Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 05-06-2022

5th june, 2022

free Inside No.106744

$209M sand-mining 03 operation for Mabura PAGE

Guyanese boy graduates as 28 families get valedictorian low-income 17 at US 14 houses in Berbice high school PAGE

Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Mr. Sherwyn Greaves (left), hands over the keys to one of the spanking new houses to this mother and her child, while Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal (second right), looks on (Sydel Thomas photo)

Caribbean literary giant dies at 94 04 PAGE

George Lamming

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‘The assistance 02 will go a long way’ PAGE

– parents of children with disabilities

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

‘The assistance will go a long way’ – parents of children with disabilities

By Tamica Garnett

WHEN you’re pregnant, you often dream of what your child is going to be and envision them living a full and normal life, so much so that it is often not easy to face the reality of your child having

child, and added financial burden in funding extra childcare costs for medication, transportation, and special care.

Parents often feel alone, and also face mental health challenges as they do the best for their children.

expected when compared to other babies.

Bryan-Gardner’s daughter cannot walk, see or talk.

Parents like Bryan-Gardner are seeing the government’s announcement of a one-off $100,000 grant for each

President Irfaan Ali meeting with parents and their children with disabilities on Friday at State House a different future, if or when, they are born with a disability.

In addition to the psychological strain that comes with overcoming the stigma of how children and people with disabilities are viewed in society, parents face added physical strain in caring for the

“At times it can be overwhelming, but, thankfully, I have the support of my family,” expressed Andrea Bryan-Gardner, whose fiveyear-old daughter, Amariya Garner, was born with microcephaly. This is a birth defect whereby a baby’s head is smaller than

child with a disability and other measures announced

by President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Friday, as a welcome surprise that will go a long way in making life better.

The announcement was made at State House during a meeting between the President, the First

Lady Arya Ali and scores of parents and their children with disabilities. At the interactive session, parents shared their concerns, and suggestions on how the government can offer assistance.

“I’m elated and I applaud the Government of Guyana for this initiative.

Parents of children with special needs experience emotional, physical and financial hardships and this will go a long way to alleviating some of the financial burdens,” said Bryan-Gardner.

Bryan-Gardner had started a support group for mothers with children who have microcephaly. She shared how challenging it has been for the parents to deal with the financial costs, particularly when it comes to transporting their children.

“Most of the parents also have other children to support too. I’m married but most of the women in my ‘micro mommies group’ are single parents with nobody to keep their children, so it’s even harder for them. Some men have left them because the child came out with a disability,” Bryan-Gardner told the Sunday Chroncile.

One of the mothers in her group is 23-year-old Felicia Lewis from Bar-

Adrea Bryan-Gardner with her daughter, Amariya tica, who has to travel to the city every few months for her daughter, Deanna Huggins, to be seen by a paedatrician in Georgetown.

“Transportation does be a big challenge; that and having money every day with you to carry her to therapy. That does be kind of challenging because you may not always have the fare for taxi or bus. And I am not working, it’s just her father supporting us,” Lewis told this newspaper.

Though remaining strong for her daughter, she said it has not always been easy, particularly given that she has another one-year-old child and it’s hard to see her younger child be active while the older one cannot be.

“It’s hard to see [the] way she does be. Sometimes I have to go to the side and cry but I say crying doesn’t solve any problem, so I have to try to act normal with her, try to treat her like a normal child,” the mother of two said.

Celeste Belgrave, whose daughter, Makayla Belgrave is blind, was also present at State House on Friday, and more than being elated about the finances, she is looking forward to the other initiatives the President announced,

which include the establishment of a $120 million business centre for persons with disabilities (PWDs), care centres for the children and assistance with transportation.

“It’s a nice initiative, I am looking forward to see it come to pass. To be honest, I’ve never seen anyone else promise us these stuff, so I am looking forward to it because to have a child with a disability and you’re getting help, you would really look forward to that,” she expressed.

Belgrave commended President Ali, not just for the initiatives, but for taking the time to listen to the parents and show that the government cares about the challenges that they are facing. She was particularly heartened in hearing the President note that he will address issues facing parents who have been having difficulties in accessing public assistance.

Upon hearing about the issues faced with accessing public assistance, the Head of State made an on-the-spot decision to provide automatic public assistance to children on the register, as a means of long-term support.

“When you have a child with special needs, you cannot work. For example, when you have a child with cerebral palsy, you can’t work as you want to, especially if the child can’t do certain things.

-Even if you are working, not every daycare caters for these children and that’s one thing he is doing [with] the centre,” Belgrave noted.

“I feel it for parents that can’t work, so at least I know the daycare will go a long way for parents. It’s not that parents don’t want to work; there are parents that want to work, willing to work… we can go and do something, we can’t do it when you have special needs children. These are not children that you can leave it with just anybody.”

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

$209M sand-mining operation for Mabura

By Jared Liddell

COGNISANT of the growing demand for construction materials, a local company, Tri-County Inc plans to invest some $209 million to set up a sand-mining operation at an area along the Mabura Road, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

A project summary of the two mines in the operation, which will sit on 335 acres and 900 acres of land respectively, was recently submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review.

According to the company’s project summary, the project, which will create approximately 30 jobs, is being designed to produce a combined 50,000 tonnes of sand, loam, and laterite per year in its initial capacity. This, the company said, could increase when the project recovers capital expenditure and if the demand justifies further investment in expanding production capacity.

To capitalise on the market for this resource, the investor will be setting up a modern, open-pit mining

project with mechanised excavation, loading, and hauling operations.

There will be an on-site complex where accommodation, administration, storage, maintenance, and other necessary infrastructure will be established. The construction of the necessary infrastructure is expected to cover four-six months.

The mine output will be transported by trucks from the site to various points along the Mabura road. The mine will produce sand, loam, and laterite to be used primarily as filling materials in the construction sector for the Linden – Mabura Road project.

The project summary noted that Tri-County Inc will not pursue or engage in the export of filing material, given the large demand which exists in the local market. Consequently, 100 per cent of the production from this operation will be supplied to local projects.

The company will be the owner and operator of all aspects of the operation within the mining permit, under the supervision of the Guyana Geology and Mines Com-

mission and other regulatory agencies.

It is estimated that the project will have a payback period of three years. A rough estimate based on available surface models and other indicative data places the reserves at approximately 500,000 tonnes.

According to the company’s project summary, consumers are currently paying between $5,000 and $7,000 per tonne of filling material.

And based on the company’s business model, the expected cost of production should be reduced and the benefit of lower retail prices be passed on to consumers.

The developer estimates the current demand for filling material to be approximately 50,000 tonnes per year.

This is a conservative estimate and it is expected that demand will be increasing consistently over the next few years as the development

along the Mabura Road expands, driven by the planned massive national development The potential for sand, loam, and laterite in this area is well known, as there are several small, informal operations in the vicinity which are extracting these types of filing materials.

Tri-County’s project is expected to supplement operations within Guyana’s construction industry which

is expected to advance even further this year, with plans to further invest heavily in the establishment and maintenance of critical infrastructure. The construction industry is projected to grow by 10.5 per cent in 2022.

Speaking from the public investment side, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, during his presentation of Budget 2022, had said: “Mr Speaker, the government is committed to filling the substantial infrastructural gaps that exist across our nation.

In 2022, we will continue to invest heavily in construction projects across all sectors, alongside major projects coming from private sector investment initiatives.”

The construction sector grew by 29.8 per cent in 2021 when compared with 2020. And this is underpinned by both the major public infrastructural buildout that is currently underway, as well as increased private sector activity in industrial, commercial, and residential construction, Dr Singh had said.

Vaccination of 5-11 age group begins next week THE vaccination of children ages five to 11 against COVID-19 will be rolled out in the coming week, as Guyana is expecting a shipment of 25, 000 doses of the Pfizer – BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for this age group on Monday.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, is urging parents to ensure their children are inoculated.

“These are special formulation, these are not the regular vaccines that we have been giving, this is a special vaccine made by Pfizer specially for this age category,” Dr Anthony said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this year recommended extending the use of a smaller dose of the Pfizer – BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children ages five to 11.

The recommended dosage for the younger population is 10 micrograms instead of 30 micrograms given to adults.

With the limited supply of vaccines, Dr. Anthony said parents should take every opportunity to take the jab.

“When we start rolling this out, we will have enough vaccines for 25,000 children in the first tranche of vaccines that we would be giving,” Dr. Anthony noted.

The vaccines will be administered at the regular vaccination sites across the country, as well as drive- thrus.

The Health Minister assured that the vaccines had been approved by all regulatory bodies.

“We have been quite fortunate that one of our partner countries, Spain, has

willingly agreed to donate these vaccines to Guyana, and that’s why we would be one of the first countries in this region to be able to access the vaccine, and to use the vaccine,” Dr. Anthony said.

Meanwhile, persons are urged to continue wearing masks as it is a proven way of preventing the spread of the virus.

“As it is right now, I think a lot of people have become very complacent and they don’t want to wear masks, but while a lot of people have stopped wearing masks, what we are seeing is an increase in cases,” the minister noted.

Dr Anthony said the current COVID-19 infection numbers could be underestimated, since persons who have the disease may think they have the common flu. (DPI)

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Caribbean literary giant dies at 94

Well-known Barbadian novelist, and poet, George Lamming, died on Saturday at the age of 94, just a few days shy of his 95th birthday, that he would have celebrated on June 8.

Lamming, who was an important figure, not only in Barbados but across the Caribbean and the world, has been lauded

by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

In a statement on Saturday, Mottley said that Lamming “without doubt, stood for decades at the apex of our island’s pantheon of writers. Indeed,

George Lamming must be considered one of the most famous writers this region has produced”.

“Notwithstanding the fact that he passed away today, four days shy of his 95th birthday, I still declare that he has left us all too soon. In fact, only this morning I discussed with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Dr Shantal Monro-Knight, my desire to have arrangements made to visit him on Wednesday to celebrate his birthday with him.”

The prime minister added that George Lam-

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ming was “the quintessential Bajan, born in as traditional a district as you can get — Carrington Village, on the outskirts of Bridgetown. And his education was as authentically Bajan as one could possibly acquire — Roebuck Boys’ School and Comberme”.

She noted that Lamming — “as Bajan as he was, he still distinguished himself as a world scholar”. Throughout his career, Lamming taught at a boarding school in Trinidad, before emigrating to England, where he became a broadcaster

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with the BBC’s Colonial Service.

This was followed by positions that included, writer-in-residence and lecturer in the Creative Arts at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, Visiting Professor at the University of Texas, the University of Pennsylvania and Brown University, and a lecturer in Denmark, Tanzania and Australia.

“Wherever George Lamming went, he epitomised that voice and spirit that screamed Barbados and Caribbean.

And while he has written

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several novels and received many accolades, none of his works touches the Barbadian psyche like his first — In The Castle of My Skin, written back in 1953, but which today ought still to be required reading for every Caribbean boy and girl.”

“Barbados will miss George Lamming — his voice, his pen and, of course, his signature hairstyle — but I pray that the consciousness of who we are that he preached in all that he wrote will never fade from our thoughts.

“On behalf of the Government and peo-

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George Lamming (Photo: CMC) ple of Barbados I extend deepest sympathy to the Lamming family. May his soul rest in peace.”

The prime minister also announced that an official funeral will be held at a date to be announced. (CMC)

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Youth, stakeholders’ engagement essential in police operations –– Commander Pareshram

COMMANDER of Regional Police Division 4 ‘C’, Khali Pareshram, said he appreciated the support and feedback received thus far from residents within his division, and such had played a significant part in the overall improvement in service delivery to the communities.

Pareshram, during a sit-down interview with the Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Police Force, Stan Gouveia, said that prior to the Police Commissioner’s recent visit, his ranks were constantly engaged with the residents to strengthen the bonds of friendship and mutual trust between the police and the public.

That relationship, according to the Commander, had since improved following the Commissioner’s visit, and, as a consequence, youths of various villages along the East Coast of Demerara had expressed their interest in joining the different youth groups and scout groups.

“It is a critical step taken by the residents to allow their children to work with the Police as they can now see the fruits of the work done. In addition to that, several youths are involved in cricket, athletics, and football as our engagements continue to increase since our last engagement.”

When asked about parents or guardians being hesitant to allow their children to be part of the activities, the Commander said that it was the job of the Police to give service to the community despite negative remarks about indoctrinating the youths.

As it related to the Force’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026, Commander Pareshram highlighted that there had been several Memoranda of Agreement and Understanding signed with stakeholders and agencies to assist in the development of police officers to better function in their capacity.

With the evolution of the Police Force, at a very fast rate, the “ranks must work as one with the various stakeholders and agencies”.

He added that with the emerging infrastructural development in the region, the expansion of new hous-

ing schemes and industrial areas, systems must be put in place to deal with challenges that may arise.

Because of this, there is a continued push to work collaboratively and build strong partnerships to maintain safer communities. He noted that the residents were consistently asking for increased police presence.

According to the Senior Superintendent, residents constantly contact his office whenever they observe suspicious activities.

“The residents have been cooperating and fully supportive of the necessary initiatives that have been put in place as we continue to solidify partnerships,” he posited.

According to Pareshram, “one can positively say that the actions of the residents show that the gap of trust is improving between the police.”

