Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 12-01-2022

WEDNESAY 12th JANUARY, 2022

No. 106602

PM: Event planners could face penalties for breaching COVID-19 protocols

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Additional measures being examined to tackle rising commodity prices

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- as gov’t seeks to cushion internal, external shocks with Budget 2022

World Bank predicts massive economic growth for Guyana New ‘youth agri’ initiative could reduce food import bill SEE PAGE

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President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, presents Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, QC, with a painting dubbed “Ruler of the Jungle.” The Dillion Craig piece captures Guyana’s largest bird of prey, the Harpy Eagle; and the national animal - the mighty jaguar (Office of the President photo)

Lowenfield’s assistant dismissed for alleged tampering SEE PAGE

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Resilient rice sector earns $42.2B in 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 12, 2022

Partnerships vital to generation of renewable energy - President Ali says at official handing over of CARICOM Secretariat solar system

TWO years after the sod was turned for its construction, the US$17.8 million 400 kilowatt (KW) photovoltaic power generation system at the CARICOM Secretariat was officially handed over

by President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday.

The project, which saw more than 1,500 solar panels being installed, is part of a wider initiative called ‘The Introduction of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation System in Guyana and CARICOM’, being financed by the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and marks a milestone in the relationship between Japan and the Caribbean Community.

Delivering the keynote address at the handing-over ceremony, President Ali underscored the importance of partnerships, particularly in the area of expanding renewable energy sources in developing regions such as the Caribbean.

“As we celebrate the completion of this project,

President Dr. Irfaan Ali signs the official handing over certificate for the solar photovoltaic power generation system in the presence of CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett it is important for us to recognise the value for partnerships. In this region, we greatly value partnership; we take very seriously our relationship with our friends,

and our commitment to the global community in whatever we do,” President Ali said.

The Head of State noted that the project also demon-

strates the region’s seriousness and commitment to renewable energy, and the transition to safer forms of energy.

With this project, the

CARICOM Secretariat will now be fully powered by solar energy.

The President also highlighted the commitment of CARICOM member states to

New ‘youth agri’ initiative could reduce food import bill - as project targets three high-value crops

President Dr. Irfaan Ali launched the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in the presence of other senior government officials, on Tuesday (Office of the President photo)

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday, officially launched the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme, a flagship initiative which, he said, will stimulate and promote significant economic growth among young agriculturists.

The massive project, the Head of State related, will see the construction of 25 shade houses for the cultivation of three high value crops; carrot, broccoli and cauliflower.

In 2018, the import value

for carrot, broccoli and cauliflower was $1.583 billion, while in 2019 and 2021 the import value stood at $2.626 billion and $1.962 billion, respectively. This large sum of money could be spent right here, President Ali said.

The project targets former and current students of the University of Guyana (UG), the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), and other budding agricultural entrepreneurs.

“You are part of the future. What we are creating TURN TO PAGE 3

put in place strategies, and a framework to maximise the implementation and use of sustainable energy sources.

“This is a demonstration to the region and global community of our seriousness and commitment in doing our part in addressing climate change and transitioning. With the natural gift that the region has comes opportunities for us to exploit these natural attributes; ensuring we are in line with our global commitment to utilise the resource we get from the sun to generate energy is a cornerstone of our energy strategy,” the President said.

President Ali was joined at the event by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd; and CARICOM SecretaryGeneral Dr. Carla Barnett.

Also present were JICA Chief Representative to the Caribbean Hiroyasu Tonokawa, and Ambassador of Japan to Guyana and CARICOM Tatsuo Hirayama.

The Government of Japan was first approached by the Secretariat for funding for the project in 2014, at a time when it was facing massive energy costs, using 1.6 million kwh of electricity at the rate US$0.30 per KWH. The bill for that year was nearly US$500,000.

This situation was deemed unsustainable; a catalyst for the determination to improve the design of the energy system.

The system also includes a 416kwh battery storage and power conditioning for energy storage and power quality regulation, and an advanced building energy management system to, among other things, provide air conditioning controls, track energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

GUYANA CHRONICLE

Wednesday January 12, 2022

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Additional measures being examined to tackle rising commodity prices - as gov’t seeks to cushion internal, external shocks with Budget 2022

By Tamica Garnett IN preparing Budget 2022, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that his government is examining further measures that could be implemented to address the effects of rising commodity prices on households, and, by extension, the entire economy.

President Ali, in an invited comment on the sidelines of an event at the CARICOM Secretariat on Tuesday said that the issue of increasing prices is not unique to Guyana, as countries the world over have been contending with high levels of inflation because of various reasons.

“The price of a lot of these things is linked to what

is happening internationally. We import inflation, we import increases in fuel prices, we import increases in fertiliser prices, we import increases in agro-chemicals, pesticides and everything,” President Ali related.

Cognisant of the challenges which Guyanese are facing because of increasing prices, the government is actively examining ways to mitigate the impact of the global situation. “[Even though] we are importing this [inflation] to a large extent, we intend to address that, and we are now working on the budget, and we are examining different initiatives and measures that we can further add to the menu of measures that we have already announced to

deal with the issue,” President Ali said.

Over the past year, the government has rolled out a slew of welfare measures geared at not only mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crises, but also addressing challenges created by severe flooding across the country.

One of the first measures introduced by the government was the $25,000 cash grant to every household across the country, which resulted in over $7.5 billion being distributed to families across all ten administrative regions.

Further, all public sector employees also received a one-off $25,000 grant each in December 2020, totaling $2 billion. Frontline work-

New ‘youth agri’ initiative could...

FROM PAGE 2 here is people who will be a part of the transformative agenda, the future of the country and we are going to support this,” Dr. Ali said during an opening ceremony for the project held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

In the first phase of this initiative, a company named “One Guyana” will be established and managed by the young agriculturists.

The government plans to provide all the materials to begin construction of the shade houses.

Additionally, investments will be given through the private sector, while support will be provided by the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service, among other stakeholders.

“We are putting every single person to productive use. So, all of them would help us in terms of the labour and establishing the shade house and infrastructure,” Dr. Ali said.

The visionary Guyanese Leader pointed out that the project is not an experiment, since the crops are already growing in Guyana’s soil.

He said the consumption pattern of Guyanese shows that the three products are necessary. Also, based on assessments, with the tourism boost and influx of visitors,

there is economic indication that those types of foods are in demand.

“We are also going to link into the regional food security system. The regional food security system is even more important. We are the agriculture seat of the region and we have to lead by example.

“Whilst we are working on one hand to expand local production in the local market, we are already eliminating the barriers to the regional markets so we can expand this progressively, until we are able to reach into the regional market,” the Head of State added.

He went on to say: “You are talking here about a business that could generate in a net sense using these three crops, about $60 million to $70 million annually. That’s for the 25 shade houses that we want to do and this is just phase one, we are going to expand this,” Dr. Ali said.

The Head of State has, on many occasions, expressed his willingness and commitment to work with the nation’s young minds, rallying with them along the journey to prosperity and creating opportunities to ensure they inherit a better Guyana.

“Young people must feel empowered. You see the resources from oil and gas

give us this opportunity, to open up opportunities in these areas and this is where the real benefit will be, this is where Guyanese will benefit the most, these opportunities, creating it and giving you the ownership,” the President posited.

He said young people are the custodians of Guyana’s tomorrow and their spirit of inclusiveness and selflessness are pivotal in taking the country forward.

This is what the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration will embrace, the President said.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, told the young people that he is certain that this initiative will transform their lives.

Also present at the launch of the project were Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh; Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.; Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton; Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn. (DPI)

ers in the health sector, and members of the Joint Services also received year-end bonuses totalling over $1 billion in December 2020.

The monthly old-age pension was increased from $20,500 to $25,000, amounting to a total annual benefit of $4 billion to the elderly. And the government also increased public assistance by 33 per cent, from $9,000 to $12,000, handing over an additional $500 million in annual benefits.

In August 2021, the government introduced a one-off $25,000 grant for old-age pensioners, public assistance recipients, and persons living with disabilities; this initiative benefited some 90,000 persons and valued $2.2 billion. The government also purchased $200 million in electricity credits for the most vulnerable households.

Additionally, the Because We Care cash grant, which was discontinued by the former ‘Coalition’ administration, was reinstituted by the incumbent, and increased to $19,000.

This programme was also extended to private school children.

“We have been highlighted by most international

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

reports for the strong steps we took to ensure that there was not a full pass on the impact on people’s pockets and households,” President Ali said.

To this end, the government spent over $7.8 billion to assist persons who were severely affected by the May/June rains last year, while another $1.5 billion was spent on emergency drainage and irrigation works.

The government’s in-

terventions saw over $9.3 billion being expended to assist more than 50,000 households in some 300 communities across the nation.

In December 2021, the government announced an across-the-board retroactive salary increase of seven per cent for all public servants, while workers in the health sector and the Joint Services enjoyed an additional incentive in the form of a tax-free bonus.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 12, 2022

World Bank predicts massive economic growth for Guyana - says regional forecast weaker without this nation’s input

AT a time when the global economy is plagued with myriad uncertainties, Guyana remains one of the fastest growing nations in the world, with an economy that is projected to expand by a massive 49.7 per cent this year, according to the latest edition of the World Bank’s “Global Economic Prospects”.

The report, issued on Tuesday, indicates a significant improvement from the one released in June 2021, which estimated Guyana’s growth at a mere 23.7 per cent.

This means that within the last few months, Guyana’s economic potential has doubled, as measured by the country’s Gross Domestic

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Product (GDP).

Based on the World Bank report, Guyana is the only country in Latin America and the Caribbean which is expected to record doubledigit growth this year. Coming a close second is St. Lucia, which is expected to record economic growth of 9.6 per cent.

Even further, the January 2022 report now estimates a 2023 growth of some 25 per cent for Guyana, as opposed to the previously predicted 23 per cent. And, even this projection could very well be revised in the coming months.

Meanwhile, economic growth in the wider Caribbean is estimated to reach 7.3 per cent this year, and

Guyana is the only country in the Latin America and Caribbean region that is likely to see double-digit economic growth this year (Girendra Persaud photo) 5.9 per cent in 2023. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean good news for the region, since, according to the report, those improvements reflect a large contribution from Guyana.

