Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 10-01-2023

President

President photo)

Budget 2023 to fast-track, expand development programmes

–– Dr Singh says, announces January 16 as ‘Budget Day’

SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, on Monday announced that Budget Day is Monday, January 16, 2023.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Finance, Dr Singh has been over the last several months, meeting and consulting with various stakeholders including the private sector, government ministries, other agencies and civil society.

Just last week, President, Dr Irfaan Ali led another consultative meeting at State House with representatives from several private sector and other agencies to discuss their concerns and identify possibilities for Budget 2023.

Those all formed part of possible inclusions, as the Budget 2023 planning process continues.

As was the case with Budget 2022, this year’s bud-

As was the case with Budget 2022, this year’s budget is expected to see critical development programmes being fast-tracked and many more expanded to reflect the government’s continued transformational agenda for the country

get is expected to see critical development programmes being fast-tracked and many more expanded to reflect the government’s continued transformational agenda for the country.

The government’s agenda has been taking Guyana forward at a rapid pace over the last two years and five months, since the PPP/C’s return to office in August 2020.

It will be the fourth bud-

get presented by the current administration and the third by Dr Singh, who commenced his tenure as Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance in November

2020. The government’s first budget for its current term was presented in August 2020.

In its first budget, the government reversed a large number of harsh taxes im -

posed on citizens by the former A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government.

The second Budget in 2021 was presented under the theme: “A Path to Recovery, Economic Dynamism, and Resilience,” while the third was unveiled under the theme: “Steadfast Against All Challenges, Resolute in Building Our One Guyana.”

Budget 2021 comprised a number of developmental measures and also included funding for the construction of a number of housing schemes and expansion of existing ones, along with investment in the revitalisation of the country’s sugar industry.

There were also programmes which the government implemented in partnership with private sector bodies and other stakeholders, especially with regard to the tourism, hospitality and agricultural sectors.

Several cash-grant relief measures were also implemented and saw thousands of citizens across the country benefitting from same.

A number of areas had been devastated by flooding and the government also provided relief for affected persons, especially those who had suffered loss of crops and livestock.

The health, infrastructural and education sectors also saw major injections in Budget 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic was in progress.

Budget 2022 also saw major injections in a number of sectors, including more expansions of the government’s housing drive, the infrastructural sector was catapulted with an increased number of roads and bridges constructed, energy expansion and diversification and provisions for persons with disabilities, and several injections for Amerindian and hinterland development as the government fulfilled its commitment to bettering the lives of the indigenous peoples.

It also saw large injections into the health, education and security sectors.

Diaspora being integrated into national development process

–– President Ali says at 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in India

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that as Guyana’s economy continues to rise, the government is seeking to craft policies that will integrate the diaspora in the national development process.

The Head of State made those remarks on Monday as he addressed the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in India.

Dr. Ali, who was the Chief Guest, said that Guyana has observed keenly India’s management of

as to suggest that 40 per cent of all Guyanese live overseas.

And with the traditional approach to diaspora relations tending to favour remigration, remittances and family-based tourism, albeit with mixed results, President Ali readily conceded that remittances have, undoubtedly, contributed to providing economic support for thousands of Guyanese families, and attracted skilled persons to return and pro-

He told the gathering that the government’s intention is to position Guyana to be among leaders in the world in energy security, climate security, food security and also full-scale human resource development that provides the best health and educational services.

In crafting those policies, Dr. Ali said it is paramount that the government seeks to integrate the diaspora into the process of national development.

Policies, he related,

gain. The technology now exists to also tap into our highly- skilled diaspora. The diaspora possesses the skills and expertise that are needed for the modernisation of our economy. We hope to be able to use ICT to be able to make greater use of the wealth of skills available within the diaspora including in providing educational and health services.”

This diaspora integration model embraces a role for the diaspora as an

relations with its diaspora, and will incorporate what has been learnt as the country embarks on enhancing engagements with its own diaspora, which is scattered across the globe.

The President went on to say that it is important that countries continuously share experiences in engaging their respective diasporas.

Noting that Guyana itself has a large diaspora, which is ranked as one of the largest in the world, in terms of its share of the national population, President Ali said that one report even went as far

vide the country with critical skills to rebuild the economy and establish enterprises.

But, he cautioned, things are beginning to change, as Guyana is now much stronger economically, to the extent that it is now regarded as the fastest-growing economy in the world.

“The country’s economy is now in a full takeoff mode of development; this transformative stage of economic development is spawning massive economic opportunities across all sectors of the economy,” President Ali said.

should be tailored to make the diaspora integral instead of incidental to nationhood.

With that, the Head of State said that for the diaspora to become more integrated into the country’s national development, it must benefit from accurate and updated information. This makes it now essential to establish platforms for the provision of accurate and timely delivery of information to members of the diaspora to counteract misinformation.

Dr. Ali said: “We are also keen on transforming the brain drain into brain

instrument of soft power, as many members of Guyana’ s diaspora have done well in their adopted homelands and have risen to positions of prominence.

“We look to our diaspora to project our external interests, including to protect our democracy and to defend our territorial integrity and sovereignty, particularly from external threats. We look to our diaspora to champion the international causes which are germane to our national interests, including arresting climate change. Indeed, we also look to our diaspora

to wield its influence in attracting and in unlocking markets for our products,” the Head of State said.

Guyana’ s experience dictates that the diaspora policies should not be cast in stone, but should remain flexible and adaptable to changing realities.

The Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention, the President said, is an essential platform for not only exchanging ideas but also

for fostering deeper and stronger ties among states that have significant diasporas, such as India and Guyana. He wished the convention every success.

President Ali, who will be conferred with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, India’s highest honour for overseas Indians, on January 10, is on an official visit to India.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali addressing the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in India on Monday (Office of the President photo)

President Ali, who will be conferred with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, India’s highest honour for overseas Indians, on January 10, is on an Official Visit to India (Office of the President photo)

Bolsonaro in Florida hospital; over 1,500 supporters detained after Brasilia riots

FAR-right former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was admitted to a hospital in Florida on Monday, as more than 1,500 of his supporters were rounded up in Brasilia after storming the capital over the weekend.

President Luiz Inacio ‘Lula’ da Silva, a leftist who took office on January 1 after defeating Bolsonaro in an October vote, promised to bring those responsible for the violence to justice. The mobs rampaged through Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential offices, smashing windows, furniture and artwork.

Bolsonaro went to a hospital in Orlando on Monday with intestinal pains related to a stabbing

he suffered during the 2018 election campaign, his wife, Michelle, said on Instagram. His doctor said he has an intestinal blockage that was not serious, and would likely not need surgery.

Bolsonaro faces several investigations before the Supreme Court in Brazil, and his future in the United States, where he travelled with a visa issued to heads of state, diplomats and other government officials is in question.

Representative Joaquin Castro, a Democratic lawmaker in the U.S. Congress, said on CNN that the United States should not give refuge to an “authoritarian who has inspired domestic terrorism”, and should send Bolsonaro back to Brazil.

The U.S. government declined to comment on Bolsonaro’s visa.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said a person who entered

on a visa for foreign officials must depart the country within 30 days, or apply for a change of immigration status if they are no longer engaged in

official business.

Restoring order in the Brazilian capital, Brazilian soldiers backed by police on Monday dismantled a two-month-old camp opposite the army’s headquarters where Bolsonaro supporters have been protesting since he lost the election, according to Reuters witnesses.

Some 1,200 people from the camp were detained for questioning on Monday, authorities said, after about 300 arrests on Sunday.

Thousands of Bolsonaro’s backers set off from that encampment on Sunday before storming the presidential palace, Supreme Court and Congress in the worst attack on state institutions since Brazil’s return to democracy in the 1980s.

Lula, who was back at work at the ransacked Planalto palace, met with his defense minister and commanders of the armed forces to discuss the violence reminiscent of the assault on the U.S. Capitol two years ago by backers of former President Donald Trump.

U.S. President Joe Biden joined other world leaders in condemning Sunday’s riots, calling them “outrageous,” while Bolsonaro, who is now in Florida, denied inciting his supporters and said the rioters had

“crossed the line.”

VISIT TO WASHINGTON

In a phone call on Monday, Biden invited Lula to visit Washington in early February, according to a statement from the White House.

Pro-Bolsonaro truckers, who have caused intermittent havoc on Brazil’s highways for months, held more protests through Sunday night. Police on Monday removed their blockade of the BR 163 highway that cuts through Brazil’s top grain-producing state Mato Grosso and on another highway in Parana state.

“There are still people trying to block roads and access to oil refineries,” presidential spokesman Paulo Pimenta told reporters. State-run oil company, Petrobras, said its refinery operations and fuel supplies had not been affected.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the governor of Brasilia removed from office late on Sunday for 90 days over alleged security failings and demanded that social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and TikTok block accounts of users spreading anti-democratic propaganda.

Facebook parent Meta (META.O) and Google’s (GOOGL.O) video platform YouTube said on Monday, they were removing content supporting or praising the weekend actions. Telegram said it was working with Brazil’s government and fact-checking groups to prevent the spread of content inciting violence.

TikTok and Twitter did not respond to requests for comment.

Brazil’s financial markets held steady after an early drop, with the Bovespa benchmark stock index (. BVSP) edging higher in afternoon trading and the currency closing 0.4 per cent weaker against the U.S. dollar. Some analysts said Sunday’s violence could strengthen ‘Lula’ politically.

