Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 25-10-2021

MONDAY 25th October, 2021

' No.106525

50 million barrels of oil expected by 2026 03 PAGE

–– as earnings projected to reach US$4B annually with operation of four FPSOs

FLASHBACK: The hull of the Prosperity FPSO alongside its sister ship, the Liza Unity, at the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore

Suspected arson 04 leaves eight homeless

Future of Guyana, Barbados trade 05 relations looks bright

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–– Barbados Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance

Love for reading helps NGSA pupils win best narrative, best letter 09 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

Barbados expresses interest in purchasing plywood from Barama

By Jared Liddell

BARBADOS’ MINISTER of Housing, Land, and Maintenance, Dr. William Duguid, on Saturday disclosed his government’s interest in investing in Guyana through the purchasing of plywood from local wood products company, Barama Company Limited.

Minister Duguid was accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; and Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat to Barama’s facility on Saturday.

The government through an agreement between President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister of

Barbados, Mia Mottley, is facilitating high-ranking government officials from Barbados to trade expertise in the housing sector in an effort to foster better collaboration between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations.

Even as Minister Duguid expressed his governments’ openness to procuring plywood from Guyana, he also disclosed its willingness to trade expertise in improving the production level of the company by decreasing its production cost.

He noted that this decrease in the cost of production would have a direct, positive impact on the construction and housing sectors.

“The first thing I can see is opportunity to be able to purchase in various

From left: Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat; General Manager of Barama Company Limited, Mahendra Chand; Barbados’ Minister of Housing, Land, and Maintenance, Dr. William Duguid and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar during a tour of Barama’s facility on Saturday (DPI photo) thicknesses, ply, which is the first opportunity here, but then also, I can see a benefit to be able to look at having green hydrogen and being able to harvest that green hydrogen to provide electricity for the facility.

There is also the possibility of installing a photovoltaic system on the roof here, to be able to provide energy and give them the opportunity to get energy recovery, and by extension, get a better, or reduce the

price of the product for the construction industry,” Minister Duguid said.

HOUSING SECTOR COLLABORATION Speaking to some of the preliminary suggestions Barbados would give to Guyana for an innovative housing sector, Minister Duguid stated that his government is big on “harnessing the sun” in an effort to provide electricity that covers or reduces the cost of

housing.

He noted that solar water-heating is a key component used in Barbados to reduce the cost of electricity used to heat water for domestic use, contending that this is one opportunity from which Guyana can greatly benefit.

The Barbados Housing Minister further stated that improved technology could also benefit the sector, stating, “We have a technology using what’s called light guage See page 3

Some of the quality plywood produced at Barama Company Limited (DPI photo)

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50 million barrels of oil expected by 2026

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

–– as earnings projected to reach US$4B annually with operation of four FPSOs

WITH ramped-up oil exploration and extraction activities slated for the coming years, Guyana seems to be well on its way to realising its potential as the Dubai of the Caribbean and South American regions.

This was the indication given by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, during a recent engagement with petroleum news website, OilNOW. Minister Bharrat said that Guyana’s petroleum sector could begin to facilitate 50 oil lifts per year, at one million barrels per lift, thereby producing 50 million barrels of oil annually.

These increased lifts, the minister indicated, are possible with the intended arrival and operation of three additional Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. These include the Liza Unity, which is expected to arrive in November; the Prosperity FPSO which is currently under construction; and the Yel-

lowtail FPSO which is slated to come on stream by 2026.

Further, with crude prices hovering at US$80 a barrel, Guyana would earn as much as US$4,000,000,000 (GYD$836,902,800,000) each year for its 50 oil lifts.

Minister Bharrat also predicted that with the country’s eighth oil lift due next month, Guyana could earn some US$150M between the two if oil prices remain around US$85 per barrel.

“So, when you crunch the numbers, 50 lifts at a million barrels, and based on the oil price today, if it continues along that trend, you can see or get an idea of the direct proceeds coming to Guyana,” Minister Bharrat related.

He also reminded that the aforementioned earnings are outside of other benefits such as royalties, which could see a mammoth increase in the country’s overall oil earnings. “We are not even talking royalties yet,” Minister Bharrat emphasised.

To this end, he said that Guyana “could comfortably

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat close the year with close to US$600 million in the Natural Resource Fund.

Minister Bharrat reasoned that these earnings are coming at a time when Guyana is being serviced by only one FPSO. “Now imagine, this is just what we are earning from the Liza Destiny alone; that is our small FPSO; that is our baby,” Bharrat said.

He added that when the

Liza Unity FPSO arrives within the next two weeks from now, “we will be getting 220,000 barrels of oil per day and instead of five lifts per year, we would be getting perhaps 10 to 12.”

Additionally, he said that when the Payara Development Project comes on stream, the country would benefit from yet another 10 to 12 oil lifts per year. “That

is in total close to 30 lifts per year with Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, and Prosperity,” Minister Bharrat noted.

Moreover, by 2026, the operation of the Yellowtail FPSO will increase the annual oil lifts to approximately 50. “The proceeds from oil and gas will be mind-blowing,” Bharrat surmised.

To paint an even clearer picture, it was explained that oil proceeds will be twice the 2021 national budget by 2026, which -totalled $383 billion.

Since 2015, Guyana has had 22 oil discoveries, and with the country poised to gain far more within the coming years, the government has promised that the oil revenues will be used to bring direct benefits to the people of Guyana.

As it is, more than US$400 million is sitting in Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund, untouched. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic-led government has vowed to ensure that the monies are only spent once the requi-

site legislation is in place to ensure intense scrutiny and accountability of spending.

A d d i t i o n a l ly, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had previously indicated that with the climate- change imperative to decarbonise the world, it was important that Guyana pursues an aggressive mission of “getting as much oil out of the ground as quickly as possible.”

The former President, at an oil conference in the United States, reasoned that Guyana has to maximise the benefits from the industry and use those benefits to change the life of every Guyanese.

“We don’t know how swiftly we’ll get to a decarbonised world, but we have to make use of this period when there is still demand to get as much as possible out of the ground and that is why we support the rapid pace of the industry, but it must be done safely,” he posited.

Barbados expresses interest in ...

From page 2

steel cladding with a concrete board is the second thing that we can use.

And then the third thing, in addition to those two is then to be able to bring a different foundation technology that we’ve been using as well.”

Minister Duguid also stated that his guided tour has been beneficial in informing him of some key components that could drastically improve Barbados’ housing sector.

He noted that his government is open to learning how Guyana produces its housing columns and infills and plans to adopt those systems for its own housing sector.

READY FOR BUSINESS Minister within the Ministry of Public works Deodat Indar noted that Barama and by extension, Guyana, is ready for business, once the Barbados Government moves ahead with its plans to import plywood from the company.

He highlighted that the company’s geographical location positions it to be easily accessible to conduct business with Guyana’s sister state, saying, “Once they agree on the commercial side, the logistics are in place because this company sits right by the waterfront, the ships

can come right here, they can load, and they can take it out. So, all in all, I think they are very happy, based on what the minister said.

Mr. Mahendra Chand, who is the managing-director for Barama, is also excited because it will create additional output for his manufacturing facility.”

LOCALS TO BENEFIT Minister Indar noted that the new investment opportunity is set to benefit not just government, but also locals, directly.

He highlighted that Barama purchases its wood for production from “community loggers,” ac-

knowledging that once the demand for exports increases so will the demand on the side of Barama, and the locals will have the opportunity to supply more lumber to the facility.

He noted that once Barbados continues to see avenues to import resources from other sectors to benefit its housing sector, the country and its local producers will continue to benefit.

“Once you have more demand here, it means more demand from the community. If you need sand, is more production at the sandpit; if you need aggregates and more production, these aggregates

are the crusher. So once demand goes up, there’s more activity at the source, and that creates the business for Guyana,” said Minister Indar.

With the government continuing its vision to procure international investments in Guyana to grow the local economy, Minister Indar reminded that the government is committed to providing a level playing field for all investors and potential investors.

He noted that with government managing to maintain a stable economy despite the events following the 2020 elections, coupled with the economic impact of the COVID-19

pandemic, it has given investors confidence in the country’s readiness for investment.

