Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 27-05-2023

to do what is

- President Ali says, highlights critical developments that have been achieved

Region Nine health sector gets timely boost

Support for persons affected by Mahdia fire will be long term

- PM Phillips guarantees; says survivors, families undergoing counselling sessions

Freedom of choice, democracy, free press ‘alive and

well’

- Dr Jagdeo affirms, as Guyana continues to advance as an independent nation

President Ali’s recent visit renewed momentum in Guyana-India relations

- India’s President says in Independence Day message

Mahdia Fire Update: DNA results received; bodies positively identified

‘You can trust us

right’

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, on Saturday, commissioned a new health facility in Region Nine

Scenes from Independence Day activities

[Photos courtesy of Office of the President, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues and Office of the First Lady]

‘You can trust us to do what is right’

ALTHOUGH tragedies can be heartbreaking and devastating to all, they can offer a branch of healing and an opportunity for people to put aside their differences in a time of need.

Also, a nation's true strength becomes apparent in a time of crisis, and having a government that can unite and face these problems alongside its people is essential for the healing to occur.

These remarks were made by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali on the occasion of the country’s 57th Independence Anniversary.

He said that the true character of Guyana is to be found not in the country’s grand achievements, but in the way its people adapt to

challenging circumstances. And it is the government’s mission to understand the fragile mortality of life, in service to humanity and the country.

According to the President: “We [the Government of Guyana] have proven our trustworthiness to this nation. Our track record on how you can trust us as your government, as leaders, is undeniable.”

The Head of State added that the PPP/C administration has constantly fulfilled its commitment to every segment of the Guyanese population.

Highlighting that the government has always been a listening one, that analyses and acts on the peoples’ con-

cerns, the President said:

“Our senior citizens, our children, our farmers, our miners, our mothers, women, all, you have trusted us and we have delivered on that trust. We govern to earn and respect your trust.”

He went on to reflect on some of the government's actions that have shown that it is presenting a platform of trustworthiness and not one of empty promises.

“A more than 60 per cent increase in all these pensions since we took office, the removal of more than 100 taxes, the granting of cash grants, the return of more than 2,000 CSO jobs in our Amerindian communities, the fulfilment of our promise to the upliftment of the lives of

people in health, education, social services. We have committed ourselves to you and we have honoured your trust,” Dr. Ali said.

The Head of State further emphasised that the Indigenous Peoples are now directly benefitting from 15 per-cent of the first-ever user agreement for Guyana's forest carbon credit, which is worth $4.6 billion.

He also said: “You have trusted us with your healthcare and we are delivering new hospit als and health centres, better health services, training of our nurses and the training of our community health officers—we are committed to giving you the best service in health.”

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Touching on the fact that the government is on its way to surpassing its manifesto promise of 20,000 online scholarships, the President remarked that:

“...All of these areas you have entrusted us with your welfare, and we have delivered upon that trust.”

The President then told the nation: “In the sunny days and in the cloudy days, and at this tragic moment in our history you can trust us to do what is right -trust us to have the best interests of the families of these children at the centre of everything we do.”

He was referring to the families of the persons who lost their lives or were injured due to the tragic fire

at the Mahdia Secondary School female dormitory.

Moreover, President Ali acknowledged those athletes who have made Guyana proud with their outstanding performances.

“In this moment of mourning, we appreciate more than ever the importance of celebrating the shining stars within our midst. I take this opportunity to so recognise the many athletes who brought Guyana medals at the South American Games, the CARIFTA Games – our national football team; our national cricket teams and our students – all of whom earned us glory regionally,” he said.

‘letter to Guyana’s children’

gifted life and among you lies the fabric of nationhood.

Children of the future will inherit the pains and sorrows, the wisdom and truth, the honour and dignity and the success that must come with it.

Let not circumstances spoil this inheritance, let not shortterm joy be the replacement for hard work and present not your self-interest at the detriment of the collective. Bind yourselves in a universal whole in which peace, contentment, love, patience and mercy are the flames of your existence.

the understanding that together you will succeed, together you will overcome and together you will inherit this home into your care and safe keeping.

In the meantime, we the custodians of this baton to be passed on to you, pledge to nurture it and create in it opportunities through which all of you will flourish with the realisation of your hopes and aspiration.

bring a heavy burden.

A letter to the children of Guyana from President, Dr. Irfaan Ali:

“ON this the 57th Independence Anniversary of your homeland, you are asked to share the pain, bear the sorrow and shoulder the responsibility of helping each other, supporting each other and uplifting each other.

The 19 souls from different homes, different families and communities banded together in pursuit of their dreams and hopes, shattered by the instant nature of death.

This tragic day must bring all of you closer together in your

schools, value your friendship, share abundantly your love and kindness, shoulder each other’s pains, counsel each other with wisdom and pressure each other only with good thoughts and actions. Learn from mistakes, remember your God and lean on his mercies and favours.

Never forget the fragility of life, open yourself to good counsel, be respectful, pay tribute to your teachers, reach for the most distraught among you and give them your hands of friendship, share from your abundance among those who least have and always remember this is your home in which you were

It is these times of trials and hardship that would test you, your resolve and your sense of purpose. Dig deep and uproot all that strangles you internally and breathe fresh air into your system that the new day brings and

To our children of Mahdia Secondary and the dorms, you must have many thoughts and questions but know that our collective shoulders as a nation are yours. Your sorrow is ours and your pain we share.

The horizon at this hour appears grey and the clouds of rain fill your tears and the songs of the birds, the freshness of the wind, and the existence of life

Of those angels among you we have lost to the gardens of heaven let not their spirit, love and earthly presence be lost. You must now take their dreams, their aspirations and their hope and realise them so that, through each of you, they will live, they will shine and their parents and loved ones will find peace in your successes and your presence. Forget not the beautiful memories, cherish the times you shared, knowing at all times your family is all

of us. All of us belong to one mother- this land - our land, Guyana the free.

Oh motherland guard these your children, strengthen them in your bosom and let them know how worthy they are; strengthen them in their heritage, enrich them with the sunshine and shelter them from the rains. Oh this we ask thee great mother Guyana the free.

God Bless our Motherland! God bless the people of Guyana!

I thank you”.

- President Ali says, highlights critical developments that have been achieved

President Ali’s heartfelt

urges solidarity, empathy in face of tragedy

Shortage of maths, science teachers expected in Jamaica next year

DESPITE measures put in place last summer in response to a massive exodus of teachers, Minister of Education Fayval Williams says she expects that there will be a shortage of educators in the next school year, especially for maths and science classes.

“Of course, there may be gaps as we go into the new school year, in terms of maths teachers, in particular, [and] science teachers; and we are exploring ways in which we can get some remedy towards that,” the minister said on Thursday. She was speaking with the Jamaica Observer on the sidelines of the Ananda alert youth forum held at the Altamont Court Hotel in Kingston.

According to Williams, one way to bridge this gap is to improve technology integration in the classroom.

“Just recently, I was at Jamaica College; I went there to see a ‘demo’ of a system whereby a master science teacher was having a class with some

third-formers on the anatomy of the eye. The teacher is in the virtual space, and students in the classroom, and there was a teacher's aide to facilitate the teacher that is teaching,” she said.

