Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 27-03-2024

Guyana, Dominican Republic partnership could strengthen Latin America, Caribbean region

–– President Ali tells first United Caribbean Forum

–– Former US President Clinton offers support to foster further regional integration

Guyana to acquire maritime patrol assets from France

–– French Embassy to be established here to enhance bilateral co-operation

–– as countries look to deepen ties in defence, climate change, food security, infrastructure, technology, tourism

It is ‘a duty’ of the international community to condemn Venezuela’s actions

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Regions Two, Five, Six to benefit from 18 megawatts of solar power –– following signing of US$38M in contracts

Careful, rigid efforts underway to tackle chickenpox outbreak at Lusignan Prison –– Health Ministry confirms; rejects false statements from APNU

Dominican Republic company to collaborate with GPL on service enhancement

President Dr Irfaan Ali, on Monday evening, held bilateral discussions with France’s Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné. The meeting saw the exchange of views on several priority issues engaging the attention of the international community (Office of the President photo)

It is ‘a duty’ of the international community to condemn Venezuela’s actions

–– Attorney-General Nandlall says; reaffirms Guyana’s commitment to peaceful, legal process in resolving border controversy –– US SOUTHCOM reiterates US’ support for Guyana; points to humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, possibility of other distractions ahead of elections there

By Clestine Juan ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Anil Nandlall, S.C., has voiced concern over Venezuela’s persistent disregard for World Court orders and the Argyle Declaration regarding Guyana’s Essequibo territory.

The backdrop to Nandlall’s remarks stems from recent developments in Venezuela, whereby lawmakers allied to President Nicolás Maduro approved the creation of a new state in Guyana’s resource-rich Essequibo region.

Despite ongoing proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Venezuela has attempted to assert itself to lay claim to Guyana’s territory, citing a December referendum as “justification.”

During his address at the 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, the Attorney-General highlighted the gravity of the situation.

“Nearly eight million refugees have fled Venezuela. There is another dimension to Venezuela. Venezuela continues to unlawfully claim two-thirds of the sovereign territory of its western neighbour Guyana,” he said.

The creation of the new state, named “Guayana Esequiba” by Venezuela, adds another layer of complexity to the long-standing territorial controversy. The law establishing the new state delineates its borders, encompassing Guyana’s territory.

Venezuela last year had increased claims to two-thirds of Guyana’s Essequibo re -

gion.

Nandlall expounded on the historical context of the controversy, tracing it back to the Arbitral Award of 1899, which definitively settled the boundary between Venezuela and Guyana.

He noted Venezuela’s acceptance of and adherence to the award for six decades until the early 1960s when Guyana was on the brink of independence.

“Venezuela made the outrageous claims that the Arbitral Award was unlawful,” Nandlall lamented, pointing out Venezuela’s persistent refusal to produce evidence supporting its claims.

He cited international agreements, including one signed in Geneva in 1966, wherein Venezuela agreed

to resolve the controversy through diplomatic channels, ultimately leading to the matter being referred to the ICJ in 2018.

Nandlall pointed out that despite international condemnation and interim measures issued by the ICJ, Venezuela has continued to escalate tensions, including threats of physical invasion and the enactment of laws in its Parliament to annex two-thirds of Guyana’s sovereign territory.

DIPLOMATIC DIALOGUE

The Attorney-General underscored the importance of diplomatic dialogue and adherence to international law in resolving the controversy, referencing the Accord signed by the Presidents of Venezuela and Guyana in December, 2023, brokered by CARICOM and CELAC, which aimed to de-escalate the conflict.

“During all of this, Guyana has emphatically maintained that the matter must be resolved by the ICJ. Further, Guyana has always maintained that diplomacy and dialogue must prevail over threats and confrontation,” he said.

Nandlall urged stakeholders to utilise their platforms to condemn Venezuela’s actions, demand compliance with international law and advocate for peaceful resolution through diplomacy.

“This is not a favour to Guyana, but it is discharging a duty we owe to ourselves and indeed the world, if we are to

be true to the founding principles of this organisation,” he said.

Meanwhile, United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Commander, General Laura Richardson, has reaffirmed unwavering support for Guyana, while closely monitoring the escalating situation.

During a recent interview with the Atlantic Council’s Front Page, General Richardson underscored the importance of supporting Guyana, a strong democracy facing challenges posed by the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

She drew attention to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, with millions fleeing the country in search of necessities such as food and health care.

“Millions of people are

poured out [sic] of that country to try and find a better life, trying to find food and health care. We see that incredible precedent and human migration numbers in our region, and a large part due to what’s happening in Venezuela,” General Richardson said.

Addressing concerns about Venezuela’s military movements towards Guyana’s border, she dismissed the notion of an imminent threat, stating, “No, not that we think [it] is credible.”

However, she pointed to the continuous support and cooperation between the United States and Guyana in bolstering the latter’s defences against any potential aggression.

General Richardson also expressed apprehension about the upcoming elections in Venezuela, scheduled for July 28, as she highlighted President Maduro’s attempts to create a state of emergency, thus possibly extending his grip on power amidst widespread humanitarian crises and democratic challenges.

“What we see President Maduro doing, with elections that are now scheduled for July 28, [he is] trying to create a state of emergency and possibly being able to stay in power and continuing on with that humanitarian crisis [which] has been happening in Venezuela,” General Richardson said.

DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

While acknowledging the complexities of the situation, General Richardson

highlighted the importance of upholding democratic principles and supporting nations such as Guyana in the face of external threats.

“We continue all of our activities or operations activities, and investments with Guyana, that’s very important... We haven’t stopped anything with Guyana. Guyana has a lot of international support. And we have a lot of our allies that also work with Guyana. And so, I think that that’s very important and to show strong support for Guyana in this situation,” Richardson said.

In response to Venezuela’s actions, Guyana has been bolstering its defence and diplomatic efforts with the help of international partners, including the United States, aiming to counter security threats while promoting regional stability.

Despite these preparations, Guyanese officials have reiterated their focus on defence rather than offence.

Against this backdrop, Richardson emphasised the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among allies to ensure stability and security in the region.

“We continue to watch the situation very, very closely. And certainly, I think that in terms of what Venezuela will do, and Maduro will do to try and stay in power. He’ll continue to do those things to be able to remain the president there,” she added.

The substantive case which highlights the historical context and the 1899 Arbitral Award, remains before the World Court.

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C.

General Laura Richardson, Commander of the US Southern Command

Guyana, Dominican Republic partnership could strengthen Latin America, Caribbean region

–– President Ali tells first United Caribbean Forum

–– Former US President Clinton offers support to foster further regional integration

By Naomi Parris

GUYANA’S growing partnership with the Dominican Republic (DR) could foster greater regional integration of the Latin American and Caribbean region, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said.

The Guyanese Head of State, during a panel discussion at the first United Caribbean Forum, held in Georgetown at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Tuesday, said that Guyana, through its partnership with its Latin American counterpart, could narrow the existing gaps in technology, human resources and other sectors.

“We will all agree that we are not where we should be, when you measure us against the global scale; there is definitely a gap in where we are and where the rest of the world is today,” the Head of State said.

While recognising these gaps, Guyana, Dr. Ali said, is positioning itself to build a sustainable future not only for itself but also for the entire region, applying world-class technology, methods and best practices globally, and the DR will be a critical partner in those efforts.

“We see the DR as a

critical partner in bridging the gap, when you speak about tourism, scale and capacity in the private sector, leveraging capital, looking at the value-added industry in food production. We see great synergy in the government and the private sector working together in aligning those synergies and expanding the opportunities,” President Ali said.

Joining the Guyanese President on the panel discussion, Former United States President Bill Clinton pledged support to the two nations to strengthen regional growth and integration.

“This partnership between governments and businesses and NGOs between the Dominican Republic and Guyana, I hope, is the tip of the ice-

berg. I hope it will give new life to CARICOM, and new life to any other organisation that is active here, because you have this amazing opportunity to blend the strength of numbers with the strength of individual gifts,” the former President said. Clinton said he will lend support through his organisation, the Clinton Global Initiative, by way

of providing support to further bridge the existing gaps and create integration among the Americas.

“The Americas need to work more closely together and, in many ways, the smallest countries by population are the most successful where economies of scale are not as important as personal contact and personal responsibility. But it is hard to raise

the capital to take all of the small countries forward together, so you have this dilemma where, in theory, the smallest countries could be the most successful,” he said.

The former US President stressed the need for the Americas to work closely to strengthen partnerships among governments, private sectors, and non-governmental organisations to breathe new life into the region.

The Guyana Dominican Chambers of Commerce here organised the United Caribbean Forum in Georgetown, Guyana.

The forum was intended to unite business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts from across the Caribbean to discuss vital topics that will be key to helping propel Guyana’s development for the future.

The Dominican Republic Ambassador to Guyana Ernesto Torres-Pereyra; US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot; the European Union’s Ambassador to Guyana René van Nes, and the British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller were among members of the diplomatic corps present at the forum.

