Guyana Times - Thursday, September 22, 2022

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, September 22 – 01:0002:30h and Friday, September 23 – 02:00h-03:30h.

Guyana advocates at UN for increased carbon credits prices on global market

Thursday, September 22 –14:45h-16:15h and Friday, September 23 – 15:20h-16:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions are expected to prevail during the day, with clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 14:40h reaching a maximum height of 2.26 metres.

Low Tide: 08:09h and 20:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.93 metre and 0.95 metre.

By Jarryl Bryan

Oneof 18 leaders to address the 6th ple nary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday afternoon was President Dr Irfaan Ali, who used the opportunity to ad vocate for increased pric es for carbon credits on the global market, and for con tinued access to affordable financing for new entrants to oilAccordingproduction.to President Ali, financing for climate adaptation and mitigation are still lagging. He refer enced analysis which shows that the cost of adaptation is most likely to be higher than the predicted range for de veloping nations, of US$140 billion to US$300 billion an nually by 2030, and US$280 billion to US$500 billion an nually by 2050.

He called the US$100 bil lion pledge made by rich na tions at a previous UN cli mate summit “paltry”, and chastised countries that have failed to meet it, not ing that this failure would affect the costs for climate change mitigation and adap tation. This is even with the US$79.6 billion allocated to developing nations in 2019.

According to the President, the current pric es for carbon credits on the global market are also in adequate. “The adoption of broad rules on carbon mar kets in Glasgow has the potential to unlock criti cal resources for forest-rich countries. Forested coun tries like Guyana can poten tially earn billions of dollars accessible through the vol untary carbon markets,” the President

“However,said. the current approximate price is US$10 per tonne on the volun tary market; while, accord ing to an IMF Report, the price should be closer to US$70 per tonne. COP27 must make progress in re fining the rules for the im plementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and

make decisions that would increase the price of carbon traded in voluntary carbon markets,” he said.

Oil-producing countries

Touching on the matter of energy and why recent oil producing countries like Guyana should not be pe nalised, President Ali noted that the world is currently facing an energy crisis that would see global energy de mand increasing by 47 per cent in the next 30 years.

“Mr President, Excellencies, the world is faced with an energy crisis. In 2019, almost 10 per cent of the world’s population

did not have access to elec tricity. Electricity generat ed by fossil fuel increased by 178 per cent from 2000 and 2021. Electricity generated from coal increased by 173 per cent from 2000,” he said.

“Based on a recent en ergy outlook from the US Energy Information Administration, coal fire generation is expected to be a key energy component as a result of several factors, in cluding a drop in the share of natural gas and rising oil prices.”President Ali cited the International Energy Agency (IEA), which had stated that global electricity

demand grew by 6 per cent in 2021, and is projected to grow by 2.4 per cent in 2022, of which only 50 per cent is expected to be met from re newables. This therefore means that the other 50 per cent will have to be met from non-renewable energy sources.“Inthis energy transi tion, fossil fuel remains nec essary. We’re convinced that new entrants like Guyana must be part of this bal anced approach. Even as a new entrant, Guyana pro posed at COP 26 the remov al of subsidies from fossil fuel production and advocat ed the need for a strong glob al carbon price,” he said.

“We, however, do not believe that new entrants should be punished by re

moving access to financ ing and increasing costs of financing. This in effect will protect an existing mo nopoly, drive up the costs of investments, and deliv er a higher-priced product,” President Ali further ex

plained.The Government of Guyana had previously said that it was carefully weigh ing global events and de velopments, and how they may influence the sale of Guyana’s carbon credits, when it decides to go out on the market.

…as President Ali urges world not to shut out new oil producers from affordable financing

Guyana has over 18 million hectares of pristine forest

President Dr Irfaan Ali during his address at the UN

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Domestic violence: tragic loss of lives

Amother

has lost her son at the hands of his father, as another domestic violence case has ended in death.

For 53-year-old Sharon Scott, life will never be the same again, as she even now battles for her own life at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Of the many cases reported in the media, another impacting case has been that of 57-year-old Savitrie Raj, who, after years of abuse, attempted to escaped her situation after 32 years of marriage, but her efforts proved futile in the end.

This issue of domestic violence, its trickle effects and impact on society, has on numerous occasions been reported in Guyanese media, but, unfortunately, this continues despite awareness efforts. In this particular case, the woman, according to her family, used the mechanisms available to help domestic violence victims, but all systems seemed to have failed

Domesticher.violence has been described as “behaviour which causes one partner in a relationship to be afraid of the other. Domestic violence can take the form of physical or sexual abuse, and forced social isolation away from friends and family members.”

There is more than a subtle irony in the continuance of this societal scourge in spite of the relentless efforts and the plethora of available mechanisms to inform and educate. The problem appears much larger than reflected in the news, as many cases go unreported. This speaks to the reality being underestimated.Manyreasons have been made known for what can deter an abused victim from seeking the intervention of the law. Among them are aspects of culture, shame, dependency and its redounding lack of empowerment for some, and the absence of confidence in law enforcement precipitated from the reported trivialising of the issue in some instances.

The magnitude of the impact cannot be underestimated. Many persons have cruelly been made witnesses to the horrific assaults. Those ghastly images, especially when life was snuffed out, are not only lasting, but profoundly traumatising.Whileitis always heartening to hear that surviving victims and witnesses to such horrific incidents would be counselled, it would be very informative for all to know the extent of what is available and offered. While expectations would be for what obtains in the developed nations, realistically, there must be something tangible in keeping with available resources, with upgrades foremost in planning.

This is not, in any way, suggesting that there is not an effective mechanism. However, counselling can be an extensive process for some, depending upon the circumstances. Given the plethora of incidents that unfortunately continue, and which would make added demands on the system, the question of adequacy of trained staff, needed facilities, and support systems becomes more pertinent.

While there is a disadvantage in accurately quoting figures based on extensive research, if available, on the amount of people lost, injured and disfigured, and those scarred for life as a result of domestic violence, those figures must be extremely high in proportion to our population. Clearly, the highest number would be those who are left traumatised.

This, therefore, must be seen as a serious cause for concern, and a compelling reason for consideration for declaring domestic violence a national priority. This is an apolitical issue, and is not confined to any one group, thereby making it less difficult to garner national support. The impact of domestic violence permeates throughout small societies. As this newspaper had previously said, persons reading and learning about incidents through television and social media are in many ways impacted too, especially if one of their own is affected. In the context herein, the pervasiveness and impact of trauma cannot, and must not, be underestimated. Its mitigation has too uncompromisingly been immediate, holistic, effective and sustained. Persons within communities most often do not think it is their business to report instances of abuse, but proper and timely intervention could save someone’s life.

Peace is not the absence of war

By Mukesh kapila

Wednesday was the International Day of Peace, as declared by the United Nations. It recalls the no ble words of its 1945 Charter to save us “from the scourge of war”. Thus, the la bours of generations of politicians, diplo mats and security forces got framed by the dogma that war is always bad, and peace is an unquestionable good that must pre vail.War, per se, is not illegal. It is permit ted in the UN Charter to counter crimes of aggression. The concept of a “just war” also exists under international human itarian law. War may also be necessary, indeed moral. Historically, genocides and crimes against humanity have been ended through the use of force.

At the same time, our peacemaking track record is unimpressive. Over the past half-century, it is hard to think of many armed conflicts that have truly, ful ly ceased. Instead, most grumble along, boiling up or simmering down periodi cally. Think of the historical conflicts in Palestine or Kashmir, or the many strug gles on Myanmar’s periphery, or the in surgencies in the Maghreb and in the Sahel. Many national authorities are pre occupied with persistent internal divi sions, such as Pakistan which is facing unrest in tribal areas and South Sudan which has seen ethnic violence.

Internationally, the UN has spent billions of dollars and deployed tens of thousands of peacekeepers in scores of countries. Dozens of UN envoys along with those of regional bodies such as the European Union, African Union, and ASEAN criss-cross warzones. Thinktanks and NGOs are busy, peacebuilding projects abound, and peace conferences fronted by eminent personalities fill the calendar.

Some efforts are sanctified by por tentous UN Security Council resolutions on the increasingly rare occasions of con sensus among the great powers. Sticks and carrots are dangled through sanc tions and aid inducements.

But this well-practised modus operan di of the peace business produces meagre returns. It may put a temporary lid on vio lence as protagonists under pressure sign any piece of paper that allows a breather and chance to regroup. Then the conflict flares up again until the next ceasefire or “peace” deal. And so, the cycle goes on.

Worse still, there is concern that pre mature peace meddling prolongs conflict as happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina

and on the Korean Peninsula. That is be cause conflicts end only when they are ready to do so. Ideally, that would be when underlying causes or differences have been resolved, including account ability and justice for wrongs inflicted. But, in reality, that hardly ever happens and so wars end only when one side has won decisively. Think World War II or the Vietnam War.

But modern war-making is multidi mensional and much more resilient, es pecially when external sponsors pitch in on different sides. The durability of any subsequent peace depends on two key fac tors. First is the viciousness of the way in which the earlier war was waged. The re ality is that nowadays, appalling atroc ities are the norm, and raped, tortured, starved, dispossessed survivors are in no mood to reconcile with their assailants. The second factor then kicks in – the mag nanimity or wisdom of victors. This is al most always in short supply.

The irony is that although we know a lot about waging war, we are not smart at making peace. It is easy to award Nobel Peace Prizes, but many winners are em barrassed when their efforts do not with stand the test of time. Prominent exam ples are former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Ethiopian President Abiy

ThatAhmed.iswhy, all peace is provision al and once a society has tasted violence, it is perpetually prone to it, especially when Hollywood, Bollywood, and Netflix myth-makers get into shaping the re membrance of history.

We should not be surprised, there fore, that endless armed conflicts have ac cumulated over the decades: some 170 of different types are now raging across the world. The numbers who died directly in combat increased approximately threefold to 120,000 last year compared to mor tality in the early 2000s. Such statistics give a partial view of the human cost of war, as they underestimate the indirect consequences that fall largely on civilians. These have increased greatly over past decades as wars last longer and become more vicious. The United Nations esti mates that currently a quarter of the glob al population – two billion people – live in conflict areas.

The war-and-peace theory holds that it is not supposed to be this way. As more of us get educated, healthier, and better off, we are supposed to become more peace-lov ing because that serves our self-interest in achieving stable prosperity. Besides, with more of our essential needs satisfied, and

more of our higher needs for voice and es teem realised through representative de mocracy, we should have less reason to fear or fight others.

Even if we do, we have a plethora of norms and entitlements, laws and institu tions to constrain us. Thus, our disputes – within communities and nations, or be tween them – should be settled tranquil ly, informed by the rationality of facts and balancedIndeed,give-and-take.globalindicators on poverty al leviation, human development, and insti tutional capacity suggest that despite pe riodic crises, including currently around energy and food, we have made histori cally unprecedented progress in most eco nomic, social, and political dimensions. But that has not brought world peace. Does that mean the theory is wrong?

Not necessarily, because history also suggests that more education and de velopment bring greater enlightenment about what is wrong with our world as well as the aspiration and capability to do something about it. Most of our social and political advancements have come through fighting for them.

For example, each of the human rights that we take for granted nowadays were achieved through struggle. This happened first in one pioneering setting, and then, as particular rights such as to food and water, or to vote or not to be tortured, got codified, they became universal. But with out the sturdy defence of hard-won rights, they easily flip into wrongs, thereby trig gering renewed conflict. And some rights are yet to be fully realised everywhere, such as the right for women and girls to learn in Afghanistan or for them to have reproductive choice in parts of the United States. Those who enjoy such rights in peace and comfort have no moral standing to stop others from acquiring them. While peaceful means to do so are preferable, conflict often breaks out when authoritar ian regimes thwart progress.

Looking ahead, yet more conflicts loom with new geopolitical tensions, and nov el insecurities from climate change, pan demics, resource competition, and dys functional globalisation. These spawn violence because inequalities within and between societies grow and people around the world continue battling vested inter ests to gain new human rights.

Every conflict has a logic that must be understood before countering it fairly and justly so that the consequent peace is sus tainable. Otherwise, to get peace, we may be obliged to first give conflict a chance.

(Al Jazeera)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking with fisherfolk in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) on Wednesday who benefited from more than $108 million overall as part of the Government’s $150,000 one-off cash grant initiative. The distribution exercise was spearheaded by the Vice President at the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA) regional office (Office of the Vice President photo)

Beverley Critchlow appointed Assistant Chief Elections Officer at GECOM

As the CommissionElectionsGuyanapre

pares for the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE) later this year, it has appointed long-standing GECOM employee Beverley Critchlow to the post of Assistant Chief Elections Officer (ACEO).

This decision was taken at the Commission’s statuto ry meeting held on Tuesday.

According to the elector al body, Critchlow’s appoint ment has emanated from a transparent process that in volved all of the Members of the Commission. In fact, it has been noted that all Commissioners – three PPP/C Government-aligned and three from the APNU/ AFC Opposition’s side –were availed of the oppor tunity to interview all of the shortlisted candidates, and thereafter indicate their re spective choice to fill the po

sition.“In this regard, having heard the submissions of all of the six Commissioners relative to the candidate of their respective choice for the position of ACEO, Justice of Appeal (ret’d) Claudette Singh, Chairperson of the Commission, concluded that Mrs. Critchlow’s qualifica tion and experience, as well as her institutional knowl edge, placed her at an ad vantage above the other candidates,” GECOM ex plained in a statement on Wednesday.

The newly appoint ed ACEO has been em ployed with the Election Commission for 20 years, and has acted in the posi tion as ACEO on multiple occasions, with the most re cent being during the 20172019 period.

It has been noted that the experience Critchlow has garnered in the field of

registration and electoral processes, having worked in different areas, including but not limited to the regis tration of eligible non-resi dent persons, non-resident balloting, overseeing the op

erations of 29 Registration Offices and Sub-Offices, preparation of Official Lists of Electors (OLE), extract ing names of members of the disciplined forces from the OLE, makes her eminently qualified for the post.

Under direction of the Elections Commission, through the Office of the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, the Assistant Chief Elections Officer is responsi ble for the smooth function ing of all Divisions/Sections/ Units/

Offices within the am bit of the Operations Department.

Re-advertised

Earlier this year, GECOM was forced to re-ad vertise for the positions of ACEO and Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) after it did not receive any ‘proper’ application for these two critical positions at the

Agri Ministry condemns APNU/ AFC’s malicious, bogus claims

Dear Editor, The Ministry of Agriculture condemns, in its strongest possible terms, the malicious and bogus claims by the desperate APNU/AFC that farmers in Baracara did not receive assistance as part of the Government’s flood relief efforts.

These claims are a fig ment of the imagination of the wild men in the PNC/ APNU/AFC, and are intend ed to play on ethnic senti ments - a known tactic of the Opposition to foment strife and discord.

