…early warning system for slow learners among initiatives planned
Taxi driver remanded for friend’s murder
Guyana's 2 monkeypox cases discharged, noninfectious – Dr Anthony
Remanded armed robbery accused awaiting trial for abduction
not built for Guyanese prison” – B&E accused
The bodies of two persons who were missing after a boat capsized in the Essequibo River on Saturday have been found.
Dead are Alvin Leitch of Charlestown, Georgetown, and Randy Adams of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
The two died after the boat in which they were travelling hit the Rattlesnake Rock in the vicinity of Calf Island, Essequibo River. Rattlesnake Rock is approximately 2.7 kilometres from the Bartica Stelling and 300 metres east of Calf Island.
Commander for Region Seven Police Division, Senior Superintendent Dion Moore confirmed that both bodies were found on Monday morning. They are at the Bartica Hospital’s Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem ex-
amination, scheduled for today.
The mishap occurred sometime between 18:45h and 19:00h on Saturday. At the time of the incident, the vessel was captained
by 34-year-old Jermain Blackman of Two Miles Potaro Road, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), along with his bowman, 18-year-old Lamuel Allen of Four Miles, Bartica. It was also reported that apart from the two boat operators, there were 10 passengers in the vessel including popular entertainer, Darrel Romeo called “DJ Magnum”.
Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill in a statement on Monday expressed sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of the two men.
He said that at about 19:00h on Saturday, officers from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) received reports about a boat mishap in the Essequibo River.
“We are informed, by our investigation that the small
open boat “CARLOS”, un der the command of one Jermain Blackman ran into the Rattlesnake Rock in the Essequibo River. In addi tion to the captain there were eleven (11) other per sons on board, including the bowman. Most of the per sons on board were report edly not wearing lifejackets, even though it is reported that there were several on board.”
The Minister added that the boat suffered extensive damage and while sinking, some of the occupants were thrown into the water while others exited the ill-fated boat and tried swimming to the shore.
However, the Minister noted that while the captain was in possession of a valid licence to operate such a boat, the boat was uncertified and not permitted to op-
erate on the Parika–Bartica passenger service.
“Further, boats on this service are not allowed to operate during the hours of darkness. MARAD’s record reflects that the last authorised departure was by the “LADY ZENIELL” – a boat licensed to operate within the system, at 17:10 hrs. The sunset at Bartica was approximately 18:00 hours,” the Minister said.
He added that MARAD has designated 17:00h as the latest departure time
for boats to depart Parika or Bartica on this service.
The boat which Blackman captained departed from the Parika Stelling at about 17:30h after MARAD’s monitors would have concluded work for the day.
The issue of unlicensed “outside” boats, the Minister noted, transporting passengers on waterways is actively engaging the attention of the Administration.
“We continue to urge the travelling public not to board water taxis/speedboats operating outside of the regulated system and hours of operation. MARAD, as the regulatory authority, also wishes to reiterate that all persons using boats/water taxis must properly and securely wear lifejackets.”
River Navigation Officer, Captain Romain Seurattan is spearheading the investigation and is working along with the Guyana Police Force – Division Seven.
“Safety on our roads, waterways, and in our airspace must be adhered to. Service providers must follow the rules and be in full compliance at all times,” the Minister warned.
A24-year-old gold miner was killed at Gold Finger Landing, Cuyuni River, on Saturday, after a tree fell and pinned him at the mining camp.
Dead is Troy Prudencio of Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
Information from the Guyana Police Force indicated that at about 13:22h on Saturday, Prudencio and two other miners – aged 31 and 25 – were cooking at the camp site. However, there were several gusts of heavy winds, followed by the sound of a falling tree.
Prudencio and the other two workers scampered to
get out of the camp to safety. However, the miner was too late and he was pinned by the tree.
Reports are that the other two workers immediately removed the tree but their co-worker was motionless at that time. Prudencio was taken to Aurora Gold Mine, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at about 15:22h by a doctor.
The body was examined and it was observed that the deceased had multiple injuries about his body. The body will be transported to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary. Investigations are in progress. (G12)
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Tuesday, Sept 20 – No closure and Wednesday, Sept 21 – 14:00 – 15:30h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Tuesday, Sept 20 – 13:20h –14:50h and Wednesday, Sept 21 – 14:00h – 14:30h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily
There will be thundery showers and light rain showers during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Winds: Westerly to West South-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.
High Tide: 12:40h reaching a maximum height of 1.98 metres.
Low Tide: 18:32h reaching a minimum height of 1.26 metre.
resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday updated the United Nations (UN) on Guyana’s continued commitment to providing inclusive, quality education for all, and the steps being taken to close gaps in the delivery of education.
He was at the time the co-chair of the Transforming Education Summit Leaders’ Roundtable 1 at the UN General Assembly. He used the opportunity to inform the world leaders gathered, of the challenges Guyana faces in educational delivery. Importantly, however, he also
encountered. Many teachers were not fully comfortable with this form of delivery. And not all students’ diagnostic assessments, in numeracy and literacy, were conducted to assess the extent of such losses during the pandemic.”
“The data generated is being used as a guide for remedial measures. Among the measures being planned to recover from the learning losses, occasioned by the pandemic, are accelerated tutoring services. The creation of a learning platform to bring students back to grade level and an early warning system
informed them of the steps the Guyana Government has been taking.
“Guyana remains committed to Sustainable Development Goal Number Four, an inclusive and quality education for all. Presently, however, there are educational gaps nationally, which can frustrate the objective. We’re adopting measures to narrow these gaps.”
“This includes introducing more in-person tutoring, reforming the national curriculum, extending the use of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in education, increasing access to digital and non-digital resources and introducing distance education,” he said.
According to the President, the Government made efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to pilot remote learning initiatives across Guyana. He explained some of the challenges faced with that system, including the inability of some students and teachers to integrate with the system.
“Remote learning was implemented and digital learning resources were provided. As expected, challenges were
to identify students at risk of falling behind.”
The President also referenced the importance of trained teachers, calling them the backbone of the education system. According to him, they have the goal of achieving 100 per cent trained teachers in the classroom by the end of the decade. The President also ref-
(Demerara-Mahaica); Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The Government of Guyana has said it will distribute a total of 193,679 “Because We Care” cash grants and school uniform allowances, with an estimated cost of over $5.8 billion in 2022. Each child in the public and private school system will receive $30,000 – $25,000 as the grant and $5000 as an
erenced the “Because We Care” cash grant, the uniform allowance grant and the school feeding programme.
Prior to the session, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres himself had urged Governments to prioritise budgetary spending on education. In the 2022 budget, $74.4 billion was allocated. Of that sum, $32.2 billion was spent by year end.
Breakfast programme
Earlier this month, the Government, through the Education Ministry, had launched a $267 million breakfast programme for all Grade Six students as part of the Ministry’s activities to observe Education Month 2022.
The National Breakfast Programme will provide daily breakfast to Grade Six students in the coastal regions – Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Region Four
allowance for school unform.
The “Because We Care” cash grant initiative was first introduced in 2014 and saw each public school child benefitting from $10,000. However, the initiative came to a halt by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government but was reinstated in 2020 after the current People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government went back into office.
In addition to resurrecting the programme, the PPP/C increased the value of the cash grant to $15,000. This was alongside the $4000 uniform grant, meaning every child received a total of $19,000.
The PPP/C Government has said that they will eventually increase this grant so that each student will receive $50,000 by 2025. (G3)
Editor: Tusika Martin
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The declaration that hefty fines will be imposed upon persons committing the offence of noise nuisance shows that long-awaited action is finally being taken. It is welcome news that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are holding accountable violators who continue to break the law.
For years, there has been a plethora of complaints from persons in various parts of the country pertaining to noise nuisance. In every instance, the frustration of those affected was very evident, and one common gripe was the perceived lack of action by the authorities to fully address the situation. The sources of the audio bombardment include what seem ubiquitous limes and other entertainment shows, neighbours, bars, and vehicles.
In every scenario, people are subjected to brutal and sustained assaults by high- decibel sounds which often last through the night. The harsh reality is that everyone within the affected zone – including children, the elderly and the sick – is rendered helpless and deprived of sleep. That in itself brings or exacerbates related health consequences, as people feel a profound sense of lassitude, since their energy has been sapped.
Some complaints detailed the horrible effects, especially on babies. A toll is eventually taken, and, in turn, productivity and studies are affected for those who work and attend institutions of learning respectively. There have been numerous calls over time for law enforcement to curb this menace.
The GPF itself had admitted that statistics have over time shown an increase in complaints of noise nuisance, and prosecutions are low. This came on the heels of concerns raised by residents who continue to report problems of noise nuisance in their areas.
Of course, some reports are responded to and action is taken, but clearly it does not present a deterrent to those who continue to make others uncomfortable. It begs the question whether they really understand the impact noise has on people. Further, this may be an impetus for the authorities to relook at not just the criteria for granting permission for barbecues and entertainment shows, but for the proximity of residents to be taken as a primary consideration.
Barring national events, weddings and other necessary, infrequent events to some extent, the well-being of people must be foremost. It is understood that there is a requirement for the Police, as one of the approving authorities, to get the consent of residents before granting approval for events in question. This is clearly an area in which the public can be advised on whether it is being done in a sustained and thorough manner.
The growing phenomenon of parked vehicles belting loud music is also having the same effect. Similarly, what occurs in some minibuses needs no explanation.
For the schoolchildren, this not only poses a health issue, but has a profound influence on their minds and actions. Useful research would be to explore the correlation between the exposure to this type of music and violence and other unsavoury actions in schools by some students. In many ways, this can be deemed as a form of mindconditioning of the younger ones, and it can have serious social consequences. It may also be useful to explore if there is a correlation between this and poor academic grades.
While the findings of the research, if conducted, would be extremely useful, there first has to be a firmer acceptance by the authorities of the serious problem and related consequences of loud music, which is a form of pollution. There is no doubt that the Police are challenged for resources if their priority is to be combating crime. That said, there has to be a commitment to find a way to make noise nuisance a priority, thereby paving the way for it to be dealt with in a sustained manner.
The attention of the Ministry of Finance has been drawn to a number of statements made by Nigel Hinds recently on the subject of racism. The most recent of these are an assertion published online that racism in Guyana is getting worse, and a rambling letter published in today’s newspapers. As usual with his missives, both are high on rhetoric and devoid of fact. In response, I now wish to offer the following comments.
Judging from the public pronouncements Nigel Hinds has been making recently on the subject of racism, as well as from interactions I have had with him privately, a major source of his dissatisfaction is a longstanding dispute he has with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG). The ICAG is a body established by law to regulate the practice and profession of accountancy, in much the same manner as the Medical Council of Guyana regulates the medical profession.
In relation to the dispute, he has with the ICAG, without any intention on my part to disclose the details of the dispute, Hinds approached His Excellency the President some months ago and asked for the Government to intervene in this dispute. His Excellency forwarded the matter to me. I communicated with Hinds and explained to him that the ICAG is a regulatory body tasked with responsibility and vested with authority to regulate the accounting profession, and that there is no basis for Government intervention in the dispute.
Nevertheless, based on his representation that he needed additional time to resolve the matter, I offered to make such a representation on his behalf to the ICAG. I took the exceptional step of contacting the ICAG myself and enquired about the matter. In light of the expla-
nation, I received (including on the amount of time that had already been granted to Hinds to resolve the matter) and having considered his request for additional time, I suggested to the ICAG that consideration be given to granting Hinds an extension of time to resolve the matter. An extension was granted, as a direct result of which Hinds continues to be licensed by the ICAG to practice as an accountant. I communicated this to Hinds. At the time, I understood him to be satisfied with the result achieved as a direct result of a Government appeal on his behalf and entirely at his request.
For added emphasis, it is worthwhile to repeat that Hinds is currently the beneficiary of a direct and exceptional appeal by this People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Government in order to ensure that he continues to enjoy the right to practice his profession, while he has been granted extra time to bring himself in order with the ICAG.
Alas, his initial satisfaction with this outcome appears to have morphed swiftly into dissatisfaction.
I certainly hold no brief for the ICAG, and I believe that body is capable of defending itself against the vulgar racist assault launched on it recently by Hinds. The Government’s position is unequivocal. Until such time that the legal framework for regulating the accounting
profession is changed, the ICAG is the body authorised to license accountants in public practice and all accountants in public practice have to comply with the rules set out by that body for that purpose. The fact of the matter is that Hinds wants to be exempt from requirements that apply to all other practicing accountants across Guyana. I am advised that those requirements resemble those applied by the bodies that regulate the accounting profession across the Caribbean and in many parts of the world. As I have already done privately, I would urge Hinds once again to engage the ICAG meaningfully with a view to resolving the matter between him and them.
It is most regrettable and completely disingenuous that Hinds would take a bilateral dispute he has with the ICAG as the basis on which to weave a patently false and blatantly dishonest narrative about racism in Guyana.
The unavoidable conclusion is that his newfound posture as a champion of ethnic rights is firmly grounded in pure self-interest and the advancement of his own narrow cause, instead of that of the masses whose emotions he is trying to excite for his own personal benefit.
Put differently, it is my considered opinion that Hinds is now opportunistically using the bully pulpit of racism to try to intimidate the ICAG to extend special treatment to him and to enable him to bypass standard requirements that are applicable to all persons practising the same profession as he does.
It should be added that there might be another cause for the dissatisfaction currently being displayed by Hinds. Recently, the Government invited Hinds to be a member of the VAT Board of Review, considering that this might be an oppor-
tunity for him to contribute to the work of an important tribunal. Hinds declined the offer, indicating that he is not prepared to accept appointment to any Board or entity unless he is being appointed to chair that Board or entity. It is, of course, a matter of public record that Ronald Burch-Smith was appointed to chair the VAT Board of Review (and Sharon Roopchand-Edwards to chair the Customs Tariff Tribunal and Emily Dodson to chair the Income Tax Board of Review).
The posture adopted by Hinds in the latter matter speaks entirely for itself. Here again, instead of acknowledging the diversity (not only ethnically, but also in terms of professional backgrounds and skills) of the appointments made to these important tax tribunals, the position adopted by Hinds is an entirely self-serving one. It would appear that, in his mind, diversity is only served when he is the designated appointee to whichever post he covets or when he is the recipient of whichever reward or recognition he craves. This again reinforces the purely opportunistic nature of his recently adopted ethnic advocacy. It bears striking resemblance to the posture also adopted by a few others recently, who invoke the racism bogeyman without any basis whatsoever, for the sole purpose of political opportunism, and knowing full well that they themselves failed blatantly to serve in any meaningful way the very people whose cause they now claim to champion.
The Ministry of Finance takes the opportunity to reject outright the unsubstantiated and baseless racist rhetoric being peddled by Nigel Hinds and to reaffirm the Government’s strong commitment to govern in the interest of all Guyanese, in keeping with President Ali’s One Guyana vision.
