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Procurement Commission 03 appointed

No.106771

––– President Ali underscores govt’s commitment to transparency, accountability

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Standing from left are: PPC Commissioners Diana Rajkumar, Rajnarine Singh, and Joel Bhagwandin; President Dr. Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C.; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, along with Commissioner Berkeley Wickham (Delano Williams photo)

Return textbooks before collecting $30,000 Agriculture support for 17 cash grant, education ministry says 09 40 single-mothers in Region 10 PAGE

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Scenes from GPF’s Traditional Drum Head Church Service

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

ON Friday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) planned a series of activities to mark the occasion of its 183rd Anniversary during the month of July 2022.

The Traditional Drum Head Church Service, held Friday morning, kick-starts the month-long activities. The event was hosted at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Drill Square at GPF’s Eve Leary Headquarters.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, other government ministers and public officials were present alongside Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, senior police officers and other ranks. (Photos credit: Guyana Police Force)

Procurement Commission appointed 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

— President Ali underscores govt’s commitment to transparency, accountability

By Clestine Juan

BUILDING on Guyana’s accountability framework, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Friday administered the Oath of Office to four persons who will serve for the next three years as members of the constitutionally-mandated Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

Those sworn in at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive were Joel Bhagwandin, Rajnarine Singh, Dianna Rajkumar, and former Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) Berkeley Wickham.

The fifth member, Attorney-at-Law Pauline Chase, was unavoidably absent from the event, and will take the Oath of Office in the new week.

The PPC is a critical body, as it is constitutionally responsible for the oversight of the public procurement of all goods and services, along with the monitoring of all infrastructural works to ensure that they conform to the relevant laws and guidelines.

Guyana has been without a PPC since October 2019, when the previously-appointed Commission had reached its statutory term limit. That Commission, which had been appointed in 2016, had served for three years with Ms. Carol Corbin serving as chairperson.

Giving brief remarks at the ceremony, President Ali said that the government has embarked on a development path that is transformative.

“Important to that transformation,” he said, “are issues of public accountability, transparency, and ensuring that social mechanisms and systems that allow the public expenditure to occur are not only strong, but they are continually renewed, in an effort to advance and enhance transparency and accountability.”

The Head-of-State pointed out that the function of the Commission adds a tier to the institutional mechanisms for ensuring oversight of public financing. In this case, His Excellency said, oversight of procurement to strengthen

lition’ government. The JSC is responsible for making recommendations for judicial appointments, and removing or exercising disciplinary action over persons holding or acting in judicial offices.

Standing from left are: PPC Commissioners Diana Rajkumar, Rajnarine Singh, and Joel Bhagwandin; President Dr. Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C.; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, along with Commissioner Berkeley Wickham (Delano Williams photo)

Mr. Hakeem Mohamed taking his oath of office as Police Service Commissioner before the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali (Delano Williams photo)

transparency in an accountable manner.

He explained that under the Constitution of Guyana, commissioners are required to have “a specific skill set” to support Guyana’s reputation of transparent, democratic and open governance.

“I have all confidence that the combined experience, knowledge, and diverse expertise of the members of this

Commission will add value to your work, and will bring the necessary benefits to the country, and to government systems as we work together, enhancing and building a stronger framework through which we will transform and develop our country,” the President told the newly-appointed commissioners.

During the ceremony, Police Service Commission

(PSC) member Hakeem Mohammed also took his Oath of Office. The other members of the Police Service Commission (PSC), including its Chairman, Patrick Findlay, were sworn in on May 31, 2022.

“I’m very pleased to say that we have been able to appoint the final member of the Police Service Commission,” President Ali said,

adding: “That Commission is now fully constituted, and we expect it to continue to work diligently in the execution of its mandate.”

According to the President, the members of the Teaching Service and Judicial Service Commissions will soon be appointed.

The last Judicial Service Commission (JSC) expired in 2017 under the then ‘Coa-

There has been a 20-year impasse on judicial appointments. The last substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary was Justice Desiree Bernard.

The current Chancellor (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George, have both been acting in their respective positions for a number of years.

“There are some final memberships that are required, so that we can bring the Commission into full force… We are hoping that the final set of recommendations and appointments in allowing the appointment can be made in the shortest possible timeframe,” President Ali said.

After the membership issues are ironed out, he said, he will proceed with the appointment of the two commissions in keeping with his government’s vision for a transparent and accountable public system in Guyana.

“Your work requires collective effort; it requires constructive thinking in advancing demand…. Our country and our governance system will continue to improve and deliver better and better for the people of our country,” the President told the commissioners in the presence of their families and well-wishers.

On May 31, the President appointed several persons to serve as members of the Integrity Commission (IC) and the Police Service Commission (PSC).

Chandra Gajraj was elected as chair of the five-member Integrity Commission, among them Dr. Jocelin Kim Kyte-Thomas, Mohamed Ispahani Haniff, Haresh Tiwari, and Wayne Bowman.

A d d ition ally, Bis h op Patrick Findlay was sworn in as chair of the four-member Police Service Commission that also includes Mark Conway, Hakeem Mohamed, and Ernesto Choo-a-Fat.

Guyanese businesses have benefitted immensely from the operations of ExxonMobil, with some 800+ companies absorbing more than US$600 million (roughly G$125 billion) in expenditures from the oil giant between 2015 and April, 2022. (ExxonMobil’s April update)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

Bruce’s Beach returned to family nearly a century after seizure

(BBC) - A PRIME beachfront resort seized from its black owners nearly 100 years ago has been returned to their descendants by officials in Los Angeles.

Bruce’s Beach was purchased in 1912 to create a beach resort for black people at a time of racial segregation in southern California.

Located in the desirable city of Manhattan Beach, it

was forcibly taken by the local council in 1924.

But on Tuesday, Los Angeles officials voted to return the land to the family.

Willa and Charles Bruce bought the two lots of land for US$1,225 in 1912. The beach is now worth an estimated US$20 million (£16.45 million).

Willa told a reporter at the time: “Wherever we have tried to buy land for a beach resort, we have been

refused, but I own this land and I am going to keep it.”

Over the next decade, Bruce’s Beach became a “citadel for African Americans coming there for leisure from all over the rest of southern California,” family spokesman Chief Duane “Yellow Feather” Shepard told the BBC last year.

But the local police department put up signs limiting parking to 10 minutes, and another local landowner put up no trespassing signs, forcing people to walk half a mile to reach the water, he said.

When those measures failed to deter visitors, the local authorities seized the

“This is a day we weren’t sure would ever come,” said Anthony Bruce, a great-great grandson of Willa and Charles Bruce (Photo credit: Los Angeles Times via GETTY IMAGES)

land under eminent domain laws - designed to let the government forcibly buy land needed for roads and other public buildings.

Officials claimed they planned to build a park.

That did not happen until many decades later, and the area remained vacant in the interim.

On Tuesday, the motion to return the land acknowledged, “it is well documented that this move was a racially motivated attempt to drive out the successful black business and its patrons”.

