Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 31-07-2023

Political, mutual trust between Guyana, China firm

–– Chinese Premier affirms; says practical co-operation has achieved fruitful results

–– Asian nation ready to strengthen co-operation in economy, trade, agriculture, energy, ‘green’ development, other areas

Local company looking to establish US$25M wharf at Land of Canaan

–– says facility will support country’s offshore operations

Aggressive efforts underway to digitise Guyana’s health sector

–– Dr Ramsammy affirms

APNU living in a

reality’

despite overwhelming defeat

GCCI, UN sign declaration to foster social, economic development

–– Attorney General says, as Norton continues to claim LGEs victory

Scenes from the Guyana Police Force’s Gymkhana at the Police Sports Club Ground, on Sunday (Photos by CCU’s Corporal Troy Vanrossum and Corporal Clifford George)

Local company looking to establish US$25M wharf at Land of Canaan

–– says facility will support country’s offshore operations

JOP Property Holdings

Inc ., a Guyanese firm , is seeking to construct a US $ 25 million wharf at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara near the Baker Hughes ’ Supercenter to further advance the delivery services and supplies to the local oil and gas industry

The firm which is currently seeking approval from the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ), explained , in its project summary, that the facility will allow for the transition of products and supplies back and forth to offshore operations in Guyana.

“ The wharf will sit directly in the Demerara River, approximately 63 Georgetown Datum (GD) from the high-water mark along the western boundary of the property The wharf will be 20 meters wide, with a 10 m wide ramp , by 240 meters long, covering a total area of 7,200 m2,” the company said

Meanwhile, the proposed structure will comprise a reinforced concrete deck supported on prestressed precast concrete piles These piles will consist of cross - section dimensions 350mm x 350mm

The wharf deck will be designed to support Uniformly Distributed Loads (UDL) of 50kPa over the entire deck surface

During its construction phase, some 50 persons are expected to gain direct employment, and a larger number of persons are expected to be employed once the project commences its operation phase

According to the project summary , the facility will add to the existing industrial and commercial activities ongoing at Land of Canaan

“ At present , the Land

of Canaan is one of the communities where there is significant industrial and commercial development

In particular, there has been an increase in industrial and commercial activities within Land of Canaan due to the emerging oil and gas sector, and expanding building and infrastructure development sector,” the company said

At a recent round table discussion with key players in Guyana and Ghana’s petroleum industry, Senior

Petroleum Coordinator at the Ministry of Natural Resources , Bobby Gossai Jr ., said that Guyana has seen an increase in local establishments within the oil and gas sector and he believes this is heavily influenced by the country’s local content legislation

He further said that Guyana is looking to further build its local content capacity to not just benefit from the country’s oil and gas sector but also other industries

Gossai related that the local

content act has earned the country massive revenue, with millions being accumulated from offshore investments , prime contractors, and sub-contractors working in the industry

Meanwhile , Guyana is expected to update its local content legislation in the coming months The update to the local content law will likely include new provisions that reflect the lessons learned since its enactment, and the progress made in many areas

Men escape from police, leave 27lbs

POLICE are on the hunt for two men who escaped on Saturday, in the vicinity of Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice

According to a police release, about 05:30 hrs on the day in question, the ranks

of

cannabis behind

were on patrol when they observed two men walking on a dam with two bulky bags on their shoulders

“The ranks called out to the men, who subsequently dropped the bags and started running towards the nearby

cane field

“The ranks gave chase, but the men managed to escape The two bags were checked, and ranks observed that both bags contained seeds, leaves and stems suspected to be Cannabis Sa-

tiva,” the release said The suspected Cannabis Sativa ( marijuana ) was taken to Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, Berbice, where it was weighed and amounted to 27 lbs.

With this new turning point for Guyana and the industry, it is anticipated that the country will see even more local companies providing logistics and manpower services for increasingly high-skilled industry segments.

On December 31, 2021, the Government of Guyana passed the Local Content Act 2021

Subsequently , it published several related guidelines that were designed to maximise the participation

of Guyanese companies wherever they have the skills and capacity to get involved , beginning with services such as office space rental, janitorial services, laundry and catering services, pest control services, insurance services , supply of food and accounting services and extending through long-term involvement in highly skilled subsectors like subsea installation , geophysical analysis and engineering.

The proposed location for the US$25 million wharf (JOP diagram)

The seized cannabis

Political, mutual trust between Guyana, China firm

Asian nation ready to strengthen cooperation in economy,

CHINESE Premier Li

Qiang on Sunday met with Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali in Beijing, and said that China is willing to work with Guyana to promote relations between China and Caribbean countries , and to jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries

Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than five decades ago , China and Guyana have always treated each other with mutual respect and equality

The political mutual trust between the two sides has become even firmer as time goes by, he said, adding that the practical co-operation has achieved fruitful results, setting an example of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems ,

histories and cultures

Li expressed China ’ s readiness to continue to make joint efforts with Guyana to develop bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and promote the building of a China-Guyana community with a shared future

He pointed out that China firmly supports Guyana in pursuing a development path that is suitable for its own national conditions Taking the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity, China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Guyana in economy , trade , agriculture, energy, green development and other areas.

China stands ready to work with Guyana to promote relations between China and Caribbean countries , meet global challenges together ,

safeguard the common interests of developing countries , and improve international fairness and justice, Li said

Noting that China is a strategic partner of Guyana , President Ali said that Guyana spoke highly of China’s great achievements in advancing modernization, and thanked China for helping Guyana with its economic and social development He welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Guyana

Dr Ali said that Guyana appreciates China ’ s important role in international affairs , and is willing to work with China to practise multilateralism and jointly address the

global challenges of energy security, food security and climate change

The Guyanese Head

–– Chinese Premier affirms; says practical cooperation has achieved fruitful results

trade, agriculture, energy, ‘green’ development, other areas

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday met with Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali in Beijing, and said that China is willing to work with Guyana to promote relations between China and Caribbean countries, and to jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries (Guyana’s Office of the President photos)

of State , who is visiting China, attended the opening ceremony of the

31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games in Chengdu,

capital city of southwest China ’ s Sichuan Province. (Xinhua)

Canada wildfire: Firefighter dies tackling British Columbia blaze

A THIRD firefighter has died in Canada while battling the country’s worst wildfire season on record

Authorities say the firefighter died tackling the Donnie Creek fire near Fort St John, in the western province of British Columbia

People are evacuating an area further south in the province, near the US border, as fires swirl out of control

A third of all fires currently raging in Canada are in British Columbia

So far this season, Canadian wildfires have burned about 30 million acres of land - more than the land area of South Korea or Cuba

Residents in the town of Osoyoos, in the south of the province, and its surrounding areas were told to evacuate late on Saturday after a fire originating from the northwestern US state of Washington crossed into Canada

People in the town shared photos of the approaching

fire on social media, including the image above

Two other firefighters have died in separate incidents this month in what has become Canada’s worst wildfire season on record

A fourth person, the pilot of a helicopter helping with “bucketing” operations, died after a crash in the neighbouring Alberta province last week

Some 613 of the 990 fires currently active in Canada are considered out of control

British Columbia’s premier David Eby confirmed the third firefighter’s death in a statement on Saturday, saying: “My heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of this frontline hero.”

Mr Eby said the season this year had been “profoundly awful” and described firefighters making “extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe”.

In June, firefighters in Nova Scotia on the Atlantic coast battled the province’s largest ever wildfire Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires

The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions

Canada is estimated to be warming twice as fast as the rest of the world and its extreme weather events have become more frequent and intense

Its wildfires have also sparked pollution alerts across North America , as smoke is blown south along the continent’s eastern coast. Smoke has even reached as far as Europe. (BBC)

An evacuation order is in place in Osoyoos, British Columbia

–– economy records ninth consecutive quarter of

growth

Barbados: Full COVID-19 recovery

AS the Barbados economy fully recovers from a period of recession, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr Kevin Greenidge, says private sector investment will play a critical role in maintaining the growth going forward.

He gave that indication on Friday as he reported that the economy expanded by 3.9 per cent for the first six months – an indication of a full recovery from the downturn in the COVID-19 period – and was projected to end the year at up to five per cent growth

“ This growth resulted in fiscal surpluses , improved employment, reduced debt-to-GDP ratio, a narrowing gap between the value of exports and imports, and record foreign reserve levels The increased economic activity also fed into the financial services sector, improving credit quality, as well as boosting assets and profits,” Greenidge reported as he delivered the economic report for the first half of the year at the Central Bank

The ninth consecutive quarter of growth, he said, meant the economy had fully recovered from the nearly 20 per cent cumulative decline experienced in the first six months of both 2020 and 2021

“2020, we were 11.1 per cent down [and] 2021, 7.4 per cent down Collectively, that is 18.5 per cent we collapsed over the COVID period Now we have grown in the first half of last year at 15.7 and now 3.9 per cent So we have recovered all the space lost during COVID as strong growth continues throughout the economy,” reported Greenidge.

