Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 21-03-2022

MONDAY 21st March, 2022

No.106669

President Ali off to UAE for CIF2022, Global Business Forum LATAM

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Business co-operation on track –– Guyana, Suriname Council advances work to strengthen trade between the two nations 03 PAGE

The St. Peter's Anglican Church, built in 1827 at Enterprise, Leguan, Region Three, is one of the oldest places of worship on the picturesque island (Delano Williams photo)

One in custody for Phagwah Day fatal hit-and-run accident 12 PAGE

Dead: Toney Lakeram

Easing burden 15,000 acres of land on consumers 09 ‘opens up’ for Region PAGE

–– through support for farmers, cash grants, removal of burdensome taxes amid increasing global food prices

Two farmers

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Guyana, Suriname business cooperation on track with formation of 10-member council

GUYANA’S Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Suriname Trade and Industry Association (VSB) recently hosted its first meeting to iron out the management of a 10-member council.

The formation of the business council is part of the vision of President Dr Irfaan Ali and President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, for strengthened bilateral relations and business cooperation between the two countries.

According to a press release from the PSC, the council which was formulated in early 2022, will be solely dedicated to the strengthening of economic ties and initiatives regarding shared interests and the creation of the envisioned single market and economy.

The work of the council will include the promotion of trade, industry and investment as a means towards economic growth; improvement of competitiveness through innovation and entrepreneurship; building partnerships in skills development to create solutions in education and workforce development, and the promotion of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) development and exchanges, the release

Members of the business council meet with President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi added.

The council hosted its first official meeting on March 16, 2022, when ambitious but necessary targets were set, and a meeting agenda for the next 12 months was set out. The next council meeting is slated to be held in May 2022 in Guyana, after which bi-monthly meetings will be held.

The council consists of 10 members from the private sector of both countries. The members from Suriname are Mr Bryan Renten, Mr. Derrick Klaverweide, Mr.

Rishie Parbhudayal and Mr. Farsi Khodabux, while the members from Guyana are Mr. Paul Cheong, Mr. Norman Mc Lean, Mr. Ryan Alexander, Ms. Latoya Jack and Mr. Leekha Rambrich.

According to the release, the business council is also expected to support the creation of an enabling environment for the rapid and secure movement of goods and the promotion of joint- venture partnerships/ formation of synergies between businesses in the two countries.

Plans to establish a council for those purposes were initiated in August 2020, following a meeting among members of the two private sector bodies. This followed calls by both President Ali and President Santokhi for the private sectors of the two countries to establish partnerships for cross-border investments.

“We are not in competition; we are on a journey of co-operation to maximise the benefits for people, and, in order to ensure we do it successfully, we would need

to have synergies in terms of infrastructure and its use,” President Dr. Irfaan Ali had said in August.

President Sanotkhi had pleaded for the relationship between Suriname and Guyana to be an example for the region. “We will show the region how it should be done. We don’t sit next to each other as competitors, but as partners,” he said.

In August 2021, Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Co-operation, Albert Ram-

din, underscored the importance of the two countries taking an integrated approach to investment.

Ramdin said that the two countries are eying the possibility of merging their economies into a single market space.

The press release noted that the business council will have joint leadership with VSB’s Chairman Mr. Bryan Renten, who was elected to serve for the first six months.

At the end of this period, the chairmanship will be handed over to Mr. Paul Cheong, who will serve for a sixmonth period.

Cheong, who is the Chairman of the PSC, described the day as historic.

“The relationship with Suriname is necessary. There are many synergies that we can achieve,” he was quoted as saying.

According to the press release, the private sector will find opportunities to collaborate in the various sectors, and with the assistance of the Guyana and Suriname governments are working on the removal of all barriers for the realisation of efficient bilateral trade.

“When we come next time we will not come with a list of issues, but with a detailed strategy,” the VSB Chairman noted.

President Ali off to UAE for CIF2022, Global Business Forum LATAM

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali has left Guyana for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he will participate in the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF2022) and the Global Business Forum LATAM. CIF2022 is scheduled for March 22-23, while the Business Forum will be held from March 23-24.

President Ali, the official patron of CIF2022, is expected to deliver the keynote address at the conference, which is being hosted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, in association

with the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA).

CIF2022 is a high-level event that will present a range of investment opportunities in AgTech, Hotel and Resort Development, Fintech, Logistics and Transportation.

The sessions will include ‘Doing Business in the Caribbean’ and ‘Caribbean Investment Opportunities.’ Information on investing in strategic sectors in the Caribbean will also be provided by sector experts including a profile of the sector,

business opportunities in the sector and incentives, while specific projects will be highlighted.

President Ali is expected to discuss Guyana’s efforts to support economic diversification to date, including investments in non-oil sectors such as manufacturing, trade and agriculture. He will also highlight the country’s future plans.

UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem Al Hashimy, is expected to share lessons from her country’s decades of growth, based on the management of oil re-

sources and deliberate efforts to sustain long-term prosperity of the country through diversification.

She will also explain the role of Expo 2020 in further diversifying the economy by building economic partnerships and boosting international cooperation with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

President Ali is also expected to participate in the Global Business Forum LATAM, which will be attended by several regional leaders, including President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Jair

Bolsonaro and President of the Republic of Colombia, Ivan Marquez.

The event, which was launched in 2016, is being held this year under the Patronage of Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The forum is expected to explore how the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) can bolster each other’s economies, post-pandemic.

President Ali is ac-

President Dr Irfaan Ali companied by the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; CEO of GO-Invest, Dr Peter Ramsaroop and Director of Projects in the Office of the President, Marcia Nadir-Sharma. (Office of the President)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Growth in economic activities expected as $82M Fort Island stelling nears completion THE anticipated $82 million Fort Island Stelling, in Region Three, is 98 per cent complete.

The stelling is expected to spur economic activity on the island, where farming and fishing are the main sources of income.

In budget 2022, $38 million was set aside for the completion of the stelling, which now only has minor works to be undertaken. The installation of solar panels, along with minor infrastructural and electrical works, are left to be done.

Fort Island is home to about 95 persons and over 200 from the catchment areas. Late last year, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, visited the island.

Healthcare worker and resident, Preity Debideen, spoke of what the construc-

The stelling was the backbone of Fort Island years ago, says Debideen (DPI photo) tion of the stelling would there and sell at the stelling mean for the community. and they [will] get a daily “When the stelling is income… when the stelling done, persons can go out build and if the ferry will

March 16, 2022

J 1 3 11 12 27 28 8 March 19, 2022

H 6 8 12 24 25 28 22

19/03/22 - 02, 15 ,16 ,19, 21

The Leguan Stelling is slated for completion this year (DPI photo) be landing here, it would encourage more tourism.

Persons would take the ferry to come here and whatever

19/03/22 - 0 4 7

we have to sell here, you will showcase it to get it sell.

“The stelling was the backbone of Fort Island years ago

19/03/22 - 5 9 0

where all the residents used to go out there … you used to get your cow milk and boil corn and that is what I want to bring back since we will be having a new stelling,” Debideen said.

The 2022 budget also has monies set aside for the completion of the Leguan and Bartica Stellings at $168 million and $217 million respectively.

The Leguan Stelling is slated for completion this year, while monies would be budgeted in 2023 for the completion of the Bartica Stelling.

“It is something that is part of our budget 2022 proposal and we expect in 2022, 2023, the entire Bartica stelling should be completed. Whether it is done by the old contractor or we go to a new contractor, but we are moving towards getting it completed,” Minister Edghill has assured. (DPI)

19/03/22- 3, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 20

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Saudi Aramco ramps up investment to boost production The state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco plans to sharply increase the amount it invests in energy production, after it reported a doubling of profits in 2021.

The firm aims to boost output significantly over the next five years.

E n e rg y p r i c e s h a v e soared in recent months as demand has outstripped supplies of oil and gas.

The war in Ukraine and a reluctance to rely on Russia for energy has added to the pressure to find additional sources of energy.

Saudi Aramco’s move is likely to be welcomed by political leaders worried about the impact of high energy prices, although the boost to investment is aimed at increasing output over the course of the next five to eight years.

Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Saudi Arabia to try to persuade the country to release more oil into world markets in the short term.

Saudi Arabia is the largest producer in the oil cartel OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and by raising production it could help to reduce energy prices which are currently at 14-year highs.

However, the country has been condemned for a range of human rights abuses: its involvement in the conflict in neighbouring Yemen, the murder in 2018 of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, for jailing dissidents and for widespread use of capital punishment.

The Labour Party accused the government of going “cap in hand” from one dictator to another to tackle the energy crisis.

The chancellor, Rishi Su-

Photo credit: BBC/GETTY IMAGES

nak, said the prime minister was “absolutely right” to engage with Saudi Arabia over increasing energy supplies.

“It would be wrong if we weren’t exploring all the avenues we could to bring cheaper energy and more secure energy to people in this country,” Rishi Sunak told the BBC. The prime minister had “constructive dialogue” about human rights abuses during the visit, he said.

Shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said the UK should be focusing on boosting domestic production of energy through new nuclear and on and off-shore wind generation, to reduce reliance on states like Russia and Saudi Arabia.

“Getting to net zero is the mission of our generation,” she said.

“We’ve got to do more to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which is why investment in homegrown electricity is so important.”

Energy markets have been volatile during the pan-

demic, as sudden changes in economic activity have influenced both supply and demand.

In 2020 Saudi Aramco’s profits dropped sharply as the world economy slowed.

But a reopening in many countries led to a sharp rise in energy prices in 2021.

That boosted revenues at all the large energy generating companies.

Saudi Aramco said it planned to increase its capital expenditure to $45-$50bn this year with further increases until the middle of the decade. Last year capital expenditure was $31.9bn.

It would raise its crude oil “maximum sustainable capacity” to 13 million barrels a day by 2027, the company said. It also aims to increase gas production by more than

50 per cent by 2030. Saudi Arabia produced just over 10 million barrels of oil per day in February.

The oil company morethan doubled its net profit to $110bn in 2021, up from $49bn in 2020.

The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil increased by around 50 per cent in 2021 and, with energy prices remaining high, analysts expect profit to increase further in 2022.

Saudi Aramco said it planned to develop a significant hydrogen export capability and become a global leader in carbon capture and storage technology.

(BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Boosting Delivery of Health Care

THE delivery of quality health care to the Guyanese people will be given a major boost with the construction of six new hospitals in several parts of the country.

This is in keeping with a commitment made by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali to provide a world-class health care delivery system second to none in the Caribbean.

In keeping with that commitment, a five-acre site has been identified for the construction of a new multi-million modern hospital at Anna Regina, Region Two. As it currently stands, the health care needs in the region are being met by the Suddie Hospital and a cottage hospital at Charity, which catered for the needs of the riverain communities along the Pomeroon River. There are supplemented by several health centres throughout the region. The more difficult cases are being referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), which is the only referral hospital in the country.

The construction of the new hospital at Anna Regina, as pointed out by Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, will help to reduce the work load from the Suddie and Charity hospitals and also minimise the need for referrals to the GPHC.

According to Minister Anthony, the new health facility will have about 25 in-patient beds and modern accident and emergency departments and will also provide a range of other services, including digital x-rays, CT scans and imaging. There will also be two modern operating theatres in addition to a minor theatre.

This is indeed a commendable move by the PPP/C administration to bring quality health care to the Guyanese people. Similar health institutions are earmarked in this year’s national budget for Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Bath Settlement on West Coast Berbice and No. 75 Village in Region Six. The health infrastructure in the country is undergoing significant upgrading of existing facilities and the conversion of several of these into smart health facilities. It would be recalled that it was under the PPP/C administration that a number of diagnostic centres were established in several regions which were fully operational with the assistance of medical personnel from the Cuban Government.

There can be no doubt that the quality of health care has improved considerably since the PPP/C administration came to power on October 5, 1992.

Guyanese can still remember the days when there were shortages of hospital beds, resulting in patients having had to share beds.

There was a case of a child who was bitten by a rodent whilst a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital. This episode may seem anecdotal, but it serves to highlight the state of deterioration of the health sector under the PNC regime.

Shortages of basic drugs and medical equipment were all too frequent.

The former PNC now APNU+AFC administrations had a dismal record when in office in terms of heath care to the Guyanese people. By now, Guyanese would have benefited from a state-of -the art speciality hospital, had the project not been aborted by the then Granger administration. In fact, preparatory works had already commenced. The construction of a speciality hospital would not only have provided specialised care for patients, but would have also created opportunities for medical tourism.

In addition to boosting the public health care delivery system, attempts are also being made to ensure public-private-partnerships. In October 2021, a U.S.-based group met with President Ali with a view to plugging U.S.$250M into the tertiary health sector. There is also interest from the British and Aus-

trian governments in relation to building hospitals that specialise in paediatric and maternal care. In addition to that, there are at least six other proposals from the business community to develop private health care facilities. A delegation from Mount Sinai International was also in the country in November last year, with a view to assisting the country in defining a plan in the development of a more sophisticated system of health care delivery.

The upgrading and modernisation of the health care system is all the more necessary as the country becomes an attractive tourist destination and greater inflows of foreigners to the country.

But at a more fundamental level, it is an attempt to democratise the delivery of quality health care to all Guyanese, regardless of their economic or social standing in society. It is a known fact that the quality of care at private hospitals tended be better than what obtained at the public hospitals.

The PPP/C administration must be given credit for lifting the standard of health care to the citizens of Guyana; and even though more remains to be done to bring it on par with international standards, there can be no doubt that the country is making great strides in that regard.

Research and Development key to enabling sustainability of GuySuCo Dear Editor, IN a recent speech, President Ali declared that GuySuCo can be made viable, just as the Guatemalan sugar industry.

He quoted some revealing figures. Among these were that the Guatemalan sugar industry supplies 30 per cent of that country’s electricity demand during the sugar crop. The President also quoted figures on sugar cane yields, showing that the Guatemalan yield is

presently more than twice that of Guyana’s.

We are aware that succeeding administrations have struggled with this huge problem and have tried a number of very costly solutions with not much success.

What seems to have eluded our policy-makers is how to address the critical underlying variable, quoted by the President, of sugar cane yields. These yields have been falling continually for more than 60 years, to the point where they are half of what they

were back then. Stakeholders in and out of the industry warned of the danger to GuySuCo’s survival resulting from this reality.

GAWU has repeatedly referred to it. In one instance GAWU, in response to the proposal to close the most loss-producing estates, communicated to the government in February 2017, that it was critical that “research be furthered with a view to improving sugar cane yields.”

It is a truism in the sugar industry

that sugar is produced in the fields, and on this fact rests the viability of the industry. Increasing field yields and sucrose content is directly correlated with factory efficiency; quantity of sugar produced; bagasse available for cogeneration, and reduced cost of production.

Doubling sugar cane yields could conceivably reduce cost of production by See page 8

OP-ED

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

New scenarios on global food security based on Russia-Ukraine conflict

By Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations OVER the past two years, COVID-19 has presented many challenges to global food security.

Today, what is happening in Russia and Ukraine adds another significant challenge.

Russia and Ukraine play a substantial role in the global food production and supply. Russia is the world’s largest exporter of wheat, and Ukraine is the fifth largest. Together, they provide 19 per cent of the world’s barley supply, 14 per cent of wheat, and four per cent of maize, making up more than one-third of global cereal exports. They are also lead suppliers of rapeseed and account for 52 per cent of the world’s sunflower oil export market. The global fertiliser supply is also highly concentrated, with Russia as the lead producer.

Supply chain and logistical disruptions on Ukrainian and Russian grain and oilseed production and restrictions on Russia’s exports will have significant food security repercussions. This is especially true for some 50 countries that depend on Russia and Ukraine for 30 per cent or more of their wheat supply. Many of them are least developed countries or low-income, food-deficit countries in Northern Africa, Asia and the Near East. Many European and Central Asian countries rely on Russia for over 50 per cent of their fertilizer supply, and shortages there could extend to next year.

Food prices, already on the rise since the second half of 2020, reached an all-time high in February 2022 due to high demand, input and transportation costs, and port disruptions. Global prices of wheat and barley, for example, rose 31 per cent over the course of 2021. Rapeseed oil and sunflower oil prices rose more than 60 per cent. High demand and volatile natural gas prices have also driven up fertiliser costs. For instance, the price of urea, a key nitrogen fertiliser, has increased more than threefold in the past 12 months.

The conflict’s intensity and duration remain uncertain. The likely disruptions to agricultural activities of these two major exporters of staple commodities could seriously escalate food insecurity globally, when international food and input prices are already high and volatile.

The conflict could also constrain agricultural production and purchasing power in Ukraine, leading to increased food insecurity locally.

CORE RISK FACTORS IDENTIFIED Cereal crops will be ready for harvest in June. Whether farmers in Ukraine would be able to harvest them and deliver to the market is unclear. Massive population displacement has reduced the number of agricultural labourers and workers.

Accessing agricultural fields would be difficult. Rearing livestock and poultry and producing fruits and vegetables would be constrained as well.

The Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea have shuttered. Even if inland transportation infrastructure remains intact, shipping grain by rail would be impossible because of a lack of an operational railway system.

Vessels can still transit through the Turkish

Straits, a critical trade juncture through which a large amount of wheat and maize shipments pass. Rising insurance premiums for the Black Sea region would exacerbate the already high costs of shipping, compounding the costs of food imports. And, whether storage and processing facilities would remain intact and staffed is also still unclear.

The Russian ports on the Black Sea are open for now, and no major disruption to agricultural production is expected in the short term. However, the financial sanctions against Russia have caused an important depreciation which, if continued, could undermine productivity and growth and ultimately further elevate agricultural production costs.

