Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_19_01_2023

Soesdyke-Linden Highway communities to be transformed

— President Ali announces plans to address squatting, economic and infrastructural development — ‘smart’ agriculture, horticulture programme for community women also on the cards

By Clestine Juan

SEVERAL communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway will soon be transformed through aggressive infrastructural

and economic development action plans, which are also geared at helping citizens to sustain their own advancement and development.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali,

on Wednesday led a party of ministers and other stakeholders during an engagement exercise with residents of Yarrowkabra and Kuru Kururu, two major villages along the highway.

The President spent hours on the grounds “walking and talking” with the villagers, who flocked him to vent their concerns and problems they face.

2023 provides a framework for the community to work directly with the government and vice versa.

(Full CDB shows strong interest in financing energy projects in Guyana PG 14

He related that Budget

is listen to the people, listen to your concerns and get to plan programmes that will resolve the problems that you face on the ground. Construction of first 100 ‘Silica City’ homes to start soon PG 02

story on page 3) Operational Agreement signed for management of NRF

PG 15

Adrian Narine photo

Construction of first 100 ‘Silica

City’ homes to start soon

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday, said that construction will soon commence on the first 100 homes for Guyana’s first smart urban centre, “Silica City.”

The project, he said, will serve an impetus for increased economic activities in communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

“… We are building a number of houses in this area, 100 homes, starting very soon,” the Head of State said during a community engagement exercise on Wednesday.

Silica City would be located approximately 30 miles from Georgetown, 11 miles from the Soesdyke/Linden Highway junction, and some 33 miles from the mining town of Linden.

The President said that the construction of the homes will create jobs for young persons in the area, who are skilled and semi-skilled, putting much-needed money into the pockets of those people.

“If you are young people who want to work in the construction sector. We are building a number of houses… They need workers,” Dr. Ali said.

During his visit, the President also addressed the issue of illegal squatting in the Circuitville area, noting: “We have to make some decisions together, right? I don’t want you to live as squatters. I want you to live under good conditions and I want you to have your children to grow up under good conditions. So, we all have to make some sacrifices.”

There are over 700 persons living in over 300 houses in the area. The villagers expressed their wellness to be relocated in a legally planned area nearby.

“.. What I want is for us to do is move from this position here of squatting to regularised living. Let us work together in bringing some planned development in that way to get all the good facilities, water, electricity, proper roads, and the

value of these areas, of course will improve tremendously,” Dr. Ali said.

A team from the Ministry of Housing and Guyana Lands and Surveys will be meeting with the squatters soon.

“Silica City,” which is a development that will transform the landscape of the highway, is the brainchild of President Ali, and was conceptualised when he was Minister of Housing and Water in 2013.

Its construction is in keeping with Guyana’s international commitment to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), to the New Urban Agenda, and follows the provisions of the Housing Act, and other guidelines.

The intention behind this project is to create an urban centre which would supplement Georgetown. Silica City is envisaged to tackle the issue of non-coastal urban settlement development and the challenges of climate change and rising sea levels.

Silica city will have, in its first phase, about 3,000 acres of land. The government has cleared the first 185 acres, which will feature the ‘Innovation Village’ and young professional homes.

On Tuesday, during a press conference with the media, the President said that India has expressed an interest in working with Guyana on the development of Silica City, and also the expansion of the urbanisation that is taking place. Other countries including Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have also indicated an interest in being a part of this transformative project.

— project to create jobs for residents of Soesdyke-Linden Highway communities

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali interacting with the villagers of Circuitville (Adrian Narine photo)

Soesdyke-Linden Highway communities to be transformed

By Clestine Juan

SEVERAL communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway will soon be transformed through aggressive infrastructural and economic development action plans, which are also geared at helping citizens to sustain their own advancement and development.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday led a party of ministers and other stakeholders during an engagement exercise with residents of Yarrowkabra and Kuru Kururu, two major villages along the highway.

The President spent hours on the grounds “walking and talking” with the villagers, who flocked him to vent their concerns and problems they face.

He related that Budget 2023 provides a framework for the community to work directly with the government and vice versa.

“… One of the things that we have done consistently in the last two years is listen to the people, listen to your concerns and get to plan programmes that will resolve the problems that you face on the ground.

“It’s very important to do the big transformative projects. It is important for us to do the things that benefit you directly in the communities, whether it’s the schoolchildren’s grant; whether it’s the increase in the pension for the pensioners; whether it’s the support of textbooks; whether it’s helping in transportation services; the removing of tax and fuel, those are the big things that affect part of society,” the President said while addressing the villagers at Kuru Kururu.

According to the Head of State, meeting with communities and seeing the issues they face will help the government to focus on the direct needs of its citizens— something on

which the People’s Progressive Party/Civic is keen.

“We want to build a partnership with every community, build a partnership with the people of this country… you are the stakeholders of this country. You are the persons who will inherit this country and take this country forward.

“So, it’s important for me to listen to you. For us to have conversations from time to time, so that we will ensure that your needs are aligned with what we’re doing to ensure that you are involved in the creation of prosperity in the homes of every Guyanese,” the President said to the sound of loud applause.

Against this backdrop, Dr Ali said that such initiatives will aid villagers in getting involved in the development process of their communities.

“You know, my joy is to walk the communities with you to see the problems on

the ground and to have them resolved almost instantaneously,” the President said.

He told the villagers that five water wells will be drilled this year which will provide first-time potable water access for some of them.

As it relates to building roads in the communities, the President said that residents will be involved in the building out of their own infrastructure.

“So we’re building concrete roads… we are first targeting roads that lead to schools, health centres, roads that are important for the elderly and we want people to have better conditions under which they live. That is important for us,” he added.

Another area to be addressed is the healthcare system in the area, over which villagers in Yarrowkabra had raised serious concerns.

One resident told the President that a doctor visits

the health centre only oneday per week, and this is not sufficient for the growing community.

Immediately, the President called the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony to address the situation.

Another resident raised the issues of crime in the area, noting that persons’ homes are often burglarised.

The President highlighted that he will be looking into the possibility of a police station or a higher police presence in the area.

SQUATTING

The residents also vented their frustration over the illegal squatters who have plagued their villages, often building illegal structures on the regularised lots.

Residents added that this has become burdensome since the villagers themselves have been living on the land and

waiting years for their titles.

“By the end of the first quarter, we would identify three areas along the highway that we are going to plan housing schemes in to take care of all the squatting, but we cannot tolerate any new additional squatting… we cannot tolerate squatters. I’m being very honest with you, and I think all of you should support this,” Dr Ali said.

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission was given one month to have the titles processed for persons who have legitimately occupied the said lands.

The Guyana Power and Light along with the Guyana Water Inc will address the water and electricity woes that some members of the communities face.

As it relates to education, villagers told the President that oftentimes schoolchildren are left stranded on the roads for hours, even though there

are two government buses that provide transportation.

The President said that he will be looking into the situation which might possibly see new school buses to aid the growing community populations.

Famers in the communities disclosed to the President that their farmlands have been flooded due to the nearby creeks not being cleaned. Within the next few days, Dr. Ali said this will be addressed.

Residents also told the President about children in the area not attending school, because of various reasons. The President notified that Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and, as a result, her team will be visiting Yarrowkabra and Kuru Kururu.

Regarding job creation and opportunities for women, Dr Ali told villagers of his plans for a women-led horticultural operation in the area to grow fresh flowers.

“We are going to work with the women on the highway to see how we can incorporate them too in agriculture and food production, but the highest scale,” he said.

Additionally, the President said he is also thinking about the establishment of shade houses for the highway villagers.

The President, during his visit, was accompanied by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall; Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, along with several senior police officers.

Over the next few days, ministers and other state agencies will go on follow-up visits to the area and report back to the President.

— President Ali announces plans to address squatting, economic and infrastructural development — ‘smart’ agriculture, horticulture programme for community women also on the cards

President, Dr Irfaan Ali interacting with youths of Yarrowkabra (Adrian Narine photo)

New Zealand PM to step down next month

JACINDA Ardern has announced she will quit as New Zealand’s Prime Minister next month, saying she no longer has “enough in the tank” to lead.

Ardern choked up as she detailed how six “challenging” years in the job had taken a toll.

She will step down as Labour Party leader no later than February 7. There will be a vote in the coming days to determine her replacement.

New Zealand will hold a general election on 14 October. Ardern, 42, said she had taken time to consider her future over the summer break.

“I had hoped that I would find what I needed to carry on over that period but, un-

fortunately, I haven’t, and I would be doing a disservice to New Zealand to continue,” she told reporters.

Ardern became the youngest female Head of Government in the world when she was elected prime minister in 2017, aged 37.

And a year later she became the second elected world leader to ever give birth while in office.

She steered New Zealand through the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing recession, the Christchurch mosque shootings, and the White Island volcanic eruption.

“It’s one thing to lead your country through peace time, it’s another to lead them

through crisis,” she said.

“These events... have been taxing because of the weight, the sheer weight and continual nature of them. There’s never really been a moment where it’s ever felt like we were just governing.”

