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Alex Arjoon and Mary Fung-A-Fat of Guyana will look to defend home turf on Wednesday evening when they take on Khamal Cumberbatch and Margot Prow of Barbados in the Mixed Doubles final of the ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championship at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

Arjoon and Fung-A-Fat pulled off a 2-1 success over Jake Kelly and Caroline Laing of the Cayman Islands, a match that was highly competitive and closely fought.

The Guyanese won the opening set 11-8, but Kelly and Laing levelled things with a similar scoreline in the second set. Arjoon and Fung-A-Fat then held their composure in the third, winning 11-9 to remain in contention for the gold medal.

On the other doubles court nearby, Cumberbatch and Prow had a much easier time, topping the Jamaican pair Dane Schwier and Sanjana Nallapati in straight sets.

The Bajans emerged with an 11-10, 11-4 win, needing just 13 minutes to close out the contest.

Post-match comments

Mary Fung-A-Fat (On playing high intensity games with hours- she played the Women’s Open final on Tuesday night): “After a loss you kind of have to pick yourself back up and focus. This is teams now, I have the flag on my back and it’s a different mentality. I just put my best foot forward, made sure I recovered enough and we managed to pull through.”

Alex Arjoon (On great camaraderie with Doubles partner Fung-A-Fat): “It helps when you have a good teammate as well- Mary and I do really well together, simultaneously putting the Guyanese Chinese back on the map (lol). We’ve been friends a long time, so I think we had good chemistry. And even though we didn’t get to play a lot coming into the match, I think we were able to quickly figure out what we needed to do under pressure. So I’m excited to play tonight in the final.”

The Mixed Doubles final will serve off at 19:30h.

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Guyanese Ashley Khalil and Ashley DeGroot will face the Barbados duo Amanda Haywood and Sumairaa Suleman in the final of the Women’s Doubles at the ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championship on Wednesday evening at the National Racquet Centre, Wooldford Avenue, Georgetown.

The finalists pulled off contrasting wins in their respective semi-final matches on Wednesday morning at the same venue.

Khalil and DeGroot, buoyed by vociferous home support, needed just 13 minutes to defeat Mia Todd and Mehar Trehan of Jamaica in straight sets.

The Guyanese won 11-4, 11-3, much to the delight of their band of supporters.

In the other semi-final, Haywood and Suleman had to dig deep to pull off a 2-1 success over Michaela Rensburg and Emma Turnbull of the Cayman Islands.

Rensburg and Turnbull won the first set 11-5, but Haywood and Suleman stormed back to take the game with 11-4, 11-7 wins in the ensuing sets.

Part of the action between Barbados (blue and black) and the Cayman Islands in the other semi-final of the Women’s Doubles (Photo: News Room/Jeremy Jagroop/August 21, 2024)

Post-match comments

Ashley Khalil (On pre-game strategy): “We were looking for the weaker player and just kind of pounce on that. And while we pressured the weaker player, we were not forgetting the other player, so we would send some crosses over just to keep them active and then once we got an opening, just go for it.”

Ashley DeGroot (On playing Barbados in the final): “It’s going to be a tough one- Barbados has a stronger team than last year. We won this the last two years so we’re trying to keep it home and play our best.”

Amanda Haywood (On facing Guyana in the final): “They’re going to be a tough team for us. We just have to go in there as tough opponents as well; just play our game and don’t get too worried about the crowd. I’m sure the Barbados contingent is going to be loud as well, so it’s going to be a loud night all round.”

Sumairaa Suleman (On having to bounce back from a set down): “After the first game we were just learning, and after that we finally got into a rhythm that we knew worked and we just continued doing that.”

The Women’s Doubles final will serve off at 18:30h.

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new deal inked by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Education and emphasised that the stakeholders must now intensify their focus on the nation’s children. 

The new deal covers the period 2024 to 2026. 

Offering some details, the Guyanese Head of State said teachers will get a direct 27% increase in salaries over the three years. In 2024, they will get a 10% increase; in 2025, an 8% increase and in 2026, a 9% increase. 

Notably, those increases can be adjusted if any general public service salary increases are higher. 

The President also noted that the salary increases are just part of the “comprehensive” deal inked with the government. He pointed out that the government is focused on teachers’ overall welfare. 

So there is a menu of other interventions, he said, to support teachers. Those include additional support for teachers working in hinterland communities and other remote areas, more scholarships, and payments for marking School Based Assessments (SBAs). 

There are also more duty-free concessions so more teachers can get vehicles at a cheaper cost. 

Now that the deal has been inked, the President called on the stakeholders to redouble their focus on learners all across the nation. 

“It is now time for us to focus on our children and on all our plans in transforming our education system to deliver world-class education and the best possible education to our children,” President Ali said. 

