Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 03-03-2022

THURSDAY 3rd MARCH, 2022

No. 106651

Major agriculture investment conference billed for Guyana

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President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

- as CARICOM heads laud President Ali’s drive to transform agriculture in the region

Barbados PM, Mia Mottley

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season for the Christian community. In this Carl Croker photograph, Bishop Alleyne applies the ceremonial ash to the head of one of the many worshippers who gathered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, Georgetown on Wednesday to mark the observance

Oil price rises again as CARPHA confirms buyers shun Russian crude presence of Omicron SEE PAGE

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variant in Guyana

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Agreement paves way for increased investment opportunities for Guyana, Suriname 9 SEE PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

PPP/C steadfast in fulfilling manifesto promises

- marks second year since returning to office

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) says it is working tirelessly to fulfil its manifesto promises since returning to power two years ago, after a brazen attempt by elements of the APNU+AFC to tamper with the results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The Coalition, which is dominated by the People’s National Congress (PNC), a party with a history of rigging elections in Guyana, was roundly condemned by the international community.

“Two years on, since the March 2nd, 2020 Regional and General Elections returned the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to

office, through a free and fair democratic process, the party remains grateful and humbled by the overwhelming expression of confidence from the Guyanese electorate. The entire country is aware of the attempt by

the APNU+AFC to rig the March 2nd, 2020 elections.

It was only as a result of the intense struggle by the PPP/C and other forces, including other political parties, NGOs, international and regional observers, with

the support of the international community, that democracy prevailed,” the PPP said in a statement.

It added: “Since taking up its mandate, the PPP/C has been working, tirelessly, to incrementally fulfill its manifesto promises, in the execution of a transformational agenda that will build a multidimensional economy and elevate the country onto a rapid development path and create opportunities for the empowerment of all Guyanese. The party embraces the government’s transformational agenda, its efforts to diversify the economy and reinvigorate the health, education and private sectors and support

Nationwide registration exercise commences Monday

PERSONS who will be 14 years and older by 31 October, 2022 and are Guyanese citizens by birth, descent, naturalisation or citizens from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, can apply for registration, provided he/she was never registered before.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will commence the registration of

eligible persons on March 7, 2022 from all of its permanent registration offices in all of the 10 Administrative Regions.

According to the elections body, in a release on Wednesday, this registration exercise will conclude on May 29, 2022.

“This registration exercise is of crucial importance to those persons who would have been first- time ap-

plicants, in the fourteen (14) years to eighteen (18) years age range, that were captured during the 2019 House-toHouse Registration. All such persons are required to note that their application for registration has been cancelled.

Therefore, those persons are required to re-apply for registration during this registration exercise,” GECOM stated.

GECOM noted that persons desirous of conducting any registration are required to visit GECOM Registration Office responsible for their area of residence with the relevant source documents which are: Original Birth Certificate, valid Passport, Adoption Certificate or Naturalization Certificate in the case of making applications for new registration.

For the change of name, applicants must walk with original marriage certificate

or Deed Poll with Birth Certificate in the case of application for change of name.

Existing registrants, GECOM stated, who are desirous of updating their records such as a request to correct or change their names, date of birth, occupation and update their addresses are advised that those transactions would also be facilitated during this exercise.

“Persons desirous of conducting any registration transaction are advised that they must provide proof of having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to gain entry to the respective GECOM Registration Offices. In cases where applicants are not vaccinated, a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours would be acceptable,” GECOM added.

COVID-19 Task Force to investigate events hosted without approval

THE National COVID-19 Task Force is expected to investigate events including parties that were hosted without the relevant approval, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said on Wednesday.

He stated that while COVID-19 numbers have been on the decline in the country, persons must remain cautious.

“I think the task force will be investigating those persons especially if they did not receive permission and subsequent actions would be taken,” he said, while adding that it is important that persons comply with the measures.

Dr. Anthony emphasised that noncompliance with the gazetted COVID-19 measures can put persons at risk.

He made it clear that authorities are

not against the holding events, but if they are being hosted, certain measures must be put in place so that persons can be safe.

“And I think that’s what is important… if anybody would like to have an event, they need to contact the task force and comply with the measures that we have in the COVID-19 orders,” he added.

the vulnerable.”

These initiatives, the PPP/C said, are in keeping with its campaign slogan of “One Country, One People, One Future” and will undoubtedly lead to the realisation of its vision of an economically and socially empowered ‘One Guyana’.

The party, on the second anniversary since returning to office, thanked all Guyanese, more particularly its loyal members and supporters at home and abroad and those who fought during the five-month struggle to uphold democracy.

“We also thank those who are working now tirelessly in the government and elsewhere in

our country to strengthen democracy and support our transformational agenda. All Guyanese are assured of the PPP/C Government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the sanctity of the Guyanese Constitution and the enshrined provisions of democratic processes for governance and rule of law. Guyanese are further assured, on this anniversary, that the government and the party will leave no stone unturned in the building of a free, equitable, prosperous, socially just, and globally competitive society,” the statement concluded.

Oil price rises again as buyers shun Russian crude

Russian oil makes up around eight per cent of global supply (BBC/GETTY IMAGES) The cost of oil surged on Wednesday, as traders snapped up non-Russian oil, increasing the chance of further price rises at UK forecourts.

Brent crude - the global benchmark for oil prices - passed $113 a barrel, its highest level since June 2014.

Traders are struggling to sell Russian oil, even at a discount, because of the new difficulties in shipping and payments amid its invasion of Ukraine.

Gas prices also doubled, which could feed through to energy bills.

Almost 70 per cent of Russian crude oil exports do

not have a buyer according to UK-based research consultancy, Energy Aspects.

On Tuesday, oil trader Trafigura offered a cargo load of Russian crude oil at a record discount of $18.60 per barrel below the market rate for Brent, but could not find a buyer willing to take the risk.

Amrita Sen, its founding partner told the BBC World Service that buyers are concerned that they could run afoul of Western sanctions and “lawyers are poring through the language” of the new rules.

The RAC said if the higher oil price is sustained, TURN TO PAGE 3

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Major agriculture investment conference billed for Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 3, 2022

- as CARICOM heads laud President Ali’s drive to transform agriculture in the region

By Naomi Parris A regional agriculture investment conference will be held in Guyana, in May, as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) takes decisive steps to reduce its US$5B food import bill by 25 per cent in the next five years (25 by 25).

This was disclosed by Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, during a media briefing at the 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Belize which concluded on Wednesday.

In responding to questions from reporters on how the region intends to achieve its ‘25 by 25’ agriculture target, PM Mottley said that the conference, which is slated to be held from May 19-May

21, is a necessary prerequisite to promote investments in the agriculture sector.

“Without money we won’t have the ability to help the farmers. The money from Republic Bank is effectively being offered to governments to help farmers; in some instances it will be State-led and in some instances, it will be private sector-led,” the Barbados Prime Minister said.

Given the presentations made by the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) at the conference, CARICOM heads are hopeful that private entities will jump on board with investments to help the region achieve its agriculture target.

“We hope that the private sector -- the regional private sector -- will also come to the table ready to make the

decisions for investments that will allow us to achieve this target of 25 by 25.”

On a different note, PM Mottley noted that CARICOM is looking to explore a co-ordinated approach on local content for emerging industries to ensure that countries can set aside quotas for themselves.

“There is need for us to review the issue of local content and there is an open-ended committee of members states that will start to work very shortly,” she said, adding: “We are going to do the discussions among ourselves with a view to recommending to the full conference of heads, what the appropriate framework should be such that no one will be in breach for wanting to do that.”

Meanwhile, President Dr.

Barbados PM, Mia Mottley Irfaan Ali has received praise from the various CARICOM heads of State for his efforts and plans to transform agriculture in the region.

During his presentation on Tuesday, President Ali had announced a US$100M (Guy$20.7B) Special Concessional Financing Package

geared at helping to transform the sector.

The Head of State, who holds the responsibility for Agriculture, Agricultural Diversification and Food Security in CARICOM, outlined an action-oriented and solution-based proposal, aimed at reducing the region’s food

import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

President Ali addressed each country’s report of current and target commodities to achieve the 25 per cent reduction by 2025, detailing both constraints and actions needed.

He highlighted that coffee, cocoa, coconut, spices, hemp (industrial) and palm oil are high-value imports into CARICOM with potential for development in the region.

The President also reported that there had been concrete progress in access to financing for agriculture investment, financing through a facility called the CARICOM Sustainability Agriculture Credit Facility (the “Credit Facility”), using Republic Bank Limited as a lender.

Oil price rises again as buyers shun Russian...

FROM PAGE 2 the cost of filling up a car in the UK will increase with it.

“The sudden $10 jump in the oil price is likely to take the average price of petrol towards 155p a litre and diesel to 160p, particularly as it’s looking like this price isn’t just a market blip caused by the US and allies deciding to dip into the strategic oil reserve.