“The small states sample excludes commodity-reliant Guyana, which is experienc-

ing a growth boom due to rapid offshore oil industry development,” the World Bank notes in its report.

It related, too, that excluding Guyana’s growth predictions from the Caribbean would make the projections substantially weaker, at 4.6 per cent in 2022 and 4.2 per cent in 2023.

This is due largely to the fact that the majority of Caribbean countries are reliant on their respective tourism industries, which have taken significant hits due to the continuous spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the global

pandemic it has triggered.

The report informs that the durability of economic recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean, as elsewhere, is contingent on control of the pandemic.

“A resurgence in new COVID-19 cases, including the Omicron variant, could temporarily disrupt activities in some countries,” the World Bank projects.

Even in this regard, however, Guyana’s recovery prospects remain much higher, given the country’s robust vaccination programme.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE

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Bereaved Bonasika families receive re ceive $1M each - as gov’t, private sector team up to lend support

World Bank predicts...

FROM PAGE 4 seen in 2021, when, despite battling the pandemic and months of unprecedented floods, the country’s economy remained resilient, and at half year was able to record positive growth, largely owing to contributions from the country’s burgeoning oiland-gas sector.

With approximately 28 lucrative offshore discoveries since 2015, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had estimated that in 2021, petroleum earnings will account for some 38.2 per cent of Guyana’s GDP. INCREASED EARNINGS Notably, it was reported that total output from the petroleum sector had increased by 65.4 per cent when compared to the same period in 2020. Moreover, in the coming months, as ExxonMobil and its partners ramp up oil production activities, Guyana’s oil earnings could potentially double by 2025.

Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat had previously said that Guyana could possibly begin facilitating 50 oil lifts per year, at one million barrels per lift, thereby producing 50 million barrels of oil annually.

Those increased lifts, the minister related, are possible with the operation of three additional Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. Those include the Liza Unity, which recently arrived; the Prosperity FPSO, which is currently under construction; and the Yellowtail FPSO, which is slated to come on stream by 2026.

Further, with crude prices hovering at US$80 a barrel, Guyana would earn as

much as US$4,000,000,000 (G$836,902,800,000) each year for its 50 oil lifts. Minister Bharrat also predicted that with the country’s eighth oil lift, which was done in November, Guyana could earn some US$85 million, if oil prices remain around US$85 per barrel.

“So, when you crunch the numbers, 50 lifts at a million barrels, and based on the oil price today, if it continues along that trend, you can see or get an idea of the direct proceeds coming to Guyana,” Minister Bharrat related.

The country currently has untouched oil earnings totalling US$534 million, which currently sits in the US Federal Reserve Bank.

Aside from oil, Guyana has also recorded strong performances in several other sectors, such as the construction sector, which grew by 25.5 per cent in the first half of 2021, reflecting increased emphasis on implementing the public sector investment programme, as well as increased private sector construction, which reflects improved private sector confidence and optimism regarding the economic outlook.

Outside of the Latin America and the Caribbean region, the World Bank says that global economic growth is projected to see notable reductions from 5.5 per cent in 2021 to 4.1 per cent in 2022, and even further by 3.2 per cent in 2023.

The Bank attributes the expected decline to the emergence of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which it says: “Indicates that the pandemic will likely continue to disrupt econom-

MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar on Tuesday handed over $1 million to the families of Joshua Samuels Gills and Tulsieram Sookdeo who recently suffered tragic losses.

Sookdeo recently lost his wife and daughter, who were tragically pinned when their wooden house collapsed.

Gills lost his home to a fire on December 30, 2021.

Gills has a family of TURN TO PAGE 8

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Fire victim Joshua Samuels Gill (left) is engaged by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar (extreme right) and PSC Chairman Paul Cheong (centre)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 12, 2022

Smiling faces of children

There is nothing more gratifying than the smiling faces of children, especially in a learning environment surrounded by children and teachers. That is exactly what the school environment provides - that warmth and secure learning environment characterised by individual attention and direct face-to-face learning.

The joy of learning within a safe and secure space had been absent for nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, depriving children in the process of that opportunity of benefitting from classroom learning.

One would have thought that the re-opening of schools for direct face-to-face teaching would have been embraced by the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) in the best interests of teachers, students and parents who longed for a return to normalcy in the

teaching/learning processes.

This is especially so given the fact that the government, through the Ministries of Education and Health, have given full assurances that such learning will be done in a safe and secure environment with full adherence to all the guidelines and protocols established by the relevant authorities. Instead, the leadership of the union has seen it fit to call on its membership to proceed on an ‘Isolation Day’, which in effect is tantamount to a call for industrial action, even though there is no industrial bases for such action.

Not surprisingly, the strike call was ignored by the overwhelming majority of teachers who instead responded to the call of the nation’s children who had been deprived of classroom teaching for a protracted period due to the COVID-19 pan-

demic. The teachers allowed better sense to prevail and no doubt saw through the real motive of the union leadership, one intended to disrupt the re-opening of schools for reasons that has nothing to do with the collective interests of its membership. The call by the union was clearly unnecessary and irresponsible and motivated by apparent political considerations. It is a known fact that some elements in the union leadership have known connections with the political opposition. The General-Secretary of the union is an Opposition Member of Parliament.

Such a situation does not bode well for the principle of collective bargaining between the Ministry of Education and the GTU, especially when seen against recent actions taken by the union on the issue of vaccine mandates and the government’s

drive to arrive at a situation of herd immunity against the deadly COVID-19 virus. The Constitution of Guyana does allow for the right of workers to withhold their labour but such rights cannot be exercised in a capricious manner as is currently the case with the GTU. There is a grievance procedure that has to be followed and the call for a ‘Day of Isolation’ by the union certainly did not qualify, even in the most remotest of ways as a ‘grievance’. It is against that background that Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton made it clear that teachers who heeded the call for a ‘Day of Isolation’ would not be paid for that day.

From all indications, the COVID-19 virus will not disappear any time soon, especially in the context of new variants such as the Delta and the Omicron which appear much more transmis-

sible. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the new Omicron variant is spreading so rapidly that close to half of Europeans will be affected by the virus by the month of March. It is only a question of time before the virus reaches this part of the world, and from all indications it is already here though not as severe as in other countries. These are indeed troubling developments which cannot be ignored.

The country, however, cannot wait until the virus is brought completely under control. Creative ways have to be found in order to minimise the impact of the virus on the learning curve of our children. There has to be a balance between the reopening of schools and the safety of our children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had already drawn attention to the nega-

tive impact the failure to reopen schools can have on children in terms of cognitive and emotional development, a concern shared by the Education Ministry. In any event, there is close monitoring of the situation by the Education Ministry and all the required support and guidance are being given to teachers, parents and school administration.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali had indicated that schools cannot be closed indefinitely even as he urged full vaccination, maximum caution and full adherence to the required guidelines issued by the Health Ministry. Indeed, the PPP/C administration has demonstrated that when it comes to the safety and well-being of the Guyanese people and our children, no amount of resources are considered too much and no effort too many.

A suggestion to the government

Dear Editor, I TAKE the opportunity to compliment the Government of Guyana for ensuring that in the very near future the private sector workers will be granted a reasonable increase. This will assist them in their ability to survive and exist in a dynamic, diverse and troublesome economy. I know that the future looks well for Guyana, with our prosperity and excellent management of our prosperity by the current government of the country.

The government of the day, which is the people’s government; of the people, for the people, by the people, is moving in stealth, goodwill, great intentions and love for the citizens of this country. I wish to applaud our government for being so caring and concerned.

When the seven per cent across the board was ap-

proved with the retro from January for the public service workers, there was a hue and a cry, condemnation and mockery in many quarters.

Positive people came out to teach and explain certain things as did this writer. They seem to forget that there have been grants for COVID-19, school grants for each student of $19,000 which the opposition of Guyana went to great pains to object to its payment.

They said it was a waste of money but our Government of Guyana stood firmly and ensured that every child across Guyana received the grant; from the Coastal Belt, the interior, the riverine areas, the City. All our students were able to enjoy this and support their families; they cushioned the cost of living and difficulties that were brought on by COVID-19.

Not forgetting the $25,000 cash grant given to every household in this country.

What an amazing govern-

ment we have! What a truly caring government! I think we can give the Government of Guyana another round of applause.

Then when it came to the Government pensioners receiving $25,000 as a life support, the opposition went to great pains again to object to its payment; they were annoyed; they were boisterous in their objections! But the goodly Government of Guyana went ahead and paid it out to the pensioners. I think ladies and gentlemen, the Government of Guyana needs yet another round of applause. All of this was intended to help provide the cash that could be used to ease the cost of living burdens, and also to create commerce in the economy in order to keep money in circulation. I am no financial or economical specialist, but what I am is a realist!

Now with the minimum wages the government is

granting which I applaud and on behalf of my company, Rk’s Guyana Security Services, which is a mass labour employer in this country. I am very concerned about a possible catastrophe that awaits the employer!

Mr. Editor, President of the Republic, Dr. Irfaan Ali; Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; Prime Minister Mark Phillips; Minister of Finance; and Minister of Legal Affairs and AttorneyGeneral. Several years back a situation was created in this country because an increase was made in the middle of the year. The increase was by $40 which seriously affected labour contractors to the government and other contractors, simply because it was done in the middle of the year when contracts were already awarded for the entire year.

If the contracts are awarded and in the middle of a year you increase the rates on the

contractors what will happen? This is what happened.

At that time, we worked with the new increase for three months and realised that we could not go any further, having tried to negotiate with the government and went public with no response. RK’s Guyana Security Services had to withdraw several major contracts of the Government by providing the proper notice as per contract.

It was not done out of passion or lack of goodwill, it was just going to lead us to bankruptcy since we had already lost millions of dollars for the three months we had tried to carry it over. We were operating at a loss; any company that tendered at that time would be operating at a loss.

So what to do? I had expressed about a year ago that I knew an increase was looming for the private sector, an increase which was needed, an increase that

might not be enough and an increase which would drive up inflation and eat away the few dollars that the workers would get.

The Government of Guyana needs to ensure those who have already signed contracts and will sign into the future for tenders that already went out, and are pending and might be awarded, anytime in the month of December and in January and before budget and even those after the budget; the government needs to add a percentage of the increase automatically per hour on security services that have tendered and have been awarded the contract. For example, if it was tendered for $400 an hour and the increase is $30 an hour, then $30 should be added automatically per hour for the tender.

