Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 10-08-2022 by Guyana Chronicle

WEDNESDAY 10th August, 2022

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VAT INCLUSIVE

US$1.2M Leonora ‘smart 03 hospital’ comes on stream No.106810

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Over $600M in contracts signed for 13 ‘agri’ sector

‘Celebrate your accomplishments’ House –– Minister Sukhai urges Indigenous women see stories on PAGES

15,18 & 19

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approves Hemp Bill

Norton issues veiled threat to GECOM 02 Chair PAGE

Norton issues veiled threat to GECOM Chair

OPPOSITION Leader, Aubrey Norton, on

Tuesday, called for the resignation of GECOM

Chairman, Justice (r’td), Claudette Singh, saying

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

her failure to heed his call will see the Coali-

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton tion taking appropriate actions. Speaking at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, the Opposition Leader contended that the Coalition would not go into an election with Justice Singh as Chairman of GECOM and what he claims to be a bloated list of electors. “And there are many things we can do to put the pressure on the elections commission and Claudette Singh. But we had first given her the opportunity to tender her resignation as a decent judge who would have served and to recognise that you cannot claim to be independent and, on every issue, you are voting with the People’s Progressive Party and you seem to have no interest in finding consensus on these issues. And so, we have left the door open. We hope we don’t have to close it and Claudette Singh will do the decent thing and resign,” he said. The High Court, in August of 2019, had ruled that persons cannot be removed from the National Database of Registrants through house-to-house registration but through claims and objections and the provision of names of deceased persons by the General Registrar’s Office

to GECOM. The APNU+AFC Coalition after a five-month attempt to rig the 2020 regional and general elections, was forced to vacate power due to mounting pressure from the international community and civil society to respect the will of the people. The 2020 general and regional elections were certified by the international community as free and fair. The Coalition’s criticism of the list of electors is not new. It had repeatedly attacked the list after the successful passage of the December 2018 no-confidence vote in a bid to delay the elections as long as possible and had employed a similar strategy to derail the recount of votes of the 2020 elections that was supervised by CARICOM. During the recount process, the Coalition made a number of claims, including votes from dead persons and persons who migrated. However, the CARICOM team, which the Coalition had described as the ‘most competent’ interlocutor, had roundly dismissed these claims as a “fishing expedition” and time-wasting exercise.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

US$1.2M Leonora ‘smart hospital’ comes on stream By Shamar Meusa

THE Leonora Cottage Hospital, which was retrofitted to the tune of US$1.2 million through the Smart Healthcare Facilities in the Caribbean Project, was on Tuesday officially recommissioned. The upgrading of the facility to a “Smart Hospital” is part of the government’s vision to modernise healthcare in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and the country at large. The Leonora Cottage

was held in the hospital’s parking lot, Prime Minister Mark Phillips noted that it is a proud moment for Guyana, as the project is an example of people-centred development. He said that it is important to note that of the five facilities that are being retrofitted, two are on the coastland, while the other three are in hinterland communities. “We are bringing development not only to the coast, but we’re bridging that divide,” he said, adding that the initiative is one that is welcomed by the

Frank Anthony, during his remarks at the commissioning ceremony, revealed that the ‘Smart Hospital’ project is part of a wider Caribbean initiative, and that Guyana is almost finished with the five hospitals that were set to be transformed, with the Leonora Cottage Hospital being the third to be completed. The Diamond Diagnostic Centre was completed in April 2021, while the Lethem Regional Hospital was completed in October 2021. And now that the fa-

Prime Minister Mark Phillips (third right) hands over a brand-new ambulance to Region Three’s Regional Health Officer Dr. Erika Forte (second left) as the Leonora Cottage Hospital was recommissioned. Also in photo are Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony (second right), British High Commissioner Jane Miller (first right), and Member of Parliament Dr. Tandika Smith (first left) (Elvin Carl Croker photo) Hospital is one of five facilities that were set to be upgraded and updated as part of the Smart Healthcare Facilities project to become safer, ‘greener’ and more resilient to natural disasters and climate change. The Strengthening Healthcare Facilities in the Caribbean (Smart Hospitals Programme Phase Two), which is funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the Government of the United Kingdom, allocated US$8 million to Guyana for the upgrading of the five facilities. During the recommissioning ceremony, which

government. The project, the Prime Minister said, adds to the administration’s portfolio of success, and bolsters their commitment to ensuring the improvement in the quality of life for the people of Guyana. PM Phillips added that the project covers facility upgrades that make hospitals and operations more resilient and environmentally-friendly, among other things. “These developments all work in synergy towards a common goal of ensuring the good health and well-being of all the people of Guyana,” the Prime Minister said. Minister of Health Dr.

cility is back up and running, the work officially begins for staff, as there are lots of expectations, the health official said. HIGHER AND HIGHER STANDARDS “As we work to improve things, you know, more and more people will demand higher and higher standards. We have to work to make sure that we’re able to meet those standards,” the Health Minister said. Speaking specifically of the project, Dr. Anthony indicated that the repurposing that was done at each hospital thus far was based on the specific needs

The Leonora Cottage Hospital (Elvin Carl Croker photo) of the facility, and was not As the facility will now of access to dialysis care a one-size-fit-all approach. be reopened, there will be to patients with end-stage He went on to say that eight doctors on staff, most renal failure in the region, as they started working, of whom are general prac- it is intended to offer dithey came to realise that titioners. There will also alysis care to patients at the resources that were be specialised clinics and the facility to cater for the allocated to the project services that will be run at region. were not enough, and that the facility. He added that the in order to get to the point These specialists, it government has had where the health authori- was noted, are in the Re- partnerships with a numties were comfortable, the gion, and will be operating ber of dialysis care progovernment put in some at the Leonora Hospital on viders. As a result, one additional resources to the a fixed schedule. of those partners has project. The hospital currently indicated their interest in It was then, he said, boasts an X-Ray Unit, and partnering with the govthat the government added an Ultrasound Machine ernment to make dialysis some $15 million to bol- is expected to be added care available in Region ster the project, which sum shortly. Three. contributed to the current Currently, the Leonora The Health Minister end-product. Cottage Hospital has lab- said that the government Moreover, the Health oratory services that will will continue to improve Minister told those gath- be operating during the the standard of healthered that the government’s day, however, there are care accessed by resiambition for the hospital intentions to later adopt dents in Region Three is much larger than it cur- a 24-hour service for the and the country at large, rently is, as, over the next benefit of the public. as the government’s vifew years, more resources Minister Anthony said sion is to modernise the will be invested in the that while there have been country’s healthcare sysfacility. complaints about the lack tem.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips and British High Commissioner Jane Miller unveil the plaque at the recommissioning of the Leonora Cottage Hospital (Elvin Carl Croker photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Mar-a-Lago: Republican uproar over FBI raid on Trump home

FURIOUS allies of former President Donald Trump are demanding an explanation for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s raid on his Florida home, Mara-Lago. The FBI and Department of Justice have yet to comment on the search, which Mr Trump disclosed on Monday evening. It is reportedly linked to an investigation into his handling of classified and sensitive material. It was the first time a former US president’s home has ever been searched by law enforcement. Some Democrats have also called on officials to offer more clarity for the raid on the former Republican president’s home. Republicans have depicted the search as politically motivated, with leading figures demanding a briefing and explanation from Attorney General Merrick Garland, the head of the Department of

Justice (DoJ). Mr Trump’s former Vice-President, Mike Pence, who has subtly distanced himself from him amid speculation they could both launch 2024 White House runs, called on the attorney general to give “a full accounting” of why the search warrant was carried out. “No former President of the United States has ever been subject to a raid of their personal residence in American history,” he wrote on Twitter. Mr Trump’s allies in Congress, meanwhile, vowed to launch an investigation if they win back control of the House of Representatives and Senate in November’s mid-term elections, when the balance of power in Washington will be decided. While many Democrats welcomed the raid, others joined calls for the Department of Justice to provide more information. Some aired concerns that it could boost

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support for the former president. “This could be very useful to him as many people rally around him during this time,” Dave Aronberg, the state attorney for Palm Beach, where Mar-a-Lago is based, told the BBC. “Trump will use this to regain his martyr status.” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday that President Joe Biden was given no advance notice by the FBI of the raid, and that he “learned about this from public reports.” “The president was not briefed and was not aware of it. No-one at the White House was given a heads-up,” she said. She told reporters that Mr Biden had gone to great lengths to preserve the independence of the justice department, adding: “President Biden believes in the rule of law.” The raid was first announced on Monday evening

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in a statement by Mr Trump, who was at Trump Tower in New York City. An unnamed law enforcement official told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that the Secret Service was notified shortly before the warrant was served at about 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT). Several boxes were taken away, the source said, adding that no doors were kicked down and the search had concluded by late afternoon. Reports suggest the FBI activity is connected to an investigation into whether the former president removed classified records from the White House and took them to Mar-a-Lago. Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said she first learned of the “visit” by FBI agents through public reports on her phone. She added that she looks forward to learning more about what authorities were searching for when the warrant is made public.

