strength. We are one people. We are Guyanese and we are a proud nation. We are hard-working, resilient,

law-abiding, and trustworthy,” the minister emphasised.

Minister Todd noted that, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the people of the mining town can expect to have progressive and transformative programmes that will allow them to have republic anniversary celebrations that will be uplifting.

The minister said the people should elect representatives that have empathy and understand their plight.

“Let us focus on you the

citizens, the hardworking people of Region 10. You hold the future in your hands. You will define how we move forward. Every day, you will expect your representatives to go the extra mile to ensure that year after year, you can have celebrations that you are proud of…You are the pillar that drive our sovereignty,” he added. As government continues to move forward with its people-centred approach, Minister Todd reaffirmed government’s commitment

to Lindeners.

“Let us make Linden a Region 10, a city. We can do it together. I will be here with you and we will do it together. We believe in participation. We know that you have to direct us… You have to ensure that you have a government in place with representatives who have the knowledge and skills to drive the process,” he stated.

Importantly, Minister Todd highlighted that everyone should conduct their

reflections and analysis to ensure that their elected representatives have their best interests at heart, “Let us enjoy a prosperous, bright, progressive, and beautiful future together. We are all in this together. No one will be left behind.”

Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, CEO of Guyana Invest, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, Regional Chairman, Deron Adams, and other officials were also in attendance.

(DPI)

Porter dies after being pinned by lorry

THE police in Regional Division #7 are investigating a fatal incident which occurred around 00:30 hours on Sunday on the Toroparo Trail, CuyuniMazaruni.

Dead is Troy Alexander Davis, a 37-year-old Porter of Tabatinga Housing Scheme, Lethem.

According to the police, the incident involved motor lorry GYY 7764, owned and driven by Hubert Beharry, a 43-year-old miner/driver of #27 Village, West Coast Berbice.

Enquiries disclosed that the motor lorry was proceeding east along the northern side of Toroparo Trail and while descending a hill, the driver lost control of the motor lorry, which turned turtle several times.

As a result, the driver was flung from the vehicle and landed on the trail, while Davis who was a passenger was pinned by the motor lorry.

The lorry driver was picked up in a conscious condition. However, Davis was picked up in an unconscious state by publicspirited persons.

They were both transported to the Pappy Show Landing where they were seen and examined by a Medex on duty.

Beharry was treated for

minor abrasion and laceration about the head and body before being sent away. Davis was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination is to be conducted on the body.

The lorry driver is in custody assisting with the ongoing investigation, police said.

The lorry shortly after it toppled (Guyana Police Force photo)

A section of the gathering at the flag-raising ceremony

CARICOM, IICA launch virtual platform on climate adaptation, risks

THE Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), which advises on and coordinates climate change-related policies in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), along with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), have launched a virtual course on climate adaptation and risk management in the region.

The course will enable decision makers and local communities to incorporate climate resilience into their planning processes.

The course provides a guide on how to utilise the Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation Tool (CCORAL). Created by the CCCCC, the digital platform allows for assessing the climate change risks that a project carried out in a Caribbean country could face.

The tool promotes a

regional approach to risk management and supports climate-compatible development models.

“The virtual course, created with support from Willis Towers Watson and the CCCCC, will enable participants to better understand the climate risks to which projects

in the Caribbean may be exposed.

“It will also teach them how to utilise the CCORAL tool to identify these risks and design responses that boost the climate resilience and capacity for climate adaptation of those projects,” commented Willie Chan, Technical

Coordinator of the IICA Delegation in Belize.

He also said that the development of these online courses “demonstrates IICA’s ability to offer these types of services to partners through teamwork and active communication.”

The CCORAL platform is available at https://ccor-

al.caribbeanclimate.bz/. Users can select a specific Caribbean country to learn more about its climate and the tool features that are available for that country.

The CCCCC periodically delivers the course on how to utilise the tool, which was developed with IICA’s involvement. Course offerings are announced on the centre’s website and social media, as well as on the CCORAL website.