Supporters of Brazil’s far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, who dispute the election of leftist President Luiz Inacio ‘Lula’ da Silva gather near Brazil’s Congress after protesters invaded the building as well as the presidential palace and Supreme Court, in Brasilia, Brazil on January 8, 2023 (REUTERS/Antonio Cascio)

Energy, infrastructure development, pharmaceuticals

— among primary areas of discussion between President Ali and India’s PM Modi

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on Monday held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues, the Government of India has reported.

President Ali and Prime Minister Modi met on the sidelines of 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) in Indore.

“The two lead -

ers held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues, including cooperation in energy, infrastructure development, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology and innovation, and defence cooperation.

“Both leaders recalled the 180-yearold historical bonds of friendship between the People of India and

Guyana, and agreed to deepen them further,” the Ministry of External Affairs of India reported on its official website.

President Ali is on an official visit to India from January 8-14, 2023, and is the Chief Guest at the 17th PBD.

The Guyanese Head of State was also slated to hold bilateral discussions with President Smt Droupadi Murmu,

and attend the Valedictory Session and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award Ceremony on January 10, 2023. He will also participate in the Global Investors Summit 2023 in Indore on 11 January.

Apart from Indore, President Ali will also visit Delhi, Kanpur, Bangalore and Mumbai.

National Accreditation Council holds staff retreat to discuss pressing issues

THE National Accreditation Council (NAC) of Guyana on Monday began its two-day annual staff retreat at the Regency Hotel, where a review of its operations and its direction for this year will be among the pressing issues that will be discussed.

The retreat is being held under the theme, “Bridging the gaps of higher educational institution, operation in Guyana. A focus on quality, inclusivity and innovation in pursuit of regional and international standards”.

In his statement, Executive Director of NAC, Dr. Marcel Hutson reminded the staff of their role and the importance of institutions being registered with the Council.

“We have a number of institutions that are unregistered, and they are not accredited, but when we take into consideration the developmental trajectory that Guyana is on at this time, it is critical that our institutions operate at certain standards to meet the needs of a nation that is on its way to development,” he said

He told the staff that they all “have a fundamental and critical role in ensuring that the institutions function to the maximum in terms of output”.

Dr. Hutson used the opportunity to encourage everyone not to have a “one track” way of thinking “when you are locked into a particular mode”. He said that sometimes it is difficult to work with people like that, because they are will-

ing to do things differently.

The Executive Director said: “If anything is going to be productive, if anything is going to be effective, you have to have thinkers. Life is dynamic; change is inevitable, and those who are really relevant are really not fearful of fear; they are not fearful of change or doing things differently.”

Meanwhile, during his remarks at the opening ceremony, the Council’s Chairman Mohindat Goolsarran explained that the retreat will focus on the major directions that the NAC will be pursuing this year.

According to him, the Council faced a number of challenges since the new board was established and they had an opportunity to seriously review the nature of their operations.

He also noted that during the retreat, they will address a number of pressing issues so that they can all be on one page and chart a way forward.

He also mentioned that, in relation to the standards, the board and council have had the opportunity of interrogating and collectively discussing the nature of the regulations.

According to Goolsarran, they will all be involved in implementing the regulations, and as such he is asking that they all have a common understanding of the various modes that are embodied in the regulations.

NAC officer Simone Gonsalves in her remarks stated that the NAC has objectives which they should all strive to achieve.

“We have three objectives: the first is to establish and sustain an integrated coherent tertiary education system that meets the critical needs for Guyana’s development; the second is to foster a good working relationship with stakeholders and the general public in adequately meeting their requests; and the third is to identify opportunities for process improvement and formulate quality improvement plans to meet the prescribing requirements.”

According to its website, the Council has been established by an Act of

Parliament Act number 12 of 2004 The National Accreditation Act. This Council according to Act 12 of 2004 is the principal body in Guyana for conducting and advising on the accreditation and recognition of educational and training institutions, providers, programmes and awards, whether foreign or national and for the promotion of the quality and standards of education and training in Guyana.

It offers several quality assurance services to the Post-Secondary and Tertiary Level Institutions. These in-

clude registration of institutions within and outside of Guyana which offer courses in Guyana, accreditation of programmes, advice on the recognition of foreign institutions of education and training and their awards, and to determine equivalency of programmes and qualifications in accordance

with the framework established for the Caribbean Community.

The Board of Directors comprises representatives of key education stakeholders.

Its office is located at Lot 109 Barima Avenue, Bel-Air Park, Georgetown.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on Monday held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues, the Government of India has reported (Office of the President photo)

The Diaspora’s Influence

THE Guyanese diaspora’s influence on Guyana’s socioeconomic and political development cannot be understated. This is true of Guyanese in every part of the world where they have settled after leaving their place of origin in search of better prospects and a better life.

The reasons they left their own country and the contributions they made afterward have a long history that dates back to the oppressive PNC era. As the economy deteriorated and living standards fell, many Guyanese started to lose faith in their ability to provide a decent and secure life for themselves and their children.

When staple foods such as wheaten flour, split peas, potatoes, milk, cheese, sardines, and a variety of other goods were outlawed in the

late 1970s, the situation only got worse. A large-scale flight of Guyanese to foreign lands was made possible by political and racial discrimination, the imposition of mandatory national service, nepotism, bribery, corruption, and a host of other vices.

One effect of the blanket ban on staple foods was the formation of the so-called “underground” economy, when goods that were illegally imported were sold at excessive prices. Only wealthy people could afford to buy those products, even at great danger of being apprehended by police and brought before the courts.

The huge flight of Guyanese, however, to neighbouring nations such as Suriname, Venezuela, the Caribbean, and North America, particularly the United States of America, which is

now home to the majority of overseas-based Guyanese, occurred at a more fundamental level. The majority of them have settled in nicely in their new country.

Many people in the diaspora sent barrels of food, clothing, shoes, and other items to their loved ones back home in addition to sending remittances. That offered many Guyanese who couldn’t make ends meet on their meagre earnings a crucial safety net.

The diaspora’s support to Guyana went beyond just giving cash and supplies. Diaspora participation in the political life of the country came to be known for its love of the nation and zeal for change.

Today, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), after restoring confidence in Guyana in 1992 and again in 2020,

is now looking to further incorporate Guyanese in the diaspora into the national development process.

In fact, President, Dr Irfaan Ali emphasized this point during his remarks at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in India.

Dr Ali, the chief guest, stated that Guyana had closely watched how India managed its relationships with its diaspora and would take what it had learned into account when it began to deepen its contacts with its own, widely dispersed diaspora.

The President continued by stressing the significance of nations constantly exchanging insights into how to involve their respective diasporas.

President Ali said that Guyana has a sizeable diaspora that is among the largest in the world in terms

of its proportion of the country’s population, and one study even went so far as to claim that 40 per cent of all Guyanese are thought to dwell abroad.

Considering this, the Guyanese Head of State said: “We are also keen on transforming the brain drain into brain gain. The technology now exists to also tap into our highly-skilled diaspora. The diaspora possesses the skills and expertise that are needed for the modernisation of our economy. We hope to be able to use ICT to be able to make greater use of the wealth of skills available within the diaspora, including in providing educational and health services.”

This diaspora integration model embraces a role for the diaspora as an instrument of soft power, as many members of Guyana’s

diaspora have done well in their adopted homelands and have risen to positions of prominence.

“We look to our diaspora to project our external interests, including to protect our democracy and to defend our territorial integrity and sovereignty, particularly from external threats. We look to our diaspora to champion the international causes which are germane to our national interests, including arresting climate change. Indeed, we also look to our diaspora to wield its influence in attracting and in unlocking markets for our products,” Dr Ali said.

The fact remains, however, that Guyana’s experience dictates that the diaspora policies should not be cast in stone, but should remain flexible and adaptable to changing realities.

Funding of Wales gas pipeline not illegal nor unconstitutional

ECONOMIC Adviser to the Leader of the Opposition, Elson Low, has contended that the funding of the gas-to-shore pipeline is unconstitutional /illegal. Low, however, failed to justify his contention by citing which provision of the Guyana Constitution the funding has breached, other than to cite a few out-of-context examples in Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago.

Low’s argument is based on the notion that the cost-oil is not subject to parliamentary scrutiny and, therefore, this aspect of the funding for the pipeline is unconstitutional.

Contrary to Low’s argument, the financing of the gas-to-shore pipeline from

cost-oil, which is cost recoverable, is not in any way unconstitutional nor illegal.

The financing of the gas pipeline from cost-oil is part of the petroleum operations which is covered under the Petroleum Act, the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) and the production licence.

Funds that are subject to parliamentary approval are from the Consolidated Fund (CF) and Extra Budgetary Funds, as per the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (2003). The onshore infrastructure, nonetheless, which will be financed through a different mechanism which would include loan proceeds – these will be presented to the National Assembly.

Additionally, at the ap -

propriate time, all of the reports on financing of the project are most likely to be laid in the National Assembly.

Moreover, I would like to point Low to Annex C, section two of the PSA, which speaks to classification, definition and allocation of costs, and expenditures.

The financing of the gas pipeline comes under section 2.2 (d) that deals with development costs which, according to this clause in the PSA, states that these shall consist of all expenditures incurred in “the cost of field facilities such as pipelines, flow lines, production and treatment units, wellhead equipment, enhanced recovery systems, offshore platforms, petroleum storage facilities, export terminals and piers, harbours

and related facilities and access roads for production activities.”