Russia is a major player in the global energy market, accounting for 18 per cent of global coal exports, 11 per cent of oil, and 10 per cent of gas. Agriculture requires energy through fuel, gas, electricity use, as well as fertilisers, pesticides, and lubricants. Manufacturing feed ingredients and feedstuffs also require energy. The current conflict has caused energy prices to surge, with negative consequences on the agriculture sector.

Wheat is a staple food for over 35 per cent of the world’s population, and the current conflict could result in a sudden and steep reduction in wheat exports from both Russia and Ukraine. It is still unclear whether other exporters would be able to fill this gap. Wheat inventories are already running low in Canada, and exports from the United States, Argentina and other countries are likely to be limited as government will try to ensure domestic supply.

Countries reliant on wheat imports are likely to ramp up levels, adding further pressure on global supplies. Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Iran are the top global wheat importers, buying more than 60 per cent of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine, and all of them have outstanding imports. Lebanon, Tunisia, Yemen, Libya, and Pakistan also rely heavily on the two countries for their wheat supply. Global maize trade is likely to shrink due to expectations that the export loss from Ukraine will not be filled by other exporters and because of high prices.

Export prospects for sunflower oil and other alternative oils also remain uncertain.

Major sunflower oil importers, including India, the European Union, China, Iran, and Turkey, must find other suppliers or other vegetable oils, which could have a spill-over effect on palm, soy, and rapeseed oils, for example.

Policy Recommendations 1. Keep global food and fertiliser trade open. Every effort should be made to protect the production and marketing activities needed to meet domestic and global demands. Supply chains should keep moving, which means protecting standing crops, livestock, food processing infrastructure, and all logistical systems.

2. Find new and more diverse food suppliers. Countries dependent on food imports from Russia and Ukraine should look for alternative suppliers to absorb the shock. They should also rely on existing food stocks and diversify their domestic production to ensure people’s access to healthy diets.

3. Support vulnerable groups, including internally displaced people. Governments must expand social safety nets to protect

vulnerable people. In Ukraine, international organizations must step in to help reach people in need. Across the globe, many more people would be pushed into poverty and hunger because of the conflict, and we must provide timely and well-targeted social protection programs to them.

4. Avoid ad hoc policy reactions. Before enacting any measures to secure food supply, governments must consider their potential effects on international markets. Reductions in import tariffs or the use of export restrictions could help to resolve individual country food security challenges in the short term, but they would drive up prices on global markets.

5. Strengthen market transparency and dialogue. More transparency and information on global market conditions can help governments and investors make informed decisions when agricultural commodity markets are volatile.

Initiatives like the G-20’s Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) increases such transparency by providing objective and timely market assessments.

FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

The convenient amnesia displayed by Hamilton Green Dear Editor, I WAS taken by surprise when someone called to disturb my quiet Phagwah day, to inform me that SN (18 March. 2020) had a letter in its column, written by Hamilton Green, who now refers to himself as “Elder,” in which he made a pitiful response to my letter in KN. In fact, SN (and others) failed to publish my letter, but found it convenient to do so for this frequent and apparently one of its favourite letter writers.

While the “Elder” claims that salt is being put on the wounds of the past, he fails to say who created those wounds.

Does he forget the terrorising of innocent Guyanese, not only in the 60s but continuing until 1992, when a “new era dawned” in Guyana?

In 1962, I was still in my formative years in school, but still have and would forever

have memories of that frightening day in Guyana’s history. The mobs rampaging the streets of Georgetown and setting fire to Indian-owned properties were following the instructions of two persons.

I don’t have to use much imagination to come to a conclusion of what you were doing when you mentioned that you were there, but didn’t know of the “dozens of businesses destroyed.

Yes “Elder,” since your memory is better than anyone else, tell the nation where you were and what you were doing on that day.

While you’re doing that, take a poll and find out how many persons, who lived through that period, would believe anything you say.

I’m glad it’s you who chose to use the word “spark” to determine your party’s reaction to the PPP’s attempt to a legitimate act of governance. Your party should be ashamed of their unpatriotic actions, resulting in untold and unimaginable sufferings, from that period

and for so many years after.

You seem to know a lot of a “bullet fired from a rifle, which killed a policeman.” Tell us “Elder,” the serial number and make of the rifle and who squeezed the trigger. Surely your memory still has to be that reliable.

No “Elder,” I don’t forget the Sun Chapman, but as I’ve said before, I’ve heard many different stories of how that incident occurred, which I’m certain you’ve also heard, and possibly know of “first hand,” but prefer to remain selectively and conveniently mum on those.

However, you’re correct, I and I’m certain the majority of persons who were around during those times, would never forget “the horrors of the Wismar massacre,”-- your words.

I never suggested that one ethnic group suffered.

However, I would strongly suggest that when the history of Guyana is truly recorded, the blame for those atrocities perpetrated against the Guyanese nation would be laid convincingly at the feet of the party to which you belong. History would not be kind to your party.

Do you, in your wildest imagination,

think people would ever forget the barefaced rigging of elections that your party inflicted on our nation from 1964 to 1992, and again attempted for five months after March, 02, 2020?

Remember, it was your party’s leader who kicked you out of the party after it democratically lost the 1992 elections and your attempts to continue to hold on to government.

Do you think Guyanese would forget how you moved on to splatter your stink on the city of Georgetown? And now have the audacity, most likely bolstered by the unjustifiable pension you were bequeathed, to accuse others of being one-sided?

No, “Elder,” your brand of promotion of “Peace Not Conflict’ would never be acceptable to the majority of Guyanese, since it is riddled with any semblance of integrity, riddled with insincerity, dishonesty and falsification of history.

Maybe you should consider adding an appropriate adjective before “Elder,” If you agree, I can offer you a few to choose from.

Yours sincerely, Harry Narine Nawbatt

Research and Development key to enabling sustainability ...

From page 6

half.

Generally, increasing agricultural yields is founded on an effective Research and Development (R&D) system. This system requires highly trained professionals operating in an environment that is motivational, which usually means competitive and market-driven. These requirements translate into the need for significant increases in resources spent on R&D. In general, Guyana spends far too little as a percentage of agricultural GDP on R&D. We are way below countries such as Brazil and Chile, for example, that spend close to one per cent of agricultural GDP on R&D. This has to change for GuySuCo and agriculture in general to be sustainable, and achieve dynamic growth. For the vision of agricultural expansion to be achieved, the R&D system needs urgent attention.

It is noteworthy that the EU provided huge resources over a decade ago for the country to invest to make the sugar and rice industries viable, in anticipation of the removal of the effective price subsidies.

In the case of sugar the funds were spent largely on “budgetary support,” a new factory at Skeldon and other investments, with little emphasis placed on R&D. In contrast, for the rice industry, the EU support was channelled

through the Caribbean Rice Association, a private sector body, which wisely put the funds to rice research. The result was dramatically improved paddy yields and the survival of the rice industry.

It can be noted too that back in 2017, a research proposal to address falling sugar cane yields was submitted to the government by the Caribbean Agri-Business Association (CABA). This proposal was based on organic soil-enhancement technology, as successfully used in India, and was a collaboration of CABA with researchers in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at UG. This proposal got lost in the “noise” of Special Purpose Units and the preparation of estates for privatisation by the International management consultants.

We have somehow missed the opportunities to address the fundamental cause of our problem in the sugar industry.

President Ali’s quoting of the Guatemalan sugar cane yields will hopefully point us in the direction of the essential solution, not only for GuySuCo, but also for the entire agricultural sector.

Yours sincerely, Fitzroy Fletcher Former Guyana Director of CABA

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Easing burden on consumers –– through support for farmers, cash grants, removal of burdensome taxes amid increasing global food prices

THE benchmark gauge for world food prices went up in February, reaching an all-time high, led by vegetable oils and dairy products, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has reported.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 140.7 points in February, up 3.9 per cent from January, 20.7 per cent above its level a year earlier, and 3.1 points higher than reached in February 2011.

The Index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities.

The FAO Vegetable Oils Price Index led the increase, rising 8.5 per cent from the previous month to reach a new record high, mostly driven by increased quotations for palm, soy and sunflower oils. The sharp increase in the vegetable price index was principally driven by sustained global import demand, which coincided with a few supply-side factors, including reduced export availabilities of palm oil from Indonesia, the world’s leading exporter, lower soybean production prospects in South America, and concerns about lower sunflower oil exports due to disruptions in the Black Sea region.

The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 6.4 per cent higher in February than January, underpinned by lower-than-expected milk supplies in Western Europe and Oceania, as well as persistent import demand, especially from North Asia and the Middle East.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased 3.0 per cent from the previous month, led by rising quotations for coarse grains, with international maize prices up 5.1 per cent, due to a combination of continued concerns over crop conditions in South America, uncertainty about maize exports from Ukraine, and rising wheat export prices. World wheat prices increased by 2.1 per cent, largely reflecting uncertainty about global supply flows from Black Sea ports. International rice pric-

es increased by 1.1 per cent, sustained by strong demand for fragrant rice from Near East Asian buyers and the appreciation of the currencies of some exporters against the US dollar.

