Guyana Times -Sunday, July 16, 2023.pdf

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EV charging ports provide seamless process for road users

By Pooja RamBaRan

Anewly-installed electric vehicle (EV) charging station at Amazonia Mall at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) adds to the lineup of ports being made available to Guyanese road users as the Government continues to advance the country’s transition to environmentally-friendly modes of transportation.

Last year, a US$141,199 contract was awarded to Jamaica-based Flash Motors

Company Limited to procure and install six public EV charging stations at strategic locations. In addition to the one at Amazonia Mall, charging stations have thus far been erected at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri; the Giftland Mall, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD); and outside of the GEA office on Quamina Street, Georgetown.

The other two will be installed on Monday and Tuesday at Little Rock Suites in New Amsterdam, Berbice,

and Big Kiss Parking Lot in Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

During an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Dr Mahender Sharma, noted that these charging ports are not yet open to the public, as they are still in the testing phase.

“The first step is to mount the unit, put it in to make sure that it's charging. The next step is fixing the backend software to allow a user to come

in, scan a QR code, get an app, connect their credit card information, and then allow them to be able to access it,” Sharma said.

He added that in the coming weeks, Flash Motors’ CEO Xavier Gordon will be working with stakeholders to put together the software and the app to make it a seamless process for electric vehicle owners.

Sharma also stated that, so far, the team has encountered some challenges with communication, internet connection, and the powerline; but he maintained that these are all resolvable.

Unlike combustion vehicles, electric vehicles are propelled by electromagnetism and an electric motor. They are charged using electricity, eliminating oil changes and other

features that are distinct from gasoline or diesel vehicles.

These six EV charging stations – once open to the public – aim to allow for an 80 per cent charge in about 45 minutes in what Gordon described as a process that will be “very simple.”

“We'll have an app that's available, users will register once with that app, and once you've done that, you're just basically going to use that app to interact with the charging station. You will pull up the app, pull up the location and say this is the charger that I want to use. You'll tap it, unplug it, plug it in, and you'll be good to go,” Gordon told this publication.

“We actually have in development software that would allow certain vehicles to be

able to skip that entire process, where [they] just plug it in and go,” Gordon said, adding that this software has proven successful in North America, Europe and China. Though these stations will not be able to charge all EV models, connectors were chosen to cater to the more popular models seen in Guyana.

As at February, there were reportedly 168 electric vehicles in the country, two of which are owned by the GEA. That number, Sharma said, is likely to increase in the coming months as the Government recently reduced taxes on all EVs entering the country.

“I think the completion of these public EV charging stations will have a profound impact on that, as it is meant to catalyze that interest. And those persons who are hesitant about investing in an EV will have an assurance that if they run out of charge on the road, they can now connect and access [a station],” Sharma said.

Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Mahender Sharma and Flash Motors’ CEO Xavier Gordon

SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, July 16 – 03:30h-05:00h and

Monday, July 17 – 04:00h-05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, July 16 – 16:10h-17:40h and

Monday, July 17 – 16:45h-18:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers and sunshine are expected during the day. Expect thundery showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to East SouthEasterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 15:46h reaching a maximum height of 2.29 metres.

Low Tide: 09:19h and 21:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.79 metre and 0.92 metre.

Guyana positioning self to influence major global decisions, contribute to int’l leadership – Pres Ali

to put in efforts to become a global leader in food security, climate security, energy security, and human development.

World Leaders

At a recent press engagement, the Guyanese Head of

LOTTERY NUMBERS

By Devina Samaroo

Guyana is positioning itself to contribute significantly to global leadership and to have a strong influence on global de-

ed by the country being elected to serve as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), gaining the support of 191 out of 192 members of the UN General

Government intends to live up to their expectations by ensuring that Guyana plays a full part in fashioning an international system that is fair and just,” President Ali expressed.

In so doing, he said, Guyana will continue to seek alliances with other countries but, at

cision-making, President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced.

The move in this direction has already been cement-

Assembly.

President Ali indicated that Guyana’s influence will further grow as the country continues

State stated that among the country’s foreign policy objectives is for Guyana and all Guyanese to obtain a place of “respect and regard” in the international community. “… such that we can contribute to influencing global decision-making for good and better.”

President Ali said evidence of this achievement is already seen in the extensive list of world leaders, inclusive of heads of governments from “influential nations” that have either visited Guyana or have had direct bilateral engagements with him. He said the count is more than 70.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is among the most notable and recent visits to local shores.

“The world leaders and more leaders are coming to Guyana because they believe that we can contribute to leadership in the world, and in the pursuit of a peaceful and economically stable world. My

all times, will remain “independent and principled” by standing up for values set out in the UN Charter and in international law.

UNSC

Evidence of Guyana’s global influence, the Head of State remarked, can be seen in the country’s election to serve on the UNSC.

Guyana was elected as one of five non-permanent members of the UNSC in June for the term 2024-2025. Guyana’s candidacy was uncontested, being the sole candidate for a single seat available to the Latin America and Caribbean Region, where it garnered the highest vote count, at 191 out of 192.

“[This] is clear evidence of our success in achieving broad respect for our nation and the influential role we can play in the world…this endorsement could not be more resounding,” President Ali expressed.

TURN TO PAGE 8

– says Guyana will play its part in fashioning int’l system that is fair, just

President Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at State House

President Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the 9th Summit of Americas

President Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following the Commonwealth Business Forum for Heads of Government and Business Leaders Roundtable in Rwanda

Views

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A Guyanese Hero: Ashton Chase

Ashton Chase, OE, SC, passed away mere days before his 97th birthday, but he should be remembered for much more than the letters behind his name, or for his age: his life pretty much summed up the modern history of our country, in which he played an outsized role. His father Sam Chase was famous across Guyana as a vaudeville comedian, and was a standard feature at the Globe Cinema during the 1940s and 1950s. His grandmother was an official of the first trade union in Guyana and the Commonwealth - the BGLU, founded by HN Critchlow in 1919.

He joined the Juvenile Section even as he attended Alleyne High School. As such, his consciousness of the working class and its exploitation was shaped early on, especially since he had experienced first-hand the severe deprivations occasioned by the Great Depression of the 1930s. He came to the attention of labour leaders during the 25th anniversary celebrations of the BGLU in 1944, which coincided with the British Guiana and West Indian Labour Conference. Cheddi Jagan and his wife, Janet, had returned to BG by then; and, youthful as he was, Chase was one of the founders of the Political Action Committee (PAC) in 1947. Their radical approach to demand justice for workers irrevocably shook up the old reformist politics that toed the colonial line and had been dominant up to then.

Chase was awarded a TUC one-year scholarship, during 1948-49, to study trade union fundamentals at the pioneering Ruskin College at Oxford, which was founded to educate trade unionists. On his return, he picked up from where he had left off in political activism – now joined by his friend Forbes Burnham, who has just returned as a lawyer from London. He had been identified by the members of the PAC as the chairman of the Peoples Progressive Party that they were about to launch to contest the upcoming elections under universal franchise. However, in a patriotic act that earned him the respect of his peers, he deferred to Burnham, who was acknowledged as having a greater pull with African Guyanese because of his academic achievements.

In one of the early stunts by Burnham to seize leadership of the PPP after the party’s victory at the 1953 elections, it was Chase who intervened with Burnham to restore order. He was seen as a moderate by the British, who staged a coup after 133 days to remove the PPP from office. He proceeded to England in 1954, where he obtained his Bachelor of Law from London University with honours, and read law at Gray’s Inn in 1957, when he returned to Guyana. By then Burnham had split the nationalist movement, and Chase, who remained friends with Burnham, initially fell for the latter’s line, that he was merely using tactics to deal with the British. Upon discovering the true aim - which was to collaborate with the colonial powers - Chase made a break from Burnham.

As he wrote in 1989, he agreed with Burnham’s sister Jessie that “(Burnham’s) motto is the personal ends of power justify ANY means to achieve them. His bible is “The Prince” by Machiavelli. And we, the people, should he come to power, will only be pawns.” As far as Marxism was concerned, Chase opined that “it tickled his fancy to observe and comprehend the communist monolithic control in Eastern Europe at that time. But he was never absorbed into the communist movement, or trusted by its leaders.”

All leaders should harken to Chase’s advice on the race question: “The constructive approach to the racial question ought to have been an open consideration of its efficacy, or (instead of literally sweeping it under the carpet and pretending that it does not exist) its accommodation or its burial…One must therefore accept the thesis that racial understanding is a prerequisite to political progress here, but racism, as it will be seen, will be the bugbear of our society for a long time to come.”

Dear Editor,

As the newly elected councillors to the Municipalities and Neighborhood Democratic Councils take up their seats, they must move swiftly in seriously organizing the work and advancing meaningful initiatives, as our citizens across the various Local Authority Areas (LAAs).

Residents are looking forward to improvements in capacity-building and services.

The mayors, chairpersons and councillors must be astute, and get down to serious planning after conducting a thorough situational assessment of the state of affairs in the LAA which they will preside, giving particular attention to what they are taking over. As far as possible, there must first be a proper handover and take-over process, and the immediate set up of an appropriate possible work schedule to prioritize the efficient delivery of critical services.

As statutory institutions, the Neighbourhood Democratic and Municipal Councils have the legal authority to collect rates and taxes, and expend the revenues for addressing costs associated with service support activities. The proper accountability for these revenues falls within the ambit of maintaining auditable

records while ensuring optimized community benefits from supportive initiatives and other expected cyclical activities. Critically, therefore, establishing a functional monitoring-and-feedback mechanism augers well in providing that the Councils play a timely and meaningful role in responding to the reasonable expectations of citizens.

In addressing the preceding, it is appropriate and necessary for the Councils to establish, from the elected councillors, responsible committees for crucial areas of responsibility. These generally include, but are not limited to, the following: Financial, Works, Sports, and Enhancement Committees; which must be all-inclusive. The committees must be appointed/elected with a solid intention to get productive things done in the communities.

With massive development at the national level and the development work by the Regional Democratic Council, the NDCs must work closely with all to accelerate capacity-building, helping to improve security, building partnerships, coordinating with community groups and non-governmental organizations to realize synergies and enhance their communities.

The communities must benefit from better garbage

cleaning activities, clearing of drains and alleyways, fixing 'potholes' early, and planned work schedules to clean community centres, health centres and other public venues. Our Citizens Group, policing group, must feel comfortable working with the NDCs. The togetherness will bring about more involvement of all our people in developing our communities.

We must motivate residents to gravitate and embrace our NDC/councillors. Our councillors must be more visible, and create a solid and positive impact on the communities. The approach to Works and services to the respective communities must also be with the full involvement of the councillors, and the Council MUST ensure a zero-tolerance policy to corrupt practices at the various levels, including those designed to frustrate the patience of persons requiring the services of the administrative offices.

