Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 25-11-2022

Over $1B more in salaries for over 8,000 in the Disciplined Services

- following adjustment to salary scales of various ranks

• Constables will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $94,907 to $102,488;

• Lance Corporals will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $108,719 to $115,000;

• Corporals will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $111,327 to $125,000;

• Sergeants will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $128,056 to $140,000;

• Inspectors will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $163,712 to $170,000;

• Chief Inspectors will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $178,630 to $185,000;

• Cadet Officers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $171,224 to $185,000;

• Assistant Superintendents will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $188,978 to $200,000;

• Deputy Superintendents will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $188,978 to $230,000;

• Superintendents will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $200,299 to $240,000;

• Senior Superintendents will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $296,296 to $320,000; and

• Assistant Commissioners will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $418,518 to $425,000.

• Firemen/Firewomen with five to ten years of experience will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $102,488 to $110,000;

• Emergency Medical Technicians will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $88,143 to $95,000;

• Leading Firemen/Firewomen will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $122,241 to $130,000;

• Section Leaders will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $154,172 to $174,172;

• Sub-Officers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $154,181 to $174,181;

• Cadet Officers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $171,938 to $185,000; and

• Station Officers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $251,639 to $260,000, while

• Divisional Officers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $337,364 to $345,000.

• Minimum salary for recruits will be adjusted upwards from $94,485 to $100,000, while

• Minimum salary for Privates will be adjusted upwards from $94,771 to $102,488.

‘A major step forward’

- members of the Joint Services express gratitude for adjusted salary scales

Sergeant Richmond: ‘It will definitely go a long way with not just myself, but my husband, too, because he is an inspector… I just want to say thank you to the President, and to the government.’

Private Kelly Summer: ‘It shows some form of appreciation due to the fact that we are soldiers, not only do we contribute to the security aspect and providing security services for Guyana, but also towards maintaining a clean Guyana; many cleanup campaigns.

Private Joshua Fields: ‘Not only has the salary itself been increased, but my spending power as well, and I am grate ful to the President for such a change.’

Over $1B more in salaries for over 8,000 in the Disciplined Services

- following adjustment to salary scales of various ranks

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday an nounced sweeping chang es to the salaries of several categories of work ers in the Disciplined Services of Guyana.

The increases, which will benefit ranks of the Guyana Police Force, Guy ana Fire Service and the Guyana Defence Force, re flect a more than $1 billion annualised increase to the sum paid to those workers.

Further, those increases which will take effect from January 1, 2023, will add to the eight per cent acrossthe-board retroactive in crease already announced for public servants.

In a virtual announce ment, Dr. Ali explained that the government, in determining the adjust ments, was mindful of the need to resolve anomalies and disparities across the Disciplined Services and across comparable posi tions.

He said: “We were also mindful of the need to ensure that we improve our competitiveness, par ticularly at the entry-level, so that our Disciplined Services continue to be an attractive employment prospect for our young men and women.”

The adjustment in the salaries will benefit over 8,000 persons. Dr Ali said that this move represents the latest instalment of the government’s commit ment to continue improv ing the working conditions of employees in the Public Sector.

In relation to the in crease in salaries for the Guyana Police Force:

• Constables will now

have their current mini mum salary adjusted up wards from $94,907 to $102,488. This represents an additional eight per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Constable;

• Lance Corporals will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $108,719 to $115,000. This represents an additional 5.8 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Lance Corporal;

• Corporals will now have their current mini mum salary adjusted up wards from $111,327 to $125,000. This represents an additional 12.3 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Corporal;

• Sergeants will now have their current mini mum salary adjusted up wards from $128,056 to $140,000. This represents an additional 9.3 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Sergeant;

• Inspectors will now have their current mini mum salary adjusted up wards from $163,712 to $170,000;

• Chief Inspectors will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $178,630 to $185,000;

• Cadet Officers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $171,224 to $185,000. This represents an additional eight per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Cadet Officer;

• Assistant Superin tendents will now have

their current minimum sal ary adjusted upwards from $188,978 to $200,000. This represents an addi tional 5.8 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to an Assistant Superintendent;

• Deputy Superinten dents will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $188,978 to $230,000. This represents an ad ditional 21.7 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Deputy Superintendent;

• Superintendents will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $200,299 to $240,000. This represents an additional 19.8 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Superintendent;

• Senior Superinten dents will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $296,296 to $320,000. This represents an addi tional eight per cent in crease on the current mini mum salary paid to a Sen ior Superintendent; and

• Assistant Commis sioners will now have their current minimum sal ary adjusted upwards from $418,518 to $425,000.

Meanwhile, the Presi dent announced that Rural Constables will also now have their minimum salary adjusted from $75,203 to $85,000, while neighbour hood policemen/women will see their minimum salaries adjusted from $84,387 to $95,000.

Members of the Guy ana Fire Service are also set to benefit, as the Presi dent said:

• Firemen/Firewomen with five to ten years of experience will now have their current minimum sal ary adjusted upwards from $102,488 to $110,000. This represents an addi tional 7.3 per cent increase on the current minimum salary;

• Emergency Medical Technicians will now have their current minimum sal ary adjusted upwards from $88,143 to $95,000. This represents an additional 7.8 per cent increase on the current minimum sal ary;

• Leading Firemen/ Firewomen will now have their current minimum sal ary adjusted upwards from $122,241 to $130,000. This represents an addi tional 6.3 per cent increase on the current minimum salary;

• Section Leaders will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $154,172 to $174,172. This represents an additional 13 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Section Leader;

• Sub-Officers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $154,181 to $174,181. This represents an additional 13 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Sub-Officer;

• Cadet Officers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $171,938 to $185,000. This represents an additional 7.6 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Cadet Officer; and

• Station Officers will

now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $251,639 to $260,000, while

• Divisional Offic ers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $337,364 to $345,000.

In relation to the in creases announced for the Guyana Defence Force, President Ali said that the current minimum salary for recruits will be adjust ed upwards from $94,485 to $100,000, while the current minimum salary for Privates will be adjust ed upwards from $94,771 to $102,488.

“These salary adjust ments come at great cost to the Treasury. We ex pect you to honour these adjustments with dignity; with hard work; with ac countability; with trans parency. And we expect you to perform at all times at the highest level. We

expect you to deliver a better service to the people of our country,” he said.

The Head of State add ed that during the course of this week, additional announcements will be made as it relates to the different categories of workers.

Workers could, there fore, rest assured that the government is committed to the upliftment of fami lies, the public service and others, Dr. Ali said.

He added: “This is a government that be lieves in bringing our people together; believes in national unity. This is a government that can publicly state, anywhere and any time, its fundamental principle of building a Guyana for all, and not an opportun istic narrative used by a select few to peddle their own propaganda and narrative.”

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

EU, UN Guyana reaffirm commitment to ending violence against women, girls

See below full joint statement from the EU and UN Guyana:

ON the International Day for the Elimination of Vio lence against Women on November 25, we reaffirm our commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

Violence against women affects every country world wide, and escalates in times of crisis. Globally, one in three women have experi enced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime and one in five girls become a victim of child sexual abuse.

We strongly condemn all forms of violence against women and girls, includ ing harmful practices, as a

blatant violation of human rights.

The COVID-19 pan demic has further aggra vated the situation, leading to record-high levels of do mestic violence. Since the start of COVID-19, 45 per cent of women reported that they or a woman they know had experienced a form of Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG).

The European Union (EU)-United Nations (UN) Spotlight Initiative grew out of this urgent need to address VAWG. The Euro pean Union recognises the importance of this issue and

prides itself on being the biggest investor in gender equality worldwide, making this one of its main global human rights priorities.

VAWG in Guyana is widespread, driven by an intersection of cultural, eco nomic and social factors.

Findings from Guyana in dicate that 20 per cent of women have experienced non-partner sexual abuse, while one in two women will experience intimatepartner violence in their lifetime.

The Spotlight Initiative in Guyana is, therefore, a timely action with a commu

nity-level focus, designed to address Gender Based Vio lence and Violence Against Women & Girls by mak ing interventions in critical areas such as Laws and Policies, Institutions, Pre vention, Essential Services, Quality Data and Civil So ciety/Women’s Movement.

The hard work with committed partnership of the Government of Guyana led by the Ministry of Hu man Services and Social Security with other partners within Civil Society, has already realized the achieve ment of many significant milestones.

This has set the stage for strengthening our col lective efforts to create an environment for women and girls to live a life free of violence, harmful prac tices, and intersecting forms of discrimination. We are committed to doing all we can to tackle violence against women.

The EU and the UN continue to stand in soli darity with the women and girl victims and survivors of violence and with civil society, women’s rights

organizations and human rights defenders demand ing for accountability.

We also remember and pay special attention to violence against women in conflict areas and humani tarian crises such as the war in Ukraine.

Every girl born today should grow up without vi olence in her life, allowing her to flourish and become the best person she can be!

We stand together to stop violence against women and girls!

‘A major step forward’

members of the Joint Services express gratitude for adjusted salary scales

F OLLOWING the announcement by President Dr. Irfaan Ali of the sweeping changes to the sala ries of several catego ries of workers in the Disciplined Services, many of the beneficiaries have expressed their appreciation for this major step for ward.

The increases, which will benefit ranks of the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana De fence Force, reflect a more than $1 billion annualised increase to the sum paid to those

workers.

Further, those in creases, which will take effect from Janu ary 1, 2023, will add to the eight per cent across-the-board retro active increase already announced for public servants.

Acting Commis sioner of Police Clifton Hicken said that he was overwhelmingly happy, not for himself but for the ranks.

