Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 12-11-2022

‘Be ready for opportunities’

President Ali tells business community

- says gov’t prepared to create a team to help businesses prepare plans, conduct feasibility studies

By Shamar Meusa

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali on Friday said that his government will con tinue to set the stage for investments and incessant growth in the private sec tor.

Dr. Ali, in his address to stakeholders at the Georgetown Chamber of

Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI)’s Business Devel opment Forum, said the government has a respon sibility for opening up op portunities, but the onus is also on businesses to be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that are provided.

In highlighting one in stance where businesses

were not ready for op portunities, President Ali said that the government brought a group of busi ness investors from Saudi Arabia ready to form part nerships, but many sections of the private sector were not ready or prepared with business or feasibility plans.

FULL STORY ON PAGE 3

Guyanese of all ages flocked Main Street on Friday night for the annual Courts Christmas light-up, which has returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sound of the classic Christmas carols filled the air, and children danced and played as they waited to see Santa Claus, the “main man” of the night, and his helpers (Delano Williams photos)

Courts lights up Main Street for Christmas

GUYANESE of all ages flocked Main Street on Friday night for the annual Courts Christ mas light-up, which has returned after a twoyear hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sound of the classic Christmas carols filled the air and children danced and played as they waited to see Santa Claus, the “main man” of

the night, and his helpers.

As they waited, they were entertained by some of Guyana’s best artistes, the Guyana Police Force Band and the Berbice Delight dance troupe.

Prime Minister, Brig adier (Ret’d) Mark Phil lips was the guest speaker at the event. He wished all Guyanese a merry Christmas and reminded the crowd that it is a time for sharing and giving and living in love and unity.

Prime Minister Phil

lips did the honour of flipping the switch to il luminate the trees in the vicinity of the store.

Vincent Gordon, Courts’ Sub-Regional Managing-Director (Guy

ana and the Dutch Car ibbean), expressed how happy he was to see so many people at the event.

He also used the occa sion to inform the public that Courts will arrange

for free eye exams for children.

The night’s pro gramme was chaired by DJ Akelo and TV and radio personality Re nata Bailey.

A section of the crowd at the light-up. Pictured at far right is Prime Minister Mark Phillips (Delano Williams photos)

Members of the Berbice Delight dance troupe

The Guyana Police Force Band

‘Be ready for opportunities’

forum provides a plat form for stakeholders to discuss a wide range of ideas, solutions and possibilities for growth and development.

By Shamar Meusa

PRESIDENT Dr. Ir faan Ali on Friday said that his govern ment will continue to set the stage for investments and in cessant growth in the private sector.

Dr. Ali, in his ad dress to stakeholders at the Georgetown Cham ber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI)’s Business Development Forum, said the gov ernment has a respon sibility for opening up opportunities, but the onus is also on busi nesses to be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that are provided.

In highlighting one instance where busi nesses were not ready for opportunities, Presi dent Ali said that the government brought a group of business investors from Saudi Arabia ready to form partnerships, but many

sections of the private sector were not ready or prepared with business or feasibility plans.

He added that a sim ilar situation occurred recently, when a group of Korean investors came to Guyana.

In light of this, the Head of State told pri vate sector stakeholders that he is ready to put a team together to assist businesses with plans and feasibility stud ies, so that they will be prepared for future investments.

“I say this to you to say you are pushing at open doors,” the Head of state said.

He went on to say that the government has gone above and beyond to foster busi ness developments in the country, noting that there are now more than 420 new small contractors working along with the govern ment on various pro jects.

“For the first half of this year alone, Exx onMobil has procured goods and services of in excess of US$127 million from local sup pliers,” Dr. Ali said.

While there were complaints about busi nesses not having ac cess to finance, the President said that he will put together a team of professionals to work along with busi nesses to ensure that they are prepared be fore going to the banks for financing.

Dr. Ali related that it is easy to be critical; however, persons must change the way they think, act and behave in order to find real solutions.

Further, he said that the government will continue to invest in technology and other sectors outside of the oil-and-gas sector.

Although the coun try is diverse and has many areas to invest in, Dr. Ali encouraged persons to narrow it down by doing simple surveys.

He added, however, that it gets technical when deciding what to with the data com ing out of the surveys, and what measures and programmes are imple mented to transform the data into action.

President of the GCCI, Timothy Tucker said that the business

The two-day forum is expected to explore five thematic areas: Ac cess to financing, im proving standards and quality, doing business in Guyana, and market ing fundamentals.

In relation to access to financing, Tucker said that the GCCI has been at the forefront of advocating for ac cess to finance, as it realises that it is the only way that Guya nese businesses could adequately utilise the Local Content Act to its benefit.

Even so, he admit

ted that the business environment is get ting better, because the government has been providing tremendous opportunities to poten tial and existing busi nesses.

Tucker said that the rapid rate of develop ment leaves no room for certain industries to be taken for granted, noting that the private sector must work hard er to commercialise agriculture and many other industries that exist.

“We must find the opportunity in our trade agreements, both multilateral and bilateral, and we must utilise every aspect, internally and exter nally,” he said.

- President Ali tells business community

- says gov’t prepared to create a team to help businesses prepare plans, conduct feasibility studies

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

GCCI President Timothy Tucker

APNU+AFC’s votes were inflated, other parties’ votes were deflated

- Singh tells COI about GECOM-led misconduct at 2020 polls

SASENARINE Singh, a qualified accountant, has shed light on the scheme by staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to inflate votes for APNU+AFC by intro ducing a spreadsheet into the tabulation process dur ing the 2020 Regional and General Elections.

On Thursday, Singh ap peared before the Presiden tial Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the elections of

2020, where he testified about the many discrepan cies he witnessed during the period being examined.

Singh, who was a super numerary agent for the Peo ple’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the time, told the Commission about the use of a spreadsheet during the tabulation and verification process at GECOM’s Dis trict Four command centre at the Ashmin’s Building in Georgetown.

Singh said that the veri fication process is usually done by comparing copies of Statements of Poll (SOPs) in GECOM’s possession with those in the possession of party agents.

He recalled that GECOM aborted that process and opt ed to use a spreadsheet. This unorthodox process, manned by GECOM’s Enrique Livan, attracted much protest, but he continued.

Singh testified that when

the process began with the use of the spreadsheet, the numbers were “definitely not” matching up. In fact, he said that of the first 21 SOPs he had in his possession from the East Bank of Demerara, 17 of them were materially different from the numbers recorded on the spreadsheet.

Singh testified that every party suffered losses except the APNU+AFC. He further told the Commission that the party that had the biggest

casualty was the PPP/C.

“They were deflating everybody’s number except the APNU+AFC, and the APNU +AFC numbers were being inflated,” Singh said.

He related that after this was discovered, there was an uproar, which caused Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield to eventu ally intervene.

An agreement was then reached for GECOM agents to revert to the original process of comparing the GECOM SOPs to those in the possession of stakehold ers.