The return is the result of a lengthy campaign and difficult process. The beach has for years featured a memorial plaque to Willa and Charles, and the state legislature had to pass a law to allow the return of the property.

Now, the county will lease the land from the family for US$413,000 a year - with a clause allowing the future purchase of the land for up to US$20

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million plus costs, according to the lease agreement.

“This is a day we weren’t sure would ever come,” Anthony Bruce, a great-great grandson of Willa and Charles said calling it “bittersweet”.

“It destroyed them financially. It destroyed their chance at the American Dream. I wish they could see what has happened today,” he said.

“We hope this opens people’s eyes to a part of American history that isn’t talked about enough, and we think it’s a step toward trying to right the wrongs of the past.”

And the impact of the seizure is arguably still felt today, Mr Shepard previously said.

“We were just ousted from that community… there’s only one per cent representation of African Americans in Manhattan beach at this time,” he said - a figure backed by the city’s census data.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

5 freed of businesswoman’s murder, thanks to judge’s error (T&T Guardian) - AFTER spending almost 17 years in prison and facing three trials, five men convicted of kidnapping a businesswoman and allegedly burying her alive have been set free.

Delivering a judgement, yesterday (June 30) morning, Appellate Judges Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, Mark Mohammed and Prakash Moosai upheld an appeal from Phillip “The Boss” Boodram, Roger Mootoo, Ricky Singh, Kervin Williams, and Aaron “Arc Eye” Grappie over their manslaughter conviction and the 28 year-sentence they received.

The appeal panel’s decision in the case was due to multiple errors made by the High Court Judge, who presided over their second retrial in 2016, in which the judges claimed left them with a “lurking doubt” as to whether their convictions were safe and satisfactory.

Justice Yorke-Soo Hon, who delivered the panel decision, said: “In our view, given the serious nature of the errors made by the trial

judge, the multiple material irregularities identified, along with the fact that the fairness of the trial was severely compromised due to the adverse publicity during the course of the trial, combined with the issues surrounding the evidence of the prosecution’s main witness, Roderique, our hands are tied and we have no alternative but to allow this appeal.”

After delivering its judgement, the appeal panel gave the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) an opportunity to consider whether it wanted to pursue a third retrial for the group.

Deputy DPP Joan Honare-Paul returned after a short break and informed the court that a retrial was not required given the outcome of the group’s trial and retrial and the issues raised with the second retrial, which were the subject of the appeal.

The men were discharged and thanked the appeal panel for their decision.

The group’s appeal centred around the State’s case against them which was

DEAD: Samdaye Rampersad (Photo credit: T&T Guardian)

exclusively based on the testimony of Nigel “Cat” Roderique, who claimed that he was present at a meeting at which the kidnapping was planned, and at Rampersad’s eventual death.

Roderique also alleged

that Rampersad was kidnapped as he and the men wrongly believed that she was the mother of a man who allegedly owed Boodram $700,000.

In the appeal, the group’s lawyers contended that the

tors fleeing the scene on foot, they noted.

The police say while arrests have been made, in-

vestigators believe the syndicate continues to operate and are warning persons to be extremely vigilant.

Police warn public about robbers targeting persons doing large cash transactions

(Jamaica Gleaner) THE public is being warned to be on the lookout for robbers who are targeting persons conducting large cash transactions at commercial banks in town centres.

The police say investigators have so far picked up on incidents in Portmore, St Catherine, Half-Way Tree and Liguanea in St Andrew, May Pen, Clarendon and on Duke Street in downtown

Kingston.

Information gathered suggests that the robbers work in groups, employing at least two individuals - one as a spotter to identify potential victims and another who commits the actual act of robbery, the police explained.

The motorcycle is the preferred mode of transport, though there have been incidents where motor cars were used and reports of perpetra-

(Photo credit: Jamaica Gleaner)

judge, who presided over their trial, made multiple errors in advising the jury on how to consider the credibility and reliability of Roderique’s evidence.

They also claimed that the judge limited their defence attorneys’ questions over Roderique being allowed to plead guilty to felony murder in a separate but similar murder case before he implicated them.

The appeal panel agreed with their complaints over the judge’s handling of Roderique’s evidence.

“In our view, the judge ought to have directed the jury on these issues in a manner in which it would not have been lost on them that they were entitled to take into account any similarities in determining whether Roderique might have been responsible for both deaths and any impact that this might have in relation to his credibility,” the panel said in its executive summary.

“The judge also failed to properly marshal the evidence of the bad blood be-

tween Roderique and the appellants which may have justified the inference that Roderique’s evidence was tainted,” it added.

The panel also upheld the men’s claim that the trial was compromised as the judge dismissed concerns over a series of controversial reports published during the trial, which alleged that Boodram was being investigated in relation to the alleged kidnapping of a teacher, who was alleged in a relationship with his daughter.

“We are of the view that an informed and fair-minded observer, who considered the impugned print and media publications, would conclude that there was the real possibility of bias affecting the mind or minds of one or more jurors,” it said.

The group was represented by Edward Fitzgerald, QC; Paul Taylor, QC; Rajiv Persad, John Heath, Kelston Pope and Gabrielle Hernandez. The State was also represented

by Assistant DPP Tricia Hudlin-Cooper.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

NO JUSTICE IN VIOLENCE

A PROTEST, which was supposedly meant to be peaceful, descended into chaos on Tuesday with one of the ugliest manifestations of looting and burning on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) in recent history. The protest turned violent resulting in significant damage to property at Mon Repos village, ECD. A vehicle was set on fire and several stalls were looted, destroyed and burnt. The financial losses amounted to millions of dollars.

But the losses went beyond the financial. Many persons were traumatised by the ordeal, with quite a few suffering from physical injuries. Counselling sessions for the traumatised persons are being organised by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security following a visit by subject Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, who visited the area shortly after the ordeal, assured

vendors that they will be compensated for their losses and that those responsible for the atrocities will be brought to justice. 16 persons have been charged in court with “riotous behaviour”. One pleaded guilty and was fined. The others were granted bail and will return to court later this year.

Already, the issuance of compensation has commenced. The President also interacted with a number of protestors, including relatives of the late Quindon Bacchus, who was fatally shot allegedly by a police officer. The matter is currently before the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) which is expected to make its findings public soon.

Some persons, however, were misguided by a media report which assumed that the police man at the centre of the allegation was released from his holding space at the police’s Eve Leary headquarters. This

was false.

The violence that erupted along the East Coast corridor is at best unfortunate but, on a more serious level, is indicative of how irresponsible and malicious reporting of news could result in unintended consequences.

According to reports, the protest action started after residents of Golden Grove village blocked one of the main thoroughfares of the East Coast corridor which eventually led to a confrontation with police.

President Ali, who visited the Mon Repos village where persons were injured and lost property, made it pellucid that those responsible, including the intellectual authors, will be held accountable for their actions.

