Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_19_12_2021

19th December, 2021

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See Inside No.106580

$50M penalty proposed for breach of local content provisions

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Six die in fiery Berbice accident

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- three survive, families shocked

The mangled cars following the accident on Ross Public Road, West Coast Berbice

Over 50,000 receive 7% pay hike SEE PAGE

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Malachi Alexander: from high school dropout to winner of Leadership Award SEE PAGE

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‘Free Zone’ agenda for Region Nine still in the works

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

‘Free Zone’ agenda for Region Nine still in the works

- President Ali says legislation still being crafted

By Rehana Ahamad THE government is currently working to craft a piece of legislation which will allow for Region Nine (Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo) to be designated as a “special area for investment,” according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali. In his address at a Christmas dinner hosted by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Thursday last, Dr Ali said that the intention is to develop and establish the region, which borders Brazil, as a ‘Free Zone.’ To put it simply, a ‘Free Zone’ refers to a designated city or area of a country where business and trade can be conducted without the burden of certain taxes and restrictions.

“We are actively working on the legislation,” President Ali said definitively.

It is believed that the realisation of the Lethem area as a ‘Free Zone’ will essentially unleash the region’s potential as an investment hub. “There will be great opportunity for logistics and transportation; terminals for containers, all of

these for Region Nine,” President Ali indicated.

He shared too the government’s plans to further “scaleup” Lethem by transforming its aerodrome into a modern municipal airport.

In a visit to Lethem back in September, President Ali was keen on acknowledging the gap that exists between communities on the coastland and those tucked away in hinterland, pledging his government’s intention to level the playing field by ensuring that rural villages are economically empowered and integrally involved in the country’s decision-making process.

Dr. Ali had also highlighted the “enormous” potential of Region Nine, particularly as it relates to becoming a “heartland” for agriculture.

“The region possesses massive plots of land which can be adopted to large-scale agricultural production, including the cultivation of products used for local feed production and for exports,” the President said previously.

He noted too that notwithstanding food production, the

region’s greatest asset is its eco-tourism product, which can be also be developed as a hotspot for adventure and nature-based sports.

Dr. Ali also hinted at the establishment of similar ‘free zones’ for Regions Two and Three. He said that going forward, the government has a specific and customised development agenda for each of Guyana’s 10 administrative regions.

The President went further to ask the Private Sector representatives to pin-point any region they wish to know about, and he will brief them on the development strategy.

Asked about Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), Dr. Ali said that the mission is to create additional jobs and create the requisite conditions to advance entrepreneurship within the region.

As it relates to Region One (Barima-Waini), the Commander-In-Chief said that the region is facing a security risk that must be addressed.

“The most important policy direction and strategic issue to deal with in Region One is

that of the migrants; a security and migrant problem,” Dr. Ali said, referring to an influx of migrants from neighbouring Venezuela.

“While we are helping and supporting all that we can, we are in a peculiar situation; we have a security risk. We have to be very careful as to how we deal with this challenge,” the President posited.

He said that even with the existing issues, heavy investments are being made to improve the lives of citizens in Region One. Dr. Ali said that in addition to massively upgrading the region’s infrastructure, the region is also expected to benefit from increased trade and economic enhancement, owing to the implementation of a number of initiatives. “…We are doing the roads, opening new areas for farming, supporting the farmers with capital and equipment, and very soon, we will have two new ferries servicing the route to bring out produce to Georgetown…containerised goods,” Dr. Ali noted.

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Region One is also

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, during his recent address to members of the private sector (Office of the President photo) slated to become a ‘Free Zone’, but it was previously deemed as a likely location. As a matter of fact, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop had said that “Those are the areas where you look at free zones.”

Even though work on the ‘free zone’ legislation is

now being done, it not a new idea from the government.

During its pre-2015 stint in office, People’s Progressive Party/Civic was examining the establishment of such designated areas. Now, President Ali is looking to pair these with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hubs.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

$50M penalty proposed for breach of local content provisions

By Rehana Ahamad

OIL companies that fail to outsource most of their services to entities owned and run by Guyanese could face a penalty of up to GY$50 million, according to provisions set out in the landmark Local Content Bill, which was tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday last.

The new Bill, presented to the Parliament by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, seeks to ensure that Guyanese and Guyaneseowned businesses are given preference when it comes to providing goods and services to the major oil companies operating within Guyana’s borders.

It outlines 40 areas and the minimum local content requirements for each. For instance, by the end of 2022, oil companies and their subcontractors must ensure that 100 per cent of their ground transportation needs are satisfied by Guyanese entities.

The same percentage applies to the provision of immigration support services, customs brokerage services, and visa and work permit services. Similarly, 90 per cent of services relating to the rental

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, during his Thursday presentation to the National Assembly of office spaces, the provision of catering services, accommodation services, laundry and janitorial services, and legal services must be procured from local entities.

“The farmers at Black Bush Polder, their food can go on the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO)

vessel. Our provisions and our meat can make it out there on the FPSO. That is creating opportunities for poultry, cashcrop farmers; everyone in the agriculture sector, as well as the others to benefit from the oil-and-gas sector,” Minister Bharrat said in his presentation to the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the areas that requires the least amount of local content are engineering and machining.

Additionally, in an effort to enable Guyanese to take advantage of all aspects of the oil-and-gas industry, ‘Employment Sub-Plans’ were included in the Bill.

This aspect requires a forecast of the hiring and/or training needs of a contractor, sub-contractor or licensee, particularly outlining, among other things, the specific skills and competencies needed and any anticipated shortages of skillsets in the Guyanese workforce.

The sub-plan also requires oil companies to accelerate industrial and technical education and training for Guyanese, in keeping with performance standards.

Further, the proposed legislation states that in cases where a Guyanese national “has the relevant qualification, but does not possess the requisite experience, that Guyanese national shall benefit from necessary training, and work alongside a non-Guyanese national [sic] who will serve as a coach or mentor for a period determined by the minister, after consultation with the [Local Content]

Secretariat.”

The Bill also makes provisions for a Procurement SubPlan, which would require the crafting of a supply-chain management strategy, including a forecast of required goods and services, and provide Guyanese nationals with timely and appropriate access to information, business opportunities, joint venture and partnership opportunities, technology and “know-how”; contract and payment terms that facilitate competitive financing and growth; and an effective performance-management system aimed at garnering feedback for improvements.

Even more explicitly, the Bill proposes the implementation of a Local Capacity Development Sub-Plan, which is expected to include standards for measuring and comparing suppliers’ capabilities, qualifications and certification of skills, goods and services, along with local market condition analysis and fostering an environment that accommodates partnerships between Guyanese and non-Guyanese entities.

“This legislation is a way of moving our developmental agenda forward,” Minister Bharrat insisted.

“We believe that Guyanese must benefit from this new sector. We might not have the knowledge and requisite skills now, but I am sure that in years to come and with the programmes that the government is putting in place, both in the human-resource capacity, as well as the capacity in our local private sector to ensure that they place a meaningful role in the oil-and-gas sector and bring true benefits to Guyanese and Guyanese businesses.”

The Bill, which seeks to give Guyanese first preference and knowledge-sharing in the oil-and-gas sector, is still to be debated in the National Assembly, and even though there are just a few days left in the year 2021, the Dr Irfaan Ali government has its sights set on having the new law passed by the House and signed into law before next year.

Since assuming office in August 2020, President Ali had pledged to ensure passage of the Local Content Policy, so that Guyanese can benefit optimally from the bounties being extracted off-shore Guyana, and all the positive spin-off opportunities that will emerge from the already booming petroleum sector.

Malachi Alexander: from high school dropout to winner of Leadership Award

By Tamica Garnett HAVING had to drop out of secondary school for two years because of the death of his father and dire economic circumstances facing his family, it was a particularly proud moment for 18-year-old Malachi Alexander on Friday when he was among the students awarded in the inaugural Guyana-China Friendship Youth Leadership Development Award competition.

The Berbice Educational Institute student want others to know that it does not end, even if you have to leave school.

“It’s never too late to keep trying. You could be at your lowest point in life, there will always be someone there to bring you back up,” he commented in a sit down with the Sunday Chronicle moments after he had collected his award.

He shares the moment with his mentor and teacher,

Osafa Dos Santos, who had played a pivotal role in encouraging him to be part of the project which sought to develop leadership skills in students through the execution of a community project, critique of a work of art and participation in a sport activity.

Alexander was among 11 students who were awarded US$1,000, a trophy and a token from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, which sponsored the programme. For his community project, Alexander spearheaded the rehabilitation of a poultry facility at his school.

“Winning this award is very nice because it was hard and challenging getting stuff together, doing the fitness challenge and those things.

It’s leading me to become a leader in the community, because you never know what can happen in the future,” he said.

A former student of the

Guyana-China Friendship Youth Leadership Development Awardee, Malachi Alexander (right) and his teacher, Osafa Dos Santos (Adrian Narine photo) Christianburg Wismar Secondary School, Alexander dropped out of school in Grade 9, shortly after his father died of liver cancer in 2010, but thanks to the sup-

port of family members and continuous encouragement from his mother, he would be back in school at the Berbice Educational Institute in 2018.

However, the years were

tough on his mother as she was left to raise him and his three other siblings.

“After my dad passed, we would be moving from different places, because we didn’t have anywhere to stay.

It was very hard because everything was on my mom, and we weren’t getting help, so I dropped out of school in Form Three when I was in Linden,” Alexander recalled.

Very much an industrious young man, Alexander shared his story of having spent his time out of school doing whatever he could to also help assist his mother and contribute to the household.

“I did a lot. I used to sell plantain chips, clothes, ride around and sell greens, sell popcorn.”

But understanding education to be the doorway out of any economic hardship, his mother was always hopeful to see him back in school.

“Most of the time it is just me and my mom, and my

little sister and finances were always hard, but my mom would always be ‘Malachi go back to school’, she used to even cry for me to go back to school. So I decided to go with it,” he said.

He got his break when he went to visit some family members in Berbice, and eventually found a new home, and was able to get registered back into school.

But being at the age of 16, a time when most students usually leave school and having to restart school from Grade 8, meant Alexander would face an uphill journey, but he would not let the challenges of the circumstances deter him.

He commended the teachers of his school for making it a welcoming environment for him. Today, he is currently in Grade 11 preparing to write seven subjects at the 2022 Caribbean Education Secondary Certificate (CSEC), and is aspiring to be a heavy-duty mechanic TURN TO PAGE 4

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Six die in fiery Berbice accident Dead: Lindon McFarlane

Jamol Lynch

Jashawn Saul

- three survive, families shocked

By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur Jamol Lynch, a Hopetown, West Coast Berbice (WCB) resident who would have celebrated his 22nd

birthday on Saturday, was among six persons who perished in a horrific threevehicle accident in the wee hours of Saturday on Ross Public Road, WCB in Re-

gion Five.

Another victim has been identified as Lindon McFarlane, 23 of Number 22 Belair, WCB; he was the driver of motorcar PNN 3536

Joel Jacobs

Gary Blair

which burst into flames upon impact, burning him beyond recognition while his close friends, who were also in the car – Lynch and Jashawn Saul, 19 - also suffered burns and were killed upon impact.

The others victims are Gary Blair, 44, of Turkeyen,

Keanna Dow

Georgetown, who was the driver of a red new model X-trail (PYY 4293) and its occupants, Joel Jacobs 29, of Number 40 Village and of Turkeyen; and Keanna Dow 22, of Number 29 Village. Surviving the gruesome accident in this

car is Brian Goodridge, 29, of Lot 39 Public Road, East Coast Demerara; he received severe injures and had to be transferred from the New Amsterdam Hospital to the Georgetown Public Hospital TURN TO PAGE 5

Malachi Alexander: from high...

FROM PAGE 3 operator.

“It was a difficult thing.

After dropping out of school, getting back into school was quite tough. But I start-

ed back at Second Form [Grade 8] and moved up, moved up to Fifth Form [Grade11]. Most of the teachers they looked up at me as the eldest and said, ‘you have to be the person leading the children.’ The teachers were fantastic,” he recalled.

And lead he did, as evidenced by his win in the Youth Leadership Development competition.

It was through his school and with the encouragement of Dos Santos that Alexander entered the Youth Leadership competition, which was launched in March. He would prevail as the winner for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne ), and be awarded along with the 10 other students on Friday.

DISCIPLINED Dos Santos shares that he has always been impressed

by Alexander’s level of discipline and mannerisms.

“He reminded me a lot of me. Attitude, being respectful and being able to carry himself in a way that others respect him. I didn’t know he was facing all of these challenges when I first met him. It wasn’t until after when we took some pictures and he was like, ‘you

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resemble my dad’, then he showed me a picture and at a glance, I said this was some serious coincidence and so we bonded from then,” Dos Santos shared.

He is happy that he is able to be there and play a father-figure’s role in the life of Alexander.

“I would always keep close contact with him.

When you see me, you see him.”

Alexander believes his win in the award is testament to the ability of anyone to turn around their circumstances, no matter how bad things get, as that is what he has been able to do.

An agriculture student himself, Alexander said he was motivated to fix up the poultry facility because he understands the benefit that it would bring to the school and the students. Notwithstanding having a hard time with donations for the project, Alexander was determined to see it to completion.

Now that he has won, Alexander shares that he is hopeful to take some of the proceeds from his win to open his own poultry farm and perhaps expand it, as farming is also one of his passions.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Six die in fiery Berbice...

FROM PAGE 4 Corporation.

The occupants of the third vehicle (PWW 208) escaped with serious injuries and have been identified as Akeem Solomon (the driver), 30, of Number 4 Village and Fiona Massiah, 20, of Number 28 Village. Both are reported to have suffered serious head injuries and a broken leg, respectively.

