The family of Sir Shridath paid their respects at the memorial erected at Seven Ponds (Delano Williams photos)
Guyana’s small domestic market now a global business opportunity
- President Ali says; sees BritCham as an opportunity to diversify, enhance trade relationship with UK
By Feona Morrison
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has underscored Guyana’s meteoric economic rise and the vast business opportunities now available to international investors. He made the comments during a virtual address at the launch of the London branch of the British Chamber of Commerce Guyana (BritCham Guyana). Held last week at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in London, the event marked a significant step in strengthening trade and investment ties between the United Kingdom (UK) and Guyana, reflecting the growing international interest in the South American nation’s booming economy.
In his virtual address, President Ali highlighted that the establishment of the British Chamber of Commerce Guyana represents a natural progression in the historical and economic relationship between the two nations.
population of just under one million people had limited the size of its domestic market, shaping the country’s economic structure and pushing it towards an outward-looking orientation.
gagement. My government believes that it is through strategic partnership with established trading nations like the United Kingdom, that we can better navigate these challenges and ensure sustained growth…”
Dr Ali emphasised that the UK has the potential to become a major trade and investment partner for Guyana. He provided data to illustrate this potential. Over the last four quarters (a year), total trade in goods and services between Guyana and the UK has expanded by 17.7 per cent.
year, GDP [Gross Domestic Product] growth was almost 50 per cent,” he announced. This surge in economic activity, he noted, has significantly altered the landscape, transforming Guyana’s small domestic market into a global business opportunity.
He stated, “One that is built on deep-rooted historical ties, shared values, and mutual benefits. The chamber presents an exciting opportunity to further strengthen the trade and investment links between the United Kingdom and Guyana.”
“One in which exports were vital to our growth and development. The limited size of our domestic market, necessitated that we engage in economic
The Guyanese leader said that his government’s vision is to diversify and strengthen the economy
trade to stimulate economic activity, create jobs and foster innovation,” he explained.
The President also highlighted that the dynamics have dramatically shifted since 2019.
He detailed the transformative changes in Guyana’s economy over recent years. He noted that traditionally, Guyana’s small
“Since 2019, our economy has tripled. Guyana is now the fastest-growing economy in the world. For the first half of this
by engaging with partners that have the capacity, experience and interest in long-term collaboration.
The Head of State added: “The United Kingdom, with its access to larger global markets and its proficiency in various sectors, such as finance, manufacturing, clean energy and engineering, stands as a prime candidate for deeper en -
At the political level, he stated that the relationship between the two countries remains strong and continues to evolve. “We have enjoyed robust co-operation on several fronts and I am pleased to note that this has recently culminated in visa-free travel between our two countries. This is a significant achievement that will further enhance travel, tourism, business, trade and investment.” He said trade and investment are indispensable vehicles for economic development.
“My government is
ongoing investments in energy infrastructure, particularly the development of clean and affordable energy, Guyana is on track to significantly reduce energy cost. This will in turn create conditions favourable for the establishment of a robust manufacturing sector that can serve both the domestic and regional markets,” Dr Ali said. He said that the UK, with its long history of manufacturing and industrial innovation, should see this as a great chance to collaborate with local businesses and make investments to start manufactur-
President Ali said that the country’s growing oil and gas sector has created a demand for machinery, engineering services and other related industries.
This, according to him, presents an opportunity for the UK to bring its expertise to Guyana and capitalise on the growing demand for specialised services.
committed to ensuring that our economic growth translates into board-based development for our people. As part of this commitment, we are focused on developing key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, agro-processing and tourism. We see these as major emerging markets and opportunities for us. With
ing operations in Guyana.
“By doing so, UK businesses can not only benefit from Guyana’s growing economy but can also play a crucial role in shaping its future. There are also immense opportunities for investment in other sectors that are critical to our development.”
Among other things,
In closing, President Ali emphasised that BritCham must become a catalyst to propel trade and investment relations to new heights. “It must serve as a platform for businesses from both sides to explore opportunities, forge partnerships and create lasting economic bonds. The chamber must become a magnet for investment and a stimulus for increased trade. It must encourage business mission and strategic partnerships between the United Kingdom and Guyana.”
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Attendees at the launch of the BritCham Guyana office in London
World-renowned champion laid to rest
- Sir Shirdath remembered for crucial roles in different spheres of life
By Shaniya Harding
THE Promenade Gardens was overtaken by an atmosphere of reverence, sadness, and a deep sense of national pride as one of the Caribbean's most illustrious sons was laid to rest.
Regionalist, educator, and author, Sir Shridath 'Sonny' Ramphal, who passed away on August 30, 2024, was given a proper hero's send-off at the Place of the Seven Ponds in the Botanical and Zoological Gardens, where his ashes were reposed after a ceremony filled with heart -
felt tributes from various members of the diplomatic community and heads of state among other regional officials.
The solemn yet celebratory event saw tributes from across the Caribbean, reflecting the far-reaching impact of Sir Shridath's life and work. Former Prime Minister of Jamaica P. J. Patterson and Leader of Guyana’s Opposition Aubrey Norton, both delivered their addresses virtually.
Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, and Prime Minister of Grenada, Mr. Dickon Mitchell, who flew in for the funeral, also shared their condolences, underscoring the regional significance of Sir Shridath's legacy. President of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali also delivered the keynote address.
Former Prime Minister Patterson offered a particularly moving tribute, emphasising Sir Shridath’s unwavering commitment to regional unity. "No one, but no one has spoken more
passionately and more persistently written or more assiduously toiled in the vineyard of oneness than this genial giant," Patterson said.
Patterson went on to praise Sir Shridath’s tenure as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, stating, "It is incontrovertible as we proclaim today there is no one who has made a more enduring contribution to the evolution and catalytic force of the modern Commonwealth than this avatar, Shridath Ramphal, the
quintessential diplomat and consummate statesman."
SIR SHRIDATH, THE MAN
The story of Sir Shridath is deeply intertwined with the history of Guyana and the wider Caribbean. Born in New Amsterdam, seat of administration of the County of Berbice in the then British Guiana, to an Indo-Guyanese family, Ramphal was the eldest of five children. His roots in the region ran deep, with one of his grandmothers
Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves alongside President Irfaan Ali, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, and Prime Minister of Guyana Mark Phillips during the ceremony on Saturday (Delano Williams photos)
A member of the Armed Forces hands over the National Standard to the family of Sir Shridath Ramphal
World-renowned champion laid to...
A total of 21 shots were fired to honour one of Guyana’s foremost fallen heroes (Delano Williams photos)
FROM PAGE 4
having left India to emigrate here under the indentureship system. This heritage would later inform his passionate advocacy for unity and equality on the global stage.
After attending schools in Georgetown, among them the prestigious Queen’s College, Sir Shridath’s academic journey took him to King's College London, where he studied law, graduating with LL.B. and LL.M. degrees. He was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in London in 1951, marking the beginning of what would
become a highly successful and influential life dedicated to law, diplomacy, and regional development.
Sir Shridath’s political career took a significant turn when he was invited back to Motherland by then Premier, Forbes Burnham.
As President Ali noted in his eulogy, "As one of the architects of an independence constitution, he was instrumental in fashioning a document that would serve as a blueprint for our young nation." This role as a nation-builder was just the beginning. He went on to
external aggression," President Ali stated, highlighting Sir Shridath’s crucial role in shaping Guyana's foreign policy. But his influence was not confined to Guyana's borders. In 1975, he became the first Third World Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, a position that allowed him to advocate for developing nations on a global scale.
ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER
become Attorney-General, drafted Guyana's Independence Constitution, and served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and later as Justice Minister.
President Ali, in his tribute, emphasised Sir Shridath’s steadfast commitment to defending Guyana's territorial integrity. "He played a pivotal role in crafting the strategies that would become the cornerstone of our nation's defence against
Throughout his illustrious career, Sir Shridath was deeply involved in international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth, and the Group 77. President Ali commended his global impact, saying, "Sir Shridath played a crucial role in uniting the member states in opposing Apartheid, galvanizing international support for sanctions against the South African regime."
This commitment to justice and equality was a hallmark of Sir Shridath’s work. He tirelessly advocated for developing countries,
worked against Apartheid, and focused on establishing a new economic world order that would benefit all nations, not just the powerful few.
Sir Shridath’s dedication to regional integration was another key aspect of his legacy, as highlighted by President Ali: "Sir Shridath played a pivotal role in the creation of the Caribbean Free Trade Area (CARIFTA)."
This work towards Caribbean unity was complemented by his dedication to human rights and environmental issues, as evidenced in his roles with the Interna-
tional Commission of Jurists and the World Conservation Union.
Beyond his diplomatic and legal work, Sir Shridath was also a prolific author. He penned several influential books, including "Glimpses of a Global Life" and "Caribbean Challenges", both of which focused on international conflicts, diplomacy, law, and the unique challenges faced by Guyana and the wider Caribbean region. These works continue to inspire and inform new generations of Caribbean leaders and thinkers.
The ashes of Sir Shridath were escorted in true hero’s fashion by a team of local Servicemen
The ashes of Sir Shridath Ramphal being laid at the Place of the Seven Ponds by members of the Armed Forces
Restoring the image of Georgetown
THE recent announcement by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali that the government is seeking to partner with the King Charles Foundation to restore the city of Georgetown to its former glory as a 'Garden City' is music to the ears of city dwellers, many of whom have resigned themselves to living in what is now referred to as a 'garbage city', thanks to the incompetence of the PNC-dominated City Council. It is an undeniable fact
that Georgetown compares badly with most cities in the region for a number of reasons, the most significant of which is the mismanagement and lack of vision by the Mayor and his team of PNC Councillors.
