56 minute read
records increase in armed robberies – Commander
Regions 8 & 9 road link to alleviate high transportation cost when completed
– contracts signed for road maintenance projects in several villages
Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill recently stated that the construction of a hinterland road link that connects Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) is underway and when completed will alleviate the high cost of transportation.
The Minister made this announcement during a road maintenance contract signing in Kato, Region Eight.
“Apart from the connectivity among the villages, your Government is continuing to ensure the connection between Regions 9 and Region 8.” He added that once the road link between the two regions is completed, it will alleviate transportation woes, thus creating social and economic benefits.
“Once trucks can traverse the road, the cost of supplies, building materials, and food “will go down” since it will cut the cost of flying materials in and out of the regions,” the Minister stated.
“So that those of you who want to get to Region 9 and then get to Brazil and make your vacation…you must be able to get that connectivity. And if when we get that road completed and trucks can come through for us to buy and get down from all the way from Monkey Mountain. If trucks can come through that road, the cost of supplies, building materials, food, everything will go down because you don’t have to fly it in. It will be able to come through by the way of trucks. So, that’s what we’re working on.”
The 72-mile hinterland road link starts at Meritizero North, Rupununi in Region Nine, and will connect Region Eight at Monkey Mountain.
The construction of the road link which began more than 10 years ago will cost $600 million. But after the APNU/AFC took office, that project was allegedly halted.
Meanwhile, during the Minister’s visit, a number of contracts, totalling $290 million to improve transportation networks in Region Eight were signed. The road maintenance project will benefit some 15,000 residents from 28 villages in the region.
Under the agreements signed, a total of 917 kilometres of road maintenance, including filling of laterite, and repairs to 31 timber bridges will be completed over a six-month period.
Edghill reiterated the Government’s commitment to supporting the development of local village economies through the creation of job opportunities. Under the contracts signed, local contractors and workers from Region 8 are expected to execute all works outlined.
“Our development agenda is not just to develop Georgetown and make it bright and put up lights and nice fancy buildings. So, when you come to town you look and say Georgetown looking nice. Our development agenda is that you must be in Kato or in Itabac or in Kanapang or in Tuschen or wherever you must be able to look at your community and say my community looking nice as well,” he said.
Contracts were signed by the Monkey Mountain, Bamboo Creek, Paramakatoi, and Kato Village Councils. Red Creek, Karisparu, Taruka, Yawong, Maiwak CDC, Arasawa, along with 19 other villages also signed contracts.
Lauding the Government’s initiative, Toshao Candace Evans of Karisparu said she is grateful for the upgrade, adding that her community will enjoy easier access to other communities once the project is completed.
“Currently our airstrip is shut down and we don’t have any access to Mahdia or elsewhere so I am very grateful for this contract because once we fix the road, we will get access to Paramakatoi and people would be able to buy their ration from there and also for the patients we would transport them to Paramakatoi from Karisparu at this moment,” she said.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill
Schools will close for July-August break – Min Manickchand
Schools across Guyana will close during the July-August holiday season and will open in September as normal, according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.
This comes after many discussions were had between the Ministry and teachers over the possibility of schools being opened during the July-August holiday season to help educators recoup some of the learning loss recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Back in May, Manickchand had entertained the possibility of schools across Guyana remaining open to ease learning loss recorded by the Ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, following a consensus among teachers, the majority were not in favour of schools remaining open during the July-August break since they were engaged in schoolroom activities during the pandemic.
Minister Manickchand noted that the Ministry was exploring the possibility of extending the current school year to recover the learning loss incurred by the pandemic, but the Ministry and its stakeholders have decided to have the schools closed as usual.
“We believe that it is the best at this point, to have everyone close for the July-August holidays, as usual, return to school in September, refreshed, teachers feel particularly tired because while it is true that we were home they were still working and so they feel like they need the break,” the Minister said.
Manickchand noted that there are some teachers who have voiced their opinions on schools remaining open.
“While there are some teachers who are telling us very strongly that we need to do this [keep schools open] because we need to recapture the time, to get back some time. There are enough teachers telling us that they don’t want to do it and we respect that, and we’re going to try to make sure that we comply with and do what is best for all the stakeholders involved, particularly the students and the teachers,” she explained.
The Minister also indicated that some teachers have expressed their willingness to work with students during the holiday season, especially those preparing for major examinations.
“What we will do in an organised way that we are going to announce shortly is publish on the learning channel and on our new radio station EDUU, we’re going to publish in an organised way, courses, studies in different areas, so if parents want their children to get reinforcement, or what we call in Guyana, lessons, for free they can tune into the channel at different points,” Minister Manickchand noted.
While schools were closed, the Ministry embarked on a number of initiatives to ensure that students remained engaged. However, with disparities in the system, the outcome was far from what would have been achieved by face-to-face learning.
Studies have also shown that the longer schools are closed, the greater students will be affected.
The Education Ministry had printed thousands of worksheets for each grade that corresponded with the curriculum and what each child should have been learning if they were in the classroom. The Guyana Learning Channel undertook the production of recorded lessons done by local teachers on the various topics outlined in the curriculum.
In April, the Education Ministry announced that schools would reopen fully - almost two years after they were closed completely due to the pandemic.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
Region 3 records 17% increase in armed robberies – Commander
Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) has recorded a 17 per cent increase in armed robberies, according to the Divisional Commander, Mahendra Siwnarine.
“For the latter part of last month, we would have seen a slight increase in robbery under arms, we had a 17 per cent increase in terms of robbery under arms…but the positive thing from that is that all those robberies were solved, persons were arrested and are currently before the court in all instances,” the Commander noted.
He was at the time speaking during a recent programme produced by the Guyana Police Force (GPF). While he did not divulge any more information on this matter, the Commander noted that in order to improve on policing in the division, he has taken advice some citizens.
It was only two months ago that Siwnarine assumed the post of Commander for Region Three.
“Following those feedback [from citizens], we would have made some adjustment in terms of rotating ranks among the station. The idea behind for ranks to not get too familiar at one location but to have a constant rotation so they can always be interactive with members of the public,” he explained.
For areas like Bonasika, which is the most remote outpost, according to the Commander, ranks are rotated every six weeks. Commander Siwnarine also noted that the they will continue to work with members of the public in order to continue improving the work of the GPF.
“Based on the feedback that we’re getting from members of the public, indeed the support is there, but there is huge room for improvement in our performance,” he explained.
As such, the Commander is continuing to implement community policing groups, youth groups, and scout groups in all areas of the division.