The Guyana Police Force, in a statement, stated that Blair and Solomon were speeding west along the southern side of the road while McFarlane was also speeding east when the three vehicles collided.

Due to the impact. some of the occupants were flung from their vehicles while others had to be pulled from the wreckage. The police are still trying to figure out how or what caused the cars to collide.

FAMILIES DEVASTATED Speaking with the Sunday Chronicle, Timika Williams, 29, the sister of Lynch, said the family is in a state of shock and disbelief. She recalled her brother was partying with his friends as he ushered in his birthday.

She said she heard him

Carlon Semple is happy to be alive; he went home just a few hours before the deadly accident in the yard at around 02:00 hours when he arrived home to leave his bicycle and then left in a car.

“He was out, most of the time he always out with the two boys and another one that does be with them but [the other friend] went home before the accident and the three of them proceeded to go to Lichfield for a next party.

“We received a call after [3am] saying there was an accident. My big brother was out and he went to the scene where he identified the body

cause Jamol could have been identified since he wasn’t badly burnt,” the distraught sister recalled.

Despite the eldest brother identifying the body, Timika remained in shock until she saw his body.

“I saw a burnt body and Jamol was just there lying lifeless, his foot was broken, his neck was broken.” The young man was a construction worker and his sister described him as a quiet and loving individual who loved hanging out with his friends.

Meanwhile, another friend of the trio, Carlon Semple, who was partying with them earlier in the night, said he is considered “blessed.” Semple decided to leave the party for home at around midnight since he had to work in the morning. He told the Sunday Chronicle that he feels a part of him is broken after learning that his friends of many years died tragically.

“I believe that was that was God’s work and a sign.

All of [us] left and go together and I left to go home; then this morning I hear this news, this really shake me up and I feel so broken inside. We are all good friends that usually together most of the time.”

Meanwhile, at the home

Marva Saul and her husband grieve the loss of their youngest son, Jashawn of Saul, his grieving parents sat next to each other as they try to come to grips with the tragic news of their youngest son while other family members gathered to comfort each other.

His mother, Marva Saul, said it was moments after 05:00 hours when her daughter-in-law called and informed her of the accident.

The grieving mother said

The mangled cars following the accident on the Ross Public Road, West Coast Berbice

Jashawn left home at around 21:00 hours for a bar-b-que in the village.

The father of Joel, Vincent Jacobs, of Number 40 Village said his son resided and worked in Georgetown but he was in Berbice with the driver, Gary Blair.

After he was informed of the accident, he went to the scene and subsequently to the Fort Wellington Hospital

where he saw the lifeless body of his son. Joel sustained head injuries, burns, a broken leg among other injuries.

Regional Commander, Kurleigh Simon, told reporters that while the police were able to identify the victims, ranks are working to determine what may have led to the collision.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Region Six

PRESIDENT Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during his recent visit to Region Six, disclosed a menu of new projects to be undertaken in that region, which he said has ‘the important catalytic push’ to bring about trans-border development. Among these developments is the transformation of the Port Mourant Training Centre into the country’s Oil and Gas Institute.

This is indeed a significant development which will provide opportunities for Guyanese to be trained in several skill areas relevant to oil-and-gas operations. Many of the skillsets required for the petroleum sector are not currently available in the country, and have been taken up by foreigners. In keeping with the recently tabled Local Content Bill, these skills can now be sourced locally, which will greatly enhance capacity building in the sector.

The Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC) was established in 1957

by the then Bookers Sugar Estates (BSE) as an apprentice training facility to provide young Guyanese with greater opportunities to equip themselves with technical skills, mainly relevant to sugar production. The centre was fully equipped with lecture and residential facilities and practical workshops. Thousands of young people graduated from the institute in a wide variety of technical skills.

However, with the downsizing of sugar production and the closure of a number of grinding sugar estates by the former APNU+AFC administration, the facilities at the centre became underutilised, resulting in idle training capacity.

The decision by the President to transform that training institute as a training institute for the oil-andgas sector is indeed forward looking and a step in the right direction.

Region Six which encompasses East Berbice-Corentyne, borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north; Suriname to the east; Brazil

to the south and the regions of Mahaica-Berbice, Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice, Potaro-Siparuni and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo to the west. It is the only region in the country that includes parts of all four natural regions -- coastal plain, intermediate savannah, hilly sand and clay area and forested highland. It is also the only region with three towns, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and Corriverton. With a population of 142,000, it is the second largest region in terms of population size.

The region is therefore strategically positioned to be the catalytical push to bring about cross-border development. The construction of a deep-water port in Region Six, apart from job creation and other ancillary benefits, will also see some significant economic benefits to the productive sectors, especially in terms of containerised traffic, direct export of grains and reduced logistical costs.

Phase One of the Berbice Deep-water Port is to

be constructed by CGX Energy Inc and its subsidiary Grand Canal Industrial Estates Inc., at the mouth of the Berbice River. It is expected to be completed by October 2022. A bridge linking the main access road to the construction site has been built at a cost of approximately US$1M, which is a relatively small component of the first phase of the port with an estimated budget of US$80M. The overall construction will see an investment of more than US$2000M injected into the project.

According to Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman, who along with President Ali and other senior government functionaries were present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, ‘the bridge is not crossing a major waterway but it is significant, it is a major step towards development of the Deep-water Port here in Berbice. And that port will play an important role in Guyana’s oil-and-gas

industry, as well as product exportation.’

President Ali has outlined a clear vision for Guyana which will see rapid transformation in terms of infrastructural and social development in the regions and the country as a whole. High on the agenda is the re-designing of the country’s future in order to deliver on high levels of prosperity, not only for this generation, but for generations to come. In the case of Region Six, the objective of the plan is to make the region sustainable in terms of its own development trajectory. According to President Ali, sustainable development is premised on a number of key attributes which include job creation, a high quality of social services, education, health, infrastructure, water, electricity and empowerment opportunities. Additionally, there is also need to reduce economic and gender disparities. These fundamental elements of sustainable development, the President said, will be added to the

national and regional plans to ensure across- the-board implementation.

Region Six is certainly high on President Ali’s development agenda with a number of key projects which, in addition to a number of mega-projects such as the Corentyne River Bridge and the Berbice Deep-water Port, will also see major infrastructural works such as expansion of the Corentyne highway to international standards, upgrading of community roads and improved drainage and irrigation services, among other developments. The President took the opportunity to update Berbicians of his administration’s plan to construct a new state-of-the art hospital in the region.

Plans are also underway for a joint gas-strategy project between Guyana and Suriname which, in addition to providing energy at lower unit costs, is envisioned to provide energy for aluminium production in Berbice, known for its large deposits of A-Grade bauxite deposits.

President Ali is a servant of the people

Dear Editor, THE year 2021 will be closed on a high note for all Guyanese. The PPP/C Government led by President Irfaan Ali has delivered far beyond its campaign promises and the good life, which was only an illusion for five years under the Coalition, is being made a reality.

Beyond question President Ali has continued the progressive trend which past Presidents of the PPP/C have set. The President has made known from the inception that he is the servant of the

people and since then he has been engaging Guyanese from all walks of life and from different political persuasions. He listens and resolves issues on the spot and what is remarkable is that he allows the audience to speak first about their problems. He is not on the campaign trail as his predecessor was. His humble and sympathetic demeanor removes all barriers and Guyanese are allowed to speak freely and without any pretensions. One could sense the complete ease with which the people interact with him.

In July 2019, Unit-

ed States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, pointed out the need for a deep-water port in Guyana.

She spoke of the port as an infrastructural gap and highlighted the numerous significant benefits which will accrue from this investment and will be a major source in promoting economic growth and development.

And as usual the Coalition conducted a number of costly studies which bore no fruit.

Moreover, when contacted by the media at that time, Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, was unable to give

an update. He was clueless as was his government. The deep-water harbor was just an illusion just as the many campaign promises.

With just over a year in office, the PPP/C Government has delivered not only on the deep-water harbour but also on the bridge to Suriname. On Friday the President was again in Berbice and this time, he cut the ribbon to the access bridge at Seawell which is the first step in the building of the deep-water port to be built

by CGX Energy Inc. This massive investment will cre-

ate business and employment opportunities for Region Six. A few days ago, Minister Mustapha hinted at this development in addition to the building of the all-weather roads at 52 and 58 villages and the opening of over 50,000 acres of new land.

He also spoke about the road to Brazil linking the deep-water harbour. This will create access across the borders of Guyana, Brazil, Suriname and the rest of the world via the Atlantic. The increase in trade will definitely push the region and Guyana

into being an important partner in international trade bringing a multitude of socio-economic benefits.

This Government has placed emphasis on the development of all the sectors and it is just a matter of time that our economic development will grow by leaps and bounds. Mr President you are a great leader and continue to walk with your people in humility and dignity and continue to be their servant.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Brief comparison between APNU-led Coalition and the current administration

By Dr. Vishnu Bisram

INTERACTIONS with people across all spectrum of the society have revealed new confidence has been awakened in the country since the change in administration in August of last year.

Life has been better under the PPP/C administration than it was under the APNU-led Coalition.

Even critics accept that there has been a lot of positive change over the last 16 months. As some respondents say, they may have found that some decisions were not wise, but intentions were right. Just the policy needed tweaking.

As I gleamed from survey comments and from interactions, between 2015 and 2020, the country regressed. It was a remake of aspects of Burnhamite governance – tight control of the economy and strangulation of the private sector and the farming community. As under Burnham, people had lost faith in the government.

There were complaints everywhere right after the government ministers gave themselves a hefty over 50 per cent increase while offering only five per cent raise to all other government workers. The government said they gave themselves the 50 per cent raise so there won’t be a need to ‘thief” to sustain themselves financially. It was as if the other government workers didn’t need a 50 per cent raise to discourage them from “thieving” (if they were thieving). Does that mean those who got the five per cent raise were licensed to thief. The sugar workers got nothing initially. The public asked: Didn’t some ministers still “thief” (collect drawbacks)?

A year into the APNU-led government, peo-

ple became most disappointed as they lost hope in the leaders they voted. They voted for positive change. They got worse change. As they said, it was most difficult to survive and make ends meet under the Coalition.

It was even more difficult for anyone to do business.

Farmers could not get buyers for their products as money was tight and not circulating; products perished. Too many people lost their jobs when the government closed four sugar estates putting 7,500 on the breadline and also fired 2,000 Amerindians; some 3,000 Indians were from civil service positions. The four estates provided an economic lifeline to some 30,000 families.

Altogether, hundreds of thousands were affected.

The economy slumped as government taxed away in ever decreasing incomes.

Money was not circulating. Government went after the banking sector.

The business community lost confidence. Businesses shrank by some 60 per cent. Corruption was rampant. The whole business environment was crippled by corruption and scams. Foreign investors were not coming (except for oil). Several businesses closed down.

Some foreign investors pulled out. Inflation was skyrocketing. Taxes were the highest since independence. Democracy was slipping away right after the no-confidence vote on December 21, 2018. After committing to respect the outcome of the vote and prepare to hold elections within three months, the government went to court to drag out the process, probably hoping to put in place a structure for rigging. The CCJ had to compel the APNU+AFC Government to hold election which were held a

whole year after its due date. Repeated childish efforts to rig, failed! These were exposed and condemned by the international community.

Since the change in administration in August 2020, confidence in government has improved and business confidence has also been restored.

Taxes have been cut or eliminated. The PPP/C has governed without the need to close estates or government businesses, albeit it has not re-hired the 10 thousand who lost their jobs. But it has not terminated professional people’s employment or hired people on account of ethnicity.

The government has been addressing the problems related to COVID-19. Testing-19 for COVID-19 and vaccines have been readily available. Test results are not hidden as under the previous regime. Government is open. Respondents note that programmes have been implemented to address challenges facing the poor, working class, retirees, and pensioners.

The government rolled out several grants relating to COVID-19, flood relief, pension increments, NIS increments, salary increases for government workers including civil servants, teachers, and sugar workers. It has also given out special grants to pensioners, school grants, uniform grants, severance pay to sugar workers who have not been re-hired. Small businesses have access to government grants. Infrastructure has been upgraded. New roads are being built. Over 10 thousand house lots or houses for the poor and working classes have been given out. These development measures of the poor, pensioners, and working class are essential for the im-

provement of the overall economy. Investment in welfare measures, aiding the business community, raising government workers salaries, etc., increases GDP. And the government has committed to rapid transformation of the

country. The government has committed support for development of private shore bases. The government should make efforts to increase research and development (R&D) in accordance with policy decisions.

There is more trans-

parency now than under the previous regime. Democracy is increasingly becoming a way of life.

Government is making efforts to protect democratic gains with legislation. More can and should be done in every area.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Companies relocate operations to Guyana as opportunities grow

WITH Guyana’s offshore oil production rapidly growing, a flood of companies that service the industry are also moving their activities to the country. At this point, many of the largest global oil and gas service companies have some sort of presence in Guyana, and many of the exploration and production companies offshore are moving their own internal support staff and infrastructure from places like Trinidad and Tobago.

ExxonMobil Guyana’s president, Alistair Routledge, recently stated that the company has relocated nearly all of its support services and its supply chain services hub from Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana to support the growing market.

The move has already created new jobs for Guyanese and will continue to do so as the company’s operations expand, according to Routledge. Support services from Brazil are being relocated as well.

The relocation will bring ExxonMobil’s total investment in Guyana to an estimated US$30 billion. Routledge also announced that the company is planning to invest in an onshore logistics hub in Guyana to support its offshore exploration and production activities.

Most of the jobs in oil and gas ultimately come from these kinds of support services since the actual production process requires relatively little labour.