Economic growth continued to be led by the tourism sector as well as increases in non-traded economic activities

The Central Bank Governor said Barbados experienced a vibrant winter tourist season, resulting in a 12 per cent increase in visitor arrivals by the end of June this year over the same period last year

The estimated 311,379 long-stay visitors meant that the island reached about 83.5 per cent of 2019 figures, the last best year prior to the devastating pandemic, and 86.9 per cent of the 2017-2019 average

“The industry continues to benefit from pent-up demand for travel following the cessation of pandemic restrictions, improved airlift from the UK, and air-to-sea arrangements with cruise lines Arrivals from the UK exceeded 2019’s high levels, supported by continued high seating capacity over the course of the first six months of 2023,” Greenidge said

He reported that while the United States, Canadian, and Caribbean markets also exhibited strong growth, arrivals from those markets remained below pre-pandemic levels because of insufficient airline seats and high airfare

Greenidge said in addition to continued strong tourism

performance, the economy needed to see a speeding up of significant private sector investment of about $2 billion per year, in order to sustain the medium-term economic growth

He said he was hoping that investment could come from the $13.65 billion currently in the banking system which he said remained “healthy” and well capitalised with excess liquidity

“The system is quite healthy in terms of capacity to absorb shocks We want to get some of this liquidity into active investment projects,” he said

The last time the country experienced real GDP growth of 3.8 per cent was in 2006 when private and public sector investment totalled just over 20 per cent of GDP

“At that time, investment overall was 21 per cent of GDP The public sector was investing roughly 4.5 per cent of GDP and the foreign private sector was investing roughly 7.1 per cent and the domestic private sector around 10 per cent Over time, that investment ratio had fallen,” he noted

“Now, to get the growth we need . . . we need government investment to move up to five per cent (approximately $500 million), and that is on the way What we need now to get is the private sector, both foreign and domestic investment, to step up and increase from the roughly eight per cent of GDP

to 15 per cent of GDP

“In other words, from $975 million to roughly $2 billion If we can get that, we can get the strong growth needed to move Barbados into a different level where we are having five per cent growth on average over the medium term, and you will feel it and see it So that is what is needed,” explained Greenidge

The Central Bank Governor expects inflation, which slowed during the first six months of this year, reaching 5.9 per cent at the end of June, to continue to moderate towards the end of the year before reaching as low as an estimated three per cent early next year

Government debt is again trending downwards, reaching approximately 117.5 per cent of GDP at the end of June

For the six months under review, the Government raked in $756.3 million in revenue, led by the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT). Meanwhile, expenditure for the review period was recorded at $707.7 million

The unemployment rate was estimated to have reached 8.9 per cent at the end of June, compared to 9.3 per cent at the end of June last year. (Barbados Today)

Unite Behind the Vision

IN the face of an ever-rising tide of economic challenges brought on by global events, the people of Guyana have found a ray of hope in the steadfast efforts of the PPP/C government.

Since taking office, the administration has been tenaciously striving to address the soaring cost of living in the country through an array of visionary grant initiatives and prudent fiscal management

At the heart of the PPP/C’s commitment to its citizens is a recognition that the prosperity of any nation lies in the well-being of its people

Budget 2023 stands as a testament to the PPP/C government’s fiscal prudence and its unwavering commitment to uplifting the lives of citizens Remarkably, this historic budget was successfully financed without burdening the public with new taxes

Through careful financial planning and prioritization of expenditure, the administration has shown that responsible governance can drive progress without resorting to knee-jerk tax hikes

Budget 2023 is 41.4 per cent larger than

budget 2022, amounting to $781.9 billion, fully financed with no new taxes

Prior to the government tapping into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), central government revenue typically composed of 96 per cent tax revenue and four per cent non-tax revenue.

Naysayers have also failed to acknowledge the major subsidies and implementations put in place by the PPP government, which are aimed at ensuring that Guyanese do not feel the wrath of the surge in the cost of living

Vice - President , Dr Bharrat Jagdeo recently said: “We then had direct interventions: we removed the taxes on a whole range of items, on data, on electricity, on water, on food items, a whole range of stuff , all of value - added taxes ,” adding that his government has also implemented a number to measures for people who are building low-income houses, in particular, the steel-and- cement subsidies

Through the steel-and-cement subsidies, Guyanese constructing homes to the tune of $6 million and below benefit from 80 lengths of ½ inch steel rods, 60 lengths

of 3/8 inch steel rods, and one sling of cement In comparison, builders with estimates of above $6 million and $25 million will benefit from two slings of cement

Through the government’s intervention, interest rates on home loans at the various commercial banks have been significantly reduced to make homeownership more attainable for the average Guyanese citizen

By facilitating affordable access to credit , the administration is not only fulfilling a fundamental human need but also stimulating economic growth through increased construction and housing development

Moreover, the PPP/C government has demonstrated a clear commitment to easing the financial burden on its people by strategically removing taxes where feasible.

Noting that other countries have decided to put pressure on their citizens and increase costs for amenities such as electricity, Dr Jagdeo said: “…Are you aware that throughout increases in prices for fuel, that the government did not increase the price of electricity? Electricity is a huge component of the cost of living, and elec-

tricity prices.”

Additionally, he touched on the fact that the two major components of the cost of living -- water and electricity prices -- have always remained constant

This commendable move has not only eased the strain on household budgets , but also provided a boost to consumer spending, fuelling economic activity and supporting local businesses

As the world continues to battle with various economic and social challenges, the PPP/C government’s resolute efforts to tackle the rising cost of living have provided a glimmer of hope to the people of Guyana

The government ’ s determination to sustain these initiatives and navigate the evolving economic landscape, however, demands continued support from citizens, cooperation from opposition parties, and adaptability in the face of unforeseen circumstances

It is time for all stakeholders to unite behind this vision, for the journey to a better tomorrow is one that must be undertaken together.

OGGN Part 2: Is the OGGN adhering to the provisions of 501(c) (3)?

Dear Editor,

REFERENCE is made to the Oil and Gas Governance Network’s (OGGN) letter dated July 29, 2023, published in the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News. The letter was a response to concerns this author raised surrounding the organization’s legitimacy.

Many of the concerns, however, remained unanswered. The only matter the OGGN sought to confirm is that it is a registered organization, and it has been granted the status of 501 (c) (3) by the IRS So, on this note, I thank the OGGN directors for their response

Notwithstanding this, I wish to point out to the general public that the OGGN’s activities remain highly questionable to the point where it appears that the organization is in violation of the 501 (c) (3) requirements in accordance with the United States tax laws

To this end, the IRS publication 4220 (Rev.3-2018) Catalog Number 37053T Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service, prescribed the disclosure requirements for 501 (c) (3) organizations The disclosure requirements are stated as follows:

“ Public Inspection of Exemption Applications and Returns – Section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organizations must make their applications (Form 1023 or Form 1023EZ) and the annual returns (Form 990, or Form 990-EZ or Form 990-PF), available to the public for inspection, upon request and without charge (except for a reasonable charge for copying).

“Each annual return must be made available for a three-year period starting with the filing date of the return For tax years beginning after August 17, 2006, Section 501 (c) (3) organizations that file unrelated business income tax returns (Form 990-T) must make them available

for public inspection Organizations should not include private information of donors or other individuals, such as a Social Security number, in any information return.”

Moreover , non - profit organizations in the United States are required to make their financial statements available to the public Form 990 includes a nonprofit’s figures for revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities, and all 501(c) (3) nonprofits are required to submit Form 990 to the IRS annually The form also includes the salaries of the directors, officers, and executives of the corporation

Further to note, nonprofit organizations such as the OGGN are required to make this information available to the public with the idea being that nonprofits are created to serve the public interest and, therefore, should remain transparent for accountability purposes

Interestingly , the OGGN directors

did not disclose the foregoing information other than to state that they are a registered organization, and that they are required to file their tax returns

The fact remains that the OGGN is obligated to do more than just state, but to publicly disclose its tax return filings and its financial statements I would also like the Guyanese public to have the opportunity to scrutinize the OGGN’s bylaws which is not public, since the OGGN anointed itself as an organization that represents the Guyanese publics’ interest

As argued in my previous letter to the media, the OGGN has arguably departed from their stated mission How is it they are educating the Guyanese? By doing what? By seeking to sabotage and block monies earned from the sale of carbon credits? By seeking to stop the production of oil in Guyana

(Melinda Janki et.al)? Can the OGGN

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Sorry, Mr. Bisram, the sun has set on Pax Americana

IN my piece yesterday, I made the point that you cannot apply a basic understanding of contract law to the agreement between EXXON and Guyana That covenant is floating on a sea of politics.

I seriously believe people who clamour for a renegotiation of the EXXON contract are ignorant of one of the main impulses in the world – international relations

Guyana within the context of international politics simply cannot demand EXXON come to the table There are powerful actors in world politics that are not connected to EXXON, but who have an interest in how things play out between EXXON and Guyana. Those who demand a renegotiated document simply cannot fathom this aspect of the oil contract in Guyana because they are driven by an understanding of law and not international relations.

