Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 03-01-2022

MONDAY

See Inside

3rd JANUARY, 2022

No. 106593

Over $7.5B in COVID-19 cash grants disbursed 25 babies born on New Year’s Day - benefitting households in all administrative regions of Guyana

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First Lady Arya Ali visits a mother at the GPHC maternity ward on New Year’s Day

British broadcaster with Guyanese roots knighted SEE PAGE

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Iyelia Mendonca holds her newborn as she collects a hamper from a healthcare worker

Bumper harvest expected as sowing for first rice crop well underway 13 SEE PAGE

Locals to have easier access to opportunities in O&G sector SEE PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

25 babies born on New Year’s Day

Iyelia Mendonca holds her newborn as she collects a hamper from a healthcare worker

First Lady Arya Ali visits a mother at the GPHC maternity ward on New Year’s Day TWENTY-FIVE births were recorded at the various public hospitals on New Year’s Day and, as is customary, First Lady Arya Ali, visited the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) maternity ward and distributed hampers to mothers.

In a message published on her official Facebook page on Saturday, the First Lady, who is a mother herself, expressed how much her visits to the mothers mean to her. She described the babies as bringing renewed hope and promise of a brighter tomorrow.

“Though I have a very busy schedule today, nothing could have prevented me from celebrating the miracle of mother-

hood with these amazing women as we usher in the new year. I was also pleased to present the mothers with hampers and care packages for their bundles of joy,” she said.

She extended her gratitude to Predo, Twins Manufacturing and DeSinco, for donating items for the hampers that were distributed to the mothers.

Six boys and six girls were born at the GPHC, while six babies were born in Berbice between the New Amsterdam and Port Mourant Hospitals. Three babies were born at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, two babies were born at the Linden Hospital Complex and another two were born at the Suddie Hospital in Region Two.

At GPHC, the first delivery came less than an hour into the new year. Shanaz Hamid, 25, delivered a baby girl weighing over 3.49kg at 00:47hrs. A few minutes later at 01:10hrs, 18-year-old Aneera Bess gave birth to a girl weighing 3.06kg.

The maternity ward was kept busy for the rest of the morning as the next six babies were delivered before midday.

Still in the wee hours of the morning, 27-year-old Tricia DeLacruz had a boy weighing 2.81kg at 02:25hrs. Twentyyear-old Brittney Barker delivered the second baby girl of the day at 03:54hrs, while 19-yearold Maria Martins delivered a girl at 07:50hrs, and 20-year-old Madivi Tarochand had a boy at 08:30hrs. At 09:59hrs, 20-yearold Shellon Britton gave birth to her bouncing baby boy weighing 4.57kg, while 22-year-old Teanisha Henry had a baby girl weighing 3.52kg at 11:25hrs.

In Berbice, Regional Health Services distributed hampers and care packages to the mothers.

The first of the five babies born at the New Amsterdam Hospital was delivered at 00:30hrs to first-time mother, 17-year-old Heerawattie Seepersaud, who gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

Expressing her joy at her safe delivery, she said that giving birth on the first day of the year to her first child was a great start for her. She said that her family was delighted.

It was after she began experiencing labour pains on Friday evening that Seepersaud made no hesitation to get to the hospital. Her baby was delivered shortly after her arrival. As she held her firstborn, she became overwhelmed with emotions.

At 07:19hrs, a baby girl, weighing 3.4kg, was born to 31-year-old Hemwattie Lal-

beharri, of Betsy Ground, East Canje. Just over an hour and a half later at 08:53 hrs, 26-yearold Iyelia Mendonca, of Lot 8 Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, delivered her baby.

Another first-time mother, 20-year-old Katice Fordyce of Number 30 Village, West Coast Berbice, was not expecting a New Year’s Day baby. While she was initially told her labour might be challenging, thanks to the work of her doctors, she managed to deliver her baby without any hiccups. She gave birth to a 3kg baby girl at 09:32hrs and said the experience was simple and exciting.

Priya Ramnarine, a 27-yearold of Enmore, East Coast Demerara also gave birth to a baby girl, who weighed 3.4kg and was delivered at 12:31 hrs.

Meanwhile, at 03:25hrs, 29-year-old Amanda Sukhwa, of Lot 22 Whim, gave birth to the only New Year’s Day baby

Christina Joseph and her baby girl

at the Port Mourant Hospital.

The baby boy weighed 2.95kg.

Sukhwa, already a mother of three, expressed how grateful she was to have been able to deliver at the Port Mourant Hospital, which is only a few villages away from her home.

“Everything went well, the baby is healthy and strong, and so I was able to come home and be with my family,” she said.

At the West Demerara Regional Hospital, all three of the babies were born in the late afternoon, beginning with 22-year-old Tricia Cummings, who gave birth to a 1.58kg premature baby girl. She was followed by 18-year-old Ariana Daniels, who delivered a 3.4kg baby girl, and 22-year-old Darshanie Kunic who gave birth to a baby boy weighing 3.7kg.

At the Linden Hospital complex the first baby, a boy weighing 3.06kg, was born to 23-year-old Delicia Rodrigues

at 06:31hrs. The next baby came at 19:43hrs to 24-year-old first time mother, Roylyn Rawlins.

At the Suddie Hospital, Christina Joseph and Serita Ghanie, shared their joy of delivering naturally on New Year’s Day. For Joseph, a resident of Karawab, an Amerindian community, she delivered her eighth child, a baby girl, weighing 2.8kg. She shared the joy of the moment with her husband Maxim Joseph, and named her daughter Shameena.

Ghanie, of Lot 137 Pomona Housing Scheme delivered her baby girl at 10:52hrs. Ghanie was excited to welcome her newborn and to start a new year with her baby.

Both mothers showered praises on the staff of the maternity ward for their patience and guidance during the birthing process.

Heerawattie Seepersaud receives a hamper from a health official at the New Amsterdam Hospital

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Over $7.5B in COVID-19 cash grants disbursed to households countrywide

OF all the financial incentives given to Guyanese over the past 16 months, government has expended in excess of $7.5 billion on the distribution of the COVID-19 cash grants alone.

Once completed, this programme is expected to see each household in Guyana benefiting from a one-off grant valued at $25,000.

In his official New Year’s message to the nation, President Dr. Irfaan Ali indicated that, under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, each of the 10 Administrative Regions have benefitted from the programme, “…injecting critical liquidity into the economy and providing a cash lifeline to households, so many of which were thrown into distress as a result of the pandemic.”

Admittedly, the COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance Voucher Programme commenced under the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), following the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. However, an audit later found that of the 11,000 households, the programme denied more than 9,000 eligible Guyanese from benefitting from the grant. More specifically, it was noted that the programme excluded residents of hinterland, who were given hampers instead of the monies promised.

When the Dr. Ali-led government assumed office in August 2020, the programme was boosted to ensure that each household in Guyana received its entitled grants.

The first phase of the grants commenced in September, with a notable allocation of $4.5 billion. During the distribution exercise, primary households received the grant, while tenants or other families residing at the same address, were issued a ‘pink slip’ for follow-up during the second phase.

Over the past 16 months, the programme benefitted from additional allocations, which also saw approximately 16,000 holders of the pink slips/query forms, being served. Under the PPP/C Government, hinterland residents who were denied the allocation, were given preference.

Earlier in the year, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, explained

that the hinterland residents were served first, as they were considered to be more vulnerable.

“It is very expensive to live in those areas and they are not so accessible to services of the government as other regions, and so we thought that it would be best to start paying in those regions first,” Dharamlall was quoted as saying by the government’s Department of Public Information (DPI).

AMERINDIAN COMMUNITIES Additionally, the government also distributed $1.73 billion to Amerindian communities as part of its one-off COVID-19 relief investment fund, aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and revitalising hinterland economies.

Wi t h i n t h e p a s t 1 6 months, the people of Guyana have benefitted from a host of cash incentives from the government, as a means of cushioning the impact that the global pandemic has had on their livelihoods.

As a matter of fact, a recent report compiled by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) showed that households in Guyana have benefitted from more government cash transfers than the vast majority of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The report, which is the results of a regional survey titled: “An Uneven Recovery: the Impact of COVID-19 on Latin America and the Caribbean”, pointed out that close to 80 per cent of Guyanese households have benefitted from either regular or emergency cash transfers during the pandemic.

According to the report, only households in Bolivia and El Salvador have ben-

The COVID-19 cash grants have been distributed to households in all 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana efitted more than households in Guyana with Haiti at the bottom of the list with around three per cent.

The COVID-19 cash grant programme is just one of the many that Guyanese would have benefitted from in recent months. It was just before the holidays that government announced a special $612 million payout for all healthcare workers across the country.

President Ali hailed the contributions of the healthcare workers, acknowledging the fact that their sacrifices and efforts to fight off the pandemic were deserving of pecuniary recognition.

Added to that, when the May 2021 floods hit, with floodwaters surpassing 15 feet in some areas, the Dr. Ali Government also responded with financial assistance, announcing $7.8 billion payout for every household and farmer affected by the disaster. So far, $7.3 billion worth of cheques have been distributed.

OTHER RELIEFS

The government also restored the education cash grants to parents of schoolaged children; it was even extended to include children attending private schools, and according to the President, $3.6 billion have since been distributed to the parents of 192,000 children.

In addition to the onemonth tax-free bonus to members of the disciplined services, the government also paid an across-the-board increase of seven per cent to all Central Government employees.

Even further, sugar workers who lost their jobs and

were left on the breadline owing to the haphazard closure of four sugar estates, were also given a one-off grant of $250,000.

Moreover, in addition to increasing old-age pensions by over 21 per cent and public assistance by 33 per cent, the government also announced a $2.6 billion relief for vulnerable groups, which included the distribution of $25,000 to all old-age pensioners.