Singh testified that Livan then started working the “right process”, but after do ing only four SOPs, he said he was tired. He then shut down, cleared his workspace of documents, including SOPs, and left the tabulation room, laptop in hand.

Singh said that after Lowenfield instructed Livan to return, he clicked on a file labelled South Georgetown, and again the numbers were different.

He added that the move was quite obvious, as, in some cases, the two votes recorded for the smaller par

ties on verified SOPs were reduced to one on GECOM’s spreadsheet.

Singh said that GECOM’s Keith Lowen field was in the room when the inaccuracies were being highlighted.

According to Singh, Lowenfield said: “This thing has to be investigated admin istratively,” before calling off the process until 9:00am the next day.

However, the next day, Lowenfield said nothing about his investigation, and, according to Singh, instead, District Four Returning Of ficer, Clairmont Mingo tried to make a declaration of the results for the district.

Singh said that this was despite the fact that tabu lation and verification for sub- district East Coast of Demerara had not com menced; South Georgetown was incomplete, and so was the East Bank of Demerara.

Yet, Mingo tried to make a declaration. How ever, he was not allowed to do so, given the loud protest of party agents, as well as local and foreign observers.

Sasenarine Singh

Major housing development for Kwakwani

- residents to get land titles, relocation for waterfront occupants

RESIDENTS of Kwak wani, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), will finally be able to access ownership documents for the lands they have been occupying for years.

This assurance was given by Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, who led

the Kwakwani Recreational Club, Minister Croal assured residents that the two hous ing developments will be resurveyed shortly; a new plan will be developed and gazetted; and that the minis try will later issue land titles or transports.

The minister said that

to be uplifted; we want you to live in a comfortable envi ronment, and we at the Min istry of Housing and Water will work with you to ensure that happens,” Minister Croal told the residents.

Further, he said there were reports of persons il legally occupying an area

known as Jeep Landing. Minister Croal has asked those persons to desist from engaging in unlawful activi ties as “there is no need for squatting”.

“Starting today, we have to arrest that situation; what ever is taking place there has to stop; we have to do things in a structured way.

“Be rest assured, this PPP/C Government, we are committed to helping you, and we will sort out the area; we will regularise the area, and we will make the area usable for housing purpos es,” he said.

Further, Minister Croal said the government will be engaging residents on the relocation of those persons occupying the flood-prone waterfront area in Kwakwani to higher grounds.

This is in keeping with a commitment made when President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Vice-President Dr. Bhar rat Jagdeo both met with a group of persons who had indicated their willingness to relocate.

Croal said the issue will be dealt with through a col laboration with the housing and natural resources minis tries, with support from the residents.

On the issue of water, Minister Croal committed to sending a technical team to the area to assess the water distribution networks.

From all indications, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will have to seek an alternative water source, since the main water source, the river, is at risk of being contaminated during the

rainy season.

“This has to be done quickly so that we can put it in our 2023 budget,” the Housing and Water Minister said.

Croal affirmed that this process forms part of the government’s national housing programme, which affords persons the oppor tunity to achieve homeown ership in communities that are equipped with all nec essary amenities. The team also met with residents of Ituni to address similar is sues. (DPI)

an outreach in the area on Friday to address housing and water-related matters. He was accompanied by a team of technical officers from the Central Housing and Plan ning Authority (CH&PA).

During the engagement at

several years ago, 162 house lots were allocated by the ministry, followed by the distribution of another 176 lots. However, no ownership documents were issued.

“We want development for our people; we want you

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal engaging residents as he enters Kwakwani

Residents of Kwakwani will finally be able to access ownership documents for the lands they have been occupying for years

A Clean Environment

NOTHING is more aes thetically pleasant than a spotless and orderly at mosphere. Under the PNCdominated City Council, Georgetown, which was formerly known as “The Garden City”, was allowed to deteriorate over a num ber of decades to the point that it became “a garbage city”.

For much of the postindependence period, the city wore a depressing look: Clogged drains filled with lit ter and garbage; buildings in need of rehabilitation and repainting; flooded streets and piles of garbage all over the place. The stench emanating from garbage build-up and stagnant drains was unbear able, especially when it rains. Not even the iconic City Hall

was spared the neglect.

Yet, the beauty and mag nificence of the city were never in doubt. Georgetown still remains one of the most beautiful cities in the Carib bean, with its varied mix of colonial architecture in dicative of its former co lonial status and heritage. The influence of European architecture is still very much in evidence, which gives the city its unique and distinctive character.

It is a lasting shame on the City Council and the PNC administration that the capital city of Georgetown and its beautiful architecture were allowed to run down to the state that it has currently found itself in.

The blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the PNC-

dominated Mayor and City Council, which, over the decades had mismanaged its affairs to the point where it was unable to pay its wages and other bills, not to men tion its ability to effect the barest minimum of reha bilitation works to the city’s infrastructure.

It was not until the return of the PPP/C to office on October 5, 1992 that an ef fort was made to reverse the decline of the city by way of financial subventions and several other interventions in terms of road repairs, drain age and garbage disposal among others. The impact of these interventions were, however, not fully optimized, due to an entrenched culture of mismanagement and ex travagance by the Council,

which sadly continues until this day.

With the election to office of the PPP/C in March 2020, a renewed effort was made to bring back the city to its former glory. President Dr. Irfaan Ali, in his New Year message, announced that his administration intends to lead a national resurgence of sustained public cleanliness that promotes environmental health across the country and the restoration of national pride.

President Ali and his PPP/C administration must be given full credit for com ing to the rescue of the city. The current restoration works on the City Hall, coupled with the several attempts to beautify the city, are mani festations of a President who

cares about aesthetics, and the health and well-being of the citizens of Georgetown.

This has been replicated in several other parts of the country, and as the country becomes more financial ly consolidated, Guyanese could expect a much cleaner and environmentally-friendly surroundings.

In the case of George town, even though the Presi dent has given full commit ment to restoration works, the city and the welfare of its citizens, he made it clear that the PPP/C administration will not allow itself to be used as a “scapegoat” for the failure of the City Council to do its work, and to live up to its responsibility and mandate.

“Let me be very clear,

this government cares tre mendously about our city, but we will not allow ourselves to be used as a scapegoat in the city not fulfilling its responsibility and mandate or in the city converting every thing into political opportun ism or a political football,” the President said.

President Ali had reit erated earlier that whilst the city is not fulfilling its responsibilities in mainte nance of the environment and its infrastructure and the cleaning of drainage, Central Government has embarked on a massive programme to clean the city, to clean and main tain the roadways, es tablish roundabouts and maintain drainage sys tems.

Empirical evidence highlights Opposition’s track record of stymying/obstructing development

Dear Editor,

THE recent display of dis ruptive and inciteful be haviour by the political Opposition is concerning, yet, not surprising. I refer specifically to the incident where an Opposition Mem ber of Parliament sought to block a sitting minister of the government from tending to the needs of the people.

