Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 20-03-2022

20th March, 2022

Free Inside No.106668

No increase in minibus fares expected – union President

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Eccles to be transformed 03 with US$25M wharf –– project creates opportunity for over 50 direct jobs

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Two die in 18 Corentyne hit-and-run PAGE

Site identified for multi-million-dollar 15 hospital in Region Two PAGE

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall with regional officials at the site for the hospital in Region Two

Enhanced productivity leads to 03 good week at Albion Estate

Dead: Toney Lakeram

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More than just an important means of livelihood, fishing is also a beloved hobby for many in the countryside. This Delano Williams’ photo captures a resident of Leguan Island proving his prowess at throwing a cast net

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

No increase in minibus – union President fares expected

By Tamica Garnett

EVEN though some minibus drivers have unilaterally implemented partial fare increases,

President of the United Minibus Association (UMA), Eon Andrews, said that increases are not expected.

He noted, however

,that the association is hopeful of hosting talks with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (MoTIC) on what measures could be put in

place at the central government level to assist the transportation sector, given the global increase in the cost of fuel due largely to the war initiated

President of the United Minibus Association, Eon Andrews

by Russia in Ukraine.

“The increase in fuel price is not something isolated to Guyana. You cannot just be selfish and think to increase fares.

Everything has gone up, it’s not just affecting buses alone.

“It would be irresponsible to just jump and say people must pay more. But this is something only the government can address, so we have to negotiate.

We have to talk with the powers that be to ensure that all the stakeholders are not heavily affected,”

Taxi driver, Mohammed Ali Andrews told the Sunday Chronicle.

Rising cost of living which was initially started due to the COVID-19 pandemic, escalated when Russia began an invasion

Morris (only name given) plies the Georgetown to Parika route of Ukraine in February.

Fuel prices were heavily affected as many countries began issuing sanctions on Russia, including the importation of fuel from that country.

The government has since implemented measures to cushion the impact, including subsidising increased fuel costs to ensure that consumers will not be forced to pay higher water and electricity rates.

The government is also currently looking into welfare measures for the spending of $5 billion that was set aside in the national budget to deal with the global effects on the economy.

However, Andrews See page 4

SUNDAY CHRONICLE MARCh 20, 2022

Eccles to be transformed with US$25M wharf

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–– project creates opportunity for over 50 direct jobs

By Navendra Seoraj THE physical landscape of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, is set to be transformed with the construction of a US$25 million wharf facility to service Guyana’s fast-growing oil- and-gas sector.

This modern facility is being constructed

by TKK Properties Incorporated, a company registered in Guyana since 2017.

Based on a project summary seen by the Sunday Chronicle, the wharf will sit directly in the Demerara River, 11 meters from the high-water mark along the western boundary of the 9.1-acre property.

The structure, which will be 30 meters wide and 256 meters long, will comprise pre-stressed/precast concrete members, and will be built at a finished elevation of 18.7 meters.

Once completed, the wharf is expected to accommodate a total of three vessels measuring 75 meters. The project will create direct jobs for over 50 persons during and after the construction phase.

As outlined by the company in its project

summary, the motivation behind the construction of this facility is the willingness of several companies to be involved in the development of Guyana’s petroleum sector.

“The company has been actively involved in negotiations with several foreign companies for the provision of shore-base and logistics services for operators in Guyana’s newly developing petroleum sector,” TKK Properties said.

Timely development of such projects, and simultaneous exploration success offshore will enable the steady advancement of human resource capabilities and enhanced economic growth.

Outside of investments within the oiland- gas sector, there has also been immense direct benefits as a result of the country’s oil resources.

It was reported recently that revenue generated from the local oil-and-gas sector is expected to catapult Guyana to the ranks of wealthiest countries in the Western Hemisphere, thereby increasing the government’s fiscal space to invest in initiatives geared at expanding the economy, and improving the

overall welfare of citizens.

“Guyana is now poised to be one of the wealthiest countries in the hemisphere; we intend to employ the gains from exploiting these deposits into initiatives geared at expanding the economy, improving competitiveness, giving people the best social services, increasing productivity, enhancing food production, and building new sectors,” President Dr. Irfaan Ali had said during a virtual faculty workshop on the microeconomics of competitiveness hosted by the Harvard Business School.

In painting a vivid image of what is expected from the oil-and-gas sector in the near-term, Dr. Ali said that by 2025, operating cash flow based on total investment, is expected to reach US$3.5 billion.

The performance of this sector is expected to improve even further as the years go by, since the success rate is 80 per cent, and there are already 28 commercial discoveries in the Stabroek Block.

With this, the country has estimated recoverable resources of over 10 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

The Stabroek Block currently has three identified production areas, namely: Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, and Payara.

Production capacity is expected to reach 340,000 barrels per day following the commencement of production at Liza Phase Two. This is expected to increase to 560,000 barrels per day in 2024, when the Payara project comes on stream.

Further, with an anticipated fourth production area, the Yellowtail, estimates are poised to reach 810,000 barrels per day by 2026/27, and additional developments under consideration could see Guyana reaching one million barrels per day by 2030.

Operators within the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks also advanced exploration programmes in 2021, with additional wells likely to come online in the last quarter of 2022. In addition, exploration activities will continue in the Kanuku Block.

As reported, in the third quarter of this year, the government will be holding auctions and bidding rounds for available acreages of offshore blocks.

Enhanced productivity leads to good week at Albion Estate –– weekly production target surpassed by 7.9 per cent

THE Albion Sugar Estate, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), was able to leverage improved cane quality, better harvester attendance and enhanced productivity in the fields to surpass its target for the week ending March 19, 2022.

According to a press statement from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Albion/Port Mourant Estate exceeded its weekly target by 7.9 per cent; this was the first weekly target surpassed for the year 2022 in the sugar sector.

The estate was able to surpass its target despite being obstructed by intermittent rainfall, which has stalled mechanical harvesting operations.

“As a result of this achievement, qualified em-

ployees who worked 80 per cent or more days available for the week, will benefit from an additional day’s pay (tax free),” GuySuCo related.

The sugar corporation at the commencement of the first crop of 2022, introduced an improved Personal Performance Incentive (PPI) Scheme, which saw cane harvesters responding positively to this incentive by improving on attendance and productivity.

This PPI “handsomely rewards” each worker progressively as they improve their productivity, with some workers adding more than G$15,000 to their weekly pay.

GuySuCo has also implemented a similar incentive scheme for the planters, fertilising crew and chemical weed control workers.

“I want to thank management and workers for achieving this weekly production incentive. With this, we will have more money for our families and I would like to encourage all workers to come out and let us achieve more weekly targets in the future at Albion Estate,” cane harvester, Omadat Seecharan was quoted as saying.

Weekly Production Incentive (WPI) is one of several initiatives in place to boost employees’ productivity and was implemented on May 13, 1989.

The payment of a WPI is based on the individual estate’s achievement of 100 per cent or more of its weekly sugar production target.

Once the targets are achieved, employees on the estate receive one additional day’s pay. If the estate’s

achievement is 130 per cent or more of its target, then employees on the estate will receive two days’ pay.

It was reported recently that after five years of labouring in the fields and factories within Guyana’s sugar industry without an increase in remuneration, or other incentives to acknowledge their hard work, sugar workers benefitted from a seven per cent increase in wages and salaries last year.

The approval of this increase by the government was a welcome reward for sugar workers, whose relentless efforts to acquire such a provision under the previous A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) A cane harvester in his element

See page 4

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Enhanced No increase in minibus fares ... productivity...

From page 3

From page 2

noted that the union will not be sanctioning increases in fares.

Citing increasing prices for auto parts and in some cases the bad state of roadways, the drivers say that there is little they can do to ensure that they make ends meet in their own personal lives.

They note that some customers have begun to willingly pay the increase, though others are resisting the move.

At the route 32 bus park, the fare from Georgetown to Parika has been increased by some drivers from $500 to $700; however, the fares

of other destinations in the route have remained the same.

“We trying to see if we can get the people to cooperate. We used to take $500 but we are looking for $700 now. Within the route, we haven’t raised anything. We only raised the fare straight to Parika,” commented a route 32 driver, 54-year-old Morris (only name given).

Morris noted that “The whole economy will keep rising, so we have to all prepare for this.”

A driver of a Route 31 minibus, Marlon Roach, noted that the state of the roads in Parfaite Harmo-

March 16, 2022

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nie has also contributed to some drivers now asking for a $40 increase in the fares; it was initially $160 for some areas and $200 for others.

“As bus drivers, we are asking for an increase of $40. Some of the passengers agree to pay the increase but some don’t.

We are facing some terrible wear and tear of the undercarriage because the roads are really bad,” he noted.

Apart from the buses, many taxi drivers have also started to increase their fares as well, with “short drops,” which are usually between $500 -

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$600, now increased to as much as $800.

“We know that it’s a worldwide crisis but we are still pleading with the government to see what they could do for us,” commented taxi driver Mohammed Ali, 51, who is usually stationed at the popular taxi park at Stabroek Market.

“Everything went up and everything keep going up, nothing is coming down, but we should look at the fuel. They can’t do anything in a rash manner. We understand that things have to go up, but it’s very hard.”

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administration proved futile.

Contrary to the government’s move, which was to the benefit of workers, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo, in announcing the initiative, said that the former coalition administration had shuttered several estates, and left workers on the breadline.

In 2017, the APNU+AFC Government had announced the closure of several sugar estates across the country, leaving thousands of persons without jobs or sources of income. The move saw four sugar estates being closed, and 7,000 sugar workers losing their jobs.

“Under APNU [+AFC], 7,000 sugar workers lost their jobs, and in the five years, there was no salary increase for sugar workers… Apart from that, the Annual Production Incentive (API) had also been terminated.

So, while the rest of the country got salary increases, they got zero.

And, in fact, many of them lost their jobs, so the $250,000 grant was a way to alleviate some of the issues they faced; it is almost reparative justice, and we had to give a salary increase this year. We had said that whatever the public servants get, they would also get… We decided that seven per cent would also be awarded to sugar worker,” Vice-President Jagdeo said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Legislative revision, consolidation underway

THE Government of Guyana has already initiated efforts to revise and consolidate all of the laws of Guyana, “including principal and subsidiary legislation in force, as at December 31, 2022”.

This is according to a statement issued on Saturday evening by the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which explained that the exercise, which has an approved duration of 12 months, commenced on February 21, 2022, and will conclude on February 20, 2023.

“This consolidation and revision exercise is a collaborative effort between the Law Revision Commission 1, a Unit within the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and the Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) Project, and will be executed by the Regional Revision Centre Inc., an Anguillan company,” the statement elaborated.

It also highlighted the view of Attorney- General and Minister of Legal

Affairs Anil Nandlall that “this consolidation and revision process, taken together with several other transformative initiatives currently underway, will deliver on a Manifesto promise to modernise the legislative landscape”.

The last consolidation and revision exercise was executed prior to 2012, thereby producing the 2012 Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana.

“That process took place nearly 12 years ago, and a plethora of new laws have been promulgated since. Incorporating those laws into principal legislation, and the consolidation of them have become necessary,” the press statement said, pointing to the fact that the time is therefore ripe to produce a new volume of the Laws of Guyana which is current, comprehensive, and accurate.

“Quite importantly, this process will also see the rectification of several deficiencies which afflicted the last revision exercise,” the legal affairs ministry noted.

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall To facilitate the required work, the Attorney-General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs, through the IMPACT Justice Project, has committed to supplying the Regional Law Revision Centre with several pieces of docu-

ments.

These include electronic and printed copies of the last (2012) Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana; a copy of the Consolidated Index of the Laws of Guyana for the revision periods 2009, 2010 and 2021;

and the Gazette publications of the Laws of Guyana for the revision period December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2021.

The ministry, in its statement, informed that once the current consolidation and revision exercise is completed, the Regional Law Revision Centre will provide Guyana with completed electronic (MS Word and PDF versions) files of revised and consolidated Laws of Guyana as at December 31, 2022.

“These files will then be used to produce the 2022 Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana,” the release posited.

It continued, “Access to justice requires access by the people of Guyana to the laws which affect their daily lives. As such, in keeping with current policy, the 2022 Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana will be made available on the website of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and physical copies will be made available to key stakeholders.”

When the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) assumed office in August 2020, after five years of being out of government, it recommitted to modernising the country’s legislative structure.

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To this end, in addition to revising and consolidating Guyana’s laws, efforts are also afoot to execute a comprehensive reform.

As a matter of fact, it was only in August 2021 that President Dr. Irfaan Ali swore in members of the country’s first-ever Law Reform Commission (LRC).

The activation of this very important commission paves the way for incremental legislative amendments that would essentially bring Guyana in alignment with global legislative trends.

The existence of the reform commission goes a far way in ensuring that Guyana’s legal system is constantly updated and not as stagnant as it has been for many years.

