Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 19-06-2022

19th june, 2022

free Inside No.106758

Over $5B invested, 11,000 jobs created PAGE

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––– residents praise part-time jobs initiative to supplement household incomes

President Ali to address flooding, other issues in south Georgetown 13 PAGE

President, Dr Irfaan Ali, officials and residents during a ‘walkabout’ in south Georgetown (Office of the President photos)

CGX turns full A daughter’s 02 pursuit to 17 attention to Corentyne Block fulfil her late –– initiates process to relinquish father’s dream Demerara, Berbice blocks PAGE

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IDB plugs US$83.3M into Guyana’s renewable energy campaign 14 PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 19, 2022

CGX turns full attention to Corentyne Block - initiates process to relinquish Demerara, Berbice blocks

By Navendra Seoraj FOLLOWING “constructive” discussions with the Government of Guyana, CGX Energy Inc. has announced that together with its joint venture partner, Frontera Energy Corporation, the company will be focusing exclusively on the exploration opportunities in the Corentyne Block, offshore Guyana. “Our long partnership with the Government and People of Guyana is a critical aspect of our decisions. We have a significant opportunity on the Corentyne Block following the discovery at Kawa-1. The joint venture is moving ahead rapidly to advance our programme and unlock the potential of the Corentyne Block, for the benefit of all stakeholders,” Executive Co-Chairman of CGX’s Board of Directors, Professor Suresh Narine, said in a statement released recently by the company. In February, CGX, less than two months after encountering hydrocarbons at the Kawa-1 well in the Corentyne Block, announced that its drilling campaign had produced greater results. The company, in a press statement, announced that the Kawa-1 well encountered approximately 177 feet (54 metres) of hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs within Maastrichtian, Campanian and Santonian horizons based on initial evaluation of Logging While Drilling (LWD) data. Those intervals are similar in age and could be correlated

using regional seismic data to recent successes in Block 58 in Suriname and the lucrative Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. Owing to the results of the Kawa-1 exploration, CGX Energy Inc. related that it will continue to integrate its findings from the Kawa-1 well into preparations for its second exploration well called Wei-1, to be spud in the third quarter of 2022. The Wei-1 exploration well will be located approximately 14 kilometres northwest of the Kawa-1 exploration well in the Corentyne Block, approximately 200 kilometres offshore from Georgetown, Guyana. The Wei-1 exploration well will be drilled in water depth of approximately 1,912 feet (583 meters) to a targeted total depth of 20,500 (6,248 metres) and will target Maastrichtian, Campanian and Santonian aged stacked channels in a western channel complex in the northern section of the Corentyne Block. In outlining how the company plans to move forward with its operations in the Corentyne Block, Professor Narine said: “To do so required a collaborative effort to resolve outstanding commitments for the Demerara and Berbice blocks and we are appreciative of this agreement. We are also engaged with the Government of Guyana in a collaborative effort to maximise opportunities to unlock value for the Berbice Deep Water Port.” Given the importance of the Demerara Block to Guyana, CGX reported that it has, in principle, reached an agreement

Location of CGX’s exploration wells

with the government to allow for the relinquishment of the Demerara Block through a mutual termination agreement which terms remain to be defined and documented. Such termination agreement would allow relinquishment of the Demerara Block in a timely manner, allowing the people of Guyana to benefit from exploration activities under the stewardship of interested parties. ON Energy, which is a 62.5 per cent owned subsidiary of CGX and is the holder of the Petroleum Prospective Licence of the Berbice Block, has also been in discussions with the

Government of Guyana, and has reached an agreement in principle to relinquish the Berbice Block through a mutual termination agreement, which also remains to be defined and documented, so that the Berbice Block could be relinquished in a timely manner, similar to the Demerara Block. As it is now, ExxonMobil is the key stakeholder in most of the ongoing oil and gas activities within Guyana’s waters. The company has four sanctioned projects offshore Guyana. Of those, Liza Phase One is producing approximately 130,000 barrels per day, using the Liza

Destiny floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, while the Liza Phase Two, which started production in February, is steadily ramping up to its capacity of 220,000 barrels per day, using the Liza Unity FPSO vessel. The third project, Payara, is expected to produce 220,000 barrels per day; construction of its production vessel, the Prosperity FPSO, is running approximately five months ahead of schedule, with start-up likely before year-end 2023. The fourth project, Yellowtail, is expected to produce 250,000 barrels per day when the One Guyana FPSO

comes on stream in 2025. ExxonMobil is also moving ahead with plans for its fifth development project in the Stabroek Block, Uaru, which is expected to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day. “These projects will bring huge benefits to Guyana,” President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, said during a brief interview released by ExxonMobil. It was reported that returns from the sector are expected to catapult Guyana to the ranks of wealthiest countries in the Western Hemisphere, thereby increasing the government’s fiscal space to invest in initiatives geared at expanding the economy, and improving the overall welfare of citizens. “Guyana is now poised to be one of the wealthiest countries in the hemisphere; we intend to employ the gains from exploiting these deposits into initiatives geared at expanding the economy, improving competitiveness, giving people the best social services, increasing productivity, enhancing food production, and building new sectors,” President, Dr. Irfaan Ali had said in his keynote address during a virtual faculty workshop on the microeconomics of competitiveness hosted by the Harvard Business School. In painting a vivid image of what is expected of the oil-and-gas sector in the near term, Dr. Ali said that, by 2025, operating cash flow, based on total investment, is expected to reach US$3.5 billion.

Over $5B invested, 11,000 jobs created

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–– residents praise part-time jobs initiative to supplement household incomes By Tajeram Mohabir THE government has invested more than $5 billion in the creation of some 11,000 part-time jobs in Regions Two, Three, Five, Six and 10 as it continues to supplement incomes at the household level to cushion the rise in the cost of living caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 2,000 part-time jobs have been allocated in Region Two; 2,000 in Region Three; 2,000 in Region Five; 4,000 in Region Six and 1,000 in Region 10. Under the part-time jobs programme, persons are placed at government offices, departments and agencies and earn $40,000 per month for 10 days of work. The government has exceeded its initial target to create 10,000 such

jobs across the country. On Saturday, hundreds of residents, mostly young people, braved the inclement weather as they made their way to the drying floor at Fort Wellington and the Paradise Community Centre, Region Five, to sign their contracts which lasts for one year. Urlesha Dorris, who was out early Saturday morning at the drying floor at Fort Wellington, said she was very happy to secure employment under the programme. “It will be beneficial to a lot of us; I am a single mother and it will be of great benefit to me and other single mothers out there,” she told reporters. Over at the Paradise Community Centre, Roxanne Fraser who hails from Paradise Village, was delighted to sign her contract. “As for me, I am glad

I get something to do because I am not doing anything right now and I am a single parent… I have four children going to school and it will help me out a lot,” she said. Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who addressed the gathering at both locations, urged the recruits to take their work seriously, serve their community earnestly and strive to elevate themselves by registering for the GOAL scholarship initiative if they have not yet done so. GIVE YOUR VERY BEST “This programme is not free money, you have to work for 10 days and I hope you give your very best wherever you are placed…we want to place you closer to home and you can serve in your commu-

nity as far as possible; whether you help out at a police station or a school or in a health clinic or some other government office that you will be placed,” he told the gathering at Fort Wellington. This message was repeated to the gathering at the Paradise Community Centre. Contrary to claims by opposition elements that the jobs are temporary, Dr Jagdeo explained that this is not so, pointing out that they are parttime and on expiration the one-year contracts can be extended, and the extension could go on for an indefinite period. The part-time jobs are necessary, he contended, and in support of his position the Vice-President said that they will support incomes at the household level, but aside from this, it will help to address a

A section of the gathering at the Paradise Community Centre (Office of the Vice-President photo)

Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo situation the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) encountered on assuming office in August 2020. As done at all his outreaches, Dr Jagdeo elaborated that poor policies by the former APNU+AFC administration had resulted in contraction of several productive sectors, causing the loss of some 35,000 jobs. Another 35,000 jobs were lost when the Coalition Government shut down the country on the advent of COVID-19. In tackling this situation, the PPP/C Government employed a dual strategy: It reopened the economy and placed emphasis on containing the virus through vaccination, social distancing, and the washing of hands. Prudent management of COVID-19 and the economy has seen Guyana emerge from the

pandemic with a lower death rate compared to many developed countries, and an economy that is unrivalled in this part of the world. ON TRACK Since the PPP/C Government assumed office, Guyana has seen an influx of investors, particularly in Regions Three and Four. Their investments have created thousands of jobs, and along with the part-time jobs and other large-scale government projects in the making, these will put the government on track to achieve its 2020 manifesto promise to create some 50,000 jobs by 2025. The government has been hard at work since assuming office less than two years ago to deliver on the promises it made to the people of see page 4

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Over $5B invested, 11,000 ... from page 3

Guyana, said Vice-President Jagdeo.

Residents turn out in full numbers at the meeting held at the Drying Floor at Fort Wellington (Office of the Vice-President photo)

june 15, 2022

M 04 08 09 10 13 15 16 june 18, 2022

D 04 10 13 16 21 28 23

18/06/22 - 01, 16, 18, 20, 24

INTERVENTIONS The government has restored the children’s cash grant that was stopped by the former APNU+AFC Government, and increased the sum from $10,000 to $25,000. This grant has since been extended to learners in private school, and there is a promise to further increase it to $50,000 by 2025. The children’s school uniform vouchers have

18/06/22 - 6 5 3

also been increased from $2,500 to $5,000; old age pension has been increased by 40 per cent; some 20,000 scholarships have been made available to Guyanese, and this number could increase to 50,000; the end-of-year bonus for the Joint Services has been restored; VAT has been removed from water, electricity, machinery, agricultural inputs, among others; unjust D&I charges have been resolved and concessions have been granted to miners to make their operations more profitable; corporate tax on health care and edu-

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cation has been removed; more than 11,000 house lots have been distributed thus far and the government is now helping persons with private lands, who do not have the capital, to build their homes. Dr Jagdeo also said that education at the University of Guyana will be made free before 2025; 1,000 homes will be built in Linden and electricity costs are expected to be reduced by 50 per cent by 2025, with the coming on stream of the Wales gas-to-shore project and other major energy projects.