Ardern led the Labour Party to a landslide election victory in 2020, but her domestic popularity has declined to new lows in recent months, according to opinion polls.

However, Ardern said she was not resigning because she believed Labour could not win the election, but because she thought it would.

“We need a fresh set of shoulders for that challenge,” she said.

Deputy leader, Grant Robertson said he would not contest the leadership vote, which will occur on Sunday. If one candidate cannot garner the support of two-thirds of the party room, the vote will go to Labour’s lay mem-

bership.

Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, paid tribute to Ardern as a leader of intellect, strength and empathy.

“Jacinda has been a fierce advocate for New Zealand, an inspiration to so many and a great friend to me,” he wrote on Twitter.

Ardern listed her government’s achievements on climate change, social housing and reducing child poverty as ones she was particularly proud of.

But she said she hoped New Zealanders would remember her “as someone who always tried to be kind.”

“I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader - one who knows when it’s time to go,” she said. (BBC)

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern

Brazil moves forward with riot investigation after capital attack

BRAZILIAN authorities have launched a probe to discover who financed the far-right effort to overturn the 2022 election.

In 1808, the king of Portugal, John VI, arrived on a visit to what was then colonial Brazil with a large, ornate pendulum clock, a gift from King Louis XIV of France.

That artefact has been in possession of the Brazilian state ever since, displayed in the Planalto presidential palace for the last 11 years.

But on January 8, surveillance cameras inside the Planalto palace captured a man throwing the priceless work of art to the floor, destroying it beyond repair.

That individual, one of hundreds of rioters who stormed the seat of government in the federal capital Brasília that day, was wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with the face of Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Now, more than a week on, Brazil is still, quite literally, picking up the pieces. Investigations are under way into the perpetrators of the riot, who organised it and where the money came from.

The attack began when riled-up pro-Bolsonaro supporters forced their way past police cordons and into Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court and Planalto palace, all located adjacent to one another.

They demanded a military coup d’etat to annul the results of the 2022 presidential election and reinstate the defeated Bolsonaro as president.

With the judiciary and legislature on holiday — and newly inaugurated leftwing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva out of town

— the buildings were largely empty. No casualties resulted from the attack.

The damage to public property, however, was unprecedented, as vandals tore through the buildings, breaking windows, destroying priceless works of art and daubing far-right slogans on walls.

Almost 1,400 people were arrested following the attack and remain in police custody.

On Monday, federal prosecutors indicted 39 of them for crimes including armed conspiracy and attempted coup d’etat. Dozens of further indictments are expected.

Senators have promised an inquiry to find out who financed the riots.

“There is clearly a well-funded core of support for a right-wing political agenda,” said Andre Pagliarini, assistant professor of history at Hampden-Sydney College. “And it is willing to invest in anti-democratic organising, even in the wake of electoral defeat.”

Mario Sergio Lima, a

senior Brazil analyst at the Medley Advisors consultancy, said he believed that the riots were largely bankrolled by “mid-level retail and agro magnates”, a constituency that firmly backed Bolsonaro before the election.

Bolsonaro spent part of his time in office casting doubt over Brazil’s fully electronic voting system — a system that has yet to receive a single credible fraud accusation in its 27 years of use. On multiple occasions, he suggested he would not accept defeat at the ballot box.

In October’s run-off election, the far-right former army captain lost to Lula by a narrow margin of just more than two million votes. After the results were announced, Bolsonaro maintained a period of public silence. To this day, he has not explicitly conceded defeat.

But Bolsonaro supporters took to the street in support of the outgoing president, blocking major highways and calling for a military coup.

Bolsonaro himself left

the country on December 30, a week before the attack in Brasilia. He has been staying in a rented home in Florida, in the southeast United States.

In the wake of the January 8 attack, Brazil’s Federal Police said they found a draft decree at the home of Anderson Torres, former justice minister under Bolsonaro.

It called for a military-led committee to “analyse the integrity of the presidential election”. If enacted, it would have also put the capital under a state of emergency.

Torres, who has been arrested, has claimed he received the document from a member of the public and that it was being taken out of context. But critics have decried the document as evidence of a far-right putsch.

“I find it hard to imagine a coup would have moved forward without US support,” said Pagliarini, the history professor at Hampden-Sydney College. “If Donald Trump were in the White House, the situation almost certainly would have been very differ-

ent.”

The riot came as a baptism of fire for the nascent Lula government. But Pagliarini believes the attack may ultimately weigh in Lula’s favour.

“You could argue this is the last thing Lula would want at this early stage of his administration,” Pagliarini said. “But there is opportunity in this emergency.”

“Lula’s great skill is being able to mediate between divergent perspectives, creating a unifying consensus from apparently irreconcilable interests. If he can show that to Brazilians in this turbulent context, he might remind them of his singular position in the nation’s politics.”

Brazil analyst Mario Sergio Lima, meanwhile, called Lula’s decision to quickly announce a federal intervention into Brasilia’s public security apparatus “a masterstroke”.

“He could have easily brought the military in, but that would have empowered them,” Lima said, alluding to the fact that Bolsonaro kept close ties to the military. In-

deed, the list of those arrested for involvement in the riot contains more than a dozen active and retired military personnel.

The analyst added that the situation could even hand Lula greater support in Congress.

“I’m not saying he’ll have a massive ruling coalition, but most politicians, even from the opposition, will look to distance themselves from Bolsonaro,” Lima said.

From a global standpoint, FGV international relations professor Oliver Stuenkel said that an overwhelming majority of world leaders have shown solidarity with the Lula government and its efforts to prosecute the rioters, out of fear that similar attacks could occur elsewhere.

“The international reading of this is that, the more rigorous the response from Brazilian courts, the less risk there is of the January 8 attacks inspiring similar movements in other countries,” Stuenkel said. (Al Jazeera)

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro break into the Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia on January 8, 2023 [Eraldo Peres/AP Photo]

A Modern City

WORK on Guyana’s innovative and modern community, Silica City, will commence this year with the construction of 100 homes and will create jobs and economic opportunities for residents who reside in communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

The new hi-tech city, far removed from the vulnerable coastline and near to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, promises to be physically compact, transit-accessible, technically wired and will offer mixed-use housing, offices and retail spaces.

President Ali stressed the impact of the “catalytic investment,” noting that “The aim is to create

opportunities for 2030 and beyond.”

The Silica City vision was unveiled in 2013 by President Ali while serving as Minister of Housing and Water and its construction starting about a decade later, is in keeping with Guyana’s international commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda and other guidelines.

Progress towards the city’s start has been constant from the beginning, attracting the interest and involvement of government ministries and agencies, as well as many potential service providers and entrepreneurial stakeholders at all related levels, from all over Guyana.

The nation’s youth, vested with the technical capacities and thinking processes that drive innovations, have advantages of producing ideas such as California’s Silicon Valley and others elsewhere – including India’s Bangalore, China’s Shenzen, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Japan, The Philippines, North and South Korea, Vietnam — and Latin America, where El Salvador has established the world’s first Bitcoin capital.

Silica City Guyana is just one of the many unprecedented developments being undertaken by this PPP/Civic administration, that have demonstrated the stark differences between paying lip service to development and delivering

development in new ways and means that equally cater for young and old, and introduce tomorrow’s city today, for the benefit of all.

Just as with the government’s continuing roll out of similarly unprecedented levels of support for Amerindian communities before, during and after Indigenous People’s Day and Amerindian Awareness Month, the connections to turn the bricks and mortar and locally-produced building structures and climate-resilient interventions to be injected, will also open the way for considering similar approaches by others in the Caribbean and beyond, who’re already eyeing Guyana’s silicon-city concept.

The GOAL academy

is already providing the basis for those with eyes on and plans for Silica City to prepare themselves at several levels, and this is yet another opportunity for starting development of the Youth Economy that regional leaders spoke of at the last CARICOM Summit in Suriname.

With most of the region’s youth below 31 years and technological capabilities never as high and opportunities never as wide, this is also a time when other CARICOM nations are paying similar attention to the benefits of at least one such city of tomorrow in each member-state.

The possibilities are countless and endless, as the new wired-up city will provide the

bases for unleashing new waves of creativity, encouraged by rewards for life-changing and sustainable, innovative solutions to old and new problems still haunting Guyanese and Caribbean peoples.

The President’s visionary “cataclysmic investment” idea now taking silicon shape is another of the many out-of-the-ordinary projects unveiled since 2020, aimed at making Guyana and the world see and feel the changes being introduced by a government living and moving with the times, instead of remaining anchored by outdated approaches to development, while the rest of the world moves on.

Sensationalism will not disparage government’s work

I have noted with concern another malicious attempt by opposition members and their activists to mislead the public and to shift focus from the government’s development agenda. Yesterday, aspersions were made that a single wooden bridge was constructed in Sophia to the tune of $3.8 million dollars. I wish to clarify that this

project involved the construction of three bridges for that combined total.

The scope of works undertaken includes the demolition and removal of the existing dilapidated bridges, the construction of the three new structures using strictly green heart timber: 6x8 piles, the installation of 6x8 walers, 2x 12 green heart decking, the ce -

ment casting of the abutments, and the installation of 4x4 columns along with 2x4 rails.