The members of the current Law Reform Commission include its Chairman, Justice of Appeal (Ret’d) Beasraj Singh Roy; Vice-President of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) Teni Housty; former High Commissioner of Guyana to Canada Clarissa Riehl; Veteran educator and proprietor of Nations Incorporated Dr. Brian O’Toole; and Attorneys-at-Law Emily Dodson, Roopnarine Satram, and Deenawatie Panday.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

The Ravages of War

THE entire world is watching in disbelief if not outrage at what is happening in Ukraine, especially in this supposedly modern and civilised age.

Images of the indiscriminate killings of men, women and children are beamed in the homes of millions if not billions of people around the globe on a daily basis. This is indeed depressing and calls into serious question the role of the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, to meaningfully engage in dispute resolution.

Unlike the First and Second World Wars when millions of people died, images of death and destruction were confined more to the battlefields. Not so today.

The rise of social media and information and communication technologies has now brought images of war and conflicts literally into our sitting rooms.

The war in Ukraine is now in its fourth week and there is no sign of any easing up, despite several rounds of discussions by the warring sides to find a solution. Meanwhile, entire cities have been destroyed, thousands of lives lost and a humanitarian crisis which

the world has never experienced in modern history, has been created.

According to the United Nations, the fighting has displaced 6.5 million people inside Ukraine on top of the 3.2 million refugees scattered in several parts of Eastern Europe -- Poland in particular.

In all of this, the international community appeared unable to bring about an end to the crisis. U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President XI Jingping, spoke on Friday for nearly two hours via video as the U.S. seeks to deter China from providing military or economic aid to Russia in the face of severe economic sanctions by western nations against Russia. It remains to be seen what effect, if any, these talks will have on the current situation.

Meanwhile, the United Nations human rights body said that it had recorded a total of 816 civilian deaths and 1,333 injuries since the war began on February 24. These are unconfirmed numbers which did not include soldiers killed on both sides on the battlefield which, according to conservative estimates, could run into the thousands.

The international community has come out in open condemnation of the war, with Pope Francis describing it as the ‘perverse’ abuse of power and called for aid for Ukrainians whose identity, history and tradition are under attack.

The security interests of all nations, including that of the Russian Federation, cannot be ignored or swept under the carpet.

Such concerns however cannot be resolved through resort to the use of military force as is the case in the current invasion of Ukraine

by Russia.

A more enlightened approach to dispute resolution has to be found, based on the principles of respect for territorial integrity and the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.

In this regard, the position taken by the Government of Guyana on the matter is not only correct, but is fully consistent with the norms of international law and with the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and more importantly their sovereign right to exist.

The position of Guyana is fully aligned

with that of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which strongly condemned ‘the military attacks and invasion by the Russian Federation and called for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the military presence and cessation of any further action that may intensify the perilous situation in that country.’

The harsh reality is that the impact of the war is already biting hard. Already the cost of fuel has spiraled, pushing up the cost of living.

Russia and Ukraine are among the largest producers of grains and the war has already impacted in a big way on the price of flour on the local market.

The hope is that this war will come to a speedy end. It is not too late for the parties to reach an agreement that will accommodate the security interests of both the Ukraine and the Russian Federation. War is certainly not the answer.

If allowed to continue, the consequences could be dire, not only for the Ukrainian people, but for humanity as a whole.

GECOM must not entertain useless meetings

Dear Editor,

THE just-concluded meeting held between the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the representatives of the APNU+AFC leave many questions and suspicion about the real motive and agenda of the latter.

The APNU+AFC’s urgings to GECOM against holding elections without major reforms is merely one aspect of their hidden political agenda that must not be overlooked.

In respect to the meeting held, reliable sources reported that the APNU+AFC representatives had nothing substantial to offer, or rather, nothing new came out from the meeting. It is crystal clear that the old PNC/R line to procrastinate and avoid LGEs is what the PNC/R has up its sleeves. The PNC/R issue with the deceased names on the list is noted.

However, there is a legal system in place for removals. As regards the ‘migrants’, the court has ruled concerning this matter.

The clandestine strategy is nothing but the old trick of under-cutting Community Development by advocating for the delay of

Local Government Elections (LGEs) and then complaining about it on the political platform during the campaign period. The PNC/R as the controlling party in the Coalition is fully aware of the need for adequate and renewed leadership at the municipal, neighbourhood democratic, and village council levels; but is willing to sacrifice this for fear of facing the electorate.

They are also cognisant of the necessity for delivery of services to citizens at these levels, and that the mechanism of LGEs will deliver new energetic leaders to take advantage of the national development push at these levels, to appease the livelihood of our citizenry. Naturally, the APNU+AFC wants our citizens to start complaining and this, the PPP/C must not allow by agreeing to any further delays in GECOM’s holding of the LGEs. All of the monster tears about the bloated list go against acceptable controls that are in place for the conduct of elections of E-day, to prevent egregious voting practices. The complainants are forgetting that they have representative polling agents in each polling

station who are there to verify the authenticity of each voter and to count and sign the ‘statements of poll’.

APNU+AFC cannot deny that on the evening of March 3, 2020, their representatives, including then-President Granger, pronounce and announced that the 2020 Elections were free and fair. Our nation will recall that Election Day on March 3, 2020 was a peaceful day and all local and international observers also confirmed that Election Day activities were without hiccups, peaceful and successful.

The March 2020 Elections fiasco started when the APNU+AFC riggers, along with the GECOM riggers, introduced the (broadsheet and the dirty bedsheet) in the verification process in Region Four. The blatant attempt to rig the elections was prevented by the strong leadership of the PPP/C and the unflinching support of the ‘Guardians of Democracy’, along with the significant support from the ABC and E countries, along with the international observers and CARICOM. That total togetherness must never be forgotten. It was only when they could not get through with the rigging efforts, complaints about the list

intensified.

The call for an internal review of all that took place before, during, and after the 2020 Elections is most welcome. However, the APNU+AFC must bring their statements of poll for the nation to see. Further, GECOM must examine the backup storage for computerised data, to recover all the necessary information that was wiped out and taken out of its computers. For a proper and normal assessment, a thorough review of all that took place in preparation and for conducting the 2020 Elections is important and necessary. Why, therefore, is the APNU+AFC not joining the call for those who are responsible for the removal of the SOPs and all other information to be charged and placed before the courts.

APNU+AFC calls on GECOM not to hold LGEs before major reforms are wicked and cowardly.

As the government in 2016 and 2018, they approved and supported, and held LGEs while largely being able to influence critical changes that were intended to See page 7

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Evolution of Phagwah celebrations among NY Guyanese

Dear Editor,

PHAGWAH was celebrated on Friday, March 18 in Guyana and among the diaspora. Phagwah was introduced in New York and other USA locations by the Guyanese diaspora some five decades ago.

Early Guyanese and Trinidadian migrants started celebrating Phagwah, Diwali, Eid, and other Indian festivals going back to the 1960s.

Facing discrimination at home, Guyanese and Trinis started coming to the US as foreign students and/or as tourists during the early 1960s and decided to settle down rather than re-migrate ‘home’.

The early migrants lived in inexpensive hotel rooms or shared small apartments.

Migrants of different religious backgrounds lived together. They celebrated each other’s festivals that were held in the hotel room or the apartments during the early years of their presence in New York. In later years, when they could afford it, they moved to larger apartments and some purchased houses. Celebrations took place in the larger apartments or their homes depending on the weather or in the yard of their homes. And over time, they rented a ballroom or school auditorium for religious festivals like Eid, Holi, Diwali. When I first came to the US in 1977 as a student at university, I organised Diwali, Phagwah and Eid celebrations on campus from 1977 onwards while I was a student. City College provided accommodations for celebrations of festivals. When I finished college, I organised cultural variety concerts for Diwali and Holi at school auditoriums and ballrooms. Haji Zakjir and other groups organised Eid celebrations that I patronised and wrote about in the community press. Guyana was in the throes of a fascist dictatorship during that period with the regime controlling the media.

Nothing about the diaspora was carried in the Guyanese press.

The large influx of Guyanese (and Trinis), beginning in the late 1970s and continuing up until this day, has made it possible for Phagwah, Eid, Holi, etc. to be celebrated in NY and other American cities similar to Guyana except for the brutally cold weather which prevents all the traditions that we experience in Guyana. The Phagwah celebration was not always this large and did not include any public festivities or the trappings of today.

In fact, it has only taken off over the last 35 years. Prior to 1990, Phagwah observances were minimal in the US and took place in doors in apartments. There were few mandirs.

Religious services on Sunday mornings took place in hotel rooms or apartments. During the 1980s, services shifted to basements of some mandir or masjid members who volunteered their place for worship. And later, these services were held in car garages that were converted into mandirs or masjids. Churches came about in the 2000s.

I remember in the late 1970s, living in the South Bronx as a college student (attending CCNY in Harlem), it was unheard of to celebrate Phagwah in public. At CCNY, Indo-Caribbean students of the Indo Club joined Indian nationals for a short prayer, distribution of Prasad, and snacks including jalebi, burfi, mohanbhog which I prepare on campus, watching a Bollywood film and a simple dinner organised by myself, Vassan Ramracha and Baytoram Ramharack, among others.

Guyanese simply observed the Phagwah festival at home with prayers and without any abeer. Family members partook in a traditional vegetarian meal and mohanbhog (prasad). Some individuals would attend religious service at the Pandit Oumdat Maharaj-led Mahatma Gandhi Satsangh temple on Townsend Avenue in the South Bronx and later in Jamaica where Phagwah and other auspicious holidays would be celebrated. Pt.

GECOM must not entertain useless...

From page 6

off-balance contesting political parties.

Before these changes were revealed, neither GECOM nor the APNU+AFC had the simple courtesy to hold discussions with the PPP/C or any other political party when they introduced New NDCs along with new towns and made changes to several boundaries in their gerrymandering efforts to win votes or take control of some NDCs based on the concentration of party support.

The PPP/C Government must, therefore, involve GECOM in discussions to carefully re-look at some of the New NDCs that the APNU introduced that cannot function on their own. Some of them are not collecting a single cent from rates and taxes. Regularisation of local government areas must be meaningful and related to the delivery of service to the people dwelling

within.

The PPP/C Government must be applauded for the inclusive approach they adopted before proposing amendments to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA), in effort to hold elections officials accountable. The procedure included invited submissions from all political parties and valuable stakeholders. The PNC/R and small and defunct ‘AFC’ failed to make any proposals to the government on the proposed amendments. This nation must not be held at ransom while the PNC/R is having its internal battles for mere survival.

GECOM must be cautious about the looseness or lack of serious agenda intended by the PNC and put all systems in place to hold LGEs as early as possible.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

Oumadat’s temple (God bless him) provided a critical spiritual need to Hindu Guyanese.

He also worked closely with Haji Zakir and Christian priests.

Thousands of Guyanese were settled in the South Bronx and Jamaica and they would show up for Friday afternoon Jumaa or Sunday morning havan service and on the evenings of auspicious days in the Hindu calendars. Even Guyanese Christians who felt lonely in NY during the 1970s and 1980s came for the Hindu religious service.

Phagwah was celebrated at the temple’s yard on the Sunday before or after the official observance or on the day if it was a weekend.

In Queens, Pandit Jadonath held worshipping service that attracted a significant following in Far Rockaway and later in 101 Ave and Liberty Ave in Richmond Hill. In Brooklyn, on Ave D, near Foster Ave, the huge basement of a tenement building owned by Guyanese, Pandit Misir, during the 1970s and continuing till this day, served as a make-shift temple where Phagwah was observed in a somewhat subdued manner. The Arya Samajists also had a temple with the large basement of Vishnu Bandhu’s furniture store used for Phagwah celebration in Brooklyn during the 1980s.

During the 1970s and early 1980s, and later years, the few temples hosted chowtal singing on weekends and on Phagwah evening with celebrants using talc powder instead of abeer to sprinkle on one another. Some members of the temples also hosted satsanghs (prayer services) and dinners in their homes accompanied by chowtal singing.

As the Guyanese community grew in Queens in the mid-1980s with more migration, Holi Samellan (variety concerts of music and dance) were held annually at public schools (beginning at first at Hillcrest) in Jamaica where thousands of Guyanese had settled. Hundreds would attend the concerts. But the use of abeer was not allowed and playful

jollification was restricted to talc powder and minimal use of abrack. In 1990, the parade was launched in Richmond Hill where tens of thousands of Guyanese had made their home.

Today, the area is home to about 250,000 Indo-Caribbeans and another 50,000 South Asians. As an outdoor celebration, people felt unrestrained in using abeer, powder and other Phagwah paraphernalia. Today, the parade attracts over 30,000. During the 1990s, parades were also held in Queens Village (now discontinued) which is home to thousands of Guyanese, the Bronx and Jersey City where thousands of Guyanese are also settled. The Holi Samellans continued during the 1990s in public schools. But with the much larger crowds now, the samellans are held outdoors on the compounds of mandirs or in the streets blocked off by the police. In the past, a light snack was offered at the celebrations. Today, the samellans provide a full meal with people offering a donation.

In the past, people used to look at Phagwah celebrants as being weird for having their faces smeared with colours.

But more and more Americans have become familiar with the festival especially in the areas where the parades are held.

Americans no longer consider it odd to see Guyanese playing with talc powder, abrack, gulals and abeer in the city parks. They also like the festival and join in the fun and they love the chowtal and loud tassa music.

