Issuu

12th june, 2022

free Inside No.106751

‘Your country needs you today more than ever’ 03 PAGE

– President Ali tells Guyanese diaspora in LA

President, Dr Irfaan Ali and members of the diaspora during a meeting in Los Angeles, California (Office of the President photo)

Children take 13 ‘COVID jabs’

Family gets first completed Young Professional house at Prospect 17

PAGE

A brave boy! Six-year-old Mohammed Scott took his COVID-19 vaccine without flinching (Delano Williams photo)

Drug-abuse resistance programme A licence is not a requirement to benefit to be introduced in schools 14 from $150k grant for fishermen 12 PAGE

PAGE

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

‘Your country needs you today more than ever’ –– President Ali tells Guyanese diaspora in LA

SPEAKING before a gathering of the Guyanese diaspora in Los Angeles, California, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, emphasised that overseas-based Guyanese, now more than ever need to be part of the country’s massive transformation and development. The President made the remarks on Friday night when he engaged Guyanese living in Los Angeles at an event organised by the Guyana Consulate there. President Ali was in Los Angeles to attend the IX Summit of the Americas. “To my Guyanese brothers and sisters, I assure you of a few things. I assure you of being part of the future, which seeks to bring our country together. Your country needs you today more than ever. We are ready to have all of you as part of this new transformative Guyana

L-R: Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud; PM of Barbados, Mia Mottley; First Lady, Mrs Arya Ali; President, Dr Irfaan Ali; Ambassador Sam Hinds and another official during a diaspora mixer held in Los Angeles, California (Photo: Office of the President) that we so badly want to create,” the Head of State expressed to the gathering. The President was ac-

companied by First Lady, Mrs Arya Ali; Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley; Guyana’s Am-

bassador in Washington, Samuel Hinds and Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud. During the event, the

President, Dr Irfaan Ali shares a light moment at the meeting (Photo: courtesy Office of the President)

President thanked certain members of the diaspora for the work that they have been doing, and welcomed them to consider investments in Guyana, but cautioned that they cannot invest from a distance and they should return home to do the necessary ground work. “Sometimes we’re in the diaspora and we believe we can stay from far away and be part of the change. If you want to invest, you have to come make your own assessment, analysis, business plan and pursue investments like a true investor,” the President advised. He further noted that, “Many would come and only want to meet with the President, [or] come and say we want to invest. Did you submit your proposal to Go-Invest? No. Did you meet with the sector? No. We cannot build a country if we don’t build

institutions. And we have to allow the institutions to work and you have to make use of the institutions.” The Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), headed by Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ramsaroop, is the country’s primary contact for investors and for liaising with government agencies throughout the investment process. According to President Ali, many members of the diaspora are already au fait with the many reports on Guyana’s fast developing economy due to the burgeoning oil-and-gas industry; however, he noted that Guyanese must be pragmatic of the light Guyana is painted in. THINK BIG President Ali also spoke about the current ongoing drive by the Caribbean see page 4

‘Your country needs you ...

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

from page 3

Community (CARICOM) to garner increasing global attention for the many issues facing the region, particularly those pertaining to food security and climate change. He said the time has come for the CARICOM region to “think big,” and the time has ended for when the world would push aside the concerns of the region. “The time has come

for us to think big, to be great influencers in global decision making. There has been no other time in [the], history of CARICOM that this type of influence is exercised,” President Ali reasoned. President Ali noted that it was because of the heavy lobbying from the CARCIOM region that food security was added to the agenda of the IX Summit of the Americas. “I believe strongly that

june 8, 2022

G 11 12 13 15 16 23 09 june 11, 2022

A 03 06 09 24 26 27 01

the world must plan for CARICOM, but more importantly, the Americas must plan for CARICOM. It is my belief that it is the work and aggression of CARICOM that got food security and climate change as the agenda item in this Summit of the Americas. “In the case of food security, it was completely taken off the global agenda. We are leading the way to ensure that food security is not only on the agenda,

11/06/22 - 06, 11, 19, 22, 24

but on top of the agenda with climate change,” Dr. Ali said. Dr Ali’s words come amidst renewed sense of unity in the CARICOM region which has most recently banded around agreements to improve food security in light of challenges facing the world due to global issues. The region is currently striving to reduce the external food-import bill by 2025 through increased

11/06/22 - 2 2 1

intra-regional production. This is backed by increased public and private investment. The CARICOM’s renewed interest in food security comes following previous initiatives that fell to the wayside. However, the region is building on the reinvigorated energy to push forward with a new plan. “We are leading a new revolution in CARICOM where we want to fix our problems. We said very

11/06/22 - 1 4 2

clearly, we are tired of technical studies, it is now time to move from studies to action. We are convinced that with the collective will that exists in CARICOM today we are moving on a new path of action. I believe strongly in the leadership of CARICOM today and I believe [in] the potential of Guyana in becoming the food basket of the region,” President Ali said.

11/06/22- 1, 2, 3, 5, 15, 18, 21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 12, 2022

US inflation quickens to 40-year high

Bloomberg - US inflation accelerated to a fresh 40year high in May, a sign that price pressures are becoming entrenched in the economy. That will likely push the Federal Reserve to extend an aggressive series of interest-rate hikes and adds to political problems for the White House and Democrats. The consumer price index increased 8.6% from a year earlier in a broad-based advance, Labor Department data showed Friday. The widely followed inflation gauge rose 1% from a month earlier, topping all estimates. Shelter, food and gas were the largest contributors. The so-called core CPI, which strips out the more volatile food and energy components, rose 0.6% from the prior month and 6% from a year ago, also above forecasts. The figures dash any hope that inflation had already peaked and was starting to ebb. Record gasoline prices, paired with unrelenting food and shelter costs, are adding strain to Americans’ cost of living, suggesting the Fed will have to pump the brakes on the economy even harder. That raises the risk of a recession, which some economists already saw as likely next year. “There’s little respite

from four-decade high inflation until energy and food costs simmer down and excess demand pressures abate in response to tighter monetary policy,” Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said in a note. “The Fed might still raise policy rates ‘just’ 50 bps next week, but it could easily ratchet up the pace beyond then if inflation keeps surprising to the high side.” Two-year Treasury yields jumped, stocks opened lower and the dollar rose. Traders fully priced in 50-basis-point rate hikes over the Fed’s next three policy meetings in June, July and September. In May, prices for necessities continued to rise at double-digit paces. Energy prices climbed 34.6% from a year earlier, the most since 2005, including a nearly 49% jump in gasoline costs. Gas prices so far in June have climbed to new highs, signaling more upward pressure in coming CPI reports and therefore keeping the Fed in the hot seat. Grocery prices rose 11.9% annually, the most since 1979, while electricity increased 12%, the most since August 2006. Rent of primary of residence climbed 5.2% from a year earlier, the most since 1987. There are growing risks that price pressures in those

categories will continue to build. Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, as well as stepped-up related sanctions; potential port disruption due to the upcoming West Coast dockworker contract expiration; Covid-related lockdowns in China and drought and could all contribute to higher prices for food and energy. “Tighter monetary policy will not help much with surging global commodity prices or structural changes in the way people spend and live in the post-pandemic economy,” Wells Fargo & Co. economists Sarah House and Michael Pugliese said in a note. That likely spells further trouble for President Joe Biden, whose approval ratings have sunk to new lows ahead of midterm elections later this year. While the job market remains a bright spot, decades-high inflation is crippling confidence

among the American people and largely outpacing wage gains. Inflation-adjusted average hourly earnings fell 3% in May from a year earlier, the biggest drop since April 2021 and the 14th straight decline, separate data showed Friday. That’s killing consumer sentiment, which plunged in early June to the lowest on record, and inflation expectations moved higher, according to data from the University of Michigan released after the CPI. Furniture, including bedding, was one of the few categories to post a monthly decline. Prices for goods such as apparel, meanwhile, continued to climb, contributing to the stronger-than-forecast core figures. Before the report, economists had already revised up their estimates for yearover-year inflation through the third quarter of 2023, according to the latest

Bloomberg survey Airfares rose 12.6% in May, a slight moderation from the prior month but still up the most on an annual basis since 1980. Prices for hotel stays, meanwhile, were up 22.2% year-over-year. Rising demand for travel and entertainment this summer, particularly among wealthier households who have the savings to support discretionary spending, as well as tight labor market conditions will likely maintain upward pressure on services inflation in the coming months. So far, consumer spending has held firm in the face of inflation, supported by savings and credit cards. Some economists fear that the Fed will go too far in tightening policy, risking weaker spending. Shelter costs -- which are the biggest services’ component and make up

about a third of the overall CPI index -- rose 0.6% from April, the most since 2004, and 5.5% from last year, the most since 1991. Economists don’t expect housing inflation to peak until later this year, suggesting further increases in these categories. Used car prices, which had been cooling in recent months, advanced 1.8% in May, the most this year. New-vehicle prices climbed 1%.

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

Facts Matter PRESIDENT, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in a well-prepared and articulated address to hemispheric leaders at the Summit of the Americas, urged countries to put aside political and ideological differences and rise to the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment in the region. According to President Ali, the full potential of the region still remains largely unfulfilled and posited that only a holistic and well-integrated approach to development could result in a resolution to the myriad economic and social problems faced by the region. In a well-researched presentation drawing on several reports from regional and international institutions including the World Bank, President Ali made a convincing case for greater attention by the United States and the more economically advanced countries to growing inequities in the hemisphere especially in the areas of food insecurity and energy disparity. US President Joe Biden had earlier told business leaders of the hemisphere that conservative ‘trickle-down’ economic policies are a failure. According to President

Biden, the past few years have ‘exposed the weakness of prioritizing short-term profits and working exclusively to maximize efficiency.’ Facts matter, and as President Ali noted, it is time for leaders of North, South and Central America and the Caribbean to have fact-based discussions to lift people of the hemisphere to a position of prosperity. What is needed, according to President Ali, is the need for tough conversations on the best possible decisions for the people of the region. The Summit, which is being held under the theme ‘Building sustainable, resilient and equitable future’ takes place at a time when the region is faced with an existential threat due to climate change, the continuing COVI-19 pandemic and the undermining of democracy in several countries including Guyana. President Ali took the opportunity to thank the Organization of American States (OAS) for the role it played in thwarting the attempted rigging of the March 2020 General and Regional elections in Guyana. Democracy, he said, is inseparable from the realization of the Summit goals.

With supporting data, President Ali drew attention to the deepening crisis facing the region in several critical areas which included climate change, the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on learning outcomes, job losses, food insecurity, and widening income gaps and called for collective action based on a realistic analysis of the current state of affairs in the region.

“We are living among these challenges in a region that has the potential to be fully energy secure, bring prosperity to every home, have the greatest access to natural resources, abundant land and access to water resources to ensure food security; enough rain forests and technology to make a meaningful contribution to climate change, enough access to finances to bridge inequality and support development for all,” President Ali said. Despite these vast resources, the region is still unable to realize its full potential. Guyana, meanwhile, has been doing an excellent job in terms of deforestation which stands at 0.05 percent, one of the lowest in the world.

Guyana, however, despite its recent successes in terms of accelerated growth and development is committed to a process of shared development. The economy is projected to double within the next two years as the country now has the unenviable record as the world’s fastest-growing economy. This economic ‘tsunami’ is expected to lift, as it were, all boats, not only in Guyana but in the region as a whole. Guyana, according to President Ali, ‘belongs to the family of humanity and we are ready to make our contribution to that family. We cannot be reckless and we will not be irresponsible in managing these resources in the interests of the world and in the interests of this region.’ This is indeed big and noble thinking on the part of President Ali, who must be commended for his contribution to the hemispheric discourse on the way forward. His presentation at the Summit of the Americas has certainly found resonance with regional leaders and in some fundamental ways can be regarded as a blueprint for the economic and social agenda of the hemisphere as a whole.

