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Briton John crosses the finish line to claim the top podium spot (Photo: Keno George)

“My teammates, we planned to try to split the field from early. As soon as the race started, Alex and (Jamual) John went out and established like a four-minute break,” Briton said.

“The rest of the guys from KFC (Evolution) was attacking me, trying to go over, so I just kept picking up everything. I saw an opportunity like 40 miles to go and I went straight across to my teammates and from there we established a break. “

The teamwork paid off as We Stand United rounded out the podium with Jamual John and Leung in second and third place respectively.

“As a 15-year-old coming up, it feels really good to place in the senior race,” Leung said.

By virtue of his finish, Leung emerged as the top Junior rider on the day.

The We Stand United trio about to cross the finish line (Photo: Keno George)

In the Veterans race, Alex Mendes (Kaieteur Attack) placed first in the Under-50 category and Ian Jackson (Flying Stars) first in the Over-50.

Jaikarran Sookhai, who formed part of the initial trio break on the Number 19 Public Road, placed second in the Under-50 category after a spirited effort but was dropped on the return to Port Mourant when Briton John joined the break.

Suriah Duncan, who represented District Six as a first-timer at Nationals in 2022, finished her first road race as the lone rider for the Open/Senior Women Category.

The only juvenile to finish the race was young ‘Siddwell’ who was given a special prize.

The race was being held in memory of founder of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and coincided with a memorial ceremony at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, in brief remarks at the prize giving ceremony, said: “This is a historic race because annually since the death of Comrade Cheddi, this race is normally run by Comrade Neil Kumar and I want to thank him and his team for carrying on this race.”

“This year marks the 26^th Anniversary since the death of Comrade Cheddi Jagan- ‘Father of Our Nation’ and I told the cyclists this morning (at the start line), no matter win or lose, all of you are winners because you take part in a race that represents a person who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

SUMMARISED RESULTS (23^rd Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle Road Race)

Men’s Open/Senior Category

1 Briton John (We Stand United)

2 Jamaul John (We Stand United)

3 Alexander Leung (We Stand United)

4 Romello Crawford

5 Curtis Dey (Evolution)

6 Alex Mendes (Kaieteur Attack)

Men’s Junior Category

1 Alexander Leung (We Stand United)

2 Aaron Newton (We Stand United)

3 Sebastian Nathan (Kaieteur Attack)

Men’s Veterans Under-50 Category

1 Alex Mendes (Kaieteur Attack)

2 Jaikarran Sookhai

3 Kwame Ridley (Kaieteur Attack)

4 Segun Hubbard (Evolution)

Men’s Veterans Over-50 Category

1 Ian Jackson (Flying Stars)

2 Cranston Dey

3 Talim Shaw (Flying Stars)

Women’s Open/Senior Race Category

1 Suriah Duncan

Men’s Youth: Juvenile Race Category

1 Siddwell

The remains of the house where Safraz Mursalin lived since 2001.

“We still want to know the reason why the Police arrest him last night. They still can’t tell us why. All you hearing is the Commander said to lock he up. …they saying they heard that there is a dispute over the house but that’s not true. This is his mother-in-law place. So we see need answers,” the relative Sid.

The News Room understands that the fire started in the back room in the upper flat of the three-bedroom house. However, Mursalin said that there are no electrical outlets or plugs in that room and that he left no electrical appliance on before he left the house.

It was only last year that a driver crashed his vehicle into the fence of property, killing himself in the process and damaging the fence and Mursalin’s parked car.

“Me na done with that yet, car still in the workshop yet…I took out the seat to go and spray the car and the seat and everything burn up…money, documents all burnt,” he said.

Mursalin said he is open to assistance of any kind that will assist him to get back on his feet. Persons willing to assist can make contact with Samantha on 629-0143.

Nitish Rana has been appointed interim captain by Kolkata Knight Riders, while their regular leader Shreyas Iyer recovers from a back injury that is likely to sideline him for at least the first half of IPL 2023.

Rana was one of two candidates for the interim captaincy along with Sunil Narine, who joined the franchise in 2012 and has been with them ever since.

Narine had recently led Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the inaugural edition of the International League T20, where they finished last among six teams with one win and eight losses.

Rana has led his state team Delhi in 12 T20s in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with eight wins and four defeats. A 29-year old middle-order batter, he was bought by KKR ahead of the 2018 season and has been retained by the franchise ever since. He’s played 74 matches for them, scoring 1,744 runs at a strike rate of 135.61.

“While we are hopeful that Shreyas will recover and participate at some stage in the IPL 2023 edition, we feel fortunate that Nitish, with the captaincy experience of having led his state side in white-ball cricket and the IPL experience he has had with KKR since 2018, will do a great job,” KKR said in a statement.

“We are also confident that under head coach Chandrakant Pandit and the support staff, he will get all the support needed off the field, and the highly experienced leaders in the squad will provide all support that Nitish may need on the field. We wish him the best in his new role and Shreyas a full and speedy recovery.”