Dear Editor,
Let this sink in please. It is that according to a new rice market report recently published by market research firm IndexBox, “Rice consumption around the world is anticipated to continue to grow steadily around 1.1 per cent per annum to 2025, when it is expected to reach a market volume of 570 million tonnes (Mt). And we all know that rice is a food staple for more than 3.5 billion people around the world, particularly in Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa. Thus, it’s basically impossible to overstate how important rice is to the ways people around the globe eat. Rice is actually the source of onefifth of all the calories consumed by the world’s population. No wonder then, and being quite ‘on the ball,’ the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government is aiming to ramp up rice production from 560,000 to 870,000 tonnes metric tonnes by 2025.
What is good about rice (other crops too) is that prudent investment the from Government is paying great dividends. In fact, as mentioned in the press, the re-
Dear Editor, The harassment of Guyanese fisherfolk in the Corentyne by Suriname’s authorities is blatant and Guyana’s strong response at the highest levels is justified. Suriname’s actions are profoundly contrary to the spirit of Caricom.
Suriname has stipulated that Guyana’s fisherfolk must pay for a special maritime tracking device, with an annual fee, and furthermore park their boats in Suriname. The harassment and additional cost burden on Guyanese is based on false representation of maritime tracking technology. I offer the following facts to correct this:
1. Guyanese fishing boats can be fitted with tracking devices that constantly broadcast their locations to all authorities. The system is called Automatic Identification System (AIS) and is mandated for all ocean-going vessels by a United Nations Agreement (SOLAS Chapter V).
2. Nearly half a million ships are presently equipped with AIS transceivers purchased in their home countries and safely enter any other country’s seas and harbours, including Port Georgetown.
3. Such transceivers constantly broadcast a vessel’s location using a globally-agreed protocol and radio frequency.
cap shows that in the rice sector, over $100 million was spent to improve rice yields. Then extra support in pest control was provided to farmers. To top it off, the Agriculture Ministry realised the operating of the Value-Added Laboratory in March 2022.
In contrast, we can revisit what obtained between 2015 and 2020. I mean the stats can be brought up too, where they will show that APNU/AFC just mercilessly kept on reducing the agriculture budget every year since they got into Government (by more than $3 billion since 2015). This reduction of course affected rice significantly. As a matter of fact, the coalition Government, A Partner For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), even got vindictive at various times. For example, in their tenure, 2000 acres of rice crops were threatened by the withholding of irrigation water from rice farmers (by GuySuCo); rice farmers were threatened by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) with withholding water for irrigation; mill-
ers were owed more than $2 billion since July 2017; and rice farmers from Hope were given notice to vacate their rice fields. Just imagine what would have happened if they had managed to steal the 2020 elections.
Editor, I will not be able, in this letter, to comment on the many other areas of agriculture, where the Government is beginning to reap great and deserved benefits, and what all of these mean for us as Guyanese. So, let me point a few important things.
We must not ‘take for granted’ that these results are ‘matter of fact,’ or simply ‘easy to come by.’ There are many challenges to rice cultivation: high cost of inputs; low price of palay; lack of capital; labour problem; lack of postharvest facilities; pest and diseases; and irrigation system. What I mean is that to turn around rice alone is a phenomenal achievement.
I recall last year what Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said. He noted that Guyana was able “… to secure additional markets for rice exports, and with the interventions
made in the industry since August (of 2020), that plans to double production and increase export over five years can be realised.” He added at that time too that “The two European destinations, Hungary and Latvia, together received some 250 metric tonnes of white rice last year,” and “…with the recent exports to the Caribbean, there are indications that more persons are interested in Guyana’s rice.”
Hence, “…Government is investing heavily to ensure there be sufficient rice for new markets.” After all, rice is the Government’s business and the Minister and his crew are working 24/7 to make the industry flourish, as it was pre-2015.
At the global level, the UN, via the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation), is serious about providing the means to produce rice that is better for farmers, better for the environment, and better for agri-businesses. This is exactly how the Government is going about the now burgeoning rice sector.
Yours truly, H Singh
AIS allows authorities in say, Trinidad, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname to seamlessly and even simultaneously track a vessel as it transits the waters off of each of the countries.
4. So, fishing boats do not need to buy a special Surinamese maritime tracking system because they fish in Surinamese waters, or pay recurring fees to do so.
5. Guyanese fishing boats could also be safely moored on the Guyana shore of the Corentyne River and any movement to/from fishing areas in Suriname’s territorial seas would be apparent to both Suriname’s and Guyana’s fisheries/maritime authorities. Forcing artisanal fisherfolk living in Guyana to park their boats in Suriname adds great cost and trouble for hard working people, and undermines the food security of Guyana and all Caricom.
The special Surinamese approach to monitoring Guyanese boats allows profiteering, corruption and outrageous harassment of Guyanese fisherfolk. Guyana should advocate for the use of the globally-agreed approach to maritime monitoring and safety – AIS – and a level playing field.
Lastly, Guyana has had at least three instances of boats sinking and multiple losses of life at sea this year alone. Piracy has also
claimed the lives of many fisherfolk. Having AIS onboard Guyanese vessels could provide constantly updated positions of boats simultaneously to vessel owners, fishermen’s associ -
ations, the Fisheries Dept, MARAD, and in an emergency, the Coast Guard.
Sincerely,
Digital Yacht Ltd Representative
Highly erroneous and bold inaccuracy
Dear Editor, On 17th September 2022, a letter to the Editor captioned, ‘First time a CoI is appointed but not gazetted and ToRs not publicised’ written under the hand of Mr Eusi Kwayana was published in the media. The letter inaccurately asserted that the Government has neither gazetted nor made public the Terms of Reference of the Commission of Inquiry appointed by His Excellency the President on 13th September 2022.
It is in the national interest that it be placed on the public record (again) that on the very same day the CoI was appointed, the Instrument appointing the Commission, in which the Terms of Reference were duly and expansively set out, was published in the Official Gazette of 13th September 2022.
As Mr Kwayana must be aware, publication in the Official Gazette constitutes
notice to the world. A simple gazette or google search by Mr Kwayana would have pre-empted this highly erroneous and bold inaccuracy. Moreover, news coverage in the mainstream media of, and concerning, the Commission of Inquiry, included copious references to the Terms of Reference of the Commission.
Mr Kwayana also erroneously alleged certain limitations upon the President’s powers under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, Chap 19:03. I am advised that those allegations are not evident, either expressly or by implication, in the Act.
I am further advised that Mr Kwayana’s insinuations of unconstitutionality are also without merit.
Yours faithfully, Colonel Ronald Hercules, MSM Administrator Commission of Inquiry
Sometimes you want to find a figure’s area, or the number of units it would take to fill it. Those units are called square centimetres, metres, or kilometres in metric units or square inches, feet, yards or miles in customary units.
Be careful! A square metre does not equal 100 square cm or a square foot, 12 square inches. A square metre equals 1 metre (100 cm) x 1 metre (100 cm) = 1m2 (10,000 cm) and a square foot = 144 inches.
Example:
Exercises: Convert
1) What is the area of a square with 4m sides?
2) Which has a greater area, a 7-cm square or a rectangle with sides of 5 cm and 8 cm?
3) Which has a greater area, a 14-cm square or an equilateral triangle with sides of 8 cm?
Songs can spring from or act as fuel for movements of social change. When people want to see things about the world or their society change, music can often help hold the vision, create solidarity, and build courage for bringing that new idea into reality.
Supplies
• Computer or laptop for watching the video “We Shall Not Be Moved” together
• Space to move around (if available)
Watch this video together as a group:
“The Freedom Singers Perform “We Shall Not Be Moved” at the March on Washington” (Boston University)
https://youtu.be/duvoETGVvYU
Ask: What do those lyrics “ We Shall Not Be Moved” mean? What were the singers saying to each other and to those listening? Do you think it is easy or difficult to be part of a movement for change? Why? What are some things in the world that you would like to change? Do you think many people agree with you? Ask: Do you think it would be easier to make those changes alone or if you work together with a group of people who agree? Do you think it’s important that different perspectives and voices be heard — or should everyone just agree? (Adapted from sratwithabook. com)
CONTINUED FROM MONDAY
4) A triangle has sides of 8 metres. What is its area?
5)A right triangle with sides measuring 4, 5, and 6 cm has what area?
6) What is the area of a rectangle with sides of 20 cm and 86 cm?
Members of the Guyanese Diaspora were on Sunday assured by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd that Government was focused on creating fair and equitable policies for the benefits of Guyanese.
The Foreign Affairs Minister accompanied President Dr Irfaan Ali during a town hall-style meeting with the Guyanese
Diaspora in Orlando, Florida. In his presentation to them, Todd spoke about the Government’s intention of implementing fair and just policies.
“When we look at the development of Guyana, it means that we have to have leadership at every level. So, at the political level, we have policies that are inclusive. That are based on equity or fairness.”
“And President Ali
speaks about that a lot. Fairness. Making sure that each and every Guyanese citizen gets what they deserve. So, our mandate is to ensure that we can create prosperity,” the President also said.
Todd informed the Diaspora that the government was motivated by a desire to transform the lives of Guyanese. He also referenced the “One Guyana” initiative and its importance
A17-year-old of Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara (WBD), along with two adults, were on Monday slapped with a robbery under arms charge.
Charged along with the teen are Roberto Louis, a 21-year-old labourer of Tuschen, East Bank
Essequibo; and Wendell Austin, a 29-year-old Warehouse Attendant of Tucville Housing Compound, Georgetown.
Reports are that on September 15 at Third Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, the trio robbed a 27-year-old policewoman of Providence, EBD.
The trio appeared at the Grove/Diamond Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Sunil Scarce where the charges were read to them. Austin pleaded not guilty, while the teen and Roberto Louis pleaded guilty.
They were all remanded to prison and the case will continue on October 15.
for building nationhood and a strong cultural
“When President Ali speaks about development, he’s speaking to Guyana and the Diaspora. And he’s focusing on a balanced development. Not just the infrastructural works that you would see, but the tangible things that you won’t see. But the main emphasis is on social development and enhancement.
“So, when he speaks about transformation and transforming lives, everything that we do in terms of our policies and our strategies, centres around the individual – the citizen. It’s important for us, because our sovereignty depends strongly on our value system and how strong we are
as a people.”
In his own address to the residents, President Ali had told the Diaspora of the Government’s plans, including for the agriculture sector and tourism. He had also responded to questions from the crowd as well. The President and the Foreign Minister were presently in the US for the United Nations General Assembly. The Government has consistently paired calls for the Diaspora to return to Guyana, with updating them on efforts to develop and transform Guyana. Back in July, President Ali had assured members of the US Diaspora that fundamental principles of transformation were currently in the works to enhance the
lives of citizens.
While addressing a reception with members of the Guyanese Diaspora on Wednesday evening at Guyana’s Embassy in Washington, DC, Ali had pointed out that the Diaspora community would want a level of confidence in the local system to return to these shores, which Government was seeking to address.
“You want to know that you can return to a healthcare system that can take care of your family. You want to know that you can return to an education system that can give your children the best possible education. And you want to know that you can return to a system where the security of your family is not a worry, but a given. These are three fundamental principles that we must address,” he said. However, he said such aspirations extend beyond infrastructural investments. Physical transformation must be complemented by human transformation – a feat that must be undertaken by every Guyanese, which brings focus on the “One Guyana” initiative led by the President.
“These are fundamental issues which require a change in mindset, thinking, attitude, behaviour, and the way we operate. That requires hard work, commitment, the involvement of every Guyanese in this project called “One Guyana”,” he explained. (G3)
Two men who were initially sentenced to 81 years’ imprisonment each for the 2011 murder of a Robb Street, Georgetown pensioner, but had their sentences reduced to 50 years by the Court of Appeal of Guyana, have now moved to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in an effort to quash their conviction and sentence.
In 2015, Demerara High Court Judge Navindra Singh sentenced Orwin Hinds, Cleon Hinds, and Roy Jacobs to 81 years in prison each for the murder of 71-year-old Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris. But in April 2022, their sentence was reduced to 50 years by the appellate court. The CCJ has scheduled October 11 to hear an appeal from the two Hinds; it is unclear
if their co-convict Jacobs has filed an appeal.
The charge the men had faced detailed that, on June 30, 2011, they murdered Fiedtkou-Parris pursuant to an arrangement wherein money was intended to be passed from one person to another. The elderly woman was shot and killed on the night of June 30, 2011, at her Lot 42 Robb Street, Georgetown home. It was reported that three men had gone to the woman’s home asking for “Auntie”, and when the elderly woman emerged from her bedroom, one of them pulled out a gun and shot her several times to her upper body. The men then fled the scene in a waiting motor car while the elderly woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public
Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. It is believed that a bitter dispute over a property might have been the motive for her killing.
Following a trial before Justice Navindra Singh in 2015, they were found guilty of the crime by a 12-member jury. Justice Singh had imposed the 81year prison term on each of them and had ordered that they do not become eligible for parole until after serving a minimum of 45 years. However, their attorneys had asked the Guyana Court of Appeal to quash their conviction and sentence.
The appeal was heard by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards and Justices of
Appeal Dawn Gregory, SC, and Rishi Persaud while Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Teshana James-Lake was the prosecutrix.
In delivering the court’s ruling, Justice CummingsEdwards stated that the court allowed the appeal in relation to the men’s sentence, but not their conviction.
She said the court found that the previously imposed sentence was manifestly excessive, even though she admitted that the crime was a “gruesome murder”.
The fourth convict in the elderly woman’s murder, Kevin October, died in prison.
As such, his appeal against his conviction and sentence was discontinued.
(G1)
Thirty-five-year-old Stravo Evans, the Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown man who was remanded to prison last Friday for two counts of robbery under arms, is currently awaiting trial at the Demerara High Court for abduction.
According to the list of cas-
es to be heard at the Demerara High Court, published by the Supreme Court of Judicature’s registrar, Evans and two other men—Simeon Williams and Oliver Franklin—are to be tried jointly for one count of abduction.
The pending High Court trial for Evans and the two other men has to do with
an armed robbery that was committed in broad daylight on the Bourda Post Office at Regent Street, Georgetown, on April 1, 2015. Police had said that at around 07:45h on April 1,
2015, Policeman Andre July went to the Bourda Post Office in a Pitbull minibus and as he stopped, five men approached him; one of them was armed with a gun.
Well, it’s all over now…QE II has been interred in her grave with all the pomp and glory that Britain was able to muster. What was it the Bard from Avon – who flourished under QE I – advised in these matters?? In his classic “Julius Caesar” – who knew a thing or two about Empires – he had Mark Antony say, “The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones.” Well, from all that has been said from across the world – especially from the now extinct British Empire – while the consensus was QE II didn’t have too many sins of commission, the consensus was there were plenty sins of omission! They’ll live on?
Most folks felt that since 1952, after being briefed EVERY WEEK by her Prime Ministers – she couldn’t say a thing or two about all the violence that was being perpetrated in her name across the Empire?? Let’s take Kenya from where she had to fly home to accept the Crown. Couldn’t she’ve told Churchill that he couldn’t just torture and incarcerate thousands – and kill hundreds – of Kikiyus whose lands were being seized?? We’re told she was a woman who was deeply Christian – and could always be counted to offer some homilies to suffering persons she encountered in Britain. Weren’t the people in the Empire, humans and brothers too?