“First of all, what was done here is completely wrong. There is absolutely no excuse for it. The Commissioner of Police is here and we have made it very clear that first of all, those

who are responsible for this must be brought to justice.... They must face the consequences of the law,” President Ali had told East Coast of Demerara residents moments after some amount of calm returned to the area last Tuesday.

As observed by the President, everyone has a right to be heard, but no one has the right to loot and destroy; this is totally against the law.

The fact is that justice for one cannot be achieved through injustice to others, as was the case of the vendors whose properties were pillaged and who suffered physical injuries by the hands of persons who were presumably seeking justice.

It is regrettable that a legitimate issue becomes clouded by the illegitimate actions of others. President Ali, while on the ground following the commotion, urged protesters to go home and allow the system to work.

“As you are aware, this

matter that occurred some time ago in which the police are accused of using excessive force which resulted in the death of Mr. Bacchus... “[B]ased on the laws, in order to ensure an impartial investigation, the necessary sections of the constitution that provide for the Police Complaints Authority to supervise the investigation, in conjunction with the Office of Professional Responsibility, must kick in...

“I’m advised that the process has commenced and that process has made tremendous progress,” President Ali had said as he moved to calm the clamour of protesters still eager for his intervention in the matter. President Ali, however, maintained that the executive must respect the doctrine of the separation of powers and should not intervene in matters of investigative bodies.

The Head of State’s “One Guyana” vision can-

not be held hostage by those with ulterior and narrow partisan interests, some of whom are openly seeking to whip up racial hostility among the Guyanese people.

This must not be allowed to take root in our society and must be nipped, as it were, in the bud. No individual, regardless of rank, status, ethnicity or political persuasion, should be allowed to spew the poison of racial incitement in our society.

The political opposition, particularly the PNC/R, cannot escape blame for this most recent violent protest action on the East Coast of Demerara. The security forces, in particular our Commander-in-Chief, must be commended for cautiously and respectfully deescalating the situation.

Does one wrong justify another?

Dear Editor,

IT is quite apparent that the instigators who conspired to usurp the peace Guyanese want from “One Guyana” paid no heed to the call to learn a lesson from the last election in Grenada.

In that island, democracy was respected and there was no violence as a peaceful transition of power was had from one Mitchell to Mitchell as Prime Minister.

Guyanese would recall the bitter lessons learnt from the general and regional elections in 2020, when for five prolonged and agonising months, the

former A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change administration refused to accept the legitimate re-counted results and hand over the seat of government to the legal winner, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic party.

It even resulted in then-President David Granger being referred to as “sanctimonious” by Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who also told Granger to: “Take your licks like a man.”

But the party comprises characters whose actions make it easily presumable that they will not be embar-

rassed by spreading propaganda nor will they hesitate to be tongue-twisters or dishonest in any move they make.

They will not play any game fair and square. Guyana has witnessed all the violence, high handed attitude, the party-card preference, the banning of essential items, the food shortages, unemployment, poverty, foreign exchange scarcity, the media censorship, the mass exodus of citizens, the hardship, the suffering, the drug shortages, the wage freeze, the hurt and the cry of poor people, all under the leadership of Burnham, Hoyte and, more recently,

Granger leadership.

The mantra of power grabbing, retaining and maintaining by supposed illicit means, is the root of their survival.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, had good reasons to say: “There was one thing I said to my colleague at the time, who was the President of Guyana, is that if you have lost this election, lose it with dignity.

“There will be another chance, but if there is no dignity in this defeat, the next time you and your party will be of no use to your country and that was the position of Trinidad and

Tobago in Guyana.”

History continues to repeat itself with beating, hurting, robbing and burning one particular community which is deemed anti-PNC by another community.

It is a daunting picture to reflect on the evidence of the Wismar massacre, the 1964 strike, the looting and burning of Georgetown, the early 2000s election violence, the Buxton uprising, the PNC inspired mayhem in West Coast Berbice in 2020 and now the Mon Repos 2022 fiasco!

Who gained and who suffered? Guyana was led to economic chaos and bank-

ruptcy every time the PNC was in power and the small man never got a chance to be the real man because only the chosen few enjoyed the good life.

Mia Mottley, Barbados’ Prime Minister, reminds us: “The truth hurts… I have nothing more to say.

The truth hurts but what we must never do in CARICOM is to avoid the truth and avoid our principles.”

“Justice for all” was the battle cry of the legitimate demonstrators who were peacefully picketing and protesting over the death of Quindon Bacchus. But the infiltration of criminal Continued on page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

Op-Ed

By Brian A. Nichols WHEN my grandparents emigrated to the United States from Barbados, they didn’t know if they would manage to make a life for themselves in the U.S. They certainly never imagined their grandchild would grow up to become an American diplomat, and eventually return to Barbados as an official representative of the United States.

In May, during my visit to Barbados and The Bahamas, the symbolism of travelling as an African American diplomat to a majority Black country lifted my spirits.

Many other African American diplomats have had this experience too.

Many Black Americans – diplomats or otherwise – are transported by the feeling of freedom and security that comes from circulating in a country where the majority of the people look like us.

However, landing on the soil where my ancestors toiled, in the place that they loved, where people I saw on the street might be distant relatives, felt particularly exhilarating.

And yet, I am eternally grateful for my grandparents’ decision to move to a country

Why the Rainbow Flag?

The US Embassy in Georgetown lit up in colours of the pride flag (US Embassy photo)

made up of people with roots from all over the world, of fellow Americans who look nothing like me, and those who do.

I love the diversity of the United States of America even though the scars of my country’s original sin – the sin of slavery – continue to regularly reopen, including recently when a white supremacist gunned down ten Black shoppers and employees at a supermarket in Buffalo.

Two years earlier, millions of other Americans and I witnessed, in shock and grief, the final eight minutes of George Floyd’s life in Minneapolis. And before him, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Emmitt Till, and too many more.

Because of my certainty

that our diversity strengthens my country, I celebrate my decision to represent the United States as an American diplomat. After I worked my way up the ranks, President Biden appointed me Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs last year, making me one of the highest-ranking Black diplomats in the Biden-Harris Administration.

I oversee U.S. policy toward and partnerships with 34 countries in the region, thirteen of them in the Caribbean.

One thing all thirteen U.S. embassies in the Caribbean have in common this June: They will all demonstrate their support of LGBTQI+ Pride Month.

In Guyana, the LGBTQI+ flag is flying proudly for the

Does one wrong...

From page 6

elements turned the wave of genuine reason for the march into a battle ground for survival.

The malicious and vicious attacks on harmless and innocent vendors spurred the inspired vandals into looters and, with direct intent, to hurt and harm the members of the community.

There is little room for doubt that they were definitely instructed to carry out a job of destruction and to create as much damage as possible.

Guyana could only knock on one door for the answer. President, Dr Irfaan Ali said: “While everyone has a right in a democracy to let their voices be heard, it does not give them the right to loot, steal or harm anyone.”