Electoral integrity must be the root of our democracy Dear Editor, FOREMOST, it must be acknowledged that there is much work to be done to improve and strengthen Guyana’s democratic framework. This is given the significant abuse and damage resulting from the March 2020 elections fiasco and its related undercurrents. While the recently released Electoral Integrity Global Report 2019-2021 influences perceptive reactions, its limitations include a lack of pronouncements on casual factors and assumptions made by the evaluators in their consideration of circumstances requiring clear delineation. Notably, the Guyana process received a low comparative global measure in the report, but its implications for many relevant stakeholders determine why the absoluteness of the measurement demands and necessitates the need for further internal interrogation. In particular, the score focuses on evaluations over the last three years and does not

reflect the work done since returning to Government by the current PPP/C administration. Certainly, it is appropriate that dependency of the findings for current reference also consider the improvement undertakings since August 2020. Notwithstanding, it is obvious that the low score was influenced by, and recorded under the desperate effort by the PNC/APNU+AFC coalition government to rig the 2020 General and Regional Elections. The flagrant self-sacrificial role played by key employees of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), justified damning global condemnations and jurisdictional electoral charges. But one must not pretend, however, that the problem was not incentivised by other internal accommodations of central players in the then coalition government. A revamped GECOM must improve its image supported by rational and practical legally enforceable changes to improve its transparent delivery of free and Fair Elections. There is no doubt that elections are indeed

central to our democracy. Free and fair elections at all times, must realise the peaceful transition of power to that political party, the majority of voting citizens support. Today, it is recognised that even many die-hards of the opposing PNC/R regime are in acceptance of the plain truth, evidenced by the recount results. Consequently, more civic participation in the struggle for free and fair elections is being experienced. Although the circumstance demands an almost imbued cultural faction change; those who portray a behaviour of immunity to rigging must get civilised and work in harmony for the betterment of our people and country. Critically, voter intimidation can lead to low voter turnout increasing barriers to transparent voting responses. These have been the hallmark of PNC’s behaviour for decades. Many of their leading activists have, and continue to engage in issuing widespread threats of violence including the burning of the Capital city. Certainly, these undercurrents must be halted and the threat of post-election

violence must be made a thing of the past. Our electoral procedures must be objectively reviewed where appropriate, and carefully establish policies for compliance encouraged to aid GECOM’s execution of its mandate in the delivery of acceptable integrity-driven free, and fair elections results. Editor, the presence of continued lawlessness and irrationality evidenced in the period from the successful passing of the December 21, 2018, no-confidence motion to the almost forceable ejection of the APNU+AFC cabal, some of whom continue a persistence of internal self-conviction. There must be stronger consequential actions to strengthen the enforcement of our electoral laws. Further, ensuring clear electoral procedures, accurate district boundaries, improving voter education and registration clarity; political party registration; encouraging wide media coverage; defining the limitations of campaign financing, the see page 7

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

The laugh of the week came from Aubrey Norton Dear Editor, AS the week rolls to an anticipated ‘washed-out’ weekend, H.E. President Irfaan Ali is revering at the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, engaged as the leader of the fastest growing economy in the world. As we bid goodbye to Caribbean’s son, George Lamming, violence and bullies surfaced in the schools, the streets in our Garden City were flooded and the government is once again helping the M&CC. The laugh of the week came from one leader who claimed he was bullied. Did he create a precedent to hold our breath for this weekend’s AFC caucus (fracas)? Take a moment to smile awhile. 1. The buck stops at the desk of Senior Magistrate Leron Daly as the case of recusing rolls to an end. 2. 1028 days left before what? The earth stands still or comes to an end? A disrupter became an interrupter when she tied herself to the edge of the net with a string around her neck at the French open Men’s Semifinal. 3. Healing will come when you hit the ceiling on a high note with the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Will the canary sing of Walter, Vincent and Shirley? 4. The trend is moving at the pace of the “Bullet Train” to fast forward the value of the growth of offshore fields.

5. “War break” means only one thing, exactly what it says without ambiguity, war break, whether announced or unannounced! 6. Dead meat vs stale meat vs fresh meat. The goose will be cooked, either roast, bar-bque or fry (unless nature intervenes)! 7. Undaunted in his pursuit of truth and justice, George was a powerful voice and a man of tremendous courage. Yet many of his kith and kin questioned his views. 8. Without the flounce and flair, world leaders are asked to “stop skirting around issues.” After all, the ambience was a house of fashion. 9. Rejection is reason for redirection. CARICOM’s pertinent comment for election riggers. 10. “We need someone in office that the British people can trust,” said the Shadow Foreign Secretary. APNU+AFC Party lost the last election. 11. Our American friends (fiends?) are wrong on this! 12. “The Council frowns on attempts to score cheap political points,” stated the Mayor’s office. Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, claimed that he was bullied. 13. “Two colors” will see only one color when he faces the court. 14. Scores of waiting pre-service teachers enrolled at the CPCE from Region Two, on Thursday, breathed a sigh of relief when they collected their stipends. After holding their

Electoral integrity must ...

from page 6

voting process, and the vote count approach, will serve to ensure the early release of results. Therefore, the GECOM electoral authority must be clear as regards the role and delivery expected of the secretariat staff, as well as from the GECOM Commissioners. The recent GECOM advertisement of vacancies for polling day staff is most welcome. Presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, poll clerks, ballot clerks/counting assistants, and information clerks must be fully trained. Notwithstanding, carefully thought out criteria must be used to guide the selection and retaining of these responding persons for employment. Those employed must be men and women with integrity. The forward movement of GECOM in this respect must be applauded. It is a clear signal that the overdue Local Government Elections (LGEs) are likely to be called, and this must be realised as early as possible. It is crucial that GECOM purposefully develop a cadre of efficient and tooled staff who will be ready to professionally execute its mandate. Those who are calling for GECOM flexibility now were among were ‘dumb deflectors’ who contributed to the ‘riggers,’ keeping their knees on our people’s necks for five long months. They must be

disregarded. But we must not stop here as the organisation ought to sustain a continuous improvement approach that will prevent the casual factors related to the 2020 debacle from ever raising their ugly heads again. In a phased way, Guyana’s electoral system will be improved and strengthened, but achieving a pinnacled global measure will always have challenges linked to the opposition’s transitioning makeup and behaviour. Our country has had enough rigging and procrastination in the preparation for elections, an approach that is often times conveniently promoted by opposition elements. Therefore, here in Guyana, ensuring integrity is embued as a purposeful objective is crucial. In addition, improving the legislative framework to enforce and deter certain clandestine patterns must also be undertaken and would be central to some of the remedial actions required for improved national and global perceptions and encourage Global democratic acceptance. In the case of these delayed LGEs, GECOM must now hold a short period of claims and objections and produce a voters list! There must be no more delays. Sincerely, Neil Kumar

breath for twelve months? 15. “Enough is enough, we need a change. We need better leadership.” Naw, it’s not election time again in Guyana, but, words from the Jamaican footballers wanting the JFF’s general secretary to resign. 16. “You have a government that is interested in getting its cronies rich off of oil and gas and will not look at the options and arrive at the best for Guyana.” Norton finally confessed about the real motives of his APNU+AFC Party. It was Raphael Trotman who signed a lop-sided agreement with the two per cent royalty contract to leave Guyanese in a hole and gave the PPP/C a headache, while lavishing in luxuries on his infamous Texas trip. 17. The APNU+AFC Party is not late with the SOP’s, they’re just delayed. 18. Joe said “Moses is political royalty.” Because of the LOO oil royalty and low math’s ability, now there is “no mo jo.” 19. Two weeks ago, there was “FRESH” anti-protests visible at the African Energy Conference at the Mayfair Hotel in London. After two years, there is still “STALE” anti-protests, variably this time in Guyana. 20. Yoga, Katha and Soca, they all exercise, energise and elasticised the body. 21. Scotia Bank blanks out TT. 22. “Even in my days of political activities against the PPP Government, not one minister was unfriendly to me when they encountered

me. I can say without even an ounce of hesitation, they would always talk to me and were never unpleasant.” Words of wisdom, experience and advice from a friend to Norton on the subject of maturity, pettiness, professionalism and diplomacy. Guess the arena is avant, afresh and advanced. 23. Caribbean nations can access funds. Only Guyana is allowed an Unlimited Credit Card. All others have Debit Cards. 24. No “cheating” of the system this time around. Of course, no mo Loo and Bingo. 25. Aid, not Aids, for Central America with a multi-million -dollar package. 26. All I want for Christmas is for you to buy my Christmas album. 27. Donald Trump now knows who his foes…… his friends and family are! 28. The doctor is in the ward…IMF probes Guyana’s financial health. 29. Sitting on the dock of the bay hanging out……waiting to be robbed! 30. Impressed for a party? Naw, dressed to be relieved of heavy and valuable burdens. 31. Who (not WHO) wants to claim Kamala? Jamaicans, Americans or Indians? 32. Color matters. A five-year GMCS Strategic plan will promote a Blue economy in this Green land. Stay dry and safe with a smile. Sincerely, Jai Lall

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

The word ‘indentureship’ does not exist in CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice

THERE has been a resurgence of attention on Indians in Guyana and the wider Caribbean emanating from, I suppose, the discussions on Indian Arrival Day in May. This attention is forward-looking and should be applauded. Apart from what I have been doing in this space, and the ideological writings on Indian Heritage Month in Guyana Times, there was recently a panel on the online programme named Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre focusing on “Should Indians in the Diaspora demand repara-

tions for indentureship?” The meaning of reparation is to make amends for a wrong an individual (s) has done by paying money or helping those who have been wronged. Most generally, the decision is made in a court of law or by a government or an institution. The money is either given to the victims when they are still alive or to the descendants of the victims. The word reparation is, of course, associated with Africans in the Americas, and, in the case of the Caribbean and Guyana, a 10-point plan

is premised on a “path to reconciliation, truth, and justice for the victims of slavery and their descendants,” according to CARICOM website.

I listened to the recording of the meeting “Should Indians in the Diaspora demand reparations for indentureship?” on YouTube a day later with the intent to see and hear how indentureship would be factored into the reparation claim. Before doing so, I googled the 10-point plan and did not see the word indentureship in the title or in the text elaborating on the 10-point plan. Unless I was looking at an outdated website, which is unlikely, I did not see anything resembling indentureship, although it was said on the panel that indentureship was included and that some Indians in Trinidad were involved in the drafting process of a 10-point plan about five years ago. So, the panel, mostly of Indians from all over the former indentured colonies, was posing the question if Indians should also demand reparation like Africans in the Caribbean through CARICOM. The question was directed to the Reparation Department of the University of the West Indies, and the key speaker was Verene Shepherd, a longtime senior lecturer at the previously mentioned institution. I will share some thoughts as to what I heard. Remarkably, everyone on the panel agreed that slavery and indenture had a common oppressor, and, that is, the white colonialists who used their power to brutalise Africans and

Indians to reap material and human benefits to satisfy imperial aims and objectives. The argument then is that achieving any form of reparation will require an approach of unity rather than being the victim of the divide and rule that so epitomised the colonial period. If you are a descendant of slavery and indenture, it is axiomatic that you would agree with the “united we stand and divided we fall” axiom. I, therefore, support, reparation. That said, there are some challenges to overcome with the common oppressor’s understanding of reparation. In the meeting, it was said that Africans received nothing from slavery, rightly so, and Indians received something, either some land or money, even in cents, rightly so. Notwithstanding some inaccuracies about Indians receiving land and money, and how and why they received them, one is pushed to ask whatever happened to the unity approach of achieving some forms of reparation from the wrongs of slavery and indenture? Moreover, one presenter stated that CARICOM is made up of Caribbean countries with Indians and that their concerns should also be heard. Many more other things were said by the Indian panellists, and I will save you from them here, other than to say the late Brij Lal told me once that “many individuals

write and speak on indenture, but they do not know much.” His statement is still spot on when listening to the recording. In my mind, the twohour meeting on what should have been an important topic was more of fluff, an opportunity to cut loose. The Indian presenters were simply begging to have a seat on the reparation table and to be more actively included, speaking that the wrongs of indenture should be presented by themselves, and not be an appendage to the process. I think Africans in the Caribbean, from all walks of life, have put in a lot of work on the 10-point reparation plan, which should not be conflated with other historical wrongs. Each historical wrong, whether based on ethnicity, race, class, or gender, should be discussed, planned, and executed on an individual basis rather than collectively since each of them, although sharing a common experience, is different. I do not see indenture being on each of the 10-point plan, as so wished by the Indian panellists, for obvious reasons, already stated. My suggestion is to examine the Indian indentured contract as it evolved/devolved during the indenture period to determine the induced violations or infractions and build a case that can potentially be heard in a court of law (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu).