COMMUNITY OPERATIONS “As it relates to Police Operations in the Division, we are no longer doing ‘cordon and search’ operations like we used to do in the past, instead, our operations are more targetted and intelligence-led,” noted

Commander of Division 4 ‘C’, Senior Superintendent Khali Pareshram Pareshram.

He said intelligence gathering and using information technology had allowed the ranks to be sure of a particular area before conducting operations.

Nevertheless, the Commander took the opportunity to implore residents to continue to exercise patience and cooperate with the ranks for the benefit of everyone.

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Prudent management MINDFUL of the accursed Dutch Disease and its debilitating effects on many countries with immense natural resources, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has been doing the groundwork to ensure that the local economy is diversified, and not dependent on inflows from one sector to fuel growth and development.

Guyana, although being a known resource-rich nation for many years, became more susceptible to the Dutch Disease, the harmful effects of large increases in a country’s income, after 2015, when US oil giant, ExxonMobil, discovered hydrocarbons in commercials quantities in the Stabroek Block.

Today, with over 30 lucrative discoveries in the Stabroek Block alone, ExxonMobil has exponentially increased Guyana’s revenue base, and catapulted the country to new heights. In painting a vivid image of what is expected of the oil-and-gas sector in the near term, President Dr. Irfaan Ali had said that by 2025, operating cash flow, based on total investment, is expected to reach US$3.5 billion.

But even with such positive prospects, the government, since being elected to office in 2020, has only this year budgeted to utilise some of the funds earned from the petroleum sector.

Its landmark $552 billion budget, which is 44.3 per cent larger than Budget 2021, includes roughly $126.7 billion from the Natural Resources Fund (NRF).

Although faced with challenges induced by the pervasive COVID-19

pandemic and other adversities upon being elected to office in 2020, the PPP/C government refrained from touching Guyana’s oil revenues, because it was keen on ensuring that there is proper accountability and transparency in the management and utilisation of the NRF. The government achieved its goal by amending the NRF Act, which was initially enacted by the former APNU+AFC administration in 2019, despite being toppled by the successful passage of a no-confidence motion in 2018.

This initiative by the government, which was essentially the first direct step in ensuring that there is prudent management of the oil-and-gas sector, was acknowledged and commended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its preliminary report on June 3, following the Article IV consultation with local officials between May 18 and June 1.

The IMF said the recent amendments to the 2019 NRF Act set clear ceilings on withdrawals from the fund, for budgetary spending and promote transparency in the management and use of oil resources. The international financial institution praised the local authorities’ thorough review of the 2019 NRF Act before making amendments, and the restraint in using any oil revenues before the passage of the amendments.

After this stage of fostering transparency and accountability, the decisions that follow ideally have to be made with cognizance of the words of celebrated 16th Century author, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra: “The gratification of

wealth is not found in mere possession or in lavish expenditure, but in its wise application.”

And, so far, the government has been hitting the nail on the head in this regard, with a strategic agenda which encompasses a framework for development that will be sustained through prudent and effective investment of oil funds into education, health, infrastructure, and the non-oil sectors. “… We have to spend the money to build the future; that is why we have made it clear in our Manifesto when we campaigned between 2015 and 2020, that money will be spent on education, healthcare, infrastructure, and assistance to non-oil industries,” Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had told residents of Region Six during a Cabinet outreach.

Those are the four areas that will attract the “bulk of the resources”, and are part of a broader plan to ensure that Guyana’s economy continues to thrive long after oil resources would have been exhausted. Additionally, efforts are underway to reduce electricity costs, improve transport infrastructure, diversify the economy, improve access to and quality of social services, and advance more broadly towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Further, Guyana has been doing debt restructuring and repayment with effective debt sustainability analysis. As it is now, according to Dr. Jagdeo, Guyana has one of the lowest debts in the world.

At this rate, Guyana is on course to avoiding the effects of the Dutch Disease which were experienced even by Trini-

dad and Tobago.

A study released in 2018 by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) titled, The Dutch Disease Phenomenon and Lessons for Guyana: Trinidad and Tobago’s Experience, had revealed that for the fiscal period 1999-2015, TT$284.1 billion was collected in fiscal revenues and TT$283.9 billion was spent on transfers and subsidies alone.

This component of government expenditure, as outlined by the IDB in the report, is not necessarily productivity enhancing, especially if the subsidies are not well targeted or effective in either diversifying the economic base or improving human capita.

Contrary to what could be determined as Trinidad and Tobago’s errors within the period under review, the Government of Guyana has been rolling out targeted subsidies that focus on improving the country’s productive sectors, and enhancing the lives of vulnerable groups.

The IMF acknowledged Guyana’s goals to transform the economy, address development needs in an inclusive way, and protect the long-term economic well-being of the country.

And while it supports public spending in major, transformational projects, the financial institution cautioned that the “ramping up” investment could potentially add inflationary pressures within the local economy. As such, the local authorities were encouraged to strengthen the capacity to manage public investment; this is a process that has already begun.

Strengthening of Guyana’s democracy can catapult development, security at home, Caribbean Dear Editor, Two years onwards from the most flagrant and provocative ‘bright-daylight’ robbery attempts at stealing the right to govern in Guyana, the dawn of a new era emerges!

His Excellency, President Dr Irfaan Ali, and Dr Bharrat Jagdeo are now supported by a strong ‘One Guyana Team’

providing exemplary leadership in moving the country forward and adrenalizing like movements in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region.

Thanks to the bold and fearless stand international and CARICOM regional leaders took as a collective, this APNU/ AFC/PNC malignant tumour, the most significant threat to democracy in Guyana, and the destabilization of the region

was rejected and repelled.

The gouging process exposed and emphasized the need for internal healing through the corrective strengthening of the democratic pillars at the international, national, and internal community levels.

From the Guyana perspective, the replenishment of the latter is tied to and built on the timely cycles of Local Government Elections, while the former are

orchestrated through the foreign policy framework of forging meaningful partnerships with other states in realizing the synergies from trade and other cooperation agreements established.

In addressing the foregoing key components, one must recognize an existing framework in which the many see page 7

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Strengthening of Guyana’s democracy ...

from page 6

developing countries in transition have for decades, failed to sufficiently converge on anticipated developmental growth targets of key global and regional agreements.

From another perspective, one may argue that many of these agreements, albeit adjustments, are failing their members.

Almost all of the regional, international and even the global hemispheric – United Nations are losing their sphere of influence and real purpose in sufficiently protecting the most vulnerable.

Consequently, exogenous factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, the world’s climate crisis, and particularly the Russia /Ukraine war have increased volatility and uncertainty, demanding immediate and meaningful interventions by our leaders; to arrest the emerging food-security crisis ensuring our citizens, the region, and the world become a better and safer place to co-exist.

The Guyana-CARICOM experience of 2020, confirms the fostering of fair and justified democratic harmony as a key and necessary essential to set the platform for effective cooperation among our sister states. In this regard, the recent Guyana and Barbados partnership and respective Agri-forum, exemplify how the region could teamwork to reduce individual investment risks,while guaranteeing competitive internal supply and markets.

President Ali’s initiative-driven approach, coupled with the incorporation of a time-bound implementation schedule, serves to establish a somewhat controlled environment for delivery, charting a path for the swift removal of long-burdensome barriers that have

long plagued regional progress. It builds on previously advanced opportunities such as the Jagdeo Initiative, that our states failed to capitalize on and the obvious resulting high opportunity costs borne at the individual levels.

The expressions of will and commitments made at the CARICOM level, confirm that the breath of fresh air and relief induced to catalyze and optimize results from the slow-paced implementation of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Notwithstanding other regional leaders, Guyana’s President Ali and Prime Minister Mia Motley of Barbados boldly and fearlessly lead the way. It cannot be denied that it was the unity of democratic purpose, which harmonized the entire Caribbean and the larger world to return peace and democracy to our land.

However, our democracy is certainly pivotal to the further strengthening of CARICOM and today the Caribbean countries are indeed united and working to make this part of the world a better place for our people to live.

With the necessary adjustments, a template for the swift re-mobilization of CARICOM gains is the new beacon of hope. As this model is operationalized, one must never forget the role of ‘Proletarian Internationalism” and ‘Peaceful Coexistence.”

The world desperately needs a New Economic Order and issues impacting global crises must be confronted peacefully. The region must now move as a collective in advancing the interests of our states at the relevant international and multilateral fora. Congratulations to President Dr Irfaan Ali, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, and all embracing the One Guyana Team.

On the local democratic front, the holding

of Local Government Elections (LGEs) is the most significant conduit to ensuring local democracy. While the PPP/C Government is certainly doing a great job to develop the country at the national and international levels, it is imperative that the various levels of our democracy also be more inclusive.

Parallel democratic policies and supporting pillars must be used to uphold and sustain the crest on which we preach, lest we are bound to fall!

GECOM’s recently concluded continuous registration process was highly successful and this augurs well for the run-off of LGEs. The togetherness and work done by the GECOM staff with the political parties’ scrutineers as counterchecks must be complimented.

The results confirm that 72,061 transactions were completed. These include 21,129 persons over 18 years who were registered. Twenty-eight thousand one hundred and fifty (28,150) persons between the ages of 14-17 years were registered, while there were 4,629 transfers and 6,530 changes/corrections.

There were also 7,680 replacements of ID cards and 1,943 photo retakes.

With the completion of a successful continuous registration, GECOM must work out a proper timeline for the holding of LGEs. The local democracy will give our people at the grassroot level an opportunity to work together and strengthen development at the lower level.

Our local democracy must be more inclusive and this will bring tremendous development and build unity as a whole!

The transparent GECOM processes should be supported.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

Cost recovery is not debt, despite claims MORE than two years into oil production, misunderstandings and rumors continue to circulate around Guyana’s Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

One prominent opponent of global oil development, Tom Sanzillo, recently claimed that Guyana will have a “hidden liability” of more than G$6.27 trillion owed to oil companies, a claim that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and others quickly dismissed as nonsense.

This recurring discussion of Guyana’s oil contracts continues despite these claims consistently being disproven. Cost recovery is a standard fact of oil and gas contracts and a common feature of business deals around the world. Despite claims that Guyanese will “owe” as much as US$9 million per person, debt and cost recovery are entirely different elements of finance. However, conflating them is a tactic sometimes used by international anti-oil activists to scare developing countries.

There is a stark difference between debt and cost recovery; cost recovery is a mechanism in which a stakeholder of an oil and gas project can recover most of its capital and operating costs out of a specified percentage of production.

Therefore, the oil and gas companies have the ability to recoup some of the costs of their investments once the revenues start rolling in.

To put it in simple terms, say two partners agree to open a bakery. One agrees to put up all the money to get the business started, buying ovens and ingredients, paying bakers etc. In business terms, profits equal revenues minus costs. So, when the business starts bringing in revenues, the partner that put up the investment needs to make back their costs.

Vice President Jagdeo recently called out activists for misrepresenting this situation, saying that activists “claim all these debts have to be repaid before we get any payment and that is not true.”

According to international analysts, the contract Guyana has is quite average when compared to similar contracts of other new producing countries. Under the terms of the PSA, Guyana is entitled to a 2 per cent precost royalty, 50 per cent of all profits, and a cost recovery ceiling of 75 per cent, which is normal when compared to frontier countries.

The average government take will generally be around 60 per cent of profits or 14.5 per cent of overall revenues, when both the pre-cost royalty and the post-cost profit-sharing are accounted for.

Part of the reason for this type of contract is that Guyana isn’t taking on any financial risk in a very highrisk industry. If oil companies had not found oil, they would have walked away empty handed despite billions of U.S. dollars in investment. Guyana has not had to put up any taxpayer money in exchange for half of all profits. That is a crucial aspect of the contract, considering that oil and gas development is extremely expensive, particularly up front.

Companies invested roughly US$9 billion to develop the Payara project alone and that is just one of at least 5 planned projects.

If Guyana had paid for the initial costs of the exploration and development,

that would have required actual debt at an astronomical level—roughly 200 per cent of pre-oil gross domestic product.

That huge up-front investment is crucial to getting projects off the ground. Oil and gas have high up-front costs, but low production costs. So, while the cost to explore and develop reserves is usually high, once the costs are recovered it is a fairly minimal expense to operate these projects because the infrastructure has already been established.

That is why most contracts, including Guyana’s, have a clause that only allows a certain percentage of costs to be recovered each year. That makes sure there are profits flowing to the government from day one, contrary to activist claims.

A recent study by Rystad Energy outlined that Guyana’s oil production could reach 1.2 million barrels per day by the end of the decade, which translates to US$30 billion in annual oil revenues within ten years.

The government already expects to take in roughly US$1B this year, from just two projects operating so far.

That kind of wealth makes it critically important that accurate information and relevant context is available when looking at the agreement that has facilitated all this growth.

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We have a case for the courts

IN the preceding weeks, I addressed three of the many historical wrongs of Indian indenture in British Guiana (BG).

The first is the unclaimed remittances that went to the colonial state. The second is how the planter class shifted the financial responsibility on to the indentured servants by asking them to contribute to their return passage when it was believed to be “free.”

Notice that Indians were asked to contribute to their return passage and not to the passage before leaving India, why? The planter class was aware that if they had asked Indians to contribute to the latter, Indians would not have left India. They took advantage of the indentured Indians while they were “trapped” in BG, which was another violation within a larger violation. The third is that many Indians did not use up their right to return passage or received land which benefitted the colonial state.

