Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 31-12-2022

Guyana on path to prosperity

WITH Guyana experiencing a decline in the output of main traditional sectors, major reduction in reserves at the central bank, increased overdraft at the central bank, and the in -

troduction of over 200 taxes between 2015 and 2019, it was an uphill task for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to place the country on a path to prosperity after returning to

government in 2020.

This was debated by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, in a video message released on Friday, on his official Facebook page.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

Director Raul Aaron presents Administrative Manager (ag), Colin Alfred with a Long Service Award (Delano Williams photos)

Worker of the Year Krishnadeo Doobay of the Accounts Department receiving his award

Guyana on path to prosperity

–– with strong policies and measures implemented by PPP/C

WITH Guyana experiencing a decline in the output of main traditional sectors, major reduction in reserves at the central bank, increased overdraft at the central bank, and the introduction of over 200 taxes between 2015 and 2019, it was an uphill task for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to place the country on a path to prosperity after returning to govern-

ment in 2020.

This was debated by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, in a video message released on Friday, on his official Facebook page.

During the just over 25 minutes broadcast, the Head of State stressed the importance of good governance in creating a stable country as he compared the performance of Guyana’s economy during varying periods under different gov-

ernments.

According to the President, Friday’s video was the first of three that will be released.

President Ali contrasted and compared the state of the country prior to 1992, when the country faced a period of “dictatorship” under the People’s National Congress Government, led by then President, Forbes Burnham; the period from 1992 to 2014 when the PPP/C was in government, and the period from 20152020 when the PNC/R- led A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition was in power.

The President stressed that even as the government lays the foundation for the country’s economy in 2030 and beyond, it is imperative for Guyanese to understand the country’s development from a historical position.

“We must do so from a position where the basis of analysis is crafted in a fact-based mechanism, and not the imaginative pre -

sentation of someone,” the President charged.

The President opened his remarks with an outline of the country’s state prior to 1991 and contrasted this against the period 1991 to 2014 during which massive resources and time was spent on rebuilding Guyana structurally, economically, and socially.

“From 1991 to 2014 what occurred in this country, it is a great injustice for one not to understand the context in which the government operated and what they had to overcome, notwithstanding all that we inherited,” Dr. Ali noted.

During the period 1991 - 2014 the PPP/C government managed to improve the country’s Net International Reserves at the central bank, Bank of Guyana ( BoG), from a deficit of US$27.9 million to a surplus of US$652 million. In addition to improving the Net International Reserve, the PPP/C government also reduced inflation from 70.3 per cent to 1.2 per cent.

The government also massively reduced the country’s external debt, which decreased from US$2 billion to US$1.2 billion.

“There was a time in our country when our debt to GDP ratio was 677 per cent,” President Ali noted. Despite battling such harsh economic conditions, the government was still able to continually increase the public sector minimum wage. National minimum wage was increased from $ 2,546 in 1991 to $42,700 by 2014.

In the social sector, the government also managed to reduce the infant mortality rate. When we came into government in 1991 it was 43 to 23. Infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths for every 1,000 live births.

“ In 1992, when we came into government there were two doctors for every 10,000 people in our country. By the time we left the office in 2014 that increased by 600 per cent

to 14 doctors per 10,000 people. When you look at nurses, there was a time when for every 10,000 population we had six nurses. By the time we left in 2014, we had 13 nurses for every 10,000 population, an increase of 400 per cent. This is the scenario that Guyana was found in 1991,” he said adding the PPP/C put in a lot of work to leave the country in a better place in 2014.

At the central government level, investment was increased in education as a share of the national budget. While in 1991 education only accounted for 1.9 per cent of the national budget, by 2014 it was 14.8 per cent of the national budget. Investment in health as a share of the national budget was also increased from two per cent in 1991 to 10 per cent in 2014.

“I want every Guyanese to understand the evolution of things and where we are going,” Dr. Ali said.

The President then went on to outline what took place in the country from 2015 to 2019. From 2015 to 2020 the economy saw the contraction, in terms of exports the sugar industry total production contracted by almost $21 billion, forestry contracted by $31 billion and the bauxite industry contracted by $9 billion.

“The decline of these sectors between 2014 and 2019 had cost us more than US$285 million,” Dr. Ali pointed out.

At the BoG, gold reserves fell from $25 billion to $800 million in 2019, a decline of 97 per cent.

Meanwhile the overdraft at the central bank increased by more than $114 billion or 540 per cent.

Speaking about the new taxes introduced, the Head

of State noted that tax revenues increased from $136 billion in 2014 to $226 billion by the end of 2019.

“This is a government that came into 2015 with an effective tax rate of 15 per cent. At the end of 2019, the effective tax rate moved to 22 per cent. This meant that the people in 2019 [had] to pay an average of 22 cents earned on every dollar, when at the end of 2014, they were paying an average of 15 cents on every dollar,” the President explained.

According to Dr. Ali, small and medium-sized businesses ended up facing the brunt of the impact of the increased taxes, with many of these businesses having to shutter their doors.

“Private consumption declined by $77 billion. As a share of GDP private consumption fell from 82.7 per cent to 53 per cent by the end of 2019. This [meant] that the rate of spending by our people fell by almost 20 cents on every dollar earned in those four years,” he noted.

There was also a decline in domestic credit to the private sector which led to an increase in non-performing loans at a ratio of the gross loans, increasing from an average of seven per cent in 2014 to 14.8 per cent by the end of 2019.

A non-performing loan is a bank loan that is subject to late repayment or is unlikely to be repaid by the borrower in full.

“Our investors were finding it extremely difficult to service their debt. This is why we saw such a huge increase in non-performing loans. People can’t pay their loans, businesses are closing,” Dr. Ali noted.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

FIVE members of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) were on Friday sworn in by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who emphasised the importance of carefully selecting persons for the teaching profession.

The swearing-in ceremony was held in the Credentials Room at the Office of the President, where it was announced that seven persons

would sit on the Commission which was last constituted in 2018.

President Ali, while delivering brief remarks, stated that teachers are the backbone of the education system, and they play a vital role in fashioning responsible citizens.

With that in mind, he stated that great care and attention must be taken when making appointments to the teaching profession.

He added that placing ill-qualified persons to educate children can be disastrous to the children’s future.

“It is equally necessary that within the teaching profession, appointments and promotions are dispensed in a fair and just manner. If our children are to benefit from a high-quality education, then such appointments and promotions must be based on merit, and devoid of favouritism, cronyism or nepotism,” President Ali said.

Equally important, he said, is the disciplinary action against teachers being judicious, fair and in conformity with due process.

Additionally, he mentioned that the establishment of the Teaching Service Commission

was intended to insulate appointments, promotions and the disciplining of teachers from any interference or influence.

President Ali explained that the newly re-constituted TSC will play a pivotal role in enhancing professionalism within the teaching profession.

The five persons who took the oath of office on Friday were Mr. Maydah Persaud, Ms. Doodmattie Singh, Ms. Joan-Ann Davis-Monkhouse, Ms. Shafiran Bhajan, and Mr. Mohamed Sadam Hussain.

The other two members, Ms. Avril Crawford and Ms. Saty Jaishree Singh will be sworn in at a later date.

President Ali had said, earlier this month, that the Teaching Service Commission would be established by year-end. He had explained that there were several delays in having commissioners appointed and the commission re-constituted.

He had mentioned that the Opposition had approached the court in an attempt to block the appointment during a breakdown in consulta-

Ali

says at swearing-in of TSC members

Teachers are vital to fashioning responsible citizens –– President

tions between himself and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton.

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C.; Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, and Minister of Education Priya Manickchand were also at the ceremony.

US$192M loan agreement signed for continuation of ECD road project

SENIOR Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, on Friday, signed a US$192 million Framework Concessional Loan Agreement which will finance Phase II of the East Coast Road Project.

The signing was witnessed by Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, and other officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Chinese Embassy.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Finance, Phase II of the project will include extension of the Railway Embankment Road into four lanes from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau, extension of the main East Coast Roadway from Orange Nassau to Mahaica as well as rehabilitation of the existing East Coast Demerara road from Belfield to Orange Nassau which will allow for additional lanes.

This phase will also see the construction of 48 bridges and 22 culverts and another bridge across the Hope Canal.

The release said that the loan for the project is being

provided by the Exim Bank of China.