His Excellency urged patience and to “let the system work,” as the Police Complaints Authority has their hands filled with the investigation into the death of Bacchus. Incidentally, there was no uproar when Deanraj Singh (Steve Singh) was shot and killed by the police a few weeks ago in Riverview Ruimveldt.

The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Professional Responsibility. The question is, why wasn’t there an uprising by that community to the magnitude as what we have seen this week? Again, we can only traverse one road for the response.

Does one wrong justify another? An eye for an eye will make the world blind, Gandhi taught us. Definitely not, and this incident was

staged as an excuse by an evil force to contaminate the tranquility of complacency.

To date, vendors have been compensated as promised by the President and some 16 persons have been charged for riotous behavior with only one pleading guilty. Many sober minds have openly expressed their condemnation, disgruntlement and registered their enragement over this sad incident.

Guyana’s legal mind, Attorney-General, Mr. Anil Nandlall, summed up: “A perceived injustice can never justify the commission of another injustice.”

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

entire month of June. We also celebrated this year on the Government of Guyana’s decriminalisation of cross-dressing by rescinding a colonial-era law from 1893.

We applaud these efforts to make their society more inclusive and encourage continued efforts to rescind discriminatory laws.

The history of the rainbow flag is tied to gay California politician Harvey Milk, who challenged a friend to come up with a symbol celebrating the diversity of the gay experience.

When Milk was assassinated in 1978, demand for the flag – and protections for LGBTQI+ people – increased.

The flag came to symbolize LGBTQI+ pride, and in 2015, the colours of the rainbow flag lit up the exterior of the White House to commemorate the legalization of

same-sex marriage in all 50 U.S. states.

Although born of tragedy, the murders of Harvey Milk and George Floyd both advanced social movements that broadened the way Americans think about human rights.

Supporters of these movements – LGBTQI+ Pride on the one hand, Black Lives Matter on the other – insist that the government give all citizens equal treatment under the law.

And for persons who embody both Black and LGBTQI+ identity, these movements are inextricably linked. And so, the rainbow represents not just Pride Month, but also a shared understanding that LGBTQI+ rights are human rights.

The racist murder of Black Americans is as reprehensible as the bias-driven murders of LGBTQI+ in-

dividuals. In all such cases, they are hate crimes. This is why our U.S. embassies display this symbol proudly, to recognise universal, indivisible human rights.

The Summit of the Americas reinforced that we must all work together to overcome our shared challenges.

Embracing the strength of our diversity will allow us to create a better future for everyone.

President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and I, along with millions of Americans, believe that racism, discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia are equally intolerable, and we work to eliminate them all, both at home and around the world. (Brian Nichols is the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the United States Department of State.)

US willing to donate more Pfizer vaccines to Guyana

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THE United States Government in continuing its partnership with Guyana, is willing to donate more Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to the country.

This was revealed by the United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, on Thursday evening, at a celebration in commemoration of her country’s 246th Independence Anniversary.

During her remarks, the ambassador stated that the US government is ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to provide Guyana with more Pfizer vaccines.

“The United States Government is prepared to collaborate with Guyana and the Ministry of Health to donate as many Pfizer

COVID-19 vaccines as Guyana needs,” Ambassador Lynch said.

To this end, she noted that this would include boosters, pediatric doses, and others to be able to fully vaccinate and provide booster doses for all of Guyana’s adults, adolescents, and children.

Following the announcement, President Dr. Irfaan Ali underscored Guyana’s deep appreciation for the support and generosity that the US has extended to Guyana in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically in procuring equipment, supplies, personal protective gear, and vaccines.

He further expressed gratitude for the announcement that the ambassador made and indicated that

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

the government will begin work, immediately, to facilitate the ‘arrival’ of the vaccines. “[I] assure you that the minister of health will immediately dispatch a letter to you… outlining our needs and, more importantly, working out the delivery schedule so that we work in an efficient manner,” the President said.

Against this backdrop, he added that the world is currently in recovery mode and rebuilding from the perils of the pandemic and, as a result, countries must be resilient in everything that is done.

Further to this, President Ali indicated that Guyana will continue to work in partnership with the United States.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali (left) and U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, at the Independence Celebration on Thursday evening (Latchman Singh photo)

We don’t, as yet, have a credible Opposition Dear Editor,

THERE is a clip circulating on social media of Opposition and PNC/ APNU leader, Aubrey Norton.

The clip was taken from Mr. Norton’s most recent press conference, during which he read a prepared statement, presumably from a teleprompter.

In a flight of fantasy, Mr. Norton claimed that the protesters, who stormed Mon Repos Mar-

ket on June 28, and inflicted beatings, robberies and caused millions of dollars in damage to the property of their hapless indo-Guyanese victims, were sent by the governing PPP/C. Not only is this claim absurd but it inflicts further damage to Mr. Norton’s already waning credibility and does a serious disservice to this country at a time when it is poised to reap significant financial and other benefits from oil and gas.

W h a t M r. N o r t o n fails to realise is that the country needs a strong and credible opposition and Opposition Leader to provide the necessary checks and balances and to be the guardians of the nation’s finances, particularly during this time.

If this is Mr. Norton’s posture now; how does he expect to be taken seriously?

Regards, Thomas Cole

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

Textbooks must be returned in order to collect $30,000 cash grant, education ministry says ONLY parents or guardians who return textbooks loaned to learners by the Ministry of Education (MoE) will be eligible for the government’s education cash grant, according to a June 30 memorandum from the ministry.

The document, addressed to Regional Education Officers for all administrative regions and the Principal Education Officer for Georgetown, was shared by subject Minister, Priya Manickchand, to her Facebook page yesterday (Friday).

The textbooks, the release said, were distributed in the academic year which began in September 2021 and ended in July 2022.

“Parents signed a contract to this effect when they collected the text books. My

friends, the text books have helped tremendously in your children’s education. We need them for the next class,” Minister Manickchand implored.

The memorandum, signed by the Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson, noted that Thursday, July 7 as the final day for returning the loaned textbooks.

Headteachers, the public document said, will be reminding parents and guardians of their commitment.

If the books are lost or damaged, however, caregivers “will be given the option of buying and replacing those textbooks”, the memo, identified as No. 17 of 2022, said.

Additionally, the memo said: “[A] fee of five thousand dollars ($5000) will be charged for each textbook

lost or destroyed. This fee will apply to those parents who cannot replace lost or destroyed textbooks.”

Headteachers will submit a list to the Education Ministry which includes the names of learners whose parents defaulted on returning textbooks or who have not paid the requisite fee for damage or destruction of the books.

On the other hand, once the caregiver returns the loaned textbooks, the school administration will issue a document indicating that all textbooks have been returned thus granting clearance to that caregiver for uplifting the cash grant.

The $30,000 education cash grants will be distributed from late July, Minister Manickchand had said last month.

Linden’s Colonel Hercules completes master degree at Washington DC-based defence college COLONEL Ronald Hercules of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) successfully completed his master degree at the Inter-American Defence College in Washington District of Columbia (DC), a statement from the GDF said on Thursday.