18/06/22- 4, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 19, 2022

French National Assembly vote decides battle between Macron and left

Voting started early on the Caribbean island of Martinique (BBC) - It’s not even two months since Emmanuel Macron was convincingly re-elected as president but he is already in a crunch election that could prevent him pushing through his reforms. French voters go to the polls on Sunday to decide who will control their National Assembly. Mr Macron beat the far right in April, but this time the challenge is harder. Far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon leads a left-green alliance that finished neck and neck with Macron only a week ago. They call themselves Nupes, which stands for New Ecological and Social Popular Union, and the polls suggest they could stop the president winning the 289 seats he needs for an outright majority. The centrist Macron alliance,

Ensemble, portrays them as a “marriage of convenience” of Communists, Socialists, far-left Mélenchonists and Greens. But Nupes have galvanised voters with a promise to fight spiralling prices, bring down the retirement age and tackle climate change. Green leaders and many green voters back them, accusing President Macron of doing little in the past five years. Sunday’s second round is almost entirely made up of run-off duels between two candidates, and almost half involve the two big alliances. Several ministers in the Macron government are battling to keep their seats and hold on to their jobs, and two of the toughest fights involve Europe Minister Clément Beaune and Green Transition Minister

Amélie de Montchalin. Without an outright majority of 289 seats, Mr Macron will need the support of other parties to push through his big-ticket reforms, such as raising the retirement age, cutting taxes and reforming benefits. Pollsters suggest Ensemble will win 255-305 seats and Nupes 140-200. As the sun went down on the campaign on Friday night, Nupes spokesman Ian Brossat told supporters in Longjumeau south of Paris: “They didn’t think the left and Greens could get together - it would be chaos and catastrophe; but the chaos today is economic, with food prices going up. We’ve got 10 million people in poverty.” While fighting for the presidency, Mr Macron rallied voters across the spectrum by presenting

his main rival Marine Le Pen as an extremist and contrary to the republic’s values With mainstream parties joining the Mélenchon alliance it has become harder to do that with this rival. President Macron has appealed to voters to give him a solid majority in the “superior interest of the nation”, while Russia’s war rages at the gates of Europe. Former Marxist JeanLuc Mélenchon has long wanted France to leave Nato but says that is now not a priority. However, he remains controversial, tweeting that “the police kill” and promising to naturalise Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as French if he wins the election. Mr Macron’s recently appointed prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, has

painted Mr Mélenchon’s policies as dangerous because he is “ambiguous on republican values”. In Longjumeau, firsttime voter Clara said she had backed Mr Macron against the far right in April, but this time preferred the left-green alliance. The local candidate is only a few points behind the ruling party rival. But in the next-door constituency Amélie de Montchalin trailed in the first round and defeat would mean losing her job as minister. The same is true for Clément Beaune, whose opponent in one of the Paris seats is Caroline Mécary, an experienced LGBT rights lawyer. Both candidates visited the Aligre market near the Gare de Lyon several times in the runup to Sunday’s vote, says market vendor Ichem. “People can’t afford much now; they buy less than before,” he observes. Visiting the market, Grégoire said he backed the presi-

dent because he did not want to return to the days of “cohabitation”, when president and government came from different parties: “Yes it used to work before but they weren’t good years.” Jean-Baptiste agreed the president needed a strong mandate: “Without a majority he won’t be able to do anything he needs to do.” But Christine believed handing the president an absolute majority was bad for democracy. She backed Emmanuel Macron to keep the far right from the Élysée Palace, but felt having another party in government was good for debate.

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

Father’s Day

JUNE is popularly referred to as the month of brides. But the month is also significant in many other respects. It is, for instance, the third Sunday in June that is set aside to show love and respect for fathers. Today, June 19, is that day when Guyanese will observe Father’s Day. It is usually the time when fathers and caregivers receive gifts, are taken out for lunch or dinner or in one way or the other made to feel special. Yet not everyone is lucky enough to have their biological fathers around due to abandonment, neglect or death, but that special bond and affection linger on to eternity. Father’s Day was observed as a parallel to Mother’s Day which is observed each year on the second Sun-

day in May. Like mothers, fathers are special. There can be no substitute for fathers. As someone said, anyone can become a father but it takes someone special to become a dad. As noted by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, fatherhood is an important aspect of parenting. Stronger fathers create stronger societies. During his Father’s’ Day message to the nation last year, the President took the opportunity to wish every child an environment of comfort, safety, a sense of security and a father’s unconditional love. “To all fathers and those who function in the role of caregivers and fathers, I thank you for playing your part in building stronger families and societies. I thank my father, grandfathers and all those who played a

fatherly role in my life, for their support, love and guidance. May God bless you all.” Such sentiments as expressed by the President are shared by Guyanese, indeed, people all over the world. A relatively young father himself, President Ali had spoken, as it were, from his heart, a view shared as well by First Lady Arya Ali who has recognized “our super dad in the home” and every other father across the country who continue to play an instrumental role in their child or children’s life’. Unfortunately, not every child are that lucky to experience the joys of fatherhood and that unconditional love of fathers. Only recently, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud had cause to remind some fathers of their responsibilities

to their children. According to the minister, absence from home should never mean absence from a child’s life and urged delinquent fathers to live up to their financial and other obligations. The sad reality is that there are too many fathers who refuse to pay child support, even as staying together as a family unit always remain a preferred option. But, as noted by Minister Persaud, in the case of separation for whatever reason or reasons, men must take action to ensure that they remain in their children’s lives, not only in a financial way, but also to offer emotional and other forms of support. Thankfully, most fathers take their parental responsibilities seriously and as a society, we are richer for that. A happy Father’s Day to all fathers!

The troubled Coalition again gets muddled while idling

Dear Editor,

A WEEK which saw the President highlighting Guyana on the world map again, and it ended with him upgrading the minimum wage for the private sector and sandwiched was the news that God earns less than Exxon. The troubled Coalition again gets muddled while idling. There is comedy to be found at every turn. Take a trip but don’t fall, smile. 1. Strike (no, not time to down tools), while the iron is hot, earns Tiger Woods membership as one of the three billionaire athletes in the world. 2. Nicaragua, refused by the Americans, accepted by the Russians, to host “training law enforcement” or emergency response. 3. AFC held its (in) consequential National Conference. There was no scarcity of dead meat. 4. “They must be part of the equation in finding a solution to the problem,” said

the President. Of Course, APNU+AFC is sure projecting the image that Guyanese are poor and weak mathematicians. 5. “In dealing with waste, it starts actually from source and so you have separation from source,” Minister Croal pointed out. WPA and JFAP withdrew from the APNU+AFC Coalition. 6. “Exxon made more money than God this year,” Biden reported. Who is taxed for taxing God? 7. Bolivian Ex-President Jeanine Anez gets a 10-year sentence when she orchestrated a coup. Donald Trump is having nightmares! 8. The opposition is absolved of its “broken wings”; Burnham was responsible for the “broken windows.” Is there an avian veterinarian and a glazier in the house? 9. “What remains to be decided requires political will – and I know you have it – to get us over the finish line.” Granger conceded to Ali. 10. The Chinese restaurant will “thrive” to construct a new menu.

11. “We know who believe in silencing the people. Come on Guyanese, we are smart people,” said Rhonda. Those silenced include The Enmore Martyrs, Father Darke, Walter Rodney, Vincent Teekah, Shirley Field-Ridley etc. 12. The government is giving so many different cash grants to the present generation, restoring what the former administration had taken away from the kids and their parents in the past and returning so many jobs lost, for the future generation to enjoy. 13. ‘Sometimes it bothers me to comprehend the level to which a few political leaders will stoop to propagate lies to confuse the minds of Guyanese,” Ann sadly sang. Sometimes or all the time? The APNU+AFC party gleefully marched to the CCJ three times in a row, only to lose by a hat-trick and return with tails tucked in. 14. The legacy of the Coalition lives on for political immaturity. Norton shakes hand finally. 15. Tax-free police escort gets one man

“jumpy, scratchy and bassady!” 16. Leader of the Opposition has to consult with AFC. Who is the boss? 17. Cops enjoy special treatment. They get separate lock-ups. 18. After poor diplomatic display, cops are now accused of training…..oops ……. trailing Norton. 19. “It is this sort of almost cake shop approach to economics (comics?) that will harm us.”. Mouth open story jump out. 20. What’s a little credit between two friends? “If Ms Ferguson desires to be credited as the first to commission the water taxis, then by all means take that credit, as, I have no desire to receive such credits. 21. Phantom of the Conglomeration of organisations masquerading as “Policy Forum,” comes to town. Another (circus) show to enjoy. Be good and keep that smile on your face. Yours in humour, Jai Lall

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

Guyana to gain $70M - $100M from sale of cooking gas … via Wales gas-to-shore project

GUYANA could generate between $70 - $100 million from the sale of cooking gas and it is among the many benefits that will be derived from the Wales gas-to-shore project, Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said during a recent press conference. He told reporters that savings on fuel imports, reduction in energy costs, and savings from the manufacturing sector are some of the biggest benefits expected to come out of the gas-to-shore project, but he highlighted that there

is room for the country to also gain with the sale of cooking gas. “If you look at the cooking gas, we will get, from drying the gas, and creating lean gas, we will be able to sell back and get the money. We anticipated probably maybe $70 million to $100 million a year from selling gas at current prices, and that will come to the government,” the Vice-President explained. The Wales gas-to-shore project, which will see gas being piped onshore, is considered one of the major ways in which the gov-

ernment is seeking to gain more benefits for Guyana from the oil-and gas-sector. Once operational, the heavily touted project is expected to have a duration of approximately 25 years, according to ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). However, the benefits expected during its existence is expected to largely outweigh the expected imputed costs for the project. “This project is going to be a great project for the country, it would help us to stabilize power, sup-

ply more power, supply cooking gas to the country, and create the basis for the industrialization of that whole West Coast because remember the additional gas coming in will be used for other types of factories and that is why we believe it is a great project for the country,” Dr Jagdeo reasoned. The project will also see the establishment of a pipeline to transport the gas to shore, and a power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara.

The pipeline for the project will be funded through ExxonMobil, as a costing under the oil-and-gas operations, while the government will have a 20-year arrangement to pay back for the power and natural gas liquid (NGL) facility. The gas being piped to the facility will be provided free. With the costing only being applicable to the infrastructure being established and the gas being provided for free, it also increases the benefits being derived from the facility. “Since the gas is for free, you’re paying for the

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo pipeline that is the fuel cost basically,” the Vice-President said. “So, in 20 years, we can fix the price of electricity without any escalation. So, that is on the pipeline side. Then on the NGL side the same principle [applies] if they fund the NGL facility. Right now, we have the option of owning both the power plant and the NGL facility, which we are more likely to pursue.”

