Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 24-04-2023

MONDAY 24th APRIL, 2023

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No. 107061

North West ferry to open export market to T&T, wider Caribbean

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President, Dr Irfaan Ali (right); Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar with other officials holding a replica of MV Ma Lisha (DPI photos)

‘Guyana poised to US$100M luxury hotel 300 jobs to be created as enter a new era’ & casino for Berbice Indian Healthcare Call

- India’s Foreign Minister says he returns home with a ‘bigger agenda’ - concludes official visit to Guyana SEE PAGE

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Centre sets up office here

Three die in separate accidents

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

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North West ferry to open export market to T&T, wider Caribbean

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

will only take 15 hours from Region One to Trinidad and will create a niche between the two counties.

"Region One alone has the capacity to produce all the cassava, eddoes, sweet potatoes, yams, turmeric, ginger, and cage culture fish

United Kingdom, President Ali added that this will now open up a new market for these products, which are "high value" in demand overseas.

Against this backdrop, the President said that the vessel is not only about trans-

President Irfaan Ali takes ‘control’ of the MV MA Lisha (Adrian Narine photo)

By Clestine Juan THE newly commissioned MV MA Lisha can journey from Region One (Barima-Waini) to Trinidad and Tobago in just 15 hours and other Caribbean countries, opening opportunities for the export of "high-value" agriculture and fish products.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Sunday, stated that this new vessel, commonly referred to as the ‘North West ferry’, is set to have a major impact on the business community in Region One. It will allow for not just faster transport time of their products and produce but will also see a significant reduction in transport costs.

The Head of State made these remarks at the commissioning of the vessel at the Demerara Sugar Terminal at Ramp Road, Georgetown in the presence of visiting Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other offi-

cials.

The vessel, named after the native Warrau language meaning friendship, will ply the Barima-Waini/Georgetown route. It was built by the Indian company Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited and has special features to mitigate challenges faced by travellers.

The vessel has 10x10 containers that can carry a large quantity of produce, reducing the price of goods.

The boat can carry 276 passengers, 18 crew members, and 14 sedan-type vehicles along with two trucks.

With these features, President Ali explained that they have already begun preparing for upgrades to the Morawhanna and Kumaka Stellings located in Region One. The Head-of-State added that as the country transitions to becoming the food capital of the region, one of the greatest hindrances to this reality is its transportation system. He added that the vessel

ing costs for the Transport and Harbour Department.

This will improve efficiency and reliability and reduce our cost centre while at the same time bringing a higher level of service to the people of these regions," Dr. Ali said.

The government has begun prepping upgrades to Morawhanna and Kumaka Stellings where the vessel will dock. Those upgrades are expected to cost approximately $784 million and $1.9 billion, respectively.

Also speaking at the

improving of ferry services.

Additionally, the 70-metre-long beam will have seating as comfortable as business class on an airline, with air conditioning and ample leg room.

This will provide a comfortable and safe travel experience for women, senior citizens, pregnant mothers, and children.

The VIP cabins also provide an opportunity for persons to travel with their cars and SUVs to the Northwest District. The MV MA

India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar speaks at the commissioning ceremony of the vessel that the entire Trinidad and Tobago can utilise," President Ali said.

He added, "This is an opportunity now to open up new discourse with India on building on this project to the next project - that is the replacement of the fleet here - but, more importantly, making use of this opportunity of trade between Region One, Trinidad, and the rest of CARICOM." Having the transportation part of the "link" fixed, the President said that the next step is investing in the processing aspect for export.

With the direct flight to the

portation but also a macro policy of positioning Guyana as a "mainstay in the regional food market." He added that MV Kimbia and MV Barima, which service Region One, have incurred a current operating cost of almost $12 million every month. Thus, the new vessel will not only be more fuel-efficient but also cut the travel time in half.

"This vessel has 60 per cent of that cost of the current operating fuel costs.

This vessel is estimated to use substantially less fuel than the Kimbia. So, the operating costs of this vessel will also reduce the operat-

The MV MA Lisha event was Dr. Jaishankar, who emphasised that his country is a committed partner to Guyana's development.

"Our partnership today extends to a variety of fields from development, co-operation and training to capacity building, health, education.”

The new vessel will have an online booking platform and Wi-Fi services onboard that will cater to the expanding, modernising and

Lisha has a front-loading/ offloading ramp which can accommodate easy loading and discharging of cargo at ports she will call on. The vessel also has a side-boarding capacity.

A total of 19 navigational, mechanical and auxiliary staff of the Transport and Harbours Department were trained in India during 2022 and earlier this year, to operate the new ferry vessel.

‘Guyana poised to enter new era’ - India’s Foreign Minister says he goes home with a ‘bigger agenda’ - concludes official visit to Guyana

By Trina Williams T H E re l a t i o n s h i p between India and Guyana has always been pleasant and healthy, and it has grown stronger over the years through bilateral interactions marked by high-level exchange visits.

With the arrival of

Dr. Subrahmanyam J a i s h a n k a r, I n d i a ' s Minister of External Affairs, who has stated that the bond will extend, it is anticipated that this ever-expanding friendship will reach greater depths.

Dr. Jaishankar asserted that while India and many other naTURN TO PAGE 4

L-R: Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir; India’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar; Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. KJ Srinivasa (Adrian Narine photo)

‘Guyana poised to enter...

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tions have excellent relations, the relationship with Guyana is deeper.

He concluded his fourday visit to Guyana on Sunday and told an

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

India Diaspora Reception on Sunday night at the Marriott Hotel that he returns to his home country with an even “bigger agenda” than he anticipated.

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tion, the Indian Minister stated that with new partnerships and connections between Guyana and India, great things may be anticipated in every sector.

He reiterated that the relationship between Guyana and India aims to enhance both Guyanese and Indian lives.

He committed to the true definition of foreign policy, noting that goal is to not only let the people's voices be heard but also to propose solutions to better their lives through reshaping the governing process.

Owing to the drastic effects of COVID-19 pandemic, the Foreign Minister said he has constantly asked himself “…What can we do to in terms of our partnerships?”

He added that even though COVID-19 might not occur again in the future, everyone must be ready to deal with catastrophes of any kind. As a result, he stated that efforts are needed to enhance the global economy in the areas of food security, health preparation, and health security, etc.

Meanwhile, Guy-

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The Foreign Minister also highlighted that Guyana’s transformation is being witnessed globally as the country is “poised to enter a new era…”

He explained that India and Guyana are looking at prospects to refresh the existing relationship. In addi-

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ana’s Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo thanked the Indian government for “breathing energy into this relationship.”

He also discussed the numerous partnerships with Guyana and India, including recent agricultural projects.

Additionally, Dr. Jagdeo said that because Guyana is now an oil producer, the economic balance must be maintained to prevent the devastating "Dutch Disease."

He reaffirmed that Guyana is liberalising its economy and welcomes foreign investment. Additionally, the Vice President praised the Indian Foreign Minister's efforts and described his willingness to co-operate as "fruitful." (Trina Williams)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

Workplace deaths on decline, more Two men die in still to be done – Labour Minister head-on collision

MINISTER of Labour, Joseph Hamilton has noted that Guyana continues to see a decrease in the number of workplace related deaths in recent years.

Minister Hamilton, who was addressing persons at an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Walk in Linden, Region 10, on Friday last, noted that while this is commendable, the figure is still too high.

In 2020, 32 persons lost their lives in workplace accidents, 27 in 2021 and 21 in 2022.

“A death in the workplace is not a statistic…it is somebody’s father, somebody’s son, somebody’s brother, some woman’s child and importantly when the breadwinner dies, he might leave five or six children for a woman to take care of, so this is not a matter that we can brush aside,” Minister Hamilton pointed out.

The ministry, he said continues to raise awareness on the importance of OSH and is looking at extending its reach to oth-

er categories of workers, including minibus drivers and conductors.

“This conversation, we have to take it beyond workplaces, we have to do a campaign that speaks also about

law to have a health and safety committee.

