Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 28-02-2023

(Team Mohamed’s

Squatting stymies progress at Amelia’s Ward housing scheme

CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Sherwyn Greaves on Monday conducted a site visit to the agency’s housing scheme at Amelia’s Ward – Phase Four, Linden, Region 10, where infrastructural works are ongoing.

Some 400 Lindeners were allocated lands by CH&PA at the scheme as the agency de-

livers on its mandate to make homeownership accessible to all Guyanese. Additionally, over $300 million was set aside for infrastructural works to ensure that allottees can live in wholesome communities.

Contractors have been working to clear the land for the construction of access roads; however, the emergence of new structures by squatters continues to stymie

this development and affect the ability of legitimate land owners to begin construction of homes for their families. The agency has since reminded persons that squatting is illegal and to desist from erecting structures in the area. During the visit, the CEO was accompanied by the Regional Housing Officer, engineers and other technical staff attached to CH&PA.

17 acres of land set aside for construction of houses in Region One

THE government has set aside some 17 acres of land in Mabaruma, Region One, for the construction of houses targeting young professionals there.

This was announced recently by Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, who said that the initiative is part of the government’s turnkey programme which aims to provide Guyanese with access to affordable housing.

“Many of the young people and many of the persons who are working within the mainstream of the Region can pay for a house through the banking system. We will start that this year,” he said.

He added that other major infrastructural projects are catered for in the recently passed 2023 budget.

Additionally, under the Hinterland Housing Programme, 100 houses will be constructed targeting vulnerable families from 10 communities across Region One.

Minister Croal said the homes will be constructed free of cost and beneficiaries will only be required

The government has set aside some 17 acres of land in Mabaruma, Region One, for the construction of houses targeting young professionals in the area

to provide some of the labour during the construction phase.

“Here within the Mabaruma Sub-Region, we have three communities that have been identified and I can name one tonight, for example we have started the process in Smith Creek because we need to rectify that area,” he informed the residents.

In December last year,

31 persons who were allocated lands at Kokerital Hill received their Certificates of Title after several years of waiting. These initiatives are a part of the government’s plan to guarantee an equitable opportunity for hinterland residents. Similar initiatives are underway in Bartica, Region Seven, and Lethem, Region Nine.

The emergence of new structures by squatters continues to stymie development and affect the ability of legitimate land owners to begin construction of homes at Amelia’s Ward

A major economic shift for Region Three

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday described the Vreeden-Hoop shorebase facility as representing a major shift in terms of economic activities for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), as he took a tour of works ongoing on the artificial island in the Demerara River.

The Head of State engaged workers and congratulated them on being part of this historic facility that will mean a lot not only for Region Three, but also for the country as a whole.

“You are working on the first offshore manmade island. That is something historic, that is something to be proud of. That is an experience and opportunity that I know many people would love to get. I am happy that all of you are part of this transformation and historic moment in our country,” the President said.

He further said: “You must be proud to know that what you are doing here is going to be part of something that will bring benefits to persons, create employment, help in reducing costs, and bringing in income for the country. I want to congratulate you and thank you for the good work you are doing.”

Work on the facility began last June with construction moving slightly ahead of schedule on Phase One, which involves land reclamation for the artificial island. This new island is part of the reclaimed land

that will be transformed into the estimated 44-acre mega project to create the shorebase facility.

The work commenced after the company, Vreeden-Hoop Shorebase Inc., signed a US$300 million agreement with ExxonMobil Guyana to provide shore-based services to the oil company, over the next 20 years, on the development of its Yellowtail well and future projects.

The Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase is a sub-project of a larger port facility that includes the oil-andgas shore base section, as well as a commercial port for shipping purposes. When completed, the facility will not only service the oil-and-gas sector, but will also cater to all sectors that require a port facility.

Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc. is 85 percent owned by NRG Holdings Inc., which is a 100 per cent Guyanese-owned company.

NRG was birthed out of a consortium between Nicholas Boyer of National Hardware Guyana Limited, Andron Alphonso from ZRN and Azruddin Mohamed of Hadi’s

World.

The other 15 per cent of Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc is owned by Belgium company, Jan De Nul, an international maritime infrastructure company headquartered in Luxembourg. Phase One of the artificial island is scheduled to be completed by December 2023.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali interacting with some of the persons working on the Vreed-en-Hoop shorebase facility (Team Mohamed’s photo)

President, Dr Irfaan Ali being shown a blueprint of the Vreed-en-Hoop shorebase facility (Team Mohamed’s photo)

–– President Ali says as work continues on Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase’s mega facility

Trinidadian company to repay $6.1M for equipment undelivered under APNU+AFC

HIGH Court Judge, Gino Persaud, has ordered Trinidadian company, Davis Ecolife Limited to repay the $6,159, 325 deposit it received from the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) in 2019 for the supply of two prefabricated enclosures to house ICT hubs.

According to a release from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Justice Persaud, on February 2, 2023, granted judgement against the company in an application brought by the NDMA through the Chambers.

NDMA is a body corporate established under

the National Data Management Authority Act Cap. 27:13, Laws of Guyana and is responsible for data processing and information systems in the public sector.

Davis Ecolife Ltd, is the sole distributor and creators of the Eco Pod building system which combines energy-efficient building systems with solar technology to offer one complete product.

The AG’s Chambers explained that, on Novem-

ber 30, 2018, the National Procurement Tender Administration granted its approval for the contract provision of two Eco Pods for NDMA to be awarded to Davis Ecolife Ltd. for the tendered/corrected sum of US$66,941.

On December 4, 2018, NDMA executed a written agreement with Davis Ecolife Ltd at an agreed price of US$66,941 for the supply of two prefabricated enclosures (Eco Pods) to house ICT hubs to be installed at two sites identified by NDMA.

A deposit of US$28,449.54 which is equivalent to GYD$6,159,325 was paid to Davis Ecolife Ltd. by

way of wire transfer.

According to the AG’s Chambers, the said agreement had a completion date of January 25, 2019. However, Davis Ecolife Ltd. failed and/or neglected to perform the contract in accordance with the agreed date.

This resulted in a Fixed Date Application being filed which sought several reliefs including a declaration that the Trinidadian company breached the contract and damages in excess of $100,000 for same.

Additionally, the state was seeking restitution of the money from the company, constituting an advance payment made by the claimant for which there was no work done.

“The Trinidadian Company failed to file an Affidavit in Defence to the Application and failed to attend court on two occasions. The court, therefore, granted judgement in the sum of $6,159,325.00 and costs in the sum of $500,000 in favour of NDMA” the statement said.

NDMA was represented by Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., and Teakaram Singh, State Counsel. Davis Eco Life Ltd was initially represented by attorney-at-law, Javed Shadick and thereafter by Marissa Nadir. Both attorneys withdrew their appearances in the matter.

US$15M ‘Aiden Hotel’ on course for January 2024 completion

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday visited the site of the US$15 million Aiden Hotel at Oronoque and Robb Streets, where works are ongoing, and are set to be completed by January 2024.

President Ali was given a tour of the hotel and said he plans on visiting the hotel when it is near completion in November. Construction of the facility began in March 2021.

The hotel will feature 101 “smart rooms” and it is a boutique-styled hotel under the Best Western Hotel and Resorts franchise.

A smart-hotel room is one outfitted with electronic devices and household appliances which are powered by Internet connectivity.

Best Western is a hotel chain that originated in the USA, and subsequently spread around the world. The company has over 4,200 hotels worldwide, each one independently owned and run.

The hotel will be developed by Arimu Investments Inc., which is a Guyanese company with investments in mining, real estate, and business.

The directors of Arimu Investments Inc. and developers of the Aiden Hotel are Geraldo and Lorenzo Alphonso.

Geraldo in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, in March 2021, had said that Guyana will experience a demand for accommodation amid a rapidly growing economy.

“The Arimu Investment Company is actually named after a tributary of the Mighty Cuyuni River in Region Seven; it is a gold-and-diamondrich area for a number of

years. We know about the area through our gold-mining exploits, and that’s why we came up with the name,”

Alphonso said, noting that the company is 100 per cent Guyanese-owned.

Arimu Investments Inc. has acquired the franchises for both “Sure Stay Plus and Aiden”, two franchised hotels, all under Best Western.

The Aiden Hotel, he said, is a trendy collection of laidback boutique hotels that blends cool, casual charm with an eclectic neighbourly feel.

“No two hotels are alike, with each designed to reflect the unique personality of each community and country they serve. Guests would discover local flair and imaginative design, with Aiden as their welcoming and stylish host,” the businessman said.

He related that the Aiden being developed by Arimu Investments Inc. would be the 12th in existence worldwide; the first to be completed in South America; the only one in the Caribbean, and Guyana’s

first franchised boutique hotel.

The “Aiden Midtown Georgetown,” will be nine storeys high, with a 74,000 square-foot modern building.

Amenities, Alphonso said, will include conference rooms, an English restaurant, and bar, coffee shop, gym and sauna area, executive boardrooms and a terrace bar.

The main feature of the facility, he said, would be the rooftop bar and lounge that will be encased in glass to give patrons an exclusive dining experience.

This, Alphonso said, will feature “nothing less than international furnishings, lights, sounds and designs; it would be the first bar in Guyana to feature a humidor with a collection of world-renowned cigars.

The invisible-styled rails and barriers concept would give a feeling of dining with the stars, and a sight second to none.”

