Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 27-03-2022

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27th March, 2022

Free Inside , 2022 March 27 ay, day SundSun , March 27, 2022 Sunday, March 27, 2022

No.106675

Albion/Port Mourant Estate records consecutive growth 02 PAGE

Rice farmers will 03 never be neglected PAGE

–– all efforts being made to cushion impact of high cost of living, says Vice-President Jagdeo

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday attended a Village Day hosted in observance of the 133rd anniversary of the establishment of Pakuri Village, formerly St Cuthbert’s Mission. The Mahaica River community has a population of approximately 2,000 people. The President announced several major investments for the community (Office of the President photos)

New $37 million Eccles fire 18 station completed PAGE

CANU, GDF 05 intercept over $79M in ganja PAGE

PAGE

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2

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Albion/Port Mourant Estate records consecutive growth

THE Albion/Port Mourant Sugar Estate has surpassed its production target for the second consecutive week, ending March 26, 2022, according to Goy Romain, the estate’s Production Manager.

Production exceeded its original target by 6.3 per cent, a continuation from the previous week’s performance, when the estate surpassed its target by a whopping 7.9 per cent.

Romain disclosed that the current achievements come even as the estate continues to suffer from poor cane yields as a result of the devastating floods of 2021, which directly affected plant performances at the estate, over a 12-month period, beginning in May 2021.

“This adverse situation is expected to subside in the second crop of 2022, weather permitting,” the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) said in a brief statement on Saturday.

Romain posited that the estate’s current achievement is attributed to the combined efforts of the field and factory workers who closely monitored every aspect of the value chain to bring greater consistency to the production process.

“For the second successive week, qualified employees at the Albion/Port Mourant Estate diligently worked to achieve 80 per cent or more days for the week,” Romain said.

Further, over a two-day period, 24.2 mm of rainfall on the estate slowed the production process. However, Romain said that the team was able to seize the

momentum by extending working hours on the fields during the dryer days.

As a much deserved reward, the workers were able to earn themselves an additional day’s pay, taxfree. That, Mr. Romain believes, will encourage and boost workers’ morale and future turn out in the fields.

It is also likely to bode well for the socio-economic situation in the Corentyne.

In providing more specifics, Romain noted that the overall factory performance as well as sugar recovery is showing positive results, attesting to the “pol extraction” which stood at some 92 per cent.

“This means that the factory is performing better as it extracts more of the sucrose content from the sugar cane plant,” Romain indicated.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo, Sasenarine Singh, opined that the developments at the estate can be directly attributed to the investments made by the Government of Guyana into the capital rehabilitation programme.

According to the CEO, the support from the current administration is encouraging, as it will most likely boost recoveries and contribute to more tonnes of sugar being produced, for every tonne of cane supplied to the factory.

This is in keeping with the corporation’s Five-Year Strategic Plan.

GuySuCo is aiming at a sugar production target of 20,260 tonnes across the industry for the first crop of 2022, which is expected to conclude on April 30, 2022. At this point in time, the fields at Berbice estates

packaged sugar, Singh said that Guyana can sell the ‘Demerara Gold’ for as much as US$700 US per tonne. In another effort to be more efficient and sustainable, GuySuCo is also looking to procure equipment necessary for the implementation of a mechanical harvesting system.

“Mechanical harvesters are becoming mandatory,” Singh related. He explained that, so far, the average turnout rate for cane-cutters across the six estates is approximately 70 per cent.

“We need a mechanical harvester to do the other 30 per cent of harvesting for us,” the GuySuCo official GuySuCo’s management is confident that the estates indicated previously. will be able to achieve all of its 2022 targets He said that the industry is moving ambitiously are well on target with their $825 million. towards achieving 30 per harvesting plan.

This means, that by cent mechanical harvesting Ever since its 2017 dec- simply redesigning its marby 2025, at least across imation, where four sugar keting and sales strategy, the Albion, East-Berbice estates were closed by the GuySuCo has managed to previous A Partnership for save approximately $1.7 Corentyne, and the Blairmont, West Coast Berbice National Unity + Alliance billion annually. for Change (APNU+AFC), “Changing the sales estates, respectively.

He assured this newsGuySuCo has been on a mix is one of our primary paper, however, that this gradual path to recovery, short-term strategy [sic], will not result in the loss of making significant tries and it has worked,” CEO jobs for cane-cutters, since towards making itself more Singh said in a previous the mechanical harvester self-sufficient and sustain- interview with this newswould just be filling the able. paper. existing gap.

“People will As an almost immediHe explained then that, ate remedy to tackle the by having GuySuCo place move from basic manual institution’s long existing special emphasis on pack- labour, to semi-mechanical financial challenges, efforts aged sugar, the corporation systems,” Singh envisioned.

He said that the mewere made by the current has managed to “unleash chanical systems would administration to change some unexploited potential also allow for the estates the manner in which the in the revenue stream at to function much better corporation sells its sugar. very short notice.” amid unsuitable weather, A conscious decision Elaborating on Guyas was experienced during was taken to reduce the SuCo’s savings, Singh the 2021 floods. sale of bulk sugar and in- highlighted that “If we In another effort to save vest in the packaged prod- [Guyana] sell[s] sugar on a money, GuySuCo is also uct which is in wider de- boat, it goes for US$300 to looking to diversify its mand, and can be sold at US$350 per metric ton. If operations and examine a higher cost. In making we sell the sugar in a bag, the possibility of advancing that switch, the company’s it goes for about$US600 a its renewable-energy iniannual losses have plum- metric ton.” tiatives, as recommended meted from $2.6 billion to However, with the

in a International Labour Organisation (ILO) 2021 report, which examined the socio-economic impact of the closure of four sugar estates by the former government.

In his recommendation, author of the report, Dr. Thomas , pointed to the need for GuySuCo to advance its cellulosic ethanol production as a source of renewable, low-carbon energy that could possibly boost the very profitability of the sugar industry.

“Consideration must also be given to developing a bio-refinery to produce other high-valued chemicals from lignocellulose, both as a strategy for reducing costs, and also for further diversifying the industry,” Dr. Singh noted.

He said that the bio-refineries would make use not only of bagasse, but will also use other kinds of biomass, including rice straw, sawdust, etcetera.

That, he explained, will also allow for the production of several commercial-scale, high-valued co-products that will enhance the profitability of the core cellulosic ethanol facility.

GuySuCo has since convened a diversification committee to consider all options. Singh said that the industry has a lot that it has to do, but these have to be done with “a lot of common sense.”

Nonetheless, in recognising the continued efforts of GuySuCo’s staff, the management team has urged all families of sugar workers to continue to provide consistent support to the cane harvesters and other estate employees.

Rice farmers will never be neglected

3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

–– all efforts being made to cushion impact of high cost of living, says Vice-President Jagdeo

A SUGGESTION by farmers to dredge a section of the Essequibo River will be considered by government as it continues to look at ways in which it can help rice farmers to earn more from their crops.

The idea was pitched to Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo during an outreach on the Essequibo Coast earlier this week, who assured farmers that their recommendation will be examined.

However, the farmers did not identify a spot in the river that could be dredged, but said a point that enables them to directly ship their rice and paddy from the Essequibo Coast will minimise the cost they currently pay for shipment, and enable them to earn more for their produce.

The farmers made the suggestion to the Vice-President, who met with them to garner their views and examine ideas on what could be done to bring relief to them, in light of the high cost of living caused by COVID-19, which has been exacerbated by the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The pandemic has caused a significant slowdown in the global supply chain as major factories shuttered or shrank operations.

This has resulted in a global shortfall in production, which has created a demand glut and along with market uncertainty, has been fuelling the increases in prices.

And amid the pandemic, Russia has invaded the Ukraine over alleged national security issues, resulting in a direct increase in the prices for wheat, as both countries are major producers of the commodity and the war has negatively affected their production.

Russia, a major global supplier of oil and gas, has since been hit by crippling sanctions from the U.S., the UK and the European Union because of its action in the Ukraine.

These sanctions have affected Russia from selling its oil, resulting in a shortfall in global supplies and a concomitant increase in prices.

EXTERNAL FACTORS Mr Jagdeo explained to the farmers that the rise in the cost of living are due to these external factors which are beyond

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo addressing farmers on the Essequibo Coast during a recent outreach there (DPI photo) Guyana’s control, but the government because the price of oil went up nearly 400 remains committed to doing all that it can per cent,” he told the farmers. to bring some relief to the rice farmers and Jagdeo, a former President, said the farmers in general. government is fully aware of the challenges During the meeting, the farmers said that face by not only the farmers but all local the current price of $3,600 per bag of paddy consumers and last Wednesday announced being paid by millers is a strain on them to the slashing of the excise tax on gasolene operate viably and will require some help and diesel from 10 per cent to zero, to from government. help cushion the impact of the rising cost The prices for agriculture-related products of living. have also increased, notably the price for fertiliser.

INVESTMENT The Vice-President, in reasoning with the He also pointed out too that on assumpfarmers, pointed out to them that the spike in tion of power in August 2020, the governprices for fertiliser is due to skyrocketing oil ment removed a slew of burdensome taxes, prices as fertiliser is made from petroleum including VAT on fertiliser and other products. agricultural inputs.

“Fertiliser is made from gas and crude oil, The government has also provided some so if the price for the crude oil goes up, so $7.8 billion to farmers who were affected by too will the fertiliser prices, so although we the floods last year and continues to invest removed all of the taxes, the price went up billions of dollars to modernise and improve

production in the agriculture sector.

“This is a government that is sympathetic, there are things we can do and there are things we can’t do,” said the Vice-President, as he reassured farmers that the high cost of living will ‘level out’ once global production returns to normalcy, which he is hoping will happen sooner rather than later.

The farmers had also suggested that the government provide a monetary subsidy to them, so that they can earn $4,000 per bag of paddy like their Berbice counterparts. The Vice-President, who listened carefully, said this suggestion will also be examined.

During the meeting the farmers raised other issues, notably the non-payment for their paddy by millers, to which Mr Jagdeo told them that the law provides for them to move to the court to recover monies owed them and the government will support them moving in this direction.

They also complained about dockage issues with their paddy when submitted to the millers.

This complaint caused a back and forth among the farmers and a miller present until it was agreed that the millers, rice farmers and the Guyana Rice Development Board officials will meet to settle the matter and report to the Vice-President in a week’s time.

At the series of meetings held with residents on the Essequibo Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Vice-President heard complaints about missing NIS records, the process of issuing birth certificate, the need for an expert to be stationed in the region to deal with bees, the need for greater attention for the differently abled, the need for more police patrols in some areas, flooding and land issues.

The latter was a dominant feature at all the meeting. The Vice-President after listening to the residents mandated that both ministers of Housing and Water visit the region earliest and rectify the land issues that could be addressed at the level of the government.

He also noted that the government will be building drainage and irrigation structures similar to the Hope Canal in the regions affected most by flooding to bring relief to the residents frequently affected.

Region Four Chairman confirms his absence from court

CHAIRMAN of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Daniel Seeram, on Saturday, confirmed that he was absent from the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Friday where he was expected to face a charge of threatening behaviour committed on his father-in– law, Shaheed Hamid.

In a press release, Seeram stated: “First, I was called by an officer of the Major Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at approximately 21:00 hours, on Thursday 24th March, 2022 informing me that I must attend the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for 09:00 hours the following morning, Friday 25th March, 2022. I informed the officer that I was out of the jurisdiction and further it was impossible for me to return to

Georgetown to attend court at 09:00 hours, given the sudden and extremely short notice.”

He continued: “Notwithstanding the late notice, I retained a lawyer, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, who was present in court and represented me in said matter. My Counsel later informed me that my matter is rescheduled for Thursday 31st March, 2022. What is in fact true is that the other party was a no-show in court, which the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper, suspiciously, failed to report.”

According to police report, on March 6, Seeram and his father-in-law allegedly had a heated argument at MovieTowne, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, which later turned grim after Seeram reportedly cranked his firearm on Hamid.

Both persons are licensed firearm holders of 9MM pistols and their guns were seized as part of the investigation.

Reports indicated that Hamid, 50, of Ganges Street, Prashad Nagar, visited the Turkeyen Police Station that Sunday and made a report which alleged that his life had been threatened by his 31-year-old son-in-law, who reportedly cranked a gun on him during an exchange of words.

The incident reportedly occurred amongst family members and friends at the entertainment complex. The police disclosed that the altercation caught the attention of security personnel at the establishment who intervened and escorted the Regional Chairman out of the building.

However, on the same day, Seeram visited the Alberttown Police Station where he made a report that Hamid drew a black handgun from his pants waist during an exchange of words.

Police said that Hamid was asked to report to the Alberttown Police Station where both parties were questioned as to what had caused the altercation.

“Mr Seeram stated that he went to the establishment to speak to his wife about an ongoing issue between them and Mr Hamid intervened and they had an exchange of words and Hamid drew his firearm.

They were arrested and told of the allegation and both parties denied the allegation,” a police report noted.

4

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Driver’s licence theory test goes online, results to be posted immediately IN a bid to modernise the way Guyanese access the theoretical aspects of the driver’s licensing examinations, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), on Saturday, announced plans to introduce the service via an online platform to members of the public.

According to the force, this new system eliminates the extensive waiting time for results after writing the examinations, as the results for the online version would be displayed and uploaded in the GPF systems immediately.

The force, in its public education video voiced by Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Police Force, Stan

Gouveia, noted that although the exam is available online, persons wishing to sit the exam will need to make their way to the Zara Cyber Security Centre located at the Police Training College, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Similar to the written exams, persons wishing to utilise this service will be required to present their ID cards before entering the exam; electronic devices, paper, or pens will not be allowed into the examination rooms.

Persons found with these items in their possession will forfeit their chance to sit the examinations and will be asked to leave the room.

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Once the exam commences, a timer will begin counting down and cannot be paused; all the questions will be multiple choice.