Here in Guyana, there was a good old-fashioned Mass at St George’s Cathedral in her memory. The Monarch is the Head of the Anglican Church and very fittingly St George was the Patron Saint of England. He supposedly has the courage to face adversity in order to defend the innocent. But for some reason he didn’t defend the 12 million innocents who were shipped across the Atlantic from Africa to the Americas nor the 10 million innocents who perished in Bengal as recently as 1943 – when grain was shipped from that province to feed Brits during WWII.
Your Eyewitness hopes former President David Granger was invited to the Mass. Apart from being a devout Anglican, he offered the deepest bow your Eyewitness had ever seen to QE II when he was given an audience in April 2017. Your Eyewitness figured that even though Burnham had eschewed British honorifics, Mr Granger was probably harking back to his training as a BRITISH army officer at Mons in 1965. We weren’t independent as yet!!
Now, as your Eyewitness has advised, hopefully the Brits will now engage in some deep soul searching. From the Empire that QE I launched, QV extended and now QE II had ruled for 70 years, Britain went from empire to umpire – at best for the Commonwealth!
Maybe it’s time to chuck it in??
…to neo-colonialism
While some might’ve questioned the conditions under which we were granted “independence” from – and by –the Brits under Burnham, he did try to veer off the path they’d planned for us. But Burnham and most of the other “briefcase” PMs across the Empire – who also got their constitutions in a complimentary briefcase at Lancaster House - didn’t realise something. To use one of Burnham’s turns of phrase – there were many ways to kill a cat!!
So, no matter how he tried to cut links to the Empire – nationalising sugar, bauxite, wharves, stores, etc – they could always yank Burnham’s chain. Very simply after WWII, the Yanks – who’d taken over from the Brits – had established the Breton Woods Sisters – the IMF and World Bank – who’d do the yanking!! Even though Burnham cursed the IMF as “International Mother F*****”, he had to kowtow when things went south!!
In the end, his successor Hoyte signed along the dotted line. So, have we cut those chains from our legs yet??
…to independence
Now we’ve got our own funding spigot from oil, we don’t need no IMF/World Bank, right?? Ghana thought so when they struck oil in 2007 – but they’re back in the arms of the IMF!! Gotta be careful!!
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In keeping with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s commitment to support fisherfolk, over $187 million in cash grants was distributed to fisherfolk on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) when the exercise unfolded at the Lusignan ground.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was there to spearhead the distribution of the $150,000 one-off grant to the fisherfolk, alongside Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall.
Jagdeo explained that the money is to cushion them from the rising cost of living. In fact, he noted that the Government is working to uplift all citizens. He pointed out the global events that have pushed the cost of living up.
The Vice President made it clear that the Government has not just “sat on its hands” but has been making interventions to cushion the cost of living. According to him, the provision of more disposable income will also help the economy.
“I was in Berbice, where they lost nearly 4000 jobs in the sugar industry alone. We employed 4000 people part-time there. That is $40,000 a month, for 10 days work. They would earn $160
million, the 4000 people.”
“Multiplied by 12 months in the year, that’s over $12 billion. Back into the Berbice economy. So that will start getting things going. The markets. The shopkeepers. People can buy fish because they have a disposable income now,” Jagdeo explained.
Trickery
Touching on the grant being distributed, Jagdeo related anecdotal experiences of persons trying to trick the system by making false claims for compensation. He noted that when President Dr Irfaan Ali first announced the fishing grant, they had been aiming for 5000 people.
“We got 10,000 now. And some who were farmers, turn fishermen now. They were on the farmers’
list, now they on the fishermen list. So, we want to help people. That’s why it took a while too. We were trying to go through the verification. We put up the names at the NDC and we said, you object to the people there if you see someone who was not a fisherman.”
Over 700 persons at the Lusignan ground were scheduled to collect their cheques. Additionally, there are others whose award of the grants have been delayed due to lack of an ID card. However, Jagdeo assured them that they will eventually get the cash grant.
Only last week, fisherfolk in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) began receiving the Government’s $150,000 one-off cash grant – a fulfilment of a commitment made by President Ali
back in May.
That exercise was also led by the Vice President, at the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground and the Skeldon Community Centre Ground. Hundreds of people had been in attendance, with more than 1600 fisherfolk stretching from the East Bank of Berbice to the Corentyne River expected to receive the grant which will amount to $153 million.
Caricom
Meanwhile, the Vice President also disclosed that the Government will soon write Caricom seeking assistance with resolving the ongoing issues faced between Guyanese fishermen and
Surinamese authorities.
The matter of Suriname’s harassment of Guyanese fishermen and the Dutchspeaking republic’s continued refusal to grant licences to them, has been a topical issue. Following the high-level meeting in Guyana during August 2021 between President Ali and Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the two leaders had issued a joint press statement indicating that the age-old issue of licences for Guyanese fisherfolk to operate in Suriname’s territorial waters would be addressed.
These fishermen operate from the Corentyne coast and have to use the
Corentyne to get access to the Atlantic where they get most of their catch. The Corentyne River is considered Surinamese territory. Currently, the licences are issued to Surinamese businessmen at US$100 per year and rented to the Guyanese fisherfolk at US$3000 annually.
About 150 boats operate from the Number 66 Fisherman’s Co-op Society, thus providing direct employment for about 800 fishermen. Additionally, some 200 persons are employed in providing services which include transportation, fish vending and repairs to machinery and equipment. (G3)
A28-year-old taxi driver, who allegedly killed his friend during a row over $500 and parking space, was on Monday remanded to prion.
Troy Griffith of Lot 6 ‘B’ Carol’s Place Mocha, East Bank Demerara, was
slapped with a murder charge and appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Court.
It is alleged that Griffith killed Quincy Weekes, also known as “Balu”, at about 08:15h on September 14
at Mocha Access Road and Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara.
Reports are that Weekes, a 41-year-old taxi driver of Lot 31 Nelson Street Mocha, EBD, and Griffith were arguing when the suspect reportedly stabbed him.
Detectives in Regional Police Division Six have recovered a motorcar on Monday, used in an armed robbery committed a Number 79 Village, Corriverton robbery.
At about 12:30h, acting on information received, police ranks went to Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder where they recovered the white Avensis motorcar registered with plates, PTT 4720. It was abandoned on a street.
The vehicle was used in an armed robbery, committed on Ishwardatt Outar at Albert Street, No. 79 Village, Corriverton, Berbice.
The vehicle was searched and several pieces of clothing worn by the alleged perpetrator were found. The ranks also recovered a cellphone belonging to the victim on the Number 43 roadway, leading to Black Bush Polder, Corentyne.
The vehicle, which is registered to a female of Success, East Coast Demerara was taken to the Number 51 Police Station, where it is currently lodged. Further investigation is in progress. (G12)
According to reports, the duo had an argument over parking space as they both were ‘working taxi’ in the area. The men would take passengers from the head of the Mocha Access Road into the village and vice versa. When Guyana Times visited the home of the dead man, his uncle, Ryan Weekes, had said that the parking space argument was not the entire story.
“… I heard when he came in around minutes to eight to carry his son to school. When he come in this morning, he turn and say ‘if y’all see I ain’t come back, must know that I deh in the lockup’.”
“I ask he what happen to he and he say Troy give [him] some thousand dollars to change the other day and he gave him [Troy] $500 change and he had a wuk to go over the river and come back. He say when he come back he give Troy [the suspect] the other $500 and Troy keep saying he didn’t give he the $500.”
“He told me that every time his car load for him to come to Mocha, Troy blocking he car,” the man said.
The man said after relating this to him, his nephew immediately walked out of their home and asked the uncle to drop his son at school.
Meanwhile, the dead man’s grandmother, Shirley Weekes, said that while her grandson was walking out of the yard, she called him back and offered to pay the suspect the $500, but he refused. The family said within minutes of him leaving, they received the news that he was killed.
“He said ‘granny, no, I already give this guy his money already’… his uncle said ‘Balu, is no need for ignorance, collect the $500 and give the man’, and he said no, he paid him already,” she recalled.
The man’s uncle added that when he got to the scene, he was told that his nephew and Griffith had an argument and his nephew was pulled from the driver’s seat of his vehicle, and the men began scuffling.
The suspect then armed himself with a knife and dealt Weekes several stab wounds about his body, causing him to fall to the ground.
Meanwhile, Police in a report revealed that when they arrived on the scene, the body of Weekes was seen lying motionlessly in a pool of blood. He was later pronounced dead. The case was adjourned to November 18.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday informed that Guyana’s active case count for the novel coronavirus is now down to 119.
With daily recorded cases dropping, active cases are also winding down. The active cases consist of two persons in Region One (BarimaWaini); seven in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 19 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 59 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); four in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 19 in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); three in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); five in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
There are six persons in hospitals – five of which are at the Infectious Diseases Hospital. One person is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
As of Monday, only seven new infections were reported on the Health Ministry’s dashboard, with deaths standing at 1281.
To date, 32,662 males and 38,601 females have contracted the virus, amounting to 71,263 confirmed cases.
There are five persons in institutional isolation, 107 in home isolation, and three in institutional quarantine.
confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 177 million while the death toll has gone up to 2.8 million deaths.
Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, tiredness, diarrhoea, pains, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. The more serious symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of
breath, chest pain, and loss of speech or movement.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy. (G12)
“I’m not built for
prison” – B&E accused
Canada-based
AGuyanese, who is accused of breaking into a home and stealing several household appliances, was remanded to prison on Monday.
Wash
If
Recoveries are pegged at 69,869 with some 693,060 test samples processed. The country’s recent vac-
cination figures show that so far, 446,492 adults or 87 per cent have taken a first dose, while some 346,315 or 67.5
per cent are fully vaccinated. For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, 35,703 or 49 per cent have had first doses and 26,192 or 35.9 per cent second doses.
Meanwhile, for children in the five to 11 category, 8156 or eight per cent have been administered first doses. However, only 3940 or 3.9 per cent of this cohort have returned for the second jab. In addition, 73,489 booster shots were taken.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) figures, some 609 million confirmed cases were reported globally along with 6.5 million deaths.
In the Region of the Americas, the number of
Kurt Savoury, 56, who resides locally at Mango Lane, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.
It is alleged that between July 31 and August 5, at Mango Lane, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he broke into the dwelling house of Handel Legion, and stole a vacuum cleaner, electric iron, fan, microwave, and other items totalling $614,000.
An unrepresented Savoury pleaded not guilty to the charge and begged the Magistrate to release him on self-bail, telling her to “hold” his passport. “I will kill myself; remand is not for me, I’m not built for Guyanese prison,” he begged.
According to Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh, Savoury, who was arrested in August, led Police ranks to a location where some of the stolen articles were recovered.
Following Savoury’s arrest, the prosecutor told the court that the man was released on self-bail and or-
Remanded: Kurt Savoury
dered to report to the Police Station but never did. However, he was arrested again on September 15, in relation to an armed robbery which is still under probe. In light of this, Prosecutor Singh made serious objections to the defendant being granted bail, citing that he poses a risk of flight since the Police received a “tip off” that he was in the process of fleeing the country.
Magistrate IsaacsMarcus upheld the prosecutor’s objections and remanded Savoury to prison. The case will continue on September 26. (G1)
There are no active monkeypox cases in Guyana following the recovery of the two persons whose cases were detected last month.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday disclosed that there have been no new cases of monkeypox detected in the country. On August 22, the first case was discovered –a 57-year-old man who hails from Region Four (MahaicaBerbice). Days later, a second person tested positive.
Both persons, who are unrelated, were isolated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
“We had two cases. We isolated them, treated them and they’re now discharged so they’re non-infectious. We have not detected any new cases,” the Health Minister underscored.
He added that since these persons were not experiencing any symptoms, no follow-ups were needed.
As of now, Guyana remains
prepared with testing capacity and facilities should any new cases be reported.
“At this point in time, there is no need for any further follow-up, because we discharged them from the hospital, they were symptom-free,” Dr Anthony said.
The Health Ministry was expecting monkeypox vaccines by the ending of September, after an order was placed to access the shots through the Pan-American Health
Organisation (PAHO).
Monkeypox characteristically appears as a rash. The acute skin rash may be present with maculopapular (flat-based lesions) to vesicles (fluid-filled blisters), pustules, and subsequent crusting affecting the face, palms, soles and the rest of the body.
It may be accompanied by headache, acute onset of fever, myalgia, back pain, asthenia, and lymphadenopathy. Monkeypox vi-
The men then pushed Darwin Hinds and the policeman out of the bus after which one of them drove away in the vehicle to Cemetery Road, Georgetown. According to reports, while at Cemetery Road, Georgetown, a car drove up alongside the minibus, and the accused men and other persons removed money and other items before making good their escape.
As a result, the trio was arrested and subsequently charged with robbing July of one G3 rifle and 21 rounds of 7.62 x 51 ammunition belonging to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and $42.5 million, property of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC).
It is also alleged that
while being together and armed with a gun, they robbed Hinds of a Pitbull minibus valued at $3.4 million belonging to the GPF and that they wrongfully restrained and abducted July and Hinds.
While Guyana Times is unaware of the legal status of the robbery and wrongfully restrained charges, Evans, Williams, and Franklin have been indicted for abduction and are awaiting trial at the Demerara High Court.
Last Friday, Evans was remanded to prison after he was charged with two counts of robbery under arms committed on Nitisha Klass and Kevin Frazer on September 13, at Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The charges were laid con-
FROM PAGE 8
trary to Section 222 (c) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01.
He was arraigned at the Golden Grove/Diamond Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, who read the charges to him. Evans pleaded not guilty to both charges. Bail was refused and he was remanded to prison until October 31.
Meanwhile, in October 2013, Evans, who was indicted for the January 2010 murder of Pascal Johnson of Grove, EBD, was freed by Justice Navindra Singh after he was unanimously found not guilty by a mixed 12-member jury.
It was the prosecution’s case that Evans shot and killed the 28-year-old man on January 3, 2010, at Laing Avenue, Georgetown. (G1)
rus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.
Monkeypox is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus.
Persons are being urged if any of the symptoms appear, it is important to report your condition to the Health Ministry, which will activate the necessary protocol.
Patient care
Holistically looking at
patient care in the health sector, the Health Ministry has been aiming to create a safe environment for patients where they receive the proper medications and treatment.
Dr Anthony highlighted, “One of the things we want to make sure is that when people come to the health system, that patients feel safe. They’re in a safe environment and whatever medications they’re getting, this is also the right and appropriate meds for their health condition.”
Pointing out that mistakes can occur, the Minister said this reinforced the need for contin-
uous training for staffers in the health system.
“From time to time, there can be mistakes. If the prescription is not properly filled, if there is a substitute medicine that is given, if the interaction between various medications is not taken into account, these can lead to complications for patients. Efforts were made to reinforce the need to have quality measures in place to make sure that these mistakes do not occur.”
World Patient Safety Day was observed in Guyana on September 17. (G12)
The Human Services and Social Protection Ministry on Monday, in observance of Child Protection Week 2022, themed “Keeping Children Safe Through Community Collaboration”, launched a “Street Light” initiative. This initiative aids in having children who are on the street for various reasons analysed and provided with whatever care the Ministry can provide.