He also indicated that the government intends to continue allowing all investors the same opportunities.

“The first thing you look at is instability, and we have managed after the elections of 2020 to stabilise this environment, so that is why you see a huge influx of investors into Guyana.

But even while seeing that influx we are making sure that we treat everybody equally; we are working with them when they come in,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

Suspected arson leaves eight homeless A 47-year-old man who reportedly set on fire the house he was occupying with three siblings and four others, has been arrested after he report-

edly admitted to the act of arson.

The fire has left eight people homeless, including three children.

According to Omataya

Lowenfield, a sister of the suspect, she occupied the lower-flat of the Lot 310, Number 51 Village, East Berbice-Corentyne home with her husband and three

The house ablaze in the wee hours of Sunday morning

The remains of the Lowenfields’ house after the fire

Monday, 25 October 04:00hrs - 05:30hrs

children, while the suspect and another brother lived upstairs.

She said she was awoken by the smell of smoke.

Lowenfield, a Special Constable attached to the Number 51 Police Station, recalled that the fire started

at approximately 02:30hrs on Sunday. She quickly collected her children ages seven, eight and 11 and moved them to safety.

The woman added that as she made her way out and reached to safety, she could not go back to save

anything as the fire quickly spread to the entire house.

She was later told that a sibling had set the fire.

“When I reach out to road, my other brother said the suspect set the fire; he said he light the mattress in his room. He spray [it] with gas and light it,” the sister related.

Lowenfield said her brother was released from prison about two years ago and had threatened to burn the house down and even attempted to do so on several occasions.

“When he drink he does say, ‘I gon burn this house down, the only reason I don’t do it is because Omo and her three children.’

This has left me devastated. I’m homeless with my kids and husband. I don’t know where to start from now, I don’t even have a pin,” Omataya said.

She said she and her husband worked hard to enjoy a comfortable life and now are left with nothing. This, she said, is extremely difficult.

The house, a wooden and concrete structure, had six bedrooms and was fully furnished.

Lowenfield estimated her losses in the millions.

She is willing to accept any help.

Persons desirous of assisting her family can call 6851547 or 6926549.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

Future of Guyana-Barbados trade relations look bright

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–– Barbados Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance PUBLIC Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, on Sunday, met with the high-level Barbados Housing and Investment Mission team at the Watooka Guest House Linden, Region 10.

Headed by Barbadian Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance, Dr. William Duguid, the visiting delegation arrived in Guyana last Friday to seek investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the two CARICOM nations.

Dr. Duguid said the fact-finding undertaking has already identified many areas for investment.

“We have done a lot of travelling around from various locations and we are going to see also what is available here from the quarry point of view, [We are] looking for sources for sand and crusher run for our road construction,” the Barbadian minister told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Similarly, he said his country will seek to export cement to Guyana, since it has an effective plant. He said too that Guyana can receive bitumen from Barbados.

“So far, we have seen lots of promises and lots of opportunities for synergies with both nations … the future of Guyana and our trade relations look so bright. I am really happy with how things are going,” Dr. Duguid noted.

The move for the two countries to begin investment relations and development stemmed from bilateral discussion between President, Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali and Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley.

President Ali had initiated talks with Prime Minister Mottley last October in Barbados, during the 15th Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 15).

Minister Edghill said that the three-day visit by the Barbadian delegation, shows that CARICOM is working effectively, and that leaders can use their political will to rise above challenges and obstacles for development.

“We have seen that with His Excellency, Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali and Suriname’s President, Chan Santokhi, and now this is a second demonstration of an engagement started between President Ali and Prime Minister Mia Mottley and here we are as Cabinet level ministers exploring and following up on those discussions to ensure that they become reality.

Whatever we are doing, we want to ensure it benefits all of our people.

It must lend to the development of CARICOM, it must strengthen the resolve that we have to make the Caribbean a zone that is free from poverty,” Minister Edghill stated. (DPI)

Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, engaging the Barbados delegation at the Watooka Guest House, on Sunday (DPI photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 25, 2021

CAPE Schools

THE Ministry of Education has announced the establishment of several new schools which will be offering the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

These schools are all located outside of the city of Georgetown, which means that the main beneficiaries will be students from rural communities who otherwise may not have been in a position to benefit from postCSEC exams.

According to Education Minister Priya Manickchand, seven new secondary schools will be added to the list of schools that will be offering the CAPE examinations. Among these are the Anna Regina Multilateral School in Region Two; West Demerara

Secondary in Region Three; Annandale Secondary in Region Four and J C Chandisingh and the Tagore Memorial in Region Six. This is indeed a significant development which is consistent with the PPP/C’s administration policy to make quality secondary and post-secondary education accessible to a much larger cohort of students who would have completed the full cycle of primary education. Student attainment levels have increased in all regions of Guyana and it is only fitting that the education infrastructure become responsive to this new reality.

Under the PNC administration, secondary school places were extremely limited. The vast number of students were

sent to Community High Schools or tops of primary schools which for all practical purposes were just a case of marking time. These schools did not offer any opportunity for students to sit the CSEC examinations.

This was manifested in the much higher dropout rates in those schools, when compared to that of the discrete secondary schools and the few Sixth Form Secondary Schools.

In some ways the failure of the previous PNC administration to create enough secondary school places for children who completed primary education was a callous if not scandalous denial of the intellect and academic potential of our young people, many of whom were forced to end their education prematurely. It

is an established fact that many children are what are described in the literature as ‘late developers,’ whose potential for further learning cannot be established on the basis of a single examination, in this instance the Common Entrance examination, now referred to as the National Grade Six Assessment.

One of the first interventions made by the PPP/C administration in the field of education was to implement a policy of universal secondary education.

Most of the Community High Schools were converted into discrete secondary schools with upgrading programmes in the first year for those students who may require some level of academic consolidation.

That was done under

the Secondary School Reform Programme. One consequence of that programme was a substantial number of students, who were otherwise written off by the system, now being able to sit the CSEC and in some cases the CAPE examinations.

The decision of the Ministry of Education to provide the requisite teaching and other facilities to an increasing number of discrete secondary schools to cater for CAPE students is a step in the right direction. It is an expression of care and confidence in the potential of our children to do well at national and regional examinations.

And, as the results of the recent CSEC and CAPE examinations have shown, our students have not been found wanting.

The results showed that our students are not only as competitive as their regional counterparts, but that they were able to outcompete them in several subject areas.

Guyanese students have also emerged as the overall best performing candidates at both the CSEC and CAPE examinations multiple times.

The PPP/C administration has done well to reverse the education decline under the previous PNC administration and to create the enabling conditions for our students to do well, despite the current COVID-19 pandemic.

At a more fundamental level, however, it has provided new opportunities for our children to realise their potential to the full limit of their abilities.

Guyana must continue to support the CCJ

Dear Editor, FORMER President Granger erred severely in opining that certain matters such as those of an electoral nature ought not be litigated at the level of the CCJ. On the 14th March, 2021, during an airing of the ‘Public Interest,’ he further asserted that the role of the Court of Appeal should be strengthened to deal with all internal electoral matters. This in

essence casts a shadow of doubt -- whether barefacedly or subliminally -- on the competence and capacity of the CCJ, especially given the circumstances of his comments.

Two distinguished UWI lecturers in an article dated 22nd October, 2021, published by Demerara Waves, made the observation that the High Court and the CCJ are oftentimes on the same page when arriving

at judgments. Notably, it is the Court of Appeal, in whom Granger’s faith lies, that made its way to jaw-dropping judgments which required frequent correction by the CCJ for being bad in law.

Permit me to make it abundantly clear that I hold The Chancellor & Judges of the Court of Appeal in the highest regard. Their intelligence and capabilities are at a place one can only dream to attain. And

on that note, I do agree wholeheartedly with the former President that the capacity and independence of the Court of Appeal must be strengthened but, in so doing, we cannot despise the CCJ for its contributions and for making sensible judgments. The CCJ in its appellate jurisdiction remains a beacon of hope, not only to Guyanese but also to many other Caribbean countries, that independent

and unbiased judgments will always be the order of the day.

In Guyana, more mechanisms should be put in place to ensure the separation of powers among the Executive, Judicial & Legislative branches of government.

