Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 18-01-2024

Canadian ambassador on official visit to Guyana

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‘More we grow, less we import’

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— increased budget for agriculture could expedite Guyana’s regional food-security goals — says private-sector stakeholders

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips was on site for the landing of Digicel Guyana’s newest submarine fibre optic cable at the Marriott beachfront in Kingston. The Prime Minister was joined

by Digicel Guyana’s leadership team, including Chief Executive Officer, Mr Deonarine Gopaul and other technical experts. The high-speed cable represents a major boost to the company’s local connectivity capacity.

Rebranded energy conference emphasises transformation, modernisation

— Benn says

— Several Heads of State confirmed; unique attractions to foster learning

Parika watertreatment plant projected to serve 1,900 residents

Minister Benn urges public to turn in illegal guns in anti-crime efforts

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Venezuelans involved in criminal activities account for fastest- growing prison population

Eye-care vouchers for children, pensioners PG 17 among measures in 2024 budget

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Rebranded energy conference emphasises transformation, modernisation — several Heads of State confirmed; Unique attractions to foster learning — CEO of Energy Conference says

By Shamar Meusa THE foremost energy conference in Guyana has been rebranded as the 'Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo'. This year, the conference will prioritise the

pursuit of transformation and modernisation.

This is according to Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, Kurt Baboolall who, in a telephone interview, told the Guyana Chronicle that

the goal this year will be to make the expo a family-oriented one set to foster learning.

Giving some background on the rebranding of the conference, Baboolall stated that in Guyana, the income from energy resources is being used to develop all other sectors across the country, and as such, it was important that this be highlighted.

In light of this, he further emphasised that the energy sector is dependent on various other sectors to ensure its efficiency and functionality. Consequently, recognising the interdependence between the energy and other sectors, the team deemed it essential to take action.

However, with this in mind, the theme for this year’s conference is, “Fuelling Transformation and Modernisation.”

“So, we have seen a lot of transformative projects starting in Guyana since we started to lift oil in 2020. So that’s one of the reasons we thought that fuelling transformation would be more aligned with what’s relevant and

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, Kurt Baboolall

happening in Guyana right now,” he said.

When asked about plans for this year’s conference, he stated that the goal this year is to make the expo a family-oriented one, as energy is currently the driving force of the country’s economy.

Baboolall told this newspaper that he believes that everyone should be included, and as such, the exhibition will be built to include everyone. It was then that he noted that kids could attend the conference free of cost, once accompanied by an adult.

Added to this, he noted that the conference, which will be hosted at the Guyana Marriott Hotel from February 19th to February 22nd, 2024, will feature a new attraction: an international food court.

This food court will provide patrons with an array of food options from across the world and even indigenous dishes from

Guyana.

“Persons coming to the expo, it’s diverse; we have international attendees, we have regional attendees, and we have locals. We want to be able to illustrate culture through cuisine, so that’s going to be our theme for the international food court,” Baboolall expressed.

Further to this, he noted the expo will be built so that attendees can learn about what’s happening in the sector and with players in the energy market.

He added that throughout the days of the conference and expo, those in attendance will learn about energy, the energy players, the supply chain, and even companies that provide support to the energy sector.

“We want people to leave with value in terms of learning, you must come, learn about something, the energy players, learn about where they fit in the

sector,” he iterated.

In line with the commitment to education, Baboolall announced that there will be a prominent display at the conference and expo entrance, showcasing the remarkable journey of oil in Guyana.

In the context of the conference, he mentioned that the agenda includes more than 66 speakers, including several heads of state who have already confirmed their attendance.

Among these are the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; the President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi; the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Rowley; and Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Phillip Davis, among others.

Guyana’s Head of State, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, and Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips will also be in attendance.

From a global private sector perspective, the CEO added Pulitzer prize-winning author and long-time energy and economic consultant, Daniel Yergin will be in attendance.

Further to this, Baboolall encouraged those who are desirous of attending Guyana’s premier energy conference and expo to register at guyanaenergy.gy

Canadian ambassador on official visit to Guyana

THE Honourable Robert Rae (Bob Rae), Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York, will be on an official visit to Guyana on Wednesday.

According to a press statement from the High Commission of Canada in Guyana, the official will be meeting with the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, H.E. Dr. Irfaan Ali, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, the Honourable Hugh Todd, and the Secretary General of the CARICOM, Dr. Carla Barnett, along with other key stakeholders.

“Ambassador Rae will engage with Guyana, a newly elected member of the United Nations Security Council, on shared regional and multilateral priorities,” the statement read.

Ambassador Rae will also be discussing the Canada-CARICOM collaboration

Robert Rae (Bob Rae), Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations

on Haiti and other regional issues as a follow-up to the recent Canada-CARICOM Summit, which was hosted

by Canada’s Prime Minister, the Honourable Justin Trudeau.

Canada reaffirms its commitment as a long-standing friend and partner to Guyana and will continue to work

with Guyana bilaterally, and multilaterally, on priority areas.

About Ambassador Robert Rae The Honourable Robert Rae is the former Premier of Ontario and former interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Ambassador Rae was elected 11 times to federal and provincial parliaments between 1978 and 2013. He stepped down as a member of Parliament in 2013 to return to legal practice and to work with Indigenous communities and continue his work in education, governance, and human rights.

Ambassador Rae holds the esteemed titles of privy councillor, companion of the Order of Canada, and member of the Order of Ontario, in addition to receiving numerous awards and honorary degrees from prestigious institutions globally. He has been Ambassador of Canada to the UN since 2020.

‘More we grow, less we import’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

— increased allocation for agriculture could expedite Guyana’s regional food-security goals — private sector stakeholders say

By Naomi Parris OUTLINING the vision to transform Guyana’s agricultural sector, which has a large-scale farming and food-production industry, a mammoth investment of $97.6 billion has been budgeted for the fiscal package of 2024.

And according to stakeholders, these funds could see the country fast-tracking regional food- security goals, thereby not only increasing the Caribbean’s food production, but also reducing the region’s expenditure on food imports.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Komal Singh, in an invited comment on Wednesday to the Guyana Chronicle, said, “The more we grow, the less we import.”

Singh added that this year’s national budget, which was presented to the National Assembly on Monday by Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, highlighted several massive advancement plans for the country.

He noted that while investments have been earmarked for the country’s infrastructural and economic development, funds are also present to support the ordinary man.

To provide an illustration, within the agricultural industry, financial resources have been assigned to boost food production, aid farmers, and facilitate additional partnerships with the private sector.

“The budget has catered significantly for tremendous amounts of developments, more for in the agriculture [sic] sector, in agro-processing, and so the food costs will come down.”

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Komal Singh

A sum of $527.4 million is budgeted to support agro-processing, while $2.6 billion has been allocated to enhance the “other crop”

Rasheed Baksh, General Manager at Royal Chicken Inc

sector by promoting the cultivation of high-value crops such as cauliflower and broccoli.

“When you look at the

budget 2024 over all every single sector is that is required to develop a country, an economy and its people is contained in the budget,”

Singh said.

He noted that the fiscal package has restored the private sector’s confidence in the government.

“While fuel prices remain high in the world market, the government has continued to subsidise that industry by having absolutely no duty and taxes on fuel imports.”

This particular measure, he says, supports all the major sectors, but particularly for agriculture sector, where companies and suppliers can produce more at a lower cost.

Guyana currently holds the leading position in food security and agriculture within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with the shared objective of diminishing the region's food-import bill of US$6 billion by 25 per cent over the upcoming year.

“When you look at the allocations that was [sic] done again in the agriculture [sic] sector it’s also focused directly on developing and meeting that expectation of a 25 per cent reduction in our food-import bill,” Singh said.

Also sharing some insights, Rasheed Baksh, General Manager at Royal Chicken Inc., a major player in the country’s poultry industry, also said the budgetary allocations for the sector sees the country moving closer to achieving its food-security goals.

Baksh said that one of the major highlights for him and many others in the industry is the maintenance of no taxes on fuel and freight charges.

“Energy cost is a major factor for us in our industry, so we welcome the continuation of that because that will help us with a significant part of our industry and help us to remain competitive…

additionally, the reduction of the freight charges, the continuation of that, rather, we have a significant part of our expense in terms of the raw materials we import from overseas, so freight charges and any adjustment there will help in terms of lessening the cost and the cost of production,” Baksh said.

In 2021, the government announced the removal of taxes on fuel, and in this year’s budget, the finance minister said that the zero excise taxes on fuel will be maintained as long as fuel prices remain elevated.

Aside from this, Baksh, who is a member of a local consortium established to produce local feed for livestock, noted that the budgeted funds for the poultry sector will see the country drawing closer to becoming self-sufficient in producing and supplying feed for the regional market.

Plans for enhancing services in the poultry industry by establishing state-of-theart processing facilities, support facilities, and production zones were revealed during the budget presentation. And these initiatives are expected to be implemented throughout the year, with a projected budget of $1.5 billion.

Moreover, there has been a budgetary allocation of $967.8 million to augment the production of corn and soya bean, specifically for local feed production.

Furthermore, additional, significant investments were outlined to enhance the nation's drainage and irrigation networks, provide support to farmers, and implement innovative technologies to drive progress in the sector.

Safe Country initiative partially operationalised in Regions Three, Six

AS part of the government’s ‘Safe Country’ initiative, police command centres in Regions Three and Six have commenced limited operational activities, with the intention of expanding gradually.

This is according to Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, as he engaged media operatives Wednesday to highlight his ministry’s achievements for the year 2023.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is integrating infor-

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

mation and communications technology (ICT) into its crime-fighting capabilities to enhance surveillance nationwide.

The initiative will see the entire country being connected to closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, which makes it easier for security agencies to monitor potential criminal activities and deter crime by increasing the risk of detection.

“The others will come onstream within the next two

quarters. The equipment and furnishing and other infrastructure have to go in place to make those others fully operationalised,” Minister Benn disclosed.

Command centres are currently being constructed in Regions Two, Five, and 10.

The undertaking will ensure communities in these regions are secured.

When completed, civilians and police officers will be operating these high-end cameras.

In last year’s budget, some $2.4 billion was earmarked to advance the construction of command centres, while $2.5 billion was expended in 2022 to advance the initiative in the various regions.

Additionally, Budget 2024 contains an allocation of $2 billion to further support the expansion of the Safe Country initiative.