“Currently, other than Parfaite (La Parfaite Harmonie) we have youth groups on both Leguan, Wakenaam, both on the West Coast and West Bank, and in addition to the youth groups, we’ve had new members showing interest joining the scout from those youth groups. It’s a continuous process and persons keep coming forward and showing their interest,” he added.
Divisional Commander Mahendra Siwnarine
Norton proposes... FROM PAGE 11
The Opposition Leader noted that the ball is now in the President’s court when it comes to confirming acting Chancellor, Yonnette Cummings-Edwards and acting Chief Justice Roxane George.
Article 127 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states: “The Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall each be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.”
President Dr Irfaan Ali has already said that he has no issue appointing a Chancellor and Chief Justice. However, he had indicated that he would consult with the Opposition Leader on the issue after the service commissions are appointed.
President Ali had said that consultations are currently ongoing for the service commissions, after which he would engage the Opposition Leader on the judicial appointments.
“We have no issues appointing (the Chancellor and Chief Justice), but when the right time comes, we will have the consultations on the Chancellor and the Chief Justice. The consultation (with the Opposition Leader so far) was on the Commissions,” the President has said. “The President asked for consultations on those commissions (specifically),” the Head of State told reporters at State House last week.
On May 13, President Ali and Opposition Leader Norton met for the first time to consult on the appointments of the various service commissions, including the Judicial Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission and the Integrity Commission.
At the time, the two leaders had agreed to consult, in keeping with the Constitution, which stipulates that meaningful consultation be held on the appointments of these Service Commissions.
In fact, Norton had requested additional information on the nominees, and this was provided to him. However, when the Head of State invited the Opposition Leader last week Monday for a second meeting, Norton failed to show, citing that he was busy. As a result, President Ali went ahead and appointed the Police Service Commission and the Integrity Commission the following day, when the members were sworn-in.
Regional
Mexican Foreign Minister accuses US of inconsistency in Americas Summit invitations
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Tuesday accused the United States of double standards by refusing to invite Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua to the US-hosted Summit of the Americas, while engaging with non-democratic Governments in Southeast Asia.
“The so-called democratic clause is not applied equally in all cases, but only in some, when it is convenient,” Ebrard wrote in a column published in Mexican newspaper Excelsior, pointing to Washington’s relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and forming the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in May.
Ebrard called the US decision “inconsistent, if not contradictory.” Among ASEAN’s members are Myanmar, ruled by a military junta, and one-party Communist-ruled Vietnam.
The United States chose not to invite the leftist leaders of Venezuela, Nicaragua and Communist-ruled Cuba to this week’s Americas gathering in Los Angeles, citing concerns of a lack of democracy in their countries, a senior US official said.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador withdrew because the United States said that not all countries in the Americas would be invited.
US President Joe Biden aims to address regional migration and economic challenges at the summit. Lopez Obrador said he would meet Biden next month instead. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard speaks about the Summit of the Americas during a news conference, in Mexico
City, Mexico, June 7, 2022 (Reuters/Luis Cortes)
Tobagonian on murder charge gets bail in island first
AHigh Court Judge has granted the first bail application to a Tobagonian charged with murder.
On Tuesday, Justice Geoffrey Henderson granted bail to Hubert Guy, 59, of Falcon Drive, Sou Sou Lands, Tobago, in the sum of TT$1 million with surety.
As part of the conditions for bail, Guy has been ordered not to visit Jiggers Hill, Mason Hall, where the alleged murder of his nephew took place and to have no contact with any of the State’s witnesses in the case.
Guy is before the court charged with the murder of his 18-year-old nephew, Jamal Sebro, on June 26, 2021.
It is alleged that Sebro was fatally chopped while going to his mother’s assistance during an altercation with a relative.
The preliminary inquiry into Sebro’s murder is yet to start and Guy’s Attorney, Azim Walters, made the bail application which was assigned to Henderson two weeks ago, after it went before several masters of the High Court’s criminal division.
Walters argued that his client had no previous convictions or pending matters and there was an element of provocation in the prosecution’s case against his client.
In grantinAg bail, Henderson took into account Guy’s good character and his age.
The State was represented by Prosecutor Anju Bhola.
This was the third successful bail application and the first in Tobago.
Last month, a Diego Martin man was granted bail by Justice Carla BrownAntoine, and in March, a Belmont man became the first person to get bail on a murder charge, granted by a master of the criminal division.
In February, the Court of Appeal paved the way for anyone charged with murder to apply for bail for the first time in over a century. The State’s appeal of that decision comes up for hearing in the Privy Council today and Thursday. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)
Jamaica: Thieves steal $8M from Western Union in St Mary
Thieves made off with almost $8 million in Jamaican and foreign currencies after breaking into a Western Union outlet in Oracabessa, St Mary on Tuesday morning.
The culprits reportedly spray-painted the CCTV cameras and pried open the grille to the outlet before making off with a vault containing the cash, Police said.
The stolen money consisted of J$6,422,146; US$5935; CA$700; 1720 Pounds Sterling and 670 euros.
Superintendent Bobette Morgan-Simpson, the commanding officer for the St Mary Police, said the robbers were fully masked.
“It was well-planned and well-executed, so we have no idea who these persons are,” Morgan Simpson told Observer Online.
The Police reported that Monday evening, the outlet supervisor checked the day’s transactions, placed the money in a vault, locked it and the business place, and went home.
About 03:28h, the Hawkeye Security response team received an alert from Western Union, went to the location and observed that the grilles to the building were pried.
The Police were summoned, and it was observed that the robbers had spray-painted the CCTV cameras on the building with black paint.
The Police discovered that the robbers pried open the grilles that led to the upstairs of the building where the Western Union is located, and also the grille at the entrance of the outlet.
The robbers then entered, ransacked the outlet, and stole the vault containing the cash. (Jamaica Observer)
6 dead in armed attack on Mexican high school students
Gunmen killed five high school students and an adult in a street shooting in central Mexico, local authorities said on Tuesday.
According to Police, shooters opened fire on a group of students on Monday night, killing three males and two females aged between 16 and 18, as well as a 65-year-old woman who was in the same area.
“Unfortunately, we can say that a few hours ago in the Barron community six people lost their lives in an armed attack,” said Cesar Prieto, Mayor of the city in Guanajuato state.
The mass shooting happened just two weeks after eight women and three men were killed in an apparent gangland revenge attack on two bars and a hotel in Celaya, another city in Guanajuato.