The FAO Meat Price Index rose 1.1 per cent from January, with international bovine meat quotations reaching a new record high amid strong global import demand and tight supplies of slaughter-ready cattle in Brazil and high demand for herd rebuilding in Australia.

While pig meat prices edged up, those of ovine and poultry meat declined, in part due, respectively, to high exportable supplies in Oceania and reduced imports by China following the end of the Spring Festival.

The FAO Sugar Price Index declined 1.9 per cent amid favourable production prospects in major exporting countries such as India and Thailand, as well as improved growing conditions in Brazil.

“Concerns over crop conditions and adequate export availabilities explain only a part of the current global food price increases. A much bigger push for food price inflation comes from outside food production, particularly the energy, fertiliser and feed sectors,” said FAO economist Upali Galketi Aratchilage.

“All these factors tend to squeeze profit margins of food producers, discouraging them from investing and expanding production.”

The FAO Food Price Index measures average prices over the month, so the February reading only partly incorporates market effects stemming from the conflict in Ukraine.

WORLD WHEAT AND MAIZE PRODUCTION FAO also released its latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, with preliminary forecast for worldwide cereal output in 2022.

Global wheat production is seen on course to increase to 790 million tonnes, with anticipated high yields and extensive planting in North America and Asia, offset-

ting a likely slight decrease in the European Union and the adverse impact of drought conditions on crops in some of the North African countries.

Maize harvesting will begin soon in the Southern Hemisphere, with Brazil’s output foreseen reaching a record high and production in Argentina and South Africa above their average levels.

FAO has also updated its forecast for world cereal production in 2021, now pegged at 2,796 million tonnes, a 0.7 per cent increase from the year before.

Global cereal utilisation in 2021/2022 is now seen at 2 802 million tonnes, a 1.5 per cent annual increase. Global cereal stocks ending in 2022 are forecast to grow slightly over the year to 836 million tonnes. On those estimates, the worldwide cereals stocksto-use ratio would stand at 29.1 per cent, “marking an eight-year low, but still indicating an overall comfortable supply level,” according to FAO. FAO also raised its forecast for world trade in cereals to 484 million tonnes, up 0.9 per cent from the 2020/2021 level. This forecast does not assume potential impacts from the conflict in Ukraine.

FAO is closely monitoring the developments and will assess those impacts in due course.

The quarterly report includes updates on the situation in the 44 countries currently identified as in need of external assistance for food as well as more granular updates to regional cereal production trends around the world, while also noting the risks to production and exports as well as to livelihoods related to the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

GUYANA’S INTERVENTION At home, President, Dr Irfaan Ali noted that it is necessary to have more “local consumption”.

He said that his government will continue to give incentives to those investing

A dairy farm in Mexico (FAO photo)

in agriculture, given the nature of the global situation and the fact that Guyanese are also feeling the effects of the price increases.

Along with supporting farmers and cushioning the net effect of the increased cost of freights, the President said that the range of tax benefits that his government has instituted since returning to office, has helped offset the full brunt of the problem.

He reminded of the removal of VAT on electricity and water, the five percent reduction—across the board— on water tariff, the zero-rated status on essential items and household items, the removal of VAT on data, the reduction of the excise tax rate on fuel (first in February and then in October) and the reduction of licence fee.

Additionally, he made mention of the many non-tax measures that directly impacted Guyanese, including the one-off $25,000 relief grant, the re-introduction of educational grants (benefited both public and private school students), a one-off 25,000 cash grant for pensioners and a range of other incentives.

“All of these measures were to remove more tax burden from the population and give them an opportunity to have those resources as disposable income. And the measures that we have implemented are praised by many international agencies and organisations. They are actually used as good practices in combatting the challenges

we are facing globally.”

The President noted that his government would continue to help alleviate the pressure of the cost of living on the general population and committed to transparency.

“We recognised that this is a continuous problem and that the Government has to be proactive in addressing these issues. I want you to know, just as we have done over the year plus; we will continue to pursue measures that minimise the effect on the people of our country, that minimise the effect on your pockets— you can rest assured.”

The President said that at the international level, his government does not intend to sit down and wait for the situation to correct itself.

He used the rising cost of fertilisers as an example and said that over the last four weeks, discussions were held with many bilateral partners to remedy this.

“We are doing this so that the farmers, the sugar industry, the rice producers—they can all benefit.

Because if we don’t bring down the cost, we know too that the cost of rice will increase.”

MORAL RESPONSIBILITY Guyanese, especially those who are benefitting the most from the government programmes and incentives, need to have a moral responsibility, according to the Head of State, in ensuring that the

President, Dr Irfaan Ali benefits reach the ordinary man.

“In all of this that the government is doing, the measures that we are implementing to help the importers, to help the farmers, to help the producers, we expect them to act in a way that befits their moral responsibility to the consumer, to minimise the impact of the consumers.”

The President spoke highly of the poultry sector and said that his government expects all other sectors to play their part.

“This is a global challenge that requires us to act collectively, that requires us to support each other. You have a greater responsibility to society, and you should not look at profiteering—we are in this together.

You Government would confront these challenges with strong, workable measures, but we also need the support of all the stakeholders.” (FAO and DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Guyana can help CARICOM avoid impending ‘hunger hurricane’

By Earl Bousquet UNITED NATIONS Secretary-General, António Guterres, last week, raised concern over what he described

as a ‘hunger hurricane’ resulting from the ongoing conflict.

“We must do everything possible to avert a hurricane of hunger and a meltdown of the

global food system,” Guterres told correspondents outside the Security Council chamber in New York on March 14.

The UN Chief pointed out that Russia and Ukraine

represent about 30 per cent of the world’s wheat and Ukraine alone provides more than half of the World Food Programme’s (WFP’s) wheat supply.

Noting that “Food, fuel, and fertiliser prices are skyrocketing, supply chains are being disrupted and the costs and delays of transportation of imported goods – when available – are at record levels hitting the poorest countries hardest,” Guterres said the situation was “planting the seeds for political instability and unrest around the globe.”

According to the UN Chief, “Grain prices have already exceeded those at the start of the Arab Spring and the food riots of 2007-2008”, while “the FAO’s global food prices index is at its highest level ever…”

The day after the UN Secretary General’s red-flag warning, on March 15, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali addressed the same issues the UN Secretary General mentioned just hours before.

According to the Department for Public Information, the President noted during the commissioning of a new well at Lusignan: “The pandemic had, in some instances, resulted in the cost of goods and services increasing by 20 to 145 per cent, while the cost of shipping and logistics has gone up by as much as 200 per cent. The war in Ukraine has taken out close to 40 per cent of global wheat production while the price of oil has surged.”

It went on to add, “Notwithstanding these challenges, President Ali said the government is unwavering in its quest to build a Guyana that is resilient.”

“We have started to present leadership on our next big crisis, food security,” the President said, adding: “The world has taught us that we can no longer be dependent, we have to be as self-sufficient and self-sustainable as possible, especially when it comes to the supply of food and basic commodities.”

In that regard, he revealed, “Soon we are going to work to see whether we can find a variety of wheat that we can plant in Guyana, so that we can fulfill even our local re-

quirement.”

“We are learning important lessons now that we must not leave unanswered for future generations,” President Ali said.

President Ali has prime responsibility at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) level for lowering the region’s Food Import Bill, a task totally conditional on changing consumption patterns across the region -- and not at all easy.

But while it’s always been difficult (if not near-impossible) to wean Caribbean people off too much boxed, fried and imported processed foods, unique situations always have ways of presenting themselves that make such tasks easier, turning challenges into opportunities.

Together, COVID and Ukraine have created excellent conditions for people, eventually and more quickly, and better understanding the need to fully understand the meaning of such often-repeated phrases as ‘Import Substitution’ or ‘Eating What We Grow and Growing What We Eat.’ The Caribbean has always been a producer of fine foods for export, later imported as refined products – from buying chocolates made from exported cocoa beans, to banana and coconut, rice and rum products processed, packaged and returned to the region on supermarket shelves by way of wider choices -- and at bigger costs.

With the impending wheat and flour crisis, the region shouldn’t wait for shortages of related products, but instead accelerate arrangements for import substitution and ensuring support for local farmers.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with decades of experience processing arrowroot for export, also now has an expanded flour mill due to increase production by 30 per cent by next year, which opens opportunities for expanding the regional market.

Saint Lucia’s grain suppliers can also join in a possible OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) and CARICOM initiative to synchronise grain-related production across the region, to meet the new demand already being created by the current supply chain problems.

Likewise, bananas and breadfruit, coconuts and custard apples, dasheen and guava, mango and pawpaw, soursop and sugar apple – and all the other tasty Caribbean fruits still going to waste on farms and trees because of foreign taste on local tongues.