The “Street Light” initiative will start immediately with childcare protection officers doing routine checks at areas where children frequent.
Minister Vindhya Persaud, while addressing the gathering, noted that the Ministry, after several discussions were held with parents and children who are on the street, the name “Street Light” was initiated, because as a society, there is need to turn the light on the issue. She added that it is common and the children are predominantly at the stop lights.
She said that while engaging in those conversations, Child Protection Officers have been evaluating the situations and reasons as to why the children are on the streets and working to provide assistance to determine what can be done
to eliminate the occurrence.
Persaud added that under the initiative, when children who are on the streets are identified, the Ministry through the Government is providing training, employment and support to both the parents and the children and is creating a database to follow up the children to ensure they have stability in their lives.
“Is need for intervention, for family stability, can the family take care of its children, is there other social issues contributing to this?”
The Minister also stated that while children are on the streets, they are exposed to
exploitation, can be involved in accidents and their lives can be scarred and damaged, and as such Child Protection Officers will be taking tougher actions to protect children, which is covered in the child protection laws of Guyana.
“It is important that when we have children on the street, to understand the risk out there not only of exploitation but of abuse and it is also important to look deeper into the matter to see what triggers those children into being on the street and why their parents are not integrally involved in supervising them.”
Also at the gathering was
Assistant Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Levine Gouveia, who noted that getting children off the street is not only the Ministry’s job but the public can lend a helping hand by reporting when
a child is seen on the street so the Ministry can provide shelter or whatever resources they can to help that child.
“Removing children off of the street and other places that put them at risk for exploitation is everyone’s responsibility to make the project a success. This awareness programme is to propel the populace into being part of the solution of getting the children off the street and into meaningful activities by providing purposeful assistance, and not being part of the problem by inadvertently giving the children a small change.”
Gouveia, while addressing the gathering, also shared an experience she had when she saw a child about seven years old and his mother on the streets one night, and she called the Police, who arrested her and had her spend the weekend behind bars. However, when
asked if the same would occur again if the charges were to be withdrawn and the Child Protection Agency work with the family, the mother gave her commitment that it wouldn’t and as such she is now employed, Gouveia stated.
Both Persaud and Gouveia implored the members of the public to report instances where children are seen on the road by calling the 914 hotline or the Police. They also urged the Police Force to act upon calls made to them and to assist in rescuing children who are the future Presidents and Ministers of this country from the streets, since making the call can be the biggest difference within the child’s life.
Statistics from the Child Protection Agency shows that over 30 children are begging at stop lights in the city alone.
The Amerindian Affairs Ministry has identified a new winner of the Miss Amerindian Heritage Pageant after a miscalculation during the score tabulation led to the wrong person being named as winner.
Ten women were vying for the title, and the Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) representative was selected as the winner during the pageant on Saturday night. However, after much public outcry about something being amiss, an investigation was launched. The Ministry later said in a statement that the scores were not accurately tabulated. The delegate from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Kristie Emma Rambharat, was then identified as the queen.
According to the statement, the final scores were tabulated based on a compound scoring system. This included tabulating the total scores for the six segments plus the final question round.
“The Ministry understands that the judges’ decisions are final, however, we wish to point out that the Judges’ score sheets were tabulated incorrectly by the Tally Clerk which resulted in erroneous figures which has affected the outcome of the announced results of the Amerindian Heritage Pageant 2022.”
After the investigation and auditing of the judges’ score sheets, the new totals showed Region Seven with 768 points as the queen for the Miss Amerindian Heritage 2022. Meanwhile, Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) secured 736; Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) with 672, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) with 626.5 and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) with 626.5.
“This was based on the compound scoring system that was implemented so as not to undermine any efforts of the delegates in every segment… In the circumstances, the Ministry urges the
public to display kind candour to each delegate and maintain respect and courtesy to the delegates and the entire production of the Miss Amerindian Heritage Pageant,” said the Ministry said in its statement. It added, “Most of all, the Ministry wishes to extend greatest gratitude and recognises the hard work, professionalism and dedication displayed by each delegate who participated in the Pageant. This Pageant continues to serve as a platform for empowerment of young Amerindian women across the length and breadth of Guyana.”
Auditor General
Sharma on Monday presented his 2021 report to Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, ahead of the statutory deadline.
Five performance audit reports namely the Management of Medical Waste at Hospitals; Management of Drugs and Medical Supplies at the Ministry of Public Health and Regional Health Facilities; Receipt, Storage and Distribution of Textbooks at Schools; Review
of Training Programmes Established and Developed by the Council of Technical and Vocational Education and Training; and Guyana’s Preparedness for Marine Oil Spill Response were also presented to the House Speaker.
The Speaker noted the importance of the reports.
“The five areas, are needed, necessary of course not sufficient, but when you look at text books, when you look at drugs, those are two of the biggest areas of expenditure and the performance audits are designed to give an objective, critical, impartial analysis of the processes so that we can get more efficiency out of the system,” Nadir is quoted by DPI as saying.
He noted that the performance audits could be used for all of the accounting units to look at their own systems and utilise finances better. He said Parliament has voted to make the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) become a member of the Commonwealth Association of Public Accounts Committees, which will give Guyana’s PAC exposure to
Charged:
Ganesh Choonilall, a car driver of Airy Hall, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was charged on Monday.
The 35-year-old man was charged for failure to stop at an accident scene and failure to render assistance to the victim.
It is alleged that on Friday at about 19:30h, motor car PWW 2293 was proceeding along the Adventure Public Road at a fast rate and struck down 63-year-old Ameer Ally, who was walking on the corner of the road.
As a result of the collision, the elderly man fell on the roadway and sustained
car
injuries to his body. The driver of the car that hit him drove away from the scene. As such, the injured man was picked up in an unconscious state by public spirited persons and rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The driver of the motor car who fled the scene was
subsequently arrested.
On Monday, he appeared at the Charity Magistrate Court before Magistrate Crystal Lambert, via Zoom. He pleaded not guilty to the charges but was nonetheless refused bail.
He was remanded to prison and the case will continue on September 23.
the best practices obtained across the commonwealth.
“We must feel proud that while windfalls are coming our way in terms of the resources, that all arms of the State are ensuring that the resources at our disposal are going to be transparent, traceable and used in the most efficient way possible,” Nadir said.
According to the Auditor General, the achievement reflects the office’s objective of timely reporting to the
legislature and the public.
He said during the course of the year, in addition to regular audits, there was a rollout of several cash grants, including the “Because We Care”, Children Living with Disabilities, and the hinterland and riverine villages cash grants.
“Our team of auditors were engaged in real-time audits, where we were able to ensure the objectives of the activity were achieved, beneficiaries received their
grant without prejudice of any minor post-review documentation issues, these real-time audits also provided us with an opportunity to witness first-hand the process, and there is no better audit evidence than firsthand witness,” Sharma noted.
He lauded the cooperation received from Ministries and departments, and even Ministers who availed themselves to answering questions.
Eight women from the Amerindian Village of Mainstay/ Whyaka, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), are part of a group of 18 set to benefit from the Labour Ministry’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) tractor operator course.
The course was tailored specifically for the development of the Amerindian village which currently has no tractor operators.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton expressed satisfaction for the number of female participants in the male-dominated course.
He said the experience should encourage other women to continue breaking barriers and stereotypes in the technical field.
“I’m hoping that you can influence other young women to think outside the box.
So, what you’re doing is not just for yourself, is to become an example to become a trailblazer for a young woman who can say that if you can do it, I also can. You have to think outside the box,” he stated.
The training programme will span four months and will see participants engaging in a community enhancement component. This component was conceptualised to have participants test their practical knowledge to enhance their communities.
Meanwhile, DPI spoke with several participants who lauded the initiative.
Forty-nine-year-old Shirley Fernandes said she was eager for the opportunity to learn more and add to the development of her community.
“I feel as a woman, wom-
en should come out some more and do things for themselves and not just allow the men to do everything. You need to play a part in your life especially if you are married and have a husband. And I think I can do something more for my village and I have something in me that I want to learn more so that’s why when anything in my village come up, I usually take part in everything.”
She also extended gratitude to the Government for hosting the training within the community.
“Thanks to the Government because this training is all over Region Two, not only in our village and I should say a special thanks to the Government bringing it so far into the village and we don’t have to go out on the coast or so, we
have it right here in our village and its free,” she noted.
Another trainee, Ricky Reynolds said, “I was deprived very early in childhood and not having the opportunity to qualify myself educationally. So, this opportunity is very great and I don’t want to miss it.”
Anastasia Joseph said she was eager to learn this
skill and was pleased with her performance.
“I always like take up challenge and as soon as I hear about this programme, I put my name down, I was the second person. I always wanted to learn to drive different things, especially tractor. This is the time and just now I feel really nice when I jump on, on that tractor and know I could’ve
moved it off. It is really, really something nice. I mean this should encourage other young girls that still deh in their shell to come out and do certain things.”
In Region Two alone, some 152 other persons from Charity, Airy Hall, Mashabo, Dartmouth and Bethany are being trained in several courses.
President Joe Biden has declared the pandemic over in the US, even as the number of Americans who have died from Covid continues to rise.
Mr Biden said that while "we still have a problem", the situation is rapidly improving.
Statistics show that over 400 Americans on average are dying from the virus each day.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said last week that the end of the pandemic is "in sight".
In an interview with CBS programme 60 Minutes aired on Sunday, Mr Biden said that the US is still doing "a lot of work" to control the virus.
The interview - aired over the weekend - was partly filmed on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show, where the president gestured towards the crowds.
"If you notice, no-one's wearing masks," he said. "Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape... I think it's changing."
But administration officials told US media on Monday that the comments did not signal a change in policy and there were no plans to lift the ongoing Covid-19 public health emergency.
In August, US officials extended the public health emergency, which has been in place since January 2020, through to 13 October.
To date, more than one million Americans have died with the coronavirus
disease.
Data from Johns Hopkins University shows that the seven-day average of deaths currently stands at over 400, with more than 3,000 dead in the past week.
In January 2021, by comparison, more than 23,000 people were reported dead with the virus over a single week-long span.
About 65% of the total US population is considered fully vaccinated.
Certain federal vaccine mandates remain in place in the US - including on healthcare workers, military personnel and some non-US citizens entering the country by airplane.
Top Republicans criticised the president's remarks, with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeting: "Biden now says 'the pandemic is over' as he's kicking tens of thousands of healthy soldiers out of the military with his COVID vaccine mandate."
Public health officials have expressed cautious optimism in recent weeks that the world is edging towards a pandemic recovery, but continue to urge people to be careful.
On Monday, Dr Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, acknowledged the situation had improved.
But in comments made at a Washington DC think tank, he said the daily death rate remained "unacceptably high".
"We are not where we need to be if we're going to
be able to 'live with the virus,'" Dr Fauci said.
He also cautioned that new Covid-19 variants could still emerge, especially in the coming winter months.
The US recently authorised new vaccines that match the version of the Omicron variant currently dominant in the country, with federal health officials asking Americans to keep their jabs up-to-date.
Last week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the world has "never been in a better position to end the pandemic".
"We are not there yet," he said. "But the end is in sight."
Covid-19 also continues to have a significant impact on the US economy, with the National Bureau of Economic Research reporting last week that Covidrelated disease had slashed the US workforce by about 500,000 people.
Mr Biden said he believes that the pandemic has had a "profound" impact on the psyche of Americans.
"That has changed everything... people's attitudes about themselves, their families, about the state of the nation, about the state of their communities," he said.
"It's been a very difficult time. Very difficult."
More than 6.5 million people have died since the beginning of the pandemic around the world. The US has had the highest death toll, followed by India and Brazil . (BBC)
Queen Elizabeth was laid to rest alongside her beloved husband on Monday after a day which saw Britain and the world pay a final farewell to the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, in a dazzling show of pomp and ceremony.
Amid formality and careful
capital to honour Elizabeth, whose death at the age of 96 has prompted an outpouring of gratitude for her 70 years on the throne.
Many more lined the route as the hearse took her coffin from London to Windsor, throwing flowers, cheering and clapping as it passed
choreography, there were moments of raw emotion. Late in the day an ashen-faced King Charles held back tears, while grief was etched on the faces of several members of the royal family.
Huge crowds thronged the streets of London and at Windsor Castle to witness the moving, grand processions and ceremonies.
“Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen,” Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, told the congregation at the State funeral in the majestic Westminster Abbey, where monarchs have been married, buried and crowned over the last 1000 years.
Among the 2000 congregation were some 500 Presidents, Prime Ministers, foreign royal family members and dignitaries, including Joe Biden of the United States.
Outside hundreds of thousands had crammed into the
from the city to the English countryside that she loved so much.
At St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, some 800 guests attended a more intimate committal service which concluded with the crown, orb and sceptre – symbols of the monarch’s power and governance – being removed from the coffin and placed on the altar.
The Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, then broke his “Wand of Office”, signifying the end of his service to the sovereign, and placed it on the casket which then slowly descended into the royal vault.
As the congregation sang “God Save the King”, King Charles, who faces a huge challenge to maintain the appeal of the monarchy as economic hardship looms in Britain, appeared to be fighting back tears.
It was in the same vast
building that the Queen was photographed alone, mourning her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, during the pandemic lockdown, reinforcing the sense of a monarch in synch with her people during testing times.
Later on Monday evening, in a private family service, the coffins of Elizabeth and Philip, who died last year aged 99, were moved from the vault to be buried together in the same chapel where her father, King George VI; mother; and sister, Princess Margaret, also rest.
“Abundant life”
At the State funeral, Welby told those present that the grief felt by so many across Britain and the wider world reflected the late monarch’s “abundant life and loving service”.
“Her late Majesty famously declared on a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth. Rarely has such a promise been so well kept,” Welby said.
Music that played at the Queen’s wedding in 1947 and her coronation six years later again rang out. The coffin entered to lines of scripture set to a score used at every state funeral since the early 18th century.
After the funeral, her flagdraped casket was pulled by sailors through London’s streets on a gun carriage in one of the largest military processions seen in Britain, involving thousands of members of the armed forces dressed in ceremonial finery.
They walked in step to funeral music from marching bands, while in the background the city’s famous Big Ben tolled each minute. Charles and other senior royals followed on foot.
The casket was taken from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and transferred to a hearse to travel
to Windsor, where more big crowds waited patiently.
Among those who came from around Britain and beyond, people climbed lampposts and stood on barriers and ladders to catch a glimpse of the royal procession.
Some wore smart black suits and dresses. Others were dressed in hoodies, leggings, and tracksuits. A woman with dyed green hair stood next to a man in morning suit as they waited for the London procession to begin.
Millions more watched on television at home on a public holiday declared for the occasion, the first time the funeral of a British monarch has been
sense of duty she was photographed just two days before she died, looking frail but smiling and holding a walking stick as she appointed Liz Truss as her 15th and final Prime Minister.
Such was her longevity and her inextricable link with Britain that even her own family found her passing a shock.
“We all thought she was invincible,” Prince William told well-wishers.
The 40th sovereign in a line that traces its lineage back to 1066, Elizabeth came to the throne in 1952 and became Britain’s first post-imperial monarch.
countries with which she had little direct link.
