Guyana Times Epaper - Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Govt aiming to build major tourism product from sporting events – Ali

High on the success of the ongoing Cricket Carnival initiative and coupled with the drive to diversify Guyana’s sport ing sector beyond crick et, President Dr Irfaan Ali has indicated that his Government plans to push sport as a major tourism product in the country.

During the Cricket Carnival Regatta in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), the Guyanese Head of State shared their plans of using all aspects of Guyana, and more importantly, sport ing events, to the best of their advantage.

In turn, he expressed that building a holistic and robust portfolio from the different sporting events can create a significant tourism package.

“Our objective here is to build a tourism product with activities all around Guyana, using cricket carnival, our culture, our geographical space as advantages and

making best use of the ad vantages and the competitive advantage each region has.”

“What we want to do is build our sports tourism portfolio on many planks, not only cricket. We have crick et, horseracing taking on a new life by itself, the regat ta, football, squash…We’re looking to have all our sport ing events become major part of our tourism product itself,” Ali outlined.

Activities such as the re

gatta, he noted, puts Guyana one step closer to achiev ing this target. On the other hand, the President divulged that the possibility of having F1 powerboat racing is also being mulled.

“This is just the initial stage in building a master piece of a product. We’re go ing to work with some inter national players also to have Formula One racing. The world is going now in terms of electric boats and next year, maybe the first world championship. We’re work ing to see how and if we can be part of that. So, the whole objective is to build a product in this region and to show case this facility.”

The Head of State said there is the potential to trans form the area into a high-end luxury eco-resort, and will create another tourism hub in that geographical location.

Part of the Cricket Carnival activities was the President’s Cup last week at

Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice (WCB) – one of the anticipated horse racing events this year.

Another horse meet will be held on October 23 at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club, before the traditional Kennard Boxing Day horse meet is held on December 26 at the Bush Lot Farm venue.

In the cricket updates,

President Ali announced last week that in keeping with Guyana’s growing sta tus as a regional destina tion and with the benefits of sports tourism in mind, the Government plans to build another stadium in the next three years.

According to the President, this will comple ment efforts to develop the

Cricket Carnival product for Guyana, adding to the im portance of the Government getting involved in sports de velopment.

He pointed out that the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) must be seen as more than just an event but a plat form for the Caribbean re gion to market itself global ly. (G12)

President Ali poses for a photo op at the regatta

A glimpse of the regatta activities

Science Summit of UN General Assembly

The Harbour

Tuesday, Sept 27 – 03:30 – 05:00h and Wednesday, Sept 28 –04:00 –

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

Overhauling of regional agricultural system needed – Pres Ali

Tuesday, Sept 27 – 17:00h –18:30h and Wednesday, Sept 28 – 05:30h – 07:00h.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has said that sys temic changes are necessary if Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean Region are going to be food secure.

He told a Science Summit of the United Nations General Assembly via Zoom on Monday that for far too long, there has been a passive approach to food security, which has amplified the problem at the regional level.

The Head of State, who was the keynote speak er at the food security fo rum, proposed an overhaul of the regional agriculture system to not only make it less laborious but to en courage women and youth into the workforce.

Enhanced technological use, he pointed out, would be imperative to develop the new system.

“How do we ensure that more women are leading farms, using science and technology as aids? We cannot build an agricul tural system or a produc tion system that does not have the future in mind. What we have now is a lot of young people not going into agriculture. The ques tion is, why? Because we still promote agriculture in the traditional way,” the President is quoted as say ing at the Summit.

To change the sys tem, President Ali said that Governments need to make larger investments, remove the red tape ham pering the flow, use indi vidual strengths for the collective good and en hance private sector part

nerships.

“If the Caribbean be lieves that we can do this singularly, we're fooling ourselves. This requires partnership and a willing ness of all stakeholders to work in a cohesive man ner, utilising each other’s competitive advantage and pushing each other’s com petitive advantage to the benefit of the Region. That is what we're doing.”

Country-to-country partnerships

The President also spoke of the land available in Guyana and Suriname, the technological knowhow of Roraima, Brazil, and the unique advantag es of several Caribbean islands. Overall, he ex plained that the Region should be investing at least 7.5 per cent of their national budgets in agri

culture and food produc tion in the short term for there to be a possibility of achieving a 25 per cent re duction in food importa tion by 2025.

He also highlighted gen eral cooperation and coun try-to-country partner ships, especially between Guyana and Barbados.

The urgency in food se curity, the President stat ed, is not only a Caricom concern but a global issue. Reference was made to the hindering factors, includ ing the pandemic, which has skyrocketed the global food import bill to its stag gering US$1.8 trillion pro jection.

He said that as of June 2022, the number of acute food insecure persons has increased to 345 million in 82 countries and out of that amount, some 2.8 million, or nearly 40 per cent of the

population in the Englishspeaking Caribbean, are food insecure.

He emphasised that at all levels, there needs to be short and long-term re sponses to boost food pro duction and nutrition, im prove food security, reduce risk and strengthen the food systems.

“The global, regional, and national food systems must become more respon sive to the needs of the population. The system has to be responsive to the needs of the population to give them healthy and af fordable diets, inclusive of food sustainable sus tenance and enforce good livelihood for all, especial ly small economies.”

The President said that food security was the main issue at the UN General Assembly this year, which demonstrated its urgency.

“Did we actually realise what took place in the UN? For the first time, the mac ro issues for food security, climate change, and every thing else fell under the umbrella of food securi ty. Every single address at the UN, every single side event had the issue of food security.”

With the spotlight on food security, President Ali said that it is now time for Small Island Developing States and Low-Lying Coastal Countries to push funding agencies and to work with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN to become food secure.

“If we can't do it now, then we will be in serious problems in the long term.”

…must encourage women, youth into workforce

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Editor: Tusika Martin

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rapeProtectingvictims

This newspaper has published articles about rape victims being harassed by accused or accused’s families on several occasions after relatives have sought in vain help from the Guyana Police Force and in other cases child protection agencies.

Again, today we are publishing another article of a Berbice grandmother seeking the help of Police to protect her granddaughter. Most disturbingly, she is not getting the necessary assistance. In this most recent case, a Corentyne, Region Six mechanic, who has been charged for raping the then 13-year-old girl, who is now 15 years old, is tormenting her with threats. One can only imagine the trauma her and her family are going through to avoid the accused on a daily basis.

Even more disturbing is the fact that the grandmother has accused Police Officers of probing her to “settle” the matter with the accused by painting a daunting picture of the legal process.

These actions of the officers contravene the new Sexual Offences Act, which has provisions to minimise the additional trauma that victims experience while seeking justice through the legal system.

Sexual violence against children is considered to be a gross violation of children’s rights. According to UNICEF, sexual violence can take the form of sexual abuse, harassment, rape or sexual exploitation in prostitution or pornography. It can happen in homes, institutions, schools, workplaces, in travel and tourism facilities, within communities. Increasingly, the Internet and mobile phones also put children at risk of sexual violence as some adults look to the Internet to pursue sexual relationships with children. There is also an increase in the number and circulation of images of child abuse.

A UNICEF study, “Hidden in Plain Sight”, estimates that worldwide, around 120 million girls under the age of 20 (about 1 in 10) have been subjected to forced sexual intercourse or other forced sexual acts at some point of their lives. Boys also report experiences of sexual violence, but they do so to a lesser extent than girls.

Evidence shows that sexual violence can have serious short- and long-term physical, psychological and social consequences not only for girls or boys, but also for their families and communities. This includes increased risks for illness, unwanted pregnancy, psychological distress, stigma, discrimination and difficulties at school.

In Guyana, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) has been on the frontline in bringing some of these cases to light. The agency must continue to work diligently in ensuring that all such cases are brought to the fore where they could be properly investigated and prosecuted.

Stakeholders must seek to obtain empirical data about the incidence of these crimes against children, especially in the geographical areas in which they are known to occur and put systems in place to prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.

The Guyana Police Force is also a key partner in the fight against child sexual violence. The Force must continue to provide the necessary training to its officers to properly investigate sexual crimes against children. Our children need to be assured that when violence against them is reported, the law will act quickly to persecute the perpetrators and that our judicial system will function efficiently and equitably to bring such criminals to justice.

Importantly, too, is that all the necessary support systems must be put in place to ensure victims and their families are provided with the counselling, etc, to overcome the trauma of sexual violence.

Children, irrespective of religious, cultural or social backgrounds, deserve to grow up in an environment where they feel safe and are part of loving and nurturing families.

Many incidents of rape sometimes are not ever reported because confidence in the security forces has been severely compromised because of occurrences exemplified in the foregoing narrative.

The Police Force must take its mandate seriously and must not appear to be complicit in such occurrences. The public must have enough confidence to trust the Joint Services and report more instances of rape.

Organised crime and social media

a member.

By Jason McKay

Belgian-born

Rwandan journalist Georges Ruggiu was con victed and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for his part in the Rwandan geno cide of 1994, which led to the deaths of 800,000 Rwandan citizens.

His part in the infamous incident was not as one of the machete-wielding lu natics, but rather as a ra dio host who encouraged the predominantly Hutu popu lation to slaughter the Tutsi minority, referring to them as cockroaches.

His 12 years should have been 12 life sentenc es, in my opinion, but judges have their job to do and they know best.

In the 1970s, law en forcement professionals who were effective in their efforts to combat the thugs in their Police area were quickly branded as ‘politically con trolled’ by one of the two po litical parties that were on the receiving end of the offi cers’ efforts.

This practice extend ed into the 90s, ending only when Jamaicans stopped caring about political par ties of any colour.

The slander usually re sulted in the transfer of the officer, or stagnation if the offended party was, or be came the ruling party.

In more recent years the control strategy has altered to using social media video bloggers to attempt to con trol the Police officers’ ef forts.

The YouTube broad cast apparatus and the WhatsApp distribution plat form allow for sometimes anonymous thugs to circu late commentary against

Police officers that are a threat to the gangs’ mem bership and their communi ty control.

They paint the officers as being affiliated to a rival gang, as a mechanism to get the officer to reduce his ef forts against them.

There is a particular blogger who is not anon ymous, but operates out of England to avoid being served and sued for libel.

He is literally a voice for hire and is currently on the payroll of gangs from Naggo Head.

Others that operate anonymously and disguise their voice with technology are literally also propagan da for hire and will go with whatever message the gang pays for.

This activity creates the opportunity for two discus sions.

Firstly, what are the criminal implications to the offenders who participate in this activity, and second ly, how should the officer re spond?

Well, although the civil implications are obvious as it relates to slander, it is not so clear cut as it relates to a criminal offence, or is it?

The Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act of 2014, commonly known as the an ti-gang legislation, is very wide in its application.

The essence of this Act, simply put, is that once you come together as a group with an aim to com mit a crime, then you can be charged under the Act.

The blogger is playing a part to dissuade law en forcement from pursuing the gang. At best, he is a paid mouthpiece of the gang; at worst he could be viewed as

Just as the new Firearm Act provides for the pros ecution of gang members in the diaspora exporting guns from overseas, the an ti-gang Act should be used as a mechanism to prosecute the bloggers who are playing their part to assist the gangs to combat and control law enforcement.

Secondly, how should the attacked officer respond?

Well, speaking from the perspective as a law en forcement officer who has come under this type of at tack, I recommend you take it as an indication that you are doing one ‘helluva’ job. If not, you would not be tar geted. Then double your ef forts, because they are work ing. Always remember, this is not real media. This is an unregulated thug who is no different from the common dunce coward that you chase every day with a gun in his hand. He just has a different function.

Also, remember that at tempts to control the Police by propaganda and misin formation are nothing new. They are cowards.

The same way they rare ly fight us and stand as men, but choose to attack us from behind women and children, it is expected that they will use altered voices and ano nymity when they come at us.

They are too afraid to do it otherwise.

I spoke of the political gangs and their efforts of using political affiliation as a tool earlier in this article. Well, after that era ended the criminals used human rights groups.

I recall a gunman from Little Lane (Central Village) almost 20 years ago, now de

ceased, who was implicated in multiple homicides and arrested several times be fore his enemies killed him.

Every time he was de tained by the Police he al ways said “I going to re port you to Jamaicans For Justice”, a popular uptown organisation of that era.

I was younger and less wise at the time and would often wonder “who cares”.

However, I noticed it worked on some of my col leagues, who felt this could impact their possibilities of being promoted.

