Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 05-03-2023

‘A source of inspiration’

- 20 Reg.1 women complete maritime training

THROUGH a scholarship programme between the Office of the First Lady and the Atlantic Maritime and Offshore Training Institute (AAMOTI), the first batch of 20 women from different communities in Region One (BarimaWaini), completed their one-week Basic Safety Training (BST) and Ship Security Awareness Training.

A total of 100 women

are said to have benefitted from the training. First Lady, Mrs. Arya Ali, during her feature address at the graduation ceremony held at Friendship, East Bank Demerara on Saturday, told the graduates that they are now qualified to benefit from the myriad of opportunities in the various new and emerging sectors and industries.

“Oil and gas, maritime and offshore and even construction…these are fields which have been historically dominated by

men,” the First Lady said. She said that women have been a version of themselves that society defines for them and not how they truly see themselves. The First Lady noted that even when women pursue careers in male-dominated fields, there are still challenges.

She told the graduates that President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and herself are aware of how frustrating the experience can be and so, she noted it is important that they provide women

with these types of opportunities to allow them to maximise their potential in every aspect on their lives.

“I also urge you to try to create a society you want to live in… the road ahead is not going to be easy. It never actually is, especially for us women, because while we come so far, the truth is that those old age problems of gender equality are stubborn and they have not fully gone away as yet,” the First Lady said.

She added: “So, there

will be times when you feel like people are looking right past you or they see just a fraction of who you really are. They won’t know how hard you worked and how much you sacrificed to get to the point you are at now.”

First Lady Ali related that the graduates will be a source of inspiration for those who come after them.

During her remarks, she also expressed gratitude to Miranda ThakurDeen, the Director of AAMOTI, who saw it necessary to partner with the Office of the First La dy to “afford young women from our hinterland the opportunity to benefit from specialised training.”

Also speaking at the event was Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, who told the graduates that this was only part of their journey and that the next step involves them using their qualifications to access employment opportunities.

“The next step is to ensure you use what you now have to empower yourselves by earning an income. Guyana is moving at a rapid pace and we are happy that people like you are moving in that forward trajectory,” the minister added.

She also said that partnerships similar to this are critical to the development of Guyana.

Meanwhile, Director of AAMOTI, Thakur-Deen, thanked the First Lady for recognising the importance of providing access to training opportunities to

women in the hinterland.

She said that part of her mission in life is to give back to women and the wider society and that is what she will ensure the institute does.

The best-graduating student, Nevaeh Clarkston, explained to the Sunday Chronicle that the programme entailed basic safety and health as well as ship security awareness.

“Basic safety and health were focused on first aid, like if someone has to get CPR what you do and the type of things that you should always have in your first aid kit,” she explained.

She said that being the best graduate, it is very important because, with her certificate, she can go further and get a job.

She advised women that would like to take part in similar training to have jobs in the field, to “go ahead for it… it is worth the while.”

Another graduate, Angelica Martin of Port Kaituma, said that even though it was tough she is happy to have completed the course successfully alongside the other 19 women.

She noted that it is important for the hinterland region to receive these opportunities because they don’t have many similar opportunities available to them.

Fiona Salmon said that her experience was great and she thanked the First Lady for the opportunity while urging other women to “get on board.”

US$400M to be injected into Region Six

- towards funding construction of Corentyne Highway

OVER US$400 million will be injected into Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) over the next few years under the construction of the New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek Corentyne four-lane highway expansion, which will commence this year.

Over US$100 million has been budgeted for the project this year, which will see upgrading and widening works commencing on the Palmyra to Crabwood Creek section of the carriageway.

plan for infrastructural and social development in the region.

This was shared by Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday, as he delivered remarks at the sod-turning of a $3.7 billion stadium and multipurpose facility at Palmyra, Region Six.

The Vice-President explained that the government has a master plan for the region, which will see not just infrastructural development, but an overall rise in the standard of the well-being of people of the region.

“We’ve not limited

“We put aside US$100 million to start the four-lane road here in Berbice. It will cost about US$400 million from New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek, that will be 22 times the size of this stadium, the US$100 million will be about seven times and that’s in the budget this year.”

Aside from the multibillion-dollar highway and stadium, other massive projects set for the region include two new levelfive hospitals, and modernisation of the drainage and irrigation system.

The development of the roadway is one of a host of other billiondollar projects ongoing in that region. The projects are part of the government’s master

our expenditure only to the stadium, the stadium is important, but we are focusing on jobs and opportunities for people in this region,” the Vice-President said.

The Berbice stadium and multipurpose facility will be funded under ExxonMobil’s Greater Guyana Initiative.

The Corentyne Highway expansion

project is one being done under the Ministry of Public Works, with some $27.7 billion having been allocated in Budget 2023 to advance works. Contracts were awarded for widening of the

structures along the carriageway to accommodate the four-lane highway and to relocate the utilities.

The project is part of government’s commitment to linking our major urban, rural and hinterland communities to provide easy, safe and reliable access and commute.

The highway is being upgraded in anticipation of increased vehicular traffic expected in the coming years, due to the planned Suriname to Guyana Corentyne River Bridge.

The road is part of the government’s pursuit of easier linkage and integration with our

neighbour to the east, to open up new economic opportunities and improve the ease and reduce the cost of moving people and goods.

The money for the Corentyne Highway development is separate from another $300 million that was allocated to the Regional Democratic Council for the provision for roads at Ankerville, Whim, Glasgow, Grant 2767, Yakusari, Phillipi, Orealla, Cumberland, Corriverton, Gangaram, No. 51 Village, Warren, Rahaman Scheme, Williamsburg, Alness and Mibicuri.

National Gas Strategy being developed for offshore natural gas

THE government is currently pushing ExxonMobil Guyana to complete a Gas Utilisation Plan, while it is also working on a National Gas Strategy (NGS), to officially outline what will be done with the natural gas that has been found offshore.

The NGS could come about before the end of the year, while the government is hopeful that Exxon’s Gas Utilisation Plan would be completed very soon.

This was revealed by the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Friday, during a press conference held at the Arthur Chung Conference

Centre where he spoke about developments in the energy sector.

The NGS will be one of several areas where the government is collaborating with the Government of India, as bilateral agreements on the development of Guyana’s remaining offshore resources continue to be considered.

“We’re going to get some of the consultants from India and other places to work with us on having a National Gas Strategy, which will determine what we do with the gas that has been found offshore so far. It then deals with the potential areas for

bilateral cooperation in an exploration and developing of our natural resources,” the Vice President explained.

“I can’t give you a timeline now [for the completion of the NGS], but we are working on it. But before the end of this year, we will have that strategy in place.”

Along with the discovery of over 11 billion barrels of oil offshore, Guyana has a substantial amount of associated natural gas. Though some amount of the gas is being reinjected into the wells, there is a considerable amount that could be utilised for other purposes.

According to the Vice President, a lot of interest has been expressed as to how the gas could be utilised.

“Would it be fertilizer; buy, sell, plant, etc. … So, we are moving ahead faster on that bit,” Dr Jagdeo said.

Though ExxonMobil had argued at the beginning that they need all of the associated gas pumped back into the wells to keep the quality of the wells up, the Vice President shared that the government also has a different view on this matter.

“So that is why the gas utilisation plan has to be done and we are working on our gas strategy and the discussions have to take place about how we monetise the gas here; the gas that are associated gas,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

Additionally, for discoveries where the majority of the find has been gas; if

the companies do not plan to make use of the gas, the government is considering the possibility of having the companies relinquish the undeveloped fields in order to find use for it.

“They’d have to relinquish it and we may find other people who are prepared to utilise the gas and I’m saying this openly. We said it before, so that is what we are working on, to define the bigger strategy for the gas industry,” Dr. Jagdeo informed.

The Gas to Energy (GTE) project currently being developed by the government is one area in which it has already devised use for some of the natural gas that is offshore.

Under this project, a minimum of 50 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) will be transported from the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, to a power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility that will be built in Wales, on the West Bank Demerara.

The conversion of natu-

ral gas from ExxonMobil’s offshore operations to electricity, is a key component of the government’s objective to lower energy costs by at least 50 per cent through an energy mix which incorporates gas, solar, wind, and hydro power.

Aside from the natural gas being used to fuel the power plant, Guyana could generate between $70 –$100 million from the sale of cooking gas produced by the NGL facility.

Though the government has an arrangement with ExxonMobil for the supply of 50 million mmscfd, the 12 inch, 220km long pipeline, which will be used to channel the gas on shore, will have the capacity to push as much 120 mmscfd.

On Friday, the Vice President made it known that the government is looking to start discussions very early about utilising the pipeline to the full capacity.

“That means that maybe another 70 to 80 million cubic feet of gas every day. How do we use that? That is what we are discussing now,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

Rice farmers to get at least $4,000 per bag for paddy

…as President, VP intervene in ongoing issue

RICE farmers across Guyana can finally breathe a sigh of relief following a meeting between President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo; Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, and representatives of the Guyana Millers and Exporters Association (GREMA), as well as the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to broker a historic agreement that will see them being paid at least $4,000 per bag of paddy.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali and other government officials, and representatives from GREMA and GRDB during their recent meeting at State House

After much deliberation among themselves, the deal was decided upon and finalised in favour of rice farmers

across Guyana, and agreed in the presence of President Ali and other officials at State House, on Main Street,

Georgetown. In the document, which was signed by all parties and released to the media on

Region Three needs more shaded cultivation to combat climate change – Khan

PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali’s shade house initiative has been so successful that the Agriculture Ministry will be expanding the project to reach a wider section of young farmers, but the Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc) wants more support for current farmers and students in order to ensure that shade houses are seen as essential in food security.

This is according to R3PSInc Head, Halim Khan, who noted that the President’s initiative falls under the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme which was launched in January 2022 with the aim of initially constructing 25 shade houses.

Khan explained that although the Agriculture Ministry plans to construct an additional 275 shade houses that will benefit farmers across the country, more focus should be placed in Region Three since technical support is needed from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to maximise the region’s potential.

“With the current weather patterns resulting from climate change, the agricultural sector being one of the most vulnerable, [the ministry] needs to push more shade houses and all schools should promote shade house agriculture since in order to promote food security for this and the next generation, all farmers will have

R3PSInc Head Halim Khan with vendors and their fresh supplies at the Parika Market on Saturday

to focus on climate related risks and stressors and making use of the limited available natural resources,” Khan told the Sunday Chronicle.

He added that to advance food security throughout the nation, representatives from the public and commercial sectors, civil society, farmers’ organisations, researchers, and employees in the agricultural and other relevant sectors must advance quickly.

Khan said more needs to be done for Region Three

farmers in promoting climatesmart agriculture and organic produce in local farming communities.

Aside from shade houses, he said the full utilisation of agro-processing needs to be maximised to save wastage of farmers’ produce.

“As a result of my interactions with farmers, I have come to understand that crops cultivated in shaded areas are more resistant to pests and diseases and are shielded from inclement weather. In fact, farm-

ers’ response to the damaging effects of climate change on the ecosystem may be shade house farming. Also, blossoms growing beneath shaded structures are not destroyed by harsh rain,” Khan explained.

Further, the R3PSInc Head said low labour costs and the requirement for only one person to turn the sprinkler irrigation system on and off are further economic advantages of shade house farming.

Likewise, he added that crops might be cultivated all year long in shaded homes with little upkeep in weed removal. For Guyana to attain food security, indigenous farmers should use this technology.

He said that Region Three farmers are more than willing to grow more and to also contribute to the highly-anticipated Guyana/Barbados food terminal that will be equipped with a processing and packaging plant.

Saturday, it was also agreed that the sales commission paid by millers and exporters for rice, by-products of rice and paddy would be reduced to zero for the first crop of 2023.