“While they’re mo tivated because of the increase, much is given; much is expected, and so, we expect the in crease of salary brings

responsibility. So, we shouldn’t be hearing about corruption after now, and we shouldn’t be hearing about added monies being allocated outside of salary,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Further, Sergeant Richmond, who is at tached to the GPF, said that words cannot de scribe how excited she is to be receiving an increase on her salary.

“It will definitely go a long way with not just myself, but my hus band, too, because he is an Inspector… I just

want to say thank you to the President, and to the government,” she said.

Deputy Superinten dent Halley said she is elated to receive an in crease in her salary. She has already served for 33 years in the Force and is close to retire ment.

Private Armando Singh of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said that he is thankful for the increase, and hopes that it benefits him through his savings and spending.

Private Kelly Sum mer, who has been in

the GDF for three years, said that the increase is considerable, given her everyday expenses.

“It shows some form of appreciation. Due to the fact that we are soldiers, not only do we contribute to the security aspect and pro viding security services for Guyana, but also towards maintaining a clean Guyana; many cleanup campaigns. So I think that what they have done is something good,” Private Summer related.

Private Joshua Fields said that it has been a year since he

joined the GDF, and he is grateful for the salary increase.

“Not only has the salary itself been in creased, but my spend ing power as well, and I am grateful to the Presi dent for such a change,” Fields noted.

Private Scion Don said that he feels appre ciated, and that the sal ary increase will help him financially.

Another Private, Nikassi Fraser said that the salary adjust ment is not only a way of saying ‘Job well done!’ but also serves to motivate soldiers.

Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken Deputy Superintendent Halley

Private Armando Singh

More for the People

SWEEPING changes in the salary scales of vari ous categories of work ers in the Disciplined Services of Guyana will see more than 8,000 per sons benefiting from over $1 billion more in annualised disposable income in their pockets next year.

Those increases, which will take effect from January 1, 2023, will supplement the eight per cent across-the-board retroactive pay hike which public servants will benefit from this year.

In announcing the massive adjustments to the salaries of our men and women in uniform on Thursday, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the government, as part of the review, was mind

ful of the need to resolve anomalies and disparities across the Disciplined Services and across the comparable positions.

“We were also mind ful of the need to ensure that we improve our com petitiveness, particularly at the entry-level, so that our Disciplined Services continue to be an attrac tive employment prospect for our young men and women,” Dr. Ali said.

There is no doubt that the members of the Joint Services deserve this incentive, as they are among the people who, from Sunday to Sunday, rain or sun, serve and protect the people of this nation and foreign coun tries.

The well-being of those persons has always been a priority of the Peo

ple’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), and testi mony of this was the res toration of the year-end bonuses for members of the Joint Services, which was restored in 2020 after the former APNU+AFC coalition had removed the incentive and insti tuted draconian taxes that recouped whatever in creases they offered to public servants.

The adjustment to the salary scales, alone, far exceeds any initiative introduced by the former coalition administration for the upliftment of the Joint Services.

Videos across social media of men and women in uniform rejoicing upon hearing the announce ment of the new salaries are testimony to their ap preciation for the timely

initiative by the PPP/C government.

Not only does this in creased salary position set them on a platform to better contend with the rising cost of living caused by global eco nomic conditions, but it also positions mem bers of the Joint Services to benefit meaningfully from further increases and incentives. And the benefits would be felt by persons entering the Force and those who were there for years, as special consideration was given to those conditions as well.

In addition to salary increases, members of the Joint Services have, over the past two years, benefitted from general initiatives such as the COVID-19 relief grant,

the $30,000 education cash grant for parents with children in private and public schools, and even the GOAL scholar ship initiative, among many other incentives.

Specific to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), soldiers have benefitted from a number of schol arships through GOAL, as well as opportunities for several ranks to be trained as part of a Gov ernment of India pro gramme.

In his address to the army last year, President Ali said: “As a matter of fact, this year [2021], we have had the most officers and soldiers be ing trained or advancing their educational aspira tions in the history of this military, and this is just the beginning, because

President Ali affirmed that substantial invest ments will be directed towards improving the requisite infrastructure to accommodate distance and Online learning.

“So [that] all of you would have an equal op portunity; an equal shot at improving yourself, and building a better prospect for your fam ily. This is the goal and the vision,” the President noted.

This extends be yond the GDF to other members of the Joint Services, and will be accompanied by many other initiatives that will be rolled out to fur ther enhance the lives of every Guyanese.

PPP/C’s Manifesto promises have become part of our reality

Dear Editor, I am pleased to com mend and congratulate President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and his government on their rapid achieve ments and the transfor mation that is occurring in Guyana.

I have paid keen at tention to the govern ment since they assumed office, and I can clearly see that the vision and promises outlined in their

election manifesto have become part of our real ity.

As a young Guyanese, I have never seen a gov ernment achieve so many tangible things within such a short period and with these achievements, it is my belief that we as Guyanese should rec ognise and congratulate the government for its achievements and the progress it has made.

Instead of some sec tions of the population preaching daily about non-existent racism and political victimisation, I believe the focus should mainly be about support ing the government and their plans to take Guyana forward under the um brella of “One Guyana.”

There [are] so many things we can achieve if we work under the OneGuyana vision. More spe

cifically, this government is known to recognise young Guyanese by vest ing opportunities at all levels.

I can honestly recog nise your vision, which is to enhance, elevate and re-integrate young Guyanese into society in order to make them part of the decision-making, has resulted in maximum achievements for this country.

I have never seen young people being placed in so many great positions, especially from the policy and parliamen tary levels.

You have clearly shown that you are a very caring President by your involvement and visionary actions. This government has rolled out so many plans that will improve the lives of Guyanese despite of their

geography, ethnicity and religion.

In closing, I believe this is a government with a great vision, with no hesitation we should all pledge our support with this movement. Guyana is on a trajectory of growth.

Let us embrace our Motto: “One People, One Nation, One Des tiny.”

Best regards, Ceion Junior Rollox

we are going to support you in all your education aspirations.”

Alexander’s fingerprint verification recommendation leaves more questions than answers Setting the record straight

Dear Editor, FINGERPRINT verification to verify voters’ identities before they are allowed to cast ballots seems to be the suggestion of GECOM Com missioner Vincent Alexander and is certainly worthy of interrogation.

Two issues come easily to the fore: the lawfulness of such a requirement and the processes that this additional layer would require of GECOM polling day staff.

I am sure that Vincent Alex ander did not pull this idea out of a hat, so it would be worthwhile for him to lay out the changes to be made to the laws of Guyana to make fingerprint verification mandatory.

Laws can be introduced and amended, and even later chal lenged by the introducing party to invalidate an election after defeat, but as the adage goes: “Where there is a will there is a way.”

I am confident that legal dif ficulties can be overcome. This leaves us to identify and refine a process.

Fingerprint identification by a person is a specialised skill and would require thousands to be trained to perform the Election Day duty; with 2,000 polling stations this is a challenge.

For the sake of argument,

we can assume we can have 3,000 fingerprint experts trained by 2025 (redundancies in case of absence). Of course, there may be a decision to go in the direction of allowing a com puterised machine to handle the verification of fingerprints, which would lead to the inevita ble cries of “hacked” elections.

Lest we dismiss this possibility, we can point to the AFC press conference of 2020 when Cathy Hughes claimed the Russians had hacked our paper and pencil elections.

I cannot foresee the accept ance of computer verification any more so than electronic voting machines; the mistrust (rightly so) of computer systems and their vulnerability to hackers precludes their introduction into the electoral process. How then would our fingerprint experts operate in the polling station environment?

Editor, we can assume that the potential voter will have his fingerprint scanned and com pared to the one associated with the name on file, and various electronic devices would need to be introduced into the process at this point.

It is important to note that the current process has no elec tronic devices use incorporated at the place of poll. In the spirit of things, we move along with

the introduction of a scanner and laptop for our fingerprint experts and place them into the polling station; the positioning would have to allow the parties’ polling agents to observe the fingerprint expert at work to ensure the integrity and that he/she is not engaged in any shenanigans.

I must confess to having no clue as to how much time will be required by a fingerprint expert to scan, compare and verify an elector, but we can assume that the voters will be patient with the additional wait in the name of democracy.

Editor, all that is left is for Vincent Alexander and other proponents of “fingerprints” to do is answer a few more pesky questions, and chief among them is what happens if no fingerprint expert is avail able at a polling station, and what happens when a voter becomes disenfranchised by a fingerprint expert, but can prove his/her identity by every other method beyond question?

I can only imagine the ruckus some uncles would make in that event. Up next, the suggestion that voters take photos with GECOM staff and party agents after casting ballots.

Yours sincerely, Robin Singh

Father Robert Barrow was a towering figure, physically and in stature

Heart Church on Sunday af ternoons just to listen to his homilies. And some would take notes as he preached. He was that good!

Wherever he served, be it at St. Stanislaus College, Brickdam Cathedral, the East Coast parishes, Port Mourant or Sacred Heart R.C. Church, he had a huge following. This was mainly on account of his pleasant and outgoing disposi tion, but also more so because he was a brilliant homilist.

Bob Barrow was the fin est exponent of sermons that I have known. I recall during my days in the Catholic youth movement, young persons from the various Georgetown par ishes would visit the Sacred

He officiated jointly with L utheran pastor, Errol Insan ally, at my wedding, a practice permitted by the Church but rarely done. Despite my role in the church, he was a stickler for the rules and did not grant me a waiver from attending marriage-counselling classes. I was forced to make weekly trips to Port Mourant to attend these classes with my bride to be.

During one of those classes, I sat in a separate chair from my beloved future wife. Father Bob immediately told me that from thenceforth, we have to do things together, including always sitting beside each other. That lesson stuck with me.

