Guyana Times - Monday, September 26, 2022

2 busted with over 47kg ganja during CANU operations

where they intercepted Lampkin, who was under the Canje bridge with a small quantity of cannabis in his possession.

However, upon his ar rest, he was taken to his home where the officers conducted a search on the property and its surround ing. During the operation, two large parcels contain ing a quantity of ganja were discovered in the bushes around his property.

The suspect along with

Thirty-one-year-old O’Neil Lampkin of Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice, was on

Friday arrested after he was found with a large quantity of ganja in his pos session.

Based on reports re ceived, CANU officers act ing on information went to Sheet Anchor, East Canje,

the narcotics were taken to CANU Headquarters where the ganja was weighed and

amounted to 47.518 kg. He was told of offence and ar rested. Investigations are continuing.

Meanwhile, on the same day, CANU ranks conduct ed another operation at Young and Restless Street, De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara (WCD), where they intercepted a man car rying a haversack.

A subsequent search of the haversack revealed sev eral transparent Ziplock bags containing ganja. The suspect, Errol Latchoo, 19, of West Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD, was arrested and tak en to CANU Headquarters where the narcotics were weighed and amounted to 118 grams.

He too was arrested pending further investiga tion and charges.

O’Neil Lampkin upon his arrest

The ganja found on Lampkin’s property

A quantity of ganja in Ziplock bags found in Latchoo’s haversack

Errol Latchoo at CANU Headquarters

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Sept 26 – 03:30 –05:00h and Tuesday, Sept 27 – 03:30 – 05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Sept 26 – 16:40h – 18:10h and Tuesday, Sept 27 – 17:00h – 18:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine and light rain showers during the day. Expect clear skies and light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-Westerly to West South-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 16:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.77 metres.

Low Tide: 10:34h and 22:51h reaching minimum heights of 0.48 metre and 0.4 metre.

Finance Minister lobbies for deepening trade, investments between Guyana, Canada as PM Trudeau lauds Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce

Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh on Saturday evening highlighted the bountiful op portunities that are available for Guyanese and Canadian companies to tap into so as to deepen trade and investment relations between the two countries.

He made this remark at the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce’s (CGCC) inau gural Gala and Fundraiser in Toronto, Canada.

Dr Singh was the featured speaker at the event, where he received a message from Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, on the oc casion of the Chamber of Commerce’s gala. The written message was handed over by the Member of Parliament for the Markham-Unionville dis trict in Ontario, Paul Chiang.

In the message, PM Trudeau welcomed every one to the CGCC’s inaugural Gala and Fundraiser.

He noted that since its launch in 2020, the Chamber of Commerce has been work ing to strengthen the rela tionship between Canada and Guyana, through trade and investment.

This relationship, accord ing to the Prime Minister, is built on more than five de cades of close people-to-peo ple ties – with over 85,000 Canadian-Guyanese citizens calling Canada home – strong trade, a longstanding devel opment programme, and a ro bust security partnership.

“With such a strong his tory and such a solid foun dation, the possibilities for the future are endless. I am looking forward to supporting the Chamber of Commerce as they explore these oppor tunities. I would also like to thank everyone in attendance for your support of this work,” the Canadian Head of State added.

Meanwhile, during his keynote address, Minister Singh also commended the CGCC on all of its achieve ments since its establish ment. He lauded the fledgel ing Chamber of Commerce for hosting the gala, which he pointed out presents an ex cellent opportunity for both Guyanese and Canadian com

panies to forge ties and ac celerate the deepening of in vestment and trade relations between the two countries.

Additionally, the senior Government official also made note of the special re lationship that exists be tween Guyana and Canada – grounded in shared val ues including commitment to democratic governance – and highlighted Canada’s role in the protection of Guyana’s democratic credentials during the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Dr Singh along with Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop, attended the event on Saturday evening.

Prior to the CGCC’s Gala and Fundraiser, the two Guyanese officials earli er on Saturday met with the Guyanese diaspora at the Consulate General of Guyana in Toronto.

On behalf of the President Irfaan Ali-led Government, Dr Singh reiterated the ap preciation for the unwaver ing stance that the Guyanese diaspora in Canada took in defence of Guyana’s de mocracy during the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Dr Singh highlighted that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is commit ted to leveraging the skills and investment potential of the Guyanese diaspora in Canada, as the Government continues to implement its

aggressive development agenda.

With Guyana now being the fastest growing economy in the world and a premier destination for investment in the oil and gas sector, infra structure, and the requisite support services, Minister Singh signalled the reassur ance that Government will ensure an enabling envi ronment for economic pros perity and encouraged the Guyanese diaspora to return home and seize the invest ment opportunities.

“There is no better time to be Guyanese than today… There are a lot of incredi bly exciting possibilities. We put in place a Local Content law that carves out 40 areas where the oil and gas com panies have an obligation to procure a [maximum] per centage of their inputs under those 40 areas from Guyanese companies and Guyanese na tionals…”

“You’ll be amazed and shocked at the value attached to being Guyanese today,” Dr Singh asserted.

According to Singh, the PPP/C Government is com mitted to ensuring Guyana has a strong non-oil economy and is making the necessary investments in this regard.

“We intend to ensure that we use this period of oil pro duction to invest in the things

that are necessary to ensure long-term growth and well being for all of the people of Guyana, long beyond the oil era… We’re are looking far down the road and contem plating what are the things we need to do now to trans form our country to ensure that this growth is not only dependent on oil,” he stated.

Dr Singh added that in frastructure plays a big part in achieving that future for Guyana. However, he out lined that the buildout of the infrastructure that is needed to lay the foundation for the country’s long-term growth will be considerable.

“It’s important that we be realistic about our expecta tions. We have to be realistic in our expectations… The re ality is that all of us will still have to wake up and work a very hard day’s work; you know, put in the effort to gen erate a return and to earn a decent income – that’s the re ality… This is going to take a lot of work over a long period. So, notwithstanding the justi fiable excitement and eupho ria about what oil and gas can do for Guyana, as a responsi ble Government we have to say to you also that let’s not get carried away to believe that this oil and gas will solve every problem overnight,” the Minister contended.

Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh receiving a message from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the occasion of the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Gala and Fundraiser held in Toronto, Canada

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Authenticity vs Humanity

One of the characteristics of the post-modern world is a quest for “authenticity”: as the young say, “we gotta be real”. The first problem with this much-vaunted “authenticity” is that the very nature of the human self is artificial, and shaped by its surrounding culture. However, by the West’s enlightenment, individualistic premises – to the extent that cultural influences are important – are often seen as sources of alienation, coercion, and manipulation. The “true” self is touted to be that which is not a product of society, that which resists conformity, and makes individuals “unique”. As a result, the influencer is obsessed with novelty in all aspects of life – from art to lifestyles – touting the new simply because it is new.

But this romantic conception of the self is simply wrong. We are not plants or toads whose development is largely an unfolding of prespecified potential. We are profoundly social animals with brains wired to absorb and assimilate our surrounding culture, beginning most germanely with language. A person without culture is an abstraction like form without content. The well-documented cases of “feral children” – that is, children who grew up with little human contact – are tragic testimonies to the indispensability of social learning. They were, literally, “non-human”.

Even a person’s most profound beliefs – those about God and the relationship between humans and the cosmos – are inextricably connected to culture. Hence the saliency of our ethnic ties in Guyana. However, we know what it is like to bow to social conventions and mask our feelings and opinions from others. More poignantly, we know the painful dissonance of dissembling crucial components of our identity, our political beliefs, our sexuality, and so on. Does this not suggest an authentic self that persists behind our everyday social self, impervious to cultural accidents and influences although it can remain forever hidden? And is it not to this self that we owe our loyalty?

Arguments like these can feel compelling because they fit in with our daily experience, even though traits and tendencies are different from what most of us would call a “self”. Humans are complicated and complex; capable of sublimating impulses to lying about them. This can be frustrating, debilitating, and in some societies, tyrannically oppressive. But paradoxically, this is what also makes civilisation possible. Because we are both cooperative and highly competitive, our thoughts and impulses can be prosocial or antisocial. Some of those antisocial thoughts and impulses are relatively benign, though potentially offensive. We cannot give in to unmediated impulses from our id. Some of our thoughts and impulses are coercive, violent, or destructive.

Few people are so virtuous that they have never wanted to humiliate, hit, or even kill another person. Some people are filled with rage and hate, and would happily dominate others if they were in a position to do so. One of the crucial functions of civilisation is to curb these inclinations so that we can cooperate (and compete) without constant violence. Democratic politics and the institutions that make it work are one such innovation. Although this might be frustrating on occasion, it leads to wealth, comfort, and cultural achievements that would otherwise be impossible.

The celebration of authenticity is premised, often only half-knowingly, on a quasi-Rousseauist belief that humans are naturally good and only corrupted by society. But this belief is patently false: humans are not “naturally” good or evil, but created as Kant phrased it “out of this crooked timber”. As such, they are flawed, limited, and contradictory creatures, capable of envisioning a peaceful, cooperative society of abundance, but thwarted in achieving it because their efforts are undermined by selfishness and rivalry.

Although we cannot fully achieve our moral goals in a utopia, we can, with the guidance of wise norms and institutions, create a lively and flourishing civilisation. And the function of these wise norms and institutions such as democracy and its institutions, is to suppress, discipline, and reshape our natural inclinations. Let us all commit to building a democratic One Guyana.

We must work to protect our educational institutions

By Wayne CampBell

everyone, especially in situations of armed conflict and insecurity.

September9 was commemo

rated as the United Nations International Day to Protect Education from Attack. All across the world attacks on educational insti tutions continue to occur. From the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Ukraine, from Cameroon to Syria, from the West Bank to Yemen, from Nigeria to Somalia, the need to galvan ise efforts, energy, and commitment behind the protection of education in the context of armed conflict is sadly more urgent than ever.

According to UNESCO, in most countries with armed conflicts, the military use of schools and other ed ucational institutions remains a con stant feature, depriving students of their right to access quality education and teachers of the ability to deliver learning adequately. Over the past six years the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) col lected thousands of reports on educa tion or military use of educational fa cilities worldwide. More than 25,000 students, teachers, and academics have been injured, killed, or harmed in such attacks, carried out in situations of armed conflicts or insecurity.

In recognising the importance of raising awareness on the dire need to preserve education and protect it from attack, the UN resolution desig nated UNESCO and UNICEF to serve as co-facilitators for the yearly obser vance of this day. The day also calls upon stakeholders to keep this issue at the top of the international agenda and duly act to alleviate the plight of stu dents affected by armed conflicts.

Schools, universities, and educa tional dwellings should always be ha vens to foster peace and development. Their civilian nature should be rec ognised and protected, never target ed. Undoubtedly, armed conflicts bring many devastating barriers to learn ing. The protracted nature of conflicts today negatively affects the future of entire generations, particularly that of children and most vulnerable pop ulations. The right to education must be respected, upheld, and enjoyed by

In 2015, the Governments of Norway and Argentina led a process among UN Member States to develop the Safe Schools Declaration dedicated to protecting education in armed con flict. The Safe Schools Declaration, an inter-government political accord dedi cated to protecting education in armed conflict, outlines a set of commitments to strengthen the protection of educa tion from attack and restrict the use of schools and universities for military purposes. It seeks to ensure the conti nuity of safe education during armed conflict.

The right to education is not waived during armed conflict. States are bound by international law to uphold the right to education during these conflicts. To date, some 114 States have signed the Safe Schools Declaration, which is a vi tal step in committing to upholding the right to education for their citizens and signalling accountability.

The declaration was opened for countries to endorse at the First International Conference on Safe Schools in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015. In March 2017, the Government of the Argentine republic hosted the Second International Conference on Safe Schools, further building upon the de velopment of a global community dedi cated to protecting education in armed conflict. In May 2019, the Government of Spain hosted the Third International Conference on Safe Schools in Palma de Mallorca, and in October 2021, the Government of Nigeria hosted the Fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration in Abuja.

The declaration builds a communi ty of nations committed to respecting the civilian nature of schools and de veloping and sharing examples of best practices for protecting schools and universities during armed conflict. It offers guidance on concrete measures that armed forces and armed nonState actors can take to deter military use of educational facilities, reduce the risk of attack, and mitigate the impact of attacks and military use when they do occur.

Many countries have also commit

ted to collecting or facilitate the collec tion of data on attacks on education, investigating and prosecuting war crimes involving education, and pro viding assistance to victims. There are numerous barriers surrounding access to a quality education. A new UN re port has cautioned that, at the current rate, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will not achieve the education goals set by the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The re port by UNICEF and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean notes that, while achieve ment of the education goals estab lished in UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) of the 2030 agenda was not assured before the novel coronavi rus pandemic, "it is much less so now". The agencies emphasised that the tar gets will not be met without a change in the direction of policies and resource allocation for education.

Unquestionably, the global commu nity already has more than enough on its table regarding ensuring students have access to education which is in clusive and equitable. The attack on education comes in various forms.

The powers that be must be mind ful that teaching and learning cannot take place in an atmosphere which is violent and toxic. No one wins when attacks are orchestrated against ed ucational institutions. No one wins when schools are closed and students roam the streets. It is the responsi bility of the international communi ty to recommit to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number four, which speaks to the pro vision of learning opportunities for all.

Now is the time for nation states to reaffirm their commitment by tak ing all the necessary measures in order to safeguard educational institutions from attack.

In the words of Nelson Mandela, "It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have ac cess to a good education." (Jamaica Observer)

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect cul ture and/or gender issues

President Dr Irfaan Ali and one of the youngest Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) fans at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Saturday evening during the clash between the Warriors and the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR)

Continue to break glass ceilings – Min Parag tells Mocha Arcadia’s top NGSA performers

Public Service Minister Sonia Parag on Saturday informed the top 10 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) per formers from Mocha Arcadia and Barnwell North that their circumstances and environment do not define their potential nor their ca pabilities.

The awards ceremony was organised and conduct ed by the Mocha Women on Track Community Development Group.

During her address, she told the students that they should prepare for compe tition and other challeng es that may come their way while pursuing higher levels of education.

“Education will get you everywhere, it is something you will hold as a valuable possession that no one else can take from you. By your own commitments and ded ication to pushing yourself

to do the best that you can do and coming out very well, it says that you can do even better, that you can rise above any challenge and make it. You are very inter ested in pursuing an edu cational path,” she told the students.

She also urged the young people to continue with their dedication and commitment so they continue to break

Sanctity of contract

Dear Editor,

As I understand it, for a contract to be legally en forceable it must satisfy the six elements of (a) offer (b) acceptance (c) consider ation (d) intentions (e) le gality and (f) capacity.

As a layman, I would not delve into the implica tion of each element except to say that once the con tract fulfils these require ments, even if it is lopsid ed in favour of one party, it cannot be changed without the consent of the other. In other words, a unilateral change will make the con tact void.

As an example, in an employment contract the employer cannot impose a change unfavourable to the employee without his con sent. So if the employer de

cides to demote the employ ee, the employee can refuse the demotion and sue for constructive dismissal.

I am aware that a con tract was signed between the previous Government and Exxon that some con sidered lopsided in favour of Exxon and are strenu ously advocating for the current Government to re-negotiate the contract.

So, let us assume that the Government did ap proach Exxon for a change but Exxon refused on the basis that the terms in the contract are legally bind ing, can the Government then give Exxon an ultima tum to either re-negotiate or pack up and leave?

Sincerely, D Sookdeo

glass ceilings and to contin ue pushing no matter what.

“Where you’re going and your motivation to get there will get you there irrespec tive of any obstacle or any challenge, we all have that in life no matter where we are going and what we are trying to achieve and any challenge in your way you have come this far.”

Additionally, she encour

aged the parents and com munity officials who were present at the event to con tinue supporting their chil dren.

“It takes a community to raise a child, you have your dedicated teachers, parents, neighbours, well-wishers who push you and challenge you and even when they are punishing you, they are challenging you, we learn every day, the world is your teacher, there are different experiences that you will have that will shape your life or in some way influence what you do or what you will become.”

The Minister also con gratulated the students for overpowering the pandem ic and crossing all hurdles while preparing for their ex aminations.

“There is no secret to success, it is hard work and dedication and don’t ever give up at a point because

you think you have made it. You will always be learn ing,” she added.

Top performer Deshaun Garrrick, who scored 509 marks at NGSA, will be at tending Queen’s College, and Annaldo LaRose, who scored 495 marks, will at tending St Joseph’s High.

Celina Beckles, who scored 488 marks, along with Shonia Penniston who scored 482, Lennox Thornhill who scored 475, Senika Crandon who scored 465, and Rhema Cooper who scored 467 marks, will all be attending the New Central

High School.

Jashoun Ward, howev er, who scored 455 marks, alongside Hosenia Moses, who scored 434 and Felicity Isaacs, who scored 440, will attend Charlestown Secondary School. Also present at the ceremony were the Director of Public Affairs within the Office of the Prime Minister, Michael Gordon and former Senior Education Officer Walter Alexander among other spe cial invitees and members of the Mocha Women on Track group.