Phase I of the project was done during the previous term of the People’s Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/C) Government and included the extension of the East Coast main road.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chinese Ambassador said that Guyana and China had recently celebrated 50 years of good relations, co-operation, mutual respect and mutual support and benefit and noted

that China cherishes the friendship and co-operation with Guyana. She added that China is willing to strengthen this co-operation and the road-building project forms part of its global development initiative.

“We believe that the project borne through co-operation of the two countries will bring more benefit for people. The current financial situation is so volatile and poses a great challenge to developing countries and the concessional loan demon -

strates China’s commitment to common development and gives an indication of China’s confidence in Guyana’s development and in the two countries’ bilateral co-operation,” Ambassador Guo Haiyan was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, during brief remarks, Minister Edghill noted that the road project is a major intervention in the road network along the East Coast corridor and will create greater accessibility, especially with the kinds of investments that the President Ali-led Administration is making and the possibilities of what could develop at Enmore in terms of industrialisation and job-creation for people on the East Coast corridor.

“The already congested new four-lane needs to be supported by additional carriageways. It was the PPP/C while in office in the 2011 period that started that East Coast expansion and widening and here we are today. It will see the railway embankment from Sheriff Street (from the roundabout) to Orange Nassau being expanded into four lanes then the expansion of the East Coast. Then there will be the

rehabilitation of the existing ECD road from Belfield to Orange Nassau. This will allow us to have additional lanes (four lanes on the railway embankment and for some sections-two lanes so that we’ll be able to see greater comfort in commuting into the city or out of the city while allowing for larger capacity in terms of containerised traffic to help with the movement of goods that will eventually evolve with the development of Enmore as a major job-creation centre,” Minister Edghill explained.

Minister Singh prior to signing the agreement expounded on the ease of traffic congestion and decrease in commute time which the road project completion will allow for and the ramping up of economic activity and development occurring under the stewardship of the PPP/C both in its current and previous terms in office.

Dr. Singh also highlighted the increase in vehicular traffic due to more persons being able to own their own homes and vehicles while the PPP/C is in office. He also alluded to the increase in the number of trucks and other large vehicles carrying

good and materials and noted that this is a reflection of the construction and development boom.

“This is something that we welcome… in response to it, we take very seriously the obligation to expand our road network to ease this pressure and so as soon as President Ali came into office, government set about an aggressive campaign to immediately transform our transport network. We have seen already parallel bypass roads constructed on the East Bank. Today you can drive from Sheriff Street to Diamond without ever touching the traditional East Bank road as we know….,” Dr. Singh emphasised.

He said that government is building an Ogle to Diamond Road so that there will be multiple roads and pointed out that government is not only addressing the EBD, but also the ECD as it continues to provide an additional artery for travel between the East Coast and the East Bank which ultimately forms an important part of government’s transport infrastructure modernisation plans, the release added.

Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and China's Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, shortly after signing the loan agreement (Ministry of Finance photo)

Mohamed Sadam Hussain

Shafiran Bhajan

Joan Ann Davis-Monkhouse

Doodmattie

Singh

Maydha Persaud

President Dr. Irfaan Ali (Elvin Croker photos)

Hershey sued over chocolate containing heavy metals

(Reuters) Hershey Co (HSY.N) has been sued by a consumer who accused the company of selling dark chocolate that contains harmful levels of lead and cadmium.

In a proposed class action filed on Wednesday, Christopher Lazazzaro said he would not have bought or would have paid less for Hershey’s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate, Lily’s Extra Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa and Lily’s Extreme Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa had Hershey disclosed their metals content.

Hershey did not immediately respond on Thursday to requests for comment on the lawsuit, which was filed in the federal court in Central Islip, New York

Some studies suggest that the antioxidants and relatively low levels of sugar in dark chocolate could help prevent cardiovascular disease

Lazazzaro, a resident of Nassau County, New York, sued two weeks after Consumer Reports unveiled the results of scientific testing of 28 dark chocolate bars for lead and cadmium.

The magazine said that

while all 28 contained the heavy metals, 23, including chocolate from Dove, Godiva, Lindt and Trader Joe’s contained potentially harmful levels of lead, cadmium or both for people who eat one ounce of chocolate a day

Hershey’s Special Dark bar and Lily’s 70% bar were high in lead, and Lily’s 85% bar was high in lead and cadmium, the magazine said.

Lazazzaro said reasonable consumers would be turned off by such levels because they pose a “serious health risk,” and that consumers rely on Hershey to be truthful about ingredients in its products

The lawsuit seeks at least $5 million of damages, including at least $500 per transaction under New York law.

Hershey bought Lily’s for $425 million in June 2021.

Lazazzaro’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment , including as to whether other lawsuits are planned.

The case is Lazazzaro v Hershey Co, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 22-07923.

World, U.S. stocks suffer 2022 losses while dollar triumphs

(Reuters) - World stocks were steady and U.S. stock index futures indicated a lower open on Wall Street on the last trading day of 2022, but equities are on course for a 20% drop over a year marred by high inflation and war in Europe.

The dollar, a beneficiary of rising U.S. interest rates, was on track for its best annual performance in seven years.

The Federal Reserve and other central banks have been raising rates to fight inflation in the face of supply chain issues and an energy crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and oil producer Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“This has been very much a Fed-driven equity market throughout the year,” said David Bizer, managing partner at investment manager Global Customized Wealth.

“The market has been trying to anticipate when the Fed is going to hike, how fast and how far.”

S&P 500 futures weakened 0.3% after U.S. stocks (.DJI)(.SPX)(.IXIC) jumped 1-2.5% on Thursday, buoyed by data showing rising U.S. jobless claims.

The data suggested Fed hikes might be starting to cool demand for labour. Markets anticipate the fed funds rate peaking near 5% in the middle of next year, from the current 4.25-4.5%.

The Fed has raised rates by a total 425 basis points since March.

The Dow Jones index is heading for an 8.5% drop on the year, while the S&P 500 is eyeing a 19% fall.

European stocks (.STOXX) fell 0.6% as surging COVID-19 cases in China stoked concerns over global economic growth , and were on course for their worst annual performance since 2018.

Britain’s FTSE 100 (.FTSE), which houses several exporters , was down 0.4% but was bound for a 1.5% rise in 2022.

MSCI’s world equity index (.MIWD00000PUS)

was heading for a 20% fall, its largest annual drop since the global financial crisis of 2008, when it slid more than 40%.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.5%, but is set to end the year down 19%, its worst performance since 2008.

Japan’s Nikkei (.N225) was unchanged on the day, down 11% on the year.

China’s blue-chip CSI 300 Index (.CSI300) was up 0.4% on the day but down 22% on the year, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index (.HSI) rose 0.2% on the day but fell 16% in 2022

Chinese leaders have pledged to step up policy adjustments to cushion the impact on businesses and consumers from a surge in COVID-19 infections.

China’s health system has been under stress due to soaring cases since the country started dismantling its “zero-COVID” policy at the start of the month, with Spain and Malaysia on Friday joining countries imposing or considering imposing curbs on travellers from China.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major currencies, fell 0.4% to a two-week low.

The dollar has gained more than 8% over the year, but it lost more than 7% this quarter on expectations the Fed may not raise rates as high as previously feared.

Sterling was set for its worst performance against the dollar since 2016, when Britain voted to leave the European Union. It was last at $1.2052, unchanged on the day but down 11% on the year.

The Japanese yen strengthened by around 1% to a 10-day high of 131.57 per dollar, but for 2022, the Bank of Japan’s ultra-dovish policy has pushed it to its worst performance since 2013.

The euro gained 0.15% to $1.0677, but was eyeing a 6% fall on the year.

Investors are worried that central banks’ efforts to tame inflation could lead to an economic slowdown.

“Recession , inflation, stagflation will likely dominate headlines next year,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank.

Going into 2023, investors will also be wary of geo-political tensions arising from the war in Ukraine and diplomatic strains over Taiwan, analysts said.

U.S. Treasuries and German bonds, the benchmarks of global borrowing markets, lost 16% and 24% respectively in dollar terms this year as rates rose.

Ten-year U.S. Treasury yields gained 2 basis point to 3.85% on Friday

Ten-year German Bund yields rose 4 bps to 2.51% and two-year yields hit their highest since 2008 after data showing Spanish core inflation rose in December.

U.S. crude fell 0.13% to $78.36 per barrel and Brent was flat at $83.49.

Brent looked set to end the year with a gain of 7%, after jumping 50.2% in 2021 . U.S. crude was on track for a 4.1% rise in 2022, following a 55% gain last year.