Located in Mexico’s prosperous industrial centre and home to a refinery and a major pipeline, Guanajuato has become one of the most violent states in Mexico owing to a dispute between the Santa Rosa de Lima and Jalisco New Generation cartels.
The gangs fight for control of trafficking routes for drugs and stolen fuel.
Since December 2006, when the Government launched a controversial military anti-drug operation, Mexico has recorded more than 340,000 murders, according to official figures.
Authorities have blamed most of the killings on organised crime. (Excerpt from AFP)
Migrant caravan heads to US as key summit begins
Members of the migrant caravan as they began their trek north on Tuesday
Thousands of migrants are headed to the USMexican border in a the Summit of the Americas. The caravan may be one of the largest in recent caravan timed to coincide with a meeting of Western Hemisphere leaders in Los Angeles.
Some 6000 people, including many from Venezuela and Central America, have begun walking from the southern tip of Mexico north as part of a caravan.
Migration is among the top issues on the agenda at years. On Monday, the group began its 2000-kilometre (1270-mile) journey to the US from the Mexican city of Tapachula, near the country’s border with Guatemala. It is unclear when they will arrive at the northern frontier. The group’s organisers say it is made up of people who are fleeing instability, violence and poverty in their home countries.
Robinson Reyes, 35, a Colombian migrant, said he was travelling north after waiting in vain in Mexico for a month for a humanitarian visa.
“We want a future for our family,” he told Reuters. “We are not violent. We just want a better future.”
Reyes added that the caravan timed its departure to coincide with the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, where regional leaders are expected to announce new plans to address mass migration from Latin America.
“That’s why we went out today,” he said. “God willing, they can talk and resolve this”.
Efforts to address migration at the summit are likely to be complicated by geopolitical tensions, however. (BBC News)
Brazilian Police open criminal probe amid search for British Journalist
Brazilian Police have opened a criminal probe and interviewed at least four witnesses believed to be among the last to have seen a British Journalist and an Indigenous expert who went missing in a remote and lawless part of the Amazon jungle on Sunday.
Guilherme Torres, the head of the interior department of Amazonas state’s civil Police, told Reuters in an interview that Police had opened a criminal investigation and interviewed four witnesses while also seeking to locate the Journalist, freelancer Dom Phillips, and his companion Bruno Pereira, a former senior official with federal Indigenous agency Funai.
Torres said Pereira had
British Journalist Dom Phillips
recently received a threatening letter from a local fisherman who Police were trying to locate.
He said his colleagues had interviewed two fishermen as witnesses on Monday, with two more quizzed on Tuesday. The first two witnesses had not provided any useful information, and Torres had no details as yet about the second two interviews.
“We are indeed working with the hypothesis that a crime might have occurred, but there is another, much larger possibility, that they’re lost,” Torres said. “Now, our priority is to find them alive, especially in these first hours. In parallel, a criminal probe has been opened to see if there was some crime committed.”
Brazil’s navy and army both dispatched search teams in boats and helicopters to the area, with support from federal and state Police. (Excerpt from Reuters)
OILNEWS
Oil settles up 1% on tight supply, US crude at 13-week high
Oil prices gained about 1 per cent on Tuesday, with US crude settling at a 13-week high on supply concerns, including no nuclear deal with Iran, and prospects for demand growth in China, which is relaxing lockdowns to control the pandemic.
Looking ahead, analysts polled by Reuters forecast US crude inventories fell last week. A drop in crude stockpiles could further support prices.
Robert Yawger, executive director of energy futures at Mizuho, said "several numbers" in the EIA report are "within striking distance of historical lows," including possibly crude storage for the country, crude storage at Cushing, Oklahoma and crude storage in Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Brent futures gained US$1.06, or 0.9 per cent, to settle at US$120.57 a barrel, its highest since May 31. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 91 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to US$119.41, its highest settlement since March 8 which matched an August 2008 settlement high.
The United States said Iran's demands on sanctions-lifting were preventing progress on revival of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Analysts have said a deal could add 1 million barrels per day of world oil supply.
The US EIA projected US crude production and petroleum demand will both rise in 2022.
Prices also drew support from expectations demand would recover in China, where the capital Beijing and commercial hub Shanghai have been returning to normal after two months of lockdowns.
Also, analysts doubted global oil supplies would rise much following last week's OPEC+ decision to bring forward production increases.
The quota increase from OPEC+, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allied producers including Russia, is lower than the loss of Russian crude resulting from Western sanctions, analysts said, adding that it also fails to address a shortage in oil products.
Trafigura's CEO said oil prices could soon hit US$150 a barrel and go higher this year, with demand destruction likely by the end of the year.
Goldman Sachs increased its Brent oil price forecasts by US$10 to US$135 a barrel for the period between the second half of 2022 and the first half of next year, citing an unresolved structural supply deficit.
In other supply concerns, the Sharara oilfield in Libya was halted again late on Monday and in Norway, more than one in 10 offshore oil and gas workers plan strike action from Sunday if state-brokered wage mediation fails. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Food shortages are next global health crisis – expert
Growing food shortages may represent the same health threat to the world as the COVID-19 pandemic, a leading global health figure has warned.
Rising food and energy prices, in part sparked by the war in Ukraine, could kill millions both directly and indirectly, Peter Sands, the executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday. "Food shortages work in two ways. One is you have the tragedy of people actually starving to death. But second is you have the fact that often much larger numbers of people are poorly nourished, and that makes them more vulnerable to existing diseases," he said.
He said efforts to improve pandemic preparedness should not make the "classic" mistake of concerning themselves only with crises that resemble the most recent threat the world has faced. "It's not as well-defined as some brand new pathogen appearing with distinctive new symptoms. But it could well be just as deadly," he said.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 15 million people may have died as a result of COVID-19.
Sands said investment was needed to strengthen health systems to help prepare for the repercussions of food shortages, which is part of the Global Fund's remit.
The Geneva, Switzerlandbased fund is aiming to raise US$18 billion to boost health systems, fight the three core diseases in its title, and reverse setbacks caused by the pandemic. It has raised just over a third of its target for 2024-2026. (Excerpt from Reuters)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022
19 Around the World
Ukraine's Zelenskiy says it will fight for all territory amid fierce battle in east
Ukraine will fight to recover all its territory occupied by Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday, as his troops struggled to hold their ground in bloody street-to-street fighting in the city of Sievierodonetsk. "We have already lost too many people to simply cede our territory," Zelenskiy said by video link at an event hosted by Britain's Financial Times newspaper. "We have to achieve a full deoccupation of our entire territory."