Persons can also change their answer by clicking the ‘clear my choice’ tab.

If they cannot answer a question, they can go on to the next question but “keep an eye on your clock and if you have time, you can go back to questions you have not answered,” Gouveia said.

It must be noted that persons can only make one attempt to do the exam; a printed copy of the results will be provided once the exam is complete, however, the results cannot be used to conduct the

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practical examination. A printed copy of the results will be provided once the exam is complete.

The results at the end of the exams cannot be used to conduct the practical examination and persons will be required to await the official results issued by the Traffic Chief.

In the eventuality that a person sitting the examination fails and is required to resit the exam, a payment of $1,000 will be required to sit the exam one month after the initial exam date.

According to the GPF, available dates and times for the upcoming examinations will be posted soon.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE MARCh 27, 2022

CANU, GDF intercept over $79M in ganja; three arrested

THREE men are in custody following the discovery of 1,580 pounds of marijuana at De Veldt along the Upper Berbice River on Saturday.

A press release from the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit

(CANU) revealed that it carried out a special operation with officers of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard.

During the operation, officers searched a building that was occupied by several individuals including min-

Santa Rosa ground coffee project being revived TOSHAO of Santa Rosa, Stavros Stanley, says the council’s plans to resuscitate its ground coffee project in the Moruca Sub-Region One is well underway.

The Santa Rosa ground coffee project was reintroduced to the region in 2018; the $10 million investment was aimed to not only boost the region’s economy, but also the country’s.

Fifteen farmers were identified to benefit from the project and each was given 800 Robusa coffee beans for cultivation. It was also being supervised by Jamaican Agricultural scientist, Dr Leroy Santiago.

Stanley said this decision was taken as he believes the country’s agricultural sector will become the backbone of its economy, hence more emphasis is being placed on the region’s agricultural prospects.

“We have over 4,000 coffee plants still living there and so I went out there about a week ago and I brought fertilisers, chemicals and so on so that we can supplement those plants and have them revive,” he said.

To complement this effort, the village has also begun a cash crop farm to ensure that farmers are financially sustained, while awaiting coffee production. A portion of the funds earmarked for the coffee project was used, according to the Toshao.

He explained that the village “cannot plant eschallots here and get it to the market before it spoils, but we can do things that have long shelf life like ginger, turmeric, red beans, peanuts and so on.

“That is why we are focusing on that, because it is our hope that we would be able to have a food-processing plant here where we can process all or most of our products to bring value-added to it.”

To ensure the success of this project, the farmers were equipped with the technical knowledge of planting techniques and pest-control methods to boost their yields. (DPI)

ers, when they discovered several parcels of suspected cannabis.

Massiah Durant, 52; Shawn Lindie Snr, 44, and Shawn Lindie Jnr, 29, were arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters with the suspected narcotics, which tested positive for cannabis and had a total weight of 717 KG (1580lbs.), with a street value of over G$79 million.

According to CANU, the cannabis seized is believed to have been intended for transshipment to another territory.

“CANU would like to thank the Joint Services and in this case the Coast Guard for it continued support especially when it comes to maritime operations,” the CANU release noted.

Massiah Durant

Shawn Lindie Snr

The marijuana seized by CANU

Shawn Lindie Jnr

6

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Consolidating Democracy THE PPP/C administration is committed to the strengthening of democracy in Guyana, especially in the light of yet another attempt, this time by the APNU+AFC administration, to rig the March 2020 General and Regional elections.

The PPP had always been the victim of rigged elections dating back since 1968 when the PNC regime took control of the entire elections machinery and returned itself to power by way of massive electoral fraud. All subsequent elections until October 1992 were blatantly and massively rigged by the PNC regime.

The PNC has no moral right to speak about attempts to manipulate the voter’s list to give the ruling PPP/C an electoral advantage as is being suggested by the opposition party. It was the PPP that played the lead role in the struggle for democratic rule in Guyana after it was taken away from the Guyanese people by the PNC administration which rigged its way to power for close to three decades until democracy was eventually returned to the country, thanks to the generous support of the United States and the Carter Center.

The story of the ‘dead’ voting in elections and ‘horses’ on overseas voters list is still fresh in the minds of Guyanese. Such

episodes were well documented by Granada Television in two documentary films ‘The Making of a Prime Minister’ and ‘Burnham has done it again’. It is a shameful past which, as a country, we must never return.

At a recent meeting between Vice-President and Leader of the PPP, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Barbara Feinstein, the issue of the consolidation of democracy was discussed.

According to Dr. Jagdeo, “This is not an alien value to the PPP. We have, consistently from the beginning of the party, fought for and defended democracy. I pointed out the track-record of the PNC on this matter.

I pointed out that from the period in 1964 to 1992, they stayed in office through rigged elections and that the United States did not have to take my word for it, they can find evidence of this in many reports issued by US successive governments.”

The United States has played a major role in the return of democracy to Guyana.

Indeed, were it not for the physical presence of former President Jimmy Carter in the country on October 5, 1992, the outcome of that elections could likely have been different as the PNC under Desmond Hoyte was intent to once again return itself to power

through undemocratic means as it did in all elections since 1968.

It is a fact that the PNC, along with its junior partner, the United Force, was catapulted to office in the 1964 elections with the support of the United States and Britain under the mistaken perception that the PPP administration was going to take the country along a ‘communist’ path to development.

As it turned out, the PNC regime not only destroyed the democratic fabric of the country but it took a strong anti-American posture to a point where diplomatic relations between Guyana and the US were ruptured in 1976.

One would have thought that the PNC would have learnt from the mistakes of the past, namely that it is not possible to obtain power through undemocratic means given the fact that the norms of democratic rule has become much more entrenched today than it was during the days of the Cold War. Today, the entire Caribbean has governments that are elected to office in free and fair elections.

Yet, in full view of the Guyanese people and representatives of the world community, the APNU+AFC unashamedly attempted to steal the last General and Regional elections.

Thankfully that attempt was thwarted with

the support of the United States and other democratic nations. The US has been especially instrumental in putting pressure on Granger to ‘step aside’ and make way for the democratic will of the Guyanese electorate to prevail.

For the PNC and its leader to attempt to project an image as a party that is concerned about the holding of free and fair elections is not only hypocritical but a clear attempt to mislead the Guyanese people and the international community which saw first-hand the undemocratic nature of the APNU+AFC Coalition.

The PPP/C administration, for its part, is doing its best to institutionalise democracy in the country by way of proposed amendments to the electoral laws to make it difficult to rig elections and to impose greater penalties to those who may be so inclined.

Interestingly, the main opposition party is still to respond to the request for proposals for amendments to the current electoral laws for reasons best known to itself.

Action, it is said, speaks louder than words and the PNC leader has some explaining to do on his party’s reticence on the issue of electoral reforms to enhance electoral transparency and accountability to the Guyanese electorate.

Jagdeo did not attack or criticise the Rowley government

Dear Editor,

REFERENCE is made to Vice-President (VP) Jagdeo’s ‘falling apart’ statement (March 25 and 26) about Trinidad and Tobago. It is true that T&T’s economy has not been doing very well as in earlier decades.

It may not be politically correct for a high government figure like the VP to make such a remark that could be interpreted as an attack on a fellow CARICOM nation. No one would be offended if the statement had been uttered by me or some other political analyst or academic. It is an accurate statement and one must understand it in the context used. The VP did not mean to offend or pass judgment on the current administration of T&T, but to learn from the T&T model of using its petro-dollars. At any rate, not too many people in Trinidad and Tobago would disagree with the VP. I travel to T&T frequently, as many as 10 times a year over the last few decades, except during 2020 and 2021. I was there just two weeks ago to conduct a survey on the popularity of the government and other issues. (The government is very unpopular but more acceptable than the political opposition that is not viewed as

a viable alternative, even among its traditional supporters. Although very unpopular in 2020, Rowley was comfortably re-elected as polls I conducted had predicted).

It is reported that the T&T PM Dr Rowley, was peeved about the statement.

The Foreign Minister of T&T protested the ‘off-the-cuff’ comment of the VP. The government official must protest for public consumption. That is normal in diplomatic relations. Jagdeo was simply commenting on T&T’s unwise use of petro-dollars (over US$300 billion in today’s money) without planning for the future of the economy after oil runs out. He was commenting about the economy, not about governance, although economy is tied to governance. The T&T economy has not been doing very well in recent years. He was cautioning Guyanese that we must not fall in the same boat, and he assures that this administration will not spend our petro dollars unwisely. His goal is for Guyana to avoid the so-called oil curse, to which so many countries have fallen victims.

There is nothing in Jagdeo’s remark for the T&T administration to be upset about. The VP did not attack or criticise the Rowley government. Economists or socio-politico analysts in T&T and

throughout the Caribbean would not disagree with the VP’s assessment of the T&T economy. Jagdeo was not criticising the Rowley administration for its handling of petro dollars. The misuse of oil money began decades ago under Eric Williams and continued by successive administrations.

Rowley (in office since Sept 2015), has not been in a position to change economic course, although his administration has not made any serious effort to plan for an economy post-energy. Only the Basdeo Panday administration attempted to plan for the future by putting money aside for hard days.

Many people around the region and in T&T in particular, feel that T&T does not have much to show for the large amount of oil money received. Much of the money was frittered away. Many in the public feel a lot of money was siphoned off by officials going back to the 1960s and invested in Miami, Toronto, and London. There were many reports in the media. An alternative economic base has not been created, unlike say among Middle-Eastern oil economies or Malaysia or Mexico. Agriculture has been neglected; arable land was used for public housing instead of building an agro-based economy as several countries

have done.

No T&T government in recent years has been able to meet rising expectations and demands. Every administration since ANR Robinson in 1986 was advised to pursue economic diversification, but none wanted to swallow the unpopular medicine, fearing a backlash from the population and non- re-election. And unless a lot of energy is discovered soon and the government pursues economic diversification, T&T could find itself in greater economic problems. Many ‘Trinis’ have migrated to Guyana looking for work and or investments.

In his bold remark about T&T falling apart, Jagdeo aims for Guyana to learn a lesson.

He does not want Guyana to follow the T&T precedent among CARICOM partners – of frittering away oil revenues. Guyana’s oil revenue must be used to diversity the economy -- agro industrialisation and encouraging start-up industries tied to low-cost energy such as petro-chemicals, fertilisers, glass, tiles, etc.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

7

SUNDAY CHRONICLE MARCh 27, 2022

Continuous registration is flowing smoothly Dear Editor, THE feedback from scrutineers and other reliable sources confirms that approximately 15,000 new voters have already taken the opportunity to get registered since the commencement of this current Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Continuous Registration Cycle. In addition, another 5,000 persons have already visited GECOM offices around the country and are benefiting from the many other related update transactions that are available to our citizens during this period.

It is indeed heartening to see that our young people 14 years and over, are making genuine efforts to get registered. GECOM must also be complimented for their public relations efforts, which also targets the audience at the grassroot and school levels.

Notably, GECOM’s mobile response during this Continuous Registration is strengthening the process. Our young persons between the ages of 14 and 17 years, will become first-time additions to the Register of Registrants.

Significantly, many

other persons who submitted requests for replacement of lost Identification (ID) Cards, or to have other changes before the 2020 elections, are now uplifting their ID cards. This is, given that GECOM did not complete issuance in the expected period following the last continuous registration exercise before the March 2020 elections. It is also known that many young persons registered during the suspended house-tohouse exercise, but some did not satisfy the age criterion for being on the 2020 Final Voters List and were not updated. Hence, these youths have the opportunity to re-register and no doubt are looking forward to having their ID cards.

Against the highlighted positives and basis for legitimate expectation of the use of Continuous Registration as the legally endowed and precedent-setting approach, one must note the opposition’s persistent and pretentious advocacy for a new House-to-House Registration, in an attempt to disenfranchise thousands of Guyanese who for justifiable reasons may not be in Guyana at the time of

such an exercise.

They do so, knowing that the House-to-House method as an approach to updating the Register of Registrants will take over three years and in so doing, is likely to suppress any elections scheduled to be held within the period. Further, they are also aware that this method conflicts with the court’s decision on the removal of registered persons from the list.

Notwithstanding this, our citizens are not falling for this ‘booby trap’ and are responding positively in this continuous registration cycle. This is particularly since they are aware of the necessity to visit the GECOM permanent offices and get all their necessary transactions done. GECOM staff overseeing the process, so far have done remarkably well and must be congratulated. Albeit the PNCR’s hypocritical complaints, their representative scrutineers are involved at all of GECOM’s Continuous Registration offices.

This position augurs well for transparency and the process will enable GECOM to produce an updated list for the Claims and Objection process. As

such, it must be supported as an inclusive approach that allows a verifiable purpose of queries, checks, and approvals. It is critical to note that after the Claims and Objections period, GECOM will embark on the necessary cross-matching for the elimination of duplications and other anomalies, and then print the present list along with the newly registered persons.

The Claims and Objections period will also enable our registered citizens the opportunity to make sure that they check and verify that their names are on the list which GECOM will post up in the various communities for public scrutiny. After cleansing of that list based on responses from the resulting public queries, GECOM will then move to produce the Official List of Voters for the Local Government Elections in this case.

All interested stakeholders should assist to bring awareness to our people and in motivating citizens to get registered in their respective communities, so that our people could enjoy easy access to the corresponding polling booth on polling day.

Further, citizens must note

that when one is registered at the place where he or she resides, it will enable the empowerment of one to vote, support, and elect representatives of their own choice to function as community representative councillors on the Neighbourhood Democratic Council in which that community falls. One cannot be a representative councillor if he or she resides outside of the specific Local Authority Area (LAA).

Consequently, updating of the list is very critical and all stakeholders also must do their groundwork to get all our people on the corresponding list for that LAA. Local Government Elections are overdue and we need to hold LGEs so that the most suitable persons

could be elected to give quality leadership at the local level.