Public Service Minister Sonia Parag with the top ten NGSA performers

Public Service Minister Sonia Parag

Minister Parag with members of the Mocha Women on Track Community Development Group

Page Foundation

Changing from customary units to metric units

Usethe chart below to help you convert customary units to me tric units. The values may not be exact in all cases but ap proximations. Milk and fruit juices sometimes include labels that express their liquid volume in fluid ounces. 1 fluid ounce = 29.574 millilitres. ‘

Example:

6 yards = how many millimetres?

Step 1: Find yards on the chart above: 1 yard = 0.914 metre

Step 2: Multiply 6 x 0.914 = 5.484m.

Step 3: Multiply the number of metres x 1000 to find millimetres: 5.484 x 1000 = 5484

So 6 yards = 5484mm

Exercises: Calculate

1) 6ft = ______m

2) 0.5gal

CONTINUED FROM SATURDAY

By The BroThers Grimm

After they had eaten and drunk, and were in a good mood, the old king asked the chambermaid as a riddle, what punishment a person deserved who had deceived her master in such and such a manner, then told the whole story, asking fi nally, "What sentence does such a person deserve?"

The false bride said, "She deserves no better fate than to be stripped stark naked, and put in a barrel that is studded inside with sharp nails. Two white horses should be hitched to it, and they should drag her along through one street after another, until she is dead."

"You are the one," said the

old king, "and you have pro nounced your own sentence. Thus shall it be done to you."

After the sentence had been carried out, the young king mar ried his true bride, and both of them ruled over their kingdom in peace and happiness.

THE END

Guyana making progress in setting up CLE-approved law school following meeting with Council of Legal Education

Afteryears of delay, progress is finally be ing made in setting up a Council of Legal Education (CLE) approved law school in Guyana, following a meet ing between top legal and judicial officials in Guyana and the CLE in Bridgetown, Barbados.

In a statement on Sunday, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall explained that at the meeting with the CLE last week, the Guyana side presented its case for the Council’s law school to be set up in Guyana.

“In his presentation, the Attorney General informed the Council that unlike a proposal made by his prede cessor, Basil Williams, SC, which the Council rejected, the Government of Guyana is proposing that the law school be a Council institu tion to be managed and ad ministered by the CLE but that the Government will provide the land and build ings based upon criteria and specifications set by the Council.”

“This request was fa vourably considered, and the Council made a decision to write the Government of Guyana shortly, inform ing of this decision and set ting out the criteria and other requirements which the Government will have

to satisfy,” the Attorney General said.

It was explained that the initiative merges with the Government of Guyana’s commitment to promoting Guyana as an attractive offshore education destina tion. According to the AG, the proposed law school is expected to attract regional and international students, while also easing the over loading, particularly at the Hugh Wooding and Norman Manley Law Schools.

At present, the CLE ad ministers legal professional education in the Caribbean, through law schools such as the Hugh Wooding Law School, St Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago; Norman Manley Law School, Kingston, Jamaica; and Eugene Dupuch Law School, Nassau, Bahamas.

“This arrangement is governed by a Treaty which is incorporated by legislation in all member states. Under this arrangement, holders of a recognised Bachelor of Laws degree are admitted to these law schools.”

“Upon the satisfacto ry completion of a course of study, are issued with a Legal Education Certificate (LEC) which qualifies them to practice before the Courts of Law in Member States. For nearly three decades Guyana has been trying to

establish a law school with in its jurisdiction.”

During last week’s pre sentation, Nandlall was sup ported by acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonnette Cummings-Edwards, who represented the Judiciary, and Attorneys-at-Law Teni Housty and Kamal Ramkarran, representing the Guyana Bar Association. They all supported the Attorney General in pre senting Guyana’s case.

Each year, graduates of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programmes and the top 25 gradu ates from the University of Guyana (UG) Law Department gain automatic

acceptance to the law schools to read for their LEC. Due to zoning, Guyanese students are accommodated at the law school in Trinidad and Tobago. Those who are not on the list of top 25 grad uates and those with nonUWI law degrees can be ad mitted to law schools if they are successful in the CLE’s annual entrance examina tion.

Guyana has long been moving to establish its own law school – the Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence

Haynes Law School – with UG agreeing to host it at its Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown campus. But it has been denied permis sion by the CLE which not ed that it was agreed that the Council should defer es tablishing new law schools. This was in late 2017.

As it is, if Guyana goes ahead and establishes its own law school without per mission from the CLE, cer tification from that school would not be recognised in the rest of the Region

as it will violate the trea ty governing legal educa tion. Every year, Guyanese are faced with enormous fi nancial burdens, including $6,616,548 in tuition/com pulsory fees for the two-year programme offered at the law school.

This, coupled with the cost of living in Trinidad and Tobago has deterred many persons from pursuing a le gal career. In response to this, the Government of Guyana now offers limited fully-funded scholarships to Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS). These scholarships are open to new and continu ing students. To be eligible, applicants must be holders of an LLB with a minimum GPA of 3.3.

The applicant must be under the age of 35 and must have obtained the de gree within the last five years. The applicant must also have an acceptance letter from the law school. Present students at the HWLS who wish to apply for the scholarship must have passed year one studies with at least three courses passed with Grade A.

Efforts have been previously made to have a local law school set up on the University of Guyana campus

Police charge 2 more for $400M gold heist

– to appear in court today

The Police have insti tuted charges against two other persons in relation to the $400 million gold heist committed on a Mahaica businesswoman two weeks ago.

The two men are expect ed to make their appear ance at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court today.

This was confirmed by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who told Guyana Times that there is sufficient evidence to insti tute the charges against the two men.

So far, 49-year-old Bhaloonauth Seegobin, called “Krishna”, and his 24-yearold son Satrohan Seegobin, called “Richie”, of Farm, East Bank Demerara (EBD), were arraigned for the crime.

Bhaloonauth Seegobin has pleaded not guilty to the charge, and was remanded to prison until November 1, 2022, but Satrohan Seegobin has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. They both ap peared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.

In addition, the Police are on the hunt for 22-year-old

Mark Singh of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD); 27-year-old Andray Duncan of Grove, EBD; and 51-yearold Damien Brummel of Vreed-en-hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD). They are also wanted for questioning in relation to the robbery.

Police stated that between December 2021 and January 2022, in the company of oth ers, they stole 1000 ounces of raw gold, worth $400 mil lion, from a businesswom an of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

It was reported that the businesswoman discovered

the gold missing only when she went to check two weeks ago and immediately contact ed the Police.

It was further reported that the businesswoman is a gold dealer who, over the years, has accumulated the raw gold and concealed same at a location within the con fines of her home.

The two men were con tracted by the victim to con duct repairs to her home, during which they found the stash of gold, divided same between them, and went on a spending spree. During the investigation, detectives re

covered three motor vehicles – two cars and one canter – as well as a quantity of raw gold.

In addition, two Police of ficers stationed in Berbice, who had reportedly received a tip-off about the robbery, are presently in custody after they allegedly took a $6 mil lion bribe to sweep the crime under the carpet. Further, another person was arrest ed and the Police were able to recover $6 million in cash, along with two motor cars.

On Friday, the Police is sued the wanted bulletin for the others in connection with the gold heist.

Police hunt businessman as $90M extortion probe intensifies

tion that Eleazar, who has access to the social media page, along with Wayne ap proached the auto dealer sep arately and requested $10 million instead to remove the article from social media.

It was at this point that the auto dealer went to the Police on August 29 and filed a report about the extortion. This resulted in the Police setting up the sting operation to catch the two journalists, who are reportedly close as sociates of the overseas-based businessman.

was handed over to the two journalists as a down pay ment in keeping with their demands. The duo collected the money and indicated to the businessman that they would return sometime after to remove the post and collect the outstanding monies.

Coming together…

…for Guyana

All families will have a bit of tension among their members. Sometimes the tension can even break out from simmering resentments into open fights – physically or in the courts. When you think about it, countries are families writ large and they display the same internal dynamics. In Guyana, we don’t have to be told about that, do we?? In our case, the fights had gotten so bitter, some forgot we Guyanese are family. But just take a step out of our dear mudland and you’ll get a rude reminder!!

With all the chatter that some of us are “closer” to our Caricom citizens, do you think Trinidad and Barbados treated any particular Guyanese more favourably when we passed through their airports?? In relationships with other countries, NEVER forget the golden rule is “there are no friends or enemies – just permanent interests”. It doesn’t matter what close relationship there might develop between even leaders of countries – ultimately, the golden rule will triumph.

And this brings us to the nasty spat that has erupted with Suriname over fishing licences for our fishermen to operate in Surinamese waters. And in case you forgot, the Corentyne River’s OWNED by Suriname – right up to our bank!! Meaning that as soon as you stick your toes in the water at, say Skeldon, you’re in Suriname!! And their law says folks gotta be licensed to fish!! Now this has been a source of tension from “time immemorial” – but as is usual with us Third World, it was handled by passing some “offerings” under the seine – so to speak!! And just as usual, a shakedown racket developed – where if you didn’t cough up – your boats were seized.

So it was that when President Ali and President Santokhi were elected within months of each other in 2020, they exchanged official visits and struck up a close friendship. The matter of the fishing licences was raised by Pres Ali and after discussions, a WRITTEN AGREEMENT was signed by the two leaders for 150 licences to be issued to Guyanese fishermen by Jan 2022. But Jan 2022 came and went and there were no licences!! The matter was raised at the highest levels again – but all for naught.

As the Guyana Police Force (GPF) intensifies its probe into attempts to extort a whopping $90 mil lion from a local auto dealer, investigators are now on the hunt for an overseas-based businessman who has been fingered in the conspiracy.

On Saturday, it was re vealed that two report ers – Alex Wayne, 49, of Huntly Village, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara; and 41-year-old Gary Eleazar of Da Silva Street, Newtown, Kitty, Georgetown – were ar rested after they were caught extorting monies, during a sting operation, from an auto dealer in exchange for the re moval of a “libellous” article from a social media platform.

The article was pub lished on the Facebook page of Guyana News Network (GNN), which purports to be a “news agency”, with the auto dealer’s photograph al leging that he is involved in illegal activities – some

thing which he said is untrue but caused him to be “em barrassed” and his “reputa tion was tarnished”. The site is said to be operated by an overseas-based political ac tivist.

A source close to the inves tigation told Guyana Times on Sunday that the Police have since obtained voice re cordings of the political ac tivist, who has ties to the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), and an over seas-based Guyanese busi nessman, both demanding $90 million from the local auto dealer in order to re move the article published about him.

As such, investigators are looking for an overseas-based businessman, who is present ly in Guyana. He was taken to court last year for alleged ly importing illegal fuel into Guyana, for further question ing into the matter.

In addition, the source also revealed to this publica

The intelligence-led op eration was conducted on the East Coast of Demerara sometime between 15:40h and 16:35h on Friday. During the sting operation, both Wayne and Eleazar went to the businessman to extort cash.

As a result, investigators then gave the businessman some money, along with cer tain instructions. The two re porters were then seen ar riving at the location and going to the businessman. The trio engaged in conver sation during which Wayne and Eleazar demanded $1 million in order to remove the post from the GNN Facebook page.

In fact, Wayne took out his computer and handed same over to Eleazar, who went to the website and attempted to remove the post but then claimed that the password that he was in possession of, was not working at the time for some reason.

As a result, the $1 million

However, as Wayne and Eleazar were about to leave the business establishment, they were intercepted by the Police and told of the allega tion. The officers then con ducted a search during which a portion of the money was found on Eleazar, while some was found on Wayne.

Additionally, two cellu lar phones and a laptop were immediately seized from the duo. Further searches were conducted at their homes. A laptop and three hard drives were recovered from Eleazar’s residence and nothing further was found at Wayne’s home.

The items found at the home and the two suspects were taken into custody.

It was reported that a video and audio interview was conducted with Wayne during which he admitted to investigators that he acted in concert with Eleazar and the overseas-based businessman to create and publish the false article about the local auto dealer on GNN’s Facebook page.

According to Wayne, the two businessmen have “an ongoing issue”.

Nevertheless, the two re porters remain in Police cus tody as investigations contin ue.

The report that our officials received from our fishermen was that officials in Suriname who’d profited from the extortion racket had dug their heels in and refused to comply. But since this was an official order from the very to p, it meant that these shake-down artists also had friends in high places. Earlier this month, our VP called an “a spade a spade” –- and this has caused the Surinamese to get their drawers in a knot.

Well…let them say why their presidential signed agreement isn’t being honoured!!

…for Warriors!!

Well, Dear Readers, your Eyewitness thanks you for following his suggestion and turning up at Providence Saturday night to ROAR our Warriors into the play-offs. He gotta tell all of you – this was the best ever!! Imagine coming up against these snotty Trinis, and not just beating them for the second time – but KNOCKING THEM

OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS to catapult us into that round!! That they were all bowled out – and with the last ball –was the icing on the cake!!

But once again, your Eyewitness has to remark on the bonhomie displayed by Guyanese of all stripes to each other. It was out of this world – and as one fan remarked, maybe we should have Warrior Cricket all year long?? And if we can’t swing that, schedule a tournament right after the next elections?? As explained above, it’s all about we – as Guyanese – facing “the outsider”. And that means something.

Even if it’s because we say, “Chicken curry” and the Trinis say, “curry chicken”!!!

…on oil

Coming back to the golden rule of international relations, could someone explain to your Eyewitness why is it that these overseas Guyanes e are suing to cancel the agreement for Liza 1??

Exactly whose interest will this further??

Wanted: Andray Duncan

Wanted: Mark Singh

Wanted: Damien Brummel

Gary Eleazar

Alex Wayne in custody

Govt in talks with residents to acquire properties to facilitate laying of gas-to-shore pipeline

– residents fair & transparent deals for properties

tives until an agreement is reached. In addition to mon etary compensation, the op tion of being allocated lands elsewhere will be proposed,” the Attorney General said in a statement.

Last year, the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 1986 was amended, preventing com panies from dealing direct ly with residents who have properties that have to be acquired for the sake of proj ects and transferring that power instead to the hands of the subject Minister.

ThePeople’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government is in talks with residents on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) and the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), to acquire their properties and clear a path for the transformative gasto shore project.

On Friday, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, alongside Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Head of the Gas-to-Shore Task Force Winston Brassington met with residents at the West Demerara Secondary School.

The path that has to be

cleared for the pipeline is in the vicinity of Nouvelle Flanders, WCD, to Wales, WBD. During the meeting with the residents, the ac quisition of their private properties and compensa tion was discussed.

“I made it clear to the proprietors that the Government will be guided by the principles of fairness, transparency, fair market value and compliance with the Constitution, and that as far as possible, consensus resolutions will be vigorous ly pursued.”

“After the meeting, a team of lawyers has been retained, who will negoti ate with each property own er or their legal representa

The rationale for this, according to the statement, is that the Government will ensure that all transactions regarding private proper ties with their owners will be conducted fairly and with due recognition of the Constitutional rights of the residents affected.

The gas-to-shore proj ect, which is currently in the pipelines, will have a 25-year lifespan and is ex pected to employ up to 800 workers during the peak construction stage, as well as some 40 full-time work ers during the operations stage, and another 50 work ers during the decommis sioning stage.

It will feature approx imately 220 kilometres of a subsea pipeline off shore that will run from the Destiny and Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to on shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline will continue ap proximately 25 kilometres to the Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The pipeline would be 12 inches and is expected to transport some 50 mil lion standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of dry gas to the NGL plant but can push as much as 120 mmscfd. The pipeline’s route on shore will follow the same path as the fibre optic ca

bles and will terminate at Hermitage, part of the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) which will house the gas-to-shore project.

The Guyana Government has already invited inter ested parties to make in vestments in the Wales Development Zone, which will be heavily industri alised and for which approx imately 150 acres of land have been allocated. Those lands were previously used by the Wales Sugar Estate.

Head of the Gas-to-Shore Task Force, Brassington has previously stated that ExxonMobil Guyana, which is funding the pipeline as pect of the project out of cost oil, has found that there would be substantial sav ings from combining these

two facilities.

Hence, it was agreed that the power plant and the NGL plant would be done under a combined Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) pro cess. The aim is to deliver rich gas by the end of 2024 for the power plant while the NGL facility is slated to be online by 2025.

An in-depth review is meanwhile expected to be conducted on the gas sup ply agreement from oil gi ant ExxonMobil for the gasto-shore project, with the Government going out to tender for a consultant to conduct the review and pro vide legal and commercial advisory services.

In a recently published Request for Proposals (RFP), the Natural Resources Ministry invited companies to submit proposals for pro viding advisory services to the Government for the gasto-shore project.

The Government has also gone out to tender for a company to manage the con struction phase of the inte grated NGL plant and the 300 MW power plant, all part of the gas-to-shore proj ect.

AG Anil Nandlall during the consultation with residents

A section of the gathering

Micro, small & medium businesses to benefit from forum on exportation to US market

Media, Govt to collaborate in tackling TIP

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry, in its efforts of reducing and bringing awareness about Trafficking in Persons (TIP), sees the need for more collaboration with the media.