The state of the bridges was brought to my attention by the head teacher, teachers and parents of Bright Future’s daycare and preschool when I was on another assignment in the area. The condition of the bridges posed a serious threat to the safe-

ty of the children, and I promised to remedy the situation immediately. During my visit yesterday, the teachers, parents and community members expressed their satisfaction with the project, and the urgency with which their matter was addressed. I further wish to clarify that in relation to the absence of the handrail, this was a direct request by mem-

bers of the community who asked that we avoid placing those rails because it encourages loitering on the bridge, which is a nuisance for others using the bridges, especially women and children.

I wish to caution members of the public not to fall prey to sensationalism and deliberate attempts to disparage the work of the govern-

ment. The public can be reassured that we will continue to work in communities across the country on development projects, regardless of size or scope, all geared towards enhancing lives and improving well-being.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues

City Hall leaders created a culture of deception, misconduct that can take years to undo

Dear Editor,

AS the nation continues to deal with political drama, and the world reels under a now three-year-long assault by a virus, the earth continues to evolve into a dangerously inhospitable environment. Temperatures are increasing, climate change-driven wildfires scorched the Earth’s surface from Australia to the American West — to the even larger pile-up of trash in the ocean — to the Arctic, all adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

I look around and see litter as a part of a long continuum of anti-social

behaviour. Is there no pride in having a clean city? In my previous article, I mentioned environmental issues within itself are challenging, but when politics, bigotry and racism is thrown in the mix, it can be disastrous. The Mayor of our city Pt. Ubraj Narine has proved exactly this. His bigoted, arrogant and cowardly behaviour is evidence of how we, as a ‘progressing’ community, have been left staggering behind. Integrity, insight and inclusiveness are the three essential qualities of leadership, none of which the mayor of our country possesses. His recent behaviour has been shameful and appalling,

more so, the influence that comes with his stature is extremely dangerous to his followers. Not only is he misleading them, but he is also inciting Islamophobia, hate and racism.

I have been living in Guyana all my life as a Muslim, and I never faced religious hate crime or islamophobia, nor would I think in a million years this would have happened in such a respectful and open-minded society. To see an ‘influential’ leader spewing hate that Guyana is an Islamic state due to the religious beliefs of President Irfaan Ali is merely pathetic. I am even more shocked and hurt at those who agree with

Man ditches submachine gun, ammo after noticing police at Turtle Creek

his Islamophobic statement.

The leaders of the City Hall created a culture of deception and promoted misconduct that can take years to undo. It is disgraceful that the City Council has had our country like this and what is more shameful was the Mayor’s decision to boycott it. Adapting to the realities of climate change will be expensive, but not confronting this head on and in as unified a manner as possible will endanger lives and disrupt food chains and biospheres. The world cannot afford that, Guyana cannot afford that.

As the season of tourism beckons, guests will come, and they will see us

with all our shame. We are trashy people. To see His Excellency, President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Honorable Sarah-Ann Lynch, tourists, diplomats and ambassadors, expatriates and important officials from the Private Sector cleaning up our mess is literally humiliating. They must be applauded for their efforts because while we are ignoring or contributing to the mountains of trash that stain our city, they took the initiative to clean up after us from their own goodwill. This is not their home; seeing strangers and outsiders doing what citizens are meant to do is embarrassing.

Let us resolve to solve

a problem that could be easily corrected if only people just met some of their most basic obligations. What is so difficult about waiting to find a trash receptacle rather than tossing garbage out? Or putting out one’s trash for collection rather than dumping it somewhere and making it someone else’s problem? Fighting for change calls for innovation, co-operation and will-power to make the changes that the world needs.

RANKS of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday recovered a black “Tec-9” submachine gun and (55) 9mm rounds of ammunition during a patrol in the vicinity of Turtle Creek, Upper Mazaruni River.

According to a police press release, officers

observed an identifiable male behaving suspiciously. The man, after noticing the officer, ran towards some bushes and threw a black plastic bag into the bushes, after which he continued to run.

The man was pursued by ranks but managed to avoid apprehension.

A search of the bag revealed the submachine gun with a magazine and 55 9mm rounds of ammunition.

Up to press time, officers were searching the area and adjoining “backdam” with a view to apprehending the suspect.

Respectfully, Nazar Mohamed Businessman

The firearm that was found by the police

Guyana to enhance capacity to detect diseases early

GUYANA has taken steps to advance the “One Health” initiative, with the signing of an agreement with the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA), on Wednesday.

Signatories to the agreement were the Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Malcolm Watkins, and IICA’S Representative to Guyana, Wilmott Garnett.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the “One Health” initiative is an approach to designing

and implementing programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes.

This approach is critical to addressing health threats in the animal, human, and environmental interface.

With the pact, IICA will conduct evaluations and capacity building in food safety with personnel from the ministries of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.

Delivering remarks, Minister of Health, Dr.

Frank Anthony said, according to data from around the world, zoonotic diseases are moving into the human

population, citing the COVID-19 virus.

Minister Anthony highlighted that Guyana has shortcomings as it

relates to early detection of diseases and as such, the agreement will assist in increasing the capacity in Guyana.

“Health is not something that is just for the Ministry of Health, but it also has to be integrated across the board and we need all partners on board if we are going to have a comprehensive system of monitoring for future diseases,” Dr. Anthony said.

Meanwhile, Garnett said: “Our team will also be visiting, doing some field work after these professionals have been

trained, they will be engaging to do some physical assessments and so in the respective regions.”

Minister Anthony also related that the external evaluation of state parties’ reports is progressing.

This report will pave the way for Guyana to access the pandemic fund to prepare for any possible future pandemics.

Adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy was also present at the signing ceremony. (DPI)

— National Toshaos Council says Budget 2023 shows govt’s commitment to improving lives of Indigenous Peoples

THE executive body of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) has registered its support for Budget 2023 themed, “Improving lives today, building prosperity for tomorrow,” which was presented to the National Assembly, on Monday.

“The NTC would like to congratulate President, Dr.

for his visionary leadership and more specifically, Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh for his detailed and eloquent budget presentation.

“This budget, the largest in Guyana’s history, shows the government’s commitment to the continued upliftment and improvement

of the lives of all Guyanese, especially the First Peoples,” the NTC said.

As the legal body representing all Amerindians of Guyana, the council commended the government for this visionary budget.

“The budget is a demonstration of the government’s ability to prudently manage our coun-

try’s diverse resources, as well as making conscious investments in sectors that will immediately impact our daily lives.

“As leaders, we are eagerly looking forward to some of the interventions that will have a direct impact on the lives of our people,” the council said.

Among the measures, which the NTC highlighted were the impending increase in the education grant to $40,000; improved land tenure security for Indigenous Peoples with the allocation of $500 million for the continuation of the Land Titling project; completion and furnishing of the NTC Secretariat at a cost of 69.7 million; improvement of hinterland roads to the tune of $5 billion, which will improve access, and the $500 million allocation to construct and equip ICT hubs in Amerindian villages and communities, bridging the digital divide.

The NTC also referenced the $1.4 billion allocation for improving water access through the continued upgrading and extension of water systems; $4.7 billion that will go towards programmes and initiatives that will improve the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples, and the $91.8 million

allocation for the hosting of annual National Toshaos Conference.

All of those interventions and more show the government’s commitment to fulfilling its manifesto promises, while at the same time, bridging the gap between the coast and hinterland, the NTC related.

The council said it intends to participate fully in the revision of the Amerindian Act 2006, and is grateful for the soon-to-be-completed secretariat building, which will allow the NTC to improve its functions to all Amerindian villages and communities.

“Additionally, the NTC recognises the sterling efforts our First Peoples to preserve and protect our pristine rainforest and, therefore, looks forward to 15 per cent of revenues to be received from the sale of carbon credits that will go towards investments identified in village sustainability plans developed by villages and communities themselves,” the NTC said, noting that it remains committed to offering its continued support to the government in its efforts to improve the lives of Amerindians.

Mohamed Irfaan Ali,

From left: IICA’s Representative in Guyana, Wilmott Garnett and Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Malcolm Watkins signing the agreement on Wednesday

— with signing of ‘One Health’ agreement between IICA, Health Ministry

GTA conducts ‘much-needed’ tourism operators’ licensing clinic

SCORES of tourism operators were on Wednesday provided with readily available services to advance their operations during a licensing clinic held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

President of Visit Rupununi and proprietor of Karanambu Lodge, Melanie Mc Turk, said the initiative is one that is timely and much needed in the industry.

“I’m effusive… I think it’s a fantastic idea, it’s a wonderful service being offered to the business community, especially for new businesses and smaller micro businesses,” Mc Turk said.

Meanwhile, Charles De Freitas of the Pakaraima Mountain Inn, further suggested that the clinic should be held quarterly to address the concerns of tourism operators in far-flung areas.

De Freitas operates

an eco-lodge in the Rupununi Savannahs, Region Nine.

