Issuu

FRIDAY 17th DECEMBER, 2021

No. 106578

Impetus to aggresive development agenda - as House approves $26B in supplementary funds

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$225 mil ion to purchase vehicles for GPF

$7.7 billion for infrastructural works in new and existing housing schemes, four-lane highway

$775 mil ion for urgent D&I interventions

$2.4 billion for sea defence, baggage system upgrade at CJIA

$3.4B approved for medical supplies, reagents for ‘COVID-19 hospital’

$100.4 million to provide stipend for trainee teachers

New NRF legislation House clears CGX encounters Local Content Secretariat imminent proposes cap $3.8B for oil at Kawa-1 exploration project with ‘historic’ legislation on withdrawals GuySuCo SEE PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Local Content Secretariat imminent with - 75 per cent of oil company’s food supplies ‘historic’ legislation must be procured from Guyanese, Bill outlines

Minister of Natural Resource, Vickram Bharrat IN the hallmark Local tors and licences; develop In addition, the secreContent Bill tabled in and implement strategies tariat will be tasked with the National Assembly, that will give preference to developing and maintaining on Thursday, the govern- or ensure equal treatment a Local Content Register ment has proposed that a of Guyanese nationals and of qualified Guyanese naLocal Content Secretari- companies; conduct mar- tionals and their companies; at be established. ket analysis, and make recommending for approval This secretariat, the Bill recommendations to the or refusal, local content masoutlines, will be estab- minister. terplans and local content anlished within the Ministry This new institution will nual plans and proposals for of Natural Resources and also be tasked with develop- modifications to the master shall consist of a director ing formats for local content and annual plans; develop and other members, ap- plans and reporting, and auditing procedures and conpointed by the Minister of creating guidelines, includ- ducting regular audits for the Natural Resources. ing those for local content purposes of monitoring and The functions of the reporting, procurement, big ensuring compliance with secretariat will be to devel- evaluation, training, research this legislation, and meaop and maintain measures and development, partner- suring and reporting on the for the effective implemen- ship and joint ventures, and local content performance of tation of local content by financial and insurance ser- contractors, sub-contractors contractors, sub-contrac- vices. or licensees. Also, the body will undertake public education and

awareness campaigns and report to the minister on the performance of its functions and the general administration of the legislation. On the eve of the tabling of the “historic Bill,” Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, said the legislation was finalised at after extensive consultations with civil society, the private sector, as well as the oil and gas companies operating in Guyana. “This legislation is a way of moving our developmental agenda forward,” Minister Bharrat said, adding: “We believe that Guyanese must benefit from this new sector. We might not have the knowledge and requisite skills now, but I am sure that in years to come and with the programmes that the government is putting in place, both in the human resource capacity as well as the capacity in our local private sector to ensure that they place a meaningful role in the oil and gas sector and bring true benefits to Guyanese and Guyanese businesses.” The Bill lays out 40 services that oil companies and sub-contractors must procure from Guyanese companies and Guyanese nationals by the end of 2022. For instance, by the end of the upcoming year, Guyanese should provide 90 per cent of office space rental and accommodation

services, 90 per cent for janitorial, laundry, catering services; 95 per cent pest control services; 25 per cent medical services; 20 per cent aviation and support services and 75 per cent local food supply. These are just a few of the services highlighted in the schedule. “We’re saying by the end of 2022, 75 per cent of your food items should be purchased locally so that the farmers at Black Bush Polder, their food can go on the floating production storage and offloading vessel. Our provisions and our meat can make it out there on the FPSO. “That is creating opportunities for poultry, cash crop farmers – everyone in the agriculture sector, as well as the others to benefit from the oil and gas sector,” the Natural Resources Minister said. This Bill which looks to give Guyanese first preference and knowledge sharing in the oil and gas sector is still to be debated in the National Assembly. The government has committed to ensuring that it is passed and made into law before 2022. The Bill to amend the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) was also tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday too. These amendments make way for the more prudent, transparent and accountable management of this oil fund.

Prior to the tabling of the Bill in the National Assembly, President Dr. Irfaan Ali was reported as saying that the Local Content Bill will be a “living document,” which will address “transactional issues” and “transitional issues” faced within the oil and gas sector. Also included in the Bill is the space for evaluation and changes, as the country moves forward. “As we move to this very important part of the advancement of the sector, I want us to be conscious of the realities, I want us to be conscious of the opportunities and I’m proud of the product that would be the catalytic, directional, legislative push to the forward development of Guyanese,” he said. The Head of State elucidated that the Bill is tailored in a way to develop a local content platform and an enabling environment in which there are opportunities for local content. “These opportunities will advance and be graduated as we improve, as we build the capacity, as we develop the skills and as we have greater investment in the sector,” President Ali said, noting that through the correct approach, Guyanese enterprises could develop themselves to offer top-tier services to the industry.

Impetus to aggressive development agenda 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

- as House approves $26B in supplementary funds

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

THE National Assembly on Thursday passed a Supplementary Appropriation Bill which cleared some $5.1 billion that was spent from the Contingency Fund between July and now, and approved $21.4 billion in additional spending to address issues in a number of key areas, including the coronavirus pandemic and the continuation of several cash-grant initiatives. The Bill, which comprised Financial Paper No. 3 and Financial Paper No. 4 of 2021, was presented to the House by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. The minister’s presentation followed hours of questioning by members of the parliamentary opposition, until eventually billions of dollars in supplementary spending were approved one line item after the next. Some $55.8 million was approved for the Office of the Prime Minister; $42.3 million for the Sustainable Energy programme, particularly for the provision of additional inflows under the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) investment grant for the acceleration of microgrids in Regions One, Two, Seven,

Eight and Nine; and $13.5 million for the Telecommunications and Innovation Unit for the purchase of computers for the National Data Management Authority (NDMA). The Ministry of Finance also received a $4 billion allocation to clear arrears to the Guyana Power and Light corporation (GPL), while the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development was granted in excess of $16.6 million to facilitate the payment of a mobilisation advance on the City Hall Restoration Project. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs also received some $434 million for the provision of additional resources to support projects and programmes that fall under the Amerindian Development Fund. Meanwhile, as the country braces itself for another period of flooding caused by heavy rainfall, the National Assembly that approved $755 million for the Ministry of Agriculture’s Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to procure critical equipment and execute urgent drainage and irrigation interventions all across the country. Added to that, the Ministry of Agriculture received $125 million for the provision of additional

inflows under the World Bank’s loan operation for ongoing consultancies. The request for $2.4 billion was also approved for the Ministry of Public Works; this covers the reconstruction of the bridges at Issano and Bamia, support for the Sheriff-Mandela Expansion Project, critical sea defence works along the East Coast of Demerara, the provision of resources for a baggage-handling system for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, and provision of additional

inflows under the Indian Line of Credit for the construction of an ocean-going ferry. As it relates to supplementary support for the education sector, the Ministry of Education received approval to spend $100.4 million for the payment of stipends to trainee teachers attending the Cyril Potter College of Education, while funds were also cleared for the rehabilitation of smart classrooms in Leguan and Essequibo, to procure consultancy services for the North West and North Ruimveldt schools which were destroyed by fire, and for the expansion of some other schools, including the purchase of furniture. Added to that, the Ministry of Housing and Water received an allocation of more than $7.7 billion to execute infrastructural works across several housing schemes, including support to construct a fourlane highway. Also, to further strengthen the country’s coronavirus response and boost the capacity of the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, the Ministry of Health was given the go-ahead to spend an additional $3.4 billion for the year. SECURITY The Ministry of Home

Affairs was approved for $475.7 million to address a number of areas, including the provision of additional resources to enhance the Guyana Police Force’s vehicle fleet, including the acquisition of double-cab pickups; the rental of tower lights, tents and toilets for the Guyana Prison Service, and the provision of dietary supplies for the Guyana Prison Service. When the supplementary bill was passed, the Ministry of Legal Affairs received some $56.8 million for the provision of inflows under the Inter-American Development Bank’s loan operation for the Law Reform Commission and ongoing consultancies. The Department of Public Prosecutions was also approved for $50 million, while the Region Two administration (Pomeroon-Supenaam) received approval for $101.6 million to facilitate progress payments on the construction of the Abram Zuil Secondary School. Nonetheless, funds cleared as part of the Contingency Fund also the one-off grants of $250,000 to thousands of sugar workers who suffered during closure of the sugar estates by the former coalition government, as well as payments of the $19,000 education cash grants for

students attending both public and private schools. In February, the National Assembly had passed the government’s $383.1 billion budget, which had set out a plan for recovery, outlined policies to catalyse rapid economic growth in the near and medium term, and laid the foundation needed to ensure that growth is not transitory, but sustainable for the longer-term. Budget 2021, the country’s largest budget, was the first full-year budget presented by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration since being elected to office in August 2020. It came after the emergency budget of 2020, which was prepared under a compressed schedule, and arrived in the National Assembly well into the second half of the fiscal year, as a result of the protracted March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. The overarching aim of Budget 2021 was to initiate investments in catalytic and transformative infrastructure, including energy infrastructure to ensure adequate supply at a competitive cost, and transport infrastructure to improve international connectivity, and unleash domestic production and productivity.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Proposed organ donation legislation gives - creates room for establishment of a Human patients more options Organ and Tissue Transplant Agency

THE opportunity to become a registered organ donor is now on the horizon, owing to the introduction of the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Bill, which was presented to the National Assembly, on Thursday, by Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony. Once passed in the House and assented to by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, the first course of action under the new legislation would be the establishment and constitution of a Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Agency, as the national regulatory body for the donation and transplantation of human organs, tissues, cells and biofluids.

Implementation of this new legislation would mean that persons in need of organ donations would no longer be at the mercy of just relatives and friends who may or may not be a match; they would also stand the chance of being saved by organs extracted from a ‘brain-dead’ patient who is either a registered donor, or who has relatives consenting to the procedure. As stipulated in the Bill, removal of organs, tissues, cells or biofluids shall not be done unless the donor is pronounced dead by two medical practitioners. A person, according to the proposed law, is only considered dead once they have displayed irreversible

cessation or stoppage of circulatory and respiratory functions, as well as irreversible cessation of the entire brain. To make the latter operations possible, the proposed law requires that the transplant agency establishes a National Donor and Transplant Registry, which will handle all matters relating to the consent, and amendments and revocation of consent of adults who wish to become organ donors. “The Registry shall issue a donor-card to the in-person donor and the online donor may access a printable donor-card available online, or attend the Registry to obtain a do-

nor-card,” the Bill outlined. The agency will also be responsible for the establishment of a register of patients in need of transplants, as well as the establishment of efficient storage facilities for organs, cells and biofluids. Added to that, the proposed law empowers the Minister of Health to name any hospital, including a private hospital, clinic, healthcare provider or laboratory as designate facilities approved to function as transplant facilities, under the Transplant Act. Further, the Bill prohibits the sale and/or trade of human organs, tissues, cells or biofluids for valuable consideration, specifying

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, presenting the historic Bill to the National Assembly, on Thursday (Adrian Narine)

jail time of five years as well as a fine of $5 million. However, the Bill does make special provisions for paired donations. This means that if there is a similar compatibility mismatch between two willing donors and their intended recipients, then an arrangement can be entered into where the donor of Group A can donate to the recipient of Group B, while the donor of Group B, can donate to the Group A patient. They would be paired differently, but both patients would still receive the lifesaving organs, while both donors would be able to follow through on their commitment. Additionally, the Bill also highlights specific requirements for organ transplants for minors, especially in cases where the minor is the organ donor. As a matter of fact, the proposed law specifies that such circumstances will be supervised and facilitated by an Independent Assessment Committee comprising three persons, including a psychologist or psychiatrist. The Bill also allows for cadavers (corpses) to be donated to universities,

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medical schools and other science programmes for the purpose of research. It would also govern specific issues relating to blood donation and transfusion. Another key responsibility of the Transplant Agency would be the execution of a comprehensive public education programme to increase awareness relating to organ transplant and becoming organ donors. Although organ transplant legislation exists in various parts of the developed world, it is being seen as a revolutionary step in the right direction for Guyana, especially as the country seeks to modernise its health sector. Once enacted, the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant law is expected to result in many lives being saved, especially considering the growing number of persons in Guyana awaiting organ transplants; more prominently, patients suffering from kidney failure who rely largely on dialysis as a lifesaving mechanism. The new legislation, once passed, will allow for those persons to be placed on a transplant list as recipients. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

House clears $3.8B for GuySuCo - to fund one-off grant for severed sugar workers, offer out-of-crop support to sugar industry

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha (Adrian Narine photo) THE National Assembly has cleared $3,888,558,690B to support a one-off grant to severed sugar workers and out-of-crop support for the sugar industry. This allocation forms part of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill No.2 of 2021, which was scrunitised in the Committee of Supply before being passed by the National Assembly, on Thursday. Defending this provision in the Committee of Supply and championing the cause of sugar workers, was Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, who said the bulk of the money caters for persons who were made redundant by the former A Partnership for National Unit + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration, when they closed four sugar estates within three years of being in office. To buttress the effects

of the closure and those brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had announced a one-off cash grant of $250,000 each for over 5,263 severed workers. T h i s m e a n s $1,315,570,000B has been disbursed directly to sugar workers, immediately giving them more disposable income. Additionally, Minister Mustapha said: “We also gave $2,355,800,000B for out-of-crop support to the Guyana Sugar Corporation. An additional $236,989,261M has been allocated for D&I [Drainage and Irrigation], to provide services to the farmers of our country, to enhance food security and enhance our D&I system.” Funds were also secured to cover the purchase of fuel and lubricants, for pensions and essential parts and materials for the underserviced sugar factories.