The signing of this agreement will be very pleasing to the farmers, since they have been asking for an increase in paddy prices for some time, due to the rise in fertilizer costs, and taking into consideration the inclement weather.

Last month, the farmers of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) went out in their numbers to a meeting that was held in Anna Regina by the Agriculture Ministry,

and asked the government to intervene.

Minister Mustapha had assured the farmers that the representatives of GRDB would meet with the millers and decide on a price for the current crop.

He had noted at the time that the government is committed to working with farmers, via the GRDB, so that they can provide help to those that were affected by the rain.

Minister Mustapha had emphasised that money was set aside in the 2023 National Budget to upgrade the dams in ricefarming communities so as to help farmers transport their paddy.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha and representatives from the GREMA and GRDB signing the agreement

Democracy and Development

DEVELOPMENT practitioners have long established a correlation between democracy and development. This fact has found expression in the experiences of several countries including Guyana, where, for nearly three decades, growth and development were stultified thanks to undemocratic and authoritarian rule by the then-PNC regime.

It was not until the restoration of democratic rule on October 5, 1992 that the tide of economic development and growth shifted in a positive direction.

One would have thought that the lessons of that period would serve as a guide to the architects of that sordid past, many of whom are still around and hold leadership positions in the PNC. That, however, is not the case.

Twenty years since the

last rigged elections, the PNC, now the major partner in the APNU+AFC coalition, attempted, albeit sheepishly and clumsily, to repeat what transpired in the December 1985 elections with a view of perpetuating its tenure in government by undemocratic and fraudulent means.

It is worth recalling that the then-President, Desmond Hoyte, who succeeded Forbes Burnham, had promised that the elections would be ‘above board’ but it turned out instead to be one of the most blatantly and massively rigged elections in the country’s history, with the PNC allocating to itself 42 of the 53 parliamentary seats. The PPP was allocated eight seats, the United Force and the Working People’s Alliance given two and one seat, respectively.

Two decades later, on March 2, 2020 the spectre

of rigged elections had again reared its ugly head with the connivance of rogue elements from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Secretariat. Indeed, were it not for the intervention of the Courts, most notably the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and other democratic forces in and out of Guyana, the APNU+AFC coalition may have succeeded in pulling off yet another rigged election.

It is a day that will be remembered with shame, as several bogus iterations of concocted results were submitted by the GECOM Secretariat, all purporting to project an APNU+AFC ‘victory’. In the end, these were all overturned by the GECOM Commission in favour of the genuine votes cast based on the recount exercise, a process that lasted for nearly six months.

All of that, thankfully, is

water under the bridge and Guyana is now on the cusp of major transformation and modernization. Never before in the country’s history has there been such a tidal wave of developmental activities encompassing all spheres of economic and social life.

The development train is touching all the regions of Guyana. Only a few days ago there was the sod-turning ceremony for a new state-ofthe-art multi-purpose stadium at Palmyra, Berbice, located in Region Six.

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali took the opportunity to outline the PPP/C’s economic vision and the megaprojects to be undertaken in the region and the country. According to President Ali, “in three short years, we have embarked on this journey. This journey to rebuild, to rebuild stronger. We have made

it our mission to work in every single community, to ensure that every single Guyanese are part of the prosperity of our country.”

Apart from the massive stadium, there are several other big projects on stream including a modern hospital, a new four-lane highway, call centres, water treatment plants, a state-of-the-art technical training centre, expansion and construction of farm-to-market access roads, modernization of drainage and irrigation systems.

To these must be added the deep-water port and, further down the road, a new high-span bridge across the Berbice River which will allow for the continuous flow of traffic and merchandise.

These are no mean achievements for which President Ali and the PPP/C administration must be given

full credit. And as pointed out by Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who was also part of the sod-turning ceremony, the PPP/C administration is all about development.

Development, he said, must not be taken for granted but something that has to be fought for. This is all the more necessary in view of the ‘pessimists’ in our midst who could not care less about the country and its forward march.

The developmental momentum has touched all corners of the Guyanese society in positive ways. For President Ali, development has to be seen against the background of the over-arching ‘One Guyana’ vision’; one that does not separate people but instead lift them together. This, the President observed, is indeed worthy of celebration.

Guyana must never again endure rigged elections

Dear Editor,

AS our citizens move into full preparation mode for the overdue Local Government Elections (LGEs), the Guyanese nation must never forget the unashamedly and unacceptable pursuit by PNC riggers, to cheat us of our rights and freedoms.

In particular, the role of GECOM staff who in the past blatantly and flagrantly committed unpardonable sins at election times.

Today, all caution must be exercised as it would be remiss for anyone to believe that the ‘Imperial Grippers” who were at the helm would not be at it again. Without the obvious comfort of the induced and other subtle advantages they had in the for-

mer Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, the Opposition have raised their ugly heads querying the simplest of things to stymie the run-off of the LGEs.

The Guyanese people must objectively reflect on the history of ‘rigged elections in Guyana. With approximately 40 percent of our voting population being of age 35 years and considered youths, there are many who in person cannot relate to the atrocities we as a nation faced under the cheating PNC regime. Our youths first ‘out-of-camouflage’ experiences came in the buildup to, and activities after March 2020, Regional and National Elections.

The foregoing, particu -

larly, could be visibly linked to how the “Granger” administration went about the flagrant breach of protocols, precedence, and even legislation to assert the PNC’s full control at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), with the unilateral appointment of James Patterson as Chairman of the Elections Commission.

Of course, under Patterson’s limited tenure, until his stay was eventually uprooted by the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the then-CEO Lowenfield was allowed the latitude of intense abuse with protection. This he attempted to continue when Justice Singh was appointed by former President David Granger and he was

partially successful. But in a framework of justice and fair play, his evils were bound to come to an end.

The impact of the described conundrum created by Patterson and Lowenfield, while being heavily supported by the Vincent Alexanderled PNC commissioners, resulted in the imbuing of GECOM with many partisan performers. Some were strategically positioned or displaced, and others reacted against the usual norms to the pressures and fear of being fired if they did not comply.

It is without any fear of contradiction that many in GECOM who did not leave, may have chosen to comply gradually, changing the status quo of those in control of

the secretariat’s power and influence. Authentic sources among current and some of the staff who chose to leave complained of a strategically implanted or converted nest of responders, awaiting the directives of their PNC masters.

Moreso, the imbalance was strengthened by the refusal of the Lowenfield team to consider the re-hiring of some experienced staff who were likely to expose their wicked intent. Naturally, the screening of the staff in GECOM must be continued to ensure the removal of all rogue elements. Naturally, for our nation to stay safe and strong, we must continue to be united in this endeavour for Guyana to have free and

fair elections.

The 2020 fiasco, undoubtedly contributed to by the PNC-led clan, was strongly rebutted by united forces in support of democracy. A united Guyana supported by the strong stand taken by the international community, who fought unflinchingly against the unapologetic tyrants. We, therefore, cannot allow any infiltrations that are likely to diminish the required fairness and transparency when election matters are addressed.

The PNC+APNU/AFC was fully prepared to take Guyana and make it a pariah state. The Granger administration carefully went

Everyone must be acquainted with Black History Month

Dear Editor,

FEBRUARY every year has been designated Black History Month in the United States and a few other countries, which also coincides with Guyana’s republic celebrations. Black History

Month is an annual celebration of the achievements of African Americans and the recognition of their role in U.S. history.

The origins of Black History Month lay in early 20thcentury, with historian Dr Carter G Woodson’s desire to highlight the accomplishments of African Americans. Woodson, who earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University had noticed that historians had left out the achievements of African Americans from the narrative of American history and that African Americans were under-represented in the literature that shaped the study of American history. To correct this flaw, Woodson and Jesse E Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915 to promote the study of black history as a discipline and to celebrate the achieve-

ments of African Americans.

In 1926, Woodson launched the “Negro History Week” to bring attention to his mission and to bring awareness to the issue. Woodson chose the second week in February because it comprised both Frederick Douglass’ birthday on February 14 and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12. His message spread quickly as the demand for African Americans teaching materials increased and spurred the formation of several black-history clubs. Woodson contended that the teaching of black history was essential to ensure the physical and intellectual survival of the race within broader society.

As Woodson put it, if a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition; it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated. According to Woodson, the American Indians left no continuous record. They did not appreciate the value of tradition and heritage; and where are they today?

The Hebrews appreciated

Guyana must...

FROM PAGE 6

against the Constitution and appointed James Patterson as Chairman of GECOM. He then employed Roxane Myers as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and GECOM catapulted Region #5 Election Officer Clairmont Mingo to be Returning Officer of Region #4.

More than 30 fraud cases were made out against the GECOM staff political activists and leaders of the PNC, but there are still the possibilities of remnants.

It begs the question: what and where would have Guyana been if these riggers and miscreants were allowed to steal the elections? Without a doubt, Guyana would have been blacklisted internationally; CARICOM would have expelled Guyana and the Commonwealth and United Nations would have had us on a serious watch list. For-

the value of both tradition and heritage, as attested by the Bible and even though they were persecuted around the world, their views and cultural history became a great factor in modern civilization.

As Black History Month comes to an end, I, as a naturalized American citizen, felt compelled to highlight the massive poverty and racial injustice that confront the vast majority of African Americans across the country. The tragedy is, America is considered the greatest and wealthiest country in the world, yet millions of African Americans go hungry to bed every night, and many do not have a proper home, savings or healthcare.

The travesty is that several American Presidents have spent much of their time trying to shape the destiny of other countries, but they have refused to eradicate the last vestiges of racism, which has become the black man’s burden and the white man’s shame. It is an unhappy truth that racism is a way of life in America—it is a disease that permeated the whole body politic as several states with

Republican governors, most notably Florida, have passed laws in their legislature to restrict the teaching of Black culture.

Today, America is the most segregated country in the world but many whites believe that time would heal the problem of discrimination and racial injustice and the disease of poverty faced by blacks; yet they continue to spread the myth that in order for blacks to rise out of poverty, they have to do what whites did, that is, to lift themselves up by their own bootstraps.

However, those who felt that blacks must lift themselves up by their own bootstraps have never stopped to think or realize that no other ethnic group has been slaves on American soil; that the nation made the black man’s colour a stigma. Beyond that they have never stopped to grasp and acknowledge the debt they owe blacks who were slaves for more than two and a half centuries.

In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln told blacks that they were

free, but they were not given any money or land to make their freedom meaningful and worthy. It was like locking up a person for several years in jail and suddenly discovering that the person was not guilty of the crime he was convicted of, but they told him he was free. However, they did not give him/her any money for a bus ticket to get home or any clothes to wear.

This is the same way America has treated the slaves, except to say that they were free, but left them penniless and landless. At the same time, they were giving away millions of acres of land in the West and Mid-West to Europeans. Not only did they give land to Europeans, but also taught them how to farm, and provide millions of dollars to them at low interest rates to mechanize their farms.

Today, thousands of white farmers are receiving subsidies from the U.S. government not to farm, but these are the very persons who are telling blacks that they must lift themselves up by their own bootstraps. It is a cruel gesture to tell a bootless man that he ought to lift himself

up by his own bootstraps. The roots of racism, discrimination and poverty are very deep in America, and everyone must do everything to get rid of them.

Since we are all God’s children, we must demand that the government address the problems of racism, discrimination and poverty faced by Blacks and as stated in the Constitution, we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But if blacks are discriminated against they have no job and no money, then he has neither life nor liberty nor the possibility of the pursuit of happiness. He merely exists. The struggle for equality in America is real. But as the late Dr Martin Luther King said, “we shall overcome” and as the Roman statesman and philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca has said, “time will tell.”

Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose

tunately, the genuine and sincere remarks from the many eminent personalities around the world along with powerful PPP/C leadership, and guardians of democracy sent shivers down the PNC’s spine.