At the end of our final ses sion – one week before my wedding – he summoned me into his office and told me that he had heard that I had a child out of wedlock. Knowing him to have a healthy sense of humour, I laughed heartily, thinking he was being mischie vous. But he was dead serious. And I had to spend the next 10 minutes answering a barrage of questions. In the end, he embraced me and told me he would see me in Church the following week.

Time gets to us all. About 10 years ago, when I met him, he did not remember me at all, neither by name nor face, but he still greeted me warmly as he did everyone else.

Rest in Peace Father Bob!

Yours sincerely William Cox

Dear Mr. Editor, I REFER to a letter pub lished in the Stabroek News on the November 24, 2022, authored by a Mr. Andre Brandli, Professor at Ludwig-Maxi milians University, Mu nich.

The letter, in so far as it is relevant to me, invites me to “comment in public how the very voter turnout numbers of the 2020 General and Regional Elections rang ing between 91.3 and 98.8 per cent are to be explained best [sic].”

It must strike your readers as a little more than strange that this pro fessor would conjure up his own numbers, evoke a conclusion and then in

vites me to offer an expla nation for his brew! Unfor tunately, unlike the goodly professor, I have neither the time nor inclination to embark on such conjecture and surmise.

of such data. I set out hereunder the said in formation as generated by GECOM in respect of the last four Regional and General Elections in Guyana.

Year of Election List of Electors Total Votes Cast Voter Turnout (%)

2006 492,369 341,157 69.3

2011 475,496 346,717 72.9

2015 570,787 415,788 72.8

2020 660,998 468,184 70.8

I prefer to be guided by the statistics provided by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in respect of the rate of voter turnout at elections, as this is the constitution ally authorised repository

I hope I have assisted in settling the public re cord on this issue.

Yours faithfully, Mohabir Anil Nand lall, SC MP

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

Dear Editor, FATHER Robert Barrow, Roman Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus, was a towering figure, physically and in stature, within the Diocese of George town.

Focus more on oral health

By Cindy Parkinson

ORAL health should be taken very seriously, given its link to a num ber of diseases and dis orders, and the overall state of one’s health.

This is according to Adviser to the Ministry of Health Dr. Leslie Ram sammy, who recently told the Guyana Chronicle that efforts are being made to make oral health cover age a priority for health insurance companies.

The former health minister said people be lieve that long life is a reflection of one’s quality of life, but this is far from the truth. He said that our state of health affects our quality of life, and while it may be long, we may not have lived a healthy life.

He added that our oral health is an indicator that must not be ignored, as it is directly connected to

our well-being.

Dr. Ramsammy said that even though oral health is linked to diseas es and disorders, regret tably, it is one of the ar eas that many healthcare systems do not prioritise.

He noted that people in developed countries pay for their health insur ance, but it does not cover the expenses for oral care, such as extractions, clean ing, and dental surgery.

According to him, the Government of Guy ana, through the Ministry of Health, is trying to change that paradigm, and make oral health as important as any other health-related matter.

He recalled that prior to his appointment as Minister of Health, he would go on outreaches in the hinterland. He said that the success of those outreaches was based on how many buckets of teeth were brought back

to Georgetown.

It wasn’t until he be came the health minister that he realised that the buckets of teeth were not successes, but were rather failures.

After he took office, the ministry introduced atraumatic restorative treatment (ART), which focuses on the cleaning out of tooth decay (dental caries) from the teeth, using only hand instru ments (a dental hatchet and spoon excavator), and putting a filling. The goal of this method was to save the tooth without having to extract, he said.

He recalled that when he took office, the coun try only had eleven den tists. This motivated him to put measures in place to employ more dentists.

Dr. Ramsammy, dur ing the interview, ac knowledged Cynthia Pine, who played an in tegral role alongside him

in setting up the Guyana Dental School, the only facility of its kind in the country.

After a change in government in 2020, the ministry decided to send dentists based in George town to health centres in the other regions so that people could access oral health care and dentistry at their convenience.

“Rather than people coming to where we are, we have put dental chairs in specific locations. One such location is the Broth ers Health Centre in Re gion Six. Brothers has seen more patients than the New Amsterdam Hos pital, and we have also put a chair in Number 64 Vil lage. Minister Frank An thony and I are working to ensure that in 2023, in every region of Guyana, there will be a minimum of four health centres with dental chairs, as well as all our hospitals,” he told

the Guyana Chronicle.

Further, he announced plans to address eye-relat ed problems in children in the new year.

“In 2023, we are not only bringing oral health to the children and peo ple, but Minister Frank Anthony and I are work ing towards every child in Guyana having their eyes screened, and if they need glasses, the government will provide them, or if eye surgery is needed, they will get it, and, hope fully, we can do the same

for oral health,” he said.

According to the World Health Organi sation (WHO)’s 2022 Global Oral Health Sta tus Report, it is estimated that oral diseases affect close to 3.5 billion peo ple worldwide. Of that number, three out of four live in middle-income countries.

Globally, an estimat ed two billion adults get tooth decay, while 514 million children get cavities in their primary teeth.

UK’s BP International Limited to market Guyana’s share of oil

ing production stor age and offloading (FPSO) vessels.

The Ministry of Natural Resources had publicly issued its Re quest for Bids on Sep tember 16, 2022, with October 11, 2022, as the submission dead line. Some 14 bids were submitted to the National Procurement and Tender Adminis tration Board (NPT AB).

The procurement board appointed an Evaluation Commit tee, and that committee recommended, as part of its evaluation report, that BP International be awarded the contract.

That report was cleared by NPTAB, and received the Cabinet’s ‘no objection’.

The duration of this contract will be 12 months at a marketing price of US$0.00 per barrel. This procure ment process was initi ated after the contract with Aramco Trading Limited ended.

The services to be provided by the mar keter include:

- Providing support and guidance to the Government of Guy ana in all operating and back-office responsi bilities of managing the crude sales, and each individual lift whilst facilitating timely and cost-effective crude op erations;

- Supporting the government in the con tinued introduction of the grade to multiply

geographies and refin ery systems, and pro vide benchmark and performance compari sons of prices paid for Guyana’s crude;

- Working closely with the government to understand the behav iour and yields of the Liza blend, and how these can affect pricing differentials.

“The Guyana Gov ernment will continue to employ transpar ent and international best practices in the management of the nation’s petroleum resources, so as to attain maximum re turns and advance the livelihoods of all citizens,” the Ministry of Natural Resources said in closing.

- Dr. Ramsammy says, emphasises its link to various diseases and disorders

Adviser to the Ministry of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

THE Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, has an

nounced that BP In ternational Limited of the United Kingdom (UK) has been

selected to market Guyana’s share of oil from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity float

The Liza Destiny FPSO vessel

Young Lindener opens new seafood outlet in Campbellville

A 25-year-old Lindener, Trevis Johnson, is look ing to make his mark as an entrepreneur after expanding his brain child, Superior Seafoods, with a new storefront at Campbellville.

According to a Face book post from the Ameri can Chamber of Com merce (AMCHAM) Guy ana, Superior Seafoods was founded by Johnson in August 2015, after he recognised that there was need for a reliable source of quality seafood prod ucts for commercial use, particularly by compa nies whose operations are based in remote areas.

“This need has grown with the rapid expansion

of offshore activities in Guyana’s booming oiland-gas sector,” AM CHAM said.

It is for this reason that Superior Seafoods endeavours to meet this need by providing a cus tomised mix of quality, lo cal seafood products at the volume and frequency re quired by each customer.

Both in-store pickup and purchases as well as online ordering and deliv ery are now available to customers.

The outlet offers fillets of trout, bangamary, butterfish, shark, and many other fish, as well as steaks of snapper and trout, prawns, and much more.

CDC prepared to mobilise assistance to flood-affected areas

THE Civil Defence Com mission (CDC) has an nounced that it is pre pared to mobilise assis

tance to flood-affected areas, after receiving re ports of inundation along the coastland of Guyana

due to heavy rainfall.

“Thus far, confirmed inundation has occurred in Regions Two, Three and

Four,” the CDC reported on Thursday.

The Charity Squat ting Area in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), according to the Com mission, has declared that floodwaters have risen to at least one inch due to heavy rainfall. However, the trenches and drains have since been cleared, and there is continuous moni toring of all operational sluices and pumps by the Neighbourhood Demo cratic Council (NDC).

In Region Three (Esse quibo Islands- West Dem erara), Crane Phases One and Two have been heavily impacted by flooding, with residents reporting that water levels have risen to at least four inches in some places. Canal Numbers One and Two have also been affected by at least two inches of water on farmlands, and one inch of water on low-lying house lots.

“The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is working assidu ously to clear all drains and waterways, so as to facilitate water run-off,” the CDC said.

Further, the Commis sion related that sever al areas in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) have been impacted over the last few days, but reports indicate that floodwaters are receding consistently.

“Communities in Georgetown, the Eastern Bank of the Demerara Riv er and the Eastern Coast of Demerara have been inundated, but the close

monitoring of the pumps and kokers has alleviated the situation somewhat,” the CDC said.

The National Task Force on Flood Monitor ing is engaging all relevant stakeholders, and, through the CDC, it is prepared to mobilise assistance to any part of the nation.

Persons are encour aged to remain vigilant and cautious during this period, and to report any impacts to local au thorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 6007500 or 226-1114 at any time.

Persons testing out the equipment at the new Superior Seafoods outlet at Campbellville (AMCHAM photo)

Owner of Superior Seafoods, Trevis Johnson, with President of AMCHAM, Devindra Kissoon (AMCHAM)

Dharmic Sabha’s Kala Utsav returns on Sunday

THE Pandit Reepu Daman

Persaud Dharmic Sanskri tik Kendra will come alive on Sunday when the more than two-decade old festi val of arts, Kala Utsav, re turns with electrifying performances by young people

hosted preliminary Praant Utsavs.