Add to the above is that nothing was “free” in the indentured contracts. This was a farce. The contents of the contracts were misleading and manipulative insofar as they were free. Indians paid

for their arrival and return passage, housing, medical care, and so on. These expenses were factored into the contract without the Indians realising them. They paid for these so-called free services with their bonded labour and wages. These dynamics speak to the unethical side of the contract.

Before I proceed with some calculations to determine how much money might have gone back to the colonial state if Indians did not use up their right to return to India, it is instructive to remind readers of a few pointers. To recall, if Indians did not use up their right to return home that meant they did not receive any land either, since the agreement was to exchange their passage for a small parcel of land.

This land-exchange policy was abolished in 1903 after being in practice for about 10 years. Those Indians who were waiting to go back home after 1903 had the option of using their return passage or remaining in BG of their own accord. I pause here to say that, and I repeat, that less than one percent of Indians received land.

sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Politics & Society Forum

By Professor Lomarsh Roopnarine

I would do anything if anyone would show me the evidence that indentured Indians received large tracts of land from the colonial state, as so peddled in Guyana from one generation to the next, since Indians arrived in this colony in the 19th century.

To piggyback on the last column, I use the year 1924 to do the calculations. To remind readers, in 1924, about 56, 616 Indians out of the total population of 124,967, however, were still residing on the estates. Some 17,331 were children. We can say that these individuals did not own any land.

We know that these adults were either brought from

India or born in BG before the land policy was abolished in 1903. What percentage out of the 40,000 (subtracting the children) in 1924 were waiting to use their return passage is not precisely known.

Again, I think about 50 per cent or 20,000 were waiting to use their return if they so desired. I calculated in the last column that returnees contributed about US$400,000 from 1920 to 1955.

Let us see how much money the colonial state would have saved If Indians did not return to India, meaning forfeiting their right to return home. Of the 20,000, males made up 15,000 and females 5,000.

For males, it would be US$360,000 (24 x 15,000) since the return expense was split 50/50 (see my last column) and for women, it would be 32 x 5,000 (the colonial state paid two-thirds of the passage) making it US$160,000. So, the colonial state would have saved US$360,000 + US$160,000, a total of US$520,000, if the returnees did not go back home.

Again, Indians did return, and so I estimate that at least 10,000 went back from BG to India from 1920 to 1955, which meant Indians would have contributed half of US$520,000, while the colonial state would have

also saved half of the amount as well regarding the return passage.

However, whatever the amount of saved money, it was from the return passages of Indians, which the colonial state used to settle them in BG, a sacrifice closet by the colonial state. In closing, and from my calculations, and analyses of the three violations of indentured contracts, Indians in BG during indenture were deprived of more than US$3 million.

I estimate this figure in the modern era is worth at least US$6 million. We have a case for the courts (Lomarsh.roopnarine@ jsums.edu).

The Cummingsburg Accord and the future of the AFC

The Cummingsburg Accord and the future of the Alliance For Change (AFC) are expected to be the centre of debate when the party hosts its national conference on June 11, 2022.

As expected, there will be a focus on the unique relationship between the PNC/ APNU and the leaders of the AFC, which has been declining ever since the March 2, 2020 elections, and the aftermath.

The membership will air out their dirty laundry about issues that have occurred since it signed the revised Accord relating to the AFC being bullied by the PNC/ APNU, and beaten into submission, coupled with its mute-leadership status within the coalition.

It is widely believed that the conference will explore walking away from this accord that the party has already started to do quietly.

There is a motion, allegedly, that seeks this kind of outcome that will come up for discussion.

Also, the party members

may be faced with deciding whether it will stick by Khemraj Ramjattan’s side or elect David Patterson to function as its leader.

Additionally, the members will have to decide on a new National Executive or the same old, dreary and weary politicians in the form of Catherine Hughes, Dr. Vincent Adams, Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Sherod Duncan.

It does not matter how one looks at it, the fate of the AFC and its future will be decided on Saturday.

Firstly, one cannot help but assume that members are dissatisfied with the poor quality and the fickle leadership they are getting from the AFC. Judging from the recent developments, it seems as though the PNC/APNU has hijacked the APNU+AFC coalition. There is no coalition as the AFC has been subsumed or silenced.

For example, although there is an Opposition Leader that speaks on issues, many times the AFC is not con-

Crossfire By michael younge

sulted or invited to share its opinion.

This development is integral to the fallout or declining relationship, and AFC members are looking at their current leaders with a sideeye. There must be political co-operation and mutual respect if there is going to be inclusivity and good governance before political parties get into government.

Secondly, there are hardly any meetings within the APNU+AFC. If that is not bad enough, there is no inclusivity and democracy within the coalition party.

The leaders do not arrive

at unified decisions with regards to several political and national issues, and the AFC is deliberately or sheepishly silent. This development is sure to be discussed.

Thirdly, the AFC members are feeling that the party has become dead meat in attracting new support or voters since its marriage alliance with the APNU. If one were to do an analytical report, one would see the decline in the number of votes which the AFC managed to steal from the PPP in the 2011/15 elections, which vanished in 2020.

Also, the party is weaker

regardless of the propaganda that the General-Secretary attempts to put in the public.

So, it would seem to members that the AFC is not a viable political force because of its poor performance at the elections, the sordid and underwhelming record of its seven-cataphoric ministers in the past APNU+AFC Government, and their anti-poor and anti-development policies.

One would expect the AFC intellectual members to object to this relationship with APNU and the accord.

Fourthly, the political party’s silence on the

post-electoral squabble and conflict is still deafening as it is damaging.

The current AFC leadership will be forced to explain to its membership its stance on allegations of its involvement in attempts to clandestinely collude with the attempted riggers in stealing the last election.

Ramjattan and Patterson should not be re-elected because of the AFC’s involvement in the election fiasco and decisions of the party during the 2020 to 2022 period.

Finally, the APNU does not need the AFC.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

Smoking deglamorised WORLD No Tobacco Day was observed on May 31, 2022, where the United Nations, WHO and advocacy groups lobbying for the non-use of tobacco, highlighted the ill effects, not only on humans, but also on the planet.

Direct effects of smoking may cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Also, the risks for other diseases such as immune disorders, tuberculosis, eye diseases and rheumatoid arthritis are increased.

Second hand smoking contributes to approximately 41,000 adult deaths and 400 infant deaths annually. There are about 16 million surviving smokers, who may have been spared of death but are living a compromised life due to the resultant effects of tobacco smoking, which can be debilitating and sometimes excruciatingly painful even to perform simple daily chores.

Due to excellent marketing campaigns in the past, cigarette and cigar smoking were glamorised in the most sensual and macho manner, which

appealed to an impressionable target audience, knowing that once the stimulant was tried, the addictive properties of the nicotine chemical would guarantee continuous business for the tobacco industry. No heed was paid to the detrimental effects on the smoker’s life nor the negative impact on his/her family members and their community circle.

Adverts appealing to young people were referred to as “enslaving tempters”, yet executives of the cigarette industry were not convinced that advertising does influence that target audience to smoke. Recent reports in India indicated the near death experience of a teen after the continuous heavy influence of smoking by the cinema industry.

Numerous less fortunate impressionable young adults had succumbed in India. So, in order to reverse the detrimental effects for this scourge, India assented the Act in 2003, The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution and subsequently

strengthened the fight by a ban in advertisements in 2005, mainly in Indian cinematography.

Later in 2012, this strategy proved highly successful that India became the global leader in a tobacco-free entertainment. It was recommended that this model be implemented in other countries, where India would share their lessons learnt. This has influenced the establishment of Article 13 (advertising and promotion) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which dictates that graphic warnings on the effects of cigarette smoking must precede any adverts in the entertainment media whenever there is a depiction of the indulgence of this stimulant. The Act continues to be revised and was last amended in 2020 but there are some new developing concerns about a spin off illicit trade.

However, these legislative enforcements are only the beginning to a tobacco-free environment. A comprehensive and supportive smoking cessation service with a well-designed programme to meet the smokers at their level of nicotine dependence is vital. Quitting

smoking initially may cause inconveniences of natural bodily functions which may be compromised such as having a normal motion. Chronic constipation is a notable symptom associated with smoke cessation due to the effects of nicotine on the bowel motion.

There may be other withdrawal symptoms experienced that is why you should have an individual strategic plan with sound reasoning and a psychosocial support network if you are determined to quit. A new replacement activity, like outdoor games or chores, self-care indulgences and

also nicotine replacement therapy, either in patches or cartridges, are helpful considerations if required.

Today we see new technological advancement in smoking such as electronic cigarettes (ecigarettes) and other vaping devices which claim less exposure to fewer toxic chemicals.

However, in 2020 the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) confirmed 2800 plus cases of lung injury and 68 deaths attributed to vaping and e-cigarettes. In October 2021 Johns Hopkins University disclosed thousands of unknown chemicals

present in vaping devices, including caffeine, pesticides and flavorings linked to toxic irritations on the respiratory system.

For further pharmacological guidance, contact the pharmacist of Medicine Express PHARMACY located at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets. If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine.express@gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg. Tel #2255142.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

Farm-to-market woes to soon be over for Berbice River farmers

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill THE difficulties faced by hundreds of farmers along the Berbice River in getting their produce from farm to market will soon be a thing of the past, as government is arranging to have a vessel which services the route to also assist them.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill,who has responsibility for the Transport and Harbours Department, made the announcement recently

during a visit to New Amsterdam.

He said a new vessel is expected to arrive in Guyana in October to replace the current boat servicing the North-West District.

The old vessel will be used for farmers along the Berbice River.

Since taking office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has been investing heavily in the agricultural sector through budgetary allocations and emergen-

cy interventions.

“Once that vessel arrives in Guyana, either the MV Barima or the MV Kimbia which services that corridor right now, could come to the Berbice River…so, later this year we can very well see a dedicated vessel returning to the Berbice River to provide a service to our farmers,” the minister stated.

With a vessel servicing the Berbice River, farmers will save time and money.

Minister Edghill said talks are underway to find a solution to the hardships faced by farmers. The intention, he said, is to have one of the boats that provide a service to schoolchildren and old age pensioners from Region Five and Six, transport farmers’ produce in small amounts on weekends.

Meanwhile, govern-

ment is prepared to spend an estimated $267 million to rehabilitate approximately 25 kilometres of road. This will be executed through the Ministry of Agriculture.

“We are building a road from Ituni to Tacama, so when we are able to complete that road from Ituni to Tacama, a lot of people would be able to move their produce to Tacama, and then they would be able to

come by way of trucks, come out at Ituni, into Linden and you are all the way to your market,” the minister explained.

The government has left no stone unturned in its efforts to make Guyana an agricultural powerhouse. Guyana currently chairs CARICOM’s Special Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Security, and leads CARICOM’s initiative to reduce the

food-import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

Only recently, Guyana hosted its inaugural Agri-Investment Forum and Expo which attracted hundreds of investors from around the world and several CARICOM Heads of State. Dozens of Guyanese in the agricultural sector also attended the recent Agrofest 2022 in Barbados and wowed investors in attendance. (DPI)

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Four ‘squatting’ families refuse to relocate, delay construction of new highway

THIRTY-ONE families who were squatting on reserve lands have accepted the government’s offer to relocate but four of them have refused to engage the authorities and this has now resulted in delaying the construction of the much-needed Eccles to Great Diamond highway on the East Bank of Demerara.

This alternative road will relieve traffic congestion for thousands of commuters along the East Bank Demerara corridor.

cost of the relocation process and the squatters were being compensated for their houses based on an evaluation of each property conducted by the Valuation Office.

To date, 26 families have their house lots and 10 have fully relocated following the completion of their houses.

“The areas we are relocating them to are developed housing schemes and are in close proximity to where they are currently occupying.

It is also better than their current situation because

ministry’s response to the situation.

“I want to thank the [Ministry of] Housing for the way they treated us and we didn’t get bullied,” Forde said.

He also agreed that the housing scheme was better suited for raising his four children.

In addition to the compensation for their houses, compensation was also being processed for persons with livestock and crops.

Minister Croal stated that the agency will continue to pursue the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, with one of the relocated squatters, Sheldon Allen, in front of his newly built house (Sydel Thomas photo)

Squatters in path of Eccles to Diamond Four-Lane Highway (Sydel Thomas photo) The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) now plans to issue a final notice to the squatters who have been offered housing elsewhere.

Initially, some 35 households were squatting on a government reserve earmarked for the highway at Cane View, East Bank Demerara and, on Friday, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and a technical team visited the area to assess the relocation and resettlement process.

Croal noted that the ministry had been engaging residents since January 2021, and lands were identified at the Farm and Herstelling housing schemes in August for the relocation.

He said that the government was bearing the

we will be giving them ownership documents to the land and they can have access to utilities such as electricity and water,” the Housing Minister stated.

One of the squatters, Mr. Sheldon Allen, who recently moved to his new home in Herstelling said that the relocation offers his family a better standard of living and a safer community.