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“To have a warrant, you need justification,” she told NBC News. “And that says that no-one is above the law, not even a president or former president of the United States.” In a fundraising email to supporters on Tuesday, Mr Trump said that he and other Republicans were being targeted because of his political influence and “my dominance in all polls”. “They are trying to stop the Republican Party and me once more,” he said, adding: “The lawlessness, political persecution, and Witch Hunt, must be exposed and stopped.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is rumoured to be considering a run against Mr Trump in 2024 for the Republican White House nomination, was among the many conservatives voicing outrage. “The raid on Mar-a-Lago is another escalation in the weaponisation of federal agencies against the regime’s

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political opponents,” he said. Former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told the BBC that during his tenure he ensured presidential records were kept. “When the law says you have to preserve everything, that’s everything - a scratch pad, a newspaper the president had seen, it could be something very serious or something trivial, such as a menu with Boris Johnson, for example,” he says. “If that’s all they’re looking for, technical violations of the law, then this is a tremendous overreach by the DoJ. “If on the other hand, it’s somehow tied to a very serious charge of trying to interfere with the transition of authority to the Biden administration, and if the DoJ thinks there might be documents the president retained at Mar-a-Lago that speak to say, conversations with the right-wing extremists and the rioters, then that’s very serious.” (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Residents claim gunfire greeted them as they escaped burning houses (Jamaica Observer) EARLY Monday morning when some residents of central Kingston, in an area called Spoilers, were getting ready to start their day, a fire took them by surprise, gutting multiple adjoining premises on Smith Lane and James Street and leaving 23 adults and 12 children homeless. Most of those affected said it was difficult to save anything inside their houses because as soon as the fire broke out the sound of barking guns forced them to take cover to preserve their lives. Among the fire victims who lost all their belongings was 72-yearold Junior Dorrant. “I was fixing up my place to make myself comfortable, enuh, and now di place bun dung,” he said, pointing to a stack of blocks he had purchased to carry out improvements to his house at 15 James Street. “Mi lose mi phone, ID and everything. When di fire started, I was in my house. When mi come fi look, mi haffi tek cover because too much gunshot a fire. “A woman come a mi gate a call mi and she did haffi run from di gate because a pure shot did a blaze with the fire. A mi fridge this weh mi draw out a di house, enuh, and

because of the heat, mi haffi drop it. See it deh, it still bun up,” Dorrant said, pointing to a burnt refrigerator. One woman, who wasn’t affected by the fire but was clearly sympathetic, said she tried to help the elderly man but had to “run back” into her house because of the sounds of bullets whistling through the air. “It was a wicked fire. Look how di tree dem bun up. The fire start ‘round a Smith Lane and spread come around here,” the woman said. A teary-eyed Paulette Finlayson was in shock and disbelief. Many of the things she had worked hard to purchase so she could make herself comfortable at home turned to ashes. She, too, told the Jamaica Observer that when she ran outside in search of haven, she encountered the gunfire and had to take cover immediately. “It was after 4:00 am. Somebody come knock me up and seh ‘fire’ and by the time mi run out a pure gunshot and mi haffi run eeen back. After that the fire start come over more and more on my side, because a pure old board. “I had to take cover from gunshots. Mi couldn’t even save anything. This socks you see

Lezreen Hyatt, a 65-year-old resident of Smith Lane in Central Kingston, is in a state of despair after her house was destroyed by fire early Monday morning. (Photo: Garfield Robinson; retrieved from Jamaica Observer) me in, that is all dem lef pon mi feet,” she said. “About seven different set of families live in this yard and that is roughly 20 people. Mi want someweh fi live right now. Mi need some shoes. Me is a girl weh buy my things dem, enuh. “Mi have some brand-new slippers weh mi not even wear, enuh, like mi Bridget sandals. A mussi two time mi wear it and a $18,000 for it. Mi washing machine bun up, mi gas stove bun up, mi whatnot bun up, mi dresser bun up, everything bun up. My son not even save a shoes pon him foot, because when mi hear di shot dem we haffi run een,”

she explained. One man, who asked that his name not be used, demanded that something be done to put a stop to circumstances that give rise to tragedies like the one he experienced Monday. He believes the fire was deliberately set, although the Jamaica Fire Brigade is still investigating to ascertain the cause.

“Dem thing yah a happen ‘round yah so long time and nobody nah help the community fi mek dem thing yah stop. Nobody nah step een and mek it done. Dem just a help down the community to make it get worse and worse. People just a get bun out and a dead.” According to Emilio Ebanks, public relations officer of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, a call came in at 4:57 hours that houses on Smith Lane and James Street were on fire. “When we arrived we saw houses on fire at 26 to 30 Smith Lane and just behind those houses, number 15 and 17 on James Street, were also on fire. Five units in total responded to the situation. “There were no inju-

ries or deaths reported and we have investigators now on the scene trying to ascertain the cause of the fire. We don’t have the cost of the damage yet,” Ebanks told the Observer in the afternoon. Donovan Williams, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston Central, later toured the scene, sympathising with residents and pledging financial and other assistance. “As an MP my job is to assist the people and get them back on their feet. What we normally do is analyse what happened and deploy the agencies of government to assist the people,” he said. “In respect of the cause of the fire, that is a job for the police and the fire brigade.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Accidents and road safety

“EVERY year the lives of approximately 1.3 million people are cut short as a result of a road traffic crash. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury,” according to a June 2022 post on the World Health Organization (WHO)’s website. The global health authority confirmed 90 per cent of recorded traffic deaths occur in lowand middle-income countries where it is a leading cause of death for children and young adults between five – 29 years. Guyana has recorded marked success grappling with the scourge that has caused much emotional, and in some cases financial, anguish among families of the victims. Only in March, this newspaper reported statistics from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) that the country saw a 17 per cent decrease in fatal road accidents for January to March 2022, when compared to the same period in 2021. Also in that report was a note that in 2021, the traffic department recorded the least number of fatal accidents for the past decade, 2011 to 2021. “There was a total of 87 fatal accidents, resulting in 99 deaths, three of which were children… fatal accident figures exceeded 100 per year from 2015 to 2021, with 2017 being the year with the least number –100 accidents with 115 deaths, including five children,” noted the March 2022 figures published by this newspaper. In an awarding-winning 2016 report titled

“Costly crashes – deaths, injuries estimated at $4.7B as at October 16” written by now Editor-in-Chief, Tajeram Mohabir, this publication recognised much of what the WHO reported in June 2022. This reflects, suggestively, that much of the dynamics then still obtains now. “[A]ccidents are a strain on families, and are a heavy public health burden on the State… [as] the majority of victims are from low-income families, who have no option than to seek treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital or at a public hospital nearest to them,” the 2016 PAHO Media Award-winning article said, adding that treatment at private hospitals is expensive albeit difficult to collectively quantify. On the public health side, however, it was recognised then that “the amount spent at the Georgetown Public Hospital alone in this regard is about $100M.” The 2016 report focused, interestingly, on the macro-level cost of road accidents, while also giving space to the effects felt at community, family and individual levels. The estimated cost of death per accident was reported as US$60,000 for Guyana in 2004. “In 2004, Dr. Gowkaran Budhu, in a Road Safety Study for the Ministry of Public Works and Communication, put the estimated cost of death per accident at US$60,000 and injuries at US$7500. “He arrived at these estimates taking into consideration medical costs for injuries, emergency service costs, vocational rehabilitation costs, market productivity costs, household

productivity costs, insurance administrative costs, workplace costs, legal court costs, premature funeral costs, travel delay costs, and property damage costs,” the report said. By 2016, 12 years after the initial study, a senior engineer working in the public sector confirmed that the figure had not changed much, instead recognising that the estimated cost for death climbed significantly. “He pointed out that using the cost-determinant factors identified in Dr. Budhu’s study, the current estimates being used for Guyana and other countries in the region have been put at US$200,000. From this sum, using a conversion rate of US$1 = GY$205, times US$200,000 times 105, the estimated cost of death by accident as at October 16 this year (2016) amounts to $4.3B. “The estimated cost of severe injuries is put at $425.8M using this method of calculation, and when added to the estimated cost for deaths by accident, the estimated losses, not taking into consideration minor accidents, top $4.7B,” the 2016 report further recorded while comparatively noting that this large figure represented more money than the $3.6 billion the previous government had then allocated to be spent collectively on health facilities and tackling communicable and noncommunicable diseases. The Dr Irfaan Ali-led administration is certainly not deaf to the cries of the nation for better roads and safer roads. Roadways are being created and enhanced as part of gov-

ernment’s vision for a transformed Guyana, but that vision of transformation also, as the President has noted, includes safer roads. In March, the President signalled that as part of ‘smart policing’ systems, a digital platform for ticketing will be introduced targeting those who breach road laws. It will not, by all appearances, be limited to vehicular road users alone based on the language of the report. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was named to be engaged for a new system to be incorporated into Guyana’s major highways. “On all our new highways, we are going to incorporate this feature where we can move towards digital ticketing and recognition in terms of speeding, in terms of seatbelt violations and so on; and that system must be automatically linked to the suspension of licence[s] and so on,” President Ali stated. With $2.5 billion budgeted in 2022 for the expansion of the Safe City Programme beyond the boundaries of the capital, Georgetown, CCTV cameras will be used to monitor road usage across the country, which will feed directly to Regional Command Centres. In a Guyana where the health and safety of every citizen is seen as central to the wellbeing and productivity of the nation, the loss of life through road carnage must be addressed through direct policy and institutional interventions as well as working to dismantle road abuse cultures. That change is coming.

Building Expo ‘exceeded expectations of exhibitors and visitors’

Dear Editor,

MINISTER of Housing and Water, Collin Croal enthusiastically reports that the International Building Expo 2022 “exceeded the expectations of both exhibitors and visitors”. The installation of 356 booths at the five-day Expo 2022 does indicate the high confidence that investors and companies have in the country’s investment climate and the rapidly growing economy. Pointing out that the cost of the expo was met by exhibitors and not by the government, Minister Croal says that one of the objectives of the expo was to reduce the 50, 000+back log of house lot [application] and to accelerate the application process. To this end, 5,000 house lots and 750 titles were given out to Guyanese during the expo. Apart [from] moving aggressively in other areas to empower the people through providing them with jobs and a good education, the PPP/C Government recognises that land and home ownership

is also a powerful empowerment tool. Thus, creating a forum in which builders, investors, banks, government functionaries, visitors and consumers could interact with one another as well as to view different models of homes, equipment, etc., at one place (Providence Stadium) was in itself a great accomplishment. Building upon the first expo in 2010, the theme for International Building Expo 2022 was: “A New Frontier for Building a One-Guyana.” I believe that the expo’s multiple objectives flowed out of the policy framework that is laid out in the PPP/C’s National Economic Development Strategy, 1994 (NDS), A National Competitiveness Strategy 2006, and the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS). I identified both general and specific objectives. The general objectives include: (1) The opportunity for local, regional and international investors to showcase new and innovative techniques in the building and construction sector; (2) Introducing of 3D

building technology into the housing sector; (3) The creation of a vision tunnel 2030 to show how housing would be transformed in the future; and (4) Introducing environmentally-friendly houses that are being built wholly with recycled materials. The specific objectives include: (1) Introducing at least eight different models of housing to potential homeowners in the low income, middle income, and professional categories (people could choose models other than those displayed); (2) Providing ready and direct access for citizens to interact with builders, banks, exhibitors, service companies, government agencies; and (3) Encouraging an expanding role for the private sector in housing development. The PPP/C’s 2020 manifesto sets a target of 50,000 house lot allocation during the government’s fiveyear term (2020-2025). To achieve this goal, they must double the amount of house lots that were given out at an annual average of 5,125 during the period 1992 to

2014. While the PPP/C has not met its average minimum of 10,000 house lots per year for its first two years in office, it still was able to allocate an annual average of 6,000 per year compared with the PNCR-led Government’s annual average of 1,507. The PPP/C vows that their target of 50,000 house lots to be allocated within their five years would be realised. In addition, the PPP/C is in the process of building 1,200 housing units. Minister Croal says that 300 of these units have already been allocated to families. The PPP/C blames the PNCR-led Government for not creating any new housing scheme during their term in office (2015-2020). The former PNC/R Minister of Housing says that they had identified five areas comprising 409 acres in Regions Nine and 10 for housing development, and another 21 new housing sites (with 4,273 house lots) in Regions Three, Four and Six, but they lacked the resources for the requisite infrastructural development.