“If oil does stay at this level, the journey to an average unleaded price of 155p may be far too quick.” said RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams.

The average price of pet-

rol across UK forecourts on Tuesday was 151.6p per litre, according to the RAC. ENERGY PRICE CAP Household gas and electricity bills are set to rise after the annual energy price cap increases to £1,971 in April, but the rise in wholesale prices amid the war in Ukraine may mean the price cap ratchets up to £3,000 by the end of the year, according to one energy analyst.

“Wholesale prices make up between 40-50 per cent of household bills,” said independent energy analyst David Cox. “If these high prices stay around 400p per therm we may see the price

cap head closer to £3,000 per year, which is terrifying.”

Energy analysts at Cornwall Insights also predicted a jump in the energy price cap in October, based on turmoil in the European wholesale gas prices, to over £2,900.

Higher oil and commodity prices helped the London stock market to buck the downward trend in global markets, with commoditylinked company share prices surging as the Ukraine crisis fanned fears about supply shortages.

The FTSE 100 closed up 1.36 per cent, boosted by Shell and BP shares.

On Wall Street, the Dow

Jones, Nasdaq and S&P 500 indexes all opened trading higher, and were up between 1.6 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively at the close of trade.

Meanwhile, the price of US oil - West Texas Intermediate crude - rose to almost $109.78 a barrel.

‘NO DIFFERENCE’ The IEA member countries, led by the United States on Tuesday agreed to release 60 million barrels of emergency stockpiles, but it appeared to have had a limited effect on pricing.

Selling the emergency oil reserves is not sufficient to meet the supply shortfall

caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or prevent prices from going higher, analysts at Goldman Sachs said.

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said the move would not “make any sustained difference” to prices.

“Russia controls a sixth of the world’s gas and a tenth of its oil. Those figures dwarf the 60 million barrels and industrial buyers, or financial speculators, will be focusing on those numbers and where that supply goes.

“The West is still buying Russian supply and Russia is still providing it but that could conceivably change as relations deteriorate further,”

Mould added.

Russian oil exports account for about eight per cent of global supply.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and allies, a group known as known as OPEC+, met and agreed on Wednesday to stick to their ongoing policy of increasing supply by 400,000 barrels per day in April.

ExxonMobil on Tuesday said it would sell out its stakes in Russian oil and gas operations as a result of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Shell and BP have also made similar announcements. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

Russian troops take control of key city of Kherson Russian forces have seized control of a key port city in southern Ukraine, the city’s mayor says.

Kherson is the first major city to be taken by Russia, after heavy fighting, since it invaded a week ago.

Its mayor, Igor Kolykhaev, said Russian troops had forced their way into the city council building and imposed a curfew on residents.

Several cities have come under intense shelling

in one of the most destructive days of the invasion so far.

An investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine has been launched by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Russia has for the first time admitted taking heavy military casualties during its attack on Ukraine, with 498 troops killed and a fur-

ther 1,597 injured. Ukraine says Russia’s losses run into the thousands.

Ukraine reports that more than 2,000 civilians have died since the invasion began last Thursday. The conflict has also caused 870,000 people to flee Ukraine -- at a rate the UN said would make it the worst refugee crisis this century.

In a Facebook post, Kolykhaev said Russian forces were in con-

Russian tanks and military vehicles were seen on the streets of Kherson (BBC/Reuters photo) trol of Kherson, a port on Ukraine’s southern Black Sea coast with a population of more than 280,000 people.

He urged Russian soldiers not to shoot at civilians, saying there were no Ukrainian forces in the city.

Kolykhaev called on residents to follow conditions set by Russian forces in order to “keep the Ukrainian flag flying”.

The capture of Kherson came as Russian forces bombarded frontline cities on Tuesday.

In the east, Ukraine’s s e c o n d - l a rg e s t city, Kharkiv, came under a fierce aerial assault.

Its mayor told the BBC shelling and cruise missile strikes were hitting resi-

dential areas and inflicting heavy civilian casualties.

And in the southern port of Mariupol, hundreds are feared dead following hours of sustained shelling.

But Russian efforts to encircle the capital Kyiv have slowed, with one US official saying a huge Russian convoy to the north of the city has barely moved all day.

Pictures of fighting in Ukraine have prompted international condemnation of Russia, with an overwhelming majority of UN countries calling on Moscow to immediately withdraw its troops.

Only five countries voted against the resolution, including Syria and North Korea. (BBC)

February 26, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 3, 2022

Active Region Four ‘COVID’ cases at lowest in months AS the county continues to see a general decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases, there are less than 150 active cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

This was disclosed by the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, during his daily COVID-19 update.

He noted that, in total, the country currently has some 494 active cases with 33 of those being hospitalised. Of those hospitalised, eight are in the Intensive Care Unit.

Dr. Anthony stated that while there aren’t many hotspots around, there are a number of cases in Georgetown and on the East Bank of Demerara.

“For the first time in several months, active cases in Region Four have been down to 144 cases so that’s really posi-

tive,” he said. Additionally, he stated that Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) currently has 83 active cases before noting that the numbers there are coming down which is also positive news.

Minister Anthony emphasised that COVID-19 still remains a threat especially for those who are unvaccinated.

He revealed that the persons who have been coming to the hospital lately, are generally older persons who had underlying illnesses which include diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

“These combination of factors and being unvaccinated put them at higher risk for COVID hospitalisation and to get the more severe form of COVID and of course dying from COVID,” he added.

CARPHA confirms presence of Omicron variant in Guyana

THE presence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in Guyana was recently confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

Providing an update on the 20 samples that were sent for testing, he revealed that 19 were positive for Omicron.

The samples were sent for genetic sequencing in order to determine what COVID-19 variant was circulating in the country.

Speaking during Wednesday’s edition of the COVID-19 update, the health minister stated that authorities were expecting the samples to be positive for Omicron.

He said that one sample was listed as undetermined as it reportedly did not have enough genetic material to be sequenced.

These results come almost two months after local health officials had expressed suspicion that the Omicron variant was present here due to the surge in cases being reported along with the clinical presentation of those COVID-19 patients.

I n J a n u a r y, t h e health minister had said that just around 50 samples were selected to be shipped to CARPHA for sequencing. The samples were selected from tests done subsequent to December 28, 2021.

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Fugitives accused of sex crimes extradited to US

FUGITIVES Julian Yhip and Kareem Abdool Hack were successfully extradited from Guyana to the US to face charges on separate sexual offences, according to the US Embassy.

The embassy, in a release on Wednesday, stated that on February 25, 2022, the two fugitives were located, tracked and arrested, thanks to a joint endeavour involving the US Embassy, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Guyana Police Force, the US Department of Justice, the United States Marshal Service and the Diplomatic Security Service.

Yhip, a Guyanese national, will face charges in Pennsylvania for rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and sexual assault committed in 2017.

Hack, a US citizen, is facing charges in Florida for sexual battery, procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and attempt to commit sexual battery.

The embassy noted

that Hack was previously featured on America’s Most Wanted in October 2008. In August 2021, the US Government made a formal request for the extradition of Hack and Yhip and they were arrested and placed before the courts in early February 2022.

The two did not contest the charges and were subsequently extradited.

This is the fourth extradition of US fugitives from Guyana to the US in the last 25 years.

“The extradition of the two fugitives strengthens the rule of law in Guyana and reflects the strong professional law enforcement and judicial co-operation between the United States and the Government of Guyana,” the US Embassy said.

Flashback: Kareem Abdool Hack and Julian Yhip when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on February 4, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

A Welcome Initiative

PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced that US$100M will be made available as Special Concessional Financing Package aimed at helping to transform agriculture in the region. This is indeed a welcome development and is consistent with a desire on the part of regional leaders to bring down the huge sums of money spent on imported food in the region while at the same time boosting agricultural production in the region.

The announcement was made during a presentation to the 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Belize. Guyana has the lead role on Agricultural Diversification and Food Security in the region and has been a

major supplier of agricultural products to the region, but the region continues to spend an inordinate sum of money on imported food, most of which can be produced locally in the region.

The aim is to reduce the food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. There is no reason why meat, eggs, milk and dairy products and several other agricultural products have to be imported into the region given the potential to satisfy the full regional needs right here in the region. The same is true of other products such as coffee, cocoa, coconuts, spices, palm oil and a host of other products which, as pointed out by President Ali, could make a big impact on agricultural production in the region.

Guyana, with its vast and rich agricultural lands has the

potential to satisfy a fair share of food needs of the region but there is need to upgrade the agricultural infrastructure and create an investment climate to boost production and productivity levels. To achieve this, as noted by President Ali, national expenditure on agriculture must be increased from average budgetary spending of 2.1 per cent to about five per cent.

Guyana is currently spending way above the regional average on agriculture and President Ali has made a commitment to raise such spending even higher to 10 per cent of the national budget by 2025.