“This community looks safe and I feel good here, from where we come from in Mocha [and] my son will grow better here,” Mr. Allen stated.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marlon Forde, who was squatting for close to 20 years and also recently moved to his new home in Herstelling, stated that he was pleased with his new house and the

relocation of the four families, as the Ministry cannot allow stalling of the multi-billion-dollar highway, which will relieve traffic congestion for thousands of commuters along the East Bank Demerara corridor.

The four-lane road forms part of the alternative East Bank Demerara road link which is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion on the East Bank

An Aerial view of houses been constructed by squatters at Herstelling Housing Scheme corridor. Once completed, more than 22,000 households will directly benefit, as well as the growing volume of commercial users.

The contract for the

$13 billion project was awarded to 12 contrac-

tors in December last year.

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Seelall’s autobiography: an authoritative account of life in the Police Force

By Dr Vishnu Bisram

FORMER Guyana Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, opened up about his remarkable journey in law enforcement in his autobiography or memoir, Stepping Out of the Herd: My Life in the Guyana Police Force (2022).

The book took us through the humble life of young Seelall as he was growing up; life in Essequibo; his family life; his ancestors and his 33.5 years as a law enforcement officer; his rise through the police force (GPF) ranks to become the “top cop”; challenges and obstacles faced, including political interference and racism; reforming the GPF, and his forced retirement.

He also gave a brief overview or history of the Police Force (GPF) from its founding in 1838 and how it was used and abused as a controlling force of the population, rather than as an institution for law enforcement. He offers recommendations for reforming the force including on recruitment, training, promotion, and professionalism.

It is one of the finest books I have read, finding it gripping and quite engaging. I did not want to put it down after I started reading – the first time I did so for a book - and I’ve read hundreds, if not thousands, in my student years and teaching career that spanned over five decades. He

is brilliant.

I think it is the first book from a former Guyana Police Commissioner or anyone from the GPF. I wrote dozens of book reviews; this one gives me joy in penning about it.

It is a critical appraisal of the GPF. The memoir is characterized by very good writing craft, excellent prose, choice of words, and diction. Writers of such a difficult subject and of events relating to policing, hardly write in such a lucid manner.

The book is timely because now more than ever, the police is under a microscope like never before because of political contamination and complaints of corruption.

Seelall’s authority on the subject of improving law enforcement is profoundly useful. It is a riveting account of his police life and community involvement, the book presents not only a fascinating and colourful life at the heights of law-enforcement leadership, but the vision for the policing that the country sorely needed.

I do not hesitate in recommending it for readership and for research purposes, especially for students and those in academia in the fields of political science and sociology. It should be compulsory reading for all college students to know about various aspects of Guyana’s history, sociology, and politics.

I am most impressed with the use of language and free

flow of the prose. Seelall writes so well. He is easily readable. There are a few typos and some chapters could do well with editing for continuity with the content of the preceding chapter. But overall, it is well written. Politicians should grab a copy and pay heed to the last couple chapters on reforming the force. He makes definitive statements.

“Out of The Herd” is a story of that career in full. The book reveals how Seelall had a dazzling rise through the GPF and ultimately had a dazzling career, becoming among the most famous police commissioners in Guyana’s history.

In this vital memoir, Seelall revealed the inside stories of his family, his grandparents, his training as a police officer, and his policing career. He shared his candid experiences as a lawman from recruitment, undergoing training, being forced to consume beef against his cultural and religious upbringing, and his many encounters with criminals, politicians, and ordinary folk. His professionalism, integrity and reputation as a no-nonsense officer catapulted him to the position of police commissioner.

The son and grandson of farmers, Seelall grew up in rural Essequibo and also spent time during school breaks on the islands with cousins.

He came from very humble beginnings, receiving his primary and secondary education

on the Essequibo Coast. He loved cricket. He told how he lived a life marked by relative poverty and deprivation and experiencing racism and yet soared through the GPF ranks, He stated that he lived by the cultural values of his ancestors and parents and carried those in his training as a law-enforcement officer and through his career as well as in his life.

He moved to the capital city of Georgetown and later Timehri for training as a police officer. Initially, he toyed with the idea of joining the defence force, but his older brother pointed out the disadvantage that he would have had to be stationed on the borders of Guyana and be away from family.

The brother goaded him towards the police force. He entered the police academy, underwent the training and graduated with distinction. He was assigned duties far away from home in the deep interior of the country before settling down in Georgetown.

He served with honour, living and enforcing the values he learned growing up as a young man that would carry him through 33.5 years in the force, acting with integrity, courage, decisiveness, loyalty, and patriotism to the force and to the nation.

He tried to build public confidence in law enforcement where his predecessors failed. He set out a programme to build trust between the police force and communities with high crime rates. He wanted the police force to be a professional force that must do what is right.

The book addressed controversial topics and offers insights into the challenges the GPF faces – recruitment and training of cadets, anti-Indian racism, police morale, corruption inside the force, political interference in law enforcement, and so much more.

He shed light on anti-crime measures; youth programmes to get gangs off the streets; the prison breakout and the so-called “Buxton Uprising,” the “Fineman” gang, the “Phantom” gang and individuals tied to them; Lusignan and Bartica massacres; the capture of violent criminals;

Roger Khan; drug trafficking; the Colombian connection; his training in the UK, USA and Brazil; shootouts with violent criminals; corruption among some elements of the force; declining morale and political directives of the coalition that compromised his professionalism and that of the force, and much more.

Seelall was dismayed by the corruption among some police officers, especially among the old guard, and it is fair to say that the corrupt was upset with him for cracking down on them. He made passing reference to Burnhamism and the banning of foods. He gave chilling accounts of terrorist plots against political opponents during the dictatorship and harassments during the tenure of the coalition (2015-2018, the year he retired).

He described his experiences with politicians, including President Cheddi Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, David Granger, Khemraj Ramjattan, Basil Williams, and Winston Felix. He also gave accounts of how some of his colleagues undermined him.

Seelall came to be known as a tough leader and a fixer of problems, who was not afraid to address complex matters. His interest in fighting crime cannot be denied.

Although the GPF was politically compromised during the dictatorship, and had a bias towards the PNC, he acted professionally and did not take political sides.

He was quite upset when he was told that police officers were expected to vote PNC and when instructed how to vote and witnessed by his commander, marking the X next to the PNC’s palm tree symbol in the December 1985 fraudulent elections. He accepted at the time that was the way things were done in the force – politically compromising. After working with various departments within the GPF, including overseeing intelligence, and when he became PC, Seelall tried to transform the force.

He suggested reinvention of the GPF to meet growing challenges but without sup-

port. He tried to slash crime rates and professionalize the vocation of the cop by providing computerized training in filing reports.

Zara Realty (Sobhraj family) of New York equipped the force with a computer training lab. Seelall tried to use computers to revolutionize the force, especially in reporting and keeping tabs on crimes and to combat crime with modern data-driven policing. Efforts at reform were stymied. He did not receive support from the then coalition administration to modernize and reform the force. He was confident that he could right the force. If he had been given support and was kept on the job, he would have reduced crime considerably.

Seelall’s career has not been without controversy, certainly under the PNC-led coalition administration. There was the crisis of relations between himself and the coalition, a crisis inflamed by a virtual non-issue relating to then President, David Granger.

Seelall was sent on leave while an inquiry was launched into why he did not investigate a benign (non-serious, jovial) threat against Granger that was reported some five months later and that turned out to be “bogus” after investigation. It was a plot to get rid of Seelall hatched by a senior officer.

The case against Seelall fell apart. Yet, he was not kept in his substantive position and unjustifiably sent on leave until retirement age.

This is one of the finest autobiographies I have read and an authoritative account of life inside the GPF. It is a frank, forthright, free-spoken, open, plain, straightforward, candid account of the culture of the police force and his training and enforcement experience as a police officer and how politicians compromised the force, using it for their political agenda rather than for law enforcement.

Seelall’s no-holds barred autobiography of his career as a tough, honest policeman, who rose from a young farm boy to a cadet to the “top cop” of the nation, is a must-read.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

FAO Food Price Index dips in May

(FAO) WORLD food commodity prices declined modestly in May for the second consecutive month, although wheat and poultry prices pushed higher, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 157.4 points in May 2022, down 0.6 per cent from April.

The Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a bas-

conditions in the United States of America, seasonal supplies in Argentina and the imminent start of Brazil’s main maize harvest.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined by 3.5 per cent from April, while still markedly higher than its year-earlier level.

Prices dropped for palm, sunflower, soy and rapeseed oils, due in part to the removal of Indonesia’s short-lived export ban on palm oil and sluggish global import demand for

weaker import demand amid improved exportable supplies.

The FAO Sugar Price Index declined by 1.1 per cent from April, as a bumper crop in India buoyed global availability prospects. The weakening of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar, along with lower ethanol prices, also pressured world sugar prices downwards.

Meanwhile, the FAO Meat Price Index set a new all-time high, increasing by 0.6 per cent in May

A wheat farmer in Afghanistan (FAO photo) ket of commonly-traded food commodities, however, remained 22.8 per cent higher than in May 2021.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 2.2 per cent from the previous month, led by wheat prices, which were up 5.6 per cent from April and 56.2 per cent from their corresponding value a year earlier.

International wheat prices, averaging only 11 per cent below the record high reached in March 2008, rose in response to an export ban announced

by India and concerns over crop conditions in several leading exporting countries as well as reduced production prospects in Ukraine due to the war.

International rice prices also rose across the board, while coarse grain prices declined by 2.1 per cent, with maize prices dropping by even more in step with slightly improved crop

soy and rapeseed oils in view of elevated costs in recent months.

“Export restrictions create market uncertainty and can result in price spikes and increased price volatility, the decrease in oilseeds prices shows how important it is when they are removed and let exports flow smoothly,” said FA O C h i e f E c o n o mist Máximo Torero Cullen.

The FAO Dairy Price Index also dropped by 3.5 per cent month-on-month.

Prices of milk powders declined the most, linked to market uncertainties from the continued COVID-19 lockdowns in China, while robust retail sales and high demand from restaurants in the Northern Hemisphere prevented cheese prices from falling significantly despite weakened global import demand. Butter prices also dropped on account of a

even as world bovine meat prices remained stable and those of pig meat fell.

The climb was driven by a steep increase in international poultry meat prices, reflecting continued supply chain disruptions in Ukraine and recent cases of avian influenza amid a surge in demand in Europe and the Middle East.

GLOBAL CEREAL OUTPUT AND CONSUMPTION Early prospects for global cereal production in 2022 now point to a likely decrease, the first in four years, to 2.784 billion tonnes, down 16 million tonnes from the record output estimated for 2021, according to FAO’s latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, also released today.

The largest decline is foreseen for maize, followed by wheat and rice, while barley and sorghum outputs will likely increase.

The forecasts are based on conditions of crops already in the ground and planting intentions for those yet to be sown.

World cereal utilization is also forecast to decline marginally in 2022/23, by around 0.1 per cent from 2021/22 to 2.788 billion tonnes, marking the first contraction in 20 years. The decline mainly stems from foreseen decreases in the feed use of wheat, coarse grains and rice, while global food consumption of cereals

is expected to increase, keeping pace with world population trends.

World trade in cereals is forecast to decline by 2.6 per cent from the 2021/22 level to 463 million tonnes, a three-year low, even as prospects for international trade of rice remain positive.

The new forecasts point to a drop in inventories, resulting in the world cereal stocks-to-use ratio dropping to 29.6 percent in 2022/23 from 30.5 percent in 2021/2022. This new

level would be the lowest in nine years, but still well above the 21.4-per cent low registered in 2007/08.

A drawdown in maize inventories is expected to lead the decline, while wheat stocks are expected to increase.

FAO has also updated its estimates for global cereal output in 2021, now seen rising by 0.9 per cent from the year before, and for cereal utilization in 2021/2022, seen rising by 1.1 per cent.

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Guyanese boy graduates as valedictorian at US high school

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Nabeel Baksh on Wednesday last attained one of his goals when he graduated at the top of his class at the Calvin M Woodward High School, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America.

Baksh left Guyana almost four years ago at age 14. He attended the Leonora Primary School on the West Coast of Demerara and then later Queen’s College, where he spent his first

two years of high school.

He was in the top 100 for Guyana’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), placing 64th.

According to Baksh, when he left Guyana for the US, making new friends was his biggest challenge.

But he remained an outstanding student now. He intends to study Supply Chain Management at the Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

The young man decided to study in this field because he found it to be interesting in high school.

In high school, Baksh earned 27 hours of college credit and played soccer and baseball.

Due to his excellent performance, he was awarded over US$60,000 in scholarships. These came from different institutions such as Old Newsboys Goodfellow Association of Toledo

Valedictorian Nabeel Baksh and his cousin Saudiyah Baksh, who placed 12th at the Woodward High School Ohio, the Bowling Green State University, Walcott Ohio, and his high school’s alumni.

Baksh has a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.05 and was part of the National Honour Society.

He loves community service acts so he would often volunteer at Christmas Day parades and the Special Olympics.

He thanked his parents for their support throughout his high school life and he now aims to provide a better life for his family, including his two younger brothers, and a younger sister.

During Baksh’s valedictorian speech at his graduation, he congratulated his fellow graduates and thanked his family and

friends for their support.

“My parents decided to migrate so that better opportunities would be provided, and here I am standing before you, taking advantage of those opportunities,” he told the audience.

Baksh said that his classmates were compassionate and respectful as they accepted him despite their cultural differences and made him feel welcome.

