Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 03-12-2022

Guyana earns big from forest preservation

- Hess signs agreement to pay nation a minimum of US$750M for carbon credits

- VP Jagdeo says country could earn more based on market changes

By Tamica Garnett

HESS Corporation on Friday signed an agree ment with Guyana to pay a minimum of US$750 million to purchase 30 per cent of the country’s highquality, REDD+ jurisdic tional carbon credits.

The purchase of car bon credits is an important part of Hess Corporation’s commitment to support global efforts to address climate change and for the oil giant to achieve net zero

greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Guyana has more than 18 million hectares of for ests, storing an estimated 20 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Cognisant of the ben efits of forest resources, Guyana and other develop ing countries have called for compensation for their role in protecting the earth from greenhouse gases emitted mainly by large, industrial countries.

The Architecture for

REDD+ Transactions (ART) had issued the world’s first The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES) credits to Guyana, marking the first time a country has been issued carbon credits specifically designed for the voluntary and compliant carbon markets for success fully preventing forest loss and degradation – a process known as jurisdictional REDD+.

More love, less hate

Bank of Guyana and fea tured a spectacular dis play of Guyanese talent.

In his powerful mes sage, President Ali reit erated that the season of Christmas is a reminder

man beings, to be kind to each other and not allow anyone to fill their hearts with negativity.

- President Ali says at launch of ‘One Guyana’ Christmas Village

Street as different sec tions were prepared for different types of enjoy ment.

the Guyanese artistes displayed left many in astonishment.

By Cindy Parkinson

AS the feeling of nos talgia filled the air on Friday evening at the launch on the ‘One Guyana’ Christmas Village, President Dr. Irfaan Ali reminded Guyanese that they are part of “one family” and ought to live in love and unity.

“Tonight, it is not about a feature address. Tonight, it is about us coming together once

more as one family, a big Guyanese family, cel ebrating who we are, cel ebrating what we stand for, promoting what we stand for, supporting each other,” he said, as the hundreds before him listened attentively.

He informed the gath ering that there was a common trend in all the performances and that was “love and together ness.”

The launch was held on Main Street near the

that people in Guyana have the ability to love, care for, and give to each other.

Dr. Ali asked that all Guyanese use the season as an opportunity to re new themselves and their spirits, to be good hu

“Those who love must love more and those who hate must learn to love,” said President Ali.

President Ali ex pressed his heartfelt grat itude to those who helped make the event a success.

The President invited all Guyanese to walk the entire avenue which stretches to Lamaha

According to the President, some sections are prepared for families and children and there will be a fun park for one week where all Guya nese can come together and look at the different Christmas movies that will be shown.

Meanwhile, the qual ity of performances that

One performer in par ticular moved many per sons to tears. At the end of his performance, Edon Singh received a stand ing ovation.

The differently-abled Charity resident did a rendition of “Mercy Walk In.”

“I chose that song be cause when I was a lit tle boy, I was about to

give up, but then I heard someone sing it and it inspired me to never give up, and never quite be cause of it, I know that Jesus cares for me and died for me,” Edon told the Guyana Chronicle.

“I got my strength from God and I know that there are more kids in the world like me and I want to inspire them to never give up,” he added.

The brave young man also took the opportunity to thank the President Ali, for inviting him to perform at the event.

The First Lady, Arya Ali, and the na tion’s First Son Zayd , along with Prime Min ister (Ret’d), Brigadier Mark Phillips and his wife Mignon BowenPhillips; the Minister of Tourism, Oneidge Walrond; the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., other ministers and dignitaries were also in attendance.

President Ali with children at the ‘One Guyana’ Christmas Village (Elvin Croker photos)

Edon Singh during his performance

The First Family

Guyana earns big from forest preservation

- Hess signs agreement to pay nation a minimum of US$750M for carbon credits

- VP Jagdeo says country could earn more based on market changes

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.”

GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

The President commend ed Hess for exercising great responsibility in being part

became the first country to be certified under ART TREE climate change framework. This has not happened by accident, it took hard work, long hours and strong com mitment. Our commitment

would allow us to share those upside benefits,” Vice-Presi dent Jagdeo said.

He added: “There is a deep sense of satisfaction to see how far we have come as a country, from the early days when a lot of discussions took place about the role of forests as a potential [climate change] mitigation.”

Research has shown that deforestation of tropical for ests accounts for approxi

solutions. We said these for ests have a value and that value must be recognised by the rest of the world. We came up with a figure and we said this figure is what it will take to outcompete alterna tive use of the forest,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

By Tamica Garnett

HESS Corporation on Fri day signed an agreement with Guyana to pay a mini mum of US$750 million to purchase 30 per cent of the country’s high-quality, REDD+ jurisdictional car bon credits.

The purchase of carbon credits is an important part of Hess Corporation’s com mitment to support global efforts to address climate change and for the oil giant to achieve net zero green house gas emissions by 2050.

Guyana has more than 18 million hectares of forests, storing an estimated 20 bil lion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Cognisant of the benefits of forest resources, Guy ana and other developing countries have called for compensation for their role in protecting the earth from greenhouse gases emitted mainly by large, industrial countries.

The Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) had issued the world’s first The REDD+ Environmen tal Excellence Standard (TREES) credits to Guy ana, marking the first time a country has been issued car bon credits specifically de signed for the voluntary and compliant carbon markets for successfully preventing forest loss and degradation – a process known as juris dictional REDD+.

“Following completion of an independent validation and verification process and approval by the ART Board

of Directors, ART has issued 33.47 million TREES credits to Guyana for the five-year period from 2016 to 2020,” ART said in a press release.

Guyana on Friday se cured its first sale of carbon credits, marking the culmina tion of a far-reaching vision, which was initially outlined in 2007 by then President, now Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who lob bied for financing for climate services. His vision led to the creation of the first Low Car bon Development Strategy.

The signing of the mile stone agreement between Hess and Guyana for carbon credits, took place at State House, where President, Dr Irfaan Ali was joined by Vice-President Jagdeo and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess.

Hess signed on behalf of his corporation, while Per manent Secretary of the Of fice of the President, Abena Moore, signed on behalf of Guyana.

“Today’s announcement is not only bold and innova tive, but is also part of Guy ana demonstrating leader ship on a very critical and important issue. Developing counties have the capacity to present solutions to global problems,” Dr Ali said at the signing ceremony.

He added: “This is a very historic day for Guyana, for Hess and more important for forested countries. The importance of the forest and their significance in the fight against climate change has consistently been champi oned by Guyana and our

of the solution for climate change, through climate fi nancing that ensures the preservation of forests.

Hess referred to the con tract as a landmark agree ment, crediting it to the hard work of the Vice President and President.

“Guyana is one of the most heavily forested coun tries in the world. We admire the efforts that Guyana has undertaken for years to pro tect the country’s forest, and the government’s constant efforts to combat climate change and provide a strong model for other countries, other businesses and o ther governments. We are pleased to support the country’s ef fort,” Hess said.

The historic multi-year agreement is for 37.5 mil lion REDD+ jurisdictional carbon credits, current and future issuances. ART issued 33.47 million TREES credits to Guyana for the five-year period from 2016 to 2020. Hess is purchasing 30 per cent of this.

Guyana is the first to complete the ART process for generating high-integrity, Paris Agreement-aligned car bon credits that will allow the country to access marketbased finance to continue to implement forest-steward ship strategies.

“The fact [is] that Guyana

to climate change and pro tecting the forest is the main tool to work against climate change,” the President said.

The serialised credits, listed on ART’s public reg istry, are available to buyers on the global carbon market, including for use by airlines for compliance with the In ternational Civil Aviation Organization’s global emis sion-reduction programme, CORSIA, as well as for use toward voluntary corporate climate commitments.

THE LEAST AMOUNT

While the least amount Guyana anticipates receiv ing from Hess is the US$750 million, the country could see itself receiving more money if the price of carbon credits rises on the global market.

“Just to put things in per spective, we’re selling 30 per cent of the credits available to Guyana over the period 2016 to 2030 for a minimum of $750 million; that’s a floor.

“Why do we say mini mum? Because based on parameters established in the agreement, should there be movement in prices, we will share 60 per cent of the upside in movement of those prices. So, we anticipate the market to grow, the value of credit to grow in the future years and the agreement that we’re signing with Hess

mately 20 per cent of global annual greenhouse gas emis sions. Understanding this, for years, Dr Jagdeo had campaigned for emphasis to be placed on tackling the emission that came from deforestation with the same global attention being given to mitigation efforts against other sources of emissions, and for it to be followed up with adequate financial mechanisms to ensure that it is viable.

“We pointed out that only [a] jurisdictional scale model could deliver lasting bene fits, while the world were en amoured with project-based

Guyana first tested this model when it inked an agreement with Norway in 2009 for a forest-protection deal between the two coun tries.

“It has been a long walk coming over 15 years; this is why we are so pleased today, we are evolving closer to the compliance market,” Dr Jagdeo noted.

Guyana’s completion of the ART process paves the way for other govern ments, which are looking to receive carbon-market financing for success in protecting and restoring its forests. Currently, 14 other countries and large sub-national jurisdictions are working towards their own issuances of TREES credits.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess

GECOM’s Enrique Livan’s deceptive moves included switching laptops – CoI hears

THOUGH he was quick and slick, then Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employee En rique Livan was stopped short in his tracks by those who kept a keen eye on the tabulation and verification processes as attempts were made to steal the 2020 elections.

The story of Livan and his role in the botched at tempt to hijack the General and Regional Elections of March 2020 were high lighted again on Thurs day before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

This time, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj presented videos of events shortly after Livan left the tabulation room at the Ash min’s Building. These and other videos were accepted into evidence as Gunraj appeared before the CoI for the second consecutive day.

Those who have been following the hearings of the CoI may recall that sev eral witnesses spoke about Livan’s actions.

He was the GECOM employee who left the tab ulation room armed with a laptop and flash drive after claiming he was tired.

One of the videos pre sented to the commission captured what transpired soon after the incident. The police were called in and many persons were seen in the presence of Livan ex plaining what had occurred to a police officer.