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

Appointment of a Chancellor, Chief Justice

RECENTLY, there has been a conversation and debate brewing in which there are many calls for President, Dr Irfaan Ali to move ahead with the process and confirm the appointment of a Chief Justice and a Chancellor of the Judiciary. While some are willing to wait until President Ali is ready to move the process forward at the right time, others are a bit skeptical and feel that the right time is now. Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, seeing what is playing out publicly and seeking to amass popularity, moved this week to write a formal letter to Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira. He outlined his unconditional agreement with Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire to be confirmed to the positions for which they have been acting since 2017, respectively. Meanwhile, it has been a long 17 and 21 years since Guyana had a confirmed Chancellor and Chief Justice, with the last person to hold both offices substantively being Justice Desiree Bernard in 1996 and 2005. Norton said he wanted to save the President from asking for his agreement. Notably, Teixeira and the President are yet to respond to his vexatious and politically-tricky letter. President Ali insists that he will stick to his oath of office, and there

will be appointments to these posts, but who, how, and when are still to be decided. It is troubling, firstly, that Norton and the APNU+AFC Opposition feel that they are going to bully or force the hand of President Ali to make an appointment to the offices in that way, and now for that matter. Norton knows that he does not have the power to suggest names or cause the President to appoint the Justices substantively. The Opposition Leader knows that he is merely being opportunistic and premature. He is playing politics with the appointments. President Ali should continue with the process of having the Constitutional Rights Commission, statutory office holders, and bodies in place and then look at this issue with the urgency it deserves. Secondly, if this recommendation is adhered to, President Ali and the PPP/C could have the electoral reforms and have certain constitutional amendments passed in Parliament. These amendments would contain sweeping changes as they deem necessary to remedy the problem. The Parliament could have a bi-partisan group of parliamentarians looking closely at the issues relating to the appointment for the two posts. They can deal with the procedures for the appointment of Chancellor and Chief Justice as outlined in Articles 127 (1) and (2) of the Con-

stitution of Guyana. This way, the Opposition APNU+AFC will be duly part and parcel of the process because it is a fact that having a speedy and swift Constitutional Reform Commission inclusive of the voice of civic society entities and the public is the only way

to remedy this decades-old conflict. Such a move will have the formula changed to guide the selection and approval of candidates. This problem is not only a burning conflict now but should be fixed for future Presidents and office holders. There are

other qualified persons who may be interested in the job right here in Guyana and further afield apart from the duo. Does President Ali look past them? Previously, Norton did not explicitly give the same energy and approval for years when the PPP

nominated suitably qualified persons in the form of the late Ian Chang and Justice Carl Singh to fill the posts. President Ali knows not to go with the crowd; what is popular and easy is not necessarily the right decision. A great leader does not take short cuts.

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

Blood is vital for life WORLD Blood Donor Day will be celebrated on June 14, 2022, where voluntary blood donation to save lives is lauded and campaigns are activated to enhance public awareness on the importance of a steady supply of this vital commodity in health systems. Although donors are not gender-specific, men can donate blood more frequently than women (every 12 weeks versus 16 weeks) due to the differences in their reproductive functions.

Also, it was noted that there are less antibodies in men’s blood, making it easier to utilise the blood products such as plasma and platelets. The composition of blood is 55 percent plasma, 45 percent red blood cells and less than1percent white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are generated by the bone marrow. The red blood cells use iron to make a type of protein called hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen to form oxyhemoglobin. This

is the transportation mechanism for supplying oxygen to individual cells in the body tissues for energy production. So when low levels of oxygen is detected in the body or there is some bleed (internal or external), new blood cells are generated by a mechanism regulated by the kidney. A hormone called erythropoietin produced by the kidney then stimulates the bone marrow to either manufacture red blood cells or platelets, depending on if there is a reduction in oxy-

gen levels or a hemorrhage. There are certain categories of persons who may need to build up their Hb (hemoglobin) or “blood count” such as pregnant mothers, anemic persons, leukemia, kidney disease and cancer patients. Trauma cases such as accident victims and those undergoing surgical procedures are two of the established routine categories who will need blood. Additional categories of persons who may require blood are those with bleed-

ing because of heavy menstrual flow due to fibroids or GI (gastrointestinal) tract diseases such as ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, melena or celiac disease or sometimes urinary tract bleeding also. The body’s inability to absorb iron may also cause a deficiency in blood count such as a rare genetic disorder, endurance sports which cause iron loss through their GI tract, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, autoimmune diseases and hereditary blood disorders. The normal range for Hb for women is 11.6 -15.0 grams per deciliter and for men is 13.2 to 16.6 grams per deciliter. Older adults may have a lower Hb due to improper nutrition or side effect from some medications but generally aging is not associated with a lower blood count. The signs that indicate when your Hb is low are tiredness or fatigue, pale appearance, difficulty breathing, chest pain, fast heart rate, dizziness, headache, feeling cold especially in extremities (hands and feet), infections, craving for ice and restless legs. It is recommended that oral iron supplements such as ferrous sulphate tablets or iron tonics be used to combat this problem. There are numerous brands comprising of varying strengths and rates of absorption. The price range varies depending on the quality of the product, country of origin and endorsement of the product. The best times to take an iron supplement is one hour before a meal or two hours after a meal. It is best absorbed when taken with water and or juice. Tannins, a chemical present in tea and coffee would chelate or bind to the iron, thus not

making you get the strength of the formulation. Some transient side effects of iron are constipation and GI events such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. For cases where there is severe blood loss and a need for a rapid response, parenteral forms of iron namely iron dextran, iron sucrose, sodium ferric gluconate and ferumoxytol would be prescribed by a doctor and administered in an in-patient setting, either intravenously or intramuscularly by a technically trained professional. Also for patients with chronic kidney failure, synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) injectable may be administered, which is the precursor hormone to red blood cell production. Some of the parenteral formulations are used concurrently with the EPO injections since the increase red blood cell production demands more iron in the blood. However for slower maintenance levels of iron in the blood, natural sources of iron rich foods are green leafy vegetables such as callaloo, kale, lean meat and poultry, salmon and sea foods, tofu, kidney beans, lentils and peas, nuts, dried fruits and baked potatoes. Some iron-fortified bread and cereals also provide a good source of the elemental iron. For further pharmacological guidance, contact the pharmacist of Medicine Express PHARMACY located at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets. If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine.express@ gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/ burg. Tel #225-5142.

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

International organisations recognise importance of Guyana’s oil & gas AS Guyana recognised World Environment Day on June 5, the country had much to be proud of. Guyana ranks among the highest tier of countries for its efforts to preserve the Amazon, its low deforestation rate and its role as a vast “sink” that draws carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. And now, even with oil and gas production becoming a new centre piece of the economy, Guyana is poised to maintain this delicate balance. International organisations, despite their concerns about global climate change, have recognised the vital role that Guyana’s oil and gas will play in its development and have supported efforts to develop those resources in a way that fortifies global oil and gas supply chains while preserving the environment and limiting emissions. Last week, as part of her World Environment Day message, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Yesim Oruc, said that if low carbon targets are met by Guyana, “the country would see a tenfold increase in demand for electricity supply by 2040 whilst retaining greenhouse gas emissions at 2018 levels. This would be an extraordinary example of how economic growth can be decoupled from carbon emissions.” While some highly developed oil and gas producers have been able to gradually reduce emissions attributed to fossil fuel development, Guyana’s example could one day be a model for other new producers. Oruc also said that “international organisations recognise the need for oil and gas in the developing world,” especially as record-high oil prices are weighing on consumers and countries globally are looking to reduce their reliance on aggressive and non-democratic regimes. Oil and gas development is beginning to transform Guyana with investment driving new spinoff industries and some of the most rapid economic growth in

the world. New training programmes are helping build skills and capacity in the country, especially when it comes to sustainable natural resource development. When talking about the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and Guyana’s transition to a more environmentally friendly future, President Irfaan Ali said, at the World Environment Day event, that Guyana “must explore every possible revenue generating activity so that we can have the resources necessary for adaptable implementation. But we must do so in a sustainable way.” In her speech, Oruc also stated that Guyana is uniquely positioned, through plans like the LCDS to support both economic goals and green development. This could further position Guyana as an oil and gas producer of the future—one that has used its wealth to build a diversified economy, a cleaner electrical grid, and the infrastructure necessary to combat rising seas and other impacts of climate change. Guyana could be a global example for how oil and gas development can and should be done: responsibly and with a focus on sustainability. According to Oruc, “for the first time in our history in Guyana we have the possibility to invest in these priorities and protect ourselves from the impacts of climate change, to mobilise much needed international financing including through private channels precisely because of oil and gas.” Other groups have taken a similar position. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), “Guyana’s medium-term prospects are more favourable than ever before, with increasing oil production having the potential to transform Guyana’s economy.” As Guyana approaches its development through a sustainability lens, the government has already implemented several plans to ensure that the proper steps are taken to reach environ-

mental goals. As part of its efforts, the government has also established conservation guidelines for its forests, which provide a significant carbon sink that has allowed the

country to be a net negative carbon emitter. Guyana’s commitment to the LCDS is now “more important than ever,” according to Oruc. Guyana is expected to experience

nearly 50 percent growth in 2022 with more to come in future years—an opportunity to change Guyanese lives forever. “Guyana would be an extraordinary example of

how economic growth… made possible by oil and gas, can be decoupled from CO2 emissions and possibly even become an instrument for a net zero future,” Oruc said.