The entry fee into Expo 2022 of $(G) 3,000 per person for the first three days, did not prevent Guyanese from all levels of society to visit the national treasure. The house lot awardees who did not attend the expo could pick up their titles and house lot grants at their respective regional offices. The public response was so overwhelming for the first three days that the organisers extended the expo for two additional days and with free entry for visitors. An estimated 100,000 people visited the expo during the five days. [An] NBS Director says that they received 250 applications for loans within those five days and that outside of Expo 2022, the NBS would normally get this amount of applications over a six -month period. The NBS is currently processing those applications. No information was received from the other banks. An immediate outcome was the announcement by President, Dr Irfaan Ali that government would grant as incentive to people who are building houses valued

at $(G) 6 million and less, the steel and one sling of cement, while those building houses valued between $(G)6 million and $(G) 25 million will get two slings of cement. Filled with exuberance, a few businesspeople say that they cannot wait for the next Housing Expo! Noting the positive outcome of Expo 2022, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, says that it was a “blueprint to Guyana’s architectural future”. She continues: “The new companies were grateful for the platform we provided for exposure and networking, while many of them received orders in quantities that they never received before.” CEO of CH&PA, Sherwin Greaves states: “Based on the testimonials of those persons who would have been allocated house lots and received their titles, many aspiring homeowners would have left the ‘Expo’ very happy.” Yours sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

When it comes to the sugar industry, Ramjattan needs to sit 20 rows back

Dear Editor,

ON Globespan’s interview with the AFC’s Leader Khemraj Ramjattan: Coalition Politics, the Political and Economic situation in Guyana and the Future of the AFC and then again I read his press release in which he again reiterated that the Coalition made the right decision to close the sugar estates in 2017, saving billions of dollars from going down a ‘black hole’. Wales Estate was closed in December 2016. I do feel compelled to remind Ramjattan that in 2015, on the campaign trail, he made a promise to sugar workers at Whim that no sugar estate will be closed and that sugar workers will get a 20 per cent wage increase. The AFC also circulated a pamphlet to that effect. Pretending to seek resolution to the problems facing GuySuCo, in that same year when the Coalition assumed office, a multimillion dollar Commission of Inquiry was conducted by several ‘sugar experts’ and one of the recommendations was that no sugar estate will be closed since the industry can be made viable by 2025. But in December 2016, Wales went under the guillotine. Then in May 2017, the Coalition presented the White Paper on ‘State Paper on the Future of the Sugar Industry’ in Parliament which recommended that the industry be ‘right sized’ to ‘ ensure a viable future’, according to the then Agriculture [Minister] Noel Holder. By the end of 2017, three other estates, Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore were guillotined as recommended by the ‘State Paper’. The Coalition claimed that the ‘right sized’ industry comprising of three estates will produce 147,000 tonnes of sugar annually. This never materialised and Ramjattan should have ventured to explain why this did not happen. Maybe Ramjattan would like to explain what happened to the $30 billion bond which the former Minister of Finance proudly stated that it was to be used to revitalise and ‘rescue’ GuySuCo. According to a DPI Report in July 2018, ‘The SPU has said that GuySuCo needs $30 Billion, over a four-year period, to provide a much-needed capital injection, support infrastructure maintenance and upgrades at the Albion, Blairmont, and Uitvlugt estates, which the state is keeping, and to develop new co-generation capacity to support estate operations and sell to the national power grid’. Did any

of these were achieved? The monies were simply squandered as GuySuCo plunged deeper and deeper into crisis as sugar production continued to fall. The PPP/C in its manifesto in 2015 had said that an allocation of $20 billion would have brought back the industry to viability at that time. But after the piecemeal destruction of the operating estates and the complete annihilation of the closed ones, it would take billions more to now revitalise GuySuCo. Mr Ramjattan needs to know that the then Minister of Finance, Mr Jordan, had said that all the closed estates will not be ‘mothballed’ but will be in operable conditions to attract investors. This never happened even though millions were paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers to revalue the assets and to receive ‘expressions of interests’. It was reported that some 70 of these ‘expressions’ were received but not one bore fruit since the estates were in an advanced state of deterioration. Even today, investors are shying away from investing in any of the closed estates because of the same reason. Not only the fixed assets but the human assets were strewn along the wayside with no form of sustainable livelihood offered or available to them. Yet Mr Nagamootoo had the gumption to shamelessly state in Parliament that he will ‘light a candle for the dismissed sugar workers’. This is the AFC’s legacy. Mr Ramjattan seemed to relish any opportunity to attack former AFC Executive member, Mr Sasenarine Singh, who is now the CEO of GuySuCo. I would like Mr Ramjattan to recall what factors he said on Globespan were responsible for the current state of GuySuCo. Though he did not admit to the failure of the Coalition to recapitalise the industry, the gross and deliberate destruction of the assets, and the mismanagement, he did admit that the EU price cuts, the world market price for sugar, the high production costs and the shortage of labour and the floods due to climate change, [wreaked] havoc on the sugar industry. If Mr Ramjattan had done an iota of investigation, he would have known that GuySuCo is embarking on a mechanisation programme as directed by the President himself which will see GuySuCo fully mechanised by 2025, thereby bridging the labour availability gap. This will also see a huge contraction in

the unit cost of production. At the same time the CEO has recognised the need to change the sales mix and for some time now the sale of packaged sugar has overtaken the sale of bulk and bagged sugar. In fact, this has increased the revenue of GuySuCo by more than $1.7 billion. GuySuCo has already recognised that packaged sugar is the future and will bring in revenue of over $750 US per tonne. Ramjattan admitted this on

the GlobeSpan programme and this is the way the Corporation is heading. This will have the immediate effect of not only achieving the break-even point but will push the Corporation back to profitability. In addition, Mr Ramjattan is ignorant of the fact that GuySuCo workers are not limited to ‘cutlass and punt trajectory’. This is an insult to GuySuCo workers. Many of these workers are skilled

tradesmen and who supplement their incomes by doing skilled jobs in the Factory and outside of the industry during the out-of-crop periods. I once again read that Ramjattan is calling for the CEO to be replaced and I wonder loudly whether he is serious about the future of the sugar industry or he just wants to get even with Mr Sasenarine Singh who resigned from the AFC in 2014. Ramjattan should

have backed calls for the Coalition’s Minister of Agriculture to resign or be fired since he failed the entire sector; but he did not. Mr Ramjattan will continue to expose the true nature of the AFC which is merely to secure power at any and all costs. They will coalesce once again with the APNU; they just want a better ‘deal’. Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

House approves Hemp Bill

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

–– Farms soon for Regions 6, 10 to bring economic activity

–– 22 tonnes of carbon dioxide removed with each acre By Shamar Meusa THE Industrial Hemp Bill 2022 was, on Monday,

passed in the National Assembly which paves the way for the legal cultivation of hemp in Guyana

with the first earmarked regions for cultivation being Regions Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and

10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). The bill was successfully passed during the 49th

Sitting of the National Assembly of Twelfth Parliament in the absence of the Opposition, APNU+AFC, and clears a way for Guyana to venture into the economic benefits of hemp cultivation in the country. Hemp or industrial hemp is widely known as a genus of the cannabis plant but is specifically grown for its industrial and or medicinal use. It consists of a lower tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) value as compared to marijuana. During the final debate on the bill, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C. said that with the exception of Belize, no other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) state boasts a designated Industrial Hemp Act. According to the Attorney General, industrial hemp is a clean renewable resource that while planted produces a net negative in relation to carbon emissions. Nandlall posited that industrial hemp also absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen into the atmosphere with one acre of hemp being able to absorb over 22 tonnes of carbon dioxide. “What is important is the cultivation of hemp and its value to the environment… Guyana as a country will strive to ensure that in almost each of its economic pursuits there will be an emphasis against the emission of noxious substance,” Nandlall said. He mentioned this while noting Guyana’s push towards maintaining its low carbon status as outlined in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. To this end, he added that Guyana can continue to build its economic credentials which has already been established across the globe while moving into this emerging industry. Nandlall told the House that the government has already identified at least two geographic regions of the country in which hemp will be cultivated in the initial stages. Those are Regions Six and 10. These regions, he expressed, will benefit from employment and economic activities. The Attorney General noted that his office has already received numerous correspondence from persons in Region 10 complaining that the Bill is not being passed swiftly. This, he said, comes as many persons have already indicated their readiness to get involved in the cultivation of hemp in the region. “Hemp is highly profitable; it is not susceptible

to the vagaries of changing weather conditions as some of our traditional weather crops are, and is likely to yield far more profits than some of our traditional crops,” he stressed. According to its explanatory memorandum, the Bill removes hemp’s classification under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (Control) Act as a prohibited plant if it is possessed, cultivated or manufactured in accordance with the Act, once it is passed into law. The Bill also provided for the administration of a regulatory framework as several clauses which provide for the establishment of the “Guyana Industrial Hemp Regulatory Authority” which will be a corporate body with a governing board. In the prospective law, provisions are made for licensing activities with which persons can be issued licenses out of three types. The cultivation licence authorises the holder to conduct all activities related to the cultivation of industrial hemp including possession, planting, harvesting, transporting, and distributing, among other things. The manufacturing licence authorises activities related to the manufacturing of industrial hemp which includes the processing of raw hemp materials into extracted or isolated products or the processing and manufacturing of industrial hemp related products. The third licence allows for persons to conduct research on industrial hemp. In 2018, a report of the CARICOM Regional Commission on Marijuana in 2018 titled “Waiting to Exhale- Safeguarding our Future Through Responsible Socio-legal Policy on Marijuana” had noted that the value of hemp as an industrial and commercial substance is validated by scientific literature. It is in this report that it was stated at that time that CARICOM laws made no provision for hemp, instead treating it in the same way as all forms of cannabis which prohibited the usage of hemp for any purpose. This included for important commercial uses. Further, the regional commission called for hemp to be differentiated from other types of cannabis in the relevant legislation with the use of provision that define hemp according to minimal THC levels. This move, the commission said at the time, would liberate hemp and encourage its use in important industry development.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