“When I look at that model, we can see how we can couple technology and allow teachers in Kingston to teach students who are in the rural parts. Obviously in a classroom, you still need an adult, but at that point it could be a teacher's aide,” she pointed out.

The education sector has for years been plagued by migration of teachers disillusioned by meagre salaries, under-resourced facilities and increasingly challenging students. Notwithstanding these and other issues the minister is hoping more Jamaicans will choose teaching as a career.

"We need to continue to encourage persons to attend our teachers' colleges and graduate to become teachers. Teaching is still a very noble profession and we will do all that we can to ensure that the

upcoming school year is smooth as we can make it," she said.

"I think we had a very good start to the school year last year, and we are putting out more effort to ensure that our upcoming school year starts out smooth as well," she added.

Among the raft of measures put in place last summer to cauterise the gaps left in the system by the departure of educators was the flexibility to allow teachers to earn income

from other jobs without jeopardising their existing employment status.

"It was allowed for a teacher who is on long leave, whether it's four months or eight months, to be hired back. And so the teacher receives two pays — pay for being on leave and coming back and working and getting paid for that. The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service allowed us to do that to help in the situation," Williams explained.

"There are a num -

ber of other measures that we put out, even to allow teachers who had gone on retirement; teachers who were one or two years out in terms of retirement to allow us to bring those teachers back. Those same measures will be in place," she continued.

The education ministry, she noted, is prepared for any possible teacher shortage at the start of the next school year.

"Every year we have to make preparations for the school year. We understand the global issue with regards to teacher migration and the fact that there are countries that are actively recruiting our teachers here," she said.

Minister Williams said she is also encouraged by the number of

new teachers entering the local system.

"Additionally, what is important is that our teachers' colleges continue to turn out new teachers. Just recently, I was at the Mico University College where there was a full-day session, welcoming all the new teachers who had graduated from all the teachers' colleges – well over 1,000 new teachers," she noted.

(Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica’s Minister of Education Fayval Williams

Unconscionable to politicise grief

IT is an unconscionable act to capitalise on the grief of the Mahdia tragedy for political mileage, and in times of devastation, leaders need to rise above partisan interests and work towards uniting the country, providing solace and hope to those in need. Only through genuine unity and collective resilience can a nation heal and emerge stronger from tragedy

To politicise the grief of those affected by the tragic Mahdia dormitory fire, less than one week after 19 children lost their lives, as many families await the recovery of those who are still hospitalised with injuries, is something along the lines of insanity, since there is a time and place for everything

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton allegedly during an appearance in a media outlet in Trinidad and Tobago tried such Norton , who heads a party that is strongly accused of attempting to rig the 2020 elections as the world watched on in condemnation, is also facing significant backlash from members of the public after he called for the resignation of Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand; Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony and Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill following Monday’s tragic fire at Mahdia

Across social media platforms, members of the public took to the comment

section and called out Norton for these remarks Some persons questioned how such an action would help the situation even as they called Norton out for playing politics with such a delicate situation

In one comment , one person stated , “Why does everything have to be political? These leaders have no dignity and jump at every opportunity to defame the other.”

Nevertheless, the country will overcome this current devastation, as President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that the government will be launching a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate the causes and circumstances of the Mahdia fire

The Head of State said: “We will never forget these children. They will remain in our hearts forever But we will overcome this tragedy Of this, I am confident and even more so because we are a resilient people.” Dr Ali called on the nation to band together, and find comfort in unity

Tragedy strikes deep at the core of a nation, shaking its foundation and leaving its citizens in a state of vulnerability and grief

In such times of immense suffering, it is imperative for political leaders and their supporters to rise above personal agendas and come together in pursuit of national unity

However, regrettably, some leaders and their acolytes succumb to the temptation of

exploiting these tragic events, particularly the deaths of innocent children, as a means to gain political mileage and sow divisions within a nation

Tragedy, especially when it involves the loss of innocent lives, commands reverence and respect The deaths of children represent an exceptional sorrow that touches the hearts of every citizen, irrespective of political affiliations

Exploiting such tragedy for personal or political gains undermines the dignity of these events and tarnishes the memory of those who have perished Political leaders are responsible for demonstrating empathy, compassion, and sensitivity, ensuring that tragedy remains a unifying force rather than a divisive one

By exploiting the deaths of children for political advantage, leaders and their acolytes betray the trust of the people they are meant to serve Citizens look to their leaders for guidance and solace in times of tragedy, seeking reassurance that their nation will emerge stronger and united

When leaders instead use these devastating events as tools to further their own agendas, trust is eroded, and cynicism takes its place The resulting division only compounds the existing pain and hampers genuine healing and reconciliation prospects

Exploiting tragedy in pursuit of political

points inevitably leads to increased societal polarisation and fragmentation By capitalising on the grief and anger of the affected citizens, leaders risk exacerbating existing divisions, pitting one group against another This dangerous path can have far-reaching consequences, undermining social cohesion, and hindering efforts to rebuild and move forward as a united nation Political leaders must resist this temptation and prioritise unity over short-term gains

In times of tragedy , nations require leadership that can bring people together, transcending political boundaries to foster healing and resilience

Instead of seizing these opportunities, leaders who exploit tragedy for personal gains squander valuable chances for national healing and growth By redirecting the focus away from the collective good towards their own interests, they perpetuate the cycle of pain, preventing the affected society from moving towards a shared vision of a better future

Exploiting tragedy , particularly the deaths of children, for political gain is an unethical act that undermines the principles of compassion, unity, and trust Political leaders and their acolytes must recognise such actions’ destructive consequences and prioritise the nation’s well-being over personal ambitions.

Clarifying local content expenditure: There is no discrepancy

Dear Editor, REFERENCE is made to an erroneous article published in the Kaieteur News edition of May 22, 2023, with the caption “huge discrepancy exists between Exxon, Govt., 2022 local content estimates.”

The article cited the government estimates as US$700 million for 2022 and ExxonMobil’s (XOM) estimate as US$400 million for 2022.

However, there is no huge discrepancy

as reported. A simple clarification should have been sought from the Local Content Secretariat to understand the reason for the variance, in keeping with good journalism practices. But unfortunately, this was not done.

The estimate reported by XOM will not correspond with the government's data because XOM only reports on local content spent on procurement for goods and services, including those reported by its tier one contractors.

In accordance with the Local Content Act, local content includes procurement of goods and services, employment of Guyanese workforce and training.

These aspects on employment and training are not captured in the XOM estimate. Nonetheless, the Local Content Secretariat is mandated to measure all forms of local content spend as per the Local Content Act.

The Local Secretariat’s or the government’s estimates also include the local

content spend by other operators and not only XOM, such as CGX and others.

I hope this brings the necessary clarification and that the media house will now issue the necessary apology and correction in keeping with the principles of good journalism practices.

Yours sincerely,

Joel Bhagwandin Public Policy and Financial Analyst

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Freedom of choice, democracy, free press alive and well

GUYANA continues to advance as an independent nation, and this reinforces the necessity for people to maintain the country’s freedom and banish all obstacles that try to hinder its progress as a democratic nation

This was according to the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, during his press conference at Freedom House, on Thursday

Dr Jagdeo said: “If we’re going to live up to the expectations of our ancestors, more so, if we’re going to accomplish our dreams, we have to remain a free country And freedom yes, we won it from colonial rule, but freedom could also be snatched away by our own people, by our own people.”