CoI will expose many involved in the 2020 elections fiasco Dear Editor, JUSTICE Claudette Singh, the chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has correctly declared that there will be no investigation of the 2020 general and regional elections by GECOM, since it is outside of the commission’s mandate to do so. Her response addressed the opposition-nominated commissioners’ sinister advocacy for the institution to investigate questions about the validity of votes and missing documents. Certainly, Vincent Alexander and his colleagues must be having hair-splitting moments on how to conjure up new avenues to increase the struggle for a respectable GECOM. The recent rigging attempts involving the GECOM Secretariat staff who are now before the courts answering charges for electoral fraud, bring into question evidence-based support for these actors by the cabal representatives on the commission. They utilized invited public press interviews to confirm this support, but there was convenient silence from the same opposition commissioners when the filth began to spew. While they were silent on certain relevant issues during the five months of suppression following polls on March 02, 2020, the recent call for GECOM to review certainly targets a mechanism of slowing down GECOM’s progress regarding the Local Government Elections, and presenting the tainted former CEO and his aides opportunities for public-influencing cover-ups. They must tell their story to the judge, not to the supportive and biased party influencing partners on the commission! It is factual that undercurrents, including the absence of the opposition’s Statements of Poll (SOPs), reports from the Chief Elections Officer or Region #4 Returning Officer, did

not elicit from this PNC cabal group any rational position of fairness consistent with their responsibilities under Section 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution Cap. 1.01, which states, the commission “Shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness, and compliance with the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid.” It follows that the exercise of caution must now be a synonymous consideration by all, dealing with the pattern of their agenda-setting prioritization, which must now always be seen through a lens that uncovers disguise. At almost every level, the cabal’s advancement of a seemingly agreeable position for simplification of the process is the intent-laden coating of subsequent legal challenges if the results do not work in their favour. The experience of the 1997 National Elections Identification Card fiasco is not too far in Guyana’s recent history and serves to represent another imbued component to the typical PNC untrustworthy benchmark. President Irfaan Ali’s recent announcement of the commencement of a state Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the antecedents of the flagrant and contrived thieving, rigging, and denial of the truth, comes on the heels of Justice Claudette Singh’s pronouncements. While the findings and recommendations of the CoI are not enforceable and cannot bind courts considering the same subject matter, it is anticipated that the impartial fact-finding undertaking will provide the scope for informed, rational conclusions and exposure of the truth regarding the roles played by various others in the abhorrent and unholy suppression attempt on the Guyanese people, who must continue to unite in our struggle for

free and fair elections. Further, the world would know the truth and our citizens would be more aware of the existing monsters among them when their silken covers are removed. Editor, when one reflects on the elections events of 2020, it is easy to connect the activities and results of the 2015 elections which bore the same scars. There was no review, no discussion/reports, or investigation into the rigging that took place there as well. I was a Counting Agent of my Party, the PPP/C and present at the GECOM facility when the “rigging broadsheet” was introduced and the APNU+AFC was catapulted into office. It is obvious why our elections petition was never heard. But because we had the facts and we were convinced that we were cheated but not defeated, we contested the 2016 and 2018 Local Government Elections and whipped all the other contesting parties. In December 2018, the PPP/C with a one-seat minority in Parliament was bold enough to move the No-confidence motion and caught the corrupt APNU+AFC with their pants down. Eventually, after struggling for survival and numerous court cases, the APNU+AFC accepted defeat and was forced to hold General and Regional Elections after numerous created delays. They did so in full hope that their backup plan to use another false broadsheet would work again. APNU+AFC knew that GECOM could only conduct a review when they retrieve all 10 ROs and the CEO reports. Hence, all efforts to put together the relevant reports for discussion must demand that the clean sweep of the computers must be enough reasons for some GECOM staff to face the necessary penalties. All missing documents must be accounted for.

In addition, with all the “facts” before us, the imminent Justice Claudette Singh must assert herself and demand that all GECOM spending over the last decade must be audited. Those culprits who are calling for review and investigation must face the police and the courts. GECOM must stop wasting precious time and get on with completing the cleansing of all the strangers to the truth and “riggers.” Anyone who values his “sweat” will not deny the fact that the SOPs at the elections are the most and best authentic documents to confirm the results of the elections. To achieve this measure, the Guyanese people struggled for decades to ensure that the votes are counted at the place of poll, which was achieved for the 1992 elections. It is universally accepted that the SOPs will be prepared by the Presiding Officers in every polling station and signed off by the ROs and all the polling agents present after the count after verifying the tally results by cross checking the SOPs. Legally, polling agents are allowed to take a copy of the SOPs to their respective political parties for reconciliation. Parties and other interested stakeholders also get the necessary information concerning various vote tallies for each polling station, since a copy of the verified SOPs is posted up outside of the polling station for public scrutiny. It is indeed shameful to hear and read what Vincent Alexander is saying about the relevance of the SOPs. Had they produced their SOPs then, we would not have to go through five months with APNU/AFC/PNC knees on our people’s necks. Down with the Alexander falsities! The CoI will strip the cover from his disguise. Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

The missing link between George Lamming and UG

THE late Caribbean novelist George Lamming wrote eloquently, “For those Indians hands, whether in British Guiana or Trinidad, have fed us all. They are, perhaps, our only jewels of a true native thrift and industry. They have taught us by example the value of money; for they respect money as only people with a high sense of communal responsibility can.” The portrayal of Indians in such a positive manner is monumental to even, I suspect, the uncaring. From any analytical angle, Lamming’s declaration can be described as a curious conscience nourished by truth.

Indeed, and notwithstanding the fault lines within itself, the Indian community is known for hard work and thrift, backed by empiricist literature. What Indians have in abundance as a trait, is their capacity and capability for the sacrifice and preference of family goals over individual ambitions. The average Indian in the Caribbean, therefore, is not auto-piloted in his or her daily existence. Indians are culturally and economically, and to some extent, politically communal. Lamming was not, therefore, shooting in the dark when he shared the above dynamics of Indians in the Caribbean. That said, Lamming’s

observations of Indians have brought up a good deal of reservation I have had with some individuals about the academic status of Indians at the University of Guyana, an institution I dubbed elsewhere as the Community College of Guyana (CCG). No insult is meant with this label-

ling; I am referring to the missing link between what Lamming said and UG. Upfront, there is not an academic Indo-Caribbean programme at this institution. How strange! Why? Well, Guyana has the largest population of Indians in the Western Hemisphere, outside of North America, and concomitantly, one would have expected that a recognisable academic programme, as opposed to a course here and there, be dedicated to them. Worse, the élan for an academic programme has been sluggish; practically absent, until recently. The inaction and subsequent absence of an Indo-Caribbean programme at UG are tantamount to normalising an abnormal situation spewing contradictions. Where else in the academic world does one find a majority population receiving minimal academic attention? Just take a cursory look at the University of the West Indies, and you will find a situation quite contrary to what I am belabouring here. I find that the administrators there are acting in ways to assure legitimacy, insofar as the well-being of the majority is studied in no lackluster manner. None of this exists at UG. From experience, I have had a difficult time at UG, first at the Tain

Campus, and last year at Turkeyen. In the latter case, Dr. Farzana Gounder and I sent a journal proposal via email to the “heads” of UG. The following is what I wrote to them on August 25, 2021. “I am reaching out to you (name withheld) to see if you and the University of Guyana (perhaps the Berbice campus) would be interested in our journal proposal (see below) tentatively titled, Bonded Labour Migration. The journal will fulfill a major gap between historical slavery and modern-day slavery through bonded labour. Given the proliferation of books, book chapters, conferences, and articles on the subject on an international scale, we feel it is time to devote an academic journal to this area of research.” I received an acknowledgment, and that was that. I do not believe in approaching academic and administrative doors with a bouquet of flowers in my hands, with both knees on the floor. Ironic, too, is that in academic intuitions in the US, for example, the marginalised perspectives of minorities are promoted in ethnic studies, while at UG, the majority appears to be marginalised. This is quite bizarre. It seems

like the cart before horse syndrome is at work there. Several positive outcomes can be accomplished, despite how limited, from the Indo-Caribbean programme, or ethnic study programme at UG that includes historical, sociological, political, and economic perspectives. There are thousands of “foreigners” coming to Guyana because of the oil-and-gas industry, and these individuals would most likely understand Guyana, not only from practical experience but also from an academic standpoint. UG is not in a position to help them. More importantly, however, the students; the future leaders of Guyana, will benefit from an ethnic study programme. An ethnic study programme, if managed efficiently, encourages students to think critically, improves personal empowerment, builds self-efficacy, invokes social change, and builds cultural competency leading, ultimately, to the understanding of one’s own culture while appreciating others. The time has arrived to start at least an ethnic study programme at UG. Am I asking for too much? (lomarsh.roopnarine@ jsums.edu).

2020 Elections fiasco CoI

sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali has finally announced a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the March 2, 2020 elections fiasco that saw Guyana’s democracy being threatened by elections skullduggery and the attempts to rig those elections results. President Ali, speaking at the Enmore Martyrs Memorial Service, promised that the CoI Commissioners would be announced on Tuesday. The President said the International CoI would be aimed at arriving at the truth and would put many assumptions to rest before the public’s eyes about what caused the fivemonth delay in declaring a winner of the elections. This CoI was his way of honouring the Enmore Martyrs and all the people who struggled and fought for Guyana’s democracy. He was staying true to a promise he had made to the people of Guyana. Ali was quoted as saying that, “Those who subverted democracy, those who cannot present their SoPs (Statements of Poll), and those who struggled against the will of the peo-

ple, the CoI will set the truth free from the untruth….” Firstly, President Ali chose the right time and place to make the announcement. The President could have made it long ago but waited for tensions to ease and tempers to calm down, showing good political judgement and maturity. The President’s announcement was genuine and appeared to come from the heart. It must have been well-thought out and advised because it came on the heels of the Chairman of the Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh, declining the request of Opposition-nominated Commissioners to probe GECOM internally. Any right-thinking, and independent Guyanese would see the merits in making this announcement. Secondly, it is hoped that this CoI would be given the support and cooperation that it needs to get down to the truth of everything that played out within the 2020 elections and the aftermath.

The Opposition, APNU+AFC support is needed but is not necessary to arrive at the truth because there would be a wealth of evidence and first-hand accounts from different sources available to the CoI. However, it is felt that there will be resistance to the CoI probing into the election fiasco by the APNU+AFC coalition. The coalition would even consider the idea to be useless, given the court challenge by the Coalition party. It is expected to seek to diminish the work of the CoI and divert attention using cost of living concerns of people. If the political prediction is correct, the public should brace itself to hear

Corentyne fire leaves three homeless POLICE have arrested a 17-year-old boy, who, reportedly, set a mattress on fire and burnt down his mother’s house at No. 65 Village, East Berbice-Corentyne on Saturday. The boy, his mother, Kamlawattie Singh, 56, and his sister, 15, are now homeless. The one-bedroom, single-storey wooden house and its contents were completely destroyed. A distraught Singh told reporters that her son has been acting strange over the last week, and on Saturday, she left him laying down on the mattress to rest, given his condition, however, moments after, he set the mattress ablaze. According to the woman, the fire quickly engulfed

The Singhs’ one-bedroom house engulfed in flames the house and destroyed it. Monday. “One week now, he nah The mother is now wordeh righted. I was down- ried about her next steps, stairs soaking clothes, and since everything she owned I put the sponge in the hall was destroyed in the fire. fuh he lay down and then She is willing to accept this happen,” the mother any help being offered, said. and can be contacted on She had plans to take telephone number 625him to see a psychiatrist on 2402.

about an alleged increased PPP corruption. The Opposition will say and do anything not to be a partner to the CoI accomplishing its terms of reference. After all, the Opposition coalition knows what will likely emerge from such an endeavor. Despite the fierce protestation that is likely to occur in the weeks ahead, one hopes that the APNU+AFC will still show some political responsibility and maturity and participate in lending the evidence it says it has, showing how the election was fraudulent and stolen by the PPP. Similarly, the PPP must be truthful and fair. It must present the evidence to show how the

APNU+AFC infiltrated GECOM and corrupted systems in an effort to steal the election away from the people. Other political parties and civil society entities should be a partner to the CoI. Thirdly, the CoI will offer political as well as systemic recommendations for avoiding many of the fraudulent activities which occurred after the polls were closed. It will include systems that Guyana must have to stop future stealing of the people’s will and ballot. These CoI recommendations can help safeguard the democratic freedoms and rights of Guyanese along with the electoral

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reforms and legislative changes until constitutional reforms become a reality. Finally, there is an urgent need for the CoI to commence work and start its hearings soon. Guyanese must be bold enough to face the truth and fix it for future generations down the line. It may be uncomfortable, but we must achieve the closure, over the madness of the election, on the way to the attainment of ‘One Guyana’. Guyana must breathe again after this CoI and continue to learn from all its mistakes as a nation. One thing is clear. This CoI is a step forward in the right direction for democracy.