No fishing permitted in Demerara ships’ channel

THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is monitoring the dredging activity in the Demerara River being carried out by NRG Holding Inc. and is reminding everyone with vested interest that fishing is not permitted in the Demerara ships’ channel. Dredging is currently ongoing there. NRG Holdings Inc. is a consortium of local

entrepreneurs currently developing the Vreeden-Hoop Port Project, a release said. The consortium includes ZRN Investment Inc., Hadi’s World Incorporated and National Hardware Limited. The release noted that before the commencement of this dredging exercise on July 1, 2022, a Dredge Management Plan (DMP) was submitted, which is required by

NRG Holding Inc., during the application process for the capital dredging works. After the go-ahead was given for the project, the DMP document, along with a conditional approval by MARAD, became the primary source document used for monitoring by the agency. MARAD stated that with the daily monitoring and site inspections of the dredging operations,

a close watch is kept on the dumping of the spoils [mud] ensuring dump is only made in the designated areas which have been stipulated in the DMP and the conditional approval. To date, there have been no incidents of dumping outside of the stipulated area, the release said. The first phase of this project entails the deepening and widening of

the existing channel to 10 meters Chart Datum and widening to 100 meters bottom width. The main ships’ channel is also being extended to about five miles beyond the existing pilot boarding ground area. “MARAD also reminds everyone with vested interests that fishing is not permitted in the Demerara ships’ channel, where the dredging is presently

ongoing. Also, there are no approved or charted fishing grounds within the identified spoil dumping area,” the release concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Work begins to fix Champaign Road

WORK on the Champaign Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, is expect-

ed to commence today following the award of a contract to the tune of $64M

to Timehri Contracting Services. The road is in a deplor-

able state. Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, on Tuesday

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar listening to the complaints of residents on Monday paid a visit to the construc- slipping into it, so there will tion site following com- have to be revetment. plaints by residents. Minister The minister said he will Indar said work on the road revisit the site to ensure the is expected to be completed work is properly done and within two months. apologised to residents of the He explained that earlier community for the poor work in the year, a contract was of the previous contractor. awarded to another contracThe minister will also tor who failed to carry out meet with farmers to inform his end of the work and his them that they cannot drive services had to be terminated. their tractors on the road “It [the road] was mud while it is being constructed. and bad and the community They will have to wait until complained. We went out to the paved surface is comtender and we had awarded a pletely dry. contractor that was woefully Chairman of the Mainadequate in his response to haicony Neighbourhood do this road… after repeated Democratic Council (NDC), calls and meetings with him Deonarine Singh, who acto get this road done, we companied Minister Indar had to move as a ministry to on his visit to the road, said cancel his contract,” Minister the previous contractor was Indar said. “bad’ and he and the resiThe road is about one dents are greatly appreciakilometer long, there is a tive that another contractor nearby trench and the road is is awarded the contract.

The current state of the Champaign Road

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

‘Waste of taxpayers’ money’, Nandlall says of parking meters –– US$3M possibly needed in legal fees

–– $100M approved by National Assembly on Monday By Tamica Garnett IN what has been described as a “a complete and utter waste” and unnecessary spending of taxpayers’ money, Guyana is expected to spend approximately US$3 million to defend against the US$100 million parking meter case brought by Smart City Solutions (SCS), a Mexican Company, which was contracted to establish a parking meter system in the capital city in 2016. This was disclosed by Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, S.C. as he made remarks before the National Assembly on Monday, explaining a request by his Ministry for $100 million in supplementary funding. “It is public knowledge that the government of Guyana was sued for the parking meter contract that was entered into during the last tenure of the last government. “Some $3 million will have to be expended only in legal fees to represent the government’s interest in those legal proceedings. What is reflected here is a deposit towards those legal fees,” Nandlall related. According to the AG, the case is expected to be a protracted process and it is uncertain at this time how long it may drag out. “That is why the fees are spent over a period. We have to pay by instalments as the work progresses. I can’t speak right now [on how long it could go]; it depends on how the case unfolds,” the AG said in his engagement with the Guyana Chronicle following his presentation in Parliament. It was earlier this year that the AG had revealed that SCS had filed proceedings against the government of Guyana at the International Centre for Settlement of Investments Disputes (ICSID) in Washington DC. ICSID is an internation-

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall al arbitration institution established in 1966 for legal dispute resolution and conciliation between international investors and countries. ICSID is part of and funded by the World Bank Group, which is headquartered in Washington DC. Party representatives for the claimants in the case are the law firm, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in the United States and Fraser, Housty and Yearwood law firm in Guyana. Meanwhile, government of Guyana has retained Foley Hoag and Associates, a Washington DC law firm, as legal counsel alongside the Attorney General’s Chambers. “The paperwork is being done. Pleadings are being filed and before that an arbitrator had to be appointed by the two parties. “We are [at] that stage where the arbitrator has been appointed, and there is an exchange of documents between the two parties as the case is being built. And that is taking place in Washington DC,” the AG explained. In June 2022, Argentine international lawyer Marcelo Kohen was appointed as the arbitrator for the proceedings. An arbitrator is an independent person officially appointed to settle a dispute.

It was in 2016 that City Hall, under the then Mayor Patricia Chase-Green while the David Granger-led coalition government was in office, signed a contract with SCS to implement a parking meter system in Georgetown. Installations were happening throughout the city, and staff trained for the new parking meter regime. However, the initiative faced immediate backlash and saw massive protests against its implementation. Citizens contended then that the fees were too high and placed undue financial burden on the populace. Others argued that the awarding of the contract lacked transparency. Public pressure forced a suspension of the project. Throughout the process, however, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), while in opposition, argued against the awarding of the contract and rolling out of the parking meter system. The APNU+AFC was voted out of government in 2020. Patricia ChaseGreen is no longer Georgetown’s Mayor, and the city’s then-Town Clerk, Royston King is also no longer in the employ of the city. AG Nandlall said recently that it is unfortunate that the citizens are left to deal with the consequence of decisions that were made by officials who do not have to deal with the penalties of their decision. “It is a complete and utter waste, and unnecessary use of taxpayers’ money for a case that is due to the reckless decision that was made under the previous administration. Those who made the decision and are responsible are no longer there to answer for the decision. But the people of Guyana now have to shoulder that burden and it’s unfortunate, but it’s the duty of our government to defend the country,” the AG related.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Some $5.5B in supplementary funds approved for 'agri' sector

THE National Assembly, on Monday, approved $5.49 billion in supplementary funds to advance works to further develop the agriculture sector. During Monday’s sitting, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, who presented on behalf of the

ministry, sought some $3.4 billion in additional funding to support the recapitalisation of the Guyana Sugar Corporation. The minister said that since assuming office, the government has made a number of critical investments into the corporation to ensure

that the estates identified for reopening are done in a timely manner. “What we have done over the last two years is to replace a number of critical missing parts and continue the recapitalisation we started in 2020,” said Minister Mustapha.

He noted that the government will use these funds to make the factories modern and efficient while increasing production. To this end, he also recommitted to the full reopening of the Rose Hall Estate soon. “The Rose Hall Estate will be reopened,” the min-

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha ister said in response to a question from President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Seepaul Narine. Minister Mustapha also told the House that, to date, GuySuCo has rehired 692 out of over 1, 000 persons who lost their jobs after the estates were closed by the previous administration. Furthermore, some $1.278 billion in supplementary funds were approved for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and some $218 million for the Mahaica/Mahaicony/ Abary Agriculture Development Authority (MMAADA). These sums will be used to carry out much-needed drainage and irrigation work, as well as infrastructural works in the various cultivation areas across the country. Additionally, some $221.89 million was also approved for the Guyana Livestock Development Au-

thority (GLDA). Part of this allocation will go towards providing additional support for the Black Belly Sheep project. Last Thursday, the first batch of Black Belly Sheep arrived from Barbados as part of a bilateral agreement between Guyana and Barbados to create a Caribbean brand of sheep to lower the importation of lamb and mutton products in an effort to support CARICOM’s Vision 25 by 2025 Initiative. Meanwhile, some $300M was also approved to support the government’s $150,000 relief grant for persons earning a living at sea. Back in May of this year, President, Dr Irfaan Ali announced a one-off $150,000 relief grant for fisherfolk earning a living at sea. This was intended to cushion the financial burden many fisherfolk were faced with given the decrease in catches over the past two years. The Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, in a Facebook post on Monday, announced that the verification process for the grant would come to a close on Friday. Persons who registered were advised to check the lists posted at the various landing sites and identified locations to ensure their names were on the list. The post also said that persons can also report names that were wrongfully listed for the grant to the Fisheries Department or the Fisheries Officer from the various regions. (Ministry of Agriculture)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Over $600M in contracts signed to further advance ‘agri’ sector