The programme supports the crime-fighting efforts of the police by providing and installing intelligent video

surveillance sites.

It also establishes regional command centres to monitor and manage these sites, as well as facilitate 911 emergency response.

To date, the initiative has demonstrated a tangible impact in reducing serious crimes. This is just one facet of the holistic approach by the PPP/C Administration to foster a country where there is less crime and safer communities, in keeping with its 2020 manifesto.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

$236.17 billion allotted for Guyana’s infrastructural development — Guyana to Suriname Bridge: officials awaiting confirmation on scheduled meeting

By Cindy Parkinson WITH $236.17 billion allotted, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill emphasised the importance of the ongoing advancements made across the country and the government’s commitment to ensuring that every Guyanese citizen and their families have better lives under President Ali’s administration.

During an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, the Minister of Public Works provided a detailed breakdown of the allocation of $236.17 billion to three key programmes: public works,

transportation, and policy administration. He maintained that the public works projects not only serve to enhance the country's infrastructure, but also contribute significantly to the standard of living for the citizens of Guyana.

According to Minister Edghill, “The public works programmes include all that we have been doing all along. Those are the roads, bridges, major highways, and continuing projects such as the Linden to Mabura roads and the Ogle to Eccles four-lane roads, which are followed by the exit bank. There is money in there for the new four-lane Wismar Bridge,

Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill (left) and Minister of Public Works from Suriname, Dr. Riad Nurmohamed, in one of their previous meetings

and there is money in there for the continuous work on the New Demerara River Bridge. There is money in there to continue the development of community roads, sea and river defences, and the rehabilitation of hinterland airstrips, among others.”

GUYANA TO SURINAME BRIDGE Meanwhile, Minister Edghill expounded on the ongoing and anticipated expansion in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), underscoring its pivotal role in driving Guyana's

economic development. He also noted that the meeting of the two countries’ officials and neighbours (Guyana and Suriname) will be scheduled at the earliest date of convenience for both countries.

“As of right now, we are awaiting confirmation for a scheduled meeting between the Minister of Public Works (Juan Edghill), the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Huge Todd), and the Minister of Finance (Dr. Ashni Singh) of Guyana, along with the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Finance from Suriname, to make the final decision on the way forward, having received the joint evaluation report,” Minister Edghill explained.

Furthermore, Minister Edghill conveyed his contentment with President Ali for the significant allocation made to his ministry and the confidence placed in him and his office to execute and finalize the major transformative initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life and welfare of all Guyanese citizens.

According to him, his team at the ministry is fully committed to ensuring that the task that is expected of them is fulfilled.

“More money means that we will build and develop more community roads, more urban roads, more hinterland roads, and more farm-to-market ac-

cess roads. It also means that we will be able to push the work of the major highways and thoroughfares, and that is what we intend to do!” Minister Edghill added In a regional event held last November, Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh stated that Guyana and Suriname are currently engaged in advanced discussions regarding the construction of the Corentyne River bridge, which would serve as a link between the two nations.

Dr. Ashni Singh informed the public about the progress being made in Region Six and the promising prospects they would bring about.

He also reminded them of the various infrastructural projects that are currently being done around the country, which, according to him, are changing the country’s architectural landscape.

He explained, “We are at an advanced stage of discussions with our Surinamese counterparts. We have already done a public international tender, and we have received bids. The bids are currently under an evaluation process in partnership with Suriname.”

He also related that two businesses, China Road, and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), owned by the Chinese, and Ballast Nedam, a Dutch engineering company, filed proposals in October 2023 to build the bridge over the Corentyne River that would connect Guyana and Suriname.

The significance of the bridge was emphasised

by Dr. Ashni Singh, who emphasised its ability to establish new transportation routes and bolster the commercial and bilateral connections between Suriname and Guyana.

“With the construction of the Corentyne Bridge, irrespective of what you produce, your market immediately extends now into Suriname, and you have the potential now to deliver your goods and services into the country,” he added.

Gov’t to invest $1.3B in rice expansion this year

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

THE government is anticipated to sustain its assistance for Guyana's rice industry by allocating $1.3 billion this year through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to enhance the productive sector.

This was highlighted by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh during his 2024 budget presentation in the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), on Monday.

Minister Singh explained that the aim is to expand and develop the rice industry, while introducing new high-yielding varieties and

providing adequate support for improved drainage and irrigation systems, among other things.

“In 2024, we will continue to invest in the improvement of the quality and quantity of seed paddy avail-

able to the rice farmers. We will provide enhanced best practices in the cultivation of paddy. We will continue to research and develop high-yielding varieties with good milling and cooking qualities and varieties that are

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both salt-tolerant and resistant to major rice diseases,” the senior minister stressed.

Dr Singh stated, too, that the government will evaluate the new G14-10 high-yielding rice variety in farmers’ fields in 2024.

Last year, the rice sector was estimated to expand by seven per cent. The GRDB reported a total rice production of 653,706 tonnes for 2023, above 610,595 tonnes in 2022.

“This performance can be largely attributed to better yields, which improved from 5.9 tonnes per hectare in 2022 to an estimated 6.3 tonnes per hectare in 2023,” Minister Singh reported.

Guyana earned approx-

imately $45.2 billion in exports in 2023, over $3 billion more than in 2022.

Due to Guyana’s groundbreaking research work with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the zinc-enriched rice – GRDB IICA-17 variety-- was launched in October 2023.

Farmers will cultivate the new rice variety for the inaugural crop of 2024.

This will be a noteworthy accomplishment, since Guyana is the only country in the region and Latin America to introduce this variety.

Meanwhile, the construction of drying floors at Cotton Tree in Region Five and Hague in Region Three is

currently underway. Eight drying floors have been built across the country in the last three years.

The Black Bush Polder seed-processing facility in Region Six which was made operable in 2023 will produce close to 6,000 bags of paddy for approximately 600 farmers.

By 2025, it is anticipated that Guyana will produce 847,000 metric tonnes of rice.

Over the years, the rice sector has proven to be sustainable, generating jobs for rural communities while making substantial progress toward the country’s agricultural sector and food-security objectives.

She encouraged them to allocate the grant towards the expansion of their business, rather than using it for personal purposes. Her statement indicated that the government is fully committed to assisting small business owners in their endeavors.

Shazeeda Mohamed, a restaurant owner, was one of the many persons who was extremely happy upon receiving it. She conveyed her appreciation and shared her intention to invest her money in expanding her food-related enterprise. According to her, it arrived just when she required financial assistance.

Diaram Budhoo, the proprietor of a grocery store

in Walton Hall, stated his intention to use his funds to increase his inventory of groceries. According to him, he plans to utilise it to enhance his business environment.

Jennifer Joseph stated that she manages a poultry farm and intends to spend the money on ac-

quiring ducklings. Residing in Supenaam, Joseph expressed her intention to use her funds for business expansion. The recipients expressed their excitement and praised the government of Guyana for intervening in their small business.

SBB distributes $200,000 grant to 170 Essequibo entrepreneurs

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond hands over a cheque to one of the recipients

A SUM of $200,000 was granted to each of the 170 small business entrepreneurs in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region on Wednesday, aimed at facilitating the development of their enterprises.

The grant was allocated by the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Small Business Bureau (SBB) at the Anna Regina Town Council, under the supervision of Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond.

Minister Waldrond expressed during the allocation of the grant that the Government of Guyana is dedicated to offering unwavering assistance to small business proprietors nationwide. In her address, Minister Waldrond emphasised that the grant provides concrete support to entrepreneurs in the region.

She strongly encouraged them to view it not as a complimentary offering, but as a tool for advancing and

improving their businesses.

“This is just the beginning. I want to keep encouraging all of our entrepreneurs that small business is the catalyst for economic growth and prosperity in your communities. We need you to strive and grow,” Minister Walrond said.

She expressed her hope that the expansion of businesses will lead to increased employment, thereby stimulating economic development. Minister Waldrond announced that her Ministry, via the SBB, disbursed more than 1,400 grants to small businesses in 2023.

“From since 2020 to now, we have distributed over 4,000 small business grants to the tune of 999 million Guyana dollars, so this shows that your government continues to support small businesses,” Minister Walrond said.

Meanwhile, CEO Mohamed Shazim Ibrahim stated that the SBB has a strong commitment to facilitating

the continuous growth and balanced expansion of micro and small businesses across local industries. According to him, the main objective of the SBB is to generate a positive impact and provide expert guidance to businesses by allocating resources.

“Today’s grant distribution exercise is a tangible representation of the government’s dedication through the small business bureau to creating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Ibrahim said.

Vilma De Silva, Chairperson of Region Two, expressed her joy for the recipients and encouraged them to make the most of the grant.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Entrepreneurial Vigour

In a riveting presentation of Budget 2024 to the National Assembly, Senior Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, showcased the People's Progressive Party/Civic's (PPP/C) meticulous planning and targeted policies that have paved the way for an abundance of entrepreneurial opportunities in Guyana.

The emphasis on creating avenues for citizens to build household income has been a central tenet of the government's agenda since assuming office in 2020.

Dr. Singh's assertion that the surge in demand for goods and services is a di-

rect result of the strategic fusion of private and public investments, job creation, and increased disposable income cannot be understated.

The critics, ensnared in a narrow understanding of the transformative infrastructural projects, failed to grasp how these initiatives elevate the asset value and household wealth of every Guyanese.

In a defiant tone, Dr. Singh proclaimed, "All of these investments translate immediately to increased asset value and balance-sheet enhancement for all householders in the communities concerned. Put simply, these

public investments enhance private wealth."

The government is building a Guyana where every family can meet their basic needs, thereby ushering in a new era of prosperity for the nation.

However, Dr. Singh shrewdly reminds us that participation in the global business arena necessitates adherence to international norms.

The call to adopt universal business practices becomes imperative for joint ventures and partnerships, opening avenues for local content opportunities and global business interactions.

It is a pragmatic approach, acknowledging the interconnectedness of economies in the 21st century.

The minister's echo of the universal call for an end to hunger, quality healthcare, educational opportunities, potable water, sanitation, and recreational facilities underscores the government's commitment to a multi-dimensional vision of progress.

He emphasized that the policy agenda, evident in manifestos and annual budgets since 2020, is designed to deliver on these expectations.