Reference is also made to another recent incident involving the Opposition Leader, where he sought to instigate the people of Mocha to believe that the govern ment is taking lands that rightfully belong to them; lands he is referring to as their ancestral lands, and that they must not allow the government to reclaim these

lands.

These are lands, as I un derstand it, that the govern ment may have to reclaim to advance the development of new roads and other public infrastructure (in a subse quent article, I will dem onstrate the benefits and the bigger picture of the government’s development agenda, including how the reclamation of these lands to facilitate development will also benefit the people at the community level, both directly and indirectly).

Sufficing to say that these recent maneuvers by the po litical Opposition are nothing but different strategies to derail the development of the country. There is an abun dance of historic empirical evidence available that sug

gests this is the track record of the Opposition; that is, blocking development at all costs. But in the end, it is the entire population of a country that suffers.

Editor, hereunder out lined, I present some of these historic empirical evidence to corroborate my argument.

HISTORIC ECONOMIC CONTEXT

Since achieving inde pendence from Great Britain in 1966, Guyana’s economic performance has been in consistent. Following a short period of economic growth between 1970 and 1975, Guyana’s accumulated GDP growth between 1976 and 1990 was -32.8 per cent, according to the UN’s Eco nomic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

This economic inconsistency persisted into recent years, which presents average GDP growth for Guyana compared with averages for the Latin America region. Source: (Corral et.al, 2009).

THE POLITICAL ECONOMY

Prior to 1992, Guyana was a centrally command, socialist type dictatorial re gime, with an economic sys tem that plunged Guyana into bankruptcy, thus lead ing to economic and social devastation. During this era, thousands of Guyanese fled the country in search of bet ter opportunities elsewhere. This, by and large, explains the massive human capi tal deficit the country has, wherein less than five per cent of the local labour force

possess a tertiary level edu cation.

Post 1992, when there was a regime change (the current government having been elected through a free and fair elections and there being the restoration of de mocracy), the economy at the time had just begun its transition to a free market economy, inter alia, the In ternational Monetary Fund’s (IMF) economic reform pro gramme.

From 1992 – 2014, Guy ana suffered many periods, short and long in some cases, of political instability which largely stymied the country’s development and ability to achieve its true economic potential.

Periods of Political In stability

* 1992 – 1997: There was a short period of street protests and violence after having restored democracy, following which the econo my took off (short period of stability).

* 1997 – 2001: Prolonged street protests and disruption.

* 2002 – 2003: Prison break, crime wave spiraled out of control and politically motivated disruptions.

* 2004 – 2008: Unrests, politically motivated disrup tions

* 2008 – 2012: Lusig nan, Lindo Creek, Bartica massacre, violence erupted when protestors blocked the Wismar Mckenzie Bridge.

* 2011 – 2014: For the first time, a new political dis pensation emerged following

New telecommunications provider to test service at Rockstone

AS it prepares to offer con nectivity to the hinterland, GREEN Gibraltar Incor porated, will be hosting a demonstration of its service capabilities at Rockstone Village on November 18.

The aim is to demonstrate how connectivity advances the community in four key areas: medical, education, tourism/commerce and wellbeing, a release from the company said.

In 2019, two companies, MHM Holdings, Inc. and Green Gibraltar, Inc. led by Guyanese entrepreneurs, resolved to improve the lim ited and poor-quality cellular service in the country. As a result, a formal application was submitted in response to the Telecom Liberalisa tion act.

The release said that af ter more than two years of

“hard work and sound invest ments,” the companies as sembled an industry leading team of financial and techni cal partners. The granting of the licence was the first step on the journey of realising this vision.

Green Gibraltar Inc., MHM Holdings, Inc., and their partners understand the desire of Guyana’s citizens and businesses to have an option to connect with the world in a professional and cost-effective manner.

With the approval and issuance of the licence, ef forts were focused on the steps necessary to commence operations.

“Green Gibraltar is grate ful to the Government of Guyana and is eager to re ceive additional spectrum in order to fully implement operations,” the release said.

It added that the unit is completely self-contained and solar powered with bat tery backup. It is able to transmit fixed wireless ac cess signals to the surround ing areas.

When additional spec trum is issued, a cellular signal can also be broad casted. The unit has been specifically designed for the environment and climate of Guyana.

“This is the first step of many in creating connectiv ity not only to the Hinterland but all of Guyana. We are proud of our partners and associates and all the work that has gone into the up coming event. I believe in this country, I believe in our people, and for far too long we have had to play second fiddle. The time is now for us to connect Guyana to the

Empirical evidence highlights...

FROM PAGE 6

the 2011 elections where the government was a minority government, and the political Opposition controlled the Na tional Assembly having had a one seat majority. Under this dispensation, it was difficult for the government to ob tain budget approvals, many major development projects were disapproved by the Op position controlled National Assembly. As a result, snap elections were held in 2015 which resulted in a win for the Opposition.

* 2015 – 2020: Though this period wa s relatively stable–that is, no violence, major crime wave, unrest, and disruption until the No Confidence (NCM) motion that was brought against the former government in December 2018– the former APNU+AFC government failed to implement any major development projects despite expending over $1.2 trillion in five years. Much of this was expended on current/consumption or nonproductive expenditure.

Additionally, almost every national elections in the 1990s and early 2000s – after the elections results/ outcome, violence and un rest erupted which were all fueled by the Opposition. These events occurred in 1992, 1997 and in 2001. The only elections that did not end with violence were those in 2006, 2011 and 2015. There is a rich body of academic literature on Guy ana’s political and economic history which confirmed empirically that these peri

ods of political instability were designed to, and to a large extent, lead to the State becoming dysfunc tional and ungovernable.

Against these back grounds, out of 29 years (1992-2021) since Guyana transitioned to a free mar ket economy, there were several periods of political instability that hindered the country’s development, having transitioned out of a bankrupt State. Thus, with all those years of instability combined, Guyana suffered from 17 years of political instability characterised as politically motivated disrup tion, unrest, violence, and crime. In addition, despite having four years of “sta bility” (2015 - 2019), inter alia, a regime change, for the first time there was some amount of stability but with no substantive development and progress. These, alto gether, gave rise to a total of some 21 years of stymied and disrupted progress and development of Guyana albeit the latter was due to, arguably and evidently, imprudent fiscal and public financial management.

Despite the challeng ing political landscape de scribed above, the govern ment at the time (PPP/C) nonetheless managed to achieve the following:

> From 1992 – 2014 (22 years) since Guyana transitioned to a free market economy and restoration of democracy, the then govern ments only had five years of stability out of 22 years in power in which Guyana

moved from a bankrupt State, regarded as one of the poorest country in the west ern hemisphere, to a GDP of US$4 billion by the end of 2020 from US$300 million in 1992, representing 1,200 per cent growth in GDP, or 13 times 1992 GDP,

> Per capita income of US$5,000 from less than US$300,

> Debt to GDP ratio is now less than 50 per cent from a position of more than 600 per cent in 1992,

> Total public debt ser vice to revenue ratio came down to 30 per cent of reve nue from a position of more than 150 per cent,

> More than 60 per cent of the population lifted out of poverty,

> By the time there was a regime change in 2015, that government inherited about $100 billion in liquid cash in the Bank of Guyana and by the time they left of fice in 2020, there was $147 billion overdraft/deficit in those accounts.