TEAMWORK

The CCORAL platform was developed in collaboration with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) for use by the public, private and academic sectors.

The CCCCC developed the tool in 2013 in the form of an in-person course, as part of its efforts to address Caribbean countries’ vulnerability to climate change and improve the

incorporation of resilience strategies into their development planning.

In 2022, IICA transformed it into a fully online course, which enables users to assess, address and analyse potential climate impacts for small, medium and large-scale projects.

The tool has been implemented in all CARICOM member countries. Approximately 800 partners in those countries have received training on the use of the tool.

Since 2006, IICA has been collaborating in transforming in-person courses to virtual ones, as was done with CCORAL.

Furthermore, since 2018, more than 18,000 individuals from more than 80 countries have participated in the Institute’s e-learning courses on topics such as family farming, animal health and climate change.

(IICA)

Bids for Diamond to Craig highway to open soon

AS government works to expand the transport infrastructure along the East Bank corridor, the Diamond to Craig highway is currently in its design and route stages.

The Ministry of Housing, in making this announcement, said that this project will be “going out for tender by March of this year.”

According to the ministry, this new highway, [upon] completion will connect the Eccles to Diamond four-lane highway to Craig, and provide an alternative route for commuters heading in and out of the city of Georgetown.

Meanwhile, it was stated that several contracts were recently signed for

another East Bank highway.

“The Ministry of Housing and Water-Central Housing and Planning Authority, clarifies that among the contracts signed on Friday February 24, 2023 was one for a connecting highway from the new Eccles to Diamond Four-lane highway to the Old and New Diamond Schemes,” a release said.

It was disclosed that this $3.43 billion contract was awarded in five lots to GuyAmerica Construction Inc., Build Smart Construction and Supplies Inc., Vulcan Group Inc., Puran Brother Disposal Inc., and S. Jagmohan Construction & General

bridges.

On Friday, 126 contracts totalling over $56.8 billion were signed between several contractors and the CH&PA at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The contracts cater for works under the CH&PA’s 2023 work programme, and include infrastructural developments on roads, culverts, bridges, wells, and electrical installation across Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Supplies Inc. Under this project, two

kilometres of concrete road will be constructed along with six heavy duty concrete reinforced

An aerial view of the $2.6 billion Mandela Avenue to Eccles highway which was officially opened in April 2022 (Department of Public Information photo)

The CCORAL course enables users to identify climate risks in the Caribbean

-$3.4B in contracts awarded for Eccles to Diamond four-lane highway

Onion cultivation flourishing in Guyana

AS Guyana’s focus on food security intensifies, onions are being grown locally under the watchful eyes of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). The institute had said, in March 2021, that all

the onions on the local markets are imported from the United States of America, Canada or India. It was noted that Guyana has the available land and soil quality (loamy sands and sandy loams) along with climatic suitability

to successfully cultivate onions on a large scale and to satisfy the local demand. Research has showed that several varieties of both white and red onions can be successfully grown under shaded and open field conditions. Farm-

Armstrong Agencies to distribute

‘Only Coconuts’ products in Barbados

“ONLY Coconuts,” a Guyanese-owned business that produces a range of coconut products, will now have its items distributed in Barbados by Armstrong Agencies Ltd., which offers a full import, wholesale, distribution, and marketing service on the island and in other parts of the Caribbean.

Vice-President of Precision Global Inc. (Only Coconuts), Lesley Ramlall, speaking at the Barbados Agro Fest 2023, said that his company has responded to “the government’s appeal for the expansion of the coconut industry.”

“Only Coconuts,” the largest coconut processing

facility in South America, according to Ramlall, has the capacity to supply the entire CARICOM region with its various brands of coconut products which includes virgin and refined coconut oil, coconut chips, coconut flour and its soonto-come coconut milk.