President Ali has assured that as Guyana pursues a prosperous future, Guyanese will not be left behind, and that effective programmes and

policies would be put in place to ensure that Guyana is never again, referred to as among the poorest countries of the world. “Never again must we be subjected to insults and contempt… our people must share in the benefits of the wealth that is now Guyana’s – and share in it without fear or favour,” Dr. Ali asserted.

In his New Year’s address, he continued, “It is the right of their birth and a right that has been earned by them and their fore-parents who toiled, sweated and sacrificed to make Guyana their beloved homeland.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Scenes from Old Year’s Night celebrations

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

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Scenes from Old Year’s Night...

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

A Significant Milestone

WE are now in the new year of 2022. The new year from all appearances is pregnant with new hopes and opportunities, especially in the context of our new status as a significant player on the international petroleum stage. According to market projections, oil prices are expected to remain fairly stable in 2022, which means that any incremental amount of oil produced would bring additional sums of money into our national coffers.

With the passage into law following the signing by President Ali of the Natural Resource Fund Bill and the Local Content Bill, Guyana is now positioned to make concrete plans on how to best utilise the funds to promote the country’s development.

President Ali has already given some hints as to how the oil money will be spent.

Consistent with his human development and pro-people inclination, the President has indicated that a proportion of the oil funds will be invested in improving the welfare of Guyanese. This announcement was made by President Ali during his New Year’s Day Message to the nation.

He extended appreciation to all the stakeholders who were involved in drafting the legislation, in particular young people who were involved in the drafting of the legislation.

President Ali made it abundantly clear that he would be ‘steering the ship to take the country forward and will dismantle barriers and build a cohesive vehicle which will aid in moving

forward and transforming the country.’ The overall aim he said, is to create a win-win situation in which every stakeholder will be the ultimate winner.

These are indeed deeply profound and forward-looking thinking on the President’s part, whose stewardship continues to be applauded by a wide cross-section of Guyanese and the international community.

The President took the opportunity to debunk a number of untruths being peddled by the political opposition and some opposition media outfits regarding the manner in which the Board of Directors of the NRF would be constituted. The view expressed by some opposition elements that the board will be ‘unilaterally’ appointed

by the President,and will then be subservient to the President has also been wholly debunked.

According to the President, nothing could be further from the truth. While the President is obliged to sign the letters of appointment, the board will include a member from the parliamentary political opposition, a representative of the private sector and a representative of the Guyana Bar Association among others. These are not mechanisms that speak to the issue of unilateralism and control by the President, but a genuine attempt to include broad-based representation and introduce a fair measure of checks and balances into the decision-making process.

President Ali has not wasted any time in putting

his signature to the two new pieces of legislation which have now become law. It is significant that the President assented to the legislation on the last days of the new year, an indication of his administrative and governance style in which every unit of time is important, regardless of the season or time of the year.

The business of governance has already begun in earnest.

There is no time to waste.

It is worth recalling that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was formed some 72 years ago exactly on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1950, under the leadership of Dr Cheddi Jagan and has grown in stature over the decades to become the largest and most powerful political party in the country, despite several past attempts both by the colonial

powers and the PNC to emasculate the PPP and keep it out of power.

President Ali is now at the helm of a political administration that has long been shaped, steeled and tempered by some of the leading political luminaries in the country. His leadership style and his insistence on a people-oriented and pro-poor approach to development are consistent with that political and philosophical outlook.

Guyanese can rest assured that the resources of the state will be used with one objective in mind -- to advance the cause of the Guyanese people, regardless of race, politics, colour or creed.

A happy and productive 2022 to all Guyanese!

Seems as though PNC/R going south under Aubrey Norton

Dear Editor, THE recent despicable and repugnant behaviour of PNC/APNU+AFC Members of Parliament in the National Assembly leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of Guyanese and much to be desired. Such undesirables breathe contempt in the face of rationality and certainly points to the inherent and derived interpretation of some PNC/R parliamentary representatives. The new PNC/R leader is Aubrey Norton.

Norton’s exhibited lack of charisma and his adopted posture of bullish character, are among the many reasons why he was always in and out of the PNC leadership for more than three decades. By now, he must certainly understand why he never enjoyed the support of none of the previous leaders of the PNC and even when younger, as contributory factors to why he was never allowed to be the leader of the Young Socialist Movement.

Nothing in his political

past qualifies his condemnation of the GECOM Chairperson; His Excellency President Irfaan Ali; Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and other eminent leaders in the Guyanese society. He has certainly started on a slippery slope reflective of his past and early failures, his first job was as an office assistant at the Demerara Bauxite Company, and then the struggles he faced at the Critchlow Labour College to gain entrance to the University of Guyana.

To his credit, he survived on ‘mouthing up’, always arguing to the extent that more than seven of the leaders of the YSM always had cause to caution him about his behaviour. Those old enough to know will recall that while in the PNC, former President Desmond Hoyte sent him packing from the PNC party.

He was given a short stint in Parliament, but because of his unacceptable attitude, he was also removed forthwith from the Parliament.

The Guyanese people are

certainly not witnessing any positive traits of leadership in Aubrey Norton. Some leaders are born great; some achieve greatness, while others have greatness thrust upon them.

None of these are likely to emerge from Norton, who seems to feel that he could upturn the democratic balance by force. It would be recalled that he attempted to defend the exaggerated attempts to steal the March 2020 elections by his party. Norton is therefore not qualified to accuse anyone of thievery.

Contrary to the PNC, PPP leaders were elected and won the votes of the genuine leadership and confidence of the party. After the founderleaders had made way for new leadership, the PPP leadership carefully selected Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, a brilliant young leader, to the helm of government. His tremendous and qualitative qualities inspired and motivated the party to elect him General-Secretary of the PPP. Further, after thorough

discussions in the party, Dr Irfaan Ali was nominated and elected the presidential candidate from among a cadre of PPP men and women of substance, themed with heavy leadership potential. Of note, winning a place in the PPP Executive and Central Committee is not easy, but will always continue to be allinclusive, democratic, and as mature people, they will lead Guyana and make our country a paradise. Comparatively, therefore, the PPP’s fairness of process although highly competitive will never run out of solid leadership options.

The abominable and atrocious behaviour in the Parliament last Wednesday night must be carefully monitored.

The few who threatened to organise the massive protest proved the general lack of support through its massive failure. I am indeed heartened to have received several calls from prominent citizens who are extremely happy that the two ‘bills” were successfully passed.

The new leadership of the Aubrey Norton-led PNC/R must have recognised the reality and appreciate that we are living in better times, to resort to this kind of attentionseeking, irrational actions. His immediate challenge to the chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh and the Chief Election Officer Vishnu Persaud, further exposes his unchanged, unqualified and unfounded contempt for the PPP. His challenge and demand to be Leader of the Opposition are certainly baseless and internally divisive. Further, the baseless criticisms of the government, particularly the PPP leadership, have only exposed his infantile mentality.

The show that went on in Parliament did not have the support of the majority of members on the opposition benches. More than half the members were sitting in their seats while others went away.

Those who are insecure put on the show to show that they

are protesters. The real story behind the Wednesday protest is the total failure of the opposition to put on the massive protest that they were hoping to organise.

The year 2021 was indeed a better year for all Guyanese.

Consequently, the ‘jumbies’ and haters must all wake up and see the light at the end of the tunnel. Burnham died trying to have talks with the PPP; Hoyte died with the credit that he allowed free and fair elections in 1992; Granger, after all, had to concede defeat at the polls after allowing party hacks to have their way in trying to steal the true results.

Guyanese must unite and let us recognise the reality that the PPP/C is more transparent, inclusive, and certainly offering good leadership. A happy and progressive 2022 to all Guyanese. We are certainly starting this year with another positive PPP Manifesto commitment fulfilled.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

The government has shown the will to distribute Guyana’s resources equitably

Dear Editor I KNEW that it was just a matter of time before the fledgling parties begin to flex their muscles to indicate that they are independent of the PPP/C and to create a niche in the populace and what is a better way of displaying this other than jump up and start singing the old corruption mantra made famous by the PNC (APNU) and the AFC. Both, the Chairman of ANUG, Mr Timothy Jonas and the leader of the Liberty and Justice Party, Mr Lennox Shuman have now sought to regain lost grounds. It must be reminded that these two are from the joinder parties which gained a seat in Parliament and were both vociferous during the five-month period when the Coalition had sought to rig the 2020 Elections. They must be complimented for their fight to restore democracy.

However, once that has been done it is now time for them to stake claim to their party’s independence and to take to the campaign path. But what is disappointing is the fact they are making unfounded allegations which have chorused that of the PNC. According to ANUG, there is ‘an alarming trend to dispense with necessary systemic safeguards, to marginalise

the citizens of Guyana who are not perceived to number among the party faithful, and to favour those citizens of Guyana who are perceived to be supporters, while shaping statutory institutions and systems to facilitate easy access to State resources to pursue this divisive agenda’.

Since when is borrowing illegal? When monies borrowed are ill spent and siphoned off as what the Coalition did for five years then that is corruption.

Just take a look at the $30 billion bond for GuySuCo and the alarming discoveries highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report. What was this government expected to do when all the reserves were actually depleted and the Consolidated Fund was abused and raped thoroughly?

What would have ANUG, if in government, done to jump start the economy in the midst of a menacing pandemic and a merciless flood?

Are citizens being marginalised? This is absurd and laughable. Since this government took office more than $25 billion were put into the pockets of consumers and the ripple effect to the economy has achieved the desired results.

Citizens have been able to cope with a rising cost of living due to supply chain issues resulting from the pandemic. In addition, the financial resources

were equitably distributed and I would like to see real and hard examples of ‘marginalisation’.