It is under this clause that financing of the gas pipeline is legitimately covered, which is treated as a development cost or capitalised expenditure that is cost recoverable.

For the sake of argument, however, by Elson Low’s logic, it would therefore, mean that the financing of all of the FPSOs and all other development costs to produce the oil-and-gas resource would be unconstitutional or illegal, which is most certainly not the case.

It should be pointed out too that all of the costs are subject to various audits, including internal audits by the oil companies’ auditors, GRA’s audit as well as the

cost -oil audit. And I am also sure that these audit reports are most likely to be laid in the National Assembly at the appropriate time.

As such, there is nothing unconstitutional, illegal and/ or lacking transparency and accountability with respect to this major transformational project for Guyana.

That said, Elson Low ignores the slew of tangible benefits that this project, once it materialises, will accrue to the country and the people. It is commendable on the part of the government which managed to have the oil companies agree to finance this project from cost oil, which has a direct, positive impact on the economy.

This is a major way in which the government has successfully sought to max-

imize the in-country value through the financing of this project from cost oil – something that the opposition will never acknowledge.

I can also say this much: that it wasn’t an easy task to get ExxonMobil to agree to finance the gas pipeline, since this is a major cost that would reduce profit oil for the oil companies, but at the same time, aid in deriving substantial direct and indirect economic benefits for Guyana.

faithfully, Joel Bhagwandin Director SphereX Analytics

Business Intelligence, Financial and Economic Analysis

Dear Editor,

Yours

Brazilian protestors set dangerous precedent of ignoring will of the majority

THE recent attempt in neighbouring Brazil to storm the presidential palace and other government buildings mere days after the historic inauguration of President “Lula” da Silva, bears some striking resemblance to what took place at Capitol Hill two years ago in the United

States of America.

This is indeed a worrying development. It speaks to the fragility of democracy in some of the more advanced countries in the world; actions such as these have no place in civilized societies and can only serve to undermine constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

Fortunately, the actions, supposedly by far-right elements loyal to former President Jair Bolsonaro, have been thwarted, but they do set a dangerous precedent of ignoring the will of the majority and trying to obtain power by illegal and unconstitutional means.

In Guyana, a similar attempt was made by the

Men remanded for alleged possession of shotgun, ‘ammo’ and cannabis

now political opposition to obtain power by way of subversion of the democratic process during the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The situation in Latin America, and for that matter, the Americas as a whole, is cause for concern. Only recently, the President of Peru was removed from

power in what can be regarded as a “constitutional coup,” which has resulted in protest action by supporters of the ousted President. A similar situation took place in Bolivia a few years ago when Evo Morales was removed from power before the end of his term in office.

Democracy must at all times be the basis for

governance. Any departure from such norms is fraught with all manner of dangers and must be condemned by all those who cherish the ideals of democracy and constitutional governance.

Yours respectfully, Hydar Ally

DELVOY William and Joshua Archer of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, were on Monday jointly charged for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and matching ammunition, and narcotics trafficking.

According to a police press release, they appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Alisha George, where the charges were read to them.

They pleaded not guilty to each of them, and were remanded to prison until February

1, 2023.

Police had said on Friday that ranks from the Sparendaam Police Station, acting on information received, went to a two-bedroom house at Robert Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

In the presence of William, 25, and Archer, 22, who were occupants at the time, a search was conducted in the first bedroom of the house.

During the search, the ranks allegedly found a 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun with no serial number, and four live matching

cartridges.

The suspects were asked if they were licensed firearm holders, but remained silent. Upon further investigation, a black plastic bag containing 286 transparent Ziploc bags containing a quantity of suspected cannabis was allegedly found in the other bedroom.

They were arrested and transported to the Sparendaam Police Station, where the cannabis, on being weighed in their presence, amounted to 580 grammes.

Delvoy William

Joshua Archer

‘The Lord answered my prayers’

— Cotton Tree granny says after receiving keys to house refurbished by MoM

AN elderly woman of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice, was all smiles on Sunday when Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips handed her the keys to her newly refurbished home.

The woman, Lowawatty Ramroop was one of the latest beneficiaries of the President’s Men on Mission (MoM) initiative, as it is through this drive that persons collaborated to repair the dilapidated structure.

“It was nice, it was wholesome,” Ramroop said during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Prime Minister Phillips, in his remarks at a brief ribbon-cutting

ceremony, praised the Region Five chapter of MoM and encouraged more persons to join the

initiative.

“This is a good start for Region Five. I’m happy that you, like

other regions so far, implemented a similar project to help the vulnerable within your re-

gion as part of the Men on Mission initiative. We wish you success in the other projects and programmes planned for Region Five.”

He added: “To the wider Guyanese society, Men on Mission is on the move to improve the lives or livelihoods of vulnerable people. And everybody, all men, should get on board...”

Ramroop related that in her previous home when the rain fell, “the whole place would get wet.”

“When the wood ants eat the house, all the boards fall out… [I] had to put salt bag and I waited and I prayed and I asked God… Lord I am giving up, unless you do a miracle and

this was the surprise,” she said.

She related that it was a wonderful surprise. Ramroop said she is grateful for MoM and the house as it was one of her biggest needs.

“I am grateful for this house… [it] rescue me from a lot of things, from the rain, the sun, from my sickness… because I am going through a lot of things,” she noted.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Member of Parliament, Faizal Jaffarally; Regional Vice-Chairman, Rion Peters; and Regional Councillor Mohamed Zaid Raffeeoodeen, along with other regional officials.

Dawn Hastings-Williams new PNC/R General Secretary

DAWN Hastings-Williams has reportedly been named General Secretary of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNR/R) after the resignation of Geeta Chandan-Edmond from the seat after months-long leave.

She comes in at a time when the PNC/R is experiencing significant public dissent stemming from explosive internal conflicts.

Hastings-Williams was tipped for the position along with Mervyn Williams. There was also rumours that Simona Broomes, who had also publicly criticised the party following the outcome of the 2020

General and Regional Elections, was under consideration for the role.

The new PNC/R General Secretary comes it at a time when the party has seen resignations of two of its leaders, Chandan-Edmond and its treasurer Faaiz Mursaline.

Mursaline had re -

portedly raised issues of racial discrimination as well as financial mismanagement happening within the party.

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, who is also Leader of the PNC, has been pressed with questions by media workers about the claims.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips hands over the house keys to grandmother, Lowawatty Ramroop, during the unveiling of her newly rebuilt house at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

— comes in at a time when party battles racism, financial mismanagement claims

New PNC/R General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams

Former police 'Top Brass' questioned about role in 2020 attempted elections rigging

–– Former Deputy Police Commander Graham denies giving instructions to clear Ashmin’s building

THE Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) continues to question the role the former top brass of the Guyana Police Force played in the events surrounding the attempt by rogue staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to divert votes from the PPP/C to the APNU+AFC during the 2020 elections.

“I did not do it”; “I did not see it,”; “I was unaware” and “total untruth” were some of the more prominent responses given by former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Maxine Graham, as she appeared Monday before the CoI

While she did not furnish the commission with a written statement, Graham, who is retired, armed herself with and consulted personal notes while she was under oath.

Questions put to Graham by commissioners and counsel of the commission had largely to do with the role she and her former colleagues played in the clearing of Ashmin’s building that housed the GECOM command centre back in 2020.

On March 5, 2020, ranks and officers from at least three sections of the Guyana Police Force converged at Ashmin’s building in the midst of a bomb scare. Several of those ranks then played a role in the vehement attempts to clear the building, even after concern was expressed about the safety of Statements of Polls (SoPs).

At the time, Graham was the commander in charge of operations and the liaison officer to GECOM.

Yesterday, counsel to the CoI told Graham that the commission has evidence as to the role she played in the clearing of the building.

Much of that evidence to which counsel referred came from former Regional Commander #4 Edgar Thomas, who continues to serve but in his new capacity as Assistant Police Commissioner and Head of the Presidential Guard.

Thomas appeared twice already before the commission and had told the commissioners that Graham ordered him to clear the building. He claimed that Graham was in constant communication with former Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers, who wanted the building cleared.

Further, Thomas had said that he overheard Myers in conversation with Graham during which Myers said that ranks on the ground were not complying with her instructions to get persons to

vacate the building and asked for Senior Superintendent of Police Phillip Azore to be deployed for takeover.

Thomas said that soon after that conversation ended, he observed Azore’s arrival at the Ashmin building.

But Graham vehemently denied everything, especially the conversation with Myers. Graham said: “Not true madam, not true.”

She said that she never spoke to Myers on March 5, and spoke only to Thomas on two to three occasions, as he was not taking her calls.

Graham said that she was monitoring the events at Ashmin’s building from her office via devices used by the police force, which are equipped with cameras.

She said that she had told Thomas to head down to the Ashmin building, but he told her he had systems in place.

Graham said that Azore was calling for backup on the radio, but Thomas still did not leave his office. She said too that she tried several times to contact Thomas via his cellular phone, but he did not answer. She then called his office landline which he answered.

According to Graham, when she called the then Commissioner of Police Leslie James and informed him that Thomas was not answering the calls she made to his cellphone, James told her

that he had the same experience. As a result, James told her to let Thomas know that he will be relieved of his duties.

Graham told the CoI that she never ordered the clearing of the Ashmin building and no GECOM official requested that of her.

Graham testified that she was never informed that the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) was being deployed. The TSU is staffed with highly trained ranks and is usually deployed for riot control.