Accusations were made about Livan’s conduct and he tried to defend himself.

Party agents were heard telling the police that they asked Livan to leave the computer in the tabulation room in the sight of every one; but he refused.

Then presidential can didate of the Liberty and

Justice Party (LJP), Lennox Shuman, reported that he was having trouble verify ing that the laptop with which Livan returned was the same laptop he picked up when leaving the tabula tion room.

But a People’s Progres sive Party/Civic (PPP/C) representative, identified by Gunraj as Anesha Mo hamed, was more defini tive in her report to the police. Mohammed spoke with certainty that a switch had occurred. She told the police that she had taken a photo of Livan before he decided to leave the tabula

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

tion room.

Mohammed presented that photo to the police officer showing him that the black laptop captured in that photo was branded, “Dell.” But the laptop with which Livan returned was an Acer. The computers were the same colour and indeed looked similar, but were branded differently.

Despite the photo, Li van maintained that it was the same computer. He affirmed that he was not

guilty of any misconduct and left the tabulation room only because he was tired.

Persons were heard shouting in response, “but we have pictures, why are you lying?”

Gunraj was asked whether GECOM com missioners ever launched an inquiry into Livan’s conduct. He responded in the negative.

CoI hearings continue on Monday.

Over US$112M from sale of carbon credits to go to Amerindian communities

AMERINDIAN commu nities in Guyana are set to receive at least US$112 out of the US$750 mil lion that Guyana stands to receive from the sale of carbon credits to Hess Corporation.

dian communities from this deal alone will get $112 million. This is at a minimum because we anticipate that the market will move. This is crucial for us. I want to thank Hess Corporation for this

government has already been responding to those requests, the additional resources will go a far way in ensuring that the communities can achieve all that they need.

“Our government has

tant part of Hess Corpo ration’s commitment to support global efforts to address climate change and for the oil giant to achieve net-zero green house gas emissions by 2050. Guyana has more than 18 million hectares of forests, storing an esti mated 20 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

It was announced that the multi-year agreement with Hess is for 37.5 mil lion REDD+ jurisdictional carbon credits.

These credits will be included in the REDD+ Environmental Excel lence Standard 2.0 reg ister maintained by ART

(Architecture for REDD+ Transactions) and will undergo independent veri fication.

Guyana is the first to complete the ART process for generating high-in tegrity, Paris Agreementaligned carbon credits that will allow the country to access market-based finance to continue to implement forest-steward ship strategies.

The signing of the agreement, on Friday, marked the culmina tion of a far-reaching vi sion which was initiated in 2007 by then Presi dent, now Vice-President Jagdeo, who had lobbied

for financing for climate services. This had led to the creation of the first Low Carbon Develop ment Strategy in 2009.

The government’s commitment to allocate the funds to the indig enous communities was announced by Vice-Pres ident, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, in his remarks at the sign ing of the milestone agree ment between Guyana and Hess.

“Fifteen per cent of all proceeds from any sale of carbon credits will go to Amerindian communities. All communities, forested and non-forested, will benefit in an equitable manner,” the Vice-Presi dent declared.

He added: “Amerin

agreement. It is clearly transformative and moves us closer to the objectives that we were working on.”

In an invited comment, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, said that the significant funds essentially mean more development in the Amerindian communities across Guyana.

She noted that at the last National Toshaos Council (NTC) Confer ence in July, several of the Amerindian leaders had outlined a number of areas where investment is needed, and while the

ensured from the very beginning, that the indig enous population would be involved and benefit ting. I’m sure the Amerin dian community is elated. Today, with the signing, it is clear that our consulta tion with the Amerindian community bore fruit,” Sukhai said.

The purchase of the carbon credit is an impor

Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

Amerindians will benefit greatly from the sale of carbon credits

Compensation For Preservation

GUYANA’S Low Carbon Development Strat egy (LCDS) 2030 out lines a comprehensive policy for sustainable development in the dec ade through 2030.

It builds on the first LCDS which was launched by former Presi dent, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo in 2009.

The material aspects of the aforementioned vision were realized on Friday when President, Dr Irfaan Ali, announced that the Hess Corporation will pay Guyana US$750M for saving the rainforest through a special carboncredits scheme.

A carbon credit is a generic term for any trad able certificate or permit representing the right to emit a set amount of car bon dioxide or the equiva lent amount of a different greenhouse gas, which can be traded if the full

allowance is not used.

Hess will buy 2.5 mil lion carbon credits annu ally, covering 2016-2030.

The US$750 million payment is the minimum amount the country is expected to receive from Hess because if carbon credits increase on the international market, Guy ana will earn more.

During the recently concluded United Nations’ Conference of the Parties (CoPs) 27 in Egypt, Presi dent Ali noted: “With an estimated storage of 19.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, the economic value of the ecosystem services which our forests alone provide have been estimated at between US$40 to 54 bil lion annually.”

The LCDS 2030 aims at harnessing Guyana’s unique advantages to create a new low-carbon economy, built on the

platform provided by the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System (MRVS) and other areas of enhanced capacity in Guyana.

The LCDS will also support a programme in volving government, civil society, private sector, and Indigenous Peoples and local communities in advancing research and development in ecosystem services and functions, as well as localised commu nity-level development.

Since 2009, Guyana also ratified the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement under which 197 countries — including Guyana — agreed to pursue develop ment pathways that are aligned with stabilising global temperatures at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Guyana became the first country to get spe cial carbon credits issued

to it by the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART).

ART is a global initia tive that seeks to incentiv ize governments to reduce emissions from deforesta tion and forest degrada tion (REDD), as well as restore forests and protect intact forests.

Global well-being continues to be damaged by climate change, in cluding in Guyana where extreme weather events are destroying liveli hoods and damaging the economy. Early 2021 saw catastrophic flooding, the social and economic dam age is likely comparable to the 2005 flood which affected close to 37 per cent of the population and caused economic damage equivalent to 60 per cent of GDP. The hinterland also experiences drought conditions, including a very serious episode in

2015.

The government in tends to create an eco systems economy which balances the following: low-impact mining and forestry to enhance em ployment and incomegeneration opportunities; forest- climate services through which the value provided by Guyana’s forests to the world is recognised; Guyana’s next generation of eco system services such as water management, and biodiversity protection. Protected Areas will be expanded, and partners will be sought for the International Centre for Biodiversity Research.

Working with local and international partners, including the University of Guyana, the LCDS will support the establish ment of an International Centre for Biodiversity Research (and potentially

expanded ecosystem ser vices). This centre will connect research work at national and local levels, and provide networking facilitation.

Despite its modest size, Guyana boasts glob ally extraordinary levels of biodiversity. The coun try is home to more than 900 species of birds, 625 strictly freshwater fishes, 250 mammals, 250 am phibians, and 210 reptiles, for a grand total of at least 2,285 vertebrates.

The government has set out to ensure that these resources are val ued, conserved, man aged and appropriately leveraged for social, economic and environ mental benefits at the national level whilst meeting international obligations. This is in tended to be articulated through the expanded LCDS.

I WRITE with reference to letters to the editor by Dr André Brändli

concerning turnout in the 2020 national and regional elections. Bran dli’s central claim is that the 2020 turnout is unusually high, namely “17.44 per cent higher than the long-term av erage of 74.02 per cent” with calculations start ing in 1992 (Kaieteur News 2/12/2022).

Editor, if I may, I think Dr Brändli should be ask ing the APNU+AFC these

questions since they were in office when the elec tions took place. In do ing so, he may also want to first contact Registrar General, Raymon Cum mings, who noted that the APNU+AFC had ordered 100,000 birth certificates through the Ministry of the Presidency (now Of fice of the President).

This highly unusual and suspect order became known in the Auditor General’s Report 2021. It may interest Dr Brandli that the birth certificates were procured via the

single-source method.

To boot, for the 2020 elections, the Chief Elec tions Officer of the Guy ana Elections Commis sion (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield and his depu ty, Roxanne Myers, were both highly sympathetic to the APNU+AFC. Their conduct during the 2020 elections is fully known and further evidence of attempts at electoral wrongdoing continue to emerge at the CoI cur rently underway.

Dr Brändli suggests that biometric voter iden

tification be put in place for the 2025 national elec tions. On the surface, that is fine, except, given the record of the PNC and APNU+AFC, efforts at strengthening the elec toral process can, and has backfired as happened in 1997.

Justice Claudette Sin gh back in January, 2001, had ruled that “Act 22 of 1997, which amended the electoral law to make ID cards the only voting prerequisite, had breached several statutes in the Constitution” (Guyana

Chronicle 29/11/2020).

This was even though all the parties had agreed to the ID card.

She ruled that “Act 22/97 is ultra vires, null and void Articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution, and that the 1997 elec tions were not conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Repre sentation of the People Act (ROPA) Chapter 1:03 and articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution and therefore vitiated” (Ibid).

Dr Brändli might find it helpful to review

the ways in which Mr Khemraj Ramjattan of the APNU+AFC used the January 2001 ruling by Justice Singh to play games with the 2020 Na tional Recount.

While biometrics ID voting procedures may very well work in other parts of the world, there is a high probability that if used, the APNU and or AFC might claim that it is unconstitutional, but this, only if they lose.

Yours sincerely Dr Randolph Per saud

Dear Editor

OP-ED: Consolidating the role of agriculture on the road to COP28

By Manuel Otero, Director General of the Inter-Amer ican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)

ALTHOUGH it may be difficult to make a concise and conclusive assessment of the results of the recent Conference of the Par ties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP27, it is possible to pinpoint partial advances and to make projections for the future.

Globally, the most press ing concern is the slow pro gress of negotiations on how to gradually eliminate fossil fuels, which are considered the major obstacle to achiev ing the objective of limiting global warming to 1.5 per cent above pre-industrial levels. The current geopoliti cal situation has contributed to this lack of progress and the failure to include any concept on renewable en ergy.