But that situation, thankfully, is expected to change. Already there are manifestations of the changing face of the city, thanks to the several interventions of the Central Government, and the enhancement programmes initiated by First Lady
Arya Ali. After being neglected for decades by the PNC-dominated City Council, the iconic City Hall, an architectural masterpiece, arguably the most beautiful in the Caribbean, is currently undergoing extensive rehabilitation work.
Now, the entire city of Georgetown is being targetted for rehabilitation work. According to President Ali, the restoration of the city is part of a larger sustainable urban development plan. As noted by President Ali, in the
coming weeks, work will commence on developing eight key elements for sustainable cities, and a vision of an urban development framework for greater Georgetown.
Among key elements of this project are the creation of spaces for physical exhibitions, a virtual museum, a platform to celebrate Guyana's history, and the development of the first cultural market in the Caribbean. These are all forward-looking and visionary thinking on the part of President Ali and
the PPP/C administration.
The development of the city, as pointed out by President Ali, requires a coordinated approach by Central Government and the City Council. But such interventions must, of necessity, be led by the Government in terms of project implementation, having regard to the poor management history of the City Council. One consequence of such history is poor solid-waste disposal, inadequate drainage, clogged-up drains, and a continuing legacy of
mismanagement and incompetence.
There is, however, hope. It cannot be business as usual in terms of the way the capital city is managed, especially at this time of rapid change and transformation. In this regard, President Ali and the PPP/C administration must be commended for the initiatives and interventions currently underway to restore the image of Georgetown as the Garden City.
PNC M.P. continues to mislead the public
Dear Editor,
PLEASE allow me to shed some light on a recent matter in Region 5 that was made public by PNC member Viceroy Jordan, Member of Parliament (M.P.) and to correct the many mistakes that he made knowingly or unknowingly to gain some form of attention from his supporters. I have said many times and will say again that Viceroy Jordan is a square peg in a round hole by being the opposition shadow minister of agriculture. This man knows nothing about the agriculture sector and is playing blind-sighted as to the development within the sector that is presently taking place.
Viceroy Jordan posted a video on his Facebook page where he interviewed one Abdul Rahim of Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice. In that video, Mr. Rahim made several damaging allegations against MMA/ADA and its Directors.
During the interview, Mr. Rahim claimed that he has a portion of land situated on the Right Bank of the Abary River and that someone by the name of Sammy is now on the said land which he owns.
Jordan keeps pushing Mr Rahim by questioning him by asking some very catchy questions to ensure that he gets his way to spread false information as he usually does and Mr. Rahim was caught up in Jordan's trap by saying he owns said land.
Mr. Rahim keep talking and Jordan keeps recording the lies and false information being told to him. Mr. Rahim is also alleging that he is not getting access to lands situated on the left bank of the Abary River.
Mr. Jordan, did Mr. Rahim tell you (be truthful for once Pastor) that he went to court and lost the matter and was ordered to vacate the said land on the left bank of the Abary River which he wants access to?
It is sad when people are
fighting to be leaders and do not possess the skills or knowledge to seek clarity on the information they receive before making it public. I know that Jordan wants to make the news in every way just like his colleagues and is going to do all that he can, even lying to the public so that he can be on the news and this is another matter of the misinformation being peddled by the PNC and it’s Region 5 M.P.
Mr. Jordan, let it be clear as ice to you that Mr. Rahim does not legally own that said portion of land on the Right Bank of the Abary River in any form either by lease or transport. What he did was illegally and unlawfully fence a portion of that land which is State land reserve without any approval or proper documentation from the authority.
So, the matter is clear Mr. Jordan that the man does not own the land and was asked to vacate the state reserve. But because you want to gain political mileage you went and
did an interview with the man without getting the facts on the matter and I won’t blame you because that’s how the entire PNC operates - by lies and deception.
I spoke to the person who is on the land presently and he told me that on numerous occasions Mr. Rahim tried to destroy his farm and he made reports to the police and they had to intervene on several occasions.
Jordan let it be known that Rahim did not own that portion of land and he was ordered by a court of law to vacate the land. Do you understand what a court of law order means when they say to vacate?
Mr. Rahim went on to make some damaging allegations about the management and members of the MMA/ADA board, whereby he claimed that one of the directors sold the land to the person presently occupying the said portion of the land.
Mr. Jordan, I thought you were a wise guy but you
proved otherwise because you as a pastor and a politician should have known that when someone cannot get their way of what they want, they cast blame on any and everyone who they could to gain attention.
I want to ask you, Mr. Jordan to visit MMA and ask for all the names of the people that have leases and visit those lands and see who are the ones subletting the lease lands when subletting is illegal. Voice your concern on this and call for MMA to take back those lands from people who are subletting their lease lands.
Mr. Rahaim's claims are far from the truth and he is putting himself in further trouble because he identified one of the directors by calling his name on that video and I believe that the director should take Mr. Rahim to court for his allegations.
I am calling and challenging you Mr. Jordan on this matter to bring the facts and let’s meet on this matter as
you are once again spreading lies about the agriculture sector in Region 5. Let’s meet at any open space with the facts and if you cannot produce the truth about the matter and the facts then you need to shut up and stop spreading lies. Agriculture in Region Five is better off and tremendous growth is happening in this sector than what was happening under the previous government (you were a water boy then). Every sector of agriculture in this region is moving up and people are seeing the many developments taking place.
Many farmers are benefitting from the sector technically from its sub-agencies staff and even directly from the ministry’s input. Mr. Jordan, I do not expect better from you because it’s known all over Guyana and afar that the agriculture sector developments alone are breaking the backs of the PNC.
Sincerely, Abel
Seetaram
Class Analysis: Psychic revelation, psychic trauma
THERE are times that a column elicits a large number of responses from readers, the reason being a stunning disclosure of the event you analysed, or the person or organisation that you placed under the microscope.
Earlier Friday morning, I received a call from a senior Minister of Government based on what I wrote in my Friday column. From the morning onwards, I received communications from more people who asked me if I could explain what happened and why did it happen. By Friday evening, I counted 33 responses that included five telephone calls. My Friday column was one of the most commented on since I began writing in the newspapers 36 years ago. No doubt the curiosity came about because of the person I wrote about.
Just in case you missed that Friday piece, let me briefly recapture it before I explain on this page what several persons asked me to do. I live in the same compound with the Vice-Chan-
cellor of UG, Dr. Paloma Mohamed. My neighbour asked me to take care of her pet while she was away. The cat does not stray far. By afternoon, I couldn’t find the cat, so I decided to look into every yard in the compound.
When I reached the yard of Dr. Mohamed, she drove up with her husband and watched as I looked into the yard and her neighbours’. They did not speak to me, and I thought absolutely nothing of the matter. The next day, Dr. Mohamed sent off an email on the string that members of the community participate in, except me.
Dr. Mohamed, in an indignant use of words, told the community that I was looking into her yard, and it warrants an explanation. Some members of the community were extremely upset, including the son-in-law of former PPP leader Kellawan Lall. He is a friend, and felt that Dr. Mohamed treated me badly, and he was going to send a rude reply. I persuaded him not to. Dr. Mohamed or her
husband could have easily spoken to me from the car to enquire about what I was interested in, given the fact that Dr. Mohamed has known me for over 20 years; after all, I am not an unknown quantity in Guyana. So, persons who know me, after expressing surprise at Dr. Mohamed’s attitude to me, wanted to know why I think she acted that way. Every one of the 33 persons who contacted me told me that the incident was strange. Here is my explanation, and I will not dwell on Dr. Mohamed any further. I believe economists, political theorists and sociologists will not achieve competence in their work if they do not employ the methodology of class analysis. It is basic to understanding the sociology and political economy of every country. In today’s world, even strong rightwing academics employ class analysis to explain the political economy of the U.S.
Since I became a Chronicle columnist, I have done about 15 articles tracing the
evolution and political contours of the Mulatto/Creole class (MCC) in Guyana. I finally saw the complete Freudian life of the MCC during the five months of election fraud in 2020. It was a revelation to me, and it was mentally painful for me to watch, because the people who supported the fraud did so from the Freudian fortresses of their minds, had an ethnic reason for so doing, and they threw out the democratic instincts I knew they once had.
I knew a large number of MCC personalities up close and personal, but March to July 2020 revealed to me that I did not know these people at all. It is for this reason that March – July 2020 was a psychic
revelation for me, and inflicted a psychic trauma on me that I will never recover from. The twin of psychic revelation and psychic trauma has changed my life forever.
But I was lucky; the psychological damage that was inflicted on me between March and July 2020 came late in my life. If I had seen the Freudian clothes these people wore in those five months when I was much younger, then I do not know how I would have mentally coped with life. I struggled with these people, because I was an existentialist human moved by the philosophical school of anarchism, which instructs that power has a congenital built-in mech-
anism that leads it astray, so power must always be critiqued.
I struggle with these people in Guyana who betrayed philosophy and the world in 2020, because I never saw the deep, driven, Freudian instincts of resentment for Indian people with the accompanying belief that Indian people are culturally unsuited to administer a Caribbean country. I will never be the Frederick Kissoon I was before 2020.
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.
Politics in Guyana: turning the page, raising the bar
GUYANA is evolving and growing rapidly. The country’s socioeconomic factors are changing positively and equally. The dynamics of people’s welfare have shifted, moving from bad and fair to satisfactory and good. Every sector, for example infrastructure, health, education and agriculture is taking off to support the uptake in technology and science. In short, the face of Guyana is receiving a modern lift and advancement. Guyana stands to become the fastest-growing economy in this century in the world.
Even with all the growth and change, some persons and things remain the same. They are constant and stunted; they are not showing any progress or appetite for a new or modern path. The two things being referenced here are our politics and some of our politicians.