Graham said that because she was responsible for operations, she ought to

have known that TSU was deployed, but that was a decision made by none other than the then “top cop,” James.

When told about evidence that she directed Thomas to get all party reps and observers to leave the Ashmin’s building, Graham responded: “That is untrue, total untruth.”

Told about Thomas’s testimony that a GECOM Commissioner was there and there was concern about security of the SoPs, Graham responded: “We had no discussion about that.”

Former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Maxine Graham

US Embassy announces cohort for 2023 Young Leaders’ Initiative

THE United States of America Embassy in Guyana, on Monday announced its 2023 cohort for the US Department of State Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Programme.

The embassy, via a press release, shared that four young Guyanese entrepreneurs will take part in this year’s programme, which will bring together 280 young leaders from 37 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.

This year’s candidates are Akeem McDonald, Onicak Hinds, Pearlita Richardson and Shondell Rodrigues, who were all shortlisted from 1,800 applicants.

The 2023 YLAI Fellowship Programme, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, was launched in December with a virtual Fellowship Leadership Curriculum and orientation.

According to the release, fellows, in May, will split into cohorts and travel to 19 cities across the United States for four-week professional placements with U.S. businesses. They will collaborate with their peers to address shared business

challenges, as well as engage in virtual and in-person events and cross-cultural activities.

Since 2015, more than 1,240 YLAI Fellows have built connections with 900+ U.S. fellowship placement organizations; 84 per cent of these Fellows attracted new resources within one year of completing the programme.

MEET THE CANDIDATES:

Akeem McDonald works in the business services sector leading the Professional Janitorial Services.

During the host placement, Akeem hopes to build new relationships, network with people that share common interests, and learn about the operations of different systems and sectors, marketing, e-commerce, product development, administration, and management. Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, his top business challenge is finance.

Onicak Hinds works in the education sector at Step-by- Step Foundation, leading as a senior tutor to provide intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

During the host placement, Hinds hopes to learn how to further establish and expand the Step by Step Founda -

tion, as well as increase the business’ impact in society. Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, her top business

challenge is finance.

Pearlita Richardson is an experienced creative designer who works in the Artisan

Products sector, leading La Vie Guyana and carving a niche for ready-made clothing in the Guyanese fashion industry. During the host placement, Richardson hopes to learn how to employ the right principles in the company and brand, hire the right people, and create the right products and environment to have a lasting, positive impact on the lives of women, whether they are employees, customers, or beneficiaries of the community. Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, her top business challenge is finance.

Shondell Rodrigues works in the agricultural and animal care sector, leading Alana’s Fresh Organic Produce. Shondell is a kitchen garden and small-scale vegetable farmer with six years of experience.

During the host placement, Rodrigues hopes to learn about strengthening business and leadership from successful entrepreneurs to improve business ideas and contribute to her community’s economic development.

Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, Shondell’s top business challenge is marketing and sales.

This year’s cohort for the US Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Programme

No confidence in Norton

–– PNCR’s Florida Chapter files motion to remove party leader over ‘downward spiral’ recorded in just one year

THERE appears to be no end in sight to the complaints against embattled Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Aubrey Norton, as a No-Confidence Motion was filed against him at the level of the party, since it is believed that he has “severely tarnished” the party’s image, and oversaw “a speedy downward spiral” of the PNCR in just over a year.

The Motion was submitted by the Chairman of the PNCR’s Florida Chapter, John C. Yates, who is seeking Norton’s resignation, given that under his leadership, a large number of members, supporters and sympathisers “have lost interest in this party”, while the business community has been withholding

their support.

“Be it resolved that Mr. Aubrey Compton Norton must resign for reasons not limited to the following: Failure to keep his promises to unite the party, failure to mobilise for key political events, inability to keep the regional structures alive, [and] CEC meetings are infrequent,” the motion outlined.

The motion cited the recent damning revelations by the party’s Treasurer Faaiz Mursaline about financial impropriety in the party as having a severe effect on the party’s image.

Norton, who is also Leader of the Opposition, was elected Leader of the PNCR in December 2021 during the party’s Biennial Congress. He unseated David Granger for the post, after Granger did not run; however, he

also defeated then leader Joseph Harmon.

Since his ascension to the post, however, Norton has done little to repair the fractured PNCR which continues to lose members and support.

“One year has elapsed, during which the PNCR has moved in a speedy downward spiral in Guyana’s political space,” the motion said.

It further stated: “Be it further resolved that Aubrey Compton Norton be removed from the Office of Leader to allow for dynamic and inclusive leadership to stop the spiral.”

The motion, which was seconded by member Lawrence London, was sent to Chairman of the PNCR North America Region Chapter in Brooklyn, New York, and copied to NAR Sec-

Guyana, Suriname World Bank ‘rep’ to address Energy Conference

THE organisers of the International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2023 have announced that the World Bank’s representative for Guyana and Suriname, Diletta Doretti, will be addressing the event in February.

Doretti is responsible for maintaining the day-today dialogue and solid partnership around the World Bank’s programmes in both countries.

Since joining the institution in 2002, she has held various positions at the World Bank, with the most recent being Senior Private Sector Development Specialist for the World Bank West Africa region, based in Mali.

Doretti has strong and diversified World Bank experience in leading teams and in corporate assignments, including country engagements and developing the World Bank’s strategies around the private sector, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Kurt Baboolall, Chief Executive Officer of the Inter-

national Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2023, said: “The World Bank representative, Ms. Doretti will give all stakeholders present at the conference a glimpse of how the US$44M allocated to Guyana last year will be spent on skills development in the emerging energy sector. We are pleased to wel-

come Ms. Doretti onboard for this year’s conference.”

Doretti is among a number of speakers slated to deliver addresses at the Conference and Expo, including world- renowned economist and academic, Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, and CEO of the Hess Corporation, John Hess.

There are also a number of Heads of Government expected to deliver remarks, including: President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Presuident Chandrikapersad Santokhi of Suriname, and Dr. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

This year’s Conference and Expo is being hosted under the theme: “Harnessing Energy for Development”, and will be held from February 14-17, 2023 at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana.

It is expected to assemble Heads of State, government officials, policymakers, academics, industry professionals, and global energy thought-leaders.

retary Jackie Brown. The motion has reportedly also been sent to the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).

The motion also called on Norton to take responsibility for the recent resignations of the General Secretary, Geeta Chandan-Edmond and Mursaline, two party members of East Indian descent.

Their resignations from the party came amidst accusations that Norton has turned a blind eye to reports made to him about “ racial hostility” being faced by Indo-Guyanese party members by a named party executive. After being on extended leave since August 2022, Chandan-Edmond resigned as PNCR General Secretary in November 2022, while Mursaline’s resignation

took effect on 23 December, 2023.

Aside from the resignations of the party members, Norton has also presided over the separation of the Alliance for Change (AFC) from its coalition with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which is led by the PNCR.

World Bank’s Resident Representative for Guyana and Suriname Ms. Diletta Doretti

Leader of the PNCR Aubrey Norton

All post-secondary, tertiary education institutions to be registered, accredited

THE Education Ministry’s National Accreditation Council (NAC) is moving forward with the government’s agenda which will enable Guyanese to benefit from a world-class education system.

Accreditation is the first step in that direction and is in keeping with the NAC’s efforts to ensure that all post-secondary and tertiary education institutions operate at their highest standards.

The council oversees and provides guidance in relation to the accreditation and recognition of educational and training institutions, services, programmes, and awards, both domestic and foreign.

To this end, the council hosted its annual staff retreat opening ceremony at the Regency Hotel at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, on Monday.

Executive Director of the council, Dr Marcel Hutson, in his remarks said that the council is working assiduously to fulfil its mandate in

terms of output. “When we take into consideration the developmental trajectory that Guyana is on at this time, it is critical that our institutions operate at certain standards to meet the needs of a nation that is on its way to development. It

is only fitting that we move in this direction so that we could develop some kind of unison in our thinking and approach,” the Executive Director said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the council, Mohandatt Goolsarran noted that collectively

the council can chart a path forward to create an integrated tertiary education system.

He added that the council is working to bring both private and public education institutions on board to be registered and accredited.

For the process of ac -

Construction progressing well on first 100 low-income homes for Region Three

THE government remains steadfast in its effort to provide affordable housing to Guyanese across the country.

As a demonstration of this, the first 100 low-income homes are already underway in Leonora, in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

This is in keeping with the government’s Manifesto promise to deliver 50,000 house lots to Guyanese within its first term in office.

Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal highlighted that the region is no exception to the ministry’s aggressive housing programme.

“We have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Republic Bank for the construction of 500 houses here in Region Three. Already, the first 100 is ongoing within Leonora, Edinburgh, and Cornelia Ida, where we are about 40 per cent complete.

“So, in another few months, one can see persons who are going through our system being able to pre-qualify with the bank and take up occupancy on those houses here in Region Three,” the minister said.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and Republic Bank Limited (RBL) signed the MoU for the financing of 500 low-income houses in Leonora in July 2022.

The 20 x 30 (625 square feet) two-bedroom flat units will be constructed at a cost of $5.5 million each.

The projects involve building access roads, bridges, culverts, and drainage networks, in addition to installing water and electrical supply networks.

As the region remains

poised for massive development, Minister Croal also cited other large-scale infrastructural projects like the $11 billion four-lane Schoonord to Crane fourlane highway, which will open up opportunities for residential and commercial development.

Minister Croal noted that this will help to generate income for the residents, and create job opportunities.