Some might say, and pragmatically so, that the concern of bias is at the very inception, given that judicial appointments originate from the Executive branch. This

of course, is debatable.

However, the CCJ does not rely on governments for funding or even their appointments. The CCJ can then be seen as an uncompromisable institution which has proven itself in the face of many litigative adversities presented before them and this country must continue to recognise and stand by this institution.

Yours truly, Kadeem Gordon Youth Activist

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

OP-ED FROM PAGE

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INDIA completed vaccination of 100 crore doses on 21st October, 2021, in just about nine months since starting vaccination.

This has been a tremendous journey in dealing with COVID-19, especially when we recall how things stood in early 2020.

Humanity was dealing with such a pandemic after 100 years and no-one knew much about the virus. We remember how unpredictable the situation appeared then, as we were faced by an unknown and invisible enemy mutating rapidly.

The journey from anxiety to assurance has happened and our nation has emerged stronger, thanks to the world’s largest vaccination drive.

It has been a truly bhagirath effort involving multiple sections of society. To get a sense of the scale, assume that each vaccination took just two minutes for a healthcare worker. At this rate, it took around 41 lakh man days or approximately 11,000 man years of effort to reach this landmark.

For any effort to attain and sustain speed and scale, trust of all stakeholders is crucial.

One of the reasons for the success of the campaign was the trust that people developed in the vaccine and the process followed, despite various efforts to create mistrust and panic.

There are some among us who trust only foreign brands, even for simple everyday necessities. However, when it came to something as crucial as the COVID-19 vaccine, the people of India unanimously trusted ‘Made in India’ vaccines. This is a significant paradigm

Responding to adversity with achievement shift.

India’s vaccine drive is an example of what India can achieve if the citizens and the government come together with a common goal in the spirit of Jan Bhagidari. When India started its vaccination programme, there were many people who doubted the capabilities of 130 crore Indians. Some said India would take three to four years. Some others said people will not come forward to get vaccinated.

There were those who said there will be gross mismanagement and chaos in the vaccination process. Some even said that India will not be able to manage supply chains. But just like the Janta Curfew and subsequent lockdowns, the people of India showed how spectacular the results can be, if they are made trusted partners.

When everyone takes ownership, nothing is impossible. Our healthcare workers traversed hills and crossed rivers across difficult geographies to vaccinate people. Our youth, social workers, healthcare workers, social and religious leaders, all deserve credit for the fact that India faces minimal vaccine hesitancy when compared to even developed nations.

There was a lot of pressure from different interest groups to give preferential treatment to them in vaccination. But the government ensured that, like our other schemes, there is no VIP culture in the vaccination drive either.

In early 2020, when COVID-19 was rampaging across the world, it was clear to us that this pandemic will have to be eventually fought with the help of vaccines. We started

preparing early. We constituted expert groups and started preparing a roadmap right from April 2020.

Till today, only a handful of countries have developed their own vaccines. More than 180 countries are dependent on an extremely limited pool of producers and dozens of nations are still waiting for the supply of vaccines, even as India has crossed 100 crore doses! Imagine the situation if India did not have its own vaccine. How would have India secured enough vaccines for such a large population and how many years would that have taken? It is here that credit should be given to Indian scientists and entrepreneurs for rising to the occasion. It is due to their talent and hard work that India is truly Aatmanirbhar when it comes to vaccines. Our vaccine manufacturers, by scaling up to meet the demands of such a large population, have shown that they are second to none.

In a nation where governments used to be known as a roadblock impeding forward movement, India has instead been an accelerator and enabler of progress. The government partnered with the vaccine makers right from day one and gave them support in the form of institutional assistance, scientific research, funding, as well as accelerated regulatory processes. All ministries of the government came together to facilitate the vaccine makers and remove any bottlenecks as a result of our ‘whole of Government’ approach.

In a country of the scale of India, it is not enough to just produce. Focus has to be on

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last-mile delivery and seamless logistics. To understand the challenges involved, imagine the journey taken by one vial of vaccines.

From a plant in Pune or Hyderabad, the vial is sent to a hub in any of the states, from where it is transported to the district hub. From there, it reaches a vaccination centre. This entails the deployment of thousands of trips taken by flights and trains. During this entire journey, the temperature has to be maintained in a particular range which is centrally monitored.

For this, over 1 lakh cold-chain equipment were utilised. States were given advance notice of the delivery schedule of the vaccines so that they could plan their drives better and vaccines reached them on the pre-decided days. This has been an unprecedented effort in the history of independent India.

All these efforts were complemented by a robust tech platform in CoWIN. It ensured that the vaccine drive was equitable, scalable, trackable, and transparent. This ensured that there was no scope for favouritism or jumping the queue. It also ensured that a poor worker could take first dose in his village and the second dose of the same vaccine in the city where he works, after the required time interval. In addition to a real-time dashboard to boost transparency, the QR-coded certificates ensured verifiability. There are hardly any examples of such efforts not only in India but also the world.

India’s success in its vaccination drive has also demonstrated to the whole world that ‘democracy can deliver’.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

$787.6M ‘wreckage-removal project’ begins in Demerara River

AS marine traffic continues to increase along the Demerara River, the authorities have awarded a $787.6 million contract to remove wreckages that have been encumbering the waterway.

The government, via its Department of Public Information (DPI), announced that a Dutch maritime solutions provider has been hired by the Ministry of Public Works’ Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) to execute the contract.

According to the DPI, the contract for the works was signed early last month between Director-General at MARAD, Stephen Thomas and Koole Contractors’ representative, Janneke Kuijper.

The government’s information department, which was privy to the wreckage-removal exercise, quoted Harbour Master (ag) Glasgow Archer as emphasising the need for clearing the important channel.

“These wrecks present have hindered and, I would say, restrict [sic] more or less, the manoeuvring of vessels within the harbours or in close proximity to the harbours,” Archer said.

He related that removal of the wreckages from the waterway will facilitate easier and more accurate navigation.

“It will [also] enable safe nav-

day of the project and that it was the company’s intention to spend the day orienting itself with the location of its first undersea target – an old barge.

It was reported that once the company has been able to locate the wreckages, it will employ one of its custom-built machines to cut up the wreckages, then remove them from the sea bit by bit.

The dissection and removal of the barge alone is expected to last for a period of two weeks.

“It is a barge, about 50 by 12.5 metres, and we’re going Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) Harbour Master (ag) Glasford Archer (DPI photo) igation,” Archer added.

He related to the DPI that even though attempts were made to remove the wreckages in the past, those efforts were not successful.

Maritime officials have now expressed optimism that the Dutch company will be successful in clearing the much-traversed waterway, thereby making it safer for travels.

Marc Rooijakkers, who is the project manager for the Koole Contractors’ project, was quoted by DPI as saying that Saturday was the first

to remove this wreck with the chisel method,” Rooijakkers told the government agency.

Pieces of the wreckage will be lifted out of the river, using equipment called the grapple. “The chisel method is a method that we developed ourselves, with Koole Contractors, Rooijakkers said.

He explained that the contraption is basically a 17.5-tonne steel plate which can be used to lift pieces of the wreckage by as much as 22 metres high. “… and then we let it fall with a free fall,” Rooijakkers noted.

This equipment is called the grapple; it is used to lift pieces of wreckage out of the water (DPI photo) THE PROCESS He said that “as soon as the wreck is hit into small sections with the steel plate,

Koole Contractors Project Manager Marc Rooijakkers (DPI photo) we will connect the grapple, and with the grapple, we will lift out the several wreck sections.”

The project manager continued, that depending on the state of the wreck, the grapple can also break the wreck into sections.

In a detailed breakdown of the process, Rooijakkers explained that “as soon as we have a firm grip on the wreck, then we can lift the wreck on board the vessel into small sections, and escort them on board the barge.”

The contracted company was specifically tasked with removing three large pieces of wreckage. Asked for a timeframe for the project, Rooijakkers said that the company “can’t know for sure how long it will take to remove all three wreckages.”

He noted, however that the company is working with a rough estimate of two to three months.