Over the past two centuries, while the political dynamics have changed dramatically and drastically, the political discourse and rhetoric have remained largely the same. There is hardly any effort to change these dynamics, or to impact the quality of the message. Mediocrity and foolishness govern the language, tone and carelessness of those who operate in the world of politics. Heavy racist jargon and dialect are still acceptable as public speeches when communicating with the base of a political party or public. The same old divisive and crass political language is used to stir up trouble or cause confusion. This language is usually spoken when it is safe to do so, or nobody is watching from the other side. Then, the hallmark of Guyana’s political existence is told to the bases of both political parties; it takes the form of whisper campaigns or speeches.
corrupt, while the other party is restlessly talking about how the other side is power-drunk, dishing out history, and seemingly too busy governing. The public exchanges between the two sides are most times devoid of real facts or evidence, and places the public in a precarious position to choose the lesser evil.
the media, but the PPP/C is always, seemingly, the enemy of their pen.
One party alleges the other is racist, discriminatory and
The debate is never healthy, because the PNC-APNU+AFC never defends its policies, plans or proposals. The PNC-APNU+AFC never defends the things they did whilst they were in power; they are given a past by the ever-watchful media, which is supposedly ‘fair’ in its coverage of news information. The compliant media asks no question or enquires into some of the failed projects that occurred throughout their tenures in office, and pour cold water on exposés when they are brought to light. The APNU+AFC or the PNC/R is treated with a feather by
The PPP/C has to defend its policies, plans and proposals when in office, and when it does, the media criticises the language and strength of its defence. The media, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and a handful of so-called independent media treat the PPP/C as thieves, and fearlessly go after every wrongdoing and corruption allegation. They hammer the PPP/C, but when the party is badly wounded, it retreats, corrects, and continues its journey.
Nowhere in the world or region is a political party as strategic and ever-evolving as the PPP/C. Why the double standard, hypocrisy and political duplicitous nature, you may ask.
It is all coming back to one thing: Guyana must change the way the politicians
see each other, engage supporters, and the public; they must turn the page or burn the book on how they treat facts, plans, and engage in debates with each other. The discussion and conversation must change too; it must be elevated.
Additionally, there is more to discuss than race and ethnic discrimination. Much more! This cannot be the jargon only; politicians from both the PNC-APNU+AFC and PPP/C must deal with matters, issues and events without the usual racial undertones, or without having to reference race. They must stick to the facts; they must not try to spin the truth, and must respect the audience or public.
Turning the page means the political discourse will now centre on discussing plans and policies for the future; it will bring more people to participate in the discourse, especially people who were
turned on, and young people alike. The discussion has to be shifted to the creation of a unified Guyana: One Guyana. The concept of good governance and national unity will be a hallmark of the discussion on building a modern Guyana.
The politicians can agree or disagree, but with respect and integrity. Don’t go into the gutter; be civil.
There must be a way to determine the rhetoric. Telling lies and desperately changing the narrative is not cute. Engaging in rigging the elections and subverting the general elections is equally not cute and wrong! Act with some civility and decorum.
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.
Guyana’s economic outlook remains highly favourable
GUYANA’S economy over the last few years has experienced unprecedented growth.
The country’s 2024 mid-year economic report, released by the Ministry of Finance, showed growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GPD) of 49.7 per cent. In the report, oil production was credited as one of the driving forces for the continued expansion of the economy. In fact, the oil and gas sector itself grew by 67.1 per cent in the first half of 2024.
Prior to 2024, the
government projected a 34.3 per cent growth in the GDP. That projection has since increased to 42.3 per cent based on the nearly 50 per cent growth in the economy in the first six months of the year.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) explains that GDP measures the health of national and global economies. The IMF also notes that when a country's GDP is growing, workers and businesses are generally better off than when it is not. Positive growth in GDP also helps
policymakers, investors and businesses make decisions by understanding an economy’s health.
In 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, Guyana experienced GDP growth of 3.3 per cent, 2.1 per cent, 4.1 per cent and 5.4 per cent respectively. Those figures represent how the country performed prior to oil production. When Guyana began producing oil in the offshore Stabroek Block, there was a drastic increase in how the country’s economy performed. In 2020, Guyana recorded the highest GDP growth in the coun-
try’s history at the time with a whopping 43.5 per cent. That exponential GDP growth continued in the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, with 18.5 per cent, 62.3 per cent, and 33 per cent respectively.
The government has on many occasions pointed out that while oil production is exceptional, it is a finite resource. Policymakers have said that the resources from oil production will be used to bolster the country’s non-oil sector. Some of those sectors include hospitality, construction, tourism, and agriculture.
Other areas where the resources from oil production will be channeled include ensuring Guyanese have access to quality education, healthcare, and social services.
The government is also adamant about providing Guyanese with cheaper electricity by way of the Gas-to-Energy project and a plethora of other renewable energy projects.
“This is what energy, and the oil and gas sector will do for us. It gives us the opportunity with the resources to diversify our economy, building it out
to many new pillars so that we will be resilient, strong, and sustainable,” President Ali has stated. Overall, the oil and gas resources are being used directly and indirectly to expand the economy which has been an investor’s hub since production commenced in 2019. At present, Guyana produces over 600,000 barrels of oil per day. By the end of 2027, that number will rise to over one million barrels of oil per day with several projects slated to become operational.
We must guard against the purveyors of hate
TODAY is Youman Nabi, a national holiday in Guyana for more than 50 years. It is an occasion wherein Muslims celebrate and rejoice at the birth of Prophet Muhammad. Muslims will gather at their local masjids today and tomorrow to observe the event, which corresponds to the 12th day of Rabi’a Al-Awwal, the third month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
It is not strange to find representatives from the Christian and Hindu communities attending and partic-
ipating in these gatherings. Guyanese are perhaps some of the most culturally-aware people in the world. I’ve been fortunate to have listened to pastors, priests and pandits deliver positive and uplifting remarks at Muslim religious events. Likewise, imams, too, would usually attend and deliver a message at Christian and Hindu celebrations.
The German-Norwegian social anthropologist Fredrik Barth observed that robust pluralistic societies have diverse ethnic and cultural groups living side-by-side within the same political unit, and engaging in a kind of ecological interdependence while working collectively for their own economic prosperity and effective governance. Yet their interdependence and intersections do not infringe on their unique values and traditions, which remain intact.
I am not saying xenophobia, bigotry and racism are absent in Guyana, but having visited over 30 countries on four continents, I can safely say that the level of interconnectedness between distinct ethnic and cultural groups that we experience is truly remarkable.
We should be proud, but also vigilant and on guard against the incursions of the purveyors of hate that are now threatening to unravel even the sturdiest of democracies. Fake news is the most insidious driver of Online hate. The recent marriage between fake news and free Online AI apps means that a well-crafted lie can rip apart the foundations of law and order, and send society into a tailspin.
There is absolutely no truth that Haitian immigrants are eating the pets of people in Ohio, but it made its way into the heart of a presidential debate that was viewed by millions of people. Even though news outlets dedicated countless hours to debunking the fake meme, it persisted.
In 2016, Edgar Welch, a 28-year-old father of two from North Carolina ingested a viral fake-news story that a pizzeria in Washington was the headquarters of a child trafficking ring led by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. So convinced it was true, Welch drove six hours from his home, and opened fire with his assault AR-15 rifle at the pizzeria before police subdued him. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
The purveyors of the ‘Pizzagate’ hoax didn’t fold up and go away; they invented a fake story that Welch was an actor used to cover up an elite paedophilia ring.
Following the stabbing deaths in July of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, large-scale riots erupted in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A fake news story blamed the murders on a Muslim asylum seeker, when, in fact, the attacker was a 17-year-old individual born in Cardiff, Wales.
In June 2022, a fake news story ignited protestors to make their way from Golden Grove on the East Coast corridor past 15 villages to Mon Repo where they attacked, looted and burned stalls and vehicles of mostly East Indian vendors, causing millions of dollars in damage.
In September 2020, following a failed attempt by APNU+AFC to steal the elections, Online trolls began spreading a narrative that racism had inspired the brutal murders of Afro-Guyanese teens and cousins, Isiah and Joel Henry. Three days later, Haresh Singh, an East Indian teen was found murdered at Number Two Village Backdam.
Fake news intends to unleash violence. I’ve produced investigative documentaries and feature stories on men like Alexander Bissonnette, who shot and killed six worshippers at a mosque in Quebec City, Canada in 2017; Nathaniel Veltman rammed
his pickup truck into the Afzal family in London, Ontario, Canada in 2021, killing five; and Patrik Mathews, a member of the Canadian military, joined a neo-Nazi group and conspired to violently undermine civil society. He was arrested and sentenced to eight years behind bars.
Bissonnette, Veltman and Mathews believed that Anglo-Saxon society was being ‘replaced’ by dark-skinned immigrants, followers of strange customs and traditions, and that their duty was to “accelerate”, by violent means, the inevitable collapse of Western capitalist society. From the ashes of its decay, they reasoned, would come the birth of a pure Anglo-Saxon nation.
Individuals like Rickford Burke, a darling of APNU+AFC, would have us believe that President Irfaan Ali, V.P. Bharrat Jagdeo and other east-Indian members of the PPP/C government, are orchestrating a genocide against Afro-Guyanese. The absence of a single credible piece of evidence does little to break the back of his venomous lie.
Make no mistake, the intent of this “batshit crazy” narrative is to inspire violent attacks targetting the President, the V.P., and the east-Indian members of their government.
It is aimed at undermining our democracy and subverting our institutions. When the stakes are this high there is only one path left open for us - denounce the purveyors of lies with a loud and collective voice - or suffer the consequences of our silence. And on that note, I wish everyone a very joyous and celebratory Youman Nabi holiday.