Rana was KKR’s second highest run-scorer last season, behind Shreyas, with 361 runs at a strike rate of 143.82. It was a disappointing year for the team, as they finished seventh in the league with six wins and eight losses.

With Rana taking over as captain, KKR will be under whole new leadership this season, with Chandrakant Pandit replacing Brendon McCullum as head coach and Bharat Arun appointed bowling coach. (ESPNcricinfo)

Members of the Women in Chess Community

“This event exceeded expectations in terms of participation and engagement where over 40 girls under the age of 18 registered for the camp. The younger girls were eager to learn, asking many questions and showing enthusiasm for the game throughout the camp,” the release added.

It continued, “The girls also had the chance to play against each other and receive feedback, with an emphasis on building confidence and developing skills in a supportive and friendly environment. Snacks and juices, donated by Topco, were provided for the girls as they engaged each other in the game of chess.”

Most of the experienced female chess players- WCM Sheriffa Ali, Anaya Lall, Italy Ton-Chung, Aniyah Couchman, Angel Rahim and Maliha Rajkumar- were on hand to provide instruction and guidance to participants, covering basic chess tactics and strategies, and offering tips on how to improve their game.

Some of these remarkable young women also shared their experiences as chess players over the years.

Reigning National Women’s Champion Pooja Lam, former National Women’s Champion Sasha Shariff, together with National Arbiter and a top female chess player, Jessica Callender also contributed, expressing their thoughts on chess and the many friendships gained after meeting other incredible players from other countries.

Players focused on the board

The Federation’s Company Secretary, Marcia Lee, who heads the Women in Chess Committee, welcomed the girls and encouraged more participation in chess competitions.

She noted that by playing chess and working hard to improve, the girls can reap tremendous benefits in the future as opportunities arise for girls to move onto the international scene.

Lee also stressed the need for more females to join the federation so that they too can enjoy the many benefits of chess and ultimately bridge the gender gap within the GCF.

“It is worth noting that less than a decade ago, female chess players were a rarity,” the release highlighted.

“In the competitive arena, some local tournaments only saw a maximum of three to five female chess players.”

As such, the Women’s Committee was elated to see so many young girls in attendance who came to learn, play and bond over the game of chess.

President of the Guyana Chess Federation, Anand Raghunauth noted that by encouraging women and girls in chess, with the emphasis on building communication and leadership skills, they can become great players, administrators and ambassadors of the sport.

This event was sponsored by Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, along with Sunshine Snacks, Nadeem Khan and Associates, and Banks DIH Limited. The participants were provided with snacks and beverages for an afternoon of fun in chess and social development.

The Guyana Chess Federation also extends sincere gratitude to the management of Duke Lodge for providing the use of the venue and Prabha Persaud-Kissoon for sponsoring the WICC banner.

“Special thanks are extended for seeing the value in what we strive to achieve and for supporting us as we forge ahead,” the release concluded.

In this photo Mr Keith Ferrier says he is the one second right in the front row while Mr Norton is at left in the front row. (Photo: Facebook/PPP)

Keith Ferrier from Region 10 has decided to release an old photo of himself and Mr Norton after the Opposition Leader on Sunday night denied that they were relatives or brothers.

“Keith Ferrier is neither my mother’s or my father’s child,” Norton declared in a statement.

Mr Norton’s claim was in response to a statement made by Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the PPP, while speaking at an event to remember the life and work of PPP co-founder, Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Dr Jagdeo stated: “…and I am so pleased to see you here Mr Ferrier, who is related to Mr Norton, but he is here and he has seen the light in the People’s Progressive Party and he may be able to tell you a few more stories.”

Dr Jagdeo did not describe or make a claim of Mr Ferrier’s exact relationship to Mr Norton.

But in a matter of hours, Mr Norton released a statement, accusing Dr Jagdeo of calling Mr Ferrier his “brother” and declaring that to be “totally untrue.”

Shortly thereafter, the PPP released on its Facebook page, a screenshot Mr Ferrier had sent to Dr Jagdeo describing a family photo of his “siblings” with Norton included.

Haemorrhaging, suffocation and compression to the neck have been determined to be the causes of death for Oriya, according to an autopsy.

The day care facility has since been ordered to discontinue its services. Minister of Human Services and Social Protection, Dr Vindhya Persaud also confirmed that although the day care has been operating for 27 years, its administrators, Pastor Eric Benn and his wife, did not have a license.

Benn told reporters that they never encountered such an incident.

The News Room understands that the baby girl was found unresponsive at the day care and taken to a health centre where medical professionals attempted to resuscitate her about eight times.

The healthcare workers there subsequently called an ambulance from the Georgetown Public Hospital but it seemed too late.

The child was pronounced dead at the city’s main hospital minutes after she was brought in.

The child’s father, Odysseus Clement and the mother are now turning to the Police for assistance to investigate the child’s death since they believe officials at the day care are culpable.