Many non-Guyanese and many non-Hindus participate in the parade today. Young Afro-Guyanese and Hispanics are also part of the celebration.

So Phagwah has come a long way in NY thanks to the interest shown by Guyanese to propagate the culture in the areas where large numbers of our people are settled.

Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Russia and beginning Ukraine show the world Guyana to end what ‘COVID’ a differencenightmares! a day makes daily

By Earl Bousquet AT a time when the highest-ranking hemispheric health official, PAHO’s Director Dr. Clarissa Etienne is warning the Caribbean and Latin America against lifting COVID-19 restrictions too quickly, news that Guyana is trying to return to normal after two years

of the ‘New COVID Normal’ was met with mixed responses at home and abroad.

Europe and North America have already engaged a slew of on-again, off-again removals and reintroductions of protocols and restrictions: From wearing masks and social distancing, to workers having to present ‘COVID’

passports to collect pay, and diners to present vaccination certificates to enter restaurants; from to-ing-andfro-ing with visitor entry requirements at land, air and sea ports, to insisting on ‘booster jabs’ for already vaccinated people, and the UK providing vaccines to students and children without parental consent.

A question on most minds at the start of the pandemic’s third year is whether ‘COVID’ will finally go away in 2022, as anxiously predicted by many since Omicron arrived last November, and was strangely welcomed by some as the possible ultimate attrition virus that would somehow eventually devour Delta and all other previous Variants of Interest and Concern.

With some Caribbean nations also easing restrictions for holidays without offering safe and healthy guarantees, there’s also worry that a rush to raise restrictions and return to mass-crowd activities as a response to mounting Lockdown Fatigue could be more harmful than helpful; more hurtful than healthy.

But after considering how Guyana has handled the pandemic in the past year, many also understood why President Irfaan Ali would have signed an order ending earlier mandatory requirements, while also still insisting that basic health practices continue to be observed, voluntarily (like wearing masks in public and maintenance of sanitisation stations at workplaces and in public places).

Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony and his teams of advisers and health officials would also have thought long and hard before recommending that Guyana be the first Caribbean nation to dare try kissing or kicking COVID-19 goodbye, by dropping restrictive protocols altogether.

It’s also crystal clear that Dr. Anthony is ‘leading from the front’, as Caribbean people say, starting every day by meeting Online with Regional Health Officers to discuss developments, share new information and statistics, and plan ahead.

The minister also hosts a daily press conference, where he shares new information with the media; again, Online.

Guyana, indeed, has a favourable ‘COVID’ report card.

In December 2021, it was reported that over 70 per cent of Guyana’s teachers were vaccinated, with a

higher national vaccination rate and a wider variety of vaccines available than most other CARICOM nations.

Fortunately for Guyana, the anti-vaccination lobby has not been as successful as in most other CARICOM states, where some teachers’ union leaders actually discourage members from vaccinating, and where public service unions publicly agitate and align with the political opposition against governments moving to ensure frontline public service workers (doctors and nurses, police and immigration, air and sea port employees and tourism industry workers, etc.) are vaccinated.

By classifying every health requirement as governments ‘mandating’ new laws that violate individual rights that have been wrongly placed above the Common Good, Caribbean anti-vaxxers have been better able to dissuade The Undecided from taking a jab.

Naturally, Guyana’s private sector offers cautious support for the new changes, but also (expectedly) wants public utility charges to remain the same, which has been guaranteed by President Ali, who’s also announced that electricity and water rates will remain the same.

But, like Guyana, the long-awaited Return to Normal means different things in different CARICOM states.

Guyana can, today, afford to guarantee it will cap utility prices, not raise taxes, examine minimum wage increases, provide more housing, water and electricity and protect the most vulnerable from the worst effects of the virus, but post-‘COVID’ economic realities have actually forced many CARICOM member-states to cut their annual health expenditure allocations.

The number of beds available, and availability of vaccines are both less than required in most CARICOM states, especially in islands with only one hospital.

Guyana’s Health Ministry has to cater for 22 district hospitals, while planning new regional and specialty hospitals and medical schools to ensure the nation

can better handle traditional ailments, including diabetes and hypertension, cardiac, communicable and non-communicable diseases, eye care and dentistry, etc.

Then came this week’s interesting news of the recommissioning of the ‘Lady Janet’, Guyana’s only ‘dental boat’; a veritable floating hospital taking dental care to far-flung coastal areas of the vast country, after being left “out of operation” for six years.

The refloated craft’s medical services will also now include others (like maternal and child care), while another ‘hospital boat’ is underway to be floated in another coastal region.

Guyana still has to grapple with issues like continuing and sustaining provision of better care at all hospitals, and coming to grips with the transition pains of converting a private hotel to a hospital; an experience twice shared in Saint Lucia, where a family-owned hotel was converted to the private Tapion Hospital (over three decades ago), and the century-old decommissioned Victoria Hospital was hastily recommissioned in 2020 as the island’s National COVID Respiratory Centre.

In addition, while ‘COVID’ forced the over-delayed commissioning of the island’s brand-new European Union (EU)-funded OKEU hospital, the Saint Lucia government is still counting the still-rising scores of millions of dollars in accumulated cost-overruns associated with the St. Jude Hospital in the island’s south, still under initial construction 12 years after being destroyed by fire.

But the largest country in CARICOM has taken a bold step at the start of the third year of the global pandemic to try to end the long, daily nightmares that’ve visited Guyanese and Caribbean nationals for much too long.

Guyana’s off to a good start, with high hopes and expectations at home and abroad for this new beginning to end successfully.

And, as per usual, the rest of the world is watching.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE MARCh 20, 2022

Too many loose cannons on social media

THERE was a time in Guyana when social and political commentators, whether in print or voice, were few and far between.

For three decades following Guyana’s independence, the then PNC dictatorial regime monitored and controlled what Guyanese should listen to and read in the media.

However, during this same period, a few private and imported news outlets, such as the Mirror, Catholic Standard, Stabroek News and Caribbean Contact, existed amid serious censorship and constraints. They were regulated, relegated, and reduced to the status of weekly newspapers.

My generation in the 1970s and early 1980s, therefore, was restricted, if not deprived, from the benefits arising from the Fourth Estate. I remember, clearly, not having the opportunity to watch Sir Clive Lloyd score that magnificent hundred at Lords in the first Cricket World Cup in 1975. It is not the same, listening to that marvelous display over the radio. I understand that Forbes Burnham was watching the game on a big-screen television. To the unaware,

especially to the younger generation, Burnham had banned television in Guyana, an asinine policy to control the flow of information in Guyana to diminish any challenge to his iron grip in Guyana.

The consequence of controlling the Fourth Estate was that the flow of information was not only what the government of the day desired, but also commentaries, for example, were not based on truths and accuracies, and subsequently bereft of objectively. By 1992, a slew of commentators emerged in tandem with the urgency to restore and practise press democracy. The emergence of new commentators did not mean responsible commentary. Of course, not all commentators fell into the rogue side of commentary, and indeed, some were a pleasure to listen to their thoughts and read their columns. This aspect of commentary has been difficult to maintain in Guyana, which has gotten out of control over the past decade, especially since the APNU+AFC coalition was voted out of power about two years ago.

I understand that we live in a fast-paced world driven

by technology, and we have benefited from this ongoing development, for example, on social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and the list goes on. We have become mentally richer from these developments, and, admittedly, they are here to stay. I receive information from my village and other places that, without social media, would have taken months. I am particularly impressed with how some individuals and events have emerged from obscurity to ubiquity.

Commentaries concerning politics in Guyana over social media, however, have produced a dark side, spewing misinformation, untruths, and propaganda targeting some individuals and events that do not see eye-to-eye with them. Unfortunately, these individuals are on a misguided mission, believing they are producing news.

There is little concern for repercussion on themselves or to their listeners and communities. These individuals are not concerned if their reporting would hurt their integrity or incite and eschew violence. They, of course, support their behaviour in the name of free speech,

citing various constitutional rights. That may be the case, but with freedom of speech, there is a need to draw the line between inflammatory and hate speech and constructive criticism. If not, extremism will take precedence over responsibility. Indeed, if you listen to some Guyanese commentators now based in New York over social media, you will recognise immediately the looseness of content that have thinned down the line between the democratisation of the media space and their desperate attempts of aspersion.

How can one explain the relationship between those so-called commentators and their listeners over social media, since one enables the other? There are two reasons why the above happens: (a)

Listeners are drawn to commentators because they agree and represent their views of the world they live in, and (b) listeners are looking for some sort of variation of viewpoints. However, most listeners gravitate to the first reason. Richard Wohi and Donald Horton in 1956 described this relationship as parasociological interaction.

It is a psychological relationship whereby listeners/followers believe they have an intimate relationship with commentators or media personalities even though they might not have any meaningful contact or relationship with them. From this relationship, the listeners over time become captive audiences, ignoring critical thinking as to what they are receiving from their com-

mentators.

So, what ought to be done? There is no quick fix to this loose cannon menace to society. We certainly do not want to cage irritant commentators, even if they are far too gone for reform and unwilling to regulate their views.

There is hope.

The European Union has embarked on a social media policy that strikes a balance between innovation and regulation to organise, stimulate, encourage, and promote as well as to shape future social media as safe and trustworthy through a host of initiatives including media literacy.

Guyana needs to pay attention to this earth-shaking initiative (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu).

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Oral contraceptive pills

FAMILY planning is a socio-economic requirement for a healthy and rapidly advancing nation. Since male sterilisation is unpopular, the options commonly available for contraception target the females.

In healthy females of child-bearing age, the ova-

ries are key in the reproduction system where they produce hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone, in varying levels, depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle.

Oral contraceptives have over 99 per cent efficacy on pregnancy prevention. Its

mechanism of action targets three ways: preventing ovulation (most fertile period in a woman’s cycle when the eggs are released from the ovaries), thickening of the mucus at the neck of the womb making sperm penetration very difficult and preventing implantation of

a fertilised egg unto the wall of the uterus by reducing its thickness.

There are many forms of contraception such as barrier method (both male and female condoms, vaginal ring and diaphragm), IUD (intra-uterine device for example copper T), IUS (intrauterine system which releases progesterone instead of copper), subcutaneous implants, and injections.

This fading taboo topic may be the reason why oral contraceptives have been referred to as “the pill’. Today it is normal for females to make decisions about their reproductive health with or without consultation of their male partners and their extended families. There is one type of oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, which are permitted for over the counter sale without a prescription.

Emergency contraceptives are referred to as “Plan B” and come under various manufacturer brands such as Prostinor, which comprises of 2 pills or Postpone 72 which is a higher concentration in one pill. These formulations are designed to be used within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse to prevent pregnancy. However, it must be understood that no one should have an emergency every day or every week. But in unavoidable cases where you do find yourself in such situations, you should consider a safer contraceptive option which is the daily pill.

There are various other combinations of the artificially produced female hormones under brands such as Microgynon, Diane 35, Yasmin and Qlaira. They are packaged in boxes of monthly supply (21s and 28s) or quarterly supply (three cards) and are safer than emergency contraceptives since small incremental doses are taken daily.

Daily oral contraception

requires routine ingestion at a convenient time to your schedule 24 hours apart.

Some brands have just 21 active pills whilst others have an additional seven dummy pills on the card totalling 28. During that seven day break (absence of the active hormone), there is a mirage menstruation or withdrawal bleeding. On the 28 pill card, the seven blank pills are usually iron supplement. The purpose for the dummy pills is two-fold - to supplement the body and to prompt when to start the next card. The pills are taken sequentially as indicated by the arrows on the card commencing between the first to the third day of bleeding.

Minor side effects are associated with oral contraception such as mood swings, breast tenderness, headaches and nausea, which are transient. However there may be more pronounced side effects such as heavy bleeding and weight gain with other forms of contraception like implantation and injectable, more so with the single hormone preparation like Depo Medrol. The simple reason is because of the higher strength administered which is expected to last a longer period (three months).

However, weight gain from using the pill is a myth.

Some persons may experience a temporary water retention which should be resolved in two to three months. Numerous studies were reviewed but there is no evidence or data published to support increase in body weight due to fats.

There is a very low risk for blood clots and cervical cancer in young women who are non-smokers. However, for women over 35 years who are smokers, the combined oral contraceptives may not be an appropriate choice, especially with a pre-existing medical condition.

With regards to mental health, there are mixed views on the effects of the pill and where some persons claim to have associated depression but there is no conclusive evidence.

Patients are advised to communicate with the prescriber if the side effects experienced do not normalise or are intolerable so that other treatment options could be tried until there is a resolution of adverse effects.

If for some unrelated reason you vomited after taking the pill, then you should re-dose as soon as possible.

Missing a dose is not advisable that is why you should have a convenient routine time that will be remembered; maybe just before your bedtime, providing that you have a standard bedtime.

Apart from contraception, pills are used for other female-related problems such as endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), heavy or painful menstruation. However, for those females desirous of getting pregnant, quitting the pill does not automatically result in pregnancy. It is advisable to quit at least three months to one year in advance; the latter is more applicable with injectable contraception.

