Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 16-03-2022

WEDNESDAY 16th March, 2022

No.106664

No increase in water, electricity rates for 03 consumers PAGE

–– President Ali announces plan to subsidise increased fuel costs

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

22,000 ECD residents to enjoy better water supply –– with commissioning of new $141M well at Lusignan

PAGE

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President, Dr. Irfaan Ali in the company of Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues; CEO of GWI, Shaik Baksh and other officials at the commissioning of the new water system at Lusignan (Office of the President photo)

Non-negotiable: Guyanese must be main beneficiaries of oil-and-gas sector 16 PAGE

Oil prices drop 30% in a week 04 PAGE

Over 200 services drafted to improve 02 primary healthcare PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Over 200 services drafted to improve primary healthcare

AS part of the government’s manifesto commitment to provide improved primary healthcare services across the country, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pan-American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) drafted a package of over 200 essential health services.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, and PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Dr. Luis Codina, along with other health officials, held the first meeting to discuss this menu of services at the Marriott Hotel, on Tuesday.

Dr. Anthony, in brief remarks, said: “For many years, we have been talking about what are the types of services we want to

provide under the Ministry of Health and to try to define these services… but in many instances these plans have not been integrated throughout the different layers that we have in the ministry.”

He said it is not just about defining the services, but also putting measures in place to deliver those services at health posts, health centres, and district and regional hospitals.

“We now came up with about 215 different interventions that we think are important for us to deliver at the various levels,” Dr. Anthony said.

The Health Minister said the meeting was aimed at allowing health directors to verify, validate and tailor those interventions to suit the respective administrative regions.

He added: “Moving forward, this is going to be the tool that we’ll be using as we move forward to deliver these services.”

When the plan is completed, it is expected to address all issues affecting primary healthcare in the various regions, including drug shortages.

Dr. Anthony said President Dr. Irfaan Ali has pointed out that Guyana must have a more “robust” primary healthcare system, which ensures that all Guyanese, especially those in far-flung and hinterland communities could have better access to health services.

Meanwhile, Dr. Codina said persons must

PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Dr. Luis Codina

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony be able to have access to healthcare services when they need it, so the package will be implemented to address the more pressing issues in Guyana.

“How can we go from this excellent document to action and, through this path, we are working in some other areas simultaneously; the first area (is) human resource; it’s very important to discuss… The second thing is to have available equipment, medicines, everything to respond to the needs of the communities,” he related.

Dr. Codina said PAHO/WHO is working to get essential medicines for the communities. He highlighted that it is important to update and put in place legislation to address health matters. (DPI)

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No increase in water, electricity rates for consumers

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

–– President Ali announces plan to subsidise increased fuel costs

CONSUMERS in Guyana will not be forced to pay higher water and electricity rates stemming from the global surge in fuel prices because the government will be subsidising the increased fuel costs, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said on Tuesday.

The increase in fuel prices, like the increased costs of food and other commodities, has been linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, the price surge has been exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both the pandemic and the war have led to supply chain disruptions and other adverse economic implications.

While speaking at the commissioning of a water well at Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), on Tuesday, President Ali lamented that the cost of fuel increased by more than 100 per cent.

This has resulted in the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) spending more than was budgeted to procure fuel for use.

Consequently, the rates ordinary consumers pay for water and electricity services were expected to increase to offset the rising cost of production. The Headof-State, however, said that the government will ease the burden on consumers.

“Here in Guyana, the government is not going to allow that increase to translate to people. I said to both entities that you are not going to increase a cent,” President Ali said at the event, adding: “The government will take up the responsibility.”

Already, GPL has lamented that its landed cost for fuel today is approximately US$140 per barrel, a quadrupled amount from 2016 when the fuel price was approximately US$30 per barrel.

This increase has moved GPL’s total monthly operating expenses to approximately $4.5 billion against monthly electricity sales of approximately $3 billion, according to a press release issued by the company.

The company did not caution cus-

ment’s economic philosophy of social spending to ensure that people did not face hardships will be maintained.

Countries around the world, not just Guyana, are grappling with electricity costs because of fuel challenges. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that with sanctions against Russia threatening to further constrain global fossil fuel supplies, higher prices are likely to persist.

To mitigate the burden of higher prices, the European Union (EU), for example, intends to subsidise household fuel prices and offer support to companies hit by surging energy prices. Reuters re-

the 2022 National budget to mitigate the effects of the global price surge contributing to the rising cost of living.

Cognisant of the challenges experienced globally as food prices and the general cost of living continue to rise, the government has included in its fiscal plan for this year, Budget 2022, a sizeable allocation to address the situation.

“I am aware of the impact that cost of living is having,” President Ali had said in his budget speech, adding: “While we cannot address all of the issues surrounding cost of living, I have instructed that resources be set aside to address the issue.

“This sizeable allocation will be used,

ported on Tuesday, that this is part of the EU’s three-pronged strategy to counter the price surge.

Meanwhile, President Ali also recently assured Guyanese that the government was examining other relief measures to cushion the ongoing economic fallout.

At a recent press conference, the Head-of-State said that the government has commenced consultations to determine what measures will be used to expend the G$5 billion that was set aside in

through consultation with communities across the country, to identify specific ways and initiatives in which we can deploy this budgeted allocation to ease the burden on the population.”

President Ali said his government’s $552 billion budget focuses on removing the burden on Guyanese citizens, and creating opportunities, enhancing welfare, giving back more to the population, improving living conditions, and improving their overall quality of life.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali tomers that it may be forced to increase electricity rates; instead, the company asked that consumers practise energy conservation to reduce the amount of electricity used, thereby reducing the amount of fuel needed.

President Ali’s assurance comes only days after Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, echoed similar sentiments.

“We will keep the electricity prices the same way, and water prices, because we have to subsidise it to make sure that the impact is not felt by ordinary people,” the Vice-President said at a recent event commemorating the life of Guyanese founding father Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Subsidisation refers to payments made by a body (in this case, the government) to pay a portion of expenses to keep a selling price low. With expected increases in the cost of fuel, for example, this means that the government will spend money to offset the increases so that consumers’ rates are not raised.

Dr Jagdeo also said that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) govern-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Oil prices dropped 30 per cent in a week

AFTER Russia invaded Ukraine, global oil prices experienced a dramatic spike.

Just over a week ago, Brent crude leaped above $139 per barrel.

Analysts warned prices could touch $185, then $200 as traders shunned Russian oil, pushing inflation even higher and adding huge strain to the global economy.

But there’s been a rapid reversal since then. Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, have cratered almost 30 per cent from their peak. They settled below $100 per barrel for the first time this month after shedding another 6.5 per cent on Tuesday.

Stocks soared on the news as well. The Dow gained about 600 points, or 1.8 per cent, Tuesday. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose 2.1 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively.

What’s happening: The unusually sharp pullback has

been driven by hopes that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could boost oil production, and that demand from China could drop due to new coronavirus restrictions in major cities. This would ease the squeeze on the market.

Yet analysts warn that we’re not out of the woods yet.

Oil is still trading significantly above what it costs to produce it, and extreme swings are likely to persist at a moment of huge uncertainty.

“I wouldn’t rule out $200 a barrel just yet,” Bjørnar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy, told me. “It’s too soon.”

Following the invasion, oil prices skyrocketed as traders began to see Russian crude exports as untouchable. This sparked concerns about how that supply of between four and five million barrels per day could be replaced, especially as demand for fuel ramps up over the summer.

Over the past week, however, investors seem to be considering whether they went too far, too fast. The United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to Washington said that the country wants to increase oil production, sparking hopes that the Organisation of the Oil Exporting Countries, or OPEC, could intervene after all.

Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine are still talking, even as the war rages.

Plus, China’s commitment to halting the spread of COVID-19, which has led to a lockdown in the tech hub of Shenzhen and new rules in Shanghai, could mean the country needs less energy in the short-term. China imports about 11 million barrels of oil per day.

“People remembered we are still in a pandemic,” Tonhaugen said.

Why it matters: The drop in oil prices has helped prevent gasoline prices from moving

higher in the United States.

They’ve stopped climbing for now, though a gallon of gasoline still costs almost $4.32 on average.

While $100 per barrel of oil is still extremely expensive, if prices stay in that range, it

could ease some fears about an acceleration of inflation. Policymakers would likely breathe a small sigh of relief.

But it’s clear that investors remain unsettled as they process the effects of Russia’s invasion. Russian oil is still being priced at a huge $26 discount to Brent.

And analysts believe the direction of travel has been set.

Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS, expects oil to trade at $125 per barrel by the end of June. For his part, Tonhaugen of Rystad Energy thinks prices could still smash records as the conflict plays out.

“This is the quiet before the storm,” he said.

GETTING DEEPER Investors have been racing to dump stocks in Chinese companies as worries grow about the consequences of a crackdown from regulators and a spike in Omicron cases.

Whether Beijing could provide support to Russia, and be punished by the West for doing so, is adding to the fear.

“There may be growing caution over the potential for secondary sanctions on China,” TD Securities strategist Mitul Kotecha told clients.

The Shanghai Composite dropped almost five per cent on Tuesday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell nearly six per cent.

The index has plunged more than 10 per cent over the past two trading sessions.

The declines came de-

March 09, 2022

G 1 6 8 20 27 28 21 March 12, 2022

F 4 5 7 19 23 25 9

15/03/22 - 07, 10, 13, 17, 20

15/03/22 - 7 9 8

15/03/22 - 6 7 5

spite surprisingly positive economic data from China Tuesday. Retail sales rose 6.7 per cent in the first two months of this year compared to the same period in 2021. Industrial production jumped 7.5 per cent, trouncing economists’ forecasts.

“The momentum of China’s economic recovery has improved in January and February, laying a solid foundation for a good start in the first quarter of this year,” said a spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics.

But as China fights its worst COVID-19 outbreak in two years, investors see little reason for optimism.

“With officials ditching targeted containment measures in favor of wholesale lockdowns, this has the potential to be even more disruptive than the Delta wave last summer, which led to a sharp contraction in economic output,” Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics wrote Tuesday.

It’s not the only reason investors are nervous. The tech giant Tencent could reportedly face a record fine for breaching Chinese anti-money launching rules, sending its stock into free-fall.

Other big tech names like Alibaba have been battered after the Securities and Exchange Commission pressed ahead with a crackdown on foreign companies that don’t meet US disclosure requirements. (CNN Business)

15/03/22- 1, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 17

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Barbados: VAT removed from personal care items

(Barbados Today) Value Added Tax (VAT) on selected essential personal and critical care items will be zero-rated from April 1, and measures will be taken to ensure those savings are passed on to consumers.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced on Monday that all sanitary towels and tampons, baby and adult diapers, antiperspirants, vitamins and multi-minerals will be zero-rated for VAT purposes, along with 35 items used primarily to assist with the control of chronic diabetes, such as Glucerna, Ensure, Enterex, Pediasure, Slim Fast and Splenda products.

“This is a long-overdue measure that I am proud to introduce and another component of protecting our people, shielding our people from cost of living increases,” she said as she delivered her first Budget address in two years.

To ensure the tax relief measures are passed on to the consumer, the Prime Minister said, the Department of

Commerce will ensure the movement of prices will be published every two weeks, for the benefit of the public.

“So that all Barbadians may see what prices are out there and Barbadians can vote with their feet and their pocket,” she said.

“I have similarly asked that monthly reports be prepared for submission to the Cabinet and, through the Minister of Labour, to the Social Partnership, so as to ensure that the sacrifice being borne by the taxpayers that I’ve announced today, genuinely reaches the pockets of Barbadians where we need them to reach and are not used as part and parcel of the profit to be incurred by persons selling these products.”

The Prime Minister also committed to continue monitoring the critical price trends in oil, freight, personal care items, and food, with a view to considering how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the shield being provided for consumers.

“The Department of Commerce working with

the public, the Fair Trade Commission, the Barbados Revenue Authority, and the Customs and Excise Department can ensure that these savings do reach where they need to reach because we are all in this together,” she added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Dental Health

DENTAL health is an important component of the overall health of the Guyanese people; it is about taking care of the teeth, gums and the mouth, and preventing such complications as tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease, and protecting the overall health of the mouth.

Many people have a fear of going to the dentist, and wait until the pain becomes unbearable and the only remaining option is to have the tooth extracted. In many cases, that tooth could have been ‘saved’, had there been an earlier dental intervention.