Guyana has been identi fied as a source, origin, and destination for Trafficking in Persons and as such, the Ministry is seeking to work along with the media to bring awareness to the scourge which is known as modern-day slavery or hu man trafficking.

The Miami, Floridabased Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) in conjunction with the World Trade Center in Guyana will host a free fo rum today titled “Effective Strategies for Exporting to the US Market” at the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue.

The forum will feature presentations by a num ber of key agencies in cluding experts from the US Customs & Border Protection (USCBP), the Broward County, Florida Economic Development Commission, the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA), the local Institute for Private Enterprise Development (IPED) and the GACC.

US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch, Executive Chairman of Demerara Distillers

Limited (DDL) Komal Samaroo, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GACC Eldon Bremner will address the opening session of the forum.

Guyana’s Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond is expected to declare open the activity.

The hybrid forum is in tended to provide potential exporters with up-to-date information and relevant advice on how best they could sustainably enter the US market by satisfy ing the various standards requirements, linking with potential buyers and dis tributors, protecting ship ments against possible contamination, accessing finance, and streamlining their production cost effec tively, and reliably supply ing product to the market place.

“It is the GACC’s view

that the US remains a key market for Guyanese prod ucts and though many of these local producers are micro and small business es that cannot supply in large volumes, many of them have unique prod ucts which can be offered as prestige and high val ue products, thus making their efforts profitable. So, for example, rather than making a range of leather products, a small artisan could pursue a contract to supply just leather belts or earrings,” posited GACC’s President, Wesley Kirton.

This forum is being held ahead of the annu al Florida International Trade Conference and Expo (FITCE 2022) to be held on October 19 and 20, at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale.

In light of this objec tive, a training session on Trafficking in Persons was facilitated by the Ministry on Saturday.

The programme focused on ways to effectively col laborate in reporting on TIP which can ultimately bring awareness.

Coordinator of the Ministry’s CounterTrafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit, Tanisha Williams-Corbin related that the Ministry and the media need to be on the same page when it comes to reporting on TIP.

“Some reporters/media houses are very insensitive when reporting on these is sues; you have to remem ber that many of the victims’ self-esteem is very low.”

She agreed that the de partment has not been able to establish a working rela tionship with the media but the training also sought to establish ways to improve the relationship.

TIP, according to the Act, is " ... the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a person by means of threat or use of force or other means of coercion, or by abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a position of vul nerability, or by the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the con sent of a person having con trol over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”

It, however, must be not ed that there is a difference between human smuggling and TIP; the crimes are sep arate and distinct.

Human smuggling is de fined as the procurement, in order to obtain directly or in directly a financial or mate rial benefit, of the illegal en try to a country in which the person is not a national or a permanent resident while TIP is a crime against an in dividual and the violation of that person's basic human rights.

Hence, TIP is a crime

against an individual and human smuggling is a crime against the State.

According to WilliamsCorbin, victims of TIP can be men, women, children or persons of the LGBTQ com munity. She expressed that TIP cuts across race, nation ality, gender, age, and so cio-economic background.

“Anyone can become a victim of Trafficking in Persons,” she added while noting that it is the respon sibility of all to assist in rec ognising the signs and re port same to the Police.

Meanwhile, the Ministry in collaboration with several governmental and non-gov ernmental organisations is working collaboratively to provide a number of services to survivors of TIP to ensure their full rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

To report instances of TIP, persons are urged to contact the authorities on telephone numbers 2274083 (Spanish operators), 623-5030 and 624-0079.

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond

Coordinator of the Ministry’s Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit, Tanisha Williams-Corbin

CANU intercepts 120lbs ganja in Route 50 minibus at BV

fences in Guyana.

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) continues to put a dent in the drug trade, with another suc cessful interception along the Beterverwagting Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Saturday.

Based on informa tion received, on the day in question, agents of the drug enforcement unit re ceived information and as such initiated an operation along the Beterverwagting Railway Embankment.

During the operation, a Route 50 minibus bearing registration number BXX 6792 was intercepted. At the time, the driver was the only occupant of the vehi cle. However, a search was conducted on the minibus and several parcels of wellwrapped cannabis were un earthed.

The driver, Lal Bahadur ByJoo, 58, of Plantation Hope, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was immediately taken into custody along with the large quantity of marijuana.

At CANU Headquarters, the ganja, when weighed, amounted to 54.2kg (120lbs). The alleged drug trafficker remains in custo dy assisting with investiga tions.

For the year thus far, CANU has had major suc cesses in intercepting and charging persons involved in drug trafficking. In ac tuality, CANU had report ed that at the end of June this year, 15 persons were convicted of drug-related of

CANU said by the end of this period in June, the Unit had 15 convictions and 74 pending cases in court. The total convictions for the year stemmed from matters occurring in the years 2021 to 2022.

However, a total of sev en persons were convicted during the three-month re porting period – three for a matter occurring in 2021

ing. However, only eight per cent of the cases had led to convictions by the end of the second quarter, with four per cent of them being dropped or withdrawn. This might have been as a result of insufficient evidence, is sues with the witnesses, or issues with the legal pro cedure,” the report about CANU’s operation detailed.

Meanwhile, it detained 41 people between April and

caine and four per cent for ecstasy offences.

The 30 to 50 age group has the highest arrest rate of 41 per cent while persons under the age of 18 account ed for two per cent of arrests during this period.

CANU further disclosed that it has accomplished more convictions, arrests, and charges during this year’s second quarter when compared to the same peri od in 2021. The Unit credit ed this “successful quarter” to its dedicated officers in various departments work ing in a coordinating man ner to execute operations as well as cooperation with other agencies.

Seizures

On the other hand, it was highlighted that CANU recorded a reduction in nar cotics seized during this pe riod in comparison to last year. A total of 201.738 ki lograms of narcotics were seized between April and June.

licit drugs removed from the drug market and taken off the streets.

Back in April, CANU had destroyed over 1500 kg (almost 3400 lbs) of canna bis valued over US$2 mil lion that were seized in the previous year.

In addition to narcotics, CANU also seized six fire arms along with matching ammunition for five of them.

Among these illegal weap ons seized was a shotgun.

This is in comparison to no firearms seized in 2021.

and the other four for mat ters occurring this year. These persons were sen tenced to a total of 15 years and 5 months and were fined approximately $35 million in total. One of the persons convicted was sentenced to community service.

“For the first quarter, the Unit had 74 open cas es. During the second quar ter, the Unit filed 23 cases, and 83 cases are still pend

June, and of this amount, 27 persons have been charged and 23 cases filed in rela tion to narco-trafficking ac tivities.

Approximately 66 per cent of the 41 persons de tained were charged with drug offences, with males accounting for 85 per cent and females 15 per cent. Of the total charges, 74 per cent were for cannabis of fences, 22 per cent for co

Cannabis continues to record the highest number of seizures as well as quan tity, with a total of 161.21 kg netted by the Unit with in the three months. This is followed by cocaine, of which some 40.37 kg was seized, and then by ecstasy, which accounts for approxi mately 0.150 grams.

During this time, the largest quantity of narcotics was seized on the roadways. Residences, wharves and postal areas were the other hotspots for drug busts.

According to the re port, these narcotics seized between April and June amounted to approximate ly $206 million worth of il

Alleged drug trafficker: Lal Bahadur ByJoo

The large quantity of cocaine packed in the bus

The bus after it was intercepted with the ganja

Several parcels of the illegal drug removed from the minibus

Int’l telecommunication conference

Govt aiming for 100% ICT access across Guyana by 2025 – Min McCoy

– says focus on vulnerable populations; virtual learning platforms expanded

had indicated that 96 per sons had been trained in ICT throughout the year up to that point and laud ed this initiative as an in vestment by Government into Guyanese youths.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government is aim ing to provide 100 per cent Information and Communications Technology (ICT), spe cifically internet access, across Guyana by 2025.

This position was re cently articulated by the Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, when he represented Guyana at the Ministerial Roundtable at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conference in Bucharest, Romania.

“The Government of Guyana is seeking to pro vide internet connectivity across 100 per cent of the country by 2025. As part of the process, we are em powering vulnerable sec tions of the population

with the means by which they can access the inter net at personal and com munity levels,” McCoy said in his presentation.

According to McCoy, the Government has launched a campaign to provide free internet in public spaces with a fo cus on under-served com munities (300 sites set up to date benefiting over 250,000 residents).

“We are seeking to achieve optimal levels in the building of a dig itally integrated knowl edge-based society over the next decade. Twenty thousand world-class on line academic and skillbased scholarships have been made available to cit izens.”

“We have expanded vir tual learning platforms for all levels of the edu cation system including

the installation of Smart classroom features in pilot schools in each adminis trative region, and we have achieved a national reach of the Guyana Learning Television Channel,” he also said.

McCoy explained that the ICT services offered to hinterland villages in clude IP phone service (free calls to landlines and other villages; receive calls from anywhere in the world) and internet access (including access to online learning resources and e-Services offered by the Government of Guyana).

“In our commitment to bridging the digital divide between the coastal and hinterland communities, the Government of Guyana built its own satellite ground station to provide connectivity services to over 160 locations in hin

terland areas. This bene fits approximately 60,000 residents living in remote communities across all ten geographic regions of Guyana,” the Minister told his colleagues in Romania.

In September of last year, a total of 23 Community Service Officers from eight dif ferent regions completed training in Information and Communications Technology, enabling them to take these skills back to residents within their communities.

The three-week train ing programme was con ducted with CSOs through Global Technology.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai

“By the end of 2021, our target is achievable and that is, we will be train ing 200 students from the programme. We will also achieve 220 persons trained in the skill of in stalling solar panels and maintaining them; and other 220 as licensed driv ers with skills to service light and heavy-duty ma chinery,” the Minister had said at the graduation cer emony.

The trainees hailed from communities such as Akawini, Kabakaburi, Mainstay, Karawab, Mashabo, Bethany, Laluni, Siparuta, Kako, Tasserene, Princeville, Karaudarnau, Katoonarib, Awaruwaunau, Hururu, Malali, Maritaro, Rockstone and Great Falls.

This, Sukhai said, reit erates the Government’s agenda of offering oppor tunities for hinterland communities and people.

“This is an invest ment in our young peo

ple. Our Government has put out a number of ini tiatives that are making positive waves and im pact on young people’s lives in our country…The PPP/C Government does not only support the train ing for coastal students but equally so, the hinter land students are all part and parcel of the agenda of our Government,” she had said.

The Government has said that the increase in ICT access throughout Guyana can be tied to the PPP/C Government’s bold decision to liberalise the telecommunication sector soon after they entered of fice in 2020.

In October 2020, Prime Minister Phillips, who is the subject Minister with responsibility for Telecommunications, announced that Government had issued Commencement Orders, fully bringing into force the Telecommunications Act 2016 (the “Act”) and the Public Utilities Commission Act 2016. This was done less than three months after the PPP Government took of fice.

Govt to construct 2000 houses for Reg 3 families

Some 2000 fami lies in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) will bene fit from affordable homes, as Government accelerates its turn-key housing project to meet the housing demand in the region.

This was announced by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal during a “Dream Realised” housing drive at the Uitvlugt Community Centre on Friday.

“Very shortly, we will be signing an MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] with anoth er company that will see the construction of a further 2000 homes being constructed here in Region Three.”

The construction of these homes will add to the 500 low-income homes to be con structed in the region. An MoU was signed between the Ministry and Republic Bank

Limited (RBL) in July, for the financing of the two-bedroom units which will cost $5.5 mil lion each.

Minister Croal explained that the first 125 homes un der that project will be con structed at Leonora. Works on that project will commence shortly.

“There will be a special mortgage lending rate for that programme,” he disclosed.

The Minister stated that the investments will provide significant growth and devel opment for the region and its people.

“If you have 125 houses to be constructed, the minimum one can expect is that you will have at least 625 persons em

ployed on the construction of those houses. And, over the period you will see differ ent skill sets and opportuni ties for those of you in Region Three, whether labourers, electricians, plumbers, car penters will be required,” he added.

In addition, during the ac tivity, a total of 1200 house lots were distributed in two areas – Meten-Meer-Zorg and Stewartville, and allottees were from low to high-income

categories.

Accompanying the ad vancements in housing is the commitment to better water quality for the region, as part of the Government’s five-year plan. By 2025, five new water treatment plants will be con structed in the region.

Further, there are other major infrastructural works in the pipeline, including the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, the four-lane roadway from Crane to Schoonord, and

the gas-to-shore project. Region Three had the sec ond highest demand for hous ing in the country, with a back log of approximately 14,000 applications in the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CHPA) database.

Since the Government took office in August 2020, it has distributed in excess of 4000 house lots within the region. Some $4 billion is earmarked to develop a further 1000 ser viced house lots in 2023.

The ITU Bucharest conference is being held from September 26 to October 14

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal addressing residents of Region Three on Friday

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues checking the documents of one of the residents during the outreach

Three more persons have tested positive for the novel corona virus within a 24-hour peri od, according to the Health Ministry on Sunday.

Consequently, active cas es in Guyana are at 85, in cluding 79 persons in home isolation and the remaining six persons in institutional isolation.

Additionally, there are five other persons currently in institutional quarantine, while there are no patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Meanwhile, Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll re mains at 1281 with the latest fatality record ed on September 15 after an 88-year-old male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) died as a result of the virus. This is one of three COVID-19 fatalities record ed thus far this month.

In addition, some 69,946 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus to date.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana over two years ago, a total of 694,584 tests have been con ducted countrywide and of

this, some 32,682 males and 38,633 females were found to be positive.

Of the three new cas es recorded on Sunday, one case each was detected in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

There were no new cases recorded in the other seven regions across the country within the reporting 24-hour period.

Back in March, the Guyana Government re moved most restrictions as the country recovers from the pandemic and returns to normalcy.

Nevertheless, health au thorities continue to urge persons to get vaccinated and for those qualified to get their booster shots as an added layer of protection against the virus.

The latest vaccination figures show that so far, more than 446,000 adults, or 81.1 per cent have tak en the first dose while over 346,000 or 67.6 per cent of persons 18 years and older are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between

the ages of 12 and 17, about 35,000 or 49 per cent of them have received first doses and of that amount, some 26,000 or 36 per cent received a sec ond dose.

Vaccines are also being administered to children in the five to 11 category and so far, over 8000 or 8.2 per cent have gotten a first dose, while only about 4000 or 4.2 per cent of this cohort have returned for the second dose.

Moreover, in excess of 73,900 booster shots were taken to date by the various age groups.

According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recent figures, some 611,421,786 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 6,512,438 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has in creased to 177,751,530 while the death toll in the Region has gone up to 2,832,645.

As it relates to vaccina tion against COVID-19, the WHO also reported that a total of 12,640,866,343 dos es have been administered worldwide.

Sand Hill murder

Family fearful as suspects remain at large

The family of Ray Wame Narine, a miner of Spring Garden, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), who was shot dead during an attack by two men on Thursday last, remains fearful for their lives as the suspects are still on the run.

In the same incident, which occurred in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Narine’s twin brother and Rakesh Chunilall, also a miner of Banana Land, Berbice, were also injured.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday, the family of the brothers stated that they have also received threats from the suspects, which now have them very much on the alert.

“It is sad to know that we lost our twin, he was an identical twin. He lost his life and the other one

managed to escape, but we guess the killers are still hunting for him…”, they said.

Police had report ed that the suspects are a father and his son from Pearl Village, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

According to reports, the motionless body of Ray

Narine was found covered with several tree branch es in the northern corner of the main access road, in Region Seven, which runs East to West.

Upon examination, two gunshot wounds were seen to the chest area along with one-inch lacerations to the abdomen and shoul der. A two-inch laceration was also seen on his right arm.

One suspected exit wound was observed on the right side of his back, and a warhead was also recov ered in close proximity to the victim which appears to be .32 (calibre) ammu nition.

Investigations so far revealed that the broth ers operate a dredge in the Sand Hill Backdam.

The surviving broth er told the Police that he and his brother left their 4-inch mining operation

on Thursday and went to Sand Hill Landing, Cuyuni River, and while sitting on the front step of the Shanaz Allicock shop, a Honda XR motorcycle ap proached from a western direction with the sus pects.

Ron Keme Narine said he recognised the pillion rider, as only a few days prior he had an altercation with him, and he relieved him of a firearm and am munition, which was later handed over to the Police.

He said the suspects dismounted the motorcy cle, hurriedly walked in their direction with hand guns, and started to dis charge several rounds in their direction.

After the shooting, they escaped in a western di rection and while running, the suspects were still dis charging rounds in their direction.

Ron Narine added that while running, he saw his brother collapse on the roadway, and he contin ued to run and sought ref uge in some bushes where he remained for about two hours before returning to the landing.

Upon arrival, he found his brother lying motion lessly on the road with what appeared to be blood on him. He later learned that the suspects had made good their escape.