Key players from the regional energy and private sectors were also present.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali and former US President Bill Clinton were among key panelists at the first United Caribbean Forum held in Georgetown, Guyana (Delano Williams photo)

US: Baltimore bridge collapse sends vehicles tumbling into the water

SIX workers were missing and presumed dead from a bridge that collapsed in Baltimore Harbor early on Tuesday, when a massive cargo ship crippled by a power loss rammed into the structure, forcing closure of one of the busiest ports on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.

The Singapore-flagged container vessel named Dali, heading out of the harbor bound for Sri Lanka, plowed into a sup -

The US Coast Guard and Maryland State Police officials said that based on the frigid temperature of the water, and the length of time that had elapsed since the bridge came down, there was little if any chance that the six missing could be found alive.

port pylon of the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the mouth of the Patapsco River at about 1:30 a.m. (0530 GMT).

A trestled section of the 1.6-mile (2.57 km) span almost immediately crumpled into the icy water, sending vehicles and people into the river.

Rescuers pulled two survivors to safety, one of whom was hospitalised. But active search-andrescue operations were suspended about 18 hours after the tragedy, authorities said.

The eight individuals were part of a work crew filling potholes on the road

surface of the bridge when the accident occurred, officials said earlier.

The ship reported a power failure before impact, which enabled officials to stop traffic on the bridge before the collapse.

“By being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives last night,” Maryland Governor Wes Moore said at a news briefing hours later.

The bridge was up to code, and there were no known structural issues, Moore said. There was no evidence of foul play, officials said. (Reuters)

A view of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, March 26 (REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson)

Guyana to acquire maritime patrol assets from France

–– French Embassy to be established here to enhance bilateral co-operation

as countries look to deepen ties in defence, climate change, food security, infrastructure, technology, tourism

The following is the Joint Communique between Guyana and France on several international matters:

“PRESIDENT Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and His Excellency Stéphane Séjourné, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic met at State House, Georgetown on Monday, March 25, 2024.

“They took the opportunity to exchange views on several priority issues engaging the attention of the international community.

“France and Guyana share the same commitment to democratic values and respect for international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. Both of our countries are fully engaged in peacekeeping initiatives.

“The two countries are keen to strengthen cooperation to ensure the security and stability of the Guiana Shield and combat organized crime in the region. They are also engaged in efforts to tackle climate-related issues

and protect Amazonia, which is a priority for both countries, given their connection to the Amazon region.

“The two countries agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to identify priorities to deepen cooperation in the following areas: Defence, climate change, food security, infrastructure, technology and tourism.

“As part of the ongoing security cooperation, on March 25, 2024 Guyana announced the acquisition of maritime patrol assets from France.

This is a further illustration of the commitment of the two sides to strengthen the bilateral relationship.

“Given the desire to forge closer links as neighbouring countries and friends, Guyana and France have decided to write a new chapter in their history by opening a French Embassy in Georgetown in 2025. France will be the first EU country with this level of diplomatic representation in Guyana.

“Opening a French Em-

bassy will boost the development of cooperation in various sectors, including the economy, in priority areas for Guyana where French companies hold renowned expertise.

“This Embassy will also contribute to strengthening ties between Guyana and French Guiana, as well as French relations with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which is headquartered in Georgetown.

“The Government of Guyana looks forward to the establishment of the Embassy which signals the benefits of the economic transformation being experienced by the nation and the interest of France in developing its relations with the Caribbean region.

“The Government of the French Republic welcomes the opening of this Embassy, which will help strengthen the integration of our overseas territories in the region and illustrates its ambition to consolidate the universal character of its diplomatic network.”

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and Stéphane Séjourné Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic met at State House, Georgetown, on

Cultural Diversity

GUYANA’S cultural diversity was on full display once again as Guyanese by the thousands participated in the Phagwah festival.

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in his Phagwah message said that the immense significance of Phagwah extends beyond religion. It represents the breaking down of cultural and racial barriers into vibrant canvases of colour signifying unity and harmony.

According to President Ali, Phagwah is a celebration of joy, colour and exuberance; it overflows with happiness and camaraderie.

Phagwah is more than a festival. At a more fundamental level it signifies the triumph of good over evil and justice

over injustice. These are values that are universal and embraced by millions of people all across the globe.

In a real sense, it also embodies the spiritual and morality of President Ali’s One Guyana vision, which essentially is characteristic of a society in which there is peace, harmony and respect for each and every individual regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.

This display of oneness and togetherness at the Phagwah celebrations speaks to a society that is evolving into a higher level of multiculturalism and cultural diversity. People from all across the ethnic spectrum participated in the celebrations. It is indeed a joy to watch children of all ethnicities engaging in

the fun and frolic associated with the festival.

This is a welcome and encouraging indication of an increasing level of cultural assimilation which certainly bodes well for our evolving One Guyana as envisaged by President Ali. It is also a clear message to all that any attempt to sow the seeds of division in our society will not be tolerated.

As observed by President Ali, Phagwah holds deep cultural significance for our nation. It is a time when barriers of race, class and creed dissolve in the joyous revelry of colours.

The showering of colourful powders and the sprinkling of liquids not only adds to the merriment, but also serves as

a reminder that in celebrating Phagwah we embrace our shared humanity.

“Let us reaffirm our commitment to building a united Guyana.

Discrimination based on skin colour, hair texture or religion has no place in our society. Let us pledge to create a Guyana where everyone can partake in, and celebrate our collective prosperity and diversity.”

The above are indeed deeply profound and forward-looking thoughts from President Ali, whose vision of a new Guyana in which there is peace, progress and prosperity for all has found resonance with people all across the political and ethnic spectrum in Guyana and beyond.

The Gail Teixeira United Nations moment

LAST week, in an appearance before the UN Human Rights Committee, Minister Gail Teixeira told the gathering; “Voices of a loud, well-financed few cannot determine the fate of a country.”

Because she is a Minister, Ms. Teixeira has to be diplomatic and observe protocol, so she couldn’t get into analysis about the reasons for the motives of this tiny cabal which lacks even a scintilla of support from the Guyanese people.

Before I come to the main argument, a relevant revelation needs mentioning. For 22 months I have been doing an interview programme named the Freddie Kissoon-Gildarie Show. The episode that got the highest number of viewers was the second interview with Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall. The second highest viewership was Charrandass Persaud, last month with numbers hitting the roof. The Stabroek News carries on a campaign against Charrandass and frequently refers to him as a disgrace.

Yet this man had an extremely high viewership. What is this here? It takes the form of a question – who speaks for the Guyanese people? Who do the Guyanese people listen to and admire or respect? If you take the position of the European, UK and American governments on the Gaza tragedy, the bias in favour of Israel borders on barefacedness.

Yet the peoples of Europe, the US and UK do not share the sentiments of their pro-Israel leaders. The Democratic Party of the US has realised this and is now in desperation mode to distance itself from the tragedy to win elections in November. The question is do we know what the people want when we invoke their name?

The anti-oil lobby is a stuck record. But do the Guyanese people listen to them? Do the Guyanese people know who they are and have any respect or even admiration from them? I have been writing about the voices of these wealthy people since the Ali presidency came into being in August 2020.

The activism of these people is shame-

lessly based on class and colour. And their wealth has made them pompous and arrogant that they believe in their superiority with the contemptuous reaction that they must not be criticised. One incident stands out about these wealthy people that needs to be put in perspective.

Mr. Ralph Ramkarran wrote a column in which he took issue with these so-called civil society groups. He made the point that they only focus on issues that have sex appeal (his words) and argued that there are several areas of social anomalies that these groups should spend time and energy on. For penning those words, Mr. Ramkarran said he got a “good cussing up.”

The attitude of these wealthy folks is clear – do not criticise us. For making a valid point, Mr. Ramkarran was verbally abused. I offer you a second example –Article 13, a group that consists of some of the people Minister Teixeira made reference to. This group intervened to stop a column of mine critical of them in the Kaieteur News. Then they published a libelous attack on me in the same newspaper. When I asked a friend of mine, Jonathan Yearwood, who is in the Article’s 13 leadership, how he can approve of such an attack, he said the letter and the decision to publish was the work of two persons only in Article 13.

Minister Teixeira in reference to these people coined the label, “the tyranny of the minority” and it is a graphic description. There are dozens of civil society groups in this country but a small number of these entities behave as if they speak for the entire community of civil society organisations and you have media houses that only give coverage to this minority.

On the question of these wealthy citizens that Minister Teixeira said will not be allowed to determine the fate of Guyana, one has to understand where their small influence lies. It resides in the enormous wealth they have. I can tell you with pellucid forcefulness, there are hundreds, not dozens, but hundreds of wrong-doings in

this country whose victims are from the low-income classes, and they have no money to employ high priced lawyers.