When completed and up and running, 50 Guyanese will be hired as hotel staff.

Works ongoing at the Aiden Hotel

President, Dr Irfaan Ali visiting the site on Monday

The Time is Now

IN a February 16, 2023 article headlined, ‘Guyana slams American Airlines over poor treatment of CARICOM prime ministers’, the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) reported that Guyana had “criticised American Airlines for continuing to pay scant regard to its requests after two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) prime ministers became the latest high-level officials to fall victim to the airline’s policy”.

The ministry had said in a statement that day that the airline had “refused to allow Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley and his St. Vincent and the Grenadines colleague, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves to check in through the VIP Lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA)”.

Noting that it was “not taking any blame for the undignified treatment of the visiting Caribbean leaders,” the ministry said that “based on previous similar experience with American Airlines, the carrier had been asked formally to accord the necessary treatment to the two leaders, but to no avail.”

The ministry pointed out

that “all government protocols were in place to facilitate the two leaders’ departure [but] despite American Airlines having been written to prior to the arrival of the prime ministers in Guyana, for them to be accorded the courtesies of check in on departure from the VIP Lounge, the airline refused to acquiesce to the ministry’s request, and insisted that the prime ministers leave the lounge to present themselves to the check-in counter.”

It indicated that the “Guyana government intends to formally communicate its displeasure of this most recent action by the airline that has caused embarrassment not only nationally, but also to our regional friends.”

The ministry said it “sincerely regretted the inconvenience” caused to the two visiting prime ministers, who were travelling to Miami, en route to The Bahamas for the 44th Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit in Nassau.

It also recalled that the Guyana government “had previously protested against this position taken by American Airlines against its own high

and senior government officials, but without success.”

The statement concluded by accusing the airline of “continuing to pay scant regard to the Government’s requests for entitlements to the positions held, to be respected.”

American Airlines responded four days later, on February 20, by way of a letter of apology from Robert A. Wirick, its Managing Director for International Government Affairs.

The letter states: “On behalf of American Airlines, please accept my sincerest apology for not proactively approving the request for expedited treatment, and the inconvenience caused during your departure from Guyana’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

“We sincerely regret that we fell short of your expectations while travelling from Guyana to Miami to connect on a flight to The Bahamas for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit. American Airlines greatly treasures the relationship with you and the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We will strive to ensure that all of your future travels on our airline are pleasant and exceed your

expectations.

“American Airlines prides itself on delivering a high level of respect and service that our customers deserve. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.”

Diplomatic niceties aside, this response will have been heard by many as not sounding at all regretful, only saying “sorry”, and promising to make Dr. Gonsalves’ future trips on AA more enjoyable, as if the complaint was about the flight, and not the disrespectful diplomatic faux pas that preceded it.

The letter sounds more like a routine formality than a sincere and heartfelt expression of regret; more like the uniform letter airlines send to passengers with luggage problems than an acknowledgement of a skyhigh violation of the protocols and conventions governing the treatment of government leaders by airlines.

Fact is, the Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is as VIP as any Caribbean leader can get: The longest-serving CARICOM Head of Government and longest-serving Prime Minister of his multi-island na-

tion, and President of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC); and he held all these very important positions when he was denied the respect due to each and all of them on February 16.

It’s unthinkable that any American or European Head of Government or State Governor on either side of the Atlantic would be required by American Airlines to leave a diplomatic lounge (at any international airport) and show-up personally to check-in at a counter. But the unthinkable happened that unfortunate day, right here in Guyana.

It doesn’t matter that “The Comrade” in Prime Minister Gonsalves has said he (personally) has no problem showing up at any airline counter to check-in for a flight. What really matters is that two CARICOM leaders were denied the respect due to their high offices, in what seems a pattern that was played out in Guyana before.

American Airlines has been serving the Caribbean throughout its existence, and Guyanese and Caribbean citizens at home and in the diaspora have always gingerly buttered the popular

US airline’s bread, flying between homes and family in the region and the US.

The airline would, therefore, certainly do well to upgrade and equalise its treatment of Caribbean people, and their leaders, to what it accords American citizens and leaders from everywhere elsewhere.

But while the region waits with high hopes that American Airlines will adjust, sooner than later, the incident again drives home the need for the region’s leaders to hasten the pace of addressing the long outstanding need for a regional Caribbean airline that will provide the services the region continues outsourcing to extra-regional airlines, at a time when flying has become even more unaffordable for average Caribbean citizens.

At their 2022 Summit in Suriname, CARICOM leaders committed to responding collectively to the regional air transport crisis created by LIAT’s demise. They must do all they can, in 2023, starting with clear proposals for consideration at their next Heads of Government Summit in the first week of July.

Macedonia/Joppa children were thrilled to celebrate ‘Mash’ after a two-year hiatus

ON Wednesday, February 22, 2023, hundreds of children from the Macedonia/Joppa district in East Corentyne took to the roadways to celebrate Guyana’s 53rd Republic Anniversary. It was a vibrant celebration never seen before in the district or on the Corentyne.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which wreaked havoc on the nation, the children, along with their teachers and parents, were thrilled to celebrate Mashramani. It was the largest celebration on the Corentyne.

Despite some intermittent showers and dark clouds hovering, the children were in a jubilant mood; happy and eager to celebrate. With smiles on their faces, it seems

as though nothing, not even a downpour of showers, would have prevented them from taking to the roadways to celebrate ‘Mash.’

After a delay of about 45 minutes, the parade got underway at 9:40 hrs at Brighton Village under cloudy skies and proceeded for one and a half miles to Eversham School. With police officers present to control the traffic, the more than 400 school children showed off their dancing skills.

Under the theme, “Mixing and Mashing as One Guyana,” the children from several schools in the district got decked out in a dazzling array of colorful attire of gold, blue, black, yellow, red, and orange portraying the colors of the Arrowhead, and depicting

Guyanese culture, lifestyle, and heritage.

Acknowledging the relevance of this year’s theme, which fits right in line with His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ initiative, the children from different ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds came together as Guyanese to party.

Accompanied by their teachers, parents and relatives, the children, ages three to 12, danced to the rhythm of the lively and customary ‘Soca’ music, supplied by Yard Byzd Entertainment Sound.

Residents of all ages and from all walks of life regardless of race, religion, or social status from the Macedonia/ Joppa villages of No. 35, Brighton, Kiltearn, Eversham,

Epsom and Bengal, came out in large numbers and lined both sides of the roadways in anticipation of seeing the colorful costumes.

Most, if not all of the on-lookers, were ecstatic and charmed by the dancing and gorgeous rich and colourful outfits worn by the children. Many were visibly exited.

After marching and dancing on the roadways for about one hour, the children arrived at Eversham Primary School where they assembled for prayer followed by lunch which comprised of chicken, fried rice, cook-up, chowmein, and fries, as well as juices and drinks; they then took part educational, cultural, and social activities for the rest of the day.

After a delicious lunch,

they were addressed by several teachers on the importance of having a good education, respect for their teachers, obedience to their parents and elders, and love for one another.

They were told that Mashramani is more than just a celebration of Guyana becoming a Republic or Guyanese culture and heritage; it is a symbol of unity and togetherness and a time for all to put aside their differences and biases and come together to celebrate as one people, one nation.

The children were also told that Mashramani is a true celebration of diversity, elegance and maturity of the nation and the power and strength of Guyanese in every community. It is a testimony

to our enriched social and shared heritage as a nation.

Following the speeches or as some would say, “pep talk,” the children asked questions and then showed off their witty talents as they danced to a variety of ‘Soca’ songs; they also recited poems, sang folk songs, and took part in games with each another.

The day ended with some of the children praising their teachers, while others thanked their parents for their support and kindness. It was a day of fun for all, especially the children.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Ross-Albert Public Relations Director Macedonia Joppa Voluntary Committee

LFS Burnham was a visionary, but only for ‘slow development’

Dear Editor

I write with reference to Annette Ferguson’s article, “Truth of Burnham’s visionary leadership must be told” (SN 26/2/2023). While I admire the loyalty of Ms. Ferguson, I must also note that MP Ferguson’s relationship with the truth is obviously strained.

There are two strands of historiography that Ms. Ferguson could have relied on in fashioning her mea culpa for Burnham, namely historical presentism, or historical revisionism.

While the former refers to a re-interpretation of history to suit current political circumstances, the latter is about a more comprehensive re-writing of the historical record with the intent of shifting the accepted historiography of a historical period, or in the case of Mr. Burnham, a person of historical significance.

I am afraid the Honorable MP’s efforts cannot meet either of these techniques of historical reconstruction.

The reason is that Ms. Ferguson’s account is based on what might be best described as an invented history, laced as it were with partial truths, halftruths, misrepresentations, and many statements that cannot be verified by any credible historical source.

Let us begin with the ex-

traordinary claim by Ms. Ferguson that “…Burnham was indeed a gift from God who was birthed here in Guyana for a purpose” (Ibid). Well, allow me to provide evidence to contrary. Since Ms. Ferguson focuses so much on Burnham’s economic “accomplishments”, it is only fair I respond along those lines.

Note this – Guyana was the only country in the world that, during the 1980s, had a lower per capita GDP at the end of the decade, compared to the beginning of the decade! In 1980, the per capita GDP of Guyana was $775; by 1991 it had dropped to $468, a massive drop of 39.61 per cent. Further, it took Burnham and then Hoyte from 1965 until 1991 to increase the per capita GDP of the Guyanese people by a measly $140. My guess is that if it weren’t for the UF in the early years, the performance would have been even worse.