New and innovative approaches are always necessary in tackling old problems in new times.

Saint Lucia’s Anglican Church last month hosted a three-day Banana Festival as part of the island’s Independence celebrations, at which the public was reminded the plant has many more uses than just eating the ripe and exporting the green fruit; and exposing the possibilities of using all parts – even to produce paper from banana leaves.

Same with coconuts, with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) preaching (long before the Internet was invented) that the tree can be put to as many as 28 productive uses through manufacturing sub-industries capable of taxing creativity and creating employment.

It’s absolutely necessary, in these times, for CARICOM and Guyana to ensure citizens across the region understand the true nature of the impending world ‘Hunger Hurricane’ that the UN Secretary General is warning about.

Guyana has the land mass to make a major difference in once again being regarded as the Caribbean’s Food Basket and the government has earlier indicated its willingness to also provide poultry and livestock products regionally, if the necessary arrangements can be made with governments up the CARICOM chain, as already under way with Barbados.

Yes, COVID and Ukraine have collided to worsen the world’s food crisis, but a bright Caribbean sunshine can overcome that very dark cloud if the region’s governments sow the right decisions to reap the best solutions to avoid adding a ‘Hunger Hurricane’ to the region’s long list of stormy annual hurricane-size problems already being created by unpredictable weather and Climate Change.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

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The General Register Office (GRO) held registration outreaches at Mibicuri and Corriverton in Region Six over the weekend. Among the services offered were birth, death, marriage, late and overseas registration. These photographs capture some of the residents being registered

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Adult Education Association was allocated $52M in 2022 budget

THE Adult Education Association, a non-profit organisation which conducts educational sessions with deprived persons, was allocated a $52 000 000 subvention in the 2022 national budget.

This subvention marked an increase of more than four million dollars over what was allocated to the organisation in the 2021 budget.

This was underscored by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in a recent press statement as it refuted claims in a letter appearing in the Stabroek News of Saturday 19th March, 2022, which claimed that the government has withdrawn funding from the AEA.

Penned by one Elijah Bijay, the letter, titled “Reportedly, the government has withdrawn funding from the Adult Education Association,” complained that the government funding to the AEA had been withdrawn.

However, the MoE called the complaint “fallacious.”

“The AEA was allocated $47,847 000 in the 2021 budget. For 2022, the AEA has been allocated $52 000,000.

This is an increase of more than $4 million. This information is available to the public on the Ministry of Finance’s website,” the MoE statement said.

“The Ministry of Education is fully aware of the contributions that the AEA has

made and continues to make to education in Guyana. We wish to caution Mr Bijay on the need to decipher fact from fiction. In this case, a simple Internet search would have served that purpose.”

The MoE noted that it is also currently exploring the ‘Open-School’ concept and the AEA is expected to be a major player in this initiative.

“The Ministry of Education is aware of several steps taken by the AEA, because of the pandemic, to digitalise its offerings to the students of Guyana. It should be added that most of these initiatives have had a high degree of success,” the ministry said.

The Adult Education Association office on Carmichael Street

One in custody for Phagwah Day fatal hit-and-run accident

A 37-year-old man from Region Six has been taken into police custody as a suspect in the fatal hit-and- run accident which occurred on Friday night on the Number 70 Public Road, East-Berbice Corentyne, and claimed the lives of a young man and a woman.

According to a report from the police, the arrested man has been identified as the driver of a white Suzuki Escudo Motor Jeep, PVV 1015, which was found, with extensive damage to the front portion in the suspect’s yard at his Berbice address.

The suspect was arrested by detectives in Region Four, was turned over to their counterparts in that division, and is currently in custody at the Springlands Police Station.

Dead: Toney Lakeram The area where the fatal accident took place The deceased young woman, who was initially unidentified, has since been identified as 28-year-old Felicia Fernandes of Lot 14 Coverden, East Bank Demerara. She was identified by her mother, Samantha Clarke.

The other deceased has already been identified as pedestrians Toney Lakeram, of # 71 Squatting Area Corentyne, Berbice.

Police Headquarters reported that Fernandes and Lakeram were walking along the road around 23:30 hrs when an unknown vehicle that 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 Village and was reportedly walking towards

his home in the company of Fernandes when the accident occurred.

Lakeram’s stepfather, Mukesh Suresh, 46, described his son as hardworking and responsible.

Suresh told the Guyana 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; then them carry them to the mortuary and tell we was a hit and run,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

How a jetpack design helped create a flying motorbike

At around the age of 12, David Mayman tried to build a helicopter out of fence posts and an old lawn mower.

Needless to say, it did not go well. His contraption didn’t fly and he was made to fix the fence.

“I was brought up in a way that I guess challenged me scientifically... I was always told that nothing’s impossible,” he says.

Perhaps he got a bit ahead of himself during his childhood in Sydney, but as an adult Mayman, has built innovative machines that really do fly.

After selling his online listings business Mayman developed a jetpack, which in 2015 he flew around the Statue of Liberty.

But, since 2018, he has been working on a different kind of project, one he thinks will have more commercial opportunities. Called the Speeder, his new machine will be like a flying motorbike. It will take off vertically, fly at high speeds, but be compact enough to fit in the back of a pick-up truck.

Speeder is just one of many flying machine projects under way at the moment.

There are currently hundreds of EVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft in development, with engineers hoping to create a new era of cheap, quiet air transportation.

But Mayman’s machine is very different from those aircraft. Instead of being powered by batteries and electric engines, his Speeder uses four small jet engines, which run on aviation fuel.

That might seem like a step backwards in technology, but for the customers Mayman has in mind, only liquid fuel will do.

He says the military, emergency services and the offshore energy industry want a fast, compact aircraft that can carry a significant weight.

For that, you need jet fuel, as it stores 20 times the energy of batteries for a given weight. Or in other words, to supply the power needed, batteries would be too heavy.

nology was helpful on the new project, but much of it had to be developed from scratch.

The Speeder is powered by four small jet engines (Photo credit: JETPACK AVIATION) “If you want to carry a certain payload, and you want that aircraft to have a certain range and certain speed, the only way to do that with current technology is, with turbine engines,” Mayman explains.

The Speeder idea emerged from work with the US Navy, who were interested in a jetpack for use

by the Navy’s special forces, the Seals.

“As is so often the case in aviation, you start with one set of specifications, and fairly quickly, you end up with an entirely different set of specs,” he explains.

“They initially wanted something that would carry a payload of 210 pounds (95kg), not far into the pro-

ject that morphed to nearly 300 pounds (135kg). And they wanted it to be possible to train somebody literally in 10 minutes,” Mayman says.

None of that was possible with his existing jetpack product - something bigger and easier to fly would be needed, so the Speeder project was born.

Some of the jetpack tech-

To simplify things, while on the jetpack the direction of thrust is controlled mechanically by the pilot on the Speeder the angle of the four jet turbines is controlled by an electronic flight control system.

The key part of that system is bespoke software that understands the physics of the four very powerful jets.

This means that when the pilot lifts-off or turns, the Speeder can angle its jets to make that happen.

Mayman says that owners will not necessarily need a pilots licence, as the Speeder’s flight control systems are doing much of the work to keep the aircraft steady.

“It’s effectively AI (artificial intelligence) - if you want to call it that - that understands what the vehicle is going to need... so it can start instructing the engines to be spooling up or spooling down,” says Mayman. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Guyanese Muslims join others at two-day conference in Washington DC

MORE than 4,500 Muslims from 139 countries, including Guyana, attended the International Interfaith Peace Corp Conference which was held under the theme, “Implementing the Charter of Makkah through the SDGs: Challenges and Opportunities for Humanity”, on March 16 and 17, 2022, in Wash-

ington DC. The general vision of the conference was promoting unity and global co-existence.

The Charter of Makkah has the backing of more than 1,200 Muftis and Muslim scholars.

In a press release, the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) which had

representatives in attendance, called the conference “historic” noting that it showcased on an international platform, the true meaning and representation of Islam.

Shaykh Moeenul Hack, Director of Education and Dawah, along with Aleema Nasir, Head of the Women’s Arm of the CIOG, Ebun Taki and Akram Hussain were all

Members of the Guyanese delegation at the conference part of the Guyanese delegation.

“This historic Charter demonstrates to the

world via its content and clauses, the true meanings of Islam and serves as an international constitution

for tolerance and co-existence among different faiths, cultures, ethnicities, and sects,” the release said.

15,000 acres of land ‘opens up’ for Region Two farmers

HUNDREDS of Region Two farmers are expected to benefit from 15,000 acres of available farming lands following the rehabilitation of several all-weather roads costing over $51 million.

Regional Vice Chairman, Humace Oudit, said farmers will participate in the project by providing self-help services.

The roads are currently being laid and compacted with crusher-run in anticipation of the repairs. The road rehabilitation will help reduce production and machinery maintenance costs for farmers in the region.

“This is not going to contract, as it will be a long process because we want a quick

approach to the works so that farmers can get access to their produce and that is why these works are being given to the farmers themselves,” he said.

