Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 01-10-2023

Over 50,000 persons gained employment since 2020 - as economy continues to flourish

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286 roads being constructed in Region Three - Vice President announces

President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the Rotary Club of Georgetown hosted a blood drive at State House on Saturday (Photos: Office of the President/Delano Williams)

President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Saturday led bilateral discussions with the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his delegation at State House. The meeting focused on strengthening relations between the two countries in areas of mutual

Over 50,000 persons gained employment since 2020 -

as economy continues to flourish

By Trina Williams

WITH Guyana’s economy back on its feet and citizens being able to embrace its abundant benefits, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, says that job creation has exceeded expectations. Since assuming office in 2020, more than 50,000 people have become employed.

The Vice President made these remarks on Friday at the opening ceremony of the West Central Mall, which was commissioned at Leonora, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Coast Demerara).

“More than 50,000 people are working now since we got back into

office and it’s a massive number,” he proudly said.

With this goal coming sooner than expected, it marks a tremendous accomplishment for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government, which, in its 20202025 manifesto, promised to provide 50,000 new jobs by the end of its first term in office.

Underscoring that the former A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) regime did not promote policies that catered for a vibrant and sustainable economy, the Vice President said that the PPP/C recognised this and vowed to stay away from similar ideals.

He said, “In opposi -

tion, when we examined the situation at that time, we found that there was quite a bit of disincentives to investments and we spoke about this publicly.

“We said the economy will not expand, will not create jobs [and] will not create wealth for our people, if the government at that time continued to pursue the policies that they were pursuing.”

With a clear vision of transformation on their agenda, Dr. Jagdeo said that his government basically started from scratch in order to get Guyana back on track.

Setting forth on a path to relieve impoverished persons of the burdens that were consuming them, while still promoting the

private sector, he stated that this goal resulted in big debates, nationwide.

“…There was a big debate in Guyana whether the two objectives were not incompatible and that no economic philosophy can be built on achieving these two objectives at the same time,” Dr. Jagdeo related.

Defying nay-sayers, the PPP/C government, according to the Vice President, has proven that these goals can be achieved. He said this is owing to the number of implementations rolled out by the government.

“We have clearly demonstrated that we can capture both in the same economic philosophy,” he firmly expressed.

Moreover, training opportunities are being

provided through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), among other accredited institutions, as well as through job creation across sectors.

A technical school is also being established at Port Mourant in Region Six that will provide training and job opportunities to Guyanese. In August, during a press conference, Dr. Jagdeo, said that the labour mobility should be celebrated, since people are now being presented with more choices in the job market.

“You’re going to continue to have labour mobility. There is no position in the government where we can restrict that and it’s hard to compete with the alternative.

“It’s a right that citizens should have [and] this is something that should be celebrated too. There was a time when people felt they had no option than to stick with one job for life,” Dr Jagdeo expressed.

It is difficult for companies to find persons skilled in plumbing, carpentry, masonry and other technical skill sets, therefore, pushing them to import labour. However, this is unique to Region Four, Dr Jagdeo pointed out.

“The situation is not the same in other regions of the country [and so] we don’t want to allow large numbers to come here when our people in other parts of the country are still looking for a job. But because they don’t have the same level of economic activity in those regions, they can’t find one as yet.

“That is why we are bolstering this with a parttime job. We’re focusing on training people, we are urging them to be trained, we’re urging labour mobility,” he highlighted.

The government has also engaged companies to establish facilities to accommodate labourers from other regions, as a way to promote labour mobility.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, in July meeting with the beneficiaries of the government’s part-time jobs initiative in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) (Vice President Photo)

Over 200 units of blood donated

…during blood drive organised by Rotary Club of Georgetown & Pres. Ali

THE Rotary Club of Georgetown, in collaboration with the President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, hosted a Blood Drive

at State House on Saturday which garnered 201 units of blood.

Forty-six members of the Guyana Defence Force

and the Guyana Police Force, including presidential guards and police in training, donated blood.

Devendra Kissoon,

President of the Rotary Club of Georgetown, told the Sunday Chronicle that the club does community-based needs assessments and, in response

to those assessments, it brings professionals together with the hope of having those needs satisfied.

One of the urgent needs that they recognised in Georgetown was blood for the blood bank.

“We understood from the blood bank that one unit of blood can save a minimum of three lives

and separate and apart from that, the blood bank expressed that, on the best day during the week, they typically get about 10 units of blood,” he explained.

Kissoon related that the club, in collaboration with President Ali, organised the event as part of efforts to improve the availability of resources at

Devendra Kissoon, President of the Rotary Club of Georgetown (left), President Dr. Irfaan Ali and others at the blood drive hosted at State House (Office of the President photo)

A total of 67 persons donated blood on Saturday at State House (Delano Williams photos)

Over 200 units of blood...

the blood bank and to raise awareness throughout Georgetown that blood is something that is needed.

main goal will be to raise awareness to let every citizen of Guyana know that every person from every

blood, to do anything that you can do to improve the life of your neighbour.”

According to Kissoon, the club has several initiatives in store, some of which are focused on mental health awareness.

addressed…..we're also rebuilding community, persons’ homes,” he explained.

He noted that they are also doing several water projects throughout Guyana for the purpose of

to help each other.

“That is what motivated me. I'm not from Guyana and even though I'm far away from my country, I think that the gesture of donating blood when you're healthy, when

He said that it is important to keep motivating persons to donate blood, given the lack of units at the blood bank.

“ I think it's a great way to contribute to the community and it's very

“So far, just three hours into today's event we have accumulated more than 40 units of blood, which, if you do the math, a minimum of 120 lives can impacted positively and we're very grateful to the President for his support,” he said.

Kissoon added: “The

walk of life and every busy person ought to take a few minutes out of their activities to help.

“We are very hopeful that everyone could see what we're all doing here today, and would be inspired to help the neighbour by giving blood. If not being able to give

“We plan to visit and assist various convalescent homes, the aging population, to spend time with them to make sure that depression and feelings of loneliness are

providing potable water to various communities.

Mexican Ambassador to Guyana, Mauricio Vizcaino Crespo, a donor, related that he thinks donating blood is a great way

you're able to do it, it's really important to motivate others to help in any way they can,” Crespo stated.

great that the Rotary Club is here working towards that objective,” he related.

Unpatriotic and Misleading

THE political opposition is continuing to peddle its false and misleading narrative of being cheated out of office in the March 20, 2020 General and Regional Elections, despite the fact that the entire world knew otherwise. And as if that were not enough, it has been trying desperately to 'convince' the international community that the democratically elected PPP/C administration is practising political and racial discrimination against its supporters, more particularly the Afro-Guyanese segment of the population.

Nothing could be further from the truth! As to be expected, this deliberate smear campaign by the political opposition has been condemned by the PPP/C administration, which, in a recent statement emanating from the Office of the Prime Minister categorically rejected the unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations made by misguided elements by way of a petition in support of misleading statements by a recent Opposition delegation

to Washington.

According to the release, “the Government categorically rejects the claims made in the petition, dated September 24, 2023 in support of the Washington Diaspora Conference as an unpatriotic attempt by the opposition APNU+AFC to undermine the Government's commitment to the betterment of Guyana. It is evident that the document in question is engineered by the Opposition APNU+AFC, and is designed to present a one-sided perspective that does not accurately represent the actions and policies of the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government of Guyana.”

The PPP/C has been highly even-handed in the manner it is treating with the Guyanese people, regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation. This is manifested in all facets of national life, such as access to government jobs, access to educational opportunities, access to housing, and in the delivery of social services.

For the political opposition to accuse the PPP/C

of discriminatory policies is, at best, dishonest, and at worst an attempt to sow the seeds of division and discord in a country that is now making steady progress in the direction of inclusivity, social cohesion and national integration.

The political opposition does have a role to play in terms of holding the government accountable, and in the articulation of issues of national importance. But to deliberately attempt to sow division in the society along ethnic lines is completely at odds with the norms of responsible political behaviour, and, for that matter, basic civility.

In setting the record straight, the PPP/C administration made its position clear that it views the Opposition-orchestrated petition as 'regressive, mischievous and unpatriotic. It appears to be a thinly-veiled attempt to undermine the universally unifying work that successive PPP/C administrations have undertaken, and President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has been vigorously advancing

since his assumption of office in 2020 to transform the socio-economic construct of Guyana, and foster an environment where every creed or class has an equal place.'

The fact of the matter is that despite the efforts of the PPP/C administration to foster a climate of peace and national reconciliation, it is the political opposition that has been setting up road blocks all along the way. In this regard, several attempts by President Ali to reach out to the Leader of the Opposition have been greeted with skepticism, if not rebuff. The Opposition APNU+AFC continues to refer to the PPP/C administration as an 'installed regime' despite its legitimate and internationally-recognised democratic credentials.

The political opposition has been unable to provide any credible and substantiated evidence of any discriminatory policies by the PPP/C administration towards any ethnic group, other than vague and hasty generalisations which have absolutely no bearing with

objective realities. This must be a source of embarrassment to the political opposition during its engagements with United States Congressional leaders and members of the diaspora.

As pointed out by Guyana's Prime Minister in a recent statement, 'claims that African Guyanese face hostility and repression are unequivocally false. Guyana's political landscape is diverse, with multiple parties and organisations representing various interests, including African Guyanese. These organisations have been welcomed to engage in the Government's consultative processes to address community concerns with ample mechanisms provided for facilitation of such engagements, notwithstanding the approach of regular direct grassroots engagement of the citizenry by the President and his Cabinet’.

Despite attempts by the political opposition to vilify the PPP/C administration, the truth is that Guyana is firmly on the road to economic and social progress, where

every Guyanese is provided with an equal opportunity to develop to the full limit of their potential. The Government is committed to its 'One Guyana' policy, as it seeks to create an environment of inclusivity, unity and equal opportunities for all.

The doors to constructive dialogue remain open. The political opposition has a national duty to rise above narrow partisan thinking, and place the country's interests first. Despite the rapid modernisation processes currently underway, there are still challenges to our sovereignty and territorial integrity that require the support of all Guyanese right across the political and ethnic spectrum.

In this regard, the position taken by the political opposition on threats to our sovereignty by Venezuela is encouraging. It is time for the political opposition to now come on board in support of the call for a united Guyana along the visionary lines of 'One Guyana' as conceptualised by President Ali.

No place for the lazy, backwards, bigoted, race-baiting politics of PNC/APNU/AFC

Dear Editor,

Unfortunately for all of us, the political opposition went to Capitol Hill, Washington DC, and embarrassed all of Guyana with their ineptitude.

According to the Opposition’s own accounts, the Congressmen and women told the group to produce evidence of and data supporting their claims, clearly indicating that

none had been forthcoming. Like their talk shows and whisper campaigns, their claims were, inter alia, of discrimination by the Government against African Guyanese.

Through the Ministry of Education, the Government provides several services to school children, their parents and teachers. And each and every such service is given equally and, as far as we can, equitably. Ab-

solutely no discrimination happens in the provision of any service at this ministry and indeed none has been claimed by the users of the system, the actual stakeholders. That is not to say several prompts and similar wild claims by the Opposition have not been made but the citizenry has not succumbed.

