Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 31-10-2022

Meat prices stable

- but Agriculture Minister warns industry players against price gouging

IN the light of reports of an increase in the price for chicken, Ag riculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has confirmed that prices for chicken and other meats have not increased.

“There is no in

crease, I spoke to the poultry association and the large suppli ers,” Minister Musta pha told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday.

The minister further warned that vendors must also desist from price gouging.

This publication on Sunday morning also visited several munici pal markets which in dicated no evidence of an increase.

One vendor, who plies her trade in the Bour da Market, noted that the price for

has remained the same. Meanwhile, a ven dor at the Stabroek Market said the price for ‘greens’ went up during the May-June rainy season, but has since fallen.

Lula da Silva returns to Brazil’s

photo)

ANSA McAL in major expansion, diversification drive

By Shamar Meusa

ANSA McAL Trading Limited has acquired lands for the develop ment of a wharf and port facility at Wales, West Bank Demerara,

as it celebrates 30 years of operation in Guyana. This was revealed as the company celebrated the milestone anniversary at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Kingston, George town, on Friday.

Addressing the occa sion, ANSA McAL Group of Companies, Chief Ex ecutive Officer Anthony Sabga III, said Guyana is evolving in an exceptional way since the discovery of oil and gas here, and

the company is expand ing to support the growth and development of the country.

While many of the world’s leading compa nies are now designating and setting their eyes on

Guyana as a location for their regional base, ANSA McAl has been in Guyana for 30 years, before it dis covered oil and gas.

Sabga 111 said since 1992, the company has been on an expansion drive in Guyana, pushing ahead with many of its planned strategies for the creation of long-term value.

Most recently, as part of the company’s expan sion, he noted that the group has acquired over 80 acres of land in Wales, West Bank Demerara, to develop a wharf and lay down yard.

“The group has ac quired 82 acres of land in Wales, West bank Dem erara region where we in tend to begin development of a wharf and laydown yard within that acreage to facilitate port and mari time commerce,” he told the gathering at the anni versary celebration.

The company also in tends to get into real es tate, manufacturing and construction, along with other ventures, the CEO said.

Recently, the company established the Guyana Breweries Inc to further the ambitions of the Car ib Brewery distribution

network. This entity is focused on the sale and marketing of the Carib Breweries range of bever age products.

These products are al ready being manufactured in four jurisdictions, even as it is currently under consideration for manu facturing here in Guyana, Sabga 111 said.

In addition, the ANSA McAl Group of Compa nies is expected to launch its construction equipment businesses soon, to service and support the rapid de velopment of Guyana.

“To deepen our part nership with the govern ment and the people of Guyana for this very ex citing phase of Guyanese development, we’re proud to be part of the landscape and part of this progres sive country that recog nises the importance of not just building for the sake of building, but building for economic resilience through the diversifica tion, investment in human capital and institutional capacity,” Sabga 111 said.

Guyana is a good place to be and invest, he said, adding that the company intends on stay ing in Guyana for the long haul.

ANSA McAL Group of Companies CEO, Anthony Sabga III (Elvin Carl Croker photo)

Prices for chicken, beef, pork and fish stable

but Agriculture Minister warns industry players against price gouging

IN light of reports of an increase in the price for chicken, Agricul ture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha has con

markets which indicated no evidence of an in crease.

One Vendor, who plies her trade in the Bourda

increased.

A parcel of five large Banga Mary is $1,000, while a small parcel is $500.

know,” DPI quoted him as saying.

for the kg,” proprietor Naeem Bacchus told DPI.

er $7.8B in flood relief grants to farmers.

firmed that the price for chicken and other meats have not increased.

“There is no increase, I spoke to the poultry association and the large suppliers,” Minister Mustapha told the Guy ana Chronicle on Sun day. The minister further warned that vendors must also desist from price gouging.

This publication on Sunday morning also visited several municipal

Market, noted that the price for chicken has re mained the same.

Meanwhile, a vendor at the Stabroek Market said the price for ‘greens’ went up during the MayJune rainy season, but has since fallen.

‘Fitz’ (only name given), a fish vendor at the East La Penitence Market, told the Guy ana Chronicle that while catches have been low, the price for fish has not

According to infor mation provided by the Minister, at Bounty Su permarket, chicken is be ing wholesaled at $390$400 with the retail price being $426; at Royal, the wholesale price is between $360-$390; at Arjune, the wholesale price is $290-$300 with the retail price being $360 and at Pompey, the wholesale price ranged from $300-$360 with the retail price being between $400-$460.

At the Haniff Butch er Shop at Meten Meer Zorg, beef was sold for some $700 per pound. The Department of Pub lic Information (DPI) reported that Tony An thony, proprietor of To ny’s Pork Shop at the Bourda Market, said that the price for pork has been stable for the past few months.

“Pork is $600 a pound and pork scarce you

DPI also reported that Shawn Rankin, owner of Robin’s Halaal Meat Centre at the Bourda Market, said the price for chicken and beef has been stable for the past months. Beef at his stall is sold at $640 per pound.

At Saleem Meat Cen tre, at the La Penitence Market, beef is also sold at $640 per pound.

“We sell by the pound because people don’t want to pay the extra

Bounty Farms Lim ited’s Assistant Man aging Director, David Fernandes, in another section of the media, also confirmed that there is no increase in the price for chicken and other meats.

In efforts to reduce the high cost of living in Guyana, government had made many interven tions. These include the distribution of some $7.5 billion in COVID-19 cash grants and anoth

Additionally, the government has dis tributed $1 billion in fertilisers to farmers all across Guyana as a means of absorbing the rising global costs for the commodity, and preventing the costs from being passed on to consumers at the market. Millions of dollars have also been spent on the provision of extension services to farmers.

Go-Invest CEO: Opportunities abound in agriculture sector

CHIEF Executive Of ficer (CEO) of the Guy ana Office for Invest ment (Go-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop on Sunday said that the op portunities in Guyana’s agriculture sector are endless, and urged citizens to be a part of the development by making full use of it.

Dr. Ramsaroop was at the time speaking during his weekly show, “In Ret rospect”, where he noted that Guyana is making arrangements to ensure that the future is bright. He said that a founda tion, including an invest ment strategy, has been

set, even as the country is building connectivity with the wider world.

The leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), led by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, have made a commitment to reduce the food import bill in the region by 25 per cent by 2025.

This, Dr. Ramsaroop said, is the perfect ini tiative for persons within the agriculture sector to take full advantage, as it now means that the vari ous countries will grow more of their own food in order to reduce that import bill.

Go-Invest CEO Dr. Peter Ramsaroop

Giving an example of how persons can take ad vantage of this initiative,

Dr. Ramsaroop said: “We now have to grow

more. And I mentioned in other programmes that we individually may not be able to do mega farms, but if you come together and you know you got an acre here and your neigh bour has an acre, you can come together and grow an acre of tomatoes.”

Through collabora tion, the Go-Invest CEO noted, it can be done with the focus on what can be grown, and the next step being coming up with strategies to get what is grown into the various markets within the region.

“We are looking at large cattle farms across

the country; we are talk ing to investors on dairy farms to produce our own milk in Guyana. There’s an investor right now; a local investor in Ber bice that is setting up a milk plant, and they’re going to buy milk from the local farmers in Re gion Five. So, the op portunities abound in the agriculture sector,” Dr. Ramsaroop said.

On that note, he urged persons to take advantage of all that the sector has to offer by being part of the rapid agriculture development unfolding in Guyana.

‘Greens” being sold at the East La Penitence Market (Carl Croker photo)

Fish being sold at the East La Penitence Market (Carl Croker photo)

Lula da Silva returns to Brazil’s presidency in stunning comeback

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been elected the next president of Brazil, in a run-off race on Sunday that was tight until the last moments.

The victory of the 76-year-old politician rep resents the return of the left into power in Brazil and marks an abrupt about-face for Latin America’s largest country after four years of Bolsonaro’s far-right admin istration.

The vote also concludes a triumphant personal come back for Lula da Silva, after a series of corruption allega tions lead to his imprison ment for 580 days. The sen tences were later annulled by the Supreme Court, clearing his path to run for reelection.

Lula da Silva, who is expected to take office on

January 1, will take the reins of a country plagued by gross inequality that is still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Approximately 9.6 million people fell under the poverty line between 2019 and 2021, and literacy and school at tendance rates have fallen. He will also be faced with a deeply fractured nation and urgent environmental issues, including rampant deforesta tion in the Amazon.

This will be his third term, after previously gov erning Brazil for two con secutive terms between 2003 and 2010.

THE LATEST IN A LEFTIST WAVE

The former leader’s vic tory on Sunday was the latest in a political wave across Latin America, with wins by

left-leaning politicians in Ar gentina, Colombia and Chile.

But Lula da Silva — a former union leader with a bluecollar background — has sought to reassure moderates throughout his campaign.

He has built a broad alli ance including several poli ticians from the centre and centre-right, including his torical opponents from the PSDB, Brazil’s Social Demo crat Party. Among these poli ticians is his vice-president, former São Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin, who has been cited by the Lula camp as a guarantee of moderation in his administration. On the campaign trail, Lula da Silva has been reluctant to show his cards when it came to outlining an economic strategy— a tendency that earned sharp criticism from

his competitors. “Who is the other candidate’s economy minister? There isn’t one, he

doesn’t say. What will be his political and economic route? More state? Less state? We don’t know…,” said Bolson aro during a live transmission on YouTube on Oct. 22.

Lula da Silva has said that he would push Con gress to approve a tax reform which would exempt lowearners from paying income

tax. And his campaign re ceived a boost from centrist former presidential candidate Simone Tebet, who came third in the first round earlier this month and gave Lula da Silva her support in the runoff. Known for her ties with Brazil’s agricultural industry, Tebet said in an Oct 7 press

Lula da Silva waves at supporters after voting in a presidential run-off election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday (CNN photo)

Mental health sector has improved ‘rapidly’ since August 2020

- Health Ministry says

SINCE taking office in 2020, the Govern ment of Guyana has done lots to improve the mental health sector, including the strengthening of leg islation and the hiring of more full-time staff.

This is according to a statement from the Ministry of Health is sued on Sunday

It was emphasised that in the span of two years, under the Minis ter of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, the mental health sector has under gone rapid and histori cal developments.

The Suicide Preven tion Bill which decrim inalises suicide, and the Mental Health Pro tection and Promotion

Bill, which replaced the archaic Mental Hospital Ordinance 1930, are two landmark legisla tions aimed at mod ernising mental health services in Guyana, are among the develop ments the statement said.