This is again singing from the PNC’s Song Book. Moreover, infrastructural developments have been taking place in all the communities regardless of perceived political support. I have submitted evidence in one of my letter that Fyrish Village, which is predominantly populated

by Afro-Guyanese, received more capital funds than Kilcoy/ Hampshire, Port Mourant and Black Bush Polder combined.

This is just one example. It is the PPP/C supporters who should cry marginalisation.

Mr Jonas should walk across the various communities affected by the flood and investigate whether the COVID-19 cash relief and flood relief only favoured ‘party faithfuls’. This is so disgusting and untrue.

Anyone who made claims and submitted evidence of crop destruction which is verified received the flood relief. Politicians worth their salt should go on the ground and investigate claims and provide evidencebased reports rather than listen to gossips being peddled by people with an anti-PPP agenda.

This is gullibility to the extreme.

What ‘statutory institutions and systems’ are being shaped ‘to facilitate easy access to State resources to pursue this divisive

agenda’? Systems are in place to provide transparency and accountability for all funds which are disbursed to the citizens.

These are followed by audit trails unlike what the Coalition did and what the Auditor General’s Report has unearthed. Mr Jonas should compare the illegal NRF legislation under the Coalition with that of the current NRF Bill (now the National Resource Act) tabled by the government.

But it is an accepted fact that the National Resource Fund Act will never be able to satisfy the Opposition and its new partners since they are fixated on the theory that the PPP/C Government will squander the oil monies and only they are capable of getting the NRF Act correct. They want to run the government being an opposition.

President Ali went at length to explain that the NRF is in compliance with the General Accepted Principles and Practices of the Santiago Principles. The Honourable Finance Minister also outlined the new structures of the NRF which took away the sweeping powers to the Minister of Finance and vested these in a board and Parliament. This brings to mind the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Bill which due to non-approval had resulted in Guyana being blacklisted and also the Procure-

ment (Amendment Bill) which Ramjattan continued to peddle the wrong conception that the PPC would be an overriding and awarding procurement mechanism. Now this important piece of legislation is once again being used to foster the notion that the PPP/C Government wants to misuse the oil monies and the NRF Bill, if turned into law, is a recipe for corruption. The modus operandi of the Opposition has remained constant.

It is most disgraceful to read the disdain and contempt with which Mr Jonas holds the farmers and sugar workers. Similar to the PNC and the AFC he saw them as only supporters and members of the PPP/C. This is what he said in relation to monies which he claimed was borrowed with the oil money being used as collateral, ‘Billions of dollars were given to agriculture producers and to sugar workers’. Were these sums ‘given’ not to compensate them for the huge losses they suffered? What would have resulted if the government did not do so? Would they have been in a financial position to get back to farming?

What would have been Guyana’s position in terms of food?

This government saved this sector from being literally wiped out. Why is Mr Jonas turning a blind eye to the sufferings endured by the severed sugar

workers for three long years when the three estates were callously and unconscionably shuttered and over 7,000 workers were thrown under the bus? Mr Jonas is the financial compensation given by the PPP/C Government adequate to compensate these workers? What about the pension and other benefits lost?

I believed that ANUG tried to engage these same workers to vote for them in 2015.

Mr Jonas should not be making baseless accusations but must provide proof. He is a lawyer and should know best to distinguish between opinion, perception, assumption and facts.

I therefore, request Mr Jonas to desist from saying that the oil revenues will be used to pursue a ‘divisive agenda’. Nothing could be further from the truth. This government has shown the will and determination to distribute Guyana’s resources in an equitable and just manner. Mr Jonas should take control over his overactive imagination. Third parties will never again be trusted in this country and the thuggery and the hooliganism of the PNC will continue aided by these fledgling parties.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Dear Editor, SUBSEQUENT to the recent ruling of the Court of Appeal by a majority of two judges of a three-member bench, finding that they had jurisdiction to determine the correctness or otherwise, of a decision of the chief justice in the matter of an election petition, there have been trenchant criticisms of the majority ruling. Conversely, there has been criticism of the critics of the majority ruling to the effect, that their criticisms scandalised the court and was an attack upon the majority judges which violated the separation of powers. The criticisms flowing from the majority judgment are identified with government support and on the other side, with the opposition and its agents.

Here in Guyana and elsewhere in the Commonwealth, instances abound of criticism of the decisions of judges. A few years ago in Australia, some ministers of the Australian Government referred to certain judges of the Appeal Court

of Australia as “hard left activist judges,” who had “eroded any trust left in the legal system.” In the United Kingdom in a certain case, the judges were described as “enemies of the people” and about the decision in the same case, one leading newspaper in London carried the caption “The day democracy died.” A decision of UK judges to prohibit publication of the book “SPYCATCHER” evoked a response from a British newspaper carrying the headline: “YOU FOOLS” and the report was accompanied by a photograph of the judges upside down, standing on their heads! In the famous Birmingham six appeal case, an appellate judge was described in the media as being possessed of “narcissistic arrogance” and “worthless certainty.” Another judge in the same case was described as simply not fit for a position in which he had the power to put human beings in prison.” The writer made the unambiguous demand that both of the judges “have got to go.”

Guyanese will not forget the

virulent attacks by APNU+AFC politicians upon the Chief Justice, the Honourable Roxane George, consequent upon her decisions in some recent election-related cases which engaged her attention, whereby she was damnified and vilified and unfairly and unjustly referred to in no uncertain terms as “a PPP/C activist.” In the months immediately before he demitted office, former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, was subjected to vile and demeaning attacks by APNU+AFC government agents, which attacks were appropriately described by the former Speaker of the National Assembly, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, as being in the nature of “unprecedented savagery.”

So attacks/criticisms of the judiciary are nothing new and are now viewed in relation to judges as an occupational hazard. Since from around the 1930s in the UK, the freedom of the citizen to criticise the judiciary has been indisputably recognised, though as AttorneyGeneral Anil Nandlall has correctly

pointed out, such criticism must be done in good faith and the critic must be respectful.

The current position, though established years ago, is still of meaning and relevance. It was explained by an English judge who said “Justice is not a cloistered virtue, she must be allowed to suffer the scrutiny and respectful, even though outspoken comments of ordinary men.” This position prompted Lord Carswell in the UK to remark that “Judges have to be hardy enough to shrug off criticism, even if it is intemperate or abusive, which has happened, even if it is unfair and ill informed…”

The recent ruling by our Court of Appeal bore overtly high political tones. A ruling which went against the case presented by the ruling party was bound to attract criticism, but the criticism was contextualised. Reference was made to the patently erroneous conclusion arrived at by this very pair of judges in the APNU+AFC “no confidence vote” appeal, that a vote by 33 members of the 65

member National Assembly did not represent a majority vote. This, as the CCJ judgment demonstrated, was an absurd judgment. It was a judgment that had no basis in arithmetic, logic or law. It represents an odious stain on the jurisprudence of our Court of Appeal. One recalls in the televised report of the proceedings of the CCJ, the scornful grin on the face of a member of the bench in response to the arguments of counsel that 33 was not the majority of 65.

In analysing this “no confidence vote” decision of our Court of Appeal, one must of necessity consider what informed such an obvious, patently wrong decision.

In so doing, certain realities must be confronted. Every judge in Guyana has the right to a vote.

The exercise of that right to vote is influenced by political considerations. While of necessity, to convey their neutrality, every judge is expected to keep their political choices/preferences in their bosoms, but it is nevertheless there. When therefore, a case of

high political flavour is decided against logic, law and reason, such a decision invites the not unreasonable inference or conclusion that the judge/s were unconsciously biased and gave effect to their political preference/s. This is not an unreasonable nor unfair inference or conclusion. Particularly in the context of Guyana’s politics, a not insignificant section of our society would perceive the judge /s in such circumstances to be affected by bias. In the particular case of the majority judges in the recent ruling in the Court of Appeal, serious consideration by them is respectfully urged of this prevailing public perception which is unavoidably intertwined with their highly flawed and unreasonable decision in their “no confidence vote” appeal decision. Such consideration should inevitably lead to their further consideration to recuse themselves from any further hearing of this election-related matter.

Yours sincerely, Selwyn Persaud

Court of Appeal rulings: criticisms, overturned decisions and a bold suggestion

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

I suppose I am in safe hands, knock on wood

TYPICALLY, one starts off the new year elegantly by making plans, setting goals, and hoping for the best.

I am, however, hesitant to gravitate to these sentiments, unfortunately.

Consider for example that at least one person or group or company every month last year was suing someone for some reason, rightly or wrongly so. I have noticed that three dailies, Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, and Guyana Times, were sued by high-profile individuals in politics and business. As far as known, the Guyana Chronicle was

not sued last year but paid a hefty price before August 2020 for some reckless reporting. Kudos to the current Editor-in-Chief and the staff at the Chronicle. I suppose I am in safe hands, knock on wood.

I understand that newspapers can be a product of fake news, and the intent can be to twist and distort facts to create and present a bad impression of an individual or a company. The outcome is the misrepresentation of information and defamation of character, commonly referred to as libel, slander, or mama guying. However,

the aforesaid, if experienced, is not axiomatic. Anyone pursuing a legal claim must prove that a false statement has caused injury to someone’s reputation.

Now, I am not a lawyer, but commonsense would lead me to think that opinions are not willy-nilly libel, and if so, we will be muzzled. If opinions are false, or deliberately false, then one can be sued for falsity that causes harm. However, if opinions are based on truths, then a libel or defamation case becomes difficult to

prove. There are additional defenses that consider statements to be purely opinions that are protected by some law or privilege. I will have to call in the lawyers to help me on this one. I do know that Guyana’s Libel/Slander Laws state that “defamatory libel is a crime punishable by imprisonment of three years or less.” For this reason, one cannot in the news media, including columnists, simply say or write anything he or she wants. The most acceptable route to publishing is to experience the freedom to express views in a responsible and ethical manner.