Yours sincerely, Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.

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Wednesday January 12, 2022

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There are many benefits to planting trees along the medians

Dear Editor, IMPROVING our road network is symbolic of development and progress in any country. Guyana for years has been plagued with poor road quality due to a lack

of maintenance and deficient engineering acumen.

However, over the last few years, we have seen significant improvement in our road network that facilitate easier access for commut-

ers. One must also consider that when road expansion is occurring we are becoming closer to the concrete jungle scenario. My observation on the Sharif-Mandela road is that the medians are be-

ing concreted and on Carifesta Avenue and along the East Coast, the dirt is being removed and replaced with clay bricks.

Road medians are very important in the context of

Some parents are happy sending their children to parties than school

Dear Editor, WE need to do more than request an isolation day.

The time is now to heavily stress the importance of adults to bear personal responsibility for their actions as it relates to the management of the COVID pandemic. When schools were closed, a considerable number of adults, many of whom are parents, failed to realise that attending parties would endanger their children and other relatives. They failed to realise that sending their children to birthday parties can endanger them and even lead to the virus being brought home.

They failed to realise that flooding the shopping malls with their children can lead to the spread of the virus. But now, that schools

are open, there is a sudden hue and a cry about their children’s safety when many of them have been exposing their children carelessly through the pandemic.

This is a tough conversation to have but a very necessary one. We need to be adults about the issues that affect us Mr Editor and call a spade a spade. If we as a nation can put our children first, curtail our attendance at unnecessary activities such as brunches and bar openings, the spread of this virus would be considerably decreased.

Another point to consider is the continued reluctance by almost half of the adult population to be at least fully vaccinated. The latest figure coming out of the Ministry of Health is that 58 per cent of

Guyana’s adult population is fully inoculated. To achieve herd immunity at least 80 per cent of the adult population must be fully vaccinated.

Mr. Editor, vaccines are available in this country for each adult Guyanese and adolescent child. Since the arrival of vaccines, there has been no complaint about the shortage of vaccines except for the hiccup regarding the delayed arrival of the Sputnik V second dose in 2021. But even during that shortage, other vaccines were available for persons who had not received any dose.

The science shows that taking any of the available vaccines is the best way we can offer ourselves some type of protection against the serious effects of the virus if we were to be infected. Guyanese must under-

stand that the reluctance to be vaccinated coupled with the willingness to expose ourselves does not augur well for our children. Our recklessness towards this virus will lead to increased spread and will cause the disruption of education delivery; something we cannot afford, at this point, to encourage.

Yours truly, Maureen Matthews

today’s dispensation. We have global warming knocking at our doorsteps with its destructive forces across all paradigms. More so, pollution is wreaking havoc in many metropolitans, resulting in severe illness and destruction of our ecosystems.

Medians provide an opportunity for road beautification and landscaping with many ornamentals and other tree species being planted along the earthen pathway.

In addition to beautifying the environment, these plants will also absorb carbon dioxide as it is released from vehicles. While it will be in a small amount, one should consider the long stretch of roads we currently have and the huge expansion that we envision shortly, then the absorption level will increase.

Any amount of carbon dioxide absorbed, sequestered

or converted to oxygen by plants can contribute towards its reduction and can mitigate the effects of climate change.

Also, it will help with cooler air in the environment, thereby reducing the urban heat island effect.

Trees along the median also reduce the glare from the traffic flowing in the opposite direction which can further reduce accidents on the roadways. Moreover, having trees along the medians can provide jobs for many individuals and build capacity in horticulture and landscaping. Therefore, it is prudent that we reconsider coving the medians with clay bricks and deliberate on the aforementioned benefits that can be derived from planting trees along the medians.

Yours sincerely, S. Jaikishun

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 12, 2022

Bereaved Bonasika families receive receive $1M...

FROM PAGE 5

eight, while Sookdeo will now have to provide for his two remaining children.

Minister Indar was accompanied by Chair-

man of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Paul Cheong, and Region Three Chairman Sheik Ayube. He said President Dr. Irfaan Ali, having learnt of the

unfortunate incidents, instructed that immediate interventions be made to at least help the families rebuild their homes.

Minister Indar ex-

plained that he reached out to the PSC, which immediately offered its support.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal and Minister within the Ministry Susan Rodrigues contributed some $2 million worth of building materials to assist the two families.

The Gills received $1 million cash, and over $1.2 million worth in construction materials, in addition to a quantity of cement.

The PSC Chairman said the Commission was happy to be on board, and urged the Gills to make the best of the donation, in the

hope that it will help them to lead a comfortable life.

Region Three Chairman Sheik Ayube said that members of the regional administration were on the ground since the incidents occurred. Ayube said following the fire and the house collapse, he personally visited the area where an assessment was made. Clothing and household items were also donated to the families. He said the regional administration will continue to work with the families to improve their livelihood.

Both families have

since expressed their appreciation to the government, the private sector, and all persons who assisted them.

Among the private sector contributors are JR Ranch Inc, Bardon Construction Services, S and D Construction, IB Contracting, and L’Heureux Construction Services (LCSI).

Another family, the Abdools of Tu s c h e n H o u s i n g Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, is also slated to benefit from the government-PSC partnership, as they, too, are in need of support to rebuild their home.

GUYANA CHRONICLE

Wednesday January 12, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 12, 2022

The Hopetown Experiment (Part I)

- an aspect of Chinese immigration in 19th Century British Guiana

By Tota C. Mangar INTRODUCTION THE entry of Chinese indentured labourers into Latin America and the Caribbean in the 19th Century was only one segment of a wider movement of people from other parts of the world to this region.

Chinese migration initially involved countries of South-East Asia, but as the years progressed, new destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands of Hawaii, Tahiti and Western Samoa, Mauritius, Reunion, the Seychelles and Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, and South Africa emerged. Movement in the New World covered North America, parts of Spanish America (mainly Cuba, Peru and Mexico), Portuguese Brazil and the French, Dutch and British Caribbean.

Where the British Caribbean is concerned, renewed problems of labour supply and labour organisation emerged in the immediate post-Emancipation era of “crisis, change and experimentation”. Planters’ fear, uncertainty and uneasiness during this critical period were hastened by the large-scale exodus of ex-slaves from the sugar

Historian, Tota Mangar plantations, especially after 1838, in so far as the larger territories were concerned.

The situation was not surprising, as several decades of the despicable system of slavery had resulted in the plantation being viewed as a symbol of dehumanisation, degradation and demoralisation by the victims. They, quite naturally, were anxious to rid themselves of planterclass social, cultural and political domination, and at the same time they wanted to assert their economic independence. With great enthusiasm, and in the face of tremendous odds, they started the village movement and peasantry.

Immigrant labour was quickly seen as the answer to the much-feared labour problem of the powerful plantocracy and the sugar industry at large. It was this development which was responsible for the several immigration

schemes which surfaced, including that of Chinese immigration. Of all the British colonies, the former British Guiana, now Guyana, received the highest number of Chinese immigrants. Based on statistical data between the period 1853-1879, some 14,002 contract immigrants arrived, while a further 1,718 came as free immigrants during the 1880-1913 period, resulting in a total of 15,720 Chinese immigrants.

This figure comprised 13,485 males and 2,235 females.

CHINESE IMMIGRATION Chinese immigration in the British Caribbean colonies dates back to 1806 when a batch of 200 Chinese men was brought to Trinidad from Penang in Malaya. This initial experiment proved to be a failure. Interest was, however, renewed in June 1811 when a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed to consider “the practicability and expediency of supplying a class of free people so distinguished by their orderly and industrious habits”. While it favoured such a scheme, no serious action was taken before the abolition of slavery.

It was not until May 1843 that the issue was revived when a British Guianese proprietor visited several British possessions, includ-

ing Singapore, Malaya and Penang. He was so impressed by the Chinese that he wrote the West India Committee the following: “During the heat of the day, I have seen them cutting canes, digging canals, carrying canes... The men are strong and powerful, and are accustomed to toil, industrious and eager to acquire money.” While the West India Committee was favourably disposed to such a scheme, progress in this direction was extremely slow. For one, the East Indian immigration scheme which commenced in 1838 was suspended due to problems associated with the ‘Gladstone Experiment’, and the first batch, and, more significantly, the vigilance of the Anti-Slavery Society.

Following the Government of India Act in 1844, and a resumption of East Indian immigration, the colony was gripped with controversy surrounding the Civil List Dispute. With a resumption of some level of normalcy by 1850, the Emigration Agent of British Guiana at Calcutta, Mr. James T. White, went on a mission to China. He visited Hong Kong, Canton and Macao, and by the following year, he strongly recommended the use of Chinese immigrants in the British West Indies.

It was against this back-

ground that the first batch of Chinese arrived on January 12, 1853, to be followed quickly by two other batches.

The period 1859-1867 was the peak of Chinese immigration, with a total of 11,985 arrivals. In general, once acclimatised, the Chinese immigrants proved well suited to plantation agriculture. This was particularly the view of many planters, particularly those on the West Coast of Demerara, where most of the immigrants from the early batches were assigned. For example, Manager Bascom of Plantation Windsor Forest stated, “The Chinese on the estate are some of my best labourers for strength and endurance.” Such a view was supported by the Manager of Plantation La Jalousie, who described his labourers as “a very useful class of people; very willing, quite equal to any coolies we are receiving.”

ENSUING PROBLEMS As was the case with other immigrant groups, a number of problems surfaced during the period of Chinese contractual labour in the colony. Initially, there was concern at the high mortality rate among immigrants, however, a tighter enforcement of medical supervision contributed to a reduction in the rate, and, by the end of 1860, it was averaging a mere three

per cent of arrivals. There was a paucity of women. For some time, it was difficult to obtain women immigrants.

Officials attempted to reverse this trend through several strategies, including the introduction of Ordinance No. 4 of 1864, which merely required Chinese females to sign a contract of residence.

They gradually became discontented with the level of wages they received, and, according to Immigration Agent, J.E. Austin, “In reality, the Chinese immigrant only received a quarter of their expectations in a day wage.”