President Ali has outlined a vision for agricultural development in the region which will not only enhance food security but will also reduce foreign exchange expenditure on food and boost food produc-

tion and productivity. In these times of severe food shortages in the world and rising food prices, this initiative could not be more timely and necessary. The financing mechanism announced by President Ali will allow for easier access to investment capital for agricultural purposes through the CARICOM Sustainability Agriculture Credit Facility using Republic Bank as a lender.

This facility will cater for investment in agricultural activities such as the growing of crops, capital investments, construction of feeder roads, bulk storage capacities, processing plants and shade houses, among others. The facility will provide funding up to five years at significantly lower interest rates than that offered by the banking system. A sum of US$100M would be made

available for that purpose.

And in yet another development, President Ali suggested the need for greater connectivity to facilitate easier movement of cargo with a view to enhancing food security in the region through enhanced maritime transport. It is a fact that the recent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant disruptions in the food supply chain which has contributed to the rising cost of food items.

These are commendable initiatives on the part of President Ali which were well received by other regional leaders who expressed full support for President Ali’s passion for agricultural development and his strategic vision for transforming agriculture in the region.

In a keynote address to

commemorate Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2021, President Ali had said that “It remains a travesty that our region, blessed with arable lands, abundant freshwater supplies and skilled agricultural workers, imports more than US$5 Billion annually. We have the means to slash original food import bill, produce more of the food we consume and in the process generate sustainable livelihoods through agriculture.”

This renewed emphasis on agricultural development emanating out of the deliberations of this 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM will no doubt give new and fresh impetus on the need to accelerate agricultural development in the region.

A Guyanese experience with Ukrainians and Russians and Guyanese in Moscow

Dear Editor,

Ukraine and Russia are at war. Guyanese have connections with both going back to the 1960s as university students. Few studied in Ukraine with hundreds in Russia in what was USSR. I visited both and was most awed by the simplicity, friendliness, quietude (or docility), beauty, kindness, and charm of the Ukrainian people and in fact all of the people I interacted with during my visit to then Soviet Union. It was an unforgettable experience. In addition to meeting Ukrainians and Russians in USSR, I also met and dined with them in New Delhi and Mumbai where they would come shopping during the 1980s and later years in my frequent trips to India. Ukrainians and Russians would stay, socialise, dine, and shop in certain (low cost) affordable sections of Delhi where I also stayed in my early visits to India before I moved to more

upscale lodging and dining areas. The Ukrainians and Russians brought goods to trade and returned with suitcases of items to sell back home just as Guyanese did during the 1970s thru 1990s in travels outside of the country. They were very friendly.

The Ukrainians and Soviet people I encountered in India, Ukraine, New York, and other parts of America were/ are peace loving, hardworking, and decent and among the nicest people I met in my many travels.

I passed through the Ukrainian Soviet Republic when it was still part of the Soviet Union’s 15 Socialist Republics, passing near the dangerous Chernobyl Reactor sarcophagus, Kiev, etc. I also passed through several other republics travelling on a bus from East Germany to Poland (Brest Crossing with long lines of trucks, trains, and buses) to Byelorussia (now Belarus), into Ukraine, to the Russian Republic, and going on to other republics including the Bal-

tic states and crossing over into Finland. That was more than 30 years ago when Gorbachev was ruler during the period of glasnost and perestroika, but the USSR was on the verge of dissolution. Guyana itself was undergoing glasnost and perestroika (or Hoytestroika).

Ukraine, like most of the other republics, especially the countryside was largely ‘underdeveloped’, using my economist hat to describe them. The cities like Minsk, Moscow, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Stalingrad, Kaliningrad, etc.) were very ‘developed’ with massive buildings and factories. I was amazed at the beauty of the subways of the Soviet Union – more than a block in depth and very decorated with some of the most beautiful ornaments and crystal chandeliers). They were the most beautiful I experienced and I visited subways of dozens of countries. The trains were very efficient, running on time, fast and extremely cheap (just one ruble at the time or the equivalent of two cents, if I remember correctly

when I changed my dollar at the black market). The subways in Kiev, as it was called then, and other cities would have been the same. Food and clothing were very cheap all over the Soviet Union but food (especially meat and bread) was very scarce and rationed.

I remember a fur coat I saw in New York was less than $100 at the Gumb Store in Moscow.

Sneakers and blue jeans were not available. I bought a coat for my mother at Gumb store.

In one of the shops on the countryside, I bought a halfgallon of Vodka (three times distilled) for just $1.

Locals were not allowed to shop at certain stores and foreigners not allowed in local stores, not dissimilar to what happened in communist China. My Guyana Passport was treasured. I didn’t need a visa to pass through East Germany, Poland, and the Soviet bloc. In several major cities, I bounced up foreign students (South Asians, including Guyanese, Hispanics, and Africans). Most of them

were in Moscow. On weekends and during their school holidays, they would hang out on regular spots at bridges in the cities. Foreigners, including Guyanese, were granted scholarships in universities like Patrice Lumumba (Friendship Univ). There were probably hundreds of thousands foreign students on scholarships in USSR with most in Moscow and other cities. Few studied in Ukraine. Rudy Jadoopat studied in Donetsk and not on a PPP scholarship. Rather, he received a labour union NAACIE scholarship. Other Guyanese got PPP, PNC, and Guyana Government scholarships at Lumumba University.

In recent years, tens of thousands of Indians (from India and even some from Mauritius and Fiji) studied (and are studying) medicine in Ukraine.

Currently, some 20 thousand Indians are studying medicine in Ukraine where studies are cheaper than in India or anywhere else.

During the Soviet era, some 90 per cent of the people

of Donetsk and the Dunbass region of Ukraine were ethnic Russians, probably why Putin wants to cling to it; that percentage dropped to about 75 per cent today as Russians moved out and Ukrainians moved in. It was (and probably still is) one of the richest parts of the Soviet Union/Ukraine at one time.

I interacted with students who I happened upon in the Soviet cities especially Moscow where they would hang out (as we did in Guyana) on a bridge sitting on a rail chatting. Not far from there was the Friendship University and the Guyana Embassy/Consulate.

Guyanese related how they crossed over into the West, through Check Point Charlie (which I also crossed) into West Berlin, shopped, and brought back goods that they sold for three times the price they paid, earning scarce money. Foreign students in USSR could not do much internal travels as funds were scarce with scholarship stipends TURN TO PAGE 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 3, 2022

OP-ED: Might makes not right, unjust wars are doomed to be lost

By Josep Borrell High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission AT this dark hour, when we see Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine and massive disinformation campaigns and information manipulation, it is essential to separate lies -- invented to justify what cannot be justified -- from facts. The facts are that Russia, a major nuclear power, has attacked and invaded a peaceful and democratic neighbouring country, which posed no threat to it, nor provoked it. Moreover, President Putin is threatening reprisals on any other state that may come to the rescue of the people of Ukraine. Such use of force and coercion has no place in the 21st century.

What President Putin is doing is not only a grave violation of international law, it is a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence.

With his choice to bring war back to Europe, we see the return of the “law of the jungle” where might makes right.

The target is not only Ukraine, but the security of Europe and the whole international rulesbased order, based on the UN system and international law.

His aggression is taking innocent lives, crushing people’s wish to live in peace. Civilian targets are being struck, clearly violating international humanitarian law, forcing people to flee. We see a humanitarian catastrophe developing. For months, we pursued unparalleled efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution. But Putin

lied to the faces of all who met him, pretending to be interested in a peaceful solution. Instead, he opted for a full-scale invasion, a full fledged war.

Russia must cease its military operations immediately, and to unconditionally withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine. The same goes for Belarus, which has to immediately stop its involvement in this aggression and respect its international obligations. The European Union is united in offering its strong support to Ukraine and its people. This is a matter of life and death. I am preparing an emergency package to support the Ukrainian armed forces in their fight.

The international community will now in response opt for a full-scale isolation of Russia, to hold President Putin accountable for this aggression. We are sanctioning those who finance the war, crippling the Russian banking system and its access to international reserves.

The EU and its partners have already imposed massive sanctions on Russia that target its leaders and elites and strategic sectors of the Kremlin-run economy. The aim is not to harm the Russian people, but to weaken the Kremlin’s ability to finance this unjust war.

In doing this, we are closely aligned with our partners and allies – the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Australia. We also see many countries from around the world rallying to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, including our friends in Guyana.

We value Guyana’s principled position as expressed in its strong statement condemning the invasion last week. Working together we are stronger, and our efforts will be more successful.

We stand together on the right side of history in the face of Russia’s horrifying attack on a free and sovereign country.

To justify its crimes, the Kremlin and its supporters have engaged in a massive disinformation campaign, which started already weeks ago.

We have seen Russian state media and their ecosystem peddling untruths in social media networks with the aim to deceive and manipulate.

The Western Balkans as well have been targeted by the Kremlin’s disinformation operations for far too long and know how to detect when being exposed to information manipulation.