Note that the pill is not a shield against STD (sexually transmitted disease), so for such protection a condom will be most appropriate.

For further pharmacological guidance and physician referral, contact the pharmacist of Medicine Express PHARMACY located at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets.

If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine.express@gmail. com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg. Tel #225-5142.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Guyana’s biggest oil sale to date comes amidst rising global prices EARLIER this week, we learned that Guyana earned more than US$96 million in revenues from its most recent oil cargo sale, the highest amount yet since Guyana started producing and exporting in December 2019.

This sale increases the country’s overall returns from Liza crude to more than US$719 million. For context, the same one million barrels of oil earned US$73 million in December 2021.

The world has seen a wave of high global oil prices caused by growing demand and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The supply disruptions and sanctions stemming from the crisis sent prices to more than US$130 per barrel of Brent crude—an international benchmark—before falling slightly to hover around US$100 this week.

While Guyana will reap the benefits of higher oil prices in earnings from oil sales, it has not been spared from

the effects of the global price increase for finished products like gasoline and automotive diesel, which has climbed north of GY$204 per litre in the last week. There are many factors that ultimately contribute to the price at the pump, including many outside of Guyana’s control like the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and the costs of refining, transportation, and distribution during a broad global supply chain crisis.

However, being an oil producer can help offset oil price increases by bringing in more revenues and by reducing the reliance on imported energy.

The planned gas to energy project, in particular, should help reduce Guyana’s dependence on imported fuels over time. When operational, the gas to power plant at the Wales Development Zone will supply electricity to large parts of the country, insulating customers from high prices on the interna-

tional market. The Guyana Power and Light Company currently relies on expensive and imported heavy fuel oil to generate power, which tracks the global price of crude oil.

The outlook for Guyana’s earnings this year is also quite positive. With two FPSOs now in production, Guyana can expect to significantly improve upon the nine million barrels it shipped through the end of 2021. If the price of oil remains high over the next several months, there could be significantly more funds available to Guyana in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) to pay for critical projects like roads, schools, bridges and hospitals. The next cargo sale could earn over US$100 million if prices remain above US$100 per barrel.

Production is ramping up at the Stabroek Block with the production ship Liza Unity now producing the lighter, sweeter “Unity Gold” grade of crude oil. This oil is likely to trade at a slightly higher

premium given its lower Sulphur content, which reduces the amount of energy needed to refine it into finished products. Total production is expected to reach up to 220,000 barrels per day bringing the total capacity to just under 350,000 barrels per day by the end of the year.

This is good timing for Guyana, especially as markets look for stable and democratic sources for oil to help reduce their dependence on Russia.

The world needs oil for the foreseeable future and, according to Arthur Deakin, an

energy analyst, “over 50 per cent of the oil produced in the world takes place within authoritarian regimes, with Russia and Saudi Arabia alone account[ing] for over 20 per cent of global oil production.”

Emerging democratic oil producers like Ghana, Guyana and Suriname stand to gain from the ongoing shunning of Russian oil.

If that demand remains strong and prices remain high, Guyana will continue to be well positioned to maximise its revenues.

Earlier estimates from

Rystad Energy pegged Guyana’s total revenues at more than US$310 billion at prices of US$80 per barrel.

With crude oil prices lingering even higher, President Irfaan Ali recently expressed optimism that “by 2025 the Guyanese oil-and-gas sector could be expected to reach a US$3.5 billion in operating cash flow.”

With 28 commercial discoveries and counting in the Stabroek Block alone, the prospects for Guyana’s burgeoning oil industry are only likely to grow.

12

Dealing with the sudden increase in cost of living

RECENTLY, Guyanese have been complaining about the recent hike in the prices of basic commodities.

They called on the authorities to do something about the steadily climbing prices.

Some of the goods and services affected by these high prices include greens, flour, fertilizer, shipping and freight costs, oil, gasoline, and kerosene oil, to name a few.

This development has forced Guyanese farmers, businesses, customers, and consumers to take to the streets in demonstrations for some intervention to occur.

Meanwhile, the main political opportunist, the APNU+AFC has sought to use the sporadic protests and the rising cost of living to blame the PPP Government.

They say it is tantamount to

poor economic oversight and management of the economy.

Staying true to form, the APNU+AFC believes that the PPP Government should increase the salaries of public servants. It wants the ruling PPP Government to find a solution to the concerns about the cost of living and inflationary rates in society.

Firstly, Guyanese are right with their concerns about the rising cost of living and prices for basic food items and commodities. They are equally right to expect some action from the PPP Government to deal with the threats of inflation and steep increases in the cost of living.

But this situation is not the government’s fault.

It is also not a result of their financial and economic strategy for the country. It is purely the faults of demand and supply functions of the

markets, international shortages in the supply chains, COVID-19 pandemic-related production issues globally, and the ongoing Russian -Ukrainian war. So, the cost of living and inflation are imported into the economy.

The sooner Guyanese at home realise this, the better they are going to be able to deal with it and its consequences.

Secondly, the PPP Government has put aside $5B in the National Budget to respond to the rising cost of living concerns. As a result, the Head of State, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has already instructed the Senior Minister with the responsibility of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, to come up with measures to ease the burden on consumers.

The entire Cabinet will be coming up with ways to tackle the cost of living this

week, be it through another direct cash grant to Guyanese or direct subsidies on specific items. Therefore, soon the public will know how and what government plans to do to tackle this economic issue which is creating so much concern.

After all, one may explore putting the prices and costs for basic commodities, goods, and services at pre-pandemic levels. Such a move would drive the cost of living down and avoid imported inflation from going up.

However, this move would not solve and control the rising cost of living concerns of the public apart from creating price stability temporarily.

Thirdly, the government measures for tackling the cost of living should not be aimed at market interference and price controls. It must

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

not get too involved in the dynamic of supply and demand. The PPP Government must avoid this economic temptation and utilise every opportunity available to mitigate and insulate the population from the rise in the cost of living.

It is expected that there will be freedom of the market system and non-regulation of the prices that traditionally served the PPP and its economic policy well up until this point. This dilemma is temporary and will pass but requires careful management.

Finally, the APNU+AFC is not being responsible and progressive with its suggestions to the government in dealing with these concerns about the cost of living.

The politicians are busy getting the people and protestors riled up and angry with the government for no

apparent reason.

They are just playing the politics of opportunism and convenience with the lavish promises made to the public daily.

Government cannot raise the salaries of public sector workers at this point and time. It will not help with the rising cost of living and inflation would sky-rocket if the government is not careful.

Also, the money from the oil and gas sectors should be spent on things that would improve the human development and infrastructure of the country. It should be spent not on mitigating the cost of living.

Now that Guyana is doing far better economically and financially, the PPP Government must do all that it can do to deal with the consequences that the rising cost of living and inflation rate will bring.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Economic & Financial Issues; Insights & Analyses …

The unprecedented rising cost of living and some suggestions on the approach for policymakers to tackle it

By Joel Bhagwandin Financial Analyst THE rising cost of living that we are experiencing is driven by global supply chain disruptions, owing to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, more recently, this situation is now further compounded by the on-going war between Russia and Ukraine.

The impact of the war is largely because Russia is a major global exporter of several commodities, such as wheat, crude petroleum, refined petroleum and petroleum gas. These events ultimately led to further increases in shipping costs, globally, and supply shortages of a number of traded commodities. To this end, a number of countries, including the US, UK and European countries imposed a series of economic sanctions on Russia. As a result, Russia now cannot export its major commodities to the rest of the world, except for a few countries.

This naturally created a supply shortage globally of these commodities, such as wheat; and when there is a shortage with growing demand, prices increase as a consequence.

This is now a new challenge in the 21st Century that not only Guyana but the rest of the world would have to deal with that are going to feel the effects of these, albeit the gravity of the impact on each country might be felt at varying degrees.

With respect to the specific question where sections of civil society have been suggesting to the government to institute price restrictions, this is really not an option, as it would be difficult and unfair to so do on the part of the firms that have to incur rising input costs and/or import costs for their products, wherein firms would be unable to absorb such exorbitant price increases.

Therefore, such costs would have to be passed on to the end consumer, unfortunately.

In response to this, the

government has to examine a comprehensive menu of measures to cushion the impact of the rising costs. Already, in the case of Guyana, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali said that there will be no increases in electricity costs and water rates. This means that the government will continue to subsidise these entities so that the cost burdens are not passed on to the consumers.

Additionally, through Budgets 2020, 2021 and 2022, a multiplicity of fiscal measures have been implemented, for example, the removal of VAT from electricity, water and basic food items. In Budget 2022, there is also a provision of some $5 billion, among other measures, to aid in cushioning the cost of living increases, given that the underlying causation of the rising cost of living explained earlier are unprecedented, especially now with the Russia/Ukraine war that the world economy is in an era of deeper uncertainty.

Further, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Vice-President, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo, stated publicly that there will be a consultation process with stakeholders to best determine how to administer the cost of living measures to bring relief to both consumers and firms, and what type of measures can be pursued. In this respect, the $5 billion provision in Budget 2022 may now have to be increased to $10 billion.

It would not be prudent, as such, to experiment on what type of measures should be implemented, and, therefore, the consultation with stakeholders to gather empirical evidence and data to understand the gravity of the impact, for example on shipping cost, is the prudent thing to do at this point, so as to undertake an informed policy intervention.

Be that as it may, within a broader framework, some of these interventions should be geared around the following: 1) With the rising fuel

cost which Guyana will benefit from the sale of crude, we would have to examine to what extent government can further subsidise fuel costs so that consumers don’t have to bear a significant burden in that regard; 2) Examine further how shipping costs can be subsidized, and to what extent, at least on a temporary basis; 3) Provide temporary incentives to local food manufacturers/producers, and shipping companies.

4) We also, now more than ever, have to work with our farmers and food producers on two fronts: (i) Bringing relief through incentives to farmers, where the cost for input materials have increased due to the impact of rising costs globally, and (ii) incentivising farmers by providing access to more resources in the form of land and capital to increase production; by increasing production, this would help to stabilise prices to equilibrium levels.

These are, of course, short-term measures that would have to be considered and studied before making informed decisions on the part of the government.

The long-term solutions are, of course, to pursue, aggressively, the major transformational projects such as the Amaila-hydro and the gas-to-energy projects which are designed to reduce the country’s high energy cost by more than 50 per cent.

These, among the many other long-term development programmes that are on the government’s development agenda for implementation will be critical in this regard.

In view of these eventualities, and provided that we are able to, as a country, resolve our major challenges that are inhibiting a competitive and more dynamic private sector, we would be able to better guard against and/or minimise the impacts of external shocks such as those that we are now grappling with in the foreseeable future.

---------------------------About the Author J.C. Bhagwandin has been providing insights and analyses on economic and finance issues and public

policy for the past 5+ years.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author. He is the holder of a master’s degree in banking

Joel Bhagwandin Financial Analyst & finance.

LinkedIn: https://www. linkedin.com/in/joel-bhagwandin-57481470/.

Email: jbbankingadvice@gmail.com

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

$42M spent to certify local staff of Express Int’l

EXPRESS International, a local Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, has invested a whopping $42 million into developing the talents of its employees, and, by extension, its brand.

This is according to a statement issued by the company, which has boasted of being the provider of some 300 premium jobs locally.

The development efforts took the form of in-depth training to achieve industry certification from global standard certifier, Customer Operations Performance Centre (COPC) Incorporated.

The statement from the

The participants are now internationally certificated as professional managers company explained that a COPC certification is “the most prestigious recognition in the industry for any customer experience operation,

with more than 500 companies in 56 countries being certified since 1996.”

The certification process, according to the company, is

an independent and objective assessment of an operation’s current performance, measured to the requirements found in the COPC Customer

Experience (CX) Standard.

Late last week, Express International formally celebrated and recognised 20 employees of various levels, ranging from supervisor to director, for completing their individual COPC certified professional manager training.

The certification ceremony was held at Herdmanston Lodge and attended by representatives of the Ministry of Labour and the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest). Speaking at the event, the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Guyanese-born Ken Deocharran, described the training as being a pivotal stepping stone in the journey of building a stronger brand through “people-first leadership and development”.

“He believes that investing in his people is the surest way to continue delivering exceptional performance to clients which will aid growth and create more jobs in Guyana,” the statement read.

Deocharran confirmed that another 20 Express employees are expected to complete the COPC training later this year. |That will help Express International Inc. [to] stay the course for soon being the first-ever BPO Center in Guyana to receive its organisational level COPC certification,” the company posited.

James Cammareri, the COPC Vice President for North America, was also at the presentation ceremony, where he confirmed that once fully certified, Express

International would likely be the first-ever BPO Center in Guyana to receive its organisational level certification.

He further echoed the important step the organisation has taken to start with individual leadership certifications to advance the process of the site’s accreditation, and congratulated the employees.

Currently, Express International is one of the smaller BPO establishments in Guyana, but even so, the company said that it has quickly taken the spot of the preferred employer with more than 70 per cent of its current employees being former call centre talents.

With the emergence of several establishments in recent years, the BPO industry has been recognised to have the potential to create more jobs than any other sector in the country.

