President Dr Irfaan Ali received the prestigious Wilson Award from the Wilson Centre for his unwavering dedication to climate change action and biodiversity during a Gala and Dinner in Miami last evening.

While delivering feature remarks, the President emphasised the importance of leaders uniting to craft common policies to address global climate challenges, underscoring the need for shared vision and collaboration.

He also spoke about Guyana’s visionary Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) as a global model, balancing economic growth with environmental preservation.

President Ali also reaffirmed his commitment to sustainable development and emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring a resilient future for all.

The award, part of the Wilson Center’s Latin America Programme, recognises leaders who have made significant contributions to regional and global advancement, particularly in fields such as sustainability, biodiversity, and climate change (Release from the Office of the President’s Facebook page) 

Jamaica Scorpions captain John Campbell has been handed a four-match suspension for not turning up for the toss against Barbados Pride, resulting in the Super50 final being forfeited for 2024-25.

Campbell said he “sincerely regretted” the incident in a statement put out by Cricket West Indies (CWI).

“I sincerely regret any disruption caused during the final and acknowledge that my actions may have been perceived as resistance to the match officials’ decision,” Campbell said.

“It was never my intention to undermine their authority or bring the game into disrepute. I fully acknowledge the importance of maintaining the integrity of the game and the need for adherence to the rules and decisions of the officials.”

The Super50 final was forfeited under extraordinary circumstances, when neither captain appeared for the toss in a rain-hit contest.

The umpires had deemed conditions to be fit for a 20-overs-a-side match.

But with neither captain making an appearance, no trophy was awarded for the 2024-25 edition.

The fate of Barbados captain Raymon Reifer, who faces similar charges, has not yet been decided by the disciplinary committee as he is yet to respond to the charges, levelled by match referee Reon King.

“We appreciate Mr Campbell’s acknowledgement of the situation and his sincere apology. In light of his admission and demonstrated remorse, CWI has applied the minimum sanction of a four-match ban for a Level 3 Offence, as a matter of leniency,” CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe said.

“This decision reinforces the critical role of captains in upholding the values of sportsmanship and respect for the game’s integrity,” he said.

“We trust that John will use this experience to continue contributing positively to West Indies cricket and serve as a role model moving forward.”

The board confirmed that no match fees would be distributed for the final and neither would prize money meant for the tournament’s winners and runners-up be awarded. (ESPNcricinfo)

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The Government of Guyana has taken note of a Facebook post that seems to suggest that there may have been an incident infringing the religious rights of one or more Muslim citizens during the registration process for the $100,000 Cash Grant.

We wish to clarify that during the training of enumerators involved in the registration exercise, clear instructions were issued requiring staff to avoid any form of discrimination against any citizen. More importantly, our training addressed how citizens wearing the Hijab should be processed. Specifically, the enumerators are required to take photographs of citizens with the Hijab, and those wearing the burqa (face veil) should be escorted into a private area for their photographs to be taken by a female enumerator.

To ensure an environment of comfort and inclusivity is achieved for the process nationally, we have selected public venues that are within proximity to residential areas and considerate of the religious and cultural backgrounds of all citizens.

To date, of the tens of thousands who were registered, we have only seen one incident on Facebook. Even though the incident was not formally reported, it is currently being investigated, and if anyone is found guilty, he or she will be penalized.

Should citizens encounter any such issue, we advise them to immediately call the following hotlines:

• 592-750-0620
• 592-750-0622
• 592-750-0554
• 592-745-2618
• 592-745-2642
• 592-745-2510
• 592-745-7540
• 592-745-7538

The Government wishes to reiterate that the $100,000 Cash Grant currently being issued is for every Guyanese 18 years and older, and no form of discrimination or infringement of citizens’ rights will be tolerated during the registration process.

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Bangladesh’s counter-attacking batting and accurate fast bowling gave them their best day on this West Indies tour so far.

At stumps on the third day of the Jamaica Test, the visitors lead by 211 runs after they bowled out the home side for 146 runs.

This was only the second time in their history that Bangladesh took a first-innings lead after being bowled out for less than 200 runs.

They fared much better in their second innings – and the game’s third – finishing on 193-5, coming on the back of some hostile bowling from the West Indies fast bowlers.

The fielders, too, brought some heat with their words. Bangladesh, for the most part, appeared to show restraint. Umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Asif Yaqoob intervened several times to talk to a fielder or West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite.