The body of Ray Narine was escorted to the Bartica Regional Hospital where it was pronounced dead, and taken to the hospi tal’s mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, the fam ily said that Ray Wame Narine is a father of two children, and one is on the way. The said man would have celebrated his 22nd birthday in a matter of

days, and he was deprived of that opportunity.

They said that based on what they were told, some time last week Ray and the duo [the suspects] had a misunderstanding which led to a fight.

“Ray, who was very pas sionate at the time, cuffed down the man that shot him. However, the man was very offended after he was hit and as such took revenge where the man and his son teamed up and attacked Ray and his oth er half, Ron,” they claimed.

“This is very hard for us… his life was snapped out before his birthday and I really can’t go on anymore because I don’t [want] to break down,” they said.

The family is hoping that the suspects are ap prehended and justice is served soon.

Dead: Ray Wame Narine

Over 1000 fisherfolk in Reg 4 benefit from $150K cash grants

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Saturday spear headed another one-off cash grant distribution ac tivity at the Ministry of Agriculture compound, Regent Street, Georgetown.

The approximately $195 million investment was dis bursed to over 1000 fisher folk from the various catch ment areas.

VP Jagdeo explained to

the large gathering that the Government has been com mitted to facilitating coun trywide development, even in the face of adverse condi tions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia/ Ukraine war.

Moreover, he made ref erence to the removal of 50 per cent VAT on oil to cush ion the high cost of fuel prices and efforts made to subsidise the high cost of

electricity as well.

The Vice President outlined the various in vestments made by the Government to improve the quality of life of citi zens, such as the GOAL Scholarships, part-time jobs initiative, and other relief grants. He also not ed that more than 11,000 persons are currently em ployed under the part-time jobs initiative.

GDF rank injured during paratrooping rehearsal

“We’re trying to help ev ery sector of our economy grow. There are lots of pro grammes out there that peo ple have to make use of. It’s been two tough years but we did not allow the global pandemic or the rising cost of living to keep us bottled up. We were busy fulfilling our promises. We are plan ning for the future,” he ex pressed.

VP Jagdeo also made note of one aspect of the Government’s investment in healthcare, and in ensur ing that all citizens have ac cess to healthcare, through the building of new hospi tals in Regions One, Eight,

Seven, and Nine.

“There are big plans ahead of us and we want to utilise the oil and gas in come to build a future. If we stay focused on the future, this place will be trans formed in a few years’ time. But you have to be part of this future,” the Vice President stated.

Furthermore, he as sured people that the fish ing industry will not be left out of the country’s develop ment, and also encouraged them to take advantage of additional sources of in come, such as business ven tures, given the intermit tent nature of the industry.

The VP also lament ed Suriname’s recent re nege on a promise to supply Guyanese fishermen with fishing licences and reiter ated that the Government will engage Caricom in an effort to have the issue rec tified.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall, and oth er representatives from the Agriculture Ministry were in attendance.

The Vice President guid ed other cash grant distri bution exercises in Regions Five, Six, and Three.

Speeding teenage motorcyclist dies in LindenSoesdyke Highway collision

Aspeeding teenage mo torcyclist is now dead after he was struck down by a motor car at Silver Hill, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, on Saturday.

The dead youth has been identified as 17-yearold Stanton Garraway of Kairuni Village, SoesdykeLinden Highway.

ing from head injuries.

He was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was fur ther treated and admitted to the male surgical ward suffering from head inju ries.

AGuyana

Defence Force (GDF) rank is now hospitalised af ter he was injured while paratrooping on Friday at the National Stadium in preparation for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finale.

According to GDF, Sergeant Timeon McPherson sustained injuries primarily to his chest and abdomen. As such, he was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was admitted as a patient and is currently being treated for his injuries.

In a report on Sunday, the GDF said: “The sea soned paratrooper was to

day [Sunday] visited by Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, Officers of the 31 Special Forces Squadron, Force Medical Officer (FMO) and the Force Sergeant Major (FSM), at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he is be ing kept for observation and is being treated by a team of highly trained specialists.”

The Chief of Staff, during his visit, assured Sergeant McPherson’s mother of the Force’s commitment to en suring that he receives the best care possible.

“The FMO and FSM are in contact with Sergeant McPherson and he is recov ering favourably.”

Sergeant McPherson has been in service since 2012 and has 27 Freefall Jumps and over 50 Static Line Jumps in his career.

Three years ago, two soldiers attached to the 31 Special Forces Squadron of the Guyana Defence Force were hospitalised following an accident during a routine paratrooping exercise at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

A statement from the GDF noted that the sol diers were referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they were evaluated to determine the severity of their injuries. They were lat er treated and sent home.

Based on reports re ceived, the accident oc curred at about 14:25h and involved Garraway, who was riding a motorcycle, CL 4409, and a taxi bear ing registration number HC 5011, owned and driven by a 50-year-old man, who is also a resident of Kairuni.

Initial Police investiga tions revealed that the teen ager was proceeding along the Soesdyke-Linden high way at a fast rate of speed and collided with the car which suddenly emerged and turned onto the Soesdyke-Linden Highway from a trail.

The young man report edly fell onto the roadway and received injuries to his

head and other parts of his body while the driver of the car received injuries to the head.

The motorcyclist was picked up from the roadway while the driver was pulled from the wreckage – both in a semi-conscious condition – and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex for treat ment.

Garraway was pro nounced dead on arrival while the driver of the mo tor car was treated and ad mitted as a patient suffer

Nevertheless, on Sunday, a family member of Garraway told Guyana Times that while they are unaware of where the teen was heading at the time of the accident, they were told that it was the driver of the motor car who caused the accident.

“Well, what I had under stood was he was riding a motorbike when [he] collid ed with a car. We heard that the car ride into he,” they said.

The family member said it is unfortunate that the teen lost his life at such a tender age.

“He was a quiet, kind, respectful, and hardwork ing young boy. He was al ways willing to learn any thing he didn't know about his work…”, they said.

Dead: Stanton Garraway

The injured soldier and officials of GDF

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the fishermen on Saturday

A section of the beneficiaries who collected the grant

Food crisis tightens its grip on 19 ‘hunger hotspots’ as famine looms in the Horn of Africa – new report

The number of people facing acute food in security worldwide is expected to continue to rise precipitously, as the food crisis tightens its grip on 19 “hunger hotspots” –driven by rising conflict, weather extremes, and eco nomic instability aggravat ed by the pandemic and the ripple effects of the crisis in Ukraine, a joint UN report has found.

The “Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warn ings on acute food inse curity” report - issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) calls for urgent hu manitarian action to save lives and livelihoods and prevent famine in hotspot countries where acute food insecurity is expected to worsen from October 2022 to January 2023. The re port lays out country-spe cific recommendations on priorities for anticipatory action – short-term protec tive measures to be put in place before new humani tarian needs materialise; and emergency response –actions to address existing humanitarian needs.

“This is the third time in 10 years that Somalia has been threatened with a dev

astating famine. The fam ine in 2011 was caused by two consecutive failed rainy seasons as well as conflict.

Today we’re staring at a per fect storm: a likely fifth con secutive failed rainy season that will see drought lasting well into 2023. But the peo ple at the sharp end of to day’s crisis are also facing soaring food prices and se verely limited opportunities to earn a living following the pandemic. We urgently need to get help to those in grave danger of starvation in Somalia and the world’s other hunger hotspots,” said David Beasley, WFP’s Executive Director.

The report spotlights the

hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, where the longest drought in over 40 years is forecast to continue - with the fifth failed rainy sea son in a row on the hori zon - adding to the cumu lative, devastating effects that successive rainfall defi cits, economic crises and conflict have had on vul nerable households since 2020. Water scarcity has led to below average har vests, livestock deaths, and forced hundreds of thou sands of people off their land in search of suste nance, while increasing the risk of intercommunal and resource-based conflict.

Up to 26 million people

Italy's right wing, led by Meloni, wins election, exit polls say

Aright-wing alli ance led by Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party was on course for a clear majori ty in the next Parliament, giving the country its most right-wing Government since World War Two.

Meloni, as leader of the largest coalition party, was also likely to become Italy's first woman Prime Minister.

Meloni, 45, plays down her party's post-fascist roots and portrays it as a mainstream conservative group. She has pledged to support Western policy on Ukraine and not take un due risks with the third largest economy in the euro zone.

However, the outcome is likely to ring alarm bells in European capitals and on financial markets, given the desire to pre serve unity in confront ing Russia and concerns over Italy's daunting debt mountain.

An exit poll for state broadcaster RAI said the bloc of conservative par ties, that also includes Matteo Salvini's League and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, won between 41 per cent and

45 per cent, enough to guarantee control of both Houses of Parliament.

"Centre-right clearly ahead both in the Lower House and the Senate! It'll be a long night but even now I want to say thanks," Salvini said on Twitter.

Italy's electoral law fa vours groups that manage to create pre-ballot pacts, giving them an outsized number of seats by com parison with their vote tally.

RAI said the rightwing alliance would win between 227 and 257 of the 400 seats in the Lower House of Parliament, and 111-131 of the 200 Senate seats.

The result caps a re markable rise for Meloni, whose party won only 4 per cent of the vote in the last national election in 2018, but this time around was forecast to emerge as Italy's largest group on around 22-26 per cent.

But it was not a ring ing endorsement, with provisional data pointing to turnout of just 64.1 per cent against 74 per cent four years ago -- a record low number in a country that has historically en

joyed a high level of vot er participation. (Excerpt from Reuters)

are expected to face Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 and above) levels of food inse curity in Somalia, south

ern and eastern Ethiopia, and northern and eastern Kenya. With humanitarian assistance at risk of being cut due to funding short falls, the spectre of largescale deaths from hunger looms large in Somalia, with famine likely to take hold in the districts of Baidoa and Burhakaba in Bay region come October. Without an adequate humanitarian re sponse, analysts expect that by December, as many as four children or two adults per 10,000 people will die every day. Hundreds of thousands are already fac ing starvation today with staggering levels of malnu trition expected among chil dren under 5.

Globally, an all-time high of 970 000 people are

expected to face catastroph ic hunger (IPC Phase 5) and are starving or project ed to starve or at risk of de terioration to catastrophic conditions in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, if no action is taken – ten times more than six years ago when only two countries had populations in Phase 5.

Violent conflict remains the primary driver of acute hunger with analysis indi cating a continuation of this trend in 2022, with partic ular concern for Ethiopia, where an intensification of conflict and interethnic vi olence in several regions is expected to further es calate, driving up humani tarian needs. (Excerpt from FAO)

Typhoon Noru: Evacuations in Philippines as explosive super typhoon nears

Thousands of people have been evacuated and Government of fices have been closed as a super typhoon bashes the Philippines eastern islands.

Typhoon Noru has caused gusts of up to 240kph (149mph) on the main island Luzon, where more than half of the country's 110 mil lion population live.

Forecasters say the storm experienced an "ex plosive intensification" as it made landfall west of Luzon.

The storm could cause landslides, flash flooding and dangerous storm surg es.

More than 8400 people have already been evacuat ed from its path, and offi cials have issued warnings

of "serious flooding" in areas of the capital, Manila.

The storm's speed in creased by 90 km/h in 24 hours. Weather forecaster Robb Gile told news agency AFP that its increased speed was "unprecedented".

The Philippine weath er service has issued a wind signal five for Luzon, the highest warning level which marks Noru as a super ty phoon.

National Police Chief Gen Rodolfo Azurin urged people to comply with evac uation orders.

In Quezon Province, east of Manila, fishermen have been prevented from head ing to sea, and there were reports of some areas being without power.

Flights and ferry ser vices have been cancelled.

On Luzon - the most pop ulous island - President Ferdinand Marcos suspend ed all Government work and school classes were also can celled.

Trading on the coun try's stock exchange will also be suspended today and Marcos warned that the Energy Ministry had placed on high alert all energy-re lated industries in the coun ty.

The Philippines, an ar chipelago of more than 7000 islands in the Pacific Ocean, is highly vulnerable to storms. It sees an annual av erage of 20 tropical storms.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

The report spotlights the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, where the longest drought in over 40 years is forecast to continue, Oromia and Somali regions, Ethiopia

Regional

Tropical Storm Ian to hit Cuba and become a hurricane

Tropical Storm Ian was on Sunday barrel ling toward western Cuba, where it is expect ed to soak the Caribbean island with heavy rainfall and trigger storm surges as it turns into a hurricane today, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Forecast to begin rapidly strengthening later Sunday, Storm Ian was about 917 ki lometres (570 miles) south east of the western tip of Cuba, with sustained winds of 80 km per hour (50 miles per hour), the NHC said.

The Cuban Government has issued a hurricane warning for the Cuban prov inces of Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio and Artemisa.

"Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds are expected in por tions of western Cuba be ginning late Monday," the NHC said.

Storm Ian is also fore

cast to produce heavy rain fall, flash flooding and pos sible mudslides in areas of higher terrain, especially over Jamaica and Cuba.

By mid-week the storm could cause flooding across the Florida Keys and Florida peninsula, NHC added. (Reuters)

Cubans head to polls to vote on on

Cubans headed to the polls on Sunday to vote on a package of measures that would up end the island's long-held "machista" culture and le galise gay marriage even as the country wrestles with a deepening econom ic crisis.

If approved, the 100page "family code" would put Cuba at the vanguard of progressive social poli cy in Latin America, legal ising same-sex marriage and civil unions, allowing same-sex couples to adopt children, and promoting equal sharing of domestic

rights and responsibilities between men and women.

President Miguel DiazCanel, who walked with his wife to vote just a few blocks from their home in the Havana suburb of Siboney, told reporters the code abolishes prejudices and taboos that have been ingrained in Cuban society.

"My expectation is that most of the population will vote 'yes'," Diaz-Canel said. "But regardless of whether 'yes' or 'no' wins ... the pop ular debate that has been generated has contributed to our society."

The code, which has un

dergone 25 drafts, near ly 80,000 townhall-style meetings and 300,000 sug gestions from the public, is expected to draw millions of Cubans to the polls. The measure requires more than 50 per cent of votes cast on Sunday to become law.

Most prior ballot ini tiatives in Cuba have been overwhelmingly approved, but an economic crisis that has led to long lines for food, medicine and fuel has raised the possibility of a protest vote against the Government. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Security review after major cocaine haul at Jamaica airport

The Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), will be undertaking a se curity review following the recent multimillion cocaine bust at the Ian Fleming International Airport in the eastern parish of St Mary.

In an interview with the Jamaica Gleaner, AAJ President and Chief Executive Officer Audley Diedrick said the drug bust has prompted the agency to take a closer look at security at the airport.

According to Deidrick, the airport operates at inter national security standards and based on this, the facil ity is required by regulation

to abide by established secu rity measures and protocols.

“And I would go further to say that because we are also looking to establish opera tions in the United States, we’re also having to ensure that we are utilising mea sures that meet the require ments of the TSA (Transport Security Administration) of the United States.”

“When an incident like this happens, in the same way that when 9/11 hap pened in 2000, it caused the aviation industry – airlines, airports – to look at their se curity measures and to see where, if any, improvements can be made then.

“I would say with all hon esty in a matter like this, as the operator for that airport, we will use the opportunity to look if there are any ways that we need to take any fur ther improvements to our security system,” he added.

On Friday, personnel from the Narcotics Division and Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Division, along with their counter parts from the United States and Canada, carried out tar geted operations at the air port and seized 10 bags containing just over 1100 pounds of cocaine, valued at US$25 million.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Trinidad and Tobago Chief Justice Ivor Archie and former President Anthony Carmona praised the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for successful ly hosting the first hemispher ic meeting of regional courts in the Americas.

The two-day conference began on Thursday morning and ended on Friday after noon.

The CCJ said the confer ence featured heads of judi ciaries, senior judicial officers, jurists, academics, and pol icy-makers from across the Region.

The theme was “Rule of Law and International Justice”.

Archie said he was thank ful for being invited to the con

ference, adding that the dis cussions were "enlightening and stimulating.

"It gave me much food for thought and I want to con gratulate the organisers and the presenters. The standard of the presentation was ex tremely high."

Carmona hailed the con ference as "visionary" adding that "We must ensure that we meet the needs of our society in a manner that's fair and just."

In the official commu nique, it said the regional courts are "re-affirming their commitment to the princi ples and objectives contained in their founding documents, the charter of the UN [United Nations}, and the American Convention on Human

Rights, and other relevant in ternational human rights in struments, as accepted by the States ascribing to their juris diction.

It said the rule of law is essential to the growth and flourishing of human society.

"Regional courts and tribu nals are essential to guaran tee the rule of law, justice, and democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean, within their respective competencies, and require appropriate insti tutional frameworks to fulfil these high juridical functions and to guarantee their judicial independence.

The second meeting will be hosted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica next year, (Trinidad Newsday)

Barbadian National Hero Rihanna will headline next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, the NFL announced on Sunday.

The 2023 Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show is being produced by DPS, with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins serving as executive producers.

Roc Nation is the enter tainment company founded by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, who said: “Rihanna is a gen erational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent art ists ever; self-made in busi ness and entertainment.”