Last week SBM Offshore,

an oil and gas service company focused on building and supporting equipment for offshore operations, held an event in Georgetown celebrating its fiveyear anniversary of operating in Guyana. SBM was contracted to build Guyana’s four floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels, which will service the lucrative Liza, Payara, and Yellowtail fields.

Other major oil service providers like Saipem, which offers technological and engineering services, are also turning to locals to staff teams for assembly, testing, coating, and loading of massive subsea jumpers—work that was previously done in Trinidad.

Other service companies, like TechnipFMC and Schlumberger, have moved existing or opened new operations in Guyana and are training new employees to satisfy needs of the Liza Phase 2 and Payara developments. These relocations are a highly positive sign for Guyana’s rapidly growing capacity to service the industry and an indication that international companies see strong potential in the developing labour force here.

As investment continues to grow, support services can pave the way for more opportunities in Guyana’s domestic private sector, including the construction of new shore bases, warehousing, and waste treatment facilities. The development of these local services are set to significantly transform Guy-

ana’s economy. Since 2015, Guyana’s growing oil and gas sector has provided jobs for 3,200 Guyanese and international companies have worked with more than 800 local suppliers for various goods and services, and hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent in the domestic economy.

With heightened focus on and additional capabilities located in Guyana, the country is beginning to serve as a hub for the region in oil and gas.

Even though the formal local content policy is not yet place, Guyana has already built

THE new People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Leader has several difficult decisions to make during the initial stages of his tenure. It is no secret that the PNC/R is a severely fractured and wounded political organisation following its loss at the 2020 elections.

Also, it is still hemorrhaging from close to 15 years of internal mismanagement, political opportunism and vindictiveness during the David Granger years of stewardship.

Today, the party is not unified and certainly not strong.

In short, unity and togetherness are fragile.

Therefore, the new leader must redefine the party image, structure, and philosophy in the new modern economy and national politics. Additionally, the main governing party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), is making the PNC/R seem like a child in Parliament

up significant local capacity.

According to the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD), which opened in 2017 to help local businesses build expertise and capacity to service the oil and gas sector, there has been a 200 percent increase in the number of firms using these services. The CLBD estimates that it has registered about 3,000 local businesses that are now working together and investing in opportunities presented by the oil and gas industry.

The Centre is also expanding programmes to bring in experts from organisations like the

Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association to help advise local companies and form partnerships.

Several other training programmes are already in place to ensure that trainees have the education needed to service oil and gas infrastructure safely and effectively. The University of Guyana’s Institute for Energy Diplomacy has focused on educating, training, and preparing Guyanese for the oil and gas sector and provides courses specifically focused on energy industry development.

Despite the local content bill only just being introduced in the National Assembly, Guyana has successfully started to build up its capabilities and provide the expertise needed to satisfy growing demand for workers.

As the government works to approve its local content bill, it will be important to account for the great progress the country has already made in this area. Continued growth in the sector, and especially as more companies move to Guyana, will support the organic development of Guyana’s capabilities.

The new PNC leader

and opposition by schooling it on how to govern Guyana and its people effectively even though it just finished a tour in the Executive as part of APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

The truth is, the party is split right down the middle.

One half with the majority wanting change, and a step forward in terms of ideologies and policies which will impact its political image. This group wants stability in leadership till the next Congress and elections. It speaks of reforms and newer party internal mechanisms to change how the PNC/R does business.

While the other half of PNC/R wants to return to the old PNC/R known well for its history of conflict, confusion, lack of trust, intemperance, and a poor outlook on governance and transparency. This half of the group preaches discrimination, race hate, and

division.

This group can absorb the new leader in struggles counter to what the PNC/R stands for as a national party. That aside, the new leader must be mindful of both power blocks within the party as he seeks to charter a clear plan of action that will hopefully seem more democratic and responsible in leadership. The overall goal of the new leader must be to have a more peaceful and rational thinking PNC/R. Firstly, the new leader should quickly change the guards in the opposition that represents his party in Parliament. It is difficult to do, but it must be done if the PNC/R wants representation in the Coalition.

One can see the signs of there being a haphazard approach to Parliament. The MPs need stricter leadership and management if they are opposed to guidance. Their arguments on the different bills and motions leave much to be desired; and most times lack research and proper political analysis.

Let them go if they are only interested in social media fame because PNC/R has work to do on the ground.

Secondly, the new leader needs to change the PNC/R relationship with the government. Any new leader should be bold and straightforward.

An admittance that the government is legitimate and that the 2020 elections were lost to the PPP is a great place to start new cordial relations in the interest of moving Guyana past the stench of the elections.

If this move is made genuinely,

the President would extend an olive branch signalling a restart of the dialogue with the new leader and a return to the bipartisan approach to handling matters of national importance.

A move like this will shift the political climate, restore good faith, and build trust among the government and opposition.

Thirdly, the new leader should distance his party from the people that are sucking the life out of it. I refer, for example, to those following that supposed hostile, ill-tempered, and deranged man in the US. They will cost the PNC/R its votes but will not get a single ballot for the party because of their irrelevance.

Another way of building back the party is to get more young people in the circle that makes critical policy decisions.

Also, develop a new way of calling home affected and disgruntled supporters who will only come back to PNC if they can be assured of change in politics and policy internally.

Finally, the new leader must confront the challenges in the political environment not from a historical or racial paradigm but a looking glass of facts, truth and reality. He must adopt a practical approach to leading the PNC/R into the next election and demonstrate the willingness to listen and act responsibly at all times. He must put his best judgment of the politics first. The PNC/R as a party must signal its readiness to shake off all the baggage of rigged elections and proclaim a closure to that chapter in its political life.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Year-end dynamics AS we move closer to the end of 2021, there are umpteen issues one can reflect on. Considering the global realities, the pandemic is unavoidable, and I think Guyana has answered in the affirmative, namely, to ensure that the right mechanisms are in place to advance the vaccination process and make the country safe. The government, of course, still has quite a job on its hand in getting more people to take the vaccine, to follow the COVID-19 protocol of social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands, and to deal with conspiracy theories of the virus that ignore the science, among others.

The public must be an active partner to tackle these continuous challenges if we are going to make progress, notably, to halt the virus’ transmission rate. Over one thousand Guyanese have lost their lives, a majority unvaccinated, because of the virus. Healthcare, education, and the economy, like elsewhere across the globe, have taken a severe beating, and, again, because of the virus.

These unfortunate conditions have pushed countries, including Guyana, to rely less on citizens to follow COVID-19 protocol and instead apply mandatory restrictions and regulations, evoking dismay among sections of society in the name of violating human rights. The message is basic, the vaccine alone cannot tame the virus. To those who refuse to take the vaccine for whatever reasons, I understand. I say, however, we are all into these toxic and testing times together, made worse by the fact that we do not have a definite blueprint to tackle the virus.

But if a common approach is lacking, we will be weighing ourselves down into a dark dungeon.

On the domestic front, there is a proposal to reform GECOM, which has

ignited a firestorm of criticisms regarding its draconian characteristics. While one suspects that when the public’s comments and criticisms are shared with the government and subsequently some changes to the proposal might be implemented, it is unfortunate that the crux of the proposal has so far not been fully contextualised. To wit, the government of the day is saddled with the responsibility to address and act according to rising and looming events, and in this case, the harrowing ordeal Guyanese faced for five months at attempts of electoral rigging.

What would have been a normal election process and was until the vote counting started at Region Four, turned out to be a complex maze, culminating into a theater of absurdity. No other Caribbean country has experienced such an ordeal of electoral rigging, a stink of fleece of the lowest order. Therefore, to eradicate electoral malfeasance and perennial bedlam at GECOM, a serious overhaul of regulations is warranted, including the penalty of life imprisonment to rig an election.

Because of the peculiarity of Guyanese electoral system, we cannot afford to merely copy other countries’ policies, but be cognisant that if we do so, we would elicit chuckles and send the wrong message to the riggers that GECOM remains an insipid institution.

We cannot afford to play footsie with our electoral system and nourish vile practices that will bedevil the innocence of a nation. The proposal must flush out every morsel of pain Guyanese endured during the five months of disgraceful attempts of electoral rigging, never to happen again.

We have witnessed, also in 2021, the strengthening of international and local relations to generate business investment opportunities. The PPP/C administration has developed strategic partner-

ships with countries across the globe, including Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Latin America, and the Caribbean, to list a few.

The motive is to generate a new wave of investment to bolster infrastructural development such as roads, bridges, housing, and hydropower plants, among others, brought about by the oil and gas sector. These initiatives are laudable and visionary that would, in the long run, transcend Guyana from a position of stagnant decadence to dedicated development with the overall aim that the life of ordinary Guyanese would be quantitatively and qualitatively better from the past. In the words of President Dr. Irfaan Ali in his keynote address during a virtual faculty workshop on the microeconomics of competitiveness, hosted by Harvard Business School, in early December: “Guyana is now poised to be one of the wealthiest countries in the hemisphere… [and the aim is 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,” I say amen to this declaration, but we find ourselves where oppositional forces to the current government are in past familiar places, a redux of mayhem and malevolence. I am convinced that these are extremists whose intent is not based on constructive criticisms that would strike a political equilibrium between those who govern and those who challenge. Likewise, I believe that the wounds of those who tried to rig the March 2, 2020, general elections are still bleeding, an unfortunate macabre condition and position. Mercifully, the nation has so far weathered many storms, and we hope that in 2022, the oppositional forces would play

a meaningful role in the very society it chooses to live, care, and oppose. Let us desist from the old playbook

of inflammatory speechifying, incendiary actions, and the nurturing and supporting of steel-trapped minds

but embrace the channels of democracy to voice and vent our feelings (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu).

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Quit Sugar-coating the choices and disabling consequences for delinquent diabetics

DIABETES is an overwhelmingly rehashed topic where almost everyone knows of the

disease, how to test and sometimes the medications that are used. However, in spite of all

the established knowns, there are many delinquent diabetics whose quality of life is severely

impaired from poor daily choices. Maybe if we quit sugarcoating the repercussions, we may see a better outcome and not the disabling consequences.

The repercussions of uncontrolled diabetes are kidney failure, vision impairment, cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke), nerve pains, sexual dysfunction and loss of limbs.

These self-imposed disabilities limit the delinquent diabetic’s potential to be competitive in whatever talent, area of work or career he/she may choose.

Not only is the person shortening his/her productive years but sometimes imposing constraints on family members, who are left with the unwarranted responsibility to care for him/her.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, it is estimated that over 460 million persons worldwide are diabetic, with a projected increase of 100 million by 2030. Diabetes is prevalent in poorer countries and directly linked to diet and lifestyle choices. 50 percent of the diabetic population is yet to be diagnosed; that means that you may be a candidate but in denial or totally oblivious to the fact. However from the established diabetic population, 75 percent is from the productive age group; only 1 in 6 diabetics is over 65 years old.

Prediabetes is showing up in teenagers and adolescent, 18 percent and 24 percent respectively mostly as a result from poor dietary choices and sedentary lifestyles and is evident in the prevalence of obesity. The normal BMI (body mass index) of an adolescent and adult is only obtained in 61 percent of the world population since 39 percent is obese.

Individualised meal planning to match your physical activity level is recommended and a calorie guidance can be ascertained from the USDA website, which varies according to age and sex. Generally a balanced meal includes a generous amount of vegetables, fruits, protein and whole grain with the apex of the food pyramid being low sugar and good fats.

Poor diet and lack of exercise are not the only causative factors for diabetes but are the ones within persons’ control. Their genetic makeup, age and heritage

are other factors that they must accept and come to terms with.

Very rarely, due to genetic traits, babies are born with diabetes (neonatal diabetes), which is resolved at about 12 month but may resurface later in life. Then there is Type 1 diabetes, usually showing up in children (juvenile diabetes), which is a lifelong condition that is managed with insulin injections. Yet there are other factors due to different situations in life such as some expectant mothers may develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) and drug-induced diabetes which could be reversed if the causative drug is withdrawn, but this may not be possible in all the cases.

The most prevalent type of diabetes is Type 2, often seen in the productive urban population and formerly referred to as “adult onset”. Today it is evident at an earlier age so teens and young adults are affected and not only the elderly. It is characterised by high blood glucose, insulin resistance and also lack of insulin.

Other pre-existing conditions or metabolic diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides and obesity are predictors of diabetes.

At least 10 percent of health budgets cater for diabetics both directly (oral medications and insulin) and indirectly (opportunistic infections and end organ damages). Insulin, discovered over 100 years ago, may still be inaccessible across the board due to its prohibitive cost.

So not sugar-coating the effects of uncontrolled diabetes and envisioning the reality of the end organ damages, may enhance compliance to treatment and nudge the right choices. The consequences of kidney failure put pressure on supporting relatives financially and physically since it is costly and inconvenient. The rippled effect on family members or the caregiver can be demanding since it requires frequent clinic visits. If severe it can become life threatening to the diabetic. Likewise they may render themselves vision impaired, where they would now become fully dependent on others for every transaction from their bank business to preparing a meal. Why would someone want to put themselves at such a disad-

vantage by depending on others for self-sustenance? A very big concern especially for the male population is sexual dysfunction.

A myth in Guyana is that the diabetic medications cause erectile dysfunction; a propagated rumor.

Hence the delinquent diabetic may truly incapacitate his manhood because of this “fake news” since it is the complete opposite.

It is when they don’t take their diabetic meds that make them sexually dysfunctional. For those persons who experience nerve pain in their extremities, it can become annoying and certainly affect their quality of life since it may cause them to opt out of fun or pleasurable activities. Hence they rob themselves of all that life has to offer by restricting their invitations. The worse yet is when they have to lose a limb to save their life and live the rest of their life with a self-imposed disability.