“Right now, we have over 1,100 community roads that have been awarded for almost all communities in

Region Three; you will see concrete or asphaltic concrete works taking place… Very shortly, you will see works commencing across the region, like is happening on the entire coastland,” he highlighted.

For 2022, some 2,800 house lots were allocated in Region Three. To date, over 4,660 new lots were allocated in the region.

The government’s national housing programme caters for all sections of society, regardless of geographic location. (DPI)

creditation, there are 21 standards that an institution must demonstrate they have achieved.

The chairman indicated that at the end of the two-day retreat, the council hopes to achieve several goals.

“We will work with them in terms of providing guidance as to how to reach the various levels of compliance and we’ll bring them on board. The next step would be those who would have been given registration to move towards programme accreditation,” Goolsarran underlined.

Meanwhile, independent evaluators will visit the institutions to examine the records, conduct interviews, and examine the facilities.

Provided that those standards are met, then, the institutions are recommended for first registration; a fee must be paid to be registered and a certificate of registration is provided.

Following registration, the institutions will go

through a process of programme accreditation.

Accreditation is meeting national, regional, and international standards and guidelines in terms of the quality of the institution or programme.

Once an institution is accredited, it is shared with all other accreditation bodies around the globe. Some 12 institutions (public and private) are unregistered.

These include the Carnegie School of Home Economics and Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), which are currently being registered.

Technical institutes in Berbice, Georgetown, and West Demerara are registered.

The theme for the retreat was “Bridging the gaps of higher educational institutions operational in Guyana: A focus on quality, inclusivity, and innovation in pursuit of regional and international standards.” (DPI)

Vendor remanded for allegedly trafficking cannabis

A 33-year-old market vendor was on Monday remanded to prison for allegedly having a quantity of cannabis at his Stabroek Market stall for the purpose of trafficking.

John Wray, a resident of Norton Street, Georgetown, appeared before Principal Magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the drug-trafficking charge.

Particulars of the charge allege that on January 6, 2023, ranks from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), acting on information, went to Stabroek Market. Upon arrival, the ranks said they saw Wray acting suspiciously while holding a bulky, black plastic bag.

The officers conducted a

search and allegedly found a quantity of suspected cannabis in the bag. Wray was arrested and taken to police station where the 193 grammes of cannabis was weighed in his presence.

The police prosecutor told the court that the defendant admitted to trafficking the cannabis, claiming that he “does hustle it,’ and that it was “just a lil half pound.”

He was represented by attorney Stacy Goodings who made an application for reasonable bail with conditions. The police prosecutor objected to bail on the ground that the cannabis had a high street value.

After listening to both sides, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus remanded the defendant to prison until January 23, 2022.

A section of the attendees at the NAC’s annual staff retreat

A section of the housing area in Region Three

‘Skiddle’ executed in drive-by shooting on D’Urban Street

POLICE have launched an investigation into the murder of Anthony Charles called “Skiddle,” who was gunned down on Monday while walking along D’Urban Street, Werk-en-Rust,Georgetown.

The crime was committed by two men who were in a motorcar bearing a fake licence plate.

According to a police release, Charles, a 33-yearold labourer was in the company of his friend, Dexter Lawrence, 43, when he was killed.

Investigations have so far revealed that around 11:30hrs, the men were heading in a western direction to buy alcohol to drink, when a silver-grey, old-model Allion motorcar, Registration # PVV 5906, approached them from behind.

Several shots were heard, and as a result, Lawrence began to run in a western direction and escaped, but Charles fell to the ground.

When interviewed by the police, “Lawrence said he looked back and saw the car stop and a male (name unknown), who was wearing a dark-coloured hoodie, exited the car, went up to Anthony Charles and discharged sev-

eral rounds at him.”

According to the police, “The suspect quickly entered the car which drove away then turned north on Smyth Street at a fast rate and disappeared. Lawrence received a bruise to his right lower hand, which he said was caused by a bullet.

“Anthony Charles was seen lying on his back, clad in short blue pants, a white vest, a pair of red and blue puma boots on his feet, and a red, white and blue jersey was seen under his head. He was in a pool of blood.”

The police said that Charles was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was examined and 12 gunshot wounds were found.

He was shot three times to his neck, twice to his jaw, twice to the forehead, once to his left hand, twice to his lower back and twice to his shoulder. Charles’s body is currently at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

Several 9MM spent shells, five warheads and a metal fragment were found at the scene. Thus far, investigators have also ascertained that the registration number of the car is fake.

The investigation continues.

The D’Urban Street area where Anthony Charles was executed

Construction of ECD-EBD bypass road progressing rapidly

Mocha

WORKS have been progressing rapidly on Lot Four of the transformative East Coast Demerara (ECD) to East Bank Demerara (EBD) bypass road, which runs through an area which was recently occupied by squatters at Mocha.

The work being undertaken by KP. Thomas and Sons Inc. is expected to progress, unhindered, in the coming months.

The Guyana Chronicle visited the site where Foreman Moses Wilson said four months of work was delayed due to the squatters.

“So far, since the squatters moved, works have been progressing at a rapid pace, and within six months the project should be com-

pleted,” he said.

Wilson related that they have been working an additional six hours every day to get back on track.

“If the squatters weren’t there, they would have been at final lift with the sand; the stabilization to cast,” he explained.

A US$106.4 million contract was in June 2022 signed for the construction of the first phase of the ECD to EBD road linkage project.

At the signing ceremony, which was held at the intersection of the Rupert Craig Highway and Ogle

Road on the East Coast of Demerara, it was announced that an India-based construction company, Ashoka Buildcon Limited, will take on the project which is expected to be carried out over 24 months.

The first phase of the road is expected to be a

four-lane highway that stretches some 7.8 kilometers, with each lane being 3.6 meters wide. The road will also feature a median, sidewalks, and several structures along the way.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance,

Dr. Ashni Singh had said this massive project is being supported through a concessional line of credit worth US$50 million from the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of India.

He related that the road is not a stand-alone project, as it cannot be seen in isolation from what is happening across the rest of the country.

“Each one of these projects must not be seen as stand-alone or isolated projects unconnected within an elaborate and comprehensive masterplan; an elaborate and comprehensive plan for the transformation of infrastructure across Guyana,” Dr. Singh said.

— contractors working extra hours daily to ‘get back on track’ after squatting issue at

Site Foreman Moses Wilson

Ongoing works by K.P. Thomas and Sons Inc.

Senior PNC/R members, GECOM employees

deny ‘amended’ electoral fraud charges

FORMER People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Chairperson, Volda Lawrence; PNC/R activist, Carol Smith-Joseph, and four persons who were employed at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) during the 2020 General and Regional Elections, on Monday pleaded not guilty to amended charges related to their alleged involvement in defrauding Guyanese electors.

The four GECOM employees are Shefern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Bobb-Cummings and Michelle Miller.

Former Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, his deputy, Roxanne Myers, and former District Four (Demerara-Mahaica)

Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, are also before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the George-

town Magistrates’ Court on similar charges.

During Monday’s hearing, the Chief Magistrate granted an application made by special attorney-at-law Darshan Ramdhani, KC, for the charges against Lawrence, Smith-Joseph, February, Livan, Bobb-Cummings and Miller to be amended.

The amended charges read that the accused be-

tween March 2 and August 2, 2020, at Georgetown, conspired with Lowenfield and Mingo to defraud the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of votes cast in the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

Additionally, Miller was “slapped” with a separate charge which alleged that between March 3-5,

2020, at the GECOM command centre at Ashmin’s building on High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, she conspired with persons to defraud the people of Guyana by not using the figures from the Statements of Polls for the purpose of ascertaining the figures to make the declaration of results for the said District Four, thereby resulting in a false decla-

ration being made for the said district.

Miller pleaded not guilty to that charge.

During Monday’s hearing, the Chief Magistrate also ruled for the case to remain in the Magistrates’ Court.

The defendants’ attorneys had argued for the case to be heard in the High Court, given the nature of the proceedings which might infringe on their clients’ right to a fair trial within a reasonable time.

Nevertheless, the Chief Magistrate ruled that despite the voluminous evidence and the complexity of the case, the court has been proceeding with hearing the case “expeditiously.”

The matter was adjourned until March 13, 2023, for reports.

In August 2021, Mingo,

along with Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield and his deputy, Roxanne Myers, had their employment terminated by the commission.

It is alleged that the trio inflated or facilitated the inflation of results for Region Four, the country’s largest voting district, to give the APNU+AFC Coalition a majority win at the polls when, in fact, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had won by 15,000 votes.

Those who rejected the results filed several legal challenges which ended up before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s highest appeal court.

A lengthy recount of the votes eventually declared victory in favour of the PPP/C, and Dr Irfaan Ali was sworn in as the President of Guyana on August 2, 2020.

Man charged with possession of fake US currency granted bail

A 42-year-old man was on Monday charged for allegedly having more than $500, 000 worth of counterfeit United States currency in his possession.

Jermaine Joseph made an appearance before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on July 16, 2022, Joseph, Edmond Griffith and Delon Nurse were found in a room on Robb Street, Georgetown, with 28 counterfeit United States $100 bills.

Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus issued arrest warrants for Grif-

fith and Nurse as they failed to appear in court to answer to the joint charge.

The police prosecutor objected to bail being granted, given the amount of counterfeit currency that was

found.

However, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus granted bail to Joseph in the sum of $150,000 and adjourned the matter until January 23, 2023.