The Suicide Preven tion Bill will be debated as soon as Parliament reconvenes from its an nual break. The Mental Health Protection and Promotion Act has al ready been signed into law by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali.

“New mental health initiatives and interna tional partnerships are also ongoing. These ini tiatives include mobile psychiatry clinics for

persons who are unable to go to the hospital to receive medical treat ment, psychiatry satel lite clinics across the regions and alcohol and substance misuse clin ics for adults, children and adolescents,” the statement said.

Presently, weekly psychiatric clinics are conducted at Skeldon Hospital and monthly psychiatry clinics are conducted at Suddie and Charity Hospitals in Region Two. These satellite clinics will be expanded so that every regional hospital will have weekly or month ly clinics in 2023.

Additionally, the statement said that the Ministry of Health (MoH) is working with the US-based Colum

bia University’s De partment of Psychiatry, which has been desig nated a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre, to work with develop ing countries to build capacity for mental health care and servic es.

There are also ongo ing works by Colum bia University with the MoH to build capacity in various areas of men tal health, including through a grant from the US National Insti tute of Mental Health (NIMH).

“Through this pro gramme, a conference to help develop and implement a Mental Health Wellness Pro gramme is slated for November 2022. More

than 20 international experts will join coun terparts in Guyana for a historic conference to help Guyana roll out a Mental Health Wellness Programme,” the state ment stated.

Another collabora tion is a project geared at examining the risk factors for suicide. Collaboration has also commenced with the Canadian government through the Interna tional Development and Relief Founda tion (IDRF), to address mental health in vulner able communities.

There is also an on going, new, and ener gised effort to address the infrastructure, man agement, and treatment of patients at the Na tional Psychiatric Hos

pital, the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC}’s Psychiat ric Department; mental health in the workplace, and human resource needs for mental health.

An initiative that can be mentioned is the introduction of a tele medicine programme to provide psychiatrist-led and psychologist-led access to mental health consultation across re mote areas will begin in 2023, the statement said.

In light of absent and weak workplace mental health inter ventions, the Mental Health Unit rolled out, in May 2022, a “Mental Health in the Work place” initiative with ongoing workshops on

Lula da Silva returns to Brazil’s presidency...

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conference that Lula da Silva and his economic team had “received and incorporated all the suggestions from our programme to his govern ment’s programme.”

He has also received the support of several renowned economists highly regarded by investors, including Ar minio Fraga, a former presi dent of the Brazilian Central Bank.

HEALING A DIVIDED COUNTRY

Lula da Silva’s biggest challenge may be unify ing a politically fractured country, after winning by an extremely narrow margin. With 98.81 per cent of the votes counted, Lula da Silva gained 50.83 per cent of the votes, according to Brazil’s electoral authority. Incum bent Jair Bolsonaro received 49.17 per cent.

Lula da Silva will need to pursue dialogue and rebuild relationships, said Carlos Melo, a political scientist at Insper, a university in São Paulo. “The president can be an important instrument for this as long as he is not only concerned in addressing his base of voters,” he said.

With millions of votes cast for his rival Bolsonaro – who had been endorsed by former US President Don ald Trump – Lula da Silva will have to form “prag matic alliances” with parts

of the center and the right that bought into his predeces sor’s politics, adds Thiago Amparo, professor of law and human rights at FGV business school in São Paulo.

At the same time, he will have to deliver to match supporters’ expectations, Amparo added. “Many voters went to the ballot expecting that, not just to get rid of Bolsonaro, but with memo ries of better economic times during Lula’s previous gov ernments.”

Many will be watching for potential change to the 2017 Labor Reform Act, which subjected more work ers’ rights and benefits to negotiation with employers, and made union contribu tions optional. Lula da Silva had said previously that he would revoke the act but recently changed the verb to “review” following criti cisms from the private sector.

He may find that enacting his agenda is an uphill battle, Amparo warns, especial ly with a hostile Congress. Seats that were from the traditional right are now oc cupied by the far right, who are not open to negotiation and not easy to deal with, underlines Amparo.

In the latest elections, Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party increased its representatives in the lower house from 76 to 99, while in the Senate it doubled from seven members

to 14. Lula da Silva’s Work ers’ Party has also increased its number of deputies from 56 to 68 and senators from seven to eight — but overall, conservative-leaning politi cians will dominate the next legislature.

That friction will require some compromises, points out Camila Rocha, a political scientist at the Cebrap think tank. “[Bolsonaro’s] Liberal Party will have the highest number of representatives and important allies and will make real opposition to the government, [Lula da Silva’s] Worker’s Party will have to sow a coalition with [traditional rightwing party] União Brasil in order to govern, which means the negotiation of ministries and key positions,” Rocha told to CNN.

THE AMAZON AND CLIMATE LEADERSHIP Environmentalists mean while will be watching Lula da Silva’s administration

closely, as it assumes gov ernance not only over the Brazilian nation but over the planet’s largest forest reserves.

With destruction of the vast Amazon rainforest reaching record levels under Bolsonaro’s presidency, Lula da Silva has repeatedly said during his campaign that he would seek to curb defor estation. He has argued that protecting the forest could produce some profit, citing the beauty and pharmaceuti cal industries as potential beneficiaries of biodiversity.

In an interview with for eign press in August, Lula da Silva called for “a new world governance” to address cli mate change and stressed that Brazil should take a central role in that governance, given its natural resources.

According to the head of Lula da Silva’s government plan, Aloizio Mercadante, another tactic will be to cre ate a group including Brazil,

Indonesia and Congo ahead of the UN-led November 2022 Conference of Par ties. The group would aim to pressure richer countries to finance the protection of forests as well as outlining strategies for the global car bon market.

Several experts told CNN they believed his stance on environment and the climate issue could represent a fresh start in Brazil’s international relations.

For Amparo, environ mental protection could indeed be springboard for

Brazil’s global leadership, a major shift after Bolsonaro warned the world away from intervening in the destruction of the Amazon. “Lula would try to reposition, almost like a rebranding, Brazil in the in ternational arena as a power to be taken into account,” he said.

“We can expect a gov ernment that goes back to talking to the world, espe cially with a new stance in the environmental area,” said Melo, the Insper re searcher. (CNN)

Climate Change

OVER the past two dec ades, the issue of climate change has been increasing ly discussed internationally.

Countries across the globe are being forced to admit the devastating effect that pollution has wreaked on our global environment and are engaged in ongoing de bates about what measures should be taken to avert a looming disaster.

Melting glaciers, the rise in sea levels and more intense heatwaves are all currently taking place at an acceler ated pace.

Scientists’ predictions of an increase in global tem perature as a result of humanmade greenhouse gases, more frequent wildfires and longer periods of drought in some regions, along with an in crease in the intensity and

duration of tropical storms, are all coming to pass.

Indeed, the UN Intergov ernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said, “Modern humans have never before seen the observed changes in our global cli mate, and some of these changes are irreversible over the next hundreds to thou sands of years.”

And the World Health Organisation (WHO) made the telling observation that “…the people whose health is being harmed first and worst by the climate crisis are the people who contrib ute least to its causes, and who are least able to protect themselves and their families against it – people in lowincome and disadvantaged countries and communities.”

This brings me to the

current dire situation of coun tries in what is referred to as the ‘Horn of Africa: Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, but also including Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

Aljazeera has reported the UN’s recent announcement that millions of people in the Horn of Africa are facing food shortages as a result of rising global food costs and the worst drought in four decades leading to the worst hunger crisis in 70 years. Drier-than-average condi tions mean that 13 million people in the region now face what the UN and other aid organisations have termed an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe”.

And the figures are stag gering, as the World Bank in June of this year estimated

that 66.4 million people in the region, including ten mil lion children, would experi ence food stress or food crisis with a possible emergency and famine by the following month, July.

We are now in October and the crisis is well under way. In Ethiopia, 20.4 million people need food support; in Somalia nearly half of the population of 15 million were said to be “seriously hungry” then and are now in the throes of a full-fledged famine and, in Kenya, half a million people face a hunger crisis.

Developed countries have been delinquent in contrib uting the funds necessary to provide food, water and other essential services and have so far come up with less than four per cent of the

US$473 million required by the UN’s World Food Pro gramme (WFP).

At the same time, the current Russia-Ukraine con flict has both overshadowed and added to the woes of the region as the focus has shifted to this war in Europe and huge sums of money are now being diverted to render assistance to the Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the UN has warned that the Horn of Af rica is likely to experience drought for a fifth season, forcing more than one mil lion people across the region to leave their homes in search of food and water, something which has already begun to happen as families trek hundreds of miles seeking treatment for badly under nourished children.

The organisation, in re

ferring to climate change, has also noted that, “…some changes (such a droughts, wildfires and extreme rain fall) are happening faster than scientists previously assessed.” They cautioned that the developed world will also suffer, as evidenced by the huge and destructive wildfires in Australia and California and severe flood ing that many countries have been experiencing as a result of heightened rainfall.

It is incumbent, there fore, on the developed world to not only render immediate and significant aid to the Horn of Africa, but to also address with urgency the issue of climate change which is fast becom ing the major underlying cause of weather disrup tion.

Norton’s confidence in non-existent poll is characteristic of PNC

Dear Editor,

THE COVID-19 pandemic repercussions presented a relieved hiatus after two years of restrained gatherings and constrained traditional prac tices, for the celebration of Diwali for Guyanese. The pre vious week ended with many schools and offices participat ing in the display of colourful and competitive Rangolis. The holiday weekend quickly drenched the sourness of the “Worst Indies” CricXit from the International T20 World Cup Championship, and, the call for “GuyExit” is sounded. This year, joyous communities revelled in relief and radiance with pump and joy to ob serve the “Festival of Lights.”

The Guyana Cancer Founda tion kicked off the new week by hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. The Hon ourable Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and the Brit ish High Commissioner, Her Excellency Jane Miller par ticipated in the walk from the BoG to the Kingston Seawall. Motorcades lit up Sunday night throughout Guyana to herald Deepavali’s grandeur. Twenty-four people are left

homeless in Berbice and three in Linden after fires ravaged their houses. Rishi Sunak is now the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The world’s dirtiest man, 94-yearold Amou Haji, died in Iran last Tuesday. He hadn’t taken a bath for the last 60 years for fear of getting sick! Guyana’s outgoing High Commissioner to India, Charrandass Per saud, stepped down from his position and will be returning home to facilitate the transi tion of his successor. Exxon Mobil announced two more discoveries at the Sailfin and Yarrow wells in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. A Guyana Karate College will be constructed. On behalf of the Government, President Ali contributed $10Million towards its cause. Courts has upgraded its store on Main Street to Courts Mega Store with a $120 million facelift.