“When we took over last year, GuySuCo was in need of critical support, both capital and in the field. Because the capacity of GuySuCo was just around 40 per cent… we have since re-capitalised a number of areas in GuySuCo, including factories and fields. “And as it stands today, we are over 50 per cent of that work and that will continue over the years to ensure that we bring GuySuCo to a break-even point or eventually bring it to profitability,” Mustapha said. He related that the government recognises the importance of GuySuCo being the single largest employer in the country and the economic benefits to the country. One of the first decisions the new government took upon being elected to office in August was to reopen the shuttered estates and factories, breathing life

into communities that had become depressed after their closure. The Wales Sugar Estate, however, remained closed due to the factory being defunct because of poor management. With the reopening of the estates, 1,200 persons were able to return to work. Cognisant that a diversion from the traditional bulk production of sugar is needed if the ailing industry is to recover and regain its vitality and position as a contributor to economic growth, the government has initiated plans to ensure that by 2025, 61 per cent of industry sales will come from value-added products. Instead of being a liability to the national treasury, the industry will soon be able to “stand on its own,” through the implementation of innovative mechanisms, Minister Mustapha had said. “In 2020, some 29 per cent of the industry’s sales were from the highervalue packaged sugar. In 2021, we anticipate this will grow to some 39 per cent,” the minister had said. The overarching plan, however, is to ensure that a minimum of 61 per cent of the sales from the industry are generated from the value-added, packaged sugar line in four years. “To realise this potential, significant investments have been planned to expand the Blairmont packaging plant, quadrupling its current capacity. Moreover, we will be re-tooling the Enmore Packaging Plant, to support the paradigm

shift to packaged sugar,” Minister Mustapha said. As a result of those strategic actions, the sugar industry will be less dependent on the national treasury. In 2020, the corporation was allocated a sum of $7 billion. A sum of $3 billion was used to recapitalise the shuttered Rose Hall, Skeldon, and Enmore Sugar Estates, while the

remaining $4 billion was allocated to support rehabilitation works at the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion Sugar Estates. Additionally, $2 billion was set aside in Budget 2021 for capital works at the various sugar estates across the country, while the government in June this year secured a further $1.5 billion in supplementary funds.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Guyana-European Union Relations

GUYANA and the European Union (EU) relations have historically been characterised by trade, economic co-operation and shared values. Indeed, the EU has been, over the years, a major player in the country’s socio-economic and political development. Under the then Lome Convention signed between the EU and the ACP countries, Guyana benefitted substantially from preferential prices for its sugar exports to the European Union but the country’s economy and the sugar industry in particular was put under severe stress following the termination of the agreement in 2000. A new agreement, the Cotonou Agreement subsequently came into being which, among other things, provided for budgetary support for participating countries. President Mohamed Irfaan Ali recently announced that Guyana will receive GY$1.77 billion from the EU as part of its Budget Support Programme. That sum,

according to the President, represents the last tranche of Guyana’s Budget Support programme with the EU and is indicative of the decadesold EU-Guyana partnership. The EU has, over the decades, been one of the largest providers of grant resources towards the development agenda of Guyana in several sectors such as climate adaptation and infrastructure, with a significant sum going to sea defenses and the housing sector. According to President Ali, this support culminated in the funding of the country’s multi-annual sugar programme that followed the end of the country’s sugar protocol with the European Union which saw the loss of the preferential market for sugar. Thereafter, a multiannual arrangement was reached whereby the EU supported the country’s developmental agenda through budgetary support. EU’s Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto, described the assistance to Guyana “as proof of the EU’s

trust in Guyana’s financial management practice and realisation of works”. He lauded the Guyana Government for its sea defence maintenance works and the planting of new mangrove sites. Making remarks at a joint press conference between President Ali and the EU representatives which included Deputy Managing Director for the Americas, Mr. Javier Nino Perez, the President took the opportunity to highlight the strong support and partnership that has been forged in the rebuilding of the country’s fragile sea and river defenses. The Guyana Shore Zone Management Programme targeted the reconstruction of several kilometers of damaged sea defences along the coast line to protect low-lying areas that are prone to flooding during high tide. Mr. Perez, in his remarks, said that the EU wants to be partners and ‘political friends’ with Guyana since both countries face similar challenges and have faith in the same principles and

objectives. According to Mr. Perez, ‘there is a lot we have in common historically, linguistically and socially but the most important element of what we share is the belief in many fundamental elements that will be essential to confront the challenges of today’s world.’ Not so long ago, President Ali during an address to the EU-Guyana virtual Investment Conference lauded the contributions of the EU to Guyana’s development. The EU, he said, has been a bastion for promoting human rights and democracy. Guyana’s relation with the EU and its member states are based on respect for human rights and democratic norms. Democracy, he said, remains indispensable to ensuring a favourable environment for attracting investment, stimulating trade and fostering development. Guyana is grateful for the EU’s support for private sector development in Guyana and for its role in supporting climate adaptation and mitigation. Through the

European Development Fund (EDF) and its support for Guyana’s National Indicative Programme, the EU has made significant contributions to the country’s efforts to reduce poverty and build greater climate resilience. The European Union and the ACP are about to embark on a renewed partnership for the next 20 years. Guyana, according to President Ali, looks forward to an agreement which will continue to place emphasis on the traditional pivots -- trade, development co-operation and shared values and increased investment opportunities. Guyana is at a stage in its development in which investment prospects have never been better. The country is now in the cusp of exciting transformation which will see, in the coming period ahead, unprecedented levels of growth and development. The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is likely to be more than doubled and traditional sectors will be retooled, recapitalised and restructured. Several

mega-projects are on stream encompassing a broad spectrum of developmental areas including agriculture, ICT, energy, tourism and transport. These projects will open up new and exciting opportunities for investors and for the Guyanese people as a whole. At the political level, the Guyana-EU political dialogue in the framework of Article Eight of the ACPEU Cotonou Partnership has commenced. The objective of the Political Dialogue is to exchange information, foster mutual understanding and facilitate the establishment of agreed priorities and shared agenda in particular by recognising the existing links between the different aspects of relations that already existed among the parties, including political, economic, trade and development issues. Relation between Guyana and the European Union is on a good footing and, in the words of President Ali, can only grow and become stronger.

LGE could not have happened without a CEO of GECOM

Dear Editor, I have been reading some very interesting letters in the dailies, postings on social media and on WhatsApp group chats about the need for Local Government Elections (LGE) and the arguments are very strong as to why there is no LGE this year. In fact, the opposition blames the PPP government for not wanting LGE and also they are solely

arguing that the subject minister, the Hon. Nigel Dharamlall MP and the PPP government are not prepared to have any LGE elections. Well, I don’t want to say a lot of what the opposition is saying because we all know that they are challenged when it comes to making a proper, true and educated statement on many or maybe all matters in this country. The facts remain that

the Hon. Dharamlall did state on many occasions that he is ready for LGE. The facts remain that the government on many occasions also said they are ready for LGE. We must all understand that it is not the PPP Government, or any government or party nor the subject minister that has the authority to conduct the LGE or the General Elections (GE) in this country but it is solely the Guyana

Elections Commission that has to do so. Moreover, if the LGE was going to happen this year then GECOM needed to have a CEO in place but it seems the opposition forgot that the main man to ensure the elections is free and fair and happen accordingly wasn’t in position. Seems the opposition is living in wonderland with Alice. So it is clear that because GECOM was with-

out a CEO, the LGE could not have happened and the opposition failed to understand that. Very recently on the appointment and swearing-in of the CEO of GECOM, Mr. Vishnu Persaud, he did indicate to the public that he will work as hard as possible to ensure that LGE happens next year. Let me take this opportunity in congratulating Mr. Persaud on his

appointment as CEO of GECOM and I know that the entire country looks forward to free, fair and transparent elections onward. So, let me educate the opposition that LGE could not have happened without a CEO of GECOM and therefore do not blame the subject minister or government at all. Yours sincerely, Abel Seetaram

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

APNU+AFC must explain this massive piece of corruption

Dear Editor, SHOCKING and deserving of legal action is my response to the news that “Approximately 9,284 persons out of 11,098 (83 per cent), who gained eligibility for the COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance Voucher … did not receive anything”. This was the finding of the Office of Auditor General (AG). According to the report from the AG, a performance audit was conducted on the Coalition’s relief voucher programme for the period March to September 2020 and it found that only

slightly over 1,000 persons received vouchers. Like OMG! Let us be reminded that this programme was undertaken by the former APNU+AFC Coalition Government. Now, my mind goes back to just over one year ago, when the APNU+AFC, vis Joseph Harmon, flagged the government for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming that there seems to be no clear plan to tackle the disease, which at the time, had already infected over 3,700 persons. Harmon, the Opposition Leader, in fact,

stated at that time that his party was open to working with the government, to reduce the spread of COVID-19. I am left to wonder what he had in mind. I recall too that Harmon was most blatant during that period of attack on the government. He went as far as hurling racial remarks, accusing the government of favouring its mainly Indian support base. He even explained that he had the evidence, but, as expected, when challenged to offer the proof, he went into evasive moods and behaviour. For readers to get the gist

of this deplorable behaviour from APNU+AFC, the press detailed that the unpaid persons, using an even 9,000 of the qualified and a flat $25,000 per person, amounts to GY$225 million in relief funds not handed over to cash-strapped citizens. Cruel! Hypocritical! What else can anyone say? I add that this was no ‘goodwill’ act as this programme was funded through the allocation of funds from the budget for the financial year 2020 of the various agencies responsible for the management of the programme.

This programme was a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Finance, Communities and Social Protection, the National Data Management Authority and the Civil Defence Commission. So, in my mind, it was like a ‘national thieving’ ploy, and that is why I suggest some kind of retribution or penal measures be taken. It will be too belabouring to go through in detail other egregious acts of dishonesty and purloining found in the report, but what I have outlined thus far is enough to get people’s attention to the

reality of whom and what they were up against in the past regime. Now the Audit Office has shared 13 recommendations to management for improvements and disclosed that through full implementation of these recommendations, future programmes will be better managed. My hope is that these measures will be implemented, and I repeat that APNU+AFC must explain this massive piece of corruption. Yours very truly, Anson Paul

By Vishnu Bisram THE PNC/R holds internal party elections (at the Congress that will take place virtually and in person at various regional sites) this Saturday to choose a leader, chairperson, and other executive positions. The election was postponed from December 11 to 18 to allow the newly- appointed presider (overseer) additional time to prepare for the process. Based on a survey of persons around the nation, the election has attracted substantial attention, especially those who routinely watch or read the media (social media included). Even nonsupporters of the PNC/R, as well as the diaspora, are following the election. They all say the election is critical for the democratic functioning of the PNC/R as well as for democracy in Guyana. Some individuals, supporters of the ruling PPP/C, have no interest in the election, dismissing it as a ‘political gimmick’. It is noted that as an opposition party, the PNC/R has an important role to hold the government accountable and to respect democratic processes and norms in the

country. If it does not subscribe to internal democratic processes, then it cannot function democratically in the nation. Given the history of fraud in earlier internal elections, the key question people ask is if the election will be free and fair. There are two slates contesting the executive posts and a few independents. Aubrey Norton and Joe Harmon are heading slates while Van-West Charles, Burnham’s son-in-law, is seeking the leader position as an independent. Basil Williams pulled out of the contest for leader. Volda Lawrence, incumbent Chair, and Carl Greenidge have declined nominations. Based on interviews of supporters and those claiming to be members as well as accredited as delegates, Basil Williams had no chance of being elected leader, not running remotely close. VanWest Charles was trailing him in support. The leader contest is really a battle between Norton and Harmon. One is preferred over the other by the general public (supporters and non-supporters) while the other has strong support among the grass roots members. Williams has

some grass roots support but not much delegate support. Van-West Charles has support among old Burnhamites who are now limited in number. The members do not vote in the election. The winner will be chosen by delegates. Whichever slate has more accredited delegates will triumph. The general view among members, supporters, and non-supporters of the PNC/R is the delegation selection process is/was manipulated. It favours one candidate over the other. Based on interviews of delegates and members, older voters (delegates) tend to favour Norton while the younger generation prefers Harmon. The younger members and supporters of the PNC/R want a reformed and modern PNC/R that can compete in general elections and not engage in skullduggery. There is race-baiting.

to be hard core grass roots activists coming from among the older generation, many of who venerate characters like Hamilton Green, Forbes Burnham, and those who hold extremist or radical views. They support views of characters like Rickford Burke. Those who express their views on the elections say a major challenge facing the

election presider and his team is to have a transparent democratic process and to get the varied candidates (slates) to accept the outcome. As party members articulate in their own way, political parties are an integral part of a functioning democracy. And since they are so important for the functioning of democracy,

parties must themselves be democratic in their functioning. All members must get full opportunity to express their internal political choice for office bearers in any party. Thus, elections must be free and fair. The returning officer and his team must make every effort to ensure that the election is free and fair and all candidates must accept the outcome.