FROM TOP: Volda Lawrence, Keith Lowenfield, Denise Babb-Cummings, Michelle Miller BOTTOM: Enrique Livan, Shefern February, Keith Lowenfield, Carol Smith-Joseph

Jermaine Joseph

IT officer in ‘flash drive’ fiasco refuses to testify in 2020 Elections CoI

GUYANA Elections Commission (GECOM) Information Technology (IT) Officer, Enrique Livan has opted not to testify before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into events surrounding the 2020 re-

gional and general elections that saw the unravelling of an elaborate plot to rig the elections so that the PNCR-led APNU+AFC coalition could return to office.

Livan, who was summoned before the Com -

mission, opted to remain silent and not testify on Monday.

Attorney-at-Law Eusi Anderson, who appeared on his behalf, said that his client is part of a criminal proceeding before the Georgetown Magistrates’

Court in relation to the elections.

He noted that Livan will exercise his right to remain silent for fear of self-incrimination.

So far, evidence provided to the CoI has detailed Livan’s role in the

botched attempt to hijack the elections.

Former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence; APNU+AFC activist Carol Smith-Joseph; former Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Karen Cummings; former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield; former GECOM District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; and GECOM staff members Sheffern February, Denise Babb-Cummings, Carolyn Duncan and Michelle Miller, along with Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore have all opted to remain silent and not testify.

The inquiry continues today.

The CoI was provided with details of how some GECOM employees participated in the suspected plot to divert votes to the APNU +AFC instead of safeguarding the electoral system.

Witnesses have testified about the actions of Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers; Mingo and Livan during the vote count.

The GECOM employees are all before the court on electoral fraud charges.

Further, the CoI was told that GECOM staffers ignored specific instructions from the court, used materials that were illegal and or manipulated, and sided with APNU+AFC agents to berate observers whenever objections were raised.

Smith-Joseph has been named by witnesses testifying before the CoI as one of the persons who threatened to stomp attorney Pauline Chase, an observer representing the Bar Association, in the face, and also threatened to spit in the face of private sector representative, Kit Nascimento.

Joseph had also told diplomats from the ABCE countries to “get the f– out of Guyana.”

Testimony was also provided that Dr. Cummings had received a call and then passed that phone onto Myers during an encounter at the Ashmin’s building, the headquarters

Livan

of the Region Four Returning Officer where the final tabulation was taking place.

Recently, the High Court refused to grant an injunction to three former employees of GECOM who were trying to prevent the CoI from compelling them to give evidence.

The applicants, Babb-Cummings, February and Miller had opted not to offer evidence in the CoI. The hearing into the substantive application was adjourned to February 2, 2023, by which time, the state is required to file an affidavit in defence.

Guyanese, after casting their votes on March 2, 2020, had to endure a fivemonth wait for the results of the elections, as they witnessed alleged unlawful acts and a slew of legal challenges.

During this time, the patience of the electorate was tested, as electors observed what were described as attempts by the then APNU+AFC administration to rip the democratic fabric of the nation, with “delay tactics” which were openly criticised by Caribbean leaders and international observers.

It was only after the legal challenges and international intervention that a national recount of all votes cast was convened and the figures showed that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic ( PPP/C) received 233,336 votes, while the APNU+AFC coalition got 217,920 votes.

GECOM Information Technology Officer Enrique

Chinese Medical Brigade: Over 150 New Amsterdam residents treated

OVER 150 residents were served by the eighteenth Chinese Medical Brigade on Sunday when fourteen specialists offered free medical services at New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The medical team included medical officials from the departments of general surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, burns and plastic surgery, nephrology, ophthalmology, paediatrics, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pathology, radiology, and anesthesiology.

The outreach was held in front of the Good Tools Hardware Store, Main Street and Shoe Lane, New Amsterdam Berbice.

The Chinese Brigade also distributed free health leaflets on diabetes, cervical carcinoma, diabetic retinopathy, and acupuncture.

Further, the team provided free blood glucose,

blood pressure and B-scan ultrasonography examination services to the residents.

The Chinese doctors gave each patient a complete physical examination, answered questions, and provided medication and treatment.

The doctors treated more than 150 patients from 10:00 to 12:00 hours and were welcomed and praised by locals.

The Captain of the 18th

Chinese Medical Brigade, Dr. Chu Xuehui, said: “2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the Chinese medical team’s assistance to Guyana, and it is an important year.”

Dr. Chu added that the medical team would provide more free health services to help more Guyanese on weekends and holidays.

Demerara Assizes open today with 308 cases listed for trial

and Madam Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall have been rostered to sit during the January session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes, which will commence today.

The Criminal Assizes will open with a parade hosted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), during which a sitting judge will inspect the ranks in the company of their fellow judges.

Of the 308 cases listed, 130 are for sexual offences, including rape, carnal knowledge and buggery.

Muslim scholar Nezaam Ali, who is currently serving a 45-year sentence for raping a nine-year-old boy, will go on trial for the alleged sexual abuse of eight other boys be-

tween 2011 and 2012.

Sexual activity with a child under 16 years and sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust are among the crimes Ali is accused of committing.

Another well-known case is that of former Bishops’ High School teacher, Coen Jackson, who is set to be retried for three counts of rape.

In February 2022, he was freed from a rape charge by a 12-member jury. The matter was heard before Justice Sewnarine-Beharry. He is currently out on bail for the other charges.

Additionally, for the capital offence of murder, hotel proprietor Erwin Bacchus is expected to stand trial for the August 2018 killing of his neighbour, Jason De Florimonte.

Sharnandand Narine, called ‘Anand’ and co-accused Darel Pronton, called ‘Yankee’ are also expected to face trial for the murder of Narine’s ex-wife Babita Sarjou.

Sarjou had left her home to go to the Diwali motorcade on the eve of November 4, 2010, reportedly with Narine, who had called her. She was never seen or heard from again. The woman’s skeletal remains were discovered in Narine’s backyard on May 22, 2016.

After the first case of the coronavirus was detected in March 2020, the Supreme Court of Judicature suspended jury trials and in-person hearings. Jury trials resumed in October 2021, with access to remote hearings.

Chinese Medical Brigade Captain, Dr. Chu Xuehui, along with other doctors, interacts with New Amsterdam residents who benefitted from the outreach

MADAM Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, Madam Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry

FLASHBACK: Justice Brassington Reynolds inspecting the Guard of Honour during the opening of the 2022 October Assizes

THE Pakistan ODI method was on show. Stymie the opposition to a par total. Make them, and everybody else, believe that they are struggling in the chase despite a good show from the top order and then overhaul the target rather comfortably.

After Pakistan opted to bowl first, Naseem Shah picked up his second ODI five-for - in back-to-back games, having last played in August 2022 - to restrict New Zealand to 255 for 9. And then, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan stroked fine half-centuries to help Pakistan go 1-0 up in the threematch series in Karachi. Rizwan stuttered his way at the start and then suffered from cramps towards the end, before unleashing an assault of innovative measures on New Zealand to take the side home to a six-wicket win.

Chasing 256, Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq got Pakistan off the blocks quickly. Imam hit his first ball through midwicket - aided by a misfield - for four as both batters feasted on debutant Henry Shipley's erring lines and lengths. All this before Imam looked to take on Michael Bracewell by skipping down the track and only managed to miscue one to mid-on.

(Scores)Pakistan 258 for 4 (Rizwan 77*, Babar 66, Fakhar 56, Bracewell 2-44) beat New Zealand 255 for 9 (Bracewell 43, Latham 42, Naseem 5-57, Mir 2-42) by six wickets

Fakhar and Babar then added 78 off 103 balls for the second wicket to give Pakistan a strong base. While Fakhar looked at ease for most parts of his innings, Babar did have a tough time when Bracewell and Mitchell Santner were brought on after the first

powerplay. Even though he slog-swept a six and pulled a four off successive deliveries off Santner, Babar was a tad unsure of the turn with Bracewell and Santner varying the flight, pace as well as the angle.

Babar was ruled out lbw when he missed an arm ball from Santner on 24, but he was reprieved on review, with the tracker showing the ball would have missed leg stump. He also tried a few uncharacteristic reverse sweeps early against Bracewell. At the other end, though, Fakhar was milking the singles as well as using the sweep to good effect and got to his half-century. However, the partnership was broken when Bracewell sneaked one through Fakhar's attempted slog to bowl him.

Babar and Rizwan then added 60 off 82 balls. It was slow going, with the sluggish track not really aiding strokeplay. Kane Williamson then brought

the part-time offspinner Glenn Phillips on to keep a leash on scoring. Babar soon got to another half-century - his tenth fifty-plus score in the last 11 ODI innings - even as Pakistan managed to keep abreast of the asking rate. But soon, Phillips managed to hoodwink Babar and have him stumped down leg to mount the pressure.

Haris Sohail, who last played an ODI in 2020, then shifted the pressure back on to New Zealand with a 23-ball 32. Twice he thumped Tim Southee over deep midwicket to decisively shift the equation in Pakistan's favour. After he fell, Rizwan saw them home and stayed unbeaten on 7

NASEEM RATTLES

NEW ZEALAND

Earlier, Naseem struck on the last ball of the first over as Devon Conway's back foot conspired to help the ball ricochet on to the

stumps after he missed a flick. Williamson and Finn Allen were taking time to get the measure of the surface.

But Allen finally started to get the ball to ping off the meat of his blade as New Zealand looked to put the slowish start behind them. He first hit Naseem for two fours in an over before smashing Haris Rauf for a troika of fours.