All those who are calling for a better Voters List must use the opportunity to get our people to register and do what is necessary to get ‘dead’ persons off the list following the accepted procedures.

We must note that names cannot be removed at the whims and fancies of jokers. Hence, this process is very important for our people to get their names on the list. GECOM must continue to ensure the smooth flow of its work in this regard, as this will guarantee the strengthening of our necessary democratic re-building.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

The CCJ and the Court of Caribbean Public Opinion (Part III): How lawyers learn to argue before the Caribbean’s top court

By Earl Bousquet

TWENTY years on, and after 17 years on the bench, Justices of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) have repeatedly demonstrated why Caribbean citizens need to confide more in them.

But its judgments are not sufficiently communicated and explained to the region’s citizens, whether by the Court, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Bar Associations or national Judicial and Legal Service Commissions.

For example: The CCJ ruled ahead of a Barbados General Elections in favour of an appeal by CARICOM citizens working in Barbados for several years who qualified under law, but were disallowed from registering to vote. And in a more recent case, the judges ruled that a man can be raped.

Several rulings in Guyana’s courts have been either overturned, disallowed or adjusted by the CCJ; and in Dominica, too, judgments have caused discomfort to both government and private litigants.

But there’s an obvious disconnect between the capacity of lawyers in the four CARICOM member-states that have made the CCJ their final Appeals Court, and

those in the 10 that haven’t said goodbye to the British Privy Council.

So, how do lawyers in states that haven’t made the CCJ their final Court of Appeal get up to speed on how to argue cases within the context of the Treaty of Chaguaramas (TOC)?

The answers are in a March 13, 2018 report on the CCJ’s website entitled, ‘Norman Manley Law School Wins 2018 CCJ International Moot Competition’, which looked at that year’s XII Annual CCJ International Law Moot Competition.

But then, what’s a ‘Moot’, and how does it work?

The CCJ Moot Competition was established in 2009 “as an in-person activity to orient law students in the processes and procedures of the court, while helping them become more familiar with the Court’s Original Jurisdiction (OJ)”, and it “focuses on the interpretation and application of the revised TOC”.

In its Original Jurisdiction (OD), the CCJ is an international court, and it’s the only court that has the authority to interpret the Treaty when there are disagreements concerning Freedom of Movement, Trade Services, and Movement of Money Within CARICOM, thereby allowing Countries,

Businesses and Individuals to ask the Court to interpret the Treaty; and it’s Appellate Jurisdiction (AJ) makes it the region’s highest Appeals Court.

The Moot Competition is intended to familiarise law students with the TOC, and the workings of the CCJ’s OD, as well as to provide young jurists with opportunities to hone their talent, and to familiarise themselves with courtroom settings.

The CCJ Moots involve CARICOM’s six top law schools: UWI Cave Hill (Barbados), UWI St. Augustine (Trinidad & Tobago), Anton de Kom University of Suriname, University of Guyana, Hugh Wooding Law School (Trinidad & Tobago) and Norman Manley Law School (Jamaica).

President Sir Dennis Byron, in his final year in office back then, said the CCJ was “poised to contribute to positive change in the social order of our Caribbean societies, by delivering justice which is accessible, efficient and reflective of our values and mores”.

He also mentioned the positive difference the use of technology has made in the operations of the CCJ, saying, “This increased efficiency has resulted in a tremendous improvement to access to the Court.”

For instance, in 2016, only 18 cases were filed in the CCJ’s Appellate Jurisdiction, but that number almost doubled one year later, in 2017, to 35, a dramatic increase by 94 per cent.

Besides, most CCJ cases are disposed of within six months, from filing to the final judgment.

One of the members of the winning Jamaica team, Kimberly Blackwood, explained: “Having not acceded to the Appellate Jurisdiction of the Court, our [Jamaica-based] attorneys seldom get the opportunity to appear before judges of the CCJ; and being able to do this was just tremendous for us, and we had to seize that opportunity.”

Four years later, after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the CCJ “decided to host a virtual moot, in keeping with its current practice of hearing matters virtually; and, notwithstanding the feelings of digital meeting fatigue often experienced by most students, six institutions competed in this year’s competition…”

Current CCJ President Adrian Saunders told the 2022 ceremony that hosting the annual Moot “is one way the Court can deliver greater awareness of the processes designed to promote regional integration within the framework of the RTC.” He also hoped that by bringing the law students “face-to-face with the nuances of the revised Treaty, with the procedures for pursuing the rights bestowed by it, and with the Court that interprets and applies the Treaty, that this will ignite your passion as practitioners and scholars for the advancement of (Caribbean) Community law.”

The 2018 ‘mooters’ debated a hypothetical situation: “A CARICOM State imposed a tax on imported sugar-sweetened beverages, and a ban on advertisement of such beverages on TV and radio,” while the 2022 Moot’s scenario concerned: “Article 214 of the RTC, dealing with referrals from national courts to the CCJ, where the matter in question requires the interpretation and application of the RTC.”

The proceedings, and much more, can always be viewed on the CCJ’s website at www.ccj.org, but, here again, there’s need to avoid a dangerous region-wide overemphasis on the level of access available to the average Caribbean citizen with no residence Online, a number that’s grossly overlooked and underestimated by those living according to the Internet of Things.

Here, too, it’s important that the CCJ recognise that there’s a world-wide-web of a difference between making information theoretically ‘Accessible to all’, and the number of people who actually have the devices to practically access the information meant to be at their fingertips.

After all, access requires accessibility, which requires availability, which then requires the personal interest to use the tools at their fingertips to access knowledge more than entertainment, which, in this case, is a different matter.

And this is where the region’s media can make the difference.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Interview with Associate Professor of Anthropology, Gillian Richards-Greaves, on Kweh-Kweh

OVERSEAS-BASED Guyanese, Professor Gillian Richards-Greaves at Coastal Carolina University, has recently produced a fascinating and captivating book titled Rediasporisation: African-Guyanese Kweh-Kweh.

The book examines the ways African-Guyanese in New York City use Come to My Kwe-Kwe to negotiate complex, overlapping identities in their new homeland, by combining past and present elements and reinterpreting them to facilitate and ensure rediasporisation. Specifically, it examines rediasporisation through discourses of food, gender, music, dance and religion as well as demonstrating how Come to My Kwe-Kwe performances in the United States have facilitated African-Guyanese transformation from an imagined to a tangible community.

Lomarsh Roopnarine (LR): When did you start writing this book?

Gillian Richards-Greaves (GRG): I started writing this book in 2012 when I finished the final version of my dissertation.

LR: Can you explain the title of the book by addressing what is Rediasporisation?

GRG: Rediasporisation refers to the creation of a newer diaspora from an existing one. Thus, African-Guyanese is one population segment of the larger African diaspora brought from Africa to work on the plantations in Guyana. In the modern period, they have migrated to the United States, forming an African-Guyanese diaspora that includes their original homeland (Africa) and a secondary homeland (Guyana).

LR: What is African-Guyanese Kweh-Kweh?

GRG: Kweh-kweh, also known as karkalay, mayan, kweh-keh, and pele is a uniquely African-Guyanese pre-wedding ritual that emerged from enslaved Africans in Guyana. The ritual historically functioned as a medium for matrimonial instructions for soon-to-be-married couples.

It allowed the community to comment on the bride, the groom, and their nations (relatives, friends, and representatives), and highlight the underlying values of the community. A typical kweh-kweh has approximately 10 ritual segments, which include the pouring of libation to welcome and appease the ancestors; a procession from the groom’s to the bride’s residence; the hiding of the bride; and the negotiation of bride price. Each ritual segment is executed with singing and dancing, which enable participants to chide, praise, and tease the bride and groom and their respective nations on conjugal matters, such as sex, domestication, submissiveness, and hard work.

GRG: Kweh-Kweh started fading in the late 1980s, during the economic downturn in Guyana, particularly in areas outside of villages. Nevertheless, since the mid-1990s, there has been an uptick in kweh-kweh performances, possibly due to the political climate in Guyana, which has forced many African-Guyanese to return to their roots.

LR: I like how you used food, mainly Cookup Rice, to show the reconstruction of Kweh-Kweh from Guyana to New York.

Why do you think this is a crucial culinary space to explore and express Kweh-Kweh?

GRG:For African-Guyanese, the kwehkweh ritual is a space where they reaffirm and display their Africanness and Guyaneseness through diverse cuisines. While all kinds of “Guyanese foods” are served at kweh-kweh, African-influenced foods, like

Professor Gillian Richards-Greaves LR: Can you briefly take readers through the migratory journey and cultural dynamics of Kweh-Kweh through triangular process of Africa, Guyana and US? GRG: The traditional kweh-kweh ritual is informed by indigenous marriage customs and puberty rites of passage in West Africa and cultural mixing in Guyana.

Kweh-kweh rituals are an all-night affair in which the entire community in Guyana is involved. Attendees sing and dance, as they offer advice, instructions, and warnings to the bride and groom, or simply poke fun at them and their nation.

This jollification is fuelled by a variety of Guyanese foods, such as cookup rice, metemgee, diverse local drinks and spirits. In the United States, African-Guyanese continue to celebrate the traditional kwehkweh before an impending wedding, but they are often compelled to modify ritual elements to accommodate the laws of their new homeland and a changing Guyanese community. Thus, many processions have been shortened, such as the long-distance between the bride and groom, as well as noise ordinances preventing the all-night celebration and beating of drums.

LR: What role does the audience play in Kweh-Kweh?

GRG: Come to My Kwe-Kwe is celebrated on the Friday evening before Labour Day and replicates the overarching segments of the traditional (wedding-based) kweh-kweh. However, a couple (male and female) is chosen from the audience to act as the bride and groom, and props simulate the boundaries of the traditional kwehkweh performance space, such as the gate and the bride’s home.

LR: My reading of your book suggests that Kweh-Kweh is a fading African-Guyanese cultural tradition in Guyana. Is that so?

cookup rice, are regarded as indispensable.

Cookup rice made with blackeyed peas is often viewed by African-Guyanese as “ancestral food”. In the United States, cookup rice and other Guyanese cuisines are the food voice through which African-Guyanese and others recall past memories and experiences, create new realities, and articulate individual and group values and identities.

LR: Can you share some thoughts on how African drumming, dancing, and music have maintained Kweh-Kweh in form, function, and fascination in New York City?

GRG: Accompanied by the rhythms of stomping of feet, “found sounds” (objects used as instruments), synthesizers, djembes, and an assortment of percussive instruments, attendees at Come to My KweKwe sing traditional kweh-kweh songs, Guyanese folk songs, and musical genres

from around the world. They sing using coded language, double-entendre (double meaning), and unmasked (raw) speech.

As attendees sing and dance in the ganda (performance space), they address diverse matrimonial topics, particularly sex. Some African-Guyanese view the drums as a distraction and often complain that Come to My Kwe-Kwe singing should only be accompanied by the rhythms of the stomping feet and found sounds. Nevertheless, attendees understand that the songs and dances performed and innovated at Come to My Kwe-Kwe are done to entertain, instruct, and educate the African-Guyanese diaspora in New York City, and, in so doing, keep the kweh-kweh ritual alive.

LR:What role does religion (African animism/spiritualism, Christianity, syncretic) play in the rediasporisation of Kweh-Kweh in New York City?

GRG: In the context of Come to My Kwe-Kwe in New York City, the complexity of religious values and ethnic identity negotiations collide with varying outcomes. Some who embrace African-Guyanese culture but reject the religious undertones of the ritual, such as the beating of drums or the pouring of libation, might remain on the peripheries of the ganda (the performance space) or participate in select practices. Others who seek the mental reprise from religious doctrines that bind them to their faith and prevent them from embracing their Africanness, reinterpret scriptures to suit the performances they participate in. For many, however, participating in Come to My Kwe-Kwe requires them to “borrow a day from God” to sing, dance, and gesticulate in manners they would ordinarily regard as “outta ardah” (unseemly), and, to do so on the Sabbath.

LR: Apart from what is shared here, what would you like readers to know about your book?

GRG:The process of rediasporisation is not limited to the African-Guyanese diaspora but is applicable to all diasporic groups.

Moreover, this book compels us to look beyond the surface of single ritual practice, investigate seemingly defunct elements, and make broader connections within humanity. By examining a single ritual, I was able to reveal the embedded values of a community and understand how migration complicates those values, changing people and ritual in the process.

LR:You have done an excellent job in weaving and negotiating a good deal of different complex cultural elements and overlapping belief systems, and identities in African diaspora from the past to the present to show how Kweh-Kweh has been rediasporised in New York City that would, in my mind, certainly survive. Thank you

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Brain and Body health

ACCORDING to the Global Council on Brain Health, it was projected that the supplement industry will reach US$5B by 2023, although there was no supporting data that supplements enhance brain functions and prevent certain brain related diseases.

Harvard Medical School published just this month a disclaimed health article that asserted the same theory but did not provide data or substantial evidence.

But why does brain and body health stimulate such interest that it translates to a financially viable industry? According to a renowned inspirational writer, “Where the mind goes, the man follows” implying that your words,

thoughts and actions are from the direct impact of the way the mind functions. The human brain has been programmed since the beginning of time to incline towards negativity; this is why gossip is a hot seller. However, on the flip side, it was proven that the human brain can be successfully reprogrammed to think positively, contributing to your overall health, your outlook on challenges and may guarantee a successful life. This is a welcomed message during the current difficult global crisis where there is a threatening rise in cost of living as a result of the war in Ukraine and post-pandemic adjustments.

Cleveland Clinic recommends the six pillars for a better brain health.

These pillars are adequate sleep/relaxation, exercise, good nutrition, social interaction, mental and medical fitness. Simply put by Forbes, there should be sleep time, physical time, focus time, time-in, downtime, playtime and connecting time, all built into your daily schedules using good time management skills. It must be noted that during playtime your creativity peaks allowing you to problem-solve innovatively when challenges arise.

