Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_01_20_2023

(Delano

Region Three communities on development agenda

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and a team of government officials visited Ruby, Tuschen and La Parfaite Harmonie, where they engaged residents on development plans and also listened to concerns that were either addressed on the spot or will be addressed in the short term (Delano Williams photos)

Massive networking, manufacturing opportunities for Region Three

who are utilising this main highway. The first phase was to get to this area. Why? Because from Crane to the Harbour bridge is where the bulk of the traffic backs up in the morning, taking some persons three to three and a half hours to get to work in Georgetown,” Dr. Ali said.

Preliminary works have begun on the highway, with many acres of land already being cleared and other infrastructure being put in place.

of the regions where we are not only having a great population push because of the housing development, but also the type of industrial development and development connected with the oil and gas sector is also taking effect in the region,” Dr. Ali said.

Offloading (FPSO) vessels offshore, to the power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility which is being constructed at Wales.

COMPROMISE FOR DEVELOPMENT

the highway coming all the way up,” Dr. Ali said.

By Naomi Parris

A MASSIVE boom of infrastructural and manufacturing developments are on the cards for several Region

Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara) communities, as ongoing works are moving pace on a new four-lane highway from Schoonord to Crane.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Thursday, led a team of government officials and private sector stakeholders to the communities of Ruby, Parfaite Harmonie and

Tuschen, where he engaged residents on several major projects being rolled out to better the lives citizens.

For decades, residents living on the “West Side” have complained about the tedious commute from the region to the capital city, Georgetown.

The President reassured persons that the project will not only create room for development of the business community, but also make the lives of residents much easier.

“This is urgently required for our commuters

“This will bring tremendous ease; we are hoping by June next year that this new four-lane highway will be completed, connecting Crane to Schoonord.

“The contractors are working aggressively, they are working in the nights there, we also have works going on at all the different sections at Schoonord itself,” the Head of State added.

The construction of this particular road, however, is a component of a broader plan to modernise the region’s infrastructure and create myriad alternative and more convenient linkages.

“Region Three is one

At the centre of the modernisation plans are the construction of a new ‘flyover’ Demerara Harbour Bridge, which will stretch from Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) to La Grange, and the construction of the Wales gas-toenergy project.

“…west of here is where the gas-to-shore project will come in and continue all the way to Wales, where the power plant and the liquid plant and the industrial manufacturing development will be. So, this corridor is going to be very, very important,” President Ali said.

A 12-inch pipeline, which will stretch some 200km from offshore, will be used to transport natural gas from the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two Floating, Production, Storage, and

‘No analytical substance’

- VP Jagdeo debunks Norton’s comments

By Clestine Juan VICE-PRESIDENT, Bharrat

Jagdeo, on Tuesday, upbraided Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton for his “asinine” claims and lack of “analytical substance” regarding Budget 2023.

The Vice-President, during a live interview on social media, replied to Norton who said that the $781.9 billion budget was “anti-poor” and “anti-working class.”

In his reply to this, Jagdeo said: “I feel sorry for them. They don’t have a governing philosophy. Without the governing philosophy, a bunch of mediocre people, the only consequence or the only result could be disaster.

“And this is what we find every single time they open their mouth. That is some disastrous comment or comment that people find extraordinarily stupid,” Jagdeo said.

He added that he is not surprised since this was the party’s “whole problem and the uninspiring nature of the leadership.”

“They have, as we have

seen in the past… they have had a long period of over 35 years of running this country in the post-independence period. And that includes the years that they were in control of the Parliament from 2011. They have made a mockery of development and they’ve shown that they’re incapable of planning and executing a development programme.

“So, the result has been very apparent, very evident for every Guyanese to see. It has been disastrous in terms of loss of employment and welfare and civil rights and people having to flee this country and overall poverty that we’ve had.

“And the sad thing is that the same people will be straight-faced… the biggest contributor to the malaise and the economic downturn in Guyana, and the loss of welfare and the biggest contributors to poverty in Guyana are the ones who are now riding on high horses talking about poverty,” the Vice-President said.

He added that the PPP/C could show a sustained programme to tackle those things. However, with ideologies like

on Budget 2023

Norton’s, Jagdeo said that is why they have such mischaracterisation of the budget.

“They have very little to say frankly speaking, so they speak in clichés. I’ve seen a ton of clichés about the worker, and nothing of analytical substance in the budget,” he said.

The Vice-President addressed Norton’s claims that $94 billion was allocated in the 2023 budget and there were “no wages and salaries announcements” for the teachers.

“... We budgeted for wages and salaries in 2023… it is just that the announcement will not be made now, it’s done towards the end of the year,” Jagdeo said.

Referencing evidence of the government’s commitment, the Vice-President said employment cost grew by $38 billion in the first three years, something the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had failed to do while in government for five years.

While addressing Norton’s criticisms on the raise of pay to the public sector workers, the Vice-President said that they have budgeted $107 billion for

employment costs in the public sector.

“$107 billion will go into people’s pockets... and you know, the funny thing is that if you compare 2014 when the last year when the PPP was in office to 2019 to the last year they produce a budget… they had five years, five budgets that the employment costs- that is wages and salaries of public servants- grew by $27 billion in that period and in the first three years of the PPP/C, employment costs are wages and salaries, grew $38 billion,” he highlighted.

“So, we have given almost $11 billion more in the third year than they did for the whole five years... And he says nothing is there,” the Vice-President added.

HAND-TO-MOUTH PHILOSOPHY

He said the former coalition administration had a “hand-tomouth philosophy,” which they used to run their party and their stint while in government.

“That’s how APNU runs the affairs of the parties, and they believe they can run the country. Now all of our citizens

In order for the project to become a reality, several residents gave up private lands for the construction of the highway.

“We want to thank all those private land owners who worked so closely with us understanding the development needs of the country,” the President said.

He added: “We were able to have a good comprise and solution in moving this project forward…a few months ago this was all paddy field and today you can see the transformation.”

Now, with contractors working aggressively, all preliminary works are anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.

“By December of this year, we are hoping to be in a position where all the preliminary works, the sand filling and all the structures would have been completed and we will just be pouring

In September of last year, contracts to the tune of $11.8 billion were awarded to several contractors by the Ministry of Housing and Water for the construction of a four-lane highway.

Some 32 contractors had submitted bids for the project. Eight contractors had been shortlisted and awarded contracts to construct various sections of the highway.

Once completed, the project will see the construction of 4.1 kilometers of a dual carriageway reinforced concrete road with an emergency lane as well as 2.4 kilometres of road rehabilitation and upgrade.

It will also feature two roundabouts, 11 reinforced concrete box culverts, 36 pre-stressed bridges, and road signage and markings.

The highway will pave the way for more job creation as the project will facilitate the expansion of the agricultural sector, making room for processing facilities as well as manufacturing and the construction of industrial complexes.

must reject that because you will never accumulate anything to manage a country from a party like that.

“You will never own a house, you will always have to rent a house. We are working towards people owning a house,” Jagdeo said while listing some of things that would not have been possible with APNU’s philosophy.

According to Jagdeo, the off-the-wall thinking of the parties can be shown in the allocations of their budget while in government, since they did not spend very much on the capital side, i.e. roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, among other thing.

Unlike the coalition, Budget 2023 caters for many big projects such as the new Demerara River Bridge, which is high on their agenda with $5.2 billion allocated to advance its construction.

“Now they may not see that as important. We must eat every cent out. Spend every single cent that’s not important,” Jagdeo said.

By building out key infrastructure, the budget, each year, will eventually go down, which is the same with the gasto-energy project.

With this project, persons are expected to save at least US$100 million a year given the fact that this initiative will cut the cost of electricity by 50 per cent.

The low rates of power generation would encourage investments in manufacturing, an area which the opposition leader said the government did not cater for in its budget.

The Vice-President said, however, that the manufacturing industry is an area of major focus for the government and it is evidenced by the initiatives in the budget.

Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Contractors are working against

clock, day and night,

complete the ongoing works within the stipulated timeframe (Delano Williams photo)

- with preliminary works underway for Schoonord to Crane Highway

Trouble in the PNC/R camp

tion of Geeta ChandanEdmond from the position following months-long leave.

TROUBLE is brewing in the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) camp, as there are clear efforts by senior members of the party to displace Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton.

Already faced with allegations of corrupt practices and racism, Norton now has to contend with apparent internal plans to oust him from his position.

A recording of what appeared to be a conversation among senior members of the PNC/R

discussing internal matters, surfaced recently on social media.

Referencing the recording, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said: “Norton has bigger problems and it is a den of cut throats in there [PNC].”

He went on to say: “So, his problem is not the PPP now, his problem is in his own party… because from the revelation of the tape that followed the resignation of the treasurer, one could clearly discern a clever campaign at displacing Norton.”

The Vice-President said too that the tape reveals too how duplicitous senior PNC/R members could be.

Amidst the internal power struggle, the party has appointed Dawn Hastings-Williams to be new General Secretary.

Reports are that the party made this decision, casting aside purported GS hopefuls, Ganesh Mahipaul, Mervyn Williams and Simona Broomes.

The announcement comes after the resigna-

When Norton was asked during the conference what led to Hastings-Williams being chosen for the position over other persons who were in the running, he told members of the media that it is not the place of his party to say what the factors that led to her appointment are.

He then said that she was academically qualified and acquainted with the party’s constituents.

The party has seen the resignations of two of its leaders recently including that of Chandan-Edmond and its treasurer, Faaiz Mursaline. Mursaline reportedly left as a result of issues in relation to financial mismanagement and reported racial discrimination.

Meanwhile, Chandan-Edmond reportedly resigned after being on leave from the position for months and following concerns that she was not allowed to fully function in her capacity as General Secretary.

New furniture, smart TVs for Kuru Kururu schools

- Minister Manickchand announces after meeting with residents

THE Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand hosted a meeting in Kuru Kururu on the Linden/ Soesdyke, on Thursday afternoon, to address educa-

tion related concerns.

This follows an outreach by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, on Wednesday, to communities along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

The meeting was held at the Kuru Kururu Primary School. Minister Manickchand was joined by Deputy Chief Education Officer –Administration, Fazia Baksh; Regional Education Officer Region Four, Stembiso Grant, and a Senior Guidance and Counselling Officer.

In brief remarks, Minister Manickchand said that the ministry is sparing no efforts in ensuring the school is fully staffed and is equipped with the necessary facilities to deliver quality education.

Minister Manickchand reiterated that it is the main aim of the ministry to ensure children have access to opportunities which will enable them to live a comfortable life.

Parents, teachers and residents of the community made full use of the opportunity to have their concerns raised and addressed immediately by the Education Minister.

Among the issues raised was the need for new furniture particularly for the teachers. Minister Manickchand stated that new furniture will be delivered to the school by next Friday.

Additionally, the parents and teachers of both nursery and primary school children requested a smart television to be placed in the classrooms.

Minister Manickchand announced that the schools will receive two smart TVs each and will be connected to the Guyana Learning Channel, so learners and teachers could benefit from the programmes aired daily.

The community requested the appointment of a guidance and counselling officer in each secondary school or secondary department.

Minister Manickchand committed to providing those as soon as suitable persons can be engaged.

The Education Minister also committed to delivering on the request for school grants to purchase school supplies.

Concerns which were not immediately addressed were recorded. Some of these included maintenance and repair works to the school which falls under the responsibility of Regional Democratic Council, Region Four.

The Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand hosted a meeting in Kuru Kururu on the Soesdyke/ Linden highway, on Thursday afternoon

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton

-‘clever campaign’ to displace Norton clear to any observer, VP Jagdeo says

Contractor’s faulty work leads to breach at Princess Street koker

- Agriculture Ministry putting systems in place to mitigate the intrusion of water

ENGINEERS from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) have started putting systems in place to relieve the intrusion of river water at the Princess Street Sluice

after speaking with engineers on the ground, it was disclosed that the issues faced at the koker were a result of faulty work by the contractor.

Last August, Square Commodities signed a con-

out by the Government of Guyana through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

Minister Mustapha while expressing his disappointment, said that situations like these should never occur.

the welfare of all citizens of the country.

in Georgetown.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, after receiving reports of issues at the structure resulting in several buildings around the Princess Street area being affected, conducted a site visit to determine the cause.