Of added significance was the fact that they did not easily submit to estate discipline. They became increasingly more difficult to control, and there were a number of minor clashes involving Chinese labourers and overseers. There was also the question of praedial larceny. Villagers made frequent complaints in relation to the stealing of provisions, especially plantains, by Chinese immigrants. On this issue, Chief Justice Charles Beaumont gave a very interesting explanation. He opined that the Chinese were physically unable to subsist upon the slender diet provided them, and they were probably accustomed to a more varied TURN TO PAGE 11

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$2.5B ferry for Georgetown-North West route to arrive by year end

- stellings being re-configured to accommodate vessel THE $2.5 billion ferry that will ply the Georgetown to North West route is expected to be in Guyana by the end of this year, according to Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill.

The vessel, which was procured with funds from the Gov-

ernment of India, is being constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited.

“We are happy to report to you that work is ahead of schedule on this project. A team from Guyana visited India in November, and the report is that we

should have this ferry in Guyana, ready for operation within the last quarter of this year,” Minister Edghill said during a press conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday.

The respective stellings, as it is now, would not suit the design

for the new ferry, so the facilities are being re-designed to accommodate the vessel.

“Both the Georgetown Transport and Harbours facility, the facility at Kumaka, Morawhanna, as well as Port Kaituma will be re-configured,

The M.V. Kimbia which will be replaced by the new ferry and work is advancing on that to facilitate the new ferry from India,” Minister Edghill said.

Guyana received $3.6 billion for this vessel, and supportive infrastructure in the form of a grant and line of credit from the Government of India.

When the contract was signed in January 2021, Minister Edghill had said that the funds were available since 2015, but no contract was awarded. Construction of the new vessel will replace the aged M.V. Kimbia. (DPI)

The Hopetown Experiment...

FROM PAGE 10 diet than what the plantations offered, and hence they turned to stealing.

There was also grave concern as to morality. Chinese immigrants spent a lot of time gambling, drinking alcohol, and smoking opium.

These leisurely pursuits were even blamed for their subsequent lack of interest and performance of agricultural labour on the sugar estates.

Indeed, Governor Francis Hincks. at an early stage of his administration, revealed: “It is not uncommon to see many of them quite emaciated, and almost unfit for work, from excessive use of the drug [opium].”

BACKGROUND TO HOPETOWN In early 1862, Francis Hincks assumed duty as governor of the colony of British Guiana, following a stint in St. Lucia. He promptly supported a continuation of Chinese immigration, even though some planters were showing a marked preference for the well-established scheme of East Indian immigration. The administrator had inherited a subsidised or State-aided immigration scheme which he set about to consolidate in earnest.

He also adopted a more or less centralised policy of governmental control of village affairs. It was under his administration that a Central Village Board assumed responsibility for village affairs. According to Alan Young, it was Hincks who “caught up the separate thread of village administration, and wove them in a single comprehensive pattern.

“Under the village policy, residents were compelled to pay rates for village maintenance and improvements. It was clear that at the zenith of Chinese immigration, very little attempt was made in the areas of spiritual and moral upliftment. While it was argued that the Chinese immigrants were less submissive than East Indians, a growing number of the former were

addicted. Governor Hincks lamented the problem, and conceded that, “Chinese labourers were very valuable labourers, and, when properly managed, had given satisfaction. Moreover, the Colonist newspaper in an editorial noted that, “Chinese do not hoard up their little earnings as the Coolies do; they spend their money where they earn in the colony.”

The first person to express real concern on spiritual upliftment of the immigrants was a Chinese missionary, O’ Tye Kim. He was born on an island off Singapore, and he received his early education at the London Missionary Society School in Singapore. O’ Tye Kim was subsequently employed as a surveyor before he went to England in 1864.

It was while in London he expressed a desire to work in the British West Indies, and the London Missionary Society promptly identified the colony of British Guiana as his destination. Perhaps it was not a difficult decision to make, since the colony was by then the largest recipient of Chinese immigrants in the British Caribbean.

O’ Tye Kim arrived on July 17, 1864, and he immediately set about to establish a Christian Church in the capital city of Georgetown for the Chinese community.

Many, including Governor Hincks, were impressed by his sincerity and devotion to duty. The Church of Missionary Society was satisfied that Kim was “a man of undoubted piety, worthy of every assistance”.

Within months of his arrival, the missionary had a congregation of 120 persons, many from the outskirts of Georgetown, and with weekly church services. In addition to his Christianising zeal, he also visited sugar estates and acquainted himself with the problems and concerns of Chinese immigrants.

There were complaints about poor wages, and some indicated they wanted to return

home after their periods of industrial residence were over. O’ Tye Kim quickly emerged as their unofficial leader or spokesperson.

Not content with his missionary role, O’ Tye Kim petitioned the Court of Policy for the granting of Crown Lands to establish a permanent and exclusive Chinese settlement. Among the reasons he advanced for the scheme were the utilisation of a large amount of unused land, an inducement for Chinese immigrants to remain in the colony after the completion of their periods of industrial residence, the retention of valuable agricultural labourers in the colony, greater prospects of an alternative to plantation labour, increased emigration from China, enhanced opportunity to spread Christianity, thereby leading to moral and spiritual development and arresting the vices of gambling, alcohol drinking and opium smoking so prevalent in the colony.

Governor Hincks supported the scheme, since it was closely linked to his own idea of model villages.

At the same time, there was initial objection by the elective section of the Court of Policy. These planter-class representatives were fearful that the Chinese immigrants would abandon the plantations without completing their periods of industrial residence. They also viewed the establishment of an exclusive settlement as a competitor for a valuable section of their available labour force.

I n t h e e n d , l a rg e l y through the Governor’s persistence, press criticism and private discussions with individual members of the Court of Policy on the part of Hincks, the scheme was approved, along with a loan of 1,500 pounds for the proposed settlement. On this matter, the Court was told: “It is expedient to establish a village of Chinese Christians on a suitable tract

of Crown Land up the Demerara River; it is desirable that the villagers be entitled to participate in a village loan.” Much support for this venture was also given by the then Stipendiary Magistrate, William Des Vouex.

The actual site identified for the establishment of an exclusive Chinese settlement was a tract of land on the left bank of the Kamuni Creek, some 30 miles up the Demerara River. Among the reasons advanced for the settlement location were land fertility, ideal water

communication, natural drainage, and because of its remote location, there was very little perceived threat to the plantation. The powerful plantocracy would almost certainly have objected to the scheme, if it were located on the coastland, and in close proximity to the sugar estate. At the same time, both O’ Tye Kim and Governor Hincks felt such a settlement would lure Chinese immigrants from the drinking and gambling dens of the coastland, and from easy access to opium.

Following the approval of the scheme, Hincks appointed a Board of Trustees comprising the Government Secretary, AuditorGeneral, the senior elective member of the Combined Court, the Stipendiary Magistrate for the Demerara River District and the missionary, O’ Tye Kim. The title of the land was vested in the Board of Trustees, and settlers were initially to be regarded as tenants. As a long-term policy, settlers were to receive individual titles.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 12, 2022

AG seeks leave to approach CCJ to challenge election petition ruling

ALMOST three weeks after the Court of Appeal (CoA) ruled that it has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal filed to challenge the dismissal

of APNU+AFC’s Election Petition 99 of 2020, Attorney-General, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C, has sought leave to take the matter before the Caribbean Court

of Justice (CCJ).

In the notice of motion filed on Monday at the Kingston-based CoA, the Attorney General is seeking an order granting leave to appeal the

December 21, 2021, decision. By way of a majority ruling, the court said it has jurisdiction to entertain an appeal challenging Chief Justice Roxane George’s

decision to dismiss the said petition on the grounds of law service, non-service or improper service.

The AG is also praying for a stay of execution of the CoA’s judgement.

According to his grounds for the application, he said that the intended appeal is a matter of public interest, which touches and concerns matters of the 2020 General and Regional Elections and as such, are proceedings of great general and public importance.

Additionally, he claims that the intended appeal is an arguable one with a realistic prospect of success on the issue of whether the Honourable Court has jurisdiction to hear the civil appeal.

According to Nandlall, the Appeal Court has a duty to protect the integrity of appeals so that they are not rendered nugatory before they are heard and determined.

As such, he is asking the Appeal Court to grant the reliefs sought so that there may be a resolution of these fundamental issues which concern the interpretation of the Constitution, as well as, issues integral to Guyana’s Constitutional democracy.

The initial appeal case was filed in January 2021,

by Roysdale Forde, S.C., the attorney for APNU+AFC and Trinidadian attorney, John Jeremie, S.C. Among other things, they contended that the CJ erred in law, and misdirected herself when she misapplied the doctrine of strict compliance, by holding that such compliance is related to the contents of the Affidavit of Service instead of the filing of the Affidavit of Service in a timely manner.

On December 21, 2021, in a 2-1 decision, the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justice of Appeal, Dawn Gregory said that the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal filed.

The Chancellor, in her ruling, said that the decisions of the Chief Justice were a final order on both the election petition and a preliminary issue of compliance.

She further contended that Article 163 of the Con-

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall S.C. stitution states that an appeal to the Court of Appeal can be made from the decision of a judge of the High Court granting or refusing leave to institute proceedings for the determination of any question.

“In my view, the Honourable Chief Justice sat in the elections jurisdiction of that matter and considered the validity of the petition… determined that validity in relation to whether or not the proceeding could go on, and the Chief Justice dismissed that proceedings,” she said.

Since the Chief Justice’s decision was a final order, the Chancellor said that the petitioners have a right to an appeal since there was no decision on the petition itself.

She also ruled that the Full Court of the High Court does not have the power to hear the appeal of an election petition dismissal for want of compliance. She said it is a power Parliament should consider conferring upon the Full Court.

However, Justice of Appeal, Rishi Persaud disagreed as according to him, the applicants, Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse, had no right to appeal since there was no final decision by CJ George, who had dismissed the application in January on the grounds of serious noncompliance. At the time, the matter was before the High Court.

He also ruled that the Full Court of the High Court does not have jurisdiction to entertain the appeal and therefore ruled that the appeal was dismissed.

In the case, Nandlall had argued that the Court of Appeal does not have jurisdiction to hear the case, since the matter was thrown out by the High Court, and no evidence was heard.