“People of loving service are rare in any walk of life,” Welby said during the funeral. “Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases, those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are long forgotten.”
The tenor bell of the Abbey tolled 96 times. Among the hymns chosen for the service were “The Lord’s my Shepherd”, sung at her wedding in the Abbey.
In the royal group following the casket into the Abbey was the queen’s great-grandson and future king, Prince
televised.
“I’ve been coming to Windsor for 50 years now,” said Baldev Bhakar, 72, a jeweller from the nearby town of Slough, speaking outside Windsor Castle.
“I saw her many times over the years; it felt like she was our neighbour and she was just a lovely woman; a beautiful queen. It was good to say one last goodbye to our neighbour.”
“Invincible” Elizabeth died on September 8 at Balmoral Castle, her summer home in the Scottish highlands.
Her health had been in decline, and for months the monarch who had carried out hundreds of official engagements well into her 90s had withdrawn from public life.
However, in line with her
She oversaw her nation trying to carve out a new place in the world, and she was instrumental in the emergence of the Commonwealth of Nations, now a grouping comprising 56 countries.
When she succeeded her father George VI, Winston Churchill was her first Prime Minister and Josef Stalin led the Soviet Union. She met major figures from politics, entertainment and sport including Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II, the Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Pele and Roger Federer.
Despite being reputedly 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, she dominated rooms with her presence and became a towering global figure, praised in death from Paris and Washington to Moscow and Beijing. National mourning was observed in Brazil, Jordan and Cuba,
George, aged nine, and his younger sister Charlotte, seven.
Towards the end of the service, the church and much of the nation fell silent for two minutes. Trumpets rang out before the congregation sang “God Save the King”. Outside, crowds joined in and broke into applause when the anthem was over.
The queen’s piper brought the service to an end with a lament called “Sleep, Dearie, Sleep”.
At Windsor there was a similar, poignant end to the ceremony with a lone piper walking away, leaving the chapel in silence.
“I’ve sang God Save the Queen all my life,” said John Ellis, 56, an army veteran who had travelled to Windsor. “It’s going to be quite hard to change now.” (Reuters)
Hurricane Fiona was churning north on Monday evening after bringing torrential rain and powerful winds to the Dominican Republic and triggering a total power outage in neighbouring Puerto Rico, where at least two people died.
The Category One hurricane will likely become a Category Three as it moves across warm Caribbean waters toward the Turks and Caicos.
On Tuesday, the centre of Fiona is expected to pass near or to the east of the archipelago, which is subject to a current hurricane warning, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Tropical storm conditions were also expected in The Bahamas.
After strafing Puerto Rico, Fiona made landfall in the Dominican Republic
near Boca Yuma at 3:30 a.m. local time, according to the NHC. The centre of the storm had reached the northern coast of Hispanola before noon.
It is the first hurricane to score a direct hit on the country since Jeanne left severe damage in the east of the country in September 2018. Fiona caused severe flooding, leaving several villages isolated, and some 800 evacuees and more than 11,000 people without power in the eastern region of the country.
"The damage is considerable," said Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader. He plans to declare a state of disaster in the provinces of La Altagracia, where the famed resort of Punta Cana is located, El Seibo and Hato Mayor.
In La Altagracia, in the extreme east of the country and where the hurricane made landfall on Monday morning, the overflow of the Yuma River damaged agricultural areas and left several towns isolated.
Electric and water utilities are working to restore services in areas that have lost supplies.
In Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, residents were still facing strong winds, frequent lightning and heavy rain.
Fiona made landfall there on Sunday afternoon, dumping up to 30 inches (76.2 cm) of rain in some areas.
The storm comes five years after the U.S. Caribbean territory was ravaged by Hurricane Maria, which triggered the worst US power blackout.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Caricom gravely concerned at ongoing security situation in Haiti
The Caribbean Community (Caricom) on Monday said it was “gravely concerned” by the continuing deterioration of the security situation and the social circumstances in Haiti.
“The continued breakdown in law and order, and its distressing effect on the people of Haiti, is intensifying. The fraught situation is exacerbated by the inability of the Haitian security forces to address the ongoing violence,” the 15-member regional integration grouping said in a statement.
It said that the unrest is having a negative impact on the already weak economy leading to even more mass demonstrations, “especially the worsening social conditions and the limited availability of food require urgent and imme-
diate attention from the international community.
“This persistently distressing situation is untenable, and Caricom calls for all stakeholders to engage meaningfully with the aim to find a way forward and to put country first and address the situation urgently.”
The regional grouping
quake strikes
on “cursed” anniversary of temblors, at least 1 dead
Apowerful earthquake struck western Mexico on Monday on the anniversary of two devastating temblors, killing at least one person, damaging buildings, knocking out power, and sending residents of Mexico City scrambling outside for safety.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in a video address a person had died in the Pacific port of Manzanillo after a wall collapsed in a store. Authorities also reported damage to two hospitals in the western state of Michoacan near the epicentre, which was in a sparsely-populated part of Mexico.
The magnitude 7.6 quake hit shortly after 13:00h (1800
GMT) near the western coast and close to the Michoacan border with the state of Colima – where Manzanillo is located, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
The quake was relatively shallow, at only 15 kilometres (nine miles) deep, which would have amplified its impact.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami warning for parts of Mexico's coast, saying waves reaching one to three meters (three to nine feet) above the tide level were possible.
Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said there were no immediate reports of major damage in the capital after the tremors, which rumbled through
Mexico on the same day as destructive quakes battered the country in 1985 and 2017.
"It seems like a curse," Isa Montes, a 34-year-old graphic designer in the city's central Roma neighbourhood, said of the quake's timing as helicopters flew overhead, surveying the city.
The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), one of the country's most prestigious seats of higher learning, said there was no scientific explanation for three major quakes on the same day and attributed it to pure coincidence. But others could not quite believe it.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
IMF staff back US$4B tranche for Argentina, praise “decisive” steps
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached a staff-level agreement on Argentina's US$44 billion extended fund facility arrangement, which should unlock nearly US$4 billion in funds for the country, the lender said on Monday.
The approval, which needs to be ratified by the IMF executive board, would unlock US$3.9 billion for the embattled South American nation, which is looking to rebuild reserves and tamp down spiralling inflation.
Argentina, a major grains producer, struck a new IMF deal earlier this year to replace a huge failed programme from 2018. The new programme was critical to being able to meet the country's obligations to the IMF that it was otherwise unable to pay.
That deal came with economic targets, including rebuilding depleted international reserves and reducing a deep primary
fiscal deficit to improve the country's finances.
"Most of the revised quantitative programme targets through end-June 2022 were met, with the exception of the floor of net international reserves, mainly on account of higher-than-programmed import volume growth," the IMF said in a statement.
"A subsequent period of FX and bond market volatility has been arrest -
ed following decisive policy steps to correct earlier setbacks and rebuild credibility."
The IMF has praised steps by Argentina's Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who took over the role in August after a volatile period that saw longterm Minister Martin Guzman quit and his replacement Silvina Batakis only last a few weeks.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
CCJ to become St Lucia’s final court of appeal
St Lucia has begun the process of replacing the London-based Privy Council as its final court.
said that following discussions in the past weeks, it “remains available to assist and work with international partners to mobilise financial and technical resources to facilitate a process towards normalisation and ultimately the holding of free, fair and credible general elections”.
(CMC)
The Phillip Pierre Administration, in a statement, said that the island was hoping to become the fifth Caricom country to join the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that was established in 2001 to replace the Privy Council in Britain.
The other Caricom countries that are members of both the original and appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ are Barbados, Belize, Guyana, and Dominica.
The CCJ also acts as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the regional integration movement.
Attorney General Leslie Mondesir said the island’s accession to the CCJ brings the country one step closer to attaining full independence.
“In April of this year, we signalled to the Government of the United Kingdom our intention to terminate appeals to the Privy Council,” the Attorney General said. “This is a necessary step by virtue of Section 41 of our Constitution.
“The Government of the
United Kingdom has recently responded with its non-objection to St Lucia commencing the legal process to terminate appeals to the Privy Council.
“We wish to emphasise that a referendum is not required to complete the accession process once agreement is reached with the United Kingdom.”
A Government statement said that a committee was established to facilitate the “historic move” and it is being led by Sir Denis Byron, a former CCJ President, and former Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
(Excerpt from CMC)
il prices edged slightly higher in volatile trading on Monday, as worries of tight supplies outweighed fears that global demand could slow due to a strong US dollar and possible large increases to interest rates.
Brent crude for November rose 65 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to US$92 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for October was up 62 cents to US$85.73 per barrel, or 0.7 per cent.
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, known as OPEC+, fell short of its oil production target by 3.583 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, an internal document showed. In July, OPEC+ missed its target by 2.892 million bpd.
“The surveys of OPEC+ production being so far below their quotas for August has the market feeling that they’re simply unable to increase their production if the market demands,” said Andrew Lipow, President of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston.
Central banks around the world are certain to increase borrowing costs this week to tame high inflation, and there is some risk of a full 1 percentage point rise by the US Federal Reserve.
Many traders were once again moving to the sidelines to await the Fed’s meeting this week, said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.
A British public holiday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth limited trade volume during London hours on Monday.
Still, oil also came under pressure from hopes of an easing of Europe’s gas supply crisis. German buyers reserved capacity to receive Russian gas via the shut Nord Stream 1 pipeline, but this was later revised and no gas has been flowing.
Crude has soared this year, with the Brent benchmark coming close to its record high of US$147 in March after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exacerbated supply concerns. Worries about weaker economic growth and demand have since pushed prices lower.
The US dollar stayed near a two-decade high ahead of this week’s decisions by the Fed and other central banks. A stronger dollar makes dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies and tends to weigh on oil and other risk assets.
The market has also been pressured by forecasts of weaker demand, such as last week’s prediction by the International Energy Agency that there would be zero demand growth in the fourth quarter.
“The market still has the start of European sanctions on Russian oil hanging over it. As supply is disrupted in early December, the market is unlikely to see any quick response from US producers,” ANZ analysts said.
Easing COVID-19 restrictions in China, which had dampened the outlook for demand in the world’s second-biggest energy consumer, could also provide some optimism, the analysts said.
US crude oil stockpiles are estimated on average to rise by around 2 million barrels in the week to Sept 16, according to a Reuters poll. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Atop Chinese health official has warned locals against touching foreigners, a day after China recorded its first monkeypox infection.
In a post on Weibo, the chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wu Zunyou advised against "skin-to-skin contact with foreigners".
The post drew controversy, with some labelling it as racist.
Comments on the original post have since been disabled from the platform.
"In order to prevent possible monkeypox infection and as part of our healthy lifestyle, it is recommended that 1) you do not have direct skinto-skin contact with foreigners," Wu wrote on his Weibo page on Saturday.
In addition, he called for
locals to avoid skin-to-skin contact with recent travellers who had returned from abroad in the past three weeks, and with strangers.
He posted the comments a day after the south-west-
ern city of Chongqing reported its first case of monkeypox in a person who arrived from abroad. It is not clear if they were a Chinese citizen or a foreigner.
The post, which was wide-
ly shared on social media over the weekend, drew largely critical comments on Weibo.
"This is very inappropriate [to say]. At the start of the pandemic, some foreigners stood up and [defended us] by saying that Chinese people are not viruses," wrote one user.
"How racist is this? What about the ones like me who have been living in China for almost ten years? We haven't seen our families in like 3-4 years due to borders being closed," wrote another Weibo user, who appeared to be a foreigner.
China has imposed some of the world's toughest COVID measures since the start of the pandemic, which have included snap lockdowns, border closures, mandatory testing and travel restrictions.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
Thirteen people have been killed and others wounded in a series of explosions in the separatist-run city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, according to its Russian-backed mayor.
Alexei Kulemzin blamed “punitive” Ukrainian shellfire for the deaths. There is no comment from Ukrainian officials.
Donetsk has been controlled by Russia’s proxy authorities since 2014.
They have repeatedly accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the city.
Independent confirmation is hard to come by on the ground in separatist-held areas of the east. However, local authorities said nine 150mm shells were fired at the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk, from a village to the west of the city.
Local leader Denis Pushilin accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilians at a bus-stop, a shop and a bank.
Although Russian forces have seized areas of the Donetsk region further south since the invasion began in
February, they have struggled to push the Ukrainian army back from the outskirts of the city itself.
Ukrainian forces have launched counter-offensives in the south as well as the north-east, and their most dramatic progress has come this month in the northern Kharkiv region.
The head of Luhansk region, Serhiy Haidai, shared video of a Ukrainian tank crossing a pontoon bridge, and said Ukraine now controlled the left bank of the Oskil river, seen as the front line in north-east
Ukraine. If Ukrainian forces are able to maintain a foothold on the eastern side of the Oskil, it will represent a breakthrough. Haidai said the next target would be liberating the city of Lyman, which was seized by Russian forces in May. Russia was accused on Monday of targeting a nuclear plant in the south. The attack has not been independently confirmed, although footage was posted online by the Ukrainian military.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
UNexperts on Monday said that there are reasonable grounds to believe that “war crimes and crimes against humanity” have been committed by the Ethiopian Government in the Tigray region, warning that renewed conflict there increased the risk of “further atrocity crimes”.
In its first report, the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on
Ethiopia said it found that violations, such as extrajudicial killings and rape, have been committed by warring sides in Ethiopia since fighting erupted in the northern Tigray region in November 2020.
The commission, created by the UN Human Rights Council last year and made up of three independent rights experts, said it had “reasonable grounds to be-
Typhoon Nanmadol, one of the biggest storms to hit Japan in years, killed at least two people and brought ferocious winds and record rainfall to the west of the country on Monday, causing transport disruptions and forcing manufacturers to suspend operations.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delayed his departure to New York for the UN General Assembly this week to assess the damage from
Japan’s 14th typhoon of the season.
Nanmadol made landfall near Kagoshima city late on Sunday before battering the western island of Kyushu and roaring onto the main island of Honshu on Monday morning.
A river in Kyushu’s Miyazaki prefecture overflowed, flooding fields and roads, footage from public broadcaster NHK showed. Other video showed a river-
side house half hanging over a torrent, the tin roof ripped off a gas station, and a toppled billboard leaning over a street from the top of a building.
Local media said one man was found dead inside his car, which was submerged up to its roof in the middle of a field, while another man died after being caught in a landslide.
One other person remains missing, and at least 115 people have been injured, NHK said.
The storm made landfall again in Shimane prefecture in western Honshu after tracking the coastline earlier on Monday, and was heading east at about 35 km per hour (22 miles per hour), the JMA said.
Up to 300 mm (11.8 inches) of rain was expected in central Japan’s Tokai region, the nation’s industrial heartland, over the 24-hour-period to Tuesday evening, it said. (Excerpt from Reuters)
United Nations experts say they have reasonable grounds to believe that the Ethiopian Federal Government is using starvation as a method of warfare [Michele Spatari/AFP]
lieve that, in several instances, these violations amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity”.
The report was issued as fighting resumed between the Ethiopian Government and its allies, and forces backing the Tigray authorities following a tense fivemonth cessation of hostilities.