Some $20million will be used for the road rehabilitation. The Water Users Association in the region has also injected millions of dollars towards the road works.

Meanwhile, the region will provide mini-excavators to farmers which will allow them to craft water channels on the dams, the vice-chairman stated. This will ensure farmers do not suffer losses during drought periods or heavy rainfall that could result in flooding.

“We have always tried

our best to see how we can intervene and assist them with whatever resources we have but at the same time, I would like to appeal to farmers to give their helping hands to this process because the region alone will try as much as we can, but we also need the farmers’ assistance too,” he added.

This year, the region received $6.1 billion to carry out its 2022 work programme. Works include the construction of a health post and landing at Siriki, reinforced concrete bridge at Onderneeming, and upgrading of roads at David James, Damon, Second Cross, and Playground Streets.

Hundreds of Region Two farmers are expected to benefit from the available lands for farming (DPI photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Additional $100M plugged into improving healthcare delivery in Region Two

AN additional $100 million has been made available to boost healthcare delivery at several health centres in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region.

Regional Chairperson, Vilma DaSilva, said that the fund was a plus for the region, as it will help to provide additional services to residents.

As part of its mission to encourage the health of residents, DaSilva said the region will implement a sensitisation programme to encourage healthy eating habits.

“We also need to do some preventative measures within the health sector in terms of sensitising people on healthy eating habits, which will form part of the health programme,” she said on Monday.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall said there had been significant progress in the region’s healthcare services under the President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Aliled Government.

He said the region was once affected by a shortage of drugs and medical supplies which has been remedied due to the government’s proactive approach.

This development, the minister noted, would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts between central government and regional administration.

“Our President has made quite a few commitments when he campaigned in 2020 and one of those commitments had to do with enhancing the delivery of health to the people across the country.

And so, in Region Two, you would have

Regional Chairperson, Vilma DaSilva seen progress in the health sector… moreso, we have seen some massive transformation in regional health services in our country,” Minister Dharamlall said.

The region’s 2022 budget stands at $6.1 billion, an estimated 14 per cent increase compared to last year’s. Residents will see massive development in education, infrastructure, agriculture and other sectors.

Developments included the procurement of an ambulance and portable ultrasound machines, electrical upgrades at the Suddie Public Hospital, construction of a health post and landing at Siriki, reinforced concrete bridge at Onderneeming, and upgrading of roads at David James, Damon, Second Cross, Playground streets, among others.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Do YOU think you can do it?

ONE of the most challenging tasks Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) Officers perform is meeting parents who may have physically or sexually abused their children.

As you would expect, when abuse allegations are made, parents are not happy; they can be hostile, uncooperative or belligerent.

Reports of child neglect and abandonment are incredibly complicated to investigate. Neighbours may give details but wish to remain anonymous; parents and family members are difficult to track down, and the children can only speak from their perspective. However, it is an Officer’s duty to protect vulnerable children; that is their focus regardless of the difficulties they face or if parents are unreceptive. Officers represent the law; they must remain calm, impartial and proficient in their duty of care.

Most public-facing roles are challenging.

Staff who deal with the general public daily need a special knack and a flexible personality. The people they assist come from a variety of backgrounds and understandings.

Therefore, staff need to be courteous, efficient and friendly, even under pressure.

Protecting abused children is quite different.

It is a diverse, complex and emotive occupation for CPA Officers, involving empathy, compassion, consideration and understanding. The responsibility requires a great deal of decision-making on behalf of the child and in the child’s best interest.

A CPA Officer may deal with several severe abuse cases on an average day. Each case must follow procedure – investigations, report writing, action (if any), follow-up, and results. Sometimes immediate action must be taken, and children are brought into the Agency without notice. Where will the Agency place them? For how long? What follow-up will Officers do in the meantime?

Finding last-minute solutions for children at risk can be hectic, time-consuming and awkward. The children must be placed appropriately.

Being separated from family members is enough upheaval for a child without the added trauma of being placed in an unsuitable setting. Officers must organise a medical checkup for every child brought into care as soon as conveniently possible.

Some children are malnourished or have skin conditions and other ailments that need attention. Because children are brought into care under various circumstances during the day or night, CPA Officers do not work an 08:00 to 16:30 hours shift. They cannot down tools at the stroke of 16:30 hours and start making their way home. More often than not, child protection matters must be addressed before ‘shutting up shop’ for the evening.

With a stream-less succession of active cases, pending cases, new cases, cases awaiting closure and investigations, CPA Officers face a tireless routine of exertion for the safety of our nation’s children. Child protection is not a career move; therefore, anyone thinking of joining the Agency throughout the various Regions of Guyana

must be prepared.

Being a Child Protection Officer is a vocation. Vulnerable children need worthy advocates to be their voice, their refuge and help safeguard their future. The job does not commend CPA Officers for having the courage to confront intimidating adults or carers. Still, it gives credit to what is positively achieved by the Agency’s intervention on behalf of the child.

One CPA Officer commented, “The number of cases per Officer always exceeds the time we have to complete our work.

There are only 24 hours in one day, 8 of which we need to rest and rejuvenate. A good night’s sleep and the ability to mentally manage your workload is important. Of course, at the end of the day, you spend time reflecting over the day’s events in your head to evaluate your performance, but, after that, you need to switch off and relax.

When I started this job, I had many sleepless nights, disturbed by the abuse children suffer at the hands of adults. I felt helpless and wondered if I could really make a difference. After a while, I came to terms with the significance of my role. My only regret is that most adults fail to recognise their role in safeguarding children. You don’t have to become a Child Protection Officer to prevent or stop child abuse; you only need to be a caring, watchful adult - that is what children need”.

A Senior Officer spoke from experience.

“You can’t be weak-hearted or take offence at people’s behaviour when you have a job to do, but it is not always easy. When adults shout, cry or act up at meetings, of course it affects me, we are all human. Tactfully at times, you have to keep people on track and remind them it is the child’s welfare we are dealing with and not their personal feelings or perceptions.

We need to come to a conclusion that will help the child. During (mainly family) meetings, everyone has a contribution to make, and everyone feels they are ‘right’.

If the child is old enough, it is important to hear from the child, away from the parents, without fear of their admonishment. There have been occasions when the child has a better judgement, more clarity and makes more sense than the adults”.

Families who use the CPA will have different experiences. Some of them are good, some are satisfactory, and some are not so good for various reasons; however, the CPA is a Government establishment created to protect the welfare of vulnerable and abused children in every Region. It is open for ideas, support and advice from adults, parents, teachers and scholars. In fact, anyone who acknowledges that protecting children is everybody’s business and not the work of the CPA alone.

Together we can eradicate child abuse.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

11 more COVID-19 cases recorded

ELEVEN more persons have been tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, taking Guyana’s overall confirmed cases to 63,194 since the first case was recorded in March 2020.

This is according to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard for Sunday.

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

There are currently 168

active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the 11 new cases which were recorded in Regions Four, Five, Six and 10.

Region Four recorded eight cases, while the other three regions recorded one new case each.

Of the active cases, five persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 12 are in institu-

tional isolation; 139 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.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Leclerc leads strong Ferrari 1-2 as Red Bulls retire (BBC) - Charles Leclerc won a close battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen before taking a classy victory as Ferrari took a one-two in a dramatic season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Leclerc and Verstappen staged a thrilling wheel-towheel dice after their first pit stops, swapping places five times in two laps before Leclerc moved ahead.

The closing laps were packed with drama, with a safety car period and then reliability problems forcing Verstappen’s retirement, promoting Carlos Sainz to second.

And then the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez suffered an engine failure at the first corner of the final lap, leaving Lewis Hamilton to take the final podium place for Mercedes.

Hamilton had looked set for fifth place as Mercedes’ pace problems became ever

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 overtakes Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving (16) the Ferrari F1-75 into turn one during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 20, 2022 in Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) clearer during the race but Red Bull’s nightmare provid-

ed the seven-time champion an unexpected boost.

The irony that Hamilton gained from Red Bull’s mis-

fortune in the first race after he lost the world title in the controversial climax to last season will be lost on few.

Leclerc’s victory was out of the top drawer and underlined his quality as one of the leading lights of the new generation.

And if Ferrari can stay competitive throughout this long, 23-race season, he will be a serious contender for the championship.

What happened to Red Bull?

Verstappen should have taken second place but he suffered as Red Bull’s day imploded in the final three laps.

The Dutchman tried his best, fighting vigorously with Leclerc after their first pit stops but ultimately losing out in the fight, and was looking set for a frustrated second place before his race unravelled.

He had already started to

complain about heavy steering, and then a lap into the final sprint after the safety car, he asked what was happening with the battery. He slowed and pulled into the pits with three laps to go.

Sainz moved into second and Perez was left holding off Hamilton for third place.

The Mexican was also suffering problems but was managing to keep Hamilton just at bay when he spun at the start of the final lap as the engine suddenly stopped and Red Bull went from second and fourth to nothing in a few moments.