The General Secretary reflected on how Guyana ’ s democracy was challenged during the 2020 regional and general elections

Dr Jagdeo said that the blatant attempt at rigging the elections frustrated many Guyanese because voting meant more to them than just casting an ‘X.’ He said that voting indicated that the citizens were residing in a free country where their voices mattered

“One single person, the ‘Chief Elections Officer’ invalidated 175,000 votes under some notion that they are not valid after people had gone and voted So, the threat is real and it’s very near to us,” Jagdeo said.

He added: “...every Guyanese, re-

gardless of how you vote, you have to, first of all, cherish your vote; it matters because we fought a huge battle not just for independence, but to have that right and the vote counted and they must commit to exercising that they vote and doing so in a responsible manner.”

As another election cycle approaches , Dr Jagdeo cautioned persons of attempts by known characters to divide the nation using racial tactics

Guyanese should not listen to those who are trying to divide the nation, the General Secretary remarked

He said: “People on this Independence Day too, they should commit that we will banish that sort of behaviour from our country and we will all commit to fighting racism in all

of its manifestations, and those who have benefitted from its propagation because they kept people in silos and ethnic enclaves with a particular voting pattern.”

FREE PRESS

Although a free press is present and thriving in Guyana, Dr Jagdeo said that this must not be manipulated and abused.

According to him : “ You do have some media persons who have no right in calling themselves journalists, whose sole tasks are to do that, [to divide our people rather than bring them together], but we must always defend the free media.”

He further said that Guyana has come a long way in forging a common society, stressing that: “…I want to urge all the young people who are watching here on social media to say go back, read about our history, see how there have been deliberate attempts to divide us

“Look at the road we travel, both political and economic road you travel and then you will understand sometimes that why at the political level or in our economic policy-making, that we avoid certain things and we take certain positions, because they would have a context for you. So, these are some of the things I wanted people to think about as we celebrate independence this year.”

–– Dr Jagdeo affirms, as Guyana continues to advance as an independent nation

PPP/C General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

FAO Investment Centre’s 2022 Annual

Review looks at achievements and priorities

investments rose 22 per cent in year that saw agri-food systems battle multiple shocks

INVESTMENT and finance solutions play a critical role in transforming our agri-food systems, especially at a time when multiple shocks keep pushing more people into hunger and poverty.

This is an area where “the FAO Investment Centre is leading that charge,” QU Dongyu , the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), wrote in the foreword of the 2022 Annual Review of

the Centre, which for nearly 60 years has been helping countries and financing partners make more and better agri-food investments to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition, improve rural livelihoods and protect the environment

“We must act together – and quickly – to tackle these global challenges for a healthier, more sustainable future that leaves no one behind That means transforming the way our agri-food systems work , from how

we produce , supply and consume our food to how we reduce food losses and waste in our landfills Ultimately, the goal is to help countries realise the four betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all,” Qu wrote

According to the review published today, 2022 saw the Centre clock some notable achievements against the backdrop of volatile food, fertiliser and fuel prices, supply chain disruptions,

conflict, the climate crisis, humanitarian emergencies and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

Those include support in the design of 45 public investment projects in 32 countries, worth a total of $8.8 billion in new investments – up 22 percent from the previous year ’ s $ 7.2 billion

They also include investment policy contributions in 65 countries, along with 52 agricultural strategies , 25 sector studies ,

17 policy studies and six policy dialogues, as well as 54 new knowledge products - from a high-profile study on carbon neutrality in agrifood systems to investing in youth in Africa, among others

Of particular note was the first Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum , which was held during the 2022 World Food Forum , and which matched 20 Handin-Hand countries and three regional initiatives with potential investors.

Above all , the Centre entered a transformative period of its own in early 2022 with the launch of its Transformation Plan , the so-called “4+2 solutions,” which seeks to make it even more fit-for-purpose, structured and staffed to respond to the growing and evolving demand from members and investors

This is done by focusing o n four main solutions that support : a ) strategic investment planning and policy, b) public investment , c ) private investment, and d) innovative finance ; along with two companion solutions ( knowledge for investment and capacity development for investment).

INVESTMENT AND FINANCE SOLUTIONS

Since 1964, FAO has helped developing and transition countries invest in agriculture and rural development over the long term to improve the lives and livelihoods of their citizens , especially the rural poor.

The Centre , which acts as a bridge between members and financing partners to scale up agrifood investment for greater impact at country level , leads this work Its partners include the World Bank , the International Fund for Agricultural Development ( IFAD ), regional development banks such as the

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Green Climate Fund and the European Union

“Thanks to our growing team and now five geographic services , we are able to further sharpen our expertise to adapt to global trends and provide more targeted support to countries in each region for greater impact,” FAO Investment Centre Director Mohamed Manssouri said

Looking ahead , the Centre will strengthen collaboration with an even wider group of financing and knowledge partners and explore opportunities to work directly with members and new investors

It will continue to promote strategic collaboration across FAO to deliver investment and finance solutions that promote inclusive economic growth , better diets and nutrition, equity and resilience

That includes expanding FAO’s portfolio of climate-related financing projects to help countries and financiers make good on their climate commitments while also supporting food security through partnerships such as the Global Agriculture Food Security Programme ( GAFSP ). It also includes a greater focus on innovations to crowd more finance in, like blended finance, agri-risk management instruments , impact investing and digital finance

The Centre will continue to add to its body of knowledge products , e - learning courses , trainings and tools to improve the quality and quantity of agri-food investing

The ultimate end goal is for countries to achieve the four betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind (FAO)

The FAO Investment Centre in 2022 helped design 45 public investment projects in 32 countries, worth a total of $8.8 billion in new investments

Thank you for the music, Burt

THE genius composer of pop music, Burt Bacharach died on February 8 this year. At the time, I had parted company with Kaieteur News and was not writing. There is absolutely no way I would have been a columnist and not pen a commentary on this absolute phenomenal maker of popular, romantic music.

I grew up on D’Urban Street in the ward of Wortmanville in South Georgetown, and was saturated with the musical genres of ska; rocky steady; reggae; soul; and rhythm and blues. The domineering voices in that era were Boris Gardener, Ken Lazarus and the Blues Busters from Jamaica. There were Otis Redding, Chuck Jackson, the Drifters, and Ben E. King from the US.

I loved and enjoyed those genres, but I equally gravitated to soft rock and pop classics, the likes of which included Johnny Mathis, Engelbert Humperdinck, Shirley Bassey, the Beatles etc. But

ALFIE

(Dionne Warwick)

most of all, in that category stood the songs of Burt Bacharach.

The arrangements of his songs were unique, and from the time he started in the 1950s to the time he faded in the late 1980s, I still think there is no match from any other composer in the way Bacharach arranged love melodies.

I like philosophically-based love songs, and that is why I find the Beatles inimitable. Bacharach’s romantic ballads were simply breathtaking and phenomenal, but they lacked the philosophical fulcrums that were there in the Beatles and Bob Marley.

Three of the Beatles’ compositions remain outstanding for their philosophical underpinnings: “Eleanor Rigby”, “Nowhere Man”, and “The Fool on the Hill”. In Bob Marley, there is the ultimate composer of songs where the reflections on freedom and justice are intricately outlined.