The tyranny of the minority is allowed to exist because they spend their wealth on high-priced lawyers to harass the government. They have been engaged in 15 court cases against the oil industry with lawyers whose collective fees for those cases I have

put at $90 million plus they spent $1.2 million in anti-oil advertisements during the energy conference last month.

The tyranny of the minority is about bourgeois class warfare against the government that is disliked for reasons of class and colour.

Their activism and narratives must be confronted

Regions Two, Five, Six to benefit from 18 megawatts of solar power

— following signing of US$38M in contracts

By Feona Morrison

IN a significant stride towards renewable-energy adoption, the Government of Guyana has sealed contracts worth US$38 million aimed at acquiring 18 megawatts peak (MWp) of solar-power capability.

The contracts were signed on Tuesday at the Prime Minister’s Office, Camp Street, Georgetown. The programme falls under the Guyana Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL), which is being implemented by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to diversify its energy source with solar farms.

The newly signed contracts are set to bolster sustainable energy infrastructure in Regions Two, Five, and Six, marking a pivotal step in the nation's commitment to greener and more efficient energy solutions.

The project, which has a life span of 18 months, is being executed by a joint venture of SUMEC Complete Equipment and Engineering Company Limited and XJ Group Corporation (contractor). It is being funded by the Guyana/ Norway partnership with an estimated investment of US$83.3M. GUYSOL is being administered by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

In explaining the scope of the project, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, said that eight megawatts peak of power will be allocated to Onderneeming and Charity in Region Two,

and 10 megawatts peak to Trafalgar and Prospect in Region Five, and Hampshire in Region Six.

It will see the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) farms and battery storage systems in these areas. Additionally, the procurement of an extra 15 megawatts peak is scheduled for later this year for Linden in Region 10.

“Those are significant additions to electricity-generating capability and they represent a significant step forward in our transition to renewable sources of energy. They represent the single largest installation of solar capability in our country’s history thus far and the single largest investment in energy to date,” Dr Singh said.

According to him, GUYSOL is being financed by the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund, which was founded under the former People's Progressive Party/Civic

(PPP/C) government led by Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.

He said that the fund was designed to receive earnings from Guyana's climate service sales and invest them in the country's low-carbon transition.

When the PPP exited office in 2015, he said the fund had about US$80 million which was earned under the country’s original Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

However, he noted that Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund was derailed by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government, and prevailing political circumstances at that time.

He said the money was earned before the PPP/C left office and “sat at the IDB for five years.” Had the project not been derailed, the Finance Minister pointed out that the money in the fund would have been invested in the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

“We had a reputable international investor in the person of the Blackstone Group, a well-known globally respected institution of investors. We would have today been receiving in excess of 150 megawatts of power from Amaila and supply it to the national grid,” Dr Singh said.

But because the LCDS was an initiative of the PPP government, he said the resources in the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund “were parked and abandoned and left unutilised for five years from 2015 to 2020 [by the APNU+AFC].”

As a result of this, he added: “The people of Guyana were denied additional investments, whether in low-carbon electricity or any other investment in the low-carbon trajectory for the five years that we [PPP] were out of government.”

After returning to office, the PPP/C admnistration immediately unlocked

tors to provide a quality product to the people of Guyana.

GUYSOL will also execute social and development initiatives, including the training of 50 women in solar PV, including solar job and workforce development with a paid eight-month apprenticeship opportunity.

It will also implement two energy-apprenticeship programmes to provide hands-on experience to 20 Guyanese men and women, including those with disabilities.

The specific objectives of the programme, as outlined by the IDB, are to:

the resources in the fund and directed that they be used and invested in projects such as GUYSOL, according to Dr Singh.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips assured citizens that the government will ensure that money from the fund is used to improve the lives of citizens.

AN EXAMPLE

“This is an example of [our] energy transition, where we are moving towards greater use of renewable energy, while at the same time dealing with the issues of the vulnerable in our society as it relates to climate change. If you notice, where the projects are located… these are areas that need energy more than us in Georgetown,” said Phillips.

The Prime Minister said that he is pleased that the initiative includes training for youth and women to manage the solar-power system. The officials urged the contrac-

(i) avoid CO2 emissions with the development of solar PV generation plants; (ii) lower the cost of electricity generation while supporting the country´s transition towards renewable energy-based generation; and (iii) improve the operation and management of the isolated systems of Essequibo and Linden and develop local skills for services related to solar PV generation systems.

Also present at Tuesday’s signing ceremony were Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Chairman of the GPL Board of Directors, Maurice Gajadhar; China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan; Ivan Gaviria, Chief of Operations, IDB Country Office (Guyana); GPL’s Programme Coordinator Amir Dillawar and representatives from the contracting firms.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; and Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh look on as officials signed the contracts (Japheth Savory photos)

Careful, rigid efforts underway to tackle chickenpox outbreak at Lusignan Prison

–– Health Ministry confirms; rejects false statements from APNU

The following is the full text of a statement from the Ministry of Health on the outbreak of chickenpox at the Lusignan prison:

“CONTRARY to a statement issued by the PNC/ APNU, the Ministry of Health and the Prisons Service have been working together to address an outbreak of chickenpox at the Lusignan Prison.

“The MoH rejects totally the assertion by the PNC/ APNU that the MoH and the medical team that work with Prisons Health have not taken adequate actions to combat the chickenpox outbreak in the Lusignan Prison.

“The MoH assures the prisoners, staff members and their family members that all precautions and all necessary actions are being taken to ensure no further spread of chickenpox occurs at the Lusignan prisons.

“The chickenpox outbreak that has affected 53 prisoners likely was started by either a prisoner or staff member or a visitor. The medical and surveillance teams are presently conducting contact tracing to identify the source of the infection.

“From the earliest complaints by prisoners about unusual itching, screening were [sic] conducted by the medical team assigned to the Lusignan Prisons. Once the first cases were diagnosed with chickenpox, care was taken to separate the affected prisoners from the prisoners with no symptoms.

“Those who were diagnosed with chickenpox were treated with medicines (Acylovir and Calamine Lotion). Prisoners and staff were vaccinated with the Varicella-Zoster Virus vaccine. Various measures of sanitisation, sterilisation and other preventive measures

were also implemented.

“The medical team will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that the outbreak is halted. At the moment the outbreak appears to be under control. Measures have been taken also to evaluate staff who might have been exposed. Staff members were also offered vaccination.

“As confirmed in a statement by the Prisons Service, 25 active cases of chickenpox and 28 recovering cases are being treated for chickenpox at the Lusignan Prison.

“Given the outbreak of chickenpox at the Lusignan Prisons, the MoH medical teams are conducting surveillance and screening in other prisons. Advisories have been sent to officers-in-charge of other prisons to be alert to possible outbreaks.

“Outbreaks of chickenpox in prisons settings are not rare and have been commonplace in detention centres across the world. Varicella-Zoster virus is one of the most contagious infections among unvaccinated and non-immune populations. Most adults are immunised through childhood exposure to Varicella-Zoster.

But for those adults who have not been immunized, either through vaccination or through previous infections or exposure, outbreaks in a detention or prison setting is commonplace.

“For this reason, the Prisons Service and the medical team are constantly monitoring for signs of outbreaks.

“It is unfortunate that a major political party can be reckless in creating panic by giving the impression that the outbreak of chickenpox is out of control at the Lusignan Prisons.

“Furthermore, it is insulting to the prison officers and the medical team that the PNC/APNU would denigrate the strenuous efforts by the relevant staff to stem the spread of an infectious disease in the prisons. It is indicative that this political party has nothing of substance to criticise the Prisons Service [for], the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Health.

Far from being uncaring and incompetent, the government and its institutions continue to provide care for those persons in the care of the Prisons Service.”

Dominican Republic company to collaborate with GPL on service enhancement

INTERENERGY, a Dominican Republic power company, will collaborate with the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) to enhance the management of its electricity services.

Chairman of the Regional company, Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster, while addressing a gathering at the first United Caribbean Forum, held here at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Tuesday, said the two entities recently signed an agreement to foster a partnership.

“We are very happy to have signed a Memorandum of Understating (MOU) with the Guyana Power and Light, because we believe we can bring to Guyana

Power and Light some of the knowledge that we have gained over the years, and help them manage their systems; their electric system in a better way,” Gonzalez-Bunster said.

As it is now, GPL is installing additional generation sets to bolster its power-generation capacity.

Back in December, a

vessel arrived in the country containing engines totalling some 28.9 megawatts (MW), along with other critical components for power generation.

These items were procured, as the country has been faced with frequent power outages, which are said to be as a result of the increased demand for power

across the country because of the rapid development taking place here.

In September 2023, GPL had recorded a historic peak in demand amounting to 182 megawatts of power.

In 2022, however, it was noted that based on projections, there was a realisation that demand for power would increase significantly.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez-Bunster lauded the Government of Guyana for its gas-to- energy project, which aims to leverage natural gas resources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower electricity costs, and promote sustainable energy practices.