Team principal, Christian Horner, said he did not yet know what had gone wrong but it “looks like an issue in the fuel system” for both cars.

Verstappen said: “It looked like there was no fuel coming to the engine and everything just turned off, so I just rolled into the pit lane.”

Brathwaite sets up rear-guard defence to defy England

THREE wickets in the middle session gave England hope as they sought a second-Test victory on the final day that had seemed a remote possibility the night before.

But after Saqib Mahmood and Jack Leach combined to reduce West Indies to 39 for 3 inside the first 13 overs of the hosts’ second innings, Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood were reunited in the middle, having already combined for a 183-run fourth-wicket stand in their first.

By tea, Brathwaite was unbeaten on 32 and Blackwood was not out 14, with West Indies 65 for 3, interestingly mirroring the home side’s score at the same stage of the drawn first Test in Antigua. On this occasion, Brathwaite and Blackwood had already chewed up 108 balls for their unbroken stand of

Scoreboard ENGLAND 1st Innings 507-9 decl.

WEST INDIES 1st Innings 411 ENGLAND 2nd Innings (overnight 40 without loss) A Lees c Joseph b Permaul 24 Z Crawley c Seales b Joseph 40 *J Root c Campbell b Permaul 9 D Lawrence c Joseph b Seales 41 B Stokes c Brathwaite b Roach 19 J Bairstow c Roach b Seales 29 +B Foakes not out 11 C Woakes not out 9 Extras (b1, w1, nb1) 3 TOTAL (6 wkts decl., 39.5 overs) 185 Fall of wickets: 1-51 (Lees), 2-67 (Root), 3-74 (Crawley), 4-110 (Stokes), 5-161 (Bairstow), 6-167 (Lawrence) Bowling: Roach 8-3-31-1 (w1, nb1), Permaul 10-0-29-2, Seales 6-0-34-2, Brathwaite 1-0-5-0, Holder 8.5-1-40-0, Joseph 6-0-45-1.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (Target: 282 runs) *K Brathwaite not out 56 J Campbell c Lees b Leach 10 S Brooks c Root b Mahmood 4 N Bonner c Root b Mahmood 3 J Blackwood c Bairstow b Leach 27 J Holder c Lawrence b Leach 0 +J Da Silva not out 30 Extras (b1, lb2, nb2) 5 TOTAL (5 wkts, 65 overs) 135 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Campbell), 2-23 (Brooks), 3-39 (Bonner), 4-89 (Blackwood), 5-93 (Holder) Bowling: Woakes 4-0-11-0, Fisher 2-1-4-0, Leach 25-13-36-3, Mahmood 8-2-21-2 (nb1), Root 6-3-15-0, Stokes 7-2-9-0 (nb1), Lawrence 13-4-36-0.

Result: Match drawn.

26, leaving England 35 scheduled overs in which to take the remaining seven wickets required for victory.

Leach entered the attack in the sixth over and struck with the sixth ball when he had John Campbell caught by Alex Lees at short leg, although it took an England review to overturn umpire Joel Wilson’s not-out decision, with replays showing the ball had kissed Campbell’s glove before hitting the pad.

Similarly, Mahmood got in on the action with the last ball of his opening over, thanks to a juggled slips catch off Shamarh Brooks, the ball bobbing up towards second slip, where Zak Crawley couldn’t hold on as he went to ground and parried it into the air for Joe Root, running behind him from first slip to collect it in his fingertips.

Mahmood then had first-match centurion Nkrumah Bonner out via a much more straightforward catch to Root at slip to leave West Indies looking rattled and England jubilant.

Earlier, England had set West Indies 282 to win in a minimum of 65 overs, after declaring during lunch on 185 for 6 in their second innings.

Partnerships worth 51 runs each for the first and fifth wickets built their lead, with Crawley and Dan Lawrence reaching the 40s. Some enterprising yet unselfish batting interspersed by a couple of rain interruptions gave way to England biding their time before another squall arrived to bring lunch forward by a matter of minutes.

Having resumed 136 runs ahead on 40 for 0, the tourists lost three wickets inside the first half hour or so before the first, brief, rain stoppage.

In their attempts to raise the tempo, Lees and Root came undone as both fell slog-sweeping Veerasammy Permaul; Lees picking out Alzarri Joseph and Root failing to connect fully and sending a top edge to John Campbell at deep midwicket.

Joseph chimed in with the wicket of Crawley, beautifully caught by Jayden Seales, who ran in from long-leg and dived forward to pouch the chance in mid-air.

When the players left the field for about 10 minutes as a shower swept through, England were 76 for 3, leading by 172, and with hopes of Lawrence and Ben Stokes piling on some

quick runs at the resumption.

They did just that, with Stokes crashing a four through extra cover and lofting the next ball over deep midwicket for six in one Kemar Roach over which went for 17 runs in all. In the next, Lawrence thumped Joseph in the same direction for a maximum before a second shower arrived, this time halting play for around 40 minutes.

Stokes fell shortly after the re-start while Roach and Joseph looked to keep a lid on things by targeting a yorker length. But Lawrence and Jonny Bairstow picked their moments, the latter bludgeoning consecutive sixes off Joseph over deep backward square and down the ground.

As England’s lead neared the 250-mark, Lawrence took it beyond when Seales came into the attack and saw his first ball smashed into the stands at long-on. Bairstow brought up their fifty stand with a single and departed moments later, having added 29 runs from just 25 balls when he sent Seales’ fifth ball of the day to Roach, running in from long-off and stooping low to take the catch.

Lawrence leapt in the air and almost lost his balance trying to heave Seales to the on side but he succeeded only in finding the safe hands of Joseph at long-on to end with 41 runs from 39 balls.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

Rabada, De Kock and Verreynne help South Africa level series (ESPNCRICINFO) Kagiso Rabada’s second five-wicket haul, along with fifties from Quinton de Kock and Kyle Verreynne, helped South Africa beat Bangladesh by seven wickets and level the three-match ODI series at 1-1.

The home side reached the target of 195 in 37.2 overs, with de Kock top-scoring with 62 and Verreynne remaining unbeaten on 58.

South Africa’s fast bowlers used the short ball to good effect as the visitors’ top order was blown away. Bangladesh were 34 for 5 in the 13th over and that they reached

Kagiso Rabada carved up Bangladesh’s batting line-up (AFP/Getty Images) closer to 200 was down to Afif Hossain’s 72 off 107 balls.

While chasing, de

Kock set the platform when he went after Taskin Ahmed with a six over wide long-on, and then

GMR&SC Quarter Mile Return

16 and counting Surinamese competitors confirmed Palm Court and Windjammer support

THE Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) ‘Quarter Mile Return’ Drag Race meet is set for next Sunday, and it will be be a showdown between drivers from Guyana and Suriname, the renewal of an age-old rivalry.

According to the organisers, several leading drivers from Suriname have already confirmed their participation in the event.

President of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club, Rameez Mohamed, shared with the media that a total of 16 competitors from our Dutch-speaking neighbour, Suriname, are about to make the trek across the

border to South Dakota for some 1320 action.

Meanwhile, support from corporate Guyana continues to pour in for the event with Palm Court and Windjammer International Hotel and Restaurant signing on to the premier drag race meet.

The GMR&SC president iterated these companies’ usual willingness to support motor sports locally.

“Palm Court and Windjammer are companies that are always ready to rally behind motor racing. They usually help in whatever way they can, and this time around, it’s a great effort from both of them.”

Tickets for this highly anticipated meet goes on sale Thursday and costs $2000 for adults and $500 for kids and can be purchased at the following locations.

GMR&SC OFFICE; Albert Street; Mohamed’s Enterprise; Motor Trend Service Centre Area, L Foulis Public Road E.C.D; We s t C o a s t C u s t o m s Wash Bay, Vreed-en-hoop, W.C.D; Homeline Furnishing, 592 New Amsterdam, Berbice; Sukhpaul’s Business Enterprise & Auto Sales, Lot 7-8 Strand New Amsterdam, Berbice and Sukhpaul’s Service Station, Corriverton, Berbice.

hit him for two fours. He then swept Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a four before lofting him over covers for his second six. South Africa got off to a good start, and Jannemann Malan, who had struck two fours early and began aggressively, played the second fiddle. de Kock then struck three fours in a row off Shoriful Islam, before hitting two more fours as he

brought up his 28th fifty off 26 balls. Soon after his fifty, the left-hander was dropped by Mushfiqur off Mehidy, when he was on 54.

M e h i d y, h o w e v e r, made up for the dropped chance by picking up the wicket of Malan in the 13th over, but by then the openers had added 86 runs. Malan was bowled for 26 when he missed a sweep. Shakib Al Hasan dismissed de Kock when Afif intercepted his slog sweep, and then hopped near the boundary rope to take the catch.