“They accepted me for who I am despite our differences, and instead of shying away from my religious and cultural background, they chose to learn more about it,” he explained.

Baksh said that he and his classmates are a powerhouse of innovation and creativity as they have survived

the hardship of a global pandemic and they will continue to push boundaries to make the world a better place.

Baksh thanked the school, graduates, counsellors, custodian crew, teachers, and other Woodward staff for welcoming him into the school and making him feel safe.

Baksh left the audience with a quote from his favourite television show, Supernatural: “You always have a choice. You can either roll over and die, or you can keep fighting no matter what,” Baksh related.

He urged his fellow graduates to give it their best and scream their defiance to conquer what they must.

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

E-Networks hosts blood drive

E-NETWORKS INC., Guyana’s only locally owned telecommunications provider, in collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), held a blood drive at the company’s MovieTowne location, on Saturday, in light of World Blood Donor Day which will be observed on June 14, 2022.

Ashley John, Marketing Coordinator of E-Networks Inc. told the Sunday Chronicle that the company was aware of the limitations of the blood bank, and so, a decision was made to collaborate.

John also noted that the company was keen to fulfill its corporate social responsibility. She explained that E-Networks Inc., in the past, did an inhouse blood drive with the NBTS but it was the first time the event was opened to the public.

“We want to encourage persons, even if they did not come to this blood drive, in particular, we want to encourage them to always reach out to the

National Blood Transfusion Service in Guyana to donate there,” John said.

Tandika Dundas, a Registered Nurse at NBTS, shared with the Sunday Chronicle that they decided to host the blood drive to make sure an adequate amount of blood is provided for the public. The NBTS holds the responsibility of providing an adequate and safe amount of blood for both public and private hospitals in Guyana.

Dundas expressed that acquiring blood was a challenge for them as there were lots of myths about donating blood.

“Persons might have a lot of misconceptions about donation and they tend to be scared because of those misconceptions.

Donating blood has a lot of benefits for the person who is the donor,” she said.

Dundas explained that donating blood reduces the risks of heart attacks and strokes, as well as, gives the donor a free check-up as they check for nine different blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis A, B,

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and more.

“We check your blood pressure and temperature, to make sure that you have enough blood before you can donate,” she said.

Additionally, donating blood leads to a healthier lifestyle because a person is allowed to donate every two months, they wouldn’t want to be promiscuous.

Before donating, a person should meet the required 110 pounds, their blood count must be above 12.5 and they must be above 16 years of age, but a 16-year-old, with parental consent, can donate.

Dundas explained that people believe having tattoos or piercings would restrict them from donating but this is untrue.

“Once your tattoos and piercings are over a year old, you are eligible to donate blood,” she said.

Dundas shared that collecting blood was a hard task for NBTS because of the pandemic and the demand for blood was very high, so they wre grateful for the collaboration.

Managing Editor of the Guyana Chronicle, Rabindra Rooplall and Editor-in-Chief of the News Room Inc, Fareeza Haniff donated blood (Delano Williams photo)

Ashley John, Marketing Coordinator of E-Networks Inc, was among the first people to donate blood (Photo: Delano Williams)

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Emergency drainage works for Cookrite Savannah

AGRICULTURE Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Saturday, met with cattle farmers from Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to discuss solutions to flooding in the Cookrite Savannah, following several days of rainfall.

During the meeting, farmers were asked to put

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha interacts with farmers forward suggestions on how the matter can be resolved without causing flooding in the farming and residential areas.

Minister Mustapha said that infrastructural works were ongoing in the savannah to assist with

Some of the famers during the meeting with Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha drainage but due to the rain, those works had to be put on hold.

He informed the farmers that temporary systems, which included the installation of controlled drainage structures, will be put in as soon as Sunday to assist with draining the backlands. He also urged cattle farmers to ensure their animals do not venture into the farming areas on the front lands.

The farmers agreed that the forthcoming works will assist with draining the lands and promised to work along with the engineers to monitor the structures that will be put in place to facilitate the emergency drainage works.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

President Ali mulls special programme at CPCE, UG

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- for teachers to be equipped to teach PWD PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali has announced that he is considering the creation of an executive training programme for the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana (UG) for teachers to receive training so that they can attend to the educational needs of children living with disabilities.

This will be done following consultation with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS).

“We are going to work on a special programme; I’m going to ask the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Human Services to work on a special initiative, in which we will ask, the college and University of Guyana to

come up with an executive training programme, so we can have teachers ready to deliver special needs as quickly as possible,” President Ali announced at State House during a meeting on Friday with parents of children with disabilities.

Additionally, the Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud said that currently, several women are being trained in professional care, and are moving forward toward home-based care. She said that there will be day and night care facilities across the country for children living with disabilities.

“Sometimes mothers work very late into the evening, and they have no night care facilities. So, we are moving in that direction, where you

have care facilities for your children day and night,” Minister Persaud said.

She also said that the ministry will be subsidising this.

“We are also helping mothers to pay for the day and night care, once they are registered and licensed by us,” she related.

Minister Persaud also announced that the Difficult Circumstance Unit at the MHSSS is working on a ‘pampers bank’ as they are aware of the skyrocketing cost of diapers.

“We are also working on a ‘pampers bank’, so when you need pampers for your children, come and we give it to you,” she said.

Meanwhile, President Ali said discussions will be held with employers of parents who have children with disabilities to allow for some kind

of flexibility in the workplace.

This was in light of a parent explaining that her salary was reduced because she ar-

rived at work late after taking her child to school.

“We have to talk to the employers because I’m sure

employers, knowing the circumstances, can work on something with them,” President Ali said.

TWENTY-EIGHT families are now proud homeowners after they were allocated the first set of two-bedroom, low-income units, constructed by the

Ministry of Housing and Water, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) at Hampshire, East Berbice-Corentyne.

The allocation exercise

was done at Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC).

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Chief Executive Officer

of CHPA, Mr. Sherwyn Greaves; Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Narindra Persaud and President of CCCC, Mr. Mohammed Raffik were present at the

allocation exercise.

Each house is being allocated at a cost of $5.5 million (inclusive of the cost of the land) to the allottee.

A total of 100 low-income houses are being built at Hampshire. The contract sum for the construction of these houses is $750 million.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Mrs. Arya Ali meeting with parents who have children with disabilities at State House

28 families get low-income houses in Berbice

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, hands over the keys to a family

One of the low-income houses

Housing officials with this family and their new home

An aerial view of the low-income houses being built at Hampshire

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Rose Hall Estate gets $100M worth of machines to advance cultivation

THE preparation process for cultivating sugar cane at the Rose Hall Estate, East Canje, Berbice, has been advanced with five new tilling machines valued at some $100 million.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, handed over the high-end John Deere equipment, during the commissioning ceremony in front of the factory, on Friday.

The minister said the investment was timely, and will spur greater production in the fields, as the administration takes an aggressive approach to ensuring the factory returns to production soonest.

Several persons residing in the West Canje district depend on the lone cane factory for an income, and with the advancing of the tilling fleet, additional space has been created for more operators.

The move coincides with the government’s

plans to rehire the hundreds of workers who were terminated, when the factory was shuttered under the APNU+AFC government.

“All of us could remember that, not so long ago, when the chimney at the estate stopped working, all the communities in Rose Hall were plunged into a state of devastation.

People had to give up the basic necessities to make sure they survived,” the minister emphasised.

The significant enhancing of the tillage system there will also ensure less soil erosion. Special classes will be scheduled to train those individuals who are identified to operate in the fields.

Minister Mustapha stressed that the philosophy of the PPP/C Government was to introduce measures that will help all Guyanese.

“And when you look, the way our country is

moving, it is moving with tremendous pace,” he pointed out.

He noted that while other sectors including construction, housing and infrastructure are significant to any country’s development, agriculture was the pillar of the nation’s economy.

The Agriculture Minister also encouraged persons to apply for the vacancies at the Rose Hall Estate, adding that two tractors will soon be procured for the factory.

Chief Executive Office of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Sasenarine Singh said the equipment’s procurement will boost the socio-economic impact of the community.

He said that without a massive tillage fleet, cane production will not be successful.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, David Armogan, noted that

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha (fifth from left), hands over the keys for the newly commissioned machines

the multi-million- dollar investment was a clear indication that the government was serious about fully opening up the estate for production. (DPI)

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

New Demerara River bridge to address significant loss in productive hours –– Private Sector commission says

THE government’s investment in a new bridge across the Demerara River, when calculated in terms of its “cost benefits” to the country, is enormous, according to the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

A contract valuing US$260 million was signed recently by the government and a joint venture of Chinese companies led by China Railway Construction Corporation for the construction of the new bridge.

“This is an extremely

important infrastructure project serving more than 50 per cent of the country’s population traversing between Regions Three and Four on a daily basis,” the PSC said in a statement which was released on Friday.

A cleared plot of land at Nandy Park, EBD, where the eastern end of the new bridge is expected to be laid To properly underscore the benefits to be derived from this initiative, the commission created a scenario which examined traffic across the bridge.

The PSC said, taking into consideration that, conservatively, 12,000 vehicles traverse the bridge on a daily basis, with an average number of persons per vehicle being five, with the current traffic situation, commuters lose approximately two – four hours per day in traffic alone, there would be a loss of about 43.8 million productive hours or the equivalent of five years’ loss of productive hours.

“The traffic congestion problem started to worsen about five years ago, so imagine then the loss in productive hours, collectively, over the five-year period,” the commission related.

By using per capita income of US$5,000 to arrive at an average hourly rate of US$10, the PSC determined that there would be a loss of US$2.2 billion in productive time over this five-year period – equivalent to almost 50 per cent of pre-oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – that is, the cost of not having this new bridge in place.

It was reported that the new bridge is expected to be 2.65 kilometres long, with the width of the driving surface being around 23.6 meters, with two carriageways and four lanes.

The bridge is a hybrid design with the high-span or navigation-span having a cable stay design.

The vertical height of the fixed bridge is said to be some 50 meters from the mean highest watermark which means that large size vessels would be able

to pass freely under the bridge.

Outside of the bridge’s ability to address losses in productive hours, the PSC said that the social benefits to the population are equally impressive.

“As a result of less travel time, persons can spend more quality time with their families in the evenings after work, and before school in the mornings,” the commission related.

It said too that there could be better productive and social use of time to engage in other activities; efficiency in transportation, and collectively, more productive time available to engage in productive activities to enhance individual livelihoods, and the same can be said for businesses.

“The new bridge would not be required to close to vehicular traffic for ocean going vessels; it will be built high enough for ships to pass under, this is another huge benefit,” the PSC said, noting that it would also reduce wear and tear for vehicles.

The commission said that this bridge was identified since 1996 for construction in the National Development Strategy, for which the Private Sector Commission played an integral participatory role.

“It is worth observing that the bridge was scheduled, at that time, to be built and completed by 2012, but, for a variety of reasons which the government has publicly explained, the conclusion of the contract has not been achieved until now, some ten years later than originally envisaged.

Nevertheless, this much anticipated bridge across the Demerara River will be hugely welcomed,” the PSC said.

sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Woman, 50, dies from COVID-19 –– 95 new cases recorded

A 50-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) died from COVID-19 on June 3, taking the country’s total death toll to 1,238.

The Ministry of Health, on Saturday, revealed that she was partially vaccinated.

There are currently 895 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 95 new cases on Saturday.

These cases were recorded in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven.

Region Four accounted for 55 of the new cases; Region One recorded three new cases; Region Two recorded 11 new cases; Region Three recorded 15 new cases; Region Five recorded one new case; Region Six recorded two new cases; and Region Seven recorded eight new

cases.

The country has now recorded a total of 65,243 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, one person is in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 28 are in institutional isolation; 856 are in home isolation, and 10 are in institutional quarantine.

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

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

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sunday CHRONICLE june 5, 2022

Taxi driver high on cocaine makes fake kidnapping report

A TAXI driver who got high from cocaine at a ‘gamble shop’ and ‘drugs yard’ at Grove,

East Bank Demerara (EBD), was arrested by the police after he made a false report that he was

abducted and his car was stolen.

He was identified as Keshan Bhola, 30, a taxi

driver of Section ‘C’ Block ‘Y’ Golden Grove, EBD. According to Police Headquarters, Bhola visited the Madewini Police Station at about 07:00 hrs on Friday and reported that he was abducted and robbed of his motor car with registration HD 2794 by two males and a female on May, 29, 2022.

However, during an interview conducted by investigators, Bhola recanted his false report to the police.

Bhola, according to the police, admitted that he is a habitual cocaine user and would visit the ‘drugs yard’ often.

“On Sunday 29, May 2022 at about 22:00 hours, Bhola said he went to the drugs yard and used cocaine which led him to conspire with a 45-yearold vendor of Grove.

Contact was made with the vendor, who was arrested and interviewed by investigators at CID Headquarters, and it was revealed that he (vendor) sold the car to a named individual who is currently being pursued by the police,” police related in a statement on Saturday.

Police said that this individual had not been located yet as the investigation continues.

Taxi Driver Keshan Bhola who falsely claimed he was kidnapped

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

Root, Stokes give England...