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.
Rebel Tennis Club on the move
By Vanessa Cort
The story of the Grove/ Diamond Rebel Tennis Club is the result of the vision of one man and his efforts to foster young people interested in the sport.
Andre Erskine, who grew up in Albouystown, Georgetown where he was born, made his first foray into what is traditionally called lawn tennis - now played on clay and hard courts as well as grass - when he began playing at the Non-Pareil Club.
His interest was sparked after watching black American tennis stars, Serena and Venus Williams, take the tennis world by storm, rising to the top of the sport and winning trophy after trophy.
Now, an accomplished coach, he can watch with pride and satisfaction as his club players achieve wins at home and abroad. It has not been easy. Erskine spoke of how the Club struggled, from its beginnings in 2017, prac-
tising on courts made available by the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (GBTI) on the bank's compound in Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara.
With a lot of new and inexperienced players, the Club got a 'beating' until just before the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were able to run their first
tournament, sponsored by Smalta.
They can now boast a membership comprising most of the country's top players, who have had a string of successes at local and overseas tournaments.
One member, Nathan DeNobrega, was ranked in the top 15 players in Central America and the
Caribbean, by the Central American Tennis Confederation (COTECC).
This young man, just 14 years old, has 'dethroned' national players in his category and his impressive wins include singles and doubles trophies at a meet in Trinidad last July. Then the Club returned with a total of 13 in various categories and a humorous reprimand from their Trinidadian counterparts that they should not return because they were 'carting off' all the trophies.
On December last year Erskine's own niece, Kimora Erskine, won the girls under-14 tournament and two under-10 players, Isabella Grannum and Michael Fordyce, both won the top spot during their first tournament appearance.
That the Club has achieved all of this success is a testimony to
Coach Erskine's skill and determination, following the devastating personal loss of his mother and sister in the space of two years.
Mental and physical exhaustion, brought on by their care and club responsibilities, caused his body to develop an internal abscess as his organs began to fail. On 'death's door' he decided, upon medical advice, to go for a change of atmosphere and accompanied two players to a tournament in Trinidad. "I felt a
change in myself when I got back,” he said, as his health improved. His renewed vigor and commitment to the club was partly fuelled by some seniors, who visited him the Christmas following his mother's death in 2020 and helped him 'get back on his feet'. Parents too have 'gone into their pockets' and contributed to the club, making it possible for members to travel abroad to participate in tournaments.
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Coach Andre Erskine stands proudly behind a cache of trophies
Rebel Tennis Club on the...
FROM PAGE 11
They have been assisted by Smalta, which has committed to sponsor the junior tournament each year, the Guyana Public Service Credit Union and GBTI.
Remembering his early days in the sport, Erskine also gives credit to coach William Skeete, who he said helped him and others to learn the game and grasp the art of coaching.
And this is what Erskine also did at no charge in the National Park before moving to the defunct club in Grove/Diamond, on the suggestion of then President of the Guyana Tennis Associa-
tion, Grace McAlmont. With over 50 members playing in the under 8, 12, 14 and 18 categories, the Rebel Tennis Club is now gearing up for a tournament in December, to which clubs
across the country are expected to send players.
"I think they (the players) are the reason I keep going...I feel so proud.”
He has every reason to be filled with pride at the accomplishments of his players, after just seven years, interrupted by the pandemic of 2020, which brought club activities to a halt.
He recalled that during the two years when Covid 'rocked' the world, "...only the diehard players would sanitise, mask-up and turn up to practice."
Now he can boast of a club which is 'on the move', both literally and figuratively, but which could do much more with additional sponsorship from the business community.
During our interview, he received a phone call from DHL shipping informing him that he could collect a sponsorship cheque. I sincerely hope that other businesses will follow suit and help to build this Club, whose players are showcasing their skill and ability in what is largely
a non-traditional sport.
Nathan DeNobrega is at the forefront, having won his first United States Tennis Association (USTA) tournament trophy in his category last month when he and five other members took part in a meet in Miami, Florida.
Another player, Gerald Scotland, has distinguished himself as the country's leading under-18 tennis star, winning the doubles trophy, along with Denzel Luthers in Trinidad this year.
He is the reigning Rebel Men's champion and defending champion of the Smalta Rebel Tournament, which he has won twice.
These young people are helping to raise funds by offering graphic designs produced by a small machine they recently purchased. And clearly, they can continue to 'climb the ladder of success' if they receive the help they so badly need. Then they will surely place Guyana firmly in the international tennis arena.
Gov’t prioritises prudent wage increases – Dr. Jagdeo
GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has emphasised the importance of prudent management when it comes to wage increases.
He highlighted several long and short-term impacts of excessive wage increases on a country’s economy. He relayed that global and international market trends pose a significant threat to Guyana’s economy, since, at any point, they can be left at the mercy of price fluctuations.
“Given our economies, when we are exposed to the vagaries of the international market for our products, we can see that at one time, price just dramatically falls, and then you are left hanging. Then you have two options before you: You either cut salaries or cut employment. So, to avoid being caught in that situation, one has to be prudent on matters of wage increases,” Dr. Jagdeo said during a Party press conference on Thursday.
Dr. Jagdeo made it clear that the government remains mindful of the pitfalls in this area, and has crafted a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure that public servants get even more benefits. He underscored that sustainable and measured salary increases are directly linked to the maintenance of a stable economy.
Therefore, the government has focused on increasing revenue through taxes and royalties from the oil sector, while maintaining a balanced budget. Several other strategies, such as immense job creation, diversification, public-private partnerships and impactful social support initiatives reflect its unwavering commitment to ensuring that all Guyanese can enjoy the best possible quality of life.
The GS reminded reporters that during its tenure, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has invested approximately $90 billion in wage and salary increases for the public sector. He said that since 2020, the government’s wage bill has increased significantly, from over $100 billion to $200 billion.
“The wage bill under the PPP has grown by $90
billion for public service; people are taking home now $90 billion more per year than they were taking home in 2020. That is what it means in the whole public sector; $29 billion more goes into the pockets of the people who work in the public sector per year than were getting in 2020,” Dr. Jagdeo pointed out.
Addressing the Opposition’s claim of a 75% wage increase for public servants, he dismissed it as a typical revisionist tactic, often used by the Opposition to mislead the public. He reminded that upon assuming office, the then APNU+AFC government awarded themselves 50 per cent salary increases, showcasing blatant neglect for the public servants.
Speaking particularly with regards to teachers, Dr. Jagdeo reminded that the government is incentivising education, ensuring that all teachers are trained and able to move up on the salary scale.
The effect of this is twofold, since the quality of education improves, as does the salaries of teachers.
“Six thousand teachers now are trained of the 14,000 a year on the enrolment, and 2000 of those are hired by us since we got back in office. So, 6000 of them, nearly half are undergoing some form of training, fully paid for by the government,” the GS said.
He added that the previous government had never increased the salaries for teachers by more than 10 per cent.
Within the context of the global heightened cost of living, the GS noted that the purchasing power of a 10% increase in teachers’ wages and salaries is significantly lower today, compared to what it was in the past.
“Teachers’ wages and salaries were $15 billion. 10% at that time was 1.5 billion. Today it’s $4 billion; 10% is $4 billion. So, when you look at the quantum of resources to what a 10% then versus a 10% now to be, a 10% then would be equivalent to probably about 30% [now],” GS Jagdeo explained.
The Government of Guyana and the Guyana
Teachers’ Union (GTU) on August 21 signed an agreement which will see teachers across the country benefit from a 27 per cent increase in salaries over the next three years.
The new agreement also sees an increase in the number of concessions that will be granted to teachers by 50 per cent, in addition to the policy that all teach-
ers who hold a substantive appointment as a senior master, mistress or above within three years of retirement and have not received a previous duty-free concession are entitled.
This multi-year agreement is a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to providing for the needs of all its citizens. (DPI)
Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo
Easier access to legal services for Region Nine residents
THE Attorney-General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Af-
fairs have expanded the reach of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority to Region Nine.
The team is visiting Lethem, St. Ignatius, and Nappi this weekend, and will be offering residents the opportunity to register for deed polls, get documents notarised, and obtain powers of attorney.
Other services being provided to Region Nine residents include registration of their businesses, renewals, limited liability companies, and agreement of sale of land. They will also be able to file any Deed and register any mortgage and debenture. The outreach saw persons getting to file their bills of sale and engage in the conveyance of transport, among other services.
A permanent office within the Regional Administrative Office compound at Lethem will ensure ongoing access to these services. This initiative, conceived by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, aligns with the government’s commitment to bringing essential services closer to the people.
Residents praised the efficiency and convenience of the mobile services, expressing excitement about the upcoming permanent office. Wilford Rajkumar, a local businessman, was impressed by the ease of renewing his business registration.
“Within ten minutes I got my registration renewed and printed out. So, I am very satisfied, and I’m glad they’re doing this. With a perma-
nent office, it’s going to be even better,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI).
He pointed out that the distance to the nearest registry made it difficult for Lethem’s business owners to keep their documents up-todate, adding that having these services accessible locally is crucial.
Leandra Jovinsk, another resident, echoed Rajkumar’s sentiments, noting the smooth and efficient process.
“When I came here, I thought it was going to be a hassle. But it was easy and smooth. As soon as I stepped in, there was somebody ready to help me right away. The process was clear, and it wasn’t difficult. This is maybe the first time we got through so fast,” the young woman relayed.
Jerry Brown, from Aishalton, emphasised the importance of accessible legal services for residents in remote areas. He explained that the cost of travel has hindered many persons from seeking these critical services.