What’s it all about, Alfie?

Is it just for the moment we live?

What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?

Are we meant to take more than we give?

Or are we meant to be kind?

And if only fools are kind, Alfie

Then I guess it is wise to be cruel

And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie

What will you lend on an old golden rule?

As sure as I believe there’s a heaven above, Alfie

I know there’s something much more

Something even non-believers can believe in

I believe in love, Alfie

Without true love we just exist, Alfie

Once you met someone that you knew that is the one and marriage will take place, the romance in Bacharach will bring you together and keep you together. Neil Diamond preserved the bond between me and my wife, but Bacharach was always there. His songs were absolutely soothing to the soul, and laid the groundwork for the art of loving.

When I met my wife, she was in love with the Bacharach hit, “Alfie”, taken from the Michael Cain movie of the same name. It remains her favourite English language song. It is one of three philosophical ballads that Bacharach composed, the other two being, “Do you know the way to San Jose” and “Love’s still the answer”. I leave you with the lyrics of two of my favourite philosophical songs composed by Burt Bacharach. Thank you for the music, Burt.

Until you find the love you’ve missed, you’re nothing, Alfie

When you walk, let your heart lead the way

And you’ll find love any day, Alfie

Alfie

LOVE’S

STILL THE ANSWER

(Trijntje Oosterhuis)

Not so long ago I would have told you

That the world was round good and Sound

Freedom bound the future was secure

Now I’m not so sure it seems like gravity

Has been reversed and gettin’ worse

Nothing works and everybody hurts

Yes there’s a trail of tears

Down trough the years of broken hearts

It’s still so hard to let the sun shine in

Love’s the answer no matter what

I swear love is it’s still the answer

Just like it always was

Such simple truth love never changes

Or betrays a friend from the start

Love was part of some fantastic plan

Some brotherhood of man

And now it’s down to us

We either shine the light or darkness rule

Our children lose

We’re free to choose our fate

To find our way beyond this veil of tears

The sky is clear an every star

Stands for a heart

That lets the sun shine in

Love’s the answer no matter what

I swear love is it’s still the answer

Just like it always was

Love’s the answer no matter what

I swear love is it’s still the answer

Just like it always was

Mahdia Fire Update: DNA results received; bodies positively identified

THE government has obtained DNA results matching the names of 13 bodies from the Mahdia fire tragedy that were previously not visually identified, the Ministry of Health on Friday confirmed.

Their bodies will now be released to families of the deceased for funeral arrangements. Arrange -

ments have been put in place by the Guyana Police Force for families to take possession of bodies when and where, in accordance with their wishes. The Government of Guyana is providing assistance and support to all families for funerals over the following days.

DNA analyses were conducted on 14 bodies:

13 bodies of girls from the Mahdia fire and one body of a boy child who died in the fire as well.

The samples from the forensic specimens were obtained from 13 bodies by a Specialist Pathologist through a bilateral arrangement between Guyana and Barbados, while another forensic specimen was obtained

from a young boy and was taken by Guyanese Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh. These specimens (obtained) were compared to DNA samples taken from parents and siblings.

The DNA analyses were conducted by the Pathology Laboratory of the internationally-recognised Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City. Dr Carlos Cordon-Cardo, Professor and Systems Chair, and internationally renowned for DNA analyses, led a team of experts in conducting the analyses.

“The Government of Guyana is grateful for the forensic examination and analyses that were done by a pathologist from Barbados, Dr Shubhaker Karra Paul, who came to Guyana under the auspices of the RSS. The government is also grateful to Dr Nehaul Singh for com-

pleting the initial set of post-mortems in Mahdia. The Government of Guyana expresses its gratitude to the Mount Sinai team that has been working with Guyana over the last year. The Mount Sinai team graciously and generously contributed their expertise to complete the DNA analyses in record time. The Government of Guyana is also grateful to the Hess Corporation for providing transportation to air-dash and rapidly transporting the specimens and samples from Georgetown to New York,” the Health Ministry noted in a press statement.

A total of 19 children– 18 girls and one boy-- died in the fire. Several autopsies were completed and one victim, 16-year-old Sabrina John, was laid to rest on Wednesday in her hometown, Karisparu.

‘Development gives us freedom’

- Minister Rodrigues affirms government’s commitment to improving the lives of all citizens

By Indrawattie Natram

RECOGNISING that the human resource of a country is every important, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, has given the assurance that the government will continue to invest in citizens so that they can develop themselves and enjoy a life of freedom.

She was at the time delivering the feature address at a national prayer and remembrance event held in Region Two in memory of the 19 children who tragically lost their lives in the fire at Mahdia.

The event was held at Damon Square in Anna Regina on the eve of Guyana’s 57th Independence Anniversary. This year, the usual flag-raising ceremony was replaced with a special programme, given the recent tragedy.

Minister Rodrigues said that the government recognised that the most precious resource the country has is its citizens, and as such, the necessary investments are being made in the various sectors to develop this resource.

“We have been investing in infrastructure so you can have a country which you are proud of. We have been investing in young people in [terms of] scholarships so that they can pursue their education and accomplish all of their dreams. We have been investing in housing so that people can enjoy the freedom of home ownership,” Rodrigues said.

Rodrigues emphasised that citizens can achieve financial freedom by owning their own homes.

“We believe that for Guyana to be fully developed, we must enhance the lives of all our people and even more so as we celebrate our 57th Independence Anniversary, we have to ask ourselves what makes us truly free. I would urge that all of the things that I highlighted is what make us free. Development is freedom,” the Housing Minister said.

She explained that freedom is when one can have access to a world-class education and health services and is able to live a better life.

She said that the current government is determined to continue development across the entire country.

Rodrigues called on all Guyanese to be united as one as the country heals from the Mahdia tragedy.

According to her, the students who lost their lives in the tragedy made tremendous sacrifices in order to achieve a secondary education. They all came from remote communities in Region Eight and were being housed in the dorm while they attended the Mahdia Secondary School.

The 18 students along with a five-year-old boy died in the fire which was maliciously set; more than a dozen have been hospitalised. While most have been discharged, several remain patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital and are said to be in serious condition.

Minister Rodrigues said that those who died were robbed of the opportunity to live successful lives. It is for this reason, all must be done in their memory to ensure that the young girls who survived the tragedy are able to continue their studies and that all Guyanese have access to education.

“Our mission in government is to ensure that Guyanese from all parts of our country, from every religion and ethnic groups, are given equal opportunities to strive. We want every single Guyanese to dream the biggest dream and to know they can accomplish those dreams in their homeland,” she added.

Rodrigues said that while Guyana is modernising, it is important that Guyanese continue to preserve the morals and sacrifices of the great leaders that fought for Guyana to be free.

She said that currently Guyana is a nation stricken by grief and all Guyanese stand in solidarity with the people of Region Eight and the families of those who perished as Guyana celebrates 57 years of independence.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairperson Vilma De Silva said that the Mahdia tragedy has cast a shadow over the nation.

The region’s Regional Executive Officer, Susannah Saywack, in her remarks called on Guyanese to live in

unity as the country mourns the loss of the children.

She said the programme is a pure expression of overwhelming love and comes after several interfaith services were held across the region.