ANSA McAl has commis sioned a brand-new US$2 mil lion multi-purpose facility at Palmyra in East Berbice.

As you enjoy cricket, foot ball, hockey, chess, a stroll by the beach, walk with the Precious Angels for Syndrome

Awareness, take it light and easy, just don’t fall into the darkness of ignorance, but, spend a few reading moments and allow the following to shed a shade of light:

1) 13th March, 2023, was announced as the date for the next Local Government Elec tions and President Ali hoped, “With these Local Government Elections we can bring together local leadership that includes women and young people that shows our seriousness in build ing and strengthening govern ance at every single level.” With ruckus in the camp, both Norton and Ramjattan are at sea regard ing the APNU and AFC parties participating!

2) President Ali in his con gratulatory address to India’s “Mission Life” initiative stated, “Our planet is under threat, where 75 per cent of earth’s land has substantially degraded…. Collective action is needed to protect our environment.” Prime Minister Modi has rekindled the aggressive fight to com bat climate change interna tionally. Former President Dr Bharat Jagdeo was given a spe cial ‘Champions of the Earth’ award by the United Nations in

2010 for Biodiversity Conser vation and Eco System Man agement. Also in 2008, Times Magazine and CNN named him as one of their “Heroes of the Environment 2008.”

3) Minister Susan Rodrigues explained, “And for you to have an application in our system, you have to be Guyanese. In order to prevent that from happen ing, we would have to state in an agreement of sale what they can use [the land] for.” She was responding to the government’s policy of having protection in place against any claim of ex clusive housing developments for foreigners.

4) Included in the Presi dent’s Diwali message to the na tion, President Ali stated, “May the spirit of Diwali, celebrated with such fervour in our country, help to fuse our people closer together, respecting our ethnic diversity, setting aside division and uniting all in pursuit of the common good. A happy and joyous Diwali to all of Guyana.” The President stressed that the unity of the entire nation is of paramount importance to the PPP/C Government’s objective of shared prosperity, equitably, 5) At a hall meeting set

up by the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, the Attorney General Mr Anil Nandlall observed, “Guyana is poised to go on a wide-ranging constitutional reform process which is going to involve the establishment of a broad-based constitutional commission that will do widespread consultations across the country.” The PPP/C Government is following the law with transparency, unlike the Burnhamite days!

6) Vice-President, Dr Bharat Jagdeo revealed in a recent inter view, “A number of other things [will be] fixed. And serious pen alties for breaches. So, the law is now before us. APNU doesn’t want that passed. They issued a statement that they’re opposed to any changes in RoPA.” A national stakeholders’ consultation on the draft amendments to Guyana’s electoral laws took place on the 25th Oct.,2022 at the ACCC.

7) Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony urged the nation to, “…. have like village sports where everybody comes out and play; don’t matter your age. We need to have activities so that we can stay healthy.” The PPP/C Government is encouraging Guyanese to pay more attention

to primary healthcare and to visit their health centres on a regular basis.

8) China’s President, Xi Jin ping announced, “China cannot develop without the world, and the world also needs China.” He was in office since 2012 and now elected to serve as President for a third term.

9) On the Springlands to Nickerie ‘back track’ route issue, Suriname President Santokhi said, “We are convinced that this ‘back track’ meets an enormous need. But as a government, it remains our job and responsibil ity to ensure that things are done safely and in accordance with legal regulations.” The Guyana Government welcomed this development.

10) Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony took a swipe at health personnel work attitudes when he said, “That is some thing we have to change and we do not want a new set of people coming into the system having bad attitudes… we have been emphasising this so that we train you and you become a catalyst for change in the system.” Some staffers are not diligent and at times instead of serving the

CWI gives lip service to change

Dear Editor,

AFTER the World Cup catastrophe, the pending resignation of coach Sim mons gave a ray of hope that things will begin to change. But with its selec tion of the test squad to play in Australia, Cricket West Indies has made it clear that it gives only lip service to change and Sim mons was made the fall guy. So what could have been different?

For starters, why is Gudakesh Motie not in the squad to Australia? What more does this young man have to do to get selected?

Given that there are no spe cialist spinners in the squad, one cannot argue that some one else was chosen. And Motie’s inclusion would have provided scope for him to further hone his skills.

Why is Devon Thomas still in the team? Thomas has an ODI average of 14 and a

T20I average of 8.50. Surely, there are keepers around the West Indies with far better batting track records, who are just as good or per haps even better keepers than Thomas. Like Pooran, Thomas has never played tests, but Pooran’s ODI av erage is 36.16 and T20I is 25.48. While Pooran has not lived up to his reputa tion, surely no one thinks Thomas is a better batter?

Wouldn’t this have been the

ideal opportunity to draft Pooran into the test squad?

Or, if CWI has decided that Pooran will play only white ball cricket, then what about Shane Dowrich? Although he has not lived up to his potential either, his stats are still among the best in West Indies test cricket. And he’s as good a “keeper” and far better batter than Thomas.

Obed McCoy has gar nered attention as an up and coming pacer. His T20I stats

are comparable to many leading pacers and he’s played two ODIs thus far, taking four wickets. Would this not have been an op portune moment to include him at the test level? Surely, he should have been selected in front of Phillips? Or has CWI already pigeonholed McCoy as a white ball crick eter?

And why is Raymon Reifer in the squad? Reifer has proven beyond any

doubt that he’s not a test player. With Holder and Mayers holding down allrounders’ positions, surely Hetmyer should have been in place of Reifer? Or is Hetmyer’s omission CWI’s revenge for the young man not being able to go to the World Cup? Hetmyer and Pooran could have added potential to a batting line up that is somewhat weak.

Yours sincerely, Annan Boodram

Norton’s confidence in non-existent poll is characteristic...

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public they are on their phones.

11) Omai’s President and CEO, Elaine Ellingham stated, “We are extremely pleased with the results of this 2022 updated Mineral Resource Estimate.” Its latest find of 1.6 million ounces of gold in the Wenot Deposit, translates to some US$6.2 bil lion.

12) Canada’s High Commis sioner to Guyana Mark Berman, in an interview concluded, “We export about $80 Billion in agricultural products. So, we have a lot to offer in that area.” There is a real opportunity here to focus on more investment and Canadian technology to assist with the growth of agriculture.

13) The third person to win the ruling UK’s Conservative Party’s leadership contest, Rishi Sunak, told the British, “there is no doubt, we face a profound economic challenge. We now need stability and unity, and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our coun try together.”

14) The Attorney-General Mr Anil Nandlall, stated, “Un fortunately, the reality has been that we have never been able to appoint a Chancellor or a Chief Justice substantially to those offices, because we have never been able to secure an agreement between the President and the

Opposition.” The dictatorship of PNC’s way or the highway, is a thing of the past with the proposed RoPA amendments!

15) Dr Tara Singh wrote, “The CCJ’s rulings overturned all the elections-related CoA judgements, saved democracy in Guyana. Had it not been for that, democracy would have been crushed in Guyana (post March 2, 2020, election electoral heist attempts attest to this), with the country becoming a pariah state, and despite the prospects of oil wealth, the country would have [been] plunged into economic and social turmoil.” Political in terference by the CoA? Food for thought still, or a closed case?

16) Dr Asquith Rose penned, “Since taking office in August 2020, President Ali and his ad ministration have taken Guyana to new heights never reached before with his numerous visits to the 10 regions and to almost every village and district in the country to meet with the people.” The PPP/C Govern ment has indeed demonstrated in words, deeds and actions that they are the true leaders to man age this economy and govern the people as a truly “One Guyana”, equitably, fairly and justly.

17) Guyana’s Attorney-Gen eral, Anil Nandlall, stressed: “The important thing that I want to emphasise here is that there

is not a single proposal on these pieces of paper that are intended to create an electoral advantage for any political party.” Elec toral reforms are much-needed changes to the system to remove any loopholes, flaws or biasness and are good for democracy.

18) Pensioner Carol Rich ards exclaimed, “I feel happy. I feel so thankful because we didn’t have to get it, but we get it; we are grateful, and we are hoping this can go a far way in [meeting] whatever needs have to be met…. So, we do appreciate this initiative, and it is welcome.” The PPP/C Gov ernment is always looking to see how they can better serve with efficiency, all the valued elders of this nation.

19) Adviser to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy declared, “…our educators and trainers are adopting new habits and new ways of training.” The PPP/C Government’s approach to health management is now to ensure that people’s ambi tions and desire will no longer be limited.

20) Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. GUO Haiyan stated, “The Chinese people are ready to join hands with the rest of the world to create a brighter future for humankind.”

The Chinese Embassy and the PPP/C Government do enjoy a

fruitful and friendly relationship, which translates to the people of Guyana benefitting. President Xi Jinping was recently elected to a consecutive third term.

21) Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira stated, “This process that we’re going through today, which is dealing with electoral laws and amendments to stat utes, is distinctly separated from the constitutional reform process which will commence in early 2023.” A Constitutional Reform Commission will be set up to begin work early next year.

22) Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess said, “…We have lost many men for various reasons. This is our chance, our opportunity to provide our men with the muchneeded mentorship and guidance as we build a ‘One Guyana’ and create a better future for those young Guyanese to come.” President Ali’s 1,000-man ini tiative was launched on Friday at the Base Camp Ayanganna Sports Ground.

23) Aubrey Norton, Leader of the Opposition, is again ig noring the light while hiding in darkness with his sly, evasive and abstract comment, “If I tell you my source the person in the PPP will be dealt with. It is pro tecting the people who divulge it that it makes it a source of

privacy.” He could not give any information to support or sub stantiate a claim of a ‘mysterious political poll,’ which he claims shows that the main opposition will win the next LGEs.

24) Leader of the Opposition (LoO), Aubrey Norton, said, “…We are going to continue to discuss with civil society, diplomatic community.” Dis cuss…. PNC attempted failure at the rigging of the 2020 Gen eral elections, hiding the SoPs, fooling their constituents, false declaration of winning the 2020 elections, party members being sanctioned by the USA, bowing to the “step aside” command, giving themselves 50 per cent salary increase, raping the treas ury, selling out the nation, two per cent royalty acceptance and not negotiating for more, seeing and grabbing green, green and more green…

25) Minister Gail Teixeira announced, “We’ve done well… it is considered that Guyana has equal rights as regards to access to justice.” Thanks to the PPP/C Government, Guyana is now ranked 2nd in the Caribbean and 35th globally, moving from 53rd in the 2022 World Eco nomic Forum (WEF)’s Global Gender Gap Report 2022, mak ing vast progress in education, economic opportunities, health, political empowerment etc.