PNC/R internal elections critical for democracy

One candidate has some race crossover appeal while another candidate is not only lacking in cross ethnic appeal but is feared by Indians, Mixed, Amerindians, and others. Some of the delegates interviewed say that a large number of delegates seem

New NRF legislation proposes cap - stipulates that oil revenues could only on withdrawals be used for developmental projects GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh (Adrian Narine photo)

REVENUES earned from Guyana’s petroleum industry could only be used to finance national developmental projects, and/or respond to major natural disasters. This firm stipulation was outlined in the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) 2021 Bill, which was tabled in the National Assembly on Thurs-

day by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. The newly proposed law seeks to repeal the ‘inadequate’ NRF Act of 2019, which was reportedly hurriedly implemented by the former coalition government, even after it was toppled with the passage of a

no-confidence motion in December 2018. Financial experts at home and abroad had complained that the existing Act, among other things, gave too much power to the Minister of Finance, who is afforded the final say on how oil revenues are spent and how much could be withdrawn. However, with the

newly proposed law, withdrawals, except those made for emergencies, have specific ceilings, and can only be made once there is parliamentary approval. Once this new Bill is signed into law by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, it will enable the government to make a 100 per cent withdrawal from the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, which holds oil revenues totalling US$534 million. All other withdrawals will, however, be capped. The cap will take effect at 75 per cent of the second US$500 million deposited into the NRF during the preceding fiscal year, followed by 50 per cent, then 25 per cent, five per cent, and finally, three per cent of any amounts in excess of $2.5 billion. Those caps are being instituted as a means of ensuring that all Guyanese are better equipped to calculate how their country’s oil earnings are being spent. It follows an observation made by one of Guyana’s leading financial partners, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); this institution had said that the design of the 2019 NRF Act “departs from good practices” and that its complexity may “conspire against fiscal transparency and public understanding.” When the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government assumed office in 2020, it pledged to right the wrongs of the Act before any withdrawals are made. Also, in keeping with proper financial regulations, all withdrawals of oil revenues must first be deposited into the Consolidated Fund, from which the government could then begin to spend. And, requests for withdrawals would also have to be made as part of the country’s annual budget.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Further, in seeking to limit the powers of the finance minister, the Bill proposes that the fund be governed by a Board of Directors, comprising no less than three and no more than five members, including the chairperson, who shall be appointed by the President. These would essentially have to be persons with “wide experience and ability” in legal, financial, business or administrative matters, one of whom shall be nominated by the National Assembly and one of whom shall be a representative of the local private sector. The Bill, as presented by Minister Singh, requires that all appointments and changes in to the NRF Board of Directors be published in the Official Gazette, on the website of the Ministry of Finance and in at least two of the local daily newspapers. The board itself is proposed to have a lifespan of two years, after which it shall be “eligible for reappointment.” The board, as proposed, would be responsible for overall management of the fund; reviewing and approving policies of the fund; monitoring performance of the fund; ensuring compliance with the approved policies of the fund; exercising general oversight of all aspects of the operations of the fund; and ensuring that the fund is managed in compliance with the act and all other applicable laws. A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e board members will be required to adhere to a strict Code of Conduct while executing their duties. The NRF 2021 legislation also proposes the establishment of a Public Accountability and Oversight Committee as well as an Investment Committee.

The Oversight Committee is projected to comprise a person nominated by the National Assembly, along with three representatives of the religious community, among others. This committee too will also have a lifespan of two years, during which time it will be responsible for providing non-governmental oversight of the Natural Resources Fund. It will receive quarterly reports from the Board of Directors on operations of the fund, and meet no less than quarterly with the board to be briefed on operations of the fund. The committee will also be mandated to furnish the Speaker of the National Assembly with annual reports on the fund’s performance. Appointments and changes in appointments to the committee will also have to be gazetted. Added to that, the NRF management team will also comprise an Investment Committee, which will have seven members, inclusive of a chairperson nominated by the Finance Minister. The Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, as well as the private sector and the Attorney General will also have the opportunity to select their respective representatives. The committee is also projected to boast two ex-officio non-voting members; the senior investment adviser and analyst, and a nominee of the Governor of the Bank of Guyana. Those persons will all be required to have at least 10 years experience and expertise in financial investments and financial portfolio management. Meanwhile, the Central Bank will be responsible for the operational management of the fund, and ensuring that it fulfils its investment mandate.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

House approves $434M for Amerindian development

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai (DPI photo) AS part of continued efforts nating the gap between the to enhance the lives of Am- hinterland and the coast. erindians, the government She related: “Our governhas allocated $434 million ment procured 112 tractors to in supplementary funds to support agricultural developadvance more economic ment in the hinterland and projects. also to provide a means of The National Assembly, transportation for road buildon Thursday, approved the ing, forestry, etc. sum of $434,000,000, which “And so, the supplemenwill allow numerous Amer- tal is intended to procure an indian communities to com- additional 71 tractors, 71 mence a project to better the trailers 71 chippers, and for lives of residents. The money the purpose of the house, forms part of the Supplemen- Mr. Speaker, $205,900,000 tary Appropriation Bill No.2. will go towards a 50 per cent Minister of Amerindian payment for the cost of tracAffairs, Pauline Sukhai, said tors and trailers and a sum of almost $200 million will be $35,429,000 will go towards directed to projects in hinter- 50 per cent payments for 71 land and coastal Amerindian implements, which includes communities. chippers and ploughs.” “It ranges from wood As the government purmizers to develop the use of sues the development of Amwood products within com- erindians, the subject minmunities, poultry farming, istry has already expended organic agriculture, cassava its budgeted $1.5 billion for processing, extension of cat- Amerindian development. tle rearing in some commuSo far, since entering ofnities, expansion of village fice, the government has reinranches, more than one of stated the 2,000 Community those; the establishment of Support Officers (CSOs) who guesthouses, we have more were fired by the previous adthan one of those in different ministration, immediately inregions, St. Cuthbert’s Mis- jecting millions, into villages sion, the completion of the by creating employment. Eco Lodge Cabin to name a Some eight villages will few” she said. also be receiving their land Of the budgeted amount, titles and extension of their a huge portion is going to- land boundaries before the wards the completion of the year ends. tractor initiative, that will Additionally, hundreds ensure the economies of Am- of Amerindians have alerindian villages expand. ready been trained to use Minister Sukhai under- computers, while others scored that the mantra of the have been certified as tracgovernment is to accelerate tor operators and solar panthe development of Amer- els installation and repairs indian communities, elimi- technicians. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

$3.4B approved for medical supplies, reagents for ‘COVID-19 hospital’

A SUPPLEMENTARY provision was approved in the National Assembly, on Thursday, for $3,352,229,664 to purchase medical supplies, consumables and reagents for the COVID-19 hospital at Liliendaal. Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, while answering questions from Op-

position Member of Parliament, Dr. Karen Cummings, said that out of that amount, $1.5 billion will be used for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), while $300 million will be used to provide medical gas for patients who require oxygen. “As you know, because of the influx of inpatients,

we need to have oxygen being available at the Ocean View hospital and so we’ve made an allocation there of $300 million for medical gas for the Ocean View Hospital. “We are also asking here for $1.3 billion in consumables, these are laboratory reagents and consumables to do PCR tests at the na-

The Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal

tional reference lab and we have also requested here $73 million for other reagents for the national lab,” Dr. Anthony said. M e a n w h i l e , $30,998,300 was also approved for cleaning services of the Infectious Diseases’ Hospital at Liliendaal. Another $150,506,426 was also approved to cater for medical treatment for approved applicants, Dr. Anthony said, noting: “[This is] so that we could continue to provide assistance to who need this type of assistance. The pathologies range from cardiac pathologies, we have persons who are also seeking dialysis, some people who need overseas treatment, some people who need special treatment for cancer, so it’s a range of disease conditions that we are assisting people with here.” The Health Minister related that in 2019, the ministry provided assistance to 684 patients and in 2021, it is hoping to assist 1,119 patients almost double the previous number. The minister said that the services being provided for dialysis is mixed, with patients of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) being able to access dialysis, while patients of the Infectious Diseases’ Hospital are also catered for. Another category of patients that receive dialysis treatment are those diagnosed for the first time with end-stage renal disease. They can visit the ministry and get a one-off package which could be used at any of the dialysis providers and also use the money to get treatment. There is also a public-private partnership in Linden with the ministry and ‘5G’, where the min-

istry provides the facilities and medical personnel, while 5G provides the equipment and service. Minister Anthony noted too that there is a similar collaboration with the ministry and the Doobay Medical Centre at New Amsterdam. The ministry is also looking at other such collaborations to extend and decentralise the dialysis services. A sum of $110,271,304 was also approved for the provision of additional inflows under the Global Fund Grant operations for medical equipment, under the HIV/TB/Malaria programme. “We have been able to work with the global fund to repurpose some of the allocation they give us for TB, HIV and malaria and because of the COVID pandemic. They had allowed us to procure equipment that we could use for COVID-19 patients. “We have since gotten an agreement with them and we went of the ‘wambo’ platform to procure 17 ventilators and these will be distributed to several regions in the country,” Dr. Anthony said. The sum of $103,271,304 was also approved under drugs and medical supplies. “About $40.8 million will be spent on ophthalmology supplies…a lot of this money is going to buy lenses so that when we do cataracts (surgeries), we will be able to implant the lens for different patients,” Dr. Anthony said. Of this amount $54 million will be used to provide medical gas to the regional hospitals while $8.7 million will be used to improve neonatal services at the regional hospitals.

Dedication the watchword of GPF’s 2021 ‘Best Cop’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

By Jared Liddell OFFICERS of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have, over the years, shown strong dedication to their mandate of serving and protecting the people of Guyana, going above and beyond the call of duty to provide professional and efficient service to Guyanese. This is the type of dedication shown by the force’s 2021 Best Cop, Sergeant Moalchand Jadunandan. His work was acknowledged on Thursday, at the Guyana Police Force’s annual Christmas awards ceremony. Jadunandan, who hails from the Cinderella County, Essequibo, said that he had always dreamt of becoming a police officer and, as such, made it his daily mission to remain hardworking and discipline. The father of three expressed his elation, saying: “I am very happy to be the Best Cop in the Guyana Police Force for the first time.” Sergeant Jadunandan serves in Regional Division Four ‘C’ and is currently the subordinate Officer-in-Charge of the Golden Grove Traffic Department on the East Bank of Demerara. For his outstanding performance through the year, along with the title of “Best Cop,” Jadunandan was also rewarded with $150,000 from the Queens Way Security Service and a trip for two to Arrowpoint Nature Resort

and the Kaieteur Falls, compliments of Roraima Airways. The Best Cop was also the best-performing cop for his division and was rewarded with an additional $100,000 and a trophy. Jadunandan has been a rank of the GPF since 2008 and serving as an accident investigator for the past 14 years When asked what future plans he has, Jadunandan said that he intends to not only continue providing the exceptional services he has in 2021, but also plans to create innovative ways to improve his operations in the GPF. Further, he related that he intends to further his studies in the near future. He also intends to assist other ranks to enhance their abilities to provide to the public with critical services. SUPPORT Supporting Jadunandan’s mission of improved service to the GPF was this year’s runner-up Best Cop, Sergeant Komal Pitama, who has been a member of the police force since 2005. On Thursday, he was awarded $100,000 and a trophy for being the Best Cop for his division. Pitama who is stationed in Regional Division 10, managed to cop the Best Cop title three times before and said that he was proud to be considered for the title of 2021’s runner-up Best Cop. Pitama related that he believes he has a calling for the profession and said that he

‘Best Cop,’ Sergeant Moalchand Jadunandan along with his wife and three children at the Guyana Police Force’s Christmas awards ceremony, on Thursday (Elvin Croker photo)

intends to continue working strategically to achieve his goal of protecting and serving the people of Guyana. “Since I joined the Guyana Police Force, my aim is to ensure that justice prevails and that is my aim to ensure people get the justice they need and I have a zeal and zest to go after criminals,” Pitama said.