NFL Head of Music Seth Dudowsky said they were “thrilled” to add Rihanna

to the list of illustrious en tertainers who have wowed audiences at the eagerly-an ticipated annual spectacle.

“Rihanna is a once-in-a-generation art ist who has been a cultural force throughout her career. We look forward to collab

orating with Rihanna, Roc Nation and Apple Music to bring fans another histor ic Halftime Show perfor mance.”

The Super Bowl will be held in Glendale, Arizona, on February 12, 2023. (Nation News)

Rihanna to headline Super Bowl Halftime Show Dr Angela Brown-Burke re-elected PNP Chairman

Dr Angela BrownBurke has been re-elected as Chairman of the People’s National Party (PNP) in Jamaica.

The Opposition an nounced that Brown-Burke was re-elected on Sunday at the Party’s first National Executive Council (NEC) meeting for the 2022/2023 political year.

Senator Floyd Morris was also returned as Deputy Chairman of the 84-year-old party.

“Despite inclement weather conditions, mem bers of the NEC filled the Knox Community College Auditorium to elect the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and 11 elected members. This democrat ic process which saw the re-election of the first fe

male chairperson of the party, also saw the return of Senator Floyd Morris as Deputy Chairperson of the Party,” the PNP said in a statement.

It is reported that Raymond Pryce, former Deputy General Secretary of the PNP, was position ing himself to challenge

Brown-Burke for the posi tion of Chairman.

Pryce, who is also a for mer Member of Parliament for the once PNP safe seat of St Elizabeth North Eastern, was reportedly sounding off with key mem bers of the Party about his intentions.

(Jamaica Observer)

Tropical Storm Ian is seen near the coast of Cuba in this satellite image taken September 25, 2022(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/Handout via Reuters)

Rihanna

TT Chief Justice Ivor Archie

OIL

Oil markets are broken. Extreme volatility and a lack of liquidity mean that crude futures have become disconnected from tight physical oil markets. At least that’s what some loud voices in the oil world are telling us. But I suspect they may be talking their own books.

Complaining that markets are broken suggests to me that somebody has traded on the wrong side of the recent tumble in oil prices, positioning for a rise that hasn’t happened.

Assertions that futures and physical markets have become disconnected aren’t new. They’ve been around for decades. When oil prices were soaring in 2007-2008, oil ministers from members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries lined up to moan that futures markets had gotten too big. The volume of oil being traded, often by people who had no intention of ever handling a single barrel of the black stuff, was many times larger than global trade in physical crude. These “speculators” were driving the price of oil to record highs, while physical supplies, producers said, were ample.

Now we’re being told the opposite by Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman and others. There aren’t enough people trading in oil futures, and the paper market, as it’s known, isn’t reflecting the true tightness of crude supplies. This time it’s not the fault of the speculators, but too few producers seeking to hedge the value of their future production by buying futures.

The activity in the crude futures markets is measured by the open interest, or the number of contracts open at any particular point. Although it’s true that the combined level of open interest in Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude markets has fallen sharply from its highs, reached in 20172018 and again last year, open interest is not low in historical terms. It’s back where it was in 2013-2014 and well above the levels seen in 2007-2008, when the paper markets were too big.

One thing is undoubtedly true, however: Crude markets are extremely volatile. The first nine months of 2022 have already put the year in the top six of the last 30 for daily moves in Brent crude in excess of 5 per cent. The three most volatile years by this measure were the those of the financial crash of 2008, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the year Iraq invaded Kuwait.

But a 5 per cent price swing in an era when oil was about US$20 a barrel, as in 1990, is very different from a 5 per cent swing now that the price is near US$100 a barrel. Looked at in absolute terms, take price moves in excess of US$5 a barrel and 2022 already tops the list of the most volatile years for crude since at least 1988.

But volatility doesn’t necessarily mean a broken market. The most volatile years for oil have all been ones when major events have roiled markets, and this one’s no different. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the threat of sanctions on its oil exports, the post-pandemic recovery in travel in many parts of the world, lockdowns imposed as part of China’s zero-COVID policy, and now the looming fears of recession in North America and Europe have all disrupted markets in 2022.

Yes, global oil stockpiles are low after huge draws last year, when OPEC+ oil producers failed to raise output fast enough to match recovering demand. Yes, years of underinvestment in new oil production capacity, both inside and outside OPEC, have diminished spare capacity to a sliver. Yes, sanctions on some Russian oil exports could take millions of barrels a day of crude off the market in December, followed by millions more of refined products early next year.

But those legitimate concerns are outweighed, for now, by expectations of recession and demand destruction in some of the biggest oil-consuming countries. And if Europe and the US do fall into recession, if they haven’t already, the knock-on effect on lower imports of consumer goods from China is likely to dampen pickup in oil demand there when COVID restrictions are eventually lifted.

Paper oil markets are looking beyond the supply-side issues that are captivating OPEC+ oil ministers. I remain baffled that their response to a tight oil market is to threaten to make it tighter still by cutting output again.

Will oil prices surge again toward the end of the year, as the futures markets catch up with physical tightness? They might, especially if European Union sanctions hit Russian oil exports hard. But prices might just as easily continue on their downward path if recession leads to widespread demand destruction.

Hold onto your hats, 2022’s wild oil ride isn’t done yet. (Bloomberg)

US warns of catastrophic consequences if Russia uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Oil markets are volatile but they’re not broken Around the World

The United States warned of "catastroph ic consequences" if Moscow were to use nucle ar weapons in Ukraine, af ter Russia's Foreign Minister said regions holding wide ly-criticised referendums would get full protection if an nexed by Moscow.

Votes in four eastern Ukrainian regions, aimed at annexing territory Russia has taken by force mostly since its invasion in February, were staged for a third day on Sunday. The Russian Parliament could move to for malise the annexation within days.

By incorporating the four areas of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia into Russia, Moscow could portray attacks to retake them as an attack on Russia itself, a warning to Kyiv and its Western allies.

The Russian annexations raise the risk of a direct mil itary confrontation between Russia and the NATO mili tary alliance as Western arms are being used by Ukrainian troops.

US National Security

Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday the United States would respond decisively to any Russian use of nucle ar weapons against Ukraine and that it had spelled out to Moscow the "catastrophic consequences" it would face.

"If Russia crosses this line, there will be catastroph ic consequences for Russia. The United States will re spond decisively," Sullivan told NBC's "Meet the Press" program.

The latest US warn ing followed a thinly veiled nuclear threat made last Wednesday by President Vladimir Putin, who said Russia would use any weap ons to defend its territory.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the point more directly at a news conference on Saturday after addressing the UN General Assembly in New York.

In his speech, Lavrov sought to justify Russia's sev en-month war in Ukraine, re peating Moscow's false claims that the elected government in Kyiv was illegitimately in stalled and filled with neo-Na zis. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Cattle rustlers kill at least 11 people during ambush in Kenya

At least 11 people have been killed by cat tle rustlers during an ambush in northern Kenya, Police said.

Eight officers, two civil ians and a local chief are said to be among the victims of the violence in Turkana County on Saturday.

Members of the National Police Service were pursuing bandits who had earlier raid ed a village and stolen live stock.

Clashes over livestock and water are common in the area, which is also facing a worsening climate.

The area has been one of the hardest hit in one of the harshest droughts East Africa has seen in four de cades. A fourth season of failed rains has resulted in large numbers of livestock dy ing and crops failing to grow.

People are desperate for food and water, and the UN's World Food Programme said up to 20 million people in East Africa are at risk of se vere hunger.

Kenya's Police called the attack a "criminal and cow ardly ambush" on "innocent members of the public and Police". Additional officers

Canada begins long clean-up after Fiona sweeps homes out to sea

It will take several months for Canada to restore crit ical infrastructure after the powerful storm Fiona left an "unprecedented" trail of destruction, officials said on Sunday, as crews fanned out in five provinces to restore power and clean up fallen trees and debris.

"It's like a complete war zone," said Brian Button, Mayor of Port aux Basques, one of the hardest hit towns on the southwest tip of Newfoundland with just over 4000 residents. More than 20 homes were destroyed and the cost of damages "is in the millions (of dollars) here now," Button said in an inter view.

No fatalities have been confirmed so far, but Police in Newfoundland are searching for a 73-year-old woman they suspect was swept out to sea.

Fiona slammed into east ern Canada on Saturday, forcing evacuations as wind gusted up to 170 km per hour (106 miles per hour).

While the full scale of Fiona's devastation is not im

mediately clear, the storm could prove to be one of Canada's costliest natural di sasters.

Scientists have not yet determined whether climate change influenced Fiona, but in general the warming of the planet is making hurricanes wetter, windier and altogeth er more intense.

Canada's Federal Government is sending in the armed forces on Sunday to help clear fallen trees and debris, which will in turn open the way for crews to restore power, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair told Reuters.

The Canadian Hurricane Centre estimated that Fiona was the lowest-pressured storm to make landfall on record in Canada. In 2019, Dorian hit the region around Halifax, Nova Scotia, blow ing down a construction crane and knocking out pow er. Fiona, on the other hand, appears to have caused ma jor damage across at least five provinces. (Excerpt from Reuters)

have been dispatched to the village in Turkana East to bolster security and contin ue the pursuit of those re sponsible, who they said are members of the Pokot ethnic group.

It follows an incident last month in which at least sev

en people were burnt to death in the same county during a raid by suspected Pokot mili tiamen.

Jeremiah Lomorukai, the Governor of Turkana, said locals are "tired of mourning deaths of their family mem bers". (BBC News)

At least 24 people killed after boat sinks in Bangladesh – Police

At least 24 people were killed and several doz en more were miss ing after a boat capsized in a river in Bangladesh, Police said.

The overcrowded boat overturned on Sunday after noon while returning from a Hindu temple on the oth er side of the River Karatoa at Boda area in Panchagarh district, said local Police Chief SM Sirajul Huda.

Divers and residents re covered at least 24 bod ies by Sunday evening, he said, adding that at least 12 women and eight children were among the dead. He said many of the passengers swam ashore.

Another Police Officer said up to 25 people were still missing. Local media said at least 10 people were rescued and sent to hospital.

Thousands of Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh visit the Bodeshwari Temple every year.

Sunday marked the start of the Durga Puja, the biggest Hindu festival in Bangladesh and adjoining eastern India, drawing large crowds to the temple.

Hundreds of people die each year in ferry accidents in Bangladesh, a low-lying country that has extensive inland waterways but lax safety standards.

At least 26 people died in May after an overcrowd ed speedboat collided with a sand-laden bulk carrier and sank on the Padma River.

In December, nearly 50 people were killed and more than 70 injured when a fer ry caught fire in the southern rural town of Jhalokati.

A ferry sank in Dhaka in June 2020 after a colli sion with another vessel, killing dozens of people.

At least 78 people died in February 2015 when an over crowded ship collided with a cargo vessel in a river west of the capital. (Al Jazeera)

People gather around a mobile ballot box on the third day of a referendum on the joining of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) to Russia, in Mariupol, Ukraine September 25, 2022

Hundreds of people die each year in ferry accidents in Bangladesh [Rehman Asad/NurPhoto via Getty Images]

(June

HOROSCOPES

Get together with someone you look up to or enjoy working alongside, and together you'll devise a great plan. You are overdue for a change. Embrace new beginnings.

Stand up for your rights and do what comes naturally. Consider how you can make money doing something you enjoy. Don't wait for someone to push you in a direction or make decisions for you.

Go over every detail and make chang es that are conducive to enjoying life more while lowering stress. Discuss your objectives with a loved one, and you'll find a way to improve your domestic sit uation.

Go through your stuff and discard what's obsolete. Free yourself from the stress of clutter and care, and you'll ease tension and be able to head in a direction that motivates and excites you.

Information offered to you will help you get along with others. What you learn will encourage you to use your skills in exciting ways, resulting in new outlets.

Do whatever it takes to finish what you start. Discipline will make a differ ence when it comes to competitive situa tions. Look for a unique alternative that will separate you from the crowd.

Taking a seminar, surfing the inter net or practicing something you want to perfect will be satisfying and helpful. Address any partnership concerns and change what isn't working for you.

SUDOKU

(Oct.

Let your mind wander, and you'll come up with ideas that make a differ ence. Address concerns you have and help those in need. Your input will make you feel good and will spark big ideas.

Don't lose sight of your goals, re gardless of what's happening around you. Speak up on your behalf and clar ify what you are willing to contribute. Upgrade your qualifications.

Control your emotions when dealing with a friend, relative or peer. Being a good listener will help you deduce what others need and want. Choose love over discord.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Feb.

You'll come up with a financial plan that helps you reduce your overhead. Discussing shared expenses will re solve existing problems and ease stress. Choose your battles wisely.

Check safety issues before you pro ceed. Work alone and avoid interference. Look for a unique alternative that cuts your time and expenses in half. Question anyone who embellishes situations.

CALVIN

DILBERT

Kohli, Suryakumar, Axar star as India seal T20I series 2-1

– Cameron Green, Tim David's fifties in vain as India hunt down 187-run target

India

187 for 4 (Suryakumar 69, Kohli 63, Sams 2-33) beat Australia 186 for 7 (David 54, Green 52, Axar 3-33) by six wickets

Half-centuries from Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli trumped fifties from Cameron Green and Tim David as India chased down 187 and clinched the series 2-1 in front of a sell-out crowd in Hyderabad.

Suryakumar got together with Kohli after Daniel Sams and Pat Cummins had bounced out KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma respectively. Whenever the bowlers hit the Hyderabad pitch hard, the ball either kicked up or stopped on the batters. Case in point: the first ball to Suryakumar, from Cummins, reared up from back of a length and zipped away past his outside edge.

Suryakumar, however, rose above the conditions and Australia's attack, proving a potent point of difference in India's line-up. He struck up a 104-run partnership off 62 balls with Kohli and disrupted the bowlers by manufacturing swinging room or jumping out of the crease.

After Suryakumar ultimately fell for 69 off 36 balls, with India 53 away from victory, Australia staged a mini-fightback and dragged the game down to the

last over in which the hosts needed 11.

Kohli shovelled the first ball from Sams over long-on and holed out next ball for 63 off 48 balls. Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya, though, got the job done for India with one ball to spare.

Green's top-order salvo

With the new ball sliding onto the bat, Green immediately teed off in the powerplay, muscling his way to a 19-ball fifty in the fifth over. Much like Suryakumar, Green often backed away outside leg and lustily swung at the ball. Only David Warner and Glenn Maxwell have hit faster fifties for Australia in T20 Internationals.

Green was responsible for 52 of the 66 runs Australia had scored in the powerplay. He once

again unfurled his range against spin when he cracked Axar Patel for three successive fours in the fourth over, with the pick of those being a hard, flat sweep to the midwicket boundary.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had conceded 12 runs in his first over, however, returned to the attack in the next over and hid one away from his reach to have Green caught at backward point for 52 off 21 balls.

Axar steps up once again

After being picked apart by Green, Axar got his arm ball fizzing against Maxwell and varied his pace well to make it even more effective. He had already dismissed Aaron Finch for 7 and claimed 1 for 31 in his three overs in the powerplay.

Axar then returned to the attack with a double-wicket 14th over. He had Josh Inglis lobbing a catch to backward point and drew a return catch from Matthew Wade. Axar went over the wicket to the left-handed Wade, got a shortish ball into the pitch and had him spooning a punch back to him. Axar ended the series with figures of 8 for 63 in 10 overs at an economy rate of 6.30. No other bowler got more than three wickets in the series.

David's end-overs bash

That Australia reached 186 for 7 from 117 for 6 was largely down to David's big hitting. In his first international series for Australia, David showed why he is in demand in franchise T20 leagues. Despite India posting fielders at both long-on and longoff for the most part, David took 27 of his 54 runs down the ground with Kieron Pollard-esque blows.

damage, finishing with 0 for 50 –- the most he has conceded in a T20I.

The Suryakumar-Kohli show India lost both their openers within four overs, but Suryakumar and Kohli quickly changed the mood and tempo of the chase. Both batters were proactive against legspinner Adam Zampa, using their feet and hitting him against the intended turn for sixes.

Zampa could've cut Kohli's innings short at 23 had he

hung onto a tough return catch. Suryakumar soon overtook Kohli and surged to a 29-ball fifty. He then hit two sixes and a four off his next five balls and threatened to rush India home. Hazlewood and co, though, applied the brakes and made India work hard for victory.