The commission said that Ethiopia’s beleaguered civilian population now faces renewed risks after enduring nearly two years of conflict, which has now expanded beyond Tigray to other areas of the country and risks spreading beyond Ethiopia’s
borders, with consequences for peace in the entire Horn of Africa.
The experts highlighted the horrifying situation in Tigray, where the Government and its allies have denied people access to basic services, including the internet, banking and electricity, for over a year. This, combined with shortages of food, medicine and fuel as well as severe restrictions on humanitarian access have left some 20 million people in need of assistance and protection, nearly three-quarters of them women and children.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Socializing will pay off. Follow through with the promises you make. Your words count only if they turn into something tangible. A last-minute change will lessen risk.
Stick to what you know. Consistency will be your ticket to success. Take care of responsibilities, and you’ll avoid disappointment. Personal gain and self-improvement are favored.
Say what’s on your mind, reveal how you feel, and discover where you stand and what you can expect from others. Listen attentively, ask questions and verify information.
Use your insight, dedication and originality to help you develop a surefire plan. Play it safe and leave nothing to chance. Put your ideas in place and get things done.
Keep your plans secret until you are ready to put them into play. Approach someone who can offer a different perspective on something that interests you. Avoid all forms of risk.
Trust and believe in yourself, and everything else will fall into place. Look at the possibilities, use your imagination and find new ways to use your skills to further your plans.
Oversee people’s actions, and compensate for any mistakes. Don’t put emotional pressure on yourself or others, but prepare to pick up the slack to ensure you get the desired results.
Express your concerns and make suggestions. A passionate plea will affect how others treat you. Don’t waste money on entertainment when investing in yourself or your home will lower your stress.
After some reflection, alter how you live and do things to suit your current needs. Don’t listen to someone trying to push you in a direction that suits them instead of you.
Look for a financial opportunity. Cutting back where you can and investing more time, effort and cash into something that interests you will improve your life. A lifestyle change will pan out.
Don’t accommodate others when you need to follow your heart and give your plans a chance to develop properly. Home improvements will enrich your life and your relationship with a loved one.
Put your energy where it can do some good. Anger won’t solve anything or help you win favors or respect. Compromise, make positive suggestions and help others see what you want.
The previous time that Australia and India clashed in a T20 game in Mohali, the format was not as evolved as it is now six years later. Back then, in the World T20, India won the semi-final through a thrilling chase that was headlined by the running between the wickets of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, in what was a measured and calculated batting display. It was a strategy dictated by the longer boundaries square of the wicket.
In the age of the T20 World Cup, that style has fewer and fewer takers. It is a style of gameplay that Rohit Sharma and Co are trying to actively break away from, with the protagonist from then, Virat Kohli being the centrepiece for
Alison Riske-Amritraj suffered another early exit as the Pan Pacific Open began in Tokyo on Monday.
Riske-Amritraj reached the last 16 at the US Open earlier this month but has struggled in Asia since then. She was the top seed at the Chennai Open last week, only to lose in straight sets in the first round to Anastasia Gasanova. And the American fell at the first hurdle again in Japan.
Riske-Amritraj was drawn against compatriot Claire Liu, who was coming off back-to-back defeats to Anastasia Potapova and without a win since qualifying for the Canadian Open last month.
the strike-rate debate. Having recently struck form with a hundred against Afghanistan, Kohli has recused himself of some scrutiny which has now in turn turned towards KL Rahul, India's chosen opener ahead of Kohli. Rahul has come out stating that he's been working on upping his strike-rate a day ahead of the series opener against Australia. Aaron Finch's men aren't exempted from that debate either, with eyes training on Steven Smith's impact in the format with his style of play. While Finch has backed him to come good, the series will act as an audition in ways as Australia get in without some of their mainstays like Mitchell Marsh, David Warner and Marcus Stoinis.
The opportunity for Tim David, as a result, throws up more possibilities as they look to finalise their best XI with a month to go for the start of the tournament.
India, with a fairly-settled XI, welcomes back Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel – who had missed the Asia Cup – and thus will be at near fullstrength. Whether they experiment with giving the likes of Deepak Chahar, a World Cup standby, some game time will be a question for the think-tank even as the Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik question continues to hover around. And they will be hoping to answer those questions in the couple of series left before the World Cup.
India
Tactic talk: The presence of a left-hander in the middle order is something that India have been very keen on. It proved to be a decisive factor for Pant jumping the queue ahead of Karthik when Ravindra Jadeja was injured. But with the availability of Axar Patel, does the equation change once again? Will India have as much faith in Patel's batting abilities as they had in Jadeja's? And without too many left-handers in Australia, can Yuzvendra Chahal get ahead of R Ashwin?
Probable XI: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant/Dinesh Karthik, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin/ Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah
Australia
Tactic talk: The strikerate question could throw up the possibilities of a tinkered batting order if needed. They, too, like India could consider breaking the glut of right-handers in the middle order by punting on the likes of Ashton Agar.
Probable XI: Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Cameron Green, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Daniel Sams, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
What they said
“No one is perfect. No one in the dressing room is perfect. Everyone's working towards something, ev-
But Liu brushed aside the seventh seed 6-2 6-3 to set up a meeting with Elise Mertens in the second round. Mertens eased through with a 6-0 6-3 win over Wang Qiang, while Petra Martic was similarly comfortable in a 6-1 6-1 defeat
of Rina Saigo. Saigo was one of two home hopefuls to depart on Monday as Qinwen Zheng won 19 points in a row en route
6-2 6-4. At the Korean Open, Zhu Lin was the only seed in action and got the better of Jang
eryone has a certain role to do. Obviously, strike-rates are taken on an overall basis. You'll never see when that batsman has played at a certain strike-rate, whether it was important for him to play at a 200-strike rate, or whether the team could have still won playing at a 100120 strike rate” – KL Rahul
“We know the quality that Steve's got. He's one
of the best players that has ever played the game over all formats of the game. So, we know the skill that he's got and the game sense and the tactical nous that he's got. So, we're really confident that regardless of what role he has to play within the structure of the squad, that he can do that very, very well” – Aaron Finch (Cricbuzz)
Australia’s British Open champion Cameron Smith has claimed his first LIV Golf victory in only his second start on the lucrative Saudi Arabia-backed circuit with a three-shot triumph over Dustin Johnson and Peter Uihlein just outside Chicago.
Smith, one of 12 major champions in the 48-player field at Rich Harvest Farms, shot a three-under-par 69 in the final round of the 54-hole event on Sunday to reach 13 under and secure the US$4 million ($A6M) first prize.
“I think I had to prove to probably myself and some other people that I am still a great player; you know, I am still out here to win golf tournaments,” Smith said.
“Proud of how I hung in there today. Didn’t really have my best stuff the first eight or nine holes, but stuck it tough and made a few good putts coming in. It was nice.”
The stage was set for a final-round duel between two of the world’s best golfers as overnight leader Smith began the day two shots clear of playing partner Johnson (70), who fell three shots back after a bogey at the first hole.
Both players birdied the second hole, but Smith bogeyed the fourth and sixth as Johnson got to within a stroke before the duo carded birdies at the par-five seventh.
Smith opened up a threeshot lead with a birdie at the par-four eighth, where
Johnson carded the first of two consecutive bogeys to reach the turn four back and his hopes of becoming the first multiple winner on the LIV Golf series all but dashed.
Uihlein (69) got into the mix and was briefly one shot back of Smith, who was cruising along the back nine until a bogey at the par-three 16th, but the Australian reached the 18th three shots clear after a birdie at the penultimate hole coupled with a late Uihlein bogey.
Smith is the highest-ranked player to join LIV Golf to date and finished fourth in his debut two weeks ago in Boston where he missed out on a three-man play-off by one shot after a bogey on his penultimate hole.
Compatriots Matt Jones (72) finished four under, Jed Morgan (71) and Wade Ormsby (72) four over, and Marc Leishman (78) six over to come home in last place.
While Johnson could not catch Smith, he did help his 4 Aces teammates Patrick Reed, Talor Gooch and Pat Perez to victory in the team competition as the squad split a US$3 million firstplace prize for the fourth consecutive event.
The final round was interrupted for a scheduled moment of silence that was observed across the venue in honour of Queen Elizabeth, whose image was shown on screens around the course.
(The Guardian)
Cummings Lodge, Christianburg Wismar, Golden Grove and President’s College were the teams to emerge victorious on the first day of the Guyoil/ Tradewind Tankers League on Sunday.
In the opening game of the league, Cummings Lodge were locked in a tight contest with North Ruimveldt Multilateral, but eventually prevailed 4-3.
Antwan Samuel (11th, 13th) and Fabian Figueria (37th, 38th) both netted doubles for Cummings Lodge, while Elijah Mendonca (35th) committed the cardinal sin of scoring an own goal.
Kwali Ifill was the lone marksman for North, netting a brace in the 34th and 52nd minutes .
The following game was a score-fest for Christianburg
A look at the contest between CWSS (Black T-shirt) and West Ruimveldt (Red T-shirt)
Wismar Secondary, as they took on West Ruimveldt Secondary. Devon Gilbert (25th); Amali King (29th) and Darnel Warner (40th) contributed one apiece, while Daniel Adolph (42nd,
65th) scored twice for their 5-0 win.
Golden Grove got in on the action, thumping Friendship Secondary 4-0. Yanick Williams (3rd, 70th); Kelon Croal (21st) and
– Essequibo-Pomeroon FA
….Henrietta also take full points on opening day
Henrietta United and Dartmouth
Determinators both pocketed full points when the Essequibo-Pomeroon Football Association (EPFA) leg of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power, Under-17 Intra Association League kicked off on Sunday last at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.
Stamping their authority from the onset of action was Dartmouth, which, led by the first hat-trick of the league off the boots of Sachel Marks, brushed aside Queenstown United easily, 4-1. It took some time for both sides to settle in and get into a groove given the return of competitive football following a prolonged layoff owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grooving in first was Dartmouth in the 20th minute when Marks latched onto a well-taken pass before firing the ball past the Queenstown goalkeeper
much to the delight of his teammates and supporters.
Just five minutes later, Marks was on target again to double the advantage for Dartmouth. Goal number three was scored by Rockcliffe Grant in the 36th minute as Dartmouth further put a clamp on their opponents.
Marks completed his hattrick in the 52nd minute for the winners, and they have sent an ominous warning to the other three teams in the reckoning for top honours. Queenstown got their consolation goal from Jameen Hubbard.
Henrietta United had to dig deep to take full points as they came from a goal down against Good Hope FC to win their clash 2-1. Good Hope would take the lead in the 20th minute through an Alonzo John effort.
That advantage was held for 10 minutes before Henrietta drew level through a well-taken shot from Dwayne Verwayne in the 35th minute. Seven
Omarion Burrowes (72nd) were the names on the scoresheet for Golden Grove.
In the final game, President’s College narrowly escaped the grasp of Dolphin Secondary, 3-2.
Jaquan Cole’s (20th, 25th) equalising brace was not enough for Dolphin as Michael Joseph (11th, 14th) also scored two, while Treyon Grenville (56th) added another for President’s
College. The Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers League is expected to continue this Saturday, at the same venue, the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue.
minutes later, Zavier Layne’s goal not only handed Henrietta the lead for the first time, but salvaged full points for his team in the 42nd minute.
Tapakuma FC are the other club contesting this league, which will be played over three rounds as only five clubs are battling for bragging rights as the best from Cinderella County and the rights to represent it at the National InterAssociation competition. Matches will continue at the same venue this Sunday.
Earlier, new EPFA President Marvin Pearson, presiding over his first tournament since taking over the reins of the Association, congratulated the players and the respective club executives for making the tournament possible, noting that they all were winners.
Pearson, a teacher by profession, also thanked the sponsor, National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) for staying the course by sponsoring this league that would be played for the first time in the Regional Associations.
“Sponsorship is vital to the sustenance and development of our players and while we, as a member of the GFF, express our gratitude to the Managing Director of NAMILCO and his staff, we would also like to recognise the leadership of the GFF led by President Wayne Forde for making this tournament happen,” Pearson said. "We look forward to some exciting football over the coming weeks and months.”
TheAlbion Community Centre Cricket Club Sunday defeated Tucber Park CC by five wickets to advance to the final of the 2022 Berbice Cricket Board/Ivan Madray first-division 20/20 tournament.
Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour and arch-rivals Young Warriors CC have also advanced to the tournament’s lone semi-final after winning their second-round matches. Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt, who drew a bye in the first round, defeated Blairmont by 68 runs at the Albion Ground while Young Warriors got the better of Port Mourant at the latter venue.
Led by a responsible innings of 27 not out by Kevin Umroa, Albion held their nerve at the end to defeat Tucber Park and book their place in the final, which is set for Saturday, September 24. Other outstanding performances from the second-round matches came from West Indies player Kevin Sinclair, national all-rounder Clinton Pestano, left-arm spinner Kasim Khan, and Gaurav Ramesh. The tournament was sponsored By Chandradat Chintamani in memory of his late uncle, Ivan Madray. Madray was the third of 20 Berbicians to play for the West Indies at the Test level.
Scores from the second round of matches are: Rose Hall Town Namilco v Blairmont Blazers @ Albion: Rose Hall Town Namilco won by 67 runs.
Rose Hall Town Namilco scored 173 for 5 with Kevin Sinclair making 60 runs, Clinton Pestano 56, Kevlon Anderson 42. Bowling for Blairmont Blazers, Chris Harry had 1 for 18 off 4 overs, Shabeer Baksh 1 for 32 off 4 overs. Blairmont Blazers in reply scored 106 for 8 off 20 overs. Zameer Nazeer 30, Altaf Khan 22, Nigel Deodat 12. Bowling for Rose Hall Town Namilco, Jonathan Rampersaud had 2 for 3 off 2 overs, Keith Simpson 2 for 23 off 4 overs, and Jeremy Sandia 1 for 9 off 2 overs. Young Warriors v Port Mourant @ Port Mourant: Young Warriors won by 20 runs. Young Warriors 125 for 9 off 20 overs with Suresh Dhanai 34, Vishal Mohabir 34, and Seon Hetmyer 18. Bowling for Port Mourant, Joshua Harrichan had 3 for 27 off 4 overs, Vinod Samaroo 1 for 13 off 4 overs and Yudendra Harrinarine 1 for 12 off 3 overs. Port Mourant scored 120 for 7 off 20 overs. Joshua Ramsammy 26, and Madhan Budhan, 22. Bowling for Young Warriors, Kasim Khan had 3 for 18 off 4 overs Albion v Tucber Park @ Albion. Albion won by 5 wickets.
Tucber Park, batting first, made 90 all out off 19.2 overs. Nail Smith 24, Malcom Mickle 14, and Devon Clements 11. Bowling for Albion, Gaurav Ramesh had 3 for 19 off 4 overs, Karan Arjpaul 3 for 21 off 3 overs, and Leon Cecil 2 for 17 off 4 overs. Albion in reply scored 91 for
The Guyana Amazon Warriors were, fittingly, the first team to arrive in the Land of Many Waters for the remainder of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). In spite of the tough weekend the team just experienced, Captain Shimron Hetmyer and others had encouraging words for the fans at home.