The Kremlin propagandists call the invasion “a special operation”, but this cynical euphemism cannot hide the fact that we witness a full fledged invasion of Ukraine, with the aim to crush its freedom, legitimate government and democratic structures. Calling the Kyiv government “neonazi” and “Russophobic” is nonsense: all manifestations of Nazism are banned in Ukraine.

In modern Ukraine, extreme right-wing candidates are a fringe phenomenon with minimal support, without passing the barrier to enter the Parliament. The Ukrainian Government did not cut the Donbass off and it has not prohibited the

A Guyanese experience...

FROM PAGE 6 barely enough for survival. Jeans, women clothing, cosmetics, sneakers, and tape recorders were in demand. In Moscow, a youngster came up to me and offered to buy the sneakers I was wearing. I told him to return the next morning. He also asked for jeans which I did not have. I shared candies, cookies, chocolates and mementos with some friendly people. He showed up next day, and as promised, I wore my shoes and gave him my sneakers. I think my wife gave away her jeans but other tourists exchanged jeans for gifts or cash. I had similar experience in Minsk and Leningrad and in countryside towns.

One day in Moscow, I saw a long line of people stretching from a bakery. I decided to join it recalling my joining lines in Guyana for basic goods. I purchased long sweetish hot bread that was quite tasty for the equivalent

of just a cent or two of American money. The cashiers were friendly. People in general were glad to converse with me to practise their English they were learning. Everywhere, people were very pleasant and helpful using sign language when their English was limited. The best service, public bathrooms and restaurants were not the equivalent of those in America or parts of Western Europe. But the people were mannerly and offered the best service available.

I had most pleasant memories in the Soviet Union traveling around the various republics of USSR. I don’t think Americans were allowed in certain parts of the Soviet Union. But my Guyana Passport and my ethnicity took me to several places as it also did when I visited China.

And as an ethnic Indian, there were no restrictions on my movement in Soviet Union unlike my experience

in China where tourist police monitored my every move during my first visit as a student in 1985; in subsequent visits, the police in China did not intimidate or followed visitors around and I could shop anywhere instead of only a foreign currency store.

In addition to Soviet Union, I also visited Soviet bloc countries like Hungary, Romania, Czech, Slovakia, etc., some multiple times.

Some of my most unpleasant (racist) encounters were in East Germany (Leipzig) and Hungary (Budapest) by racist ethno-nationalists who don’t like non-Whites and my friendliest experiences were with Ukrainians in what was then USSR; they treated me with courtesy and adoration.

The war is destroying Ukraine. Every effort must be made to bring an end to it.

Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

use of Russian language and culture. Donetsk and Luhansk are no republics, they are Ukrainian regions controlled

by Russia-backed and armed separatist groupings.

We know this - and many Russians know this. There have been courageous protests in cities across Russia since the invasion started, demanding the end of the aggression against a peaceful neighbouring nation. We hear their voices and recognise their courage in speaking out, and we also see many prominent public figures in Russia protesting this senseless invasion.

I continue to work with our partners around the world to ensure the joint action of the international community

Josep Borrell against the Kremlin’s behaviour. On 25 February, only Russia vetoed a UN Security Council Resolution on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, with China, India and the United Arab Emirates

abstaining. From all over the world, countries condemn Russia’s attacks and at the General Assembly, the entire international community needs to join forces and help to end Russia’s military aggression by adopting the related UN Resolution. We particularly thank Albania as co-penholder of the resolution.

With this war on Ukraine, the world will never be the same again.

It is now, more than ever, the time for societies and alliances to come together to build our future on trust, justice and freedom. It is the moment to stand up and to speak out. Might does not make right. Never did.

Never will.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

Wanted bulletin issued Police seize gun, axe, cutlass after for Amrita Bahadur responding to domestic violence report

AMRITA Bahadur, who is accused of obtaining money by false pretense, is wanted by the Guyana Police Force.

A wanted bulletin was issued, on Wednesday,

by Police Headquarters.

Police said the incidents reportedly occurred in Georgetown between June 2021 and February 2022.

Bahadur’s last known address is Garnett Street,

Wanted: Amrita Bahadur

Kitty, Georgetown.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Amrita Bahadur is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 2266977, 225-8196, 226-9941, 226-1326, 225-3061, 2253650, 911 or the nearest police station.

The police said all information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

The seized firearm The axe that was seized POLICE seized a gun, cut- ducted a search on him and police said as investigation lass and a small axe in the unearthed a revolver in his continues. wee hours of Wednesday pants waist, while he carried The Ministry of Human morning, after respond- a cutlass and a small axe in Services and Social Security ing to a domestic violence his hands.

(MHSSS) in partnership with report made by a 46-year“He had earlier violently the United Nations Chilold woman of Buxton, East threatened the complain- dren’s Fund (UNICEF) has a Coast Demerara. ant and attempted to enter toll-free 914 emergency hotAccording to Police her premises by breaking line number which persons Headquarters, a 39-year-old windows and had received can call to report domestic man was arrested, after a injuries in the process. He and sexual violence and also search was conducted and the was promptly arrested and ask for assistance. weapons were found. taken to the GPHC where Persons can also call At the time he was ap- he is under guard and being the 24-hour helpline at 640prehended, the police con- treated for a fractured skull,” 1011 for assistance.

Khemraj Ramjattan’s son charged for allegedly assaulting woman DIVESH Ramjattan, the son of Alliance for Change (AFC) leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, on Wednesday, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on an assault charge.

Guyana Chronicle un-

derstands that he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded not guilty.

It is allegedly that on February 27, 2022, Divesh assaulted a woman on Delph Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

He was represented by his father during the court proceedings. According to reports, the victim has acquired a restraining order against Divesh and will not be proceeding further with the case.

IROG Women of Faith Network observes first anniversary on IWD

THE Inter Religious Organisation of Guyana’s (IROG) Women of Faith Network (WOFN) will celebrate the first anniversary of its founding on International Women’s Day (IWD).

Women of Faith Networks are an element of the structure of Religions for Peace (RfP), the global organisation to which the IROG is affiliated, and the overarching goal is to work together towards promoting women’s multifaith participation in peacebuilding, a release said.

The IROG launched its Women of Faith Network (WOFN) on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2021. Remarks were made

by Laura Vargas, Co-coordinator of WOFN Latin America & the Caribbean, who welcomed Guyana to the Regional WOFN. Then UN Resident Coordinator, Mikiko Tanaka, issued an invitation to col-

laborate; and the feature address was made by the Chief Justice Madam Justice, Roxane George, who noted that gender equality is a foundation for a more peaceful and just society.

The member organisations of the WOFN to-date are: the Bahá’í Community of Guyana, Guyana Central Arya Samaj, Ekam/ Oneness Guyana, Guyana Rastafari Council, Guyana United Apostolic Mystical Council, Mothers’ Union (Anglican Diocese), National Committee of Sisters Affairs (CIOG), Proverbs 31 Women’s Ministry (Brethren Church), Sathya

Sai Organisation of Guyana and Women’s Federation for World Peace.

At its second meeting, Adel Lilly, Director of the Gender Affairs Bureau, was invited to make a presentation on the work of his department, and then UN RC Ms Tanaka arranged a meeting for presentations with a team of nine personnel from UN agencies—both meetings designed to provide information on which the WOFN could determine its priorities and possible collaboration. It has since submitted an interfaith edition of a Moral Education booklet to President Irfaan Ali, and, while awaiting a response, its current focus is a pilot project within member organisations using that booklet which has been formatted into a workbook, the release concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 3, 2022

Agreement paves way for bilateral business opportunities for Guyana, Suriname

By Jared Liddell

A MEMORANDUM of Cooperation (MoC) signed, on Monday, by Guyana’s Together We Win Business Network (TWWBN) and the Alliance of Business Associations in Suriname, is expected to boost local business capacity, while significantly promoting joint investment opportunities.

The MoC describes intended cooperation between members of both networks in the areas of trade, business development, strategic alliances, joint ventures, joint investments, and joint internationalisation.

It also includes strategies to attract investments from the relatively large diaspora of both countries.

Founder and President of TWWBN, Marlon Joseph, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle called the initiative “mutually beneficial and timely.”

He noted that the collaboration will allow members to share in strategic training programmes that will allow them to optimize and improve strategies for sustained business growth and development.

TWWBN is an umbrella body for small and mediumsized enterprises in Guyana with the primary objective of establishing a strong professional network through collaborative interactions. Currently, 99 small and medium businesses are members of the network.

Joseph noted that TWWBN has been seeking growth opportunities locally, through private and public sector organisations, including the Small Business Bureau.

He expressed belief that the opportunity is “ripe for the picking” to formulate bilateral partnerships with Guyana’s neighbour.