Cognisant of this, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, had previously expressed government’s intention to market the BPO sector aggressively to the international business community.

As a matter of fact, Guyana has already earned the reputation of being the BPO industry’s best kept secret, especially from a time zone perspective.

Guyana’s landmark liberalization of the telecommunications sector also lends to the growth of the BPO industry, as it reduced the cost of bandwidth, while opening the door for healthy competition. BPO companies have since been encouraged by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government to spread their wings outside of Georgetown, and invest in operations across various other regions.

This has since begun to happen, with centers already popping up in places such as Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) where job creation is being sternly addressed by the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led administration.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Site identified for multi-million-dollar hospital in Region Two

By Jared Liddell

IN keeping with the government’s aim of providing access to health services across the country, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has disclosed that a five-acre site has been identified for the construction of the new multi-million-dollar modern hospital at Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The Health Minister, who visited the site last week, noted that the facility will tackle the needs of the population and will serve to reduce the load at the Suddie Public Hospital.

The identified site, which is under the care of the Guyana School of Agriculture, is a stone’s throw away from the Anna Regina Multilateral School.

The new health facility, according to Dr. Anthony, will boost healthcare in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region through the provision of both inpatient and outpatient services.

“The new hospital will have about 75 inpatient

beds. It will have a modern accident and emergency [facility]; it will have modern laboratories; it will also have an imaging suite and that will include not just digital x-rays, but CT scans. It will have two modern operating theatres and a small minor theatre,” Minister Anthony noted.

The Health Minister disclosed that the construction of this facility is part of the series of hospitals to be constructed by the government this year at Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Bath Settlement and No. 75 Village in Region Six. He noted that the site in Region Two was specifically chosen primarily for its location and accessibility.

Speaking to the timeline of the project, Minister Anthony noted that the Health Ministry is currently in talks with engineers to determine the exact cost and timeline for the project. He noted, however, that works are expected to commence in late 2022.

“In the next couple of months, hopefully, we’ll be able to start doing some

The proposed site for the new multi-million-dollar modern hospital at Anna Regina work here and I think it will be a good development for the coast.”

He said health facilities across the country will be retrofitted to provide better accommodation for patients. The government will also be working to ensure adequate medical equipment are available and a new electronic medical record system is in place to provide better service to citizens.

In the government’s 2022 budget, $16.1 billion was allocated for improved infrastructure and

the expansion of health facilities across the country.

It was disclosed that some $12.4 billion of the budget will be used for the design and construction of

a state-of-the-art pediatric and maternal hospital, as well as the upgrading of the West Demerara and Bartica regional hospitals. $One billion has also

been allocated to upgrade health centres across Guyana with an additional $2 billion budgeted for medical and non-medical equipment.

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Consumers concerned about leaning utility poles across the country

SEVERAL consumers are calling on utility companies to look into the situation of sloping poles in their respective communities, which in some cases are threatening serious damage to property and could

possibly injure people.

Carolann Lovell, 31, is concerned about a leaning pole located on Princes Street, Werk-En-Rust, just opposite the Mayor and City Council’s (MCC) Solid Waste Department.

“If the pole falls, we

would be out of electricity. I have classes, so I need the electricity and the internet. If that actually falls, everyone around here would have to suffer and that is very unfair.

Plus, it could damage people’s vehicles out there,”

A leaning pole at ‘B’ Field Sophia (Delano Williams photo)

she noted.

According to Lovell, the pole has been in a precarious position since last year, and she first reported the issue to the Guyana Power Light Inc (GPL) in May, 2021, but it is yet to be addressed.

She said she has since made several follow-up reports.

“It’s a bit frustrating, because it’s like they are waiting for something to happen before they come.

If it falls, they will come and replace it right away, but by then everyone will be out of light and internet because of their negligence. We will have to suffer. We just want to have them come and fix the pole,” Lovell noted.

Many of the utility poles belong to GPL, while others belong to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPL, Bharat

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

A sloping utility pole at Princes Street, Werk-enRust (Delano Williams photo)

Dindyal, told the Sunday Chronicle that the company currently has an ongoing maintenance programme to deal with these issues.

“Most instances these poles are planted next to established roads, so as the roads move over time, depending on the weather, the poles would also be shifted away,” Dindyal explained.

He noted that reports from citizens about the leaning poles are investigated.

“When a customer reports that a pole is leaning, there is a response, but the customer may not necessarily see a GPL person coming to inspect, because the pole inspectors don’t come with a big truck, they come with a motorcycle. If the pole is not rotten, they would not report it as needing attention,” Dindyal said.

The power company has also been exploring the use of concrete utility poles to replace wooden ones as a means of dealing with the issue. Last year, GPL invited bids for the supply of concrete poles and cross arms as they continue to move in that direction.

In ‘B’ Field, Sophia, a utility pole that was planted close to a drain has been leaning progressively close to the home of 60-year-old Charles Murray, who said he reported the issue some time ago. Murray said he is now more concerned as the pole has moved closer to his property, and

there is a young child that would often play in the yard.

“This situation is over 10 years, I’m not lying or exaggerating.

We first reported the situation in 2013/2014 when it first started leaning. Since then we keep calling. It is by God’s grace that it hasn’t fallen.

It can destroy my property, and it can even cause death, depending on who is passing around at the time. This is total neglectfulness of GPL’s duty.

They need to have personnel going around, visiting to check on these poles,” Murray commented.

Also in Sophia, business owner Shamar Gibson noted that he eventually got tired of reporting about a leaning pole outside his place of business and spent approximately $100,000 out of his pocket to have a new pole planted and the utility wires transferred to the new pole.

“It had been leaning a very long time, over a year. It was leaning way down like it could fall at any time. The new one that erect here, I pay personally for some guys to come and erect this post because GPL we call them a lot of times, we took out pictures, went into them, and they never came.”

Gibson plans to reach out to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) which has oversight for utility companies in Guyana, to find an avenue to be compensated for monies he spent to plant the new pole.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE MARCh 20, 2022

Parliamentary team heads to Indonesia for IPU Assembly

A TEAM of approximately 10 persons, representing the Parliament of Guyana, is in Nusa Dua, Indonesia, for the 144th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which is slated to run from March 20-24, 2022, under the theme, “Getting to Zero: Mobilizing Parliaments to act on climate change”.

Headed by Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, the delegation also comprises government Members of Parliament (MPs), Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs; Savitri Sonia Parag, Minister of Public Service; and Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security.

They are appearing alongside their Opposition counterparts, Dawn Hastings-Williams, and Chief Whip Christopher Jones, both of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).

Representatives of the Parliament Office include Sherlock Isaacs, Clerk of the National Assembly; Carlleta Charles, Parliamentary Executive Officer; Alanzo Scipio, Public Relations Assistant; and Juleanna Chatterpaul, Confidential Secretary to the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly.

“All statutory bodies of the IPU are expected to sit at this year’s Assembly, according to a statement from the Parliament’s press office.

It explained that Speaker Nadir will be joined by both Ministers Nandlall and Hastings-Williams on the Governing Council, where consideration will be given to, “inter alia, strengthening accountability and relations between IPU and the United Nations, reports on the work of the IPU for 2021, and future meetings and operations of the IPU”.

Meanwhile, Minister Parag, who sits as a Member of the Standing Com-

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall

Opposition MP Dawn Hastings-Williams mittee on Sustainable Development of the IPU, will be tasked with addressing the advancement of technology in the education sector, giving special emphasis on the current pandemic.

Further, all female delegates of the IPU will be participating in the forum for women parliamentarians, where the discussion will centre on the experiences of female Members of Parliament in promoting women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health in a time of COVID-19, the local parliament office explained.

“All delegates will attend the General Debate, spanning four days, where Speaker Nadir and Hon. Opposition Chief Whip

Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs Jones will be adding their voices to the theme, ‘Mobilizing Parliaments to act on Climate Change’ later in the week,” the press statement added.

It further indicated that Isaacs is also slated to also participate in the Association of Secretaries General of Parliament Meetings at this Assembly. The 144th Assembly of the IPU will see the attendance of over 2,000 Delegates, inclusive of Speakers and Presidents of Parliaments, Members of Parliament, and staff, from across the globe.

The Assembly is expected to conclude with the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme of the General Debate.

According to its website, the IPU, a global or-

Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir ganisation of national parliaments, was founded more than 130 years ago as the first multilateral political organisation in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations.

Today, the IPU comprises 179 national Member Parliaments and 13 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes democracy and helps parliaments become stronger, younger, gender-balanced, and more diverse.

“It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world. Twice a year, the IPU convenes over 1,500 parliamentary delegates and partners in a world assembly, bringing a parliamentary dimension to global governance, including the work of the United Nations and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” the IPU said.

In facilitating parliamentary diplomacy, and empowering parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world, the world of the IPU revolves around eight strategic objectives.

These include building strong democratic parliaments; advancing gender equality and re-

Minister of the Public Service Sonia Parag spect for women’s rights; protecting and promoting human rights; contributing to peace-building, conflict resolution and security; promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation; promoting youth empowerment; mobilising parliaments around the

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones global development agenda; and bridging the democracy gap in global governance.

Guyana’s participation in the forum has been deemed as timely, considering the challenges that have faced the country’s parliament and democracy in recent times.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Two die in Corentyne hit-and-run

A hit-and-run accident on Friday night at the Number 70 Public Road, East-Berbice Corentyne claimed the lives of a man and a woman and the police are searching for the driver of the car.

Thus far, the police were only able to identify the male victim as 20-year-old Toney Lakeram, a carpenter of Number 71 squatting area.

Police Headquarters reported that the duo was walking along the road at around 23:30 hours when an unknown vehicle that

Dead: Toney Lakeram

was speeding north in the western drive lane crashed into them.

According to a relative of Lakeram, he left home earlier in the afternoon to “play Phagwah” with friends and relatives at Number 68 and was reportedly walking towards his home in the company of the unknown female when the accident occurred.

They were picked up by public spirited citizens and rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Lakeram’s stepfather, Mukesh Suresh, 46, told the Sunday Chronicle that he received a telephone call from a relative before midnight stating that the young man was involved in an accident and was taken to the Skeldon Hospital.

“When I get the call, we hurry to the hospital and when I reach I see he did done dead, he did lying down on a bench and look bruk up.

“Them bring the girl next to he and she too look more bad; them then carry them to the mortuary and tell we was a hit and run.”

Suresh described the young man as hardworking and responsible.

Meanwhile, the police have located a vehicle suspected to have been involved in the accident.

The police claimed that the driver has also promised to turn himself in.

The area where the fatal accident took place

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Black Bush Polder teen drowns during outing with friends

A 12-year-old boy lost his life after jumping into a trench at Black Bush Polder, East Berbice, Corentyne on Friday.

Dead is Hemraj Ramnauth of Lot 88 Johanna, Black Bush Polder. His distraught mother, Sandra Ramsarran, is still trying to come grips with the tragedy.

She told the Sunday Chronicle that Hemraj – her eldest of four children - left with his neighbour’s son to play phagwah by the “Three Bridge Area”, and promised not to go into the trench.

The woman tearfully recalled that before her son left home yesterday, he made jokes with her and asked that she cook potato curry and dhal puri for him.

It was that meal that she was preparing when she received the dreadful news. Her 7-year-old son

witnessed the entire ordeal.

The woman, amid tears, said she was unable to leave right away since the food was still on the stove. Moments later, she received another telephone call informing that her son was found dead.

Ramsarran said when she arrived at the scene, she found her son unconscious and she desperately tried to resuscitate him.

“When I see Hemraj, he look like he was sleeping,” the grieving mother said.

She said it was her seven-year-old son who alerted others that Hemraj was in distress since he couldn’t swim. Two older boys jumped into the trench and attempted to save him but it was too late.

“Thakur boy tek he into the trench and let go of he hand; he fell into a hole in the trench which was

recently dig. He nah know how to swim. The boy left him fuh dead.”

The child was subsequently taken to the Mibicuri Hospital where he was

pronounced dead.

He was a student of JC Chandisingh Secondary School and was described as smart, quiet and helpful.

Dead: Hemraj Ramnauth

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

‘Stay away from illicit activities, take your education seriously’ –– Minister Benn, DPP urge Region Nine residents

HOME Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has called on youths and other residents in Region Nine to take their education seriously during a recent community outreach there.

“We are now in a technologically advanced era, where information is readily available at your fingertips; take advantage of opportunities.

Do everything within your power to prevent a police file

from reaching the desk of the DPP, who has the difficult task of deciding whether to charge or not to charge,” he said.

The minister, who was accompanied by Director of

Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, also encouraged the students to get involved in sports, and promised to advocate for sports gear and equipment for them, a release from the Home Af-

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn interacts with residents during the outreach in Region Nine fairs Ministry said.

Both Minister Benn and the DPP explained to the residents and the youths that school would allow them to gain the skills and education needed to live successfully, and noted that “A society with high education completion rates will ultimately have a lower crime rate.”

The DPP implored the residents, including schoolaged teenagers, to say “no” to illicit drugs, the consumption of alcohol, and early teenage sexual relations.