India managed only one four and a six between overs 16 and 19, but Suryakumar's early assault ensured the chase was always within their grasp. (ESPNcricinfo)

Axar Patel 4-0-33-3

Australia (20 ovs maximum)

Cameron Green

c Rahul b Kumar 52

Aaron Finch (c)

c Pandya b AR Patel 7

Steven Smith

st †Karthik b Chahal 9 Glenn Maxwell run out (AR Patel) 6

Josh Inglis

c Sharma b AR Patel 24

Tim David c Sharma b HV Patel 54

Matthew Wade †

c & b AR Patel 1 Daniel Sams not out 28

Pat Cummins not out 0

Pat Cummins not out 0

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 9.30) 186/7

Did not bat: Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Jasprit Bumrah 4-0-50-0

Hardik Pandya 3-0-23-0

Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-22-1

Harshal Patel 2-0-18-1

India (T: 187 runs from 20 ovs)

KL Rahul c †Wade b Sams 1 Rohit Sharma (c)

c Sams b Cummins 17

Virat Kohli c Finch b Sams 63

Suryakumar Yadav c Finch b Hazlewood 69

Hardik Pandya not out 25

Dinesh Karthik †not out 1

Dinesh Karthik †not out 1

TOTAL 19.5 Ov (RR: 9.42) 187/4

Did not bat: Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

There are tickets available for the knockout games at the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League with the home side, Guyana Amazon Warriors, now confirmed as second-placed

The Amazon Warriors first match will see them take on Barbados Royals at 10:00h on Tuesday 27 September at the National Stadium in Providence.

If the Warriors win that match, they will automatically qualify for the Hero CPL final. If they lose, they will have another chance to make the final by playing the winner of Saint Lucia Kings vs Jamaica Tallawahs at 19:00h on Wednesday 28 September.

Tickets will be on sale at the Box Office at 233-234 Camp Street, Georgetown, and online at cplt20.com from 9:00h on Monday 26 September.

Pricing for the Qualifier 1 and Eliminator are below: September 27 September 27 Lucia Kings Tallawahs - September 28 – Qualifier of Eliminator vs Loser of Qualifier purchased from unauthorized sellers will be voided and will not be accepted at the stadium. Fans are also reminded never to buy printouts of e-tickets from third-party sellers, these will not be accepted for entry.

Fans who try to purchase more than the allowed limits by making multiple orders their orders being canceled in full. tickets on sale

When Bhuvneshwar marginally missed his yorker, David took him for 6, 6, 4 in the 18th over. Jasprit Bumrah, too, couldn't control the

Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Aaron Finch, 3.3 ov), 2-62 (Cameron Green, 4.6 ov), 3-75 (Glenn Maxwell, 7.4 ov), 4-84 (Steven Smith, 9.2 ov), 5-115 (Josh Inglis, 13.1 ov), 6-117 (Matthew Wade, 13.5 ov), 7-185 (Tim David, 19.3 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-0-39-1

Fall of wickets: 1-5 (KL Rahul, 0.6 ov), 2-30 (Rohit Sharma, 3.4 ov), 3-134 (Suryakumar Yadav, 13.6 ov), 4-182 (Virat Kohli, 19.2 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Daniel Sams 3.5-0-33-2

Josh Hazlewood 4-0-40-1

Adam Zampa 4-0-44-0

Pat Cummins 4-0-40-1

Cameron Green 3-0-14-0 Glenn Maxwell 1-0-11-0

Taylor's unbeaten 51 guides Windies Women to consolation 4-wicket win over New Zealand

Stafanie

Taylor scored an unbeaten half-century to lead the West Indies Women to a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final One-Day International (ODI) match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Sunday.

Taylor scored an 89-ball 51 before retiring as the West Indies Women, chasing 168, scored 169-6 with 38 balls remaining for a consolation victory in the three-match series.

Lauren Down scored 53 and Amelia Carr, 30, in New Zealand’s total of 168 in 48.1 overs. The West Indies Women bowled well to restrict New Zealand and were led by their Captain, Hayley Matthews, who dismissed Down, finishing with figures of 2-23 from her 10 overs.

Spinner Karishma Ramharack took 2-28 and Afy Fletcher 2-31 as the attack gave the batters an achievable target.

After the West Indies lost the wickets of Natasha McLean and Shakibi Gujnabi early in the chase, Matthews scored 40, and with Taylor, put on 81 for the third wicket before she was dismissed by Brooke Halliday who took 1-16 from her four overs.

Taylor retired hurt shortly thereafter leaving Aaliyah Alleyne to score an unbeaten 27, as she and Shakera Selman (5) took the West Indies Women across the finish line to victory.

(Sportsman)

Rain ends St Lucia Kings-Jamaica Tallawahs clash

The four teams, who will fea ture in the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) playoffs, have been confirmed af ter the match between Jamaica Tallawahs and St Lucia Kings was aban doned on Sunday.

Not a ball was bowled between Tallawahs and Kings because of rain at Providence Stadium in East Bank Demerara, Guyana.

Barbados Royals,

Kings, Tallawahs and Guyana Amazon Warriors will compete in the playoffs, bowling off on Tuesday at Providence.

Amazon Warriors (nine points) are now in fourth position, but can move into second place with a win over Royals in Guyana on Sunday night in the final preliminary match.

Royals will finish in first place as they are on 16 points. Second-placed Kings (nine points) and

third-placed Tallawahs (nine points) can slip in the standings depend ing on the result between Amazon Warriors and Royals.

Drawn encounters highlight 2nd league day

Christianburg Wismar Secondary School were the only team to churn out a victory on Saturday in the Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers U18 Schools’ football league, as all the other encounters ended in a drawn result.

The first two teams to have such a result were Cummings Lodge and West Ruimveldt Secondary, 3-3.

Cummings Lodge started their scoring early, in the

fourth minute, by way of an Antwan Samuel strike, while Elijah Mendonca made it a 2-0 game in the 16th minute.

Nicholas James struck back for West Ruimveldt in the 21st minute, but Cummings Lodge’s Fabian Figueria pushed the score to 3-1 by the half. West Ruimveldt managed to close the deficit as Trevor Bentt and Ozim Lewis found the back of the net in the 46th and 58th minute respectively. However,

Trinidad and Tobago will host the seventh Commonwealth Youth Games in August 2023.

After Belfast lost the right to host the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA), in August 2018, expressed its interest to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and subsequently submitted an official bid.

The Games will be held from August 4 to August 11.

The logo design, a fingerprint, has been launched. The fingerprint symbolises the digital

innovation age and the flexibility and ease of communication citizens of the Commonwealth daily experience when using phones, computers, and tablets to find and gather information with just the touch of a finger.

The Trinidad and Tobago bid presentation team to the CGF Executive Board meeting in Birmingham were TTCGA President Brian Lewis and Secretary General Annette Knott. The bid proposal Trinbago 2021 was conceptualised and written by Kwanieze John, Chanelle Young and Rheeza Grant. Trinidad and Tobago Sport

and Community Development Minister Shamfa Cudjoe led the efforts to garner the support of Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley and her Cabinet colleagues.

Diane Henderson, the first woman to hold the post of TTCGA and Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee President; T&T Sport and Community Development Minister Cudjoe, and CGF President, Dame Louise Martin signed the Host Country Contract at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva, Trinidad on August 26. (Sportsmax)

neither team could find the game winner in the remaining minutes of the encounter.

There were fireworks to be seen in the next game, as Milo Schools’ U18 champions Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) decimated Friendship Secondary 8-0.

Demoll Warner led the way with a brace in the 59th minute and 65th minute, but before he could come to the party, it was Daniel Adolph who found the first goal in the third minute, which he followed up with another in the 50th minute. Amani King (10th); Kemani Field (33rd); Lamar Jules (68th) and Devon Gilbert (70th) added one apiece for CWSS.

North Ruimveldt and President’s College went tit for tat in the next game, which was filled with nailbiting moments. PC played well in the first segment, but just could not finish well. It was North Ruimveldt’s Jevon Pluck, who excelled at this

particular aspect and was rewarded with a goal in the 13th minute.

Shamar Barrington made it a 1-1 game for PC in the 36th minute and soon after the second half began, Michael Joseph pushed the score to 2-1 in PC’s favour. Omar Sam also found the back of the net for North, making for a 2-2 score at the end of regulation time.

The final game of the day between Dolphin and Golden Grove Secondary witnessed an identical result.

Four-time champions Trinbago Knight Riders finished last with seven points and will miss the play-offs for the first time in the 10-year history of the CPL. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots also failed to qualify for the play-offs ending in fifth place with eight points. 639-2663 643-8274

For Dolphin, Brian Burnette (28th) and Jequan Cole (40th) were the marksmen, while Tyrese (9th) and Yannick Liverpool (57th) found the back of the net for Golden Grove.

After Saturday’s results, CWSS currently leads the league with two wins. The Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers League will continue at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground next weekend.

Astrology and Spiritual Healer Pt. Mohan: +592-692-1009. If there is any problem in your life, he will get the solution. Please con tact spiritual healer, regarding health, love, business, husband and wife problems, etc. Address: Georgetown, Guyana.

Rain had the final say in the match at Providence

A look at the North Ruimveldt v PC encounter (Jemima Holmes photo)

North Ruimveldt’s goalkeeper as he conceded the first equaliser (Jemima Holmes photo)

Scenes from the Dolphin v Golden Grove game (Jemima Holmes photo)

sheer electricity that tran scends through the stands, it is difficult to feel down at Providence.

A testament to the pow

year. We’re doing it coming from behind,” Darren, one half of an overseas-based Guyanese couple, said.

His wife, Shafeeka, add

I’m giving them a chance, because I want to see a lit tle improvement. They’re in their country and hope fully, they can, you know, with the crowd and the feeling and the vibes, they could actually win.”

“We keep saying every year is we year. Let this be we year,” the young woman added with a broad smile.

Unlike Christine, the faith of Clive Lake never wavered.

“I think everything will be okay for we though. For now, ‘cause we make some good runs today. Even though we didn’t start good, I feel we coming back got this. It ain’t going nowhere,” he told Guyana Times Sport con

“It feels amazing. It’s such an honour, such a pleasure to be in your own country, hearing your song playing among so many other big songs,” the sing er added.

The love for the CPL vibes at Providence knows no bounds and according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, it has become a rich part of Guyanese culture.

“It’s much more than a game for us, it’s a part of who we are as a nation now. Many times you guys refer to it as the Warrior Nation and that has a strong mean ing for us as a people,” the Guyanese Head of State shared during a recent in nings break interview at the beloved Guyanese ven ue.

“When CPL first start

ward to is exactly what you’re getting – great crick et. All the matches played here had close finishes. But more importantly, you’re going to see the coming to gether of our regional cul ture.

“We have a strong cul ture in the Region, we have high temperature parties and we’re bringing that to gether.”

Turning his attention to the Amazon Warriors, President Ali emphasised why it was important for the Warriors to do well.

He said, “I think it’s very important for the franchise to do well, because the peo ple of this country believe strongly in this franchise, support this franchise, they come out every time, they make lot of sacrifices. And

ly familiar at the Guyana National Stadium during the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The murmurs of worry when things don’t go the way of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, euphoric cheers at the sight of a flying ball, the sea of yellow flags and, of course, the sight of a na tion united; that is what Providence during CPL season is all about.

It is, by now, no secret that Guyana possess one of the best crowds in the Caribbean. From the music to the cheerleaders, to the

er of Providence’s vibes is the fact that the Warriors have rallied to four consec utive victories, on the back of their home crowd sup port.

So sought after are the vibes here that fans trav el all the way from North America to get a taste of the Warriors’ return to their home ground.

“It’s been 10 years now that we’ve been travelling from Florida to all the is lands and we always come to Guyana. We lost the final in 2019, but this year is our

ed, “I’m excit ed to finally get a win from them.

Warriors all the way!”

Without a doubt, there are those who have come close to losing faith in the local franchise this year.

Another fan, Christine, shared that she was close to losing hope, but their performances at home have tugged at her heart.

She explained, “I wasn’t like backing Guyana, but

fidently.

Even the local celebri ties are standing resolute in their support for the Warriors.

“They winning. They got to win,” Guyanese songster Terry Gajraj shared with this publication.

Adding to the adrena line he feels about being at the Providence Stadium, Gajraj is even more mo tivated when snippets of his most popular song “Guyanese Baboo” plays whenever the Warriors are doing well.

ed, it was a tournament with a difference. When it was first conceptualised, it was to play cricket loud er, to bring a party atmo sphere to cricket and that is what we’re doing now,” he added.

The President did not stop there in his praise for Guyana’s hosting of the last leg of the Hero CPL 2022. He also tied in the country’s ability to perfect ly couple cricket and carni val.

President Ali explained, “What you can look for

I think the franchise itself, the players, their selves must know how much they’re loved in Guyana.”

President Ali and the hopes of the entirety of Guyana are clearly the same: for the Warrior to capitalise on the vibes at Providence to spur their first Hero CPL title victo ry. Now, the Warriors are in the play-offs set to begin on Tuesday, September 27. Can our collective dream finally be realised? All be cause of –Providence’s fan support…?

S tory and photo S by J emima h olme S

After two years, there are still many things that remain eeri

The vibes at Providence have been electric for the Amazon Warriors’ last four home games

By Brandon Corlette

The Guyana Amazon Warriors continued their red-hot form at home, recording a comprehensive five-wicket win against table leaders Barbados Royals Match 30 of the 2022

Caribbean Premier League, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

A collective bowling effort from the Warriors restricted Royals to 125 all out in 17.3 overs, while Shakib Al Hasan showed his class, scoring an impressive 53 as Warriors ended victorious on 126-5 in 14.3 overs.

In the chase, Warriors lost Chandrapaul Hemraj for a fiveball duck, when he drove Kyle Mayers into the hands of short cover, at 1-1. Shai Hope played some pleasing shots in his 16 from 12 balls, an innings that had two fours and one six, but he was trapped at the crease by the consistent Jason Holder.

Shakib joined Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and the duo dug deep and battled. The Bangladeshi all-rounder, who came to the crease at 18-2 in 3.4 overs, settled the nerves at Providence with his maturity. Warriors reached 43-2 in the powerplay. Left-arm seamer Ramon Simmonds was taken to the cleaners by Shakib, and the 10th over yielded 23 runs. The packed Providence Stadium, which was again graced with the presence of the President of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali, cheered away as Warriors inched towards victory.

The left-handed Shakib reached his fifty in 27 balls with a slash over backward

point for six off Holder, and that was lights out for the Royals. Shakib eventually held out in the deep for his 30-ball 53, a dominant innings that included five fours and three sixes.

Captain Shimron Hetmyer came and slammed 10 runs in five balls, but he played across the line and was trapped by Mujeeb at 104-7 in 11.5 overs. The usual dasher, Gurbaz, who made 22 from 25 balls, played the anchor role while Keemo Paul came and added the icing to the cake. Obed McCoy had 2-23 for Royals in a losing effort.

Earlier, an unchanged Amazon Warriors won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch that was used for the first time this season. Royals lost the big fish of Mayers when he skied one off Romario Shepherd for a golden duck. It was only the fourth ball of the innings when Mayers departed and run scoring proved difficult for the Royals.

Paul, bowling from the media center end, removed Rahkeem Cornwall for two

when he was caught by Gudakesh Motie at 2-2. Paul continued to fire and he destroyed the stumps of Harry Tector for five, and Royals were reeling at 8-3.

Azam Khan and Holder then attempted to drop anchor, adding 51 runs for the fourth wicket. Khan was run out for a 24-ball 20, which included two sixes. The Afghanistan player, Najibullah Zadran was out for a golden duck when he chopped on one from Odean Smith. While Holder continued to gather singles and the odd boundary, he watched Devon Thomas (06) fall to Smith at 77-6 after 13 overs.

Holder eventually fell to the veteran Imran Tahir, who began his run for glory. The big Barbadian found Paul at longon and departed for a 39-ball 42, a top score that included three sixes and one four.

When Holder departed at 83-7, Royals were looking at being bundled out for less than 100. Joshua Bishop fended one from Shepherd and was caught behind for a

duck, and McCoy was bowled by Shepherd at 97-9 in 14.4 overs. McCoy had driven Shepherd for an elegant four, and slammed him for a six in consecutive balls. The next ball, Shepherd destroyed his stumps.

Smith continued to give extras, leaking 18 runs in the 16th over. The last pair of Ramon Simmonds and Mujeeb Ur Rahman offered some resistance, adding 28 runs together. Mujeeb was eventually caught by Paul, giving Shakib his first wicket of the night. A few dropped catches in the field and that killer instinct at the end, which was lacking from the Warriors, helped Royals reach 125 all out in 17.3 overs.

Shepherd claimed 3-14 in three overs while Paul had 2-9 in two overs. Smith was expensive, bowling four overs for 42 runs, but picking up two wickets. The CPL continues on Tuesday with Warriors taking on Royals in the first match at 10:00h while St Lucia Kings and Jamaica Tallawahs will play the evening game at 19:00h.

Odean Smith and Shai Hope celebrating

Royals celebrates Hemraj's wicket

Jason Holder top-scored for Royals

– Shakib shines again

Amazon Warriors inspire next generation through ExxonMobil engagement

Lifestories, motivational speeches, fun in the sun and overall unforgettable moments were on the cards on Tuesday, when the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) interacted with the next generation of youth cricketers and athletes.

The engagement which was organized by ExxonMobil, fit perfectly into the Amazon Warriors’ annual effort to immerse themselves in charitable causes, especially surrounding chil

dren.

The ExxonMobil Guyana event sought to give the youngsters a chance to learn from their cricketing idols in a fun, interactive environment. The chil dren selected to attend hailed from vari ous schools around the country, cricket clubs and other organizations and was

hosted in the Marriott Hotel Parking Lot.