The minister said that

tract for just over $11.6 million with the NDIA for the fabrication and installation of a stainless-steel door at the Princess Street sluice.

The contract was tendered and awarded to the company following a public bidding process in keeping with legal stipulations set

Cummings Lodge resident attacked, shot by two men on a motorcycle

A 24-year-old man, Steven Surujbally, is now nursing a wound to his chest after he was attacked and shot by suspected bandits at Third Street, Cummings Lodge.

According to information from the Guyana Police Force, investigations so far have revealed that around 20:30 hours on Wednesday, Surujbally was walking home, heading in a southern direction, when the suspects rode up to him on a motorcycle from a northern direction.

As they reached the victim, they stopped, dismounted the motorcycle, and walked up to the victim.

Surujbally said he sus-

pected the men wanted to harm or do him something, so he had a scuffle with the men, and during the scuffle, the pillion rider pulled out a handgun from the left side pants waist and discharged a round at him, hitting him on his chest.

The suspects reportedly then jumped on the motorcycle and escaped in a southern direction.

The victim was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital by EMT personnel. He remains a patient of the hospital, in a stable condition. Several persons have been questioned as part of the ongoing investigations.

“We went through a very transparent process with these contracts. The company submitted bids and was awarded the contract based on their submission. Today, when we are having very good weather, people are being affected because of faulty work by the contractor. The government is now placed in a position to create a solution because we have been entrusted with taking care of

“This is the first time we’ve worked with this company and as minister, I am very dissatisfied. When we took office, we made it clear that we want everyone to be given a fair chance to work with the government and receive contracts, but if you are not experienced or have experienced people working with you, you may find yourself in a similar situation and we do not take these situations lightly,” he said.

Mustapha said that the NDIA has since been advised to terminate the contract and award an emergency contract to a company with more ex-

perience.

NDIA’s Chief Executive Officer (ag), Dave Hicks and Senior Engineer, Timothy Innis were tasked with monitoring the situation.

Affected areas were expected to be drained during

the next low tide on Thursday afternoon, while works are ongoing to stop the intrusion from the Demerara River. Engineers from the NDIA will also be monitoring the structure on a 24hour basis.

Security guard ‘accidentally’ shoots self, 15-year-old at Bourda

A 20-year-old man who only started working as a security guard two weeks ago, was clearing his service-issued firearm when he “accidentally” shot himself and a 15-year-old at Bourda Market, on Wednesday evening.

According to reports, the .9MM Taurus pistol was seized by the police. The alleged incident resulted in the security guard shooting himself in the palm of his hand and the bullet exiting and hitting a 15-year-old teen in his right-side abdomen.

The police said the teen

was assisting his brother in selling at their stall at Bourda Market.

Investigations revealed that the security guard, Mohan Mootoo, was employed by C. Mohan Security Services just two weeks ago.

He told investigators he is not a Supernumerary Constable and is also not trained to use a Firearm.

On the said date and time mentioned, he was performing his duties at a stall on Robb Street, owned by the victim’s brother.

At the time, the security

guard was armed with the said security service .9MM Taurus pistol and 10 live matching rounds of ammunition, which were issued to him.

Checks were made for the spent shell but none

was found. The teen victim and Mootoo were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they are receiving medical attention. Their conditions are stable. Investigations are in progress.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha engages the contractor from Square Commodities

Water flowing in from the sluice

Malicious Intentions

THE recent occurrences at the Christ Church Secondary School and The Bishop’s High School should be seriously examined by those in authority and ought to be of great concern to all stakeholders.

Clearly, there is mischief afoot and everything possible should be done to protect the future of the nation’s children and expose the intellectual authors and their accomplices.

An attack on a school is an attack on all of us.

The devastating fire at Christ Church is heartbreaking. Unlike the previous school fires, this one was maliciously set. Less than a week prior, smoke was spotted coming from the building and the fire service was contacted. Quick work by firefighters prevented a disaster.

Fire investigators subse-

quently concluded that that fire was caused by a chemical reaction combustion. All chemicals were later removed from the building and the school was inspected and certified by the Government Electrical Inspectorate.

Days later, fire fighters rushed to the school after receiving a report; this time, they met thick smoke and flames. The school, which is mostly built of wood, stood no chance. In no time, it was flattened. All that remains is a small portion at the front and a huge billboard which was installed years ago in honour of former West Indies cricket captain and old student, Carl Hooper.

Further, both fires occurred long after school had ended for the day. No reports have surfaced about any teacher or student being in the school at the time of ei-

ther incidents.

Earlier this week, the fire service confirmed the lingering suspicions of many: The second fire was an act of arson.

“… taking into consideration the time of day that both fires occurred (16:29 hours and 17:22 hours), coupled with the fact that the second fire had several points of origin (seats), it is the determination of the Guyana Fire Service that the fire was maliciously set by person or persons unknown,” the fire service said in a media release.

Clearly, those behind this sickening crime wanted to ensure that nothing was left standing.

The conspiracy theorists were wide awake and had lots to say about the “motive” behind the second fire. They did not condemn what has transpired and they did not

urge the police to go after those responsible. Instead, they spewed nonsensical comments which suggested that the school was destroyed for economic gain.

Subject minister, Priya Manickchand, has since called for there to be legislative changes to punish those who commit such crimes.

“I repeat: each person who destroys a school and/ or any author of said destruction once found guilty ought to be given life imprisonment. We need to legislate accordingly,” she said in a Facebook post.

Minister Manickchand, who has been very proactive and engaging since taking office in August 2020, along with her team, worked around the clock with parents to find an urgent solution which would cause the least amount of disruption for the students.

It was decided that the affected students will be housed at CPCE, not far from the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen campus.

Some of those who reside outside of Georgetown have opted to be transferred to an ‘A’ school close to their homes. This in itself could cause some psychological damage, as they will now have to adapt to a new environment, make new friends and build relationships with new teachers.

The misfortune that has befallen the students of this city school is sad and tragic.

Subsequent to release of the fire investigators’ findings regarding Christ Church, The Bishop’s High School became a target. First, it was a false fire report. Hours later, just after the commencement of the morning session, a teacher was informed via telephone

that a bomb was planted in the school.

Hundreds of students and their teachers exited as quickly as they could and made their way to Parade Ground. Firefighters and members of the bomb squad combed the school and as expected, found nothing.

The use of the school system to advance an agenda or to create mischief, should not be tolerated. It is vile and sickening to target the institutions which are responsible for educating children, for turning them into doctors, lawyers, presidents and community leaders.

The police investigators now have the task of finding these mischief makers. In so doing, no stone should be left unturned. We must not rest until all the culprits are behind bars.

Dear Editor

I WRITE with reference to Mr. Roysdale Forde’s reaction to Budget 2023. Forde is an important voice in the PNC/R and, accordingly, his perspective must be given both respectful and critical scrutiny.

In contradistinction to Mr. Forde’s anti-analytic propensity to rely on adjectives when offering his views, I shall focus on the developmental orientation of Budget 2023, and the macro-economic policies put in place to realise the concomitant objectives. All told, while some of Mr. Forde’s observations are conducive to constructive

engagement, the totality of his contribution can only be characterised as “pending”.

Editor, I feel certain readers will agree that budgets are relational documents, meaning in this instance that a fair assessment can only be arrived at through the comparative method. More specifically, we need to compare the current budget with the Budget 2019 that was delivered by the APNU+AFC.

Forde charges the following – (a) that despite the size of the Budget, too little resources are devoted to the “small man” (if I may use a PNC symbol from the 1970s); (b) that salary

increases have not kept pace with inflation; (c) that the allocations for education are misdirected; (d) that expenditure of infrastructure are really a disguise of what is generically described as “corruption”, and (e) that there should have been more focus on inclusivity.

Editor, I say without regret that not even one of the above criticisms can meet the minimum evidentiary standard necessary to sustain the charges either individually, or severally.

I will demonstrate why this is the case. Before doing so, allow me to draw on Ram and McRae’s analysis of the

2019 Budget by Mr. Forde’s coalition. Editor, as you are well aware, Ram and McRae are a no-nonsense firm that has provided rigorous analysis of our national budgets for 33 years. They don’t pull punches.

Here is the determination of Ram and McRae on the APNU+AFC’s 2019 Budget:

Apart from some good measures on disabilities, and the employed and self-employed, the 2019 Budget “is silent on women and gender issues, single mothers, the unemployed, including the recently unemployed…”

They continue: “[T] hese inevitably lead us to

conclude, as we did last year, that this Administration [APNU+AFC] does not seem to regard income and wealth inequality as serious issues and accordingly there is nothing in the budget that could be considered a pro-poor step” (Ram and McRae).

On these grounds alone, Mr. Forde should be both cognisant and grateful that the 2023 budget has filled the lacuna left behind. The honorable gentleman should know that, measures such as the increase of the “education grants” which was increased from $25000 to $35,000, or the rise of old-age pension

from $28,000 to $33,000 are only the direct interventions aimed at combating the worst impacts of the rise in cost of living. It appears that Mr. Forde has forgotten that his coalition government had totally removed the Care Grants and replaced them with David G buses!

Behind these, are a plethora of other instruments of poverty alleviation, cost-of living-adjustments, and boost in real income.

The part-time-jobs project, for instance, is allocated $10 billion, a policy commitment that will supplement incomes throughout

Norton fails to understand that Budget 2023 is for all Guyanese

Dear Editor, PLEASE allow me to shed some light to educate the opposition leader, who needs to be educated as to what is in Budget 2023. I won’t make this missive long because as we all know, numeracy, literacy, and comprehension are failing Norton and some of his MPs a lot.

First, let me ask Norton to have someone qualified to write his speeches; maybe he can recall Geeta ChandanEdmond to do this.

He needs to read when speaking to the media because he is not wise talking off of his head to the media without a written speech. Norton is so taken up with racism that he is saying growth is not development. Maybe he has grown but not developed and that’s why he says that.

Anyway, I think if members of the opposition were listening to the Dr. Ashni Singh’s Budget 2023 presentation, they would have known that it has something for everyone in it.

But maybe they were listening and cannot understand because the figures outlined

in the presentation get them worried, as we all know that mathematics is a serious problem in their camp.

As mentioned by Dr. Singh, Budget 2023 is the largest budget ever in the history of this country, and it is being fully financed without no new taxes. It was also said that budget 2023 is the first budget to benefit from the sale of our carbon credits amounting to some $31.3 billion in revenue for the year 2023.

There is so much that is for the people in the 2023 budget that Norton failed to realise that former President Granger and a lot of his ministers along with advisers would be getting more in their old-age pension this year from $28,000 in 2022 to $33,000 in 2023. Isn’t that a benefit for the oldage pensioners Mr. Norton or the pensioners aren’t people?

There is a whopping $3 billion that will be given in salary adjustments and will benefit some 5,000 healthcare workers and 9,000 members of the disciplined services, effective from the January 1, 2023. Who will be benefitting

Mr. Norton?

Mr. Norton fails to realise that Budget 2023 will put more money into the hands\ pockets of taxpayers because the income-tax threshold has moved from $75,000 in 2022 to $85,000 in 2023. This means more spending power for the citizens of this country. Wouldn’t the people benefit here, Mr. Norton?

Simply as it looks, Norton wants us to believe that Budget 2023 has nothing for the people; this shows that the PNC has no vision because our schoolchildren will now benefit in 2023 from $35,000 under the “Because We Care Cash” initiative and another $5,000 for school uniforms.

This will ease the burden of the parents because they will be having $40,000 per child and it will trickle down into the pockets of many business owners, as the parents will go about doing school shopping. Who will be benefitting here Mr. Norton?

There is more budgeted in 2023 for the school feeding programmes for our children who are the future of this nation.

In 2023, more money will

be invested in assisting those seeking public assistance, especially our single parents, etc.

Our brothers and sisters living with disabilities will benefit more from the 2023 budget. Zero excise taxes on fuel will be maintained, and so will the reduction in freight charges. An additional $5 billion is being allocated in 2023 for the cost of living measures.

We will see new health centres and hospitals with better health services in 2023. We will see in 2023 a better and stronger security sector, upgrades of stations, training of officers, a better-equipped fire service, etc.

We will see a major enhancement in the justice sector in 2023 and ICT being implemented to better the justice system.