By comparison, the PPP/C moved per capita GDP from an abysmal $608 in 1993, to a respectable $5,668 by 2015, a staggering 832.23 per cent, compared to the PNC’s miserable 42.68 per cent over 26 years!

The Honorable Annette Ferguson offers gushing praise for Burnham’s contribution to the democratization of Guyana, an idea so far-fetched, that Burnham’s own words prove

otherwise.

For instance, in announcing the Sophia Declaration on December 14, 1974 at a Special Congress of the People’s National Congress, the Cde. Leader of the PNC made it clear that the Government of Guyana is only an executive arm of the PNC.

LFS Burnham puts it thus – “…the Party [PNC] should assume unapologetically its paramountcy over the government which is merely one of its executive arms.” (Declaration of Sophia).

Burnham went on to denigrate constitutions that have checks and balances, stating that they are “inhibitions” to good governance.

Instead, he dictated that PNC party officials must occupy all central offices from Georgetown, right down to the regions. Local government should be an extension of the Party. He laid out a comprehensive plan where kids as young as 14 years of age would be drafted into the PNC as part of what he stylised as “national mobilisation.” The kids should be “educated” into the PNC’s ways of doing things.

Ms. Ferguson is full of praise of Burnham’s feed, clothe, and house (FCH) the nation (by 1976). Guyanese who lived through the late 1970s and all of the 1980s can very well inform those who

do not know, what became of FCH. Here is a synopsis. The Guyanese people came close to not only starvation because of shortage of food basics, but were pushed into a level of indignity due to other essentials of civilised life. The following items were short in supply, or absolutely non-existent – flour, cooking oil, onions, garlic, tomato paste, corned beef, corned mutton, split peas, chickpeas, milk powder, butter, cheese, baby food, sardines, toothpaste, toothbrush, bathing

soap, washing soap, detergents, diapers, toilet paper, shaving equipment, electrical equipment, tools, textbooks, pencils, pens, and the list goes on and on. Readers should know that if you were caught with certain items like sardines or flour, you could be - and many were, arrested by the police.

As for clothing the nation, here is a quote from the 1973 Budget Speech in Parliament –“The government has already indicated that clothing the nation will be a task of slow

development, mainly because the raw materials for achieving this are in short supply or as yet non-existent.” (Budget 1973, p. 18).

Ms. Ferguson should note the construction “slow development.” That was a major PNC innovation.

The PNC government under Mr. Burnham created a slew of institutions that were decidedly authoritarian. The Youth Corps and the National Service were para-mili -

Continued on page 8

LFS Burnham was a...

tary organizations aimed at militarizing political consciousness, beginning with children as young as eight years old.

Allow me to quote from a PNC/government document called “Youth: A Destiny to Mold”. Here is a direct quote: “National Service, whose major objectives are the same as the Youth Corps, offers the opportunity to serve their country to all Guyanese eight years and older.” (Ministry of Co-operatives and National Mobilisation, 1974, p. 40).

Many will recall the Knowledge Sharing Institutes (KSI). If you do not, they were places that sold government regulated groceries. Availability depended on a PNC Party card.

Member of Parliament Ferguson gushes about Burnham and education, so much so that she misrepresents who founded the University of Guyana. But more than that, she neglects to mention that National Service was a way to control who got into UG, and concomitantly, who got into senior positions in the civil service. UG itself became a bastion of a friends, families, and comrades.

God’s supposed gift to Guyana, Mr. Burnham (and through his legacy) saw the country record years of economic decline. GDP performance makes the case with hard evidence. Hence 1976, -9.13 per cent; 1977, -2.02 per cent; 1981, -5.63 per cent; 1984, -10.29 per cent; 1987, -29.29 per cent; 1990, -7.54 per cent, and 1991,

-11.76 per cent.

Guyanese by the thousands poured out of the country during the Burnham years. Many endured hearth-breaking hardships trying to abscond. Some paid with all their life-savings, others borrowed, and still others escaped from what then appeared to be a God-forsaken land, through means that will never be talked about.

Editor, in closing, it is only fitting that for Ms. Ferguson’s own edification, I quote from the Cde. Leader himself. Said Mr. Burnham on December 14, 1974: “Let us not…indulge in trumpet blowing and vacuous boasting.” (Sophia Declaration).

Yours sincerely, Dr. Randolph Persaud

Four years imprisonment, $3.5M fine for cocaine trafficker

A 44-year-old Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man was on Monday sentenced to serve four years imprisonment along with a fine of $3.5 million for trafficking cocaine.

Eduardo Alexander Moore was arraigned before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Moore denied that on February 24, 2023, at Albert Street, between Regent and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown, he had 2.4 kilogrammes of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Moore, who was recently released from prison for a similar offence, was sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined $3,573,000.

According to a release from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), officers were conducting an operation in the vicinity of Albert Street, when Moore was intercepted and searched by the ranks, who found two bricks of cocaine in his haversack. He was later escorted to CANU Headquarters with the narcotic, which was weighed and examined.

In 2019, Moore was arrested and charged with trafficking 117 pounds of marijuana. He was later sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Eduardo Alexander Moore

Education Ministry launches first literacy, robotics programme at Den Amstel Primary

week literacy programme and exposed to robotics at intervals.

She advised parents that in order for the programme to work, their children need to attend school consistently.

assessment, the Education Minister said that it revealed that 70 per cent of the learners were not reading on par with their grade level.

She told teachers that

THE Ministry of Education, through the National Literacy Department and the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), launched the Literacy and Robotics Programme at the Den Amstel Primary School

in Region Three, on Monday.

The Den Amstel Primary School is the first school in the country to benefit from this programme.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand said one of the issues high -

lighted during discussions with parents and teachers was that children attending the school were not reading and performing to an acceptable level.

This prompted a decision to send a team to assess the children of the school. Following that

school will not be as usual anymore for the 45 out of 67 learners who have trouble reading.

Minister Manickchand said that the children will be locked into a strict six-

According to the minister: “I could guarantee you this, almost anything you do consistently for six weeks whether, by coincidence, or divinity, you will see results. You’re going to see it, the children who come consistently are going to be the children who move; the children who are frequently absent are going to be the chil-

Continued on page 10

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, gets a warm welcome upon her arrival at the Den Amstel Primary School

Some of the learning resources to be utilised during the programme

Education Ministry launches first literacy...

From page 9

dren who are left behind.”

She said that the Ministry of Education alone cannot help the children to improve, noting that learning material and human resources will be provided, but parents must commit to taking their children to the next level and supporting the programme.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (Literacy), Samantha Williams, said the results of the Ministry’s 2021 literacy diagnostic assessment showed

that there is a higher percentage of pupils at the primary level who are reading three to four or more ages below their age and grade level.

In order to improve those statistics and ensure that every child has an opportunity to become a fluent reader by Grade Four, the Ministry of Education, through the National Literacy Department, has started to implement a menu of measures, and Monday’s launch being one of many to come.

Williams said that the literacy programme pro-

vides an intensive fast paced remedial intervention to fast-track learners’ literacy skills especially their ability to read.

According to Williams, the Ministry of Education expects that with consistent quality instructions, continuous tracking of performance and prescriptive methodology, the pupils who start this intervention will begin to see improvement and move closer to reading at their age level within six weeks of the programme.

She said that the programme will be deliv -

ered through an in-school mechanism as well as an afternoon reading club programme.

The in-school programme will begin at the basic level, move on to the intermediate level and culminate at the advanced level.

Meanwhile, the after-school programme will take the form of a reading club, which would improve the enthusiasm of children and improve the culture in the school.

Regional Chairman of Region Three, Inshan Ayube, said that the Edu-

cation Minister has stuck to her word and continues to work with the school to ensure that no child in the community is left behind.

Ayube said that Guyana is developing at a fast rate and that it needs literate persons who can comprehend what is unfolding in front of them and push the development agenda.

He said the programme is important to the school and the community, so parents need to do their part and work with their children and to ensure they attend school to benefit from the mate-

rials and instruction.

Kim Spencer, Curriculum Subject Specialist – Information Technology, said that the robotics component will see the learners getting a chance to work in groups with their friends to assemble robots. She said that literacy will play a big role in the robotics component as the children will have to read and comprehend the instructions to build the robots correctly while still having fun.

Brazilian men found at illegal mining sites remanded

TWO Brazilian men who were found at illegal mining sites in the New River Triangle, Region Nine, earlier this month were on Monday remanded to prison.

Alexander Felix, a pilot and Luan Ricardo Braga Silva, a miner, appeared before Magistrate Allen Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.

Felix was “slapped” with four charges: operating a civil aircraft without an airworthiness certificate; interfering with an aircraft by modifying it so it can be refuelled while in flight and operating an aircraft without insurance and illegal entry into Guyana.

He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

His attorney Kezia Williams, in applying for bail, told the court that he is not a flight risk since he has ties to Guyana and lives at BB Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

However, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Vernette Pindar-Whittaker, who is prosecuting the case for the state, expressed disagreement and objected to bail being granted.

Among other things, the

prosecutor asked the court to consider the seriousness of the crime and the penalty attached.

