Contractors say Christ Church Secondary, St George’s High School set for completion soon
- several other schools on track
STAYING in tune with his emphasis on community involvement, President, Dr Irfaan Ali met with several contractors of the Ministry of Education, engineers, Regional Executive Officers (REOs), and project consultants on Saturday to discuss ongoing educational projects across Guyana.
The meeting, which included Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, provided a platform for contractors to share updates on major projects underway in the country.
Two key projects discussed during the meeting were the rebuilding of
Christ Church Secondary School and St. George's High School, both of which were destroyed by fires in recent years.
President Ali expressed his administration’s emphasis on the education sector, stating, "This sector is very important for us, that is why I am taking the time to come with the ministers to speak directly to you. I am happy that we are all together on all of this."
In this regard, the President was informed that the construction of the Christ Church Secondary School is on course for completion by November 15, while St. George’s High School will be completed by August 25.
The reconstruction of Christ Church Secondary School, which began in 2023, involved seven contracts totalling $688.159 million.
The new three-storey building will house 20 classrooms and accommodate between 450-520 students. It will feature modern amenities including science labs, IT labs, and
new-model classrooms.
Similarly, the rebuilding of St. George's High School, initiated in June of 2023 with contracts totalling $253.8 million, will result in a two-storey concrete building capable of accommodating 300400 students.
The new structure will include 12 classrooms on the upper floor and six
specialised laboratories on the lower floor, along with enhanced fire-prevention measures.
These projects reflect the government's commitment to restoring and improving educational facilities affected by unfortunate incidents.
The involvement of local contractors in these significant projects also
underscores the administration's focus on fostering community participation in national development initiatives.
During the meeting, other contractors shared updates on various school projects across Guyana, indicating a broad-based approach to enhancing the country's educational infrastructure.
Christ Church Secondary School building under construction with a completion date of November
St George’s High building slated to be completed by August 25 (Shaniece Bamfield photos.)
Over 350 new small contractors key players in construction industry
- President Ali says, as gov’t continues to roll out solid policies to enhance the lives of all Guyanese
MORE than 350 new small contracting businesses have been created as a result of the government’s housing policy and housing drive, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has said.
“We have more than 350 new small contractors that are building homes, that would have entered the system, that are now building those homes and owning their own businesses. Many of them are young graduates from the University of Guyana,” the President said while addressing the opening ceremony of the 2024 Building Expo last week.
The President highlighted that the construction sector grew by about 30 per cent in 2021 and another 27 per cent in 2022.
“We expect this growth to continue,” he posited, noting that the government’s policies and programmes have created opportunities for Guyanese to not only become homeowners but also business owners as well.
According to President Ali, more than $240 billion has been expended to make home-ownership more affordable in Guyana; this has resulted in over 35,000 houselots being distributed and persons
benefitting from crucial infrastructural development.
During a previous address, the Head of State had also said that the government has simultaneously been investing in the country’s infrastructure, enhancing road networks, and improving the availability of water and electricity.
and, on housing, we have delivered in less than four years. We have made home-ownership more affordable, we have created infrastructure, built roads, built electricity networks, given access to water and expanded a housing programme to reach every segment of the Guyanese population,” President Ali said.
At the 2024 Building Expo some 1,730 certificates of title were distributed.
we have allocated in excess of 1,700 houses, of which over 1,500 are in various stages of completion,” he disclosed.
He further revealed that new areas for housing will be identified, and these include Mabaruma, Region One; Wales, Region Three; La Bonne Intention (LBI), Felicity, Chateau Margot, Haruni, Non-Pareil, Enterprise and Silica City in Region Four.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, he highlighted, has implemented measures to make home-ownership more affordable.
Already, over 3,000 houses have been delivered, with a focus on low- and moderate-income segments, and the government is expanding the housing programme to reach every part of the population
“An average low-income houselot is subsidised by almost $4.2 million and we brought down interest rates…. This has led to an increase of about eight to 10 per cent in new housing loans at a val-
“Housing does not come by itself. It comes with infrastructure to support housing schemes. To support these new housing schemes and these 35,000 houselots and homes that we’ve invested in, we have built 414 kilometres of new roads, 250 kilometres of new water transmission mains and more than 2,200 kilometres of electricity transmission lines,” President Ali said.
ue of $56 billion,” he said adding:
“We built more than 3,000 homes, more than 1,000 low-income housing at a cost of more than $5.9 billion, more than 400 moderate-income homes, 100 middle-income homes and more than 1000 young professional homes.”
Additionally, the government has ensured support to the vulnerable by investing in core homes.
He further highlighted that some $2 billion has been invested in hinterland housing, while more than 16,000 young people have benefitted from the mortgage relief programme.
“We don’t just promise, we deliver,
According to Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal, more than 2,000 houselots would also be distributed.
“By the end of this year, more than 40,000 house lots will be allocated. We will be allocating over 2,000 lots over the next two days and issuing 1,730 certificates of title,” the Minister said.
In keeping with its manifesto promise, land ownership, the minister noted, is the key hallmark of the government’s aim to support and promote wealth among Guyanese.
“The target of allocating 50,000 houselots over five years did not include in our manifesto commitment the complete houses. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. So far,
In Region Five, a new housing area was identified in the village of Waterloo while in Region Six, it is Moleson Creek and Palmyra. Bartica was identified in Region Seven and Mahdia in Region Eight.
Plantations Hope and York in Region Ten will also see the development of new housing schemes.
“Affordable housing, as we know, is a critical necessity for the people of Guyana and easier access to financing has made it a dream to owning a home a reality for 1,000 of Guyanese,” Croal said.
He added: “Guyanese from all walks of life, can rely on the promise of our government to provide housing and at an affordable rate.”
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali during his address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Building Expo
Gov’t to deliver 500 homes to single mothers in six months
- President Ali announces
THE Government of Guyana continues its unwavering commitment to the development of the nation’s housing sector, with a signsificant project which would benefit single mothers on the cards for completion in six months.
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, addressing the recent opening of Building Expo 20204, unveiled a series of plans for the housing sector that left attendees both impressed and optimistic.
Among these initiatives, the new Homestead Programme stood out for its innovation. This groundbreaking project, long on the government's agenda, is not merely a
pipe dream but a concrete plan with an ambitious goal - 500 homes to be built in just six months.
What sets this programme apart is its laser focus on a demographic often overlooked in housing initiatives in past years, single mothers.
President Ali shared the details of this revolutionary project, stating: "We are launching a new innovative project called the Homestead Programme on the Linden Soesdyke highway.”
He added: "Before the end of this year, we want to build one of the fastest communities in the history of our country and the history of this hemisphere. We want to deliver 500 homes in six
months, a remarkable task before us. But it's not just delivering the homes. These homes will be delivered to single mothers. Single mothers who will be the homeowners."
Multiple ministries will collaborate on an unprecedented scale to integrate sustainable agriculture into the very fabric of these new communities. Each home will be equipped with agricultural facilities and harness the power of solar energy, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem for its residents.
President Ali elaborated on the economic model underpinning the project, noting: "It is an economic model that we are going to test. These homes will be small farmsteads. So, for the first time, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Survey, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Human
Services will be working together to deliver this project.
“It will include a shade house to the back of the home. It will include farm and crop and solar energy. It will reduce our cost of energy. We give you an opportunity to earn by including an economic activity in the plot of land that will repay your loan, and we give you a chance to graduate out of poverty into a middle-income family."
This visionary approach seeks to address not just the immediate housing needs of single mothers, but also to provide them with the tools and opportunities for long-term financial stability.
By combining housing with sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, the government aims to create a model of self-sufficiency that could improve commu -
nity development across Guyana.
The President emphasised that initiatives like the Homestead Programme are born out of a deep commitment to the welfare of all Guyanese citizens.