Of course, one should seek some sort of justice when felt harmed using the journey of jurisprudence. I am not sure, however, if all cases deserve to be in court since some appear to be frivolous.

Then there is this New Year resolution thing, which I have googled to see what it really means. I have settled on this description. It is a European thing that goes back for centuries, and, ever since, Christians every New Year make a pledge to be good and obedient to their God.

Today, these sentiments have been extended to include almost everyone and the guiding principle is based on self-improvement. So, every New Year people across the globe embrace resolutions, and the most common are weight loss, and how to save money. Unfortunately, the research has shown that more than 50 per cent of people do not keep up with their resolution by mid-year. In my case, I have always been less curious about resolutions because I was born and raised in an unenvied environment where resolutions were not only a New Year thing but an everyday occurrence. One must make new resolutions every day to survive. I did not realise the difference until I arrived in North America.

If I am pressured to make a resolution, however, I would do the following. I would invite my friends regularly and feed them all sorts of good food so that they would put on weight, while I maintain my weight, and in that way, it would that appear I have lost some weight. Isn’t this resolution more realistic to achieve? Joke aside, I would rather see us tackle

climate change more seriously as we move forward, as so aptly expressed in a stanza of Ryhaan Shah’s forthcoming collection of poems titled A Leaf Trembles and Falls.

Of destruction enraged by our callous carnage Dressed as progress that rampages Without thought or concern and burns a hole In the heavens that causes the seas to rise And shatter our puny manmade wall Which snakes all along our coastland lives But cannot yet defy the might and the majesty Of skyscraper waves whiskered with delicate foam This daily existential threat That edges our continental self From where we look out on the world And our drowning death (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Become the change you want to see

MOST of us aim to start the New Year off on the right foot. The adage says ‘out with the old and in with the new’.

That is easy to say, but the essential point is to keep the momentum going. Change should be consistent and not merely a flash in the pan brought about by a new stage in time. Ironically, every day is a new stage in time, but we tend to take each waking day for granted, usually unaware that we can make change happen at any given moment.

A famous saying asks, ‘if not now, when?’.

This column, ‘4 minutes 4 change’, takes roughly four minutes to read, and the objective is to evoke behavioural change in how some children are viewed and treated by adults. Child abuse is a global crime against developing children. In Guyana, data coming into the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) indicate that children consistently suffer at the hands of adults.

Every day they are beaten mercilessly by parents and adults who should be caring for them. They are sexually

abused by family members or adults who should be protecting them, with many mothers turning a blind eye or blaming children (their sons or daughters) for the abuse. In many cases, adults prefer to shield the sexual perpetrators from the law and deny children the justice they deserve, adding more pain to their trauma.

Some adults neglect, abandon or leave their children to fend for themselves while they go about their lives, barely recognising that children have needs. Adults in some households curse and swear at children, calling them offensive names. They degrade and belittle them - until the child feels like an empty shell, unloved, uncared for and unwanted. No mindful adult would expose the nation’s children to such distressing childhoods. Yet many children endure these ordeals.

Statistics up to November 2021 show that over 130 boys and more than 850 girls between 4 and 18 years old suffered sexual abuse. These are the ones that came to light - the ones reported to CPA offices in different Regions by teachers,

neighbours and other citizens.

The data for physical abuse and child neglect are similarly daunting, with approximately 1,206 children (4 to 18 years old) neglected during the past year and 699 from the same age group physically abused across Guyana.

In a perfect world, the aim would be to eliminate child abuse, and adults would recognise their role as child protectors. Even suspected abuse would be reported, investigated and the necessary action taken to protect children and educate parents before the abuse became ingrained.

Our principal adult purpose would be to make a better life for children who suffer at the hands of abusers. Instead of waiting for someone else or upon Government Agencies to take up the mantle, we should band together in our communities, religious groups, families and organisations to work alongside Child Protection Officers and other child safeguarding establishments to root out abuse.

This worthy mission must be our duty of care for the

abused children of Guyana.

Like everyone else, they deserve to have hopes, aspirations and a vision of a better future.

The reason we need to make a better life for them is apparent. Broken children become severely broken adults. Without help, dysfunctional relationships, domestic violence or other social abnormalities may dominate their lives as they embark on adulthood. Stress, fatigue or anxiety may hamper their contributions to society and affect the choices and decisions they make. Excessive alcohol or recreational drug use could become an accepted and prominent part of their lifestyle, and, in turn, their children will suffer.

While children are developing, adults need to instil values, morals and qualities that enhance their existence and allow them (the children) to reach their fullest potential.

However, not all adults are equipped with the skills to treat children appropriately. Many lack parental knowledge, abilities and foresight. Where does this leave the nurturing, protection and care of their children?

In many cases, children fall prey to predators and depraved individuals who see them as nothing but a means to fulfil their selfish repugnant desires.

Child sexual abuse is a heinous crime against a child. Abuse causes trauma, and, without counselling and positive input in their lives, survivors will suffer adverse long-term effects.

Child protection is every adult’s responsibility. The number of children suffering abuse is too many; we must take the role of child protector seriously.

We need to cultivate and sustain the will to protect children by calling out child abuse and neglect where ever it exists. Only caring adults can highlight children’s plights and advocate sincerely on their behalf.

Communities can mobilise themselves by appointing honourable people to look out for and speak up for children. They can form groups to brainstorm ideas and find ways to keep children safe in their neighbourhoods. Hotline numbers and links to appropriate persons in child safeguarding and protection can be saved for when needed and distributed to those

who proactively desire to support vulnerable children.

Children are not to blame for the circumstances around them - or the ill fate that befalls them in their prime. They are innocent individuals who rely on adult interaction, guidance, and support, to learn about life and find their identity. It is uncanny how profoundly our childhoods affect our adult lives; whether we are aware of where and how we learnt our traits or not, we live by the experiences acquired along the way to adulthood.

Adults have the power to enhance each negative childhood journey positively. In 2022, please let us work together to highlight, help and support unprotected children in Guyana.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@ gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Opportunities await Guyana in 2022

AS Guyana heads into a promising new year, it is important to look back to understand the strong foundation the country has already built and how this will continue to support exploration, discovery, and development in 2022.

Since 2015, 26 oil discoveries have been made in Guyana, mostly located in the Stabroek Block. Within the next few years, operating companies predict that many additional commercial discoveries could be made in the Stabroek and elsewhere, especially as wider drilling efforts in new blocks are approved and exploration continues in established ones.

Guyana is currently producing about 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day with the Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which came online in late

2019. In November 2021, the government announced that the country successfully completed its fifth and final oil lift for the year, its ninth lift overall. This is an excellent jumping off point as Guyana looks forward into the next few years, and is already thinking about adding more production to its portfolio.

Due to discoveries throughout 2021, Guyana’s reserves are now estimated to stand at more than 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent. In the second half of 2021, ExxonMobil discovered significant oil reserves in the Whiptail-1&2, Pinktail, Turbot-2 and Cataback wells in the Stabroek Block, adding about one billion barrels of oil equivalent to Guyana’s overall reserves.

Most significantly, Guyana’s Yellowtail field will be a focal point in 2022. While this

area’s FPSO is not expected to come online until 2025, the operating company has plans to continue drilling new wells and increase exploration efforts near the Yellowtail-1, Yellowtail-2, and Redtail wells, where oil has already been found.

In late October 2021, the Liza Unity, Guyana’s second FPSO arrived in the country’s waters. This FPSO will also service the Liza field and has a production capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day, more than doubling Guyana’s current output. The Unity is expected to begin production early in 2022, with a slow ramp up to full production by the end of the year.

The Stabroek Block operating company, ExxonMobil, has already commissioned the country’s third FPSO, which will service the Payara project, which

reached a final investment decision in late 2019, and will be operational by 2024.

Finally, ExxonMobil is in talks with SBM Offshore for the construction of a fourth FPSO that will service the Yellowtail fields and is expected to come online in 2025 with a production capacity of 250,000 barrels per day. These four FPSOs will serve as the foundation for Guyana’s longer-term production as operating company ExxonMobil has stated it hopes to install up to ten FPSOs to develop current resources.

With the introduction of additional FPSOs, consultancy Wood Mackenzie expects Guyana to reach production levels of 1.1 million barrels of oil per day by the end of the decade, which will make Guyana only the eleventh country in history to pass the one-million-barrel per

day production milestone.

And with recent and ongoing exploration and new discoveries, this goal does not seem far from reality.

Over the next four years, ExxonMobil alone expects to drill 37 new wells in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, which experts say will more than double estimated reserves.

As of now, efforts are focused on exploration in the Fangtooth and Lau Lau-1 wells. While efforts remain focused on the Stabroek Block, which has already proven lucrative, the Canje, Kaieteur, Orinduik, Kanuku, and Demerara Blocks will also experience some action.

Spain’s Repsol plans to drill the Beebei-Potaro well in the Kauku Block in mid2022, while Exxon plans a campaign in the Canje Block in 2022 which could potentially boost oil reserves.

CGX Energy also recently

announced a US$85 million investment in the exploration of the Kawa-1 well in the Corentyne Block.

As Guyana looks to 2022, the future is bright. In addition to ongoing exploration and new investment from current production companies, the government recently announced that it would hold an auction for additional offshore blocks in the third quarter of 2022.

As Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said in August, the country is pursuing a strategy of “getting as much oil out of the ground as quickly as possible,” while demand and prices remain high. As producers across the globe ramp up exploration and production efforts, Guyana has successfully positioned itself to run among the big players in international energy markets.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

11

Words of unity, love and inspiration

A series of banners have been placed on lamp poles in Georgetown and the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara offering words of unity, love and inspiration to passersby (Carl Croker photo)

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Unvaccinated woman is first to die from COVID-19 for 2022

AN unvaccinated woman, on Sunday, became the first COVID-19 related death for 2022, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 1,055, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The ministry said that the latest fatality is a 79-year-old unvaccinated woman from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Additionally, there are currently 1,317 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 281 new cases on January 2, 2022.

Region Two recorded six cases; Region Three, 21; Region Four, 189; Region Five, 10; Region Six, 49; Region Seven, one; Region Nine, three and Region 10, one case.

The country has now recorded a total of 40,060 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, five persons are at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious

Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 41 are in institutional isolation; 1,297 are in home isolation, and four are in institutional quarantine.

Many of the persons infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, that is, they are not exhibiting symptoms.

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force until January 31, 2022. They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended. The current curfew is 12:00hrs to 04:00hrs.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers: 231-1166; 226-7480; or 180/181 for assistance.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Man takes to river, allegedly shoots victim with arrow

LLOYD Carter, 45, a logger, was shot with an arrow while paddling in his boat in the vicinity of Muritaro on the Upper Demerara River on Saturday afternoon by a suspect who is known to reportedly harass the victim and his wife.

Based on police reports, enquiries revealed that the suspect assaulted the victim’s wife about five years ago and would hurl abusive and threatening remarks at the victim and his wife whenever he sees them.

On Saturday around 16:30hrs, Carter was paddling his boat in the Demerara River passing the suspect’s home when he heard someone paddling quickly behind, only to look around and observe that it was the suspect.

Carter continued pad-

dling but immediately felt something strike him on his back, which turned out to be an arrow that became stuck to the left side of his abdomen, protruding with a metal object at the front.

The victim observed the suspect with a bow in his hand and proceeded to ask him why he shot him; however, the suspect did not reply but only turned around his boat and paddled in the opposite direction and made good his escape.

Carter then paddled to a nearby residence where he sought assistance and was then escorted to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was immediately admitted a patient to undergo surgery.

His condition is listed as stable but serious.

The police are investigating the incident.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Bumper harvest expected as sowing for first rice crop well underway

DESPITE inclement weather and threats of flooding, rice farmers across the country have managed to move ahead with sowing their fields for the first rice crop of the year. National sowing projections for the year stands at an overall target of 227,240 acres, with more than 129,784 acres already sown, representing a percentage of over 57.11 per cent, as at last month. This is according to figures provided by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.

By region, Region Two has a sowing target of 34,580 acres, with 23,777 acres (68.76 per cent) already sown.

In Region Three, the sowing target is 21,417, of which 11,735 acres or 54.79 of the rice lands have already been sown.

Region Four, which has the least amount of rice lands, is pursuing a target of 8,500 acres, of which 7,100 acres or more than 83.53 per cent of the fields have already been sown.

As for sowing in Region Five, just over 45 per cent of the fields have been sown.

The region has a target of

99,723 acres, with 44,760 already sown.

Region Six, the largest rice-farming district in the country, sowing have surpassed 67 per cent of the 62,997 acres target. This means that 42,412 acres of the rice lands in that region have been sown.

Authorities are hoping that this crop would see a notably better harvest, as compared to last year, which saw thousands of acres of farmlands being under significant amounts of water for a lengthy period of time.

But even so, a number of government interventions, including the distribution of $7.8 billion in floodrelief monies, resulted in rice farmers being able to return to the fields, producing some 859,452 tonnes of paddy.

Of this, the country was able to export paddy, rice and rice by-products weighing 412,810 tonnes, which saw the sector earning US$189 million as at December, 2021.

MASSIVE DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION WORKS From the “get-go,” the Agriculture Ministry embarked on a series of flood-

mitigating activities which led to floodwaters receding as fast as the rain would allow. But even then, rice earnings for this year were projected to fall, since many farmers could not have afforded to replant their crop due to heavy losses and damage which their fields sustained.

The dire outcome was prevented as the government spared no hesitation in rolling out a comprehensive flood-relief programme, which not only saw thousands of farmers benefitting from cash grants, but also drainage and irrigation support as well as assistance such as seed paddy and fertilisers, among other things.

This served as direct impetus for scores of farmers to return to their fields, resulting in the earnings recorded at the end of this year. The support offered by the government is expected to have a direct impact on this year’s rice production numbers and its correlating figures of earnings.

Although the expectations are high, the weather projections for this month have caused some worry; however, as a precaution-

Support for the rice industry this past year is expected to have a direct impact on the 2022 production numbers and its correlating figures of earnings ary mechanism, President lion (more than G$51 bil- And with rice prices on the Dr Irfaan Ali has activated lion). This was earned from rise, Barbados has reached a high-level flood-response the exportation of 574,312 out to its Caribbean Comtaskforce headed by Prime tonnes of paddy, rice and munity (CARICOM) counMinister Brigadier (ret’d) rice by-products during the terpart to organise a more Mark Phillips. This news- past year. Prior to the pan- stable agreement. paper was informed that, so demic, Guyana had exported Minister Mustapha far, rice farmers have not 481,212 tonnes, and earned had related that Barbados’ been greatly affected by the US$201 million. request is for the supply ongoing rainy season.

With rice production of approximately 3,000 Prior to the floods, back on stream, Guyana has tonnes of rice at a slightly amidst the COVID-19 pan- managed to secure a steadier reduced cost, for the period demic, Guyana’s rice earn- market from its Caribbean November 2021 to Decemings stood at US$236.2 mil- sister-country, Barbados. ber 2022.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Completion of Good Hope Secondary pushed back to April 2022 A section of the incomplete Good Hope Secondary School

WITH a new contract awarded to R. Bassoo and Sons Construction Company, work on the US$4 million new Good Hope Secondary School is now expected to be completed

by April 2022, the Ministry of Education has announced.

The ministry, on Saturday, said, too, that the 120 Grade 8 students currently enrolled will continue to receive virtual teaching until the school is ready for physi-

cal attendance.

It was explained that in September 2020, 195 students were awarded a place at the school but the parents of 75 of them accepted an offer for a transfer to another school.

The remaining students were divided into five classes and were initially taught Mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies.

According to the ministry, the curriculum was

subsequently expanded and the students are now being taught Information Technology, Agriculture Science, Home Economics, Industrial Technology and Health and Family Life Education (HFLE). Practical components of these subjects are done at Annandale Secondary School. Eighteen teachers have been retained by the ministry to teach the students virtually.

At the time when these students were placed at the

school, it had been expected that work would’ve been completed by August 2021.

Given the delay in completion, no new student was enrolled in September 2021.

The ministry in its statement noted that the parents have already been updated on the situation at the school.

“The Minister of Education met with the parents of these students on the October 1, 2021 and advised them of the recent developments.

While parents were disap-

pointed that the school had not been completed, they agreed that the virtual teaching should continue. Again, the Ministry of Education wishes to assure the public that it is working assiduously with the new contractor to have this school completed, soonest,” the statement said.

Some 75 per cent of the construction works on the school had already been completed when the students were awarded places in September 2020.

Construction began in October 2018 but had been plagued with numerous challenges and delays.

“It was hoped that the school could have been opened physically, but, unfortunately, there have been several setbacks with the physical infrastructure not being completed due to the previous contractor failing to deliver. The Government of Guyana and the World Bank then gave their no objection to having R. Bas-

soo and Sons Construction be awarded the contract to complete the school. It is expected that this school will be completed in April 2022,” the ministry’s statement said.

The initial completion date was January 2020. However, the contractor, BK International, failed to meet that deadline and was unable to deliver despite several subsequent extension deadlines.

In May 2021, the government terminated the contract with BK and announced its intention to pursue legal action against the company.

The Good Hope Secondary is one of four schools slated for construction under the multimillion-dollar Guyana Secondary School Education Improvement Project (GSEIP), funded by the World Bank. Thus far, only one school, the Westminster Secondary School at La Parfait Harmonie, West Bank of Demerara, has been completed.

British broadcaster with Guyanese roots knighted

TREVOR Phillips has been given a knighthood for his services to equality and human rights in the New Year Honours.

Phillips, the youngest of 10 children, was born in London to Guyanese parents, who emigrated from the then British Guiana in 1950. He spent his childhood in British Guiana and while there, he studied at Queen’s College.

The broadcaster and former politician, 68, currently fronts Sky News’ Sunday morning news programme, ‘Trevor Phillips on Sunday’, taking over from Sophy Ridge in May 2021 while she was on maternity leave.

Phillips has been a vocal campaigner against racism and has spoken out about the lack of diversity at the highest levels of politics, business and the media.

He was shortlisted for comment writer of the year at the British Journalism awards in 2020.

The same year, Phillips was also asked to provide expert support on a review into the impact of coronavirus on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

The appointment caused criticism from the public after Phillips was suspended from the Labour party earlier

Trevor Phillips has been a vocal campaigner against racism (Metro/ Justin Downing photo) in the year over allegations of Islamophobia.

He is the current chair of Green Park, after finding, at the start of this year, that none of the FTSE 100 companies had black directors holding top roles for the first time in six years.

Phillips was previously the head of current affairs at LWT, a division of ITV, and won Royal Television Society awards for journalism in 1988 and 1993.

He also won the documentary series prize in 1998 for a four-part programme marking 50 years since the MV Empire Windrush arrived in Britain. (Metro)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Locals to have easier access to opportunities in O&G sector

THE Ministry of Natural Resources is set to open the door for Guyanese businesses and individuals looking to gain easier access to the oil and gas sector, through the creation of two registers at its Local Content Secretariat, which is set to come onstream later this month.