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

A licence is not a requirement to benefit from $150k grant for fishermen –– Minister Mustapha clarifies AGRICULTURE Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, has made it clear that all marine fishermen across the country, who earn their living at sea, will benefit from the recently announced $150,000 one-off relief grant. The minister made that statement in light of misconceptions that were brought to his attention as they related to the requirements to benefit from the grant. During an interview with members of the media, Min-

ister Mustapha said that he had received reports that fishermen were being told that they had to be licensed to receive the grant. That, he noted, was not true. “An incident came to my attention; a fisherman went to an officer to register and he was told that he had to be licensed. I want to make it very clear that being a licensed fisherman is not a requirement for you to receive the grant that the government is giving. “The Ministry of Agri-

culture will work to ensure all marine fishermen are registered and verified. Any officer found trying to stop someone from registering because they are not licensed will be disciplined. I hope our fisheries officers are not involved in that type of activity because my instructions were very clear on how this process should be executed,” the minister noted. Minister Mustapha further stated that the Fisheries Department was instructed to develop two lists; one comprising licensed fishermen and the other with those who are not licensed. These lists, he added, will be posted at

every landing site across the country. “We have fishermen who are licensed and we have those who are not licensed. After examining our register, just about 50% of our fishermen are licensed. I want to make it very clear; I’ve given clear instructions to our Fisheries Department that we’ll develop two lists. “One will have the licensed fishermen and the other the unlicensed fishermen. We have a number of landing sites in our country where fishermen land their catch. Since the President made the announcement, we’ve been working to form commit-

tees comprising fishermen to ensure every fisherman is registered. “These committees will be charged with compiling and verifying those lists after which every list will be posted at the landing sites so that the names can be verified by the public,” he added. Minister Mustapha also said that lists will be crosschecked to ensure fishermen do not register twice at different landing sites. Persons are also encouraged to contact the ministry on 227-5049 or 694-6878 to report any issues with the registration process. President, Dr. Mo-

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha hamed Irfaan Ali, on May 31, announced a $150,000 one-off relief grant for fishermen across the country, during a meeting with fishermen from Windsor Forest and other surrounding villages in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

Parents urge others to get their children ‘vaxxed’ against COVID-19

AFTER months of delay, the Ministry of Health (MOH), on Saturday, began the vaccination against COVID-19 for children age five to 11 at the National Cultural Center. Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, speaking to the media said that the pediatric vaccines had been long anticipated but due to challenges, getting vaccines for the age group was difficult. “…there were lots of challenges getting

Eight-year-old Iliya Rogers after taking her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (Delano Williams photo) vaccines for this age group because there is a global shortage of these types of vaccines,” Minister Anthony said. He disclosed that 52,800 of the special Pfizer vaccines were donated by the Government of Spain to Guyana which allowed the commencement of the vaccination rollout. “We were very pleased when we approached the Government of Spain that they readily agreed to donate these pediatric doses to us,” the Health Minister said. Since the procurement of the pediatric vaccines on Monday last, health officials were being trained on how to administer the jabs. “These vaccines are about 1/3 of the adult dose and are specially customized for children between the ages of 5-11,” Minister Anthony said. He explained that the ministry was collab-

orating with the Education Ministry in order to get more children vaccinated against the dreaded virus and that permission slips have already been issued to parents. “What we will do, we will go to those schools where we have a larger percentage of parents agreeing. In that way we will make the most beneficial use of our time and be able to vaccinate more children,” Minister Anthony said. Meanwhile, advisor to the Health Ministry, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, said that more vaccination drives will be held across the country. “We are going to go to people’s homes and it will be available in the health centres. We are going to go to schools and every single weekend from now there is going to be one or more outreaches,” the former Health Minister told the press. The Sunday Chronicle also spoke with parents at Saturday’s vaccination drive and most of them urged others to get their children inoculated. Nicholas Persaud, the father of sevenyear-old Milania Persaud, said that he was aware of the risks of children being unvaccinated and that was why he agreed for his daughter to take the jab. He encouraged other parents who are skeptical of the vaccine to do their research and edify themselves about the importance of protecting their children. Six-year-old Ashiana Singh’s mother, Natasha Balram, said that she wanted her child to be protected against COVID-19, so it was in her best interest that she is vaccinated. “I would encourage other parents to bring their kids out to take the vaccine because it is a very serious time right now and we have seen that little kids have been infected with COVID,” Balram said. Iliya Rogers, the eight-year-old daughter of Lisa Rogers, encouraged other children to be brave and take the vaccine. Candace Field, the mother of seven-yearold Caitlin Doobay, shared that the decision to get her daughter vaccinated was not an impromptu one. “I had decided a long time ago since I took the vaccine myself and of course, I was well protected,” Field said. Candace had contracted COVID-19 and related that she saw the benefits of the vaccine. She also said that, recently, when Caitlin’s brothers reached the age of 12, she took them to get vaccinated because school had reopened and she wanted to ensure that they were fully protected.

Mickey Mouse was on base to greet children who turned up to take the COVID-19 vaccine (Delano Williams photo)

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, interacting with healthcare workers at the vaccination drive (Delano Williams photo)

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

Drug abuse resistance programme to be introduced in schools –– Deputy Commissioner Budhram announces

A DRUG Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) programme will be introduced in several schools aimed at educating students on the dangers of drugs, preventing the use drugs, gangs and violent

behaviour, according to Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ (ag), Ravindradat Budhram. Budhram made this disclosure on Friday in the company of Commander of Regional Division Two,

Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus when they visited the Suddie Primary and Charity Secondary Schools and met with several learners and teachers. During the visit, the senior officers, along with the

(Second from right) Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ (ag), Ravindradat Budhram with pupils and teachers of the Suddie Primary School officials of the two schools, agreed to ensure that the programme is formally introduced and enforced by ranks in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). In an interview with the Sunday Chronicle, Budhram explained that the primary goal of DARE is to teach effective peer resistance and refusal skills so that adolescents can say “no” to drugs and their friends who may want them to use drugs. The secondary goals of the programme, he said, are to build students’ social skills and enhance their self-esteem, as these are believed to be linked to adolescent drug use. Further, he said that D.A.R.E uses the social influence approach to drug-use prevention. “This psychosocial ap-

proach emphasises and aims to strengthen children’s refusal skills so they can better resist social pressures to try and use drugs. It also builds general social competencies to help prevent or at least delay adolescent drug use,” he explained. One of the unique features of project DARE, he added, is the use of uniformed police officers as instructors. “This is important because there needs to be an effective education programme to ‘inoculate’ students against the threat of drugs; it is critical to the wellbeing of our children and their future,” he noted, adding, “research shows that adolescents, in particular, need to be involved in the learning process since we have to encourage students to work together and think

for themselves while focusing on their future and wellbeing.” He noted that D.A.R.E. is about giving students the skills and information they need to make good life choices. Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner and other senior officers distributed several footballs, cricket bats along with balls to the students of both schools. Members of the Cops and Faith Network, Pastor M. Ally and Pandit C. Sharma were also part of the visit. Budhram and team also held meetings with members of Community Policing Groups, Station Management Committees, and the Cops and Faith Community Network. They also met with boat and car operators.

Senior Police Officers and teachers of Charity Secondary School after speaking about the D.A.R.E programme

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

US$44M World Bank project to improve education in Guyana

THE World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved financing of US$44M for the Guyana Strengthening Human Capital through Education Project. The World Bank, in a press release on Friday, said the project will focus on expanding access to quality education at the secondary level, as well as improving technical and vocational training (TVET) to meet the needs of the labour market. The funding aims to prepare Guyanese citizens to excel in emerging sectors of the economy including climate-resilient agriculture, low-carbon technology, and digital development. “Guyana is investing heavily in its citizens, with education and vocational training playing a key role as the country is at a key juncture of its growth,” said Diletta Doretti, World Bank Resident Representative for Guyana and Suriname. “This project complements other education initiatives that the World Bank is supporting, as the government is working to ensure that more people can acquire the needed skills to benefit from the ongoing economic transformation.” Activities under the project are expected to benefit at least 60,744 students and 2,128 teachers and principals at the secondary level. At the TVET level, a minimum of 600 students and 140 secondary and post-secondary TVET

trainers will benefit from professional development activities. “The project will support the piloting and national rollout of a new curriculum for grades 7-9, which emphasizes environmental stewardship and climate change, integrated into social studies and science for grades 7 and 9. The project will also finance textbooks for grades 7-11 to support the rollout of the new curriculum and the urgent need for learning recovery following the pandemic,” the World Bank stated. Increased support for

teachers and principals is also envisioned under the project. This includes training teachers on the new curriculum and how to teach students with different needs - including students with disabilities. Other interventions include the coaching and mentoring of teachers to support continuous professional development and the development and implementation of an instructional leadership and managerial programme for principals. In light of the learning losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, project activities will include

establishing an early warning system to help teachers and principals identify and support students at risk of dropping out. General secondary schools will also be built or rehabilitated to improve the learning environment for students, as well as improving infrastructure, climate resilience and access to education for all students. The project will also support technical and vocational training, which will include transferrable skills to equip students for a changing labour force, including digital competency skills. It will strengthen the enabling environment for TVET and improve the quality and relevance of training options. The project includes encouraging apprenticeship, a digital platform providing information on training opportunities, and the preparation of a new TVET policy that will set the direction for the sector’s medium- to long-term development.

Children’s disability grant registration to begin on Wednesday

FOLLING President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s recent announcement of the

$100,000 one-off cash grant for children living with disabilities, the

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS), through the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud National Commission on Disability (NCD), will begin registration for the grant on Wednesday at selected locations country-wide. Registration for this grant will run until June 24, 2022, with offices open from 08:00hrs to 16:30hrs on weekdays and 09:00hrs to 14:00hrs on Saturdays. Parents or guardians will be required to provide a form of photo identification along with a form of identification for the child. Birth certificates will be accepted in the absence of photo identification of the child. Additionally, a detailed medical report of the child from a private or public doctor will be needed. However, if persons have not yet been assessed by a medical doctor, the registration sites will have doctors on-site to evaluate the child. For shut-in cases, the parent or guardian will need to visit the health facility where they will fill out the form and will be provided with the necessary verification methods. Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, was eager to get the process underway and highlighted that this exercise is geared at capturing every single child living with disabilities. “I want this process to be seamless and to ensure that every child living with disability benefits. I urge parents and guardians to

be proactive in going to the health centres if their child is not already registered with the NCD or on the Ministry’s Public Assistance database. “The intention of having doctors on site is to ensure that there is nothing to prevent any child living with a disability from accessing the $100,000 cash grant. We are deeply committed to serving and supporting persons living with disabilities, including children. This is in addition to us proving free assistive aids, including wheelchairs, white canes, and hearing aid, and free technical vocational and ICT training…we will be reaching out across the country,” she said. Minister Persaud reiterated that this is just another medium the Government of Guyana has implemented to better the lives of persons living with disabilities. The ministry is already in the process of completing a training centre for persons with disabilities and has already begun providing training for persons living with disabilities. Minister Persaud detailed that every step of the way in getting persons with disabilities independent was catered for including the business incubator at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute where they can learn how to bring their ideas to reality.

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

First completed Young Professional house at Prospect handed over

THE first completed house of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CP&HA) at the Prospect, East Bank Demerara (EBD) Housing Development, was, on Saturday, handed over to the owners by contractor, RK Concrete Guyana Inc. The housing development, which is in keeping with the government’s vision to allocate 50,000 house lots within five years, is a part of a suite of projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Housing to provide housing to persons across the country. A total of 350 young professional units are being constructed at Providence

the Government of Guyana for giving us this opportunity to prove ourselves.” Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, in a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) had noted that homes are in high demand, particularly by young professionals and other working–class citizens. “Because persons are working in the various disciplines to go through the hassle of having to deal with contractors and getting time off to buy materials… the demand is great and that is why, in our 2022 programme, we are targetting to build many more houses,” he said. The project to construct houses was

The happy owners cutting the ribbon to their new house and Prospect, EBD. Of that amount, 200 two- storey and flat units are being constructed at Providence, and another 150 are under construction at Prospect. The construction of these houses under the Prospect housing development began in January with RK Concrete Guyana Inc. being the first contractor to hand over a fully completed unit. The company noted that its record completion of the house, was achieved by its team’s efficient and dedicated work noting, “We can proudly state that our dynamic team has shown extreme dedication, expert skillset, and diligence in performing their duties so that our clients are always satisfied. We would like to thank

conceptualised by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan who had initiated the ‘turn key’ homes initiative when he served as housing minister before 2015. “Our President has given a charge to aim for 25,000 homes over the five-year period, and so, while we will allocate 50,000 house lots, simultaneously, we will be constructing houses,” he said. In keeping with its manifesto, the PPP/C Government is committed to delivering 50,000 house lots to Guyanese within its first term in office. In 2021, the government surpassed its target of distributing 10,000 house lots to Guyanese through its signature ‘Dream Realised’ house lot distribution exercise.