Magistrate Wilson after considering both sides, remanded Felix to prison until March 16 for the commencement of his trial. Seven witnesses are expected to testify.

Meanwhile, Silva who was next to be arraigned, denied that he entered Guyana by sea on December 2, 2022, and failed to present himself to an immigration officer. He was unrepresented and was also remanded to prison until March 16.

According to reports, on February 19, several men suspected to be Brazilians were spotted at illegal mining camps in the New River Triangle area. Most of them, however, managed to escape except Silva.

Police searched the camps and found several items, including a shotgun. The next day, a grey Robinson 44 Helicopter landed in the area. Felix was the lone occupant. Nothing illegal was found in the helicopter.

Luan Ricardo Braga Silva

Alexander Felix

Miss World Guyana launches project to eliminate generational poverty

ANDREA King, the reigning Miss World Guyana launched her “Beauty with a Purpose” project on Monday with an aim to deliver financial literacy education to youths across the country.

Project FLO (Financial Literacy Orientation) was established with the slogan, “Learning Money before Earning Money” in order to assist in educating Guyana’s future leaders. It will focus on building cognitive abilities in financial literacy.

King is proud to launch a project that intends to tackle poverty at its root.

“I have the opportunity to use my influence to make a positive impact in my country and the world at large,” she said.

Furthermore, she said that financial literacy is a crucial life skill that can also help prevent economic abuse.

King also highlighted that Project FLO is important, given the nation’s economic projections owing to its status as an oil-producing country and the anticipated widening of the wealth disparity.

“…with a syllabus that was provided by the Central Bank of Guyana, we have an answer to the much-needed orientation in personal financial management principles among Guyanese” she said.

Through workshops, radio and television content and all forms of media, Project

FLO will educate young people about the importance of financial literacy and empower them with the right knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that they need to make informed decisions about managing money.

Today, King and her team will begin engagements with visits to three secondary schools in Region Six with support from the Ministry of Education.

Additionally, she has revealed that a non-profit organisation which will be the vehicle for Project FLO, will be initiated in the upcoming weeks.

“As I continue this mission, I will work with local schools, youth organisations and community groups to raise awareness about the importance of financial literacy, while advocating for the Ministry of Education to include the sound financial literacy syllabus in our educational system” King explained.

She is partnering with leading financial institutions to make financial education and information more accessible, engaging and effective through online learning, interactive radio, television, and visual digital content.

“I want to emphasise that financial literacy is not just about money, it is about empowerment, it is about responsibility, and the ability to make informed decisions about our lives,” stated King,

Fisherman ‘busted’ with cannabis on bed

A GOOD Hope, East Coast Demerara fisherman was arrested on Monday after police searched his house at Good Hope Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara and allegedly found 27 grams of cannabis on his bed.

Police said in a press release that between 04:00 hours and 04:30 hours, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and a party of police ranks conducted a cordon-and-search exercise on the fisherman’s home for drugs, ammunition and wanted persons.

It was further stated that upon arrival, the fisherman was contacted and a search was carried out on his home.

“During the search, police found a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis on his bed,” the press release said.

The fisherman was then arrested, cautioned and escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station along with the suspected narcotics.

The cannabis, when weighed, amounted to 27 grams.

when addressing how it can aid in producing a better future for the youths of Guyana.

King extended gratitude to several persons and entities, including her parents, the Ministry of Education and the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Leslie Glen.

The Miss World official charity, “Beauty with a Purpose,” is an important part of the competition. Since Julia Morley, the chairperson of Miss World, founded the organisation in 1972, it has raised more than £1 billion.

Andrea King, the reigning Miss World Guyana, and Janelle Persaud, the founder of Cacique Consulting, at the launch of Project FLO

The cannabis that was reportedly found on the fisherman’s bed (Guyana Police Force photo)

Essequibo farmers to receive additional support for sustainable food production

THE government is exploring several ways to provide support to rice farmers along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, to return their lands to cultivation.

This was announced by Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, during a recent engagement with several farmers there.

“The weather has played a very critical role in the last rice crop, so much so that a number of lands were not cultivated because of the inclement weather. We are looking to see how we can work with those farmers in the new crop to get back those lands

under cultivation,” Minister Mustapha said.

The agriculture minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the farmers and stressed his ministry’s commitment to working with them to identify new crop opportunities.

The ministry is also pushing for the expansion of traditional crops and exploration of new opportunities, while also developing the livestock sector.

Minister Mustapha said these efforts are aimed at supporting various farmers and ensuring that their livelihoods are protected.

The government’s plans demonstrate a commitment to creating sustainable growth in the food sector, while also recognising the challenges faced by farmers in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

By working closely with farmers and providing support, the government hopes to create a vibrant and resilient agricultural sector that can thrive in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, following the passage of budget 2023, the government has highlighted several projects earmarked for the Essequibo Coast, with a particular focus on the food

sector. With the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) looking to invest some $16 billion into drainage and irrigation nationwide this year, the administration plans to use a portion of the funds to effectively support the drainage systems in Region Two.

Importantly, the dredging of the Pomeroon river mouth

(cutter head) will continue this year to ease flooding in the Pomeroon area.

Already, the government has acquired a pontoon with two excavators that are stationed permanently to assist farmers in the Pomeroon.

Minister Mustapha emphasised that investments this year will bring the much-needed transformation to Guyana’s food industry.

It will create jobs and stimulate economic growth, as well as improve food security and self-sufficiency. The minister remains adamant that Guyana can tap into the potential, capture more international markets and bring in important foreign exchange for its people.

Scotiabank hailed as lone financial institution to sponsor the recent energy conference

THE International Energy

happy that Scotiabank chose to participate at this year’s

“Their participation is evidence of their continuous contribution to Guyana’s

According to a press release from the organisers, Scotiabank Guyana came on board the event as a silver sponsor.

Kurt Baboolall, Chief Executive Officer of the IECEG 2023, said: “The aforementioned is fully aligned with our secretariat’s and government’s vision; as such, we are

tion forward. The Secretariat looks forward to their longterm support and applauds their decision to be the first Bank in Guyana to take a significant position sponsor.”

The bank has operated in Guyana for over 55 years and has four branches strategically placed throughout the country.

“Scotiabank continues to offer a complete range of retail and commercial banking services, including electronic cash management and merchant services. The bank also offers business banking services to small and medium-sized enterprises,” the release stated.

Ambica Bissessar, Country Manager (Ag.), Scotiabank Guyana, said: “We were pleased to be a part of this year’s Conference and Expo. It was a great opportunity for us to connect with customers face-to-face, and establish

Continued on page 15

African airlines to fly Guyana route

TWO business aviation titans in Africa, with the express purpose of fostering the development and expansion of the sector in developing nations worldwide, recently signed their first partnership in Guyana as Xen Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work with BFK Aviation.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Luanda, Angola – Angolan aircraft operator Bestfly and Addis Ababa-based flight support, charter, and aviation consultancy Krimson Aviation have formed a new Joint Venture, BFK Aviation, according to a joint press release.

The entity brings together two powerhouses of business aviation in Africa with the sole intent of supporting the evolution and growth of the industry in emerging markets around the globe.

Bestfly and Krimson Aviation, under the leadership of Nuno Pereira and Dawit Lemma, respectively, have been in-

— Xen Aviation signs MOU to work with BFK in Guyana

understanding of what it takes to positively change the perception of business aviation, intraand inter-continentally, positions them well to support commercial, sustainable transformation in evolving markets.

tegral in establishing the foundations of the sector across the vast continent of Africa and now intend to share the accumulated knowledge and experience with stakeholders seeking to optimize its benefits in new and evolving markets.

Demonstrating the value of the proposition, the first partnership agreement has already been signed with Xen Aviation, the Georgetown, Guyana-based op-

Scotiabank hailed as lone financial institution to...

From page 14

new relationships with the business community.

“We remain committed to providing the highest level of customer service here in Guyana and are actively working on introducing some enhanced products and services, including a new and improved user experience on Scotia Online Banking.”

Scotiabank Guyana joined a range of other local companies that signed on for the second edition of the Conference and Expo. Those companies included ExxonMobil Guyana, GTT Business Solutions, Hess Corporation, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, and Digicel Business.

The Conference and Expo was able to garner support from the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) and the Government of Guyana. The event attracted over 30 sponsors, almost 200 exhibitors and saw over 1,000 attendees to the Conference and Expo, daily.

erator and aviation services provider.

BFK Aviation will support the needs of Xen Aviation’s expanding flight and ground services for current and future operations.

Bestfly, already well versed in supporting Angola’s oil and gas industry, will provide aircraft operational know-how, while Krimson will provide all ground support and maintenance service intelligence.

The signing follows the success of the Guyana Energy Expo, held in Georgetown in February and highlights the rapid growth of the oil and gas sector in Guyana, and the surrounding region, which is driving increased demand for rotary and fixed-wing operations.

Bestfly is Angola’s largest business aviation services provider operating a fleet of some thirty aircraft including turboprops, executive jets, regional airliners, and helicopters flying within Angola, Africa and internationally; as well as a commercial operator flying scheduled routes to Cabo Verde.

As one of the first African aviation companies to be granted International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) status, Pereira and his team are familiar with the rigour and quality required to meet and exceed international standards and customer expectations.

Krimson Aviation has expanded significantly since launch and provides a range of ground handling, trip support and consultancy services for aviation customers in more than twenty African countries.