"And who are we giving that chance to? The most vulnerable in our society, single mothers," he stated, adding: "We're going to empower them to be the best they can be. And that programme, the planning for that programme would have al-
ready started, and within two weeks we should have the design, layout, and works will commence to deliver the 500 homesteads to our single mothers."
By focusing on single mothers, the Homestead Programme acknowledges the unique challenges faced by this demographic and seeks to provide them with not just shelter, but a pathway to economic independence and a brighter future for their families.
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali during his address at the opening of Building Expo 2024. (Japheth Savory Photo)
20-year-old living with a disability gets new home through MoM
RAUL Summers, a 20-year-old visually impaired resident of Linden, is the latest recipient of a two-bedroom house through the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative.
Born with a visual impairment, Summers belongs to a family that has faced various challenges, including living with disabilities. Despite their struggles with employment and the challenges of supporting one another, the Summers family has remained resilient, finding joy and inspiration in music. Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, congratulated the family and noted that the new home will provide them with much-needed security and stability.
He highlighted the house is a testament to the power of community support and the positive impact of the MoM initiative in uplifting those in need.
Raul Summers, a 20-year-old visually impaired resident of Linden, is the latest recipient of a two-bedroom house through the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative
IN a decisive move to curb persistent issues with contractors’ performance, President, Dr Irfaan Ali has underscored a robust stance against delinquent contractors, a policy shift that is both necessary and overdue.
The President's recent address, coupled with new measures previously announced by Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, marks a significant pivot towards stringent enforcement of contractual obligations and a zero-tolerance policy for breaches.
The severity of the President’s message cannot be overstated. Contractors failing to meet their commitments face not only penalties, but also the spectre of
Saul’s propaganda piece highlights his own failures as Finance Committee Chair Accountability in Infrastructural Development
Dear Editor,
LELON Saul, the City's Finance Committee Chair, has penned a humorous propaganda piece in Stabroek News.
Saul's Mediocre Opus, a masterpiece in projection, would have made Freud proud. In it, he attempts to deflect responsibility for Georgetown's challenges onto the central government, but the facts paint a very different picture.
Let's start with Saul's use of "Garbage In, Garbage Out" to describe the central government. Ironically, this phrase is more fitting for how the PNC has managed their internal affairs. They can scarcely hold
blacklisting—a measure that could jeopardise their entire business.
This development reflects a broader governmental resolve to enforce accountability in the execution of national infrastructural projects, an area historically marred by delays and underperformance.
The administration's emphasis on blacklisting is particularly noteworthy. In an era where infrastructure is a critical driver of national development, the stakes for non-compliance are high.
President Ali's directive to hold Regional Executive Officers (REOs) and engineers accountable is a commendable step towards ensuring that oversight mechanisms
are in place and functioning effectively.
The requirements of detailed project files and timely communication with the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board signal a move towards greater transparency and rigour.
Supplementary measures announced by Nandlall bolster this approach by establishing dedicated units within ministries to oversee and address breaches. These units will enforce contract clauses, impose liquidated damages, and manage other sanctions without incurring additional costs to taxpayers.
This pragmatic approach addresses concerns about bureaucratic expansion and underscores a commitment
to using existing resources efficiently.
The government's commitment to upholding contractual obligations is further reflected in the measures to impose liquidated damages on projects exceeding timelines.
Such financial penalties serve not only as a deterrent to lacklustre behaviour and inferior work, but also as a mechanism to ensure that contractors face tangible consequences for their delays. By enforcing these penalties, the government reinforces the seriousness with which it treats project timelines and deliverables.
Critically, this hardline stance comes at a time when the administration is ramping
up infrastructural-development efforts. With a significant number of projects underway and more on the horizon, maintaining a rigorous approach to contractor-performance is essential. Delays in project completion not only disrupt development schedules, but also undermine public confidence in the administration's ability to deliver on its promises.
The argument against leniency is compelling. Infrastructural projects often involve substantial investments and significant public interest. The consequences of delays extend beyond mere inconvenience; they can affect economic growth, public safety, and overall quality of life. Therefore, ensuring
that contractors adhere to their obligations is not just a matter of contractual fidelity, but is also a crucial element of effective governance.
President Ali and his government’s initiatives are a decisive response to the long-standing issues plaguing infrastructural projects. By implementing stringent measures and reinforcing accountability, the government is not only addressing immediate concerns but also setting a precedent for future projects. This proactive approach is likely to foster a more disciplined and reliable contractor environment, ultimately benefiting the public and the nation’s development goals.
a single internal election without accusing each other of electoral fraud -- so much so that multiple party leaders resigned or declined to participate in a tainted electoral process. Garbage in, garbage out, eh, Councillor Saul?
As the head of the Finance Committee, Saul himself has overseen one of the most mediocre and delayed budget processes in recent memory. The city's budget was presented eight months after it was statutorily due —an unacceptable delay by any standard.
When it was finally delivered, the budget was so lacking in detail and relevance that Saul promised a "supplemental budget" with-
in six to eight weeks. This promise remains unfulfilled to this day.
For context, Saul's budget astonishingly omitted critical financial details such as accounts payable and debt servicing, essentially pretending that the city's financial obligations didn't exist. For example, the city's $1.6 billion debt to the GRA was magically rendered nonexistent by a single wave of Saul's mediocre wand.
Editor, the failure to present timely and comprehensive budgets has hamstrung the council's ability to plan and execute its responsibilities, forcing President Ali's government to fill the gaps to maintain essential services.
No amount of projection and blame will change these basic facts.
In this vein, permit me to pose a few direct questions to Lelon Saul:
1. When will you finally present a comprehensive and relevant budget to the Council?
2. Is the public aware that the city's financial software, which handles ratepayers' information, is beset by corrupt data? There is reportedly a 15 per cent chance that the rates reflected in the system could be wrong. Why has this issue persisted one year into your tenure as Finance Committee chair?
3. How does the above issue impact the council's
ability to collect from ratepayers?
It is most evident that Lelon Saul's approach seems more focused on creating division than fostering unity, a tactic all too familiar to his political party. Instead of building bridges, he opts to widen the gaps.
As Finance Committee Chair, he must be well aware of the central government's extensive support to the city's health centres and its management of major drainage canals. The NDIA even supplies fuel to city-controlled pump stations.
The PPP/C councillors remain steadfast in their refusal to advocate for the allocation of public funds
to an entity riddled with financial opacity and mismanagement. Editor, the truth is that the central government's involvement in city affairs is not about undermining the council; it is about stepping in where the council has repeatedly failed. The people of Georgetown deserve better than the excuses and tantrums offered by Saul. They deserve a council that is competent, proactive, and capable of managing the city's affairs without external intervention.
Yours sincerely, Alfonso De Armas PPP/C City Councillor
The unidentified messiah has risen once again to give his proclaimed ‘just’ call for inclusivity in local governance
Dear Editor, KINDLY permit me an opportunity to respond to a letter published in the Stabroek News dated August 11, 2024, captioned, “President could achieve more for city by collaborating with council.”
I wish to start by clarifying that President Ali has demonstrated leadership that none has ever dreamed of; his “on-theground” approach has shifted the mindset that being a president is merely ceremonial.
This attitude is transferred to all cabinet members and, by extension, to the country, promoting the belief that hard work equates to success (HWES).
The M&CC has sole responsibility for managing the affairs of the markets, as cleansing fees and stall rents are collected regularly. Like any owner-tenancy agreement, certain services are expected, with security being a top priority. However, the provision of security in the markets by the M&CC is grossly inadequate.
This is evident in the many ‘break and entry’ reports tabled at the Council’s Legal Affairs and Security Committee meetings, which are often chaired by Mr. Saul, as well as reports in the widely circulated newspapers.