This is according to subject minster, Vickram Bharrat, who recently said that the registers were part of the hallmark Local Content Bill, which was passed in the National Assembly, on December 29, 2021.

Minister Bharrat stated that the registers will be used as a way to bring together local expertise, human capital and businesses, including those operating in the oil and gas sector.

The Local Content Secretariat will move ahead with the establishment of two registers now that the bill has been signed into law. One will cater to the individual seeking employment in the oil and gas sector, while the second will record the details of businesses interested in providing services to the sector.

“We will start creating those registers as early as next week. One to deal with employment and two to deal with goods and services.

So, we’ll have two registers, one with names and the background of people who want to work in the oil

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and gas sector and two, with the local businesses [or] the companies that would like to do business with the oil and gas companies,” said Minister Bharrat.

Minister Bharrat noted that the ministry will make the registers accessible online via its website, allowing for all those interested in the sector to be able to access information.

The Natural Resources Minister further disclosed that the ministry will also make available, on its websites, extracts from oil and gas businesses’ master and annual plans, which will highlight predictions for job openings and the need for expertise in specific areas.

He noted that Guyanese can use this information as a guide to join the sector.

“We will take an extract from the master and annual plans and we will publish

it as well on our website.

So, every single Guyanese can go on the website and see what are the services required by an oil and gas company and what are the skill sets required by that company. So, you can decide what career path you’re going to go into if you’re a young person; you could go and look up what are the positions and then you decide, you know what, I want to be a reservoir engineer. So, I’m going to study this,” he said.

MUTUAL BENEFITS Since the establishment of the oil and gas sector, many Guyanese individuals and businesses have benefitted from job opportunities and income generated from the sector.

In December, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, had said that over 800 Guyanese have been supplying ExxonMobil

1021 GDF ranks promoted GUYANA Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess has announced the promotion of 1021 Other Ranks of the army.

According to a release, the announcement was made in accordance with Part III Section 16 of the Defence Act 15:01 of 1977 and heading the list of promotions is

17176 acting Warrant Officer Class One Sekou Mitchell, who has been elevated to Substantive Warrant Officer Class One. Also promoted to the rank of Substantive Warrant Officer Class Two were acting Warrant Officers Class, One Shirlon Damon, Leyland Liverpool, Andre Worrel, Carlyn Dover and Wilfred Semple.

Meanwhile, heading the list of promoted Other Ranks at the Coast Guard is 16774 acting Chief Petty Officer, Charlton Phillips, who was promoted to the rank of Substantive Chief Petty Officer.

The Chief-of-Staff, officers and ranks congratulate all the troops who have been promoted, the release said.

since the oil and gas giant commenced operations in Guyana in 2015.

Within this period, the company has spent US$540 million to procure goods and services from those suppliers.

“I am a firm believer — as it is the position of ExxonMobil — that Guyanese should not only benefit from the revenues that come from oil and gas, but should play an active role in the development of the resource as well,” Routledge related.

He highlighted that, to date, more than 3,200 Guyanese are working on ExxonMobil’s local operations and almost the entire supply chain for the company’s offshore activities has been relocated to this country.

“To date, all of the major international oil-and-gas contractors have a presence in Guyana and have steadily been moving activities from the United States, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago,”

he said.

Routledge added: “This has created opportunities for the Guyanese private sector — whether it is build-outs for shore base, warehousing, or waste-treatment facilities.”

He said that as ExxonMobil Guyana advances its operations and explores new projects, it views involvement of the Guyanese workforce and suppliers of goods and services as crucial.

To achieve success in the industry and “win work,” local suppliers need to enhance their skills and capacity by forming small partnerships with foreign companies, which will transfer critical skills and technology.

“This needs to be a winwin dynamic for international and local companies.

International companies need to feel welcome and can generate some value for their investment in technology and knowledge transfer,” he said.

Additionally, he rea-

soned: “Just as other countries with large or growing energy sectors, Guyana will need stable rules that facilitate large-scale investments and set priorities and outline achievable targets for the industry, rather than trying to make rapid progress in every sector simultaneously.”

Further, Routledge highlighted that the Guyanese private sector would play a pivotal role in the development of Guyana’s energy sector and could use the opportunity to build capacity, capability and experience for long-term international competitiveness.

“The critical factor is building local capacity and capability, from which growth in local content will follow. The progress made by the private sector already in Guyana goes well beyond what I’ve experienced previously at this stage,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Arau Mountaintop murder Man allegedly chopped by friend suspect apprehended who made ‘indecent proposal’ RANKS from the Guyana Police Force, Regional Division Number Seven, have captured a 21-year-old Venezuelan male who allegedly killed Animal Sonja, 51, also a Venezuelan, with a blow to the head with a piece of wood early Saturday morning.

Police headquarters on Sunday reported that the suspect who was at large, has been captured and was transported to Bartica.

According to police reports, based on information

received, the suspect and deceased who are known to each other were at the suspect’s sister’s mining camp when an argument ensued over the suspect allegedly owing the victim a quantity of raw gold.

The argument became heated and the suspect picked up a piece of wood and struck the victim to the head, causing him to fall to the ground where he remained motionless. The suspect thereafter made good his escape.

TOTARAM Jaimangal, 30, of Third Street, Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara, is in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after he was allegedly chopped with a cutlass by his friend on Saturday.

According to police re-

ports, Jaimangal and the suspect, who, up to press time was not yet apprehended, were consuming alcohol at Jaimangal’s residence on Saturday afternoon when the suspect allegedly told Jaimangal that he wants to sleep with his wife.

Consequently, Jaimangal

became annoyed, grabbed a cutlass belonging to the suspect which he had in his possession at the time and attempted to chop the suspect, but he did not succeed in doing so.

The suspect; however, managed to relieve Jaimangal of the same cutlass and dealt him a chop to the left side of his rib and one to his right hand before making good his escape with the cutlass.

The victim, who fell to the ground in pain from the blows, was picked up by his relatives and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was seen and examined and then transferred to the GPH in a critical condition.

The police reported that checks were made for the suspect but he was not found. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

9-year-old, two others attacked by bees in Berbice

A nine-year-old boy, Ryan Ferrerie, was among three persons who were attacked by a swarm of bees on Thursday evening at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Region Six. The other two persons are his father, Royon Ferrerie -- a security guard from Rose Hall Town -- and Hemchand Madray, also known as “Neil”, a cane harvester from Hampshire Village, Corentyne.

According to police reports, the swarm of bees emerged from an open house

lot opposite the Rose Hall Town Primary School on the public road and attacked several passersby.

The victims were rushed to the Port Mourant Public Hospital to get medical attention and were all admitted for observation.

Their conditions have been listed as serious but stable.

Hemchand and Royon Ferrerie were treated and sent away but nine-yearold Ryan Ferrerie was referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital for further treatment.

Man stabs, bites villager who refuses to fix his motorcycle STEVE Persaud of Belle Plaine, Wakenaam Island, Region Three, is currently hospitalised at the Suddie Public Hospital nursing stab wounds and bites about the body following an argument with a villager on New Year’s Day. Persaud, according to reports, was stabbed several times about the body after he refused to fix the cable of a motorcycle belonging to a 32-year- old man.

The incident reportedly occurred around 19:30hrs at Belle Plaine, Wakenaam Island.

Reports say the villager visited Persaud’s home and asked him to fix the throttle cable of the motorcycle and

Persaud refused. An argument ensued between the two men and the suspect, who was armed with a knife, stabbed Persaud several times about the body.

Persaud received injuries to his left elbow, the right side of his stomach and the right side thigh. He also received a bite to his thighs during the fight.

Another villager who saw his condition picked him up and took him to the Wakenaam Cottage Hospital and he was later transferred to the Suddie Public Hospital, Region Two. Persaud’s condition was listed as stable. The suspect is currently in police custody.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Smart bowling, patient batting help Bangladesh frustrate New Zealand (ESPNCRICINFO) - Bangladesh blended smart bowling with patient batting on the second day of the Mount Maunganui Test to keep things in their favour against New Zealand, who wouldn't be too pleased with their first-innings score of 328, their lowest at home against Bangladesh.

But what would have frustrated them more was seeing the visitors reach 175 for 2 at stumps, with Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudul Hasan Joy bringing up half-centuries.

Bangladesh became only the second visiting team in the last eight years to bat more than 50 overs for the first two wickets in New Zealand. And by the end of the day, they were just 153 behind.

The Bangladesh openers, under fire after a poor Pakistan series, predictably began circumspectly.

Shadman Islam's only forceful shot early on was an authoritative pull off Tim Southee, while Joy struck both his fours before the tea break behind the wicket. They lasted an hour together before Shadman fell for 18 off the first ball after the drinks break, when he chipped one back at Neil Wagner, who had to

dive forward to complete the catch.

Shanto made a nervous start to his innings, getting struck on the stomach first ball before edging one, which fell short of first slip. At the other end, Joy struggled too, especially against the moving ball. He had luck on his side when Wagner chose not to review an lbw call that ended up showing three reds, perhaps believing it had taken the inside edge.

"It was quite windy today. There was a good noise. It sounded like an inside edge. I asked if he nicked it. The guys behind the stumps said no. Two guys from my end of the stumps said they heard a noise. They said he hit it," Wagner explained after the day's play.

"I thought if he didn't hit it, it was dead (plumb). We all made a collective decision. I think it is part of the game. The umpire also thought there was a noise so didn't give it out. Unfortunately, from what I heard, it is the other way. I guess that's how it goes."

But Joy was solid with his defensive work, hardly playing at anything outside the off stump, and focusing on picking up runs on the on side whenever the

bowlers strayed.