The truth is that, follow ing the floods, the Ministry of Agriculture deployed ex tension staff and regional officials to conduct several rounds of assessment in all farming communities in the country, which resulted in all affected farmers - includ ing those in Baracara - who suffered losses as a result of the floods, benefiting from the relief grants.

Furthermore, the re cords will show that both livestock and cash-crop farmers from Baracara ben efited from the grant; their signatures are on the dis tribution records of the Ministry of Agriculture. Additionally, fifty-one (51) cash-crop farmers received cash grants for flood relief. Farmers also received lime stone, fertilizers, and farm ing tools, along with vegeta ble seeds and seedlings.

With regard to livestock,

an additional fifty-four (54) farmers benefited from re lief grants ranging between $50,000 and $500,000.

On August 11, 2022, His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali made a historic visit to Baracara and com mitted additional resourc es for farmers of that com munity and others in the Berbice River, including clearing of farmlands, drain age and irrigation works, setting up a bee-keeping op eration, providing farming tools, seeds and livestock, including Black Giant chick ens and two replacement Brahman bulls. These were all delivered to the commu nity. As a matter of fact, Baracara is the only com munity that benefited from both financial and biologi cal assets in the form of re placement bulls following the 2021 floods.

What we stated above was reported widely in the press, and could be easily validated. However, we are not surprised the Opposition choose to deliberately mis lead the public on this matter in their deliberate bid to paint the People’s Progressive Party/Civic in a negative light. The real ity is that the APNU/AFC is embarrassed at the fact that, for five years, it failed to provide any support to Baracara and many other communities which it fal laciously claims to be its ‘stronghold’.

We assure all farmers and citizens of this country that the PPP/C will contin ue to govern in the inter est of all Guyanese. We will continue to equitably dis tribute the resources to ev eryone. We therefore urge the people of Guyana to ig nore the racist campaign of the desperate and deflat ed Opposition, whose mo

dus operandi is to create di vision and racial hostility among our people.

Let us focus on the bright and promising future ahead as we work together in sup port of President Ali’s vision for a ‘One Guyana’.

Secretariat.

Guyana Times was in formed at the time that the applications received by GECOM with respect to the vacant positions did not im press some of the GECOM Commissioners. As such, the seven-member Election Commission had taken a de cision to publish new adver tisements for the two posts.

Since last year, GECOM went out in search of a new CEO, DCEO, Chief Accountant, Legal Officer, and Voter Education Manager. The CEO posi tion has since been occupied by former DCEO Vishnu Persaud, who was swornin on December 14, 2021. Persaud was one of two per sons who were shortlisted af ter applying for the job when the vacancy was advertised in October 2021. The deci sion to select Persaud as the most successful candi date came down to the cast ing vote by GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh, who has since justified her position to endorse him.

Meanwhile, the position of Legal Officer is now oc cupied by Attorney Kurt Da Silva, who holds a Master of Laws Degree in Public Law from the University of the West Indies. The Commission is yet to ap point a DCEO.

GECOM ended up with these critical vacancies fol

lowing the dismissals of top electoral officials who were alleged to have been a part of a plot to undermine the results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.Infact, former CEO Keith Lowenfield and his then deputy, Roxanne Myers, along with former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, were dismissed from their positions at GECOM on August 12, 2021 following a vote by the seven-member Commission.

These three embattled persons are currently be fore the courts, facing a number of electoral fraud charges for their alleged at tempts to sway the results of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections in favour of the then ruling A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

Following a large ly smooth polling day on March 2, 2020, Guyana was thrown into a tumultu ous five-month political and electoral impasse after the then incumbent APNU/AFC regime attempted to steal the election. It was found during a subsequent na tional recount process that former Returning Officer Mingo had heavily inflated the votes in favour of the co alition party. (G8)

Newly-appointed Assistant Chief Elections Officer Beverley Critchlow

TheTemperatureunitoftemperature is the degree.

It is written as a small circle above the number: 25o = 25 degrees. Customary degrees are measured on the Fahrenheit scale. However, in Guyana, for temperature we normally use the metric scale of degrees Celsius.

To make it clear which scale you are using, you must add the letter F for Fahrenheit or the letter C for Celsius.

25o C = 25 degrees Celsius.

On the Celsius scale, the freezing point of water is 0o C. The boiling point of water is 100 o C.

On the Fahrenheit scale, the freezing point of water is 32 o F. The boiling point of water is 212 o F.

Set off on a sound hunt!

……Shh! What can you hear?

Head outside and lis ten for busy birds and buzzing bees.

Nature is noisy – the pla net is alive with the sounds of nature! See how many you

Ribbit ribbit! Listen out for friendly Rat-a-tat-tat!frogs. Can you hear a woodpecker pecking? What sound do raindrops make – pitter patter or plop

Grown-ups: Buzz and quack with your little one. It’s a fun way for them to practise making different sounds and helps improve speech deve lopment. (woodlandtrust.org. uk)

By The BroThers Grimm

To convert from one scale to the other you use the following formulas:

Guyana will not be swayed from ICJ resolution – Ali tells world leaders

President Dr Irfaan Ali, in his address to the United Nations General Assembly’s sixth plenary session on Tuesday, made it clear to the world that Guyana would not de viate from the course set for a final, judicial settlement on its border controversy withDuringVenezuela.the session, President Ali quoted UN Secretary General António Guterres, at the opening of the General Debate on Tuesday, when he said that they were “committed to make the most of every dip lomatic tool for the pacific settlement of disputes, as set out in the Charter of the UnitedTheseNations”.toolsinclude nego tiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement – rele vant tools in the matter of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity – chal lenged and threatened by Venezuela.“Inthis case, ‘judicial settlement’ as determined by the Secretary General himself. The world’s nations can be assured that Guyana shall remain true to those peaceful processes and deny every effort to depart from them. The International Court of Justice has already affirmed its jurisdiction in the matter,” President Ali informed the General Assembly.

Venezuela has laid spu rious claims to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass in Essequibo and a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which almost 11 billion bar rels of oil have been discov ered over the past seven years.Guyana approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2018 seek ing a final and binding judgement to reinforce that the 1899 Arbitral Award re mains valid and binding on all parties as well as legal affirmation that Guyana’s Essequibo region, which contains much of the coun

try’s natural resources, be longs to Guyana and not Venezuela.Guyana moved to the World Court after exhaust ing all means of negotia tion with Venezuela and the failed good offices pro cess between the two South American neighbours. The Spanish-speaking nation had initially refused to par ticipate in the proceedings and had even challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter. But in December 2020, the ICJ es tablished that it has juris diction to hear the substan tive case – something which Venezuela did not accept.

Back in March of this year, Guyana had submit ted its written arguments for its memorial to the ICJ, which was a requirement by the court following its December 18, 2020 deci sion that it had the jurisdic tion to hear the case against Venezuela.Venezuela has since filed an objection, which according to the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry is nothing more than a bid to delay the substantial hear ing of the 1899 Arbitral award case before the ICJ, after refusing to join the proceedings since 2018.

Various countries and organisations have already thrown their support be hind the judicial settle ment of the case. In May,

Canada, through its High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman did so; Canada on Wednesday reaf firmed support for the judi cial process embarked on at theInICJ.March, the United States had expressed sup port for Guyana, its stance reiterated during a meet ing between US Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Barbara A Feinstein and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has also reaffirmed support for Guyana in its border contro versy with Venezuela, urg ing the Spanish-speaking country to participate in the judicial process before the ICJ.

Support also came in June of this year from the Commonwealth. In a ma jor decision coming out of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda, the Commonwealth Heads all threw their support behind the judicial process.

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945, and began its activities in April 1946. The Court is com posed of 15 Judges, elect ed for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. (G3)

Guyana advocates at UN...

A carbon credit is a trad able permit or certificate that allows the holder of the cred it the right to emit a stated tonnage of carbon dioxide or an equivalent of another greenhouse gas. Countries and companies that exceed their permitted limits can purchase carbon credits from other nations that have low emissions, such as Guyana. Guyana’s 18.4 million hectares of largely pristine forest stores approximately 5.31 gigatons

of carbon.Back in April 2021, President Ali had announced that Guyana had signed a letter of intent with USbased non-profit organi zation (NGO) Emergent Finance Accelerated Inc to market the country’s carbon credits through a credit con tract – a deal that could earn the country millions of US dollars.Last year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had said that Emergent would soon be

commencing work towards marketing Guyana’s carbon credits on the world stage. And indeed, the process of seeking proposals has at tracted interest on the world market.Jagdeo has been vocal about the need for the de veloped world to create the incentives, including a bet ter price, for carbon credit products from the developing world, as the fate of the world and carbon emission targets hangs in the balance. (G3)

The International Court of Justice

Fagundes’s murder probe

Trial date set for Sergeant Dion Bascom over cybercrime charges

Police Sergeant Dion Bascom, who has al legedly committed cy bercrime offences against three senior Police offi cers, is due to go on trial on November 9 before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Sergeant Bascom was arraigned last week at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on cybercrime charges in connection with Facebook live videos in which he accused several se nior Police officers of a mas sive cover-up in the probe into the murder of gold deal er Ricardo Fagundes, who was executed in a hail of bul lets outside the Palm Court nightclub in March 2021.

Bascom is facing three charges. It is alleged that twice between August 13 and August 19, he used a computer system to transmit

electronic data with intent to humiliate, harass, or cause distress to Superintendent Mitchell Caesar; and on one occasion, he allegedly did the same to Superintendent

Chabinauth Singh.

Sergeant Bascom has been placed on a total of $300,000 bail – $100,000 on each of the three charges. During a bail application on Bascom’s behalf, Attorneyat-Law Nigel Hughes had re quested that he be released on reasonable bail, stating that Bascom was willing to abide by any conditionality. According to the lawyer, his client is away from work on medicalHowever,leave. Police Legal Advisor Mandel Moore ob jected to Bascom being granted his pre-trial liberty by citing the serious nature of the charges and the strong likelihood of Bascom flee ing the jurisdiction, since he has a valid passport. Moore’s objections were, howev er, overruled by the Chief Magistrate, who granted

Sergeant Bascom bail un der these conditionalities: that he lodges his passport with the court and reports to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Georgetown every other SergeantFriday.Bascom was among several persons ar rested by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) on August 8, after a quantity of cocaine was discovered at a Norton Street, Georgetown house.While a charge for traf ficking in narcotics was laid against some of the persons, none was laid against Sergeant Bascom. Seemingly angered by his arrest, Sergeant Bascom subsequently made sever al Facebook live videos in which he made damning allegations of corruption against several senior Police detectives and a prominent businessman, Azruddin Mohamed.Bascom has alleged that Police ranks have accept ed bribes and are “covering up” the murder of Fagundes, called “Paper Shorts”. Police are yet to charge the perpe trators. He later deleted the posts out of fear for his fami ly members’ lives.

Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum have al ready debunked Sergeant Bascom’s allegations, call ing them “malicious and untrue”, and Government had solicited the assistance of the Regional Security System (RSS) to investigate the claims made by Sergeant Bascom. The RSS, in pro nouncing on the matter, made it clear that there was no evidence to substantiate Sergeant Bascom’s claims.

The team also found that the two live recordings made by Bascom were in contra vention of Section 19 (5) (a) of the Cyber Crime Act.

Businessman Mohamed, who from the outset had dis tanced himself from the al legations, has since filed a $200 million defamation lawsuit against Sergeant Bascom. The businessman, in his Statement of Claim, has argued that the words and statements uttered by Bascom are all untrue, false, dangerous, disingenuous, malicious, irrational, unfair, unsubstantiated, unfound ed, and baseless, thereby tarnishing and lowering his reputation.Superintendent Caesar, through his lawyer, had threatened to take legal action against Sergeant Bascom if he did not remove the posts and offer him an apology and $50 million com pensation. (G1)

Lookingback...

…at “our Warriors”

By the time you, dear readers, read these ruminations of your Eyewitness, the first home game of our Warriors, against the Jamaica Tallawahs, would be over. You would know whether the Warriors won or lost. But, as all of you should know by now, your Eyewitness is a “cricket tragic” -- one who lives and breathes the game in general -- and ever more so when the Warriors are involved!! And what else could he be?? For what it’s worth –and, over the years, it’s been worth plenty in winning scads of bets!! – your Eyewitness is possessed of a “black tongue”. So, whatever he wishes for an event to happen, it happens!! And just so you know, he never uses his gift to enrich himself – he reserves it for important things, like Warriors’ games!! So, he’s going out on a limb here and now to declare that they won!!

Wasn’t he here when the GAW was birthed ten years ago?? Wasn’t he there at the birth, and then attended every home game they played at our Providence Stadium?? Didn’t he shout himself hoarse so many times in egging them on, along with the rest of Guyana (it appeared). And that really wasn’t an exaggeration, because all those who had not gone at the Stadium were glued to their TVs and smart phones following “their boys”. The rest of the Caribbean marvelled at the fervent, vociferous loyalty of the Guyanese fans.

Whatever they might’ve heard about divisions among our people in our politics, those were clearly jettisoned when they pushed through the turnstiles at the gates!! In the stands, and especially on the mound, we were as one, cheering and groaning, and giving each other high fives and hugs as the particular play demanded!! It was cricket – lovely Warriors’ cricket. In the past ten years, the Warriors have proven to be the winningest team in the CPL T20 tournament – but have been the bridesmaids and never the brides. But because your daughter hasn’t gotten married, do you disown her??

This year, they haven’t exactly started out as house on fire – winning 1; another washed out, and losing three. But hey!! They’re the only team with five more games to play, and with this Eyewitness, he believes in the saying “NEVER SAY NEVER!!” He’s going out on a limb to predict that they’ve won last night’s game. But even if they didn’t, he’s a true believer!!

And you know why he can be so confident? It’s because of our secret weapon – you, the Guyanese fans at the games!! We’re like the 12th man ON THE FIELD!! Every opposing cricketer over the last decade who’s played against the Warriors at Providence has remarked about this “F” Factor: the fan factor!!

…and our cricket evolution

Now having expanded from Test Cricket to T20 should tell you that your Eyewitness’s no old stick-in-the-mud. He’s also changed from straight legged jeans to bell bottom jeans to baggy jeans, and now to “skinny” jeans!! But not to ODI. He gotta draw the line SOMEWHERE, and that’s it!!

But he must say he’s having some challenges digesting some of the newer innovations of this year’s CPL Tournament – especially this Cricket Carnival. Up to now, he’s felt that T20 Cricket WAS Carnival Cricket, judging from the way our cricketers played the game with gusto and the way our fans partied in the stands and the mound. So, while he has some issues with our alcohol consumption, he can digest DDL introducing their special El Dorado Master Blender CPL T20 Rum. For good or bad, rum’s always been part and parcel of Guyanese cricket. What did you think was in all those bags the fans always brought to games?? But the carnival outside the What’sstadium??that got to do with cricket??