I guess that’s the beauty of the District Constable as our ascension is, in essence, two movements within the same rank and thus less vul nerable to civilian influence decided on over a cup of cof fee.

The threats worked in many cases in aiding the gangs, but temporarily.

Justice has a strange way of working itself out.

Organised crime is wide and as the name suggests, it’s organised. It’s not just the two ‘draws’, ‘one mari na’ skinny thug with a pret ty gun.

The guns and the fund ing involve foreign-based gangsters. The money needs assistance from local busi nesses to launder.

The assets can only be in the names of people who can justify ownership.

Let us not ignore the mechanisms used to control law enforcement efforts by the tool called propaganda.

The part these mouth pieces play is important and they must be viewed for who they are, just more common gang members playing their part. (Jamaica Observer)

An aerial view of one of the many picturesque hills in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). This photo was taken on Sunday during the hosting of the Cricket Carnival Linden Regatta at Kara Kara, Blue Lake (OP photo)

Dear Editor,

Would PNCR ever change strategy? Sage advice from VP Jagdeo

When Mr Aubrey Norton was elected the new leader of PNCR in December 2021 hav ing defeated former PNCR strongman Joseph Harmon, that moment signalled a new direction of the Party. However, subsequent devel opments indicate that it is not a new direction but a ren dezvous with the history and strategy of the PNCR that helped to shape his leadership style. Mr Norton drew inspi ration from PNC founder Mr LFS Burnham and embraces President Desmond Hoyte’s street tactics.

Like Mr Burnham, Mr Norton enjoys wielding cen tralised power. A daily news report of 9/20/22 states: “Autocracy creeping up in PNC under Norton.” The sto ry continues: “The leader seems more concerned with surrounding himself with ‘yes men and women’ that he can control and tell what to do.” Whatever strategy Mr Norton is using is not work ing, according to Temple University LAPOP poll. This finding is also supported by PNCR members/activists who point grudgingly to the inspi rational leadership style of President Dr Irfaan Ali.

PNCR activist Norman Browne wrote: “President Ali is in every nook and cranny dressed like a regular street man, sitting on the ground with the poor, playing domi noes with our brothers and sis ters and eating mangoes and drinking coconut water from the chopped-out hole of the co conut. People love that. He of fers them help but countless would be happy just to know he grounded with them while looking like them. Meanwhile, our Opposition confabulation is replete with disunity and di vision and unable to match the PPP’s energetic strides among the grassroots. The current Leader of the Opposition is failing miserably with regards

to grassroots representation.” (SN: 8/31/22).

Is this reported failure of the PNCR leadership also connected with the marginal isation of well-known PNCR members: Basil Williams, Dr George Norton, Ronald Bulkan, Joseph Harmon, President David Granger, Winston Jordan, Amna Ally, Dr Van West Charles, James Bond, Simona Broomes, and Robert Corbin, many of whom played an important role in the attempted electoral heist of 2020?

Like Mr LFS Burnham, Mr Norton views his par ty supporters (mostly AfroGuyanese) as victims of a system calculated to defeat them. He therefore feels that his primary role is to carry out an aggressive campaign to not only to change the sys tem to reduce or eliminate perceived inequity and per ceived race victimisation. It is doubtful if he considers that his leading role is head of the “Government in waiting.” But why does his perception of in equity and racial victimisa tion apply only under PPP/C governance? Under the PNC Administration did Mr Norton find any evidence of inequity or racial victimisation? Unlike Mr Burnham, Mr Norton does not fully appreciate the criti cal importance of ‘image’ and ‘leadership style’ in politics.

Mr Norton’s combative ap proach was aptly demonstrat ed again on Monday 9/18/22 after which the Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall had to admonish him for mak ing several misleading state ments against the PPP/C Government for seizing AfroGuyanese lands and giving them to PPP/C supporters (meaning Indo-Guyanese). The AG believes that was a racist position designed to in cite inter-group tension. The Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips has also rejected false narratives. “As

an Afro-Guyanese myself from the town of Linden, I am proud to be part of the PPP/C Administration where all Guyanese, inclusive of AfroGuyanese, have equal access to opportunities and where national policies and pro grammes are never influenced by race.”

Nothing is wrong with fighting to defend and protect the rights of his supporters, but Norton’s cases must be ev idence-driven, and not guided by emotion or hearsay or false theory. The AG produced evi dence to refute Norton’s alle gations.

The victimisation theory has allowed Mr Norton and his party to apply the concept of ‘apartheid’ to Guyana. This is most unfortunate. apart heid is an institutional system based on convoluted values and an ideology of racial supe riority/inferiority which regu lates social stratification pat terns in areas such as housing, education, residential neigh bourhoods, jobs, and gover nance. Blacks and Browns are condemned to the lowest level at every institution, and their freedom of expression, free dom to travel, human rights are violated with impunity. apartheid is a ‘tale of multiple segregated neighbourhoods’ structured and regulated ac cording to race (colour).

It is ingenious therefore to identify a perceived defi ciency (race discrimination or race inequity) in public policy on housing and land alloca tions, for example, and try to squeeze this into a slot of an apartheid system that only exists in the minds of some Guyanese. This startling em brace of apartheid is an abuse of reason as well as of scholar ship.

The PNCR can do better than making unsubstantiat ed claims of discrimination. Despite their mediocre perfor mance in office (2015-2020), they lost the 2020 elections

by only 2.7 per cent. Had they responded to the con cerns of the public and not ig nored their calls for help, they would have been in a better place. By preaching apart heid now they are weaken ing their chances of electoral victory in 2025. How would they be able to break down the segregation barrier that they have erected to increase their share of votes in 2025? Any apartheid system would not allow cross-over voting. The reality is that there is no apartheid and the PPP/C and PNCR+AFC, need cross-over votes to win an election.

It is within the compe tence of the PNCR to create an effective political strategy, However, Mr Norton and his party must first address some necessary pre-requisites. (1) He should apologise on be half of his party to put the country through 5 months of post- election trauma. (2) He should have conceded that his party was wrong not to accept the findings of the CoI into the sugar industry and thus prevented 7000 work ers from joining the bread line. (3) He should stop re ferring to the President and his Government as “in stalled.” (4) He must strive to create a strong Opposition (Government in waiting). (5) He, like other leaders, must renounce racism and street violence as political tools. (6) He should defuse his con frontational approach and re place it with rapprochement. Finally, if Norton wants to become a national leader, he must be able to transcend his own party boundaries and reach out to all segments of the society. If he does all or most of the above things, he would be on the path to nar row or even eliminate the gap in political support between PPP/C and PNCR.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

CPL and cricket are beyond the boundary

Dear Editor, President Ali’s point that the CPL is about more than cricket has meaning at sev eral levels. The President also implied that cricket is much more than about the game played on the field.

In his highly regard ed Beyond a Boundary, the Trinidadian author CLR James narrated the deep interpenetration of cricket, class, culture, economics, and perhaps above all, the damning imbrication of the sport with race, colour, and colonialism. More than any thing else, James used his literary genius to describe how the on-field game car icatured what was happen ing in the wider society. To boot, the intra-regional ca maraderie formed on the field was reproduced in the anti-colonial struggles for national independence.

Cricket, then, has for some time now, been rec ognised for its transforma

tive potential. It is in this sense that President Ali’s observation warrants fur ther attention.

The CPL is making a major contribution to re gionalism. In this case, re gionalism should be un derstood as going beyond governance or governments. Rather, cricket is provid ing the opportunity for the peoples of the Caribbean to again renew their sense of sharing common history, while also facing a common set of challenges in a world system dominated by Great Powers.

If cricket is inspiring a stronger sense of construc tive cultural nationalism, it is also seeping into mat ters of security and de mocracy in the Region. Security has different di mensions. Only a few months ago, Guyana hosted the Agriculture Investment Forum and Expo. This ma jor development was fol lowed up by correspond

ing events in Barbados and Trinidad. President Ali led the Guyanese delega tion to both engagements. Caribbean leaders are com mitted to food security and are aiming to cut the Region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

In the narrower sense of security, Caribbean coun tries are steadfast in their support for Guyana’s terri torial sovereignty. And more recently, Guyana signed the necessary protocol to join Caricom’s Regional Security System (RSS).

The solidarities found in cricket across the Region can also be found in the de fence of democracy among Caribbean leaders. The case of Guyana during March-August 2020 comes to mind. Attempts by ele ments in GECOM to con duct election fraud during the national and region al elections in this coun try were met with massive resistance throughout the

Caribbean. Leaders such as Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley displayed maximum Caribbean spir it in the defence of free and fair elections.

The CPL will soon con clude and there will be only one winner of the tro phy for 2022. Yet, the im pact of the tournament will go well beyond the trophy holder or beyond the wick ets. Friendships have been renewed. New friendships have been formed. The ter ritorial space we know as the Caribbean will be clos er in cultural terms. And then, well beyond crick et, there will be long-term contributions to our secu rity and to the defence of democratic values. Cricket and democracy have some thing important in com mon. They are both based on clearly defined rules and regulations.

Sincerely, Dr Randy Persaud

Dear Editor, The secondary tops the primary, as “805 fisherfolk in Reg 5 receive(d) (their) $150,000 one-off cash grant.” While this is a promise kept, and the grant is bound to be of immense help, I just love the fact that VP Bharrat Jagdeo urged fishermen to qualify themselves in other fields. This is a topic I will get back to, but first let me say that the fisherfolk of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) must always bear in the mind that ‘cost of living’ worldwide is ever on the rise. So that when the Government of Guyana is helping to ease the ‘burden of livelihood,’ it is no mean feat. This news then is quite satisfying even as it is reflec tive. So, joy for the people and kudos for the Government, as “grants were distribut ed to over 805 fisherfolk in the Abary, Bath, Blairmont, Bush Lot, Mahaicony, One Door, Onverwagt, Rosignol, Three Door, Number Two, Number Three, Number Four, Number 11, Number 12, Number 29 and Number 37 Villages.”

Let’s keep in mind that this rising cost of living is still on going, as the effects contin ue to hit the world in terms the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have affected the global sup ply chain, and in many cases have decimated earning pow er for many businesses.

Now for the Vice President and his telling the fisher peo ple about not being one-di mensional. Like him, I add that “… you can’t just go and fish because you will be left behind if you only have that skill. You have to make some sacrifices if you want to make some progress.” In fact,

Jagdeo added that touch of hope, as he assured the affect ed group “… that Government is prepared to provide the programmes and also pay for training, so you can develop yourself.” This means that for those affected now, and in the likelihood of others suffering from a similar fate, there can be an equipping for the inev itable changes and necessary redirecting in terms of a live lihood.

In Guyana, it will do us good to remember current times globally demand from the work force much more versatility, where people who can do several things and per form equally in all of them. This obviously will increase the effectiveness and the quality of the outcome of each task, and help companies in corporate multi-talented peo ple suitable for different po sitions within the same field.

Another thing to note is that as companies continue to find ways to cut costs and count er competition from other or ganisations, they will defi nitely look for people who can think on their feet and often perform tasks beyond their job descriptions when need ed. More and more recruiters are now trying to find people who not only have the neces sary skills required to survive and fulfil the job responsibili ties effectively but those who can wear multiple hats. Now is the time for multiskilled employees. The hunting is for the many Jacks-Of-ManyTrades. Thus, fisherfolk must explore other options to earn, such as small business ven tures, for which there is Government support.

Yours truly, H Singh

Changing from metric units to customary units

Use the chart below to help you convert metric units to customary units. The values may not be exact in all cases but approximations.

Example:

6 metres = how many feet?

Step 1: Find metres on the chart above: 1 metre = 39.37 inches

Step 2: Multiply 6 x 39.37 = 236.22 inches.

Step 3: Divide the number of inches by 12 to find feet: 236.22 ÷12 = 19.685 feet

So 6 metres = 19.685 feet.

Exercises: Calculate

1) Which is larger a 4-litre bottle of Coca Cola or a 4-quart bottle of ginger beer?

2) A man weighs 79 kilograms. How many pounds is that?

3) The weight limit on a bridge is 12,000 kilograms. How many tonnes is that?

4) Which is more expensive: $1000 per gallon gas or $175 per litre kerosene?

5) Which is shorter: the 100-yard dash or the 100-metre sprint?

6) The Police said your mom was travelling at a speed of 100 miles per hour. How many kilometres per hour is that? If the speed limit is 55 miles per hour, how many kilometres per hour faster was your mom travelling?