The Alliance of Business Associations in Suriname is a strategic partnership com-

prising of the Association of Small and Medium-sized Companies in Suriname, the Manufacturers Association of Suriname, the Cooperative Association of Poultry Farmers, the Association of Exporters of Agricultural Products in Suriname, the Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Association, the Fishermen Association, the Association of Surinamese Milk Farmers and the Association of Domestic Industrialists.

According to Joseph, the idea for the partnership was birthed after the Alliance of Business Associations in Suriname reached out to the network in November 2021.

“In November we received a visit from the [Association of Small and Mediumsized Companies in Suriname] and we discussed possible collaborative activities that we can do. We discussed opening up our network so that the businesses within our network can participate in entrepreneurial activities. They can go into joint ventures and see how we can bring innovative systems to Guyana and what innovative systems and business ideas and training we can give to Suriname,” Joseph stated.

He added that these partnerships are building on the relationships discussed and envisioned by President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali and the President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi.

From all indications, the two presidents share a mutual interest in collaborating to improve the lives of their people through social and economic initiatives.

In 2021, calls were made by both presidents for their respective private sector bodies to establish partnerships for cross-border investments.

In August 2021, Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Co-

From left to right: Manufacturers Association Chairman Wilgo Bilkerdijk; Together We Win Business Network’s Marlon Joseph; Chairman of the Association of Small and Medium-sized Companies, Harry Soekhlal and Chairman of the Cooperative Association of Poultry Farmers, Rudi Franklin Moeridjan operation, Albert Ramdin, underscored the importance of the two countries taking an integrated approach to investment.

Ramdin said that the two countries are eying the possibility of merging their economies into a single market space.

TWWBN and the Alliance of Business Associations in Suriname aim to promote cooperation among entrepreneurs and support, develop and facilitate their members in trade, business development, and investments. The two organisations have decided to collaborate extensively to develop and strengthen direct trade, business development and investments.

Meanwhile, Joseph told this publication that one of the major aspects of the collaboration is that businesses locally will be paired with Surinamese businesses that are similar or are in complementary sectors.

“One of the things we would have done with our network is to divide the members by sectors so we are able to discuss some of the challenges relevant per sector and possible solutions to it. So, we will be pairing the businesses in Guyana with businesses in Suriname and they will be able to discuss strategies, partnership opportunities, financing in terms of getting investors and coming together to do joint tenders and so on,” Joseph added.

Man gets 24 months for stealing magistrate’s cellphone OMAWALIE Caesar will be sending the next 24 months in jail after he was found guilty of stealing a cellphone from Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

The sentence was handed down on February 21, 2022,

by Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Caesar made his first court appearance on Novem-

ber 29,2021, before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus. He had denied that on November 23, 2021, at Battery Road, Kingston, Georgetown, he stole a $200,000 Samsung Note 9 belonging to Magistrate Daly.

The case was later transferred to Magistrate Bess for trial and Caesar was found guilty.

According to reports Magistrate Daly left her car secured with her phone inside. Upon her return she discovered that her phone was missing. The matter was reported to the police and following an investigation Caesar was arrested.

H e w a s re p o r t e d l y caught on camera breaking into the magistrate’s vehicle.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

CSOs to be trained in water system management

A MEMORANDUM of Understanding (MoU) was, on Wednesday, signed between the Ministries of Housing and Water and Amerindian Affairs, for the training of Community Service Officers (CSOs) in the operation and maintenance of water supply systems in hinterland communities.

A release said the MoU was signed by Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Housing and Water and Amerindian Affairs, Andre Ally and Ryan Toolsiram respectively, in GWI’s Boardroom.

At least two Community Service Officers will be identified from each Amerindian community that has

an existing GWI water supply system, to operate and maintain the system in their respective communities.

Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal, told the media that the signing of the MoU signals government’s commitment to the development of all Guyanese, by ensuring opportunities are available for persons to acquire skillsets to be gainfully utilised, regardless of where in Guyana they reside.

Minister Croal noted that the training programme for CSOs will help to address the challenge of finding resources and personnel for the management and maintenance of water systems in far-flung regions.

Therefore, that activ-

The ministers, permanent secretaries and GWI’s CEO following the signing (GWI photo) ity, he said, emphasised the ministry’s commitment in ensuring technical repairs

are addressed in real time to ensure a continuous supply of water to residents.

Part of the training would entail the operation of a new PAT drilling rig, which was recently acquired by GWI. It is scheduled to commence drilling in the community of Swan, followed by Kaikan, then Moruca.

The minister noted that there was a macro plan for the delivery of potable water countrywide since there was under 60 per cent access in the hinterland. He, therefore, noted that with the robust programme, 100 per cent access was envisaged by 2025.

That meant that to have full water coverage for Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine and riverain coastland communities, 146 new wells would be required.

Since government took office, close to $1B was expended for intervention in water delivery and this year 30 wells are earmarked to be drilled.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, who was also present at the signing

ceremony, said the collaboration among the agencies will result in benefits for the CSOs as well as the communities, GWI and, by extension, the ministry.

She noted that, often times, visits are made to communities with simple water issues, which escalate due to poor maintenance.

“So if we have permanent trained people to maintain, the life expectancy of the system will be extended,” Minister Rodrigues reasoned.

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, reiterated that the PPP/C Government has committed to ensuring that the hinterland benefits from an ongoing supply of potable water.

Minister Sukhai highlighted that there were currently over 2,000 participants in the CSO programme across the country and this year, it is expected to move to 2,500.

The Amerindian Affairs Minister noted that the level of infrastructure in Amerindian communities continued to improve and there was

need for human resource to take charge.

GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh, said that Wednesday’s signing cements what GWI has been doing for the last 18 months since government resumed office, which is building partnerships.

He explained that GWI also has partnerships with the Ministries of Public Works and Education, as well as UNICEF, and the latter will be funding part of the training for CSOs. “As infrastructure is built across the country, including hinterland, we have to ensure that communities, NDCs and RDCs are involved in the caring of the infrastructure,” Baksh said.

He noted that the training will be comprehensive and robust and will include hygiene best practices.

Training programmes for CSOs commence on Thursday in Region Nine and would not only feature the theory aspect but will also be heavily focused on the practical side, the release noted.

The newly acquired PAT well-drilling rig for hinterland and riverain areas (GWI photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 3, 2022

Self-confessed killer freed due to time served FAZEEL ‘Javed’ Bacchus was, on Monday, sentenced to six and a half years for his role in the fatal shooting of the owner of Regent Multiplex Mall, Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall, during a robbery at his La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara home.

However, he was released from prison the following day on time served due to him being on remand since July 2015.

On February 21, 2022, Bacchus was arraigned for murder before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara High Court but he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The 27-year-old admitted that, on July 5, 2015, he unlawfully participated in the killing of Ramlall, during the course of a robbery.

He admitted to being the driver of the getaway car.

On Monday, the judge began her sentencing at 18 years. However, she made deductions for Bacchus’ early guilty plea and his time spent in pretrial custody.

After deductions, Bacchus’ final sentence stood at six and a half years.

Dead: Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall

Fazeel ‘Javed’ Bacchus

The Guyana Chronicle was made to understand that Bacchus is a witness for the state in a murder case.

The state was represented by special prosecutors, attorneys-at-law Konyo Sandiford and Narissa Leander, while the accused was represented by attorney-at-law Mark Conway.

According to reports, the businessman had just returned home and was going to use the outside bathroom when he was confronted by four men who shot him about

his body and took away his licensed firearm, jewellery, and wallet.

It was reported that upon seeing the gunmen, he raised an alarm and called out to his relatives to secure the house.

After the bandits escaped, Ramlall was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Days later, police arrested Bacchus and he confessed to being the getaway driver.

Man freed of rape charge

BRIAN Cozier was, on Tuesday, freed from a rape charge by Magistrate Crystal Lambert, who upheld a no-case submission made by defence attorney Bernard Da Silva.

Cozier, 28, was on trial at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with an eight-year-old girl on August 12, 2020.

On December 16, 2021, DaSilva made a no-case

submission arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish evidence to prove key elements of the charge.

Magistrate Lambert upheld the no-case submission and dismissed the case.

Appeal Court to rule on child rape convictions, ‘severe’ sentence

THE Court of Appeal is expected to soon deliver its ruling in the case brought

by Paul Abrams, who is currently serving 25 years behind bars for buggery and indecent assault of a 17-year-old girl.

In 2016, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow sentenced him to 12 years on the buggery charge and four years for the indecent assault. The sentences are running concurrently.

According to reports, on December 5, 2007, Abrams lured the young lady to a room where he proceeded to sexually assault and sodomise her.

In his application, which was filed by attorney-at-

law, Nigel Hughes, Abrams claims that the trial judge erred on several pertinent issues leading up to the verdict.

As it relates to the severity of the sentence, Abrams claims that the trial judge erred in law by failing to apply case law principles that promote fairness in sentencing.

Among other things, Abrams wants the court to overturn his conviction and sentence.