Therefore, the goal for every diabetic case, irrespective of your name, fame or talent, is early detection, diagnosis, treatment for a positive lifelong health outcome.

Every individual goal should include any physical activity of their liking, since they will not recognise the time spent on the activity. Usually 150 minutes per week of some form of physical aerobic activity is highly recommended. Permanent weight loss strategies must be continuously reconsidered for the desired result. Taking medications regularly and consistently and using either a pill box or timer will act as a reminder. Avoid Hypoglycemia by recognising it and always have a candy at hand. Check blood glucose routinely and pay attention to any abnormality in the feet and seek an early appointment with a healthcare professional if required. Manage stress especially if inclined to depression or anxiety. If the diabetic is a smoker get help to reduce or stop smoking.

For further discussions, contact the pharmacist of Medicine Express PHARMACY located at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets. If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine.express@gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg. Tel #225-5142.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

President Ali calls for contractors, gov’t officials to be held accountable – as Mara residents complain of unfinished road work 29.

President Irfaan Ali PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali, on Friday, said there was need for accountability by contractors and government officials.

The call by the President was made during a meeting held in Mara, East Bank Berbice, where residents complained of negligence on the part of contractors and regional officials. During the

meeting which was held at Schepmoed Primary School, residents called out a contractor who failed to undertake rehabilitation works on three kilometres of the Mara road.

Residents brought it to the attention of President Ali that the contractor has only worked three days in the month thus far. The project is expected to be completed by December

“The government is investing in these roads and you guys think you can do what you want. This is your final warning. I want you to write this engineer,” President Ali said to the contractor who was present at the meeting.

He said the time for excuses is no more. President Ali warned the contractor that if he does not finish the job on the deadline, he would be exempt from receiving any more contracts from the government. Added to that, the engineer attached to the Ministry of Public Works who is supervising the project was ordered to move immediately to the community until the works are completed.

“I am not going to sit back and watch people ride the system anymore. There will be consequences,” the President warned. In another instance, President Ali scolded another engineer who made promises to the people in the community to fix a dam by placing tubes without there being

Rehabilitation works being done on the Mara Road funding or informing the Ministers of Public Works.

“You cannot come here and be dishonest to people. If you do not have the money in a budget or anywhere to buy the tubing, on what grounds you made the promise? Because you know what? You guys do what you want on the ground and the government gets the blame at the end of the day,” President Ali said to the engineer.

However, President Ali said systems will be put in place to install the tubes soon.

“In this case I am going to ask the Minister of Finance for us to find the resources before the end of the year to finance this project and have it implemented. To finance this project and implement it, we will be working with people in the community to provide the jobs right here in the community to do it. So, if there are small skilled people in the community, we will bring them together, work with them in completing this project.”

President Ali said if government is to be able to deliver to the people in an efficient manner, the people entrusted to do their jobs must be held accountable.

“It has come now to a time

in this country where we have to hold people responsible. If we want to chart a future that brings prosperity, a future in which people can benefit from an efficient system, we have to ensure we build a system that is resilient and accountable and that is what we are doing in government.”

In November, President Ali met with contractors executing government contracts and charged them to expedite their work but to ensure that quality is maintained as Guyana continues to go through a revolutionary period of growth and development.

During that meeting, the President explained that Government’s performance involves not only the government agencies, but also how contractors execute projects.

(DPI)

Trained judicial officer more fit to hear election fraud cases

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Queen’s Counsel, Darshan Ramdhani

A PROFESSIONALLY trained judicial officer, in this case a magistrate, is the most appropriate judicial officer to hear and determine guilt in the electoral fraud cases stemming from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, rather than a judge and jury.

This is according to Queen’s Counsel (QC) Darshan Ramdhani, the lead prosecutor in charge of the electoral fraud charges against former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials, Keith Lowenfield, Roxanne Myers and Clairmont Mingo and People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) chairperson, Volda Lawrence.

Ramdhani, during a press conference on Saturday, highlighted a number of factors which may only delay the determination of results and add to the expenses of the matters, one of which is moving the cases to the High Court for adjudication.

He explained that the offences with which Lowenfield, Mingo and Lawrence are charged are common-law offences, which attracts a sentence of one year imprisonment, and the sentence is within the jurisdiction of a magistrate to hand down.

Further, the learned counsel explained that transferring the cases of

the High Court will see them being tried by a judge and jury, and taking into consideration Guyana’s polarised politics, the attorney believes it might be difficult to compose a jury of true impartiality.

“There is a large section of Guyana that votes for one party and there is another section that votes for another party; I believe every one of us have seen that in the voting results over the years in Guyana.

“So, I have asked the court that as a relevant factor in deciding whether or not you should keep the matter, you should consider that any jury pool that is likely to be selected is likely to have persons from both ends of the political divide,” he added.

Ramdhani highlighted that any doubts of an unbiased jury can be dismissed with a magistrate, a professional who presides over multiple cases on a daily basis, presiding over the matters until their completion, which is provided for by the law.

“Why do we want to put ourselves there? Why do we want to go there when we can have a judicial officer who is professional trained and on a daily basis disabuse their personal bias to preside over matters?” he asked.

However, after Ramdhani made similar submissions to the court

on Tuesday last, attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes, issued a statement quoting Ramdhani as saying that there can never be a fair jury trial in the High Court for political matters due to the Guyana’s political and ethnic divide.

However, Ramdhani, on Saturday, dismissed these allegations, noting he was “not at all speaking of any ethnic divide” but rather the phrase was “inserted into the conversation by Mr. Hughes.”

“There is nothing that introduces any ethnic element in my application, submissions, conversations with the court, so that is categorically not true and I also did not say that you cannot have a fair trial, I said this is a factor the court must consider,” Ramdhani said.

The Queens Counsel explained that when he raised the concerns with the court, he was not speaking of “facts” but merely raised “factors” for the court to take into consideration when determining how the matters are dealt with.

“We are before a judicial officer, the magistrate, and that magistrate will have to make a decision and that magistrate is expected to take relevant factors into consideration,” he said.

“So, the question of whether a jury pool would be comprised of people from both side of the divide is a possibility to likelihood and so I’m asking this court to deal with it in this sense,” he added.

He explained that regardless, if the cases are tried before a magistrate or judge and jury, the offences attract sentences of one year imprisonment and for the purposes of dealing with the cases in a swift manner, they should be tried summarily before a magistrate.

Attorney-at-law, Glen Hanoman, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle earlier in the year, had also explained that it is most “convenient” and “efficient” for the cases to be disposed

of at the magistracy level, and that it was unusual for the defence to indicate that it would prefer otherwise.

Hanoman had explained that there is an argument open to the defence in the High Court to say that because of the pre-trial publicity of matters, no jury is unbiased enough to try the matter, risking the matters to be stayed indefinitely.

“The type of offence which the accused are

charged with, in this jurisdiction or in any jurisdiction, that type of matter is never tried before a judge and jury. It would be highly unusual for a matter of this nature to go before a judge and jury,” Hanoman had said.

Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo, along with Lawrence; Opposition activist, Carol Joseph; the CEO’s clerks, Michelle Miller and Denise Bob-Cummings; Elections

Officer, Shefern February, and Information Technology Officer, Enrique Livan, were all charged and are currently before the court.

They are all accused of inflating the results of Region Four, Guyana’s largest voting district, to give the APNU+AFC coalition a majority win at the March 2, 2020 polls, when, in fact, the PPP/C had won by 15,000 more votes.

Over 50,000 receive 7% pay hike 14

- $10.5 billion disbursed AN aggregate of $10.5 billion was placed in the hands of public servants, teachers, members of the disciplined services, and government pensioners as payment of the seven percent retroactive salary increase along with substantive December salaries and pensions were disbursed last week.

This was disclosed by the Ministry of Finance in a press release on Satur-

day which noted that over 50,000 public servants, teachers, members of the disciplined services and government pensioners received their 2021 salary increase over the last week.

The seven per cent increase in wages and salaries for all categories of public servants was announced by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, on November 11,

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

2021 and was aimed towards further improving the living standards of Guyanese.

In addition to the pay hike, $400 million was set aside for a special 2021 pay out to be made to frontline workers in the health sector who, Dr. Singh had said, continue to face extenuating circumstances in the daily discharge of their duties, as the country and the world continue to battle the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pay hike and $400 million for frontline health

workers are in addition to a slew of measures the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has implemented since assuming office on August 2, 2020, to help cushion the effects of COVID-19, the recent catastrophic flooding and other unprecedented economic burdens citizens faced.

“The PPP/C Government has continued to take a multifaceted approach in improving the lives and livelihoods of our citizens. This injection will also stimulate economic activity across the country as the $10.5 billion placed in the hands of employees in the public sector will be multiplied as workers spend their increase in disposable income in markets, shops, or other businesses across the country,” the release stated.

The government has so far distributed the COVID-19 cash grant of $25,000 per household, which resulted in $7.5 bil-

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh lion being distributed to disabilities were given families across all 10 of the a one-off $25,000 cash country’s administrative grant; $200 million was regions and the $19,000 provided in electricity grant for children attending credits to households that public as well as private met a certain criterion; $7.6 billion was set aside schools.

Additionally, there for flood-relief grants and was a $25,000 cash grant severed sugar workers are for public servants; pen- in the process of receiving sioners and persons with a $250,000 one-off grant.

Man dies after crashing speeding car into parked truck

they had just left Homme’s Bar. Sheodarsom claimed that he was intoxicated and so, David decided to drive everyone home.

The passengers were taken out of the vehicle in an unconscious condition by public-spirited citizens and escorted to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

The teenager was treated and was later transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital in an unconscious condition. Sheodarsom and Giddings are regarded as stable.

Dead: Patrick David FORTY-year-old Patrick David lost his life on Saturday after he reportedly lost control of his speeding car and crashed into a parked truck at Gangaram Public Road, East Canje Berbice, Region Six at around 02:30 hours.

The Guyana Police Force revealed that four persons were in the car with David at the time of the accident.

David resided at Canefield Settlement, East Canje Berbice. The other occupants of the car were

36-year-old Hemraj Sheodarsom of West Canefield Settlement, who was sitting behind the driver; 36-yearold Dellon Giddings of Rose Hall, who was in the front passenger seat, and 17-yearold Javid Sherif of Overwinning, East Bank Berbice.

As a result of the collision, the car ended up in a trench on the eastern side f the road. The truck is owned by Harish Kupsammy. Police revealed that David was proceeding south along the eastern lane and according to Sheodarsom,

The truck involved in the accident

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Leguan residents pull off massive hamper distribution and toy drive - 500 to benefit

AUTHORITIES and residents came together recently to pull off a massive hamper distribution and toy drive at Leguan Island, in the Essequibo River, thus benefitting some 500 persons.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) District of Leguan has been tirelessly making representation for the island over the past months and several new and improved initiatives have since become a reality there.

Through a collaborative effort with the office of the Regional Chairman, residents of the island, and the Ministries of Education and Natural Resources, approximately 500 persons were recipients of lunch, gifts and hampers, with special focus being placed on the elderly and school children.

Ministers Priya Manickchand and Vickram Bharrat reportedly committed to providing toys for the children and hampers for the elderly. As such, children from first-year nursery to Grade Eight received toys.

Hampers were distributed to the 100 oldest persons living on the island.

Regional Chairman Sheik Inshan Ayube, along with the PPP District of Leguan, offset the cost for the 500 lunches to beneficiaries including children and their teachers who assisted with the co-ordination of

Minister Manickchand presents a toy to a child in Leguan the effort.

“The initiative was to bring some happiness and joy to all the recipients during what is considered the most wonderful time of the year. The pandemic has cast a shadow on all activities and the idea was to brighten the lives of children and elderly,” Organiser and Secretary of the PPP Leguan District, Fajina Khan, told Chronicle on Saturday.

Pulling off an initiative of this magnitude was by no means easy, but with the determination of the District members, it was successfully done.

“It took a lot of planning, co-ordination, time and effort from the people who were committed to ensuring that the activity

was well executed,” Khan offered.

With the pandemic on, the team had to put several additional plans in place. As such, they decided to separate the children’s activity from that of the elderly. The gift-sharing for children was done at the Leguan Secondary School, whereas the RDC compound was used for the elderly. Fifty of the hampers prepared for the elderly were delivered directly to them at their home owing to their difficult circumstances.

“It was a lot of effort but to know that we pulled it off is the best satisfaction we could have asked for; hats off to the team and volunteers,” Khan commented.

“Everyone would have

Residents of Leguan helping to prepare the lunches

Education Minister Priya Manickchand shares a moment with Secretary of the PPP Leguan District, Fajina Khan

benefitted in some way not only in a tangible way. It brought happiness to their hearts, especially to the children and the elderly who felt appreciated that the government has given an extra thought to them at this time of the year and the fact that Minister Manickchand

was there with them to share the lunches and sing a few carols would have added that extra special feeling and evoke some nostalgia for the elderly,” Khan continued.

She said the team in Leguan plans to continue with efforts to do whatever it takes to improve the

lives of residents. “I would like to thank all those who contributed to the successful execution of this event and we look forward to future co-operation as we move forward as an island and part of this wonderful country Guyana,” Khan expressed.

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Scales of justice to be balanced - as AG signs MoU with UG to commence prosecutors course in March

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., handing over the ‘Advocacy and Evidence for Summary Courts Prosecutors’ Course syllabus and lecture manual to Head of the Law Department at UG, attorney-at-law, Kim Kyte-Thomas

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

WITH most defendants being represented by legally trained personnel while the State, in most cases, is being represented by an untrained police prosecutor at the magistracy level, the scales of justice are sometimes unbalanced.