The PPP/C Administration, conscious of the importance of dental health to the overall health of citizens, has recently re-launched the ‘Lady Janet’, which is the largest and most sophisticated dental boat in the country. The vessel was named after the late Former President, Mrs. Janet Jagan, and is expected to resume services to the people of the Upper and Lower Pomeroon in Region Two. The recommissioning of the ‘Lady Janet’ will allow for adults and children to access a number of services such as oral examinations, extraction, dental cleaning and oral health education.

This is indeed a commendable initiative by the PPP/C Administration which will allow for children and adults from far-flung riverine communities to benefit from dental

services at no financial cost. Residents in these hinterland communities are severely challenged in terms of accessing dental services in a timely manner, and the re-deployment of the dental boat is a welcome development.

Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, who commissioned the boat, noted that efforts will be made to ensure that additional primary care services are available on the boat. According to the health minister, the boat will operate initially as a dental boat which could be modified later to provide other health services such as maternal health and pediatric care.

It was during Mrs. Jagan’s tenure as Minister of Labour, Health and Housing that several dental clinics and cottage hospitals were established all over the country, and emphasis placed on women’s issues, including maternal health and gender equity.

Indeed, it was under her stewardship that infant and child mortality went down significantly, and malaria, which was rampant at the time, almost completely eradicated in the country. Because of the neglect of the health sector under the PNC regime, there was again a resurgence of malaria in the country, especially in the interior locations.

Today, the PPP/C administration has again brought malaria under control.

President Dr. Irfaan Mohamed Ali has made the health of the Guyanese people a top national priority. In the 2022 Budget Estimates, a sum of 12.4 billion dollars has been allocated for the design and construction of a state-of-the art pediatric and maternal hospital, the upgrading of the West Demerara and Bartica Hospitals, and the construction of six modern regional hospitals at Anna Regina, Tuschen, Diamond, Enmore, Bath, and No. 75 Village. A number of health facilities have been upgraded and retrofitted to operate as ‘Smart’ health facilities, which are consistent with the low-carbon development trajectory of the PPP/C administration.

These facilities are strategically reconfigured and retrofitted to resist natural disasters, and provide enhanced levels of resilience, strengthening of structural and operational technologies, which, in addition to reducing carbon footprints, will also allow them to operate during emergencies and disasters.

The government is committed to providing First-World healthcare services to the people of Guyana. According to President Ali, there is also need for ‘a culture change’ in the way health services are being administered in the country. Such changes, the President said, are not only applicable

to doctors, nurses and other medical staff, but to all workers. “So, it is an integrated flow from the time you get to the hospital to when you are administered service. And I want to urge the management of the hospital to ensure that that flow and level is there,” President Ali said.

President Ali and the PPP/C administration must be commended for the several initiatives and interventions to modernise the delivery of healthcare to the citizens of Guyana, including the provision of free dental services.

There are not many countries in the world, including some of the more developed ones, where there are free dental services, an indication that the people-oriented approach as envisioned by President Jagan and his wife, Janet, is very much alive.

The re-commissioning of the ‘Lady Janet’ coincides with a time when the entire nation is celebrating the life and work of former Presidents Cheddi and Janet Jagan, both of whom passed away in the month of March. This year marks the 25th Death Anniversary of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, who was himself a dentist by training, and after whom the Cheddi Jagan Dental School was named.

The dental school is a gift to the people of Guyana by the former President.

Work of the PAC must be done with circumspection, diligence and care Dear Editor, THE rampant corruption that occurred under the A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance for Change administration was brought to an end in 2020.

Through the democratic process, the Guyanese people removed the former administration of APNU+AFC after a five-month delay.

They had attempted to pervert the true will of the people of Guyana.

Since the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic government entered office in August of 2020, numerous acts of corruption, nepotism, cronyism and favoritism have been unearthed.

The former administration of the A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change did little to nothing for Guyana and Guyanese and grossly mismanaged this country and its resources. Their many acts of deliberate misappropriation of taxpayer’s

money have seen many of them being brought before the courts on charges; and rightly so.

These acts, along with their many other indiscretions, resulted in the APNU+AFC facing a no- confidence motion three years into their tenure. The behaviour of those political leaders subsequent to the successful passage of the no-confidence motion in December 2018, left much to be desired. From 2020 to now, the revelations of corruption have not astonished this letter writer. Many of these acts of corruption and deals entered into by APNU+AFC officials occurred illegally. This illegality the APNU+AFC government were fully aware of.

We can now see the former government, now a pitiful political opposition, for who they really are. Recently, during the examination of the Auditor-General report of 2017, another example of the rampant corruption surfaced. This time, the Ministry of Education

came unto the radar involving a fuel scandal.

This is not the first scandal associated with the former administration. The Auditor-General reports over the years have unearthed countless acts of corruption.

Only last month, tension erupted between Jermaine Figueria, Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Senior Minister of Public Works, Bishop Edghill. The senior minister was, at that time, seeking clarification into the sales of some derelict vehicles by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs back in 2017. The ministers’ inquiry saw direct attempts to suppress information into the highly irregular sale that occurred when the APNU+AFC was in power. It appears that thus far 2017 was another corrupt year under the failed Coalition.

The work of the PAC is important; it is for this reason that it shouldn’t be rushed or fast tracked. This would enable for the thorough

examination of the AGs reports and the appropriate actions being taken. It would further highlight the travesty that occurred under the former administration.

The work of the PAC must be done with circumspection, diligence and with the requisite care.

The work of the Public Accounts Committee remains very important and crucial in any democratic and transparent society.

To this end, the members of the PAC, especially those representing the government, have to remain vigilant.

It is important to the people of Guyana as it should be to every political party and their members to be committed to transparency and accountability for the expenditure of public funds.

Yours sincerely, Nkosei Williams

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Justice Kennard was fair, firm and thorough, yet positive and resolute Dear Editor, I hereby respectfully pay tribute to an august gentleman and fine legal luminary who has passed away, Cecil Kennard, my good friend, neighbour, colleague and fellow prosecutor of the DPP Chambers before he became a Judge and Chancellor of the Judiciary.

I joined the Chambers of the DPP in the year 1966 where I met Cecil, together with other gentlemen, including Richard Hector -- the man who bowled the great Len Hutton for a duck at Bourda; Laurie Ganpat Singh, Godfrey Persaud, James Patterson under the DPP; Emanuel Ramao, Mr. Gonsalves-Shabola as Deputy DPP. We were a fine fraternity of enthusiastic lawyers prosecuting on behalf of the State. At that time, we worked on Saturdays also.

Cecil was an outstanding prosecutor, always well prepared and thorough.

He prosecuted some remarkable murder cases together with fraud cases and robbery with violence cases. His gentleness and mannerly conduct at the Bar with his attractive personality spontaneously attracted the women jurors of the panel. Whether that was part of his advocacy and persuasion to a guilty

verdict remains unknown.

Mr. Gonsalves-Shabola was always ready and willing to help us prosecutors, for we rushed to him in the afternoon after the adjournments to discuss our legal problems during the day at court and to receive guidance thereto.

On Saturdays at 10am, all of us met informally in his Chambers to discuss legal problems and evidential issues that we were confronted with during the week, and advise on the presentation of our cases.

Hence, together, we learnt from each other the legal problems or issues with solutions to them.

My friend and brother, Cecil Kennard, was a very outstanding prosecutor, as proven when he prosecuted what was known as the Kitty Murder Case. We crossed swords with the finest legal minds of the Bar, including the famous legal luminary, Mr. J. O. F Haynes, Fred Wills, J.T Clarke and the Luckhoo Chambers; among Judges the renowned Chief Justice J.A. Luckhoo, Mr. Akbar Khan, Justice Fraser, Justice Gordon, Justice Date, Stanley Hardyal, Bhairo Prasad, Justice Kenneth George, and others.

I clearly recall certain prisoners when they heard that Cecil Kennard is the prosecutor, prisoners take sick leave for they were

fearful of him prosecuting due to likely verdicts of guilty.

Cecil became a Judge of the High Court and Chief Justice and he was fair, firm and thorough, yet positive and resolute. Parties to civil claims never spoke of an unjust result when he presided. Cecil and I were buddy friends during our days of prosecution, dining, wining, discussing law, cricket. He talked of horses

but I knew very little of it.

Cecil emerged from an independent Bushlot family of East Corentyne where his parents owned both coconut and rice estates. His uncle, Gavin Kennard, was tall and handsome and he became Agriculture Minister and, socially, he was known as the Prince.

Cecil became Chancellor of the Judiciary and, as Chancellor, his management style, his positive

administrative skill and ability in supervising the magistrates, as he was severe in his discipline when it comes to laxity. The reams of decisions left on the Appellate Court in both Civil and the Criminal Law will enrich our judicial library and enhance the legal minds of the Bar. He was firm, fair and fearless, yet kind, charming, sociable and a great legal luminary on the firmament

of the legal profession and judiciary. His name shall reign through the corridor of judicial history as an outstanding judicial officer and citizen.

Eternal rest give unto Cecil’s soul oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Fraternally, Jailall Kissoon, Attorney-at-Law

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Russia-Ukraine crisis highlights urgent need for CARICOM policy on security of citizens in conflict zones

By Earl Bousquet CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Heads of Government are wor-

ried about the treatment of Caribbean, African and other “non-European” citizens fleeing Ukraine, and have been

calling for guarantees of their safety and security, now, more than ever.

The Caribbean Heads, at their recent (March

1-2) Intersessional Summit in Belize, discussed the ongoing reports of discrimination against People of African De-

scent, including Caribbean students, being prevented from boarding buses and/or trains to safe borders.

Jamaican students were caught up early in Ukraine, and walked long and hard to eventual safety, while Guyana and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with students in Moscow, said they’ve been guaranteed that they were safe.

But while the CARICOM Heads expressed appreciation for the neighbouring countries accepting refugees from Ukraine, they also expressed strong concern about “the plight of and discrimination against non-European nationals… who are seeking to leave Ukraine.”

By mid-March, elements of racism and racist responses continued emerging -- from abandonment of children of mixed-race, to continuing discrimination against “non-Europeans”.

A UK report highlighted the fate of children born to Ukrainian mothers and African fathers who ended up being virtually dumped at orphanages, due to societal rejection of mixed-race children with an African parent.

The stigma was already strong before the Russian intervention, and has worsened since, as the children affected still have no social protection from a State that doesn’t treat them like citizens, though born in Ukraine.

In the case of the almost three million Ukrainians who fled to Poland and other parts of Europe, evidence has also emerged from statements and comments by jour-

nalists and politicians across Europe that they were being received with wider-open arms than refugees from Iraq or Afghanistan, Libya or Sudan, Haiti or Havana, simply because “They look like us…”

It’s hard to know whether Ukraine, Russia, Poland, or even the UK, were moved to move on the concerns expressed by 14 Caribbean nations, but this experience, like all others, again underlines the need for a common regional policy on these issues.

CARICOM member-states have bilateral ties with all the countries involved in the Ukraine crisis, and it should be the duty of each in the area of conflict to offer assurances and guarantees of the safety and security of their allies’ citizens.

The reports from Ukraine in the first week about the treatment of Black and other nonWhite refugees at border crossings and boarding points for buses and trains looked and sounded like 21st Century versions of the USA in the ‘60s, when Americans of African descent were told, “If you’re Black, stay back!”

It is only to be hoped that the fact that the plight of Caribbean citizens in areas of conflict has been highlighted sufficiently in Ukraine to have become a CARICOM Heads of Government Summit agenda item, will now be followed-up by the necessary action to ensure no similar repetition in the next global conflict, wherever and whenever.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

MMG+singled out as ‘game changer’ in financial technology in Guyana THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company (GTT)’s Mobile Money Guyana (mmg+) was singled out as an innovative tool to consumers by users, during a panel discussion hosted by the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission on Tuesday in recognition of World Consumer Rights Day. Founded in 2013, mmg+ provides a spectrum of financial services to customers. Among other services it provides are: The payment of bills, topping up of GTT cellphone credit, sending and receiving money, and shopping and paying for items such as groceries.

Some customers could also transfer money from their bank accounts to their mmg+ wallets to make those payments.

According to MMG’s General Manager Bobita Ram, mmg+ has made everyday life more convenient for Guyanese, given the ease with which it can be used, and the added security it offers.

The provision of those services is in keeping with the promise to innovate for all in Guyana. As part of this promise, in the last year, mmg+ has added more services, revamped the app to make it more user- friendly, while en-

suring the continuity of its USSD feature, which allows secure usage without Internet connectivity.