As a result, the Guyana Police Force has signalled its intention to assist the City Constabulary in securing the markets. Even stall owners have expressed their willingness to hire private security, but under the stewardship of Mayor Mentore, the M&CC has not taken action and has instead procrastinated, as it does with
many other issues.
It is clear that Guyana’s recent crime wave has decreased for several simple but significant reasons: More job opportunities, community-building efforts by the Guyana Police Force, increased disposable income, higher salaries, and, most importantly, the hope and faith reinstated by the government’s programmes and policies.
This government is not known for hiding from realities and responsibilities; rather, it confronts issues head on and seeks solutions. Stricter measures are being implemented to curb any chance of corruption, unlike what Mr. Saul’s party is known for—"shifting blame."
As the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. Saul should be ashamed to mention the responsibilities of the M&CC, as none are being fulfilled and are instead being shouldered by the government.
Although you may continue to hear cries for financial assistance from the government under the Fiscal Transfer Act, it is sad to say that the M&CC doesn’t qualify to receive it because it has not audited its finances for the last six years.
However, audits have started this year due to the strong advocacy of PPP/C councillors. It’s not rocket science to raise awareness among defaulting ratepayers to pay their taxes. We have demand notices that can be sent out, and we have social media, newspapers, etc…. More importantly, Chapter 28:01 guides the council on the steps to be taken in the case of default ratepayers. But it’s the will to change and improve that is
often lacking. Sometimes, as a councillor, I feel it’s sabotage to blame the government for the current state of the M&CC, especially since they had the opportunity to fix issues during 2015-2020, but neglected to do the same.
The M&CC currently owes the Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Power and Light, and Guyana Water Inc., all of which are government agencies. Therefore, the figures will essentially offset the other, making it clear that Mr. Saul is being duplicitous in painting a misleading narrative.
As the Finance Chair, he should be more concerned about complaints of PAYE being deducted from M&CC staff but not being remitted to the Guyana Revenue Authority, which is a criminal act.
It must be noted that the M&CC was consulted before placement of the police outpost at the Bourda Market via the Clerk of Markets, Chief Constable, market vendors, and the Town Clerk to ascertain the most efficient and strategic area.
Waste-disposal practices lie solely with the M&CC. It is the council's job to inform generators of expected practices when disposing of their garbage, advising businesses on the council’s standards by equipping themselves with receptacles, studying the specific needs based on the status quo, and enforcing littering bylaws in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force.
Engaging the business community to assist in constant public awareness by forming an alliance is essential, but none of this is being done due to a lack of
will; there is more talk than action.
When will the APNU-led council take responsibility for the city?
It seems all too easy to
blame the government or call for collaboration on every single issue. What capabilities does the M&CC actually possess?
It is clear that the govern-
ment of the day should be managing the city; it is time for a change!
Yours respectfully,
Mr. Steven Jacobs Councillor – M&CC
Guyana’s politics: Comical or weird?
FOR a country with a small population, this nation’s politics is far more interesting than a majority of countries in the world, including those with humongous populations. The AFC has announced new leadership but the word “new” begs to be deconstructed.
There is no new leadership in the AFC. It is the same people from 10 years ago with one racial exception. Before 2024, the party always had an African and an Indian either as leader or alternatively, deputy leader. In the new dispensation, the first four persons at the top of the pyramid are all African Guyanese. Why is that so? They simply could not find a suitable Indian.
Since the traditional formula in national elections is the presidential candidate and prime ministerial slot reflect the ethnic reality of Guyana, then where is the Indian candidate to partner Nigel Hughes who will ob-
viously be the presidential candidate? I guess it will have to be Khemraj Ramjattan. But which Indian in Guyana is going to vote for Ramjattan, apart from himself? I doubt Ramjattan will even vote for himself. Next year, I think Ramjattan will vote for the PPP.
What is going on in the AFC is weird, but wait till you hear what is taking place in the WPA, then you will see the full blown comicality of Guyanese politics. WPA has announced its new leadership and its presidential candidate. David Hinds heads the list. Now here is a man who will be contesting the presidency of Guyana and has lived outside the past 30 years, and in that period only visits Guyana three months in the calendar year.
Now if you think that is comical wait till you hear the other names in the new leadership. Someone has to urgently define for
the Guyanese people what “new” means. Its co-leaders are Hinds, Tacuma Ogenseye and a man who left Guyana 50 years ago, Rohit Kanhai.
Unlike the AFC, the WPA will have one of its three leaders as the Indian prime ministerial candidate. But he will not get one Indian vote because 99.99 per cent of Guyana has never heard the name, Rohit Kanhai.
The WPA’s press release lists three names as the party elders – Drs. Clive Thomas, Maurice Odle and Rupert Roopnaraine. All three are in their mid-eighties and are in the same situation as Joe Biden. In a list of 11 office bearers, only are two Indians and of those two, one is unknown in Guyana, and the other, no one has heard from him since the 2020 electionRupert Roopnaraine.
There are no women in the WPA leadership, so the question that will
arouse curiosity is where are Joycelyn Dow, Vanda Radzik, her sister Danuta and the editor of the Stabroek News, column, “In The Diaspora” Alissa Trotz. I would like Dr. Trotz to get in touch with me to accept my offer of doing an article for “In The Diaspora.” The title will be – “Where is Alissa Trotz when WPA needs her.” My email is fredkissooon@ yahoo.com and my cell is 614-5927.
So the question that has to be put on the table is where the votes for the AFC and WPA coming from. However you answer that question, the votes aren’t coming from Indian people. The names David Hinds and Tacuma Ogunseye are seen by Indian people as insanely hostile to the Indian race in Guyana.
For all the books Clive Thomas has written and
for all the powerful intellect Roopnaraine has, let them tell Guyanese which Indian is going to vote for these two persons. There is no African Guyanese in ACDA and the PNC that has relentlessly preached racially laced sermon as these personalities. Ogunseye is before the courts, charged under the Racial Hostility Act.
Here are his words: “… the first objective is to get the African team in a state of battle readiness… the Afro-Guyanese police and soldiers… would stand with Afro-Guyanese in resisting mainly Indo-Guyanese supporting the PPP/C. The reality is the army, the Police are majority African brothers, once we organise the people and once we begin to fight, we will ensure that our brothers and sisters in uniform will do the right thing.”
Interestingly, the three
elder- Thomas, Roopnaraine and Odle – have not commented on this repugnant descent into racial bigotry before the matter went to court. But they are now part of the “new” leadership of the WPA. Are these elders, the people I knew so well during the 1970s? How do political analysts and psychologists explain this character switch of people like these? Is it true that those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad? Or how about this phrase: “When divine anger desires to ruin a man, it first takes away his good sense.”
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.
Guyanese inducted into Hall of Fame
OVER the past two weeks we Guyanese have joined our Caribbean neighbours in celebrating the unprecedented triumphs of their athletes at the Paris Olympics.
The first-time gold medals won by St Lucian runner, Julien Alfred and Dominican triple-jumper, Thea LaFond,
and awards, including the title of Soke, which means teacher of teachers.
The other trophy recipients are all founding members of Maxido, which began in a church in Brooklyn, but is now based here at a dojo in the compound of the Critchlow Labour College. They all received Special
as she progressed from the first belt (white), through the other six colours, culminating in her black belt.
Former Magistrate and attorney-at-law, Leslie Sobers, also a Grand Master, said: "The discipline of martial arts keeps you humble and you learn to appreciate gentleness".
made us all proud, as did the sterling performances by the Jamaicans and Grenadians in track and field.
Closer to home, four athletes have also made their mark in the history books, with induction into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame (IMAHOF).