For more than 30 years, InterEnergy has powered people and cities across the Caribbean and Latin America.

“We have 2.3GW of installed, available and in development capacity, providing reliable, cost-effective and clean energy to the Dominican Republic, Panama, Jamaica, Chile and Uruguay,” the company said.

According Gonzalez-Bunster, InterEnegry is “pushing forward” with ways to integrate its operation more in the region, and has advanced works to innovate and grow with 60 public outlets for fast-charging electric cars, all powered by the sun.

Already, the company has established solar and hydro systems.

InterEnergy’s Chairman Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster

Labour Ministry’s CRMA application process goes digital

–– other modifications to be made this year

THE Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), under the Ministry of Labour, is set to undergo extensive modifications this year.

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton has stated that while the CRMA has upgraded their application process from paper-based to digital, more work needs to be done to ensure better service and user experience for those persons seeking jobs through the job board.

He added that although there is a national job bank, in the individual regions where their offices are located, there must also be a Regional Guyana Job Bank to monitor what is happening in their region with regard to who is seeking employment and the companies in those regions that they can point job seekers to.

In addition to this, it was also revealed that a legislative framework will be set up for the CRMA, so that it can supervise the new employment agencies in Guyana. These agencies would also need to be registered.

The minister said that this will be a form of protection for Guyanese being

Minister Hamilton said: “We have to do some work with it to develop it, because a lot of the features that should be there, we have to have them now included. I want to take it whereby you can have a chatroom where the potential employee and the employer can have conversations.”

employed by these agencies.

Furthermore, Minister Hamilton shared that an app will be launched soon by his ministry to facilitate labour-related complaints. The minister said that this app will be launched within a week or two weeks.

The Labour Department is also developing a labour-force survey apparatus, which will be used to inform government of the potential, new jobs that will come to Guyana, and some that are already here.

Minister Hamilton explained that this will provide a form of guidance for young people entering the employment sector.

He expressed, “What we have now, a lot of young people [are] still going behind

studying (for professions) that are going out of style.”

According to Minister Hamilton, many people don’t ‘study’ or think about what is wanted presently in the job market, adding that the labour force is changing, with unique and more modern jobs becoming available.

The minister highlighted that jobs in logistics, occupational safety and health, among many others, are new skillsets which are required in many jobs today.

To cater to the influx of migrant labourers in Guyana, he stated that the ministry is working with entities to develop a strategy that speaks specifically to the labour force, with discussions for a sort of framework to be developed.

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton

This, he said, will allow for migrant labourers entering Guyana in a controlled way to be a part of our labour force.

More than 6,000 Guyanese have used the CRMA platform to access job listings in both the public and private sectors.

Oil spill legislation on the cards – Dr Jagdeo says

GUYANA is on track to introducing landmark legislation for oil spills, according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.

As the government continues to work on measures to protect Guyana’s ecosystem and its people, Dr. Jagdeo, during a press conference last Thursday, underscored that the PPP administration has practically fulfilled its oil and gas agenda.

He said: “We have fulfilled our policy agenda that we promised for the

oil-and-gas sector. Now, new things may come on stream. So, we are working on legislation for oil spills, that we hope will go to the Parliament before the recess,” that is, before the recess period of August 10 to October 10, 2024.

Dr. Jagdeo said that the government has been looking at this for months, since it is aiming to strengthen the law governing how an oil spill is addressed.

“We will determine responsibilities, both from the State side and from the parties causing the

spill. We will determine liabilities in that: Who would be liable for what? Where? We’d have to have a mechanism that allows us to immediately tackle the consequences of this spill, but also a mechanism that could lead to the resolution of things like compensation, etc.

But often, the oil companies argue if the government comes up with a figure for compensation, then they will argue for a different figure. So, an independent, fair mechanism for all of those things,” he told reporters.

Dr. Jagdeo further noted that as it relates to the Petroleum Commission, this is a work in progress.

Last year, the National Assembly passed the Petroleum Activities Bill 2023 which repealed and

replaced the outdated Petroleum Exploration and Production Act of 1986, thus further positioning the country on the path towards responsible, accountable and modern management of the petro-

leum industry. According to the PPP General Secretary, these measures will “vastly strengthen the institutional framework that we use to monitor the sector.”

Haiti: Escalating violence and economic shocks compound hunger crisis

–– according to FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean

HAITI is in the grip of a worsening humanitarian crisis, with nearly half of the population likely facing acute food insecurity, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) analysis.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warns of dire consequences unless urgent action is taken to address the root causes of this crisis.

Around 4.97 million people are experiencing or will likely experience high levels of acute food insecurity between March and June, 2024.

Of these, 1.64 million people (17 percent of the analysed population) are classified in IPC Phase Four (Emergency), who are mostly concentrated in eight areas, including the Artibonite valley, rural areas of La Grand’Anse, La Gonâve, the transverse part of the West and impoverished neighbourhoods Cité Soleil, Croix de Bouquets and Port-au-Prince.

These figures show a stark deterioration of food security in Haiti, with 532,000 additional people experiencing acute food insecurity compared to previous estimates for the same period.

The hunger crisis is fuelled by a myriad of factors, including escalating armed gang violence, economic shocks, low agricultural yields, below-average rainfall, the lingering impacts of the August 2021 earthquake, along with successive floods and reduced access to humanitarian aid.

Violence perpetrated by armed groups has intensified in recent months, resulting in the internal displacement of approximately 362,000 people, including 50,000 displaced within the last three months, according to the IOM.

This escalation in violence not only disrupts the circulation of goods and restricts access to markets, but also inflates the prices of essential food items in an already fragile context. El Niño has compounded agricultural challenges, particularly affecting crop producers.

Delays in the rainy season and rainfall deficits have significantly impacted the outcome of the 2023 spring season, typically representing half of the national agri-

cultural production.

Heavy rains and severe flooding in mid-November, 2023, have damaged crops, homes and infrastructure.

Local agricultural production deficits and market supply-chain dysfunction have kept food prices high, hindering access to food. In 2023, agricultural production plummeted by around 39 percent for maize, 34 percent for rice and 22 percent for sorghum, compared to the five-year average.

Agriculture stands as a vital lifeline for Haitians, with over 75 percent of the most food-insecure people residing in rural areas. Urgent support is needed to boost agricultural and livestock production, ensuring the availability of and access to food for vulnerable farming families and communities.

The Ministers and Vice-ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean, assembled at the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean, held in the city of Georgetown, Guyana, from 18 to 21 March, addressed Haiti´s situation and included a specific resolution on this topic: “We expressed solidarity with the Republic of Haiti for the deteriorating humanitarian situation that compromises the food security and nutrition, as well as the livelihoods of its population.”

FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mario Lubetkin, said “We are consistent with the countries’ demands regarding the priority we should give to Haiti´s critical situation.”

FAO, with its local offices and teams actively present in the field, continues to closely monitor the situation and deliver essential agricultural support for the upcoming planting seasons.

The FAO is also ready to provide vulnerable populations, both displaced and residents, in urban and peri-urban areas of Port au Prince with critical assistance (i.e. cash transfers along with vegetable seeds and tools), to meet their basic needs and restore their agricultural livelihoods. (FAO)

Nearly half of Haiti’s population is facing acute food insecurity

Guyanese participate in Earth Hour campaign

GUYANESE on Saturday joined with millions of people around the world from 190 countries and territories for the 18th edition of Earth Hour in support and celebration of the planet.

According to a press release, “Earth Hour” invited everyone everywhere to “give an hour for Earth” by finding the most enjoyable ways to give an hour for Earth through the Hour Bank. This new online interactive tool, developed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), saw an incredible total of 1,476,081 hours given to Earth, to which Guyana contributed 580 hours.

The Earth Hour campaign in Guyana encouraged individuals not only to switch off lights symbolically, but also to take 60 minutes to do “good” for the planet, while doing something they love.

This year’s Earth Hour

focused on promoting sustainability while raising awareness about the twin perils facing the Earth: nature loss and climate change.

The Earth Hour celebration activities commenced with the Eco-Explorers Scavenger Hunt, which was organised in collaboration with Policy

Forum Guyana.

Over 80 participants, representing schools, environmental groups, and public-spirited individuals, competed for prizes as they deciphered various clues that tested their knowledge of biodiversity and ecological sustainability.

Following the scav -

(PAC) and Save Soil.

“The exhibition was an enlightening experience that raised awareness of the importance of conservation efforts and the role each entity plays in preserving Guyana’s natural heritage,” WWF said.

The countdown to the lights-out event was held in the Botanical Gardens, which served as a magnificent backdrop for a night dedicated to Guyanese “Giving an Hour for Earth.”

enger hunt, supporters were treated to a nature exhibition that showcased the collaborative efforts of various organisations, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environmental Management Consultants (EMC), local Craft Producers, Hyde Park Zoo, the Protected Areas Commission

The lights-out moment, which usually marks the pinnacle of Earth Hour, saw scores of supporters gathered to witness the symbolic gesture of collective lighting of the ‘60’ emblem. In an atmosphere of unity and reflection, the event was complemented by the melodious sounds of Abel Stokes and the rhythmic harmony of the Buxton

Steel Orchestra.