The initial panel set-up allowed the youngsters to quiz the cricketers about various aspects of life and the sport.

“The first disappointing call I received as a cricketer, it was when I was around 16,” Ronsford Beaton shared as he re counted one of his most disappointing experiences as a teen ager.

“I had my hopes up because then I did all the things that I need to do to prepare for the tournament. But when I received the call that I wasn’t selected, I was heartbroken.”

In a bid to enlighten the youngsters on how to deal with such, Beaton continued, “It was a sad feeling, but I overcame it as the days go by.”

Also opting to share valuable words of advice, was Saxacalli’s Keemo Paul.

“In life, there will be a lot of disappointments. There will be a lot of ups and downs, you know, life is never a smooth road but its how we deal with it and how you cope with it,” Paul openly shared.

“For me, I think family is important and I just want to en courage each and every one of you to just keep following your dreams, keep working hard, stay disciplined, stay grounded, and be humble always. No matter how far you reach in life, just try to stay as humble as possible and go step by step.”

Paul further stated, “When those disappointments come, just remember it’s not the end of the road.”

Following the verbal interaction concluded, it was time to hit the pitch in a mock-up cricket game. Additionally, the children also got the opportunity to take photos and get auto graphs from the GAW Players.

The amazon Warriors take a phot op with students from Queen’s College

is much more than a game for us in Guyana, it is a passion, part of our culture and a unify ing force. As we celebrate “One Guyana”, the hosting of the CPL final will be an energis ing force. We are building a product that will be spectator-focused, integrated with our re gional partners for a global market. Cricket

Carnival is a fusion of entertainment and celebration that will be mind-blowing and unbelievably different from any other glob al cricketing event. We welcome all to the greatest celebration of music, pageantry, Caribbean vibes with a South American touch, and, of course, cricket played loud est.” TO GUYANA, CPL 2022

Onbehalf of the management, coach ing staff and players of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, I would like to welcome all the fans in our dear land of Guyana who will be coming out from today in numbers to fill our National Stadium in all our games – and those who could not get in because the tickets were all sold out with in a few days. In the ten years that the Hero T20 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has been in existence, I can say – without any fear of being accused of exaggeration that you have been the most consistent in dem onstrating support for your team – and for CPL Cricket – in all of the territories.

And I repeat, the Guyana Amazon Warriors are your team and your vociferous support of your team in and out of the sta dium has proven to be their secret weapon – providing at crucial moments that rush of adrenalin that takes teams across the line from the agony of defeat to the thrill of victo ry. Your Guyana Amazon Warriors have re sponded by being the most consistent team in the last decade. And they have become known as a team that never say die.

This year, our season was bookmarked between the end of the month of August – the month we have commemorated as “Freedom Month” for more than a century and a half – and the end of September, which is the month we celebrate “Amerindian Heritage Month” in honour of our First Peoples. During that time, we West Indians have marked that freedom and indigenous ness by achieving success in several fields –but nowhere else more unique than in the culture we evolved in celebrating life itself. Maybe it is because, more than most other

A Message by Hon. Brigadier (Retired)

Mark Phillips, Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

Guyana is a proud host of the highly-anticipated finals of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022, the domestic Twenty20 cricket league played here in the West Indies.

We warmly welcome the teams, players, coaches, and their fans for the final leg of the tournament. The first game in Guyana is set for Wednesday, September 21, and will climax with the finals on Friday, September 30.

An exciting brand of cricket is ex pected from the six teams partici pating in the tournament namely, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Barbados Royals, Trinbago Knight Riders, St Lucia Kings, and, of course, the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

This is the 10th season of the CPL, but the first time that the finals are being held in Guyana. We anticipate an electrifying atmosphere from the wave of fans who will fill seats at the National Stadium in Providence to witness the games.

My fervent hope, like many Guyanese, is for our Amazon Warriors to draw inspiration from the games be ing staged in Guyana to finally reward their passionate and loyal fans by win ning the elusive CPL championship on home soil.

Notwithstanding, hosting the CPL is a special moment for Guyana.

As a result of the vision and invest ments of our Government, led by Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the CPL finals were secured, particularly

given the socio-economic development benefits that cricket offers.

The CPL games in Guyana are paired with Cricket Carnival, a fun, vibrant and colourful medley of ac tivities held under the “One Guyana” theme.

This is the first of three annual CPL finals and Cricket Carnivals to be hosted by Guyana.

The CPL and the carnival events mean a lot to Guyana as our unwav ering drive is to bring people togeth er and to unify the country. There is no better way to achieve this than through sports and culture.

Both events fulfil the Government’s overall mission of promoting Guyana

as a top-tier international destination for investment, tourism, entertain ment, sports, food, and cultural activi ties.

There is something for everyone to enjoy, including music festivals, food shows, concerts, competitions, and or ganised tours.

More importantly, the Government’s intention through the events is to invest in its people as a springboard that will foster economic opportunities for every Guyanese.

In advance of the CPL, we noted that hotels were booked solid and nu merous economic opportunities have opened up for bed and breakfast ac commodations, vendors, restaurants, bars, transportation services, and tour operators.

Guyana is rapidly evolving as an oil and gas market, and our Government has mapped out a transformational de velopment trajectory that will ensure the diversification of our economy by using the gains from this natural re source for countrywide development.

We will continue to build out many new pillars so that our econo my will be resilient, strong and sus tainable. Combined, CPL and the Cricket Carnival is one such avenue Government has adopted as a unifying catalyst for economic growth.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Guyana, I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to thousands of visitors from across the globe, par ticularly our Caribbean Region.

places, our history has made us appreciate life more, since it could have been so easily taken from us. This year, we have launched a unique Cricket Carnival to bring it all to gether!

Cricket has been an integral part of Caribbean life, and as I have said in previ ous years, T20 might have been launched elsewhere, but its joie de vivre and all its synonyms – cheerfulness, cheer, light-heart edness, merriment, glee, gladness, happi ness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, delight, pleasure, high spirits, good spirits, good hu mour, jollity, jolliness, hilarity, mirth, jovi ality, exuberance, elation, exultation, eu phoria, jubilation – declare it was “born” in the West Indies.

Once again, on behalf of your Guyana Amazon Warriors I ask that you join me as I say with all sincerity:

GO WARRIORS! – Let us celebrate the joy of Caribbean Cricket!!

“The 10th anniversary finals in Guyana will be the biggest finals the CPL has ever had. We’ll have sellout crowds to all the games, there’s going to be an extraordinary atmosphere. As I said, that coming togeth er of Carnival and cricket will never be seen better than in Guyana this year. So, for us it is all about, you know, enjoy ing what’s ahead. I think it’s going to be a phenomenal few days in Guyana, and I hope all the fans, both watching at home and in the stadium, will enjoy the experience.”

“Cricket

Guyanese Peters relishing experience with CPL marketing team

Afterworking at Digicel for 14 years, Guyanese Delon Justin Peters is enjoying working with the biggest party in sport, Caribbean Premier League. The businessman, who is also a sponsorship officer at CPL said he has learned valuable lessons during his journey from Digicel to CPL.

Peters had enjoyed working at Digicel but the party atmosphere in CPL and the fans are a joy. “Loving it. It is the best job I think I have had next to Digicel. I have worked at Digicel for quite a few years, so we were accus tomed to getting stuff done, but now being integrated into the sport, into cricket it is even more fun.”

“While I do not follow the games per se, it is always fun to see the people and enjoy themselves, and me being a big part of it, I enjoyed that,” Peters said.

The Guyanese, who is often spotted on television presenting cheques to fans of dif ferent CPL matches, gave an insight into his job with CPL. “I am one of the sponsorship officers at CPL, and our main focus is to make sure that the sponsor’s activations are prop erly integrated. That the sponsors get the right experience from their partnership,” Peters disclosed.

Equipped with 14 years of experience at Digicel, Peters was familiar with how things are done on an international level, through television.

“Coming from a Digicel background, I am familiar with how things are done internationally, but from a sporting perspective, I think I understand more sponsorship in its entirety, and then sports sponsorship, and then I under stand how TV works because some of us are sitting at home watching these things happening on TV, but we don’t know how these things work.”

“My role allows me to understand how it works when it works. The general knowledge in marketing in its entirety,” Peters explained.

How do you feel about Guyana hosting its 1st CPL Final in the tournament’s 10 year history?

SEON BOVELL

Response: Cricket is one of the most popular games in a majority of the countries. Born in Guyana, the immense interest of cricket has made it popular in many nations where it has become more of a passion, a dream and a part of their blood stream. Great stalwarts like Brian Lara, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Vivian Richards, Greg Chappell and a long list of popular cricketers have added greatness to the game, not to forget Sir Don Bradman. Though it takes on the nerves in nerve-clinching games, the game of cricket is itself a stress reliever and a great entertainment for millions of fans the world over. “Most games are skin deep, but cricket goes to the bone” is the saying that epitomises the fervour of cricket. Whether you win or lose the game or it ends in a tie, it is the game of cricket that always wins. So, to have the CPL finals here in Guyana for the first time is an immense step for our country as a whole. It will help showcase to the tourists what Guyana has to offer and make them want to return.”

SHIVANAND HARIPRASAD

Response: “When the tickets came out, you could have seen the crowds on the first day. As soon as the finals tickets were released, everything was sold out, so everyone is ready for this season and I’m sure for the next three years as well the same thing will happen.”

DELICIA GEORGE

Response: You know after years of it keeping in Trinidad, it feels as though we have accomplished a lot this year by securing the CPL Finals. Most Guyanese will get to step foot into the experience. It is a proud moment for all Guyanese.

PERNELL CHRISTIE

Response: To have the CPL Finals hosted here in Guyana was long overdue given the support that the Guyanese people show to cricket as a whole and not just the Amazon Warriors. I’m sure we will come out in our numbers regardless of which two teams will be in the Finals because at the end of the day, we all represent West Indies Cricket.

AREEB ALI

Response: It feels amazing. Cricket is such a great sport here in the country and we rally behind our teams through and through. Guyanese thirst for games to be played here so to have the finals being hosted is a dream come through. The Guyana Amazon Warriors have been to the final so many times and not won so maybe now they’re getting that last ingredient which is to play in their backyard and win.

SUNIL RAMLALL

Response: “I’m excited and I know my Guyanese brothers and sisters are ecstatic. You can have a look for yourself, the tickets that were released sold out a few hours after they became available. That tells you something, after a twoyear pause of CPL due to the pandemic, Guyana cricket crazed! We have the play-offs and finals for the next three years to go hand in hand with the Cricket Carnival and we all know the Warriors fans always think to themselves, “this year is we year!”

JENNIFER SAM

Response: “I feel an immeasurable amount of pride that the CPL finals are being hosted here after so many years. To be able to go and enjoy the sport itself with other fans in such an exciting atmosphere is honestly incredible. It would be even more amazing if Guyana makes it to the finals, because I would be able to support my favourite team in person. A victory in Guyana’s home turf would be poetic and iconic and I feel like this is the perfect time for us to win the title.”

ISHAKA JACKMAN

Response: “As a sports fan to have the second most-watched T20 league final being hosted in my country is amazing – moreover, in its 10th anniversary, definitely is momentous. It’s investment in sports tourism for our country. I hope it’s a signal of the beginning of major investment in sports for Guyana.”

LAKANAND SINGH

Response: It is a wonderful feeling as a patriotic Guyanese citizen to have the finals being hosted, in a franchise that has reached the finals in almost every CPL tournament thus far. So, as a Guyanese fan it has been a long time coming to have the tournament hosted here and hopefull this is our lucky year.

VARSHA BOODRAM

Response: “Truly a great feeling. The Guyanese fans certainly welcome this inaugural event and look forward to the excitement of it. It will also be a memorable one if Warriors finally win on their home turf.”

Scenes from Guyana Amazon Warriors home games at Providence

CPL 2022: Warriors, Royals, Kings and Tallawahs into playoffs

Knight Riders were knocked out of the Caribbean Premier League for the first time in the tournament’s ten-year history. Guyana Amazon Warriors handed TKR the knockout punch at Providence on a super Saturday to storm into the play-offs while Barbados Royals, St Lucia Kings, and Jamaica Tallawahs are the oth er teams into the final rounds.

Trinbago

The Warriors had a slow start to the season, suffering defeats away from home, but upon return to its home turf, the team dominated with clinical wins, especially against one of the most anticipated and talked about matches on Saturday evening.

During the home games, the magnificent Shai Hope and Afghanistan’s Rahmanulla Gurbaz scored half-centuries while other players chipped in.

Shimron Hetmyer has chipped in with runs on a consis tent basis, but he was not as dominant throughout the sea son. Leading the team for the first time, Hetmyer continues to learn from every game, and with the addition of Gurbaz and Shakib, the Warriors were in full flow at the crunch time of the season.

The dangerous Odean Smith who has often come and ex ploded at the end, has a strike rate of over 200 this season with the bat, while Keemo Paul has also chipped in at the end. Opener Chanderpaul Hemraj is due for a big score and that innings might come in the final games.

From a bowling perspective, the veteran Warrior, Imran Tahir has 10 wickets while Smith has seven wick

ets. Tabriz Shamsi, who departed for international duties, had claimed eight wickets in the five matches he played. Gudakesh Motie has been economical in his outings bowl ing some death overs, while the young Junior Sinclair has shown great promise.

“Fantastically well done by the boys. Don’t have enough words to express how great they were. Really really proud of them. Gurbaz came in and felt at home really. Back-to-back fifties - we can see he’s comfortable now,” Hetmyer said after the win against TKR.

Barbados Royals, the form team

The Barbaos Royals have shown dominance from the in ception of CPL 2022. Led by David Miller, and Kyle Mayers, Royals came and conquered. Mayers led the batting with more than 300 runs while South African trio, Miller, Quinton de Kock, and Corbin Bosch showed class with the bat. However, the trio departed for international duties, but Azam Khan stepped up when the team needed him.

In the bowling department, Jason Holder and Obed McCoy are star performers while Afghanistan ace spinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been a threat to opponents.

The Royals who struggled to qualify in previous seasons, changed their management and looked like a stronger team this season.

Tallawahs flexing muscle

have carried the Jamaica Tallawahs this season.

Powell has been racking up half centuries while King was all royalty at Providence when he scored that brilliant century against the warriors. Raymon Reifer has been a silent contributor and he was also rewarded with a West Indies call-up at the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Pakistan’s duo Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir has also been outstanding with the ball all season, impressing the Assistant Coach, and legend, Sir Curtly Ambrose.

Kings inspired by home support and Sammy

In the King’s camp, former West Indies Captain, Daren Sammy now head coach for the team has been an inspira tion to the team. The home support in St Lucia was impres sive as the batting of Johnson Charles, who has more than 300 runs this season.

Captain Faf du Plessis was impressive with a fantastic knock of a century at Providence and he continues to lead his troops well.

David Wiese has contributed all-around for his side while Alzarri Joseph has been a superstar with the ball. He has also been bowling at a serious pace this season. The four teams have shown differences in approach, and this sets up a close contest in the playoffs.

Now that the stage is set for the final showdown, the fans are hoping that their team goes through to the final which is set for Friday, September 30 at 19:00h.

West Indies players Brandon King and Rovman Powell

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Barbados Royals

Jamaica Tallawahs

Realising the CPL dream, 10 years down the line

By Jemima Holmes

Tenyears, to many, can seem like a very long time; but when you’re enjoying your favourite sport on a sunny day in the Caribbean, with some of the world’s most explosive talents waving back from the bound ary, your favourite tunes blasting loudly from several speakers, the prettiest cheerleaders grooving to the beat and of course, mouth-wa tering delicacies and drinks flowing freely, 10 years can pass ever so quickly.

And even for the most fanatical of partygoers or sport lovers, a constant factor every year for 10 years can get monotonous, bor ing, and dreary. Not the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) though.

Ticket sales for this year’s Hero CPL final in Guyana is testament to not only the tourna ment’s ability to keep the Caribbean engaged, but to the growth that a particular group hoped for, 10 years ago.

“The key thing for us was to differentiate and our key proposition was always well, what we’re looking to do is combine cricket with carnival. You know, we wanted to make sure that from a fan perspective, fans could come and watch our games – obviously enjoy great cricket, cricket always had to be the primary driver, but also have a good time, cre ate an atmosphere and a vibe that was truly Caribbean and the Caribbean people really bought into,” Hero CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pete Russell said about the vision of the tournament.

But things weren’t always as good as they are now, tick ets didn’t always go like hot cakes.

“The first game that we played, which was in Barbados, which was Barbados play ing St Lucia and actually four days before the game, we’d lit erally sold probably 200 tick ets, something like that. So, it wasn’t looking great. But we had a fantastic surge three days before and there was huge amount of marketing ef fort, lots of innovation was created by spon sors and ourselves,” Russell recalled.

“And I remember just looking at that first game, it was packed, it was absolutely packed and the vibe and the atmosphere was just amazing. And that sort of set the tone really for what was to come.”