Saywack emphasised that spiritual healing is important to overcome the tragedy.

The Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force conducted their customary march past just be-

fore the Golden Arrowhead was hoisted to end the programme which also included poems, scripture readings and messages from the three main religions: Hindu, Muslim and Christian.

Those who attended wore black and white, signed a book of condolence and held candles in tribute to the Mahdia victims.

Regional Executive Officer, Susannah Saywack; Minister Susan Rodrigues and Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva hold candles as they joined scores of Region Two residents to remember the victims of the Mahdia tragedy

Women’s Army Corps holds vigil in remembrance of Mahdia victims

Members of the Women's Army Corps (WAC), Thursday evening, paid tribute to the victims of the Mahdia tragedy, with a small candle light vigil. The women assembled at the site set up near the Umana Yana where they prayed for the souls of the 18 teenagers and one boy who perished in the fire which occurred in the wee hours of Monday last.

The members of the Corps join with the many organisations and groups across the country, in extending sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased

Construction of alternative route from Diamond-Good Success enters final phase

- works to commence this week

THE Ministry of Public Works has announced that the construction of the bypass road from Diamond to Good Success, East Bank Demerara (EBD), has entered the final phase, with works scheduled to begin this week.

“This brings the beginning of the rehabilitation of the entire East Bank Highway from Diamond/ Grove to Timehri closer to starting, as this bypass is to facilitate the East Bank traffic while work on the highway is underway,” the Public Works Ministry said.

Regarding the current bypass, the road and bridge works include the widening of community roads and the construction of two reinforced concrete bridges between Diamond and Good Success.

In Diamond, the back

and third streets are being rehabilitated and widened, while in New Grove, First Street is being rehabilitated to link to the Kaneville Main Access Road with the construction of a new bridge.

“Contracts for this final phase of the bypass were awarded in May 2023 and contractors began mobilising,” the Public Works Ministry said.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, during a meeting on Monday, stressed the importance of this roadway to the development of the East Bank Demerara corridor.

“This bypass will provide critical road connectivity, precisely why it is being built, to accommodate road users while we rehabilitate and upgrade the EBD highway. I don’t need to tell

you how critical this is, you already know, and so I urge representatives of the contractors and utility companies to work assiduously to complete the works within the agreed timelines,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, civil works are also ongoing with the installation of streetlights in all three communities and are scheduled to be completed by the end of this week.

STREET-LIGHTS BEING INSTALLED IN GROVE

The relocation of utilities has commenced and will be completed in four weeks’ time. Works are presently ongoing along the Kaneville Main Access Road. While works for GTT and GPL are being undertaken in-house, the GWI works were awarded to Vijay Ramlall.

In relation to the road widening works, contracts were awarded in five lots, and the contractors are currently mobilising for the completion of works in July 2023. These works are being funded by the Government of Guyana at a cost of $554,283,840.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Travel will only be

permitted to cars, SUVs, and buses. No heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will be permitted to use the bypass road. Some HGVs will be required to continue to use the EBD Public Road. In that case, all road users are also urged to follow traffic signages within the proximity of the area, follow des-

ignated pedestrian routes, and obey traffic signals.

“The road users will also be alert and patient as changes are expected in the route. Finally, adhere to posted speed limits and adjust driving speed accordingly when passing through the area,” the Public Works Ministry said.

Scenes from Independence Day...

President Ali’s recent visit renewed momentum in Guyana-India relations

- India’s President says in Independence Day message

PRESIDENT of India, Droupadi Murmu, on Friday, in her Independence Day greetings to the people of Guyana, the government and President Dr. Irfaan Ali, said that the recent visit made by local officials to India provided new momentum in Guyana-India relations.

“The recent visit of Your Excellency to India and other high-level engagements have provided a renewed momentum to India-Guyana relations. I am confident that the deep bonds of friendship between our two countries will be further strengthened and diversified,”

President Murmu stated.

President Ali visited India for seven days in January 2023. Upon returning, he said that working groups had been established and would have

begun work immediately to push the collaborative agenda in several areas discussed during the trip.

“We have already written to the Government of India outlining the working group, the names that we are proposing to be part of that working group following the OAS model with the US and CARICOM,” he said.

President Ali also noted India’s keen interest in investing and working with Guyana in several areas, namely agriculture, technology, security and even on the oil and gas front.

During the seven days, he said he met with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and they discussed cooperation in several areas.

Dr. Ali related that the Prime Minister had shown an interest in visiting Guy-

ana this year to fast-track a lot of the planning in areas they have identified for collaboration.

In addition to this, President Ali said that, in a meeting with Prime Minister Modi, they discussed the shared vision and commitment to various global topics, which include climate change, food security, energy security, human resource development and building out a platform through which they can create a better global environment that supports peace and

development.

He added that in relation to agriculture and food production, that stood as a strong pillar underpinning discussion, as this is a key element of Guyana’s development aspiration and a key element of the leadership that the country is providing in the region.

“There was tremendous interest in having close collaboration between the two governments on research and development, technology transfer, building out of

our agri-food system, the ecosystem surrounding our food production and agriculture, and enhancing the productivity of our agricultural sector,” President Ali said.

Further, the ongoing transformation of Guyana’s healthcare system was also discussed as ways in which India can collaborate with local authorities here, especially as the government intends to push the use of telemedicine here.

Those collaborations would also see training

and advancement of the human-resource pool, such as the nurses and laboratory technicians, among others.

Meanwhile, he mentioned that discussions were also held in relation to the security and defence sector.

India, Dr. Ali related, has a very strong investment in defence technology and, as such, discussions surrounded this along with the training of Guyanese in this field.

He said that the two countries could collaborate in this regard to further the modernisation of the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force in terms of equipment transformation to have a defence capability that functions on an improved technological platform.

Support for persons affected by Mahdia fire will be long term

PRIME Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Friday, said survivors of the recent Mahdia fire and their families are currently undergoing counselling, spearheaded by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

Providing an update on the situation, Prime Minister Phillips pointed out that the therapy is long-term and aims to assist the families with coping.

“We will continue to remain in contact with these families during this difficult time. This counselling is not a short-term or a one-off activity,” the prime minister disclosed.

In addition to the medical and psychosocial interventions facilitated by the government, ministers have been assigned to the grieving families to provide the necessary support.

“We have a list of ministers who are working with each family. As you know, families were brought to

- PM Phillips guarantees; says survivors, families undergoing counselling sessions

Georgetown, along with patients, and the government is funding the upkeep of those families, in terms of allowances; financial assistance for the time that they will be in Georgetown, including accommodation, meals, and transportation to the hospital to see their loved ones,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

Additionally, personal care hampers were distributed to the families in Georgetown as well as those that

remain in their villages.

“We have provided food hampers, not only to the families but to the villages as well. We have had the Civil Defence Commission ferrying food items into Micobie, Karisparu, Chenapou, and El Paso,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that these efforts will be duplicated in other villages in Region Eight that are also affected by the tragedy.

welcomes plans for COI into tragic Mahdia incident

THE Parliamentary Opposition has welcomed plans for the launch of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the tragic fire at the Mahdia Secondary School’s female dormitory, which claimed the lives of 19 children, and injured several others.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced plans to convene an inquiry into the fire during a passionate address at an event in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), to commemorate Guyana’s 57th Independence Anniversary, and pay homage to the lives that were lost.