“Over the last three years, there has been an increased number of police See page 21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

‘Stay away Fishermen attacked, Trigger-happy from illicit robbed at Goed Fortuin farmer arrested activities ...

From page 20

files for sexual offences and the use of illicit drugs received at the DPP’s Chambers for legal advice,” she noted.

Mrs. Ali-Hack also advocated for a return of the training of toshaos to deal with simple offences at the Village Council level, leaving the more severe crimes such as murders, manslaughters, rapes and assaults to be dealt with by the police.

Noting that the return to such a training programme would help alleviate the congestion in the criminal justice system, Mrs. Ali-Hack urged the locals to refrain from illegal activity.

“We train them to cope with such situations, and subsequently the perpetrators are counselled,” she said.

Meanwhile, the residents expressed concern about the road and transportation.

“It was relayed to them of the expected development of the Linden to Lethem Road, as well as the start of the first phase, from Linden to Mabura, and the bridge over the Essequibo River at Kurupakari, which will not only enhance economic opportunities for residents and communities in the Rupununi region, but also significantly decrease the commuting time from Georgetown to Lethem,” the Home Affairs Ministry noted.

DISADVANTAGE Another concern of residents is the absence of a cell tower in the Karrassabi area, which poses a disadvantage to them, more so to the youths, since they cannot access Internet service for research and school assignments.

The Head of the Community Policing Group Reshi Das, who was also present at the meeting, commissioned a new Community Policing Group in the village of Apoteri (located on the junction of the Essequibo and Rupununi Rivers).

He also spoke to the various community policing groups about security perseveration, and their role in supporting the police and serving the communities.

Statement writing, intelligence gathering, customer service, evidence in court, actional intelligence, proactive patrolling and professionalism were some of the areas highlighted.

To date, there are 25 community policing groups in Region Nine, which consists of 311 members in total.

Further, residents and 50 community policing officers were trained and sensitised on the indicators of trafficking in persons (TIP) and the National Referral Mechanism.

Police ranks would be working closely with the CPG to prevent crime, and maintain public peace.

The outreach focussed on the north savannahs, particularly Annai and Karrassabi, and their satellite communities.

“The residents were sensitised on several social and economic issues related to sexual offences (rape, teenage pregnancy, domestic abuse, etc.), alcoholism, drug use and trafficking, cattle rustling, simple larceny and trafficking in persons. They were also sensitised on the importance of Community Policing and Community Policing Groups (CPG),” the ministry noted.

Minister Benn and the DPP were accompanied by the Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock; Police Commander of Regional Division Nine Raphael Rose, and a technical team from the ministry.

The ministry also noted that attention was placed mainly on issues and challenges in the different schools and the dormitories.

TWO armed bandits robbed five fishermen of their valuables while they were discharging their boat in the wee hours of Saturday, at the Goed Fortuin Koker, West Bank Demerara.

According to police report, the five men, ages 61, 59, 55, 47 and 44 reported that they were off-loading their boat when the two perpetrators approached and held them at gunpoint; they stole $303,000 in cash and two cell phones.

The matter was reported and police are investigating.

21

IMRAN Khan, 57, a farmer of West Bank Demerara (WBD) was arrested, on Friday, for discharging a firearm in a public place, at about 22:15 hours, at Canal #2 West Bank Demerara.

According to police Headquarters, the farmer, who is a licensed firearm holder, was seen shooting off his 12-gauge shotgun.

He denied the allegation to the police, who, upon checking, discovered an empty shell on the property which is within 200 meters of the public space.

He was escorted to the police station and the firearm and spent shell were seized.

22

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Only two new COVID-19 cases recorded

TWO more persons have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, taking Guyana’s overall confirmed cases to 63,183 since the first case was recorded in March 2020, according to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard for Saturday.

No new COVID-19 related deaths were recorded within the last 24 hours.

There are currently 157 active COVID-19 cases, following the two new cases which were recorded in Regions Three and Four.

Of the active cases, four persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 12 are in institutional isolation; 129 are in home isolation, and 12 are in institutional quarantine.

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

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

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Systems in place for Annual Mayor’s Cup 9-a-side Inter-Ward/Village KO Football … GFF approval given as Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Company to sponsor the first prize

SYSTEMS are falling into place for the return of the Annual Mayor’s Cup 9-a-side Inter-Ward/Village knockout football tournament after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tournament, organised by former national footballer and coach Lennox Arthur, has been held for some 40 years now and is in recognition of former Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, who is also a former Prime Minister of Guyana. The current Mayor of Georgetown is Mayor Ubraj Narine.

The event gets underway next Sunday, March 27, with the opening salvo of matches fixed for the Buxton ground on the East Coast of Demerara from 17.00hrs. The tournament is set to conclude on Sunday April 24 at the Buxton ground with the quarter-finals, semis, third-place playoff and grand finale.

At stake are prize money and the respective trophies, with a first prize of $600 000, second prize $300 000, third $200 000 and fourth $100 000 on offer.

Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas

Company has committed to providing the winning purse of $600 000 and organiser Lennox Arthur has expressed his pleasure with the company for coming on board.

A number of other business entities have also signalled their intention to aid the event and among them are: IPA, DDL, Digicel, Johil, John Fernandes, General Equipment, Busta, GTT, NAMILCO, Macorp, New Thriving, Sattar Gafoor, B. Megan, Pritipaul Singh, Ready Mix, Eddie Bobcat, Silvie’s, Caribbean Containers, E Networks, SuperBet, Cummings Electrical, China Trading, Dave Lumber Yard and Schlumberger.

Arthur expressed gratitude for all the help he has received so far from the sponsors and those who will come on board.

He noted assistance was much needed following the recent COVID-19 pandemic and is heartened by the return of football and other sports.

He thanked the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for their approval of the event and noted that many fringe players

will be on show along with a few standouts, adding flavour to the event and giving fans the chance to see some of the talent available.

The recent lifting of some COVID-19 restrictions will see the return of fans to the games.

The tournament fixtures, rules and teams competing have been recently released and the teams have ballooned to some 48. games will be played at the Buxton, Georgetown Football Club and Den Amstel grounds on March 27, Buxton April 3, FGC April 10, Den Amstel April 17 and Buxton April 24.

Among some of the teams involved in this Inter-Ward/Village setup are: West Demerara - Den Amstel, Uitvlugt, Pouderoyen, Stewartville, Wales, Sara Lodge, West Side Masters, Belle West All Stars and Back Street Kings.

East Coast – Mahaica, Brush Dam, Buxton Youth Developers, Melanie, Ann’s Grove, Golden Grove, Beterverwagting (BV), Victoria, Plaisance, Lillendaal and Turkeyen.

Georgetown – Charlestown,

Campbellville, Bourda All Stars, Road Warriors, Tucville and Sparta Boss.

East Bank – Timehri, Mocha and Agricola.

Berbice – New Amsterdam, Mahaicony and Airy Hall All Stars.

The rules governing this tournament that make it interesting and exciting are the no-offside rule and teams are allowed five substitutions. The games are 20-minute halves for a 40-minute duration.

The tournament is a straight knockout one with no extra time being played. A tie at the end of regulation would result in the teams duelling in the dreaded sudden-death, penalty shootout.

All other FIFA rules apply and the referee is the sole authority of these games. Teams, who show up late beyond a reasonable time determined by the organisers, will be disqualified and their game forfeited via the walkover route.

The opening games on March 27 at Buxton will see Mahaica against 50 United, Church versus Golden Grove,

Mayor’s Cup lonstanding organiser and former national footballer Lennox Arthur

Victoria battle Melanie, Buxton Youth Developers tangle with BV, Friendship Front oppose Paradise and Brush Dam take on Haslington.

The respective winners of these matches will tangle in further elimination action to determine who will advance.

The next playing date; April 3 is set for GFC and will see Timehri versus City Strikers, Soesdyke against Liliendaal, Kuru Kururu battle Turkeyen, Mocha engage Plaisance, Ann’s Grove tackle Agricola and Diamond face Belle West Stars.

The winners will again do battle in a playoff to see who will move forward.

England extend lead to 136 after Kraigg

the rough outside off stump to almost bowl Lees through the gate, and although it missed everything, including the gloves of keeper Joshua Da Silva for a bye, it might prove informative for the final day.

Leach finally prised out Brathwaite, who had faced 489 deliveries for his knock, with a gem that belied the fact he had bowled 63.4 overs for just one wicket to that point.

As satisfying as his second must have been, Leach's celebration was understandably

muted after equally long hours of hard graft culminated in Brathwaite's dismissal, pressing forward in defence against the third new ball which pitched on middle and leg, turned and clipped the top of off-stump before tea.

Having claimed just one wicket in the morning session, England took 3 for 45 in 27 overs during the afternoon in what felt like an action-packed period of play compared to the previous two days.

Jason Holder fell on the

second ball after lunch without adding to his tally of 12 to give Mahmood his maiden Test wicket. Into his 14th over of the match when he bowled centurion Jermaine Blackwood - on 65 at the time - off a noball, Mahmood had to wait overnight and until his 18th over before he had Holder well caught, top-edging high towards Matt Fisher, who had to wheel round at mid-on and run back to snaffle the chance, holding on as he went to ground.

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1st innings 507-9 decl.

WEST INDIES 1st innings (o/n 288 for four) K. Brathwaite b Leach 160 J. Campbell c wkp. Foakes b Fisher 4 S. Brooks c Woakes b Leach 39 N. Bonner lbw b Stokes 9 J. Blackwood lbw b Leach 102 A. Joseph c Lawrence b Stokes 19 J. Holder c Fisher b Mahmood 12 J. Da Silva lbw b Leach 33 K. Roach lbw b Woakes 1 V. Permaul lbw b Mahmood 5 J. Seales not out 5 Extras: (b-10, lb-4, nb-8) 22 Total: (all out, 187.5 overs) 411

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-83, 3-101, 4-284, 5-336, 6-351, 7-385, 8-392, 9-403.

Bowling: Woakes 23-10-51-1, Fisher 255-67-1, Leach 69.5-27-118-3, Stokes 2910-65-2 (nb-2), Saqib Mahmood 27-6-58-2 (nb-6), Lawrence 8-2-21-1, Root 6-1-71-0.

ENGLAND 2nd innings A. Lees not out Z. Crawley not out

18 21

Extras: (b-1) 1 Total: (without loss, 15 overs) 40 Bowling: Roach 4-3-5-0, Permaul 6-0-130, Seales 3-0-16-0, Brathwaite 1-0-5-0, Holder 1-1-0-0.

Position: England lead by 136 runs.

Chris Woakes had been used sparingly but he struck after Brathwaite fell to remove Roach lbw, the dismissal upheld on umpire's call when DRS showed the ball was just kissing leg stump.

After the interval, with the hosts eight wickets down, Mahmood claimed his second scalp, trapping Permaul lbw, and then Leach got his third, hard-won wicket when he had Da Silva out lbw for 33 with one that rapped the pad in line with leg-stump.

Stokes claimed the only wicket of the morning session,

FROM BACK PAGE

removing nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph, who put on 52 runs for the fifth wicket opposite Brathwaite and faced 75 balls for his 19 runs before slashing a shorter, wider delivery towards gully, where Dan Lawrence took the sharpest of catches moving to his left.

Lawrence had earlier been on the receiving end of a Joseph six - a highlight of another sedate session, powered over deep square leg - adding to his two fours, one of which came via a glorious cover drive off Lawrence.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

'Human…error' leads to controversial Abu Dhabi finale Masi acts in 'good faith' - FIA Max Verstappen (right) won the title in 2021 with his last-lap overtaking of Lewis Hamilton (left)

MICHAEL Masi acted in "good faith" in how he handled the controversial end of last season's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with "human error" leading to the rules surrounding lapped cars not being applied properly, the FIA has said.

Masi was last month removed as Formula One race director following a "detailed analysis" of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen dramatically beat Lewis Hamilton to the drivers' championship last season.

Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the final lap of the final race, denying his rival a record-breaking eighth title.

However, the Red Bull star was only able to stage that late recovery after Masi let the cars between the pair – running first and second but separated by a series of lapped rivals – pass a safety car and allow one lap of racing.

Verstappen, on fresher tyres, prevailed, prompting

a protest from Hamilton and Mercedes.

While that bid failed, there has remained a great deal of discussion around the decision-making of Masi, who was replaced by two men in Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas.

But, in confirming the result of the race and 2021 F1 world championship as final, the FIA insisted Masi had not acted with any malice.

In a summary of the findings of its report into the race, an FIA statement read in part: "In combination with the objective to finish under green-flag racing conditions applied throughout the 2021 season, the report finds that the race director was acting in good faith and to the best of his knowledge given the difficult circumstances, particularly acknowledging the significant time constraints for decisions to be made and the immense pressure being applied by the teams.

"The results of the 2021 TURN TO PAGE 30

Pakistan-Australia limited-overs matches moved to Lahore

PAKISTAN Cricket Board (PCB) has moved the three One-Day Internationals and one Twenty20 International against Australia to Lahore from Rawalpindi. The dates for the tour remain the same with the three ODIs on March 29, 31 and April 2 and the one-off T20I on April 5.