“It will be very helpful for people living in these areas. Once it’s here in our local area, it will be a huge benefit,” he said. Meanwhile, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC, underscored that the Registries authority performs several critical functions, acting as a vital component in the country’s legal system.
“It is part of the vi-
sion of our President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who decided that we must establish a branch of the deeds and commercial registry authority in all the administrative regions of our country, particularly in our towns,” he stated.
In addition to legal services, the Ministry introduced a restorative justice officer, Orin Boston, to the region. Restorative justice, a mechanism for addressing harm through communication and accountability, is now a permanent feature of Guyana’s criminal justice system.
Restorative justice units will be implemented within the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s probation centres nationwide to address rising crime rates and promote successful reintegration.
“We will use the probation department here, and put in that department, a restorative justice officer, because… we believe that if we put the two services together, we will save time and money, and we will have an additional service available for the people in the region,” AG Nandlall said.
Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock welcomed this initiative as another commitment fulfilled by the government. Similar outreaches have already taken place in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, Region One. (DPI)
Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, SC, addressing Region Nine residents
Berbice Expo launched with focus on oil and gas, agriculture
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha delivering remarks at the event
THE 18th Annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair was launched at the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) office in Rose Hall Town.
Slated for October 18-21 at the Canje Welfare Community Centre, the annual event will be held under the theme, ‘Innovation in oil, gas
and agriculture for a sustainable future’.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha noted that the theme for the event is timely, underscoring the crucial role of the oil-and-gas industry in creating opportunities for businesses and citizens across the region.
“This annual event is a significant plat -
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Berbice Expo...
FROM PAGE 15
form that brings together stakeholders from across the country, showcasing the strength and diversity of our local businesses,” Minister Mustapha said.
He emphasised that the oil-and-gas sector has opened new investment avenues in agriculture and other industries, driving modernisation throughout Guyana. Additionally, Regional Chairman David Armogan noted that the four-day event remains one of the largest in Berbice.
“This is one of the largest single events in this region over the last 18 years. It gives the business community, both within and outside the region, an opportunity to display their products, and allows people to see what is available,” he said.
The regional chairman also highlighted a key initiative beyond the ‘expo’ that seeks to
aid the development of hundreds of residents of the region. This initiative is the construction of an oil-and-gas institute, which, once completed, will cater to 300 students, offering essential educational opportunities in the rapidly-growing sector.
President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), Poonai Bhigroog also underscored the need for balance between the benefits of oil and gas, and continued investment in agriculture, ensuring that the growth remains inclusive and beneficial to all citizens.
The ‘expo’ features 160 booths, with 50 per cent already reserved. The entrance fee remains $500, and will be accessible to all, thereby providing a space for citizens to engage with local businesses and see the region’s potential on display.
(DPI)
Attendees of the launch of the 18th Annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair
Kingston Seawall Esplanade observes first anniversary
PATRONS of the Kingston Seawall Esplanade were treated to an evening of cultural performances in observance of the first anniversary since the space was launched by the First Lady of Guyana, Arya Ali. Mrs Ali, during her brief address to those
gathered, highlighted the important role that the beautified space plays in people’s lives. She said
the esplanade was created to provide a beautiful, accessible space, where everyone in Region Four and
visitors can unwind and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
First Lady Mrs Arya Ali
Scenes from the Kingston Seawall Esplanade TURN
Leopold Street man shot dead
POLICE detectives in Regional Division 4’A’ are probing the murder of Troy Rodrigues,
hours on Friday at Vlissengen Square, between West Ruimveldt Front Road and Mandela Ave-
called 'Kelly', a 23-yearold mechanic of Lot 165 Leopold Street, Werken-Rust, Georgetown.
A statement from the police said the man was shot dead at around 19:15
nue, Georgetown. A 25-year-old construction worker told the police that on the date and time mentioned, he was in his backyard bathing when he heard two loud
explosions that sounded like gunshots.
He said he looked over his fence and saw a man lying motionless on the road. He then ran out to the road where a small crowd gathered and saw Rodrigues lying in a pool of blood.
Rodrigues was clad in a green jersey, blue short pants, a pair of black slippers and a black surgical mask on his face. His body was examined, and a small circular wound was seen on his forehead. No spent shells were found. The body is at GPHC's mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination. Several persons in the area were questioned as investigations continue.
Dead: Troy Rodrigues
Kingston Seawall Esplanade...
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“Today as we look out over this vibrant stretch of waterfront, it’s heartening to see how our shared vision has blossomed beautifully,” she stated.
She expressed gratitude to all who played a part in bringing the project to life and making the space “a true gem of our city.”
“This space is more than just a place to take a
stroll. It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with a shared purpose. It’s where families gather, friends reconnect and visitors experience the warmth of our community. We have seen it transformed into a lively venue for events, a peaceful escape and a thriving space for our local vendors,” the First Lady said.
She noted that the space provides well-main-
tained a menities, ample seating, a children’s play park, and a dedicated food-vending area. However, she said it was also disheartening to see persons engaged in vandalism and destruction
of property, lights being broken and stolen, washrooms clogged and broken, tables and chairs defaced and destroyed.
She urged everyone to continue using the space with respect and care,
noting that the success of the space has both to do with its physical presence and how it enhances community spirit and stands as a symbol.
“I want to urge us to try our very best to
take care of these amenities. It belongs to you. It belongs to me. It belongs to our children. It belongs to every single Guyanese,” she stated. (DPI)
Scenes from the Kingston Seawall Esplanade
WCB man dies after car collides with utility pole
Police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred on Saturday at around 3:00 hours on Cottage Public Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The accident claimed the life of 28-year-old Collin Dowden, a resident of Belle Vue, West Coast Berbice (WCB).
The incident involved motorcar #PJJ 2006, driven by Shakeem Booker, a 23-year-old from Seafield, WCB. According to initial police investigations, the vehicle was speeding east along the Cottage Public Road when the driver reportedly lost control. The car veered off the road and onto the south-
ern grass parapet before slamming into a concrete and mesh fence, ultimately crashing into a utility pole. As a result of the collision, the driver and three passengers sustained injuries. The occupants of the car were identified as Ron Robertson, 36, of No. 42 Village WCB; Collin Dowden, 28, of Belle Vue
WCB; and Tyreece McDonald, 17, of Seafield, WCB.
Emergency responders rushed all four injured individuals to the Mahaicony Public Hospital. Upon arrival, Dowden was pronounced dead. The driver, along with the other two passengers, Robertson and McDonald, received
medical treatment at the hospital before being transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for further care.
tion.
Vigilance resident dies in hit-and-run accident
AN accident Friday night at Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) has left a man dead and the police looking for the driver who fled the scene.
Dead is Adree Slowe, 62, of Lot 8 Vigilance South, ECD. The accident occurred at around 23:00 hours.
The police said that Slowe was crossing the road from the southern side to the northern side while minibus # BAC 4129 was proceeding east on the said road at a fast rate. The bus collided with the pedestrian, dragging him about 100 feet from the point of impact.
The minibus subsequently drove away from the scene. As a result of the collision,
the pedestrian received injuries on his body. The Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) pronounced Slowe dead at the scene. His body is currently at the Memorial Gardens Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. Investigations are ongoing.
Dowden’s body has since been taken to Bailey’s Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examina
Dead: Collin Dowden
The aftermath of the accident at Cottage Public Road, Mahaicony, ECD
Dead: Adree Slowe
West Demerara Regional Hospital is crucial for Region Three – Jagdeo
THE new modern stateof-the-art West Demerara Regional Hospital is crucial for the growing populace in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), People’s Progressive Party (PPP)’s General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has proclaimed.
He made these remarks in response to an editorial published in the Stabroek News (SN), in which President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s announcement regarding the construction of a new hospital in West Demerara was criticised.
President Ali, in his announcement, noted that the old structure could no longer meet the demands of the growing regional economy, nor could it provide the level of healthcare necessary in this stage of development, requiring the building of a new facility.
“It’s wooden; it’s falling apart. You heard what we’ve said before. It’s not off the top of the president’s head that he made this announcement,” Dr. Jagdeo added during his news conference on Thursday at Freedom House in Georgetown.
The government has initiated a large-scale health agenda, which involves building 12 major hospitals to cater to the needs of residents in their respective regions. While new facilities are
under construction, the administration is aware that existing facilities also need to be upgraded.
Dr. Jagdeo also asserted that there is no need for a feasibility study for the construction of another hospital, as it is believed that the current hospital serves a large population.
“What study do you need to replace an existing hospital that halfserves tons of people every day? You must hire a consultant to do a study for two years, and then take it to a GHRA to sign off on it?” he questioned.
The West Demerara Regional Hospital is undergoing significant upgrades, including the construction of a new mortuary and the acquisition of equipment for laparoscopic surgeries. Additionally, surgical services have been expanded from limited hours to round-the-clock availability.
In the 2024 Mid-Year Report, the Ministry of Finance noted that the designs for the new West Demerara Hospital will be finalised in the latter part of 2024.
Two hospitals are currently being constructed at De Kinderen and Zeelugt, and, when completed, will bolster the delivery of quality and efficient healthcare services to the people of Region Three. (DPI)
A new regional hospital will be constructed in West Demerara, replacing the old structure that cannot meet the growing demand
Gas-to-energy project positions Guyana to expand manufacturing sector, says Minister Bharrat
says the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project, currently underway, will significantly bolster the country’s ability to expand its manufacturing sector, as the reliable and affordable energy it promises will open new
doors for industrial growth.
Speaking at the launch of Massy Gas Products’ Air Separation Unit (ASU) last Thursday, the Minister emphasised the role the GTE project will play in transforming Guyana’s economy, especially by reducing electricity costs and fostering new opportunities in key industries.
According to him, high electricity costs have been a significant factor driving manufacturers away from Guyana, limiting industrial growth and competitiveness.