Not forgetting our Indigenous brothers and sisters who, in 2023, will be seeing major works and enhancement being done on their roads, bridges, airstrips, and other community infrastructure.

Money was allocated to the NTC and also for their heritage celebration. Not for-

Forde’s Budget 2023...

FROM PAGE 6

the country. Beyond these instances, readers should also be aware that the decision to keep the excise tax on fuel at zero, and reductions of other taxes and in some instances, duties, also enhance the human security of individuals and their communities.

Mr. Forde’s harping over the eight per cent pay raise as inadequate, combined with his charges that the 2023 budget favours elites, conveniently pushes aside the substantially enhanced packages for nurses, doctors, and the uniformed forces.

As for favoring the “elite” issue, it is the APNU+AFC that fits the bill.

Ergo, “[T]he [2109] budget seems to have been prepared along neoliberal

lines, hopeful that the benefits of the business-friendly measures will trickle down to the rest of the economy” (Ram & McRae, 2019).

Ram and McRae were not all impressed by then Finance Minister, Winston Jordon’s disregard for the poor.

They were concerned that the APNU+AFC Minister of Finance was not at all “fazed by the plight of the market vendor, the single mom and the unemployed and others who struggle at the lower rungs of the social ladder…” (Ram and McRae).

The observations on education are deserving of further consideration, but only if Mr. Forde injects more substance and specificity in his critique.

Charges of corruption have become a generic fancy of most anti-PPP/C critics, and Mr. Forde did not disappoint here.

As usual, the charges lack the most elementary requirements of credibility. Instead of specificity, the reader must suffer through an amalgam of innuendos and irresponsible speculations.

In my own view, Forde’s suggestion that infrastructure development is by its very nature propitious to corruption, reveals an anti-investment bias. This is the most generous conclusion one can draw from the charge that infrastructure equals corruption.

Mr. Forde must be congratulated for raising the issue of inclusive growth. He

needs to impress that point within his own party.

Budget 2023 is perhaps best characterised as an “inclusive growth with development” plan founded on the principles of human security. Yet, one might also go further and argue that, in fact, the Budget is also based on “inclusive excellence”, a value I feel confident Mr. Forde supports.

I look forward to Roysdale Forde’s substantive contribution in Parliament come next Monday. I am most interested in finding out how the issues of economic equality and the protection of democracy are articulated in Mr. Forde’s forthcoming narratives.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Randolph Persaud

getting millions was pumped into the hinterland scholarship programmes for our students.

I can stop here, but I want to tell Mr. Norton that in 2023 the housing sector will continue to boom with more house lots being given out to our people, more low and middle-income homes, more young professional homes, and a brand-new city in the making.

Mr. Norton, there will also be a brand-new vessel that will traverse the northwest. A new Demerara Har-

bour Bridge and many new community roads and repairs to highways, are also in the pipeline.

I can go and on, but I don’t want to confuse Mr. Norton and the PNC with figures as the way they were confused when Dr. Singh made his 2023 budget presentation.

Thank you to the PPP Government for the vision of a better tomorrow as we strive together in creating a “One Guyana”.

Yours sincerely, Abel Seetaram

Court throws out Rickford Burke’s lawsuit against Minister McCoy

- orders him to pay $100,000 in costs

ten submissions; however, only Minster McCoy did so. As such, the matter was not continued under the Civil Procedure Rules 2016.

Lawyers for Minister McCoy had contended that the claim should be dismissed since Burke had failed to prove publication.

were in printed form. While the Plaintiff’s witness statement states that a copy of the article was exhibited there was no exhibit attached. The Plaintiff did not tender a copy of the alleged publication on Newsmedia.com at trial,” the judge said in her ruling.

has issued a wanted bulletin for Burke, in relation to a case of extortion in which two reporters have already been charged.

SOCIAL media commentator Rickford Burke has been ordered to pay costs to the Minster in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, after he failed to prove a $20 million defamation claim.

The ruling was handed down by Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln at the Demerara High Court back in December.

The overseas-based Guyanese, who is wanted locally by police for his alleged involvement in a massive extortion plot, had

initially commenced the claim against Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL), Minister McCoy and the Guyana National Communication Network (NCN.)

However, GNNL and NCN arrived at a settlement with Burke and a consent order was given. However, Minister McCoy opted for the case to move ahead. He specifically denied the publication of the alleged defamatory statements on “Straight Talk” and on Newsmedia. com.

Both parties were directed to file and serve writ-

In her ruling, Justice Corbin-Lincoln said that the best evidence of the words spoken was the recording. However, Burke did not produce a recording of the programme during which Minister McCoy allegedly made the defamatory statements complained of.

Additionally, the court was of the view that Burke may have conflated the words which he claimed were defamatory.

“I infer from the allegation that the words complained of were posted on a website and had a caption that the words complained of

As such, the claim was dismissed and Burke, who is an ally of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), was ordered to pay Minister McCoy the sum of $100,000 in costs.

Burke is wanted for “conspiracy to commit a felony to wit the publication of a defamatory libel in order to extort money.”

Burke was implicated by the two reporters – Gary Eleazar and Alex Wayne – who were released on bail following their court appearance.

He is also wanted for the excitement of hostility or ill-will on the grounds of

race in violation of the Racial Hostility Act, sedition, use of a computer system to intimidate in violation of the Cyber Crime Act, seditious libel, inciting the provocation of the breach of peace, and inciting public terror.

Burke’s last known addresses are Brooklyn, New York and Bartica. Anyone who has information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the police on 2256949, 225-8196, 226-7476, 225-2317, 225-8196, 2271149 or the nearest police station.

Major upgrades for hinterland health facilities

TO improve and modernise Guyana’s health care system, the government has increased the budgetary allocation for the health sector to a whopping $84.9 billion in 2023.

Hinterland health facilities will not be neglected, according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who noted that the services are expected to undergo major upgrades this year.

“Lethem for example would have a major upgrade [and] Mabaruma, Moruca. You would see us upgrading the hospital at Kamarang, Kato…Mahdia, we would also be improving that hospital as well,” he said.

Some $1 billion has been earmarked in Budget 2023 to advance this initiative.

In addition, the Karasa-

bai, Annai, and Sand Creek health centres will be upgraded into district hospitals providing radiology and laboratory services to residents.

Another $237 million has been set aside to upgrade those facilities.

Telemedicine centres will also be constructed in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine to provide realtime, remote diagnoses and treatment in remote Amerindian communities by using technology.

“A lot of the sites that I talked about, the hospitals would be equipped with the right equipment so that we can do all of these things and connectivity so that the standard of care that we will have on the coastland would be the standard of care that you will have in

the hinterland,” Dr. Anthony pointed out.

The Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali-led administration is seeking to position Guyana as a world-class provider of healthcare services and has embarked on several initiatives to ensure this.

These include the construction of six new regional hospitals at Lima, De Kindren, Diamond, Enmore, Bath, and No. 75 Village and a Pediatric and Maternal Hospital at Ogle, East Coast of Demerara.

Some $13.1 billion has been budgeted to continue construction this year.

“Over this year and running into the next two years, you will see a total transformation of our hospital infrastructure,” the Health Minister highlighted. (DPI)

Wanted overseas-based Guyanese political activist, Rickford Burke

The Guyana Police Force

TVET departments of 10 secondary schools boosted with safety equipment

THE Ministry of Education through the office of the Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), Dr. Ritesh Tularam, handed over safety equipment to 10 secondary schools that offer the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.

This was done in the boardroom of the ministry’s 26 Brickdam Office.

The schools that received over 40 items each, on Thursday, were the Bygeval Secondary School, Hope Secondary School, Bladen Hall Secondary School, the Fellowship Practical Instruction Centre, Vreeden-Hoop Secondary School, Annandale Secondary School, Richard Ishmael Secondary School, New Amsterdam Secondary School, Canje Secondary School and the Dolphin Secondary School.

The items received were helmets, safety vests, safety goggles and safety gloves.

Present at the handing-over ceremony was Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussain who said that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must take its rightful place in the education system.

He said to do this, schools must be given the tools to ensure that their students are protected and can work in a safe environment.

Hussain highlighted that at this juncture of the country’s developmental agenda, TVET can take the education system to the next level.

He related that, for the remainder of 2023, more emphasis will be placed on promoting and increasing access to TVET education.

Hussain added that the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand also recognises the importance of TVET education.

He said that the Education Minister is aiming to have each secondary school child graduate from school with five main things.

“We want them to leave with a foreign language, the ability to play at least one sport, the ability to play a musical instrument, a TVET subject and to leave with a spirit of volunteerism,”

Hussain noted.

According to the CEO, all secondary schools offer TVET subjects from grades seven to nine, but he noted that the number of students writing the subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level has to increase in addition to the number of students pursuing the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP).

Hussain encouraged the teachers to ensure that the items are used appropriately and that they are cared for and stored properly.

Dr. Tularam said that Occupational Safety and Health and the Environment (OSHE) is very critical to the delivery of competency-based training.

He said with that in mind, the use of the items in schools was important. According to Dr. Tularam, the schools that have been selected so far are schools that are offering the TVET and the CVQ programmes.

He said: “With that focus in mind, the Ministry recognised that we need to ensure that our teachers, our students that are engaging in these occupational programmes are taking safety as paramount.”

Further, Dr. Tularam noted that, recently, during the national budget presentation, $2.5 billion will be channelled towards TVET education for 2023.

He added that there are plans to reconstruct, retool and retrofit schools and Practical Instruction Centres

and Departments to improve the delivery of the TVET programme across Guyana.

Dr. Tularam urged

the teachers to ensure that the items are used by the students correctly. (Ministry of Education)

Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), Dr. Ritesh Tularam handing over the items to teachers of the TVET schools

Four GTT customers drive away with new cars

FOUR GTT customers, on Thursday, drove away with the grand prize of a new Toyota Raize as the company concluded its “Tis the Season” Christmas promotion with a big celebration at its 55 Brickdam location.

The winners were Ackulara Thomas from Linden and Callace Isaac from Vergenoegen, who both activated a social plan; Sunita Gossia from Werk-EnRust who paid her GPL and DSL bill using mmg+, and Dwayne Thom from Uitvlugt who registered for Fibre service.

According to a press release from GTT, the promotion ran for eight weeks and 10 customers out of several thousands who qualified, were contacted for a grand draw following a preliminary process witnessed by auditors

Ackulara Thomas

who was the winner of the first car, said that she has been a GTT customer for over 10 years.

“I’m so excited… I’m a mother of four, I’m self employed, I have a small business and I do charitable work as far as Berbice. I have a motorbike but it is the first time I will own a car,” Thomas said.

Isaac, who also won a car, said that he enjoys using GTT’s social plans and activated several bundles over the holiday season to enter into the promotion.

“The plan is great and you get a lot of data at a low cost, so I like it very much. I usually don’t win anything in promotions so I didn’t dream of winning a car,” he related.

The customers who were randomly called onstage, were challenged to reach into sealed boxes on a wall until they won a prize.

Latoya McIntosh from Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD), qualified by paying her GTT Fibre, GWI and GPL bill via mmg+ and walked away with a 43 inch television.

“I’m overjoyed, I have three children and this is an early birthday gift from mommy,” Mc Intosh.

Four other customers also won consolation prizes. Maharanie Budhu won a bicycle, Ester Persaud won a 55” television , while Berindra Nauth won a 43” television and Yvonne Kissoon rode away with an electric bike.

Throughout the promotion, many customers also won several other prizes, including mmg+ cash and shopping vouchers.

The company is now preparing to launch a new promotion for its 32nd anniversary in a matter of days.

Four GTT customers, on Thursday, drove away with the grand prize of a new Toyota Raize as the company concluded its ‘Tis the Season’ Christmas promotion

Diaspora Unit hosts remigration, investment webinar

THE Diaspora Unit, on Thursday, hosted its first diaspora webinar for the year which comprehensively addressed topics such as remigration and investment, and saw the attendance of close to 400 Guyanese living abroad.

The webinar was part of the government’s commitment in engaging the diaspora with the intention to make the re-migrant and investment processes ‘diaspora friendly.’

The Government of Guyana continues to analyse the state of diaspora engagements and the development of strategies to keep the diaspora engaged.

This is realised through the Diaspora Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and overseas missions.