26) President Ali advised the nation, “Karate is not teach ing someone to fight, it’s an art of self-defence.” The President collected an honorary 8th Dan Black Belt from the CanadaHeadquartered Int. Daigaku/ Karate College.

27) Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, SC, blasted Norton, saying, “This obviously is a con coction of his…. It’s either that he [Norton] invents these things, or he is so gullible that anyone can concoct a lie, irrespective of how outrageous the lie may sound to an objective listener or bystander, and he believes the lie. And what is worse, he regurgitates it publicly.” The AG was rubbishing the LoO who is claiming that there is a poll by the PPP/C party showing that the PNC will defeat the PPP/C at the next elections. Again, Norton is dreaming in La La Land!

28) Guyana Tourism Au thority Director Kamrul Baksh stated, “It’s because of greater access that the government has been able to secure for Guyana, has made it to one of the top publications and we are very happy about that.” National Geographic Traveller (UK) has again listed Guyana as a top des tination in the nature category. Guyana has been named one of the top 35 tourist destinations

Mental health sector has improved ‘rapidly’ since August 2020

FROM PAGE 5

Stress Management and Emotional Intelligence throughout the health sector and workplaces around Guyana.

“So far, the Guy ana School of Nursing, Cheddi Jagan Dental School, Central Sup plies Unit at the Minis try of Health, Guyana Power and Light Com pany, Centre for Local Business Development and the Guyana Energy Agency have benefited from this initiative,” the statement said.

Additionally, a new Gate-keepers Com munity Training Pro gramme, a programme that was abandoned in 2015, is ready to be rolled out again.

The MoH said that these efforts must be sustained, since funds were previously avail able through the Global Fund HIV/AIDS. Such programmes were initi ated in 2006, but were not sustained.

Further, it was point

ed out that staffing ini tiatives have been im plemented to address the inadequacy of the staff at the National Psychiatric Hospital (NPH). According to the statement, the NPH has 10 nursing staff at this time and not four as was initially thought.

Presently, the hos pital’s Medical Super intendent and Head is a trained forensic psy chiatrist, Dr. Meena Ra jkumar, who is a fulltime employee. She is supported by another full-time psychiatrist, three medical doctors, a matron, two registered staff nurses, seven nurs ing assistants, 18 nurse aides, 74 psychiatric patient care assistants, and two social workers.

The statement said that more recently, the government deployed 37 part-time workers to support the staff in various areas, includ ing the facilitation of general hygiene and personal grooming of

the patients. The addi tional support by nurs ing aides, patient care assistants, and parttime workers permit the 10-member nursing staff to focus on the nursing needs of the patients, the statement said.

While efforts are be ing made to improve the staffing, two addi tional psychiatrists will be joining the hospital full time in early No vember 2022. Addition ally, a psychologist is due to begin a full-time assignment within the week at the NPH.

Psychiatric staff at the GPHC are pres ently being rotated on a visiting basis to pro vide support to the fulltime psychiatrists at the NPH.

MORE WILL BE DONE

Meanwhile, the MoH has been work ing with partners to re suscitate the Psychiatric Nursing Programme which was discontin

ued some time ago. It was first introduced in 2004, with the help of partners from Dal housie and McMaster Universities and several batches of nurses were trained. Most, if not all, of those nurses, are no longer serving.

In addition, the MoH is introducing a new curriculum to train Psy chiatric Nursing As sistants. Several of the part-time workers have been identified to be trained as Psychiatric Patient Care Assistants. UNICEF is partnering with the ministry to expand the psychiatry training programme.

The MoH has been significantly more ac tive in the last two years than in the preceding eight years in building the human resource for psychiatry, even though there is much more to be done.

Since around 2014, occupational therapists have been absent from the staffing comple ment at the NPH.

The occupational re habilitation centre was closed and abandoned sometime after 2015. Similarly, the visiting psychologist that sup ported the psychiatrists before 2015 is no long er available. The MoH is presently recruiting an occupational thera pist to improve patient care at the hospital and is working with GPHC to either deploy a fulltime psychologist or a visiting psychologist to the NPH to support the psychologist who is joining the staff.

The Occupational Rehabilitation Centre is being rehabilitated and reactivated. The organising of Christ mas concerts, entirely by the patients them selves, a practice that was discontinued some time ago, is being con sidered for Christmas 2022, even if, for now, it is just a semblance of

what it used to be.

The MoH is work ing with the NPH and the Region Six Health Department to reclaim the recreation ground and the vegetable gar den. They were both re claimed between 2006 and 2014 and have been neglected since 2015.

A shade house to reclaim the kitchen gar den is being constructed with the help of NARI and the Ministry of Ag riculture, and plans are being put in place to reclaim the recreation ground in 2023. These are important parts of the overall occupational therapy for the patients, the statement said.

The MoH is hope ful that as part of the infrastructural transfor mation between 2020 and 2025, a new NPH will be included. Those proposals are under ac tive consideration by the government.

The statement point ed out that there are other initiatives pres ently ongoing at the NPH. These address the care and treatment, living conditions, and quality of life of the patients. New beds with proper mattress es, sheets and pillows, among other things, have already been put in place.

Before 2020, out side of the patients with acute episodes, the long-term patients had no regular psychiatric care and lived under inhumane conditions.

Presently, every pa tient receives weekly and monthly psychiat ric evaluations. Daily medical clinics en sure that the medical needs of patients are addressed. A medical block has been added to Chalet number two and patients with medical conditions who need dressings, simple su turing and rehydration, among other things, can now access such

services in a dedicated area.

“The ad-hoc and vir tually [sic] non-treat ment with medicines that were [sic] obvious in 2020 have now been replaced with daily rou tine medication rounds, just as in any other hos pital. The inhumane, archaic seclusion treat ment area and protocols are undergoing impor tant modifications for more modern, humane options. Staff is work ing with families to increase family visits and the staff is also working on a system to have time at home for some of the patients. These are ambitious goals, but with hard work and commitment, can succeed,” the state ment said.

Patient-grooming, which ensures that patients have clean clothes, including night clothes, nails and hairgrooming and gener al hygiene, is now in place. To assist, new industrial washers and driers have been pro cured and are presently being installed.

A meal plan is in place and the quality of meals and snacks has improved significantly, with the dietician or ganising meals and a new, modern kitchen constructed and in stalled, the statement said.

Regular monitoring of overall non-clinical treatment of patients, with random external monitoring at mealtime and sleep time have been instituted as part of the Service Lev el Agreement with Re gion Six and the NPH.

“Much remains to be done, but the GoG has been actively reenergising the men tal health programme and views the situ ation at the NPH as a focal point of this effort,” the statement added.

COP27: First official food and agriculture pavilion

THE United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), CGIAR and The Rock efeller Foundation have announced that they will host the official Food and Agriculture Pavil ion at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) to be held from 6 to 18 November in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. This marks the first time that such a pavilion has been set up COP.

As world leaders gath er for COP27, commu nities around the world are grappling with the compounded impacts of a global pandemic, grow ing pressures from the climate crisis, high en ergy and fertiliser prices, and protracted conflicts, which have disrupted production and supply chains and dramatically increased global food in security, especially for the most vulnerable.

Some 193 million peo ple faced crisis or worse levels of acute food inse curity across 53 countries or territories in 2021, un dermining decades of

progress, according to the 2022 Global Report on Food Crises.

Set against this back drop, the official Food and Agriculture Pavil ion will put the trans formation of agrifood systems at the heart of the COP agenda for the first time as an important part of the solution to the climate crisis.

Endorsed by the UN System and located in the “Blue Zone”, the Pa vilion will bring togeth er community leaders alongside government, philanthropic, youth and academic partners. The aim is to advance a shared understanding of the most pressing food and ag riculture issues facing people and planet and share knowledge and in novative solutions.

A rich programme of events will showcase in novative solutions to help countries take effective climate action to protect agri-food systems.

QU Dongyu, FAO Di rector-General, said: “We are proud to have our first ever Food and Agricul ture Pavilion at COP27,

which is timely with the launch of the two new thematic FAO Strategies on Climate Change, and on Science and Innova tion, to be implemented in synergy. The Pavilion will

utive Managing Director, CGIAR said: “Support ing the transformation of food, land and water sys tems in a climate crisis is CGIAR’s mission and the stakes have never been

COP.”

Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rock efeller Foundation, said: “Climate change is a sin gular threat to humanity, and we cannot fully ad

includes a conference room, a meeting room for delegations and an office for bilateral meet ings, as well as a Fair trade stand providing free low carbon and

for 2023 and beyond, thanks to the robust input of the PPP/C Government through the Min ister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond. Guyana placed 13th on the “Traveller’s Best of the World List.”

29) PPP/C MP Sanjeev Da tadin explained, “There is no provision in the Constitution that says you have to live here [Guyana], there is no residency requirement. Now it is important that you understand the Con stitution.” The PNC wanting additional voting requirements cannot be instituted.

30) Chairman of Digicel Denis O’Brien said, “This level of engagement will help build momentum in support of CARI COM’s call for reparations.” He agreed with the CRC’s position that Europe owes the region a “Marshall-Style Plan” after 400 years of wealth extraction by which it was enriched. The CRC is seeking reparatory justice for the peoples of the Caribbean. Will the new Prime Minister of Britain, Rishi Sunik, make a difference?

31) Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr

Ashni Singh, made it abundantly clear, “I made it crystal clear that government’s $600,000 grant to dialysis patients is intended to be an additional support to dialysis patients and was never intended to result in patients being denied their NIS benefits.” Forces of negativity are certainly in the public domain who are desper ate to make the government look bad.

32) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah, reported, “The match fee for both men and women cricketers will be the same as we move into a new era of gender equality in Indian cricket.” Guyana is rated number two in the Caribbean and 35th globally for gender equality.

Farmers are smiling with Minister Mustapha’s half year ly report that the country has topped US$7 million in nontraditional crops exports. As the first 11 smiling informal Independence Blvd. squatters are assigned housing units, 11 more smiling companies are also approved with their Local Content Master Plans to provide services to Guyana’s petroleum sector. Again, 11 teenagers are smiling as they qualify to vie

convene local, national, and global actors includ ing farmers and youth to seek solutions for trans forming agri-food sys tems to make them more efficient, inclusive, resil ient and sustainable, and ensuring that no one is left behind in our efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.”