Our new Councils must demand, and uphold and develop, policy approaches that would improve the delivery of professional responses from the administrative staff, including the overseers and other functionaries, who must show respect to the people in the LAA. In this regard, issuing compliance and services by the council must be done ex-

peditiously, while submitting applications for the approval of building plans and simple permissions must not take weeks; but be done in a relatively nondiscriminatory manner, and within the shortest possible time.

The New councillors must create an immediate positive impression on the electorate who elected them, and the fresh start following the recent elections has provided the basis for a genuinely enthusiastic team of persons working together.

Individually and collectively, councillors' engagements must target the necessary representation of aligning the community development with progressive national and regional development focus. The new buzz offers a sense of improved expectations that community residents are encouraged to support.

The endeavours of the “One Guyana” approach led by His Excellency President Irfaan Ali and the PPPC administration serve to guarantee national and Governmental support and these certainly lend to incentivizing the work of the councillors and the respective councils.

Once supported now, the community will not be left behind!

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is seen here interacting with a resident of Tabatinga, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), during an outreach to the community on Saturday. He met with hundreds of residents at the Tabatinga Community Ground

A fresh start as towns, NDCs seems to be full of energy and enthusiasm!

Den Amstel man brutally mauled by pit bulls

Sixty-nine-year-old Lindon Reevers of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara (WCD) was attacked by pit-bull dogs during his morning walk in the community on Wednesday.

According to a relative interviewed on Saturday, the attack occurred at around 04:40h, as Reevers was walking along the Den Amstel Public Road.

Recalling the incident, the relative shared that two pit-bull dogs ran from across the road and launched a ferocious attack on the elderly man.

Despite desperately calling for help, nobody came to his aid, until a man arrived in a black vehicle. This individual promptly directed another person to retrieve a stick in an attempt to scare off the dogs.

Upon learning of the incident, Reevers’s family members rushed to the scene and found the in-

jured man, whom they took to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he received treatment for his injuries.

The relative interviewed on Saturday expressed deep concern for his well-being, as he is currently experiencing severe pain and has received numerous stitches throughout his body. The vicious attack also caused him to lose a significant amount of blood.

This incident has been reported to the Police, and the man’s family members are awaiting guidance on how to proceed. The relative has emphasized the urgency of addressing this matter, as it poses a danger to the community members, who must encounter these dogs daily.

They specifically highlighted the risk faced by children who travel along the same route to access the public road.

Govt sticking to its agri-drive, and with good reasons Speed bumps are ubiquitous

Dear Editor, I am happy that our country is not oil-crazy, as some are contending. The word from Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is that even “…as Guyana leads the food security agenda in the Caribbean, simultaneous efforts are being made at bolstering the country’s agricultural sector, especially for the benefit of hinterland communities.”

Let me forthrightly state that agriculture overall is very important around the world. It helps to reduce poverty, raise incomes, and improve food security for 80% of the world’s poor, who live in rural areas and work mainly in farming. So vital is agriculture that the World Bank Group continues to be a leading financier of agriculture.

In line with the Vice President’s words, and going back to October last year, the President himself, Dr. Irfaan Ali, boldly stated, “Agriculture is, and will remain, a mainstay of our economy. Indeed, the sector already accounts for almost a quarter of the country’s non-oil Gross Domestic Product. One in every eight members of our employed workforce is to be found in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors, and agriculture is the principal source of livelihood for thousands of Guyanese households.”

I recall also his 2022 Agriculture Month message, which repeated this mindset, explaining that “the Government is “unfazed” by the food security challenges… (as) it is committed to, and confident in its ability to address, the vulnerabilities in the country’s agri-

food system, such as the adverse impact of climate change, exogenous market shocks, and higher input costs.” Why? Simply because “Government has made interventions to support our farmers and fishers, and moderate food inflation.”

This brings me back to the VP, who detailed that “In light of the oil boom and countless opportunities for the coast, the Government is taking bold steps to propel agriculture in the hinterland in ensuring that these communities benefit from national development.”

This shows that the country has leaders with acumen and foresight in terms of holistic management of the country’s resources. Indeed, no one and nothing will be left to chance. This balanced approach and total capitalisation of the country’s wealth will eventuate into our remote communities not being disenfranchised in benefitting from oil.

According to Jagdeo, and rightly so, the style and implementation in terms of maximising from oil and the land is that, since “Those (remote) communities can’t do much with oil and gas… we have to push agri-investment, so that the people who live in these regions are not left behind in the remote regions of the country. We want all of our people to move forward in every region.”

Editor, for sure, the oil boom is creating “…countless opportunities for the coast, (and so) the Government is (justified in) taking bold steps to propel agriculture in the hinterland, in ensuring that these communities benefit from national development.” This encapsulates

the ‘no one left behind’ principle, which is so vital if we are talking about lifting the standards for all Guyanese.

For example, as was revealed in the press, In Region One (Barima-Waini), a nursery is being considered to produce plantain ‘suckers’ after residents have complained of the high costs for one sprout.” And the picture is quite elaborate. “The Government is prepared to put the investment in, even co-investing in processing facilities with businesses.” Of course, this is not going to be overnight, and it is contingent upon quantity and quality of production.

If all goes well, we are talking about “…looking to establish a major nursery there, and so the Ministry of Agriculture will go there and see if we can upgrade certification, so our products can sail directly into the Caribbean from these areas, without having to come to the coast”.

Let me remind readers that, in terms of the agriculture sector, the Government is fostering discussions with foreign counterparts. In the case of India, huge potential lies in the area of spices, and doubling rice and sugar output. During the last budget debates, it was propounded that greater emphasis will be placed on the cultivation of high-value crops: corn, soya bean and wheat, since the agriculture sector is bent on reducing Guyana’s and the Caribbean’s food-import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

So far, Guyana is on the right trajectory to be successful.

Sincerely, HB Singh

Dear Editor, I write this in response to the letter entitled “Speed bumps place our country in danger”, appearing in Guyana Times and Kaieteur News in recent days.

I can empathize with the writer. I, too, thought that speed bumps were costly and backward: installed by and for backward people; until I came to the USA, being driven and later driving myself along the local roads in and around Washington, DC.

There are many more speed bumps here than I remember in the Guyana that I left, and I know of more being put in. I saw three bumps installed on the not-quite-a-mile stretch of road along Little Falls Parkway, connecting River Road to Massachusetts Avenue, on my daily commute to our Embassy.

As I recall, a consultant’s report to our Ministry of Works, about 2004, suggested that, on some measures, our accident rates in Guyana were ten, twenty times what they were in the USA! The main causes were, and still are, too much speed, and driving under the influence of alcohol. We grew up accustomed to driving as fast as potholed roads and aging vehicles would allow us, and continued the same habits with more powerful vehicles and better roads. We must now conform to the posted speed limits, as they do here in the USA.

With development, we need new habits: we have been, and still are, too tolerant of ourselves and others driving under the influence of alcohol. Our high accident and death rates are no accident.

Let me admit that for much of the time that I headed our Ministry of Works, I was reluctant about installing speed bumps; I thought that my fellow Guyanese are sensible enough not to need such. I can say now that it is evident that all of us humans are susceptible to the thrill of speed: it is human nature, and speed

bumps help us all to protect ourselves from ourselves.

If I were to suggest one thing that has struck me, moving at a senior age to a developed country, it is the greater need for regulation and order, self-discipline and responsibility in this more developed location. So, I have myself been observing and learning to leave earlier for appointments, to avoid the need to speed, and I notice the great courtesy all around that keeps the traffic flowing much faster than when everyone is pushing and jostling to get ahead of everyone else (like in the Guyana I left).

In this regard, let me tell of the 4-way-stop signs which I found so intriguing at many intersections. There is an understanding and conformi-

ty that everyone stops at the line at such an intersection, and waits on everyone who had stopped before him/ her. Would be of benefit in Guyana, but I can’t yet imagine my fellow Guyanese conforming to it. Not yet ready to suggest it to my friends and comrades Bishop Juan and Mr Benn. Perhaps we should try; I would like to be surprised.

The people in the developed countries have learnt (most probably through painful experience) that great self-discipline, responsibility, and order (and props like speed bumps) are what make for a developed society.

Samuel AA Hinds, Ambassador to the USA

The wounds Reevers received after being attacked by the pit-bull dogs

FINAL COMMENTS ON SMALL EXOTIC BREEDS WHICH HAVE FOUND HOME IN GUYANA OVER RECENT YEARS

course, their loving caregivers may not accept this description of the Pekinese breed.

THE LHASA APSO

This dog was first bred in Tibet as a watchdog for temples and monasteries. The Lhase Apso was first brought to Europe via India in the

Over the last couple of decades, veterinarians have encountered a few examples of this breed here the Caribbean, including Guyana, and can attest that this small, hardy dog is a great walking companion. The problem is that, being cute, all fellow walkers want to interrupt the walk to pet and converse with this affectionate animal. The thin hairs, if long and flowing, are not difficult to groom. But, as usual with dogs coming from cold climates in mountainous areas, they need a lot of extra and specific attention.

Using DNA analyses, the Pekinese have been revealed as one of the oldest dog breeds in existence. These small, long haired, snub-nosed dogs were bred in China for centuries – at least since the Tang dynasty (618 – 907 CE). In fact, artists painted them with Emperors in China’s Imperial Courts, where they were considered sacred – perhaps because they were thought to look like lions (exalted symbols in Budhism). In fact, the Pekinese breed (remember, Peking was the Capital of China, and I won’t get into the romanization of the spelling and pronunciation) could only be owned by Royalty.

An extremely small ver-

sion of the Pekinese breed was actually a guard dog. Go figure! It seems the small examples of the Pekinese breed were called “sleeve dogs”, because they were carried by noblemen in their billowing sleeves – and would therefore protect the owners from pick-pockets and petty thieves. That aggressive nature has trickled down over the centuries, and has remained part of the nature of even the cutest Pekinese.

[Remember that, in a recent “Pet Care” article, I mentioned it must be terrifying for dogs – living in constant fear of larger dogs and in an environment where all living things, including humans,

are so much larger and could inflict pain (even if only by accident) on a relatively small and innocuous breed of dog].

The Pekinese are the per fect pet for an apartment or small house, for even though they are playful and love ex ercise, they do not appreci ate long walks. They make loyal and faithful compan ions, but according to the “Dog Encyclopedia”, they can be jealous of children and strangers (guests, vets), and other dogs.

The Pekinese are char acterized as being “digni fied and courageous, yet sen sitive and definitely having minds of their own. This lat ter characteristic would make this breed difficult to train. Of

cuss this breed – even if only briefly – because my daughter’s Shih Tzus (with a bit of Maltese) are the ones I know best on a very personal level.

