Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 17-12-2023

17th DECEMBER, 2023

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UK, Canada welcome outcome of St. Vincent talks No.107297

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- reaffirm support for Guyana’s sovereignty - UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Americas, Caribbean to visit soon

Keeping Guyana clean!

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat led a clean-up exercise in the community of Diamond, East Bank Demerara yesterday

Minister Mustapha APNU+AFC overpaid Wing of UG’s new Science addresses concerns over $8M for fence at & Tech. building to be of Mahaicony River farmers New Opportunity Corps renamed after fallen soldier SEE PAGE

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$1M granted for enhancement of Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance NDC playground

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

UK, Canada welcome outcome of St. Vincent talks 3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

- reaffirm support for Guyana’s sovereignty - UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Americas, Caribbean to visit soon

WHILE re-affirming its support for Guya n a ’s s o v e r e i g n t y, Global Affairs Canada, on Friday, recognised the dialogue between Presidents, Dr Irfaan Ali and Nicolas Maduro, as a “productive” step towards maintaining peace and security in the region.

The department of the Government of Canada further commended the diplomatic efforts by CARICOM and CELAC for hosting a dialogue between the two Presidents.

Global Affairs Canada issued the following statement: “Canada has been closely monitoring recent developments following the consultative referendum on the Essequibo region that took place in Venezuela on December 3, 2023, and has been deeply concerned by growing tensions in the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana. Canada stands with the Guyanese people and government in calling for the application of and respect for international law and strongly supports Guyana’s territorial integrity.

“Canada salutes the diplomatic efforts of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) members in hosting a dialogue between the presidents of Guyana and Venezuela in Argyle, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, on Thursday, December 14, as well as the mediation role played by Brazil and the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

“Canada reaffirms its

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Americas and Caribbean, David Rutley Presidents, Dr Irfaan Ali and Nicolas Maduro in St Vincent and the Grenadines

support for Guyana’s sovereignty and seeks a peaceful and diplomatic settlement of the dispute at the International Court of Justice. Canada recognises Thursday’s dialogue as a productive step toward maintaining peace and security in the region and commends all efforts to keep channels of dialogue open in this regard.”

UK reaffirms support for Guyana Additionally, Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who has not been shy in condemning the actions by Venezuela towards Guyana’s territorial sovereignty, wrote in a post on the social media platform, ‘X’: “The statement by Venezuela in St Vincent that it will refrain from the use of force and any further escalation is welcome.

And it must be followed by concrete actions.”

He also revealed that their Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Americas and Caribbean, David Rutley, will be

visiting Guyana in the coming days to further show their support to the Guyanese people on this pivotal issue.

Cameron further commended the efforts of the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, in fostering peace in Latin America and the Caribbean and stressed that sovereign borders must be respected.

He also said that the UK will continue to work with their partners in the region and internationally to ensure respect for Guyana's sovereignty.

ZONE OF PEACE P r es id en t A li h as maintained that Guyana will not retreat from its position that the border controversy with Venezuela is properly before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

President Ali and President Maduro of Venezuela, have also committed to maintaining a “zone of peace.”

Following the historic meeting between the two leaders on Thurs-

day last, Guyana and Venezuela declared they will not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States.

They also agreed that any controversies between the two States will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966.

Among other things, Guyana and Venezuela also agreed to continue dialogue on any other pending matters of mutual importance to the two countries and a commitment was given that both States will refrain, whether by words or deeds, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any controversy between them.

The two States will also cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground conducive to tension between them. In the event of such an incident the

two States will immediately communicate with one another, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC), and the President of Brazil to contain, reverse and prevent its recurrence.

Guyana and Venezuela have agreed to establish immediately a joint commission of the Foreign Ministers and technical persons to address matters as mutually agreed. An update from this joint commission will be submitted to the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela within three months.

Both countries agreed to meet again in Brazil, within the next three months, or at another agreed time, to consider any matter with implications for the territory in dispute, including the above-mentioned update of the joint commission.

ARBITRAL AWARD The genesis of the controversy dates back to the 1899 Arbitral Award, a landmark decision that delineated the land boundary between then British Guiana (now

Guyana) and Venezuela.

Despite historical arbitration, tensions persisted, leading Guyana to approach the ICJ in 2018, seeking affirmation of the award’s legitimacy.

The ICJ’s provisional measures are binding on the parties involved.

Under the UN Charter, all states are solemnly bound to comply with the court’s orders, which can be enforced by the UN Security Council.

The substantive case, which highlights the historical context and the 1899 Arbitral Award, remains before the World Court.

Guyana has reached out to the international community to call attention to Venezuela’s actions that are completely outside the norm of the rule of law, and which present a real threat to the peace and security of the Latin American and Caribbean Region.

Guyana enjoys the full, principled and unequivocal support of CARICOM, the Commonwealth and other partners from around the world.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

Wing of UG’s new Science & Tech. building to be renamed after fallen soldier

THE University of Guyana (UG) and one of its key development partners, the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), on Friday turned the sod for a three-part project which includes the construction of a new and modern state-of-the-art Science and Technology Building at the University’s Turkeyen Campus.

The other two parts of the project will include retrofitting of labs in the faculty over the next few months and the addition of three new labs into the existing Faculty of Engineering building. All of this go towards the university’s five main goals - creating 50 per cent of the lab – teaching spaces currently needed; extending the disciplines offered in STEM by the Faculties of Engineering and Technology and the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences; doubling the number of graduates in engineering in three years in keeping with the high demand for UG trained engineers; providing purpose-built facilities for

staff and students, promoting collaborative cutting-edge research and problem focused interdisciplinary teaching; and supporting the first International Accreditation of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology which is due in 2024.

The project is part of a larger US$2.1M five-year collaboration between UG and the GGI which was negotiated in 2019 by UG’s Office of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE).

The GGI comprises of the Stabroek Block co-venturers’ - ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, CNOOC Petroleum and HESS Corporation.

“The project represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) and the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES). The 15,000 square feet space has been designed as shared spaces to facilitate areas of work where synergy exists for these faculties, including water and ener-

Senior officials of the University of Guyana and the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) pose for a photo at the site of the new Science and Technology building gy sustainability through use of solar energy and information technology.

It will include labs, new classrooms and offices,” a press release from UG noted.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Paloma Mohamed Martin underscored the importance of the facility, noting that it will boost the capacity of the university to produce the quality and

quantity of engineers that are needed.

The VC further explained that over the past six to seven years, the university has seen a massive increase in the number of applicants to the engineering and other technical programmes being offered and to keep up with this demand, such a facility is very much needed.

She added that several new path-breaking projects aimed at further developing the university and its students and staff have been in implementation phase over the last 14 months and are now ready to be launched very early in 2024.

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited Country Manager, Alistair Routledge, who spoke on behalf of the GGI said: “I am delighted to be here for the sod-turning event at this pivotal moment. I stand here on behalf of ExxonMobil Guyana, CNOOC and Hess as the Stabroek Block co-venturers’. What brought us here to Guyana was to explore for and develop the natural resources in the form of oil and gas in the country. Thankfully for all of us we have been successful in that journey and because of that we are in this great position where we have also been able to set aside funds to support these kinds of projects.”

Project Oversight Lead and Head of Department of Civil Engineering at UG, Dr. Kofi Dalrymple, in presenting an overview of the project, stated that the project is part of a larger plan to equip the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, along with its interdisciplinary partners, specifically the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, to serve the country.

Dr. Dalrymple explained that the project provides for the retrofitting of the existing Faculty of Engineering and Technology facilities to address issues and adapt to new learning approaches.

He said: “Our labs are in dire need of upgrade. To

train the engineers of the future, we need facilities that foster learning, cutting-edge research centres, and wellequipped classrooms that create an environment to stimulate curiosity and foster hands-on learning experiences.”

He noted that the project will seek to modernise the facilities to serve as incubators for innovation, allowing aspiring engineers to engage in ground-breaking research and development projects.

Dr. Dalrymple added that the project will allow for the expansion of the existing FET laboratory noting that the student enrolment rate has almost tripled, but the facilities remain the same.

“The faculty has estimated the need for an additional 23,000 square feet in new lab space. This project will add a much needed 5000 square feet. We also are adding new expanded labs for Petroleum and Geology–areas of priority for our faculty and our country,” he said.

According to the release, “subsequent to verifying that Brigadier Gary Beaton of the GDF who was also laid to rest on Friday morning along with four other servicemen who tragically lost their lives last week, was a graduate engineer of the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology, the university proposed to name a wing of the building after the fallen hero.”

The university will also introduce the Five Heroes Award in the names of all of the five fallen servicemen, a university-wide award for students who are officers, servicemen or reserves who attain a high academic profile from 2024.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

Guyana came away from Maduro engagement without ceding any of its positions but gained much

ATTORNEY General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has called out those who are attempting to misconstrue the Argyle Declaration, noting that Guyana significantly gained from the meeting between President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Venezuelan

He further highlighted the fact that some individuals are taking offence to the terms ‘dispute’ as opposed to ‘controversy’ and ‘territory in dispute,’ in reference to the issue at hand, the AG underscored that “the matter has since evolved.”

While emphasising

speculative pontification” on this matter and then reiterated those admonitions.