Nandlall said that based TURN TO PAGE 13

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AG seeks leave to approach CCJ to...

FROM PAGE 12

on the uniqueness of the case, like the Appeal Court, the Full Court also has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Attorney-General had said to the court, that according to Section 79 of the High Court Act,

which reads, “An appeal shall lie to the Full Court from any judgment given or order made by a single judge of the court in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction in respect of which there is no appeal to the Court of Appeal.”

He submitted that one

would interpret this section to mean that in the appeal of election petition matters, the Full Court cannot exercise its civil jurisdiction.

Aside from Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the coalition named Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of

GECOM, Keith Lowenfield, representatives of several political parties and former President, David Granger, as respondents in the appeal.

In June last, the coalition appealed the second election petition case, which was filed

by Claudette Thorne and Heston Bostwick. That petition was dismissed on April 26 by the CJ, on the grounds of serious non-compliance with the Constitution of Guyana, and electoral laws as they relate to GECOM’s conduct of those elec-

tions.

The Chief Justice held that the petitioners failed to present evidence to support claims that the conduct of those elections contravened the Constitution and the country’s electoral laws.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 12, 2022

Over $9B ‘pumped’ into emergency flood-relief measures last year

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha inspecting a city pump (DPI photo)

LOCAL authorities have expended over $7.8 billion to assist persons who were severely affected by the May-June rains last year, while another $1.5 billion was spent for emergency drainage and irrigation works across the country.

The government’s interventions, according to Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, saw over $9.3 billion being expended to assist more than 50,000 households in some 300 communities across Guyana.

During a recent interview,

Minister Mustapha said that although the food sector was badly hit by the inclement weather, it saw significant transformation and successes.

“The flood destroyed many sectors within the agriculture industry. To date, almost 50,000 farmers and

households were able to receive monetary assistance, in terms of relief,” Minister Mustapha said.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali had announced in July that over $7.8 billion would be made available to assist TURN TO PAGE 15

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FROM PAGE 14 flood-affected citizens following the prolonged rainfall.

Some $3.5 billion was transferred to homestead farmers, kitchen gardeners, and households. Homestead farmers received $100,000 each, kitchen gardeners $50,000 each, while households, excluding kitchen

gardens and homestead farms, were given $50,000 each.

Approximately $3.2 billion was disbursed to rice farmers, as over 50,000 acres of rice land and 2,000 farmers were directly affected. Assistance was also given to farmers in the livestock industry.

“We were able to trans-

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Over $9B ‘pumped’ into emergency... form the agriculture sector; we were able to move our programmes rapidly, especially the drainage and irrigation programme. This was a tremendous success, in terms of building back the capacity to withstand the flood,” Minister Mustapha said.

He added that the National Drainage and Irriga-

tion Authority (NDIA) also expended approximately $1.5 billion to conduct massive emergency works.

“Over a dozen new machineries were given to NDIA; we have seen an additional 13 new pumps being placed across the country,” Minister Mustapha said.

He related that about 93

new drainage and irrigation structures were maintained nationwide, as well as about 743 kilometers primary drainage, and 1,781 kilometers of secondary drainage.

He said construction had started on a 33.3-kilometer farm-to-market road, noting that one will be established along the right bank of the Mahaicony Creek. This ini-

tiative, he said, will open up thousands of acres of new farm lands.

In 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture was granted $28.7 billion through budgetary allocations.

It first received $22.6 billion, and later, $6.1 billion was provided via supplementary funding.

(DPI)

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Resilient rice sector earns $42.2B in 2021 - as Guyana taps BVI, Estonia, Slovenia markets

The government has managed to secure a number of new export markets including the British Virgin Islands (BVI), and the European nations of Estonia and Slovenia

FOR the year 2021, the local rice industry raked in export revenues totalling $42.2 billion, an equivalent of US$201 million, according to Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha.

The minister was quoted by the government’s Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying that those earnings resulted from the exportation of approximately 434,535 tonnes of rice, paddy and its by-products.

Additionally, last year, Guyana successfully secured a number of new export markets such as the British Virgin Islands (BVI), and the European nations of Estonia and Slovenia.

The country was also able to solidify a standard rice supply agreement with sister-country, Barbados, to ensure that the island nation has a steady supply of the staple.

Those developments signal an even wider space for industry growth in 2022, Minister Mustapha said.

“We now have close to about 42 countries where we are exporting rice and we are looking to improve on that,” the minister was quoted as saying.

The rice industry’s notable contribution to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could be seen as yet another demonstration of resilience from Guyana’s agriculture sector, as several industries and sub-sectors were able to bounce back from not only the ongoing impact of a global pandemic, but also months of devastating floods which destroyed thousands of acres of farmlands.

Importantly, the farmers were not left to do it alone.

Thousands of farmers benefitted from myriad support initiatives instituted by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government, led

by President Dr. Irfaan Ali. These include financial assistance totalling some $7.8 billion, which paved the way for scores of rice farmers to “get back on their feet” and return to their farmlands for production.

Outside of this, rice farmers, in particular, were given additional incentives including round-the-clock drainage and irrigation support as well as assistance with critical supplies such as seed paddy and fertilisers, among other things.

The support from the government has already had a direct impact on the first rice crop for 2022, since the majority of farmers across the country have managed to move ahead with sowing their lands. National sowing projections for the year stand at an overall target of 227,240 acres, and authorities are hoping that this crop would see a notably better harvest, as compared to last year.

Prior to the floods, even during the onset of the pandemic, Guyana’s rice earnings stood at US$236.2 million more than G$51 billion. This was earned from the exportation of 574,312 tonnes of paddy, rice and rice by-products during 2020.

Under the leadership of

Minister Mustapha, the exportation of a series of nontraditional crops also soared to new heights.

Specifically, figures provided to the Guyana Chronicle show that between the period January and November 2021, Guyana earned $2.6 billion from the exportation of nontraditional crops alone.

This represents an increase of $100 million in revenue when compared to the same period in 2020, and accounts for at least 10,426 tonnes of the exported produce such as fruits, vegetables, seasonings, grain crops, oil seeds, root and tuber crops.

Similarly, for the period January to November 2021, Guyana earned $2.5 billion from the exportation of coconuts and its by-products. Data shows that the exportation of dried coconuts alone raked in $1.8 billion, while $685 million was earned from the exportation of virgin coconut oil.

Those earnings also represent significant increases when compared to the previous year, which saw the industry exporting just about $1.9 billion in coconut and coconut by-products.

Since assuming office in August 2020, the government has underscored the importance of the agriculture sector, pledging extensively to make significant investments that seek to boost and modernise farming as well as value-added production.

The aim, as outlined on multiple occasions, is to position Guyana to tap into the very hefty food import bill being incurred by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Guyana has already assumed its role as the lead agriculture nation in the region, and measures are being put in place to increase production of a number of crops, including soya bean and corn, to supply the regional market.

Acknowledging some unavoidable shortfalls, Minister Mustapha told DPI that more developments could have taken place last year, had the country been spared of the unprecedented floods.

“But I think that we are moving aggressively now, and we are more on the verge of making our contribution and our mark in the Caribbean market,” the minister said.

As it is, the government is also working with farmers across the country to propagate climate-resilient farming technologies, including the use of shade-houses and the implementation of hydroponics systems, among other things.

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Event planners could face penalties for breaching COVID-19 protocols

PRIME Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, has said that any event organiser who has been given approval to host an event and then violates that approval will be investigated and could subsequently face penalties.

The Prime Minister, who is head of the COVID-19 task force, said this while responding to questions on the alleged COVID-19 protocol breaches, which were observed at the finals of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/Kashif and Shanghai Futsal tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, on January 8.

“We are committed to investigating and taking on board all breaches when approval is granted and dealing condignly with it. We have to protect the people of Guyana,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

Pictures and videos of the event showed persons congregating at the venue without observing COVID-19 protocols such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing.

It was estimated that the number of persons in attendance at the event exceeded the numbers which they were permitted to have at the venue, to maintain a safe environment.

The organisers of the futsal competition had been given permission by the National COVID-19 Task Force to go ahead with the hosting of the sporting event, in light of its cultural significance.

However, Prime Minister Phillips made it clear that notwithstanding what played out, the organisers were given permission to host the event with the clear

understanding and instructions that all necessary COVID-19 measures were to be observed.

“The government granted approval for these activities with the understanding that the organisers will follow the established protocol.

“If you go and see any of the correspondence granting approval, it speaks about approval being granted and the need to follow the protocols,” the Prime Minister commented.

He added that this will not be the first time that the task force would have to sanction organisers for breaching COVID-19 protocols after being given permission to host an activity.

The event was held at a time when Guyana is experiencing exponential increases in new cases of COVID-19, as a result of what could be the presence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

Prime Minister Phillips advised persons, particularly event organisers, to continue to observe the COVID-19 safety measures.

“What is important now is for us to communicate to all the people of Guyana that all of us must be responsible in following the protocols, and if you are granted approvals for any activity you follow the protocols,” he said.

The GFF has since issued a statement taking responsibility for what took place at the event, and its President, Wayne Forde, said that the federation has also launched its own investigation.

Acknowledging that the breakdown took place, Forde noted that the intent was always to maintain COVID-19

protocols and a safe space.

He said that the GFF had worked along with the government prior to the hosting of the event to ensure a safe hosting, particularly by ensuring that only people who

could show proof of vaccination would be able to participate in or attend matches.

The federation has also hosted vaccination drives in partnership with the Ministry of Health.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 12, 2022

Lowenfield’s assistant dismissed for alleged tampering DUARTE Hetsberger, who served as a personal assistant to former Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, has been dismissed from his post, having been accused of tampering with computers belonging to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Hetsberger’s dismissal was confirmed by government-appointed GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, who said that the allegations followed an investigation conducted by the new CEO, Vishnu Persaud.

The investigations revealed that computers belonging to the GECOM’s

secretariat, which were under Hetsberger’s control, had been wiped.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that based on findings of the investigation, Hetsberger was confronted by members of GECOM’s Information Technology Department, but could not give a reasonable explanation

as to why the files from the computers were deleted.

A report detailing the investigation was purportedly submitted to the executives of GECOM for perusal.