Zelenskiy's remarks responded forcefully to suggestions that Ukraine must cede territory to Russia to end the war, now in its fourth month.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a recent interview it was important not to "humiliate" Moscow, comments interpreted in Ukraine as implying it must accept some Russian demands.
Asked about Macron's comments, Zelenskiy said: "We are not going to humiliate anyone, we are going to respond in kind."
As he spoke, Ukrainian troops in the ruins of Sievierodonetsk were trying to cling to gains Kyiv said its forces had made in a surprise counter-offensive that shifted momentum there last week.
The governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, said the defenders were finding it hard to repel Russian attacks in the centre of Sievierodonetsk, a small industrial city in the east. "The Russians are trying with all their might to capture Sievierodonetsk and cut off the highway from Lysychansk to Bakhmut," he said in an online post. "In the regional centre it is hard to stave off the attacks, but the occupiers do not control the town." (Excerpt from Reuters)
Ukrainian service members fire a shell from a M777 Howitzer near a frontline, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine, June 6, 2022
EU clinches world's 1st deal on single mobile charging port
European Union member states and legislators have agreed to mandate a single mobile charging port for mobile phones, tablets and cameras in a blow to technology giant Apple.
Tuesday’s agreement, a world first, means that from late 2024 most portable devices will be required to have a USB Type-C charging port. It will not apply to products released before the new rules come into force.
The EU believes a standard cable for all devices will substantially cut back on thousands of tonnes of electronic
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis threatens its dollar-earning IT firms
Apart from a leading revenue earner, Sri Lanka's IT sector was one of the first to publicly support the wave of protests held against
the Rajapaksa Government [Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters]
There have been days when cybersecurity professional Asela comes harder to maintain normal business operations. Daily, hours-long power Waidyalankara and his colleagues have sat in hotel lobbies to complete projects during power outages. Other days, they have run around Colombo looking for fuel for generators so they could work from home.
Before the pandemic, Sri Lanka’s IT industry employed more than 120,000 people and was the fifth-largest export earner for the island nation of 22 million. It was on track to become the top exporter within the next five years and double its employees. But with the Government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa having defaulted on its foreign debt earlier this year and critical shortages crippling the economy, those plans are now in jeopardy as it becuts are now normal. Fuel queues stretch for kilometres, sometimes so far that one fuel queue meets another. The country is running on a cash flow basis. Steady power and smooth internet, essential for the IT industry to function effectively, are constantly affected. Sri Lanka has several regional competitors in the IT sector, including India, Bangladesh and Vietnam. “We have spent years cultivating relationships with clients, so they are understanding, but there is always a fear that our business will be taken away and given to competitors if we cannot maintain our delivery and quality,” said Waidyalankara. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera) waste.
The bloc is home to 450 million people, some of the world’s richest consumers, and the imposition of the USB-C as a cable standard could also affect the entire global smartphone market.
Users of iPhones and Android phones have long complained about having to use different chargers for their devices. The former is charged from a Lightning cable while Android-based devices are powered using USB-C connectors.
Half the chargers sold with mobile phones in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, while 29 per cent had a USB-C connector and 21 per cent a Lightning connector, according to a 2019 study by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm.
“The deal we struck this morning will bring around 250 million euros (US$267 million) of savings to consumers,” EU industry chief Thierry Breton said in a statement.
The European Commission had initially pushed for a single mobile charging port more than a decade ago, but companies failed to agree on a common solution.
Laptops will have to comply with the legislation within 40 months of it taking effect. The fact the deal also covers e-readers, ear buds and other technologies will mean Samsung, Huawei and other device makers are also affected. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Cameroon says soldiers killed 9 villagers in "disproportionate" use of force
Cameroon's Government said on Tuesday that a group of soldiers killed nine villagers, including an 18-month-old girl, in a "manifestly disproportionate" and "hasty" response to a confrontation in the Northwest region last week.
The four soldiers were searching for a missing comrade in the village of Missong when they came across a group of angry villagers at night, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. "In an inappropriate reaction, unsuited to the circumstances and manifestly disproportionate to the hostile villagers' refusal to cooperate ... the soldiers, in a hasty reaction of self-protection ... used their weapons," the statement said.
The victims were four men, four women and the infant, it said. A one-year-old child was lightly injured and taken to hospital.
The statement was an unusual admission of blame by the army, which civilians and rights groups have accused of numerous killings and abuses during an ongoing separatist conflict.
Cameroon's Northwest Region is one of two Englishspeaking regions where secessionist fighters protesting about perceived marginalisation by the French-speaking majority have been battling Government troops since 2017.
Last year a mob lynched a military Police officer after he killed a five-year-old girl when he fired on a car at a checkpoint. A month later, a policeman killed an eightyear-old girl in similar circumstances.
The conflict has killed more than 3000 people and displaced nearly 1 million since it started.
The Ministry said the four soldiers have been arrested and an investigation opened, and offered its condolences to the families of the victims. (Excerpt from Reuters)
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SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE
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Keep life simple. Don't get upset over something that doesn't matter. Stay focused on what counts and what will help you get where you want to go. Make health and fitness your priorities.
Push for what you want, and don't stop until you get your way. You'll receive valuable information that helps you make sound financial decisions. Don't ignore an opportunity.
Take care of details, updates and redtape issues. Leaving responsibilities in someone's hands will lead to disappointment. Emotional deception is apparent. Don't believe everything you hear.
Let your imagination run wild, and you'll come up with ideas that can help you make a profit. Personal changes will give you confidence and encourage you to follow through with your plans.
Proceed with caution. Go over details and adjust only what's necessary. Pay more attention to what others do and learn as much as possible to avoid waste. Keep your eye on the ball.
Target what you want to achieve and apply your energy and enthusiasm to get the results you want. A compassionate attitude will encourage others to help you reach your objective on time.
Reluctance to get your hands dirty will cost you. Don't hold back, especially when taking care of business is essential to improving your life and achieving peace of mind. Curb your emotions.
Quickly take care of domestic matters. Venture out and see what's going on in your neighborhood. Touch base with a close friend, relative or peer, and you'll discover valuable information.
Reaching out to someone struggling will give you a different perspective on life. Your wisdom and experience will help you pursue something you enjoy. Mix business with pleasure.
Anger will become a problem. Don't react to what someone does or says. Carry out domestic changes that will make it easier for you to get the support you need to follow through with your plans.