Head of the Diaspora Unit, Rosalinda Rasul highlighted that in planning the work of the Diaspora Unit, one of the key areas that much emphasis will be centered on is providing pertinent information for the Guyanese diaspora and how they can participate in Guyana’s development.

“The webinar is critical because if Guyana is to go forward and achieve the end goals that we’re seeking, then the contributions from the diaspora are very critical,” she said.

The PPP/C administration has held multiple engagements with the diaspora since its assumption of office, and maintains that the diaspora has a vital role to play in the country’s development, even offering to incentivise Guyanese who bring their skills and expertise back home.

In this regard, Remigration Officer, Dianne Jordan, in providing an overview of the re-migrant scheme in Guyana and qualification criteria and process for the grant of remigrant status, said that the

policy was created to assist returning Guyanese with a seamless re-establishment of residence in Guyana by facilitating the importation of household and personal effects and a motor vehicle for those deemed “qualifying re-migrants.”

“It is governed by Section 23 of the Customs Act Cap 82:01 and is a two-fold process involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and the Guyana Revenue Authority,” she added.

Jordan emphasised the conditions obtained in the remigration policy which include that remigrants must be Guyanese by birth, descent or naturalisation and must be 18 years or older at the time of the application. Further, ordinary citizens must have resided abroad legally and consecutively for a minimum of five years and students must have resided overseas for a minimum of three years.

She reiterated that remigrants must have been out of Guyana for 50 per cent or more of the specified time.

Also addressing the diaspora webinar on exemptions available for remigrants was Roopnarine Singh, Manager Exemptions Processing and Verification Division, Customs Excise and Trade Operations.

He reminded the Guyanese Diaspora that concessions are available to re-migrants in all sectors and are granted according to the Customs Act. Singh specified that re-migrants are mandated, upon assuming residence, to apply for the re-migrant status within six months.

“Important to note is that once approval is granted for that status, it is mandatory that all items and motor vehicle are imported within such time,” he outlined.

The government’s di-

aspora engagement efforts continue to be immensely strengthened and supported by the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), by promoting entrepreneurship and investment to include the diaspora members in all sectors.

This was reinforced by Leanna Diamond, Director of Investment who expounded on the investment climate, favourable and generous investment regime inclusive of fiscal incentives, repatriation of profits for investors, open foreign currency market, relatively low levels of inflation, stable financial system, and equitable treatment of local and foreign investors.

During the moderated a question and answer segment, many attendees expressed their appreciation for the information, which they said was instructive and helpful in their decision-making to remigrate and invest.

High on their list of concerns; however, were the bureaucracies they have to endure in doing business and remigrating.

The engagement provided more feedback from the diaspora on the need for digitalisation of services to make systems and processes easier, less frustrating, coordinated and user-friendly.

The Diaspora Unit is committed to continued engagement with the policymakers at the highest levels here to ensure that the diaspora members are accurately informed to participate in the fastpaced economic transformation in Guyana as well as directly interfacing with members of the diaspora and helping them through various processes.

The aim is to support and expand government’s initiative to better serve the Guyanese Diaspora with efficiency in every sector.

Since its return to office, the PPP/C Government has made engaging the diaspora a priority, particularly at a pivotal time of Guyana’s development.

Apart from diaspora engagement, the government has been engaging Guyanese missions, consulates, consuls-general and honorary consuls across

the globe. This has extended to Guyanese organisations in North America and elsewhere, to update them on devel opmental projects.

to support local drive to engage Guyanese abroad on their possible role in Guyana’s development

Region One farmers get planting materials for large-scale ginger production

FARMERS from several villages in Region One (Barima–Waini) recently received planting materials to commence large-scale cultivation of spices with the aim of supplying export markets across the Caribbean.

Last week, officers from the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) returned to the region to deliver on commitments made by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

— cultivation of black pepper, other spices to also come on stream

during a prior visit.

While engaging farmers during the meeting, Minister Mustapha said that Region One is set to become a hub for spice production in Guyana and that Cabinet had recently approved some $20 million to procure planting materials to begin large-scale production of ginger.

He further stated that in

countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there is a high demand for spices and that the government was positioning Guyanese farmers to tap into those markets.

Last week, NAREI distributed ginger and turmeric planting materials to farmers operating in Mabaruma Sub Region: Aruau, Hotoquai,

Hobodeia, Arukamai, Sacred Heart, Wykaribe, St.Dominic, St. Anslem, Mabaruma, Aruka River, Khan Hill Smith Creek, Barbina, Lower Koriabo, Barima Black Water, Atabani, White Water, Kamwatta, Wanakai, Yarakita, Farm Corp, Hobu, Hosororo, Barscina, Aruka Mouth , Lower Kaituma, Aracuru, Barima Koriabo, Powai Kuru, Red Hill, Koberimo,

Morwhanna, St. John Waini River, Kinchee Creek, Kokerite, Imbotero and Wauna.

Farmers from across the region will soon receive planting materials, as officers branch out to conduct distribution exercises.

Last October, while in Hosororo, Minister Mustapha visited NAREI’s spice processing plant and commis-

sioned several new pieces of machinery that will be used to process ginger.

These tools include a Vibro sifter, a ginger washer, a ginger slicer, and a ginger grinder.

Last year, farmers of Regions One, Four, Six, and 10 also received in excess of 3,500 black pepper cuttings.

The cultivation of other spices like nutmeg is also being encouraged and facilitated by the ministry.

Black pepper cuttings that were distributed to farmers from Region One

Farmers in Region One with some of the planting materials they received from the Agriculture Ministry to commence large-scale ginger cultivation

Guyana, Suriname energy chambers partner to enhance business relations

THE Guyana Oil & Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) and the Suriname Energy Chamber (SEC) signed a historic cooperation agreement.

According to a press release from GOGEC, the objective of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to provide a framework for cooperation between the Suriname Energy Chamber and the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber, with the aim of facilitating business development support, including timely access to incentives for the energy sector, to promote joint ventures and partnerships between local and foreign investors, and to undertake joint activities aimed at investment promotion at the national and regional levels.

The signing marks the culmination of two years of efforts to ratify a shared vision and

framework for enhancing private sector opportunities across the two countries

The memorandum is not legally binding, but it sets the platform for deeper cooperation bilaterally and regionally that will see the energy-related private sector bodies for both countries address issues such as enhancing “local effects” of resource extraction, accelerating energy transition through the private sector, and championing energy companies’ adoption of robust environmental, social, and governance activities.

The partnership will also see a continued push toward maximising relationships across the energy value chain,

deepening existing relationships in traditionally developed economies, and promoting new relationships across the global South.

The agreement was signed by President of GOGEC, Manniram Prashad and President of the Suriname Energy Chamber, Orland Olemberg, in the presence of the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.

Also in attendance were Luanna Persaud, Vice-President of GOGEC; Joel Bhagwandin, Director of Finance and Planning; Rennie Leow, Director of Information technology and Distributed Generation, and Dillon Clarke, Director of Energy.

RESIDENTS of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are excited for the imminent roll out of the government’s $781.9 billion 2023 budget, which was presented to the National Assembly on Monday.

Based on their own assessments, persons firmly believe that Budget 2023 is one that will significantly improve their standard of living.

In an invited comment to the Guyana Chronicle, Teddy Sukhdeo, a Plant Operator of Number 64 Village, said: “The 2023 budget is the largest for a small country like Guyana… while many may see the budget as boost to the private sector only, I see that the investment made in the budget for key projects is necessary to catapult Guyana to a next level.”

He said that while

there may be many naysayers, he believes the budget is one that caters for every Guyanese.

“In the short term it might look like a large sum being invested, but the benefits will outweigh the investment in the long term. Every single Guyanese will benefit from this budget as it is a budget that seeks to capture the needs and to elevate the living standards of every single Guyanese,” Sukhdeo said.

Jaleel Marks, an aspiring police, said he has big plans for the future and sees a bright future for young Guyanese with the opportunities available for learning.

He said he hopes to take advantage of the scholarship opportunities via GOAL while he awaits a feedback on his career choice.

“I want be a police, but

while I wait I am hoping to sign up for the GOAL programme and add to my education, look at ways I can add to my name, and better qualify myself cause it is free and with an education, I can set me own future nice… so yea, the budget has promised for betterment for all. I also love business and would consider to take courses in that field also,” the 20-year-old said.

Vidya Kumarie-Roop, 56, who benefits from public assistance, said she is grateful to see an

increase. She added, while she is not a pensioner, she is also proud to know that pensioners are not being neglected.

“This public assistance and pension money that we collect is what many people depend on to carry we through the month and this increase is very good because lot of things went up and even though it is not much, it will go a long way especially for them old people,” KumarieRoop said.

She said she is happy to see the developments

in various sectors across Guyana, and hopes to see continued improvement to lives and infrastructure across the country.

“I see the budget as one that will do good for us… if you look at it, we getting better roads and streets, house lots, healthcare and education,” Kumarie-Roop said.

Anna Jainarine, a 28-year-old teacher and parent residing at Mibicuri Black Bush Polder, said it is pleasing to see provisions being made for children and parents in the

budget.

“It’s nice the children are getting help because sometimes, as teachers, some students don’t have the necessary tools nor lunch, so with the grants, parents will put those money to right use and ensure the children can come to school equipped and get a proper education,” Jainarine said.

On the other hand, she hopes to see improvement in her street in the shortest time and proper Internet service in her community.

Teddy Sukhdeo

Jaleel

Marks

Vidya Kumarie-Roop

The agreement was signed by President of GOGEC, Manniram Prashad and President of the Suriname Energy Chamber, Orland Olemberg, in the presence of the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

Nigerian remanded over attempted murder of Presidential Guard, discharging of firearm

BETHEL Ikena Chimezie - the Nigerian who carried out the brazen attack at State House, which is the official residence of the President and

resented man was not required to plead to the two charges.

Assistant Superintendent of Police, Vernette Pindar-Whittaker, told the court that, on

disarm her.

Cummings, who was at the south-eastern entrance intervened, but Chimezie discharged three rounds in his direction. Chimezie then attempted to flee on foot. However, Cum -

mings pulled out his service weapon and discharged a round in his direction, hitting him in his right leg. He fell to the ground and was arrested.

Perreira and Chimezie were rushed

to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they both underwent surgery.

Pindar-Whittaker told the court that Chimezie was released from the hospital on January 16, and was deemed mentally fit to

stand trial. The Chief Magistrate remanded him to prison until January 26.

Following the attack, Perreira, a Constable, was promoted to the rank of Corporal for his courage.

his family–was, on Thursday, remanded to prison for the attempted murder of a Presidential Guard and discharging a loaded firearm.

Chimezie, 25, of Ninth Street, Industry, East Coast Demerara appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

He had to be assisted into the courtroom by police officers from the court since he is still nursing a gunshot injury to a leg.

The first charge alleged that Chimezie, on December 15, 2022, at Carmichael Street, Georgetown, unlawfully wounded Presidential Guard, Telon Perreira with intent to commit murder.

The second charge alleged that, on the same day and at the same location, he discharged a loaded firearm at Presidential Guard, Quacy Cummings. The unrep-

December 15, at about 07:30 hours, Chimezie went to the south-eastern entrance of State House and spoke with Perreira.

Chimezie indicated to Perreira that he wanted to see President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and had an appointment with him. Perreira directed the accused to the seating area while he attempted to confirm that he had an appointment.

According to PindarWhittaker, Chimezie became annoyed, got up from the seating area and attempted to walk through the security hut inside the compound of State House.

Perreira attempted to block Chimezie but the man pulled out a knife from his shoulder bag and stabbed him five times. The men ended up in a scuffle and a female Presidential Guard came to Perreira’s rescue. She took out her service revolver, but Chimezie managed to

Bethel Ikena Chimezie

‘Shades of Brown’ set for Saturday release

— the exciting plot captures the struggles of a Guyanese interracial couple

‘SHADES of Brown,’ a brand new show that seeks to portray the Guyanese culture in the keenest way possible, will be released

on Saturday, and promises an exciting plot that showcases an interracial couple and their struggles to be together.

Anastacia Shako-Van Tull, also known as ‘Ann3ie’, is the writer, director, and producer; and is also the actress who plays the

lead role of ‘Victoria’.