The need for removal of the underwater wreckages was highlighted since 2018 when the then secretary of the Private Sector Commission, Komal Singh, highlighted the dangers that the wreckages pose to those using Guyana’s rivers.

Speaking at the 2018 Shipping Association of Guyana’s Eighth annual awards and dinner, Singh made specific reference to the possibility of fuel-laden, single-hull vessels drifting and slamming into the wrecks.

“Imagine one day if that vessel lose [sic] power, runs into one of those wrecks and we have a thousand barrels of fuel oil spill in our waterway and our river runs about four knots to the hour and the tide is coming in and we have over-topping of walls; imagine the amount of issues that we’ll have locally,” Singh noted hypothetically.

He reasoned: “We won’t have any time to deal with all the big companies that are coming in and are drilling for oil a 100 miles offshore.”

Demerara Waves online news had reported on the response of the then Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who said that such risks add to the increase in cost for the acquisition of fuels. Even so, the river was not cleared under the then A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change Government.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

Love for reading helps NGSA pupils win best narrative, best letter

By Tamica Garnett

IT comes as no surprise that reading is a favourite pastime for both 11-yearold Gabriella Felix and 12-year-old Makayla Spencer, who were two of the most articulate students at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) this year.

Gabriella, a pupil of the New Guyana School, who enjoys reading mystery novels, had the best narrative in the English Paper exams, while Makayla, who attended Success Elementary, had the best letter, in which she wrote to the Regional Education Officer listing three benefits where there was need for a learning resource centre in her community.

The two pupils were given the opportunity to read their work on October 15 at the ceremony where the 2021 NGSA results were announced. Both received glowing praise for their articulate writing, at that fo-

narrative.

The story goes on to talk about her climbing and falling out of a tree before making her way home just in time to avoid the animal.

Gabriella makes use of metaphors, similes and personification to bring her story to life, all literary devices she learnt to use fluently, thanks to the many books she has been reading over the years.

Holding a copy of a Hardy Boys mystery, the aspiring lawyer shared that her story was somewhat based on an experience she had with her own dog, but embellished the tale for dramatic effect.

“I was about eight years old and I went to feed my dog and she ran me and I ran away to get into the house.

She was being playful but I was just so scared,” Gabriella shared.

Initially on the day of her English exam, she said she was a bit nervous about

think that was a great help in her English. I’m a proud parent and I’m so happy that she did it,” Bacchus commented.

Aside from English, Gabriella also loves science and has her own Youtube channel where she has already begun posting videos with her various science projects. Though she wants to be a lawyer like her mom, she hopes that she can also find an area in the profession that also involves science.

THE BEST LETTER Makayla was absolutely overjoyed when she found out that she had done the best letter.

“I felt excited and elated, but I was really surprised,” she said.

The young lady is very happy with her performance as English Language is one of her favourite subjects, and she had hoped to do well, particularly given all of the reading and studying that she

NGSA Best Letter pupil, Makayla Spencer (centre), with her dad, Marlon Spencer and mom, Samantha Spencer (Delano Williams photo) rum.

In a ‘sit-down’ with the Guyana Chronicle, the two talked about their love for writing, reading, and how they felt about their accomplishments.

Gabriella won best narrative for her story “An Unforgettable Experience”. In the story, she narrated the tale of being chased by a ferocious, black Pitbull.

“Fear lent wings to my legs as I heard a ferocious growl. My heart was palpitating and I was panting in exhaustion. I had never been so scared in my life. Just then, something snapped at my heels. I quickly glimpsed behind me, only to see a fierce, black Pitbull rapidly gaining on me,” was the opening line of her 254 word

her writing abilities, but now had put in. learning that she had the best She related that what narrative has been a major she loves most about readconfidence boost for the ing is how she can use her young lady who also likes to read Nancy Drew and Secret Seven novels.

“Most nights I would have to rustle the book away from her to get her to go to sleep. She reads a lot of these series, and I try to purchase a lot of books for her,” shared her mother, Martina Bacchus, who is also a lawyer herself.

Bacchus said she could not be happier for her daughter when she received the news of her accomplishment, and credits her love for reading as what allowed her to be so creative in her writing.

“Gabriella likes to play a lot but she reads too and I

NGSA Best Narrative pupil, Gabrielle Felix (centre), with her mother, Martina Bacchus (left) and brother, Gabriel Felix (Delano Williams photo) imagination to picture things around her, and she also loves how she can use the way she talks to express herself and resolve issues.

Aside from English, Science is also a favourite subject for Makayla, who also hopes for a career in the science field.

“Either an anesthesiologist or a cardiologist. I find science really fascinating and anesthesia is interesting when I think about it. With a cardiologist you have to study the heart and I really like to understand how the heart works,” she said.

In her letter for the NGSA English Paper Two, Makayla laid out solid reasons for the placement of a learning resource centre in her community, noting how the pandemic affected learners attending classes, which was causing learners to lag behind in their work at a time when virtual learning was necessary.

She shared that she had faced her share of difficulties having to study and prepare for her exams during the pandemic, which also inspired her letter choice.

“At first it was really hard. You are home and you have so much distractions. But my family really helped me with that a lot; they would keep me disciplined and encourage me to study,” she said.

Her family also shared in

her excitement, noting that her performance in writing was very telling of the bold girl that Makayla usually is.

“Makayla is bold, daring sometimes; she’s very smart, very intelligent.

Sometimes she wants her own way but comes with the package. She really likes to express herself, and she’s not the type to be comfortable being in the background,” said her dad, Marlon Spencer.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

Domestic violence: Understanding the victim

By Vanessa Cort

THERE is a popular saying, ‘Who feels it knows it’, and nowhere is this more accurate than when talking about victims of domestic violence and how they feel.

Having been through the experience I can say that if you have not been abused then you can never fully fathom the extent of the damage it can cause.

Generally, physical abuse is accompanied by mental abuse, though not necessarily vice versa. So a battered woman is usually also subjected to tremendous psychological/verbal abuse while someone who is abused psychologically might never have been hit.

And while physical abuse may leave visible scars, those left by emotional abuse cannot be seen by the naked eye. However, they can be even more devastating and make the issue of leaving the relationship seemingly insurmountable.

I learned from speaking

to a counsellor about my own experience that abusers seek to control the lives of their victims, and, in so doing, render them helpless and hopeless - not knowing what to do or who to turn to.

A television series currently being aired and dealing with domestic violence showed a young woman, who had never been physically abused, but who was living in constant terror of her partner.

He would throw things at her, never actually hitting her and regularly break items in their home while subjecting her to vicious verbal tirades which would invariably end with him expecting her to do exactly what he said.

She never reported these incidents, not realising they would qualify as abuse, and did not tell anyone what was happening, for fear that they would either think she was exaggerating or simply dismiss her complaints.

When she did eventually ‘escape’ with her young daughter, she found the simple matter of choosing

clothes, freely given, for them to wear overwhelming and she could not even name her favourite colour.

The disorientation and confusion experienced by abused women cannot be denied and yet victims rarely make a clean break from the relationship on their first attempt.

Many return several times to their abusive partners before finally being able to leave permanently. And as psychotherapist, Shane Tull pointed out, abusive men use manipulation to get their partners to bend to their will and are “very good at making the victims feel it’s their fault”.

While women may report abuse, many are still reluctant to press charges and put the perpetrator before the courts. And law officers can tell many-a-story of a woman reporting her abusive partner but refusing to have him charged and even subsequently begging for his release.

However, the more often a woman leaves and then

Photo credit: Clickondetroit.com returns to an abusive rela- or dismiss them flippantly, not take place every day and tionship, the greater is the saying, ‘they like it’. so there are times when the influence her abuser has over No one wants to live in an abuser will be charming and her and the greater is her abusive relationship. remorseful and the relationdependence on him. She beNo woman wants to be ship will seem to be normal comes more and more fearful beaten. However, once in and happy. and unsure and it becomes it, leaving is not an easy It is our place to offer even more difficult for her to decision because of the emo- love and constant support walk away. tional/psychological hold the to victims, providing them It is important that the abuser, by then, has over his with a safe place, where wider society understands victim. possible, to regain the conthis and does not dismiss This is especially so if we fidence and self-esteem and these women as beyond hope bear in mind that abuse does to take back their power.