Speaking more on the misguided rhetoric being spread, the AG pointed out the several volumes of documents that President Maduro had with him at the meeting and its aim to promote the

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

counterpart, Nicolas Maduro.

The meeting was held on Thursday last at the Argyle International Airport in St Vincent and the Grenadines, resulting in the ‘Argyle Declaration’ where the two states, among other things, agreed not to use force against each other.

In a post on his Facebook page, the AG wrote: “Guyana came away from the Argyle engagement without ceding any of its positions but gaining much. We now have to wait and see whether the commitments made on paper will convert themselves into actions. In the regrettable event they are not, their expression on paper will only serve to solidify Guyana’s position for future engagements.”

that the matter is squarely before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for adjudication and the Court has assumed jurisdiction over the matter, Nandlall said that the jurisdiction of a Court of Law is activated only to resolve legal disputes, not controversies.

Addressing the ruffled feathers owing to the terminology, the AG made reference to the judgment handed down by the ICJ when granting the Provisional Measures.

“The Court itself used the term “dispute” and “territory in dispute” seamlessly and interchangeably. Therefore, this objection is one overtaken by events and bears no merit,” he wrote while adding that in an earlier post, he warned many against “reckless

Bolivarian Republic’s rhetoric.

“Many of those were compilations of public statements made on this matter, critical commentaries on the operations of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) and the several legal proceedings filed in relation thereto – all extracted from the local media,” Nandlall wrote while adding that those are materials which Venezuela is using to boost their narrative.

“Whatever weight is placed upon them, they certainly do not and will not assist Guyana in any form or fashion,” he said, while stressing that, in the future, those who wish to travel the road by making reckless statements, or taking such actions, become alive to the consequential reality.

- Attorney General says

President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Thursday, maintained that Guyana will not retreat from its position that the border controversy with Venezuela is properly before the ICJ. President Ali and President Maduro of Venezuela, have also committed to maintaining a “zone of peace.”

The genesis of the controversy dates back to the 1899 Arbitral Award, a landmark decision that delineated the land boundary between then British Guiana (now Guyana) and Venezuela.

Despite historical arbitration, tensions persisted, leading Guyana to approach the ICJ in 2018, seeking affirmation of the award’s legitimacy.

The ICJ’s provisional measures are binding on the parties involved.

Under the UN Charter, all states are solemnly bound to comply with the court’s orders, which can be enforced by the UN Security Council.

The substantive case, which highlights the historical context and the 1899 Arbitral Award, remains before the World

Court.

Guyana has reached out to the international community to call attention to Venezuela’s actions that are completely outside the norm of the Rule of Law, and which present a real threat to the peace and security of the Latin American and Caribbean Region.

Guyana enjoys the full, principled and unequivocal support of CARICOM, the Commonwealth and other partners from around the world.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

Peace and diplomacy

GUYANA’S first line of defence is through diplomacy. Diplomacy, it is said, is "war by other means.” And even though the border controversy between Guyana and neighbouring Venezuela has not reached a stage that can be regarded as a full-fledged war, the potential of it degenerating to such a state cannot be ruled out altogether, given the incendiary rhetoric and postures emanating from Caracas.

It is in the above context that the recent engagement between President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and his Venezuelan counterpart President Nicolas Maduro has to be seen.

Guyana has taken a firm and consistent position that it is interested in a peaceful

and legal resolution to the border controversy within the framework of international law.

Hence its decision to have the matter referred to the United Nations Secretary-General and ultimately to the International Court of Justice, as provided for under the Geneva Agreement.

The decisions taken and agreements reached at the meeting in Argyle, St. Vincent and the Grenadines have contributed to such an outcome. The discussions which were hosted by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves resulted in a number of agreements reached, among which are that Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, will not threaten or use force against one another in

any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two states. It further agreed, inter alia, that any controversies between the two States will be settled in accordance with international law including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966.

This is a clear and unqualified victory for Guyana. President Ali has consistently upheld the position that the existing border controversy between the two countries must be settled within the framework of international law as provided for under the Geneva Agreement. And even though the position of Venezuela regarding its position on the ICJ process has been noted in the

agreement reached, the fact remains that the ICJ process will continue unabated and without prejudice to any of the other agreements reached.

President Ali and his team of advisors must be commended for the resolute and unwavering stance taken on the way forward in arriving at a peaceful and legally binding resolution of the border controversy. The objectives of the meeting between the two leaders have clearly been met, namely a de-escalation of tension between the two neighbouring states and the preservation of the region as a zone of peace.

This development could not have come at a better time as Guyanese are preparing to enjoy the fes-

tive season of Xmas and the New Year without the proverbial Sword of Damocles dangling over their heads. It remains to be seen whether, or to what extent, President Maduro will follow up on his announced 'annexation' plans for the Essequibo Region based on the infamous and sham referendum of December 3.

At least for now, a climate of peace and stability appears on the horizon.

The two nations have committed to the pursuance of good neighbourliness, peaceful coexistence and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean and agreed to continue dialogue on any other pending matters of mutual interest to both countries.

This is much more than one could reasonably hope

for, and credit must be given to all those who facilitated the meeting, in particular, the host country St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The proof of the pudding, as it were, is now on the eating and all eyes will be on President Maduro to see if he will stick to his end of the bargain. As for President Ali, he has made it pellucidly clear that Guyana is not interested in any confrontation with Venezuela on the border controversy other than through peaceful and legal means via the mechanism of the International Court of Justice.

President Ali and his team of advisors have done Guyana proud at the Argyle meeting which is undoubtedly a victory for diplomacy.

The police are well within their rights to record in their compound Dear Editor, WAS attorney Nigel Hughes conferring with his client Travis Chase in the parking lot and offices of the Guyana Police Force?

And, if so, does it become a space protected by attorney-client privilege and a right to privacy? I think not.

There can be no reason-

able expectation of privacy in a public space, for if this precedent is set, then we may as well do away with cameras in all public spaces, for who knows where Hughes and his ubiquitous clients may next pop up for a ‘conference’?

I believe the police are well within their

rights to record everything that happens within their compound; should an attorney wish to confer with a client (who is not detained or in custody) the attorney can leave the police premises and use his/ her offices, a bar or even a rooftop to have that private conversation.

Given that the police were following evidence that supports a theory of a false attack on Chase, a part-time journalist, the police were well within their rights to record every aspect of their interaction to safeguard themselves from any attempt at fiction; in fact, Chase made the following

cryptic statement while in the police parking lot: “They know very well why they want to keep my weapon.”

Hughes and Chase had ample time to meet and confer before their voluntary arrival at the Guyana Police Force Ballistics Office; Hughes’ letter demanding

the Commissioner of Police destroy any/ all recordings made on police premises is baseless in law and I urge Commissioner Hicken to call his bluff forthwith.

Sincerely, Robin Singh

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

Guyana stands strong Dear Editor, ME wan' talk straight 'bout dis Guyana-Venezuela border ting we all hearing 'bout. Dem big meetin' happen on December 14, 2023, in Argyle, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, right? We President meet with Venezuela and some other big ones from around we region.

Now, dem agree seh dem nah go use force against one another. But look, if Venezuela start actin' up, what Guyana supposed to do?

Just stand up and watch?

Nah, man, we can't just play pakoos while dem playin' bully.

Dem talk 'bout sortin' out disputes with international law, like the 1966 Geneva

Agreement. Sounds good, but Venezuela nah even want to deal with the International Court of Justice.

That's a real problem for we, 'cause how we s'posed to trust dem?

We deh pon commitment to good neighborliness and peace, but it ain't easy when you feelin' like the small man gettin' pushed around.

This talk 'bout dialogue is all well and good, but we need more than just talk. We need action, and we need to be ready for whatever comes.

And CARICOM, oh gosh, dem look like dem ain't really got we back. We need dem to be strong, not just sittin' there like they fraid to upset Venezuela.

The whole ting 'bout a

joint commission sound like just more talk and delay. We need real steps to protect we land and we people.

So yeah, dem got this plan to meet up again in Brazil, but what really goin' to change? We appreciate the help from other leaders, and big up to the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for hosting. But at the

end of the day, Guyana still deh pon the back foot.

We want peace, yes, but not by bowin' down to pressure. We deserve respect and fairness, same as anybody else. This ain't just 'bout land; it's 'bout standin' up for we self.

Sincerely, Haimdat Sawh

Dear Editor, WHEN the Heads of Government of CARICOM met with our President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, supported by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), to recommend an Ali /Maduro meeting, subsequently to be followed by an invitation from the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, to President Ali and the President of Venezuela, Nicholas Maduro, to meet in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, few in Guyana were optimistic of a positive result and many, including myself, were doubtful of the wisdom of President Ali even attending the meeting.

As I had pointed out in my letter published on the 13th December in the Stabroek News, Guyana Chronicle and Guyana Times, President Maduro had made it clear in his letter to Prime Minister Gonsalves accepting the invitation, that he had no intention of respecting any ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and he persisted in completely misinterpreting and distorting the provisions of the Geneva Agreement.

The meeting of the two Presidents was concluded yesterday (14th December, 2023), monitored by the presence of a host of CARICOM Prime Ministers, facilitated by Gonsalves and the Prime Minister of Dominica and Chairman of CARICOM, Roosevelt Skerritt, and observed by high representative of the President

of Brazil, Celso Amorim, as well as the high representatives of the UN Secretary General, Earle Courtenay Rattray; Chef de Cabinet of the Office of the Secretary General and Miroslav Jenca, Under Secretary General of the UN Department of Political and Peace Building Affairs.