The same fault - line applies to the argument by Vishnu Bisram who advocates that Guyana adopt the American dollar as its currency Here Mr Bisram’s advocacy derecognizes the importance of global politics I thought better of Mr Bisram because I have read many times where he wrote that he has several academic qualifications

If that is so, then Mr Bisram is one of the world’s most educated persons and I say that in all seriousness I know of no scholar whose works I currently read in philosophy, sociology, comparative politics, economics, literature and international affairs who has so many qualifications

Against this background of being one of the world’s most educated persons, one would have expected a higher quality of scholarship than what is contained in his letter of July 28

I will now address the faults in Mr Bisram’s analysis

1- He says that the Chinese yuan would not be favoured as an international currency because of conflicts China has with other countries. He cites India and western powers I find a bit of pro-western propaganda in this statement I would put it the other way – Western countries have created conflicts with China because China has now arisen as a superpower and the West feels it will be displaced as the force that dominated the world the past 500 years

Countries that will refuse to accept the yuan as an international currency are those that are locked into a historically tight relationship with the US and the US will not allow them to trade in the yuan Even though Australia can be described an intimate ally of the US, because of Australia’s geographic location it will be a very strong trading partner with China and will not oppose the yuan as an international currency

2 - Bisram argues that should Guyana adopt the dollar as its currency, Guyana will become a more vibrant market for American goods. This is a strange outline of words. Bisram did not say the US will become more receptive to Guyana’s exports The US will not Our gilbakka and catfish have been banned in the US When Guyana’s ambassador Sam Hinds was asked why on the Giildarie-Freddie Kissoon Show, he said he thinks in relation to catfish, the Americans are annoyed that our fish carries the name catfish because the Americans have their own catfish If Mr Hinds is right, then that is plain bullying of a small, poor country by a superpower

3 - For a man who wrote that he has several exceptional tertiary qualifications, one wonders what was going through the head of Mr Bisram when he wrote that if Guyana makes the US dollar its currency,

OGGN Part 2: Is the OGGN adhering to the

provide one example of an oil-producing country anywhere in the world, where the government successfully managed to renegotiate a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that is less than three years into production versus closer to its expiration, or after?

Can the OGGN tell the Guyanese people what happened to Venezuela, which is the only country I am aware of that sought to do exactly what the OGGN is advocating for, and wherein Venezuela was ordered to pay the oil companies, namely ExxonMobil, and its co-venture partner US$40 billion for the economic loss

To put this into perspective , Guyana doesn ’ t have US $ 40 billion in the bank Guyana’s GDP as of the end of 2022 stood at US$14 billion Hence, the sum that Venezuela was ordered to compensate the oil companies is almost three times the size of Guyana’s economy Do they want to bankrupt Guyana and push its people into poverty as in the case of Venezuela?

It is perplexingly worrying when the OGGN claims that it represents Guyanese interests, and that its mission is to obtain greater benefits for the Guyanese people

Yet, when one examines their work, the ramifications of their lobbying position would

From page 6

actually be far more harmful and, I dare say, detrimental for the country and its people

It is for this precise reason that I have taken it upon myself to challenge the OGGN and expose its hidden modus operandi

And lastly, what’s even worse and perhaps laughable, is that the OGGN invited the Guyanese public to peruse its work on their website.

The OGGN, if it was true to its mission, ought to have been producing technical articles and scholarly work

The reality is such that OGGN’s work is the absolute inverse to this concept The directors produce largely biased opinionated pieces , and none of them whatsoever are supported with any iota of scientific and/or empirical evidence

I end by asking, what is the hidden agenda of the OGGN?

References to IRS publications and Technical Notes:

https://www irs gov/forms-pubs/aboutform-990

https :// pbpatl org / wp - content / uploads/2011/12/applying for 501c 3 tax

exempt status1 pdf

such a direction will ensure the protection of Guyana from threatening countries This is a very poor comprehension of realpolitik in international affairs

The US will protect Guyana depending on who is making the threats President Maduro accepts that the Essequibo belongs to Venezuela, but Maduro is quiet on his claim because he knows that the Americans would not accept his aggression But opposition leader Guaido is equally inflexible on the Essequibo claim and the Americans want him to replace Maduro If that should happen, why Bisram thinks the US will confront president Guaido on his aggression against Guyana? It

will not Venezuela is a billion miles more of geopolitical, geo-strategic value to the US than Guyana

Finally, four quick points on the flaws of Mr Bisram’s thinking: one is he says that the US dollar has been the world’s most stable currency throughout history Not so It was the British pound during the British Empire Two- the dollar became globally popular because the US dominated the world after 1945 Three – the euro has significantly dented the power of the dollar Fourthly, Bisram should realize that Pax Americana is dying The world has become multi-polar and a new superpower has emerged.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

All said, China just keeps growing stronger (Part II)

By Earl Bousquet

FROM Asia and The Pacific to Europe and The Americas, Africa and the Caribbean, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) remains an essential life partner for humanity, from being the world’s factory to owning a very big slice of the global economy.

Just as anyone can – anytime and anywhere -- be wearing or using, or can easily point to something within reach with a ‘Made in China’ label, so has China’s economy been permanently integrated globally over the last four-plus decades

But it didn’t all happen by accident

Instead, it was the result of adoption, over time, of deliberate policies and goals based on plans set and pursued by the country’s biggest political force , the ever - growing Communist Party of China (CPC), in office since 1949

Centralised and advanced long - term planning by any party with more than 100 million members and supporters dedicated to a national cause will yield expected results over generations -- and so it is with the CPC and the PRC

Established in 1921, the CPC would 28 years later lead the revolution that established the PRC; and a century later, the CPC would reaffirm its plan to transition the PRC to a

Chronicles of a Chronic Guyana Chronicler

By Earl Bousquet

system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics by 2049, the Centenary of the Republic

Having shown its ability to build its economy with power and resilience while keeping level heads and hands on its levers of China’s share of the world economy, the PRC has also established its own air, naval and ground armed forces, with strong and advanced weapons and munitions systems, capable of defending itself against any type of attack and protecting its land and seas from external aggression or encroachment

The CPC closed the 20th Century and opened the 21st as an unrivaled world power in its own right

The return of Hong Kong to its origins in 1992 was followed by two decades of development that shot for the stars -- until COVID-19 some 27 years later, when the PRC had to battle the pandemic at home and fend efforts, without proof, to blame China for its arrival

But before, during and after the threeyear pandemic, Chinese medical scientists worked with colleagues from The University of the West Indies (The UWI) medical and science faculties, alongside Cuban counterparts, in Wuhan, to produce early medical responses and leading to Cuba’s development of several different COVID - 19 vaccines , shared with the rest of the world

That co-operation with China and Cuba also allowed The UWI to give early expert advice to Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) governments, until the global vaccination mechanism was employed and deployed to start bringing the pandemic under effective control

The Ukraine War that started in February 2022 on Russia’s border and its resulting supply chain and sanctions repercussions, forced nations forever watching China to start looking within, as Moscow survived the sanctions while Europeans paid the ultimate price through much - higher cost - of - living prices for everything from food and fuel to all-else depending on energy – and all affecting the poorest most in every nation – North, South, East and West.

The visit to Taiwan by then-outgoing US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, 11 months ago was followed by a series of similar diplomatic and political mishaps, including a repeat Pelosi-type meeting by her successor, Kevin Mc Carthy, with Taiwan’s pro-independence leader Madam Tsai Ing - wen just months later, this time on US soil

The Pelosi visit last August allowed for the type of avoidable fireworks displays in the Taiwan Strait that reaffirmed China’s stronger control of and ability to defend its seas and skies from external threats – and

accordingly upgrade its military strategies and tactics for any future possibilities

China and the US have been through another round of diplomatic and political standoffs after the shooting of a balloon with Chinese language signage in US airspace that Washington loudly claimed was spying, but would later confirm was not

But the diplomatic and political results were deadly serious, with relations between Beijing and Washington diving to the deepest low in decades, resulting in dispatches of successive patch-up top-notch US diplomats and officials to China in quick succession, starting with Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, followed by Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen and US climate czar , John Kerry

Meanwhile, China’s shared leading role in the BRICS group of developing nations ( Brazil , Russia , India , China and South Africa) is attracting attention, as it remains well-set to give The South a louder voice on the global stage, consistent with its members’ breadth, depth and strength by the real value of representing the most people on Planet Earth and the most natural and human resources -- and sharing a greater part of the global economy

Indeed, the BRICS have already created their New Development Bank to offer new platforms and currencies for fairer world trade ; and with Saudi Arabia and many , many other nations planning to join , the writing is on the wall is quite clear: The beginning of the end of unipolar and unilateral impositions by stronger and richer nations -in the name of self-anointed exceptionalism -- in future global political and economic decisions affecting the entire world

Likewise, China’s laudable achievements as another world power in space research and exploration, alongside Russia and India, is understandably shivering spines in the North, as nations of The South develop their own independent space programmes following the recent destruction of decades of international co-operation through the shared space station that saw the US, Europe and Russia work together in the post-Cold War era – until Ukraine

Approaching its 75th anniversary in 2024, the PRC is in 2023 marching ahead with its usual confidence of always eventually finding ways to turn challenges into opportunities for China and the world to always continue to coexist peacefully

And here again, never mind the naysayers, China just keeps growing taller and stronger on the various political and economic, military and diplomatic platforms on the world stage

APNU living in a ‘parallel reality’

Attorney General says, as Norton continues to claim LGEs victory despite overwhelming defeat

IN defiance of official Local Government Elections (LGEs) results, the A Partnership for National Unity ( APNU ) Leader Aubrey Norton has been accused of living in a “ parallel reality ” by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C.