But with aid from an athletic diving catch from Agha Salman off Mohammad Wasim, Pakistan managed to see the back of Allen for 29 off 27 balls.

Meanwhile, Williamson had managed to get a fair measure of the surface and managed to hit some welltimed fours. However, a ripper from debutant legspinner Usama Mir ended his stay. Mir got one to drift and land on middle and leg before turning away to beat Williamson's bat and knock the top of middle stump.

Seeing the purchase -

and turn - Mir managed to get, Babar pressed Mohammad Nawaz, and then the offspin of Salman, into service through the middle overs. New Zealand managed to score only 57 runs between overs 21 and 35, even though they lost just two wickets in the phase. Overall, the Pakistan spinners went for a combined 98 off 24 overs, picking up three wickets.

While Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham managed to hang around and hit the occasional boundary, they couldn't really break free. They added 56 for the fourth wicket before Mitchell was done in by a Nawaz delivery that landed on middle and straightened enough to beat his outside edge and clatter into the stumps.

Latham was among the most fluent of the New Zealand batters and it seemed as if he would up the ante, given his strength against spin. But he only managed to pull a half-tracker from

Mir straight to deep midwicket.

New Zealand were in a spot of bother after which Phillips and Bracewell added 66 off 75 balls. Despite not getting the big shots away regularly, the pair rotated the strike and helped the tourists get a base for a final-overs assault. So much so that in the face of mounting pressure, Phillips played out four dots before hitting Naseem for a massive six - the first of the game - in the 40th over.

But Naseem had the final laugh as he managed to dismiss both Phillips (37 off 53 balls) and Bracewell (43 off 42 balls) to hamper New Zealand at the death. He cleaned up Bracewell and Shipley off successive balls only for Southee to deny him a hat-trick. But a quick hand from Santner and Southee managed to see New Zealand cross the 250-run mark. It wasn't enough, eventually. (Cricinfo)

'Best chance', Australia target rare India series triumph

Australian Open: Players can compete if they have COVID-19

PLAYERS at the Australian Open will not need to take Covid-19 tests and could play if they have the virus.

"We just wanted to follow what's currently in the community," tournament director Craig Tiley said.

"We have gone a step further by making a recommendation around staying away when you're ill."

Last year players had to test daily and isolate if positive and also had to be vaccinated, while in 2021 the event took place in a biosecure bubble.

Nine-time champion Novak Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, was deported

last January just before the tournament because of his Covid-19 status.

"We've made it clear to

our players, as well as our staff, if anyone is feeling unwell, stay home, our medical staff will continue to monitor that, with the players individually as well." Tiley added.

"It's a normalised environment for us and, not dissimilar to the cricket, there will potentially be players that will compete with Covid-19."

Last week cricketer Matt Renshaw continued to play for Australia in a five-day Test match against South Africa in Sydney after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Australian Open starts on Monday, 16 January and runs until Sunday, 29 January. (BBC Sport)

Bumrah to miss Sri Lanka ODIs...

vaskar Trophy that begins in Nagpur on February 9.

ODI SERIES

By Nick Mulvenney

SYDNEY, (Reuters) - Australia captain Pat Cummins believes his side have as good a chance of winning a Test series in India as they will ever have when they play four matches on the sub-continent in February and March.

Cummins was brimming with confidence after winning four out of five tests in a dominant home summer, which concluded with a draw in the rain-disrupted third test against South Africa on Sunday.

"I think we've given ourselves the best chance, it was another fantastic summer," the pace bowler told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground at the conclusion of the match.

"I feel like we're adapting really well. Having the experience in Sri Lanka and Pakistan last year has put

us in really good stead for India, no one's going over there blind.

"We'll use the next few weeks to perhaps reflect on the last 12 months, and then get over there really refreshed and eager.

"I think we're as good a chance as we're ever going to be."

Australia have won only four Test series in India in three quarters of a century of touring the country, the last coming in 2004.

Cummins said the Australia squad would offer plenty of bowling options for the matches in Nagpur, New Delhi, Dharamshala and Ahmedabad.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc, who missed the Sydney test with a finger injury, would probably not be fit for the opening test in early February, Cummins said.

"Each game in India we might need to chop it up

slightly differently," he said.

"Maybe one game it's three quicks, maybe another it's one quick. We'll get over there and see."

The loss of the best part of two days of the Sydney match to the weather prevented the pitch from deteriorating as it might have for spinners Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar.

Agar failed to take a wicket and conceded 58 runs in his first test since 2017 but Cummins confirmed the left-armer would be in the squad when it is named next week.

The occasional spin bowling of batsmen Travis Head, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne might also come into the equation when it came to team selection, Cummins said.

"I think our squad will have basically all possibilities," he said. "It's a big series, so we want everything at our disposal."

The Indian team management was optimistic about Bumrah playing against Australia after the selectors added him belatedly to the squad for the three ODIs against Sri Lanka, but it emerged on Monday morning that Bumrah had not travelled with the rest of the team to Guwahati for the series opener. The management is also being cautious about Bumrah's fitness because of the ODI World Cup in India in October-November.

"It's an unfortunate incident with him [Bumrah]," Rohit Sharma said on the eve of the first ODI. "The poor guy had been working very hard at the NCA all this time. Just when he got back to full fitness, he started bowling and everything, the last two days I think this incident happened where he felt a little bit of stiffness in his back. It's nothing major, it's just stiffness. [But] when Bumrah says anything we have to be very cautious about it. I thought it was important for us to make that decision then, to just pull him out. When we named him [in the squad], he was in the process of getting his workload done. We need to be very careful with him. He had a major injury before the [T20] World Cup. So we just need to be careful."

Bumrah has been out of action since September last year because of a stress reaction in his back and was rehabilitating at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He had been advised rehab for a minimum of six weeks and was making gradual progress; he resumed training on November 25 and bowling on December 16 at the NCA. He was not part of India's original ODI squad against Sri Lanka, announced on December 27, but was included on January 3.

As per the plan, Bumrah underwent match-simulation tests at the NCA before being declared fit for selection. After clearing those tests at the NCA last week, Bumrah had fresh bowling tests in Mumbai under the supervision of Nitin Patel, the head of NCA's sports science wing and the final authority on a player's fitness clearance. It was after those tests, combined with the scan results, that it was determined Bumrah would need more rehab time. Both the BCCI and the newly-formed selection panel, led by former India seamer Chetan Sharma, were told Bumrah would not be able to handle a heavy bowling workload based on his current fitness.

The BCCI subsequently announced the delay in his return as a "precautionary measure," and that Bumrah was being withdrawn from

the ODIs against Sri Lanka because he needed "some more time to build bowling resilience."

ESPNcricnfo has learned Bumrah has been advised at least three more weeks of rest before he starts to bowl.

The news is a setback to India's planning for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy because the series carries a lot of significance for both teams who are frontrunners to qualify for the World Test Championship final in June.

With several key players, including Rohit, allrounder Ravindra Jadeja and Bumrah not having played Test cricket since the one-off Test against England in Birmingham last July, the team management has scheduled a preparatory camp in Bengaluru starting February 1. Bumrah was meant to be part of that camp, but he will now focus on building his match fitness and is almost certainly out of the ODI and T20I series against New Zealand that begins on January 18.

India's squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh. (Cricinfo)

Third Test - Australia v South Africa - Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, AustraliaJanuary 8, 2023 Australia's Pat Cummins celebrates winning the series with the trophy and teammates REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

Nine-time champion Novak Dkokovic, Who is unvaccinated, was deported last January before the tournament

Zinedine Zidane: FFF president Noel le Graet sorry for 'clumsy' comments

FRENCH football federation president Noel le Graet has apologised for "clumsy remarks" he made about Zinedine Zidane's potential interest in coaching the national team.

In an interview with French radio, 81-year-old Le Graet said he "wouldn't even have taken his call" if Zidane had been in touch.

Le Graet said on Monday the comments "do not reflect" his views.

France boss Didier Deschamps signed a new contract until 2026 on Saturday.

"I would like to apologise for these remarks, which absolutely do not reflect my views nor my consideration for the player he was and the coach he has become," Le Graet said.

"I gave an interview to [French radio station] RMC that I should not have given because they were looking for controversy by opposing Didier and Zinedine Zidane, two greats of French football.

"I admit that I made some clumsy remarks which created a misunderstanding."

Zidane won the 1998 World Cup as a player alongside Deschamps and two La Liga titles and three consecutive Champions League titles as Real Madrid man-

ager before his departure last year.

France and Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe described Le Graet's comments as "disrespectful".

France's Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera demanded an apology from Le Graet for "a shameful lack of respect".

Real released a statement calling for an "immediate rectification" following Le Graet's "inappropriate" comments.

Deschamps guided France to a second successive World Cup final in December, when they lost to Argentina on penalties.

Asked whether Zidane called him about the France head coach's job, Le Graet said: "I wouldn't even have taken his call. To tell him what? 'Hello sir. Don't worry. Look for another club. I just agreed a contract with Didier.'

"It's up to him what he does. It's not my business. I've never met him and we've never considered parting with Didier.

"He can go where he wants, to a club. He would have as many as he wants in Europe, a big club. But a national side is hardly credible, to my mind."

(BBC Sport)

Bumrah to miss Sri Lanka ODIs, doubtful for Test series against Australia

Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss majority of the Test series against Australia as he will need at least another month of rehabilitation for stiffness in his right glute. Bumrah was on his way back into the India ODI side having recovered from the back injury he suffered prior to the 2022 T20 World Cup when he sustained this new injury.