The ministry’s OSH department will continue to work with companies to provide in several areas including the establishment of

where we live, our residence.

“We are making progress in agriculture, we have now intervened there because in my view, I believe more people might be dying in the agriculture belt but they die slowly, and therefore we are intervening in every activity where people work.”

The labour minister also noted that all workplaces, once they employ more than 19 persons, are required by

the committees.

“When I speak about health and safety, I’m talking about every place, every place where people work, they must know that they will go there and they will go back to their family and so we will continue to work with all regions, all public sector and private sector, entities,” Minister Hamilton reassured. (DPI)

Zero-tolerance approach to children on the streets – Min. Persaud reaffirms

THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security will be cracking down on parents who neglect their children, resulting in their being exposed to the dangers that lurk on the roadways.

Subject minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud is urging parents to take their responsibility seriously.

Due to the many child-neglect cases being tackled by the ministry, Minister Persaud explained that additional consultations are being held with parents to address the social scourge.

“On the streets, we’ve been working with children,

picking them up. We’ve managed to remove over 40 of those children… This year, we are going to have zero tolerance for children on the streets,” the minister emphasised.

The Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) primarily deals with these matters, and has recognised that in many instances, children have guardians.

“We have found that 99 per cent of those children have homes, have parents, and they are on the streets for one reason or the other. We want the parents to understand that this is not to punish you, but this is

to make you recognise you have a duty to your children, and you should be cognisant of that,” Dr. Persaud stated.

This social issue is being tackled through the ‘Street Light’ initiative, which was launched last September.

The initiative comprises officers from both the CCPA and the Guyana Police Force patrolling communities across the country to ensure children are kept off the streets.

AN accident between two motorcycles on the Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara on Saturday night has resulted in the death of two men.

They have been identified as 20-year-old Romeo Reid and 31-year-old Leonardo Reevers.

Police Headquarters revealed that the head-on collision between the two motorcyclists occurred at around 21:30 hours.

It was noted that Reid of Hyde Park, Timehri was driving CJ 7405 (black in colour) while Reevers of Sarah Johanna, EBD, was driving CG 9504 (red in colour).

Police noted that Reid was in control of his motorcycle with pillion rider, Leon Burnette, and they were speeding south along the eastern side of the road; neither of them was wearing a safety helmet at the time.

It is alleged that Reevers was also speeding in the opposite direction and he too was not wearing a safety helmet. It is further alleged that Reevers overtook a car when he collided with Reid.

As a result, all of them fell off the motorcycles and sustained injuries to the heads and other parts of their bodies.

They were all picked up by the police and public-spirited citizens in an unconscious condition and escorted to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where the two motorcyclists died while receiving treatment.

The pillion rider was admitted in a stable condition.

The bodies of the deceased were then escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital's Mortuary for storage, awaiting a post mortem examination.

Dead: Leonardo Reevers

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

Restoring A Tattered Global Image

Guyana’s previously-tattered international image is undergoing serious repair and rehabilitation, with efforts paying off as seen in the flurry of diplomatic activity on the nation’s global agenda.

Following earlier visits this year to India by President Dr Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has reinforced his country’s commitment to being a supportive partner to Guyana, as the two nations continue to accelerate relations at both public and private business and trade levels.

With India and Guyana undergoing massive growth to their economies, their unique positions allow them much space to leverage their

fast-paced development to mutually benefit.

As India’s top diplomat also noted, “this is not normal business” between any two nations, but “between the fastest-growing economy in the world, and the fastest-growing major economy in the world…”

President Ali is also linedup for several summit-level engagements later this year with Brazil, Dominican Republic, Canada, China, Cuba, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom and United States of America, as Guyana continues to enhance international partnerships to solidify its position as a growing global leader.

The President also noted last week that the country’s leadership and vision “is no longer confined to our

borders” and his government was “strategically positioning Guyana” to benefit from national development transformations through the new partnerships.

The President’s UK discussions will aim “to further strengthen the bilateral relationship, advance projects and build more collaboration” between the two nations’ private sectors, with talks also scheduled with the European Union (EU) on “further advancing partnerships and finding ways to advance EU-Guyana private sector ties.”

In China, President Ali will discuss deepening already-great collaboration and more investment opportunities; his next Washington visit will also “further advance collaboration on sev-

eral transformative projects” – and he also harbors high hopes that Canada could soon “aggressively get on board,” as Ottawa is also moving quickly to join other major nations “as a strong partner in Guyana’s transformative agenda.”

Meanwhile, Guyana has already secured the support of all 32 members of the Group of Latin America and Caribbean States (GRULAC) for its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.

If successful, Guyana will be only the second Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member-state to sit on that august body so far in the 21st Century, after Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

became the smallest country in the world to occupy that rare top UN position, officially taking its seat on January 2, 2020 until December 31, 2021, also assuming its Presidency for one month, from November 1 to November 30, 2020.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also, presently, the smallest nation to hold the Presidency of the Conference of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which unites the Caribbean and South America at the hemispheric, continental and global levels.

G u y a n a ’s f u r t h e r strengthening of bilateral and multilateral ties later this year with the Arab world, the Caribbean and South America, China, the US and Canada, the UK and EU, af-

ter recently also solidifying ties with Africa and India, clearly demonstrates that this PPP-Civic administration is dead-serious about continuing the active rebuilding of Guyana’s overseas image, so badly sullied after decades of downhill descent.

President Ali says he’s convinced that “Guyanese will live in a much-different world by 2030” – and by all indications, the country is already feeling that difference, which will only get better after the upcoming Local Government Elections, when the PPP/Civic administration’s electoral mandate will – again, from all appearances -- have been reaffirmed and strengthened at mid-term elections.

The connection between race and politics is overstated Dear Editor, I WRITE with reference to Kaieteur News editorial on April 23, 2023, under the title “Race and Politics in Guyana.” The editorial makes several major claims, none of which can stand up to basic examination by those who know something about “race.”

The overarching point made is that “…foreigners [are] coming to prosper from our many patrimonies [and] make fools out of us by encouraging the pitting of one group of Guyanese against the other.” There are indeed grounds to talk about foreign interference in

Guyana. Our history is one of colonial conquest, imperial machinations, and of direct foreign inference in the years leading up to, and since independence. No one doubts, for instance, that Cheddi Jagan was removed from office by Western covert operations and constitutional trickery. No one doubts that Mr. Burnham and the PNC were installed, petted, and fattened by foreigners. No one doubts that the formation and consolidation of the PNC itself was bankrolled due to the politics of the Cold War. No one doubts that Rabbi Washington, a foreigner, was imported to practice violence

against the political opposition in Guyana, including against the PPP and WPA. Yet, I suspect that kind of foreign interference, and divide and rule, is not what the editorial has in mind. Rather, the focus is on Exxon and the EEPGL conglomeration.

Well, we have a problem of mischaracterisation here.

The oil companies have invested over US$30 billion in this country. Without these massive investments in oil and gas, Guyana would still be leaning on the traditional commodities for export earnings and employment – sugar, rice, bauxite, fish and shrimp, and gold and

diamond.

The so-called foreigners, who are in truth astute foreign investors, are giving the Guyanese people the opportunity to stop fighting over the crumbs bequeathed to us through the political economy of plantation capitalism.

Moreover, readers should know that oil & gas per se is only the leading edge in a whirlwind of FDI, all with significant local content protections. There is a vast secondary sector in services that now employs thousands of our people. Guyana’s historic problem with employment and underemployment is beginning to disappear, and

in fact, we are beginning to have a reverse problem with shortage of (skilled) labor.

Exxon, Hess, and CNOOC are not here to extract or cultivate racial antagonism. They are here to make, and have already made, extremely difficult and expensive investments that are changing our economic and social landscape. What is worrisome is that editorials like the one under consideration are the real engines of racial engineering.

