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Crucial lower-order runs kept Australia in the ascendancy on a gripping fourth day of the fourth Test against India in Melbourne.

Batting with a first-innings lead of 105, Australia scraped to 228-9 at the close having been 91-6 in the afternoon after another superb spell from the irresistible Jasprit Bumrah, who took 4-56.

He bowled debutant Sam Konstas for eight and took three more wickets in a middle-order collapse that saw four wickets fall in 21 balls as India surged back into the contest.

But Marnus Labuschagne dug in for a vital 70 and put on 57 with captain Pat Cummins, who made 41.

Both men were put down by Yashasvi Jaiswal – Labuschagne on 46 and Cummins on 21 – in two of four dropped catches by India, three of which were by Jaiswal.

Nathan Lyon was also dropped on five and went on to frustrate India in an unbroken last-wicket partnership of 55 with Scott Boland that took Australia to the close with a lead of 333 runs.

The drama continued to the finish, with Bumrah having Lyon caught at slip on 33 in the final over only for Australia’s number 10 to be reprieved by a no-ball.

The Lyon-Boland stand ensured Australia have the advantage but the hosts’ decision to resist the temptation to declare late in the day has enhanced the chances of a draw.

India will still hold some hope of a successful run-chase on a final day where a win for either side would give them the lead in a fascinating five-Test series that is tied at 1-1.

Their efforts ensured India will require the highest successful fourth-innings chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground if they are to win.

The previous record, England’s 332-7, was made in 1928, while no side has scored more than 231 in victory since 1962 – although Australia may well have had India’s epic chase of 328 at the Gabba on their last tour in mind when delaying their declaration.

While a draw would set up a winner-takes-all decider in Sydney next week, it would mean India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final are no longer in their hands.

Australia must win the series outright to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy while India need to only draw as the holders. (BBC)

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Several farmers and millers in Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) on Saturday received $437 million, funds they were owed for almost a decade.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, while addressing farmers and millers in the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) boardroom, said the former APNU/AFC government failed to work in the interest of the Guyanese farmers and millers to ensure they received the outstanding payments after rice produced in Guyana was shipped to Venezuela.

Minister Mustapha explained that while in opposition, the PPP/C government met with farmers and millers on several occasions and committed to ensuring the monies owed were paid.

“I remember vividly, when I became the Minister of Agriculture, I met with several farmers on two different issues. One issue was payment for rice that was supplied to Panama and the other issue was about paddy that was purchased to supply to Venezuela through the PetroCaribe agreement. When we were in government prior to 2015, we signed both contracts. In 2015, we came out of government and the APNU/AFC went into government and both markets were lost. They were making a lot of ludicrous accusations and excuses about the deals while farmers were suffering. They concluded that rice is a private business and was not investing to improve the sector. Today, under your government, the PPP/C government, you are receiving the monies owed to you. This is the way a caring and committed government operates. We are always working in the interest of the citizens of this country,” he noted.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha handing over a cheque for outstanding sums owed from the PetroCaribe rice deal to a farmer from Region Two

Minister Mustapha also said that while the rice was supplied in both instances, no efforts were made by the former administration to recoup the outstanding payments. He also reminded farmers and millers that under the APNU/AFC government, rice was categorized as a “private business”.

“They lost the market in Panama and although rice was supplied, they did not conclude the deal to ensure the outstanding sums were paid. $1.5 billion was owed to the farmers and millers of this country. For the PetroCaribe deal, over $450 million was owed to our farmers. While the nay-sayers might want to come and convince you otherwise, I can assure you that this government will ensure we take care of every citizen in this country,” he explained.

Minister Mustapha also disclosed that, over the years, the government has invested over $5 billion to improve infrastructure to support the agriculture sector in Region Two, adding that approximately five new farm-to-market roads are currently under construction in the region.

The government of Guyana signed a rice compensation agreement with Venezuela in 2009 wherein Guyanese rice exports were accepted in partial payment for imports of Venezuelan oil. The scheme had provided stimulus to the Guyanese rice sector, which resulted in higher levels of investments in improved inputs and machinery, an expansion in the areas cultivated, higher levels of outputs and exports, and increased employment (Modified press release from the Ministry of Agriculture)

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Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC said several contracts were terminated and the government has been imposing penalties for contractual breaches.