In his weekly programme , ‘ Issues in the News’ last Tuesday, Nandlall pointed out that despite clear evidence of their defeat in the 2023 LGEs , Norton boldly proclaimed victory at a recent victory rally, sparking disbelief and ridicule

The victory rally, which took place on Sunday , July 16, near the Stabroek Market, Georgetown, was meant to celebrate what APNU claimed was a victory at the recent Local Government Elections

However, the Attorney General stressed that the official election results which have been widely accepted both locally and internationally, paint a different picture

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) emerged as the clear winner , securing victory in 67 out of 80 local authority areas contested

Nandlall highlighted the stark contrast between APNU ’ s claims and the actual results , stating : “When the country knows otherwise yet at a public meeting, which they were brave enough to televise and stream live on Facebook , the Leader of the Opposition mounts the platform and announces and these are his exact words, ‘The reality of the last local government election is the APNU by itself got more votes than the People ’ s Progressive Party (PPP).”

Nandlall expressed astonishment at the celebra-

tions and public statements made by APNU leaders , even in the face of irrefutable evidence

He pointed out that these claims were not confined to private conversations or in the media, but were proudly propagated only on the party’s social media pages

Nandlall questioned the reasoning behind APNU’s insistence on declaring victory despite the official results

“I don’t understand how to rationalise these disclosures that are not made at bottom house meetings , you know These are not hush - hush whispers in a corner These are public statements that are being televised and are being streamed live and circulated proudly on social media, including Facebook,” he said

However, the AG pointed out that Norton’s statement flies in the face of official results from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Delving into specific election results , Nandlall challenged APNU’s claims by providing a clear picture of the actual outcome.

“ If you go and check the results now you will see that the People’s Progressive Party won 67 out of 80 at local authority areas in which those elections were contested 67 out of 80 the People’s Progressive Party won If you calculate that, you will see that over 80% of the elections held in 80 local authority areas , the PPP won,” he said

The Attorney General questioned the motives behind APNU’s persistence in claiming victory despite the overwhelming defeat

“That is why I am saying either there is a high level of delusion or people are simply living different alternatives in Guyana dif-

Recently, outgoing US Ambassador , Sarah - Ann Lynch highlighted the successful conduct of the LGEs, which reflects Guyana’s commitment to democratic processes

The ambassador de -

scribed the process as “free and fair,” noting: “A Local Government Election which we observed was widely viewed as free and fair.”

She also recognised the credibility and integrity

of the electoral process, acknowledging Guyana’s efforts in upholding democratic principles

ferent realities But that is my observation As you go and verify it for yourself, look at the election results

“Look at the votes accumulated by the two parties and listen to the statements that are being made by APNU and look at the celebration that they are engaged in, and you come to your conclusion,” Nandlall told his viewers during the programme

The June 12 LGEs marked a significant milestone in Guyana’s democratic journey The PPP/C came out of elections as the big winner, since the party won 67 of the 80 Local Authority Areas ( LAAs ), including seven of 10 municipalities, and 906 of the 1,206 local government seats

The PPP / C won over 83 per cent of the LAAs, 75 per cent of all seats available and more than 70 per cent of all votes cast The PPP/C not only strengthened its hold on its traditional strongholds, but it has massively made inroads in areas where the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led APNU usually celebrated almost 100 per cent votes in the past

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton

GCCI, UN sign declaration to foster social, economic development

as National Small Business Week concludes

THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( GCCI ) and the United Nations ( UN ) on Saturday signed a declaration to foster social and economic development, at the conclusion of National Small Business Week.

The Declaration, which was signed by GCCI President Kester Hutson and UN Resident Coordinator Yeşim Oruç, is aimed at advancing the UN’s Sustainable Devel-

opment Goals (SDGs).

Oruç said it was a privilege to sign the Declaration on promoting the SDGs through a strategic partnership between the GCCI and the UN

The signing was held at the Small Business Seminar and ‘ Expo ’ at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, and was in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and GCCI’s Corporate Part-

ner, GTT, under the theme, “Strategic Collaborations for Success”.

The seminar provided small-business owners with critical insight geared at helping them expand their businesses

They received pertinent information from established business representatives in the private sector who are experienced in financial management , marketing , communications, and train-

ing Opportunities

Hutson said the Small Business Seminar and Expo, which featured about 60 booths, was of utmost importance, as it placed a spotlight on micro , small and medium-size enterprises with a focus on growth and expansion

In keeping with the theme, Hutson said it is his belief that in order for small businesses to grow , it requires consolidation, collaboration and creativity

He said : “ Despite the competitive nature of the business sector , we must acknowledge and recognise that collaboration amongst businesses is vital for sustainable growth and progress.”

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce ’ s Director of Business John

Edghill echoed similar sentiments

He said : “ The time for us to collaborate is not when the opportunity is upon us; we have to prepare for the opportunity by collaborating first The collaboration needs to be made first, so that the opportunity can then present itself to the private sector; to the business, and to all of you small businesses.”

Director of Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services Inc and former GGCI President Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer, in his address, reminded small business owners that there will be challenges, but that they are not without rewards

He encouraged them to consider all the customer and client feedback they receive, and execute a plan to ensure they continue to improve the goods or services they

provide The former GCCI president also stressed on collaboration and its importance in the growth and expansion of any business Chief Operating Officer of GTT Business Solutions Orson Ferguson, in his remarks, said the event gives small businesses the opportunity to showcase their products and services, and learn from business leaders

“We firmly believe that providing you guys with the opportunity to showcase your services, to learn from one another, collaborate, to learn from industry leaders to be invaluable,” he said British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller, and Food and Agriculture Oganisation (FAO) Country Representative Dr. Gillian Smith were also in attendance.

GCCI President Kester Hutson, and UN Resident Coordinator Yeşim Oruç signing the declaration to foster social and economic development

Some of the entrepreneurs showcasing their products during the Small Business Seminar and Expo at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

Guyana continues to aggressively confront human trafficking

AS authorities in Guyana intensify their efforts to combat human trafficking , Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has affirmed that security officials and other stakeholders are working collectively to bolster educational campaigns, enhance monitoring measures, and implement crucial policies.

Minister Benn in a brief statement to commemorate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons celebrated on July 30 , reminded that human trafficking is a horrific crime and attacks human rights , freedoms , safety and dignity

“ Human trafficking knows no boundaries ; it thrives in the shadows , preying on the vulnerable and marginalized From women and young girls forced into the sex trade to men coerced into labour exploitation, its impact is far-reaching and devastating, impacting the lives of many and leaving emotional and, in some cases, phys-

ical scars that may never heal,” the statement read

According to the minister, human beings should be free to improve their economic livelihoods and build families in a safe, peaceful and secure environment

“Tragically, there is a section of society that is determined to deny humans that fundamental right for the sake of profits or other exploitative gains Unfortunately, Guyana or its regional counterparts are not isolated by this situation, as these persons exist here and globally.”

Perpetrators of this crime are known to force, coerce , deceive , defraud , bribe and blackmail others into exploitative and dangerous situations, where in many instances, freedom is restricted

“

The Government of Guyana and the citizens of Guyana reaffirm our unwavering commitment to this fight and our continued efforts to dismantle networks and prosecute

perpetrators who commit this heinous act and bring justice to perpetrators,” the statement added.

Guyana has continued to maintain the Tier One ranking for its efforts to combat TIP and this year’s theme focusing on ‘reaching every victim, leave no one behind.”

The minister ’ s statement highlighted the importance of offering solace and support and help to persons affected by human trafficking

While the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the Guyana Police Force and other members of the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons will remain vigilant of the evolving patterns of traffickers , use of online platforms to recruit persons , its links to money laundering and drug trafficking , there is need to holistically address root causes of trafficking in persons , migrant -smuggling ,

vulnerability and inequality at the regional and international levels

“Each one of us has a role to play, so I urge you all to let us make every day a day against trafficking in persons or human trafficking Let us all take a stand against exploitation and its elimination and stand in solidarity with our survivors

“The general populace is advised to report any suspicious activities in their communities to our 24hrs

hotline ( 623-5030 - English) or (624-0079- Spanish) or the nearest police station.”

The Guyana Police Force Trafficking in Persons Unit has been making strides in countering the crime In the first half of 2023, the unit investigated 21 reported TIP cases, of which 244 alleged victims were interviewed and screened, 23 being under the age of 18

Additionally , five persons were officially

charged and placed before the court between January – May 2023 for offences ranging from trafficking in persons, assault, forgery of currency notes and the operation of a brothel.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

Mangroves remain vital to Guyana’s sea defence efforts

AS part of this year ’ s activities for International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems, the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), in collaboration with Environmental Management Consultants ( EMC ) Founda -

tion, hosted a mangrove odyssey to bring awareness of the importance of mangroves.