The newly constructed Young Professional House at Prospect, East Bank Demerara

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

Census 2022: Bureau of Statistics seeking to hire 3,000 persons THE Bureau of Statistics has intensified the recruitment of temporary personnel to work as Guyana’s 2022 Population, and Housing Census draws nearer. According to the Bureau of Statistics, the census, Guyana’s largest national data collection exercise, is being planned for commencement in mid-September. Applications for Area Coordinators, Supervisors and Enumerators are open countrywide until June 30, 2022 as the Bureau seeks to employ approximately 3,000 persons. Area Coordinators are required to have a minimum of a Diploma from a recognised university, a Teacher’s Certificate, or equivalent certification; Field Supervisors – a minimum of five (5) CSEC subjects or an equivalent recognised certification and Enumerators- a minimum of three (3) CSEC subjects or an equivalent recognised certification. During June, the Bureau’s staff will be present in regions Two, Three, Four, and Six to conduct recruitment exercises where people can submit their applications and relevant documents and have on-the-spot interviews done. Persons can access a schedule of these activities on the organisation’s

Bureau staff conducting interviews with residents of Wakenaam, Region Three

A Leguan resident undergoes an interview during the recruitment exercise

Facebook page or website at www.statisticsguyana. gov.gy. Alternatively, those interested can submit their applications via email to censusrecruitment@statisticsguyana.gov.gy. They are required to fill out the application form available on the Bureau’s website or prepare an application cover letter and attach it with scanned copies or clear photographs of their academic certificates. Applications can also be submitted to the Deputy Census Officer, Bureau of Statistics, 34 Main & Hope Streets, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown in person or via postal mail. It should be noted that applications

without contact numbers will not be considered. “The Population and Housing Census is an extremely important exercise that produces a large amount of socio-economic and demographic data that is used for planning and national development. It is conducted every ten years and Guyana’s last Census was conducted in 2012,” the Bureau of Statistics stated in a release on Friday. The Bureau noted: “the Census plays a critical role in evaluating changes in the population and therefore should be viewed as more than just a headcount. These changes include size, composition, economic activities, quality of life, access to basic social services, Maternal Health, food security, Agriculture and Education.” All of these changes, the Bureau of Statistics stated, have an impact on the demand for social services, such as health, housing & education. This information is in great demand by the policy makers for planning and development, private sector, students, researchers and donor agencies. For more information on recruitment for census 2022, persons can contact the Bureau of Statistics on 227-1155, 227-3377 or email censusrecruitment@ statatisticsguyana.gov.gy

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

NDC overseers to receive training –– LGC and NDCs still plagued with staffing & financial challenges

OVERSEERS and Assistant Overseers of the respective Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), are slated to undergo training by the Local Government Commission (LGC) to standardise the systems being used at the various Local Government Organs (LGOs). This was related by Chairman of the LGC, Julius Faerber, during an interview with the Sunday Chronicle earlier this week, when he spoke on some of the Commission’s plans for the remainder of the year. “We are preparing to have training done very shortly with our overseers and assistant overseers in all ten administrative regions,” he noted. He added, “We are looking to have that started within another week; it is so that we can have standardization across the entire country and not just one NDC doing things differently from the other NDCs, which is what we’ve found.” At the NDC, overseers are the head of the administrative arm of the NDCs and, similar to the Town Clerks at the municipalities, are responsible for carrying out the day to day functioning of the NDCs. Guyana has 70

NDCs across the ten administrative regions. Each NDC covers a small geographic area within each region and is tasked with responsibility for the management and administration of these areas within its boundaries. Councillors are elected at Local Government Elections, with the number of Councillors elected ranging from 12 to 30, depending on the size of the population within the NDC. The Overseer assists in the execution of the council’s decisions. The country also has 10 municipalities, including Georgetown, for which the LGC also manages the administrative staff. Faerber related that the training for the administrative heads of the NDCs comes following visits that the Commission made to the NDCs during various outreaches across the country last year. “We held meeting the staff of every NDC and every Town Council letting them understand the role and function of the Commission. As well as for them to understand their role and function towards the LGC. That was one of our biggest achievement in meeting out to those local democratic organs,” Faerber

said. “They were happy, that is why we are going back now in the second round to have training done at that level. They said with the last Commission that was formed they have never seen any of the other Commissioners out in the field. They are happy that we are there to give advice and guidance to them which makes them stronger in terms of delivery of their work.” Even as the LGC works to train the existing staff at the NDCs, it is also working on the recruitment of further staff to fill several existing vacancies at the various LGOs. Faerber noted that advertisements have already gone out to procure the necessary personnel. “There are quite a number of vacancies especially in the Town Councils areas and so we are looking to have those vacancies filled as well, very shortly,” Faerber said. However, even as the LGO grapple with staffing challenges, the LGC is also dealing with its own issues in that area. “Some of the biggest challenges we have faced is staffing. We do not have the required amount of staff to deal with all of the local democratic organs that we have. Some

departments are manned by two or three persons. For example, our auditing department has to audit 70 NDCs and ten municipalities but you only have three staff, which is practically impossible, those are some of the challenges we have,” Faerber related. To deal with the challenges, Faerber noted that the Commission has been engaging with central

government. “We have been discussing it with the relevant authorities, such as the Minister [of Local Government and Regional Development], etcetera, to see how they are able to help us in that direction. We have challenges at the LGC but, suffice to say, the challenges we have we are trying our best to ensure that the work is being

Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Julius Faerber done. Even if we have to go an extra mile or two,” Faerber said. Faerber noted that the NDCs are still also dealing with financial issues pertaining to revenue collection through rates and taxes, and having sufficient revenue to carry out the various activities within their area.

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

Bids open for reconstruction of gutted North Ruimveldt Multilateral School

INVITATION for bids are currently open for the reconstruction of several sections of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School that were gutted in June

2021 by a massive fire. The fire, which occurred on June 19, 2021, devastated the school’s First to FifthForm classrooms, Science, Home Economics, and Infor-

mation Technology laboratories, as well as the $3 million ‘smart’ classroom, the first to be launched in Guyana in 2015. Following an intense stint

The main building of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School engulfed in flames on June 19, 2021 of investigation, the Guyana Fire Service had found that the fire started in one of the classrooms on the third floor of the building, just above the school’s Home Economics Laboratory. The then Fire Chief (ag), Kalamadeen Edoo, had told this newspaper that investigators had discovered that the fire started from a faulty duplex electrical point that had a circuit strip (power strip) attached to it. Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, who had described the fire as an “unspeakable loss” last year, had noted the government’s commitment to rebuilding the school to ensure the continued commendable performance of its students. North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary School is categorised as a “List A” school and is regarded as one of the better schools in Georgetown. At the time of the fire, the school had an enrolment of 512 students, with a complement of 39 teachers. Even as the devastating fire struck the school just nine days before the 2021

Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations, the Ministry of Education had put systems in place to ensure that the students had the opportunity to write the exams in the school’s auditorium. This decision by the ministry came after consultation with parents and students of the school, who requested that the examination be done in the auditorium. The request was based on a dire need to have the students housed in one location, and not have them separated during any of their exams. Having the exam at the school would also allow the students to be in a familiar environment. At the meeting, parents had expressed concern over the students being placed at other schools, which they noted could potentially cause anxiety and discomfort. Sixty-Five students from the school were scheduled to take the 2021 examinations. Speaking about the situation at the school since the full reopening of schools on April 25, 2022, Public Rela-

tions Manager at the Ministry of Education, Murtland Halley, told the Sunday Chronicle on Saturday that systems were put in place to house the students of Grades Seven to 11 in several other sections of the school which were retrofitted by the ministry. “When schools reopened fully in April, the students were still using the school. There were sections of the school that were untouched by the fire so we retrofitted those sections to accommodate the children. The school and the ministry did not want to separate the students and have some housed in different buildings outside of the compound, and there was space within the school’s compound, so we made the necessary adjustments,” Haley said. The reconstruction of the school is expected to provide a more stable arrangement for the students of Grades Seven to 11, as well as boost the resources at the school as the three laboratories that were destroyed in the fire are slated to be rebuilt.

Fifth Form students in the auditorium of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School during the sitting of the 2021 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations

sunday CHRONICLE june 12, 2022

Ramjattan returns as AFC Leader; Hughes is new Chairman –– AFC agrees to stay in coalition

ATTORNEY Khemraj Ramjattan has been returned as Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) after prevailing over former General-Secretary David Patterson, when the party held its elections on Saturday during its National Conference at the Revealed World Christian Centre in William Street, Kitty. Cathy Hughes was elected as the party’s chairperson, replacing Raphael Trotman who was not nominated for any position after he had publicly noted that he was not seeking a return to the party’s executive. Nonetheless, Trotman was among 55 persons nominated for the 12 seats on the National Executive Committee (NEC). Hughes secured the chairperson post over parliamentarians Sherod Duncan and Juretha Fernandes.

to holding its elections, the party also deliberated on its future as part of the APNU+AFC coalition, and whether to remain in the pact. The Sunday Chronicle understands that delegates were presented with three options relating to the way forward: remaining in the

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

AFC Chairperson Cathy Hughes

Member of Parliament Ricky Ramsaroop secured the Vice-Chairmanship over fellow MPs, Fernandes and Duncan, in addition to Devin Sears and former MP Valarie Garrido-Low. Duncan made it into the executive as the AFC’s

new General-Secretary; he prevailed over Neilson McKenzie and Michael Carrington. Up to late last evening, the party was still carrying out voting for the 12 seats on the National Executive Committee (NEC). Meanwhile, in addition

party under the current circumstances, leave the coalition altogether and remaining in the coalition but under a “revised political alliance.” Though some votes were garnered for the option to exit the coalition, the majority of votes were for the third option,

to remain in the coalition, but there must be a plan to “secure a firm agreement and structure for it to have greater influence on policy positions and political action within the alliance, while maintaining its independence and rebranding and regaining its identity.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 12, 2022

Youth shot dead by ‘cops’ in Haslington

A FATHER of one, who, allegedly tried to sell a firearm to an undercover policeman on Friday, in Haslington New Scheme, East Coast of Demerara, died after a shootout with the same policeman. Dead is 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus. According to Police Headquarters, at around 14:30hrs on Friday, an intelligence-led operation was being carried out based on information received earlier that day, and police ranks made contact with a 22-yearold construction worker who provided certain information. Police said that, as a result of the information, the worker led the ranks to Bacchus, who was in possession of a firearm and intended to sell it to one of the ranks. The plain-clothes rank, who was armed, made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus, who left and then returned with the firearm. “In the process of handing over the firearm to the rank, an alarm was raised. As a result, the now-deceased man ran in a southern direction and discharged a round in the rank’s direction who drew his service pistol and returned fire,” police stated. “Bacchus then ran further south and jumped into a yard, and the rank gave chase and while in close proximity, Bacchus discharged several other rounds towards the rank who took cover and returned fire, hitting the now-deceased man about his body.” Police said that Bacchus fell to the ground along with the firearm which was later identified as a .380 pistol and

Dead: Quindon Bacchus

a magazine with one round. The policeman then took possession of the firearm and ammunition. Bacchus was picked up in a conscious state and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor who pronounced him dead while receiving treatment. His body was taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home where it awaits an autopsy. Police said that the recovered firearm and ammunition were taken to the Cove and John Police Station, where it was photographed and dusted for prints. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old construction worker was arrested and taken to the Cove and John Police Station, where he was interviewed under the camera and gave a written statement of what had transpired. He was placed in custody pending investigation.