President of the Guy ana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindhya Persaud, said: “The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha continues to invest in young people, seeing in

generations of artistes,” Dr. Persaud said.

The panel of judges will feature well-known Guya nese artistes who have per

formed both locally and in ternationally.

The public is invited to the festival as admission is free, and Kala Utsav

provides the perfect opportunity to play a role in encouraging and motivat ing young people as they perform and take the first

step on a long journey of continuing ancient tradi tions. Attendees are usually treated to sumptuous seven curry at the all-day festival.

from across the country.

Kala Utsav has been the launch pad for many wellknown Guyanese artistes who have gone on to train further and establish them selves in various cultural niches.

The brainchild of In dranie Persaud, Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Kala Utsav will resume after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19, and will contin ue to serve as a platform for hundreds of youths to com pete in music, folk and clas sical dance, singing, Rama yan chanting and drama.

Each participant will re ceive certificates, trophies and cash prizes. The partici pants will be drawn from the Sabha’s countrywide Praants or branches, which have

them the potential for the sustenance and promotion of cultural art forms, and tradi tions.”

Kala Utsav has al ways provided a healthy and friendly atmosphere for young people to perform among their peers and re ceive assessment from the expert panel of judges along with incentives.

“The intention is to iden tify their potential and offer them tangible opportuni ties to develop this talent to greater heights, and to serve as ambassadors of their cho sen field. Scholarships have been provided in the past and the intention is to increase these training opportuni ties to develop a competent cadre of teachers, who will inspire and train successive

The two-decade-old festival of arts, Kala Utsav, returns this Sunday

- promises exciting performances from youths across the country

Salary increase will improve economic, social conditions

- says R3PSi Head

HEAD of the Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc), Halim Khan, has praised gov ernment for increasing the salaries of public servants, noting that this will certainly improve their economic and so cial conditions.

“The announcement of an eight per cent acrossthe-board retroactive in crease to public servants,

teachers, members of the disciplined services, con stitutional office holders, as well as government pensioners will go a long way in improving dis posable incomes to pub lic sector employees and Guyanese at large,” Khan said.

He noted that the in crease must be placed in the context of the restora tion of the cash grants to

the parents of school-aged children, totalling some $6 billion in direct cash transfers, and an increase in the minimum wage for private sector employees by 36 per cent to $60,147.

“Government had also implemented a number of measures to mitigate the effects of the rise in cost of living, most notably the removal of the ex cise tax on fuel, capping freight charges used in calculating import taxes, providing fertiliser and other support to farmers to boost food production, and direct cash transfers to especially vulnerable communities,” he said.

Khan noted that the government continues to examine ways of improv ing the income of Guya nese, to ensure that each citizen reaps the benefits of the major-scale devel opments that are taking place across the country.

“Last year government paid out over $10.5 billion in wages and salaries in December 2021, when a seven per cent increase was issued; this jumped the spending power and improved growth in the economy. With the current increase things will only

get better,” Khan related.

The current injection for next month will also stimulate economic activ ity across the country as over $11 billion will be placed in the hands of public sector employees, which would then be mul tiplied as workers spend their increase in dispos able income in markets, shops, or other businesses across the country, he added.

“The government is delivering on its Mani festo promises… that their investment in the public sector does not end with the salary increase, as [they] will continue to work to improve the lives of all Guyanese,” Khan noted.

While some may not be appreciative of the in crease, he said it must be appreciated since Guyana has been developing rap idly because of the great leadership of President, Dr. Irfaan Ali.

“The high cost of liv ing is a global issue but the President and his gov ernment are doing their best to cushion the impact of such,” he noted.

Khan said that many persons in CARICOM

countries currently do not have jobs, but Guyana has been blessed with con stant improvements.

“The President is a man on the ground and knows exactly what the people need; we must all work towards what we want to achieve whether in the private or public sector,” he said.

He noted that each public servant will be taking home more than $60,000, in additional income for the Christmas holiday season.

“That in its own nature is a cash grant,” Khan stated.

As part of its contin ued efforts to acknowl edge the commitment and dedication of public sector workers, the government approved the eight per cent salary increase last Thursday.

In a virtual address President Ali said the in crease will be granted retroactively to January 1, 2022.

He related that work will start immediately to ensure that the increase is processed and paid to eligible employees together with their De cember salary.

Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSi) Head, Halim Khan

Man gets 17 years for raping girl, 9

- judge says sexual offences against children have reached ‘crisis level’

BEFORE sentencing Mario Heywood called ‘Ratty’, who was convicted of rap ing a nine-year-old girl, Justice Sandil Kissoon said that sexual offences com mitted on children are on the increase in Guyana and must be addressed.

The judge, who sits at the Sexual Offences Court of the Demerara High Court, on Wednesday, sentenced Heywood to serve 17 years behind bars for the crime.

Last month, Heywood, 39, of East Ruimveldt, was found guilty of three counts of rape committed on a child under 16 years, between Oc tober and November 2018.

The State’s evidence was led by prosecutors Cicela Corbin, Caressa Henry and Marisa Edwards, while attor ney-at-law, Damien DaSilva,

represented Heywood

According to reports, it is alleged that, during the pe riod mentioned in the charge, the child was left in the care of Heywood. It is alleged that Heywood raped her while her mother was at work.

Heywood reportedly told the child that he would kill her mother if she confided in her relatives.

However, the victim’s mother became aware of what had happened and re ported the matter to the po lice.

In his sentencing re marks, Justice Kissoon said that Heywood was a father figure in the victim’s life and he abused her trust.

He added that such cases have become exceedingly prevalent in Guyana, and that the courts will not tolerate

such acts of “evil” being in flicted on innocent children.

“This matter, unfortu nately, is one of a series of matters that are indicative of the crisis in our midst, which threatens to engulf single mothers and children with horrendous consequences. The incidence of this type of crime in our society is at the point of crisis,” he said.

He emphasised that it was a tremendous cause for

concern and required urgent intervention.

The judge underscored the physical and psychologi cal trauma the victim has had to face due to Heywood’s actions.

He also said that Hey wood took advantage of the closeness he shared with the victim and her relatives.

The judge delivered sepa rate sentences for each count. Heywood was sentenced to

15 years on the first count, 17 years on the second count, and 17 years on the final count.

The judge ordered that the sentences run concur rently, which means Hey wood will only serve 17 years.

The judge further ordered that Heywood must undergo counselling for sex offenders while in prison.

Mario Heywood

Virjanand Depoo accredited new Guyana Ambassador to Suriname

VIRJANAND Depoo was on Wednesday accredited the Am bassador of Guyana to Suriname after he submitted his Letters of Credence to the country’s President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi.

According to a press release from the Min istry of Foreign Affairs and International Co operation, Ambassa dor Depoo has over 30 years of service in the public and private sectors, specifically in the fields of education,

business, and commu nity service.

During the ac creditation ceremony, President Santokhi welcomed Ambassa dor Depoo to Suriname and reaffirmed Suri name’s commitment to strengthening relations

with Guyana.

The ceremony was also attended by Suri name’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Inter national Business and International Cooper ation, Albert Ramdin; Mrs Mellisa SantokhiSeenacherry, First

Lady of the Repub lic of Suriname; Mrs Sandra Depoo, Spouse of Ambassador Depoo

and Ms Malvie Talbot, First Secretary of the Embassy of Guyana in Suriname.

President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi (right) and Guyana’s newly accredited Ambassador, Virjanand Depoo

GPHC to offer free laser treatment for kidney stones

following procurement of $25M machine

THE Georgetown Pub lic Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has acquired a new $25.2 million laser lithotripter, which will be used to offer free laser treatment to persons with kidney stones.

According to a press re lease from the hospital, the laser lithotripsy caters for a completely non-invasive approach, meaning no in cision is required to treat patients with kidney stones; this is a big advancement from the usual major sur gery that would be required to treat this condition.

“This technique uses a high-intensity laser beam to pulverise stones through an endoscope. Patients who are eligible for laser treat ment not only benefit from a non-invasive procedure, but may have shorter re

covery times and hospital stays, allowing them to re sume their regular routines earlier. This service is free of cost and is being offered for the first time in the public healthcare sector,” GPHC said.

Kidney stones affect 10 per cent of the population during their lifetimes and places a significant burden on the healthcare system.

Almost 50 per cent of the workload of the Urol ogy Department is related to kidney stone disease. Using this modern laser technology, stone surgery is performed using a camera in the urinary tract.

The hospital explained that there is no cut or scar on the abdomen and the patient is discharged, in most cases, on the same day. Traditionally, with

open surgery, people had a large scar on the abdomen, spent days in hospital and required one-two months of recuperation.

The Urology Depart ment and the GPHC’s ad ministration consider the provision of this service as a significant advance ment in the corporation’s commitment to provide the people of Guyana with modern healthcare services comparable with the best in the world.

Specialist Urologi cal Surgeon, Dr Rajendra Sukhraj, expressed pro found gratitude to the hos pital’s Chief Executive Of ficer, Robbie Rambarran, and his team for their con fidence and commitment to providing healthcare that is “second to none” by taking the leap and bringing this

technology to the GPHC, since it is long overdue.

“The GPHC’s admin istration remains dedi

cated to continued in vestment in all resources, equipment, and staff that are required to provide

modern care that is on par with international standards,” the hospital said.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has acquired a new $25.2 million laser lithotripter, which will be used to offer free laser treatment to persons with kidney stones

Mark Luke-Edwards does a great job balancing theatre and fatherhood

EVEN though theatre can be very demanding and time-consuming, Guya nese actor/comedian/ spoken-word poet Mark Luke-Edwards, knows all too well the value of making time for his children.