“Dozens of contracts have been terminated,” Nandlall said at his ministry’s yearend press conference on Saturday.

He added that the government, through his ministry, has begun instituting penalties in the form of liquidated damages for contract breaches.

Liquidated damages refer to a provision allowing for the payment of a specified sum in the case of a breach of contract. Breaches could vary from shoddy work to unjustified delays.

Termination, liquidated damages & blacklisting for errant contractors

Nandlall noted that about $4 billion in liquidated damages have been imposed since the government took a much firmer stance on contractors earlier this year.

In an early morning meeting at State House, Georgetown in November, President Dr. Irfaan Ali chastised both errant contractors and government workers whose shortcomings may be impacting the execution of projects countrywide.

The President made it clear that contractors whose projects will be incomplete by yearend and four months or more beyond the completion date will be sanctioned.

“All the projects that were supposed to be completed by the end of this year, or four months beyond completion date, and (with) no justifiable extension… They will be sent to the tender board and they will be terminated,” he said during the meeting broadcast live.

Previously, he noted that the government could collect about $3 billion for overdue projects after liquidated damages are applied.

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More than US$1 million (or about GY $209 million) has been spent on the legal expenses for the ongoing US$100 million lawsuit filed by the Mexican parking meter company, Smart City Solutions.

This was noted by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC on Saturday. He spoke during his ministry’s yearend press conference.

“That’s the liability we inherited and in many, many cases we have been shouldered with this type of liability,” Nandlall lamented.

The legal battle traces back to a controversial contract signed in May 2016 by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council with Smart City Solutions for the paid parking system.

Gov’t to pay additional $100M in legal fees for parking meter lawsuit

Despite the parking meters becoming operational in January 2017, the initiative faced intense opposition from the private sector, citizens, and members of the opposition. The project was subsequently halted by the APNU+AFC government following public outcry.

The company later filed the US$100 million lawsuit.

Previously, Nandlall said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration was consistently against the parking meter deal. Nandlall pointed out that the PPP/C, then in opposition, had actively protested the contract.

At his Saturday presser, the Attorney General noted that the hearings in the matter have been ongoing. In July 2025, Guyana will be tasked with leading evidence in the defence of the claim. Witnesses, Nandlall said, will be taken abroad to speak about the matter.

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West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph’s stellar debut year has earned him a nomination for the ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year award, highlighting a bright spot for Caribbean cricket after a challenging year.

The announcement came as the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the first wave of shortlists for its prestigious 2024 awards.

Joseph, who claimed 29 wickets from eight Tests at an average of 26.75, is one of four nominees for the accolade, joining England’s Gus Atkinson, Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis.

Joseph’s exploits, including a series-defining spell against Australia at the Gabba, cemented his rise as a key player for the West Indies.

The 25-year-old made an instant impact on the international stage, helping the West Indies secure their first Test victory in Australia since 1997.

Joseph’s 13 wickets in the two-match series, including two five-wicket hauls, played a pivotal role in leveling the series 1-1.

His standout performance came at the Gabba, where he bowled a match-winning spell of 7-68 with the pink ball.

Despite sustaining a nasty blow while batting, Joseph returned the next day to lead the West Indies to an eight-run victory, becoming the first West Indian in 17 years to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut.

Later in the year, Joseph continued his impressive form in home series against Bangladesh and South Africa, finishing with 12 wickets from three matches.

His consistency and ability to perform in high-pressure situations have made him a household name in Caribbean cricket.

Elsewhere, the ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year pits four leading short-format talents against each other for the coveted title.

Comprising the nominees are South African all-rounder Annerie Dercksen, Scotland’s Saskia Horley, India’s Shreyanka Patil, and Ireland’s Freya Sargent, after all, left a significant mark on international competition in 2024.

The ICC Awards 2024 comprise 12 individual awards, with shortlists in nine categories being revealed by the ICC between 28 and 30 December.

Shortlists have been drawn up by a specialist panel of cricket writers and broadcasters, who selected the nominees according to on-field performances and overall achievements in international cricket throughout the calendar year.

Fans are now able to vote for their favourite Emerging players at www.icc-cricket.com, with other categories unlocked as further nominees are revealed by the ICC over the next two days.