GUYANA CHRONICLE,

Monday October 25, 2021

Region Nine farmers get help to return to the land the implementation plans identified priority commodities such as poultry, other meats (beef, pork and mutton), corn, rice, niche vegetables and coconut products. The President had stated that CARICOM has the ability to achieve the targets identified to lower these priority commodity imports by 2025 and the potential to increase coco-

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, presents a cheque to a farmer (DPI photo) AGRICULTURE Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Saturday, took the government’s flood-relief grant to Aishalton, Karaudarnau, Achawib and Bashraizon; all indigenous farming villages in Region Nine.

The relief initiative, which was launched a few months ago, aims to help farmers return to the land following the severe effects of the nationwide flooding.

So far, more than $2 billion has been distributed to farmers.

“Today is important for us because it is a day that we are coming here to fulfil one of the promises that were made by His Excellency,

the President. And when we make promises we always deliver on those promises and we take them very seriously.”

During meetings with villagers, Minister Mustapha underscored the significance of farmers in Guyana. He stated that agriculture is important and that the government is keen on transforming the sector, even in the face of the oil and gas sector.

Minister Mustapha was keen to remind, too, that Guyana has taken up the role to lead agriculture in the entire Caribbean.

“Our President is the lead spokesperson in the Caribbean on agriculture. We are

chairing the ministerial task force to advance the agriculture agenda in the Caribbean, so you can see that Guyana’s role today is very important.”

In June, President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali had urged the eleventh meeting of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) to prioritise the work of the ministerial taskforce and was frank in his opening remarks to say that he will move forward with those who are serious about getting the work done.

The Head of State had iterated that in order to take the CARICOM Agri-Food System Strategy forward,

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, with recipients of the flood-relief cheques (DPI photo)

nut exports.

Further to this, President Ali is convinced that Guyana can satisfy the food demands of the entire Caribbean, whose regional food import bill is $5 billion. The government has already begun expanding and preparing farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector to benefit from this opportunity.

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Notably, news of the construction of three agro-processing facilities for this indigenous district (Aishalton, Karaudarnau, Achawib and Bashraizon) was announced by the agriculture minister on Saturday.

He shared too that all of the villages in Region Nine will soon receive cassava mills. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

GO-Invest shares investment opportunities with Barbados delegation CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroo, on Sunday met with a high-level delegation from Barbados to discuss and promote Guyana’s vast investment opportunities.

Dr. Ramsaroop met with members of the Barbados Housing and Investment Mission-led by Dr. William Duguid, Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance, along with the Permanent Secretary, Senior Housing Planner and other representatives from the National Housing Cooperation and the Barbados Investment and Development Cooperation.

CEO of GO-Invest, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop meets with the delegation led by Dr. William Duguid, Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance of Barbados At the meeting, the Chief Investment Officer gave a brief presentation on Guyana’s eight productive sectors and the benefits of establishing

strategic partnerships and strong bilateral relations between the countries. It was conveyed that both Guyana and Barbados could benefit from the ex-

port and import of goods and services.

Minister Duguid articulated the importance of value-added products such as lumber and roofing ma-

terial, among others.

General Manager of the Barbados Investment and Development Cooperation, Mark Hill, iterated that with value-added products,

it is important to identify a relationship for both economies to work together.

This fortified relationship to move goods and services, will drive growth in the economies of both countries, he said.

The Barbados Housing and Investment Mission arrived in Guyana on Friday. It includes Timothy Maynard, Permanent Secretary; Kelly Hunte, Senior Housing Planner; Ian Gill, General Manager of the National Housing Corporation and Ian Foster, Chief Technical Officer.

The team from the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation included Bio-Economy Manager, Marina Taitt. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

Guyana to benefit from US$2.5M to CARICOM to tackle COVID-19

THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced US$2.5 million in urgent COVID-19 assistance for countries in the Eastern Caribbean region, The Bahamas, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The good gesture builds on the U.S.’ strong partnership with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a release from the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown said on Sunday.

“This assistance will provide support for the operational costs of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, outreach activities to reduce vaccine hesitancy in collabora-

tion with local influencers and celebrities, vaccine hesitancy surveys, and equipment procurement to support the development of COVID-19 vaccine information systems, laboratory detection and vaccine storage,” the release noted.

Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Mark Cullinane, announced the funding during a review of the USAID/CARICOM regional strategy on October 21.

He remarked: “This review speaks to the level of importance that the United States holds CARICOM as a strategic partner in the global COVID-19 response and advancing health security in the Caribbean… the United States will work proudly alongside our re-

gional partners, PAHO, UNICEF, CARPHA and CARICOM in efforts to mitigate and eliminate the effects of the pandemic in Guyana and the wider Caribbean.”

USAID regional representative for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Clinton White, noted that “the new funding will also respond to urgent gaps in COVID-19 case management such as procuring oxygen, laboratory equipment, and other critical items to help reduce deaths from COVID-19 in Caribbean countries.”

CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, expressed appreciation for this assistance, particularly on behalf of those CARICOM those member states who would benefit, noting that “no member

state has been spared from this deadly virus and its devastating impact on the health and well-being of their citizens and their respective economies.”

She anticipated that the resources will assist the member states “to intensify their logistical arrangements and communications to further support vaccine readiness, while countering vaccine hesitancy and disinformation, which we anticipate will increase the numbers of

persons vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.”

This additional assistance from the historic American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 builds on the previous COVID-19 support provided to Caribbean countries. USAID has provided nearly US$63 million in COVID-19 assistance to the Caribbean, including nearly US$7.45 million specifically to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, since the beginning of the pandemic to

Photo credit: PNGitem address the health, humanitarian, and economic impacts of COVID-19.

USAID’s COVID-19 assistance to Caribbean countries is helping to deliver vaccines and get shots in arms, expand access to COVID-19 testing and treatment, protect and train health workers, deliver life-saving health commodities and equipment, share reliable public health information, and safeguard global health security.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

Ambassador Hinds expresses condolences on passing of Powell

Guyana’s Ambassador to the U.S., Samuel Hinds GUYANA’S Ambassador to the United States, Samuel Hinds, has expressed condolences to the family, government and people of the U.S. on the passing of former U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

Powell passed away last Monday.

“Colin Powell served the United States of America with dignity and distinction on the American and world stage to which he rose; his wisdom, forthrightness, professionalism, integrity, kindness and passion were notable,” said Ambassador Hinds, who added: “The contributions to the USA of this son of fellow Caribbean immigrants justify again the words of open doors and welcome at the base of the Statue of Liberty for which so many Guyana-born and others from the Caribbean and farther, must be thankful and the people of the USA can be justly proud.”

Former Secretary of State Powell, Ambassador Hinds said, will be sorely missed.

“May we remember him in his legacy of courage and integrity on American national security and public service that will continue to inspire many in America and worldwide,” Ambassador Hinds concluded.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 25, 2021

91-year-old dies from COVID-19

ONE more person has died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 895, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The ministry said that the latest fatality is a 91-year-old man of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who was fully vaccinated.

Additionally, there are currently 3,572 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 90 new cases on October 24, 2021, after 1,136 tests.

The 90 newly confirmed cases were recorded in nine of the 10 administrative regions, excluding Region Nine.

Region Four accounted for 24 of the new cases; Region One recorded eight new cases; Regions Two, Three, Seven and 10, three new cases each; Region Five, six new cases; Region Six, 35 new cases and Region Eight, five new cases.

The country has now recorded a total of 35,067 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, 19 persons are at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 102 are in institutional isolation; 3,451 are in home isolation, and three are in institutional quarantine.

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

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

As per the current measures, all persons are required to wear face masks

when leaving their homes.

Also, physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are

recommended. The current curfew period is 22:30hrs to 04:00hrs.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 ho-

tline numbers: 231-1166; 226-7480; or 180/181 for assistance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 25, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE,

Monday October 25, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 25, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE,

Monday October 25, 2021

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Chadwick secures second W series title

(BBC) - Jamie Chadwick has secured a second W Series championship with victory over fierce title rival, Alice Powell, in the season finale at Austin, Texas.

After putting one hand on the trophy by winning the penultimate race on Saturday, she followed up with a commanding win from pole position.