Pick one thing on this list to start doing today. In no time, you’ll be an endangered species superhero!

Five ways you can help

1. Learn about endangered species – es pecially the ones in your own area. When you think of endangered species, you may think of the giant panda or the blue wha le. But there may be a bird, a frog, or even a plant that lives near you and needs help.

2. Make your own yard a habitat for wildlife. Fill your garden with native plants – ones that grow naturally in your area. Insects such as butterflies and bees –including some that are endangered—use those plants for food and shelter.

3. Don’t buy products made from en dangered or threatened species. When you travel outside the United States, say “no, thank” to souvenirs made from tortoise shell, ivory, coral, and fur.

4. Don’t use products that harm wild

life. Try to use less throwaway plastic, which can end up in the ocean and hurt marine animals. And encourage your fa mily to avoid using chemicals in the yard that can harm insects and birds.

Also, be picky about palm oil. Palm oil is often used to make chocolate bars, cookies, soaps, shampoos, and other pro ducts. Many rainforests in Indonesia and Malaysia are being cut down to grow oil palm trees. This is destroying the habi tats of several endangered species, inclu ding orangutans, pygmy elephants, and Sumatran rhinos. Avoid products that use palm oil. Or check product labels to make sure any palm oil was produced in a rain forest-friendly way.

5. Speak out! Write a letter to your par liamentary representative, asking him or her to help protect endangered species.

To learn about endangered species, vi sit endangeredspeciesday.org. (rangerrick. org)

By The BroThers Grimm

MARAD must expand to meet new port security threats – Edghill

…will see more capital investments, boats, helicopters

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) will have to expand and be the beneficiary of increased Government investments if it is to meet the growing port se curity threats that come with Guyana’s expansion as an oil and gas producer.

This sentiment was ex pressed by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, while he was speaking at the opening of MARAD & DIRECTEMAR - Chile's Port Security Workshop, which opened at the Pegasus Hotel on Monday.

“The fact that our profile has been elevated, our risks have also been elevated. So, we have to ensure that our ports are very safe. And today we’re emphasising the issue of port security… I can tell you that our waterways are be coming busier by the day.”

“You’re the operators. You’re the ones who facilitate and provide services to en sure that our ports function effectively and safely. So you know exactly what I’m talking about. We have to do things better. We have to be more ef ficient. We have to be able to embrace international best practices.”

According to Edghill, MARAD will also have to ex pand its operations to better be able to police the ports and waterways. This will include increased capital budgets and adding to their fleet of boats and even helicopter.

“When I came to office, one of the first things I said was that MARAD has to re

purpose, reorganise and re think the way we do things. We didn’t have an oil and gas division in MARAD. And we were an oil and gas producing country… we cannot behave as if Guyana is not a country of consequence.”

“So, we have to invest more, in terms of more cap ital investments, to equip MARAD. We have to be able to get more vessels, we have to be able to get more equip ment. Sooner or later, I’m sure you’ll come and tell me that we have to get the helicopter.”

But he noted that as MARAD expands and ac quires all those hardware, it is important they also have peo ple who are equipped with the relevant training. And this is where the training Chile will be providing to Guyana, is crucial. The workshop took shape following discussions between Edghill and Chile Ambassador to Guyana Juan Manuel Pino Vasquez.

Last year, it was announced that Atlantic Ventures Inc (AVI) had partnered with Alexarya Corporation International of India to es tablish Atlantic-Alexarya Maritime Development Guyana (AAMDG) Inc, with a common purpose of developing Guyana’s growing maritime industry by constructing the Caribbean’s first Marine and Off-Shore Training Institute.

The facility is to be locat ed at Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). The maritime institute will focus on teaching practical skills to high-calibre seafarers to meet the highest standard of profes sionalism required in the ev er-changing and demanding shipping industry.

The three main academ ic programmes offered to ap plicants at Atlantic-Alexarya Marine and Offshore Institute are the Pre-Sea Training, Officers Training and the Post-Sea Training.

In addition, a residential facility is available within the grounds of the Institute.

Applications are not limit ed to Guyanese; the training is open to nationals from around the Caribbean region. Upon completion, graduates will be awarded with accredited certificates that will prepare them for careers both on and off shore as seamen, chief of

ficers, captains, merchant ma rines, or any other job in the marine industry locally and internationally.

This joint venture will see developments in excess of US$35 million within the next five years. AAMDG will not only facilitate a Marine and Offshore Institute, but plans are already in place for the construction of a shipyard and

dry dock to be used for ship building, ship repairs, and complete ship management.

The tourism sector will also benefit from this largescale investment through the development of river cruise and floating hotels in Guyana’s waters, along with worldwide vessel registrations being done through the com pany. (G3)

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

A section of the gathering at the opening of MARAD & DIRECTEMAR - Chile's Port Security Workshop, at the Pegasus Hotel on Monday

Police issue wanted bulletin for father, son

Too many…

…lawyers in the offing?

Wanted: Shawn Thomas aka “Troy Richards”

T he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has is sued a wanted bulle tin for two men, in connec tion to the murder of Ray Wame Narine, who was killed in Sand Hill, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) last week.

Shawn Thomas, called “Troy Richards” or “Cutty”, whose last known address is 26 Pearl Village, East Bank Demerara, is want ed by Police for question ing. The second person is Ackime Richards, who also resides at the aforemen tioned address and Second Avenue Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The two men are wanted for the murder of Narine, a miner of Spring Garden on

the Essequibo Coast, who was shot dead during an at tack on Thursday last.

In the same incident, Narine’s twin brother and Rakesh Chunilall, also a miner of Banana Land, Berbice, were also injured.

Police had reported that the suspects are a fa ther and son duo. According to reports, the motionless body of Ray Narine was found covered with several tree branches in the north ern corner of the main ac cess road, in Region Seven, which runs East to West.

Upon examination, two gunshot wounds were seen to the chest area along with one-inch lacerations to the abdomen and shoulder. A two-inch laceration was

Wanted: Ackime Richards

also seen on his right arm.

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

Investigations so far re vealed that the brothers op erate a dredge in the Sand Hill Backdam.

The surviving brother had explained to the Police that he and his brother left their 4-inch mining op eration on Thursday and went to Sand Hill Landing, Cuyuni River, and while sitting on the front step of the Shanaz Allicock shop, a Honda XR motorcycle ap proached from a western di rection with the suspects.

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

He said the suspects dis mounted the motorcycle, hurriedly walked in their direction with handguns, and started to discharge several rounds in their di rection.

After the shooting, they escaped in a western di rection and while running, the suspects were still dis charging rounds in their di rection. Ron Narine add ed that while running, he saw his brother collapse on the roadway, and he contin ued to run and sought ref uge in some bushes where he remained for about two hours before returning to the landing.

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

According to the Guyana Police Force, if anyone sees or has information about the whereabouts of the sus pects, they can contact 2256940, 225-8196, 226-7476, 225-2317, 227-1149 or the nearest Police station. (G12)

What’s the difference, Dear Reader, between a good lawyer and a bad lawyer? A bad lawyer might let a case drag on for several years. A good lawyer knows how to make it last even longer!! Now you might’ve heard that “lawyer” joke before, but today it rang true and hit home about the very womb of the profession: a law school that produces these much-reviled “professionals”. Seems that after twenty years of trying, Guyana might, at long last, have a local law school. And it was delayed just because our various legal guardians of the several governments couldn’t get their act together. And the reason for this?? Well since it involved lawyers, did you have to think too long that money might be involved?!?

During the last Administration Basil Williams – SC, AG, Minister of Legal Affairs but not so incidentally the losingest AG in the history of Guyana – had assured us he’d secured the long-sought-after law school. He’d secured 15 acres of land courtesy of his government and even announced the name – JOF Haynes School of Law – after one of our most illustrious members of the bar!! But he’d gotten some flyby-night private education operators out of Jamaica to own the school and the Council for Legal Education (CLE) that licenses law schools to issue the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) balked.

They’d never given permission , but Williams insisted THEY were mistaken – even though he couldn’t show any documentation to prove that such approval was ever granted!! Basil brings to mind that old saw: “How does an attorney sleep? Well, first he lies on one side, then he lies on the other”!! Said Basil truculently when the head of CLE told him the school wouldn’t be licensed: “Nobody can’t stop us from building a law school. It’s just that we are community minded, we are founding members of Caricom and we feel that we have a right”!! Well…Basil WAS the losingest AG ever!!

Anyhow, up to now – as far as qualifying our aspiring lawyers, -- Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad automatically accepts the top 25 graduates of our UG LLB programme annually – all others have to take the Hugh Wooding Open Exam and wing it on their own. It’s ain’t cheap – costing at least $3 million per semester. The Government offers a few scholarships based on need, performance – and connections!! But your Eyewitness wonders whether when this Law School gets going, we won’t face the American conundrum of too many lawyers – especially when OUR dear land only has three-quarters of a million people??

Which reminds your Eyewitness of the terrorist who hijacked a 747 full of lawyers. He threatened to release one every hour if his demands weren't met!!

…provocateurs

Now that we’ve seen how the country can be united at our Warriors games, doesn’t this challenge the narrative some provocateurs are pushing that we’re actually so divided ethnically there’s an “emerging apartheid state”!! Could people of the different “races” sit together, much less hug and scream together for the South African Cricket team back in the days of apartheid?? Was their cricket team even racially mixed??

Now your Eyewitness isn’t so daft to assert that the fact that cricket is our national mania means we don’t have discrimination and racism in Guyana. There’s no country on Planet Earth where they do not occur. But APARTHEID in Guyana?? This can only occur if there’s WIDESPREAD systemic discrimination to which the law turns a blind eye –even if there are laws prohibiting such discrimination. The only time your Eyewitness saw this widespread denial of basic rights was during the long dictatorship of Burnham when he RIGGED elections and denied mostly Indian Guyanese their basic right to choose their government!!

…labels

If the PPP Govt's an “illegally installed cabal” – as the Opposition is insisting, if they do as that same Opposition demands, would those actions be illegal?? Fruit of the poisoned tree and all that?

Inquiring minds want to know!!

“Founders of Queenstown left a rich legacy” – Mustapha tells villagers

…as village turns 181

The Essequibo Coast village of Queenstown, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), over the weekend turned 181 and in celebration of this milestone, residents hosted a memorial and thanksgiving ceremony.

During the ceremo ny on Sunday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, on behalf of President Dr Irfaan Ali, told villagers that the event highlights the value of the efforts and the rich lega cy left by the founding fa thers of Queenstown and all those who fought for free dom many years ago.

“I wish to commend the members of the Queenstown Development Association for holding the Inter-Religious Memorial Thanksgiving ser vice to honour the 181st an niversary of the founding of the village of Queenstown. Such events are important in helping to keep alive the memory, hard work, and sacrifices of those who com mitted their efforts to the founding of this village. The fact that we can have this memorial thanksgiving ser vice today – 181 years after, speaks to the value of their efforts and the rich legacy they left us. We must also commend the descendants, the successive committees, and villagers for keeping that legacy alive. It speaks to the importance of conti nuity and to the need for en lightenment for generations over time,” the Minister said.

Mustapha went on to caution the villagers against falling prey to political gim micks aimed at causing di vision and racial discrimi nation among themselves.

“We must beware of ac tions that are aimed at di viding us as a people and as a nation. We must dismiss those who set out to fan the flames of racism. We’ve seen what those actions have caused in other countries.

Entire villages and tribes were slaughtered because of those actions. We must emulate the attitudes and actions of our fore parents who worked to ensure these villages were developed to benefit and uplift our peo ple,” he added.

Minister Mustapha also took the opportunity to re mind villagers of the many interventions implemented by the Government over the last two years to improve lives of citizens across the country.

“When we took office in August 2020, we imme diately began work to re verse some of the harsh measures that were placed on the backs of our citi zens. We removed the VAT on agriculture equipment and supplies, medical sup plies, water, and electricity, and reversed the increas es in land rentals and D&I charges. For our schoolaged children, we re-intro duced and increased the ‘Because We Care’ grant where every child who at tends school, public and pri vate, received $30,000 this

17-year-old girl drowns during family outing

year. This will increase to $50,000 per child by 2025.

Thousands of scholarships were also awarded to our citizens. We also recently restarted the school feeding programme and we are con stantly working to improve critical infrastructure such as pumps, sluices, farm-tomarket roads, and dams all while working to improve

and deliver better health care and access to afford able housing,” he noted.