Fan voting results will be combined with selections made by a prominent panel of international cricket media—the ICC Voting Academy—to identify the winner in each of the shortlisted categories.

Other categories that will be celebrated in the ICC Awards 2024 include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year and the ICC Umpire of the Year.

In addition to the individual awards, five ICC Teams of the Year will also be decided by the ICC Voting Academy, identifying the standout XIs across men’s and women’s international cricket during the calendar year.

Winners of the ICC Awards 2024 will be announced in late January 2025. (Sportsmax)

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Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC on Saturday said that the revision and consolidation of the Laws of Guyana should now be completed by June 2025.

“That is ongoing, it was supposed to have been completed. Unfortunately, it was a lot of work.

“The deadline I have from the law revision centre is June of next year. So by July, hopefully, we should be launching it,” Nandlall said during his yearend press conference.

This exercise will cover the years 2012 to 2022. It was anticipated that the revision exercise would be completed in 2023.

After 10 years, Guyana undergoes law revision with help from Anguillan Company

The exercise is a collaborative effort between the Law Revision Commission and the Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) Project.

It is being executed by the Regional Revision Centre Inc., an Anguillan company. Nandlall said it is the only company in the region able to do this work.

The last consolidation and revision exercise was carried out pre-2012; that exercise produced the 2012 Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana.

It was previously noted that to facilitate the required work, the Attorney General’s Chambers through the IMPACT Justice Project, will supply the Regional Law Revision Centre with:

1. electronic copies of the last (2012) Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana;
2. the printed edition of the last (2012) Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana;
3. copy of the Consolidated Index of the Laws of Guyana for the revision periods 2009, 2010 and 2021; and
4. The Gazette publications of the Laws of Guyana for the revision period 31 December 2010 to 31st December 2021.

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See below the full release from AmCham Guyana: 

AmCham Guyana applauds the historic approval of a $527 million loan from the U.S. Export- Import Bank (EXIM) to support the critical Gas-to-Energy project in Guyana. This landmark agreement marks the largest-ever infrastructure loan in the Caribbean, signifying a growing confidence in Guyana’s prosperity and deepening the U.S.-Guyana partnership. 

The Gas-to-Energy project is poised to transform Guyana’s energy landscape, enhancing energy security by diversifying energy sources and reducing reliance on imported fuels. Furthermore, it will accelerate the nation’s transition to cleaner and more reliable energy sources, driving sustainable economic growth and development. 

AmCham Guyana commends the Government of Guyana, the U.S. Embassy, and all stakeholders involved in this groundbreaking achievement. We look forward to supporting U.S. EXIM’s continued engagement in Guyana and fostering further economic cooperation between our two nations

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See below the full release from the Private Sector Commission of Guyana: 

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) of Guyana commends the United States Export-Import Bank  (EXIM) for its approval of a $526 million loan to support Guyana’s transformative energy project.  This initiative marks a significant milestone in Guyana’s efforts to enhance its energy capacity and reduce dependence on oil imports. 

The project, which will see the construction of a natural gas separation plant, a 300 MW  combined-cycle gas turbine power plant, and a gas supply pipeline, underscores the strong  partnership between Guyana and the United States. This investment is expected to double  Guyana’s installed electric capacity, substantially reduce carbon emissions, and stimulate  economic activity through job creation and infrastructure development. 

Chairman of the PSC, Komal Singh

The PSC welcomes this collaboration between the U.S., ExxonMobil, and joint venture partners  Lindsayca and CH4 Systems. By facilitating cutting-edge technology and expertise, this project  positions Guyana to achieve greater energy security and economic diversification while fostering  regional competitiveness. 

The PSC also commends the United States Embassy in Guyana for its continued support and proactive engagement in advancing initiatives that contribute to Guyana’s sustainable development. The Embassy’s role in fostering bilateral partnerships has been instrumental in securing critical investments like this, which align with the country’s growth priorities. 

“The Private Sector Commission acknowledges the U.S. EXIM Bank’s commitment to advancing energy solutions that align with Guyana’s development agenda. We believe this project will serve as a cornerstone for sustainable economic growth and support the aspirations of our people,”  said Komal Singh, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission. 

The PSC remains committed to advocating for partnerships that drive innovation, promote sustainability, and strengthen the private sector’s role in Guyana’s development. 

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