The 27-year-old, who has always had an inclination towards drama and acting owing to her upbringing

in church, wrote the show in 2020 when there was heightened racial tension in the country.

“I wanted to highlight that every race has racist tendencies and to show that though we are not perfect, we should try to be more cohesive even if we don’t like another race,” Anastacia told Buzz this week about the show, which will be released on Facebook and YouTube under ‘Anniemated Productions.’

“Seeing the reaction of the parents to this interracial couple, and that of the friends would bring some of

our bad side to light so that some people may be able to relate,” she added.

The first season of the show will feature six episodes that will each last between 30 and 45 minutes, and, depending on the reception, more episodes may be added to season two.

It features Sonia Yarde, Mark Kazim, Simone Dowding, Gerard Gilkes, Paul Budnah, Nirmala Narine, and several new and upcoming local artistes.

Reflecting on how it all got started for her, Anasta-

Anastacia Shako-Van Tull

The Indian parents

The two lead characters, Mark Kazim and Anastacia Shako-Van Tull

Who are ‘Those People’ in your neighbourhood?

‘THOSE People,’ a Guyanese show that has been creating waves locally and in the diaspora, continues to make its mark in the online entertainment industry, notwithstanding the challenges that the coronavirus pandemic brought with it.

In fact, Director/Producer Maria Benschop believes that having to shift from the more conventional methods of producing her shows and adapting to, at times, less than ideal circumstances, has made her better at her work.

In an interview with Buzz this week, Maria and her husband Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones reflected a bit on “Those People” and how it has come to be a much-loved and well-received show in society.

The third season of the show being well underway, with just about eight more episodes to complete it, Maria said the plan is to keep it afloat by continuing to keep their viewers happy.

‘Shades of Brown’...

From page 16

— Season 3 in the works

Born out of a skit called ‘Tek Ups’ that featured the sizzling trio that audiences so love – Toya, Noreen and Beyoncé – the chemistry was so great that Maria decided to take it further. Apart from her, Clemencio Goddette, Leza Singh, and Michael Ignatius all contribute to the writing.

Speaking on how she came up with the name “Those People”, Maria recalled something her son said to her one day when she was playing her music very loud. “Mom, you know you all are those people in the neighbourhood, right?” he had said.

“I said, yes, I know we are ‘those people.’ It stuck with me and I used it as the name of the show.”

It’s really about a group of persons in the neighbourhood who stand out for one reason or another and who people cannot help talking about.

“Noreen for example is the neighbourhood gossip, the person who loves to brag and boast. Toya is

the girl whose dressing is very loud; and Beyoncé is her friend, similar in character.”

Even though they’re now back on stage, so to speak, Maria said the virtual aspects of the show will not cease.

She reflected on some of the positives that came out of the pandemic.

“I have become more versatile as a director and as a videographer. Working on a show on a weekly basis and having to put out something of a certain quality in so short a time, with limited resources, has developed my skillset tremendously.”

Lyndon added that they are able to use “Those People” to connect to the general public and share various important messages, especially as it relates to certain social issues.

He believes that the generally positive reviews are due to the fact that people can relate to the show.

A new episode comes out every Sunday.

cia said: “I struggled with depression for most of my life and television has always been that kind of safety net for me. I would binge a lot of TV and after a while I started getting a desire to write my own [show].”

At first, she didn’t think she could do it, but a friend gave her the idea of a TV show and, since then, she started putting together her ideas little by little.

“When I was driving to

work in Parika, the journey was long; I would write down my thoughts. One of the first lines that came to me was what the Indian father said, ‘Is black she black or is she madras?’

I scribbled that down and used it in the show,” Anastacia reflected.

“It’s little things like that that got me started. On the paper it wasn’t that great but I interacted with some veterans who helped me. After

working on it for like a year, then I approached the actors and so on,” she continued.

In church, there was a big production aspect in terms of musicians and performers and Anastacia was always heavily involved. While being a musician for many years, Shades of Brown is the first show she has acted in.

In fact, it’s her biggest project yet.

A snippet of veteran actress Simone Dowding playing Anastacia’s mom

Toya (Clemencio Goddette) and Beyonce (Michael Ignatius) from ‘Those People’

Directors/Producers Lyndon Jones and Maria Benschop

A new episode of ‘Those People’ is released every Sunday.

High hopes for Jah Cure

CHIEF Executive Officer of Shocking Vibes Production, Patrick Roberts, says the probability of Jah Cure ‘striking gold’ behind prison walls for a second time is high. His sentiments come ahead of the singer’s 11-track album, Undeniable, set for release in February.

“I definitely think it will be a success. [However,] this shouldn’t be following him up where he has to be behind prison walls to produce a hit. That’s not something one should glamour about. It’s just unfortunate what has taken place and followed him in his career,” Roberts told the Jamaica Observer’s Splash.

This will be the entertainer’s fifth studio album, and first since the release of Royal Soldiers in 2019. It is produced by Hamed “K-One” Pirouzpanah of Sweden.

In March 2022, Jah

Cure, given name Siccature Alcock, was sentenced to six years in prison in the Netherlands for stabbing a show promoter in that country over unpaid monies. The artiste, who was acquitted of attempted murder, has been incarcerated since October 2021.

He is set to return to court on January 24 for a pro forma hearing.

The pro forma is a short formal/procedural matter lasting approximately 1020 minutes to decide if the suspect should be kept in detention while awaiting trial. According to Dutch law, this decision is reviewed every 90 days.

Jah Cure had several previous brushes with the law. He was convicted of rape and illegal possession of a firearm in April 1999 and served eight of a 15-year prison sentence before being released in July 2007.

During that incarceration, he released the popular song Behind Prison Walls, lamenting his actions and vowing to “be a better man”.

According to the Shocking Vibes principal, that track is what put Jah

Cure on the map. “I was never really fully acquainted with Jah Cure until I heard Behind Prison Walls and it just picked up momentum. Mi seh to miself, ‘Da tune yah great!’. Jah Cure on a whole is a real great ar-

Back to Africa

A GAMBIAN show promoter is encouraging his Jamaican counterparts to have more artistes from Africa on their events to strengthen ties between their country and the continent.

Bakary Ceesay, a self-described entertainment journalist and music business consultant, told the Jamaica Observer that Burna Boy’s groundbreaking concert at the National Stadium in Kingston last month shows Afrobeats is just as popular in Jamaica as dancehall/reggae is in Africa.

“Actually, I am not surprised that Burna Boy [did well in Jamaica] because Afrobeats is big in Jamaica and Africa sees Jamaica as brothers and sisters of the same people.

“More African artistes want to perform in Jamaica because many artistes in Africa get their inspiration through Jamaican artistes, so they want to connect

to the Jamaica music industry,” said Ceesay.

Burna Boy from Nigeria is one of the poster acts for Afrobeats, a percussive sound from West Africa that has taken the

music world by storm. His show at the National Stadium drew an estimated 20,000 fans.

This weekend, Stonebwoy from Ghana performs at Rebel Salute

tiste. It’s just unfortunate the situations that keep following him in life,” he explained.

In terms of marketing, Roberts believes Jah Cure’s team will not have much work to do since he already established a fan

base.

“I don’t really understand incarceration in another jurisdiction with how those authorities are when someone is behind bars. Once there’s flexibility, he should be good. He’s not a new act that you have to show up front on stage. His music can speak for itself. Nowadays, you have social media at your disposal so it’s easier to market him than 15 years ago,” he said.

Roberts shared his expectations for the project which features Ghanaian singer Stonebwoy and newcomer Kaylan Arnold.

“Jah Cure on a whole, he has the material and the voice to execute in any written songs. I expect a nice, groovy album where one can relax and enjoy some smooth singing,” he said. (Jamaica Observer)

in St Ann. He is the latest African artiste to appear on the annual roots festival, following Bobi Wine from Uganda and Nigerian Patoranking.

Morgan Heritage, Beenie Man, Jah Cure, Alkaline, Jahmiel, I Octane, Chronixx, and Version are some of the acts Ceesay has booked for shows in The Gambia, which has been a strong reggae market for over 30 years.

“Our bookings are focused on West Africa and The Gambia. It depends on the market and demand of the public of a particular artiste,” said Ceesay, who has been promoting shows for five years.

Africa has been a vibrant market for Jamaican artistes since the late 1990s. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya,

Uganda and Ghana are the most active in terms of attracting premier acts.

In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, there were sporadic tours of the continent by Bob Marley and The Wailers, Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown, Yellowman and Gregory Isaacs. Some of those events were package tours with major African artistes like Fela Kuti, the legendary Nigerian who started the Afrobeat craze in the early 1970s.

Stonebwoy is the biggest reggae act out of Africa. Currently signed to Def Jam Recordings, he has collaborated on songs with Tarrus Riley, Sean Paul, Jesse Royal and Mutabaruka. (Jamaica Observer)

Jah Cure (Jamaica Observer photo)

— Gambian promoter urges better reggae-Afrobeats ties

Nigerian Afrobeats star, Burna Boy, performing at the National Stadium in St Andrew on December 18 (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Temperature surge from Sean Paul

TEMPERATURE, the second US release from Sean Paul’s 2005 album Trinity, re-enters the Billboard Rap Digital Song Sales chart at number one. It also re-enters the Digital Song Sales chart at 12, having peaked at number two in early 2006.

Temperature is produced by Rohan “Snowcone” Fuller and is featured on the popular Applause rhythm. The song rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006, while peaking at five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, number two on Hot Rap Songs, and number two on the Rhythmic Top 40.

The song was also a hit globally, peaking at 11 in the United Kingdom, and making

the top 10 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland, and Netherlands.

Temperature has been certified gold in Australia, Denmark, Italy, Japan, and Switzerland, while earning platinum status in the United Kingdom. It has been certified 3x platinum in the United States and Canada.

Popcaan scores his third entry on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart as We Caa Done featuring Drake debuts at 36.

His previous entries were Saturnz Barz with Gorillaz which topped out at 75 in 2017, while Twist and Turn with Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR peaked at 47 in 2020.

On the streaming and

sales-driven Billboard Reggae Albums chart, Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Legend clock 157 non-consecutive weeks in the number one spot, while Sean Paul’s Dutty Classics Collection inches up to two.

Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection by Shaggy slides down to three, while UB40’s Greatest Hits inches up one spot to four.

Stick Figure has backto-back entries, as Wisdom, World on Fire, and Set In Stone are five, six, and seven, respectively.

Gifted by Koffee rises to eight, Outside by Burna Boy re-enters at nine, and Welcome to Jamrock by Damian Marley revisits the chart at 10.

On the South Florida Reggae chart, Grown Woman by Hopeton Lindo and Peter G spends another week at number one.

One Day Soon by Raging Fyah with Josey Wales bolts from 14 to 11, while Really Together by Lukie D and Alaine steps from 20 to 17.

Let them Say by Bitty McLean spends a second at the top of the Foundation Radio Network (New York) Reggae chart.

I Need Your Love by Beres Hammond moves from 12 to nine, while Officially by Lenn Hammond and Hugh Brown glides from 24 to 21. (Jamaica Observer)

Cardi B given second chance by judge for community service hours

GRAMMY Award-winning rapper, Cardi B, has, until March 1, to complete 15 days of mandatory community service over a 2018 assault at a strip club, a New York City judge ruled on Tuesday.

The Queens District Attorney’s Office told Reuters the hearing was a “compliance update” and the judge had asked Cardi B to come in because she

had not completed her 15 days of community service as per her plea deal.

The “WAP” artiste arrived at the Queens County Criminal Court wearing a white form-fitting dress and long white coat.

“Personally and professionally, Cardi is dedicated to community service and charitable endeavors. She therefore appreciates the court giv-

ing her until March 1 to complete her community service commitment in Queens, New York,” Cardi B’s attorney said in a statement.

Police said that Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, got into an argument with female bartenders at a club. She had accused one of them of having an affair with her husband and fellow rapper, Offset.

The 30-year-old rapper pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor assault charges last year after being accused of starting a fight with two bartenders, claiming she wanted to be a better example for her children.

“Part of growing up and maturing is being accountable for your actions,” she said after her hearing in September. (Reuters)

Alec Baldwin to be charged over deadly shooting on Rust film set

ACTOR, Alec Baldwin, will be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on a film set when he fired a prop gun.