Be a good listener, and it will help you understand what others are experiencing. Don't jump to conclusions; ask questions, make suggestions and do what you can to make things better. Embrace peace.
You'll develop some impressive plans that help you raise your earning potential. Reach out to people who appreciate your skills. Self-improvement is featured. Embrace new ideas.
RHCCCC is latest beneficiary
The under-15 cricket team of the Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club (RHCCCC) has been the recipient of 15 white cricket shirts, one box of junior cricket balls, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves and one pair of batting pads, compliments of the project “Cricket gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”.
This initiative is a venture jointly owned by Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry of Guyana.
At a simple presentation held recently, Ameer Rahaman, the driving force behind this fast-rising RHCCCC, was high in praise for this noble gesture, and promised to continue to work hard to produce more players for Berbice, Guyana, and the West Indies.
Relatively young, this cricket club has already produced a West Indies Under-19 player in fast-bowling all-rounder Isai Thorne, and female star player Ashmini Munisar, a 19-yearold off spinner/batter, has been selected to represent Guyana in the upcoming Regional Female Cricket tournaments to be held here.
These two players are among many top-quality young cricketers produced by the RHCCCC, including Adrian Hetmyer and Sanjay Algoo.
Responding to the words expressed by Ameer Rahaman, Anil Beharry said he is impressed with the work of the club, and would continue to assist the RHCCCC whenever possible. “This initiative is to help identify and nurture young talents, and at the same time encourage them to educate themselves,” Beharry explained. “The project is happy to assist young players, and has reached out to many promising cricketers and clubs across the length and breadth of Guyana, and it is the hope of the initiative to assist in producing more cricketers for Guyana and West Indies,” the former Berbice Cricket Board President continued.
Total cricket-related items collected so far by this initiative is as follows: $130,000 cash, two trophies, 11 cricket boots, 17 pairs of batting pads, 19 bats, 13 pairs of batting gloves, 19 thigh pads, one wicket-keeping pad, one arm guard, six cricket bags and two helmets. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former national wicketkeeper / batsman.
To date, 36 young players from all three counties of Guyana have
Top Under-15 players from RHCCCC pose with their shirts
already benefited from the receipt of three junior gear bags, two trophies, one arm guard, 13 bats, one box of junior cricket balls, two helmets, nine pairs of cricket shoes, nine pairs of batting pads, one bat rubber and 11 pairs of batting gloves.
In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area hae benefited f r o m two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan, Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, while RHCCCC received two boxes of balls, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails.
Cricketrelated items, used or new, will be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent-spotting is being done across the country, and club leaders will also assist to identify talent. Progressive and well managed clubs would also benefit.
The owners of this initiative have said: “We take this opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex; Option Group of USA; Hilbert Foster; Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers; Sean Devers; Trevis Simon; Årïêl J. Tïlkú; Aaron Beharry; Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor; Devon Ramnauth; Teddy Singh; Romash Munna; Ravi Etwaroo; Kelvin Brijlall; Ravin Harkishun; Surendra Harkishun; Allan Mangru; Vishal Mahabir; Sherman Austin; Huburn Evans; Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall; Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies, and Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana; Gajanand Singh; Peter Ramkissoon; Rabindranath Saywack; Roshan Gaffoor; Ameer Rahaman; Denesh Chandrapaul and Dr Cecil Beharry.
“Thanks to the media for the role they are playing in promoting this venture. Distribution will continue. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875, or Kishan Das on 1-718-664-0896.
Woods to miss US Open, but plans to play at St Andrew’s
Tiger Woods will not play at the U.S. Open this month, but plans to be at St Andrew’s for the Open in July. The 15-time major champion withdrew from the US PGA Championship last month, after shooting a nine-over 79 in his third round.
Woods was playing in only his second tournament since suffering serious leg injuries in a car crash in February 2021. The 46-year-old had made a sensational comeback at The Masters in April, defying the odds to make the cut at Augusta, before finishing 47th.
Woods stated ahead of theUS PGA Championship at Southern Hills that he felt "a lot stronger" than he did after making an unlikely Masters comeback, but struggled on moving day in the second major of the year.
The legendary American on Tuesday confirmed he would not feature in the U.S. Open, which starts at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts on June 16.
However, he is aiming to tee off in the JP McManus ProAm at Adare Manor in County Limerick on July 4-5, and play in the last major of the year in Scotland, which gets under way on July 14.
He tweeted: "I previously informed the USGA that I will not be competing in the @ usopengolf as my body needs more time to get stronger for major championship golf. "I do hope and plan to be ready to play in Ireland at @ JPProAm and at @TheOpen next month. I'm excited to get back out there soon!"
Woods outlined his plans amid a storm in the golfing world, with his compatriots Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson having resigned from the PGA Tour to play in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, this week told the Washington Post that Woods had turned down a "mindblowingly enormous" offer to play in the controversial breakaway series. (Sportsmax)
JFF General Secretary Dalton Wint to resign in fallout from Suriname debacle
Jamaica Football Federation General Secretary Dalton Wint appears to have yielded to the demand of the Reggae Boyz that he resign his position.
Wint has been the target of the players’ ire after they had been left stranded in Suriname on Saturday night, June 4, following their 1-1 draw with the host country.
The JFF had failed to make proper arrangements for the players to return to Jamaica, an embarrassing situation that the players laid squarely at the feet of the beleaguered general secretary.
According to a statement reportedly coming from the players, “It was the straw that broke the camel’s back”, and they refuse to go on unless Wint resigns from his post.
JFF President Michael Ricketts confirmed on Monday that the board had met to discuss the situation, but up to later that day, there was no official word regarding the board’s position on the demand made by the players, whom Sportsmax. TV understands refused to train in preparation for the return match against
Suriname on Tuesday evening.
However, in a statement released late Monday night, the JFF signalled that an end to the impasse is in sight.
“The General Secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation, Mr Dalton Wint, has given his unequivocal and irreversible
Jamaica Football Federation General Secretary Dalton Wint
commitment to submit his resignation from the post,” the JFF said. “The Board of Directors of the JFF look forward to receiving same soonest. Other relevant information regarding this matter will be shared with the country in the coming days.”
Meantime, Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, revealed its part in getting the players home from Suriname early on Monday morning. Minister Olivia Grange revealed that her Ministry intervened to facilitate the safe return of the irate players, who returned to Jamaica at approximately 7:15am on Monday.