He is constantly working at striking the right balance between work and family.

The popular, well-loved entertainer, is a very proud dad since his eldest child Ke ziah recently graduated from St Rose’s High with nine Grade Ones and four Grade Twos at the Caribbean Sec ondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

“Super proud dad…sixth form and med school next, by the grace of God,” he wrote in a social media post.

Having just wrapped up Nothing to Laugh About, Mark, who has been in the en tertainment industry for some 15 years, is now in prepara tion mode for Stretched Out Magazine.

With practice taking up quite a lot of his time, he also has to care for his ‘9 to 5’ job, having taken up the challenge of teaching Theatre Arts at the Sophia Training Centre.

“Theatre is very demand ing…but you can’t complain because certain professions just choose you,” he shared in a recent interview with the Buzz.

The profession ‘chose’ him in the sense that it was just something that happened and he decided to stick with it; it wasn’t as if he was an aspiring actor. However, he wouldn’t trade it for any thing.

Managing to find a good balance can be tough at times though.

“You might go and see a production and enjoy it, but you don’t know that it would have taken six weeks; seven, two months of rehearsals. Sometimes you start with two or three times a week and getting closer to the produc

tion, it might be every day,” he shared.

What specifically helps Mark to cope is choosing to spend his time on things that truly matter.

“I don’t hang out and party a lot. If I was [sic] a socialite…. if my leisure time consumed a lot of my overall time, then finding the balance would have been way more difficult,” he said, adding, “but because of my lifestyle…. it’s either work or the kids...and that helps.”

FINDING THEIR STRENGTHS

Commenting on his daughter’s academic suc cess, Mark said a lot of credit has to go to her mom Carol because of how time-con suming his work is.

“The girl works hard, is self-motivated, and prides herself in doing well,” he said.

He told the Buzz that his daughter went after her as

signments, took the lead in all of her group assignments and has always been topping her class, even the entire grade at times.

“There’s a sense of pride to see her excel. She was a highflyer since in primary school,” Mark proudly re lated.

Feeling like all of the sacrifices have paid off, Mark is advising other parents not to pressure their kids but to work with their strengths.

“I always tell her I don’t want her to feel that she has to do that for us to love her. Even if she had gotten aver age grades, my love for her is unconditional,” he added.

He called attention to the fact that children can be good at other things while their parents may be hung up on just academics.

“Be open-minded, find their strengths and nurture them. See the talents in your kids and polish them,” he emphasised.

Guyanese actor/comedian Mark Luke-Edwards

Mark with Keziah following her recent graduation from St. Rose’s High (Photos courtesy of Mark LukeEdwards)

Having just wrapped up Nothing to Laugh About, Mark is now preparing for Stretched Out Magazine

Mark with his three children: Keziah, Kerese and Jared

Local band releases Christmas song

By Cassandra Khan

Y3K, a local band formal ly known as the Faithful Four or Cox Brothers, has released a new single called “Christmas with you,” which the members hope will further showcase Guy ana’s musical talents and diversity to the world.

Two members of the group, Kwasi Cox and Kei sanna Cox-Parsaram are cur rently planning to travel to New York to have their song promoted there, but they are in dire need of sponsorship for travel-related expenses.

Tianna Cox, Travis Rete myer, and the other members of the band will remain in Guyana to promote the song locally.

There are a few radio stations in New York that they will use to promote their Christmas single and they have already done the groundwork to procure a pro ducer, who will help to bring their vision to fruition.

“Now it is just for us to go to the radio station…that physical presence would be integral,” members of the band told the BUZZ earlier this week.

The band wants to bring much awareness to Guya nese talent and also shared that they have some open mic spots where they will perform to ensure their goal is attained.

— hopes to perform it in front of President Ali

is very hard to accomplish and to accomplish it, we feel really good,” Kwasi said.

Meanwhile, Tianna said that the family is very big on Christmas, so to have a Christmas song for them is very special and it is some thing they are excited about having.

According to the group, their Christmas song pro motes diversity and encour ages all Guyanese to come together.

The Y3K band was orig inally an all-male cappella quartet song group, but over time it blossomed into a fullfledged family band.

“Being the children of a pastor in a church with a demand for good musicians, we all stepped up to the plate and with time, hard work, and dedication we quickly devel oped keen ear sound and now can skilfully play at least two instruments,” they said.

The US Embassy’s Fourth of July celebration and Carifesta X Gospel Concert.

For Jam Zone Interna tional 2010, the group was the opening act for the con cert at the National Stadi um, which was headlined by world-renowned international singer and songwriter Ne Yo.

“We were also awarded the title ‘The Best New Band for 2010’…Back in 2015 we were privileged to repre sent Guyana and the entire Caribbean at One Billion Rising’s ‘Artistic Uprising’ in Manhattan, New York, where we shared the stage with world-renowned acts such as Thandie Newton, Emma Myles, Kathy Najimy, Rosie O’Donnell, Saidah Baba Tal ibah and One Billion Rising founder Eve Ensler among others,” the group shared.

Locally, the band hopes to be a part of the Christmas Village and hopes they get the opportunity to perform their song in the presence of President, Dr Irfaan Ali.

Keisanna, sharing how the song was written, said that she always had the dream of releasing a Christmas song.

“It was coming up to Christmas and my husband was writing a song and I asked him what he was writ ing, and he said a love song. So I told him let us turn this into a Christmas song,” she recalled.

She related that she then invited the rest of the group to put in their ideas.

Kwasi told the BUZZ that there is something special about having a Christmas song. He said that they have noticed that the same tunes are played over and over during the Christmas season, and they wanted to add some thing new.

“Even after you write them, that Christmas feeling

As word of their group spread they were invited ev erywhere to sing. They have graced the stage of various places that are well known for quality entertainment such as the National Cultural Centre, Ocean View Hotel, Zoom-inn Hotel, Pegasus Hotel, Princess International Hotel and De Impeccable Hall.

They have also performed at many popular events in cluding Miss Guyana Uni verse, Miss Guyana World,

The band’s performance at the Artistic Uprising brought many to tears, in cluding Dylan McDermott whose fiancé rated their per formance as the best of the night.

Besides singing acapel la, dancing, and playing instruments they also write and compose their music. To date the group has writ ten and composed over 50 songs. Their first single, “Share a little Love,” was written for the Ministry of Health, as part of the country’s efforts to fight domestic violence.

Inner Heights still soaring 25 years later

Released in Novem ber 1997, the 21-track, Grammy-nominated set is produced by Donovan Germain on his Penthouse Records label.

Germain reflects on the production a quarter of a century later.

“Inner Heights was a continuation of the direc tion of ‘Til Shiloh (1995),” Germain told the Jamaica Observer.

“A lot of the songs were left from ‘Til Shi loh. We had recorded a lot of songs for ‘Til Shiloh project and so when Inner Heights came we had good songs. We made a couple more songs, but it [Inner Heights] was really a con tinuation of ‘Til Shiloh.

‘Til Shiloh was Buju Banton’s reintroduction to his fans as he explored his newfound Rastafari faith, a departure from the rude-boy and girls lyrics.

Jo-Ann Greene of AllMu sic said that the album “consolidated his move into social awareness and adopted a more mature, re flective tone that signalled Banton’s arrival as an ar tiste able to make major creative statements”.

Inner Heights’ track listing includes Our Father in Zion, Hills and Valleys, Destiny, Cry No More, and Circumstances. Featured on the set are Toots Hibbert (54/46), Jahmali (Mother’s Cry), Red Rat (Love Dem Bad), King Stitt (Small Axe), and Beres Hammond (My Woman Now).

Germain, who was con ferred an Order of Distinc

tion by the Jamaica Gov ernment for his contribu tion to music in 2015, said it’s hard to find a favourite

on the set.

“That’s like asking me which one of my kids is my favourite kids. I love all the

songs dem,” he said.

Germain launched Penthouse Records shortly after returning to Jamai

ca in 1988. The company was pivotal to dancehall music’s international ap peal in the 1990s when it released countless hits by Buju Banton, Hammond, Griffiths, Garnett Silk, and Wayne Wonder.

Inner Heights was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 41st Annu al Grammy Awards, but lost to Sly and Robbie’s Friends.

Buju Banton, whose given name is Mark My rie, won the Best Reg gae Album Grammy for Beyond the Dawn, re leased in 2010. His other previous Grammy nom inations were Friends for Life (2004), Too Bad (2007), and 2010’s Rasta Got Soul. (Jamaica Ob server)

INNER Heights, the fifth studio album by Buju Banton, turns 25 this month.

From left to right: Keisanna Cox-Parsaram, Kwasi Cox, Travis Retemyer and Tianna Cox

Buju Banton (Jamaica Observer

photo)

New ‘Avatar’ film gets rare China release

THE long-awaited se quel to director James Cameron’s blockbuster “Avatar” will be released in mainland Chinese cinemas on December 16, 20th Century Studios said on Wednesday.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” will be released in China on the same day as its global release, the studio said on its official Weibo account.

It becomes one of the few foreign films to get access to the Chinese market in recent months, with others including the latest film in the “Minions” franchise

quotas on the number of international films al lowed to show and many are blocked due to con tent Chinese regulators deem unseemly.

Hollywood block busters recently have had a particularly hard time getting clearance to show in China. The six latest Marvel movies did not make an appearance in China and earlier this year, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” was also denied a China re lease.

Increased scrutiny of Hollywood films has occurred in conjunction with a rise in China’s

film studios making their own versions of the high-octane block busters U.S. studios are known for.

Chinese-made hits include the “Wolf War rior” franchise and last year’s breakout success, “The Battle at Chang jin Lake,” have proven popular with Chinese audiences keen to see more Chinese-centric stories on the big screen.