Baldwin had been rehearsing a scene for the Western film Rust when the shooting happened at a ranch near Sante Fe, New Mexico in October 2021.

Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film’s armourer, will also be charged with involuntary manslaughter. Neither has commented on the charges.

On Thursday, Santa Fe’s District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced, in a statement, that charges would be filed against the pair by the end of the month.

“Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter,” the statement read. “I have determined that there is sufficient evidence.”

“On my watch, no one is

above the law, and everyone deserves justice,” she said.

Both face up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 (£4,040) fine if convicted. They will be tried by a jury, prosecutors said.

Film director Joel Souza was also wounded in the shooting, but prosecutors said no charges would be filed in connection with that.

After the shooting, Baldwin said the gun had mis-

fired. He added that he did not pull the trigger on the gun and he was not aware that it was loaded.

“I don’t know what happened on that set. I don’t know how that bullet arrived in that gun. I don’t know,” he said in December 2021.

In October, the 64-yearold actor and the film’s production company reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount with the family of Ms Hutchins.

It came after the cinematographer’s husband, Matthew, filed a wrongful death lawsuit which alleged violations of industry standards.

“All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident,” Hutchins said in a statement at the time. “I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame.”

Production of the film had been scheduled to resume this year, with Hutchins on board as executive producer. (BBC)

Sean Paul (Jamaica Observer photo)

Rapper Cardi B appears at the Queens County Criminal Court in Queens, New York, U.S. on January 17, 2023 (Adam Gray/ SWNS for DailyMail.com/POOL via REUTERS)

Alec Baldwin was one of the film’s producers as well as its star (GETTY IMAGES)

Fifties from Imlach...

From page 28

At close yesterday, Imlach’s X1 were leading by 177 with six wickets in hand going into the third today with Kevlon Anderson (18) at the crease.

Imlach led from the front with 65 from 73 balls, 95 minutes with 10 fours and shared in 117 second wicket stand with Chanderpaul Hemraj who 60 from 80 balls in 121 minutes.

Nial Smith, Ashmead Nedd and Gudakesh Motie has a wicket each.

Earlier, Dindyal swivelled and pulled Clinton Pestano for four while Chanderpaul left balls he did not have to play at from the impressive Shamar Joseph and when the pacer decided to bowl at the stumps the Test batter tucked it past mid-on for four.

While there was just a handful of fans, it was the best weather for cricket for the year with acres of blue skies dotted with cotton wool-like clouds drifting over Providence with bright sun shining down on the players.

When Kevin Sinclair replaced Joseph, the stylish right-handed Dindyal greeted him with a gorgeous boundary before playing a majestic square drive of Cameron, which raced across the fast outfield.

The 50 partnership came up in 12.4 overs before Cameron, sporting a new hairstyle, trapped Chanderpaul LBW at 96-3 to end the 60-run third wicket stand.

Savory with a massive 170 in the first match, swept Sinclair for a couple of boundaries when he bowled round the wicket to left-hander and angle took the ball down the side.

But after facing 12 balls for his 13, he miscued a pull off Cameron at 116-4 and was taken at mid-on by Keon Joseph who missed the first match.

When well set for a fifty, Dindyal pushed forward at one that turned from Veerasammy Permaul and ‘nicked’ a catch to the Keeper at 126-5.

Bramble got going with a crunching off-drive when Cameron pitched up while former youth batter Singh, who has put on some weight, stroked Shamar Joseph for back-to-back boundaries and by Lunch the score 147-5 with Bramble on 15 and Singh on 11.

After Lunch, Singh deposited Anthony Adams over long-on for six while Bramble hammered Clinton Pestano brutally to the cover boundary while Singh stroked Adams for another four as the partnership gathered momentum.

However, Pestano broke the 47-run stand when Singh played back and was struck in front at 173-6.

Renaldo Ali-Mohammed joined Bramble who clobbered Cameron past mid-on for four but Permaul was brought back and struck twice in the same over when Bramble was caught at short leg for 37 and Motie, who edged between the slip and

the keeper for four, hit Permaul to mid-off to gift him a wicket three runs later to leave his team on 197-8.

Ali-Mohammed hit Sinclair for a six and got another boundary to fine leg off the inside edge before he was removed by Permaul for 18 at 216-9.

Permaul picked up his fifth wicket when Richie Looknauth fell for duck to end the innings.

When Imalch’s X1 began their second innings with a slim lead of 10, they quickly lost Matthew Nandu, caught behind off Smith for a duck at 1-1.

Imlach joined Chanderpaul Hemraj and took the score to 13-1 at tea.

After the break, Hemraj hit Sylus Tyndal for four before pulling Isiah Thorne to the mid-wicket boundary.

Imlach punched Thorne for four past cover before, with exquisite timing, then on-drove the 17-year-old Berbician for four.

Imlach reached his 50 from 61 balls with seven fours and celebrated with three elegant boundaries in the next over from Nedd.

Hemraj launched into Ali-Mohammed and smashed him for a one-bounce four to long-on which nearly took off the head of Imlach at the non-striker’s end.

But Nedd cleverly ‘hung the carrot’ and Imlach drove straight to cover to end his entertaining knock at 117-2.

A flowing cover drive followed up by a delightful square drive off Motie brought up Hemraj’s fifty from 70 balls with 12 fours before he threw his wicket away when he hit Motie to long-on at 135-3.

Johnson joined Anderson who got going with a boundary before Johnson (11) was bowled by Motie off the last ball of the day to set up an interesting third day, today.

Windies Women turn focus to Super 6s after heavy defeat

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, (CMC) – West Indies Women suffered a 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of New Zealand Women here but still booked their place in the Super 6, second round of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup here today.

In their worst performance of the tournament yet following two impressive wins, the Caribbean side were bundled out for only 68 in their final preliminary game at Senwes Park and the Kiwis raced to their target in the eighth over, to top Group C with a perfect record.

West Indies Women finished second with four points and will now face Rwanda in their opening second round game on Sunday.

“We came up short today, but we had two good victories against Ireland and Indonesia, which qualified us into the Super6s of the inaugural ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup, so for us that in itself is a big achievement,” said Liburd.

“Our focus now is the two games we have in the Super6s to secure one of the semi-final spots. But to me, one of the biggest positives is to see the girls continue their growth and development in their cricket journey in this tournament and after we leave South Africa.”

Sent in, West Indies Women faltered from the outset and never recovered, and number 10 Earnisha Fontaine was the only player to reach double figures with 11 not out off 17 balls, including two fours.

Number three Zaida James, with fifties in her last two innings, managed just five while the in-form Naijanni Cumberbatch got a first-ball ‘duck’, both players falling to seamer Olivia Anderson (2-14).

Leg-spinner Kate Chandler was outstanding with three for eight from four overs to earn Player-of-the-Match honours.

In reply, Georgia Plimmer hammered an unbeaten 41 from 22 balls with seven fours while opening partner Anna Browning carved out 28 not out from 22 deliveries with four fours, as New Zealand Women made light work of their target.

GTA commends government for increased budgetary allocation for sport

THE Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) has joined the numerous Sports Associations / Federations in Guyana commending the increase in the budgetary allocation for Sports in the 2023 Na-

tional Budget. The Budget, totalling a record $781.9 billion, was presented by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh on Monday, with Sports receiving its largest allocation ever of $4.3 billion.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Friday January 20, 2023)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD

-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 256 (vs IND, KJolkatta, 1958-59)

(2) 15 centuries

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many times Rohan Kanhai led the WI in Tests?

(2) How many times he led the WI to victory?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

RACING TIPS

English Racing Tips

Newcastle

11:45 hrs Hildeney

12:15 hrs

Whatwouldyouknow

12:45 hrs Champagny

13:15 hrs Brownee

13:45 hrs Modular Magic

14:15 hrs Man Of Eden

14:45 hrs Hijacked

Southwell

08:50 hrs Nellie French 09:20 hrs Funky Town Pinkie

In 2022, $2.2 billion was allocated.

“We are optimistic that our sport will expand to new areas this year with the continuous support of the National Sports Commission, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport”, the GTA expressed in a statement.

09:50 hrs Pittsburg

10:20 hrs Villalbos

10:50 hrs Golden Speech

11:20 hrs Win Win Power

11:50 hrs Ray Vonn

12:23 hrs Wrath Of Hector

Irish Racing Tips

Dundalk

11:55 hrs French Rescue

12:30 hrs Reverberation

13:00 hrs Hightimeyouwon

13:30 hrs San Andreas

14:00 hrs Ocean Symphony

14:30 hrs Ampeson

15:00 hrs Arch Enemy

Furthermore, they commended the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., for his “astute leadership and frequent engagements with the executive of the GTA to assess our needs, provide funding and create pathways to improve the

15:30 hrs Mr Mills

American Racing Tips

Aqueduct

Race 1 Bonana Fanna Foe

Race 2 Wicked Lady

Race 3 Olive Kat

Race 4 Doctor Love Race 5 Magnolia Wind

Race 6 Simple Sugar Race 7 Be Better

Arab Emirates Racing Tips

Meydan

10:00 hrs Namrood

10:35 hrs Behavioral Bias

performance of athletes, coaches, and the executive.”

The GTA is eyeing continued interaction with the Minister and the National Sports Commission as the executive strives to bring growth to the sport of Tennis throughout Guyana.

11:10 hrs Taneen

11:45 hrs Asawer

12:20 hrs Master Of The Seas

12:55 hrs Get Shirty

13:30 hrs Spirit Of Light

South Africa Racing Tips

Fairview

08:30 hrs Blonde Act

09:05 hrs Stolen Kiss

09:35 hrs Ledell’s Echo

10:05 hrs Khaya’s Hope 10:45 hrs Slings And Arrows

President of the Guyana Tennis Association, Cristy Campbell

Tevin Imlach cuts for four in his entertaining 65 at Providence, yesterday

Gill double lifts India to tight win over Bracewell-inspired NZ

(Reuters)- India have claimed a thrilling 12-run victory over New Zealand in the first oneday international in Hyderabad after Shubman Gill's dazzling double century was answered by a brilliant ton from Michael Bracewell.

The 23-year-old opener Gill became the youngest men's batter to score an ODI double hundred, smashing 208 off 149 balls, featuring an incredible 19 fours and nine sixes, as he helped India set New Zealand a target of 350 in Wednesday's series opener.

He became the fifth Indian batsman to score 200 in the format after Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan.

But apart from Gill, the rest of India's batting order struggled to add runs, with captain Rohit Sharma making the second-highest contribution with 34.

Virat Kohli could only manage eight in their formidable total of 8-349 on a slow pitch.

New Zealand opener Finn Allen made 40 but the rest of the Black Caps batters struggled for fluency before Bracewell produced a masterclass after coming in at No.7.

He made 140, hitting 12 fours and 10 sixes, off 78 balls as he kept the visitors in the contest along with Mitchell Santner (57), as the pair put on 162 off

just 102 balls for the seventh wicket

Bracewell took the game until the final over, when he became the last player to be sent packing with four balls to spare.

Shardul Thakur (2-54) held his nerve as his slow yorker trapped Bracewell lbw.

Bracewell's knock was the third-fastest ODI hundred by a New Zealander, scored off only 57 balls but the visitors were eventually bowled out for 337.

"Once Mitchell and I settled we started believing. We wanted to take it deep to give us a chance. Unfortunately we fell short right at the end," said Bracewell.

India seamer Mohammed Siraj was the pick of the bowlers

with 4-46, including two late wickets at a crucial stage, while Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur also bagged two wickets each.

Earlier, opting to bat, India made a good start with Gill and Sharma putting on 60 for the first wicket.

But after Sharma went, Santner bowled Kohli and Kishan was caught behind for five.

Suryakumar Yadav (31) then added 65 with Gill, who reached his second ODI hundred in consecutive innings, after scoring 116 against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Gill went to his 150 off 122 balls before accelerating to strike another 58 off 27 deliveries, including five monster sixes, as

he notched up the highest ODI score ever made against New Zealand.

"I wasn't thinking of the 200 but once I hit the sixes at the end I did feel that I could get it," said player of the match Gill.

"It definitely gives me a sense of satisfaction but the game went much closer than I expected."

The second ODI will be in Raipur on Saturday followed by the third game in Indore on Tuesday.