As promised, we restored the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant. Every

single child who attends school and is on the register is eligible. Conversely, when the APNU/AFC abolished that grant they said they would replace it with one of the 5 Bs-breakfast.

You would be surprised that not a single child from Region 10, Essequibo, or the East Bank received said breakfast.

We launched the Breakfast for Success- Edutrition programme and all

Coastland Grade 6 students receive this, in South Georgetown, in Canje, in Region 10, Region 2 … everywhere. In the hinterland, the children receive a hot meal.

We have printed and given a higher quality exercise book than was ever given and we have bought more textbooks than our country has ever bought. Each child received those in the same quantity re -

gardless of which community their school resides. We have begun to give school grants to each school to allow for independence and autonomy in the purchase of janitorial, office and field supplies. EVERY single school is getting this grant. In an aim for equity, the Hinterland schools are getting more per child with each in the hinterland and each school

President Ali is a formidable leader

Dear Editor,

On Saturday, September 23, 2023, something incredible took place in Guyana that did not happen when His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali officially became the president of the country three years ago. And many, including yours truly, are baffled when it was announced that President Ali briefed the leader of the opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton of the new threats to Guyana’s sovereignty from the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

Despite Mr. Norton’s refusal to shake Dr. Ali’s hand on more than one occasions, it did not bother His Excellency, who cast aside partisan politics, put the country’s interest first and acted like a mature statesman and discuss with the leader of the opposition, Venezuela’s ominous warning to use force to prevent the Ali administration from auctioning the oil blocks.

Frankly speaking, Maduro’s ill-conceived

and baseless intimidatory tactics are meant to undermine Guyana’s sovereignty and its right to develop its resources to benefit its almost 800,000 citizens. However, at the United Nations annual general meeting of Heads of State, a confident President Dr. Ali rebuffed the Maduro regime for its vile and foreboding threats to use force against Guyana.

President Dr. Ali did not only displayed statesmanship in communicating with the leader of the opposition who has been antagonistic towards him since he was sworn in as President on August 2, 2020, but he also exhibited courage and buoyancy by putting the country and its people ahead of self and discussed the menace posed by Venezuela.

President Ali has steadfastly and resolutely maintained that the oil blocks are within Guyana’s legally defined and internationally recognised boundaries which was settled on October 3, 1899, Arbitral Award. His position was

supported by the Commonwealth of Nations, the United States, and our friendly neighbours in CARICOM and the Organisation of American States, all of which have rejected Venezuela’s illicit threats and called on Caracas to respect international law as well as await the decision of the International Court of Justice.

Instead of adhering to the advice of the United States and our neighbours, the Maduro regime is currently making plans to hold a national referendum on the border controversy. Not to be left out was South America’s economic and military powerhouse, Brazil, through its Ambassador in Guyana has reiterated the urgent need for a peaceful solution to the border dispute through diplomacy and the International Court of Justice.

However, following the briefing by President Dr. Ali on the current developments on the border issue, the leader of the opposition Mr. Norton congratulated His Excellency and

affirmed the Opposition’s firm support for Guyana’s long held position that the Arbitral Award of 1899 settled the border dispute, and that Essequibo belongs to Guyana.

Mr. Norton also reassured President Dr. Ali that despite their differences on governance and politics, everyone in the opposition is united in supporting the government on all measures aimed at protecting the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Mr. Norton also indicated to the President that the opposition fully supports the view that Guyana has the legitimate right to undertake all economic activities within its territory, opposes and condemns all forms of aggression by Venezuela, and welcomes the unwavering support of the regional and international communities to protect the country’s borders against the aggressive Maduro regime.

While His Excellency was gracious and cordial with the leader of the opposition and thanked him

for his support, he was exceedingly blunt with the Venezuelan regime when he declared that the people and government of Guyana will not be intimidated by or be afraid of the hollow threats made by President Maduro. His excellency vowed to defend Guyana’s territory and sovereignty at all costs and by all necessary peaceful means.

In highlighting the new threats posed by the Maduro regime against Guyana, President Dr. Ali has done a brilliant job to amass immense support from our CARICOM and Latin American neighbours, the Commonwealth of nations, the United States and South America’s economic and military powerhouse Brazil, which warned the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of the need for a peaceful resolution to the border dispute and that any attempt to use force against Guyana will threaten peace and stability in the region.

While other presidents have received support on the border dispute, Pres-

ident Dr. Ali is perhaps the first Head of State to receive unanimous support from several international and regional organizations and heads of state on the border issue. In the face of the ominous threats from Venezuela, His Excellency has displayed quintessential grace and strength.

It is said that an authentic leader is real, genuine, compassionate, visionary, and who is dedicated to a cause that is greater than self. And a hero refers to those who are brave, determined, inspiring and have a strong conviction. It is the belief of most Guyanese that President Ali is endowed with all the above qualities. Not to mention that he is a formidable leader who is standing up to Venezuela, and regardless of political affiliation we should support him in these challenging and difficult times.

Sincerely,

Asquith Rose

Noplace for the lazy, backwards, bigoted...

From page 6

on the coastland receiving the same amount of money per child.

Resulting from conscious, deliberate action, for the first time ever there is no limit on the number of teachers we can train. We will graduate this year more than 2300 teachers, the largest batch ever to graduate in any given year anywhere in the Commonwealth Caribbean. All applicants who were eligible were admitted. Not a soul was turned away because of their ethnicity.

We have built, repaired and rehabilitated more than 1000 schools in the country in every area of this land. Indeed, only today I com-

missioned the Haslington Nursery School.

As promised, we offered Guyanese opportunities to study to achieve degrees, masters and Ph.D.s in renowned overseas Universities on the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and on Get Ready For Opportunities to Work (GROW). Not a single applicant was refused acceptance because of ethnicity and the pictures of the several graduating classes will evidence this.

We regularised the employment of sweeper cleaners in all schools moving them from being temporary workers to being contractual workers with benefits of gratuity, leave allowance

certainty, etc. Each and every sweeper - African, Indian, Amerindian - cleaner was treated the same way.

Editor, I can go on and on and on. I invite anyone who wishes to check for themselves to see whether any policy at this Ministry or indeed any other, discriminates against any ethnicity.

This service, with equality and equity, has begun to show real results. In two years under the PPP/C, there are more children living at the Amerindian Dorms in Turkeyen attending the National Schools (QC, Bishops, St. Stanislaus, St. Rose’s, St. Joesph’s) than there were for all five years before

that which means that more children than ever before from the Hinterland are able to excel at the primary exit. In the last NGSA result, there were more children from the public school system who earned the National schools than private school children.

At CXC more diversity was also seen in not only the top performers but in the percentage matriculation of schools in various communities. While the world continues to struggle with performance in Mathematics, and we are not exempt from that, Guyana recorded better performances by far this year with almost 700 candidates more than last year earning passes in

Mathematics with Grades 1, 2 and 3.

In senior, impactful positions we have officers of every ethnicity, and particularly of African heritage, who were hired or retained by this Government, who dedicatedly serve Guyana daily. The APNU/AFC would never be able to make such a claim. We must be reminded also that it was the APNU/AFC who removed from their positions and posts Messrs. Olatocumbo Sam and Marcel Hutson and others, including some ordinary secretaries and office staff, but all African Guyanese who were, in the first place, hired or brought on into said senior positions by the

PPP/C Government. Editor, there is much to do in this beautiful land. And if indeed there is discrimination we must all shout it from the rooftop and fix it. But where there isn’t we must do as the congresspeople did: firmly dismiss those who trifle with our time and emotions using the tired old race card. This country, this generation won’t be pawns in that anachronistic game. There is no place for the lazy, backward, bigoted, race-baiting politics of the PNC/ APNU/AFC.

Sincerely,

Priya Manickchand Minister of Education

A song for you to help save humanity

TIMES like these I am glad I am living in my beloved Guyana. I am a Caribbean man and would not have it any other way. Times like these I am glad I am not living in a country where the Caucasian race predominates. We in Guyana have other racial problems but what happened in Ireland will never, never ever occur here.

We have racial divisions in this country but Guyanese will never practise the racism that was seen in Ireland. They will never in the next 1000 years in this country see an Indian-Guyanese sports official putting medals on the neck of competing team members and as the Indian official reach an African student, that student is bypassed.

There will never, in another 1000 years in Guyana, be an African-Guyanese sharing out medals on the podium and deliberately ignore an Indian. We will never see such petty discrimination against six-year-old students in Guyana. But it happened in Ireland at a gymnastic event. The children were all lined up to receive their medals and the official deliberately refused to place a medal on

the neck of the only African child.

The heart of every human on Planet Earth should go out to that six-year-old. It is not for the faint-hearted to watch that video. You have to think that humanity is in crisis when you see that video. Humanity is indeed in crisis when you learn that the Canadian Parliament invited a 90-year-old former Ukrainian Nazi official to attend Parliament to witness the address of the President of Ukraine. When the former Nazi official’s name was called, every parliamentarian across party lines got up and applauded him.

A lady named Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius of Kurdish

blood came to Holland as an eight-year-old refugee. She grew up and entered politics. On the campaign trail, she tells the story of her mother clutching her Gucci bag when she arrived in Holland. Inside that bag, she said was all her mother brought to Holland. She is contesting the upcoming national elections and has a chance of becoming Prime Minister. Now brace yourself for the gradual loss of humanity in today’s world. This lady announced that if she becomes PM, she would drastically reduce refugee intake and would reduce family reunification among refugees.

To think that the world in the 21st century has pro-

duced such a person is beyond imagination. To know that Britain has non-White Cabinet Ministers that think like Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius is beyond imagination. To think that in the US Trump is leading a better man in Joe Biden in the poll is beyond imagination. Finally, the Greek Coast Guard refused to tow a sinking ship carrying hundreds of refuges. It sank and 580 human lives were lost.

I leave you with perhaps the most profound philosophical pop song ever composed. I think the Beatles composed some serious philosophical reflections. I can think of “Nowhere Man”, “The Fool on the Hill” and “Eleanor

Rigby” I think Bob Marley stands alone in the history of pop music in composing songs that plead for humans to pursue justice and liberation so humanity can be free.

But for me, Elton John’s “Circle of Life” remains the greatest philosophical pop song ever written. Please read the lyrics and reflect on your participation in saving a disappearing humanity in the world at the moment.

Circle of life - Elton John

Verse 1]

From the day we arrive on the planet

And blinkin', step into the sun

There's more to see than can ever be seen

More to do than can ever be done

Some say, "Eat or be eaten"

Some say, "Live and let live"

But all are agreed as they join the stampede

You should never take more than you give

Chorus]

In the circle of life

It's the wheel of fortune

It's the leap of faith

It's the band of hope

'Til we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the circle, the circle of life

[Verse 2]

Some of us fall by the wayside

And some of us soar to the stars

And some of us sail through our troubles

And some have to live with the scars

There's far too much to take in here

More to find than can ever be found

But the sun rollin' high Through the sapphire sky

Keeps great and small on the endless round

Chorus

In the circle of life

It's the wheel of fortune

It's the leap of faith

It's the band of hope

'Til we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the circle, the circle of life

Mixing business and pleasure: CPL 2023 generates massive economic impact on Guyana

THE Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2023 T20 tournament ended on a high note for Guyana on several fronts. The country not only won in terms of keeping the trophy at home after a decade of participation, but the event was a testimony of how a country can win by synchronising its productive sectors with development efforts and the support of corporate Guyana.