The Warriors have four home games ahead of them, starting with a contest against the Jamaica Tallawahs on Wednesday night, before the Hero CPL play-offs begin next week.
Speaking exclusively with Guyana Times Sport, Hetmyer expressed his excitement at being home, and being able to play at Providence since the COVID-19 hindrance.
“We’re finally here, can’t wait to actually get started and get cracking. Come out and support us ‘cause we need it,” Hetmyer related to this publication about their need for support.
“That’s the plan,” a smiling Hetmyer said about his intention to light up Providence this week.
The GAW Captain continued, “I think most of the guys, they can’t wait to get started and it’s been a while since we actually played in Guyana as well. It’s been quite a number of years, so we can’t wait to get started.”
Also sharing their thoughts was the “running
I’m always excited to be home, especially play-
encouraged the fans to turn up at the National Stadium.
“It’s really nice to be back in Guyana, and I just want to say thanks to the fans. I know that we’ve not being doing how they’re expecting us in this competition, but look, there are four games in front of us and we’re going to play in front of them and we’re very excited about it,” Tahir shared.
“I just want to tell them thank you very much for their support and I would like them to come.
“Well, I have to take lots of wickets for that. So yeah, as long as I’m taking wickets, you’ll see me running around,” Tahir said about his famous running celebration.
On the other hand, Shepherd said, “You know,
ing in front of the crowd at Providence. It’s going to be nice, so expecting a lot of fans out there, starting on Wednesday. “Come out and support
us, we’re going to make you guys proud. We have to win these games, so, we need all the support that we can get,” Shepherd added in a word to the GAW fans.
The action at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) on Saturday saw a total of 32 players take over the golf course. Each player battled for glory, but in the long run, it was Hardeo Ghanpat, who stood out from the rest after keen competition.
With a lack of rain, the course was in pristine condition and the sunshine was lush, this meant that the grass on the tees, fairways, and greens was green and full. Ghanpat was given much competition from Miguel Yunes and Mahesh Shivraj, but he dug deep and
managed to keep them at bay.
The results for the tournament were as follows:
* 1st – Hardeo Ghanpat: HC 27, Gross 92, Net 65
* 2nd – Mahesh Shivraj:
HC 15. Gross 82, Net 67
* 3rd – Miguel Nunes: HC 22, Gross 90, Net 68
* Nearest to the pin –Avinda Kishore
* Longest Drive – Miguel Oviedo
* Best Gross – Asrodeen Shaw (79)
Speaking at the end of the tournament was LGC Captain Videsh Persaud who said, “This being the first ever of this kind of tournament hosted by Insurance Brokers Guyana Inc, I would say it was a great success. The tournament saw 36 persons registered, with 32 taking the field, making this tournament, one of the biggest tournaments after the rainy season in terms of participants. I would like to thank IBGL for supporting the club and pledging to make this an annual event at the LGC.”
Persaud further noted that the next step for the Golf Club was preparation for the highly-anticipated
The Amazon Warriors will play back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday against the Tallawahs and the St Lucia Kings, respectively; on
Saturday and Sunday, they will lock horns with the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Barbados Royals, all beginning at 19:00h (7pm) local time.
Guyana Open and with the Suriname Open around the corner, he said that it was his belief that the players were sharpening their skills by coming out, partaking in the weekly tournaments, gaining much exposure to the competition and tournament pressure. He further went on to re-
lay that with the Suriname Open being an international tournament and being played on a different course, this allows the players to truly test their game and compete against overseas players, which makes for good experience as it will carry a similar feeling to the Guyana Open.
“Cricket is much more than a game for us in Guyana, it is a passion, part of our culture and a unifying force. As we celebrate “One Guyana”, the hosting of the CPL final will be an energising force. We are building a product that will be spectator-focused, integrated with our regional partners for a global market. Cricket
Carnival is a fusion of entertainment and celebration that will be mind-blowing and unbelievably different from any other global cricketing event. We welcome all to the greatest celebration of music, pageantry, Caribbean vibes with a South American touch, and, of course, cricket played loudest.”
On behalf of the management, coaching staff and players of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, I would like to welcome all the fans in our dear land of Guyana who will be coming out from today in numbers to fill our National Stadium in all our games – and those who could not get in because the tickets were all sold out within a few days. In the ten years that the Hero T20 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has been in existence, I can say – without any fear of being accused of exaggeration that you have been the most consistent in demonstrating support for your team – and for CPL Cricket – in all of the territories.
And I repeat, the Guyana Amazon Warriors are your team and your vociferous support of your team in and out of the stadium has proven to be their secret weapon – providing at crucial moments that rush of adrenalin that takes teams across the line from the agony of defeat to the thrill of victory. Your Guyana Amazon Warriors have responded by being the most consistent team in the last decade. And they have become known as a team that never say die.
This year, our season was bookmarked between the end of the month of August – the month we have commemorated as “Freedom Month” for more than a century and a half – and the end of September, which is the month we celebrate “Amerindian Heritage Month” in honour of our First Peoples. During that time, we West Indians have marked that freedom and indigenousness by achieving success in several fields –but nowhere else more unique than in the culture we evolved in celebrating life itself. Maybe it is because, more than most other
places, our history has made us appreciate life more, since it could have been so easily taken from us. This year, we have launched a unique Cricket Carnival to bring it all together!
Cricket has been an integral part of Caribbean life, and as I have said in previous years, T20 might have been launched elsewhere, but its joie de vivre and all its synonyms – cheerfulness, cheer, light-heartedness, merriment, glee, gladness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, delight, pleasure, high spirits, good spirits, good humour, jollity, jolliness, hilarity, mirth, joviality, exuberance, elation, exultation, euphoria, jubilation – declare it was “born” in the West Indies.
Once again, on behalf of your Guyana Amazon Warriors I ask that you join me as I say with all sincerity: GO WARRIORS! – Let us celebrate the joy of Caribbean Cricket!!
Guyana is a proud host of the highlyanticipated finals of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022, the domestic Twenty20 cricket league played here in the West Indies.
We warmly welcome the teams, players, coaches, and their fans for the final leg of the tournament. The first game in Guyana is set for Wednesday, September 21, and will climax with the finals on Friday, September 30.
An exciting brand of cricket is expected from the six teams participating in the tournament namely, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Barbados Royals, Trinbago Knight Riders, St Lucia Kings, and, of course, the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
This is the 10th season of the CPL, but the first time that the finals are being held in Guyana. We anticipate an electrifying atmosphere from the wave of fans who will fill seats at the National Stadium in Providence to witness the games.
My fervent hope, like many Guyanese, is for our Amazon Warriors to draw inspiration from the games being staged in Guyana to finally reward their passionate and loyal fans by winning the elusive CPL championship on home soil.
Notwithstanding, hosting the CPL is a special moment for Guyana.
As a result of the vi-
sion and investments of our Government, led by Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the CPL finals were secured, particularly given the socioeconomic development benefits that cricket offers.
The CPL games in Guyana are paired with Cricket Carnival, a fun, vibrant and colourful medley of activities held under the “One Guyana” theme.
This is the first of three annual CPL finals and Cricket Carnivals to be hosted by Guyana.
The CPL and the carnival events mean a lot to Guyana as our unwavering drive is to bring people together and to unify the country. There is no better way to achieve this than through sports and culture.
Both events fulfil the Government’s overall mis-
“The 10th anniversary finals in Guyana will be the biggest finals the CPL has ever had. We'll have sellout crowds to all the games, there's going to be an extraordinary atmosphere. As I said, that coming together of Carnival and cricket will never be seen better than in Guyana this year. So, for us it is all about, you know, enjoying what's ahead. I think it's going to be a phenomenal few days in Guyana, and I hope all the fans, both watching at home and in the stadium, will enjoy the experience.”
sion of promoting Guyana as a top-tier international destination for investment, tourism, entertainment, sports, food, and cultural activities.
There is something for everyone to enjoy, including music festivals, food shows, concerts, competitions, and organised tours.
More importantly, the Government’s intention through the events is to invest in its people as a springboard that will foster economic opportunities for every Guyanese.
In advance of the CPL, we noted that hotels were booked solid and numerous economic opportunities have opened up for bed and breakfast accommodations, vendors, restaurants, bars, transportation services, and tour operators.
Guyana is rapidly evolving as an oil and gas market,
and our Government has mapped out a transformational development trajectory that will ensure the diversification of our economy by using the gains from this natural resource for countrywide development.
We will continue to build out many new pillars so that our economy will be resilient, strong and sustainable. Combined, CPL and the Cricket Carnival is one such avenue Government has adopted as a unifying catalyst for economic growth. On behalf of the Government and the people of Guyana, I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to thousands of visitors from across the globe, particularly our Caribbean Region.
be played at the Guyana National Stadium.
I’d like to call that destiny.
Guyana leg of the Hero CPL.
By Jemima Holmes
In 2014, a lanky
Guyanese lad from Cumberland, Berbice got another shot at representing the West Indies on the international stage, having played Under-15 cricket previously. Two years later, the same teenager achieved the unthinkable – the opportunity to lead that very Under-19 team that he was first selected for, two years prior.
Upon his return from Bangladesh with the West Indies’ first Under-19 World Cup trophy and a smile that you could spot miles away, the Berbician lad was hailed as the “Captain of Destiny” by a Guyana Chronicle writer – a title that is truly fitting, six years down the road.
Of course, the individual needs no introduction. He is Shimron Hetmyer, Captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors and only the second Guyanese to hold the title in the franchise’s 10-year history.
“I got the opportunity now to captain my side and captain my country as well; it’s something that I can’t wait to actually go out on the field and start doing,” Hetmyer told the Hero CPL’s media team prior to the commencement of the 2022 season.
“Being here for a while I think, yes, I am ready,” the left-handed batsman added.
As one would expect, Hetmyer has been looking forward to his rise in the ranks for quite a while; maybe even since his entry into the Warriors team in 2016, months after his World Cup glory. The then 19-year-old only played a single match for the Warriors, but two years later announced himself as the flamboyant batsman Guyana has come to know and love.
However, Hetmyer, who is still the youngest player to slam a Hero CPL century (having done so as a 21-yearold), is looking to bring more than boundaries and maximums to the table.
“I’m very excited actually. It’s something that I’m
This very year, as Hetmyer leads the local franchise in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the Amazon Warriors may have the opportunity to play their first CPL final at home, the first time that the final will
really looking forward to, to be honest and it’s something I think I could learn a lot from, in terms of taking my cricket forward. Like how to manage my innings, how to look after my team, as well. Just to be a little bit more of
a team player than just trying to hit 6s and 4s basically.”
He continued, “So, I’m trying as much as possible to do as much as I can, in terms of being the captain, trying to help out as much as I can and just being there for the team.”
Of course, the captaincy hat is one that we have not seen Hetmyer taking on much, since 2016. Aside from occasional stints at the national level, Hetmyer has stayed far from leadership, but this time around, the challenge is what enticed him.
“I think it’s the experience really. Being around the West Indies team, I think I’ve learned a lot, in terms of how to go about doing stuff as someone in a leadership group. I’m just trying to do my best, in terms of trying to help the guys that are coming up in their careers and who’re in the centre part of their careers. To really push on and really play more for the West Indies,” the 25-year-old said.
When it comes to pressure situations, Hetmyer is pretty confident that there is enough support for his team to rely on.
On this topic, he related, “It’s always good to know that there’s guys you could always go to and find out what they’re thinking and they could help you, in terms of field setting, who to bowl at a specific time, just to make sure that everything runs smoothly.
“There’s a lot of guys there that’s actually experienced.”
One pressure situation that Hetmyer might not be able to escape that easily is the thousands of adoring fans in the Guyana National Stadium, holding strong to the hope that Captain Hetmyer would get their team over the line this time.
“It’s a little bit of both, to be honest,” Hetmyer ex-
plained, weighing the pressures of performing at home and the captaincy, “Knowing that you’re playing at home, it’s always fun and exciting, but it’s also very challenging, because of the fact that you know you have to win, or there’s this pressure on you to win.”
Nonetheless, Hetmyer is very eager to get to the
He related, “[But] I really relish playing in Guyana, the crowd and so on and knowing the conditions that I’m playing in as well, so, all of that helps. It makes it just a little bit more exciting, a little bit more special when you actually win games in Guyana.”
“Winning the World Cup, it was just a breath-taking feeling. There were just so many different thoughts running through each and everyone’s head,” A younger Hetmyer had reflected to the International Cricket Council (ICC) back in 2020.
He went on to add, “Lifting the trophy, that was a feeling like no other, because being the first captain to do it and then having such a wonderful team and some great guys that I actually grew up with since Under-15 cricket, that made it even more special.”
And now, the GAW
“That’s something all Guyanese players, fans, everyone have been looking forward to and more so myself, because I literally cannot wait to go back to Guyana and play some cricket.”
Think about it: a GAW team stacked heavily with Guyanese players, the Guyanese fans enthralled in the boisterous crowd as they revel in the glory of winning their first Hero CPL trophy, at the first final to ever be played at their home ground. And, of course, they are being led in celebrations by none other than the only captain who has led an Under-19 West Indies side to World Cup victory.
Some occurrences have destiny written all over them, and Shimron Hetmyer’s captaincy is one of them.
When President Dr Irfaan Ali boldly declared his intention in December 2021, to bid for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finals in Guyana, little did anyone know that the Head of State had bigger plans in mind.
A grand celebration of Guyanese and Caribbean culture, an array of colours and costumes, coupled with the sport that the Region enjoys the most, was what he had in mind. And so, Cricket Carnival was birthed.
“The loudest it will ever be!” was the vow President Ali made on the evening of March 30, 2022, when he went on to announce the inaugural Cricket Carnival, a fusion of fete and cricket that has never been attempted in the Caribbean Region before.
Of course, the thought of Cricket Carnival sounds easy to those who may not have an intricate knowledge of the planning that has gone into the event, but, in six months the
Cricket Carnival planning committee has managed to pull it off.
Simply put, the main objective of Cricket Carnival is to diversify Guyana’s tourism product, but for other sectors like culture and arts, it is said to be the driving force that will put Guyanese creatives on the map.
Of course, coupled with the Hero CPL, it would be hard for tourists to resist and that fact has unfolded well for Guyana.
“By the time we announced, all the rooms in the hotels were booked up and so, we launched the Bed and Breakfast programme that added 300 new rooms, those are mostly taken up, sorry to say,” Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond said about the response to Cricket Carnival.
She continued about the event’s future prospects, “In these next three years, this Cricket Carnival is only going to get bigger and bigger and we will be perfecting the
product every year. And, after three years, we will have a big surprise for you, it’s going to get even bigger.”
Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr has, however, offered a different perspective on the prospects of Cricket Carnival.
“From the performance arts area, those young people, they’re going to be able to get the biggest platform that they have ever had before. People from all around the country, the Region and the world will be here in Guyana and getting the opportunity to see our talent here. Getting them the name and face recognition that they would not have had otherwise,” he explained.