GTU President Mark Lyte and the union’s second Vice President Julian Cambridge inked the agreement on Wednesday with the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Shannielle Hoosein- Outar and Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain.

The deal came after months of intense engagements, a court case, and a teachers’ strike. 

In a release, the GTU said the decision to accept the government’s offer came after a meeting of the General Council.

“This General Council instruction is binding according to Rule 13 of the Guyana Teachers’ Union Constitution,” the release noted.

The union also noted that the salary and non-salary benefits that are part of the deal “aim to provide additional support for teachers not only in their professional growth but also in their personal and family lives.”

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Khamal Cumberbatch kept his hands on the Men’s Open title at the ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championship, digging deep to defeat Julian Jervis in the final on Tuesday evening at the Georgetown Club Courts.

Cumberbatch of Barbados topped Jervis of the Cayman Islands 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 in 38 minutes of high-intensity squash to determine the best male player of the region.

Cumberbatch, who comes from a Bajan family with a rich legacy in the sport, has been in tremendous form in recent years.

In 2022, he made the final of Senior CASA, finishing second best to the prolific 10-time champion Chris Binnie of Jamaica.

In 2023, he won the title outright by beating Cameron Stafford of the Cayman Islands; fast forward to a year later, he has made a successful title defence.

Spectators watching the Men’s Open final on Tuesday evening at the Georgetown Club Courts (Photo: Kirth Cadogan/August 20, 2024)

Speaking to News Room Sport immediately after the win, Cumberbatch said the thought of winning the title back-to-back has not quite sunk in.

“To win it for the first time last year, it meant to world to me. That is something I worked my entire life for,” Cumberbatch related.

“To defend it, I’m feeling something completely different. Going in as the number one seed, you have to back it up. Last year I felt I had to prove something, this year it’s way more than that, so I’m on top of the world right now.”

In terms of strategy and preparation for the big challenge of a final, Cumberbatch said spending time away from the game has proven an effective method to success.

“I find people that tend to stay too involved and think too much about it, while I try to get away as much as possible. Just do things that you enjoy and then when you get in the moment, just go for it.”

A focused Julian Jervis in the Men’s Open final against Khamal Cumberbatch

‘Proud, but disappointed’

Understandably, Jervis was disappointed to miss out on gold, but the Cayman Islands player felt he represented his nation well in the final.

By his own admission, managing his temper was a major battle during the final with Cumberbatch, as well as overcoming the nerves of making a final he dreamt of as a child.

Jervis gained a bye to the final following an injury to his opponent Stafford, who did not contest the semi-final.

“I’m proud of myself for making it this far. On court I felt like I represented myself well,” Jervis related.

“In the past it’s really been my temper and letting my emotions get the better of me because I do play with quite a bit of passion, which works for me and against me at the same time.”

“My big goal was to keep a lid on my temper and I think I did that pretty well throughout the first and second game, but I was still internalizing it and that made me a bit tense on the inside and that made me fell off the cliff energy wise.”

 

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Margot Prow of Barbados made a successful defence of the Women’s Open title at the ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championship on Tuesday evening, defeating Guyanese Mary Fung-A-Fat in straight sets in the final at the Georgetown Club Courts.

Prow, who won the title for the first time in 2023, won this year’s final 11-6, 11-2, 11-7.

It means Fung-A-Fat, who was a dominant force in Junior CASA several years ago, winning numerous age group titles, has extended that wait for a maiden Senior CASA Women’s Open title.

“I want it. I’m not going to give up, I’m going to keep working,” Fung-A-Fat told News Room Sport after the match.

“It is definitely one of my next big goals and seeing how Margot is playing now, I know what I have to work towards…so next year I’ll try again.”

Mary Fung-A-Fat’s (white and green) wait for a Women’s Open title at Senior CASA continues

Fung-A-Fat, who defeated reigning Guyana’s national champion Ashley Khalil 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 in the semi-finals on Monday night, spoke of challenges of playing back-to-back high intensity games.

“It’s hard to go from a win and carry through. Mentally it’s like an emotional rollercoaster,” Fung-A-Fat asserted.

“From the beginning I was a big heavy footed, not mentally as settled, my lines weren’t as good today, and she (Prow) was just on. All credit to her, she deserves the win tonight.”

Margot Prow plays a shot during the final against Mary Fung-A-Fat

‘Absolutely thrilled’

For Prow, coming to this year’s championship as the defending champion and number one seed brought its own pressure, a mental side of the game she had to overcome.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” the Bajan said on winning consecutive titles.

“I went in with a little bit of pressure, having won last year and being number one seed, but just ecstatic to win it for my country.”

Prow and Fung-A-Fat are close friends and familiar with each other’s game, having attended the same university over the last couple of years.

On Tuesday night, that friendship was put on hold as they battled for the most prestigious Women’s title in Senior Caribbean Squash.