“The cost of power generation and the reliability of power generation in Guyana is an issue. It is not because people don't want to come and invest in Guyana. But it is because of the high operational costs which will eat away at their profitability that they don't want to come. And in addressing that, we have started what I deem will be the most transformational project that we will ever witness in our country, that is, the gas-to-energy project,” he said. Minister Bharrat acknowledged that Guyana has the highest power generation costs in the region, at over 20 US cents per kilowatt-hour. He said this is a significant barrier for businesses, especially those in energy-intensive industries like manufacturing. He compared Guyana’s energy costs to those of neighbouring countries that generate electricity at less than 10 US cents per kilowatt-hour.
He reasoned: “There is no way you can compete when your cost of power is so high. When you're generating electricity at over 20 US cents per kilowatt. How can you compete with a country that is generating at less than 10 US cents per kilowatt? It's impossible. And if I'm an
investor, I'll be crazy to be investing in a country where the energy cost is over 20 cents, and there is a country next door that is welcoming me as well, but they are 10 cents…”
Regardless of the naysayers and those who may make statements against the GTE project to gain cheap political points, Minister Bharrat said that all Guyanese will benefit from this project, and this project is going to transform the landscape of our country.
Together with Hess Guyana Exploration and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana, its co-venture partners on the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil Guyana is working with the government to advance the GTE project. The Gas-to-Energy Project will see a 200km 12-inch diameter pipeline channeling natural gas from the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels to a power plant Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility that will be built in Wales, WBD. That pipeline will be landing on the West Coast Demerara (WCD) shore and continue approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL and power plant facilities.
The project has an estimated total cost of US$1.8 billion and is cost recoverable. The Gas-to-Energy Project is expected to be up and running by the end of the first quarter of 2025 and has a 25-year lifespan. The conversion of natural gas from ExxonMobil’s offshore operations to electricity is a key component of the government’s objective to lower energy costs by at least 50 per cent through an energy mix which incorporates gas, solar, wind, and hydropower.
MINISTER of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat
A model of Guyana’s gas-to-energy project
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Sunday September 15, 2024)
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(2) What was the highest individual score recorded in CPL 2016?
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Thousands mourn Ugandan Olympian killed by ex-partner
Rebecca Cheptegei’s last race was at the Paris Olympics
OLYMPIC marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set ablaze by her former boyfriend and later died has been buried in her father's homestead in eastern Uganda.
As she was also a member of Uganda's Armed Forces, soldiers carried the coffin, and she was given a three-volley salute.
Dickson Ndiema attacked Cheptegei with petrol just under a fortnight ago outside her home in neighbouring north-west Kenya, close to where she trained.
The 33-year-old's killing, and its brutal nature, left her family distraught and shocked many others across the world.
It underscored the high levels of violence against women in Kenya and the fact that several female athletes have been victims in recent years.
Among those at the somber and emotional funeral ceremony in a school field in Bukwo, Cheptegei's home district, were fellow athletes wearing black T-shirts with the slogan "say no to gender-based violence".
"We are guilty as [a] government, but also the community is guilty," Kenya's Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kipchumba Murkomen told mourners.
"Let us say the truth. It is not true that we did not know even in the local community that Rebecca was facing family problems."
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph, and mother, Agnes, remember a kind-hearted child who became the breadwinner for the extended family
Cheptegei and Ndiema had reportedly been wrangling over a piece of land.
One of her teammates at the recent Paris Olympics, Stella Chesang, also spoke.
"It is really a sad moment in Uganda... and all of us friends.
As a team who we went to Paris with Rebecca, we really felt it because... we were together, enjoying together and it is really sad," she said.
The Olympic marathonin which she came 44th - was Cheptegei's last race.
Earlier, with her coffin on display and draped in the Ugandan flag, local leaders held a memorial service.
They observed a moment of silence and gave a standing ovation as they paid their respects to the late athlete.
Councillors said Cheptegei lived "a simple and focused life" and always offered guidance to her fellow athletes. "She inspired many children in the area to join athletics," one said. They also proposed to name a road and a local sports venue in her honour.
Cheptegei died in hospital four days after the attack. Doctors said she had suffered burns on more than 80 per cent of her body which "led to multi-organ failure".
Ndiema, who was also burned after some of the fuel splashed on his own body, died
on Monday.
He attacked the mother-oftwo after she returned from a service at a church, the God's Dwelling Ministry.
The pastor there, Caroline Atieno, remembers a "wonderful... God-fearing person".
After hearing about what had happened, she managed to speak to Cheptegei on the phone while she was in hospital.
The athlete first asked about her children, who were both fine, the pastor told the BBC's Africa Daily podcast.
Then Cheptegei talked about her attacker: "You mean Dickson is not able to see all I have done for him? He could not remember even one or two things I have done for him and stop setting me on fire? Why has he done this to me?"
On Friday, family members, friends and activists against gender-based violence viewed her coffin at a funeral home in the Kenyan town of Eldoret, before it was driven away.
Her mother, Agnes Cheptegei, covering her face in anguish, was wearing a souvenir bag that the athlete received at the recent Olympics.
She was dressed in a T-shirt which had the slogan "being a woman should not be a death sentence" printed on it.
The mother-of-two was the third female athlete to be killed in Kenya over the last three
Cheptegei’s two daughters, Charity and Joy, at the funeral
As a solider in the Ugandan Armed Forces, there are military elements to
years. In each case, current or former romantic partners were named as the main suspects by police.
In 2021, world-record holder Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death and six months later Damaris Mutua was strangled.
Attacks on women have become a major concern in Kenya. In 2022 at least 34 per cent of women said they had experienced physical violence, according to a national survey.
Some observers are saying that female athletes are becoming increasingly vulnerable.
"[This is] because they go against traditional gender norms where the woman is just in the kitchen and just cooking and taking care of kids. But now female athletes are becoming more independent, financially independent," said Joan Chelimo, who co-founded Tirop’s Angels to help highlight the issue of violence against women.
"We don't want this to happen to any other woman, whether an athlete or from the village, or a young girl," Rachel Kamweru, a spokesperson of the government's department for
Jeremiah Louis set to reunite with brother, Mikyle, at St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots
SEAMER Jeremiah
Louis is set to join his younger brother, Mikyle, at the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), marking the first time the Louis brothers could potentially play together in the tournament. Jeremiah, 28, has been
drafted into the Patriots squad as a replacement for Sherfane Rutherford, who has withdrawn from the competition due to personal reasons. Jeremiah's inclusion adds depth to the Patriots' bowling attack and brings a wealth of experience to the team. Having played six CPL games between
2016 and 2022, Jeremiah has taken three wickets at an average of 38.66, with an economy rate of 9.66. In addition to his CPL experience, Jeremiah also represented the Patriots in the 6IXTY competition, where he took four wickets in five matches in 2022, although he struggled with an economy rate
of 10.68.
Despite his presence in the shorter formats, Jeremiah is best known for his red-ball prowess. Over 57 first-class matches, he has amassed 151 wickets at an impressive average of 25.43. His redball form earned him a call-up to the West Indies Test squad for their recent
tour of England, though injury unfortunately ruled him out before the tour commenced.
While Mikyle Louis made his CPL and T20 debut this season, the chance to play alongside his older brother will be a special moment for both siblings. The addition of Jeremiah brings another dynamic
to the Patriots' squad, as the team looks to build momentum in the CPL 2024 season.
The reunion of the Louis brothers promises to be a highlight of the tournament, with fans eager to see how the siblings combine their talents on the field for the Patriots. (Sportsmax)
gender and affirmative action, told the BBC.
When Cheptegei first got into running, she joined the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in 2008 which helped support her.
Her last race was at the Paris Olympics. Although she came 44th people in her home area still referred to her as "champion".
She won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
Jeremiah Louis
Cheptegei’s funeral
Seamer,
Jacob Bethell’s superstar quality comes to the fore
…Friday night’s takedown of Adam Zampa showed why the 20-year-old is so highly rated by England
IT was a takedown that showed why English cricket is so excited about a precociously talented allrounder.
Jacob Bethell is only 20, but his assault on Adam Zampa's leg-spin showed exactly why England's stand-in coach, Marcus Trescothick believes he will become "a superstar".
Bethell had played second fiddle to Liam Livingstone in their fourth-wicket partnership, focusing on trying to get his senior partner back on strike. But when Livingstone hit three consecutive boundaries off Marcus Stoinis, Bethell spotted an opportunity to assert England's dominance.
Facing Zampa - the outstanding bowler in an understrength Australian attack - Bethell skipped down to the first two balls of the 14th over, whipping the first through midwicket and launching the second over wide long-on. Zampa's response was a fast, flat googly, which Bethell had the presence of mind to spot and slap through cover.
The fourth ball was shorter, and dragged hard through the leg side: Cameron Green sprawled at full stretch to cut it off, but replays confirmed it was a fourth consecutive boundary. A raucous Friday
night Cardiff crowd greeted each one with a louder cheer; in the space of four balls, Bethell had turned an equation of 62 off 42 into 42 off 38.
Bethell fell two overs later for 44, his partnership with Livingstone worth 90. They dovetailed to great effect: Livingstone targeted Australia's seamers throughout his innings of 87, scoring heavily over midwicket, while Bethell tucked into the spin of Zampa and Cooper Connolly.
The gameplan was simple. "Livi was going well, so I just
didn't want to put any pressure back on him," Bethell explained. "[I thought] just play strong shots and get off strike, until the opportunity came to take advantage of a match-up, and I did that. He [Zampa] is a great bowler, so to be able to do that against him was brilliant."