“Currently, we have a distributor here in Barbados through Armstrong Agencies, and that initiative was materialised because of the Agro Fest in 2022 when we launched our product here in Barbados, and Armstrong readily accepted the challenge of marketing our products here in Barbados,” he noted.

Ramlall said that for the year so far, the re -

sponse has been overwhelming.

He added: “...and so we would like to thank the government for this initiative to give Guyanese businesses the opportunity to showcase our products not only locally, but across the Caribbean.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Armstrong Agencies, Christopher Lambert, said that as one of the major distributors in Barbados, they see it as an opportunity for them to identify a number of products and opportunities that comes out of Guyana.

“Last year Precision Global would have presented their portfolio of ‘Only Coconuts’ and we are very impressed by

the presentation that they did. We were also very impressed by the reception of the Barbados public,” he said.

CEO Lambert continued: “So for us, we definitely saw it as an opportunity for us to partner with them and a year later, we represent the brand here in Barbados, and we see it really as an opportunity for us to expand on the partnership between us and Guyana.”

Meanwhile, Chief Investment Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, said that Agro Fest has done great for Guyana from 2022 to 2023. He noted that it brings together folks

in the furniture industry, cosmetic industry, pepper sauce products, and many others.

“I look forward to working with all of the exporters here to ensure that they continue to develop their products in Guyana… this is just a testament of the initiative by Guyana producers to ensure their products meet international standards and be able to distribute it and sell it,” he said.

Ramsaroop related that last year, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, while at the Agro Fest, challenged the producers in all categories to ensure their packaging is up to international standards and to work within the region to put

their products on the shelf.

“Barbados does have a small coconut industry. They have a very strong manufacturing in terms of packaging components and the producer is working to look and see how he can get these materials from Barbados… so, it’s not a one-off, it’s an integration of how maybe ultimately it could be made into a Caribbean product where you know the coconuts and the packaging is in Guyana, but the materials are from Barbados,” Ramsaroop explained.

He added that the distributor is a regional company and that it is exciting that they can come together to work closer.

ers in Regions Three, Four, Six and 10 have successfully cultivated

onions under open field conditions. These Office of the President

photos capture onions under cultivation at NAREI.

Some scenes from Barbados Agro Fest 2023 (Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce photos)

Elderly man nabbed with cannabis

A 65-year-old man was arrested on Sunday after police searched his house at Queenstown village, Essequibo Coast and allegedly found 19.6 grams of cannabis in a bag next to a bed.

Police said in a press release that around 11:30 hours ranks went to the location and informed the elderly man that they were there to conduct a search on his premises for narcotics, to which he did not object.

“During the search, police observed a bag on a barrel next to a bed, and which contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. The 65-year-old man was immediately told of the offence committed, cautioned, and he later admitted ownership of the narcotic,” the police said.

He was then arrested and taken to the Anna Regina Police Station along with the suspected cannabis which was weighed in his presence and amounted to 19.6 grams.

The suspect is presently in custody pending a possession of narcotics charge.

The cannabis that was found in a house in Region Two (Guyana Police Force photo)

Minister Rodrigues attends Guyana’s Republic Day celebration in Washington

ON February 25, Susan Rodrigues, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, attended a celebration for Guyana’s 53rd Republic Anniversary that was held by His Excellency

Samuel Hinds, Guyana’s ambassador to the United States. A large cross-section of the Guyana diaspora, including the ambassador’s wife, Yvonne Hinds, attended the event, which was

held at the Guyana Embassy in Washington, D.C. Minister Rodrigues, in her address on the occasion, updated the diaspora on the transformative plans and projects that are unfolding in

Guyana. The minister emphasised that the administration will continue to govern with inclusion in mind while implementing projects and policies to ensure that prosperity reaches every citizen,

regardless of their location, as she related the messaging of “One Guyana” to the crowd. She later interacted with the staff of the embassy and invitees (Ministry of Housing photos)

QC boy publishes book

QUEEN’S College student Yeshua Hutson, recently published a book entitled, ‘Tales from the Grip’, a mystery/horror book, consisting of several adventure-filled and thrilling short stories.