Dr. Singh's articulation

of "economic empowerment" as a long-term goal speaks to the PPP/C Government's dedication to fostering an environment where citizens can amass wealth through entrepreneurial endeavours.

The government's commitment to removing barriers that hinder entrepreneurial growth is commendable.

In the envisioned Guyana, the population must become more entrepreneurial – capable of identifying and creating opportunities, ready to take calculated risks, and adept at managing those risks for maximum returns.

As we embrace this

vision for Guyana, it is crucial to acknowledge the proactive steps taken by the government to empower its citizens economically.

The strategic planning and targeted policies reflect a vision that extends beyond immediate gains, aiming to lay the foundation for sustained prosperity. In the face of skeptics, the PPP/C Government stands resolute, steering Guyana towards a future where entrepreneurial vigour propels the nation to new heights.

Setting the record straight about GOAL, Coursera

Dear Editor,

The effort by some to engage in a disinformation campaign, for the sake of political gain or some other misguided agenda, is baffling – if for no other reason than the time and energy such activities demand.

During the presentation of Budget 2024, it was announced that $4 billion will be allocated to the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and $4.1 billion to UG. The allocation to GOAL seems to have triggered the Parliamentary Opposition and their acolytes operating from behind screens on social medial platforms.

First, the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition’s

leader, Aubrey Norton, and Parliamentarian, Amanza Walton-Desir, jumped into the news cycle with the bizarre claim that the GOAL funding is going to someone close to the PPP/C government.

Editor, is the Coalition so triggered by the fact the PPP/C government’s accomplishment of 20,000 scholarships to Guyanese youths that it resorts to wild, unfounded claims?

So, what are the facts?

The fact is that GOAL offers the following: · Pre-University Foundation Programmes available from three different institutions: Amity University (A minimum of 4 passes at CXC), JAIN (Completed Grade Nine) and International Skills Development Corporation.

UG does not offer anything of this sort. · Certificates where no formal education is required, only the student must be functionally literate. These programs are from UWI Global Campus, JAIN and Amity; and cover over 107 programs.

UG has a Managing Communities in Emergencies program that doesn’t seem to have an academic requirement as a pre-requisite. · Undergraduate Certificates from UWI Global Campus and the University for Peace (UN Costa Rica) and they offer more than 10 different programmes. · Associate Degree Programmes where five CXC passes are needed from AA Maritime & Off-

shore Training Institute (GUYANA) and the Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science (SIFS) and they offer forty-four different programmes; none of these programmes are available at the University of Guyana. The University of Guyana offers 7 Certificate programmes and about 10 Diplomas. They also have 24 associate degree programmes. · Bachelor's Degrees from Amity University, Universidad del Caribe (UNICARIBE), International University of Applied Science (Germany), JAIN, Texila American University (Guyana), University of Southern Caribbean, UNICAF Malawi, UNICAF Zambia, ISDC in partnership with Staffordshire University (UK) and

they cover over 185 programmes – some of which not available at the University of Guyana. The University of Guyana offers roughly 80 programmes at the undergraduate level. · Post Graduate Certificate Programmes and Post Graduate Diploma Programmes from Universidad del Caribe (UNICARIBE) and JAIN and they cover over twenty different programmes, not all of these programmes are offered at the University of Guyana. The University of Guyana has a singular Executive Certificate Programme. · Masters's Degrees from Amity, University for Peace, International University of Applied Science (Germany), Texila American University (Guyana),

JAIN, Structuralia - Universidad Isabel, I, (Spain), UNICAF (East London University), UNICAF (University of Suffolk), UNICAF (Liverpool John Moores University), UNICAF University (Zambia and Malawi), Universidad del Caribe (UNICARIBE), ISDC in partnership with Staffordshire University and these schools cover over 200 masters programmes. The University of Guyana offers around 20 different Master’s programmes. · Four PhD programmes from two different schools; whereas UG has three PhD programmes.

Also, Guyanese options is what the government has Continued on page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Let the debate game begin!

Dear Editor,

The lion-hearted Finance Minister, feisty Dr. Ashni Singh, stood firmly, as he fearlessly faced a rowdy, rumbustious and raging Opposition who tried all the underhand, low blow and below the belt attitudes, as they annoyingly attempted to disrupt, interrupt and prevent the unperturbed but smiling Minister, to deliver the unprecedented budget which only gets bigger and better yearly, as the PPP/C Government weather the herculean task of propelling Guyana’s economic development through growth, sustainability and empowerment.

Building on a Caribbean’s leading GDP 33 per cent growth for 2023, the mighty adventurers will again travel on a path where only eagles dare, to conquer the possible mission of attaining a blooming and booming economy with a projected 34 per cent GDP growth for 2024.

The mammoth $1.146 trillion-dollar budget which is almost twice the size of last year’s budget, will be

The astute PPP/C Government has embraced dynamic economic strategies in the budget to finance the application of addressing specific and holistic issues and problems which will translate into: Higher levels of education, greater employment opportunities, more social programs to enhance challenging needs, strengthen the defense of the country, provide greater protection and security for the people, improve the life style with advanced technological and medical facilities, expand on infrastructure, build more houses and supply water, sustain a growing culture of young people in sports, improve the hinterland life style, taking care of the pensioners and seniors, fertilizing the seeds of agricultural growth and a host of associated services which will boost economic and social development.

Since coming into office, The PPP/C Government has dominated the

scene and managed to eradicate the unheralded blemishes created by the former dictatorial and devious administration which has tarnished the reputation of Guyanese and plunged the nation into economic bankruptcy in 2020.

From 2015 to 2020, the polluted PNC managed to eradicate and wipe off all the gains accumulated by the PPP/C Party from 1992 to 2015. The PPP/C Government has quickly moved the country from a traditional economy to launch the nation on a solid platform which is engineered to take off into maturity as one of the richest nation per capita.

This is evidenced from successful and successive economic, political and social performances for the past three years, led by a determined and influential leader, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, backed by a hard -working Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, an ever-watchful Vice-President, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo and of course, studious and eagerly engaging Cabinet Ministers and their loyal assistants.

A budget which is seasoned with the ingredients

to promote political stability, reform the distribution of equitable resources, account for public borrowing and spending, promote education, empowering women and protecting children and building on healthy foreign relations and good governance, will definitely remove any hindrances for economic growth and corruption and avoid trade deficits and the Dutch Disease.

The PPP/C Government do plan their work and work their plan. They are not like the PNC illusionists, trapped in a wonderland of dreams.

In the ‘Lessons of Experience’ expounding on Development Planning, Sir Arthur Lewis asserted that, “we are all planners now.” Guyanese can once more indulge in long-term planning for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous life in Guyana under the management of a meticulous PPP/C Government. Let the debate game begin!

its 20+ partners will accept those certificates as fouryear degree equivalent.”

Also, in 2020, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Public Service and the Private Sector Commission signed an MoU agreeing to recognise the certificates earned by students who have completed online courses via the Commonwealth of Learning and Coursera.

This means that undertaking any of the Coursera programmes is not a waste of time.

Editor, Guyanese recall the PNCR-led coalition’s efforts via its ‘whisper campaign’ in certain communities to dissuade young

Guyanese to not take advantage of the education and training programmes being offered and supported by the PPP/C government.

They would rather see young Guyanese not benefit from advancement opportunities, just to be able to say to those youths, come elections time, that the PPP/C government did nothing for them. What kind of leadership is that?

It would be my humble advice to these brave keyboard warriors, hiding behind computer screens, to: One, recognise that their disinformation campaign does nothing for the coun-

try and the people they claim to care so much for; and two, take advantage of the GOAL or Coursera programmes to educate themselves on ‘how to conduct research’.

To the Parliamentary Opposition, I would advise that they have a duty to Guyanese to elevate their leadership, since our people deserve more from those in the Opposition camp, who deign to allocate to themselves the tile of national leaders.

financed without the Government levying any new taxes. Instead, Guyanese will see a reduction in taxes and VAT while there will be increases in allowances, grants, payments and services.

Not dissuaded by arrogance and heckling, the Honorable Dr. Ashni Singh was coerced by taunted intruders trying to taint his image and presentation, to mesmerize his attackers and lofting them out of the arena which is not conducive for immature politicians.

Perhaps, such expected incidences will only galvanize a much-prepared Cabinet Ministers to unshackle their armored prowess as they look forward to debate a poor, porous and panicking Opposition.

Already in a state of disarray and working overnight to fabricate frivolous and vexatious arguments in order to counter the Government Ministers’ budgetary presentations, the weakened and wobbling Opposition members will find it impossible to shade their bitter resentment for the well-deserved PPP/C’s pride in concluding their election manifesto on a

winning note.

Not characterized by deceit, the house hold name for the PNC, the PPP/C Government’s programs have unveiled their careful planning to incorporate all the necessary increases for social benefits which will improve the life style of Guyanese.

Putting more money in the hands of Guyanese will increase their spending power and uplift their standard of living.

Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher, whose advice is still influential and greatly discussed, remarked, “The right of nature is the liberty each man hath to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature; that is to say, of his own life."

The Government will not fall prey to the PNC’s million-dollar oil cash transfer. Like Dr. Tara Singh said, “You have to work for it.” Guyana is a proud nation of hard-working people who maintain their dignity from earning and living by working honestly and earnestly. Guyanese will always maintain their self-respect and avoid the pitfalls on depending on

hand-outs as clamored by some who want to eat, drink and be merry today and not cater for the morning after challenges.

of Guyana.

So, what are the facts?

GOAL and Coursera must not be confused. They are separate programmes.

Separate from GOAL, an allocation for $350 million was included in Budget 2024 for the bulk licensing arrangement with Coursera to train up to 450,000 persons in a wide range of areas where skills gaps exist.

Further, a simple Google search would have explained Coursera to those keyboard warriors. According to “Coursera Impact Report 2020”, the top five most popular courses that people learn from Coursera were contact

tracing, digital marketing, project management, Python programming, and social psychology.

As of 2017, Coursera offered complete master's degrees. Google, IBM, Meta and other well-known companies, launched various courses for professional certificates, allowing students to fill the workforce in various sectors, such as data analytics, IT support, digital marketing, UX design, project management, and Data science.

According to Google, their courses are equivalent to four-year degrees.

They also offered 100,000 scholarships. Google and

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall.