The firearm recovered at the scene

PNC/R snubs IRI invitation

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 12, 2022

THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) has snubbed an invitation for a representative of the party to attend the House Democracy Partnership (HDP) in Los Angeles, California, that was held from June 6-7, 2022, to participate in an event for legislators ahead of the Summit of the Americas. When a representative of IRI was contacted, the official confirmed that an invitation was dispatched to the PNC/R, but there was no confirmation on attendance and no one from that party attended meetings in California. The Sunday Chronicle understands that the event brought together legislators from the US Congress, in addition to legislators across the Americas for discussions on issues related to challenges and opportunities in democratic resilience. The programme was being facilitated by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), in collaboration with the International Republican Institute (IRI). As such, the IRI had invited a representative of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government and another from the opposition. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, represented the government while PNC/R General-Secretary and Member of Parliament of

the APNU+AFC, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, who was invited, did not attend. This newspaper was reliably informed that Chandan-Edmond did not receive the support of the PNC/R to attend the meeting, even though the invitation from the IRI was sent directly to her. Several calls made to the Mrs Chandan-Edmond for a comment went unanswered. Over the last 30 years, heads of state and government from across the Americas and the Caribbean have converged at the Summit of the Americas to develop solutions to topics of shared concern. This year’s summit focused on “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future” and featured leaders from across the Western Hemisphere to discuss challenges and opportunities along the following themes: Health and Resilience in the Americas; Our Green Future; Accelerating the Transition to Clean Energy; Digital Transformation; and Democratic Governance. The HDP event provided an opportunity for legislators to engage with their regional peers to discuss the core summit themes and the pivotal role of legislators in enacting reform. Also attending the forums in Los Angeles, California, were civil society organisations from Guyana.

Man confesses to double murder — skeletal remains found months after

A MAN, who was falsely lured with the idea of being paid $2M to kill two men months ago, confessed to police, on Friday, under interrogation that he used a shotgun to murder Geraldo Vieira De Souza and Edivaldo Alves Da Silva. The murders took place sometime between March and April, 2022 at Gold Camp Backdam Mountain, Mount Ayanganna, Potaro River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The suspect was identified as Lyfrey Alban. He is currently in police custody at the Mahdia Police Station, and police have recovered the skeletal remains of the victims. Alban is expected to face murder charges on Monday. The Sunday Chronicle understands that Alban gave a written caution statement to police detailing what motivated him and how he carried out the executions. Alban claimed that a “Macushee man” known as

Arrested: Lyfrey Alban

‘Jackie Chan’ from Brazil offered him $2 million to kill the duo under the pretext that they murdered his son at a backdam at Brazil. Police noted that Alban then armed himself with a 20-gauge shotgun and shot the men at their camps. Alban further told detectives that the “Macushee man” took away his shotgun, went away and never paid him. Meanwhile, the police also found an illegal 20-gauge single barrel shotgun at the suspect’s camp when he was arrested.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall (centre) with President of the International Republican Institute, Daniel Twining (at right) and Vice-President Antonio Garrastazu in Los Angeles, California

PNC/R General-Secretary Geeta Chandan-Edmond

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 12, 2022

Haiti embarrass Golden Jaguars... From page 32

Derrick Etienne Jr. #10 of Haiti celebrates with his teammates after scoring the first of his two goals against Guyana

dating back to their twomatch tour in 1973, where they won 3-1 and 2-0. However, since then, Haiti went on to play to a nil-draw in 2010, followed by a 1-0 victory in 2012 and a 3-1 win in 2019, which ironically happened on June 11 that year. “It was not the result we

wanted, the team succumbed to the long ball and it took 45 minutes for them to adjust to that. We had experienced players on the pitch but they couldn’t deal with it how we would have liked,” said Jamaal Shabazz. Guyana and Haiti will meet again on Tuesday in the Dominican Republic, with

Shabazz admitting that it will be another tough battle, telling reporters, “We go forward with courage and with confidence. Hopefully we will see something more special from this.” He called the upcoming game on June 14 “a test of character, being slaughtered at home and then going to

Solozano, Chanderpaul fifties frustrate Bangladesh ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Jeremy Solozano was eyeing a hundred while opening partner Tagenarine Chanderpaul further enhanced his Test

claims with a half-century, as CWI President’s XI prospered on the penultimate day of their three-day tour match against Bangladesh. Playing at Coolidge Cricket Ground yesterday, Solozano carved out a patient 83 while Chanderpaul hit 59, innings which lifted the hosts to 201 for four at the close. Bangladesh had earlier declared on 310 for seven after resuming the morning on 274 for six, left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal stretching his overnight 140 to 162 not out. All told, Tamim struck 21 fours and one six off 287 balls in almost 6-¾ hours at the crease. In reply, left-handers Solozano and Chanderpaul frustrated the tourists by staging a first-wicket stand of 109. Solozano struck ten fours off 174 balls in a shade over 4-½ hours while Chanderpaul, named as one of two reserves for next week’s first Test, punched eight fours and

a six off 117 balls in nearly 2-½ hours... The knock would have been important for the 26-year-old Solozano who was called up for last year’s Test tour of Sri Lanka but was injured in the field on debut and never batted or featured in the series. When Chanderpaul was bowled by uncapped seamer Rejaur Rahman, Solozano put on a further 46 for the second wicket with Tevin Imlach (27) before the President’s XI stumbled, losing three wickets for 12 runs in quick time. Pacer Ebadot Hossain (3-56) was responsible for the slide, trapping Imlach and then new batter Alick Athanaze lbw with successive deliveries. Ebadot also removed Roston Chase cheaply for six a few overs later before Solozano found an ally in captain Yannic Cariah (21 not out) to add 34 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand and see the innings safely to the close.

Santo Domingo.” With injuries plaguing his squad, Shabazz had to do without the services of the Frenchman, Torell Ondaan, and Queens Park Rangers midfielder, Stephen Duke McKenna. A niggling injury kept Quincy Adams out of the line-up, according to Shaba-

zz.

Quillan Roberts started in goal, while the ‘back line’ featured Sam Cox, Matthew Briggs, Jalen Jones and Leo Lovell. In the middle, Shabazz went with Daniel Wilson, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Neil Danns and Trayon Bobb. Upfront, Omari Glasgow and Emery Welshman paired once again. After a few exchanges of pleasantries, the Haitians showed why they’re a top-10 team in CONCACAF when Dany Jean capitalised on a miscommunication between Guyana’s custodian and his defenders, just four minutes into the contest. That was just the beginning of a long night for Roberts. Another defensive mishap five minutes later allowed Steeven Saba to double the lead. But Welshman would pull one back for Guyana, when he was picked out by Moriah-Welsh from a sweet, flat ball in the 18th and he made no mistake in putting it away. Etienne and Antoine pushed Haiti’s score to 5-1 until Moriah-Welsh scored his first International goal just before halftime when he unleashed a seamer from about 30 yards out to beat

French League 2 keeper, Jhony Placide. It was obvious that Shabazz would have made his first set of changes in the defence. Briggs, Cox and Wilson made way for Jeremy Garrett, Quincy Adams and Tre Mitford. Later on, former Arsenal winger Anthony Jeffrey and Kelsey Benjamin came in for Welshman and Glasgow. The second-half changes certainly stopped the ‘Haitian onslaught’. The second half was much quieter on the scoresheet but not for lack of attempts, including Glasgow’s shot on goal in the 52nd minute. Fredler Christopher ’s goal in the 80th minute was the only other goal in the second half. After Tuesday’s match against Haiti, Guyana travel to Hamilton on March 25, 2023, to face Bermuda. Shabazz and his troops will close their participation in the second edition of the Nations League with a home game against Montserrat on March 28, 2023. According to CONCACAF, the Nations League will serve as the qualifier for the 2023 Gold Cup.

US judge dismisses Cristiano Ronaldo rape lawsuit A US judge has dismissed a rape allegation lawsuit against Cristiano Ronaldo because the accuser’s lawyer relied on leaked and stolen records. Kathryn Mayorga alleges that the Manchester United footballer raped her at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. He denies the allegations and has never been charged. She reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement with the star in 2010, but has been seeking millions more than the $375 000 (£304 000) she received. Ms Mayorga said that while she had agreed to the settlement shortly after the alleged incident, her emotional trauma at the time did not allow her to participate in the mediation process, and she felt pressured to accept the offer. Before filing her complaint, Ms Mayorga’s lawyer, Leslie Stovall, received “ill-gotten” information and documents which were confidential and privileged, US District Judge Jennifer Dorsey wrote. The judge said the lawyer harmed Mr Ronaldo, 37, by conducting himself in “bad faith” through repeated use of stolen, privileged documents to prosecute the case. In a 42-page ruling released on Friday and quoted by AFP, Judge Dorsey accused Mr Stovall of “abuses and flagrant circumvention of the proper litigation process” and said that as a result, “Mayorga loses her opportunity to pursue this case.” Last year, a magistrate judge recommended the case be dismissed due to Mr Stovall’s conduct. The BBC has contacted Mr Stovall for comment. In 2019, US prosecutors said Cristiano Ronaldo would not face charges over the accusations as they could not “be proven beyond reasonable doubt”. The Clark County District Attorney’s office in Las Vegas said Ms Mayorga reported an assault in 2009, but refused to state where it had happened or who the attacker was. As a result police were unable “to conduct any meaningful investigation”. But the allegations were investigated again in 2018 at her request. It followed a 2017 article in German magazine Der Spiegel, which reported that in 2010, Ms Mayorga reached an out-of-court settlement with the footballer for agreeing never to go public with the allegations. Ms Mayorga’s lawyer said she had been inspired to re-open the case by the #MeToo movement. Mr Ronaldo has not denied that the two met in Las Vegas in 2009, but said that what happened between them was consensual. The BBC does not generally name people who say they are victims of sexual assault, but Ms Mayorga has given consent to make her name public. (BBC Sport)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 12, 2022

Curry’s iconic performance leaves Warriors teammates stunned

(REUTERS) - Stephen Curry’s 43-point masterpiece in Game Four of NBA Finals last night left his Warriors teammates, his coaches and basketball fans everywhere in awe. With Golden State in jeopardy of falling into a 3-1 hole against Celtics in Boston, Curry was magnificent, shooting 14 of 26 from the field with seven three-pointers while collecting

10 rebounds to level the series 2-2. “Probably number one,” Klay Thompson said when asked to rank Curry’s performance in a Finals game. “It was nearly a must-win game, so to go out there and shoot as efficiently as he did and grab 10 rebounds, all while they are attacking him on defence. His conditioning is second to

none in this league.

STEPH PLAYED INCREDIBLY Forward Draymond Green echoed Thompson. “He put us on his back and willed us to win,” he said. “Much-needed win, a game we had to have, and he came out and showed why he’s one of

the best players to ever play this game and why this organisation has been able to ride him to so much success. It’s absolutely incredible.” Four-time NBA champion LeBron James weighed in to say that Curry was “different” from other players and that he still does not get the respect due. “It’s rare and rare is not liked and appreciated,” James tweeted.

Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after a play during the first quarter against Boston Celtics during game four of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden. (Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)

After the game, Curry redirected praise onto his teammates. “I don’t rank my performances,” Curry said. “Just win the game.” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who hopes to lead the franchise to their fourth championship in eight years alongside Curry, Thompson and Green,

said he felt blessed. “Whenever I’m done coaching, I will look back and say thank you to Steph because night after night he has made this situation for us as an organisation easy for everybody,” Kerr said. “He’s a special player, special person.”