In an interview with the college’s media club, Lictor Live, Yeshua said that his predilection for reading and writing, as well as his love for the famous Hardy Boys series influenced him to write this genre.

The Grade Eight student also expressed interest in action-packed books and aspires to write this genre in the future, when he is better equipped.

According to Lictor, writing seems to run in the family, as his father, Dr Marcel Hutson (former Chief Education Officer) has already written and

published two books. In this regard, Dr. Hutson offers continual support to his son in his writing endeavours.

Yeshua urged all students to be diligent and to strive to augment their compositional dexterity as this will improve their academic performance as well. He said that the chapter, ‘The Warrior King’, was a school assignment, which he thought was worthy to be included in his book.

“The Queen’s College body is profoundly proud of this young author and urges all avid readers to look out for ‘Tales from the Grip Edition 2’, a continuation to the riveting original. Yeshua is a brilliant student, and we wish him nothing but success in his future endeavours,” Lictor said.

Yeshua Hutson (Photos taken from QC’s Lictor Live Facebook page)

English Racing Tips

Plumpton

09:30 hrs Our Champ

10:00 hrs Shaw’s Cross

10:30 hrs San Pedro

11:00 hrs Sublime

Heights

11:35 hrs Blue Bikini

12:10 hrs Iskar’s D’airy

Wolverhampton

13:30 hrs Precision

Storm

14:00 hrs Sexy Rexy

14:30 hrs Rabaah

15:00 hrs Wreck It

Riley

15:30 hrs Astrophysics

16:00 hrs Global Style

16:30 hrs Johnny Boom

American Racing Tips

Turf Paradise

Race 1 Mean Shawn

Race 2 Lonely Private

Race 3 Katar

Race 4 Uncle Jeff

Race 5 Golden Halo

South Africa Racing Tips

Greyville

08:05 hrs Bay Breeze

O8:45 hrs Winter’s

Destiny

09:20 hrs Feeling

Groovy

09:55 hrs Gimme A

Lullaby

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

19:25 hrs Zooberi (MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2023) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83

GARNETT STREET, CAMPBELLVILLE, GEORGETOWN (TEL: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Chris Gayle-317 (ARG, 2005)

(2) Hashim Amla-208 (Centurion, 2014)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which WI bowler has the best match figures in a Test against SA to date?

(2) Which SA bowler has the best match figures in a Test versus the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue1

Australia clinch sixth T20 World Cup

(ESPNCRICINFO) -

Truth be told, this was a game of high-intensity cricket, fitting of a grand finale. The pressure was immense, and Australia, more skilled and adept at handling big-match temperament -- this was their seventh straight final -- came up trumps to clinch their sixth T20 World Cup title and their third in a row.

If anyone needed

more validation that this is the best women’s cricket team on the planet, it couldn’t have been delivered at a bigger stage. Australia made 156 seem like 180, before their bowlers stood tall in the face of a late assault from Laura Wolvaardt that threatened to take the game away.

South Africa needed 59 off 30 balls, with Wolvaardt pumping a packed Newlands crowd

with some of the most aesthetically-pleasing shots. Then , much to their agony, she swiped across the line to a full delivery from Megan Schutt and was trapped lbw . South African hearts sank, a teary Wolvaardt trudged off slowly, and boisterous applause gave way to stunned silence.

Australia believed and Australia delivered.

For South Africa, it was a case of being so near, yet so far. However, even in defeat, Sune Luus & company had done what no other South African senior team -- men or women -- had done: compete in a world final. This was as bittersweet as it could get.