FROM PAGE 31 CAPTAINS PAST & PRESENT REVIVE ENGLAND After England lost four wickets for 38 runs, it would have taken the most optimistic supporter to believe they would not lose inside three days, let alone end yesterday possessing such a chance of winning.

With Jamieson causing havoc, Alex Lees shouldered arms to one that kissed off stump, Zak Crawley offered his trademark edge and Jonny Bairstow was bowled playing a booming drive.

In-between, Ollie Pope was twisted inside out in being bowled by Trent Boult.

Even skipper Stokes looked skittish, often dancing down the pitch, just as he did when was bowled off the de Grandhomme no-ball.

In the chaos, Root was a reassuring presence, the former captain closing in on 10 000 Test runs with flicks, punches and busy running.

As Stokes settled, he launched spinner Ajaz Patel over mid-wicket with three thrilling sweeps for six. Just as England were getting on top, Stokes looked for an ambitious ramp and gloved Jamieson behind.

Though Foakes only moved to nine, he offered determined support to Root, who sensed a weariness in a New Zealand attack missing de Grandhomme and accelerated late in the day.

ENGLAND’S ELECTRIC FIGHTBACK To have any hope of winning this match, England had to utilise the second new ball to restrict New Zealand’s second innings, which began

yesterday on 236-4.

Mitchell moved from 97 to 100 from the first ball he faced, only to edge Broad and become the first of the three wickets to fall in as many balls.

With Broad revving up the crowd, de Grandhomme was distracted by an lbw appeal and was run-out by Pope’s direct hit from fourth slip, then Jamieson was bowled off his pad.

After watching the chaos from the other end, Blundell got trapped leg-before by one that James Anderson got to nip back.

When Tim Southee slashed to slip for Matt Parkinson’s first Test wicket, England had taken the last six New Zealand wickets in the space of eight overs.

(BBC Sport)

Barbados Pride retain Regional ...

FROM BACK PAGE who entered the final round less than two points behind in second, watched in frustration as the final day of their contest against Jamaica Scorpions was abandoned early without a ball bowled at Brian Lara Stadium.

Since Scorpions were dismissed on the first day, only three overs were possible in the game, dashing Hurricanes’ hopes of chasing down Pride.

In the other game at Queen’s Park Oval, half-centuries from Tevin Imlach (76) and Kevin Sinclair (58) fired Guyana Harpy Eagles to 331 after they resumed the morning on 30 without loss in the first innings, overhauling Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s 218.

Imlach, 25, punched eight fours and a six off 172 deliveries, stretching his opening stand with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (25) to 72, before adding 33 for the third with

Vishaul Singh (19) and 64 for the sixth wicket with Sinclair who played merrily to strike seven fours and two sixes off 75 balls.

Veerasammy Permaul joined in the fun, lashing half-dozen fours and a six in a breezy 65-ball 47 while posting 59 for the eighth wicket with Gudakesh Motie (37) and 54 for the ninth with Nial Smith (21 not out).

Batting a second time, Red Force reached 25 for one.

8 all out: Nepal Women crushed...

FROM BACK PAGE heaviest or the lowest score of recent times.

In 2017, a Indian cricket team was bowled out for only two runs in a women’s Under-19 oneday super league match.

Then in 2019, Mali women recorded the three lowest T20 international totals, being dismissed for 6, 10 and 11 at the Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament.

Six teams are competing in the Asia tournament with the winner qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa in January 2023.

“It’s a great feeling for everyone in the team and gives us great confidence for the next (three] )matches, but our job is not done,” said Gaur.

“We want to win all five (games) and qualify for the U19 T20 World Cup. Before the match we discussed, with coach Najeeb, where to bowl to apply pressure. It’s a new

ground and wicket so we kept it simple - bowl on the stumps.

“Captain Theertha and coach Najeeb instilled a lot of confidence in my ability, which gave me the belief in myself that I could do the job and restrict them to a low score.”

Nandakumar added: “We planned a lot for this game and it was a great team effort. Our fielding was good and we executed our plans 100%. (BBC Sport)

FROM PAGE 29 “These are the kind of revolutionary things that need to be done. The whole question of the limitation of the competition gears not being able to put sponsors’ logos and name on, it is restricting the earning power of the athlete and the sport. It’s time to remove the shackle of amateurism and make it truly a professional sport. Track

and field is a fantastic sport and it shouldn’t be a junior sport at the world level to any other sport,” Mills stated.

In 2019, the World Athletics council approved marketing and branding protocols in 2019, which allowed greater flexibility in the placement of personal sponsors’ logos on the kits of individual athletes at meetings not includ-

ing World Athletics Series events, such as the World Championships and Diamond League, which sit at the top of the international athletics calendar.

The 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships will take place from July 15 to 24 and will be hosted for the first time in a US city. (Extracted from Jamaica Observer)

English Racing Tips Goodwood 08:30 hrs Ascot Adventure 09:05 hrs Flag Flying 09:40 hrs Dunnington Lad 10:15 hrs Dance To Paris 10:50 hrs The Lamplighter 11:20 hrs Broadspear 11:50 hrs New Heights

13:15 hrs Dutch Decoy 13:45 hrs El Picador

‘WE KEPT IT SIMPLE’

We missed the boat on...

Musselburgh 10:45 hrs Finn’s Charm 11:15 hrs Lost My Sock 11:45 hrs Sacred Jewel 12:15 hrs Evaluation 12:45 hrs Eidikos

Perth 09:20 hrs Enki Flacke 09:55 hrs Ash Tree Meadow 10:30 hrs A Mere Bagatelle 11:01 hrs Minella Trump 11:32 hrs Golden Taipan 12:02 hrs Pammi 12:35 hrs Mr Sundancer Irish Racing Tips Kilbeggan 09:10 hrs The Grey Monty 09:45 hrs Level Neverending

10:20 hrs Whatsstoppingyou 10:55 hrs Millyinthemiddle 11:25 hrs Midnight Run 11:55 hrs Jack Hackett 12:25 hrs Uncle Phil South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:05 hrs Captain Of Stealth 08:40 hrs Do Angels Cry 09:15 hrs Cruizin California 09:50 hrs Ciao Bella 10:25 hrs Alpine Challenge 11:00 hrs Naushon

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

ICC chair warns of grim future with less Test cricket

THE chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has painted a grim outlook for the future of Test cricket for both men and women, foreshadowing a decline in the number of men’s Tests played annually, while he doesn’t expect women’s Tests to “be part of the landscape moving forward”.

The New Zealander, who assumed the position as the independent chair of the ICC in November 2020 after eight years as a director of New Zealand Cricket, admitted “there’s not a lot we can do” as domestic T20 leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) expand to dominate the calendar, with bilateral cricket to be “squeezed” as a consequence.

“The single biggest issue that we’ve got in front of us now is we’re creating the cycle for the next eight years (and) just fitting everything that we’ve got into that calendar,” Barclay said on the BBC during the ongoing Test between England and New Zealand.

With the ICC expanding events it runs to become annual fixtures – at the request of the full member nations – and the continued proliferation and expansion of domestic T20 leagues, “the bit that’s getting squeezed, obviously, is bilateral cricket,” Barclay said.

“And I think there’ll be some unfortunate consequences from a playing experience point of view and in a revenue generation perspective for some of these countries who just won’t get the amount of cricket that they will hope to have.

“And they won’t get exposure against, particularly, India

The head of ICC, New Zealander Greg Barclay (right), says ‘there’s little we can do’ as ICC events and domestic T20 leagues crowd the calendar and to a lesser extent Australia cricket that they wanted to.

“So I think we’ll see a and England.

Barclay said while he re- lessening of that, four or five garded “men’s Test cricket Tests a year maybe. Whereas as something that represents England, Australia, India, I the legacy and history of the think they’ll be playing Test game” it was costing nations cricket like they are now.

“It’s only one man’s opinmoney to play the longest ion but I think that that’s how format.

“We’re fortunate in some will it play out.”

He was even less optimisrespects that we’ve got other forms of the game that can tic about the longest format help us sustain, particularly fi- for women outside of Austranancially, Test cricket because, lia and England, which each with the exception maybe of played Tests against India last one or two series, it is effec- year.

“To play Test cricket, tively loss-making for member you’ve got to have structures boards,” Barclay said.

“It may well be that there’s domestically that allow you less Test cricket, and some to play long-form cricket and countries will just have to they don’t really exist in any of make room and play less Test the countries at the moment, so I can’t really see women’s Test cricket.

“Maybe some of those cricket or long-form cricket countries will have totally evolving at any particular different long-form and short- speed at all,” Barclay said.

“That’s not to say that form squads, and we can see those countries that choose to that happening already, “But I think also some of play Test cricket – Australia the smaller full members will and England – who provide have to accept that from a that to the women can’t do so, resourcing point of view that but I don’t see it as part of the they’re just not going to be landscape moving forward to able to play the amount of Test any real extent at all.

Boston beat Golden State in game one of NBA Finals

BOSTON Celtics hit nine three-pointers in the final quarter to overturn a 12-point deficit and beat Golden State Warriors 120-108 in Game One of the NBA Finals.

Stephen Curry hit a gamehigh 34 points for Warriors, who led 92-80 and had not lost in their nine previous home games in this season’s play-offs.

But Jaylen Brown hit 10 points in the final quarter to spark a Celtics win.

Game Two in the best-of-

seven series is on today, again in San Francisco.

It was a stunning return to the Finals for Eastern Conference champions Boston, after five failed runs in the playoffs over the past 12 years.

“You have to give them credit,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

“They just came in and played a helluva fourth quarter. It’s as simple as that. They deserved their win.”

Al Horford, who scored 26 points, said he had been

“waiting for this moment” for a long time.

The 36-year-old also added he wanted his team-mates to relax and not to feel the pressure of the occasion.

“I wanted to make sure that our guys came out here and played free,” he said. “I wanted them to understand that this is just a game, so just go out there and have fun.

“We have a lot of great guys here, guys who have really bought into what we’re trying to do.” (BBC Sport)

“If you look at strategically the way that cricket is going, there’s no doubt that white-ball cricket, short-form cricket, is the way of the future.

“That’s the game that’s sought after by fans, that’s where the broadcasters are putting their resource, it’s what’s driving the money.”

The head of the ICC’s view is at odds with those expressed

by Australia’s players, who are far more optimistic about the growth of the women’s game “What’s starting to happen, and maybe it’s sort of slow going, but certainly the uptake of countries wanting to be involved in Test match cricket is growing,” star Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry said last week.

“South Africa are playing England over in England this (northern) summer, which is a great step forward. Hopefully,

when the Proteas tour here, we’ve got that opportunity against them as well.

“I think the more momentum the multi-format series are building for Test cricket and providing it with great context, is important.

“Pakistan aren’t there yet this time around, but I think the more that we continue to discuss it, the more that we do it, and not just Australia but all the nations in the Future Tours Programme, the more likely it is that we play more Tests.

Australia batter Beth Mooney added: “The game is still growing around the world, so whilst we do want to play more long-form cricket, we understand it’s not going to happen overnight.

“Teams have to be prepared and understand how to play that format of the game,

and Pakistan are a great team in their own right, so perhaps in two or three years they’ll be ready to play a Test match against us.

“Obviously India and England are now doing that a little bit more, but at the moment, it’s important to remember there are a few more steps to be taken before we get there with everyone else.”

Barclay also confirmed the 2023 World Test Championship final would be held at Lord’s in July, while a decision on adding T20 cricket to the 2028 Olympic Games is due soon.

“We’ve done everything we can at our end so the decision, as I understand it, gets made in the next few weeks as to whether it goes through as one of the selected sports,” Barclay said. (Cricket.com.au)

Rahmat, Shahidi, Rashid, Nabi star as Afghanistan go 1-0 up

FOUR senior players made defining contributions as Afghanistan began the ODI leg of their Zimbabwe tour with a 60-run victory in Harare.

Sent in, Afghanistan overcame a poor start to post a solid 276, with Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi putting on 181 to lay the platform and Rashid Khan adding the finishing touches with an unbeaten 39 off 17 balls.

(Scores: Afghanistan 276 for 5 (Rahmat 94, Shahidi 88, Rashid 39*, Muzarabani 4-52) beat Zimbabwe 216 (Raza 67, Kaia 39, Nabi 4-34, Rashid 2-39, Farooqi 2-41) by 60 runs) Zimbabwe made a reasonable start to their chase, with the debutant opener Innocent Kaia and captain Craig Ervine putting on 61 to steer them to 66 for 1 in the 15th over.

Afghanistan spinners, however, dictated terms thereafter, as Rashid and Mohammad Nabi led a relentless middle-over strangle. From the start of the 17th over to the end of the 40th, Zimbabwe scored just 93 runs at a rate of 3.8 per over while losing four wickets - all to the off-spin of Nabi.

Their required rate ballooned from 6.09 to 11.1

Rahmat Shah’s 94 won him the Player-of-theMatch award (AFP/ Getty Images) in this period, and though Sikandar Raza (67 off 78) extended Zimbabwe’s fight, their chances of victory had all but vanished. Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out off the last ball of their innings.

That Afghanistan would end the match as comfortable winners was hardly a given when they limped to 38 for 2. Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara made tidy starts with the new ball, with the former dismissing Ibrahim Zadran in the seventh over, before the debutant Tanaka Chivanga came on as first change in the 11th over and struck with his fifth ball, having Rahmanullah Gurbaz caught at second slip.