The GPF’s 2021 runner-up Best Cop, Sergeant Komal Pitama, receiving his trophy from Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie, on Thursday (Elvin Croker photo)

CGX encounters oil at Kawa-1 - but says further exploration project drilling required

LESS than four months after spudding the Kawa1 exploration well, CGX Energy, through one of its major shareholders, Frontera Energy, has reported that it has encountered hydrocarbon presence. The Kawa-1 well, named after the iconic mountain overlooking the village of Paramakatoi in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana, is located in the northeast quadrant of the Corentyne block, approximately 200 kilometers

offshore from Georgetown. The water depth is approximately 355 meters (1,174 ft.) and the expected total depth of the Kawa-1 well is 6,685 meters (21,932 ft.). The companies had said that the stacked targets in Kawa-1 are considered analogous to the discoveries immediately adjacent to the Corentyne Block, in Block 58 in Suriname. According to Frontera, approximately 90 per cent of the planned footage has

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

been drilled and the initial results suggest an active hydrocarbon system is present at the Kawa-1 location. “Horizon 19, the first of three geological zones targeted by the Joint Venture, has been penetrated. Logging-While-Drilling and cuttings indicate the presence of hydrocarbons in several Campanian and upper Santonian formations. “The Joint Venture will run the planned 9 5/8” liner at current depth, then drill ahead to the main Santo-

The Maersk Discoverer commenced drilling at the Kawa-1 well in August 2021 nian target zone (Horizon 23) and the deeper secondary Santonian target zone (Horizon 25). The initial geological results will be further evaluated by wireline logging at the end of the well as part of the logging programme for the deeper zones,” Frontera said. Drilling at Kawa-1 is being carried out by Maersk Discoverer semi-submersible drilling rig, but the company said it is taking longer than initially expected with costs projected to rise. The current cost estimate of the Kawa-1 well is now forecast to be approximately US$115-US$125

million. “The Joint Venture will provide an update on costs and will issue full exploration results of the Kawa-1 well once total depth has been reached and results have been analysed,” the company said. It was reported in November that CGX Energy Incorporated managed to accumulate US$59 million to further develop and expand its operations both offshore and onshore Guyana. The company, in a press statement, said that it offered to holders of its outstanding shares, an aggregate of 45,151,338 common shares, with each requiring a payment of CAN$1.63. “Following the closing of the offering, CGX has 334,459,000 common shares issued and outstanding,” the company said. By the time the rights-offering exercise wrapped up on October 28, the company had raised approximately CAN$73,600,000 in gross proceeds, or the equivalent of US$59,600,000. “Frontera Energy Corporation, an insider and the corporation’s largest shareholder, acquired an aggregate of 45,083,314 common shares pursuant to the exercise of its rights and its standby commitment under the offering,” CGX said. The company, in its report, said that it intends to use the funds raised for the exploration and development of the Corentyne and

Demerara Blocks offshore Guyana, and the Berbice Blocks onshore Guyana, and for the development of the Berbice Deep-Water Port in Guyana. Back in April, it was reported that Frontera Energy Corporation had injected a US$19 million (approximately G$4.1B) loan into CGX to continue financing its share costs related to the Corentyne, Demerara and Berbice Blocks, as well as the Berbice Deep-Water Port (BDWP) and other budgeted costs, as agreed to by Frontera. Already, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Grand Canal Industrial Estates Inc. (GCIE), CGX is engaged in civil works related to the construction of the BDWP on 30 acres of land on the eastern bank of the Berbice River, adjacent to Crab Island. The project entails the construction of an access road and connecting bridge, the relocation of utilities, and major construction of the site along the Berbice River, as well as the construction of a wharf platform measuring 220 meters in length, and 30 meters in width, with its accompanying 50-metre access trestle. The capital cost of the project, which is set to be completed by 2023, is currently estimated at US$70 million, with an additional plan to construct heavylift and fabrication facilities being contemplated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Rotary Club of Stabroek launches online learning platform

Rotary Club of Stabroek President, Carlotta Walcott, handing over a tablet to one of the children who are set to benefit from the initiative AS Guyana continues According to the to contend with the ef- club’s president, Carlotta fects of the novel coro- Walcott, the idea behind navirus (COVID-19), the initiative is to provide the Rotary Club of a platform for learners Stabroek, with sup- who may not have acport from ExxonMobil cess to other methods and Brainstreet, has of learning due to the launched phase two of pandemic. its online learning platThe platform, accordform, Brain Central, ing to Walcott, affords to ensure that children children the opportunity have access to reading to access learning mamaterials. terials with or without

internet access. She said that one of the major issues children have been facing, while trying to learn during the pandemic, is little to no access to internet. Considering this issue, Brain Central has been tailored to provide learning materials to children in grades three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine. “The interest was really to reach learners who didn’t have access, and this went on way into the hinterland communities. “At this stage, we are developing additional local community Wi-Fi networks to give learners access to the academic material on a localised version of Brain Central. The teachers in the village will also be trained to develop and deliver lessons via the local platform,” Walcott related. She said that several hinterland communities, including Paramakatoi in Region Eight and Yupukari in Region Nine, are also set to benefit from the

initiative. A major selling point of the platform is that it also allows the users to download the materials and save their answers offline, which could then be accessed by the teachers trained to use the software.

“A key feature of the application is that the entire course can be downloaded onto a device... that is very critical because it means you don’t need WiFi access and all of that. You can have it on your device and the learners

would have immediate access to the resources,” Walcott said. She related that the club intends to have the Ministry of Education’s resources available on the website for the learners to access.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

GTT to market, promote app to grow businesses of women entrepreneurs

TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant, GTT, on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc to support the marketing and promotion of the HERVenture, a business education app designed for women entrepreneurs. Launched in Guyana in September, the app was developed by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and was brought to Guyana in partnership with the ExxonMobil Foundation (Guyana) and ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc. Launched with an aim of reaching at least 3,000 women, to date, the app has already been downloaded by 2,900 women in Guyana, and GTT is hoping that through their assistance, the initial target can now be surpassed. “The gender gap in business and investment, particularly among small and medium sized businesses,

(L-R) Vishnu Doerga, Chairman ActionINVEST Caribbean; Selena Bacchus, HerVenture Support Leader; Damian Blackburn, CEO GTT; Bobita Ram, General Manager mmg+, and Orson Ferguson, COO Business Solutions at GTT has traditionally favoured programme to empower femian Blackburn, commented commending the impact that male leadership more than male entrepreneurs and help at the signing. GTT’s collaboration with the female. So, we at GTT are to redress the balance,” GTT “At GTT, two of the key project will bring. delighted to invest in this Chief Executive Officer, Dapromises underpinning our “Mobile companies brand are to innovate for all can play a powerful role in in Guyana and to strengthen steering women to support our community. HerVenture products and services they will achieve both of our key need to grow their businesses promises -- this is why this through working with the programme was easy for foundation and ActionINus to support. I am very VEST. GTT is helping to confident that the Women support the resilience and Business will Rise together development of thousands using this innovative tool,” of women-owned businesses Blackburn noted. and advancing women’s ecoThe signing took place nomic empowerment more at the ActionINVEST Head- broadly,” Doerga noted. quarters on Parade Street, Developed by the Cherie with Blackburn signing on Blair Foundation, and first behalf of GTT and Chairman, launched in 2018, the HerVishnu Doerga, signing on Venture mobile learning app behalf of ActionINVEST. was developed specifically During his remarks at for women who own micro, the signing, Doerga read a small and medium-sized enstatement from Cherie Blair, terprises in low and middle-

income countries. The app, which is currently available in Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, has supported over 41,000 women since its launch. The app is completely free of cost and offers essential business training and support on-the-go. It features nine learning tracks on a range of topics, including how to launch a business, access financing, expand market access, and to get into the e-commerce business. The signing was also attended by ActionINVEST HerVenture Support Leader, Salena Bacchus; GTT Chief Operations Officer, Orson Ferguson; and GTT Mobile Money General Manager, Babita Ram. Ram explained that GTT will be assisting ActionINVEST with the hosting of a number of outreaches across the country, while the HERVenture signs will be displayed in stores, and GTT will be providing marketing through text messages, among other services. Bacchus noted that during these outreaches, the target will be to go out as much as possible to communities outside of the coastland, with a particular focus on communities in Region Eight, where they believe more advocacy for the app is needed. Through the partnership, GTT will also be able to showcase some of its innovative business inclined services, particularly the MMG, which has become a popular electronic payment method among Guyanese businesses.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

25 companies complete health and safety management systems training

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond

T W E N T Y- F I V E l o c a l Guyanese businesses on Wednesday were recognised by the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) for having completed the Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Management System Mentorship Programme. The businesses, which ranged from law and oil and gas support firms, to janitorial and public relations services, were the inaugural graduates from the programme which already has another 250 businesses currently in training. Initially started in 2019, the CLBD HSSE programme equips businesses with the tools to implement and sustain HSSE cultures in the workplaces. The training runs for approximately six months, depending on how fast the businesses are able to get through the programme. “This journey has established our approach to health and safety matters, affirming our commitment to prevent harm and promote safe work practices,” commented Simone Forde, Founder/CEO of SEAJ Ecoclean Services. SEAJ Ecoclean Services was one of the first businesses to participate in the programme. “We cannot attain business success without thinking about safety; no system would be sustainable unless it takes into account the most important asset -- our people. SEAJ has seen a total transformation of our company with the development and implementation of HSSE manual and policy. We have a clear direction which includes accountability and safety performance and efficiency,” she noted. Aside from SEAJ, the other graduating businesses were Hughes, Fields and

Stoby Corporate Services Inc, Sagacity Inc, Metro Office and Computer Supplies, Herdmanston Lodge, Grand Coastal Inn, Queensway Group Inc, Marine Traders Atlantic Inc, Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc, Zeco Industrial Engineering, Symmetry Brokerage & Logistics Inc, Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc, Silvie’s Industrial, Puran Brothers Disposal Inc, Pinnacle Business Services Inc, IMEX Inc, Arrow Oilfield Services Incorporated, B&J Civil Works, CAMSOL INC, Chung’s Global Enterprise, Environmental Management Consultants Inc (EMC), GR Engineering Company, Ground Structures Engineering Consultants Inc, Guyana Logistics & Support Services Inc, and Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services. Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton and Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Oneidge Walrond, were also present at the graduation ceremony and delivered remarks. Also attending the ceremony were CLBD Director, Natasha Gaskin-Peters; CLBD HSSE Coordinator, Lavonia Springer and Senior Quality HSSE Officer, Akil Lewis. Minister Hamilton in his remarks noted that the HSSE training programme fits in well with the Ministry of Labour’s (MoL)-own programme of rigorously tackling OSH at work places across the country, particularly through increased capacity at the ministry and decentralised monitoring. “The capacity-building programme has resulted in the department having seven OSH staff members who have successfully completed the ISO 45001 Lead Auditor training programme and are certified to audit our work