“Rossi”, the female, knows that I am a sucker for her doleful eyes when she wants something to nibble. “Sambar”, the male, just rolls over and expects a belly rub.

One of my clients would be especially annoyed with

Bichon Frises are adaptable pets which are quite compatible with children. They are constantly alert and curious. They are definitely not aggressive (“lovers, not fighters”). I agree with the statement that they do not understand the concept of “strangers”. “Strangers”, for them, are just friends they haven’t met yet. They can live on farms

me for writing any comment that is not superlative of her Shih Tzu pet. It is simply quite true. This breed is intelligent and energetic, and just loves to be part of the family.

Nowadays, the Shih Tzu is one of the world’s most popular toy breeds. Like the Lhasa Apso (see text above), the Shih Tzu – notwithstanding its dignified carriage –makes an affectionate and friendly pet.

I am told that “Shih Tzu’ means “Little Lion” in many of the major Chinese languages.

The hair coat sheds very little hair, but the long coat needs grooming often (3-4 times weekly). If kept, as advised by caregiver’s veterinarian, allergy sufferers should not have a problem with having a Shih Tzu as a companion animal.

THE BICHON FRISE

The Bichon Frise is a descendant of the French Water Dog, one of Europe’s oldest water dogs, with ancestors dating back to the Middle Ages, and has contributed genetically to many other breeds.

their owners, who follow the vet’s advice and administer prophylactic interventions (vaccines, anti-parasitic treatments, etc), the Bichon Frise has a life span in excess of 14 years (on average).

So, dear readers, we have given advice about large and small exotic canine breeds coming into Guyana, and which can exist reasonably ailment-free, if one can recognize the difficulty level associated with the caring and rearing of the breeds. If one cannot follow the advice/instructions pertaining to these difficult-to-manage breeds, then one should have second (and multiple) thoughts about procuring such potentially problematic pets. After all, we do want your companion animal to have a happy and “forever home”.

Thank you for your calls and discussions (and advice) pertaining to this series of the Pet Care column.

Next week, we may commence with a new series – sharing thoughts about companion animal geriatrics; viz, how to deal with your pet as it exhibits genuine signs of ageing.

THE SHIH TZU

BICHON FRISE

Pekinese

SHIH TZUS – ROSSI AND SAMBER

LHASA APSO

Construction of US$45M, 200-room Blue Ridge Hotel at Liliendaal commences

Construction work has commenced on the Blue Ridge Hotel at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. When completed by 2024, this US$45 million edifice will add a further 200 rooms to the 2000 hotel rooms Government anticipates will be created over the next few years.

Announcement of the commencement of construction work on the Blue Ridge Hotel was made on Saturday by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who was present at the sod-turning exercise of the hotel back in July 2022, and who had actually given the feature address.

This hotel is being constructed by Pasha Global, which was founded in

Sharma, had explained in 2022 that the project would be constructed in phases, and this particular sod-turning exercise was for the first phase, which would be completed by 2024.

“The key highlight of this project is that we will have conference facilities of around 1000 people sitting at one time. We’ll have car parks, and we’ll be having a dedicated parking building. This entire project has been designed in consultation with the (EPA). All the local compliance has been done,” Sharma had said in 2022.

The Assets Director for Blue Bridge, Sanket Balgi, had spoken about the smooth time the company had in interfacing

helpful, very polite, understanding, accommodating…solved all my issues. So, most of the things were done very smoothly, and I’m thankful,” he said.

Over the next few years, Guyana is reputed to see the construction of at least eight hotels. In 2021, the sod was turned for a US$15 million boutique hotel under the Aiden brand to be constructed in the heart of Georgetown. The hotel, which would feature 101 “smart rooms”, is being constructed as part of the Best Western Hotels and Resorts franchise.

lion Hilton Hotel to be constructed at McDoom, Greater Georgetown.

The investors in the luxury hotel are part of a joint initiative among 658 Guyana Holdings, GREC Investment Group, and TOTALTEC Oilfield Services Guyana Incorporated.

Beepat, announced plans to construct a US$100 million Radisson Blu Hotel as part of an international chain of hotels in several destinations around the world. According to Beepat, the agreement has already been finalized to offer this fivestar package to Guyana.

In keeping with Guyana’s push to increase the number of hotel rooms that can accommodate visitors to the country, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has been in-

tent on creating an enabling environment for new hotels. It is an initiative the Government expects would add 2000 hotel rooms to the Guyana stock over the next two years. Given Guyana’s growing demand for accommodation for visitors, the Government of Guyana, through its Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest), had launched an Expression of Interest (EoI) in 2021 for hotel developers.

Suriname and operates hotels and casinos in a number of countries. It already has a presence in Guyana through its Carnival Casino on Church Street, which opened in December 2020.

Project Director of Blue Bridge Incorporated, Lalit

with Government agencies, including the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Most of these organizations, when I visited, most of the staff were very

Globally-recognized hotel brands, such as the Hyatt, Hilton and Radisson Hotels, have also expressed an interest in investing in Guyana. In 2020, the Government of Guyana, through the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry and GO-Invest, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with investors for a US$90 mil-

The 289-room branded hotel would be constructed in the already busy area, which is home to many businesses such as Gafoors, Pritipaul Singh Investment, Guyana Shore Base Inc, Farm Supplies, and Schlumberger. Construction was slated to begin in January 2021, and was expected to last for two years. Around the same time, the Chairman of the Giftland Group, Roy

Construction works ongoing

Works ongoing on the hotel construction site

Guyana positioning self to influence...

FROM PAGE 3

The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the UN, and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter.

Climate Change

In addition, Guyana continues to be a world leader when it comes to climate matters, particularly through its landmark Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

In fact, Guyana became a global first when, last year, the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) issued the world’s first TREES credits to this country. This marked a milestone as the first time a country has been issued carbon credits specifically designed for the voluntary and compliant carbon markets for successfully preventing forest loss and degradation — a process known as jurisdictional REDD+.

“With Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 showing real results in climate finance, with carbon credit sales for the period

2016 to 2030…already earning Guyana US$750 million,” Ali added.

Guyana’s completion of the ART process paves the way for other governments that are looking to receive carbon market finance for success in protecting and restoring forests.

The Head of State further explained that this development benefits both the country’s coastal and hinterland communities. He reminded that 15 per cent of all proceeds from the sale of carbon credit go directly to Amerindian villages.

President Ali boasted, too, that Guyana has maintained forest cover at over 85 per cent, and has recorded the lowest rate of deforestation since 2010.

“We recorded for 2022, with a rate of 0.036 per cent…,” he said, noting that this proves that “even with Guyana’s accelerated development in all corners of the country, we’ve not only maintained forests, but we’ve further strengthened our progress in this area.”

He also outlined that Guyana has been maintaining its carbon sink status even

amid the expanding oil and gas industry.

“Guyana’s vast forest stores over 19.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide and is a net carbon sink. As our oil and gas industry expands, even with a significantly expanded production level with ten FPSOs [by 2030], Guyana remains a predominant net carbon sink and sequester/ remover of 154 million tonnes of carbon annually from the atmosphere.”

Overcome

These strides were all achieved notwithstanding the difficult position the new Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) administration was faced with upon its assumption to office in August 2020.

“We had to overcome the negative consequences of a group of people trying to steal an election and derail democracy, where the credibility of our country was damaged. That took time and effort,” President Ali reminded.

He said his Government has pursued, and will continue to pursue, an aggressive foreign policy agenda, which is already reaping results in a

number of areas.

Another key objective of the Government’s foreign policy agenda is to gain economic and financial benefits for the people of Guyana through strategic engagements with members of the international community and institutions. And according to President Ali, this is clearly already being achieved, and is a continuous pursuit.

He alluded to the many economic cooperation agreements Guyana has in a variety of areas with leading nations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.

“These agreements will advance tourism; commercial transactions; the export of goods and services; investment in energy, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors; the creation of new employment as well as the enhancement of education and health facilities,” he posited.

Two other important objectives, he outlined, are to strengthen the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and to develop closer ties with the countries of South America – two groupings to which Guyana belongs.

A new narrative… …on PNC whining

Inevitably, as soon as the PPP wins an election, the PNC and its acolytes shift the narrative to one which claims “African-Guyanese” will be consigned to “another round of slavery”!! This time they came up with “installed emerging apartheid state regime”!! Gotta says it without pause as one word!!

Back in 1992, implicitly conceding they’d rigged the previous four, they objected to Cheddi Jagan leading the new Government!! If that happened, the sky would fall and the armed forces would rebel!! Cheddi was – God forbid!! - “Indian”!! An ironic label for a fella who, as a dyed-in-thewool communist, had nothing but contempt for ethnic labels!

“How about Roger Luncheon?” the PPP countered. HE was “Black”, no? “Nah…too red,” was the riposte!!

After 1992, the PPP had been castigated for “ethnic cleansing” – never mind Desmond Hoyte had started the shrinking on IMF’s orders!! And even HE found it impossible to shrink a 90% African-Guyanese institution without firing African-Guyanese!!

Interestingly, when the APNU/AFC Government in 2015 also made cutbacks, no such comment was made. After all, the slashes were primarily from the 10% “other”!!

Another hyperbolic charge being screamed is the PPP’s giving away all the oil money to its supporters. The not-sosubtle subtext is that the ‘supporters’ are Indian Guyanese!! But yet, at the same time, the PNC and its acolytes are screaming bloody murder about the PPP buying out its African-Guyanese base with cash handouts, house lots, boulevards and roads, bridges, etc etc!! Jeez, have they forgotten that this tactic is as old as democracy itself??

Anyhow, here we are in 2023, when, even though the elections of 2011 and 2015 showed conclusively that the PPP can be beaten in free and fair elections, the narrative’s again being floated that if the PPP were to get back in 2025, it’s crying time again!! The big question is: “Why??” The PPP doesn’t have its old built-in majority of Indian-Guyanese, so doesn’t this mean it got enough African-Guyanese votes to put it over the top?? Just as the PNC-as-APNU was able to do with Indian-Guyanese in 2015?

If the PPP took its ‘whuppin’ like a man, and stayed around for another election – with a plan to woo voters outside its traditional base - why can’t the PNC now do the same?? Or, hold it!! Do they worry the PPP is not gonna fire 7000 AfricanGuyanese workers and hand them the elections??

So, the old chestnut of “power-sharing” is back in play!! But it’s an open field wherein any government HAS to get votes from every ethnic group to win. That’s NOT powersharing??

…on the ABCE

Oh, how things change when the shoe’s on the other foot!! Back in 2014, after a “feral blast” from the PPP soured relations with the Americans, the PNC shed crocodile tears about the PPP insulting our “nearest and dearest ally”!! They’d embraced the “Vote Like a Boss” initiative that was sponsored from those quarters - which awoke their alienated youth base in 2015.