But Rahmat and Shahidi wrested the momentum away from the home team with the highest partner-

ship by an Afghanistan pair against Zimbabwe, and the fourth-highest in Afghanistan’s ODI history.

They didn’t force the pace too much early on, with the innings run rate still below four an over by the end of the 38th - by which time Wessley Madhevere had given Rahmat a life, dropping him off Ryan Burl’s leg-spin when he was batting on 42.

Then came a burst of scoring, as Rahmat and Shahidi clattered 69 runs in 6.2 overs before Muzarabani broke the partnership in the 45th over, having Rahmat caught behind, six short of what would have been his sixth ODI hundred.

Then, in his next over, Muzarabani denied Shahidi what would have been his maiden ODI hundred, getting him to top-edge a slog to third man when he was on 88. When Nabi fell two balls later, Afghanistan may have feared that their end-overs charge was deflating.

But they would have their flourish at the finish, as Rashid dominated an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 42 off 21 balls, smashing four sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 17-ball 39, while Najibullah Zadran at the other end got to face only four balls. (Cricinfo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

We missed the boat on Bolt! … Coach Mills laments failure of athletics to capitalise on popularity of world’s fastest man

CELEBRATED athletics coach, Glen Mills, believes local and international track and field authorities have failed to capitalise on the popularity of retired Jamaican sprinting icon Usain Bolt and is calling for sweeping reform of the sport’s marquee event, the World Athletics Championships.

Mills, who coached Bolt to eight Olympic and 11 World Championships gold medals as well as world records in the 100m and 200m, believes it is an indictment of the sport’s leadership that track and field remains over-reliant on the Olympic Games and believes the World Athletics Championships - which has its next instalment in Eugene, Oregon in July - has failed to elevate the sport into the mainstream.

“One of the things I will lament is that both locally

and internationally, with a star performer of Bolt’s level, the sport did not capitalise on it in the way it should,” Mills told the Jamaica Observer.

“When I look at the impact of the advent of Tiger Woods, it’s clear that golf made the most of his popularity. You look at what the NBA became after Michael Jordan and how they have grown with their superstars and we could go on.

Whenever there is a superstar, these sports benefited immensely and continue to do so. Track and field in its semi-amateurism continues to miss the boat and it is time for track and field to become a fully professional sport,” Mills added.

A key element, based on his assessment, would be the elevation of the World Athletics Championships as the most important event in the sport and for its athletes

– a position currently held by the Olympic Games, with changes ranging from the level of participation to athlete branding.

“Track and field needs to create its own mecca and not depend on competing at the Olympics as the main endorsement for the sport and its athletes. All the other major sports have their mecca competition … golf has the Masters and tennis has its Grand Slams.

Football - I wouldn’t even mention the World Cup or Champions League. For these sports, getting to the pinnacle and winning at their own top event supersede any Olympic medal and that is where track and field needs to go if it is going to survive,” Mills shared.

The coach believes the World Championships, which is staged every two years, should become an annual

Celebrated Track coach Glen Mills (left) and sprint legend Usain Bolt share a light moment (Photos: Observer file) event and must only include the most elite performers in every discipline. He also believes more branding opportunities should be allowed for athletes in order to increase income generation.

Nations League football...

New look Italy claim impressive draw with Germany

AN inexperienced Italy began their rebuilding job with an impressive home draw with Germany in a Nations League football opener for both sides.

Having failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Qatar, Italy opted to test out numerous raw players.

One of them, 18-yearold substitute Wilfried Gnonto, set up Lorenzo Pellegrini for a 70th-minute goal.

Germany levelled immediately, with Joshua Kimmich firing in to make it 10 games unbeaten under Hansi Flick.

Germany’s next game in Group A3 is a home match against England, who were beaten 1-0 in Hungary earlier on Saturday. Italy host the Hungarians, with both games on 7 June.

It has been a chastening few months for Euro-

Kimmich levelled for Germany just three minutes after Italy had taken the lead pean champions Italy but, ni and Sassuolo pair Dafrom the wreckage of their vide Frattesi and Gianluca shock failure to qualify for Scamacca they have raw the World Cup in Qatar later gems to polish. this year, green shoots are The display was far from beginning to break through. fluent, especially in an unThe side fielded against derstandably nervy opening Germany was shorn of al- 10 minutes, but full of enmost all the names recognis- deavour from a group that able to the majority of fans grew into the contest and outside Italy, with 23-year- even had the temerity to take old goalkeeper Gianluigi the lead.

Donnarumma the most exThe source of their openperienced player with 44 er was livewire teenage forcaps. ward Gnonto. He began But in Inter Milan de- his career at Inter Milan, fender Alessandro Basto- impressed Roberto Mancini

with his displays at FC Zurich in Switzerland last season, and lifted the crowd with his direct run and fine cross for Pellegrini to poke in.

Had the lead lasted longer than three minutes, Italy could well have been celebrating victory, but their inexperience showed as they switched off in the aftermath of their goal and allowed a wily German side to respond.

Jonas Hoffman’s cross fell to Kimmich in the box and he could not miss.

Flick is unlikely to have learned anything he did not already know about his established side, but he will have been pleased to witness their ability to dig deep when needed to get a result.

For Germany it is all about fine-tuning for Qatar.

For Italy it is about seeing beyond the end of this year and to major tournament qualification campaigns to come. This was a decent start. (BBC Sport).

“The World Championship is not serving that purpose; it is still amateur in its function and the championship needs to be revolutionised into a real super event with super prizes and so on to capture the world,” Mills reasoned.

“You should create an atmosphere where people go every year to defend their title in order to keep the sport at the pinnacle of relevance and excitement.

“Also, in terms of performers, there are just too

many; so let’s say, athletes, who are not of a certain international level, participate in another championship for exposure and participation purposes. The World Championships should not be a participation event,” Mills argued. “You have to raise the standard of who gets to the championship and you need to reduce the number of rounds in each event because the rounds are just to accommodate people who are not at the world level.”

TURN TO PAGE 27

UDFA ‘Return to Play’ senior league continues today with double-header KWAKWANI Strikers will travel to Linden today to face Milerock, while Silver Shattas collide with Haynes Winners Connection as play in the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) ‘Return To Play’ senior league continues, weather permitting, at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground (MSC).

These two matches come after Friday night’s play when both teams scored lopsided victories. Net Rockers crushed Hi Stars 5-1, handing them their second straight defeat after being beaten by Eagles United in their previous game, and Capital FC chalked up win number two in as many outings, by outplaying Amelia’s Ward Panthers 5-1.

The weather has been unkind to football matches but UDFA has been on the ground doing its best with the support of the MSC staff to have matches played.

Kwakwani will seek to redeem themselves after their opening night’s loss to Coomacka while their opponents Milerock are brimful of confidence after losing their game against Topp XX. Both Shattas and Winners Connection lost their previous games and are hoping to rebound with a win in this 13-team league tournament.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

Ruthless Swiatek crushes Gauff to clinch second French Open title …Swiatek, who took over as world number one when Australian Ash Barty announced her shock retirement in March, has now won 35 consecutive matches

Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates with the cup after defeating Coco Gauff of the USA in their final of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium yesterday, in Paris. Swiatek won 6-1, 6-3 (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) PARIS, France (Reuters) - World number one Iga Swiatek confirmed her dominance of women’s tennis by sweeping aside American teenager Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3 to claim her second French Open title in three years yesterday.

The 21-year-old Pole’s blend of power, poise and precision on the clay was too much to handle for the 18-year-old Gauff, who never recovered from a shaky start in her maiden Grand Slam final.

Swiatek, who took over as world number one when Australian Ash Barty announced her shock retirement in March, has now won 35 consecutive matches – matching the longest unbeaten streak since Venus Williams in 2000. She raced through the opening set and snapped Gauff’s brief resistance in the second to become the fourth player this century to lift

the Suzanne Lenglen Cup on multiple occasions.

“Two years ago winning this was something amazing. This time I feel I worked hard to get here. It was pretty tough, the pressure was big,” said Swiatek after sobbing when the Polish anthem was being played. “Thank you fans for the support, for coming, all the Polish flags I see there,” she added, also thanking her team.

“I am happy that every piece has finally come together.” Gauff thanked her team for getting her to the final. “I’m sorry I could not get this one today, but thank you guys for always supporting me,” she said. Gauff had promised to play without pressure but in muggy conditions, she failed to find her breath as Swiatek’s all-in tennis added to the suffocating atmosphere.

The top seed, who now

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has two Grand Slam titles to her name, made the most of her opponent’s early nerves to break in the first game, setting the tone of a showdown many had hoped would be a close contest. A superb, backhand passing shot winner got Gauff into the groove, but Swiatek kept the pressure on and stole her serve again as she dragged the American off the court and forced her to hit a forehand wide.

She held for 4-0 and with little to lose, Gauff started to play more freely.

But the Pole hit back harder to go 5-1 up with a gravi-

ty-defying forehand winner that dusted the baseline.

Gauff saved a set point with a forehand winner but fired a backhand wide to go one down after just over half an hour.

But as a cool breeze lowered the temperature on court Philippe Chatrier, Gauff turned up the heat to go 2-0 up in the second set.

Eager for a longer contest, the crowd chanted “Coco, Coco!” as Gauff slipped to 0-30 on her serve at 2-1.

Swiatek was undeterred and she broke back for 2-2 before drowning Gauff in a deluge of winners to race to

5-2 up.

The American’s ordeal ended after 68 minutes when she sent a forehand long to hand Swiatek the title. The new champion ran to her box after a brief celebration, while Gauff sat on her courtside chair and wept.

French Open champion Swiatek urges Ukraine to ‘stay strong’ World number one and newly crowned French Open women’s champion Iga Swiatek of Poland urged Ukraine yesterday to “stay strong” amid the ongoing invasion by Russia. Swi-

atek, who played the entire tournament with a ribbon in the Ukrainian colours pinned to her cap, said after beating American Coco Gauff in straight sets: “I would like to say something on Ukraine. Stay strong, the war is still there.”

The men’s and women’s tennis tours have banned Russia and Belarus from international team competitions following the invasion, which Moscow calls a “special military operation”, but allowed players from the two countries to compete as neutrals.

Swing king Vinashkor ‘Bay’ Khemraj celebrates 30 years as opening bowler

By Frederick Halley

WHEN Vinashkor ‘Bay’ Khemraj migrated to Canada from Guyana in 1992, he came with some knowledge about the sport, albeit from an administrative level, having played a huge role in the formation of the Lusignan Sports Club in his homeland.

According to Khemraj, at the age of 15, he was instrumental in the formation of one of the top clubs in Guyana and still plays a supporting role whenever he has the opportunity to do so.

Khemraj pointed out that he was a member of the Lusignan Sports Club Wight and Northcote Cups teams and was mainly a ‘change’ bowler with his left-arm medium pacers and knew little about batting then and is still considered a permanent number 11.

Three years after his entry into Canada, Khemraj became a member of Kaieteur Sports Club and started his career in the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA).

An exponent in the art of swing bowling, the left-arm-

er thus became a permanent member of Kaieteur and on May 15, he marked a significant milestone, 30 years since he has been tasked with opening the bowling for one of the oldest clubs in the association.

Khemraj marked the occasion in grand style, claiming an incredible seven for 46 in 8.5 overs as Kaieteur International B (formerly Kaieteur Sports Club) defeated Toronto Lions by a massive 280 runs in their First Division fixture, played at the Ellesmere North ground.

Set a daunting 353 for victory after another veteran, Nate Anandjit, had plundered eight fours and an equal number of sixes in a masterful 107 off 94 balls and teenager Lincoln Hotiram’s sparkling 85, Toronto Lions made an inauspicious start to their First Division season and were routed for a paltry 73.

According to one of the founders and long-standing members of Kaieteur Sports Club, Bisham Singh, Khemraj came at an opportune time when the club was just formed.

According to Singh, who

Vinashkor ‘Bay’ Khemraj, following his masterful seven wickets for 46 runs is also the current vice-president of both the SCA and the Canada Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA), as a genuine swing bowler, Khemraj was always given the new ball by all Kaieteur Sports Club captains un-

til he himself became the leader of the team and was always among the wickets.

Singh pointed out that Khemraj featured prominently almost every year at both the Kaieteur and SCA annual presentations as his figures were always “top of the charts”.

Singh disclosed that when he served as president of Kaieteur, Khemraj was considered his “right-hand man” in areas of sponsorships and fund-raisers. “He continues to shepherd the club since my retirement.”

Apart from representing Kaieteur International B, Khemraj also made his debut for the SCA Over50 team in their opening match of the 2022 season, bagging two for 10 in his allotted five overs as his team made light work of Kokuvil Sports Club. The defending champions batted first and posted 155 for five in 20 overs and shut out their opponents for a paltry 65.

Khemraj, however, had a misfortune, suffering a dislocated shoulder while fielding but fortunately for him, he should be fit to play in the second fixture, set for June 5.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

Root, Stokes give England hope of win over New Zealand at Lord’s SCOREBOARD

JOE Root and Ben Stokes gave England huge hope of a stunning victory on a gripping third day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

Chasing a challenging 277, England reached 216-5, needing another 61 runs. Though captain Stokes was out for 54, former skipper Root remains on 77, having added 57 with Ben Foakes.