Certainly, just a handful of persons would have deliberately achieved a balanced lifestyle, because “life happens”, resulting in unexpected demands of your time such as caring for a sick relative, an unplanned pregnancy, an

abusive relationship, the death of a breadwinner or a highly demanding job.

In some studies reviewed, it was found that the brain of older men and women developed compensatory pathways when faced with obstacles, which are reinforced over time to develop their own coping mechanisms. That explains why, despite a debilitating illness, loss of financial independence or family support or other imposed sanctions like restrictions to basic human needs (as seen in Ukraine), some older folks may be relentless where they have learnt to co-exist with their situation.

However, some brain disease are more unavoidably pronounced in older persons and may have a

direct physiologic component. Alzheimer’s risk is increased when there is a buildup of an abnormal protein beta amyloid plaque due to sleep deprivation, lack of stress management, relaxation or meditation. Dementia risk is increased with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, head trauma, hypercholesteremia and smoking.

Generally, some common untreated mental health diseases such as depression and anxiety affect memory, concentration, mood and performance. Like your other muscles in the body, if you do not use it you lose it, so mental exercises are key.

Exercise induces the neurotransmitters in the brain called endorphins which elevate mood. Generally, physical exercise also increases blood flow resulting in more energy, oxygen and new cell growth and connections thus enhancing brain performance. Complimentary brain exercises such as board games, meditation, visualization, puzzles, improving your vocabulary or learning a new language, creative arts (dance, music, painting, sculpting and instruments) enhance memory, cognition and creativity.

The pharmaceutical industry has been frown upon since many drug manufacturers have labelled and marketed their products as brain and body boosters, which some opinion leaders later referred to as a placebo effect. Brain and body supplements are worth billions world-wide as they are highly sought after performance phe-

nomena for the different choices of life whether it is in sports, body building or simply for studies.

The following supplements have been marketed for increased concentration and overall brain health, with disclaimer statements; omega-3 fish oil, creatine, Vitamins B (B6 and B12), folate, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, choline and vitamin K. Despite not labelled for brain and body health products such as Pharmaton, One a day (Men and Women), Centrum Silver (for 50 plus persons) and Focus Factor are available brands which may have a combination of most of the vitamins highlighted.

Anti-oxidants supplements such as vitamin A, C, E and turmeric may prevent illness like dementia. Oxidation is unavoidable and occurs due to stress, external environmental factors such as radiation, use of gadgets such as cell phones and lap-tops or improper nutrition. This process may damage brain cells if cell renewal substances, derived from nutritious foods or supplements, are not engaged.

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

If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine. express@gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg. Tel #2255142.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Understanding Energy

Guyana’s oil revenues have major impacts on 2022 budget

WITH 2022 well underway, it is worth examining how Guyana’s oil revenues have impacted the national budget. Earlier this year, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, opened the 2022 budget debate in parliament under the theme “Steadfast against all challenges, resolute in building our One Guyana.”

The GYD$552.6 billion budget is the largest in Guyana’s history—44 per cent larger than 2021—and for the first time it includes GYD$126.7 billion from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), which at the end of 2021 stood at GYD$127 billion, Guyana’s share of oil production and royalties.

To put this in context, that means: 1. The 2022 budget is 44 per cent larger than the 2021 budget.

2. Oil and gas revenues are funding 23 per cent of the overall 2022 budget.

3. Education and healthcare experienced 22 per cent and 36 per cent funding increases, respectively.

4. The Natural Resource Fund is projected to approach GYD$200 billion by the end of 2022.

The budget increases spending on infrastructure, including electrification, gas-to-energy, hydropower and solar energy projects.

Importantly, the increase in spending isn’t a result of rising debt or new taxes, but due to increasing oil revenues. Spending on infrastructure is likely to remain a key priority in the years to come as the NRF is expected to see inflows approaching GYD$200 billion this year, an astronomical figure considering Guyana is only two years into oil production. The oil and gas subsector is also projected to grow by 96.7 per cent in 2022, offering a positive sign for future budgets.

A projected GYD$200 billion in the NRF in 2022 will provide hard currency to advance Guyana’s interests domestically and bolster sovereignty in uncertain times. For example, to meet its ambitious goal of reduc-

ing the cost of electricity by 50 per cent over the next five years, the government allocated GYD$29.4 billion to the energy sector in 2022 with GYD$20.8 billion set aside for the gas-to-energy project and GYD$1.4 billion for the 33 MWs solar farms for Berbice, Essequibo, and Linden.

Not only do increased oil revenues ensure that the government can spend more on the things that matter, like infrastructure, but that budget deficits and debts can be reduced. Unlike other Caribbean nations like Barbados that have increased borrowing during the pandemic, Guyana has closed the gap between spending and revenues, reducing its annual deficit spending, as oil production has ramped up. Additionally, in 2020, Guyana’s GDP increased an impressive 43.5 per cent, driven largely by oil and has supported an improved balance sheet.

The 2022 budget was described by many as a “transformation,” and “an investment back into Guyana [and] the Guyanese people.” According to Minister Singh the budget represented an “accelerated development agenda,” with plans to use Guyana’s new oil wealth to limit reliance on borrowing from the sovereign debt market and multilaterals and to curtail any new debt or taxes that could impact the people.

Instead, Guyana has worked to demonstrate fiscal discipline with the passage of the revised NRF Act to create a buffer between oil wealth and the non-oil economy, in hopes of avoiding Dutch disease.

This year, government is set to receive 13 cargoes of approximately one million barrels each as its share of the production, up from nine last year. The lighter “Unity Gold” grade of sweet crude oil produced at the Liza Phase Two development could fetch a premium on the world market, especially if prices remain high and the demand for oil from stable and democratic countries remains elevated.

Oil revenues flowing into the economy have already drastically increased the government’s ability

to finance projects crucial for development and lay a better foundation for investment in other sectors.

But this is just the beginning, as Guyanese can look forward to both greater energy indepen-

dence and growing investment in social programs funded by growing revenues.

12

Parliamentary opportunism and the cost of living

OVER the past weeks, the PPP Government has been trying to navigate the difficult circumstances that Guyanese are facing as a direct result of the cost of living increases caused by international factors.

Additionally, the PPP Government announced an adjustment of the excise tax on fuel from 20 per cent to zero. That, coupled with the range of taxation measures that it is instituting at the Guyana Revenue Authority, will see the burden of the

cost of living decreasing significantly in the shortterm on the businesses and ordinary citizens.

The PPP Government is also tackling the spiraling prices for commodities, other goods, and services, through the regional host-

ing of the farmers market and agriculture interventions to meet legitimate farmers’ demands where possible.

Also, the PPP Government is causing the temporary employment of persons of every household to help

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

families cope with the challenges brought on by the cost of living increases.

These families will each get remunerated when they join the skilled, semiskilled, and unskilled workforce, helping out with the development of the country. There are several legislative and other developments happening. The government has already begun plans for tapping into the $5B to bring direct relief to consumers, customers and businesses.

So, the concerns of ordinary citizens and the business community are not being ignored or falling on deaf ears. But that did not stop Opposition Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson, from being a political opportunist and seeking public attention by seeking to pilot a cost of living motion in the National Assembly. Ferguson wants the PPP Government to dole out $200,000 to every Guyanese 18 years and older, quarterly, to cope with the cost of living pressures that are prevailing until the situation gets under control.

In other words, give away the money in direct cash transfers to the people.

This move is a most senseless and un-academic approach to solving the problems that are currently confronting Guyana. Some economists would even say Ferguson’s motion is financially absurd. They say it will make Guyana into a welfare-dependent State.

For argument’s sake, giving Guyanese more free money or causing an increase in their pay or salaries will not solve the problems associated with the cost of living in the short-term or long- term.

If anything, it will drive up the inflation rate and prices would stay at the prevailing levels if they do not continue the upward trend in the economy.

Life will not become easier but harder. Doesn’t the MP understand this basic assumption in Economics 101? Or is it that she or her partners do not understand finance and money management concerning cost of living?

In any way, where is the government going to find

the money to implement such a move. Hopefully, she is not thinking about tapping into the oil and gas fund or money.

The PPP Government knows having more money will not help Guyanese and solve the problems associated with demand and supply and the economic situation.

For the cash grants to work, they must be conditional or have the desired outcome like the case of the PPP Government’s cash grant for school children, COVID-19, farmers and health care or frontline workers. It takes a special kind of intelligence to comprehend how such a motion in the current form and language could ever deal with the realities of the cost of living concerns.

Did the motion have the blessings of Ferguson’s colleagues in the APNU+AFC or the PNC for that matter?

Did the so-called experts on everything except finance, Juretha Fernandes or Winston Jordan, see the motion?

The truth is, the National Assembly is too important to have these half-baked and sometimes poor opposition motions presented for debates. These motions must be checked to see if they make sense. Ferguson must do the homework and come to the House with ideas that have not been thought of as yet or are revolutionary in form and outcome.

Lastly, this motion was devised in someone’s backyard and only brought to the House for political mileage and opportunism.

It seems like the mindset of the PNC-led Coalition is wrapped up in this work of notoriety, and that is, just to think of money and ways to make Guyana not great but impoverished.

It is sad because Ferguson’s level of intellect is on the line. Notwithstanding, she already has the dark cloud circling over her head concerning the scandals with golden bracelets, pins, furniture, and gifts allegedly during her sad term as a Minister of Government.

The motion is missing the mark!

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Money in NRF will be transparently used – Jagdeo

VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Friday, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring transparent spending of the nation’s revenues in the National Resources Fund (NRF).

The Vice-President, speaking to the media at his Shiv Chanderpaul Drive office, said the previous NRF Bill that was passed following the ‘no confidence’ motion against the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition did not provide proper management of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). In fact, it placed extraordinary powers in the Minister of Finance.

While in opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) had expressed concerns about several elements of the NRF Act, particularly the need for arm’s length management of the

resources, and to strengthen transparency of the receipt of funds.

The PPP/C administration had moved to the National Assembly to amend the NRF Bill earlier this year. The new bill provides strengthened transparency, allowing any withdrawals of funds to be thoroughly scrutinised.

“This issue about transparency surrounding receipt of funds was a very important issue for the PPP and how did we fix that? By amending the law that they had, we said every transaction, big or small, from the oil and gas company, if they deposit one dollar in the fund, or $100 million the Minister of Finance within three months has to publish in the official gazette that deposit and notify the Parliament, and if he fails to do so he can go to jail for 10 years.

No country that I know of has such a strong provision.”

Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, at a press conference on Friday (Adrian Narine photo) Relative to the transferring of funds, the Vice-President explained that the law passed by APNU+AFC established a macro economic committee which was chaired by the finance minister.

He said that committee would make recommendations to the minister, who in return would decide at his discretion how much money he wants to come from the

funds over to the budget.

“We were determined to change that. No one person should be able to do that or have those powers,” the VP noted.

“Now we put in a simple formula; the first $500 million that comes in gets transferred into the treasury, the second $500 million a share of that and so it goes. What does this effectively do? …on De-

cember 31, any person in this country can take all the gazettes and see how much money we collected for the year,” Dr. Jagdeo added.

Meanwhile, the APNU+AFC Coalition submitted a motion to the National Assembly for government to provide $200,000 to every adult on a quarterly basis.

The Vice-President rubbished the motion, saying,

“if you do what they are suggesting there, we would have to spend every cent of the oil money that we get and eat it up, give it to everybody.”

This move, he lamented, will affect major transformation in Guyana’s economy. The Vice-President emphasised the need for oil funds to be prudently managed and invested in the nation’s development.

(DPI)

Tribute to Cde. Janet Jagan, former President of Guyana

By Mrs. Indranie Chandarpal PRESIDENT of Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) This year marks thirteen years since Cde. Janet Jagan passed away.

ALL of us who had the opportunity to know her, not in a fleeting way but at a more personal level can attest to the many facets of her personality.

Even before she came to Guyana in 1943, she had

started to live a challenging life. She was beautiful, bright, athletic and a young woman of greater determination. She was a great swimmer and even tried her hand at flying a plane. She grew up in a middle class town in Chicago and had the opportunity to attend Wayne University where she became involved in left wing politics.

Her actions were prompted by the fact that she was Jewish and was passionate about the plight of the underdog.

Later she returned to

Chicago to enter the Cook Country School of Nursing with the intention of entering the Army Medical Corps.

The US had by then entered the Second World War and the battle against fascism.

In the 1940s in the USA, student nurses could not be married and remain in training. Therefore, she made the difficult choice of having to leave Cook Country School of Nursing.

Her meeting with Cde Cheddi and the decision to marry him created quite a stir

Janet Jagan speaking to supporters at a rally organised by her party

in her family, since not only was she marrying a foreigner, but she was going to leave her country as well.

So once again, she had a tough decision to make which she did with no hesitation.

Even before she came to Guyana it was clear that she was not only a determined young woman but a talented one as well.

Ever since her arrival, she was propelled into the activities with her husband as they sought to address the various issues confronting the underprivileged and downtrodden.

One year after her arrival (1944) she took up the cause of women by penning a letter in the Labour Advocate on the question of adult suffrage.

This quotation is used to illustrate her early vision for women rights and to place on record her leadership role in giving purpose to women’s equality.

“The very vital question of adult suffrage, today while being of extreme importance to the male population of British Guiana, is of equal significance to all women of the country.

The existing law does not qualify many women to vote, since very few could possibly meet the property qualifica-

Janet Jagan tions. The present struggle many children, and the meafor adult suffrage is also, one gre education hinder many might say, a struggle for the who have abilities equal to women to vote, although a men. women suffrage amendment Women are not encourwas given effect, we are well aged enough to become more aware, did not enfranchise educated and take part in more than a handful women political meetings and organup to several years ago. isations as are the men.

The majority of women The women of this counin this country still occupy try must fight hand in hand a relatively minor place in with the men for rights and society. Their function is reforms that are needed. still one that does not reach The women must try to very far outside the confines educate themselves and do of the homes.