Spot gold rose 0.25% to $1,819 per ounce, though the non-yielding commodity was heading for a 0.5% fall on the year.

Climate change stirs integrated housing revolution in Dominica

FORCES of nature run amok annually, leaving immeasurable impacts.

These include the loss of life and livelihoods, disruption of services, and leaving thousands homeless.

In a report by Reuters in 2017, about 14 million people are being made homeless on average each year due to sudden disasters such as floods and storms. According to the study, South and Southeast Asia countries have the highest displacement and housing loss.

But disasters also have a knack for finding the vulnerable in the Latin Americas and Caribbean.

Even if the tiny island of Dominica is no stranger to natural disasters, still, the nation was left dumbfounded following the onslaughts of Tropical Storm Erika and Hurricane Maria.

OCHA Services and UNDP reported that Tropical Storm Erika resulted in damage and loss equivalent to approximately 90% of Dominica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Meanwhile, the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment concluded that Hurricane Maria resulted in total damages of EC$2.51 billion (US$931 million) and losses of EC$1.03 billion (US$382 million), which amounts to 226% of 2016’s GDP.

Dominicans were left with little to no means to rebuild and recover. Hence, the government stepped in and devised a mechanism independent of international community aid that could plunge the country into significant debt.

The need to rebuild extensively and the ambition to fully adapt to climate change pushed the government to formulate new policies in

urban planning and develop integrated housing communities across the nation; thus, the Housing Revolution Programme (Integrated Housing Development) was born Funded by the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme and developed through Public-Private Partnership, the government-led initiative aims to provide new, modern, integrated housing to lowand middle-income families.

And it took no more than two years to reap what was sowed. Resettlement for displaced families started in December 2018 at the Bellevue Chopin Housing Development . Three hundred and fifty (350) residential units, a 28-unit commercial complex, a community centre, a health centre, and a recreational field completed the first integrated community on the island

In the past three years, twelve other housing developments have sprung out across the East Coast, West Coast and the capital city, Roseau. To date, about 2,000 housing units have been completed by MMC Development Ltd.

This year, housing developments will also rise in Scotts Head, Eggleston, Canefield, Vieille Case, Penville, Point Michel, Woodford Hill, Paix Bouche, and Roseau Valley

Meanwhile, a master-planned community development awaits the residents of Grand Bay in 2023. Beyond the beautifully crafted homes and picturesque view of Grand Bay Ville are services and amenities such as shops, basketball court, community centre, pocket parks, recreational spaces, and gas station; safely secured 24/7, with the police

station and fire station within the area.

The standard design proposed by MMC Development Ltd for the developments is a mixture of two- and three-bedroom houses and apartments with a toilet and bath, a living room, a dining area , and a kitchen. In addition, and as part of efforts to ensure resilience, the structure was built with

reinforced concrete with stormproof windowpanes. It is also fortified with retaining walls, sewage and stormwater drainages, and all utility lines are underground

The units are granted, not sold nor rented, and are awarded to beneficiaries through a selection system based on dire and social needs, with particular consideration for single mothers.

Aside from providing climate-resilient homes, the programme also paved the way for the creation and sustenance of livelihoods. Local contractors and other skilled workers were employed for the various housing developments.

With the rapidly changing environment, disaster recovery is now linked to the concepts of resilience

and community renewal. And through the Integrated Housing Development Programme (IHDP) adopted by countries like Dominica, the integration of housing and recovery are successfully achieved -– proving that there is significant potential to improve the quality of life and the socio-economic status of even the most vulnerable.

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Transformative Infrastructural Projects

THE economic impact of infrastructural investments has been underscored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its 2022 country report, and Guyana’s profound infrastructural investments have been applauded.

The IMF believes that the investments in infrastructure by the administration will strategically support the country’s sustainable economic growth efforts.

Some of the major investments by the government include the construction of the new Demerara River Crossing, the Corentyne River Bridge linking Guyana and Suriname, and the road infrastructure linking Guyana to Brazil.

Moreover, the IMF report highlighted that “the construction of new highways, bridges, and roads will help boost the non-energy sector,”

as the government ramps up significant capital funds to modernise the country.

The IMF also believes that the construction sector will benefit from the authorities’ push to increase the housing stock across the country.

In all cases, the IMF outlines that “the procurement process will be open and competitive, including public and online viewing of the opening of bids and publication of awardees.”

This is a credit to the PPP/C government for setting up the transparency framework in developing a One Guyana policy that sees infrastructural investment, boosting the non-energy sector, as reflected in the IMF 2022 report.

Furthermore, Guyana’s development is expected to be accelerated exponentially, and with this

in mind, $96.1 billion has been budgeted for 2022 for the country’s infrastructure.

The money proposed will cater for the present and future needs of Guyanese; $76.7 billion of the infrastructural budget will go towards the development of roads and bridges.

With the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge moving ahead, $8.3 billion has also been budgeted for upgrading of the highway from Palmyra to Moleson Creek.

In addition, $2.3 billion has been budgeted for the East Bank-East Coast Demerara Road linkage between Ogle and Eccles, along with $2.1 billion to commence the widening and paving of the East Bank Highway from Grove to Timehri. The rehabilitation of the entire

Soesdyke-Linden Highway for $2.6 billion is currently being mobilised.

The Government of Guyana is embarking on a massive, countrywide road-widening project. This is because the existing width of roads needs to be improved for the ever-increasing traffic.

Roads are the arteries through which the economy pulses. By linking producers to markets, workers to jobs, students to school, and the sick to hospitals, roads are vital to any development agenda.

The PPP administration understands that roads facilitate education, health, and social services combined.

The Ministry of Public Works continues to ensure that roads are constructed countrywide, providing improved accessibility for all Guyanese countrywide.

2023 will likely be better

Dear Editor,

AS 2022 comes to an end, there are a few unfortunate developments that most probably will linger on well into the new year of 2023.

The war in Ukraine which started in February this year is still raging on and there is no indication of it ending any time soon. Next February will be exactly one year since the war started.

Meanwhile, the loss of lives and destruction of property and infrastructure continues unabated.

The recently concluded COP 27 ended without any agreement on the reduction

of carbon emissions. The gap in living standards between the developed North and the underdeveloped South continues to widen with each passing year.

Poverty is on the rise and the number of people living in extreme poverty continues to increase.

This is indeed shameful given breathtaking advances in science and technology. The productivity of labour has increased, but there is no corresponding increase in reward to labour.

On a more positive note, there are some signs of a reduction in the incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though there is still need for caution.

In Guyana, the economy has been given a significant lift with greater inflows of revenues mainly as a result of oil resources, even as the country stands to benefit further from revenues from carbon credits.

Overall, there are some hopeful signs that 2023 will be better than 2022, both from an economic and developmental standpoint. The country’s per capita income is expected to increase significantly, which will most likely translate to a higher standard of living of the Guyanese people.

The challenge for us in Guyana is finding common ground on the way forward,

especially given the pluralistic nature of our society. There is still a lack of trust among the major political players which is a drag on the realisation of our full developmental potential

The search for a new governance paradigm based on inclusive and participatory forms of governance will no doubt continue as the country forges ahead with the One Guyana Vision articulated by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

I wish all Guyanese a happy and productive 2023!

OP-ED Soil Biodiversity for the Future

By Ana Posas

A FEW days ago, the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) concluded with a historic pact: dozens of countries pledged to protect 30% of the land and sea surface by 2030 to preserve biodiversity, which represents an unprecedented achievement for our forests, our fauna, our seas, and for the soils we walk on.

Taking care of the life in soils allows us to maintain soil carbon (key to having better productions), maintain the humidity and water reserves of our territories, and therefore safeguard the balance of nature and achieve a better production of sustainable food.

There are more than 1,000 species of invertebrates in a single m2 of forest soil, and one gram of soil can harbour millions of living beings and several thousand species of bacteria.

But despite their immense strategic value, soils are under great threat, mainly because of unsustainable management practices, erosion, pollution, and urbanization.

FAO estimates that 14% of the planet’s degraded land is in Latin America and the Caribbean, reaching 150 million people. In Mesoamerica, the proportion rises to 26% of the territory.

The main causes of degradation are water erosion, intensive agrochemical applications and deforestation, which are evidenced by a reduction in vegetation cover, a decrease in fertility, pollution, and the impoverishment of crops.

We cannot stand by and let this happen. We need to promote respect for the biodiversity of our soils to ensure a future in which we can have access to adequate, sustainable, and healthy food production.

The FAO figures show that we can produce up to 58% more food through sustainable soil management.