Bethell and Livingstone are Birmingham Phoenix teammates and have worked closely over the past two months. Livingstone has acted as a mentor and presented Bethell with his maiden England cap at the Utilita Bowl
Haaland scores twice as Manchester City beat Brentford
ERLING Haaland
scored twice to take his Premier League tally to nine, as Manchester City recovered from conceding after just 23 seconds to maintain their 100% record with victory over Brentford. Visiting forward Yoane Wissa scored the quickest top-flight goal of the season, heading into an empty net from close range after John
Stones and Ederson inexplicably messed up attempting to clear Keane Lewis-Potter's nod-back.
City were rocking but Haaland steadied the ship, driving home the loose ball after Kevin de Bruyne had been tackled inside the Brentford box. The Norwegian was playing despite the death of a close family friend in midweek. He scored a second before the break
as he outmuscled Ethan Pinnock to reach Ederson's long punt forward. It left Haaland tantalisingly close to becoming only the fifth player in English top-flight history - and the first since 1946 - to score three successive hat-tricks.
He came close.
on Wednesday night. "He's been brilliant," Bethell said. "Obviously, Livi is one of the most hard-hitting batsmen in the world. He's got a reputation and has done it all over the world, so to be able to bat with him, train with him and just be around him has been brilliant. I've been lucky enough to have a few partnerships with him in the Hundred, and then I really enjoyed playing with him tonight."
Livingstone saw Bethell's treatment of Zampa as "the real turning point" in En -
gland's chase. "For a lad that's 20 years old to take down one of the best bowlers in whiteball cricket over the last two years just shows what he's got," he said. "As an England player, it's great to have someone like that in our team. But as an England fan over the next 10 or 15 years, I think we've got an incredible talent on our hands.
It might sound like a lofty prediction for a batter who is yet to score a professional hundred, but Bethell has long been marked out as a special player. He was considered a childhood prodigy in Barbados, where he spent the first 13 years of his life, and has been highly rated in the English system since moving over to become a sports scholar at Rugby School. With a peroxide-blond perm, he exudes self-confidence.
Moving over at a young age has meant Bethell has rarely played in front of his family. They had planned a trip over from Barbados around Warwickshire's endof-season dinner, which they quickly brought forward in order to watch him play his first internationals. "They landed just before the first game," Bethell said.
It was not a convincing debut: three wicketless overs of left-arm spin and losing his leg stump to Zampa for a sixball two. But his second cap was much more impressive. "It is quite hard to focus on the cricket," Bethell reflected. "It was nice to get that out the way. It was a special evening, but nice to then hit the ground running today and put a good performance in.
"They've given up so much to give me this opportunity to come over here. To do it in front of them - they've not watched me play a lot of cricket live, so to finally watch me, and it being in international colours, is unreal. They just said they're proud: emotions spill out on nights like these, but they're happy and I'm happy, so it's good."
Next week's ODI series will provide Bethell with a new challenge: he has only played 16 List A games, the most recent coming in August 2023, and will have to adjust to the tempo of 50over cricket. But it would be no great surprise to see him thrive: Bethell has made taking every opportunity that comes his way an early theme of a hugely promising career. (ESPN CricInfo)
Brentford keeper Mark Flekken tipped one goalbound effort over the bar. Haaland then sent an instinctive first-time strike against the post and was unable to get enough power behind the rebound to take it into the net.
But, despite the
crowd clearly willing him on, dad Alfie watching from the stands and manager Pep Guardiola opting not to take him off even though his side start their Champions League campaign with a 2023 final rematch against Inter Milan on Wednesday, this time Haaland had to settle for two. (BBC Sport)
Jacob Bethell turned on the power to show his potential
Erling Haaland fell just short of a third straight hat-trick
Record number of teams registered for Courts Optical Pee Wee Under-11 football tournament
A RECORD number of teams have registered for the 11th Annual Courts Optical Pee Wee Under-11 football tournament, which kicks off next Saturday at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.
The tournament was launched last Thursday at Courts Store on Main Street, with both organisers and sponsors expressing their excitement in preparation for
the start of the event.
Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of Petra Organisation said there will be an increase in teams from last year’s 32 participants, with eight of the ten administrative regions being represented, bringing players from as far as Barima/Waini in Region One.
Mendonca said the tournament has grown significantly over the years, becoming a much-anticipated event on the primary
schools’ curriculum. He expressed gratitude for the support given by Minister of Education Priya Manikchand, and Sports Minister Charles Ramson Jr. to the programme.
Malissa Sylvester, Head of Sales at Unicomer Guyana Inc, the parent company of Courts Guyana, said her company is thrilled to witness the continued growth of the tournament, and it aligns perfectly with their value of promoting social
good.
“The significant milestone marks more than a decade of dedication to serving our communities, and empowering young talent. Through our social programmes and sponsorships, Courts Optical not only promotes good eye health, but also the total development of the child,” she said.
Franklyn Wilson, Assistant Director of Sport, and Head of the Unit of Allied Arts of the Minis-
try of Education Nicholas Fraser both emphasised the importance of sport and its benefit to children in their remarks.
Richard Simpson, Courts Optical Brand Manager, the premier sponsor of the tournament, said he is excited for the start of the tournament, and expressed appreciation to the Petra Organisation for its organizational ability.
The tournament will start on Saturday, Septem-
ber 21, and will run until November 2.
The teams will first play in a round-robin group format groups of 4 or 8 depending on the final number of teams, before being reduced to 16 following the preliminary phase to 16, with the winner of the Round of 16 advancing to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.
St. Pius Primary School of Georgetown was last year’s winners.
Peters, Camacho-Quinn lead stellar Caribbean performances at Diamond League
BRUSSELS, Belgium
(CMC) – Anderson Peters of Grenada and Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn brought the curtain down at the Diamond League final here Saturday with excellent performances in their respective events.
Peters’ opening throw of 87.87 metres proved just enough to win the men’s javelin, with Neeraj Chopra of India a close second with his effort measured at 87.86 metres. Germany’s Julian Weber (85.97m) finished third.
Meanwhile, Cama -
Anderson Peters won the men’s javelin at the Diamond League final
cho-Quinn, fresh from capturing bronze at the Paris Olympics, blazed to victory in the women’s 100-metre hurdles in a time of 12.38 seconds, ahead of Nadine Fisherman of the Netherlands (12.54) and Ackera Nugent of Jamaica, who was third in 12.55 seconds.
Another Jamaican, Danielle Williams was fifth in 12.62 seconds.
They were also podium finishes for Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon and Rajindra Campbell, as well as Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic on Saturday’s final
day. Salmon clocked 53.99 seconds to finish third in the women’s 400-metre hurdles behind Femke Bol (52.45), who secured a third consecutive Diamond League title, with Anna Cockrell of the USA second in 53.71.
Campbell placed third in the men’s shot put with his throw of 21.95 metres. The event was won by Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, who threw a meet record of 22.98, with American Ryan Crouser second (22.79).
Ogando also grabbed bronze in the men’s 200
metres in 19.97 seconds, behind eventual winner Kenneth Bednarek of the USA (19.67), who beat out Olympic gold medalist Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (19.80) into second.
In other results, Jamaicans Roshawn Clarke (49.08) and Malik JamesKing (49.37) were fifth and sixth respectively in the men’s 400 metre hurdles, while compatriot Romaine Beckford settled for fourth in the men’s high jump with his effort measured at 2.22 metres.
Kane scores hat-trick in emphatic Bayern Munich win
HARRY Kane scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich took just 13 seconds to open the scoring against newly promoted Holstein Kiel, returning to the top of the Bundesliga with an emphatic win.
Kane nodded on for Jamal Musiala to run clear and score Bayern's joint second-fastest goal in the Bundesliga era.
Kane scored twice in a rampant first half either side of an own goal from Nicolai Remberg, with former Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise grabbing his first Bayern goal after the break.
Kane then scored a
penalty in stoppage time to wrap up victory and a fifth hat-trick for the club.
Vincent Kompany's side have won all three league games while Kiel - in their first Bundesliga season - have yet to record a point.
Only striker Giovane Elber has scored a faster goal in the Bundesliga for Bayern than Musiala, the Brazilian netting after 11 seconds against Hamburg in 1998.
Musiala made no mistake after two defenders collided before former Tottenham and Fulham man Lewis Holtby gave the ball away and Musiala teed up Kane for the
second.
Kane has now scored against all 18 teams he has faced in the Bundesliga, and after Remberg turned into his own goal the England captain curled in a fine second from 20 yards.
Olise swept in a rebound after Alphonso Davies had a shot saved to put Bayern 5-0 up, but Armin Gigovic gave the home fans something to cheer when he headed in a late consolation, their first goal at home in the league.
There was still time for Kane to win - and convert - a spot-kick in added time. (BBC Sport)
Harry Kane has scored 40 goals in 35 Bundesliga games for Bayern Munich
Gloucestershire beat Somerset to win first T20 title
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
won their first T20 Blast title in glorious style as they comprehensively outplayed West Country rivals Somerset.
Openers Cameron Bancroft, up against his former county, and Miles Hammond both hit half-centuries at Edgbaston as they won by eight wickets with 31 balls to spare.
Somerset's hopes of a trophy treble, which had been given such a big boost by Thursday's sensational County Championship win over Surrey, increased when they beat Surrey again in a well-contested semi-final.
But that treble dream ended when they proved to be simply no match for a Gloucestershire side who came from nowhere to squeeze through in the Southern Group, then followed it up with three straight Edgbaston wins.
The unlikely quarter-final victory over Birmingham Bears eight days ago, Saturday afternoon's eight-wicket win over Sus-
sex and then this repeat eight-wicket walloping earned Gloucestershire their first knockout trophy win since 2015.