SEVERAL agencies that form part of the Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday signed 13 contracts totalling some $610 million. Representatives from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), and the Agriculture Sector Development Unit’s Sustainable Agricultural Development Project (ASDU-SADP), joined Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in the ministry’s main boardroom for the simple exercise which saw contracts being signed for the supply and delivery of several critical pieces of vehicles and equipment, as well as for the construction and rehabilitation of vital infrastructure. While offering remarks, Minister Mustapha said the ministry has been constantly signing contracts to ensure the effective execution of its responsibilities to deliver quality services to Guyanese. As it relates to contracts signed by GuySuCo, Minister Mustapha said that works expected to be carried out within the coming weeks will contribute to the recapitalisation and modernisation of the industry. “Yesterday, we went to Parliament, and the Ministry of Finance saw it fit to give us additional funds to execute programmes within this ministry. We have GuySuCo, and over the last few months, there have been a lot of eyes on this agency. This is one of the most important agencies for us, in terms of employment, in addition to its primary role in the production of sugar,” Minister Mustapha said, adding: “Our goal is to ensure these works that will be executed over the next few weeks will contribute to the recapitalisation and modernisation of the industry, so that GuySuCo can move

closer to that break-even mark, and then, later on, become profitable.” GuySuCo signed two contracts with General Engineering Limited, valued at $295,000,000 for the supply and delivery of mobile drainage pumps. The Corporation also signed contracts with General Equipment Guyana Limited totalling $25,947,380 for the supply and delivery of eight 20ft flat-bottom aluminum boats with engines; Garnet Engineers totalling $45,177,244 for the supply and delivery of materials to retube the boiler; M. Sukhai Contracting Services totalling $17,698,250 for the construction of 300m of light-duty revetment at the Uitvlugt Estate; and Yunas Civil and Building Construction totalling $43,281,200 for the rehabilitation of a cane gantry at the Rose Hall Estate. The GLDA signed contracts with Triple A. Construction Services totalling $24,113,100 for the construction of a swine facility with a semen processing area at Mon Repos; R. Persid Construction totalling $7,049,700 for the construction of a housing facility for broiler and black giant breeders; and J&A Lumber Yard & Contracting Services totalling $3,066,250 for the construction of support for an autoclave at the agency’s veterinary laboratory. Contracts were also signed with Beharry Automotive Limited, Marics and Company and Farm Supplies Limited for the supply and delivery of several motorcycles, ATVs, boats and engines; and a pick up, all totalling in excess of $80 million to support the ministry’s Agriculture Sector Development Unit’s Sustainable Agricultural Development Project. (Ministry of Agriculture)

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha with the contractors and relevant Ministry of Agriculture agency heads (Ministry of Agriculture photo)

Acorn International to lead EIA for EEPGL’s fifth project in Guyana

ACORN International, a worldwide environmental and risk management consultancy with offices in Boston and Houston, on Tuesday, announced that it was selected to perform an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and lead the public consultation programme for the Uaru Project. Uaru is the fifth offshore development project in Guyana of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), an affiliate of ExxonMobil, a release said. The release noted that

the proposed project, located in the eastern portion of the Stabroek Block, is approximately 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Georgetown. Production is planned to begin at the end of 20262027. “Acorn International is proud that our team was selected to lead the EIA and public consultation programme for the Uaru Project,” said President, Dean

Slocum. He added: “We look forward to bringing our team’s deep experience in initiating a robust public consultation programme to build awareness of this important project and actively engage all parties who may be affected.” The company has conducted EIAs and facilitated public consultation programmes for many of the world’s largest energy-related projects and companies, as well as global mining/ resource projects and corporations. “One of Acorn Interna-

tional’s many strengths is its ability to work in partnership with qualified host-country teams and provide structured tools and coordination to rapidly build capacity onsite. The company has become a leader in helping energy and mining industries deliver socially responsible solutions in the fast-moving energy transition to ensure their renewables, green energy and green metals development programs meet growing demands for a ‘just transition’,” the release said

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

US donates 52,800 Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccines to Guyana THE US has announced a shipment of 52,800 Pfizer pediatric vaccines to Guyana, bringing the total number of vaccines donated to Guyana to 354,660. The good gesture by the US is part of the COVID-19 Global Action Plan to increase COVID-19 vaccinations around the world, end the acute phase of the pandemic and strengthen global health security. The pediatric doses, donated through COVAX are intended for children ages 5–11 and will further strengthen Guyana’s National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. This shipment would not be possible without the partnership of the Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organisation, a release from the US Embassy said. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines and help save lives,” said Chargé d’Affaires, Adrienne Galanek in handing over the donation. The US has already provided more than 550 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to more than 115 countries, part of a commitment to donate 1.2 billion doses worldwide, the US said.

‘Indigenous women ground –– Minister Sukhai says their communities’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

THE Ministry of Amerindian Affairs on Tuesday launched Amerindian Heritage Month at a special ceremony hosted at the Umana Yana, here in Georgetown during the celebration of International Day of World Indigenous Peoples. This year, the activities for Amerindian Heritage Month commence on August 31 with an Amerindian religious service at the Umana Yana. On September 1, there will be an Amerindian Heritage Cultural Extravaganza at the National Stadium, at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The activities will continue throughout the month, and close with the Amerindian Heritage Games at the Everest Ground, in Georgetown from October 7 – 9. According to Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, this year’s celebration will once again be a unique display of Amerindian tradition and culture. “September month will bring a whole package of what the Amerindian traditional knowledge is about, and what our tradition and custom is like. “We will be able to introduce to this country our unique dances, music, food and treasure the way we live as one,” the Minister said. Some of the Amerindian cultural displays were on show on Tuesday at the International Day of World Indigenous Peoples event. International Day of World Indigenous Peoples is celebrated annually on August 9, as the date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Indigenous Populations. On this day, people from around the world are encouraged to spread the UN’s message on the protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. This year, the global observance is being held under the theme, “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge”. In celebration of this

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai event, five local indigenous women were honoured during the ceremony. The women are National Communications Network (NCN) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Michella Abraham-Ali; Member of Parliament Sarah Browne Shadeek; Gloria Rosemary; Loraine Pierre; and Dr. Latoya Nadia Outridge. Delivering the feature address at the event, Minister Sukhai underscored the role of indigenous women in their families, communities, and the country. “It is the women in the indigenous families that are the foundation of the family. It is the women who take the place of the farmer, the chief, the

housekeepers, and nannies. “They also hold jobs; they take care of the household. Indigenous women have played a keen role in where our families are, and where our children are today,” the Minister said. Noting that it is the women in indigenous communities that are leaders of cultural groups, the Minister pointed out that the women, therefore, play an important role in the preservation of the indigenous culture. “Their role is so intertwined deeply and strongly in what indigenous culture is about, they need to be recognised for that aspect,” Minister Sukhai said. Further, the Amerindian Affairs Minister said the Amerindian community is a treasured part of the government’s ‘One Guyana’ agenda, and called on Indigenous Peoples to never be ashamed; to be champions for themselves, and to spread knowledge of their culture and traditions. “We should never be ashamed of our identity; we should never be ashamed of where we’ve come from, or where we’ve been, or where we are today. We are as equal in this country as anyone; we have to stand up for ourselves; there is no one that is going to do it for us,” the Minister said. (TG)

The calendar of activities for Amerindian Heritage Month 2022

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

East Canje ‘alive again’ as Rose Hall Estate 58 per cent complete

REITERATING the government’s steadfast commitment to reopening the Rose Hall Estate, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has noted that the works on the factory are moving apace, with some 58 per cent of the works already completed. In addition to work on the factory, other tasks on the estate’s surrounding infrastructure are also moving apace. Some 582 acres of the land have already been tilled, and 692 out of 1,038 employees have been re-employed by the estate. “Rose Hall Estate will be open; that is a commitment of this PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) government,” Minister Mustapha declared to the National Assembly on Monday. The Minister was at the time responding to questions about the additional money being sought for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as part of the $44.7 billion supplementary funding that the government was seeking from the legislature. The supplementary budget, Financial Paper No. 1 of 2022, includes $2 billion for GuySuco’s operational expenses, and another $1.431 billion in additional resources for capital expenses. Minister Mustapha explained that the investment of the monies is part of a recapitalisation plan in the government’s agenda to return the sugar industry to viability, given the socio-economic benefits that the estates provide. According to the Minister, the effects of this is being seen in the revitalisation of the communities around the estate. “Many persons in this country would have realised and would have known that that area was made a ghost town; the entire village economy in East Canje came to a halt. And as a result of that, many persons have to leave the area. Now we’re seeing life once again in the area we are seeing economic activities under this government,” Minister Mustapha said. The Minister explained that the investment in GuySuCo is necessary, given the dire, rundown state in which the industry was found when the PPP/C government took office in 2020. Under the APNU+AFC administration, some 7,000 persons were placed on the breadline when the Wales, Rose Hall, East Demerara (Enmore) and Skeldon Estates were closed. During the election campaign, the current administration, led by President Dr. Irfaan Ali committed to bringing sugar back to viability. The Rose Hall Estate has a targeted 2023 start date for grinding to commence. Due to the closure, the once bustling Canje area, where the Rose Hall Estate is located, was reduced to a ghost town, and is only now slowly returning to some level of economic activity, with the re-employment of a number of persons. With the opening date for the estate fast approaching, the numbers that are employed are expected to continue to grow. Many hope the community can be returned to its former glory days. (Tamica Garnett)

Guyana Marriott Hotel: Excellence in local hospitality

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

By Shari Simon

FROM the luxurious accommodations, unique culinary experiences and incredible blend of music and people to an enthralling ambience, the Guyana Marriott Hotel is the premier choice for impeccable and unforgettable hotel service. Since its establishment seven years ago, the Guyana Marriott Hotel has provided a wide range of services grounded in the hospitality and tourism sectors to people from diverse destinations that span Guyana, the Caribbean, Central America, the United States, Canada, European Union and United Kingdom. The hotel features elegant interior décor ensemble in a variety of colours such as beige, gold, white, red and black. The outdoors offers a breath of beauty, marked by perfectly trimmed plants, stunning architectural structures and plenty of space to engage in business activities or to simply unwind. “Marriott Guyana is an amazing property,” said Company General Manager Eduardo Reple. In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Reple said that the Guyana Marriott is the first full-service hotel in the country to operate by international standards in the delivery of its world-class hospitality services. Over time, due to the rapid growth of Guyana’s economy, including the oil-and-gas sector, this contributed to the hotel’s advanced business operations, enhanced brand recognition as well as opportunities for large-scale development in the country. “When this project was conceived, the oil- and-gas industry did not exist; it was a vision that the former President at the time, now Vice-President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo had to put a hotel here, and I think he is really a visionary, because the hotel is a success,” Reple said. Moreover, he indicated that the Guyana Marriott Hotel, located in Kingston, Georgetown, is a part of the Marriott International premium brand.