The Minister informed villagers that several ini tiatives will soon come on stream following commit ments made by the Head of State and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during their ministerial outreaches in the region earlier this year.

“Our Government re mains committed to work ing with every communi ty and every Guyanese to build a One Guyana. The Chairman in his address had some questions so I want to respond and let you know where we are with some of the commitments made not so long ago. You raised the issue about the regulators. The BIDs have since been advertised and will soon be awarded so that Queenstown can have three new regulators.”

“The Chairman also mentioned a trench that needs to be cleaned. I will ask the NDIA to work on having that trench and any other trench that is blocked, cleaned. We will also give the maintenance contract to the village so that the bene ficiaries can do those works.

The Ministry of Agriculture

is committed to working with every villager to de velop the agriculture. As a Government, when we make commitments and promis es, we deliver on them be cause we know the impact these initiatives will have on the lives of our citizens,” he stated.

Minister Mustapha also participated in a wreath-laying exercise at a monument that was con structed 100 years after the village was granted village status.

Villagers are set to par ticipate in a number of ac tivities during the week as part of the anniversary ob servances.

Queenstown’s first Village Council was estab lished in 1847 after villag ers applied for and were granted village status. (G8)

Afamily outing on Sunday turned trag ic when a 17-year-old girl drowned at a creek at Wismar, Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Dead is 17-year-old Nazana Samaroo of Lot 33 Little Diamond Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The incident occurred at about 17:30h.

According to the Police, Samaroo was on a family outing in the company of her 34-year-old mother, Lizanna Anderson, 40-year-old foster father Keon McPherson and her five siblings at the creek.

The teenager and her 8-year-old brother decided to go swimming. After some time, however, the little boy

noticed his sister, who at tempted to swim across the creek several times, was missing. He then raised an alarm.

A search of the entire area was immediately done by family and other public-spir ited persons and the body of the now deceased teenager was found at the bottom of the creek. She was escort ed to the Linden Hospital Complex where she was pro nounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty. There were no marks of violence seen on the body.

The body is present ly lying at the Pensioners Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. (G12)

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha participated in the wreathlaying exercise to commemorate Queenstown’s 181st anniversary

Extortion probe Wanted bulletin issued for businessman Dorwain Bess

Awanted bulletin has been issued by Police for 45-year-old Dorwain Bess, for question ing in relation to the publi cation of defamatory infor mation with intent to extort money.

According to the Guyana Police Force, Bess’s last known address is Lot 162 Rupa Place, Bel Air Park, Georgetown.

The businessman was implicated by Alex Wayne and Gary Eleazar, the two reporters who were arrested during a sting operation by Police as they allegedly at tempted to extort $1 million from an auto dealer.

The article was pub lished on the Facebook page of Guyana News Network

(GNN), which purports to be a “news agency”, with an auto dealer’s photograph, alleging that he was in volved in illegal activities – something which he said was untrue but caused him to be “embarrassed” and his “reputation was tarnished”. At that time, Police said the site was operated by an overseas-based political ac tivist.

Police in a statement said that investigators conducted video and au dio interviews with Marlon Gary Eleazar on Sunday. According to Police, during the interview Eleazar claimed that he was con tacted by Dorwain Bess, who told him that a busi nessman was evading tax

es on imported vehicles, and he subsequently wrote the article and sent same to Dorwain Bess.

“Eleazar said Bess sent the article to Rickford Burke where several paragraphs were added, and post ed it on the Guyana News Network Facebook page and website. Notably, Eleazar also said that he had access to the GNN website for over a year, and was given the website's password and us ername by Rickford Burke to manage the website, and he subsequently upload ed about five articles to the site,” the Police statement read.

Additionally, Police said that Eleazar claimed that he also sent other articles

targeting other persons including Guyana Energy Agency to Dorwain Bess who sent them to Burke, who would then post the said articles to the GNN's website and Facebook page.

“In particular, he said that Dorwain Bess told him that the article in question, was to threaten the businessman because of $100,000,000 that he had lost while they were in business,” Police said in the statement.

As the Police intensi fy its probe into attempts to extort a whopping $90 million from the local auto dealer, Eleazar and Wayne remain in custody.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Wanted: Dorwain Bess

Linden businessman shot 4 times following argument

Ashooting incident has left 53-year-old Nigel Sumersal, a businessman of Wismar Housing Scheme in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), hospi talised with several gun shot wounds about his body as Police hunt for the suspect.

Sumersal was alleged ly shot on Friday at about 21:00h at his home, where he operates a shop, follow ing a misunderstanding with another man earlier in the evening, the Guyana Police Force reported.

Enquiries revealed that at about 19:00h, Sumersal and the suspect, who are known to each other, had a misunderstanding. The suspect left after an argu

ment ensued and the busi nessman remained at his shop.

Some two hours after, the businessman said that he heard several loud ex plosions suspected to be gunshots and upon inves tigating, he saw the sus pect on the street a short

distance away armed with a hand gun, pointing in his direction.

He told Police that he then felt something hit him and he began feeling burning sensations about his body. He was shot once to his abdomen and three times to his right hand.

Wanted bulletin issued...

On Sunday, a source close to the investigation told this publication that the Police obtained voice re cordings of the political ac tivist, who has ties to the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), and the overseas-based Guyanese businessman, both demand ing $90 million from the local auto dealer in order to remove the article pub lished about him.

In addition, the source also revealed to this pub lication that Eleazar, who has access to the social me dia page, along with Wayne approached the auto deal er separately and request ed $10 million instead to re move the article from social media.

It was at this point that the auto dealer went to the Police on August 29 and filed a report about the ex tortion. This resulted in the Police setting up the sting operation to catch the two journalists, who are report edly close associates of the overseas-based business man.

The intelligence-led op eration was conducted on the East Coast of Demerara on Friday, after both Wayne

and Eleazar went to the businessman to extort cash.

As a result, investigators then gave the businessman some money, along with cer tain instructions.

The two reporters were then seen arriving at the lo cation and going to the busi nessman. The trio engaged in conversation during which Wayne and Eleazar demanded $1 million in or der to remove the post from the GNN Facebook page.

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

Last year, Bess was tak en to court by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) for importing fuel without an import or importing whole sale licence - a breach of Regulation 4(2) (b) of the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations 2014.

According to the Guyana Police Force, if anyone has information about the whereabouts of the Bess, they can contact 225-6940,

225-8196, 226-7476, 2252317, 227-1149 or the near est Police station. (G12)

The businessman was rushed to the Mackenzie Hospital Complex where he underwent emergency

surgery. Two warheads and two suspected 9mm spent shells were recovered at

the scene by detectives. Police are in pursuit of the suspect as investigations continue. (G12)

In custody: Alex Wayne and Gary Eleazar

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd), Mark Phillips and his wife, Mignon Bowen-Phillips, over the weekend attended the Pakuri Village (St Cuthbert's Mission) Amerindian Heritage month celebrations

Blairmont Estate foremen return to work

…5% salary increase to selected workers put on hold by Vice President

assessment at the Blairmont Estate.

Foremen

attached to the Blairmont Sugar

Estate have returned to work after protesting last week over what they called discrimination in granting of a five per cent salary increase to selected foremen.

This came after the work ers sought intervention by Government after they were

issued “threats” of disci plinary actions for protesting.

The foremen took strike action on Thursday and by Friday evening some of them were given letters from man agement of the estate ‘threat ening’ disciplinary action if they did not return to work.

This led to a meeting with Vice President Bharrat

Jagdeo and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.

The foremen claim that the Chief Executive Officer of the sugar corporation in structed that selected fore men be given a five per cent salary increase after they would have obtained 80 per cent passes on their employ ment confirmation required

According to them, the de cision was “unfair”.

Alleged discrimination

One of the field foremen, Nazam Bacchus explained to this publication that their concern is the process used in

Johnson said she has 31 years of service, having started as a weeder and worked her way up to become a forewoman.

“If they are just here for a couple of months and get a 5 per cent increase then I should get a 40 per cent. It would not have been 31 easy years; it would have been

night by armed security.

In part, the letters said, “The strike action is deemed as holding the company un der duress and is a breach of the Corporation’s Grievance Procedure.”

The letter also advised the foremen to resume duty on Friday, failing which would result in disciplinary action being implemented against them.

Bacchus said some of the foremen became afraid of los ing their jobs following the is suance of the letter.

This led them to meet with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who was meeting with fisherfolk in the region along with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

During that interaction, a decision was taken to have the foremen return to work.

giving the selected foremen an increase.

He referred to it as being discriminatory and unfair.

“Their salaries were in creased five per cent more than the basic salary. Some of them only got confirmed re cently and they are given an increase and we have foremen here who have been working on the estate for decades.”

He said they need answers on what they see as discrimi nation.

Meanwhile, Grace

31 years of blood, sweat and tears. There are others who are longer than I am. I have to now train these people that got 5 per cent above me – I have to train them to do the work that I am being paid less to do, that is totally unfair.”

Disciplinary action

Following actions taken by the foremen on Thursday where they demonstrated out side of the estate manager’s office, letters were delivered to their homes on Thursday

The Vice President also said that the five per cent sal ary increase awarded to the three foremen will be put on hold and the issue will be thoroughly addressed.

“After we would have met with the Minister of Agriculture and the Vice President, we were assured that this matter will be dealt with and there will be a vis it to the Blairmont Estate by the Minister to further ad dress this issue. We are satis fied so far,” Bacchus said after the engagement. (G4)

Miner slapped with illegal gun, ammo charge

A 24-year-old miner has been slapped with two unlawful possession charges after he was reportedly caught with an illegal firearm along with matching am munition.

Akeem Daniels of B Field Sophia, Georgetown, was arrested on September 22 at Gold Finger Landing, Cuyuni River in Region

Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The charges were laid un der Section 16 (2) (a) of the Firearm Act Chapter 16:05.

On Monday he appeared at the Bartica Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Crystal Lambert where he pleaded not guilty. He was remanded to prison and the case will continue on October 13.

Foremen from Blairmont Sugar Estate meeting with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

Charged: Akeem Daniels

4 new tourism experiences for World Tourism Day

Guyana will join the rest of the world today, September 27, in observance of World Tourism Day, under the theme “Rethinking Tourism” and will have access to four new tourism experiences.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Kamrul Baksh said the GTA has engaged all the regional tourism associations, the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), and other stakeholders to develop an event that will speak to the theme of World Tourism Day.

“It’s a very inclusive, multifaceted and multistakeholder approach the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce are tak ing on this celebratory day,” Baksh is quot ed by DPI as saying.

He highlighted that the activities will encapsulate the launch of four new tourism products, the Morning Nature Experience, and the Mangrove Heritage Tours, in Region Four, The Kopenang Waterfall Tour, and the New Amsterdam heritage Trail Tour.

A tourism mural will also be launched at Moleson Creek, while Baracara Falls and Kyk-Over-Al Tourism Enhancement Initiative in Region Seven, will also be ini tiated.

“We are looking to basically improve the conditions and management of sites and at tractions in Guyana, so we are using this as a pilot where we are going to be work ing very closely with the Mayor and Town Council, firstly to have an understand ing that they will pick up the refuse, so we will have a waste management system in place…and GTA is supportive in a mar keting campaign, we will also be donating tools, equipment and signage there,” Baksh said.

Region One has organised a showing of

Teen rape victim living in fear – grandmother

…as accused continues to threaten teen despite Police report

ACorentyne, Region

Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) mechan ic, who is before the court for allegedly raping a teen age girl, has been threaten ing her.

According to family mem bers of the teenager, she is scared for her life.

In July, the 30-year-old mechanic was charged for raping a 13-year-old girl between 2020 and April of this year. He was placed on $150,000 bail.

The girl is now 15 and her grandmother said that her younger sister is also scared, adding that she could also be harmed if her sister is attacked while on their way to or from school.

The elderly woman told this publication that the ac cused continues to threaten the teenager.

She explained that on several occasions when her granddaughter is going to school, she is being threat ened by the accused who once said to her that she will get what she wants.

“So, the lil gyal tell me that when he did raping she, he tell she say if people know anything about it that he gon kill she,” the worried lady said while noting that the teenager is fearful that she may not return home from school one day.

The teenager, accord ing to the grandmother, is

reluctant to go to school. However, the woman not ed that she gets assistance from her husband in ac companying the teen to and from school.

The woman has been tak ing care of her three grand daughters since their moth er died.