Although they were unable to attend the ceremony held last month in India, the four - Max Massiah, Claudette Andrews, Leslie Sobers and Anthony Durjan (Sr) - were sent their trophies and certificates.
Grand Master and Soke, Max Massiah, was awarded a trophy for 'Best Self-Defense Master - Practical close combat system'. The founder and creator of Maxido Street self-defense, has, over the years received an impressive array of trophies
Recognition trophies, for their high level of ability.
In an interview at the Maxido dojo, Grand Master, Claudette Andrews, spoke of her growing years when she would do 'flicks' with her older brother, who practised karate.
However, she never followed up martial arts until six years ago in 2018, when Max piqued her interest in Maxido and she got involved.
Now, at 66 years old, she is known as the 'pit bull' of the dojo and considered rough by the younger females, who are often reluctant to spar with her.
She laughingly talked of "training with the guys", who are equally wary of her but respect her capability on the mat.
"It was not always easy... but fun for me," she recalled,
tablishing the Maxido dojo.
A man of many pursuits, with a degree in Mass Communication along with his law degree, Sobers currently lectures on Media and Environmental law at the University of Guyana.
However, he says, "Martial arts has become a way of life for me...it's a discipline that gives you control over your mind and body".
This sentiment is shared by the others who were, last
January, inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame, also known as The Final Destination.
Their love for the sport through the years has kept all four of these Hall of Famers constantly seeking to improve and has kept them sound in body and mind. As Bruce Lee, the greatest martial artist of all time, said, simply, “In every passionate pursuit, the pursuit counts more than the object pursued".
But, though Maxido proponents are taught to avoid conflict and play the role of the peacemaker, the approach only extends to the point where the aggressor persists in attacking. Then this brutal self-defense system ensures that the confrontation ends quickly, with the attacker suffering broken bones.
Sobers, has been involved with martial arts from the age of 17 at a dojo in his native village of Pouderoyen on the West Coast of Demerara. There, he learned a style of karate, known as shotokan, winning several trophies and medals.
His entrance to university caused him to 'slow up' his martial arts training, but he remained physically active and "battle ready" through the years and was happy to join Massiah in es-
Leslie Sobers, Soke Max Massiah and Claudette Andrews
Does the Opposition care ‘how it ah look’?
OWING to our historical evolution as a nation, race and politics have become inextricable. Literally, every political matrix must factor in “the race question” in significant ways, if they are to be taken seriously by the electorate.
It needs to be a normal and most rudimentary part of typical political calculations. The first calculation Guyanese make is directly linked to their ethnic visual-sensory receptors, or “how it ah look”.
In other words, any political party hoping to receive wide national support must first and foremost appear to be racially diverse before even uttering a word. Therefore, significant
forethought, energy, resources, planning and groundwork must be centered on presenting an ethnically diverse team to the public.
In this regard, the Opposition is missing the mark over and over and over. In all of Guyana’s history I’ve not read or heard of a catchment of political parties, either singular or as a group, so ethnically onedimensional, as the current opposition. Because the ethnic factor is so unavoidably ubiquitous, and a dominant feature of our political psychology, it must naturally mean that that is the way the political principals want it to be or that forms the guiding core principles of the party.
The Working Peo -
ples’ Alliance (WPA) recently announced that it has formally selected (emphasis on the word selected not elected) a new group of leaders and has also named a presidential candidate.
An examination of the ethnic nomenclature of the WPA’s new leadership team reveals that it is one dimensional, almost all black men.
This is a tell-tale sign that the WPA of today is uninterested in becoming a party of national appeal.
The WPA has now joined the AFC with an all-male, all-black leadership cast. The PNCR is not far removed. Each of the other parties inside of the APNU outfit are almost exclusively black in their leadership slates.
The combined opposition has one guiding philosophy, consolidation of African Guyanese support base and African domination of the levers of power, there is not even an ounce of pretense.
To the normative political question, “how it guh look,” the collective opposition just don’t care about the optics and have little or no appreciation for the significant role racial and other forms of diversity play in the political permutations of the nation.
This lack of ethnic sensitivity places the PPP/C as the only (and most) ethnically diverse party. The opposition’s act of continually accusing the PPP of practicing racial discrimination is
more of a reflection of their own narrow ethnic representative interests than anything else.
In a previous article I accused the opposition of riding a one-horse pony, narrowing their major activities to afro-centric activism while treating other national issues as peripheral. This has rendered the opposition impotent when it comes to reaching across the political divide, serving instead as purveyors of division.
Since returning to office in 2020, the PPP/C was deliberate about breaching the ethnic political divisions by reaching out to non-traditional communities. There are numerous political calculations that the PPP/C has made to overcome its past deficit in handling the ethnic question. Consequently, the PPP/C is the only visibly growing party; growing in ethnic diversity at all levels.
This has already begun to pay dividends at the ballot box. The story of inroads into the opposition support base in the 2023 Local Government Elections is not from Anancy, its real. I heard members of the opposition making claims of resounding victory in certain LGE areas even though the results clearly show that they lost seats in their traditional Afro based constituencies.
The opposition is happy, because they are contented to consolidate support in a narrow ethnic corridor. Just as
their leadership structure suggest, they didn’t even bother to attempt to field candidates in areas with majority non-African ethnic composition.
In fact, the current structure of each of the cooperating opposition parties is designed to dip from the same ethnic support pool. Any talk of coalition is the difference between splitting the “African vote” versus consolidating it.
Ethnic voting patterns run deep, as such, anyone who expects mass shifts in voting patterns is firmly set in the realm of delusion. However, an applicable term we used in my days in the AFC is “flaking off”.
Meaning that, each party, given the right platform, has the ability to chip away at another party’s traditional ethnic support base in small flakes in every district.
In our proportional representation system, that can total out to create shifts in seat allocations sufficient to change the configuration of government and the structure of power. As it stands currently, and for the foreseeable future, the PPP/C is in the ascendency and it is the party doing the “flaking off”.
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.
Progress being made to rebuild hurricane-ravaged islands in Grenada
SIGNIFICANT progress is being made to rebuild key infrastructure on the island of Carriacou, in Grenada, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
In a video posted by Tevin Andrews, Minister for Carriacou & Petite Martinique, Affairs and Local Government, to his social media platform, one of the ranks of the Guyana Defence force (GDF) who is a part of response team, explained that three main projects, which included the reconstruction of a police station, a revenue office building and a school, were making progress.
“We have done the most work so far on the police station, and the revenue office building. We have recently started the ministers building because that was only added to our work last week. I would say that the island has made a lot of progress
since when we got here,” the GDF official said.
Beryl set a record for the first-ever Category
Four storm in June in the Atlantic, making landfall last month on Carriacou, in Grenada, and wrecking
nearby islands. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Barbados, and St. Lu -
cia were among some of the Caribbean States that were affected by the Category Four hurricane.
“We have seen a relative amount of normalcy being returned to the island; I admire the resilience of the people of Carriacou because some people their entire homes are destroyed. And you know, they still had somewhat of a positive demeanor,” the GDF official said.
In July, 50 ranks Grenada and St. Vincent and Grenadines to aid in rebuilding efforts following the destructive passage of Hurricane Beryl.
The GDF’s mission, Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali had said, is to restore normalcy and demonstrate the values of passion, love, and service learnt in their training.
“Take with you the love, pride and rich tradition of what makes us Guyanese; strength of
character and a sense of purpose as you help assist the nations within CARICOM [the Caribbean Community] to rebuild,” President Ali had said.
The 50 soldiers had joined another eight who left to provide support earlier.
Meanwhile Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan had noted that the mission ahead is a demonstration of the GDF’s commitment to regional security and cooperation.