Claudia Sadoff, Exec

higher. Millions more people are on the brink of food insecurity and threats to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers are increasing. We are honoured to collaborate with FAO and The Rock efeller Foundation to en sure that these impor tant issues are firmly on the agenda of this year’s

dress it without building equitable, resilient, and sustainable food systems that nourish both people and planet. Good ideas and actions for transform ing our food systems can come from anyone, and we are proud to support a space where knowledge can be shared.”

The 250m2 Pavilion

organic tea and coffee. Using state-of-the-art digital and interactive technology, Pavilion will allow delegates, par ticipants and media to browse and download information on projects and programmes devel oped by FAO, CGIAR and The Rockefeller Foundation. (FAO)

for the Miss Police Youth Am bassador staged for next month.

Region Three residents are smil ing with the construction of 120 low-income units. Daniel Dow ding from Essequibo is smiling after being awarded by Dr Kurt Clarke for his exemplary CSEC performance. Mishka Beharry is smiling after dominating the national Junior Tournament with four gold medals. Zulfikar Ally is all smiles as he is admitted to the local bar to practise law. 128

Region Five farmers are smiling with their leases for agricultural purposes, including 21-yearold Vevekeanand Ramnarine. Guyana National Newspapers Limited (Guyana Chronicle)’s management and staff are all smiles after being honoured as an awardee for helping to make employment opportuni ties available for the public by CRMA. Region 10 residents are smiling with the completion of the $254.1 million works on the Ituni to Tacama road. As you prepare for another week, do think about what Mother Theresa said, “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.”

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

The pavilion aims to advance a shared understanding of the most pressing food and agriculture issues facing people and planet and share knowledge and innovative solutions (FAO photo)

Sons and daughters

WHEN we look at our children, we don’t want to imagine them growing up to become a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence. We want our children to lead success ful and fulfilling lives; to be happy and content (as much as possible with life’s challenges and ups and downs), and to have

a comfortable, clean home with loved ones around them. It needn’t be a fairy tale existence, but just one that yields good fortune rather than bad, and is functional rather than dysfunctional.

To h elp our children embark on a reasonably satisfying lifestyle, we must teach them common

courtesies, morals and val ues, and the difference between right and wrong. We must also instil in them a sense of self-value and self-esteem, so they recog nise that their bodies and lives are precious com modities that should be appreciated, respected and cherished by others and themselves.

We must emphasise to young adults that no hus band, wife, lover, friend, girlfriend, baby- father, child-mother or boyfriend has the right to physically abuse their partner, and if they do, they have a grave problem that needs to be addressed. The fact is not debatable; something is wrong with people who physically abuse others. Abuse is an abnormal act; it could be a problem that stems from the perpetra tor’s childhood insecurities or unidentified self-loath ing. On the other hand, the person could have grown up witnessing domestic violence in their household, and believe it is acceptable behaviour.

Maybe the perpetrator is an aggressive bully who feels self-adulation, or gets a kick out of intimidating or causing physical pain to their partner. Why? Be cause they can get away with it, and know they have a tight psychological hold over the victim. Whatever the reasons behind the ac tion, no one should toler ate physical abuse; it is an infringement of our human rights. Youngsters search ing for a partner must be ware. Once the tendency for abuse is recognised, even if it is just a slight chance that a person will become abusive, it is time to get out and gradually part company. They should keep their distance and stay safe.

Parents are the best peo ple to guide children into healthy relationships, but first, they must exhibit the same, because children learn best from example. What better way to teach than a child living with a loving, protective mother and father? Even when parents live apart and coparent, they can still be civil and respectful to each other, giving children the benefit of both relation ships. The aim is to provide the most balanced upbring

ing possible, so children don’t grow up with pent-up anger, bitterness and pain, released through aggression or other negative emotions in adulthood.

Parents don’t need to run their children’s lives to guide them, but they must stay significantly connected to the child, from infancy to childhood, through ado lescence to adulthood. A strong connection enables parents to give essential ad vice, correction, opinions, ideas, and direction when necessary. Parents should be the child’s first port of call for assistance, love and information.

Some parents are happy when their children reach 16 – 19 years old, so they can hit the streets and fend for themselves; they don’t keep ‘tabs’ on their off spring, and may only have a vague idea of where the child goes, and what they get up to; the child is free to come and go as they please. These parents are under the assumption that the child is an adult, and will learn about life and the world through trial and error. But trial and error does not work for everyone.

The chances of a teen age boyfriend/girlfriend relationship becoming long-term are slim. Most adolescents have no rela tionship experience, and, in some cases, very little on which to model their affection, passion and de sires. Before long, chil dren are born into this un stable union, adding to the pressure and probability of both parties becoming disillusioned, frustrated, and parting.

Young women with low self-esteem always attract men who make them feel good about themselves, and then bully and control them, due to their low selfimage. Boys who grow up without father figures can suffer self-doubt and lack confidence. They may even have abandonment issues,

regardless of the bravado and self-assuring air they show to the world.

Many young people be come adults who never understand themselves, or the reasons behind their actions. Their anti-social behaviour might be aggres sive, deceitful, narcissistic, violent, or distrustful. To them, it is normal. They can get along fine with everyone they encounter, if they choose to, but their persona is far from accept able behind closed doors and in relationships.

Parents cannot live their children’s lives; they can only protect them for a certain amount of time, and then youngsters are free to make their own choices. However, parents can em power their youngsters with the following tips: 1) Build awareness. Teach them to recognise healthy and un healthy relationships and to stay away from the latter. 2) Outline the different types of abuse and emphasis that abuse of any type is ab normal and unacceptable. 3) Explain that a healthy relationship entitles people to personal space and the freedom to choose.

4) Loyalty should be at the heart of a good relation ship.

5) No party should visit acts of intimidation, threats, bullying, or pressure on the other. 6) As individuals, we should uphold our human rights. The right to be free from gendered violence, the right to freedom of association, and the right to freedom of movement. Good relationships create a happy heart and a peaceful, productive mind.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at child caregy@gmail.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF HU MAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY

‘I aspire to inspire’

and I was told that I had to wait until I was 40 years old.

By Cindy Parkinson

CANCER is one of the diseas es that everyone fears because in most cases it carries a death sentence. The highest possibil ity of a favourable outcome, particularly survival, depends on early detection followed by rigorous treatment.

Alicia Sugrim and her hus band, Willett, whom she de

tional Alicia said: “I could not have explained how I felt. Hav ing heard such life-threatening news, I felt all types of emo tions flow through my body in that moment.”

Not wanting to believe such devastating news, Alicia and her husband decided to get a second opinion. That doctor did a biopsy on the lump and told her that it was indeed cancer

Corporation to have the sur gery done, but, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the overcrowding in the hospital, she had a hard time securing a date, even though her case was regarded as urgent.

Both Alicia and her hus band were contemplating taking a loan from the bank to pay for the surgery to be done privately, but Alicia’s parents, knowing the aggressive nature of the cancer, opted to pay for it.

Alicia’s father said that he would rather have peace of mind knowing that he paid for my daughter’s life-saving surgery than have to pay for her funeral.

On September 9, 2021, Alicia was able to have a radi cal mastectomy done, which resulted in the removal of her right breast.

Alicia recalled that her re covery process was “a very difficult one,” noting that she came from a family that had no trace of cancer, which made her feel even more fearful about not having enough time to process all that was happening.

still in my eyes.”

She told this publication that at first, she used to think, “Why me?”

Alicia recalled that one day, as she was coming back from radiation therapy, “I was praying and talking to God by myself in the car and I felt a warm touch on my shoulder. It felt like something warm had wrapped me up. From that day on, I felt strength and I found my purpose. As soon as I reached home, I marked off the date on the calendar because I knew that moment was a divine intervention and I needed it to get through”

She used the opportunity to encourage both males and fe males to do their annual checkups.

“Make it your priority every year to do check-ups and do not

wait until you are not feeling well; it may be too late,” Alicia urged.

She is also calling on health officials to revise the age limit for cancer screening.

“I was 35 years old when I got diagnosed, but I went to get screened about two years earlier

“Maybe if I had done it ear lier, they would have discovered it and prevented it from reach ing stage three,” she said.

She is also asking society to stop the judgement and to eradicate the stigma that is attached to cancer and or any other ailment with which people are faced.

“Many people were an noyed that I told my story. They said I should have kept it quiet, but I didn’t let that bother me. A friend told me that physi cal beauty is artificial, and I may have lost my breast, but I saved my life,” she said while encouraging other survivors to tell their stories.

Alicia’s hopes to one day become a motivational speak er so that she can inspire can cer survivors, those battling the disease and the public at large.

scribed as her best friend, were enjoying a simple life with their three children. This turned into chaos when her husband felt a lump in one of her breasts.

While taking a shower, Alicia checked herself but felt nothing. She was hesitant about going to a doctor but her hus band insisted that she did so.

He had recently lost one of his co-workers to breast cancer and having seen how “broken” her husband was during the funeral service, the thought of him being in that situation scared him.

To please her husband, Ali cia took his advice and had a breast examination done. The news that her husband dreaded became a reality when the doc tor told Alicia that there was indeed a lump in her breast and that it was potentially cancer ous.

During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, an emo

ous and was a very aggressive form of malignant cancer that had already spread in the lymph nodes.

Alicia was advised by her doctor to get immediate surgi cal intervention (mastectomy), since it was the best option for her to avoid the risk of it spreading further. He also told her that she had stage three cancer.

Not knowing how to pro cess it all, Alicia was under standably confused, heartbro ken, angry and very emotional.

“I felt like screaming at the top of my lungs, thinking that I would die, but I knew that I had two options: fight this battle or give up.”

Looking at the faces of her three children and husband, she knew her only option was to fight it, “if not for myself for them.”

Alicia was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital

“Everything just happened so quickly. We had no time to think or to do any research. I was so scared, but I am very thankful to my husband for his support. He, my parents, fam ily and especially my children and friends, were there for me 100 per cent. I don’t know how I would have made it through without them. I want to say a special thanks to my neighbour Rushelle Toney, who is a single mother but comes running to help me as soon as I call her on the phone. With my husband working, the children at school and everyone still having things to do in their lives, they cannot be there for me all the time, but Rushelle leaves her own work behind just to assist me person ally or even in tidying up my kitchen and home when I can’t make it, and I am thankful for her. “ Alicia stated.

The doctor, knowing that Alicia had been diagnosed with stage three cancer, recom mended a very intense dose of chemotherapy which caused her to lose her hair almost im mediately.

“Seeing my hair falling out in my hands broke me again emotionally; my hair was an other baby of mine and I lost that.”