Mithali Raj retires: A long and arduous journey many would love lo emulate MITHALI Raj has seen it all. From the times when women’s cricket was tolerated with little or no humour until the day when the Women’s Indian Premier League may soon become a reality, Mithali has been a witness to all the lows and then the highs, which have now made some of the current women stars household names, at least among the cricket-following people of India. The journey was a long and arduous one, and the success of Indian women’s cricket and one of its senior-most doyens is almost synonymous. From the anonymity of being just a player to captaining India and seeing unprecedented success, Mithali Raj has seen it all. As she announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on Wednesday, Mithali Raj brought the curtain down on a career which many cricketers would love to emulate and few will succeed. Beginning in 1999 in India colours, the batter has seen everything that has come India’s way, a testament to her mental and physical fitness and even as the challenge of younger, fitter players grew, Mithali was able to hold her own till now. Twelve Test matches, 232 women’s One-day Internationals and 89 T20 Internationals have seen Mithali meet and beat most odds, as batter and captain. A total of 10 868 international runs speaks to her achievements and longevity. The records came thick and fast. Mithali is the first, and so far, only woman to score over 7 000 runs in Women’s ODIs. She led India to two ICC ODI World Cup finals, in 2005 and 2017. The highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket, the distinction of scoring seven

India cricket legend Mithali Raj calls it a day

consecutive WODI half-centuries, the highest, which add to the total of 64 fifties in the format the highest for women’s cricket. Even as the competition grew, with new players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemima Rodrigues and the others beginning to claim their places in the now-known Indian contingent, Mithali still was right up there, finishing with averages of 43.68, 50.68 and 37.52 in Tests, ODIs and T20Is respectively. No mean feat! Not all of it was always bouquets. With fame comes attention and the women’s team, finalists in the ODI World Cup in 2017, fell from grace as they ended with an exit from the group stage in the 2022 edition. The team was criticised, and Mithali too had some criticism, especially about her strike rate. Nevertheless, overall, it has been quite a career for Mithali Raj. She has done a lot for the sport and will be acknowledged as she focuses on other pursuits in life. (cricketcountry.com)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 12, 2022

Ferreira turns up the heat as US tame Grenada 5-0 AUSTIN, Texas – Jesus Ferreira scored four goals to help power the United States to a 5-0 victory over Grenada in Group D of League A of the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League on Friday night at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Mirroring the hot Texas summer temperatures, Ferreira’s scorching form catapulted him into a tie for first place on the list of all-time CNL goalscorers for the US with four, tying Weston McKennie and Jordan Morris. Ferreira’s four goals also tied a US record for most goals in a single match. The US controlled things from the start and mustered up three scoring chances inside the first half-hour, with Paul

Jesus Ferreira’s scorching form catapulted him into a tie for first place on the list of all-time CNL goal scorers for the US with four, tying Weston McKennie and Jordan Morris

Arriola heading wide in the 13th minute, Morris’ backheel being saved in the 19th and a right-footed Ferreira shot off the mark in the 28th. The US kept mounting the pressure and their efforts were finally rewarded right before halftime in the 43rd when

Ferreira ran onto the deflection of a pass from FC Dallas teammate Arriola and finished for a 1-0 US lead. That Dallas duo would hook up again in the early stages of the second half to double the US lead, with Arriola filtering a pass into the

running Ferreira, who swept in the right-footed shot for a 2-0 lead in the 54th. Ferreira was not done and just two minutes later in the 56th, he completed his hat-trick by receiving a corner kick and one-timing a rocket into net to stretch the US lead to 3-0. Everything was in the US’s favour and soon enough they extended their advantage to 4-0 in the 63rd with Luca De La Torre finding Arriola, who beat Grenada GK Jason Belfon for the goal. Ferreira added his fourth and final goal in the 78th easily stroking in a shot into net off a pass from Brenden Aaronson to round out the 5-0 scoreline. (CONCACAF)

Zimbabwe begin T20 World Cup preparations with six-wicket defeat

ZIMBABWE began their final preparations for next month’s T20 World Cup Qualifier with a six-wicket loss to Afghanistan, in the opening encounter of a three-match series. With only one partnership worth more than 30 runs, Zimbabwe posted a middling score of 159 for 8, but almost turned into something more competitive than it looked. Ryan Burl’s 3 for 14 gave them a chance of defending the total, but an 83-run opening stand and Najibullah Zadran’s unbeaten 44 secured victory for Afghanistan, with four balls to spare. (Scores: Afghanistan 160 for 4 (Zazai 45, Najibullah 44*, Burl 3-14) beat Zimbabwe 159 for 8 (Raza 45, Masood 3-39) by six wickets) In the absence of Sean

Williams, Zimbabwe’s batting continued to look thin, with only two of their batters scoring more than 30. Wessley Madhevere, who was one of those, survived the loss of Innocent Kaia, his opening partner, to share a second-wicket stand of 30 with captain Craig Ervine. The pair was in a good position to lay a solid foundation for Zimbabwe but Ervine became debutant Nijat Masood’s first victim when he offered the medium-pacer a return catch off a leading edge. Madhevere and Regis Chakabva took Zimbabwe into the ninth over before Madhevere was bowled by Rashid Khan, to spark a collapse. Zimbabwe lost 3 for 33, which left it to Sikandar Raza and the lower order to finish strongly. Raza top-scored with

45 but gave Masood his third wicket when he cut him behind square where Hazratullah Zazai took a good catch at short thirdman. Masood finished with 3 for 39, successful but expensive and it was Rashid Khan who was more economical with figures of 1 for 21 in his four overs. Afghanistan took control of the chase through their openers. Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz put on 83 in the first ten overs, which included 44 runs in boundaries. They were stopped in successive balls when they tried to take on Burl. Gurbaz was caught off a leading edge and Zazai at longon before Usman Ghani edged to the keeper, as he tried to sweep, to leave Afghanistan on 86 for 3 in 11 overs. Four boundary-less

overs followed and as a result Afghanistan’s required run-rate crept above 12 an over. They needed 61 runs off the last five overs and 54 off the last four before Blessing Muzarabani’s penultimate over cost 26 runs as Zadran plundered 16 runs off the first three deliveries, which included a no-ball. Luke Jongwe pulled things back when he bowled Darwish Rasooli in the 18th over, which went for 10. Tendai Chatara delivered the 19th, which also cost 10 and set up a tense finish. Muzarabani returned to bowl the last over, and had seven runs to defend, but Zadran took two off his first ball and swung the second over square leg to seal the win with a six. (Cricinfo).

Wimbledon situation was something nobody wanted, says ATP boss ATP president Andrea Guadenzi says that the organisation’s hand was forced in the Wimbledon saga. The ATP opted to strip Wimbledon of its rankings points, a decision then mirrored by the WTA, following a ban instituted by organisers which prohibited Russian and Belarusian players. Wimbledon took the decision on consultation with the government of the United Kingdom and some

ATP president Andrea Guadenzi

other local stakeholders but crucially did not consult the tours or the International Tennis Federation. Gaudenzi believes the ATP had little choice, and had to strip Wimbledon of points in the interest of fairness. The ban was the first, based purely on nationality, that Wimbledon has instituted since the 1950s and the aftermath of the Second World War. Wimbledon organisers are eager to avoid the tournament becoming a theatre for Russian propaganda. Gaudenzi and the ATP have stressed that their actions do not constitute an endorsement of Russia or its widely condemned military action in Ukraine. The ATP president is hopeful that the saga can prove to be the catalyst for a coming together in the world of tennis. “As far as Wimbledon is concerned, we found ourselves in a situation where no one wanted to be,” Gaudenzi told a virtual press conference. “We responded to a unilateral decision by Wimbledon and we would have preferred to take this decision together with everyone else, also to have a uniformity of action. “Now in a few days the USTA will make its decision, Roland Garros has made its decision, and everyone goes their own way. “Another reason why governance should be brought together: From our point of view it would have been hard for us to look away when there were 60 players involved in this decision, players who from their point of view were willing to do so many things, and who have done nothing wrong and who are not supporting what is happening. “I understand the propaganda theme and the arguments brought by Wimbledon, but at the end of the day, calculating everything, we are a global sport, and we must use our platform to unite, without discriminating people owing to their passport. “Let’s hope it will never happen again, and I hope it’s an accident which will bring us to sit at a table to talk. Sometimes you have to break an egg to make an omelette.” The article, Wimbledon situation was something nobody wanted says ATP boss, appeared first on Tennis365.com.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 12, 2022

Mitchell, Blundell centuries drive Kiwis to strong position on day two … Daryl Mitchell scores 190, his second ton in consecutive innings

DARYL Mitchell’s superb 190 gave New Zealand complete control of the second Test against England on day two at Trent Bridge. Mitchell’s knock, allied to 106 from Tom Blundell and 49 by debutant Michael Bracewell carried the tourists to 553 all out. It is the third-highest total England have ever conceded after inserting the opposition, and largest for 33 years. Mitchell, who was dropped on three on Friday, also benefited from being put down on 104 by Matthew Potts. England lost Zak Crawley for only four, but recovered to 90-1, with Ollie Pope on 51 and Alex Lees 34. Mitchell repaid England’s generosity with two drops of his own at first slip, one each for Lees and Pope. England will begin today 463 behind, looking for a way to somehow preserve their 1-0 series lead. NEW ZEALAND CASH IN After their errors of the first day - putting New Zealand into bat and then missing four catches - there was always the danger that England would be made to pay yesterday. Once Mitchell and Blun-

New Zealand centurions on day 2 at Trent Bridge: At left, Tom Blundell who hit 106 and Daryl Michell 190.

dell came through a morning burst with a second new ball that was only seven overs old, New Zealand took full advantage of ideal batting conditions. There were early warning signs that England could lose the plot - Potts’ drop of Mitchell was poor, mistakes crept into the ground fielding and captain Ben Stokes did not bring himself on to bowl until almost 90 minutes into the day. However, the hosts stuck to their task, exhausting various plans in the hope they might eventually find a way through the New Zealand batting. At one stage they were rewarded with three wickets in the space of seven

balls. Even on such a flat pitch, there was the worry that England’s batting would crumble after their long stint in the field - they have wilted in similar circumstances on plenty of occasions in the recent past. Had Mitchell held the catches the hosts would be in huge peril, but to have nine wickets in hand on the third morning gives them the opportunity to bat towards a far safer position. MAGNIFICENT MITCHELL GOES BIG Mitchell might not have played in this series had Henry Nicholls not been ruled

out of the first Test, yet he has seized his opportunity with centuries on consecutive Saturdays. Blundell missed out on three figures at Lord’s, but made no mistake this time, becoming the first New Zealand wicketkeeper to make a Test hundred in England. From 318-4 overnight, with Mitchell resuming on 81 and Blundell 67, they extended their fifth-wicket partnership to 236 - a New Zealand record against all-comers. Both were determined to attack spinner Jack Leach. Mitchell took his tally of sixes to four with two hits over long-on, where he was also dropped by Potts. Blundell completed his hundred off the same bowler before miscuing to mid-off. Mitchell then added 91 with the assured Bracewell, the scoreboard rattling along after lunch. With fielders scattered everywhere, only when Bracewell edged James Anderson to slip did England have an opening. Mitchell was last out, chasing a wide one from Potts as he closed in on a double-century. He left with his highest first-class score, congratulations from the England players and the acclaim of the Trent Bridge crowd. England begin long road

Strong line-up named for Chess Olympiad in India … Pinnacle Business Services, Jade’s Wok on board

THE Guyana Chess team scheduled for the 2022 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India will be led by some of the best male players in the country and a solid line-up of female players. Leading the charge will be current Open national champion CM Wendell Meusa and former champions CM Taffin Khan and FM Anthony Drayton. The other male players that will compete in the Open category are the time-and-tested Loris Nathoo and the much improved Roberto Neto. The female side is made up of a number of young players, who have risen to the top of the game in a relatively

Winner of the 2022 National Chess Championship, CM Wendell Meusa (left), receives his trophy from executive member of the GCF, Irshad Mohamad

short time. Of the five players, three are teenagers, including National Women’s champion, 14-year-old Pooja Lam and former champion 18-year-old Sasha Shariff.