For this reason, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has a series of projects focused on this topic.

This year, as part of a series of talks, we shared Colombia’s experience with aquatic plants extracted from the Ubaque lagoon, which has made it possible to reduce water pollution due to excess

nutrients and, at the same time, provide organic matter to the producers.

In Mexico, Itson University’s COLMENA initiative has successfully preserved the microbial diversity associated with land-use change by reducing soil degradation. In Argentina, an experiment presented through the incorporation of bacteria and stubble management has improved the carbon balance of soils.

In Trinidad and Tobago, one study confirmed the importance of improving soil pH to improve cassava tubers’ fertility, yield, nutrition, and quality after harvest. In Brazil, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) shared its experience with organic nitrogen fixation bacteria, saving the country US$14 billion annually in soybean cultivation.

In Chile, the Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) has promoted the application of organic material of animal and vegetable origin in crops and fruit trees, reducing costs; and in Peru, the company BIOEM has promoted the use of biofertilizers created with a mixture of fungi, bacteria, and yeasts.

We should look closely at these and other successful examples that seek to safeguard soil biodiversity.

Safeguarding soil biodiversity today is the key to our future.

Ana Posas, FAO Agricultural Officer for Latin America and Caribbean

March 17 set for ruling in challenge to NRF Bill

JUSTICE Navindra Singh has set March 17, 2023, to deliver his ruling in the case challenging the passage of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill, which was filed by Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones and trade unionist, Norris Witter. The duo moved to the court in April, claiming that the bill was not properly passed in the National Assembly in December 2021, due to the absence of the parlia-

mentary Mace.

The Attorney-General, Parliament Office, the Minister of Finance, the Speaker and Clerk of the National Assembly are all listed as respondents.

During an in-person hearing at the Demerara High Court on Friday, both sides closed their case.

Justice Singh ordered the parties to file written submissions by February 10, 2023. Submissions in reply must be filed by February 20, 2023. The judge then set March 17, 2023, at 09:00 hours for ruling.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that, on December 29, 2021, in a bid to defend the landmark bill, which has since been assented to by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, was interrupted by what was referred to as the unparliamentary actions of members of the Opposition.

The second reading of the bill was objected to by Jones, who requested that it be sent to a special select committee.

However, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, indicated his preference for listening to the arguments from both sides, before determining whether or not the Bill should be sent to a select committee.

Minister Singh then took to the podium, but his presentation was interrupted by members of the APNU+AFC Opposition, who kept banging their desks and chanting demeaning words about the bill.

After they failed to prevent Minister Singh from speaking, Opposition parliamentarian Annette Ferguson, attempted to remove the Mace, but

was unsuccessful.

This unprecedented act was foiled by Nadir’s personal assistant, who held the instrument tightly as he laid on the floor of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Jones and Witter, who is the President of the General Workers Union, through their attorneys Roysdale Forde, S.C, and Selwyn Pieters, are seeking judicial review and relief under the Constitution.

Nandlall and Minister Singh had asked the High Court to throw out the case.

In their affidavit of defence, which was submitted to Justice Singh, they claimed that the NRF Bill was “lawfully, validly and properly” passed in the National Assembly on December 29, 2021.

The pair verily believe that there is insufficient evidence furnished by Jones and Witter to support the challenge.

In the circumstances, they have asked the court to refuse all the orders being sought and challenged, with substantial costs.

Additionally, the pair submitted that the court has no jurisdiction to enforce any provision on the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and, in any event, no provision

of the said Covenant was contravened as is alleged by Jones and Witter.

As it relates to the Mace being present for the passing of the Bill, the two respondents submitted that there is no principle known in law, neither does the Constitution nor the Standing Orders require that the Mace be present, and in place for Parliament to exercise its constitutional power to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Guyana.

“… whether the Mace is in place or not, or whether an instrument can be used as a Mace, the purpose of the Mace and matters connected to the proceedings of Parliament and their regularity thereof, are matters over which this court has no jurisdiction, as they constitute procedural matters of Parliament over which the Parliament has exclusive jurisdiction, as is evident by Article 165 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana…that in any event, the Mace has no relevance and place in the exercise of Parliament’s constitutional power and authority to make laws,” Nandlall said in his affidavit of defence.

Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, S.C. Trade unionist, Norris Witter Justice Navindra Singh

Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones

Continuous registration commences on January 3

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will commence a continuous registration exercise on January 3, 2023, for eligible persons, at all of its permanent Registration

Offices in the ten administrative regions.

According to a press release, this registration exercise will conclude on May 31, 2023.

During this registration exercise, any person who will be 14 years and older by June 30, 2023, and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalisation, or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, can apply for registration, providing he/ she was never registered.

The release added that existing reg-

istrants who are desirous of updating their records such as a request to correct or change their names, date of birth, occupation and update their addresses are advised that those transactions would also be facilitated during the exercise.

Persons desirous of conducting any registration transaction whether new registration or changes/corrections to their particulars are required to visit the GECOM Registration Office responsible for their area of residence with their original birth certificate, valid passport, adoption certificate, naturalisation certificate or Certificate of Registration, and deed poll along with original birth certificate (if applicable) in the case of making applications for new registration.

The original marriage certificate,

marriage certificate with Decree Absolute for divorced women, deed poll with birth certificate, or a new original birth certificate reflecting the new name in the case of application for change/correction of name and other particulars are also required.

Registration transactions can be done during the official working hours: Mondays to Thursdays from 08:00 hours to 12:00 hours and 13:00 hours to 16:30 hours, and on Fridays from 08:00 hours to 12:00 hours and 13:00 hours to 15:30 hours.

For further information, persons are advised to visit GECOM’s website at www.gecom.org.gy, the commission’s Facebook page or call 225-02779, 223-9653, or 223-1300.

GMSA says, commends

THE recent signing of the $900 million revolving fund by the Ministry of Finance and Demerara Bank Limited is commendable as it will create many opportunities for those in the forestry sector, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) said on Friday.

“The establishment of this fund is opportune and will undoubtedly close the gap in financing, which is necessary to boost the forestry sector, improve production capacity and meet the increased demand for forestry products domestically, regionally and internationally”, the Association said in a press release while noting that the

development was commendable.

The release added that the GMSA’s forestry subsector has been working diligently over the past years for an alternative access to affordable finance.

It was noted that collectively, the Ministry of Natural Resources through the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has been working with the GMSA to help identify causes for low production of logs and wood processing.

Subsequent to several weeks of consultation with all stakeholders, it was identified that the existing and direct hindrance is lack of adequate financial resources.

“Many operators only have sufficient funds to produce limited stock of raw materials and finished products which can have a negative impact on the availability of finished goods for market consumption,” the release said.

The stakeholders consulted include loggers, sawmillers and manufacturers who are all part of the growing value chain.

According to GMSA, this economic incentive is “an excellent opportunity for business growth and development, especially for companies that are pursuing more downstream processing of

value-added products.”

effort

$900M revolving fund for forestry sector closes gap in financing ––

It was noted that recently, GMSA has witnessed major interest in finished goods, especially in the construction and housing sectors in the Caribbean, coupled with the rapid increase of housing construction in Guyana.

The GMSA said it will continue to advocate for expansion of this financial model into other key sectors such as agro-processing.

Demerara Bank Limited was commended for its role in funding the development and promotion of the forestry sector with its injection of $600 million and according to the release, “The success of this financing programme can be a catalyst for other financial institutions to follow, to provide assistance to local entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses.”

The GMSA emphasised that it is “extremely pleased” with the government’s swift response to the urgent need within the forestry sector and anticipates its ongoing collaboration with the private sector.

“Further, the Association encourages all members of the forestry sector to consider this financing opportunity for business growth,” the release added.

Local coconut industry gets additional boost

–– as second batch of Brazilian Green Dwarf coconuts arrive

By Cindy Parkinson

THE second set of 1000 Brazilian high-yielding, early-bearing Green Dwarf coconut seeds was received (by Guyana) recently. The project was funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through the Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU) that falls under the Minis-

coconut production. With the current trajectory, the Agriculture Minister is confident that this important non-traditional sector will continue expanding.

To demonstrate the Government’s continued support, in 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture will look very seriously at increasing the importation of the variety from Brazil, as well as explore,

copra production.

“Our local varieties produce an average of between 350-500 mls. This improved variety from Brazil produces an average of 750 mls. One plant can produce an average of 250 – 300 nuts per year,” he noted.

He expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude to the IDB for supporting this needed

intervention as well as to COHIBRA ( Technology in the Production of Coconut Trees) and, by extension, the Government of Brazil, for sharing, freely, the new, improved variety, which augers well for improving the genetic base for both research and production.

In 2023, Hope Estate is planning to collaborate

closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to source one 40foot container of this seed nut, which will be approximately 14,000. This planned intervention will ensure that more farmers benefit directly and accelerate the multiplication of the variety in Guyana.

General Manager, Roopchand said it makes economic sense to import improved varieties, where ever

possible, into the system since breeding new varieties takes an average of 15 years, which is very time-consuming, labour-intensive and costly.

“If we as a country want to be competitive and stay ahead of the curve, this approach will have to be adopted until Guyana can develop its own breeding programme,” he added.

try of Agriculture.

In an invited comment, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, said he was delighted, so far, with the outcome of the intervention since it was one of the “positive spin-offs” that resulted from the Agri-Investment Forum that was held in Guyana earlier this year. The introduction of an improved, early-bearing, high-yielding variety of coconut was long overdue, since Guyana’s traditional coconut varieties were more than 40 years old and urgently needed significant improvement in many cases.

This induction of new genetic materials into the country’s coconut sector would improve the current genetic base for research and make it possible for our farmers to be directly involved in this welcome intervention.

The Minister further emphasised that Guyana’s Coconut Industry was expanding phenomenally. In 2021, the acreage increased by 2005, with an additional 117 new farmers coming on board.

In 2022 as of the end of October, the acreage increased by 2,762 and 319 new farmers got involved in

fully, the possibilities of importing other high-yielding varieties that are suitable for our local conditions from different parts of the world, such as Asia and Mexico General Manager of Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL), Ricky Roopchand, explained that “the IDB- funded second batch of 1000 seed nuts will be germinated at Hope Estate’s Coconut Nursery under the close supervision of ASDU.

He further explained that, as part of the National Coconut Decentralization Programme for the year 2023, demonstration plots, using the new variety, will be established in selected farmers’ fields around the country in all ten administrative regions of Guyana where they will be closely monitored by staff of ASDU, HCIL, Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

Mr. Roopchand also emphasised that the high-yielding green dwarf variety took 15 years to develop and was excellent for water, oil and

The Brazilian Green Dwarf Coconut tree

Rice exports top US$100M in 2022

–– new market unlocked in Lebanon

DESPITE the inclement weather and reports of flooding, Guyana’s rice exports have amounted to approximately US$185,000,000 for the year 2022, the agriculture ministry has said.

In a press release on Friday, the ministry stated that a new export market was opened in Lebanon, with more than 24 tonnes of packaged white rice being shipped to the country in 2022.

Further, the ministry constructed drying floors in Regions Two and Four to boost production.

During 2020 (January-December), Guyana exported rice and rice products to 40 countries.

The major importing countries were Jamaica, Trinidad, Belgium, Holland, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Columbia, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela.

In Guyana, rice is an es-

sential source of livelihood. Approximately 6,020 farmers produce rice in several regions throughout Guyana. There are 43 licensed rice millers and 22 registered exporters of rice. Rice accounts for 3.3 per cent of Guyana’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 20.5 per cent of agriculture GDP.

This industry is currently the largest agricultural sub-sector in Guyana; it is by far the most significant user of arable lands, and several

thousands of families are directly and indirectly associated with it.

According to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), rice is cultivated primarily along the coastal belt in Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo. Rice-growing areas also include Leguan and Wakenaam.

There are two rice crops annually: The first (spring) and second (autumn) crops.

The second (autumn) crop is planted around

Guyana gets amphibious excavators to help with flood risk management

THE Ministry of Agriculture’s Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU), on Friday, held a simple exercise to test and inspected three recently procured amphibious excavators as part of the government’ s ongoing flood risk management project.

According to a press release from the ministry, the pieces of equipment were procured at a cost of $438,654,750 and will be used to execute the upcoming phase of the reconstruction of the north-eastern dam

of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).

With flood risk management being high on the agenda, the government has been consistently investing in developing improved drainage structures, the release said.

While offering remarks, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the government will continue to invest in critical machinery and infrastructure and assured that the machines will be used in different parts of the country.

“These excavators will not only be used in this con-

servancy. They will also be used to execute work in different parts of the country de-

become silted and we have to do work to desilt them. We’ll have to use these types of machines to do those works. We will ensure we continue to invest in modern machinery to develop the sector and make it more sustainable and attractive,” he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth said: “With regard to the project, we’ve since added discharge capacity with the new Hope Canal, restored the Cunha

Canal, and maintained the existing outlets should there be a phenomenal amount of rainfall. The acquisition of these equipment would give support to in-house capacity and add to the skillset within the management of the conservancy so that we can execute and implement all planned works.”

The release further noted that similar upgrades would be done to infrastructure along the East Coast corridor.

The excavators are said to be the largest in the Caribbean, comprising DX300 Long Reach superstructures, each mounted on two hydraulic amphibious pontoons.

Following the 2005 flood and overtopping of the EDWC, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo sought assistance from international donor agencies to fund projects to develop Guyana’s flood risk management.

The Vice-President was also responsible for pursuing the construction of the Hope Canal which drains excess water from the EDWC to the Atlantic Ocean.

The project, which is funded by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), aims to significantly increase flood resilience in the low-lying coastal lands of the East Demerara area, which includes the country’s capital, Georgetown, where much of the population, as well as administrative and commercial activities are concentrated.

The additional financing also caters for extensive work to improve the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), one of Guyana’s major water storage and flood control facilities, the release added.

April-June and is reaped in the September-October period. In contrast, the first (spring) crop is grown in November-December and harvested in March-April.

A shipment of rice being loaded for export

One of the amphibious excavators (Ministry of Agriculture photo)

pending on the needs within those areas. Outfalls that lead directly to the Atlantic Ocean

Part-time job initiative reaches East Bank residents –– 1,000 to benefit

VICE-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday launched a part-time job programme at the Diamond Secondary School which will see 1,000 East Bank Demerara residents being employed for 10 days each month.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), VP Jagdeo reiterated that this forms part of the administration’s efforts to supplement household income, in light of the rising cost of living due to several external factors, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic.

The administration is aggressively pushing to provide 50,000 jobs over five years, as was promised in its manifesto. It has invested a significant number of resources to strategically enhance the lives of citizens, since taking office in August 2020, the

release said.

“…because we were looking at the situation, so many of our people were unemployed, but then we had COVID and so we didn’t lose only 30,000 jobs after COVID, and the country was shut down. We lost maybe another 40,000 [jobs]. So, we have to get those people back to work,” he said according to DPI.

The job opportunities allow the employees to work for 10 days and earn up to $40,000 per month. Jobs are being offered in specific areas within government ministries and agencies and cater to one person per household.

So far, some 11,000 Guyanese are currently benefitting from the programme countrywide, which will cost the government some $ 10 billion annually.

The part-time job initia-

tive is just one of a menu of measures implemented by the government to cushion the cost-of-living effects, DPI said, adding that along with supporting farmers and cushioning the net effect of the increased cost of freight and the Russia/Ukraine war, Guyanese are benefitting from a range of tax incentives.

Among the measures are the removal of VAT on electricity, water, and data; the reduction of the excise tax on fuel to zero, many non-tax measures such as the oneoff $25,000 relief grant, the reintroduction and increase of the school children cash grant and its extension to private schools, a one-off $25,000 cash grant for pensioners and cash grants to support small businesses.

DPI added that despite the rise in the price of fuel,

the government has absorbed the increased cost associated with the production of electricity, resulting in there being no increase in electricity tariff.

Further, Dr Jagdeo said the government will continue to plan incrementally for the advancement of the country and all Guyanese.

“…because if we don’t have a long-term vision of Guyana, a lot of the improvements we see now we will not be able to sustain and that is what is always characterized by the People’s Progressive Party. We have always planned for the long term,” he added.

He also called on those who signed up for the jobs to take advantage of the educational opportunities being afforded to them, particularly through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning

GNNL annual award ceremony returns after two years

THE Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL) held its annual end-of-year award ceremony on Friday where employees from the various departments were recognised for their outstanding work during 2022.

General Manager Moshamie Ramotar, in her address, urged the staffers from the editorial, marketing, accounts and circulation departments to continue work-

ing hard and diligently to ensure the success of one of the country’s leading newspapers.

Director Raul Aaron, in his remarks, thanked the management and staff for the great performance in the year 2022.