…at R ussia’s war

Recently, both India and China asked Russia to focus on ending the war in Ukraine. Perchance it’s a signal that they see the tide’s shifting against the Ruskies? And the Ruskies might lose it all??

Keep tuned!!

Police Sergeant Dion Bascom

Outpouring of outrage, grief as father kills only son; chops, lights wife on fire

…dies by suicide

By LaWanda M

An Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man started off Wednesday in macabre fashion – killing his only son, hewing his wife’s neck and lighting her afire before taking his own life.

The bloodshed has left Seon Scott, 21, a security guard dead; Sharon Scott, 53, injured and her 57-yearold husband, Leon Bobb dead by Reportssuicide.are about 01:00h on Wednesday, screams from Sharon Scott were heard emanating from the Lot 24 Middle Walk, Ann’s Grove concrete struc ture in which the trio lived by neighbours. The woman was heard begging her hus band for her Neighbourslife.related that Sharon was seen running out of the house with blood on her clothing and Bobb, who is popularly known as “Sancho”, chased after his wife with a cutlass around theirNeighboursyard. went to the woman’s rescue. She was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by her daughter and was ad mitted a patient suffering chop wounds to the left side of the neck and right hand, and burns about the body. Neighbours later said they realised that the son was al ready dead at the time, since he never showed up to res cue his mother.

It was reported that Scott and his father were of ten at loggerheads, mainly because of the older man’s abusive tendencies towards his mother. In fact, the

– something which neigh bours suspect was a means of keeping the peace in the home.However, on Tuesday evening, the young Scott slept inside the house. A neighbour said on Tuesday evening, Bobb was seen sharpening a cutlass.

They also claimed that the man waited until lat er in the evening when peo ple in the community were asleep to do his worst.

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene ear ly on Wednesday morning, the pungent scent of blood could have been smelt a far distance from the home. Screams of “Seon!” and “Leon!” were heard from vil lagers as the bodies of the father and son were wheeled out of the yard.

Years of abuse

Police said that the now dead man and his wife had an ongoing domestic dis pute, in which he accused the woman of having affairs. Bobb reportedly physically assaulted his wife on several occasions, causing their son to intervene in a bid to save his However,mother. on Wednesday morning, it is suspected that the man killed his son while he was asleep to prevent him from going to the rescue of hisOnemother.neighbour said:

“They does deh quarrelling. The son and him don’t live good…every now and then you does hear them real ly going on. We heard the wife, and the neighbours started hollering at him to scare him off… he [the son]

moved out and live with his girlfriend, because of the fa ther – but he recently came back here.

“I would be over here and hear them quarrelling over land, a set of things. I think this was premeditated, be cause a couple of hours be fore, I see he was sharpen ing the Policecutlass.”said when they responded to the scene, the young security guard was found lying motionless on a mattress. A large wound was seen on the left side of his Theneck.suspect was then found lying on a bloodsoaked bed in a room, with a large wound to his abdomen with his intestines protrud ing and one to his neck.

Speaking to this publi cation, another neighbour recalled several instances whereby she heard the wom an screaming at the hands of her abuser. “Sometimes he beating her for sex, all them things he does be doing…,” the neighbour explained.

Attempt to kill family

Meanwhile, a close friend of the now-dead young man said he would usually con fide in her about witness ing his mother being abused daily. She also revealed that the young man recently told her that he found out that his father had previously at tempted to kill both him and his “Seonmother.always coming to complain about his father, telling me how he father al ways beating his mother,” the friend expressed.

“A time in last week, he say the father go to poison the water and that was it…

every Sunday when I home from work, he always come, if he have something to tell me, he would tell me. I al ways encourage him to go to the station or don’t do any thing stupid. So, last night, I

don’t know what happen…,” she

Thenoted.young Scott’s girl friend also told this publi cation that she had to take her boyfriend to her home on many occasions to escape

the wrath of his father. She said for years the man has been making his family’s life a misery, but she never an ticipated he would kill them.

Police are investigating.

The house where the deadly incident occurred

Dead: Seon Scott

Dead: Leon Bobb

Injured: Sharon Scott

Lack of evidence sees murder accused being freed

Route 32 Minibus Park in Georgetown back in 2017.

Lack of evidence has helped a 30-year-old man escape a mur der charge. In the absence of vital evidence, Demerara High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon has freed Wayne Gilbert, who had been ac cused of murdering a man during a robbery at the

When the case came up last week at the Demerara High Court, Wayne Gilbert, called “Nervous”, of West La Penitence, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to a charge for the capital of fence of murder. As such, a 12-member jury was empanelled, and his tri al commenced on Monday. However, during the tri al, the Judge conducted a voir dire to determine the admissibility of a caution statement Gilbert had al legedly given to Police de tectives. At the end of that voir dire, Justice Kissoon ruled that that statement was inadmissible because it was not signed by Gilbert.

With the prosecution solely relying on this state ment to prove its case, the Judge held that there was insufficient evidence to prove the charge against Gilbert; and, as such, made

a no-case submission on his behalf. Accordingly, he di rected the jurors to return a formal not-guilty verdict, discharged Gilbert, and in formed him that he was free to go.In his remarks, Justice Kissoon pointed out that in this day and age of technol

ogy, the Police need to start doing proper video record ing of confessions given by accused persons.

The former murder ac cused was represented by Senior Counsel Stanley Moore, while State Counsels Muntaz Ali and Taneisha Saygon appeared on behalf of the prosecution.

It was alleged that on January 20, 2017, in the county of Demerara, Gilbert murdered 43-yearold Rawle Rodrigues during the course/ fur therance of a robbery. He was first charged with the murder of Rodrigues in December 2017, and af

ter a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) in 2019, a Georgetown Magistrate had committed him to stand trial for the of fence after ruling that a pri ma facie had been made out againstReportshim. are that Rodrigues, of Leopold Street, Georgetown, was stabbed multiple after he was attacked by three men at the Route 32 Minibus Park in Georgetown. It was reported that the trio had trailed the man from a nearby bar where he had been imbibing to the bus park. At the bus park, there was reportedly an alter cation between Rodrigues

and two of the men, during which one of them stabbed him in the chest. The in jured Rodrigues was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he died.

In 2021, Akeem Haymer, called “Curry”, and Affiba Yenkana, called “Dugla”, were each sentenced for Rodrigues’s killing. They each received life in prison with the possibility of being paroled after 15 years. The sentences were imposed by Justice Kissoon after the men, who had initially been indicted for the capital of fence of murder, had opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. (G1)

Akeem Haymer and Affiba Yenkana (left) are currently serving life sentences for Rodrigues’s killing

Freed: Wayne Gilbert

Dead: Rawle Rodrigues

Attorney General and Legal Affairs

Minister Anil Nandlall has reassured that all the spending on the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the events that unfolded follow ing the March 2020 General and Regional Elections that led to a five-month political impasse in Guyana will be made

Hepublic.wasat the time re sponding to a request made by APNU/AFC Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul to the Commissioner of Information for the full disclosure of the renu meration packages of the Commissioners appoint ed to probe the March 2020 polls.Mahipaul is also seek ing similar information on the salaries and other bene fits of additional persons at tached to the Commission.

During his weekly pro gramme, Issues In The News, Nandlall posited that Government would publish not only the renumeration packages, but all the spend ings of the CoI.

“…It is going to be an ex pensive undertaking, and I want to assure that ev ery single cent of the mon ies that are going to be ex pended will be made public, because it is public funds. We are going to make it public, but they’re not wor

ried about the money, what they’re worried about is the exposure. What they’re wor ried about is what the com mission of inquiry may ex pose; that is what they’re worried about, and the con sequential actions which may flow therefrom. So, the monies expended and to be expended are to be made public,” he public,informationsuch,atedsincesecretGeneral,Accordingcontended.totheAttorneytheCoIisnotaventure,especiallyithastobeappropribytheParliament.AshenotedthatallthewillbemadeandtheGuyanese

people will stand to benefit tremendously from this in quiry.

Past elections riggings

In fact, Nandlall re minded of the destruction Guyana and its people had to face economically and socially during past elec tions’ riggings in the 1900s – something which he noted the country has not fully re covered“Thisfrom.inquiry must en sure that those things nev er happen again, and if you think this inquiry mustn’t happen, well then you as sess the monetary value of the destruction which took place when elections were rigged in this country, and then you will understand that the monies that will be spent here is of a miniscule value when you compare the damage that rigged elec tions have done to Guyana and its people.

“The benefits [of this CoI into the 2020 Elections] are that those who acted in con sort with those who are part of the rigging cabal to rig those election results must be exposed, so that the pub lic would know them and ap propriate actions can be tak en thereafter. Secondly, that their role and what trans pired must be enquired into and put on the public, per manent record of this coun try, so that future genera tions will know who they are and what role they played or attempted to play in the destruction of this country,”

the Minister Additionally,stated. AG Nandlall noted that this ex posure and the consequenc es that would flow from this probe must redound to such actions never happening again, as well as act as a de terrent in the future.

“This inquiry and its re port must prevent others from ever attempting the type of atrocity that we wit nessed on March 2, 2020 and the events that followed thereafter,” he insisted.

The Attorney General further posited that while this will be an expensive un dertaking, this CoI is neces sary, especially to bring to light those who were behind the events following the March 2020 polls – some thing which he argued that the Opposition is afraid of.

“APNU/AFC would be vehemently opposed to the CoI for obvious reasons. They are mortally afraid of the CoI uncovering the roll that they played… And any time exposé is imminent, those who are guilty are go ing to naturally object, and you are seeing the mani festation of the objections, manifestation of the pande monium, manifestation of the hysteria unfolding. They don’t want this commission at all… It is not about mon ey, it was never about mon ey,” AG Nandlall pointed out.

Last week, retired

Justice of Appeal Stanley John of Turks and Caicos, who will serve as Chairman of the CoI, along with for mer acting Justice of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean, Godfrey P Smith, and for mer acting Chancellor of Guyana’s Judiciary, Carl Singh, were sworn-in to commence the inquiry.

They will be assisted by former Chief Elections Commissioner of India, Dr Nasim Zaidi, and former Chairman of the Ghana Elections Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who will serve as resource per sonnel to the NandlallCoI.stated that such calibre of commission ers, such an expensive un dertaking, is necessary, and

that a monetary value can not be placed on the benefits that would be derived from this inquiry.Following a large ly smooth polling day on March 2, 2020, Guyana was thrown into a tumultu ous five-month political and electoral impasse after the then incumbent APNU/AFC regime attempted to steal the election. It was found during a subsequent nation al recount process that for mer Returning Officer for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), Clairmont Mingo, had heavily inflated the votes in favour of the coali tion party.

Since the election fias co unfolded, several per sons that served within the apparatus of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have already been charged with elector al fraud. These include for mer Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, for mer Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, former PNCR Minister Volda Lawrence, and Mingo, among others.

Upon assuming office in August 2020, President Dr Irfaan Ali had promised to launch a CoI to identi fy the individuals responsi ble for the rigging attempts and pinpoint possible areas of weakness that could be used to guide the required strengthening of Guyana’s electoral system.

Attorney General & Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC

APNU/AFC Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul

Plane with 3 children, 7 adults runs off runway at Eteringbang

Aplane carrying 10 persons, including three children, ran off the runway at Eteringbang Airstrip, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).Reportsarethat about

16:18h on Wednesday, the twin-engine aircraft #8R-GGT owned by Jags Aviation Limited and pilot ed by a 46-year-old Captain reportedly ran off the run way but came to a halt in

some nearby bushes.

Police said that the captain reported that about 14:32h, he depart ed the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle en route to Eteringbang

Airstrip with the 10 passen gers.According to reports, on landing at Eteringbang Airstrip, the pilot was un able to pull the nose up to bring the plane level, as a result of heavy tailwinds, causing it to run off the run way.This resulted in the left wing, nose and left land ing gear being damaged. However, no one was in jured. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has since been called in to investigate.

UG lecturer, women’s rights activist move to High Court to stop offshore operation

billions of tonnes of green house gases in the future if those petroleum resources are extracted and burned for energy.Considering this, they have submitted, among oth er things, that “By authoris ing, allowing, permitting, and enabling the produc tion of petroleum from proj ects in the EEZ, the State is facilitating the emission of substantial quantities of greenhouse gases, there by significantly exacerbat ing and/or contributing to climate change, ocean acid ification, and rising sea lev els, and making the envi ronment more harmful to health and wellbeing.”

US oil giant ExxonMobil’s op eration offshore Guyana is now the subject of another court battle. This time, Danuta Radzik and Sinikka Henry have moved to the High Court for an or der to immediately and safe ly stop the company from carrying out the Liza Phase 1 Project —Operations of Project Facilities, Stabroek Block, Offshore Guyana.

In the case of Danuta Radzik and Sinikka Henry (the applicants) vs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the appli cants argue that the decision of the EPA to grant an en vironmental permit to Esso Exploration and Production, dated May 31, 2022 and ef fective from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2027, is, among other things, a breach of the Environmental Protection Act (the Act).

The duo’s main argu ment is that, in the absence of an environmental im pact assessment — which is required by law for proj ects of such nature — the EPA’s issuing of a renewed permit to Esso Exploration and Production (Guyana) is not only an unlawful abdica tion of its statutory duties to enforce the Act and regula tions, but is a breach of its duty to protect the environ ment and people of Guyana, and is an abuse/unlawful use of its power and/or dis cretion in favour of the com pany.Melinda Janki, an en vironmental lawyer, and Attorney-at-Law Abiola Wong-Inniss have filed the case on behalf of Radzik and Henry on August 8 at the Demerara High Court.

The applicants are also contending that the EPA’s

decision is arbitrary, irra tional, capricious, whimsi cal, unfair, contrary to the rules of natural justice, an unreasonable and/or irregu lar and/or improper exercise of discretion, or otherwise an abuse of the discretion ary power conferred on the agency; and unauthorised by or contrary to law.

Henry, a University of Guyana (UG) lecturer, and Radzik, a women’s rights ac tivist, further contend that the decision is in excess of jurisdiction; is a failure to satisfy or observe conditions or procedures required by law; is a breach of the pro visions of the Act and/or the regulations and/or an abuse of the processes and pro cedures established by the said Act and/or Regulations; a conflict with the policy of theAccordingAct.

to them, Section 36 of the Act re quires the EPA to maintain registers containing partic ulars of each application for an environmental authori zation, and to make such registers open to the pub lic. They complain that the EPA has not entered in the register any particulars of an application made by Esso within the six-month time prescribed by Regulation 22(2).The duo submitted that the EPA has failed to re spond to requests for infor mation regarding wheth er an application for a new environmental permit has been made by Esso, and to provide particulars of any such application. As such, they argue that the EPA’s failure to provide a copy of this application and to pro vide any particulars about it is a breach of Section 36 of the Act.