In contrast, headway was made in the area of financ ing, given the creation of a loss and damage fund to tackle the effects of climate change, particularly in the most vulnerable countries— a very important step for Latin America and the Car ibbean—and a change in the prevailing position that maintained that the current climate financing structure could adequately address these problems.

The operational modali ties of the fund are yet to be defined, including its size and the source of the funding—which will be determined in 2023—but the decisions mark a signifi cant change and a response, albeit partial, to the increas ingly frequent destructive climate events and their im pact on the most vulnerable countries.

The final text of the dec laration stressed the need for international institutions to play an integral role in the global climate change fight, a critical matter, given the magnitude of these in stitutions and their capac ity to transform the global economy.

For the first time, the cover decision referred to the need for specific ac tions on oceans, forests and agriculture, while linking the latter to food security, as a fundamental priority to

achieving the SDGs, par ticularly with respect to eliminating hunger.

Likewise, it was deter mined that a joint working group on the implementa tion of climate action on agriculture and food secu rity must be established to ensure the continuation of previous activities related to agriculture, while adopting a holistic approach in terms of this sector’s relationship to food security and promoting the participation of the UN and other relevant bodies, academia, the private sector and civil society, including farmer organisations.

The group will have to report to COP in 2026 and to the different bodies of the Convention on its delibera tions and proposals.

This marks a significant step forward, as previous COP meetings had never made reference to agricul ture nor food. Nonetheless,

food systems—the key issue of the UN Food Systems Summit 2021—were still not included and there was no in-depth discussion on how agriculture could con tribute to mitigation efforts, in particular its capacity to serve as a carbon sink.

From the perspective of the Americas, our region, major opportunities are opening up for agriculture to play a role in sustainable development strategies. The wealth of natural resources that are the basis of our agriculture sector and its importance in international markets make it a strategic component of the world’s food, nutritional and envi ronmental security.

The challenge is to con vey this vision at the nego tiation table, incorporating empirical evidence on our highly efficient and sus tainable agriculture sector, which far from being part of

the problem, is clearly part of the solution. More impor tantly, we must consolidate the view in our countries that only sustainable and inclusive production strate gies are permissible for the future.

We have made signifi cant strides in this area, for example, with the prepara tion of a consensus message by the ministers of Agricul ture of the Americas ahead of COP27, emphasizing the importance of agriculture as an instrument in climate change mitigation and ad aptation, and its vital contri bution to the economic and social improvement of our societies.

In this message, the re gion committed to improv ing the presence of ministers and secretaries of Agricul ture and Livestock of the Americas in national, hemi spheric and global climate discussions.

This commitment began to materialise with the at tendance of ministers and secretaries of the Americas at COP in Sharm-el Sheik and their participation in the activities undertaken at the Home of Sustainable Agriculture of the Americas pavilion, which the InterAmerican Institute for Co operation on Agriculture (IICA) installed at the Sum mit, along with 40 public and private sector partners, under the slogan “Feeding the World, Nurturing the Planet”.

We must now transform this general consensus into a work plan with specific actions.

The roadmap seems clear: sustainable agriculture—based on science and innovation and led by farmers—must be part of the solution to the prob lems impeding human de velopment.

Gov’t ‘wholeheartedly committed’ to enhancing opportunities for PWDs

to enhancing opportunities for the disabled,” he was quoted as saying.

The senior government official posited that greater opportunities must be given to PWDs.

- PM Phillips says at launch of first National Youth with Disabilities Conference

are considered vulnerable, including young people with disabilities.

Mark Phillips on Friday re minded persons with disabilities (PWDs) of the government’s com mitment to providing equal access to avenues for them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

He made this remark while delivering the fea ture address at the inau gural launch of the Na tional Youth with Disabili ties Conference, which was held at the Arthur

According to the De partment of Public Infor mation (DPI), he stated that a “great future awaits us all in Guyana” and that future must be predicated on re spect for all Guyanese.

“That future will be re alised through the inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities….Provid ing greater opportunities forms part of the coun try’s national development agenda. The government is wholeheartedly committed

“Our government rec ognises the challenges of youths with disabilities. The United Nations re minds us that disabled young people are a mar ginalised group. We are committed, as a govern ment, to providing greater opportunities for our young people. This is why we are supportive of the efforts which continue to be made by international and local organisations in respond ing to the needs of disabled youth,” he added.

Expanding further, he said that the government wants all Guyanese to be come part of this grand mission of uniting our country.

He noted that the ‘One Guyana’ initiative seeks to include groups and seg ments of our society that

“We want to see our youth with disabilities seiz ing more of the opportuni ties available in our econ omy and those which will soon become available… This is how we will build a

strong, prosperous, united and more democratic Guy ana, one in which no one will be left behind,” he said, according to the DPI.

The event was hosted by the Guyana Coun cil of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities under the umbrella of the

United States Agency for International Develop ment (USAID), the Inter national Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the Youth Advocacy, Linkages, Leadership in Elections and Soci ety (Youth ALLIES) Pro gramme.

Marine, oil and gas training added to GOAL programme

IN an effort to support the development of Guy ana’s expanding maritime and offshore industries, AA Maritime and Offshore Training Institute (AAMO TI) and the government are partnering to offer special ised technical training and educational opportunities in those industries to Guya nese.

A release from the in stitute said that through the Guyana Online Academy Learning (GOAL), Guyanese

can, for the first time in the country’s history, pursue a career in marine cadetship

locally.

The three-year pro gramme, which is accredited

by the Maritime Administra tion Department (MARAD) and the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), will allow locals to become internation ally-licensed Cadet Officers upon successful completion.

Prospective students can choose their specialisation to either become an Officer in Charge of Navigation Watch or Officer in Charge of Engine Watch (Engineer ing) – both of which require two years in-class teaching and at least one year on board

a seagoing vessel.

Prospective students can also pursue a career as an Electro-Technical Officer which is a four-month cer tificate programme.

“This is us responding to the call by the government to ensure we are prepared to benefit from the opportuni ties in our bourgeoning oil and gas and maritime sectors. We invested in this with the aim of developing our human resource capacity to respond to needs of the country,” Managing Director, Asif Ha mid was quoted as saying.

He said that AAMOTI also continues to develop its workforce to deliver high quality service to all stake holders and is committed to attracting the highest calibre of professionals who can make a difference in the school and the lives of its students.

Young and aspiring can didates between the ages of

17-25 with five Caribbean Secondary Education Certifi cate (CSEC) subjects can ap ply for the program through GOAL before January 15, 2023, the release said.

“Successful candidates will have enormous oppor tunities to build their career in the maritime industry, en hance interpersonal skills, es tablish professional networks and expand on career goals,” Captain Hassan Fouda, Presi dent of AAMOTI related.

He added that the pro gramme is a new and ex citing one which exposes Guyanese to a relatively new industry with enormous potential to transform the country.

“GOAL is an initiative launched by the Govern ment of Guyana to provide 20,000 online scholarships to Guyanese to pursue ter tiary level programs via partnerships with reputa ble universities,” the re lease added.

PRIME MINISTER, Brigadier (Ret’d)

Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips addresses attendees (DPI photos)

Persons with disabilities were on Friday assured of government’s commitment to providing them with opportunities

A virtual reality demonstration (AAMOTI photo)

84 Bare Root residents receive land titles

Housing had to come back on ground to re-verify some of the lots here and there were a lot of work that had to be done just in that short period of time,” the minister added.

The minister told the gathering that a team will be returning to community to allocate house lots to several young people.

SOME 84 residents of Bare Root, a community located aback Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Fri day, received certificates of title to their lands.

Additionally, it was announced that several young professionals in the area will soon be allocated house lots.

For decades, the resi dents have occupied land in the community without any formal proof of own ership. During surveys done in 2004, 2009 and 2017, some discrepancies were discovered. Some were rectified during a survey in June 2022.

Sheldon Younge, one of the first residents to re ceive his ownership docu ment, told the Guyana Chronicle that he has been waiting for decades to re ceive his title.

“This make I feel real good. I been waiting a long time, couple well years,” he said.

The man explained that there was a previous mix up with his document which saw the incorrect name being placed on his documents.

He noted that this took years to be sorted; how ever, now that he has re ceived his title, he will consider some doing a small expansion either to his house, or the small shop he operates in the lower flat of his property.

“Well when my wife come home, we will de cide what we gone do,” an excited Younge said.

Meanwhile, an elderly resident, Anita Scott, told

this publication that she feels “at peace” to know that she has something to leave behind for her chil dren and grandchildren.

“It feels good you know. I am a grandmother and it feels nice that I have something that I can leave for them,” she added.

Minister within the Housing and Water Min istry, Susan Rodrigues, who led the distribution exercise, noted that while the goal was to deliver over 300 titles, there were several discrepancies and unique situations which will take some time to sort out. She reassured the residents that those will be sorted.

“We had complicated cases. We had cases where the officers from Central

“We are doing our part. We want to ensure that we uplift all the citizens of our country and friends…we don’t make empty prom ises. When we come to communities, we look you in the eye, we come in your presence, we come amongst you and we make a commitment to you. We respect you and we respect the commitment that we make,” Minister Rodri gues said.

Further, the minister reiterated the PPP/C Gov ernment’s commitment to ensuring that every adult Guyanese has access to a piece of land, along with the accompanying titles.

“There’s still a lot more to be done and I hope this demonstrates to you…our process and our commit

ment to this community.”

As part of the national housing programme, gov ernment will ensure that residents in every com munity have access to basic necessities such as roads and bridges, drain age, water, electricity and recreational facilities.

Six roads will be up graded in the community to the tune of $407 mil lion. Tenders are out for the project and works will commence by year-end.

Further, a US$7.8 mil lion water-treatment plant will be constructed in Bachelor’s Adventure. The water-treatment plant will serve communities from Coldingen to Nabaclis,

East Coast Demerara. This project is also at the tendering stage and once completed, it will see a significant increase in water quality in the identified areas.