But now, for the last three years, the sounds coming out from the Opposition camps against the Yanks and the entire western block are sounding suspiciously “feral”!! The “installed regime” trope mentioned above has been picked up by a wide swathe of PNC myrmidons, and extended to the Brits for working to extend our “enslavement” into the future. Even our own Mia Mottley has been cussed out as a “slave catcher” for agreeing with the ABCE countries that the PNC was caught with its hands in the ballot boxes!! Why is this??

Because they dared to say, “Please, if you’re going to rig, at least give us deniability??!!

…on development

The Brits left us with a jaundiced view of manual labour, because during slavery and indentureship, we never saw them working with their hands. But since oil’s gonna run out, we gotta teach our youths that agri’s their future!!

Get those hands dirty!!

Pres Ali meets with Hindustan Aeronautics ahead of contract-signing for new aircraft

President Dr Irfaan Ali recently met with a delegation from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), an Indian aerospace company founded in the 1940s. The meeting was a follow-up to the President’s visit to India earlier this year.

Back in February, it had been announced that Guyana was in talks with the Government of India to procure patrolling vessels and a Dornier aircraft to better protect Guyana’s maritime boundaries.

This contract, President Ali revealed about a week ago, should be signed by this year-end.

The idea of Guyana acquiring aircraft from India was first raised back in January 2023, when Ali visited the Asian nation, where he toured the Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company in Kanpur and inspected their CG-767 Indian Coast Guard 18-seater Dornier aircraft. The Guyanese leader was also given a presentation on the company’s capacity and capabilities.

According to reports coming out of that visit, President Ali indicated an interest in purchasing two

of the India-manufactured Dornier 228 aircraft for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), which has an aged fleet.

Dubbed Guyana’s first major defence deal with India, this development to procure defence assets from the Asian

Government comes on the heels of the Irfaan Ali-led Administration taking significant steps to modernise the GDF with the acquisition of new equipment and supplies, as well as capacity-building.

India and Guyana have already established strong

defence cooperation, with several GDF members undergoing various levels of training with the Indian military.

Meanwhile, HAL’s delegation included General Managers Mr Ajay Shrivastava and Mr Puneet Kumar; Captain

(ret’d) Yogesh Jagannath, and Chief Test Pilot Jitendra Choudhary. The delegation was accompanied by India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, and First Secretary of the Indian High Commission in Guyana, Mr Mukesh

Kaushik.

The Head of State was joined by the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd; Public Works Minister Juan Edghill; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan; Director of Presidential Affairs, Marcia Nadir-Sharma; National Security Advisor Captain Gerry Gouveia, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CJIA, Ramesh Ghir.

Only recently, Government commissioned the refurbished twin-engine Beechcraft that was discovered back in 2017 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and has since been converted for Government use.

It was also announced that a GDF-run military and civil aviation school is in the works. Ali had revealed that this school will cater for both local and regional students, and will bring on board trained military instructors who served in both the GDF and other armies. (G-11)

President Dr Irfaan Ali recently met with a delegation from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Armed bandit shot by Police after robbing Venezuelan women

Armed bandit Emanuel Hawker, a 23-yearold resident of West Ruimveldt in Georgetown, is currently nursing a gunshot wound at the Georgetown Public Hospital following a failed robbery attempt on Friday.

According to information received, the shooting incident took place at about 12:00h in front of the Rio Night Club in Queenstown, Georgetown, after Hawker had targeted four female Venezuelan nationals who were staying at the nightclub at the time.

The victims are: Maria Peraz, 27, who had her Samsung cellphone stolen; Jenineth Salozar, 21, who was relieved of her two cellphones; Karla Meza, 21, whose blue Samsung cellphone was taken; and Jonan Fiqueroa, 35, who had her blue Samsung S9

stolen.

Investigations have revealed that the women were in their respective apartments within the building when Hawker gained access through an open door. He brandished a suspected .32 Revolver that he had

concealed in the waist of his pants, and proceeded to forcibly open the doors to the rooms where the victims were located. Hawker then robbed the women of their cellphones before fleeing the scene.

The matter was promptly reported to the Alberttown Police Station and the lawmen responded immediately. As they approached the building, they observed the suspect walking down the steps with the firearm in his right hand. The patrol officers instructed him to drop the weapon and surrender, but Hawker instead discharged three rounds in the direction of the Police ranks, forcing them to seek cover.

In response, one of the officers returned fire, striking Hawker in his right thigh. He fell to the ground, dropping the firearm, and was immediately apprehended and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical attention under Police guard.

During the investigation, the victims’ stolen cell phones

were found in Hawker’s pants pockets, and seven live .32 rounds of ammunition were discovered in his right-side pants pocket. The Police also recovered the weapon used in the crime, which had its serial number filed off; and three spent shells and three live .32 rounds were found in its chamber. Investigations are ongoing, and charges are expected to be filed against Hawker in due course.

This is the second time Hawker has been arrested for the illegal possession of a gun and ammunition. In May 2020, he and Gregory Boyce, 32, were arrested and charged with the illegal possession of a .32 pistol and two rounds of live .32 ammunition. That arrest had stemmed from an interception by the Police during which the firearm and ammunition were found in a vehicle. Both suspects had attempted to escape, but were apprehended along with the driver. The men were subsequently remanded to prison, and the Police believe they may have thwarted a robbery.

Moments after Emanuel Hawker was cornered by Police

Ashton Chase: A Guyanese patriot

The tributes to Ashton

It was reported last month that outgoing Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine would facilitate a smooth transition, as his successor Alfred Mentore takes over. Correspondence has come to light, however, indicating that the handover has been anything but smooth.

Chase continue to pour in unabatedly –and well they should at this latest inflection point in our history, when we finally have the wherewithal to improve the lives of the working people, to whom he was always committed. His life exemplifies the qualities of a patriot who invariably placed the interest of his country ahead of his own ambitions at critical junctures. It also offers an insight into the formative institutions of Guyana’s modern history.

Ravi Dev

Chase was born in Georgetown in 1926, and after completing his studies at Alleyne High School, he reportedly joined the Juvenile Section of Critchlow’s pioneering BGLU, and worked in its office. He was exposed to the efforts of the BGLU leaders to deal with the hardships precipitated during the WWII years when shipping was restricted. He was involved in the critical BG&WI Labour Conference of 1944, where he encountered the doyens of the local and regional labour movement.

In 1947, at the age of twenty-one, he, along with Cheddi and Janet Jagan and Joycelyn Hubbard, founded the Political Action Committee (PAC) that radicalized political discourse in the colony. He kept on educating himself, and completed a one-year course sponsored by the TUC at the union-specialized Ruskin College in Oxford between 1948-49. The 1942 Guyana Scholar Forbes Burnham had returned from England as a newlyminted lawyer in 1949, and when the PAC was to be transmuted, in 1950, into a formal political party – the PPP - to contest the promised elections under universal franchise, Ashton Chase, who had been identified as Chairman, voluntarily stepped aside for Burnham. He felt Burnham was more qualified and popular, and many wondered “what might have been”. He was a Minister in the short-lived PPP Government of 1953, and after its ouster, proceeded to England in 1954 to qualify for the bar. He returned in 1957, by which time Burnham has split the PPP and was about to launch the PNC. He was then still friendly with Burnham.

While Chase had penned the seminal book on trade unionism in Guyana, “A History of Trade Unionism in Guyana: 1900-1961”, he also wrote a more personal book, “Guyana: A Nation in Transit, Burnham’s Role”, that is of relevance today, if nothing more than because the PNC leaders are still measuring themselves by Burnham’s “legacy”. Chase knew Burnham very well, as described in the latter book, written in 1989: “We were at one time pals. We shared the same emotions as youngsters, worked, lived, played, and fraternized together as young men. Political ideas, objectives and thoughts were shared between us.”

As one so close to Burnham, he offered an insight into the latter’s worldview, as influenced by his ambitions, Machiavelli, Marxism, and his relationship with Cheddi Jagan. But also, by the then dominant group being groomed by the British to take over the reins of power, which he craved – “Coloured People”.

It is worth quoting the last influence at length, because it is playing an outsize role in the present contretemps to replace Aubrey Norton as PNC leader.

“But there was another side of his personality that was shown by the 1953 events. And with his elephant’s memory, he never forgot the detractors of this era and harboured a grudge to get even with them. For a Guyana Scholar, and a Lawyer, to have mixed so closely and familiarly with workers was at that time unprecedented in our country and ran counter to the prevailing socio-cultural prejudices. The middle class, the red people, the high brown, the fair-skinned, and the social elites of that day - terms familiar in that era - did not support him at that time, and where practicable, they actually opposed him. “The second group of antagonists was the League of Coloured Peoples’ leadership. To them, his associating with the IndoGuyanese, crudely referred to as ‘coolies’ and ‘Indians’, was like a death blow, a betrayal of his own. They never conceptualised an amalgam between the two major racial groups at the political level. They did everything to destroy this amalgam, and when the opportunity occurred, they did their damned to fuel separation. Somehow, they saw the Afro-Guyanese (then termed the coloured man) hanging together and advancing politically on their own. They were even then already envious of the economic strides the Indo-Guyanese had made, and considered them a threat. The notion of working-class unity, regardless of race or ethnic origin, never entered into their contemplation.”

According to a letter seen by this publication, dated July 14, 2023 and addressed to former Mayor Ubraj Narine, acting Town Clerk Candace Nelson has accused him of hindering the smooth transition of the offices of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. In the letter, it was revealed that Nelson had written the outgoing Mayor on July 11 about the transition process. But in her subsequent letter, Nelson revealed that when she visited the Office of the Mayor to facilitate the handover process on July 14, Narine had suddenly refused to cooperate with her.

“I am now perplexed as to the reason for your change in judgement and your refusal to facilitate the handover of the council’s property. Sir, your actions are now hindering the works of the administration to facilitate a smooth transmission of the Offices of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and their comfort thereafter.

I must remind you that the Town Clerk is the custodian of the assets of the council, and to update the council’s inventory, a proper handover must be done,” Nelson wrote in her letter.

The letter further revealed

that Narine had requested to use the boardroom in the Mayor’s Office for reasons unknown to her. In the letter, Nelson revealed that she had refused to grant this request, since it was “highly inappropriate”.

“I, therefore, ask that you surrender the assets of the council, so that the administration can fulfill their duties,” Nelson concluded in the letter, which was copied to Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Anand Persaud; Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Julius Faerber; Mayor-elect Alfred Mentore, City Engineer Colvern Venture, acting Chief Constable Virginan Gafur, and Internal Auditor Omodele Newton.

Earlier this month A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Mentore, despite not securing the confidence of his constituency at the local government

polls, was elected to serve as Mayor of Georgetown. Mentore, who represented APNU in Constituency Four (Lamaha Gardens, Newtown, Campbellville, Section K Campbellville & Bel Air Park) in Georgetown, lost to the candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Alfonso Fidel De Armas-Archbold, by 31 votes.