“The [EPA’s] actions are contrary to its functions un der the Act, including pro tection of the environment, transparency, and public access to information,” the ap plicants have advanced.

Case over greenhouse gases’ emissions

Meanwhile, in a sep arate case filed last year, University of Guyana (UG) lecturer Dr. Troy Thomas and conservationist Quadad De Freitas have moved to the court to halt ExxonMobil’s emission of millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases in its offshore operations.

They are alleging that their constitutional right to a safe and healthy envi ronment has been contra vened by the Government entering into several petro leum agreements with Esso and its parent company. Together, they have accused the State of violating their constitutional right to an en vironment that is not harm ful to their well-being, as guaranteed by Article 149(J) of theTheyConstitution.havetaken issue with ExxonMobil’s emis sion of 22,030,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases in the Liza Phase 1 Development Project, and 34,545,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas es in the Liza Phase 2 Development Project off shore

AccordingGuyana.to them, Exxon Mobil is producing oil in the Liza Phase 1 Development Project approximately 120 miles offshore in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The projects, they add, are emitting green house gases that would not otherwise have been emit ted, and the country’s petro leum reserves would emit

In the circumstances, Dr. Thomas and De Freitas have moved to the High Court seeking several declarations against ExxonMobil, costs, and any such or further or ders the court deems just.

Among them is a declara tion that the direct emission of 22,030,000 tonnes and 34,545,000 tonnes of green house gases from petroleum operations offshore would make the environment more

harmful to the health and wellbeing of citizens and fu ture generations by signifi cantly exacerbating and/ or contributing to climate change, ocean acidification, and rising sea-levels, and, as such, would amount to a violation of Article 149J (1) of theTheyConstitution.arealsoasking the court to declare that the State’s duty under Article 149J (2) to take reasonable

measures to protect the en vironment for present and future generations requires the State to take into ac count the direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions to be emitted by a proposed project before approving, li censing, or permitting any proposed project that may have a significant effect on theThisenvironment.matteris still ongo ing at the High Court. (G1)

The Liza Destiny FPSO in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana

Women’s rights activist Danuta Radzik

UG lecturer Sinikka Henry

4-lane road on ECD railway embankment to be completed in 2-3 years – VP

…says will reduce transit time, help area become more urbanised

The four-lane road on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) rail way embankment that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has sent out to tender, is expected to be completed in two to three years.

During the recent dis tribution of cash grants to fishermen on the ECD, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo updated them on infrastruc ture plans. Specifically, he informed them of the time frame to complete the fourlane highway from Unity to Sheriff Street, on the rail way“Weembankment.justawarded a con tract that from Unity to Sheriff Street, on the rail way embankment, we’re going to now have a fourlane road. So that should be completed in maybe two to three years. Four lanes. So, you don’t have traffic con gestion going in from the East Coast,” he explained.

According to Jagdeo, this means reduced traffic and transit time, as persons traverse the East Coast. He also noted that as a conse quence of all these initia tives, the whole area will

become more urbanised.

“What this means is that all of the lands and develop ment will come out further on the East Coast. Because people can travel, the tran sit time will be fast. You’ll now have, like from this area you’ll have eight lanes going in to the city. Four on the railway embankment and four here.

“So that will be im portant for development.

It means housing, busi ness development, every thing. You’ll see the whole area becoming urbanised. We’re now building a four lane, from Diamond into Georgetown. We’ve com pleted part of it,” the Vice PresidentGovernmentsaid. has said that the four-lane highway will go all the way from Sheriff Street to Mahaica on the railway embank

ment. There are also plans for the upgrade of a twolane road from Belfield to OrangeBackNassau.inJune when the contract for the East Coast Demerara-East Bank Demerara road link project was being discussed, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibil ity for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, had talked about extending the four-lane road from Sheriff Street to Buxton and beyond.

“When I say brand new four-lane road, I’m speak ing here of the alignment along the existing railway embankment road, but wid ening that existing railway embankment road to a new four-lane highway from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau, like I said with plans to go beyond,” Dr Singh had said.

At the time, a US$106 million contract had been signed between the Public Works Ministry and Indiabased Ashoka Buildcon Limited, for the construc tion of a four-lane bypass road that will link the East Coast of Demerara corridor at Ogle directly to the East Bank Demerara corridor at Eccles.Back in 2015, the Indian Government had provid ed the US$50 million line of credit for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle to Diamond, EBD. However, the project cost was driven up to over $208 million by the previous A Partnership for National

Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government and the project languished underHowever,them. when the PPP/C Government took of fice in 2020, it redesigned the project into two phases to fit the line of credit –first from Ogle to Haags Bosch road in Eccles, which is about 48-50 per cent of the project, and then from Eccles to Diamond.

The Guyana Government will be undertaking the ex tension from Diamond all

the way to Timehri. It was announced in January of this year that Ashoka Buildcon Limited won the contract to construct the road, ahead of two other Indian companies. Ashoka has built a number of bridg es and roads. According to the company’s website, it even built a bridge in 38 days, namely the Mandve Bridge near Pandharpur, India. The company said the bridge was supposed to be built in 12 months. (G3)

onworkerConstructionremandedrobberycharge

Twenty-one-year-oldconstructionworkerDashawnGreenhasbeenremandedtoprisononanarmedrobberycharge.HewasarrestedonSaturdaylastandchargedonTuesdaywiththeoffenceofrobberyunderarms,contrarytosection222(c)oftheCriminalLawOffencesAct,Chapter8:01.ItisallegedthatonAugust1,theHaslington,EastCoastDemerara(ECD)residentrobbedKimberlyBourne,a30-year-oldmixologistofNon-Pareil,ECD.HeappearedattheCoveandJohnMagistrate’sCourtbeforeMagistrateFabayoAzore.Thechargewasread,andheenteredanotguiltypleaandwasremandedto

prison. The case has been adjourned to December 5. (G9)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo while addressing ECD residents

7 new COVID cases from 229 tests

...Health Minister bemoans low 2nd booster uptake

Another seven per sons have tested positive for the nov el coronavirus from some 229 tests conducted within a 24-hour period, according to the Health Ministry on Wednesday.Thisnow takes the to tal number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Guyana to 71,287. However, only 98 of these are currently active cases, including one patient in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU); the re maining persons are in iso lation: 93 in home isolation and four in institutional isolation. There is no one in institutional quarantine, according to Wednesday’s updated COVID-19 dash board.The COVID-19 death toll in the country remains at 1281, with the latest fatal ity recorded on September 15 when an 88-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) died as a result of the virus. Three COVID-19 fatalities have been recorded thus far thisAdditionally,month. some 69,908 persons have recov

ered from the life-threaten ing virus to date – 39 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana over two years ago, a total of 693, 592 tests have been conducted coun trywide and of this num ber, 71, 287 persons (32,674 males and 38,613 females) were found to be positive.

All seven new cases recorded on Wednesday were from the DemeraraMahaica region. There were no new cases recorded in the other nine regions across the country within the re porting 24-hour period.

Back in March, the Guyana Government had removed most restrictions as the country recovers from the pandemic and re turns to Nevertheless,normalcy.health au thorities continue to urge persons to get vaccinated and for those who qualify to get their booster shots as an added layer of protection against the virus.

The latest vaccination figures show that so far, some 446,683 adults, or

Mahaicony rice farmer found dead 1 day after brawl

The body of a rice farmer was on Wednesday morning found floating in a trench at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Richard Persaud, calledReports“Rasho”.are that the 42-year-old rice farmer of Wash Clothes, Mahaicony, along with a 34-year-old la bourer, a 47-year-old rice farmer, and another male, all of whom are from Wash Clothes, were cooking and imbibing, opposite the house belonging to the 34-yearold friend of the now-de ceased man about 17:00h on SeptemberAccording20. to Police in Regional Division Number Five, the murder occurred about 21:30h at Wash Clothes,PoliceMahaicony.saidthata tractor driver’s 36-year-old broth er, who is a rice farmer of Johanna Creek, Mahaicony, was driving in his car be hind the tractor. However, an argument ensured be tween the 34-year-old friend of the now-deceased man and the 36-year-old suspect. who went into his motor car, collected an object and stabbedFriendshim.of the deceased then dealt the suspect sever al lashes and he ran into the yard and they ran after him.

“It is unclear what trans

pired after that as the de ceased (Richard) was not seen nor he did not return home and his family began to search for him. On 21st September 2022 about 09:00 hrs a body was seen floating in a trench in front of the 34-year-old’s home at Wash Clothes, Mahaicony,” Police said in a statement.

The body was retrieved from the canal, and accord ing to Police, when it was examined, a stab wound was seen in the middle of the chest and bruises to the left eye.Persaud’s wife identified him and he was taken to the Mahaicony Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

An investigation has been launched.

81.1 per cent, have taken a first dose while 346,531, or 67.6 per cent, are fully vac cinated.Foradolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, about 35,751, or 49 per cent, of them have received first doses and of that number, some 26, 229, or 36 per cent, received a second dose.

Vaccines are also being administered to children in the five to 11 category and so far, some 8391, or 8.2 per cent, have gotten a first dose while only about 4269, or 4.2 per cent, of this co hort have returned for the secondHealthdose. Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday pointed out that these figures, especially in the five to 11 age group, could be much more sig nificant if parents allowed their children to get vacci nated.Moreover, approximate ly 73,921 booster shots were taken to date by the various age groups. This represents about 12.6 per cent of eligi ble persons, who returned for their first booster jab.

But according to Dr Anthony, a large number of persons are now eligible for their second booster shot and are not returning for it. In fact, he disclosed that only a mere 3273 persons, or 0.6 per cent, have gotten a second

“Again,booster.there are people who are taking it seriously, making sure they get their boosters on time and there are others who are compla cent. So, need to get more people taking this very seri ously so that we can protect

them,” he Moreover,stated.the Health Minister is also remind ing persons of the option of calling the Ministry to have a team visit the home of any bed-ridden individ ual in order to administer the COVID-19 immunisa tion drug.

According to recent figures from the World Health Organisation, some 610,393,563 confirmed cas es were reported global ly along with 6,508,521 deaths.Inthe Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 177,568,437 while the death toll has gone up to 2,830,982.Asitrelates to vaccina tion against COVID-19, the WHO also reported that a total of 12,640,866,343 dos es have been administered worldwide. (G8)

Motor insurance company conducts fraud investigation course

Topics discussed during the session includ ed motor insurance poli cy coverage, identifying red flags and fraud indica

Guyana-born Cecil Jaipaul of Consulting,Jaipaulwhich is based in Toronto, Canada, in collabora tion with the Insurance Institute of Guyana, held a motor claims fraud in vestigation course of members of the insurance industry in Guyana.

tors, understanding juris prudence in Guyana, in terviewing techniques and the Caribbean relating to the defence of suspi cious and fraudulent mo tor Localclaims.agents noted that

motor insurance fraud was not new to Guyana, but recognised that it was gaining traction, and new and creative ways were being developed to make fraudulent motor insur ance claims.

Dead: Richard Persaud

Participants along with President of the Insurance Institute of Guyana, Bishwa Panday and President of the Insurance Association of Guyana, Melissa DeSantos

Regional

UN report: humanitycommittingVenezuelacrimesagainsttocrushOpposition

AUnited Nations (UN) report present ed Tuesday claims that Venezuelan securi ty services under the direc tion of President Nicolás Maduro have committed crimes against humani ty in an effort to quash po litical Opposition in the be leaguered Latin American country.Complied by the UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the report out lines the extensive use of ar bitrary arrest and torture in Venezuela since 2014.

Findings were based on interviews with 471 victims, their families and their le gal representatives, as well as another 50 individuals who worked for Venezuela's General Office of Military

typesthenture,"tion,jectedtheirernmentGovernment(SEBIN),Intelligence(DGCIM),CounterintelligenceNationalServiceandotherentities."Realorperceivedgovopponentsandrelativesweresubtounlawfuldetenfollowedbyactsoftorreadthereport,whichwentontolistvariousoftorture,notingthat

victims were beaten with blunt and sharp objects, giv en electric shocks, and forcefed faeces and vomit, as well as suffering sexual violence at the hands of security ser vices.Venezuela had its high est inflation rates ever in 2018: 65,374 per cent. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) marked it even higher, at 1,370,000 per cent. A lack of hard curren cy meant precious few items could be imported. Soaring prices have made it impossi ble for most Venezuelans to shop at the supermarket.

The report clearly con demns President Maduro's hands-on role in the well-or ganised system designed

to crush dissent. It also re bukes Venezuelan authori ties for failing to hold abus ers "Theaccountable.Venezuelan author ities have failed to hold per petrators to account and provide reparations to vic tims in a context where ju dicial reforms announced from 2021 have failed to ad dress the justice system's lack of independence and impartiality," the UN mis sionMartasaid. Valinas, a Portuguese legal expert and head of the mission, said in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, "Venezuela is still facing a profound human rights crisis". (Excerpt from DW)

Bermudan Premier faces party leadership challenge

Bermudan Premier

David Burt faces the first major chal lenge to his leadership of the British island terri tory's ruling centre-left Progressive Labour Party (PLP) after his former Finance Minister said he would contest the role.

Curtis Dickinson sent a letter to the PLP on Wednesday stating, "Earlier this morning, I advised the Party Leader of my intention to put my

name forward to run for the office of Party Leader at the Annual General Conference."Theparty leader will be the Premier of Bermuda.

Dickinson abruptly re signed from Cabinet in February, a week before he was due to make the annu al budget

that manages the 593-room Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda's largest hotel.

The hotel, which had employed more than two per cent of the island's workforce, closed in 2020 during the pandemic and neverThereopened.PLP Annual General Conference is set for October 19-22. At the last General Election, the PLP won 30 of 26 seats against the One Bermuda Alliance. (Reuters)

T&T: Killings were senseless, says wife of slain guard

Relatives of one of the security officers killed in Monday’s robbery attack outside Pennywise Plaza, in La Romaine, Trinidad are praying for strength to carry on.

Both the wife and niece of Jeffrey Peters describe him as a generous soul, who did not deserve to meet his demise the way he did.

Guardian Media visit ed Amanda Lavende at her Second Caledonia home in Morvant where she recount ed the moment she received the heart-breaking news

that her common- law hus band of nearly a decade had been fatally shot.

Fighting back the tears, she said, ”Someone called me and told me something transpired. I was scared, I started to call his phone nonstop, I didn’t get a response, I called his co-workers and they said they are heading down there now and that he was working in that area. I was scared, when I found out what happened I was scared, I remember praying that it was not true.”

On Monday, five armed

bandits unleashed a brutal assault on security officers attached to Allied Security Ltd as they exited the com pound. The heist captured on camera, showed assail ants firing at the officers’ ve hicle at point-blank range.