"Pakistan and Australia cricket boards have mutually agreed to shift white-ball matches from Rawalpindi to Lahore on the dates as announced previously.

The decision was made yesterday morning following discussions between the two boards," the PCB said in a release.

"Australia's white-ball players, as originally planned, will arrive in Lahore on March 24 and after one-day room isolation, will integrate with other members of their side. Pakistan's white-ball players are scheduled to assemble on March 22 and will resume training on March 25."

All three ODI matches will

be part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League with Australia placed seventh currently, while Pakistan are ninth. Meanwhile, Australia's pace trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc as well as David Warner and Glenn Maxwell have been rested for the white-ball leg. The players who are part of the Test, apart from Starc, will leave for India soon after the Test series and will be available for the Indian Premier League (IPL) from April 6.

This is the result of Cricket Australia's policy of not allowing contracted players to feature in other tournaments while the national team is in action.

Australia's limited-overs squad’s other IPL-bound players include Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis.

They will miss at least another week owing to travel and quarantine requirements.

(Cricbuzz)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Hetmyer says IPL price tag does not really matter … excited to get going for Royals

AFTER a high-impact season in 2021, striking at over 168, the ever so flamboyant and hard-hitting Shimron Hetmyer is now a part of Rajasthan Royals.

Into his fourth IPL season, the Guyanese batter was really able to have an impact in a finishing role and hopes to replicate the same as he joins up with the Royals for the upcoming edition of the IPL. “I’m really excited to get going for the Royals,” the West Indian southpaw shared. “I’ve heard some really nice things about the franchise from my good friend Evin Lewis, and I can’t wait to get going and just enjoy myself as part of the squad,” added the

25-year-old.

Playing for his third franchise in the tournament, Hetmyer was candid in talking about his IPL journey thus far, “My first season in the IPL at RCB was a challenging one, for a young player, and being the only West Indian in the squad was a tough one to start off in franchise cricket.

“IPL, in general, has been a wonderful learning experience that has taught me to look at myself and my game differently and has enabled me to learn and develop the right processes.”

The 2016 U19 World Cup-winning captain also shared his initial experiences from back in the day, “I think it was 2018, I had a chance to

go to a camp with the Royals in Mumbai and that was one of my first interactions with an IPL team.

“It felt like a great atmosphere back then, met some really thoughtful cricketing people and was again glad to see some of them still with the squad this season as well.

It was fantastic being around an IPL set-up such as the Royals, and how they would approach and work towards things. I felt it was an insightful experience and something that I’ve carried with me ever since,” he added.

Having been bought by Rajasthan Royals this term for INR 8.5 Cr, Hetmyer played down any significance of the price tag, adding that it is important to play any role

Star Sports Trophies and Awards provides more support to Project Cricket Gear POPULAR sports store, Star Sports Trophies and Awards of 28 Logwood, Enmore, East Coast, Demerara, has donated more cricket gear for the ‘Cricket gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana’ project.

At a simple handing-over ceremony held recently, former National senior wicketkeeper\batter Sheikh Mohamed presented bats, batting gloves, junior cricket balls, wicket, cricket bags, keeping pads and gloves, cricket shoes and clothing with an average value of $600 000.

Mohamed is the owner of Star Sports. This follows an earlier donation of gear towards the project. The sports store is the agent for authentic major cricket brands around the world and provides the highest quality of gear and other sports equipment.

In presenting the gear to Anil Beharry, a partner in this initiative along with Kishan Das of the USA, Mohamed stated that he is impressed with the level of accountability and the reach of this venture. He is happy that young players from all three counties of Guyana are benefiting, thus this additional contribution.

Beharry, a current executive of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), expressed gratitude for the gear and committed to help as many young cricketers as possible in Guyana. He is hopeful that a new breed of young players

Former national wicketkeeper/batsman, Sheik Mohamed

will come through the system, making Guyana and West Indies cricket strong again. He alluded to the fact that sports in general helps to keep our young people off the streets and is an avenue to a better life.

Total cricket-related items collected so far: $130 000 cash, two trophies, eleven cricket boots, 15 pairs of batting pads, 15 bats, nine pairs of batting gloves, 18 thigh pads, one wicket-keeping pad, one arm guard and four cricket bags in addition to the above $600 000 worth in gear.

To date, 32 young players from all three counties of Guyana have already benefited from a junior gear bag, two trophies, nine bats, nine pairs of cricket shoes, six pairs of batting pads and seven pairs of batting gloves. In addition, Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club benefited from a pair of stumps and bails. Two clubs in the Pomeroon area received two

used bats.

Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam cricket committees each received one box of red cricket balls.

Cricket-related items, used or new, will be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent-spotting is being done across the country and club leaders will also assist to identify talent.

Beharry and Das take this opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies and Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Peter Ramkissoon and Rabindranath Saywack.

Special mention was made of the media for the role they are playing to promote this venture.

Distribution will continue. Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718 664 0896.

that comes to him.

“There’s no pressure of the price tag on me, it’s a challenge to help the Royals when I’m out there. The price tag does not really matter to me, it’s the runs I score that help contribute to the team’s cause that matter.”

Also speaking on his potential role in the team, he added, “I’m ready for any role the team needs me to perform. It’s imperative to do well as a player in the squad. And at my end, as I’ve always believed, just give myself that chance to be out there and the performance will come, no matter what the situation of the game is.”

With the Royals assembling a new squad and building towards a new era, under

Shimron Hetmyer is now part of the Rajasthan Royals outfit

the leadership and guidance of Kumar Sangakkara, the Guyanese left-hander spoke, “It’s very exciting to play under someone like Kumar Sangakkara. a legend of the game. I’ve heard some amazing things about him and can’t wait to get his brains on certain aspects of my game that can help me become bet-

ter, not just in the white-ball format but also in the longer version of the game with the red ball.

“Yes, I am very excited about the team that we have this year. I believe there is big potential in the squad to bring the cup home this year.” (CricTracker)

Record run-chase takes Australia into Women’s World Cup semis

AUSTRALIA completed the highest chase in Women's World Cup history to beat India and reach the semi-finals.

On a superb pitch, India reached 277-7 after half-centuries by Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj. Australia looked to be cantering before captain Meg Lanning was out for 97 in the penultimate over.

Amid rising tension in Auckland, Australia needed eight from the final over, but Beth Mooney sealed the six-wicket win with three balls left.

It meant Australia bettered the 258 they overhauled against Sri Lanka at the 2017 World Cup, while also posting the third-best chase in all women's one-day internationals.

Their fifth win of the tournament takes them two points clear of South Africa at the top of the table and guarantees a place in the last four.

India will likely need to win their last two matches, against Bangladesh and South Africa, to have a chance of progressing.

Asked to bat at Eden Park, the 2017 runners-up looked to be pressurising tournament favourites Australia in front of a noisy and partisan crowd.

The true surface and rectangular dimensions of the ground posed problems for bowlers and fielding captains,

Captain Meg Lanning makes a match-winning 97

with Raj, who made 68, and Yastika, 59, taking advantage in a partnership of 130.

When India stalled, finding themselves 213-6 at the beginning of the 43rd over, Harmanpreet plundered 57 from 47 balls, adding 64 with Pooja Vastrakar in a riotous stand for the seventh wicket.

Any momentum that India gained was stolen by the intent of Alyssa Healy, whose 72 came from only 65 balls as she and opening partner Rachael Haynes rattled along at seven an over.

Even though Australia lost two wickets for two runs, Lanning and Ellyse Perry were in complete command during their partnership of 103, manoeuvring the ball and hurrying between the wickets.

Australia's progress was checked by a rain delay, after which Perry slapped a Vastra-

kar full toss to Raj at cover.

The required rate briefly drifted out to more than a run-a-ball, but Lanning found a willing ally in left-hander Mooney.

Lanning had peppered the region behind square on the off-side and looked to be reaching her 15th one-day century with yet another cut, only to find the hands of Vastrakar at point.

With the India fans believing again and veteran seamer Jhulan Goswami, in her 200th ODI, bowling the final over, Mooney retained her composure.

She heaved over mid-wicket for four, took advantage of a mis-field to pinch two, then hit Goswami back over her head for the winning boundary. (BBC Sport)

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Shoaib Akhtar recalls battle with Ricky Ponting … would have chopped off his head FORMER Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar is one of the most lethal pacers to have ever played the game. Known for his aggressive and fierce nature, the Rawalpindi Express was also involved in duels with several prominent names like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Rahul Dravid.

In the latest, Akhtar has recalled his contest with Australian legend Ricky Ponting at WACA in the 1999 Perth

Test. The pacer was at his lethal best in the game as he made the red cherry talk.

Notably, Perth is known to produce one of the fastest and bounciest tracks in the cricketing world and the Rawalpindi Express wanted to make the difference as his side had lost the previous two Tests in the series. The 46-year-old has admitted that he went in with the mindset to hurt Australian batters.

Akhtar revealed that he purposely bowled bouncers and

wanted the Aussies to face the chin music.

“During the Test match, I thought (if nothing is happening) let’s hurt somebody.

That’s why I bowled the fastest spell. I wanted to see if Ricky can match my pace and I was purposely bowling bouncers (to) see if I could beat him but before that, I had never beaten him with my sheer pace,” Akhtar was quoted by TimesNow. Akhtar said that had it been any other batter in place

of Ponting, he would have chopped his head off. “Had it not been Ricky Ponting … I would have chopped his (the batsman’s) head off because it was furiously fast,” Akhtar added.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Express played 46 Test matches in which he has scalped a total of 178 wickets at an average of 25.7. Talking about his numbers in ODI cricket, he played a total of 163 matches for Pakistan in which he scalped a total of

Shoaib Akhtar (left) and Ricky Ponting

247 wickets at an economy of 4.76.

In his short T20I ca-

reer, Akhtar played 15 matches and took 19 wickets but had an economy of 8.15. (CricTracker)

Lukaku helps Chelsea Former Argentina international shot dead in Paris reach FA Cup semi-finals

Romelu Lukaku (centre) fired Chelsea ahead (Richard Sellers/PA)

ROMELU Lukaku scored his 12th goal of the season as Chelsea beat Championship side Middlesbrough to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

Middlesbrough had knocked out Manchester United and Tottenham on their way to the quarter-fi-

nals but their hopes of claiming another Premier League victim were dealt an early blow when Lukaku tapped in from Mason Mount's cross after a quick Chelsea counter.

Hakim Ziyech made it 2-0 midway the first half with a superb dipping effort

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday March 20, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jayden Seales-4/79 (first innings) (2) Jack Leach-3/57 (second innings) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the recent second Test of the current WI/ENG series?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Match?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

from the edge of the box before Lukaku was denied a second when Anfernee Dijksteel cleared off the line.

Middlesbrough showed plenty of endeavour in the second half as they looked to mount an unlikely comeback, with Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun shooting wide after a promising counter, while Duncan Watmore also sent an effort over the bar from a good position.

However, Chelsea could have grabbed a late third when substitute Timo Werner met a free-kick but Middlesbrough goalkeeper Joe Lumley did well to palm away.

Chelsea will find out who they will play in the semi-finals, which will be played at Wembley on April 16 and 17, when the draw is made before today’s quarter-final between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool (18:00hrs GMT). (BBC Sport)

FORMER Argentina international, Federico Martin Aramburu, was reportedly shot dead in France early yesterday.

The 42-year-old, who was capped 22 times, played at the 2007 World Cup in France and scored a try against the hosts to help Argentina finish third.

According to L'Equipe, Aramburu was killed in a drive-by shooting in Paris.

The French newspaper said he had been involved in an early-morning argument in a bar with a group of people who later returned in a car and shot him.

A murder investigation has been opened by the Paris prosecutor's office which said that the suspects have not yet been found.

Aramburu had spells at French clubs Perpignan, Biarritz and Dax before joining Glasgow Warriors in 2010.

The Warriors said they

Martin Aramburu helped Argentina finish third at the 2007 World Cup, scoring two tries at the tournament

were "shocked and saddened" by Aramburu's "sudden and tragic death". They added: "The embodiment of a true warrior and muchloved by all, the thoughts of everyone past and present at the club are with his family at this immensely difficult time."

The Pumas said they

"will not forget his tries and his performance" at the 2007 World Cup, where he scored two tries.

Former club Biarritz sent its "most sincere condolences to his family (and) his close relations" and assured them of its "total support". (BBC Sport)

'Human error' leads...

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the FIA Formula One World Championship are valid, final and cannot now be changed.

In accordance with the rules, Mercedes made a protest to the stewards after the race, seeking to change the race classification.

"The stewards dismissed the protest and Mercedes then had an opportunity to appeal that decision to the FIA International Court of Appeal, but did not do so.

There are no other available mechanisms in the rules for amending the race classification.

"The process of identifying lapped cars has up until now been a manual one and human error led to the fact that not all cars were allowed to un-lap themselves.

"Due to the fact that manual interventions generally carry a higher risk of human error, software has been developed that will, from now on, automate the communication of the list of cars that must un-lap themselves.