Bestfly is one of the founding members of the African Business Aviation Association, and Pereira, as a board member, was critical in securing its inauguration and subsequent successful development.

Dawit Lemma has also been a significant force in the association’s development and is VP International and a board member.

Their collective experience of shaping the evolution of Africa’s business aviation development, mutual extensive global network, and

“Undoubtedly, we can enable and enhance credible operations in challenging and dynamic operating environments. We want to harness this very specific knowledge and understanding to support stakeholders in nations that want to maximise the sector’s benefits but are still at the early stages of development,” says Lemma.

Nuno Pereira adds, “At Bestfly, we have worked extremely hard to create aircraft operations that are internationally respected, and we are known for our professionalism, excellence and reliability as we have a real understanding of what it takes to service the changing demands of our international oil and gas, mining and agricultural customers.”

“Working with BFK Aviation will add value to our existing operations, support the development of new standard operating procedures, and we know will raise the bar wherever we work to implement best industry practice,” adds Ronaldo Alphonso, Managing Director, Xen Aviation. “We’re excited for what the future holds for us, BFK and the business aviation sector in our region.”

ABOUT KRIMSON

Krimson launched in 2015 to provide aviation services with integrity and excellence. Based at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, the

team offers 24/7 support fulfilling a range of aviation services, including ground handling, flight support, refuelling, charter brokerage and aviation communications. Customers originate from around the world to take advantage of Ethiopia’s and Africa’s local expertise.

Krimson offers full flight support, ground handling, charter brokerage and other aviation services within Ethiopia and East Africa to a range of aviation customers, including commercial airlines, business aviation operators, and trip planning companies.

Led by Dawit Lemma, a Swiss citizen of Ethiopian origins, the diverse team of aviation experts is committed to service excellence combined with care and discretion.

ABOUT BESTFLY

Led by Nuno and Alcinda Pereira, Bestfly comprises a group of companies operating in the Angolan aviation market. Established in November 2009, customer service, high operational standards and a focus on safety are core elements positioning it as a market leader in Angola and beyond.

The Bestfly fleet comprises more than thirty aircraft, including Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Textron models, as well as Agusta Westland and Bell helicopters. Four ATR-72-600 airframes serve scheduled routes from Angola to Cape Verde.

The group services include ground handling, aircraft management and charter, and helicopter off-shore services for the oil and gas industries.

(From left) Nuno Pereira and Morry Davis for BFK Aviation after signing the agreement with Ronaldo Alphonso, MD Xen Aviation

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2023) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 2256158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Curtly Ambrose-8/79 (2/28 & 6/51, Gqeberha, 1998)

(2) Makaya Ntini-13/132 (6/95 & 7/37, Trinidad, 2005)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which WI has played most Test matches against SA to date?

(2) Which SA has played most Test matches against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

‘It’s an honour’ - Williamson on becoming New Zealand’s highest run-scorer in Tests

KANE Williamson says he is honoured to lead a list of greats after becoming New Zealand’s leading Test run-scorer and hopes to cap off the milestone with a series-squaring victory in the second Test against England.

Upon passing 28 early in the morning on day four, Williamson overtook Ross Taylor’s tally of 7,683 runs in his 161st innings. He went on to register his 26th Test century, allowing the Blackcaps to turn the tables on England in their follow-on innings.

The 32-year-old’s 132 held together a response of 483, giving Ben Stokes’ side a chase of 258 to secure the series 2-0. Tim Southee, who took over as Test captain when Williamson

stepped down last December, removed Zak Crawley to leave the tourists 48 for 1 overnight.

“It’s not something I’ve thought a whole lot about,” said Williamson after the day’s play. “But it is an honour. You look at that list, and I’ve admired all of those players over those years, whether that’s watching from afar growing up or playing alongside a number of them as well. Like I say, it’s not a focus point but it’s special to be amongst that company.

“It would be pretty special for sure,” he said on the prospect of becoming only the fourth team to win a Test after following-on. “It’s exciting going in to day five. As a bowling attack and a team, we want to make sure we’re on come

tomorrow. There’s still some assistance there and some assistance for the slower bowlers as well. All to play for, which is exciting.”

Williamson, however, was

England chase 210 runs for victory after pulsating day four

(REUTERS):England lost opener Zak Crawley but held firm in the final hour of a pulsating day four in the second test against New Zealand on Monday, needing 210 runs with nine wickets in hand to secure victory and a series sweep.

England were 48 for one at stumps, with opener Ben Duckett (23 not out) and nightwatchman Ollie Robinson (one not out) surviving the tense final overs at the Basin Reserve after New Zealand captain Tim Southee bowled Crawley for 24.

England will fancy their chances of reeling in the remaining runs on day five, having chased down 277, 299 and 296 in successive tests to whitewash New Zealand in the home summer.

Ben Stokes’s team also mowed down a record 378 to beat India in Birmingham in their inimitable ‘Bazball’ style.

“We know how we are going to go about things, we’ll be positive, entertain the crowd, we ’ll be doing the same tomorrow,” said England spinner Jack Leach, who took 5-157 in New Zealand’s second innings total of 483.

Asked to follow-on by Stokes after being bowled out for 209 on day three, Southee’s side showed fighting spirit to drag themselves back into the match, with

Kane Williamson producing an inspiring century.

However, the hosts will rue missing the chance to set a bigger target after being 423 for five at tea, with Williamson (132) and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell (90) well set.

The pair frustrated the English bowlers for the entire middle session and looked set to carry on.

Enter golden boy Harry Brooks , who provided the unlikely breakthrough for England when he had Williamson caught down the legside with his part-time medium pace, ending the partnership with Blundell at 158 runs.

New Zealand promptly crumbled, losing their last four wickets for five runs.

“Brooky’s very pleased with his first wicket. (It was) something different, that they weren’t expecting,” said Leach

HOWLING ERROR

New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell hastened the collapse by being run out for eight when he failed to ground his bat, a howling error given he had jogged well past the line when Ben Foakes whipped off the bails.

The wicket exposed the tail and paceman Southee was promptly out slogging for two.

Leach dismissed tail-

frustrated with his dismissal. Not just because it was the start of a collapse of five for 28 from a commanding position of 455 for 5, but that the bowler who

dismissed him was not a bowler at all. Harry Brook, whose exploits have been exclusively with the bat, was brought on in the 148th over to give James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson a rest ahead of a potential third new ball.

With the final delivery of his third of seven overs of medium pace off the wrong foot, Brook fired a delivery down the leg side which Williamson tickled into the gloves of Ben Foakes, who was standing up to the stumps. Even as he shook his head contemplating the dismissal in his post-match press conference, he was able to see the funny side.

“He didn’t miss his length at all, ey? He was immaculate.

“He was on point. Maybe

that (the wicket-taking delivery) was the worst ball he bowled, actually.”

Initially given not out on the field, Ben Stokes reluctantly called for a review on the insistence of Joe Root who thought he heard something. A noise was picked up as the ball passed the face of the bat, leading to an overturned decision. While it was not a big spike, Williamson is satisfied the technology worked.

“In my instance, it was,” he said when asked if UltraEdge had worked correctly. “But I think at times you see some shakes in the lone. Whether that’s accurate or now, I don’t really know. We had a few dismissals in Pakistan.”(Cricinfo)

ender Matt Henry for a duck and Blundell for 90, his five-wicket innings haul reward for a massive 61.3-overs shift.

It was a deflating finish for home fans who saw New Zealand’s first 400-plus total of the series, with openers Tom Latham (83) and Devon Conway (61 ), and all-rounder Daryl Mitchell (54) having fought hard for their runs.

If tired after a long day in the field, Crawley and Duckett showed no sign of it as they smashed seven boundaries between them to take a chunk out of the chase.

Having won the series-opener in Mount Maunganui by 267 runs, England need only draw the match to seal their first Test series in New Zealand since 2008.

New Zealand’s bowlers will hope for early wickets and more help from the pitch despite its traditional resilience.

The Black Caps are looking to record only the fourth win by a team asked to follow-on in the history of test cricket.

“It’d be pretty special, for sure,” Williamson told reporters.

“There’s still some assistance there (in the wicket) and some assistance for the slow bowlers. All to play for, which is exciting.”

Kane Williamson works through the leg-side during his half-century (Getty Images).

Australia know they’re ‘being hunted’ but keep staying ahead of the pack

AUSTRALIA’s star player in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final win over South Africa spoke to the assembled media following her team’s triumph.

Beth Mooney top-scored in Sunday’s final at Newlands, accelerating at the back end of her excellent knock to finish unbeaten on 74* from 53 balls.

And the Aussies successfully defended the 156/6 that Mooney had helped them reach, claiming their sixth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title.

This latest edition of the

tournament saw the gap close noticeably between the world’s top-ranked team and their challengers.

And Mooney says that the team are more than aware that it’s getting harder and harder for Australia to keep up their winning momentum.

“We’ve been very successful over a number of years and I just love waking up in the morning and putting on my Australian shirt, so hopefully they want me around for a little bit longer.

“Something we speak about as a group is making sure we’re

always evolving along the way.

I think we’ve seen in this tournament there are teams around the world getting better and better as the years go on and we know that we’re being hunted.

“People are looking at us for what we do and how we go about it, so certainly it won’t last forever, but we’ll enjoy it for as long as we can and hopefully we can keep piling up those trophies.”