See page 14 Early marriages, too

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Tribute to Cde. Janet Jagan, former ...

From page 13

their best to educate their daughters as equally as they educate their sons. The women of British Guiana must prepare themselves and their daughters for the work they must do in the future.”

Women in Guiana by the mid-forties had already entered the fray of struggle in the working class arena.

Those in the middle class were trying to provide assistance to the less fortunate in their midst by working through the charitable and friendly societies that were formed.

The body politics at that period was characterised by male dominance since there was strict demarcation in the public and private sphere of society and women were not permitted to enter that domain.

Cde Janet was not constrained by that situation since she was nurtured in her country through her involvement in left wing politics. While she believed in women’s emancipation, she recognised how irresponsible it would have been to obtain emancipation in the environment that existed at that time.

Adult suffrage had to be for women and freedom from colonial rule was also necessary. Cde H. Hubbard, who, according to Cde Janet, had political vision and astuteness, urged her to form a women’s organisation and

even assisted in the many aspects of the establishment of the WPEO. This vision formed the basis for the emergence of the Women’s Political and Economic Organisation which was formed in 1946 on the 12th July and the three women responsible for the formation were Mrs. Janet Jagan, Ms. Winifred Gaskin and Ms. Frances Van Stafford. The mission was to ensure the political and economic organisation of women in order to promote their economic welfare and their political and social emancipation as well as their betterment.

The WPEO set about encouraging women to register as voters for the election in 1947. It was at this election that Mrs. Janet Jagan made her entrance in the political arena. She contested the central Georgetown seat and although she made a great impact, she lost because of the limited franchise.

The WPEO not only encouraged women to vote but also urged women in the charitable organisations to exert pressure on the government to create improvements in social welfare in general and in housing conditions in particular. Within the first three months it attracted approximately 165 members, both working and middle class.

We are aware of Enmore and its impact on the lives of

the Jagans in 1948, as well as the events that led to the formation of the PPP and the subsequent winning of elections of April 1953 under universal adult suffrage when three women were elected to the House of Assembly. Mrs. Jagan was elected Deputy Speaker of British Guiana’s first House of Assembly.

On May 27th 1953, the WPO was formed by Janet Jagan, Jane Phillips Gay and Mrs. Aukland with the following mission “The WPO stands for a better educated women who can bring up her children in surroundings of security; it stands for the raising of our living standards and it stands for peace and friendship among the peoples of the world and for the ultimate liberation of [our] women from colonialism and poverty.”

It would be of interest to note that just two days after the formation she left Guiana to participate in a meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, organised by the Women’s International Democratic Federation. At that meeting she made a call for British Guiana to become independent.

“We the colonial peoples under the British domination are obliged to sell at low prices and buy at high prices.

Thus, wages never cover the cost of living; our women are hoping for a future granting them equal rights and the

possibility to develop their talents, as the women of Eastern Europe. We are part of the peace movement since we are aware of the fact that war threatens not only our people but all of civilisation. Help us to win freedom for all the oppressed colonial people.”

She was a pioneer of the movement to improve the conditions of Guyanese women organising them in their communities and at the national level for equal treatment and full human rights.

She lived to see that vision becoming a reality where she herself had attained the highest office of the land; where girls were excelling in all areas of life and where free and fair elections became a reality.

Janet Jagan played a special role in the formation of the PAC in 1946 and the many actions which helped to light the torch of the popular movement for political independence.

When the Peoples Progressive Party was formed, she was elected as the first General-Secretary and was indeed the driving force behind the party’s dynamic organisational efforts for the rest of her life.

It was during this same period she was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour.

Former President Janet Jagan lived a purposeful life filled with many challenges and triumphs. The challenges were numerous starting from the decision she took when she decided to marry Dr. Jagan and to come to the then British Guiana and continuing to the period of her Presidency.

Her feats are chronicled in various documents and the one which illustrates her passion and commitment is the reference by Dr. Jagan in his book, The West on Trial, when he referred to her role as a Minister of Labour, Health and Housing in the period 1957-1961.

We are well aware of the various unions she had participated in and from her actions and writings we know that she was a true friend of the working class and a Champion for the independence of Guiana.

During the 28 years when the PPP was in opposition, she spent a considerable time working at the Mirror Newspaper and also ensured the publication of Thunder, the theoretical journal of the party. These publications were dear to her heart.

When the struggle was intensifying against the removal of essential commodities in Guyana, Janet Jagan was in the forefront of the demonstrations and other protests. On international issues, she was always a part of the picketing exercises

whether it was for the release of Nelson Mandela or in solidarity with the people of Palestine or Chile.

Her role in the fights for the restoration of democracy was a relentless one, and she used her pen effectively to expose and inform of the infringements as they occurred.

Her position as the First Lady was one of simplicity, humility and decorum.

While she was in a position of power she never allowed it to create a barrier from her and other people. That in itself was greatness.

When Dr. Jagan passed away, she stood there as a tower of strength and provided comfort to all even though her heart was bleeding.

The election of 1997 was a very testing period for Mrs. Janet Jagan. I recall vividly the campaign, the energy she displayed and the support which she received everywhere she went. However, the violent protests by the opposition made her assumption to office a very difficult one.

For me, it was a privilege to listen to her reflecting on the early stages of her struggle when she addressed the ceremonial opening of the 7th Parliament and declared: “Today, as I address you as the first woman Head of States, fond memories of the long and hard struggles of our people come to mind. I particularly recall the plight of women in the late forties and the early fifties. I remember the courage of many women who came forward in those dangerous times to join the struggle. A momentous occasion was when, in 1953, I was among the first three women ever to be elected to Parliament after we had just completed a vigorous election campaign. For me, it was doubly difficult since in contesting the Essequibo constituency, which I won, my gender was a central issue as I had to do battle with two wealthy macho landowners.

“Our victory in 1953, and the spirit of oneness and togetherness which accompanied it, was like the end of a long eclipse which had engulfed our nation.

That day, May 3, 1953 was a proud moment as the PPP Parliamentarians, with Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham at the lead, marched from the party’s headquarters to Parliament Buildings for the opening ceremony. We were dressed in white shark skin suits, the men wearing red ties and the women with red shoes, handbags, scarves and hats. Dr Jagan would have preferred a more modest mode of dress, but nevertheless, we were all confident of the future and filled with patriotic fervour to start a process of genuine independence and economic and social progress.

“The process began but was soon affected by many difficulties. These did not, however, deter us as a nation and we moved from independence to Republican status.

Today, as we look back, we understand that there are many interpretations of our history. But at some point, we as a nation must have a common approach to our history, our difficulties and where we go from here. As a nation, we have to constantly move forward. We cannot turn back. We have to live with our history. It is ours and the most we could do at this point is to learn the lessons that that history taught us. Our past should not divide us but give us strength and deepen our commitment to pursue boldly the interest of the nation and people. We must understand our unique cultural experience and realise that our oneness as a nation transcends the sum of its parts.”

Another issue, which I would like to refer to, is an interview that was done with President Janet Jagan on the 25th January 1998. This interview dealt with issues such as the Herdmanston Accord, Constitutional change, media matter, Parliament government performance and the Rights of the Child. President Jagan in responding to Earl Bousquet on the Accord stated and I quote: “I want the whole nation to know how dangerous the situation was and that it was due to the responsible attitude of the PPP/Civic Government that we were able to make what necessary concessions were required to bring about peace to this land. We are hoping that all Guyanese would understand what happened and would also appreciate our contribution has been one of a responsible government; a government that cares, a government that does not want anything untoward to happen to its people. We want their safety, their future, etc.”

What is important to note is that it was her great sense of character, her dedication and strong organising ability and commitment which helped her to withstand the assault on her character during her 63 years in Guyana.

She was a morally upright and fearless human being who was never afraid to take a position on any issue even though her views may not coincide with others.

By 1997, she was the longest serving member of the National Assembly and, as a debater, she argued well and stood her ground on any issue.

She was a great role model for the women of the See page 15

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Tribute to Cde. Janet Jagan, former ...

From page 14

party. She was intensely private yet reached out to people at all times.

She promoted the highest moral standards and led by example.

While she believed in women’s equality she did not encourage mediocrity in women.

Almost all the comrades who worked closely with her will attest to her humanity, her kindness, her thoughtfulness Members of the public who came to see her weekly would have laid their stories to her and would have received assistance from her or would have been sent to some official for assistance.

She was fiercely independent and always gave a good fight for what she believed in; we have seen her on so many occasions standing firm and holding her own.

Unfortunately, she was vilified by some who cannot even begin to understand the contributions she has made to this country which became her real home. She never wanted sympathy or thanks since whatever she was doing she was doing so by her own accord and for what she believed in.

As General-Secretary of the party from 19531970, she managed that office, helped the WPO, wrote for Mirror, represented the party at special forums, visited groups and managed her home and family. When asked about her ability to perform such diverse tasks on a daily basis, she would always respond “that you have to know how to manage time and for women they need to know how to balance family life with public and professional life”.

Janet Jagan was the comrade many had gone to in times of doubt and uncertainty. She was always willing and was never afraid to give advice.

Cheddi and Janet Jagan came into the political landscape at a critical historical period and having completed the most difficult tasks passed on. It is now left to us to build on the legacy they have left us.

We must all be proud of this daughter, this mother, this friend and comrade who lived a life of service to humanity and the liberation of man and womankind.

She was pioneer in politics and the struggle for

independence and women’s rights’ being among one of the first women Members of the Legislature in Guyana, the first female to be made a Deputy Speaker in in 1953, one of the longest serving members of the National Assembly, the first female Minister in Guyana, the first female Prime Minister and the first female President of Guyana; Recipient of the Order of Excellence and the Gandhi Gold Medal for Peace, Democracy and Women’s Rights by UNESCO. The greatest legacy of all is the PPP, WPO and PYO which Cdes Cheddi and Janet dedicated their energies and total commitment to build and solidify. While we have all helped individually and collectively to strengthen it, had it not been for their vision and dedication, this party of 60 years would not have been what it is today.

May the soul of our leaders rest in peace, may their contributions to the development of our party and country continue to inspire us and may our party continue to grow from strength to strength.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

IDB Lab, WeXchange launch new call for STEM women entrepreneurs IDB Lab, the innovation laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and its WeXchange platform – which helps tech-oriented women entrepreneurs in the region – are launching a new call to connect the most innovative and dynamic STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) women entrepreneurs with a potential access to financing.

According to the IDB, this edition of ‘WeXchange Women STEMpreneurs’ competition will select 15 startups that have technology as a key component of their business with at least one female co-founder or one woman on their leadership team.

In addition, they need to be headquartered and have operations in at least one Latin American or Caribbean country and be at between pre-seed and

Series B fundraising stage.

“The selected candidates will fly to Miami, where, on May 24, they will pitch their companies to capital fund investors at the event “WeXchange: Connecting STEMpreneurs with investors,” within the framework of the VC Latam Summit.

Organised by nine national venture capital and private capital organisations from the region, this three-day summit will bring together Latin America’s leading venture capital investors,” the IDB noted.

The selected startups will also participate in a five-day hybrid boot camp organised by Google, where they will receive training and attend workshops on technology, digital marketing, leadership, and fundraising.

“In Latin America and the Caribbean we need more women funding companies, particularly in STEM fields,” IDB Lab CEO Irene Arias said.

“We urge women entrepreneurs using technology in their projects to participate in this type of events, which combine training and connections with financing opportunities – all areas that are hard to reach by women seeking to launch a business in our region.”

Companies interested in participating can apply until April 8, 2022 using the appropriate link. Entrepreneurs will be notified if they were selected by April 25.

This call is being carried out with assistance from the venture capital fund AVP and Google, and support from the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi).

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Nine more COVID-19 cases recorded NINE more persons have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, taking Guyana’s overall confirmed cases to 63,232, since the first case was recorded in March 2020.

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

There are currently 85 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the nine new cases which were recorded in Regions Two, Four and Six. Region Two recorded one new case, while Regions Four and Six recorded three and five cases respectively.

Of the active cases, two persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; seven are in institutional isolation; 76 are in home isolation, and 13 are in institutional quarantine.

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

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

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New $37 million Eccles fire station completed

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

–– to be commissioned soon –– works ongoing at Ogle fire station

IN keeping with government’s mission of improving fire-fighting service, the new $37 million fire station on the East Bank of Demerara is at a “prac-

tical” completion rate and is expected to be commissioned soon, according to Permanent Sectary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Toussaint Jr.

Thomas.

The government’s plan for the construction of the new fire station was disclosed last year by the then Fire Chief, Kalamadeen

The $37 million Eccles Fire Station (Ministry of Home Affairs photo) Edoo, who had noted that Fire Service’s ten-point the strategic location of the plan to improve the quality facility was geared at imof service being provided. proving the infrastructural The ten-point plan enaspect of the Guyana Fire tails the modernisation and renovation of existing fire stations; collaboration with government agencies; implementation of a fire service building code; establishment of a legal department; creation of an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) department; training courses for staff both locally and internationally; establishment of a public relations unit; operational pole training for Fire Chief (ag), all staff; and expansion of Gregory Wickham emergency medical service.

Service.

Meanwhile, works are Construction of the fire ongoing for the reconstrucstation began in June 2021; tion of the fire station at it will accommodate two Ogle, East Coast Demerfire tenders and one emer- ara, at a cost of over $76 gency medical services million; this new facility (EMS) ambulance. will accommodate two fire In an invited comment, tenders and one EMS amFire Chief (ag), Gregory bulance.

Wickham, told the SunThe Ogle fire station will day Chronicle that the new house a control room, office facility will significantly space for senior officers boost the services provided and administrative staff, a to residents on the East gym and a conference room.