“The Board believes that despite the challenges that were encountered during the year, the management and staff were able to perform at optimum, and that is import-

ant,” Aaron said.

At this year’s award ceremony, the first after a two year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Krishnadeo Doobay copped the Worker of the Year Award, while Kinsell Gibbons was the first runnerup and Nevla Jackson was the second.

Akeem Williams and Andre Walls both received the General Manager Award, while reporter Naomi Parris and Layout Artist Kris Kala-

deen got the Editor-in-Chief Award.

Employees also received awards for their long years of service. Colin Alfred, who has been employed at the GNNL for 41 years, is the longest serving employee.

Other employees were given Certificates of Appreciation.

(GOAL).

The Vice-President was accompanied by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall; Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat; Minis-

ter within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs Kwame McCoy; and Members of Parliament Jennifer Westford, Alister Charlie, and Yvonne Pearson.

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

GNNL staff at Friday's award ceremony (Delano Williams photo)

16 Pigeon Island squatters receive land titles

THE first 16 of some 44 persons squatting at Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara, are now legal landowners.

On Friday, the minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, presented the Certificates of Title to beneficiaries, in keeping with a commitment of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in August 2022, to deliver the documents by year-end.

Director of Community Development at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Gladwin Charles and other officials from CHPA were also present to facilitate the process.

The activity, which was held at the Life Spring Ministries Multi-purpose Hall, Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara, also follows the registration of the squatters for their Titles, just two weeks ago.

Some recipients have been occupying the area dating back to the 1980s. Efforts to regularise Pigeon Island have been made since 2002,

including President Ali’s review of the area in 2015, during his tenure as the Minister of Housing and Water.

The process was stalled under the previous government and restarted in 2020 under President Ali.

Minister Rodrigues emphasised that the distribution is a significant achievement for the government and residents.

“We want to empower people by giving them that document in their hand, [whether] an allocation letter, an agreement of sale and ultimately a Title or Transport,” said the Minister.

She continued, “from that, many avenues open up for families, yes, you have security in the sense that you have a roof over your head that you own, you don’t have to fear especially our senior citizens that if something happens to them the family property or home will be in jeopardy.”

Moreover, the minister outlined that when the PPP/C Administration took office in 1992, over 200 squatting

areas were identified.

Through several PPP/C Administrations, some 158 of these communities have since been regularised. The minister urged the co-operation of residents in the other areas, to make further progress.

Speaking to the overall housing sector, the minister said the government is accelerating the development of house lots and the construction of housing units. She also said that infrastructure works will be advanced.

Beneficiaries at Friday’s exercise expressed happiness, having received their land titles. Ms. Deomattie Laljie stated that she and her family (including eight children) began living in the area approximately 34 years

ago in a cramped 10x20 feet home and were always in fear of building due to ownership issues. The family has since upgraded their home and is happy to close this chapter of their life.

“I am so happy because we were always discriminated by people saying that we are not entitled to this [and] we are not entitled to that. [...] I want to thank the President for delivering on his promise and Minister Susan for her extraordinary work that she put in,” Ms. Laljie said.

Mother of two, Ms. Kamani Sukhu, also shared, “my kids are very excited because they know in the long run nobody will have to come and tell them ‘well you have to move’ or they will have to break your house down.”

Ms. Sukhu and her family plan to make minor repairs on her home to enjoy a more comfortable shelter.

For persons unable to receive the documents on Friday, the ministry will facilitate the processing at a later date.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues presented the Certificate of Title to one of the beneficiaries in keeping with a commitment of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Marine cages to be introduced in hinterland communities

catches

By Naomi Parris

TO further boost the aquaculture sector, the Agriculture Ministry will soon begin expanding its marine ‘cage culture’ project across the country.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, said the pilot project, which began in October of this year, will see much focus on increasing production in the hinterland regions.

“We would have started out the cage trial for what the president would have talked about, it’s very formative and by next year we will increase to different parts of the country, especially the hinterland areas,” Mustapha said.

He further noted that the government is working with suppliers from the Republic of China to secure additional cages to roll out the project’s expansion.

“We are hoping that with the co-operation of China, we can receive from them over 50 cages in a matter of months so those cages will be

going into the different areas across the country.”

With the expansion, Mustapha noted that the ministry is hoping to increase the catches of tilapia and tambaqui fish not only to meet the country’ s market demands but also to aid in the reduction of the region’s food import bill.

“All these things will be new additions to the traditional way of agriculture in Guyana. I am hoping that we can get more production in these areas so we can move the process forward in reducing the food import bill.”

In January of this year,

President Dr Irfaan Ali announced the rollout of several innovative solutions to ensure the livelihood of fisherfolk is maintained.

At the time, Guyana’s fisheries industry was battling with a decline in fish catches.

President Ali had said the marine cage project would guarantee fisherfolk close to $8 million annually.

President Ali noted that the initiative would assist with reducing operation costs. He said profits gained would meaningfully enhance the livelihood of residents throughout the district.

A marine cage is a system set up in lakes, reservoirs or ponds to confine fish. It allows water to pass freely between the fish and surrounding water resources, thus maintaining good water quality and removing waste.

Further, fishersfolk across the country had received a 100,000 one-off cash grant to buttress the decline in catches.

Some 7,500 fisherfolk benefitted from this initiative.

–– Agriculture Ministry aims to increase tilapia, tambaqui

A marine cage (FAO photo)

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha

Pant’s brain, spine normal after car crash in India

(ESPNCRICINFO) - The results of India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant ’ s MRI of the brain and spine are normal . He has also undergone plastic surgery to manage his facial injuries , lacerated wounds and abrasions suffered in a serious car accident near Roorkee, Uttarakhand yesterday morning

The doctors at Max Hospital in Dehradun have also given him “above knee splintage for suspected right knee ligament injury, and suspected right ankle ligament injury”. The medical bulletin released by the hospital yesterday evening also said Pant is “stable, conscious and oriented”.

The bulletin noted that “ prima facie , he had sustained multiple abrasions on right-hand forearm and leg, and lacerated wounds over forehead and near eyebrow, and multiple graze abrasions on the back”.

The accident took place in the early hours yesterday,

when Pant was driving to Roorkee His car , which was severely damaged in the accident, is reported to have hit the divider on the road and subsequently caught fire Pant was initially taken to a local hospital - Saksham Hospital Multispecialty and Trauma Centre - where he was treated for impact injuries before being moved to Max Hospital in Dehradun He had reached the hospital at 06:00hrs

Pant, 25, was not part of the India squads for the T20I and ODI home series against Sri Lanka beginning on January 3 He was due to head to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for strength and conditioning before the Test series against Australia in February

He most recently played a match - winning inning of 93 in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur , which helped India clinch the series 2-0.

New Zealand tee-off after Babar declares, but bad light forces stalemate

(ESPNCRICINFO) An out-of-the-blue declaration by Babar Azam set New Zealand a target of 138 in the final hour of the first Test in Karachi Babar was all smiles after making the call, but it was a strange move. While a Pakistan win was all but impossible, a New Zealand win could certainly not be ruled out even though a draw was the most likely result.

New Zealand promoted Michael Bracewell to open with Devon Conway. Though Bracewell fell for 3 , Conway and Tom Latham kept going for the target At one stage , New Zealand needed 83 from nine overs Babar looked concerned but the fading light lit up his face again as the game was called off when the target was 77 away with 7.3 overs left

Earlier, Ish Sodhi’s maiden five-wicket haul left Pakistan precariously close to their fifth successive defeat in the format They were 206 for 7 - effectively 32 for 7 - with close to 50 overs left in the game, but Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim added 71 for the eighth wicket to pull them out of danger In the final session, Wasim seemed to be batting much more freely He even slogged Bracewell over wide long-on for a six, and three off the next ball took Pakistan’s lead past 100 But Sodhi had him lbw with a flipper to keep New Zealand in the game

A few overs later, New Zealand had an opportunity to run Mir Hamza out when he sprinted down the track from the non-striker’s end only to be sent back by Shakeel Ajaz Patel, however, failed to collect the throw But otherwise , Hamza hung around stoutly with Shakeel, facing 34 balls for his unbeaten 3 Shakeel reached his half-century

with six off Ajaz and, soon after, Babar called his men back

Until then, the day belonged to Sodhi Having trapped Babar lbw with a googly in the morning session, he picked up three more wickets after lunch to go with the one he took last evening