Khan said: “Our Commander-in-Chief has directed that we are not only trained fundamentally to be soldiers, but we are trained to rebuild homes, lives and communities, and we are extending that service to a sister nation within our hemisphere.” Soldiers were deployed to Grenada to provide humanitarian aid following a similar incident 20 years ago.
During a recent visit to Carriacou Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell engaged the ranks who were deployed to assist with rebuilding efforts (The office of the Prime Minister of Grenada)
Cemetery Road project on course for completion by today
THE long-awaited $475 million Cemetery Road rehabilitation project which faced significant challenges will now be finished within the next 48 hours, enhancing the aesthetics of the West and East Ruimveldt communities.
During an inspection on Saturday afternoon, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, noted that 96 per cent of the works had been completed with two bridges left to be cured after being recently cast with cement.
Currently, the bridge embankment closer to Princess Street is being cast and is expected to be done by this evening. However, it needs approximately two weeks of curing time. It will then be asphalted to ensure uniformity.
During that time, that section of the road will only accommodate light traffic.
Some sections of the road were widened by the use of a culvert design to approximately six feet.
Streetlights have since been installed along the road’s medium to improve
security for residents.
“Within the next 48 hours, the site will be cleaned up and the machines and everything will be removed.
But as it is right now, traffic is able to flow through Cemetery Road in a very efficient manner,” the minister stated.
During a visit to the community of Rasville in July, the minister made a promise to have the road finished before schools reopen; howev-
er, that commitment has been fulfilled one month ahead of school reopening.
All the work that has been executed over the past two weeks was being done by sub-contractors who worked simultaneously to meet the deadline after a ‘Programme of Execution’ was agreed upon.
These include Devcon Construction Inc. which did the culverts and is now fin-
ishing up with the pedestrian bridges and GDJ Logistics which transformed the site by removing the obstacles and completing the paving works that needed to be done.
Additionally, final works are still being done by Avinash Contracting Company which is the main contractor that was awarded the contract.
Due to difficulties faced by this contracting company, the Ministry of Public Work’s Special Project Unit stepped in to render significant assistance to ensure that the project meets its final timeline.
“This is also a learning curve. And as a government, we learned and as a nation, we must learn. Experience is required when undertaking certain major jobs. The clear problem here was the low bid. You could win a contract
by coming in low but in order to execute it at that price you have to manage and that was a part of the problem,” Minister Edghill noted.
Meanwhile, highlighting that fences were built to enclose the cemetery; the minister is pleading with persons to not destroy the fence when they are visiting the area to build tombs for their deceased family members.
He noted that during the construction process, the fences were being destroyed by persons to facilitate the mixing of cement for the tombs.
“We put up the fence as part of the project. The funeral parlours or the relatives of the deceased, when they would like to build a tomb, they are cutting the mesh, dumbing the building materials on the carriage -
way, and mixing everything on the carriageway…So, we have to make a public appeal. When the government brings improvement, people just can’t, for their convenience, destroy a piece of infrastructure,” the minister charged citizens.
The final product of the Cemetery Road project sees the upgrade from two lanes to four lanes, allowing the smooth flow of traffic. It will enhance the lives of residents living nearby.
Officers from the ministry have been working tirelessly to get the project completed for the final due date. A hallmark of the PPP/C government is to modernise the country’s infrastructure and enhance the livelihood of citizens.
(DPI)
The long-awaited $475 million Cemetery Road rehabilitation project which faced significant challenges will now be finished within the next 48 hours, enhancing the aesthetics of the West and East Ruimveldt communities
Minister Bharrat exposes Patterson’s ‘erroneous, deceptive claims’ on safe operating limits for FPSOs
- tells House it was APNU+AFC that approved maximum limits for Liza Destiny, Unity which it now criticises
MINISTER of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, recently debunked a number of baseless and deceptive statements proffered by Opposition Parliamentarian, David Patterson, regarding the safe operating limits for Guyana’s three oil producing vessels.
In a series of questions submitted to the National Assembly for written reply, Patterson falsely claimed that the safe operating limits, as per the environmental permit for the Liza Destiny vessel is 120,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) while for Liza Unity and Prosperity, it stands at 220,000 bpd.
Patterson said these vessels are all producing above these numbers. As of February 2024, he said Liza Destiny was producing 160,000 bpd, Liza Unity 250,000 bpd and Prosperity 230,000 bpd. In light of this, Patterson asked Minister Bharrat to provide the National Assem-
bly with technical documents that justify the increases.
In a detailed response, Minister Bharrat categorically noted that the Environmental Permits for the respective vessels requires the Permit Holder to not only adhere to the conditions therein, but also the operating parameters and environmental limits specified in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
Minister Bharrat said it is the ESIA which addresses the maximum expected production rates and applicable impact assessments which form the basis of the issued Environmental Permits. That said, Minister Bharrat highlighted that it was under the previous administration that the Liza Phase One ESIA was approved for a maximum production rate of 144,000 barrels per day for the Liza Destiny floating, production, storage and offloading
(FPSO) vessel. This has since been further bolstered by additional studies required by the EPA to assess the impacts of higher production at Destiny.
Minister Bharrat also noted that it was the APNU+AFC regime of which Patterson was involved that approved the Liza Phase 2 ESIA with a maximum production rate of 300,000 barrels per day for the Liza Unity FPSO.
With the foregoing in mind, the minister said, “It is surprising that inaccurate statements can be boldly declared (by Patterson). Even more so, when the ESIAs and their respective Environmental Permits were not only subject to public consultation but also published online.”
Under the PPP/C administration, Minister Bharrat clarified that the Payara ESIA was approved for a maximum production rate of 264,000 barrels per day for
the Prosperity FPSO. “These facilities are clearly still operating within their approved production rates,” the minister said.
Minister Bharrat was also keen to note that production optimisation is a standard practice globally, executed across many production fields after a facility has been commissioned. While approvals of Field Development Plans (FDP) cater for the Licence Holder’s best estimate of expected production, he stressed that the FPSOs are designed to accommodate higher production levels. He said this is done to cater for the level of uncertainty which naturally exists around reservoir models, adding that it explains the higher production levels considered in the ESIA.
Additionally, Minister Bharrat stressed that production optimisation and the resulting increased production levels are not done casually,
as implied by Patterson. This process, the minister said, is closely monitored by ExxonMobil Guyana as well as the Ministry of Natural Resource, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and EPA until the approved production level is achieved, and the reservoir and facility performance are stabilised.
He said this process includes constant engagements and the provision of additional information by EMGL as required by the regulatory agencies.
If during the optimisation tests it is found that components of the processing facility need to be upgraded to cater for higher production levels, Minister Bharrat
said this is also done under the supervision of regulatory agencies.
“It must be underscored that approvals and permits would not be issued if our assessments found that the operation pushes any piece of equipment on the FPSO above its operating limits,” said the official. In fact, he said his ministry has even secured external support to assist the Government’s team in conducting reviews.
Overall, Minister Bharrat assured that production optimisation, once done safely and efficiently, brings benefits for all stakeholders, Government included.
Close to 50 residents to be employed during construction of White Water road
CLOSE to 50 residents will be employed directly by the Ministry of Public Works as construction will soon commence on a 1.2 kilometre of road in White Water village, in the Mabaruma Sub-district of Region One.
These include skilled and unskilled persons who will be employed as labourers, sawmen, guards, welders and clerks. The workforce will consist of both males and females.
The project which total approximately $200 million will see close to $20 million being poured back into the community from labour cost within a three-month time period.
During a community meeting on Saturday held at the White Water Primary
School, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, stressed the importance of the government to ensuring that equal opportunities are brought to residents both near and far.