Setting the record straight about GOAL...

From page 6

done. UG does not have the capacity to support as many students. They do not offer as many programmes as we can get if we expand the offerings to schools out of Guyana.

The current budget for GOAL is to support 3,967 continuing students and bring on 6,000 new students.

Secondly, the coalition’s acolytes have jumped on to social media to claim that the allocations for GOAL since ‘a google search would show that the Coursera certificates’ do not have the same recognition as University

Sincerely, Nalinie Singh

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Budget 2024 further positions Guyana to avoid pitfalls of the Dutch disease

I interrupt my analysis of the world in 2023 to endorse the trillion-dollar budget. Guyana cannot be mired in poverty yet it has a trillion-dollar budget. Forget about the naysayers; this country is heading in the direction of a future that so long evaded Guyana.

Age has caught up with me and Kit Nascimento. Before our interview began, Kit told me that Guyana is now going somewhere, but it came too late for him to benefit because he is getting on in age. It is the same feeling here. When I examined the contents of that budget I wished that I was still the young UG lecturer that would have benefitted from a trillion-dollar budget. I taught for 26 years at UG and my last pay packet was $168,000.

In today’s Guyana with petrodollars that are transforming Guyana, a carpenter, electrician and mason work for more than $168,000. Kit

Nascimento’s feelings I can share. I know what he is talking about because I am in my early seventies.

My daughter did two degrees at UG and we paid for both. I wish UG was free then because those fees and related expenditure over those years amounted to more than two million dollars.

The removal of UG fees in the 2024 budget is something that this country must be proud of and it will form part of the Irfaan Ali legacy. I think Dr. Ali is going to leave a fantastic leg-

acy. I am staking my academic training on it. I am mentally elated that my country now has a future. I see that future in Budget 2024.

There is one external factor about a budget and one intrinsic factor that must be discussed. First, the opposition parties’ raison d’être is to criticize the government. That is what they have to do to attract voters.

People must understand that whatever greater budget we have in 2025, the opposition will knock it down. Once one

understands this instinct one should avoid being influenced by the tempestuous dismissal of the 2024 budget by the opposition.

What is horribly unacceptable is when editors, professionals and civil society can see a sound budget yet criticize it just to get at the government.

I think all budgets will have holes that academics, trade unionists and entrepreneurs will pick on. No budget in any country will be perfect. But Budget 2024 is a fine budget that should win the approval of the Guyanese people.

The intrinsic factor resides in economic and financial planning. If in one year, you elevate wages and salaries by 50 per cent, you are heading for trouble the next year and the year after that and disaster is coming with an inflationary gun at the county’s head.

What budget planners have to do is to pursue incremental changes. If government in-

creases senior citizen’s pension by 10,000 dollars in 2024, government then creates expectation the next year. People will expect there will be an increase the following year that goes over the $10,000. This is the part of shaping a budget that the layman does not understand, and perhaps will not.

I looked at the budget and for me the essential direction is that enormous allocations have been made that will see growth in other sectors that will avoid the pitfalls of the Dutch disease. To put it in a nutshell, the Dutch disease is the over-reliance of one sector of the economy and other sectors that the country has to expand on for economic success are neglected. Saudi Arabia is going at supersonic speed to diversify its economy and eradicate its complete reliance on oil.

The allocation of 98 billion dollars for agriculture is to my mind one of the highest points of the 2024 budget. If this

country is going to carve out a future of economic comfort for Guyanese, it has to use the next 20 years to make Guyana a top agricultural producer among the developing world and it has to become the agricultural foundation on which rests the entire CARICOM family of nations.

One of the provisions of the budget that meets my ideological perspective is the $800 million that have been assigned to assist small businesses. This is one of the requirements for economic justice in developing countries.

There is always a political danger in society when small businesses are minimized.

The government should receive plaudits for the support budget 2024 will give small scale entrepreneurs. I am waiting to hear what the anti-government haters are going to say about a budget which by any standards is a brilliant one.

IN order to secure the ongoing benefits of strategic programmes and infrastructure development for Amerindians in 2024, Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister of Finance, articulated to the National Assembly on Monday that the Government of Guyana has allocated $9 billion to guarantee the fulfillment of these commitments.

The Senior Minister of Finance related that a total of $3.4 billion has been allocated for economic projects and the Presidential Grants (PG) programme, another $100 million to support the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, and an additional $800 million has been set aside to advance the land titling efforts, which are also designated.

Dr. Singh further re-

lated that with over 2,600 Community Service Officers (CSOs) in the 10 administrative regions of Guyana, the government is working on ensuring that they receive the skill training so that they can effectively serve the people of the regions. According to Dr. Singh, an additional $1.2 billion is budgeted to ensure that this initiative is carried out in 2024.

Furthermore, Dr. Singh explained that in order to promote several projects in different villages, an additional $2.7 billion will be added to the economies of the communities through the carbon credit programme.

According to him, “We remain unwavering in our commitment to our Amerindian brothers and sisters and to delivering development to every sin-

gle community in this country, irrespective of how far that community may be.”

In a press conference earlier this month, the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, explained that more than $3 billion in carbon credit funds have been utilised in Amerindian communities. According to her, the Amerindian communities are undergoing ‘tremendous change’ as a result of the funds raised from the sale of carbon credits.

Minister Sukhai emphasised that the Indigenous communities have the freedom to allocate the funds in ways they deem suitable for advancing their community's progress. Additionally, she mentioned the existence of established accountability measures. Minister

$9B dedicated to developing Amerindian communities

Continued on page 9

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Minister Benn urges public to turn in illegal guns in anti-crime efforts

By Clestine Juan

WITH the intensification of the government’s efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal weapons in Guyana, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, has adopted a resolute position by categorically rejecting any possibility of amnesty for individuals in possession of such weapons.

Minister Benn, while addressing the press conference on the ministry's year-end review, advocated for the voluntary submission of illegal firearms to the nearest police station and highlighted the hazardous outcomes associated with possessing such weapons.

Refuting the notion of an amnesty, Minister Benn called for responsible actions, stating, “If you have an illegal gun, pass by the police station, put it in a bag, and throw it in the yard. You are not supposed to have any illegal guns.”

Speaking on the prevailing issue of gun crimes, Minister Benn remarked, “When we look at what is happening in Trinidad, Jamaica, and the Bahamas and some other places, the questions about having an illegal gun, in most instances, has nothing to do with being someone in the bush protecting their business. It has to do with criminal activities.”

The Minister pointed out that there has been a 17.9 per cent reduction in armed robbery as highlighted in the disturbing correlation between illegal guns and crimes against women and children, often linked to drug activities and organised crime.

To address this, he revealed the ministry is collaborating with international

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

partners to amend legislation, proposing stricter penalties for individuals found in possession of illegal firearms.

“We don’t want to have a society in which people have guns all over the place.

Too many instances, some of our people, even if they get a licensed gun, want to go into the beer garden or someplace, waving it around and showing that they got one.”

Expressing concern over individuals brandishing licensed guns in public places, he announced a review of gun licenses to address such behaviour.

“We will review those [gun licenses] to see what should be done in relation to some people who we know are doing nonsense,” Minister Benn affirmed.

Expressing concern over individuals obtaining bail for possessing illegal guns, Minister Benn emphasised the need to reconsider such cases.

According to Section 16(2) of the Firearms Act,

if a person is found with a firearm in his possession without holding a firearm licence, they shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $3,000 nor more than $15,000 together with imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than three years, and on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for seven years.

The minister asserted, “There should be no bail given. I don’t know how people get bail for having an illegal gun. They shouldn’t be given bail.”

Both the Police Force and CANU have been actively engaged in efforts to decrease the accessibility and usage of firearms. However, the issue of firearm importation remains a concern. It is important to emphasise that Guyana does not produce firearms domestically, and all firearms are imported.

The Minister outlined the declaration of war on guns by CARICOM, which

to receive US$750 million from the first sale Sukhai emphasised that of carbon credits to Hess her ministry had not found Corporation; 15 percent any instances of fund mis- of the proceeds will go tomanagement that would wards funding village-led warrant their involvement. initiatives that support Additionally, accord- indigenous people. ing to the Amerindian The positive impact on Affairs Minister, elected Indigenous communities villagers at the village in Guyana is demonstratlevel have established ed by the carbon credit independent oversight funds’ dedication to opencommittees. These com- ness and community-drivmittees serve the purpose en development. of investigating the activA total of 4.7 billion ities of the village council. dollars from carbon credit Guyana is expected funds were invested in

242 communities in 2024 and this programme will continue in 2024.

In 2023, approximately $8.9 billion was allocated and expended on a range of development projects in Guyana's hinterland, remote areas, riverine settlements, and Amerindian communities.

(This is part of a weekly series on LCDS.) The author can be contacted at cparkinson0206@gmail.com

$9B dedicated to developing Amerindian...

From page 8

established a comprehensive approach to addressing gun crime in the Caribbean.

“Given the fact that we are perhaps more of a county where, as a result of the growth of our economy, we become perhaps…target for criminal activities beyond guns and other crimes, money laundering and so…“There has to be much more work to be done in identifying the areas where guns may

come into the country and the fact that both the police and CANU have been seizing guns throughout the country from various persons who may either be committing crimes or hoping to commit crimes or protecting marijuana fields and other things,” the minister said.

CARICOM is currently working with the United States to combat illicit firearm trafficking in the Caribbean through a comprehensive approach that focuses on law enforcement.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for the Western Hemisphere at the United States Department of Defense, Daniel P. Erikson, during his recent visit to Guyana explained he views this issue primarily as a law enforcement challenge and is dedicated to providing the prosecutorial assets to investigate and prosecute cases of illegal firearm trafficking in the region.

During his two-day visit to Guyana, Erikson shared crucial insights into the US government’s approach to combating transnational criminal organisations involved in the trafficking of firearms.

The interview shed light on the significance of addressing this challenge not only as a military concern but also as a legal and law enforcement issue.

Erikson underscored the complex nature of the problem, stating, “The challenges posed by transnational criminal organisations are not just military challenges. They also require a whole-of-government response, working with our partners in the region.”

He highlighted the interconnectedness of illicit firearms trafficking with broader issues, such as the drug and narcotics trade, highlighting the need for a comprehensive strategy.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence acknowledged the prevalence of firearms trafficking throughout the Caribbean, linking it to criminal networks and transnational criminal organisations.