CCAC Communications Officer Allison Park-

MMG General Manager Bobita Ram er, in an invited comment, said: “The CCAC recognises the mmg+ service as one of the FinTech services that has reshaped the way consumers engage in financial transactions.”

Themed, “Fair Digital Finance”, this World Consumer Rights Day 2022 saw panelists being drawn from mmg+, CreditInfo Guyana, the Bank of Guyana (BOG), and the Guyana Association of Bankers (GABI).

The future of mmg+ will see more partnerships and collaboration to ensure wider, more inclusive access, and greater innovation as the product evolves.

Panel discussion hosted by the CCAC

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Investing amid a crisis

(Jamaica Observer) If you’re an investor on the stock market, chances are that you’ve witnessed increased volatility in the price of your stock over the past two years.

That’s a result of economic factors, like interest rate hikes, inflation, and higher oil prices, which tend to have a significant impact on stock market performance.

Even on the international scene, the NASDAQ Composite Index — a global electronic marketplace for buying and selling securities — is already down 12.10 per cent since the start of the year compared to the same period in 2021 after struggling to stay in positive territory since the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Dow Jones Index — a price-weighted measurement of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States — is also down for the same period at 6.73

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

per cent. Since the start of the year the main Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Index is down 2.21 per cent.

Corporate manager for group client portfolios and investment strategies at JMMB, Daniel Thompson, told the Jamaica Observer that this is normal behaviour during time of economic, political, or even social turmoil – the equivalent of what investors would call a crisis.

“In times of crisis or uncertainty you generally see a fall-off in asset prices. As uncertainty prevails investors tend to move their money to safer assets, so it’s basically a de-risking of your portfolio until you have a clearer idea of what is happening,” said Thompson.

He explained that safer assets include “treasury bills, short-term assets, and in some more developed markets you’re looking at commodities or housing for low-risk investors”.

But he cautioned investors against panic, noting that “no market goes up or down forever, that’s the truth, that’s the nature of how markets operate”.

With that said, he advised that there are certain strategies investors should apply to ensure they are protected in the event of catastrophe.

“In any time you’re supposed to always take a diversified approach to investing, there’s a place for every asset class in most portfolios. How much of the asset in relation to the portfolio make-up is a function of what your overall investment objectives are.

In a time like this you really need to go back to the core reason as to why you’re investing and ask what [your] investment goals are,” Thompson stated.

But he noted that risky assets isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He stressed that it all depends on the investor’s risk appetite and investment objectives.

“That is not to say that there is not a place for risky assets; you just have to ensure that it fits your overall investment objective.”

In the meantime, Thompson highlighted that this isn’t the first time the stock market has been hit by crisis-like events, noting that the market always recovers. He pointed to the 2008 financial crisis, the tech bubble of 1995, the housing sector crisis, and world wars one and two, outlining that the stock market usually rebounds from crisis.

“It suits investors not to treat it like it’s the end of the world, what a crisis says is be cautious and stick to the fundamentals of why you’re investing.”

In terms of recovery outlook, Thompson admitted, “It’s generally quite challenging to determine exactly when the market will recover until you have recovered. They are oftentimes setbacks,” he said.

But he further advised that, “You

can judge the posture of key variables, you can look at the actions that central banks and government are taking and that will give you an idea as to what they are trying to accomplish.”

Nevertheless, he admitted that things have already started to pick up pace in the local market.

“We are seeing signs of more activity in the market. We have seen three IPO’s [initial price offering] since the start of the year and within the space of two months. That is an indication that investors are a little more optimistic about the market going forward and companies have more confidence in their ability to raise funds in the capital markets, which is another sign that we’re getting close to business as usual.”

However, he cautioned investors against overreacting, noting that we are not out the woods as yet.

“Going into a crisis there’s the tendency of overreacting and coming out of a crisis there’s the same tendency of overreacting, that’s something that we need to be cognisant of. Yes, things are looking a little bit more positive this year than it was last year, but we are not completely out of the woods yet, we are not seeing where everything is back to normal 100 per cent.”

He highlighted that, although many companies are reporting higher results this year, it doesn’t mean that every company is a good buy. He explained that the results are against the backdrop of two years when economic activity was subdued and company performance dipped.

In short, comparatively, some firms are still not doing as good as or better than they were in pre-pandemic times.

Notwithstanding, he said the positive results being reported is good news and a signal that the recovery has started.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

UN names 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands, Pastoralists

THE United Nations (UN) has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, reflecting the important role healthy rangelands play in creating a sustainable environment, economic growth and resilient livelihoods for communities across the world.

The UN General Assembly at its Plenary Meeting on 28 February 2022, adopted the resolution that was initiated and spearheaded by Mongolia, and supported by 60 Member States representing all regions of the world.

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists aims to raise awareness and advocate for the value of healthy rangelands and sustainable pastoralism, as well as advocating for the need to further build the capacity of and increase responsible investment in the pastoral livestock sector.

This includes sustainable land management practices, improved or restored ecosystems, and equitable access to markets, livestock health and breeding.

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as the lead agency.

RANGELANDS AND PASTORALISM Rangelands and pastoralism are linked to diverse ecosystems, cultures, identities, traditional knowledge and historical experience co-existing with nature.

Rangelands support the livelihoods and food security of millions of people around

the world and have many benefits, not only to herders, but also to other communities through biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and delivery of clean water.

Pastoralists make the most of a variable environment by using strategic mobility seasonally.

Droughts, floods, ecosystem degradation, animal diseases, pressure on land and increasingly erratic climate are compromising the economic productivity of rangelands and pastoralism, which risks exacerbating rural poverty due to the loss of pastoralists’ productive assets.

Productive rangelands and pastoralism have great potential to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists represents an opportunity to raise international awareness on these issues of global concern.

The FAO, together with its partners in government, civil society and the scientific community will develop a series of activities linked to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, with the aim to raise awareness around the initiative and the importance of the sustainable management of rangelands and pastoralism and its contribution to achieving sustainable development.

FAO members will be encouraged to build the capacity of and increase responsible investment in the pastoral livestock sector, including for sustainable land management practices, also with the aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase adaptive capacity,

and maintain and enhance biodiversity in rangelands.

FAO’S WORK WITH RANGELANDS AND PASTORALISTS FAO contributes to addressing some of these challenges by working on

edge, tools and guidelines, including the Technical Guidelines for Improving Governance of Pastoral Lands, the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure and the Participatory Assessment of Land Degradation and Sustainable Land

sustainable management of rangelands, governance, data and knowledge generation, and supporting pastoralists’ advocacy initiatives.

FAO develops and fosters the implementation of knowl-

Management in Grassland and Pastoral Systems project.

FAO’s Pastoralist Knowledge Hub serves both as a repository of technical knowledge on pastoralism and pastoral people’s livelihoods, and as a neutral forum

for exchange and alliancebuilding among pastoralists and stakeholders working on pastoralist issues.

To tackle animal diseases FAO promotes the prevention, control and eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants, also known as sheep and goat plague, aiming to fully eradicate this highly contagious disease as was done for Rinderpest in 2011.

Supporting a One Health approach, FAO and partners look to boost countries veterinary and monitoring capacities.

Recently, FAO published Making way to guide the development of legal and policy frameworks for securing mobility for various pastoral production systems and practices, facilitating a continuous stream of economic and social benefits for pastoralists, countries, and the environment.

FAO supports intergovernmental mechanisms on securing tenure rights, including Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, related to cross border natural resources-sharing and animal health co-ordination.

Through its Action Against Desertification Initiative, FAO supports its members in the sustainable management and restoration of their dryland forests and rangelands, including the Great Green Wall for the Sahara.

FAO has set up a working group on dryland forests and agro-sylvo-pastoral systems. FAO’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems recognises pastoral systems in the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

World economy faces supply hit as China battles COVID-19 again

(Bloomberg) THE global economy -- already struggling with war in Ukraine and the stagflation risks it’s fanning -- is bracing for greater disruption as China scrambles to contain its worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Since Wuhan two years

ago, China has had relative success in minimizing disruption by bringing virus cases quickly under control.

Now, the geographic spread of infections and higher transmissibility of the omicron variant is challenging the country’s hawkish pandemic strategy of aggressive testing and locking down

whole cities or provinces.

If China fails to contain omicron’s spread, further movement restrictions would derail the economy’s promising start to the year, weakening a key pillar of global growth.

As manufacturer to the world, any disruptions to exports resulting in short-

ages could also drive-up inflation internationally, just as central banks begin hiking interest rates, like the Federal Reserve is expected to do on Wednesday.

A survey of fund managers released Tuesday by Bank of America Corp. showed confidence in global growth was the lowest since

July 2008 and expectations for stagflation jumped to 62 per cent. The survey was conducted in the week through March 10.

“You take all these little paper cuts and you start to add them up and you could be looking at a potential significant slowing of the global economy,” said Jay Bryson, chief economist at Wells Fargo & Co. Much depends on how quickly China can contain the virus. The nation reported more than 5,000 new infections for Monday for the first time since the early days of the pandemic. While a small outbreak by global standards, it’s prompting officials to lock down more cities, with more than 45 million people restricted from leaving their homes.

Shenzhen’s 17.5 million residents we put into lockdown on Sunday for at least a week. The city is located in Guangdong, the manufacturing powerhouse province, which has a gross domestic product of $1.96 trillion, around that of Spain and South Korea, and which accounts for 11 per cent of China’s economy, according to Bloomberg Economics.

Guangdong’s $795 billion worth of exports in 2021 accounted for 23 per cent of China’s shipments that year, the most of any province.

Bloomberg Economics warns that the restrictions in Shenzhen could inflict the heaviest coronavirus-related blow to growth since a nationwide lockdown in 2020, with the additional threat of sending supply shocks rippling around the world. Morgan Stanley cut its growth forecast for the year to 5.1 per cent, below the government’s target of about 5.5 per cent.

On Monday, residents in northeastern Jilin province were asked not to leave or travel. The region of 24 million people is home to Changchun, an industrial hub of some 9 million that accounted for about 11 per cent of China’s total annual car output in 2020.

Beijing has vowed to reduce the impact of virus controls on the economy by making them more targeted and shorter.

Shenzhen -- which is aiming to complete its lockdown in a week during which it will test the entire population three times -- and the export hub of Dongguan have both said factories outside the highest risk districts can continue operating if they keep staff in a bubble with regular testing.

Still, manufacturers who were already complaining of rising costs on the back of the Ukraine war are beginning to take a hit.

Key Apple Inc. supplier

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. said it was halting production at its sites in Shenzhen, joining global auto-makers Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp, which have stopped some operations in the northern province of Jilin.

“Given that China is a major global manufacturing hub and one of the most important links in global supply chains, the country’s COVID policy can have notable spillovers to its trading partners’ activity and the global economy,” said Tuuli McCully, head of Asia-Pacific economics at Scotiabank.

Data on Tuesday showed China’s economy had staged a firm rebound in January and February, led by a strong recovery in household spending and investment by state-owned companies.

But economists cautioned those readings are already in the rearview mirror given developments since the end of February. National Bureau of Statistics spokesman Fu Linghui said Tuesday the lockdowns as well as pressure from rising costs and possible disruption could weigh on growth.

Congestion is starting to build at some Chinese ports, which could push up container freight rates again.

Worries over renewed supply chain disruption comes just as U.S. West Coast ports are beginning to process some of the pandemic backlog, helped by a lull after the Chinese New Year holidays.

About 20 per cent of the cargo coming into the busiest container gateways in the U.S. is estimated to be from the Shenzhen region, according to a spokesman for the Port of Los Angeles.

The global impact of a COVID-related shutdown in China could be similar to the blockage that roiled supply chains when a container ship blocked the Suez Canal last year, according to Stephanie Loomis, vice president of International Procurement at freight forwarder CargoTrans, Inc. “If they don’t let any of these guys go to factories and produce goods, then nothing will move,” she said. “It’ll just stop.”

Whether China’s COVID playbook can continue to contain the virus and minimize negative spillovers to the world will soon become evident, said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.

“The outbreaks impose downside risk to China’s economy at least in the next few months,” he said.

“A China slowdown would exacerbate the risk of stagflation and global supply chain problems.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

GECOM’s continuous registration captures 6,567 applicants so far

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has received some 6,567 applications countrywide, since the beginning of its continuous registration exercise on March 7.

From that number, 2,989 are first-time applicants (Category A) between the ages 14

of people flock the offices to do their respective transactions, so we want to urge persons against that,” Ward said.