Editor, the Opposi tion’s track record as dem onstrated herein, speaks for itself. Guyanese, there fore, must not allow the Opposition to obstruct, block and stymie the coun try’s progressive develop ment.

Yours faithfully, Joel Bhagwandin Director

Business Intelligence & Analytics | Financial and Economic Analysis

SPHEREX Profes sional Services Inc. | JB Consultancy & Associates

future,” one of Green Gi braltar’s directors, Jai “Don” Singh, was quoted as saying.

Additionally, fellow di rector, David Mahmalji said: “My early days in Guyana were in the Rupununi in the 90s. This experience in the hinterland has shaped my

desire to provide modern ser vices to these great people.”

The release noted that the government has made con nectivity in the hinterland a key issue.

“Green Gibraltar, Inc. is proud to provide this test unit and believes it can be a

key component in providing connectivity to underserved populations,” it added.

Green Gibraltar, Inc, a company that is 100 per cent Guyanese-owned, is in its final planning stages of its roll out of service to Guyana’s citizens.

MP Datadin: APNU+AFC’s constituencies not adequately represented

to adequately represent its constituencies in the National Assembly.

This follows the op position’s exit from the 50th sitting of the Nation al Assembly on Monday, when important bills were scheduled to be debated.

reform process to pick up steam.

PEOPLE’S Progressive Part/Civic Member of Parliament and attor ney-at-law Sanjeev Da tadin, has called out the APNU+AFC for failing

The pertinent Con stitutional Reform Com mission Bill, for instance, was up for debate, and this was eventually passed in the House, paving the way for the constitutional

Before its passage, a Constitutional Reform Committee comprising members of the govern ment and the opposition was formed. According to Datadin, who was also a member of that com mittee, the APNU+AFC representatives were often absent.

“They [APNU+AFC] made no contributions, recommendations. In the

end, they simply went along with what the gov ernment side had recom mended and said well they will go with that, they were given ump teen opportunities,” Da tadin revealed during his weekly programme, “The Thursday Agenda.”

The opposition was again given the chance to contribute during the debate on the bill during Monday’s sitting; howev er, they walked out, laying blame on the Speaker’s decision to disallow two motions improperly put forward by Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton.

This, the attorney-atlaw said, caused the op position’s constituencies to be left voiceless in the highest law-making institution and the consti tutional reform process.

“The target is the con stitution... it must repre sent the will of the people and that’s how it’s done, but having said that or not having gotten his way like a spoilt child, you know that when you’re a child, you play in crick et, you’re out and you don’t want to give up, you pick up your bat and ball and you leave. That’s what Norton effective ly did, no engagement.

So, all of the supporters of APNU+AFC are left without a voice,” Datadin said.

Bills, including the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill, Suicide Prevention Bill, Restorative Justice Bill, Bail Bill, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psy chotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill were also passed without contribution from the opposition.

Minister of Parliamen tary Affairs and Govern ance, Gail Teixeira, on the sidelines of the sitting, had also called out the opposition for abdicat ing its responsibilities as elected leaders in the Na tional Assembly. Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, also lambasted the APNU+AFC for hav ing no sort of contribution towards any of the bills.

Meanwhile, MP Data din described the recent actions of Opposition Par liamentarian, Vinceroy Jordan, towards Minister of the Public Service, So nia Parag, as “cowardly” and “foolish.”

The opposition MP and several other support ers barred Minister Parag

from entering a CDC building to meet with youths in the Belladrum, West Coast Berbice com munity, to discuss training and other opportunities available to them.

The meeting was in keeping with a commit ment made by President, Dr Irfaan Ali during an outreach to the region.

“It doesn’t matter why or which side of the po litical divide you are, […] your constituents, you must always help. You see you adopt that foolish attitude when you have a leader who walks around this country thinking, shaking hands with the President is somehow a thing that he wouldn’t do.

“He feels as if he is being interfered with if he shakes your hand and or he’s being oppressed and saying all kinds of non sense that you wouldn’t shake hands of his op pressor. Your job is to put your silly ego aside, to put your foolish concepts away and serve the people who have voted for you,” Datadin said.

Several other minis ters of government and groups have since called out MP Jordan for his action, deeming it antidevelopment. (DPI)

PPP/C Member of Parliament and attorney-at-law, Sanjeev Datadin

DeSinco donates over $1M in sanitiser to GPHC, ‘COVID-19’ hospital

AS part of efforts to maintain a clean envi ronment, DeSinco Trad ing Company Limited on Friday donated a quan tity of Beep sanitiser to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Infec tious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal.

Chief Executive Of ficer of DeSinco, Alicia De Abreu, in a brief comment at the simple ceremony

said the donation is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

She noted that the brand Beep manufactures disinfectant spray and hand sanitiser, which are known to kill COVID-19 and oth er diseases.

In response, Head of Strategic Planning and Communication at the GPHC, Chelauna Provi dence, thanked the com pany for its generous do

nation.

“One of the biggest things for us is infection prevention and control and so receiving such a large donation of sani tiser goes a long way in helping us to manage hospital-acquired infec tions and it also contrib utes to the efforts we have in place for manag ing infections, patient and staff hygiene,” Provi dence further noted.

GPHC’s Quality Improvement Manager, Erwinettea Austin (third from right), receives the donation from Chief Executive Officer of DeSinco, Alicia De Abreu (Elvin Croker photo)

GYSBI, BIT partner to ramp up oiland-gas training programmes

THE Board of Indus trial Training (BIT) on Friday received a financial contribution from the Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI), which will go towards the expansion and de

livery of technical and vocational education and training.

According to a re lease from GYSBI, this forms part of a larger plan for collaboration between the two entities,

including but not limited to practical training and apprenticeships.

GYSBI’s Human Resource Manager, Lilowtie Chintamani, handed over the cheque to Minister of Labour,

Joseph Hamilton, under whose purview the BIT falls.

Minister Hamilton in his remarks said that the government is aware that training programmes are now needed more than

ever to ensure Guyanese citizens are given the right tools to work and participate in the oiland-gas sector. As such, the BIT has approached companies operating within the industry to explore partnerships and opportunities for col laboration to make this possible.

“I determined a few months ago that we needed support of all kinds to do what we want to do [in terms of training] and that led to us drafting a list of oil-and-gas companies that we could engage and seek collaboration [with]. Of the compa nies we sent letters to, you are the first one to offer the kind of sup port we are looking for,” Minister Hamilton was quoted as saying.