Chadwick continuously set fastest laps whilst Powell struggled from ninth on the grid, finishing sixth.

Chadwick, 23, won the series’ first title in 2019.

She and Powell had battled across eight rounds - all in support of Formula 1 grands prix this season.

“It’s been hard work this year, I’ve been pushed all the way,” said a delighted Chadwick after the

Jamie Chadwick completed her championship defence with victory in Austin

race. “To top it off the way we did, I couldn’t be happier. I want to say thanks to W Series for the support all year and I’m just happy to finish on top.”

When asked if she can see her W Series success propel her to Formula 1 she said: “I have an amazing relationship with Williams [as development

driver] and they’ve helped me with this championship behind the scenes - for that I’m very grateful to them.

I don’t know what will happen next but I’m just

celebrating the win now.”

As the championship winner, Chadwick receives a prize fund of £363,000 to help fund her rise through the ranks of motorsport and help carve a path to becoming the first woman to take part in a Formula 1 race for more than 40 years.

The W Series is a freeto-enter all-female racing championship that aims to provide a platform for women to race and eliminate the infamous financial barriers to entry within top-tier motorsport.

Participating drivers are selected solely on their talents and driving ability, leading to only the top eight finishers in the standings being guaranteed to return for another season in 2022.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup…

Sri Lanka’s batsmen stand up against Bangladesh (ESPNCRICINFO) - For once, it was Sri Lanka’s batters who bailed their bowlers out. It wasn’t the experienced hands either.

Here was Sri Lanka’s new generation standing up. Chasing 172, on an asymmetric ground (there was a 73-metre boundary on one side, and a 57-metre one on the other), Charith Asalanka produced the innings of the game, hit-

ting 80 not out off 49 balls, from Sri Lanka’s troubled No. 3 position.

Along the way, he had the company of Pathum Nissanka, with whom he put up a stand worth 69 off 45, before Bhanuka Rajapaksa came in at No. 6 and struck 53 off 31 himself, effectively helping secure the game.

This, to trump an outstanding 57 not out off 37 from Mushfiqur Rahim, and a solid 62 off 52 from Mohammad Naim. They played Sri Lanka’s top wicket-takers incredibly well. Neither Dushmantha Chameera nor Wanindu Hasaranga took a wicket, and both went at more than 9.5 an over.

Bangladesh, perhaps, were guilty of keeping too many overs from their two best bowlers - Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman - in reserve. By the time Shakib came in to bowl his third over in the 17th, Sri Lanka were fully in control of the chase.

Asalanka explodes in the powerplay Before this match, Asalanka’s T20 strike rate was 120. He had not been

especially impressive in the T20Is he had played either. The fact he was coming in at No. 3 was more to do with the fact that Sri Lanka had a hole to fill there, not because Asalanka was particularly suited to that position.

All of which made this innings that much more remarkable.

Having come in during the first over following Kusal Perera’s dismissal, Asalanka swept his third ball - from Mahedi Hasan, who turns the ball away from him - for four.

Next over, he walloped the left-arm spin of Nasum Ahmed - against the turn again - over long off (the shorter side of the ground), before slogsweeping him with the turn for another six. He hit another four off Mohammad Saifuddin, and by the end of the powerplay, Asalanka had 32 off 18 in Sri Lanka’ s 54 for 1.

Shakib makes a double-strike Shakib was unable to make his presence felt with the bat, but his second over seemed to turn the

game. Pathum Nissanka was batting nicely with Asalanka, the pair having put on a brisk 69 together, before Shakib dipped one underneath Nissanka’s sweep, and later in that same over, foxed Avishka Fernando with another flighted delivery for his second bowled dismissal of the over. When Wanindu Hasaranga - promoted to No. 5 again - holed out in the next over, Sri Lanka had slid from 79 for 1 to 79 for 4.

The stand with Rajapaksa Bhanuka Rajapaksa, though, produced perhaps his best international innings to date, to help Asalanka all but guide Sri Lanka home. He started slowly, making only six from his first nine, before making big moves against Afif Hossain, the off-spinner who had been brought on to bowl at the two lefties at the crease. He hit him inside out over cover for six (with the spin), but then had a huge slice of fortune, when Liton Das misread a catch at deep square-leg and dropped Rajapaksa on 14, palming

the ball on to the boundary.

The pair edged Sri Lanka closer, largely playing risk-free shots, until Rajapaksa positively exploded in the 16th over - bowled by Saifuddin smashing a six over deep square-leg, another over deep midwicket, and two fours to boot. When the 22 runs had been scored off that over, Sri Lanka only needed 24 at a run-a-ball.

Mushfiqur and Naim set Bangladesh up Despite the short boundary on one side, Bangladesh’s 171 for 4 seemed a good - if not quite commanding total. Both Naim and Mushfiqur targeted the square boundaries, but it was Mushfiqur who was especially effective at moving around the crease to get into positions that allowed him to target that short side of the field. The pair’s partnership was worth 71 off 51, and effectively formed the spine of Bangladesh’s innings.

Mushfiqur’s half-century was his fourth overall in T20Is, and his third against Sri Lanka.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 25, 2021

Simmons backs West Indies to rebound after humiliation by England AFTER a shambolic batting display in their opening match of the World T20 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Head Coach Phil Simmons is confident

West Indies has what it takes to rebound and come good in their second match on Tuesday against South Africa.

England routed West Indies for just 55 in 14.2

overs and chased it down in 8.2 overs.

Speaking at a virtual press conference on Sunday, Simmons stated, “I think everyone is looking forward to the next game

because when you have a game like that, especially the opening game in the World Cup, everyone is looking forward to the next game, wishing it was tomorrow instead of two

days away.”

“Everyone is looking forward to the next game and not because it is South Africa; it is a next game to make amends for what happened yesterday [Saturday], he added.

It was a humiliation for the men in maroon as 55 is their second-lowest total in Twenty20 Internationals and according to the coach, the inherent pride among the players is motivation to do well.

Their lowest total – 45 – came also at the hands of England at Warner Park, St. Kitts in 2019.

“There is a lot of pride in the team and the motivation for the next game is not going to be that hard, there is a lot of personal pride that comes into it, so that is what is going to motivate guys, that is what is going to life guys…we will come back strong, we will come back strong on Tuesday.”

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka joined the West Indies group, which also has Australia and New Zealand, which now many pundits have termed the ‘Group of Death’.

Wi t h o n l y t h e t o p two teams from the two groups progressing to the semi-finals, every game now becomes key for the Caribbean men.

“Every game from now is extremely important, we need to look at every game as a final and try and play according to, and the message we want to put out is that we have learned from this defeat and we are assessing our situations of the game better.”

The start time for Tuesday’s match is 06:00hrs.

Squad: Kieron Pollard (capt), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Roston Chase, Andre Fletcher (wk), Chris Gayle, Akeal Hosein, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr Reserves: Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Sheldon Cottrell, Darren Bravo

English Racing Tips Ayr 08:20 hrs The Player Queen 08:55 hrs Sauce Of Life 09:30 hrs Animore 10:05 hrs I’m On Snap 11:15 hrs Flood Defence 11:50 hrs The Bravest 12:20 hrs Father’s Advice Leicester 08:40 hrs Greta Bridge 09:15 hrs Tolstoy 09:50 hrs Sacred Jewel 10:25 hrs Imperial Eight 11:00 hrs Dashing Roger 11:35 hrs Ey Up It’s Maggie 12:10 hrs Far Too Beautiful Newcastle 11:55 hrs Najeeba 12:25 hrs Masque Of Anarchy 13:00 hrs Million Thanks 13:30 hrs She’s The Danger 14:00 hrs Buniann 14:30 hrs Musahaba 15:00 hrs Visions Of Glory 15:30 hrs Millioniare Waltz Irish Racing Tips Galway 08:35 hrs Timiyra 09:10 hrs Dragon Of Malta 09:45 hrs Lexi’s Dream 10:20 hrs So Fascinating 10:55 hrs Facethepuckout 11:30 hrs Son Of Hypnos 12:05 hrs No Memory 12:35 hrs Walnut Beach American Racing Tips Finger Lakes Race 1 Navy King Race 2 I’m Not Joking Race 3 Operative Race 4 No More Miracles Race 5 Night Escort Race 6 Busted Credit Race 7 I Found It Race 8 Curly Girl Canadian Racing Tips Fort Erie Race 1 Rolling Sloan Race 2 Flaxen Race 3 Striking Red Race 4 Loquacious Race 5 Space Central Race 6 De Only Solution Race 7 A Gershwin Tune Race 8 Classy Mistress Race 9 Feature Creature South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:15 hrs Stunning Kitten 08:50 hrs Joe Harman 09:25 hrs My Kingdom 10:00 hrs Let’s Talk 10:35 hrs Mufasa 11:10 hrs Who’s The Star