Although for most, the Hero CPL is all about the game and ensuing entertainment, the work behind the scenes to produce the “Biggest Party in Sport” has been, and still is, arduous. Being an annual event, the CPL’s most difficult task is to keep fans engaged for 11 months, each year, when their tournament wasn’t in action.

Russell explained to this publication, “That is a challenge, of course, but I think that the key is to make the tournament as good as it can be. So, everyone’s experience when they go to a CPL game has to be I want more of that. I want to go back, I want to want to be part of a CPL game in the future. Because that’s obviously, you know, how you get peo ple to return in future years, but you have to give them not only value for money but a great entertainment experience.”

Sharing some of the entity’s secrets, Russell credited not only CPL’s motivation, but the role that franchises play.

“The one thing that I would say is what we’re very conscious of – and it’s a little bit like how NFL do it – you don’t want to saturate the market. You don’t want to be too much, do too much. You want everyone to have a great time, but at the end of it, want more.”

He said with a smile, “But, of course, what’s been fantastic over the 10 years is that there’s been great rivalries created within teams and between players across those teams, so, it is all about balancing.”

Touching on the CPL’s six franchises, Russell said: “The teams have learned over the years how to deliver on the pitch and off the pitch. So, there’s a huge amount that goes into it. And we’re very grateful for the team owners that we now have who we believe are second to none in terms of world cricket.”

Now, where would the CPL be without its sponsors? Before the famous Hero motor cycle was posted up in stadiums across the Caribbean, there were bottles of Limacol be ing distributed, right alongside tastes of El Dorado’s special brews and Republic Bank’s fan stand – a perfect picture of support.

Russell figures the CPL would be close to

we’ve had,” the CPL CEO went on to add.

Of course, by now the cat is out the bag; Guyana

Cricket Carnival, that in some ways can be seen as the celebration of CPL’s milestone. Ten years ago, the fusion of carnival and crick et was nothing but a vision, now it will engulf entertainment spots in Guyana.

“Well, His Excellency, the President has been a huge fan of CPL really from the early days and he’s always been very keen and obviously instrumental in in terms of getting the finals to Guyana.

But what he was clear about was al ways to make sure that that carnival atmosphere, the car nival side of things was cre ated not just in the cricket ground but outside it,” Russell said in talking about Guyana “bringing to life” that dream.

Between the first final and the Cricket Carnival, Guyana is truly living the CPL dream.

Back in 2013, before the CPL even began, GAW Chairman Dr Ranjisinghi “Bobby” Ramroop had shared, “We believe in the transfor mative potential of CPL for the Caribbean Region. Not only does it promise to com pletely rejuvenate and revit alise cricket in the Caribbean, it has the potential to provide a tremendous economic and social boost as well.”

10 years on and truer words…

“We’re very proud of all the relationships

lost without the corporate boost.

“I mean, bluntly put, if you don’t have sponsors, you don’t have a tournament. They are the lifeblood from a financial per spective. So, you know, they’re very important, but, of course, you know, they don’t do it just out of largess, they do it be cause there’s a value to them to their business es and obvious ly, how they’re able to interact with their cus tomers.”

CPL CEO Pete Russell

The Hetmyer-led

GAW team is equipped with balance and skill

Hetmyer-led GAW team are equipped with balance and skill

The

Shimron Hetmyer leads the Guyana Amazon Warriors into bat tle in the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The former West Indies U-19 World Cup-winning Captain has a team equipped with balance and great skill. In the batting department, Hetmyer is expected to play a major role while the experienced overseas pros Paul Stirling, Colin Ingram, and Henrich Klaasen offer firepower.

GAW batting in focus

Hetmyer has 145 T20 matches under his belt and 2784 runs. He has an average of 26.26 and a healthy strike rate of 132.5. With 15 half-centuries and one century, the ultratalented Hetmyer will be a prize scalp for any opposition. He will remember his U-19 World Cup glory, and will have intentions of leading the Warriors to a title win at home.

Aggressive Irish opener Paul Stirling has been in red-hot form in 2022. The experienced opener has 306 T20 match es under his belt and 7628 runs. He has a strike rate of 142, with three centuries and 49 half-centuries in the T20

format. His experience and skill will certainly boost the Warriors’ chances of winning 2022 CPL.

South Africa’s wicket-keeper batsman Henrich Klaasen has played in 124 T20s and has 2335 runs, averaging 28. He has a healthy strike rate of 136.4 and having played in T20 tournaments around the globe, he is expected to shine bright in Warriors kit. Colin Ingram, another overseas pro, has 317 T20 caps with 7721 runs. Ingram, who is no strang er to the CPL, having played for Trinbago Knight Riders, has four centuries in this format and 47 half-centuries. His strike rate of 137.6 will certainly boost the middle order.

First-choice Guyanese opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, who scored a majestic century against Barbados Royals in CPL, entered this tournament in serious form. Hemraj has 33 T20s under his belt with 730 runs. He will be aiming to extend consistency and return to the West Indies colours.

West Indies’ number 1 One-Day International batsman, Shai Hope has been eager to strengthen his shorter format credentials. The very classy batsman played 54 T20s and has 979 runs with three fifties in the format. Given there is a chance of players being unavailable, Hope bats at the top of the order, a position he batted in the past for Barbados and the West Indies.

West Indies Test Vice Captain Jermaine Blackwood pro vides that balance to the middle order once the opportuni ty arises. He has played 27 T20 matches and has only 357 runs, but the Jamaican batsman with three Test centuries is capable of producing more.

Imran Tahir ages like fine wine. The 43-year-old vet eran has played 362 match es and has 453 wickets with best bowling figures of 5-23. He has a bowling average of 19.78, an economy rate of 6.9 and a strike rate of 12. Simply amazing. With 10 four-wick et hauls and three five-wick et hauls under his belt, Tahir has been a handful for all teams at the Hero CPL.

left-arm wrist spinner, has 195 matches to his name and 223 wickets. He has an average of 22.3, an economy rate of 7.28, and five four-wicket hauls.

Gudakesh Motie continues to climb the ranks, having made his international debut this year. He had a good de but season with the Warriors last year and was among the players retained. With seven T20s in his blooming career and eight wickets, Motie’s economy rate of 6.6 has shown his ability to bowl to big players and keep them quiet. His Albion clubmate, Veerasammy Permaul is also with the Warriors this season. He has played 89 T20s and has 61 wickets. Having shown his skills to bowl in the powerplay, Permaul has an impressive economy rate of 6.95.

Ronsford Beaton, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, and Odean Smith are the seam bowlers for the GAW. Beaton, arguably the fastest of the lot, has 48 matches under his belt and has 42 wickets. He has best bowling figures of 4-9, and after remodelling his action, he will be hungry to show case his pace.

Smith and Shepherd, who were the top wicket-takers in the 2021 CPL, are hungry for more success. The West Indies all-rounders who also have prowess with the bat play im portant roles for Warriors. Smith has played in 50 T20s and has 55 wickets. He has best bowling figures of 4-30 at an av erage of 25.

Shepherd has 65 wickets in 56 matches at 22.7 with best bowling figures of 4-13 and an economy rate of 9. His bat ting strike rate of 153 and high score of 72* adds that bal ance to the Warriors team. The returning Paul, a son of the soil, has played in 81 T20s and has 70 wickets to his name. He is aiming to stay fit and focused to help Warriors clinch the championship at home. He is also among the few bowl ers in T20 cricket to claim a five-wicket haul. His best of 5-15 shows his quality.

Meanwhile, the emerging players, Matthew Nandu and Junior Sinclair are expected to show their talent when giv en an opportunity. Nandu is a West Indies U-19 top-order batsman, who scored a century against PNG in the recent World Cup in the Caribbean. The young Sinclair is a ver satile cricketer, who bowls off-spin and bats right-hand. electric fielder and announced himself at the senior stage, when he dominated the Guyana Harpy Eagles trial matches with his off-spin.

Tahir leads versatile bowling group

uphor ic scenes took

over Warner Park Stadium on Sunday, September 4, as the Trinbago Knight Riders Women rev elled in the team’s first Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) victory and a landmark achieve ment for past, current, and future female cricket ers across the Region.

Three years ago, the Hero CPL made its first attempt at including the Region’s female cricketers in the “Biggest Party in Sport”. In 2019, the League tested the waters with a twoteam T10 tournament, hosted solely in Trinidad and Tobago.

While the participating teams had their own spon sors, that tournament was nothing close to what the CPL would initiate as part of its 10th anniversary cel ebrations in 2022.

“Of course, you’ve got the Women’s CPL, which for me is going to be great because it’s the first time we’ve obviously done it in its franchise for mat,” Hero CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pete Russell had shared at the onset.

The franchise tournament was intended for more than just inclusion purposes, however, but rather as an opportunity to ignite the women’s game in the Caribbean Region.

Russell explained, “That’s where we see a growth opportu nity for the sport across the Region. We have a huge fan base; we’ve got a very large number of women and girls who come and watch the games. So, hopefully, by seeing women in action that will encourage them to go and play the game too.”

It is safe to say that after the conclusion of the women’s tournament, that vision is slowly being realised. Ranging from Quiana Joseph’s all-round heroics to get the Barbados Royals into the WCPL final, Deandra Dottin’s lone campaign for the Trinbago Knight Riders in said final, or the bravery of Shabika Gajnabi and Cherry-Ann Fraser as they put Guyana Amazon Warriors Women into positions of power, the WCPL was the perfect showcase for the talent of regional women.

From the players’ perspective, the Massy WCPL has been able to achieve all that it set out to do.

WCPL: The key to transforming the Women’s game

E“I think the whole reason and a lot of im portance in this tournament, is definitely the growth of young players, and I think the more young players we could have coming through a system like this, the better it’s go ing to be for West Indies cricket on a whole,” Barbados Royals and West Indies Women’s Captain Hayley Matthews shared about the potential of the tournament.

She added, “Obviously, we’re going to want young players developing, break out in tournaments like these and come into the West Indies set-up and, hopefully, on to the international level.”

Even further, Matthews believes that the inclusion of female international stars will do well to lend to the goal of bettering young regional talent.

Matthews related, “So, I think getting the opportunity to play with players like Chloe Tryon, the Suné Lusses and these very experienced players from overseas, I think the young players could hope fully pick their brains a bit, take the opportunity to try to learn from them.

“And hopefully, we’ll be able to have them progress a bit quicker than just being in a domestic set-up.”

Former West Indies Women’s Captain and Captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) Women, Stafanie Taylor wholly agrees.

“Hopefully, we could definitely give some young faces op portunity ‘cause sometimes it’s not all about winning, but also improve other players and I think that’s what you want,” Taylor shared.

“We have some young players in the group and we’ll defi nitely want to give them the opportunity on the stage, to show case what they could do,” the GAW Captain went on to relate.

The vision was clear and the execution, even better. It may take another 10 years, but the WCPL is sure to bring new, ex citing and refreshing talent to the West Indies Women.

Trinbago Knight Riders Women lifted the inaugural Massy WCPL trophy

Shabika Gajnabi and Cherry-Ann Fraser were among some of the exciting female talents on display

aspiring to be a top-notch venue

By TimoThy Jaikarran

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be coming to Guyana and the ex citement is in the air. To add some more icing on the cake, the grand finale will also be held here. For the Everest Cricket Club, lo cated at Carifesta Avenue, this means that it will be used as a practice venue for the games which will be held at Providence Stadium.

President of the Club, Manzoor Nadir is ex tremely proud of this accomplishment as the club is taking the right strides in becoming a top-notch venue.

In a comment, he said, “The executive and members and I, yeah, a few years ago, decid ed that we have to take the club to the high est level in terms of its facilities where sport, recreation and the com fort of members are con cerned. And in this re gard, we had embarked and we have a pro gramme to upgrade all of our facilities to what we consider to be good inter national standards. This is a programme that saw us invest in our facilities for our people and also in vest in the facilities that will improve the comfort for our members. What are those in particular?

We have built a very nice lounge – what we call the Baroda Lounge because the Baroda Bank gave us the resources to start our project. Our clubhouse

status, and we have a full report on that which we are now work ing to implement. The facilities for our patrons, not just the members, have tremendously improved our stands, we have excellent wash room facilities which exist for visi tors who come to watch a game.. an ordinary game at Everest.”

The Everest President further related that the club has worked assiduously to improve and keep the grounds. He boasted that the pitch was in tip-top shape and they have invested in a broadcast box, which is equipped with fibre-optic Internet facilities. He explained that there has been a lot that the

has gone through significant improvement in terms of its renovation to accommodate our guests. We have invested a tremendous amount of resources in preparing for safety is sues as a club. We have a brand-new metal fire escape. We asked the fire department to give us a review of our occupational safety and fire

club has done in the last 14 months and there is more to come.

“I must say that all of the work that we have embarked on [paid] not only the club div idends but also brought recognition to Guyana as a whole when the ICC [International Cricket Council ]-Cricket West Indies team visited in September of 2021. They were look

ing for two broadcast venues for cricket, in order for Guyana to qualify to host the ICC U-19 matches. We were very honoured that the ICC said that Everest is almost there to be a broadcast venue. We had to do a few oth er things which we gladly consented to do to bring us up to par and these were things like raising our northern sightscreen by four feet. So that when the batsman from the southern end is looking to North, there is enough cover age with black screen. We had to mount bars on top of those screens and run the electri cals to house the cameras for live broadcast. We also had to put in place additional wash rooms and urinals for the players, and we had to have at least two showers, two toilets, two urinals, and two hand sinks in both dressing rooms,” he shared.

Nadir also shared that a lot of work has gone into the venue and its improvements, something which he is proud of. He went on to share that aside from the ICC U-19 match es, the club has hosted the regional women’s tournament and other regional matches. He divulged that while at most times, other ven ues were unplayable, at Everest because of the work they continuously do, the club was able to provide facilities for training and they match the highest level, as the GCB Harpy Eagles had used the club’s facilities for train ing prior to their departure earlier this year

for the regional four-day tourna ment. As it relates to the club be ing chosen as one of the practice venues for CPL 2022, Nadir said that the club was extremely hon oured to be chosen.

“When Operations Director Michael Hall visited, he said Everest was a no-brainer, he felt so proud, with almost an instan taneous approval of the facility. But we know we have to do much more and for CPL, we are putting facilities in place which will stay in place, such as laundering tow els; when our sports people come, they can have a shower. We have a full kitchen at Everest: every thing we provide in terms of eat ing is provided on site and that kitchen is going to be expanded. We do have some concern with the pitch, as we saw in the Bangladesh series at Providence, we saw quite a bit of negative comments and that is because of the inclement weather, we had to cover the pitch. So, Everest will now have to look at bringing in the roll-on covers, that will put the tarpaulin directly on to the surface, but give breathing space between the tarpaulin and the pitch,” Nadir stated.

Going forward, he clarified that the club’s intention was to add more pitches on the square while expanding the field, so the northern boundary will go 40 feet to the north and the eastern boundary will go 30 feet to the east, which will add a tremendous amount of space. Nadir also shared that they will also be lengthening the pitches, which will require the club to take the square 10 feet to the north as there is little buffer zones between the stands and the boundaries.

“One of our prides at Everest is our hybrid power system that was installed and we don’t want to boast, but we will proudly say that Everest is, by far, the only club that has a sig nificant amount of energy consumption com ing from solar generation. So, we are looking at the environment, we’re looking at the club’s own contribution to development,” he said.

Everest Cricket Club President Manzoor Nadir EVEREST

CPL's newcomer Paul Stirlingenjoying Caribbean atmosphere

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) offers great vibes and an electric atmosphere. The general unique culture of the different Caribbean countries is often relished by the overseas players.

For Irishman Paul Stirling, he is relishing the different Caribbean countries in this, his maiden stint in the CPL. He is certainly enjoying the tournament, despite having a slow start. The 32-year-old, who has played in more than 300 T20 matches around the globe, said he enjoyed St Kitts and the general atmosphere.

When asked about the impact he is hoping to make, Stirling said he aimed to score runs at a fast rate. “I think just come here and score runs at a good rate. You have to weigh up every condition and speaking to the teammates, the conditions change in each island, not dramatically, but a little bit. Coming here to St Lucia, there was extra bounce and pace, so a few things like that, I heard so many good things about the competition, so I am really enjoying it,” Stirling said.

Historically, the Amazon Warriors are known for making the play-offs but not crossing the final hurdle. However, Stirling is confident of the group of players. “They seem to be do ing a lot of things right, which is showing, going to the finals each time, so they are desper ate to get one step further and win it this year. All you can do is keep putting yourselves in those positions, and eventually you will get across the line,” Stirling said.

The aggressive Irish opener has been in red-hot form in 2022. The experienced opener has 306 T20 matches under his belt and 7628 runs. He has a strike rate of 142, with three centuries and 49 half-centuries in the T20 format. His experience and skill will certainly boost the Warriors’ chances of winning the 2022 CPL.

Paul Stirling in the nets for Amazon Warriors in St Lucia (Brandon Corlette photos)