An elated Sheldon Younge receives his certificate of title from Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues (Adrian Narine photo)

- several young professionals to get house lots

Bare Root residents turned out in their numbers to collect their certificates of title (Ministry of Housing and Water photo)

Lance Corporal Maria Sutherland

First female soldier selected for course in India

LANCE Corporal Maria Sutherland will depart Guyana on Sunday for In dia where she will attend the Army Service Corps Centre and College in Bengaluru as a student of the Junior Commissioned Officer Supply, Transport, Mechanic, and Leadership course.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said in a Fa cebook post that she is the first female rank to pursue studies in India.

Her studies will com

mence on December 7, 2022, and conclude on Jan uary 27, 2023.

According to the GDF, her selection for the course was done with the aim of improving her day-to-day productivity as store per sonnel.

Lance Corporal Maria Sutherland was on Friday encouraged by Colonel Omar Khan to be a good ambassador for the Guy ana Defence Force and by extension her country, and to make the best use of the

opportunity afforded her.

The two interacted in the presence of Staff Officer One General Five- Future Plans and Strategy, Major Jaime Castello; Procure ment Officer, Lieutenant Brandi Johnson, and De fence Headquarters Reg imental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class One, Carlyn Dover.

Colonel Khan, who is performing the functions of Chief of Staff, thanked the soldier for her service to date and for accepting the

opportunity to embark on the training, particularly at this time of the year.

He further assured the soldier of the force’s full support and said he was looking forward to her fu ture contributions to her unit.

Lance Corporal Sutherland is excited to embark on her training and is even more elated to be the first female sol dier who will embark on studies in India, the GDF said.

Princess Street granny killed during alleged dispute with nephew

THE police are investigat ing the murder of 75-yearold Audrey Harris, whose lifeless body was found at her Lot 11 Princess Street, Georgetown home, on Fri day morning.

According to a police re lease, the woman’s 50-yearold nephew who resides at the same address is suspect ed of stabbing her to death during an argument.

Harris lived with her reputed husband, Laurence

Hayde, a 50-year-old la bourer and the suspect in a two-storey wooden and concrete structure located in a fenced yard.

The suspect occupied the lower flat.

On Friday, at approxi mated 07:00hrs, the wom an’s reputed husband left home for work. The elderly and the suspect were in the home.

The victim’s sister, Lois Byass, who is the victim’s

42-year-old niece, told investigators that around 09:00hrs while on her way to work, she received a phone call from the elderly woman’s neighbour stating that she heard the woman screaming.

“Byass then told the neighbour to go over and check on her, and the neigh bour said that she saw Audrey Harris lying motion lessly in the yard. Byass said she rushed to the scene and,

on arrival, observed that her aunt was lying motionlessly on the ground in her yard on the western side of her house in a pool of blood. She then reported the matter to the police,” the release stated.

The investigation re vealed that the suspect and the victim had an argument because she had wanted him to leave the home, but he refused.

Information also re vealed that the suspect is

“mentally ill”, and during the argument, he armed him self with a knife and dealt the victim two stabs to both sides of her neck.

At the time the victim was reportedly armed with a hammer.

The woman then fell to the ground and the suspect was seen running from the yard.

The woman’s body was later found lying facing downward, clad in a blue

and white night dress. A hammer was found under the victim, the release added.

The victim was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pro nounced dead on arrival. The body was then taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Parlour and is awaiting a post-mortem.

The police are cur rently on the hunt for the suspect as an investigation continues.

Region Six farmers, agro-processors get timely capacity-building boost

FOLLOWING several engagements between the Ministry of Agricul ture and the Agriculture Sub-Committee of the

spearheaded by Chairman Brian Edwards, met with the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, in Sep tember, to explore ways in

farmers, especially women and youth.

According to the re lease, the minister had im plored that such an initia

tonomous agencies entered into a collaborative partner ship to deliver awareness and training programmes to farmers, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies.

Stakeholder businesses included the Inter-Amer ican Institute for Cor poration on Agriculture (ICCA), Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), Guyana Food Safety Au thority (GFSA), Institute of Private Enterprise De velopment (IPED), Small Business Bureau (SBB), World University Service of Canada (WUSC), and Empower Guyana, the re lease stated.

aging them to use climatesmart technology such as micronutrients to boost production, improve yield and the quality of their produce which would ul timately lead to improved income.

The release added that farmers were also urged to treat agriculture as a business so that “they can produce to sell rather than selling what they produce as this will help them to access local and eventually overseas markets.”

Crabwood Creek.

“GCCI recognises agri culture as one of the most important productive sec tors in Guyana’s economy,” the release said.

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), over 100 Region

Six farmers have benefit ted from training that will help boost their produc tion and increase income.

According to a GCCI press release issued on Friday, its sub-committee,

which they could collabo rate for Agriculture Month.

The engagement re sulted in Minister Zulfikar pledging his ministry’s support to the GCCI subcommittee and its part ners to conduct a series of awareness and training workshops focusing on

tive must continue beyond Agriculture Month and should target the various farming communities through out Guyana.

Consequently, a team comprising of representa tives from private sector organisations and semi-au

The initiative was launched in Regions Six and Four. The sessions that were held focused on key areas, to help farmers, women, and youth build their capacity by encour

It was further stated that information on ac cess to financing, business function, good agricul tural practices, under standing and honoring contractual obligations, and access to incubator services were also pre sented to producers in Al bion, East Bank Berbice, Black Bush Polder, and

GCCI used the opportu nity to pledge its commit ment to continue its work in creating an enabling environment for farmers so as to ensure they are readily prepared for the economic boom that is anticipated in Guyana’s production sector as well as to contribute to the reduction of the food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

“The committee has since completed the first round of workshops in Region Six reaching a total of 115 farmers and agro-processors. The committee plans to ex pand to Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, and 10 in 2023.”

A 37-year-old housewife appeared at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court on Friday charged for the murder of her elderly aunt and was remanded to prison by Magistrate Peter Hugh.

Roshanie Basdeo called “Mama,” of Lot 84 D Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice, was not required to plead to the capital offence which alleged that she murdered 85-year-old Sumintra Sawh called “Auntie Betty” on November 28.

She will make her second court appearance on Decem ber 14.

Sawh’s lifeless body was found in a pool of blood with multiple injuries at her Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice residence.

The woman resided alone but her niece would usually spend the night at her home.

Following the discov

ery, Basdeo told detectives that two men armed with knives committed the act and robbed the woman of $350,000.

She claimed that during the attack she also received injuries.

However, she subse quently retracted her story and reportedly said that she had planned the attack. She implicated 48-year-old Mo hammed Ramzan Shaheed and a wanted bulletin has been issued for him.

As the investigation continued, the woman then reportedly confessed to com mitting the act by herself and using a razor blade to cut her hand and neck after her aunt had accused her of stealing the money.

Meanwhile, a postmortem revealed that the woman died as a result of multiple injuries including asphyxia and aspiration of blood in airway, shock and haemorrhage, a frac tured skull, and seven stab wounds to her head and face.

Roshanie Basdeo shortly after her court appearance

One of the recently held workshops (GCCI photo)

Rupununi Bird Festival to return in 2023

AFTER a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pan demic and unprecedented weather conditions, the Rupununi Bird Festival is scheduled to make a grand return in 2023.

This is according to Mel anie McTurk, Visit Rupunu ni’s President and proprietor of the Karanambu Lodge where the event was held annually.

“We usually host a bird festival that is open to kids from across the region where we encourage them, we teach them about bird conservation and habitat protection… well, sadly this year, the wa ter level didn’t cooperate,” McTurk recently told the Guyana Chronicle.

The event was held in celebration of World Migra tory Bird Day and was a

in the weather, we’ve been challenged the last two years in hosting the bird festival. So, my staff and I have been discussing maybe putting it at a different time of year when the weather would be

er conditions changing all the time to stick to a particular day,” McTurk added.

Karanambu is situated where the north savannah grassland, swamp and flood forest meet on the Rupununi River.

From Karanambu, vast horse flats stretch north and west towards the Pakaraima Mountains and into Brazil.

During the dry seasons, according to McTurk, nu merous birds can be seen along the river.

Currently over 800 spe cies of birds have been iden tified in the Rupununi re gion.

As it relates to other wildlife, some of Amazonia’s most endangered species, such as the giant river otter, black caiman and the majes tic bushy giant anteater, can also be spotted.

highly anticipated activity for both locals and tourists.

The day is commemo rated during May or October. However, due to Guyana’s current weather conditions, the event will have to be held during a different period.

“Because of the shift

more cooperative, because this is the second time we’ve had challenges because of the weather,” she said.

“Originally when we started it, we wanted to host it on World Migratory Bird Day. But again, it became very difficult with the weath

To this end, McTurk re minded that there is no need to be afraid of wildlife.

“A lot of people for get that wild animals are more afraid of humans than humans are of wild animals. And, if given the choice, most wild animals will avoid us,” she added.

A Capuchinbird at a lake near the Karanambu Lodge, North Rupununi (Photo courtesy of Kester Clarke)

Melanie McTurk, Visit Rupunnuni’s President and proprietor of the Karanambu Lodge (Delano Williams photo)

The Rupununi River (Delano Williams photo)

China donates $4M to national relief effort

THE People’s Republic of China recently donated $4 million to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to aid in the National Disaster Relief Effort.

The funds were then used to purchase long boots and large quantities of food sup plies that will bolster food hampers that are packed and dispatched by the Commis sion, a CDC release stated.

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, on Friday visited the CDC

Headquarters to officiate the handover.

According to the release, the Ambassador indicated that the People’s Republic of China recognises the need to invest in disaster relief and management worldwide, since it has vast experience in managing different types of large-scale disasters.

She also pledged her gov ernment’s commitment to as sisting Guyana continuously.

Meanwhile, Director General of the CDC, Colo

nel (Ret’d) Nazrul Hussain, expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana for the relief supplies, and ac knowledged its importance in carrying out the mandate of the CDC during disaster operations.

The CDC, through the Government of Guyana, continues to work with other nations to strengthen disaster resilience and re sponse, the release added.

GTT offering new prepaid social data plans

AS it strives to improve the mobile services it offers, the Guyana Telephone and Tel egraph Company (GTT), on Friday, announced that its customers can now ac cess new prepaid social data plans that are both unlimited and affordable.