“As we reflect on the success of this year’s Earth Hour, it’s clear that our collective efforts have not only raised awareness, but have also sparked a bigger interest in the urgent need for a sustainable future.

“Let’s carry this momentum forward, continuing to work together to create a more hopeful and resilient world for generations to come,” WWF-Guianas, Country Manager, Guyana office, Aiesha Williams said.

Local companies played a crucial role in making Earth Hour a success.

These include Logitech Geospatial, Twins Manufacturing Chemists, Darthan Investments, and Cole’s Printing, which made valuable contributions to support Earth Hour.

Guyanese on Saturday joined with millions of people around the world from 190 countries and territories for the 18th edition of Earth Hour in support and celebration of the planet

Motorcyclist dies in accident at Brickdam

POLICE are investigating a fatal accident that occurred around 06:35hrs at the intersection of Brickdam and Brummel Place, Georgetown, on Tuesday.

The accident resulted in the death of 34-yearold motorcyclist Nigel Harvey, of Lot 731 ‘C’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown.

The accident involved a minibus (#BWW 693) owned and driven by Keith Teixeira-Living -

stone, a 70-year-old resident of Lodge Housing Scheme, and motorcycle #CL 8444, owned and driven by Harvey.

According to the police, based on the investigation, the minibus was proceeding north along the western drive lane of Brummel Place, while the motorcycle was proceeding west along the southern drive lane of Brickdam (public road), both approaching the intersection of Brickdam

and Brummel Place.

A traffic light at the intersection was not in working order at the time of the accident. Both drivers failed to stop at the intersection, and a collision occurred where the minibus’ front right collided with the motorcycle’s front left portion.

As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist was flung into the air and fell onto the road surface. The motorcyclist received injuries to the head and

body. He was picked up by EMT personnel in an unconscious condition and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body was later escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Mortuary, where is currently awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The driver of the minibus remains in custody, assisting with the investigation.

driver in custody

Iwokrama advises travellers on use of fire in forested areas

The following is the full text of an advisory from Iwokrama:

“THE extended dry weather has left our forests very parched and easy to catch afire. Already there are forest fires in various regions of the country.

“In light of this, we must be careful not to further contribute to this serious situation which particularly affects our local communities and the tourism sector, through the sometimes thick

smoke from these fires.

“As you enjoy your travels through the Iwokrama Forest Reserve and Rupununi savannahs during this Easter season, please:

“Do not light any fires for camping/cooking close to forested areas or areas with dry bushes or shrubs, since the smallest embers can be carried by the wind to other areas and start fires.

“Extinguish all cigarettes properly and dispose of them in a receptacle in your vehi-

cle; do not throw them into the open.

“Remember to keep all trash in a receptacle in your vehicle and properly dispose of it once permissible.

“Drive slowly and carefully as the road is dry and dusty, thus limiting visibility.

“A gentle reminder that there is no camping, hunting, fishing, logging or mining allowed within the Iwokrama Forest Reserve. Please think about safety first at all times.”

Registration opens for second annual Guyana Hindu Youth Camp

WITH the aim of fostering a deeper connection to dharma among youths while promoting the rich cultural heritage of Sanatan Dharma, members of both the international and local Hindu community have organised a second annual Guyana Hindu Youth Camp.

According to a press release, registration is open for the East Coast Demerara Camp, set for April 2 to 6, 2024, at the Better Hope Mandir.

“The Camp promises a comprehensive experience, seamlessly blending tradition, spirituality, and fun. Participants can expect a diverse range of activities, including prayers, havans, yoga, meditation, insightful talks on social issues affecting youth, engaging in sports, games, arts & crafts, and, as is customary, ProArchers Guyana offering free Archery sessions by internationally certified Coaches,” the release read.

Pandit Youdishtir Lall, an Executive Member of the camp, also extended his heartfelt appreciation to key individuals and the local volunteer team whose dedication has been

instrumental in the success of this initiative. The camp is tailored for youths aged 5-19 and will run from 08:00hrs to 16:30hrs. Each participant will receive a tee-

shirt, a bag with school supplies, snacks, lunch, refreshments, and a certificate of participation from the Guyana Hindu Youth Camp (GHYC) Organisers. For registration and fur-

ther details, interested individuals are encouraged to contact Pt. Youdishtir Lall at +592-627-8985 or Pt. Suresh at +592 695 1200.

The Guyana Hindu Youth Camp is a commu-

nity-driven initiative aimed at fostering a deeper connection to dharma among the youth, while promoting the rich cultural heritage of Sanatan Dharma. Through a variety of activities, the camp seeks to nurture the mind, body, and soul of its participants, offering a holistic approach to spiritual growth and personal development.

With the aim of fostering a deeper connection to dharma among youths while promoting the rich cultural heritage of Sanatan Dharma, members of both the international and local Hindu community have organised the second annual Guyana Hindu Youth Camp

WORLD Bank representatives witness impact of joint education programme

LAST week, World Bank Regional Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Carlos Felipe Jaramillo and Country Director for the Caribbean, Lilia Burunciuc, travelled to Guyana to engage the Government of Guyana on the World Bank programme.

Human capital is one of the pillars of the World Bank programme in Guyana and the World Bank is one of Guyana’s main development partners on the education agenda.

The Vice-President and Director had the opportunity to witness, first-hand, the impact of the joint Government of Guyana/World Bank education programming. The engagement in the education sector covers the entire sector and includes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and the implementation of a new textbook policy.

During the visit, the VicePresident visited Good Hope Secondary School, where he

witnessed the integration of the Electronic Management Information System (EMIS) which connects school administrators with the central ministry, and he interacted with the staff on its use and operation.

The World Bank Team included Mrs. Diletta Doretti, World Bank Resident Representative for Guyana and Suriname, and other staff of the World Bank.

The Ministry of Education’s team was led by Mrs.

Shannille Hoosein- Outar, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, and included Regional Education Officer for Region Four and Staff of the Good Hope Secondary School. Staff of the Ministry of Finance also joined the visit.

The World Bank team journeyed to Region Nine where they were welcomed by the Regional Executive Officer and other staff of the Regional Democratic Council. While in the region, the

team paid a visit to the “Smart Room” at the Arapaima Primary school in Lethem, where they saw how digital platforms are being used to bridge the education gap between coastal and hinterland schools.

The World Bank team also visited the Parishara Nursery School to see the rollout of the renewed nursery curriculum, and how indigenous materials and content are being incorporated into teaching and learning with the renewed

curriculum.

Accompanying the team in the region from the Ministry of Education were Deputy Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Amerindian Hinterland Education Development (AHED) Mr. Marti De Souzal; Chief Planning Officer Ms. Tonnica Archer; Project Coordinators Mr. Rovin Sukhraj, and Mr. Patrick John, and other staff of the Project Implementation Unit. (Ministry of Education)

Last week, World Bank Regional Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Carlos Felipe Jaramillo and Country Director for the Caribbean, Lilia Burunciuc, travelled to Guyana to engage the Government of Guyana on the World Bank programme

Georgia creates history by reaching Euro 2024

GEORGIA created history by reaching their first major tournament with a penalty shootout win over Greece in their Euro 2024 play-off.

Home substitute Nika Kvekveskiri scored the winning penalty, squeezing his effort past the outstretched arm of Greece keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

The 4-2 shootout success, which came after a tight and tense goalless draw, sparked joyous scenes in Tbilisi.

Georgian supporters ran on to the pitch to congratulate their players, having seen the national side, which played its first match in 1990 when still part of the Soviet Union, qualify for a major tournament at the 15th attempt.

Fans climbed on the crossbar of one of the goals and kneeled on the pitch in celebration.

Georgia will join Turkey, Portugal and the Czech Republic in Group F at this summer's finals.

A cagey match, which saw only one shot on target in normal time, eventually burst into life in the extra period.

Greece defender Konstantinos Mavropanos hit the home bar with a powerful header from a corner, but a sloppy pass from the West Ham player seconds later let Georgia in.

Georges Mikautadze raced through before being forced out, wide, but his cutback found Zuriko Davitashvili, whose low shot was well saved by visiting keeper Vlachodimos.

Penalties were needed to separate the teams, and Lech Poznan midfielder Kvekveskiri, 31, converted the de-

cisive one after Greece's Giorgos Giakoumakis put his spot-kick wide.

The Euro 2024 finals will begin on Friday, 14 June, at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

The tournament concludes on Sunday, 14 July, with the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. (BBC Sport)

Bahrain success no fluke, says confident Maloney

MELBOURNE, Australia, (CMC) – Barbadian driver Zane Maloney said his performances since winning in Sakhir was proof his sweep of the Formula Two season-opening events was no “fluke”.