The shooting, which was described by onlookers and the wider public as vi cious and merciless, claimed the lives of officers Jerry Stuart and Jeffrey Peters. A third officer is still ward ed at hospital. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Fiona declared category 4 hurricane as it heads towards Bermuda

Fiona has strength

ened into a catego ry four hurricane as it moves away from the Turks and Caicos Islands towards Bermuda, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.The hurricane was about 1215 kilometres (755 miles) southwest of Bermuda, packing maximum winds of 210km per hour (130 miles per hour), the agency said on Wednesday.Acategory 4 hurricane is the second highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Eric Blake, acting branch chief for the NHC in Miami, said Bermuda would see high surf, storm surges, heavy rainfall, and powerful winds even if Fiona kept on its cur rent path and passed to the west of the Bermudaisland.will see the

worst of the storm late today, the NHC “Hopefully,said. the core of the storm will stay west, but it could still jog east and hit Bermuda,” Blake said, add ing that the US East Coast would experience large swells and rip currents as the storm churns towards Canada.

Fiona slammed the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday after leaving a trail of destruction in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic

and killing at least four peo ple.“Hurricane Fiona has proven to be an unpredict able storm,” Anya Williams, the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, said in a Williamsbroadcast.saidno casual ties or serious injuries had been reported on Turks and Caicos, but she urged res idents to continue to shel ter in place. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Honduras’ former First Lady gets 14 years in prison on fraud charges

tion, according to the Public Ministry.Her lawyer, Juan Berganza, said he would ap peal the sentence.

"The former First Lady Rosa Elena Bonilla has been sentenced to 14 years and one month in prison for the crimes of continued fraud and misappropriation of pub lic funds destined for social programmes," Carlos Silva, a spokesman for the Supreme Court of Justice, told report

AHonduran

court sen tenced the country's former First Lady, Rosa Bonilla, to 14 years in prison on Wednesday on charges of fraud and misap propriation of funds destined for social programmes, a judi cial spokesperson said.

Bonilla, wife of former President Porfirio Lobo, spent some 12.2 million lem piras (then worth around US$590,000) meant for low-income children on per sonal credit card payments, her children’s school fees and real estate construc

ers.Bonilla had previously been sentenced to 58 years in prison in an earlier trial, which Honduras' Supreme Court annulled in early 2020, arguing it was full of inconsis tencies.The Supreme Court or dered a re-trial by a lower court, which found Bonilla guilty in March of this year. (Reuters)

Barbados swaps debt to protect the environment

lion bond due in 2029, re placing it with lower-cost debt that comes with repay ment guarantees from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

As part of the deal, Barbados is also buying back a portion of its 8 per cent lo cal-currency notes due 2042.

It is a move that should free up about US$50 mil lion over the next 15 years – money that will be used to expand official protections in Barbados’ coral reefs and other ocean environments.

“This is a game changer,” Prime Minister Mia Mottley said in a statement. “The cli mate crisis is one that re quires the urgent action of all.

(Excerpt from Bloomberg)

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is accused of personally selecting targets for arrest and torture

Former First Lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo arrives at a court hearing after being convicted on graft charges, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, August 20, 2019 (Reuters/Jorge Cabrera)

Barbados is spinning US$150 million of its sovereign bonds into cheaper debt with the help of a United States charity, with

plans to use the savings to protect its ocean.

The government has struck a deal to buy back a portion of its US$531 mil

Barbados swaps US$150 million of sovereign debt in a bid to protect the environment

OIL NEWS

Oil prices fell about one per cent to a near twoweek low in volatile trade on Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve delivered another hefty rate hike to quell inflation that could reduce economic activity and demand for oil.

The Fed raised its target interest rate by 75 basis points for the third time to a 3.00-3.25% range and signalled more large increases to come. Risk assets like stocks and oil fell on the news, while the dollar rallied. re

Brent crude futures settled 79 cents, or 0.9 per cent, lower at US$89.83 a barrel, its lowest close since September 8, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell US$1.00, or 1.2 per cent, to US$82.94, its lowest close since September 7.

Earlier in the session, oil gained over US$2 a barrel on worries about a Russian troop mobilisation before dropping over US$1 on a strong US dollar and lower US gasoline demand.

US gasoline demand over the past four weeks fell to 8.5 million barrels per day (bpd), its lowest since February, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA)"The stand-out data point is the continuing weakness in gasoline demand. It's really what's been haunting this market," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in NewTheYork.EIA reported a 1.1-million-barrel increase in crude stocks last week, half the build analysts forecast in a ReutersMeanwhile,poll.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called up 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine and backed a plan to annex parts of the country, hinting he was prepared to use nuclear weapons. US President Joe Biden accused Russia of making "reckless" and "irresponsible" threats to use nuclear weapons.

Oil prices soared to a multi-year high in March after the Ukraine war broke out. European Union sanctions banning seaborne imports of Russian crude will come into force on December 5.

"Much of today’s downside appeared related to strength in the US dollar and we still view near-term US dollar direction as a critical component in assessing nearterm oil price direction," analysts at energy consulting firm Ritterbusch and Associates said.

Signs of a recovery in Chinese demand gave prices a lift early in the session.

In the United States, however, the economic news was not so good. Existing home sales dropped for the seventh straight month in August as affordability deteriorated further amid surging mortgage rates.

In Europe, "Government are increasingly intervening in energy markets in an attempt to stave off economic crisis", analysts at energy consulting firm EBW Analytics said in a Germanynote.agreed to nationalise natural gas company Uniper SE while the British Government said it would cap wholesale electricity and gas costs for businesses. (Reuters)

China urges dialogue, consultation after Putin's warning to West

China's Foreign Ministry urged all parties to engage in dialogue and consulta tion and find a way to ad dress the security concerns of all parties after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West over what

he described as "nuclear blackmail".China's position on Ukraine is consistent and clear, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a reg ular media briefing on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Biden accuses Putin of irresponsible nuclear threats, violating UN charter …flights out of Russia sell out after partial call-up

Oil prices slide 1% after US Fed raises interest rates Around the World

US President Joe Biden ac cused Russia on Wednesday of making "reck less" and "irresponsible" threats to use nuclear weap ons and said Moscow had violated the core tenets of United Nations membership by invading

UNprovokedPutinRussianinNationsSpeakingUkraine.attheUnitedGeneralAssemblyNewYork,BidenslammedPresidentVladimirforstartinganunwarthatsome40memberswerehelping

Ukraine to fight by provid ing funding and weapons.

Earlier on Wednesday, Putin ordered a Russian mo bilisation to fight in Ukraine and made a thinly-veiled threat to use nuclear weap ons, in what NATO called a "reckless" act of despera tion in the face of a looming RussianBidendefeat.echoed the NATO statement."Again, just today, President Putin has made overt nuclear threats against Europe, in a reck less disregard for the re sponsibilities of the non-pro liferation regime," Biden said."A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," he said.

Biden said no one had threatened Russia, despite its claims to the contrary, and that only Russia had sought conflict, and he used the UN setting to under score his view that Moscow had violated the body's val ues."A permanent member of the United Nations Security Council invaded its neigh bour, attempted to erase a sovereign state from the map. Russia has shame lessly violated the core te nets of the United Nations Charter," Biden said.

"This war is about ex tinguishing Ukraine's right to exist as a state, plain and simple, and Ukraine's right to exist as a people. Wherever you are, wherev

Death toll rises after escalating protests in Iran

er you live, whatever you believe, that should ... make your blood run cold."

Russia's mission to the United Nations did not im mediately respond to a re quest for comment on Biden'sMeanwhile,remarks. one-way flights out of Russia were

rocketing in price and sell ing out fast on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin ordered the immedi ate call-up of 300,000 re servists.Putin's announcement, made in an early-morning television address, raised fears that some men of fight ing age would not be allowed to leave the country.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the call-up would be limited to those with experience as profes sional soldiers, and that stu dents and conscripts would not be called up.

The Kremlin declined to comment on whether the borders would be closed to those subject to the mobili sation order, and asked peo ple to be patient as the law is clarified. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trumps inflated net worth by billions, says NY state lawsuit

New York Attorney General Letitia James wants the Trumps to repay US$250 million that she says was il legally obtained Donald Trump and three of his children have been hit with a fraud lawsuit after a New York investigation into their family company – the Trump Organisation.

It alleges that they lied "by billions" about the value of real estate in order to get loans and pay less tax.

Prosecutors say the

Trump Organisation com mitted numerous acts of fraud between 2011 and 2021.Trump has dismissed the lawsuit as "another witchThehunt".former President's eldest children, Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric Trump, were also named as defen dants alongside two ex ecutives at the Trump Organisation, Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Nine people are now reported to have been killed at pro tests in Iran sparked by the death of a woman detained for allegedly breaking strict hijabAmongrules. those report ed killed is a 16-year-old boy, shot dead when securi ty forces opened fire on pro testers.The unrest has spread to more than 20 major cit ies, including the capital Tehran.Videos posted online from Wednesday's unrest showed women waving their headscarves in the air or burning them.

"No to the headscarf, no to the turban, yes to free dom and equality!" protest

ers were heard chanting at a demonstration in Tehran.

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, US President Joe Biden said Americans stood with "the brave wom en of Iran who right now are demonstrating to secure their basic rights".

He spoke after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi re jected calls from Western powers to respect women's rights.The hard-line Shia Muslim cleric accused them of "double standards", citing the discovery of unmarked graves of Indigenous chil dren in Canada and the treatment of the Palestinian people. (Excerpt from BBC News)

World leaders pledge billions to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria on UN sidelines

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuber culosis and malar ia on Wednesday reached US$14.25 billion pledged as world leaders seek to fight the killer diseases af ter progress was knocked off course by the COVID-19 pandemic.USPresident Joe Biden, who hosted the conference in New York on the side lines of the annual high-lev el meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, said the funding is crucial to combating the diseases.

"This is an investment that will save another 20

million lives, reduce mor tality from these diseas es another 64 per cent in the next four years," Biden said.The United States had previously said it would pledge US$6 billion for the next funding cycle.

The fund, a public-pri vate alliance based in Geneva, is seeking US$18 billion for its next threeyear funding cycle from Governments, civil soci ety and the Private Sector. Before Wednesday's confer ence, it had already raised more than a third of the to tal. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russian Police are reported to have arrested hundreds of protesters rallying against the Kremlin's decision to call up thousands of extra troops to fight in Ukraine [BBC News]

Mahsa Amini, 22, died in hospital in Tehran on Friday

DILBERT

HOROSCOPES

You’ll have plenty of great ideas. Press forward physically and mentally, and you’ll reach your goal and impress someone who can help improve your life. Get out and participate.

Take control of your happiness and put your energy into something that pleases you. Personal improvements will make you feel good. Celebrate with a loved one.

Stop worrying about others and con centrate on your pursuits. Someone you think you can trust will not offer sound advice. Verify information before you make a move.

Put your wallet someplace safe. Impulse purchases should be avoided. Use your time to improve your appear ance or home environment. Do more and say less. You can save money and have

fun.Don’t

feel obligated to make a snap decision. When in doubt, take a moment or remove yourself from a situation that is making you feel uncomfortable. Do what feels right.

Live in the moment and choose to do things that put a smile on your face. Engage in a creative process that pro motes physical improvements. Romance is favored. Now’s the time to live it up!

An impulsive action will be costly. Don’t make promises or purchases that compromise your position. Be direct about what you will contribute or do nate, and don’t budge. Speak up.

SUDOKU

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Feb.

A systematic approach to sensitive situations will prevent unwanted chang es and disruptions. Using your intuition when delegating odd jobs to others will help you avoid mistakes.

Follow through with your thoughts until you get a clear picture of what’s to come. Planning and developing what you want to see will help you bring your ideas to fruition.

A financial change is heading your way. Take good care of your health, and don’t overreact to what others do or say. Concentrate on what’s important to you and on lowering stress.

Do what appeals to you, and stop worrying about what others do or think. Protect your interests, and be honest about how you feel. Communication will improve an important relationship.

Show your independence. Step up and talk about your intentions, and you’ll get feedback to help you adjust and move forward with your plans. Be careful while traveling.

Olympic gold medallist Briana Williams of Jamaica joins Titans International with former coach Ato Boldon's blessing

Olympic sprint relay gold medallist Briana Williams of Jamaica is about to launch a new chapter of her track and field career under the guidance of new coaches, to begin the 2022/2023 track season.The 20-year-old star will join Michael Frater and Gregory Little at the Kingston-based Titans International Track Club, with the blessing of her now former coach and mentor, Ato Boldon. She retains her agent HSI Sports, and managers LEEP Marketing.

“Briana, by her own admission, has grown comfort able over the last season, and needs to be more chal lenged; so, with my blessing and encouragement, she’ll be joining Michael Frater and Gregory Little’s group,” Boldon has

“Fromsaid.the beginning, she and I knew I’d have to hand her off to someone who could coach her full time, and as she turns 21 soon, now is the time. This is the next chapter in her development, and I’ll continue to ad vise and guide her, as I have since she was 10.”

Boldon has been Williams’s mentor and coach for the past decade. During that time, she ran a World U15 agegroup 100m record of 11.13s in 2018. That same year, she won three gold medals -100m, 200m and 4x100min the U17 category at the CARIFTA Games, and was

won the 100m in 11.16s, before setting a new national U20 record of 22.50s while winning the 200m. In so do ing, she broke the previous U20 record held by the icon ic VeronicaWilliamsCampbell-Brown.wonthreemore gold medals at the 2019 CARIFTA Games, but, according to the young star, it is time for a change.

“I'm excited about this new chapter, and happy to be training in Jamaica,” Williams has said. “I have to thank Coach Ato for how much he has done for me and my career so far. He will always be a father figure to me.”

Titans International boasts an impressive ros ter that includes Yohan Blake, the 2011 World 100m champion and second-fastest man of all time; and Akeem Blake, the 2022 NACAC 100m champion, who was also a semi-finalist in the 100m at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Under the guidance of Frater and Little, Kemar Bailey-Cole, the 2014 Commonwealth Games 100m champion, has been resurrected after years of injury and illness threatened to end his once-promising career.

Williams, a Nike athlete, is a Digicel Brand Ambassador and a Brand Ambassador for Grace Foods. (Sportsmax)

University at Albany track & field and cross-country programme… named

The inaugural Joshua Henry Memorial U13 and U15 Tape ball Cricket Competition is slated to be played be tween September 25 and October 4, 2022 at Kamwatta Recreational Ground in Moruca, Region One; and Friends United, Santa Rosa Secondary, Kamwatta Primary, and Karaburi Primary will compete in this inau guralCommencingtournament.on September 25 at 13:00h hours, the first match would see Kamwatta Primary coming up against Santa Rosa Secondary Under-15 team. The second match would feature Friends United versus Karaburi Primary Under-15 team, and the 3rd match would see Friends United lock ing horns with Karaburi Primary Under-13 team.