During a launch of the new mobile plans at the com pany’s branch at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, head of mobile services, Randall Emerson Hewitt, said the new additions will give customers better access to the internet and social media at an affordable cost.

“Everything is available today. It is tested, it’s great value and these are not a pro motion. These are our new every year plans that we’ve offered to the Guyanese GTT marketplace,” he added.

With the new prepaid bundle plans, customers can access unlimited social mes saging for as low as $400.

To access more informa

tion or to activate one of the bundles, customers can dial *100*2#.

Meanwhile, Hewitt in formed that GTT will have special offers for its custom ers during the Christmas season.

“We have got great offers this Christmas. Spend your money with us and get your self a GTT service and then enjoy great value that we

give day in day out, month in month out for you,” he said.

Additionally, special roaming plans will be offered to the business community.

“We have new plans for the business community, which we’ve already started selling. Our account reps have been contacting their customers and we have been converting people,” Hewitt said.

“One of the big things for business is the plans. They will be able to use their allowances when they are roaming in the US, Eastern Caribbean, Panama, Trinidad [and] Barbados. The minutes will be used in those jurisdic tions as well,” he explained.

Hewitt added that there will be no need for the pur chase of roaming bundles.

“You don’t have to wor ry about your bill when you coming back, it’s already included. So again, even for business we are offering best value,” he said.

GTT’s head of mobile services, Randall Emerson Hewitt (Adrian Narine photo)

Some of the items that were purchased (CDC photo)

Manufacturing in a Digital World: Commonwealth Launches New Policymaker’s Guide

RECOGNISING the importance of manu facturing to develop ment, economic growth and job creation, the Commonwealth Sec retariat launched ‘A Policymaker’s Guide to Manufacturing 4.0’ and a pilot implementation programme on digital

industrial development in Mauritius.

According to the Commonwealth, this dig ital-first guide has been developed to assist Com monwealth policymak ers, especially those in the least developed coun tries (LDCs) and small island developing states

(SIDS), to understand the transformative impact of new digital technolo gies on their industrial development and how to develop policy settings to take advantage of new and emerging opportu nities, while addressing potential barriers along the way.

The guide was launched at the 2022 National Manufactur ing Summit in Mauri tius, where the Com monwealth Connectiv ity Agenda (CCA) also launched a pilot to im plement the Guide with the Mauritius Ministry of Industrial Develop

ment, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Cooperatives. This im plementation will pro vide practical lessons

in Mauritius, said: “In our endeavour to make a successful leap to the sphere of Industry 4.0, assistance has been

on the opportunities and challenges facing small island developing states in their digital industrial development.

Ahead of the launch of the policy guide, Commonwealth Secre tary-General, Patricia Scotland, KC said:

“I am confident that policymakers across the Commonwealth will find this Guide informative and useful in understand ing and harnessing new technologies and inno vations to advance their digital industrial devel opment. These advances create fresh opportunities to develop new and im proved products, imple ment more efficient pro cesses, and achieve more agile and resilient supply chains. They also high light the need to address barriers and challenges that may hinder the ef fective adoption and use of these innovations to ensure businesses across the Commonwealth re main competitive and the private sector can also drive long-term, sustain able economic growth and job creation.”

Speaking about the value of this policy guide to Mauritius, Soomilduth Bholah, Minister of In dustrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives

sought from the Com monwealth Secretariat for a project on enhanc ing the capabilities of manufacturing enter prises to adopt high-end technology.”

New and emerging technologies and pro cesses are changing and reshaping the ways in which firms manufacture products, the business models they adopt and how they continue to innovate going forward. Digital technologies are increasingly applied to, and integrated with, in dustrial manufacturing. This changes the nature of the industry and chal lenges the traditional interpretation of what constitutes industrial de velopment.

The CCA engaged leading experts in ad vanced manufacturing and industrial policy from across the Com monwealth in the pro duction of this Guide and stands ready to assist Commonwealth member countries in further developing their knowledge of modern manufactur ing and in implement ing digital industrial policies. The Mauri tius pilot programme is a step towards this goal.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Saturday December 03, 2022)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Brian Lara-3

(2) Bill Lawry-2 Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which WI bowler has claimed most wickets in a Test series against AUST to date?

(2) Which AUST bowler has taken most wickets in a Test series against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

English Racing Tips

Aintree

08:20 hrs Brandy Mc

queen 08:55 hrs Dixon Cove 09:30 hrs Ahoy Senor 10:05 hrs Percussion 10:40 hrs Riders Of The

Storm 11:15 hrs Sizing Pottsie

Sandown 08:00 hrs Authorised Speed 08:35 hrs West Balboa 09:10 hrs Halo Des Obe aux 09:45 hrs Jonbon 10:20 hrs Nayati 10:55 hrs Edward Stone 11:30 hrs Revers Hill

Irish Racing Tips

Fairyhouse

08:07 hrs Hoke Colburn 08:42 hrs Caud Boy 09:17 hrs Good Land 09:52 hrs Facile Vega 10:27 hrs The Four Sixes 11:02 hrs Viceregent 11:35 hrs Nick Rockett

American Racing Tips

Aqueduct

Race 1 Classic Legacy Race 2 Midtown Lights Race 3 Viradia Race 4 Built To Last Race 5 Hero Tiger Race 6 Julia Shining Race 7 Tuskegee Airmen Race 8 Bank Sting Race 9 Zandon

Canadian Racing Tips Woodbine Race 1 Gozilla Race 2 Silent Diva Race 3 Light Thec Lamp Race 4 Speed Chess Race 5 Northern Passage Race 6 Attabe

South Africa Racing Tips

Turffontein

08:10 hrs Marengo 08:45 hrs Spielberg 09:20 hrs Defender Of Rights 09:55 hrs Emerald Prin cess 10:30 hrs On The Ether

Switzerland through after entertaining win over Serbia

SWITZERLAND sealed their place in the World Cup last 16 following an en tertaining 3-2 victory over Serbia to round off the group stage.

Switzerland, who knew a draw would be

of half-time when he poked in from close range.

With Serbia needing to win, the second half promised further twists but it was Switzerland who struck next – Em bolo coolly flicking it

Within 30 seconds of kick-off, Serbia goalkeeper Vanja Mil inkovic-Savic had to pull off a smart triple save to block efforts from Granit Xhaka and Embolo.

That set the tone for the match and Ser bia midfielder Andri ja Zivkovic struck the post before Shaqiri put Switzerland in front when his low shot was deflected off Strahinja Pavlovic.

Records tumble in...

FROM BACK PAGE

the process.

In the 4x400m girls’ Open final, District 3 smashed the record, given the formidable squad, led by the record-breaking duo of Keliza Smith and Attoya Harvey.

Meanwhile, up to press time District 10 were comfortably placed to be crowned.

Records broken in 200m and 1500m finals

1. 200m Girls Under-12

District 3 (West Demerara), 27.44s Previous: Nicholoid Cameron, District 2 (Essequ ibo Coast/Pomeroon) 27.74s (2017)

5. 200m Boys Under-16

Best: Malachi Austin, District 12 (East George town), 22.50s Previous: Osa Blair, District 11 (North Georgetown) 22.91s (2018)

6. 200m Boys Under-18

28.37s. Previous: Rannatha Munroe, District 6 (Coren tyne), 29.40s (2017)

10. 200m Teachers’ Fe male Over-40

Best: Shevo Washington, District 3 (West Demerara), 31.38s. Previous: Lois Mo seley, District 10 (Upper De merara/Kwakwani), 33.73s (2017)

enough to qualify, took an early lead through former Stoke and Liv erpool forward Xherdan Shaqiri.

Serbia turned it around in the first half, going 2-1 up with goals from Fulham’s Alek sandar Mitrovic and centre-forward partner Dusan Vlahovic – and they would have gone through as things stood.

The entertainment did not stop there though, as Switzer land’s Breel Embolo equalised on the stroke

on for Nottingham For est’s Remo Freuler to thump a half-volley into the net and make it 3-2 in their favour.

Further chances came for both sides, but Switzerland held on to set up a meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the next round, while Serbia are eliminated.

It was a game which swung back and for wards with both teams showing plenty of at tacking intent and pur pose.

Shaqiri, who was jeered loudly by Serbia fans during the warmup, ran straight over to them in celebration, putting his finger to his mouth and pointing to his name on the back of his shirt.

He caused contro versy with his double eagle celebration in a 2-1 win over Serbia at the Russia World Cup four years ago.

Fulham striker Mitrovic responded moments later when he superbly headed a Dusan Tadic cross inside the far post and Serbia shortly went 2-1 up when Vlahovic squeezed a left-footed shot into the corner.

(BBC Sport)

Sparks fly on exciting...

FROM BACK PAGE

Fort’s goal in the 18th min ute. Her teammates Clayza Bobb and Latacia Chung scored a goal each to end the game at 3-2.

Additionally, GBTI GCC dominated their game in the TLC women’s division against the Trinidad and To bago Police Service (TTPS) team. GCC did not concede any goals and ended their game with a resounding 7-0 score line. The captain Ga briella Xavier and teammate, Sonia Jardine scored two

goals each.

In the men’s division, Saints went up against YMCA Old Fort with exhil arating display of youthful skill. The teams were tied 2-2 in the third quarter when Shakeem Fausette of Saints tipped the scale in their fa vour with a delightful goal. Seconds were on the clock before Saints conceded a penalty corner followed by a penalty stroke but held their ground to a 3-2 victory.

Later in the opening night, Bounty GCC clashed

with the Trinidad and Toba go Police Service (TTPS) team in the men’s division. TTPS held the lead through out the game ending with a 5-2 victory against their opponents. Captain Jordan Reynos, along with his team mates Jabari Perez and Mark Ayen were the goalscorers.

Action continues at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall tomorrow. Look out for our concomitant so cial events on all Guyana Hockey Board social media pages.