No higher, more important nor significant set of witnesses and participants from our hemispheric region could have been assembled to ensure that whatever the two Presidents said to each other and ultimately agreed to, would be respected and, hopefully, honoured.

The universal relief and some satisfaction felt well beyond our region, including the most powerful countries in the world, is patent, at the outcome of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines meeting held in Argyle Airport, and the Joint Declaration of Argyle. The Declaration clearly and unequivocally agreed, albeit in suitable diplomatic language, that there will be no war, no use of force between Venezuela and Guyana with regard to the current controversies involving that part of Guyana called Essequibo.

When one considers that in advance of this meeting and up until the very moments before it took place, that Venezuela had taken explicit action and had issued explicit threats to annex and, probably, invade our country, the result of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines meeting is an extraordinary, if not remarkable, achievement

on the part of President Ali and those around him and an acknowledgement by President Maduro, that, whatever his enunciated claims to the Essequibo are, peace is preferential to war, dialogue is preferential to violent conflict and respect for the rule of international law is preferential to criminal behaviour towards another country.

With reference to the Joint Declaration, paragraphs 1 and 6 are especially important in their commitment to the denial of the use of force and the avoidance of conflict: 1. Agreed that Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, will not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States.

6. Agreed that both States will refrain, whether by words or deeds, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any controversy between them. The two States will co-operate to avoid incidents on the ground conducive to tension between them. In the event of such an incident the two States will immediately communicate with one another, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC), and the President of Brazil to contain, reverse and prevent its recurrence.

It is truly unfortunate that having been invited to attend the meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, that the Leader of the Opposition,

Mr. Aubrey Norton, decided against participating, particularly as the Opposition APNU+AFC are completely at one with the governing PPP/C with regard to the retention and protection of our territorial borders.

It is difficult to understand why Mr. Norton stuck his heels in with regard to the need for a specific agenda before attending the meeting.

There already was an unspoken agenda on the part of the CARICOM and CELAC leaders, as Vice President Jagdeo had pointed out, that the focus of the meeting would be de-escalation of the conflict, avoidance of the use of threats and force and respect for international law.

The Declaration of Argyle, of course, is not the

end of the matter of the Venezuelan claim to twothirds of our land. Guyana will continue to rely on the ruling of the International Court of Justice to bring the matter to an end in spite of Venezuela’s current refusal to recognise the Court. The fact is, as a member of the United Nations, “by signing the Charter, a Member State of the United Nations undertakes to comply with the decision of the Court in any case for which it is a party.”

The government of Venezuela is bound by that provision of being a UN Member.

I find, as does the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs for the opposition, Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir, paragraph 9 of the Declaration unsettling, in that it uses the

term “territory in dispute” rather than “controversy” for the precise reason of triggering future meetings, but we must accept that in any Joint Declaration the language is never perfectly what one side or the other would like.

What we do know and what is precise is that President Maduro has agreed to abandon his threats of force against our country and the expressed intentions of his contrived referendum to take forceful possession of the Essequibo. It now remains to be seen whether President Maduro will be a man of his words expressed in the Declaration of Argyle.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

The Joint Declaration of Argyle

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

The PNC’s politics is becoming more than self-destructive

I WILL discuss two recent political mistakes of the People’s National Congress (PNC) that are basic faults that should not have occurred in the first place. I believe in the existence of a political opposition. No sane person would tell you that they would prefer not to have in the fabric of a country, an opposition party.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill on the Freddie Kissoon- Gildarie Show openly said he welcomes the existence of an opposition party, because, to use his words, “it keeps the government on its toes.” It is absolutely useless to prove to someone the need to have opposition party in a country.

In Guyana, the main, and perhaps, only viable opposition party is the People’s National Congress. We are two years away from a national election and the state of the PNC is distressing. Since 2020, the PNC has not safeguarded its physiology but

keeps weakening its biology.

My contention is that come 2025, the PNC may suffer a more humiliating fate than it did in the 2006 general election when it lost five parliamentary seats. But it lost those assets to another opposition party – the AFC. In 2025, the PNC will lose maybe more than five seats but this time to the incumbent, PPP. In 2025, there will be no real third party that can shape the outcome of the poll.

If we take the results of the Local Government Elections (LGEs) in the PNC strongholds in the entire country, not only Georgetown, it is a harbinger of things to come. I keep insisting on this page that the LGEs results are of valuable importance to those who study Guyanese politics.

Here are the two misdirected ventures of the PNC that simply add to the compilation of systematic charades that started three years ago with the infamous, invisible

statements of poll story. First, Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir revealed on the Freddie Kissoon-Gildarie Show that she saw a video where Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, did discuss the sea lane access to Venezuela. When I challenged her on the tape, she said I should research it.

But Mrs. Walton-Desir should make it easy for the researcher by assisting with a copy of the video. Why should I research it when Mrs. Walton-Desir has it?

Here is a moment of political victory for the PNC if the video is shown to the Guyanese people. Why has it not been shown as yet?

Dr. Gary Best, PNC’s central committee member said last Wednesday on another episode of the Freddie KIssoon-Gildarie Show that in fact there are two such videos of Mr. Jagdeo discussing the sea lane concession. Dr. Best indicated on the show that he will send me the tape.

Why a moment of polit-

ical brinkmanship is being avoided by Mrs. Walton-Desir and Dr. Best? Do they love VP Jagdeo so much that they do not want to embarrass him? What is this conundrum all about? There is either no video; or there is a video but the PNC cannot gamble with showing it because it is an invented video through artificial intelligence in which Mr. Jagdeo appears to be speaking on the sea lane.

Those 18-year-old computer wizards would easily pick up the altered video.

It is political mediocrity of the worst kind to attribute an unpatriotic action to a senior government minister over such a sensitive issue like a threat of invasion by Venezuela, say you have the evidence, but you refuse to

Where to go for help

THERE is no doubt that the tremendous stigma attached to mental health is what prevents many from

seeking professional help.

But it is also the fear of the unknown.

We all have a good idea

of what is involved when we visit a doctor or hospital for a physical ailment. We are usually familiar with the procedures and generally not apprehensive about what the treatment may entail.

In the case of a mental health problem, we are often faced with ‘unfamiliar territory.’ We deny that there is anything wrong, tell ourselves we can handle it or just doggedly press on, hoping that the problem will miraculously disappear.

The ‘road’ that leads us to a mental health professional is therefore often fraught with indecisiveness and misgivings. We have doubts, thinking “Me ain’t even know wuh dese people does do”, “Ah wonder if dey can even help me?”

The short answer is, “Yes, they can” and the process is a simple one.

You make the call, set up an appointment and when you meet the counsellor, you sit and talk. At some government-run clinics you can simply walk in off the

street and ask to speak with a counsellor.

As I have explained in previous articles, we first need to admit to having a psychological or emotional challenge that we cannot cope with and need the help of someone trained to do so.

This is the job of a counsellor. Many of us are even put off by the word because we really have no idea what counselling is all about, though we are familiar with the medical profession and aware of the role of a doctor.

Whether a psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor, all of these practitioners are trained to listen and guide patients to a point where they find solutions to their problems and a way forward.

However, a counsellor may choose to refer persons to the more academically qualified psychologist/psychotherapist if there is need for further consultation and treatment.

As the World Health

make it available. That is self-destructive politics.

The second lapse was the refusal of the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, to attend the St. Vincent confabulation involving six actors -Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil, CARICOM, CELAC and the UN. In an earlier column I disagreed that Mr. Norton should have been invited because given the defined parameter of the agenda, I did not and still do think that Mr. Norton could not have contributed anything innovative to the ambience.

But since he was invited then, even if he felt he would not have been mentally uncomfortable in that kind of diplomatic environment given his “hand-shake ideology,” then one of the three

contenders for PNC leader position – Roysdale Forde, Mrs. Walton-Desir, Dr. Best – should have been given the opportunity to taste that kind of high-level international diplomatic circuit that may never come again.

Even if Mr. Norton’s emissary would not have contributed to the final declaration, two values would have accrued to the emissary. An opportunity to share a relationship with leaders of the government in an environment of patriotic duty and to get a sense of how international diplomacy unfolds before your very eyes. I end with a question- did the PNC as a party declined the invitation or was it a unilateral decision by Mr. Norton?

Organization and mental health experts constantly declare, ‘There is no health without mental health’. This is because your mind is key to your overall health. It controls your body and if unwell will soon begin to affect your physical health.

Mental ill-health has also been linked to social factors such as family breakdown, social isolation, debt and unemployment, as well as physical diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

So, when you take care of your mental health you are also ensuring physical well-being. The two cannot be separated.

In Guyana, in the Georgetown area there is a Mental Health Unit established specifically to deal

with persons experiencing mental health challenges.

It is located at 252 Quamina Street, Georgetown and can be reached on telephone numbers 225-0804 and 226-1416.

The Unit also provides information on other facilities located in Region Four and Satellite clinics in various other locations throughout the country.

You can also Google, “Some Mental Health Resources in Guyana’ for a list of persons/groups offering mental health counselling services.