Deputy General Manager of GYSBI, Ra bin Chandarpal, said that the company is pleased to partner with the min istry and the BIT to ad vance its work, since GYSBI prides itself as a leader in developing lo cal content and creating beneficial opportunities for Guyanese.

According to the re lease, he said, “When you look at our opera tions, you can clearly see how the right train ing programmes have led to talented Guyanese men and women being able to take the lead in this industry. We have persons who started as riggers and banksmen and are now supervisors in many areas of our operations. We cannot think of anything more worthwhile to throw our support behind, es pecially when it comes to local content devel opment and ensuring Guyanese benefit from this sector.”

Richard Maughn, Chief Executive Officer of BIT in his remarks said the board is grateful for the support received from GYSBI thus far and anticipates working with the company on the implementation of a Quality Apprenticeship programme at the soon est possible time.

The two entities have agreed to convene another meeting at a later date to advance discussions on this, the release added.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, receives the cheque from GYSBI Human Resource Manager, Lilowtie Chintamani (GYSBI photo)

Regularisation of Charity squatting area commences

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, interacts with a squatter (third from right) and a member of his team

AS government moves to regularise the squatting area at Charity where scores of persons live, the first 50 squatters have applied for their landownership documents.

This exercise was facil itated on Wednesday dur ing an outreach, which was led by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues.

The visit by the min isters and housing offi cials came one day after President Dr Irfaan Ali an nounced that the squatters will get their land titles and that infrastructural work will be done in the area.

President Ali had told the squatters that the min isters would visit to listen to their concerns.

Minister Croal and a team of housing officials interacted with residents in the Gaulin Supermarket parking lot. The first 50 squatters applied for their Agreement of Sale and Certificates of Title.

Simultaneously, Min ister Rodrigues conducted a walk-about in the squat ting area.

During one of her stops, she told the media that infrastructural works will commence soon; Pres ident Ali had promised residents that two concrete roads and drains will be constructed.

The Guyana Chroni cle was told that in 2011 when President Ali was the

housing minister, a total of 226 lots were created. However, the processing of titles was put on hold by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to facilitate a verification exercise.

During the verification exercise, it was discovered that some of the persons were occupying drainage reserves in the area. They were later identified for relocation.

Meanwhile, many of the squatters told the Guy ana Chronicle that they are happy that they will become land-owners.

One squatter, who has been living in the area for over 40 years, said that the president’s announcement was a happy moment for him.

He related that he and his fellow squatters have been patiently waiting for the visit and when it hap pened, they were elated.

“He came like Santa to us. We [need] to get our titles so we can go to the bank. I am glad we are getting the attention we need,” he said.

Another squatter, Nar ine Hardat, said that he has been living on the land for over 15 years and was looking forward to the day when he would have legal ownership of it.

Hardat along with many of the other squat ters praised President Ali and the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, for their prompt action.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, visits the squatting area at Charity

Improved drainage, ‘agri’ seminars among plans for Lower Pomeroon - pilot project for coffee, cocoa cultivation to start soon

FARMERS from villages in the Lower Pomeroon will soon benefit from a series of projects that are intended to significantly improve drain age and agricultural pro ductivity.

A release from the Min istry of Agriculture said that during an outreach to Waka poa, Hackney, and Marl borough on Friday, subject minister Zulfikar Mustapha disclosed that the ministry through the National Drain age and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will soon commence a massive block-drainage pro gramme in four areas.

The minister’s visit came just days after President Dr Irfaan Ali visited the area and met with flood-affected farmers. Minister Mustapha had accompanied the Head of State and promised farmers that he would return to the villages.

The release said that dur ing Friday’s visit, farmers

were again allowed to raise is sues that were affecting them. Many farmers said that the main issue was the flooding because of heavy and constant rainfall.

While responding to the concerns raised, Minister Mustapha said that the NDIA will commence the blockdrainage programme in the lower Pomeroon area to assist with minimising flooding.

“The burning issue here is drainage. This area is very vulnerable to flooding, more so, now with climate change which has resulted in ex tended rainy periods. When the President visited, you made several requests and it was decided that we will do the block drainage. We need you to identify the four areas where you want us to do it and we’ll do it. In addition to that, farmers with small plots - five and 10 acres - we’ll de velop a database after which work will be done to lift the

level of your farmlands. In the long term, we’ll be building two large pump stations, one at Charity and the other at Cozier. The primary dredging works have already started in the Pomeroon River. The preparation is being done now. As soon as that is completed, the contractor will bring the larger dredge to dredge the river, so that you can have bet

ter drainage,” Minister Musta pha was quoted as saying.

The release added that during the President’s visit last Tuesday, a farmers’ group from the area also sought as sistance with repairing two machines that are used by farmers in the area.

Minister Mustapha said that the ministry will assist with repairing of the ma chines which are currently inoperable, so that the farmers can benefit. These machines, he added, will also be used to assist with the farm-enhance ment project targeting smallscale farmers.

While addressing con cerns raised by cash-crop farmers, Minister Mustapha said that farmers from the

Lower Pomeroon will soon benefit from an introductory training exercise on best prac tices and farming techniques. This, he added, will see exten sion staff from the National Agricultural Research & Ex tension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Livestock Devel opment Authority (GLDA) hosting seminars to educate farmers on budding, apicul ture, and other agriculturerelated areas. This exercise is expected to commence within the next two weeks.

According to the release, farmers were also assured that planting materials such as seeds and seedlings, as well as Acoushi Ants bait, will be made available to them free of cost from the ministry.

Minister Mustapha also said that NAREI will set up a small plant nursery at Waka poa, so that farmers can also benefit from better access to planting materials.

He disclosed that farming tools such as spray cans, till ers, and a fogging machine among other items will also be given to farmers from the area.

As it relates to livestock, Minister Mustapha said that farmers from each of the three villages will receive Black Giant chicks to assist with developing their poultry pro

duction.

The release said that he further disclosed that, through the GLDA, the agricultural science department at the Wakapoa Secondary will ben efit from Black Giant chicks and other inputs to assist stu dents who are writing Carib bean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams to do the practical aspect of their School Based Assessments (SBAs).

With the government looking to expand the cultiva tion of non-traditional prod ucts, Minister Mustapha told farmers that the ministry will soon begin a pilot project for the cultivation of coffee and cocoa in the area.

“We recognise the im portance of the Pomeroon in terms of agriculture. This is why we’ve partnered with IICA [Inter-American In stitute for Cooperation on Agriculture] to restart the cultivation of coffee and co coa in the Pomeroon. We’ll make those plants available for free, and we’ll work with the farmers to develop the plots so that farmers in the Pomeroon can once again be the producers of coffee and cocoa in Guyana. This pro gramme should commence within another month,” he said.