The 20-year-old, who drives for British team Rodin Motorsport, captured the sprint race and the feature race to dominate the opening weekend of the season in Bahrain.

Last weekend here, he made the podium again after finishing third in the feature race, on the heels of a 10th

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place finish in the sprint 24 hours earlier.

“[We’re] satisfied but of course we just need to keep making steps forward,” Maloney said.

“I think we have showed the last three rounds that Bahrain wasn’t a fluke. We have had the pace each round.

“[We had] some problems in qualifying in Jeddah, my going off [last Saturday] and [Sunday] so it’s not the best start to the year but it is very good for sure.

“We just need to keep working on it. I think quali-

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fying from my side is much better than last year. I just need to keep improving that.

“We have always been fast in the race and made good moves so we just need to keep going. Everyone is catching up so we need to keep performing well.”

In the feature race here, Maloney finished behind 19-year-old French-Algerian driver Isack Hadjar who took the chequered flag, while 20-year-old Estonian Paul Aron came in second.

And he was left ruing his luck again last Saturday when a costly error left him

down the field instead of near the podium.

“[Saturday] should have been a podium. From my side I made a big mistake which lost me lots of places,” he pointed out.

“[I am] happy to be back on – bit of a chaotic race. For sure the pace has been good all year so far. I think we have proved that each round. It is cool to have a clean Feature Race.”

Maloney will now turn his attention to the fourth Grand Prix of the season at Imola from May 16-18.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Wednesday March 27, 2024)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Royal Challengers Bangalore & Kolkata Knight Riders

(2) Sourav Ganguly & Rahul Dravid

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who was voted Man of the Match in the first game of IPL 2008?

(2) Who had the best bowling figures in that game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Georgia first tried to qualify for a European Championship when the tournament was hosted by England in 1996

Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early season availability

HARRY Brook will make his competitive comeback by appearing in Yorkshire’s first five games of the county season, with fellow England batter Joe Root joining him for four.

Brook has not played since December, having withdrawn from the Test tour of India and his planned stint at the Indian Premier League following the death of his grandmother Pauline.

Yorkshire had already indicated that the 25-year-old was likely to return early in the Vitality County Championship campaign and, following discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board, have now confirmed his schedule.

Brook is ready to feature for the White Rose throughout April and the beginning of May, starting at home to Leicestershire on April 5 and taking in fixtures against Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Derbyshire and Glamorgan.

Thereafter, he is due to link up with England for their T20 series against Pakistan and June’s T20 World Cup.

After failing to win promotion from Division Two last year, Yorkshire’s chances of making serious waves in the second tier this year are further enhanced by the presence of former Test captain Root.

Having played a full part in the two-month Test tour of India he will miss the curtain-raiser at Headingley but then links up with the side for their next four fixtures, as well as the visit to Northamptonshire on May 24.

Head coach Ottis Gibson, who needs to see some improved results following Darren Gough’s departure as director of cricket, had earlier trailed the pair’s availability, suggesting: “Having those two playing for us would be special.” (Sportsmax)

Harry Brook (left) and Joe Root

Amir reverses Pakistan retirement ahead of World Cup

PAKISTAN bowler Mohammad Amir will miss the start of the season with Derbyshire to return to international cricket.

Amir, 31, had signed to play for Derbyshire for the first half of the Championship season and all the T20 Blast group games.

But he will only be available for six group matches after the T20 World Cup.

It is expected that Amir will now be named in Paki-

stan's squad for a five-match T20 series at home to New Zealand, starting on 18 April.

Left-arm quick Amir last played for his country in 2020, having made 146 appearances across all three formats, but retired saying he was "mentally tortured" by the team management.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Amir said: "I still dream to play for Pakistan. Life brings us to the points where at times

we have to reconsider our decisions.

"There has been a few positive discussions between myself and the PCB [Pakistan Cricket Board] where they respectfully made me feel that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan.

"After discussing with family and well-wishers I declare that I am available to be considered for upcoming T20WC. I want do this for my country as it comes be-

fore my personal decisions.

"Donning the green jersey and serving my country has always been, and will continue to be, my greatest aspirations."

Amir joins all-rounder Imad Wasim in reversing his international retirement ahead of the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies from 1 June.

Derbyshire will now look for an overseas replacement for Amir, with their Champi-

onship campaign set to start on 5 April.

"While this is disappointing on the eve of the season, I respect Mohammad's decision," Derbyshire's head of cricket Mickey Arthur told the club's website.

"Following recent conversations with the Pakistan Cricket Board, I know he had aspirations to return to international cricket if the opportunity would arise."

(BBC Sport)

Board shoots down Wehby resolutions but Shallow remains upbeat

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Cricket West Indies president, Dr Kishore Shallow, said he remained committed to implementing the governance reforms of the Wehby Report, after several resolutions related to the recommendations failed to gain approval at the Annual General Meeting last weekend.

A CWI media release on Tuesday said Shallow put forward “a series of resolutions” at the AGM but some of them “failed to secure the absolute majority threshold required for passage”, despite extensive discussions.“While it is disappointing that some resolutions did not find favour with the majority on this occasion, I remain committed to ensuring that CWI governance structure is always at its most robust,” Shallow said.

“We will return to consultation with our shareholders to sensitize and advocate further for adopting modern corporate best practices.”

After coming to office last year, Shallow reiterated his commitment to delivering the recommendations of the governance report, stating it offered “a roadmap to a more efficient, transparent, and accountable organisation.”

Then, Shallow described a specially convened board meeting to discuss the matter as “an important step” towards the implementation of the reforms.

The 36-page report was prepared by an independent task force led by prominent Jamaican businessman and senator Don Wehby, and included leading regional academic Sir Hilary Beckles, former West Indies vice-captain Deryck Murray, Jamaican businessman O.K Melhado and prominent Kittitian lawyer Charles Wilkin QC.

Among other things, the report recommended a downsizing of the Board of Directors from 18 to 12, a reduction of the board committees from 12 to five and a redefining of the roles of president and vice-president.

Shallow, who replaced Ricky Skerritt as president, said the reforms remained critical to CWI’s governance and stressed that efforts would continue to ensure they were enacted.

“We have engaged in thorough consultations and discussions to formulate these resolutions, all to strengthen the governance structure of CWI,” said Shallow.

“It is imperative that we continue our efforts to enact these reforms for the betterment of West Indies cricket.

“Our effort toward improvement on all fronts continues unabated. We will engage rigorously with our stakeholders, leveraging their insights and expertise to navigate this intricate process while re-examining CWI’s governance structure.”

Mohammad Amir has previously played county cricket for Essex and Gloucestershire

Australia-India five-test blockbuster to start in Perth in

late November

PERTH Stadium has dethroned the Gabba as Australia's preferred first Test venue with the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy to begin in Perth on November 22 this year before the series moves to Adelaide for the day-night Test, Brisbane, Melbourne for Boxing Day and Sydney for the New Year's Test.

Cricket Australia unveiled their international schedule for next summer with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the summer's showpiece event. After Perth, the second Test will be a daynight pink-ball encounter played at Adelaide Oval from December 6-10. The third Test will be in Brisbane from December 14-18. The fourth Test will be at the MCG in the traditional Boxing Day slot on December 26 and the fifth Test will be at the SCG starting January 3.

Australia has an unblemished record at Perth's newest venue having won four out of four Tests there including the first one against India in December 2018, although India went on to claim the series. Perth did not host a Test between Australia and India in the 2020-21 series, which India also won when the final Test was held in Brisbane.

Peter Roach, CA's head of scheduling, said the decision to award Perth the first Test over Brisbane was due to a range of factors with the friendly broadcast timezone for both Australian east coast audiences and India viewers being the final tipping point.

"The clear advice from our national team is that there is a preference to start series strongly at venues where they're really comfortable and Perth and Brisbane they believe are somewhat comparable in terms of the advantage they get out of that," Roach said. "They're the hardest and bounciest pitches in Australia. They also believe that playing day-night Tests in Adelaide is a significant advantage and the stats there are pretty conclusive too.

"So they will look at this schedule and some will say Gabba first would have been better than Perth. Others will say Perth then Gabba. I think that gap has really closed in

recent times and the way our players think about that, and having Adelaide as the daynight Test, they'll be really buoyed about that again. So we're really comfortable that this gives us a great opportunity to compete with a really strong Indian team.

Outgoing WA Cricket CEO Christina Matthews is hopeful of a big crowd in Perth after disappointing attendances in recent years, although her preference was to host the pre-Christmas Test.

"I would be looking at crowds of 30-35,000 on day one [for India]," Matthews told ESPNcricinfo as part of an interview to be published later this week. "Getting a space in the calendar is really important. Our preference is the last Test before Christmas. But if it's the first Test, as we've had [the past two years], if we know that's when it's going to be then it makes it easier for everybody to plan. If we can know if it's the first Test of every summer or the third Test every summer, that's the important thing."