So how exactly do you beat the team who have won the last three ICC Women’s T20 World Cups?

“It’s a good question, just don’t turn up - it’s too hard,

don’t bother going,” Mooney joked, adding:

“I’m not too sure - I think it probably starts within yourself more so than anything rather than worrying about what other people do.

“I think if I give too much away we might start getting beaten, but the good part about the game at the moment is every team’s evolving at a rapid pace and the game’s evolving at a rapid pace too, so I’m really excited for what’s to come and the challenges that are ahead of us.”

Mooney’s match-winning contribution with the bat started in scrappy fashion, with the opener struggling to maintain a run-a-ball strike rate right through until the final third of the innings.

Her late fireworks boosted Australia to what proved to be a winning total, but Mooney said she was hugely frustrated with the first portion of her innings.

“I wasn’t too happy with how I was hitting them. I actually asked one of the girls who ran out if she could ask Shell (head coach Shelley Nitschke) if she wanted to retire me - because I was hitting it that bad.

“You know it just goes to

show if you hang in there long enough and get the pace of the wicket… once I stayed a bit stiller and hit it a bit straighter it wasn’t too bad.”

As for the bigger picture; Sunday’s final saw a record crowd for a women’s cricket match in South Africa as Newlands was at capacity to cheer on the two teams.

And Mooney says that inspiring future generations and boosting the profile of the game is a huge part of what inspires her and her teammates.

“We obviously want to be inspiring young boys and girls, not just in Australia but around the world, and also helping the global game grow.

“We know that we’re in a very privileged position to be able to be up in lights and producing performances like today and getting people talking about women’s sport, so hopefully this is just the beginning.

“You know we saw (a huge crowd) in 2020 at the MCG and we saw today how many people came out in full force, so I think the opportunities are there for people to watch women’s sport and be a part of it as well.” (ICC Media)

Damian Lillard scores 71 points as Portland Trail Blazers beat Houston Rockets

Damian Lillard scored 71 points - the joint eighth highest in an NBA game - as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Houston Rockets 131-114.

Only NBA greats Wilt Chamberlain - five times, with a high of 100 - Kobe Bryant (81) and David Thompson (73) have scored more points in a game.

“I got it going early on and I stayed aggressive,” said 32-year-old Lillard.

“It was a masterful performance - a piece of art,” said Blazers coach Chauncey Billups.

“We don’t get the chance to experience things like this a lot, and I’ve been around the league a long, long time - 71 points, that’s just incredible.

“Having 41 points at half-time was insane, and then he came out in the second half and in the third quarter he just made every right play.”

Lillard, whose haul was a record for the Trail Blazers, scored 13 three-pointers at the Moda Center in

Portland, one short of the NBA record held by Klay Thompson.

“I wanted to be in attack mode,” said Lillard.

“I know it’s a team effort, but I feel like I’ve got to do what I can to make sure we get some wins. We’ve got 22 or 23 games left and we need to win as

Chamberlain (32) and Bryant (six).

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell also scored 71 points against the Chicago Bulls last month.

Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Lakers erased a 27-point deficit to triumph 111-108 over the

many as possible.”

The Trail Blazers are just outside the play-in places with a 29-31 record in the Western Conference.

Lillard has scored more than 60 points in a game five times, behind only

Dallas Mavericks, while the Milwaukee Bucks extended their winning streak to 14 games with a 104-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns.(BBC Sport).

The victorious Australian women players are ecstatic following their win on Sunday.

Damian Lillard became only the 10th NBA player in the past 25 years to score more than 40 points in a half

Karishma Ramharack named to ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Team

WEST Indies spinner Karishma Ramharack was the selected to the 12-member Upstox Most Valuable 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament that was released on Monday.

The Trinidadian finger spinner took five wickets for the West Indies in three matches conceding just 50 runs from the 12 overs she bowled. Her bowling average of 10 was the third best of the tournament and her economy rate was of 4.16 was also among the best.

“It may not have been a tournament to remember for a West Indies side, though Ramharack’s crafty finger spin was a positive to take out of the campaign,” said the ICC selectors.

“The 28-year-old took five

wickets in three outings, at a miserly rate of 4.16 runs per over.

Her 1-18 (4) against Pakistan was astonishingly her worst spell of

the three outings, also picking up 2-14 against India and 2-18 against Ireland.

The West Indies Women

GCA’s Ramchand Auto Sales 50-over U-19 cricket Prince, Mentore help

MSC beat GNIC at DCC

ON a nice sunny day in Queenstown, Malteenoes beat GNIC by 81 runs at the small DCC ground on Sunday in the latest round of the GCA’s Ramchand Auto Sales 50-over U-19 cricket tournament which was reduced to 40 overs due to a late start.Led by an unfinished 70 runs eight-wicket partnership between pacers Shane Prince and Jonathan Mentore, MSC recovered from 77-7 in the 30th over to reach 143-7 in 40 overs.

Prince hit two sixes and two fours in his 32-ball unbeaten 37 while Mentore, the son of former National U-19 batter and deputy Mayor of Georgetown Alfred Mentore, reached the

boundary twice in his 30 not out from 50 balls. Kishan Silas made 20 from 49 balls with two fours at the top of the order but only Trilok Nanan of the other batters, reached double figures with 10 as the Thomas Road team slipped to 58-6

Newral Nichols and Devin Roopnarine took two wickets each for GNIC who were bowled out for 66 in 20.4 overs as only Roopnarine (14) and Roupie Rajaram (13) reached double figures. Ravel Nedd, Nanan and female medium pacer Tilleya Madramootoo, had two wickets each for MSC registered their second win in the tournament. (Sean Devers)

South Sudan in historic qualification for Basketball World Cup

South Sudan’s men have made history by qualifying for this year’s Basketball World Cup - becoming the first African nation to qualify at their first attempt.

The Bright Stars beat Senegal 83-75 in their latest qualifier in Alexandria, Egypt, to seal their place at the tournament which will be co-hosted by Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines from 25 August to 10 September.

Africa has been allocated a total of five berths with Ivory Coast also already qualified.

South Sudan’s success is impressive for a country of 11.5 million people that gained independence in 2011 and only competed in its first international tournament three years ago.

Coached by NBA legend Luol Deng, South Sudan be-

NBA legend Luol

represented the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LA Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves in a 15-year career.

come just the ninth African nation to reach the World

failed to advance to the semi-finals after winning just two matches and finishing third in Group 1 that also included England, India, Ireland and Pakistan.

Australia had four players in the team of the tournament – Al-

yssa Healy, Ash Gardener, Darcie Brown and Megan Schutt. South Africa’s Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvhaardt and Shabnin Ismail were also selected among the 12.

Also included were Ireland’s Orla Prendergast, India’s Richa Ghosh and the England duo

of Sophie Eccelstone and Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was named captain.

Ramharack stands alone as the only West Indies women selected to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament.

Cup, joining Algeria, Central African Republic, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia and Angola, who lead the way with eight appearances.

“We come from a country that has been through a lot,” Deng told BBC Sport Africa in 2020.

“Some of these kids [the players], what they went through is something that you cannot control and, as life goes on, a lot of people never get an opportunity to come back home, let alone to wear a jersey and represent the nation.

“For them, it is more than just a game, it is really emotional.”

Following the victory over Senegal, the Bright Stars have now won 9 out of 10 matches in qualification.(BBC Sport)

West Indies spinner Karishma Ramharack was economical during the tournament (Photo: Getty Images)

Deng

Collection’ rides with 2nd ‘One Guyana’ Bartica Cycling Classic

CYCLISTS from around Guyana will be invading the town of Bartica this Sunday when the second edition of the Bartica Cycling Classic is contested, under the ‘One Guyana’ brand.

Organised by the We Stand United Cycle Club (WSUCC), Sunday’s event would also see races being held for prominent persons of the community.

Corporate support for the event has already begun to flow, with Fazia’s Collection Variety Complex, located at Anna Catherina stepping forward to sponsor the junior and juvenile categories of the race.

Handing over the prizes was Sales Representative Ms. Marcia Ragnauth, in the presence of her colleagues, to WSUCC President Franklin Wilson.

Ms. Ragnauth, in brief comments, said that Faiza’s Collection had no hesitation in acquiescing to the club’s request to come on board, and took the opportunity to sponsor the junior and juvenile categories of the event, as these cyclists are the future of Guyana.

President Wilson expressed sincere thanks on behalf of the club to the Management and staff of Fazia’s Collection, noting that they have always been very supportive of the organisation and its activities.

“The fact that Mr. and Mrs. Anderson did not have any second thoughts on being a part of this activity, which would help build the community, speaks for itself. They have always been supportive of sports and the development of young athletes,” Wilson

said.

The first edition of the Bartica Cycling Classic was held in 2019, and, like all other sports, was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s race is expected to be bigger and more exciting, as the cream of the nation’s cyclists, including defending champion WSUCC’s Briton John, who has been enjoying a fabulous start to this season, will face starters’ orders.

John’s fellow teammates, Aaron Newton and Alex Leung, will also be in contention, as, whilst they are still in the junior category, they

MMG National U-14 Chess…

Couchman and Lall emerge victorious

MOBILE Money Guyana (MMG) has partnered with the Guyana Chess Federation for the execution of the organisation’s National Under-14 Chess tournament in the Open and Girls’ categories.