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

A ray of hope as cancer research progresses

A RAY of hope was hyped for all media just under two weeks ago because of an unheard of success story, where 100 per cent of an extremely small sample size of 18 patients in a phase two clinical trial, had achieved a possible “cure” after being treated for six months exclusively with an injectable drug. These patients were monitored for one year and no trace

of cancer cells were visible. This result was obtained for a specific type of cancer, rectal cancer, which is classified as mismatch repair (MMR) that was localised to the area. There was no metastasis to other organs in this study, even though the cancer in some of the patients were advanced. Other such types of cancer are colorectal, gastrointestinal and endometrial. But since

cancers of the breast, prostate, bladder and thyroid are also considered MMR, some experts are highly optimistic of the potential outlook for these other patients. Though this drug has not gone through phase three and four clinical trials, where the results are compared to the current standard treatment protocol or used in combination with other treatments for a larger number of patients,

it maybe hypothesized that this drug is more efficacious as a standalone option. At no time in history was 100 per cent eradication of cancer cells seen until now. The five-year survival rates for rectal cancer patients vary from 67 per cent to 90 percent depending on if there is metastasis to other organs or if it was just localised. Note that the success celebrated here is for those with only the primary tumor and not secondary tumors which occurs after the cancer has metastasized to other organs. The only two factors that may come under scrutiny at this time is the sample size of patients and the number of years life can be prolonged, both of which can only be determined as time progresses. The scientific name of the drug is dostarlimab, under the GlaxoSmithKilne brand name Jemperli. The drug category in this study is classified as monoclonal antibodies which are novel in immunotherapy. The mechanism of action involves the body’s natural immune system to fight back the cancer cells. Cancer cells may disguise by forming a protective camouflage shield around them, which it is not recognised by the body’s fight back soldiers. So dostarlimab was able to remove that camouflage so that the body’s fighter mechanism can go into combat. Monoclonal antibodies has been around for a while and is gaining momentum

since it has the potential to revolutionise immunologic treatment for cancer. It is utilised in developed countries due to its availability. The traditional treatment protocol for cancer encompasses various options of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation which may make the cancer go into remission for a period of time. Hence success is measured by survival rates in terms of years. However the traditional treatment does not only target the cancer cells but may affect the healthy cells as well. Dealing with the side effects from the aggressive treatment can incapacitate the patient even though they survived the cancer. Hence the battle is mental and physical for both the patient and the caregiver. Some patients may eventually succumb not because of the disease but because the organs have failed due to the treatment. Those who survive are grateful for a second chance to live. Thirty-five years ago National Cancer Survivor Day was launched. On June 5th this year we celebrated with those who remain here with us but it is unfortunate that one out of six persons (man, woman and child) lost hope for life. The latest annual worldwide deaths reported due to cancer was 10 million in just 2020, way higher when compared to 14.9 million over a two-year period for COVID-19. Generally the overall survival rate for all cancers is lower for adults than for children;

68 per cent versus 80 per cent. Cancer is caused by genetic, environmental or individual characteristics of the patient where there is an abnormally high rate of cell replication and growth, often times shaped differently from normal healthy cell, despite the body’s normal mechanism to shut down or neutralise the situation. This unregulated growth can lead to clusters of cells, abnormal growth of tissues and tumors and may spread to other organs or parts of the body using the body transportation system, the circulatory and the lymphatic system. Cancer is a word no one wants to hear for it threatens the hope for a full normal life thereafter. This incurable disease since 1500 B.C has seen some accelerated progress in the last two decades where the face of cancer treatment has been totally reconstructed with new innovations. However because of the COVID-19 pandemic, FDA approvals for many new drugs were delayed. For further pharmacological guidance, contact the pharmacist of Medicine Express PHARMACY located at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets. If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine.express@gmail. com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg. Tel #225-5142.

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

Production company finally experiences profit after nearly 25 years AFTER nearly 25 years and $1.3 trillion invested in Guyana, Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Ltd. (EEPGL), ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, reported its first profit from oil and gas activities in Guyana. Meanwhile, Guyana has already been receiving revenues and royalties over the last few years due to this massive flood of investment in exploration and development: $3 trillion in total from the three production companies operating in the Stabroek block. This is a significant milestone for both the company and the country. It is also a great example of how capital-intensive oil and gas development can be, particularly at the beginning of exploration and discovery activities. Companies invest huge sums up front in oil and gas exploration and often do not begin to make profits until years into production. Companies take on significant additional risk by pursuing activity in a region that has no history of oil or gas discoveries. If oil and gas had never been found in Guyana, ExxonMobil and its partners would never have been able to recoup their original investments, nor look forward to long-term profits from the activity. Furthermore, by farming out investment and risk, Guyana takes on no risk of its own, while only experiencing the benefits of oil discovery. Without external investment provided by production companies, Guyana would not have been able to experience the windfall it is now receiving. Consider that Guyana’s pre-oil gross domestic product was roughly US$4 billion, while the Payara project alone cost US$9 billion to develop— developing this resource

domestically would have been essentially impossible, to say nothing of the vast technical expertise required for deepwater drilling. While some have criticised the production sharing agreement (PSA) for having “unfair” terms, the very same PSA has enabled Guyana to experience hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues and royalties without spending taxpayers’ money or borrowing. This kind of agreement between countries and business partners is common around the world since it allows countries to share in profits while companies take on the risk. Those companies are entitled to recover those investments if oil discoveries are made through cost recovery while the government continues to receive royalties and profits. Since 1999, ExxonMobil, along with other production companies, has fronted billions of dollars for exploration, discovery and the development of the then-unexplored basin off the coast of Guyana. Since first oil in 2019, twenty years after ExxonMobil’s exploration kicked off, Guyana has raked in hundreds of millions of dollars, allowing the government, for the first time ever, to include US$600 million from the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) in the 2022 budget. The government is expecting to take in another US $1 billion this year from oil. Guyana’s PSA has allowed the country to be highly involved in oil and gas development without taking on any of the financial risk associated with the process. With this PSA, Guyana has avoided taking on any debt from international lending institutions or other governments that would have been otherwise

necessary to develop their own natural resources. As production grows and international oil prices remain elevated, the government will continue to receive even larger sums that it can save in the NRF and later distribute for spending on infrastructural projects, social programmes and future budgets. In late April, Guyana received over US$100 million from its most recent oil lift, with oil going for

US$106 per barrel. As global demand remains elevated and prices inch even higher, Guyana should stand to benefit from high prices and continued production. The Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel has already been ramped up to produce 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the recently online Liza Unity is already on its way to reaching its projected capacity of 220,000 bpd by

the end of 2022. A third ongoing project, Payara, is also expected to reach production of 220,000 bpd bringing Guyana’s total production to more than 500,000 barrels per day within just the next few years. The Stabroek consortium expects production in Guyana to reach one million bpd by the end of the decade, not including future discoveries. Already in 2022, ExxonMobil has

announced new discoveries that could mean even more projects ahead. It is important to remember that none of this would have been possible without the initial up-front investment that ExxonMobil and other production companies risked exploring a new area and beginning production. Guyana’s PSA has also supported a fair production sharing model that allows all stakeholders to win out.

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

Guyana to provide free treatment for persons living with Hepatitis C

PERSONS living with Hepatitis C will soon have their treatment fully funded by the Government of Guyana, as the Ministry of Health partners with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to ensure treatment is provided. Speaking at a ‘mini’ health fair recently, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony acknowledged the challenges experienced by persons living with Hepatitis C, including the cost of treatment. “On average, at one point in time, to treat a per-

son with ‘Hep-C’ was about US$80,000; that came down to about US$20,000, and now it is about US$2,000,” Dr. Anthony said. The minister further explained that this initiative is part of the Government of Guyana’s strategy to reduce the spread of Hepatitis C, which, in the long-term, can cause non-chronic diseases, including cancer. “We are bringing the treatment to Guyana at a high cost, because these things are not cheap. But again, if we prevent it from happening, then we will be in a better position. But

those who are already infected, we are going to start a programme where we are going to treat these diseases. By treating them, we are preventing them from getting hepatic cancers, because the natural course of this is that it moves from an acute ‘Hep-C’ infection to chronic Hep-C infection, over the years it will then become cancerous.” Dr. Anthony noted that “the medication that we are using is about 90-something per cent effective, so that’s why we have taken a decision that we will be bringing in these ‘meds’; we will be

starting treatment for those patients that we have on the database. So, in a couple months’ time, we will start that process.” Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can cause liver inflammation (though not always). The virus is usually spread through contaminated blood, and can be sexually transmitted. The virus can begin with an acute phase, which can go undetected, but may have symptoms like jaundice, fatigue, fever, muscle aches, or nausea. In Guyana, Dr. Anthony explained, one of the most common

methods of detection is by way of blood screening at the Ministry of Health’s blood transfusion facilities. “We have been detecting patients through our blood transfusion services, so when we screen somebody who donated blood, we normally screen for a number of diseases, including ‘Hep-C’. And when the blood tests positive for ‘Hep-C’, we call those persons in, and we tell them that we have detected ‘Hep-C’ and counsel them on the precautions to take,” the health minister said. According to the

World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 350 million people are living with this disease, globally. According to a statement from the World Hepatitis Summit 2022, “Stigma and discrimination continue to be a barrier to testing and care. Only 10% and 21% of people know that they live with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C, respectively, even fewer receive treatment, and liver cancer related to hepatitis is on an exponential rise, especially in low and middle-income countries.” (DPI)

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

President Ali to address flooding, other issues in south Georgetown

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali has committed to addressing the core issues, including flooding, that the communities in South and North Ruimveldt face in Georgetown. President Ali made the pronouncement during an impromptu visit to south Georgetown on Saturday. According to a press release from the Office of the President, President Ali told residents that he wants to “engage the communities on a few things, and one is flooding”.