“On Saturday, June 4, 2022, I was advised of challenges being experienced by the Reggae Boyz delegation in Suriname. I was made to understand that travel arrangements for their return to Jamaica, after the match against Suriname on Saturday, had been cancelled, and my assistance was being sought,” the Minister said in a statement.
“I was told that because the players had to return in time for another match, normal flight schedules would not allow for their return. On my instructions, a number of steps were taken by my Permanent Secretary and the General Manager of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) to assist in addressing the problem.
“A company was identified from which we could charter a flight in the short time frame. Reggae Boy Leon Bailey was instrumental in identifying the charter company.
“We were advised by the company identified that the charter flight would cost US$105,000.00 which had to be paid immediately in order for the aircraft, which was in Mexico, to be released to pick up the team in Suriname. Unfortunately, with this taking place over the weekend, the circumstances prevented the SDF from accessing the required banking services.”
As a result, Minister Grange said, JFF President Michael Ricketts contacted Christopher Williams, CEO of PROVEN and Chairman of the Premier Football Jamaica League (PFJL), to assist with the identification of the required funds, and the Government of Jamaica, through the SDF, committed to ensuring that the funds advanced would be repaid.
“Based on the commitment of the Government, Mr Williams put the necessary mechanisms in place to advance the payment for the charter flight, with the firm understanding that he would be reimbursed in the shortest possible time,” the Minister explained.
“All the parties involved were aware of the urgent need to act, bearing in mind the risk of the Jamaican delegation being stranded in Suriname, and the players not being able to honour the fixture scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, 2022,” the Minister continued, adding that she spoke directly to the players, whom she said were upset with the JFF Administration, which they blamed for the crisis.
The players, she said, then agreed to play the game in Suriname on schedule.
“The Under-Secretary for the Diaspora, Protocol and Consular Affairs Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT) played a critical role in securing the landing and flyover permits. The team from the Ministries were in negotiation from Saturday afternoon until early Monday morning to ensure that the permits were received,” the Minister said.
“I will be writing to the JFF requesting a detailed report on the matter, and my team and I will continue to work closely with the JFF and the Reggae Boyz as we are also aware of other matters of concern related to the management of what is possibly the most popular sport in Jamaica.” (Sportsmax)
Female WI cricket tournament… Barbados, Windward Islands record victories as T20 Blaze commences
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Windward Islands (green) made it across the line in the nick of time
By TimoThy Jaikarran
Despite the rain on Tuesday, beautiful sunshine graced the Providence Stadium as Cricket West Indies’ T20 Blaze commenced. Notable wins were recorded by Barbados and the Windward Islands as major highlights of the day.
The rivalry continues
The big match of the day was the Guyana versus Barbados match, with the home team playing against the defending champions. The match did not disappoint, as the two teams went after each other like raging bulls that have locked horns. With the few fans at the venue vociferously backing the home side, the Bajan dugout cheered their side with much gusto.
Batting first, the Bajans were dismissed for 86 in 19.2 overs. The Guyanese were able to prevent the Bajans from setting a huge total. Hayley Matthews was the standout Bajan player with 35, no other player could render Matthews any support, as the Guyanese made full use of their home advantage against the defending champions.
Bowling for Guyana, Cherry Ann Fraser returned figures of 3-11, Ashmini Munisar’s figures were 2-11, Mandy Mangru’s were 2-13, Kaysia Shultz produced figures of 2-7, and Shenetta Grimmond took 1-8.
Heading into the chase, the home team needed 87 off 120 balls for victory, but things didn’t quite work out the way Guyana wanted it. They lost Katana Mentore for 4, and shortly after, Mandy Mangru injured herself while running, and retired not out on zero. Shabika Gajnabi and Shemaine Campbelle held things together with a 45-run partnership, but Gajnabi found herself in the pavilion for 14.
The score moved from 54-2 to 79-9 as Guyana lost seven wickets for a mere 25 runs. Campbelle was the top scorer with 33, while in the bowling department Shakera Selman bagged 3-26, Aaliyah Alleyne 3-18, Shanika Bruce 1-15, and Hayley Matthews, with an economical spell, produced 1-7 from her four overs.
The see-saw encounter
In the first game of the day, the Windward Islands battled the Leeward Islands, and the action was spectacular from the first ball bowled. The Leeward
GCF rewards chess players for outstanding performance
The full complement of prize winners at the GCF’s awards ceremony
The Guyana Chess Federation held its awards ceremony on Sunday June Maliha Rajkumar, Waveney Johnson, Angel Rahim and Elizabeth McRae respectively. Title in Guyana. Taffin Khan received his trophy for his second-place 5th, 2022 at the Park Vue Hotel, and players were given prizes for their outstanding performances in the sport over the past few months.
This encompasses a total of five major tournaments: the Junior National Chess Championship, the National Women’s Qualifiers, the Women’s Championship, the National Open Qualifiers, and the National Championship for 2022.
In the Junior National Chess Championship, 17-year-old Ricardo Narine was presented with his Championship Trophy for earning the title of Junior National Champion 2022. Other players rewarded with trophies from the Junior Nationals are 2nd place Ethan Lee, 3rd place Rajiv Lee, 4th place Kyle Couchman, 5th place Keron Sandiford, and 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th places went to Ronan Lee, Sasha Shariff, Matthew Singh, Jessica Callender and Mayas Khan respectively.
In the Women’s Chess Qualifiers, the top 9 females received medals. With Jessica Callender receiving her first-place medal, 2nd place went to Pooja Lam and 3rd place to Anaya Lall, while 4th to 9th places went to Nellisha Johnson, Adia Alphonso, Pooja Lam received her Championship Trophy for her win at the Women’s National Tournament. At 14 years old, she became the youngest National Women’s Champion in Guyana’s history. The Women’s Nationals were first held in 2018, when WFM Maria Varona Thomas won the inaugural title. The most recent Women’s Champion was 18-year-old Sasha Shariff, who came second in this year’s tournament. She has held the title since the Championship was last held in 2020, when had won at 16 years old. Other players awarded trophies from the Women’s Nationals are 3rd place Nellisha Johnson, 4th place Jessica Callender, and 5th place Anaya Lall. In the National Open Chess Qualifiers, FM Anthony Drayton was rewarded for his win, with Wendell Meusa coming in 2nd, Roberto Neto 3rd, Loris Nathoo 4th; and with 5th to 9th places going to Frankie Farley, Ethan Lee, Rashad Hussain, Justino DaSilva and Rai Sharma respectively. They all received medals. National Chess Champion for 2022, Wendell Meusa, was presented with his trophy, making this his eight National win, with Anthony Drayton 3rd, Frankie Farley 4th, and Roberto Neto coming in 5th place. Prizes were presented by President of the GCF, Mr. Frankie Farley, and Tournament Director Mr. Irshad Mohamad, who commended the players for their exceptional performances and participation. Due to the time constraint for naming the Olympiad Team for Chennai, India, the GCF hosted back-toback tournaments over the last 3 months where FIDE arbiters John Lee and Anand Raghunauth worked tirelessly to make these tournaments successful, and the GCF is extremely grateful to them. The Guyana Chess Federation hereby extends its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to DeSinco Ltd, who sponsored the Junior Nationals, KFC Guyana for sponsoring the Women’s Tournaments, and Gaico for sponsoring the National Open Tournaments. Special thanks to Mr. Mohamed Khan of Arrowten Incorporated for sponsoring the venue, and to Mr. Raul Couchman of Artistic Marketing for taking the photographs at the awards ceremony.
