Laying of synthetic tracks to be completed by April – Ramson Jr …as

he slammed the previous Administration for lethargy on the projects

Aquestion posed by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Tabitha Sarabo-Halley regarding the two new synthetic tracks, during the ongoing Budget 2023 debate in the National Assembly on Wednesday morning, was met with a fiery response from Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. Ramson Jr was at the time responding to an inquiry about when the work at the synthetic track in Linden would recommence and conclude.

In an effort to clarify that the sitting Government did not maliciously halt the project, Ramson Jr presented a series of news articles to the National Assembly, as evidence of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration’s failure to even purchase the necessary synthetic material when it was announced that the tracks would be completed in October 2018.

“That was December 2019, none of that was completed and here’s the kicker. Here is the kicker, that they promised that the track would be completed. First, started by the end of 2018, then they said it would be assured that it would be completed by the end of 2019. Here’s the kicker, they never even paid for the synthetic material,” a spirited Ramson Jr told the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC).

The Sport Minister went on to address the alleged insinuation that the projects were halted, highlighting that upon his Ministry’s undertaking of the two projects, there were several other components to be completed before the asphalt and synthetic materials could be laid.

Ramson Jr declared, “What I consider to be repugnant is that members of the APNU/AFC have been going around telling the country, holding press conferences, etc, and saying that the People’s Progressive Party

Government had stopped the project – which was a complete falsehood.

“They know better because if you examine the budget estimates – 2020, 2021, 2022, there are capital allocations for projects that needed to be concluded contained in there.”

He further stated, “And just for the sake of clarity, let me also say, that the People’s Progressive Party Government also had to complete a number of projects in order for us to get to the stage of laying the asphalt, which was completed at the end of

By Brandon Corlette

The non-selection of

Antony Adams to the Guyana Harpy Eagles team has certainly been the buzz around the Guyanese cricketing population.

On what was deemed a rare occasion for Guyanese media, the Guyana Harpy Eagles selectors made an appearance to face questions at a media interaction, and Lead Selector Ravindranauth Seeram and Selector/Manager Albert Smith disclosed that Adams was still part of the Harpy Eagles plan.

"What happen is that we were given a timeline to select the team. We selected the team on Friday, January 20. Antony Adams got his four wickets after the team was selected. Based on that, we saw [Ashmead] Nedd bowling pretty well, chances were given off him. That is the reason why Nedd was selected," Seeram said.

During the two Guyana Harpy Eagles trial matches, Adams had six wickets, while Nedd picked up three wickets, but as Seeram noted, the team was selected before Adams had claimed four wickets in the final innings.

"Nedd had bowled pretty well. Adams had two wickets prior to the selection of the team, and I think that was the call that was made. Adams is not the best role as a spinner."

Nedd, who played with the West Indies Academy in Antigua last year, has shown his ability to pick up important wickets. Gudakesh Motie will play for West Indies in

Zimbabwe in the current two-Test series. When asked if Adams’s experience would have been important, Seeram said: "We thought about that. Nedd was bowling pretty well, he is a West Indies Emerging Player as well. That has given him a chance to get into the side."

Meanwhile, Smith said:

"With the Nedd issue: [the factors were] the weather we had, the limited cricket we had, and Nedd having played with the regional 50-over, when he would have been exposed already to some of the regional batsmen. And as manager what I would have seen in the last few series, is that the bowlers, even the top bowlers, Motie and [Veerasammy] Permaul, the control and consistent control in Fourday, you need someone who the quality of the bowling, the quality of the batsmen you got out. Many times when you had partnerships, Nedd came in and pegged away and you got results. Sometimes, he got a dropped catch. At the level he was and then being in the loop with West Indies cricket, we had to make a decision on that. We thought it would have been better to the man coming up there," he said.

As it relates to Adams's future in Guyana cricket, the selectors responded positively, noting that Adams is still one of the best spinners in Guyana.

"Well, of course, it was said to him many years, most of the times he has been around and did not get a chance. Adams needs to be talked to. Yes, he is still part [of]…. Guyana’s set-

October, early November, last year.”

Currently, the tracks at Berbice and Linden have already had the asphalting phase completed, but inclement weather halted further work.

As such, Ramson Jr told the National Assembly that the Ministry was awaiting better weather and should this persist, the laying of synthetic material would be completed by April.

“It was scheduled for November-December to complete the installation of the synthetic track, which is supposed to be no more than 30 days, but then the rain came early in November and there was a curing period that was required for the asphalt to be cured and we were unable to do it,” the Sport Minister explained about the current hindrances to the project.

Ramson Jr continued, “The other consultant has to come to supervise the laying of the synthetic material and that’s scheduled for April of this year. So, once we don’t have any weather conditions that would be disruptive during that period, the laying of the synthetic material would be completed.”

German company BSW Regupol was awarded the contracts to lay synthetic material at both venues.

Lara to assist CWI as performance mentor

can lock down and Nedd has established that in his bowling."

Smith also noted that Nedd created a lot of chances when he was bowling in the trial matches. "He was on top of his control. When we people get wickets, as selectors we have to look at up. Adams is one of the better spinners after Motie and Permaul."

The Guyana Harpy Eagles will play against Barbados Pride from February 1 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua in the West Indies championships.

Former West Indies Captain and batting legend, Brian Lara has agreed to assist Cricket West Indies (CWI) as a performance mentor – working across all international teams and with input into the West Indies Academy, a CWI missive revealed on Wednesday.

Lara’s new role will be to support the various Head Coaches in providing players with tactical advice and improving their game sense, as well as working closely with the Director of Cricket on International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup Tournament strategic planning.

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket said, “I am really looking forward to Brian making a significant contribution to our cricket system by providing invaluable guidance and advice to our players and coaches.

We are confident that Brian will help to improve our high-performance mindset and strategic culture that will bring us more success on the field across all formats. Everyone is excited to have Brian involved in supporting our players.”

Lara said, “Having spent time with the players and coaches in Australia and in discussions with CWI, I really believe that I can help the players with their mental approach to the game and with their tactics to be more successful. I'm looking forward to joining the group in Zimbabwe and the opportunity to work with other West Indies teams later in the year."

Lara’s first assignment will be with the West Indies Test squad. He has joined the Test squad in Zimbabwe, where he will assist in the team’s preparations ahead of the first Test match in Bulawayo on February 4, 2023.