Bank of Demerara, noting And, under the auspices that, previously, firefighters of the Ministry of Home had to be dispatched from Affairs, it will be equipped some distance in order to in accordance with the stanrespond to any calls by dards and recommended residents. practice contained in the “The West Ruimveldt International Civil Aviation and Diamond fire stations Organization (ICAO) Annex would have been covering 14 Aerodromes and ICAO the communities from Ec- Doc 9137 Airport service cles straight up to Diamond, manual to provide Rescue but now that we will have and Firefighting Services that station being made at the Eugene. F Correia operable, it will offer better International Airport, Ogle, coverage to the members same as the one currently in of the community, and, of operation. course, our response time The Fire Chief noted will be greatly developed that this investment by the or better because we have a government will signifistation within that commu- cantly boost the fire-fightnity,” Wickham stated. ing capability not just at He said that the con- the Ogle Airport but all struction of the fire station across the East Coast of directly corelates with the Demerara.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

$1.2B prison at Lusignan on track for August completion

By Jared Liddell

WORKS on the $1.2 billion modern detention facility at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, are moving apace with the Ministry of Home Affairs disclosing that the project is expected to be completed by August 2022.

According to a post on the ministry’s Facebook page, the construction of new cell blocks at Lot 1, 2, and 3 are at 85 per cent, 70 per cent, and 65 per cent completion respectively.

The three new dormitory buildings that are being constructed in the compound, were conceptualized as a way to improve the operations of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and to address overcrowding issues in the local prison system. The facility will have the capacity to house over 1,000 prisoners.

Over 800 prisoners are currently at the current Lusignan prison facility which has been overrun and crowded since a fire flattened the Camp Street Prison in 2017.

The situation at Lusignan was worsened in early 2020 after a fire destroyed one of the facility’s main buildings which housed an administrative office, kitchen, and facilities for between 185 and 190 prisoners.

Authorities had established makeshift holding bays in the prison compound but the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has exacerbated the situation, causing prisoners to become uneasy and, most recently, leading to unrest that resulted in the death of two prisoners and injury to five others.

MODERN Three of the new buildings will have modern features, such as a fire suppression system, that will allow for better control in the event of a fire.

Director of Prisons (ag), Nicklon Elliot, during a

walkabout of the facility in 2021 had told media that the Guyana Prison Service, in its conceptualization of the new buildings, took into consideration the devastation that occurred at the Camp Street and Lusignan Prisons as a result of the fires.

He had said the prison administration has put strategic systems in place to combat any unexpected fires.

He highlighted that the plans included access to adequate sources of water to address any need that may arise.

“Prisoners will be living in the dormitory cell setting where they will be housed See page 20

The ‘Cell Block Lot 1’ of the new prison at Lusignan as at March 23, 2022 (Ministry of Home Affairs photo)

Works ongoing at Cell Block 3 of the billion-dollar modern detention facility at Lusignan (Ministry of Home Affairs photo)

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Teen girl arrested in Tucville drug bust

A 19-year-old woman who is a marketing clerk of Perry Street, Tucville Georgetown was, on Saturday, arrested when the Police Narcotics Branch visited her home and found 17.1 kg (37.70 pounds) of narcotics under her bed.

According to Police Headquarters, the detectives found two brown boxes under her bed containing several rectangular brown duct tape parcels, which when opened in her

presence, contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis sativa.

Police said she was told of the offence committed, arrested and escorted to Narcotics Branch along with the suspected cannabis.

“The suspected narcotics was weighed and it amounted to 37.70 pounds equivalent to 17.1 kg.

She remains in custody as investigations continue, pending The narcotics found under the charges,” police said. teenager’s bed

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

$1.2B prison at Lusignan on track ...

From page 19 with beds and mattresses, unlike the holding facility where that is not happening at the moment.

So, the facility will be one which is modern [and] in keeping with those specifications that require prisoners to be housed within the prison.”

REINTEGRATION As part of the mandate of the GPS, training sessions are provided to prisoners to prepare them for reintegration into society when they are released.

Elliott noted that heavy consideration was given to these programmes as prisoners heavily rely on them. It is for this reason that a trade school is also being constructed in the compound of the new facility.

At the GPS’s 38th Thanksgiving Anniversary Church Service, Elliot shared that some 300 prisoners benefitted from training in literacy and numeracy, behaviour modification, vocational skills, and art and craft as part of the prison service’s re-integration programme.

He had also disclosed that the prison service is working to roll out a conflict and anger management programme by next week at the Lusignan Holding Bay, to reduce the cases of conflict among prisoners.

“A school is expected to be built here where prisoners will be exposed to further education in terms of all the training activities they would have missed out on while they were in prison and we would have converted the holding facility into a trade shop where prisoners would be further exposed to the various training programmes,” Elliott stated.

SECURITY Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, recently opined that the new facility will address any security concerns regarding potential prison breaks.

With several prison escapes throughout 2021, the security mechanisms at some of Guyana’s prisons, including the Lusignan Prison, were often called into disrepute.

Benn had said that the new facility being constructed at Lusignan will be more secure and several issues regarding the prison’s perimeter, towers, and fencing, will be resolved.

While the modern facilities are expected to provide requisite security to prevent prison escapes, Benn reminded that there remains the “human element” and persons who are employed with the Guyana Prison Service must play their roles and learn from precedents.

“There is always the question of the human element in everything we do and, as you go along in a large organisation, sometimes you have incidents which you have to deal with, which you have to learn from, and which you have to take the appropriate measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” the Security Minister had lamented.

“There are still issues of integrity in terms of people who are doing jobs; they are paid for being able to look out and warn and identify when they are issues, but I am very hopeful that we are on the path to improvement,” he added.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

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GDF Special Forces win quarterly fitness competition

THE 31 Special Forces Squadron, on Friday, swept away the champion trophy at the first Quarterly Fitness Competition for 2022.

According to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), after two days of intense and friendly competition, the Squadron members proved to their counterparts that they are worthy of their title as the premier unit of the

Force.

The army noted that 15 male teams and four female teams participated in the competition which included maneuvering several obstacles in an assault course, a six-mile run, and tests of their marksmanship capabilities, among others.

The 2 1 Artillery Company won second place, and the Officer Cadets currently undergoing training on the

Standard Officer Course 54 placed third.

Base Camp Ayanganna female team copped first place and the Tactical Service Unit (Police) female second.

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, congratulated the Special Forces team but also encouraged the ranks to push themselves to master basic competencies.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

Base Camp Ayanganna female team copped first place at the Quarterly Fitness Competition for 2022

Tactical Service Unit (Police) female team crossed the finish line, holding second place at the first Quarterly Fitness Competition for 2022

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 27, 2022

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Perez on pole in Jeddah

(BBC) - Red Bull’s Sergio Perez beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to take his first Formula 1 pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen into third.

Haas driver Mick Schumacher was taken to hospital after a high-speed accident, although initial indications were that the German was uninjured.

And Lewis Hamilton had his worst competitive showing in qualifying since 2009 in managing only 16th place.

Qualifying happened against the backdrop of a difficult weekend for F1 following a missile strike against an oil facility just nine miles from the track.

The drivers spent four hours in meetings late into

the night on Friday discussing whether it was safe to continue driving before eventually deciding to follow the lead of the Saudi government, which gave them assurances the event was secure.

“We don’t want to go into details of what we discussed,” Leclerc said. “It was more a matter of coming together as drivers to share our options because it was a tricky moment to say the least.

“It was very useful to speak about this all together.

It took quite a bit of time but that’s normal in those situations.

“We are here anyway and we have not listened to the people who are taking care of the situation, and trust them.”

THE QUALIFYING BATTLE Perez’s pole was unexpected to say the least. He is

Sergio Perez not known as a great qualifier, he beat Verstappen only once in their first season together last year and this achievement

came in his 220th grand prix.

But it was well deserved.

He had looked closer than usual to Verstappen throughout the weekend but put in what he called the lap of his life to beat Leclerc at the very end of qualifying.

“I could do another 1 000 laps and I could never beat this lap time,” Perez said.

The Mexican was 0.261 seconds quicker than world champion team-mate Verstappen, who was down in fourth.

Perez beat Leclerc by 0.225secs, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz third, 0.177secs behind his team-mate.

Mercedes driver George Russell was sixth as teammate Lewis Hamilton could manage only 16th.

Leclerc himself had saved his best for last - he improved by more than 0.2secs on his final run to leapfrog himself

ahead of Sainz, who had taken provisional pole with his first lap.

“The lap felt good,” Leclerc said. “I was very happy with the lap. In the second lap, I just went for it. I definitely did not expect that lap time from Checo and he did an incredible job today.”

It sets up an intriguing race, with the Ferraris sandwiched between the Red Bulls at the start, following Leclerc’s win in the season-opener in Bahrain last weekend, where Red Bull suffered an agonising late double retirement.

And it came at the end of a crash-strewn session in which there were two red flags, the second one for a massive crash involving Schumacher which caused a stoppage of nearly an hour.

West Indies closing in on victory...

FROM PAGE 36 36 times, duly threw his hands into the corridor of uncertainty to end his 37th, via a fat deflection to Jason Holder at slip. And England were 14 for 1, and the rot was setting in.

Into the attack, with almost presumptuous haste, came Mayers, for only the ninth over of the innings.

And lo and behold, within three balls, he’d landed his big fish for the second time in the match - and to a flaw that, in its own way, is every bit as debilitating as Crawley’s.

During the Ashes, Root’s urge to open the face and pick off runs through third man had frequently been his undoing, and so it proved again, as Mayers’ lack of pace turned a fence outside the eyeline into a wobbly slash to John Campbell at

slip.

And one over later, Mayers struck with his third ball once more, as Lawrence willing himself to ride out the new-ball threat - shouldered arms fatefully as the ball tailed back in to crash into off-stump, and send him on his way for the fifth duck of his career, and the 11th of England’s calendar year.

At 27 for 3, it seemed ghoulish to suggest that England’s day could get any worse, but sure enough they obliged. In making 31 out of England’s first-day 67 for 7, Alex Lees had been the relative mainstay during their first-innings catastrophe.

But on 9, he too couldn’t resist having a dart outside his eyeline as Mayers served up some width, but Bonner at third slip could only get his wrist on a low edge to his left.

No matter, Mayers simply turned on his heel, pounded that back-of-a-length once more, and Stokes, back in his sights after a jogged single, couldn’t decide whether to play or leave.

Brooks, who had taken over the keeping duties at the start of that same over, swallowed the deflection for his first feel of ball in glove, and at 39 for 4, England were in a tailspin.

For a fleeting passage of play in the mid-afternoon, England appeared to have got the measure of the match requirements. Lees knuckled down with his singular lack of flamboyance, while Bairstow bristled with that plausibly classy demeanour that he tends to bring to the toughest of match situations.

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Irish Racing Tips Limerick 08:15 hrs Gaelic Arc 08:45 hrs Midnihght It Is 09:16 hrs Santa Rossa 09:51 hrs Nazine 10:26 hrs Egality Mans

Naas 08:30 hrs Rosslare Strand 09:05 hrs Half Nutz 09:40 hrs Pandemic Princess 10:15 hrs Acquiescent 10:50 hrs Markaz Paname 11:25 hrs [Patrick Sarsfield 12:00 hrs Tuesday 12:30 hrs French Claim

on this peculiar surface, there was reason to believe that their fifth-wicket stand of 41 could be the sign of a corner turned.

But then, after lining up Bairstow with a length line of attack from over the wicket, Alzarri Joseph switched to round the wicket, just as Da Silva was heard chirping over the stump-mic: “You’re batting slow now, Jonny, like me!” Bairstow’s response was a dismal thrash across the new line as Joseph banged it in short, and the gleeful Da Silva whooped with glee for the second time in the day as England’s most dangerous remaining batter was prised out.

After that, the panic within England’s ranks was palpable. Before the over was done, Foakes took on Mayers’ bullet arm at backward square with a stuttering sec-

English Racing Tips Doncaster 08:25 hrs King’s Castle 09:00 hrs Challet 09:35 hrs No Nay Nicki 10:10 hrs Dawn Of Lineration 10:45 hrs Gustav Host 11:20 hrs Chairmanoftheboard 11:50 hrs Calling The Wind 12:25 hrs War Horse Ascot

ond run, and was short by a yard as Da Silva whipped off the bails. And five overs later, Lees - on 31, just as in the first innings - toppled off his insubstantial plinth as Mayers hit a good length from round the wicket and found a hint of uneven bounce to splatter his off and middle stumps.

At 97 for 7, England did at least have a lead by that stage. But Mayers was in no mood to let them off the leash. Six more balls was all he needed to seal his maiden Test five-for, as Overton fenced incompetently in the channel outside off, and Holder’s juggling catch sent West Indies’ joy into overdrive.

This game, this series, is already toast. And England are about to lose their tenth series in the Caribbean out of 11 since 1968.

08:35 hrs Minella Youngy 09:10 hrs Thyme White 09:45 hrs Dr T J Eckleburg 10:20 hrs Champagne Court 10:55 hrs Aso Carlisle 09:26 hrs Armattiekan 10:01 hrs Timetoroe 10:36 hrs Ard Chros 11:11 hrs Art Of Diplomacy 11:43 hrs Powerful Position 12:15 hrs Coniston Cloudy

36

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 27, 2022

Women’s IPL set for 2023

(ESPNCRICINFO) - The BCCI is planning to start the women’s IPL by 2023, board president Sourav Ganguly said on Friday, while the Women’s T20 Challenge, comprising four games, makes a return this season after a one-year gap.

The board is planning to have five or six teams in the inaugural edition. All the existing ten men’s IPL franchises will be given the first right of refusal to buy the women’s IPL teams.

It is learnt that at least four men’s IPL franchises are interested in knowing from the BCCI what is on the table in case they want to invest in the WIPL. “It (the full-fledged women’s IPL) has to be approved by the AGM. We

Trailblazers’ Jhulan Goswami and Smriti Mandhana pose with the 2020 Women’s T20 Challenge Trophy (BCCI) plan to start it by next year hopefully,” Ganguly told reporters after the IPL governing council meeting in Mumbai on Friday.