He said that the government has committed to working with south Georgetown, and developing a holistic plan to deal with flooding. President Ali noted that a team of engineers will execute an initial assessment, and when that is completed, they will consult with the residents to find the best way forward. During his visit, the President walked around Festival City, where he inspected the conditions of the roads, drains and the community centre

ground. The President made a commitment, on the spot, to not only rehabilitate the ground, but also repair the building. This will be done in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. Efforts will also be made to clean and de-silt the drains, with expediency, to aid the community in alleviating its flooding woes. During the ‘walkabout’, the President engaged residents on pressing community issues, and solicited their

opinions on addressing them. President Ali also spoke to several youths in the area, and encouraged them to sign up with the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme. Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal; Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Sherwyn Greaves and other government representatives were also part of the tem on the ‘walkabout’.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, officials and residents during a ‘walkabout’ in south Georgetown (Office of the President photos)

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

IDB plugs US$83.3M into Guyana’s renewable energy campaign

GUYANA’S aggressive campaign to have a diversified energy matrix which employs primarily renewable energy resources, has received new impetus with the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) ap-

proval of US$83.3 million in non-reimbursable investment financing for the Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL). Utilising funds from the Norwegian Agency for

Development Co-operation, the IDB will contribute directly to eight utility-scale, photovoltaic solar projects totalling 33 megawatts-peak (MWp) with associated 32 megawatts-hour (MWh) energy storage sys-

tems distributed across three areas in Guyana. Specifically, there will be 10MWp in the Berbice area, eight MWp in the Essequibo system with a minimum of 12MWh battery storage and a 15MWp plant connected to the Linden system, with a minimum of 22MWh battery storage. The eight projects, according to the IDB, will contribute to avoiding CO2 emissions, lowering electricity cost generation, and supporting a substantial transition to generation based on renewable energy sources. The programme will also support a step-change with respect to digitalisation of the Essequibo and Linden electrical systems, moving them from manual systems towards real-time, automated monitoring and control, improving efficiency, reliability, and stability. “Alongside of these investments in infrastructure, the GUYSOL Programme will encourage diversity and inclusion in the maintenance and management of renewable infrastructure, developing local skills and apprenticeships with a focus on opportunities for women,” the IDB said. By 2025, in line with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), more than 265,000 customers within the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System, and Linden and Essequibo systems will benefit from reinforced reliability of electricity supply, and modernisation of systems. The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) and the Linden Electricity Company Inc. (LECI) will also benefit

from the use of solar photovoltaic technology that will displace significant amounts of fossil fuels and reduce generation costs. “This operation is in line with Vision 2025 - Reinvesting in the Americas: A Decade of Opportunities, created by the IDB to achieve recovery and inclusive growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, in the areas of digital economy, gender and inclusion, and climate change,” the IDB said. The IDB has been supporting the Government of Guyana to develop the energy sector through financing of several renewable energy activities. Building on this, the country will now make a transformational leap towards decarbonisation by expediting climate-resilient renewable energy in the electricity generation matrix. It was reported that Guyana, driven by an energy mix of solar, wind, hydro and natural gas, could soon become a major player in the energy market, and ultimately the energy capital of the Region. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), access to modern energy services is fundamental to fulfilling basic social needs, driving economic growth and fuelling human development. This is because energy services have an effect on productivity, health, education, safe water and communication services. For developing nations such as Guyana, the need for reliable and affordable energy is more fundamental.

The general understanding is that reliable energy, in these countries, supports expanded industry, modern agriculture, increased trade and improved transportation. In Guyana’s context, “energy security,” as said by President Ali during his inaugural address to the 12th Parliament, will be driven by an energy mix that will see solar, wind, hydro and natural gas being utilised to make this nation the energy capital of the Region. The integration of those energy sources will provide Guyana with 400 megawatts of newly installed power. As it is now, the national grid is providing 120 megawatts of electricity, an amount which is equal to the consumer demand of 117-120 megawatts of power. Based on what the President had outlined, the potential “world-class” energy mix will not just increase Guyana’s energy capacity, but will also significantly reduce the cost of electricity for households and businesses. The overarching aim of the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government is to reduce the overall cost of energy by 50 per cent through this energy mix. Local capacity aside, President Ali is confident that the government’s plan will make Guyana’s energy costs globally competitive. Essentially, the country could become a net energy exporter. A net exporter is a country or territory whose value of exported goods is higher than its value of imported goods over a given period of time.

sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

Three Guyanese die in NY fire

TWO elderly Guyanese nationals and their son were found dead following a fire in Richmond Hill, New York, on Friday afternoon. Dead are Nanda Persaud, 60; Sally Persaud, 53, and Devon Persaud, 23. They initially resided at Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara before migrating to the United States. The fire started at around 14:00hrs at 10418 125th Street, just at the corner from the famous Liberty Avenue, the shopping district of Little Guyana. Their bodies were found in the basement after the inferno was put out. The 125th Street block houses dozens of homes belonging to Guyanese and Trinidadians. The fire department reported that as many as six houses were affected by the blaze; four were burnt to the ground. Residents say a male is missing and it is suspected that his remains are buried in the rubble; another person was taken to the hospital. Pandit Santram Dukhbhanjan’s house was damaged while his son’s was burnt to the ground. Pandit Dukhbhanjan is originally from Unity Village in Guyana. The Sunday Chronicle understands that more than 200 firefighters battled the raging blaze. Eyewitnesses and first responders said the heat and wind made it very difficult to get the fire under control. Five firefighters suffered minor injuries. The American Red Cross said it provided emergency assistance to nine families, including 29 adults and 13 children following the fire.

The remains of the houses following the fire

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

A daughter’s pursuit to fulfill her late father’s dream By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur

“ I love you ‘Em’, its ok, I will be back soon,” are the words Ebony has etched in her memory as she sets out to fulfill her father’s dream of making the Sun Splash resort at the Number 63 beach realize its full potential and be the

the financial means, he set out to make this a reality. Vivekanand applied for and received approval to build a resort in 1993. By 1996, the property was completed and, upon seeing the success and potential, he took the decision to relocate his family and grow the business in 2000. However, due to several reasons, the family closed the doors temporarily in 2008 and moved back to Canada with the plan to return and make it even better. It was his retirement plan. “My dad never gave up on his dreams, there was never a day that went by that he did not speak about the resort and we worked together and sent several proposals for projects to the different Ministers of Tourism over the years for the development of the beach and the property but got very little response. “So, my dad decided he was not going to be deterred and came back in 2019 to repair the property and fulfill his dreams of making the resort the number one spot for entertainment and family fun,” Ebony recalled. It was during that period he was murdered and the entire family was plunged into a state of shock and despair. Ebony idolized her dad, he was her best friend and her real life superhero and from the moment she heard he was dead, she went

Ebony and her dad, Vivekanand Narpatty Brijbassi, at a Movie Theatre in Canada number one spot for clean, family entertainment and fun. The words were uttered by her father, Vivekanand Narpatty Brijbassi, who she calls ‘Dada’, at the Toronto Pearson Airport on September 19, 2019. Ebony’s ‘gut instincts’ told her she needed to be at the airport to bid goodbye to her father as he made what was supposed to be a short trip to Guyana. And her father said those words to her in the hope that she didn’t go to the airport because she was working late, but Ebony insisted on seeing him off. But she did not know it would have been the last time she would hug her father and hear him call her by the nickname ‘Em.’ What was supposed to be a short trip to Guyana became the last trip her dad took to his homeland before he met his gruesome demise. Now, Ebony is clutching to his memory and doing everything in her power to ensure her father’s love for his family and homeland lives on by trying to fulfill his dreams. Thirty-three-year old Ebony Narpatty Brigbassi is a Canadian citizen by birth. Her father was found brutally murdered on December 27, 2019, at the beach house at Number 63 Village. The elderly man’s employee was also found dead and police believed they were both tortured. With his death came great despair for Ebony. During an interview with the Sunday Chronicle, she recalled moving with her family some 22 year ago to open the Sun Splash and Resort at No. 63 Beach in East Berbice, Corentyne. As she reminisced on the long walks under the moonlight with her dad and the many activities held at the resort, tears started to flow as she recalled her father’s murder. A Boy’s Dream According to Ebony, her dad, who hailed from No. 65 Village, dreamt of opening the resort since he was a boy. She said he he never thought about tourism or knew what a resort was but he wanted to build. After he migrated to Canada and started a family of his own, his dream still lingered and with new-found ideas and

Vivekanand Narpatty Brijbassi was hacked to death at his Beach House in December 2019 into a state of depression. Wounds are still fresh but dream will become reality Three years after the incident, the wounds are still fresh and while two persons were charged and remanded to prison, Ebony feels justice will only be served when they are sentenced and their motives become clear. She, however, found solace in the happiest memories she shared with her dad and has set out to fulfill his lifelong dream. “I feel hurt at times having to deal with this but I have this inner strength like my dad is pushing me for some reason and I am doing this not just for him but for our family. I try to look at the bigger picture ahead but I do want to follow in my dad’s footsteps and to respect his wishes and I do hope and pray that things stay successful.” While admitting the road ahead is a tough one and will take some time, Ebony feels it can be achieved. At present, she has already started to employ staff and is doing renovations

Vivekanand Narpatty Brijbassi, his wife Carol and their daughters, Ebony and Natela, in happier times to the property. Among the plans Ebony is seeking to fulfill is the transformation of the property into a modern amusement park with live shows and events on different days as per her dad’s vision. “He wanted live shows with international artistes, comedy nights, karaoke and transform the yard into an amusement park for the kids, lots of rides and fun activities. I plan to carry on now that dream; I have been working on it, that’s why I am here.” Ebony said she will not rest until her dad’s dreams become a reality. “I know this may not happen right away but a few years down the line - after we resolve some issues - I see it being very successful where persons can come enjoy a great time with sublime and grandeur. We have already started to clear up the yard and I will have to import the rides. “Everyday people are calling asking us to sell but we will not; we will keep it in the family and grow it to its full potential. It may not happen right away but over the next few years it will and my dad’s legacy will live on.” On this Father’s Day, Ebony misses her dad greatly but she chose to reflect on the fact that he was a humanitarian and loved to share. She lives by one of his many mantras: ‘where there is life, there is a way.’

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sunday CHRONICLE june 19, 2022

$66M road works for Leonora Market –– vendors to be relocated

VENDORS plying their trade at the Leonora Market, West Coast Demerara,

Region Three, will soon be relocated to make way for the $66M rehabilitation of

the old road. The contract for the 30foot wide concrete road was awarded to Y. Bola Construction Services. Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Deodat Indar, said land has been identified aback the market to relocate the vendors who are currently plying their trade on the roadside. This new area, which will be developed to make way for the much-needed road works, can accommodate over 500 vendors. On Satur-

day, the minister conducted an outreach in the area where he met with vendors and provided an update on the project. He explained that there was a challenge with the portion of land which was initially proposed and so, immediate steps were taken to identify another area to house the vendors during the road works. “There are a lot of people that are plying their trade at the side of the road, so we can’t move them and we have to find a place to put them…so we found some land that is the market prop-

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, interacting with vendors at the Leonora Market erty to be developed and we will bring everybody here,” Minister Indar explained. In the interim, vendors are expected to benefit from a clean-up initiative to improve the market’s environment. The works will begin on June 19 in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the market committee, among others. “Immediate works will start with cleaning of the drains at the side of the road to improve the drainage system and the tidying up within the market because some people were complaining about bushes and some snakes and so we’re going to try to at least lift the area up a little before the road construction.” In April, President Irfaan Ali visited the market and met with the vendors, where he announced government’s intention to construct a new tarmac and upgrade the Leonora market old road to create a more enabling environment for business. Some $69.3 million will be used to execute these works, which includes the rehabilitation of the road and an upgrade to the market. (DPI)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 19, 2022

Torginol is the official paint for Building Expo

WITH the International Building Expo set for a highly-anticipated return on July 22-24, offering a peek into Guyana’s promising architectural future, several local companies have aligned themselves to benefit from the opportunity to showcase their products, services and new technological advancements. One such entity is Torginol Paints Inc., a member of the Continental Group of Companies, and Guyana’s largest paint manufacturer. Torginol Paints Inc., ‘Pioneers of the Paint Industry’, has been operating in Guyana for over 60 years, and, through a strategic alliance with the Ministry of Housing and Water, will be the official paint of the three-day Expo. Under the theme, ‘A new frontier for building a ‘One Guyana’, the Expo will be held at the parking lot of the National Stadium, Providence, where the Torginol booth will be the hub for the

Chief Operating Officer of Torginol Paints Inc., Fenton Persaud

Suman Sugadhan, Torginol’s ManagerPaint Solutions

showcasing our new developments, which have been part of our Research and Development, and we will be showing new technologies and new developments in the coating industry, which will be on display.” Chief Operating Officer of Torginol Paints Inc., Fenton Persaud, added, “We are proud to be part of the

constructed for display at the Expo would be painted by Torginol. “Our prime focus would be to educate the customers on how to paint, what surface preparation technique has to be used and things like that,” Sugadhan added. He continued: “At the booth we will be having live demonstrations of the latest technologies which are trending now, so customers can have a hands-on experience to see how the technologies can be utilised. We will also be displaying our recently launched products, so it will be a good opportunity for people to experience and see what’s happening and how the products can be applied in the right way.” Those include new coatings and supplies for the oil and gas industry to be put on exhibition, coming from research and development undertaken in recent years. The company will also be demonstrating to contractors and home builders, practical methods for the application of its different types of coatings, from surface preparation to finishing. Persaud explained that it is important that persons become aware that there is a method to be employed when looking for that excellent finish. “Surface preparation and climatic condition play an important part in the quality of your finished product, so we intend to share that with the general public,” Persaud said. International Building Expo 2022 will visually map out the country’s promising architectural future, taking patrons on an exciting journey on the modern transformational projects in the pipeline.