The Friends United team is hereby ex tending gratitude to Frontier Pharmacy for donating the U15 Championship Trophy. Mr. Marti De Souza, the Deputy Chief Education Officer (DCEO) of the Amerindian and Hinterland Education Development, is be ing thanked for donating the Player of the Tournament Trophy and balls for the games; and Mr. Orison Sealy is being thanked for sponsoring a Class cricket bat for the player who scores the most runs in this competition.

13-year-old Joshua Henry, in whose mem ory this tournament is being played, died af ter taking the second dose of the Pfizer vac cine for COVID-19. Young Joshua was not of consenting age, and according to the Ministry of Health, he had the pre-existing condition of “cerebral aneurysm.”

Jamaican thrower Venique Brown will return to the University at Albany in the role of Director of Operations for the track & field and cross-country pro gramme, it has been announced on Tuesday.

Brown, 26, will begin her term parttime, before assuming the full-time role in October.Brown joined the University at Albany in 2018 as a graduate student, after at tending the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. Before university, she attended the Ardenne High School.

Brown is one of the highest performing competitors in the history of the University at Albany. She is one of two members of the women's programme to earn Division I All-America honours after placing sixth in her signature event, the discus, at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Brown is also the first woman in pro gramme history to specifically earn First Team All-America honours in the Division 1 era. That same 2019 season saw Brown being named Northeast Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year. She also set the University at Albany’s programme record in the event, recording a mark of 57.94m. Her personal best of 58.97m was done in 2017.Brown earned two graduate degrees from the ENEB Business School, her MBA and her Master's in Supply Chain Management in 2021, after earning undergraduate de grees from UAlbany in Economics and Business Administration in 2020.

After exhausting her eligibility, Brown continued her role with UAlbany track & field as a student volunteer assistant coach, while she completed her degrees.

named winner of the coveted Austin Sealy Award. Later that year, at age 16 and competing at the U20 World Championships in Tampere, Finland, Williams

Sherlon Rodrigues is receiving the Player of the Tournament Trophy and balls from Mr Marti De Souza, Deputy Chief Education Officer for Amerindian and Hinterland Education Development

TKR ready for big CPL battle against GAW on Saturday

The biggest rivalry in “the biggest party in sport” is the clash between Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW), two heavyweight teams that will suit up on Saturday, September 24, for what is expected to be an epic battle commencing from 19:00h at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, EBD.

According to TKR Manager Colin Borde, the TKR are hyped and ready for the big match against the Warriors.

"They are always looking forward to that! Curry chicken vs chicken curry! There is a lot of hype behind it, but we have close relations with Guyana on and off the field. Players know each other well, a lot of Guyanese play cricket in Trinidad, and they have mingled over the years and played at the international level," Borde has said.

"And the fans? Great fun between both (sets of) fans! And it is a big game! I think it was the first league that was sold out early, so we expect a bumper crowd when TKR turns up at Providence! We expect some excitement!

“Guyana needs to do well, TKR needs to do well, so it is a do-or-die! We are not accustomed to being in a position where we have to fight. It

is going to be a big game, and a very important one," Borde said after a training session at Everest on Wednesday morning.

TKR are in unfamiliar territory, fighting for a playoff spot as opposed to sitting pretty on the points table. Borde has described the season as a roller coaster one. "Our season has been a bit upand-down! Some of the games we lost are close games, particularly the last game in Trinidad. But we also know that T20 cricket is small margins, and it is important that we close gaps and make sure that the three facets of the game are tight. Certainly, we had some areas in which we should have done better running between the wickets," he has admitted.

"You can always point back to a game and see which ball could have won you a match! It does not work like that; it is about the intent! Like the captain (Keiron Pollard) said in the last post-match (interview), we were not (as) intent as we should have been in the last game, and we paid the price. One run is one run, and ten runs is ten runs! It does not matter, and it is points we are trying to accumulate during the league," he declared.

"It has been an up-and-down season, and we have not fired the way we expected, but it is sport, and we still have a chance going forward,"

Borde added. TKR had a training session at Bourda on Tuesday, and followed that up with another on Wednesday at the Camp Street location of Everest. According to the experienced Borde, the sessions were excellent. "Excellent (practice sessions)! We are familiar with Guyana, so we had two very good, intense sessions! I think the guys got what they wanted out of it!"

Borde has said.

Fans from across the globe are certainly anticipating a top-notch match, especially after TKR edged Guyana in the Trinidad leg of the 2022 CPL.

Guyana Chess Federation to showcase chess at Giftland MallAssuria General Inc makes donationmuch-neededtoLGCcaddies

Persons are welcome on Saturday to engage in fun chess activities, including si multaneous chess games with some of Guyana’s top-rat ed chess players. There will also be demonstrations by Guyana's best junior and se nior chess players.

The Guyana Chess Federation is hereby express ing its thankfulness to the management of the Giftland Mall for providing this in credible opportunity to intro duce chess to their patrons.

by timothy Jaikarran

Most of the times when golfers take to the field, they are given most of the praise for their achievements, their faithful caddies are hardly, if at all, re membered. However, Assuria General Inc has taken ‘the next step’ in making a contri bution to the caddies at the Lusignan Golf Club.At a simple press briefing at the compa ny’s Church Street location, 100 jerseys and 20 caps were donated by the company, and Assuria has taken things a step further by including the construction of a caddy shed at the LGC in 2023.

A caddy is the person who carries a play er's bag and clubs, and gives the player ad vice and moral support. A caddie is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin placements and club se lection.Handing over the items to the LGC, Assuria General’s Assistant General Manager Patricia Persaud clarified that the company has been honouring its social re sponsibility for the past ten years it has been in Guyana. “The Lusignan Golf Club has been one of our recipients, and come next year, we are also going to be executing the

caddy shed. We are going to be making that presentation in our budget for next year. So, next year we will be looking forward to big ger and better things,” Persaud shared.

Marketing Officer Sanjiv Nandalal di vulged that it is his belief that caddies are important to any golfer. He iterated that with the donation he is hopeful that the cad dies would be provided with a little more comfort out in the field, and with the spon sorship of the caddy shed on the horizon, it is the company’s way of giving back to the caddies.Sharing his thoughts at the end of the presentation, LGC President Patanjilee Persaud said, “On behalf of the LGC, we would like to thank all. We would like to thank Assuria for making this generous do nation for the caddies, to make sure they are well outfitted for games. We see it as a very good contribution to bring us in synergy to what is happening in the future of golf and in Guyana. We thank them as a corporate sponsor that have also promised next year to build a caddy shed, so we look forward to this moment when we would have their name prominent in and part of our golf club.”

Persaud noted that Assuria has always been generous to the LGC. This is not the first gesture by the company, as it is an in dication of the company’s corporate social re sponsibility and support for the club.

The Guyana Chess Federation is set to exhibit and promote chess to the public at the Giftland Mall at Liliendaal, GreaterTheGeorgetown.Federationhopes to expose more persons, adults and kids alike, to the sport, and the overall goal of this exercise is to show that chess is available to all Guyanese.

In furtherance of this goal, some of Guyana’s top male and female junior and senior chess players will be at the Giftland Mall on Saturday, September 24th, and the following Saturday, October 1st, from 14:00hrs to 19:00hrs. This exhibition will provide an opportunity for persons of all ages who are in terested in the sport to start learning the game, to meet our national players, and also to join the Guyana Chess Federation.Children will be offered free Gold Membership to

the ChessKid.com platform through the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF). This will llow them unlimited access to learn and play chess on line through puzzles, les sons, educational videos, and unlimited live chess games. ChessKid.com, a subsidiary of the popular Chess.com web site, usually offers this type of membership at an annu al cost of US$50. Anyone in terested in learning the game would also be offered online chess classes by GCF coach es, or in-person classes at the newly established chess club, which meets every Saturday at the School of the Nations.

Patrons can also come out on Saturday to learn more about chess and its many benefits. For instance, adults who play chess tend to experience improved mem ory, improve spatial think ing and awareness, and face a lower risk of degenerative brain diseases.

Bus Service: Need a bus? Call us. Planning a Tour? Call us. Matthew’s Bus Service and Tours. Call or WhatsApp: 639-2663 or 673-2348.

FOR RENT international seeking over six (6) long term contractual newly built fully furnished bedrooms, located 5 minutes at +13476134987

Tours: Planning a tour or planning a trip? Call Matthew’s Bus Service and Tours. Call or WhatsApp: 6392663 or 673-2348.

Story by Corlette

Assuria General’s Assistant General Manager Patricia Persaud standing alongside Marketing Officer

Sanjiv Nandalal, who is handing over the items to LGC President Patanjilee Persaud in the presence of Treasurer Maxim Mangra and Secretary Chet Bowling

Barbados Royals down Patriots to continue winning ways in CPL 2022

Cheered on by a massive crowd filled with Guyana’s youth, the Barbados Royals made a fitting tribute to their home nation for ‘Barbados Day’ with a thumping victory against the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank DemeraraDespite(EBD). losing their captain David Miller and batsman Quinton de Kock to international duties, the Barbados Royals made it 8 wins from 9 games after they bowled out the Patriots for 120, to win by 36 runs.

Losing the toss and having to bat first, it was a tough start for the Royals, as their usually formidable opening partnership was broken for just 22 runs. First Rahkeem Cornwall went for six runs, then new Captain Kyle Mayers departed for 16, leaving the Royals unstable at 46-2.

Harry Tector took it almost one ball at a time for his 47 off 44, but Azam Khan brought the fireworks to Providence with 64 off 42, consisting of 5 fours and 5 Duansixes.Jansen, Akila

Dananjaya and Dwayne Bravo each took one wicket, accounting for Cornwall, Mayers and Khan respectively; but a quick-fire 8 from 3 from Jason Holder capped off the innings and got the Royals to 156-3.In reply, the ‘spice man’ Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis began well for the Patriots, making the pitch look easypeasy. Fletcher was the first to go, for 20 runs, and local boy Sherfane Rutherford followed shortly after, only getting to 9 from

15.Dewald

Brevis looked promising after smashing Hayden Walsh Jr. for back-toback sixes, but Nyeem Young took revenge for Barbados in

the following over by not only sending Brevis back to the dugout for 21 from 16, but a juggle from Cornwall off his bowling also saw the demise of Darren Bravo.

The Patriots started to collapse on themselves as another pair of wickets fell in the following over off Holder’s bowling. By the 19th over, the Patriots needed 39 from the remaining 6, with one wicket in hand, just after their captain Dwayne Bravo was run out.

Nyeem Young cleaned up Dananjaya in the third ball of the 20th to plummet the Patriots’ run rate as a result of being bowled out.

Inside Captain Mayers’s mind New Barbados Royals Captain Kyle Mayers had a lot to share following his team’s 8th victory in this year’s CPL preliminary stage. Beginning with their performance on the field on Wednesday, Mayers praised the Royals for their all-round effort. “It been a good performance, you know, we batted in some tough conditions earlier and we got

to see guys who came in for the big players who are missing. You know, Harry, he did well, and Azam getting the

opportunity to bat early today for the first time in this tournament, so it’s been good,” the Barbados Royals Captain said.

He continued, “The guys fight it through with the bat and then to see us pull it off with the ball, it’s been phenomenal. We always believe that we can win the games, no matter what, and that fighting spirit was right through. So, well done to the guys.”

With one more game against the Amazon Warriors before they head into the playoff, Mayers figures that the impressive performance of those coming in to replace Miller and de Kock augurs well for the team’s playoff chances.

Mayers commented, “As the Coach keeps stressing, you know, we have a very good team. Guys coming off the bench and performing speaks volumes for us. Guys willing to go out there and perform, you know,

competition is tight, spoiled for choices on the field when it comes to the ball, and the guys been batting well throughout the season. Just need to continue for when the playoffs start, and hopefully we can continue this momentum.”

Answering a probe from Guyanese media about the pitch, that appears unorthodox for Guyana, Mayers says it’s a welcome change.

“I think it’s a decent surface. I mean, not ideal for T20 cricket, a bit slow, but I guess it’s the first game. I like the grass on the surface too, as well; some assistance for the fast bowlers.”Hefurther stated, “Normally, when you come to Guyana, people just think about spin. I thought fast

SCOREBOARD

Barbados Royals (20 ovs maximum)

Rahkeem Cornwall c DJ Bravo b Jansen 6

Kyle Mayers (c)c †Fletcher b Dananjaya 16

Harry Tector not out 47 Azam Khan c †Fletcher b DJ Bravo 64 Jason Holder not out 8

Extras (lb 8, w 7) 15

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 7.80) 156/3

Did not bat: Corbin Bosch, Devon Thomas †, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hayden Walsh, Nyeem Young, Joshua Bishop

Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Rahkeem Cornwall, 3.3 ov), 2-46 (Kyle Mayers, 7.2 ov), 3-148 (Azam Khan, 19.3 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Sheldon Cottrell 4-0-19-0

Duan Jansen 4-0-32-1

Akila Dananjaya 3-0-25-1 Rashid Khan 4-0-19-0

Dwayne Bravo 4-0-44-1 Sherfane Rutherford 1-0-9-0

St Kitts And Nevis Patriots (T: 157 runs from 20 ovs)

Andre Fletcher †c Bishop b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 20 Evin Lewis b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 41 Sherfane Rutherford c Bosch

bowlers did well today. That’s good going into the playoffs. People tend to pack the team up with spinners, thinking when they come to Guyana it’s

b Cornwall 9 Dewald Brevis c Holder b Young 21

Darren Bravo c Cornwall b Young 2 Keacy Carty c sub (JP Greaves) b Holder 1

Dwayne Bravo (c)run out (Holder) 9 Rashid Khan c sub (JP Greaves) b Holder 5 Duan Jansen c Bishop b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3 Sheldon Cottrell not out 0 Akila Dananjaya b Young 1

Extras (lb 3, w 5) 8

TOTAL 19.3 Ov (RR: 6.15) 120

Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Andre Fletcher, 6.4 ov), 2-72 (Sherfane Rutherford, 11.3 ov), 3-79 (Evin Lewis, 13.1 ov), 4-100 (Darren Bravo, 15.2 ov), 5-101 (Dewald Brevis, 15.5 ov), 6-101 (Keacy Carty, 16.1 ov), 7-108 (Rashid Khan, 16.6 ov), 8-113 (Duan Jansen, 17.6 ov), 9-118 (Dwayne Bravo, 18.5 ov), 10-120 (Akila Dananjaya, 19.3 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Kyle Mayers 2-0-11-0 Jason Holder 4-0-31-2 Rahkeem Cornwall 4-0-23-1 Joshua Bishop 1-0-9-0 Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-18-3 Nyeem Young 2.3-0-5-3 Hayden Walsh 2-0-20-0

a spin-fest, but to have grass on the wicket and surface it’s always good. Speaks volumes for Guyana’s cricket.”