Should you need any further information you can contact me, Vanessa Cort, on WhatsApp, telephone number 6192848.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

Reflection: Four years since first oil

DECEMBER 19 will mark four years since oil production commenced on the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the Stabroek Block, kickstarting a massive economic and developmental transformation for Guyana. The nation has since expanded its offshore fleet to three FPSOs, with the Liza Unity and the recently commissioned Prosperity FPSO joining the Liza Destiny. The total production level from the three vessels is expected to reach 620,000 barrels of oil per day in 2024. Guyana’s oil

reserves currently amount to almost 11 billion barrels, with the country ranking third in oil production in Latin America and the Caribbean, a remarkable feat accomplished in just four years, since first oil in 2019.

The ExxonMobil-led consortium has made more than 30 discoveries since 2015 with two plays currently producing, Liza and Payara. So far there have been five approved projects with the companies working to get government approval for a sixth. This is exciting news for the country as the oil industry continues to grow and create new opportunities.

The Natural Resource Fund has accumulated incremental increases in the past years, receiving a total of US$198.32 million in 2020, US$409.21 million in 2021, US$1.254 billion in 2022 and approximately US$1.5 billion so far in 2023, amassing to approximately US$3.394 billion since first oil, or GY$707.52 billion. In November 2023, the Natural Resource Fund received payment for the 14th lift of profit oil, accounting for roughly US$90 million, or GY$ 18.77 billion. Guyana expects to receive three more payments for 2023.

An increasing number

The Government of Guyana managed to walk away from the St Vincent and the Grenadines meeting victorious. It was always the country’s desire to have peace and stability in the Caribbean and South America while it is allowed to follow-through with its case rightly before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The government only wanted Venezuela to understand that both countries could peacefully exist as neighbours while it waits on the final and binding ruling of the ICJ. The government, Thursday, proved that it was never against dialogue and the use of diplomacy to quell whatever squabble there might exist with its neighbour to the west, except delving into the controversy with the Essequibo.

This reasoning on the part of Guyana, and with clear understanding from Venezuela paved the way for the Argyle declaration in which the two parties effectively agreed to the peaceful co-existence and a mechanism to settle other controversial matters that may arise within the next three months.

The word ‘Essequibo’ is not mentioned in any part of the declaration because

the President of Guyana Dr Irfaan Ali would neither discuss nor dialogue on the subject matter despite the superstitious ramblings of the Venezuelans at the meeting.

So, therefore, no concessions were made and Guyana secured Venezuela’s commitment that there will be no war, force or use of threats in the coming months. It managed to get Venezuela’s commitment to international law “including the Genevia Agreement” of 1966 which clearly outlines the right of the Secretary General of the United Nations to choose the ICJ as a means of settlement of the border controversy between the two parties.

The declaration now paves the way for Guyanese to question what is next or what are parties going to do during this phase of ‘peace’ and civility.

Firstly, while the agreement must be respected and commended, the government must take the declaration with a pinch of salt.

This means that there must be optimism on the part of Guyana that the declaration will be kept by Venezuela.

Also, the government must be mindful of what it says and does moving forward to avoid giving Caracas

anything to find reasonably objectionable.

This is not to say that Guyana has said or done anything that warranted the blatant threats that have been made against it coming from Venezuela, which has done everything but cross into Guyana’s Essequibo to annex it.

The government too will continue to exercise and administer the Essequibo region because it belongs to us. This here, means the government can continue its development of natural resources and minerals found in its exclusive economic zone. It will peacefully continue its plans to develop the lives of its citizens in Regions One, Two, Three, and Seven, offering protection as it has done for centuries.

That is, of course, if Venezuela hold up its end of the deceleration.

Secondly, the government must continue talks with its strategic partners in the Caricom region, European Union, USA, France and other UN countries. There must be no moratorium on security talks aimed at better border monitoring and response to any threat that may be planted to start to dispute.

It must do everything in its power to ensure Guyana

What is next?

of developmental projects have been supported through the yearly budgets, which have been heavily padded by the oil revenues. In 2022 and 2023, the national budgets of GY$553 billion and GY$781.9 billion respectively were allocated monies from the Natural Resource Fund, which were then funnelled into infrastructural projects such as new roads, bridges, hospitals and safety and educational projects for Guyanese. These include five new hospitals as well as several roads and roundabouts.

Plans are also progressing for the Gas-to-Energy Power Plant in Wales on the

West Bank of Demerara, which is intended to cut the cost of electricity by 50 per cent. Additionally, the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Incorporated was established at Plantation Best in Demerara to provide support for ExxonMobil’s offshore operations. These are just a few examples of how the petroleum industry has contributed to Guyana’s ongoing transformation.

An examination of the last four years shows a tremendous increase in the number of Guyanese supporting oil and gas operations, underscoring the industry’s im-

portance. Close to 6,000 locals support the industry through ExxonMobil Guyana and its sub-contractors, signifying another local content win for Guyanese. With several projects on the horizon, the opportunities that will be available for Guyanese will continue to grow exponentially.

As the country’s offshore developments reach new heights, its economy and landscape will continue to undergo a simultaneous transformation, reaping benefits for all Guyanese in the years ahead.

is not caught on the backfoot if there is any threat of violence or use of force flowing from an abandonment of these articles in the Argyle Declaration by Venezuela.

To put it frankly and bluntly, President Maduro and the Socialist Government are not known for upholding treaties, agreements, or declaration. The U.S. and certain countries in South America can attest to this. It is unstable and too politically risky to blindly trust our neighbours.

Thirdly, the government must continuously have a plan to tackle the immigration problem, ensuring all Venezuelans and other immigrants are carefully registered and processed through the system.

Already, the government is hinting at legislation to effectively deal with border control and the National Assembly is moving to entertain some motion or bill for establishing a mechanism for the opposition to jointly deal with this complex issue.

This is a step in the right di-

rection but the government needs to make sure that the Venezuelans are treated with dignity and respect, and according to the laws because no doubt Maduro will be looking closely at this area to start a problem.

Finally, dialogue must remain open with Venezuela, providing the atmosphere to discuss anything except the border controversy. This is a triumph for Guyana. Its is hoped that it is not short-lived or Venezuela does not have a change of heart.

Minister Mustapha addresses concerns of Mahaicony River farmers

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DURING one of his outreaches on Saturday, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, along with representatives from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), met with farmers and residents of the Mahaicony River in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) to listen to and discuss their issues and challenges.

Minister Mustapha revealed in an interview with the Sunday Chronicle that he spoke with over 200 farmers from the Mahaicony River, who explained that the main issue that they are faced with is irrigation. According to the minister, the salt water in some areas of the creek is currently posing a problem for the farmers.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

“Let me first say that I am very pleased with the discussions that I have with the farmers and the people of the Mahaicony River.

My team and I met with and spoke with over 200 farmers earlier today (Saturday); we discussed their key issues of concern and challenges that they are having in their community, and we were able to immediately resolve their problems, which they were happy about,” Minister Mustapha explained.

He continued, “The main concern of these farmers was irrigation, and they are also faced with the issue of salt water in some parts of the creek as well. I am happy to say that I have put mechanisms in place to deal with these issues, and I am ensuring that the relevant personnel are pre-

paring several pumps to be immediately sent in here.

We need our farmers to have fresh water so that their cash crops and their rice will not be affected.”

Additionally, the Minister of Agriculture said that while several farmers on the coastland are cultivating on a large-scale basis, farmers from places such as the Mahaicony River are also playing an integral role in the agriculture sector.

According to him, “Our agricultural sector has been booming, and we have to thank all our farmers for that; they are the ones that are putting in the work, and even though the ones on the coastland are playing a significant role in this, so are these farmers as well.

These farmers in the Mahaicony River alone are

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, speaking with over 200 residents from Mahaicony River in Region Five cultivating over 40 thousand acres of land, and it must be irrigated.”

Some of the farmers from Mahaicony River in Region Five

He added, “I am also happy to share that we will be cleaning some of the critical canals in the area so that these farmers can be in a better position to conduct their farming. We at the ministry, along with regional and other officials, have also decided to send potable water into the Mahaicony River so that the residents can have access to it and have a better holiday for their families.”

He also said that “both the GRDB and the NDIA will keep an eye on the situation and collaborate closely with farmers. In an effort to keep an eye on the salt content of the river, GRDB was assigned to conduct salinity tests four times a day.”

Minister Mustapha also mentioned that farming is a very profitable industry, but one that requires time and effort to operate on any scale. According to him, the Guyana government has supported its citizens, particularly the youth, and it

is their intention to continue to do so.

“I want to tell my Guyanese brothers and sisters, especially the young people of our nation, that the agriculture sector is growing at a rapid pace, and I want to remind and encourage you to get involved. Farming requires your time and attention, but it is also a very lucrative business. And I want you to know that the government of Guyana and my ministry will be working with you to make sure that you are going in the right direction. You also have access to the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), and the Hope Coconut Estate if you want to get involved in coconut farming. The opportunities are endless, and I hope that you all can get involved, especially our youth and young adults.