The tournament, which was held in the Queen’s College compound from 09:00 0hrs to 15:00hrs last Saturday, saw fierce competition among the young contenders. Seven rounds of play were held under a time control of 20 minutes per player, with five seconds added to the clock after each move.

Production Marketing Manager of mmg+ Diana Gittens said that the partnership with the Federation is a part of the company’s commitment to youth development.

“Chess is an important sport that plays a vital role in the cognitive development of children and young people, and we are supporting the activities of the Chess Federation in promoting the game among youth,” Gittens said.

Emerging successful was 13-year-old defending champion Kyle Couchman, of Queen’s College, with 6.5 points after seven matches. Couchman, who holds the 2022 National Open Under-14 and Under-16 titles, skillfully

have been very competitive amongst the seniors.

There would be no registration fees for ladies, juniors, and juveniles, whilst seniors and masters will pay $1000.

Meanwhile, the ladies, juniors, and juveniles will pedal off the day’s action from 09:30hrs, and will be riding for 45 minutes with an additional two (2) laps.

Masters, Under-45, and Over-45 will be riding together for 60 minutes, with an additional two (2) laps, while the seniors will be riding for 1 hour 45 minutes, with an additional two (2) laps.

Ahead of Sunday’s race, registration can be done at the Professional Key Shop on Carmichael Street, or Chin Chan Cycle Store on Robb Street.

Additionally, the organisers are hoping to run off a race involving only Barticians, with the likes of His Worship Mayor Marshall and Regional Chairman Kenneth Williams, along with their respective deputies, the REO, and club leaders competing

outmaneuvered his opponents once again to come out ahead of 12-year-old Alexander Zhang, who earned the second place with 5.5 points. Thirteenyear-old Micaiah Enoe, of Marian Academy, placed third with 5.5 points. While Alexander and Micaiah finished on the same points,

the former was ranked higher due to the Buchholz tiebreak system, which takes into account the scores of the opponents that a player has defeated. The player with the highest total Buchholz score (highest sum of the scores of the opponents that player has defeated) is ranked higher.

An elated Couchman re -

ceived the top trophy from MMG+ Diana Gittens during a simple ceremony at the end of the game, after, moments before, gracefully conceding a draw in his final game against Micaiah Enoe.

Couchman said that he aspires to go on to represent Guyana at the international level.

Falcons soar away with GRFU’s Mash 7s Cup

THE Police Falcons flew away with their first tournament win in 2023 on Saturday last after triumphing in the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU)’s Mash 7s Cup at the National Park.

The weather was favour-

able just two days after Mash Day’s heavy rainfall, and the Falcons made hay while the sun shone with a 36-19 win over pre-tournament favourites, Panthers, signalling a potential shift in the dominance of local-club rugby.

Led by tournament MVP

Lionel Holder, the Falcons got off to a fast start as Sean David breached the try line soon after the first whistle.

Theo Henry then buried the first of his three conversions to put the Falcons up 7-nil.

Holder, who scored 26

points in total during the one-day tournament, then put his name on the score-sheet, as the Falcons soon doubled their lead.

Panthers’ winger Godfrey Broomes then scored a tried, and converted it to put a temporary spoke in the Falcons’ wheeling attack, taking the score to 12-7.

But Holder was back on the score-sheet soon after, as he extended Falcons’ lead to 18-7 at the half.

Panthers roared back after the halftime whistles, as Kevon David scored the first of his two tries, and made the conversion to pull the game closer (18-14).

However, tries by Adrian Hall and Rickford Cummings quelled any chance of a comeback.

Falcons’

Owen Adonis etched his name on the score-sheet with a try just before the final whistle to help his side to the crushing 36-19 win.

‘Fazia’s

WSUCC President Franklin Wilson (fourth right), accepts the sponsorship from Fazia’s Collection’s Marcia Ragnauth (fourth left), in the presence of other staff members

Prize winners and their accolades at the end of the tournament

The victorious Police Falcons after the GRFU’s 7s Mash Cup (Emmerson Campbell photo)

GCB 4-day Inter County Cricket Barnwell grabs 4-54 before rain cuts short play on day three

The truncated penultimate of GCB’ s 4-day Inter County first round began in bright sunshine before rain had the final say with the day’s played called at 16:15hrs with the vaunted Demerara top order failing to fire in overcast conditions yesterday at the Providence Stadium.

Demerara, who made 282 in their first innings to which Berbice replied with 330, were 61-3 from 28 overs when rain halted the day’s proceedings.

Opener Sachin Singh was on 37 from 87 balls with six fours while Skipper Leon Johnson , who struggled to get the ball of

in hand. It took Chris Barnwell and Demerara, 35 minutes to clean bowl Nail Smith (25) and Shamar Joseph (0) to dismiss Berbice as Junior Sinclair was left stranded eight short of a maiden Inter-County century.

Beginning the day on 84 with his team 313-8, Sinclair ran out of partners after facing 147 balls, batting for 214 minutes and reaching the boundary nine times and clearing it four times.

He shared in a 51-run ninth wicket stand with Smith who made 25 as Barnwell finished 4-54 while Richie Looknauth had

After the Interval, Imlach (3) was bowled by Nail Smith at 33-2 before Akshaya Persaud, who averages 9.50 from eight First-Class innings, poor form continued with re-plays confirmed that he was struck ‘plumb’ in front to an armball from Kevin Sinclair at 40-3.

Singh hit Shepherd for a boundary before hitting Smith for another as he was the only Demerara batter willing to counter attack. The left-handed DCC Opener continued to pick the bad balls and took a couple of fours off the lively Joseph.

Skipper Leon Johnson, who made his First-Class debut as a 16-year-old and has been playing at this level for two decades, joined Singh as conditions became increasingly overcast; conditions which the Berbice bowlers revelled in.

With Smith and Joseph producing prodigious lateral movement at good pace, Johnson looked uncertain as he was beaten outside his off stump on a number of occasions while the lively 23-year-old Joseph tested his Guyana Captain with a vicious bouncer.

Singh drove Joseph for four to post to 50 in the 25th over while Johnson struggled to get the ball off the square as Kevin Sinclair, in one of his best spells in ‘Red Ball’ cricket, extracted bounce and turn to the left-handers.

Proteas wary of ‘old-fashioned’ Windies

CENTURION, South Africa, (CMC) – Newly appointed Proteas captain Temba Bavuma says his side will be taking nothing for granted against West Indies, despite

old-fashioned cricket. Batters grind it out and bowlers are looking to hit their areas outside that off stump,” Bavuma said here Monday, on the eve of the opening Test at SuperSport Park.

ly motivated especially after losing their last two Test series, at home to Australia and away to England last summer.

They have made several changes for the West Indies series, dropping batsmen Rassie van der Dussen and Kyle Verreynne, along with fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, while recalling left-arm spinning all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy and batsmen Aiden Markram and Keegan Petersen.

Selectors have given in-form 25-year-old righthander Tony de Zorzi a maiden call-up.

“I think it’s exciting times for all the guys involved. It’s the start of a new journey,” said Bavuma.

“We’d like to start with a clean slate and really go out there playing the way we want to play. I think you’re going to hear me saying that a lot –how we want to go about our business.

the square, was unbeaten on one from 29 balls.

Such was the dominance of the Berbice bowling attack that skipper and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, the only bowler to capture over 500 FirstClass wickets for Guyana, only delivered two overs yesterday

Play is scheduled to commence at 09:00 hrs today, the final with the team starting with slim 13-run lead with seven wickets

2-68 and Renaldo Ali-Mohammed 2-63.

Demerara began their second innings with a deficit 48 and had a bad start when their most inform batter, 19-year-old Matthew Nandu was pushed on his back foot by pacer Shamar Joseph and edged a catch to second slip at 14-1.

Singh and Tevin Imlach, who made 62 in the first innings, saw Demerara to Lunch 23-1 with Singh on 13 and Imlach on three.

Johnson looked uncomfortable and survived a few LBW shouts off of Sinclair. When rain stopped play at 61-3 off 28.3 overs to the relief of the five Demerara supports in the Stands, Singh was on 37 with six fours, the only boundaries in the entire innings.

As the rain continued, Tea was taken at 14:00hrs. The rain halted briefly and the covers were removed from the pitch but the rain returned.

Regional Table Tennis headed to Guyana from

March 16

THE Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will have a packed programme for March as they host three regional tournaments at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

From March 16 to 19 will be the qualifiers for the Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Games followed by the senior Caribbean Championship from March 20 to 26 and the Caribbean Youth and Cadet Championship from March 27 to April 1.

Of the 12 teams that qualify for CAC Games, based on current world rankings, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Cuba have secured a spot, while El Salvador, host of the Games, is the other qualified team.

The Caribbean Championship

will serve as a qualifying event for the Pan American Games and Pan American Table Tennis Championships.

The junior tournament, which caters to 19 years and under (Youth) and 15 years and under (Cadet), is

also a qualifier for the Pan Am Table Tennis Championships.

Last October, Guyana hosted the Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) Mini and Pre-Cadet Championship and finished with the most points.

the visitors’ poor record on South African soil.

The Caribbean side have never won a series in South Africa and have not beaten the hosts in a Test series in 24 years.

Bavuma, who recently replaced Dean Elgar at the helm of the squad, said South Africa were bracing for a strong challenge from a side which played disciplined “old-fashioned cricket”.