However, this will soon no longer be the case as the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Guyana (UG) for the Faculty of Social Sciences, Law Department, to commence teaching a prosecutors’ course from March 2022.

The course, titled ‘Advocacy and Evidence for Summary Courts Prosecutors’, is designed to train holders of a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree to prosecute cases in the Magistrates’ Courts, and will see those persons who complete the course joining the

State’s prosecutorial arm.

“At the level of the magistrates court, the accused is represented by a trained legal mind and the State is represented by a police officer. The introduction of the graduates of this programme into the prosecution system is intended to address this imbalance,” Nandlall is quoted as saying in the press release from his office.

At the signing of the MoU on Friday, Nandlall handed over a syllabus and lecture manual for the course, prepared by a consultant under the SCJS programme, to Head of the Law Department at UG, attorney-at-law Kim Kyte-Thomas.

Students enrolled in the course will be taught principles of the law of evidence, criminal law and procedure, as well as principles governing all applications and rules relative to criminal proceedings in the magistrates courts. They will also be trained in advocacy and presenting evidence, cross examination and the conduct of preliminary enquiries.

“It is expected that the quality of representation that the graduates will bring will be appreciably superior to that which currently exists. Notwithstanding, I must salute our police prosecutors who, with limited training, have acquitted themselves with distinction in performing that difficult role of prosecuting,” Nandlall said.

The course will also be taught as an optional course at the Law Department after foundational courses in criminal law, legal research and writing, and English 101, have been undertaken; upon completion of which will result in the award of a ‘Summary Courts’ Prosecutors Certificate.’

The course forms part of the initiatives being implemented as part of the US$8 million Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) Programme, which is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and is implemented by the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

It falls under the component of the programme which seeks to reduce the use of pre-trial detention, especially for individuals accused of minor offences, by providing better legal assistance to individuals accused of non-violent offences, and improving the prosecutors’ ability to handle cases according to the seriousness of the offence.

Funding from the SCJS project will finance the cost of training a batch of twenty-five students per semester, who will be hired by the State upon graduation and will eventually replace police prosecutors in the magistrates’ courts.

In August 2021, at the programme’s 2021 mid-year review, Nandlall had disclosed

that, at the time, his Ministry had already established contact with over 80 LLB holders, enough to place one of these individuals at almost every magistrate court in the country, who will be part of the programme.

The press release noted that Nandlall thanked the University for accepting the programme in the Law Department and indicated that the time has come for novel initiatives to be pursued in legal training.

Further, he indicated this initiative is historical and will serve a greater audience than prosecutors and students who are reading for their Law Degree and is optimistic that such a course will be emulated in the Caribbean region.

The Attorney General, at the signing, also pledged his support for other initiatives within the Law Department, such as upgrading of a Zoom classroom and acquisition of Law Books.

The signing was also attended by Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Paulette Henry; representatives from the SCJS Programme; Indira Anandjit, Project Manager, and Rabindra Kandhi, Procurement Officer, and Chevy Devonish, State Counsel from the Attorney General’s Chambers.

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Sagacity Inc among 25 firms to complete HSSE programme

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

in reducing the high number of workplace accidents that have been recorded in the country over the years. The other graduating companies were SEAJ EcoClean Services, Environmental Management Consultants, Guyana Oil & Gas Support Services Inc. , Metro Office and Computer Supplies, Silvie’s

Sagacity Inc’s Senior Communications Specialist, Ahreefa Bacchus (centre) with Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton and Lavonia Springer, HSSE Coordinator, Centre for Local Business Development, at the HSSE Management System Mentorship Programme awards ceremony (OilNow photo) SAGACITY Inc., a local public relations and event planning firm, was among 25 other local businesses to complete the Health, Safety, Security and the Environment (HSSE) Management System Mentorship Programme facilitated by the Centre for Local Business Development.

Sagacity Inc. was the only company in this category, among the batch.

The programme was initiated in July 2019, and, to date, over 250 businesses have commenced their HSSE management system journey.

The programme incorporates awareness sessions, site visits and assessments of the companies’ HSSE Management Systems.

The 25 graduating companies were the first to complete the programme, after it was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme is conducted with an initial awareness session, followed by a combination of site visits, creation of documentation and processes, assessment sessions and follow-up visits.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Sagacity Inc., Ms. Charlene Chapwanya, noted that the company was cognisant of the importance

of safety in all aspects of its operations. “Sagacity is proud to have completed this programme and commends the Centre for its ongoing activities aimed at helping companies build capacity, particularly with the emergence of the oil and gas industry,” she stated. She said HSSE has played a key role in the company’s operations, particularly when it comes to the planning and execution of events which often involve multiple groups, working simultaneously to set up a venue with all safety protocols being adhered to.

“Having such a policy in place means that the organisation is putting the health and safety of its staff, clients and contractors first,” she said.

Communications Specialist, Ahreefa Bacchus—who received the certificate and award on behalf of Sagacity Inc.—noted that the company has been implementing safety systems in the workplace even before joining the programme.

“While we have been placing safety in the workplace on the front burner and ensuring that our operations are undertaken in a safe and responsible manner, the programme has allowed us to

really examine safety in all areas of our lives—personal and professional. It has been catalytic in the sense that employees are more safety-conscious at home, on their way to work and even when in social settings, allowing for the prevention and reduction of accidents and injuries,” she stated.

Addressing the graduation ceremony, which was held at the Pegasus Hotel, Director of the Centre for Local Business Development, Dr. Natasha Gaskin-Peters, commended the businesses for taking the initiative to build their capacity in this regard.

She said, “The Centre would like to congratulate all of the 25 local businesses for not only beginning but sticking through and completing the programme. The creation of an HSSE Management System in your businesses will not only help you to compete for contracts in the oil and gas industry, but in other diverse sectors.”

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond and Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, who were in attendance, both emphasised the importance of such a programme, noting that it will play a critical role

Industrial Solutions – SIS, Puran Brothers Disposal Inc., Guyana Logistics and Support Services, Queensway Security Services Inc., B&J Civil Works, Herdmanston Lodge, Grand Coastal Inn Inc., Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc., Hughes, Fields & Stoby, Zeco Group of Companies, Ground Structures

Engineering Consultants, Marine Traders Atlantic, IMEX Inc., Arrow Oilfield Services Inc., Pinnacle Business Services Inc., Symmetry Brokerage and Logistics, Strategic Recruitment Solutions, Chung’s Global Enterprise, Camsol Inc. and GR Engineering Company. (OilNow)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Psychotherapist introduces solution-focused brief therapy to locals

By Jared Liddell OVER the years, health professionals have increasingly been highlighting that the decline of mental health treatment can lead to mental illnesses, which tend to have a large impact on an individual’s physical health.

It is against the backdrop of helping people maintain good mental health that Psychotherapist Dr. Moses John Roderique, decided to offer his expertise locally.

Dr. Roderique specialises in the provision of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), a form of psychol-

ogy that places focus on a person’s present and future circumstances and goals rather than past experiences. In this goal-oriented therapy, the symptoms or issues bringing a person to therapy are typically not targeted.

According to Dr. Roderique, this type of therapy is extremely effective as it allows the individual the opportunity to set and achieve goals thus boosting his/her self-confidence and selfworth.

“Solution-Focused Brief Therapy focuses ultimately on solutions to problems or issues and maintaining that

psychological side of life that is of a positive level. It’s an aspect of positive psychology that looks at people’s strengths rather than their weaknesses,” he explained.

The psychotherapist, who works full time at an international Christian university as its Executive Administrator, and serves as a professor, holds a Doctorate in Christian Counselling.

Dr. Roderique, Antiguaborn, recently moved his practice to Guyana, after tying the knot with his Guyanese wife Adasia Vanessa Roderique. He holds membership within the Guy-

Dr. Moses John Roderique ana Association of Professional Psychologists (GUYPSYCH).

Dr. Roderique stated

that he always knew phycology would be the field of study he would pursue from a very young age, after realising that there was some lack in mental health services.

He noted that, from a young age, he understood the role proper mental health played in persons’ lives as it related to their studies, their work, or even the way they interacted with other people, as well as the devastating impacts of mental health illnesses on a person’s abilities to navigate life.

“I decided to get into psychology because as a child growing up into a young man, I believed that my true calling is to inspire as many individuals so that they can develop and reach

their full potential. I saw the ultimate goal of helping people with their problems, helping people to overcome them, and helping people who just need support.”

MENTAL HEALTH AND COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people across the globe, causing massive loss of jobs, fear of uncertainty, and paranoia, and many persons have reached out for help to remain mentally healthy during this period of the world’s history.

Speaking to the impact of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy on patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychotherapist noted that it can play a “vital role” TURN TO PAGE 19

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

SOL spreads Christmas cheer in Agricola

OVER 100 children in the community of Agricola, East Bank Demerara (ECD), on Friday, benefitted from gifts that were shared out in the SOL Christmas Toy Drive held at the Agricola community centre, East Bank Demerara.

Children from the community received a toy and a gift bag filled with goodies from Santa Claus. The SOL Toy Drive started in November 2021 with toys being donated by SOL Guyana Inc, SOL’s staff and SOL’s contractors and customers.

Earl Carribon, General Manager, stated, “SOL is committed to giving back to communities. Over the years, SOL Guyana has always been very supportive of the Agricola community – with activities such as donating garbage receptacles, fixing the access road, refurbishing the St. Ann’s School’s library and more.”

He continued: “We see this as being an important component of energising the communities in which we operate. We are happy to have the opportunity to give back and share some Christmas cheer with the children of the community, and we look forward to building on our relationship with the community and to contributing to community activities in the future.”

The SOL Group of companies operate in 21 countries across the Eastern Caribbean, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cayman, Belize, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe. SOL supplies fuels, lubricants, bitumen and LPG through an extensive service station network, with marine, aviation and commercial operations in the Caribbean.

Psychotherapist introduces...

FROM PAGE 18 because, due to its goaloriented system, it would allow persons to feel empowered.

He highlighted that with many people losing jobs, trying to readjust to the new normal of the world, the goal-oriented setup would allow persons to feel less depressed about their past situation and more selfconfident once they start achieving those goals they would have set for themselves.

“For sure we have been thrown down with the pandemic so my form of therapy would assist people in digging deep because the COVID pandemic put some people down to a point where they don’t have anything at all. Employment wise, people were laid off, but this type of therapy helps people to understand their potential and set goals to achieve those goals and not harbour on the past,” he said.

GIVING BACK Dr. Roderique told the Sunday Chronicle that as a psychotherapist his number one priority is ensuring that focus is placed on addressing, preventing, and treating mental illness. It was

against such backdrop that he decided to offer pro-bono therapy sessions locally.

He noted that while his sessions are available online to customers across the globe, he is keen on philanthropy and has seen a direct need for mental health services, and, since establishing his practice here in July, he has been offering pro-bono sessions to Guyanese.

One of the main reasons for offering the free sessions is the financial constraints faced by many persons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I believe that therapy should be accessible to all regardless of their situation. My services are generally for anybody really who wishes to get my services. On a practice level, I offer online sessions to persons across the globe but where Guyana is concerned, I do pro-bono service for Guyanese because people of Guyana they need it, especially when you look at depression rates and anxiety rates.

So from my perspective as a psychotherapist, as a human, I thought I’d offer my services pro-bono,” Dr. Roderique said.

Santa Claus and his helpers prepare to distribute the toys

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GDF rank feared dead as boat capsizes in Essequibo River -five rescued JUNIOR Kenroy Sooklall, 24, a private in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and stationed at Fort Island, is missing and feared dead in the vicinity of St. Lawrence, East Bank Essequibo River after a boat with him and five others

capsized on Friday.

Sooklall is a resident of Bark Lane, Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice.

The others who were rescued

by GDF ranks were identified as 28-year-old Turendra Lochan; 14-year-old Eon John; 16-year-old Ryan Beepat; 28-year Ramesh Beepat and 40-year-old Everett Tudor who is a GDF Staff Sergeant.

According to a statement

GDF Coast Guard search divers were also dispatched

Feared dead: Junior Kenroy Sooklall issued by the GDF, Junior Kenroy Sooklall was heading to Parika in a private vessel when the incident occurred.

The GDF has since launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Meanwhile, Police Headquarters noted that the rescued persons were escorted to Parika Police Station, where breathalyzer tests were conducted and it was found that Everett Tudor, Turendra Lochan and boat captain Ramesh Beepat had alcohol in their system.

“The captain was further questioned and it was learnt that the five passengers were travelling from Fort Island when the boat hit a wave and capsized. [ It was a 17-foot] wooden boat with a 150 Hp Yamaha outboard engine that is unregistered,” police stated.

Further searches are being conducted as investigations continue.

Heightened patrols during Christmas season

- 83 fatal accidents recorded this year

Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Ramesh Ashram THE Traffic Headquarters of the Guyana Police Force has recorded a 32 per cent decrease in fatal accidents.

According to statistics, as of Friday, December 17, 2021, there were 83 fatal accidents this year when compared to 122 for the same period in 2020.

Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Ramesh Ashram, is encouraging motorists to adhere to the Road Safety Theme

during the festive season: ‘Arrive Alive - Stop Speeding!

Don’t Drink and Drive’. If persons are imbibing they must have a designated driver.

He is also advising citizens that there will be continuous traffic enforcement Exercises throughout the Christmas Season. Pedestrians are advised to be more attentive and practise the curb drill, while motorcyclists are encouraged to comply with all safety rules, since they have been the major categories of road users who have lost their lives on the roadways for the year 2021.