As this nation celebrates our third anniversary under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali’s administration, we must be fully aware of all the developments that are taking place in our country. We must be cognizant of the wicked intent of the “Grippers” who are trying desperately to find relevance in society, while the riggers are trying to prevent this nation from holding LGEs.

Objectivity must be the order of the day when we face the polls in these upcoming elections.

Sincerely, Neil

The venerable veteran Rickey Singh

– Guyana’s gilded gift to journalism and ‘Our Caribbean’

VETERAN Guyana-born Caribbean journalist, Rickey Singh, observed his 86th birthday on February 1st in Trinidad & Tobago with close friends and family, welcoming posted and online greetings from professional colleagues he influenced across the Caribbean -- and refreshingly walking-back down memory lane.

Rickey published his first article in 1957 at age 20 and his last in 2017 at age 80 and proceeded into involuntary retirement, forced by elements of advanced age. But while the lion ages gracefully at the top of his and our profession, never for one day, minute or second does he fail to remind anyone listening of the breadth and depth of his diligent decades on the Caribbean beat.

On his last (as in latest) birthday, Rickey recalled his first job as a proofreader [one who reads articles to ensure grammar, spelling and other technical aspects of writing are in order before going to print] and how it was through the long hours painstakingly reviewing stories and articles for linguistic and grammatical verification that he started developing an interest in how West Indian politics worked.

Just 17 then, Rickey had graduated from Central High School in Georgetown – miles from Perpetua Kawal Memorial Primary School in Canal No. 2, where he’d first developed his writing skills and an eternal love affair with books.

Orphaned at age nine, he remains grateful, to this day, to his brother Richard, who brought him to Georgetown and ensured he went to school daily and had access to the public library.

Rickey’s first media job was as a general reporter, but he quickly transitioned to political reporting, also quickly becoming Senior Political Reporter at the Guiana Graphic [predecessor of the Guyana Chronicle].

His professional life is dotted with colourful stories, like: escaping being lynched in Buxton while on duty; an encounter with a ‘Death Squad’ in Georgetown’s Botanical Gardens; and a near-death experience

from accidental poisoning at work.

But none compared to the hair-raising exchanges Rickey had with larger-thanlife political figures at home and across the Caribbean.

For example, he’s proud to be – to this day -- the only journalist from the Englishspeaking Caribbean to have had a full-length interview with Cuba’s President, Fidel Castro; he also fondly recalls on a “rich” one-on-one interview with Trinidad & Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams and the rare experience of sharing ‘The Doc’s’ sense of humour.

And Rickey is also a prime exemplar of the rule

who couldn’t stomach his fearless reporting.

His reporting didn’t fit into the partisan political and strategically-contrived race narrative that prevailed after the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was split between its Founding Leader and General Secretary Dr Cheddi Jagan and Chairman L.F.S. Burnham.

The English owners of the Graphic would move Rickey to the UK to cover courts in London, which they determined was for his and his family’s “protection”, but he chose not to stay in the UK, or extract his family from the then British West Indies.

After returning home from London, he continued reporting with his by then patented fearlessness, until he left in 1975 -- for higher and better ground -- to assume the role of Editor of Caribbean Contact, the organ of the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC).

He succeeded his respected Caribbean colleague and friend Barbados’ Harold Hoyte (who’d been the Contact’s editor from 1973) and would move on to become Editor of The Nation newspaper.

Under Rickey’s watch (from February 1975) the Contact assumed Caribbeanwide readership for its fearless and to-the-point factual reporting.

Contact’s coverage of the aftermath of the Grenada Revolution in 1979 and the US-led invasion in 1983.

During his long stint at the Contact, Rickey also became the most-harassed and politically-punished Caribbean journalist.

He was forced to leave Trinidad & Tobago, where the Contact was established and registered during the reign of Prime Minister Williams and relocated to Barbados -- only to be forced-out again, this time by Barbados’ Prime Minister J.M.G. ‘Tom’ Adams, after Contact’s coverage of the 1983 US-led invasion that called-out the role he and Barbados played in facilitating an armed invasion of a fellow CARICOM nation, instead of the political solution being sought by Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago.

With his work permit withdrawn by ‘Tom’ Adams and his Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration, Rickey suffered the invidious position of having to leave his wife and family in Barbados and return to Trinidad every 17 days, to be able to continue his journalistic work, each time classified as a ‘visitor’ to the island.

from a regional (‘Our Caribbean’) standpoint.

The venerable Rickey Singh was indeed an architect and Founding President of the original Caribbean Association of Media Workers (CAMWORK), a professional network established to “Foster and maintain a high standard of journalism in the region…”

Forever describing himself as “A Caribbean Man” with “A Caribbean Family”, Rickey, who ceaselessly traversed and covered the Caribbean all his working life, has spent the last six years with his sons and daughters and immediate family and relatives between Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, while trying [believe it or not] to rationalise his immigration status.

He occasionally visits his sister and remaining relatives in his native Guyana, the latest in 2022 when he was ferreted out of humble isolation by a local journalist for an interview that allowed him to share his views on Guyana today.

way or another.

Like everyone lucky enough to live to his age, Rickey has to encounter natural declines in some senses, but certainly not his memory of important regional and international events that matter to the Caribbean and developing nations -- from the birth pangs of Guyana’s road to independence in 1966, to the birth of CARIFTA in 1969 and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1973, to the death by suicide of the Grenada Revolution.

He also nurses continuing regrets that “Caribbean leaders, after 50 years of working together, have still been unable to agree more than disagree on where the region heads next.”

But never mind sensitivities and sensibilities, despite missing his dear wife “Dolly” (who departed suddenly eight years ago), Rickey remains in goodenough health and retains all of his traditional sense of being seriously humorous.

that journalists don’t make enemies, best seen in the fact that despite their deep differences and being forced into exile by Guyana’s first Prime Minister and President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, he still describes his eternal tormentor as “an incredible intellectual and a master of (the English) language…”

And he offered similar respect due to Dr Williams to another Caribbean leader under whose watch he was also forced into Caribbean exile.

Rickey Singh’s travails earned him the support, admiration and respect of colleagues and Caribbean citizens from as far back as his early stints at the ‘Graphic’ when he was targetted very early by the colonial authorities and local politicians

But it was Contact’s coverage of the Jonestown Massacre in Guyana on November 18, 1978 (in which American Jim Jones encouraged followers to drink poison instead of co-operating with investigating US officials) that first earned it – and Rickey -- region-wide respect for its and his bold reporting style and featuring issues and items of regional interest, across political, cultural, religious or race lines.

That the CCC’s organ was not only publishing church news would become a bother for those in the regional political directorate who had reason to fear the broad strokes of Rickey’s pen, which persistently exposed much they would have preferred hidden –from a photograph showing the level of involvement of Guyana’s Defence Force (GDF) in moving ballots from the 1974 Local Government Elections, to the

Rickey’s wife and family suffered the plight of any such family living in the shadow of the political uncertainty that had plagued their lives just because of his insistence on being true to his calling and refusing to submit to the political pressure aimed at gagging him, or intended to force him to either leave the Contact, or change his profession.

Rickey, to this day, recalls being offered jobs as Editor of other publications by key figures out to lure him away from political reporting, but that was never to be -- and even after the Contact eventually became silent, Rickey developed his ‘Our Caribbean’ column that appeared weekly in the region’s main newspapers in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago (Nation, Chronicle, Daily News and Express, respectively).

His regional column drew as much attention across the region and the wider Diaspora as he’d drawn to the Caribbean Contact, because of the way it addressed regional issues

In that interview, Rickey indeed offered an interesting proposition for addressing the apparently-eternal racial-religious-cultural political divide: establishment of a national statue featuring late Presidents Jagan and Burnham, arm-in-arm as the comrades-in-arms they were before the 1964 split that rendered them apart and gave birth to the deep political divide that has (to date) forever crippled ethnic and race relations in his homeland.

On his 86th birthday, Rickey blew the single candle on his cake and revelled in the long list of prerecorded video messages, compiled by Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) President, Wesley Gibbings, that featured friends, colleagues and many others who attributed their places in the Caribbean media to their interactions with Rickey and his encouragement, advice and support.

This list is too long to provide here, but those congratulating Rickey included diplomats, regional public servants, religious and political figures that he mentored, as well as old friends and professional admirers influenced by his work, one

He still enjoys reading, an occasional swim, a good “Mutton Curry” -- and a chocolate after dinner.

My good old friend and mentor still wants (like we all do) to read all the newspapers every morning -- and on occasions when he’s not satisfied there was enough news worth the time, he spent browsing dry pages, he’d simply remark: “There’s no news in this newspaper. It’s just paper…”

As Guyana observes its 53rd Republic Anniversary on the road to its 57th Independence Anniversary at a time of renewed national joy and pride in Guyana starting on a new road for the better, as Guyanese remember the contributions made to Guyana’s media development by the likes of the late Fathers Morrison and Wong, his fellow citizens should also take some time off during the 2023 celebrations to also pay tribute to the fearless journalism that Rickey Singh patented in Guyana and shared with the rest of the Caribbean for well-over sixty (60) years – and still counting!

Long Live My EverEffervescent Guyanese and Caribbean Brother and Mentor!

Justice delayed is justice denied

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs

Anil Nandlall, SC, made some thought-provoking utterances Tuesday while he was dealing with a gamut of other matters on his programme called ‘Issues in the News’.

Nandlall, speaking about the cases which were filed against the suspects involved in the March 2, 2020 elections fiasco, acknowledged that the public was getting impatient and wanted to be updated on progress of these cases filed or the lack of progress.

He said that he, understanding the impatience of the public, has already written to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar AliHack to get updates from the special prosecutors’ team representing the interest of the State.

When this is finished, the AG said he would make the full report available so the public could be apprised of the status of those election cases.

Then, the Legal Affairs Minister declared that the matters were not within the things he could control. He

said, to be exact, “I can’t answer for matters or things over which I have no control. I can’t direct how these are to be done...concluded or do them.”

Firstly, the public is not blaming the PPP Government for the slothfulness of these cases nor is the public doubtful that he, as the AG, is doing all that he can legally to effectively aid in the process to arrive at a successful trial.

So, the AG should breathe a sense of calmness and relief. The public knows that the government, the AG Chambers and the special prosecutors are again following the guidance of the court and criminal justice process.

Also, the public is grateful for the alacrity, thoroughness, and balanced approach with which the Presidential Commission of Inquiry conducted its affairs and investigations into the circumstances leading to Guyana’s elections fiasco in 2020.

The public is awaiting the findings and final report while they await justice in courts for many known infractions.

Secondly, now that the

government is absolved from the blame for the slothfulness in bringing these cases and electoral matters to justice, the public must focus its attention on the Judiciary or the court system in place. Although parts of the public would blame the court system for the delay in arriving at justice, other parts are not going to be so fast in handing down or deciding judgment.

The latter section of the populace is going to say the systems and steps to arrive at judgment must be allowed to work and take the time it needs. That is, it must not be forced and every party must be afforded the opportunity to defend or place their case before the court.

So, it is not the court but the systems it utilises to arrive at justice.

On the other hand, while the other section of the public will agree with that argument, they would say it is the people who are holding up these systems and are creating the blockage of smooth justice in these cases using their knowledge of the law to cause undue delays or deferrals.

It matters not how much evidence, circumstantial or otherwise, because these cases can go on for months or even years until they are brought to an end by either party.

So, it is still the judiciary that is taking the fall or the blame. The Chancellor, Chief Justice, judicial officers of the courts, and the Judicial Service Commission (when it is convened) must look at these cases and the number of matters that are each day being stymied and held up or delayed because of things that are impeding the smooth and effective flow towards the dispensation of swift and solid justice.