Nevertheless, Mentore was elected to the Georgetown City Council as a proportional representation candidate.

There has been speculation in the public that there is dissension within the party over who should have been elected Mayor, with one section of the party backing Mentore and another section backing People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R) Georgetown District Chairman Troy Garraway, who was nevertheless appointed a member of the Finance Committee of the Council.

Mentore has already

served two terms on the City Council, and was also the former Deputy Mayor at the time of Local Government Elections 2023. After being elected new Mayor, he addressed the fact that his constituency rejected him.

“I still love all of you, even though I might not be your constituency Councillor this term, but will work to regain your trust and support in this greater calling as Mayor, as I serve the City in a new capacity,” Mentore had expressed. He had also called for Councillors to put their political differences aside and work in the interest of the capital city.

Mentore’s predecessor Narine was elected to the post of Mayor in 2018, and throughout his tenure, faced immense backlash over a wide array of issues surrounding the management of the capital city. He chose not to run for reelection in this year’s LGE. (G-3)

Trouble in M&CC: Town Clerk writes outgoing Mayor over refusal to hand over Council’s property – refuses “highly inappropriate” request; demands surrender of Council’s assets

Outgoing Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine

Acting Town Clerk Candace Nelson

Incoming Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore

ECD families now owners of new core homes

The quality of life for four families within the communities of Good Hope and Lusignan, along the East Coast Demerara Corridor, has been vastly improved, as they have now received keys to two-bedroom core homes newly constructed under the Housing and Water Ministry and the InterAmerican Development Bank’s (IBD) Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP).

The proud homeowners are Chandradai Harilall of Lot 218 Good Hope; Tulsiram Sutraban of Lot 147 Area X, Plantation Good Hope; Pranpattie Mangal of Lot 507 Good Hope; and Sabrina Joseph of Lot 396 Lusignan. Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, and IDB Country Representative Lorena Solórzano-Salazar joined these families on the

occasion, as they are now able to move into their new homes.

Minister Rodrigues noted that the Core Home initiative aids in enhancing Government’s housing drive

as it targets the most vulnerable sections of our society. She added that since the commencement of the project, the Ministry, being the executing agency, has been able to meet the in-

tended target audience with the guidelines outlined by the IDB. The Minister further stated that the beneficiary selection process has ensured that the lives of the

echoed by the IDB Country Representative SolórzanoSalazar, who added that the IDB continues to build on the long-term partnership with the Ministry, and they are so far pleased with the outcome.

“This programme has been a long-term partnership, and it’s not the first; we had before the Hinterland Housing Programme. And now, under this programme, some 360 families will benefit”, she said.

Solórzano-Salazar stressed that the programme aims to enhance the quality of life for vulnerable families in a holistic way, as the various components deal with the all-round development of communities.

vices.

In addition to the Core Home Initiative, another aspect of AHUAP is the Home Improvement Subsidy, which sees beneficiaries receiving a $500,000 grant in the form of materials to make much-needed repairs to their homes.

AHUAP also prioritizes the safety of women and girls by conducting Women’s Safety Audit (WSA) workshops to properly plan infrastructure development in target communities.

most vulnerable families are transformed and their living conditions improved.

Similar sentiments were

AHUAP is an IDBfunded programme aimed at improving the quality of life in urban and peri-urban Georgetown through better access to adequate housing and basic infrastructure for low-income populations, and through improved accessibility and mobility ser-

This programme previously encompassed communities from Georgetown to Grove, East Bank Demerara, up to La Bonne Intention on the ECD and Westminster, Onderneeming, RechtDoor-Zee, Lust en Rust, and Parfaite Harmonie Phase II on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD). The Ministry expanded the boundary in 2021 to include nineteen communities on the ECD, stretching the boundary to Victoria.

One of the core homes that were handed over

Another core home that was handed over

Tulsiram Sutraban receiving his documents from Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, in the presence of IDB Country Representative Lorena Solórzano-Salazar

The impactful life of a legend:

“A leader’s legacy is only as strong as the foundation they leave behind, that allows others to continue to advance the organization in their name,” – Simon Sinek

The four founding members of the PAC. L-R: HJM Hubbard, Ashton Chase, Janet Jagan and Cheddi Jagan

The impactful life of a legend...

The late Senior Counsel had appeared in dozens of cases that are now reported in the West Indian Reports, six of which have also been reported in the Law Reports of the Commonwealth, and many more which are reported in the Law Reports of British Guiana and the Guyana Law Reports.

Among the notable cases in which Chase appeared during his career were Peter Persaud vs Pln Versailles (1970), in which the law of unjust enrichment was accepted 21 years before its acceptance in England; Albert Shanks vs Continental Biscuit Company (1977), the landmark case on wrongful dismissal coming out of Guyanese courts; Guyana Sugar Corporation vs Seeram Teemal (1983), on the inability of an employer to unilaterally vary the terms of a contract of employment; and Sheik Mazahudin vs Guyana Sugar Corporation Ltd (1984), another important case on the principles of wrongful dismissal and more. He served as President of the Senate between 1961 and 1964.

The service of Chase extended beyond the shores of Guyana to the wider Caribbean, as he had the distinction of being the only Guyanese to Chair the Council of Legal Education (CLE), the governing body of the law schools in the Caribbean, from 1991 to 1997. He was also admitted to practice

Ruskin College, Oxford, and an ILO Summer School in Geneva in 1949.

In his lifetime as a trade unionist, quite apart from his activism, Chase wrote profusely on the historical evolution and importance of trade unionism in Guyana. Further, he advanced the cause of trade unionism by utilizing his legal prowess in taking numerous trade union struggles into the halls of Justice, where he won major victories for labour and the labour movement.

The Labour Union represented the coal burners and other workers for better pay and conditions

at Wismar and Christianburg as he sought to organize the bauxite workers. A strike was later called by the workers themselves in 1944, and it lasted for about three days without instigation from the Union. Humbert Nathaniel Critchlow proceeded urgently to the Company at Mackenzie, and he met with the management of the Demerara Bauxite Company. The year 1944 was also significant, as it marked 25 years since the British Guiana Labour Union was founded.

TRIBUTES

Last Thursday evening, sever-

shared with him. Former Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul spoke about the strike which was led by Chase for better wages and con-

President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, Seepaul Narine, shared, “Comrade Ashton Chase was a remarkable figure who dedicated his life to championing the rights and welfare of workers in Guyana. As a committed Guyanese, he tirelessly advocated for fair treatment, improved working conditions, and better working opportunities for all. He was a beacon of hope for workers who were cheated by their employers. His advocacy efforts played a critical role in raising awareness about the challenges faced by workers, and in seeking justice and equity for them.”

Attorney General Nandlall praised the work of Chase, whom he had known personally for many years, and from whom he had learned throughout his career. “His accomplishment… was absolutely astonishing. Beginning as a teenager, what mental makeup would a teenager have in the ‘40s to decide to take on the mighty co-

at the Barbados Bar in 1960. For his distinguished service in the law, he was also appointed Senior Counsel in 1985.

Chase played an instrumental role in the automatic entry of the Bachelor of Laws graduates from the University of Guyana (UG) into the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago, which was a very controversial issue for many years.

TRADE UNIONISM

This Guyanese icon had a long connection with the trade union movement. At one point, he served as the Assistant Secretary, then General Secretary, of the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU), which is the oldest trade union in Guyana. He was awarded a scholarship by the Trades Union Congress, and attended a oneyear course (1948 to 1949) at

of work, and secured for them better housing and improvements in working conditions from the employers. Sawmill workers were another group that the BGLU represented, including those at Pickersgill. Many letters were sent and representations were made by him on their behalf, but he never visited the actual location at the time.

Around the year 1942, the BGLU also made efforts to organize bauxite workers, who were greatly exploited. In 1943-1944, the people worked six days per week, and were only paid overtime rates after sixty hours of work.

Union meetings were prohibited from being held at Mackenzie, and had to be held on the opposite bank of the river, at Wismar and in Christianburg.

Around the age of 17, Chase addressed meetings of workers

al friends and colleagues, as well as members of the PPP/C, hosted a Night of Reflection in honour of Mr. Chase, wherein many shared tributes and memories they have

ditions for workers. He alluded to the determination of Chase to ensure these workers get a fair deal.

“Mr. Chase used the sugar boilers as a weapon against the sugar barons. He said if you decide not to pay what the workers want, what we’ve considered to be fair and reasonable, we are going to bring the sugar workers out alone on strike. And we’re going to use the workers’ wages to pay them to be on strike, [which] means you can’t produce sugar. That was a telling blow to the planters at that time. It forced them to recruit… lawyers to represent their interests. Several battles ensued, and Ashton lead them all during that period, including the one leading to a 40-hour, 5-day work week,” Gopaul shared.

lonial empire, the mighty plantocracy, the social establishment at that time? You had to have a special presence of mind, an acuity of vision that is special; and that laid the foundation of Ashton Chase’s life,” Nandlall remarked.

The legal luminary Senior Counsel Ashton Chase passed away on Monday evening last. Immediately following his passing, President Dr Irfaan Ali posted, “I have learnt with great sadness of the passing of Mr Ashton Chase, SC. His death represents an incalculable loss to our nation. His name and contributions will forever be etched in our country’s political, labour and legal history. He made an exceptional contribution to Guyana’s nationalist struggle and political history, and was the last surviving member of the Political Affairs Committee [the forerunner to the People’s Progressive Party] established in 1946. He was among our finest legal minds, and was a pillar of our country’s early trade union activism, authoring the most authoritative work on our trade union history. I extend my deepest condolences to his bereaved family.”

Chase was cremated on Friday, following an elaborate funeral service at Parliament Buildings, which was attended by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Community, other officials, his relatives, and members of the public.

Some of the signatories at the funeral

President Ali greeting and extending condolences to members of the Chase Family

The mortuary cot carrying the remains of Ashton Chase being piloted by President Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Former President Donald Ramotar and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

President Dr Irfaan Ali reminiscing on the life of the legal luminary

Eye-catching paintings of talented Demion Mack

it caught my eyes because of the nature, and also the blue house and its reflection,” Mack said.

He said he decided to paint what he saw in the image, “but by giving it different tones of green and to go in details with the leaves also. And that's how I come up with the process of doing the painting.”

The photograph was submitted by one Trevor Fredericks, and was shot along a river in Region One (Barima/Waini). Mack said he started painting around June

20th, and finished on July 9th.

Inspiration and plans

Mack said he is always inspired by the popular artists within Guyana who have made headlines through their artistic touch. They include Nigel Butler, Ransford Simon, Courtney Douglas, and the late legendary artist George Simon. He plans to market and further develop his skills.