“I think it’s absolutely essential because it’s a maze of confusion regarding the tourism industry and to get legitimate and following the rules,” he related.

The man further explained that while the clinic is much ap-

preciated, he believes that a more hands-on approach is needed to address many of the challenges faced by tourism operators, especially those who own establishments in hinterland communities.

“We need to have some of the agencies coming into the communities and coming

on the ground,” De Freitas said.

Tourism and hospitality business owners were able to have their queries and concerns addressed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the Guyana Office for

Investment (GO-Invest), Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Guyana Fire Service and Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

Meanwhile, GTA’s Director Kamrul Baksh, in an invited comment, said the aim of the clinic is to offer operators who have not yet been licensed with an opportunity to get licensed or to clarify any queries they may have.

“Its objective is to bring together under a singular space, all the agencies that are responsible for licensing within the tourism industry,” Baksh said.

He added: “We have quite a bit of a crowd here today and we anticipated over 100 businesses will be here to address all of those licensing matters, like getting your compliances for NIS

and GRA, understanding how to get your concessions and so on.”

Baksh is hoping that the GTA will see more businesses being licensed after this clinic.

“We anticipate from this initiative here, it will be very impactful because more and more businesses will be able to become licensed… they will be able to attain licensing with the Guyana Tourism Authority. I think we will have far higher numbers of businesses than we have ever had in the past,” he related.

In addition to those agencies, several insurance companies were present to sell public liability, fire and other insurance packages.

The second clinic will be held in Region Nine before the end of the first quarter of this year, while a third is also expected to be held in Region Seven, Baksh said.

Citizens urged to follow DHB’s earlymorning, double-lane schedule

DRIVERS and commuters, especially early users of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, have been urged to follow the early-morning, double-lane schedule (eastbound) from 05:55hrs to 07:00hrs and 07:35hrs to 08:00hrs.

This double-lane measure was instituted to accommodate the total volume of traffic heading into Georgetown/ Demerara on or before 08:30hrs; however, this can only work if there is promptness and cooperation on both sides.

“At the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, we are working to ensure our systems are in place to facilitate this process, as well as to be on standby in the event of any untoward incident.

We, therefore, implore our citizens on the West Bank of Demerara and the West Coast of Demerara who travel or drive this route daily, to work with us and make use of the scheduled double-lane periods.

“Let’s all work to

avoid the buildup of traffic during the early hours (second double-lane half hour) and to contribute as much as we can to alleviate traffic congestion on the bridge. Thank you for your usual cooperation,” the bridge company said.

Tourism operators interacted with various agencies at the first tourism- licensing clinic held on Wednesday (Ministry of Tourism photo)

GAWU: Emphasis on pro-people policies evident in Budget 2023

— says support to ‘sugar’ reverses clear efforts by former APNU+AFC administration to paralyse the industry

THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) believes that the 2023 national budget, presented under the theme, “Improving Lives Today, Building Prosperity for Tomorrow,” will further extend and enhance the ongoing efforts of the government to improve the welfare of all Guyanese.

“We recognized that the policies and programmes being elucidated offers several benefits and improvements to our citizens. And it is clear to us that the lives of our people were at the centre of the policy-making process.

“In that regard, our union joins several organisations and individuals in welcoming Budget 2023 which has much in store for our nation. We also congratulate the government and its pro-development vision, which articulates an exciting and prosperous future for all,” GAWU said.

The union said the nation’s largest-ever budget has provided support to every area of national life, and it indicates that considerable thought and effort was paid to ensure that every Guyanese man, woman and child benefits and enjoys the economic development taking place.

“We have taken note of the emphasis to ensure equitable and sustainable development, greater access to resources to enhance our well-being, and improved attention to promoting safety and security.

“Additionally, the building of a strong, robust, and diversified foundation clearly demonstrates that the future will be exciting,” GAWU said.

Regarding workers and the ordinary people, the union took note of several measures advanced by Budget 2023 to improve disposable income, bringing the aspirations of Guyanese within reach, and to ensure that the life of everyone is safeguarded.

Against that background, the union welcomed the improvement in the income-tax threshold.

“While we have heard some views, in the context of the challenging macro environment it is a laudable advancement. The GAWU, however, does not see the tax threshold in isolation, but takes into account several other initiatives advanced and sustained by Budget 2023.

“The extension of the freight charges computation for imported commodities and the undertaking that the gains from this relief are passed on to our ordinary people is significant. Similarly, we note the extension of the excise tax waivers on fuel, mitigating the full effect of rising fuel prices. Those two measures together with the income-tax adjustment equate to several billion dollars,” GAWU said.

Further, the union acknowledged continued support to the electricity and water sectors to maintain tariffs despite rising operating costs, noting that those are serious measures aimed at curtailing the cost of living.

Additionally, considering improvements to the education grant, old-age pension and public assistance, reduction in duties on vehicles, among other things, there is no doubt that Guyanese have secured substantial gains.

“Apart from those measures, the investments in health, education, housing, water, and social services enhances [sic] our collective well-being. Similarly, the substantial provisions for infrastructure we hold will go a far way in reducing infrastructural deficits.

“Considered in aggregate, Budget 2023 offers to our people many benefits

and substantial gains. It provides unlocked resources that will make our lives better and build a stronger Guyana,” GAWU said.

SUPPORT FOR SUGAR

“Our union has also recognised the budget’s focus to return the sugar industry to a viable and sustainable position. Against that background, the budget has appropriated the sum of four billion dollars ($4B) towards the ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance the industry’s capital stock.

“It is apposite to recognise that the support comes after there were clear efforts under the former government to paralyse the industry to the point of no return which, we believe, was in execution of its narrow, biased political agenda,” GAWU said.

The union went on to say: “This year, we note investments will be focused on improving the industry’s packaging capacity and furthering mechanization together will play a meaningful role in enhancing efficiency, augmenting revenue and diversifying the product base.

“These we hold are essential elements to safeguard the industry and undoubtedly the thousands of Guyanese who depends [sic] on its operations.”

In the GAWU’s view, Budget 2023 is evidently one geared at bringing about betterment for the Guyanese people and tangibly realising the government’s vision of a “One Guyana,” by improving lives today and building prosperity for tomorrow.

131M people in Latin America, the Caribbean cannot access healthy diet

THE new United Nations report Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2022 finds that 22.5 per cent of the Latin America and the Caribbean population cannot afford a healthy diet.

In the Caribbean, this figure reaches 52 per cent; in Mesoamerica, 27.8 per cent; and in South America, 18.4 per cent.

The publication reports that 131.3 million people in the region could not afford a healthy diet in 2020.

This represents an increase of eight million compared to 2019 and is due to the higher average daily cost of healthy diets in Latin America and the Caribbean compared to the rest of the world’s regions, reaching in the Caribbean a value of US$4.23, followed by South America and Mesoamerica with US$3.61 and US$3.47, respectively.

This problem is related to different socioeconomic and nutritional indicators. The report presents a clear relationship between the inability to afford a healthy diet and such variables as a country’s income level, the incidence of poverty, and the level of inequality.

The report also reveals that the rise in international food prices experienced since 2020, exacerbated after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and a regional increase in food inflation above the general level, have increased the difficulties for people to access a healthy diet.

The document also includes recommendations based on evidence and an

analysis of policies already implemented to improve the availability and affordability of nutritious foods, focusing on supporting the most vulnerable people and low-income households that spend a more significant proportion of their budgets on food.

“There is no individual policy that can solve this problem independently. National and regional coordination mechanisms need to be strengthened to respond to hunger and malnutrition,” said Mario Lubetkin, FAO Assistant Director and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean.

“To contribute to the affordability of healthy diets, it is necessary to create incentives for the diversification of the production of nutritious foods aimed mainly at family farming and small-scale producers, take measures for the transparency of the prices of these foods in markets and trade, and actions such as cash transfers and improving school menus,” Lubetkin concluded.

Trade and market policies can play a fundamental role in improving food security and nutrition. Greater transparency and efficiency improve inter-regional agri-food trade by replacing uncertainty with market predictability and stability.

“We are talking about the region of the world with the most expensive healthy diet, which particularly affects vulnerable populations – small farmers, rural women, and indigenous

— UN report highlights

and Afro-descendant populations – who allocate a greater percentage of their income to the purchase of food,” said IFAD Regional Director Rossana Polastri.

“To reverse this situation, we must promote innovative solutions that diversify production and increase the supply of healthy food, and that improve small producers’ access to markets and quality food, including digital solutions that articulate food supply and demand.”

The report also describes how some nutrition-sensitive social protection programmes have worked and are essential to support the diets of the most vulnerable population, particularly in periods of crisis.

“Food insecurity will continue to rise due to the food and fuel price crisis caused by the conflict in Ukraine and the aftermath of COVID-19,” said Lola Castro, WFP Regional Director.

“We must act now, but how can we do it? Support-

ing governments to expand social protection networks because the pandemic once again demonstrated that social protection is useful to improve the affordability of a healthy diet, preventing crises like this from hitting affected populations even more.”