She said that she has reported the threats to the Welfare Department in the region and was advised to make a report to the Police, which she did on September 15.

However, according to the grandmother, even after the report, the accused ap proached the teen as she left school one day and was wait ing on transportation to get home and hurled threats.

The frustrated woman said that she is also fear ful and feels helpless since there is no guaranteed pro tection for the granddaugh ter as the threats continue from the accused.

According to her, nothing

tangible has been done by Police in relation to her re ports of threats.

Even more worrying, she added, is the fact that after the initial report of the al leged rape was made, the Police officers did not take any action. It was not until she made a report to a senior officer in the region that the matter was pursued.

“When me go to the sta tion, the Police keep telling me to take a settlement for the story because I would lose out because the paper would take one year at the DPP [Department of Public Prosecutions] and then when it go to court it would take a next two to three years for the case to try and the girl would get big so, I gon can’t talk for her and the case would dismiss,” she re vealed.

Under the Sexual Offence Act, Police officers should follow a specific procedure when reports are made of al leged sexual offences. (G4)

the Imbotero Research Centre documenta ry with the Guyana Marine Conservation Society, at Movie Towne.

Region Two will host a mini-tourism fair and exposition, while Region Three will host a tri-island tour. Other regions also have activities planned (see list of ac tivities in the picture below).

“We want it to be inclusive, we want to rethink the approach, so the approach is key, having involvement, I mean when we are rethinking tourism, we are think ing about how do we adapt, post-COVID yes, but partnerships are really the key for tourism development, hence why this ap proach was taken,” Baksh said.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is the leading in ternational organisation for the promotion of tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability.

According to the UNWTO, “before the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, tourism stood at an all-time high: one out of 10 jobs worldwide depended on tourism and inter national tourist arrivals reached 1.5 billion in 2019.”

Guyana has over recent years been making strides in the tourism industry, capturing several international prizes in cluding Number One Best Eco-Tourism Destination in 2019.

Tourist arrivals are now again showing an upward trend in Guyana, indicating a recovery after the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown.

The Government of Guyana had prior itised tourism as an area for sustainable development, and one that has great po tential to contribute tremendously to the country’s development.

No discrimination in land allocation process – Croal

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal dis missed the notion that the Government is dis criminating against a cer tain group of Guyanese in housing programmes being rolled out country wide.

“We don’t practice dis crimination, we take into consideration one variable and that is you have to be a pending applicant,” Croal said while speak ing at a recent allocation exercise at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, Region Three.

“If the demograph ics look a particular way here [in Region Three], it is what it is Region three. When we go to Linden and the demographics look a certain way, it is what it is in Linden. If we go to lowlands on the east coast and the demographics look a particular way it is what it is.

“Similarly, when you pull a lot from the enve

lope, we don’t know what your neighbour will look like.”

When the Government took office in August 2020, it met a backlog of 70,000 applications, with only 7000 house lots distribut ed during the coalition’s five-year tenure.

Croal said the PPP/C Administration has since implemented an aggres sive national housing pro gramme that has seen over 17,000 house lots dis tributed to Guyanese in just over two years.

He also mentioned the turn-key programme which allows persons in the low and moderate-in come bracket, and young professionals, affordable housing options. Some 1200 units are current ly being constructed in Regions Three, Four, Six and 10.

In keeping with its manifesto, the PPP/C Government is committed to delivering 50,000 house lots ? 10,000 annually to Guyanese within its first term in office.

Edward Snowden granted Russian citizenship

Former US intelli gence contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked extensive US intelligence surveillance operations, has been grant ed Russian citizenship.

The decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

Snowden, 39, has been living in exile in Russia since exposing the National Security Agency (NSA) programme affect ing millions of Americans in 2013.

Snowden, who faces es pionage charges in the US, has made no public com ments.

In 2020, the NSA’s sur veillance of millions of Americans' telephone re cords was ruled unlaw ful by the US Court of Appeals.

Snowden said after wards that he felt vindi cated by the ruling.

Top US intelligence offi cials had publicly insisted the NSA had never know ingly collected data from private phone records, un til Snowden exposed evi

Edward Snowden wants to go back to the US but faces espionage charges if he returns

dence to the contrary.

Following the reve lation, officials said the NSA's surveillance pro gramme had played a cru cial role in fighting domes tic terrorism, including the convictions of Basaaly Saeed Moalin, Ahmed Nasir Taalil Mohamud, Mohamed Mohamud, and Issa Doreh, of San Diego, for providing aid to al-Shabab militants in Somalia.

Snowden's lawyer, Anatoliy Kucherena was on Monday quoted by Russian State-run news agencies as saying that his client has never served in the

Russian Army, and there fore would not be called up as part of a partial mo bilisation announced by President Putin last week.

The Russian authori ties say they want to enlist 300,000 army reservists to fight in Ukraine, amid growing public opposition.

Reports in Opposition Russian media suggest that up to one million peo ple could be called up. (BBC News)

Ukraine war: Russia admits mobilisation errors, amid growing public opposition

The Kremlin has ad mitted mistakes were made in its drive to mobilise Russian army re servists to fight in Ukraine, amid growing public opposi tion.

"There are cases when the decree is violated," Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said, adding that "all the errors will be corrected".

Multiple reports say peo ple with no military experi ence - or who are too old or disabled - are being called up.

Last week's mobilisa tion decree has already trig gered widespread protests.

President Putin an nounced what he described as partial mobilisation on 21 September, with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu lat er saying 300,000 reservists would be called up.

However, reports in op position Russian media sug gested that up to one mil lion people could be called up, pointing out that one paragraph believed to be about the exact number of the required reservists was omitted (classified) in the published version of Mr Putin's decree on the official Kremlin website.

A number of military experts in the West and Ukraine say Mr Putin's de cision to call up reservists shows that Russian troops are failing badly on the bat tlefield in Ukraine - more than seven months after Moscow launched its inva sion.

Since the mobilisation announcement, more than 2,000 people have been de tained at protests across

Russia. At a briefing on Monday, Mr Putin's spokes man, Dmitry Peskov, con ceded that mistakes were being made.

He said that in some re gions, "governors are ac tively working to rectify the situation".

Mr Peskov also said he was unaware of any deci sions to shut Russia's bor ders and impose martial law in the country.

Media reports earli er suggested this could be done to stop potential re cruits escaping abroad.

Since the mobilisa tion was announced, many young Russians have been seeking to leave the coun try.

Satellite images show lengthy queues of Russian cars on the border with Georgia. In the latest sign of growing public protest, a man critically injured an army recruitment officer in the Siberian city of Ustllimsk on Monday.

Footage has emerged on social media apparent ly showing the attacker ap proaching the officer and then shooting him. People in the building are then seen screaming and run ning in panic after the gun man shouted to them to flee.

Over the weekend, peo ple in Russia's Dagestan republic in the North Caucasus clashed with po lice over the mobilisation drive. More than 100 peo ple were arrested during protests in the regional capital, Makhachkala, said OVD-Info, an independent Russian human rights mon itor.

There have also been

reports of a number of ar son attacks on recruitment centres and other admin istrative buildings across Russia. In his announce ment about the mobilisa tion last week, Mr Putin did not specify how many re servists would be called up.

But speaking immedi ately after the president, Mr Shoigu said 300,000 re servists - people who have had military experience and required specialist skillswould be enlisted.

The minister said this was just over 1% of Russia's 25 million military re serve potential. The process would be spread over sever al months.

Certain age and disabil ity limits would apply, the mobilisation decree said. It provided no further details. It is believed that males aged 18-60 - and in some cases even older - could be mobilised.

Some Russian commen tators immediately cast se rious doubts on the promis es of the president and his defence minister that the call-up would be limited.

They pointed out that the decree said nothing about exceptions, such as not recruiting students or conscripts. They suggested this would be left to region al heads to decide who to call in order to meet quotas.

On 24 September, Mr Putin issued a new decree specifically stating that stu dents would be deferred from the draft.

Before launching its in vasion on 24 February, Russia had amassed about 190,000 troops along Ukraine's borders. (BBC)

ousing and Water Minister Collin Croal

Regional

Uruguayan President's security chief arrested

The head of Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle

Pou's personal secu rity detail was arrested on Monday at the presidential residence on charges of fal sifying documents.

News of the arrest of security chief Alejandro Astesiano, who was de tained shortly after return ing to Uruguay from a trip with Lacalle Pou and his sons, appeared to have left the President shaken.

"I'm as surprised as you all are," Lacalle Pou said at a news conference he called on Monday in the capital of Montevideo. "I'm sick," the President added.

At the centre of the inves tigation led by public prose cutor Gabriela Fosatti are allegations that Astesiano sold fake Uruguayan pass ports to Russian citizens.

According to Police sources cited by local me dia, Astesiano had contacts that allowed him to process the required documentation to acquire the passports and sell them to Russians.

Lacalle Pou denied re ports that Astesiano had a

criminal record. On Monday afternoon, several local me dia outlets reported that there were prior inquiries into the security chief for 20 Police matters such as fraud, misappropriation and theft, among others. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Restoring public order in Haiti a priority

Haiti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Victor Geneus says that restor ing public order and secu rity are among the Haitian Government’s top priorities.

In addressing the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Debate, Geneus said finding broad consensus for peaceful governance, holding demo cratic elections and socioeco nomic development to im prove people’s lives are also among the Government’s priorities.

“Haiti is at a crossroads,” he said, adding that the peo ple of the French-speaking Caribbean country are ex periencing “a multidimen sional crisis compounded by insecurity that endangers democracy and the rule of law”.

Noting the violence wrought by armed gangs, he said efforts were needed to improve Police capacity and working conditions, re ferring to Council resolution 2645 (2022) in that regard.

The Foreign Affairs Minister called upon more Governments to contribute to the basket fund used to financially aid the Haitian Police, emphasising that continued solidarity was needed.

“I engaged in immediate dialogue with all sectors to build consensus for peace and effective governance during the interim period,” he said, stressing that the primary goal for Haiti’s transitional period is re-establishment of democratic institutions through “free, transparent and inclusive elections and

constitutional reform”, and welcoming support from the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Organisation of La Francophonie and the United Nations.

While defending the right to freedom of expression and the right to protest, Geneus condemned looters and van dals that carried out attacks on churches and schools.

“Good governance goes hand in hand with the fight against corruption, smug gling and trafficking,” he said.

Committed to govern ment budgetary discipline and public revenue manage ment, Geneus said Haiti has entered into a staff-moni tored programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). (Excerpt from CMC)

Hurricane Ian strengthens as Cuba and Florida brace for impact

Hurricane Ian is grow ing stronger as it bar rels towards western Cuba, where authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people in preparation for heavy rainfall and “devastat ing” wind.

Ian was forecast to hit the western tip of Cuba on Monday evening as a major hurricane and then become an even stronger Category 4 with top winds of 225 kilo metres per hour (140 miles per hour) over warm Gulf of Mexico waters before striking the US state of Florida later in the week.

Authorities have called on residents to make prepa rations in advance of the fast-moving storm, which the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned could bring “devastat ing wind damage” to western Cuba.

Cuba overwhelmingly approves same-sex marriage in referendum

Cubans

have over whelmingly approved a sweeping “family law” that would allow samesex couples to marry and adopt, the electoral commis sion said, in a move that will also redefine rights for chil dren and grandparents.

More than 3.9 million voters – 66.9 per cent – vot ed to ratify the new code while 1.95 million or 33 per cent were opposed, National Electoral Council President

Alina Balseiro Gutierrez said on state-run television on Monday.

The 100-page “fami ly code” legalises same-sex marriage and civil unions, allows same-sex couples to adopt children, and pro motes equal sharing of do mestic rights and respon sibilities between men and women.

Preliminary results from the electoral commis sion showed 74 per cent of

8.4 million Cubans eligible to vote participated in the Sunday referendum.

“Love is now the law,” President Miguel DiazCanel wrote on Twitter on Monday morning.

“It is paying off a debt with several generations of Cuban men and women, whose family projects have been waiting for this law for years,” he said. “As of today, we will be a better nation.” (Al Jazeera)

Fires in Brazil's Amazon surge in September, worst month since 2010

Fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest surged in September, already making it the worst month in more than a decade, Government data showed on Monday, after a jump in de forestation during an election year.

Smoke from a fire rises into the air as trees burn among veg etation in the Brazil's Amazon rainforest, in Apui, Amazonas state, Brazil, September 5, 2021 (Reuters/Bruno Kelly file photo)

tend to peak in August and September, considered the burning season in the region, when rains subside to let ranchers and farmers often set fire to deforested areas.