Cherry Ann Fraser is flooded by her team mates as she bagged 3-11
Islands unit lost their first wicket without a run on the board, and, to make matters worse, they soon found themselves reeling at 24-3 as their opponents brought on the heat.
However, as the wickets tumbled and the runs dried up, the Leeward Islands unit were forced on the back foot, and a T20 encounter soon became a Test match encounter as the Leeward Islands’ only hope was to ‘block out’ the rest of the deliveries and see how many runs they could add to their tally. In the end, they were restricted to 56-7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Rosalie Dolabaille was the top scorer with 21 off 46 deliveries. Bowling for the Windward Islands, Pearl Etienne took 2-8, Jannillea Glasgow took 1-6 and Afy Fletcher took 1-4.
Many had expected the small total to be chased with ease, but the Leeward Islands ladies turned on the heat and applied the pressure early. Windward Islands soon found themselves from 10-1 to 27-3 at one point of the game it, and it looked as though the Leeward Islands had it in the bag. However, a few wides and no balls cost them some valuable runs despite the constant loss of Windward Islands’ wickets. The Windward Island ladies allowed their opponents to draw out the game, as they made a target of 57 runs seem as though they had to climb Mount Everest. When the sixth wicket fell, the Leeward Islands celebrated, but it was a little too late, as the Windward Islands closed out the game, winning by 4 wickets. Windward Islands ended on 57-6 in 17.1 overs.
Mohamed Khan becomes Guyana’s first certified Continental Archery Judge
Archery Guyana hereby congratulates its President, Mohamed Gamal Khan, on his successfully completing the World Archery America’s recently concluded Continental Judge’s Training Seminar, wherein he was one of three to graduate and be certified as a Continental Judge.
Mr. Khan’s achievement is especially impressive since he has achieved this elevation a mere two years after being trained as a National Judge.
This training seminar offered a unique opportunity to the 5 (five) persons who attended the training seminar from across the Western Hemisphere to secure this highly desirable certification.
The programme was intensive and comprehensive, resulting in Khan being one of only three persons to successfully complete the course and receive the coveted certification. He is now uniquely placed to assist with the advancement and development of the discipline in Guyana.
Archery Guyana is especially pleased since in its ranks there is a World Archery Americas-Certified Continental Judge, given that Continental Judges are held in high esteem
Mohamed Gamal Khan
and, depending on their personal commitment, this can also open a pathway into becoming an International Judge on WA (World Archery) roster of Judges. This therefore has the possibility of providing a very meaningful experience for the dedicated and diligent Judge.
In this regard, the SecretaryGeneral of Archery Guyana, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, congratulates Mohamed Gamal Khan for successfully completing this course and becoming Guyana’s first Continental Archery Judge. She also expressed great delight in this next phase of advancement for Archery Guyana, as she acknowledges what this means for Guyana moving forward with the hosting of National, Regional and International Competitions.
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Keemo Paul added to ODI Squad for West Indies tour of Pakistan
The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel has added all-rounder Keemo Paul to the squad for the upcoming OneDay International Series in Pakistan.
The West Indies arrived in Multan on Monday, after the impressive 3-0 series win in The Netherlands. They will now prepare to face Pakistan at the Multan International Cricket Stadium on June 8, 10 and 12.
Lead Selector the Most Honorable Dr. Desmond Haynes said: “Keemo Paul has been kept out in the recent past due to injury, and we view the management of his body as paramount to his success, not only when on West Indies duty, but also when he is with his regional franchise. We have watched him perform in the recent West Indies Championship Four-Day Competition for the Guyana Harpy Eagles, and we think he is ready to come back into the fold.”
During the first-class tournament, Paul was the leading fast bowler and second highest wicket-taker overall. He ended the five matches with 20 wickets at an average of 22.8 runs per wicket. He had best figures of 6-50. He was also among the leading allrounder with 169 runs, including a highest score of 73. The West Indies tour of Pakistan will bowl off on Wednesday, June 8. First ball is 4pm PKT time (7am Eastern Caribbean/6am Jamaica). The series will also form part of the ICC ODI Super League, where the teams will have the chance to earn points as they try to secure automatic qualification to the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India. (Windies Cricket)
FULL SQUAD
* Nicholas Pooran (Captain) * Shai Hope (Vice Captain) * Nkrumah Bonner * Shamarh Brooks
* Keacy Carty * Akeal Hosein * Alzarri Joseph * Brandon King * Shermon Lewis * Kyle Mayers * Keemo Paul * Anderson Phillip * Rovman Powell * Jayden Seales * Romario Shepherd * Hayden Walsh Jr.
FULL MATCH SCHEDULE
* Wednesday, June 8: 1st ODI at Multan International Cricket Stadium * Friday, June 10: 2nd ODI at Multan International Cricket Stadium * Sunday, June 12: 3rd ODI at Multan International Cricket Stadium
Quincy Adams led the charge in defence for the Golden Jags
Story and photoS by Jemima holmeS
Acollective effort from the Golden Jaguars on Tuesday afternoon ensured they sit comfortably at the top of Group B of League B of the CONCACAF Nations (CNL) League B.
The home crowd did well to motivate the senior men’s national team, as they managed series of well executed plays off the opportunity of a set piece set Bermuda’s Dante Leverock up square in front of the goal. With a beauty of a bicycle kick later, Leverock brought a sense of relief to the Bermudan camp with the equaliser in the 42nd minute.