Earlier in the day, West Indies had thrown away a solid position to fold for 146, losing their last nine wickets for only 61 runs. Nahid Rana, the sensational fast bowler, led Bangladesh with a maiden five-wicket haul, that included some intimidating bowling of his own.

Rana’s figures of 5-61 in the afternoon also included a bruising of Kemar Roach, who got hit twice on his shoulder while batting. Roach would later come out to bowl only in the 31st over of the third innings, allowing Bangladesh to avoid facing the man with a devastatingly good record against them.

Rana’s morning burst that left West Indies limping was a continuation of his performance on the second evening. Apart from his pace, his height generated extra bounce on the Sabina Park pitch.

It helped remove Brathwaite with a 142kph snorter that caught the batter hopping at the crease. The fend-off resulted in a loopy low catch to substitute Zakir Hasan at gully.

Rana forced Kavem Hodge into a mistimed pull shot shortly afterwards, but Taskin Ahmed couldn’t latch on to the catch running in from fine leg.

It didn’t cost Bangladesh a run, when later in the same over, Litton Das took a superb catch to remove Hodge.

Taskin got into the act when he bowled Alick Athanaze off the under edge. But it wasn’t just pace that knocked West Indies down.

Taijul Islam got one to spin between Justin Greaves’ bat and pad, bowling him for just two. Mehidy Hasan Miraz too picked up a wicket, when he trapped Shamar Joseph lbw shortly after the lunch break.

Rana and Taskin were fired up, and Hasan Mahmud wasn’t too far behind. He trapped Joshua Da Silva lbw and got Keacy Carty caught behind, down the leg side, in the space of three deliveries.

Rana then made light work of Alzarri Joseph, forcing him on the backfoot, before foxing him with a slower ball.

Alzarri timed it straight to mid-off where Mehidy took a tumbling catch. It ended a fine morning session for the visitors, who took seven wickets for 65 runs in 25 overs.

West Indies lasted three more overs after the lunch break when Rana had Kemar Roach lbw, to complete his five-for and give Bangladesh an 18-run lead.

Before Bangladesh’s innings began, umpire Dharmasena could be seen speaking to Brathwaite, the WI captain, and also with the slip cordon.

Jayden Seales wouldn’t back down however, continuing to engage the Bangladesh batters before gesticulating towards the Bangladesh dressing room when he dismissed Mahmudul Hasan Joy for a duck.

The chatter from the West Indies bowlers and fielders, though, lost its voice when, Shahadat Hossain, promoted to No. 3, started going after the bowling. He miscued a couple of lofted shots before he cracked Alzarri for a boundary with a square cut.

He curled one through mid-on off Shamar before Brathwaite dropped him on 22. Shahadat however didn’t back off, as he slammed Alzarri through mid-off shortly afterwards, for another boundary.

Shahadat however fell trying one lofted shot too many. Seales took his catch at mid-off when he miscued Alzarri, but Shahadat’s innings of a 26-ball 28 with four fours lifted Bangladesh’s mood.

It resulted in a burst of boundaries from Shadman Islam and Mehidy, who came to bat at No. 4 in the absence of the ill Mominul Haque.

Mehidy struck Shamar for four boundaries in a row in the next over. He struck two straight drives before edging two through the slip cordon.

Shadman and Mehidy then hit three pull shots to get as many boundaries in the following over bowled by Seales. Shadman then struck Seales for two more fours, to make it ten boundaries in the space of four overs.

Shadman however fell shortly after the tea break, edging Shamar in a similar fashion for the second time in the game. He made 46 off 82 balls, including seven fours, most of it coming in that four-over burst.

Shadman’s dismissal ended a whirlwind 70-run stand for the third wicket. Mehidy followed Shadman shortly afterwards, strangled down the leg-side by Shamar and given out after West Indies successfully reviewed a not-out call. Mehidy hit seven fours in his 39-ball 42.

Litton and Jaker Ali then struck Seales and Shamar for two boundaries each, before Da Silva dropped Litton off Shamar’s bowling. It was a slightly difficult chance down the leg-side but wicketkeepers take them regularly.

Litton however fell for 25, almost against the run of play, when he missed Greaves’ off-cutter.

Jaker stayed firm, taking Bangladesh past the 200-run lead. West Indies captain Brathwaite struggled to rotate his bowlers around in Roach’s absence.

Greaves filled in but the main bowlers struggled to keep the visitors quiet. Bangladesh fought tooth and nail against West Indies’ bouncers – of various kinds – to claim a memorable day in Jamaica. (ESPNcricinfo)