The editorial cannot be taken seriously on empirical grounds when it comes to a racialised political economy because it has no empiri-

cal grounds. On this score, I would like refer readers to an outstanding article

by Neville Bissember, (“Is apartheid being practiced in Guyana?” Stabroek News, April 6, 2023) in which he systematically demonstrated that there are no grounds to talk about things like apartheid and ethnic cleansing in Guyana, as sometimes charged by irresponsible race merchants who are trying to earn their political stripes.

What the editorial does do is to concatenate foreign calamities, in this case US race politics, with political developments in Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

Education ministry hosts literacy extravaganza to promote literacy, writing - in observance of World Book Day Children at the Literacy extravaganza (DPI photos) In observance of ‘World Book Day,’ the Ministry of Education-National Literacy Department

hosted a literacy extravaganza on Sunday, aimed to inspire and cultivate a passion for reading and

writing.

This is in keeping with the ministry’s mandate to build awareness of the im-

The connection between...

FROM PAGE 6 Apropos, the editorial posits that “[r]ace and politics prevent us from the life-giving exercise of BREATHING (my emphasis).” Well, we are all obviously “living and breathing,” in the literal sense. But the editorial’s real intent is to appeal to the politics and memory surrounding the dramatic murder of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin in May 2020, in Minnesota. Floyd’s murder was taped by a teenager and the video showed the suffering of, yet another Black man murdered by the very institution that was supposed to protect him. The Black Lives Matter movement globalised Floyd’s murder.

The universe heard George Floyd calling out for his mother, crying out – “I can’t breathe.” The KN editorial attempts to link this dastardly foreign racial trauma to Guyana.

By doing this, it is Kaieteur News’ editorial that is using ‘the foreign’ to cultivate, legitimise, and reproduce narratives of racial division in Guyana. “Breathing,” as used in the editorial, is the deployment of a sign, in the semiotic sense of structural linguistics, and Baudrillardian cultural analysis.

On the economic side of the equation, since the editorial cannot disprove the fact that Guyana has one of the highest growth rates in the world, it resorts to a form of ‘jumbie’ social-economic theorizing. Here are the exact words on this score – “The reality is that Guyana has not even gotten off the

mark, with Guyanese still on their knees, due to the paralysing hammer blows that race and politics have delivered on the head of each citizen.”

This is bunk because it is not only patently false, but also patently dangerous.

Quite probably, the author of this editorial would not have read “Why Nations Fail” by Daron Acemoglu and James A Robinson. In this highly regarded work on development, the authors show that strong, democratic, inclusive political institutions are critical to economic advancement. Inclusive political institutions in turn are based on sustaining pluralism. On this basis, editorials such as that discussed here, are anathema to pluralism, and certainly to strengthening our political institutions. On this basis alone, the editorial is divisive.

The only Guyanese on their knees are the ones who are offering prayers. They are doing so in a country where freedom of secular and religious expression is not only guaranteed, but alive.

Readers would have picked up by now that far from foreigner investors being the perpetrators of political division, it is in fact the editorialising practices (literally) of some broadsheets in Guyana that are the purveyors of doom. They are the ones that are contributing to weakening our political institutions. Guyana has serious political divisions, but they are not based on race, per se. The real issue is that this country has strong

social forces and agents of authoritarianism that are determined to keep their old ways marked by election rigging and various forms of intimidation. That is what KN should fight.

I rarely make comments that border on the ‘personal’ attributes of writers. I will, however, make an exception today.

I taught ‘race relations’ for the better part of four decades at the undergrade and graduate levels. Based on that, I am humbly asking the publisher of Kaieteur News not to allow unqualified people to write on issues of such national importance. It is not worth it bro!

Sincerely, Dr. Randolph Persaud

portance of reading and literacy nationwide.

The event which is being celebrated under the theme ‘Books and Breeze: Reading with Ease,’ was hosted at St Stanislaus Sports Ground, Carifesta Avenue. Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) for Literacy, Samantha Williams said access to quality education is a tool that changes the trajectory of one’s life.

“We are excited to continue the journey to be able to deliver quality education to our learners. We believe that every child has a right to education, and we believe that every child can learn to read and every child must read… if we continue to drive initiatives that are going to ensure there’s full exposure to all of our citizens, then I believe that we will be able to build that nation of readers and writers,” Williams underscored.

Williams noted that the activity presents an opportunity for the sector to continue to sensitise and

build awareness of a ‘One Guyana,’ where all citizens can read and have functional literacy skills.

The national literacy department was launched on April 23, 2022, with the goal of proactively enhancing reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities of students and other citizens.

The department developed a national action plan and has embarked and launched various measures to improve literacy in the country.

A five-pronged approach was implemented which includes training, development of resources, parent education, monitoring and supervision of the school system, and collaboration and partnership.

The department continues to collaborate with various ministries, agencies and stakeholders to achieve its objectives.

Meanwhile, Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Quenita Walrond said NCERD will

continue to collaborate with stakeholders to foster an environment to improve literacy countrywide. Walrond said everyone has a pivotal role to play in creating an enabling environment for children to thrive.

Various booths showcased interactive and educational activities, the Animal Friends App station, interactive and educational games, book review and writing, give or exchange a book, and art and craft station.

World Book Day is being observed under the theme ‘Making it Your Own World Book Day.’ Similar activities are being conducted in all regions to stimulate and foster a love for reading and writing.

Executive Director of the NGO, National Coordinating Coalition, Simone Sills, Chief Librarian at the National Library, Emily King, representatives from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), and educational officers were also present at the event. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

Woman dies in hit-and-run accident SELENA Sooklall, a 45-year-old resident of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, Region Three died following a hit-andrun accident on Saturday night.

Police Headquarters reported that Sooklall, a pedestrian, was kneeling on the southern carriageway of the Vergenoegen Public Road at about 22:55 hrs on Saturday.

A driver, Samantha Manohar, a 26-year-old of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, was driving her car (#PKK 6534) when she saw the woman in her path.

Before Manohar could have completely stop her vehicle, a red pick-up that was proceeding in the same direction overtook her ve-

hicle and collided with the pedestrian, dragging her about 50 feet from the point of impact.

The woman alleged that the pick-up then stopped a few feet away from the pedestrian, but the driver drove away in a westerly direction. As a result of the collision, the pedestrian received injuries to her head and body.

Sooklall’s motionless body was taken to Leonora Cottage Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The body was subsequently taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour.

Meanwhile, Police said investigators observed several CCTV cameras in the area, and will review the available footage. Investigations are ongoing.

Over 2,000 trained to better identify victims of trafficking THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Counter-TIP (C-TIP) Unit has trained some 2,003 persons to better identify individuals who are victims of human trafficking.

Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud said the C-TIP Unit has recorded three cases of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) so far for this year.

Of the three cases, two of the individuals have benefitted from res- Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud titution, which Minister Persaud described as a method for victims to have to not only face the receive compensation law but those persons will landmark decision.

Restitution is a legal from profits that traffick- have to pay restitution to ers withheld from them, those who would have additional losses they suffered at their hands,” suffered, and future costs Minister Persaud stated. they may incur as a result.

She also related that “We’re hoping more the ministry is working of these perpetrators will on translating messag-

es in various languages related to TIP as well as domestic violence, in an effort to bring awareness to the general public.

“And to make sure people are aware of trafficking in persons and how they can get help, our Spanish hotline [6240079] is there,” she highlighted.

The 24-hour hotline allows Spanish/Portuguese-speaking persons to report trafficking. It complements the existing hotline that caters to English-speaking persons.

These efforts have proven fruitful with Guyana being able to maintain its Tier One status in the US Department of State 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

US$100M luxury hotel & casino for Berbice

In keeping with rapid growth of Guyana’s economy, the Sheriff Group of Companies will be investing some US$100 million in Palmyra, Berbice to construct a 150-room hotel and casino.

“The construction of a luxury hotel and casino will have all the modern amenities of first world countries” a statement from Sheriff Group of Companies said on Sunday.