“Initially, we wanted to establish four teams and that will see us hiring just over 40 people from the commu-
nity to be involved in the construction of the road…
And we are looking to see if we can hire more people. Because one of the things is, when we do these programmes we want to empower community and the money must circulate within the community,” the minister asserted.
for the concrete road is expected to begin by Monday by the ministry’s Special Project Unit which will also spearhead the entire road project.
So far, initial work from the ministry’s surveyors has already been completed.
These persons will be given petty contracts to ensure that they are held accountable for their labour.
He encouraged the residents to adhere to the working conditions that will be established so that the project can be executed within the specified timeframe.
“The same wages that we pay to unskilled labourers in Georgetown will be paid to the unskilled labourers here. The same wage that we pay to skilled persons in Georgetown or anywhere else, is the same that we will pay to people here. You will not get anything less,” Minister Edghill stressed.
Additionally, the minister noted that preparatory work
Preparatory work such as the alignment of the road, relocation of existing pipelines and grading and widening of the road to about four or five feet will commence. Expansion of culverts will also be done.
These works are expected to be finished within the next three weeks.
“We were looking at a 15 feet wide road, but I am advised that the request from the community is to do 20 feet. So, we will build the 20 feet…To ensure the quality of the concrete, we will be buying the concrete mixed from a supplier because the road must have a certain quality,” the Public Works Minister said.
According to the minister, works will be done simultaneously on the various sections of the road to boost efficiency.
Meanwhile, Senior Engineer within the ministry, Colin Gittens, explained that one of the thickest types of British Reinforcement Concrete (BRC) will be used to ensure the sustainability of the road.
“So, there are different types of BRC fabric, the number 65 which is the thicker gauge and the number 210 is the very thin gauge. We are using the number 65. That will be placed in the middle of the concrete, and we will be using steel rods wherever we will be joining,” the engineer explained to the residents.
He added that construction plastic will be used in the process since there is a solid surface where the road will be built.
The construction of the road is a commitment made by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali during his visit to the region earlier in the year.
“Today, we being here is a signal that the promise is being fulfilled right now. The president is a man that is very serious about his work,” Minister Edghill said. (DPI)
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Monday August 12, 2024)
CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Brian Lara-1,715 runs (18 Tests)
(2) Jacques Kallis-2,356 runs (24 Tests) Today’s Quiz:
(1) Which WI bowler has claimed most Test wickets versus SA to date?
(2) Which SA bowler has taken most
KFC Elite League
‘Champs’ GDF return with a bang to tame Tigers
THE reigning KFC Elite League Champions, Guyana Defence Force, returned from their brief sojourn in the Caribbean Football Union Club shield tournament to take another win on Saturday in the KFC Elite League.
The GDF, after their humbling first round exit in the regional tournament, returned to the country’s premier league and showed their quality as they toppled Western Tigers 4-2.
Tigers’ Michael Oie got them off the mark in the 10th minute as they looked to assert themselves quickly in the encounter.
Abumchi Benjamin had his way with Tigers defence thereafter as he equalised four minutes later to level the scores 1-1.
GDF’s Kelsey Benjamin broke free after the resumption in the 52th minute to give them the go-ahead goal
but Western Tigers Micheal Oie was equal to the challenge as he scored again in the 59th to make it 2-2.
The sides then battled for a period without much success before GDF prolific Ian Dooker delivered a brace in injury time, he hit the back of the net in 90+1 and 90+6 minutes.
The pair of goals gave the army men an unassailable lead on the brink of what looked headed for extra time as they maintained their second place position on the standing with three games in hand behind Slingerz.
The win is GDF’s 14th in 15 games along with a draw, while Slingerz are holding on to the top with 13 wins and 3 draws with 2 games to play.
Meanwhile, Police ensured they remain in final podium position on the table with a 1-nil victory over Fruta Conquerors FC.
Police’s Neron Barrow
got onto the score sheet in the 16th minute and that proved the lone goal for the match as Fruta could not mount a comeback and the ‘Boys in Blue’ could not add to their lead as it ended 1-nil.
The Police FC earned their 12th victory after 16 outing with 3 losses and a draw.
Santos, Western Tigers complete the top five teams in that order.
Den Amstel, Fruta Conquerors, Monedderlust are 6th, 7th and 8th with Ann’s Grove and winless Buxton United in relegation zone in 9th and 10th places.
The remaining playing days are August 14, 17 and the final fixtures on Saturday the 24th .
The top team is set to walk away with 2 million dollars when the league concludes with 1.2 million for second place and $800, 000 for third.
Lord Coe will ‘seriously’ consider IOC presidency bid
WORLD Athletics president, Lord Coe, said he will give "serious thought" to running for the role of president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Thomas Bach, the current president, announced, on Saturday, that he would stand down in 2025 following 12 years in the role.
Like Bach, Coe is into his third presidential term in charge of World Athletics after running unopposed to continue the role in 2023.
"Look, I've always made it clear that if the opportunity arose I would obviously give it serious thought," said 67-year-old Coe.
"The opportunity has arisen and clearly I need to think about that."
Lord Coe was re-elected as president of World Athletics in 2023
A new president will take charge in June 2025 following elections in March in 2025.
Under IOC rules, no candidate can declare their intention to run for presidency until three months before the election.
"The charter is pretty clear about timings here, so this is only, at best, a consideration," said Coe.
Coe helped London to win a hosting bid for the 2012 Olympics and was instrumental in the delivery of the Games.(BBC Sport).
GDF’s Kelsey Benjamin ‘beating’ two Western Tigers’ players in his hunt for his first goal
Winfield Braithwaite C’bean Schoolboys/girls Boxing tourney
Team Guyana to start encampment tomorrow
By Sean Devers
THE seventh edition of the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Boxing tournament is scheduled for Guyana from August 16-18, at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue and two nations will make their debuts.
According Technical Director of Guyana Association (GBA) Terrence Poole, a meeting was scheduled for yesterday with the parents and the encampment will commence today at the ‘six heads’ Gym in Albouystown.
“We have much more participation, and we see that a lot of the fighters have improved throughout the years who would have competed in younger competitions and at younger age groups in the event.
Boxers like Ezekiel Bancroft, Skakquain James, Ryan Rogers, and Keon Britton came through from the schoolboys’ category but will now compete as juniors. There is a lot of talent in this team. Other teams from Guyana in this event would have had talent, but this one would have had much more competition and is definitely more seasoned,” added the GDF and National Head Coach.
Seven Countries will send teams, including Antigua and the Dutch nation of Suriname which will be participating for the first time.
Since Suriname became the 14th Member State of the Caribbean Community in 1995, they have become the first South American nation to participate in this tournament.
Suriname’s team consists of four youths, five junior
Technical Director
THE country’s Under-15 girls’ side suffered its only loss in the finals of round 1 of League C in the CONCACAF championship played in Aruba to exit the tournament.
The young ladies loss their final encounter 2-1 to Aruba at the Guillermo Prospero Trinidad stadium in Aruba.
It was the local’s only blemish in four games after drawing the first and winning the next two matches.
The tournament was played in the Swiss format with the top four teams advancing, if Guyana had beaten Aruba they would have advanced into the final round set to be played on Sunday.
Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Bryan Joseph, said the performance from the ladies was ‘very very well. I think in terms of their overall performance.
When we looked at the other teams that we played against, we basically dominated all those teams but we just didn’t put away our chances. We would have created the most chances and dominated; only in the last game against Aruba we would have conceded, so I was feeling good; we would have made it into the final round.’
He said Aruba showed resilience to make a comeback.
‘They put in a performance in the last half of the final game and ended up winning obviously because we were not taking out chances; we didn’t have sufficient goals to qualify but tremendous effort from all the girls, the locals did exception-
ally well along with the international girls and I believe we have a really good group going forward.’