Thirdly, the public is concerned and devastated, and rightly so, because Guyanese still have not received justice for the dastard and blatant attempt to steal this country’s democracy and freedoms.

The AG and PPP, re -

AIDS and zero discrimination

MANY of us either know directly or indirectly of someone who has died of what experts call “an opportunistic illness” as a result of HIV, which subsequently became AIDS.

It might have been a family member, a friend or the friend of a friend, who contracted HIV back in those early years when the virus first became known. Then, lacking the treatment currently available and perhaps unaware of having caught the virus, the person eventually developed AIDS and died.

A little over two decades ago, someone I knew well succumbed to an AIDS-related illness. I had not seen her for some time and when I did, I was shocked at her physical deterioration. In her midtwenties, she seemed to have shrunk and looked closer to 40 years old.

My concern for her led me to insist that I accompany her

to then Georgetown hospital, as she actually had difficulty walking and was clearly in a weakened state.

After being examined by a doctor, she was asked if anyone had accompanied her and told the physician that I was waiting for her. I was called in to hear the diagnosis along with her and can never forget the wave of sadness that overtook me, bringing tears to my eyes, when the doctor made the announcement and recommended she attend the GUM Clinic for persons with sexually transmitted illnesses.

From her reaction – a wry, fatalistic smile – I realised that she was not surprised that she had AIDS and later learned from others of how she had become increasingly ill. But until I badgered and cajoled her, she had stubbornly refused to go to the hospital, while being shunned by many who suspected the nature of her illness. She died just a matter of

weeks after that hospital visit.

Today, a great deal more has been learned about HIV/ AIDS and medications have been developed to prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS. Millions of lives have been saved, as people can not only live with the virus, but also may no longer pass it on to their partners.

Zero Discrimination Day was celebrated last Wednesday, under the theme “Save lives: Decriminalise.”

Spearheaded by UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) it seeks to highlight how “the decriminalisation of key populations and people living with HIV saves lives and helps advance the end of the AIDS pandemic.”

The Joint Programme, which brings together the resources and efforts of 11 United Nations Organisations, aims to unite the world against AIDS and is coordinated by

spectfully, may have lived through it but the Guyanese public suffered through the ordeal and anguish of not knowing which way the seat of government would steer until it was clear that the APNU/AFC was not going to get their sticky hands on power through the backdoor.

For those Guyanese who knew the PPP/C won, the suffering and sacrifice made were too great for there to be no justice or slow justice.

After all, Guyana could have been in the clutches of being referred to as a Pariah State relegated to complete darkness and anarchy.

Finally, today, the Guyanese public cannot turn a blind eye to this insult and must call for speediness in the trial of the electoral cases brought by the PPP Government and the State of Guyana against the miscreants and opposition politicians who were allegedly intimately involved in attempted rigging and electoral

shenanigans.

The Judiciary must get its act together before the end of this year. The public expects it to jail or effectively prosecute those it finds guilty of seeking to derail the will of the people.

It is domestic terrorism in some parts of the world to attempt to steal the ballot of people but here we have a bold-faced and cunning opposition leader, Aubrey Norton, who would continue to spew the narrative that he would rather Guyana be destroyed or deal with the consequences that followed, once the PPP was not afforded its elected right to govern.

It cannot be business as usual and as the famous quote by Winston Churchill says, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Something must be done because justice delayed, is indeed, justice denied!

the UNAIDS Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.

The mission of UNAIDS is “to lead and inspire the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention treatment, care and support.”

Since its formation in 1996, the organisaion has had significant impact on the global response to HIV, helping 15 countries to achieve elimination of mother to child transmission and supporting the empowerment of women and girls. It has scaled up prevention, particularly targetting the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls.

Among its many initiatives, UNAIDS provides strategic direction along with technical support to governments and the private sector helping to deliver life-saving services and makes available analysis and information that increase understanding of the AIDS pandemic.

According to the organi -

sation, Zero Discrimination Day “highlights the need to remove laws that criminalise people living with HIV and key populations” - those groups who due to specific higher-risk behaviours are at increased risk of HIV.

In a press statement, UNAIDS revealed that two years ago the world set a law reform target to remove criminal laws undermining the HIV response and leaving key populations behind.

Countries reportedly made a commitment that, by 2025, less than 10 percent would have punitive legal policy environments that affect HIV

response.

Winnie Byanyima, Director of UNAIDS, put it best when she said, “Criminalising laws chase people away from life-saving treatment. Those need to be removed. The only reason people are still dying of AIDS is the inequalities in society, from social norms, from the lack of opportunities in schools…and all these come together to make them more at risk.”

The Director went on to say, “At the country level, repealing laws that are driving people away from HIV prevention treatment is critical.”

Focus on HCQS

HCQS is the abbreviation for the drug hydroxychloroquine.

It is indicated for rheumatoid arthritis, gout and autoimmune disease such as lupus.

It is derived from chloroquine which is a well-known malarial drug and is active

against malarial parasites plasmodium vivax, falciparum, malariae and ovale.

It is also used both as a preventative agent as well as treatment in malaria where there is non-resistance to chloroquine.

Due to the adjustment to the chemical structure of its parent molecule, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties were noted. As a result, it was touted as an option for Covid-19 which was later discovered otherwise.

During the initial days of the pandemic, fear of the unknown of the Covid-19 disease created pressure on the global health authorities for a cure, causing premature release of optimistic data from preclinical trials which led to the unproven use of HCQS and azithromycin as the treatment regimen.

The demand for HCQS escalated during the period March to April 2020 but gradually tapered off in the subsequent months as new evidence on the epidemiology of the disease unfolded. However, Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) was already issued but discrepancies with the in vivo and in vitro phenotype revoked the EUA on June 15, 2020 by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) after safety issues were noticed. Subsequently, it was emphasized that HCQS is not indicated for Covid-19.

The mechanism of action of HCQS inhibit the cytokine production in the inflammatory processes of the body’s immune system where it perceives its own organs as the invader.

This drug is presented in oral formulation as a film coated tablet. The pharmacokinetic profile of HCQS shows high bioavailability (74 percent) after rapid absorption; it is best when taken with a meal since gastric irritation is likely to occur.

The dosage of hydroxychloroquine varies according to disease conditions so:

• In Lupus patients, the dosage ranges from 200mg to 400mg with a daily maintenance of 200mg, depending on the prescriber’s discretion whilst monitoring patient for side effects

• In rheumatoid arthritis the doctor slides the dose according to patient’s response and individual patient profile from the minimum to maximum dosage of 600mg daily, then back to the maintenance dose of 200mg

• In malaria treatment, starting dose is loaded at 800mg followed by 400mg at six hours after, 24 hours after, then 48 hours after in conjunction with another drug, primaquine

• In malaria prophylax-

is, patients may commence one or two weeks before, and four weeks after visiting a malarial prone location where dosage is 400mg weekly

This drug crosses the placental barrier and so there is a small risk of malformations of the fetus when used during the first trimester which is associated with dosage as cautioned by a ‘Harvard’ publication in June 2022.

HCQS is classified as pregnancy category D, which is only to be used with extreme caution. But it is worthy to note that no increase risk in spontaneous abortion, prematurity or intrauterine restriction was suggested by a September 2020 study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which referenced studies dating back to 1996.

So only if the benefits outweigh the risks for a pregnant mother with an autoimmune disease or malaria (either treatment or prevention), HCQS may be considered at the minimum therapeutic dosage from the second trimester.

Note that this drug is approved for use in infants and children with JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) and SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), closely monitoring children with renal impairment.

Antacid or diarrheal medications which have magnesium or aluminum and kaolin respectively may affect the absorption of HCQS and so it is recommended not to take such medications concomitantly but wait for a period of four hours.

The most serious side effect profile with prolonged use is retinopathy so frequent eye assessments are required. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends screening for retinopathy prior to initiation of treatment with HCQS and then annual screening after five years of maintenance dose.

HCQS may precipitate severe psoriasis in patients suffering with the disease. At higher or prolonged dosages, it may cause drug induced cardiomyopathy or prolong the QT interval in patients leading to ventricular arrhythmia. Milder side effects such as muscle weakness, nervous system and skin effects, may be experienced.

For further discussion, contact the pharmacist of Medicine Express Pharmacy located at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets. If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic, kindly forward them to medicine.express@gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg. Tel: 225-5142.

The ‘Greater Guyana Initiative’ benefits Guyanese capacity development

IN February 2021, the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) was created by the Stabroek Block co-venturers ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC to support capacity development across the country for the next decade.

The companies pledged GY$20 billion (US$100 million) to support the initiative which includes programmes focused on building human capacity, advancing education, improving healthcare and promoting sustainable economic development in Guyana.

“We are committed to supporting the longterm sustainable growth and prosperity of Guyana that is shared across the whole of society,” said Tim Chisholm, Vice President of Guyana and Suriname for Hess Corporation.

“Guyana’s future has never looked brighter and we believe that the Greater Guyana Initiative will play an important role in making that promise a reality.”

Over the last two years, the GGI has funded numerous capacity building projects for the benefit of the community and is now using its funding to support an expansion of the industry-supported Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD). For economic development and diversification, the CLBD has been instrumental within the business community by prioritizing capacity and providing guidance

for companies that want to get involved.

Since 2017, the Centre has registered over 5,100 businesses on their Supplier Portal, conducted seminars for over 4,500 participants, cultivated over 750 oil and gas sector vendors, and delivered Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) programmes to over 310 businesses. The GGI’s support will help facilitate CLBD’s transition into a long-term center of excellence for a broader industry.

There are multi-faceted efforts dedicated to local capacity building, including uplifting Guyanese women entrepreneurs. In September 2022, the CLBD hosted an event to commemorate the completion of the second cohort of its entrepreneurship programme, Accelerate-Her, which is a professional development opportunity for women entrepreneurs to foster business success and personal growth through a series of weekly courses.

The programme is targeted towards local women owners, operators and managers to build their capacity for leadership and business. The collaboration between these initiatives and various organisations around the country demonstrates the importance of this investment for all parts of the community to achieve broader economic development.

Additionally, helping companies build is one

way to foster diversification beyond the oil and gas sector. GGI also includes programmes that focus on regional initiatives and capacity building in priority areas like agriculture, health care and business development. The first regional socioeconomic project funded by the GGI was focused on the livestock industry in the Rupununi area with a GY$120 million grant. The project’s goal was to build the capacity of poultry rearers in Region Nine to ramp up hinterland production and create a

positive impact through the reduction of imports from other countries such as Brazil.

Moreover, education and training are also a crucial aspect of Guyanese development. The GGI has been integral in supporting programmes that focus on advancing diverse vocational and university education, including expanding existing support and advancing higher education programmes at the University of Guyana (UG).

For example, back in April 2021, the GGI

supported UG’s launch of a blended learning system that enabled the implementation and enhancement of initiatives to enrich the quality and impact of the education being provided in the classrooms. This mode of education furthers the goals of supporting higher education, but most importantly, encourages capacity building at all levels.

Last Friday, there was an event in Berbice with the construction launch of a multipurpose facility funded by the GGI. The event was attended

by government ministers, the press and political leadership, culminating in a ceremonial tree planting ceremony.

The GGI is a promising sign of a long-term commitment that will hopefully continue to translate into tangible benefits for communities. By developing the local workforce and building human capacity, it will further grow Guyana’s energy sector and non-energy sectors, as the country settles into a competitive role as a major oil producer and regional influencer.

Attempts to rig the 2020 elections began before March 2 - Jagdeo says

VICE-PRESIDENT Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday said that it is time to put on record how events unfolded during the 2020 General and Regional Elections, and the efforts made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to stop these attempts which involved a number of persons.

The Vice-President made these remarks on Friday during a press conference held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where he noted that there were several events before the March 2, 2020 elections that all played a role in the attempt to rig the polls.