Shanto was the busier of the two batters, hitting 64 off 109 balls. He struck seven fours and a slog-swept six that brought up his half-century. He drove the ball well on both sides of the wicket, and his best shot was possibly the cut he played against Wagner, when he moved well outside his leg stump and threaded the ball through gully and point.

He fell in the last hour when Wagner got rid of him with a conventional outswinger coming from over the wicket.

Shanto's uppish drive was well caught at gully by Will Young.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand lost their last five wickets for 70 runs, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz picking up three of those. He had Kyle Jamieson caught at long-on, Southee at short midwicket, and Wagner caught behind in a burst that kept the home side on the back foot.

Henry Nicholls, who made 75 off 127 balls, struck 12 fours in a bid to counter-attack as wickets fell at the other end. He was the last man to go when he fell reverse-sweeping Mominul Haque, caught at short third-man.

Unal early goal stumps Real Madrid

Enel Unal's goal came in the ninth minute

(BBC) - Real Madrid missed the chance to open up an 11-point lead at the top of La Liga as they lost to Getafe.

Enes Unal scored the only goal after just nine minutes when he robbed Eder Militao of possession inside Real Madrid's penalty area.

Luka Modric went closest to an equaliser, striking the crossbar with a powerful drive.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have played two games more than closest challengers Sevilla, who face Cadiz on Monday.

Real dominated the first

half but only forced one save from Getafe goalkeeper David Soria, who did magnificently to tip Modric's long-range drive past the far post.

The Croatian midfielder also struck the woodwork with a thunderous left-footed shot from the edge of the Getafe penalty area, while Toni Kroos fired wide from a promising position.

Real increased the pressure in the second-half and went close to salvaging a point through Casemiro, but the midfielder's sweetly struck effort was palmed to safety by Soria.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday January 3, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 10 Tests (W 3; L 5; D 2) (2) 9 ODIs (W 4; L 5) Today’s Quiz: (1) When did the West Indies & Ireland first contest an ODI game against each other?

(2) Who were the captains involved?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Chelsea come from behind to draw with Liverpool

(BBC) - Chelsea came from two goals down to earn a draw with Liverpool in a Stamford Bridge classic - a result that only strengthens Manchester City's stranglehold on the Premier League title race.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp missed the game after a suspected positive test for COVID-19 while Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel dropped £97.5m record-signing Romelu Lukaku from his squad after a controversial interview in which he expressed discontent with his current situation.

It looked like Klopp would be the happier of the two bosses when Sadio Mane, fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after flattening Cesar Azpilicueta with a high elbow in the opening seconds, pounced on Trevoh Chalobah's mistake to put Liverpool in front after nine minutes.

Mohamed Salah's moment of individual genius, a feint to fool Marcos Alonso then a perfect near-post finish, put Liverpool in command before Chelsea staged their comeback on the stroke of half-time.

Mateo Kovacic's spectacular volley flew beyond Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, in for Alisson who also had a suspected positive test for COVID, after 42 minutes before Christian Pulisic raced clear to equalise in first-half stoppage time.

In a hugely entertaining game, both sides had chances to win in the second half with Chelsea keeper, Edouard Mendy, saving superbly from Salah and Mane while Kelleher thwarted Pulisic.

A winner could not be found, which leaves Chelsea in second, 10 points behind City while Liverpool, in

third, are 11 adrift of the leaders with a game in hand.

Did Tuchel's gamble pay off?

Tuchel's decision to drop Lukaku from his squad for such a vital game was always going to be a high-risk strategy given the stakes.

Was Tuchel showing strong leadership and imposing discipline or was he using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, weakening Chelsea in his determination to lay down the law?

It looked for 42 minutes like Tuchel's ploy would backfire as Liverpool's lethal attack punished Chelsea and Stamford Bridge was in subdued mood with the home team struggling to make an impact.

Suddenly, spectacularly, the game turned around in those decisive moments before half-time and while Tuchel did not get the three points that would have answered all the questions about his decision, there was no doubting Chelsea's spirit and determination because many sides would have gone under with Liverpool in such an imposing position.

Chelsea dragged their way back into the game, although three points was really the required result with Manchester City seemingly on such an unstoppable roll.

Tuchel will now, presumably, reintegrate Lukaku into his squad and try to get the best out of a striker who was supposed to be Chelsea's missing link when he arrived back at the club from Inter Milan in the summer.

The title now looks a far-off prospect but there is still plenty to play for, and both Chelsea and Tuchel will hope Lukaku can play a major part in their pursuit of ‘silverware’.

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Mateo Kovacic has scored two goals in his past 10 Premier League matches after netting just one in his first 93 games

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Sir Curtly to visit Berbice from February 10-14 THE Berbice Cricket Board will, from Friday February 11, 2022, host two major clinics for fast bowlers and batsmen in the Ancient County.

Legendary West Indies fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose would conduct the fast

bowling clinic while former national opening batsman Nolan Mckenzie is expected to host a batting clinic.

BCB president, Hilbert Foster, at the board’s annual general meeting on the 19th of December last year had unveiled a massive coaching

programme as part of his administration plans for the period 2022 to 2023.

Foster stated that the board would invest heavily into coaching to make sure that every potential in the county is given the opportunity to develop and also to

lift the standard of the county cricket to another level.

The BCB, he stated, was aiming to produce a total of ten West Indies players at all levels over the course of the next few years.

Clinics would be held for fast bowlers, off-spinners, left-arm spinners, leg-spinners, captains, wicketkeepers and batsmen while investment would also be made in producing more coaches for the county.

The BCB would be organising clinics for pre-level one coaches while sessions would also be held for umpires, match referees, scorers and managers in an aggressive developmental programme.

Foster stated that he was contacted by overseas-based Guyanese medical doctor, Frank Denbow, who stated that he would like to sponsor

a fast-bowling clinic once the BCB can get Sir Curtly Ambrose to conduct it.

Dr Denbow informed the BCB president that he was very impressed with the raw talent of Isai Thorne and wanted to invest in his development along with other fast bowlers.

Foster immediately contacted the legendary fast bowler who readily agreed but had to find a suitable date to visit. Eventually the parties agreed that Sir Curtly would arrive on February 10 and depart on the 14.

The fast-bowling clinic would be held on Friday to Sunday with about forty players.

The BCB Selection Committees, headed by Albert Smith and Balram Samaroo, would host a series of sessions before selecting the fast bowlers for the ses-

sions.

Former national player Nolan Mckenzie volunteered his service to the BCB to conduct a batting clinic at the same time as Ambrose visit and it was readily accepted by Foster.

The batting clinic would involve forty of the most promising youth batters in the county. The fifty-two year old McKenzie played nineteen first class matches for Guyana, scoring eight hundred runs with six half-centuries.

He is expected to work along with promising batters like Rampertab Ramnauth, Jonathan Rampersaud, Leon Cecil, Zeymul Ramsammy and Mahendra Gopilall.

The BCB would like to express thanks to Dr Frank Denbow for his support and sponsorship.

Barcelona beat Mallorca...

FROM PAGE 26

Luuk de Jong scored his first La Liga goal since September 26

teams' respective squads.

But his young players, with an average age of 24 years and 201 days, managed to get the job done.

Ahead of kick-off, former Mallorca and Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o made a

guest appearance.

A mural of Eto'o was unveiled outside the Estadi de Son Moix and he was applauded by both sets of fans in the stadium.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Grave says CWI looking for ‘best opportunity’ for Gayle send-off want to treat all of our players with respect.

“And if there is the opportunity, we can work with them to find a fitting way whether that’s in an interval of a match and inviting them and their families to come and watch the game and make a presentation, whether that’s a testimonial game or whether a player says ‘I’ve decided to call it quits and this will be last series or last event’ and

Veteran West Indies left-hander Chris Gayle

CMC – Cricket West Indies chief executive, Johnny Grave, has given the assurance that veteran left-hander Chris Gayle will be given a fitting send-off, despite being left out of squads to face Ireland and England later this month.

The 42-year-old Gayle delayed his retirement following the conclusion of last year’s Twenty20 World Cup, indicating his desire to play his final T20 International before his home crowd at Sabina Park here this month.

But with selectors snubbing the Jamaican for the one-off game against Ireland here on January 16 and the subsequent five-match England series at month-end in Barbados, Grave said dialogue would continue with the player on the most appropriate manner in which to celebrate his retirement from international cricket.

“We’ve been talking to Chris for a while now about how we can best honour him and also give the best opportunity for his friends and family to come and watch a final

game, as well as fans in Jamaica and around the region, to come and show their pride and respect to one of our greatest ever players,” Grave told regional television sports channel, SportsMax. “For any player to play for West Indies, first they have to be selected and the selectors have decided after the performances in the World Cup – as we now plan towards the next World Cup which is less than 12 months away in Australia – that Chris is not going to be a part of their plans.

“So there’s no longer the opportunity for Chris to play in the upcoming series against Ireland but we’re talking to Chris about how we can best give him an opportunity to play once more in front of his home crowd in a maroon shirt.”

In spite of his dreadful form that saw him average 17 from 16 matches, selectors controversially picked Gayle for the T20 World Cup in United Arab Emirates last October.

And the once feared Gayle predictably struggled, scraping 45 runs

from five innings, as West Indies lost four of their five matches to finish one from bottom of their group, and miss out on a final four spot.

Veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo opted to announce his retirement prior to the Caribbean side’s final game, and Grave said this was a prime example of how Cricket West Indies wanted to honour its players.

“It is not a policy at the moment but what I would say is that it is certainly a philosophy I have and that the current management team of West Indies have, that we want to treat players with respect, we want to have good relationships with players, good dialogue and open conversation,” Grave explained. “… we want to try and give them an opportunity to bow out should they wish to.

“Clearly sometimes that can be planned.