Hercules is a son of Christianburg, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) with 34 years of service to the military. The GDF Colonel was among a number of senior military officials from countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, the GDF statement said.

Hercules’ programme, which culminated in a Master of Science in Inter-American Defence and Security, lasted 12 months and included training in civil-military relations.

The defence force, currently led by Chief-of-Staff (ag) Colonel Omar Khan, commended Hercules for the completion of his programme.

Hercules is the first Guyanese to participate in the programme in just about a decade.

“The training was extremely relevant, even though challenging, as much of it was conducted in Spanish. However, the knowledge gained will contribute, in a big way, to my

Colonel Ronald Hercules at the Hall of the Americas, Washington DC

future as a military officer, as well as at a senior strategic level,” Hercules was quoted as saying in the GDF release.

Hercules praised the support of his family, the GDF and Defence Board, and the Government of Guyana for allowing him the opportunity.

Prime Minister and for-

mer GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips was the last Guyanese to graduate from the IADC. Prime Minister Phillips completed a post-graduate Diploma in Defence and Security Studies in 2011, the GDF statement said.

Minister Manickchand engages students of Queen’s College

Housing ministry to build homes for flood-affected Region One residents 10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

Minister Croal during flood assessments in Region One

THE Ministry of Housing and Water, through the Central Housing & Plan-

ning Authority (CH&PA), will soon be constructing the first 10 homes for fam-

ilies in Kokerite, Region One (Barima-Waini), as part of its efforts to perma-

nently relocate residents from flood-prone areas.

According to a recently

published press release on the Ministry’s Facebook page, the announcement was made

by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal during flood assessments in the region.

During the assessment, the minister was accompanied by Regional Chairman Mr. Brentnol Ashley; Vice-Chairperson Ms. Annansha Peters; Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) Mr. Shem Cuffy; and CH&PA Engineer Mr. Cy Rodrigues.

The release stated that wooden elevated homes will be built under the Hinterland Housing Programme, and that each unit will cost approximately $3 million.

The community of Kokerite, which is situated along the riverbank, has 34 households. The village council and residents will conduct a needs assessment to identify the 10 most at-risk families, the release said.

The CH&PA will source materials from the area, and employ at least 20 persons for the project. The Regional Chairman has also commit-

ted to providing assistance to clear lands identified for relocation.

During the outreach, the minister and his team also handed over food and cleaning supplies to the 34 households at Kokerite. Among those essential items that were handed over were mattresses for the 14 persons whose homes were inundated.

Some 20 families at Chinese Landing have also benefited from the supplies, and a medical team was dispatched to the area.

The minister also took a team to the Moruca sub-region of Region One to conduct flood assessments in the villages along the Barima River.

Meanwhile, 50 families that were severely affected by floods due to heavy rainfall received food hampers and cleaning supplies.

According to the release, the minister announced that a new $30 million well will be drilled in the village during the first quarter of 2023.

An inundated house at Kokerite, Region One

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

President officially nominates Hicken for ‘Top Cop’ spot — opens door for engaging Opposition Leader

Acting Police Chief, Clifton Hicken

ing former members of the Guyana Police Force, and the National Community Policing Executive.

In keeping with the guidelines set out in the Constitution of Guyana, the President later successfully concluded consultation with the PSC Chairperson.

As such, the President is now seeking to engage Norton in “meaningful consultation”, as noted in the Teixeira’s letter, in respect of the appointment of Hicken.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali

By Clestine Juan PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, after consultation with Chairperson of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Patrick Findlay, has officially nominated Deputy Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken as Guyana’s acting Top Cop. In a letter dated June 29, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, wrote to the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton outlining the reasons why Hicken was appointed acting Top Cop back in March. The letter also invited Norton to give his opinion on the subject.

According to the letter, former Commissioner of

Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie proceeded on pre-retirement leave on March 30, and at the time, there were no members appointed to the Police Service Commission, nor was there a person holding the post of Leader of the Opposition.

“Having regard to the preponderance of statutory functions and duties which devolve upon the Office of the Commissioner of Police and the Guyana Police Force by extension, including, the preservation of law and order, the preservation of peace, and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations within Guyana, in the nation’s best interest and in the interest of national security,” the letter to Norton which was released

to the media stated.

President Ali, according to the letter, considered it his “constitutional duty” to appoint Hicken to act in the office of Commissioner of Police with effect March 30, 2022 rather than leave a “vacuum in the command and superintendence of the Guyana Police Force.”

On May 31, Findlay was sworn in as chair of the four-member Police Service Commission which also includes Mark Conway, Hakeem Mohamed, and Ernesto Choo-a-Fat. The members of the PSC were approved by the parliamentary Committee on Appointments, after consultations with the Guyana Police Association compris-

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton

Norton is expected to give his opinion on the subject in writing on or before Monday, July 4.

Despite this, Norton, following the dispatch of the dated letter from Minister Teixeira’s office, has moved to the High Court seeking to quash the appointment of the PSC commissioners claiming that it was “illegal, null, void and of no legal effect.”

In his legal challenge, Norton is contending that the President did not afford him

“a reasonable opportunity to express a considered opinion on the subject of the Consultation”. He maintains that this is a breach of the Integrity Commission Act. As such, Norton is arguing that any consultation between the President and Findlay on the subject of the appointment of a Commissioner of Police of Guyana, is unconstitutional, null, void, and of no legal effect.

Gov’t will not abandon Amaila Falls project

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

-President Ali says

President Dr. Irfaan Ali (Adrian Narine photo)

THE government has no intention of abandoning the US$700 million Amaila Falls Hydropower Project as President Dr. Irfaan Ali recently emphasised that his government remains committed to bringing a stable energy mix to the country.

The President made this position clear while speaking on the anticipated gas-to-energy project at State House on Thursday.

At the time, he was speaking about the many projects that are slated to come on stream to achieve an energy mix in the country and reduce the cost of electricity.

To this end, he noted that the Amaila Falls project was currently undergoing a process.

“Let me be very clear, we are not going to abandon this project, we are not going to abandon this project. If we have to go out [to tender] again and again, we will go,” Pres-

ident Ali said.

Against this backdrop, the Head of State noted that they were aware that the studies and the independent review that were done by Norway have pointed to the project being a good one for Guyana and the environment. As such, Dr. Ali indicated that it will get underway.

In late May, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, had said that construction of the hydropower station could possibly go back to tender as the executing company, China Railway Group Limited, was having difficulties honouring the commitment to Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) contract that it had signed.

At that time, he noted that the government was holding the company to the BOOT bid they submitted, and, if an amicable arrangement could not be met, they would be willing to retender the project.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

$37M in equipment commissioned to enhance Guyana’s agro-processing facilities

By Naomi Parris

IN an effort to further boost Guyana’s agro-processing capacity, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC), on Friday commissioned $37 million worth of equipment.