During the press conference, Dr. Jagdeo noted that it was around the same time some three years ago that the PPP/C knew it had won the elections. This was based on the analysis of all the Statements of Poll collected.

The opposition APNU+AFC camp, he said, was at the time in full panic mode, based on the intelligence they were able to gather at the time. As such, he noted that the Opposition camp decided to trigger what they had always intended, which was their alleged plot to rig the elections.

However, he stated that in retrospect, there were a number of events that were a part of the Opposition’s alleged plan to compromise the elections in the lead-up to March 2, 2020.

Some of these events, he said, included the former administration’s attempt to “digitise” the records at the General Registrar’s Office.

From intelligence gathered, he said, this digitisa-

tion process was intended to add people to the database at the GRO, and issue fraudulent birth certificates to them and subsequently have them registered to vote during the elections period.

He said that this was followed by the unilateral and illegal installation of a Chairman at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), while the third exercise was the commencement of an illegal house-tohouse registration process.

Dr. Jagdeo noted that the idea behind this, from all information gathered, was to not register substantial blocks of persons within PPP support areas. With this, the period to make claims to have those persons added to the list would have been too short, and as such, many persons would have been disenfranchised.

Added to this, he noted that other moves included having the Region Four Returning Officer’s office stationed in the same building as the GECOM secretariat, which was reportedly not done in other regions.

He said: “But that was a precursor to the events that unfolded three years ago in the immediate post-election period. I think it’s time we put this on record now; how we saw these events, in realtime, and what we were doing to minimise the impact, or nullify their effectiveness, that is the effectiveness to rig the elections.”

According to the Vice-President, this plot involved a number of actors, with the APNU+AFC coalition at the centre of it. Other elements included the Police Force and other organisations, he added.

Justice system catching up to wanted man Burke – AG says

- rejects false, malicious narrative being peddled by

THE Government of Guyana rejects as false, malicious and indeed ludicrous, a narrative contained in a document being circulated on social media as “Travel Advisory on Guyana,” issued by a one-man organization styled Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy, operating out of Brooklyn, New York, dated March 3, 2023.

This organization is headed by notorious United States-based Guyanese, Rickford Burke, whose sinister agenda appears only to excite racial hostilities among the people of Guyana, instigate ethnic strife, violence and consequential public disorder

In this recent missive, this fringe element, racist and extremist organ, in characteristic style, unsubstantiatedly accuses the Government of Guyana of racism and of “conducting civil war to divide Guyana along racial

lines.”

The document also makes a number of baseless and unfounded allegations against the nation’s premier lawenforcement agency, the Guyana Police Force. Such and similar inane rantings and fatuous utterances from Burke are nothing new. The public is also aware of the use by Burke of the social media platform to extort money from businessmen in Guyana, with a threat to destroy their businesses via social media unless they pay him.

As a result of his racial utterances, hate speeches and incitement to create public disorder in Guyana and among Guyanese, as well as his criminal extortionist enterprise, the Guyana Police Force was forced to issue a wanted bulletin on the 4th December 2021 for Burke in respect, inter alia, the undermentioned offences:

1. The excitement of hostility or ill-will on the

grounds of race under s.2 of the Racial Hostility Act. [Any person who wilfully excites or attempts to excite racial hostility against a particular race by means of words spoken in a public place or transmitted by telegraphy].

2. Sedition under s.18 (1) (a) and (f) of the Cyber Crime Act. [The offence is made out if it’s against the government s. 18(1)(a) and if it excites racial divisions (f)].

3. Use of a computer system to coerce and intimidate under s.19 (3) of the Cyber Crime Act [makes it an offence to disseminate information via computer which is known to be false to damage the reputation of another person].

2

4. Seditious Libel at Common Law. [It is the overt speech or conduct to bring hatred and contempt

against the Government].

5. Seditious Libel under S.320 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Cap. 8:01.

6. Inciting the provocation of a breach of the peace under s.141 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap 8:02.

7. Inciting public terror under s.137 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Cap. 8:01. [The incitement of persons to go to public places and behave a certain way could be incitement to cause public terror].

On the 29th September, 2022, the Guyana Police Force issued yet another wanted bulletin for Rickford Burke in respect of the offence of “conspiracy to commit a felony, to wit, publication of defamatory libel in order to extort money.”

In respect of this latter offence, two of Burke’s coconspirators are charged and are facing trial before the Magistrates’ Courts of Guy-

ana. These and other relevant information have been transmitted to the Department of Justice of the United States as well as several US law enforcement agencies. Guyana and the US have a long history of cooperating and collaborating in ensuring that fugitives are brought to justice in both countries; hence, Burke’s recent calculated attacks on the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Police Force.

The recent flurry of activities by Burke on social media and in the US, includ-

ing his diatribe styled “Travel Advisory”, are precipitated by him recognizing that the time is near for him to face the criminal justice system of Guyana. These desperate antics are intended to draw attention to himself and whatever public sympathy he may be able to muster.

Unfortunately for Burke, in Guyana, all are subject to the Rule of Law and shall face the legal consequences of their actions and/or omissions. (Statement from the Attorney General’s Chambers)

GTA records massive success for February

THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) continues to show remarkable progress for the month of February 2023.

A press release from the entity revealed that it recently recorded 288,322 visitor arrival figures for the January–December 2022 period from the three main ports of entry - Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Eugene F. Correia International Airport, and the Moleson Creek Ferry Terminal.

This figure represents a striking 82.1 per cent increase when compared to the same period in 2021, which recorded 158,347 visitors.

It was also shown that in January, the GTA hosted the first of its kind in Guyana, a tourism business licensing clinic. The event aimed to connect tourism businesses with key regulatory agencies to expedite the processes and address the

challenges related to registering and licensing their businesses.

More recently, another tourism business licensing clinic was held in collaboration with Visit Rupununi, and the response was

tremendous. The support provided by stakeholders such as GRA, MARAD, the Guyana Fire Service, GBTI, Republic Bank, RDC #9, M&TC Lethem and the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

will certainly go a long way in helping the businesses become officially registered and licensed with the GTA.

Additionally, as it relates to inspections, 60 tourismfocused businesses have been inspected so far for

2023 in Regions Four, Seven, Nine and 10. Once these businesses have passed the inspection process, they will be on their way to becoming officially licensed in the GTA.

The GTA also facilitated a mixology training session for 27 participants in Essequibo. This session was led by Anil Singh, the head bartender attached to Bistro Cafe & Bar. Participants were guided through areas such as the different types of bartending, selecting ingredients, garnishing drinks, measuring and pouring techniques, and how to present a drink properly.

These areas were also complemented by customer service practices, time management, communication, and how to remain calm under pressure.

To date, the GTA has trained 66 people.

The GTA recently conducted a tourism baseline assessment outreach in the

Moruca Sub district with the aim of developing the Moruca Tourism Circuit. This outreach forms part of the GTA’s continued commitment to developing the region as an official regional tourism destination.

During the outreach, the product development team engaged with residents of Kwebanna to determine their interest in tourism development. An assessment was also done at the Shell Beach Protected Areas. These areas will be prioritised for tourism development. Kwebanna, more specifically, is currently working on completing a local cassava processing factory, which will allow them to easily produce edible cassava products, which will be an added attraction and income generator for the village. They have also identified an area that will be developed into a recreational facility.

the PNC activist to ‘gain sympathy’

Works progressing smoothly on East Coast-East Bank bypass road

WORKS along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) to East Bank Demerara (EBD) bypass road have been progressing well, with roads 90 per cent completed at Lot Five.

Lot Five of this project is managed by S. Jagmohan Construction and the company’s Senior Engineer Avinash Dyal explained that the project requires the company to build 800 meters of concrete road.

Dyal said this is about 90 per cent complete. The project also entailed the construction of eight reinforced concrete bridges. The final bridge, which links Lot Five to Lot Four, was completed in mid-January as they

laid the last slab.

Overall, he related that they are moving apace with the project.

A US$106.4 million contract was in June 2022 signed for the construction of the first phase of the ECD to EBD road linkage project.

At the signing ceremony, which was held at the intersection of the Rupert Craig Highway and Ogle Road on the East Coast of Demerara, it was announced that an India-based construction company, Ashoka Buildcon Limited, will take on the project, which is expected to be carried out over 24 months.

The first phase of the road is expected to be a

four-lane highway that stretches some 7.8 kilometers, with each lane being 3.6 meters wide.

The road will also feature a median, sidewalks, and several structures along the way.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

had said this massive project is being supported through a concessional line of credit worth US$50 million from the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of India.

He related that the road is not a stand-alone project, as it cannot be seen in isolation from what is happening across the rest of the country.

“Each one of these projects must not be seen as stand-alone or isolated projects unconnected within an elaborate and comprehensive masterplan; an elaborate and comprehensive plan for the transformation of infrastructure across Guyana,” Dr. Singh said.

Region 2 cops in ‘fitness’ mode

IN an effort to maintain law and order, and “be ready” for the call of duty at any point in time, the ranks of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) held a fitness walk on Saturday morning from the village of Three Friends to the Anna Regina Regional Police Headquarters.

The “stay healthy and be strong” walk was led by the Regional Commander, Superintendent Khemraj Shivbaran, who told the Sunday Chronicle that the ranks do these ex-

ercises from time to time in order to test their ability and health, so that they can carry out their duties effectively.

According to him, “We plan to make the walk a monthly feature, and, as of next month, we will have other stakeholders and different organisations onboard. The idea is to get more people to participate in a broader context. We are also conducting the fitness walk, so that the people of the communities can see that we are staying fit, and we are there to

help them.”

As it relates to the region’s ongoing police outreaches, the Commander said the feedback from residents has been positive.

“The people of the communities have been positive about meeting with the members of the Force within their communities; we find that it brings about connectivity with the police and the members of the public,” Superintendent Shivbaran said.

In many instances, the

Commander said, the people within the communities have their own issues, but find it difficult to find someone to turn to, because they do not feel very confident or comfortable with police officers.

He said the outreach programme has enabled the people and police officers to have a one-onone interaction, which will eventually strengthen the relationship between the Police Force and citizens.

And this is a welcome initiative by residents in the region, especially Mayadevi Awadhesh of Abram Zuil.

She told the Sunday Chronicle, “This is one of the best things that the Police on the coast can do; not everyone wants to go to the stations and make a report if they have a problem, but we can feel more comfortable and safer with them patrolling or being around. It is also good to see that they are also keeping active, so that they can reach the people

in a timely manner.”

Anjanie Anrood, a resident of Anna Regina, said, “I am very happy that the police officers are doing

this; it makes us feel safer and more relaxed, knowing that they are in and around the community. This is good for people, children and businesses, too. I hope that they will keep up the wonderful job.”

During the annual Commissioner’s Christmas Breakfast last year, President of Guyana, Dr.

Mohamed Ifaan Ali applauded the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the senior officers for their approach to building a relationship with the people. Additionally, the President stated that the new approach would give police officers more community-based, fearless and creative ideas, which would improve relationships with the public, and strengthen integrity and accountability.

Rasul lauds performance of Diaspora Unit

…to focus on diaspora diplomacy & enhancing direct diaspora investments in 2023

EXECUTIVE Director of the Diaspora and Remigration Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Rosalinda Rasul, has lauded the performance of the entity in 2022, notwithstanding the challenges.

Addressing members of the Guyanese Canadian for Unity (GCU) and invitees during the association’s first

anniversary celebrations, held virtually on Wednesday night, Rasul told the gathering that “we were able to identify what we can do to improve the efficiency of not just the unit, but also in the way other agencies for the diaspora work to help deliver quality service.”