Alicia explained that she would look at herself in the mir ror. “I would break down and couldn’t believe how I looked.”

It was her husband who would kiss her on the forehead and say “you’re just as beautiful

Alicia Sugrim (centre) with her husband Willett and their children, Tristan, Arshia and Arnav

Alicia Sugrim (Samuel Maughn photo)

breast cancer survivor, Alicia Sugrim

Awareness is power

says Cancer Foundation head

By Cindy Parkinson

AS Guyana joins the rest of the world in celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the founder

and president of the Guyana Cancer Foundation, Bibi Hassan, has emphasised the importance of regular screening and early detection.

“Screening is very important…early detec tion helps save lives,” Hassan told the Guyana Chronicle during a re cent interview.

She used the oppor tunity to thank those who, through their acts of kindness, made it possible for cancer pa tients to get the help they need.

The organisation has been at the forefront of Guyana’s cancer fight since 2016. Dr. Bal want Singh Hospital has been a major part ner since 2019, provid ing free services during the month of October when the world focuss es heavily on cancer awareness.

“Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital has stuck with me and has offered me 25 mammograms and 25 sonograms free for

the month of October,” Hassan told this publi cation.

She pointed out that persons who are “med ically underserved, low-income and un derinsured” are the foundation’s target and they often receive lifechanging interventions free of charge or at a significantly reduced cost.

Hassan said that from October 2021 to date, the foundation has paid for scans and ra diation therapy at the Cancer Institute of Guy ana.

There is an increase in women getting screened, but Hassan explained that getting men interested in this is a “struggle.”

While noting the im portance of men being screened for prostate cancer, she said that there usually is no phys ical examination but rather a simple blood test is done to determine if they have this type of cancer. A physical exam can be recommended in certain cases.

Cancer is a ma jor cause of mortality across the world.

As such, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is used an annual campaign to not only raise awareness of this complex disease, but to raise money to fund research into the causes, treatment, and cure.

Since 1985, indi viduals, businesses and communities have come together every October to show their support for the many people af fected by breast cancer. It is a month to reflect, give back, or celebrate the second chance to live.

Guyana Cancer Foundation is seen as a shelter for individuals

who are going through treatment and those who have survived.

Last year, $5 mil lion was donated by the Beharry Group of Companies (KFC) to the foundation, which allowed over 225 wom en to access free breastcancer screening.

Out of that screen ing, one of the women tested positive. That patient was able to have a biopsy, mastectomy, radiation and chemo therapy done through the foundation free of cost.

The foundation has paid for the screening of some 100 persons so far this year. The organisa tion also offers counsel ling services to cancer patients so that they can effectively cope with the psychological effects that the disease has on them.

Meanwhile, Advis er to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ramsammy, told this publication that there is an increase in Guyana’s mortality age, which means that there are more cancer survi vors in Guyana.

He said that this is good news for the coun try and its people.

Guyana offers three main cancer treatments: chemotherapy, radio therapy, and surgical intervention.

The government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, will soon be launching a

chemotherapy centre in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

It is the govern ment’s intention to have centres in Linden, Region 10, and other regions across Guyana.

The Ministry of Health continues to work to raise awareness and to educate citizens about the dangers of an unhealthy lifestyle.

The government is hoping that in two to three years, Guyana will have “a full, com prehensive set of radio therapy options for the various cancers”.

Dr. Ramsammy said that it is simple for eve ryone to eat a balanced diet.

“All we have to do is make sure that our plates look like a rain bow; if we have differ ent colours, it means that we are getting dif ferent nutrients,” he added.

Dr. Ramsammy and Hassan have frowned upon the stigma at tached to cancer and called on the general public to give their love and support to anyone who is battling or has survived it.

“Be aware and raise awareness in stead of discriminat ing,’’ Dr. Ramsammy said while underscor ing the importance of persons educating themselves and oth ers about this deadly disease.

Adviser to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Founder and President of the Guyana Cancer Foundation, Bibi Hassan

Late Krishendat ‘Churchill’ Manickchand hailed as true fighter for farmers’ rights

PRESIDENT, Dr Ir faan Ali and members of his Cabinet joined hundreds of persons

at Mahaicony Creek to pay final tribute to well-known rice and cattle farmer, commu

nity advocate and busi nessman, Krishendat “Churchill” Manick chand.

The farmer was the father of Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand. The late

Krishendat ‘Churchill’ Manickchand has been hailed as a true fighter for farmers’ rights and

a proponent of com munity development. (Office of the Presi dent)

New appointees at US Embassy engage Attorney-General

ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C, on Wednesday met with the US Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Adrienne Galanek, and

The new appointees pledged to continue to col laborate and work closely with the Government of

Guyana through the Attor ney-General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Legal Affairs on a series of legal matters of mutual impor tance to both the United States of America and Guy

ana, a press release from the AG’s Chambers said.

According to the re lease, these will include collaboration on important legislative changes, obliga tions under international conventions and on general issues regarding law and legal processes.

Nandlall used the op portunity to update the two officials on the status of existing collaboration and cooperation between the Governm ent of Guy ana and important law-en forcement agencies in the United States, including the United States Marshals

Service (USMS), the Fed eral Bureau of Investiga tions (FBI) and Central Authority, Department of Justice (DoJ).

Deputy Chief Parlia mentary Counsel at the AG Chambers, Joann Bond, attended the meet ing.

Political Officer Howard H. Chyung, at his Carmi chael Street chambers.

From left to right: Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United States, Adrienne Galanek; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C.; Political Officer, Embassy of the United States, Howard H. Chyung, and Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel, AG Chambers, Joann Bond (Ministry of Legal Affairs photo)

Conserving the turtle population

the remaining 762 tur tles were subsequently released by the SRCS rangers, along the Ru pununi River.

consumption.

OVERHARVESTING

By Tamica Garnett

THE South Rupununi Conservation Socie ty (SRCS) and Sand Creek Village, earli er this month, held a “Turtle Festival” in Region Nine with the joint purpose of releas ing over 600 rescued Yellow-spotted River Turtles and to raise awareness of the im portance of conserving the turtle population and other wildlife.

This was the second year that the festival has been held in the Sand Creek Village and it is hoped that it will con

tinue to be an annual event. For this occasion, SRCS invited children from six communities from South Central Rupununi including Sawariwau, Katoon arib, Shiriri, Rupunau, Shulinab and Potarinau to join students in Sand Creek at the festival to make an attendance of more than 150 children.

The festival began with a banner proces sion followed by a costume competition with prizes on offer for the winners. There were then eight activ ity booths for the chil dren to attend, includ

ing wildlife games, gi ant snakes and ladders, guess the animal and face-painting –all of which had an important message about wildlife, turtles and conservation.

After lunch, the chil dren presented turtlethemed songs, skits, dances and poems which were assessed by the judges with prizes for the winners. The last event for the day was the releasing of the rescued turtles.

Participants were told to give their turtle a name before releasing them into the river and

Vice-Chairman of the Regional Demo cratic Council for Re gion Nine, Bertie Xa vier, was in attendance and was happy that the event served the pur poses of conserving the turtles and educating children on the impor tance of wildlife. Other organisations, includ ing the Protected Areas Commission and the Rupununi Livestock Producers Association, were also in attendance.

Recalling how it all got started, SRCS Pro gramme Coordinator, Neal Millar, told the Guyana Chronicle that residents of Sand Creek used to see turtles in abundance every time they went to the riv er, and as part of their cultural traditions, the village would have a turtle “feast” where they would collectively catch turtles and eat them together communally every year during the Christmas holidays. The last known feast was in the early 2000s when 93 turtles were caught for

“Since that time, res idents of Sand Creek, especially the village elders, have noticed a serious decline in the turtle population. The obvious main threat for this was the overhar vesting that occurred not only at Christmas time but throughout the year. In addition to the village catching adults, villagers also frequently go to the beaches along the Rupununi River dur ing the hatching season to collect eggs to eat as they are a local deli cacy,” he reflected.

In response to the decline, Sand Creek Vil lag e began collabora tion with SRCS in 2020 to start a turtle conser vation project. The aim of the project was to reverse the population decline of the Yellowspotted River Turtle so that the cultural cel ebrations could one day be revived but in a more sustainable manner.

The project has involved training 13 villagers from Sand Creek village to be come “turtle rangers”. These rangers have since been monitoring

beaches along the Ru pununi River during the hatching season (Janu ary to April) in 2021 and again in 2022 to prevent persons from the village disturbing the eggs on the beaches.

In both 2021 and 2022, the rangers res cued as many of the nests as they could. In 2021 the rangers were able to rescue over 400 eggs whilst this year they rescued over 1,400. This year, after a couple of weeks in the village, nearly all the eggs were hatched (1362). From April to September, the rangers looked after the turtles in their personal homes.

“If they had not rescued them, all 1362 eggs would have perished which would have had a further negative effect on their population,” Millar pointed out.

The festival was made possible with support from the Frankfurt Zoologi cal Society while the turtle project in Sand Creek has been supported since 2020 by the Sustainable Wildlife Manage ment - Programme Guyana.

Releasing the rescued turtles into the Rupununi River

The second “turtle festival” was held earlier this month at Sand Creek Village

Unprecedented challenges to global food security call for joint action

THE world is facing un precedented food security challenges, but several ongo ing actions throughout the world to address hunger and malnutrition provide hope for the future, according to experts participating in the 2022 Borlaug International Dialogue. The event is con sidered the premier interna tional conference on global agriculture.

The focus of this year’s theme, “Feeding a Fragile World”, is how to recover from the shocks that have destabi lised global food systems. The triple threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Eastern Europe and the impact of cli mate change has triggered a severe crisis that has seriously affected the most vulnerable populations.

The main goal of the de bates is to forge alliances in the fight against hunger and mal nutrition. The event is attended by government officials, pri vate sector representatives, international organisations, agricultural producers, aca demics, scientists, educators and students.

Barbara Stinson, Presi dent of the World Food Prize Foundation (WFP), and Cary Fowler, Special Envoy for Global Food Security of the United States Department of State, gave the opening re marks at the Dialogue.

“We are facing huge prob lems that are threatening food production, industrialisation, transportation and distribution.

This is affecting the quantity, quality and availability of food, thereby impacting vulnerable communities. These threats are COVID, conflict and climate change,” said Stinson.

“In any case, incredible things are being done to ad dress this in many places in the world and our job is to show it. We want to achieve the second Sustainable Develop ment Goal (SDG), which is to end hunger by 2030. Some say this is impossible, but we say that we must try and must do everything within our power,” she added.