Registration offices operate from Monday to Friday between 8:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs. On Saturdays and Sundays, persons could visit the

to 17, and 2,079 for 18 years and older.

Some 674 applicants sought changes and corrections, 261 requested transfers, while 470 sought replacements for identification cards, along with 94 photograph retakes.

GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, said citizens are responding well to the exercise, which she believes will intensify as time progresses. She is urging persons to make the best of the opportunity for registration.

“Usually, towards the end of the [registration] exercise is when we would find a lot

offices between 10:00 hrs and 14:00 hrs.

Meanwhile, Ward has called on parents to ensure their children, who would become 14 years and older by October 31, to be registered.

“It stipulates that you can have an ID card from as early as 14 years old, so when it’s time for employment among other activities, you do not have to be in this dilemma of having to wait to have that registration done. So, persons need to utilise this period to ensure that your registration transactions are completed,” she related.

Ward added that persons need to visit the GECOM

registration office in their area with the relevant documents: original birth certificate, valid passport, adoption certificate or naturalisation certificate, in the case of new

registration.

According to the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 stipulates that registration is a must and therefore it is expected that persons

participate in the process.

Some $4.1 billion has been approved for GECOM this year, to carry out its work programme. From this amount, over $700 million

has been earmarked to host this year’s Local Government Elections.

The continuous exercise is expected to conclude on May 29. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

22,000 ECD residents to enjoy better water supply –– with commissioning of new $141M well at Lusignan

SOME 22,000 residents of Lusignan and Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD), will now enjoy improved access to potable water following the completion of a new well at Lusignan, valuing approximately $141M. The well, which was drilled by S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies & Construction Services to a depth of 955 feet, services residents of Grassfield, Lusignan Pasture, Lusignan East & West, Annandale and Courbane Park.

This significant addition to the water system on the ECD was commissioned by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday.

The Head of State, in his remarks, referred to the government’s $6.2 billion investment in the water sector since assuming office in August 2020.

According to the President, some $11 billion has been earmarked for the water sector over the next two years. He said that this investment will ensure that 100

per cent access to potable water is achieved along the coast and the hinterland by 2025 and that 100 per cent access to treated water is achieved along the coast.

President Ali also took the opportunity to highlight that the government has removed Value Added Tax (VAT) from water, reinstated the pensioners’ subsidy and reduced the water tariff by five per cent across the board.

This, he noted, is what a responsible government does.

He congratulated all those involved in seeing the new Lusignan well to fruition.

Meanwhile, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, said that the new well is another achievement of repairing and adding to critical infrastructure.

He pointed out that while the well was not originally budgeted for in 2021, the government made additional resources available for its construction.

He encouraged the beneficiaries of the new well to

President Dr. Irfaan Ali commissions the new water system at Lusignan while Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; CEO of GWI, Shaik Baksh and other officials look on (DPI photo)

Assisted by a few school children, President Dr. Irfaan Ali; Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues and CEO of GWI, Shaik Baksh, unveil the sign for the new well station at Lusignan (DPI photo)

use the water responsibly and to report any leaks they observe in their communities.

Minister Croal used the opportunity to state that the possibility of using the Hope Canal as a water source on the ECD is being explored given the growing demand for the resource as well as the effects of climate change.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GWI, Shaik Baksh, acknowledged the suffering of the communities following the collapse of the old Lusignan well in late 2020.

He apologised to the residents for the delay in bringing the new well into operation, which he attributed to the depletion of GWI’s inventory under the previous government.

Baksh, however, assured residents that this situation has been resolved and well materials have been procured for a next four or five wells.

According to the CEO, a minimum of eight wells will be drilled along the coastland in 2022 and 30 in the hinterland. A robust maintenance programme is also in

place for the maintenance of the existing wells and water treatment plants.

The CEO further stated that GWI is moving aggressively towards the construction of six new water Treatment plants Chairman of the Mon Repos/La Reconnaisance NDC, Ayube Mohammed, said that the residents’ lives have been made easier with the completion of the new well.

He said the facility is well appreciated even as he expressed gratitude to all those involved in the project.

The well has a design life of 30 years and has a production capacity of 210 cubic meters of water per hour.

The water quality analysed by GWI’s Scientific Services Department confirmed that all tested parameters, with the exception of iron, conforms to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard for drinking water purposes.

This will be remedied with the installation of iron removal facilities within the affected areas in the near future.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Religious leaders encouraged to be advocates for COVID-19 vaccination –– as vaccine hesitancy workshop reaches Region Two

TO address the issue of vaccine hesitancy, the Ministry of Health has taken its three-day “Vaccine Hesitancy Workshop” to Region Two, as there has been a low record of vaccination there.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, speaking at the opening of the workshop on Monday, said just about 67.7 per cent of the region’s adult population took the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 53 per cent are fully vaccinated.

The minister encouraged religious leaders to advocate for more vaccination in the region.

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the government has been able to procure six different COVID-19 vaccines for Guyana’s eligible population.

Even with this effort, the country is still facing the issue of vaccine

He said Region Two, at one time was leading in the vaccination effort and was seen as an inspiration to other regions to get their populations inoculated, now it is challenging to get persons vaccinated because of false information circulating in the region.

“Sometimes when you hear the things that people say, you know it should give us pause to think whether this

with the knowledge gained from this workshop your work will be instrumental, very important to helping people overcome their fears and their concerns surrounding vaccines hesitancy through information grounded in science, grounded in facts.”

She also noted that the United States will continue to partner with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF to bring

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony awareness about the COVID-19 vaccines.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall; Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton and UNICEF Deputy Representative, Guyana and Suriname, Irfan Akhtar were also present. (DPI) Health Minister, US Ambassador and other officials at the workshop (DPI photos)

is making sense or not

United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah AnnLynch hesitancy, mainly due to misinformation from social media and influential persons in communities across Guyana.

“I really want you to become advocates for us, to be able to talk to other religious leaders in the community to get them on board… [Because] by what they say, they have become some of the main instruments in preventing people from getting the vaccine,” Dr. Anthony told participants.

ventable deaths.”

Meanwhile, United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah AnnLynch, during her remarks, told participants that they will be playing an important role in passing on factual information concerning the vaccines, noting that vaccine hesitancy is one of the major barriers to the country returning to normalcy.

She said: “Armed

and if it’s not then we should be able to help to dispel those types of myths,” the Health Minister noted.

Dr. Anthony said 59 deaths have been recorded in Region Two, with most of those persons being unvaccinated.

He related: “When we look at the stats, one of the things it is showing us is that most of those people have been unvaccinated so perhaps if they were vaccinated these would’ve been pre-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Non-negotiable: Guyanese must be main beneficiaries of oil-and-gas sector –– MP Datadin reaffirms any challenge to the Local Content Act will be strongly opposed

GUYANA can explore entering a reservation, or opting out of the relevant part of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC), in addition to considering the possibility of a complete with-

drawal if regional entities challenge the implementation of its Local Content Act (2021) as a violation of the RTC. This is according to Government Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjeev

Datadin, who emphasised that any challenge to the implementation of Guyana’s Local Content Act (LCA) will be met with determined resolve from the government and the people of Guyana.

Datadin, who was at the time responding to a recent article published on trinidadlaw.com which, once again, questions the validity of Guyana’s LCA, noted that the government has at its disposal established principles of treaty law.

“The arguments made in the shadows about CARICOM, and posted in the open on Sunday ignore the reality of treaty law. Every Member State can issue a reservation and, or, opt out of treaty obligations at its discretion,” Datadin posited.

Datadin noted that from his interactions with senior functionaries in the government, there is a quiet but firm resolve on the issue, and Guyana will assert sovereignty and right to choose in the coming days and, “likely, if necessary, adjust her treaty obligations to remove any possible conflict, real or perceived”.

“Those who seek to challenge the LCA in Court do so at their own peril; they would be underestimating or not understanding the sentiment across Guyana on this issue, across all ethnic, cultural, class and political lines. There is a quiet but firm resolve on the issue; a resolve so strong that a treaty reservation/ opt out, or even a withdrawal are all possible,” Datadin said.

Datadin pointed to The Bahamas having taken itself out of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and restricting the free movement of CARICOM nationals, while Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis opted out of the free movement of skilled labour (security guards and agricultural workers) in 2019.

Giving another exam-

ple, he also noted that most of the RTC signatories have still not accepted the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as their final Appellate Court, preferring, instead, the Privy Council, which is based in the United Kingdom.

“The reality is that Guyana can enter a reservation to the relevant part of the RTC and, or, opt out, depending on the prevailing circumstances.

This may be sought for a period of years deemed sufficient for the Guyanese sector to mature, and be able to compete with foreign businesses,” Datadin, who is a lawyer by profession, said.

After a year of consultations, Guyana’s landmark Local Content Bill was finally passed in the National Assembly last December, with President Irfaan Ali assenting to the LCA on December 31, 2021.

MAXIMUM BENEFITS The LCA paves the way for ensuring that Guyanese gain equal opportunities and access in the oil-and-gas industry, and to ensure maximum benefits for Guyanese businesses, with preferential mandates.

However, a few weeks after the LCA went into law, a leaked email from the Caribbean Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) alleged that the legislation violates the RTC, and noted the CPSO’s intention to raise concerns with the Guyana government and, ultimately, CARICOM. The response from Guyanese was swift, with several members of Guyana’s business community voicing their outrage.

Datadin, on Tuesday, established that it is the fair and right thing to

Government MP Sanjeev Datadin do to allow Guyanese to benefit from their oil resources in a preferential manner, and though CARICOM neighbours are welcome, this cannot be at the expense or marginalisation of Guyanese nationals and companies.

“The writer of that article ignored, entirely, the mood and sentiment of the Guyanese people, and the resolve of the Government of Guyana on this issue. It was ignored that the people of Guyana are firm that they must benefit more than tangentially, or on the fringes; their benefit must be real and substantial. This involvement is seen as the path to lift an entire nation from a poor developing nation to a prosperous nation,” Datadin said.

Datadin noted that much of the contention against Guyana’s LCA continues to come largely from Trinidad businesses.

“The sense of entitlement was un-surprising in the article. The implied portrayal of Guyana’s oil resources as CARICOM’s oil resource (as opposed to Guyana’s) was most significant and interesting,” he said.

Datadin reminded that prior to Guyana’s discovery of oil in 2015, there was little interest in regional businesses to invest in Guyana.

“No one seemed interested in investing in Guyana before the discovery of oil in 2015; Guyana’s treatment as a ‘poor, distant relative’ was well entrenched.

I would not go into detail about the infamous treatment of Guyanese nationals at regional airports; that’s for another day, perhaps,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Omai commences drilling for gold at Blueberry Hill site OMAI Gold Mines Corporation has commenced drilling at its Blueberry Hill site, following the completion of 10 trenches, totalling 580 meters, in January and February.

According to a press release from the company, drilling is progressing well at the site, which is located approximately 500 meters west of the past-producing Fennell deposit.

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Omai, Elaine Ellingham,

extensive 2021 compilation work.”

Some of those targets were identified in the 1990s but have remained untested.

The company, Ellingham said, already completed three holes totalling 501 meters at the Blueberry Hill and Gilt Creek area, west of Fennell, with initial results expected before the end of March.

In January, Omai had reported that it found gold at its Broccoli Hill pit in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Broccoli Hill is said to

es of gold between 1993 and 2005. However, mining eventually ceased at a time when the average gold price was less than US$400 per ounce, leaving significant drilled mineral resources untapped and prime exploration targets untested.

“The company’s shortterm priorities are to ensure verify and expand the known mineral resources, while advancing exploration on key targets, providing a solid opportunity to create significant value for all stakeholders,”

A map showing the various mining sites (Omai photo) said: “Trenching has proven very effective at exposing quartz stockwork systems, allowing us to get better definition on the structural orientations of the targeted horizons. This allows us to be far more focused and effective with the drilling of our exploration targets.”

She went on to say: “With the completion of our maiden resource at Wenot, we have turned our initial focus of the current drilling to our priority exploration targets resulting from our

be an area located only 300 metres north of the Wenot pit and less than 200 metres east of the Fennell pit. Those two pits combined, produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold.

Broccoli Hill has been worked by artisanal miners for over 100 years. Broad gold anomalies were identified by previous auger and soil surveys and the airborne geophysical signatures are similar to those of the Fennell deposit.

The abundance of past placer gold workings in the lowlands flanking the hill, together with the numerous scattered artisanal workings on the hill itself, indicate a nearby gold source, according to the company.