Rasul, who was also part of the launching of the GCU last year, pointed out that the unit had a very good year in terms of engagement

with the diaspora, which included investment initiatives, training and projects which totalled over 1,000 and they are working to quantify those which can be quantified in terms of cost to the country.

“We have had projects that have ranged in the vicinity of five million Canadian dollars, some of them one hundred and fifty million US dollars and we are working to quantify them

and also accounting for the number of Guyanese that have been involved in these investments in Guyana.”

According to Rasul, “we have had persons in the USA who have actually opened training schools in high quality welding and fabricating and we are very excited about that. Interestingly, we’ve got quite a lot of investments coming out of Canada and as Guyanese Canadians you should be

very proud of that…”

Rasul referred to Paul Diaram, who specialises in road construction in Canada but is back in Guyana lending his expertise in a similar field. She pointed out that he has been doing an amazing job since establishing base in his homeland.

Rasul disclosed that her unit is currently doing an analysis of the remigration patterns over the last decade, “so that will be quite an interesting thing to see what the conclusions are with that study in terms of assessment.

“For last year, we have received a lot of applications from people across the globe who are interested in working in Guyana and of course those who are rendering their services on a pro bono basis, whether through volunteerism or working on a short-term stint in various agencies that would require their skills.”

For 2023, Rasul said, “we are going to enhance an initiative we started late last year, which is working with our agencies here in Guyana, for training in the area of customer service and delivery to our diaspora that will benefit the public at large. We have partnered with some public sector entities as well as some members of the diaspora who are quite keen on what we are doing in the area of training.”

According to the Diaspora Unit head, “we want to focus strategically on the diaspora rather than to have a broad objective. We have actually narrow them down to some very key areas that we are going to focus on –The Diaspora Diplomacy and Enhancing Direct Diaspora Investments.”

She pointed out that the diaspora is well positioned in lots of sectors and able to influence and shape ideas and so forth; “we want to enhance that even more, utilise our diaspora when it comes to diplomacy, and pushing lots of projects out. For example, we still have our border issues before the ICJ and our diaspora has been very critical in bringing that awareness and that has been very helpful thing for us here in Guyana.”

On the area of Enhancing Direct Diaspora Investments, Rasul disclosed that her agency has been painstakingly going through the 2023 Budget Speech, presented by Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh and

also the presentations from the other ministers.

Rasul also pointed out that in 2023, “we are also going to reach out to the younger generation, young people of Guyanese heritage in Canada, USA, UK and other parts of the world, because the youths have massive potential to contribute to Guyana’s development, so we want to get them on board.”

Guyana’s Consul General (ag) to Toronto, Grace Joseph, who was also present, congratulated the GCU on its first anniversary, pointing out that the Consulate is happy to support the initiative of the group and looks forward to continued collaboration to foster ties among the Guyanese community in Toronto, Canada.

Joseph commended the GCU for focusing on heritage preservation of the Guyanese Canadian community for Guyanese in Canada to interact and to share the experience of being part of the Guyanese Canadian community in Toronto and it also provides its members the opportunity to give back to Guyana.

GCU President, Janet Naidu, who chaired the proceedings, pointed to the fact that the association, in its second year, is developing initiatives gradually and hope others will join in these initiatives.

“I just want to share that even though we have left the shores of our birth country, as Guyanese Canadians, we continue to come together as a community.

“We not only gather to enjoy everything Guyanese, but we also have that giving back spirit deeply rooted in us. We formed this organisation to continue to foster a similar social engagement in our community. We continue to be patriotic Guyanese living in Canada as Canadians. We are proud of the diversity of our heritage.”

Janet informed that the GCU has started an initiative to help provide support to children in Guyana and is in discussion with a couple of Children’s Homes there to provide counselling sessions via Zoom.

Blue Iguana owner ‘busted’ with $2.1M in cocaine

THE Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), on Friday, seized approximately five pounds of cocaine worth GY$2.1 million at a property located in Festival City, North Ruimveldt.

A press release from CANU noted that its officers conducted an operation at the property in Festival City where they intercepted 44-year-old Royston Peniston, with two hardcover suitcases in his possession.

It should be noted that Peniston is the owner of the Blue Iguana nightclub.

A subsequent search of the suitcases in the presence of the suspect revealed a quantity of a whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocai ne.

Peniston was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters where a further search of both suitcases led to the discovery of two parcels suspected to also be cocaine.

The suspected narcotic tested positive for cocaine and weighed approximately five pounds equivalent to 2.178 kilograms (kg).

Investigations are ongoing.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday March 05, 2023)

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Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Graeme Smith-14 Tests

(2) Brian Lara-9 Tests

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which WI wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals in a single Test against SA to date?

(2) Which SA wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals in a single Test against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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India pitch ploy backfires with Indore to face ICC call

uled for) was deemed unsuitable.

ROHIT Sharma admitted India's demand for sharp-turning pitches backfired with an Indore surface Australia suggested was on the "extreme" end of the spectrum set to face judgment from the International Cricket Council.(ICC).

While victorious captain Steve Smith insisted he had enjoyed playing on a Holkar Stadium strip that had large chunks of turf exploding from it from the first over the match, he wondered aloud whether it had been too erratic too early.

Rohit, despite his side losing a Test at home for just the third time in their last 46 matches, stood by what he says is an edict to prepare pitches designed to favour India’s spinners and maximise the skill of their lower-order batters.

"Before a series starts, you have to decide on what pitches you need to play," the opener told reporters after Australia's nine-wicket win. "It was our call to play on such pitches. We knew that we could face challenges as well, but we were ready for these challenges.

"The consistent runs from the batters will not come on such

challenging pitches. We are here to win whether it is two days or five days, it doesn't matter. We don't want to prepare a pitch where the results are not coming. We want to play to win.

"And we do understand it can come back to haunt us, I am aware of that.

"We want be brave enough, not just with talking. We want to be brave enough on what we do on the field and that's playing on challenging pitches."

In 90 years of India hosting Test cricket, only the 2021 Ahmedabad Test against England saw fewer runs scored in a match that achieved a result than

this week's Indore Test.

The first two Tests of this series in Nagpur and Delhi were also played on challenging surfaces, with the ICC rating both pitches as "average".

This time Chris Broad, who replaced Andy Pycroft as match referee for the third Test, will have the final say on the Indore track and will consider whether it ventured into "below average" or "poor" territory

Either verdict would see demerit points handed down to the venue, which had been forced to prepare the pitch on short notice after Dharamsala (where the third Test was originally sched-

A "below average" mark would be the fourth time in a year that Australia have played a Test on a pitch given that rating, with the ICC also deeming surfaces produced in Rawalpindi (against Pakistan in March last year), Galle (against Sri Lanka in July) and Brisbane (against South Africa in December) as not up to scratch.

The last Test pitch given that rating in India came last year for the Bangalore match against Sri Lanka.

"All the wickets have spun, we haven't gotten past three days yet so that shows that it's been spinning from day one in all the Test matches, but I personally I really enjoyed playing on these kind of wickets," said Smith.

"I prefer this than just a genuine flat wicket that goes five days and can be boring in stages.

"With this one, whether it might have been a little bit too extreme, potentially from the first ball, I'm not really entirely sure."

Rohit also bristled at a query on whether India would make good on his pre-Indore Test suggestion that a green seaming pitch favouring fast bowlers could be prepared for the final match in Ahmedabad to help his side prepare for the World Test

Championship final.

Australia’s win in Indore saw them become the first team to guarantee qualification

Rohit had said earlier this week that the preparation of a pace-friendly surface next week hinged on the home side winning the third Test to put the series result beyond doubt.

While the Border Gavaskar Trophy has been retained by India, Australia could still draw the series 2-2 with another win in the final match.

"This pitch talk is getting too much. Every time we play

in India, we always focus on the pitch," said Rohit in response to a question about the Ahmedabad plan he had labelled a “definite possibility” on Tuesday.

"Why are we not talking about Nathan Lyon? How well he bowled? How well (Cheteshwar) Pujara batted in the second innings, how well Usman Khawaja played?

"Those are the things if you ask me I can give the details of, not the pitch. We focus too much on the pitch here in India and I feel that is necessary(.Cricket.com.au)

Harmanpreet leads rout of Gujarat Giants in WPL opener

MUMBAI Indians skipper

Harmanpreet Kaur set the tone for the maiden edition of the Women's Premier League(WPL) with a blistering 30-ball 65, which included 14 boundaries, as her side defeated Gujarat Giants by a comprehensive 143-run margin.

Apart from Harmanpreet, Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr struck impressive 40s as MI posted a massive 207/5 on the board at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. The Giants came nowhere close, as they finished with 64, with Saika Ishaque bagging the first four-fer of the WPL. The Giants were also left worried as their captain Beth Mooney suffered an injury in the first over of the chase and retired hurt.

Harmanpreet's innings was all about fluency after that as she drove, swept,

pulled and cut with confidence for a flurry of boundaries. Amelia Kerr also got into the act, scoring four boundaries en route to a half-century stand that was

raised off only 25 deliveries. Be it the overseas bowlers or the Indians, both batters treated them with equal disdain, with Monica feeling the brunt of their attack as

she conceded 21 runs in the 15th over.

Harmanpreet, who brought up a 22-ball fifty, struck seven fours on the trot during her innings but

she eventually got out to Rana. Kerr and Pooja Vastrakar, however, struck as many as five fours and a six in the last three overs and Issy Wong finished it off with a six to power MI to a big total.

Matthews struck the first of her four sixes and a four off Mansi Joshi in the second over but the Giants kept it tight otherwise, giving away only 17 in the first three overs. The arrival of Nat Sciver-Brunt gave MI some momentum as she played a cracking pull off Joshi and then struck two successive fours off Monica Patel.

Matthews fell three short of a fifty as she was bowled trying to cut an Ashleigh Gardner delivery, leaving MI at 77/3 at the halfway stage of the innings before Harmanpreet's brilliant innings and Kerr's equally im-

portant contribution helped MI amass 130 in the second half of the innings.

In the very first over of the chase, Giants' best batter Mooney had to leave the field after twisting her leg. Sciver-Brunt dismissed Harleen Deol for a duck off a leading edge while Issy Wong delivered a big blow by having Ashleigh Gardner caught at slip without scoring. Sciver-Brunt bagged her second by having Sabbhineni Meghana bowled while left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque picked up the wicket of Sutherland, with the Giants reduced to 17/4 at the end of the powerplay.

Dayalan Hemalatha tried to delay the inevitable, scoring a 23-ball 29 not out, but the Giants hurtled to a big defeat, with Saika bagging the last two wickets. (Cricbuzz)

Foden stars as Manchester City see off Newcastle

PHIL Foden's superb solo goal helped Manchester City see off Newcastle and ensured the defending champions kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Foden struck after 15 minutes, gliding in from the right and holding off two challenges before seeing his shot deflected home off Sven Botman.

Newcastle responded well and were causing plenty of problems until City substitute Bernardo Silva slotted home to put the game out of their reach midway through the second half.

The win means City move to within two points of the Gunners, who play Bournemouth later on Saturday, while Newcastle remain fifth, four points behind Tottenham.

While the result will be disappointing for Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, as his side looked to bounce back from last weekend's Carabao Cup final defeat, there were plenty of positives for him in defeat.

His side were on top when Erling Haaland set up Silva to make it 2-0 from the edge of the area, with Joelinton going close and substitute Alexander Isak

denied by an onrushing Ederson.

Isak was particularly impressive whenever he was on the ball and his return to full fitness will be a big boost for Newcastle, who have now won only one of their past eight league games, as they look to rescue their stalling season.

Foden the star of the show for City

City made hard work of this game at times, especially after half-time when some sloppy passing gave Newcastle the impetus to come forward and threaten an equaliser.

But they still showed flashes

of their best attacking form, with Ilkay Gundogan and Haaland both just off target with headers before the break.