The event took place along the seawall from Turkeyen to Ogle and saw participation from several government officials and members of the diplomatic community

Agriculture Minister,

Zulfikar Mustapha, while offering remarks, said that mangroves play an important role in preserving Guyana’s local ecosystem while acting as a natural sea defence

“ We are living in a region that is very vulnerable, the second most vulnerable in the world and we must be prepared

I ’ ve been having regular discussions with the EMC and I can assure you that there will be more activities like this to highlight the critical role mangroves play in preserving our eco-system as well as developing our natural sea defences,” he noted

Minister Mustapha also said that the government has , over the last three years, expended hundreds of millions of dollars as part of Guyana ’ s efforts to regenerate mangroves along Guyana’s coast

“Since I became Agriculture Minister, the government has expended in excess of $500 million to support our mangrove restoration efforts This shows the government ’ s commitment to ensuring these systems are preserved

“Although these efforts

have a positive impact , we cannot do it alone We need support from other organisations I am pleased to see so many organisations onboard I want to encourage others to come onboard so that we can have more activities like this and make a greater impact,” he added

The day ’ s activities also included bird watching , games , and exhibitions aimed at highlighting the importance of mangroves

British High Commissioner to Guyana , Jane Miller; the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Yeşim Oruç; EMC’s Managing Director, Shyam Nokta, and other staff of the Ministry of Agriculture also participated in the event.

From left - Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha; British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller; UN Resident Coordinator, Yeşim Oruç, and EMC’s Managing Director, Shyam Nokta

A section of those who participated in the activity

Aggressive efforts underway to digitise Guyana’s health sector

Dr. Ramsammy says

thony that electronic records would be coming on stream; however, they would be working on the relevant laws to allow for this digital record system

In June 2023, Dr Anthony said that there needs

to be a data architecture in place, as they are moving in the direction of having electronic health records soon

“ We want these legislative things to be in place, so that once we start

implementing a health records system , people must be assured that their information would be well kept.”

Subsequently , the Data Protection Bill of 2023 was presented to

the National Assembly, and is set to regulate the collection, keeping, processing use and dissemination of personal data to protect the privacy of individuals in relation to their personal data

WITH the official pilot programme of an Electronic Medical Records system launched at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Adviser to the Minister of Health Dr . Leslie Ramsammy said that they are aggressively moving to transform and digitise the sector

Dr Ramsammy made these remarks during the launch of the EMR system at the GPHC Friday last when he noted that the launch was deliberately designed to say to the country that the health sector is in a hurry to embrace technology

He said : “ We are making an aggressive move to transform the sector from a sector that made minimal use of digital technology to one that optimises fully digital technology in improving healthcare in our country.”

Along with this , he said that steps are being taken to implement digital systems in other parts of the hospital, and by extension the health sector

Dr Ramsammy said

that there is a functional laboratory information system that is being interlinked with all clinics

Additionally, arrangements are being made for the pharmacy and laboratory to have inter-operability capacity to be linked into the EMR system.

“We are working with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to ensure that Guyana rolls out a high-quality electronic medical record, so this is just the beginning of that effort,” he said

Further, Dr Ramsammy indicated that while the GPHC has pioneered every advancement made in the health sector in the country , it plans , once again, to take over leadership of healthcare in the Caribbean

However, he said that for this to take place, there must not only be bits and pieces of digital health in place, but also a comprehensive digital health system in place across the sector

Meanwhile , late last year , the announcement was made by Health Minister Dr Frank An -

Dr Leslie Ramsammy (Japheth Savory photo)

FAO welcomes European Union contribution of €25 million to advance wildlife conservation,

food security

–– funds

will finance second phase of multi-partner Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

THE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed €25 million in additional funding from the European Union (EU) to extend and scale up the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme.

Since 2017, the initiative has been working with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to reduce unsustainable wildlife hunting, conserve wildlife, and strengthen people’s livelihoods and food security.

The first phase of the initiative received €45 million from the EU, with co-funding from the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM) and French Development Agency ( AFD ). This second phase will run from August 2023 to May 2029 and will be part of NaturAfrica, the new EU initiative for biodiversity conservation in Africa

In this new phase, FAO will continue to lead a consortium of partners, which includes the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development ( CIRAD ), the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

“The SWM Programme has a significant

Union seeks to provide additional funding to continue the SWM Programme until June 2029.”

IMPORTANCE OF THE PROGRAMME

Many rural populations around the world continue to rely on wildlife for food, incomes and their cultural identity Wild meat is an important source of protein, fat and micronutrients. However, the increasing demand for wild meat, especially in urban areas, is threatening wildlife populations, ecosystem balance, and food security of indigenous and rural communities in tropical and subtropical regions

Moreover , the COVID - 19 pandemic highlighted the interdependence between human, animal and ecosystem health, and illustrated the magnitude and diversity of the consequences that the loss or degradation of biodiversity can have around the world

The SWM Programme aims to improve the sustainable and legal use of wild animal populations through participatory management of hunting, fishing and wildlife It also works on reducing urban consumption of

contribution to make as we work towards a sustainable and food-secure world for all,” said Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, FAO. “

The initiative contributes to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as well as to the ‘ four betters ’ in the new FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031 For example, the programme is working towards ‘better nutrition’ by promoting safe food across wild and domestic meat value chains, and towards ‘better environment’ by developing innovative approaches to improve practices, build capacities to reduce zoonotic risks and protect ecosystems.”

The partnership is working with national and regional administrations, and over 80 local and indigenous communities , in 16 countries The initiative is strengthening innovative and collaborative targeted approaches to conserve wild animals, protect ecosystems, and improve the livelihoods of those who depend on these resources

“Building scalable new models to conserve wildlife and improve food security takes time,” said Marjeta Jager, Deputy Director - General , Directorate - General for International Partnerships (DG-INTPA), European Commission. “We need to further develop the models tested by the SWM Programme and to disseminate and scale up the programme’s findings, results and approaches to achieve greater impacts For this reason, the European

wild meat from unsustainable sources by encouraging healthy and sustainable livestock, poultry and fish-farming value chains

The initiative focuses as well on building capacity to reduce zoonotic risks at the human-domestic animal-wildlife and ecosystem interfaces by promoting the One Health approach.

MAKING A GLOBAL CONTRIBUTION

The new EU funding will be used to increase the impact and sustainability of the programme by completing the models and sharing lessons learnt, tools and innovations at national, regional and international levels

The initiative will continue to work with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and regional organizations in Africa

The SWM Programme contributes to the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031, which supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through a transition to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems that deliver improvements in production, nutrition, environment and livelihoods

The programme also contributes to many international strategies and priorities , including the Kunming - Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework , the One Health approach, and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. (FAO)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday July 31, 2023)

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

Answers to Sunday’s quiz:

(1) Patrick Patterson-6/29 (Nagpur, 1987-88)

(2) Anil Kumble-6/12- (Kolkatta, 1993-94)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who has aggregated most ODI runs for the WI against IND to date?

(2) Who has cracked most ODI centuries for IND versus the WI to date? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

15:42

Colombia stun Germany with famous win at Women’s World Cup

MANUELA Vanegas

scored a 97th-minute winner as Colombia stunned Germany at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.

Linda Caicedo netted a wondergoal to give the South Americans the lead, before Germany equalised with an 89th-minute Alexandra Popp penalty

Vanegas then headed Leicy Santos ’ corner past Merle Frohms to send the vast numbers of Colombia supporters at Sydney Football Stadium wild

It condemned Germany to a first World Cup group stage defeat since 1995

A manic ending came after Caicedo, 18, had brilliantly curled into the top corner on 53 minutes to shock the two-time world champions

The final round of fixtures in this group kick off at 11.00 BST on 3 August, with Colombia taking on Morocco and Germany facing South Korea

Colombia need a point to

top the group, while Germany may need victory to be sure of reaching the knockouts

“ Obviously , you need to be happy and euphoric because this is a great win for the whole country and we ’ ve been feeling this ,” said Colombia assistant coach Angelo Marsiglia.

“But look, the game and the tournament still contin-

ues so we’ll go step by step We have a very mature team and they know what they want.”

Vanegas winner sparks extraordinary scenes Germany ’ s Lina Magull said before this game that they were ready for Colombia’s “passion” and physicality - but they got far more than they bargained for.

Verstappen makes it eight wins in a row with Belgian GP success

MAX Verstappen was in imperious form as he came from sixth on the grid to win the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver’s eighth consecutive victory in the final race before the summer break extended his championship lead to 125 points.

Verstappen led Sergio Perez home to a Red Bull one-two but was in another league from his team-mate.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took third ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

“It’s a new spot, that’s for sure - [winning from] P6. I knew that we had a great car. It was just about surviving Turn One,” said Verstappen.