According to the press release: “Omai Gold Mines Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Avalon Gold Exploration Incorporated, holds a 100 per cent interest in the Omai Prospecting License covering 4,590 acres (18.575 sq. km) that includes the past-producing Omai gold mine, and a 100 per cent interest in the adjoining Eastern Flats Mining Permits covering 1,519 acres.”

In its prime, Omai produced over 3.7 million ounc-

the company had said.

Guyana Chronicle had reported on Omai’s intention to restart its operations with an initial investment of US$12 million.

It was reported that the company had wrapped up operations in 2015 after 24 years of service in Guyana.

With its return, the company said that, in addition to engaging and potentially supporting small miners, it also had plans to employ hundreds of people. In its earlier days, the company had in excess of 1,000 persons in its employ.

Currently, there are over 25 mining companies active in Guyana as well as largescale oil producers like ExxonMobil, which are investing heavily in Guyana’s in-frastructure and workforce.

This “economic renaissance,” as described by Omai, has led the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to rate Guyana as the fastest growing economy in the world, and determine that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$3.5 billion is expected to triple within the next five years.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Applications open for Accelerate-Her 2022

THE Centre for Local Business Development, on Tuesday, officially opened its application process for the second installment of its Accelerate-Her programme.

Accelerate-Her is an entrepreneurship programme that offers training, business acceleration workshops and professional mentoring to assist women to grow their businesses.

During the virtual opening, the centre’s director, Natasha Gaskin-Peters, stated that it was found that women-owned businesses mostly operated in areas that were not core to the oil and gas sector and so, in order to make the businesses better equipped, the Accelerate-Her programme was launched last year.

Giving further details about the programme, Gaskin-Peters said, “This programme entails coaching, it entails mentoring, it entails training of female entrepreneurs and so, today, we have launched the call for applications for this particular programme.”

She added that the programme will also see successful applicants participating in a bootcamp and further mentorship programme.

The call for applications is expected to last until April 8, 2022.

The director encouraged women entrepreneurs who are interested in building capacity to apply, and, when the application process closes, assessment will be done and about 35 persons will be chosen.

Subsequently, it was noted that the participants will then move on to the bootcamp activity where they will be introduced to the business model canvas, along

with assessing their businesses for growth.

To that end, she indicated that following the bootcamp, 15 participants will be chosen to move on to a 13-week programme.

“This is where we will do a gap assessment on their business. We will try to understand where their strengths are, where their weaknesses are.

We will pair them with mentors, we will also train them in human resource management, supply chain management and financial management. We will also pair them with business coaches who will help them along their entrepreneurship journey,” Gaskin-Peters said.

With that, it was revealed that the programme is being funded by the Greater Guyana Initiative and as such it was free of cost to participants.

The director indicated that while the initial number of participants slated for the bootcamp is 35, they are hoping to take in around 40 in order to capture as many women-owned businesses as possible.

She added that while last year’s programme ran for around 10-weeks, it has been expanded this year to have breaks so as to enable the business owners to implement what they learned in the programme almost immediately.

Interested entrepreneurs can sign up for the Accelerate-Her programme through the Centre for Local Business Development’s website at www.centreguyana.com and have access to more information about the upcoming programme.

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Director of Centre for Local Business Development, Natasha Gaskin-Peters

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Enhanced water supply for Waramadong, Phillipai –– as GWI moves to drill new wells

RESIDENTS of Waramadong and Phillipai, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), will soon benefit from an enhanced supply of water as the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) moves to drill new wells in the

hinterland communities.

As it is now, just about 50 per cent of the approximately 960 persons living at Waramadong benefit from potable water, while the over 1,400 residents at Phillipai depend on rainfall for their

water supply.

Cognisant of this, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal said that both communities will benefit from new sources of water, through the Hinterland Water Supply Programme.

The two tractors and trailers that were presented to Kamarang and Waramadong over the weekend

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal addressing the gathering at Waramadong on Sunday

Minister Croal, while addressing residents of Waramadong during a recent visit to the community, said: “After the drilling of the well, we expect close to one hundred per cent of residents to receive potable water.”

He said the tendering process for both projects has commenced, as those are among the first set of water-supply enhancement initiatives in Budget 2022.

The new water systems, Minister Croal said, will each comprise a deep-water

well, pipe networks and service connections, as well as a trestle and a photovoltaic pumping system.

GWI Director of Hinterland Services Ramchand Jailall said that residents of the communities at reference will also benefit from employment during the course of the projects.

Additionally, at least two Community Service Officers (CSOs) will be trained in water system management, so as to assist the GWI with surveillance of the new systems.

Meanwhile, on Monday, two tractors and trailers were presented to Kamarang and Waramadong by Minister

Croal, on behalf of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

The equipment will be used to advance agriculture development in both communities, as well as to transport goods and aid in the provision of other services.

Minister Croal urged the toshaos and councillors of both Waramadong and Phillipai to implement systems that will sustainably manage the equipment.

The tractor and accompanying trailer are valued at $5.8 million, while the communities each received a plough and harrow worth approximately $1 million.

‘Tallman’ admits killing Bourda Market vendor THREE years after Bourda Market vendor Troy Ramalho was shot dead during a robbery, the alleged getaway driver has admitted committing the gruesome crime.

George Paton, called

Roy Sandiford, and Akeem Morris, called “Dig Out”, are on remand awaiting the commencement of their High Court trial.

According to reports, Ramalho, of North Road, Lacytown, Georgetown, was

George Paton, called ‘Tallman’, (left) and the late Troy Ramalho ‘Tallman’, formerly of ‘BB’ Eccles, East Bank Demerara, was arraigned for murder before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara High Court on Tuesday, but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. As such, his sentencing has been deferred to Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

The 37-year-old on Tuesday admitted that on August 15, 2018, at Robb Street, Bourda, he unlawfully killed Ramalho, his co-accused,

shot around 23:00hrs on the day in question, after “he put up a fight” during the course of a robbery.

The 45-year-old vendor, who was well known for selling cheese and eggs in front of a store on Robb Street, in close proximity to Bourda Street, was plying his trade when the three bandits, one armed with a gun, ambushed him.

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

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Region Two Tourism Association launches billboard at Supenaam

THE Region Two Tourism Association, on Tuesday afternoon, launched a billboard at Supenaam to showcase the various tourist attraction sites.

Chairperson of the Tourism Association, Yvette Tafares, said that the billboard was erected at Supenaam since it is the gateway to the beautiful Pomeroon-Supenaam region and a large number of visitors usually utilise the ferry service.

She said that members decided to do the project to stimulate domestic travel.

“We know that tourists visit the region and as such the association decided to do the billboard as part of its 2021 project,” Tafares said.

She further explained that it’s a collaborative effort between the association and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

According to Tafares, the association plans to erect a 3D sign at Anna Regina. A

similar sign will be done for Charity and the association is looking to partner with the business community to get this project completed.

She said apart from the billboard project, the association was involved in the painting of pedestrian crossings throughout the region.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, who was at the unveiling, said that the region is unique because of its agriculture, tri-lake experience and many tourism products.

She noted that the region is also focusing on eco-tourism and with the curfew lifted more visitors will be expected.

De Silva added that foreigners have also indicated their interest in investing in Essequibo’s tourism industry and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is open to working with them.

She used the opportunity to urge residents to take their vaccines so that the region can be safe when activities are hosted.

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Members of the Tourism Association; Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva and Regional Executive Officer (REO), Susannah Saywack

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

New programme, Startup Huddle, to support small businesses

THE Guyana Economic Development Trust (GEDT) under its initiative, !nnovate Guyana, has launched Startup Huddle, a programme which falls under the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) According to a press release, the programme aims to support the growth of Guyana’s startup and small business community.

This initiative comes

at a time when businesses in Guyana are being resuscitated after contending with the effects of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.

Startup Huddle, active in more than 60 cities world-wide, provides direct assistance to entrepreneurs and addresses a critical element of success for all businesses, connectivity. Startup Huddle provides a neutral space, where business owners

could discuss the challenges they face and get the encouragement they need.

GEDT, through !nnovate Guyana, is the local franchise partner spearheading this and other GEN initiatives for Guyanese startups and small businesses. Startup huddles are scheduled to occur around Guyana once per month.

Local businesses present their challenges, share

their experiences, take advice and learn from others.

The format of the programme is such that business owners make 20-minute presentations, which are followed by conversations with peers and advisers aimed at identifying solutions, increasing skills, and enhancing the presenters’ businesses.

“There is a need for more activities at the community level, where micro and small businesses can be disconnected from the central business services infrastructure due to distance.

“The objective of offering Startup Huddle is to bring the resources of the !nnovate Guyana initiative to local communities by partnering with local Business Support Organisation (BSO) hosts that have the community relationships,” Programme Manager at GEDT and organiser of Startup Huddle in Guyana, Caroline English said.

Startup Huddle is a community-based programme. As such, regional BSOs, operating at the community level, have been engaged by GEDT to conduct monthly Startup Huddles in the various Administrative Regions in Guyana.

Those BSOs that will be hosting monthly Startup Huddles include the Linden Fund - Region 10; Orange Light BSO, Regions Five and Six; Together We Win Business Network (TWWBN), Region Four, and soon,

Junior Chamber International Guyana and the Mocha Arcadia Multipurpose Agricultural Co-operative Society, Region Four.

Founder of TWWBN, Marlon Joseph said their organisation offers a platform for small businesses to enhance their activities.

“Collaborating with GEN Guyana and GEDT to host Startup Huddle is needed, relevant and timely since it provides the support for TWWBN to achieve its objective of offering quality service at the highest standard,” Joseph said.

Participating BSOs will have access to support services and resources from GEN, through GEDT’s !nnovate Guyana, to successfully achieve the goals of the programme.

In addition to the monthly sessions, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to participate in pitch competitions to win access to micro grants to help support their businesses.

The best business pitches from each community will also be afforded the opportunity to participate in events organised by GEDT/!nnovate Guyana for Global Entrepreneurship Week, slated for November, which will expose their businesses/products to a global audience.

Entrepreneurs who would like to sign up for a Startup Huddle in their community could visit www.innovateguyana.org/gen and connect with the listed BSOs.

$30M infectious diseases clinic commissioned at Suddie GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

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–– to provide targeted care to HIV, TB patients

MINISTER of Health Dr. Frank Anthony commissioned a $30 million infectious diseases clinic at the Suddie Public hospital on Monday.

The clinic will be utilised specifically to treat persons with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB).

Dr. Anthony said healthcare workers will now have a better facility to treat patients suffering from these diseases, and reiterated the ministry’s efforts in treating patients living with HIV, and to eliminate the disease altogether from Guyana’s population.

“As you know, with HIV, there’s a lot of things that we’re doing to change how we treat with HIV patients, and so, one of the things that we want to move to is not just treating persons who are HIV-positive, but also those persons who are at high risk,” he said.

The minister said that the ministry has also rolled out a comprehensive pre-exposure prophylaxis programme (PrEP) across the country, which will allow persons who believe they have been exposed to HIV to be treated.

To this end, Dr. Anthony said: “We have enough medication to do PrEP, and, therefore, if we follow the protocol, then we’ll be able to minimise persons getting the infection, so as not to become positive.”

He reiterated that soon, HIV self-testing kits would be introduced as another

way of detecting the disease in its early stage.

In relation to TB, Dr. Anthony said: “As you know, with TB, one of our biggest challenges has been making sure that people take their medication; and if we’re going to help to cure these people, then we have to make sure they take the medication on time.”

He further noted that at the height of the ‘pandemic’, health workers were unable to go out into the communities to ensure persons were taking their medication.

“So, we need to recover; we need to go back out; we need to find these patients, and make sure they are on treatment,” Dr. Anthony told health workers.

Additionally, $100 million has been allocated to improving health facilities in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Dr. Anthony said that x-ray services and intensive care at the Suddie Hospital will soon be improved, and that training opportunities for Community Health Workers (CHW) and nurses will also be made available in the region.

Parliamentary Representative for Region Two and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall said developments in the health sector, particularly in the region, were made possible by healthcare providers.

“You have seen progress in the delivery of health, and this couldn’t happen without

HIV/AIDS Counsellor Melagreta Pearce cutting the ceremonial ribbon to officially declare open the infectious diseases clinic at the Suddie Public Hospital your profound support, and, more importantly, with the way you dealt with all of the issues,” he told health workers.

Minister Dharamlall said, too: “It makes no sense we have the physical and tangible things, and the people who are supposed to be the ones behind it are not optimally trained.”