Best: Tessianna Harris, District 10 (Upper Demer ara/Kwakwani), 27.84s (Prelim) Previous: Tianna Springer, District 12 (East Georgetown), 27.88s (2018)

2. 200m Girls Under-16

Best: Tianna Springer, District 12 (East George town), 24.72s (Prelim) Previ ous: Deshanna Skeete, Dis trict 10 (Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani), 24.97s (2017)

3. 200m Girls Under-20 Best: Keliza Smith, Dis trict 3 (West Demerara), 24.58s Previous: Toyan Ray mond, District 4 (East Coast Demerara), 25.29s (2017)

4. 200m Boys Under-12 Best: Christoph Semple,

Best: Omar James, Dis trict 10 (Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani), 21.59s Previ ous: Daniel Williams, Dis trict 10 (Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani) 21.78s (2017)

7. 200m Boys Under-20

Best: Simeon Solomon, District 11 (North George town), 22.06s; Angus Lynch, District 5 (West Coast Ber bice) - 22.06s. Previous: Titus Webster, District 5 (West Coast Berbice), 22.14s (2017)

8. 200m Teachers’ Fe male Under-21

Best: Cilene Charles, District 6 (Corentyne), 27.96s. Previous: Andrea Al fred, District 5 (West Coast Berbice), 31.04s (2017)

9. 200m Teachers’ Fe male Under-31

Best: Tisseana Wright, District 3 (West Demerara),

11. 200m Teachers’ Male Under-21

Best: Richard Blake, District 3 (West Demerara), 22.60s. Previous: Darius Austin, District 11 (North Georgetown), 23.08s (2018)

12. 4x400m Relay Open Female

Best: District 15 (New Amsterdam), 3:54.29 Previ ous: District 3 (West Demer ara), 3:56.81s

13. 1500m Girls Un der-20

Best: Attoya Harvey, District 3 (West Demerara), 5:14.79s. Previous: Leyanna Charles, District 13 (South Georgetown), 5:26.36s

14. 1500m Teachers’ Male Under-21

Best: Daniel Singh, Dis trict 1 (Barima Waini), 4:58.46s. Previous: Moses Best, District 3 (West De merara), 5:21.20s

Xherdan Shaqiri celebrated in front of the Serbia fans behind the goal

Bravo retires from IPL, takes over as Chennai Super Kings’ bowling coach

Academy

DWAYNE Bravo has re tired from the IPL as a player and has taken over a position as the bowling coach at Chennai Super Kings. L Balaji, Super Kings' bowling coach un til last season, has taken a break for one year for what the franchise called "personal commitments", but will be involved with the Super Kings Academy.

"I'm looking forward to this new journey because it's something I see myself doing after my playing days are fully over," Bravo, 39, said in a franchise statement. "I enjoy working with bowlers, and it's a role I'm excited about. From player to coach, I don't think I have to adjust much, because while I'm playing, I always work with bowlers and try to come up with plans and ideas on how to have that one step ahead of the batters.

"The only difference is I will no longer be standing at mid-on or mid-off! I never thought I would be the lead ing wicket-taker in the histo ry of IPL. But I'm just happy to be a part of IPL history!"

Bravo has played the IPL every year since it started in 2008 except in 2017, when an injury prevented him from turning out for Gujarat Li ons.

He had first been signed up by Mumbai Indians in 2008, and was with the team

for three seasons before be ing bought by Super Kings at the 2011 auction. When Super Kings were suspended for two seasons - 2016 and 2017 - Bravo was picked by Lions, before being retained by Super Kings in 2018.

He finished with 183 wickets, the highest wick et-taker after 15 seasons of IPL, 13 more than the sec ond-placed Lasith Malinga, and 17 more than the next active bowler with the most success: Yuzvendra Chahal.

Bravo's wickets came at an economy rate of 8.38 over 158 innings in 161 games, with a best of 4 for 22. He also scored 1 560 runs at a strike rate of 129.57.

One of the great death bowlers in the T20 game, Bravo bowled 1 115 balls (36% of all his deliveries) between overs 17 and 20 and took 102 wickets in the phase. No-one else has bowled as many deliveries in the last four overs, Jasprit Bumrah is next with 1026 or taken as many wickets. Lasith Malinga is second on 90.

A part of West Indies' golden generation of T20 superstars, who won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016, Bravo joins his longtime international team-mate into IPL retirement, while getting into coaching roles with their teams.

Pollard announced his

retirement as a player on November 15, and has joined Mumbai Indians, the team he was with throughout his career in the IPL, as a batting coach.

Like Pollard, Bravo hasn't quit as a player alto gether. He is currently play ing in the Abu Dhabi T10 with Delhi Bulls and has also been signed up by MI Emir ates for the inaugural ILT20 in the UAE next year, where Pollard will be his captain.

He was one of eight play ers Super Kings released by the retention deadline last month. At the time, though, it seemed like they might buy him back at the next auction, scheduled for December 23, as they had in 2021.

With Super Kings, the team he became an integral part of - synonymous al most - over the years, Bravo played 144 matches, picking up 168 wickets and scoring

1 556 runs. He was involved in three of their four IPL triumphs - in 2011, 2018 and 2021; the only one he missed was in 2010, when he was still with Mumbai. While he was with Super Kings, he won the Purple Cap for the most wickets in 2013 (32) and 2015 (26). He remains one of two players - Bhuvne shwar Kumar is the other - to win the Purple Cap on two occasions.

"He has been a cru cial member of the Super Kings family for more than a decade, and we are excited to continue the association," Kasi Viswanathan, the Super Kings chief executive, said. "Bravo's vast experience will be of immense value to our players and support staff. We are confident that our bowling group will thrive under his guid ance." (Cricinfo)

Cameroon out of World Cup despite win over Brazil

CAMEROON defeated a Brazil side resting a host of regulars but still saw their World Cup campaign end after an entertaining encounter at Lusail Stadium.

Vincent Aboubakar headed the winner in stop page time but his joy im mediately turned to disap pointment as he was given a second yellow card for taking his shirt off.

Cameroon had ac quitted themselves well throughout as Bryan Mbuemo brought an out standing save from Man chester City's Ederson, deputising for Liverpool keeper Alisson, but Swit zerland's victory over

Serbia ended the African team's chances of reaching the last 16.

With his side having already qualified after their first two games, Bra zil coach Tite made 10 changes and Arsenal's Ga briel Martinelli took the chance to impress with a fine performance in which he was thwarted on sever al occasions by Cameroon keeper Devis Epassy.

The pre-tournament favourites finished top of Group G despite the loss and now meet South Ko rea in the knockout phase after their dramatic late win against Portugal saw them edge out Uruguay, who beat Ghana, on goals

scored.

BRAZIL ON CRUISE CONTROL

Brazil were in the com fort zone after winning their group games against Serbia and Switzerland, affording coach Tite the opportunity to shuffle his powerful squad while demonstrating the range of resources at his disposal.

They may have lost this game, but with qual ification assured Tite may not be too disappointed at the defeat as it did not inflict any damage on their group standing, and he now has fresh legs for when the knockout stage starts.

Arsenal's 21-year-old

stops from an early

Martinelli's tireless running combined with quality proved a thorn in Cameroon's side and made an eloquent case for his inclusion should Tite wish to make changes as the World Cup progresses.

Brazil have shown enough in their two victories to justify the pre-tournament opti mism surrounding their chances - now they will hope Neymar, who acclaimed the fans with his team mates on the pitch after the final whistle, can recover from the ankle injury sustained against Serbia in time to make his expected con tribution. (BBC Sport)

Martinelli was Brazil's outstanding performer, with Cameroon keeper Epassy producing fine

header, and a shot destined for the top corner in the second half.

Dwayne Bravo won the IPL thrice with Super Kings, in 2011, 2018 and 2021•BC

… L Balaji, the team’s bowling coach till last season, has taken a break, and will be involved with the Super Kings

Vincent Aboubakar became only the third African player to score against Brazil at the World Cup finals, after Didier Drogba in 2010 and Joel Matip in 2014, but was then shown a second yellow card followed by a red

Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq dig deep after England post towering 657

…Brook’s 153 caps record-breaking display but England toil for breakthroughs in reply

WITH a mountain to climb, Pakistan openers Imam-ulHaq and Abdullah Shafique harnessed up and shinnied towards England's monster first-innings total on the second day of their contest in Rawalpindi.

Harry Brook pressed on from his overnight 101 to reach 153 off just 116 balls as England were bowled out for 657 at better than a run a ball shortly before Lunch The home duo then negoti ated more than two sessions unscathed. On a pitch that remained a road throughout both days, to the disgust of PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, they staged an opening part nership approaching the 200mark with Imam 90 not out at stumps and Shafique on 89.

The pair faced up to a spin attack comprising Jack Leach, Will Jacks and Joe Root with class through a middle session, which con trasted with England's fire works of the previous four, but still contained flashes of excitement.

(Scores: Pakistan 181 for 0 (Imam-ul-Haq 90*, Shafique 89*) trail England 657 (Brook 153, Crawley 122, Pope 108, Duckett 107) by 476 runs Imam launched Leach over the rope at deep mid wicket to break a run of 11 dot balls from England's only frontline spinner and Shafique advanced down the pitch to dispatch Jacks over

If Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq reach their centuries on day three, it will be the first time ever in Test cricket that all four openers have hit centuries in the first innings

long-on to bring up Pakistan's fifty.

Shafique raised his half-century with a glorious drive to the cover boundary off Jacks, his seventh four of the innings, and Imam followed suit a short time later, pushing a Root delivery towards cover for a single.

England served up 21 consecutive overs of slow bowling as captain Ben Stokes set attacking fields. Jacks fulfilled the part-timer role which helped secure him a Test debut when Ben Foakes failed to recover from the sickness bug which swept through the touring camp on match eve and Root re prised one he has played many times before with Liam Livingstone, England's other debutant and sometime spin

ner, suffering a jarred knee that kept him off the field for much of the afternoon and evening.

It was all a precursor to James Anderson returning to try and extract some reverse swing. There wasn't much on offer from the limited evidence of the one over he sent down before tea, nor was there any more than a hint after the break, although there was a chance.