Fowler, one of the creators of the largest global seedbank, who recently joined the State Department, referred to the impact of the food and energy price increases and the ferti liser crisis, but stressed that climate change is the issue of greatest concern.

He reflected that, “For a long time temperatures have been higher than average and this has had a profound ef fect on agriculture. We must be concerned not only about corn, wheat, rice and soybean, but also about minor crops. It is imperative that we make an accurate assessment of how cli mate change is affecting them.”

NEXUS

For three days, discussions prioritised the nexus between agriculture, food security and climate change, emphasising the search for solutions in the area of mitigation and adapta tion, to facilitate the achieve ment of the Sustainable Devel

opment Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Fowler indicated that pro jections of the future demand for food predict a 50 to 60 per cent increase by 2050.

“Agricultural projections—he maintained—suggest that pro duction growth can reach that level, but this does not take into account the influence of climate change and other dis ruptions, such as the conflicts and price increases that we are experiencing today.”

Thus, the expert pointed out that next month’s United Nations Climate Change Con ference (COP 27) in Egypt will provide a great opportunity to discuss agricultural adaptation.

“If we do not adapt crops to climate change, we will not be able to meet the demand,” he warned.

Director-General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Manuel Otero, was one of the speakers in the opening session of the event, which is organised by the World Food Prize Foundation (WFP), in Des Moines, Lowa (United States).

Otero was participating in the discussion, “Dynam ic Cooperation and Unusual Partners”, alongside other panellists including Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of the De partment of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development of the African Union Com mission; and Jyostsna Puri, Associate Vice-President of the Department of Strategy and Knowledge of the International Fund for Agricultural Develop ment (IFAD). Barbara Stinson was the moderator.

Prior to his participation in the panel discussion, Otero met in Des Moines with Fowl er, with whom he exchanged perspectives on food security and the role of international cooperation. Otero and Folwer agreed on the importance of science and technology in agricultural transformation, in light of the new challenges –both present and future. They also spoke about the scope of IICA’s work in Africa.

Speaking about the meet ing with the US official, Otero revealed that, “We introduced Dr. Fowler to our Living Soils of the Americas initiative, which is co-led by Dr. Rattan Lal. We discussed the possi bility of expanding it beyond our region. We spoke about

- experts at the opening session of the Borlaug International Dialogue

Finally, the Director-Gen eral pointed out that the insti tute is defining its role today by establishing new cooperation strategies, looking outward at the world from the perspective of the Americas and promoting collective action, not only with governments but also with the private sector, civil society organisations and academia.

The session focused on the importance of global alliances, particularly between Africa and the Americas, placing particu lar importance on relationships between the private and public sectors and civil society.

Africa and about the relation ship between IICA and our counterparts in that continent, and also outlined the IICAAfrica work agenda to define future joint actions, including a policy observatory, the afore mentioned Living Soils initia tive and efforts to incentivize the bioeconomy.”

KEY PLAYER

During the panel discus sion, Otero spoke of the im portance of Latin America and the Caribbean to global food security, considering that it is the world’s major net food exporting region. “It is our duty to become a key player in nutritional food security and moreover in environmental sustainability, given the wealth of our natural resources,” he said.

The IICA Director-Gener al mentioned the heterogene ous make-up of the region, as one with countries that are major food producers and oth ers that are import-dependent, particularly in Central America and the Caribbean. He insisted that, “Haiti deserves special mention, as a country faced with instability and serious concerns.”

Otero stated that food security is a top priority in the global agenda and called for the establishment of long-term policies, stressing the need to empower small farmers.

He pointed out that, “We have 16.5 million family farm ers in Latin America and the Caribbean. We must equip them with the tools to enable them to be profitable, to im plement proper environmental practices and to be resilient to climate change. We have to help to keep them in rural ar eas. It would be terrible if they migrated to the cities.”

Puri said that, “I would like to call attention to one number in particular. One third of the total amount of food in the world is produced by small farmers. Food systems account for one third of greenhouse gas emissions. One third of the food that is produced is wasted. We need to stop making com mitments and to become cred ible in our work.”

The senior IFAD official also indicated that, “We have to focus on the different food system stakeholders and also on the demand. Small farmers are the most important people in food production and also the most neglected.” She re flected that, “The challenges that we face today are global. It is vital that we concentrate on increasing productivity and building markets, which are essential. Stakeholders in the private sector today have no incentive to develop projects in rural areas.”

Moreover, Bahiigwa men tioned that Africa is a continent where most people are unable to access a healthy diet, which affects productivity. He in sisted that “It is imperative that Africa reduce its dependence on food imports that currently amount to USD 45 billion an nually, money that could be invested in the well-being of our people.”

The African Union repre sentative pointed out that he was representing 55 countries in “a continent whose food security is in a very precari ous position. There are many challenges, including the need to increase food production, because that is the only way that we will be able to have a future. It is also fundamental that we reduce food waste”.

In closing, he said that, “Despite the complicated situation, the message is one of hope, since Africa is a continent of opportuni ties that is open for busi ness. We need investments and I invite countries to take an interest in Africa.”

Barbara Stinson, President of the World Food Prize Foundation, moderated the panel discussion, “Dynamic Cooperation and Unusual Partners”, whose panellists included Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero; the Associate Vice President of the Strategy and Knowledge Department of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Jyostsna Puri; and the Director of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development of the African Union Commission, Godfrey Bahiigwa (IICA photo)

of the Streets…

‘New East Coast champions to be crowned

Complete Results

Guinness Goal-(GG)-2 goals

Quarterfinal

Game-1

Victoria Eagles-2 vs Non Pareil-3

Non Pareil scorer

Andrew Murray-9th and (GG)-18th

Victoria scorer

Sherwin Skeete-4th and 7th

Game-2

Church Yard-1 vs BV-A-2

Hustlers-0 vs Old School-0 Hustlers won 1-0 on pen alty kicks

Game-4

Melanie-B-1 vs Vryheid’s Lust-1

Vryheid’s Lust won 2-0 on penalty kicks

Vryheid Lust scorer

A. Thomas-5th

Melanie scorer Anil Hernandez-7th

Plate Section

Game-1

Vryheid’s Lust

‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Coast Demerara

November 5th,

Vryheid’s Lust defeat ed holders, Melanie-B in the quarterfinal round on Saturday at the Has lington Tarmac.

Melanie-B 2-0 on penalty kicks, after regulation time ended 1-1. Prior to the conclusion, Vryheid’s Lust took the lead in the fifth minute, while Melanie-B equalised in the seventh minute.

Vryheid’s Lust will

now oppose Beterver wagting (BV)-A, after the latter defeated Church Yard 2-1. Delroy Deen and Ralph Pollard scored in the third and 11th min utes, respectively. For the loser, Rashleigh Morrison scored in the sixth minute.

On the other hand, Lil

BV scorers

Delroy Deen-3rd Ralph Pollard-11th

Church Yard scorer Rashleigh Morrison-6th

Game-3

iendaal Hustlers, and Non Pareil will compete in the second semi-final matchup. Liliendaal Hustlers edged Old School 1-0 on penalty kicks, after regu lation time ended 0-0.

Pareil defeated Victoria Eagles 3-2, after overcoming a 0-2 deficit. Andrew Murray netted in the ninth minute, along side a ‘Guinness Goal’ (GG) -- a goal scored in the final three minutes of normal and regulation time counts as two -- in the 18th minute. For the loser, Sherwin Skeete scored in the fourth and seventh minutes. The semi-final

Portmore-3 vs Belfield-0 Colin Jones-(GG)-18th Denzel Junior-8th

Game-2 Paradise-1 vs Buxton-1 Buxton won 2-1 on penalty kicks

Buxton scorer Alister Thomas-13th

section and eventual final will be staged on Novem ber 5th at the same venue.

Meanwhile, Portmore will face-off with Team Cruel, and Buxton will battle Uprising in the Plate division semi-final round, following quarterfinal wins. Portmore defeated Belfield 3-0. Colin Jones recorded a (GG) in the 18th minute, while Denzel Junior netted in the eighth minute.

Team Cruel downed Bare Root 4-3. Jerome Harrigon bagged a double in the sixth and 16th min ute, while Ian Dooker, and Jemar Harrigon netted in

Paradise scorer

Teshawn Gordon-6th

Game-3

Team Cruel-4 vs Bare Root-3

Team Cruel scorers

Jerome Harrigon-6th and 16th

Ian Dooker-5th Jemar Harrigon-15th

Bare Root scorer Dequan France-9th and (GG)-19th

Game-4

Haslington-0 vs Uprising-2 Dante McAulay-(GG)-19th

Semifinals

BV-A vs Vryheid’s Lust Liliendaal Hustlers vs Non Pareil

Plate Semifinals

Portmore vs Team Cruel Buxton vs Uprising

the fifth and 15th minute respectively. For the loser, Dequan France scored in the ninth minute as well as tallied a (GG) in the 19th minute.

On the other hand, Buxton Diamond downed Paradise 2-1 on penalty kicks, after reg ulation time ended 1-1. Prior to the conclusion, Teshawn Gordon scored for Paradise in the sixth minute, while Alister Thomas equalised in the 13th minute. Uprising defeated Haslington 2-0. Dante McAulay regis tered a (GG) in the 19th minute.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

CWI announces squad for West Indies Women U19 training

Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced the squad for the West Indies Wom en’s Under-19 training camp and trial matches to be played next month in Trinidad. The 23 players will participate in two tri al matches on Tuesday, 1 November and a third trial match on Wednesday, 2 November.

Following these matches, they will have a skills and fit

ness session from 4th to 6th November under the guid ance of Head Coach, Steve Liburd. This is part of the preparations for the upcom ing tour of India from 7th to 25th of November (match schedule to be announced at a later date).

This series in the sub-continent will form a crucial part of the team’s preparations for the inaugu ral ICC Under-19 Women’s

T20 World Cup 2023. The global event will feature 41 matches to be played from 14th to 29th January in South Africa. The official warm-up matches will be from 9th to 11th January. The 16 partici pating teams will play in four groups in the preliminary round. West Indies have been drawn in Group C alongside New Zealand, Ireland and Indonesia.

Jimmy Adams, CWI’s

Director of Cricket said: “The upcoming training camp in Trinidad for our Women's U19 squad will be an important component of their preparation for their inaugural tour of India which immediately follows, and also for the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup which takes place in South Africa in January. During the eight-day camp, the squad will continue its ongoing pro

gramme of technical, tactical, physical and mental prepara tion. The entire experience of the camp, and subsequent tour to India, will play a big role in the development of our next generation of inter national female cricketers who have had limited expe rience of playing outside the region before now.”