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha engages a senior citizen from Hackney (Ministry of Agriculture photos)

Dormant parliamentary committees chaired by APNU+AFC parliamentarians

- Minister Teixeira clarifies

MINISTER of Par liamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, in respond ing to the impromptu concerns of the Alliance For Change (AFC) regarding the dormancy of some parliamentary com mittees, has clari fied that those inac tive committees are chaired by A Part nership for National Unity (APNU) + AFC Members of Parliament.

Chairperson of the AFC, Cathy Hughes, at a recent press confer ence, said: “[We] find it reprehensible and un acceptable that several parliamentary sectoral committees are coma tose or have never seen the light of day more

than two years later.

“At the most criti cal time in this nation’s history, at a time when we face a rapidly de veloping oil- and-gas sector, one which is currently plagued by a lack of transparency in the publishing of government contracts and feasibility studies, the Natural Resources committee has never met.”

Regarding the natu ral resources sector, the government has been consistent in its release of information, especially figures and decisions related to Guyana’s oil-and-gas sector.

And while this is the case, also cognisant of the importance of parliamentary commit

tees in the process of governance, Minister Teixeira said: “They complain about a num ber of things in a press statement I saw coming out of the APNU+AFC about a number of the committees and they talk about PAC.

“What they seem to forget is that a num ber of the committees that are being headed by government minis

ters are meeting. And there are a number of committees headed by Opposition members such as in the sectoral committees have not been meeting. Some have not met for over a year.”

Hughes referenced the Foreign Relations Committee, noting that it was never convened. But, according to the Parliament of Guyana’s

website, the commit tee was chaired by the AFC’s own Raphael Trotman and included coalition parliamentar ians Tabitha SaraboHalley, Devin Sears and Amanza WaltonDesir.

Further, regarding the Economic Services Committee to which she also drew atten tion, the last- named Chairman was the APNU+AFC’s Shur wayne Holder, while Opposition Members of Parliament Haimraj Rajkumar, Juretha Fer nandes and Dineshwar Jaiprashad were com mittee members.

Minister Teixeira said: “So, it’s rather convenient when they make these statements about the committee system. But at the crux of it all is that Mr Nor

ton [Leader of the Op position, Aubrey Nor ton] appears to prefer to use forums where no one has a chance to respond to him.

“So he goes to Mo cha, he makes com ments, he goes here and there and makes comments and attacks and talks about the govern ment in very pejorative and negative ways. But he’s not prepared to come on a face-to-face [basis] and to be able to be a Leader of Opposi tion as he’s supposed to, and to be able to defend his positions in a public forum, where persons may be there who don’t agree with him. And so more and more, I am beginning to think that the opposition [leader] has a streak of coward ice running down the back of his neck.”

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira

High Court rules in favour of company owned by Trinidadian

the LCS to issue the document.

The other respond ents in the case are the Minister of Natural Re sources and the Attorney General.

The acting Chief Jus tice found that Ramps had satisfied the statu tory requirements and/ or pre-conditions nec essary for the grant of and/or issuance of the certificate.

$500,000 bail for 10 charges of false declara tions made over the past two years to the Guy ana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Rampersaud plead ed not guilty to the charges. He will return to court on November 25.

ACTING Chief Justice Roxane George, S.C., on Friday ruled in fa vour of Trinidadianowned Ramps Logis tics, which had sold 51 per cent of its shares to a Trinidadian native who is of Guyanese parentage.

Justice George, in her ruling, ordered the Lo cal Content Secretariat (LCS) to issue a local content certificate to Ramps Logistics Guy ana by noon on Novem ber 14.

The logistics com pany which was incor porated in 2013 and is parented by Ramps Lo gistics Limited out of Trinidad and Tobago, had moved to the court arguing that its applica tion for the certificate was unlawfully denied.

The historic Local

Content Act, which was enacted in December 2021, paved the way for establishment of the secretariat which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The secretariat is re sponsible for developing and maintaining meas ures for the effective implementation of local content by contractors, sub-contractors and li censees.

The secretariat is required to ensure the development and imple mentation of strategies that give preferences to, or ensure equal treat ment of Guyanese na tionals and companies.

Ramps, through Sen ior Counsel Edward Luckhoo and attorney C.V Satram, had sought several orders to force

In June, the LCS, af ter reviewing the com pany’s application, had determined that the in formation submitted was insufficient for a proper compliance evaluation to be done by the sec retariat in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

It was reported earli er this year that some 51 per cent of the company was sold to Trinidadian businessman, Deepak Lall, for G$210 million.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Lall has never represented Ramps Logistics publi cally at any of its press conferences, and Trini dadian, Shaun Ramper sad, remains the face of the company.

Last month, Ramp ersad was released on

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, S.C.

Derelict vehicles, encumbrances to be removed from roadways

THE Ministry of Pub lic Works will be mov ing ahead with plans to remove all derelict vehicles, materials and other encumbrances left on or at the side of the roadways.

According to a press release from the ministry, this initiative forms part of the National Clean-Up Exercise that starts today.

“This exercise will continue in varying forms, in sections of Georgetown and through out the country,” the Pub lic Works Ministry said, adding: “The ministry, therefore, gives notice to the public, specifically the owners of these dere lict vehicles to have them removed immediately, within the next 24 hours, or have them removed by the ministry’s clean-up team.”

With the latter choice, the ministry will not be responsible for any dam age or loss when these derelict vehicles and en

cumbrances are removed.

The National Cleanup and Derelict Vehicle Re moval Exercise is being carried out in accordance with the Laws of Guyana, Section 29 of the Road Act Cap. 51:01 – seizure and disposal of property obstructing road Act.

The exercise is be ing carried out to protect citizens, promote road safety, and improve the flow of traffic, especially in the event of emergen cies.

“The Minister of Pub lic Works, and by exten sion the Government of Guyana, thanks citizens and visitors to our coun try for their usual coop eration and support,” the ministry said.

All derelict vehicles will be taken to the Public Work Ministry’s dumpsite for derelict items, which is located in Laluni and could be accessed from the Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Lin den Highway entrance.

Three Legends teams...

FROM BACK PAGE

innings was laced with five fours and 12 sixes as Regal Legends reached a daunting 330 for one in their allotted 20 overs.

Trophy Stall Lions man aged 71 for nine in 17 overs, batting one short, losing by the hefty margin of 269 runs, with Wayne Jones claiming four for 20.

The defending champi ons then ensured themselves a place in their next en counter, played at the same venue, thrashing East Coast Legends by seven wickets, with Narine again among the runs. The slimly-built left-hander, who is still to be dismissed in the tournament, belted an unbeaten 87 with four fours and nine sixes as Regal Legends reached 174 for three in reply to their opponents 173 for nine in 20 overs. Jones took three for 11 and Eric Thomas three for 34.

New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) also qualified for a semi-fi nal spot with victories over Parika Defenders and Jai Hind Legends at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

Batting first against Pari ka Defenders in a reduced 15-over game, NYSCL, aid ed by a fine 66 from Tony Fernandez, reached a useful 148 for five before restrict ing Parika Defenders to 97 for five in their 15 overs.