The fifth-wicket pair dragged the home side from 69-4 and England would have been 76-5 had Colin de Grandhomme not overstepped in bowling Stokes when he had only one.

The Stokes-Root partnership added 90 and was only ended by Stokes trying a needless uppercut that gave impressive pace bowler Kyle Jamieson a fourth wicket.

England’s turnaround began in the morning session, when they took three wickets in three balls to spark a New Zealand collapse of 34-6.

Daryl Mitchell completed a century, but after he was out for

108 and Tom Blundell for 96, the Black Caps were dismissed for 285.

Then came the ups and

downs of the England chase, leaving the prospect of a grandstand conclusion on the fourth morning.

STELVEEN, Holland (CMC) – Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks carved out contrasting maiden One-Day International hundreds but West Indies were forced to withstand a bold counter-offensive from the Netherlands before pulling off a 20-run victory and a clean sweep of their threematch series here yesterday.

In his first time at the top of the order, the left-hander

Mayers blasted a robust 120 off 106 deliveries, a knock that included eight fours and seven sixes and underpinned the Caribbean side’s 308 for five off their 40 overs.

Brooks, who dropped down to number three, produced a fancy, unbeaten 101 off 115 deliveries, counting three fours and four sixes in an innings which proved the perfect foil for Mayer’s fireworks.

Together, they posted 184 for the second wicket, a stand that propelled West Indies to their first total in excess of 300 in their last 10 ODIs. The Netherlands were not intimidated, however, as openers Max O’Dowd (89) and Vikramjit Singh (54) striking half-centuries and Musa Ahmed belting a run-a-ball 42, to hand West Indies a scare before the run chase buckled for 288 in the last over.

Fast bowler Shermon Lewis, on ODI debut, proved expensive but snatched three for 67 from 9.5 overs while left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2-52) and leg-spinner Hayden Walsh (2-54) were the other wicket-takers.

West Indies were under pressure with the hosts coasting at 206 for two in the 38th over but top-scorer O’Dowd’s demise in the 43rd over saw the last six wickets tumble for 49 runs.

“This is a game of cricket.

Everything can’t go your way and today Netherlands had us and it seemed they would get away with the game,” said captain Nicholas Pooran who failed for the third straight match with seven.

“But the guys took up the challenge, we stayed in the moment, we did what was required, we stuck to our plans and we came out on top. I’m very happy for that.

“I’m just happy that the guys could’ve pulled the game

Joe Root raises his bat after his half-century (Getty Images)

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 132 ENGLAND 1st innings 141 New Zealand 2nd innings o/n 236-4 Tom Latham c Ben Foakes b Matthew Potts 14 Will Young c Ben Foakes b James Anderson 1 Kane Williamson c Jonny Bairstow b Matthew Potts 15 Devon Conway c Ben Foakes b Stuart Broad 13 Daryl Mitchell c Ben Foakes b Stuart Broad 108 Tom Blundell lbw James Anderson 96 Colin de Grandhomme run-out Ollie Pope 0 Kyle Jamieson b Stuart Broad 0 Tim Southee c Joe Root b Matt Parkinson 21 Ajaz Patel lbw Matthew Potts 4 Trent Boult not out 4 Extras: (b-1, lb-4, nb-3, w-1) 9 Total: (all out, 91.3 overs) 285 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-30, 3-35, 4-56, 5-251, 6-251, 7-251, 8-265, 9-281.

Bowling: James Anderson 21-7-57-2, Stuart Broad 26-7-76-3 (nb1), Matthew Potts 20-3-55-3, Ben Stokes 8-1-43-0 (w-1, nb-2),Matt Parkinson 15.3-0-47-1.

ENGLAND 2nd innings Alex Lees b Kyle Jamieson 20 Zak Crawley c Tim Southee b Kyle Jamieson 9 Ollie Pope b Trent Boult 10 Joe Root not out 77 Jonny Bairstow b Kyle Jamieson 16 Ben Stokes c Tom Blundell b Kyle Jamieson 54 Ben Foakes not out 9 Extras: (b-6, lb-7, nb-2, w-6) 21 Total: (five wkts, 65.0 overs) 216 Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-32, 3-46, 4-69, 5-159.

Bowling: Tim Southee 19-5-58-0, Trent Boult 20-3-61-1 (w-1), Kyle Jamieson 20-4-59-4 (w-1, nb-1), Colin de Grandhomme 3.5-1-3-0 (nb-1), Ajaz Patel 2-0-22-0.

LORD’S DRAMA ON SUPER SATURDAY This was a fascinating, fluctuating day of Test cricket, one on which each side enjoyed periods of momentum and ultimately ended with the match balanced on a knife-edge.

The Stuart Broad over in which England claimed the triple strike was electric, the hosts’ top-order collapse depressingly familiar, and the Root-Stokes fightback filled with tension.

In the case of Stokes, the captain evoked memories of the 2019 World Cup final, when he hauled England to a famous victory on this ground against the same opponents.

Stokes’ reprieve was a huge moment, a present on his 31st birthday. It was part of a miserable day for de Grandhomme, who was run-out from the only ball he faced, took the wicket off a no-ball then hobbled out of the game with a heel strain.

If Stokes had remained, England would have started the fourth day as overwhelming

favourites and probably much closer to victory, but New Zealand will return knowing they need only one wicket to expose a lengthy tail.

A second new ball is still 15 overs away, yet England are likely to have to come through that challenge if they are to win.

back under a pressure situation … that’s really nice to see as a captain.”

Opting to bat first at the VRA Ground, West Indies flourished through a 58-run, opening stand between Mayers and Shai Hope (24) before the latter dragged 22-year-old seamer Bas de Leede to mid-on in the 12th over.

Hope’s dismissal paved the way for the real fireworks. Unbeaten on a run-a-ball 29 at the time, Mayers upped the tempo to reach his fifty off 53 deliveries at the start of the 19th before motoring to three figures off just 96 balls with a short single to cover in the 38th over.

“It was a good feeling. I always wanted to get an ODI

hundred,” said man-of-thematch Mayers, who struck an unbeaten double hundred on Test debut last year.

“We spoke about it at the beginning of the series and it came through. I got the opportunity to bat early and it happened so I’m very happy.”

Brooks rode his luck somewhat. He was reprieved on 14

by DRS after being given out lbw in the 19th over and then dropped on 61 in the 33rd over, a straightforward chance to O’Dowd at mid-off.

He made his way to fifty off 55 deliveries at the end of the 27th over before reaching his hundred off 114 deliveries in the final over, clipping a full toss from pacer Vivian Kingma

to mid-wicket for a brace.

In reply, O’Dowd sparkled with eight fours in a 121-ball knock as he posted 98 for the first wicket with Vikramjit, 66 for the second with Musa and 42 for the third with de Leede (25).

The 19-year-old Vikramjit crunched seven fours and a six in a 55-ball cameo before playing on to Mayers’ medium pace in the 18th over and Musa counted five fours before missing a straight, full-length delivery from Walsh and going lbw.

The turning point came when O’Dowd, with a hundred beckoning, missed a cut at man-of-the-series Hosein and was bowled, leaving the lower order to fend unsuccessfully for themselves.

TURN TO PAGE 27

Mayers, Brooks hundreds ensure 3-0 series sweep for Windies

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES innings S. Hope c Kingma b de Leede 24 K. Mayers c de Leede b Klein 120 S. Brooks not out 101 N. Pooran lbw b Dutt 7 B. King c Edwards b van Beek 10 A. Hosein c Musa Ahmed b Kingma 3 N. Bonner not out 19 Extras: (lb-4, w-16, nb-4) 24 Tota: (5 wkts, 50 overs) 308 Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-242, 3-251, 4-267, 5-274.

Bowling: van Beek 10-1-58-1 (w-10), Kingma 9-0-66-1 (w-3, nb-4), Klein 8-0-52-1, de Leede 5-1-34-1 (w-3), Dutt 10-1-44-1, Seelaar 8-0-50-0.

NETHERLANDS innings Vikramjit Singh b Mayers 54 M. O’Dowd b Hosein 89 Musa Ahmed lbw b Walsh 42 B de Leede c Lewis b Hosein 25 S. Edwards c Lewis b Walsh 18 T. Nidamanuru c wkp, Hope b Seales 8 L van Beek run-out 15 P. Seelaar c & b Lewis 16 A. Dutt not out 1 R. Klein b Lewis 2 V. Kingma c Bonner b Lewis 0 Extras: (b-3, lb-2, w-13) 18 Total: (all out, 59.5 overs) 288 Fall of wickets: 1-98, 2-164), 3-206, 4-239, 5-243, 6-262, 7-274, 8-286, 9-288.

Bowling: Seales 10-0-59-1 (w-4), Hosein 10-1-52-2 (w-1), Lewis 9.5-067-3 (w-3), Mayers 7-1-31-1 (w-1), Carty 1-0-9-0 (w-1), Walsh 10-1-54-2 (w-3), Bonner 2-0-11-0.

Player-of-the-Match: Kyle Mayers Player-of-the-Series: Akeal Hosein

Kyle Mayers (left) and Shamarh Brooks registered maiden One-Day International centuries

National Aquatic Centre gets automatic timing system

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 5, 2022

… Swimming Academy also launched

The swimmers touch the built-in timing system that automatically recorded their time. (Delano Williams photos) THE National Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal is now equipped to host international meets since it has been bolstered with the addition of a state-of-the-art Automatic Timing System.

The unveiling of the significant piece of equipment coincided with the launch of the swimming leg of the National Sports Academy, which will help to develop a

new crop of talented swimmers.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr called the launch transformative and said that the newly installed system will alter the sport of swimming in Guyana.

Delivering the keynote address yesterday, he noted that from a governmental standpoint the intention is to

constantly improve the standards of the country.

“We are very serious about the commitments we are making.”

According to the Minister, the addition to the pool would allow Guyana to host international swimming events - which is key for sports tourism and overall progression.

President of the Guyana

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr (right), with some of the youngsters at yesterday’s event Amateur Swimming Associa- time. must become a fixture on tion (GASA), Dwayne Scott, The touchpad apparatus, how we develop talent. Withpointed out that plans are in according to the Director of out the structure it can’t hapmotion to host the Goodwill Sport, Steve Ninvalle, was pen, without the coaches Swim Meet this year and the purchased for some G$7M. it can’t happen - without Inter-Guiana Games.

ACADEMY the infrastructure it will not He said that with the The swimming leg of the happen.” equipment, GASA would National Sports Academy Scott added that the also bid to host the CARIFTA also splashed off yesterday academy will see training Aquatic Championships. and, according to Minister programmes for nursery, “This is a major require- Ramson, it will build the intermediate and championment to host FINA and Pan needed talent. ship levels and will focus on Am Aquatics events.”

He said that the govern- building swimmers with all The Colorado timing sys- ment aims to put necessary the fundamentals needed. tem will allow timings to be systems in place to ensure At the event, swimmers measured at one-hundredth that talent is not fleeting, but also held a mini meet to of a second, which is much is abundant at all levels. demonstrate the efficiency more accurate than hand “This sports academy of the timing system.

Barbados Pride retain Regional first class title 8 all out: Nepal Women crushed … Rain stalls Hurricanes again

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Barbados Pride retained their Regional First Class title on a humdrum final day yesterday, after two straight days of rain zapped all interest out of the final round of matches.

With play finally possible at Diego Martin Complex for the first time

since Wednesday’s opening day, Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite struck 109 as Pride overhauled Windward Islands Volcanoes’ first innings of 203, finishing on 285 for six before rain returned to end play at tea.

Left-hander Raymon Reifer made 71 and Roston Chase, 59, Pride pushing on

Barbados Pride celebrate their capture of the regional first class title (Photo courtesy CWI)

strongly after resuming the morning on 109 for one.

Starting on 39, the right-handed Brathwaite struck 14 fours off 219 deliveries in just shy of 5-¼ hours as he stretched his second stand with Reifer to 116.

Reifer, resuming on 56, counted a dozen fours off 88 balls in 128 minutes.

Brathwaite put on a further 39 for the third wicket with Jonathan Carter (21) before adding 95 for the fourth with Chase who faced 110 deliveries in a shade over 2-¼ hours and struck seven fours.

Pride’s main rivals Leeward Islands Hurricanes, TURN TO PAGE 27

by UAE in U-19 T20 World Cup qualifier

IT TOOK just seven balls for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to knock off their nine-run target and beat Nepal by 10 wickets in a very one-sided Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier in Malaysia.

Nepal won the toss and chose to bat but were dismissed for eight UAE’s left-arm seamer Mahika in 8.1 overs, with Gaur was player-of-the-match as six players going she took five wickets for two runs f o r d u c k s a n d off four overs with two maidens Sneha Mahara top-scoring with total in 1.1 overs the tournament, with two extras. scoring 117-3 bethree.

I t h a s n o t fore dismissing Mahika Gaur took 5-2, while been all bad for their opponents Indhuja Nandaku- the Nepal team for 38.

Yesterday’s mar finished with at the Asia qualifiers. They beat d e f e a t b y t h e 3-6.

T h e U A E Qatar by 79 runs UAE is by no o p e n e r s t h e n on Friday on the means the chased down the opening day of TURN TO PAGE 27

We missed the boat on Bolt!

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| SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2022