As part of the department’s strategy to reduce road fatalities, the Traffic Chief noted that ranks will be placed at strategic points on the East Bank and East Coast road corridors, and around the city of Georgetown, to ensure a free flow of traffic during the festive season.

Last year, he added that the main causes of road fatalities were speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and being inattentive while driving.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Six kilometres of asphalt road for Mara

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali, on Friday, announced that his government will invest $100M to construct six kilometres of asphalt road in Mara, East Bank Berbice.

The Head of State made the disclosure during a meeting with residents at the Schepmoed Primacy School.

Some of the residents had informed the President of the deplorable condition of the road during the commissioning of the Water Treatment Plant at Sheet Anchor last Saturday, and the President promised to look into the matter.

He told residents that an asphalt road was essential to the community’s overall development.

“If you have to justify this road based on financial assessment alone, it cannot be justified, but when you look at the potential that exists in increasing production then it can be justified. So, we have to spend a lot of resources on the production aspect.” The road would help ease the movement of people and food produce.

According to the Head of State, systems will soon be in place to start the process.

“The Ministry has already started to move the machinery to this area, and

we are going to start the procurement process. Next year after we complete that, we will do a further assessment.”

The announcement of the road was immediately welcomed by residents. They explained that it takes about three hours to get their produce to New Amsterdam and that the six-kilometre asphalt road would significantly lessen that time.

Sewchand Durjodhan said that he was thankful for the initiative. He noted that the road is the community’s primary access to New Amsterdam and other locations and was imperative to the overall development of the community.

Grace Wilson, another resident of the community, added: “I am thankful for what they have already done; I know better things are in store, and I trust and believe in him [President Ali] that we are going to get it done.”

T h e P re s i d e n t w a s accompanied by Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Regional Chairman Mr David Armogan and other regional officials. (DPI)

759 active COVID-19 cases recorded

EVEN as government continues to implement systems to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Ministry of Health disclosed that there are currently 759 active cases following the addition of 66 cases on Saturday.

The country has now recorded a total of 38,817 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

As efforts continue, the ministry further disclosed that no new COVID-19 deaths were recorded within the past 24 hours.

The 66 newly confirmed cases were recorded in nine of the ten administrative regions excluding Region Eight.

Region Four accounted for 21 of the new cases; Regions One, Two and 10 recorded one new case each; Region Three recorded five cases; Region Five recorded 12 new cases; Region Six recorded 16 new cases; while Regions Seven and Nine recorded three and six cases respectively.

Of the active cases, 11 persons are at the COVID-19

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 43 are in institutional isolation; 699 are in home isolation, and six are in institutional quarantine.

Many of the persons infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, that is, they are not exhibiting symptoms.

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force until December 31, 2021. They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended.

The current curfew period is 12:00 to 04:00hrs.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers: 231-1166; 2267480; or 180/181 for assistance.

President Irfaan Ali engaging residents of Mara, East Bank Berbice

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Historic day as Sports...

FROM BACK PAGE

However, under his leadership at the Ministry, the squash courts at the National Racquet Centre are now available, free of cost, to the GSA and its members specifically for the implementation of the Sports Academy.

Meanwhile, over at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, president of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF), Levi Nedd,

stated that in his over 40 years involved in the sport, he has never been part of such a programme.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) will oversee the National Sports Academy. The Director of Sport, after highlighting the historic occasion, said the 12 core sports will be the beneficiary of the Government’s long-term investment in sports.

Ninvalle encouraged the athletes to pay full attention and remain dedicated to the training programme during the duration of the Academy.

During a public presentation

of the National Sports Academy at the inaugural Guyana Sports Conference in October at the National Cultural Centre, Minister Ramson pointed out that the nursery level will target players between the ages of 12 to 17 years.

At the tournament level, the Government of Guyana, through the NSC will earmark at least $12M annually for the governing bodies of the core sports, to support the organisation of tournaments.

Above-average performers who excel at tournaments or those who show inordinate improvement will be selected for

the elite training.

The elite training will last on average four to eight weeks and selected individuals will dedicate themselves full-time to training. In order to achieve this, the Minister announced that a stipend would be given.

Minister Ramson said that the Sports Academy was a specific manifesto promise and reflects President Irfaan Ali's "bottom-up" approach to national development.

The remaining core sports will continue to roll out in the next few weeks as they complete their preparatory arrangements and training.

Harper out as CWI selection chief

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has sacked men’s selection chief Roger Harper one month after the Caribbean side’s failed Twenty20 World Cup title defence, when squad selection proved a controversial issue.

The regional governing body announced yesterday that Harper’s contract, along with that of Miles Bascombe, would not be renewed when it expires at year end.

This follows a review of the selection criteria and policy carried out by a CWI-appointed four-member committee in the wake of widespread criticism of the 15-man T20 World Cup squad.

Head coach Phil Simmons, who was part of the previous three-member selection committee, will now head an interim panel comprising the captains in the respective formats, with CWI director of cricket Jimmy Adams “overseeing the process”.

CWI said the recruitment process for the new panel would begin next month.

“We want to thank Roger and Miles for their work and dedicated services to West Indies cricket in the last two years, as members of the men’s senior selection panel,” Adams said.

“Selecting West Indies teams for international competition is a very challenging assignment, and both gentlemen performed their roles with transparency and dignity.”

Harper, a former Test off-spinner, was appointed to the role two years ago as one of the first major changes of the new Ricky Skerritt-led administration.

But the 58-year-old, who served as West Indies head coach between 2000 and 2003, found himself at the centre of controversy due to the

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World Cup fiasco, with calls coming from several quarters for his immediate resignation.

“I would like to thank CWI for the opportunity to serve West Indies cricket in the role of lead selector and I wish the organisation the very best for the future,” Harper said in a statement.

“I would also like to thank all those whose efforts and cooperation helped me to perform my role efficiently. Special thanks to Miles for his professionalism and teamwork.”

Bascome, meanwhile, was a surprise choice for the panel, having never held a senior selection post previously.

The 35-year-old, who played one T20 International eight years ago against England in a weakened West Indies squad, had been a member of a CWI Selection Task Force chaired by fellow Vincentian and CWI vice-president Dr Kishore Shallow, charged in 2019 with overhauling regional policy.

While the panel had come under fire in the past, several controversial selections in the T20 World Cup squad further provoked the ire of fans and former cricketers.

An out-of-from Chris Gayle, 43, was selected for the campaign with an average of 17 this year while a 36-year-old Ravi Rampaul was recalled for his first international match in six years.

Fast bowler Oshane Thomas, who has been plagued with fitness issues, was also selected on the basis of a single wicket in two T20Is against Australia in July while the likes of Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford were ignored.

The first task before the interim panel will be to choose a white-ball squad for three One-Day Internationals and a one-off T20 International against Ireland at Sabina Park from January 8 to 16 next year.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

D/N Test in Adelaide

Starc, Lyon decimate England to help Australia bag big lead vous moments, both batters found the boundaries through impeccably timed drives, or even the reverse sweep. It allowed the scoreboard to keep ticking over at a quick rate, getting Malan his sixth Test fifty and second in as many Tests. Root, who sur-

vived an lbw review against Neser, brought up his 52nd Test fifty, with minutes to go for the dinner break leading England's strong reply before Australia came roaring back after.

David Warner and Marcus Harris extended the

lead further with a steady opening stand before the former was run-out for 13 following a mix-up. Nevertheless, Australia ended the day in complete command, leading overall by 282 runs.

(Cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD Michell Starc and Nathan Lyon shared seven wickets to shoot England down for 236

AFTER enjoying their best session of the Test, England came tumbling down in the next two sessions, giving Australia a 237-run first-innings lead in the D/N Test in Adelaide.

Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon shared seven wickets to bowl England out for 236 despite stoic resistance in the first session.

Joe Root and Dawid Malan, who went through unscathed in the first session, were worked over in the second by different plans from Australia. Root was tested by Cameron Green, who had got him out in the previous Test, on the off-stump channel.

And after having him play and miss a couple of times, Green had him nick to slip on 63, ending a 138-run stand for the third wicket.

Soon after Mitchell Starc was brought in, testing Malan on a shorter length outside off with the field set accordingly.

Malan took the bait, cut Starc for a boundary but nicked to slip going for an encore.

Having ended that resistance, Australia tightened the noose further. Nathan Lyon, who had supported Green earlier with a tight spell, had Ollie Pope in trouble.

Having first got a decision overturned for a bat-pad catch, Pope was done in the air in the same over and gave Marnus Labuschagne a sharp chance at short leg. England's slide continued with Jos Buttler chasing a wide one from Starc and edging to the slip cordon. With Chris Woakes and Ollie Robinson falling prey to sharp offbreaks from Lyon, England's innings drew quickly to a close. Ben Stokes, who had been tight in defence, decided to counterattack and was bowled by Green before the last two were felled by the pacers' short-ball tactics.

England had lost their last

eight wickets for just 86 runs.

It came in sharp contrast to their batting in the first session of the third day.

Root and Malan had come together after England were in trouble being reduced to 12-2 yesterday, and played a near-perfect hand through the first hour today to steady England gradually. With the pacers not finding enough assistance off the pitch, or in the air, they were largely untroubled early in the day.

Gradually as they began to get a move on, particularly with the introduction of Lyon's off-spin, there were more half-chances offered.

Malan, who had suffered some close shaves earlier, started tentatively against Lyon, chipping close to the fielders on a couple of occasions. Root top-edged a sweep dangerously close to deep square-leg but remained in far better control.

But between these ner-

AUSTRALIA 1st innings Marcus Harris c Jos Buttler b Broad David Warner c Stuart Broad b Stokes

Marnus Labuschagne lbw Robinson Steven Smith lbw Anderson Travis Head b Joe Root

Cameron Green b Ben Stokes

Alex Carey c Hameed b Anderson Mitchell Starc not out

Michael Neser c Broad b Stokes

Jhye Richardson c Buttler b Woakes Extras: (lb-9, nb-11, w-5)

3 95 103 93 18 2 51 39 35 9

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Total: (nine wkts decl., 150.4 overs)

473

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-176, 3-241, 4-291, 5-294, 6-385, 7-390, 8-448, 9-473.

Ollie Pope c Labuschagne b Lyon Jos Buttler c Warner b l Starc

Chris Woakes b Lyon

Ollie Robinson lbw Lyon Stuart Broad c Head b l Starc James Anderson not out Extras: (lb-6, nb-1)

7

Total: (all out, 84.1 overs) 236 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-12, 3-150, 4-157, 5-164, 6-169, 7-202, 8-204, 9-220.

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 16.1-6-37-4, Jhye Richardon 19-4-78-0 (nb-1), Michael Neser 11-0-33-1, Nathan Lyon 28-11-58-3, Cameron Green 10- 3-24-2.

AUSTRALIA 2nd innings

Bowling: James Anderson 29-10-58-2, Stuart Broad 26-6-73-1 (nb-2), Chris Woakes 23.4-6103-1 (w-2, nb-2), Ollie Robinson 27-13- 45-1 (nb-4), Ben Stokes 25- 2-113- 3 (w-3, nb-3), oe Root 20-2-72-1.

David Warner (run out Broad) Marcus Harris not out

Michael Neser not out

ENGLAND 1st innings

Total: (one wkt, 17.0 overs)

Haseeb Hameed c Starc b Neser Rory Burns c Smith b Starc

Dawid Malan c Smith b Starc Joe Root c Smith b Green Ben Stokes b Green

6 4 80 62 34

5 0 24 0 9 5

Extras (lb-8, nb-1)

13 21 2

9 45

Fall of wickets: 1-41 Bowling: James Anderson 4-3-2-0, Stuart Broad 3-0-9-0, Ollie Robinson 4-1-12-0 (nb-1).

Chris Woakes 4-2-13-0.

Pujara backs fast bowlers to give India maiden Test series win in South Africa

CHETESHWAR Pujara feels this could be India's chance to win their maiden Test series in South Africa.

For that, he backed India's fast bowlers to be the point of difference and pick up "20 wickets in every Test" on the tour.

"Our fast bowlers have been the difference between the two sides whenever we have played abroad," Pujara said. "If you look at the Australia series, even if you look at the England series, we have done exceptionally well as a bowling unit and I am sure that will be the case even in South Africa. Our fast

bowlers are our strength and I hope that they will be able to utilise these conditions and give us 20 wickets in every Test match.

Another thing that could work in India's favour is many of their squad members have recently played red-ball cricket. India hosted New Zealand for a two-match Test series in late November and early December, while Hanuma Vihari and back-up opener Priyank Panchal were part of India A's shadow tour to South Africa.

The hosts, though, last played a Test in June, against West Indies in Gros Islet.

While Pujara didn't dwell too much on that advantage, he said it was nice that the players were together recently.

"The good thing is we played a couple of Test matches in India," Pujara said. "So most of the guys are in touch, and when it comes to preparation, the support staff has been excellent.

“They have been supporting us well and we have five or six days more before we head into the first Test. I am sure there is enough time for us to prepare and the guys are looking forward to this series.

This is the best opportunity for us to win our first series in

South Africa, so all of us are looking forward to it."

The series will be played in a biosecure environment. CSA had originally put together slightly relaxed bio-bubble plans but these have now been modified following the emergence of Omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant. Pujara said while staying in bio-bubbles puts certain restrictions on you, it also gets players to spend more time together.

"Sometimes I feel bio-bubble helps the team environment where you end up spending more time with the team players, you are

This is Cheteshwar Pujara’s fourth Test tour of South Africa (AFP/Getty Images)

in the team room, you are having more team dinners together, so overall I feel sometimes it helps the team environment; but yes, there are some challenges as well.