That said, since Chi nese movie ticket sales topped U.S. ticket sales for the first time in 2020, the Chinese movie mar ket has been hit by tight COVID-19 curbs. Cine

mas across the country are frequently asked to suspend operations or cap audience numbers.

Especially as cases continue to grow, people in many cities around the country are refrain ing from going to cin emas.

China’s total box office take for this year has reached only 28.27 billion yuan ($4 billion) according to Chinese cinema data app Dengta. It is a sharp fall from 2019’s 64.15 bil lion yuan or even last year’s 47.04 billion. (Reuters)

Amanda Reifer gets first Grammy nomination

THE amazing year

Barbadian recording artiste Amanda Reifer has been having, got

even better when she received the news that she has been nominat ed for her first Gram

my. The Recording Academy on November 15, 2022, announced

the nominees for the 2023 Grammys and the songstress made the list.

Amanda Reifer was nominated for Best Melodic Rap Perfor mance for her feature on Kendrick Lamar’s track, ‘Die Hard,’ which also includes Blxst.

The song, one of the singles on Kendrick La

mar’s fifth studio album Mr Morale & The Big Steppers, debuted at No 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs Chart in May.

For her contribution to Kendrick Lamar’s al bum, she could also get a Grammy award if Mr Morale & The Big Step pers wins the Album of

the Year category.

Amanda Reifer, in an Instagram post, ex pressed her gratitude.

“This is my first time as a Grammy Nominee!! and I can’t figure out how exactly to put my BIG grat itude into this little caption,” she wrote.

(Nation News)

and

Sony Pictures’ “Where the Crawdads Sing.” Foreign movies have

long struggled to gain release dates in main land China due to strict

Director James Cameron poses for a portrait in Manhattan Beach, California, on April 8, 2014 (REUTERS/ Lucy Nicholson/File Photo/File Photo)

Amanda Reifer (Nation News photo)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Friday November 25, 2022)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 347 for the seventh wicket (D. Atkinson & C. DePeiaza, Barbados, 1955)

(2) 449 for fourth wicket (A. Voges & S. Marsh, Hobart. 2015-16)

Today’s Quiz

(1) Which WI batsman has scored most Test cen turies versus AUST to date?

(2) Which AUST batsman has scored most Test centuries against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

RACING TIPS

English

11:15 hrs Storm Force Ben 11:50 hrs Blue Clover Newbury 08:10 hrs Jet Powered 08:45 hrs Soaring Glory 09:20 hrs Heezer Geezer 09:55 hrs Stage Star 10:30 hrs Paint The Dream 11:05 hrs Thomas Darby 11:40 hrs Steal A March

Irish Racing Tips Dundalk 13:00 hrs Lisieux 13:30 hrs Maggie Mcgrath 14:00 hrs Lokada 14:30 hrs Maura’s Gift 15:00 hrs Rockview Roman 15:30 hrs Soilse

16:00 hrs Tai Sing Yeh 16:30 hrs Adamaris

American Racing Tips

Aqueduct

Race 1 Juniper’s Moon Race 2 Mostly Harmless Race 3 Cupid’s Heart Race 4 Starquist Race 5 Outlaw Kid Race 6 Rocky Sky Race 7 Kathleen O Race 8 Dancing Buck Race 9 North Pole

Canadian Racing Tips

Woodbine

Race 1 Grand Gizmo Race 2 Dani’s Victory Race 3 Fielder Race 4 Selfmade Race 5 Three Sonny Sideup Race 6 Two Rivers Over Race 7 Indy Champagne

South Africa Racing Tips

Fairview

08:25 hrs Blonde Act

09:00 hrs Divine Odyssey

09:35 hrs Ledell’s Echo

10:10 hrs Captain Oupie

10:45 hrs Ancestral Prayer

Arab Emirates Racing Tips

Meydan

10:00 hrs Kerless Del Roc

10:35 hrs Island Rule

11:10 hrs Alsahib

11:45 hrs Sari Dubai

12:20 hrs Mutaraffa 12:55 hrs Karnavaal 13:30 hrs Hyde Park

Uruguay held by South Korea in entertaining draw

NOTHING could separate Uruguay and South Korea in their World Cup opener in Group H despite plenty of attacking quality on show in Qatar.

In front of a vibrant crowd at the Education City Stadium, the South Koreans frustrated Uruguay but did not create many clear-cut opportunities.

Their best fell to Hwang Ui-jo, who fired over the bar in the first half, before Uruguay captain Diego Godin headed a corner against the post.

Hwang stood with his head in hands afterwards, while team-mates fell to their knees in disbelief, all in front of a group of South Korean fans behind the goal, who were in fine voice throughout.

South Korea had con trolled most of the first half but Uruguay began to dominate as the game wore on and they al most won it in the final minute of normal time when Federico Valverde's long-range effort crashed off the post.

There was one last chance for Tottenham striker Son Heu ng-min - South Korea's star man - but he dragged his shot wide, much to the relief of the Uruguayan supporters.

The draw leaves Group H wide open, with many seeing it as a three-way battle for quali fication to the knockout stages between Uruguay, South Ko rea and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

Son and Nunez miss chances in competitive draw

The atmosphere around the stadium beforehand was fairly subdued but after kick-off there was relentless noise from a few hundred South Korean fans in one corner.

It was their players who took control of the game in the first half, playing some good build-up football and testing the Uruguayan defence from wide areas.

Son was often isolated on the wing but when he did have an occasion to run into space, he beat two players and whipped in a dangerous cross.

He was found on the edge of the box shortly into the second half too but Uruguay's Jose Gimenez made a crucial sliding challenge to deny him a shot.

Son was a threat only oc casionally but the crowd often rose to their feet as their voices lifted in anticipation for what he could potentially produce - and he nearly came good in the final moments when he dragged an effort wide.

Uruguay's game plan was clear. They looked to play over the top of South Korea's de fence at any opportunity, with Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez a threat on the count er-attack with his pace.

Real Madrid's Valverde almost got on the end of a long ball from Gimenez, while Nunez should have connected with a cross that came in from the right.

As the game wore on, Uru guay became more dangerous - Nunez broke away down the left but couldn't find a teammate, moments before man ager Diego Alonso used his wildcard with the introduction of former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani.

Cavani looked live ly, almost connecting with Nunez's fizzing shot, which flew just wide of the post, but the South Korean de fence held firm for a point which could prove vital in a competitive Group H. (BBC Sport)

Richarlison scores stunning...

FROM BACK PAGE

Brazil arrived in Qa tar accompanied by the usual huge weight of ex pectation that always ac companies the five-time world champions, but if it was a burden they carried it lightly here.

From the scenes of players dancing on the team bus and on their way into the stadium to their performance, Bra zil looked right at home and justified the belief of many that they will be the eventual winners.

Brazil were happy to

keep probing in the face of outstanding Serbian defence but once they went through the gears after half-time they were irresistible.

Serbia, who did not have a shot on target, were already creak ing when Richarlison pounced for the first goal and the game was over once he scored that truly exhilarating second.

Brazil could have add ed more as they tore holes in Serbia’s tiring defence as the game wore on but this was a hugely satis

factory night for coach Tite in so many ways.

Neymar worked hard but was quiet, although he was involved in the build-up to Richarlson’s first, but Vinicius showed how impressive he can be while Casemiro ruled midfield with his usual authority.

This was not an easy game for Brazil against the side ranked 21st in the world, but ulti mately they were com fortable and deserved winners. (BBC Sport)

Guptill will be missed but he has not retired -Williamson

NEW Zealand captain Kane Williamson has ad mitted that the team will miss Martin Guptill, who has chosen not to take up a central contract and has subsequently been released by NZC.

The 36-year old opener has joined a growing group of New Zealand players looking to explore career opportunities outside the country.

The proliferation of franchise cricket is such that there is a T20 league for virtually every month of the year now, presenting an attractive package for many cricketers. Trent Boult, James Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme have all opted to pursue that line of work leaving New Zealand with a bit of a juggling act.

"Obviously, he has made a decision to explore a few other options," Williamson said, "But as a player and as an experienced member of the group, he has added so much value over the years and been one of our best white-ball players ever."

With over 10,000 whiteball runs, Guptill has been a crucial part of New Zea land's success but they ap pear to have moved on from him.

He didn't play any of their games at the T20 World Cup and was dropped

from the squad altogether for the ongoing India series.

Williamson was appre ciative of Guptill taking those calls in stride. "With out getting a playing oppor tunity, he was outstanding and offering to all the play ers in the group. So, he's been fantastic in so many areas of the environment.

Absolutely, he will be missed, but like I say he's not retired. So there's a lot to keep working through over the next period to get a real feel for how the picture looks."

It is learnt that Guptill may be in line for a BBL deal with the new season starting in December. Boult already has one with the Melbourne Stars, following which he will be in the UAE playing for MI Emirates. De Grandhomme is retired, the announcement coming soon after his name unexpectedly popped up at the BBL draft earlier this year.

Neesham is the only one of the four currently in the team preparing to face India on Friday.

While NZC have stressed that they'd like to give preference to play ers who are under contract when picking their squads, Williamson understood that the situation has changed and that they have to figure out a way forward that ben

efits both the team and the individual.

"It's just trying to strike that balance, like we've seen with a few other play ers who have also sort of looked at some of those other opportunities. It's a bit of a moving landscape. So it's trying to weigh that up and look at how it can all work moving forward.

"Guptill hasn't retired. He is looking at playing some other tournaments while still being available, but like I say, it's balancing that moving forward. He's still very motivated to keep playing and getting better. And I think that's important for all players, even though he has played such a long, amazing career.

As a mate and a teammate over a long period of time, we had a few good chats. And it's managing that time.