National space research agency INPE reported 36,850 fire alerts in the region so far this month, a 120 per cent rise over the full month last year and the worst on record for any month since September 2010, when INPE issued 43,933 alerts.

With that, the total fire alerts so far this year climbed to 82,872, surpassing the 75,090 recorded in all of 2021. Fires in the Amazon

This month, they have al ready surpassed the average of 32,110 fires for September, according to INPE satellite data dating back to 1998.

Destruction of Brazil's rainforest often picks up in election years, when law en forcement typically ebbs and loggers race ahead before con servation policy can possibly shift.

"Fires are not a natural phenomenon in the Amazon rainforest. These burnings are related to human activ ities, often illegal, and deg

radation levels that make it more susceptible to fires," said Mariana Napolitano, WWF-Brasil's science man ager.

Brazilians will vote on October 2 whether to give a second term to President Jair Bolsonaro. He has rolled back environmental protec tions and deforestation in the Amazon has surged to a 15year high.

"Brazil was once a world reference in monitoring na tional forests, but unfortu nately the responsible agen cies have been dismantled by the Government," for mer INPE Director Ricardo Galvao, now running for Congress, said on Twitter.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela-Colombia border reopens to trade as tensions ease

Trucks loaded with aluminium and medications have crossed a bridge linking Colombia and Venezuela for the first time in seven years, as the neighbour ing countries continue to mend relations after years of political conflict.

Bolivar International Bridge, one of the main crossings that connect the two countries, for a cere mony on Monday morning, Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Trampette reported from the bridge.

took steps to protect food and other crops in warehouses.

They also sent in medical and emergency personnel, and

Cuban State media report ed that authorities were evac uating 50,000 people in Pinar del Rio province, a more light ly-populated part of the island dedicated primarily to farm ing and fishing – and where the storm is set for a direct hit.

“Cuba is expecting ex treme hurricane-force winds, also life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall,” NHC senior specialist Daniel Brown told The Associated Press early on Monday.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The border reopen ing – which will see goods like coal, toilet paper and fruit moved through crossings between the Colombian city of Cucuta and the Venezuelan state of Tachira – was a key campaign promise of Colombia’s new left-wing President Gustavo Petro.

Petro arrived at Simon

“Obviously this means a lot symbolically; symbol ically [it] shows the end of this … sort of cold war that has existed between Colombia and Venezuela for a number of years now,” Rampietti said, add ing that many hope the resumption of trade will improve the economic sit uation in the area.

“We’ve seen the first trucks crossing with car

go from Venezuela into Colombia, and vice-versa. There is great expectation for what this will mean for this region, after years of icy relationships, af ter years of very, very re stricted economic activity, and in a situation where much of the goods that moved through this bor der did so illegally.”

The reopening comes weeks after Petro and his Venezuelan counterpart President Nicolas Maduro announced that they planned to restore dip lomatic relations, which were severed in 2019.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Security chief Alejandro Astesiano (left) and President Luis Lacalle Pou (Photo: FocoUy)

Waves kick up under a dark sky along the shore of Batabano, Cuba, on September 26 as Hurricane Ian approaches [Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo]

Smoke from a fire rises into the air as trees burn among vegetation in the Brazil's Amazon rainforest, in Apui, Amazonas state, Brazil, September 5, 2021 (Reuters/Bruno Kelly file photo)

Around the World

Swastika-wearing ex-pupil kills 15 in Russian school shooting

drawn on his tee-shirt.

Oil prices slide $2/ bbl; settle at 9-month lows on dollar strength

Oil prices fell US$2 a barrel on Monday, settling at nine-month lows in choppy trade, pressured by a strengthening dollar as market participants awaited details on new sanctions on Russia.

Brent crude futures for November settled down US$2.09, or 2.4 per cent, to US$84.06 a barrel, plunging below levels reached on January 14.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for November delivery dropped by US$2.06, or 2.3 per cent to US$76.71, the lowest since Jan 6.

Both contracts had risen early in the session after slumping about 5 per cent on Friday.

The dollar index hit a two-decade high, pressuring demand for oil which is priced in the US currency. The impact of a strong dollar on oil prices is at its most pronounced in more than a year, Refinitiv Eikon data shows.

"It's hard for anyone to expect oil will recover in the wake of a greenback this expensive," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

Disruption from the Russia-Ukraine war also hit the oil market, with European Union sanctions banning Russian crude set to start in December along with a plan by G7 countries for a Russian oil price cap looking set to tighten supply.

Interest rate increases by central banks in numerous oil-consuming countries have raised fears of an economic slowdown that could squeeze oil demand.

"With more and more central banks being forced to take extraordinary measures no matter the cost to the economy, demand is going to take a hit which could help rebalance the oil market," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda in London.

Attention is turning to what the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, together known as OPEC+, will do when they meet on Oct 5, having agreed at their previous meeting to cut output modestly.

However, OPEC+ is producing well below its targeted output, meaning that a further cut may not have much impact on supply.

"Odds would appear quite high for a downward adjustment in production by the OPEC+ organisation," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois.

Data last week showed OPEC+ missed its target by 3.58 million barrels per day in August, a bigger shortfall than in July. (Reuters)

Agunman with a swas tika on his tee-shirt killed 15 people, in cluding 11 children, and wounded 24 at a school in Russia on Monday before committing suicide, investi gators said.

The attacker, a man in his early thirties who was named by authorities as Artem Kazantsev, killed two security guards and then opened fire on students and teachers at School Number 88 in Izhevsk, where he had once been a pupil.

Russia's Investigative Committee, which handles major crimes, said it was looking into the perpetra tor's suspected neo-Nazi links.

"Currently investiga tors...are conducting a search of his residence and

studying the personality of the attacker, his views and surrounding milieu," the committee said in a state ment. "Checks are being made into his adherence to neo-fascist views and Nazi ideology."

Investigators released a video showing the man's body lying in a classroom with overturned furniture and papers strewn on the bloodstained floor. He was dressed all in black, with a red swastika in a circle

The Investigative Committee said that of the 24 people wounded, all but two were children. Regional governor Alexander Brechalov said surgeons had carried out a number of operations.

He said the attacker had been registered with a "psy cho-neurological" treatment facility. Investigators said the man was armed with two pistols and a large sup ply of ammunition.

Kremlin spokes man Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin "deeply mourns" the deaths. He described the incident as "a terrorist act by a per son who apparently belongs to a neo-fascist organisation or group". (Excerpt from Reuters)

Florida braces for 'strengthening' Hurricane Ian

Authorities in Florida have urged residents to "make their prepa rations" as Tropical Storm Ian strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane early on Monday.

Ian was forecast to move northwest through the Caribbean, near Cuba and the Cayman Islands, and reach the state's west coast by Wednesday.

The hurricane's ex act path is uncertain but Governor Ron DeSantis warned of "broad impacts throughout the state".

Residents have been seen stocking up on food, water, medicine and fuel.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it expects "rapid strengthening" from Ian over the next 48 hours, with maximum sustained winds of 75mph (121kmph).

Along Florida's Tampa Bay coast, grocery store

shelves were quickly cleared of basic necessities and there were long queues at gas stations.

"It's never too early to prepare," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor tweeted on Sunday.

Local officials in her mu nicipality and others like Miami and Fort Lauderdale are distributing free sand bags to help residents pro tect their homes from flood ing.

Meteorologists have said flash flooding is possible by Tuesday in the Florida pen insula and Florida Keys as the approaching hurricane makes landfall.

The Governor declared a state of emergency for all of Florida over the week end and has activated 5000 National Guard troops to as sist with relief efforts.

Federal officials are also pre-positioning millions of

NASA spacecraft to hit asteroid in planetary defence test

meals and litres of water in Florida and neighbouring Alabama.

Some parts of the state have not seen a hurricane

of this magnitude in about a century and may receive as much as 10 feet of storm surge, they said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Canada to remove all COVID travel restrictions from Oct 1

Canada will drop all COVID-19 restric tions for travellers from Oct 1, including vacci nation and masking require ments for flights and trains, the Government said on Monday.

infections, the government said.

More than 90 per cent of Canadians over 12 have tak en the primary series of a COVID vaccine. This month, Canada authorised Moderna Inc's bivalent COVID-19 shots for adults, the coun try's first Omicron-adapted vaccine.

ANASA

spacecraft is scheduled to slam into an asteroid, in an unprecedented test de signed to prevent potentially devastating collisions with Earth.

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft will hit the aster oid Dimorphos about 11 mil lion kilometres from Earth on Monday, attempting to slightly alter its trajectory in a test of the world’s first planetary defence system.

“This is a challenging test, and this is why we’re taking these first steps now to develop this technology before we need it,” Nancy Chabot, the mission coordi nation lead, told Al Jazeera just hours before the sched uled impact.

The DART spaceship launched from California

in the United States last November and is fast ap proaching its target, which it will strike at roughly 22,500km per hour (14,000 miles per hour) around 7:14pm Eastern Time (23:14

GMT).

“It’s the final cosmic col lision countdown,” tweeted mission control at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in the US state of Maryland.

The asteroid is not on course to collide with Earth, but Monday’s test marks the first effort to change the tra jectory of an asteroid using only kinetic force – and sci entists hope that the meth od could be used to nudge asteroids and prevent cata clysmic collisions.

A camera will send back images during the fi nal approach and collision, which will be streaming live on NASA TV starting an hour before impact. DART has made most of its journey with the guidance of NASA flight directors.

An autonomous naviga tion system will take over in the final hours of the voyage, which will be monitored in real time from the mission operations centre at APL in Laurel, Maryland. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The move is likely to boost the Canadian travel industry, already booming after months of lull during the pandemic.

Canadian carriers were also pressing for an end to mask mandates on flights, citing thousands of incidents of non-compliance this year alone.

"As Canadians and in ternational visitors look to make travel plans, the long-awaited removal of all remaining measures effec tive Oct 1, 2022 will further expedite recovery for our in dustry and the Canadian economy," Canada's sec ond-largest carrier WestJet Airlines said in a statement.

The decision to end re strictions was based on Canada's vaccination rate, availability of newer vac cines and treatments and data showing the country had passed the peak of the latest wave of coronavirus

"Thanks largely to Canadians who have rolled up their sleeves to get vacci nated, we have reached the point where we can safely lift the sanitary measures at the border," Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said.

Duclos said the Government was prepared to reinstate restrictions if needed.

Travellers, regardless of citizenship, will not have to submit health information through the ArriveCAN app or provide proof of vaccina tion from Saturday.

A requirement for trav ellers to wear masks on planes and trains would also be dropped. Cruise ship passengers and crew would also no longer be subject to vaccine requirements or COVID testing. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Police officers secure the area near a school after a gunman opened fire there, in Izhevsk, Russia September 26, 2022

NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft will hit the asteroid Dimorphos about 11 million kilometres from Earth on Monday evening [Steve Gribben/Johns Hopkins APL/NASA via AP Photo]

HOROSCOPES

Agreeing to something for the wrong reason will create inner turmoil. Ponder over offers, suggestions and consequenc es before you get involved in something that’s asking too much of you.

(March 21-April 19)

SUDOKU

(May 21-June 20) (April

Put your heart and soul into profes sional responsibilities, and be the one to make a positive change to an urgent situation. Share your ideas and take charge of getting things done on time.

Underlying anger can ruin your day. Channeling your angst into something concrete will alleviate stress. Give oth ers a chance to fix a mistake before you say something derogatory.

Pursue your dreams, speak up, follow through and finish what you start. It’s up to you to put your plans in motion. Don’t wait around for someone to pick up the slack.

(June 21-July 22) (July 23-Aug. 22)

Surf the internet for answers, sugges tions, and information about old friends and colleagues. Reconnecting with some one like-minded will lead to something new and exciting. Find out all you can.

Initiate a change that makes you feel good and encourages you to do more for others. Stay focused on what’s import ant, and don’t lose sight of what’s hap pening in your personal life.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Take the high road. Let your con science lead you down a path that offers solitude and peace of mind. Put mus cle behind your ideas, and be the one to make a difference.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Put your energy into accumulating what’s important to you. Building a se cure home base and getting your financ es in order will give you peace of mind and confidence.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Take a pass if you don’t like a propos al. Research will uncover information that will help you tilt a situation in your favor. Mingle and align yourself with people who can boost your prospects.