“You are not allowed to go out, you cannot explore the country. So there are restrictions as well but at the same time you are getting to play some cricket and that's

the most important thing being a cricketer. We want to play some cricket and we are able to play cricket even in a bio-secure bubble, so that helps."

This is India's eighth Test tour to South Africa.

The series will start on December 26, with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion.

(Cricinfo)

36

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Record number of GFF coaches pursuing CONCACAF ‘C’ licence THE Guyana Football Federation’s Technical Department has accelerated its efforts to upskill home-grown coaching talent, with a record number of Academy Training Centre, GFF and national team coaches starting the journey towards CONCACAF ‘C’ licence certification.

Fourteen coaches, including U20 Men’s Team head coach Wayne Dover, Golden Jaguars assistant coach Charles Pollard, GFF Coach Education and Development Officer Lyndon France, GFF goalkeeping coach Eon DeViera and head coach for the local-based Lady Jags, Akilah Castello, began the multi-module course in December.

The first part of the ‘blended learning’ programme, facilitated by Anton Corneal, CONCACAF Coaching Educator and former Technical Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, involved online theoretical lessons followed by practical sessions with players at the GFF National Training Centre between December 1 and 7.

“The GFF is committed to investing in

the development of local coaches to drive improvements throughout football, from grassroots level to senior national teams, and we are delighted to see such a strong appetite from our talented coaches to upskill and realise their own potential with the formal CONCACAF structures of coaching qualifications,” said GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood.

The internationally recognised licence will give participating coaches the skills and knowledge to design and deliver effective coaching sessions for a wider range of players and scenarios, especially for youth football development through the GFF’s nationwide network of Academy Training Centres.

Georgetown Football Association Youth Development Officer and course participant Colin Nelson said the certification would enable him to “gain the knowledge and experience necessary to accomplish my goals”.

“This course means a lot to me because I aspire to make a difference in football as a coach/teacher and in the lives of the persons I

Coaches and facilitators of the GFF coaching course

intend to teach,” Nelson said. “I know that for me to reach those heights I need the knowledge and experience necessary to reach my full potential.”

After inheriting an ecosystem of coaches with no valid qualifications in 2015, the technical department has since enabled the progress of an all-time high 61 coaches to ‘D’ licence or ‘C’ licence level, alongside three Guyanese CONCACAF coaching instructors, as well as introduced a coaching philosophy

and pathway to ensure a uniform approach to football development across the GFF’s nine regional associations. The number of coaches with ‘D’ licence or ‘C’ licence certification will increase to 75 as a result of the current course.

Assistant Technical Director Bryan Joseph and GFF Coach Mentor, Sampson Gilbert, are working their way towards qualifying as CONCACAF ‘B’ licence coaches in 2022.

KL Rahul named India Caribbean women will need to refocus Test vice-captain for for World Cup, says head coach South Africa tour KL Rahul.

India’s Test vice-captain

KL Rahul has been named India's Test vice-captain for the tour of South Africa. He replaces Rohit Sharma as Virat Kohli's deputy, with Rohit being ruled out of the three-Test series with a hamstring injury.

The appointment marks a sharp rise for Rahul in the Test team. Having been kept out by the likes of Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal for two years, Rahul got his chance in India's tour of England back in August this year and immediately impressed with a tight 84 in the opening Test in Nottingham.

The 29-year-old went one better in the next match, hoisting a hundred at Lord's in a Test that India went on to win. His form alongside that of co-opener Rohit formed the basis of India's 2-1 lead before the fifth Test was postponed due to COVID-19.

Although Rahul missed the home Test series against New Zealand recently with an injury, he has already been primed by captain Kohli to open the batting in South Africa alongside Karnataka teammate Mayank, who was among the runs against New Zealand.

The first Test kicks off on December 26 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

India's Test squad: Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul (v-c), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Priyank Panchal, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj.

(Cricbuzz)

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) - West Indies Women’s head coach Courtney Walsh says the Caribbean women will have to reset to get focused for the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, following almost two weeks of quarantine in Oman.

Last weekend the team returned to the Caribbean from Oman - where they had been quarantined for 11 days - via Namibia, following the cancellation of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, due to the emergence of the Omicron strain of COVID-19 in South Africa late last month.

At that time Walsh had described the saga as “mentally taxing” for the squad.

Speaking to the Antigua Observer, the former fast bowler said the task now that the women are back home is to get them back on track for the World Cup in New Zealand starting March 2022.

“That’s going to be the big challenge because we had a break and didn’t get to play as much cricket as we wanted to play for them to get that exposure; so I don’t want to use the words ‘starting over again’ but it is going to be something similar, where we are going to have to restart or reset and see how best we

West Indies Women’s head coach Courtney Walsh

can get things going to have everybody clicking again,” he said.

“Players were now making runs and the confidence level was getting higher and better and I guess we can build on that. So, when we come back into camp we have to start trying to build on that again to see how best can sort of keep things going.”

West Indies Women managed to complete only one game in the World Cup qualifiers, beating Ireland Women by six wickets. Their second game against Sri Lan-

ka was abandoned after a member of the Asian side’s support staff tested positive for COVID-19.

With the West Indies Women heading into the March 4 to April 3, 2022 World Cup among the highest-ranked teams, Walsh is hoping for some competitive matches ahead of that tournament.

“Obviously, we were supposed to go to South Africa on a tour but because of what’s happening there now we can’t; so we are looking to see what are the best options

as to how we can get some cricket in before we go to the World Cup,” he said.

“So that is paramount and very important in terms of getting some games under our belt. We are trying to plan and see what can be done and, hopefully, we can get some kind of a series played before we get there.”

The cricket legend said if no series could be arranged before the Caribbean women head to New Zealand, a camp may be held in the region so the players can get some training and sharpen their skills.

Despite the challenges presented during the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe, Walsh said it had brought members of the squad closer.

“This was a good challenge in a way, and the positive we will take out of this is that it is probably the first time we would have experienced anything like this.

It brought us more together but it also gave us the experience that if it should happen again, we would be in a better position to handle it a little better,” he said.

West Indies Women will host New Zealand in the opening match of the eightteam ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on March 4, at the Bay Oval in Tauranga.

37

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Broadway Hotel supports GFF-GNWFA Super 16 Festival

Selection to WI team a culmination of hard work and dedication – Matthew Nandu

By Frederick Halley ABOUT a month ago, he told Chronicle Sport that he was cautiously optimistic of being selected to the West Indies Under-19 World Cup team since performing creditably on the tour of England.

According to the soft-spoken Matthew Nandu, he wasn’t taking anything for granted that his place was assured for the ICC World Cup which will be hosted by Cricket West Indies (CWI) in January-February next year.

Well, those fears of non-selection have been allayed as Nandu will be donning the maroon colours when the prestigious tournament bowls off with the opening game at the Guyana National Stadium on January 14.

Promising to let his performance do the talking, Nandu did exactly that with some scintillating performances with both bat and ball when the prospective selectees gathered for the High-Performance camp in Antigua in November after vowing to “complete the job” which he had started even prior to the tour of England.

The 18-year-old Nandu had described the six-match tour of England as quite a satisfying one for him personally, although the West Indies Rising Stars were beaten 4-2 by their English counterparts in the One-day series.

Pointing out that he would have loved to get a hundred after ending the series with consecutive half-centuries, Nandu said the rib injury sustained in the second One-day was also a minor setback which saw him miss the third game.

Nandu, who opted to represent West Indies instead of Canada, said playing in England was a great experience with the ball moving on the pitches and in the air.

He, however, said he was able to make the necessary adjustments after the first game but still felt he should have been a bit more aggressive.

Cricket apart, Nandu is currently studying Psychology at Wilfred Laurier

University, Ontario, Canada and according to his dad, Arjune, who is a former Guyana and Canadian top-class leg-spinner, the CWI coaches Floyd Reifer and Rohan Nurse have been very accommodating to Matthew whenever he has any assignments and examinations which are done online, even if he’s involved in any camps or training sessions.

Commenting on his selection to the West Indies team, Matthew said it was a culmination of hard work and dedication since he had put in hours of training in the gym as well as outdoors and it was surely a dream come true to be included in the squad.

Matthew had loads of praise for his parents, Arjune and Jackie, and his elder brother Marcus who is in his fourth year at Western University, Ontario and who plays club cricket in the province and was called to the Canadian Under-19 trials. “They all played a huge role in my cricket upbringing,” he quipped.

Questioned on how he’s staying fit for the upcoming World Cup since there are no outdoor cricket at the moment in Canada, due to the weather conditions, Matthew said he has been doing mostly indoor training and cardio work since returning from the High-Performance camp in Antigua.

According to his father Arjune, who is understandably elated over his son’s selection, “We are extremely happy for him. He has worked very hard and all the sacrifices he has made over the years have paid off. I am hoping he enjoys a good tournament.”

Like most North American kids, Matthew was first attracted to volleyball, basketball, baseball and track and field, captaining both his secondary school volleyball and basketball teams. He, however, became interested in cricket after witnessing his dad and brother play club cricket. This prompted him to join Kaieteur Cricket Club and that was the beginning of what has been a fruitful career to date. He is also a prominent member of Tranzac Cricket Club.

Matthew Nandu set to represent West Indies in the ICC Under-19 World Cup

Matthew said he was encouraged by his uncle Chris Thakoorpersad to play in Guyana and started his back-and-forth between Canada and Guyana in 2017.

The following year he was a member of the Demerara Under-17 team and in 2019 also represented the county and Guyana at the Under-17 level. He also played at the First Division level for Everest and for East Bank in the Franchise League.

Matthew looked certain to be selected to the Guyana Under-19 team in the CWI 2020 tournament but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic ensured that tournament was cancelled.

While Matthew is aiming to help West Indies cart off the prestigious tournament, like they last did under Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer, in 2016, he has also been earmarked to represent Guyana Amazon Jaguars in next year’s Regional four-day tournament by no less a person than chairman of the Guyana senior selection committee, former Guyana and West Indies batter Ramnaresh Sarwan.

According to Sarwan, Nandu and former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batter Kevlon Anderson are earmarked for great things next year and are among a number of rookie prospects on the selectors’ radar for the 2022-23 season.

Gonzalez scores late as Barcelona edge Elche in LaLiga

SUBSTITUTE Nico Gonzalez scored a late winner as Barcelona edged past Elche in La Liga to end their three-game winless run in all competitions.

Ferran Jutgla headed in an opener for the hosts after 16 minutes before 17-year-old Gavi grabbed his first La Liga goal with a superb solo effort.

Substitutes Tete Morente and Pere Milla then stunned the hosts as Elche scored twice in as many minutes to draw level.

But Gonzalez poked into the top corner five minutes from time to win it.

It means Xavi's side sit seventh, three points off a Champions League spot and 15 behind leaders Real Madrid.

Barcelona had failed to win their previous three outings, with a 2-2 draw at Osasuna last Sunday following defeats by Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Real Betis in La Liga.

Jutgla saw an effort ruled out for offside inside 90 seconds

but the summer signing did not have to wait long for his first goal at the Nou Camp, heading in Ousmane Dembele's corner.

The impressive Gavi added a second three minutes later, flicking the ball through his legs on the turn and running directly at the defence before picking out the bottom corner.

But Barcelona momentarily collapsed in the second half, conceding twice in two minutes as first Morente fired into the roof of the net and then Milla headed in at the back post after the hosts gave the ball away.

It was an inspired double change from boss Francisco Rodríguez, who saw the substitutes score within five minutes of being brought on.

Elche looked to have earned a hard-fought point, only for to ball to drop to Gonzalez, who finished smartly to earn Xavi's young side all three points.

Elche remain 16th, two points above the relegation zone. (BBC Sport)

Representative of Broadway Hotel presents its sponsorship to GFF Communication Officer, Keeran Williams

BROADWAY Hotel has signed up as the latest partner and sponsor of the historic Guyana Football Federation-Guyana National Women’s Football Association Super 16 Festival 2021.

The hotel company, situated on Broad and Charles Street in Georgetown, made a financial donation to the first-of-its-kind tournament and urged corporate Guyana to get behind the return to competition for senior female players.

“I want to encourage other private sector organisations and companies to support and, for those who have contributed, to keep supporting the Guyana Football Federation,” said Broadway Hotel General Manager Junica Pluck.

The company joins NAMILCO, GFF International Support Group, Grand Coastal Hotel, Golden Taste Seafood, the Eon DeViera Goalkeeping Academy, Oraul Transportation Service, BACIF and The Consulate as a corporate sponsor of the event, which offers prize money of more than $1 million.

“We are delighted that corporate Guyana has stepped up in this unprece-

dented way to support the return of women’s football and this important step forward in our women’s competitions programme,” said GFF president Wayne Forde.

“I would like to offer our sincere thanks to Broadway Hotel for their generous donation and for their long-term partnership with the GFF as we seek to develop football for all communities across Guyana.”

The Women’s Super 16 Festival features eight teams from hinterland regions and is currently in the first-round stage of its straight knockout format, with matches being played at GFF National Training Centre (NTC) in Providence, Leonora, Bartica and St Cuthbert’s Mission.

So far, Swan FC, GDF, GT Panthers and Fruta Conquerors have progressed to the quarter-final stage.

All participants, including players, coaches, match officials, media, staff and fans are required to show proof of vaccination to attend the tournament’s fixtures in person, with live match updates and coverage being shared on the GFF’s official Facebook page throughout the competition.

38

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

GCB to use tournaments to bridge U19/Senior cricket gap

THE West Indies and Guyana have produced several top cricketers at the youth level, but many have fallen through the cracks on their transition to senior cricket.

Remember Alick Athanaze from Dominica, who was the leading run-scorer at the Under-19 World Cup in 2018, with 418 runs at an average of 104.50, where he reeled off two centuries and two half-centuries?