As a player, you always go through different periods and you get to different stages, and you're trying to basically manage that as best you can."

Williamson himself is facing similar questions, playing and captaining New Zealand in all three formats, but last week he reiterated his desire to keep doing so.

Luis Suarez beats Kim Jin-Su in an aerial duel (Photo: Skysports)

…NZ captain opens up about the way forward with more players choosing to go the franchise

Kane Williamson(right) on Martin Guptill: 'He has been one of our best white-ball players ever' • (Getty Images)

New format for 2024 Men's T20 World Cup

…Twenty teams will be divided into four groups of five in the first round, followed by a Super Eights phase

THE 2024 Men's T20 World Cup in the West In dies and USA will be played in a different format from the previous two editions of the tournament.

Instead of the first round followed by the Super 12, like in 2021 and 2022, the 20 participating teams will be divided into four groups of five teams each in the 2024 tournament.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will progress to a Super Eight phase, where they will be fur ther divided into two groups of four each. The top two teams in each of the two Su per Eights groups will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be followed by the final.

In the last two editions

of the T20 World Cup, the first round had two groups of four which included teams that entered the tournament through the qualifying path way and teams that finished between ninth and 12th in the previous T20 World Cup.

The top two teams from

each group in the first round then joined the rest of the eight teams that had already qualified for the Super 12 stage.

So far, 12 teams have al ready sealed their spots in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

USA and West Indies

qualified automatically as the hosts of the tournament.

Reigning champions England along with Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Netherlands have also qual ified, having finished in the top eight of the 2022 edition.

Afghanistan and Bangla desh are the other two teams to book their berths, because they were the next best on ICC's T20I rankings on the cut-off date of November 14, 2022.

The remaining eight spots will be decided through re gional qualifiers.

England are the current T20 World Cup champions, having beaten Pakistan in the final in Melbourne on November 13. (Cricinfo)

Embolo gives Swiss opening win over Cameroon

SWITZERLAND’s Breel Embolo scored the only goal against Cameroon - the country of his birth - in a hard-fought World Cup Group G opener.

Embolo refused to cel ebrate when he finished off a slick Swiss attack shortly after half-time.

The Indomitable Li ons were unfortunate to lose after an enterprising display at the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar.

Victory was vital for Switzerland, as both sides still have to face Brazil in the group.

Embolo moved to Switzerland from Camer oon with his family as a six-year-old and pledged his allegiance to the Eu ropean nation after be ing granted citizenship in 2014.

At the age of 18, he set up the Embolo Foundation to support refugee children in Switzerland and disad vantaged children in the country of his birth.

He said before the game it would be "a very special" occasion to play against Cameroon and when he scored, he re spectfully raised his arms and closed his eyes.

"I told him, 'Breel,

friendship until the start, then they are your oppo nents,'" said Switzerland coach Murat Yakin. "Foot ball writes such stories but he completed his mission.

"I am very happy with his performance."

Cameroon boss Rigob ert Song admitted after wards he would "have liked him to be on my side" but did say he was "proud" of Embolo.

"We are all proud of our country and you saw

he did not celebrate the goal," said Song. "That is part and parcel of football and I'm proud of him."

Embolo's strike en sured victory for a side with high expectations - Yakin has declared his squad "the best Switzer land side ever" and said he expects them to achieve their best return at a World Cup.

After the game, captain Granit Xhaka echoed his coach's comments, arguing

"we can beat anyone" and pointing to their record in recent tournaments as evidence of their potential.

Yet Switzerland strug gled in the first half in the face of a vibrant Camer oon start and ought to have gone behind, with Eric Choupo-Moting, Bryan Mbeumo and Martin Hon gla all missing presentable opportunities.

The goal rocked Cam eroon and the Swiss had chances to extend their lead, only for Andre Onana to save superbly from Ru ben Vargas, while Em bolo and substitute Haris Seferovic were denied by last-ditch defending.

The Indomitable Lions have now lost eight suc cessive games at the World Cup finals but Song's side impressed at times here.

Song admitted after wards their next game against Serbia will be "de cisive" if they are to stand any chance of becoming the first Cameroon team to progress beyond the group stage since 1990.

For Switzerland, the win gives them breathing space before their match against group favourites Brazil on Monday. (BBC Sport)

Quitting whiteball captaincy best thing for Pooran -Dujon

The 27-year-old, who took charge of the region’s white-ball teams earlier this year, made the surprise decision to step down as captain, after just 7 months on the job.

As captain of the team, Pooran had faced severe pressure following the team’s poor showing at the T20 World Cup. The West Indies failed to advance from the first round of the competition, following losses to Scotland and Ireland.

The results led to the resignation of the team’s head coach Phil Simmons but having only just been appointed to the post, Pooran was widely expected to keep the position.

Dujon admitted to being surprised but believes the player has done the right thing given the circumstances.

“I think it’s a good thing for him. As a young player, you have been given responsibility but things haven’t worked out for him,” Dujon told the Mason and Guest radio program.

“He still has a career ahead of him and shedding this responsibility might just help his cricket as time goes on,” he added.

Pooran captained the T20 team for 23 matches, winning 8 and losing 14 for a win ratio of 35 per cent.(Sportsmax).

England are the reigning Men’s T20 world champions

WEST Indies wicketkeeping great Jeffrey Dujon believes the decision taken by captain Nicholas Pooran to step down is the best one for the player at this point in time.

Breel Embolo scored the winner against his birth nation as Switzerland beat Cameroon 1-0 at Al Janoub Stadium in their World Cup Group G opener on Thursday.

Former West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran

Record-breaking Ronaldo on target as Portugal win five-goal thriller

CRISTIANO Ronaldo be came the first man to score at five Fifa World Cups as Portugal began their campaign with a thrilling victory over Ghana.

Ronaldo was playing for the first time since his contro versial television interview last week and his subsequent release by Manchester United following the comments.

And the 37-year-old scored the opening goal from the penalty spot, hammering in after being tripped in the box by Ghana's Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu.

Captain Ronaldo had a couple of chances early on but a low shot was smothered by Lawrence Ati-Zigi and he also headed wide at the far post.

The forward had a goal disallowed for a push on Alexander Djiku while at the other end, Ghana did not have a single shot in the opening period.

The Africans improved in the second period as Moham med Kudus drilled narrowly wide of the far post and got their reward when Andre Ayew equalised from close range.

But Portugal respond ed with two goals in two

minutes to seal the points - Joao Felix converting a de lightfully clipped finish and substitute Rafael Leao coolly stroking in just seconds after coming on.

Osman Bukhari headed in a late consolation for Ghana and there could have been real drama in the ninth min ute of stoppage time.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa put the ball down, seemingly unaware Inaki Williams was behind him, but after rac ing to intercept the ball, the Ghana forward slipped at the crucial moment and a scuffed shot was cleared off the line.

Victory means Portugal top Group H after Uruguay and South Korea played out a goalless draw earlier on

Thursday.

Ronaldo hogs the head lines again

The focus before this game was on just one manRonaldo.

The veteran forward came into the tournament with a cloud over his head following the explosive Talk TV interview where he said he felt "betrayed" by Man chester United.

Unhappy with what he had to say, the Premier League club initiated a pro cess to terminate his contract, which was confirmed on Tuesday.

But the player will be in the headlines for all the right reasons this time, as he sur passed the great Pele, Uwe

Seeler and Miroslav Klose to stand on his own by scoring at five different editions of the tournament.

Supporters were on their feet in anticipation every time Ronaldo got anywhere near the ball and they erupted when his strike from the pen alty spot in the second half - which came after relatively easy missed opportunities in the opening period - hit the back of the net.

It was also a record-ex tending 118th international goal, which includes eight in the group stage of the World Cup, though he is the player with the most strikes without netting in the knockout stage.

Former West Ham and Swansea striker Ayew lev elled from Mohammed Ku dus' cutback to extend Gha na's run of scoring in their last six World Cup games.

Felix's sumptuous finish and Leao's nerveless effort looked to have sealed the points for Portugal with 10 minutes remaining.

Substitute Bukari head ed in and celebrated with Ronaldo's 'Siu'. Otto Ad do's side would have been delighted with a draw and almost got it, but for Wil liams' slip.(BBC Sport).

SLC invites ICC Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate match-fixing allegations made in parliament

SRI Lanka Cricket (SLC) has invited Alex Marshall, the head of the ICC's An ti-Corruption Unit, to in vestigate allegations of match-fixing made in Sri Lanka's parliament.

The allegation relates to the first Test of Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka in July, when Pakistan chased down a target of 342 in the fourth innings, to go 1-0 up in the series. The claim was made by Member of Parliament Nalin Bandara, who said this in parliament earlier this month:

"In the last Pakistan se ries, our team scored 400odd [Sri Lanka had set a tar get of 342, a ground record if achieved], and still lost in the last innings. From the person who rolls the pitch, everyone has been given money. The board has be

come a gambling den."

He offered no evidence to support his allegation, which came at the tail-end of a speech that had mostly referred to SLC's alleged mismanagement of its play ers. During the speech, Ban dara also referenced an on going feud between himself

and SLC president Shammi Silva.

As Bandara's speech is covered by parliamentary privilege, it is immune to libel and defamation suits.

The ACU did not com ment on whether that match was being viewed as sus picious; the ACU does not

usually make any comments on its investigations.

An SLC release did not specifically cite Bandara, but said his comments "have caused immense reputational damage to Sri Lanka Cricket and its stakeholders"(Cricinfo).

England in control of warmup game against Lions despite Hameed ton

ENGLAND's spin bowlers fought back to stay in control on day two of their match against England Lions, despite Haseeb Hameed's century in Abu Dhabi.

The three-day warm-up match precedes England's three-Test series against Pakistan, which starts on 1 December.