Diamond Well nearing completion The Diamond Well, currently in its final stage of completion, has garnered immense satisfaction from Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Water Inc. Shaik Baksh

during his recent visit to the site. Expressing his delight, he stated that the well would be operational and ready for transmission distribution before the upcoming Christmas

season. Anticipated to cater to a substantial population, the Diamond Well is projected to serve over 27,000 residents. To ensure the delivery of clean and safe water,

the water extracted from the well will undergo treatment at the Diamond Treatment Plant before being distributed to customers.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

Auditor General flags major discrepancies in Hinterland School Feeding Programme under APNU + AFC gov’t

N U M E R O U S d i s c re p ancies, including insufficient funding to cover programme expenditure, were unearthed by the Auditor General in the assessment of the Ministry of Education (MoE) Hinterland School Feeding Programme, under the former APNU+AFC government.

According to the report, during 2018-2020, when analysing the sample of 47 months' Financial Statements, for 15of those months, the funds allocated were not sufficient to cover the programme's expenditure.

“This was caused by spending on items not budgeted for or stipulated in the Programme's Guidelines as monthly operational costs,” the report stated while further highlighting that purchases were made for a generator, stove, printer with papers, tools, among other items.

It was further explained that approval for expenditure is given by the committee at the school level and during interviews conducted with

ministry officials, it was mentioned that monies are allocated separately under investment costs for purchas-

es such as kitchen appliances and utensils.

Within the report, it was further highlighted that in the

year 2019, there were three additional regions that benefitted from the programme, however, while approval was granted for 14 schools, only eight benefitted.

NUTRITIOUS MEALS NOT SERVED With the goal of ensuring that all children have access to quality education, research has shown that children who receive a nutritious diet perform and learn better in school.

The school feeding programme is a part of a wider effort by government to improve students’ attendance, build their self-esteem, and provide them a better opportunity to complete school, receive a sound education and make a meaningful contribution to society.

In order to determine whether every boy and girl received a nutritious meal and the daily nutrient intake of students as recommended by the Guyana Food Based Dietary Guideline, the Auditor General analysed sample menus from January 2018 to

March 2020. The results of the analysis were negative.

The report revealed: “We analysed meals served at 18 Schools in Regions One, Seven and Nine and found that meals offered did not include foods from all six of the food groups as recommended.”

“Staple foods, food from animals and fats were frequently used in the preparation of meals for students, and their recommended daily requirements were fully met.

However, as it relates to food from animals, chicken and

beef were predominantly served, while at some schools fish were rarely served or never served at all,” the report noted, while explaining that this can increase the risk of hormonal imbalance, gynecomastia and insulin resistance in children of school age along with the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

On the other hand, vegetables, fruits and legumes did not meet the nutritional requirements of the basic six food groups as they were rarely served in some schools.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

APNU+AFC overpaid more than $8M for fence at New Opportunity Corps - Auditor General’s Report

UNDER the former APNU+AFC government, the Ministry of Social Protection (now Ministry of Human Services and Social Security) overpaid $8.330 million on the contract for construction of a fence at New Opportunity Corps at Onderneeming.

This is according to the report of the Auditor General on the Public Accounts of Guyana and on the accounts of the ministries and departments for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

Furthermore, the report revealed that on March 1, 2023, a letter was sent to the contractor for the sum to be repaid; however, to date no refund was made to the ministry.

As a response, the Head of Budget Agency indicated that the ministry has since handed over all documents requested by the Engineer of Audit Office and is awaiting a decision on same.

Moreover, among the numerous financial discrepancies under the previous coalition government, the regional administration of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) lost millions owing to the abandonment of a contract for the construction of a health centre and living quarters in Wiruni, Berbice River.

The report revealed that the $19.684 million contract was awarded in 2017 by the National Procurement

and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and the total payments made for works completed were $9.167 million, with the contractor receiving an advance payment of $3.937 million.

This represented 20 per cent of the contract sum, and this was followed by three interim payments of $2.019 million, $1.390 million, and $1.822 million, respectively.

However, the works were incomplete, and the site was abandoned.

Earlier this year, other discrepancies were scrutinised before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

For instance, the regional administration of Region One (Barima-Waini), under

the former coalition administration, did not maintain a register on fuel inventory for 2017, and several accounting discrepancies, including the receipt of more fuel than the region had capacity to store, has raised grave questions of accounting breaches at the regional administration.

According to findings, the region also did not maintain a register for fuel receipts and issuances; however, in total, there are more cases of fuel being issued than there were instances of fuel input, leaving several questions about what exactly took place in 2017 with the fuel in the region.

According to the 2017 Audit Report, while 817

drums (36,767 gallons) of fuel were received by the regional administration from various suppliers, amounts totalling 1,009 drums (45,420 gallons) were reflected as being issued. As a result, the records indicated an excess of 192 drums (8,653 gallons) of gasoline being issued, more than was paid for.

Moreover, while fuel was stored in one bond that had a maximum capacity of 50 drums of gasoline (2,250 gallons) and 10 drums of diesel (450 gallons) at any given time, evidence was seen where fuel was purchased in quantities beyond the storage capacity of the bond.

of roads.

“There should also be no mixing of concrete on the roads, and the road shoulders and heavy trucks (twin steer, 20 tonnes) are not allowed to drive on them,” the ministry had said.

The ministry also added that they will be monitoring the situation, and anyone found damaging the infrastructure will be fined $10,000 per day.

It was also suggested that materials be delivered using smaller trucks. Furthermore, a location directly on the property is

needed for the storage of raw materials and the mixing of concrete.

E a r l i e r t h i s y e a r, a 36-year-old Chief Prison Officer died after crashing into a sand heap along the Melanie Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD). According to the police, Patrick Perry lost control of his car, PAC 6465, while negotiating a left turn of the road. The car flipped multiple times as it struck a sand mound on the southern parapet.

‘Development should not be at the inconvenience of others’ - says Minister Edghill

By Cindy Parkinson

WITH the escalating apprehensions regarding the harm to roads and potential traffic risks resulting from the inappropriate storage of building materials and garbage, the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, has issued a stern warning to the public to refrain from partaking in such conduct.

In a recent interview with the Sunday Chronicle, Minister Edghill explained that he had made it clear to the public that materials such as dirt, sand, stone, blocks, cement, wood, and steel should not be stored on roadways or on the shoulders of the roads for more than 24 hours.

“I understand that our country is developing every day, and our people are investing and constructing buildings daily; however, development should not be at the inconvenience of others.

“Not only is it against the law to disrupt the smooth flow of traffic, but we need to understand that this is a dangerous practice for all road users,” the Public Works Minister said.

While he acknowledged that it is an admirable effort by people to better their communities and add to its enhancement, he emphasised the need for appropriate construction methods and to ensure that the

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill roads and drainage systems do not suffer as a result of these advancements.

“Guyanese are becoming more appreciative of their personal spaces, and that is excellent; they are constructing things to enhance their quality of life. However, they simply cannot throw every truckload of stone and sand into the road without the consideration of others. It doesn't, nor can it, work like that,” the minister added.

Some of the main issues, according to Minister Edghill, are the dumping of old vehicles on the roadsides, the mechanical work done on the roadways, and the mixing of cement on the roads.

“This type of practice causes damage to the road’s surfaces as well as interfering with the drainage systems which could lead and does lead to water buildups and eventually deterioration of the roads and damages to other people’s properties.”

In order to address these problems, Minister Edghill recommended utilising "ransom" concrete mixers, disposing of all vehicles in a proper manner, and desisting from performing any type of mechanical or similar work on the roadways.

Minister Edghill further asked that people dispose of their garbage and leftovers correctly, rather than letting them sit on road shoulders for

an extended amount of time.

Additionally, he stated that adequate drain maintenance and the evacuation of surplus materials once construction is finished should not be overlooked when short-term permits are provided for building operations by local authorities, such as Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

The minister appealed to the public that it is a collective obligation to protect the country's infrastructure.

“While we understand that people are making improvements to their lives, we are also asking you to let us dispose of our garbage, construction waste, old vehicles, or any other type of material that is of no use to us in the right manner.

We are working with you to get this done and get our country clean.

“We must all take pride in that, but we have to maintain that. For the people who do not want to follow these rules and think that they are above the law, we will be serving you notices. Let us hope that you will desist from these practices and teach our future generation by your actions that cleanliness is next to godliness.”

Sometime last year, the Ministry of Housing issued a warning stating that building supplies should not be kept on roadways or on the shoulders

Sand blocking the smooth flow of traffic on a highway in Guyana

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

GPHC doctor removes massive tumour from Essequibo woman

IN a remarkable medical feat, a 44-year-old female patient from Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), underwent a life-saving gynaecological surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The procedure, performed

by Dr. Rafi Rozan, Chief Consultant Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, along with his expert team, successfully removed a massive intrabdominal tumour suspected to be ovarian in origin.

“The patient had been enduring persistent abdominal discomfort, pain, and bloating for several months, prompting her to seek medical attention.

Diagnostic tests, including ultrasounds, tumour markers, and CT scans, revealed the presence of a large intrabdominal suspected ovarian tumour,” the GPHC said in a press release.

Under the guidance of Dr. Rozan, a renowned gynaecological surgeon specialising in complex surgeries, the patient

underwent extensive counselling and consultations. The risks, benefits, and potential outcomes of the comprehensive laparotomy (open abdominal surgery) were thoroughly explained to the patient and her family.

During the surgery, the team exercised precision and care to mitigate potential complications. To their surprise, it was discovered that the tumour was not ovarian but rather a renal tumour.