In spite of the goal, Quillian Roberts was superb in the nets, keeping the visitors out of contention for much of the
Omari Glasgow has now extended his personal tally to 3 goals from 2 games
to achieve a 2-1 victory over Bermuda.
Guyana’s starting XI at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, West Coast Demerara, read: Quillan Roberts (Goalkeeper), Leo Lovell, Jaylen Jones, Quincy Adams, Captain Samuel Cox, Daniel Wilson, Neil Danns, Omari Glasgow, Stephen DukeMckenna, Trayon Bobb and Torell Ondaan.
The contest between Bermuda and Guyana was evenly matched, until Trayon Bobb broke free of the opposition’s defence and was able to secure Guyana’s first goal in the 35th minute. The line of assist came down from Quincy Adams in defence to Stephen Duke-Mckenna in the midfield.
Bermuda’s intensity immediately touched the roof, as they searched for the equaliser in a foreign land. A encounter.
Each time he had the ball on his toes, the crowd gathered at the Leonora Stadium erupted
with cheers of “Mari!!, Mari!!” They finally got what they came to witness in the 45th+ 2, when Omari Glasgow took an assist in the box and guided it, not only through the legs of Bermudan goalkeeper Dale Eve, but also through those of defender Leverock.
Coming back from the half with the advantage, Guyana held firm to ensure that Bermuda was unable to equalise once again, largely due to the work of Quincy Adams in the defence.
Glasgow had another opportunity to add to his tally in the Nation’s League, but his attempt at the set piece went sailing over the head of the opposing goalkeeper.
Nonetheless, when the whistle finally blew, Guyana led the game 2-1 for another 3 points.
The Golden Jaguars are still in the lead of Group B with 6 points. Haiti takes second place with 4, after a narrow 3-2 victory over Montserrat, also on Tuesday evening. Bermuda has one point, while Montserrat is yet to make a case for itself.
The Golden Jaguars will now shift their attention to Haiti, since they will clash at the Leonora venue this Saturday, June 11. Again, on June 14, Guyana will meet the same opposition, this time in the Dominican Republic, in what
Trayon Bobb is all too familiar with the Leonora pitch, scoring for the Golden Jags
will be considered as Haiti’s home game. Arguably, the two contests will decide who leads the group, at the conclusion of the first round of league games.
Multan reclaims its spotlight as Pakistan and West Indies go to battle
It's 326 BC. The Internet hasn't been invented. The first Test match is yet to be played. We're talking about a time well before even the first Shahid Afridi retirement announcement. A time when incursions of any kind are dictated as much by the weather as by any other tactical consideration; launching one in the winter - with defence against the cold virtually non-existent - is perhaps the most unforgivable blunder one could commit.
Even 2,000 years later, two of the most famously disastrous military debacles - Napoleon's invasion of Russia, and Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union - were largely done in the extreme cold.
And yet, when Alexander was plotting a move against the Mallians in what is now widely considered to be Multan, he ruled out waiting till the summer months. He picked instead the miserably wet winter months to launch his campaign, catching the inhabitants by surprise. The citadel was besieged, and by February, the city had fallen, before winter was forced to begin its annual eight-month retreat from South Punjab's most prominent city. 2,348 years later, it perhaps becomes clearer why the ancient Greek emperor preferred to give Multan a wide berth once the summer sun had set in.
An incursion of a very different kind is upon us, with the West Indies cricket team set to play Pakistan in an ODI series carried over from last year, and much has changed in one of the cities most redolent of the subcontinent's uniquely storied history. It is now a bustling modern metropolis, a hub of commercial and economic activity, with state-of-the-art infrastructure. Little has changed in one aspect, though; there remains virtually no defence against the oppressive heat.
The temperature on each of the days the three ODIs are due to be played will regularly exceed 45C, forcing the games to begin well into the evening, likely finishing after midnight. Multan was by no means Pakistan's first choice as host at this time of year, with the slightly cooler Rawalpindi originally slated to host the games. But political uncertainty forced a change of venue, and with Lahore and Karachi's surfaces being relaid, the Pakistan Cricket Board had little choice but to move a series being held at the hottest time of the year to the hottest city with an international cricket ground.
However, this isn't the first time a series is being held in uncomfortably hot weather, and with empty spaces in the calendar shrinking ever further, it certainly won't be the last. Indeed, the PSL last year famously took place in Abu Dhabi in June and July, and the BBL and IPL are regularly held at times when dry heat in a look set to produce big scores once more. That might mean Pakistan's soft underbelly - their middle order - stays shielded once again, but Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar have glorious opportunities to pick up where they left off.
West Indies face challenges on multiple fronts. You don't need
number of host cities is high. Add to that the fact this series was a victim of Covid-induced havoc the previous winter, and originally scheduled for December.
Pakistan have made preparations to combat the heat, holding training camps in advance to ensure they're as acclimatised as they possibly can be. There are, after all, Super League points at stake, and Pakistan, with only six wins out of 12 this cycle, would need to push themselves further up the table if they are to avoid the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. Babar Azam's men are fresh off an impressive comefrom-behind series win over Australia at home, and will field a largely full-strength side.
They should be firm favourites against an opposition that, until their 3-0 series win in the Netherlands last week, hadn't won an away ODI series for more than a decade.
With preparations for the World Cup next year gradually kicking, it's that series against Australia that perhaps offers the clearest blueprint for the brand of ODI cricket Pakistan want to play, and the quality they bring to the table on batting-friendly tracks.
West Indies don't possess Australia's quality in either department, and the bonedry pitches Multan will offer up Google to know Amstelveen's conditions are unlikely to equip them to handle what they will experience in Multan. You also don't need to check the ICC rankings to know victory over the Netherlands is probably not indicative of the way things might go against Pakistan.
But even so, West Indies will be buoyed by the variety of performers they had in the Netherlands. The three hundreds were scored by three different top-order batters, while rising star Brandon King smashed two unbeaten half-centuries to finish that series off. Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph were consistently solid with the ball, and victory, regardless of the opposition, will always provide the one thing that all sportspeople need: confidence.
Even for this city, teeming with 1000-year-old Sufi mystic shrines, temples and mosques, as well as the saintly tombs that give Multan its sobriquet, this series is historic. It's the first international cricket held outside the three major power centres in Pakistan since the 2009 attack, allowing Multan to savour something it has been deprived of for far too long: the spotlight. It's a glorious place to pay a visit, but - as even Alexander knew two millennia ago - perhaps when the weather's a little bit cooler. (Cricinfo)