Representatives from the graduating businesses display their certificates, flanked by Senior Quality HSSE Officer, Akil Lewis (left); CLBD Director, Natasha Gaskin-Peters (second from left) and CLBD HSSE Coordinator, Lavonia Springer (right)

places in keeping with international standards,” the minister noted. He emphasised that the government is concerned about the safety and health of workers in all spheres of economic activity. “This occasion is an important one because of the importance of workplace safety and health, and the need for building capacity of staff in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), coupled with the recognition of their achievement in this regard,” Hamilton commented. Minister Walrond in her address highlighted the important role HSSE plays in developing Guyanese businesses to be ready to capitalise on opportunities in the growing oil and gas sector. “The oil and gas industry has already catapulted our economy to one of the fastest-growing in the world. We do realise, however, that for our companies to be able to access these opportunities, they must – among other things – build the capacity to implement health, safety and security systems to the standard required for doing business in the energy sector,” she noted. She added that: “This HSSE mentorship programme established and run by the CLBD I think brings contemporary best practice in safety and health to complement the statutory framework that we established a quarter of a century ago when the oil and gas industry was probably not within our contemplation.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Guyana records sharpest decrease in serious crimes in a decade - pedestrians, motorcyclists account for most road fatalities

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has recorded a 21 per cent decrease in serious crimes for 2021, according to Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, who said the figure represents the largest decrease in the country in over a decade. The acting police commissioner was at the time addressing ranks at the Guyana Police Force’s annual award ceremony, on Thursday. He said: “This is the highest degree of reduction in serious crimes

recorded for the past 10 years. Robbery under arms has seen a decrease of 33.6 per cent while there has been a 19.5 per cent decrease in the offence of murder, with 124 such incidents up to December 13 this year, compared to 154 for the same period last year.” Additionally, 33 fields of cannabis were located and destroyed countrywide. This included 1,680,980 plants and 383,144.61 kilograms of dry cannabis. And, this is in addition to the removal of 70 illegal firearms from

the streets. The top cop said that there has also been a significant decrease in fatal accidents. “Up to December 11, 2021, intensified traffic campaigns and the use of radar guns and breathalysers have resulted in the significant reduction of 31 per cent in fatal accidents; there were 82 this year and 119 for the same period last year, and a consequential 31 per cent decrease in fatalities, with 89 being recorded this year and 129 last year. Pedestrians and motorcy-

clists have been the major categories of road users who have lost their lives on the roadways,” he said. It was also reported that traffic enforcement for this year has resulted in there being 10,705 cases of speeding, 712 cases for driving under the influence and 2,010 for unlicensed drivers. Hoppie said although there has been success on many fronts, there has been a 55.8 per cent increase in rape with 181 cases being recorded in 2020 compared to 282 this year. But he related that the force has been paying special attention to the issue of domestic violence and trafficking in persons. “So far this year, the police have received a total of 1,629 reports of domestic violence compared to 1,489 during the same period last year and dealt with seven cases of trafficking in persons compared to two for the similar period last year,” the acting commissioner said. He said members of the force continue to execute their duties in a pro-

Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie fessional manner in the face of many challenges. “Criticisms continue to be made against the force and persons tend to forget the exceptional work of the many police ranks who, despite the criticisms and challenges, work assiduously in implementing strategies that see successes and stand as testimony to the police’s undying nature and commitment to the safety and security of our country,”

Hoppie related. The acting police commissioner said the government has been consistent in its effort to strengthen the country’s security sector through the provision of the requisite resources. He said the acquisition of vehicles earlier this year led to the force being more visible in communities, noting that this will continue during the festive season. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Recognising a noble act - GPF rewards policewoman who returned $1M to owner

By Jared Liddell THE Guyana Police Force (GPF), on Thursday, recognised woman police constable, Tatyanna Aaliyah Blair-Da Silva, for her integrity and honesty after she recently returned a black ‘laptop bag’ belonging to an overseas-based Guyanese, Sheik Ali. The bag, according to Ali, contained some US$3,000 (approximately G$600,000), an iPhone, an identification card and a passport. Further, he said that upon receiving the bag containing his money, he offered a

reward to the 22-year-old, which she graciously declined, saying she was not brought up that way. Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, said it was her commitment to serving the people of Guyana that influenced the GPF to recognise her exemplary service. The police force and Queens Way Security Company awarded her $200,000. During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle at Divisional Headquarters on Wednesday, the soft-spoken Blair-Da Silva, said she had left her Fyrish home on Friday just after 21:00 hours

to go to the village shop to purchase a pack of ‘Ramen.’ “About 15 to 20 feet from the Fyrish bus shed, I observed a black computer bag. I opened it and saw a quantity of United States and Guyana currency. I looked for a form of identification. After waiting for a while for the owner to return to the area and recover the items, I took a photograph of the identification card and posted it to my Facebook page, along with my cellphone number. “About an hour later, the man’s son called, saying it was his father’s. The owner of the bag then contacted

Ex-soldiers, businessman accused of $745M fuel theft secure bail

TWO former soldiers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and a businessman were, on Thursday, released on $300,000 bail each, after they were accused of swindling over $745 million worth of fuel from the army. Terry Milling, 35, of South Cummings Lodge, Georgetown and Delon Wilson, 34, of Kuru Kurwru, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, both former soldiers, and Gangadeo Sridat, a 48-year-old businessman of New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, appeared jointly before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Grove/Diamond Magistrate’s Court. Particulars of the charge alleged that between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2020, at Guyoil Terminal, Providence, East Bank Demerara, the trio conspired together with others to commit a felony by stealing fuel belonging to GDF valued $745,559,430. The men pleaded not guilty to the charge and were each released on $300,000 bail. The matter was adjourned until January 27, 2022. The Guyana Chronicle understands that during the time in question, Milling and Wilson were employed by GDF and were in charge of procuring the fuel. However, after an audit was done, it

Defence Force,” the audit report outlined.

Delon Wilson was revealed that the GDF did not receive the fuel, which amounted to over $745,000,000. According to information from the Auditor General’s Report of 2019, the GDF had severe shortcomings with respect to the purchase, reconciliation and shortage of fuel. In this regard, 887,800 litres of fuel, valuing $181,567,000, were uplifted by an unauthorised vehicle. This included 26 instances where 2,000 gallons of gasoline was uplifted for the Coast Guard Headquarters, Ruimveldt, even though the storage capacity at this location was only 1,000 gallons. “At the time of reporting, the matter was being investigated by the Guyana Police Force and the Military Intelligence Department of the Guyana

me before reaching me at the bus shed. He checked the bag and was surprised and shocked, as he did not believe that members of the Guyana Police Force had such integrity,” the 22-yearold cop related. According to BlairDa Silva, it was not the first time she found large sums of money. On another occasion, she had sent a photograph of the person’s identification card to “BIG SMITH,” who posted it to his page. She had later learnt that the money she found was for the owner’s daughter’s surgery. She said: “I grew up in a single-parent home with my mother and two siblings. My mother would always tell us, na want wa you mattie get, wuk fo you own.” The married mother of one, who is also a former national athlete, has lived up to her mother’s expectations and teachings.

Woman police constable, Tatyanna Aaliyah Blair-Da Silva

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

The tombs and other intriguing things that live on the Essequibo River By Naomi Parris

Stretching over 1000 kilometers, the Essequibo River, a mighty being, is the country’s largest of river. Her majestic waters flow from the Acarai Mountains near the border of Brazil. She is the home to some of the country’s richest fauna, and her body takes you on a journey into an ecoregion of ambient forestry and delightful sites that would undoubtedly leave you in awe. I can say this from experience. While there are many aesthetics to visit on the river, her true beauty, in my opinion, comes from the historic islands that sit peacefully on her surface. They are said to be at least 365 islands in the river; however, this can easily

be called a romantic tale, since there has not been any tangible proof of this, according to a villager of one of the known islands I recently visited. Be it known that I have sailed the path of the Essequibo several times before, experiencing both the peace of the calm waves, and the bumps of the angrier ones, but my most recent visit took me to the islands that house the historic artifacts left behind by the Dutch men who once walked the shores of Guyana. My first stop was Fort Island and the Court of Policy. This island is famously known as a tourist attraction since it is the home to tangible and intriguing pieces of history. More specifically, Fort Zealandia, the coun-

A quick snap in front of the Court of Policy which is now known as the Dutch Heritage Museum try’s oldest Dutch fort, as well as its oldest political institution - the icon-

ic Court of Policy. The Court of Policy has its origin in the Dutch-des-

ignated Council of Policy and Justice [Raad van Politie and Justice] in 1718; that is the year the constitution of the Essequibo Council was significantly altered. That institution attended to the affairs of the Dutch colony of Essequibo, particularly in its initial stage; it comprised the Dutch Commander, the Secretary and two managers of plantations owned by the Dutch West India Company. To date, the Court of Policy has been converted into the Dutch Heritage Museum and of course, I’m here to tell you, our valued readers, what’s inside this stoned structure of ancient tales. With most of its structure intact, the building is also the burial site of three Dutch citizens. Their presence is evident in what they left behind, and I am not just referring to the artifacts; their bones have also been left behind. A cool fact is that

Dutch tombs can be found throughout the length of Guyana, and in most cases, you just have to know where to look. There are three tombs within the building, these are that of Johannes Backer, a commander, captain and member of the Court of Essequibo, who died on February 19, 1772. There is also the tomb of Laurens Gerhardus Lodewych Backer, who was merely a year-old, having died on September 1 1768. There were also the remains of Michael Roth, a doctor for the Dutch West India company who died in the Essequibo River on November 15, 1770. Outside of the tombs, several other artifacts are securely displayed in a glass case in the museum. These were broken pieces of cutlery, whiskey bottles, ancient teapots and even heavily rustic shackles that sent a cold shiver down my spine as I envisioned the horrors TURN TO 25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

The tombs... FROM PAGE 24 of slavery.

FORT ZEELANDIA Just a few minutes’ walk from the Court of Policy is the Fort Zealandia. While some parts of the structure seemed to have suffered the elements of time and perhaps weather, the Fort still seemed as sturdy as can be. Its existence can be traced back to as early as 1679, when Dutch Commander Abraham Beekman highlighted the need for a fort on the island, which, back then, was called flag Island. Originally built of timber, there was some conflict to replace the infrastructure with brick, which saw a stall in its completion for some time. However, it was finally completed in 1472 and was deemed to be one of strongest Forts, and I guess since majority of its structure is still standing to tell stories centuries old, then the observation must be true. The fort was equipped with 18-19 guns and four ramparts; the fort’s lozenge-shaped design is said to be similar to other

forts built in West Africa. Inside of the fort, there were three covered mason redoubts with flat roofs, embrasures and an armory, which is also still standing. FORT KYK -OVER-AL One of my final stops on the Essequibo River was my visit to Fort Kyk-Over-Al, a small settlement that overlooks the confluences of the Essequibo, Mazaruni and Cuyuni rivers. This was once a striving settlement for trade; however, a mere structural arch is what is left of this structure. The trading post was equipped with a few small guns and was named ‘fort der Hooge’, after an influential Dutch. It was later renamed Kyk-Over-Al, which in the Dutch language, means ‘see over all’ – perhaps indicative of the breathtaking sites of the three gorgeous rivers. That is all I have to share with you this week. Until my next adventure, I hope you all remember to mask-up and stay safe.