GUYANA CHRONICLE,

Monday October 25, 2021

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ICC Men’s T20 World Cup…

Pakistan dismantle India

(ESPNCRICINFO) - In their 13th attempt in World Cups, Pakistan finally managed to beat India, and did so comfortably on a night when almost everything went to plan for them. With the sensational uprooting of the openers with the new ball, Shaheen Shah Afridi was the brightest star of the night, but everyone in the support cast played their role well, including a nerveless chase by the openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

The first half of the match was as if Pakistan were playing on the white board. Afridi, you get me early wickets; Imad Wasim, you bowl cheap powerplay overs against their right-hand top order; Hasan Ali, we need one impactful over in the first 10 from you; Mohammad Hafeez, you can finish Imad’s overs if we get left-hand batter, Rishabh Pant in; Shadab Khan, you control the middle overs; Haris Rauf, at the end of the innings, pace is pace yaar; and change of pace is change of pace yaar.

Afridi announces himself Afridi began the match tied with Mohammad Amir for the most wickets in the first two overs of T20 games since the start

of 2018. He took the new ball here, and with the fourth ball of the innings he took the sole lead on that stat. It was not just a full inswinger, but it was a late inswinger, and from Afridi’s high release, Rohit Sharma missed comprehensively to be trapped lbw.

In his second over, that beautiful late flick-in release was on display again as Afridi got KL Rahul.

This wasn’t even that full, and to get such late swing - almost seam - to go past a defensive bat and hit the top of middle was high skill. India 6 for 2 in 2.1 overs.

Hasan seals the powerplay India didn’t try to break Pakistan’s rhythm against right-hand batters and stayed with Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. Imad got away with two overs for 10, and India’s need to get a move on got so bad even Kohli took an early risk to back away and hit Afridi for a six in the fifth over.

Hasan, though, provided the final blow to win Pakistan the powerplay: the wicket of Suryakumar with nip off the pitch on a shortof-a-length delivery.

Middle-overs tussle At 36 for 3 in the powerplay, there was no way India were going to go six-hunting West Indies

style. Kohli was going to drop anchor and see if he could hurt Pakistan at the death, a phase of play where he is historically among the best. Rishabh Pant got in and the onus for disruption was on him.

Pakistan, though, used this uncertain period for India to get through Hafeez’s two overs.

Rauf announced himself with an over of high pace in the 11th over, and it was clear the job in the death overs was his to do.

In the 12th over, Pant hit Hasan for two one-handed sixes to threaten Pakistan.

Shadab, though, came back to get rid of Pant with a wrong ‘un and make it 84 for 4 in the 13th over.

Rauf shuts India down This was when India made their first change, promoting Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Hardik Pandya.

The idea perhaps was to keep right-left going and also retain Pandya’s power for the death overs. Jadeja, though, did not attack. He was 9 off 11 when he tried to hit his first boundary.

When he tried to hit his second, he holed out to a Hasan slower ball.

However, the real danger for Pakistan was now.

Kohli had survived into the death overs, where only AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Andre Russell have a better strike rate than him

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday, October 25, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -- 83 Garnett street, Campbellville,Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Sri Lanka (2) England Today’s Quiz: (1) Who led the West Indies to two Men’s T20 World Cup titles?

(2) Which two of these teams have never hosted an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup? Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Africa, Australia Answers in tomorrow’s issue …………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………..

in all T20 cricket. He also had Pandya, who can be lethal. India were on their way to 140-150, which was the bare minimum.

Now they stood a chance to go for bonus runs.

Bowling the 17th over was Rauf, who is not known for bowling too many slower balls. In the last PSL, though, he added it to his repertoire, bowling 23 of them for 19 runs and two wickets. Here he bowled four of those in a row to concede just four runs in the 17th over. Afridi then got rid of Kohli with a slower bouncer in the 19th. Rauf conceded just seven in the last over.

Slow start to the chase While India didn’t get any bonus above their bare minimum, they still had asked Pakistan to mount

their second-highest successful chase in the UAE if they were to win this game. After the 10-run first over, India gradually pulled Pakistan back with Varun Chakravarthy conceding just two runs in the fourth over. Overs six to eight yielded no boundaries, and Pakistan were going at barely a run a ball. They were still the favourites - 60% according to ESPNcricinfo’s Win Predictor - but you wondered if they were leaving themselves too much to do on a slow pitch.

Babar turns the tide In the ninth over, Jadeja made his first mistake with a ball a touch too short.

Babar, 21 off 25 at this point, rocked back to hit him for a six. In the next over, he found a four off

Varun.

And this was around the time the dew began to become significant.

Babar went after Jasprit Bumrah’s first over back.

It was in the 13th over, though, that the exclamation mark was provided.

Varun, bowling for the first time with the shorter boundary on the leg side, dropped short twice, and both openers dropped him over square leg for a six each. And once they got two fours off Jadeja, Pakistan had brought it down to 40 off 36.

Both the openers went on to notch up half-centuries and sealed what w a s P a k i s t a n ’s f i r s t 10-wicket win in T20 internationals and India’s first defeat by such a margin.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 25, 2021

Permaul, Smith named in CWI warm up teams for Sri Lanka series

THE Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel announced the squads for the upcoming Best v Best men’s red ball matches.

The Panel named 24 players for two three-day fixtures, which will be played at the Coolidge Cricket Ground on October 27-29 and November 1-3. The two teams will be led by Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood.

The players will use these matches as preparations ahead of West Indies’ forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka for two Test matches following the ICC T20 World Cup. The team will depart

from Antigua on November 6 and the tour will run until December 4. The full tour squad and schedule will be announced at a later date.

The series is the second of six series, three at home and three away, that West Indies will play in the 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship after drawing the first Betway Test Series against Pakistan in August.

Roger Harper, Senior Men’s Lead Selector said: These Best v Best matches are a critical part of the Test team’s preparation for the series in Sri Lanka. For a number of players, it will be the

only serious red ball cricket they will have since the Betway Test series against Pakistan and prior to going on this tour. So, it helps to get them back into the groove of the red ball format and gives the Selection Panel an indication of the players’ readiness for the tour.”

SQUAD “A”: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Shamarh Brooks, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Jayden Seales, Preston McSween, Nial Smith, Jeremy Solozano SQUAD “B”: Jermaine

Nial Smith Blackwood (Captain), Nk- seph, Imran Khan, Shayne rumah Bonner, Jahmar Moseley, Kieran Powell, Hamilton, Chemar Holder, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Kavem Hodge, Alzarri Jo- Roach, Jomel Warrican

(BBC) - Liverpool humiliated Manchester United and their under-pressure manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they handed out a thrashing in front of a stunned Old Trafford.

On a day of acute embarrassment for United and Solskjaer, 10 years and one day since they lost 6-1 at home to Manchester City, Liverpool emphasised the vast gulf between the sides in brutal fashion.

Mohamed Salah was predictably their main tormentor as the Egypt forward claimed a hat-trick, the first of which meant he had scored for the 10th successive game.

Solskjaer cut a dejected figure as he and his players faced the full fury of their own fans, especially at half time, after an insipid and disorganised performance.

The worrying signs were

Manchester United have lost by a margin of five or more goals at Old Trafford without scoring themselves for the first time since a 5-0 defeat at home to Manchester City in 1955 under Matt Busby there for United after five United apart and the irresistminutes as Liverpool sliced ible Salah got his first when them open when Salah set he thumped the ball into the Naby Keita through to score roof of the net from Keita’s at the Stretford End. cross then beat David de Gea Diogo Jota then slid in with a low effort to give Jurat the back post unmarked gen Klopp’s side a four-goal to add a second from Trent half-time lead.