TRAINING SQUAD: Asabi Callender, Kenika Cassar, Jahzara Claxton,

Naijanni Cumberbatch, Destiny Edward, Earni sha Fontaine, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grim mond, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Jo seph, Maria La Foucade, Namiah Marcellin, KDJazz Mitchell, Ashmini Munisar, Niveena Ramnauth, Cyan na Retemiah, Selena Ross, Shalini Samaroo, Shunelle Sawh, Lena Scott, Abini St Jean, Kate Wilmott

Major upsets: the theme of penultimate night

THE penultimate day of the Bounty Supermarket Indoor Hockey Champi onship proved exciting for some and disappoint ing for others.

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall came alive at 2:40 hrs when the Hikers Cadets took on the YMCA Old Fort Beta.

was awarded to them in the 20th minute. Shaquan Favourite converted this corner, and in the 25th minute, Warren Williams added support for his team with a field goal.

THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) president, Bissoondyal Singh, pre sented cricket gear to Na tional Under-15 opening batter, Navin Boodwah, last Thursday, at the GCB office in a simple hand ing-over ceremony.

The 14-year-old Bood wah, who hails from Port Mourant, was Guyana’s lead ing run-scorer during the rain-affected CWI Rising Stars Under-15 50 Overs Tournament played in Grena da in August.

Boodwah had a top score of 48 in Guyana’s 26-run win against Windwards but it was his innings of 26 off 24 balls in a 15-over-a-side match against Trinidad and Tobago which showed his ability to adapt to an even shorter ver sion. Head Coach Latchman Yadram said that innings gave the team a quick start which enabled Guyana to post a winning total of 96-5 in their

allotted 15 overs.

Boodwah, who lives at the Balnivas Shelter in Achorville Port Mourant and attends the Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary School, started playing cricket in January of this year for Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC).

When asked what mo tivated him to start playing cricket, he said it was Pan dit Jagmohan, who told him that he has talent and that he should consider playing hard ball cricket. It was those words that inspired him.

He further stated that Pandit Jagmohan eventually encouraged him to join the PMCC because of the obvi ous talent he displayed while playing cricket among his friends.

During the presentation, the GCB president also made a pledge to Boodwah that he will be provided with finan cial and other assistance over the next three years.

Administrator of the Shel ter, Ms Nodan Ramphal, told the GCB that Boodwah is one of five children from the shelter who play cricket and that they are encouraged to take their education seriously and not just focus on sports. She expressed gratitude for the contribution made by the GCB and thanked Singh for the kind gesture.

The soft-spoken Boodwah thanked the GCB president for the much-needed gear and was very happy for the contribution.

Bissoondyal Singh con gratulated Boodwah for hav ing a successful tournament in which Guyana narrow ly missed out on winning the championship when they placed second to champions, Leeward Islands.

Singh is confident that Boodwah’s achievement will serve as an inspiration to children of all levels in Guyana.

Both teams failed to score, but this second Di vision- Group B men were exciting. The pressure of the game saw green cards given to Old Fort’s Luis Adams and Paul D’ Andrade for technicalities they created.

In the other second Division match, the most goals were scored for the night. GCC Pitbulls unleashed on the Saints Scorpions 11-1 at the end of the game. Samuel Woodroffe netted a tri ple and Lennox Carol a double; other teammates contributed one apiece. The solitary scorer for the Scorpions was Taise Seepaul.

Group ‘A’ of the second Division men, Saints Superstars submit to YMCA Old Fort Top Form 2-1. The Superstars were the first to register a goal in the 15th min ute through the hands of Jabari Lovell, but Old Fort Top Form responded when a penalty corner

The Hikers men in the Vets category went down to Bounty GCC 3-1 as the umpire blew the final whistle. The consistent Kevin Spencer found the back of the net twice, and Devin Hooper supported him. The energetic Devin Munroe managed to tuck one goal past the keeper for the Hikers.

The Hikers men suc cumbed again in the Vets category to YMCA Old Fort. This time, the score ended 5-2 in favour of the latter. Jason De Santos netted three, John abrams and Adrian Brant one apiece for the YMCA Old Fort. Devin Munroe, who was the most consistent Hikers Vets scorer, served a double.

GBTI GCC Spice and GBTI GCC Tigers de feated the Saints women and Woodpecker Hikers, respectively. Ashley de Groot-Khalil and Sonia Jardine took triple goals, with Abosaide Cado gan a double and Trisha Woodroffe (captain) a single, giving the GBTI GCC Spice ladies a 9-1 lead over Saints Women.

In the other ladies’ matchup, the Woodpecker Hik ers succumbed to GBTI GCC Tigers 5-0. The Hik ers ladies fought to the end, but the presence of Sarah Klautky with three goals for GCC secured their win. She got support from her captain Gabriella Xavier and midfield/for ward, Madison Fernandes.

The second quarter of the Men Group ‘A’ match between Pepsi Hikers and Saints Splinters proved to be interesting. The Splin ters responded equally to the two goals the Hickers threw at them, thus setting a pace for a showdown. However, the Hickers stamped their dominance in the fourth quarter, leav ing the Splinters in their wake. The game ended 7-3 for the Pepsi Hick ers. Devin Munroe and Andrew Stewart were the leading scorers for the Hickers.

In the evening’s final match, the GCC’s The Sequel yielded to Saints S’ Team 3-2. Dwayne Scott netted a double for the ‘The Sequel’, but his goals were in vain as Oshazay Savory and the Garnette brothers, Baraka and Shomere, all netted one apiece.

The semi-finals and finals took place last eve ning

GCB presents

Navin

Bounty

CWIMA announces partnership with Golden Sands Hotel

Cricket West Indies Mas ters Association (CWIMA) is pleased to announce its latest partnership arrange ment with Golden Sands Hotel, Barbados, for the West Indies O50s teams participating in the 2022 BIG MAN CRICKET O50s CARIBBEAN CUP.

CWIMA prepares to wel come all its touring countries and their guests to beautiful Barbados within the next few days and look forward to an exciting BMC masters’ tournament in the Caribbean.

This tournament is the first of many to be held in the West Indies and would very well see the hosting of the Over 40s World Cup in 2025 which is likely to feature 16 international countries.

CWIMA is extremely ap preciative of this partnership

arrangement with GOLDEN SANDS HOTEL, which is a beautiful Hotel nestled along the historic Oistins coastline, capable of providing you with the thrill of an awesome Caribbean experience in an intimate and personal envi ronment just across the street from the inviting turquoise waters of the south coast.

Golden Sands will be the official hotel for the West Indies teams and will also be the preferred host venue for the Closing/Presentation Ceremony on Friday evening of November 11th.

CWIMA has also organ ised a Karaoke afternoon on Saturday, November 5th at the Ixora Restaurant & Bar of the Golden Sands Hotel, which will be opened to all the countries taking part in the BMC Caribbean Cup,

namely: Hosts West Indies, Canada, England, India, UAE, USA, Wales and West Indies A.

Golden Sands Hotel is pleased to be associated with the West Indies O50s mas ters’ teams and CWIMA to wards the successful hosting of this inaugural BMC O50s Caribbean Cup and trust that will be a long-lasting and very fruitful relationship for everyone way into the future.

Already, CWIMA has indicated that they are planning to host six coun tries in January/February 2023 for the BIG MAN CRICKET O60s CARIB BEAN CUP in Barbados, which will feature hosts West Indies, Australia, Canada, England, the Rest of the World and the USA.

Verstappen breaks record with 14th win of the season

(F1) - Max Verstappen claimed his 14th victory of the 2022 season in the Mexico City Grand Prix, ahead of Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull team mate, Sergio Perez, after an intriguing strategic battle played out at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

It secures another re cord for the Dutchman in his burgeoning career, as he now boasts the most wins in a single F1 campaign, moving one clear of the 13 achieved by Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vet tel (2013).

Verstappen, whose Red Bull team opted for a soft-medium tyre strategy, took the chequered flag some 15 seconds clear of Hamilton, who was left to question why Mercedes swapped their starting set of mediums for hards.

Perez gave the home fans something to cheer about in third, having threatened to challenge

Hamilton late on, while Russell – who lost out to his team mate at the start –took a distant fourth.

Russell was also un happy with his strategy, repeatedly asking Mer cedes to pit again and ditch the hard tyres, which failed to bring the race back to the Silver Arrows in the closing stages – a stop for softs with two laps to run at least yield ing the fastest lap.

Ferrari endured a lacklustre race as Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc claimed lonely P5 and P6 finishes, ahead of McLar en driver Daniel Ricciar do, who charged his way to seventh with soft tyres late on and kept the posi tion despite a 10-second time penalty for a clash with Yuki Tsunoda.

Esteban Ocon placed eighth, after a painful late retirement for Alpine team mate Fernando Alonso, as the other McLaren of Lando Norris and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas –not quite able to repeat his

qualifying performance –completed the points.

Strategy played a key role throughout Sunday’s race in Mexico City

AlphaTauri driver, Pierre Gasly, picked up a five-second penalty for an early, aggressive move on Aston Martin rival, Lance Stroll, and ultimately missed out on a point by just half a sec ond, with Alex Albon 12th for Williams.

Zhou Guanyu got his Alfa Romeo to the line ahead of Aston Martin pair Vettel – sporting a touching tribute helmet to the late Dietrich Mate schitz – and Stroll, fol lowed by the Haas cars of Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen.

Nicholas Latifi was the final finisher in his Williams, with the afore mentioned Alonso grind ing to a halt with an engine issue late on, and Tsunoda retiring after briefly going airborne in his collision with Ric ciardo.

GCB congratulates Stuart on MBA

THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) congrat ulates its Territorial Development Officer (TDO) Colin Stuart on the successful comple tion of an MSc Degree in Project Management from the University of the West Indies, St. Au gustine Campus. Stuart also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from the University of Guyana.

In his prime, Stuart was one of the fastest bowlers in the region and beyond and repre sented both Guyana and the West Indies. His first class career for Guyana spanned from 1994 to 2003. In addition, Stuart also played six Tests and six ODIs for the West Indies between 2000 to 2001.

Stuart is an integral member of the GCB

Regent Road staff com plement with specific responsibility for crick et development in Guy ana. The President and Executive members of the GCB would like to extend best wishes to him and encourage him to continue his assid uous work geared to wards the advancement of cricket in Guyana, and, by extension, the region.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Territorial Development Officer (TDO) Colin Stuart poses with his MBA

Sandy Roopnarine (GCC) races after a loose ball