While delivering brief remarks at the simple commissioning ceremony held at the GMC’s Central Packaging Facility in Sophia, Georgetown, the agency’s General Manager, Teshawna Lall said the equipment will aid in the GMC’S mandate of promoting the cultivation and export of the country’s non-traditional agricultural crops to regional and extra-regional markets.

Lall said that the agency is committed to supporting its local stakeholders to not only boost their economic income, but to also join in the fight to reduce the CARICOM’s food import bill.

“The Guyana Marketing Corporation remains committed to supporting our stakeholders, in an effort to boost their economic success, while aiming to reduce the import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025,” Lall said.

Six water tanks, two forklifts, four pallet jacks, five trollies, and one sewing machine for the new Central Fresh Produce Packaging Facility were commissioned to aid in the processing of fresh fruit and vegetables

Minister Mustapha delivering remarks at the commissioning ceremony on Friday

for export.

Additionally, 11 computers with Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), and 16 office desks and chairs were procured to set up offices for the produce packaging facility, extension workstations, and other processing facilities nationwide.

The computers will assist in the timely compilation of collected data into reports, and, ultimately, support the execution of work programmes across the country.

Three laptops will be made available to GMC’s extension staff for remote work, while seven printers will be allocated to processing facilities in Parika,

Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Timehri, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Fort Wellington, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Watooka, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to aid in the development of agri-business incubators there.

The GMC has also upgraded the land and shed in the vicinity of the Central Packaging Facility.

In his feature address during the commissioning ceremony, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that the investment in the agro-processing sector is part of the government’s efforts to enhance the country’s agriculture sector for increased food security, not only here in Guyana but also in the wider Caribbean.

“This shows government’s commitment to agro-processing in our country,” Minister Mustapha said, adding: “Guyana is today attracting attention not only regionally, but globally.

“Many persons would say, ‘Yes, Guyana is attractive, because of oil and gas’, but, today, our agriculture sector in the country is taking the region by storm, and we are moving forward to ensure that we have food security.”

Minister Zulfikar noted that the recently-concluded Agri-Investment Forum and Expo, which was held in May, highlighted the country’s potential,

Minister Mustapha cuts the ceremonial ribbon at the simple commissioning ceremony with the aid of GMC’s Teshawna Lall and Maya Phillips

and attracted further investments and collaborations in the sector.

He said that now more than ever, the New GMC has a pivotal role to play in ensuring that local farmers and other stakeholders are provided with the necessary equipment to develop their produce into value-added products.

“The New GMC has a very

important role to play, and that is to ensure that our farmers’ produce is developed into value-added products, so that we can export to the region. We recognise the importance of agro-processing,” the Minister said, and that Guyana will continue to be a leader in pushing food security

and agriculture.

In closing, the Agriculture Minister commended the government for what it’s doing to drive agriculture food systems, and the role that Guyana as well as the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali are playing in leading the charge.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

National Apprenticeship Programme to be redesigned — review findings handed over to Labour Minister

SENIOR Specialist at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Dr. Hassan Ndahi, on Friday, presented the findings of his review of the National Apprenticeship Programme to Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton.

The review commenced on Tuesday.

In his findings, some of which was shared at a press conference, Ndahi stated that stakeholders have given good suggestions and are willing to engage the Ministry of Labour (MOL) and the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) to see that the review becomes a reality when the programme is redesigned.

He related that the apprenticeship programme was established some 100 years ago and a high school certificate was the only requirement to join. In this regard, he said that, at this current stage, persons with higher levels of education should be involved.

“There has to be a transition.

From left to right: Senior Specialist, Dr. Hassan Ndahi; Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton and CEO of BIT, Richard Maughn

When they are in school, you can transition into an apprenticeship and strengthen your skills and then move across the ladder of education,” Ndahi said.

He noted that since the oil and gas sector is thriving, an appropriate apprenticeship programme would be beneficial.

“You don’t go to school to study oil and gas, you might study engineering but if you go there, they will have to teach you

what to do and the best place you can strengthen those capacities is to have an apprenticeship programme with the oil and gas industry and to also articulate that apprenticeship programme to the schools,” he related.

Ndahi also said these recommendations will also benefit the Government of Guyana as it would help young people gain employment which is always a challenge.

He was delighted to state that employers are ready to pay salaries to apprentices and in the legal framework, the existing Act will have some changes made after reviews are done to accommodate his recommendations.

Meanwhile, Richard Maughn, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BIT said that it was realised that apprenticeship programmes have produced a

100 per cent employment rate after training.

“Every single apprentice that is trained is offered employment and sometimes those apprentices may choose not to remain with the company that trained them.

However, when it comes to the reduction of unemployment for young persons and other individuals after training, the apprenticeship programme is the way to go,” Maughn said.

He noted that such a programme reduces the mismatch between what happens in education and what happens in training.

“We have been training retirees over the last few years and when we look at what is happening, we have to make sure that there is an alignment between what BIT does and what all the other technical institutions do. We have been visiting with oil and gas providers and other persons who are looking to have apprentices and they have been saying to us they need apprentices with degrees and diplomas,” Maughn related.

Minister Hamilton, in his

comments, said that in everything that is being done, the role women will play in the development and the training and apprenticeship programmes will need to be determined.

He explained that the majority of Guyana’s population, according to its last census, is women who hold a 51 per cent share in the population percentage.

He noted that while speaking about development, there cannot be an exclusion of women in certain job areas. He told the media that given the necessary training, women could do any job a man can do.

Additionally, Minister Hamilton said that decisions must be made regarding University of Guyana students as the institution does not make allowances for apprenticeship, which according to him must be changed.

He explained that many university graduates are often turned down for a job because they have no experience. A way to change this, he said, is to put them in an apprenticeship programme in their final year.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

Partners in HIV/AIDS eradication team up to further improve services, increase access

THE Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV [Human Immunodeficiency Virus] and AIDS [Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome], on Thursday, opened its first ‘Share Fair’, according to a Ministry of Health (MoH) release.

The event was hosted under the theme “Optimising treatment and improving the quality of care for People Living with HIV using Dolutegravir (DTG) as the preferred first-line therapy,” the MoH release noted.

For his part, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, addressed Thursday’s small gathering where he underscored that funding for HIV was changing as there were competing interests which included the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the MoH release, the Minister said those other issues had led “to the rearranging of priorities

Minister Anthony addresses attendees at Thursday’s knowledge-sharing session (MoH photo)

and resources within organisations such as the United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).”

The Health Minister seized the moment to urge a change in colonial-era legislation in the Caribbean which prevents organisations from accessing persons who need HIV/AIDS care and treat-

ment, the release continued.

“The United Kingdom (UK) has since changed their legislations completely, that’s where our legislation originated,” the Minister is quoted as saying.

Hosted at the Grand Coastal Hotel, East Coast Demerara (ECD), the event was a knowledge-sharing one geared at optimising HIV treatment with the use of DTG and sharing expe-

riences from the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), and civil society organisations.

Funded by the United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS), the twoday knowledge-sharing experience included representatives from Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados.