Alexander-Arnold’s delivery Many Manchester Uniteight minutes later. ed fans left at the break and Liverpool were tearing Solskjaer’s response was to

send Paul Pogba on for Mason Greenwood, but on a day when nothing went right for United even that mainly cosmetic move backfired horribly.

Salah raced on to Jordan Henderson’s superb pass to complete his treble five minutes after the break then Pogba was sent off for a reckless lunge at Keita that saw Liverpool’s midfielder taken off on a stretcher.

The rest was a formality as Liverpool cruised to victory in front of thousands of empty red seats deserted by the home supporters.

Liverpool back to their ruthless best Liverpool were always going to come back stronger from the suffering of last season, when injuries and the worst run of home form in the club’s history saw them drawn into a dogfight for a place in

the Champions League.

They rallied superbly to finish third and carried that good form into this new campaign, with an ominous composure about Klopp’s side from the first day.

With Virgil van Dijk back in defence and Salah playing at a level that suggests he is the world’s best player, they are a ruthless machine and how United felt that power.

Bruno Fernandes actually missed a very good chance to put United ahead before Keita opened the scoring but once Liverpool got ahead, Solskjaer’s side had no answer.

With Salah as the main weapon, they cut through United at will, reducing both their players and the crowd to nervous agitation every time they went forward.

Salah is in the form of his life and this United defence was an open invitation to

him and Liverpool’s range of attacking options.

In the last eight days alone, Liverpool have scored 13 goals in three games on their travels, taking in the 5-0 win at Watford and the 3-2 victory against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

This was Liverpool looking as formidable, confident and dangerous as they did when they won the title in 2019-20. It is shaping up to be a three-horse race along with Chelsea and Manchester City for the title and this was the performance of true thoroughbreds.

The only downside to their day was the injury to Keita, injured in a two-footed challenge by Pogba in what is a cruel blow to the midfielder given he has been showing the best form of his stop-start Liverpool career.

(BBC) - Real Madrid beat Barcelona in a new-look El Clasico to briefly go top of La Liga and leave Ronald Koeman’s side down in eighth in the table.

It was the first Clasico without Barca icon, Lionel Messi, or Real legend, Sergio Ramos - who both joined Paris St-Germain in the summer since 2004.

David Alaba started and finished a counter attack for the first and Lucas Vazquez got a second in added time.

Sergio Aguero scored his first Barca goal but it was al-

most the last kick.

Alaba’s goal was the best of the game. The former Bayern Munich defender won the ball from Barca striker Memphis Depay on the edge of his box before starting a counter-attack.

He finished it off by running onto Rodrygo’s pass before slamming a shot across home keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen into the far corner.

It was his first goal for Real Madrid, who he joined in the summer, on his El Clasico debut.

The final two goals came

game.

Well, he actually is now.

They remain eighth, closer to 14th-placed Elche than leaders Real Sociedad.

Barcelona, in front of over 86,000 fans, put in a limp performance - with Real keeper Thibaut Courtois only making one save all afternoon.

It is a new-look Barca, with 17-year-old Gavi the youngest El Clasico starter since 1941 but he had limited impact.

Koeman is only the second manager to lose his first three Clasicos as Barcelona boss after Irishman Patrick O’Con-

nell, who lost four between 1935 and 1940.

“I’m not happy with the result. I think we deserved more,” Koeman said.

“We knew we couldn’t afford to miss opportunities and that if they got the lead, they know how to defend. We were not good in the last quarter [of the pitch].

“Losing at home to our biggest rivals in a close game is tough to swallow.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real did not even have to play especially well to win at the home of their fiercest rivals.

“We played a practical game. We knew what we needed to do and the boys executed the game plan perfectly,” Ancelotti said.

“Our team enjoy playing on the counter attack and I have to take advantage of that.”

Madrid have won four consecutive Clasicos for the first time since they managed seven in a row in the 1960s.

Unless something changes - and there is surely every chance they will face a different manager in the next meeting - they could break that run.

Veersammy Permaul

Liverpool put five past Manchester United

Madrid clobber Barcelona in El Clasico in injury time with Vazquez tapping in after Marco Asensio’s shot was saved by Ter Stegen.

Substitute Aguero buried Sergino Dest’s cross, in what was only Barcelona’s second shot on target, but the final whistle went seconds later.

Madrid ended the day one point behind Real Sociedad at the top after the Basque side drew Sunday’s late game 2-2 with Atletico Madrid.

Pressure grows on Koeman Barca boss Ronald Koeman said he could not be under more pressure going into this

GUYANA CHRONICLE,

Monday October 25, 2021

23

‘Classy’ Verstappen beats Hamilton in Texas (F1) - Max Verstappen won a spectacular duel with title rival, Lewis Hamilton, in the 2021 United States Grand Prix, with Red Bull gaining ground on Mercedes thanks to Perez’s podium finish – and the championship leader extending his lead to 12 points.

From second on the grid, Hamilton enjoyed a stellar start off the line as the lights went out in Austin, and despite Verstappen squeezing him as far as possible down the inside to the run-up to Turn 1, the Briton gained P1 from the Dutchman to lead going into the esses.

Perez, starting third, followed and began to lose hundredths, then tenths, to the leaders.

Red Bull championship hopeful, Verstappen, opened the pit window on Lap 11, pitting from medium tyres to hards, while Mercedes’ reigning champion, Hamilton, followed in on Lap 14 only to emerge second behind the under-cutting Red Bull driver. But there was another pit stop to come under the scorching Texas sun.

The second set of stops came when Ver-

Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 24, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

stappen came in on Lap 29 for another set of hards, his team mate Perez following – while Hamilton once again stayed out longer, holding a fragile 16-second lead over Verstappen.

“We are racing for the win,” he was told by Team Principal Toto

Wolff.

“Leave me to it, bro!” came Hamilton’s response. With an 11.5s lead, he pitted on Lap 37, stopped on his marks and was back out in second on new hard tyres – 8.8s behind Verstappen this time, for a chase to the chequered flag.

“It’s all about the last three laps,” Hamilton was told. And indeed, it was, as the gap to Verstappen didn’t start tumbling until Lap 41 of 56 when the leader encountered backmarkers. With five laps remaining, just 1.7s split the front two, and Hamilton had DRS

on Verstappen on the very last lap. But the Dutchman found just enough pace on his worn, hard compounds, and took victory – by 1.3s – with what team boss Christian Horner called a “classy” display. Perez took the final podium spot.

Charles Leclerc drove brilliantly to P4 for Ferrari having held off Daniel Ricciardo of McLaren at the start, the Australian having made up one place at the expense of Carlos Sainz early on.

That left Valtteri Bottas sixth for Mercedes ahead of Carlos Sainz, the Ferrari driver passed for the place late on by the Mercedes man who recovered from ninth on the grid.

R i c c i a r d o ’s t e a m mate Lando Norris took eighth having lost a place to Bottas after the second set of pit stops.

Behind Norris was Yuki Tsunoda in P9, the rookie having started 10th on soft tyres but handled the fragile compounds masterfully, gaining a place as AlphaTauri team mate Pierre Gasly retired with suspension issues.

In the final point-paying spot was Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel, who started 18th after an engine change penalty.

Esteban Ocon of Alpine was the next retiree, on Lap 42. His Alpine team mate Alonso followed into the pits from P14 with five laps remaining, citing a rear wing issue.

Simmons backs West Indies to rebound after humiliation by England SEE PAGE 20

West Indies were bundled out for 55, their second-lowest total in T20I

West Indies Head Coach, Phil Simmons

Dasun Shanaka congratulates Charith Asalanka after the win, Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup, Group 1, Sharjah, October 24, 2021 © ICC via Getty

Mohammad Rizwan celebrates after reaching his half-century, India vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup, Group 2, Dubai, October 24, 2021 © AFP/Getty Images

SEE PAGE 19

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup…

Sri Lanka’s batsmen stand up against Bangladesh

SEE PAGE 21

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup…

Pakistan dismantle India

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2021