Dangerous Healy falls early

Four overs in, this seemed a proper arm-wrestle with neither side catching the game by the scruff of its neck. The first signs of drama, that wouldn’t abate for the rest of the evening, came in the fifth over when Alyssa Healy bludgeoned a boundary down the ground, and then saw Marizanne Kapp roar with her wicket to finish the over. That wicket - brought about by spongy bounce

that had Healy slicing an attempted cut to cover - laid down a marker: that hit -the-deck stuff was going to be harder to hit than fuller deliveries. Shabnim Ismail then closed off the first six overs with a maiden to have Australia 36 for 1, their slowest powerplay of the tournament.

Ashleigh Gardner revs up

Sent in ahead of Meg Lanning, Ashleigh Gardner offset any pressure there may have been on Australia with a fierce counterattack. Two back-to-back fours off left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba were followed by backto-back sixes off Nadine de Klerk, shots that were possible courtesy outstanding footwork and a solid hitting base that allowed her to get underneath proper length deliveries. The attack put the pressure right back on South Africa. And just when Australia were beginning to exert their dominance, Chloe Tryon deceived Gardner in flight to have her caught at long-off for a rampaging 21-ball 29. At 82 for 2 in the 12th, Australia were still in control.

The Australian team celebrates after sealing victory • AFP/Getty Images

GCB’s Inter-County four-day cricket…

Anderson shows class with brilliant day-two ton

By Sean Devers

TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-

OLD Kevlon Anderson scored a brilliant century for Berbice on the second day off their GCB Inter-County four-day cricket match against defending champions Demerara at the Providence Stadium yesterday.

The stylish right-hander from Rosehall Town Youth and Sports Club arrived at the crease with his team on 1-1 in reply to Demerara’s 282 and, on a lightning-fast sward, reached the boundary 13 times.

The cultured 106 from 191 balls came from 242 minutes as Berbice ended the day on 312-8 with a lead of 30 going into today’s penultimate day which starts at 09:30hrs.

The former West Indies U-19 batter added 66 for the fifth wicket with Kevin Sinclair, who hit three boundaries in his 23 as the pair rescued Berbice from a precarious position of 47-4.

Anderson added a further 84 with Junior Sinclair who scored an undefeated 84 from 119 balls, in 177 minutes in an innings which included nine fours and four sixes

When Berbice began their run chase in scorching heat, Qumar Torrington struck in the first over when he trapped Adrian Sukwah (1) LBW to leave the score on 1-1.

Anderson , who two weeks ago scored a century in Trinidad’s club cricket, joined Javid Karim who was dismissed for three by Renaldo Ali-Mohammed at 21-2.

Anderson, whose majestic cover drives evoked memories of Carl Hooper, was looking set while Jonathon Foo got going with consecutive boundaries off Torrington.

Anderson gave himself room and cut a short, quick ball from left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd to point boundary.

Foo reached the boundary on two more occasions before he edged Chris Barnwell to second slip on the brink of lunch with score on 47-3

Foo’s 16 came from 21 balls and was decorated with four boundaries.

After the interval, a handful of spectators saw Barnwell trap Anthony Bramble LBW for a duck without addition to the lunch time score.

Junior Sinclair, Looknauth score 50s

SCOREBOARD

Demerara 1st inn O/N 228-9

R Looknauth not out 67

Q Torrington b smith 6

Extras 26 (b-8, lb-6, w-2, w-2, nb-10)

Total 282 for 10 Wkt in 94.5)

Bowling Shepherd 13-6-29-1, Smith 11.5-3-46-2, Joseph 13-2-50-0, Permaul 31- 1258-4,

K Sinclair 17-4-50-2, J Sinclair 9-1-35-1

Berbice 1st inns

J Karim c Nandu b Ali-Mohammed 3

A Sukwah LBW b Torrington

1

K Anderson c Nandu b Sankar

106

J Foo c Persaud b Barnwell

16

A Bramble LBW b Barnwell 0

Kevin Sinclair c Johnson b Looknauth 22

R Shepherd c Wk Imlach b Looknauth 15

Junior Sinclair not out 84

V Permaul c&b Ai Mohammed 25

N Smith not out

15

Extras 25 (b-1, lb-12, nb-12)

Total 312-8 off 83 overs

Bowling Torrington 10-2-32-1, Ali-Mohammed 14-3-63-2

Barnwell 14-2-42-2, Nedd 19-640-0, Sankar

11-0-54-1, Looknauth 15-2-68-2

Kevin Sinclair joined the free-flowing Anderson who executed an array of scintillating shots and the pair engaged in ‘operation rebuild’ as their partnership took shape.