Additionally, six TB patients and more than 100 with HIV, along with those having other forms of infectious diseases will be treated at the new Clinic. (DPI)

The newly constructed infectious diseases clinic at Suddie (DPI photos)

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Two die in Berbice accident

TWO persons have lost their lives after the car they were travelling in crashed into a truck along the Number One Village Public Road, Region Six. The victims have been identified as the driver of the car, 20-year-old Latchman Sukhan of Lot 333 Ankerville, Port Mourant, and passenger, Yujisteer Puran, 26, of Lot 50 D Crawford Street Rose Hall, Berbice.

According to an eyewitness, the truck bearing registration number GZZ 4440 was proceeding west along Number One Public Road, when the driver saw two motor cars speeding around the turn, heading in his direction.

The eyewitness said one of the cars, a black Toyota fielder wagon, passed the truck while the other car lost control and slid several feet, before crashing into the truck

which had pulled in to the corner of the road.

Reports indicate the brother of one of the victims, who was driving the fielder wagon, returned and rendered assistance.

The driver of motor lorry GZZ 4440 was arrested and is in custody at the Albion Police Station and is assisting with the investigation.

Meanwhile, according to the police report, the motor car was proceeding east along the northern lane of Borlam Public Road and was in the process of negotiating a right turn, which is located on the Number One Public Road, when the driver lost control of his vehicle which spun several times and collided with the front portion of the truck.

The truck was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane on the Number One Public Road. Both persons were

The truck involved in the accident

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

The mangled remains of the car

Dead: Latchman Sukhan

Dead: Yujisteer Puran extracted from the motor car by public-spirited citizens and ranks of the Guyana Fire Service.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the truck driver and it read zero. The 47-yearold man has told investigators that he was not speeding and the car suddenly ended up in his lane after spinning out on control.

As investigations continue, Sukhan’s body is at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital Mortuary, while the body of the other occupant was taken to the Ramoo Funeral Home, Rose Hall. A post-mortem examination will be conducted on both bodies.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

China’s top legislature receives 487 motions during annual session 2022

(PEOPLE’S DAILY) Deputies to the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, submitted a total of 487 motions by noon on March 8, the deadline for the submission of motions during the fifth session of the 13th NPC set by the presidium of the session, according to the secretariat of the session.

The secretariat has received about 8,000 pieces of suggestions and criticisms from national lawmakers during this year’s annual session of the NPC, which was held from March 5 to 11 in Beijing.

The Standing Committee of the 13th NPC attaches great importance to the role of deputies, and has increased the involvement of lawmakers in the work of the NPC Standing Committee by inviting them to attend the meetings of the NPC Standing Committee, take part in discussions, and play a role in legislation, law enforcement inspection, special investigation and other activities, according to Guo Zhenhua, Deputy Secretary General of the NPC Standing Committee and head of the working group responsible for handling motions at the secretariat of the fifth session of the 13th NPC.

Among the 487 motions submitted by national lawmakers during this year’s annual session of the NPC, 474 are related to the making and amending of laws.

Some motions call on the national legislature to formulate laws on public health emergency response, food security, and energy, as well as laws that promote the realization of China’s goal of peaking carbon dioxide and achieving carbon neutrality and the sound development of digital economy, big data, social credit, etc.

Focusing on responding to the concerns and aspirations of the people and improving the country’s legal system to satisfy the people’s expectations for a high-quality life, some motions highlight the necessity of introducing new laws on pre-school education, social aid, anti-telecom and online fraud, childcare and elderly care services, as well as revising the laws on vocational education and the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women, aiming to solve prominent problems concerning people’s wellbeing that have been frequently

Tsering Tsodan (left) discusses her motions with Kelsang Dekyi, a fellow deputy of the National People’s Congress from Tibet autonomous region, in Beijing on March 3. (Photo by Tentsen Shinden/ Tibet Daily)

Li Daokui (on screen), a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivers a speech at the main venue of a video conference of the fifth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, on March 7, 2022. (Photo by Jiang Dong/ chinadaily.com.cn)

It has supported and encouraged lawmakers to enhance ties with the people and better understand social conditions and public opinions by carrying out such activities as investigations, inspections, field surveys, discussions and activities held by lawmakers’ groups, and making good use of multiple platforms established to facilitate interaction between legislators and citizens, including local legislators’ liaison stations and grassroots-level contact stations, Guo said.

By facilitating the communication between deputies and the people, the NPC Standing Committee tries to improve the quality of lawmakers’ proposals and motions, ensure efficient handling of them, and bring into full play the role of lawmakers in the country’s whole-process people’s democracy, he added.

complained by the people.

Based on a good grasp of the priorities and annual legislation work plan of the NPC Standing Committee, a good number of motions are designed to help speed up legislation while ensuring the quality of relevant work. Deputies proposed making new laws on rural collective economic organisations, compulsory execution of civil judgement, and protection of fertile black soil, as well as revising such laws as the Company Law, Anti-monopoly Law, Enterprise Bankruptcy Law, and law on penalties for administration of public security.

Formulation and revision of these laws have all been listed among this year’s key tasks of the NPC Standing Committee.

NPC deputies have also submitted motions for revising the Criminal Law and starting the compilation of statute book for

fields with the right conditions.

According to Guo, many national lawmakers have put forward proposals for such issues as further implementing major regional development strategies to promote integrated regional development, consolidating and expanding the results of poverty-alleviation and boosting comprehensive rural vitalization, accelerating the transformation of government functions and fostering a business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law and up to international standards, raising capacity for pursuing scientific and technological innovation and improving the core competitiveness of manufacturing, facilitating steady and sound development of the digital economy, advancing the construction of high-standard farmland and ensuring food security and the supply of agricultural products, strengthening comprehensive treatment of ecological environment and putting into practice the action plan for peaking carbon emissions, further easing the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring for students undergoing compulsory education and promoting healthy development of vocational education, improving medical

Zhang Boli, a deputy to the National People’s Congress, proposes summarizing the experience of fighting COVID-19 in various sectors as a way of sharing what was learned and improving future responses. (Photo by Du Jianxiong/chinadaily.com.cn) service capacity and the system of real-time settlement of patient’s medical expenses for treatment incurred outside the administrative area of insurance registration, cracking down on the trafficking of women and children, as well as speeding up legislation in key fields and intensifying efforts to build a government based on the rule of law.

The secretariat has been working hard to carefully sort and analyze the motions submitted by national lawmakers, submitted reports with proposed solutions to the presidium of the session for deliberation, and given written feedback on the deliberations on motions to delegations and heads of groups of NPC deputies that submitted motions during the session.

After careful deliberations, relevant special committees of the NPC will report the results of deliberations on motions submitted by national lawmakers to the NPC Standing Committee within this year in accordance with the law.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Bisram freed of murder charge by CCJ –– can be re-arrested and charged if ‘fresh’ evidence surfaces

By Clestine Juan

GUYANESE-American businessman, Marcus Bisram, was, on Tuesday, freed from a murder charge, after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) found that Section 72 of the Criminal Law

(Procedure) Act which empowers the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to direct a magistrate to commit an accused to stand trial, violates the separation of powers and is inconsistent with Articles 122A and 144 of the Consti-

tution.

Bisram, who was accused of the 2016 murder of Berbice carpenter, Faiyaz Narinedatt, through his attorney-at-law, Darshan Ramdhanie, QC, had moved to the Trinidad-based court for judicial review. The ruling

of this court is final as it is Guyana’s last court of resort.

Ramdhanie had asked the court to strike down Section 72 (1) and (2) (ii) (b) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, which empowers DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C., to, inter

CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders alia, direct a magistrate to commit an accused person to stand trial in circumstances where the said magistrate, after conducting a preliminary inquiry, discharged that accused person.

The lawyer’s position was that the section of the Act upon which the DPP had based her directive was unlawful, as it infringed upon Bisram’s constitutional rights, as provided for by Articles 122 (A) and 144 (1) of the Constitution of Guy-

Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack ana, and the Separation of Powers doctrine.

The unanimous decision was delivered virtually on Tuesday afternoon, by the President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, who agreed with Ramdhanie’s submissions and allowed Bisram’s appeal.

The court found that it would be “unjust,” in

all of the circumstances, for Bisram to be made to answer any charge of murder on the same evidence as was presented to the magistrate and on which he was freed twice.

“However, because Bisram, at least in terms of the law, was never placed in jeopardy, nothing prevents the DPP from having him re-arrested and charged again if fresh evidence was obtained linking him to the alleged murder,” Justice Saunders said.

Marcus Bisram In relation to Section 72, Saunders said that the court noted that, simply striking down the said section, would leave a substantial gap in the criminal procedure and an indefinite uncertainty as to when that gap will be closed.

Against that backdrop, the CCJ president said that, until the National Assembly addresses that matter, Section 72 should be modified to provide that a DPP may place before a judge of the Supreme Court, the depositions and other materials that were before the magistrate, on an ex-parte application for the discharged accused to be arrested and committed, if the judge is of the view that the material justifies such a course of action.

According to Justice Saunders, Bisram had already been seriously See page 27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Bisram freed of murder ...

From page 26

prejudiced by “the bungling” that transpired in the magistrate’s court, that even if he had been acquitted at a trial, the right of appeal by the DPP was a very limited one and that the evidence against Bisram had been characterised both by the magistrate and the judge as being weak and insufficient.

In those circumstances, the judge said it will be unjust for Bisram to be made to answer any charge of murder in the case as it stands.

“Of course, the loved ones of Faiyaz Narinedatt also deserve justice. There is no question of barring the DPP from ever preferring a charge of murder against Bisram for the death of Mr Narinedatt. If the prosecutorial authorities were to obtain fresh evidence linking Bisram to the alleged murder, then there will be nothing to prevent the DPP from having him re- arrested and again charged,” he added.

The CCJ ordered that the decision of the magistrate to discharge Bisram be restored and that he may not be committed for trial only on the evidence led before the magistrate.

As the proceedings came to an end, the court scheduled timelines for written submissions on costs after which a ruling will be made.

On May 31, 2021, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of a case filed by the DPP to challenge the decision made by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall on June 1, 2020, to free Bisram.

Justice Morris-Ramlall had granted several orders, which led to Bisram’s release. The first one granted was for the quashing of the decision the DPP made on or about March 30, 2020, directing Magistrate Renita Singh to reopen the preliminary inquiry into the charge against Bisram, with a view to committing him for the said charge, on the grounds that the decision of the DPP was unreasonable, unlawful, and made by ignoring relevant considerations and ultra vires.

The second was an Order of Certiorari for the quashing of the decision of the DPP, directing Magistrate Singh to commit Bisram for trial in the High Court. Additionally, the judge granted an order which prohibited the DPP from proffering an indictment in the High Court charging Bisram.

Following the judge’s ruling, Bisram walked out of the Camp Street Prison on June 2, 2020, after the final documents were signed.

Dissatisfied with the turn of events, the DPP then moved to the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the ruling. In delivering the court’s unanimous decision in May, Chancellor (ag) of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards said: “We are of the view that the committal proceedings by the magistrate, and the direction by the Director of Public Prosecutions would not have been invalid.”

In the circumstances, Bisram had to turn himself over to the police, and was placed on remand to stand trial for the capital offence of murder before the High Court.

Bisram is accused of being the mastermind in Narinedatt’s murder which occurred on October 31, 2016. His body was found on the Number 70 Village Public Road in Berbice.

The next day, police arrested his alleged assailants, who subsequently confessed that the flamboyant Bisram had ordered them to commit the killing.

It is alleged that it was because the carpenter spurned his sexual advances that Bisram ordered the hit on him.

Bisram had returned to the United States after the crime was committed, but was extradited to Guyana in November 2019, after spending over two years in prison.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 16, 2022

Windies focused on... (From back page) remaining somewhat of a fortress even in the home side’s years of decline.

But even with history behind them, Brathwaite said it was critical West Indies executed properly while avoiding the mistakes which plagued them in last week’s draw on a flat track at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

“I think we’ve just got to deal with the processes.

I think that’s important,” he pointed out. “(Nkrumah) Bonner led the way with the batting and we got 350 in the first innings (in Antigua) so it’s trying to repeat that, being consistent with getting runs.

“Then obviously the bowling is just being a little more disciplined in terms of the middle periods and probably being a bit tighter.

(Conceding) under three runs an over and creating that pressure would help to get more wickets in the middle order.”