Other food policies such as nutritional labelling, subsidizing nutritious foods, and taxing unhealthy or non-nutritious foods that do not contribute to healthy diets, if well designed, can improve the affordability of healthy diets and prevent debilitating conditions and diseases related to overweight and obesity.

“We must redouble efforts to address malnutrition in all its forms by promoting public policies to create healthy food environments, eliminate industrially produced trans fats, implement front-end warning labelling, regulate advertising of unhealthy foods, tax sugary drinks, and support healthy eating and physical activity in schools,” PAHO Director

Carissa F. Etienne said.

“Understanding the factors that determine poor dietary practices is key to finding solutions and ensuring that everyone in the region has access to healthy foods,” she said.

For example, countries with higher levels of poverty and inequality tend to have more significant difficulties accessing a healthy diet, which is directly associated with a higher prevalence of hunger, chronic malnutrition in boys and girls, and anaemia in women aged 15 to 49.

“For children to grow up healthy, it is not only urgent to ensure the availability of nutritious food at affordable prices. It is also necessary to develop public policies that guarantee adequate nutrition, in addition to nutritional counselling, focusing actions on the most vulnerable populations,” said Garry Conelly, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The socioeconomic panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean is not encouraging. The most affected population groups are children under five and women, who suffer a higher prevalence of food insecurity than men.

The Regional Panorama of Food and Nutrition Security 2022 is a joint publication of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization

(PAHO/WHO); the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

THE NUMBER OF HUNGRY PEOPLE CONTINUES TO RISE

Between 2019 and 2021, the number of hungry people in the region increased by 13.2 million, reaching 56.5 million hungry people in 2021. The highest increase was in South America, where an additional 11 million people suffered from hunger. Between 2019 and 2021, hunger reached a prevalence of 7.9 per cent in South America, 8.4 per cent in Mesoamerica, and 16.4 per cent in the Caribbean.

In 2021, 40.6 per cent of the regional population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, compared to 29.3 per cent worldwide. Severe food insecurity was also more frequent in the region (14.2per cent) than in the world (11.7per cent).

Other figures presented in the report indicate that the region registers an important and positive evolution regarding the prevalence of chronic malnutrition in children under five years of age.

In 2020, this figure was 11.3 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean, approximately 10 percentage points below the world average. However, 3.9 million children up to five years of age are overweight.

(FAO)

Rig arrives to drill CGX’s Wei-1 well

THE semi-submersible Noble Discoverer rig has arrived in Guyana to spud CGX Energy’s Wei-1 prospect in the Corentyne Block.

This was confirmed to OilNOW by an official from Guyana’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).

Now, all bets are on Wei, a prospect deemed “a key well to watch” by London-based energy intelligence firm, Westwood Global Energy.

The Wei-1 well will be located approximately 14 kilometres northwest of the Kawa-1 exploration well in the Corentyne block, approximately 200 kilometres offshore Guyana and will be drilled in water depth of approximately 1,912 feet (583 metres) to an anticipated total depth of 20,500 feet (6,248 metres).

CGX said the Wei-1 well will target Maastrichtian, Campanian and Santonian-aged stacked chan-

nels in a western channel complex in the northern section of the Corentyne block.

CGX Energy is the operator of the Corentyne Block and has held a 66.67 per cent stake, up until recently, a deal was made to surrender the majority stake to its partner in the licence, Frontera Energy, increasing Frontera’s interest to 68 per cent. (OilNOW)

communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway

Quantity of international cargo handled at port facilities to increase

— following signing of US$4M loan agreement between John Fernandes Limited, IDB-Invest for second mobile crane

A US$4 million corporate loan agreement was signed between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-Invest and John Fernandes Limited (JFL) for the procurement of Guyana’s second mobile land line crane (MHC).

The signing of the agreement, which was observed by Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, allows for an increase in the quantity of international cargo handled at the port facilities operated by John Fernandes Limited.

The IDB noted that currently, all port operations in Guyana rely on crane vessels for loading and discharging containers, and that these are less efficient and have less cargo-handling capacity than an MHC.

So, with the incorporation of the MHC, JFL would be able to service gearless vessels that can carry a substantially great-

er amount of cargo and do so more efficiently, due to the MHC’s ability to load and discharge containers at a higher rate.

Dr Singh, during the virtual signing ceremony, expressed his appreciation to IDB-Invest for showing its commitment to investing in this private-sector project, which not only allows for development of port facilities generally in the country, but is also

a sign that the financial institution is showing serious interest in quickly and aggressively assisting in Guyana’s development in more ways than one.

He recalled that it was the same institution that, in October, signed a similar loan agreement of the same cost with Muneshwers Limited for the procurement of Guyana’s first mobile crane.

Dr Singh commend -

ed both John Fernandes’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Philip Fernandes and the IDB Group’s Country Representative (ag) Lorena Solorzano Salazar for the fast pace at which the agreement was finalised.

According to the IDB, the transaction will not only support increased cargo-handling capacity from the current 33,000 20-foot equivalent unit (“TEUs”)

containers per year to 100,000 TEUs, but it will also improve the port infrastructure in Guyana and contribute to timely and efficient handling of rising international commerce in the country.

IDB-Invest is the private-sector arm of the IDB. Its aim is to advance economic development and improve lives by encouraging the growth of the private sector. It offers an array of investment opportunities and provides its clients with customised financing solutions and expert advice, tailored to their specific industry and market.

Last month, during his year-end inspection of GRA’s operations at wharves, Minister Singh highlighted that clearance of consignments would further be improved with the addition of two mobile cranes to be operated by John Fernandes Limited and Muneshwers.

“These pieces of equipment will form part of the further modernization of operations at the wharves,” Dr Singh had said then.

It was only on Monday evening that Dr Singh completed his budget presentation of the country’s largest budget, $781.9 billion, to advance the transformation of Guyana’s economy.

The signing, according to the Ministry of Finance, is indicative of the government’s aggressive efforts to transform, develop and implement its programmes and projects.

The ministry said it also demonstrates the government’s commitment to partnering with the private sector (considered the engine of growth) whenever necessary, to move the country’s economy forward and transform its landscape.

CDB shows strong interest in financing energy projects in Guyana

By Tamica Garnett in Barbados

WITH work on several major projects already ongoing in Guyana, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has signalled a strong interest in supporting renewable energy projects through financing and technical support.

Director of Projects at the CDB, Daniel Best, said that the institution shares an excellent relationship with Government of Guyana, and will be open to developing projects in renewable energy “Given our expertise and given the commitment of the Government of Guyana, we are ex -

cited about the prospect of working closely with them to develop initiatives in the renewable energy space,” Best said in an invited comment on the sidelines of the CDB’s annual press conference at the CDB headquarters in Barbados.

He added: “It would be no different from what our approach is to financing renewable energy projects in any of our Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs). We see the importance of it and we have an excellent relationship with the administration in Guyana and we know how they value the CDB.”

In Guyana, the government is currently striving to lower energy costs by at

least 50 per cent through an energy mix which includes several renewable energy initiatives that incorporate solar, wind, and hydropower.

The energy mix being crafted by the government is geared at looking well beyond the country’s current energy needs, but also focusing on catering

for well- forecasted future demand.

In the development of hydropower, the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) is transformational and highly anticipated.

Further, under the Hinterland Electrification Programme, in excess of 19,000 solar PV systems have been installed in

nearly 200 communities.

The government is also in the process of constructing eight large-scale solar farms. The eight utility-scale, photovoltaic solar projects totaling 33M Megawatts- peak (MWp) with associated 34 Megawatt hour (MWh) energy storage systems are distributed across three areas in the country.

The CDB currently has a number of multimillion-dollar projects ongoing in Guyana, with one being the US$190 million Linden to Mabura Hill road, one of the largest funded project in the history of the Bank.

The CDB is also nearing completion of the US$14.04 million

Skills Development and Employability programme, which aims to assist the government to enhance access to, and improve, the quality and effectiveness of the technical and vocational education and training in Guyana. The project includes the establishment of six practical instruction centres (PICs) across the country to boost TVET delivery.

The CDB is also involved in the building of Guyana’s Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute to the tune of U$11.656 million and has injected US$30.902 million into Guyana’s Sea and River Defence Resilience Project.

Operational Agreement signed for management of NRF

— as further demonstration of the strengthened governance architecture of the Fund

SENIOR Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, on Wednesday, oversaw the signing of the Operational Agreement for the Management of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) between the Board of Directors of the Natural Resource Fund

the Central Bank for the operational management of Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund.

One of the key amendments to the NRF Act 2021 was strengthening the governance architecture of the fund through the establishment of

the Fund, replaced the cumbersome 22-member committee previously proposed.

The Board of Directors and PAOC members were appointed in August 2022.

In alignment with the requirement of the Natural Resource Fund Act, since April

etary Fund (IMF) Article IV Mission Report that was released in September 2022 commended the PPP/C Government for the amendments made to the NRF Act and highlighted: “The NRF Act was strengthened recently. After a thorough review,

and while restraining the spending of the oil receipts, the authorities amended the NRF Act in December 2021. The recent amendments set clear ceilings on withdrawals from the Fund for budgetary spending…”

Also witnessing the

signing of the operational agreement were Directors Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Professor Compton Bourne, O.E, and Dunstan Barrow, CCH, along with Chief Accountant of the Bank of Guyana, Maurice Munro.

and the Bank of Guyana, in the boardroom at the Ministry of Finance.