Eduardo Reple, General Manager of the Guyana Marriott Hotel

Aerial view of the Guyana Marriott Hotel at Kingston, Georgetown

Participants during the recent launch of the Food and Beverage Academy (Samuel Maughn photos) Currently, Marriott International operates 8,000 hotels in 139 countries with 32 different brands. Within the Caribbean and Latin America region, there are over 300 hotels, with an additional 100 hotels under construction. Additionally, there are three ongoing projects in Guyana that include the: AC Marriott Hotel at Ogle, Courtyard Marriott Hotel at Timehri, and Four Points by Sheraton–Marriott Hotel at Providence. Reple disclosed that the hotel chain to date has gained 170 million members as the leading lodging company worldwide, and it boasts one of the largest loyalty programmes. He related that the Guyana Marriott Hotel has close to 200 rooms that allow guests to experience person-

alised services. These rooms include: One presidential suite, four junior suites, 10,600 square feet of banquet and meeting space, the Terra Mare Restaurant, Caribe Bar, Kaie Sushi and Tapas Bar & Lounge, room service, pool area, fitness centre, business centre, club lounge and parking capacity for 200 vehicles. Furthermore, the hotel has a dedicated and innovative team of associates led by Reple that comprises both Guyanese and foreign experts. These experts ardently execute hotel management and maintenance responsibilities to consistently meet and exceed guest needs. STALWART LEADERSHIP Reple drives the hotel’s fast-paced growth in the

evolving business community with 47 years of knowledge and expertise which he amassed from working in a range of professional capacities within the hospitality and tourism sectors across the world. He revealed that his passion to truly build a lifelong career in the sector began after he became employed at the Hilton property in São Paulo, Brazil. At the time, Hilton was the first international hotel chain in Brazil. Reple’s career journey to develop varied skills saw him progressing in several areas and industries, including working at the front desk, room divisions, sales and marketing, and food and beverage. “I started moving around in different properties. I moved around to different countries as well,” he noted.

Eventually, Reple returned to Brazil once more and joined another dynamic team to open a hotel called “Renaissance” in São Paulo. Afterwards, Marriott International purchased the hotel chain. Reple went on to work in cities such as São Paulo and Rio in Brazil as well as countries like the Dominican Republic and Curaçao, to name a few. Today, he has also garnered a 20-year tenure as a general manager, and uses his wealth of expertise to catapult the Guyana Marriott Hotel’s growth. Experience of a Lifetime Meanwhile, Reple noted that the hotel constantly aims to enhance the ‘art of hosting’ by finding strategic ways to shape rewarding and memorable guest experiences from the delivery of quality

services that align to the hotel’s brand. “It’s all about experience,” he remarked. It strives to make a positive impact on its guests and team of associates by investing vital resources into training, skills development and empowerment initiatives to benefit the team. Among its recent training initiatives, the hotel launched a ‘Food and Beverage Academy’ to improve the team’s food and beverage preparation skills, and completed the electrician certification training course for its engineering team. Although the COVID-19 pandemic posed several challenges that the hotel had to combat, it was also provided with opportunities to re-evaluate existing gaps and consider solutions to maintain competitive advantage. Presently, the hotel is transforming its luxury space to unveil a series of new menu items as well as run a maintenance programme to modify the spaces within the hotel. Undoubtedly, the Guyana Marriott Hotel has carved a niche in the country’s hospitality and tourism sectors as the perfect place to meet and connect with family, friends and associates regardless of the occasion. With increased investments to propel the oil and gas sector, the Guyana Marriott Hotel continues to provide delicious meals and excellent service as it builds a stellar reputation rooted in its philosophy to always ‘put people first.’

Indigenous Peoples ge for role in Guyana’s sus

VISITING young people from St Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri Village), on Tuesday, met President Irfaan Ali at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown as Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing International Day of the World’s Indige-

nous Peoples. President Ali, according to a social media post from his office, praised the Indigenous Peoples for their critical roles in Guyana’s development and sustainability agendas. Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai was also present during the interaction.

The group of young people was accompanied by their village’s Toshao Timothy Andrews, and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lenox Shuman. During the engagement, President Ali reminded that his government is working assiduously to make the necessary investments to improve

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

the lives of Indigenous Peoples through improvements in social services, infrastructure, health and education, among other areas. Dr Ali further praised the community’s drive, rich culture and history, even plugging the potential for food security and technological advancements.

et Executive ‘thank you’ stainable development GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 10, 2022

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday August 10, 2022

Schoolboys tournament... (From back page) of the fact that it is tailored, points to, and is aimed at developing the nursery of the sport. The nursery of course is our most important,” Ninvalle further added. The GBA has shortlisted 30 young fighters for the regional championship, with possible national representatives from Vergenoegen Boxing Gym, Young Achievers, Forgotten Youth Foundation, Pace and Power and Rose Hall Jammers Boxing Gym. Vergenoegen will be represented by Glaston Winter, Jemuel Jones, Keyon Britton, Markel Blue, Garvel Hyman and Jevon Anthony, while the Pace and Power Boxing Gym participants are Stephon Clarence and Tofina Barker. Similarly, Young Achievers representation will come in the form of Ceafa Chris, Ezekiel Bancroft, Shamaria Isaacs, Kendel Domonic and Eon Bancroft Jr, with Forgotten Youth Foundation being represented by Tequan Sampson, Chance Niles, Shaquian James, Josiah McPherson, Seon Graham, Dwane Baptiste, and Yusdiel Gala. Ross Hall Jammers’ participation will occur in the form of Roopesh Balgobin, Jadon Lewis, Isaiah Nurse, Shawn Sabola, Travis Sancho, Matthew Thomas, Joshua Thambarain, Arlington Johnson, Jahuan Haniff and Akhan English. In preparation for the upcoming event Ninvalle had implemented a system whereby there

was an Under-16 competition held every two weeks. The GBA has also contracted Cuban coach Francisco Roldan to assist in whipping the squad into shape. Meanwhile, the coaches and instructors are: Lennox Daniels, Francisco Roldan, Sebert Blake, Gregory Cort and Clifton Moore. Ninvalle disclosed, The coaching staff will soon select the national team which will go into encampment. It is a very exciting time regardless of how many overseas participants we get. It’s an exciting time for boxing because the nurseries have been injected with some vigour, vitality and some much needed international competition. Trinidad and Tobago will send the largest overseas contingent. They have nine and they will be followed by The Bahamas. Once we get all the COVID-19 entry requirements met, then we are off to have a very good tournament for want of better words. It is a much-needed international competition for the Caribbean.” According to the GBA boss, the importance of the championship cannot be overstated, as it provides an avenue, and opportunity for Caribbean territories to assess the quality of their respective nurseries. He elucidated, “It’s the only one of its kind. This nursery tournament in CARICOM was first held in Guyana in 2016. The Caribbean had no way of assessing

where its nursery was. We (The Caribbean) didn’t have any U-16, schoolboy or junior tournaments. So what was happening was that all of our Caribbean countries were having their nurseries operate individually, and there was no way of assessing where each country was as it relates to another nation. “So we thought it fit to do that, we took a break in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19 and now we are back even though, in my personal opinion, some were hoping that it wouldn’t return and will not support.” Ninvalle assured that the tournament will and must go on. “We are pushing ahead with it regardless, because Guyana sees the nursery of our sport of boxing as very important. That opinion is shared by one of our closest partners in Trinidad and Tobago and several others. “Mr Cecil Forde (president of Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association), Mr David Christopher (president of the St Lucia Boxing Association) Vincent Strachan (president of The Bahamas Boxing Association) and several other presidents in the Caribbean understand this. “We cannot afford to let this die, or we would be doing a great disservice to the sport and those who elected us. If we don’t have a strong and structured nursery, then how are we are going to get good senior fighters?” Ninvalle asked.

Fury has 'itchy feet' for return, unification talks with Usyk held FRANK Warren says world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has ‘itchy feet’ as he is hungry for another fight. Fury successfully defended his WBC heavyweight title with a sixthround knockout triumph of Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April in a bout that he claimed was the last of his illustrious career. The 33-year-old has remained insistent he will not return to the ring but the lure of a potential unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua, who will clash in Saudi Arabia on August 20, may be difficult to resist. Warren, Fury’s co-promoter, says the unbeaten Brit wants to get back in the ring and he believes it will happen. "He's got itchy feet at the moment, he wants to fight," he told TalkSPORT. "I think what's going to happen is see what happens on August 20 and the outcome of that and that'll

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury

determine what he intends to do in the future. "My opinion, this is not from him, it's from me. I think he will (return) because he's a fighting man and he misses it. That's what he does, he wants to fight." Speculation of a return to the ring for Fury was already ramped up by comments from Bob Arum, his other promoter, who revealed there have already been discussions with Usyk's camp regarding a uni-

fication bout. "I'm hoping (Oleksandr) Usyk wins because I've talked with his people and I think they would be anxious to fight Tyson Fury and I would hope to do that fight in December, maybe, or early next year," he told Barbershop Promotions. Fury has long been touted for a unification bout, but plans to face Joshua last year were scrapped when arbitration ruled he must honour his trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder. The Gypsy King subsequently beat the Bronze Bomber in a fight widely regarded as one of the best heavyweight bouts in recent memory, with both fighters hitting the canvas before Fury's stoppage in the 11th round. Any chance of an immediate showdown with Joshua was ended after his compatriot's defeat to Usyk in September, with Joshua activating his rematch clause to set up this month's bout in Saudi Arabia. (Sportsmax)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday August 10, 2022

Lisa Keightley to leave England women's head coach role this year ENGLAND women's cricket head coach, Lisa Keightley, will leave her role at the end of the summer. The Australian, 50, has been in the post since January 2020 and was the team's first full-time female head coach. She has told the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that she will not be seeking a contract extension. During her time in charge, England reached the semi-finals of the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 Women's World Cup.

Her last series will be September's visit of India. Keightley, who took over from Mark Robinson, played nine Tests and 82 one-day internationals for her country and was the first woman to score an ODI century at Lord's. Prior to taking the England job she was head coach of Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League in Australia. The ECB will now start the recruitment process for her replacement before February's T20 World Cup in

South Africa. "We are incredibly grateful for the commitment and passion Lisa has shown over the last two and a half years in the role," said ECB's director of women's cricket, Jonathan Finch. "We have seen increased competition for places over the last 12 months and the squad Lisa leaves is an exciting blend of youth and experience. "Leading an international team is challenging at the best of times. It is more challenging during a pandemic, Lisa Keightley represented Australia as a player before moving into coaching

and Lisa has been able to continue the development of the team during what has been the toughest period we have faced off the field." Interim ECB chief executive, Clare Connor, added: "Lisa was always a fierce opponent when she represented Australia, and she's brought that same pride, passion and will to win into everything she's done with the England team. "The team have enjoyed working with her immensely and I know they'll join me in wishing her all the very best for her next challenge." (BBC Sport)

Ireland clinch seven-wicket T20 victory in Belfast opener

Usman Ghani hit two sixes in his 59 from 42 balls on Tuesday

IRELAND earned their first win of the summer as they beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first T20 with George Dockrell hitting the winning runs from the penultimate ball. Usman Ghani top-scored for Afghanistan with 59 as they made 168-7 at Stormont. Irish captain Andrew Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker both hit half-centuries before the late drama in the sunshine. The hosts needed two from the final two balls and Dockrell smashed a boundary as Ireland totalled 171-3. Ireland's victory came after a run of defeats against India, New Zealand and South Africa.