Dr. Nirvanie Singh and Dr. Parjohn, also part of the surgical team, expressed excitement as this marked the Gynaecological team's first nephrectomy (removal of a kidney). Dr. Rozan, recalling the moment, consulted urologist Dr. Rajendra Sookraj, who noted it was the largest kidney he had ever seen, measuring approximately 72 centimetres in diameter and weighing an astonishing 15.8 KG (34.7 lbs).

Following the successful surgery, the patient received diligent post-operative care, including pain management

Dr. Rafi Rozan, Chief Consultant Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and his team removed a massive tumour from a 44-year-old patient (Photos: GPHC) and support for a smooth recovery. Dr. Rozan and his team closely monitored the patient's progress, conducting regular examinations and follow-up tests to detect any signs of complications.

“Despite initial difficulty regaining balance while walking due to the weight loss from the tumour, the patient's recovery progressed remarkably well. Gradually regaining strength and mobility,

she improved each day under the watchful care of Dr. Rafi Rozan and his dedicated medical team,” the release noted.

According to the GPHC, “The success of this intricate surgery underscores the expertise and commitment of the medical professionals at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in delivering exceptional patient care and advancing medical capabilities.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

$1M granted for enhancement of Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance NDC playground

AS part of the government’s effort to ensure that young people are meaningfully engaged in extracurricular activities, the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., recent-

ly visited the Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and donated one million dollars towards the outfitting of the playground.

Although there are nu-

Ongoing works at the Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance NDC ground

merous little playgrounds in the Mon Repos/ La Reconnaissance communities, the NDC Chairman, Mr. Jagroop (only name), told the Sunday Chronicle that the playground next to their NDC is the second-largest ground in the area and one that serves as one of the primary gathering places for the densely populated Mon Repos community.

“We have many small grounds in these communities, but this ground is the second-biggest ground in these communities, and we are hoping to upgrade it with our government’s help. Minister Ramson came here and saw the size of it, and he also knows our main purpose of developing this land is for our young people to have a safe place to play and socialise with each other,” Jagroop related.

Jagroop further stated that he is pleased to say that the Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance NDC has employed several young councillors who are dedicated towards the enhancement of the youth and their communities. He also added that they are passionate about the youth's participation in sports and other activities that will help them and their respective communities.

“I am happy to say that we have employed a number of young councillors who are doing a wonderful job in our communities. They are hoping to reach every young

Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. (centre), with the chairman of the Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance, Mr. Jagroop (right), and an official of the NDC inspecting the playground person and encourage them to occupy their time by engaging in sports and other productive activities. That is why we are so happy that this group is being developed by our government and by Minister Ramson.”

The NDC chairman also noted that the Minister of

Culture, Youth, and Sport has made a promise to ensure that the lighting fixtures on the ground will be fixed.

“I am happy to also say that Minister Ramson has promised to make sure that the ground will be fully equipped with light fixtures so that we can even have sports being

done in the nights.”

He continued, “we are very thankful for these initiatives; the government has continued to give back to the people of not only our communities on the East Coast of Demerara but to all communities throughout Guyana…"

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS TURFFONTEIN 08:00 hrs Sparkling Jubilee 08:35 hrs Kind Jury 09:10 hrs Silver Tudor 09:45 hrs Feather Boa 10:20 hrs Colorado Creek ENGLISH RACING TIPS SOUTHWELL 08:10 hrs Rostello 08:45 hrs Secret Plan 09:20 hrs Castleivers 09:55 hrs Bhaloo 10:30 hrs Superfly West 11:00 hrs Oakley Dancer 11:30 hrs Globe Player CARLISLE 08:25 hrs Blue Fin 09:00 hrs Lisloran 09:35 hrs Universal Folly 10:10 hrs Ramo 10:45 hrs Fenland Tiger 11:20 hrs Just Call Me Lucy

IRISH RACING TIPS NAVSN 08:00 hrs Telichters Glory 08:35 hrs Dancing City 09:10 hrs Shannon Royale 09:45 hrs Read To Remain 10:20 hrs Lucid Dreams 10:55 hrs Wee Charlie 11:30 hrs Jalon D’oudairies

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

The Deepti Sharma show wipes England out in seven sessions

Dominated with the bat and destroyed with the ball by the third morning, England didn't make it past lunch as India, led by Deepti Sharma - again and Pooja Vastrakar, completed a record 347-run victory at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium.

While Deepti's remarkable 5 for 7 had sent England into a tailspin on the second day, it was Vastrakar who sparked their downfall on Saturday after India declared overnight on 186 for 6. Deepti finished them off, taking nine wickets in all to add to her first-innings half-century for Player-ofthe-Match honours.

Given that the highest successful fourth-innings

run chase in women's Tests is Australia's 198 for 3 to beat England in Sydney in 2011, to call it a 479-run "target" seemed trite and Vastrakar's early inroads ensured that.

It was India Women's first Test win at home against England in six attempts, the margin of victory the largest by runs in women's Tests, and was all wrapped up in an extended morning session on the third day.

(Scores:India 428 (Shubha 69, Rodrigues 68, Deepti 67, Bhatia 66, Bell 3-67, Ecclestone 3-91) and 186 for 6 dec (Harmanpreet 44*, Dean 4-68) beat England 136 (Sciver-Brunt 59, Deepti 5-7) and 131 (Deepti

4-32, Vastrakar 3-23) by 347 runs) After Renuka Thakur plucked out Tammy Beaumont with a ball that held its line to beat the outside edge and peg back off stump with just 27 runs on the board, Vastrakar had an out-of-sorts Sophia Dunkley slicing straight to gully and easily taken by substitute fielder Harleen Deol, on for Shubha Satheesh, who scored 69 on international debut in India's first innings but didn't bat in the second because of a broken finger.

That put England in familiar territory in this match (they were 28 for 2 when bowled out for 136 in their first innings to concede a lead of 292) at 37 for

It was the Deepti Sharma show all the way•(BCCI) 2. And, on the very next ball, Vastrakar removed Nat Sciver-Brunt - the only England batter to offer any resistance in the first innings - with a beauty that nipped back in from a perfect length outside off, went through the gate and crashed into the stumps.

When Vastrakar got one to hold its line from outside off and draw an outside edge from Heather Knight, England slumped to 68 for 4.

Deepti then orchestrated the procession, flummoxing Danni Wyatt with a fantastic offbreak taken at slip and removing Amy Jones via a loose pull to midwicket to get at the England tail. She removed Kate Cross with one that turned ferociously from outside off to peg back leg stump and lured Lauren Filer down the pitch with the flight on one that kept low after turning in and pinged middle stump.

In between whiles,

Rajeshwari Gayakwad bowled Sophie Ecclestone, then had Lauren Bell caught simply by Jemimah Rodrigues at silly point, the last wicket to fall. The latter sparked wild celebrations for the home side, who will be looking to bottle this feeling - and form - for use in their next Test, starting against Australia at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

(Cricinfo.com)

Palace deny Man City win with 95-minute penalty

MANCHESTER City's stuttering title defence suffered another blow as Michael Olise's 95th-minute penalty rescued a dramatic point for Crystal Palace.

City had led 2-0 through goals by Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis and appeared to be cruising to victory until Jean-Philippe Mateta pulled a goal back with 14 minutes remaining.

There was more drama to come in stoppage time, when Phil Foden caught Mateta as he attempted to clear and referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot.

Michael Olise stepped up to slot past Ederson and spark wild celebration among the away fans who had seen their team pegged back for much of the match.

The draw, City's third consecutive at home, leaves the defending champions in fourth place, three points behind leaders Liverpool.

Palace have still only won one of their past 10 games but after losing out to a stoppage-time goal by Liverpool last week, this must have felt like a victory for

Roy Hodgson's men, and was certainly celebrated like one.

price for failing to finish off their opponents, although

when Foden found space on the edge of the area and

Jack Grealish's first goal of the season did not arrive until he found the net against Tottenham on 3 December but he has now scored in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in his career Man City fail to finish off opponents again City have now won only one of their past six league games, and face losing more ground next week when they are in Saudi Arabia for the Fifa Club World Cup. Once again, they paid the

few saw this latest setback coming when they led 2-0.

Pep Guardiola's side appeared in full control for much of the game, although they had to be patient to find a gap in Palace's packed defence.

The breakthrough came

slipped Grealish clear to find the net, with the goal eventually given after a lengthy video assistant referee check for offside.

Josko Gvardiol could have added an instant second, but was denied by Dean Henderson after running

clear, and there was more frustration for City at the start of the second half when they had a goal disallowed for Rodri's offside after Julian Alvarez's free-kick flew straight in.

Their second goal did arrive shortly afterwards, with Foden and Grealish combining before Lewis slotted home, but even that cushion was not enough to prevent Palace's unlikely comeback.

From agony to elation for Palace Palace's experience last week means they know only too well the agony of conceding a crucial late goal but this time their emotions were all about elation.

The Eagles were missing most of their regular frontline because of injury, and had offered little other than sporadic breaks forward for much of the match but they did give City a warning of what was to come when Gvardiol's slip allowed Mateta to run clear on the stroke of half-time.

Ederson dashed from his goal to send the French striker tumbling and was

fortunate to escape with a booking and to only concede a free-kick, which Olise fired narrowly over.

Palace continued to defend deep and counter-attack in the second half but hardly looked like scoring until Jeffrey Schlupp escaped down the left and found Mateta in the middle to slide in and reduce the deficit.