Torginol Paints Inc. has been operating in Guyana for over 60 years latest innovations and technologies in the paint business. The company, in a press release, said it was eagerly anticipating the opportunity to showcase its diverse range of paint and paint-related products and interact with patrons and educate them, especially new homeowners, on best practices when choosing and applying paint. “Torginol plays a very important role in the construction industry, because painting is part of the construction industry,” Suman Sugadhan, Torginol’s Manager- Paint Solutions, highlighted. “Torginol is ready to play its role as Guyana’s first choice of paint, as seven out of 10 buildings are painted with Torginol paint. So, we have a very big role to fill in this Building Expo.” “This year, we will be

International Building Expo 2022. What we will bring to this Expo is going to be much bigger than what was previously shown by the company.” Torginol has always been part of the International Building Expo, which started in 2010 under the stewardship of the then Housing and Water Minister and now President, Dr. Irfaan Ali. “Torginol Paints would like to congratulate His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali and the government for their great vision and robust development in the building sector,” Sugadhan said. At the Expo, patrons will experience live and video demonstrations of the paint application process, as well as interact with the experts on the best possible solutions for their individual needs. Additionally, all the model houses currently being

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First ever Inter-District Kayaking Nationals set for July 4

Representatives from schools at the Inter-school Kayaking competition held in May racing to the finish line

R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S of all 15 school districts across Guyana are set to compete for the title of champion at the first-ever Inter-District Kayaking Nationals which is set for July 4, 2022. The event, which is being hosted by Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours, is expected to showcase the talents of the best school from each district as they compete for a prize of $100,000. Proprietor of Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours, Dr. Deon Anderson, speaking to the Sunday Chronicle, stated that the event is set to be one of the major annual school sporting events. This national tournament comes on the heels of the first inter-schools tournament hosted by the company in collaboration with the Ministry of Education on May 1, 2022. The inter-school competition which Dr. Anderson noted was met with great acclaim, saw the participation of all the secondary schools in Region10 (Upper Demerara – Upper Berbice), along with Queen’s College and St Rose’s High from Georgetown, with Harmony Secondary emerging the winner and walking away with the first-place prize. He noted that this ‘Nationals’ is expected to be bigger as it will bring together student-athletes from various schools across the country, many of which have experience with kayaking as it is utilised as a means of transport in their respective communities. “We’re expecting persons from places like Kamarang, from the Rupununi, from Mazaruni region, North West, even the Bartica folks indicated several students from up the river; they’re in contact with those as part of their teams, so this competition is going to be really exciting because you’re going to see some of the best. Wakapow’s headteacher reached out to me and they’ve sent their teams already and it’s going to be interesting because in Wakapow everybody paddles to school.” He noted that all 15 school districts have con-

firmed their participation and are currently in the process of “fine-tuning” their list of participants. The competition, which is being hosted at the Watooka Guest House in Linden, will be divided into four categories; the male singles, the female singles, and the male and female relays. The competition will see first place winners getting $100,000 plus a trophy; second place $70,000 and $50,000 to the third-place winners of the event. This major first-time event promises to be unique and brings a platform to showcase the athletic skills of locals in a wide range of aquatic sports while promoting “Sports Tourism.” Proprietor of Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours, Deon Anderson, speaking to the Sunday Chronicle, stated “the intention of this pioneering event is to highlight the concept of sport tourism, build social cohesion and catapult Guyana towards the achievement of transformational development and holistically building the ideals of One Guyana.” He noted that the idea is to facilitate the creation of an event that would serve to connect sports, eco-tourism, and education. Anderson made it clear that emphasis was being placed on safety precautions for the event. He noted that adequate professional and competent lifeguards will be present throughout the journey. “Lifejackets will be worn by all participants; medical evacuation team and first responders will also be present (in the water via speed boats) escorting the participants through the race.” He added: “And regional education officials, along with physical education teachers from each respective school, will be accompanying the students to support and cheer them on as they participate in this competition. We are fully committed to safety, comfort, and professionalism concerning all participants of this competition.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 19, 2022

Overseas-based Guyanese expands business here

AS Guyanese across the diaspora continue to see the major investment opportunities available “at home”, another child of the soil has made the transition to bring her Canadian-based health and beauty business closer to home through a partnership with two Guyanese investors. The range of products from ‘Opulence Global’ is expected to hit the market on July 15, 2022, at the Together We Win Business Network (TWWBN) first annual Small Business Conference and Exhibition. During an interview with the Sunday Chronicle, franchise holder, Sheriza Mohamed, stated that she is “extremely proud” to have the business launched in partnership with the Guyanese duo. Mohamed is partnering with the father and daughter duo, Gavin Green-Marshall and Kadifa Marshall. According to Mohamed, since owning the franchise some 17 years ago, she had always dreamed of having the line distributed not just in Canada where she now resides but also in Guyana. She noted that upon hearing the offer from the duo to partner with her for the distribution of the product on a large scale locally, she leaped at the opportunity to have the partnership formed. “This partnership is something that I have

Opulence Global Franchise holder, Sheriza Mohamed thought about for many years since becoming a franchise holder because I believe that the product would have a big impact on the local beauty and health scene. I believe that bringing this product here and partnering with Guyanese distributors would create many opportunities for locals,” Mohamed said. The company manufactures a line of all-natural, cutting-edge health, personal care, dental care, home care, and beauty products. According to Mohammed, one of the company’s well-known health products is the ‘Fountain of Life’ which is a groundbreaking, patent-protected natural health product, developed to protect and preserve health. In beauty, the company’s “professional grade”

Opulence Global Fountain of Life supplement

FERI Flawless anti-aging skincare lineup raises the bar in the spa-grade skincare market. It has over one hundred patents backing its premiumgrade, raw materials. It is a “professional grade” regimen for home, designed to help people, of all genders, ages and skin type, look and feel younger. Mohamed noted that the range of products is currently being distributed in over 200 countries across the world, and even has several celebrity clients who consistently purchase and utilise the products for their many benefits. The entrepreneur told the Sunday Chronicle that she and her partners will be focused on getting persons familiar with the range of products

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Osaka withdraws from Wimbledon with Achilles injury

FOUR-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from Wimbledon with an Achilles injury. Japan’s Osaka has not played since the French Open and recently posted a video of herself doing rehab on a treadmill. The 24-year-old previously said she was “unsure” if she would play Wimbledon due to its lack of ranking points. The ATP and WTA stripped the points from Wimbledon after the tour-

up.” The world number 43 has slipped down the rankings after taking several breaks from the sport last year to protect her mental health. Osaka won the US Open in 2018 and 2020 and the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, but has never gone beyond the third round at Wimbledon. Former finalist Eugenie Bouchard also withdrew from the tournament on Saturday because of the lack of points.

Naomi Osaka’s best performance at Wimbledon was reaching the third round in 2017 and 2018 nament banned Russian and Belarusian players over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Osaka’s name appeared on the singles entry list for Wimbledon when it was released last week, but she has not appeared in any of the grass-court events. Speaking after her firstround French Open exit, Osaka said she was “not 100% sure” she would appear at the SW19 tournament. “The intention of this measure was good, but the execution is all over the place,” Osaka said in May of the decision to strip Wimbledon of points. “I feel like if I play Wimbledon without points, it’s more like an exhibition. I know this isn’t true, right? But my brain just like feels that way. “I would love to go, just to get some experience on the grass court, but at the same time I’m the type of player that gets motivated by seeing my ranking go

The Canadian former world number five dropped to 253 in the WTA standings in January after a lengthy absence following shoulder surgery, but was able to enter the Wimbledon main draw under her protected ranking. Players only receive a limited number of protected ranking entries to use at tournaments. “As much as I love Wimbledon and skipping it makes me sad, using a protected ranking [PR] entry at a tournament with no ranking points doesn’t make sense,” said the 28-year-old, who lost in the 2014 singles final to Petra Kvitova. “I must choose wisely and use my PR entries at tournaments that will help me get back to where I want to be.” Bouchard said she would use her two Grand Slam protected ranking entries at the US Open and Australian Open. (BBC Sport)

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Golden State Warriors NBA title win is Stephen Curry’s ‘crowning achievement’ By Ben Collins Without him, none of this happens.” After Golden State’s latest championship win, coach Steve Kerr spelled out just how important Stephen Curry has been to the Warriors’ NBA dynasty. The American point guard was already assured of being a future Hall of Famer, but this year’s NBA Finals have seen him go to another level. When Curry helped the Warriors beat the Boston Celtics on Thursday, he didn’t just secure a fourth NBA title in eight years for both himself and his team, he also scored 34 points to ensure that he was named the Finals’ most valuable player for the first time in his glittering career.

Kerr called it the 34-yearold’s “crowning achievement” while Andre Iguodala said his team-mate had “solidified himself as the greatest point guard of all time”. And it all comes just two years after many had written off both Curry and the San Francisco franchise. Curry leads Warriors from worst to first. Golden State reached the NBA Finals five years running from 2015, beating the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015, 2017 and 2018. But Klay Thompson suffered a torn ACL in the 2019 series, two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant left that summer and then, in October, Curry broke a bone in his left hand which required surgery.

With Thompson and Curry out during 2019-20, the Warriors finished with a record of 15-50, the worst in the league, as they rebuilt their squad. After missing the playoffs again in 2020-21, a fitagain Curry warned “you don’t want to see us next year” and as the final buzzer sounded in Thursday’s title-clinching win, Curry cried as he embraced his father, former NBA player Dell. “This championship hits different,” said Curry junior. “It was overwhelming, surreal, because you know how much you went through to get back to this stage. “From injuries to a changing of the guard and the roster, young guys coming through, we carried the belief

T&T make light work of Leewards

Reniece Boyce top scored for T&T with 35 GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago made light work of Leeward Islands, thrashing them by eight wickets to make a winning start to their CG Women’s Super50 campaign here Friday. Chasing 133 for victory at the Guyana National Stadium, T&T cruised to their target off 35 overs with opener Reniece Boyce top-scoring with 35 and Shenelle Lord stroking an unbeaten 30.