Azam Khan brought the fireworks to Providence

Dewald Brevis was the last hope for the Patriots’ batting

Guyanese students turned out in their numbers to cheer on the teams

King's masterful century in vain as Amazon Warriors win crucial match 25 of CPL 2022

By Brandon Corlette

Abrilliant

centu

ry from Brandon King went in vain as Guyana Amazon Warriors won by 12 runs in match 25 of the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League at Providence. King's royal innings of 104 failed to take Tallawahs across the line, as they ended on 166 all out in 19.5 overs, responding to Warriors' 178-8 in 20 overs.

In the chase, Tallawahs had a good start, scoring 45-1 in the powerplay. They had lost Kennar Lewis, who made 13. He was trapped by the skillful Imran Tahir at 23-1. Kirk McKenzie then ran himself out for 15 and Tahir then got the big fish of Rovman Powell (04) at 58-3 in 10.1 overs.

The Warriors kept things tight but Brandon King was standing tall. He and Raymon Reifer took the score to 84-3 in 12 overs, and at that stage, Warriors were 77-4. The Royal Jamaican, King reached his 50 from 38 balls with a six off the TallawahsShakib.

100 came up in the 14th over com pliments of King, who was dealing in boundar ies against Odean Smith. Reifer who was a specta tor in the partnership of 54 from 24 balls, made only six from seven balls. He was dismissed by Smith caught at short mid-wicket

by Junior Sinclair at 112-4. Fabian Allen stayed briefly at the crease, scoring only one, to give Shakib his only wicket of the night.

The rain came with Jamaica on 131-6 in 17 overs.In the final two overs, Tallawahs required 31, and Motie was tasked to bowl

behind at Chandrapaul8-1. Hemraj showed promise but he made a run-a-ball 13, de parting at 34-2 after four overs. The golden boy, Shakib also departed for a golden duck, trapped at the crease by Imad Wasim. Captain Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope attempted

two sixes at that stage. The Barbadian showed great im provement with his strikerate, respecting the good balls and thumping the bad balls.A furious Romario Shepherd (09) was caught by the juggling Rovman Powell at long-on and Warriors slipped to 87-5 in 13.4 overs. Hope eventual ly played across the line to a Nabi-ball that kept low, and his solid innings ended after he faced 45 balls and scor ing 60. His innings was dec orated with four boundaries and three sixes.

the penultimate over. He re moved Imad Wasim to give Warriors hope. Odean King reached his century in style, but he was run out, failing to take his team across the line. He made 104 from 66 balls, an innings that in cluded seven sixes and eight fours. Tahir had 2-17 to be the pick of the bowlers, while Odean Smith success fully defended 20 in the fi nal the Warriors had

to rebuild the innings, add ing 28 runs. Hetmyer who made 11 from 18 balls, was trapped by the off-spinner Mohammad Nabi at 62-4 in 10 overs.Hope danced down the track with elegance, hitting sixes off the spinners, and driving boundaries with grace. He stood tall, and en tertained the almost-packed Providence. He reached his half-century from 36 balls, hitting four boundaries and

At 97-6 in 15.1 overs, Warriors were in need of a strong finish. Gudakesh Motie who was promoted to counter the left-arm spin on offer, made only two. He was trapped by the veter an Nabi. Odean Smith part nered Paul and the duo added the finishing touch. Smith damaged Miguel Pretorius hitting him for five sixes in the 18th over. That over included five six es and one wide.

Keemo Paul then took 24 runs off Mohammad Amir with some clean ball-strik ing and Warriros had sur passed the par-score of 141 at Providence. Paul who showed versatility hitting the ball to all parts, struck the Tallawahs leading wick et-taker for two sixes and two fours.

Paul and Smith add ed 74 from 35 balls in a game-chaning partnership that took Warriors to 178-8 in 20 overs. Smith was look ing for another six, but he was bowled by Powell for a 16-ball 42. His innings had six maximums, while Paul ended on 24 from 12 balls. Junior Sinclair struck the final ball for a six, as

BOWLING O-M-R-W Romario Shepherd 1-0-6-0 Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-30-1 Gudakesh Motie 4-0-36-2 Tahir 4-0-17-2 Chandrapaul Hemraj 2-0-11-0 Junior Sinclair 2-0-19-0 Odean Smith 1.5-0-26-2 Keemo Paul 1-0-17-0

Tallawahs yielded 81 runs from the final five overs. Nabi had 3-12 from two overs, while Green had 2-24 from his quota. The CPL will continue on Thursday at Providence with Trinbago Knight Riders battling St Kiitts and Nevis Patriots from 10:00h, while Warriors wil battle St Lucia Kings from 19:00h. 223-7230, 223-7231, ov), 4-112 (Raymon Reifer, 13.6 ov), 5-118 (Fabian Allen, 15.2 ov), 6-124 (Mohammad Nabi, 16.3 ov), 7-149 (Imad Wasim, 18.2 ov), 8-166 (Brandon King, 19.3 ov), 9-166 (Migael Pretorius, 19.4 ov), 10166 (Mohammad Amir, 19.5 ov)

Brandon

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.” 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

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!!

“Cricket

WELCOME TO GUYANA, CPL 2022

Guyana is a proud host of the highlyanticipated finals of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022, the do mestic Twenty20 cricket league played here in the West

WeIndies.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 fi nals on Friday, September 30.

An exciting brand of cricket is expected from the six teams participating in the tournament name ly, 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 being staged in Guyana to finally reward their passion ate and loyal fans by win ning the elusive CPL cham pionship on home

Notwithstanding,soil. host ing the CPL is a special mo ment for Guyana.

As a result of the vi

sion and investments of our Government, led by Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the CPL finals were secured, particularly given the socioeconomic development bene fits that cricket offers.

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

This is the first of three annual CPL finals and Cricket Carnivals to be host ed byTheGuyana.CPLand the carnival events mean a lot to Guyana as our unwavering drive is to bring people together 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 mis

sion of promoting Guyana as a top-tier international destination for investment, tourism, entertainment, sports, food, and cultural ac tivities.There is something for everyone to enjoy, including music festivals, food shows, concerts, competitions, and organised tours.

More importantly, the Government’s inten tion 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 numer ous economic opportunities have opened up for bed and breakfast accommodations, vendors, restaurants, bars, transportation services, and tourGuyanaoperators.israpidly evolv ing as an oil and gas market,

and our Government has mapped out a transforma tional development trajec tory that will ensure the di versification of our economy by using the gains from this natural resource for coun trywide development.

We will continue to build out many new pillars so that our economy will be resil ient, strong and sustainable. Combined, CPL and the Cricket Carnival is one such avenue Government has ad opted 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, particular ly our Caribbean Region.

“The 10th anni versary finals in Guyana will be the biggest finals the CPL has ever had. We'll have sell out crowds to all the games, there's going to be an ex traordinary atmosphere. As I said, that coming together of Carnival and cricket will

never be seen better than in Guyana this year. So, for us it is all about, you know, en joying what's ahead. I think it's going to be a phenom enal few days in Guyana, and I hope all the fans, both watching at home and in the stadium, will enjoy the expe rience.”

By Jemima Holmes

In2014, a lanky Guyanese lad from Cumberland, Berbice got another shot at represent ing the West Indies on the international stage, having played Under-15 cricket pre viously. Two years later, the same teenager achieved the unthinkable – the opportuni ty to lead that very Under-19 team that he was first select ed for, two years prior.

Upon his return from Bangladesh with the West Indies’ first Under-19 World Cup trophy and a smile that you could spot miles away, the Berbician lad was hailed as the “Captain of Destiny” by a Guyana Chronicle writ er – a title that is truly fit ting, six years down the road.Of course, the individual needs no introduction. He is Shimron Hetmyer, Captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors and only the sec ond Guyanese to hold the ti tle in the franchise’s 10-year

be played at the Guyana National Stadium.

I’d like to call that desti ny.

“I got the opportunity now to captain my side and captain my country as well; it’s something that I can’t wait to actually go out on the field and start doing,” Hetmyer told the Hero CPL’s media team prior to the com mencement of the 2022 sea

son.“Being here for a while I think, yes, I am ready,” the left-handed batsman added.

As one would expect, Hetmyer has been looking forward to his rise in the ranks for quite a while; may be even since his entry into the Warriors team in 2016, months after his World Cup glory. The then 19-year-old only played a single match for the Warriors, but two years later announced him self as the flamboyant bats man Guyana has come to know and However,love.Hetmyer, who is still the youngest player to slam a Hero CPL century (having done so as a 21-yearold), is looking to bring more than boundaries and maxi mums to the table.

“I’m very excited actu ally. It’s something that I’m

a team player than just try ing to hit 6s and 4s basical ly.”He continued, “So, I’m trying as much as possible to do as much as I can, in terms of being the captain, trying to help out as much as I can and just being there for the team.”Of course, the captain cy hat is one that we have not seen Hetmyer taking on much, since 2016. Aside from occasional stints at the national level, Hetmyer has stayed far from leadership, but this time around, the challenge is what enticed him.“I think it’s the experi ence really. Being around the West Indies team, I think I’ve learned a lot, in terms of how to go about doing stuff as someone in a leadership group. I’m just trying to do my best, in terms of trying to help the guys that are com ing up in their careers and who’re in the centre part of their careers. To really push on and really play more for the West Indies,” the 25-year-old said.

When it comes to pres sure situations, Hetmyer is pretty confident that there is enough support for his team to rely on.

plained, weighing the pres sures of performing at home and the captaincy, “Knowing that you’re playing at home, it’s always fun and exciting, but it’s also very challeng ing, because of the fact that you know you have to win, or there’s this pressure on you to win.”Nonetheless, Hetmyer is very eager to get to the

Guyana, the crowd and so on and knowing the conditions that I’m playing in as well, so, all of that helps. It makes it just a little bit more exciting, a little bit more special when you actually win games in Guyana.”“Winning the World Cup, it was just a breath-tak ing feeling. There were just so many different thoughts running through each and everyone’s head,” A young er Hetmyer had reflected to the International Cricket Council (ICC) back in 2020.

He went on to add, “Lifting the trophy, that was a feeling like no other, be cause being the first captain to do it and then having such a wonderful team and some great guys that I actually grew up with since Under-15 cricket, that made it even moreAndspecial.”now, the GAW

Captain would love nothing more than to raise the Hero CPL trophy at the Guyana National

“That’sStadium.something all Guyanese players, fans, ev eryone have been looking for ward to and more so myself, because I literally cannot wait to go back to Guyana and play some cricket.”

Think about it: a GAW team stacked heavily with Guyanese players, the Guyanese fans enthralled in the boisterous crowd as they revel in the glory of win ning their first Hero CPL trophy, at the first final to ever be played at their home ground. And, of course, they are being led in celebra tions by none other than the only captain who has led an Under-19 West Indies side to World Cup victory.

Some occurrences have destiny written all over them, and Shimron Hetmyer’s cap taincy is one of them.

very year, as Hetmyer leads the local fran chise in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the Amazon Warriors may have the opportunity to play their first CPL final at home, the first time that the final will

really looking forward to, to be honest and it’s something I think I could learn a lot from, in terms of taking my cricket forward. Like how to manage my innings, how to look after my team, as well. Just to be a little bit more of

On this topic, he relat ed, “It’s always good to know that there’s guys you could always go to and find out what they’re thinking and they could help you, in terms of field setting, who to bowl at a specific time, just to make sure that everything runs“There’ssmoothly.a lot of guys there that’s actually experi enced.”One pressure situation that Hetmyer might not be able to escape that easily is the thousands of adoring fans in the Guyana National Stadium, holding strong to the hope that Captain Hetmyer would get their team over the line this time.

“It’s a little bit of both, to be honest,” Hetmyer ex

Hetmyer’s batting has also reflected his intent to lead well

Shimron Hetmyer is embracing the captaincy role

Shimron Hetmyer is no stranger to lifting trophies as captain

Guyana leg of the Hero relish“[But]HeCPL.related,Ireallyplayingin

Shimron Hetmyer: The long-proclaimed “Captain of Destiny”

WhenPresident Dr Irfaan Ali boldly declared his intention in December 2021, to bid for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finals in Guyana, lit tle did anyone know that the Head of State had bigger plans in mind.

A grand celebration of Guyanese and Caribbean culture, an array of colours and costumes, coupled with the sport that the Region enjoys the most, was what he had in mind. And so, Cricket Carnival was birthed.

“The loudest it will ever be!” was the vow President Ali made on the evening of March 30, 2022, when he went on to announce the inaugural Cricket Carnival, a fusion of fete and cricket that has never been attempted in the Caribbean Region before.

Of course, the thought of Cricket Carnival sounds easy to those who may not have an intricate knowledge of the planning that has gone into the event, but, in six months the

Cricket Carnival planning committee has managed to pull it off.

Simply put, the main objective of Cricket Carnival is to diversify Guyana’s tourism product, but for other sectors like culture and arts, it is said to be the driving force that will put Guyanese creatives on the map.

Of course, coupled with the Hero CPL, it would be hard for tourists to resist and that fact has unfolded well for Guyana.

“By the time we announced, all the rooms in the hotels were booked up and so, we launched the Bed and Breakfast programme that added 300 new rooms, those are most ly taken up, sorry to say,” Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond said about the response to Cricket Carnival.

She continued about the event’s future prospects, “In these next three years, this Cricket Carnival is only going to get big ger and bigger and we will be perfecting the

product every year. And, after three years, we will have a big surprise for you, it’s going to get even Culture,bigger.”Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr has, however, offered a different perspective on the prospects of Cricket

“FromCarnival.theperformance arts area, those young people, they’re going to be able to get the biggest platform that they have ever had before. People from all around the coun try, the Region and the world will be here in Guyana and getting the opportunity to see our talent here. Getting them the name and face recognition that they would not have had otherwise,” he explained.

Ramson Jr further elucidated, “This is

an event that is streamed by 500 million people in the world, they get to see this. Five hundred million people tune in to the CPL finals and semi-finals. How would they have had that otherwise?”

Pegging the event as an outlet that will leap frog Guyana in sectors out side of agriculture and oil and gas, Ramson Jr also touched on the necessity of Government’s involvement.

He remarked, “What I want everyone to know, too, is that when we speak about Carnival, for us it’s Cricket Carnival, but Carnival in Trinidad, which has been the biggest in the Region, is not a Government-led process. It’s not the Government that budgets a significant sum of money, puts aside the mon ey to do all the events or puts together a committee that is chaired by the President and co-chaired by two Ministers.”

“It’s not done that way, but we’ve done it in this way, because we need to leapfrog the curve, so that we start to occupy space in a much more significant way,” Ramson Jr added.And

indeed, the Cricket Carnival has put Guyana on the map; flights in and out of the country are booked, hotels reserved to capacity, and tourists from all around the globe are mingling comfortably with Guyanese natives.