Babar’s wicket left Pakistan 100 for 4 but Imam-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed revived them with an 85-run stand for the fifth wicket After lunch, Sarfaraz brought up his second half-century of the match but fell on

the very next ball. It was a short and wide delivery from Sodhi but Sarfaraz toe-ended his cut into the wicketkeeper’s gloves

Perhaps to maintain the left-right combination, Pakistan sent in Salman Agha ahead of Shakeel Agha had scored a century in the first innings but this time Sodhi got one to sneak through his defences early

The biggest blow to Pakistan ’ s hopes came in Sodhi’s next over Throughout his innings, Imam had come down the track to counter Sodhi’s turn from the rough outside

off He was on 96 when he used his feet again but this time Sodhi slipped in a googly to leave him stranded so far down the wicket that even a slight delay from Tom Blundell in effecting the stumping didn’t matter

Imam was furious with himself On his way back to the pavilion, he smashed a chair with his bat and then threw his bat away A New Zealand win looked likely at that stage but Shakeel and Wasim kept the visitors at bay, even after they took the second new ball

In the morning, Tim Southee created a chance in the second over of the day when Imam drove at a full ball and got an outside edge But there was no slip in place and the resulting boundary took Imam to his half-century But it didn’t take long for New Zealand to pick up their first wicket of the morning In the next over, Bracewell dismissed nightwatcher Nauman Ali lbw

Babar walked in at No 5 and, after defending the first few deliveries, took full advantage when Bracewell erred on the shorter side The Pakistan captain rocked back and pulled the off-spinner to the square-leg boundary twice in a 12-run over

That prompted Southee to bring Sodhi on, and the leg-spinner removed Babar with his very first ball of the day The Pakistan captain opted to review the on-field verdict but it proved futile

Sarfaraz started aggressively . After picking up two back - to - back fours off Southee, he hit three boundaries in Ajaz’s first over of the day. The first two came via the sweep shot, and when Ajaz switched to over the wicket, Sarfaraz jumped towards the leg-side and cut him through covers to move to 25 off 15 balls.

Tom Latham and Devon Conway attacked with a 52-run stand off just 6.3 overs in the chase that was cut short by bad light (Associated Press)

Rishabh Pant’s car was severely damaged after a crash (PTI)

UDCA president wants more cricket in 2023

By Sean Devers

THE year 2022 for cricket in the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) was marred by lack of adequate cricket in Region 10, due to the unavailability of playable cricket grounds.

However, president of UDCA, Bradley Fredericks , is not fazed by the hard work needed in the new year for the development of the game

He is hopeful that the dirt for three pitches in the DCB sub-association, promised by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), will aid in lifting the interest of youngsters for cricket in an area in Guyana that is known more for football and track events.

“After the Cricket Act was finally passed, after almost eleven years of court battles, the UDCA was able to hold a successful AGM in April, 2022 Nine of the twelve clubs participated,” disclosed the 70-year-old Fredericks, who has been the president for the last six years

“ Due to the unavailability of grounds , cricket was stymied although clubs competed against each other in Ituni and Maria Elizabeth

The UDCA received over $ 800 000 in cricket gear from GCB which we are thankful

for and there are valiant efforts to get at least two grounds ready for competition,” continued the UDCA boss

With all the hiccups, the UDCA, which was founded in 2001 by Marvin and Tina Burns along with Richard Thomas, was able to enter the U15 and U17 competitions and an UDCA’s player; Keron Phillips, was selected to play in the U-15 Inter-County tournament for the President’s XI

Among the plans for 2023 is to ensure that grounds are available once the GCB keeps its promise to help build pitches in Linden and its surrounds in the Mining Town

According to Fredericks, the UDCA has planned competitions with clubs while schools will be visited by the new Cricket Development Officer Female cricket is paramount on the agenda

“Many females are showing interest However, grounds are still a big issue,” lamented Fredericks.

In 2006, as a part of Linden Town Week activities, teams from Berbice and Demerara were invited by Fredericks to play each other at MSC ground

That was the last time a game between two senior County teams was played in Linden where there are now no cricket pitches

In the 1970s and 1980s, Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) played in Demerara’s First Division Case Cup Tournaments , along with the top teams in Georgetown and one each representing East Bank, West Demerara and East Coast

Dr Vincent Adams was the first player from Linden to play for Guyana at any level Adams was also the first Lindener to score a First-Class century with his ton being made for Demerara against Berbice in 1972 Inter-County Final at the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre ground in Berbice

Vincent Mayers, Lambert Blackman, Mark GrenvilIe, Clayton Lambert, Kenneth Sarabo, Frank DeAbreu , Anthony Rigby , left - arm Pacer Godfrey Edwards, fast bowler Aubrey Quamina, Keith Farley, who played in the 1975 and 1976 winning youth teams under Timur Mohammed’s captaincy and Michael Duncan, who played against Young England at Bourda 1980, were among those who played cricket in Linden

The late great Basil Butcher also played club cricket in Linden after he retired from First-Class cricket and moved from Berbice to live in Mackenzie

Guyana played Trinidad and Tobago, led by Doodnauth Ramkissoon, at MSC ground in the 1970 Benson & Hedges Regional Youth series, as the ground hosted its inaugural Regional Youth game

Fredericks and his executives want to see cricket in Guyana’s Hilly, Sand & Clay Region, return to those days.

condolences on the passing of

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is saddened by the passing of Pele - Edson Arantes do Nascimento - on December 29, 2022 On behalf of the GFF and the entire football family , heartfelt condolences are extended to his family and relatives..

During this period of sorrow, our thoughts are with his family and close friends

Pele’s impact on football throughout the world is witnessed by the outpouring of love since the announcement of his death

A legend , a leader and a global ambassador, Pele was a man of firststhe only player to win the FIFA World Cup three times in 1958, 1962 and 1970; the youngest player at a World Cup and Brazil’s joint top scorer with 77 goals

The football giant’s visit to Guyana in 2009 inspired a new generation of players The stories told of the former Santos and New York Cosmos striker during his 20-year career will continue to influence future generations

“ King PELE was God ’ s gift to mankind He was loved by all and will continue to be the ultimate benchmark for skill and grace on the pitch He was widely admired for taking on a greater role as football’s global ambassador and standard-bearer of the high expectations of football players, on and off the pitch

His legendary career and lasting influence on the beautiful game will surely endure well beyond the touch-line of his lifetime. May his soul rest in peace!.” GFF president Wayne Forde said

Dr Vincent Adams was the first Lindener to play cricket at any level

Mohamed, Lindore cop top prizes at Everest Masters Awards ceremony

EVEREST Cricket Club Masters Team recently held their annual Awards ceremony and gala after a year of sterling performances on the field Despite the extended wet weather, Everest Masters were able to play unbeaten in their 15 completed matches , a record since their establishment in 2010.

This feat was special to the group of enthusiastic players who all received tokens for their contribution to the team’s success in 2022 while the overall top run-scorer and wicket-taker received individual prizes

With the bat , Saheed Mohamed scored 513 runs inclusive of one century and four half-centuries The consistent and compact righthander was the clear winner ahead of Basil Persaud with 253 and Sahadeo Hardaiow 195 runs in the year It was Mohamed’s fifth consecutive award as Best Batter

Right - arm off - spinner , Randy Lindore received the Best Bowler award for the second consecutive year after capturing 13 wickets He was followed closely by right - arm seamer Ronald Jaisingh with 12 victims and Rajesh Singh who had 11

scalps.

Captain Rajesh Singh was elated as he presented the statistical report of the matches played in the year The skipper charged his troops to be consistent to equal or better the already formidable record In his address, Singh also made special mention of the supporters who contributed to the overall success including the staff and Directors of Everest CC and the

various sponsors especially Trophy Stall

It was also a historic occasion in the club ’ s members’ pavilion for West Indies latest Test cricketer , Tagenarine Chanderpaul , and businessman Ramesh Sunich who were named Everest Cricket Club’s new Life Members It is a policy of the 108-year old club to bestow the prestigious award to their members who achieve the

conferred as Life Members

Butts became a Life Member after making his debut in 1985 but was never presented with his Membership card. The former right-arm off - spinner was on hand to receive his card and later thanked the executives and membership of the club for the recognition Butts also congratulated the Everest Masters side for their achievements on the field and for putting on the gala event to recognise the performances of its members

In his remarks to the audience of mainly players and their spouses, Minister Bharat was full of praise for Everest Masters for their remarkable accomplishments and for organising games to keep the game which is a unifying force alive

distinction of playing international cricket However , Chanderpaul was not present to receive his new membership card while Sunich of Trophy Stall was slightly emotional as he accepted his card from the special guest of the night, Honourable Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharat Sunich ’ s recognition as Honorary Life Member is as a result of his consistent

and dedicated contribution to the club using his business establishment as a vessel of empowerment Over the years, Everest CC was on the receiving end of Sunich ’ s generosity as he provided trophies, other tokens, printed signs, uniforms, balls and gear sometimes without any formal request

Another Test player that represented Everest CC in his early playing days, Clyde

The Honourable Minister also spoke glowingly of Everest Cricket Club and its members for being the shining example of what other clubs should be

Charismatic international cricket commentator, John Ramsingh, who is also an executive member of Everest CC was the Master of Ceremony for the annual event which was lively and well attended.