“Well, my plan is to reach out into the world of art, where I should see my art being exhibited, not only to make my-

self proud, but also to my country; and also showcasing the beauty of our nature and culture also. My plan is also to produce a lot of paintings, to inspire the younger generation.”

When Demion Mack completed his painting on June 9, he decided to take a photograph of his work and post it to his Facebook page. He was surprised by the public’s reaction.

“Well, I'm impressed by the feedback. Never thought it would reach that many reactions and comments,” Mack said.

The 21-year-old artist told Guyana Times that he has been painting for some five years, and he disclosed that he is a graduate of the E R Burrowes School of Art. He said he hadn’t paid much attention to his artistic skills for some five years, until recently.

“It's just recently I've been trying on it, ‘cause I'm doing it full-time now. And this is my first painting that catches the public eyes. I didn't expect it, but it turns out to be great,” Mack said.

The painting

Hailing from the eco-tourism village of Rewa, in North Rupununi, Mack said he saw a photograph that was posted on social media during a photography competition hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce.

“I saw the photo on the Snap N Share 57 competition, which I use as a reference to the painting. So even though the photo wasn't that successful in the competition,

One of Demion Mack’s paintings, which he said is one of his best works to date

Demion Mack

Young student leads way in Guyana’s fight for substance-free society

a sense of responsibility and prevention among young peo-

Dave’s initiative stands out, not only due to her age, but also because of the comprehensive nature of her programme. She has made it a point to engage with diverse segments of society, including schools, communities and local organizations, thus ensuring a multi-faceted approach to tackling this issue.

the age of nine. Motivated by this shocking reality, she redoubled her efforts to educate and combat drug and alcohol abuse among young people in Guyana.

In a world where abuses of drugs and alcohol pose serious challenges for societies, it is refreshing to witness the determination and passion of a young individual who is striving to make a difference.

Dave’s programme included informative sessions held with students of the Saraswattie Vidya Niketan School and the Essequibo Technical Institute; while teachers, students, and other members of society were actively engaged in her pro-

Supported by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS), Dave’s efforts have gained recognition and appreciation from community leaders, who commended her for her commitment and the positive impact she is already making within such a short span of time.

Dave’s journey serves as a testament to the power of youth activism and the significant role young people can play in effecting change. By taking proactive steps to address social issues, she in-

Harini Dave, a 15-yearold student of the Emma Willard School in New York, USA, led a Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programme during her summer vacation in Guyana. Her goal was clear: to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and foster

gramme in the Mahaica community. Through these engagements, she effectively presented facts, dispelled myths, and emphasized the importance of making informed choices.

Startlingly, Dave shared that recent studies have shown that some Guyanese children start drinking at

spires others to follow suit, and fosters a sense of responsibility in the younger generation. Her determination and dedication fuel her aspiration to create a society free from the clutches of substance abuse; and through this initiative, she is rewriting the narrative one community at a time.

SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice man is 101 not out

…says many at his age can’t do some things he can do

John Rudder, also called “Johnny Walker”, of Islington, Greater New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), celebrated his 101st birth anniversary on Wednesday last. Rudder was born on July 12, 1922, and grew up at Kortberaadt and in other villages on the East Bank of Berbice.

He attended the Friends Primary School, EBB, and after completing school at the age of 15, Rudder worked for several years at

the Friends and Providence Estates, located then on the East Bank of Berbice. His first wife, Kulsum, passed away 68 years ago in childbirth. They had six children. Three years later, Rudder remarried after an aunt of his current wife brought him a proposal.

“She said, ‘I would bring my niece for you to get married to she’. So, I asked her, ‘Why?’, and she said that her shadow take me. ‘You seem to me like a good gentleman’. She did bring her

niece. When I saw her for myself, she was fairly favoured,” Rudder said as he reminisced on his first time meeting the lady whom he later fell in love with.

Rudder and Margaret are still together today, and have four children. She is 95 years old.

Speaking on achieving the milestone, Rudder said he feels as strong as ever. “At 101 years, I am very proud to know that I am alive now without feeling a pain in my head, foot, or anywhere on my body. I am just ordinary, taking my meals regularly, and I feel my strength as if I am young again,” Rudder said.

He starts his daily routine with prayers, and at about 9:00h, he would position himself where he can get some sunlight once the sun is out. Asked how he spends his days, Rudder stated, “Anything the wife wants me to do, I will do. I make myself happy. I do things that I know that

none of my friends and other people that I know at my age can do.” He said he knows of one other person who shares the same age as he.

Three of Rudder’s ten children have passed away. He currently has more than 150 grandchildren, great-

grands and great-greatgrands. He enjoys fresh vegetables and herbal tea, and reads without the aid of spectacles. As a Seventhday Adventist, there are many kinds of meat that he does not eat, and he does not consume alcoholic beverages.

John Rudder surrounded by his seven children and an adopted daughter

John Rudder and his wife Margaret, 95

The newest centenarian, John Rudder

BOSAI employees benefit from health, safety training

Sixteen employees of the BOSAI Minerals Group, who are serving on the Joint Workplace and Health Committee in Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), were on Friday recognised for successfully completing a threeday Joint Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) training programme.

The aim of the programme was to train and prepare members of the Committee on how to carry out their mandate in the workplace, as required

by Chapter 99:06 of the OSH Act.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton praised the company for recognising the need to have a safe and healthy environment for their employees, particularly those in the professional sector.

This included implementing several recommendations issued by the Ministry in the aftermath of the 'Formal Investigation' report on the death of Neptrid Hercules, a former BOSAI employee.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton alongside newly-trained BOSAI employees

Texila American University achieves 2nd int’l accreditation

The Texila American University (TAU) has been accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAMHP) and the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM).

CAAM-HP and ACCM are renowned accreditation bodies known for their rigorous evaluation processes, ensuring that medical schools meet and exceed global standards in areas such as curriculum, faculty qualifications, facilities, and student outcomes.

The accreditation process involved a comprehensive assessment of TAU's medical programme, including curriculum design, faculty qualifications, research opportunities, clinical training facilities, and student achievements. This remarkable achievement demonstrates TAU’s dedication

to delivering unparalleled medical education, solidifying its position as a pre-eminent institution in the field.

President of Texila American University, Saju Bhaskar, has said, "Earning accreditation from ACCM required leadership and support from the executive team, medical faculty, and staff. Their combined efforts exemplify teamwork and commitment, which

have been hallmarks of all our medical programmes throughout the years.”

Texila University’s Executive Vice President, Chithra Saju, added, “We are proud to achieve this goal, and look forward to working with our faculty, staff, and community partners to strengthen our academic programme for the benefit of the local community, region, and the world."

Further, she stated that through the accreditation, not only has the university met specific standards of excellence, but Texila will continue to deliver the highest quality of education to its students.

Dual accreditation offers a multitude of advantages to students and graduates of TAU, including enhanced recognition and opportunities. Graduates also gain the

confidence and competitive edge needed to pursue residency and fellowship programmes both on a local and global scale. Further, this accreditation serves as a catalyst for fostering collaborations, research partnerships, and exchange programmes with acclaimed medical institutions across the globe.

“As TAU continues its journey, we are committed to continuously improving our academic offerings, promoting research and innovation, and actively engaging the community to empower students to excel. Our faculty consists of seasoned professionals who are passionate about imparting knowledge and guiding students on their transformative journey toward becoming competent and compassionate healthcare practitioners.

“The University offers a comprehensive Doctor of Medicine (MD) program aimed at cultivating the next generation of healthcare professionals. By cultivating a culture of compassion, TAU strives to empower its graduates to make substantial contributions to healthcare, thereby enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities worldwide.”

President of Texila American University, Saju Bhaskar

IDB's Private Sector financing in Guyana soars to US$58M

- Country Director says IDB committed to increasing financing

From the inception of its operation in Guyana, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) has provided financing to the Guyana Private Sector totalling more than US$50 million, and ranging from agriculture to the energy sector. And while the IDB is well known for providing loans to governments, its investment arm also provides loans to the Private Sector.

During a recent investment workshop, IDB Country Director Lorena Solórzano Salazar revealed that loans to the Private

Sector total approximately US$58 million.

Appointed Country Director in April 2023, she also revealed the sectors in which this financing to the Private Sector was provided include transport and logistics, and energy.

“To date, we have approved in Guyana eight transactions to tally approximately US$58 million in agri-business, transports and logistics, financial and energy sector. And we’re committed to keep growing those numbers. And as Minister Singh said, I would like (to approve) a

loan with the Private Sector every week,” she revealed.

Salazar has assured that, contrary to perceptions, the process of applying for such loans has become more flexible. According to Salazar, the IDB is open to hearing feedback from the local Private Sector on how it can improve its assistance to them.

“I know that you may think at the beginning that (our requirements) are a lot; but later, it’s easy and has been very flexible. I trust that you will find today the activity very re-

sourceful; that (you) will share your ideas so we, as the IDB invest, can better serve you and support you and your growing needs, as the Private Sector.”

Access to financing has long been identified as a hindrance to Private Sector growth and investment.

The Government has, meanwhile, been pushing for the ramping up of IDB’s financing of Private Sector projects. For a long time, the IDB has been the single source of development financing for Guyana, and its Public Sector portfolio remains the same to date.

During the workshop, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh pointed out that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has been advocating for the IDB’s partnerships with the Private Sector to be ramped up.

“Even before oil, we, in Guyana, realized the critical, indispensable role to be played by the Private Sector in any lasting economic growth and sustainable socioeconomic development. We have always viewed the Government’s role as one where we provide the critical prerequisites to economic devel-

opment and appropriate policies and legislative framework, critical infrastructure to facilitate private investment and job creation. But that environment, we have always expected, would be responded to by the Private Sector,” he detailed.

According to the Minister, there are opportunities for growth and expansion in every single sector of economic endeavour. Oil has opened up doors in several areas, and persons can capitalize on those: such as logistics, hospitality, financial services, and supplies, among others.

“There has never been a time as ripe as today for the Private Sector of Guyana to invest in good, bankable projects. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing. Today there are people buying a fleet of buses and taxis and getting a contract with ExxonMobil,” Minister Singh has said.

The Guyanese economy has grown at an average of more than 40 percent over the last three years. It is projected to grow at an average of 25 percent over the next three to five years. And with this economic boom, Government has reiterat-

ed that Guyana is open for business.

Back in March, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had said that continued bureaucracy at commercial banks in making access to financing easily available was putting local businesses at risk of becoming unable to compete in Guyana’s oil and gas sector, as well as losing out in Government’s projects.