While Australia hopes to maximise their advantage by starting with Perth and Adelaide, a nine-day gap has been scheduled between the first two Tests. It is understood the BCCI are keen to use that period for India's players to get some specific pink-ball practice and options are being explored as to whether some form of match practice will be scheduled. A Prime Minister's XI match in Canberra is on the cards but whether it is before or after the first Test remains to be seen.

BBL window, but availability issues to remain

The decision to start with Perth and then the day-night Test also means there is a clear window for the BBL to begin after December 10, as those matches are played at night while the Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney Tests are played during the day. CA had to halt the BBL for five days early in the season last summer while the Perth Test between Australia and Pakistan was played in late December. Then the Adelaide Test against West Indies was a day game in mid-January

…Australia will also host Pakistan for white-ball cricket in November while schedule has also been drawn up to boost the BBL

before the day-night Test was held in Brisbane after the BBL had been completed.

The BBL will likely start during the three-day break between the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests and will run through until Australia Day on January 26, with Australia's Test players set to be available for a few weeks after the Sydney Test is completed on January 7.

However, Australia have a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka scheduled for late January and early February which could mean some players are withdrawn from the BBL finals as there is a preference for a seven to 10-day buildup for that series to acclimatise to conditions. The dates for the Sri Lanka tour are yet to be announced. Australia's ODI players will likely head straight to the Champions Trophy after the Sri Lanka tour, with the tournament likely to start on February 19.

Pakistan return for whiteball cricket

Australia will host Pakistan in three ODIs and three T20Is in early November before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins. The ODIs will be part of both teams' preparation for the Champions Trophy and is likely to be Australia's last official ODI series before that tournament begins in Pakistan.

The ODI series will start at the MCG on Monday, November 4, the night before the Melbourne Cup public holiday in Victoria. The series will then move to Adelaide on November 8 and finish in Perth on November 10.

The T20I series will run close to the Test series against India and will likely mean that none of Australia's Test players will feature. There is set to be significant turnover in Australia's T20I side by the time the November series starts following the T20 World Cup in June and Australia will likely use the

series to develop younger T20I specialists for future World Cups.

The final match of the series takes place in Hobart on November 18 with the first Test against India starting in Perth just four days later.

There is no men's international match in Canberra next summer although there will be a women's T20I during the multiformat Ashes in the lead-up to a historic daynight four-day Test at the MCG between Australia and England starting on January 30, which will celebrate the 90-year anniversary of women's Test cricket.

Australia Men fixtures for 2024-25 season

ODI Series vs Pakistan

4 November: MCG, Melbourne (D/N)

8 November: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N)

10 November: Perth Stadium, Perth (D/N)

T20I Series vs Pakistan

14 November: The Gabba, Brisbane (N)

16 November: SCG, Sydney (N)

18 November: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (N)

Test Series vs India

22-26 November: Perth Stadium, Perth

6-10 December: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N)

14-18 December: The Gabba, Brisbane

26-30 December: MCG, Melbourne

3-7 January: SCG, Sydney

Australia have a terrific record at Perth Stadium, but all eyes will be on the crowd • (Getty Images)

Rachin, Dube and CSK's quicks dispatch the Titans

…Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube set up CSK's 206 before their five fast bowlers shut down Gujarat Titans' chase

THE new faces of Chennai Super Kings impressed against the team they took down in the IPL 2023 final, signalling that the post-MS Dhoni era could also be filled with lots of success.

Rachin Ravindra (46 off 20), Shivam Dube (51 off 23), Sameer Rizvi (14 off 6) and the captain Ruturaj Gaikwad himself (46 off 36) led them to a total of 206, which proved plenty more than enough for a bowling attack that is also undergoing change.

For the second game running, Chepauk offered no wickets to the home team's spinners. Instead, it was the fast bowlers led by Deepak Chahar (2 for 28) and Tushar Deshpande (2 for 21) who did all the damage. The times, they are a'changin.

( Scores):Chennai Super Kings 206 for 6 (Dube 51, Ravindra 46) beat Gujarat Titans 143 for 8 (Sudharsan 37, Chahar 2-28, Deshpande 2-21) by 63 runs

Rachiiiiin Rachin!

Rachin is a back-foot player. Yet his drives are the best part of his game. They look so natural. Al-

most instinctive. This is basically a result of a switch in mindset, which was very apparent at the ODI World Cup, where he gave himself permission to go hard at the ball. Now watching him, there's almost no bias.

He was straight driving sixes. He was front foot pulling boundaries. He was pouncing on rare short balls from Rashid Khan. This was a batter showing off just how early he was picking length and just how good his hand-eye coordination is.

He was never out of position. He was never rushed. He never even looked like he was trying.

His 46 off 20 balls is already in the Super Kings hall of fame because he hit nine boundaries, the joint-fifth-most by any CSK batter inside the powerplay in all IPL history.

Dube destroys spin

Left-arm spinner Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan were immense in helping Titans shut down Mumbai Indians in their first match of the season. Here they were almost not allowed to finish their full quota of overs.

The first ball of the 11th over resulted in Ajinkya Rahane's wicket with the score on 104 for 2. The second and third

were sent up into orbit by the one of the league's best spin-hitters.

Dube's story might well be the strongest argument in favour of role-clarity in T20 cricket. Here was a power-hitter who had only one fifty from his first 22 IPL innings because teams kept using him as a finisher. He isn't that, because he is still a work in progress against fast bowling.

All the power he had was going to waste, until CSK came calling in 2022 and decided they'd use him against the slower bowlers; against the kind of people he can just plant that front foot down and

use all of his wingspan. Even Rashid wasn't able to keep Dube quiet. That's the quality of his spin-hitting. He has 57 sixes since the switch to yellow and that puts him level with IPL legend Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone, and behind only Jos Buttler (59).

Rizvi rises

At the fall of Dube's wicket, with less than two overs to go, Chepauk might have expected Dhoni to stride out to the middle. The camera certainly did. It kept panning to him in the dressing room.

Instead, it was 20-year old Rizvi who stepped up. And he swept the first ball that he faced in the IPL for six. That it happened to be Rashid bowling and that he hit him for another six - this one a bit of a mis-hit as he charged out of his crease and swung himself almost off his feet - only added to the occasion. If this is the new CSK, there's going to be a few more special years ahead.

Pace, not spin, in Chennai

Deepak Chahar was finding that his slower ball wasn't working tonight; that the pitch in -

stead of offering grip only let it slide onto the bat. But Chepauk didn't totally bail on its team. There was a moment in the third over when a little bit of a low bounce resulted in Shubman GIll's wicket. He was lbw while playing that front-foot pull shot with an angled bat that usually goes to the boundary.

More mischief happened as a team that is not really known for their fielding pulled off three incredible catches - Dhoni diving full length to his right to get rid of Vijay Shankar, Ajinkya Rahane running in from midwicket and diving forward to snap up a David Miller helicopter shot at deep midwicket, and Ravindra gobbling up a skier from Azmatullah Omarzai.

The Titans chase never got going. They had only 34 on the board when their openers fell, 114 when their top-scorer Sai Sudharsan fell, and at 129 for 8 they were even in danger of being bowled out. That didn't happen, but this loss was their worst in terms of runs in the IPL. (Cricinfo).

Atlanta Hawks fight back from 30-point deficit to beat Celtics

THE Atlanta Hawks staged a stunning comeback from 30 points down to beat the NBA-leading Boston Celtics.

Boston led 68-38 with four minutes and 23 seconds to go in the first half.

But De'Andre Hunter led Atlanta's rally with 24 points, including a late three-pointer, as the Hawks toppled the East-

ern Conference leaders 120-118.

"Any time you're down that much you have to have something out of the ordinary to get back in the game," said Hawks coach Quin Snyder.

"And when you have a group of people you know who are behind you thick or thin, rain or shine - and there was a lot of rain early - they were a big part of helping the sun

come out tonight."

Latest NBA results Hunter's three pointer with 10.1 seconds left gave Atlanta a match-winning lead against the Celtics, who have the best record in the NBA with 57 wins and 15 losses and have already secured the Eastern Conference's top seed.

Jayson Tatum scored on a tip-in with 1.2 sec-

onds left for Boston, but the Hawks managed to run out the clock to end the Celtics' nine-game winning streak.

Bogdan Bogdanovic added 22 points for Atlanta, who remain 10th in the East, while Dejounte Murray finished with 19 points, 15 assists and five rebounds.

No team had successfully come back from a 30-point deficit against

the team with the NBA's best record since the Los Angeles Lakers did so against the Dallas Mavericks in December 2002.

It was also the Hawks' biggest comeback win in the play-by-play era, which began in 1997-98.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said his team paid the price for not killing the game off and Atlanta's physicality had caused Boston problems

in the second half.