Think matters through and pay at tention to money. An adjustment is over due and can change how or where you live. Trust your instincts and follow your heart. Romance is on the rise.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You have the right idea regarding in vestments and money management, but your timing is off. Hesitation is what’s getting in your way. Ask questions, veri fy facts and do what you must to thrive.

Add something visual to an idea, and you will capture someone’s inter est. Connect with supportive people, and you’ll get honest feedback to help you build a solid and viable proposal. Play it safe.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

CALVIN

DILBERT

NAMILCO renews cricket sponsorship of RHTY&SC Under 21 and First Division teams

…Foster unveils plans for youths at senior level

The National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) last week renewed its cricket spon sorship of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club (RHTY&SC) during a simple presentation ceremony at the company’s Agricola, Greater Georgetown head office. The support would cover sponsor ship of the Club’s Under 21 and First Division teams for the next 12 months.

RHTY&SC Secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the company first sponsored the two teams in 2019 and over the last three years, both teams have excelled on and off the cricket field. The teams have won several ma jor cricket tournaments in cluding the Busta Champion of Champions, Stag Beer 50 overs, Elizabeth Styles Under 21 and Ivan Madray20/20 tourneys. Foster also informed NAMILCO management that the teams have produced sev eral outstanding players in cluding Kelvon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Clinton

Pestano, Kevin Sinclair, Jonathan Rampersaud, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Jermey Sandia, Mahendra Gopilall, Sohail Mohamed and Ramzan Koobir who all played for Guyana or the West Indies over the past 12 months. Junior and Kevin Sinclair played in the 2022 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournament while Kevin and Pestano played for Guyana at the First- Class level.

Anderson, a former West Indies Under 19 player, was unlucky not to gain selec tion to the national senior

team, but gained selection to the West Indies Emerging Players Academy. Foster disclosed that in 2022, the RHTY&SC produced four players of the national Under 19 female team, six on the national senior female, two on the national senior male, two in the CPL, two for the national Under 15 male and three for the national Under 19 male team. A hand injury prevented Matthew Pottaya from playing for the national Under 17 team.

Off the cricket field, the two teams together host ed over 50 personal develop ment projects, including the construction of two homes for friends of the club, annu al cricket camp, annual sum mer camp, COVID-19 hamper programme, scorebook pro gramme, medical outreach, Basil Butcher Trust Fund, and distribution of school bags and educational school grants. The teams, over the past 12 months, assisted dozens of youths with bicycles , cricket gear, and electronic tablets as

part of their Say Yes to Sports and Education programme. Members of the teams would be involved in promotional work for their sponsor during the upcoming Berbice Expo at the Albion Ground from October 14 .

Foster also disclosed that with some of the Club’s most senior veterans passing the age of 35 years, a decision was made to invest in the younger players like Sandia, Pottaya, Rampersaud, Gopilall, Romesh Bharrat and Ramzan Koobir . This would be done de spite the fact that it might af fect performances on the field. The long-serving club official stated that the immediate goal was not to win tourna

ments but to mould a powerful team for the future. He stated that the RHTY&SC,MS, has won over 100 tournaments over the past 30 years and sil verware is not the main ob jectives but rather producing a team for the future. Players like the Sinclairs, Anderson, Pestano, Slyus Tyndall, Keith Simpson, and Eon Hooper, shall provide the leadership to the younger generation as part of the rebuilding process.

NAMILCO Managing Director Bert Sukhai and Financial Controller Fitzroy McLeod both hailed the outstanding work of the RHTY&SC and the way the two teams have represented the company brand. McLeod

hailed Foster for his visionary leadership of the club and stat ed that NAMILCO was very pleased to be associated with a club that fulfilled all of its commitments under the spon sorship. He also stated that he was very impressed with the teams’ winning ways and the number of outstanding play ers they have produced.

As part of the sponsorship, the company also handed over 30 pairs of coloured uniforms to the club along with a cheque to cover the cost of transporta tion, meals/snacks, balls, gear and practice sessions. Kelvon Anderson would captain the First Division team while Jonathan Rampersaud would lead the Under 21 team.

England Captain Knight accuses India of lying over Dean ‘Mankad’

It was only in January 2021, they were alerted by Assistant Director of Sport, Melissa Dow-Richardson from the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry that golf was on the PE syllabus for CSEC. Golf was the only sport that met the COVID-19 restric tions, so the plan was to in clude golf on the PE curric ulum and allow students to take it as an elective at the CSEC examinations. Despite the odds, the monumental task was accomplished with the strong support of the Education Ministry’s Allied Arts Unit, donors, and over seas supporters.

In March 2021, six schools entered into a pilot pro gramme and a “Train the Trainers” programme was developed along with a sylla

According to Lorraine Barker-King, Head of the Allied Arts Unit, and Kurt Braithwaite, who led the de velopment of the programme in the schools, “this is the fastest we’ve ever implement ed a new sport into the edu cation system and the ease in which it was taught has tak en everyone by surprise. The teachers and learners have responded magnificently and want congratulate all those who took the leap of faith to write golf on short notice at CSEC and achieve such a high pass rate.”

bus and examination guide lines for teachers. By the end of 2021, teachers from 102 secondary schools had gone through the programme, and amazingly, over 100 students had decided to take golf at CSEC in 2022.

When the results were announced in September, it was evident that not only was the programme a suc cess in a very short time, but Guyanese students had made history by taking a never-be fore-played sport and excel ling at it.

Today, it is hard to ignore a sport that has captured the attention and imagination of thousands around the coun try and with an addition al 5000 trainee teachers and 6000 university students set to be exposed to the sport in the coming months, it is an ticipated that golf will become one of the most played sports in Guyana, rivalling cricket and football.

England Captain Heather Knight has accused India of ly ing after Deepti Sharma claimed Charlie Dean had been warned before be ing subjected to a “Mankad” at Lord’s on Saturday.

India sealed a 16-run win and a 3-0 One-Day International (ODI) series whitewash when Deepti did not go through with her de livery stride, instead whip ping off the bails with Dean out of her ground backing up.

Dean had to be consoled after a dismissal that was within the laws, but sparked a huge debate with many be lieving Deepti was out of or der for not acting within the spirit of the game.

Deepti claimed Dean had been warned about leaving her crease.

She said: “Nothing, it was our plan because she repeat edly... we had warned her also. We did it according to the rules and guidelines.”

Asked if a warning had been issued, she added: “Yes, yes definitely we did say, be cause we told the umpires.

But still she was there so we couldn’t do anything.”

Knight, who was not play ing in the game as she recov ers from hip surgery, says that was not the case.

She tweeted: “The game is over, Charlie was dis missed legitimately. India were deserved winners of the match and the series. But no warnings were given. They don’t need to be given, so it hasn’t made the dismissal any less legitimate…

“But if they’re comfort able with the decision to af fect [sic] the run out, India

shouldn’t feel the need to jus tify it by lying about warn ings.”

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stated after the game in London that she was not aware that Deepti was planning to ‘Mankad’ Dean.

She said: “No, I wasn’t aware. And that’s what I’m saying. I’m actually hap py [Deepti] was aware, be cause she was bowling from both ends in the middle and she knew [Dean] was going and I think it was her aware ness.” (Sportsmax)

RHTY&SC Secretary Hilbert Foster receives the coloured uniform from NAMILCO Managing Director Bert Sukhai in the presence of other company executives

Junior Sinclair

Angostura treats students to interaction with CPL stars

Anothergroup of young Guyanese were treated to an in teractive session featuring Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) personalities. This time around, it was compliments of Banks DIH, through its Angostura Chill brand.

Students from several schools around Georgetown gath ered at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda, on Monday morning, where they fired rapid questions about life and the sport to St Lucia Kings Coach Daren Sammy and

the Barbados Royals’ Harry Tector.

The engagement, organised by Banks DIH, was fo cused on jumpstarting the next generation of players.

This motive was explained by Banks’ Communications Manager, Troy Peters.

“As you know, CPL is in the air and it’s not what is hap pening now, it’s what is to come in the future. So, to have these youngsters here today is a testimony to what we plan to do to bring more into the core. And it’s even more encourag

Rutherford grateful for experience despite Patriots elimination

Rutherford has shown his athleticism in the field

By TimoThy Jaikarran

Defending

Their performance in the tournament was not up to par as they lost a good portion of their games, resulting in them having to depend on other teams to win for them to book a spot in the play-offs. However, fortune would not come their way, Guyanese all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford, who represented the Patriots, was grateful for the expe rience despite the outcome.

In an interview with <<<Guyana Times Sport>>>, the talented Guyanese said, “First of all, I must thank God for the opportunity, St Kitts team has al ways been a friendly team and for me the experience was a good one. As a team, we didn’t play as well as we want ed and even as an individual, I didn’t feel I did much for them, but apart from the cricket as an aspect, it was very nice and humble. One thing we talked about is being close in these tough times, so I think that was one experience with St Kitts that made it a good one, even though as a team and an individual it wasn’t the way we expected it.”

Rutherford went on to state that for him, the most memorable moment of the tournament was when he scored

ing to see female players, girls around because it will help to lift their see ing on television, their going to the games, and this is the opportunity for them to come out and to really get that expo sure,” Peters explained.

Not only were the stu dents allowed to quiz the international superstars, but autographs, photos and games were plenty.

In turn, the cricketers did not shy away from sharing harsh truths that could help to motivate the youngsters.

“I’ve had thoughts of giving up, plenty times, but, again, it’s the mindset because things don’t always go your way. That’s just in life, in general. Probably you guys at school and you can’t do the work, can’t get it done, and thinking, ‘I’m giv ing up,” the former West Indian Captain Sammy said.

“That’s where the strong mindset comes in, keep motivat ing yourself and telling yourself that I’m good enough.”

Referencing some of his experiences as Captain of the re gional team, Sammy explained, “That was tough and when I was in my room, I want to hit my head on the wall, why, why. But if you succeed, that feeling that comes to you when you actually overcome those challenges, propelled me to want to continue.”

According to Peters, such revelations could help to inspire the youths, who are likely to be the cricket stars of the future.

He highlighted, “When you heard about some of the strug gles that some of these players come through and you know, you might be sitting there and believing ‘What?! I didn’t know it was all of that’, some people never had a bat, somebody had to give them a bat, a pair of shoes, you know.”

“These are some of the things that these children will be inspired by, because they get that understanding that you don’t start with a golden bat, a big cricket bag and so on. It all starts from the bottom and this is the initiative to lift them from where they’re at right now.”

“I’m sure that after today, look some of them in their fac es, you will see them some other time, maybe representing West Indies, Guyana and further afield,” he posited.

Historic! Barima-Waini Football Association IMC commissioned

History was created on Saturday last at the Mabaruma Settlement Ground when the members of the Barima-Waini Football Association (BWFA) Interim Management Committee received their letters of appointment by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

blessed with loads of talented players including Annalisa Vincent, who hails from one of the three sub-regions, Moruca. The other two sub-regions are Martarkai and Mabaruma.

Sherfane Rutherford scored his highest T20 mark against TKR (78)

78 against Trinbago Riders. He that he was so it was good for him to finish the tournament well. He relayed that the knock was also special, because his mother was there and other family members, including his son and fiancée, watching him which made it even more special. As it relates to what went wrong with the Patriots, Rutherford explained that as a team they knew that they beat themselves in the middle phase in the 2021 edition. However, come 2022, they were not able to produce the same re sults, which leads him to believe that as a team they need to work on those areas and come back stronger.

“Next for me, I would say Super 50, because I would say I plan to play some First-Class cricket. There is Super 50 and I plan to play some inter county be fore Super 50 next month. I just want to play more cricket; it is something I have been lacking and I think personally for me that is one area I want to strengthen as doing more cricket will be better for me,” Rutherford shared.

In closing, the talented Guyanese all-rounder thanked his true fans for supporting him, especially in the tough times. He says that he appreciates the messages they send him and that he loves them and will see them around.

This is the first phase of streamlining and organising football in Region One with the Committee being elected to chart the way forward with the ultimate aim of becoming the 10th Regional Association affiliated with the GFF.

The nine affiliated RAs are Rupununi, Upper Demerara, Bartica, Essequibo, East Bank, West Demerara, East Demerara, Berbice, and Georgetown.

The members of the BWFA met among themselves some time ago virtually to elect the members to serve on the IMC. This was after several meetings were held with GFF Members Services Officer, Franklin Wilson, who helped to guide the process.