“We recognise that this is a big concern throughout the Caribbean, tied to illicit criminal networks and certainly linked to the overall drug and narcotics trade in the region,” he said.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Venezuelans involved in criminal activities account for fastest growing prison population

MINISTER of Home Affairs Robeson Benn has expressed grave concerns regarding a notable increase of Venezuelan nationals within the prison population, describing it as the most rapidly expanding demographic.

During the Ministry of Home Affairs’ End of Year Review press conference, Minister Benn revealed that there are presently more than 20 Venezuelan nationals incarcerated, engaging in a wide array of crimes including murder, illegal possession of firearms, and minor

— Benn says

offenses.

“I think the fastest growing population in the prison is Venezuelan young men and women who get involved in things…. We have 23 in the prison system for a range of issues,” the minister said.

The Minister referred to a recent case involving the arrest of Eliyer Vera Venez, Romel Masim, and Jiminez Rojas in October 2023 for possession of firearms and drugs.

They were charged jointly with four offences; two

counts of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, the possession of two Beretta pistols and a Glock pistol without licenses and the possession of 25 matching rounds of ammunition.

The Police arrested the trio at about 17:27 hrs on October 20 at Arakaka, Region One. Both Rojas and Masim refuted the allegations and were subsequently detained in prison, whereas Venez admitted guilt and received a combined prison sentence of

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

six years.

In a further distressing occurrence from December, Simon Wills, a Venezuelan citizen, was incarcerated for the decapitation of Chetram Ramjattan, a 42-year-old resident of Kilcoy Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice.

The post mortem examination of Ramjattan's remains indicated that his cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head resulting in a fractured skull.

The mutilated remains of Ramjattan were discovered in a drainage system near Fyrish village, in close proximity to Arjune's Chicken Farm, on November 30.

The suspect's place of residence is situated at the back of the property, where the drain is located.

On November 25, Ramjattan vacated his sister's dwelling and remained out of contact or sight until the discovery of his body.

The tragic loss of life was

a direct result of a misunderstanding with nationals from Venezuela, culminating in extensive physical injuries.

Attributing the surge to the influx of Venezuelan migrants in Guyana, Minister Benn pointed out the challenges of dealing with the migrant situation.

He stated, “Our work is cut out in dealing with the migrant situation from Venezuela and from other countries and supporting

those persons who come, making sure they are vetted and identified for proper purposes and are supported in our community.”

Venezuelan citizens are migrating to Guyana as a result of economic hardship and the crisis in Venezuela.

The progressive decline of social, political, economic, and humanitarian circumstances in Venezuela has resulted in a rising influx of Venezuelan migrants in Guyana since 2018.

A considerable amount of Venezuelans are actively pursuing enhanced opportunities and a superior quality of life

in Guyana. The presence of oil in Guyana has additionally facilitated the influx of Venezuelan citizens into the country.

Additionally, the border controversy between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo region has also led to the migration of Venezuelan nationals to Guyana. Over 21,000 Venezuelan immigrants are registered in Guyana.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Commentary: Nauru's decision to uphold one-China principle in line with trend of the times

(Xinhua) THE government of Nauru made the right decision Monday to uphold the one-China principle and sever "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, a wise move in line with the trend of the times and applauded by the Chinese government and people.

In a post on Facebook, the government of Nauru said it will follow UN

Resolution 2758 which recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China and recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory.

The resolution adopted by the 26th UN General Assembly has fundamentally resolved the issue of who represents China at

the United Nations. The one-China principle has since become a universally acknowledged norm in international relations.

Following this principle, China has established diplomatic relations with 182 countries worldwide.

Currently, only a tiny handful of countries maintain so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan.

China has always been

a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order, earning widespread acclaim from the international community. In its interactions with Pacific island countries, China's commitment to treating other countries as equals and pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation has been applauded in the

region.

The decision of the Nauru government is a natural outcome and will serve its fundamental interests.

In recent days, multiple countries and international organizations have reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle, opposed any form of "Taiwan independence," and supported the

cause of China's reunification, representing the consensus of the international community.

Upholding the one-China principle, as Nauru's decision has evidenced, keeps abreast of the times. Acting on this principle, the two sides will surely open up a new chapter in their relations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Chinese premier says China always a staunch supporter of multilateralism

(Xinhua) CHINA neither walks away from agreements or pulls out of organizations, nor does it ask other countries to pick sides, and it has always been a staunch supporter of multilateralism, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Tuesday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024.

The theme of this year's meeting, "Rebuilding Trust," echoes well with people's concerns, said Li as he delivered a special address to the event hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF. Trust comes from our shared aspiration for a better future for mankind and from our common will to work together for it, Li said.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping noted, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, yet the overall direction of human development and progress will not change, the overall dynamics of world history moving forward amid twists and turns will not change, and the overall trend toward a shared future for the international community will not change, Li said.

All parties should discard prejudice, bridge divides, treat each other with sincerity, move in the same direction, and work together to address the trust deficit, said the Chinese premier.

Li made a five-point proposal on rebuilding trust, strengthening cooperation and promoting global economic recovery, the first of which is to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, firmly safeguard the multilateral trading system, and build greater synergy for world economic growth.

The second, said Li, is to strengthen the international industrial division of labor and coordination, unswervingly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and effectively maintain the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains.

Li also called for strengthening global exchanges and cooperation on science and

technology, working together to create an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological development, and breaking down barriers that restrict the flow of innovation factors.

Cooperation on green development should be strengthened, said Li, adding that countries worldwide should remove various barriers in this field, jointly work for green transformation, uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and actively address global climate change.

The fifth is to strengthen North-South cooperation and South-South cooperation, fully implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development, bridge the development gaps, and strive to build a universally beneficial and inclusive world economy, said the Chinese premier.

Li stressed that China is a country that attaches great importance to commitments, honoring its words with concrete actions all along. With greatest sincerity, utmost efforts and concrete results, China has proven consistently to the world that it is a country worthy of trust.

Over recent years, China has been an important engine of global development, and is now advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development, Li said.

China has established sound and solid fundamen-

tals in terms of the industrial base, production factors and innovation capacity, he said, adding its overall trend of long-term growth will not change and will provide continuous and strong impetus to the development of the world.

Li said China has a supersize market with rapidly unlocked demand, and it is also cultivating large-scale new growth drivers in areas such as a new type of urbanization and green transition. It will provide a broader space for boosting global trade and investment, he added.

No matter how the world changes, China will stay committed to the fundamental national policy of opening up and open its door still wider to the world, the premier said.

Choosing the Chinese market is not a risk, but an opportunity, Li said. China embraces investments from businesses of all countries with open arms, and will steadily expand institutional opening up, continue to shorten the negative list for foreign investment, provide national treatment for foreign businesses, and keep fostering a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment, he added.

After the address, Li answered questions from Schwab on topics including Artificial Intelligence (AI)

governance and the multilateral system. He stressed that we must be people-centered, inclusive and bring benefit for all, work for good AI with good governance, and guide AI in a direction that is conducive to the progress of human civilization.

He said true multilateralism should be built on basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China neither walks away from agreements or pulls out of organizations, nor asks other countries to pick sides, and it has always been a staunch supporter of multilateralism, he added.

President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd, President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, King of Belgium Philippe, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Daren Tang and about 1,500 political figures and representatives from the business community, academia and media organizations of various countries attended the event.

China reports 5.2% GDP growth for 2023

(Chinadaily.com.cn) CHINA’s gross domestic product expanded by 5.2 percent in 2023 - meeting the country's preset annual growth target of around 5 percent, fueled by a slew of policy measures taking effect gradually last year, official data showed on Wednesday.

The country's annual GDP came in at 126.06 trillion yuan ($17.52 trillion) in 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. For the fourth quarter of 2023, the Chinese economy

grew 5.2 percent year-onyear, following a 4.9 percent growth in the third quarter.

Experts called China's 2023 GDP growth as "relatively fast" in contrast to other major economies, highlighting China's role as a key growth engine for the world economy.

Looking ahead to this year, they expect to see better economic performance with China's existing supportive policies continuing to take effect and more stimulus in the offing.

China's value-added in-

dustrial output grew by 4.6 percent year-on-year in 2023.

The figure rose by 6.8 percent in December after a 6.6 percent growth in November.

Retail sales, a key measurement of consumer spending, grew by 7.2 percent for the year. And the retail sales in December increased by 7.4 percent versus the 10.1 percent growth a month earlier.

Fixed-asset investment a gauge of expenditures on items including infrastructure, property, machinery and equipment – rose by 3

percent in 2023, while in the first 11 months, it grew by 2.9 percent.

The surveyed urban jobless rate came in at 5.1 percent in December from 5 percent in November, according to the NBS. Zou Yunhan, deputy director of the macroeconomic research office at the State Information Center's Department of Economic Forecasting, said China remains one of the most powerful engines for global growth, contributing around one-third of world economic growth in 2023.

Looking to this year, she said the momentum of China's economic recovery is poised to undergo further consolidation, propelled by robust policy support, the advancement of industrial transformation and upgrading, and the continuous deepening of reforms.

Wang Yiming, vice-chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, said China's 2023 GDP is significantly higher than that of major economies, including the United States, the eurozone

and Japan.

Looking ahead, he said the country still has scope to step up fiscal and monetary policy support this year, as the central government's debt level is not high and consumer price levels are low.

According to a report by the Center for Forecasting Science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China's economy will maintain steady growth in 2024 with an estimated GDP growth rate of around 5.3 percent.

Labour Ministry explores collaboration with CLBD

14

IN a move to enhance vocational and skills training opportunities, Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) Richard Maughn engaged in a meeting on Wednesday with representatives of the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD).

The meeting saw the participation of key figures from CLBD, including Dr. Natasha Gaskin-Peters, Director, and Ron Glasgow, Analytics Coordinator, who joined the delegation in discussions aimed at establishing a robust partnership. The primary focus of this collaboration is to introduce a range of vocational and skills training programmes, utilising the resources and expertise of the ministry's Board of Industrial Training.

Both parties expressed

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton and CEO of BIT Richard Maughn engaged in a constructive meeting with CLBD representatives

their commitment to formalising this collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the near future.