Nope? Well since then,

he has played just 13 FirstClass matches and 23 List A matches for the Windward Islands.

Finishing behind Athanaze on the run-scoring list was India’s Shubman Gill, with 372 runs. Gill, 22, has already played Test and One-Day Internationals and is a consistent face for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Without question, India’s structure, and financial pow-

er, outweighs West Indies, but the cognizant word is structure.

From a local level, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is looking to better groom their youth players, and their method is via tournaments at the Under-21 and Under-23 levels along with the Academy structure.

“They will fit into academy programme and development programmes and so on, but this gives you a clear idea

Spartans are Georgetown Dominoes Association Domino year-end winners SPARTANS were crowned the overall champions of 2021 as the Georgetown Dominos Association (GDA) held its final fundraising event for the year. The finals, which were hold on Thursday last at Strikers Sports Club, saw Turning Point, Players and Spartans competing for the coveted title.

Some 17 teams started the tournament in quest of the top prizes with the likes of Mix Up, Alpha Warriors, Masters, All Season Angels, Gangsters, C6, C7, Phanthom, 300, Big Boss Girls, Spartans, Executives, Providence Sports Club, Turning Point, R&R, Players and F&H in the fray.

The games got underway at Turning Point Sports Club with two rounds and six teams remained for the quarter-finals which were played at Dynasty Sports Club on Monday evening with the match-ups being Executives vs Spartans vs Turning Point while 300 took on Big Boss Girls and Players.

Executives and 300 were eliminated by one point each

President of the Georgetown Dominoes Association Lyndon Boston hands over the winner's trophy to the MVP and player Dexter Thompson of Spartans while team members and executives look on approvingly

with Turning Point drawing the bye to finals. In a fiercely contested battle which had the entire venue on the edge of their seats, Big Boss Girls were eliminated by one point in what was termed the “finals of the tournament”.

In the finals, Spartans and Players started with 16 games apiece while Turning Point had 13, Spartans then took command from the second sitting and never looked back. At the end of the fifth sitting the scores read: Spartans 73, Players 57 and Turning Point in the cellar with 49.

In what was termed as a masterful final sitting by Turn-

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Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ing Point, they registered 16 games while Players could only muster six games which saw the final scores read, Spartans 88 games Turning Point 65 and Players 63.

Prizes and Trophies were awarded to the top three teams - $165,000, $110,000 and $60,000 respectively while the fourth placed team, Big Boss Girls received $20,000 for their efforts. Donations came in the form of trophies and cash from Paul Williams DSM, Big Boss Transportation Services, Spartans Club, Chrisanthony Parasram and members of the GDA Fundraising Committee.

President, Lyndon Boston, in his closing remarks, thanked all the teams and sponsors for their participation and contributions respectively in what was a trying year for the sport, pointing out the major challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the sport prevailed nevertheless with the protocols in place.

Boston also wished the dominoes fraternity and their families a season filled with love, joy and happiness, as we are about to welcome the new year with bigger and better things in store for the sport.

Special mention was made to the young and upcoming Alpha Warriors who were recently admitted into the fold.

as to the end-game and how you bridge that gap,” GCB president Bissoondyal Singh stated at a press conference.

Earlier in the year, Cricket West Indies (CWI) president indicated they too are hoping to put systems in place to bridge the glaring gap in the region between junior and senior cricket.

Meanwhile, weather and sponsor permitting, GCB is aiming to host numerous other tournaments

GCB president Bissoondyal Singh

in 2022, namely: Female Inter-County 50-over (home and away), Female Senior Inter-County Two-Day, Under-15 50-over (home and away), Under-17 50over (home and away), Under-17 Two-Day, Under-19 Three-Day (home and away), Under-19 Inter-County 50-over (home

and away), Franchise Under-19 50-over, National Secondary School 50over, National Primary School 100-over, Senior Inter-County Four-Day, Senior Inter-County 50-over, National Club T20 or Franchise Cricket and Franchise 50-over to be played before Inter-County.

Biles honoured with BBC Lifetime Achievement Award

US GYMNAST Simone Biles has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist is widely considered one of the greatest and most successful gymnasts of all-time with a combined total of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals.

At age 24, she is the youngest athlete to be honoured with the award and the fourth American behind Martina Navratilova, Michael Phelps and Billie Jean King.

In 2018, Biles became the most-decorated female gymnast in World Championships history when she won four gold medals, one silver, and one bronze to bring her career total at that competition to 20 medals.

The Texan continued to smash records in 2019 as she became the first gymnast in more than six decades to win five gold medals at the World Championship, becoming the most successful gymnast ever in the competition's history.

After competing at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, Biles has won four gold, one silver and four bronze medals.

The BBC have now recognised her success with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Biles said she was thankful for the 'wonderful honour'.

'The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award is truly humbling,' she said.

When I see those names who have been honoured before me I can hardly believe it.

'This year wasn't quite the year I was expecting as I had to take a step back from competition to recover from an invisible injury.

'This was the hardest decision of my life, but I chose to speak out to show mental health struggles are nothing to be ashamed of.

'I want to thank my teammates, my friends, and my family who gave me so much love and strength.

'I will carry on fighting for what I believe in and for sport to be a safer place for young people to grow and flourish.

'Thank you again for this truly wonderful honour and what it represents.

All eyes were on Biles this summer as she

The American is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all-time with 32 medals

headed to her second Olympics under great expectation.

But, unfortunately, she had to withdraw from five finals, explaining she had the 'twisties' - a dangerous mental block in which gymnasts lose their orientation in the air.

Yet, Biles bounced back to compete on the balance beam, where she won bronze, and secured silver in the women's team.

'Very proud of Simone,' Biles's mother Nellie said. 'Very proud of her achievement.

Very proud that she is receiving this award.

Unbelievable.

'This is someone who has gone through a lot of struggles, like every one of us, and this is someone who is not ashamed to discuss the struggles she has been through.

'What Simone is doing right now, is opening the door for so many, many people across the globe.'

Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, said: 'Simone's passion and dedication to gymnastics has projected her and the sport to wider audiences across the world.

'What she has achieved on the biggest stages has confirmed her as one of the greatest of all-time to represent the sport.

'To also have four gymnastics skills named after her shows how much of an influence she has had.

'It's an honour to be awarding Simone with the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award. (Mail on Line)

39

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Priyanna Ramdhani cops two Trophy Stall Badminton Doubles titles

GUYANA’S top female badminton player Priyanna Ramdhani emerged with two of the three Doubles titles up for grabs on the final day of the Trophy Stall Badminton Christmas Tournament on Friday evening at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Priyanna’s older brother Narayan Ramdhani, the best badminton player in the country, won the other title.

After drawing fellow national player Akili Haynes, Priyanna’s Mixed Doubles team were favourites from the start and although Narayan battled hard, he and his partner Mishka Beharry fell 21-13, 21-14 in the championship clash.

Priyanna and Shivannie

The respective winners of Trophy Stall Badminton Christmas Tournament with executive members of the Guyana Badminton Association

Persaud also won the Women’s Doubles title. They defeated Anna Perreira and Christina Kumar 21-18, 21-13 in the final.

Narayan teamed up with Jonathan Mangra to win the

Men’s Doubles final after they defeated Haynes and Tyrese Jeffrey 21-12, 21-18.

There were also two consolation finals (for players knocked out in the first round).

In the Men’s Doubles

Over $1.5M up for grabs in tonight’s National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship … Fitness Express, National Sports Commission, DTS Trading and Shipping on board

OVER $1.5M in cash will be up for grabs when Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) hosts its National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship at the National Cultural Centre from 18:00hrs.

At this event, the first since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of returning faces will be posing down to earn the coveted title of National Champion in their respective divisions.

According to information from the federation, it is expected that some 30 competitors will battle in the Men’s Physique, Ms Bikini and Mr Guyana (bodybuilding) segments.

The winners of all three divisions will each receive $200 000.

Cash prizes will also go to second- and thirdplace finishers and the individual winners of the weight class in the bodybuilding segment.

President of the Federation, Keavon Bess, said that tickets have been selling ‘like black cake on Christmas Eve’, and that all the athletes are ready to get on stage.

“All the athletes are ready to roar and we’re ready to give to the live-viewing audience and all of Guyana a much-needed bodybuilding competition.”

SPONSORSHIP On Friday the federation received financial support from the National Sports Commission, regular sponsors Fitness Express and DTS Trading and Shipping.

Fitness Express is also expected to give a protein package to the competitors.

Without five-time Mr Guyana Kerwin Clarke, who had opted to focus at the international level

CEO of Fitness Express, Jamie McDonald, (left), a long-time supporter of bodybuilding, hands over the sponsorship cheque to GBBFF president Keavon Bess

(since 2019), the Mr Guyana title would again be up for grabs.

Darious Ramsammy is a favourite, owing to his astonishing development over the last few years and his recent second-place finish at the Santo Domingo Open in the Dominican Republic in October. He will face stiff competition from the proportional Roger Callender.

Also in the mix would be the ever-improving Nicholas Albert who also performed well at the Santo Domingo Open.

Defending champion Marlon Bennett should also be in the thick of things.

CAC 2021 bronze medallist and defending Bikini champion Rosanna Fung is a clear favourite to retain her title, while CAC 2021 Men’s Physique silver medallist Emmerson Campbell is also a favourite, but he is expected to have stiff competition from rival Yannick Grimes.

consolation final, Mahender Sharma and Jason Stephney defeated Matthew Klautky and Matthew Singh 21-10, 21-13, while in the Mixed Doubles consolation final, Tyrese Jeffrey and Christina Kumar

defeated Esa Sanichara and Priyanka Shivnauth 21-17, 21-18.

The tournament, which was the first since the death of the Guyana Badminton Association’s long-standing president Gokarn Ramdhani, brings the

curtain down for 2021.

The executive members of the association, in a release, thanked the proprietor of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, for sponsoring the tournament.

2021 was ‘Bright’ for Chantoba, Natricia Hooper

By Rawle Toney WHEN it comes to the longand triple-jumps in 2021, Chantoba Bright and Natricia Hooper enjoyed an exceptional year, either competing on the international stage for their country, or, on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One circuit for their respective colleges.

Hooper had the only record-breaking performance this year in Track and Field for a Guyanese at the senior level.

She erased Guyana’s 26-year-old National women’s triple jump record of 13.74 metres and replaced it with 13.92 metres.

Competing for the University of Florida at the South Eastern Conference (SEC) Outdoor Championships, Hooper finished third and bettered Nicola Martial’s June 3, 1995 record.

In fact, the distance was good enough to make her the University of Florida’s second best all-time in the women’s triple jump.

She’s currently ranked 75th in the world, according to World Athletics.

Meanwhile, for Bright, she owns three of the six medals won for Guyana internationally in Track and Field this year.

After sending athletes to

Chantoba Bright

Natricia Hooper

the Senior South American Championship, the South American U23 Championship and the Junior Pan Am Games, Guyana ended 2021 with six medals.

The Senior South American Championship was hosted in Guayaquil, Ecuador, May 29-31 and Guyana ended the event with three medals.

Emanuel Archibald won silver in the men’s 100m (10.23s), and then teamed up with Jeremy Bascom, Akeem Stewart and Noelex Holder to claim bronze in the Men’s 100m relay (40.03s).

Jasmine Abrams’ time of 11.50s in the women’s 100m in Ecuador, was good enough to claim bronze.

Bright finished with two medals at the South American Under-23 Championships which was staged in Ecuador, taking silver in the triple jump (13.08m) and a

bronze (6.09m) in the long jump event.

Fast forward to the inaugural Junior Pan Am Games in Colombia, where Guyana was represented in the disciplines of athletics, badminton, boxing, swimming, table tennis, weight-lifting and squash, the Victory Valley, Linden resident was the only Guyanese athlete to finish on the podium.

Competing at the November 25 – December 5 event, the 21-year-old Kansas State athlete finished second in the women’s triple jump (13.50m). Her distance was just shy of her personal best (PB) 13.53m.

With a host of wins and podium finishes this year in the NCAA, 2021 was certainly ‘BRIGHT’ for Chantoba. She ends 2021 with a World Ranking of 68 in the triple jump and 114 in the long jump.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 19, 2021

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, and Minister Charles Ramson Jr join president of the GVF, Levi Nedd, and players during the roll-out of the National Sports Academy

Historic day as Sports Academy begins

… Squash, Volleyball first to serve off MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, along with Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle were on hand yesterday at the National Racquet Centre and Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, to see the start of the first-ever National Sports Academy.

The Academy will initially focus on the 12 core sports cricket, football, athletics, basketball, table tennis, swimming, hockey, squash, rugby, volleyball, lawn tennis and badminton.

At the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue, squash players, under the guidance of National coach Carl Ince, began their training in what Guyana Squash Association (GSA) president Owen Verwey called a momentous occasion.

“We’re very proud and happy to be the very first one (association) to kick off the Sports Academy. For squash, we’re a relatively small fraternity, but we’re dedicated. So we’re focusing on delivering what we’re supposed to do for sports and for the youths in particular,” Verwey said.

Minister Ramson informed that facilities were a major factor in identifying the core sports and pointed to the squash courts at the National Racquet Centre, which is said to be the only public squash court in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, meeting The facility was commissioned in 2013, but Minister Ramson noted that it was “under-utilised”.

TURN TO PAGE 34

Harper out as CWI selection chief

some of the junior squash players who are part of the National Sports Academy PAGE

34

The Roger Harper-led West Indies selection panel has been relieved of its duties

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Over $1.5M up for grabs in tonight’s National 39 Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship PAGE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2021