Officer-in-Charge of

PANCAP’s Coordinating Unit, Collin Kirton told the attendees that the training allows for understanding of the progress in the DTGbased first-line regiment and its use among adolescent, children, pregnant women and what the release referred to as “special populations”.

The PANCAP officer is also attributed in the release to have stated that “even though the region is now recovering from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, PANCAP is still aiming to achieve that 95-9595 target.”

Also in attendance were Dr Luis Felipe Codina, representative of the Pan-American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) in Guyana, and PANCAP Coordinating Unit’s Knowledge Management Coordinator, Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony.

The target is connected to the 90-90-90 set by UNAIDS “that by 2020, 90%

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of people living with HIV know their HIV status, 90% of people who know their status are receiving treatment and 90% of people on HIV treatment have a suppressed viral load so their immune system remains strong and the likelihood of their infection being passed on is greatly reduced,” the UNAIDS “Understanding Fast-Track: Accelerating Action to End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030” report reads.

“The Fast-Track approach means rapidly scaling up effective HIV services during the next five years,” the report said, adding: “it involves using rights-based approaches to reach the people who need these services and focuses the programmes in locations and among populations where they can have the greatest impact.”

Service coverage, impact and zero-discrimination are the combined targets of the Fast-Track approach.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

40 single mothers could benefit from Region 10 gardening initiative

By Naomi Parris

THE Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) administration’s agriculture committee, in collaboration with the region’s Market Day Committee, has launched the “Queen of the Gardening” initiative, the agriculture committee’s chairman, Mark Goring confirmed.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, Goring said the project will target 40 single mothers to provide them with the technical support needed to become entrepreneurs in the region’s growing sector.

“We are looking to get more women in agriculture; to motivate them [and] get them into agriculture so that they can elevate their income,” Goring said.

The project will run for eight weeks. At the end of it, the women will be given space at Linden’s market day event to sell the produce yielded from their labour.

“It will conclude July month end and, at the con-

clusion, all the participants will have their products at the farmers’ market day. So, they will sell whatever they have and whatever they planted,” Goring said.

So far, Goring noted, the initiative yielded positive results. If extended funding is made available, he continued, the committee will push for the initiative to be a continuous platform to support the women of that administrative region.

Recently, the regional agriculture committee organised a monthly farmers’ market in a bid to provide farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector with a safe place to sell their goods.

According to Goring, the gardening initiative builds on the region’s push for agriculture to be its main income-earning activity.

Wismar Market Square is the site of the farmers’ market which will be held later this year.

The event is expected to attract cash crop and livestock farmers, agro-processors and other entrepreneurs.

The farmers’ market held at the Wismar Market Square, Linden, in 2021 (Mark Goring photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

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CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday July 02, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Alzarri Joseph-12 wickets (2) Khaled Ahmed-10 wickets Today’s Quiz: (1) What were the best bowling figures in an innings by a WI in the recent Test series against BANG? (2) What were the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh player?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

Nedd, Anderson among selectees for CWI Emerging Players Academy

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) today announced the initial intake of 15 selectees for the CWI Emerging Players Academy.

They start at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), Antigua today with high-performance training and development sessions. Several recent members of the West Indies Rising Stars U19 programme are included.

Two notable selectees are Teddy Bishop and Kevin Wickham, who both made centuries for the West Indies Rising Stars U19s during the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup played in the West Indies earlier this year.

Others, who have graduated from the West Indies Rising Stars U19s team to

the regional franchise teams, include Keagan Simmons, Kirk McKenzie and former captain, Ackeem Auguste, along with left-arm spinners Ashmead Nedd and Joshua Bishop, and left-arm fast bowler Ramon Simmonds.

Also selected to the Academy squad is all-rounder Nyeem Young, who was in the West Indies Men’s white-ball training camp in April.

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket welcomed the players. He said: “We want to offer a special welcome to the young men who have been selected to form the first cohort for the CWI Emerging Players programme.

They are a talented group of players, who we are sure will enjoy the benefits of

their hard work. CWI has been looking at ways of bridging that critical gap between our junior and professional levels and this Academy initiative provides us with a great start towards achieving this.

This will also play an important role in building regional capacity within high-performance player support – technical, physical, mental, and personal development.”

The plan for a CWI Emerging Players Academy was first announced in March. It will function as a nexus between regional junior and senior teams while supporting the development of talented players between the ages of 19 and 25. The Academy will have five primary objectives.

They are to build the capacity of players, support staff and high-performance resources, to ensure the management of talent, personal development (person first and then the player), demonstrate best practice, including recruitment, selection and preparation and to accelerate player development and increase readiness of players for international cricket.

The Selection Panel met and recommended the 15 players, based on a formula which included consultations with each of the six territorial boards.

Six reserves have also been selected as cover for players who may be selected for their franchises for regional competitions.

The first Emerging Play-

ers camp has several objectives and the main focus during the initial period will be to ensure the management of talent; players’ personal development – especially creating a breeding ground for leaders in the game; accelerating development – reinforcing the importance of knowledge on the physical components; as well as increasing the readiness of the players for the international stage – with a focus on specific skill sets identified by the head coach of the senior team.

Nyeem Young expressed his eagerness and readiness.

He said: “This is a massive opportunity for me and all the other players involved.

I can’t wait to get to Antigua to get started and get involved. Being a player

who has come through the West Indies Rising Stars U19 system and being at the senior white-ball camp a few months back, this is a chance to further my skills.

This will benefit all of us as we look to the future and I believe the camp will also help to build camaraderie.”

FULL SQUAD: Kevlon Anderson, Ackeem Auguste, Joshua Bishop, Teddy Bishop, McKenny Clarke, Joshua James, Leonardo Julien, Johann Layne, Kirk McKenzie, Ashmead Nedd, Kelvin Pitman, Keagan Simmons, Ramon Simmonds, Kevin Wickham, Nyeem Young, Reserves: Anderson Amurdan, Brad Barnes, Camarie Boyce, Kirstan Kallicharan, Shaaron Lewis, Kimani Melius

6IXTY fixtures announced

FIXTURES for the inaugural Men’s and Women’s SKYEXCH 6IXTY have been announced with the Guyana Amazon Warriors playing on the opening day against the Trinbago Knight Riders.

The 6IXTY gets underway on August 24, with all matches taking place at Warner Park, St Kitts.

The tournament will see 12 Men’s matches and seven Women’s matches over five days of fast-paced action.

The Men’s and Women’s teams will be competing for their respective versions of the Universe Boss Trophy, named in honour of tournament ambassador, Chris Gayle.

The tournament will feature some innovations which will take T10 cricket to the next level.

Each batting team has six wickets and at the fall of the sixth wicket the team will be considered ‘all-out’.

Each batting team has two PowerPlay overs. The team can unlock a third PowerPlay by hitting two sixes in the first 12 balls. This extra PowerPlay over can be taken at any time between overs 3 and 9 There will be 30 balls bowled from one end before the action switches to the other end for the final 30 balls The 30 balls will be delivered as 5 separate overs, with no bowler being able to bowl more than 2 overs for the innings.