“From there onwards I made the the right overtakes. I just got a little bit stuck in the beginning in a DRS Zone and once that cleared I could just do my own thing - really enjoyable.”

Verstappen drove cautiously in the early laps as he picked his way up from

his unusually low grid position, caused by a five-place grid penalty for using too many gearbox parts after he had qualified on pole by 0.8 seconds.

The world champion was up to fourth on the first lap but did not pass Hamilton until lap six and Leclerc until lap nine, both times using the DRS overtaking aid to overtake into the Les Combes chicane at the end of the long Kemmel straight.

Perez, who had passed

Leclerc for the lead up the same straight on the first lap, hung on in front until his pit stop on lap 13.

Verstappen pitted the next time around, and only then began to show something like his true potential.

Emerging two seconds back from Perez, Verstappen was a second back after his first lap out of the pits, on his tail next time around, and ahead halfway along the Kemmel straight on lap 17.(BBC Sport)

tle with plenty of midfield scraps and tough challenges, with Germany rarely able to find any form of rhythm

After going behind to Caicedo’s moment of magic , Germany appeared to have got away with a point when Colombia keeper Catalina Perez fouled Lena Oberdorf and captain Popp tucked away the penalty.

Colombia however had other ideas, and it was the unlikely figure of full-back Vanegas who sent their supporters into ecstasy

Huge numbers of Colombia fans were present at their opening win over South Korea at the same stadium, and they made themselves known again in numbers and noise here At the final whistle , it seemed Sydney had been transformed into Bogota

The only worrying mo-

ment for Colombia was centre - back Jorelyn Carabali being taken off on a stretcher in the final seconds after a collision with Popp Germany’s run of 20 successive Women ’ s World Cup group games unbeaten - stretching back to a 3-2 loss to Sweden, 28 years ago - is at an end

Far more concerning for them was their defeat by physical and committed opponents , which will raise some doubts as they aim to reach a first final since they last won the global title in 2007 “ It ’ s up to us ,” said Germany coach Martina Voss - Tecklenburg . “ It ’ s up to us how we play and it’s our job to do that I’m really not worried that we won ’ t make it through . (BBC Sport)

Manuela Vanegas’ late winner sparked enormous scenes of Colombian celebration

Facing the two - time world champions, Colombia made the game a real bat-

Max Verstappen’s victory was his 45th in Formula 1. It was also the 13th win in a row for the Red Bull team dating back to last season.

CWI launches Women’s Academy Programme with intake of first 16 players

CRICKET West Indies

( CWI ) has announced its new West Indies Women’s Academy programme with the first High Performance Camp scheduled to take place from 30 July to 13 August at the West Indies High Performance Centre at Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua

The West Indies Women’s Academy will feature an intake of 16 Women’s Rising Stars

According to a statement from CWI, this marks a pivotal moment in the development of West Indies Women’s cricket in the region and a key step in the professional journey of the 16 players aspiring to become part of the next generation of West Indies Women’s senior players

The squad of 16 players includes Asabi Callender , Jahzara Claxton , NaiJanni

Cumberbatch, Earnisha Fontaine , Jannillea Glasgow , Realeanna Grimmond , Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph , KDJazz

Mitchell, Ashmini Munisar, Samara Ramnath, Shalini Samaroo, Steffi Soogrim, Abini St Jean, Kate Wilmott

The West Indies Wom-

en’s Academy programme will provide a long-term development and coaching plan for these emerging players with the opportunity to learn and train alongside some of

the best coaches and mentors in women ’ s cricket This first West Indies Women’s Academy camp will focus on refining their skills, enhancing their tactical acumen , and nurturing their mental resilience to prepare them for the challenges of international cricket

“I feel very proud that the inaugural West Indies Women’s Academy has been launched with this first twoweek camp in place to start the programme It’s taken a lot of planning over the last 18 months, so to see it coming to fruition is a major step forward for the development of the next generation of West Indies Women’s cricketers This first Academy camp is going to be different to previous High Performance camps, as it will be more holistic in developing players ’ all - round game ,” said CWI’s Talent Pathway Manager Steve Liburd

“Most of the Academy intake are continuing from the West Indies Rising Stars

Under 19s team that participated in the inaugural ICC Women’s Under19 Cricket World Cup earlier this year This is a major investment and development to support their careers with the aim of becoming senior international cricketers Our mandate at the West Indies Women’s Academy is [ to ] aid their progress into the senior West Indies Women’s team and to equip them to become top international cricketers.”

The West Indies Women ’ s Academy is part of CWI ’ s long - term strategic plan to invest in and develop women’s cricket across the region and a key stage in the West Indies Player Pathway By providing a nurturing environment and pathway in which these young players can grow and flourish, CWI aims to create a sustainable pipeline of talent for the West Indies Women’s team The West Indies Men’s Academy was launched in 2022 and will continue in 2023. (Sportsmax)

Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott dominates javelin at T&T national championships

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s National Athletics Championships kicked off Saturday with intense competition , as athletes vied for spots to represent their country in the upcoming World Athletics Championships

followed by 79.76 meters on his second However, it was his event-winning throw on the third attempt that truly impressed the crowd

Point Fortin New Jets ’ Devin Augustine stole the spotlight in the men’s 100m,

qualifier with 10.35 seconds earlier on Concorde’s Revell Webster held on to third place in the speedy final with a time of 10.36 seconds

Meanwhile, in the women ’ s 100m , Michelle Lee Ahye displayed her dominance , making up for her absence from last year ’ s event by clinching victory in 11.31 seconds Abilene’s Reyare Thomas secured the silver medal in 11.43 seconds , closely followed by Concorde ’ s Akilah Lewis , who won the bronze in 11.52 seconds

in August . The opening day saw several standout performances , including a spectacular display by two-time Olympic medalist Keshorn Walcott

In the men ’ s javelin event, Walcott demonstrated his prowess, and easily retained his crown with a throw of 80.41 meters The accomplished athlete , who is no stranger to success on the international stage, threw 79.93 meters on his first attempt,

proving his mettle against an experienced field of sprinters Augustine’s early intent was evident during the preliminaries , where he clocked the second-fastest qualifying time of 10.39 seconds

He further improved in the final, blazing to victory in an impressive 10.26 seconds Abilene Wildcats’ Jerod Elcock was a close silver medalist, finishing just behind Augustine in 10.27 seconds, having been the fastest

Excitement continued to build in the 400m events In the men’s final, Abilene Wildcats secured a 1-2 finish, with Asa Guevara taking the top spot in 46.52 seconds , followed by Shakeem McKay in 46.65 seconds

Zenith Athletic’s Renny Quow completed the top three with a time of 46.78 seconds The women’s 400 meters featured a triumph for Guyana, with Andrea Foster finishing first in 55.08 seconds Phoenix Athletics ’ Camille Lewis secured silver in 56.63 seconds, while IG Fastlane’s Jenna Thomas earned the bronze in 57.25 seconds . (Sportsmax)

The West Indies Women’s Academy will feature an intake of 16 Women’s Rising Stars

2012 Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott

The Ashes 2023…

ENGLAND were frustrated by Australia ’ s strong start to a chase of 384 before rain wiped out half of the fourth day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval

Australia openers frustrate England before rain

Looking to pull off their second-highest run chase in Test cricket, and the best on this ground, Australia made untroubled progress to 135-0

Usman Khawaja is unbeaten on 69, and David Warner 58 not out , with the tourists needing another 249 runs to win

After announcing his retirement at the close on Day Three, Stuart Broad was given a guard of honour by the Australia players when he emerged to resume his innings on Sunday morning

He pulled Mitchell Starc for six from what turned out to be the final delivery he will face in Test cricket, before last man , James Anderson was lbw, to give a fourth wicket to Todd Murphy, and leave England 395 all out

Broad bowled the first over of Australia ’ s innings to his old nemesis, Warner, but England were off-colour with the new ball, not helped by a slow, lifeless pitch

The rain arrived at around 14:40 BST, with a possible 48 overs still remaining in the day The forecast is better for Monday, albeit with a chance of showers There are 98 overs scheduled for what could be a grandstand finish to a superb series

Australia have already retained the Ashes, and avoiding defeat would give them a first series victory in this country since 2001 England are looking for the win that would level the score at 2-2

ONE MORE DAY

IN EPIC SERIES

England remain favourites to take this

match , on only seven occasions in the history of the game has a team made more than 384 to win a Test

But , given the tight nature of this series, the first three matches having all ended with tense, nerve-shredding conclusions, it would be fitting if more drama is created today

England are in a slight predicament of their own making On Saturday , they were 332-4, then lost their last six wickets for 63 runs From 389-9 overnight, Broad’s six was the only runs they added on

Sunday morning

The caution with which Australia have batted for most of the series served them well on Sunday , even if their task was made easier by the conditions

Despite the clouds, England struggled to find any movement , and the energy has been gradually sapped from the surface At times, it felt like the match was being played on a sub-continental pitch under a typically English sky

The rain came at the right time for England , whose frustration was

growing as Australia built momentum

The hosts have the opportunity to return refreshed today, to send Broad into retirement with a series - levelling win.