On Wednesday, during a zoom hearing, Chancellor (ag) of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal, Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud,

Paul Abrams reserved their judgement in the case.

A date for ruling is yet to be set.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

Guyana remains committed to safeguarding the planet

Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond

TOURISM, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond said Monday that the preservation of nature is inextricably linked to earth’s survival and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She was, at the time, addressing the plenary meeting of the resumed Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) held under the theme “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, underway in Nairobi, Kenya.

She told the meeting that Guyana is taking ambitious actions, both nationally and internationally, to advance shared environmental goals. She relayed that Guyana in 2021, joined the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature and the Global Oceans Alliance, endorsed the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use at COP26, and is currently expanding the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, “which sets out

our vision for development along a low carbon trajectory”.

Minister Walrond also reiterated Guyana’s commitment to safeguarding the planet while promoting prosperity for all people.

The Tourism Minister said biodiversity and climate crises require bold, innovative action to bring about systemic changes to save Planet Earth.

“The triple crises of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, pose serious challenges for the achievement of the majority of the SDGs and their targets, and are particularly impacting on developing countries such as Guyana,” Minister Walrond said.

From Guyana’s standpoint, Minister Walrond noted that several actions are prior-

ity. These include advancing efforts to urgently tackle plastic pollution given the devastating impacts of plastics on humans, animals and the environment, improving the sustainability of food consumption and production patterns, in light of the size of the environmental footprint of the agri-food industry, scaling up investment in renewable energy, nature-based solutions, and early-warning systems for natural disasters.

She said there must be greater international cooperation for technology transfer and capacity building for developing countries as well as improved synergies between the 2030 Agenda and the Multilateral Environment Agreements.”

(DPI)

Insects, a future source of valuable animal feed in the Caribbean THE rising costs and limited access to high quality animal feeds are constraining factors for the development of the poultry and livestock sectors in the Caribbean and a threat to food security in the region. There is also a growing problem of managing organic waste from our farms, markets, restaurants, hotels and food manufacturers that create health, environment and climate risks.

In examining solutions to these challenges, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Fera Science Limited, recently completed a survey of organic waste across Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago. The study assessed the potential of insect farming as a solution to the twin problem of increasing volumes of organic wastes, and the lack of stable access to affordable animal feed.

Insect farming is widely regarded around the world as one of the key solutions to reducing waste in the environment and creating sustainable sources of animal feed. In this process, selected insect species efficiently convert organic waste (biomass), through their natural ability to upcycle waste material, into high-quality products, suitable for agriculture and animal feed industries.

The black soldier fly larvae is the main insect being farmed – it is one of nature’s recyclers, and rapidly consumes wastes and turns it into larvae that are enjoyed by chickens and fish as a natural

Rising costs and limited access to high quality animal feeds are constraining factors for the development of the poultry and livestock sectors in the Caribbean (FAO photo) feed. Insect farming provides a sustainable solution that complements existing community vermi-composting schemes and enables the creation of fertilisers, animal protein feed, oils, and new valuable products by making better use of organic wastes.

“Waste materials identified in the study could sustain the growth of enough insects to achieve 50 per cent inclusion into poultry feed for the entire poultry population in the countries studied. This would reduce the reliance on tonnes of soy and other costly and unsustainable sources of protein such as fishmeal from ocean ecosystems. Commercial development of new sources of safe and traceable proteins is essential to meet the needs of growing populations, especially with increased consumption of meat, fish and eggs,” Renata Clarke, FAO Caribbean Sub-regional Coordinator said.

She added: “The Caribbean poultry sector would become less vulnerable to external shocks, more environmentally friendly and create new economically viable

feed businesses accessible by small-scale entrepreneurs and communities.”

As an introduction to this innovation, FAO, Fera, and the University of the West Indies are developing a regional pilot project to showcase the value of insect farming and provide the catalyst for a series of community projects focused on creating sustainable animal feed from organic wastes.

Damian Malins from Fera Science Limited said, “We are very excited to be working with FAO and the University of the West Indies, to establish insect farming in the region.”

He continued: “The pilot project will engage farmers, communities, ministries and a range of private sector partners to create a best practice for future insect farmers. It will also create a community solution to reducing wastes and creating an affordable, sustainable animal feed.”

The findings of the FAO study will be discussed with all interested stakeholders in a virtual forum in March with implementation of the pilot project set to begin by mid-year. (FAO)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 3, 2022

MV Barima to resume operations soon

Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill surveying works completed on the MV Barima (DPI photo) THE MV Barima, which provides service to residents of Region One, is expected to recommence operation soon as repairs costing $90 million have been completed.

The 88-year-old watercraft was docked for emergency repairs following an assessment by the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD).

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, examined the finished work on Tuesday.

He noted that the safety of citizens is important to the government. He explained that a thorough repair was necessary, as the boat was badly deteriorated.

“The systems were heavily compromised and taking into consideration which is our number one priority –safety -- we had to make a quality decision of getting this boat fully rehabilitated,” he said.

The vessel, which underwent two weeks’ intense rehabilitation at the Pritipaul’s dock yard in Supply, East Bank Demerara, will be returned to the T&HD within 24 hours. The vessel’s engine

will then be inspected by MACORP to address any further issues.

“For those of us who live on the coastland, this might just be another boat that they are fixing, but for the people of Region One, this is their life. This affects the price they pay for food; this affects getting their produce to the market; this affects them getting to Georgetown for important appointments, this affects children getting out to secondary school or institutions of higher learning and getting back home to their families.

This affects everyday living in Region One, so we did not treat this lightly.”

Meanwhile, T&HD’s General Manager, Marclene Merchant, said she was pleased with the quality of works completed within the short time frame.

“I am more than impressed with the works done on this vessel. I was here when the vessel came into dry dock and the vessel was in a deplorable state; it was terrible and within two weeks the vessel has been

The MV Barima, docked at Supply, East Bank Demerara (DPI photo)

completed, just the engines we need to look at now and we are trying our best to see how soon we can get this vessel back in service.

Meanwhile, work is also ongoing on the Parika/Supenaam ferry to resolve some generator issues.

The MV Barima traverses the Georgetown to Port Kaituma route and has the capacity to transport some 150 passengers twice daily. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

Scenes from the CARICOM Heads

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 3, 2022

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s of Government Meeting in Belize

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

Haimaracabra Primary School commissioned Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal PRIMARY and nursery aged students of Haimaracabra village, Region One, will now be housed in a more comfortable space following the commissioning of a newly constructed primary school.

The school was reconstructed by the regional administration to the tune of over $10 million and is equipped with a ramp for persons with disabilities. It has tiled floors, an office and washroom facilities.

Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal attended the commissioning ceremony on Monday. He was

joined by Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley and Vice-Chairperson, Anansha Peters.

During brief remarks, Minister Croal outlined the government’s vision for the education sector, particularly in the hinterland regions.

The aim, he said, is to create an enabling environment where the nation’s children could access quality education regardless of their location or background.

It is for this reason, he noted that the PPP/C Administration, since taking office in 2020, has been investing huge sums in the educa-

tion sector. This has led to new and modernised schools across the country, learning materials provided to students, more trained teachers and support to parents.

“All the investment we can make as a government, as a region, none of it is more important than ensuring that we invest in the education sector…. All we aspire to as parents, as teachers and as leaders is to ensure we produce in this country, persons who will take up various positions across our country, elevated by their

studies so that we can have a wealthier nation,” he noted.

In the Moruca sub-district, for the first time, the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) is being offered at the Santa Rosa Secondary School, he added.

Upgrades will be done to a number of other institutions in the area this year.

Regional Chairman, Ashley said that the regional administration, with support from central government, is very keen on ensuring quality education reaches every

The Haimaracabra Primary School (DPI photo)

child within the region, be it through infrastructure or other support.

He said the school was in a dilapidated state during the tenure of the previous administration and residents’ cries fell on deaf ears. Today, the students, as well as teachers are functioning in a more conducive environment which will bolster education delivery, he stated.

Anthony Harris, the school’s headmaster, expressed gratitude to the government for the new facility, which he said is a

great improvement to what the students and teachers were functioning under last term. “We will be able to do so much more with this brand-new modern facility,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Croal handed over a brush cutter to the community to aid in the maintenance of the school’s compound.

This year, the sum of $4.4 billion was allocated to the Regional Administration of which $2.2 billion will be directed towards education delivery. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 3, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

No Russian driver to compete in UK Motorsport

Nikita Mazepin joined the Haas F1 team in 2021, partnering Mick Schumacher

(BBC) - Russian drivers have been banned from competing in the UK by the national motorsport authority.

Motorsport UK will refuse to recognise licences of competitors from the Russian federation until further notice.

It means Nikita Mazepin cannot race in July's British Grand Prix even if he

continues to be part of the Haas team.

Mazepin's father Dmitry provides financial backing to Haas and is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Haas are expected to sever links with their Russian driver.