As such, the body had called on the local banks to be proactive and outline the hindrances – whether legislative, economic, social, or environmental – that are restricting better access to finance for the local Private Sector. (G-3)

IDB Country Director Lorena Solórzano Salazar

New Diamond well to be completed in 3 months

– major water infrastructure works underway on EBD

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) recently commenced work to drill a new well at Sixth Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), after several unsuccessful efforts were made to restore the pre-existing well that had collapsed.

During a site inspection on Saturday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Water Inc (GWI), Shaik Baksh, noted that the new well would be drilled to a depth of 800 feet to supply 220 cubic metres of water per minute.

“This will really enhance production and level of service,” Baksh said. “We’re having two drilling teams working for about 18 hours a day to bring in this well at the earliest possible

time.”

Water from this well would feed into the Diamond Treatment Plant and provide for some 20,000 residents in Diamond and its surrounding areas. Acknowledging the inconvenience this service disruption has caused

to residents, Baksh assured them of the GWI inhouse team’s commitment to completing the process within the projected timeline. In the interim, residents will be supplied with water from about 4:30h to 9:00h, and then from about 16:30h to 21:00h.

“[For] the remainder of the time, we cannot supply the water because the production isn’t there to replenish the storage,” Baksh explained.

Meanwhile, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal stated that extensive development projects are underway to improve water systems across the country, particularly so on the EBD.

“There are two major activities: upgrade in the sense of distribution, and secondly, the quality of water. By 2025, the entire coastline, from Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam) to Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) will receive at least 90 to 95 per cent of treated water. And I am speaking about the current occupancy of the areas we have developed,” Croal

said.

He added that another major upgrade underway is the pipe distribution system between Eccles and Grove, which, upon completion, would deliver treated water and pressure at “an acceptable level.”

Contractors on this $1.2 billion project are expected to mobilise and install

A new 800-foot well is also being drilled at Covent Garden, while upgrades to the surrounding treatment plant will see it having two new filters in order to increase its treated water capacity.

“That would provide immediate relief to the people of Diamond, because, right now, the Diamond

these transmission lines to boost water supply within a month, according to Baksh.

On the East Bank as well, Baksh added that a well has recently been completed at Eccles, which is aimed towards benefitting residents both within the surrounding area as well as those all the way in Providence.

Well and Treatment Plant is supplying all of the new housing developments at Prospect, Farm and Covent Garden,” Baksh said.

A treatment plant in Grove is also being updated with new filters, while plans are in place to construct a new well in the area next year to support the plant.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal during a site inspection of the new well at Sixth Avenue, Diamond

Works underway to drill a new well at Sixth Avenue, Diamond

Over 1500 troops from 15 countries arrive for Tradewinds Exercise

Over 1,500 troops from 15 countries have converged in Guyana for the highly anticipated Tradewinds 2023 Exercise. Guyana will witness a significant military presence over the next week as this remarkable gathering marks the beginning of a week-long event that aims to strengthen regional security and foster enhanced cooperation among participating nations.

Since its establishment in 1984, the Tradewinds Exercise, organized by the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), has symbolized unity and collaboration in the face of security challenges. Its annual occurrence demonstrates the unwavering commitment of nations to safeguarding shared interests and promoting stability within the Caribbean region.

Foreign troops began arriving in Guyana on Friday, creating a palpable sense of anticipation. Base Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown became the focal point as military personnel from various countries gathered for the official launch event, held on Saturday.

The event, featuring uniformed soldiers, military vehicles, and impressive displays of military prowess, set the stage for a week of intensive training and joint operations.

The Tradewinds 2023 Exercise has been meticulously designed to expand capabilities, develop standardized operating procedures, and bolster Guyana's ability to defend its exclusive economic zones (EEZ).

Beyond military objectives, the exercise places a strong emphasis on promoting human rights, adhering to shared inter-

United Kingdom, the United States, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent, Suriname, and Trinidad.

With such a robust multinational force, the exercise becomes a melting pot of different military cultures, providing

vers, Tradewinds 2023 serves as a platform for diplomatic engagement and strengthening of partnerships. As troops engage in joint exercises, workshops, and simulations over the coming days, they will not only enhance their operational capabilities, but foster greater

the exercise while emphasizing some activities that would be carried out during the two-week exercise.

"Tradewinds returns to the welcoming country of Guyana for this highly important combined and joint exercise, where, for the next two weeks, we will focus on the critical task of building relationships, promoting regional interoperability, and reinforcing security and stability in the Caribbean region," she said

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Captain Gerry Gouveia emphasized the importance of the exercise as he called

on the forces to work together to maintain Guyana as a zone of peace.

"We gather in an area in this region that has always been

known as the zone of peace, and a lot of times, many places in the world have been in turmoil… We must all endeavor to keep it that way," he urged. (G-9)

national norms, and increasing readiness to counter illegal fishing activities that threaten the region's marine resources.

The nations participating in Tradewinds 2023 represent a diverse array of countries committed to regional security. They include

an invaluable opportunity for troops to learn from one another and strengthen the bonds of cooperation.

As Guyana assumes the role of host, it showcases its dedication to regional stability, and highlights its growing prominence on the global stage. The presence of over 1,500 troops demonstrates the collective determination of the participating countries to address shared security challenges and ensure a safe and secure

understanding and camaraderie among the participating nations.

At the launching ceremony to kickstart the week of events on Saturday, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, highlighted the importance of

Antigua, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, the

environment for the Caribbean region.

Beyond military maneu-

Military officers arriving for the Tradewinds 2023 Exercise

BOSAI employees benefit...

Hercules went missing in March, along with the CAT D9T bulldozer he was operating at the time. His body was found several days later, after an extensive search. Reportedly, this incident was the result of a failure experienced by the overburden dump in the East Montgomery Mine where he was working, and that had led to him being covered by the overburden material.

A ten-member investigative team was appointed to look into the incident, taking note of the culture of the organization; what controls and systems employees are required to

check; and the strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement in the workplace. Additionally, Minister Hamilton had voiced his hopes to facilitate an apprenticeship that would expose final-year university students to the necessary skills and knowledge in their field of competence.

Alongside the Minister were OSH Consultant Gwyneth King, BOSAI Vice General Manager Mike Zhou, and Linden NIS Manager Keith Allicock. OSH Officers Neza King and Darwin Bourne were also present, as were OSH Officers for Regions

One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), Chavez Daniels, Naipaul Persaud, Babita Singh, Nazmoon Pritipaul and Karen Singh respectively.

In addition to the graduation ceremony, the Minister visited the organisation’s mining site and Kiln #15 and Maz project, to supervise its operation alongside work attachment students from the Ministry’s OSH Department from the University of Guyana, to offer them personal experience in the field.

Lionel Messi: Inter Miami sign Argentina forward until 2025

Argentina forward

Lionel Messi has signed for American Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami on a deal that runs until 2025.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, 36, left French champions Paris St-Germain at the end of the 2022-23 season.

“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” said Messi, who led his country as they won the World Cup in Qatar last year.

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said the signing was a “dream come true”.

Messi, who has not previously played for a club side outside Europe, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to

build this beautiful project.

“The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set and I’m very eager to start helping here in my new home.”

On securing the services of a player expected to win another Ballon d’Or this year, Beckham said: “Ten years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamed of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city.

“[I wanted] players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy, to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much.

“Today that dream came true. I couldn’t be prouder that a player of Leo’s calibre is joining our club, but I am

also delighted to welcome a good friend, an amazing person, and his beautiful family to join our Inter Miami community.

“The next phase of our adventure starts here, and I can’t wait to see Leo take to the pitch.”

Messi will be available to play for Miami against LIGA MX side Cruz Azul on July

21 in their opening match of Leagues Cup.

“We are overjoyed that the greatest player in the world chose Inter Miami and Major League Soccer, and his decision is a testament to the momentum and energy behind our league and our sport in North America,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

“We have no doubt that

Lionel will show the world that MLS can be a league of choice for the best players in the game. We look forward to seeing his debut for Inter Miami in our Leagues Cup tournament later this month.”

Messi won the last of his seven Ballon d’Or awards for the world’s best player in 2021 and could win it again later this year after leading Argentina to World Cup success in Qatar in 2022.

He scored 32 goals in 75 games for PSG and ended last season with 16 goals and 16 assists in Ligue 1.

Messi joined the French side in 2021 after spending 21 years with Barcelona.

Messi is Barca’s record scorer with 672 goals and won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and seven Spanish Cups. (BBC Sport)

Wimbledon 2023 results: Marketa Vondrousova beats Ons Jabeur in women's final

Marketa

Vondrousova became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women's singles title as Ons Jabeur's wait for a major goes on.

Vondrousova, 24, is ranked 42nd in the world after missing six months of last season with a wrist injury.

But the Czech handled the nerves of the occasion better than 2022 runner-up Jabeur to win Saturday's final 6-4 6-4.

Sixth seed Jabeur, 28, has now lost all three major finals she has played in and was in tears at the end.

Vondrousova, who came to Wimbledon as a fan last year wearing a cast after wrist surgery, fell flat on her back as the magnitude of what she had achieved sank in.

"I don't know what is happening – it is an amazing feeling," said Vondrousova, who beat five seeded players to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.

After sharing a warm embrace with Jabeur at the net, she knelt on the grass again and looked close to tears as she drew the acclaim of the Centre Court crowd.

Then, as is tradition these days, she clambered up to the players' box to hug her team and family - including husband Stepan,

who arrived in London to watch the final after previously staying at home in Prague to look after their pet cat.

By contrast, Jabeur looked heartbroken as she sat on her chair with her head bowed.

"This is very, very tough.

The most painful loss of my career," said Jabeur, who had been aiming to be the first African or Arab woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Vondrousova reached the French Open final as a teenager in 2019, where she lost to Australia's Ashleigh Barty, before seeing her progress hampered by two wrist surgeries.

Clay courts have long been considered the Czech's

best surface and she admitted before her semi-final she "never thought" she could do well on grass.

But her game style – using a top-spin forehand to good effect, the ability to play with variety and regularly able to keep the ball in play – has translated to the grass courts.

Vondrousova came into Wimbledon having won only four grass-court matches in her career.

Even after winning under the Centre Court roof – which was closed because of winds predicted to reach speeds of 50 miles per hour –she still owns an 11-11 winloss record on the surface.

It led to American former world number one Tracy Austin – who was working

on BBC Sport's television coverage of the final – saying Vondrousova was the "most unlikely" champion.

History was at stake for both players, but particularly for Jabeur, who has become a trailblazer for African and Arab women.

But the Tunisian, who was the pre-match favourite, looked overwhelmed by the weight of expectation.

While both players managed beaming smiles for the camera as they posed for the traditional pre-match photograph, the nerves associated with playing in a Wimbledon final quickly became apparent.

Jabeur seemed more stressed than her opponent in a tense opening set, even after she took an early break to lead 2-0.

She stayed rooted to the baseline as she looked to find rhythm, rarely employing her favoured drop-shot and was broken straight back for 2-1.