BROAD’S FAREWELL BEGINS

Broad took most by surprise when he called time on his career on Saturday night, setting up a final farewell over these last two days at The Oval

Some fans arrived wearing the trademark Broad headband , both

in the first innings

Mark Wood was held back, perhaps in the hope of some reverse swing

When he was finally used in the 33rd over, it energised the crowd, still even Wood could not find the breakthrough

Perhaps England ’ s biggest threat came from the turn found by Joe Root, who could not hide his disappointment when three boundaries leaked from his final over.

Warner and Khawaja give Australia hope

Both Australia openers are aged 36 Warner has already said this will be his final Ashes Test and it may also turn out to be the last for Khawaja

While Khawaja has enjoyed a magnificent series - this knock will ensure he will end as the leading run - scorer on either side - Warner is looking for the swansong that bucks the trend of his recent struggles in this country.

his mother and father were interviewed by Test Match Special, and there were tribute videos played on the big- screen before Broad came out to bat

But, after the gesture from the Australian players, the six Broad hiked off Starc was the best thing that happened for England all day.

Neither Broad nor Anderson got enough deliveries in the right area with the new ball Off-spinner Moeen Ali was introduced as early as the 10th over, but struggled with the groin injury that prevented him from bowling

Both men were calm, composed and patient in compiling the highest opening stand by either team in an Ashes Test in this country since 2009 and, at 38 overs, the longest partnership by any pair in this series Khawaja , with a preference for hanging on the back foot , deflected six boundaries to third man Warner launched Anderson over mid-off but also had to fend off a freak chesthigh beamer from the same bowler.

In the 10 overs before the rain arrived, Australia added 53 runs, building a head of steam to take a significant chunk out of the target

Though their progress has been stalled , Warner and Khawaja have batted the tourists into a position from where they can claim an unlikely win . ( BBC Sport)

Australia openers: Usman Khawaja is unbeaten on 69 and David Warner 58 not out

Dravid looking at ‘bigger picture’, not worried about ODI loss

–– India coach says they have to give back-up players game time before the Asia Cup and World Cup

INDIA head coach Rahul Dravid doesn ’ t want to “make the mistake” of letting the ODI series scoreline of 1-1 take the focus away from looking at the “bigger picture” as India build towards the 2023 World Cup at home this October-November

Dravid meant the team is willing to strike a balance between providing opportunities to players, even if it means resting seniors like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli , and winning while not obsessing over shortterm results, given there are fewer than 10 games left before their World Cup opener against Australia in Chennai

“I think we will always look at the bigger picture,” Dravid said after West Indies levelled the ODI series with a six-wicket win in Bridgetown on Saturday. “To be honest, at this stage in the cycle with the Asia Cup and World Cup coming up, and with the injuries we have, we have to look at the bigger picture. We can’t worry about every single game, every single series. If we do that, it will be a mistake.”

Resting Rohit and Kohli for the second ODI meant game time for Sanju Samson and Axar Patel. Samson will

be tussling with Ishan Kishan for the second wicketkeeper’s slot, while Axar is largely seen as a like-for-like backup to Ravindra Jadeja.

Samson managed just 9, while Axar, promoted to No. 4, scored 1. They were part of a middle-order meltdown that led to India floundering from 90 without loss to 181 all out.

Dravid labelled it “a challenging wicket” where 230 would have been par for the course, but wasn’t fretting over the result, instead choosing to draw positives from giving back-up players game time in the wake of a scenario where their regulars - Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul - currently recuperating from injuries at the NCA don’t make it.

“Honestly, this was our last chance to be able to try out some of our players,” Dravid said. “We have got few of our players who are injured and are at the NCA. With a month to go for the Asia Cup, we are kind of running out of time in a lot of ways. And we’re hopeful some of them will be fit for the Asia Cup and World Cup. But we can’t take those chances; we have to try out other people and give them chances so that, in a worst-

case scenario, they have game time behind them.

“It gives us an opportunity to make some decisions on players. We just felt in a series like this, with just twothree matches to go before the Asia Cup, playing Virat and Rohit honestly would not have given us too many answers, but with the injuries we have at the NCA and the uncertainty around them, we wanted to give some of the other boys a chance so that if required they can play.”

Suryakumar figuring out ‘how to bat in middle overs’

One of the players who has been given a run in Iyer’s absence is Suryakumar Yadav, who is currently India’s

T20I vice-captain. Renowned for his 360-degree game in the shortest format, Suryakumar hasn’t been able to replicate the same success in the 50-overs format.

In both games in this series, Suryakumar has thrown away starts. In the first ODI, he was lbw for 19 trying to sweep left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie.

In the second ODI, he shelved the sweep completely, but was out cutting Motie for 24. In all, Suryakumar averages a shade under 24 after 23 ODI innings with just two half-centuries.

“Look, Surya is a really good player, there’s no doubt about it,” Dravid said. “His performances have shown that, especially in T20 cricket, even in domestic white-ball cricket. He has some very good performances. Unfortunately, he’d be the first one to admit his ODI numbers aren’t up to his high standards he’s set in T20s. But he’s also learning about one-day cricket.

“He’s played a lot of competitive T20 cricket through the IPL before he made his India debut, but in terms of one-day cricket, he hasn’t played that much; there’s no IPL in one-day cricket. So, I

think he’s also learning; trying to figure out how to bat in those middle overs. He’s a talent; he’s a really good player. We want to give him as many opportunities as we can. Up to him now to take those opportunities, and use them. But yeah, in the kind of set-up we are, we like to give people as many chances we possibly can.”

Then, there are Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, whose developments from age-group cricket Dravid has been privy to having worked with them at India Under-19. Gill is yet to hit a half-century on tour [across five innings] but Dravid isn’t concerned, while also being pleased for Kishan taking every opportunity he’s getting to stake a claim.

“I wouldn’t worry so much about Shubman,” Dravid stated. “He’s batting beautifully, he’s playing really well. He looks really good. It happens [low scores], you can’t criticise people after every single game. It’s not easy batting conditions, we needed to grind and fight it out there. We probably didn’t do that through the middle overs. But Shubman is batting well, he’s an important part of all three formats for us now, hopefully he’ll have a good game in

Trinidad.”

Kishan, meanwhile, has been India’s best batter in the series so far, scoring 55 and 52 in his two outings so far. However, Kishan’s challenges will come especially when India revert to their regular top three of Rohit, Gill and Kohli. In such a scenario, he will possibly have to jostle for a middle-order slot, depending on how well Iyer and Rahul recover. For now, though, Dravid is happy with what he has seen.

“Ishan has done really well, this is his third fifty in a row now [across formats]. Again, he’s taking opportunities when given the chance. That’s all we ask from young players, we want to give them as many chances as we possibly can. We can’t give everyone a chance all the time, there are other talented guys as well.

“We try our best and give as many chances as we can. Today, to give people chances, Virat and Rohit had to sit out. Sometimes we might have to take those risks, take those chances in situations like that because looking at big tournaments, we need to build some of the players, get answers for specific positions considering the situation we are in.” (Cricinfo)

Elated Swaby says Reggae Girls focused solely on Brazil fixture

PERTH, Australia, (CMC)

– Goal-scorer Allyson Swaby says Jamaica will now re-train their sights on their do-or-die encounter against Brazil, after pulling off an emotionally charged 1-0 win over Panama in the FIFA Women’s World Cup here Saturday.

The 26 - year - old centre back out-jumped her markers in the 55th minute in the Group F contest at HBF Park, to earn the Reggae Girls their first - ever World Cup win which kept them in contention for the next round of the showpiece

With the result , Jamaica moved to four points in second spot behind France, who defeated Brazil 2-1 also on Saturday , to go top of the group by virtue of goals scored “ The result is huge . It keeps us in this group.

We ’ re going to celebrate … and then be focussed on our final match against Brazil ,” said Swaby, who was adjudged Player - ofthe-Match

Goal-scorer Allyson Swaby (right) celebrates her goal in Saturday’s win over Panama

“I’m really happy This has been a rough year for me so on a personal note this is a really big achievement so I’m just happy.”

She added: “I’m just pretty happy and excited for the team that our dreams are still alive and [we’re] just looking forward to the final match now.”

After shocking France with a nil - draw in their opener last week, Jamaica knew a win against fellow CONCACAF side Panama was critical.

And they came out firing,

forward Atlanta Primus shaving the crossbar in the 27th minute and Scotland -based Vyan Sampson forcing a spectacular diving save out of Yenith Bailey in the 35th minute with a curling 22-yard volley When Tottenham

Hotspurs ’ Drew Spence struck the bar with her long range free kick on the stroke of half - time , Jamaica had asserted complete control of the contest

And the breakthrough came inside the first 15 minutes following the re -

sumption , winger Trudi Carter sweeping a corner into the box for Swaby to leap above the Panama defence and glance her header past Bailey.