“This will be done, soonest. The findings of that inquiry will inform the way forward,” the Head of State said, adding: “We will never forget these children; they will remain in our hearts forever, but we will overcome this tragedy. Of this, I am confident, and even more so because we are a resilient people.”

In a press statement on Friday, the Opposition said: “Such a Commission must be independent and comprise persons who have the respect of all stakeholders, so that the findings are credible and acceptable to all. We firmly advocate for the establishment of a Commission that has reputable national and international members.

“We firmly assert that the establishment

of such an inquiry, with agreed terms of reference put together by the Government, Opposition and other relevant stakeholders is essential in the aftermath of the tragic fire at the Mahdia Secondary School’s dormitory. This collaborative effort will ensure a fair and comprehensive investigation.”

The COI, according to the Opposition, must be tasked not only with investigating the specific incident at the Mahdia dormitory, but also with examining all school dormitories across Guyana. The aim is to assess whether proper safety standards are in place to guarantee the safety and well-being of our children.

“It is imperative that the Commission evaluates the structural integrity, fire safety measures, emergency exits, and overall compliance with relevant regulations in these facilities, and to recommend changes where necessary, inter alia.

“We have prepared some draft terms of reference that we are prepared to discuss with all stakeholders. The aim is to foster a transparent, inclusive, and thorough inquiry that upholds the principles of transparency, accountability, justice, prevention, and adequate compensation,” the Opposition said in its statement.

Opposition

- says probe will create an opportunity for comprehensive assessments

Seven homeless after Bushlot fire

SEVEN individuals are homeless following a devastating fire that engulfed two residences in Bushlot, West Coast Berbice, on Thursday night.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Bibi Isahack, a 17-year-old resident, said that the fire started in an unoccupied neighbouring

house, whose owners had been on vacation for about four weeks, before spreading to their property.

Isahack related that neighbours threw objects at their window, alerting her brother, who then woke her and told her to leave the house.

As she made her way

out, Isahack noticed flames through the kitchen window, leading her to believe their house was on fire.

She told the tenants residing in their house downstairs to get out of the house. However, they soon realised that their home was not on fire.

It is alleged that the fire

The aftermath of the fire

truck arrived 45 minutes after being contacted by a neighbour with an inadequate water supply, but by then, the fire had already reached Isahack's back veranda.

“Them (the firefighters) stand up there and watch the fire. They had little bit water,” she said.

According to her, persons allegedly started to “literally beg” to have them use the trench water to out the fire.

“People start beg them, literally beg them to take water from the trench. So they say that they have to set up the pump so two body go

in the trench and dig up the mud and so, and when them man done dig and so to find a way to put the pump, them (the firefighters) say them a get difficulty with the pump,” she alleged.

She said that because the fire truck allegedly had inadequate water, their house was entirely destroyed, along with the neighbouring house.

Isahack and her two brothers and grandmother lived upstairs of the house while they rented the downstairs to three others.

Persons willing to assist the family can contact them at 681-9017.

Five

RESIDENTS of Region

Five are expected to see improved health services, with funds totalling $45.8 million allocated for the rehabilitation of six health centres in the region.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the facilities are: The Woodley Park Health Centre, which is expected to be rehabilitated using a sum of $3.1 million dollars; while the sum of $5.5, million dollars will be used for the rehabilitation of the Bush Lot Heath Centre. The Experiment Health Centre will be transformed to the tune of $13.8 million dollars.

Meanwhile, an additional $10 million will be spent to rehabilitate the Dundee Health Centre and $4.2 million for the Little Biaboo Health Centre, along the East Coast of Berbice.

Still in West Bank Berbice, the Ithaca Health Centre will also be rehabilitated at a sum of $8.9 million dollars. Currently, bids are open for these projects.

In addition, the govern-

ment, through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development allocated some $236.5 million for health sector development in Region Five. This, according to reports is a sign of its commitment to providing improved healthcare infrastructure and services.

Additionally, bids are open for the urgent maintenance of Green Heart Timber Revetment at Number Seven, West Coast Demerara to the tune of over $5 million.

Interested contractors are required to submit bids with a valid Compliance Certificate from the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, and a Compliance Certificate from the General Manager of the National Insurance Scheme.

Moreover, bids must be submitted and deposited at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Ministry of Finance, Main and Urquhart Streets, Georgetown, no later than Friday, June 2, 2023, at 09:00 hrs.

Over $45.8M upgrade scheduled for six health centres in Region

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday May 27, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Faf du Plessis-730 runs (RCB)

(2) Yashasvi Jaiswal-124 (RR vs MI)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who claimed most wickets in the preliminary phase of IPL 2023?

(2) What were the best bowling figures in a single preliminary game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

AMERICAN RACING TIPS

Belmont

Race 1 Talkin Pharoah

Race 2 Dripping Gold

Race 3 Mischevous Angel

Race 4 Smooth Flyin Mike

Race 5 Utilization Rate

Race 6 Colonel Bowman

Race 7 Lady Beth

Race 8 My Friends Beer

Race 9 Danzigwiththestars

Canadian Racing Tips

Woodbine

Race 1 Race For Pinks

Race 2 Hear Me Knocking

Race 3 Egbert j

Race 4 Witch Hazel

Race 5 Lady In Red

Race 6 Souper Sinclair

Race 7 Lois Len

Race 8 Pioneer’s Edge

SOUTH AFRIC A RACING TIPS Greyville

Verstappen fastest in second Monaco practice

RED Bull driver Max Verstappen topped a tight second practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix on Friday afternoon, lapping marginally quicker than Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz –

the latter crashing out in the closing stages.

Given that qualifying – and track position – is so important on the tight and twisty streets of Monte Carlo , FP2 brought plenty of one-lap action,

initially on the medium and hard tyres before a move to the soft compound for the first time this weekend

Having led the way in the early stages of the session with a strong medium - shod lap , Verstappen maintained his P1 spot on softs by pumping in a time of 1m 12.462s, putting him 0.065s clear of Leclerc, with Sainz a few hundredths further back.

However, a promising session for the Scuderia ended on a sour note when Sainz thumped the right-hand side wall at Turn 15, hopped over the kerbs and slid into the barriers on the exit of Turn 16, damaging his car and bringing out the red flags

Fernando Alonso placed fourth in his Aston Martin, but the twotime world champion – eager to turn his run of podiums into a victory this weekend – was left to lament traffic on his soft-tyre runs, radioing his team that rivals’ car positioning left him “speechless”.

After losing the first quarter of the session to set-up changes, Lando Norris put his McLaren an impressive fifth on the timesheets, eclipsing the upgraded Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and the Red Bull of Sergio Perez, who also swore over the radio after encountering slower cars

Valtteri Bottas was the lead Alfa Romeo driver with a solid run to eighth position, while Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon beat Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Mercedes’ George Russell to the final two spots in the top 10.