Motorsport UK's decision comes in the wake of the FIA, the international governing body, deciding to allow Russians to compete in events but ban teams from the country.

Motorsport UK chair, David Richards, is thought to have voted against the FIA's decision at Tuesday's meeting of its World motorsport council.

It added that the sanctions had been taken in consultation with the UK Government.

Richards said: "It is our duty to use whatever influence and leverage we might have to bring this wholly unjustified invasion of Ukraine to a halt.

"We would encourage the motorsport community and our colleagues around the world to fully embrace the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee and do whatever we can to end this war.

"Motorsport UK stands united with Leonid Kostyuchenko, president of the Automobile Federation of Ukraine, the Ukrainian motorsport community and the Ukrainian people and calls for the violence to end with a peaceful resolution."

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

Williams looking to become inspiration for more female umpires female match officials at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020 and the steady upward path is as per our plans and keeping with our long-term vision. But while we have been continuously increasing the number of women officials, there have

Nikita Mazepin joined the Haas F1 team in 2021, partnering Mick Schumacher

(CMC) – Jamaican Jacqueline Williams is looking forward to making a major step in her career as an international cricket umpire – taking up duty in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup which begins tomorrow – with the hope that she will be an inspiration for females across the region who want to take similar steps in sports.

Williams, who is already in New Zealand, is fresh from the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, where she created history as the first female to stand in the tournament. She also had the special honour when she was the fourth umpire in the final at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Now Williams is in New Zealand and readying herself for the marquee event in women’s cricket.

“The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup was a very successful one for me. Going into any event I really don’t look towards being in the final or anything like that, I just focus on doing my job to the best of my ability,” she said.

“One of the things that I was able to do was: I prepared well for the tournament, and I was fortunate enough to be selected for the final, among an excellent team of officials. Making it to the final, you know, that was a surreal moment for me and a very humbling one as well.”

She added: “Now, being appointed to the ICC Women’s World Cup is another step in my career and I want to continue to do a good job.

I know a lot is expected of me and the ICC U19 World Cup would have given me some really good experience and some good on-field time as well as TV time. So, I’m just looking forward to transfer that success across here in the women’s tournament.”

Williams, 45, said she wants to continue to be an inspiration for females across the region who have ambitions to be match officials or administrators in all sporting disciplines.

“I’m really looking ahead to this … what is ahead, tournament and, as I have said in interviews before, I would like to be an inspiration to other female sports officials looking on, so they can realise that ‘yes’ there are females out there … and they can see the path … do the work that is required,” she said.

Several women are making their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup debuts.

Former South Africa player Shandré Fritz, who featured in the 2005, 2009 and 2013 World Cups, will be the Match Referee in a Women’s World Cup match, as will her compatriot Lauren Agenbag, the first woman from her country to umpire a T20I International. Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (on-field), Alex Wharf (third umpire) and Sue Redfern (fourth umpire) will be the other officials for the opening match.

Along with Williams, Agenbeg, Fritz and Redfern, the other women officiating in the tournament are Match Referee GS Lakshmi and umpires Kim Cotton, Claire Polosak and Eloise Sheridan.

Adrian Griffith, ICC Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees, said the appointments were part of ICC’s policy of nurturing the best available talent in different countries. Griffith is a former West Indies top-order batter who played 14 Test matches and nine One-Day Internationals between 1997 and 2000.

“We are proud to announce eight women Match Officials in our team for the tournament. We had six

been no concessions and all of them deserve to be there,” Griffith said.

“The appointments are based on merit, and they have made it to the top level because of their skill and perseverance. It is good to have a good mix of experi-

ence and it is heartening to note the number of firsts for women officials in recent years. I wish all the match officials the very best and I am confident that we will have fine adjudication during the tournament.”

The tournament bowls

off tomorrow with the opening match between hosts New Zealand Women and West Indies Women at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. The event runs until April 3 with the final at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

Bairstow’s hundred sinks CWI’s XI in warm-up match

(CMC) – CWI’s President’s XI came in for a hiding from Jonny Bairstow yesterday, as the England right-hander blasted an unbeaten hundred to warm up nicely for next week’s first Test.

Resuming the morning at Coolidge Cricket Ground on four, Bairstow top-scored with 106 not out, helping to fire the tourists to 466 for six declared in their first innings.

Dan Lawrence, unbeaten on 46 at the start, missed out on triple figures when he fell for 83, while all-rounder Chris Woakes chipped in with an unbeaten 49.

Off-spinner Bryan Charles failed to add to his overnight tally and ended with three for 143 while fast bowler Sherman Lewis picked up a second wicket to finish with two for 75.

At the close, the President’s XI were trying

to rebuild on 48 for two after opener Shayne Moseley (20) and Jeremy Solozano (17) both perished in the final session.

The hosts face a tall order, trailing by 418 runs heading into today’s penultimate day.

On 251 for four overnight, England were carried by two successive half-century partnerships, along with a century stand, with Bairstow at the centre of all of them.

The 32-year-old, one

Bairstow.

However, it was Bairstow’s unbroken 111-run, seventh-wicket partnership with Woakes which really turned the screws on the hosts before the declaration came at tea.

Moseley then put on 34 for the first wicket with Solozano before playing a delivery to short cover, charging down the wicket and finding himself stranded after his partner changed his mind over a tight single.

Solozano followed several overs later after suffering a moment of madness, charging left-arm spinner Jack Leach, missing an ungainly heave, and having his stumps rattled.

Jonny Bairstow

of the few England batters to emerge from the recent Ashes Down Under with any credibility, struck 13 fours and a six in an innings spanning 158 deliveries and 4-½ hours.

He added 64 for the fifth wicket with Lawrence who faced 121 balls in 142 minutes and notched seven fours and a brace of sixes.

When left-arm seamer Colin Archibald removed Lawrence to a catch at first slip by Alick Athanaze, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes (25) arrived to put on a further 57 for the sixth wicket with

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

Kellman inks contract with Sporting Kansas City II

By Rawle Toney

GUYANA’S Curtez Kellman inked his first Professional football contract with Sporting Kansas City II, an MLS Next Pro club that is affiliated with Major League Soccer (MLS) side, Sporting Kansas City.

“I feel truly grateful for this opportunity. This is something that I’ve wanted since I started playing football and I know for me to reach this level I had to work hard with dedication to the sport,” Kellman said in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport.

Speaking from his new home in Missouri, Kellman further added that “getting the opportunity to sign my first Pro-Contract; I’m grateful and I’m looking forward to a very successful career.”

The 23-year-old Kellman recently completed his studies at Daytona College,

worked very hard to grab the opportunity with both hands,” Kellman said.

Kellman, who suited up locally for Western Tigers and Georgetown Football Club (GFC), only made one appearance for Guyana’s Senior Men’s National team when the Golden Jaguars journeyed to Indonesia in 2017 for an International friendly.

Though representing Guyana at the youth stage and finding considerable suc-

Guyana’s Curtez Kellman is all smiles following his contract signing with Sporting Kansas City II

where he gained a degree in Business Administration.

During his NJCAA playing career, Kellman was a two-time All-American and one of the country’s top midfield players.

Thanks to Guyanese football Hall-of-Famer Alex

Bunbury and his Sport and Academic Academy, Kellman was given a try-out at Sporting Kansas City.

“He (Bunbury) worked hard behind the scenes in getting me this opportunity.

Of course, I did my part; I came up here (to the US) and

Iyer gains 18 places in ICC Rankings, Kohli falls out of top 10 (ESPNCRICINFO) - Shreyas Iyer was the Player-of-the-Series in India's 3-0 T20I sweep against Sri Lanka after scoring 204 runs with three unbeaten half-centuries, and that has given him a remarkable promotion of 27 places to No. 18 in the ICC rankings for T20I batters.

Even as Iyer gained, Virat Kohli, who was rested for the series, dropped out of the top-ten to 15th, while Pathum Nissanka's 75 in the second game helped him get to ninth place, a rise of six spots.

Away in New Zealand, South Africa completed a remarkable bounce back as they won the second Test in Christchurch to square the series. Kagiso Rabada was the Player-ofthe-Match there for his eight wickets in the game - to go with a handy innings of 47 - and that meant a sharp rise of three spots to No.3 among Test bowlers. Only Pat Cummins and R. Ashwin are now above him.

Following New Zealand's disappointing performance, Kyle Jamieson dropped two spots to fifth and Tim Southee went down one spot to sixth among Test bowlers, while Devon Conway's 92 in the second innings took him up six places to No.17.

Back to T20Is, and Muhammad Waseem's 112 in 66 balls in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier A against Ireland not only gave UAE the title, it also put him at No.12 among batters in the format.

This is now the highest any UAE batter has reached on the T20I rankings, with Waseem topping the 13th place achieved by Shaiman Anwar in 2017.