Leewards had earlier gathered 132 for eight off their 50 overs with Shawnisha Hector scoring 46 from 60 deliveries with seven fours, while number nine Rozel Liburd chipped in with a busy unbeaten 31 from 39 balls and number eight Amanda Edwards, 29 off 41 balls. Fast bowler Kirbyina Alexander was the spearhead of the T&T attack with three for 20. Leewards did well to recover after their innings

slumped to 13 for four in the 12th over, Alexander producing a lethal burst to wipe out the top order. The revival came through Hector who put on 52 for the fourth over with Arsheena Freeman whose three runs required 64 deliveries. H o w e v e r, H e c t o r ’s downfall in the 29th over via the run out route to to another slide where three wickets tumbled for 22 runs to leave Leewards on 87 for seven in the 39th over. Liburd and Edwards then came to their side’s rescue, partnering in a 45run, eighth wicket stand to put Leewards past the 100run mark. In reply, Boyce struck four fours off 56 deliveries, in a 71-run opening stand with Djenaba Joseph who made 15. When both perished in the space of ten balls with six runs added, captain Anisa Mohammed (20 not out) and Lord, who struck five fours off 53 balls, put on 57 in an unbroken third wicket stand to see T&T over the line.

Golden State Warriors clinch fourth NBA title in eight seasons as Steph Curry wins Finals MVP for first time that we could get back and win, even if it didn’t make sense to anybody when we said it. “When we started this season we had a lot of conversations about who we were as a team and what we’re capable of. You carry all of that on a daily basis to try to realise a dream and we did it.” ‘He made the world move’ Curry had already twice been named the NBA’s regular season MVP - in 2015 and 2016 - but this season he became the league’s alltime leader for three-pointers scored. A two-time scoring leader, he became an NBA All-Star for the eighth time this season and was named the All-Star game’s MVP for the first time after scoring a game-high 50 points as Team LeBron beat Team Durant. With his former teammate Durant now at the Brooklyn Nets, Curry led the new-look Warriors through the play-offs, winning the Western Conference finals MVP award as they beat the Dallas Mavericks to become the first team since the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in the 1990s to reach the Finals six times in eight years. Then came the Finals and after averaging 31.2 points across the six games Curry was named the series MVP. “Some bozos saying he needed that,” Thompson said. “He’s pretty much established what he can do, but to see him earn that, he’s one of the greatest ever and we all

follow his lead. He was incredible, what a series.” Draymond Green, who along with Curry, Thompson and Iguodala has played in all four of Golden State’s recent title wins, added: “It’s been a long time coming but he left no doubt. He carried us.” Despite standing at 6ft 2in, Curry’s accuracy from beyond the arc has transformed the game, with players in every position now expected to be able to shoot - and guard against - three pointers. “You’ve never seen a guy his size dominate the league like this, to put the weight of everything on his shoulders through a finals series,” said Iguodala. “Normally you get a guy that’s a centre like Hakeem [Olajuwon] or Shaq [O’Neal], or Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James - those guys are 6ft 6in or taller, they can shoot over guys. But a guy of [Curry’s] height. We all saw what he did to [Boston], it was just incredible. “Because we’re so close to those generational talents, you don’t appreciate them as much. When he’s gone we’re really going to miss him and forget how much of an impact he had, not just on Proving the doubters wrong Curry, who last summer extended his contract to 2026, is not just in the conversation for being the best player of his generation, his name is now beside some of the all-time greats. He is only the seventh

player to win at least four championships and two regular-season MVPs, after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell. He is only the sixth to also win a Finals MVP with Russell having missed out on that honour, although the trophy is now named after the record 11-time NBA champion After Abdul-Jabbar, Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, Curry is only the fourth player to win at least two league MVPs, two scoring titles and one Finals MVP. Only Jordan has averaged more points in title-clinching games. But Curry is the only player in NBA history to win three MVP awards in the same season and with the Conference Finals MVP award being inaugurated this season, he is the first to win all of the NBA’s MVP trophies. He has enjoyed proving people wrong too. After Thursday’s 103-90 win in Boston, he referenced the TV pundits “putting up the big zero” last summer when discussing how many more NBA titles he would win. Curry also had the last laugh after Boston fans poked fun at his wife, a TV chef and restaurant owner, by wearing t-shirts reading ‘Ayesha Curry Can’t Cook’. Her husband was pictured in the locker room holding one of the t-shirts, along with his Finals MVP trophy. (BBC Sport)

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England have sights set on 500-run mark, says Jos Buttler

LONDON: Reuters)- England will keep chasing the 500-run mark in oneday internationals (ODI) after narrowly missing out on the milestone in a record-breaking win over Netherlands, Jos Buttler said. England broke their own record for the highest team total in ODI history after they smashed 498-4 to win by 232 runs on Friday. Buttler, Dawid Malan and Phil Salt notched up centuries while Liam Livingstone walked into bat in the 45th over and scored England’s fastest ODI fifty as they eclipsed their previous record of 481 against

Australia in 2018. “We’ve come close one time before this and the message in the team is to try to keep pushing boundaries and taking the team forward, take the game on,” Buttler told reporters. “Is it a matter of time before we make 500? I don’t know. We’ll keep trying to do it. It’s a tough thing to try to achieve. It’ll probably have to happen on a belting wicket at a small ground. “I think the biggest thing, irrelevant of the score, is the mentality we are showing as a team. We keep trying to better that and be better as a team when we

play. We know that stands us in good stead.” Buttler brought up his century in just 47 balls, the second-fastest in England history and one ball shy of his own record, earning praise from limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan. “Jos played in a world of his own, like he has been over the last year or two years,” Morgan said. “It’s incredible to watch and not something we ever get sick of or take for granted. It really is amazing cricket. It’s the reason he probably is the best white-ball cricketer in the world at the moment.”

England’s centurions: From left: Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt // Getty

Katherine Brunt announces Test retirement …Veteran England seamer will continue in white-ball formats

Katherine Brunt took a five-wicket haul in her final Test • (Getty Images) KATHERINE Brunt, England Women’s leading international wicket-taker, has announced her retirement from Test cricket. She will continue to be available for selection in the limited-overs formats. Brunt made her Test debut in 2004, and a year later was named player of the match after taking nine wickets and scoring a half-century as England won the Ashes for the first time in 42 years.

She claimed a five-for in her last appearance, against Australia in Canberra over the winter, and retires with 51 wickets in the format the ninth-highest of all time. Her decision means that Brunt will not be involved when England play South Africa at Taunton in the oneoff Test - their first four-day encounter since 2003 - starting on June 27. “I feel like as an athlete there is never an obvious time to step away from do-

ing the thing that you love,” Brunt said. “But over the past two years thoughts of retirement have surfaced more and more, so I’ve decided to make a smart decision rather than an emotional one. Test cricket is my absolute passion and to retire from this format was truly a heart-breaking choice to make, but it allows me to prioritise white-ball cricket. “I know that I leave it in a great place, the bowlers coming through are ready and they’re just itching to be let loose. And with the South Africa game around the corner, I’m very much looking forward to watching them from the best seat in the house.” Brunt, 36, played only 14 Test across an 18-year career, largely due to a dearth of fixtures in the longest format. She never bettered her performance at Worcester in 2005, but revived memories of those glories with 8 for 84 as England drew a thrilling Test in the winter’s Ashes. Jonathan Finch, director of England Women’s cricket, said: “Katherine’s passion and commitment was never

more evident than when she played Test cricket for England and you only need to watch the last Ashes Test to see her desire, her heart and her undoubted ability with the red ball in hand. “She has given everything for England Women in Test cricket and we are fully supportive of her decision to focus on white-ball cricket on the international stage. Katherine can leave the red ball behind knowing she is a true legend in that form of the game and that she has set standards that future generations can only aspire to.” As well as facing South Africa and India in bilateral white-ball series this summer, England will also be looking to challenge for T20 gold at the Commonwealth Games. Brunt is England Women’s leading ODI wicket-taker, and second only to Anya Shrubsole, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, in T20Is. Both players will be involved in the Hundred, the second season of which begins after the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games. (Cricinfo)

Sammy appointed St Lucia Kings head coach

SAINT Lucia Kings is excited to announce that Daren Sammy will be the team’s head coach for the upcoming season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPLl). Daren has played a major role in bringing the Saint Lucia Kings to the finals for the 2020 and 2021 seasons of the CPL. Saint Lucia Kings is delighted to continue their partnership with Daren who has been with the team since

and as always will continue to inspire the team and propel them to greater heights. He was a natural choice given his natural skills both as a player and a leader and I am sure that under his stewardship Saint Lucia Kings will continue to be a force to reckon with.” Daren Sammy expressed “St Lucia is and will always be my home, it was always part of the plan to lead the

Darren Sammy played a mjor role in bringing Saint Lucia Kings to the finals for the 2020 2021 seasons its inception and has held various positions with the franchise from player to captain, ambassador, assistant coach, and mentor. Satish Menon, CEO, KPH Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd said “We’re very happy to have Daren onboard as the new head coach for Saint Lucia Kings. He has been an integral part of the team once as a player captain and mentor . Now he will be seen in a new role as its head coach

franchise after my playing days. The time is now. I can’t wait to start this next chapter with this amazing franchise as we continue on our quest to win our first CPL title. Many thanks to the Kings franchise owners for the faith shown in me for this role. The journey continues.” The Kings are scheduled to play four home matches in Saint Lucia from 7th September 2022 to 11th September 2022. (CPL)

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RHTY&SC to host Republic Bank Summer Camp

THE cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) from the July 18, would be hosting their annual Republic Bank Summer Camp and Cricket Academy as part of their personal developmental programme. The teams are Poonai Pharmacy U13, Farfan and Mendes U15, Bakewell U17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Females, Vitality U21 and Namilco U21 and First Division would be organising the events after a break of two years due the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant Secretary/CEO Jonathan Rampersaud, who would be supervising the two events, stated that the summer camp would be held at the Rose Hall Town Primary School with a total of fifty students in attendance. The main objective of the four weeks camp would

be to make sure that all the students make a successful transition from primary to secondary school. They would be taught four subjects- Maths, Science, History and English by two highly qualified teachers and would also be involved in several social developmental sessions with social work students from the University of Guyana. Among the topics that would be discussed with the students would be peer pressure, importance of education, importance of discipline, drug abuse, suicide, personal hygiene and public manners. Every student who successfully completed the camp and have a 90 per cent attendance rate would receive a school bag and educational materials while attractive prizes would be up for grabs including educational grants, bicycles, food hampers and

Hicks, Hilbert Foster and Rampersaud would look after the administrative aspect of the two events. Foster stated that the main objectives of the academy would be to look at new talents for further development, to cement the club reputation as one of Guyana leading cricket nursery and to develop the existing talents in the club.

Assistant Secretary/CEO of RHTY&SC Jonathan Rampersaud personal care hampers. Rampersaud also disclosed that the cricket academy would last for two weeks and would be hosted at the Area H Ground and in the compound of the Rose Hall Town Primary School.