South Africa captain, Temba Bavuma and Verreynne didn’t allow Bangladesh to make further in-roads, as they shared an 82-run stand for the third wicket. Both struck the ball sweetly once settled, with Verreynne hitting Taskin for two sixes over square-leg, and Bavuma also targeting the same bowler. Taskin had an off-day as he was hit

for four sixes, the most in a match in his ODI career.

Bavuma got out with 19 runs needed for the win, as Verreynne and Rassie van der Dussen completed the formalities.

Earlier, South Africa’s fast bowlers ripped through the Bangladesh top order, with Rabada inflicting three early blows and Lungi Ngidi getting Tamim Iqbal in the third over. Tamim’s forward prod met with the extra bounce and resulted in a simple catch for Keshav Maharaj running in from backward point.

Shakib Al Hasan succumbed to Rabada’s hint of extra bounce, top-edging a catch to Verreynne at cover.

The in-form Litton Das tried to get Bangladesh out of trouble, but he too was undone

by Rabada’s short ball.

Rabada cramped Litton for room, having the batter nicking off to de Kock.

GMR&SC Returns to Quarter Mile…

One week to go as Team Mohamed’s ramps up track preparation WITH just under one week to go before the highly anticipated Return to Quarter Mile, fans and racers alike are licking their chops at the enticing battles that will take place.

March 27 is designated as D-Day for the racers with the South Dakota Circuit undergoing major preparation work ahead of the event.

And spearheading the works is the team Mohamed’s Enterprise camp, headed by Principal and owner, Azruddin Mohamed.

Mohamed, in a comment, said, “We are glad to see drag racing return to the South Dakota after having such a long layoff. As soon as we got the word we begin putting things in place to begin track preparation immediately after the club’s circuit race event.

“What we are doing is correcting some amount of

damage that an errant racer had caused earlier in the year and then we will begin laying rubber up and down the 1320 to ensure that there is maximum grip.

“The reason we are doing this is to ensure that on the day, the highest level of competition can be achieved for spectators and fans”.

Home to the fastest machines locally, including the Godzilla and Goliath, Nissan GTR’s the team is also planning to showcase its newest monster, a fully built rail car.

“I don’t want to speak too much about the actual cars yet. They have been ready for quite some time now and I feel that if all goes well Sunday, we may see another track record but only then can we know,” Mohamed added.

The current strip record held by the Godzilla GTR

stands at 7.5 seconds in the 1320.

Tickets will go on sale from March 24 at the club’s Albert Street and Thomas Lands venue; Mohamed’s Enterprise, 29 Lombard Street, Georgetown; Motor Trend Service Centre, Area L Foulis Public Road E.C.D; West Coast Customs Wash Bay, Vreed-en-hoop, W.C.D; Massive Audio, Parika, E.B.E; Homeline Furnishing, 592 New Amsterdam, Berbice; Sukhpaul’s Business Enterprise & Auto Sales, Lot 7-8 Strand New Amsterdam, Berbice and Sukhpaul’s Service Station, Corriverton, Berbice.

Adult tickets will cost $2000 while children will cost $500.

Meanwhile, competition is expected from Suriname with a total of 10 drivers so far confirming participation.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

GFF hosts M-FAP competitions workshop ahead of return to play THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) provided in-depth training for its members in competition management at the GFF National Training Centre this weekend, offering technical insights from its experience of managing CONCACAF fixtures and enabling the football community to share its collective expertise.

All nine GFF regional associations participated in the theoretical and practical workshop, which was designed to ensure high standards in nationwide competition delivery and to smooth the way for the full return of play in April following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

“Through the members financial assistance programme or M-FAP, the GFF is giving unprecedented financial, technical and logistical support to its members by

The GFF M-FAP competitions workshop featured match-day protocols revolutionising the way FIFA and CONCACAF funding is distributed in Guyana,” said GFF president, Wayne Forde.

“Thanks to M-FAP, all of our members have the financial resources they need to stage the full slate of GFF

competitions this year, while technical workshops such as these offer the capacity-building and training required to make the most of that significant investment in football,” Forde added.

The workshop, led by

GFF Assistant Technical Director, Bryan Joseph, featured classroom sessions covering all aspects of competition management, from match-day protocols and fan experience to health and safety, followed by practical

youth football match sessions to put the new learning into practice.

“The sessions were fantastic – as they keep doing this from week to week in their respective regional associations, we’re really going to see the impact on the ground,” Joseph said.

Given the breadth and depth of football experience in the GFF membership, participants were also encouraged to share their own knowledge to optimise the learning impact of the workshop.

“I must say kudos to the GFF for organising such a programme – the theory was extremely informative,” said Dellon Adams, Executive Member of the East Coast Demerara Football Association. “Putting it into practice was challenging, but it also brought to bear the realities that we have to face on the ground. The experience was

excellent. Going back to my association, I endeavour to offer more help and assistance in getting our tournaments organised.”

The workshop featured insights from the GFF president; the Golden Jaguars Head Coach, Jamaal Shabazz, and GFF Members Services Officer, Franklin Wilson, and drew on the GFF’s learnings from its involvement in CONCACAF competitions and international matches in recent years.

“It’s a positive step where the GFF is concerned to promote such an activity,” said Lomel Johnson of the Georgetown Football Association. “Getting back to the field of play, we will have better organised football throughout the country.

I want to compliment the GFF for putting on such a seminar – the presenters did an excellent job.”

West Berbice clubs benefit from Faizal Jaferally Trust Fund THE first edition of the Faizal Jaferally Trust Fund was launched last week at a simple ceremony at the Cotton Tree Ground.

BCB president, Hilbert Foster, addressed the launch, saying “You are a true friend of Berbice cricket and I am very proud to work along with you to improve the level of the game in the county, especially in the West Berbice area. You are an inspiration to us in the BCB and I look forward to working with you in the future to make sure that all our players are given the equal opportunity to develop themselves. West Berbice cricket is on the move and you are one of the main reason for this.’

The fund is sponsored by the People’s Progressive Party Member of Parliament and targets the development of clubs in the West Berbice area.

Foster stated that he had approached the proactive Member of Parliament for assistance in getting the fund set up and had received a positive reply in less than twelve hours.

He stated that one of the main objective of his administration is to assist clubs as much as possible to fulfil their mandate of producing high class players who would go on to represent the county, Guyana and the West Indies.

He recalled that clubs and players in the area have benefitted from a wide range of items from the BCB and the RHTYSC, under his leadership.

The items include cricket gear, cricket balls, catching cribs, grass cutters, bicycles, scorebooks, uniforms, educational grants, school bags, educational materials and water pitchers, among others.

Numerous players have also benefitted from their own personal gears and from the board comprehensive coaching programmes.

The BCB president also unveiled plans for the legendary Sir Andy Roberts to visit the area shortly as West Berbice is well known for its tradition of fast bowling.

He expressed thanks to Jaferally for his continuing

Representatives of the clubs pose, after the presentation, with BCB president Hilbert Foster, Member of Parliament Faizal Jafferally and WBCA president, David Black support of his administration .The MP has also sponsored a cricket tournament on an annual basis in the area and assisted to attract other sponsors on board.

Foster used the opportunity to announce that several other tournaments are on the card for the area including two other for the seniors, under 15 and under 23 players.

In addition, the BCB would be expanding its coaching programme in the area and offering even more assistance to players.

A total of twenty-four youth players from West Berbice would soon receive a piece of personal gear while thirty would benefit from computer training in a joint project with the Office of the

Prime Minister.

Mr Jaferally, in well received remarks, stated that he was very pleased with the current development of cricket under the administration of Hilbert Foster, whom he described as a visionary and transparent leader.

He committed himself to assisting Berbice cricket as much as possible once Foster

remains in charge and also hailed the leadership of David Black in the West Berbice area.

He urged the BCB and the West Berbice Cricket Association to host a special awards ceremony for the area and committed himself to donating five laptops to outstanding students who would be selected by the BCB in a transparent way.

Each of the team received a box of red cricket balls, a pair of wicket-keeping gloves, along with a pair of inners.

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club also handed over a scorebook to each of the clubs present at the meeting.

Among the clubs that benefitted were Bath, Cotton Tree, Achievers, Bush Lot Sports Club, Bush Lot Rising Stars, Paradise and D’Edwards.

The BCB also handed over a box of cricket balls and a scorebook to the Fort Wellington Secondary School while the Cotton Tree Primary School collected a cricket nursery kit.

Brathwaite sets up rear-guard defence to defy England

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 21, 2022

SEE PAGE

21

West Indies needed Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood to stage another big partnership AFP/Getty Images

GFF hosts M-FAP competitions workshop ahead of return to play SEE PAGE

23

GFF regional associations received theoretical and practical training at the M-FAP competitions workshop

GMR&SC Returns to Quarter Mile…

One week to go as Team Mohamed’s ramps up track preparation SEE PAGE

22

Principal and owner of Team Mohamed’s, Azruddin Mohamed, takes a first-hand approach to track preparation

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MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022