Reports are that Hetsberger’s dismissal, which took effect on December 31, 2021, will be done in keeping with his contractual

Duarte Hetsberger was arrested during investigations related to the infamous March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections agreement.

In September 2020, along with Lowenfield, the 39-year-old Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank was also arrested for alleged criminal conduct during the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections, and the six-month-long fiasco that followed.

Hetsberger, as a GDF lieutenant, was seconded to GECOM a few years ago.

In 2016 and 2018, he served as the returning officer for Georgetown for the Local Government Elections.

Reports are that after his arrest, Hetsberger had his contract renewed. Strangely

enough, his contract was renewed months before it should have ended in December 2021.

Apparently, Lowenfield, as he himself faced dismissal and criminal charges, had taken the liberty of extending Hetsberger’s contract all the way to December 2024.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that for some reason, even with Lowenfield gone and still facing criminal charges pertaining to electoral fraud, Hetsberger remained intent on maintaining his position as the CEO’s personal assistant, refusing multiple offers for transfers.

Guyana Police Force promotes 386 of its junior ranks COMMISSIONER of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, has released the longawaited promotion list for junior ranks of the Guyana Police Force.

Hoppie’s list, which was issued on Tuesday, comes months after a list containing 132 names was submitted to him by the suspended Police Service Commission (PSC).

The list was deemed unlawful and was rejected by the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led government, since the Commander-In-Chief himself had suspended the PSC on June 16, prior to

the release of its list.

As outlined in the new and lawful list, 386 policemen and women were promoted. Those include 84 police corporals being promoted to sergeant; 160 lance corporal and constables promoted to police corporals; 96 constables promoted to lance corporals; 11 ranks promoted to special sergeant; 22 advancing to special corporal and 13 constables moving up to the rank of special lance corporal.

See full list on Guyana Chronicle’s website.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday January 12, 2022

GFF president takes responsibility for over-capacity... (From back page) Despite these challenges, we have also seen that, in most countries, sport has returned and that lessons have been learned from mistakes to ensure competitions can continue in the right conditions.”

GFF boss is of the opinion that sport must be allowed to continue as long as the conditions allow, stating that in football, in particular, Guyana must not be left behind, but admitted that this cannot come at the expense of public health.

The GFF, he said, “will continue to work with the authorities and task force to host football tournaments in the safest and securest environments possible.”

“We will now draw a line under the regrettable events of last week, learn the lessons from what has been an

incredible month of football, and look to the coming year,” Forde said.

Forde labelled the GFF hosting of its Super 16, Futsal and Women’s Championship, as a success.

“As we look to the future, we will be conducting a full review and debrief of each tournament, as will all of our participating clubs and members. This will provide vital feedback to help us improve our work in the years ahead,” the GFF president said.

Forde thanked “all the players, fans, match officials, organisers and clubs who contributed to the delivery of these year-end tournaments. We look forward to a successful and busy 2022 as we strive to bring football back at all levels of the game in a safe and secure way.”

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31

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday January 12, 2022

Taylor signs off with a wicket as NZ thrash Bangladesh With one over until the new ball was available, stand-in captain Tom

Ross Taylor was bowling in a Test for the first time since 2013

ROSS Taylor ended his Test career by taking the winning wicket as New Zealand beat Bangladesh by an innings and 117 runs to draw the series.

Taylor took just his third Test wicket to remove Ebadat Hossain with his parttime off-spin and wrap up victory in the second Test in Christchurch.

The two-match series is drawn 1-1 after the tourists' shock win over the world champions in the first Test.

"It's a great way to finish," said Taylor, 37.

"I wanted to finish with a win and the guys definitely

gave it to me.

"It was an emotional game for me and my family."

Taylor finishes his 112-match Test career as New Zealand's highest run-scorer in the format, with 7 683 runs, including 19 hundreds, at an average of 44.66.

He will end his Black Caps career with six oneday internationals against Australia and the Netherlands between January and April.

Taylor was given a guard of honour by Bangladesh on his way to the crease on

day two for what proved to be his final Test innings, in which he scored 28 as the hosts made 521-6 declared.

They enforced the follow-on overnight after bowling out Bangladesh for just 126 in reply.

The Tigers showed more resistance in their second innings, reaching 105-2 with Liton Das hitting a fluent century as he made 102 off 114 balls.

Das also put on 101 for the sixth wicket with Nurul Hasan, but pace bowler Kyle Jamieson, who took 4-82, then quickly reduced Bangladesh to 269-9.

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 521-6 declared BANGLADESH 1st innings 26 BANGLADESH 2nd innings Shadman Islam c Tom Blundell b Kyle Jamieson 21 Mohammad Naim c Tom Latham b Tim Southee 24 Najmul Hossain Shanto c Trent Boult b Neil Wagner 29 Mominul Haque c Ross Taylor b Neil Wagner 37 Liton Das lbw Kyle Jamieson 102 Yasir Ali c Tom Latham b Neil Wagner 2 Nurul Hasan c Neil Wagner b Daryl Mitchell 36 Mehidy Hasan c Tom Latham b Kyle Jamieson 3 Taskin Ahmed not out 9 Shoriful Islam c Tim Southee b Kyle Jamieson 0 Ebadot Hossain c Tom Latham b Ross Taylor 4 Extras: (b-4, lb-1 nb-4, w-2) 11 Total: (all out, 79.3 overs) 278 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-71, 3-105, 4-123, 5-128, 6-229, 7-244, 8-269, 9-269.

Bowling: Tim Southee 17-6-54-1, Trent Boult 16-6-42-0, Kyle Jamieson 18-4-82-4 (w1), Neil Wagner 22-7-77-3 (w-1, nb-4), Daryl Mitchell 6-1-18-1, Ross Taylor 0.3 - 0-0-1.

Result: New Zealand win by an innings and 117 runs

Latham brought on Taylor, who struck with his third delivery as Hossain

skied it to Latham to leave Bangladesh 278 all out.

(BBC Sport)

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday January 12, 2022

Kohli back in form but South Africa take the honours on day one

By Nick Said CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - India captain Virat Kohli played a lone hand with 79 as the tourists were bowled out for 223 on the first day of the decisive third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands yesterday.

The home side had made 17 for one in reply at the close.

Kohli's form had been under the microscope as he returned from injury yesterday, but he compiled his highest score in 26 innings since he got a hundred against Bangladesh in November 2019 to lead India

to a respectable first-innings score.

Aiden Markram (8 not out) and nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (6 not out) will now look to make inroads into South Africa's deficit on the second morning.

India claimed the key scalp of in-from South African captain Dean Elgar

Rabada took 4-73 in a close to flawless display of fast bowling as India were bowled out for 223 despite Kohli's 79 (AFP)

for 3 runs 15 minutes before the close as he edged seamer Jasprit Bumrah to Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip, meaning there would be no repeat of his 96 not out that steered the home side to victory in the second Test in Johannesburg.

The teams are level at 1-1 with the visitors hoping for a first series win in South Africa. Having won the toss and elected to bat, they might have hoped to make more of their good

fortune.

Kohli looked comfortable at the wicket for the most part but found little support other than a fighting 43 from Pujara.

South Africa bowled in good areas and will be pleased by their efforts, seamer Kagiso Rabada being the pick of the bowlers with 4-73.

He claimed the wicket of Kohli as his nagging line outside off-stump induced the edge from the India

skipper, who was caught by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne to end his 201-ball innings.

"He is a brilliant player and you want to measure yourself against the best cricketers in the world," Rabada told reporters.

"There is a little bit there in the wicket. Things went my way today, sometimes they don't. We probably would have wanted to bat first too, but we bowled well as a unit."

Left-arm seamer Marco Jansen, 21, continued his fine form with 3-55 as he bowled without much luck, but confirmed his potential as a leader of the South African attack in the future.

There was also a first wicket in the series for spinner Maharaj with the pitch likely to be the most helpful of the lot to the slow bowlers later in the Test.

That will interest India's Ravichandran Ashwin, who has largely been a passenger to this point having bowled only 43.4 overs so far.

"It is a typical Newlands pitch, there is a bit of nip and some swing. There is definitely a lot for the bowlers to work with," Rabada says.

"We have to bat out of our skin. When the ball gets older it becomes easier, so it is about absorbing pressure."

SCOREBOARD

INDIA 1st innings

Lokesh Rahul c Kyle Verreynne b Duanne Olivier 12 Mayank Agarwal c Aiden Markram b Kagiso Rabada 15 Cheteshwar Pujara c Kyle Verreynne b Marco Jansen 43 Virat Kohli c Kyle Verreynne b Kagiso Rabada 79 Ajinkya Rahane c Kyle Verreynne b Kagiso Rabada 9 Rishabh Pant c Keegan Petersen b Marco Jansen 27 Ravichandran Ashwin c Kyle Verreynne b Marco Jansen 2 Shardul Thakur c Keegan Petersen b Keshav Maharaj 12 Jasprit Bumrah c Dean Elgar b Kagiso Rabada 0 Umesh Yadav not out 4 Mohammed Shami c Temba Bavuma b Lungi Ngidi 7 Extras: (b-5, lb-1, nb-7) 13 Total: (all out, 77.3 overs) 223

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-33, 3-95, 4-116, 5-167, 6-175, 7-205, 8-210, 9-211.

Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 22-4-73-4 (nb5), Duanne Olivier 18-5-42-1 (nb-2), Marco Jansen 18-6-55-3, Lungi Ngidi 14.3-7-331, Keshav Maharaj 5-2-14-1.

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings Dean Elgar c Cheteshwar Pujara b Jasprit Bumrah 3 Aiden Markram not out 8 Keshav Maharaj not out 6 Extras: 0 Total: (one wkt, 8.0 overs) 17 Fall of wickets: 1-10 Bowling: Jasprit Bumrah 4-4-0-1, Umesh Yadav 2-0-10-0, Mohammed Shami 2-07-0.

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday January 12, 2022

Africa Cup of Nations football ...

Iheanacho nets winner as Nigeria sink Egypt

The Super Eagles were well-supported at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, less than 400 miles from Nigeria

KELECHI Iheanacho was on target as Nigeria comfortably beat seven-time champions Egypt in their Africa Cup of Nations Group D opener.

The Leicester City striker opened the scoring in the 30th minute, burying a stunning half-volley on the turn.