IPL chairman Brijesh Patel made it clear that this season there would be “four matches involving three women teams around the

time of the men’s IPL playoffs”. Pune will be the most likely venue for the women’s games.

According to Patel, there would be five or six teams in the Women’s IPL but again that would need the approval of the general body.

India Women’s opener Shafali Verma, currently in New Zealand for the World Cup, said on the eve of their last league game: “Of course, it’s being said that there will be a six-team women’s IPL next year, which is a very good thing.

All our women players, including the domestic cricketers, will get to learn a lot, which is a very good thing. My favourite IPL team is Mumbai Indians. I love watching them play and get to learn a lot from them.”

South Africa’s Chloe Tryon further gave the examples of the Women’s BBL and The Hundred to say how they needed more such leagues to show their skill.

“It’s fantastic for women’s cricket,” Tryon said yesterday. “If you’ve looked at how successful the Big Bash has been and The Hundred just coming back into it, we want things like this to happen. We want leagues from around the world. We want to showcase our skill and it’s fantastic to see that there are six teams now, so I think a lot of people, and not just me, are really eager to want to play there.

“We know how it is to play in India. We know how the crowds are. It’s really good. So I’m really excited to see how that goes. I’ll

hopefully want to play. We’ll see how that goes. But it’s really exciting for women’s cricket.

“And as you can see this World Cup, it’s bringing a lot of attention and I’m just thankful that they (BCCI) are looking at it and putting women’s cricket on the platform. So it’s really exciting.”

With the second half of the IPL being shifted to the UAE because of the pandemic, the Women’s T20 Challenge was not held last year. However, it was staged in the UAE in 2020 when Trailblazers won the title.

The men’s IPL starts with defending champions Chennai Super Kings up against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.

West Indies closing in on victory in Grenada (ESPNCRICINFO) - West Indies are closing in on a stunning victory in the third Test in Grenada, after Kyle Mayers’ blink-of-aneye five-wicket haul seized on the dogged, emotional efforts of Joshua Da Silva’s maiden Test century, to leave England braced for the ignominy of a fifth consecutive series loss, a low that - excluding oneoff Tests - they have never before encountered in their Test history.

A day that had dawned with the contest seemingly in the balance was ripped emphatically in West Indies’ favour in an extraordinary morning session, as Da Silva and his No.11 sidekick Jayden Seales continued the remarkable trend of tail-end runs with a tenth-wicket stand of 52.

By the time they were parted on the stroke of lunch, a slender lead of 28 had swelled to 93, and given that England had shipped eight wickets in reaching that mark in the first innings, it was clear that the afternoon was sure to be fraught with drama.

Even allowing for England’s current bottom-feeding standards, however, few could have imagined the stunning ineptitude of what would follow. By the close,

Jack Leach was once again at the helm, gritting his teeth for his favourite score of 1 not out, and England’s first-innings top-scorer Saqib Mahmood was still in the hutch.

But England had left their lower-order a resuscitation job, the likes of which has scarcely been achieved since Headingley 1981, after a two-tiered meltdown in the day’s final two sessions.

Mayers, West Indies’ unassuming medium-pacer, was in the thick of the action in both phases. As if his first-day intervention of 5-50-2 had not been enough of a bonus from a man nominally recalled to reinforce the batting, he capped his comeback performance with the bafflingly brilliant figures of 5 for 9 in 13 overs, as England thumbed through their portfolio of clichéed collapses, to serve up quite possibly their worst batting display of an already epoch-ally awful winter.

Who, by the end of it all, could be said to have been the day’s biggest sucker?

Zak Crawley, for setting the rot in motion by edging yet another drive for yet another single-figured score? Joe Root, for fencing outside his eyeline yet again, in the manner with which Australia had suckered him time and again

in the Ashes? Dan Lawrence, for a gullible leave-alone?

Jonny Bairstow for giving away a well-set recovery via one of the most transparent sledges ever picked up by the stump-mic? Or Ben Foakes, for a headless-chicken runout that reaffirmed the direction in which England’s fortunes were heading?

Frankly, the accolade belonged to an amalgam of the entire team, for the bowlers, who have been left to scrape together a nominal target for West Indies, were every bit as culpable in the events of a dark day for English cricket.

From the outset of the third day - with West Indies precariously placed on 232 for 8, and with the challenge of batting last on an up-anddown deck - it was clear that England had learned nothing from either their success in the middle of West Indies’ collapse to 128 for 7 on the second afternoon, or from their subsequent failure to dock the tail before nightfall.

Though Mahmood made the day’s first breakthrough after 20 minutes when he dragged his length back to have Kemar Roach caught down the leg-side without adding to his overnight 25, England would not part the final pair for a full two hours of an extended session.

With a wearying lack of

game-smarts, the seamers continued to target a wide channel outside off, inviting a loss of patience that Da Silva, in particular, was not about to grant them, as the lead grew slowly but inexorably all morning.

Da Silva did have some early moments of discomfort though. On 65, he was given out lbw as Chris Woakes briefly hit a fuller, straighter length, but the decision was over-ruled due to an inside-edge, and Da Silva hadn’t added to his total when, one over later, Woakes pinned him on the bottom hand with a lifter, a blow that necessitated a couple of visits from the physio, and later caused him to pass over the wicket-keeping duties to Shamarh Brooks.

England’s frustrations were soon off the scale, seeing as they should have removed Seales only moment after he came to the crease.

He hadn’t yet got off the mark when Mahmood pinned him in front of off-stump, but England had burned all their lifelines in their second-evening desperation.

Sure enough, replays showed that the decision would have been overturned, and to make matters worse, the ball deflected past the diving Foakes for four legbyes.

But much as had been the case with England’s own tenth-wicket stand on the first day, the unfussy endurance merely exacerbated the frustrations of the bowling team. With drinks approaching, England were forced to turn once more to the toiling Ben Stokes, his knees creaking after his unexpectedly full-on workload in this series, but even his best efforts couldn’t go to hand, as Seales jabbed a lifter from round the wicket through a gap in the cordon and away for four.

England’s stint in the field had stretched past 100 overs when Da Silva decided it was time to take on the spin of Leach, with an ambitious slap back over the bowler’s head for a one-bounce four, just inside the rope.

For the most part, however, he was content to bide his time, and marshal the strike, reasonably safe in the knowledge that only an error in judgement was likely to dislodge either man against a notably uninspired attack.

As the session extended, West Indies began to trust themselves to pick up the tempo and stretch their lead notably when Seales shelved his previous reticence to club the first six of his career, off Leach and over long-on. And with lunch already delayed

by the endurance of their partnership, Da Silva finally brought up his landmark moment in thrilling style, with back-to-back boundaries off Craig Overton - the latter a fierce slap off the back foot through long-on, as he gave himself room to leg and immediately roared in triumph as he raised both fists to the heavens.

One ball later, Da Silva’s innings seemed to have been ended by a fine riposte from Overton, as the ball leapt off the deck and through to the keeper via an apparent inside-edge. But in farcical scenes that rather summed up England’s morning, Da Silva was already leaving the field to handshakes, only to be called back on after his speculative use of the review showed that he hadn’t touched the ball and the only deflection had come off his thigh.

Root’s off-spin ended the agony moments later, as Seales popped up a return catch to end their innings on 297, but the die was already cast for England’s ignominious day.

Sure enough, the collapse when it came was farcically familiar. Crawley, who is increasingly worthy of the old Shane Warne jibe about playing the same innings TURN TO PAGE 35

37

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 27, 2022

Steve Smith ruled out of Australia limited-over series against Pakistan

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Steven Smith has been ruled out of Australia’s upcoming limited-overs matches with Pakistan, due to discomfort in his previously troubled left elbow.

Australia’s selectors believe they have enough batting in the squad to cover Smith’s absence but have opted to add leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson to the squad as another bowling option.

Smith will fly home from Pakistan alongside Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and David Warner with all four resting, following the 1-0 Test series victory.

Glenn Maxwell is also absent from Australia’s white-ball squad after getting married last week.

Smith, who became the

Steven Smith won’t play in Australia’s limitedover matches against Pakistan (ICC via Getty) fastest player to score 8 000 Test runs during the Test series, has been managing his elbow over a long time and Australia have opted for a cautious approach.

“It’s disappointing to miss

these matches against Pakistan but after chatting with the medical staff I can see the need to take a break at this time,” Smith said.

“I do not regard this as a major issue but by staying

on top of things now, we can ensure that it doesn’t become something more significant further down the line.”

Smith was not bought in the IPL auction so he will get a chance to rest for over two months as Australia’s next assignment is a three-match format tour of Sri Lanka starting on June 7.

Chairman of selectors George Bailey said there was no need to risk Smith in the next four matches given the amount of cricket Australia will play from June onwards. “ Wi t h t h e s i g n i f i c a n t amount of cricket to come over the next 18 months, and the fact he has had an issue with the same elbow previously, it is appropriate for Steve to return home at the end of the Test series in Pakistan,” Bailey said.

“We have opted not to name a replacement batter as we feel we have options within the existing squad, and Steve’s absence offers up additional opportunities to players within the group.

“We are excited because with a T20 World Cup later this year and a 50-over Cricket World Cup in Asia next year, these four matches against a quality Pakistan team are a great chance for players to stake their claims for places in those tournaments.

“We have decided to include Mitchell Swepson in the white ball squad because it will offer us additional options in the bowling department on surfaces that may well assist spinners.

“Mitchell was part of our Twenty20 International squads

in both the West Indies and Bangladesh last year, as well as at the T20 World Cup, and having been in Pakistan for the past month he is familiar with conditions. We know if called upon he will do an excellent job.”

The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Australia starts on Tuesday with the only T20I to be played on April 5.

All four matches have been moved from Rawalpindi to Lahore due to political issues.

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (capt), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa.

Vintage Dhoni shows class as Chennai beat KKR (ESPNCRICINFO) - MS Dhoni, 40 and no longer captain, turned the clock back with a vintage display of death-overs hitting, but Chennai Super Kings (CSK) struggled either side of that, as a canny bowling effort on a two-paced Wankhede Stadium pitch set up a comfortable opening-day win for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

All the Knight Riders bowlers contributed to restricting Super Kings to 131.

Umesh Yadav was quick and incisive with the new ball, dismissing both openers, and mystery spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine were close to unhittable, finishing with combined figures of 1 for 38 from their eight overs.

Andre Russell and Shivam Mavi bore the brunt of Dhoni’s punishment as Super Kings took 47 off the last three overs of their innings, but they had made an impact before that, teaming up with Umesh in hitting hard lengths and starving the batters of opportunities to access the short straight boundaries.

The chase was straightforward, even if KKR endured a spell of 29 boundary-less balls. The target was never going to challenge them as long as they didn’t lose a heap of wickets, and Ajinkya Rahane scored 44 while three others made twenties as Knight Riders got home with nine balls to spare.

UMESH BOSSES THE POWERPLAY Umesh has failed to at-

tract bids higher than his base price for two auctions running, and the reason could be that he can leak runs outside the phase he excels in.

But he has a terrific record in that phase, the powerplay - a better record since 2018 than even Deepak Chahar, whom CSK spent serious money to retain for this very skill.

The ball swung early for Umesh, and a bit of dampness in the pitch also made his scrambled-seam ball nip around. Outswing got the better of Ruturaj Gaikwad, IPL 2021’s highest run-getter, in Umesh’s first over, and in his third straight over within the powerplay he dismissed Devon Conway, who, making his IPL debut, miscued a flick to mid-on while trying to break the early shackles.

Super Kings ended the powerplay at 35 for 2, and the bulk of their runs came from their No.3 Robin Uthappa, who troubled the new-ball bowlers with his big shuffle across his stumps. It allowed him to access the leg-side against balls that were marginally too straight, and he hit two fours and two sixes in this manner in rushing to 23 off 16 at the six-over mark.

CSK FREEZE IN MIDDLE OVERS Va r u n C h a k r a v a r t h y came close to taking a wicket in his first over when a bottom-edged sweep from Ambati Rayudu shaved the leg-stump without disturbing a bail. He struck in his second over, however, a sharp leg-side stumping from

Sheldon Jackson after a dipping wrong’un left Uthappa stranded outside his crease.

Super Kings were 49 for 3 at that stage, inside the eighth over, not a terrible position, but a moment of indecision from Ravindra Jadeja on his captaincy debut led to Rayudu being run-out in the next over.

Then Shivam Dube - who had narrowly avoided suffering the same fate as Rayudu after another mix-up with Jadeja - lobbed a catch to midwicket after a well-directed short ball from Russell cramped him on the pull in the 11th over.

The runs, meanwhile, were drying up. Super Kings got through 48 balls without a boundary before a misfield from Chakravarthy at mid-off allowed one in the 16th over.

By the end of the 17th, Super Kings were 84 for 5 - it was their third-worst first-innings score at that stage of an IPL innings.

DHONI BLASTS OFF In the first 16 overs, the KKR fast bowlers had made a clear effort to bowl a good length or just short of it.

According to ESPNcricinfo’s data, 48 of the 54 balls they bowled were in those areas, and only three on a full length.

The slog overs, however, put bowlers under pressure to not be predictable, and to slip in the yorker every now and then. With dew setting in, controlling the yorker became difficult: Mavi and Russell bowled four full-tosses in overs 18-20, and three

of them flew to or over the boundary.

That apart, the late avalanche of runs was also down to Dhoni’s still flickering late-overs genius. He used the depth of the crease to manufacture boundaries square of the wicket off Russell, and in the final over executed a bottom-handed whip of fierce power, off a near-yorker, to give long-on no chance.

Jadeja, boundary-less for the first 27 balls of his in-

erred on the full side in the early overs, and Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer hit five fours in the first five overs, four of them with front-foot drives.