Ireland came so close to wins over India and the Black Caps and they finally got over the line in the first of five T20s between the teams at the Belfast venue. Ghani and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (26) put on 34 for the first wicket and the tourists were in good shape at 111-2 before the wickets began to tumble. Barry McCarthy (3-34) dismissed both openers and spinner Dockrell took 2-7 as Ireland slowed the run rate. Ibrahim Zadran chipped in with an unbeaten 29 as Afghanistan set a competitive total for the Irish to chase. Balbirnie was in need of runs and he enjoyed a welcome return to form with

51 from 38 balls, including a maximum and five boundaries. Paul Stirling (31) joined him for an opening stand of 61 before Tucker came in to score his second half-century in three innings. Balbirnie holed out on 51 while Tucker needed just 32 balls to reach 50 before he was also caught in the deep. With the score 146-3 after 18 overs it was left to the in-form Harry Tector (25*) and Dockrell (10*) to see Ireland home. Thirteen was required off the final over from Naveen-ul-Haq and that was whittled down to just two required before Dockrell secured a long-awaited victory. (BBC Sport)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday August 10, 2022

Gobin slams another ton, Gittens continues fine form in Toronto … Hawaiian Sensation reach Over-40 semis TROY Gobin’s phenomenal run in the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-50 tournament continued last Saturday with the former Guyana Under-19 player hitting his second century of the 2022 season, as Pegasus Storm made light work of Dirty Dozen in their final-round, regular season clash at the St Bede ground in Toronto, Canada. The prolific Gobin, who shared an opening stand of 136 in 13 overs with Jito Narine, who blasted 78 off a mere 37 balls with three fours and eight sixes, spanked 11 fours and six sixes in his knock which came off 55 balls before retiring, as Pegasus Storm reached a commanding 230 for four in their allotted 20 overs. In response, Dirty Dozen were restricted to 145 for six in their 20 overs with skipper Colin Mohamid and Naresh Bodo top-scoring with 32 runs each. Nirad Lall and Orlando Deonarine claimed two for 19 and 27 respectively. Gobin’s innings also ensured he retained the title as the leading scorer in the Over-50 category after finishing at the top last year. He ended the regular season with 445 runs from nine matches with an average of 89.00 and a strike rate of 138.20, some 224 ahead of his teammate Narine, who finished on 221

Troy Gobin

Chien Gittens

with an average of 73.67 and a strike rate of 188.89. Ramblers Rampage’s Dennis Hansraj was third with 215 runs, averaging 53.75 with s strike rate of 116.2. With the regular season completed, attention has now turned to the playoffs which start on Saturday. Regular season champions Ramblers Rampage, who ended with 48 points and defending champions Toronto Blizzards (39) have drawn byes to the semi-finals. In Saturday’s quarter-final encounters, Pegasus Storm will oppose Remax All Stars while Friendship Masters battle Dirty Dozen. The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, August 20,

and the grand final the following Saturday, August 27. Meanwhile, another Guyanese, Chien Gittens, continues to make waves in both the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) and OMSCC tournaments, churning out impressive performances. Gittens, who was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the Over-40 category while representing Regal Masters in the South Florida tournament in March, singlehandedly led Canadian Legends to victory in the first round of the 15over knockout tournament, played at Ashtonbee Reservoir 2 last Saturday. The flamboyant righthander, who opened the batting in pursuit of Leguan Warriors’ 116 for six, made

Former Windies pacer Winston Benjamin reaches out to Sachin Tendulkar for donation FORMER West Indies bowler Winston Benjamin has reached out to Indian great Sachin Tendulkar to help fix grassroots cricket in the Caribbean through the donation of equipment. In a video on YouTube shared by veteran sports journalist Vimal Kumar on his channel, Benjamin says he has contacted well-known cricket figures in India to help the issue. Benjamin, who represented the West indies in 21 Tests and 81 ODIs between 1986

and 1995, says he doesn’t need financial donations; he is happy to receive something as simple as cricket bats or other equipment that he can help distribute to aspiring players in the area. “Previously, we used to have a tournament in Sharjah where it used to be like a benefit game for players from different countries. I don’t want benefits. All I want is for somebody to say ‘here is some equipment’ – 10-15 bats, that is good enough for me. I don’t want US$20

000s. I just want some equipment so that I can give back to youngsters. That’s all I am asking.” “Mr Tendulkar if you are in a position, could you assist me? Hit me up,” he said. “I would like to thank my good friend Mohammad Azharuddin. He sent me some equipment. Azhar, congratulations! And thank you so much for that assistance. Stay in touch. Anyone else who wants to contribute, feel free,” Benjamin added. (Sportsmax)

in their allotted overs, remained unbeaten on 72 when victory was achieved in 12 overs. He struck five fours and five sixes as Canadian Legends reached 118 for four. Earlier, another Guyanese, Krishna Deosarran spanked two fours and seven sixes in an entertaining knock of 66 not out but got little help from the Leguan Warriors top-order. Canadian Legends also won their second game on Sunday and will clash with Carr-Tec in the lone semi-final, set for Saturday. The winners meet unbeaten Mercenaries in Sunday’s final.

In a key final round match of the OMSCC Over40 Division One tournament, played at Mother Theresa Catholic School ground on Sunday, Hawaiian Sensation defeated archrivals Warriors by 28 runs to advance to the semi-finals and are likely to face the same opposition this coming Sunday. Taking first strike, Hawaiian Sensation reached a challenging 171 for eight with man-of-the-match Mohan Harihar hitting a topscore of 38. Harihar, who recently represented the West Indies Over-50 team in England, hit five fours and two sixes in his quick-

fire knock. Former Guyana National captain, Damodar Daesrath, supported with 30 (4x4, 2x6). Shadeek Khan and Andy Persaud claimed two for 19 and 27 respectively. Warriors, in reply, were restricted to 143 all out in 20 overs with 41 resulting from extras. Imran Ali took three for 26, Mahendranauth ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth two for 10 and Linden Persaud two for 23. Hawaiian Sensation were the Division Two champions in 2019 and lost to Warriors in the Division One semis last year. (Frederick Halley)

Fraser-Pryce runs another 10.67 to win in Hungary

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (right) powers to victory

SHELLY-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and Rasheed Broadbell scored impressive victories in their respective events at the 12th Gyulai Istav Memorial in Hungary on Monday. The 2022 World 100m champion has made running 10.6s a habit this year following yet another time of 10.67 at the meet where she ran 10.82 to finish second to Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2021. Back then Thompson-Herah won in a meet record of 10.71. The 35-year-old Fraser-Pryce eclipsed that record

after achieving her fifth time this year under 10.70 seconds having run 10.67 in Nairobi in May, 10.67 in Paris in June, 10.67 in Eugene in July and a world-leading 10.66 in Silesia on Saturday. No other woman in history has run as many times under 10.70s in any one season. The USA’s Tamari Davis finished second in 10.92 while Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji was third in 10.99. Yohan Blake (10.03) and Ackeem Blake (10.05) were fourth and fifth, respectively in the men’s 100m won by the USA’s Marvin Bracy in 9.97. Trayvon Bromell finished sec-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday August 10, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) IND 4; WI 1 (2) Arshdeep Singh (IND) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs for the WI in the recent T20 Int’l series against India? (2) Which Indian player compiled most runs? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ond in 10.01, the same time as Elijah Hall as 0.04 separated second to fifth. Jackson cruised to victory in the 200m in 22.02 finishing well clear of Kambundji at 22.45 and Kaylia Whyte of the USA, who was third in 22.46. Tynia Gaither of the Bahamas was fifth in 22.63. Erriyon Knighton won the men’s race in 19.88. Aaron Brown finished second in 20.24. Alexander Ogando was third in 20.46. Fresh off his Commonwealth Games 110m hurdles title that he won in a championship record of 13.08, Rasheed Broadbell came from behind to edge World Champion Grant Holloway at the line to win the event in 13.12. Holloway was given the same time while Daniel Roberts was third in 13.13. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the hurdles in a slightly windy 12.27 over Kendra Harrison at 12.49 and Nia Ali at 12.60. Commonwealth Games champion Janieve Russell clocked 54.14 for second place and Rushell Clayton finished third in 54.45 in the 400m hurdles race more than two seconds behind Olympic, World Champion and world-record holder Sydney McLaughlin, who established yet another meet record with her time of 51.68. (Sports Max)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday August 10, 2022

Jersey pile more misery on ‘unfit’ Bermuda JERSEY, Channel Islands, (CMC) – New coach Niraj Odedra has blamed a lack of player fitness after Bermuda slumped to the heaviest of their three defeats in Jersey on the final leg of at the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B tournament, going down by 206 runs to the hosts. Jersey piled up a mammoth 381 for five in their 50 overs after being sent in at the Grainville ground in St Saviour on Monday, and then restricted outclassed Bermuda to 175 for nine in reply. Odedra said there were positives his players could take away. “Small step towards improvement, batting all 50 overs,” he told Bermuda’s Royal Gazette newspaper afterwards. “Bowling, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. But we had back-to-back matches and our fitness level is down and very poor, so to get something out of players we need cricketers who are super fit.

“It’s something we need to look at seriously and what we need to work on in the off-season. “The overall vibe is still OK after three losses. But we need to do better by bowling sides out under 200 to win matches. That will only happen if we bowl the right line and length with lots of discipline.” Bermuda have conceded more than 300 runs in all three of their defeats in Jersey, losing to Italy by 185 runs in Thursday’s opener and by 119 runs against Hong Kong on Sunday. Monday’s defeat to Jersey was Bermuda’s 12th in 13 outings in Challenge League B with their only point coming from an abandoned match against Kenya in the first leg in Oman. They lost all five matches in the second leg in Uganda earlier this year. Openers Harrison Carlyon (72) and Nick Greenwood (64) laid the foundation for Jersey’s daunting total by putting on 136 for the first wicket before teenagers Asa Tribe

(101) and Josh Lawrenson (74) increased the punishment by adding 155 for the third wicket. Tribe also added 71 for the fourth wicket with Jonty Jenner, who fell for 49, bowled by captain Kamau Leverock, the pick of Bermuda’s bowlers with two for 81. In reply, Bermuda slumped to 55 for five in the 18th over, Leverock out for a first-ball duck and opener Terryn Fray run out for 26. The middle and lower order rallied with Dominic Sabir (30), Steven Bremar (20), Charles Trott (45) and Zeko Burgess (22) offering more resistance but only delaying the inevitable. Trott and Burgess compiled the biggest stand – 55 for the ninth wicket. Bermuda went to Jersey hoping to salvage some pride having already been eliminated from contention for the lone qualifying spot from the six-team league ahead of next year’s World Cup – a tournament they qualified for in 2007 in the Caribbean.