Last year, President Dr. Irfaan Ali boasted that it was the biggest year for CPL in Guyana, with the organisers announcing that the total economic impact for Guyana in 2022 was US$84,425,587, a 186 percent increase in the figure from the last time the country hosted Hero CPL

matches in 2019. This year, the President noted that there has been a marked increase of at least 12 percent in the number of visitors who travelled to Guyana for the biggest sporting activity in the Caribbean.

In fact, this increase was made evident when the president reported an ‘embarrassing situation’ where the local hotels, guest houses and Bed and Breakfasts were all fully booked, triggering difficulties in securing accommodations for visitors. He noted, however, that this did not derail persons from staying for an extended period in the country. Thankfully, with the increasing revenues from the oil sector, the Government is developing the infrastructure needed to support these

activities, and with investor confidence leading to an increasing number of hotels under development, accommodation may not be an issue in future tournaments.

In tandem with the increased economic activities generated from the influx of visitors was the opportunities for local businesses. The ‘Cricket Carnival’ is an explosive two-week cultural fest which was the brainchild of the government to allow tourists to experience Guyana’s rich culture through mouth-watering cuisine, music festivals, cultural shows and exhibitions. Local businesses, inclusive of restaurants, roadside vendors and rental companies, were able to capitalise on these activities which paved the way for

a boost in sales.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors’ resilience in continuously competing in the tournament was strengthened by dedicated commitment from its corporate sponsor, ExxonMobil Guyana. The company rallied with the team for the seventh consecutive year, despite them playing in the finals five times without winning the title. President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, noted that the sponsorship was forged in the spirit of partnership, one where the company renewed its commitment to compete, its commitment to unity and its commitment to teamwork.

The support of ExxonMobil for the Warriors was complemented by thousands of Guyanese patrons who

flocked the stadium for every game. As such, this collective support may have contributed to the dominance and resilience that was portrayed by the team at every match, and as fate would have it, the Warriors were able to win their first title after being a part of CPL for 10 years. It was a momentous occasion as the members of the team waved the Golden Arrowhead with pride, declaring that the win was dedicated to the people of Guyana.

The support of ExxonMobil Guyana cannot be overstated. In highlighting the importance of sponsorship for the Warriors, Chairman of the team, Dr. Ranjisinghi Bobby Ramroop stated, “Cricket in general, and Warriors T-20 Cricket, in particular, has

come to define Guyanese unity and pride as a people since CPL’s launch in 2013, and ExxonMobil Guyana has enthusiastically embraced and supported our passion.” CPL 2023 will forever be etched in the minds of “Warriors’ Nation” as the team made good on the slogan ‘this year is we year’. With the tangible benefits that the tournament has brought to the country, CPL should be seen as not just a sporting activity but as an instrument for increased local economic activity and should be used as a blueprint in how industry players can drive development in a country outside of its mainstream activities.

That Opposition Washington trip

THE Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton led a team of nine Opposition Members of Parliament from the APNU and AFC, other Opposition politicians and IPADA-G to Washington, United States of America.

They arrived for the ‘Washington Conference on Guyana’, and were expected to meet with several high-powered officials from the Biden Administration, inclusive of the Congressional Black Caucus.

This was Norton’s chance to meet leaders in person whom Rickord Burke had promised on various political programmes and calls. He, along with the other MPs, met with what turned out to be ‘anybody’ who wanted to listen to them complain, ad nauseam, about the alleged situation in Guyana. Soon, the conference turned largely into a political event, and dealt with the Opposition's contention that there is allegedly widespread racism and discrimination on the basis of race.

It even purported to have a motion that sought to set out suggested actions that should be taken to improve and promote inclusivity and good governance in Guyana. This motion, then, would be sent to the US Congress for further action.

For Norton, the trip was

successful, and provided the Opposition with opportunities to engage the US in political dialogue.

Firstly, Norton is an embarrassment to Guyanese and this country. Surely, he knows only too well that he can say the same things in Washington from Guyana while rocking back in the comfort of his house or office; they did not need to go to Capitol Hill or Washington to say the very same things that they say here.

Nothing new or groundbreaking was said to the persons whom Norton’s team met in the US, and no deal was made. No expression of support was given to him or his team. They left the US again empty-handed and poorer than they went.

Norton could have had greater influence at home trying to affect the domestic and international policies. Also, Norton and the team could have spent that time addressing issues that have their party, the PNC/R, on the brink of collapsing, as it is evidently divided.

They, as a team, were disjointed and incoherent. Just listening to panellists and MPs at the Conference, an objective person would come away with the impression that they could not be speaking about Guyana or its democracy, much less the respect for the Constitution or the Rule of Law.

Guyanese who follow pol-

itics were disappointed in the Opposition Leader, and this was exacerbated by the fact that the press and social media coverage they received at home and abroad was poor.

Secondly, the conference was a mess from the very start. It was poorly organised, and appeared to lack political spark. Apart from the dullness of Norton, it seemed like the other MPs were in the business of misinformation, misrepresentation and delusion of a generous nature. Listen to Amanza Walton-Desir, Ganesh Mahipal, Dawn Hastings-Williams and the very laughable Elson Low’s presentations of the various situations in Guyana. They were behaving like the information they gave in speeches and documents would not be searched, and the persons there did not have access to the World Wide Web.

It was a sham exercise in

futility, because no one from the Biden Administration was available to meet with Norton and company. Not even the Senators and Congressmen or elected officials would be so bold as to say something negative about Guyana’s situation, except to ask for more information, evidence, and a statistical analysis which Cathy Hughes struggled to provide.

Anyway, it was clear that the Opposition was not expecting the people from the diaspora and the US to be so circumspect and thorough. The MPs did not have any evidence except a so-called dossier that has been discredited on deaths during the crime sprees that held Guyana hostage during the early 2000s period. Had someone asked for the winning SOPs, Norton and Forde would have cut their visit short and returned to Guyana.

Thirdly, this conference was proof of the resurgence of the influence and power of people like Burke, people with a few dollars in their pockets and a following, over the Opposition in 2023. Burke was infamously the star of the event, which featured businessmen who were sympathetic to his views and less to the Opposition’s position. It was for friends, family and favourites of Burke, and to a lesser extent the Opposition.

It was a desperate attempt at achieving relevance, window dressing and political imaging on important issues related to transparency, accountability, good governance, racism, discrimination and democracy.

No one is fooled except the MPs that went on that trip, some of them for the first time. The US and Guyana will continue their diplomatic, political

and economic relations, and do even more business with this same very administration. It will be business as usual. The US recognises international law, and is Guyana’s equal before the law. The US is not the boss of Guyana, so Guyana is free to govern according to the tenets outlined in its Constitution by any democratically elected Government.

Finally, Norton is allowing himself to be led astray in his desperate search for the limelight and attention. He is suffering from a false sense of consciousness. Like the Founding Leader, he needs to undergo some introspection about who he has advising him in his circles. Burke and the others are seemingly waiting with their daggers for the PNC General Council Meeting, and the upcoming Congress, which will take place sooner or later than is expected.

This Washington Conference did absolutely nothing for the general concern of Guyanese living here, and was a PR stunt engineered by the brainbox that was behind the camera, Sherod Duncan, and in front of every engagement, Burke and his team.

Now the lights are out, and the cameras are gone, tell us who paid for the trip, failed lobbying, and will there be an audit?

Cyberbullying…The Upstanders

By Vanessa Cort

THIS is not the first time I have written about cyberbullying and I doubt it will be the last, given that it has been growing despite increasing calls for an end to this insidious practice.

While cyberbullying is thought to be a problem mostly of the developed world, it may surprise many to know that, along with the US, India and Brazil are the two other countries where it is most prevalent.

Of course, bullying is nothing new. Many of us know of instances of the strong preying on the weak, even if we have not been involved ourselves.

However, with the advent of the internet and social media, anyone with a cell phone or other similar device can either be a victim or a perpetrator. Indeed, the roles may even become interchangeable, where the predator may become the prey or vice versa.

What is beyond argument, and was pointed out many years ago by Monica

Lewinsky – the former White House intern who became the central figure in the 1998 sex scandal involving then President, Bill Clinton – is that cyberbullying has taken the act to a whole new level.

Giving a TED talkspawned from the annual technology, entertainment and design event – some 19 years after the scandal broke, Ms Lewinsky related in highly emotional tones her own experiences of being bullied, harassed and insulted on the internet.

This was the first time the information highway had eclipsed the mainstream media in divulging a major news story. It also heralded the beginning of the type of bullying now so widespread on social media.

While this talk, eight years ago, drew the attention of many to the advent of online bullying it has since continued, practically unabated, despite legislation enacted by many countries to curb the practice, the formation of anti-bullying groups and the general public outcry.

It is of growing concern

in this part of the world as more and more children own cell phones, while use remains largely unmonitored by parents.

More alarming still is, as Ms. Lewinsky then warned, what appears to be society’s growing numbness to cyberbullying and failure to treat it with the gravity it deserves. She further observed that huge profits are being made off the shame and humiliation of vast numbers of people, especially the young.

The worse and more detailed the harassment, the more clicks the post receives and the more clicks the more advertising dollars generated. This is truly a sad indictment of any society which allows cyberbullying to prevail.

Some of the disturbing statistics for this year reveal that 32 percent of youth across the globe experience cyberbullying online; 70 percent of students with a physical disability report being bullied; girls are 1.3

times more likely to be bullied and 38 percent of people experience cyberbullying on a social media platform daily.

Pandasecurity.com sums it up this way: “Standing up to bullies was once a brave act that defied social norms. Today, the landscape is not so clear-cut Enter: cyberbullying. Adolescents are forced to endure online harassment from peers at any given hour of the day – often without even knowing the identity of the bully. The prevalence of digital devices has created a pressing health problem for the world’s youth that is not limited to school grounds.”

The problem is further compounded by the fact that social media companies are private and online bullying is difficult to track and regulate. Nonetheless, statistics have been able to reveal which platforms are most guilty, with Instagram topping the list.

What Ms. Lewinsky called for back in 2017 and is even more vital today, is for people to become Upstanders – standing up to the bullies, though this cannot be done as

in days of yore, where physical confrontation was usually all that was necessary.

Today, parents need to exercise greater vigilance when it comes to their children’s use of cell phones and other digital devices, teachers need to be able to recognise the signs of both the bullies and the victims and the general public should not hesitate to report instances of online bullying to the authorities.

In an article on human trafficking three months ago I quoted the words of Edmund Burke – a British statesman and philosopher. I am compelled to do so again: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

And, particularly to the bullies, singer/songwriter, Demi Lovato had this to say: Sitting behind a computer gives people a sense of anonymity, but everyone needs to realise that words – even the ones they write online – have a strong power to hurt people.”

286 roads being constructed in Region Three — Vice President announces

RELIEVING Guyanese of the troubles that were attached to them by the former A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, pointed out that his government has gone above and beyond to ensure that the economy stays afloat.

In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Coast Demerara), the government is doing some 286 roads.

During his feature address on Friday at the opening ceremony of the West Central Mall, which was commissioned at Leonora, the Vice President elaborated on the tremendous road works across the country.

“This year, on community roads alone, in this region, we’re doing 286 roads… We’ve just gone out to tender for 300 roads in Berbice, 300 roads on

[the] East Coast [of Demerara and] another 100 on the East Bank [of Demerara].”

Furthermore, in July, it was announced that major road-transformation works which cover a total of 12.2 kilometres and cost some $800 million were currently underway in several Region Three communities.

According to a Facebook post made by the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, residents of La Parfaite Harmonie, Westminster, Onderneeming, and Recht-Door-Zee are witnessing the transformation of their neighbourhoods.

These projects are a fulfilment of promises made by President Dr. Irfaan Ali while engaging residents at a community outreach earlier in 2023. Investments have also been made through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to build roads in the

above-mentioned communities.

With massive private and public developmental projects ongoing across Region Three, the government is also looking to make the lives of residents easier.

One of these developmental projects is the construction of the Schoonord-Crane four-lane highway, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

Owing to the rapid pace of development, this highway will precede the planned construction of a four-lane highway from Schoonord to Parika on the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE).

The construction of this particular road is merely a component of a broader plan to modernise the country’s infrastructure and create myriad alternative and more convenient linkages.

Other projects include the US$300 million Vreed-

en-Hoop shore-base facility, which is expected to play a major role in transforming Region Three into a major player in Guyana’s oil-and-gas sector and a network of roads, all economically linked to the gas-to-energy project.

With $9.7 billion set aside in Budget 2023 to transform the Region Three landscape, residents can expect a significant improvement in public works, health, and education.

Notably, a whopping $259 million was allocated to public works in the region. The key projects the budget caters for are the construction of bridges at Leonora, Leguan, Uitvlugt, Wakenaam, Crane and Belle Vue.

Moreover, to improve access and living conditions for the residents of Region Three, the construction and rehabilitation of roads in several communities are ongoing.

Gov’t to implement electricity tax for large companies on GPL grid as consumption peaks – VP Jagdeo

—

blasts former APNU+AFC administration for lack of investment in energy sector

WITH Guyana facing electricity woes, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has announced that measures will be put in place to address the major gap between the demand and supply.

He said the government will put in place punitive taxes that will tackle the “big users” who come on the grid during “peak” hours.

The Vice President made the revelation at the opening ceremony of the West Central Mall, which was commissioned at Leonora, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara) on Friday.

“So, a lot of the big users now, who are self-generating, have to come on the grid now and taking power from GPL, so the demand now in a single night right now is 180 megawatts and we only have 174 megawatts of installed capacity,” Dr Jagdeo said, adding that it is now necessary to take those individuals off of the grid.

“We just agreed on a policy, that we put for the peak hours, punitive taxes for those big users who come onto the grid because it is at the peak period where the demand is greater than the supply.”

The Vice President also said that the government is purchasing another 30 megawatts of power and hopefully

it will arrive before the end of this year.

However, Dr. Jagdeo stated that Guyana is facing these hurdles because of the “short-sightedness” of the previous coalition government.

“No investments were made in those five years,” he firmly expressed.

Speaking more on the pestering power outages, the Vice President said, “You see a state of blackouts now. We

have always argued that the lack of investment in a timely manner, affects you because there’s a lag effect to the economic policy…”

Dr. Jagdeo further called out the former APNU+AFC government for shutting down the Amaila Falls Hydropower station and their failure to reinvest into another outlet.

“When fuel prices went up [this] government subsidised the price of electricity

and water to keep the cost of living down in this country.”

The Vice President then touched on the much-anticipated Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project, which is expected to be completed in next year. Late last year, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali presided over the signing of the US$759 million contract to begin work on the much-anticipated GTE project.

This is expected to be one of the largest civil infra-

structure projects undertaken in Guyana’s history. It will include a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) power plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

Speaking at this year’s CERAWeek energy conference, Dr. Jagdeo outlined Guyana’s ambitions to utilise the estimated 17 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of associated gas in the Stabroek Block.

“We’re having a different

kind of conversation to move to monetise this gas,” Jagdeo said, adding: “They’re [Exxon] doing some studies and we are also getting some external help to do a gas strategy, but we believe that’s the next [energy] wave… because we believe that Guyana has a huge potential for becoming a gas producer.”

When complete, the GTE project will be a huge leap forward for Guyana, reducing the price of electricity by an estimated 50 per cent and increasing the reliability of the power grid. This represents a significant step forward for a nation that has suffered from energy insecurity throughout much of its history and a landmark moment for Guyana’s independence from expensive imported fuel.

The 2023 national budget allocated G$43.3 billion to advance construction of the plant and associated facilities.

The gas project should start lowering household electricity costs by as much as half when it comes online in 2024 or 2025, although many more improvements will also be required to fully modernise the infrastructure of the electric grid and improve reliability.

Mohamed family donates houses to two families

“WHILE ribbons are being cut to open big establishments, the Mohameds are cutting ribbons to make the lives of the poor more comfortable.”

These were the words of business mogul Azruddin Mohamed, who on Saturday handed over two houses to two families in need.

One of the houses was handed over to amputee Abdool Salim at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara and the other to Bharrat Parboo at Annandale, East Coast Demerara.

Back in 2012, Salim was charged with murder after which his family disowned him by cutting all ties. The act, according to Salim, was more or less, self-defence. Nevertheless, he was remanded to prison pending

trial. However, while in prison, members of the Muslim community hosted a prayer service with the inmates and he was also fortunate to have met the brother of Mr. Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed, a renowned businessman.

Salim narrated his story to the relative, who in turn told Mr Mohamed of his plight. It was at this point that the businessman immediately sought legal representation for Salim.

After years of fighting the case, Salim was eventually freed of the murder charge

in 2018. He has credited his reintegration into society to Nazar Mohamed.

The father of three, formerly of Wakenaam Island, has now become a staunch Muslim and has been attending mosque every day

for the past six years. Prior to the murder, he described himself as a drunkard without ambition.

Today, he is the proud owner of a two-bedroom concrete house, all thanks to the Mohameds.

Meanwhile, Azruddin also handed over the keys to the other house at Annandale to Parboo’s wife, Kavita Ajodah on Saturday.

Parboo has practically lived his entire life at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO), but has started to take care of the facility for about nine years now. He expressed gratitude to the Mohameds for their kind gesture and praised them for always looking out for the poor.

While he remains at the MYO as a caretaker, the house will be occupied by his brother. Both houses were constructed by Rasheed Khan to the tune of $19 million.

Meanwhile, Azruddin also noted that his family will continue to support those in need and make a difference in society.

One of GPL’s power stations

L-R: Bharrat Parboo, his wife, Kavita Ajodah and Azruddin Mohamed Abdool Salim and his new house

Changes being made to address concerns at ‘West Dem’ Hospital

THE Ministry of Health (MoH), recognising a number of shortcomings at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), says that changes are being made to address concerns.

“A number of practices that affect the quality at the hospital have been discontinued,” the Ministry of Health noted in a statement issued on Saturday.

Additionally, the ministry said that the incident reported at the WDRH regarding an asthmatic child has been investigated by

a high-level team and the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO’s) report has been presented to the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

This report, like others, will be released to the public as soon as the ministry has reviewed it.

It was reported in the media that five-year-old JaiDevi Gurdyal passed away at the Georgetown Public Hospital after suffering an asthma attack and relatives say they were told she had been overdosed on antibiotics at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

The ministry said that it should be noted that in spite of continued challenges, improvements have been made at the WDRH.

“Medicine and medical supplies have improved from 32 per cent availability in 2020 to 90 per cent presently. Referrals from WDRH has [sic] been reduced by 87 per cent over the referrals from 2020,” the health ministry said.

According to the Ministry of Health, since the beginning of 2023, the WDRH has been playing a positive role in assisting the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to manage critical-care babies, given the heavy load that the GPHC presently carries.

“Often the NICU at GPHC cannot accommodate additional critical-care babies, since the NICU is more than 100 per cent occupied. Presently, the WDRH manages between 20 and 30 critical-care neonates per month. WDRH has been ably assisting to take off the load from GPHC,” the ministry said.

Further, concerning the Skeldon Hospital in terms of medication and medical supplies, the hospital’s reporting and the MoH’s monitoring show that the

hospital maintains an availability rate of between 85 and 95 per cent.

“While we have to strive for 100 per cent every time, the situation has improved dramatically from August, 2020, when the hospital maintained an availability rate of less than 35 per cent,” the ministry added.

In the case of staffing at the Skeldon Hospital, the Region Six Health Department and the MoH have been on record admitting that staff improvement is a priority for this hospital.

In August 2020, the Skeldon Hospital had three doctors assigned, covering the hospital and nine health centres, including Orealla and Siparuta. There are presently seven doctors assigned to the Skeldon Hospital, including two Cuban doctors and five Guyanese General Medical Officers (GMOs).

As of September 29, two additional doctors have been assigned to the Skeldon Hospital and a doctor has been assigned for resident duty in Orealla and Siparuta.

According to the statement, the improvement in staffing has resulted in an increase in patient load from 17,800 in 2020 to 29,000 in 2022 and estimated to surpass 30,000 in 2023.

The ER department is estimated to see more than 12,000 in 2023, the highest number ever. From zero ultrasounds in 2020, the hospital now performs almost 3,000 ultrasound examinations per year and from fewer than 100,000 prescriptions filled in 2020, the hospital filled almost 116,000 prescriptions in 2022.

The MoH is working with the RHO of Region Six and with the hospital’s management to ensure better rostering of doctors, as it is no secret that the Skeldon Hospital is affected by the overall nursing shortage in Guyana, a challenge which the ministry said every country appears to be enduring at this time.

“The 25 nurses that are assigned to the Skeldon Hospital needs to be increased and the MoH is presently addressing this matter. This matter is compounded by no-notice absenteeism, a problem we are trying to solve,” the MoH said.

The West Demerara Regional Hospital

Chinese Modernization…

Modernization of a Huge Population

CHINESE President Xi

Jinping once said, “Our modernization is both the most difficult and the greatest.” One of the reasons for that is China’s national reality of a huge population.

A huge population: Chinese modernization is difficult

With over 1.4 billion people on course toward modernization, a number larger than the combined population of all developed countries, China will transform the international landscape of modernization. It is the largest-scale modernization in human history, and also the most difficult one.

First of all, a huge population means diverse demands for development. The effectiveness of collective action is closely related to the number of people working together. The conditions and demands for development of different members in society vary greatly. With a huge population, it is challenging to solve problems such as employment, distribution, education, medical care, housing, elderly care, and child care, since a great number of people are involved in each of these causes. Only by vigorously forging consensus among different members in society, and realising inclusive development can China make sound and steady progress towards modernization.

Second, China’s development remains unbalanced and inadequate. Although China has become the second largest economy in the world, its per capita GDP ranks lower than 80th in the world. Among China’s 34 provincial-level administrative regions, the province with the biggest GDP is Guangdong, which is among the top 10 in the world, and dozens of times that of the provinces with lower economic volumes. And there’s a great gap between urban and rural areas in China, in terms of infrastructure, education, medical care and job opportunities. The rural areas are relatively underdeveloped.

In addition, there is no precedent in human history for a country with a population over a billion to successfully realise modernization. For countries with different population sizes, the increase in the difficulty of realising modernization doesn’t simply go proportionally with the increase of population. Because, with the increase of population, the difficulty in coordinating and investing resources and in governing will see exponential, nonlinear growth. Think about the difficulty for China, a country with a vast territory and huge regional differences. With no precedent to follow or ready experience to copy, China’s modernization is a pioneering endeavor, one of going “from zero to one”.

A huge population: Chinese modernization is inspiring

Advancing Chinese modernization for a huge population is difficult but right, and holds great significance for the world.

First of all, Chinese modernization will rewrite the international landscape of modernization. Since the industrial revolution began, only 1.2 billion people are living in high-income countries, which have modernized through the Western model. That’s about 15.8 percent of the world’s population. China, on the other hand, has more than 1.4 billion people, accounting for 18 percent of the world’s population, the modernization of which will double the world’s modernized population. This is unprecedented work and a great feat in human history with far-reaching significance.

Second, Chinese modernization is exploring a pathway for developing countries, home to more than 80 percent of world population. China independently blazed a Chinese path to modernization that suits its national conditions, breaking the one-sided but once commonly accepted myth that modernization equals westernization. However, China has never exported its path as a “universal model”, but offered it as a reference for

other countries to draw on in light of their own reality.

Facing unbalanced and inadequate development and diverse resource endowments and demands in different regions, China, taking into account its own national realities, has promoted the development of the whole society through two successful practices: allowing some to get rich first and then help others get rich; and making a bigger pie and sharing the pie better. In the process of modernization, China has realized that promoting development is like walking, only by putting one foot in front of the other in turn can one walk far and steady. If people only rely on the foot in front, they will not travel far and may even trip over.

Third, Chinese modernization has brought great opportunities to the world. Over the past 40-plus years since the launch of reform and opening-up, the Chinese government has lifted over 800 million people out of poverty, and enlarged the middle-income group to over 400 million people. Today, China is the main trading partner of over 140 countries and regions, making USD 320 million direct investment around the world each day and attracting over 3,000 foreign businesses every month. Over the past decade, China has contributed more to global growth than all the G7 countries combined. With the continuous improvement of living standards and the growing size of the middle-income group, China’s huge population will continue to provide a huge market and enormous development opportunities for the rest of the world.

The realization of Chinese modernization will bring about a fundamental change of the world modernization landscape, a new form of human advancement and opportunities for global development. It is a formidable mission that requires arduous efforts. A formidable mission is a magnificent and glorious mission. China will continue to steadfastly advance Chinese moderniza-

tion with unyielding tenacity and a global vision, and contribute to the well-being of people in China and other countries in the world.

PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT

The Chinese people are now marching ahead on the path to modernization. Modernization, however, may not evoke pleasant memories for everyone in the world. In many cases, it comes along with expansion, friction, and even conflict. But does it have to be this way? China has given a resounding answer: its modernization will be achieved through peaceful development. In fact, China is the only country whose Constitution says it “keeps to a path of peaceful development.” Why is this a big deal?

Like the Mayan, Inca and Egyptian civilizations, the Chinese civilization is an agrarian one. With their vast plains, the Chinese developed a generally self-sufficient economy, and would earn nature’s blessings through their hard work and resilience throughout millennia. Self-sufficiency, to a large extent, shaped the Chinese national character of cherishing peace.

From statesmen advocating the governance philosophy of “peace among all nations” to the ordinary people believing “friendliness brings wealth”, the culture of peace has long been woven into the fabric of the Chinese society. Even The Art of War by Sun Tsu, a military work widely acclaimed by strategists across the world, stresses that “the skillful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting.”

The pursuit of peace is a consistent theme in China’s history. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is inspired by the ancient Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road, which started and flourished respectively during the Han (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) and Tang (618 A.D. to 906 A.D.) Dynasties, the heyday of China’s feudal society. But the purpose of the two roads

was trade and exchange, not invasion or expansion. In the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), China was leading the world economy and capable of building the world’s largest fleet. But when the great navigator Zheng He led seven voyages to the western oceans, what China sought was fair trade, not plundering or looting; it sent porcelain and tea leaves to countries along the route, not “sword and cross.”

China needs peaceful development for its modernization drive

On the path of peaceful development, China has never waged a war, or encroached upon a single inch of another country’s land. After the People’s Republic of China was founded, it took the lead in proposing and acting on the five principles of peaceful coexistence. Among the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China is the largest contributor of peacekeepers. China is also the only one of the five nuclear-weapon states (P5) that has pledged no-first-use of nuclear weapons.

Peaceful development is the most realistic and best solution for China to pursue its national interests. China is advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. The key to this ambition is running its own affairs well, focusing on development and making its people better off. That, first and foremost, requires a peaceful and stable environment at home and abroad.

Giving up peaceful development is not cost-effective considering China’s endowment and its interdependence with the rest of the world. China has a supersize market with 1.4 billion people, including over 400 million in the middle-income group. China is a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions. These mean enormous potential in China’s consumption and export. China is also an in-

novation powerhouse and has complete industrial and infrastructure systems. Its high-tech industries such as new energy vehicles (NEVs), 5G and photovoltaics (PV) are highly competitive and enjoy a strong momentum. China is also deeply integrated into the international system, making huge progress amid globalization and benefiting the world in the process. As President Xi Jinping put it, “all countries are in a community with destinies linked.”

The global significance of China’s peaceful pursuit of modernization

From the 2nd CELAC Heads of State and Government Summit declaring that the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) was a “zone of peace”, the ASEAN Regional Forum Statement on Reiterating Commitment to Preserve Southeast Asia as A Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, to the Jeddah Declaration adopted at the 32nd Arab League Summit emphasizing Arab unity and cooperation, and the AU Agenda 2063 aiming for “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa” in 50 years, peace has always been the aspiration of the vast majority of countries and people. As the world’s second most populous country and the second largest economy, China is developing itself by unleashing its internal dynamism and peacefully utilizing external resources. It does not oppress any other nation in any form or rob others of resources and wealth; instead, it goes all out to help and support fellow developing countries. The Chinese path to modernization via peaceful development will bring new hope to people of all countries who yearn for peace and development, and contribute even more to world peace, tranquility, prosperity and development.

NDMA leads the way in Cybersecurity education …during Cybersecurity

Awareness Month

By Cassadra Khan

AS Cybersecurity Awareness Month unfolds, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) is taking proactive measures to empower organisations and individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to secure their digital data.

Director of Cybersecurity, Muriana McPherson-Lam, told the Sunday Chronicle that the NDMA is leading the charge in bolstering cybersecurity awareness and readiness. She outlined a series of initiatives aimed at educating citizens on the importance of cybersecurity.

"Every October is recognised and celebrated as cybersecurity awareness month globally [and] it is important for businesses to recognise the importance of keeping their information secure and ensuring that their employees know how to do so,” McPherson-Lam said.

She added, "We plan to have training for heads of public sector ministries and agencies…this training is aimed at raising the awareness about cybersecurity risks at a high level and encouraging the heads to ensure that they have mechanisms in place to safeguard the organisation's ICT assets.”

The Cybersecurity Director stated that the NDMA recognises the need for public sector employees to be well-informed about cybersecurity. As such, they are conducting a series of training initiatives, both in-person and virtual, to raise awareness among public sector employees. The goal is to empower them to practice safe on-

line behaviours as well as to recognise and avoid potential threats.

"Hence, the purpose of this training is to more or less help participants realise the need to adopt good online habits. For example, we want people to be able to recognize the different emails that they receive, to know which are phishing and which are not, as well as to recognise the social engineering tactics that cyber criminals may use to compromises devices and to steal personal information, and for person to avoid taking the bait.”

One of the key areas emphasised by McPherson-Lam is the importance of using strong, unique passwords for different online accounts.

"For example, the password you use to access your computer should not be the same

password you use for your email because, for example, if one password is compromised and you use the same password for all platforms, then everything that you have access to can become compromised."

Recognising the importance of cybersecurity in education, the NDMA plans to visit 12 schools across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10. These visits will include cybersecurity awareness sessions to educate students and educators on safe online practices.

"We want schools to practice safe cyber hygiene," she said.

To further assist businesses and individuals, the NDMA has a getsafeonline.gy website in collaboration with Get Safe Online. This website offers valuable infor-

mation and guidance on protecting digital information. It also includes a “Check a Website” tool to verify the authenticity of websites before visiting them.

As the NDMA plays a crucial role in securing public sector entities in Guyana, they employ 24/7 network traffic monitoring to detect potential cyber threats and would reach out to agencies if malware is detected. They provide guidance and support to restore operations and strengthen cybersecurity measures.

The NDMA also conducts cyber risk assessments aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity posture of public sector agencies.

“When a cyber-attack occurs, an organization must be able to respond promptly to contain the impact on the organisation’s critical services and infrastructure, its customers, employees, and its reputation. It is therefore important for organisations to adequately prepare for, to detect, and to remediate cyber-attacks. One important defence mechanism is to ensure that all devices used have licensed anti-malware solution deployed and configured to automatically detect the presence

of malware.

“The second thing is that performing data backups is crucial to ensuring business continuity in an organisation since it aids in the recovery process after unfavourable circumstances such as hardware failure, malware infection, cyber-attacks, power failure and disasters. It is therefore important to ensure that organisations have adequate data backup and recovery plans in place to ensure that mission-critical data, systems, databases, and other information technologies are securely backed up to minimise operation disruptions and to recover as quickly as possible in the event of an incident,” McPherson-Lam contended.

She went on to mention, “Other good practices include ensuring that software installed on end-user and network devices receive vendor supplied software updates and patches on a frequent basis and that such updates are tested prior to deployment.”

She also underscored the role of ICTs as a key pillar for economic and social development. She explained that Guyana’s critical information infrastructure, which includes

but is not limited to the provision of electricity, telecommunications, and banking services, is vital for an economy's smooth operation as cyberattacks on such infrastructure can have far-reaching consequences.

“From an economic standpoint, it is important to ensure that Guyana’s critical information infrastructure is fully protected from any ensuing cyberattack. Further, identified mechanisms to protect the critical information infrastructure must be in place. If at any point in time, there is a cyber-attack on critical information infrastructure, there must be a planned response to deal with such so that we can minimize any negative impact and any long-term effect it may have on the citizens or businesses who depend on the related services provided by the critical information infrastructure,” she noted.

In closing, she emphasised that in keeping with the global cybersecurity awareness month theme, “It is crucial that we implement prudent mechanisms to ‘Secure our World’ one citizen at a time.”

Director of Cybersecurity, Muriana McPherson-Lam

Roy’s Extra Quality Products opens wholesale, retail showroom

— receives ‘Made in Guyana’ certification

LEADING manufacturer of ground spices and seasoning mixes, Roy’s Extra Quality Products, located at Adventure, Region

Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), on Monday last, received its ‘Made in Guyana’ certification from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).

The company also opened a state-of-theart facility which will be used to display its products for retail and wholesale purposes.

Roy’s Extra Quality Products was established over 27 years and currently boasts a diverse catalogue of over 180 unique products. The company is a

family business that is managed by the owner and General Manager Lakiraj ‘Roy’ Singh; Devkumar Singh as the Production Manager; Haymant Singh as the Procurement Specialist; Mrs. Leelawattie Singh as the head of Finance, Accounting and Quality Assurance and Mr. Govinda Singh who oversees Marketing and Sales. Apart from family members, 10 persons are currently employed at the facility.

The birth of the company came about when a friend overseas asked Roy to grind some spices for him. The result of the spices was impressive and as such the

General Manager, Lakiraj ‘Roy’ Singh (third from right), receives the ‘Made in Guyana’ Certification

Hotline complaints, resolutions to be made public from November

THE Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has instructed that, as of November 2023, a monthly report of hotline complaints and actions taken must be made public.

This is according to a statement released by

the Ministry of Health (MoH) on Saturday in response to a September 25 editorial published in the Stabroek News criticising the healthcare sector.

“The health sector performance has drastically improved over the last three years. While the

Ministry of Health firmly stands behind this statement, we concede that there are some areas of concern that still plague the sector and the Ministry is making earnest efforts to address these concerns,” the statement read.

The health ministry noted that one of the repeated statements made in the editorial was that whenever complaints are made about alleged poor and inappropriate treatment in public sector hospitals, the MoH or other relevant health authorities

Roy’s Extra Quality Products...

From page 17

friend advised him to open his own manufacturing facility. The journey then started in 1996 with Roy and his family manufacturing just four products; due to the company’s reputation, quality and flavor, recognition was gained.

“We started in a modest 200-square-foot kitchen at my dad’s residence; this space was extended to approximately 900 square feet, in a separate building, but it too reached its limits as our product count continued to climb,” said the Marketing and Sales Manager, Govinda Singh.

The current processing facility spans 6000 square feet for storage and processing complemented by an additional 1200 square feet allocated for offices and kitchen/lunchroom. The facility, he said, is equipped with a modern state-of-the-art processing and packaging machinery that catapult their production capabilities to new heights. With the expansion he said it will cater for both local and international markets.

Govinda said the ‘Made in Guyana’ certification brings immense pride since it shows that the com -

pany meets the stringent criteria set by the GNBS.

Meanwhile, Roy said that his company was propelled by determination and boundless passion. In 1996, he lived in an incomplete house that was made from mere zinc and plastic; he had a family of six to feed.

He was a farmer, a tailor, a local snow cone man from Essequibo to Skeldon. And then he started to trade spices; buying and selling whole spices at the Essequibo market. He said that he then started his journey with basic tools producing garam

masala, geera, curry powder and coriander with handwritten labels.

In 1998, he acquired a coffee mill, despite not having electricity to operate it at the time. Determined as ever, he took a loan from a relative to cover the cost. Once the Guyana Power and Light installed electricity, Roy witnessed a significant boost in production output, far exceeding his expectation. Today, his business has become a household name offering over 80 packaged spices.

completely ignore these complaints and repeatedly fail to respond.

However, the ministry said that that was inaccurate and added that, while making this charge of non-responsiveness, the same editorial also opined that “the authorities are quite good at convening investigations.”

The statement read: “In every instance, the MoH and/or other relevant public health sector authorities investigate the cases. As far as possible, findings are made known to the public. Every case is investigated. Stabroek News is unfair in concluding that the authorities are guilty of ‘waiting the public out in the hope that the affected families settle or simply give up’.”

According to the statement, one of the challenges the sector has been addressing over the years is the institutionalisation of patient-friendly services and while significant improvement has been achieved, the sector continues to be challenged by inappropriate behaviour by a small number of staff members.

Given this, the MoH and the government have established a hotline which became op-

erational in April 2023. The number is 227-4357. The ministry said that, since the inception of the national hotline, there have been 77 complaints, with 65 addressed and 12 pending.

Similarly, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has several hotlines for complaints which operates 24 hours and complaints are immediately sent to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Medical and Professional Services and the Director of Nursing for action. The numbers at the GPHC are 226-6249, 227-8210, 227-8241, 227-8245 (Extension 1148) and 7014742 (WhatsApp).

The ministry urged that persons utilise these numbers to let them know of problems they encounter in the health sector.

Additionally, the GPHC has an office by the entrance painted bright orange for in-person complaints concerns. While they see some complaints in social media and sometimes in the printed media, the Ministry said that none of them has ever been the subject of a call to the hotline.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony

Some of the spices produced by the company

Optique Vision Care to open first privately-owned Ophthalmology Hospital

Home at Port Mourant; Canaan’s children home, Hauraruni Girls Home, the community of Long Creek at Soesdyke/Linden Highway, and communities on the Essequibo Coast. Seven of the company’s past and present employees were also honoured for their commitment.

IN celebrating 10 years in existence, Optique Vision Care (OVC) will be extending its services with the establishment of a privately-owned Ophthalmology hospital.

This announcement was made Friday by the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dhani Narine at a special award and presentation ceremony held at Herdmanston Lodge in Georgetown.

Construction is currently in its first phase and is expected to be opened to the general public in August 2024 at New Market Street, Georgetown. Narine said that as the company continues to expand its services, the focus is also to create employment opportunities for Guyanese.

“Optique Vision Care is the first to provide employment to Optometrists from the University of Guyana Optometry Programme in 2013/2014, the first to establish an Optical Chain in Guyana…Today, we have five stores with the sixth one currently under construction,” Narine said.

He also noted that the company is the first to introduce Crizal lens technology to Guyana in addition to the use of Electronic Health Record System (EHR) within the industry in Guyana in 2019.

“As a company, we are proud to be part of and to embrace the country’s national development plan, including medical tourism. We see this as the next chapter of Optique’s journey and look

forward to providing even more employment opportunities to Guyanese,” Narine added.

The company’s first store was established at Helena No. 1 Mahaica, East Coast Demerara and subsequently more branches were established across the country.

“We not only deliver a consistent brand experience through comprehensive eye care, but to also offer quality products and services to patients across the country… This is evident in the development and implementation of a Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme and Register, the provision of diagnostic tests such as Pachymetry, retinal photography, visual field tests, OCTs, laser services, the development of training policies, and procedural manuals,” Narine said.

Meanwhile, to mark the company’s 10th anniversary, over 205 children across the three counties - Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo - were given eye tests and spectacles. The company held several outreaches in the different regions led by co-founder and Optometrist, Madonna Narine. She said these outreaches are in keeping with the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Beneficiaries included Joshua’s children home, Bosch Boys Home, Shaheed Boy and Girls Home, Volunteer Youth Corps, Blessed Children Home, Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Bal Nivas Children

Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Optique Vision Care, Dhani Narine (Photo: News Room)

What the new Ophthalmology Hospital will look like

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday October 01, 2023)

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(2) Which team lost the final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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County Championship: Hampshire take last four Surrey wickets to beat champions

Hampshire became just the second team to beat Surrey in the County Championship this season as they finished off the newly crowned champions in rapid time at Southampton.

Just a day after sealing their 21st county title triumph, Surrey began needing 73 more runs for a ninth victory of the season.

But, instead, they lost their last four men for just 20 runs as Hants matched their summer's haul of eight Championship wins to secure third place for the second year in a row.

Only Lancashire had previously beaten Surrey in red-ball cricket this season, having also been the only team to beat them in 2022.

But England spinner Liam Dawson, who extended his season's best haul to 49, and Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas, who ended the campaign with 53 scalps, got the job done inside half an hour, taking two wickets each.

Who is in your 2023 county team of the season?

Surrey had made it clear throughout the match that they had the intention to finish their triumphant season off with a victory. But all they had to show in the end was being presented with the Division One trophy by England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson.

It took just five balls for the first Surrey wicket to fall when Jordan Clark advanced down the wicket to Abbas and prodded to Hants skipper James Vince at first slip.

Jamie Overton came out and played a straight drive and then a powerful sweep shot, but then produced an agricultural swing which allowed him to be stumped by Ben Brown off Dawson.

It was the first of three wickets to fall in 12 balls.

The Abbas and Vince combination struck again when Kemar Roach departed second ball after his wild

swing flew to first slip.

First-innings half-centurion Sai Sudharsan batted sensibly until Dan Worrall arrived and hacked at one, at which point his stylish 40 turned more towards aggression.

The Indian then took on Dawson but only managed to top edge to Vince, who took his third catch of the final morning of the season.

Hampshire captain James Vince:

"It is nice to finish with a win. We've finished off with three wins in a row including Essex and champions Surrey.

"Liam Dawson has been fantastic. He got off to a tricky start but, since the end of April, he has been fantastic with bat and ball. He's stood up in crucial moments and, when wickets have assisted him, he's played a massive part.

"It is easy to look back at little moments where we could have turned a loss into a draw or a draw into a win. We know how close we are but also how much those small margins in games impact the overall season.

"Third is disappointing, our goal is to win the Championship, but at the same time to finish in the top three consistently shows we are doing a lot of things well.

"We made [T20 Blast] Finals Day, lost in the final of the One-Day Cup and finished third in the Championship. One of those years where you have been there or thereabouts in all competitions but have nothing to show for it.

"But credit to Surrey for winning it. They have been the stand-out team across the whole season and deserve to be champions."

Surrey head coach Gareth Batty:

"It was a weird way to get over the line half way through the day but the County Championship is set up over six months

"You don't win it over one day or one game. It is

the marathon cup and you still have to still celebrate it and respect it even if you are then on the wrong end of the result.

"We completely understand why, because we had already got to the point we had driven towards all season, and that was to lift the trophy again."

Despite defeat in their final match Surrey finished 20 points clear of Essex at the top of Division One

GFF signs groundbreaking MOU with BSCNA

to establish international player-scouting network

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde has signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding with Blackpool Sports Club of North America (BSCNA) to establish

an International Player Scouting Network (IPSN) to provide Guyanese players with unparalleled opportunities for global exposure in diverse football

environments.

The three-year deal was signed on September 28, between President Forde and BSCNA’s President Renaud Peters, and will, inter alia, facilitate the structured identification, recruitment, and retention of players, as well as “the seamless coordination of international scouting camps to foster stronger connections with the global Guyanese Diaspora foot -

ball community”.

BSCNA is a Guyanese football club established in the late 1960s in the United States, with the primary objective of promoting and popularising Guyanese football within the diaspora community.

Founded by passionate individuals who were once members of the local youth team, St. Sidwell’s Rovers, BSCNA is a driving force in advancing the sport, and

representing the spirit of Guyanese football across the United States and beyond.

GFF’s President Forde said the Federation continues to foster collaboration and engagement with the Guyanese Diaspora, worldwide, through partnerships with organisations that share a common goal of showcasing the incredible talent and potential of Guyanese football players.

“The GFF continues to explore new opportunities to collaborate and engage with the Guyanese Diaspora in every corner of the planet,” he said, adding: “The Blackpool organisation has a deep repertoire of football knowledge and experience, coupled with a wide network of Guyanese who maintain an active interest in Guyana's football.”

He said that with BSCNA’s wealth of football knowledge and experience, “we believe that together we can achieve great things through our shared commitment to lifting the profile of our national teams on the international stage.”

GFF and BSCNA are fully committed to the successful realisation of the shared objectives outlined in the MoU.

BSCNA’s President Peters said the agreement is a tangible step towards maintaining a competitive talent pool of footballers for the purpose of representing Guyana. “I would like to commend the president of the Guyana Football Federation and his staff for entering into this agreement,” he said,

adding:

“It represents a tangible step towards addressing the ever- present and constant requirement to upgrade and maintain a competitive talent pool of footballers for the purpose of representing Guyana.

“As the oldest and most successful Guyanese football club in the diaspora, Blackpool Sports Club of North America eagerly looks forward to playing a part through a coordinated, transparent and focused effort to identify eligible football players, wherever they may reside to represent Guyana.”

In closing, Peters said:

“We expect that these efforts will be a component in the resuscitation, progress and enthusiasm for this wonderful game among Guyanese as Guyana’s football seeks to attain new heights, and take its place on the landscape of international football.”

The MoU is intended to unite the expertise and resources of both organisations to bolster player development, and advance the global promotion of Guyanese football.

GFF’s President Wayne Forde signing the MOU with BSCNA’s President Renaud Peters

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Former cricket executive Chris Dehring said his native Jamaica missed a huge opportunity to promote itself when the decision was taken to skip bidding to stage matches in the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup next year in the Caribbean and the United States.

The former managing director for the ICC Men’s One-day International World Cup 2007 West Indies said he will not blame the government of Jamaica solely for the missed opportunity because they were other stakeholders that needed to have stepped up.

“First, I am very disappointed because all the work that was put in 16 years ago, now is the time to take advantage of that work,” he said on the SportsMax Zone TV programme on Thursday. “Whatever mistakes that were made in the past, you

now have the opportunity to exploit what is a totally new paradigm in the world of cricket.

“It has been 16 years, and what has happened with cricket, T20 has been a paradigm shift. I don’t even like to talk about cricket in general. T20, in general, has been an inflexion point in the global explosion of the sport, the geographical explosion, the commercial explosion in the world of cricket.”

He added: “We are now looking at an opportunity that everybody else in the world seems to know something that we don’t know.

“I don’t know what it is, but when you see all those billionaires investing heavily in T20 specifically across the United States and in non-traditional countries such as Japan, China, Netherlands, and so on, somebody knows something, and it’s a pity that we clearly don’t know in Jamaica, and it would

have been good to get that experience.”

The ICC announced last week that seven Caribbean countries, as well as three cities in the United States will host matches in the Men’s T20 World Cup.

The Caribbean countries selected are Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, and T&T, and the three American cities are Dallas, Broward in the state of Florida, and New York.

Dehring said the Men’s T20 World Cup was a chance to invite some of the billionaires spending huge sums in T20 franchises around the world to the country and find out why they were making such huge investments in that form of the sport and position the country to benefit – but that opportunity was now lost.

“I am relieved we did not put in a last-minute bid

because we had five years knowing (the Caribbean) was hosting this event to plan and to mobilise the kind of resources we need in terms of personnel and expertise… who could tell us how to exploit 30 million cricket fans in the United States with a per capita income of U.S. $100 000,” the former chief marketing executive of West Indies Cricket Board (now Cricket West Indies) said.

Dehring said the country had collectively failed to see the big picture and needed to take responsibility, and prepare itself not to miss such an opportunity the next time.

“There are so many indicators out there, I don’t know what it means, but I know it means something big that all these billionaires are pumping massive amounts into this T20 (version),” he said. “Cricket is returning to the Olympics in 2028 for first time since 1896.

“Something is happen -

ing, and we need to find out. The Saudis, the Qataris are coming. I don’t know what’s happening, this is way above my pay grade, but we need to find out. We have an incredible history and still a brand in the world of cricket, and we need to make use of it.”

The Men’s T20 World Cup, to be played between June 4 and June 30, will have

20 teams playing a total of 55 matches across the 10 venues.

It is the third time a men’s World Cup will be staged in the Caribbean, and the first time in 14 years, after the region previously stage the 2007 Oneday International World Cup and the 2010 T20 World Cup.

Dehring bemoans Jamaica missing out on global showpiece Linden Masters triumph

THE Masters football fraternity, under the name Guyana Football Association of Masters (GUYFAM), held an over 55 one-day festival last Sunday at the GFC Ground, where the Linden Masters triumphed over the two other competing teams.

On a sunny Youman Nabi holiday, host team, RastafarEye Patriarchs, lost their two matches

0-1 and 0-4 to Club 45 and Linden Masters, respectively, while the Championship decider ended in a 2-all stalemate.

The 40-minute-match Festival was reduced to a triangular competition after Pele Masters failed to muster a team.

In the decisive encounter, Christopher King gave Club 45 the early opening lead with a blaster, after breaking through

the defence.

The Mining Town Masters replied almost immediately through Gavin Greenidge, before Gregory Griffith hit a powerful right-booter from at the top of the box to give Linden the advantage, after 15 minutes of pulsating action.

Led by former National midfielder Terrence 'Old Head' Lewis, who was here, there and

everywhere, Club 45 launched attack after attack, before King again broke free to level the score again, just before the half.

The match, which was upped to a 60-minute affair, produced a 2nd half of near misses and solid defending at both ends, and the scoreline was not changed when the final whistle was blown. Linden, with a +4 goal difference, were crowned Champions over Club 45, who ended with a +1 goal difference.

Captain of the Linden Masters Garfield ‘Snooker’ Shepherd captured the Best Defender and MVP trophies, as well as the top goal-scorer trophy, which he jointly shared with Christopher King for their two goals apiece.

'Old Head' Lewis was named the Tournament's Best Midfielder, while Linden's Steve Retemiah was awarded the Best Goalkeeper trophy, and teammate Steve Hector won the oldest player trophy at 66 years old.

A number of individuals contributed the trophies that were contested for, including Snoops Jewellery of Linden, and Golden Smile of the Cap-

ital City. Three former hockey players also made contributions towards the staging of the festival: Ivor Thompson, Dexter Wyles, and Dr. Claude Gooding, and former Western Tiger’s Shawn Thompson.

Former cricket executive Chris Dehring

Champions of over 55s football festival Linden Masters

Tournament MVP of Masters over 55s, Garfield ‘Snooks’ Shepherd collecting his silverware from GUYFAM’s Terry Meusa

Rugby World Cup 2023: Chile leave first tournament ‘smiling’ despite four losses

By Alastair TelferBBC Sport

Chile lost all four of their pool matches at their first Rugby World Cup in France "We can leave this tournament smiling."

Four defeats out of four, 27 points scored and 215 conceded. On paper it may look like a sporting nightmare, but Rugby World Cup debutants Chile can leave the competition proud of their achievements.

Saturday's 59-5 defeat by Argentina marked the end of the road at this World Cup, but it is hoped that this will

be the start of something special for the South American nation.

"We can leave this tournament smiling and proud of what we have achieved," said captain Martin Sigren.

"We said at the beginning that we didn't necessarily come here to get a result on the scoreboard but to be competitive."

'We got more positives than negatives out of this'

Chile qualified for their first World Cup by beating the United States 52-51 in a two-legged qualification play-off in July 2022, becoming the first debutants in the competition since

Portugal in 2007, which was history in itself.

The highlight on the pitch came when fly-half Rodrigo Fernandez scored the opening try in their first match against Japan to give the 2019 quarter-finalists an early scare.

They also took an early lead against Samoa before falling to a 43-10 defeat, although England proved far too strong for them in a 71-0 loss before they ended their campaign against the Pumas.

However, the goal for head coach Pablo Lemoine was never about results, but putting "Chilean rugby in a better place".

He added: "I think we got a lot more positives than negatives out of this.

"We have attracted new fans to the team. We have tried to bring Chile up in the world rankings and we have managed to do that.

"We have always spoken about people feeling part of this project from all around Chile and we have achieved that. That is the biggest experience I am taking from this."

Head coach Lemoine played for Uruguay from 1996-2010, helping them qualify for their first World Cup in 1999.

Uruguay have qualified

for every single competition since then, something the 48-year-old believes Chile can take inspiration from and look to emulate.

"We need to believe in the process and take it one step at a time - building a high-performance programme, getting players playing sevens and building

that into the programme," he said.

"We have got a very ambitious plan to build from here and I think I still have two more World Cup cycles in me.

"But it has been amazing to bring people in who are not from a rugby culture."

Wolves shock Manchester City to end perfect League start

MANCHESTER City's 100% Premier League record came to an end at Molineux as Hwang Hee-chan scored a second-half winner to give Wolves a shock victory against the champions.

City manager Pep Guardiola, forced to watch from the stands as he served a onematch touchline ban, was unable to intervene as his side failed to take control in their usual manner and free-scoring striker Erling Haaland was limited to a single chance.

Still, it did seem as though the visitors were on course to emerge victorious after Julian Alvarez curled home a brilliant free-kick to level Ruben Dias' early own goal.

But, just as Pedro Neto had gone on a right-wing raid before the opener, Nelson Semedo's forward surge inspired a second for Wolves, who ended a run of six straight defeats against City.

It completed a miserable

day for former Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes.

The Portugal international went on strike to secure his £53m move to City last month and the home fans evidently have not forgotten as they jeered him every time he touched the ball before he was substituted at half-time.

Nunes misfires as City stumble

Whilst most observers feel it is a foregone conclusion that

City will become the first side in English football history to win four league titles in a row, there are signs to provide reason for optimism amongst their rivals.

City have now gone behind four times in their last five matches and have now lost successive games for the first time since January following their midweek defeat to Newcastle in the EFL Cup.

Although he was in an un-

accustomed position alongside football director Txiki Begiristain, there was the familiar sight of Guardiola rubbing his head in frustration at a team that is struggling to find the fluidity they have been so accustomed to producing so easily.

Phil Foden tried his best to spark the visitors into life and Jack Grealish was introduced for the final 10 minutes to try to inspire a late revival.

It was not to be though, with Nunes' performance a clear disappointment as he struggled to impose himself on the contest and failed to reappear for the second half as youngster Oscar Bobb took his place.

There was an acceptance last season from virtually everyone at Wolves that at some point in the not too distant future, Nunes would leave.

But having haemorrhaged talent throughout a tortuous summer, it left a sour taste

when the 25-year-old to refused to turn up and train in order to force his transfer to City.

When City's half-time change was announced to the crowd, the home fans reacted with glee, chanting "what a waste of money". When thefinal whistle sounded, the chant had changed to "Nunes, Nunes, what's the score".

All the best Manchester City news and views in one place

A bit of history for O'Neil In achieving this victory, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil was joining an exclusive club.

In 44 previous Premier League meetings against sides managed by Englishmen, has Guardiola previously lost only once - against Graham Potter's Brighton in 2021.

O'Neil can take pride in the fact this success was not achieved solely through backsto-the-wall defending.

There was a bit of thatand goalkeeper Jose Sa was

well placed to deal with efforts from Haaland and Alvarez, knowing the equaliser went right into the top corner. But Wolves played with calmness and had a plan, exploiting the space behind the left side of City's defence, which first Neto and then Semedo did with such success.

Neto's burst carried him to the byline, with Dias so desperate to stop the Portugal star's cross that he stuck out a leg and sent the ball looping into the net.

For the second, Matheus Cunha had the presence of mind to return the ball to Hwang, whose initial effort had been blocked.

In their last game on this ground, Wolves led for 48 minutes before eventually crumbling to defeat against Liverpool.

They were in no mood to let their big-name visitors off the hook a second time.

Deitz looking for Windies to step up against Aussies

SYDNEY, Australia, (CMC)

– West Indies Women’s head coach Shane Deitz was generally satisfied with the way his side played in their opening match on the Tour of Australia.

Though the Caribbean side failed to ease concerns about their batting, they still managed to complete a morale-boosting, four-wicket win against New South Wales Women in a Twenty20 practice match on Thursday match.

West Indies Women were wobbling on eight for three in the third over, but Shemaine

Campbelle led the way with 33, and their captain Hayley Matthews made 24, and they successfully chased 106 to win the match at Cricket Central located in the Sydney Olympic Park complex.

“It was good to get the first win on tour,” Deitz told CWI Media. “I think we’ve got a lot of areas we need to improve on, particularly the top order batting, but I think it’s just getting used to these pitches, which have extra pace and bounce in them compared to what the girls played on at the WCPL (Women’s Caribbean

Premier League).

“Overall, it was their first outing, a bit rusty, but I think we played generally pretty good all-round, and it’s gonna put us in a good position to play on Sunday.”

The visitors face hosts Australia Women in three Twenty20 Internationals on Sunday and Tuesday at North Sydney Oval in this city, and next Friday at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

Deitz said he was excited about the positive manner in which the team finished off the match against NSW Women.

“It was great to see them close out the match like that and really express themselves as players and hit the ball,” he said. “That’s what we talked about. We want to play a very West Indian calypso attacking type of play, and those girls really showed it at the end, and Zaida (James), a young up and coming player, she bowled really well too I thought, so she had a great first game in Australia.”

Campbelle and Matthews inched West Indies towards 50 with a stand of 36 before they were two of three wick-

ets that fell in the span of 24 balls to leave the chase at the crossroads.

Aaliyah Alleyne, not out on 19, and James, not on 15, added 32 unbroken to get the visitors over the finish line with 13 balls remaining.

Earlier, off-spinner Karishma Ramharack returned the flattering figures of three for 12 from three overs and the NSW Women could only muster 105 for nine from their allocation of 20 overs.

Matthews started a tidy allround performance with two for seven from two overs, and

pacer Alleyne took two for 13 from two overs.

Deitz said he expected the spinners to play a significant role for West Indies Women in the series against the Aussies.

“Our spinners bowled really well,” he said. “We are trying a few different things with them and their tactics and what they’re doing the ball, so they did really well and took on board what we suggested, and they produced it in the middle. They were really good, so I think they are going to be probably a key factor for us.”

Chile lost all four of their pool matches at their first Rugby World Cup in France

Hwang Hee-chan has now scored in his last four Wolves home games

Prime Minister’s T20 softball tournament climaxes today

AFTER two days of glorious sunshine, which saw batsmen dominating proceedings in most of the matches, the seventh edition of the Prime Minister Softball T20 tournament climaxes at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown today.

The action is set to get started at 8.30 hrs with the women’s 15-over final featuring defending champions 4R Lioness against Highway Challengers.

Local power house Regal will feature in all three men’s finals, putting their titles on the line in the Masters Over40, Legends Over-50 and Open All Stars. The Masters and Legends are a repeat of last year’s finals played at the Guyana National Stadium

…Regal to feature in all three men’s finals

which saw Regal Masters winning from Ariel Masters and the Legens stopping the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSC) Legends.

Meanwhile, the Open All Stars, which will culminate under lights, will see Regal All Stars battling with the unbeaten Ariel Knight Ryders who haven’t lost a game since bursting onto the scene in emphatic fashion in 2021.

In the two Legends semi-finals, played at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary yesterday afternoon, Regal Legends defeated Pegasus Storm by 35 runs while New York won from Toronto Blizzards, ensuring that both Canadian teams were sent packing.

Set a challenging 193 for victory after Regal Legends

reached 192 for six in their 20 overs, Pegasus Storm stumbled to 157 for in their allotted 20 overs despite a fine 93 from Oswald “Papa” Chandla whose knock included seven fours and six sixes off 52 balls. Mohendra Arjune (66) and Uniss Yusuf (45) were the top batters for Regal Legends.

In the other semi-final, played on the adjoining ground, NYSCL Legends batted first and made 201 for eight while Toronto Blizzards were163 for six when their 20 overs expired.

Earlier in the day, Sunil Dhaniram blasted a boundary-studded 177 while his brother Sudesh slammed 91 as Toronto Blizzards piled up an imposing 346 for two versus Savage Legends at

the DCC ground. Savage Legends reached 169 for six in reply with Vijay Gobin hitting 90.

The consistent Yusuf

GCB Inter County 50 overs cricket at Blairmount CCG

was also in a non-nonsense mood on Friday, pounding Marine Legends to the tune of 191 as Regal Legends won easily while Ra-

mesh Deonarine struck 131 against Rockaway Legends to ensure the defending champions continue their dominance.

Sinclair grabs 7 wickets as Berbice beat Demerara by 27 runs

By Sean Devers

A mesmerising spell of bowling from West Indies off-spinner Kevin Sinclair spearheaded defending Champions Berbice to a 27run victory over Demerara in the opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) 50-over cricket tournament yesterday at the Blairmont Community Centre in West Bank Berbice.

Sinclair shrugged off the disappointment of being removed from the Championship-winning Warriors’ squad in the recent CPL, by befuddling the Demerara batters on a slow, dry Blairmount track with a variable bounce to capture a career-best 7-15 from 9.5 overs as the visitors were bowled out for 105 in 25.5 overs in sweltering heat reply Berbice’s below par 132 all out in 32.4 overs.

Without three of their ‘big name’ players, Berbice failed to cope with a seemingly under-prepared pitch as only West Indies All-Rounder Romario Shepherd, topscored with 26 from 42 balls with four boundaries.

Shepherd shared in partnerships of 25 with Seon

Glasgow who was run out for 15 and with National pacer

Clinton Pestano (10)

Berbice began badly on the fast outfield when Guyana U-19 left-hander Rampertab Ramnauth edged Qumar Torrington to second

Berbice on 43-3.

Seon Hetmyer, the older brother of Shimron Hetmyer, who according to the BCB missed yesterday’s game because he had to take his wife to the doctor, got going by pushing Torrington back over

was run out at 90-5.

But when Pestano departed at 115-6, Shepherd, Pestano and Motie (0) fell with the score on 115 before Berbice were eventually dismissed as Steven Sankar had 3-22.

Torrington and Ruther-

West Indies U-19 Mavindra Dindyal (12) was lbw to Jamal Joseph who bowled with the pace to leave Demerara on 12-2.

Tevin Imlach (4) was run out by the keeper while Akshaya Persaud was lbw

boundaries the last one bringing up the 100.

Looknauth quickly ran out of partners and ninth out for a top score of 36 with seven fours as Sinclair polished off the tail. Berbice were also with-

slip for a duck at 8-1.

Kevlon Anderson (7) was trapped lbw as Torrington struck again at 31-2 before Sinclair, who opened the batting; flicking Torrington into the packed stand lobbed a catch to cover off Sherfane Rutherford for 19 to leave

his head for a nonchalant six was looking good before he was bowled by Rutherford at 65-4 after the 50 came up in 10.3 overs.

Shepherd and homeboy Glasgow carried the score to 80 before Glasgow, who looked the best of the batters,

ford supported the DCC leg-spinner, taking two wickets each.

When Demerara began their reply to the low total, they lost Test batter Tagenarine Chanderpaul (1) when he was bowled by Sinclair who opened the bowling.

for a duck as Sinclair struck at 43-4 and also removed West Indies U-19 left-hander Mathew Nandu for 21 at 45-5

After that, only Richie Looknauth stroked Joseph for two fours before hitting Motie for back-to-back

out Johnaton Foo who declined selection to give a younger player a chance, while Anthony Bramble also pulled out.

Today at Bourda, the select X1 face Essequibo for 9AM

Man-of-the-Match Kevin Sinclair had a career-best 7-15 in Berbice yesterday

Richie Looknauth showed some resistance with 36 yesterday (Sean Devers photos)

Unis Yusuf slammed a brilliant 191 against Marine Legends

Sunil Dhaniram belted 177 vs Savage Legends

Oswald Chandla’s 93 was in vain as Pegasus Storm lost in their bid to reach the final

GDF dominant with 6 wins from 7 bouts on opening night

THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) gym commenced their best-gym title defence in impressive style last Friday night when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) opened the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis National Novices Championships at the National Gymnasium. Out of the seven matches contested, the GDF won six.

The evening's excitement began with a thrilling first match, featuring Lennox Harvey, known as "the upper-cut master," deftly outmanoeuvring Anthony Sanders of the GDF. In the latter part of the opening round, Sanders faced an eightcount, underscoring Harvey's dominance. After three intense rounds of boxing, Harvey, representing the Police Boxing Gym, emerged the victor.

The second bout of the night showcased Christopher Henry squaring off against Shawn Rodney. Both fighters wasted no time, launching a relentless barrage of powerful punches right from the start. A mere

55 seconds into the second round, Rodney opted to abandon the contest due to a critical blow, resulting in Henry's win via the judge's scorecard in the 66-71kg Light Middleweight semi-final.

Meanwhile, the matchup between Alex Butcher and his gymmate Jamal Booker witnessed Butcher emerging triumphant.

The contest was halted at the two-minute and 58-second mark of the first round, with Butcher declared the winner by Referee Stopped

Contest (RSC).

The stage was set for the light-heavyweight clashes, featuring Malachi Clarke against Joseph George and Sherwin Gravesande against Kevin O’Neil. George emerged victorious over Clarke, securing his place in the semi-finals of the 75-80 kg division. In the light-heavyweight semi-final between O'Neil and Gravesande, O’Neil was unable to continue just one minute and 23 seconds into the second round, resulting in his loss through abandonment.

In another exciting match, Zidhan Wray, representing the GDF, faced off against Leandrea Abrams from the police force. Wray's extended reach proved pivotal as he defeated A brams with a match-winning jab, sending Abrams to the canvas just one minute and 20 seconds into the second round. Unfortunately for Abrams, he couldn't recover from the blow, granting Wray a well-deserved victory and a spot in the semi-finals of the super-heavyweight division (90 kg and over).

The evening reached an electrifying conclusion as Rayan Harry triumphed over Oswald Yaw of the Republican team. Harry secured the win two minutes and 34 seconds into the second round, with the referee stopping the contest as Yaw failed to recover from a second eightcount, delivering an unforgettable end to the night's action-packed boxing event.

The three-day tournament concludes tonight at the National Gymnasium.

Sherwin Gravesande GDF (red headgear) vs Kevin O Neil REP gym

Malachai Clarke G.D.F (red headgear) vs Joseph George GDF (Delano Williams photos)