However, off-spinner

Richie Looknauth replaced Nedd as Kevin Sinclair played aggressively and reached the boundary twice in his cameo 22 before he edged Looknauth to skipper

Leon Johnson at slip and Berbice were 113-5

Anderson, who reached his 50 from 76 balls, in107 minutes with eight fours, and West Indies all-rounder

Romario Shepherd (15) took the score to 146 before Looknauth struck again when he induced Shepherd to edge an arm ball to “Keeper” Tevin Imlach.

At tea, Berbice were 1496 with Anderson on 84 and Junior Sinclair on one.

After the break Anderson’s innings continued to flourish while Junior Sinclair’s confidence grew, as his innings progressed as he drove Barnwell confidently to the cover boundary.

Anderson soon reached a well-deserved century from 176 balls, 224 minutes with 13 well -timed boundaries

to stake a strong claim for a seat on the plane to Carnival Country on March 12 for GHE’s third-round game.

But with the partnership on 84 and Anderson on 106 he attempted a slog-sweep of leg-spinner Steven Sankar and was taken at short mid-wicket at 229-7.

Sinclair continued to take the attack to the bowling and along with Permaul, who edged Ali Mohammed through the slip cordon for four while Junior Sinclair slashed Barnwell for four more before Permaul (25) was caught and bowled by Ali-Mohammed

Junior Sinclair reached his 50 from 75 balls, 100 minutes with six fours and three sixes and along with Nial Smith (15*) were the not out batters

Earlier, Demerara had resumed 228-9 and reached 282 before Torrington was LBW to Smith.

Torrington (6) shared in a 54-run last-wicket stand with Looknauth, who clobbered Shamar Joseph for two fours and a six in an over which cost 15 to remain unbeaten on 67 from 83 balls, in 121 minutes with seven fours and three sixes.

Ritchie Looknauth made an unbeaten 67 for Demerara yesterday (Sean Devers photo)

CWI praises ‘competence and hard work’ of Williams

CMC – Cricket West Indies has praised the “competence and hard work” of regional umpire Jacqueline Williams, who on Sunday stood in her first ever International Cricket Council World Cup final Williams was one of the on-field officials for the championship game of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup as Australia beat hosts South Africa by 19 runs at Newlands in Cape Town to claim their sixth T20 title.

The accomplishment followed on the heels of the Jamaican’s 100th international match , coming in Friday’ s semi - final between hosts South Africa and England also at Newlands when she

was one of the on-field umpires.

“Every cricket lover in the West Indies should be very proud of Jacqueline. [Her] 100th match and most importantly, first ever semi-final in an ICC [World Cup event],” said CWI president Ricky Skerritt

“We’ve been very proud of Jacqueline … she’s a pioneer in West Indies women’s umpiring in the sense she’s been the one who’s furthest afield, and she sets a great example in terms of her competence and her hard work.

“And cricket is an industry Cricket is not just about players on the field; it ’ s about all the support

BM SOAT sponsors GMR&SC Starlet Cup...

CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE

ventured into the car-rental business, with leases for corporate clients, small businesses and individuals.

The re - branded BM SOAT / Renegade Fuel Starlet Cup is expected to be one of the feature events of the GMR&SC’s upcoming race meet on March 19

“ Under the Renegade Fuel Brand , we have invested a hefty bit in sponsorship to the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club for which they will re-brand the Starlet Cup as the B M Soat/Renegade Race Fuels Starlet Cup We see this as a large investment in motorsport locally and a chance to give back to the competitors of the Starlet Cup,” BM SOAT Managing Director Rameez Mohamed said.