Shreyas Iyer hit three unbeaten half-centuries in the ODI series against Sri Lanka (BCCI)

Rohan Mustafa had a decent tournament in Al Amerat with ball and bat too, as he scored 96 runs in four innings and picked up eight wickets - that moved him up to sixth place among all-rounders, one below his career-high of fifth, which he achieved in February 2020.

Across in Bangladesh, the home side won an ODI series against Afghanistan 2-1. Litton Das hit 136 and 86 in the second and third matches there, which put him at a career-best 32nd among batters, and while Mehidy Hasan Miraz dropped two spots to seventh among bowlers, Rashid Khan re-entered the top ten - at No.9 - after picking up five wickets.

cess on the collegiate scenes, many were left amazed at his many omissions from the team, especially under Brazilian Márcio Maximo.

Nonetheless, Kellman was adamant that he has “never let my omission from the National team get the better side of me because it would be a form of distraction and I wouldn’t be able to focus and reach my true potential, so I work hard continuously.”

“Also, with this opportu-

nity, I want to be very much consistent with my performance and it will provide an opportunity for me to get a chance to be able to represent my country whenever called upon,” the dominant midfield player highlighted.

The MLS Next Pro is a third-tier league in the United States soccer league system behind the MLS, USL and USL League One. The MLS Next Pro is made up of the reserve teams for the MLS clubs.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

National table tennis teams qualify for Commonwealth Games

THE National Men’s and Women’s table tennis teams have secured qualification spots for this year’s Commonwealth Games which will be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8.

According to the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), the significant achievement was communicated by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Commonwealth Games Association to Guyana Olym-

pic Association (GOA) president, K.A Juman-Yassin.

The selection comes as rewarded for consistent performance over the period 2018 to 2020, and what is even more significant is that Guyana have been given one

of three spots allocated to the Caribbean and will be part of the 16 teams at the competition.

The squad will consist of eight players – four males and four females – who will also play Doubles and Singles at the multi-sport event.

GTTA president Godfrey Munroe commented: “With the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was made to limit the number of teams moving forward. So for qualification, participation at the Games will become a key feature.

This announcement is significant since it comes on the heels of both men’s and women’s team performances in international competition for the 2018 to 2021 period.”

Guyana will have a presence at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in England

Guyana made their debut at the 2006 edition of the Games held in Melbourne, Australia, then

competed in Delhi, India (2010), Glasgow, Scotland (2014), and Gold Coast, Australia (2018).

Guyana begin quest for Senior Caribbean Table Tennis Championship today

The senior national table tennis team in Cuba

GUYANA’S senior table tennis team will begin action today at the Senior Caribbean Championship being staged from March 3 to 8 in Cuba.

The women’s team competition will start the action at 10:00hrs while round one of the men’s starts after lunch. Eight teams – Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and Haiti are the male teams while Haiti are the exception on the female teams.

The Singles action starts on Saturday.

Current National champions Christopher Franklin and Olympian Chelsea Edghill will lead the team with support from Shemar Britton, Jonathan Van Lange, Natalie Cummings, Miguel Wong, and Priscilla Greaves while Idi Lewis will act as coach.

Franklin and Guyana Table Tennis Association president, Godfrey Munroe, have

stated that the team have the utmost ability to produce a strong showing and return as the best team from the English-speaking Caribbean.

The last Senior Caribbean Championship was held in Guyana in 2019, and the hosts finished second to the Dominican Republic.

Guyana secured 10 medals. gaining a medal in each event except the female Under-21 Singles.

This year, the Senior Championship will have no Under-21 category, owing to COVID-19 restrictions and the raising of the Under-18 to Under-19 age group.

Additionally, the Guyanese contingent would also look for a high placement to secure a spot at the Commonwealth Games to be held in England from July 28 to August 8.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3, 2022

BCB, NGO-SAVE host successful social seminar for youths

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Saturday hosted a successful one-day social seminar with NGOSAVE. The seminar was held at the Albion Community Centre ground and saw the attendance of close to 75 youths, drawn from clubs across the county.

The seminar was declared open by BCB president Hilbert Foster, who welcomed the players and urged them to learn as much as possible on the topics that would be discussed, as the board was determined to see them develop into role models.

Foster, also spoke on the need for cricketers to develop a formula of hard work, discipline, dedication. He stated that during 2022 the board would be investing heavily into programmes and coach-

The youth cricketers, along with the seminar speakers, pose with their certificates

ing clinics which would assist in their development on and off the cricket field.

Regional Chairman David Armogan congratulated BCB and the Suicide and Violence Eradication, NGOSAVE for joining hands to

host the much-needed programme.

Armogan also congratulated BCB on the outstanding work it was doing. He disclosed that he was confident that the seminar would achieve its objectives on ed-

Abramovich planning to sell Chelsea

(BBC) - Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich says he is planning to sell the club.

In a statement on the Premier League club's website, businessman Abramovich said he had made an "incredibly difficult decision" which "pains" him.

The Russian will not ask "for any loans to be repaid" and said proceeds of the sale would be donated to war victims.

Abramovich had said on Saturday he would give "stewardship and care" of Chelsea to its foundation trustees following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

That led to speculation Abramovich who has loaned the club more than £1.5B would put Chelsea up for sale, and billionaire Hansjorg Wyss told Swiss newspaper Blick yesterday that he had been offered the chance to buy the club.

Wyss said Abramovich wanted "to get rid of Chelsea quickly" after the threat of sanctions was raised in Parliament.

Abramovich, 55, is alleged to have strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he has denied.

He said "all net proceeds from the sale" would be donated to the "victims of the war in Ukraine".

BBC Sport understands Abramovich has already received offers for Chelsea and that he values the club at as much as £3B. In his statement, Abramovich said: "I have always taken decisions with the club's

best interest at heart.

"In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club's sponsors and partners.

"The sale of the club will not be fasttracked but will follow due process. I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid.

"I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine."

BBC Sport understands the trustees of Chelsea's charitable foundation, who had not yet agreed to take control of the club, will no longer be asked to.

Abramovich was criticised for not referencing Russia's invasion of Ukraine in that original statement on Saturday.

Chelsea's players were not told ahead of time about their owner's new statement, which was released less than a hour before the side's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Luton Town.

After falling behind early on, the Premier League team won 3-2 to reach the quarter-finals.

Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 for £140M, and in his statement said it had "never been about business or money, but about pure passion for the game and club".

ucating the youths on the topics – anti-suicide, domestic violence and mental health.

The head of SAVE, Nazim Hussain, congratulated BCB for accepting his offer to hold the seminar and properly organising it within

one week. He committed the organisation to working along with the proactive cricket board to host more programmes in the future for more youths.

The day’s event saw presentations by Hussain, along

with Phillip Drayton, Zipporah Joseph and Dr Vishalya Sharma., head of the health sector in Region Six. Dr Sharma took the opportunity to express thanks to BCB and NGO-SAVE for joining hands to educate youths on a wide array of topics.

BCB’s Public Relations Officer, Jonathan Rampersaud, disclosed that the board is currently working on an updated edition of its youth information booklet.

This booklet would be shared out free of cost to all youth players in the county.

It covers topics such as public speaking, manners for a public ceremony, suicide, danger of illegal drugs, table manners, how to do a job interview, personal hygiene, importance of education and the role of a sports ambassador.

U20 Lady Jags advance to Round-of-16 CONCACAF Championships

Despite losing 5-0, Guyana’s U20 Lady Jags team move into the round of sixteen

THE U20 Lady Jags suffered another defeat in the CONCACAF U20 Championship, but still qualified for the round of sixteen due to their group stage placing.

The side lost 5-0, this time to Panama, when the two teams met at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

After opening the tournament with a 2-0 win over Honduras, Lady Jags went down 5-0 to Mexico in their second encounter and were hoping for a better result in their final Group F match.

Hasha Holder’s own goal two minutes into the contest wasn’t the ideal start Guyana had wanted, as Hilary Jaen doubled the lead for Panama in the 10th minute.

Shayari Camarena, who had a double on the night, scored the first goal in the 40th minute to give the Panamanians a 3-0 cushion at the end of the first stanza.

The second half saw a more spirited performance from Guyana, but thanks to Elibeth Vásquezit’s goal in the 54th minute and Camarena, who completed her double in the 60th minute, Panama held on for their much-needed win.

The Panamanians had a rocky start to their campaign when they were defeated 0-3 by Mexico and drew 1-1 with Honduras.

However, despite yesterday’s result, the U20 Lady Jags will advance to the tournament’s Round-of-16, since as per tournament rules, the top three teams from each group will advance to the knock-out stage.

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GE GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 3,P A2022

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Guyana will have a presence at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in England

National table tennis teams qualify for Commonwealth Games PAGE

Jonny Bairstow

24

Bairstow’s hundred sinks CWI’s XI in warm-up match

U20 Lady Jags advance to Round-of-16 CONCACAF Championships 27 PAGE

Despite losing 5-0, Guyana’s U20 Lady Jags team move into the round of sixteen

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THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022