With the fifth ball of the evening session, Anderson fired one into Shafique's ribs which kissed the glove before sailing down the leg side to Ollie Pope, standing in for regular keeper Foakes. Div ing to his left, Pope made an excellent take but the on-field umpires deferred to their TV counterpart, Marais Eras

mus, and replays showed that the ball had gone to ground a fraction before meeting Pope's glove.

Searching for a break through after Leach conceded 12 off the 41st over, Shafique hitting a six down the ground and Imam clearing mid-off for four, Stokes entered the attack to no avail as the hosts stood firm.

Pakistan managed to prise out England's remaining six wickets by lunch, but not before England had added a further 151 runs, having al ready amassed 506 for 4, the most runs ever scored on the opening day of a Test match.

Stokes, who had taken England past that milestone with a brutal six over longon off Mohammad Ali in the dying light on Thursday, unleashed another back over bowler Naseem Shah's head off the second ball yesterday en route to 41 off 18 deliv eries. He was out four balls later when Naseem took the pace off and took out the top of middle stump.

Naseem's fellow quick, Haris Rauf, sat in the dress ing room with his right quad wrapped in an ice pack after rolling over the ball while fielding the previous day. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Za hid Mahmood suffered ago ny of another kind, his four wickets coming at an eye-wa tering cost of 235 runs in 33 overs - the most-expensive analysis by a Test debutant.

Livingstone lofted Zahid for six down the ground on the seventh ball he faced in Tests, but he faced just three more before holing out to deep square leg off Naseem.

Brook took to Zahid in a remarkable over, which went for 27 runs. He reverse-swept a six over extra cover, swept the next ball fine for four, and reverse-swept again for another four. He wasn't done yet either as he hammered the fourth ball for four through long on and lofted next for six back down the ground.

Brook tried to go big once more on the last ball and while he miscued and sent a top edge back over his own head, the ball trickled away for another three runs to com

pound Zahid's woe.

Two fours in three balls off Naseem's next over, the second of which split keeper and first slip for four, brought up Brook's 150, although he lofted an attempted sweep next ball to Saud Shakeel at deep square leg.

Ollie Robinson took En gland past 600 with a six off Zahid down the ground before Jacks picked out Naseem at midwicket off Mohammad Ali after a 30run cameo. Robinson failed to overturn his lbw dis missal off Zahid for 37 and Anderson miscued Zahid's googly straight to Imam at deep square leg to be last man out. (Cricinfo)

ENGLAND

Shakeel b Naseem Shah 153

Ben Stokes b Naseem Shah 41

Liam Livingstone c Saud Shakeel b Naseem Shah 9

Will Jacks c Naseem Shah b Mohammad Ali 30

Ollie Robinson lbw Zahid Mehmood 37

Jack Leach not out 6

James Anderson c Imam ul-Haq b Zahid Mehmood 6

Extras: (b-2, lb-10, nb-2, w-1) 15

Total: (all out, 101.0 overs) 657

Fall of wickets: 1-233, 2-235, 3-286, 4-462, 5-515, 6-539, 7-576 8-641 s, 9-649.

Bowling: Naseem Shah 24-0-140-3, Mohammad Ali 24- 1-124-2 (nb-2)Haris Rauf 13-1-78-1 (w-1), Zahid Mehmood 33-1-235-4, Agha Salman 5-0-38-0, Saud Shakeel 2-0-30- 0.

PAKISTAN 1st innings

Abdullah Shafique not out 89 Imam ul-Haq not out 90 Extras: (b-2) 2

Total: (no wkt, 51.0 overs) 181

Bowling: James Anderson 8-2-16-0, Ollie Robinson 5- 0-21- 0, Jack Leach 19-4-68-0, Will Jacks 12-2-50-0, Joe Root 4 -1-9-0, Ben Stokes 3-0 5-0.

‘No reason’ for India, Pakistan not to meet, says Ramiz Raja

THERE is "no reason" for India and Pakistan not to host each other in Test and white-ball games, says Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja.

They have not met out side of white-ball tourna ments since 2013 because of political tensions be tween the two.

"Both boards need to come to terms whether we want to play each other or not," Raja told Test Match Special.

"Pakistan is willing, but they quote political in terference. You can't work when there is political in terference."

Former batter Raja, who played 57 Tests for Paki stan, added: "They quote the government doesn't allow it, so that kills the debate.

"There is no reason why India couldn't come to Pa kistan and Pakistan go to India."

Pakistan last visited In dia for the T20 World Cup in 2016, while India have not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.

Pakistan are due to host the Asia Cup for the first time in 15 years in 2023.

However, Board of Control for Cricket in In dia (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has said India will not

travel and the event should be held in a neutral country.

In response, Pakistan said any alteration to the Asia Cup could "impact" their participation in the 50-over World Cup in India next October and Novem ber.

"Why give it to us in the first place and then make all those statements that India will not travel," said Raja.

"India cannot come be cause the government will not allow them because that has been the stated po sition, but to take the Asia Cup away from us is just not right."

Raja also called on the

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) to do more to break the deadlock be tween Pakistan and India.

"The neutral cricket

boards that have held im

positions, when they keep quiet it frustrates me completely," he said.

"The International Cricket Council (ICC) has

to think out of the box and work better."

Pakistan are current ly hosting England in a Test for the first time in 17 years. England halted tour ing after gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009.

England have been giv en a 'presidential' level of security, costing around $2M (£1.6M), with 5 000 police involved each day.

"We are geared securi ty-wise and cricket-wise to host India," said Raja.

"Hosting England is a very proud, a very proud moment indeed, for all the fans also." (BBC Sport)

portant

Pakistan and India have only played each other in white-ball tournaments over the past nine years

South Korea leave it late then wait before reaching last 16

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (Re uters) – South Korea’s Hwang Hee-chan scored in added time to snatch a 2-1 comeback win over Portugal yesterday but they then faced an ago nising 10-minute wait on the pitch before discover ing it was enough to send them into the World Cup last 16 on goals scored.

Having started the day bottom of Group H, Korea looked to be going out with a whimper as they trailed already-qualified Portugal 1-0, with Uruguay leading Ghana 2-0 half an hour into their game.

But when Kim Younggwon levelled after 27 minutes they knew one more goal could be enough – providing Uruguay did not extend their lead.

It came when talisman Son Heung-min broke from a Portugal corner and slipped a perfect pass to Hwang who fired past Diogo Costa to spark wild celebrations.

However, the other game had started its second half seven minutes later,

leaving the Korean players and staff in a centre circle huddle, watching the ac tion unfold across the city on mobile phones.

Another goal would have put the South Amer icans through but, though they piled forward, it did not materialise and the Koreans exploded in joy at having reached the knock out phase for the first time since 2010 – when they lost to Uruguay.

It came when talisman Son Heung-min broke from a Portugal corner

and slipped a perfect pass to Hwang who fired past Diogo Costa to spark wild celebrations.

However, the other game had started its second half seven minutes later, leaving the Korean players and staff in a centre circle huddle, watching the ac tion unfold across the city on mobile phones.

Another goal would have put the South Amer icans through but, though they piled forward, it did not materialise and the Koreans exploded in joy at

having reached the knock out phase for the first time since 2010 – when they lost to Uruguay.

Portugal top the final standings on six points.

South Korea and Uru guay have four points with the same goal difference but Korea went through to the knockout stage by virtue of scoring four goals to the two of Uruguay, who before yesterday were the only team in the tourna ment not to have scored.

I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time and I believed we could get it done,” said Son, appear ing in his third World Cup.

“I have not been doing a good job as their captain, but my team mates have covered my back. I am so thankful for them and so proud of them.

“They never gave up and made sacrifices for the team.”

Goalscorer Hwang said: “I was convinced he would pass me the ball. It was an excellent pass and it made my job much easier.

“It was difficult waiting for the Uruguay-Ghana result but we proved we could make the knockout phase. I would like to share these great feelings with the people back home.

NERVE-SHREDDING DRAMA

The turnaround marked a third successive World Cup night of nerve-shred ding drama and also made it the first time three Asian Confederation teams have made the last 16 with Japan and Australia also through Korea are likely to face Brazil next, depending on the results in the lat er Group G games. They will again be outsiders but, having scored four of their last seven World Cup goals in the 90th minute or beyond, have shown they never give up.

South Korea did not get off to a great start on Friday as winger Ricardo Horta put Portugal ahead in the fifth minute when he tucked away a neat cutback by Diogo Dalot.

Korea leveled when Kim forced the ball home

after a corner.

Cristiano Ronaldo, seeking a goal to equal Eusebio’s national World Cup record of nine, strug gled to make an impact, though Kim Seung-gyu did save one sharp early effort.

The Portugal captain had another one-on-one with Kim but his effort was too weak to trouble the keeper and he was eventually taken off after 65 minutes.

Korea struggled to get a strong foothold in the game but, just as they did in vain in their defeat by Ghana, they showed an amazing commitment to keep going – and eventual ly reaped the reward.

Portugal will now face the runners-up in Group G – likely to be Switzerland, Cameroon or Serbia.

“We wanted to go through with a win, we wanted to go through playing good football,” coach Fernando Santos said. “We’re not going to lose confidence but it’s a warning, a serious warning.”

Uruguay beat Ghana but both teams knocked out

URUGUAY beat Gha na but went out of the World Cup on goals scored as they finished third behind South Ko rea in Group H, despite Luiz Suarez's heroics.

The Uruguay striker played a major role in both of Uruguay's goals and the 35-year-old was in tears after the final whistle, following what may have been his last international.

Both goals were scored by Giorgio de Arrascae ta, the first a close-range header, the second a sub lime volley.

In Group H's other game, South Korea's 2-1 victory over group win ners Portugal was enough to take them through in second place.

Uruguay and South

Korea both ended with a zero goal difference, but the side from Asia netted a total of four goals in their three games, with the South American team scoring just the two they managed against Ghana.

Suarez, whose hand ball in their previous meeting 12 years ago played a crucial role in sending his side through on that occasion, saw his shot fall into De Arras caeta's path for the opener, before the veteran former Liverpool striker followed it up with a glorious assist for the second.