Zhou Guanyu lapped three-tenths slower than team mate Bottas en route to 13th, followed by Haas pair Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg (the latter bouncing back from his FP1 in-

cident) and the AlphaTauris of Yuki Tsunoda (who picked up a puncture when he clipped the wall at Turn 10) and Nyck de Vries

Oscar Piastri had a quiet session in his McLaren, posting a time some eight - tenths slower than Norris , while Williams drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant brought up the rear – Albon only hitting the track for the final 10 minutes after his FP1 crash forced mechanics to fit a new gearbox, front wing, rear wing, floor and front-left suspension

Max Verstappen

Gill’s century puts Gujarat into IPL final

(ESPNCRICINFO) -

Shubman Gill's majestic 129 off 60 balls powered Gujarat Titans into the final of IPL 2023 with a 62-run win over Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad.

Titans will face Chennai Super Kings at this very

No team had chased down this many in the IPL. And then Mumbai lost two early wickets. But they didn't go down without a fight. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma took them to 72 in six overs before Rashid Khan castled the lat-

no loss after five.

Gill then latched onto Chris Jordan in the last over of the powerplay. The second legal delivery of the over was too short and sat up on this sticky pitch. Gill waited for it and pulled it with disdain over deep

him stumped with a leg-side wide. It was the sixth time in 16 innings this season that Chawla struck in his first over of the match.

Gill brought up his fifty off 32 balls. And then he

cut loose. In a space of nine balls, he hit five sixes and a four off Madhwal and Chawla. He didn't slow down even in the 90s; his second fifty took just 17 balls.

Immediately after

reaching his hundred, he smashed Cameron Green for 6, 4 and 6. By the time Gill holed out to deep midwicket, off Madhwal, Titans had reached 192 in the 17th over.

ground on Sunday in a bid to defend their title.

Earlier, rain delayed the match by 30 minutes. With the weather around, Rohit Sharma opted to chase after winning the toss. Titans didn't have a great start, but Gill's knock lifted them to a mammoth 233 for 3.

This was Gill's third hundred in four matches; only Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler (four each) have scored more in a single edition of the IPL. The knock took Gill's run tally to 851. Once again, only Kohli (973 in 2016) and Buttler (863 in 2022) have had more productive seasons.

ter. From there on, Suryakumar kept them in the contest almost singlehandedly with his 61 off 38. But Mohit Sharma uprooted his leg stump when the batter missed a scoop. In the next over, Rashid trapped Tim David lbw to end Mumbai's hopes.

Mohit, who hadn't bowled till the 14th over, used his slower balls to good effect and finished with figures of 2.2-0-10-5.

UNSTOPPABLE GILL

Despite scoring at least one four in every over from the second to fifth, Titans reached only 38 for

square leg. The next one was slightly short outside off. Gill once again showed no mercy and cut it ferociously to the cover boundary.

Luck too was on Gill's side. In the same Jordan over, he punched one uppishly to the right of midon where Tim David dived, got both hands to the ball but couldn't hold on to it. He was on 30 at that point.

Titans finished the powerplay on 50 for no loss but Wriddhiman Saha was struggling for timing. In the fourth over of the innings, Akash Madhwal had hit him on the helmet with a skiddy bouncer, and soon after Piyush Chawla had

Shubman Gill earned praise from everybody, including the opposition captain Rohit Sharma•BCCI

Cricket gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana…

More cash support secured

Denanauti Singh, also known as Booman Singh, is the latest sponsor to provide cash support of $20,000 towards the Project Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana.

The project is a joint initiative between Guyanese, Anil Beharry, and Kishan Das of the USA.

Singh said that he is a keen follower of this kind gesture, hence his support and that he is also impressed with the level of transparen-

cy and the wide reach across the length and breadth of Guyana.

The organisers of the project are very grateful for this and other assistance so far and promised to continue to enhance the careers of our young cricketers and at the same time to keep them away from the ills of society.

Total cricket-related items received/ purchased so far are $350,000 in cash, thirteen colored cricket uniforms, two trophies, seventeen pairs

of cricket boots, thirty pairs of batting pads, thirty- one cricket bats, twenty-eight pairs of batting gloves, twenty-one thigh pads, three pairs of wicketkeeping pads, four arm guards, two boxes, nine cricket bags, six bat rubbers and six helmets. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicketkeeper/ batsman.

To date, fifty-three young players from all three counties of

Guyana have benefitted from three junior gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, twenty-one bats, two boxes, four helmets, twenty pairs of cricket shoes, thirteen pairs of batting pads, two thigh pads, one bat rubber and nineteen pairs of batting gloves.

In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefitted from two used bats.

The Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and The Cotton Tree Die Hard also received

one box of red cricket balls each;Cold Fusion Cricket Club thirteen color uniforms while RHCCCC received fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicketkeeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board also benefitted along with the Town of Lethem and youth coach, Travis Persaud with one box of red balls.

Cricket-related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost

to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify talent. Progressive and well managed cricket clubs with a youth programme will also benefit.

Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896

Sammy says doubts about him are nothing new

CMC – Newly appointed West Indies white-ball head coach, Daren Sammy, said he was under no illusions about the enormity of the task ahead of him in the role and being a former captain of the team during a turbulent period may be a blessing.

The former West Indies captain, 39, is preparing for his first tours of duty with the One-day International (ODI) squad under the leadership of Barbadian wicketkeeper-batsman, Shai Hope; a series of three ODIs against the United Arab Emirates next month in Sharjah, and the critical World Cup qualification tournament that follows in Zimbabwe.

With his limited coaching background on the international stage, and the lack of top certification, Sammy’s credentials appear not to make him the ideal man for the job, but he said there were similar sentiments when he was appointed West Indies captain almost 15 years ago,

and the results can now speak for themselves.

“I approach this role the same way like I did back in 2010 when I took on the captaincy role,” he said during a virtual news conference on Friday, his first since being appointed to the role.

“The first thing I did was to get down on my knees and start praying for divine intervention – the wisdom needed for this role, the patience needed, and the vision to achieve the things that will make the fans and those who follow us proud.”

He said: “I understand the challenges that come with this role, but in doing so, it’s not something that scares me. I am quite excited about the challenges because of what I see we have and understanding the task at hand. I think that’s the most important thing for me, and it’s not just about playing cricket, it’s just how I live.

“Once I understand what the job requires, then

I could now focus on the things that I have to do and block out the noise because I’ve had to do that throughout my playing career – block out the noise – but, yes, I see a similar pattern, and it’s something

and 2017.

He captained the Caribbean side in 30 Tests, 51 ODIs, and 47 T20Is, including two T20 World Cup-winning teams in 2012 and 2016, and he has coached in the Caribbean

qualifications at the highest level, but he said opportunities fell to him because of the success he had during his playing career as a leader of men.

The St Lucia-born former West Indies all-rounder disclosed he already had a Level 2 coaching certification, which he completed when he was a part of the MCC Young Cricketers in England before his international career took root, and he has started the work to obtain his further credentials.

He said what knowledge he may not have through formal coaching certification, he had obtained through practical playing experience, and he was now looking to shape the Caribbean side into a formidable fighting force.

the challenges ahead of me.

“But I also believe that the impact and effect that I could have with this generation right now, I will not let because I don’t have a certificate stop me from taking on the challenges that I know that I am equipped to handle.”

Preparing for the forthcoming tours, Sammy said he already had discussions with Hope and trying to get a sense of what they hoped to achieve over the next few months on the road.

“We have spoken about the basic stuff about the identity of our game, what identity we want to give to our cricket,” he said.

for which I think I’m even more prepared.”