The New Yorkers then disposed of Jai Hind, lim iting the Berbicians to 88 for six off 20 overs before reaching 89 for seven in 17.3 overs.

Invaders Legends from Essequibo became the third team to qualify for the Leg ends semis with victories over Jai Hind and Parika Defenders, the latter be ing a last-ball thriller after they needed 12 from the final over with eight wickets down.

At Liliendaal, East Coast Titans batted first and made 191 for six in their 20 overs with Ali’s century containing six fours and 14 sixes. Canal Number One Scorpions were 82 for eight when the innings ended.

Regal Masters also made light work of Ariel Mas ters at Lusignan with Chien Gittens starring with an un beaten 64 (five fours and five sixes as Regal Masters

comfortably overhauled Ari el Masters’ 109.

Meanwhile, several of the Masters matches sched uled for the afternoon ses sion on the East Coast were rained out with the teams awarded one point each.

The tournament con tinues today and will also feature the two women’s semi-finals at the Malteen oes and Transport Sports Club grounds.

The day’s proceedings got off to an excellent start with Prime Minister Mark Phillips addressing the offi cials and players at the MYO and also officiating in the ceremonial bat and bowl off.

The Prime Minister ex pressed his delight that the sixth edition of the tourna ment was able to accommo date a women’s category.

He also praised the or ganisers for doing a won derful job and was pleased with the number of spon sorship the tournament - which is organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) in collaboration with the Of fice of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Youth and Sport - had attracted.

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England should consider Willey over Jordan for final: Morgan

(ESPNCRICINFO) - En gland should consider pick ing David Willey for to morrow's T20 World Cup final against Pakistan, as he may be a better fit for the MCG than Chris Jordan. That is the view of Eoin Morgan, their ex-captain, who has been following the team around Australia in his new role as a pundit for Sky Sports.

Jordan, a key player in T20Is throughout Morgan's tenure, replaced the injured Mark Wood in the England team for Thursday's semi-fi nal win against India at Ad elaide Oval. He returned figures of 3 for 43 across his four overs and was singled out for praise by Buttler, who said Jordan had delivered "a hell of a performance" after being asked to bowl three of the last five overs.

But Morgan suggested

that the dimensions at the MCG - where the straight boundaries are slightly short er than at Adelaide Oval, but the square boundaries are considerably longer - might not suit his yorker-heavy method at the death, and sug gested England could bring Willey into the side in a bid to take early wickets.

Asked on Sky's Cricket Podcast how big a loss Wood would be if he fails to recov er in time for tomorrow's fi nal, Morgan said: "When you look at conditions here, it just suits him and it probably works against someone like Chris Jordan at the death, bowling his yorkers. Straight at the MCG, it's so short. There's very little margin for error.

"If Mark Wood isn't fit, you might even see someone like Dave Willey come in to swing it, and then you can

bowl him and Chris Woakes at the death, bowling into the wicket, forcing the Pakistan batters to hit square and creating catching opportuni ties. There might be another selection question for Jos Buttler.

"It goes without say ing you have to have those ground dimensions working in your favour in big games because if you make basic mistakes and get hit to the short side the whole time, you're going to be up against it."

Morgan was also asked about the possibility that the final could be decided by a Super Over, like the 50-over World Cup final in 2019, and who he would choose to bowl one for England. "If you were to say flat wicket, everything set fair at the MCG, I think it'd be Sam Curran," he said. "He'd bowl

Haas’ Magnussen takes pole in...

FROM PAGE 27

apparent the weather was too wet for anyone to improve once the session resumed, and then jump ing out of the car and celebrating with his team afterwards.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

It was a stunning per formance from Magnus sen, in what has been the second slowest car in the field this season, and one that will go down as one of the biggest shocks in F1 history.

Haas got him out on track first, so he had a clear lap, and he just nailed the lap and ended up 0.207 seconds faster than two-time champion Verstappen, who admitted he had ruined his own chances by locking up at Turn Eight.

Before he had returned to the pits, he asked the team where he was. When he was told: "P1", he replied: "You're kidding me. I've nev er felt this way in my life."

He then cautioned the team not to celebrate too

soon, but when the rain came down during the break, his pole was set in concrete.

"I don't know what to say," Magnussen said afterwards. "The team put me out on track at exactly the right moment. We were the first out in the pit lane and did a pretty decent lap and we're on pole. lt's incredible."

Magnussen thanked the Haas team, who brought him back this year and gave him a chance to revive his ca reer after dropping him at the end of 2020 when they jettisoned Russian Nikita Mazepin fol lowing the invasion of Ukraine.

"Thank you to the team, to (owner) Gene Haas, Gunther (Steiner, the team principal)," he said, "for taking me back and giving me the oppor tunity to have a day like this. I am so chuffed."

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED?

It was Russell who caused the red flag that

defined the session - he lost control at Turn Four trying a second lap, get ting his outside wheels on the white line and spin ning into the gravel trap.

He looked like he would be able to get out, as he reached the asphalt escape road between the gravel and barrier, but he spun the Mercedes when he got there, and became beached.

Russell said: "Happy to be P3 and massive con grats to Kevin - what an awesome job he did and Haas. P3 is not necessari ly where we wanted to be but a very good place to be starting the sprint race.

"Our best shot of try ing to get ahead of Max is to have some mixed conditions."

McLaren's Lando Norris will start fourth, ahead of Ferrari's Car los Sainz and the Alp ines of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso, followed by Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who was stuck behind Leclerc on his lap.

into the wicket, he'd bowl wide hole (Yorkers) so you can't get it straight, so you'd set an off-side field with behind square up and make them hit to the long side."

As for who England should send out to bat in a

Super Over, Morgan said: "I would work back: who's going to be bowling for Pa kistan? If it was obvious, I'd send out whoever is the most likely to counter it. I'd prefer left/right-hand to be honest.

“If it was spin, abso

lutely Mo (Moeen Ali). And given the two spinners that they play - it'd either be Shadab (Khan) or (Mo hammad) Nawaz - it might even be a Curran-Mo, not even Buttler scenario; But tler at No. 3."

MVP Sports Futsal

Males reach quarter-finals stage

MALE quarter-final action in the MVP Sports Futsal tournament will ignite the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue from 21:00hrs.

In the first of the games, Goal is Money will have a fight for their spot in the semi-final when they come up against Sophia.

Bent Street will have

no easy time either as they oppose Campbellville from 22:00hrs.

Future Stars are another one of the teams in this com petition looking for the big

The MVP Sports Futsal competition continues this evening

money pay-out but they will first have to get past Sparta for a semi-final spot when they clash at 23:00hrs.

Stabroek Ballers play Back Circle from midnight in the last of the quarter-final match-ups.