Suddenly the Eagles were back in the game and, with City appearing to panic, the visitors made the most of their opportunity in stoppage time.

Foden, who had given away the ball in the first place, took a wild swing in the corner of his own penalty area and only succeeded in making contact with Mateta, who was only playing because of Odsonne Edouard's injury.

Olise kept his nerve when he stepped up to take the spot-kick, sending Ederson the wrong way and earning his side a point. (BBC Sport)

20

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

Nathan Lyon nears 500th wicket with hosts in control of Perth Test

Nathan Lyon moved to 499 career Test wickets as Australia strengthened their control of the first Test against Pakistan on day three.

Lyon took 3-66 as Pakistan were bowled out for 271, having started the day 132-2.

Opener Imam ul-Haq top scored for the tourists in their first innings with 62 runs, coming off 199 balls.

Australia ended the day 84-2 in their second innings, leading Pakistan by 300 runs.

Australia put front foot forward to restrict Pakistan Starting on an unbeaten 38 off 136 balls, Imam had to form a new partnership quickly after nightwatchman

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon took three wickets on day three of the first Test in Perth Khurram Shahzad was bowled

by Australia captain Pat Cummins with the day's third ball.

Imam was next joined by Babar Azam, making his first Test appearance since handing

the captaincy to Shan Masood.

The duo put on 49 together, Pakistan's best stand of the day.

From there, the tourists' attempt to get near Austra-

lia's first innings total of 487 crumbled, falling from 181-3 to 271 all out, 216 runs behind the hosts.

Babar was dismissed on 21 by Mitchell Marsh, with Imam (62) soon following and the collapse beginning.

Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman were the only remaining batters to show any level of resistance, scoring 28 runs each.

After dismissing opener Abdullah Shafique on day two, spinner Lyon followed up with the wickets of Imam and debutant Aamer Jamal, while Cummins and Mitchell Starc took two wickets each.

In response, Australia were very slow to get going

and were 5-2 when David Warner (0) and Marnus Labuschagne (2) both top edged for easy catches off the bowling of debutant Shahzad. It was their lowest score after 10 overs of a Test innings in 30 years.

Shortly before his dismissal, Labuschagne suffered a blow to his hand after being hit by the ball, with Steve Smith also taking a hit to the arm once he came out to bat, with cracks starting to appear in the pitch.

But a 79-run partnership for the third wicket between Usman Khawaja and Smith helped Australia recover, and they ended the day in command.

'We bowled better today' - reaction Australia bowler Josh Hazlewood told ABC's Grandstand: "A pretty good day - we bowled a little bit better today.

We got the ball a bit fuller, adapting from white ball to red ball cricket.

"I was told to warm up so I was desperately cheering Gaz [Nathan Lyon] to get his 500th wicket. It's such a special achievement. Not many Australians or players around the world have got there.

"We lead by 300 already, if we bat half a day and have Travis Head coming out, we are hoping to set Pakistan a score starting with a four."

(BBC Sport).

Devin Vassell helps San Antonio Spurs end losing run against Los Angeles Lakers

DEVIN Vassell scored a career-high 36 points to help the San Antonio Spurs end their record 18-game losing streak and beat the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Spurs came through 129-115 with seven players, including French star Victor Wembanyama, in double figures.

It was the teenager's first time to face superstar LeBron James after the fourtime NBA champion missed Wednesday's game through injury.

Wembanyama finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

The 19-year-old also

managed five assists, two blocked shots and two steals for his fifth game of the season with multiple blocks and multiple steals.

Despite James' return, the Lakers were still under strength with Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell and Cam Reddish all absent and they trailed from start to finish.

Los Angeles cut the deficit to four points shortly before the break with a run that included James' high-arching three-pointer over the towering Wembanyama.

But the Spurs kept the pressure on, outscoring the Lakers 29-25 in the third period to take a 98-87 lead

into the final quarter and go on to claim their first win since beating Phoenix on 2 November.

"This is what I'm addicted to, winning, this is what I love," said Wembanyama, who credited Vassell's shooting for keeping the Lakers at bay.

"Everything went in," he added. "I think if he didn't make those shots they would have had more runs, but by himself he kept the lead for us."

James said the multiple injury absences were just too much for the Lakers to overcome.

"You give credit where

it's due," he said. "San Antonio played great tonight, they shot the ball extremely well.

They attacked us and we're just limited with bodies."

James said his first clash with Wembanyama only reinforced his previous assessment that the highly touted rookie is a "special talent."

Latest NBA results Elsewhere, Joel Embiid had 35 points and 13 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Detroit Pistons 124-92, the Pistons setting a franchise record of 22 straight losses.

The Pistons' old mark of 21 defeats was set between the 1979-80 and 1980-81

Friday’s clash between James and Wembanyama was eagerly anticipated seasons.

It was the ninth consecutive game that Embiid managed at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.

Jalen Brunson had career highs of 50 points for the New York Knicks including nine three-pointers while leading his side to a 139-122 win over the Phoenix Suns.

(BBC Sport).

B r u n s o n s c o re d 3 5 points in the second half and did not miss a single three-point shot, matching the NBA record for most three-pointers without a miss, shared by Ben Gordon (2006, 2012) and Latrell Sprewell (2003).

National Chess Championship playoff at Ocean Spray Hotel this Wednesday

THE Ocean Spray International Hotel will host the rapid playoff on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 between top finalists and senior chess players Loris Nathoo (1703) and Candidate Master Taffin Khan (2005), both vying for the National Open Chess Champion title.

The confrontation begins at 17:30hrs sharp after a coin toss by tournament Director, Irshad Mohamad, to determine who gets the white pieces and plays first in the ini-

tial three-game match.

A ticking electronic chess clock will countdown the time allotted to each player under strict tournament conditions in the presence of the Tournament Arbiter.

The first game can last a maximum of 30 minutes while the second and third another 30, totaling 60 minutes for three games in the fast-paced encounter.

Yet, if a tie still results, Khan and Nathoo will enter the sudden death stage and be allotted a meagre

Loris Nathoo

CM Taffin Khan

five minutes each in another three-game contest.

The face-off between the two would characterise an intense battle of cunning and strategy over the chessboard to achieve majority wins and secure the Senior National Champion title for 2023.

The playoff games will be live-streamed as well.

The GAICO sponsored National Open Chess Championship ended recently with Nathoo and Khan emerging with a tied score, triggering a playoff to determine

the next Senior National Champion. GAICO has been a long-time sponsor of National Chess competitions and has earned the gratitude of the entire chess community for their unwavering support over the years.

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), extends its sincerest thanks to the Management and Staff of Ocean Spray Hotel for facilitating the playoff and granting the use of its facilities at short notice.

21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

UDFA year-end $1M Men’s Futsal tourney kicks off tonight

THE Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) year-end futsal club competition, which has at stake $1M for the winners, will kick off tonight after a march past of the contesting clubs at the Retrieve Hard Court in Linden.

Some 15 teams are drawn in four groups where round robin play will be followed with two teams from each group coming out to okay the straight knockout segment Since 15 teams are drawn in the four groups, one will have only three teams in that group.

Group A comprises Milerock, Net Rockers, Botafago and Amelia’s Ward Panthers. Group B has Fearless, Haynes

and Lewis Winners Connection, Hi Stars and Coomacka with Group C made up of Capital FC, Eagles United, Topp XX and Golden Stars while Group D clubs are Blueberry Hill, Aroiama and Silver Shattas.

The drawing for the tournament was held on Friday afternoon where the fixtures was drawn by the contesting clubs.

To n i g h t ’s o p e n i n g matches that will follow the march past where among those expected to be present are officials from the Guyana Football Federation.

In the first game Milerock will face Net Rockers at 18.00 hours and the next game is Fearless against Winners Connec-

tion and that will be followed with Capital FC taking on Eagles United, Botafago will match skills with Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Hi stars face Coomacka, Topp XX collide with Golden stars and Blueberry Hill United tackle Aroiama.

The sponsors for this year-end tournament for men are beverage giants Banks DIH, Jai Signs, Bosai Minerals group (Guyana) Inc., Jermain and Son Super Market, B. Harry Lumber Yard and General Store and Bolo’s Variety Stores.

The playing dates are December 20, 22, 27, 29, 30 and January 1, 2024.

(Joe Chapman)

UDFA officials pose with winning trophy for the year-end futsal tournament at Retrieve Hard Court. Holding the trophy is UDFA’s PRO Ms. Recia Nedd

Ten T&T officials on FIFA international panel for 2024

THE Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) is pleased to announce that ten local officials have been accepted on the FIFA international Panel for the 2024 calendar.

This was disclosed by Michael Ragoonath, Head of the TTFA Referees Department. The following individuals will receive their FIFA badges for the coming year.

Referees – Kwinsi Williams, Crystal Sobers, Cecile Hinds, Timothy Derry and Nikolai Nyron Assistant Referees – Caleb Wales, Ainsley Rochard, Evelyn Carissa Douglas Jacob, Kirt Charles and Melissa Nich-

Michael Ragoonath during a FIFA Referees Assistance Program (RAP) session

olas TTFA General Secretary Amiel Mohammed applauded the progress made in the area of refer-

eeing under the supervision and guidance of the Referees Department led

by Ragoonath, a former FIFA official himself.