Tyson Fury ‘over’ boxing but could return for 500 million pounds

(Reuters)-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said he was “over” boxing, but could be tempted to return to the ring for 500 million pounds ($611.20 million). Fury knocked out fellow Briton Dillian Whyte in April to retain his title before telling fans he would be sticking to his promise to his wife to retire “I won everything, so a warrior can do what a warrior wants to do,” Fury told the Daily Telegraph on Saturday. “But the actual man is done with fighting. “Boxing — and professional fighting — I am so over it … I’ve done everything that was asked of me, defeated every opponent I’ve ever faced and to be able to have a life after

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said he was “over” boxing, but could be tempted to return to the ring for 500 million pounds ($611.20 million)

that — isn’t that amazing and a beautiful thing?” When asked how much money would need to be involved to tempt him into making a return, Fury said “500 million pounds”. “So if somebody wants to pay that, I’m sure there’s people out there with a lot more than that, then I’ll return. But until that day, kaput, I’m out. And if someone wants to waste half a billion, I suppose my morality will be tested.” In April, Fury’s wife, Paris, said the 33-year-old might return for an undisputed world title fight against the winner of Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday June 19, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Nicholas Pooran-4/48 (Third ODI, Multan) (2) Mohammad Nawaz (Second ODI, Multan) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who were the WIs that made their ODI debut in the recent ODI series versus Pakistan? (2) Who were the Pakistani players that made their debut in the series? Answers in tomorrow’s issue2022 …………………………………………

The camp will have about 120 youths between the ages of 10 to 18 years and would be conducted by several coaches including Winston Smith, Delbert Hicks. Club executives Robby Kissoonlall, Tyrone Pottaya, Keith

The RHTY&SC since its formation in 1990 by three times Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee, the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Youth Club, has produced 13 players who have played at the international level and a combined 110 for Berbice and Guyana. The members of the academy would also be involved in off-the-field sessions in an effort to prepare them to be sports ambassadors. Special effort would be placed on

the mental aspect of the game and improving the players’ knowledge of the rules and history of cricket. All one hundred and twenty cricketers attending the academy will receive a school bag and educational materials while prizes up for grabs include cricket gears, cycles, educational grants, cricket uniforms and household items. Foster also disclosed that the Region Six division of the Guyana Police Force has accepted an offer to send fifty youths to the academy as part of their community outreach programme directed to communities across the county. The clubs also plan to invite former and present cricketing idols to visit the academy for inspirational sessions with the youths. Interested parents can call 337-4562 or 613-4970 for more information.

Nketiah agrees new five-year deal at Arsenal, to wear number 14 shirt ARSENAL striker Eddie Nketiah has agreed a new five-year contract with the Gunners.The 23-year-old, who was due to be out of contract at the end of the month, has made 92 firstteam appearances and scored 23 goals since his first-team debut in 2017. He finished last season in good form, starting Arsenal’s last eight league games and scoring five goals. “I’m delighted Eddie is staying with us,” said manager Mikel Arteta. “He represents what we are all about and all the values of the club. “We are very happy that he has extended his contract and now we have to get to work and continue to develop the great talent and person that we have in him.” The Londoner, who will wear the number 14 shirt next season, having previously worn number 30, marked his home debut with two goals against Norwich City in the Carabao Cup in 2017 and featured in the FA Cup and Community Shield-winning

Eddie Nketiah had been linked with a move to Crystal Palace teams in 2020. He is also the England Under-21s all-time top scorer with 16 goals in 17 appearances and captained the side that won the 2021 European Under-21 Championships. Arsenal technical director Edu, added: “The foundations of this squad are built on young talent and in particular those who have

come through our Academy system. “Eddie was released by another club as a young man but has always shown he has the attitude as well as the ability to become a top player. “The fact he’s signed a new contract is an important part of our squad planning for next season. (BBC Sport).

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 19, 2022

Barcelona player Martin Braithwaite to visit Guyana June 22 – 24

… as part of GFF/DBU partnership BARCELONA and Denmark forward Martin Braithwaite will visit Guyana on June 22 – 24, in his first assignment as the Goodwill Ambassador of the capacity-building partnership between the Danish Football Association (DBU) and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF). Braithwaite, 31, father is Guyanese.

According to a GFF release, Braithwaite, on June 22 will be introduced to the media as the Goodwill Ambassador of the DBU-GFF partnership. The following day, he will visit tourist attractions in Georgetown, pay a courtesy call on Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr., and visit the proposed D’Urban Park site which will host the GFF’s

planned national football stadium, before rounding off the day with a novelty futsal match at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. On June 24, the Barcelona forward will visit the place of his father’s birth in Charlestown and participate in the launch of the UEFA Assist/DBU Women’s Development League at the OFF National Training Centre. Before heading home

GMR&SC Dakota 100 on today

Martin Braithwaite in celebration mode after scoring for Barcelona in LaLiga to Europe, Braithwaite will also take time out to visit a grassroots football tournament and watch t h e G F F - B l u e Wa t e r

UIS Girls’ Development League at the GFF National Training Centre. Wayne Forde, president of the GFF, said “the

visit of a player of Martin’s calibre and standing underlines the significance of the partnership between the DBU and the GFF, and the importance that both organisations place on delivering real impact on the ground to develop football in Guyana.” According to Forde, the GFF is “extremely excited to welcome Martin to Guyana and we look forward to working with him in the future as we continue to build on this strong, close relationship with our Danish partners.”

Fraser-Pryce equals world leading 10.67 to win at Paris Diamond League

DEFENDING 100m World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continued her spectacular start to the 2022 season with a dominant win at Saturday’s Paris Diamond League. Fraser-Pryce ran her second sub 10.7 clocking this season, equalling her own world-leading 10.67 for victory ahead of Great Britain’s Daryll Neita (10.99) and Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou (11.01). The eight-time Olympic and nine-time World Championship medallist previously ran 10.67 at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya on May 7.

Bahamian Olympic 400m Champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo both also showed good form to secure 400m victories. Gardiner, who is also the defending World Champion, produced a typically easy display of running to win in a season’s best 44.21, ahead of the Dominican Republic’s Lidio Andres Feliz (44.92) and South Africa’s Zakhiti Nene (44.99). Miller-Uibo, on the other hand, went out extremely hard in the first three quarters of her race before shutting down with about 50 metres to go, to win in

50.10 ahead of Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek (50.24) and Anna Kielbasinska (50.28). Bahamian Devynne Charlton ran a season’s best 12.63 to finish second in the 100m hurdles behind Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan who did a personal best and African record 12.41 for victory. Great Britain’s Cindy Sember ran 12.73 for third. Cuba’s Jordan Diaz Fortun (17.66m) and Andy Diaz (17.65) were the top two finishers in the triple jump ahead of Olympic Champion Pedro Pichardo of Portugal (17.49m). (Sportsmax).

Endurance racing action resumes today at the South Dakota circuit

ENDURANCE racing returns to the South Dakota Circuit today for the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) Dakota 100 event. The first event of the Mahendra Boodhoo-led administration is a 100 lap endurance race set to begin at noon. According to offi-

cials of the club, all systems are in place for the event, which is expected to be preceded by a time attack segment, set for 09:00 hours. The track has been washed, cleaned and prepared for today’s event with competitors preparing their cars during the past week. Meanwhile, in a

change of format, the race will go on for 100 laps, with the first driver to complete that being adjudged the winner. Should there be a failure of any diver to complete the 100 laps, the driver with the most laps after three hours would be allotted the win.

Defending 100m World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continued her spectacular start to the 2022 season with a dominant win at Saturday’s Paris Diamond League

Roach levels with Holding as wobbly Windies close in on victory

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 19, 2022

…pulls alongside the legendary Michael Holding at 249 Test wickets

Seamer Kemar Roach (right) celebrates a wicket on Saturday with Jermaine Blackwood and Raymon Reifer (left)

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – Exemplary seamer Kemar Roach snatched his 10th five-wicket haul in Tests and a record 50th wicket at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, as he pulled alongside the legendary Michael Holding at 249 wickets on the all-time West Indies list while putting the hosts on the verge of victory in the opening Test here Saturday. With Bangladesh rallying on 232 for six in the final session after finding themselves sinking on 109 for six at one stage, the 33-year-old Roach proved West Indies’ hero once again by taking three of the last four wickets to fall to send the innings tumbling to 245 all out. Roach finished with five for 53 – his fourth five-wick-

et haul against the Tigers and third at the venue – and now finds himself on the brink of becoming only the sixth West Indies bowler to pass the cherished 250-wicket mark. Drama marked the final hour, however, as West Indies set a meagre 84 for victory, slumped to nine for three before John Campbell struck an unbeaten 28 in a 40-run, unbroken fourth wicket stand with vice-captain and fellow Jamaican Jermaine Blackwood (17 not out), to deny Bangladesh any further success. The Caribbean side require a further 35 runs on today’s fourth day to wrap up the Test and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, a result Roach said he was confident of. “We’re obviously in a

position to win. We always play matches to win,” Roach said afterwards. “Right now with 35 runs away, once the guys get a good rest tonight, come back tomorrow and be focused again, I think we’re in good stead to knock the runs off. Well done to the guys today to put ourselves in that position.” He added: “I’m proud [of myself]. To build a career and get amongst the greats is always a good feeling.” And West Indies owed that position primarily to Roach and to fellow pacer Alzarri Joseph (3-55) who picked up his second three-wicket haul of the game, while deceptive seamer Kyle Mayers grabbed two for 30. TURN TO PAGE 26

MILO Schools Football Tournament 2022..

Big wins for Charlestown, Carmel Secondary ACTION in the 2022 Milo Schools Football tournament recommenced despite early morning rains, with the action as spicy as ever before. Charlestown Secondary were by far the biggest winners of the day as they thumped Bishops’ High by 10 goals to none. Malcolm Hendricks (27’, 40’, 42’, 65’) led the scoreline for the Charlestown side with braces from Rhyme Mathews (50’, 60’) and Tyler Lyle (22’, 52’). Andrew Carto (13) and Micheal Andrews (44) were the other scorers as the third game of the day provided the most one sided clash. In the opening game, Dolphin Secondary won 4-1 against St. John’s thanks to a brace from Nicolas Tappin (25’, 60’) and two single strikes from Brian Burnette

(29’) and Gary Burnette (50’). David Xavier (20’) minute goal for the losers was undone by a red card for Kenan Tyrell in the 70th minute. T h e We s t R u i m v e l d t v s Queen’s College match was a closer affair with the former winning 2-1. Elijah Sattaur’s (56’, 65’) brace ensured that the West Ruimveldt side came from behind to erase the game’s first goal from Triston Richards (54’). Carmel Secondary 6-1 goal drubbing of Bladen Hall Multilateral was another one sided affair. Braces from Leon Sears (8’,45’) and Dwin Baptist (20’,50’) along with love strikes from Mathew Layne (32’) and Nephi Allicock (64’) made light work of the Bladen Hall unit, TURN TO PAGE 26

Action in the 2022 edition of the Milo Schools Football Tournament didn’t disappoint (Delano Williams photo)

Fraser-Pryce equals world leading 10.67 to win at Paris Diamond League Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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