What is left of Fort Kyk-Over-Al

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Quacy Hector: the Lindener who is living on rhythms and rhymes

Local musician Quacy Desmond Hector LINDEN-born Quacy Desmond Hector was just 10 years old when he absolutely fell in love with the sounds of instruments, vocals, rhythms and rhymes associated with music. He vividly recalls the defining moment when he decided that music was his passion; something that he wanted engrained as an integral part of his life. “It was just something very cool at that age and I knew I wanted to do it,” a smiling Quacy reflected in an interview with Buzz this week. Although set on pursuing his boyhood dreams, the years that went by would reveal all the negatives that plague the local music industry, es-

pecially the damaging sentiments that pursuing a musical career in Guyana “makes no sense.” These undoubtedly took a jab at the youngster’s confidence. “I never felt good enough and I wanted to give up because people said you have to know someone in the business and that it was expensive to do. These things got to me and I did think that maybe I’ll waste my time making an investment,” Quacy shared, candidly. The negativity did influence Quacy’s mindset, causing him to hit pause on his dreams as a musician, but certainly not for long; soon enough, he was ready to hit the resumption button and return to the magnificent world of TURN TO PAGE 27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Quacy Hector: the Lindener who is living on rhythms and... FROM PAGE 26 music, truly focusing on the talents he knew he possessed. “I see myself as someone who will make it big in the music arena. I always remind myself that I am going to be great and will do great things and not to stop or give up,” Quacy shared. Today, with multiple records and music videos already out, the 26-yearold has his heart and mind set on not only performing on the big stage, but being recognised on an international level, winning iconic music awards, and representing his country in a flattering and vibrant light. “I also want to inspire youths in the ghetto [and] be a role model that could influence them in a good way. People in the slums don’t have equal opportunities and are in a dark place. I try to bring the light or to lighten situations through my music,” Quacy said. The budding musician, who goes by the stage name ‘THNL’, which is an abbreviation for ‘True Hector No Lie’, started his musical journey dabbling in rap and jazz music, but over the past three years, he has emerged with some very promising dancehall potential. “Throughout my

whole life, music has always been a part of me. If you asked people from my primary [school] straight to my tertiary education, you’ll hear them saying that I loved music. I lived on rhythms and rhymes,” Quacy recalled. He said that he even had a reputation for being the friend who is ‘always writing and singing sum ting.’ Until now, Quacy explained that his busy life juggling work, studies and family had always resulted in his dream taking a backseat, since he was never able to invest the amount of work, time and dedication required to become a thriving musician. “…but I have a music journey, and thus far I’ve grown so much and still continue to grow every day.” Quacy counts his personal growth and development among some of his more notable accomplishments so far. “And also, the balance; the improvement of my skills and talent. I have been very off of the music scene for some time, but I’m planning to return for the take. I’m planning to go hard and go big,” the confident Lindener asserted. He is currently collaborating with Dellon Entertainment on his ‘Fro-

zen Riddim’ on which he has a track titled ‘One Dose’ that was recorded, mixed and mastered at AJ Records. This will be releasing soon. “All I can do right now is to ask that people to keep supporting their own people [even from] when they are nowhere and not only when they [reach] somewhere.” Quacy’s hunger for fame and international recognition is something he shares with his father. You see, Quacy is the eldest son of professional mechanic, Desmond Hector, a Middle-Distance Runner who participated in Men’s 800 Metres at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Mexico. Quacy is also the proud son of former nurse and mid-wife, Catherine Hector. He attended One Mile Nursery School in but later moved to Watooka village where he and his family lived behind the hospital, in the nurse’s quarters. In addition to his musical talents, Quacy also has a knack for academics. As a matter of fact, he excelled at several examinations offered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), and now that his foundation is set, he is ready to invest the same level of dedication to excel in music.

Quacy has his mind set on taking his talent to an international level

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

2021 a bitter-sweet year for Chelsea Edghill

By Rawle Toney

the Olympics.

THOUGH sports made a slow return in Guyana this year, there are some athletes who had a sensational year competing on the international stage. We often equate success in a sport to accolades achieved from an athlete’s performance, but in some cases, the mere fact of participation, taking the circumstances into consideration, can be heralded as an accomplishment that should be celebrated.The name Chelsea Edghill (OLY) will forever be remembered in Guyana’s sporting realm, but more importantly, throughout the English-speaking Caribbean. This year was a bitter-sweet one for the 24-year-old table tennis star. While she was able to see her Olympic dream come true, months later, she lost one of her biggest supporters – her father, Godfrey Edghill, to COVID-19. In fact, Edghill, despite her young age, can be considered Guyanese sports folklore. Students will be quizzed on who is the first tennis player, male or female, to represent Guyana at

OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION Chelsea Edghill was one of 86 women in Tokyo, Japan this year, vying for Olympic glory. How she got there isn’t by luck, or winning the table tennis lottery, as some would say, but really through her brilliance over the years. “2021 started off pretty normal, focused and highly motivated with the goal in mind to qualify for the Olympics,” Edghill told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview. The 2018 Caribbean U21 Singles Champion said “Even though the road wasn’t smooth having battled so many injuries and setbacks I’ve managed to compete and give a good showing at the Olympic trials in Argentina.” “I didn’t get the result that I was hoping for and I was taken aback. But as God would have it, I gained the Wild Card to the Tokyo Olympics. I was over the moon and was even more motivated to work harder to give a good result,” Edghill

ous Olympic Games in London (2012) and Rio (2016). The Tripartite Commission selected Togo’s Dodji Fanni and Guyana’s Chelsea Edghill. Table tennis was first played at the Olympics in 1988 at the Games in Seoul, South Korea. Following her selection for Tokyo, Chelsea Edghill became the first Guyanese and first female from the English-Speaking Caribbean, to compete in the sport at the Olympics.

Chelsea Edghill

reflected. After not being able to directly qualify for the Olympic Games at the qualification tournament in Argentina where she exited at the Round-of-16, the Tripartite Commission had two slots (one male and one female) to select from among National Olympic Committees that didn’t have more than eight athletes at the two previ-

LIVING OLYMPIC DREAM After joining swimmer Andrew Fowler as Guyana’s flag-bearer, Edghill got off to a dream start when she defeated Fiji’s Sally Yee, 4-1 (11-5, 4-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8) in the opening match of the Women’s Singles Olympic tournament. While on the surface Edghill’s match-winning performance may seem casual, in the table tennis world, it represented ‘history’; not just for Guyana, but the Caribbean.

“At the Olympics, I set a plan of winning the first match and executed. It was an unreal feeling and moment for myself, Guyana table tennis and the Guyanese people,” Edghill said. Following her sensational victory over Fiji’s Sally Yee, the former Bishops’ High School student and Linwood University graduate (Chemistry) went on to play South Korea’s Shin Yubin in the Round-of-64. Shin Yubin is South Korea’s youngest-ever representative in the sport at the Olympics, and against Edghill, the-then world 85th ranked player showed why she’s one of the best players in the world, winning 4-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-1, 12-10). Edghill is as accomplished as it gets in the sport of table tennis and certainly a player that is on the path of one day receiving a National award for her dedication and contribution to the sport in Guyana and the Caribbean. And while tragedy struck her family, Edghill said she’s happy that her father had a chance to see her compete and win a match at the Olympics.

Mercedes will not pursue... pen and Red Bull, adding: "We would like to express our sincere respect for your achievements this season. You made this F1 championship title fight truly epic." Mercedes had two protests rejected by F1 officials on Sunday, with the team arguing race director Michael Masi did not apply the rules correctly. The Australian appeared not to follow standard protocol on restarting the race after a late-race safety-car period.

His decisions left Hamilton, who had led for the vast majority of the race and was on course for the world title, as a sitting duck on old tyres, with Verstappen behind him on fresh rubber. Mercedes had 96 hours after the race in which to lodge their appeal, which would have been heard by the FIA's International Court of Appeal, the final appeal tribunal for international motorsport. Mercedes said they had been in

FROM PAGE 35

"constructive dialogue" with the FIA since the race in an attempt to "create clarity for the future". The team were satisfied with the decision to "thoroughly analyse what happened in Abu Dhabi and to improve the robustness of rules, governance and decision-making in Formula 1". In a lengthy statement, they said they "welcomed" the FIA inviting teams and drivers to take part in the investigation. (BBC Sport)

Ramdhani siblings to meet...

FROM PAGE 35

Jeffrey 21-14, 21-14. Narayan and Jonathan Mangra got past Easa Sanichara and Matthew Beharry 21-15, 21-7 in the other semi-final clash. In the third-place clash, Chung and Priyanna defeated Sanichara and Beharry 21-16, 21-12. WOMEN’S DOUBLES Priyanna and her teammate Shivannie Persaud advanced to the final after defeating Priyanka Shivnauth and Mishka Beharry 21-6, 21-14, while Christina Kumar and Anna Perreira got the better of Ayanna Watson and Emilia Ramdhani 21-12, 21-18. In the third-place battle, Watson and Emilia (the mother of Narayan and Priyanna) came from behind in a tense encounter to beat Shivnauth and Mishka Beharry 17-21, 22-20, 21-18.

Mixed doubles semi-final battle between Akili Haynes (left) and Priyanna Ramdhani (second from left) against Easa Sanichara and Priyanka Shivnauth

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

UEFA in no mood for compromise with FIFA over World Cup plan By Simon Evans

MANCHESTER, England: (Reuters) - FIFA will hold a global summit next week to discuss their plans for holding the World Cup every two years but their biggest opponent, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, shows no sign of backing down. Ceferin said his organisation had no agreed strategy for Monday's meeting, suggesting it would not be a defining moment in the process. “As much as we know FIFA is still pursuing the project, then there are some signals are coming from different sides that they might not pursue it till

the end," the UEFA chief told a news conference. “We don’t have a particular strategy. For Monday, it will be 211 federations, that means 500 people at the videoconference. I don’t expect something very deep. “But we will listen and we’ll see and we’ll act accordingly. But for now, we don’t even have the agenda for Monday. The only thing we know is that it’s called 'Future of Football', which can mean a lot and can mean nothing," he said. Victor Montagliani, a key ally of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and head of CONCACAF, which governs the

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin

game in North and Central America and the Caribbean, told Reuters earlier this month that he was leaning towards a

compromise solution. Montagliani floated the idea of a revamped version of the old Confederations Cup, or

Djokovic crowned ITF world champion for record seventh time (REUTERS) - Men's world number one Novak Djokovic has been named the 2021 ITF world champion for a record seventh time, while women's number one Ash Barty has picked up her second crown, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said yesterday. Djokovic, who finished the year as number one for a record seventh time, won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon but fell short at the Tokyo Olympics and the U.S. Open final in his quest for a rare golden slam.

The Serb was tied with American great Pete Sampras on six wins for the title first awarded in 1978. Barty, who won her first Wimbledon title this year and a bronze medal at the Olympics in mixed doubles, previously won the award in 2019. "After such a rewarding year for me, my team, family and fans, it is a great honour to be named the ITF World Champion for the seventh time," Djokovic said. “I am very grateful and proud for the results I've 10:30 hrs Son Of Zeus

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Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his match against Croatia's Marin Cilic (REUTERS/ Susana Vera)

Djokovic is tied with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slams and could make the record his own if he wins next month's Australian Open - a tournament he has won a record nine times. Croatian duo Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic were named ITF men's doubles world champions after winning nine titles this season, while Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova won the women's doubles award for a second time. "It has been an incredible year for us - Wimbledon, Olympics, nine titles, yearend number one and now first Croatian pair ever to be named ITF World Champions," Pavic said. It's something special and we're very happy about it."

a global version of the Nations League concept, as alternatives to a biennial World Cup. But Ceferin said that he had not seen concrete proposals or details of the idea. "I’m quite fed up of hearing proposals or reading about proposals in the media," he said. “I might be naive but I still hope that we will start speaking with some documentation, with some concrete proposals, with some serious ideas and not wait until the morning when the newspapers come to see what is the new proposal of some of our colleagues," he added. Ceferin said he hoped that

FIFA and the confederations could begin to focus on the future shape of the international match calendar, which needs to be agreed upon for the post2024 period. "The problem is that everything is interconnected. We get proposals for different competitions and that’s why the discussions about the international match calendar are delayed all the time. “We haven’t even started to discuss about the calendar because of all those ideas that happened. I hope that we start discussing about the international match calendar immediately after New Year," he said.