Nigeria dominated throughout, with Egypt keeper Mohamed El Shenawy tipping a Taiwo Awoniyi header on to the bar and twice denying Chidera Ejuke.

The Pharaohs offered little in response after falling behind in Garoua.

IHEANACHO SOARS FOR SUPER EAGLES Iheanacho's performance up front will be a welcome relief to Super Eagles supporters, with fellow Nigeria strikers Victor Osimhen,

Emmanuel Dennis and Odion Ighalo all forced out of the squad for Cameroon.

The Foxes man impressed throughout the first half, feeding in Awoniyi who saw a tame effort saved shortly before the break Nigeria, three-time African champions, continued to push for a second after half-time with El Shenawy twice keeping out substitute Chidera Ejuke in the closing stages.

Ultimately though one goal was enough for the West Africans, lead by interim manager Augustin Eguavoen, with new boss Jose Peseiro only observing from the stands.

The Super Eagles had sacked long-serving boss Gernot Rohr just four weeks before the tournament following an underwhelming

World Cup qualification campaign.

PHARAOHS FALL FLAT IN OPENER Egypt were lack-lustre for much of the proceedings, managing just one shot in the opening 70 minutes.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who has reaffirmed his desire to stay at Anfield, repeatedly found himself isolated up front as Nigeria dictated the match's tempo.

The forward was played through by substitute Ahmed Sayed with 20 minutes remaining but his mishit shot was saved by the legs of Nigeria keeper Maduka Okoye.

Nigeria will face Sudan in Group D on Saturday (16:00hrs GMT), while Egypt take on Guinea-Bissau (19:00hrs GMT).

Dr. Puran Singh/Brian Ramphal pump $850k into BCB programmes for 2022 THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), under the leadership of Hilbert Foster continues to attract sponsorship, as it strives to work hard to develop the game in the Ancient County.

The current leadership under Foster’s guidance in 2018 inherited a meagre $43 000 when it took office and since then has raised over $60M in cash and kind for the unmatched development of Berbice cricket.

Last Monday two of the BCB most faithful sponsors - Dr Puran Singh and Brian Ramphal - informed the board that they would be renewing their annual sponsorship for 2022.

Dr Singh is the younger brother of Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, one of the major sponsor of Berbice cricket and is based in his adopted home of Barbados. He first came on board as a BCB sponsor in 2019 and has invested close to $1M of his personal funds into the county.

In 2022, he would be sponsoring the BCB National Players Scheme at the cost of $350 000. Under the Scheme, BCB would provide a stipend of $10 000 to every Berbician who makes the national team at the Under-15, U-17, U-19 and female levels.

Foster expressed thanks to Dr Singh for his continued support and reassured him that the funds would be used for the intended purpose. The stipend , he stated, would serve as a motivation to the players.

Cricket West Indies (CWI), he stated, is planning to resume cricket at the junior level and the BCB was confident that its players would

Windies Women to play four ODIs...

COVID-19 pandemic.

WI CEO Johnny Grave said, “There has been a lot of hard work and collaboration with our friends at Cricket South Africa regarding this tour and we are very pleased that we have been able to confirm

this rescheduled ODI Series, allowing us to play vital high-level international competition and complete preparations ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. “We are extremely grateful to both CSA’s and

CWI’s operational and medical teams for their efforts in confirming the schedule and we look forward to an exciting ODI series.’’

West Indies Women’s head coach Courtney Walsh said: “This tour will give us a chance to get some

Dr. Puran Singh

Brian Ramphal

make up the majority of the different teams due to the massive investment in their development .Dr Singh stated that he was very impressed with the work of the board and its visionary leadership.

He noted that he was very pleased to be a part of the team that has done so much and pledged to continue his support in the future.

Brian Ramphal is a very successful overseas-based entrepreneur who invests in the Tech Industry.

He came on board as a BCB sponsor in 2018 after being introduced to Foster by former BCB secretary Oscar Ramjeet. The USA-based Ramphal to date has donated close to $3M to the vibrant cricket board and would be investing $500 000 in 2022.

The sponsorship would cover the cost of an Under-19 tournament in West Berbice along with educational grants to players in the same area.

The hosting of the 2022 BCB Mother- and Fatherof-the-Year award, along with the overall BCB Award Ceremony, is expected to be held in late April.

A very prominent Caribbean sports leader has already agreed to be the main

speaker at the Brian Ramphal 2022 BCB Awards Ceremony, which would be held at the St Francis Community, and the cost of an Under- 19 tournament in West Berbice along with educational grants to players in the same area.

Meanwhile, West Indies player Shimron Hetmyer and his wife Nirvanie on Friday reassured the BCB that they would be renewing their sponsorship for Hetmyer Trust Fund. Last year, the couple sponsored the first edition of the fund at the cost of one million dollars.

Over 80 clubs received cricket balls while 10 youths received educational grants.

BCB would provide cricket balls to all the clubs in the county with funds donated by the Hetmyers in 2022.

The pair were the main reason why his presidency was so successful and expressed thanks to them for their support over the years.

Ramphal stated that he was delighted to be associated with the BCB as it was making a positive difference in the lives of youths.

BCB would provide cricket balls to all the clubs in the county with funds donated by the Hetmyers in 2022.

to fine-tune before departing for New Zealand, so that when we get there we can hit the ground running and give a proper showing of ourselves on the world stage.”

The series will feature two day matches and two

day/night matches under lights. The day matches start at 10:00hrs. local time (04:00hrs Eastern Caribbean/03:00hrs Jamaica) and the day/nighters at 14:00hrs. local time (08:00hrs. Eastern Caribbean/07:00hrs. Jamaica).

(From page 34)

cricket in before the World Cup especially since we have played less cricket than anticipated following the cancellation of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

“This tour will show us exactly what we need

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday January 12, 2022

ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup …Group C Preview GROUP C of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup pits a two-time champion team against one of the rising forces in the game, with a couple of potential dark horses looking to spring a surprise.

Pakistan are the only team to have defended the title, doing so back in 2006 after winning a first crown two years earlier, and will be looking to make it to the final for the sixth time in the West Indies.

Their biggest rivals in the group could be Afghanistan, whose best result came four years ago when they reached the semi-finals.

Joining the sub-continental duo are Zimbabwe, who have made it out of the first round on three occasions, and Papua New Guinea, back in the competition after failing to qualify in 2020.

AFGHANISTAN (7TH APPEARANCE) Afghanistan’s rise in the senior game has been mirrored at Under-19 level, with the side having reached the quarter-finals in three of the last four editions of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC. Since first qualifying in 2010, Afghanistan have

made it to every tournament since, with the highlight coming in 2018 when a team featuring the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mujeeb Ur Rahman helped them reach the semi-finals before losing to Australia.

This time around, it will be up to spinner Noor Ahmad to provide the experience, as he is the only survivor from the 2020 squad.

The 17-year-old has been involved in both the Big Bash and the PSL and should provide plenty of support to skipper Suliman Safi.

PAKISTAN (14TH APPEARANCE) Only India have reached the ICC U19 Men’s CWC final more often than Pakistan, who have done so on five occasions.

The glory years came back in 2004 and 2006, with back-to-back titles in squads featuring the likes of future skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, as well as Wahab Riaz and Imad Wasim.

More recently, Shaheen Shah Afridi first caught the eye in the ICC U19 Men’s CWC, so the conveyor belt of talent has shown no signs of slowing down.

In the West Indies, all-rounder Qasim Akram

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday January 12, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the first WI/IRE ODI of the current series?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Match?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Pakistan’s Qasim Akram

Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad

will captain the side that is coached by Pakistan legend Ijaz Ahmed.

Qasim will be joined by top-order batter Muhammad Shehzad who is also back for his second appearances in the tournament.

of the last four ICC U19 Men’s CWCs. The best of those campaigns came in 2016 when a team featuring then 15-yearold Wesley Madhevere lost by just two runs to eventual

PAPUA NEW GUINEA (9TH APPEARANCE) After Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) senior men’s team competed at the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the Under-19 team will make their ninth appearance in the ICC U19 Men’s CWC in the West Indies.

PNG are yet to make it out of the first round of the tournament but of their three previous victories, two have come against Group C opponents.

In 2010, PNG got the better of Afghanistan while two years later they got the better of Zimbabwe.

All-rounder Barnabas Maha will lead the side in the West Indies, having also captained the side during qualification for the 2020 ICC U19 Men’s CWC. ZIMBABWE (13TH APPEARANCE) Zimbabwe have been remarkably consistent in recent editions, finishing either 10th or 11th in each

Zimbabwe’s Emmanuel Bawa

champions West Indies to miss out on qualification for the quarter-finals before going on to beat South Africa by eight wickets in the play-offs.

A record of three wins and three losses in each of those tournaments shows that Zimbabwe should not be taken lightly by any opponent, and they will be keen to spring a surprise of the sub-continental pair who are favourites to get out of the group.

Emmanuel Bawa, who scored a century against Canada at the 2020 edition, captains the side this year and is the only remaining member of that squad.

He will be supported by vice-captain Brian Bennett in a side that is coached by former Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya.

Windies Women to play four ODIs against South Africa

Windies Women cricketers

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – West Indies Women will play four One-Day Internationals (ODI) against South Africa Women in Johannesburg from January 28 to February 6 as part of their preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Ahead of the first ODI, West Indies will have a warm-up match against a South Africa XI on January

25.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) today confirmed a revised schedule as both teams finalise preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be played in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3, 2022.

West Indies Women were previously scheduled to play three T20 Interna-

tionals and five One-Day Internationals against South African Women from January 15 to February 6.

All matches in South Africa will be played in a bio-secure environment at the historic Imperial Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, a venue close to the teams’ hotel which has been secured for exclusive use due to the ongoing (Turn to page 33)

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday January 12, 2022

Six to represent Guyana Guyanese Aaron Beharry in at IMMAF World OCA squad for Sri Lanka tour Championship in Abu Dhabi SIX Guyanese will be among the 529 athletes from 60 countries that will participate in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation’s Amateur World Championships in Abu Dhabi, January 24-29.

It will be the first IMMAF World Championship since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and it also marks Guyana’s first time participating at the prestigious event.

Renowned Judoka, Bruce Fraser, will be in charge of the team as their coach and which will have Corwin D'Anjou, one of the few locally based fighters with MMA experience.