Africa to announce $100-million Super League plans today By Mark Gleeson JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - An African Super League is to be announced today by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Patrice Motsepe, with the promise of $100-million in prize money for clubs across the continent. The project has been in the pipeline since it was first

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suggested by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, in early 2020 and met with almost none of the derision and outrage that followed a similar attempt in Europe last year. Only the players' union in South Africa, in a statement this week, has criticised the plan, saying: Professional football in South Africa and Africa could be at risk if the resolution to commence the Super League is implemented 12:40 hrs Leonine 13:15 hrs Original Thinker 13:50 hrs Fashion Love 14:25 hrs Conflict 15:00 hrs Holiday 15:30 hrs Qeyaady Irish Racing Tips Gowan Park 11:20 hrs Zaniyka 11:50 hrs Out On Friday 12:20 hrs Lyrical Poetry 12:55 hrs Clounmacron 13:30 hrs Massaman 14:05 hrs Airgead 14:35 hrs Mullacash 15:10 hrs Inuit American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Bright Eyed Eagle Race 2 Drink The Wind Race 3 General Banker Race 4 Montank Daddy Race 5 Inflation Adjusted Race 6 Security Code Race 7 Just Say When

CAF president Patrice Motsepe

and there may be no return from the wreckage that a Super League can become. Motsepe has promised sponsorship and revenue returns previously unheard of for African football, where the annual Champions League winner earns $2.5M in prize money. He has claimed at several previous news conferences that the Super League will allow clubs to pay top talent wages to match those in Europe and therefore allow African teams to keep their best players.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday August 10, 2022

RHTYSC launches historic year-long Kiddies Cricket Academy … Massive investment at Under-12, female levels

WIDELY considered as Guyana’s most active and progressive youth, sports organisation, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC), last Saturday created another first when it launched a historic year-long Kiddies Cricket Academy, at the Area H Ground. The launching formed part of the club’s effort to secure its rich cricketing history. Formed in 1990 by three-time Commonwealth and Guyana youth awardee, the St Francis Community Developers, the RHTYSC MS has won over 100 cricket titles and produced 120 players for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the idea for the Kiddies Academy came to management during the recent successful hosting of RHTYSC/Bakewell/Busta Cricket Academy which attracted a record 135 youths between the ages of eight and 18 years. Close to 35 kids between eight and twelve years old were present at that acad-

RHTYSC cricket coaches pose with members of the Kiddies Academy

emy and management decided that in order to keep them interested, a Kiddies Academy would be set up. The academy would be held every Saturday for four hours under the supervision of three coaches - Delbert Hicks, Ryan Algu and Davindra Ramdihal. The main objectives of the year-long project would be: to teach the kids the basics of batting and

bowling; the importance of discipline and hard work; fielding positions; history and traditions of the game; and to correct any technical problems. The academy for this batch of players would last until July next year when the club hosts its 2023 Cricket Academy and another set of kids would start training. Foster disclosed that the RHTYSC has obtained

all the necessary coaching equipment for the academy including kiddies bats, stumps, balls and practice nets. Additionally the club would be investing in educational material for classroom work. The academy would also feature an incentive package, where outstanding players would receive cricket uniforms, cricket gear, bicycles, electric tab-

lets, educational grants and household items, among others. RHTYSC Organising Secretary/Cricket Manager, Ravindranauth Kissoonlall, also stated that several trips to different clubs across Guyana would be organised to expose the kids to different conditions. Senior players of the club, including Kevin Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson,

Junior Sinclair, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Shakabi Gajnabi and Shawn Perreira would also drop in at the academy on a regular basis for inspirational sessions with the kids. The academy started with 30 kids, including six females, and is expected to grow to about 60 by the end of August as the club reviews numerous applications from parents.

Serena Williams says she’s walking away from tennis ALL-TIME tennis great Serena Williams yesterday said she's walking away from the sport after the U.S. Open, writing that she's in the midst of a "transition" from the court. In an essay posted by Vogue, Williams said she has "never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me." However, she said in no uncertain terms that she's about to leave the sport she's dominated for decades. "I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis,

toward other things that are important to me," she added. The winner of 23 major singles titles, Williams said she "wasn't ready to win Wimbledon" this year. "And I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York," she said, a reference to the U.S. Open. "But I’m going to try. And the leadup tournaments will be fun." In an Instagram post, Williams added: “The countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks.” Williams, who has a 4-year-old daughter, hinted that she wants to grow her family - while also bemoaning the societal pressures heaped on women.

Serena Williams, of the U.S., eyes the ball during her women's singles semi-final match against Sara Errani of Italy at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris June 6, 2013. Williams defeated Errani 6-0 6-1. (REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File photo)

Female athletes don't get the chance to be like quarterback Tom Brady, who just turned 45 and is still an elite player, according to Williams.

"Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair," she wrote. "If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this be-

cause I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labour of expanding our family. Maybe I’d be more of a Tom Brady if I had that opportunity." She added: "But I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give." Williams wrote that she leaned on the advice of her friend and all-time golf great Tiger Woods before coming to this decision. "He said, 'Serena, what if you just gave it two weeks? You don’t have to commit to anything. You just go out on the court every day for two weeks and give it your all and see what happens'. " she wrote. Williams insisted she's never been much for imagining how history books will reflect on her career. "I don’t particularly like

to think about my legacy," the tennis icon penned. "I get asked about it a lot, and I never know exactly what to say. But I’d like to think that thanks to opportunities afforded to me, women athletes feel that they can be themselves on the court. They can play with aggression and pump their fists. They can be strong yet beautiful." Williams' last Grand Slam singles title came at the 2017 Australian Open, when she bested her trailblazing older sister Venus Williams, who has won seven major singles titles. Serena Williams' essay dropped a day after she won a match for the first time this year, beating Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 6-3, 6-4 at the women’s National Bank Open in Toronto. (NBC Sports)

Guyana Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle

President of Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association Cecil Forde

LABELLING the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean School Boys and Junior tournament as the most important within the CARICOM jurisdiction, Steve Ninvalle, president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), and architect of the event, dis-

closed that the prestigious championship will now be staged from August 26-28 at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue. This was confirmed during an exclusive interview yesterday. Ninvalle disclosed that the com-

Schoolboys tournament too important to fail - Ninvalle

petition, named after Guyana’s 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, has been rescheduled from its initial period of August 19-21 in order to allow participating countries to meet Guyana’s COVID-19 entry requirements. He explained, “This will be

the 5th edition of the Caribbean School Boys and Junior tournament. It was scheduled for August 19-21 but we had to push it back by one week because we are trying to make sure that the overseas participants can meet Guyana’s COVID-19 entry requirements.

We have confirmation from Trinidad, The Bahamas and St Lucia and we expect Sint Maarten and Grenada also to be a part.” “It is one of the most, if not most important competition that the Caribbean will have, simply because TURN TO PAGE 31 ►

Former ICC umpire Rudi Koertzen Guyana beat Burundi, Timor-Leste in Round 10 dies in car crash aged 73 of Chess Olympiad

DISTINGUISHED ICC umpire Rudi Koertzen has died, aged 73, in a car crash near Riversdale, a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. A notable figure in the game with his unique slow-motion style of adjudicating a batter out, Koertzen officiated in 127 Tests, 108 of which he stood as one of the two on-field umpires. He is one of only three umpires to have stood in over 100 Test matches. He also officiated in 250 ODIs, 19 T20Is and 1 WT20I in a career spanning 18 years. He made his officiating debut on the international circuit during India's tour of South Africa in 1992, incidentally the first series in which television replays were used to rule run-out decisions. He became a fulltime umpire with the ICC in 1997 and was elevated to the Elite panel in 2002.

Rudi Koertzen officiated in 127 Test matches (Getty)

He served as the third umpire for the final of the 2007 World Cup in Barbados between Australia and Sri Lanka, a game marred by a farcical finish in fading light after the officials had originally asked teams to return the following day to play the remaining 18 balls of the game with Sri Lanka down to their tail-enders and needing

63 runs. Koertzen was among the five officials suspended for the inaugural T20 World Cup later that year in his home country. Koertzen bowed out of officiating duties in 2010, aged 61. His final assignment was the Leeds Test match between Pakistan and Australia. (Cricbuzz)

GUYANA’S Open team got past the East African nation of Burundi, while the Women’s team got the better of the southeast nation of Timor-Leste on Monday, during Round 10 of the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India. The Open team, comprising Candidate Master Taffin Khan, FIDE Master Anthony Drayton, Loris Nathoo and Ethan Lee, scored 2.5 points against Burundi's 1.5 to win the round. Drayton defeated Joe Guyana's Women’s team battling in Rukundo, while the remainthe 10th Round (Khushal Lam photo) ing three team members all drew their matches. CM Taffin Khan drew with Dieudonne Muheto (1830 second win of the tournament when she batrating points); Nathoo with Hugues Mutaba- tled against Timor-Leste’s Zulmira Tilman zi (1666) and Lee with Havyarimana Elvis (1255). Callender also won her game against Maria do Ceu Gusmao (1442). Both players (1724). According to information from the feder- have improved rating points from these vication, team members will all rack up rating tories. Young Anaya Lall missed her chance at points from their Burundi opponents. winning against her Timor-Leste counterpart Meanwhile, the Women’s team, comElfiana Dos Santos (1560) and instead drew prising Anaya Lall, Jessica Callender, Sasha Shariff and Pooja Lam, also scored 2.5 points her game earning her half of a point. The final round was scheduled for yescompared to their opponents' 1.5 to win their terday with the Open team against Haiti round. and the Women’s team against Libya. Lam, whose rating is 1163, scored her

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022