West Indies will debate the inclusion of a spinner, left-armer Veerasammy Permaul proving ineffective last week as he sent down 25 overs in the game without claiming a single wicket.

However, there will be

little discussion over the four-pronged seam attack which toiled manfully with limited success in the first Test.

And all eyes will be on marquee seaner Kemar Roach who enters the game with 235 wickets, needing just one to go past the legendary Sir Garry Sobers and move into sixth spot on the West Indies all-time list.

“He’s been remarkable for West Indies to be honest. I look forward to him leading the way,” Brathwaite said of the 33-year-old.

“He’s been leading the way now on and off the field and I look forward to him doing well and bringing that energy into the bowling unit.

“All the bowlers are looking forward to it. Obviously we have a plan for each batter, it’s just to go out there and stick to those plans for as long as possible.”

England have announced that speedster Mark Wood, who pulled up with injury in the first Test, will miss the Oval fixture after failing to recover.

The fastest of the touring side’s bowlers, Wood

has been replaced by pacer Saqib Mahmood who is uncapped in the longest format.

Still, Brathwaite cautioned this was no cause for complacency.

“Obviously he bowls pretty sharp and obviously he will be a big miss for England but I think they (still) have quality bowlers,” he noted.

“So far we have a lot of bowlers to face so it’s nothing major for us. We have to stay focused. Whoever plays, we have to stay focused on.”

SQUADS: WEST INDIES – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales ENGLAND – Joe Root (captain), Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Jonathan Bairstow, Ben Foakes, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton , Jack Leach, Mahmood.

Lodi scores as Atletico... hill task to reach the Premier League's top four, as they lie fifth behind Arsenal having played three games more.

At the final whistle, Atletico coach Simeone showed a neat turn of pace to turn left and sprint off towards an infuriated Stretford End, straight down the tunnel without a backwards glance, pelted with objects and drinks as he disappeared from view.

Behind him, Manchester United players and fans

were left with a familiar feeling of having the rug pulled out from under them

by Simeone - and by the Atletico side he has drilled so fiercely and with such discipline.

Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp felt exactly the same after Atletico won at Anfield at this same stage two

(From back page)

years ago and while La Liga's champions may not be among the Champions League favourites, no-one will particularly relish being paired with them.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 16, 2022

Babar 102*, Shafique 71* halt Australia’s push for victory CAPTAIN Babar Azam hit a stirring century and combined brilliantly with opener Abdullah Shafique to defy Australia's push for victory, as Pakistan's stubborn resistance left the second Test intriguingly poised ahead of the fifth day.

Needing to survive 172 overs, Pakistan were 192 for 2 at stumps on day four with Babar on 102* and Shafique unbeaten on 71. Pakistan still need another 314 runs for an unlikely record-setting victory, but have made Australia toil through 82 overs in a far cry to their toothless first innings of 148.

Having played a lone hand in Pakistan's first innings, Babar notched his sixth Test century - his first in two years - with a sweep over fine leg just before stumps.

He let out a roar amid jubilation from a sparse crowd after which he and Shafique survived two overs against the second new ball and made it through to the close.

After Pakistan were reeling at 21 for 2, Babar and Shafique combined for a rousing partnership of 171 to thwart Australia's attack and provide a flicker of hope for the hosts, who had been hapless for most of this match previously.

With oppressive conditions in Karachi throughout the match, the pitch is marked by widening cracks in a contrast to the docile Rawalpindi deck amid a stale first Test draw. There was sharp turn and variable bounce evident, particularly earlier in Pakistan's innings, but the pitch did not appear to deteriorate as the day wore on.

Babar and Shafique were mostly untroubled, and blunted the bowling through almost two sessions in somewhat of a throwback to Rawalpindi when Australia claimed just four wickets in 239 overs. The visitors were left to rue two early chances against first-Test centurion Shafique, who started slowly before finding fluency after being joined at the crease by a positive Babar.

Shafique was dropped on 20 by Steven Smith, whose struggles at slip continued when he spilt a straightforward chance. Even though he was standing close, Smith will feel aggrieved at his

erable match for Imam, who had fallen loosely to Lyon on 20 in the first innings after twin centuries in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan were intent on mere survival, with Azhar Ali stonewalling for 6 off 54 balls, but he fell lbw in the second over after lunch while ducking into a short Green delivery that skidded low.

It was reminiscent of Glenn McGrath's famous wicket against Sachin Tendulkar in Adelaide in 1999, but replays showed Azhar

Babar Azam got to his first Test century in two years (AFP/Getty Images)

fumble, having been below par with his slip catching during the Ashes too.

After Pakistan endured two horror run-outs in the first innings, Shafique was almost dismissed short of his crease for the second time in the Test only for Cameron Green's throw from mid-on to miss the stumps.

Australia weren't able to penetrate with Mitchell Starc either, who had starred with 3 for 29 on day three, as he was unable to conjure the type of menacing reverse swing that had lit a fuse under the Test 24 hours earlier.

Mitchell Swepson, Australia's first specialist leg-spinner since Bryce McGain in 2009, was loose in Pakistan's first innings but looked more comfortable the second time around, and occasionally conjured sharp fizz much like his hero Shane Warne, who mentored him.

Late in the day, he was entrusted by Pat Cummins to break the partnership as Swepson bowled from around the wicket aiming for the rough patch outside the leg stump of the two right-hand batters with four catchers around the bat, but a confident Babar continually padded the ball away to frustrate Australia.

Cummins, who has seemingly made all the right moves in this Test, turned to himself before stumps and conjured sharp swing with the second new ball but to no avail.

It has been a brave effort from Pakistan amid some expectation that Australia could

wrap up victory inside four days after dominating since the start.

Things appeared to be going to plan for Australia when Pakistan started their daunting task disastrously before lunch, as opener Imamul-Haq was plumb lbw for 1 to a sliding Nathan Lyon delivery. It completed a mis-

had gloved the ball before it hit his body as he trudged off ruing not calling for a review.

Earlier in the day, Australia gave themselves plenty of time to take a series lead after Cummins declared their second innings 25 minutes into day four with the score at 97, their third-lowest declaration in Tests. The only other time Australia had declared both their innings in a Test in Asia was against India during the famous tied Test in Chennai in 1986.

Usman Khawaja, who had hit three centuries in six previous innings since his recall, finished on 44* as the declaration cut short his chance of getting twin hundreds in the same Test after he achieved the feat in Sydney on his recall.

However, the declaration turned out to be a wise call, with Australia coming up against stiff resistance from Pakistan, who have lifted off the canvas.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA Ist INNINGS 556-9 decl.

PAKISTAN 1st innings 148 AUSTRALIA 2nd innings, 97-2 decl.

Usman Khawaja not out 44 David Warner c Fawad Alam b Hasan Ali 7 Marnus Labuschagne b Shaheen Afridi 44 Extras: (lb-2) 2 Total: (two wkts, decl. 22.3 overs) 97 Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-97.

Bowling: Shaheen Afridi 6.3-0-21-1, Hasan Ali 7-0-23-1, Sajid Khan 5-0-31-0, Faheem Ashraf 3-0-13-0.

PAKISTAN 2nd innings Abdullah Shafique not out 71 Imam ul-Haq lbw Nathan Lyon 1 Azhar Ali lbw Cameron Green 6 Babar Azam not out 102 Extras: (b-4, lb-2, nb-4, w-2) 12 Total: (two wkts, 82.0 overs) 192 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-21.

46

Sir Andrew Strauss says 'incremental' change will not deliver English dominance SIR Andrew Strauss has warned that English cricket may need more than just incremental change if it wants to produce a quality men's Test team.

Applications to become the new managing director of England cricket opened on Monday but interim boss Strauss says the side will "not become brilliant overnight".

England were beaten 4-0 in their recent Ashes series in Australia.

"The results do not lie," former England captain Strauss told the BBC. "We have been number one in the world in Test cricket for 12 months in the last 42 years. Small incremental change isn't going to make the difference we need.

"We need to be bold and ambitious."

Strauss left his role as managing director in 2018 following the death of his wife Ruth, but returned to replace his successor Ashley Giles after the fallout from the disappointing Ashes series down under.

Head coach Chris Silverwood was also relieved of his position in February. He was responsible for both the red and white-ball teams, as well as having final say on selection.

Strauss also chaired the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cricket committee that recommended a full independent review into the domestic English game.

The 45-year-old says

England director of cricket, Andrew Strauss

time is "ticking" as England look for a new managing director, who will also have the final say on appointing a head coach.

He added: "There is a slight ticking clock in terms of the start of the international summer at the beginning of June and we want to get that person in position.

"It will be their decision around the coach and/ or coaches as well, which hopefully will also be in position by the start of the summer, but there is a bit of time pressure for us to make that happen.

"It's going to be his (the new managing director's) team and so he has to look at how he wants to structure the England high performance department - Whether he goes down the single coach or two-coach model.

"He has to have the peo-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday March 16, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Kraig Braithwaite & Joe Root (2) Alex Lees (ENG) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs for the WI in the just-concluded first Test against ENG? (2) Who compiled most runs for England?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ple that he feels can work with him and (who) have a similar philosophy."

Asked who the new managing director may be, and whether he would have to be English, Strauss said: "I've always been uneasy in saying overseas candidates cannot do the role.

"But what a time to get involved! It is very rare you get the opportunity to start with a blank piece of paper and this person is going to have that.

"Despite the doom and gloom around English cricket, there are a lot of good players out there. We are not going to become brilliant overnight but I think we have a lot of the raw ingredients in place."

Strauss, who is currently with the side on their tour of the West Indies, went on to say England should be aiming to dominate all formats of the game.

"While a lot of the focus post-Ashes has been on redball cricket and the domestic structure, our project is broader than that," he said.

"Our ambition has to be for us to be the best team in all formats. We have the ability to do that, and in order for that to happen, we have to look at the whole system.

"We have to accept we have never had a system that has produced that.

"Whatever your focus on red-ball cricket, it's like a Rubik's Cube and it affects white-ball cricket. You cannot look at them in isolation you have to look at them together.

"The game around us has been moving very quickly.

Not just our international players, but our domestic players are playing a lot of cricket abroad in the winter and it's time to ask what our role is in all of this.

"How do we protect our own system but also enhance that system?"

England drew the opening Test of their threematch series against West Indies. The second Test begins in Barbados on March 16 (BBC Sport)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 16, 2022

South Africa's red-ball players to choose IPL over Bangladesh Tests SOUTH Africa are likely to field a weakened squad for the two home Tests against Bangladesh starting March 18, with all their Test players part of various franchises choosing to go to the IPL. ESPNcricinfo understands the players' decision to prefer the IPL over the two Tests was unanimous. Earlier this month, in what was termed by Test captain Dean Elgar as a "litmus test of loyalty", Cricket South Africa (CSA) allowed the players to choose between the IPL and their Test commitments against Bangladesh.

According to an agreement between the two boards, CSA has historically provided their players with NOCs (no objection clauses) to participate in the IPL and have not organised fixtures at the same time. This year is different, with an expanded IPL and an autumn series against Bangladesh.

"The original agreement with the BCCI was that we would release our players for the IPL. But the IPL window has gotten bigger, and our agreement remains the same," an insider told

ESPNcricinfo.

This means South Africa will be without their entire front-line seam attack against Bangladesh. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi are contracted to Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, respectively, while Marco Jansen, the left-arm seamer who broke through during South Africa's victorious home series against India late last year, is set to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, Anrich Nortje is most certainly out of the Bangladesh Tests due to injury, and the mystery over his IPL availability continues.

Nortje last played first-class cricket on the tour of the Caribbean in July last year and is said to be suffering from a longstanding back and hip issue. Nortje, who has emerged as a key weapon for the Capitals, is set to be assessed by the franchise's medical staff.

The unavailability of their front-line pacemen means Lutho Sipamla and Lizaad Williams are set to be part of the seam attack under consideration, along with Keshav Maharaj, the frontline spinner. Sipamla is three Tests old, having most recently featured in South

Africa's famous win over New Zealand in Christchurch last month. Williams, meanwhile, is uncapped in the Test arena, but has played a solitary ODI and six T20Is. The selectors will also look towards a spin-bowling all-rounder. This means George Linde could come into consideration. Linde was earlier said to miss the series owing to county commitments in the UK, but has now confirmed his availability, as will Duanne Olivier, the fast bowler.

Beauran Hendricks, the left-arm seamer, who was in line to be picked will miss out as he's likely to head over to the UK for the start of the county season.