There had been early penalty drama when Gha na striker Andre Ayew saw his spot-kick saved by Sergio Rochet at 0-0. The penalty was awarded by

AGONY FOR

game - "revenge".

Ghana came into the grudge match with hopes of avenging the defeat from 2010, when Suarez

Asamoah Gyan's miss from the resulting penalty.

Ghana lost the shootout that followed, and there was plenty of drama this time round too.

At 2-0 up, Uruguay thought they were pro gressing to the last 16, but news filtered through of South Korea's comeback against Portugal.

Suarez, who was subbed off on 65 minutes for Edinson Cavani, sat on the bench in disbelief, as he was made aware of the final result in the other game.

Ghana should have taken the lead, but like Gyan in 2010, Andre Ayew failed to convert and it proved extremely costly.

Otto Addo's men needed some inspiration in the second period but were unable to find a way through an obdurate Uruguayan defence as Kudus saw a low drive tipped wide by Rochet late on.

URUGUAY

One word was circulat ing in the build-up to this

handled the ball on the line and was sent off, be fore wildly celebrating

At full-time, the emo tional striker was consoled on the pitch by captain Diogo Godin - both veter ans might have been seen in a Uruguay shirt for the last time.

Uruguay had scored twice before the break and with time running out they pushed for the winner, but Federico Valverde's effort was palmed away by Law rence Ati-Zigi, who also made a stunning stop to keep out Cavani's head er. (BBC Sport)

the referee after reviewing the goalkeeper's foul on Mohammed Kudus on the pitchside monitor.

South Korea’s Hee-chan Hwang celebrates his late, winning goal (Photo: Skysports)

Luis Suarez was in tears as Uruguay were knocked out of the World Cup (Photo: (Skysports)

WI show resolve but succumb to second new ball

PERTH, Australia (CMC) –Captain Kraigg Brathwaite struck a gritty half-century while his debutant partner Tagenarine Chanderpaul completed his maiden one but West Indies suffered a swift lower order collapse to give Australia total con trol of the opening Test here yesterday.

On a compelling day three at Perth Stadium, Brathwaite carved out 64, Chanderpaul scored 51 while vice-captain Jermaine Black wood (36), Shamarh Brooks (33) and Jason Holder (27) all weighed in to lift West Indies to 245 for four just after tea, in reply to Austra lia’s mammoth 598 for four declared.

However, arrival of the second new ball changed the course of the innings, Pat Cummins (3-34) and Mitchell Starc (3-51) rip ping through the order with three-wicket hauls as West Indies lost their last six wick ets for just 38 runs.

With a first-innings lead of 315, Australia opted not to enforce the follow-on, and reached 29 for one at the close – ahead by 344 runs heading into the pivotal day four of the contest.

Usman Khawaja was the lone casualty, wafting at a wide delivery from seamer Kemar Roach and nicking behind for five in the fifth over.

Resuming on their over night 74 without loss, West Indies suffered an early set back when Chanderpaul per ished to the final delivery of the first over.

Unbeaten at the start on 47, the 26-year-old lefthander edged the fifth de livery of the morning from

pacer Josh Hazlewood to the third man boundary before being squared up by the next and finding the safe hands of David Warner low at first slip.

Nkrumah Bonner add ed a further 28 for the sec ond wicket with Brathwaite but ducked into a Cameron Green bouncer on six and never quite recovered. He left the field on 16 at the first drinks break and never returned, Brooks taking his place in the batting order as

Guyanese squash players set to compete in Canada, USA & Britain

AFTER last night’s conclusion of the GSA’s Senior Nation al Open Champion ships at the Georgetown Club, which was the last local Squash competition for the year, Guya nese players will par ticipate in three over seas tournaments.

Joshua Verwey, Mohryan Baksh, Kirsten Gomes and Samuel Ince-Carvalhal will take part in the

Canadian Open set for December 10-13

Joshua Ver wey, Nicholas Ver wey, Kirsten Gomes, Ince-Carvalhal and Louis DaSilva are scheduled to partic ipate in the second North American tour nament in the US Open from December 17 to 20.

Ince-Carvalhal, who turns 19 in Jan uary and just made it for his final Junior

tournament, will also compete in the British Open.

Ince-Carvalhal, who was born in En gland, is the grandson National junior coach, Carl Ince, and is the only Guyanese to par ticipate in the all three competitions.

The youngsters all expressed confidence in playing their best squash on the respec tive overseas assignments. (Sean Devers)

the concussion substitute.

Brathwaite dug in, facing 166 balls in nearly 4-¼ hours at the crease and counting five fours and a six. He ex tended the second-wicket stand by 53 with Blackwood, taking West Indies to lunch on 150 for one.

The 30-year-old Brathwaite reached his 28th Test fifty about half-hour before lunch when he depos ited off-spinner Nathan Lyon (2-61) for a straight six to move to 49 and then pinched a single to mid-wicket in the same over.

But he perished soon after the resumption, trapped on the crease and bowled by Cummins, and left-hander Kyle Mayers lasted eight balls only before he too was bowled, this time by Starc.

With the innings in need of a partnership at 166 for three, Blackwood anchored two – posting 43 for the fourth with Holder and a further 35 for the fifth with Brooks, West Indies reaching tea on 237 for four.

Holder struck two fours and a six in a fluent 54-ball knock before falling to a catch at leg slip off Lyon while Blackwood spent 108 balls and nearly 3-¼ hours at

the crease and hit four fours, before being struck in front by Starc – becoming the first victim with the second new ball.

Wickets then tumbled as Joshua Da Silva was clean-bowled without scor ing, Brooks nicked behind off Green after hitting four

fours off 58 balls and Roston Chase was trapped lbw to Cummins for 13.

Steve Smith snaffled a sharp chance at first slip to remove Kemar Roach without scoring off Lyon and Alzarri Joseph topedged Green to Warner at mid-wicket.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings 598-4 decl.

WEST INDIES 1st innings (overnight 74 without loss)

K. Brathwaite b Cummins 64

T. Chanderpaul c Warner b Hazlewood 51

N. Bonner ret. hurt 16

J. Blackwood lbw b Starc 36

K. Mayers b Starc 1

J. Holder c Warner b Lyon 27

S. Brooks c wkp. Carey b Green 33

J. Da Silva b Starc 0

R. Chase lbw b Cummins 13

A. Joseph c Warner b Cummins 4

K. Roach c Smith b Lyon 0

J. Seales not out 0

Extras: (b-4, lb-27, nb-7) 38

Total: (all out, 98.2 overs) 283

Fall of wickets: 1-78, 2-159, 3-166, 4-209, 5-245, 6-245, 7-266, 8-282, 9-283.

Bowling: Starc 22-7-51-3, Hazlewood 21-5-53-1 (nb-2), Cummins 20.27-34-3, Lyon 22-3-61-2, Green 10-0-35-1 (nb-4), Labuschagne 2-0-14-0 (nb-1), Head 1-0-4-0.

AUSTRALIA 2nd innings

U. Khawaja c wkp. Da Silva b Roach 5

D. Warner not out 18

M. Labuschagne not out 3

Extras: (lb-2, w-1) 3

Total: (1 wkt, 11 overs) 29

Fall of wicket: 1-20

Bowling: Roach 4-1-16-1, Joseph 4-1-7-0, Holder 2-13-0 (w-1), Chase 1-0-1-0.

Position: Australia lead by 344 runs with nine second innings wickets intact.

N.B: S Brooks replaced N Bonner as a concussion substitute.

Concussion substitute Shamarh Brooks plays through the onside during his innings on day three of the first Test

Guyana’s most accomplished squash player Nicolette Fernandes conducts a coaching session with Joshua Verwey, who will participate in Canada and the United States this month. (Sean Devers photo)

Records tumble in 200 metres final as District 10 near title repeat

ANGUS Lynch and Ezekiel

Newton who set new 100m records in the Under-20 and Under-18 categories were unable to secure a sprint double at this year’s 60th edition of the National Schools’ Cycling Swim

ming, and Track and Field Championships, via some narrow defeats in the 200m final.

Lynch, of District 5 (West Coast Berbice), finished the race with an apparent injury and had to settle for silver

behind Simeon Solomon of District 11 (North George town), who clocked 22.36 secs for gold.

The 100m record-breaker clocked 22.96s in a stuttering finish while Deliza Lyken of District 4 (East Coast Demer

ara) was third with a time of 23.52s.

However, both Lynch and Solomon clocked 22.06s in the preliminaries to lower the record from 22.14s, set by Titus Webster (District 5) in 2017.

Newton, who was eye ing both gold and a record in the 200m, was edged out by Omar James of District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwak wani).

James clocked 21.59s to break the record and win gold

2022 Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival

while Newton (21.62s) and Enoch Munroe of District 13 (South Georgetown), 22.41s, rounded off the table.

As expected, Keliza Smith won gold in the U-20 and shattered the record in

Sparks fly on exciting opening night

THE Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival 2022 kicked off on Thurs day night at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with a number of thrilling matches.

GCC Vintage and YMCA Old Fort opened the tourna ment in fine fashion in the Guinness Over-45 division.

Roger Daniel of YMCA Old Fort, supported by his team

mates, smashed four consec utive goals into the opposing team’s net which contributed to their 6-2 victory.

Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) of T&T and

Antonio’s Hikers, compet ing in the Guinness Over-35 division, also put on a good show for the crowd. The skil ful Jerazeno Bell led his team to a 7-4 victory against their

opponents, scoring four of the impressive seven goals.

Shane Samuels of Hikers also scored two spicy goals for Antonio’s Hikers.

In the TLC women’s di

vision, Woodpecker Hikers faced off with YMCA Old Fort. Hikers captain Maria Munroe led the charge when she flicked the ball into Old

Simeon Solomon of District 11 stormed to gold in the 200m after breaking the record in the preliminaries (Photos: Ministry of Education)

Record breakers! District 3 girls smashed the girls’ Open 4x400m relay (photo: Ministry of Education)

Dwayne Scott rifles a shot for GCC Vintage

Julia Gouveia on the attack for YMCA Old Fort