Construction of the stateof-the-art facility is slated to commence next week and is expected to be completed

by December, 2024. A home away from home is what the luxury hotel and casino aim to grant. The company believes that this investment will not only aid Guyanese but also the local tourism sector.

The massive investment from the Sheriff Group of Companies comes on the heels of the construction of a 150-room Sheriff General Hospital, also at Palmyra, which will be a specialty hospital that will perform

Ameir Ahmad, proprietor of the Sheriff Security firm heart surgeries, eye surgeries and cancer treatment, among other medical procedures.

The procedures that will be done at the new hospital will also complement those at the other hospitals.

It is the company’s intention to open the enterprise in phases so that the people in Berbice can be employed and, most importantly, Berbicians can be given worldclass healthcare services at

an affordable rate without the hassle of travelling to Georgetown.

“These investments will result in the creation of hundreds of new jobs for the residents of Berbice” the statement noted.

Earlier this year, Ameir Ahmad, proprietor of the Sheriff Security firm, explained that the Sheriff Group of Companies will also erect a business/shopping centre of 500,000 sq ft.

This will allow businesses to rent the space for both short and long term, also at Palmyra.

He also added that Sheriff Security has acquired a one-acre plot of land (50,000 sq. ft.), which will be converted into the headquarters of Sheriff Security Service.

“We are investing a large chunk of our budget that was supposed to be for the next five years, but we have decided to put a large portion into Berbice.

We are taking a lot of risk in Berbice and hope that the Berbicians will support us,” he said.

Energy Chamber inks agreement with Indian private sector body THE Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) on Saturday inked a new partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), an Indian private sector body, with the aim of promoting cooperation in the energy sector.

The visiting Indian delegation, which was led by India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishanker, was preceded by two recent visits to India by the Government of Guyana and a Guyanese Private Sector delegation led by President Dr. Irfaan Ali in January 2023, followed

by Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo in February 2023.

“The thrust of the MoU between the GOGEC and CII is underpinned by mutual in-

GOGEC President Manniram Prashad and CII’s Ravi Shankar Sriivasan exchange the MoU in the presence of India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr. Jaishaankar, and Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd

terest by both parties to promote mutual cooperation in trade and business relations between Guyana and India, particularly, in the oil, gas and energy sectors, and wish to expand the basis for friendly and cooperative educational, health and business,” a press

release from the GOGEC noted.

It added, “GOGEC is pleased to have entered into this arrangement with CII which it believes will aid in valuable outcomes for its membership and by extension the two countries involved.”

A model of the US$100M luxury hotel & casino

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

Minister Edghill rubbishes ‘bizarre claims’ by Reg. 10 APNU officials

MINISTER of Public Works, Juan Edghill, on Sunday, rubbished several claims made by members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) officials in Region 10 that the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) paid, intimated and bullied people to support them on Nomination Day. In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Minister Edghill said the APNU is unable to deal with the huge support that Linden gave to the PPP and their response to that is "lies, fabrications, misinformation, and misdirection.”

Linden is one of the strongholds of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R)-led APNU. For the June 12 Local Government Elections, the PPP/C is running candidates in all 610 constituencies across the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAA),

with a total of 2,020 candidates and over 26,000 backers.

Minister Edghill stated that the opposition is “deeply hurt” because they have lost support in Linden and witnessed people openly pledge their support for the PPP/C by appearing with their candidates, backers, and supporters.

“No one forced, paid, intimidated or bullied anyone,” Minister Edghill said, reiterating that that even if the PPP/C paid people to wear the party t-shirts, they cannot buy enthusiasm.

He added, “the people marched and went to GECOM. The APNU spent one hour and forty minutes to get their list fixed inside of GECOM office. It started raining [and] the people remained. Absolutely no one was bullied to remain in the rain.”

In refuting allegations

Nomination Day in Linden

that PPP/C t-shirts were dumped on the road after the march on Nomination Day, Minister Edghill noted that it has been nearly a week since the march and the PNC accusers are yet to present any strong evidence of PPP/C jerseys

being dumped anywhere.

“We live in a world where virtually everyone owns a smartphone. Moreover, knowing the mischievous nature of the PNC, if there was a single jersey that was disposed, photos would have immediately

made the rounds on social media.

“The reality is we ran out of jerseys; we did not have enough jerseys to give to supporters on Monday. There were people in the march and procession that did not wear PPP

branded jerseys,” Edghill noted.

According to Minister Edghill, “the PNC has gone back into their same five months mode of lies spinning, ‘kerfuffling’ things and turning things around.”

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

300 jobs to be created as Indian Healthcare Call Centre sets up office here DECIPHER Health Records, an India based call centre, is targeting the creation of approximately 300 jobs n Guyana once fully operational.

The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), on Saturday, which will see a Healthcare Call Centre being established in Guyana later this year.

The company has already started working along with the Guyana Government to determine locations and work through the implementation stage for the establishment of the call centre.

Commenting on the arrangements with Decipher, Chief Investment Officer, and Head of Go-Invest, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, noted that the establishment of the call centre by the company is a direct result of the level of priority that the government has been placing on investment in the Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) sector over the past few years.

“This signing is an indication of the Government of Guyana initiatives to create employment throughout the country and facilitate the rapid expansion of economic activities countrywide to boost the economy and support the diversification of the non-oil sector,” Dr. Ramsaroop noted.

The government be-

Head of Go-Invest, Dr Peter Ramsaroop

lieves this sector is ripe for opportunities in Guyana given Guyana’s qualifications of near shore to the Americas, time zone, and supply of a young educated population. The government is targeting for the BPO industry to provide a minimum of 15,000 jobs across Guyana by 2025.

E a r l i e r l a s t y e a r, Go-Invest conducted studies in Regions Two, Three, Five, Six and 10 to understand the workforce capacity and assess the regions’ potential for the expansion of BPO outlets in those regions.

Since then, work has already begun on construction on a number of buildings to house call centres across the country.

“We are building four new call centre shells in Essequibo and Berbice, in addition to refurbishing the Enmore and Tuschen call centres. We are also pleased that the call centre in Linden, Region 10 that was signed with Midas is functioning and young Guyanese have access to

jobs that were terminated by the last government,” Ramsaroop said.

Decipher Health Records Inc., is headquartered in Bengaluru (India), provides offshore back-office services to medical doctors in the United States of America.

Founded in the year 2000, Decipher has been providing real-time scribing, revenue cycle management services and allied transcription services. In India, Decipher operates out of four cities, employing over 750 people, to render these services. All of Decipher’s facilities are HIPAA-compliant, with state-of-the-art technology.

Decipher’s move to set up offices in Guyana is a direct result of the visit made earlier this year to India, by President Dr. Irfaan Ali. Dr. Ramsaroop would’ve accompanied the President on the visit, while meetings were facilitated

by Dr. K.J Srinivasa, High Commissioner of India to Guyana.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

India’s Foreign Minister proposes funding for small & medium-scale C’bbean businesses

India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has proposed funding for small and medium-scale enterprises in the Caribbean and suggested supporting individual projects of up to a value of a million dollars on a grant basis and creating a partner group in India to provide

machinery, technology, and training.

"What we'd like to do is to create a partner group in India and see whether our capability which will include the supply of machinery, technology, training - if we can get really viable project offers from your side, we would be very happy to look

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (centre) with CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett and Foreign Ministers of CARICOM at that," Dr Jaishankar told the Fourth CARICOM-India Ministerial Meeting at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters on Friday last.

The Foreign Minister, who concluded his four-day visit to Guyana on Sunday, also highlighted the importance of health security and proposed a regional hub for low-cost generics from USFDA-approved plants in India.

The minister explained that India has a domestic initiative for cost-effective generics, which could benefit low-income consumers globally.

"If you feel that is of interest, we are creating a system for low-cost generics to be available to your people. We would like to create a regional hub for that. All of these would come from USFDA-approved plants of which currently we have about 600 in India," he said.

Dr Jaishankar emphasised India's willingness to support and partner with the countries in the CARICOM region and globally to tackle pressing global issues.