DOUBLE HUNDREDS IN MEN'S ODIs

264 - Rohit Sharma (India) v Sri Lanka, Kolkata 2014

237no - Martin Guptill (New Zealand) v West Indies, Wellington 2015

219 - Virender Sehwag (India) v West Indies, Indore 2011

215 - Chris Gayle (West Indies) v Zimbabwe, Canberra 2015

210no - Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo 2018

210 - Ishan Kishan (India) v Bangladesh, Chattogram 2022

209 - Rohit Sharma (India) v Australia, Bengaluru 2013

208no - Rohit Sharma (India) v Sri Lanka, Mohali 2017 208 - Shubman Gill (India) v New Zealand, Hyderabad 2023 200no - Sachin Tendulkar (India) v South Africa, Gwalior 2010.

Kenya doping: Three athletes banned for breaking anti-doping rules

Three Kenyan athletes have been banned for a collective period of eight years after breaking anti-doping rules.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned marathon runners Alice Jepkemboi Kimutai and Johnstone Kibet Maiyo for three years, and sprinter Mark Otieno for two.

Otieno, 29, tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Methasterone moments before the 100m heats at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

It meant he was not allowed to compete.

Otieno, a three-time national 100m champion, will have his ban backdated from the Games and end in July 2023.

The suspension for November's Porto marathon winner Kimutai - who tested positive for the male hormone testosterone - began on 16 November.

Maiyo's ban started on 20 July for returning a positive test for erythropoietin (EPO).

Last month the east African country avoided a sanction by governing body World Athletics - despite having 55 athletes serving suspensions - after committing to spend $25m over the next five years to combat doping.

Kenya's sports minister Ababu Namwamba then announced they intended to criminalise doping in athletics in an attempt to bring an end to a string of cases in the sport. (BBC Sport)

Intent to score, decision-making among key batting goals -- Coley

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Interim West Indies men’s head coach, Andre Coley, has pointed to key elements of the beleaguered side’s batting which he hopes to see developed on next month’s two-Test tour of Zimbabwe.

The Caribbean side’s batsmen struggled during last month’s two-Test campaign in Australia, with captain Kraigg Brathwaite and his debutant left-handed opening partner Tagenarine Chanderpaul the only two to average above 30.

West Indies lost both Tests – the first by 164 runs in Perth and the second by a massive 419 runs after they were dismissed for a historic low of 77 in their second innings.

“Kraigg alluded to this … just in terms of the fight that we want to show,” Coley told an online media conference on Wednesday.

“The messaging generally would really be around intent to score – batting is about scoring runs. Each batter will go about that in a different fashion and have their own particular style.

[We need to be] clear on how we want to utilise the intent while recognising within the game environment whenever we’re ahead, and then using that as an advantage to even get further ahead. That is going to be crucial.

“And then just being able to work together as a batting unit to achieve the team goals.”

He continued: “Kraigg mentioned earlier … about trying to bat in such a way in the first innings that you can have control of the game. That will be one of the messages in terms of first innings – how can we bat, how can we approach it to ensure that we actually start well and have

some control over the game, heading into the second innings.

“So, clear decision-making, intent to score, playing as you do with the confidence you have on the tour while taking into consideration what the game situations throws up at us at any given moment.”

Brathwaite struck the only hundred on the Australia tour to finish with an

average of 49 while Chanderpaul, the son of Test legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, averaged 40 in an impressive outing.

The only change to the batting group for the Zimbabwe tour has been the axing of stylish right-hander Shamarh Brooks who managed only 52 runs across four innings, but the likes of Nkrumah Bonner; vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood

and Kyle Mayers have all kept their places.

Coley, who has taken charge of the squad following the resignation of Phil Simmons, said confidence would be a key issue against the backdrop of results ‘Down Under’ and ahead of a hectic schedule for 2023.

“This upcoming series against Zimbabwe and South Africa gives us tremendous opportunity to actually regain some confidence following on from recent months,” the Jamaican explained.

“And then as we approach the middle of the year against India etcetera, looking to build on that confidence that we would’ve gained in the upcoming two to three months; so there are lots of opportunities available.

“And the players are keen. It’s good to have such a year [of cricket] and play-

ers want opportunities to play so I’m sure everybody is looking forward to this year.”

Coley said despite the short turnaround time following the tour of Australia, it would have been important for players to ensure they remained match-ready.

“Coming off the Australia tour and leading into this one, there would’ve been at least four, five weeks where players would’ve had the opportunity to play and even practice, to help in their preparation ahead of this tour,” he noted.

“And really that’s what we’re looking to focus on as it relates to who’s involved in the squad.”

West Indies face Zimbabwe in the opening Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo starting February 4 and return to the same venue a week later for the second Test.

Subman Gill becomes the youngest men's double-centurion in ODIs

Sprinter Mark Otieno is one of the three Kenyan athletes to receive a ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit

Sprinter Mark Otieno is one of the three Kenyan athletes to receive a ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit

Interim West Indies men’s head coach, Andre Coley

Hashim Amla: Former South Africa batter retires

HASHIM Amla, South Africa's second highest Test run-scorer of all time, has retired at the age of 39.Amla scored 9,282 runs - second only to Jacques Kallis' 13,206 - at an average of 46.64 in 124 Tests.

He amassed 18,672 in all formats for the Proteas from 2004 to 2019, and no-one has scored

more than his 27 oneday centuries for South Africa.

Amla's 311 not out against England at The Oval in 2012 remains the highest Test score by a South African.

He was part of the Surrey team that won the County Championship in 2022, having retired from international cricket

three years earlier.

Amla averaged 49.46 in 181 one-day internationals and 33.60 in 44 T20 internationals, and ends his first-class career with 19,521 runs at an average of 48.55.

Former England captain Alec Stewart, who worked with Amla at Surrey, described him as "a great of the game".

He said: "Everyone at Surrey County Cricket Club will be sad to see Hashim retire, but we all applaud what has been a phenomenal career.

"Hashim is a fantastic cricketer and a wonderful person. He has been an incredible resource for the team to learn from on and off the field."(BBC Sport)

MVP Jokic becomes Nuggets record assist maker

SERBIAN Nikola Jokic became the Denver Nuggets' record assist maker in a 122-118 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Jokic, the winner of the past two NBA Most Valuable Player awards, made his 3,680th career assist to go past Alex English's record for the franchise.

Former Utah Jazz

player, John Stockton, holds the NBA record with 15,806.

The Nuggets have won eight in a row and lead the Western Conference just over halfway through the 82-game season.

They are half a game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, who equalled their record winning run by beating Cleveland Cavaliers for an 11th

Rayon Griffith retains coaching role for Windies tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa

GUYANESE Rayon Griffith, who serves as Assistant Coach for the West Indies team, with oversight for fielding, has retained his position for the tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa.

A Cricket West Indies (CWI) press release, on Wednesday, outlined Griffith, Head Coach for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, as Assistant Coach of the senior West Indies men’s team.

It is understood, in this interim period, Griffith is second in command to Interim Head Coach, Andre Coley.

Griffith joined the management staff in 2019.

The confirmation of positions comes as West Indies prepare for tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa in February and March.

Kenny Benjamin, the former West Indies and Leeward Islands fast bowler, travels to Zimbabwe as the Bowling Coach, replacing Roddy Estwick.

Team Manager Rawle

Lewis,

full Team Management Unit who will depart for Zimbabwe this coming weekend.

The team lands in Zimbabwe early next week ahead of a three-day warm-up match against a local side set for the 28 to 30 January at Bulawayo Athletic Club.

West Indies will then play two Test matches against Zimbabwe at the Queens

Sports Club in Bulawayo, with the first Test running from 4 to 8 February, and the second match from 12 to 16 February. All matches start at 10:00am local time (4:00am Eastern Caribbean/3:00am Jamaica).

The last Test Series between Zimbabwe and the West Indies was also played at Queens Sports Club in October 2017. West Indies won the two-match Series 1-0, winning the first contest by 117 runs with the second Test ending in a draw.

The squad will then travel on to South Africa for West Indies’ last two matches in the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with West Indies placed 6th in the current WTC and South Africa placed 4th. Both sides have the opportunity to improve their position in the final table.

Following the Test Series, West Indies play South Africa in three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals.

consecutive victory.

Steven Adams made the game-winning basket with 16.6 seconds to go as the Grizzlies triumphed 115-114.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, the Miami Heat beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-98, while the Washington Wizards won 116-105 against the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Dallas

Mavericks 130-122.

The Charlotte Hornets pipped fellow strugglers, the Houston Rocket, 122-117, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 126-106, the Utah Jazz won 126-103 against the LA Clippers and the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-111. (BBC Sport)

Physio Denis Byam, Analyst Avenesh Seetaram and Media Officer Dario Barthley, comprise the

Hashim Amla scored 28 centuries in Tests and a South Africa record 27 in one-day internationals

Jokic also made his second straight 30-point triple-double (31 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists)

West Indies assistant coach Rayon Griffith

Man City fight back to beat Tottenham in thriller

Manchester City overpowered Tottenham with a stunning comeback at Etihad Stadium to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points.

Spurs looked to be doing bitter north London rivals Arsenal a huge favour when they scored twice in the closing moments of the first half to leave Pep Guardiola's side staring at a third successive loss.

Dejan Kulusevski gave Spurs the lead seconds before the break after Rodrigo Bentancur robbed Rodri following Ederson's poor clearance, then Emerson Royal headed a second after the City keeper could only push out Harry Kane's shot.

Most inside the Etihad Stadium were frustrated but City, inspired by the outstanding Riyad Mahrez, came flying out after the interval to turn the game on its head with three goals in 12 minutes.

Julian Alvarez scored from

close range after Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris could not claim Mahrez's cross in the 51st minute, then Erling Haaland headed in from close range two minutes later to draw City level.

Spurs almost regained the lead when Ivan Perisic's shot was deflected onto the woodwork by Rico Lewis before Mahrez completed City's comeback, winning a challenge before beating Lloris at his near post.

France veteran Lloris was at fault once again after his own goal set Arsenal on their way to victory in the derby on Sunday.

Mahrez completed a brilliant individual display when he raced clear in stoppage time to lift a clever finish over the keeper for City's fourth.

City show champion class Manchester City left the pitch at half-time with heads bowed and their jeering sup -

porters frustrated, mainly by what they felt was referee Simon Hooper's failure to punish Spurs for a succession of fouls as well as a two-goal deficit.

What followed was a devastating show of power from City, who came out after the break and simply refused to be denied as Spurs were unable to cope with their attacking variety.

Mahrez was magnificent, scoring two goals and being

Steve Smith signing for Sussex will not decide Ashes outcome - Jonathan Agnew

By Jonathan Agnew

he gets Smith out cheaply.

If it was me, I'd be imagining that I was bowling at Smith in that first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. I'd be thinking that I could do England favour by denting his confidence.

It is a very easy argument to say: "Good old English cricket, giving a warm-up to Australia's best batsman before the Ashes."

It is also short-sighted. Yes, Smith will get some benefit from his time at Hove before Australia try to win their first Ashes series in this country in 22 years.

But, in reality, the amount of learning that can be done by anyone who comes into contact with him should outweigh his threematch reconnaissance of English conditions.

For county cricketers, it is all about getting up close to one of the finest players of the generation. They should seize the opportunity with open arms.

Australia's Smith signs for Sussex

It is not a new thing for the world's best players to ply their trade in county cricket. Smith himself has played some T20 cricket for Worcestershire, while his fellow Australian middle-order run machine Marnus Labuschagne has been prolific for Glamorgan.

In reality, the standard of overseas players has dropped in recent years because of the amount of cricket played all over the world during the English summer.

Back in the 1980s and '90s, counties would often have two world-class players who returned year after year, only missing if their national team happened to be touring England that summer.

Richard Hadlee at Nottinghamshire, Imran Khan at Sussex,

As a 23-year-old just making my way into the Leicestershire team, I was very upset when we signed the great West Indian fast bowler Andy Roberts. I thought my place in the side had gone.

The chief executive, Mike Turner, told me that if I was good enough, I would play. He was right and that's exactly what happened.

I bowled with Andy, travelled with him and roomed with him.

On long journeys we would talk bowling, but also get to know each other. I learned about his great love of music. I played for England largely thanks to Andy's influence.