The MOU is anticipated to pave the way for joint initiatives that will contrib-

ute significantly to the skills development landscape in the region.

One of the key topics under deliberation during the meeting was the expansion of efforts to enhance Occupational Safety and Health

(OSH) practices, with a particular emphasis on the oil and gas industry. The discussions underscored the importance of aligning training programmes with industry needs to ensure a skilled and safety-conscious workforce.

The CLBD, established in 2017, has been at the forefront of providing local businesses with a platform to explore opportunities within the oil and gas sector. The organisation has played a crucial role in helping busi-

nesses improve their competitiveness and prepare for integration into the oil and gas supply chain.

This collaborative effort signifies a strategic step towards addressing the evolving needs of the workforce and aligning training programmes with industry demands. As both parties gear up to formalize their partnership, the initiative holds the promise of not only advancing skill development but also fostering a safer and more resilient workforce, particularly in critical sectors such as oil and gas.

The anticipated Memorandum of Understanding is expected to mark the beginning of a transformative alliance, ultimately contributing to the broader economic development goals of the region.

Guyana sees 17 % reduction in serious crimes — robbery with violence sees significant decline

THE Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, announced a significant decrease of 17 percent in total serious crimes for the year 2023 at a year-end press conference held in his Brickdam, Georgetown office.

In a comprehensive overview on Wednesday, he discussed achievements, ongoing concerns, and the government’s commitment to fulfilling the promises outlined in their 2020 Elections Manifesto.

“While we are still on manifesto promises of less crime and safer communities, we are finally in front of them to treat particular incidents and issues which are ripe in the public consciousness which are still bringing great concern as to the question of crime, violence and security,” Benn said.

Minister Benn acknowledged the challenges law enforcement faces, including incidents such as the fatal Mahdia fire in the previous year.

Despite these chal-

lenges, he reiterated the government’s dedication to enhancing public safety through various measures, such as providing equipment, facilities, and training for law- enforcement personnel.

The efforts were reflected positively in the statistics, with a 15.7per cent reduction in the total number of serious crimes, dropping from 1,641 incidents in 2022 to 1,383 incidents in 2023.

There was a noteworthy reduction of 42.7per cent in reported incidents of robbery with violence from 82 incidents in the previous year to

47 incidents in 2023.

The data from the ministry shows a 25per cent reduction in robbery with aggravation, with 15 reported incidents in 2023 compared to 20 incidents in 2022.

Another significant aspect is the decrease in reported rape incidents, with 196 cases in 2023, reflecting a 23.1per cent decrease from the previous year when there were 255 incidents.

Furthermore, the data reveals a decrease in robbery under arms using firearms, with 247 reported incidents in 2023, compared to 301 in-

cidents in 2022, representing a reduction of 17.9 %.

This decline suggests that measures aimed at curbing armed robberies may be contributing to improved public safety and crime prevention.

One notable aspect of this reduction is the decrease in reported robberies.

The number of reported robberies decreased by 16%, with 21 incidents reported in 2023 compared to 25 incidents in 2022.

The minister had said that the decline indicates a positive trend in addressing robbery-related offences and enhancing security measures to prevent such crimes.

Furthermore, there was a notable decrease of 10.1per cent in the category of “Robbery Under arms using (Other Instrument).”

The number of incidents decreased from 148 in 2022 to 133 in 2023.

As it relates to burglary and break and enter/larceny, there was also a significant decrease.

Burglary decreased by

39.6%, with only 67 incidents reported in 2023, compared to 111 incidents in the previous year.

Similarly, break-andenter/larceny decreased by 10.3%, with 453 incidents reported in 2023 compared to 505 incidents in 2022.

Larceny from the person saw a significant decrease of 28.6%, with 18 fewer incidents in 2023 compared to 2022.

Despite the overall decrease in serious crimes, the number of murder cases increased by 21.4per cent in 2023.

Benn said that the rise in murder cases is concerning and highlights the need for further investigation into the factors contributing to this increase.

In 2023, 49.1per cent of murders in Guyana resulted from disorderly behaviour, while 28.3per cent were domestic-related.

The minister explained that the increase in murder cases, despite the overall decrease in serious crimes, is a complex issue influenced by

various factors.

Social disorganisation and disorderly behaviour account for 49.1per cent of murders, while 28.3per cent are domestic-related.

He explained that work is ongoing to address these factors which is crucial for effectively tackling the rise in murder cases.

In 2022, 115 illegal weapons were seized, increasing to 150 in 2023.

Pistols were the most commonly used weapons in criminal activity, with 309 instances in 2022 and a decrease to 232 in 2023. Regions Six and Seven recorded the highest seizures for shotguns.

Minister Benn highlighted the collaborative efforts of the Guyana Police Force and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit in addressing crime trends and promoting public safety.

He said that the government remains steadfast in its multifaceted approach, aimed at building safer communities and reducing criminal activities in the country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Parika water treatment plant projected to serve 1,900 residents — to come on stream in May/June

GWI CEO, Shaik Baksh (third from left) along with Board chairman, Ramesh Dookhoo (second from right) and board members, Dr Asha Kissoon (first from right), Shellan Belgrave (third from right), Wendell Jeffrey (second from left) and Alfonso De Armas (first from left) (Shamar Meusa photos)

THE construction work at the Parika water treatment plant on the East Bank Essequibo is progressing quickly and is anticipated to be finished by May or June this year.

Shaik Baksh, the Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), led a site visit on Tuesday for the company's board members to observe the ongoing construction.

The CEO stated that there are seven treatment plants being constructed nationwide, while several others are undergoing rehabilitation.

As per Baksh's interview with the Guyana Chronicle, construction was initiated in November 2022 and is scheduled to be finalized by June of the current year, at the latest. He further stated that although construction is progressing ahead of schedule, they anticipate timely completion of construction at the remaining six plants within this year in order to provide additional benefits to a larger number of Guyanese.

“The structures that are being put up are far advanced and I’m very optimistic that it can be completed by May/ June this year,” he said.

During the onsite explanation, it was clarified that once finished, the water treatment facility is projected to have the capacity to supply water to a population of 1,900 inhabitants and additionally distribute water to

the upper levels of all buildings within the designated service area.

The construction of the treatment plant, costing $850 million, will be supported by two wells. These wells are anticipated to adequately supply the plant's demand and generate sufficient water to meet a daily demand of approximately 4.5 mega litres.

In the meantime, Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo of the GWI board expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to conduct an inspection of the ongoing construction and

witness the progress made.

He added that this plant will bring immense benefit to the residents in the Parika area and even beyond.

In accordance with this objective, he observed that efforts have commenced on the transmission mains, an essential component in the distribution of water to the inhabitants. “We hope that by the end of this project, which is way ahead of its schedule, that persons will get water in the top flat of their homes,” Dookhoo added.

Construction work ongoing at the Parika Water Treatment Plant

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Over $21B allocated for sea defence, air and river transport

The sea defence along Guyana’s coastland

THE government’s historic 2024 budget will target areas including air and river transport as well as sea and river defence.

To this end, a sum of $2.3 billion is allocated towards the completion of a series of airstrips as well as the rehabilitation and maintenance of several others including the Imbaimadai, Kaieteur, Kaikan, and Matthews Ridge airstrips.

The statement was made by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, during the 2024 budget presentation at the National Assembly on Monday.

Dr Singh stated that rehabilitation and maintenance work on these airstrips commenced last year.

Similarly, he revealed that a tune of $8.1 billion is budgeted to improve the country’s river transport.

This will advance rehabilitation works on a series of vessels inclusive of the MV Malali, and MV Barima to the allotted sum of $450 million.

Some $2.7 billion will also be set aside for the rehabilitation and upgrades of stellings at Parika, Supenaam, and Wakenaam.

The development aims to significantly benefit thousands of citizens traversing those routes while enhancing trade for economic development.

Moreover, the government procured a tug in 2023 to enhance navigational services. Minister Singh said the vessel will arrive in Guyana shortly.

As such, a sum of $950 million has been allocated to support navigational aid interventions.

Meanwhile, in response to the rise in sea levels posing a threat to coastal areas, the government has budgeted a sum of $6.9 billion towards the enhancement of several sea defence structures at Bygeva, Cane Garden, Grove, Uitvlugt, Leguan and Wakenaam among others.

“In 2023, $5.4 billion was expended to upgrade our sea and river defences. Amongst the projects implemented are completed works on our rip-rap sea defence structures across multiple sites, including areas such as Abram Zuil, Anna Catherina, Belvedere, Better Hope, Eversham, Joppa, Speightland and Zeeburg,” Minister Singh reminded. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Eye-care vouchers for children, pensioners among measures in 2024 budget

By Naomi Parris WITH the objective of enhancing healthcare accessibility, the Guyana government has set aside funds in the 2024 fiscal plan for the establishment of special healthcare vouchers for pensioners and children.

In his Budget 2024 presentation to the National Assembly on Monday, Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance disclosed that the government will persistently invest in improving health service access and promoting eye care for school children and pensioners. A budget of over $840 million has been allocated to provide a $3,000 voucher for an eye test to over 205,000 school children and 76,000 pensioners.

Furthermore, Dr. Singh revealed the availability of a $15,000 voucher for those who require spectacles, which will be funded at a cost of $955 million. In total, this intervention adds up to $1.8 billion.

In a live broadcast following the presentation of the country’s largest fiscal package of $1.146 trillion to the National Assembly, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that the budgetary measure brings parity of service between the minimum thresholds of health care services that must be available to all the citizens of the country.

“This is an amazing measure of budget 2024. When we campaigned, we said we want people to live in dignity. Our pensioners and our children must have equity and access...

We are keeping true to this promise.”

“We have sat down with all the local providers of this service, and the cost of an eye test is $3,000 to check your vision. Every pensioner, every schoolchild will get a voucher for $3,000 to go and check their eyes… We are talking here about 205,000 school children and 76,000 pensioners.”

Meanwhile, the President disclosed that a special mechanism will be established to deal with children and pensioners in the hinterland and riverine areas.

“This measure would cost almost $1 billion outside of this.

And as you can see, this measure is also targeted at supporting the investment our private sector individuals are making in the health care system; building up their capacity, and we are showing confidence in their investment by allowing our children and pensioners to cash this voucher at any facility in the programme that is doing it for this $3, 000,” he explained.