On the opening day, on Tuesday last, Guyana drew with Turks and Caicos Islands nil all.
The local ladies led by a Sydney Glean goal secured a needle win over Guadeloupe 1-nil on Wednesday
They also showed their skills to secure a 3-nil victory against St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday.
Guyana finished fifth in their group. Aruba top the group, ahead of St Lucia, Turks and Caicos, Guadeloupe who occupy the top four positions.
boxers, two females, and one senior boxer are a part of the squad and will be accompanied by Head Coach, Dino Nasim, while Anthony Nekrui will be her assistant. Grace Sahdoe is the team’s Caregiver.
Meanwhile, after retaining the coveted OECS Boxing Championship title, the St. Lucia Boxing Association is preparing a team of ten athletes to travel to Guyana. The team with boxers ranging from ages 9-17 includes Herve Charlemagne, Orlando Monrose, Kirt Kirton, Elroy Canchon, Joshua Rene, Lammend Alexander, Nervon Mederick, Devon Sealy and Denzel Stephens.
President of the St. Lucia Boxing Association(SLBA), David “Shakes” Christopher, said the opportunity streamlines with the strategic objectives of the SLBA to give exposure and ring time to young boxers.
He added that given the heavy investment by the Government of St Lucia in our National Schools Boxing Programme and the lessons to be learnt from the Guyana programme which is far advanced, this tournament gives us an opportunity to access our boxers and appreciate what is needed to take them to the next level.
President Christopher will also be attending a Special Meeting of Federation Presidents of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Bahamas and the wider Americas to discuss boxing development and plans for the staging of the Caribbean Boxing Championships to be held in St. Lucia in December.
The St. Lucia Boxing Association is confident the athletes will perform at the highest level, given their training, preparation and recent tournament success.
National Head Coach, Conrad Fredericks, will share administrative duties with Arthur Langillair, a former top St Lucian pugilist. The Head of Delegation is Shannon Lebourne who will share managerial duties with SLBA President, Mr. David Christopher.
Derrick Kallicharran and friends
continue to support ‘Project Cricket Gear’
THREE Under-17 cricketers who represented Berbice in the recently concluded Inter-county tournament _administered by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), have received their cricket gear, sourced by Derrick Kallicharran, Raj Rai, Kumar Dindyal and members of the Kaieteur Cricket Club of Canada.
Berbice captain and national vice-captain, Afraz Budhoo and standby player Micah Amsterdam, each received a pair of metal spikes cricket, while Guyana selectee Romario Ramdehol also benefited with a floppy hat.
Budhoo is a left-hand batsman who bowls right arm offspin and is a member of the Albion Cricket Club. Rightarm fast bowler Amsterdam is from Tucber Cricket Club, while Ramdehol, a product of Rose Hall Community Centre CC is a right-arm batsman and off-spinner.
Guyana will participate in the upcoming regional tournament to be held in Trinidad and Tobago shortly. The gear were donated by Derrick Kallicharran, Raj Rai, Kumar Dindyal, and members of the Kaieteur Cricket Club of Canada after representation was made to this joint initiative between Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry, by their coach Leslie Solomon.
The tokens were presented by Marvin Abbensett, who represented the sponsors. He encouraged the players to remain disciplined and f_ocused. The project reached out to Kallicharran, a former West Indies
‘B’ cricketer who along with his friends responded immediately. The project thanked the donors for their continued support in assisting young people to develop their cricket.
Total cricket-related items received/purchased so far: $460,000 in cash, 13 coloured cricket uniforms, two trophies, 27 pairs of cricket shoes, 30 pairs of batting pads, 35 cricket bats, 30 pairs of batting gloves, 25 thigh pads, three pairs of wicket-keeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, 12 cricket bags, six bat rubbers, six helmets, one fibre-glass bat, 13 boxes of white cricket balls, three boxes of red balls and 28 footballs.
In addition to the above, gear worth more than $600,000 was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former national wicket-keeper/batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.
Several others also benefitted indirectly. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area received two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wak -
enaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also collected one box of red cricket balls each; Cold Fusion Cricket Club 13 coloured uniforms, while RHCCCC received four and a half boxes of balls, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves, a set of stumps and bails.
Other beneficiaries include the Essequibo Cricket Board, the Town of Lethem, youth coach Travis Persaud (one box of red cricket balls), male and female teams playing the traditional hardball and softball in the Upper Corentyne area, Number 65 Young Titans with 30 t-shirts, youths of Just Try Cricket Club, Wakenaam Cricket Academy (one box of white balls), Shamar Joseph, Nehemiah Hohenkirk, Shamar Apple, Leguan Cricket Committee, Tucber Park Cricket Club and Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each).
Distribution will continue. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.
Marvin Abbensett, right, hands over one pair of cricket shoes to Afraz Budhoo in the presence of his team-mates and Anil Beharry
GFF Technical Director, Bryan joseph
GBA’s TD, Terrence Poole
SLBA’s President, David ‘Shakes’ Christopher
Athanaze misses century as West Indies draw first test against South Africa
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Alick Athanaze missed scoring his first test century of his career as the West Indies salvaged a draw against South Africa in the opening Test match at the Queen’s Park Oval here on Sunday.
The Dominican left-handed batsman hit 92, as West Indies needing 298 for victory reached 201/5 on the last day of the rain affected test match.
Athanaze faced 116 balls hitting nine boundaries in his 218 minute stay at the crease, helping the home team recover from a shaky start after they lost captain Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck in the first over and fellow opener Mikyle Louis, for nine, with the score on 18.
Athanaze, playing in his eighth Test match, shared in half-century stands with fellow Dominican Kavem Hodge and allrounder Jason Holder.
He had earlier added 46 for the third wicket with debutant Keacy Carty, who hit 31 with four boundaries, and 63 with fellow Dominican Hodge, whose score of 29 included four boundaries.
Alick Athanaze hits 92 and guides West Indies to draw the opening test match against South Africa
But as he entered the 90’s Athanaze was caught at backward square leg, after Keshav Maharaj (4-88) shortened his length inducing Athanaze into the sweep shot and top-edged it to Ryan Rickelton, leaving the West Indies at 192/5. Maharaj was later declared the Man of the Match bagging 8-164 from his 66.2 overs Former captain Jason Holder (31) and vice captain Joshua Da Silva then batted out the remaining overs to ensure the game was drawn.
The captains shook hands on
a draw in fading light with 6.4 overs of play remaining. A total of 142 overs were lost during the five days of the match.
Earlier, South Africa with a first innings lead of 124 declared their second innings on 173.3 with Tristan Stubbs hitting his first Test fifty, scoring a quick fire 68 off 50 balls with six boundaries and two sixes before he was bowled by Kemar Roach, while opener Tony de Zorzi scored 45 off 60 deliveries with four boundaries, caught at the wicket by Da Silva off the left arm spinner, Jomel Warrican,
whose two wickets cost 57 runs off nine overs.
Following the game Brathwaite said he was happy with the batting.
“The guys were quite positive. So proud of the batting unit. We believed we could get those runs. It wasn’t going to be easy. We need to keep going from strength to strength. The pitch [es] are a bit slower in the Caribbean.
“For me, it’s about adjusting when to go slow and when to accelerate. It’s all about belief and planning and bat as per the plan. Alick showed us that today. Hodge was good in England. Alick, his plan was to sweep and he stuck to it, even though he got out to a sweep,’ Brathwaite added.
South African Temba Bavuma said his team tried “our best to get a result in our favour.
“But the wicket didn’t break up as much as we expected. In the end, it was a good, competitive game of cricket. We went in with an extra batter as a cushion. As batters, we will like to be a but more ruthless and convert those fifties into hundreds.