In between, Rahane also pulled Milne for a six that showed how quickly he was seeing the ball and getting into position. By the end of the powerplay, Knight Riders were 43 for no loss.

Bravo muddied the waters, but Knight Riders cruised home.

MS Dhoni made up for a slow start. (BCCI) nings, ended it with a sliced six over the covers, and Super Kings had a total they could conceivably try and defend.

RAHANE DOES THE RAHANE THING This was the sort of chase Rahane is designed for: coast at close to a run a ball, ensure one end is locked up and half the job is done. Rahane, making his Knight Riders debut, gave them just the start they desired. Perhaps in an effort to search for swing, Tushar Deshpande and Adam Milne

Introduced in the seventh over, Dwayne Bravo made an immediate impact by angling the ball away from Venkatesh’s hitting arc and getting him to edge behind.

This brought another lefthander to the crease, Nitish Rana, and Super Kings began to miss Moeen Ali - who is serving his quarantine after visa issues delayed his arrival in India - for the second time on the night. They had missed his hitting ability against Knight Riders’ spinners, and

they were now missing his off-spin.

After an expensive eighth over from the dibbly-dobbly Dube, Super Kings were forced to turn to one of their two left-arm spinners, and Rana immediately hit Mitchell Santner for six. But with two more Santner overs to go and with Jadeja yet to bowl, Rana fell off the last ball of the 10th over, taking on a slower bouncer from Bravo and failing to clear short fine-leg.

With two right-handers at the crease, Santner and Jadeja combined to peg back the scoring rate, in the process also picking up the wicket of Rahane. He had done his job, though, and also shown clear intent to keep playing his shots in the middle overs, even nailing a reverse-sweep off Jadeja.

After that shot, Knight Riders went 29 balls without a boundary, before Sam Billings stretched out and swept Bravo from outside off stump to the square-leg boundary in the 16th over. That shot eased the pressure that had built up; Knight Riders had needed 25 off 27 before Billings played it.

Billings made the task more straightforward for Knight Riders with a skip down the track in the 17th over to deposit Jadeja over wide long-on. He was caught on the boundary attempting another sweep off Bravo soon after, but he had shut the door on Super Kings by then.

38

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 27, 2022

Janet Jagan Memorial Girls’ School Windball Championship:

Leonora Secondary, L’Aventure Secondary and Charlestown among winners THE Leonora Secondary School, L’Aventure Secondary and Charlestown Secondary School were among the winners when the season opener of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport/ National Sports Commission, Janet Jagan Memorial Girls’ School Windball Championships was held recently at the National Gymnasium.

The event, which is being organised by Sports Officer Allister Munroe commenced with a number of Region Three schools in action.

In their clash, Leonora Secondary bowled first. Their opponents West Demerara Secondary reached 56-3 off their allotted five overs with Amy Persaud hitting an unbeaten 25.

In reply, Leonora cruised to 59-1 from four overs.

Rosalin Samaroo finished

Some of the school students that competed in the season opener with 28 not out and Marisa Balkarran 16.

Meanwhile, a solid knock

of 42 from Tricia Singh helped Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary to a revenge win over

Zeeburg Secondary (the first runners up from the 2019 tournament).

Vasantie Kishore and Denicia Singh were unbeaten on 39 and 20 respectfully in

support.

Zeeburg Secondary, in reply, could only muster 54-1 (Abigail Bennie 20 and Rashoda Khan 18), before their overs expired.

In another clash, L’Aventure Secondary got the better of Annandale Secondary.

The East Coast Demerara team batted first with Puja Singh hitting 32 and J. Tularam supporting with 23 unbeaten runs which pushed the total to 69-1.

In reply, L’Aventure reached 70-2 with Keira Jack hitting 28 and A. Caesar 14.

The tournament is expected to continue tomorrow.

On Tuesday March 29, the Region Six leg will be held at the Rose Hall Estate Welfare Centre ground from 09:25h.

Schools from Canje and New Amsterdam will be in action.

Christian Eriksen scores two minutes after Denmark return

(BBC) - Christian Eriksen scored two minutes after coming off the bench on his Denmark return in their 4-2 friendly defeat by the Netherlands.

Eriksen was playing for his country for the first time since his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 last June.

The midfielder, who has since joined Premier League

club Brentford, produced a terrific finish into the top corner and he could have had a second when he turned outside the area, but curled a superb strike against the post.

THE Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycling Club will host its ‘March Circuit Meet’ today.

Speaking with Chronicle Sport, the Club’s assistant secretary/treasurer Mr Jeffrey Yearwood said, “Linden Bauxite Cycling Club is the only active cycling club in Linden. Since our launch in 2009, it has produced big names, who have represented Guyana in Regional and International cycling events.”

Intended to be a monthly affair Yearwood said there will be races for male and female cyclists in BMX, school children, juniors, seniors and veterans. Starting-time is 13:00hrs

This first event for 2022 has been made possible through Destination Tours, a tour operator out of Linden which provides tours to various destinations within Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice).

All the races will start outside Gregory’s Groceries in Mackenzie on Republic Avenue. The course will be the Mackenzie circuit. From the starting point on Republic Avenue ctclists will turn left into Greenheart Street, then onto Independence Avenue, Purpleheart Street and back to Republic Avenue.

Looking at the 2022-23 cycling season Yearwood noted, “We have received

support from Guyana Lottery Co., Guyana Breweries Inc., Destination Tours, Sister to Sister’s Beauty, Hyacinth’s Bed & Breakfast and Ole Skool Bus Service. Their support has helped us acquire new uniforms and given a boost to assist us with cyclists’ welfare.”

In light of this, Yearwood said the branding of those businesses will be a way of thanking these sponsors.

However, the assistant secretary/treasurer said, “In addition, we will be seeking further support from businesses in Linden to ensure that it’s a successful year for cycling in our town.”

Tottenham’s Steven Bergwijn scored twice, with Nathan Ake and Memphis Depay also on the scoresheet, while Jannik Vestergaard netted Denmark’s first goal.

But 30-year-old Eriksen emerged for his 110th cap as a second-half substitute to huge

cheers from the crowd at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, home of his former club Ajax.

Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal was among those to clap Eriksen, who applauded the reception in return.

Just two minutes later he sent his team-mates and fans

into raptures, rattling home a confident finish from Andreas Skov Olsen’s cutback.

The Netherlands host Germany in a tasty friendly on Tuesday (19:45hrs BST), while Denmark are at home against Serbia on the same day (17:00hrs).

Cycling action set Lights Green for GMR&SC for Linden today Quarter Mile return

The stage is set for what is going to be considered the biggest drag racing event locally.

Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s Quarter Mile return is expected to feature over 100 cars and bikes today at the South Dakota drag strip had a successful test and tune day yesterday according to GMR&SC President Rameez Mohamed.

“We had a lot of competitors show up- today to test their cars with the timing system and the lights- Of course we had it up all day- and I think all in all it was a great day and we look forward to an ac-

tion packed day tomorrow.”

“We want to see all the fans out here coming to represent for their teams. We also want fans to get into the venue early to ensure that they get the best view of the action and enjoy the day. We have a great day of drag racing ahead.”

Meanwhile the Surinamese have officially landed with more than ten cars in varying classes.

All in all, the battle between the Team Mohamed’s enterprise Nissan GTRs, the S&D performance built Toyota Supra ‘KONG’, Shawn Persaud’s Toyota Caldina

and the Transpacific Alteeza are expected to be some of the most mouthwatering battles on hand.

Expected to take center stage however, are two new machines, unseen to fans.

The recently acquired ‘Promod’ car of Team Mohameds is definitely expected to be a jaw dropper if yesterday’s test and tune is anything to go by.

That, coupled with the freshly landed Ford Mustang of Randel Daby which is rumored to be in the mid eight second bracket will make for a day of thrills.

Race time is 09:00.

39

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 27, 2022

World Class Championship Boxing set for April 23 at Providence

BOXING returns to Guyana as the upcoming ‘Road to Redemption’ extravaganza was given assurances of full support of the government by the Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport, Hon. Charles Ramson, following his meeting with Guyanese main-event superstar Elton Dharry.

In attendance at last Friday’s launch were Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Kashif Muhammad, as they met with president of the Guyana Boxing Board, Peter Abdool, and co-promoters Jack Bharat and Aleem Hussain.

During the meeting, Minister Ramson indicated that in addition to hosting the event at the Guyana National Stadium, the event would benefit from other forms of support from the government and promised to assist the card which will be headlined by Elton Dharry with the Dex-

Jack Bharat, veteran boxing promoter Peter Abdool, Guyanese main-event superstar Elton Dharry, Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jr, NSC Chairman Kashif Muhammad and co-promoter Aleem Hussain ter ‘De Kid’ Marques in the co-feature.

“We will be supporting this event, we like Elton being a son of the soil and we look forward to partnering with you to make this event a success,” Minister Ramson added.

In the featured bout of the evening, USA-based Dharry will face the undefeated Orlando Penalba from Panama, who has an

unblemished record with 12 wins and a draw and will be fighting for the WBC International Title.

Dharry, who has a large fan base in the 592, will fight for the spoils of the WBC International super flyweight title while Marques will face flyweight, Gilberto Pedroza, also of Panama in the main event.

“My main aim is to win big fights and get another

Arjoon, Fernandes named in strong squash team for Pan-Am Championship

Members of the senior squash team along with a sponsor after they were announced to the media yesterday at the Georgetown Club Courts (Photo: Avidesh Narine) SEASONED squash players Alex Arjoon and Nicolette Fernandes will headline a solid national squash team that will do battle at the Pan American Championships in Guatemala from April 3 to 9.

At a simple ceremony yesterday at the Georgetown Club Courts, to announce the team, both players, who are the respective team captains,

expressed confidence they have the quality in talent and preparation to perform well.

Both thanked the sponsors for their overwhelming support in getting them to the important event.

Sponsors included Guyana Olympic Association, National Sports Commission, Cosmetics Beauty World, Modern Optical, John Fernandes Ltd and Excel Guy-

ana Inc. Men’s Team: Alex Arjoon (captain), Kristian Jeffrey, Jason-Ray Khalil, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal Women’s Team: Nicolette Fernandes (captain), Ashley Khalil, Mary FungA-Fat and Gabrielle Fraser Management: Ramon Chan-A-Sue (coach), Garfield Wiltshire (manager), Alwyn Callender (referee).

crack at the world title,” said Dharry, who arrived in Guyana yesterday and paid courtesy calls on Vice-President Jagdeo and several ministers.

Dharry, who has been

calling out world champions in his division, fought for the WBA super flyweight title in 2019. However, he lost to Andrew Maloney in the latter’s hometown of Melbourne, Australia, in a controversial ninth-round stoppage after the ring side doctor stopped the fight, in which Dharry said he was dominating despite an eye injury.

Dharry, who improved his record to 25 (15 KOs)-61 with a first-round stoppage of his last opponent last July, stated that his ultimate dream is to win a world title for Guyana and this fight will put him just one win away from achieving his goal.

The card, which has an international flavour with a

blend of talented youths and experience, will see the return of Imran ‘Magic’ Khan, James Walcott and Quincy Gomes.

Khan will take on Anthony Narine in a six-round middleweight bout while Walcott will lace it up against James Moore in a four-round light heavyweight fight.

Gomes, one of the brightest local prospects, will look to add another win to his record when he takes on Barbados-based Charwin Estwick for the local junior middleweight title.

Meanwhile debutants, Stephen Da Silva and Richard James will match gloves in a lightweight four-rounder. (Clifton Ross)

ECB president Deleep Singh is new CWI director

THE Executive Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) yesterday elected Deleep Singh, president of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB).

The move sees Singh replace Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) president Hilbert Foster as its new Director to Cricket West Indies (CWI).

Singh who hails from Charity is a popular and respected businessman who previously served as president of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Essequibo Technical Institute and as vice-president of the Guyana Coconut Growers Association.

S i n g h ’s i m p r e s s i v e profile includes serving in prominent positions in religious educational and social organisations including the Sanatan Dharm Par Upkaaric Sabha, Shri Sookdeojie Ashram, Charity Development Committee and Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) where earlier as a student he earned a diploma with distinction.

A graduate of the Lousianna State University (USA), Mr. Singh is current-

New CWI director Deleep Singh ly the proprietor of WD’S hotel & Mall at Charity.

In addition, he is a largescale coconut, cattle and rice farmer as well as a licensed gold miner.

On the cricket front Mr Singh played club cricket in Essequibo for a number of years and in fact he founded and was chairman of both the Enterprise Cricket Club in Pomeroon and Pomeroon Cricket Committee.

From 2002 to 2004, he served as vice-president of the Essequibo Cricket Board and now as the incumbent president of that Board, he is

automatically an executive of the GCB. His rise to the position of CWI Director is in keeping with a traditional practice that seeks to alternate director selection. He is the first Essequibian to hold this prestigious position since Mr Beni Sankar some 25 years ago.

An immensely popular personality, Singh gave the assurance that the confidence placed in him would propel him to work diligently and responsibly in the interest of Guyana and West Indies cricket.

He pledged to discharge his duties in a professional manner and to ensure that Guyana is meaningfully represented at the regional level.

The amendment to facilitate the alternating of directors was approved at a Special General Meeting of the Guyana Cricket Board held on March 6, 2022.

This meeting was convened for two specific purposes: proposed Amendments to the Constitution and the submission and ratification of Audited Financial Reports of the County Boards.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 27, 2022

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West Indies closing in on victory in Grenada Kyle Mayers ripped out a remarkable five-wicket haul (Getty Images)

Lights Green for GMR&SC Quarter Mile return Team Mohameds Pro Mod car

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Rondel Daby’s mustang

World Class Championship Boxing set for April 23 at Providence SEE PAGE

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The drag strip is prepped and ready

Guyana’s world-rated boxer Elton Dharry paid a courtesy visit to Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022