He understood, as all the best overseas players do, that the job is not just to score runs and take wickets, but also to give something back to the game by helping young players.

It wasn't just from Andy that I benefited. Leicestershire played Nottinghamshire on a regular basis and when we did, I always sought out Hadlee and Clive Rice. I would sit with them, talk to them and pick

their brains about fast bowling. They were happy to help and we weren't even from the same team.

I'm sure that someone like Smith, who absolutely loves talking cricket, will be exactly the same.

"I am particularly looking forward to working with the younger players in the squad and hoping I can provide some guidance to them," he said when the deal was announced on Thursday.

Think of Tom Haines, the Sussex opener who has been touted as a future England player and is in the Lions squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. Haines should be sitting next to Smith in the dressing room, getting tips from him in the nets and taking him out for dinner.

The same goes for young batsmen who Smith will play against. He would probably appreciate the questions and respect the players who ask them.

As for bowlers, it is a fantastic opportunity to see what it takes to bowl at one of the best in the world, to learn what it takes to step up to Test level. Imagine the headlines a youngster will make if

And let's not forget that Smith is likely to be sharing a dressing room with Ollie Robinson (Jofra Archer is also at Sussex, but will be at the Indian Premier League). Smith and Robinson probably don't have a lot to learn about each other, but it can't hurt for Robinson to get a good look at Smith in the nets.

Clearly, there is a difference between what Smith is doing when compared with those overseas players of the past.

He is a professional batsman who is coming as part of his preparation for the World Test Championship final and the Ashes. He is hoping that a few matches for Sussex put his game in the best possible place for the huge summer ahead.

Even if he does score a stack of runs in the Championship, that does not mean he will carry that form into the Ashes. It does not work like that. He could still quite easily edge the first ball he faces from James Anderson and walk off for a duck.

Yes, Smith could enter the Ashes brimming with confidence, but he could also be searching for runs after a lean spell on some early-season English pitches.

I honestly do not believe Smith's spell at Sussex will have any bearing on which captain, Ben Stokes or Pat Cummins, gets his hands on the Ashes urn at The Oval at the end of July. (BBC Sport)

involved in the others and he continues his rich vein of form.

City have also uncovered another gem in 18-year-old Rico Lewis, who was heavily involved before and after the double strike from Spurs that made Etihad Stadium such an anxious place during the interval.

History tells us that City, as they were in that decisive title victory against Aston Villa on the final day of last season and against Crystal Palace here earlier this season, can never be counted out at two goals down and Alvarez's strike so early in the second half had a galvanizing effect on the champions and a demoralising impact on Spurs.

Time running out for Lloris?

A World Cup winner with France in 2018, Lloris has been a fine servant for Spurs since signing from Lyon - but it is looking increasingly like time for change.

The 36-year-old has been at Spurs for more than a decade but

now looks increasingly fallible, his game increasingly error-ridden and uncertain.

Lloris was badly at fault when he fumbled Bukayo Saka's cross into his own net for Arsenal's opening goal in Spurs' north London derby defeat on Sunday, and he blundered again as they subsided against rampant City.

He did not show enough conviction when trying to claim Mahrez's cross for City's first goal - the ball dropping for Alvarez to score - then he was badly beaten at his near post as Spurs went behind for the first time in the game. Mahrez's shot carried power but Lloris had to do better.

Spurs have been linked with Brentford keeper David Raya and Everton's Jordan Pickford, which comes as no surprise as this position looks increasingly like a problem manager Antonio Conte will have to address as a matter of urgency. (BBC Sport)

Bodybuilding Federation hails transformational budget for Sports

THE Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) has hailed the $4.3 billion budgetary allocation for Sports when Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, presented the country’s $781.9 billion National Budget in Parliament on Monday.

In a release to the media on Wednesday, the GBBFF highlighted that they have “benefitted significantly” from the office of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., and the Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, to host their Senior Championships and attended the annual Central America and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships.

“With the expected allocation for sports, as stated in the National Budget…and the anticipated direct injection of resources into the continued development of sports in Guyana, athletes, coaches, the general sports fraternity, and every single Guyanese should be pleased with the developmental direction that Minister Charles Ramson Jr. and the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport is taking sports”, the release stated.

THE signing of Steve Smith is great news for Sussex, county cricket and all those who are going to play with or against him.

Wasim Akram at Lancashire. They were as much a part of the squad as the local players.

Julian Alvarez scored his first Premier League goal since winning the World Cup with Argentina

Steve Smith has previously played county cricket with Worcestershire

Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation President, Keavon Bess

Aftermath of T20 World Cup fiasco in Australia...

Strategic retreat, player development among 34 recommendations by group to CWI

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – A high-level retreat involving a core training squad, the head coach and the top brass of Cricket West Indies is among 34 recommendations put forward by an independent three-member group in a report, aimed at helping West Indies “hit the reset button” in time for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.

The group, chaired by Justice Patrick Thompson Jr. and comprising former Test captain Brian Lara and well-respected international coach Mickey Arthur, said in a comprehensive report that the upcoming showpiece presented a “golden opportunity … at reviving the fortunes of the [West Indies] T20 cricket Team”, and called on CWI to identify a core 30-35-member core unit to prepare for the event.

Critically, the report suggested the retreat be used to determine the “willingness and availability” of these players to participate in the World Cup, and also urged the attendance of the CWI president, chief executive, Director of Cricket, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

The report also called for a performance consultant, along with a representative from regional players union, WIPA, and two CWI directors, to be a part of the retreat.

“CWI should convene a three-day in-person meeting/ retreat with the afore-mentioned core squad for the purpose of determining their willingness and availability to participate in the 2024 World Cup,” the report said.

“That meeting should be akin to a strategic retreat where players and administration can speak frankly and address any and all grouses (real or imagined) in a constructive manner.

“Mediator(s) should be secured for this meeting in order to assist and facilitate the discussions contemplated above.

The report continued: “A performance consultant who

can assist the players and management to define West Indies cricket culture, identity and values is essential to this process.

“It is important that this meeting is convened in a roundtable format as opposed to management on a raised platform and players on a lower level.”

With the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CWI and WIPA expiring in June, the report also called for the retreat to be used as a starting point for discussions over a new agreement.

The strategic retreat is among six short-term recommendations, with the report also identifying 11 medium-term recommendations and 17 long-term proposals.

As part of the short-term recommendations, the report called for “a clear agreement on strength and conditioning standards, player availability and needs, and CWI expectations in the lead in to the 2024 World Cup.”

It also tasked CWI with the responsibility of having “targeted discussions” with the core training group about the possibility of playing “as much red ball cricket … as possible” ahead of the 2024 World Cup, including in upcoming Test series against Australia and Pakistan.

“We hold the strong view that red ball, and in particular

Test cricket, against the Test teams ranked above us provides vital opportunities for primarily white ball players to develop their overall cricketing skills,” the three-member group wrote.

Among the medium-term recommendations, the report pointed to the need for increased “centre wicket practice” during tours, player analysis of regional strength and conditioning facilities, and an audit by territorial boards of respective facilities with the objective of meeting player needs.

Additionally, the report tasked CWI with enhancing its monitoring and supervision of player conditioning and urged an overhaul of the current system being utilised.

“CWI should urgently determine the best mechanism for ensuring that contracted players are complying with their respective strength and conditioning programmes,” the report said.

“CWI should urgently invest in wearable technology (Whoop or Oura for example) that reports back to a central database at CWI headquarters on activity levels for all contracted players. There must be monitoring and supervision of players in order to ensure that they are held accountable.

“The current Athlete Management System (AMS) that requires players to log

their activities needs to be urgently overhauled or removed.”

Also as part of the medium-term strategies, the report said CWI needed to carry out “a wholesale review” of player contracts in conjunction with the players and WIPA, stage a regional workshop to address best practices on pitch preparations and subsequent monitoring, and also increase mental health support for players and support staff by contracting the services of experts in each territory in which series are being staged.

Long-term, the report proposed CWI devise and implement a scouting programme akin to the one used in American professional football (NFL), review the qualities required for becoming a selector, conceptualise a mentorship programme for contracted players and also “urgently craft a protocol to implement biomechanics and flexibility as part of CWI’s coaching programmes.”

The three-man group were asked to review areas such as selection strategy, team and player preparation, player and staff workloads and player development, in the wake of West Indies’ shocking early exit from the T20 World Cup last November.

GFF transfer window closes on January 31st

THE transfer window for players registered with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League, nine Regional Associations and the Women’s Football Association (WFA) will close on January 31st, as stated in a release from the local governing body of the sport.

The window opened on January 1st, giving coaches attached to 130 clubs an opportunity to bolster their squads at the start of the 2023 season. The nine Regional Association senior men leagues, the ongoing women Development League and the recently concluded One Guyana President’s Cup tournament provided a national platform for senior male and female players to impress scouts and coaches ahead of the transfer window.

Associations and clubs have been reminded that in order to be considered procedurally correct, all transfers must involve and have the full agreement of the former club, the player, the former regional association, the new club, and the new regional association, in the case of a transfer from one association to another.

Players attached to the GFF Elite League clubs and associations have two weeks left to decide which club they will represent in the new season. Clubs will be hoping to hold on to their top players during this window as coaches look to strengthen their defence.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) 2023 agenda focuses on players having more on field time in local leagues and tournaments in preparation for regional and international competitions.

Tiger Rentals Under-13 football

— Four matches in the EBFA interassociation leg this weekend

THE Tiger Rentals/Guyana Football Federation (GFF) nationwide under-13 development football initiative will resume tomorrow at the National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, with four anticipated games in the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) inter-association leg.

This marks day two and the action is scheduled to kick off at 10:30hrs with two one-hour games being contested simultaneously.

The first two matches will see Friendship Allstars VS Smattapoint/KaneVille FC on pitch one while pitch two will see Swan matching skills with Carib Boys FC.

The other two matches will kick off at 12:30hrs and will feature Timehri Panthers being pitted with Agricola Red Triangle FC on pitch one while Diamond United FC will battle Herstelling Raiders FC on pitch two.

On day one of the EBFA’s competition. Diamond United beat Agricola Red triangle 4-3 while Timehri A team beat Herstelling Raiders 8-0.

Tiger Rentals under-13 football resumes tomorrow at Providence (Delano Williams photo)

West Indies were knocked out of the qualifiers for the T20 World Cup in Australia last November

Fifties from Imlach, Hemraj & Permaul’s 5-8 highlight 2nd day

By Sean Devers

IN sweltering heat yesterday at Providence, 13 wickets fell on a track which favours spin as the second day of the

second practice match ended with Tevin Imlach’s X1 167-4 in their second innings after bowling out Gudakesh Motie’s X1, 41 minutes before Tea.

Resuming on 46-2, Motie’s

X1 were out for 216 in 54.4 overs in reply to Imalch’s X1 226.

Overnight batters Chanderpaul, who hit five fours from 59 balls and 109 minutes in 36

Windies Women turn focus to Super 6s after heavy defeat

and teenager Mavindra Dindyal, whose 43 lasted 80 minutes, 65 balls and included eight boundaries in their 60-run third wicket stand.

Anthony Bramble, who

scored 37 from 50 balls with six fours shared in 47-run fifth wicket partnership with Sachin Singh who 25 with three fours but nobody else reached 20.

Experienced left-arm spin-

ner Veerasammy Permaul had 5-8 and was supported by Demitri Cameron (2-32) and Shamar Joseph (2-49)

GFF President reacts to historic $4.3B budget for sports

“I salute the bold leadership of the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and his government’s unprecedented and consistent investment in the development of Sports and the young men and women of this country.

It is very heartening to see Hon. Minister Charles Ramson being recognized and rewarded for his outstanding work, which he has undertaken at a breathtaking pace over the past two years. It is therefore entirely fitting that he is granted the resources to fulfil his transformational vision for the growth and development of Culture, Youth and Sports.

The Guyana Football Federation is committed to doing our part in the actualization of the nation’s dreams and aspirations for Sports development.”

Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul traps Anthony Bramble by the LBW route to end with impressive figures of 5-8 yesterday. (Sean Devers photos).

Shunelle Sawh of West Indies is bowled by Anna Browning during Thursday’s game. (Photo courtesy ICC Media)

Wayne Forde, President of the GFF