The evening will open

with the female competition from 18:30hrs with Avocado playing GT Panthers while Tiger Bay and Herstelling battle from 19:10hrs.

GDF and Conquerors get their round-robin matchup going from 19:50hrs while Police and Santos close off

the female end of things for the evening with their match at 20:20hrs

The tournament Is sponsored by MVP Sports with support from Ansa McAl through their Lu cozade and Magnum brands.

Courts Pee Wee semi-finals on today

THE semi-finals of the 2022 edition of the Courts Pee Wee Football tourna ment gets underway today at the Ministry of Edu cation ground, Carifesta Avenue.

St Pius Primary School will battle Marian Academy in the first of the games from 14:00hrs with the winner securing a spot in the final.

Both teams have been playing excellent football thus far and will be looking to continue on to the next

stage. Meanwhile Enterprise Primary will be hoping to upset North Georgetown Primary when they meet in the second semi at 15:00hrs.

In the 5-8 place playoff, Ann’s Grove will play Redeemer Primary from 13:10hrs while Soesdyke and West Ruimveldt battle on the pitch B at the same time.

In the 9-12 fixtures from 12:20hrs; Colaaco School play Timehri Primary on

pitch A while Winfer Gar dens and Den Amstel oppose each other on pitch B.

Tucville Primary and Craig Primary open the day’s proceedings at 11:30hrs in the 13-16 playoff while Smith Memorial and Mocha lock horns on pitch B

The tournament is organised by the Petra Organisation with sup port from the Ministry of Education and Sterling Products.

One Guyana President’s Cup is about unity, national football development - President Ali

THE One Guyana Presi dent’s Cup football tour nament is set to kick off tomorrow in communities in each Administrative Re gion and President Irfaan Ali says the idea is to use the ‘Beautiful Game’ as part of his Government’s plan to integrate sports into national life.

“One Guyana is not only about unifying people, it is how do we bring together all dimensions of our society into building a One Guyana, one country, and sport is an important part of that,” Pres ident Ali said yesterday, on the sidelines of his meeting with football stakeholders at State House, regarding the inaugural tournament.

The One Guyana Football Tournament trophy was also handed over to President Ali by the Brass Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry Ltd. (BACIF) Managing Director, Peter Pompey.

The tournament which will be administered by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), will kick off with an inter-ward competition in all 10 Regions.

Out of this phase 10 re gional teams will contest the

inter-regional round-robin championship, with the finals set for January 1, 2023.

Similarly, to the senti ments expressed by GFF president Wayne Forde re garding the tournament help ing football’s local governing body to unearth new talent, President Ali said the first-ofits-kind programme gives the Government “an excellent platform which we can reach communities. We can reach disadvantaged people. We can reach young people and football is an important sport for Guyana.”

“I’ve been around foot ball, I’ve looked at football, and I think we have the ca pabilities and capacity to get to the World Cup. We will be using this brand to project football in a very positive direction, to launch a region al competition,” President Ali said.

President Ali brought to gether all stakeholders of the sport, more importantly, GFF and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, during the conceptualising phase of the tournament, sharing his vi sion for not only using foot ball as part of his unifying plans, but also ensuring that

the players benefit above all.

An ardent supporter of cricket, President Ali also believes that football has the same opportunity as the Gen tleman’s Game to bring peo ple together, adding that "this is why, in conceptualising this tournament, I asked the guys to look at how we can bring every region on board; so it goes beyond clubs.”

The One Guyana Presi dent’s Cup will see all play ers and coaching staff fi nancially rewarded for their involvement, but the Headof-State is calling on the most important asset to his master plan – the players – to be fully committed, pointing out “they can’t be playing in any other tournament; they have to sign on here.”

With several entities known for supporting foot ball, particularly during the festive season, President Ali is hoping to bring all of corporate Guyana under one umbrella for the President’s Cup.

He further stated, “This doesn’t take away the com munity football and the small-goal football. That is an important part of com munity life and building up

Haas’ Magnussen takes pole in Brazil

Russell was third, with team-mate Lewis Hamil ton in eighth.

And there was embar rassment for Ferrari, who made the latest in a series of strategy blunders this season by sending Charles Leclerc out on intermedi ate tyres for the start of the final session.

capacity.”

“But, here is where you have a serious national tour nament that is geared at iden tifying a pool of national players that will go into an academy, that will have a three-year engagement to ensure that they’re doing the right thing, that they are disciplined, that they’re prac tising and having the right nutrition and they are having an opportunity to have a fu ture after football.”

President Ali lauded the GFF, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and other stakeholders for bringing to life his One Guyana concept in Sports, calling the tourna ment "fantastic".

President Ali, while en couraging Guyana to sup port, made it clear that his heart is with Region 3. “I’ll be supporting, mational ly, all of Guyana, but of course, I come from Region Three, I have to be a fan for them too.”

(BBC) - Kevin Magnus sen caused a sensation at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix by qualifying his Haas car on pole posi tion for today's sprint race.

The Dane, who re turned to Formula 1 this season after a one-year hiatus, took his and his

team's first pole with a remarkable performance at Interlagos.

Magnussen nailed the only dry lap before a red flag, during which rain started to fall.

He will start today's sprint race ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Mercedes' George

Ferrari allowed them selves to be tricked by the weather forecast that pre dicted rain, but it did not come soon enough, and there were recriminations over the radio as Leclerc realised everyone else had managed to do a lap and he would be starting 10th.

Magnussen was dis believing, grinning ear to ear in the car as it became

President Irfaan Ali displaying his One Guyana President’s Cup winner’s trophy, which was done by the Brass Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry Ltd (Office of the President photos)

Haas have struggled since entering the sport in 2016

One Guyana President’s Cup is about unity, national football development - President Ali

Three Legends teams already assured of semi-final spots

… Yusuf, Narine centuries highlight opening day

By Frederick Halley

CENTURIES by Uniss Yusuf and Ramesh Narine of Regal Legends were the main highlights on the opening day of the sixth edition of the Prime Min ister T20 Softball tourna ment which got underway yesterday at various venues around Georgetown and the East Coast, Demerara in soggy conditions.

East Coast Titans’ Asif Ali also recorded a centu ry (123) at the Liliendaal ground as his team trounced Canal Number One Scorpi ons by 109 runs in the Mas ters Over-40 category.

Playing at the MYO ground, Yusuf and Narine blasted the Trophy Stall Li ons’ bowling to all parts of the small venue, with the former ending with an unbeaten 157 while Narine was 116 not out when the 20

overs expired. The two cane together following the dismissal of Mahendra Arjune (34) and feasted on the hapless Tro

with Yusuf slamming five fours and 17 sixes in his entertain ing knock while Narine’s

ALL IN! President Irfaan Ali, along with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, executives of the GFF and other football stakeholders, show camaraderie with the One Guyana President’s Cup trophy

phy Stall Lions’ attack

Centurions Ramesh Narine (right) and Uniss Yusuf