The agreement was signed by Chairman of the Board of Directors, Major General (ret’d) Joseph Singh, MSS and Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, and is in keeping with Section 5 (6) (d) of the Natural Resource Fund Act of 2021, which states the Board is required to enter into an operational agreement with

a Board of Directors tasked with the overall management of the Fund, reviewing and approving the policies of the Fund and monitoring its performance, thereby separating the management of the Fund from the minister responsible for finance.

In addition, a nine-member Public Accountability and Oversight Committee (PAOC), responsible for providing non-governmental oversight of the operations of

2022, notifications of receipts of petroleum revenues are being published in the Official Gazette and have been tabled in Parliament.

Prior to the signing of the operational agreement, Minister Singh provided policy guidance to the Board of Directors of the Natural Resource Fund, with Budget 2023 having been presented to the National Assembly on Monday.

The International Mon -

Senior Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, on Wednesday, oversaw the signing of the Operational Agreement for the Management of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) between the Board of Directors of the Natural Resource Fund and the Bank of Guyana

Ansa McAl adopts Parkside Steel Orchestra, donates $1M

The management of Ansa McAl officially adopted and handed over $1 million to the “Parkside Steel Orchestra” as the company signed

a three-year partnership with the popular steel band. Parkside is one of Guyana’s most talented bands and has won the National Steel

Pan Competition 10 times. The band is over two decades old and will now be known as the Ansa McAl Parkside Steel Orchestra.

Managing Director of Ansa McAl (Guyana) Troy Cadogan, said the company believes it is the opportune time to showcase its continued support for the arts and culture in Guyana with the return of the Panorama competition for the Mashramani celebrations.

The Chairperson of the Parkside Steel Orchestra, Kelisha Edwards said the band is pleased with the support and partnership that have been extended from the Ansa McAl company.

According to the corporate communication manager of Ansa McAl, Alleya Hamilton, “we are branding the band and officially calling them our own, so after today, it will be called Ansa McAl Parkside Steel Orchestra. We will be supporting them throughout the year and the donation of one million dollars is given to them, so that they will be able to offset all expenses such as purchasing new pans, uniforms, etc.”

Further, Hamilton said the company’s main objectives are to highlight, support and spotlight talented individuals in the orchestra. It is their vision to showcase this locally and internation-

ally throughout the year, not only during the Mashramani festivities.

She also noted that it is an initiative that stems from the company’s robust corporate social responsibility programme, which focuses on youth development and creating more opportunities for them.

“All the bands in Guyana are special and unique in their own way, but this band specifically reached out to us and sought our support and sponsorship, and we like what they brought to the table as well.”

While Hamilton believes that Guyana’s music industry is very diverse, she doesn’t think that many musicians get the publicity they deserve and need. That is why, according to her, Ansa McAl is involved in giving the youths the much-needed push they require.

One such initiative that Ansa McAl sponsored last year was the Band-on-theBeach Carnival.

“We were really impressed with the number of bands that were there, showing their talents and entertaining the Guyanese people. We enjoyed what we

saw there and we have now decided to give Parkside a chance,” said the communications manager.

Finally, Ms. Hamilton thanked the Government of Guyana for what is being done for young people and their talent, saying, “As a young person myself, I love the initiative by the government. I know that Guyanese are talented, but that talent has not been widely recognized.”

She continued: “So most young people will focus on getting a nine-to-five job and just living on that, but now I am happy that the government is taking into consideration the talents that are out there and seeing the need for investment in and cultivation of them. As part of the private sector, we are absolutely happy that President Ali has urged us to come on board and invest in the lives of young people.”

Ansa McAl is blazing the trail and hopes that other corporate institutions will join them in developing the lives of young people’s talents and providing a platform for them to benefit from their success.

Second prison-van escapee recaptured at Bushy Park, WCD

ALMOST a week after he escaped while being transported to the Lusignan Prison, Ryan Wilson, 29, a contractor of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, was recaptured at Bushy Park on Wednesday.

According to the Guyana Police Force, at about 10:50hrs, ranks acted on information received and went to Bushy Park, where Wilson was arrested.

Police said Wilson was told of the allegation and cautioned. Wilson was escorted to the Leonora Police

Station where he is awaiting charges.

On Friday last, Wilson and 22-year-old Shamar Singh managed to escape after they kicked open the prison van’s door.

On Monday, Singh contacted his mother and surrendered to the police. Police had reported that Wilson was arrested for indecent assault while Singh was arrested for simple larceny and the possession of narcotics.

Ryan Wilson

$3.8M

rehabilitated bridges commissioned in Sophia

MANAGEMENT and children of Bright Future’s Day Care, Pre-school and Nursery School and other residents at Section ‘B’ and Section ‘C’ Sophia, Georgetown, can now enjoy improved access to the institution and the related communities.

On Tuesday, the Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, commissioned three newly constructed timber bridges leading to the school to the tune of $3.8 million.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, assists children in cutting the ribbon to commission one of three newly constructed timber bridges leading to the school

Close to 60 children currently attend the school. The Minister noted that the three previous bridges were in a poor state and posed a threat to the safety of learners, other children and residents of the community. As such, rehabilitation was urgent.

In late December 2022, Minister Rodrigues announced the awarding of the contract to Four Js Construction Services and stated that mobilisation of equipment and construction would have commenced without delay.

“We’re very happy to be able to deliver this contract within three weeks and I know the children will be very safe now,” the Minister stated.

The construction was done in close consultation with residents. Upon their request, the Minister said a decision was made to ensure the bridges did not have certain types of rails that could encourage loitering.

“We came up with a different design so that the children can use the bridge but there wouldn’t be anybody ‘hanging around’ or ‘liming’ on the bridge inhibiting the school children from having full access,” explained Minister Rodrigues.

Ms. Silvia Jules, whose son attends the school, said she was delighted with the new bridges.

She recalled that many days she would have to jump over holes in the old bridges, and while persons had attempted to ease the situation by putting plywood, it would slip and cause people to fall.

“I am very much satisfied and happy to get a smooth walk over the bridge. I can let go of my child’s hands and let him walk freely over the bridge, I don’t have to lift him,” said Ms. Jules.

Supervisor at the school, Ms. Asha Wallace, added, “it was very dangerous for the children that attend here and other children that have to use the same [old] bridges to get to and fro school. […] We are very satisfied with what has been done so far and we’re thankful”.

A Councillor from the area, Mr. Dion Younge, also lauded the quick response of Minister Rodrigues to the issue, as he noted several attempts were made to repair the bridges over the years.

— Teachers, parents and residents praise improved access to school

Zimbabwe beat Ireland in final-ball finish

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Zimbabwe beat Ireland by three wickets in a thrilling final-ball finish in Harare. Needing four to win off the final ball, Clive Madande swiped Graham Hume for four over midwicket to seal the win at a boisterous Harare Sports Club Zimbabwe had won the toss with Craig Ervine opting to field first, and Zimbabwe’s bowlers immediately

put Ireland under pressure. The visitors struggled in the opening powerplay against Richard Ngarava and Victor Nyauchi, and at that stage, Ireland were 28 for 2.

But a 212-run partnership between Andy Balbirnie and Harry Tector put Ireland on course for a strong total. Both men got centuries, before Balbirnie was forced to retire hurt on 121 after he top-edged a ball into the grill of his helmet, and was forced

off concussed. But cameos at the death from George Dockerell and Lorcan Tucker took Ireland to 288.

Ireland kept Zimbabwe reined in during the powerplay as well, and the loss of the openers saw the asking rate rise. But Zimbabwe ’s trusted middle order put the home side back on course.

Craig Ervine and Gary Balance got runs, before a 76-run partnership between Sikandar Raza and Ryan

Burl -- who scored 59 -brought Zimbabwe back into the game.

Rain arrived in the 34th over, at which stage Zimbabwe were two runs behind the DLS target. After more than an hour, the sides got back on the pitch, with Zimbabwe requiring 39 off 22 balls. The loss of Raza immediately after put Ireland in the driving seat, leaving Burl to fight on almost single-handedly.

A few lusty blows from the left-hander brought Zimbabwe close, but when he was run out trying to get back on strike, his side still needed 11 off four balls. Brad Evans hit a six off the first ball before being dismissed the next, and in the end, Zimbabwe needed four off the last delivery

An overpitched ball from Hume was smeared to cow corner by Madande as Zimbabwe sealed a scintillating win.

Andy Balbirnie hit 121 off 137 before retiring hurt (AFP/Getty Images)

Gill double overturns Bracewell’s century as India beat New Zealand

(ESPNCRICINFO) - As they waited for the final DRS review of the match -- a mere formality -- Shubman Gill and Michael Bracewell shook hands and congratulated each other. They had batted superbly to set up a modern classic. Gill became the youngest double-centurion in ODIs before Bracewell made a game out of a chase of 350 from 130 for 6 with a sensational 140 off 78 balls. Eventually New Zealand were within two sixesBracewell had hit 10 already - of levelling scores when they lost their last wicket with four balls to go.