“We lost time because of
SCORE BOARD
G
K
J Seales, J Warrican,
of wickets: 1-0 (Kraigg Brathwaite), 2-18 (Louis), 3-64 (Carty), 4-127 (Hodge), 5-192 (Athanaze) Bowling: Maharaj 26.2-2-88-4, Rabada 12-4-38-1, Ngidi 5-0-25-0, Markram 8-1-26-0, Mulder 5-0-18-0
Position: Match drawn. Player-of-the-Match: Keshav Maharaj (South Africa). Toss: South Africa.
Umpires: Ahsan Raza, Richard Illingworth. TV umpire: Sharfuddoula.
the weather. With the bowling resources we had, we tried our best. Keshav and KG, support-
ed by others. A little bit more time and things could have been different,” he added.
Ponting on cricket at the Olympics: ‘Opens
different
The Netherlands' Sifan Hassan won gold in the women's marathon in a sprint finish to claim her third medal of the Paris Olympics.
The 31-year-old accelerated in the final 200 metres to cross the line in an Olympic record two hours 22 minutes 55 seconds, three seconds ahead of Ethiopian Tigst Assefa. Hassan's victory came only two days after she won bronze in the 10,000m and six days after 5,000m bronze.
"I have no words. Every moment in the race I was regretting that I ran the 5,000m and 10,000m. I was telling myself if I hadn't done that, I would feel great today," said Hassan.
"The moment I started to feel good was at 20km, I felt so good. Then I knew I wanted gold."
Kenya's Hellen Obiri finished third, 12 seconds behind Assefa.
Britain's Clara Evans was 46th in 2:33:01 and Rose Harvey 78th in 2:51:03, while Calli Hauger-Thackery did not finish. With temperatures touching 24C despite an 08:00hr race start, several athletes used ice packs during the race and others carried bottles of water for long periods.
Hassan won 5,000m and 10,000m gold and 1500m bronze at Tokyo 2020.
FORMER Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, feels that cricket's return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in four years' time [LA28] will be beneficial to the game.
"It can only be a positive thing for our game. I've sat on various committees over the last 15 or 20 years, and it's always been on the top of almost every agenda - how do we get the game back into the Olympics? And finally, it's there," Ponting said on The ICC Review. "It's only four years away. I think it also gives cricket a chance to break into the grassroots level in the US."
Cricket is returning to the Games after 128 years, with the only time it featured previously being in 1900, with two teamsGreat Britain and France
to our game’
Ponting:
- participating, and the former winning gold.
"The thing about the Olympic Games, it's not [about] the host nation. It's about the audience that it opens up," Ponting said. "The Olympic Games being viewed by so many people all around the world, it just opens up completely different audiences to our game that's seemingly growing on a
daily basis anyway. It can only be a real positive thing for the game."
Ponting said infrastructure and qualification pathways would still need to be appropriately figured out but, with its inclusion, the game is moving in the right direction overall.
"Facilities and infrastructure and those things are going to be key, and how many [participating] teams
they actually decide on. I think it's only six or seven teams that they're talking about, so qualification is going to be at a premium - how you actually qualify to get into the Olympic Games.
"So all those are things to think about, [but] I'm really excited about where the game's headed and the growth of different markets that we're seeing emerge."
Cricket at LA28 will be played in the T20 format, with both men's and women's teams set to feature.
The game had been in the spotlight in the USA earlier this year too, when the country co-hosted the men's T20 World Cup with the West Indies.(ESPN Cricinfo).
Sifan Hassan wins women’s marathon gold in new Olympic record
Government gives Mike Parris $1 Million
Fitness walk for 44th anniversary of Guyana’s lone Olympic medallist
By Sean Devers
SHOWERS until after 08:00hrs yesterday which resulted in a delay to the scheduled 07:30hrs start of the inaugural Fitness Walk from the Bank of Guyana to the Seawall Bandstand to celebrate the 44th anniversary of Parris’ Olympic bronze medal climaxed with the government presenting the boxer with a cheque for $1M.
A much smaller than anticipated turnout of walkers, escorted by police outriders, made their way under mostly overcast skies along Main Street with the 66-year-old Parris decked out in the actual national tracksuit that he wore in Moscow and proudly wearing the bronze medal around his neck to lead the procession holding the Golden Arrowhead.
The walkers, waving miniature Guyana flags included the young pugilists from the Pace and Power Boxing Gym, Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Technical Director Terrence Poole, GBA’s president and Guyana’s Director of Sport (DoS) Steve Ninvalle, national middleweight boxer Dennis Amsterdam, supporters wearing Mike Parris T-shirts and Parris’ family members among others
At the Bandstand, where there were snacks and beverages available for the public, Ninvalle, on behalf of Sport Minister Charles Ramson and the Guyana Government, presented the only
boxer in the Caribbean with an Olympic medal, with the cheque, while telling the gathering that on the 44th anniversary of Parris’ medal he was hopeful that the boxers will be joined by the medallists for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
He informed participants that in honour of Parris’ achievement in Moscow, one of the local boxing tournaments is named after him.
National Sports Commission (NSC) member and President of the Guyana Tennis
Association (GTA), Cristy Campbell, said Parris is an inspiration for future athletes and not only boxers. She admitted she was not born when Parris won the bronze in 1980.
The Guyana Committee of Service (GCOS) provided tickets for the launching of their raffle at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC )on Saturday at 19:00hrs to participants of the walk.
GCOS member and comedian Linden ‘Jumbie’ Jones asked Parris to pull a ticket
Parris told the gathering “It was very cold and freezing even though most of the Russians had said it was a warm day for them. To get to Russia we had to travel to Jamaica then to Cuba and other countries but we got to Russia early, before the competition had started. I knew right away that I had to “acclimatise” myself to adjust to the conditions,”
continued Parris, who grew up in Princess Street, Lodge.
“Exercising at the training facilities was difficult, our breathing was being affected by the coldness. From that day I would stay in my hotel room and turn the a ir conditioner down to a colder [sic] temperature and start my training instead of going sightseeing.”
Parris told the gathering “It was very cold and freezing even though most of the Russians had said it was a warm day for
them. To get to Russia we had to travel to Jamaica then to Cuba and other countries but we got to Russia early, before the competition had started. I knew right away that I had to “acclimatise” myself to adjust to the conditions,”continued Parris who grew up in Princess Street,Lodge. He added that he always followed his four ‘Ds…discipline, devotion, dedication and determination and pushed myself to become better every day.
Paris Olympics comes to an end with star-studded closing ceremony
AFTER 16 days of enthralling action, the Paris Olympics has finally come to an end.
Records were broken and history was made in the French capital, with the baton officially passed on to Los Angeles, which will host the Games in four years' time.
Before athletes and fans gathered at the nation's largest stadium, the Olympic flame, carried by swimmer, Leon Marchand, travelled once again through the City of Light.
During the four-hour long ceremony, spectators were treated to performances by Billie Eilish,
Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre live from Venice Beach.
Having been rumoured to play a starring role in the proceedings in Paris, actor Tom Cruise abseiled off the roof of Stade de France before leaving on a motorbike.
Over 10,500 athletes from 205 delegations packed into the stadium,
with Team GB's trampoline gold medallist Bryony Page and Alex Yee, who won triathlon gold, the flagbearers.
Thomas Bach declared the Games officially over, with a stunning firework display bringing the curtain down on a memorable 16 days in Paris.
number from a box and the owner of the ticket received a prize on the spot.
Director of Sport (DoS) Steve Ninvalle (right) presents the cheque to Mike Parris, who is Guyana’s only Olympic medallist
Mike Parris is flanked by DoS Steve Ninvalle (left) and NSC member Cristy Campbell as participants in yesterday’s fitness walk (Sean Devers photos)
Actor Tom Cruise with the Olympic flag at the closing ceremony