The only aspect left that will make it a perfect picture of success is the music, food, culture and not to forget, the cricket. Let the fete begin!

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Charles Ramson Jr

A glimpse of what to expect at Cricket Carnival

The 10th edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has already brought the vibes and the atmosphere is immaculate. To make things even sweeter, the “Biggest Party in Sport” launched the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL). The Guyana Amazon Warriors were selected as one of the three competing franchises as they possessed an exceptional line-up led by the one and only Stafanie Taylor. The squad comprised a well-balanced unit, with an equal balance of experience and youth.

Warriors Women’s batting strength

The team’s skipper, Jamaica-born Taylor emerged onto the international scene as a 17-year-old, hitting a 49-ball 90 on her T20 International debut against Ireland in 2008. In 2013, she became the only player in history, male or female, to ever achieve the number one OneDay International (ODI) ranking in both batting and bowling simultaneously. Taylor’s crown of glory came in 2016 when she led West Indies to the Women’s World T20 title. The talented allrounder has amassed a total of 5298 runs in the ODI format with a healthy average of 44.15 and a high score of 171. On the T20I scene, she has scored 3121 runs at an average of 35.87. With the experience of having led a team to a world title, Taylor was a definite fit for the Warriors camp, bringing a wealth of experience to the side.Another important player was Sri Lanka’s very own Chamari Athapaththu. She is her country’s highest run scorer in the T20 format. She is a hard-hitting player and by no means, needs an introduction as her reputation precedes her. The attacking left hander has played 90 ODIs and scored 2840 runs at an average of 31.91 while in the T20I format, she has blasted 2079 runs from 98 matches at an average of 22.11 with a high score of 113.

The middle order was bolstered by Vice Captain Shemaine Campbelle. The explosive middle-order batter hails from Berbice and has captained her national team. She is enjoying a resurgence in international cricket. Campbelle is a veteran of 77 ODIs with an average of 20.25, scoring 1357 runs with a high score of 105. In her 91 T20Is, she has an average of 13.10 and can change a match in the middle overs when her bat gets hold of the ball.

Opener Rashada Williams is a Jamaican cricketer who plays for the Jamaica women’s national cricket team in the Women’s Super50 Cup and the Twenty20 Blaze tournaments. In January 2019, Williams was named in the West Indies squad for their tour of Pakistan. She is a right-handed batter and is a wicketkeeper as well; she has played 16 ODI matches thus far with a high score of 78 not out.

Another young talent in the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women’s side was Rachel Vincent, a Trinidadian cricketer who plays for the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national cricket team in

the Women’s Super50 Cup and the Twenty20 Blaze tournaments. In June 2021, Vincent was named in the West Indies A Team for their series against Pakistan. In the said series in Pakistan, she registered a high score of 56 on July 12, 2021.

Chedean Nation, who is Jamaican, is a right-hand middleorder batter, who has represented the West Indies in 59 ODI matches and has scored a total of 812 runs with a high score of 51. In the T20Is, she has played 38 matches, scoring 406 runs with a high score of 63. Her role in the GAW-W team was to cement the middle order and set the tone for the power hitters.Zaida James, represents the Windward Islands Women and the West Indies A Women. In June 2021, James was named in the West Indies A Team for their Pakistan.againstseries

The St Lucian has scored 147 runs from four games in the Women U19 T20, 2022 tournament at an average of 73.50.

GAW-W’s all-round ability

Cherry-Ann Fraser is a Guyanese cricketer; the 23-year-old allrounder was added to the West Indies Women’s Twenty20 International squad in November 2019 as a replacement for the injured Stafanie Taylor. In May 2021, she was awarded a central contract by Cricket West Indies (CWI) and on September 16, 2021, she made her ODI debut against South Africa, bowling 1-33 in her seven overs. She was picked to showcase her exceptional talent as she has the ability to pick up wickets at will and can score runs through all parts of the ground.

Shabika Gajnabi plays for Guyana and the West Indies. She is a right-arm medium bowler. In August 2019, she was named in the West Indies squad for their series against Australia. On the regional scene, she has dominated with both bat and ball, as she emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Female Inter-County 50over competition, scoring 173 runs and taking five wickets. In the ODI format, she has taken 10 wickets while she has only taken one in T20Is.

Yet again, Captain Taylor appears on the list; she has shown her worth on the international scene and is one of the most sought-after players. With the ball, she has bagged 152 wickets at an economy rate of 3.52 in the ODI format while with the ball in T20Is, she has picked up 98 wickets at an economy rate of 5.66.

GAW-W’s bowling unit

The bowling unit is led by Ayabonga Khaka, the South African cricketer who plays for the national cricket team as a right-arm medium bowler. Khaka has played a total of 87 ODI matches and has bagged a total of 113 wickets at an economy rate of 4.14 with a best of 5-26. In the T20I format, she has played 42 games and picked up 37 scalps with a best of 4-23 at an economy rate of 6.43.

Kaysia Shultz is a Guyanese cricketer; the talented slow left-arm orthodox bowler is a main feature in the Guyana side as she has been representing the country since 2016. She was named in the West Indies squad for the Women’s T20I series against England, earning her maiden call-up to the team. Recently, she played for West Indies in a tour match against South Africa Women XI, and bowled figures of 1-23 off her six overs at an economy rate of 3.83.

Shamilia Connell is a Barbadian cricketer who represents the West Indies; the right-arm speedster has played a total of 56 ODI matches

and bagged 42 wickets at an economy rate of 4.62 with a best of 4-54. In T20Is, she has played 54 games and taken 36 wickets with a best of 3-14 at an economy rate of 6.54.

Karishma Ramharack is a Trinidadian cricketer who plays for Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indies as a right-arm off-break bowler. She made her T20I debut on February 3, 2019. She has played 14 ODI matches and taken eight wickets with a best of 2-18 at an economy rate of 4.40. In the T20I format, she has played seven games and taken seven wickets with a best of 3-8 at an economy rate of 6.59.

Isani Vaghela was the baby of the Warriors camp, Vaghela is 16 years of age and plays for the United States of America Women’s team. She is a right-hand batter and bowls right-arm medium pace. She was also named in America’s squad for the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe. On November 23, 2021, she played in America’s first match of the tournament against Bangladesh.

The 2022 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is certainly a historic event. For the first time in the tournament’s history, a Women’s CPL was played, with three teams locking horns. While noting that this CPL signi fied growth of women’s cricket, Guyanese crick eter Kaysia Schultz said she was excited to rep resent the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women.

“It’s a great feeling to be a part of this his toric Women’s CPL, having a women’s franchise tournament in the Caribbean will surely grow women’s cricket,” the left-arm spinner said.

When asked about her expectations, the 25-year-old Schultz said she expected to see more fans support the women’s game. She also added: “In the future I’ll like to see more female

teams competing in the Women’s CPL, which will also widen the pool of Caribbean players.”

The Women’s CPL will certainly inspire more young female cricketers around the globe. According to Schultz, the CPL is a huge inspi ration for young Caribbean players to share the same dressing room with international stars.

“It’s a huge inspiration for young female cricketers to share the same dressing room with top international players and gain knowledge to develop our game, and even to young female cricketers aspiring to make a career out of crick et,” the humble spinner added.

When asked about her emotions when she first heard she was playing in the Women’s CPL, Schultz said it was a dream come true.

dream“A

come true when I found out I was playing for my home franchise, it’s every cricketer’s dream to be play ing for their home franchise as well.”

Schultz, who finished with eight wickets in the Women’s T20 Blaze, which was held in Guyana earlier this year, said her goal was to capture the most wickets and help Warriors lift the Whiletrophy.theentire Women’s CPL is be ing played in St Kitts this year, Schultz has hopes of playing at Providence, in front of her family and friends. She explained that it would mean a lot for her.

By TimoThy Jaikarran

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) fixtures for the 2022 season were announced with the best crick eting talents from across the Caribbean and from around the world set to be part of the Biggest Party in Sport. As such, local son of the soil, Chandrapaul Hemraj is set to turn out in his patriotic Guyana Amazon Warriors colours as he is eager to hit the field and showcase his talent before his home crowd.

The talented left hander in the 2021 edition had blast ed a scintillating 105 not out against the Barbados Royals, which he deemed as one of his most memorable moments.

“Being able to score a century last year definitely gave me the confidence going into this tournament, knowing I can score bigger at this level. I am very much prepared going into this tournament, I have it very clear. I understand my role and responsibility with the team, but you know as an opening batsman, I see myself as an entertainer and that’s what I’m going to do this season and I’m looking forward to entertaining my fans.”

In the 2021 edition of CPL, Hemraj was the third highest run scorer for the Warriors with 254 runs at an average of 25.40 with a strike rate of 133.68. In 2022, he played in the US Minor League and from his 11 games, he walked away

with 353 runs at a strike rate of 177.39 and an average of 35.30; he also scored two centuries in the league with a high score of 130.

As he has been playing minor league cricket during his off season, Hemraj came into the CPL with some form. In further preparation, he had been challenging himself to bat 12 to 15 overs every game. The fitter-looking Hemraj has been putting in the necessary work over the past few months as he prides himself on bringing out the best version of himself. “Over the last few months, I have been putting in a lot of work in the gym, a lot of strength work, been plac ing some emphasis on my diet and coming into this tourna ment I feel more prepared, mentally and physically. I don’t want to be overconfident, but I just want to be prepared,” he shared.Hemraj has stated that one of the things he would be looking forward to is playing in front of his friends and fami ly and the huge crowd at the National Stadium. He revealed that the National Stadium was a venue where he enjoys batting and was optimistic that he would be able to help the Warriors bag some victories.

As it relates to how confident he is that the Warriors will lift the trophy, Hemraj explained that it is his belief that the process is very important for the team. He clarified that as much as one would like to look at the results and

that the team just needed to go through the process and once they get to the semi-finals, take it home for the fans.The talented Guyanese also reiterated that for him, it was a privilege to represent the Warriors year after year as he stressed on the importance of playing in front of his friends and family. He stated that it was an honour to rep resent the Guyana Amazon Warriors and he has spent four years with them. He added that in this time, he has gained a lot of experience and he believes that now is the time to show some more maturity and have a good season.

Hemraj ended the interview by saying, “We all know that Warriors fans are one of the most passionate fans out there, but I think it’s time for us to deliver it. Time for us to give them what they have been asking for from the incep tion. We have a good bunch of players here, a good bunch of locals and international players and I’m very confident we are going to deliver this year.”

Fora company as large and successful as ExxonMobil, the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is increasingly important.

For the oil and gas giant, its CSR knows no bounds, ranging from educational ini tiatives including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), community projects and agriculture to, of course, sport.

Since ExxonMobil began consistent operations in Guyana, it has contributed heavily to several sport disciplines, such as athletics, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, motor rac ing, squash, tennis and volleyball.

Only this year, the company has resuscitated its Petra-organised ExxonMobil Under-14 Boys’ and Girls’ schools’ football tournament, which fills a critical gap in youth football

ExxonMobil has sponsored both the GAW Men’s and Women’s teams this year

development, between the Pee- Wee (Under-11) and Under-18 levels. ExxonMobil also eagerly hopped onboard as the title sponsors of the National Schools’ Basketball Festival, which has introduced and produced national youth players sinceNot2006.to mention the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) will don the company’s logo for the sixth consecu tive year. Not only has Exxon thrown its support behind the men’s team, but its support for the women’s team in the inaugural Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has been equally consistent.

To be frank, ExxonMobil is the perfect picture of sport involvement and develop ment, and the company is always elated to play the role.

“The many benefits of sport are wellknown, and we take our role as a part of the Guyanese community very seriously. That’s why we support sports at the youth lev el as well as raising our sponsorship of the Warriors,” ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge shared as the compa ny announced its support for the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Men and Women.

Similarly, Community Relations Advisor Ryan Hoppie shared at the commencement of the third ExxonMobil U14 football tour nament, “You know sport is very important for youth development, and we know that it brings both physical and mental benefits, but, also the camaraderie among players within the team!”

Additionally, given that the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is return ing to Guyana, after being hosted in soli tary destinations during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, ExxonMobil is going all-out for sport once again.

There will be a booth at the Guyana National Stadium on every game day, where Guyanese patrons can interact and play games for chances to get their hands on prizes.Aside from this, the company is plan ning activities where fans can meet Guyana Amazon Warriors players.

ExxonMobil’s hands-on approach to en suring sport development in the country is a great example of avid investment in sport development. One can only hope that more corporate entities will take a page out of Exxon’s book.

Earlier this year, ExxonMobil became the title sponsors of the National Schools' Basketball Festival

ExxonMobil’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Marcus Tripp was present for the kickoff of their Boys’ and Girls’ U14 football tournament

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is known as the biggest party in sport. During the COVID-19 pan demic, this was the first league to host a bio-secured tournament, and it was a success. The stands were empty, as fans were not al lowed, and the tournament was played in one country only. For the players, it was difficult, as they were not allowed to leave the hotel/ bubble.Come 2022, the CPL is being played in four countries:St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. The fans are back, and stands are filled to capac ity. Players are allowed to move around the different Caribbean countries, and even have their families withThethem.2022 CPL has burst the bubble, and players, match officials, and own ers are relishing this expe rience. Moreover, the 2022 CPL was historic in nature, with the first Women’s CPL being played in St Kitts, and the newest format, 6IXTY being played in St Kitts as Fromwell.StKitts to Guyana, fans are going wild for tick ets, which are high in de mand. This is according to the numbers and a re cent comment from CPL’s Head of Marketing, Chris Watson.

“Across all four of host locations this year, the sales have been really strong, and the reaction has been huge. Particularly in Guyana, the new box office

in Camp Street, the guys have seen great levels of interest, with some games sold out already. So, it has been a strong “Surprisingly,reaction.”forsome

of the neutral games, 10 in the morning has been on sale, and it shows how hun gry fans are to come out to a more normal CPL,” he said.

“We have not been able to put on games in Guyana since 2019, so we are really excited to bring a more nor mal CPL this year.”

In recent interviews with fans at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia, the excitement for the return of CPL has been over-the-roof. Fans from the United States of America, who are Guyanese by birth, noted that the CPL has the best atmosphere and it was good for them to see live ac tion

Fromagain.a Guyanese stand point, the CPL carnival in Guyana has attracted a large number of tourists. A majority of the hotels are booked and this is evidence of the high level of interest for CPL 2022, the tourna ment where the bubble was officially burst.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad for 2022 CPL: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Tabraiz Shamsi, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Colin Ingram, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Paul Stirling, Shai Hope, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Jermaine Blackwood, Gudakesh Motie, Ronsford Beaton, Veerasammy Permaul, Junior Sinclair, and Matthew Nandu.

A few fans from the United States of America came to witness the CPL live and direct (Brandon Corlette photos)

Fans were delighted with the return of CPL