D'Anjou will compete in the Men's Welterweight (77.1kg) division, while Webster McRae will suitup in the Middleweight (83.9kg) category.

Ijaz Cave and Akeem Fraser will throw-down in the Men’s Light Heavyweight (93kg), Christopher James in the Heavyweight (120.2kg), while John Campayne will measure-up in the Super Heavyweight (300kg) division.

Dr Sawan Jagnarain, Executive Member of the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GMMAF), along with Latoya Collins, president of Guyana Police Force Martial Arts Academy, and Sport Journalist Rawle Toney, will also be part of the contingent that will depart on Thursday, January 20 for the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) capital.

Corwin D'Anjou will be one of six Guyanese who will compete at the IMMAF World Championships in Abu Dhabi, January 24-29

Hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and MMA Federation, with the support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and in partnership with Palms Sports, the senior and junior national tournaments are to take place at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Zayed Sports City, near UFC Fight Island (Yas Island).

The event will be broadcast live globally on immaf. tv.

Kerrith Brown, president of the IMMAF said they’re “excited to be back in the Middle East, which is a fast-growing hub for MMA with sports authorities serious about developing

the grassroots and amateur levels of the sport.”

Brown noted that “based on the competitiveness and hunger shown by IMMAF athletes through 2021 and the notable maturation of talent, the 2021 IMMAF World Championships promises elite level sportsmanship in compelling match-ups not to be missed by fans.”

Guyana and Trinidad &Tobago will be the only two countries from the Caribbean, with the Twin Island Republic being represented by one athlete – Jeremy ‘Rampage’ Rodulfo – in the Men’s Light Heavyweight Division.

WHEN the Ontario Cricket Academy (OCA) embarks on its 14th international cricket tour to Sri Lanka from March 11 to 21, Guyana’s Aaron Beharry will be a notable inclusion in the squad which will also have another Guyanese Tribhawan ‘Jaggy’ Jagessar as one of the manager/ coaches.

Beharry, who has followed closely in the footsteps of his father, Anil Beharry, a former Berbice Inter-county player and prominent cricket administrator, has been added to the squad via recommendation from Jagessar The off-spinning all-rounder, who represents Young Warriors Cricket Club and Everest, was in the reckoning for the Guyana’s Under-19 squad just before COVID-19 pandemic closures in the West Indies, and according to Jagessar, “Aaron has exceptional ability with bat and ball and will definitely help to provide depth for the squad”.

An elated Aaron told Chronicle Sport that he “believed this trip will give me better sense of how other cricket cultures are, how to adjust to different wickets and environment. It will definitely be a new experience for me. I hope to transfer all that is learnt into my game and career.”

In an invited comment, Aaron’s father, Anil, who also served as president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), disclosed that tour “will surely give him an opportunity to mix with persons that he never met before.” He

Off-spinning all-rounder Aaron Beharry

pointed out that “his ability to adapt will be tested as the conditions in Sri Lanka will be strange to him”.

According to the elder Beharry, “Aaron’s level of maturity will also be tested.

It will surely help his game to improve and also move it to another level.”

The touring Under-19 team is expected to face stiff competition against District Development teams, academies and colleges. T20, 40- and 50-over matches are scheduled in Galle, Colombo and Negombo.

OCA, being no stranger to the country and conditions of the cricket-loving island, expects the tour to help give players exposure and experiences in different conditions.

OCA’s Director, Derek Perera, believes that “these tours help our young players to learn how to bat, bowl and field in very testing conditions than what we are used to here in Canada. The players will have to adapt

quickly to the hot weather and different pitches, all of which make them stronger and more well equipped for the future”.

The touring team will include three OCA players currently in the Canadian Under-19 World Cup side - Siddh Lad (captain), Parmveer Kharoud (vice-captain) and Sahil Badin.

Taimoor Shahzad will be joining the squad directly from Australia where he is enrolled in the Joe Root Academy. Taimoor travelled from Alberta, Canada to join OCA for specialised training in October 2021 and soon after was keen to be part of the touring team. Eran Maliduwapathirana joins the team as well to add to the pace battery of the OCA touring side. Eran was listed as a reserve for the Canada Under-19 World Cup team.

According to a release from the OCA, “Apart from cricket, the players will gain a broader understanding of the country, its history and people. At OCA one of the key objectives of touring is for the players to become more socially responsible, understanding and knowledgeable people.”

Touring Team: Siddh Lad (captain), Parmveer Kharoud vice-captain), Sahil Badin, Eran Maliduwapathirana, Taimoor Shahzad, Aryan Desai, Dharm Patel, Kishan Missir. Aaron Beharry, Dilraj Deol. Two other players are to be selected at a later date. The manager/coaches are Tribhawan Jagessar and Derek Perera. (Frederick Halley)

ODI series to go ahead but T20 scrapped after COVID scare KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Cricket Ireland (CI) have scrapped the one-off Twenty20 International scheduled for next Sunday here, in order to ensure the completion of the three-match one-day series.

The tour was imperilled Monday when three additional members of the Ireland camp tested positive, bringing to five the number of cases in the party since their arrival here

last week.

And already with injuries to two players, Ireland were left with a severely depleted squad, forcing organisers to postpone the second One-Day International scheduled for yesterday.

In a joint statement with CI, however, CWI said yesterday the second ODI would now be played at Sabina Park tomorrow with the final ODI, originally carded for Friday at the same venue, now pushed

to Sunday.

“The rescheduling occurred following five COVID-19 positive cases, as well as injuries in the Ireland camp leaving the Ireland squad depleted ahead of the 2nd CG Insurance ODI which was originally scheduled for yesterday,” the CWI statement said.

“As a consequence the one-off CG Insurance T20 International has been cancelled to allow for this revised

schedule and to avoid impact on the teams’ travel plans and subsequent fixtures.

“These ODI matches form part of the ICC ODI Super League with both teams having the opportunity to win points to be one of the top seven teams, excluding hosts India, to gain automatic qualification for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.” Among the three positive cases on Monday were captain Andy Balbirnie, who top-

scored with 71 in the opening ODI last Saturday which Ireland lost by 24 runs.

Wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker, who also featured in the contest, along with interim head coach David Ripley, also returned positive tests.

Simi Singh and Ben White had tested positive ahead of the first ODI and ruled out of the series, while veteran batting all-rounder Paul Sterling and Shane Getkate missed the first ODI after returning

positive tests before leaving Florida last month, following their three-match Twenty20 International series against United States.

A COVID cluster in the Irish camp forced the abandonment of the three-match ODI series against the United States.

England are scheduled to arrive in Barbados shortly for a five-match series from January 22 to 30 at Kensington Oval.

GFF president takes responsibility for over-capacity crowd at Futsal final Part of the action between Sparta Boss and Bent Street in the final of the K&S/GFF Futsal tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall

- hails success of the year-end football activities

By Rawle Toney GUYANA Football Federation (GFF) president, Wayne Forde, has issued an apology for the over-capacity crowd at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday evening.

The GFF, in collaboration with the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, hosted the final for their Year-End Futsal championship at the country’s premier indoor sport facility, which saw Sparta Boss claim the tournament’s $1M first-place prize in a dramatic 5-3 penalty shoot-out against Bent Street.

However, many were alarmed and reprimanded the event’s organisers for the crowd that crammed into the venue since the country is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, and the National Task Force having regulations in place that prohibit large gathering, especially at sport events.

Ironically though, the National COVID-19 Task Force was present at the venue, checking patrons for proof of vaccination. The event only catered to fully inoculated players, fans and officials.

Forde, at a press conference hosted yesterday as a post-mortem of the federation’s year-end activities, made it clear that the GFF has always put the wellbeing of its community first.

He added that they “continue to place the highest value of consideration on the safety of our players, officials, coaches, fans and community of stakeholders. It is, therefore, with great

regret and sadness that we witnessed what took place at the final of the futsal tournament last weekend.”

Forde stressed on the obvious difficulty of controlling such a large, unexpected number of people in a small space, but admitted that it was clearly wrong and unacceptable that an over-capacity crowd was allowed entry into the building, which he added “created an unnecessary hazard to public health and runs against everything we stand for at the GFF.” “Let me be clear that the GFF and its partner Kashif & Shanghai take full responsibility for this outcome. We have launched a thorough internal investigation to understand what went wrong and why, and how this can be addressed in the appropriate way,” Forde reaffirmed.

The GFF president believes that it is “of vital importance that we set an example to others and I would like to emphasise strongly that, barring this single event, the three year-end tournaments took place in full accordance with the regulations and in a safe and secure environment. We would like to thank the vast majority of fans who cooperated with us by adhering to the rules, guidelines and COVID 19 protocols.”

Forde pointed to the numerous sporting events globally being held during the pandemic, stating, “we even saw supporters breaking into the Euro 2020 final at Wembley in the UK, during one of the most well-resourced events the world of sport has ever seen. TURN TO PAGE 30 ►

GFF president, Wayne Forde

Former national swimming champion Dexter ‘Presser‘ Joseph passes away in the USA

Former national swimming champion Dexter 'Presser' Joseph

THE residents of Linden and the swimming fraternity were plunged into mourning after hearing the sad news on Monday morning that former Natonal swimming champion, Dexter 'Presser' Joseph, died while vacationing in Atlanta Georgia, United States of America.

'Presser' Joseph who was 60 years old, died on his way to hospital Joseph grew up in Christianburg, Wismar, Linden but had moved to Amelia's Ward where he lived with his wife Yvette and youngest daughter 18- year old Jasmine.

He also leaves to mourn four other children from a previous marriage which produced Orlando, Shanata, Ryan and Sharlika Joseph.

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He would be remembered as one of the best swimmers of his generation and he represented Guyana at the Junior level, Inter-Guiana Games and Senior level.

'Presser' was among the greatest swimmers the mining town has produced over the years and among the outstanding swimmers Linden churned out in the mid-1970s and the 1980s, when swimmers from the bauxite community dominated at the National level.

Long-time friend and former National champion Mary Chung-Phillips expressed shock at the passing of 'Presser' Joseph.

The Linden Torpedo Swim Club, other clubs in Georgetown and the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) extend condolences to his family, relatives and friends. (Joe Chapman) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022