Twenty-year-old Jessica Callender and 21-year-old Nellisha Johnson also have had their share of success, so too has junior player, 12-yearold Anaya Lall. The Olympiad is the big-

gest chess event in the world with over 150 countries set to participate during July and August. Following the support from Team Mohamed to offset a fundraising dinner planned for the Georgetown, Princess Hotel on June 25, two other sponsors have come on board. Last week, Pinnacle Business Services Inc. and Jade’s Wok donated $100 000 each towards the team. Tickets for the threecourse, fundraising dinner are $10 000 each and can be purchased through any executive member of the federation. For further information contact the federation at guyanachess@gmail.com

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings Tom Latham c Matthew Potts b James Anderson 26 Will Young c Zak Crawley b Ben Stokes 47 Devon Conway c Ben Foakes b James Anderson 46 Henry Nicholls c Ben Foakes b Ben Stokes 30 Daryl Mitchell c Ben Foakes b Matthew Potts 190 Tom Blundell c Ben Stokes b Jack Leach 106 Michael Bracewell c Joe Root b James Anderson 49 Kyle Jamieson c Ben Foakes b Stuart Broad 14 Tim Southee c Joe Root b Stuart Broad 4 Matt Henry c Zak Crawley b Jack Leach 0 Trent Boult not out 16 Extras: (b-1, lb-16, nb-8) 25 Total: (all out, 145.3 overs) 553 Fall of wickets: 1-84, 2-84, 3-161, 4-169, 5-405, 6-496, 7-513, 8-517, 9-520, Bowling: James Anderson 27-9-62-3, Stuart Broad 26-4-107-2 (nb2), Matthew Potts 30.3-6-126-1, Ben Stokes 23-2-85-2 (nb-6), Jack Leach 35-6-140-2, Joe Root 4-0-16-0. ENGLAND 1st innings Alex Lees not out 34 Zak Crawley c Tom Blundell b Trent Boult 4 Ollie Pope not out 51 Extras: (b-1) 1 Total: (one wkt, 26.0 overs) 90 Fall of wickets: 1-6 Bowling: Tim Southee 7-1-21-0, Trent Boult 7-1-18-1, Matt Henry 6-3-30-0, Kyle Jamieson 6-2-20-0.

back Bar the Potts drop, it is difficult to think of what England could have done differently given the situation they found themselves in at the beginning of the day. Left-armer Leach again struggled to respond to New Zealand’s assault, but at least claimed his first home wicket in exactly 1 000 days. Broad, playing the day after the pub he part-owns was severely damaged in a fire, took the wickets of Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee in the same over to make some amends for the two catches missed off his bowling on Friday. Crawley’s worrying habit of edging behind contin-

ued when he nicked Trent Boult, but Lees and Pope mixed handsome shots with moments of fortune in their stand of 84. Lees was on 12 when Mitchell put down an edge off Southee, leaving the lefthander to drive nicely in what is his highest Test score. Pope hooked two sixes - one a top edge - before he poked at Boult on 37 and was dropped in what possibly should have been keeper Blundell’s catch. In only his third innings in his new position of number three, Pope moved to a half-century from 66 balls, his first for England since last September. (BBC Sport)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday June 12, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Akeal Hosein-4/39 (Second ODI, Amstelveen) (2) Bas de Leede-2/46 (Second ODI, Amstelveen) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who were the WIs that made their ODI debut in the recent ODI series versus the Netherlands? (2) Who were the Netherlands players that made their debut in the series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue2022

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 12, 2022

Time for Guyana Harpy Eagles to reflect

THERE is a consensus among professionals in sport that winning is a habit, just as losing can become one too. It is early days, very early days, to have any notion that losing has become a habit for Guyana Harpy Eagles because since the inception of the Professional Cricket League (PCL) by Cricket West Indies (CWI) in 2014, the Eagles have won five Four-Day titles on the trot. But if they don’t address some issues regarding their depth in batting and fast-bowling, future leaders, some players’ fitness, and proper training facilities, it might be difficult to return to the summit of red-ball cricket in the region. It was until the 2020-21 season, which ended abruptly after eight rounds due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, that Barbados Pride were awarded the title due to being the points leaders. The championship returned this year, but only five rounds, and had close to a three-month break between the first two and final two rounds. This season it was a sprint to the finish, and not even a 100m sprint, due to the shortened sense of the championship, as the fifth round matches had two full days of play in most cases due to the inclement weather. In the race, Pride, this time were not awarded gold but won it fair and square with 76.2 points, while Leeward Islands Hurricanes (72.6 points) came second and the Eagles (61.8 points) third. Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (54.2 points), Jamaica Scorpions (43.8 points), and Windward Volcanoes (26.8

points) rounded off the other spots. In all fairness, it was one loss in the second round – an innings and 57-run defeat to Hurricanes – which truly pegged back the Eagles. They would have themselves to blame for not pushing the match forward quicker against Scorpions and avoid the tame draw, which meant by then it was more improbable than impossible to win the title. Holistically, the batting though patchy at some stages, answered the calls to spend time in the middle and get scores. Apart from Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh was the only other frontline batter to get a hundred. Gudakesh Motie, more recognised for his left-arm spin, which brought 17 wickets this season, got the other century for the team. Chanderpaul ended with 439 runs at 73.16 with two centuries to be the second-highest scorer in the competition but was rewarded with only Test reserve spot and President’s XI selection as John Campbell retained his spot. On the flip side, there were 11 half-centuries with Tevin Imlach and Chandrapul Hemraj each making three, and had centuries for the taking, but failed to convert after some soft dismissals. Prior to the start of round three, Imlach had just two FirstClass matches but had a season to remember with 215 runs in four innings at an average of 53.75 with three half-centuries in as many matches. Imlach was rewarded with President’s XI selection. Captain Leon Johnson and Anthony Bramble - who was

Tagenarine Chanderpaul carried the batting for Guyana Harpy Eagles

injured for the final two rounds - had their moments of strong showing with the bat but must reflect and want much more given their wealth of experience. Opportunities were presented to some young players, such as the talented Akshaya Persaud, who only got 24 runs in four innings. Four innings, certainly not by any means a large sample size to discard a player, certainly not one with Persaud’s ability, but one would have expected the gifted player to seize at least one opportunity to show commitment that Guyana’s batting stocks are good enough and the future is in good hands. It means other talents like Kevlon Anderson, Matthew

Nandu, Mavindra Dindyal need to now ‘knock down the door’ for selection in the domestic tournaments. Having talent is one thing but one must be able also to produce performances that warrant selection.From the overall bowling standpoint, the Eagles soared as usual, as Keemo Paul (20 wickets) and Veerasammy Permaul (19 wickets) finished behind Rahkeem Cornwall (23 wickets). Outside of Motie’s 17, Nial Smith, who missed one round due to injury, was next best with seven wickets on some unhelpful tracks. This glorifies the impact Paul had in his comeback season which has already led to a West Indies recall. But given Motie’s Test callup, Paul’s return, and Romario Shepherd’s checkered availability due to West Indies commitments, the Eagles will have to look elsewhere for genuine wicket-taking options. That will be big on the agenda of the team management when the new season restarts later this year, and it is expected to be back to ten rounds. Demetri Cameron and Kevin Sinclair showed promise but they are far from the finished and potent products needed to be consistently successful. More so, Paul, who is vice-captain, now back in the West Indies mix, and potentially unavailable more often than not, leaves the door for another vice-captain. With the season moving back to ten rounds, it should play back into the Eagles’ hands given the little drastic team changes they make throughout the season, which make them a more compact unit to challenge for the title.

2022 CWI Women’s T20 Blaze …

Williams, Nation pilot Jamaica to 7-wicket victory over Guyana … Barbados remain unbeaten

A SOLID batting exhibition from Jamaica Women saw them cruise to a 7-wicket win over their Guyanese counterparts, when action in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) CG United Women’s T20 Blaze continued yesterday at Guyana National Stadium, Providence. In a clinical run-chase of 90, the Jamaicans reached 92 for 3 in 17.5 overs. They were indebted to top-scorer Rashada Williams who missed a half-century as she finished unbeaten on 41 off 52 balls with 6 eye-catching fours to her credit. With heavy support from Chedean Nation who, until a few deliveries before victory was achieved, had scored a classy 30 from 39 with 4 boundaries, they added a match-winning stand of 68 for the 3rd wicket with Williams. Guyana did well to finish on 90-6 from their allotted 20 overs batting first. The heroics of Shabika Gajnabi (26 not out) and a gutsy

Jamaica romped to a 7-wicket victory over Guyana at Providence yesterday

lower-order knock of 20 from seamer Cherry-Ann Fraser, who retired hurt, helped Guyana to a decent total. Opener Lashana Toussaint (11) and captain Shemaine Campbelle (10) added 15 runs after the hosts slid to 36-5 at the halfway mark, before the pair of top-scorers managed to help give their side something to battle for. Jamaica’s new-ball bowler Chinell Henry spearheaded the excellent bowling outing with figures of 3-13, ensuring no other Guyanese player reached double digits. Jamaican opener Natasha McLean was removed for duck when the chase began. She was followed by captain and birthday girl Stefanie Taylor (10), who was trapped lbw by veteran Tremayne Smartt (2-12), who bagged her second wicket. But Williams sought to pound the bowling attack as she and Nation steadied things. Gajnabi sprung a final breakthrough, removing Nation but at that point it was too late for the home team. In the end, the runs proved too little for the visitors who crossed the line with relative ease and oodles of confidence heading into the next round. BARBADOS TROUNCE WINDWARDS BY 10 WICKETS The morning clash got underway with a 10-wicket mauling, as defending champions Barbados surged to victory over Windward Islands in a low-scoring, lop-sided affair. Barbados captain Hayley Matthews continued her impressive batting form, scoring 41 off 34 with 3 fours. She, along with fellow opener Kycia Knight, who struck 32, saw their team to 89-0 inside 12 overs. Windwards were earlier skittled out for 87-6 in 20 overs. Skipper Afy Fletcher hit a resilient 30 with support from Zaida James who had 23, but were unable to negate the potency of the Bajan seamers, Shanika Bruce (3-13) and Aaliyah Alleyene (2-6). The win was Barbados’ third in as many matches in the tournament, and they now sit top of the points table with a healthy run rate.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 12, 2022

Haiti embarrass Golden Jaguars 6-2 at home … Guyana, Haiti to battle again on Tuesday By Rawle Toney

IT was as if the Haitians were able to channel the spirit of the great General Toussaint L’Ouverture to guide them in battle against Guyana at the National Track and Field Centre. One would have thought that the match was being played at the Sylvio Cator Stadium, Port-au-Prince, as scores of Haitians flooded the stands at Leonora, waving the ‘drapo Ayiti’ and chanting in creole in jubilation, while Haiti thrashed Guyana 6-2 yesterday, to move atop Group B, in League B, of the 2022/2023 CONCACAF Nations League. Major League Soccer (MLS) Columbus Crew forward, Derrick Etienne, scored a double on the day (41st, 43rd), as Dany Jean (4th), Steeven Saba (9th), Carnejy Antoine (38th) and

Guyana’s Emery Welshman evades Haiti’s Bryan Alceus during their CONCACAF Nations League action (CONCACAF photos)

Fredler Christophe (80th) accounted for the other goals for Haiti. Recently promoted Premier League side Bournemouth FC player Nathan Moriah-Welsh (44th) and Forge FC’s Emery Welshman (11th) found the net for Guyana. The Golden Jaguars’ performance can only be summed up as “pitiful”, as they were defanged by the Haitians who are now on seven points following their demolition of Guyana, coupled with their 3-2 win over Montserrat and a goalless draw with Bermuda. Guyana will move to second place following 2-1 wins against Montserrat and Bermuda and their latest defeat to Haiti. With the win, Haiti remained perfect against Guyana in International football, Continued on page 27

Solozano, Chanderpaul fifties frustrate Bangladesh

US judge dismisses Cristiano Ronaldo rape lawsuit

Left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano was unbeaten on 83 a the close

Cristiano Ronaldo denied the allegations and had never been charged

Story on page 27

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022