Sometimes that isn’t planned due to injury or loss of form but [while] no player is entitled to this, [it is] certainly a philosophy which we

they are in the side, then we want to do things the best we possibly can.”

Head coach Phil Simmons, the interim chief selector following the recent sacking of Roger Harper and Miles Bascombe, said he had chosen “the best squad” available for the upcoming assignments and any directive to pick Gayle for a farewell game would need to come from CWI. “When we sit down

to select a squad we sit down to select the best squad for the upcoming series in this case, and if it’s a case where a sendoff is to be had for Chris then for us to select him if he’s not part of our makeup, then it has to come from above us,” Simmons stressed.

Gayle has been the most dominant batsman in the shortest format, with 14 321 runs and 22 hundreds in 453 T20s.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Brigadier Bess is new Guyana NRA President

The new executive of the Guyana NRA

Brigadier Godfrey Bess is the new President of the Guyana National Rifle Association (NRA) after the body held its annual general meeting recently.

Bess replaces Brigadier Patrick West and has at his side, Vice Presidents Col. Enoch Gaskin and Mahendra Persaud.

Ryan Sampson remains the Honorary Secretary with the Treasurer being Hemant Narine, Asstant Secretary/Treasurer Lennox Braithwaite; Fullbore Captain, Dylan Fields; Fullbore Vice Captain Leo Romalho; Smallbore Captain, Gordon Richards and Smallbore Vice Captain, Lindsay Baird.

The ordinary members of the General Council are Dr. Johan DaSilva, Sherwin Felicien, Peter Persaud. With the approval of the Association’s new Constitution at the meeting there is now a Finance Committee which comprises Dale Hing, Murtland Smith and Colvern Venture along with the Treasurer and Assistant Secretary Treasurer. Long-serving vice president, Paul Slowe, Treasurer Lt Col Terrence Stuart and Smallbore captain, Dale Hing, all did not seek re-election.

The Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at the Crown

Mining Roof Garden, located on Dennis Street, Campbelville with the Returning Officer being Charles Corbin of the GOA. Prior to the election, the meeting was called to order by the Honorary Secretary, Ryan Sampson, who announced that the president Brigadier. Patrick West was unable to attend.

It should be noted that the meeting was held with a hybrid system with persons at the location being joined online via Zoom.

This was a first at an AGM for the Association, as it also allowed members from the USA to attend. Reports were given by Mr. Dylan Fields of the Fullbore Section, who highlighted the participation in the West Indies Fullbore Championship in Trinidad where Guyana placed second.

Due to the pandemic there was inactivity in 2020 and only three months of activity in 2021, before receiving news in July from the Guyana Defence Force that the Timehri Rifle Ranges were being temporarily closed until further notice.

It is presently still closed. The Smallbore Secton’s Report was given by Mr. Gordon Richards who highlighted the training of new

members in firearm safety and usage.

There were also practice sessions at the TSU ranges under strict COVID-19 protocols.

The financial position was also shared with the members by the honorary secretary on behalf of the treasurer.

The honorary secretary then reported on the Associations administration.

The monthly statutory meetings were held via Zoom over the period.

The COVID-19 Task Force had given permission to the Association to hold recreational shoots under strict COVID-19 protocol.

A meeting was held with the newly appointed Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess, who had confirmed his and the GDF’s support to the Association.

There has always been a great collaboration between the two entities over the years and he wanted this to continue.

The Association had written to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission for a piece of land on which to build a club house and indoor range, but is still to receive a reply.

Land was offered in Tuschen to the Association back in 2011 but the funds available to acquire it was not sufficient.

The Association is still hopeful, after 154 years in existence, of having a place to call home as it continues to utilize the GOA’s premises.

The Honorary Secretary then thanked the outgoing Executive Council for their service over the last four years. The Council was then dissolved.

He stated the positions that were available for elections and ensured that a democratic process was followed.

The general membership had also voted to make three members as life members, namely Brigadier Patrick West, Paul Slowe and Ransford Goodluck.

Both Mr. Slowe and Goodluck have given the Association over forty years of service both in sport administration and as active shooters.

Both outgoing Captains Messrs. Mahendra Persaud and Dale Hing were also praised for their leadership and commitment over the year in attaining glory for Guyana at championships.

Barcelona beat Mallorca 1-0

(BBC) - Barcelona moved to within a point of fourth place in the Spanish La Liga table with victory at Mallorca.

Luuk de Jong scored the winning goal with a header at the back post in the first half from Oscar Mingueza's cross.

Xavi's side, who were without a number of first-team players because of COVID-19

concerns and injuries, dominated for large periods but were often frustrated.

De Jong was the main threat, hitting the woodwork twice in the first half, including once with a bicycle kick.

Mallorca pushed for an equaliser late on when Dani Rodriguez's teasing ball was headed inches over the bar by Fer

Nino, before Marc-Andre ter Stegen was forced into a smart save to deny Jaume Costa.

But the hosts, sitting 15th in the table, were unable to keep out Barcelona, who have closed the gap on fourth-placed rivals Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona were missing 17 players

in total, including regulars Dani Alves, Ousmane Dembele, Jordi Alba, Philippe Coutinho, Gavi and Serginho Dest.

Earlier this week, Xavi said it was "crazy" that La Liga were allowing the game to go ahead given the state of the TURN TO PAGE 24

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022

Government ministers honoured with Golden Jaguars jerseys

Prime Minister Mark Phillips receives his jersey from GFF President Wayne Forde

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill collects his honorary jersey

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) honoured three senior government officials with honorary jerseys on Saturday night at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips; Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr, received jerseys with their names

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr will wear number 9

and selected numbers from President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, during half-time of the final of the GFF/Kashif and Shanghai Super 16 Cup. In an invited comment, the Prime Minister said that sport is a vehicle that promotes cohesion and togetherness, which is central to the PPP/C.

Ireland ponder squad composition after COVID outbreak

Veteran batsman Paul Stirling

CMC – A COVID-19 outbreak in the Ireland camp has resulted in several headaches over combinations for the West Indies tour, but management says the touring party remained upbeat in the build-up to the four-match whiteball series starting here next Saturday.

Veteran batting all-rounder Paul Stirling, along with 30-year-old seamer Shane Getkate, both tested positive before Ireland’s departure from Fort Lauderdale, while the duo of Andrew Balbirnie and Andy McBrine were forced into quar-

antine after being identified as close contacts of positive cases.

Ireland’s three-match One-Day International series against United States was scrapped last week after two members of their support staff tested positive, along with several partners of players who are also on tour.

The touring side arrived here New Year’s Eve minus Balbirnie, McBrine, Stirling and Getkate, and with the latter two players definitely out of the opening ODI, head coach David Ripley said there was some reorganising which needed to be done.

“It’s certainly been a challenging trip from the outset, having a few staff and players down at the outset didn’t help our preparation,” Ripley explained.

“We managed to have a good ‘net’ on the centre square just after we arrived but it was only one session, and our squad was short of seam bowlers to help facilitate the batters. So it wasn’t as ideal as it could have been.

“However, a great positive of the trip so far is the way the lads have rolled their sleeves up and mucked in; I’ve been impressed that during a bit of adversity the lads have just got stuck in.

“There’s obviously some frustration over the fixtures not being able to proceed, but hopefully now the frustration can end as we move on to play some high-profile 50-over cricket against the West Indies.”

He continued: “Likewise with the support staff we have had some challenges with COVID, but once more they haven’t clocked off – rather they’ve continued to work hard from their isolation in preparing the squad as best they can for the next leg in Jamaica.

“We have a replacement coming in, which will help greatly, but we have been well supported by the staff here, even those working from isolation.”

Ireland will face West Indies in three ODIs and a single Twenty20 International, all carded for behind closed doors at Sabina Park, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Stirling’s unavailability, however, will be a huge blow for Ireland, the 31-year-old having scored over 7,000 runs in the white-ball format, including four half-centuries in ten ODI innings against West Indies.

“With Paul out of the first ODI, we’ll have a bit of an internal debate now with Andrew about whether he moves up to open, or whether we pick someone maybe outside the box to go in at the top,” Ripley said.

“We do have several options and I’m pretty confident we’ve got some decent Plan B’s now that Stirlo is out of game one.

“It hasn’t been a perfect trip to date, but what we’re focusing on now is looking ahead and getting some decent cricket under our belts.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 3, 2022 Champions Again! Guyana Defence Force FC celebrate the retention of their yearend football title

GDF repeat as ‘King’ of year-end football after penalty shootout The best two sides of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ Kashif and Shanghai Organisation year-end football tournament, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC and Western Tigers FC, played the January 1, 2022 final on a knife’s edge.

At the end of the exhilarating contest, the defending champions from 2019, repeated as champions after a 5-4 penalty shootout at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora.

Tigers, who many felt had the depth to win the

title, took early advantage from the boots of Kevon Woodley in the 16th minute but it wasn’t to be the only crowd pleaser in the half as 20 minutes later, Collin Nelson found the equalizer.

It kept swaying both ways as the attacking prowess of both teams were on show but even extra time could not break the deadlock.

When Western Tigers missed their third penalty kick, it was all GDF’s to lose and they certainly kept a cool head to now control the lien trophy.

For the win, GDF copped G$2 million and the championship trophy, while Western Tigers collected G$1 million and the runner-up trophy.

In the third-place playoff, West Demerara side, Dem Amstel defeated Police FC 2-0.

Gideon Payne was the man on target for Den Amstel, tucking in goals in the 24th and 77th minutes.

The tournament had 19 teams; all involved from fans, organisers, and players had to be vaccinated.

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Government ministers honoured with Golden Jaguars jerseys Prime Minister Mark Phillips receives his jersey from GFF President Wayne Forde Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2021