Omari Glasgow dreaming of another Gold Cup qualification for Guyana

OMARI Glasgow is one of the rising stars of the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League. The 19-year-old winger is the leading scorer for the Guyana National Team through the first four matches and trails the golden boot race by one in League B

His love for ‘the beautiful game’ was ignited half his life ago, growing up in the village of Beterverwagting, around 14 kilometres east of Guyana’s capital of Georgetown, off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean With the sport engrained in his family, there was no way he was destined to go without knowing the beautiful game

“My family used to play football, my dad, my granddad and my other granddad My granddad from my dad’s side, he was one of the best players on the East Coast, and he passed away before I was born so I didn’t get to see him play,” Glasgow told Concacaf com. “I went to go watch my dad play and I just started falling in love with the game, and I started playing at age eight.”

At 13, Glasgow was called up to the Under-15 national team in what started his journey to the senior team a handful of years down the road He made his senior team debut in a 4-0 win over The Bahamas during CONCACAF World Cup qualifying for Qatar 2022 on March 30, 2021, coming off the bench to score and help end a 10-match winless streak in qualifiers for Guyana

“Growing up watching the national team play soccer, some of the guys that I play with, I watched them play at a young age and I always dreamed about playing with the national team,” Glasgow said. “I did that and I’m so grateful to get called up to the senior national team.”

The Golden Jaguars were unable to advance out of the first round of qualifying and again tasted heartbreak by elimination in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup prelims the following

June Despite the loss to Guatemala, that Guyanese player’s participation in that match led to his signing with Chicago Fire II in the United States

With the desire to return winners, Glasgow and his teammates prepared at their respective clubs to arrive in the best form possible for the 2022/23 CNL with the objective of earning promotion to League A “ We come into the tournament with a mindset, just playing to win and try to get into the other tier of CONCACAF,” Glasgow said “When we come together, we just want to win We just play to win, do good for the country and put the country out there on the map.”

Glasgow was the star in Guyana’s opening CNL encounter, leading a comeback with a second half brace for a 2-1 win over Montserrat

The young forward scored off a free kick in the 61st minute and provided the game winner 10 minutes later at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic –the same setting of his debut senior international goal just one year prior

“The first time I get called up to the senior team, that’s when we played in a World Cup qualifier, on that same ground, I scored a free kick against The Bahamas on that same end of the field,” Glasgow recalled. “I just pick up the ball and said I’m taking it The confidence was there and I just deliver.”

Delivering another game-winning goal is just what Glasgow did in Guyana’s second CNL match to take a 2-1 result against Bermuda With six points in hand, the Golden Jaguars were holding onto the top of Group B

The following two matches, back-to-back encounters with Haiti, threw a wrench in Guyana’s aspirations to ascend Haiti won both encounters to take pole position for promotion and the direct qualification to the 2023 Gold Cup Guyana can still get promoted by winning their remaining two matches, but they’ll need Haiti to stumble What can be secured with the second-place spot is a spot in the Gold Cup Preliminary Round, as the country is hopeful to return after making their first appearance in the 2019 edition

“Getting them to the Gold Cup would be a dream come true for me because I always want to play in one of the highest levels in CONCACAF,” said Glasgow. “I think we could qualify, but we just have to work We have two more games, we just got to get full points.”

“The tournament is very good for us because we showcase ourselves As I said before, we’re trying to get into the top tier of the CONCACAF with the big teams,” Glasgow said about playing in CNL. “We’re working to get there This round of Nations League we’ve just got to take what God make happen for us and just continue working to get there one day.”

As Guyana look to the future, as well as the present, the ultimate aspiration is to earn their first-ever World Cup berth An expanded 48-team tournament in 2026, hosted in CONCACAF, has painted the setting for a dream debut

“ One of my main goals is trying to get Guyana into the World Cup In 2026, the U S., Mexico, and Canada are hosting the World Cup, so that’s a good chance for us to get in there,” said Glasgow

“I think the small Caribbean countries have a chance to get in there and I hope we make full use of that chance by then, because, as I said, it’s a process and we’re building towards that.”

Two goals from Omari Glasgow were the difference as Guyana overturned an early deficit to win 2-1 over Montserrat and take the top spot of Group B of League B of the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League (Photo: Concacaf)

… Chanderpaul, Sunich

The Everest Masters team with Minister Bharat

‘Reds’ Perreira leads tribute for late sports journalist Brent Chapman

VETERAN Caribbean - recognised sports commentator , Guyana - born Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira has led the way for the tributes that are pouring in for the late Guyana Chronicle Sports Editor, Brent Chapman Chapman passed away on Monday in the United States of America According to the Guyanese - born ‘Reds’: “As a journalist he came before his time”.

Reds, who lives in St Lucia, on hearing of the news of Chapman’s passing and recounting his time as a sports journalist, spoke highly of Chapman stating, “He was creative, hardworking and multitalented.”

According to Perreira , “ Brent Chapman was an outstanding journalist and, as a colleague, he was blessed with a refreshing personality, toothpaste smile and very professional in his coverage of sport and interacting with people.

My last physical time being with Brent as at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which he was covering for the Guyana Chronicle

Guyana

“ Although we were staying in different centres we used to meet every morning at the Press Centre and looked at the itinerary for the day and we would have a cross talk That was early, at 8 in the morning, after a very late evening. It was cycling, track and field among others during the day, and at night boxing which took a heavy toll on all the journalists, as in those days it was only one boxing ring being used, and there were no smart phones, internet and WhatsApp Messenger.”

Reds continued that after the Olympics, he and Brent kept in touch. Three to four times he would call and Brent reciprocated as they exchanged ideas

In a stirring tribute to his friend, Reds recalls that “in the 1970s, there was a tremendous amount of boxing promotions and they met very often in the press box doing commentary There were very outstanding boxers during that period Whether it was going to the GDF or National Sports Hall (CASH) it was hard work which included visiting the boxing gyms and conducting interviews.”

Perreira noted that they interacted a

great deal as co-commentators and the late Terrence Holder, being Programme Manager at the Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS), was keen on promoting sports

Reds added: “Myself and Brent were challenged to have commentary of table tennis as the Guyana Table Tennis Association’s General Secretary (GS), the late D P Patterson, was also GS of the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation so coverage of that sport through Holder was pushed

It meant that for all the championships held here the local radio station, GBS, carried live commentaries with Perreira and Chapman tasked with such delivery to stations within the English-speaking Caribbean

Reds said, “I was extremely sorry to hear of his early illness as I had hoped for Brent’s complete recovery, which was not to be.”

Another former colleague of Brent at the Guyana Chronicle, Wesley Kirton, on hearing of his friend’s death expressed shock and sadness.

Former national boxer Mike Benja-

Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

min remarked, “He was always encouraging and somehow managed to boost my career,” while another former GBC colleague , Ron Fanfair , now based in Canada, said, “Sad news RIP well, my friend. Freelance sports journalist Ras Abdalla Tafari Wadada, who had a close sports relationship with Chapman offered: ‘Saddened by news SIP my bro.”

Ms Coleen Braithwaite, another former GBC sports journalist, chimed in saying “It is very sad to hear this news of my friend and colleague in sports journalism.”

And former GBC Sports Editor Basil Bradshaw noted, “He guided me along as my senior when I joined the Sports Department of the GBC

Veteran journalist Denis Scott Chabrol remarked , “ I remembered GBC in the 1980s” while another former GBC sports journalist, Troy Peters, felt “Brent laid the foundation for us,” while Grantley Culbard had this to say: “The little giant, as I described him during my association with him in Guyana has passed on. He made his mark, he left his mark.”

Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira (left) and Brent Chapman having breakfast when they were covering the Los Angeles Olympics