Lions opener Hameed scored 145 from 172 balls and shared a first-wicket stand of 179 with Tom Haines, who made 82.

Spinners Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone and Will Jacks took two wickets each as the Lions posted 412-9, 89 runs behind.

England amassed 501 in just 79 overs on the open ing day. Stand-in captain Ollie Pope scored 146, Zac Crawley 96 and Jacks 84.

And the batters continued to dominate on the second day when Hameed and Haines cashed in on a flat pitch with short boundaries at the Tolerance Oval, against an England attack that included James Ander son and Ollie Robinson.

Anderson claimed the key dismissal of Hameed, trapping him lbw for his only wicket in a spell of 12 overs for 55 runs.

But the spinners regained control for England, although Rehan Ahmed, the 18-year-old leg-spinner who has been called up for the Test tour of Pakistan, provided an entertaining cameo of 26 from 10 balls.

Jofra Archer, who bowled for England for the first time in 16 months on day one, finished the day unbeaten on 39 from 15 balls, including three sixes. (BBC Sport).

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his penalty for Portugal (Photo: Skysports)

Pakistan chased down a target of 342 in the first Test in Galle • AFP/Getty Images

Nottinghamshire's Haseeb Hameed played the last of his 10 Test matches for England against Australia in January

Trinidad, Suriname School teams to feature in KFC Football tournament

THE third KFC Good will School Football Un der-18 tournament will feature two visiting teams, St. Benedict’s College from Trinidad and Tobago and SVB Academy of Surina me, along with defending champions from Guyana, Annai Secondary, Chris tianburg Wismar Second ary, D. C. Caesar Fox Sec ondary, commonly called Waramadong, and Golden Grove Secondary.

According to Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, this tourna ment is a stepping stone to wards developing one mega Caribbean tournament, and he is extremely open to part nering with all stakeholders to achieve such in the near future.

“Our vision clearly re mains to have this event grow into a featured event among the Caribbean coun tries and so we are proud to have an international brand sharing the same vision with us in the KFC franchise”, Mendonca stated at Thurs day’s launch held at KFC Guyana’s Vlissengen Road outlet.

Also speaking at the launch held at KFC Guyana’s Vlissingen Road location, was the Chairman of the National Sports Commis

sion, Kashif Muhammad, who expressed a desire to support the growth of the tournament.

More so, the Ministry of Education is happy to be a partner adding to the rounded development of students.

Marketing Manager, Pa mela Manasseh, expressed that Beharry Restaurant Hold ings through KFC Guyana is thrilled to be a part of this tournament which builds the

life-skills of student-athletes.

The tournament will be staged from December 14-23 at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

However, should the in clement weather continue, the organisers indicated they will use the Guyana Football Federation’s training facility at Providence.

The teams will be divided into two groups of three and each team will face each

other in the group.

Subsequently, the first and second-placed teams from each group will ad vance to the semifinals.

Group A comprises St Benedict’s College, Gold en Grove Secondary, and Waramadong Secondary, while Group B includes Annai Christianburg Wis mar Secondary and SVB Academy.

Chanderpaul boosts Test hopes with Canberra century

SON of a gun Tagenarine Chanderpaul has boosted his chances of a Test debut against Australia by produc ing a hard-fought century against the Prime Minister's XI.

Chanderpaul, son of West Indies great Shivnarine, scored 119 off 293 balls on Thursday to lift his side to 7-234 at stumps on day two of the pinkball match in Canberra.

The PM's XI made 322 in their first innings, leaving the four-day clash delicately balanced.

Chanderpaul was the sec ond-highest run-scorer in West Indies first-class cricket this year, averaging 73.16 while also starring for the country's

Gillingham give Jaguar Harriott fresh start

LONDON, (CMC)

The 28-year-old winger, a free agent since leaving Col chester United in the summer of 2021, has agreed a short-term deal at Gillingham, who are one from bottom in the fourth-tier table.

Harriott, who came up through Charlton’s youth ranks, has won nine caps for the Jaguars

He played 95 times for Charlton from 2011 to 2016 before moving to Reading, where he spent three years.

Harriott then joined Colchester, where he featured 64 times in all competitions over a two-season period.

“I am hoping I can bring that magic in a game and help with goals and assists. I will always work hard; I am not too far away in terms of fitness,” Harriott told the club website.

Harriott was cleared in August of raping a woman by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court.

Harriott said he was “devastated” by the allegation made against him after a night out in Colchester in November 2019 – the same month he scored his first international goal for Guyana in a 4-2 win against Aruba in a CONCACAF Nations League match, having made his debut for the Jaguars against Belize eight months earlier.

The unnamed complainant, a woman in her 20s, claimed she was raped while she slept at Harriott’s former home in Colchester, hours after the pair met in a cocktail bar. Harriott maintained the sex was consensual.

Following the unanimous not guilty verdict after a five-day trial, the footballer issued a statement on social media saying the damage his career had suffered was “irrecoverable”.

“The arrest relied upon baseless allegations which were exposed by a belated and full investigation long before the trial commenced,” said Harriott.

A team.

The 26-year-old's knock against the PM's XI has put his name up in lights ahead of the first NRMA Test against Aus tralia at Perth's Optus Stadium, starting on November 30.

Even before the tour match began, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite backed Chanderpaul to succeed at Test level

The PM's XI added a fur ther 25 runs to their overnight score of 9-297 before Mark Steketee was last man out for 15.

Paceman Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the touring bowlers with 4-65, while spin ner Roston Chase finished with 2-72.

The tourists made a bright start to their innings, moving

to 0-94 following strong ef forts from Chanderpaul and Kraigg Brathwaite (47).

But when Brathwaite chopped on a Steketee deliv ery, it sparked a collapse of 4-44 as West Indies began to wobble

WA paceman Joel Paris found the edge of Nkrumah Bonner's bat to send him pack ing for a duck, before spinner Todd Murphy bowled Devon Thomas and then trapped Kyle Mayers eight overs later.

Chanderpaul held the in nings together, striking 13 fours and one six on the way to posting triple figures.

Murphy (3-27 off 22 overs) and Paris (3-31 off 14.1 overs) were the pick of the bowlers.(AAP)

From left: Communications Officer for Guyana Football Federation, Keeran Williams, Kurt Braithwaite of Unit of Allied Arts, Ministry of Education, KFC Guyana Marketing Manager, Pamela Manasseh, CEO of KFC Guyana, Roger Hay, Jackie Boodie of Petra Organisation, Co-Director of Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Kashif Muhammad (Photo: Adrian Narine)

Tagenarine Chanderpaul celebrates his century against the PMs XI in Canberra. • ( Getty Images)

– Guyana international Callum Harri ott, who said his career had been shattered despite being acquitted three months ago of raping a woman, has joined English League Two strugglers Gillingham.

Guyana international Callum Harriott

Prime Minister Mark Phillips declares IGG 2022 open!

By Calvin Chapman

THE 2022 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) official ly returned last evening following the opening ceremony at the Provi dence National Stadium which was attended by Prime Minister Retd. Brigadier Mark Phillips, Minister of Sport; Charles Ramson Jnr, Director of Sport; Steve Ninvalle and Chairman of the Nation

al Sports Commission; Kashief Muhammad.

The March Past by the three participating nations in French Guiana, Surina me and Guyana was facili tated by the Guyana Police Force band M.S., which provided melodious tunes for the litter of spectators that included the organis ing committee members, officials and athletes.

This year’s IGG is one for the history books al

ready since it is the first instance that there will be nine (9) disciplines con tested at a single games.

Competition gets un derway today with Ath letics, Cycling, Tennis, Volleyball and Football. The event will come to a close on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Prime Minister Mark Phillips posited that, “Our countries are blessed with

highly talented people… Sports brings people to gether and paves the way for cooperation. It teaches team building, mutual re spect and other character building traits… Sport is a language that is understood across cultures. Sport is a vehicle which provides hope that the most daunt ing of challenges can be overcome. It inspires.”

“Regardless of who wins, at the end of the day,

the Guianas, all of us will be winners. I declare open, the Inter Guiana Games, 2022.”

Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport, Ramson, in his speech encouraged the athletes to stay focused and learn from both their wins and losses. He men tioned that a lot of work went into organising the event and he urged the par ticipants to show gratitude by enjoying the event and

being the best that they can be.

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle during his address mentioned that, “The magnitude of IGG 2022 is just a microcosm of what is to come for sport in Guyana. And, the next Inter-Guiana Games will be bigger and better. In the works is a border games, that will see Nickerie competing with Corentyne.”

Richarlison scores stunning volley in Brazil 2-0 win over Serbia

RICHARLISON lit up the World Cup with a moment of Brazilian magic as the tournament favourites over came Serbia’s stubborn resistance to open their campaign with an im pressive 2-0 victory.

Brazil had to play a patient game to break down an organised Ser bia rearguard, but forced the breakthrough after 62 minutes when Tottenham striker Richarlison turned home a close-range finish after Vanja Milinkov ic-Savic saved Vinicius Junior’s effort.

Richarlison’s crown ing moment came 11

minutes later, at first mis-controlling a pass from Vinicius, but read justing brilliantly to take the aerial route and fire home an acrobatic rightfoot finish.

Brazil’s performance made ominous viewing for their rivals, as did the sight of Gabriel Je sus, Antony and Gabriel Martinelli coming off the bench in a powerful show of squad strength, although there was the worrying sight of Neymar going off after taking a knock.

Brazil lay down World Cup marker

Prime Minister Ret’d Brigadier Mark Phillips declared the 2022 IGG open at the Providence National Stadium last evening

Team Guyana with the largest contingent during the March Past last evening (Carl Croker photos)

Richarlison scored this stunning volley in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Serbia