The members were guided through the constitution of the Federation which would guide how they function on a day-today basis inclusive of organising age group competitions; clubs having meetings and reporting to the BWFA and the Association, similarly, reporting to the Federation.

BWFA-IMC Chairman Knester Castello, in commenting on the significant moment after receiving his letter from Wilson, expressed a sense of satisfaction given the fact that they have been knocking on the door for quite some time now.

“This is a huge achievement for us as a region, the level of commitment shown by President [Wayne] Forde and the GFF is great for the game and for us as a new body. We know that the work will not be easy, but as a body, we are committed to work towards our Association becoming the next GFF full member.”

Castello, himself a former player, said that their region was

“We are aware of the talent available here that will bolster any of our national teams. We are committed to allowing our youths the opportunities to take their career to the next level and even procure scholarships with the support of the GFF,” Castello said.

President Forde, in commending the members of the BWFA-IMC, said that the Federation was committed to seeing the growth and development of the sport in Region One, on and off the field of play.

Forde posited that his and the GFF’s vision was to ensure that the hinterland regions were afforded impartial access to structured football programmes and its developmental resources.

Gratitude was extended to the Regional Chairman, Mayor, and other officers who have contributed to this historic process.

The full BWFA-IMC reads: Knester Castello (Chairman); Renatto Srikumar (First VC); Ormelindie Gildarie (Second VC); Monique Emmanuel (Secretary); Ingrid Harris-Chappelle (treasurer) and Celestine Maria Chacon (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer). The Committee Members are Sherlon Rodrigues, Ralph Williams, Terrance Ash, Carlos Henry, and Kimste Castello.

Meanwhile, the BWFA-IMC is expected to, among other things, deliver on the following:

Be in full compliance with all that is required to ensure a successful and satisfying period of management which can ultimately lead to the request for full membership being accepted; ensure clubs are properly registered, adapt their constitutions, hold regular meetings, submit reports of those meetings to the BWFA; and participate in competitions

at both the male and female levels; identify individuals who would receive training as Match Coordinators, Referees, and Coaches, and report monthly to the GFF on the progress of onand off-field activities inclusive of ROFA Committee meetings.

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champions St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are out of the 2022 edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Harry Tector also got in on the autograph action

A snapshot of the Guyanese students, Daren Sammy, Harry Tector and Angostura officials

Daren Sammy was eager to sign autographs for the students

Playoff fever in the air!

By Jemima Holmes

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Thumping

hearts, sweaty palms, and crossed fingers are only a few of the scenes that will be witnessed at the Guyana National Stadium today, as four teams begin their hunt for a spot in Friday’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final.

Playoff fever will hit Guyana today, as the Hero CPL heads into the nail-biting back end of its tournament. With the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) qualifying along side the Barbados Royals, St Lucia Kings and Jamaica Tallawahs, the teams are promising their ‘A’ game.

The events of Sunday last at the Providence Stadium, made for an interest ing playoff fixture, where local franchise, the GAW, have secured two slices of the pie, alongside the Barbados Royals.

As the teams get ready for today’s Qualifier 1 and Eliminator 1 at Guyana’s premier cricketing venue, the team captains gathered at the Pegasus Hotel and Corporate Suites for some pre-game action, to share ex pectations and thoughts on their team’s per formance in the tournament thus far.

“Things been great, eight games out of 10, you know, I think the boys have been playing some great cricket. Just unfortunate we lost the game last night, we really wanted to win the game to go into the playoffs with some momentum, but I think the guys have been awesome,” Barbados Royals Captain Kyle Mayers shared.

“They’re still in the game, very high spir ited and ready to go for tomorrow,” he as serted after the crushing loss to the Amazon Warriors on Sunday night.

First-time Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain Shimron Hetmyer said, “The start wasn’t what we expect as a team as well, but I think, the guys, when they got back to Guyana, their spirits were much higher than I expected and they’re ready to go, with the crowds.”

“As I say, the twelfth man really plays a part, so, I think having the crowds here and knowing the conditions as well as we do, I think the guys are really, really up to the challenge, they’re been playing fantastic cricket for the past four games, it’s just for us to continue,” Hetmyer explained about the impact of playing at home.

Meanwhile, St Lucia Kings Captain Faf du Plessis had words of praise for the surface at Providence.

“I think the only difference, so far, is ob viously that extra game that you could’ve played. There’re four strong teams in the competition, really impressed with how the wicket’s been playing. I think it’s – my expe rience from the past years – it’s a nice cricket wicket setup for what would be quarter-finals and semi-finals over the next two days,” du Plessis underscored.

On the other hand, Jamaica Tallawahs Captain Rovman Powell shared, “I think it’s been an up and down season for us as a franchise but having said that, I think the guys have played some really good cricket in patches. The guys are up for the challenge and are looking forward to what the finals weekend brings,” It’s basically the business end of the competition and it’s time for us to possibly bring our ‘A’ game and I think the guys are chomping at the bit to do that.”

The local franchise, GAW, are on a hot streak and rightfully so. However, Captain Hetmyer recognises that there is a lot of talk about the Warriors’ track record at this stage, but is unfazed by such.

“Mentally, the guys are good actually. We can’t really think about what happened in the past, because some of these guys, a lot of these guys, they weren’t actually there in the past teams that actually made it to the knockout rounds,” Hetmyer explained.

“We can’t think of what happened before, it’s just to, as I keep telling them, just take it one game at a time and then we’ll see what happens in the next one.”

Additionally, Hetmyer is focused on main taining positive vibes in his camp. This, of course, means that the captain is not trying to create pressure situations for his players, especially regarding form.

Hetmyer asserted, “As it is, we basical ly back our players regardless of if they get runs today, they get runs tomorrow, whenev er they do or even if they don’t, we still back the players.”

“We try as much to give them that ener gy, give them that support that they would need from us, even if they want to go early and hit a few balls, we’ll find a way to get that done. I think that’s all you have to do as man agement to make sure that you support all your players and make sure that they’re as comfortable as possible to succeed,” the GAW Captain divulged.

Barbados Royals

The Barbados Royals, up until Sunday, were the team to beat. Now, even as the ta ble toppers for the preliminary stage, it’s any one’s game to take. The Royals have lost their Captain David Miller and batsman Quinton de Kock to international duties, but current Captain Kyle Mayers is relieved that others players have been able to come to the party.

“I mean to miss those two big players is a hard thing, but you know, we have some guys who came in, who are looking the part. Harry Azam getting a promotion to bat ear lier and Najibullah, who flew in recently. I think these guys are capable for making up these losses,” Mayers elucidated.

Speaking on what the Royals need to work on going forward, Mayers commented, “I just think we need to learn from the conditions. I think we need to assess the conditions a bit faster with bat and ball. I think we’ve been doing that very well throughout the season.”

St Lucia Kings

The St Lucia Kings missed out on their last game, owing to rain at the Providence Stadium on Sunday. However, the Kings are coming with a vengeance and maybe a plan to rain down the runs at Providence tonight.

Captain Faf du Plessis highlighted the team’s impressive starts thus far, describing it as their weapon. A such, he expressed opti mism in their batting capabilities.

“I think any batting team would say to you that form plays a big role. As a team I feel like, myself and John up front, we have some very good form there, but also some of the other guys are looking like they’re hitting the ball better and that’s pleasing signs,” the St Lucia Captain explained.

Adding another bit about the wicket at Providence, Du Plessis stated, “I’m really impressed with the wicket, when I was last here in 2016, the wicket didn’t quite play the same. Now it feels like a proper T20 wicket, where there’s something in it for both bat and ball.”

Jamaica Tallawahs

Jamaica too, like St Lucia, had their last preliminary game abandoned because of rain, but the achievement of a playoff spot, is by no means an unappreciated feat for the Tallawahs.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction for the franchise, from not being in the playoffs last year to being in the playoffs this year. You know, it’s a positive step in the right di rection,” Captain Rovman Powell said about qualifying.

Powell, like his matching numbers, isn’t too worried about his team’s batting, but hopes they can all ‘show up and show out’.

“As it regards the batting of the team, the guys have the full backing of the staff and the Coach and everybody, it’s just for them to continue to put up their hand and who is not putting up their hand to come to the party?”

Powell continued, “I believe that the guys will come to the party very soon, because if you watch the guys in training, they’re hit ting the ball pretty good.”

The Amazon Warriors and the Barbados Royals will lock horns in Qualifier 1 today be ginning at 10am, where the winner will head straight to Friday’s Hero CPL final.

At 7pm, the Tallawahs and the Kings will battle to stay alive in Eliminator 1. Then, on Wednesday night, the winner of Eliminator 1 will play the loser of Qualifier 1 for a shot at the final.

Tickets for the playoff games are still available and can be purchased at the GAW Box Office, at 233-234 Camp Street, Georgetown.

Digicel has, over the years, been giv ing young and budding cricketers a chance to experience the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in very tangible ways.

Over the years, Digicel has been integral in connecting young people with the sport they love and their heroes. This year, 25 youngsters from the Albion Under 15 Cricket Club in Berbice were given the opportuni ty to an all-expenses trip to a CPL match at the National Stadium Providence to watch the Guyana Amazon Warriors in their win ning streak. For some of the young cricket ers, it was their first experience visiting the National Stadium and watching a live game.

This long-standing initiative by Digicel has given young cricketers from Buxton, West Coast Demerara, Ptolemy Reid, Diamond Special Needs School, Everest Cricket Club and Enmore Under 15 Club the chance to interact with the CPL tournament and the players over the years.

“We are very pleased to be a part of this ac tivity today, simply because we are providing these young people with an ‘experience’ that will ignite that spark and maybe one day, one of these very young men will have a different view of the stadium, one with them playing from the pitch. And they will remember when Digicel invited them to watch their first live cricket match. The essence of this activity is to foster development and growth of tomor row’s sporting generation. CPL exemplifies this not only in Guyana but throughout the Region and Digicel cannot be any prouder to be a part of this,” Vidya Sanichara of Digicel said.

The youths ranging from ages eight to 15 years are from the Berbice corridor and were accompanied by their Coach, Simon Naidu, who expressed appreciation: “Thanks for Digicel for giving us this opportunity. Many of the kids have never been to the stadium, and it is an experience for them, especial ly watching Veerasammy Permaul, left-arm spinner for the GAW, who is a product of the Albion Under 15 Cricket Club. Many of them know him and seeing him with the team is very exciting for them.”

Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain Shimron Hetmyer

Barbados Royals Captain Kyle Mayers

St Lucia Kings Captain Faf du Plessis

Jamaica Tallawahs Captain Rovman Powell

Amazon Warriors inspire next generation through ExxonMobil engagement

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

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

dren.

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

hosted in the Marriott Hotel Parking Lot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Message by Hon. Brigadier (Retired)

Mark Phillips, Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

given the socio-economic development benefits that cricket offers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Cricket

Guyanese Peters relishing experience with CPL marketing team

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEON BOVELL

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

SHIVANAND HARIPRASAD

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

DELICIA GEORGE

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

PERNELL CHRISTIE

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

AREEB ALI

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

SUNIL RAMLALL

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

JENNIFER SAM

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

ISHAKA JACKMAN

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

LAKANAND SINGH

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

VARSHA BOODRAM

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

Scenes from Guyana Amazon Warriors home games at Providence

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

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

Trinbago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Barbados Royals, the form team

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

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

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

Tallawahs flexing muscle

have carried the Jamaica Tallawahs this season.

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

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

Kings inspired by home support and Sammy

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

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

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

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

West Indies players Brandon King and Rovman Powell

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Barbados Royals

Jamaica Tallawahs

Realising the CPL dream, 10 years down the line

By Jemima Holmes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Russell figures the CPL would be close to

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 years on and truer words…

“We’re very proud of all the relationships

lost without the corporate boost.

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

CPL CEO Pete Russell

The Hetmyer-led

GAW team is equipped with balance and skill

Hetmyer-led GAW team are equipped with balance and skill

The

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

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

GAW batting in focus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tahir leads versatile bowling group

uphor ic scenes took

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WCPL: The key to transforming the Women’s game

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trinbago Knight Riders Women lifted the inaugural Massy WCPL trophy

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

aspiring to be a top-notch venue

By TimoThy Jaikarran

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everest Cricket Club President Manzoor Nadir EVEREST

CPL's newcomer Paul Stirlingenjoying Caribbean atmosphere

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

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

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

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

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

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