COVID-19 outbreaks mean four more of weekend's games called off THIS weekend's fixtures of Southampton v Brentford, Watford v Crystal Palace, West Ham v Norwich and Everton v Leicester have been postponed because of COVID-19 outbreaks, the Premier League has announced. Leicester City's game with Tottenham on Thursday and Manchester United's match with Brighton on Saturday were called off earlier on Thursday. Half of the weekend's Premier League fixtures are now off, with Leicester v Spurs having been part of the midweek programme. Liverpool players Fabinho, Curtis Jones and Virgil van Dijk will also miss Thursday's match with Newcastle after suspected positive tests. However, the Premier League is resisting a complete suspension of the weekend programme, saying in a statement: "All other fixtures due to be played this weekend are currently scheduled to proceed as planned." A total of nine top-flight matches have been cancelled over the past week,

the others being Tottenham's match against Brighton last Sunday, Brentford's game with Manchester United on Tuesday and Burnley's match against Watford on Wednesday. Chelsea have also been hit by several positive cases before Thursday's game against Everton, but that match is set to go ahead. The Premier League said there was "an increase in positive Covid-19 cases" at Leicester on Thursday, while Manchester United have an ongoing outbreak. United said they would also suspend training at their Carrington base for "a short period to help reduce risk of further transmission". The club added in a statement: "The health of players and staff is our priority. Given the number of players and support staff having to isolate due to Covid-19, the club had no option other than to request the match be rearranged. "We regret any disappointment and inconvenience caused to fans by the postponement."(BBC Sport)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Curry finally willing to call himself the greatest shooter ever

STEPHEN is no stranger to history. Very few athletes, in any sport, have more records and accolades under their belt. Curry put himself atop another list on Tuesday night inside Madison Square Garden, breaking Ray Allen's NBA record for career 3-pointers in Golden State's 105-96 victory over the Knicks. Allen's mark stood at 2,973. Curry hit number 2,974 at the 7:33 mark of the first quarter. We've all known Curry is the greatest 3-point shooter to ever lived for some time now. This is not, in any capacity, debatable. The gap between him and everyone else, even guys like Allen and Reggie Miller and Larry Bird and down the list of the sharpest marksmen in history, is an ocean. His range, his ability to create his own

shot off the dribble: nobody has ever combined volume and efficiency like Curry. He's one of one. But Curry never wanted to say this for himself. He's clearly heard everyone else saying it for years, but Curry has too much respect for the shooters that came before him to prematurely anoint himself. In his postgame press conference on Tuesday, Curry admitted that he's finally willing to call himself the greatest now that he has the record. For all of Curry's on-court theatrics, he's one of the NBA's most humble and classy superstars. He has never put himself above or before his team, and he wasn't about to do that with history's other great shooters. He had to earn it first. Now that he's done that, it's clear how much it means to him. (Yahoo Sports)

Steph Curry after breaking the three-point record

SJN Hearings report concludes appointments of Smith, Boucher at CSA flawed

By Mahlatse Mphahlele

Mark Boucher (Getty Images)

THE highly anticipated report on Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) in cricket by ombudsman advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza has found that the appointments of Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher at Cricket South Africa (CSA) were flawed. Smith was appointed as CSA's director of cricket in 2020 for a two-year period ending in March 2022, while Boucher was appointed Proteas coach in 2019. In the report, which also found that former captain AB de Villiers engaged in prejudicial conduct, advocate Ntsebeza said the appointments of Smith and Boucher were flawed from a procedural perspective. The report came down hard on Smith for not following CSA’s human resource (HR) policies when he hired Boucher with no Level 4 coaching

qualification, and with no interviews conducted. “Mr Smith does not explain how he arrived at the decision of appointing Mr Boucher,” read one of the takeaways from the 235-page report. “There is no mention whatsoever of the CSA HR Manual having been applied by Mr Smith and CSA in the appointment of Mr Boucher and other appointments made during that period in question. “At paragraph 65 (301), Mr Smith highlights Mr Boucher’s success (in) cricket during the latter’s playing days, he does not venture at all to explain the process he followed in appointing Mr Boucher ahead of Enoch Nkwe, who was at that time an interim head coach of the Proteas. “That he was not told or advised by the CSA Board, CEO etc to comply with the HR manual when making appointments does not absolve Mr Smith from

his responsibility as a senior employee of CSA at the time to comply with its provisions. “Mr Smith needs to understand that he was handsomely remunerated for his position and professed to possess all the attributes for the position in question, one such attribute is familiarity with governance controls in the organisation. “That the board did not stop him does not render his conduct regular and excusable.” On Smith, the report concluded that his appointment was irregular, irrational and unfair, and the interview process was a sham. “In the aforesaid of undisputed facts, it is the OTO's view that the appointment of Mr Smith ahead of other candidates was not fair to the other candidates interviewed. “Mr Hussein Manack is correct in his suggestion that the appointment of Mr Smith was a foregone conclusion. The interview process was a sham, and it really undermined the dignity of those who took time and effort to apply for the position and prepare for it. Accordingly, OTO concludes that the appointment of Mr Smith was irregular, irrational and unfair.” CSA chairperson Lawson Naidoo said they were engaging the report and would comment later. “The board is engaging with the report and going through it in detail. We have made it clear from the very beginning that we support this process because it is a critical process to help us take SA cricket forward. “We will be engaging with the report and once we have done so holistically we will then publicly comment on what steps we are going to take,” said Naidoo.

Ganguly breaks silence on Kohli’s ‘no communication’ statement

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly

THE Virat Kohli captaincy issue is one that has hogged the headlines in the world of cricket. Ahead of India’s tour to South Africa, the 33-year-old Kohli revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was fine with him stepping down as the captain of the Indian side in T20I cricket. These comments from Kohli were contradictory to the comments made by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who stated that Kohli was asked not to step down as the T20I skipper. And, when Ganguly was asked to respond to the ‘Virat Kohli issue’ all that the BCCI president had to say is ‘No Comments’. Ganguly also added that the BCCI will look into the matter as well. “In a first reaction to the Virat Kohli controversy, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly says, “No comments. BCCI is looking into it,” tweeted a Twitter handle by name Pooja Mehta. And, the childhood coach of Kohli, Rajkumar Sharma has opined that the communication gap between Kohli and the BCCI should not have happened. Sharma also added that there should be some transparency between the board and the player, and concluded by stating that he does not understand why there should be such a communication gap. “This is something unusual I have heard, I didn’t see Virat’s press conference as well. This communication gap should not have happened. According to me, there should be transparency between them and I don’t know why this has happened or why such a communication gap was there,” opined Rajkumar Sharma. India will begin their assignment in South Africa with a three-match Test series, and the first rubber will start on December 26 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. (CricTracker)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

UTech confers SCA rewards players for Under-19 Honorary World Cup selections Degree on Elaine Thompson-Herah

The awardees: Surendra Seeraj, Arjuna Sukhu, Ethan Gibson and Matthew Nandu pose with SCA executives and their parents

By Frederick Halley

Elaine Thompson after her confirmation with the Honorary Degree

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Elaine Thompson-Herah has been conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by The University of Technology (UTech). The fastest woman alive shared the news to her social media pages on Wednesday. Thompson-Herah, who was also recently crowned Female World Athlete of the Year, said she was overwhelmed with joy, ''to be recognised for my work and the many blessings from the Lord.'' ''I thank my UTech family for awarding me with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws. Thank you my fans and sponsors for always helping me to keep the flame to my fire,'' she added. During the summer, Thompson-Herah retained her Olympic 100m and 200m titles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She also added a third gold medal to her 2021 Olympic collection when Jamaica's female 4x100m relay team stormed across the line in first place in the second-fastest time in history. On top of her stellar Olympic triple, she also clocked world-leading times of 10.54 and 21.53 over 100m and 200m respectively, moving to second on the world all-time lists. (Jamaica Gleaner)

THREE players who ply their trade in the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) were deservedly rewarded for their selections to participate in the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup, set to be staged in the Caribbean during January/February next year. At an impressive ceremony, staged at the Avenue Restaurant, Scarborough on Sunday, Matthew Nandu, Arjuna Sukhu and Ethan Gibson were the recipients of cash incentives and plaques, compliments of the SCA. Former Canadian wicketkeeper/batter Surendra Seeraj, who will serve as assistant coach for the Canada Under-19 team and who is also a long-serving player, was presented with a plaque for his sterling contributions to the game. Seeraj had the unique distinction of captaining the SCA Over-50 team to championship honours in the inaugural tournament held this year and he also played in the winning Kaieteur International B First Division team. Despite living in Canada where he started his cricketing career, Nandu, who also plays club cricket in Guyana and has represented the country at the youth level, will don colours for the regional side while Sukhu and Gibson are part of the Canadian

Under-19 15-man squad. Nandu is also the son of former Guyana First-Class leg-spinner Arjune Nandu who had an outstanding Under-19 career for his country before migrating to Canada where he also represented the North American country. The left-handed opener, who also bowls off-spin, played a major role in Kaieteur International B capturing the 2021 SCA First Division title, excelling with both bat and ball. Significantly, the youthful Sukhu, whose father Kishav Sukhu is of Guyanese origin, led Kaieteur to championship honours, excelling in both the middle-order and with his medium pacers. The left-handed Gibson, who also bowls leg-spin, has been a prominent member of several SCA youth teams and joined Palace Panthers during the 2021 season. An elated SCA president, Shiv Persaud, congratulated the trio on their selections, pointing out that the association was very proud of them since the body had played a significant part in their development. He was confident that the players will perform creditably at the prestigious tournament. Persaud urged the players to never forget where they came from and to always cultivate positive attitudes as this will assist them every step of the way. He urged them

Pakistan vs West Indies ODIs postponed to... With Devon Thomas sidelined with a finger injury as well, West Indies only had 14 players to choose from and though that proved enough to complete the T20I leg of the tour, both boards agreed that continuing with such a depleted squad would not be right, especially given the ODIs that were to follow were also part of the Super League which determines a team's progress into the 2023 World Cup. "On Thursday morning and as part of the PCB Covid-19 Protocols, Rapid Antigen tests were conducted on the remaining 15 West Indies players and six player support personnel," a joint PCB-CWI release said. "All 21 members of the West Indies touring party returned negative test result. As such, Thursday's T20 International (T20I) proceeded as planned. "However, taking into consideration both the teams' welfare as well as limited resources in the West Indies side for

the ODIs, it has been agreed that the series, which forms part of the ICC Men's Cricket Word Cup Super League, will be postponed and rescheduled for early June 2022. "This will provide the West Indies with an equal opportunity to field their best available players for the World Cup qualification matches." The 15 West Indies players and six support staff who were cleared of the virus will leave for home after tonight's match. The others - Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase, Kyle Mayers, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Justin Greaves, assistant coach Roddy Estwick, team physician Dr Akshai Mansingh and one more non-coaching member - will stay back in Karachi. According to the bio-security protocols for this tour, anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 will have to undergo isolation for a period of 10 days and will only be released from

to always ask questions from their coaches and superiors since this plays a major part in achieving recognition and helps you to become good leaders. . Assistant Canadian coach Seeraj recalled that when he represented Canada at the Under-19 level he was the only Canadian-born player in the squad. He reflected on the diversity of the present combination which he described as a complete transformation. Seeraj, who was part of the SCA since he was 12 years old, urged the players to keep working hard since playing at the Under-19 level is certainly not the end as there is much more than the junior level. Apart from Persaud, the other SCA executives in attendance were Registrar/ Statistician Abigail Rajkumar and Grounds Coordinator Calvin Alexander. The parents of all three players were also in attendance. Canada are placed in Group A alongside defending champions Bangladesh, England and United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will begin the tournament on January 15 against the UAE at Warner Park Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis. West Indies will launch their campaign against Australia at Guyana National Stadium, Providence on the opening day. West Indies are in Group D with Australia, Scotland and Sri Lanka.

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it after two negative tests. t is unclear how any of the West Indies players contracted Covid-19. The 21-member squad arrived in Karachi in commercial flights from multiple locations via Dubai. They were placed in quarantine for two days before they came together as a group to train for and play the first two T20Is. Pakistan's players, all of whom tested negative on Wednesday, will also be leaving the bio-bubble after tonight's third T20I. This is the second ODI series to be disrupted on Pakistan soil in 2021. New Zealand were supposed to play three matches in Rawalpindi in October but minutes before the first one was to begin, they called it off citing security concerns. Pakistan's next 50-over assignment is against Australia in March 2022 (Cricinfo).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Second Ashes Test …

Warner, Labuschagne thwart England after Cummins jolt

By Richard Evans

ADELAIDE, Australia (Reuters) - David Warner fell short of his century but Marnus Labuschagne remained on course for a hundred as they put Australia, missing regular skipper Pat Cummins, in a strong position against England in the day-night second Ashes Test yesterday. Australia finished day one on 221-2 despite being jolted before the start of the match at Adelaide Oval with Cummins forced out after being identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. With five overs remaining, Jos Buttler dropped a regulation catch off the bowling of James Anderson to offer a reprieve to Labuschagne, who remained not out on 95. Buttler had earlier spilled a tougher chance behind the stumps when Labuschagne was on 21. Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith was on 18, becoming his country’s third captain - after Tim Paine and Cummins - in the

last three Tests. England dominated the first session though they blew two reviews trying to get Warner, who made 95, dismissed. Warner said nothing could deter him from going out to face the old enemy despite the injury to his ribs sustained in the first Test in Brisbane, which left him unable to pick up his children. "I didn't feel great," he said. "I had a couple of painkillers and a local (injection) this morning. You have got to put your best foot forward." Stuart Broad, recalled along with Anderson, removed Marcus Harris for three runs early on via a cracking catch from Buttler as a stuttering Australia failed to convince. The first 10 overs yielded just 11 runs but slowly, the scorecard began to firm up with Warner forging a 172-run stand with Labuschagne. But as England captain Joe Root brought himself into the attack to provide rest to his quicks, Warner appeared eager to up his

Australia's David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne (REUTERS/Morgan Set)

scoring rate, an approach adopted equally by Labuschagne. Broad proved Warner's nemesis once more but this time as catcher, holding onto a slashed shot at cover off Ben Stokes. England did not bowl badly but their five-man seam attack looked increasingly insipid as solid containment gave way to more hurried scoring from Australia before 32 328 fans at Adelaide Oval. England assistant coach Graham Thorpe found nothing wrong with their bowling effort. "I thought we stuck at it well. They played

particularly well in those first few sessions," he said. "The run-rate didn’t go too far but we‘d love to have more wickets down. They defended straight and every time we went fuller they punched us down the ground.” Buttler would need to put the catches he dropped behind him, Thorpe said. "We put a couple of catches down. Jos is going to hurt tonight but we are going to have to come again tomorrow." For Australia, pace bowler Michael Neser made his Test debut replacing Cummins.