During his meeting with CARICOM’s Secretary General, Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett and her team, the Foreign Minister exchanged views for intensifying India-CARICOM ties in traditional, as well as, new areas of co-operation. He also congratulated Dr Barnett on the 50 years of CARICOM. The Indian Minister also co-chaired the fourth India-CARICOM Ministerial meeting with Jamaican Foreign Minister, Kamina Smith at the CARICOM HQ in Georgetown.

According to a press release from the Indian High Commission in Guyana, the meeting of Foreign Ministers has been seen as another meaningful step towards institutionalising the high-level engagements between India and the CARICOM nations. It follows the establishment of the CARICOM-India Joint Commission in 2015, the resumption of ministerial meetings, and the first CARICOM-India Summit-Level Meeting in

2019.

“These engagements have given impetus to the relationship and provided policy guidance for future CARICOM-India interactions and are seen as another step towards strengthening relations.

The meeting discussed how the strategic partnership can advance the Region's priorities, such as climate change, agriculture and energy. The solidarity and support from India are seen to contribute towards regional integration objectives including agriculture, ICT, climate change and disaster risk management,” the release noted.

According to the High Commission, the ministers discussed the wide-ranging sectoral co-operation, including in trade and economy; agriculture and food security; health and pharma; energy and renewables; infrastructure, ICT and eGovernance; development partnership and capacity building; higher education; culture and P2P domains.

They also exchanged views on vital issues of climate change & disaster resilience; countering terrorism; reformed multilateralism and closer co-operation at multilateral forums. They also agreed on follow-up steps, including holding the second Joint Commission Meeting this year.

It was noted that Dr Jaishankar underlined the pressing global issues, including COVID-19, climate events, debt and trade stress, and food and energy security during the fourth India-CARICOM ministerial meeting.

"COVID, increasing intensity and frequency of climate events, the debt and trade stress situations that many of us find ourselves in and food and energy security concerns are really pressing issues where it is important for us to sit down and discuss.”

India, which currently chairs the G20, is keen on supporting countries not on the table through the ‘Voice of Global South’ process, he TURN TO PAGE 13

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

Public support beyond reach of ‘one-dimensional, narrow-minded’ Opposition GUYANA’S progress is underpinned by development in all sections and segments of society, so the “one-dimensional” and “narrow-minded” mindset of the People’s National Congress Reform/A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR/APNU) would not allow the party to garner public support, according to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.

“Guyana is moving in a direction that is opposite to what the opposition is seeking to promote; they are very one-dimensional; they are very narrow-minded.

In a country that is multiethnic, multiracial, and multicultural, they are focused on race alone, and so their message will not resonate with many people," Dharamlall

said during a virtual discussion on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) Facebook page.

The diminishing support for the opposition was evidenced by the small groups of PNCR/ APNU supporters on Nomination Day, he reasoned.

Dharamlall said too that what is even more convincing are the untruths being peddled by the party about the constituencies it is contesting in for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE). There are reports that the party is only contesting in 279 of the 610 constituencies.

The reality is, it would be very difficult for the opposition to "garner" public support going forward, especially with a "discredited" leader like Aubrey Norton, Dharam-

lall said.

He related that is also the case because the opposition “decimated” many of the communities that were under its watch at the local government level, and at the national level during 2015-2020, when the APNU+AFC held office.

“The people have knowledge and evidence of what the opposition is based on their experience and the facts of what they have been through,” Dharamlall said, noting: “People recognise what the opposition’s aim is, and no one is believing the narrative or the messages that they are spreading anymore.”

Regarding the vendors who were being told that they would be removed if

FROM PAGE 12 added.

"This year we have the privilege of chairing the G20 and my PM is very clear that we (should) be there not just for ourselves but also for the countries who are not on the G20 table. Therefore, we did a round of consultations on what we call the Voice of Global South process," Dr Jaishankar said.

Meanwhile, Dr Barnett, in her remarks spoke about the solidarity and support from India that continues to contribute to the advancement of regional integration objectives in areas such as agriculture, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster risk management.

“The multi-sectoral capacity building programming under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme has benefitted CARICOM Member States greatly. The Government of India has provisioned US$150 Million in concessional credit to the Region.

In addition, CARICOM-India knowledge sharing has been

facilitated in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, through ICT Centres established in Grenada and Guyana and, most recently, through the secondment of an Indian Fisheries Expert to the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM).

“The CARICOM Secretariat itself has also benefitted from the generosity of the Government of India through its provision of equipment, training and technical assistance in ICT,” the CARICOM Secretary General was quoted as saying in the press release.

Dr Jaishankar also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other participating countries. In his meeting with Albert Ramdin of Suriname, they discussed bilateral and multilateral issues of interest. In his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas of St. Kitts and Nevis, they noted the resonance in agriculture and digital domains, and emphasised that India will always voice the concerns of the Global South.

With the Bahamas Parliamentary Secretary, Jamahl

Strachen, who is himself an Indian alumnus, both sides discussed ISA, CDRI, training and UNSC reform. In his meeting with Joseph Andall of Grenada, topics of discussion included advancing the development partnership and reaffirmation of belief in Reformed Multilateralism.

Barbados Foreign Minister, Kerrie Symmonds, then exchanged views on working together in domains of renewable energy, health and skills.

Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith of Jamaica, then discussed taking forward co-operation in training and development partnership.

They also agreed on importance of business-to-business exchanges for stronger ties.

In his meeting with Dr. Amery Browne, Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, they discussed on taking forward the development partnership focusing on digital transformation and health domains and co-operation at multilateral forums.

He also met the Foreign Minister of St. Vincent and Grenadines, Keisal Peters, and Foreign Minister, Alva Baptiste of St Lucia.

- Dharamlall says

India’s Foreign Minister proposes...

they voted for the PPP/C, Minister Dharamlall said that those vendors would remember that it was the APNU+AFC which had "brutalised" them at Stabroek Market and placed them in a muddy yard to vend.

It was the then Opposition Leader, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who went into the area and represented the interests of those people.

“The PPP/C has never done any of the things that APNU is accusing them of, nor do they intend to, and the vendors know that,” Dharamlall said.

The PPP/C could not have survived for over 73 years without having a wide cross-section of people from different races, cultures, and eco-

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

nomic levels.

"The PPP/C has been a multiracial, multiethnic, and multicultural party, and we have also been multi-dimensional, and we are accepting of everyone irrespective of the colour of your skin or the texture of your hair, and this PPP/C is no different in terms of your outlook...," Dharamlall said.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic, therefore, is very proud to have candidates in all of

the constituencies across Guyana and in areas that have traditionally been strongholds of the PNC, he related.

Dharamlall highlighted too that the Vice President and the President of Guyana have been consistent in ensuring that the PPP/C work for all the communities and people across Guyana regardless of their geographic or demographic characteristics.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

107 more people certified in skills training A FINAL batch of 107 persons in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has gained the essential skills to become employable.

This is through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) that held a graduation ceremony at Watooka Guest House on April 21, 2023.

According to BIT, the

occasion also marks the final batch of beneficiaries to be certified out of 504 Lindeners seeking empowerment from the agency in 2022.

This group was taught Garment Construction, Computer Servicing and Repairs, Electrical Installation, General Building Construction, Small Engine Repairs, Photo-

A final batch of 107 persons in Region 10 graduated from the BIT programme

voltaic Installation and Repairs, and Commercial Food Preparation.

It was made possible through a collaboration between the agency and the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for the Linden Entrepreneurial Network of Seventh-day Adventists (L.E.N.SA) training programme.

The partnership aims to provide training and skill development through compe-

tency-based training, resulting in the strengthening of interpersonal and professional skills required to promote service efficiency, increase employment prospects, and reduce crime in the region.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton; Pastor Jumoul Sancho, Executive Secretary of the Guyana Conference of Seven-day Adventists; Board of Industrial Training, Board Member, Michael

Turner; Senior Technical Officer, Leon Greaves; Technical Officer, Tenesha Dennis were in attendance at the ceremony.