“We chose the Starlet Class because, over time, we viewed this as one of the most competitive classes in the GMR&SC Circuit race calendar We also notice that it was one of the larger subscribed groups where we feel that the action will keep fans on the edge of their seats.”

With the rebranding, competitors will be paid for every point scored throughout the championship rounds, with cash prizes for the top three overall finishers of that class at the end of the year.

Those competing cars are also expected to wear the B M SOAT/Renegade Race Fuels logo on their car, indicating to the fans and race enthusiasts alike, the group that they are running in Meanwhile , Renegade Racing Fuel , out of the United States of America deals in all brands of fuel, including unleaded, oxygenated, leaded, Ethanol, Power-sport fuels, and Diesel fuel

“Renegade fuel isn’t new on the market here, we have been using it for our circuit race and drag race cars locally for close to a year now, but the brand has gained popularity due to the stability of its octane and its ease to work with when tuning cars,” Mohamed said

Persons desirous of acquiring the brands can contact Daniel Gaffoor at 6615631 or Balram Ramdeo at 608 8617.

staff, all the officials, all the executives behind the curtain so to speak, and she’s a wonderful example again for young people to follow.

“So I extend again my personal and official congratulations on an excellent career so far.”

The 46- year - old Williams stood in her first international four years ago and has made large strides since , logging nine firstclass matches and 19 List A games.

On Sunday, Williams stood alongside Claire Polosak of Australia, while Eloise Sheridan – also from Australia – served as TV umpire.

East Coast and G/Town maintain dominance

FRONT-RUNNERS

East Coast and Georgetown were both involved in fivegoal sprees last Saturday at the National Training Centre, Providence, where they extended their tally to 13 points at the top of the Tiger Rentals under-13 Inter-association development football league.

In the opening encounter of the matchday five’s play, Georgetown brushed aside West Berbice 4-1, thanks to a brace from Enzo Matte who was supported with a goal each from Matheus Ramos and Fabio Kowlesar. Jeremiah Bremmer scored the consolation goal for the losing side.

East Coast then rallied to a 5-0 win against West Demerara. Mark Glasgow and Malaki Washington

both registered braces. Glasgow scored his double in the eighth and 15th minutes, while Washington fired in his two goals in the 20th and 40th minutes.

Kemuel Welcome was not to be left out and he slotted in the fifth goal in the 50th minute

of the clash.

In the third and final game of the day, GFF’s President Wayne Forde’s son; Wayshawn, was on the scoresheet with one goal which helped his side East Bank romp to a 5-1 triumph over East Ber-

bice. Samuel Tashem was the standout player in the win with a couple of goals scored in the 41st and 58th minutes, while Clifton Sampson (6th minute) and Michael Correira (36th minute), added one goal each.

Jamaican umpire Jacqueline Williams.

East Bank goal scorers

P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants to open G.S.S.F.’S shooting calendar

LOCAL sport shooters

will be given an opportunity to participate in a match sponsored annually by P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited. For the eight consecutive year, this match marks the start of the year’s shooting calendar for matches hosted by the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation.

One of the Match Directors, Captain Roul Bhudu of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation, noted that shooters will be competing under two

divisions: Production and Limited. The match will consist of three stages, with each stage being shot five times. Times are recorded and the worst one is discarded, leaving the shooter with four recorded times, the total of which is their score for the stage At the end of the match, the scores are tallied and prizes will be awarded for the top three performers in each division.

Captain Bhudu in his remarks expressed profound thanks on behalf of the GSSF to thank P&P In-

surance Brokers and Consultants Limited for their continued support and dedication to the shooting sport and further opined that “we note proudly that P&P has always provided sponsorship for the first match of the year.”