Gill’s place in India’s ODI side was questioned because the batter who replaced him when he was resting scored a double-hundred, and he responded with one of his own after making 70, 21 and 116 in his first three innings since his return. This wasn’t the easiest of tracks for batting; the next-best score was Rohit Sharma’s 34, and India ’s 349 for 8 was the lowest score in any ODI innings to feature a double-century.

The conditions turned in the second half of the match as they do, but by then Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav had helped India take six wickets, which proved to be the difference even when Bracewell and Mitchell Santner added 162 for the seventh wicket in just 17 overs. Towards the end the asking rate was within reach but Bracewell ran out of partners.

When play started, with India once again taking on the challenge of scoring a total they can defend under lights, hard lengths bowled straight were difficult to hit, and the odd ball turned for Santner and Bracewell. New Zealand kept picking up wickets regularly, but Gill

kept taking the heat off, scoring 19 off 8, 17 off 12, 12 off 8 and 18 off 10 immediately after the first four dismissals.

New Zealand conceded just 93 runs in 13 overs from the 35th to the 47th, but then Gill launched his biggest assault, scoring 39 off his last 12 balls.

Rohit and Gill got India off to a quick start, but once Santner started to string together tight overs, wickets began to fall. Rohit felt the need to take the bowling on, and skied an intended hit down the ground. Soon,

the first ball that turned in the match went past Virat Kohli’s bat to hit the top of off. Santner had brought New Zealand back into the match.

Gill, though, looked sublime. His back-foot punch, his extra-cover drive and his dismissive pulls were all on display. In a welcome departure from the way India play in such situations, Gill tried to take spin down immediately. His first attempt resulted in an outside edge off a non-turning Bracewell offbreak, but Tom Latham dropped the catch. Gill didn’t

back down. In the same over, he slog-swept a six to get to 52 off 52

Lockie Ferguson came back to get Ishan Kishan out, following which Gill and Suryakumar Yadav looked threatening in a 65 -run stand in 53 balls. A timely breakthrough boosted New Zealand when Suryakumar chipped Daryl Mitchell straight to cover.

Gill went to his hundred with a six and a single in the 30th over, moments after Suryakumar’s dismissal. Four down, India couldn’t quite capitalise in the overs just before the final powerplay. Losing Hardik Pandya in the 40th over to a debatable call pushed their final kick further into the innings.

When it did arrive, the final kick was awesome.

With three overs remaining, Gill stopped waiting for hittable balls. He just looked to hit everything out of the ground. Blair Tickner was taken for two sixes in the 48th, and a hat-trick of sixes off Ferguson in the 49th brought up the double. By the time Glenn Phillips produced a special catch to get rid of Gill, he had hit 19 fours and nine sixes

GTA praises sport sector allocation in 2023 budget

sion, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

It

We

We commend the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr Charles Ramson for his astute leadership and frequent engagements with the executive of the GTA to assess our needs, provide funding and create pathways to im-

prove the performance of athletes , coaches, and the Executive.

The GTA looks forward to continued interaction with the Honourable Minister and the National Sports Commission as the Executive strives to bring growth to the sport of tennis throughout Guyana.

THE Guyana Badminton Association wishes to commend the 2023 National Budget presented by the Hon. Minister of Finance, Ashni Singh. Our unanimous view is that this budget is comprehensive and adds another pillar to the

construction of a strong sports sector by the present government.

is public knowledge that the fraternity has been injected with needed support and vigour from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport under the leadership of the

Hon. Charles Ramson Jr, who has created a new vision and direction for sport in Guyana. We anticipate that even though 2022 was an excellent year for local sport, the provisions in the Budget will allow for an even better 2023.

Shubman Gill brought up his double-century in 145 deliveries • Associated Press

THE Executive

members of the Guyana Tennis Association welcome the increase in funds allocated to sport in the 2023 National Budget.

are optimistic that our sport will expand to new areas this year with the continuous support of the National Sports Commis -

Savory hungry for 4-day team selection, following huge ton in Eagles practice match

By Clifton Ross

FRESH off a big hundred in the Guyana Harpy Eagles 4-day practice match a few days ago, wicket-keeper/batsman, Kemol Savory, said he plans to focus on batting for longer periods while scoring efficiently this season, as he keeps one eye trained on making the national squad ahead of the upcoming CWI Regional 4-day Tournament.

The Essequibian pummelled 170 off 192 balls during the first of two practice games at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, which ended recently. The left-hander, representing the Tagenarine Chanderpaul XI, more than likely raised the selectors’ eyebrows early following his classic knock.

During an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport following his century, Savory, who has been enjoying his regional cricket with the Eagles in the 50-over format, said it’s time for a transition to the highest, most important form of cricket.

“My performance, I expect, will give me recognition by the selectors in which I hope I will be given an opportunity to contribute significantly this season. Hopefully, I can then concrete my place in our national 4-day team,” said Savory.

Acknowledging the competition and challenges which most players are exposed to during their early stages of playing national/ international cricket, the batsman admitted that while 2022 presented its hurdles which were overcome, this year is no different.

“Every year has its challenges and 2023 is no different. The new year brings new challenges, but all of which I strive to further overcome and better myself as a player,” he said.

Given the context of how Savory scored his hundred, it was the aspects of batting alongside his skipper, West Indies Test opener Tagenarine, who also made a fifty coupled with the commanding position in which he initially placed his team.

Explaining the importance of why he revered his hundred, outside of greatly upping his chances at making the 4-day unit, the 26 year-old believed it is the value of runs scored and the impact it brings to one’s team finding success (winning) which holds more weight in the end.

“Scoring a hundred is always great but scoring a significant hundred at this moment in the longer format of cricket was satisfying especially that I am looking to be selected this season”.

Wrapping up his interview, the Eagles opener stressed on how much his fitness and training played a role in his first ton of 2023 and the first of many, as he looks to fully

breakout as a star this year, once the opportunities are given.

“I mainly worked very hard on my fitness levels, both physically and the mental aspects. Also, I want to bat for longer periods when I’m out at the crease, so I am very pleased with the results thus far, but I’m going to put in equal amounts of work, keep myself in form, fit and ready for when my services are needed by the Eagles,” he ended.

Meanwhile, the Harpy Eagles commenced their final 4-day practice game yesterday, as they do final preparation for February’s start to the Regional 4-day Tournament.

FOLLOWING the Government of Guyana’s massive announcement regarding the GYD 4.3B allocated for sports development, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) recently hailed the move for its continued emphasis on the growth of the country’s sporting sector.

The Guyana Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to the development and promotion of sports in Guyana with the historic 2023 budget allocation of 4.3 billion dollars for the overall development of national sports.

This unprecedented and substantial allocation is indicative of the government’s acknowledgement of the benefits of sports to society and its intention to catapult sports to higher levels and professional standards.

According to GCB president Bissoondyal Singh: “The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) embraces this outstanding initiative by government which in our opinion seeks to build on the successes gained by the various sport disciplines and to effectively address and correct the gaps in the system that may otherwise hamper sports development”.

President Singh went on to state that “the GCB Executives on being elected to

office in March 2021, saw it necessary to utilize the template for development established by the government through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (Ministry of CYS).

In this regard, we at the GCB have continuously explored effective ways in which a stronger collaboration can be achieved between the GCB and the Ministry of CYS.

This dispensation resulted in the establishment of the National Cricket Academy Programme which will witness eighteen (18) GCB Academies across the three (3) counties of Guyana feeding talented young players into the County Academies and thereafter into the National Academy”.

President Singh declared that the GCB is particularly pleased with this significant budget allocation for sports and more specifically for the National Cricket Academy. It is apposite to note that this is the first time ever that a National Cricket Academy has featured in the annual budget considerations.

In this regard, the GCB commends Minister Charles Ramson for his presentation of the budget which highlighted the essential need for the National Cricket Academy.

The Academy Programme is projected to develop rounded players in relation to fitness, technical development, mental toughness, diet, nutritional guidelines, lifestyle, and mentorship exercises.

The GCB is pleased to note that its programme for cricket development is aligned with that of the government and will soon yield the desired result of producing talented and professional players.

To produce high-quality players on a sustainable basis, the GCB’s programmes from the youth stage to the senior stage will consist of activities designed for cricket development and performance assessment. Players will be given the opportunity to learn the game in a systematic manner that fosters both individual and team growth.

Further, Singh stated that the development of cricket facilities for the hosting of the National Cricket Academy at the Guyana National Stadium also deserves commendations since the players’ development is related to the opportunities and facilities of international standards available.

The GCB is also pleased to note that there is a budget allocation for the restoration and development of commu-

nity centre grounds which will contribute significantly to the development of cricket within communities.