"It's a good lesson," he said. "Credit to them for battling back. They were extremely physical as soon as the ball got past half-court and I thought that messed up our offence, and they made us work for everything."

The teams will meet again in Atlanta tomorrow. (BBC Sport)

Sameer Rizvi hit his first ball in the IPL for six, off Rashid Khan•BCCI

Shallow lauds strides made as CWI unveils annual report and audited financial statements

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) president Dr. Kishore Shallow lauded the collective strides made by the regional cricket body over the 2022-2023 period, and also expressed delight about the prospects to come from the upcoming ICC Men's Twenty20 (T20) World Cup.

Shallow’s comments followed the unveiling of CWI's Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year 2022-2023, after the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Antigua on Saturday, March 23. CWI recorded revenues of US$62.3 million and net income of US$14.25 million for the year ending September 30, 2023.

“As we look back on the past year, I applaud the tremendous progress we have achieved together. The credit is yours, as through our unified efforts, we have made much progress. I am equally confident that our journey promises even greater re -

wards if we maintain this path," Shallow said.

He also expressed enthusiasm about the T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted in the Caribbean and United States, as he highlighted its potential economic impact of over US$300 million for the Caribbean.

“The excitement around hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 resonates with us at Cricket West Indies. This is a remarkable opportunity for the Caribbean. CWI stands ready and well-positioned to make the region and cricket world proud of a magnificent spectacle in June," Shallow add-

ed. Reflecting on the financial year in review, Chief Financial Officer, Kebra Nanton acknowledged the continued strengthening of CWI’s financial position.

"We are delighted to announce further significant improvements in our financial standing as we continue the transformational change in our organisation. Having successfully reversed the deficit of over US$2 million, which was over US$23 million in 2021, we now record a surplus of US$12 million.

Furthermore, our forecast for the end of 2024 anticipates our surplus exceeding

US$20 million. This achievement lays a solid foundation for our sustainability over the next four years. By fortifying our financial position through increased retained earnings, we have bolstered our ability to navigate future challenges," Nanton declared.

CWI’s financials underwent rigorous auditing by Grant Thornton, Antigua.

The interactive Annual Report also includes sections on Cricket, Fan Engagement, and an Honours List showcasing accomplishments over the year.

(Sportsmax)

One Guyana Basketball League a resounding success- Minister Ramson

MINISTER of Sport

Charles Ramson Jr has dubbed the just concluded One Guyana Basketball League, a success after watching the final match in the league over the weekend at the National Gymnasium.

He said the large crowd that turned out to witness the final is an indication of the growth of the league. This was successful tournament from a player’s standpoint, from a fan standpoint, from a sponsorship standpoint and

of course from a government standpoint.

He said that his ministry saw the vision and worked to realise the league along with the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association and the Guyana Basketball Federation and sponsor, G-boat Guyana.

“This began with the investment; it was important for us to create this facility…. We provided sponsorship and we found a sponsor, that sponsor is G-boat who made a three year commitment for

Deane 5 for 14 inspires Barbados

BASSETERRE, St

Kitts, (CMC) – Teenaged off-spinner Erin Deane produced a magical maiden five-wicket haul to script a stunning come-from-behind win, as Barbados finished an otherwise disappointed Women’s T20 Blaze with a dramatic 13-run victory over arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago.

With T&T cruising at 40 without loss in the seventh over in pursuit of a paltry 97 for victory at Warner Park on Monday night, the 17-year-old Deane intervened with a brilliant spell of five for 14 from her four overs to engineer a collapse which saw the innings fold for 83 at the start of the penultimate over.

LeeAnn Kirby top-

the league.”

Ramson said the sponsor got value for their money, “What I wanted to impress upon sponsors is value for money, they were able to get six months of consistent representation of their brand in the media.”

The minister said that it was the ideal mix of government, private sector and sport association collaboration that bore fruit.

“Sport can’t work well without having that sponsorship and can’t come from

comeback win in

scored with 30 from 32 deliveries while opening partner Djenaba Joseph got 24 from 25 balls, but once they were separated when Kirby was bowled by leg-spinner Keila Elliott (2-16), the innings spiraled quickly.

New-ball speedster Allison Gordon chipped in with two for 16, both wickets coming in in the 13th over when Karishma Ramharack (0) skied to short mid-wicket and was taken by wicketkeeper Kycia Knight running around,

government alone, now we have some new initiatives that we want to make for the New Year but I want congratulate the sponsors of this league.”

“When we meet and do a review with GABA just to get that internal assessment then we are going to do a launch again.” Kitty Campbellville Dynas Ravens emerged victorious in the best of three series 2-1 over Stabroek Eagles who played unbeaten all the way to the final.

The tournament tipped

off in august of 2023 and featured 14 teams competing in the Harpy Eagles and Jaguars conference with all games played at the National Gymnasium on Saturdays.

The tournament saw winner Ravens collecting a million, with half a million for second place.

The league was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, G- boat Guyana and the National Sports Commission.

Women’s T20 Blaze over T&T

and Steffie Soogrim lofted straight and was caught my Trishan Holder running from mid-off.

Earlier, Barbados seemed destined to defeat when they were dismissed for a paltry 96 with a ball left in their innings, in the nightcap contest of the tripleheader.

They were undermined by another five-wicket haul, this time from left-arm spinner Steffie Soogrim who finished with the remarkable figures of five for eight from her four overs.

Barbados were struggling at 16 for three in the fifth over before Kyshona Knight (25) and Aaliyah Alleyne (24) combined in a 42-run, fourth wicket stand to steady the innings.

Once it was broken,

however, when Knight skied off-spinner Ramharack into the deep at the start of the 12th over, the innings entered terminal decline.

In reply, Kirby struck five fours and Joseph, three, as T&T took command of the run chase with a 40-run, opening stand.

Kirby was bowled, giving herself room to force through the off-side and Deane struck in the 10th over with only the second delivery of her spell when she lured captain Britney Cooper from her crease and bowled her for five.

Deane, in her first year at senior level, then turned the game on its head in the 14th over – her third of the innings – when she removed Joseph, Shunelle Sawh (0)

and Samara Ramnath (0).

Joseph missed a cut and was bowled off the first ball of the over and off the very next delivery, Sawh drove loosely to cover to leave Deane on a hat-trick.

While she missed out on the feat, she claimed Ramnath with her fourth delivery, brilliantly taken low down at short mid-wicket of Gordon and wrapped up her five-wicket haul when she got Kirbyina Alexander (1) to edge a cut behind in the 16th over.

The tournament wrapped up Monday with Jamaica playing unbeaten to take the title, completing the double after winning the Super50 Cup earlier this month.

Cricket West Indies President Dr. Kishore Shallow

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jnr

Teenaged off-spinner Erin Deane celebrates her maiden regional domestic five-wicket haul on Monday

Fernandes upbeat about masters’ chances at Indoor Hockey World Cup

...Guyana aiming for semi-final place on debut

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Hockey Board, Phillip Fernandes, is optimistic about the country’s masters team’s chances at the Indoor Hockey World Cup set to bully off tomorrow in Nottingham, England.

‘Preparations have been good; however, we did have some difficulty as Guyana at the moment is lacking good indoor facilities to train indoor hockey players with the ongoing refurbishment of the National Sports Hall.’

Fernandes says they have adjusted to the circumstances and have put in good work as they embark on their debut campaign at the Masters Indoor World Cup.

‘We have good experience , players who know how to play the game, who have been in competition and in [a] competitive environment like this and I expect we will make a good showing. They are varying degrees of optimism; a semi-final berth would be a good success for

us.’

Guyana’s team since landing in London on Monday has had their first scrimmage and warm-up session against a USA over-35 team on Tuesday, as they get accustomed to the conditions.

Guyana is fielding a team in the Over-45 category in the competition organised by the World Masters hockey from March 28 to April 1.

The World Cup features male and female national teams from around the world,

competing in the Over 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 age groups and is the largest ever, with 42 men’s teams and 33 women’s teams.

Guyana will come up against teams from Germany, France, England, Canada, Bangladesh, Australia and Wales.

Guyana will first come up against Canada in their opening match on Thursday, 28th March at 18:00hrs, before taking on England on Friday, and will complete the

pool round against Wales on Saturday.

Guyana has a strong team on paper, boasting four former national captains in Ian Nicholson, Alan and Philip Fernandes along with Devin Munroe

The overseas players are Marc King (Canada), Captain Jerazeno Bell (Jamaica) and goalkeeper Gregory Garraway (Trinidad)

The other members of the team include goalkeeper Azad DeAbreu, Devin Hoop-

er, Chris Low-Koan, Ivor Thompson, Devin Munroe, Dwayne Scott and Alan and Phillip Fernandes, all former national players

The team is being coached by former Canadian International, Jonathan Roberts The Manager is Allan Newark, Assistant Manager Jeremy Roberts and Assistant Coach George Melville.

Guyana Men’s Over45s Indoor hockey team