In addition, the 2022 Formula One Sporting Regulations have been recently updated to clarify that “all” and not “any” cars must be

FROM PAGE 28

permitted to un-lap themselves.

"This process of identifying lapped cars has been reviewed as part of the recommendations previously announced by the FIA president in his statement of 17 February 2022, which also includes the creation of FIA Remote Operations Centre, the integration of a new and extended team to run trackside operations as well as a review of the interactions between teams and Race Control during track running.” (Yahoo Sport)

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

Regal Legends, Toronto Blizzards Over-50 clash …Mouth-watering showdown looms in SFSCL tournament

Toronto Blizzards following their triumph in the NYSCL tournament

Regal Legends

By Frederick Halley OVER the years, the Open category was the prime attraction at international softball tournaments staged in Guyana, New York, Toronto, Orlando and Florida.

However, since the advent of the Over-50 Legends category a few years ago, that has since changed. With the South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) tournament set for March 31, April 1 and 2 in Fort Lauderdale, tongues are already wagging as a potential mouth-watering showdown looms between Guyana’s Regal Legends and Canada’s Toronto Blizzards.

Both teams have established envious and unbeatable records in their respective countries and also at the international games with Toronto Blizzards romping to victory at the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Independence Cup final in 2019 and Regal Legends doing likewise in 2021. In

both instances the two teams did not confront each other.

Regal Legends continued their winning ways in the 2021 Prime Minister’s Cup, playing unbeaten to claim top honours in a lop-sided final versus Mike’s Wellman at the Guyana National Stadium. Significantly, Toronto Blizzards did not participate.

In the meantime, there has been a lot of bragging and boasting, not only among the players from both teams but also by their supporters as to which team is superior.

In a dominant performance in the 2021 Independence Cup final, played at Royal Wilkins Park, Regal Legends piled up 237 for four from their allotted 20 overs with Unis Yusuf, who was later named the most valuable player (MVP), blasting a top score of 94, laced with five fours and seven sixes, finishing the tournament with an impressive 215 runs from four innings.

Left-hander Eric Thomas

also slammed a pugnacious undefeated 72. Opponents Williamsburg could muster only 95 for eight when their overs expired.

Williamsburg were the third opponents that failed to get past the 100-run mark against Regal Legends.

Rockaway Legends folded for 30, chasing 254, Marine Masters limped to 80 batting first. Only semi-finalists NYSC Legends, with 105 chasing 201 to win, reached triple-figures against the clinical Regal bowling attack.

Four months later, it was a similar script as Regal Legends completed an emphatic 92-run victory over their fiercest competitors, Mike’s Wellman, in the Prime Minister’s Cup final, played in November at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Winning the toss and batting, Regal Legends reached 171 for six in their allotted 20 overs before Wellman succumbed to 79 all out in 17.2 overs in another disap-

pointing performance.

Regal Legends’ innings was built around fine knocks from Ramesh Deonarine, who hit 43 (3x4, 1x6) and the consistent Yusuf, whose 35 included four fours and a six. Yusuf claimed his second consecutive MVP award following his heroics in New York.

Formerly Ontario Masters Softball International, the Canadians made their debut in 2013 in Fort Lauderdale.

Sponsored primarily by Naseer Baksh, who hails from Leguan, Baksh has since taken ownership of the team and renamed it the Toronto Blizzards.

To his credit, the Blizzards have participated in several international tournaments including five trips to Guyana. They were crowned the 2019 NYSCL Legends champions after a hardfought victory over New York Hustlers.

Playing unbeaten in the three-day tournament, Toronto Blizzards were indebted

to a marvellous 118-run second-wicket partnership between former Canadian ICC World Cup player Desmond Chumney (80) and former Guyana batter Jaimini Singh (36), reaching 162 for eight in their 20 overs. New York Hustlers were dismissed for 155 in 19.5 overs, going down by seven runs.

According to manager Azeem Khan, the former Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) president, his charges are raring to go despite not playing competitively since last October when the 2021 local season ended and which also saw them retaining championship honours.

Apart from Chumney, Toronto Blizzards are being led by former Guyana player Shivnauth Seeram and include another former player in Sunil Dhaniram who also turned out for Regal Legends in last year’s Prime Minister’s Cup tournament.

Following are the teams - Regal Legends: Mahendra

Hardyal (captain), Unis Yusuf, Ramesh Deo Narine, Eric Thoma, Eion Abel, Rudolph Baker, David Harper, Fazleem Mohamed, Parsram Persaud, Laurie Singh, Mohendra Arjune and Lyndon Lyght.

Toronto Blizzards: Shivnauth Seeram (captain), Jaimini Singh, Sunil Dhaniram, Desmond Chumney, Mohan Harihar, Rabindra Parasnauth, Fazil Shakoor, Orin O’Neil, Michael Kisten, Shazam Baksh, Lal Singh, Hazari Girdhari, Fazal Shakoor and Thalchand Singh.

Meanwhile, Regal Masters have also released their squad for the Over40 Masters category. It comprises Patrick Rooplall, Chien Gittens, Khemchand Dindyal, Surujdeo Ramdeen, Mohamed Ayume, Lakeram Roopnarine, Mahendranauth Parasnauth, Balram Roopnarine, Balram Paul, Tyrone Sanasie, Samuel Kingston, Sheldon Perch and Krishna Balgobin.

Paul to captain GCB squad Arsenal boost top-four against visiting ACS team hopes with win at Villa THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) selectors have named a 15-man squad to face American Cricket Society (ACS) in a one-off 40-over match at Everest Cricket Club ground, Camp Road, on Tuesday, from 10:30hrs.

According to a GCB release yesterday, the ACS team is in Guyana to play a series of matches around the country.

The manager for the ACS is Terry Hastoo and assistant manager, Charlton Senior. The ACS team includes Trinson Carmichael, Karan Ganesh, Avin Gangadin, Akshay Homraj, Damion Jacobs, Amarnauth Persaud, Emanuel Seecharran, Domi-

Keemo Paul

Dominique Rikki

nique Rikki, Stefan Rampersaud, Randall Wilson, Orin Williams, Kevin Boodie and Yuvraj Dayal.

The Guyana Senior Team which was selected under the new chairman of senior selectors Ravindranauth Seeram reads: Keemo Paul (captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj (vice-captain), Trevon Griffith, Akshaya Persaud,

Tevin Imlach, Gudakesh Motie, Christopher Barnwell, Kevlon Anderson, Demitri Cameron, Kevin Sinclair, Kemol Savory, Anthony Adams, Ronsford Beaton, Matthew Nandu and Mavindra Dindyal.

The manager is Albert Clements, head coach is Esaun Crandon and assistant coach Ryan Hercules.

ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta praised the "character, courage and quality" of his team as they strengthened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League with a narrow victory at Aston Villa.

Bukayo Saka was the standout player as the Gunners secured a sixth win from seven games to move four points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United with a game in hand.

The England international scored the only goal in the first half with a low drive from the edge of the area after Villa failed to properly clear a cross into the box.

"You can see the connection they have. It is phenomenal to watch," Arteta told BT Sport.

"If you want to be a top team, you have to win home and away. We are doing that consistently and we have to continue. We really want to (finish in the top four] and we are going to give it a go."

Villa improved after the break and went close when Ollie Watkins' deflected shot clipped the outside of the post, before substitute Danny Ings sent a looping header on to the roof of the net.

SAKA STARS AS ARSENAL SECURE VITAL WIN

Bukayo Saka’s opener was Arsenal’s 2,000th goal in the Premier League, with the Gunners becoming the third side to reach this milestone after Manchester United and Liverpool

Arsenal's jubilant celebrations at the final whistle showed just how significant they feel this result could be as the north London club seek to return to the Champions League for the first time in five years.

The win was based on a vibrant first-half display, followed up by a resilient defensive performance after the break.

Saka was excellent during the opening 45 minutes, tormenting 36-year-old Ashley Young who was in the Villa side for the injured Lucas Digne. (BBC Sport)

32

Kraigg Brathwaite took his innings past 150.

(Getty Images)

THE Kensington Oval DJ had tried with a track that was positively thumping while the one in the middle was as flat and lifeless as a piece of blank vinyl. In the end, the man on the decks resorted to the mellow tones of Ben E King's Stand By Me, as if pleading with those watching to stick around and see out the day.

It was, after all, Test cricket they were watching in pure form, not jazzed up or enhanced by anything, not least the pitch that meant "attritional" was the theme of the day.

The fact it was the theme for a third day running had other words springing to mind instead but took nothing away from Kraigg Brathwaite sticking around for a marathon 160, com-

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2022

England extend lead to 136 after Kraigg Brathwaite's marathon 160

piled over more than 11-and-a-half hours - an innings which dragged West Indies to 411 all out in response to England's first-innings 507 for 9 declared. A deficit of 96 runs at least offered some potential for an intriguing final day.

It took nothing away from Jack Leach either, as he epitomised England's toil in the field with three wickets for 118 runs in 69.5 overs, by some distance more than twice as many overs as either Ben Stokes or Saqib Mahmood, who claimed two wickets each.

By the time bad light ended play two overs before the scheduled close on day four, England had extended their advantage to 136 runs at 40 without loss in their second innings,

with Zak Crawley unbeaten on 21 and Alex Lees not out 18.

With no real sign of the surface breaking up yet and with only 19 wickets falling across four days, it was hard to see England having time to make a competitive declaration and then bowling West Indies out, but stranger things have happened.

West Indies thought they'd made something happen when Crawley was struck on the knee roll by Kemar Roach, but Crawley overturned his dismissal when ball-tracking showed the delivery was missing leg stump.

Veerasammy Permaul got one to turn emphatically from TURN TO PAGE 27

Guyana to officially welcome Forest pay FA Cup tribute to Liverpool's 97 victims of Queen’s Baton on Friday Hillsborough disaster

BIRMINGHAM 2022 is staging the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – an epic journey across the Commonwealth, with The Queen’s Baton visiting all 72 nations and territories.

The Relay began on October 7, 2021, with Her Majesty The Queen placing her Message to the Commonwealth into the Baton. The Baton is now on its 294-daylong journey to every corner of the Commonwealth.

According to Commonwealth Sport, this collective journey will ignite hope, solidarity and collaboration, as it connects communities. embraces unique cultures and shares inspirational stories.

On Friday, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), through its president Kalam Juman-Yassin, will officially welcome the Baton when it arrives at its 46th destination, having previously visited Belize.

According to GOA, “During its time in Guyana, the Queen’s Baton Relay will visit Linden, Iwokrama River Lodge, River View and Annai and will experience historical locations in Region 10, the Canopy Walkway and the beauty of our hinterland areas and people.”

During its stay in Guyana, the organisers have planned a busy schedule of activities and events with opportunities to showcase untold stories from Baton-bearers, athletes,

and young people who are striving for change in their community.

The Queen’s Baton will be carried by representatives of UNICEF and the British High Commission, athletes, schoolchildren and several persons in the indigenous communities.

The Queen’s Baton Relay has been a feature since the inaugural Cardiff 1958 Commonwealth Games.

GOA president Juman-Yassin expressed delight that Guyana is a part of this extraordinary journey and according to him, “It’s a way to highlight and promote the beauty of Guyana to people across the Commonwealth.”

Region 10 Chairman and Local Organising Committee Member, Deron Adams is also looking forward to celebrating the arrival of the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay in his community and is well on track with planning for the occasion.

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay started at Buckingham Palace on October 7, 2021, when Her Majesty The Queen placed Her Message to the Commonwealth into the Baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist and Team England athlete, Kadeena Cox, who had the honour of being the first of thousands of Baton-bearers to carry it.

… to leave 97 seats empty when they face Liverpool today

NOTTINGHAM Forest will leave 97 seats empty when they face Liverpool in the FA Cup today in tribute to the fans who died as a result of the Hillsborough disaster.

It was Forest who were Liverpool's opponents in the FA Cup semi-final at the home of Sheffield Wednesday in April 1989.

Those who lost their lives after a crush on the over-crowded Leppings Lane terrace were supporting Liverpool that day.

It remains a tragedy that touches both clubs, and the victims will be remembered when the sides meet for the first time in 23 years.

Two-time European Cup winners Forest have been outside the top flight of English football since 1999, meaning the once great rivalry that existed between them and Liverpool has gone cold, but the chance to reach a cup semi-final means the City Ground is a sell-out.

Only one small section will remain un-

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occupied.

Forest said in an announcement on Twitter: "Never forgotten. 97 seats will be left vacant at tomorrow's match in honour of those who lost their lives at our FA Cup semi-final in 1989. We look forward to welcoming Liverpool FC to the City Ground."

Seats next to a scoreboard in the stadium will be covered by draping bearing the message '97 NEVER FORGOTTEN 15.4.89'.

The disaster saw 95 fans die on the day or within days of the semi-final, which was abandoned shortly after kick-off. A 96th victim, Tony Bland, died in 1993, and the 97th to die as a result, Andrew Devine, passed away last year.

All 97 have since been ruled to have been unlawfully killed. A 1991 inquest verdict of accidental death was overturned at the high court in 2012. (Yahoo Sport) SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2022