“Looking at West Indies over the last while, they play

“They have got guys who can stand up to the challenge and they are well led by Kraigg Brathwaite.

“I think we’ve prepared as best as we can to play them like we would have done against any other team.

“They have good bowlers who can get the ball through nicely and that’s what you need in a country like South Africa. So we know we have our work cut out and we look forward to the challenge that awaits.”

South Africa will be high-

“That’s the exciting part. I’d like to see how it all looks like on the field of play. We come into the series against the West Indies wanting to win the series and that is what we’ll be aiming to do.”

South Africa enter the series as heavy favourites, having crushed West Indies in a two-Test series in the Caribbean two years ago when neither match went the distance.

The Proteas are ranked fourth in the ICC charts, four places above West Indies.

Bermuda thrash Argentina, Bahamas off to winning start

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, (CMC) – Captain Delray Rawlins delivered brilliantly with bat and ball as Bermuda thrashed hosts Argentina by 110 runs, while the Bahamas opened their campaign by edging Panama by four wickets on day two of the five- team 2024 ICC T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Qualifiers here Sunday.

Rawlins, the 25-year-old Sussex all-rounder who has replaced Kamau Leverock as captain, bludgeoned 67 not out from 25 balls after winning the toss as Bermuda piled up 220 for two from their 20 overs.

Opener Tre Manders topscored with 74 from 41 balls and Rawlins found an able partner in Terryn Fray, who finished on 62 not from 48 deliveries.

Rawlins then claimed four for 11 with his left-arm spin as Argentina struggled to 110 for nine in reply at the Belgrano Athletic Club Ground, slumping to a second defeat after going down by 53 runs to Panama.

Medium-pacer Malachi

Jones, 33, a survivor of Bermuda’s 2007 appearance in the 50-over World Cup in the Caribbean, provided solid support for Man-of-the-Match Rawlins by taking three for 23 as the Argentina innings fell apart after 44-year-old Alejandro Ferguson made a run-a-ball 32.

In the other game, Jonathan Barry, Kervon Hinds and Junior Scott all picked up two wickets to restrict Panama to 101 for nine from their 20 overs, after they chose to bat at

the Hurlingham Club Ground.

The Bahamas captain Marc Taylor then set up his side’s run chase, hitting three sixes and six fours in a 32-ball 49, during a first-wicket stand of 65 with Narendra Ekanayake (19).

The innings wobbled, however, Rahul Ahir snapping up three for 14 as six wickets went down for 33 runs but the Bahamas edged home with nine balls to spare.

The top three teams will join Canada for the Americas Region Qualifier Finals in Bermuda in September, with the winner of that tournament clinching the last T20 World Cup qualifying spot in the region.

Next year’s edition will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States.

Medium –pacer Chris Barnwell celebrates one of his four wickets in Berbice in Berbice first innings at Providence, yesterday. (Sean Devers photo)

Guyana’s senior table tennis players have some tough battles ahead

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma.

Messi wins Best FIFA men’s player award

Argentina and Paris St-Germain forward Lionel Messi has been named men’s player of the year at the 2022 Best FIFA Awards.

The 35-year-old beat French forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema to the prize.

Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, and scored 27 goals in 49 games for club and country in 2021-22

Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas was named women’s player of the year.

Messi, who won the award for a second time, said: “It’s amazing. It’s been a tremendous year and it’s an honour for me to be here and win this award. Without my team-mates I wouldn’t be here.

“I achieved the dream I had been hoping for for so long. Very few people can achieve that and I have been lucky to do so.”

At the ceremony in Paris, Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to their third World Cup title, was named men’s coach of the year.

Scaloni beat Pep Guardiola - who guided Manchester City to a sixth Premier League title - and Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning boss Carlo Ancelotti to the honour.

England manager Sarina Wiegman was named women’s coach of the year after guiding the Lionesses to European Championship glory on home soil last year, the team’s first major trophy.

Aston Villa and Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez was recognised as the leading men’s goalkeeper, while England’s Mary Earps won the women’s goalkeeper award. Martinez, 30, helped his country win the World Cup, saving four penalties along the way including in the shootout victory against France in the final.

Earps, who plays for Manchester United in the Women’s Super League, started all six of England’s games at Euro 2022 as they won the competition.

Amputee footballer Marcin Oleksy, of Polish side Warta Poznan, won the Fifa Puskas award for the best

Djokovic breaks

Steffi Graf’s record for most weeks as world number one

goal of the year. He sent a stunning overhead volley against Stal Rzeszow flying into the back of the net with the help of his crutches.

Recipient of the fair play award was Luka Lochoshvili, who held the tongue of his opponent, Georg Teigl, to

save his life after the midfielder had fallen unconscious. Fifpro men’s world XI: Thibaut Courtois; Achraf Hakimi, Virgil van Dijk, Joao Cancelo; Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric, Casemiro; Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe.

WI hoping to end 24-year drought against Proteas

CENTURION, South Africa, Feb 27, CMC – Captain Kraigg Brathwaite will hope to oversee the end of West Indies’ 24-year drought without a Test series win against South Africa, when the two teams clash in the opening Test starting at SuperSport Park starting here Tuesday.

West Indies have lost their last eight series against the Proteas dating back to the chastening 5-0 thrashing here in 1999, and have won only one of their last 11 Tests against the hosts in the last 16 years.

Novak Djokovic won a record-extending 10th Australian Open in January.

NOVAK Djokovic has surpassed Steffi Graf’s record for the most weeks as world number one after entering a 378th week at the top of the men’s rankings.

Serbia’s 22-time major winner has held the record for the most weeks as men’s world number one since March 2021.

“I’m flattered, proud and happy,” said Djokovic, 35, who added that Graf was “one of the greatest, most legendary tennis players that ever played”.

Germany’s Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles between 1987 and 1999.

Graf first rose to the top of the women’s rankings in 1987 and initially remained

there for 186 consecutive weeks - a women’s record that was later tied by Serena Williams in 2016.

Djokovic, who returned to world number one for the first time in six months by winning the Australian Open in January, first topped the rankings in July 2011.

He has managed a best run of 122 consecutive weeks at the top, between July 2014 and November 2016.

For that record, he trails Roger Federer (237 weeks), Jimmy Connors (160) and Ivan Lendl (157).

In 2021 he ended the year as world number one for a record seventh time. (BBC Sport).

Captains like legends Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle, along with Carl Hooper and Denesh Ramdin were unable to lead West Indies to series success against South Africa, but Brathwaite will hope to break the losing trend on his second attempt, after suffering a 2-0 drubbing in the Caribbean two years ago.

“Looking at this series, we’re playing South Africa at home and we know it won’t be easy,” said Brathwaite, who replaced marquee all-rounder Jason Holder as captain in 2021.

“We know South Africa are a tough team at home but we’re looking forward to playing some hard days of Test cricket and making West Indians proud.

“We had a Test series in Zimbabwe – obviously a different calibre of team but it was good to get a series win. Looking here at this South African team, they still have a lot of experience and they have world class bowlers and some quality batsmen.

“So we have to play some very good Test cricket and it is important

we take control of every hour – we don’t [want to] think about the big picture. But I think once we take care of every hour, every session, I think we can do well in this series.”

West Indies beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in the two-Test series in Bulawayo last month to bounce back from a deflating tour of Australia where they soundly beaten in both Tests.

Those results came on the back of a good year for West Indies in the longest format, Brathwaite leading them to series wins over England and Bangladesh in the Caribbean.

The 30-year-old Brathwaite, who has averaged 64 over the last year to spearhead his side’s batting, said it was critical West Indies clicked in all departments against South Africa.

“We’re very excited [about this series]. Zimbabwe obviously isn’t a top team in the world so we’re look-

ing forward to challenging ourselves here,” he pointed out.

“Australia wasn’t the best of tours so we know we have to improve as batsmen, so we look forward to this series.

“It’s important as openers to set the foundation for the team and we look forward to doing that. Obviously Tage (Tagenarine Chanderpaul) had a fantastic start and I know we will continue great things and as I said, making West Indians proud.”

He continued: “Obviously it is important we have a complete team effort here in South Africa so it was good to see the top order getting some scores in Zimbabwe, and the middle order in this practice game [last week] before this first Test. It’s great and it’s important we put all the pieces together for this Test series.”

Following on from a Zimbabwe series played on slow turning tracks,

West Indies will welcome the livelier pitches here, especially with their attack comprising the likes of veteran seamer Kemar Roach and the pace of Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph.

And Brathwaite said the attack was confident they could execute their plans and find success in the series.

“I think we have some very good bowlers and I think we as a group look forward to obviously bowling at any batting lineup in the world,” the opener said.

“I know the guys really mark themselves hard. We won’t be focussing on what teams have done in the past because that’s the past.

“It’s important we hit our straps and discipline is very very important. Before we go thinking too many things in terms of [South Africa’s] batting lineup, I think we [must] stick to our plans and results will take care of themselves.”

SQUADS:

SOUTH AFRICA – Temba Bavuma (captain), Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj , Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Keegan Petersen , Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton

WEST INDIES – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Akeem Jordan, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Devon Thomas

Table Tennis headed to Guyana from March 16

Lionel Messi was presented the award by Fifa president Gianni Infantino

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite shares a laugh in the nets in the buildup to the first Test against South Africa

(Photo courtesy CWI Media)

Lionel Messi was presented the award by Fifa president Gianni Infantino