At the Ceremony at P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd’s office located at Lots 272-273 Lamaha Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Captain Bhudu and Director of the Foundation, Mr. Andrew Phang, met with

representatives of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited for the handover of sponsorship funds and in accepting the kind sponsorship, conveyed thanks to the Executive Director of P&P, Mr. Vikash Panday. The Foundation expresses its thanks once again to Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bishwa Panday and P&P Insurance, who un-hesitatingly came on board to support the sport shooting fraternity for the sixth year.

Back Circle hoist inaugural Rocks Auto Trans Futsal Championship

BACK Circle won the Rocks Auto Trans and Spare Parts ‘ Legendary Cup’ Futsal Championship, defeating highly favoured Bent Street, as curtains came down on the inaugural tournament

The scoreline read 3-1 at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, when things had settled. It was a come-from-behind victory which was experienced by one of the largest ever crowds to descend on the facility. Daniel Wilson handed Bent Street the lead on the stroke of the halftime interval in the 20th minute.

The conversion occurred against the backdrop of the half where both goalkeepers thwarted the efforts of the opposing forwards. However, Wilson uncorked a powerful strike from the right side of the field, which sailed into the roof of the net.

The second period mirrored the first, with both custodians playing vital roles in ensuring that the score remained unchanged. Nevertheless, the venue erupted when the equaliser was fashioned in the 34th minute,

compliments of an Amos Ramsay conversion.

The partisan nature of the crowd was on full display as they swarmed the playing area after Ramsay slotted a first-time left- foot strike from the right side of the field, which struck the lower left upright and settled into the back of the net.

The aforementioned goal sent the contest into extra

time as both teams were unable to create the winner in the dying moments of the 40-minute encounter.

However, another wave of celebration ensued on the playing surface as Ramsay struck once more in the 44th minute, slotting into the left side from the right flank.

The result was then sealed one minute later, this time by Stephon Reynolds, who latched onto a through

pass and poked his effort through the legs of the advancing goalkeeper during a one-on-one situation.

With the win, Back Circle walked away with $500,000, while Bent Street received $250,000. On the individual side, Back Circle’s goalkeeper Azariel Davis was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after only conceding five goals during the entire

competition.

Meanwhile, Sparta Boss defeated Tiger Bay 5-4 in the third-place playoff to pocket $150,000 and the corresponding trophy. On the other hand, Tiger Bay received $100,000 and the fourth-place trophy. Meanwhile, a lucky patron received a motorcycle following the conclusion of the random lottery.

On the individual side, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive one motorcycle. Similarly, a patron will receive one motorcycle on the night of the final.

Caption Selwyn Williams of Back Circle receiving the firstplace prize from tournament

coordinator Wayne ‘Harry’ Griffith

Final

Bent Street-1 vs Back Circle-3

Back Circle scorers

Amos Ramsay-36th and 44th

Stephon Reynolds-45th

Bent Scorer

Daniel Wilson-20th

3rd Place

Sparta Boss-5 vs Tiger Bay-4

Sparta scorers

Pernell Schul -

tz-26th, 29th, and 34th

Darron Niles-30th

Nicholas MacArthur-37th

Tiger Bay scorer

Deon Alfred-32nd, 38th, 39th, and 50th

From right, representative of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd., Senior Account Executive Ms. Bibi Shanaz Haniff hands over sponsorship funds to GSSF Match Director Capt. Roul Bhudu in the presence of GSSF Director Mr. Andrew Phang

Selwyn Williams of Back Circle receives the first- place prize from tournament coordinator Wayne Griffith

Bent Street’s Daniel Wilson tryies to initiate an attacking play against Back Circle

Junior Sinclair, Looknauth score 50s

Junior Sinclair was unbeaten on 84 as Berbice took first lead yesterday at Providence (Sean Devers photo)

Kevlon Anderson square drives for four during his 106 at Providence yesterday Sean Devers photo)