Somerset still have the Championship title and the One-Day Cup to go at, Gloucestershire became the 14th side to win the T20leaving Yorkshire, Durham, Derbyshire and Glamorgan as the only four sides who have not done so.
And it was also a per-
sonal triumph for coach Mark Alleyne, who played in the only other cup final meeting between Somerset and Gloucestershire in the Nat West Trophy at Lord's 25 years ago.
After being inserted by Gloucestershire, Tom Kohler-Cadmore got over his semi-final golden duck to make a bright start with Will Smeed, smashing 28 off the first three overs.
But Somerset then wob-
bled as Smeed steered Matt Taylor's first ball straight to backward point. And Taylor then added a second wicket in the over when he deceived Kohler-Cadmore with his slower ball and Tom Price took an off-side catch.
Taylor then had another off the final ball of his next over when James Rew was caught in the covers by a diving Bancroft. And, just two balls later, Somerset's
other semi-final half-centurion hero Sean Dickson also fell cheaply first ball when he reverse-swept into his leg stump, off Ollie Price.
Tom Abell perished to Tom Price at long on, then David Payne struck twice in two balls when Benny Green was caught off a leading edge at backward point and Craig Overton looped a slower delivery to Jack Taylor diving forward to take the catch at mid off.
After Roelof van der Merwe was caught behind, captain Gregory eked a few more to go to his half-century before he was ninth out and Jake Ball was last out in the final over.
But 124 - the lowest first-innings score in a T20 final since Warwickshire made just 115 in the very first final in 2003 - never looked nearly enough.
And it soon became clear the way Bancroft and Hammond were going that the big danger to Somerset was not just losing - but becoming the first to do so on Finals Day by 10 wickets.
As it was, after just a couple of close calls, Bancroft finally perished with only 13 needed, when he was caught on the boundary by Smeed off Josh Davey.
But not until he had followed Daniel Hughes, Sam Hain, Michael Pepper and injured Somerset opener Banton as the fifth player to reach 500 runs in the Blast this summer.
The Australian was only deemed good enough to have played in one T20 international for his countryagainst India in 2016 when he batted at number seven at the end of the innings and never faced a ball.
But he shone here when it mattered most, hitting two sixes and five fours, although outscored in the end by Hammond, who plundered three sixes and six fours.
The victors did lose another wicket - James Bracey - before Ollie Price came in to end the match in style with the winning six.
GCA and Friends of Cricket 2 nd division two-day tournament
Windies female spinner Shultz bags 5-62 on debut
By Sean Devers
GUYANA and West Indies
Women’s left-arm spinner Kaysia Schultz took 5-62 for the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) on her second division debut yesterday at the Malteenoes ground against the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
GDF batted first on a track which offered turn for the spinners and a heavy outfield and declared on 276-8.
Openers Rockael Reddy reached the boundary eight times in his 65-ball 51 and added 90 for the first wicket with left- hander Leon Andrews whose 37 lasted 42 balls and was decorated
with four fours.
But the 27-year-old Shultz removed both openers in the space of three balls in the 18th over, to trigger a collapse which left the Soldiers 136-4.
Shultz who has played four T20 Internationals for the West Indies after making her debut against England in Barbados in December 2022, removed Keith Simpson (6) and Hakeem David (27).
Joshua Jones’ pugnacious 68 and 32 from Kemar Ferreira and an unbeaten 27 from Jamal Chisholm rallied a GDF fightback.
Shultz the only female in the match, dismissed Ferreira to prompt the dec-
laration.
Former Guyana FirstClass player Shemroy Barrington supported Shultz by taking 2-39.
By the end of the first day, MSC finished on 57-3 having lost Adrian Hinds who fell to Jones for a duck off the third ball of the innings.
Keith Simpson got rid of Collis Rimple (11) before Jones, working up ‘good’ pace, trapped Shaquille Mosley LBW for one as MSC slipped to 26-3.
Barrington (22) and Tretlon Liverpool (18) saw the Thomas Road team to the close, trailing by 219 runs going into today’s final day.
Gloucestershire’s last knockout trophy triumph was their sixrun One-Day Cup win over Surrey at Lord’s in 2015
Knight Riders snatch victory from jaws of defeat against Royals
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – The Trinbago Knight Riders ended the Barbados Royals’ unbeaten streak in the Caribbean Premier League with a thrilling two-wicket victory at Kensington Oval here Friday night.
After Rovman Powell’s late assault propelled the Royals to 156 for seven from their seven overs, Terrance Hinds took advantage of pacer Jason Holder’s costly error to smash a six off the penultimate ball as the Knight Riders posted 159 for eight off 19.5 overs.
In a tipsy turvy contest, the Royals produced a subpar batting performance after being sent in to bat, with three of their batsmen failing to score.
Clarke holed out to long on for 18 off the bowling of Salamkheil, the Royals were in trouble at 71 for five in the 11th over.
David Miller contributed 19 and Keshav Maharaj made a laboured 14 from 16 balls, as the Royals crawled to 128 for seven after 18 overs.
But Powell finished the innings with a flurry, blasting 28 runs from the last two overs to not only bring up his 50 but help the Royals post a competitive total.
nings from spinner Maheesh Theekshana straight into the hands of Powell at mid off.
Jason Roy didn’t last long at the crease either, scoring just nine before Theekshana trapped him lbw to make it 11-2.
Shaqkere Parris (35), Nicholas Pooran (35) and Keacy Carty (32), then wrestled the initiative away from the Royals with solid partnerships, to put the Knight Riders in the driver’s seat at 106 for three in the 14th over.
off 10 balls, to bring them back in the contest.
With 11 runs needed off the final over bowled by Holder, the Royals seized the momentum when the fast bowler had Hosein caught at deep midwicket off the fourth ball, with the Knight Riders still needing six runs.
Holder then turned villain with his very next delivery, a waist-high no-ball that new batsman Jayden Seales was able to scamper for a single to put Hinds on strike.
Rahkeem Cornwall continued his slump with a first-ball duck when he was caught behind off spinner Akeal Hosein and Alick Athanaze faced just two balls before he was trapped plumb in front by Hosein to leave the Royals 2-1 in the first over.
er and put on 53 runs in six overs to bring some stability to the innings, before de Kock became the first of Waqar Salamkheil’s three wickets when he was bowled for 39 from 21 balls.
Quinton de Kock and Rivaldo Clarke came togeth-
Jason Holder lasted four balls for his duck and when
Powell finished unbeaten on 59 from 38 balls with five sixes and two fours.
Salamkheil claimed 3-13 from his four overs, while Hosein and Sunil Narine both took two wickets.
The Knight Riders got off to the worst possible start in their chase when Narine lofted the very first ball of the in-
Caribbean athletes shine on opening day of Diamond
By Lennox Aldred BRUSSELS, Belgium (CMC)
-The first day of the Diamond League Finals in Brussels saw an outstanding display from Caribbean athletes as Julien Alfred, Ackeem Blake, Tajay Gayle, and Marileidy Paulino ended their seasons as champions on Friday.
St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred, fresh from her historic Olympic gold in Paris, avenged her recent defeat to Sha’Carri Richardson by winning the women’s 100m. Alfred crossed the line in 10.88 seconds, narrowly beating Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who clocked 10.92. Côte d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou secured third in 11.05, while Richardson, who had edged Alfred in Zurich, struggled and finished eighth in 11.23. Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake
delivered one of the night’s best performances, winning the men’s 100m in 9.93 seconds. In a stacked field that included Fred Kerley, Christian Coleman, and Akani Simbine, Blake was the only sprinter to dip under 10 seconds. Coleman finished second in 10.00, with Kerley taking third in 10.01. Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino, the Olympic 400m champion, continued her reign in the 400m, crossing the line in 49.45 seconds. The USA’s Alexis Holmes finished second in 50.32, with Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke third in 50.96. Sada Williams of Barbados finished in 7th place in a time of 52.68. In the women’s invitational 400m, Jamaica’s Stacey-Ann Williams secured second place with a time of 50.53. The race was won by Sydney McLaugh-
But once Theekshana accounted for Parris, the Knight Riders lost four wickets for 30 runs – including the crucial wicket of captain Kieron Pollard for just three – to slump to 136 for seven in the 19th over.
However, Player-of-theMatch Hosein rescued his side by hitting four crucial boundaries in scoring 20 runs
Hinds then clobbered the resulting free hit back over the bowler’s head for a massive six to spark wild celebrations among the Knight Riders and silence the large crowd on hand.
Theekshana was the pick of the Royals’ bowlers with 3-26, while Obed McCoy took 2-30.
League finals in Brussels
lin-Levrone, who delivered a powerful performance, clocking 49.11. Romania’s Andrea Miklos finished third in 51.16. Stephenie-Ann McPherson, closing out her remarkable
career, finished fourth in her final Diamond League race, clocking 51.24. In the men’s 400m, Grenadian icon Kirani James finished second in 44.63, just
behind Great Britain’s Charles Dobson, who won in 44.49. Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga placed third with a time of 44.69.
Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle
capped his season with a triumphant leap in the men’s long jump, reaching a season-best 8.28m to take the title. Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer finished second with 8.16m, while Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou took third at 8.15m.
In the women’s triple jump, Cuba’s Leyanis Perez Hernandez secured the title with a jump of 14.37m. Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts claimed silver with a final jump of 14.22m, while compatriot Ackelia Smith took bronze with 14.11m.
Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin fought her way to third in the women’s 800m, finishing in 1:58.94. Kenya’s Mary Moraa won the race in 1:56.56, while Great Britain’s Georgia Bell placed second in 1:57.50.
Player-of-the-Match Akeal Hosein produced a late cameo to guide the Trinbago Knight Riders to victory
Julien Alfred wins 100m Diamond Trophy, edges out Britan’s Dina Asher-Smith