Foden was the star of the show, however, with some silky touches out on the right flank showing his current mood, as well as the stylish way he took his goal.

Overall it was a job well done for Pep Guardiola's side, with the bonus of a welcome clean sheet - Ederson's 100th in the Premier League - after a run of league games where defensive errors always seemed to result in them conceding a goal.

Liverpool vs Man United..

LIVERPOOL and Manchester United managers Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag have called for an end to "tragedy chanting" in a joint statement.

The two sides meet at Anfield today and Ten Hag called their rivalry "one of the greatest in world football".

It has occasionally been marred by rival supporters chanting about the Munich air disaster and the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies.

But Liverpool boss Klopp told fans to "keep the passion and lose the poison".

Ten Hag added: "It is unacceptable to use the loss of life - in relation to any tragedy - to score points, and it is time for it to stop."

In November, the Football Association expressed concerns over the rise of "abhorrent chants" related to the Hillsborough di -

Ponting hails Barmy Army for Cummins gesture

Newcastle need to find a cutting edge

Newcastle's spirit was admirable but their lack of goals remains a concern - they have now managed only three goals in eight league games in 2023, which is a big reason why they have not won any of the past five of them.

But there were signs of life in their attack here, starting in the first half when Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff both had good chances - Wilson miskicked from just eight yards out, while Longstaff took too long to shoot, allowing Nathan Ake across to block.

The Magpies were even more of a threat when Allan Saint-Maximin, Joe Willock and Isak were all introduced at the same time, just after the hour mark, but they could not make the most of the period of pressure that followed.

Silva's strike underlined how finishing was the biggest difference between the two sides on the day, and Newcastle will have to find their cutting edge if they are going to stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot.(BBC Sport).

AUSTRALIA legend

Ricky Ponting said the reaction of the cricketing fraternity to the illness of Pat Cummins’ mother displayed how empathetic the community could be, and highlighted the Barmy Army’s touching tribute as an ‘awesome’ example of the bond in the sport.

Cummins flew back home from India after the conclusion of the second Test in Delhi to be at the side of his mother, Maria, who is in palliative care. He missed the third Test in Indore, and his participation in the fourth Test in Ahmedabad remains uncertain.

On the ICC Review, Ponting highlighted the Barmy Army’s touching tribute to Cummins’ mother as an ‘awesome’ example of the bond in the sport. Ponting has been in contact with the Australia captain to offer his support. "I have actually spoken to Pat a couple of times,” Ponting told Sanjana Ganesan in the latest episode of The ICC Review.

saster, including by fans of Manchester City and Manchester United on their visits to Anfield last year.

Then Manchester United and Leeds United "strongly condemned" chants about historic tragedies when they met at Elland Road last month.

At the time, the Premier League said it is "treating the issue of tragedy chanting as a priority and as a matter of urgency".

Before this weekend's game at Liverpool, Ten Hag added: "We all love the passion of the fans when our teams meet, but there are lines that should not be crossed.

"Those responsible tarnish not only the reputation of our clubs but also, importantly, the reputation of themselves, the fans, and our great cities."

The Munich air disaster happened in February

1958, when a charter plane crashed, claiming the lives of 23 people, including eight Manchester United players and three officials.

In 1985, 39 fans died in a crush against a wall which collapsed before the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus at Heysel Stadium in Brussels, while 97 supporters died as a result of a terrace crush at Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough in 1989.

"When the rivalry becomes too intense it can go

to places that are not good for anyone and we do not need this," Klopp added.

"We do want the noise, we do want the occasion to be partisan and we do want the atmosphere to be electric. What we do not want is anything that goes beyond this and this applies especially to the kind of chants that have no place in football.

"If we can keep the passion and lose the poison, it will be so much better for everyone."(BBC Sport).

“When I first heard that he was making the trip home between Test matches, I had a pretty good understanding of what that was – his mum hasn't been well for a few years now, so I thought that might have been the reason. I reached out to him there and then.

“I think we've seen as well just how small and how tight the cricket world can be. I'm sure that he would've received a lot of well-wishes from all parts of the world, the cricket-loving fraternity, that would've sent some messages of support to him and the rest of his family in obviously what is a really difficult time for them."

Ponting reiterated the Cummins family’s privacy was paramount at this time.

"I don't need to say anything too public, but just to let him know everyone's thinking of him and his family and, hopefully, everyone respects that and

gives them the time and the privacy that they need.

“I guess from the cricket lovers’ point of view as well, everyone just wants to see Pat back out there playing again.”

Among the many wishes and tributes that was sent Cummins’ way was a powerful gesture by the Barmy Army, the renowned supporter group of Australia's arch-rivals England. During England's Test against New Zealand in Wellington, the group shared a video of their trumpet player playing 'Maria’ from West Side Story as a tribute to Cummins’ mother Maria.

“I mean, that's fantastic,” Ponting said, when asked if he’d seen the video. “And that's the exact point that I was making about how small the cricket fraternity is and how tight and how close it is.

“I've said this for forever, I was lucky to play a lot of Ashes cricket and lucky to witness a lot of really good, lighthearted banter from the Barmy Army. I think they are the best group of sporting fans that I've ever seen.

"They travelled the world supporting their team and are up and about from the first ball of the Test match to the end, whether their team's going well or not.

“So that was a fantastic gesture from everyone concerned and involved with the Barmy Army. It was awesome." (ICC Media)

Jurgen Klopp & Erik ten Hag call for end to 'tragedy chanting'

US Open and USTA 'hopeful' world number one Djokovic allowed to enter US

THE United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the US Open are "hopeful" world number one Novak Djokovic will be allowed to play this month's Indian Wells and Miami Masters events.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner, 35, has applied for special permission because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19.

The US requires international visitors to be vaccinated and proof will be required until at least 10 April.

Djokovic missed last year's US Open because of his vaccination status.

Indian Wells and the Miami Open - two of the most prestigious tournaments on the tennis calendar outside the Grand Slams - start on 6 and 20 March respectively.

In a tweet, the US Open said:

"Novak Djokovic is one the greatest champions our sport has ever seen.

"The USTA and US Open are hopeful that Novak is suc-

Verstappen on pole for season opener in Bahrain

ahead of both Mercedes cars.

George Russell beat Lewis Hamilton to sixth place by just 0.044secs.

Leclerc had been second after the first runs in final qualifying, 0.103secs behind Verstappen, but Ferrari chose not to do a second run to enable them to start the race on new tyres rather than used so he lost out on a second chance to try to get ahead.

MAX Verstappen led a Red Bull one-two as he took pole position for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Dutchman beat teammate Sergio Perez by 0.138

seconds, with the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz locking out the second row.

Fernando Alonso made an impressive start to his time at Aston Martin with fifth place,

Red Bull went into the weekend as strong pre-season favourites but they have struggled to make the car handle in a way that satisfied the drivers and had appeared not to have the advantage many expected.

In the end, the grid had a look many would have predicted after testing last week, but Verstappen said it had not been easy.(BBC Sport)

Noel ‘Bryner’ Campbell Golden Mile set for May 20

PLAISANCE Village will be a hive of activity on Saturday, May 20 when Noel “Bryner” Campbell presents the Plaisance, Sparendaam, Goedverwagting Golden Mile.

The event is open to children in the following categories: 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-17 and would-be entrants have until Friday, April 28 to register. There will be no registration fee while refreshments will be served.

The event gets underway at 7.00 am sharp and athletes participating are requested to assemble at the Plaisance Tank Yard at 5.30 am. Several prizes will be up for grabs.

For more information, please contact the following numbers: 660-1033, 660-1011, 652-2219 and 630-5639.

cessful in his petition to enter the country, and that the fans will be able to see him back in action at Indian Wells and Miami."

Djokovic, who also missed last year's Australian Open and was deported from the country because of his vaccination status, has said he would skip Grand Slams rather than have a Covid shot.

Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas said in January it would be a "disgrace" if Djokovic was not allowed to compete in the US this year.

The Indian Wells draw takes place on Monday and Djokovic, competing at the Dubai Tennis Championships this week, said: "If I'm not allowed I'm going to pull out, of course, before the draw."

He was permitted to travel to Melbourne in January and won a record-extending 10th Australian Open title, tying Rafael Nadal's record of 22 Grand Slam wins.(BBC Sport).

Bayern back on top of Bunseliga

with Stuggart win

Bayern Munich returned to the top of the Bundesliga with victory at Stuttgart.

Matthjis de Ligt opened the scoring with a low strike from distance in the 39th minute before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting doubled the lead in the 62nd.

Choupo-Moting's goal

- set up by good work from Jamal Musiala and Thomas Muller - came the day after he signed a new one-year contract at Bayern.

Stuttgart pulled a goal back through Juan Jose Perea with two minutes to go.

Victory sends Julian Nagelsmann's side back to

the top of the Bundesliga standings, ahead of Borussia Dortmund on goal difference.

Dortmund had overtaken Bayern and gone three points clear at the summit with a 2-1 win over RB Leipzig on Friday.(bbc Sport)

Regal Legends guarding against complacency in Orlando – Hardyal

REGAL Legends have been invincible since their entry into the Over-50 category in 2020 and are once again hot favourites to cart off championship honours at the Orlando Softball Cricket League (OSCL) tournament, set for March 17-19 in Florida.

However, despite the favourites tag, long-standing skipper Mahendra Hardyal is not taking any of the other teams for granted. According to Hardyal, he’s aware that Regal Legends are being hunted and as such they are guarding against being complacent.

Hardyal disclosed that their latest victory in the Prime Minister’s Cup, played last November in Guyana, was certainly a wakeup call for his players.

“We’ve been successful over the past few years, but we also realise that other teams have also been getting better and we are being targeted.”

Seemingly dead and buried at 104 for 8 in the 16th over, Regal Legends were rescued by a riveting 45-run partnership between Rudolph Baker and Hardyal himself, rallying to defend the title with a thrilling

eighth-wicket victory over the previously unbeaten New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Legends at the Guyana National Stadium.

Set 147 for victory, after restricting NYSCL Legends to 146 for seven in 20 overs, Regal Legends achieved the target with four balls to spare.

Earlier in the year, Regal

Legends were also tested by Canada’s Toronto Blizzards in the South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) tournament, played in the ‘Sunshine State’, before being rescued by a pugnacious innings from the no-nonsense Eric Thomas.

Regal Legends, in pursuit of 157, were staring down the barrel at 56 for four after the first 10

Winning the toss and batting, Regal Legends reached 171 for six in their allotted 20 overs before Wellman succumbed to 79 all out in 17.2 overs in disappointing performance.

Long-standing manager of Toronto Blizzards, Azeem Khan is unfazed with the favourite tag of Regal Legends and is confident his charges are capable of lifting the winning trophy in Orlando.

According to Khan, “with Desmond Chumney and Sunil Dhaniram out, the latter representing West Indies in the Masters Over-50 tournament in South Africa, we will need one hundred and ten per cent from the other players. I do understand there will be strong competition from the NYSCL and Regal Legends. Having said

overs, before Thomas changed the complexion of the game in dramatic fashion, smashing 63 off a mere 14 deliveries, with nine huge sixes and a four.

In the 2021Prime Minister’s Cup final, played for the first time at the Guyana National Stadium, Regal Legends completed an emphatic 92-run victory over archrivals Mike’s Wellman.

Nets stun Celtics 115-105 in season’s biggest fightback

THE Brooklyn Nets

stunned the Boston Celtics 115-105 on Friday in the NBA's biggest comeback win this season.

The Nets had struggled since last month's departures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, losing their last four.

But Brooklyn rallied from a 28-point deficit in the second quarter, with Mikal Bridges scoring 38 points in a game shown live on the BBC.

"We just kept fighting," said Bridges, who arrived in Durant's trade to the Phoenix Suns.