“We’re friends, but when you get on court you need to put that all aside and really take time and look in to your game and focus,” Prow said.

And of the two titles, which one is sweeter?

“Probably this one you know! Taking a title after a title is lot of pressure, so winning it twice feels really good.”

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Photo: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo/Facebook

A total of 242 of Guyana’s Indigenous communities will this week begin receiving payments, amounting to billions of dollars, from Guyana’s sale of carbon credits, a scheme through which the country’s rainforest is valued for the harmful greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, it sucks in and stores.

A tonne of carbon is equal to one carbon credit, and the American company Hess has bought 30% of Guyana’s total credits for US$750 million in a 10-year agreement ending in 2032. The payment from Hess is being made in tranches, and last year, 15% of all funds received, totalling close to G$5 billion, went to indigenous communities.

The Toshaos have a legal body called the National Toshaos Council (NTC); it has a very broad mandate which includes planning and developing policies, programmes and projects aimed at sustainable development, general welfare improvement and the promotion of the rights of Indigenous peoples.

But the individual Toshaos and village councils need money to do all of that, especially to drive social and economic projects that would uplift their communities and people.

The Toshaos therefore agreed to opt in to the carbon credits scheme.

Following consultations between the government and Toshaos, an agreement was reached that 15% of all payments received by Guyana from the sale of carbon credits would go to indigenous communities.

Last year the communities received payments for the first time and they are due to receive a similar amount – close to $5 billion – this year.

An additional $100 million was set aside this year for new entrants, such as Community Development Councils which manage small communities with minority Amerindian populations.

On Tuesday, Vice President Jagdeo held an interactive session with Toshaos and throughout the week, they will meet with several government ministers to discuss a range of issues.

He reminded them that it is their villages which decide on how the funds are spent and they also have the right to decide if they want the money or not.

And he was passionate in his defence of the way the ruling PPP/C government has dealt with Toshaos, denouncing attempts by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) to discredit the consultation programme and the acceptance of the agreement payment terms by the NTC. The APA, Dr Jagdeo pointed out, even sought to stop the carbon credits scheme.

But he said the PPP/C government have always practised a consultative process and has upheld the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

He pointed out that President Irfaan Ali attended Day One of the NTC conference and was there again on Tuesday. And throughout the week, almost all the government ministers will hold interactive sessions with the Toshaos. This he said has been a practice since the NTC Conference started under the PPP/C.

“This is a unique thing; you find out from the APA if this happens in any country in the world – any country where Indigenous people live – any country in the world, you ask them,” Dr Jagdeo declared.

He said this broad-based interaction with Indigenous leaders and the government happens “because of the respect for these villages and our job bringing people together not dividing them.”

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Guyanese pair Jason-Ray Khalil and Samuel Ince-Carvahal have stormed into the semi-finals of the Men’s Doubles of the ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championship with a clinical win over Seth Thong and Leonel Sorrillo of Trinidad and Tobago.

Playing at the doubles court at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue on Tuesday morning, Khalil and Ince-Carvahal made light work of their opponents, despite coming into the tournament with limited preparation on the doubles court.

After 24 minutes of play, Khalil and Ince-Carvahal emerged with a solid 11-6, 11-7 success over Thong and Sorrillo.

The victory secured the Guyanese a spot in the semi-final against Bajan pair Darien Benn and Shawn Simpson on Wednesday morning.

From left: Samuel Ince-Carvahal, Jason-Ray Khalil, Leonel Sorrillo and Seth Thong (Photo: News Room/Kirth Cadogan/August 20, 2024)

For Khalil and Ince-Carvahal, having limited prep time on the doubles court meant having to craft a deliberate strategy, one that they were able to execute to perfection on Tuesday morning.

Ince-Carvahal said: “Obviously going in we’ve not really had a lot of practice on the doubles court, so our aim was just to expose the weaker player. We found the weaker player and we tried to play the ball to the front of the court for most of the shots and win the rallies, and it worked out for us.”

Khalil added: “We had a plan going in whereas we knew our strengths- our speed and shot-making ability and we just played upon that. Like he (Ince-Carvahal) said, we found the weaker player and we just attacked him relentlessly.”

For Thong and Sorrillo, it was about enjoying the experience playing doubles, a format of squash that is relatively new to them.

Sorrillo said: “It was real fun. It is something new for both of us. It was a good experience; we tried we best, but they took plenty points in the front court.”

Thong remarked: “I basically think the same thing. It was kind of hard adjusting because we don’t really play doubles too much- we don’t have doubles courts back home. It’s just a few mistakes we fell short on, and hopefully next time we do better.”

The ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championship is set to continue all week, with the final day of action being Saturday.

Matches are being held at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue and the Georgetown Club Courts on Camp Street.

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