The investment, he reiterated, builds out a system that supports the welfare and well-being of citizens.

“Taking care of the eye health of our children and our pensioners is an investment of about $2 billion getting all our children, bringing parity, bringing parity of service and giving them a choice to choose between the public or private entity where they want to go and test their eyes.

That is what builds equality,” the Head of State said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, jaNuaRY 18, 2024

Reifer cleared to resume slow balls; cutters

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) today announced that Barbadian all-rounder Raymon Reifer has been cleared to resume bowling his slower balls and cutters after remedial footage of his action was sent to and cleared by Loughborough University.

Reifer was suspended from bowling those specific deliveries during the 2023 edition of the CG United Super 50 Cup. He was adjudged by the same body to be using an illegal action following an initial report from the Barbados Pride match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes on 25 October 2023.

Reifer has been named in the Barbados Pride squad for the first three matches of the West Indies Championship, which is due to begin in early February and run until late April.

AMERICAN RACING TIPS GULFSTREAM Race 1 What’s Good Race 2 Oolong Hal Race 3 Subtle Faith Race 4 Hay Hay Harry Race 6 Secret Threat Race 7 Frostef Fsith SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS TURFFONTEIN 08:12 hrs Van Meijel 08:45 hrs Spring In Heaven 09:20 hrs Eiffel Tower 09:55 hrs Red Bomber 10:30 hrs Pontiac 11:05 hrs Chrome Maline ENGLISH RACING TIPS CHELMSFORD CITY 09:20 hrs New York Bay 09:55 hrs All In The Hips 10:30 hrs Gold Aura 11:05 hrs Conquest Of Power 11:40 hrs Stella Hogan 12:15 hrs Mirabello Bay SOUTHWELL 13:00 hrs Destinado 13:30 hrs Supreme Arturo 14:00 hrs Daffy 14:30 hrs Cavern Club 15:00 hrs Higher Law 15:30 hrs Catesby 16:00 hrs Kats Bob 16:30 hrs Warming

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Joseph ‘predicted’ first ball wicket

CMC – NEW West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph said he predicted that he was going to take a wicket with his first ball in Tests, but he could not believe his good fortune that it was his favourite Australia batsman.

The 24-year-old from the remote village of Baracara in Guyana, which is only accessible by boat, captured the prized scalp of former Australia captain Steve Smith to etch his name in the history books when he became only the second player from the Caribbean to take a wicket with his first ball in Tests.

He added the scalp of Marnus Labuschagne a few overs later for good measure to end the day with two for 18 from his six overs, but the hosts and world

champions held the edge, reaching 59 for two, in reply to the West Indies first innings total of 188.

For Joseph, it was a far cry from his previous job of security guard, but the wicket of Smith made the occasion of his Test debut extra special, even though he was forced to abort his initial approach due to nerves.

“I didn’t miss my runup,” he told reporters after the day’s play ended. “It was just nervousness bowling to one of the best batsmen in the Australian team that I consider.

“I really love Steve Smith, the way he plays and goes about his cricket. And getting Steve Smith, I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. I will actually take a picture and take it home

and post it in my house.”

Joseph composed himself and he rendered a failure, the experiment of Smith opening the batting a as replacement for the retired David Warner when he had him caught low at third slip by another newcomer in the Caribbean side, Justin Greaves.

“I’ve watched a few Test matches of Steve Smith, and I think that area is a weakness for him,” Joseph said. “I just said, ‘I’ll hit the top of off (stump)’ because he’s a batsman that treads across a lot.

“He tries to take you off your line, so I stuck to the basics and try to hit the top of off with some late movement away and got the edge. I was tense, bowling to Steve Smith isn’t easy.”

He added: “I had a few

conversations with the boys in the dressing room, and I told them I would get a wicket with my first ball.

“But I didn’t know it was going to be Steve Smith. That went well for me. I went with a positive mindset. You’re coming up against the best team in Test cricket, so I just came with a positive mindset and did what I do best.”

It capped a memorable entry into the longest format of the sport for Joseph after he received his Baggy Maroon cap from former West Indies fast bowler, now TV commentator Ian Bishop before the start of play.

He made a first-class best 36 and shared a last wicket stand of 55 with ageless fellow pacer Kemar Roach that helped West Indies reach 188 in the first

innings, but he had to endure a blow to the head from a frightening Mitchell Starc bouncer before launching a six off one of the Australia heroes, Josh Hazlewood.

“That was amazing for me,” he said. “Hitting Josh for a six is really good for me. I think he’s really consistent. He’s the most consistent bowler I have ever faced so far in my career, so hitting him for a six motivated me a lot. I think I could hit any bowler now.”

If that six did not wake up family and friends in Baracara, then knocking over Smith must surely have done the trick.

“I don’t have to ask about that,” said Joseph, who only purchased his first protective arm guard last weekend whilst shopping

in Adelaide for a child-sized cricket bat for his eldest son.

“I don’t think anybody would be sleeping at all, they will all continue watching the game,” he said. “The support from there is really lovely, amazing for me. I could actually feel it from here.

“They’re the sort of people that really support cricket, and I’m the only person to come out from there playing for the West Indies.

“I come from Baracara, and I want to do so much for Baracara. It might not happen when I want it to, but I know in the future I’ll go up there and do a lot for them because they always support me. And those words of encouragement are amazing for me.”

sports procurement firm, The Parker Company will project manage the build.

The news release stated that sustainability was also an important feature of the project with the grandstands used for the Formula 1 Grand Prix last year in Las Vegas being repurposed for the venue.

The pitch, which is a dropin square of the type used around the world, including at the Adelaide Oval in Australia and Eden Park in New Zealand, is currently being curated in the American state of Florida and will be transported by road in early May to the venue, the news release stated.

The development of the pitches is being undertaken by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions, led by renowned Adelaide Oval head curator Damian Hough, while the outfield is being delivered by the LandTek Group, a United States-based sports turf expert firm, which has worked with the Yankees and the Mets, as well as Inter Miami CF on their stadium and training fields.

The tournament will be co-hosted by the Caribbean and the United States from June 1 to 29, and it will be the largest with 20 international

teams playing 55 matches across nine host venues.

It is the first time the United States will host matches at a T20 World Cup, with 16 first round matches split between the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in the city of Dallas in the state of Texas, and the Broward County Regional Stadium in Lauderhill in Florida.

The Caribbean, the hosts 14 years ago, will be staging the tournament for the second time and will stage matches at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, Kensington Oval in Barbados, the National Cricket Stadium in Guyana, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia, Arnos Vale Sports Complex in St Vincent, and the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

Cricket West Indies is the official host of the event, with an entity T20 World Cup Inc. established to administer local delivery within the United States, while working in partnership with Major League Cricket to support the growth of the sport in the North American country.

‘Modular stadium’ to be constructed in New York for T20 World cup

CMC – Organisers of the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup unveiled on Wednesday an ambitious plan to construct a 34 000seat modular stadium in the state of New York to stage eight matches in this year’s tournament, including the epic battle between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on June 9.

The sport’s governing body said the project started this week in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, 30 miles east of Manhattan, with work on the playing surface and the outfield to be followed by the erection of seating and temporary facilities scheduled to start next month.

“We are excited to be unveiling the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024,” ICC chief executive officer, Geoff Allardice said in a news release.

“It is an incredibly important milestone in the lead up to the biggest ICC event ever, with work commencing on the stadium, which will be able to accommodate 34 000 cricket fans.

“We are partnering with

An architect’s rendering of the Nassau County International Stadium in New York. (ICC Media) world-class suppliers to deliver the modular stadium to ensure that players and fans can enjoy an unforgettable experience across the eight matches in New York in June this year.”

Concerns had been raised around the world after American cricket correspondent Peter Della Penna shared a video and a few images of the park in its present state and questioned if organisers could meet the deadlines.

According to the news release, the stadium is scheduled to be completed within three months and will have capacity for fans across pre-

mium and general admission seating, as well as VIP and hospitality suites, including a party deck and cabanas, to host the biggest cricket carnival spectacle ever.

“Though a world first for cricket, modular stadiums are used regularly in other sports, including Formula 1, golf, and the Olympic Games providing fans with every facility they would expect at a global sporting event,” the ICC news release noted.

The stadium has been designed by Populous, a worldclass sports and entertainment venue architecture firm, that has designed some of the

world’s most iconic stadia, including Yankee Stadium in New York; the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, India; and English Premier League venue, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The news release added that Populous are the architect of record for both the New York Yankees and New York Mets, while Arena Event Services will bring expertise from other global sporting events and will provide and install the stadium infrastructure, and the United States-based international

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, jaNuaRY 18, 2024

Day two of Regional First-Class trial match washed out

By Sean Devers

DAY two of the Regional First-Class trial match at Meten-Meer-Zorg on the West Coast of Demerara was washed out on Wednesday.

Heavy overnight rain which continued into yesterday afternoon put to a damper on the match with large areas of water lodged on most of the outfield.

From the unfavorable condition of the West Demerara venue and the forecast for more overnight rain, the possibility of play today and tomorrow (the final day) seems remote.

A source close to the cricket board lamented that the adverse weather has badly affected the team preparations so far.

“We are considering

another match next week before selecting the squad to travel to St Kitts for the first game against Trinbago Red Force.

It will be a tough job for the selectors since most of the senior players are unavailable for various reasons and they have not had any real opportunity to see some of the youngsters perform due to the adverse weather and lack of two-day first division cricket in Guyana last year,” said the source.

The source confirmed that the Guyana Harpy Eagles will play their first three matches in St Kitts against T&T, the Leewards and the Windwards.

He said that the main worry is the consistency of the batters who, even in the limited opportunities they had to bat on Tues-

day, failed the carry on to big scores when they were well set.

“The first four-day match at Bourda was completely washed and if there is no further play in this match, that would mean that only one day of a possible eight days would have been contested,” the source said.

At stumps on Tuesday’s first day, Matthew Nandu’ X1 were 119-2, replying to the 144 made

by Anthony Adam’s X1.

Kemol Savory was unbeaten on 22 and lefthander Shamar Yearwood was with him hoping to extend their partnership going into Wednesday’s second day.

Guyana, who won six First-Class titles in the last eight years, will defend

their title when the 2024 Regional First-Class season commences on February 7 against Trinidad and Tobago who has not won a title in this format since 2005.