"We got stops and that was the biggest thing. It all started with our defence."

The Nets had trimmed the deficit to nine by half-time and took the lead for the first time - and for good - midway through the third quarter.

Jaylen Brown led Bos -

ton's scoring with 35 points but the Celtics have now lost two of their last three and slipped further behind the Milwaukee Bucks at the top of the Eastern ConferenceNets.

Two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic scored 18 points with 18 rebounds and 10 assists, as

the Denver Nuggets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 113-97 in a battle of the top two teams in the Western Conference.

It was the Serb's 25th triple-double of the season, with Denver winning each of those games, and the Nuggets pulled away after going into the final quarter level, to push their lead atop the standings

to six games.

Julius Randle scored 43 points and drained the game-winning three-pointer with 1.7 seconds remaining to give the New York Knicks to an eighth straight win, 122-120 at the Miami Heat.

The Golden State Warriors are still awaiting the return of injured star Stephen Curry but posted a fifth straight win, 108-99 over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Klay Thompson scored 27 points and Jonathan Kuminga added 19 off the bench as the reigning champions rallied from an early 17-point deficit.

Playing his second game for the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant scored 20 points while team-mate Devin Booker added 35 in a 125104 win at the Chicago Bulls. (BBC Sport)

that, we do expect to win the Legends division.”

The tournament will also include the Open and Over-40 categories.

Regals Legends team: Mahendra Hardyal (captain), Mohendra Arjune, Unnis Yusuf, Ramesh Deonarine, David Harper, Eric Thomas, Rudolph Baker, Eion Abel, Parsram Persaud, Surujdeo Ramdeen, Wayne Jones, Ramraj Sumair.

Toronto Blizzards: Shivnauth Seeram (captain),Jaimini Singh, Mohan Harihar, Rabindra (Jesh) Parasnauth, Lall (Dingo) Singh, Roy Britannia, Gerard Austin, Shazam (Strike) Baksh, Wally Bacchus, Fazil Rasool, Ramcho (Tiger) Singh, Sohan Singh, Azeem Khan (Manager), Naseer Baksh (President).

Temba Bavuma becomes the worst captain in Test cricket

South Africa’s white-ball skipper Temba Bavuma, who recently became the full-time Test captain replacing Dean Elgar, scripted an embarrassing feat in the ongoing Test match against West Indies after he got out on duck in both innings of the game.

Bavuma, who made his Test captaincy debut in this match, got out on a golden duck in the first innings and registered a two-ball duck in the 2nd innings to produce the worst captaincy debut in Test cricket’s history.

Bavuma became the 25th captain to get out on a duck in both innings of a Test match and joined the list of Mark Taylor, Rashid Latif, and Habibul Bashar to be the 4th skipper to get dismissed on a pair on their captaincy debut.

The list of embarrassment does not end for Bavuma, who is often accused of favouritism in the team, as the 32-year-old became the first captain in Test history to play less than four balls in a match on their captaincy debut. Temba played a solitary ball in the first innings and two in the 2nd innings to have this record to his name.

Bavuma has played 55 Test matches and has 2797 runs at an average of 33.69. Besides a century, Temba has registered nine ducks in his red-ball career.(Crictoday).

Herstelling Raiders thump Grove Hitech 4-0 NAMILCO Under-17 football

Star Party Rentals & Trophy Stall 2-day 1st division cricket

Singh, Imlach hit unbeaten fifties to put DCC in control

Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) were large and in charge in their own back yard against Malteenoes when the truncated first day of the Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall Division One two-day tournament for teams in the City ended.

Led by an unbeaten 78 from Sachin Singh who faced 132 balls and hit eight boundaries, which included two sixes, and 70 not out from National batter Tevin Imlach, who faced 93 balls and reached the boundary seven times, the Queenstown unit ended the day, which began at 14:30hrs on a spongy outfield due to overnight and early morning rain, on 171-1 from 44 overs.

THE East Bank Football Association (EBFA), yesterday, held its first intra-association match in the Namilco sponsored ‘Flour Power’ under-17 competition, at the National Training Centre (NTC), Providence.

The day’s play featured just one match which saw Herstelling Raiders firing four unanswered goals past Grove Hi-tech. Grove HiTech played with conviction but couldn’t find a break -

through in the final third.

On the score sheet for the Devnon Winter-coached side were their skipper Orlando Dickie, who registered a rocket of a shot from longrange, along with Levi Wilson, who opened the scoring with a composed shot from close range; Israel Espinoza and Albert Adams.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, following the win, Coach Winter noted that, “We (Herstelling Raiders) have been working on a few

objectives, mainly possession. A win is a big bonus but we are happy that one of our main objectives of playing possession-based football was achieved after a long period away from competition.”

Despite netting four, Winter expressed his dissatisfaction with the players’ quality in the final third, noting that, “The finishing was atrocious.” He added that, “Little details like throw-ins and shape also need some work. We tried to play a

4-3-3 but we kept losing our shape, especially when defending.”

Meanwhile, Herstelling Raiders’ Captain Dickie mentioned that, “This (win) feels really good because we have been training a lot and it’s good to translate hard work into success. I think we came with an advantage because of the work we have been putting in and I am glad we came out with the victory.”(Calvin

Play began in hazy sunshine and Singh and Jadon Campbelle (16) took the score to 35 on a good track before pacer Delon Dalrymple struck when he removed Campbelle in the 12th over.

Despite the soggy outfield, the runs flowed on a small ground to the delight of the fair size gathering of mainly DCC supporters.

Both batters played several audacious shots on both sides of the wicket as the visitors used eight bowlers in an unsuccessful attempt to stem the run flow or make a break-through.

The pair have so far featured in an unfinished 136-run second-wicket partnership.

Left-arm spinner Dennis France was the most expensive of the bowlers as the batters took a liking for him; his five overs costing 35 runs. The DCC team includes National players Chris Barnwell and Ashmead Nedd.

Today is the last day and play is scheduled to start at 9:00am.

Veteran Roach hails Garner’s input after moving up all-time Test list

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, (CMC)

– Kemar Roach has praised the input of West Indies fast-bowling legend Joel Garner after overtaking him on the all-time West Indies list of wicket-takers in Tests.

The 34-year-old Roach claimed five for 47 in the second innings of the opening Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion last week, to move into fifth place on the West Indies charts with 260 wickets from 76 Tests.

Fellow Barbadian Garner, a member of the stellar West Indies pace battery of the 1970s and 80s, now lies sixth with 259 wickets from 58 Tests.

“When I first came into the West Indies team, he was the team manager and I spent a lot of time

in his room, communicating with him and stuff [like that] and learning the tricks of the trade,” Roach said.

“And he’s always took me under his wing. He checks in on me once in a while and we had a good friendship, so to pass him is a great honour … and it’s just who’s next on the list [to surpass].

For me, it’s to stay fit, stay positive, stick around the young guys, get some youth from them and play as long as I can for the West Indies.”

Roach was outstanding in the first session on the third day at SuperSport Park, dismantling the Proteas for 116 after they resumed the morning on 49 for four.

The five-wicket haul was Roach’s 11th in the

longest format, further installing him as one of the greats of the modern game and as West Indies’ best seamer over the last decade.

And with wickets continuing to come, Roach said he still maintained a deep desire to continue at the highest level.

“For me, motivation comes from wanting to perform, wanting to get my numbers up, [and] obviously get among the greats for West Indies,” he explained.

“And then we have a great, fantastic dressing room – the camaraderie, the fun we have. Everyone in the dressing room gets along well with each other so that’s the motivation for me to keep going as long as I can.

“Let’s see how long I

can go – hopefully two, three, four, five, six more years,” Roach laughed.

He sits behind Courtney Walsh (519), Sir Curtly Ambrose (405), Malcolm Marshall (376) and Lance Gibbs (309), but faces a race against time to crest the 300-mark largely due to West Indies’ inactivity in Test cricket.

Last year, the Caribbean side played only seven Tests to follow up the 10 they played the previous year, and have been averaging just over seven Tests per year over the last five years.

For the exception of the three-Test England tour in 2022, West Indies featured almost exclusively in two-Test series, and Roach believes the international governing body can do more to increase

the number of Tests.

“I think West Indies deserves some more Test cricket. I think we do,” said Roach, who has featured in 76 Tests.

“We’ve been competing pretty well for the past two years. We’ve done pretty well in the Test Championship, so I think the ICC can probably look at giving some of the lower tier teams more series.

“Two Test match -

es [per] series [is] pretty tough. By the time you get a rhythm, the series is over so I’m thinking three Tests should be more acceptable.”

West Indies lost the opening Test against South Africa by 87 runs inside three days and face the hosts again in the second and final Test at The Wanderers here starting Wednesday.

Big scorelines underscore opening day

THE 2023 edition of the MILO Schools Football Tournament got underway in Georgetown yesterday with a total of twenty-four goals scored over the four matches at the Ministry of Education Ground.

East Ruimveldt were 5-0 winners against Marian Academy with braces from Trammel Jack (22nd , 60th) and Daniel Sutton (65th, 69th) while Kevon Garraway added a single strike in the 40th.

Bartica represented Region 7 well with a 9-0 drubbing of Bush Lot with nine different scorers on the sheet.

Reon Hall (2nd), Shawn Jones (9th), Jerson David (12th) Ezekiel Baldeo (20th), Cyle Timmerman (31st), Ashton Dutchin (56th), Rodcif Adamson (59th), David Benny (60th) and Rondel

Lonche (61st) were the scorers.

Ian Daniel was the main scorer as Carmel High beat Bygeval 8-0.

Daniel scored in the 16th, 17th, 37th, 39th and 60th with single strike each coming from Shem James (5th), Dwayne Baptiste (27th) and Marcy Layne (40th).

North Ruimveldt was also able to open their account thanks to Mickeal Vannoten (11th) and Isaiah Daniels (32nd) as they beat Patentia Secondary 2-0.

Matches continue today from 11:00 hrs with Annandale playing Westminster Secondary and Berbice Educational Trust playing Charlestown from 12:45hrs.

Chase Academy and Dora play at 14:00hrs while Ann’s Grove and Queens College play at 15:45hrs.

Anderson gets maiden call-up to Harpy Eagles squad

…recalls for Anthony Adams, Keemo Paul

UNCAPPED batsman Kevlon Anderson is the lone newcomer in the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for the third round of the West Indies four-day Championship.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Chairman of the senior selection panel, Ramanresh Sarwan, commented that Anderson is a player for the future who they want to make an investment in.

Head Coach Ryan Hercules, Captain Leon Johnson, and Territorial Development Officer, Colin Stuart, were also present at the National Stadium, Providence, where they announced that Keemo Paul and Antony Adams were

recalled.

They replace Chandrapaul Hemraj, Akshaya Persaud, and Ashmead Nedd for the trip to the Twin island Republic where they play Trinidad and Tobago Red Force from March 15.

Hemraj is an enforced change as he has not recovered from his concussion in the second round and could be out for the rest of this championship for medical reasons.

Furthermore, Johnson announced that at the end of this four-day season, he will retire from national duties.

Harpy Eagles (28.6 points) lead the standings ahead of defending champions, Barbados Pride (23 points), Trinidad

and Tobago Red Force (20.6 points), Windward Volcanoes (19.4 points), Leeward Hurricanes (17.4 points) and Jamaica Scorpions (10 points).

Guyana Harpy Eagles squad: Kevlon Anderson, Matthew Nandu, Tevin Imlach, Leon Johnson (Captain), Kemol Savory, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul (Vice-captain), Shamar Joseph, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Antony Adams

Reserves: Mavindra Dindyal, Rampertab Ramnauth, Demitri Cameron, Sachin Singh, Neiland Cadogan, Ashmead Nedd, Sylus Tyndall