Sussex sign Pakistan wicketkeeper Salah matches Vardy's record of scoring or assisting in 15 Rizwanas, Ben Brown leaves

SUSSEX have signed Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan for part of the 2022 season and released former club captain Ben Brown. Rizwan, 29, will arrive in early April and be available for the Championship and T20 Blast until mid-July. He has played 19 Tests for his country, averaging 42 with the bat, plus 41 one-dayers and 52 T20 internationals. Brown, 33, requested a release from his contract with the club, which had two years left to run. Sussex's County Championship and One-Day Cup head coach Ian Salisbury said: "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really disappointed to learn we'd be losing a player of Ben Brown's quality. "Now that has happened, though, we have to look forward and I'm delighted that we've been able to act quickly over the last week or so to secure the services of one of the world's best keeper-batters as a replacement.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday December 17, 2021)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Curtly Ambrose-69 ODI wickets (44 matches) (2) Wasim Akram-89 ODI wickets (64 matches) Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the highest ODI score made by a WI player against PAK to date? (2) What is the highest ODI score made by a PAK player versus the WI to date? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

consecutive Premier League games

Ben Brown has scored 22 first-class centuries and one in List A cricket

"Mohammad's first-class and Test records speak for themselves and it's a huge coup to welcome him to Sussex for a big chunk of next season's Championship." Sussex have already agreed a deal with Australia batsman Travis Head, who will skipper the team in the Championship next summer. Crawley-born Brown has been with Sussex since the start of his career, scoring 10,843 runs and completing 583 dismissals in all forms of the game. He was appointed captain in 2017 but relieved of the job during the 2021 season. "We've tried hard to find a way forward that keeps him at the club and until very recently thought that would be something we could achieve. However, it's now clear that Ben is set on a change, and it would be in nobody's interests to keep him at Sussex against his will," said chief executive Rob Andrew. "Ben has been part of Sussex for over two decades and has a record he can be extremely proud of. He has always given everything with the bat, the gloves or with his captaincy." (BBC Sport)

He also now has 24 Premier League goal involvements this season (15 goals, nine assists), in Premier League history only Alan Shearer in 1994-95 has registered more before Christmas. With Jota's earlier strike, Liverpool also made it 32 consecutive games across all competitions in which they have found the net a new club record after a 31-match run between 1957 and 1958. Salah moved to within one of the Leicester City striker's tally after scoring a Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah penalty in the 1-0 win over Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa MOHAMED Salah matched Jamie Vardy's record of scoring on December 11. It was the 15th straight Preor assisting in 15 consecutive Premier League games after net- mier League spot-kick the Egypt ting against Newcastle United on international had converted - the second-longest such run in the comThursday. Liverpool found themselves be- petition after Matt Le Tissier (23 hind to a Jonjo Shelvey curler, but between 1994 and 2000). Salah's haul of 21 goals and soon restored parity as Diogo Jota converted before Salah tapped in nine assists prior to Thursday's from close range to record a goal in- contribution on Merseyside was volvement in his 15th straight game. achieved with an expected goals The former Chelsea man has tally of just 16.58 and an expected now found the net in five consecu- assists tally of only 3.75, suggesttive top-flight home games against ing Liverpool have benefited from Newcastle as well, his best 100 per some especially clinical finishing cent scoring run against one side at this term.(Sportsmax). Anfield in the competition.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021

Pooran’s career-best in vain as Pakistan complete clean sweep of T20 series KARACHI, Pakistan (CMC) – Nicholas Pooran’s career-best fifty pushed West Indies to a 200-plus total for only the third time in three years but Mohammed Rizwan and captain Babar Azam registered equally destructive half-centuries of their own, as Pakistan pulled off a record run chase to make a clean sweep of the threematch Twenty20 International series here yesterday. Choosing to bat first at the National Stadium here, West Indies raced to 207 for three off their 20 overs with the left-handed Pooran sparkling with 64 off 37 deliveries – his fourth half-century in T20 Internationals. Shamarh Brooks, promoted to open, hammered 49 from 31 balls while partner Brandon King punched 43 from 21 deliveries and lefthander Darren Bravo, 34 not out off 27 balls. Needing to score at nearly 10-½ runs per over to achieve their highest-ever successful run chase, Rizwan and Babar made a demanding required run rate appear elementary, effortlessly squeezing out their sixth hundred-run opening stand in T20 Internationals as the hosts cantered to a seven-wicket win with seven balls to spare. Rizwan, given out lbw

West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran plays a shot during his knock of 64 off 36 balls during the third Twenty20 match against Pakistan in Karachi

to debutant left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie off the first ball of the innings but reprieved by DRS, smote ten fours and three sixes in a superb 87 off 45 balls, in the process becoming the first batter to pass 2 000 T20 runs in a calendar year. He was adjudged Man of the Match and Man of the Series for his 203 runs at an average of 67 in the series. Babar, meanwhile, dropped behind by Pooran

off Motie in the seventh over on 28, belted nine fours and two sixes in a typically stylish 53-ball outing, before Asif Ali finished off the run chase with a fiery seven-ball unbeaten 21. “I felt like the last two overs (of our innings) we lost momentum there. Pakistan bowled really good so I must commend the bowlers at the back end. It felt like we were 20 runs short on this wicket here,” Pooran said

afterwards. Already down 2-0 in the series following defeats on Monday and Tuesday, West Indies rebounded nicely, Brooks putting on 66 off 36 deliveries for the first wicket with King and another 33 for the second with Pooran. Brooks lashed seven fours and two sixes while King, coming off a maiden half-century in the last game, hit two fours and four sixes in his birthday knock before losing his off-stump to 20-yearold fast bowler Mohammad Wasim (2-44) at the end of the sixth over. Brooks counted two fours and four sixes before holing out to deep mid-wicket off seamer Shahnawaz Dahani in the 10th over but Pooran quickly took control of the innings. Emerging from a quiet start, Pooran blasted two sixes in the 11th over off off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed to speed to his half-century off 31 balls, while putting on 93 for the fourth wicket with Bravo. All told, he counted two fours and half-dozen sixes before finally perishing in the 18th over to a catch in the deep off Wasim. Bravo struck three fours but never found the acceleration required at the back end, however, and only 13 runs

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam shared a century stand (PCB)

came from the last two overs. Any hopes the tourists harboured of avoiding a whitewash were then quickly erased as Rizwan and Babar mercilessly plundered the attack, taking 60 runs from the opening power-play en route to posting 158 for the first wicket. Rizwan’s 13th half-century and second of the series came in just 26 balls off the final ball of the 10th over with Pakistan on 98 without loss, and Babar raised his 25th fifty in the 12th over, to bounce back from two single digit scores in the series.

When Babar finally departed to a catch at long-off in the 16th over off fast bowler Odean Smith, Rizwan put on a further 26 with Fakhar Zaman (12) before top-edging a full toss from left-arm seamer Dominic Drakes, to be caught by wicketkeeper Pooran running around to a shortish fine leg. At 184 for two in the 18th over, the result was already inevitable and Asif formalised it with a brace of fours and sixes to condemn West Indies to their seventh defeat in their last eight T20Is.

Mercedes will not pursue Ramdhani siblings to meet in Trophy Stall appeal against Abu Dhabi Mixed Doubles final … Narayan, Priyanna also advance to Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals result

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was angered by the way rules were applied in Abu Dhabi

MERCEDES have decided not to pursue their appeal

against the results of the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Their move follows a decision by governing body the FIA to conduct a "detailed analysis" of the end of the race and an admission it was "tarnishing" Formula 1's image. Mercedes said they "welcomed" the move and would "hold the FIA accountable". Max Verstappen's Red Bull overtook Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes on the last lap to clinch the drivers' title. Mercedes also offered congratulations to VerstapTURN TO PAGE 30

SIBLINGS Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani will face off in the Mixed Doubles final, while they will also contest the finals of the Men’s Doubles and the Women’s Doubles respectively, when the curtain comes down on the Trophy Stall Badminton Christmas tournament this evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. In the Mixed Doubles semi-finals on Wednesday evening, Priyanna and fellow national player Akili Haynes defeated Jonathan Mangra and Shivannie Persaud 21-12, 21-5, while Narayan and Mishka Beharry got the better of Marlon Chung and Ambika Ramraj 2110, 21-15. Haynes and Priyanna had defeated Easa Sanichara and Priyanka Shivnauth 21-13, 21-9 in their quarter-final clash.

Emelia Ramdhani (left) and Ayanna Watson (second from left) were defeated by Christina Kumar and Anna Perreira in the Women’s Doubles semi-finals. Also in the photo is umpire Matthew Beharry (middle)

In the third-place battle, Mangra and Persaud defeated Chung and Ramraj 1621, 21-16, 21-11. MEN’S DOUBLES

Priyanna who also contested the Men’s Doubles, with Marlon Chung, fell in the semis to Haynes and Tyrese TURN TO PAGE 30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 17, 2021 CWI president Rickey Skerritt

CWI forced to make big decisions in ‘tough times’ Skerritt

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) president, Ricky Skerritt, said the board had been forced into “significant decisions” in the “tough times” created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he believes the correct decision was made in postponing the One-Day International series against Pakistan. West Indies were scheduled to face Pakistan in three ODIs starting Saturday but CWI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed to scrap the series after five members of the touring party’s contingent tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. Last week, four persons – three players and a non-coaching member of the support staff – also returned positive tests following the squad’s arrival in Pakistan. The series will now be played next June and the remaining members of the West Indies touring party flew home yesterday following the third Twenty20 International at the National Stadium. “Unfortunately there have been too many of our squad who have had to be isolated and our squad simply cannot continue to compete under such mental pressure, both on and off the field,” Skerritt said yesterday. “However, we are pleased we were able to complete the T20 series and have already identified a window in 2022 for rescheduling the ODI series. “(These are) tough times. We have had to make some significant decisions but I think that all is well that ends well.” West Indies made history last year when they became the first international side to undertake a tour during the pandemic, with a three-Test series away to England in July. The Caribbean side then toured New Zealand in November and December before travelling

Pakistan vs West Indies ODIs postponed to June 2022

Pakistan beat West Indies 3-0 in the T20I series. ( AFP/Getty Images)

to Bangladesh at the start of this year for ODIs and Tests. After seeing its home schedule decimated in 2020 due to the pandemic, CWI successfully hosted Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan for a combination of white ball and Tests between March and August this year. Despite the challenges of staging cricket during the pandemic, Skerritt reiterated that the Pakistan series marked the first time CWI had been forced to abandon a tour for COVID-related reasons. “After more than 16 months of fighting against the risk of COVID-19 infections and after facing disruptions all around the world – both in overseas and home tours – this is the first time, unfortunately, that we have been forced to end a tour prematurely,” he pointed out. Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell along with all-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers tested positive on arrival last week and CWI confirmed late Wednesday that batter Shai Hope, left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and uncapped all-rounder Justin Greaves, had also tested positive. Assistant coach Roddy Estwick and team physician Dr Akshai Mansingh were among the five positives on Wednesday. All members of the contingent who tested positives are required to spend ten days in isolation and must return a negative test before being released and allowed to fly home. Skerritt confirmed that none of those who tested positive were seriously ill, however. “Fortunately, we have one of our medical committee members on site and symptoms have been quite mild,” he stressed. West Indies lost yesterday’s final T20 International by seven wickets to suffer a 3-0 drubbing in the series.

THE three-match ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies due to begin on Saturday has been postponed to June 2022 in the wake of a Covid-19 outbreak among the visiting squad. West Indies were hit by the virus on the very first day they arrived in Karachi with three players and a support staff member testing positive. While the tour was able to survive that, the emergence of five more Covid cases from tests done on Wednesday the day before the third and final T20I - took the situation out of everyone's hands TURN TO PAGE 33

2021 a bittersweet year for Chelsea Edghill

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Chelsea Edghill

Pooran’s career-best in vain as Pakistan complete clean sweep of T20 series 35 PAGE

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021