All the Test specialists are understood to have had a meeting with Mark Boucher, the head coach, with efforts being made to convince them to prioritise the Tests before heading over to India.

There is an indication that some, including Rabada, could be persuaded to stay for at least the first Test. However, it is more likely that the players will continue to the IPL. (Cricinfo)

Bracewell, Cleaver earn maiden New Zealand call-ups for Netherlands series ALLROUNDER Michael Bracewell and wicketkeeper-batter Dane Cleaver have earned their maiden New Zealand call-ups for the upcoming white-ball home series against Netherlands. While Bracewell has been named in both the ODI and the T20I squads, Cleaver has been chosen only for the T20Is. Bracewell and Cleaver were the top two run-getters in this season's Super Smash, New Zealand's domestic T20 competition, scoring 478 and 369 runs respectively.

Bracewell is in line to become the fourth member of his family to play for New Zealand, after his uncles John and Brendon, and his cousin Doug, who is also part of both white-ball squads.

Both players have been on the national radar for some time and certainly deserve their selection off the back of another quality domestic season," New Zealand coach Gary Stead said.

"Michael is a superb ball-striker who can mix

touch with his power, while his right arm offbreaks are an asset to any side.

"Dane... has been the stand-out wicketkeeper-batsman of the Super Smash in recent years. We felt Dane's consistent weight of runs and the role he can play at the top of the order gave him the slight edge."

With 12 of New Zealand's first-choice players missing the series to take part in the IPL, fast bowlers Ben Sears and Scott Kuggeleijn were also named in the T20I squad.

"Anytime you lose 12 front-liners it's going to be a challenge, but we're really excited by the players we've been able to call on," Stead said. "With another T20 World Cup later this year and the ODI World Cup next year it's a good time to be offering opportunities to a wider group of players."

Meanwhile, the ODI series will be Ross Taylor's farewell, as he is set to retire from international cricket after its conclusion. Taylor is

a part of only the ODI squad, along with Henry Nicholls and Kyle Jamieson.

The tour begins with the one-off T20I in Napier on March 25, with the threematch ODI series - which will be a part of the ODI Super League - starting in Mount Maunganui on March 29. Tom Latham will lead both sides in the absence of regular captain Kane Williamson.

New Zealand ODI squad: Tom Latham (capt, wk), Doug Bracewell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, Will Young New Zealand T20I squad: Tom Latham (capt, wk), Doug Bracewell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young.

(Cricinfo)

47

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 16, 2022

ICC Women’s World Cup

Old habits return as Windies Women hammered by Australia WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CMC) – West Indies resorted to old habits with another inept batting effort, laying the groundwork for their seven-wicket thrashing at the hands of unbeaten Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup here yesterday.

Choosing to bat first at the Basin Reserve, the Caribbean side could muster only 131 all out in the 46th over despite captain Stafanie Taylor 50 off 91 deliveries, with seamer Ellyse Perry (322) and off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner (3-25) wrecking the innings.

The target was never going to be enough and Rachael Haynes ensured it was not, hammering an unbeaten 83 off 95 deliveries as the Aussies got over the line in the 31st over with time and effort to spare.

West Indies believed they were in with a shout when they reduced Australia to seven for two in the fourth over but the dream was shortlived, Haynes mastermind-

ing the run chase with two half-century stands.

The defeat was the second on the trot for West Indies following their 155-run crushing at the hands of India last weekend.

“Obviously going into the second innings we knew we didn’t have the score that we wanted on the board,” opener Hayley Matthews said afterwards.

“But at the same time we’ve shown a lot of faith throughout this entire tournament and we were looking to do nothing different today.

We knew we had a chance once we went out there and took early wickets like we would in any other game.”

He added: “Coming into this tournament, we knew our first four games were probably going to be our hardest four.

“I think we said to ourselves (that) if we could get at least two or three wins over these first four games, we will be in a really strong position and we’ve done exactly that.”

Remembering Leslie Amsterdam (Letter to Sports Editor) I WAS surprised by a particular revelation in Sean Dever’s article in Kaieteur News dated 2022-03-15 under the caption ‘Amsterdam (AA) honoured by the project’.

I never knew that former vice-president of the GCB and president of the BCB, the late Mr. Leslie Amsterdam, was born in Essequibo. During my playing days as an Inter-county player primarily at the Under-19 level, Uncle Leslie, as he was fondly referred to; was serving as the GCB vice-president and would be present at matches during the early 1990s.

While I cannot recall to have had any conversation with him, it struck me that his affiliation to the county was never mentioned to us as youngsters then. My recollection of Mr Leslie Amsterdam, though, was his short stature, neatness and his refined approach in the company of other officials.

I was very observant and it occurred to me as I reflect now that he was very much respected since he captured the attention of almost everyone he interacted with at a cricket ground.

I suppose his presence at many of our matches was a testimony of his affection for us; I hope we didn’t let him down amid the challenges we faced then to be represented.

I therefore wish that the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) will initiate a process that will officially recognise Mr Amsterdam for his outstanding contribution to the sport and having been born in Essequibo.

Elroy Stephney Former Essequibo Inter-county captain

Rachael Haynes hit nine fours in her unbeaten 83 (Getty Images)

Ellyse Perry claimed the first three Windies wickets (Getty)

West Indies tottered at the start, losing Matthews and number three Kycia Knight both without scoring in the second over from Perry with four runs on the board, before Taylor and Deandra Dottin (16) steadied the innings in a 30-run stand.

Opener Dottin had struck two fours when she drove extravagantly at a wide ball from Perry and edged to Meg Lanning at slip, paving the way for Taylor to attempt

tance as the last seven wickets went down for 61 runs, Taylor eighth out in the 41st over playing back to Gardner and being adjudged lbw.

Requiring a Herculean effort, West Indies enjoyed an explosive start when Alyssa Healy (3) drove a firm return catch to Matthews in the third over and captain Meg Lanning (0) threw her bat at a wide one from speedster Shamilia Connell for Matthews again to snare a stunning

another rescue effort in a 36run, fourth-wicket stand with Shemaine Campbelle (20).

The recovery was promising much when Gardner struck twice in the 23rd over with the score on 70, Campbelle tugging a catch to short mid-wicket and Chedean Nation lasting four balls before playing down the wrong line and having her off-stump clipped without scoring.

And those two wickets broke the West Indies resis-

catch above her head at slip.

The joy was brief, however, Haynes lashing nine fours to dominate a 51-run, third-wicket stand with Perry (10) before adding a further 74 in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership with Beth Mooney (28).

With the defeat, West Indies remained fifth on four points and face Bangladesh in their next game on Friday in Mount Maunganui.

Nkrumah Bonner's return to international cricket superb after a decade out

By Cameron Ponsonby, Freelance cricket writer WEST INDIES batter Nkrumah Bonner's career is one of a high that came too soon before a low that lasted too long.

The 33-year-old, who hit a fine century in the drawn first Test against England last week, made his international debut in T20 cricket in 2011 having played just four professional games in the format.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, two poor performances against England and Australia followed and Bonner would not get a sniff of international cricket again for almost a decade, during which he went to work in construction in the United States.

Bonner says he "sometimes" wondered whether cricket was not for him.

He adds: "There have been ups and downs but I always kept the faith and finally it's paid off."

Since making his Test debut in February 2021 against Bangladesh, Bonner has made two centuries in 10 matches at an average of 49.2. His career

Nkrumah Bonner hit his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka last year in his third match

is at an all-time high.

"During that 10-year period when I was out, there was a lot of work I put in mentally, physically and technically and I'm really happy to be reaping the rewards now," he says.

"I'm more experienced now; I understand my game a lot better.

"I always had that belief I could play international cricket. Obviously sometimes the belief goes down a little bit but I kept working and I'm really happy to have come back."

After several poor seasons with his native Jamaica, Bonner moved to Leeward Islands where he was unable

to turn around his form and after two and half seasons he was released.

Rather than return home, Bonner moved to the United States and took a nine-to-five job in construction and has previously said he thought it was the end of his career.

However, he got "fed up" and decided to move back to Jamaica to "do what I love".

A switch was flipped.

Bonner had previously averaged 24.05 in first-class cricket, but since returning from the States, he has averaged 50.8.

Bonner was re-signed by Jamaica and given a chance late in the 2018-19 season after going unselected at the start of the year.

Batting at number seven and arriving at the crease at 27-5, Bonner scored a crucial 97.

"Obviously that was the turning point of my career," he says.

From that moment the runs have not stopped. In the following season his performances earned him a spot as a Test reserve for West Indies' tour of England in 2020.

Then came a debut against Bangladesh where his 86 off 245 balls helped West Indies to a historic victory as they chased down 395 to win a match best remembered for Bonner's fellow debutant, Kyle Mayers, recording an unbeaten double-century.

Bonner's innings symbolised what was to come as his obdurate, resilient style was on show once again last week as his first-innings 123 came off 355 balls, before his unbeaten 38 off 138 balls in the second innings safely guided West Indies to a draw on the final day.

"My runs are always gritty," said Bonner after the match.

"I'm not a free-scoring guy, I'm very disciplined. My power is about concentration.

"It was very emotional, for sure. Getting some runs against England is always a good feeling, especially against a team under some pressure."

Bonner will be hoping for more success against England when the second Test starts in Barbados today.

(BBC Sport)

Kraigg Brathwaite is deep in thought during a training session at Kensington Oval ahead of today’s start of the second Test

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Recent successes against England at storied Kensington Oval have infused West Indies with further hope of a positive result in the second Test, but captain Kraigg Brathwaite has underscored the importance of starting from scratch when the two teams renew rivalries here today.

In their last meeting here three years ago, West Indies pulled off a quite astonishing innings and 381-run victory inside

Windies focused on ‘fresh start’ at storied Oval

four days, stunning the English and laying the platform for a shock 2-1 win in the three-match series.

But captain Kraigg Brathwaite has labelled the result as “history” and pointed out that even last week’s drawn encounter in the first Test in Antigua is also needed to be forgotten, as West Indies sought to begin the second Test with a clean slate.

“You could draw on it (Test win 2019) in terms of different things we did as a

bowling unit on the pitch,” Brathwaite told reporters yesterday.

“Obviously it’s a different pitch (but) I think it is history, to be honest. I think we have to really look to the future and focus on discipline as I said, especially from a bowling point of view.

“We got four wickets early (in the opening Test last week) and then we went three runs an over for a period. So I think we can draw on some things that we did well as

some of the players but I think we’ve got to buckle down and start fresh.”

West Indies have not lost to England at the Oval in nearly two decades. In 2015, they notched a five-wicket triumph inside three days and six years earlier, drew a high-scoring encounter when they piled up 749 on a flat track.

In fact, West Indies have lost just twice – in 1994 and 2004 – to England at the Oval, the venue TURN TO PAGE 44 ►

Lodi scores as Atletico knock Man Utd out of Champions League MANCHESTER United's Champions League campaign ended in the disappointment of defeat by Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford to leave them with only a Premier League top-four place to fight for this season.

Ralf Rangnick's side were not short on endeavour but lacked the guile to break down Atletico's trademark resilience as Renan Lodi's far-post header four minutes before half-time sent the Spanish champions into the last eight.

United dominated possession for large portions of the second half but, as they have done so often, Atletico built a wall of defensive resistance - and when they did threaten, goalkeeper Jan Oblak provided the final barrier.

He saved brilliantly from Raphael Varane's header in front of the Stretford End as United were left to fight for a place in next season's Champions League in the final weeks

of the domestic season.

Manchester United went the same way as so many teams before them who have suffered at the hands of this remarkably durable Atletico machine assembled by Diego Simeone.

United showed plenty of effort and had Old Trafford rocking with a high-intensity start but they simply ran out of ideas and inspiration the longer the game went on - Atletico digging in and defending with the sort of relish they have shown many times over the years.

Cristiano Ronaldo produced a couple of classic early touches but he was a peripheral figure long before the end, with Rangnick and

There were protests from the Manchester United players that the referee went to blow his whistle but then didn't in the build-up to the Atletico Madrid goal

United's desperation illustrated when struggling captain Harry Maguire was replaced by veteran Juan Mata.

United were also infuriated by the erratic refereeing of Slovenian official Slavko Vincic, particularly when they felt Anthony

Elanga had been fouled moments before Lodi arrived unmarked to head home Antoine Griezmann's cross at the far post.

Over the two legs, however, United have simply not been good enough to progress and now face an up- TURN TO PAGE 44 ►

Old habits return as Windies Women hammered by Australia Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022