Singh further lauded His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali for leading the way in these development initiatives. His hands-on leadership has seen progressive results in sports since his ascension to the highest office in Guyana including the securing of the CPL finals for three (3) years -- 2022 to 2024 -- and the introduction of Cricket Carnival in Guyana held during the CPL Guyana leg 2022.

Additionally, Singh stated “It is clear to the GCB that His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, fully understands the needs, requirements and dynamics involved in the administration of sports.

This comprehension allows him to project development initiatives that cater to an all-inclusive participation in sports and particularly activities for the disabled which was noted in 2022.

The GCB President re-stated his fervent hope for a continuation of the excellent relationship between the GCB and the Government of Guyana in general and His Excellency in particular.”

first match,

After Lunch, Nandu confidently cover drove Smith for four and soon reached his second fifty in two matches from 107 balls with six fours before he cut Renaldo Ali-Mohammed to gully at 140-4

Persaud looked very uncomfortable against off-spinner Richie Looknauth and after pushing and prodding as the ball went past the bat, the left-hander tried to hit his way out of trouble and should have been taken at wide mid-off as he skied his fellow West Demerara team mate, but Sylus Tyndall misjudged the offering.

Johnson counter attacked and used his feet to Looknauth and hit him over mid-on for four but when on 25, Johnson again danced into Looknauth, who bowled a bit slower as the left-hander failed to get the pitch, was beaten in the flight and skied a catch to extra cover at 148-4

Yearwood, the fifth left-hander in the order, went after Looknauth, who troubled the left-handers, and miss-hit him for four to long-on to get off the mark.

Yearwood then smashed Thorne for a delightful cover boundary before flicking him fine for four more and by tea, Yearwood was 24, Akshaya Persaud 16 and the score on 187-5.

After the break, the sun returned in all its glory and a handful of fans, which included former Guyana player Claude St John, watched as Persaud was bowled by Junior Sinclair at 194-6 while Kevin Sinclair (1) fell to left-arm spinner, Ashmead Nedd, one run later.

Yearwood, dropped twice off Junior Sinclair, was caught and bowled from a low full toss after offering some resistance with attacking batting, as Motie, who played his only Test last year against Bangladesh, struck at 217-8.

Kevin Sinclair (1), Zeynul Ramsammy (11) and Pestano (16) never suggested permanence.

Today is the second day and play is scheduled to start at 09:30AM

the

joined the well-set Nandu and saw their team to the interval at 93-3 with Nandu on 24.

Ramson Jr.

$4.3B Sport budget

The National Sports Commission (NSC) commends the 2023 National Budget presented by the distinguished Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, which includes the largest-ever allocation for the sports sector. The provision of $4.3B surpasses the prior allotment with a substantial increase

of $1.1B. This unprecedented allocation must be extolled as it highlights, inter alia, this H.E President Irfaan Ali-led government’s continued commitment, vision, and direction for the development of sports and sportsmen and women.

With the largest ever allocation

for the National Sports Commission, Budget 2023 paves the way for Government’s continued transformation in our sports facilities –something that is critical to the development of world class athletes and for the hosting of international tournaments which would have commenced in the previous year.

The allocation also allows for the development of our sportsmen and sportswomen with the National Sports Academy – the first ever in Guyana and the Region – launched last year and has already started to change the landscape of sports in Guyana.

The National Sports Com -

mission unshakeable the presented the leadership Culture, Honourable MP, sport will transform forever.

Guyana Harpy Eagles second practice match…

Sports headed in right direction with $4.3B allocation

Nandu hits 2nd 50, Motie celebrates Test recall with 3-8

West Indies Test Squad for two-Test Series in Zimbabwe

By Sean Devers

reached 25 for Imalch’s X1, who were dismissed for 226 in 75.4 overs

By Calvin Chapman

WITH the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad to Antigua and Grenada expected to be picked on Friday, Canada-born Guyanese Matthew Nandu, scored another fifty on day one of the second practice game at Providence yesterday between Gudakesh Motie’s and Tevin Imlach’s X1.

THE Government of Guyana continues to show their commitment to sport with H.E. President Irfaan Ali overseeing a total of $9B invested thus far in sport since taking office.

The 19-year-old West Indies U-19 player top-scored with 50 from 114 balls, 170 minutes with six fours to virtually book his flight for what would his debut season in First-class cricket.

Spinners Gudakesh Motie (3-8), Richie Looknauth (2-29) and Junior Sinclair (2-33) bowled well for Motie’s X1 who were 46-2 from 12 overs at stumps.

Test Batter Tagenarine Chanderpaul is on 12 and Mavindra Dindyal on six.

This year’s mammoth budget of $4.3B for sports, which was announced by Senior Minister in the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh, during Monday’s budget presentation, eclipses 2022’s $3.2B by over 33% and 2021’s $1.5B.

Nandu, the son of former Guyana ‘leggie’ Arjune Nandu, shared in a 68-run opening stand with the ultra-aggressive Chanderpaul Hemraj, whose 46 came from 36 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

Shamar Joseph has so far picked up 2-15 and with eight wickets so far, could be the dark horse in the race for selection.

Guyana’s U-19 opener, Rampertab Ramnauth flicked Joseph to deep backward square with four overs remaining in the day after making 24 with four boundaries at 30-1 while night watchman Ronsford Beaton (4) did not last long; being removed by Joseph at 36-2.

He was his usual aggressive self and stroked Beaton for another boundary while the level-headed Nandu punched Beaton gloriously past cover as he played the supporting role.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua –

Hemraj pulled West Indies U-19 pacer Isaiah Thorne for six as the 50 came up in 7.4 overs on the fairly fast outfield.

Hemraj slashed Smith over third man for six but attempted a big drive to one that left him and edged to first slip next ball as his reckless shot selection orchestrated his demise at 68-1, when in sight of fifty.

Nandu continued to bat well and stroked Smith for four before off-spinner Junior Sinclair bowled Kevlon Anderson (5) as he missed a pull at a short ball in the penultimate over before Lunch at 93-3.

But only Shamar Yearwood, who hit five fours and a six in his 58-ball 37 and National Captain Leon Johnson, who reached the boundary four times in his 25 from 75 balls,

The 2023 sports budget provisions for a massive stadium at Palmyra, is testament to the administration’s aim of decentralising sport, and true to President Ali’s promise of having a state-of-the-art sport facility on the Corentyne.

Earlier, Imlach’s X1 batted first in hazy sunshine on a track which offered turn for the spinners.

Hemraj got off the mark with an imperious cut for four off Nail Smith before guiding Beaton to third man for four more.

This year’s budget will see major infrastructural works with Hinterland communities set to benefit from multipurpose facilities and, the rehabilitation of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), which has already seen works being commenced.

In addition, Dr. Singh had shared that, “Provision has been set aside for the establishment of a National Cricket Academy.” Meanwhile, there will be, “Construction of stands and grass mounds in Regions Two and Six, extension of the Squash court at the National Racquet Center and procurement of sports gear,” Dr. Singh continued.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Community Ground Enhancement project, which benefitted 54 communities

Imlach and Nandu looked composed against the pace attack with Nandu driving Smith majestically for four through the covers.

The 27-year-old Motie, with the news of his Test recall, was introduced into the attack in the 17th over and struck in his second over when Imlach (11) pushed forward to one that spun and edged it to the ‘keeper’ at 90-2

Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister in the Office of the President

last year with 21 of those being outfitted with lights, has been allocated another $250m this year for the continued improvement of community grounds across the country.

President’s Ali promise of making Guyana a regional hub for sports began to take massive strides in 2022. Dr. Singh mentioned that, “Beyond the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022, we saw at the Regional level the return of the Inter Guiana Games to these shores after a five-year hiatus.”

Dr. Singh also mentioned that the partnership be -

The Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Men’s Selection Panel Tuesday announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test Series in Zimbabwe, starting on 4 February. The Selection Panel recalled experienced fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, as well as left-arm spinners, Gu dakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican.

With the sun and the clouds battling for supremacy overhead, Johnson, who missed

Gabriel has taken 161 wickets in 56 Tests, placing him joint 12th in the West Indies all-time wicket-takers list and more recently was the joint-leading wicket taker in the CG United Super50 Cup for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in November last year.

…Gabriel, Warrican and Motie recalled to 15-member Shannon Test against

Gabriel’s last Test Match was against Sri Lanka in November 2021. Warrican’s last international appearance was also in Sri Lanka in De cember 2021 when he played in both matches in the Test Series. Motie made his Test debut for West Indies in An tigua in June 2022 in the first

ate ment other play soil port looked anticipate have spinners Australia, rican.

Bolt missing millions from investment accounts

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles

Kashif Muhammad Chateram Ramdihal

Cristy Campbell

Dellon Davidson

Phillip Fernandes Bissoondyal

Yearwood who is dropped off of Junior Sinclair counter-attacked in his 37 yesterday (Sean Devers photo)

Hemraj cuts during shot-filled 46 but once again failed to build on a good start (Sean Devers photo)

Nandu drives yesterday at Providence during his 2nd fifty in two matches (Sean Devers photo)

Gudakesk Motie celebrated his Test recall with 3-8 yesterday (Sean Devers photo)