In 2021, T&T only had 2 female referees in Sobers and Hinds and 3 Assistant Referees (Wales, Rochard and Jacob at the

FIFA level). In 2022, the TTFA nominated Williams and Charles, with only Williams being accepted and we started 2023 with 6 FIFA Officials.

The Refereeing Department of the TTFA has consistently worked on the development of the officials over the last few years, inclusive of implementing the training and advice from FIFA instructors at the TTFA’s annual MA Refereeing Course.

As we continued to witness the development of the officials, in 2023, the TTFA nominated Nikolai Nyron and Timothy Derry – Referees and Kirt Charles and Melissa Nicholas – Assistant Referees

to be included alongside the six aforementioned officials to the FIFA panel.

All ten (10) nominees have now been accepted to join the list of FIFA Officials for 2024.

Additionally, Andrew Samuel and Nathalya Williams were selected to join the Concacaf Academy for the next cycle beginning in January 2024. We also have Allison B. Mc Donald being selected as a Refereeing Assessor at the Concacaf level.

The immediate goal of the TTFA Refereeing Department is to have multiple officials appointed to serve at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Sportsmax).

22

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

Phil Salt hits hits stunning century as England in third T20

By Timothy Abraham

Phil Salt's stunning century helped England pull off their third-highest T20 international chase as they beat West Indies by seven wickets in the

both passed fifty as they put on 115 for the first wicket to give England hope, with Salt, who hit nine sixes and four fours, continuing the brutal hitting after his captain was out for 51.

The fourth T20 is in Trinidad on Tuesday.

Being challenged with needing the highest successful T20 international chase at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium and to keep the series alive

Phil Salt finished unbeaten on 109 off 56 balls

third T20 in Grenada.

Salt brought up his first T20 international hundred off 51 balls and finished unbeaten on 109, with Harry Brook smashing the 21 runs needed off the final over to ensure England chased 223 with a ball to spare in an incredible win.

Nicholas Pooran's 45ball 82 led West Indies to 222-6 as Adil Rashid finished the pick of the England attack by taking 2-32.

England are 2-1 down in the five-match series with two left to play.

Salt and Jos Buttler

England needed 31 to win off the final two overs but Alzarri Joseph held his nerve in the penultimate over as he conceded only 10 to give the hosts the upper hand.

But Brook, who was on seven from two balls heading into the final over, calmly hit a four and two sixes off the experienced Andre Russell's first three balls to put England on the brink of victory.

He and Salt then ran two before Brook flashed at a wide one from Russell and it flew over the boundary at deep third.

- appeared to bring a clarity of thought and approach to England's batters.

Buttler, steely determination in his eyes, signalled his intent with two sixes off the first over.

When he reverse swept Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie for fours some of his sparkle started to return.He fell after a superb relay catch on the boundary, with Hosein having the presence of mind to toss the ball to Joseph knowing he would have crossed the rope.

Salt, whose previous best T20 internation-

al score was 88 not out, showed great composure as his shot selection remained largely conventional, with West Indies' bowlers unable to prevent him from accessing his favoured areas down the ground.

The Lancashire batter even had the game awareness to realise perhaps Brook - fresher and a genuine 360 batter - might have been better placed to see England over the line.

Brook, who hit his first ball for six in the 18th over, performed his role perfectly, carting Russell over extra cover and fine leg to swing the tie England's way before finishing it off in style.

Salt is the fifth England men's batter to hit a T20 international century, after Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone and Buttler.

If he continues to perform like this, Salt looks nailed on for a place at the top of the order at next year's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States, having been unfortunate to miss out when England won the trophy last year.

Tough day for England's attack For all the excitement of a thrilling chase, this was a chastening day to be an England bowler.

Rashid and Reece Top-

ley managed to keep their economy to 8.00 per over and were tellingly the only ones to bowl their full allocation.

But even they suffered at the hands of a dangerous West Indies line-up - Topley was hit for 18 off the final over of the innings, with Jason Holder providing the late fireworks.

Apart from the first couple of overs when Topley found some swing dismissing the left-handed Kyle Mayers with a beautiful delivery which that nipped to take the edge - there was precious little encouragement offered by the pitch.

Tymal Mills felt the heat the most as he was brutally dismantled by Pooran, who walloped six sixes and six fours to lead his side's recovery from 8-2.

Mills' two overs cost 36 runs, while Gus Atkinson returned 0-32 from the same number.

The majority of England's seam attack struggled with their lengths on the pitch, while spin bowling all-rounder Livingstone, 0-27 from two overs, lacked the necessary control.

On a day when 34 sixes were struck - the second most in a T20 international - England's bowlers will at least be heartened to be on the winning side.

And in a more positive sense this was also a useful learning curve for the more inexperienced members of the attack on what to expect, and what they must do to adapt, in the Caribbean next year.

'What we're here for' reaction Player of the match, England batter Phil Salt: "It feels like it's been a long time coming. It's special to do it now.

"We've been talking about someone standing up and being the match-winner. It's about playing my game and doing it my way."

England captain Jos Buttler: "Great to keep the series alive, a fantastic win. Credit to Phil Salt, it's a fantastic innings."He has such great intent from ball one. It's something we've asked him to do, but for him to go on and stay in the game a bit longer, it can surprise you how much he can do in the end."It's great to get a win, it's what we're here for."

West Indies captain Rovman Powell: "It's obviously disappointing to score 222 and lose, but the guys gave it a fair shot."It was a good effort - we didn't have the best start, but the way they finished was commendable and the bowler's bowled well in patches."

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

23

Emotional farewell for Clyde Described as a great loss Godfrey Butts to cricket fraternity

24

By Sean Devers

DESPITE some early morning showers of blessings, the Central Assembly of God Church on Church and East Streets Georgetown overflowed with family, friends and colleagues of the late Clyde Butts in a moving funeral service which lasted almost three hours yesterday.

Tears flowed freely as a succession of emotional tributes were given by members of the congregation.

Former National cricketers, including Guyana’s most successful Captain Leon Johnson, formed an arch with their bats as the former West Indies off-spinner and selector’s casket was taken from the Church by GCB’s President Bissoondyal Singh and GCB executive members.

Butts who died in a vehicular accident on Friday December 8, 2023 at age 66, was given a fantastic farewell to the great beyond.

The body of Butts, who played in seven Tests and took 384 First-Class wickets from 87 matches, was viewed at the Church from 09:00 hours to 10:00 hours before an impactful and uplifting sermon was conducted

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 17, 2023

by Bishop John Smith The Funeral Service commenced at 10:00 hours and the packed Church included Sports Minister Charles Ramson, Chairman of the NSC Kashif Mohammed, high-ranking GCB officials including President Singh, representatives of the GCA and it’s clubs, several present and former players including Clayton Lambert, Sidney Matthews, Mark Grenville, Victor Benjimen, the Harper brothers (Mark & Roger) Ramnaresh Sarwan, Colin Stuart, Chris Barnwell, Lennox Cush, Steven Jacobs, West Indies Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith and representatives of the Commentary team who worked with Butts on radio.

Also present yesterday was former cricket scorer for Radio and former National U-17 Coach, Bharat Mangru who was a very close friend of Butts and came in from Canada for his funeral.

An opening prayer was given by Reverend Steve Adams while the opening hymn was sung by pastor Matthew Kissoon, who paid his tribute to Butts on behalf of the commentators.

There were heart-breaking emotions from the Butts’

clan which included his wife Marika along with the many others whose lives had been touched by Butts, who was born on July 8 1957 in Perseverance, Mahaicony, as tributes were given.

Butt’s son Collis read virtual tributes from former West indies Cricketers Keiron Pollard, Dwane Bravo and Phil Simmons.

There was also a rendition of ‘Going up yonder’

by Kesha Thomas which brough tears from the eyes of many in congregation. A touching poem was recited by Annette Prince while a heart wrenching tribute was done by Butt’s eldest nephew, Howard Butts who broke-down during his presentation.

GCA’s Vice-President Roger Harper, who was Butts’ Captain in 1987 and 1993 when Guyana won both the First-Class and 50-over titles, provident highlights of the career of Butt’s, which began at DCC. Butts then joined the Guyana Police Force in 1976 but because of the presence of the late off-spinner Willaim Jeffery, Butts was sent to play for Berbice Police.

The Demerara, Guyana and West Indies off-spinner,

GCB President Bissoon Singh (front right) and his executives carry the casket of the body of Clyde Butts through a bat arch by former national cricketers from the Church yesterday widely regarded as Guyana’s best off-spinner after Lance Gibbs, moved to Everest and East Coast before settling at GNIC, where he played, until

he 61.

Butts who received a Medal of Service award for his services to Guyana in the field of Sports, also severed

The packed congregation for Butts yesterday (Sean Devers photos)

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as a West Indies Selector and Coach.

He was also encouraged by cricket Broadcaster Naim Chan to be a ‘comments-man’ after his retirement from First-Class cricket in 1994, which he did from 1995 until October this year during the 50-over senior Inter- County tournament.

The death of Butts, who leaves to morn his wife, five children and the entire West Indies cricket fraternity, was described as a great loss for cricket in Guyana since he was very knowledgeable about the game while remaining humble.

His body was laid to rest yesterday afternoon in the village of his birth.

Gone but not forgotten…

RIP Clyde Godfrey Butts.

| SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023