Ramson Jr further elucidated, “This is
an event that is streamed by 500 million people in the world, they get to see this. Five hundred million people tune in to the CPL finals and semi-finals. How would they have had that otherwise?”
Pegging the event as an outlet that will leapfrog Guyana in sectors outside of agriculture and oil and gas, Ramson Jr also touched on the necessity of Government’s involvement. He remarked, “What I want everyone to know, too, is that when we speak about Carnival, for us it’s Cricket Carnival, but Carnival in Trinidad, which has been the biggest in the Region, is not a Government-led process. It’s not the Government that budgets a significant sum of money, puts aside the money to do all the events or puts together a committee that is chaired by the President and co-chaired by two Ministers.”
“It’s not done that way, but we’ve done it in this way, because we need to leapfrog the curve, so that we start to occupy space in a much more significant way,” Ramson Jr added.
And indeed, the Cricket Carnival has put Guyana on the map; flights in and out of the country are booked, hotels reserved to capacity, and tourists from all around the globe are mingling comfortably with Guyanese natives.
The only aspect left that will make it a perfect picture of success is the music, food, culture and not to forget, the cricket. Let the fete begin!
The 10th edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has already brought the vibes and the atmosphere is immaculate. To make things even sweeter, the “Biggest Party in Sport” launched the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL). The Guyana Amazon Warriors were selected as one of the three competing franchises as they possessed an exceptional line-up led by the one and only Stafanie Taylor. The squad comprised a well-balanced unit, with an equal balance of experience and youth.
The team’s skipper, Jamaica-born Taylor emerged onto the international scene as a 17-year-old, hitting a 49-ball 90 on her T20 International debut against Ireland in 2008. In 2013, she became the only player in history, male or female, to ever achieve the number one OneDay International (ODI) ranking in both batting and bowling simultaneously. Taylor’s crown of glory came in 2016 when she led West Indies to the Women’s World T20 title. The talented allrounder has amassed a total of 5298 runs in the ODI format with a healthy average of 44.15 and a high score of 171. On the T20I scene, she has scored 3121 runs at an average of 35.87. With the experience of having led a team to a world title, Taylor was a definite fit for the Warriors camp, bringing a wealth of experience to the side.
Another important player was Sri Lanka’s very own Chamari Athapaththu. She is her country’s highest run scorer in the T20 format. She is a hard-hitting player and by no means, needs an introduction as her reputation precedes her. The attacking left hander has played 90 ODIs and scored 2840 runs at an average of 31.91 while in the T20I format, she has blasted 2079 runs from 98 matches at an average of 22.11 with a high score of 113.
The middle order was bolstered by Vice Captain Shemaine Campbelle. The explosive middle-order batter hails from Berbice and has captained her national team. She is enjoying a resurgence in international cricket. Campbelle is a veteran of 77 ODIs with an average of 20.25, scoring 1357 runs with a high score of 105. In her 91 T20Is, she has an average of 13.10 and can change a match in the middle overs when her bat gets hold of the ball.
Opener Rashada Williams is a Jamaican cricketer who plays for the Jamaica women’s national cricket team in the Women’s Super50 Cup and the Twenty20 Blaze tournaments. In January 2019, Williams was named in the West Indies squad for their tour of Pakistan. She is a right-handed batter and is a wicketkeeper as well; she has played 16 ODI matches thus far with a high score of 78 not out.
Another young talent in the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women’s side was Rachel Vincent, a Trinidadian cricketer who plays for the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national cricket team in
the Women’s Super50 Cup and the Twenty20 Blaze tournaments. In June 2021, Vincent was named in the West Indies A Team for their series against Pakistan. In the said series in Pakistan, she registered a high score of 56 on July 12, 2021.
Chedean Nation, who is Jamaican, is a right-hand middleorder batter, who has represented the West Indies in 59 ODI matches and has scored a total of 812 runs with a high score of 51. In the T20Is, she has played 38 matches, scoring 406 runs with a high score of 63. Her role in the GAW-W team was to cement the middle order and set the tone for the power hitters.
Zaida James, represents the Windward Islands Women and the West Indies A Women. In June 2021, James was named in the West Indies A Team for their series against Pakistan.
The St Lucian has scored 147 runs from four games in the Women U19 T20, 2022 tournament at an average of 73.50.
GAW-W’s all-round ability
Cherry-Ann Fraser is a Guyanese cricketer; the 23-year-old allrounder was added to the West Indies Women’s Twenty20 International squad in November 2019 as a replacement for the injured Stafanie Taylor. In May 2021, she was awarded a central contract by Cricket West Indies (CWI) and on September 16, 2021, she made her ODI debut against South Africa, bowling 1-33 in her seven overs. She was picked to showcase her exceptional talent as she has the ability to pick up wickets at will and can score runs through all parts of the ground.
Shabika Gajnabi plays for Guyana and the West Indies. She is a right-arm medium bowler. In August 2019, she was named in the West Indies squad for their series against Australia. On the regional scene, she has dominated with both bat and ball, as she emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Female Inter-County 50over competition, scoring 173 runs and taking five wickets. In the ODI format, she has taken 10 wickets while she has only taken one in T20Is.
Yet again, Captain Taylor appears on the list; she has shown her worth on the international scene and is one of the most sought-after players. With the ball, she has bagged 152 wickets at an economy rate of 3.52 in the ODI format while with the ball in T20Is, she has picked up 98 wickets at an economy rate of 5.66.
GAW-W’s bowling unit
The bowling unit is led by Ayabonga Khaka, the South African cricketer who plays for the national cricket team as a right-arm medium bowler. Khaka has played a total of 87 ODI matches and has bagged a total of 113 wickets at an economy rate of 4.14 with a best of 5-26. In the T20I format, she has played 42 games and picked up 37 scalps with a best of 4-23 at an economy rate of 6.43.
Kaysia Shultz is a Guyanese cricketer; the talented slow left-arm orthodox bowler is a main feature in the Guyana side as she has been representing the country since 2016. She was named in the West Indies squad for the Women’s T20I series against England, earning her maiden call-up to the team. Recently, she played for West Indies in a tour match against South Africa Women XI, and bowled figures of 1-23 off her six overs at an economy rate of 3.83.
Shamilia Connell is a Barbadian cricketer who represents the West Indies; the right-arm speedster has played a total of 56 ODI matches
and bagged 42 wickets at an economy rate of 4.62 with a best of 4-54. In T20Is, she has played 54 games and taken 36 wickets with a best of 3-14 at an economy rate of 6.54.
Karishma Ramharack is a Trinidadian cricketer who plays for Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indies as a right-arm off-break bowler. She made her T20I debut on February 3, 2019. She has played 14 ODI matches and taken eight wickets with a best of 2-18 at an economy rate of 4.40. In the T20I format, she has played seven games and taken seven wickets with a best of 3-8 at an economy rate of 6.59.
Isani Vaghela was the baby of the Warriors camp, Vaghela is 16 years of age and plays for the United States of America Women’s team. She is a right-hand batter and bowls right-arm medium pace. She was also named in America’s squad for the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe. On November 23, 2021, she played in America’s first match of the tournament against Bangladesh.
The 2022 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is certainly a historic event. For the first time in the tournament’s history, a Women’s CPL was played, with three teams locking horns. While noting that this CPL signified growth of women’s cricket, Guyanese cricketer Kaysia Schultz said she was excited to represent the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women.
“It’s a great feeling to be a part of this historic Women’s CPL, having a women’s franchise tournament in the Caribbean will surely grow women’s cricket,” the left-arm spinner said.
When asked about her expectations, the 25-year-old Schultz said she expected to see more fans support the women’s game. She also added: “In the future I’ll like to see more female
teams competing in the Women’s CPL, which will also widen the pool of Caribbean players.”
The Women’s CPL will certainly inspire more young female cricketers around the globe.
According to Schultz, the CPL is a huge inspiration for young Caribbean players to share the same dressing room with international stars.
“It’s a huge inspiration for young female cricketers to share the same dressing room with top international players and gain knowledge to develop our game, and even to young female cricketers aspiring to make a career out of cricket,” the humble spinner added.
When asked about her emotions when she first heard she was playing in the Women’s CPL, Schultz said it was a dream come true.
“A dream come true
when I found out I was playing for my home franchise, it’s every cricketer’s dream to be play ing for their home franchise as well.”
Schultz, who finished with eight wickets in the Women’s T20 Blaze, which was held in Guyana earlier this year, said her goal was to capture the most wickets and help Warriors lift the trophy.
While the entire Women’s CPL is be ing played in St Kitts this year, Schultz has hopes of playing at Providence, in front of her family and friends. She explained that it would mean a lot for her.
…says century has given him the confidence heading into CPL 2022
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The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) fixtures for the 2022 season were announced with the best cricketing talents from across the Caribbean and from around the world set to be part of the Biggest Party in Sport. As such, local son of the soil, Chandrapaul Hemraj is set to turn out in his patriotic Guyana Amazon Warriors colours as he is eager to hit the field and showcase his talent before his home crowd.
with 353 runs at a strike rate of 177.39 and an average of 35.30; he also scored two centuries in the league with a high score of 130.
The talented left hander in the 2021 edition had blasted a scintillating 105 not out against the Barbados Royals, which he deemed as one of his most memorable moments.
“Being able to score a century last year definitely gave me the confidence going into this tournament, knowing I can score bigger at this level. I am very much prepared going into this tournament, I have it very clear. I understand my role and responsibility with the team, but you know as an opening batsman, I see myself as an entertainer and that’s what I’m going to do this season and I’m looking forward to entertaining my fans.”
In the 2021 edition of CPL, Hemraj was the third highest run scorer for the Warriors with 254 runs at an average of 25.40 with a strike rate of 133.68. In 2022, he played in the US Minor League and from his 11 games, he walked away
As he has been playing minor league cricket during his off season, Hemraj came into the CPL with some form. In further preparation, he had been challenging himself to bat 12 to 15 overs every game. The fitter-looking Hemraj has been putting in the necessary work over the past few months as he prides himself on bringing out the best version of himself. “Over the last few months, I have been putting in a lot of work in the gym, a lot of strength work, been placing some emphasis on my diet and coming into this tournament I feel more prepared, mentally and physically. I don’t want to be overconfident, but I just want to be prepared,” he shared.
Hemraj has stated that one of the things he would be looking forward to is playing in front of his friends and family and the huge crowd at the National Stadium. He revealed that the National Stadium was a venue where he enjoys batting and was optimistic that he would be able to help the Warriors bag some victories.
As it relates to how confident he is that the Warriors will lift the trophy, Hemraj explained that it is his belief that the process is very important for the team. He clarified that as much as one would like to look at the results and
that the team just needed to go through the process and once they get to the semi-finals, take it home for the fans.
The talented Guyanese also reiterated that for him, it was a privilege to represent the Warriors year after year as he stressed on the importance of playing in front of his friends and family. He stated that it was an honour to represent the Guyana Amazon Warriors and he has spent four years with them. He added that in this time, he has gained a lot of experience and he believes that now is the time to show some more maturity and have a good season.
Hemraj ended the interview by saying, “We all know that Warriors fans are one of the most passionate fans out there, but I think it’s time for us to deliver it. Time for us to give them what they have been asking for from the inception. We have a good bunch of players here, a good bunch of locals and international players and I’m very confident we are going to deliver this year.”
For a company as large and successful as ExxonMobil, the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is increasingly important.
For the oil and gas giant, its CSR knows no bounds, ranging from educational initiatives including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), community projects and agriculture to, of course, sport.
Since ExxonMobil began consistent operations in Guyana, it has contributed heavily to several sport disciplines, such as athletics, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, motor racing, squash, tennis and volleyball.
Only this year, the company has resuscitated its Petra-organised ExxonMobil Under-14 Boys’ and Girls’ schools’ football tournament, which fills a critical gap in youth
development, between the Pee- Wee (Under-11) and Under-18 levels.
ExxonMobil also eagerly hopped onboard as the title sponsors of the National Schools’ Basketball Festival, which has introduced and produced national youth players since 2006.
Not to mention the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) will don the company’s logo for the sixth consecutive year. Not only has Exxon thrown its support behind the men’s team, but its support for the women’s team in the inaugural Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has been equally consistent.
To be frank, ExxonMobil is the perfect picture of sport involvement and development, and the company is always elated to play the role.
“The many benefits of sport are wellknown, and we take our role as a part of the Guyanese community very seriously. That’s why we support sports at the youth level as well as raising our sponsorship of the Warriors,” ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge shared as the company announced its support for the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Men and Women.
Similarly, Community Relations Advisor Ryan Hoppie shared at the commencement of the third ExxonMobil U14 football tournament, “You know sport is very important for youth development, and we know that it brings both physical and mental benefits, but, also the camaraderie among players within the team!”
Additionally, given that the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is returning to Guyana, after being hosted in solitary destinations during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, ExxonMobil is going all-out for sport once again.
There will be a booth at the Guyana National Stadium on every game day, where Guyanese patrons can interact and play games for chances to get their hands on prizes.
Aside from this, the company is planning activities where fans can meet Guyana Amazon Warriors players.
ExxonMobil’s hands-on approach to ensuring sport development in the country is a great example of avid investment in sport development. One can only hope that more corporate entities will take a page out of Exxon’s book.
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is known as the biggest party in sport. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first league to host a bio-secured tournament, and it was a success. The stands were empty, as fans were not allowed, and the tournament was played in one country only. For the players, it was difficult, as they were not allowed to leave the hotel/ bubble.
Come 2022, the CPL is being played in four countries:St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
The fans are back, and stands are filled to capacity. Players are allowed to move around the different Caribbean countries, and even have their families with them.
The 2022 CPL has burst the bubble, and players, match officials, and owners are relishing this experience. Moreover, the 2022 CPL was historic in nature, with the first Women’s CPL being played in St Kitts, and the newest format, 6IXTY being played in St Kitts as well.
From St Kitts to Guyana, fans are going wild for tickets, which are high in demand. This is according to the numbers and a recent comment from CPL’s Head of Marketing, Chris Watson.
“Across all four of host locations this year, the sales have been really strong, and the reaction has been huge. Particularly in Guyana, the new box office
in Camp Street, the guys have seen great levels of interest, with some games sold out already. So, it has been a strong reaction.”
“Surprisingly, for some of the neutral games, 10 in the morning has been on sale, and it shows how hungry fans are to come out to a more normal CPL,” he said.
“We have not been able to put on games in Guyana since 2019, so we are really excited to bring a more normal CPL this year.”
In recent interviews with fans at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia, the excitement for the return of CPL has been over-the-roof. Fans from the United States of America, who are Guyanese by birth, noted that the CPL has the best atmosphere and it was good for them to see live action again.
From a Guyanese standpoint, the CPL carnival in Guyana has attracted a large number of tourists. A majority of the hotels are booked and this is evidence of the high level of interest for CPL 2022, the tournament where the bubble was officially burst.
Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad for 2022 CPL: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Tabraiz Shamsi, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Colin Ingram, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Paul Stirling, Shai Hope, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Jermaine Blackwood, Gudakesh Motie, Ronsford Beaton, Veerasammy Permaul, Junior Sinclair, and Matthew Nandu.