O f f i c i a l s o f f e re d words of encouragement and thanked the graduates for choosing to empower themselves through skills training.

The ministry intends to expend $66 million in 2023 to continue providing hard and soft skills training initiatives in the region.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

Floodwaters recede, engineers assigned to monitor pumps

By Cassandra Khan

THREE engineers have been tasked with reporting operations that are not in accordance with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) concerning the operation of sluices and pumps.

Noting that the flood waters have receded in affected areas, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, told the Guyana Chronicle, on Sunday, that the three engi-

anyone.

“There were a number of sluices - two or three main sluices in the city - that the Georgetown City Council did not have operators to operate.

We had to go with NDIA to find operators to operate those sluices, and, once again, is the same thing; rain start to fall, and City Council started to get problems,” Minister Mustapha said.

He related, on Friday, that he had asked the NDIA to monitor the situation on a

coastland.

Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica) were significantly affected with an average of four inches of floodwaters.

“Wakenaam and Leguan, in the Essequibo River, and Parika and Vergenoegen on the Eastern Bank of the Essequibo River have reported rising water levels in trenches and drains. That resulted in over-topping onto road-

The pumps are operational at Kitty, Georgetown (Photo: Adrian Narine) neers have been assigned on a full-time basis in Georgetown.

“I have assigned three engineers on a full-time basis in Georgetown to report any activities that are not in line with NDIA.” On Friday, negligence at City Hall resulted in flooding across the city, according to Minister Mustapha; several sluices were without operators since the Georgetown City Council did not assign

24-hour basis and that they have already ensured that all sluices are operable.

“We have had continuous heavy downpours; that is why we had the build-up of water. And also, the forecast is showing that we might have some more rain,” the Agriculture Minister said.

On a national level, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) said it had received several reports of flood impacts along the country’s

ways, and into the Parika Market area,” the CDC said.

Residents in the communities, however, have not reported any household impacts, and the authorities on the ground have indicated that all kokers and sluices are currently operational.

Along the West Coast of Demerara, areas such as Stewartville, Hague, and Pouderoyen have reported flooding in many residential streets due to the heavy

rainfall.

At the time of this report, no water had seeped into households. Irrigation measures are in place in several communities in the region and authorities will continue to monitor the developing situation.

In Region Four, the Better Hope/LBI communities have also reported flooding.

Persons there have said that if the heavy rains continue, the water levels can rise even further.

Additionally, there was a

report of a high wind impact along Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown. No injuries were reported and the CDC liaised with the City Engineer’s Department of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown to rectify the issue.

The CDC urged all residents to take the necessary precautions during this time and to report all impacts to local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) at 600-7500 at any time.

It was announced in Budget 2023, by the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, that $19.7 billion would be expended on drainage and irrigation works.

There will be upgrades to drainage and irrigation systems across the country, as well as new pump stations which will be constructed at Meten-MeerZorg, Jimbo Grove, Belle Vue and Letter Kenny.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

Gov’t mulls closing Camp St. Prison THE centuries-old Georgetown Prison on Camp Street may soon be closed, as the prison population has already been reduced, according to Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.

“I don’t know whether we’ll shut it down totally yet, but the idea is soon most of the prisoners will be out of there, so we have not made a formal decision as yet, but it seems as though it’s heading that way,” the Vice President told a press conference on

Thursday last.

Emphasising that "no decision" has been made on the matter yet, the Vice President noted that the "locking down" of the prison area has affected businesses in the surrounding area.

Overcrowding in various prison facilities across the country has been a longstanding concern and has worsened over the years, especially at the Georgetown penitentiary. Poor conditions and lengthy periods of incarceration without trial

for prisoners on remand have contributed to the issue.

The prison was built to house around 600 inmates, but it has significantly exceeded that total and, over the years, there have been several incidents at the facility.

Recently, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) reported a 19 per cent increase in the prison population at the end of 2022. The prison service now houses an additional 736 prisoners than it did in 2021, with a total of

The Georgetown Prison

1,880 persons imprisoned at various penitentiaries across the country.

To improve facilities and training for inmates to ensure proper reintegration into society as productive individuals while curbing recidivism, the government has set aside $5.5 billion for the GPS this year.

The capital expenses for the GPS include upgrades to the Mazaruni, New Amsterdam, and

Lusignan prisons to the tune of $2.1 billion, as well as $15 million for the purchase of vehicles.

Additionally, $175 million has been set aside for the provision of furniture, tools, and equipment.

The Prison Headquarters will be housed at the new prison complex at Lusignan, where a 'prison school' is being built to facilitate the inmates' training and education.

"That's why we

are building a modern prison. In that prison, we are building a school for compulsory schooling and a trade school too. Our party is open-minded and broad-minded. We believe people must be given second chances in life too. Of course, we have to be tough on crime, but at the same time, we have to give people pathways," Dr. Jagdeo said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

Man wanted for ex-lover’s murder found dead in Canje Creek

POLICE have recovered the body of 50-year-old Sunil Durga, who was wanted in connection with the murder of his ex-lover, 36-year-old Telisha Domandeo.

D u rg a ' s b o d y w a s found next to the Brotherson pump station in Canje Creek, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), on Sunday and it is believed that he might have died by suicide.

According to reports, there were no visible marks of violence on Durga's body.

In an interview with

Dead: Sunil Durga

the press, Durga's older brother, Chowdharilall Rameshand, stated that the family was informed, on Sunday morning, that his brother's body was floating near the pump station.

An investigation is currently underway, and the Police are awaiting the post-mortem report.

On April 21, 2023, Police received information about Domandeo's body, which was wrapped in a multi-coloured blanket in Betsy Ground Village, East Canje Berbice. A wound was seen on her

neck, and her head was almost severed.

Acting on information, Police from the Marine Section searched the Canje River within the New Forest Village area and found a mattress and a pillow with bloodstains.

Domandeo had left her Crabwood Creek home and was staying at her mother's residence at Blairmont, West Bank Berbice. However, on April 14, she was allegedly abducted by Durga, with whom she had a child and a past relationship.

Dead: Telisha Domandeo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April, 24, 2023

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April 24, 2023

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April 24, 2023

Maxwell and du Plessis set RCB up for tight victory

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Royal Challengers Bangalore overcame a 50for-7 collapse at the end of their innings and defended a total for the third time in IPL 2023 to go level on points with table leaders Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants.

It was a weird match with arhythmic twists and turns. However, the centrepiece of RCB’s win was a lightning 127-run partnership between Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis in just 11.1 overs after they came together at 12 for 2, which perhaps made the pitch look easier than it was.

The pitch itself was an enigma.

RCB were in doubt that it was a dry pitch that would slow down and wanted to bat first, and Royals wanted to chase. Even though they were bowling first, Royals didn’t name a single batter in their substitutes’ list, and continued to not use Jason Holder’s batting. RCB con-

tinued to benefit from the Impact Player rule as they managed to play two players who wouldn’t have featured but for the rule: du Plessis with his rib issue, and Harshal Patel with a finger injury that made batting difficult for him. Eventually both made crucial contributions.

Boult strikes like lightning

With five first-over wickets to his name this season already, Trent Boult’s starts have become unmissable. This one was as good as any: full inswinger, past Virat Kohli’s inside edge, plumb lbw first ball. With the first ball of his second over, Boult had Shahbaz Ahmed caught at short midwicket.

Some even joked that RCB’s last batting pair was at the wicket when Maxwell walked out.

Maxwell, du Plessis put on a show

If it was the last pair, they were not going to hold back. Maxwell square-drove the first ball he faced for four, and repeated the same shot for the same result in the same over.

Du Plessis got stuck into Sandeep Sharma, hitting two sixes and a four in the fourth over. Maxwell kept manipulating the field, and lofted R Ashwin for a six to make it 62 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

Unlike the typical RCB innings, there was no slowdown immediately after the powerplay. Maxwell reverse-swept Yuzvendra Chahal in his first over for a six, and two overs later he and du Plessis took 16 off a Jason Holder over.