Three successive breaks of serve – in favour of Vondrousova – were indicative of the tension that remained on both sides of the net, but particularly for Jabeur, who saw a 4-2 advantage disappear.

Jabeur, who has an effervescent and engaging personality, is known as the 'Minister of Happiness' back home and usually plays with a smile on her face.

But her body language became increasingly negative, head bowed and shoulders slumping, clearly unable to compute what was happening.

After Vondrousova served out for a one-set lead, Jabeur took a short break in the locker room. When she emerged, she lost serve again before finally growing in confidence and playing more freely to move 3-1 ahead.

However, uncertainty quickly reappeared. Vondrousova broke back in the fifth game of a match which continued to provide twists and turns.

Jabeur, who lost to Elena Rybakina in last year's final after winning the first set, has become a crowd favourite at the All England Club in recent years.

Encouraging shouts of support came her way after she lost serve again for 5-4 and, despite briefly wobbling with a double fault on her first match point, Vondrousova sealed a famous win.

"It's going to be a tough day, but I'm not going to give up. I will come back stronger," said Jabeur, who beat four Grand Slam champions to reach another final.

(BBC Sport)

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Marketa Vondrousova

Lionel Messi won the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar last year

Police eager to maintain winning streak

...in pursuit of Elite League title

With just two more games to go in the fifth edition of the KFC Elite League, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC are currently the only team challenging front-runners Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC for a shot at this year’s title.

While the soldiers are flying high with 22 points (as of Sunday, July 9), the Police Officers have 18 points following a commanding 6-0 victory over Buxton United on Tuesday last.

In that match, goals from Jemar Harrigan (8th);

Darren Benjamin (38th); Nicholas McArthur (52nd); Dorwin George (76th, 83rd) and Junior Redmond (80thh) propelled Police to the much-needed victory, as the team need to win all their remaining games in order to lift the coveted trophy.

In a chat with the media following the first of three must-win games, Coach Wayne Dover discussed the importance of Tuesday’s victory.

“This victory is very important, knowing that we have two more games to play and this would give us

a foundation as we enter the penultimate game where we would try to score as much goals as possible, but more importantly, look for the three points,” Dover explained.

He added, “Because heading into the final game, knowing we have one more game to win to win the league, that’s what makes these games important for us to win.”

Asked whether or not they would be focused on picking up a lot of goals in their next game, against Milerock FC, Dover dis-

closed that the three points were the ultimate goal.

The renowned coach divulged, “Despite the amount of goals we score in this game, we do have to beat GDF to win the championship. But scoring is important so we could play like we’re trying to intimidate them in some way or the other, in terms of sending a threat of our goal-scoring. So, we hope that a little intimidation factor could come into play.”

Quizzed about their preparation ahead of their final league game against

the fearsome GDF unit, Dover noted that discipline would be ever-important if the Policemen were to come

to be organised, that would be very critical, because we know the GDF have players and we will need to be very

away with a victory in the highly-anticipated clash

“We’re preparing just like them and we all know that they have some good players, but again, we have to be disciplined in our approach to the game and once we execute the things we work on in training, I think we can manage to get the results that we look for on the final day,” he remarked.

The coach further stated, “To work as a team and

organised against them.”

The Policemen will come up against Milerock FC in their penultimate game of the league tonight, at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) from 19:30h.

Prior to that game, Ann’s Grove United and Victoria Kings will meet from 17:00h at the same venue.

Former Leeward Islands batsman Ralston Otto dead at age 65

Former Antigua and Leeward Islands batsman Ralston Otto died on Friday at his home in Antigua after a decade-long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 65.

Otto played 48 FirstClass matches for the Leeward Islands between 1979 and 1990. During that period, he scored 2550 runs that included six centuries and 12 50s at an average of 34.00.

The right-handed batsman was the C=Vice Captain of the West Indies ‘B’ that toured Zimbabwe in 1986. Former West Indies

batsman Carlyle Best was the captain of that team that included Jimmy Adams and Carl Hooper, who would both go on to become captains of the West Indies team; Phil Simmons; David Williams; Julian Charles; Javon Etienne and Vibert Greene among others.

A cousin to West Indies fast-bowling great Sir Curtly Ambrose, Otto would go on to manage the Leeward Islands team. He also managed the Antigua and Barbuda team that participated in the Stanford 20/20 tournament in 2008. (Sportsmax)

Ralston Otto

GPF FC Coach Wayne Dover

A glimpse of the GPF FC clash with Buxton United on Tuesday last

Port Mourant Turf Club July 30 horse race meet...

2-year-old Guyana bred race added to programme

Close to 10 million Guyana dollars will be up for grabs on Sunday, July 30 at the Port Mourant Turf Club. The updated programme will now see a race for the two-yearold Guyana-bred horses, and the three-year-old Guyana-bred race has been cancelled.

The grand one-day horse meet has seven exciting races on the cards and the feature event, the Shivtahal Trophy will be open to all horses.

According to race organisers, Guyana Cup winner Alado will finally be running in East Berbice for the first time in the feature event at Port Mourant. Importantly, the twoyear-old horses for the calendar year 2023 which are likely to be competing on July 30 at Port Mourant and the Guyana Cup meet in August would be required to undergo a vet inspec-

tion for eligibility on July 22, 2023 at 14:00h, at Port Morant Turf Club.

Furthermore, on July 23 at 11:00h, horses in the West Berbice and Georgetown area will be required to be inspected at Rising Sun Turf Club. All horses are required to have a micro-chip or not be previously registered.

In addition to the one-mile feature race, which will see the top horse bag $1.5 million, the Banks Derby open for threeyear-old Guyana and West Indian-bred horses will be running for one mile and the top horse will bag $800,000.

Other races on the card include the G & Lower, J Open, L Open, E Class Open and North American non-winners in Guyana. The G & Lower race will be the third race which will see the owner of the top horse

being paid in the million-dollar bracket. For the feature event, weight would be allotted by class. The Banks Derby Guyana-bred horses would be

given five lbs allowance, no maiden allowances. Races will be run under the updated classification. Entries close on July 25, 2023. Races to be run under guidance of

Alado

is expected to be in action

the Guyana Horse Racing Authority rules. The Club reserves the right to cancel or reframe any race. Five horses have to start before the third-place prize is paid; and seven horses must start before the fourth-place prize is paid. Horses can be entered by contacting Gingo on 618-7278, Dennis on 640-3996, Fazal on

611-1141, or Shzeena on 3220789/0369.

Depending on the entries, the Club would be open to framing additional races. Please contact Gingo on this matter. All horses need to be registered before entries are accepted. Persons are advised to please enter horses for competition by way of entry forms that will be provided.

Rohit Sharma hails Jaiswal on dream debut in West Indies

scored a Test century of his own, his 10th in the longest format. After the match, the skipper heaped praise on the youngster.

"He's got the talent," Sharma said. "We knew about it. He's shown us in the past couple of years that he's ready for this big stage. Came and batted sensibly, showed a lot of patience, and the temperament was tested as well – at no stage [did it look] like he was panicking or going away from his plans, which was good to see."

Sharma revealed the one piece of advice he kept offering Jaiswal during their partnership of 229 for the opening wicket.

India managed to put on a massive total of 421-5 before declaring on Day 3 with a massive lead of 271 runs. On a pitch that would have reminded the Indian bowlers of conditions back home, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja made merry as the Windies innings folded for just 130.

Dropped from the XI in the World Test Championship Final, Ashwin made a statement with 12/131 in the match (5/60 and 7/71), the

second-best match figures for an Indian spinner outside the sub-continent.

Ashwin and Jadeja have been wreaking havoc for more than a decade together and Sharma had admired what the duo have been doing for such a long time.

"The results speak for themselves," Sharma said. "Both of these guys have been doing it for a while for us now. They know exactly what is expected out of them. There's not much to tell them

[about] what we need to do. It's just about going to them and giving them that freedom to go and express, because that is when they're doing their best for the side as well.”

Two-time World Test Championship finalists India put their first points on board in the 2023-25 cycle with the 141-run innings win. The action now moves to Port of Spain for the second Test starting July 20.

(ICC)

India seem to have unearthed yet another gem as Yashasvi Jaiswal took home the Player of the Match award in his Test debut against West Indies.

Jaiswal made the world take notice in his Test debut against West Indies. However, it was not the flashy strokes that everybody had become accustomed to during his Indian Premier League (IPL) stint earlier this year, but it was the temperament that stood out.

The 21-year-old scored

171 against West Indies, the third-highest for an Indian opener on debut and the highest away from home. For a player that has all the eye-pleasing strokes in his repertoire, Jaiswal showed incredible restraint on a pitch that had plenty of demons as the match progressed.

Jaiswal's first innings in international cricket lasted more than eight hours (501 minutes), playing out 387 balls for his 171. Rohit Sharma was at the other end for much of the knock as he

"In the middle, it was just about having a chat, letting him know, 'You belong here.' That is the most important thing, because when you're playing your first Test match, you kind of keep asking yourself whether you belong here or not, but my job from the other side was to just keep telling him, 'You've done all the hard yards, it's just about enjoying your time in the middle. Don't worry about the results, just enjoy your time, and if you do that the results will flow.'"

1st-ever Demerara U-13 franchise cricket a success

The Demerara Cricket Board Under-13 Franchise Tournament continued on Friday last with Hawks trampling the Falcons and Eagles defeating the Crows.

In the first match on pitch one, the Falcons won the toss and chose to field. The Hawks took the opportunity and scored a brilliant 175 for 5 from 40 overs, with Joshua Bollers top-scoring with an unbeaten 79 and Mickel Dowlin chipped in with 52. Thierry Davise claimed 3 for 21.

In reply, the Falcons struggled and fell for 53 all out from 15.4 overs. No batter reached double figures. Bowling for the Hawks, Patrice Frazer took 3 for 6 while Mario Singh collected 3 for 15 and Ruel Dindyal claimed 3 for 11. The Hawks won the match by a brilliant 122 runs.

Over at pitch two, the Crows won the toss and sent

the Eagles to the crease. The Eagles scored 150 for 4 from 40 overs. Nathan Bishop topscored with 58 while Reyaz Latif contributed 27 not out and Shankar Ramesh chipped in with 22. Devenadra Ramkisson collected 2 for 12.

In reply, the Crows only managed 85 all out from 32.2 overs. Khush Seegobin scored

Some of the top horses will be on show on July 30 at Port Mourant

Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored centuries in Dominica

22. Rakeb Latif collected 5 for 14 while Riyad Latif took 3 for 1. The Eagles won by 65 runs. All the players received a small token from the President and Executive Members of the Demerara Cricket Board for their participation in the very first Franchise Under-13 Tournament held in Demerara.

Riyad Latif