Bumrah had cleared a match simulation test at the NCA in Bengaluru, but experienced discomfort on the second day of building up to higher workloads in Mumbai. If everything goes right in his rehabilitation, Bumrah can be in contention for the second half of the Test series against Australia.

T&T's Richards and Ahye win top awards

PORT OF SPAIN, (CMC) – Sprinters Jereem “The Dream” Richards and Michelle-Lee Ahye were named the men’s and women’s athlete-of-the-year respectively, at the National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) annual awards on Saturday.

The United States-based pair were not in attendance at the awards held at the Radisson Hotel, and their mothers, Yvette Wilson and Raquel Ahye collected on their behalf.

NAAA president George Commissiong was full of praise for all the athletes that participated in meets throughout the year, and he said he was also looking forward to this year’s events.

“Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, we were able to undertake most of the tasks required to have a somewhat normal season,” he said. “As the year progressed, we were able to host a number of development meets and host Carifta trials.

“We restructured the relay festival, and at the international level, we can boast that we were able to field teams for all major meets for

Michelle-Lee Ahye

which we were eligible.”

He added: “Our athletes were not the only members of the fraternity that performed impressively. Our support personnel also got full attention … three of the top 11 technical officiating positions at the 2022 Carifta Games in Jamaica.

“For 2023, we anticipate some challenges as it will be a busy year in terms of international relations, and the athletes are expected to return high standards if they are to succeed in international conditions.”

Richards easily captured the men’s award for the third

year in a row after he won the first gold medal for Trinidad & Tobago at the World Indoor Championships in Beograd, Serbia, where he clocked 45 seconds flat to take the 400 metres, breaking the national record held of Deon Lendore, who died a traffic collision last year.

Richards followed up with a personal best time of 19.80 secs to win the 200 metres gold medal at the Commonwealth Games last July-August in Birmingham, England, erasing one hundredth-of-a-second off the previous mark held by Frankie Fredericks of Namibia.

Last month, Richards was named the T&T Olympic Committee’s Sportsman-of-the-Year, as well as the Sports Personality-of-the-Year.

Ahye, the first women to win a gold medal for T&T at a Commonwealth Games four years ago in Gold Coast, Australia, gained her award after a season in which she reached the semi-finals of the 100 metres in Birmingham and the World Athletics Championships last July in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

Klusener withdraws application to be South Africa white-ball coach

…Former allrounder wishes to concentrate on T20 franchise roles instead

LANCE Klusener has withdrawn his application to become South Africa's next white-ball coach. ESPNcricinfo has confirmed that Klusener was among the six candidates interviewed by Cricket South Africa three weeks ago but has chosen to pull out of the process and concentrate on T20 franchise roles instead. Klusener is currently the coach of the Durban Super Giants in the SA20 tournament, which starts today.

That leaves CSA with a choice between current interim coach Malibongwe Maketa, former national assistant coach Adrian Birrell, experienced franchise and under-19 coach Shukri Conrad, former Titans coach Rob Walter and former West Indies director of cricket Richard Pybus for the job.

49 Tests and 179 ODIs, had applied for the latter post.

The 51-year old former allrounder was an important member of the South Africa squad between 1996 and 2004, hitting great heights during the 1999 World Cup when he nearly took the team all the way to the final in one of the greatest games ever played. Klusener retired with a reputation for being one of the fiercest hitters of the ball, a talent that fetched him 3576 runs in ODIs at an average of 41.10 and a strike rate of 89.91.

Bumrah was withdrawn from India's ODI squad on Monday, on the eve of the first match against Sri Lan-

ka. The development comes exactly a month before the first Test of the Border-Ga-

South Africa's head coach role will be split in two, with one person taking over the Test team and keeping involved in the country's firstclass cricket and the other heading up the ODI and T20I sides. Klusener, who played

CSA is expected to make an announcement by the middle of January with the new white-ball coach set to take charge for the three ODIs against England later this month. Klusener was understood to be the frontrunner for the position, having previously worked with the Dolphins in domestic cricket and with Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in international cricket. Conrad was tipped to take over the Test side.

Klusener's withdrawal potentially opens the

door for Maketa, who was temporarily put in charge of the Test side for South Africa's tour to Australia that ended on Sunday, to continue in the national job. Maketa has put his name forward for both positions, but indicated a preference for the red-ball job. CSA is also looking to fill the position of High Performance Manager, with long-standing coach Vincent Barnes set to retire later this year.

Noel le Graet (right) said the French football federation had "never considered parting" with Didier Deschamps

Lance Klusener has previously worked with the Afghanistan team (ICC via Getty Images)

Jasprit Bumrah hasn't played for India since the home T20I series against Australia in September•(BCCI)

GMR&SC AGM & Elections set for today

THE Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) will host its 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at their Albert Street and Thomas Lands head office today. The AGM will also serve as the election of office bearers.

Apart from the election of members to the Executive Committee, there is expected to be a presentation on the management of the 2022 accounts, the Treasurer’s report, and the election of Auditors.

The media confirmed that current head of the GMR&SC, Mahendra Boodhoo, is seeking re-election and will enter the elections with an unchanged

slate.

The successful slate which was elected into office on May 24, 2022, included Mohamad Shairaz Roshandin (Vice-President), Azim Jaffar (Secretary), Chetram Singh (Treasurer), Azaad Hassan (Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer), Rameez Mohamed (Club Capt`ain), Joel Evans (Technical Advisor) along with Committee Members: Mark Vieira, Gavin Guyadin, Roshan Ali and John Chin

At this point, there has been no confirmed interest of a challenger to Boodhoo, who has overlooked the expansion of the South Dakota Circuit from 0.78 miles to 1.6 miles.

The strategic partnership between the Government and Private Sector will see its next phase being the installation of further safety apparatus and more secure fences, while phase three will be the construction of stands and other amenities.

The immediate aim of the club is to have an FIA Grade 3 course, and with further investments, an FIA Grade 2, which would make it the premier racing facility in the Caribbean.

According to the notice by the club, “only financial members are entitled to attend and vote.”

The AGM is scheduled to commence at 18:00hrs.

TRIBUTE TO A BRAZILIAN LEGEND

Belinda Clark: Australia legend becomes first female cricketer to have statue

Clark retired from the sport in 2005 after winning two World Cups.

During her 14-year career she hit the first double century in a one-day international, smashing 229 not out against Denmark in 1997.

"The sculpture encapsulates being able to have a go," Clark said.

"To be courageous, to take on those challenges and break convention.

"I want people to take away that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it and you have good

people around you, and I think I've been very fortunate to have had great support and have a bit of an imagination to take my game where I wanted to take it, and hopefully the sport is in a better place for it."

Clark played 15 Tests and 118 ODIs for Australia, averaging more than 45 in both formats.

She is Australia's leading Test and ODI run-scorer in women's cricket, with her highest Test score of 136 coming against England in 1998.

She captained Australia in 101 ODIs, finishing with a win rate of 83%, and also holds the joint record for most ODI hundreds in a year with three in 1997.

At the domestic level Clark won seven Women's National Cricket League titles - five with New South Wales and two with Victoria.

The award for the best female Australian cricketer of the year is also named after Clark.

Clark has held roles at Women's Cricket Australia, the Australian Cricket Academy and the International Cricket Council's Women's Committee since retiring from playing.

The statue was unveiled on Thursday, before day two of the third Test between Australia and South Africa, and stands alongside former captains of the men's team Richie Benaud and Steve Waugh. (BBC Sport)

Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

'Master's sweat', but with the passing of 'King Pele' (29th of December), the group held the match in tribute to his distinguished career.

Twenty footballers decked out in the familiar colours of Santos FC (all white), and the Brazilian yellow and blue, (adapted by Pele FC), took the field to enjoy a ten-aside, hour-long friendly match. The two teams, known as the 'South Georgetown Ball-weavers', have a deep-rooted rivalry in Guyana's football history. However, on this occasion, the match reflected the beautiful game made famous by King Pele during his 20-year incomparable reign on the football pitch.

Among the players were former national junior and senior footballers: Vibert Butts, Leonard Williams, Anthony Stanton, Chris Barnwell, Wayne Peters and Herbert Pellew. Sports journalists Allan La Rose and Mark Young also showed their football skills and prowess as the game got underway and the first goal reached the back of the net.

The President of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde, wearing Pele's famous number 10 jersey, enthusiastically represented Santos by assisting with the opening goal. President Forde was one of the few who, although not yet 60, chose to participate, paying tribute to King Pele on this special occasion. Ras Zebbie and Ras Kemis, representing the Pele Masters aggregation, journeyed from the mining town of Linden in time for the 8 a.m kick-off.

In the spirit of the game, and as if endowed from above, the friendly, competitive contest ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving participants in a cheerful, reflective mood, having paid a fitting tribute to Edson Arantes do Nascimento, aka King Pele, who inspired old and young players globally, and whose name is engraved in the annals of history. R.I. P.

Mahendra 'Raj' Boodhoo (centre) and his executive committee that were elected last year

Former Australia captain Belinda Clark has become the first female cricketer to have a statue cast of her, with a bronze sculpture unveiled at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Belinda Clark was inducted into the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame in 2011

AS grey skies ushered in the first day of the new year, a group of over-sixty footballers gathered on the artificial turf at the Providence National Stadium to honour and celebrate the life and achievement of King Pele, the greatest footballer of all time. The traditional meet, commemorated for over a decade, was initially slated as a