While du Plessis kept going down the ground, Maxwell mixed both straight hits and innovative ones behind square.

The collapse

Neither of the batters looked like getting out even when going at such a high strike-rate, and eventually it had to be a run-out to send du Plessis back. A slight slowdown ensued, and Maxwell found backward point with a reverse sweep to the last ball of R Ashwin’s quota.

With both danger men gone, Royals snuck back into the match.

The wily Chahal bowled the 17th and the 19th overs for just 11 runs and the wicket of Mahipal Lomror.

Suddenly the pitch began to look like aiding slower balls again, and RCB huffed and puffed to 189.

Jaiswal, Padikkal fuel the chase After an incutter from Mohammed Siraj bowled Jos Buttler for his second duck this IPL, Padikkal and Jaiswal set the chase up beautifully. Like Chahal and Shivam Dube before him, Jaiswal, too, made a big contribution against the team that

had released him, RCB. Padikkal and Jaiswal managed to hit at least one boundary an over from overs 2 through 10. It left Royals needing 98 off the last 10. In the over after that, Padikkal brought up his fifty.

The Hasaranga-Willey slowdown If it was the death overs during which the RCB slide began, Wanindu Hasaranga and David Willey started it around the 11th over for Royals. Hasaranga conceded just five in the 11th. Three more deliveries went without a boundary in the 12th, and Padikkal became the first one to hole out, off Willey.

Sanju Samson was watchful against Hasaranga, who enjoys a great match-up against him, in the 13th. Jaiswal, who tends to struggle once the field spreads, holed out off Harshal in the 14th having scored seven off the last 10 balls he faced.

Rahane, Dube and Conway blow KKR away (ESPNCRICINFO) - For a while, the IPL record for most sixes in an innings (21), which was coincidentally set on this day in 2013, was in danger of being toppled. Chennai Super Kings fell just three short of that mark, but muscled a record first-innings score at Eden Gardens courtesy swashbuckling knocks from Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube and Devon Conway.

Kolkata Knight Riders lost two wickets inside the first three overs and merely played catch up for much of their chase. They eventually stumbled to their fourth successive loss. This meant MS Dhoni’s men are now top of the leaderboard with five wins in seven matches, two clear of a logjam that has five teams on eight points apiece.

CSK set the pace

Leading the six-hitting spree was Rahane, who smashed five of them in a 29-ball 71 to take Super Kings through the gears in the middle order, along with Dube.

The raw numbers from their partnership read like this: 85 runs, 32 balls, four fours, eight sixes. This came on the back of another stellar knock from Conway, who hit a fourth straight half-century to set the innings up with Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Their 73-run opening stand in just 7.3 overs was another fine exhibition of timing, power, wrist work and plenty of muscle.

KKR’s bowlers went with length into the pitch up front when they discovered there wasn’t much swing, but it backfired as Conway was superb at picking lengths and hitting them square on both sides.

Suyash’s strike offset by sus-

tained aggression All the elements that make for compelling viewing when a legspinner is on were at play in Suyash Sharma’s first over - drift from wide of the crease, flight, rip and turn to beat the inside edge. Gaikwad was stunned.

But the relief was quickly offset with Conway skipping down to launch Sunil Narine for a massive six down the ground.

The 100 was up in the 11th over and CSK seemed bullish.

Conway eventually perished when he couldn’t quite get the elevation off Varun Chakravarthy, but Dube got into the act with two massive hits in the same over. The first of those was a 100-metre hit to deep midwicket when Varun attempted a carrom ball into the pitch. Then, when Varun went full, he was tonked down the ground, over the sight

screen.

Rahane takes the attack to Umesh In the very next over, the 14th, Rahane made it three sixes in a row for CSK when he played a stunning pick-up shot, using Umesh Yadav’s pace and letting his wrists take over. It was instinct-driven batting out of the top drawer, free of any shackles that might have been holding him back in previous seasons.

He seemed to feed off this role clarity. He was an anchor no more; he was instead unlocking his destroyer avatar.

The over would fetch another six that would be hoisted over fine leg and one of the most gorgeous extra cover drives you could see - feet to the pitch, leaning into the stroke and lacing the ball through the off side.

That was the start of a fas-

cinating passage as Rahane and Dube - another batter who seems empowered to play the game he has long threatened to - had fun and made the bowling attack look pedestrian. Rahane got to his fifty off 24 balls, Dube off 20. The last five overs went for 75 as KKR went into the break a deflated lot.

KKR stumble early Narine saw his off stump cartwheel in the first over of the chase and N Jagadeesan was out to Ravindra Jadeja’s athleticism in the second.

Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana then swung hard and connected from time to time, before Moeen Ali and Jadeja struck in consecutive overs.

Venkatesh was out lbw sweeping a full ball, Rana dragging a slog sweep to Gaikwad at deep midwicket.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April 24, 2023

BCB to construct five batting cages

---sponsorship from Peter Lewis Construction and Dr Denbow THE Berbice Cricket Board has received sponsorship to construct five batting cages as part of a massive county-wide developmental programme.

The board over the next few months will be involved in several major projects as it strives to make sure that every cricket talent in the county is developed to their full potential.

The five cages which would be constructed locally was made possible with sponsorship from popular Contractor Peter Lewis and overseas medical Doctor Dr Alstein Denbow.

Lewis is sponsoring the construction of four of the cages at the cost of $G800,000 (eight hundred thousand dollars) while

GSW force game five after fightback

Dr Denbow will sponsor one at US$1000.00.

The cages will be shared out across Berbice with one each at West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje and Upper Corentyne, while two would be in the Lower Corentyne area.

Foster stated that the cages would be a major boost for youth batsmen to practise across the county.

The BCB has already acquired four bowling machines at the cost of $1.6 M and they will be used together with the cages. The machines and cages will remain the property of the BCB and Foster stated that regular checks will be made on them to make sure that they are being looked after.

The main objectives of the combined projects are to improve the ability of Berbician youth batsmen against fast bowling, to `allow better practice sessions and to allow even one player to practise at a time. The BCB intends to undertake several other developmental projects, including its annual cricket academy and coaching programmes for the different sections of the game. Clubs in the county would also receive donations of cricket balls to assist them to fulfil their mandates.

Dr Denbow, a highly renowned medical doctor, stated that he was very pleased to support the very active cricket board.

Dr Denbow played a major role in bringing Sir Curly Ambrose to Berbice for a week-long fast-bowling clinic last year.

The clinic was attended by Shamar Joseph, Slyus Tyndall

and Demetri Cameron.

Mr Peter Lewis has been a strong supporter of Berbice Cricket under Foster’s leadership and stated that he was confident that the cages would be a major boost towards the development of more exciting batting talent across the county.

Lewis, is the leading contractor in the county and is heavily involved in road construction and drainage works. The four bowling machines were donated by Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, Dr Terrence Blackman and Region Five Vice-Chairman Rion Peters.

Deo cops Chung’s Global Inc golf title of the LGC at the end of the tournament was Vice-President Brian Hackett, who said, “Chung’s Global Inc is a friend of the Lusignan Golf Club. We’ve known him for quite a number of years. And I think since we approached him and made the requests, he had no hesitation, he came on board right away and in a big way as we saw more

Golden State’s Stephen Curry (left) has won four NBA titles and is a two-time NBA most valuable player

(BBC) - Defending champions the Golden State Warriors held off a fourth-quarter comeback from the Sacramento Kings to win a thriller in the NBA play-offs.

The third-seeded Kings trailed 102-92 after three quarters, but were handed momentum by a Stephen Curry error.

Leading by five, with 45 seconds left, Curry called a timeout with none left, and had to hand over possession.

The Kings reduced the score to 126-125 but Harrison Barnes missed a buzzer-beating three-pointer chance to win it.