Sammy comes into the role after playing for West Indies in 38 Tests, 126 ODIs, and 68 Twenty20 Internationals between 2004

Premier League and Pakistan Super League since packing it in.

Sammy said coaching was not something to which he aspired, so he never pursued formal

“It was not something I aspired to do during my playing days… but I’m a work-in-progress,” he said. “I will not sit down here and tell you all is OK. I am aware of those things (being said), and I understand

“Hearing from him, having taken over, and him being probably the leading batter for our group now as captain, what is his experience in the dressing room, some of the things where we could improve. It’s been about him being in the system and just getting to know how he thinks.”

Newly appointed West Indies white-ball head coach Daren Sammy

Matches carded for today, tomorrow at NIS ground

THE 2023 edition of the ExxonMobil U-14 Boys’ and Girls’ U-14 Schools Football competition will continue today and tomorrow at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) ground on Carifesta Avenue from 11:00hrs.

In today’s girls’ fixture, East Riumveldt Secondary will battle Dora Secondary while Vergenoegen Second-

ary and New Campbellville Secondary are also slated to clash.

Cummings Lodge Secondary and St Cuthbert’s Mission are set to clash along with West Riumveldt Secondary and President’s College.

New Central High School will play West Minster Secondary, Ann’s Grove Secondary takes on New

Amsterdam Secondary, Waramuri Top Primary opposes St Stanislaus College, and Marian Academy engages Institute of Academic Excellence.

Charlestown Secondary and Tucville Secondary also have a match-up on the cards as do Bartica Secondary and Mackenzie High School.

For the boys’ side of

things, President’s College has a battle with Institute of Academic Excellence as does Dolphin Secondary and New Campbellville, Marian Academy and Hope Secondary and New Central High School and Christ Church.

Annandale Secondary have to face Fort Wellington on the day with Charity opposing Bush Lot, Carmel Secondary taking on New

Amsterdam Secondary and Mackenzie High School playing St Cuthbert’s Mission.

Christianburg/Wismar Secondary are set to do battle against Queenstown while Ann’s Grove Secondary battles Dora Secondary, Charlestown Secondary opposes Westminster Secondary and West Ruimveldt Secondary play at Patentia.

Bartica Secondary goes up against Vergenoegen Secondary on the day as does Waramuri Top Primary versus Cummings Lodge Secondary, East Riumveldt Secondary against St Stanislaus College and Chase Academy taking on North Riumveldt Secondary. Matches in both classes are also scheduled for tomorrow.

Junior boxing tourney set for tomorrow at Six Head gym

THE annual Caribbean School Boys and Junior Championship is penciled for August and, to this end, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will resume its monthly under-16 preparatory competition from tomorrow at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis gym, Albouystown from 13:00hrs.

Technical Director of the GBA, Terrence Poole, who is part of the technical committee that orchestrates

the logistical elements of the event, stated, “This is once again another event of the twice a month under-16 school boys and junior competition. The reason we are conducting these tournaments is that they serve as the primary preparation for the Caribbean School Boys Championship which is to be hosted in August.”

He further shared, “We are doing all this as part of our preparation to identify

West Indies A vs Bangladesh A

our best fighters. That is why we are having the event so frequently so that we can provide competition to the boxers. It’s very important for us to have this type of competition so that they will be ready for the Caribbean tournament. Registration of fighters and the competing gyms will occur on Sunday from 10am. The medical assessments will also occur during that time.”

Meanwhile, President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle said, “Our under-16 championship is the backbone of Guyana’s boxing, continued and sustained dominance in

the English-speaking Caribbean. This event, which is married to our historic weekend training camps, forms the bedrock of our developmental thrust and streamlines and strengthens our transitionary protocols for the discipline which has seen evidentiary success.”

He further said, “Our emphasis will always be on our youth programmes, which have continued to form the architecture of the association’s developmental agenda. From infancy to the professional ranks, this age group remains a vital component of ensuring strategic

King, Da Silva and Jordan help windies win

CMC – A half-century from Brandon King, and an enterprising unbroken partnership between their captain, Joshua Da Silva and all-rounder Akeem Jordan enabled West Indies “A” to overcome a crisis of confidence and land a three-wicket win against hosts Bangladesh “A” in the second “Test” on Friday.

King hit the top score of 54, but the Caribbean side needed an unbroken eighth wicket of 41 between Da Silva and Jordan to take them past a victory target of 190 in their second innings on the final day of the fourday, first-class match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Da Silva was not out on

47 for the second time in the match, Jordan was not out on 22, and the visitors got that same score from opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and left-hander Raymon Reifer to seal the deal and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

This unfolded after Kevin Sinclair took two of the last four Bangladeshi wickets to end with five for 79 from 26 overs, and the home team were bowled out for 297 in their second innings in the first half-hour of play.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles off-spinner ended with match figures of seven for 123 to earn the Player-of-theMatch award, and speedster

Jair McAllister aided with the demolition of the Bangladesh “A” lower order to

finish with two for 42 from 10.4 overs after the home team started the day on 274 for six.

West Indies “A” then stumbled to 70 for five with left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam and off-spinner Saif Hassan carving up their top order, but Da Silva came to the crease and put them firmly on course to win with a stand of 76 for the sixth wicket with King.

The two scored at a shade over five runs an over, and King confidently brought up his 50 from 70 balls with a languid lofted drive off Tanvir over long-off for one of his two sixes.

His 1-3/4 hours stay at the crease also yielded half-dozen fours from 78 balls before Tanvir got him

caught at silly mid-off from the bat and pad, playing defensively forward, and the same bowler got Sinclair three balls later caught behind for four.

West Indies “A” still needed 40, and Jordan came out and again gave further proof of his ability with the bat, slamming two fours and one six to hasten the visitors to the finish line over the next seven overs with Da Silva.

Tanvir was the pick of the Bangladesh “A” bowlers, taking four for 52 from 13 overs, and Saif bagged two for 24 from six overs.

The final match in the series starts next Tuesday at the same venue, where the first match ended in a draw last Friday.

and evolutionary continuity for our emerging talents and rising stars. The importance of this initiative cannot be understated.”

Conducted twice on a monthly basis, the U-16 championships serve as the primary preparatory apparatus of the association for the prestigious Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Competition.

In 2022, approximately 16 editions were conducted by the GBA. The entity is programmed to smash that number during the current calendar year. The resumption of the monthly pro -

gramme also aligns with the GBA’s ongoing weekly training procedure for U-16 and Senior pugilists at the same facility.

The aforesaid stratagem, which serves primarily as a high-performance structure to better equip pugilists for the rigors of international competition, is supervised and administered by the technical and experienced trident of national coach, Lennox Daniels, Technical Director, Terrence Poole, and Cuban coach Francisco Roldan.

2-51, 3-107, 4-175, 5-180, 6-209, 7-287, 8-292, 9-297. Bowling: Jordan 14-2-38-2; Reifer 9-1-48-1 (nb3); Phillip 8-0-49-0; McAllister 10.4-1-42-2 (w1); Sinclair 26-7-79-5; McKenzie 2-0-15-0; Athanaze 3-0-11-0.

WEST INDIES “A” 2nd Innings

ExxonMobil U-14 Schools Football tournament…