“I wasn’t thinking much, other than just to contest [the ball] and it found its way into

the back of the net,” Swaby said

Jamaica will now need at least a point from the Brazil fixture in Melbourne on Wednesday, in order to clinch a berth in the second round

The already eliminated Panama face France in the other game

“The win is huge for us It keeps our dream of getting out of this group alive,” Swaby said

“We have one more game to fight through and we ’ re happy to be in a position to stay in the tournament

“ Panama played really well It’s the hardest match we’ve played against them

“ For me , it ’ s exciting , it shows CONCACAF is growing I’m really proud of the region and I think this tournament is showing we’re rising to the level of the rest of the world.”

India head coach Rahul Dravid

Goal-scorer Allyson Swaby (right) celebrates her goal in Saturday’s win over Panama

DC Caesar Fox thrash West Dem Secondary 18-0

IN the opening game of the Petra-organised Digicel Schools Football tournament roundof-32, West Demerara Secondary were made to endure a sound thrashing at the heads and feet of the DC Caesar Fox Secondary, conceding 18 goals without reply.

Forward Bevon Jones

was especially ruthless in front of goal, making the West Demerara defenders look like training cones at times. He alone slammed in 10 goals, scoring with both feet and headers as well.

It was one-way traffic from the opening to the final whistle. Jones started the party in the fifth minute, and never

looked back. The other nine goals from Jones came in the 20th, 26th, 37th, 43rd, 55th, 70th, 77th and 89th minutes, respectively.

The other goal scorers were Carrington Isaacs, who notched up five goals, while Bruce Williams claimed a brace, with West Demerara conceding a late-own goal.

Rising Stars Under-19 Men’s Three-day final

Currently, the KFC Schools Football champions, the DC Caesar Fox outfit, showed their pedigree, and were merciless.

Attack after attack, goal after goal, the gathering of fans was treated

to an offensive masterclass, and left satisfied with their team’s display.

Earmarked as one of the tournament’s favourites, DC Fox Caesar moves on to the round of 16, one step closer to putting their

hands on the coveted trophy. As part of their progression, special round of 16 kits were handed over. The round of 16 will be played on Wednesday (Aug 2) and Thursday (Aug 3).

Johnson hundred leads Jamaica fightback

KINGSTOWN, St

Vincent, (CMC) – Inform left-hander Jordan Johnson struck a splendid unbeaten hundred to rescue Jamaica and help them dominate the final two sessions, on the opening day of the Rising Stars Under-19 men’s three-day final against Barbados.

Sent in to bat at the Arnos Vale Stadium, Jamaica found themselves pinned back at 59 for three at lunch and lost another wicket inside the first 40 minutes following the resumption, to be in deeper trouble at 78 for four.

However, Johnson carved out a high class

118 not out, facing 226 deliveries and counting half-dozen fours and a six to deny Barbados further success, as Jamaica reached 217 for

four at the close.

Jamaica’s Jordan Johnson (file photo).

He received support from Brian Barnes who hit an invaluable un -

beaten 59, an innings which has required 144 deliveries and included a single four.

Together, the pair have so far added 139 for the fifth wicket, the partnership halted only by the rain which ended play with eight overs left on Sunday.

Following a delayed start due to the adverse weather, Johnson found himself at the crease as early as the fifth over with six runs on the board when Adrian Weir (3) pulled a short ball from seamer Raneico Smith, for Jaden Leacock to take a tumbling catch at backward square.

And they were set

back further when Trevaun Williams edged a defensive prod at one that turned sharply from left-arm spinner Nathan Sealy, to be caught at the wicket for 10 at 28 for two.

Johnson and Steven Wedderburn (6) then propped up the innings in a 23-run third wicket stand, and appeared to be taking Jamaica safely to lunch.

However, off-spinner Saurav Worrell struck 10 minutes before the break, getting Wedderburn to edge a drive to first slip where Joshua Dorne held a smart catch moving to his right.

Unbeaten on 34 at lunch, Johnson put on

27 with Justin Beckford (9) but once Sealy (2-51) broke the stand, Barbados were firmly in control.

But Johnson remained resolute, and along with Barnes, carried Jamaica to tea without alarm on 148 for four.

Johnson was unbeaten on 81 at the break with Barnes on 31, and raised three figures when he punched a full toss from off-spinner Dorne to deep mid-off and sprinted a couple.

Barnes had reached his half-century two overs earlier by tucking Sealy into the onside and ambling a single.

10-Goal Man! Bevon Jones was a class above the rest

The West Demerara Secondary players look on helplessly as a Devon Jones (Centre, Blue & White) header settles into the back of the net!

Captain & Coach of DC Caesar Fox Secondary collect their round of 16 kits from Petra Organsation’s Jackie Boodie

Jordan Johnson is unbeaten on a century

Next six months ‘important’, says skipper Brathwaite

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Captain Kraigg Brathwaite has identified the next several months as critical for his beleaguered Test side, as they seek to recover from their series loss to India and prepare for the difficult tour of Australia.

The Caribbean side continued their struggles against the Indians when they went down 1-0 in the two-Test series last week, after losing the first Test in Dominica by an innings and 141 runs inside three days and then watching as final day rain forced a draw in the second Test in Trinidad with another defeat a distinct possibility.

West Indies now face a long break from the Test format with their next series a two-Test affair in Australia next January, and Brathwaite said preparation during this period would be pivotal to

his side’s performance.

“For sure we’ll have some camps in between. We’re going to Australia [who use] Kookaburra balls so I think using those balls in those camps is important,” he pointed out.

“So I just think those specific camps throughout that period is important. We have a 50-over regional tournament in October, there’s an A-team tour in November hopefully, so I think that will be good to get some guys going on that tour of South Africa.

“I would say a mixture of camps and … obviously some of the guys have local cricket back home on weekend so you can’t take that for granted but it’s a mixture of those.”

West Indies’ batting failed them in the Dominica Test, the home side mustering totals of 150 and 130 on a

Windsor Park surface which the Indian spinners exploited. Brathwaite’s side was only marginally better in the second Test, bowled out for 255 after losing their last five wickets for 26 runs on the fourth morning, to concede a first innings lead of 183 runs. The 30-year-old opener, who has played 87 Tests and scored over 5 000 runs, said any preparation needed to be specific to the challenges which awaited West Indies

Down Under.

“The key for us is when we get back home [after this series] is that we work on our strengths and our weaknesses,” he stressed.

“We know we’re coming up against Australia in six months time and we know their bowlers.

“So we as batsmen have to work out – along with the coaches – how we want to score runs against them and the challenge is going to be

with the new ball and the in-swing … we know that’s going to happen.

“The guys will be bowling above 85 miles per hour, pitches are good for batting, [they have] good bounce –obviously way different to the Caribbean. But they are pitches which our batsmen can enjoy more because they can play through the line.

“I think we have the talent here, it’s just [what we do] when we get home in between the T20 tournaments and 50-over tournaments to prepare for Test cricket, and along with management we will have that discussion over that next couple of weeks.”

Discussion since the Dominica Test has centred around the quality of Caribbean pitches, especially after veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin finished with a 12-wicket match-haul.

Digicel Schools Football Tournament…

Excelsior dismantle Buxton 8-2

EXCELSIOR Acad -

emy booked their Round of 16 passage in the Digicel’s School Football tournament by dismantling Buxton Secondary 8-2. In the second Round of 32 match at the Ministry of Education yesterday afternoon, Excelsior issued an ominous warning to their opponents as they enforced an 8-2 beating on a strong-willed Buxton Secondary.

The match started on

even terms, with both midfields dictating the tempo, however, the ‘Buxtonians’ took an early lead in the 10th minute, with Aqueni Lucas capitalising on a defensive lapse to find the back of the net. However, the East Coast outfit’s stamina waned, and the Georgetown-based Excelsior’s players seized the advantage around the 25th minute, through a welltimed run from Jamal Collins. He latched on

to a midfield through all, and calmly slotted home to spark the scoring.

Excelsior would eventually end the game with eight different goal scorers. Dwayne James (30’), Rickquan Alexander (39’), Tyrece Lyle (49’), Nivek Boyce (55’), Omalie Veira (72’), Shaquille Sargeant (83’), and Adriano Wharton (89’) would all register their names on the scoresheet.

Despite ceding an early advantage, the ‘Buxtonians’ tried to claw their way back, but were overrun, their

And Brathwaite said there was a need for “good cricket pitches” which would help the improvement of both batsmen and bowlers.

“I think once we produce good cricket pitches here in the Caribbean, they will help our batsmen,” Brathwaite said.

“Every guy doesn’t have a lot of patience so some guys like to play through the line but it’s tough on certain slow pitches.

“So I think improving pitches generally will help both batsman and bowler because bowlers don’t have to put in as much effort to get the ball to carry.

“But I do think it’s important and I know we will be trying our best along with the boards to get the pitches to the level where they’re good for fast bowling.”

other goal coming in the 64th minute through Treon Hatton.

Excelsior became the second team af -

ter DC Caesar Fox to book their Round of 16 berth, and will be looking to make a strong run to the final.

Excelsior Academy (Black kit) & Buxton Secondary (Neon green) players vie for the ball

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite