Hurricane Beryl: Guyana mobilising support mission to help battered islands
Hurricane Beryl: Guyana mobilising support mission to help battered islands
— CARICOM Chair calls for regional solidary, private sector support — says significant damage, infrastructure destruction have been reported
AS several Caribbean countries brace themselves for the impact of Hurricane Beryl and others begin to assess the damage it has left behind, Guyana’s President and Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. Irfaan Ali, has called for the mobilisation of the necessary assistance and relief efforts.
In a statement released on Monday, Dr. Ali made a passionate plea for regional unity and a wholistic approach to the destructive Category 4 hurricane.
“As Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), I express deep concern and continued anxiety over the passage of Hurricane Beryl through our region. Initial reports have indicated significant damage and destruction to infrastructure and private property in some territories. As this weather phenomenon roars its way through the Region, we must continue to brace ourselves against the effects of high winds, storm surges along sea coasts, and heavy rainfall,” he said.
Further, he said that, in light of these challenging times, all citizens and the private sector of the region should coordinate closely with their respective governments and regional emergency response mechanisms in providing immediate support and relief to those affected by the hurricane.
According to Dr. Ali, the
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is already working to mobilise and coordinate assistance and disaster relief even as the storm is still passing through the Windward Islands.
”This is a time for all of us as a regional community to stand together and extend our support to those impacted or likely to be impacted by Hurricane Beryl. Let us mobilise the necessary assistance and relief efforts in the true spirit of regional solidarity.
“Together, we can overcome the adversities posed by this hurricane and ensure the safety and well-being of all our peoples and communities,” he added.
CDEMA
In a statement on Monday, the CDEMA Coordinating Unit (CU) and key partners said they stand ready to assist participating states as the region braces for the first major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) of Guyana, is working in collaboration with the CDEMA to ensure a coordinated and effective response.
During a Caribbean Development Partners Group (CDPG) meeting held Monday and involving over 166 partners from local, regional and international agencies, plans were shared in prepa-
ration for the hurricane.
The CDPG was cochaired by CDEMA’s Executive Director, Elizabeth Riley and the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Springett.
Major stakeholders in attendance at the meeting included the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves; Prime Minister of Grenada,
response to the levels of impact.
The CDEMA CU activated its Regional Coordination Plan on June 29, 2024 and continues to monitor the progress of Hurricane Beryl and remains committed to supporting affected countries.
GUYANA’S
RESPONSE
Meanwhile, the Guyana
Dickon Mitchell; National Disaster Coordinators and Ministers who gave updates on activation of National Emergency Operation Centres, logistics, communication as well as relief and
announcement on his official Facebook page on Monday, expressing solidarity and extending heartfelt sympathies to those impacted by the hurricane.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the people of the region,” he stated before emphasising that the regional private sector and other agencies must be fully mobilised to provide support at this time.
“I am closely coordinating with all affected countries in our region. We have activated a full emergency response team from Guyana to support all efforts. Currently, we are mobilising for our first support mission, prioritising Grenada for tomorrow [Tuesday] morning. Hurricane Beryl is still very active in the region, and the coming days will be crucial in determining its path and the continued devastating impact it could have,” Dr Ali stated.
The extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane made landfall on Monday with maximum sustained winds up to 150 mph, wreaking havoc on the Caribbean.
The storm caused power outages, flooded streets, and brought life-threatening storm surge flooding to sections of the St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, and Tobago.
According to reports, infrastructure, residences, and key services have all suffered considerable damage, leaving many communities in desperate need of assistance.
Hundreds of people were being housed in hurricane shelters.
Over the weekend, Beryl became the Atlantic Basin's earliest Category 4 storm, shattering Hurricane Dennis' record set on July 7, 2005. Beryl is also the first Category 4 hurricane recorded in June. The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30.
government has mobilised a comprehensive emergency support operation to aid the afflicted Caribbean islands, with Grenada being treated as a priority.
President Ali made this
Several regional flights have been postponed, as many of the major airports are also closing their doors. CARICOM’s 47th Regular Meeting of Heads of Government, scheduled for Grenada from 3-5 July, has been postponed to a date to be determined.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali
Hurricane Beryl hit Carriacou, Grenada on Monday, blowing off roofs (Photo credit: Facebook/ DX-World)
Roofs were blown off houses as Hurricane Beryl brought high winds to St Vincent and the Grenadines
Santa Aratack well positioned to contribute to Guyana’s development
— President Ali says, announces plans to unlock community’s potential — urges residents to base their support on track record and not fall prey to politicians trying to reinvent themselves
By Trina Williams
SANTA Aratack is well-positioned to play a crucial role in Guyana’s unprecedented development and President Dr Irfaan Ali has outlined a multi-sectoral approach that will stimulate more business activities within the community.
On the agenda for this Region Three village is the boosting of local tourism, which the Irfaan Ali-led administration has continuously highlighted is part of its plan to diversify the nation’s economy.
Guyana is known for its natural beauty and it is on that note that President Ali reminded residents that “Santa Aratack Mission is a representation of the beauty of our country, enormous opportunity for food production and agriculture and people who are warm and welcoming. The people, the
greatest asset of our country and the children are part of this great asset, that must inherit a future that would give them not only prosperity but would give them the best shot at life.”
Reinforcing that the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is aiming to ensure that the children are being supported in order to attain a brighter future, President Ali said that Santa Aratack will be built into a sustainable community.
“That is what this government is about, fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of people. Bringing hope, building in a sustainable way, building in a resilient way, opening up opportunities, working with the private sector, working with you, the local leaders and residents and partnering with the people for the development of the people.
“Partnering with the people is the hallmark of the
People’s Progressive Party/ Civic government,” Dr Ali related to the residents.
Shutting down criticisms, the president firmly stated that no community is “too small” for him to visit because, at the end of the day, it is the government’s effort that would push Guyana and place it on a premier global position.
While outlining his vision for the community, he emphasised that tourism should be bolstered.
First, he said that there
should be eco-lodges.
Additionally, dredging of Kamuni Creek will take place twice a year as part of the efforts to develop a robust and sustainable ecotourism sector. Kamuni Creek is a tributary of the Demerara River, and its dredging will enable the small community's residents to increase their ecotourism ambitions.
Furthermore, in order to keep Guyana on this positive path to transformation, he pointed out how essential it is for citizens to support the
government, in order for development to continue.
Dr Ali reminded residents that Guyana could have been on a completely different trajectory if the Opposition did not use its power to stymie development such as the Amaila Fall Hydro Power project.
DON’T FALL PREY
While the government has remained hot in its pursuit to continuously better the lives of all Guyanese, Dr Ali cautioned residents not to fall prey to politicians that are aiming to reinvent themselves.
The broken promises by the former government were spotlighted by the President as he reminded residents of the struggles they faced under that administration.
He said: “How can you trust the same people that broke every single promise they made? The promise of expanding sugar; they shut the industry down. Giving higher prices for rice, they said the rice is private business...” He also highlighted other sectors that faced im-
mense challenges under the previous APNU+AFC coalition government.
Adding to this, President Ali asked the gathering how they could trust the Opposition, if the Opposition cannot even trust itself.
It is within this light that Dr Ali highlighted the infighting and ‘mud-slinging’ that was happening ahead of the People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNCR) overdue 22nd biennial delegates congress. The party’s General Secretary, Dawn Hastings-Williams, resigned saying that she refused to continue being a “rubber stamp,” among other glaring revelations that placed a dark cloud over the party.
Dr Ali told residents: “You have children, you have grandchildren, you have to trust who delivered to you. You have seen who delivered. You are all righteous people; you all have a conscience. Let your conscience be your guide and once your conscience is your guide then I have no fear that you will do what is right.”
President Dr. Irfaan Ali during his visit to the community of Santa Aratack in the Kamuni Creek, a tributary of the Demerara River
Youths are drivers of positive change, innovation – PM Phillips
PRIME Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd)
Mark Phillips underscored the importance of youth engagement, on Sunday evening, while speaking to young people, including youth leaders at the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central's 32nd Installation Ceremony.
The Prime Minister said that young people are not just the future but the present, driving positive change and innovation. He emphasised the vital role of youths in community service and national development.
He also commended the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central for its impressive track record of community service projects.
"Your commitment to fostering leadership and community service has set a high standard. From health camps and blood donation drives to environmental cleanups and educational workshops, your efforts have touched
countless lives.
These achievements underscore your commitment to making a difference and highlight the potential and leadership capabilities inherent in today's youths."
The Prime Minister
a time when we need all hands-on deck, your involvement is crucial. You are not just the future; you are the present and the future."
Drawing parallels between the club's mission and the government's focus on serving people, he spoke about the vital work of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Civil Defence Commission.
underscored the importance of youth involvement in nation-building, urging young people to harness their energy, creativity, and passion to address immediate community needs and cultivate a culture of service. "In
He encouraged collaboration between the Rotaract Club and the government entities, stating:
Such collaborations amplify the resources and reach of your projects and foster a sense of unity and collective purpose."
Reflecting on the core values of Rotaract, Prime Minister Phillips urged members to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all.
Additionally, the Prime Minister congratulated the incoming and outgoing members of the Rotaract Club, reaffirming the government's support for their endeavours. (OPM)
"I encourage the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central to find common areas of support. Seek opportunities to identify and collaborate on shared goals to develop solid partnerships and enhance the impact of both governmental and community-driven initiatives.
Several buildings destroyed by fire at Bush Lot
UP to press time on Monday night, members of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) were still combating an enormous fire on the Bush Lot Public Road, West Coast Berbice.
According to the GFS, the fire was reported at 18:03 hours, and the first response unit arrived promptly at 18:10 hours.
“The blaze has affected five buildings and is being tackled by twenty firefighters, who have the fire surrounded with Water Tender #90 from Onverwagt, Water Tender #106 from Mahaica, and Water Tender #74 from New Amsterdam.
“Our team is working
diligently to extinguish the fire. We advise commuters that the area will be heavily smoke-logged,” the GFS said in a Facebook post. Members of the public were advised to exercise caution and traverse safely through the area.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips (OPM photo)
The raging fire at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice on Monday night (GFS photo)
Combating Divisive Strategies
DR Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), continues to highlight a long-standing issue in Guyana’s politics: the exploitation of racial divisions for political gain by the People’s National Congress-Reform (PNC-R)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
Dr Jagdeo’s commentary not only exposes the insidious nature of this tactic, but also highlights the PPP’s commitment to combating such divisive strategies. It’s time to unravel the narrative of fear and victimhood woven by APNU and embrace a vision of unity and progress for all Guyanese.
APNU’s historical playbook has relied heavily on leveraging racial tensions to sway public opinion and maintain political control. By instilling fear and suspicion, they have attempted to keep Afro-Guyanese
constituents at arm’s length from alternative parties such as the PPP.
However, as Dr Jagdeo aptly observes, the efficacy of this divisive strategy is waning. The PPP’s persistent efforts to debunk accusations of racism and to foster inclusivity are gradually eroding the fearmongering tactics employed by APNU.
Central to APNU’s agenda is the perpetuation of a victim mentality among Afro-Guyanese, portraying themselves as the sole protectors of their interests, while simultaneously neglecting their economic and social advancement.
Dr Jagdeo rightfully challenges this narrative, reminding Afro-Guyanese that true empowerment lies not in clinging to a party that exploits their fears, but in forging a path towards genuine progress and prosperity.
Moreover, APNU operatives’ attempts
to silence dissent and stifle free expression, as evidenced by their call for a boycott of Guyanese-owned businesses in the diaspora that embraced President Irfaan Ali, reeks of authoritarian tactics.
The vilification and shaming of those who dare to express support for alternative political voices reveal a blatant disregard for democratic principles and a desperate attempt to maintain control through coercion and intimidation.
Dr Jagdeo’s assertion that President Ali’s visit shattered the myth of diaspora disinterest in engaging with the government serves as a testament to the resilience of Guyanese unity in the face of divisive rhetoric.
By standing up to the tactics of fear and division, Guyanese both at home and abroad are rejecting the politics of victimhood per-
petuated by APNU and embracing a future built on co-operation and inclusivity.
It is imperative for Guyanese citizens to see beyond the smokescreen of racial politics and demand accountability from their leaders. APNU’s track record in office, characterised by stagnation and inequity, serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of allowing fear and division to dictate our political landscape.
The time has come for Guyana to move beyond the politics of fear and embrace a future where unity, progress, and opportunity are accessible to all, regardless of race or political affiliation.
It is time to dismantle the walls of fear and division, and build bridges of unity and solidarity that will propel Guyana into a new era of prosperity and opportunity.
The newly elected leader of the
AFC: dishonesty and inaccuracies
Dear Editor,
HAVING reviewed the newly elected leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Mr Nigel Hughes’ “victory” speech that he delivered at the party’s Eighth Congress, I would like to address a few things he mentioned that were factually inaccurate.
Mr Hughes contended that multi-billion-dollar projects are being undertaken by the incumbent government without any feasibility studies. Specifically, he was referring to the gas-to-energy (GtE) project. In the same breath, he put forward the case that all political parties should agree on the development plan for the country, such that whenever there is a change in government, that there is no disruption and change of plans.
The AFC leader perhaps forgot that there was a feasibility study done for the GtE project. It was actually done under his own coalition government, the APNU+AFC, which in part, aided the incumbent government’s decision regarding the said project. So, for him to assert that the project is being carried out without a feasibility study is a totally false assertion. The referenced study can be found on the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) website. Additionally, several other supplementary studies were done internally by the technical staff of the ministry. Coming back to the point where he
argued that all political parties should sign on to a national development plan, it doesn’t appear that he appreciates the process in which policymaking is conducted.
The incumbent government has presided over the development of several national development strategies, starting with (i) the National Development Strategy (1996), (ii) the Poverty Reduction Strategy (2000), (iii) the National Competitiveness Strategy (2006), (iv) the Low Carbon Development Strategy (2009), and (v) the updated Low Carbon Development Strategy (2022-2030).
All of these strategies were developed, inter alia, the contribution of the business-sector organisations, civil society groups, representatives from the indigenous communities, Guyanese professionals, coupled with open public consultation and engagement with the citizens at large.
The political parties contribute as well, mainly through debates in the National Assembly, and outside of the National Assembly, within the public domain through several mediums.
Contrary to the above methodology consistently employed by the incumbent government, the former APNU+AFC government produced a “Green State Development Strategy (GSDS)” during their tenure (2015-2020), which was put together by an internship-consultant from the United
Nations. More interestingly, a study of that document revealed that it was a “cut” and “paste” document from the aforementioned existing national development strategies, whereby various parts were taken from all of the abovementioned documents. Yet again, we hear a repeat by the AFC leader for “international experts” to craft our development plans.
Of key note is the difference in the approach to policymaking by the PPP/C government versus their opponents, the APNU+AFC. One would appreciate that any national development plan for the country ought to be developed in consultation with and the approval of the people of Guyana; not the political parties per se. And, as I have demonstrated, the methodologies employed by the different administrations are in stark contrast to each other.
The AFC leader made reference to a “study” he had done to show statistical evidence of discrimination and claimed that the government never challenged those statistics. This is another outright falsehood. The government did challenge those statistics and disproved those statistics. I had also challenged those statistics and disproved those numbers, including, exposing the flawed methodology of the study.
Interestingly, the AFC leader undertook to apologise for his party’s failures in gov-
ernment, and to examine where they faltered in government so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. However, there is no need to reconstruct a post-mortem analysis thereof. The reasons for the AFC’s failure, and collectively, the APNU+AFC can be summarized as follows:
•Dishonesty,
•Political Opportunism,
•Unethical conduct in public office (the case of a former minister approving government contracts to her own private company),
•Contractionary fiscal policies, poor economic management, and incompetence, and
•Multiple breaches of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, in particular, as well as other laws, and constitutional excesses.
Of note, the AFC leader is already committing at least two of those mistakes cited above, as I have so established herein. These are (i) dishonesty: I have established at least three instances of him being dishonest in his “victory” remarks, and (ii) a repeat of the same issues of unethical conduct/conflicts of interest that he is embroiled in, whereby he has already stated publicly that he will not act on the concerns of conflicts of interests at this time.
Summarily, there is the issue of conflict
The newly elected leader of the AFC: dishonesty ...
From page 6
of interest, which I have already written on separately.
You would expect that since he has campaigned on the notion of “integrity”, that he would uphold the highest degree of integrity, but this is not the case.
I will deal with this particular issue in some more details subsequently. Moreover, at least three (3) instances of inaccuracies and/or dishonesty were established on the part of the newly elected AFC leader in “his victory remarks.”
For ease of reference, the links below are two pieces that were written by this author challenging the study that he claimed no one challenged.
Sincerely,
Joel Bhagwandin
The PNCR has nothing in common with the working class
Dear Editor,
PEEPING Tom’s reflection on Class and Congress (KN 6/30/2024) deserves attention for no other reason than it raises a good question -- the question as I understand it is this: does the working class in Guyana have any real representation? It is a timely question. I can tell you up front that while Peeping Tom asked a good question, he made a mess of the answer.
Here are five specific points to consider.
Firstly, the article offers no definition of what is meant by class, and certainly who constitutes the working class. Is a skilled mason making GY$16,000 daily a member of the working class? Is a construction foreman (the person who is “running the wuk,” not to be mixed up with an engineer) who earns between GY$20,000 - $25,000 daily a member of the working class?
Secondly, Peeping Tom conflates the PPP with the AFC. Any high school child will tell you that this should not be done. The PPP is an independent
party with a civic arm that has governed Guyana or led the official opposition since 1950. The AFC is a minority party that has never led this country; but more importantly, while the PPP has been steadfast in protecting democracy, the AFC joined with the PNCR-led APNU in a massive attempt at electoral fraud in 2020. The AFC has no moral or ethical compass, something required to represent the working class.
Thirdly, Peeping Tom does not say what makes the PPP bourgeois. That fancy word is just tossed into the ring and assumed to have automatic resonance. The article uses the usual but useless idea that the PPP of Jagdeo and Ali has moved away from the PPP of Cheddi Jagan. But what is it that Jagan would give today to the working class that the current PPP is not giving? I challenge Peeping Tom to answer this specific question.
Fourthly, the suggestion that the PNC might be the last hope of the working class is not only hopelessly naïve, but also shockingly banal for a piece that attempts to be intellectually mature. Here are
some facts about the PNC. They have rigged every election which they administered, but more than that, they rig their own elections. And finally, senior people from the PNC not only admit to election-rigging, but have called for more of the same, and this to the applause from other top-ranking party members. Beyond their specialisation in electoral fraud, their record on economic governance is abysmal.
Fifth and finally, it is difficult to believe that there are rational people in this country who still suck on the ‘sweetee’ served up by the PNC. Sometimes race politics can explain some of this stuff. Clientelism also is helpful because when the PNC is in office, they tend to hire their “own,” something openly admitted by a senior PNC female leader.
The PNC is the worst enemy of the working class. Peeping Tom might be one of the few people who does not know that simple fact.
Yours Truly, Brian Azore
AFC was a niche, you cannot reproduce a niche
TRYING to explain what the dialectic is as taken from Hegel and simplified by Marx would take up too much space to allow for my adumbration on the permanent erasure of the AFC because the dialectics in society have rendered the AFC a dead formation.
I wish Nigel Hughes the best, the very best in his endeavours as the new leader. We are friends and I hope he settles in without the discomfort that the world of politics brings to new leaders. But Nigel would know that as a public intellectual who has been doing a newspaper column for all the major newspapers in Guyana for donkey years now, my task is to offer interpretations to a school of readers who expect to see me interpret the news for them.
Here is my assessment of the AFC which is not new. Several dozens of columns have been done on the AFC while in power and since March 2020 to the present time. Those jumping up into the skies during the AFC congress last weekend should ease themselves carefully as they fall back down to earth, then embrace reality because that reality is as big as an elephant and it is right on their doorstep.
The AFC arrived at a special moment in 21st century Guyana. That moment catapulted them to fame, success and power. There was one and only one task facing the AFC as power came in 2015 – to use that unique moment to transform Guyana. The
AFC did not do that, but in fact succumbed to the temptation of power in which the intoxication was so deep that it virtually destroyed the AFC.
I want to emphasise the word “destroyed.” The AFC had its moment which the dialectics made possible. Since 2015, when it came to power, the working out of the dialectic in Guyana has made the AFC irrelevant permanently. I appreciate the talent of Nigel and as I write on him as leader of the AFC, my mind goes back to the immense, permanent, iconoclastic contribution to the understanding of the dialectic by the great French, existentialist philosopher, Jean Paulo Sartre.
I quote Sartre: “Within a certain field of possibilities, man steps outside his historical and social limitations by what he succeeds in making, what has been made of him,” (source; Sartre- Critique of Dialectical Reason; translated by Hazel Barnes, 1964; this is one the great books of philosophy).
In Guyana, only three leaders have come close to overstepping historical limitations – Jagan, Burnham and Rodney. I think Irfaan Ali can go beyond these three men and make of the dialectic what the dialectic has made of Guyana. He has made an early start and he should be in a hurry because the dialectic waits for no one.
No one in the AFC after 2015 and up to this day can overstep the social limitation
that the dialectic has imposed on the AFC. Guyana has gone beyond that moment that created the AFC. Maybe that moment can come again in the future. But to use harsh language, it is absurd and wishful yearning for any human – educated and semi-educated in this country – to think that the AFC can be resurrected.
There just isn’t space for the AFC at this point in time. The analyst cannot help but be amused to think that anyone can hope to bring back the AFC to life. Here is one compelling reason. The first four leaders in the new AFC in terms of hierarchy are all Africans. In a multi-racial land, that is a non-starter. This is what I meant by the “vanished moment.”
When the AFC was born in 2005, no one would have gravitated to it if it did not have multi-racial leadership. The AFC would not have succeeded beyond the day it was born if it did not project a multi-racial visage. The AFC leaders knew this was what the people wanted, and it gave the
people that. In fact, the AFC went beyond the Indian- African inclusion and had Portuguese and Amerindians in both its first and second tier leadership.
In as much as I appreciate the talent of Nigel, there is the theory of the Chronicle columnist, Leonard Craig, to be considered. On the Freddie Kissoon Show he went at length to voice concern about the Afro-centricity in Nigel’s politics, which he thinks is too overt and graphic and thus counter-productive. If you examine meticulously, the speeches of every Indian leader in the PPP, they avoid any reference to ethnicity. Dr. Ali has visited hundreds of African areas and he has never said: “We will do this for African Guyanese.” He just stays away from any mention of race.
I think that is sensible politics.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
Is Nigel Hughes the ExxonMobil candidate?
Dear Editor,
I AM compelled to express my profound concern regarding Nigel Hughes’ recent election as leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and his refusal to immediately denounce ExxonMobil, while clearly prioritising his personal business interests over the welfare of the Guyanese people.
Mr. Hughes’ relationship with Exxon is not just a mere association, but it’s a glaring conflict of interest.
His law firm’s office in Houston, Texas, the heart of Exxon’s operations, is a stark reminder of where his loyalties lie.
He cannot, in good conscience, position himself as a presidential candidate for the people of Guyana while simultaneously serving Exxon’s interests, even at this stage.
These dual roles are fundamentally incompatible and betray the trust of the Guyanese electorate.
Being embedded within Exxon might offer Mr Hughes certain professional advan-
tages, but the demands of national leadership require an unyielding commitment to the people.
The national fight against exploitation by powerful foreign entities necessitates his full and undivided attention.
Divided loyalty is simply unacceptable. The presidential aspirations of any candidate cannot coexist with the interests of an oil giant that has its own agenda.
Mr. Hughes must make a choice. Will he prioritise the welfare of the Guyanese people, or will he continue to serve Exxon’s interests?
The people of Guyana deserve a leader whose loyalty is unequivocally to them, free from the influence of powerful oil corporations.
Anything less is a betrayal of the public trust and an affront to the principles of good governance.
Sincerely, Alvin Hamilton
Ramjattan is in cognitive decline
THE National Conference of the AFC is the same event other parties refer to as their “Party Congress.” That event took place over this past weekend.
On the Freddie Kissoon show of last Wednesday, I predicted a win for Sherod Duncan. In my own defence for the mal-prediction is that the programme was taped on Monday and at that time the campaign of Nigel Hughes had not gained momentum and the pendulum was clearly in Duncan’s favour. By the time the programme was streamed, radical events had overtaken proceedings that would belie my predictions.
My predictions were informed by a series of serpentine actions taken by Duncan who was supported by a small group of virulent individuals who have a bloated sense of their own selves and possessed delusions of grandeur given fodder by Ramjattan. Their sojourn conjures memories of the 1975 movie titled “The Apple Dumpling Gang” in which three mischievous orphans were cared for by a gullible self-delusional character.
For the last six years or so, Ramjattan was given a blank cheque to run the party after his own order. Ramjattan was unchallenged due mainly to the comatose state of Nagamootoo and the ill health of Trotman. For a great portion of this time, Ramjattan was aided by Cathy Hughes and David Patterson. However, Ramjattan’s licence to operate took him in directions that were undesirable to the old guards.
Under Ramjattan’s leadership, most regional groups became dormant, no legitimate elections for regional leaders were held for more
than six years. Party insiders indicated that Ramjattan provided significant funding to ensure Duncan get to the outer regions to create a semblance of party regional activities.
So, instead of performing his real functions as General Secretary, he went about the regions installing Ramjattan-faithfuls to lead interim management committees.
The attempt to get Sherod into the leader’s slot was being engineered by Ramjattan for about a year. This is the reason why Duncan out nominated Patterson and Hughes. In fact, Hughes was thrown in at last minute as a wild card. His nominations came from otherwise defunct chapters in the Caribbean and UK.
There was a big disagreement over the validity of Hughes’ nomination, in that, Duncan as GS in a suicidal move laced with stupidity, argued in favour of his own failure as GS to revive these groups and at least establish IMCs. As GS, he didn’t find it embarrassing to have pronounced these groups dead under his tenure. His stupidity extended into a lack of
appreciation for the fact that only a successful motion at a National Executive meeting can kill or establish chapters, so the last elected leader still in financial compliance remains the leader until another legitimate election or otherwise dissolved by the NEC. This was the main reason behind the profanity laced voice notes, heard around the world, threatening to physically harm Duncan if he said anything further to someone named Dianna. It is believed that Dianna, who volunteers as an office clerk and was assigned clerical tasks for the nominations process received and included the two diaspora nominations, to the ire of Duncan.
Ramjattan’s Apple Dumpling Gang included and was exclusively made up of comedic malevolent opportunistic political simpletons. The fact that Ramjattan thought that he can turn over the party exclusively to this group is proof that he is in severe cognitive decline. From all indications, Ramjattan’s gang was set to take over, given the engineering of the IMCs and the lavish funding.
Faced with this grim
possibility, the old guard woke up, albeit at last minute. David Patterson was not likely to defeat Duncan because many AFC members are still bitter with those who held ministerial portfolios. The general feeling is that
they fortified themselves and largely ignored the needs of the membership, so, Patterson was likely to experience a revolt. The insertion of Nigel Hughes changed the game. Hughes was supported by Trotman who was able to activate his sleeper cells that were dormant because they were taking cue that suggested that Ramjattan has a free reign. Once someone who is considered an original core leader, known nationally and did not serve as a minister under Granger threw their hat into the ring and was willing to match Ramjattan’s budget and pull out all stops through nationwide campaigning, Ramjattan’s Apple Dumpling Gang was history. It was a middleclass revolt. AFC was built on middleclass instincts and consciousness; they were not about to
turn their party leadership over to a loud mouthed, bell ringing, donation begging, wild talking, corny comedian not firmly planted in the middleclass.
The history of the AFC is one that is always marked by major hesitancy to promote persons to meaningful leadership positions despite their talents. It was no surprise that there was a major revolt against Ramjattan, his blank cheque now stands cancelled. What would be Nigel’s influence on the electorate? We will delve into that later.
DISCLAIMER: The vie ws and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
Arriving at a consensus candidate
THE internal elections are over. As predicted correctly, Aubrey Norton emerged from the PNCR as its leader after months of planning the strategy to get him elected allegedly through rigging, fraud, padding the list, and manipulation.
Norton’s election cost the PNCR dearly and it leaves behind a badly divided party categorised by magnanimous levels of disunity, distrust, factionalism, and wounds.
Regardless of what Roysdale Forde, Amanza Walton-Desir and other PNCR members say publicly, they know the truth about the elections and the state of democracy internally. Norton made sure that they will pay their political price in the coming weeks and months till the party contests the 2025 national
election.
Nevermind the allegations made by Vanessa Kissoon of sexual inappropriateness and sexual assault, they still stood by Norton. Nevermind, the allegations of corruption, racism, and financial mismanagement, the few still elected Norton.
This proves that the PNC is neither ready nor able to manage and lead this nation towards a clean, accountable and transparent government of the future.
On one hand, Norton pulled a Burnham political strategy on the party to become its leader when virtually nobody wanted him.
On the other hand, the AFC’s election of Nigel Hughes as leader of the party is interesting and intriguing as it is the mistake of the century. After all, it can be justified because Duncan has no political worth to the
party other than being the candidate that can ‘get on, cuss and behave lewd and lawless’ on his social media platform. He has no political class nor quality. He does not have the power or appeal to gain voters beside his ‘dirty and commonplace personality’ which appeals to the same electorate as Norton.
The fact that the AFC
went with Hughes, who is always missing in action when the party needs him, as its choice means they are not a serious political party and has no interest in expanding its membership or parliamentary seating. Hughes is considered a sellout or one trick political party leader who is rumoured to allegedly be in bed with ExxonMobil Guyana because his law firm represents its interest.
With the Returning Officers for the elections being Christopher Ram and Trevor Benn, how can Hughes not emerge winner? The results claim he beat Duncan handsomely with 149 votes and leaving him near tears with 62. There were concerns about the conduct of Hughes’ campaign in lead up to the polls but Duncan thought his popularity would give him the leadership. In politics, it is not popularity that wins vote, it is political strategy, commonsense and reading the mood of the electorate.
The election of both PNCR leader and the AFC leader over the weekend, leads to the thought that any coalition arrangement will need a consensus candidate. This candidate may be necessary because Norton cannot unite the opposition or PNCR as was clearly seen in the days leading to the Congress. He is the leader by default and because everyone else dropped out the race because of unfair practices.
Similarly, Hughes can’t get anyone behind him seriously. He will talk about his ancestors, Guyanese of African Descent and maybe appeal to black supremacist. Hughes will not be able to capture the crossover votes. He cannot appeal to Guyanese of East Indian ancestry. Try as he may, he is nowhere close to a Granger, Nagamootoo or even a Ramjattan given his political experience to say the least.
So, we must make a sensible prediction. Maybe, Norton plans to hijack the process of candidature of the APNU+AFC coalition. He already had the motion passed at the PNCR Congress which offers him up as a possible candidate or the candidate.
AFC’s Hughes will not agree easily if the demand comes from the PNC again. It is likely to insist on a presidential candidate of its choosing from the AFC. It will buckle under pressure to select Nigel Hughes but will not support the latter because the coalition has to have the right racial, classist and political optics.
The PNCR will not agree with its coalition partners and will risk it alone.
If APNU+AFC goes alone to the polls without the PNCR, it will seal its political fate as neither of the opposition parties can emerge a winner separately of the national election.
The ruling PPP/C will have a field day with both and dismiss them straight into the house of oblivion. If they go as PPP, AFC and PNC, the latter would stand the chance of being weakened and exposing its actual votes and unattractiveness.
And, even then the PPP/C will emerge victorious with an even bigger majority.
The worst-case scenario is that the coalition goes back with David Granger as the consensus candidate.
The PPP/C will win the election outright again. The ruling party will be on their guard either which ways in the case of any consensus candidate coming from the opposition be it Norton, Hughes or Granger. They know the ways that the opposition will attempt to rig and is capable of undoing any new way or plan.
The truth is these internal elections have weakened the prospects for a consensus candidate for the opposition which has said on numerous occasions
that coalition politics is the future of politics in Guyana. This cannot be true because the opposition has not reared or selected a candidate with the qualities or disposition of a consensus candidate. For the record, a consensus candidate has the ability to transcend the lines established by any singular party. This candidate could whip up unanimous support of his political comrade and convince certain political personalities that he/she could actually win with the right conditions. The candidate must have the oratory skills of policy articulation and the ability to skillfully politic. This candidate, for the opposition, must share the vision of shared and good governance. He/she must not be polarising but must be serious and firm.
Norton has a plan to make himself this consensus candidate either by rigging the process or stamping the authority of PNC within any future alliance. He does not believe that anyone other than the PNC should be considered to have the presidential candidate. While he would barter or concede on other positions, history does not lead us to believe otherwise. In the end, the last man standing will be the presidential candidate either alone or within a coalition. Norton does not care once he is standing. He doesn’t care, like Judas and his thirty pieces of silver, about the membership or democracy. The thorn in opposition politics is Norton. The thorn in the process at arriving at a consensus candidate is Norton. He will do anything out of desperation to call himself the opposition presidential candidate. Believe it, the end justifies the means.
Who will it be. The process starts now. The meetings begin next week to find a candidate. Never mind, Norton has shattered APNU and has a distant relationship with the AFC. And, the WPA has taken a position of indifference. Shouldn’t they get their individual campus in order first?
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
Norton returns as PNCR Leader
AUBREY Norton has returned as Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and, as his new term begins, he will have to face the unaddressed internal struggles that are continuing to cause a rift within the party.
The decision of his opponents, Amanza Walton-Desir and Roysdale Forde to suspend their campaigns, cleared the way for Norton’s easy victory.
In a statement issued on Monday, the party said that its three-day 22nd biennial delegates congress which ended on Sunday, was attended by approximately 1,300 delegates. However, the party had previously said that some 2,000 delegates were expected to be in attendance.
According to the party, Norton was returned unopposed as Party Leader; Shurwayne Holder was re-elected as Chairman; Vinceroy Jordan and Elizabeth Williams-Niles were re-elected as Vice Chairpersons, and Elson Low was elected Treasurer of the party.
Returning Officer, Vincent Alexander, had declared that Norton received 1,040 of the 1,066 total votes cast.
Additionally, it has been disclosed that the party had moved a motion to allow whomever emerges as the party’s leader to be the presi -
dential candidate for the upcoming Regional and General Elections.
Ganesh Mahipaul, an executive member of the party, had told this publication on Sunday that this is not an isolated decision.
“The motion said whomever is elected leader of the People’s National Congress Reform, that person is given the mandate from congress to be the presidential candidate …there was a further be-it-resolved clause that said that … in that person’s mandate [if] there is need for negotiation, compromise, consensus, whatever else, the mandate is given to that person who is elected leader to make the best of choice[s].”
Just mere days before the opening of the congress last Friday, General Secretary, Dawn Hastings-Williams, tendered her resignation from her post, while both of Norton’s competitors,
Walton-Desir and Forde flagged several concerns which ultimately led them to withdraw from the race for the party’s leadership.
Both Walton-Desir and Forde “suspended” their campaigns on Thursday due to what they claimed were alleged irregularities and lack of transparency surrounding the congress.
In a letter, Forde said that despite several written communications addressed to the Central Executive Committee and the General Secretary regarding concerns about the integrity of the electoral processes for the party’s elections, he did not receive any response.
He went on to say: “There have been noticeable irregularities concerning the list of delegates, which raise serious concerns about the transparency of the election process.
“Unreasonable timelines have been imposed to meet certain require-
ments for holding the congress, which have placed undue pressure and constraints on the democratic process,” he added.
Walton- Desir in her statement said: “As of the morning of June 27, 2024, one day before the commencement of our congress, a preliminary list of delegates has not been made available to me as a candidate to allow for claims or objections and, further, there is a lack of agreement among all candidates contesting on the procedures for conducting the elections.”
Aubrey Norton returns as leader of the PNCR
Five certified as Guyana’s first-ever helicopter search and rescue swimmers
AFTER spending six and a half months exposed to rigorous training in both Canada and Guyana, five Guyanese have graduated as helicopter search and rescue swimmers.
They are the first set of Guyanese to ever hold such a certification. A graduation ceremony was recently held at the OHI/Omni Helicopters Hanger, Eugene F. Correia International Airport (EFCIA), East Coast Demerara.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Ishwar Parhbu told the gathering that for six and a half months they
were exposed to a rigorous and dynamic training programme hinged primarily on their physical ability in the water from icy cold to humid temperatures which tested their reach.
He said that they started their training in a pool to hone their skills in swimming after which they were introduced to the more complex search and rescue aspect via the helicopter using the basket method.
Prabhu stated that they bonded as a team and encouraged each other to become successful. He emphasised that they were happy
with their achievement.
Another graduate, Daniel Yorris, in his remarks highlighted their training journey and heaped praises on the training team of five that guided them throughout the process.
He said that they will equip themselves with empathy and integrity to fulfill their mandate as Guyana’s first-ever helicopter search and rescue swimmers.
During the ceremony, the five graduates were presented with their certificates for successfully completing the programme.
Giving an overview of
the course, Chris Mackay said the five graduates successfully completed an extensive training programme to prepare them and during that time, they showed exceptional courage and the ability to learn.
He related that their training began in January this year and it was to improve their skills through being in an extreme environment both locally and overseas where they received hands-on training on land and in the water under the guidance of expert trainers.
Meanwhile, Omni Country Manager, Peter Gay told the gathering that it was a
highly coordinated training programme geared towards sharing expertise.
He pointed out that at Omni Helicopters, 50 per cent of the workforce are Guyanese and the company remains committed to promoting partnerships to outfit the locals with the required training they need for maximum on-the-job performance with the company.
Director of Omni Helicopter, Gerald Gouveia, Jr., in his remarks said he is very pleased with the OHI/ ExxonMobil partnership which saw the training of the five Guyanese to become the very first-ever helicopter
search and rescue swimmers. He pointed out that this new accomplishment comes with responsibility.
He urged the group to set high standards for others to follow.
The training team was also instrumental in performing a life-saving evacuation via helicopter of a cardiac arrest patient and was awarded for their team effort and medical intervention in saving a life.
The new helicopter search and rescue swimmers are
Ishwar Parhbu, Daniel Yorris, Kevin Sawh, Curt Mendonca and the lone female, Johnelle Ogle.
The Omni helicopter
Friends and family gathered to support Guyana’s first-ever helicopter search and rescue swimmers at their graduation ceremony
Guyana’s certified helicopter search and rescue swimmers (Shaniece Bamfield photos)
Higher oil production will bring enhanced economic benefits to Guyana—ExxonMobil’s VP
— Stabroek Block projects will be remembered as historic deepwater developments
By Feona Morrison
BY 2027, ExxonMobil
Guyana is poised to surpass the milestone of producing 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd), a significant achievement that promises to not only boost the company’s revenue but bring substantial benefits to the people of Guyana.
This is according to Vice President and Business Service Manager of ExxonMobil Guyana, Phillip Rietema, as he discussed the oil giant’s 2023 financial statement on this week’s episode of the Energy Perspective Podcast, which is produced by the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo.
By the end of 2023, ExxonMobil, the operator and co-venturer of the lucrative Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, had made $614.6
the gas-to-energy project, Rietema stated that it is a transformative project for the country.
The project will harness natural gas from the Stabroek Block, channelling it through a 200-kilometre pipeline to a new power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
In terms of profits, he stated that the people of Guyana will always receive the “lion’s share”. “About 52 per cent of the profit is for Guyana and 48 per cent for the contractor.”
long-term growth.
Moreover, Rietema explained that Guyana’s Stabroek Block developments compete globally and are among the top deepwater projects in the world.
they present an opportunity for Guyana to grow and develop. He assured that ExxonMobil has implemented strategic policies to manage the resources effectively and
He explained: “The revenues are really nice but the gas-to-energy project… it is clear that that is going to impact every single individual in the country. Cheap, reliable power is really fundamental to development and you can only imagine the different businesses that are going to be coming here and looking to use that for their manufacturing, job creating et cetera.”
June 2024, marked 25 years since ExxonMobil has
billion in profits.
And that profit occurs at a time when the company’s annual revenue was $1.1 trillion and its overall operating expenses were estimated to be $356.1 billion.
He stated that the corporation has three other development projects—Yellowtail, Uaru and Whiptail—set to begin production in 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively.
Each project is estimated to generate 250,000 barrels per day, bringing the total offshore oil output in Guyana to more than 1.3 million barrels per day.
This will take the company’s annual revenue to US$30 billion, Rietema noted.
“Oil produced is revenue produced as revenue to be shared amongst the people of Guyana and our shareholder group,” the official said.
He termed the earnings as “big numbers” and stated that
elaborated on the economic impact of this milestone.
“It is not just about the revenues we generate. It is what we can do with the investment dollars. Our operations are now employing over 6,000 Guyanese throughout the value chain and that grows every month. We have over 1,700 unique Guyanese businesses that are doing business in the oil and gas industry. Ten years ago, there were very few people working in the industry and very few businesses.”
The enhanced revenue streams are anticipated to support various developmental projects and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for Guyanese citizens.
The government has been making significant investments in key areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
Turning his attention to
been in Guyana.
ExxonMobil is the operator of the offshore 6.6 million-acre Stabroek Block.
Along with its partners Hess Guyana Exploration and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana, a consortium was formed to find and exploit petroleum from the area.
ExxonMobil Guyana holds a 45 per cent stake, followed by Hess Guyana Exploration with 30 per cent and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana with 25 per cent.
According to the Vice President, the three companies have invested $6 trillion (US $30 billion) and have recovered US $20 billion thus far. He stated that they are committed to investing US $55 billion and plan to remain in business here for decades.
He highlighted that the oil contracts have made these investments possible.
He explained that 2023 was a “record year” for the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) as inflows stood at $330M. The Natural Resource Fund Act of 2019 established the NRF to manage Guyana’s natural resource wealth for the benefit of the people now and in the future, as well as for the country’s
He stated that these projects have a competitive advantage over many others around the world due to their breakeven spread, which can survive market volatility.
“They are some of the best deepwater projects in the world. We are very proud of them. I know our chairman has said something to the
effect of we expect that the Guyana projects that we are doing in Stabroek will go down as one of the greatest deepwater projects in the industry’s history,” he added. Since the first discovery in 2015, the company has three projects—Liza 1, Liza 2 and Payara—producing over 600,000 barrels a day.
The prolific Stabroek Block has solidified Guyana’s position as a major player in the global oil industry and the fastest-growing economy in the world.
Vice President and Business Service Manager of ExxonMobil Guyana, Phillip Rietema
The lucrative Stabroek Block offshore Guyana
St Cuthbert’s Mission’s village council ready to partner with gov’t to boost development
THE newly elected village council of St Cuthbert’s Mission\Pakuri village off the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is ready to further boost development amongst its indigenous people and community.
election was held early in June and saw the new body taking office just over two weeks ago.
The village’s Toshao
In a recent interview
with the Department of Public Information (DPI), the village’s new Toshao, Alvoro Simon, noted that the council is ready to work with the government and the village’s people to ensure the Mission’s efficient function.
With financial help from the government, Simon and the council aim to initiate projects that can generate income for the village.
“We come with a vast knowledge base of what development looks like. So, our aim and the aim of the village council for the next three years is to ensure that we create proj-
ects where the residents can benefit directly from the initiatives,” the newly elected Toshao stated.
Another objective of the council is to firmly build its human resources by taking advantage of the programmes that are being offered by the various ministries.
According to Simon, having the residents build their skillsets will significantly aid in the advancement of the village.
“We also want to ensure that we develop our human resource capacity in the village. With help from the government, we want the residents to in -
vest heavily in education, agriculture, and even tourism,” Simon told DPI.
Over the years, St Cuthbert’s Mission/ Pakuri village has and will continue to receive significant aid from the government through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the Presidential Grant, and finance from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. These monies are to surge development and help the community to establish programmes and policies that will drive economic growth for the benefit of everyone. (DPI)
Some of the residents of St Cuthbert’s Mission\Pakuri village
World Bank Group Representative for Guyana appointed
DILETTA Doretti, with effect from Monday, has been appointed the World Bank Group Resident Representative for Guyana, a position that will unify country-level leadership across the institution to better support Guyana’s public and private sector priorities.
According to a news release, this newly created position provides a single point of contact for access to the full breadth of World Bank Group products and services and will enhance the institution’s ability to address global challenges, and drive development with speed, efficiency, and impact.
“Our goal is to increase operations in Guy-
ana and having a unified leadership to partner with the government and the private sector will ensure that we can deliver impactful results,” Doretti was quoted as saying. She further said: “We are exploring key sectors including agribusiness, tourism, education, access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well [as] transportation and logistics infrastructure.”
The release said that, in Guyana, the World Bank Group works to advance human capital, with a particular focus on education and strengthening climate resilience to flood risk management. Doretti, who previously led the Group’s en -
gagements with the public sector in Guyana, will now also be responsible for deepening and managing the partnership with Guyanese authorities and the private sector. Additionally, she will develop integrated solutions that span both sectors to ensure the effective implementation of the World Bank Group’s engagement framework in Guyana.
Since joining in 2002, Doretti has held various positions at the World Bank, including as Senior Private Sector Development Specialist for the World Bank West Africa region, based in Mali. She has extensive World Bank experience, including country engagements and developing strategies
for private sector development, entrepreneurship, and innovation, the release added.
The introduction of joint country representation is an important step towards building a stronger World Bank Group. Guyana is one of 21 World Bank Group offices transitioning to a single World Bank Group Country Manager or Resident Representative for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), it further stated.
Diletta Doretti
Bids opened for construction of $705M pump station in Chesney
IN a move by the government to strengthen drainage infrastructure and improve agricultural productivity, bids have opened for the construction of a new pump station at Chesney, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The Agriculture Ministry, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), recently issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) seeking eligible bidders to undertake the construction of a pump station at Chesney, Corentyne, Region Six, which is estimated to be $705,979,470.
Bids for the project are to be submitted by July 18, 2024, at the office of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
Bidders must submit one hard copy and two electronic copies of the tenders.
According to the IFB, bidding will be conducted through the National Committee Bidding (NCB) procedures, as specified in the Procurement Act 2003.
Bidders are asked to adhere to all of the necessary requests for information found in the tender documents, and valid certificates of com -
pliance from the Guyana Revenue Authority and the National Insurance Scheme must accompany the standard bidding documents.
Notably, in order to fortify Guyana’s drainage and irrigation capacity, as well as respond to the adverse effects
of climate change, the government will expend some $26 billion to construct massive canals across the country. This was revealed by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo recently.
Dr Jagdeo said that the Hope-like canals will be built in Regions Three, Five and Six. In Region Three it is expected that the drainage and irrigation structure will target some 28,000 acres of land; in Region Five, 214,000 acres, while in Region Six, 188,000 acres of land will see better water management.
The Hope Canal which has Guyana’s largest sluice, aids in directing excess water towards the Atlantic Ocean. The massive drainage and irrigation infrastructure located in Region Four was commissioned back in 2014, and has eight doors that function as a drainage sluice.
The funding for the new projects, Dr. Jagdeo
said, will come from the country’s sale of carbon credits to the American oil firm, Hess Corporation. This, he highlighted, is in keeping with the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), as 85 per cent of the country’s carbon credits proceeds are intended for climate- adaptation projects.
Aside from this, Dr Jagdeo also disclosed that $47 million would be expended to facilitate rehabilitation works at over 60 sluices across the country.
Simultaneously, the government is also building out the capacity of pumping stations.
“The 19 pumping stations will have 37 pumps installed… the number of beneficiaries, once they [pumping stations] are completed, will be over 140,000 persons who will benefit from improved services in their communities, both drainage and irriga-
tion of a domestic nature and also for agriculture areas,” he said.
Dr Jagdeo related that by adding these 37 pumps to the country’s drainage and irrigation system, 5,260 cubic feet per second pumping capacity will come on stream.
“That is a massive amount of water that you can get rid of if you have floods,” he said.
Another 2,480 cubic feet per second pumping capacity will be added to the system as the government also intends to purchase 40 new mobile pumps.
“If you add all of this in the five years, we will be budgeting around $155 billion to improve drainage and irrigation structures and to make our economies more resilient to flooding because of climate change and to improve our capacity to address water management,” Dr. Jagdeo said.
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and team recently inspected the pump station at Adventure, in Region Six
$125M apartment complex to enhance living conditions for medical professionals at Suddie Public Hospital
By Cindy Parkinson
IN a significant move to improve the living conditions for medical professionals, both domestic and foreign, and their families at Suddie Public Hospital, Dr. Ranjeev Singh, Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), announced the construction of a $125 million apartment structure.
The facility is expected to be completed in six months, providing much-needed housing for doctors and their families.
In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Dr. Singh underscored the importance of the new facility, which will house eight to 10 apartments.
“At a cost of $125 million that was already budgeted for, the government
will be constructing a building that will include about 8 to 10 apartments for doctors and their families. These apartments will complement
the other apartments that we currently have and are housing doctors, as well as the extensions of the buildings that we will be commencing
[work] on soon. Considering the inclement weather, this structure is said to be completed in approximately 6 months,” Dr. Singh stated.
Dr. Singh highlighted the deplorable state of the health sector and accommodations prior to President Dr. Irfaan Ali's administration regaining office in 2020.
“We inherited a system where almost every aspect of the facilities in this region has to be revamped, and the doctor’s quarters were a mess. So, we are not only working on fixing the structures alone, but we are also working on building a facility that would be conducive to housing our physicians' families as well,” he explained.
Addressing rumours about housing accommodations for physicians, Dr. Singh refuted claims that foreign doctors are given preferential treatment over Guyanese doctors.
“Recently, I have been hearing some rumours around that we are giving the doctors that are with us from the different countries priority over our own doctors in Guyana. Let me say that those statements are 100 percent false. While we would like to give every doctor their own living quarter, we cannot do that at this moment. However, that is what we are working on at the moment; yes, we have to accommodate our overseas doctors; some are here in the compound, and we are renting places for them to stay until our facilities are completed,” he clarified.
Local regional doctors who have returned to work in Region Two are currently staying with their parents or relatives until the new facilities are ready. Dr. Singh emphasised that, despite the challenges, significant improvements have been made since 2020 under President Ali’s leadership.
“Our doctors and our healthcare system are in a much better place than we were before 2020, and we must recognise that as well," he noted.
Dr. Singh also highlighted the transformative impact of the new facility on aspiring nurses from the region and nearby islands.
“Even though we are faced with some challenges at the hospitals, the development in the region, specifically the health sector, has been rapidly moving apace. This new, modern training school is a game-changer for this region for many reasons, but one of the main ones is because our young people who want to join the profession would be able to get trained in the comfort of their own region,” he said.
The new training school aims to ensure that hospitals, health centres, and health posts in the region are fully equipped with adequately trained medical professionals. Dr. Singh emphasised the government's commitment to enhancing the expertise of Guyanese citizens across all medical domains.
“By the end of this year, we will also have another batch of students, one of which is a post-basic midwifery programme that will be concluded and the medical laboratory technician programme that is currently ongoing here at Suddie, and it will be completed at the end of this year as well,” he explained.
The government's efforts, led by the Ministry of Health, to close the human resources gap in the healthcare industry are seen as a significant step towards building a robust and self-sufficient healthcare system in Guyana.
The RHO for Region Two, Dr. Ranjeev Singh
Suddie Public Hospital, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)
GGDMA applauds Gov’t action against illegal mining activities
THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has expressed strong support for the government's recent initiatives to enhance the mining sector's integrity and efficiency.
Following a weekend meeting between GGDMA executives and government officials, new measures were announced to tackle illegal mining and smuggling.
The government has committed to several actions to address these issues, which include:
Designating Specific Landings: Identifying and regularising specific areas in the interior to serve as designated landings for mining activities.
Enhancing Legitimacy: Implementing additional
mechanisms to verify the legitimacy of individuals conducting business within mining communities.
Controlling Movement: More aggressively managing the movement of itinerant individuals, including shop owners and miners, and accounting for all persons conducting
business in the interior.
Strategic Operations: Conducting targeted operations in clusters known for raiding activities, addressing conflicts of tenure, and ensuring smoother operations.
Increased Surveillance: Enhancing surveillance on entities trading vulnerable
these measures which aim to curb illegal practices and improve sector operations. The association emphasised its ongoing collaboration with the government to address rogue elements that undermine the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
operators and stakeholders, working to resolve issues and promote fair practices.
The GGDMA reminded miners of their responsibility to ensure accurate declarations, increase production, and collaborate with the government to reduce illegal operations.
minerals to prevent illegal activities.
The GGDMA in a press release, on Monday, stated that it has welcomed
Since taking office, the GGDMA noted that the current administration has reinstated previously removed incentives and introduced new ones to support the mining industry and boost declarations.
The Minister of Natural Resources has maintained direct engagement with
In the statement, the GGDMA reiterated its support for the government and the Ministry of Natural Resources in their efforts to enhance production, increase declarations, and curb smuggling in the sector.
Region Nine coconut nursery expands with 1,500 new seed nuts despite weather challenges
By Cindy Parkinson
IN alignment with President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision to bolster the coconut industry, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Agriculture, continues its efforts to supply farmers with high-yielding coconut seed nuts. This initiative aims to encourage farmer engagement and increase production within the sector.
During a recent visit to the nursery in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region, Mr. Ricky Roopchand, Managing Director of Hope Coconut Industry, shared the progress and challenges faced in transporting seed nuts to Region Nine. Despite inclement weather making it difficult to transport 3,000 green
dwarf coconuts via truck, the team successfully delivered 1,500 seed nuts to the nursery using a bus.
“The Region Nine nursery has a capacity to hold 3,000 seed nuts per batch, which makes it 12,000 per year. However, due to the inclement weather, it is difficult to get a truck to go up there and take all 3,000 at once, so we sent up 1,500 by bus,” Mr. Roopchand
explained. He also noted that the remaining nursery capacity will be filled with the Philippine green variety from Costa Rica, expected to arrive by July 15.
Praising the dedication of Region Nine farmers, Mr. Roopchand acknowledged the nursery’s current limitations. “The farmers are showing tremendous interest, but the demand exceeds the nursery’s ca-
pacity. We need to expand the nursery or decentralise it further in the region to meet this demand,” he stated.
In collaboration with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), a proposal is being developed to enhance the production of coffee, cocoa, and coconuts throughout Region Nine. “Through President Ali and Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, we are working on a proposal to produce coffee, cocoa, and coconuts in all of Region Nine. Depending on the suitability of the crop, we will work with farmers to ensure regional development,” Mr. Roopchand added.
Meanwhile, the Mabaruma coconut nursery in Region One is fully stocked with 3,000 Brazilian Green Dwarf seed nuts to meet the needs of local farmers. Additionally, a significant shipment of 63,000 seed nuts—13,000 from Brazil and 50,000 from Costa Rica—will soon arrive to further support the industry.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, during his visit to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), highlighted the govern -
ment's commitment to revitalising the coconut industry. “Coconut has tremendous value globally, and we have the opportunity to supply Caribbean countries with our products,” he said.
The minister emphasised that these initiatives are part of a broader strategy by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to reduce Guyana’s food importation expenses. He also pointed out the superior qualities of the new Brazilian green dwarf coconuts, which offer higher yields and better quality. “These imported coconuts produce 700 to 750 millilitres of water, compared to the 300 to 350 millilitres from local varieties. They also produce approximately 260 nuts per year, compared to about 160 nuts from the ones we currently have,” he explained.
Minister Mustapha noted that these coconuts have multiple uses, including water, copra, oil, and fibre, which can be used as mulch. The government’s ongoing efforts to improve the coconut industry demonstrate a strong commitment to agricultural development and economic growth in Guyana.
The Managing Director of Hope Coconut Industry, Ricky Roopchand, students and farmers at the coconut seedling nursery in Region Nine
Mabaruma coconut nursery, fully stocked with Brazilian Green Dwarf Coconuts
Girmay first black African ...
Belgium’s Arnaud de Lie in second and third.
All the pre-race talk had been around whether Cavendish could claim a record 35th stage win, but a crash just over 2km from the line on the 230.8km route from Piacenza left many riders - including the Manxmanout of position.
Meanwhile, Richard Carapaz became the first Ecuadorian to wear the yellow jersey based on accumulated finishing positions over the first three stages, with Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard also on the same time as the EF Education-EasyPost rider in the general classification.
At the finish an emotional Girmay, 24 - who won his first Grand Tour stage at the Giro d’Italia in 2022 - outlined the importance of his achievement.
“I would say thanks to God for everything, for giving me all the strength and support,” Girmay said.
“Since I started cycling I was never dreaming to be part of the Tour de France but now I can’t believe it. I want to say thank you to my
family, my wife, Eritrea and Africa.
“We must be proud. Now we are part of the big races and have success. Now is our moment, now is our time. This for all Africa”
Cavendish and his Astana-Qazaqstan team-mates were on the right side of the road as riders jostled for position in the closing stages of the race and the 39-yearold said he was just happy to emerge unscathed, having crashed out of the race 12 months ago on stage eight.
“Something was going to happen,” Cavendish said. “You could feel it but you
From back page
didn’t know where or when. I heard it happening ahead so you’re on the brakes, you skid and you wait for somebody to hit you from behind.
“Thankfully we were OK and I don’t think anyone was seriously hurt. You don’t want anybody to crash but I don’t think anyone was seriously hurt so that’s very good news. We didn’t sprint but we’re safe and that’s the main thing.”
Today, the race heads into the Alps as the Tour takes in the mighty Col du Galibier on the mountainous 139.6km route from Pinerolo to Valloire.(BBC Sport).
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Tuesday July 02, 2024)
Jamaica exits Copa America with 3-0 loss to Venezuela
JAMAICA bowed out of the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America with a 3-0 defeat to Venezuela in their final Group B match on Sunday at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. This loss marked Jamaica’s third consecutive defeat in the tournament, concluding their participation without a win.
The match started with a glimmer of hope for Jamaica as Michael Hector, making his record-extending ninth Copa America appearance, struck on target in the sixth minute. However, the early optimism quickly faded as Venezuela began to assert their dominance.
Jamaican goalkeeper
Jahmali Waite made a crucial save in the 42nd minute, deflecting a powerful shot from Darwin Machis to keep the score-line level at half time. Despite Waite’s efforts, Venezuela broke the deadlock early in the second half. Eduard Bello headed home a cross in the 49th minute to give Venezuela the lead.
The South American side doubled their advantage in the 56th minute when Salomon Rondon found the back of the net with a precise hit inside the box. Jamaica continued to search for their first goal of the match, with Kaheim Dixon coming close in the 77th minute, but his attempt
Alcaraz opens Wimbledon title defence with battling win over Lajal
CARLOS Alcaraz opened his Wimbledon title defence with a hard-fought victory over Estonian qualifier, Mark Lajal.
The Spaniard won 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 6-2 to begin proceedings on Centre Court.
Alcaraz is attempting to win backto-back major titles after triumphing at the French Open last month.
“Stepping on this court, it is the most beautiful court I have played on,” said the 21-year-old. “I still get nerves when I play here.
“I practised for 45 minutes on Thursday and it was the first time I was nervous on practice because I was playing on this court.”
Lajal, 21, battled hard on his first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam.
“Honestly it surprised me a little bit because I haven’t seen him playing or practising too much,” added Alcaraz.
“He has the level to go up a lot. He is really young, the same age as me, and I am sure I am going to see him more often.”
Alcaraz will face either Australian Aleksandar Vukic or Sebastian Ofner of Austria in the second round.(BBC Sport).
was off target.
Venezuela sealed their victory in the 85th minute as Eric Ramirez scored their third goal, ensuring their place at the top of Group B. Jamaica had one final attempt from Alex Marshall in stoppage time, concluding their eight attempts on goal for the day.
Despite a valiant effort, Jamaica exits their third Copa America participation at the bottom of their group.
The Reggae Boyz managed to score their first goal of the tournament on the second matchday through Michail Antonio but could not secure any points in their three group matches. (Sportsmax)
Late own goal sends France into Euro quarter-finals
A LATE own goal by Jan Vertonghen sent France into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 at Belgium’s expense.
A game that had lacked quality and excitement for large periods looked destined for extra time, but a shot by substitute Randal Kolo Muani deflected off Vertonghen with five minutes remaining to seal the victory at Dusseldorf Arena.
France had missed several chances before that, as once again, their lack of a cutting edge let them down, and even captain Kylian Mbappe put efforts he would normally finish wide.
Belgium could even have taken the lead themselves before France’s late goal as Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne charged into space through the middle, but his shot was
pushed behind by Mike Maignan.
That had been the below-par Belgians only decent opportunity as France closed out the final few minutes to progress to the last eight, where they will face either Portugal or Slovenia.
France through but
still need to improve Didier Deschamps’ side were deserved winners, but this will be relief more than anything for the 2018 world champions as they once again struggled to turn chances into goals.
They dominated play for large periods, but only managed a single
shot on target in the first half when Antoine Griezmann’s low strike from distance was comfortably saved.
In Mbappe they have one of the world’s best forwards but even he found it difficult when faced with shooting opportunities, notably curling over in the second half after having done well initially to make the space for himself.
In the end they finished with 19 shots on goal but just two of those were on target, while they are still waiting for their first goal from open play so far in Germany.
In a theme that will be familiar to a number of the bigger sides left in Euro 2024, France are struggling to play at the level they are capable of but for now they will celebrate being one step closer to the final.
(BBC Sport)
This loss marked Jamaica’s third consecutive defeat in the tournament
France has reached the quarter-finals without scoring a goal from open play.
Defending Wimbledon Champion, Carlos Alcaraz
'He’s
a cracking coach': Bravo's coaching stock rises as Trott praises impact in Afghan's historic semi-final run
Dwayne Bravo’s stock as a coach remains on the up, as Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott once again heaped commendation on the former West Indies all-rounder for his role in the team’s dream run to the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Though Afghanistan crashed out of the competition following a nine-wicket loss against South Africa at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Wednesday night, Trott pointed out that the experience and lessons learnt in this edition of the global showpiece, will go a far way in assisting Afghanistan to compete consistently with the top teams in world cricket.
“We’ve got to find batters who can bat in the middle order in T20 cricket. I have
an idea of who they are and the players that are going to be doing that. So, we’ll be working really hard in the
next short term to get those players in playing T20 cricket and ODI cricket,” Trott shared.
Beyond that, the former England batsman spoke to the significance of Bravo’s appointment as bowling consultant, the impact he had on the team throughout the tournament.
“I think he’s a cracking coach,” Trott declared of Bravo.
“Dwayne’s been immense and a great guy to have around the dressing room. Always calm, rubs off on the bowlers and always willing to chat to the bowlers and batters as well.
“Very generous with his time and his passion for the side. I love working with him and cricket is in good hands if there are people like Dwayne coaching the game
and coaching the skills and sharing their experience,” he added.
In fact, Trott even expressed a desire to possibly work with Bravo on future assignments. Whether it will be with Afghanistan or not, is left to be seen.
“I wish him well wherever he goes and coaches next and I certainly hope our paths cross as soon as possible. He’s been brilliant and it’s been great to have him with his professional attitude, and I think that’s certainly rubbed off on the players and they’ve seen what it takes to be at their best and play the amount of cricket that he has,” Trott ended.
England confirm squad for West Indies series ahead of Anderson's final Test
ENGLAND has confirmed its squad for the first two Tests of the threematch series against West Indies.
James Anderson will bring the curtain down on his stellar career after the first Test at Lord's, which starts on July 10.
Anderson has taken 700 Test wickets, the most by any fast bowler in the history of the format.
But with the 41-year-old bowing out, England captain, Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum also have an eye on the future of their bowling attack.
Fast bowler, Dillon Pennington and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith have earned their maiden call-ups, while Gus Atkinson could be in store for his first cap, after he was included in the squad that toured India earlier this year but did not feature.
Chris Woakes, meanwhile, returns to the fold for the first time in a Test squad since last year's Ashes, and Shoaib Bashir has got the nod over Jack Leach.
This squad will cover the second Test, at Trent Bridge, though a new selection is set to be made before the final match, which will start at
Edgbaston on July 26.
Ollie Robinson, Ben Foakes, Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have been left out, though the latter three have been involved in England's T20 World Cup campaign. England squad for first two Tests: Ben Stokes (captain), James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes.
Pooran only WI player in ICC team-of-the-tournament
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Lefthander Nicholas Pooran has been included in the team-of-the-tournament for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup which wrapped up here Saturday.
The 29-year-old finished with 228 runs at an average of 38 and a scoring rate of 146, to be the West Indies’ leading batsman for the tournament.
West Indies failed to
Left-hander Nicholas Pooran
reach the semi-finals of the tournament when they fell at the Super Eight stage, after playing unbeaten in the group stage.
Pooran notched the tournament’s highest score of 98 when he lashed half-dozen fours and eight sixes in a 53ball stunner, as West Indies trounced Afghanistan by 104 runs in their final group stage game.
He was the only West Indies player to be named
in the ICC team-of-the-tournament.
Champions India boast six players in the lineup with captain Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh all included.
Rohit was particularly outstanding with three half-centuries in the showpiece while new ball seamers Jasprit Bumrah (15) and Arshdeep Singh (17) led the
tournament in wickets.
Afghan left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who also picked up 17 wickets, earned a spot in the team along with South African speedster Anrich Nortje (15) and Afghan leg-spinning captain Rashid Khan (14).
India clinched their second T20 World Cup title when they edged South Africa in the final at Kensington Oval by seven runs.
Jamie Smith is the latest Surrey player to get an England call
Dwayne Bravo (right) and Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan
Trophy Stall Lions roar to victory in NYSCL Legends Cup
By Frederick Halley
UNFANCIED Trophy Stall
Lions defied the odds to cart off the Legends Over-50 category when the 19th edition of the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) tournament climaxed at Baisley Park, Rockaway, Queens on Sunday.
Already with a massive victory over the much-vaunted NYSCL 1 in Saturday’s semi-final, played at Seaview Park, Brooklyn, Trophy Stall Lions, who previously played under the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) banner, whipped New York Muslim by five wickets in an exciting encounter to claim the coveted title.
Set 104 for victory, in the low-scoring affair, Trophy Stall Lions were precariously placed at 38 for five before Vishwnauth “Kash” Lutchman with a brilliant undefeated 42 and Khemraj Budhai (10 not out) ensured no further alarms. The two added a face-saving uneaten 67 for the sixth wicket with Lutchman dominating the stand.
When victory was achieved in 15,3 overs, much to the delight of the Trophy Stall players and supporters, the hard-hitting Lutchman had counted three fours and two sixes in his knock. Extras were a healthy 32, including 22 wides. Earlier, New York
Muslim, taking first strike, never got going as they lost wickets at regular intervals and were bundled out for a paltry 103 in 19 overs. Opener Mahadeo Sarjoo hit two fours and a six in a top score of 25 while Anup Mangar contributed 17.
Vishwanauth Lutchman completed a fine all-round performance, claiming three for 28 while there were two wickets each for Budhai, Tulsie Lutchman and Ravi Achaibar for 10, 16 and 20 runs respectively.
The victory was also sweet revenge for Trophy Stall Lions who were skittled out for 89 against the same opponents in their final preliminary game on Saturday morning at Seaview
Park with New York Muslim securing a win by seven wickets.
Trophy Stall however rebounded to inflict a crushing seven-wicket victory over NYSCL 1 in Saturday’s semi-final clash, played at the same venue. Entering the encounter as firm favourites, NYSCL were shut out for 109 in 17.4 overs with Manoj Kumar (23) being the main scorer. Mahesh “Ravi” Lutchman was the chief destroyer with three for five from 2.4 overs while Achaibar took two for 18, Tulsi Lutchman two for 21 and Budhai two for 30.
Trophy Stall Lions reached the required target in 15,5 overs with Mahesh Lutchman hitting an unbeaten 33 and Manesh
Chunilall 32 not out.
Trophy Stall Lions took home $3000 (US) and the winning Eagle while all the players were recipients of medals. Vishwanauth “Kash” Lutchman carted off both the Player of the final and Player of the tournament awards.
Runners-up New York Muslim received a trophy while the players also got medals. Toronto Blizzards’ Sunil Dhaniram, who registered the most runs (276) and also scored the lone century in the category, collected trophies for his efforts while the top bowler was Mangar (New York Muslim) with eight wickets. Mahesh Lutchman recorded the best figures (three for five).
Following the victory, long-standing member of GFSCA and Trophy Stall proprietor, Ramesh Sunich said he was overwhelmed with emotions after learning the victory and congratulated the players on their much-deserved achievement.
“Your triumph in the finals was a result of a true team effort, determination. I commend also the sportsmanlike spirit which The Trophy Stall Lions displayed throughout the competition. I am incredibly proud to have sponsored such a commendable and determined group of cricketers.
“The final match showcased your skill, perseverance, and strategic brilliance, culminating
in a well-deserved victory. This accomplishment is not only a fitting reward for your hard work but also a shining example of what can be achieved through teamwork.
“As you revel in this glorious victory, I am sure it will be part of many more successes for The Trophy Stall Lions. May this achievement serve as a stepping stone to even greater heights. May you continue to play with the passion and discipline which you exhibited in this competition.
“I look forward to supporting and cheering for The Trophy Stall Lions in all your future endeavours.”
Afghanistan women call on ICC to form refugee team
MEMBERS of the former Afghanistan women’s team have called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to help them form a refugee team based in Australia.
Formed in 2010, the Afghanistan women’s team disbanded in 2021 when the Taliban returned to power and banned women from universities, parks, sports and raided the homes of female athletes.
The ICC requires its full members, of which Afghanistan is one, to have a national women’s team, but the men’s team has retained its Test status and reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last week.
In a letter to ICC chair, Greg Barclay, the Afghanistan women said: “Creating a team of Afghan refugees can give us a chance to play, coach and administer a cricket team without borders.
“The creation of this team will allow all Afghan women who want to represent their country to come together
under one banner.”
The Afghanistan women’s team was created nine years after the Taliban regime
fell at the hands of a US-led military coalition.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) initially barred the women’s team from playing at several international tournaments, saying it received "Taliban threats".
But 25 female cricketers were handed contracts by the ACB in 2020, less than a year before the Taliban returned to power, ending any progress towards Afghanistan playing an official women’s international.
More than 20 Afghan women’s cricketers managed to leave the country and are currently living in Australia.
“We are asking the ICC to assist us in setting up a refugee team in Australia,” said the letter.
“Through this team we aim to represent all Afghan
women who dream of playing cricket but are unable to in Afghanistan.
“Our goals in having a refugee team are to develop and showcase our talent, give hope to the women remaining in Afghanistan, and to draw attention to the challenges women of Afghanistan face.
“Like the Afghanistan men’s team are afforded, we aim to compete at the highest levels. We want to recruit and train girls and women who love cricket, to show the world the talent of Afghan women and to demonstrate the great victories they can achieve if given a chance through the leadership and financial support of the ICC.”
The ICC has been contacted for comment.(BBC Sport)
Player of the final Vishwanauh “Kash” Lutchman collects his prize from NYSCL President Eric Ferrier
The victorious Trophy Stall Lions pose with their winning Eagle
Hurricane Beryl affects CWI’s
U-19 tournament in St Vincent
... Leewards U-19 cricketers stranded in Barbados
...Cancelled flights hamper Guyana, T&T departures
By Sean Devers
HURRICANE Beryl made landfall yesterday on the Islands of Carriacouan and Grenada while Hurricane warnings are still in effect in St Vincent and the Grenadines as thousands of people there have buckled down in their homes or Shelters.
Beryl became the earliest storm of Category 4 strength to form in the Atlantic, fuelled by record warm waters.
The Hurricane season starts in June but usually peaks closer to September.
In St Vincent where CWI’s Regional U-19 Cricket tournament was scheduled to commence today, NBC Radio has reported roofs being torn
off of Churches and Schools as communications began collapsing across the Southeast Caribbean yesterday evening.
In Barbados and Trinidad, Airports have been closed, leaving the Leeward Islands team which was intransit to St Vincent, stranded in Barbados while flights from Guyana to the Easten Caribbean have been cancelled.
The Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana teams could not depart on Sunday night for St. Vincent as planned.
Barbados, St Lucia and Jamaica to the North of the Caribbean have been issued with Hurricane warning with Beryl threatening to gather strength.
Biniam Girmay also won a stage at the Giro d’Italia in 2022.
BINIAM Girmay made history as the first black African to win a Tour de France stage as Mark Cavendish was held up by a late crash on the run into Turin.
Girmay
first black African to win Tour de France stage
In a reduced sprint finish, Eritrea’s Girmay powered to victory, with Colombia’s Fernando Gaviria and
The Guyana team’s flight to St Vincent was cancelled on Sunday evening due to Hurricane Beryl watch.
Hurricane Ivan was the last strongest Hurricane to hit the Caribbean in 2004. West Indies won the 2004 Champions Trophy and dedicated their victory to the people of Grenada who were the hardest hit.
Vice-President of CWI and President of TTCB, Azim Bassarath, confirmed the T&T team was also delayed and was still in Trinidad. He also said that defending Champions Jamaica were also affected by the cancellation of connecting flights. The CWI VP confirmed that the tournament
will not start this week.
But he added that the CWI cannot say if the tournament will be cancelled but could only say that a new date was still to be confirmed.
Most of the players selected for Guyana played key roles last season; among them being: Rampertab Ramnauth, Sachin Balgobin, Alvin Mohabir, Zachary Jodah, Jonathan Van Lange, Thaddeus Lovell.
Fast bowler Isai Thorne who made his first-class debut in this year’s West Indies Championship is unavailable, after being named to tour England with the West Indies Test team as a development player from June 23.
Guyana U-19 Team –Rampertab Ramnauth, Sachin
Guyana Under-19 captain, Mavindra Dindyal
Balgobin, Alvin Mohabir, Zachary Jodah, Johnathan Van Lange (vice- captain), Thaddeus Lovell, Romeo Deonarain, Mavindra Dindyal (Captain), Shahid Viera (WK), Krsna Singh, Riyad Latiff, Golcharran Chulai,
TCCB president and CWI vice-president, Azim Bassarath
Bruce Vincent and Anthon Lim. Stand-by players –Rampersaud Ramnauth, Shiloh Adams, Kumar Deopersaud, Salim Khan, Wavell Allen and Mahem Khan.
Ethan Bulkan qualifies for U-13 final at Junior CASA
ETHAN Bulkan was triumphant over his brother Egan and has secured a spot in the U-13 final at the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
After losing the first set 9-11, Ethan stormed back to win the next three, 11-9, 11-7, and 11-3.
Ethan will now face number-one seed, Jakob Noblett, from BVI this morning from 10:30h.
Earlier, defending champion Nicholas Verwey and Michael Alphsono Jr. qualified for the U-19 semi-final, and, if successful, they will meet in today’s final.
Verwey stayed on course in his title-repeat endeavours by defeating Barbadian Dominic Wilson in straight sets.
Number-two seed, Barbadian Alex Stewart, defeated Mohryan Baksh 11-4, 11-1, 11-4, and will need to get ahead of another Guyanese ace, Michael Alphonso Jr., for a spot in the final.
Reigning Under-17 champion, Louis DaSilva, was eliminated from individual medal contention in his first year at the U-19 level.
His demise came at the proficiency of Thong, who won 11-9, 11-7, 11-7.
Under-17
After beating Ciara George of St. Vincent and the Grenadines 13-11, 11-4, 11-6, Guyana’s Rylee Rodrigues lost to
Ethan Bulkan (left) in battle against his brother, Egan Bulkan, in the U-13 semi-final on Monday.
Milanna Lamontagne 6-11, 6-11, 8-11 and therefore missed out on qualifying for the plate final in the Girls’ U-17 category. It was a mixed return for the boys. Shiloh Asregado swept his match against Malachi McMaster, but Demetri Lowe lost 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 1-11 to Zevieh Abraham after defeating Barbadian Kai Shepherd earlier in the day. Under-15
The energetic Jacob McDonald lost another plate match, this time to Cole Brown, 2-11, 1-11, 9-11 to end his campaign.