If teams do not bowl their overs within the allotted time a member of their team is removed from the field for the final six balls Fans will vote for the timing of a ‘Mystery Free Hit’ where a batter can’t be dismissed by the bowler.

MILO U18 Schools Football MILO Schools Football action will resume tomorrow and will continue on Monday at the Ministry of Education ground on CARIFESTA Avenue.

Organisers were forced to postpone last weekend’s

Games resume tomorrow, continue on Monday

matches on account of inclement weather and the fact that they were looking to maintain the integrity of the playing surface.

Sunday will pit Carmel against Christianburg Secondary from 12:30hrs while West Ruimveldt will

take on Marian Academy from 14:00hrs. Uitvlugt and Cummings Lodge will clash at 15:30hrs while North Ruimveldt and Canje do battle from 17:00hrs.

On Monday, Golden Grove start the ball rolling against Annandale at

12:30hrs while Dolphin and Tucville get busy from 14:00hrs.

Tucville and Friendship play from 15:30hrs with Lodge and President’s College bringing the curtain down on the weekend.

The tournament, which

was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, normally takes a round-robin phase. However, for this year only, the competition will feature a straight knockout format.

T h e t o u r n a m e n t ’s winner will be awarded

$300 000 which will go towards a school project.

Second to fourth places will be awarded $200 000, $100 000 and $75 000 respectively, along with individual prizes for top performers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

West Indies ready for Bangladesh challenge

(CMC) – West Indies take on Bangladesh in Dominica today in the first Twenty20 International of the three-match series, hoping to continue their recent success against the Asian side.

The contest is set for Windsor Park, the venue hosting its first international game in five years following the damage sustained across the country due to the passage of the dangerous category five Hurricanes Maria and Irma back in 2017.

Windsor Park will also host the second T20 International tomorrow with the final game scheduled for the

Guyana National Stadium next Wednesday.

West Indies are coming off an emphatic 2-0 sweep in the Test series which wrapped up last week, both matches finishing well within four days in Antigua and St Lucia respectively.

And while only three players from the Test set-up – fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, all-rounder Kyle Mayers and batter Devon Thomas – are involved in the T20 series, West Indies are expected to carry the same confidence into the new assignment.

Significantly, West Indies have won their last two T20 Internationals against

Bangladesh, defeating them by three runs in a close affair during the T20 World Cup in Sharjah last October, and beating them in the final game of a three-match series in Mirpur four years ago.

West Indies won that series 2-1 but lost the first one earlier that year in the Caribbean by the same margin, after winning the opener at Warner Park in St Kitts but then losing the double-header at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida.

Nicholas Pooran will be leading the Caribbean side for the first time in T20s since his appointment as

white-ball captain, replacing the recently retired Kieron Pollard.

The left-hander oversaw mixed results in One-Day International away tours last month when he led West Indies to a 3-0 clean sweep of minnows - the Netherlands - and a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Pakistan.

His form will come under the microscope during the series, especially after a run of recent low scores.

He managed only 24 runs in three innings against the Netherlands and 57 runs, also from three innings, against Pakistan.

However, he will take

heart from his last three T20 innings when he gathered half-centuries against India in a three-match series in Kolkata back in February.

West Indies have been boosted for this series by the return of fit-again leftarm seamer Obed McCoy who was outstanding in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals (RR) last May, and for Sussex in the English T20 Blast last month.

The match bowls off at 13:30hrs.

SQUADS: WEST INDIES – Nich-

olas Pooran (captain), Rovman Powell (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Devon Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr. BANGLADESH – Mahmudullah (captain), Munim Shahriar, Litton Das, Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Musaddek Hossain, Quazi Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed.

Mc Gill Super Stars SC off to Barbados for club clashes

ONE of the more dominant teams in the West Demerara Cricket Association (WCDA), Mc Gill Super Stars Sports Club, left Guyana yesterday for Barbados to take part in several fixtures against club teams on the island.

The Canal No.1-based team, which have been in existence for over three decades, have won over 10 WDCA titles.

In Barbados, they are scheduled to battle in four T20 clashes and a 40-over match.

Action bowls off on Monday, July 4 against the Wanderers CC at their home ground in a T20 clash.

On July 5, the Guyanese club will challenge the Barbados Defence Force at the Police Sports Club ground in the lone 40-over clash of the visit.

Game three will be a battle between Mc Gill and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill, while they will play Cupid Cavaliers at

Mc Gill Super Stars Sports Club are in Barbados to challenge several club teams

St Michael’s ground on July 7 with their final clash on July 11 against St Catherine CC at the St Catherine ground.

This will be the fourth tour of Barbados by Mc Gill. They

previously toured the Caribbean island in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

According to captain of the club, Sudesh Persaud, he has confidence in his unit and thinks that they can return

to Guyana with an unbeaten streak.

Despite his confidence, however, he is aware that the pitches in Barbados are different from those in Guyana

and players will have to adapt to the conditions as quickly as possible.

The club would be led by four former Guyana U-19 players in Travis Persaud, Kheshram Seyhodan, Narendra Persaud and Daniel Basdeo.

Off-spinner Abdul Razack has been one of the dependable bowlers for Mc Gill over the years and he will be one to look out for in Barbados. Young leg-spinner Ganesh Puran is also one of the players who could make a big impact in Barbados.

Veterans Sudesh Persaud and Balram Aron are experienced campaigners in the set-up and are expected to share their knowledge and expertise with the young and talented group.

Mc Gill squad reads: Sudesh Persaud (C), Travis Persaud, Troy Persaud, Daniel Basdeo, Trevor Lawrie, Balram Aron, Abdul Razack, David Sears, Mark Deochand, Ganesh Puran, Joshua Raha-

man, Kheshram Seyhodan, Ranjiv Khusial, Narendra Persaud and Rajiv Tiwary.

Persaud noted that the tour was made possible due to the generosity of some prominent businesses, former members of the club, current members of the club and residents of Canal No.1.

“The Mc Gill Super Stars Sports Club would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to their sponsors: NAMILCO Farm Supplies, Genequip, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport (Minister Charles Ramson Jr), Anand Persaud, Nankishore Persaud, Deodat Persaud, Ganesh Persaud, Ramroop Parsram, Jagat Parsram, Liloutie Bahadur, Richard Sukhdeo, ‘Shines’ Beepat, Amanda Beepat, Karan Beepat, Rocky Goordeen, Nick, Anil, Randy, David, Keeno and Shanna Manram.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 2, 2022

Nedd, Anderson among selectees for CWI Emerging Players Academy See story on page 26

Ashmead Nedd Kevlon Anderson

MILO U18 Schools Football

Games resume tomorrow, continue on Monday See story on page 26

MILO Schools Football action returns tomorrow

West Indies ready for Bangladesh challenge See story on page 27

The West Indies begin their T20 campaign today

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SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022