That allowed the sixth-seeded Warriors to tie the series at 2-2.

Two-time NBA most valuable player Curry ended the game with 32 points while De’Aaron Fox top-scored for Sacramento with 37.

Game five is in Sacramento on Wednesday evening.

Knicks one win away from semi-finals Jalen Brunson scored 29 points as the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 at Madison Square Garden to open up a 3-1 series lead.

The Knicks are now only one win away from advancing past the first round of the Eastern Conference play-offs for the first time since 2013.

Brunson was among four Knicks players to score double figures along with RH Barrett (26 points), Josh Hart (19) and Mitchell Robinson, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Game five is in Cleveland on Wednesday, with the series winner facing either Milwaukee or Miami.

A representative of Lewis Construction , Ms N Hoyte, hands over the sponsorship cheque to BCB President Hilbert Foster

than 25 players coming out. It was an exciting day. It was cool, the sun was not up and I think the players really had a good time. It was a real good partnership with Chung’s Global and we can see a future development with them and the Lusignan Golf Club in the years to come.

So we look forward for more cooperation with Chung’s Global.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Maurice Deo receives his first-place trophy from Chung’s Global Rep, Naressa Nabby

LAST Saturday, 25 of Guyana’s top golfers came out to do battle in the Chung’s Global Inc golf tournament. However, in the end, experience prevailed as Maurice Deo was able to outplay his much younger opponents.

The results of the tournament were as follows: Deo (Handicap 26) finished with a Gross 93

and Net 67 ahead of Jordi Pinol (Handicap 27) with Gross 98 and Net 71 and Mike Mangal (Handicap 7) Gross 79 and Net 72.

Nearest to Pin was Ayube Subhan; Longest Drive went to Gavin Todd, Best Net Front Nine went to Deo (32) while Pinol had the Best Net Back Nine (34) and Mangal the best gross (79).

Speaking on behalf

(MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2023) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -83 GARNETT STREET,CAMPBELLVILLE, GEORGETOWN (TEL: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Lasith Malinga-28 wickets (MI) (2) Ishant Sharma-5/12 (DC vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala) TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) Which WI wicketkeeper effected most dismissals in IPL 2011?

(2) What was the highest partnership recorded in IPL 2011?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, April 24, 2023

Women’s 3x3 B’Ball

Championship

rescheduled

for this Saturday

THE rain had the final say last Saturday when the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) attempted to host its inaugural National Women’s 3x3 Championship in Linden.

The Retrieve Hard Court was set to host the GBF’s first competition for 2023, and scores of players had travelled to the mining town to compete at the first 3x3 tournament organised for the senior women players in Guyana.

With Guyana’s women side qualifying to compete at the Jun 23 - Jul 8 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in El Salvador, the tournament is being held as part of team selection and preparation.

President of the GBF, Michael Singh, said “It was unfortunate that the women didn’t get to hoop in Linden over the weekend, but we (the GBF) appreciate their eager-

ness to play. I admire their commitment, and it’s encouraging to the federation.”

According to Singh, the tournament will be played on Saturday, April 30, at a venue to be announced in the coming days by the GBF. “We will look at several options and make a formal announcement. We have to keep the players engaged as much as possible. And, as I mentioned before, the GBF will emphasise female participation during this administration’s tenure,” Singh said.

The University of Guyana Trojans (two teams), President’s College (two teams), Kwakwani (two teams) and Linden are the teams competing in the tournament that will be played in a round- robin format.

Trophies, other prizes and bragging rights will be up for grabs.

Players from the six participating teams at the GBF National Women’s 3x3 Championship

$4.3B Sport budg Maxwell and du Plessis set Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.

RCB up for tight victory

Glenn Maxwell reverse sweeps Yuzvendra Chahal for a six•Apr 23, 2023•Associated Press

Kashif Muhammad

SEE PAGE

21

Chateram Ramdihal

The National Sports Commission (NSC) commends the 2023 National Budget presented by the distinguished Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, which includes the largest-ever allocation for the sports sector. The provision of $4.3B surpasses the prior allotment with a substantial increase

Cristy Campbell

of $1.1B. This unprecedented allocation must be extolled as it highlights, inter alia, this H.E President Irfaan Ali-led government’s continued commitment, vision, and direction for the development of sports and sportsmen and women.

With the largest ever allocation

for the National Sports Commission, Budget 2023 paves the way for Government’s continued transformation in our sports facilities – something that is critical to the development of world class athletes and for the hosting of international tournaments which would have commenced in the previous year.

Sports headed in right direction with $4.3B allocation

By Calvin Chapman THE Government of Guyana continues to show their commitment to sport with H.E. President Irfaan Ali overseeing a total of $9B invested thus far in sport since taking office.

This year’s mammoth budget of $4.3B for sports, which was announced by Senior Minister in the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh, during Monday’s budget presentation, eclipses 2022’s $3.2B by over 33% and 2021’s $1.5B. The 2023 sports budget provisions for a massive stadium at Palmyra, is testament to the administration’s aim of decentralising sport, and true to President Ali’s promise of having a state-of-the-art sport facility on the Corentyne.

This year’s budget will see major inDr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister in the frastructural works with Hinterland com- Office of the President munities set to benefit from multipurpose facilities and, the rehabilitation of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), which has last year with 21 of those being outfitted with SEE lights, has been allocated another $250m this PAGE already seen works being commenced.

21 In addition, Dr. Singh had shared that, year for the continued improvement of com“Provision has been set aside for the estab- munity grounds across the country.

President’s Ali promise of making Guylishment of a National Cricket Academy.”

Meanwhile, there will be, “Construction of ana a regional hub for sports began to take stands and grass mounds in Regions Two massive strides in 2022. Dr. Singh menAjinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube put and Six, of the Squash court at the tioned that, “Beyond the Caribbean Premier on 85extension in partnership, from 32 balls•Apr National Racquet and procurement of League (CPL) 2022, we saw at the Regional 23,Center 2023•BCCI level the return of the Inter Guiana Games to sports gear,” Dr. Singh continued.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and these shores after a five-year hiatus.”

Dr. Singh also mentioned that the partSport’s Community Ground Enhancement n e r s h i p b e - TURN TO PAGE 23 ► project, which benefitted 54 communities

Rahane, Dube and Conway blow KKR away

Phillip Fernandes

Dellon Davidson

The allocation also allows for the development of our sportsmen and sportswomen with the National Sports Academy – the first ever in Guyana and the Region – launched last year and has already started to change the landscape of sports in Guyana.

The National Sports Com-

Bis

mission i unshake the prese the lead Culture, Honoura MP, spor will tran forever.

West Indies Test Squad for two-Test Series in Zi

…Gabriel, Warrican and Motie recalled to 15

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Men’s Selection Panel Tuesday announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test Series in Zimbabwe, starting on 4 February. The Selection Panel recalled experienced fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, as well as left-arm spinners, Gudakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican.

Gabriel has taken 161 wickets in 56 Tests, placing him joint 12th in the West Indies all-time wicket-takers list and more recently was the joint-leading wicket taker in the CG United Super50 Cup for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in November last year.

Gabriel’s last Test Match was against Sri Lanka in November 2021. Warrican’s last international appearance was also in Sri Lanka in December 2021 when he played in both matches in the Test Series. Motie made his Test debut for West Indies in Antigua in June 2022 in the first

Gudakesh Motie made his West Indies Test debut in 2022

Sha Tes aga

Test of the two-match Series victory against Bangladesh.

Jayden Seales is unavailable for selection following a knee injury and subsequent surgery, while Anderson Phillip is also unavailable due to injury.

Lead Selector, The Most Hon Dr. Desmond Haynes said: “This is the start of the international calendar for 2023 and we will hope to start with a win. We appreci-

ate me oth pla soil por

loo ant hav spi Au rica

Bolt millionsrescheduled from investment Women’missing s 3x3 B’Ball Championship for this Saturdayacco SEE PAGE

23

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MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2023 WED