On the first day of this match, Malcom Hubbard was the only batter to reach 50 while Nandu and Akshaya Persaud, are both expected to gain selection, got forties without ‘going on’ while in form former West Indies U-19 batter Raymond Perez, could not go on when well set on 41.

Guyana plays two matches in Trinidad at the UWI ground before playing their last two matches in Jamaica.

It not clear when the final touring squad will be named and who will be the captain.

TPCC congratulates Shamar Joseph on Test debut

… becomes the club’s first male to play Test cricket TUCBER Park Cricket Club (TPCC) formerly Bermine, has congratulated Shamar Joseph on making his Test debut in the First Test match versus Australia at the Adelaide Oval, Australia.

Joseph who hails from Baracara, Canje Creek, Berbice, has made a rapid rise to the pinnacle of cricket after only one First-Class season.

He made his First-Class debut during the 2023 West Indies Championship claiming a 5-wicket haul against Windwards Volcanoes in just his second match.

He later made his T20 debut last year for Guyana Amazon

Warriors team in the Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) as a replacement for the injured Keemo Paul.

In November, Shamar toured South Africa with the West Indies ‘A’ team where he ended the tour as the leading wicket-taker for West Indies ‘A’ (12).

This performance and his extreme pace ensured he continued his rapid rise in cricket, which has now been capped off with his Test debut, when just over 12 months ago, he was a security officer in Berbice.

Joseph joins current West Indies white ball all-rounder

Romario Shepherd as the second player from TPCC to be named in a West Indies male team.

The New Amsterdam based club, also produced three female West Indies cricketers in former players Candacy Atkins (Test and ODI), Tremayne Smartt (ODI and T20I) and Subrina Munroe (ODI and T20I). Joseph is also the second male cricketer from the New Amsterdam area to play Test cricket after Clayton Lambert.

Kevin Sinclair hails from Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam is also a member of the squad.

Guyana Badminton Association hails budget 2024 THE Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) has hailed the 2024 Budget under the theme, “Staying the Course: Building Prosperity for all” as transformative for Guyanese and a timely boost to the sports sector.

The historic budget of $1.146 trillion demonstrates the current administration’s dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all Guyanese citizens.

The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) is particularly happy with the $4.6 billion that has been set aside for sports and the elimination of VAT on sporting goods.

This is a positive development for sports in Guyana because it relieves parents’ and sports clubs’ financial burdens related to purchasing essential equipment, inter alia.

The emphasis on enhancing and expanding athletic facilities as well as funding for the sports academy will help to improve the state of sports in Guyana. Additionally, it shows that the administration recognises the value of sports in promoting physical fitness and public health, both of which can eventually lower healthcare expenditures. Sports also encourage social inclusion and community involvement, as well as pride in and unity within the country.

The GBA has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the development of badminton in Guyana. We achieved great heights in 2023 by competing in several local and international events, winning three silver medals at the T&T International and a medal at Junior Carebaco. Additionally, numerous players from the Nursery Badminton Academy competed fiercely in both local and international tournaments, contributing to the association’s amazing results.

The Guyana Badminton Association also wants to emphasise the solid relationship it has built with the National Sports Commission and by extension, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. This cordial relationship has assisted the GBA in accomplishing its objectives and has made it possible for our executives to work with greater ease and assurance.

The GBA would like to convey its sincere gratitude to The Honourable Charles Ramson, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, the Director of Sports and the National Sports Commission for their ongoing support and commitment as we continue to promote stronger partnerships in 2024.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Wednesday January 17, 2024)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD - 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Collie Smith-104 (Kingston, 1955) (2) Gary Cosier-109 (Melbourne, 1975-76)

Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the highest first-wicket partnership by a WI pair against AUST in Tests to date?

(2) What is the highest opening partnership by an AUST pair versus the WI in Tests to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Joseph shines with bat and ball but Australia in control

CMC – Newcomer Shamar Joseph may be forgiven for thinking that the sport’s longest format is easy after he propped up West Indies with bat and ball against hosts and world champions Australia in the first Test on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old was one of only two batters who passed 20 for the Caribbean side after they were put in to bat on a hard, true Adelaide Oval pitch and were bowled out for 188 inside the first half-hour after tea on the first day of the match.

He then followed up with the prized scalps of Steve Smith for 12 and Marnus Labuschagne for 10 to end the day with two for 18 from his six overs, but the Australians reached 59 for two at the close with left-handed opener Usman Khawaja not out on 30 and Cameron Green not out on six to hold the edge.

Joseph, from the remote village of Baracara in Guyana that is accessible only by boat was one of three players that West Indies handed a maiden Test cap for the match, but he was the only one of them who captured the imagination on a topsy-turvy day.

He made 36, batting at 11, to extend the innings of the Caribbean side in a 55run, last-wicket stand with fellow pacer Kemar Roach, after left-hander Kirk McKenzie hit a top score of an even 50 in defiance of the Australia fast-bowling duo of captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood carving up the batting.

After Roach and vice-captain Alzarri Joseph were ineffective in their opening spells with the new ball, newcomer Joseph got the breakthrough for West Indies with his first ball in Tests.

He rendered mute the

Caribbean side.

Hodge was caught in the gully, and McKenzie was caught behind in the over after he reached his 50 with a single off Lyon in the first hour after lunch before Greaves was caught in the covers for five, and West Indies were reeling on 108 for six.

Da Silva promised much with the bat after he scored a hundred in the warm-up match before the Test against the Cricket Australia XI, but he delivered little and was caught at deep square leg for six from a miscued pull off Cummins and sparked another slide.

Seven balls later, Gu-

dakesh Motie was caught at backward point off Starc for one, and two balls later, Alzarri Joseph was caught at second slip off Cummins for 14, and West Indies were almost down and out on 133 for nine.

Newcomer Joseph came to crease and showed no fear to reach his highest first-class score, and he got solid support from Roach to carry the visitors to 177 for nine at tea before he was trapped lbw to Lyon in the fourth over after the break.

Cummins was the pick of his side’s bowlers, taking four for 41 from 17 overs, and Hazlewood finished with four for 44 from 15 overs.

Scoreboard

Kraigg Brathwaite was bowled by a beauty from Pat Cummins• Getty Images and Cricket Australia experiment of Steve Smith opening the batting for Australia as replacement for the retired David Warner when he had the former Australia captain caught by Justin Greaves, one of the other newcomers, low at third slip.

“Getting Steve Smith, I’ll remember this for the rest of my life,” newcomer Joseph told reporters after the day’s play ended. “I’ll take a picture and post it up in my house.

“If I could have run (into the stands), I would have. It was really a joy for me.”

Joseph followed up with the scalp of Labuschagne caught at deep fine leg from a miscued hook in his fourth over and had the Australians wobbling on 45 for two before Khawaja and Green batted through a little more than half-hour to the close to settle the nerves of the home team.

Conversely, the other

Joseph, unrelated vice-captain Alzarri was left fuming in his first over when wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, diving to his left, dropped Khawaja in the second over of the Australian reply when the batsman, on three, edged a loose drive.

The tour de force of newcomer Joseph was the only bright spark on an otherwise bleak day for West Indies after they endured another batting capitulation that leaves them under pressure to survive the remaining four days of the contest.

They sunk to 64 for three at lunch after Cummins grabbed the wickets of the visitors’ openers, lefthander Tagenarine Chanderpaul for six and their captain Kraigg Brathwaite for 13 in his opening burst, and Hazlewood added the scalp of Alick Athanaze for the same score in a second spell.

Chanderpaul resisted for almost 45 minutes before he

was caught at gully, slicing a loose drive and Green used all his 6ft, 6in height to haul in the catch, and Brathwaite was bowled on the stroke of the first hour when he played forward to a delivery that angled in before moving away late.

With lunch around the corner, Athanaze was bowled when he became the 250th Test scalp for Hazlewood, offering no shot, meaning the four main bowlers in Australia’s attack that also includes leftarm pacer Mitchell Starc and off-spinner Nathan Lyon – have all reached that milestone.

West Indies were wobbling on 52 for three, and Kavem Hodge, Athanaze’s fellow Dominican and the other newcomer, defied the Australian attack for about an hour either side of the interval to make 12, but three wickets – all to Hazlewood – fell for 10 in the span of 26 balls to jolt the

WEST INDIES 1st Innings K. Brathwaite b Cummins 13 T. Chanderpaul c Green b Cummins 6 K. McKenzie c wk Carey b Hazlewood 50 A. Athanaze b Hazlewood 13 K. Hodge c Green b Hazlewood 12 J. Greaves c Labuschagne b Hazlewood 5 †J. Da Silva c Head b Cummins 6 A. Joseph c Smith b Cummins 14 G. Motie c Lyon b Starc 1 K. Roach not out 17 S. Joseph lbw b Lyon 36 Extras (b12, lb1, w2) 15 TOTAL (all out, 62.1 overs) 188 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Chanderpaul), 2-27 (Brathwaite), 3-52 (Athanaze), 4-98 (Hodge), 5-107 (McKenzie), 6-108 (Greaves), 7-132 (Da Silva), 8-133 (Motie, 47.6), 9-133 (A. Joseph, 48.2).

Bowling: Starc 12-5-37-1 (w1); Hazlewood 15-6-44-4; Cummins 17-5-41-4; Lyon 12.1-2-36-1; Marsh 2-1-5-0 (w1); Green 4-1-12-0.

AUSTRALIA 1st Innings S. Smith c Greaves b S. Joseph 12 U. Khawaja not out 30 M. Labuschagne c Motie b S. Joseph 10 C. Green not out 6 Extras (nb1) 1 TOTAL (2 wkts, 21 overs) 59 T. Head, M. Marsh, †A. Carey, M. Starc, P. Cummins, N. Lyon, J. Hazlewood to bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Smith), 2-45 (Labuschagne).

Bowling: Roach 7-2-21-0; A. Joseph 7-0-19-0 (nb1); S. Joseph 6-1-18-2; Motie 1-0-1-0.

Position: Australia trail by 129 with eight first wickets standing.

Toss: Australia.

Joseph ‘predicted predicted’’ first ball wicket see story on page 21

Shamar Joseph celebrates wicket of Steve Smith

Day two of Regional First First--Class trial match washed out

see story on page 22

Large areas of water on the ground yesterday

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024