Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 25-02-2022

FRIDAY 25th February, 2022

No.106645

‘Operation Recovery’ launched to bring students back into the classroom

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Cease hostilities, return to diplomacy PAGE

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–– Guyana expresses grave concern over violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty –– says aggression against Ukraine is a threat to the region and countries everywhere

In a handout picture from the Ukrainian State Emergency Service/Reuters, rescuers work at the crash site of a Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Antonov aircraft, shot down in the Kyiv region

Guyanese students 03 in Russia, Ukraine could be evacuated PAGE

–– gov’t monitoring situation, says Minister Parag

Int’l Energy 02 Conference and Expo created vital business linkages PAGE

Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag

Communications Director, Alex Graham

Brighton patriarch turns 105 today 08 PAGE

Centenarian, Victor Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Int’l Energy Conference and Expo created vital business linkages – next event slated for 14 -17 February, 2023

By Tamica Garnett THE recently concluded International Energy Conference and Expo has accomplished 12 main areas of success and has laid a foundation for the next edition of the event slated for 14 -17 February, 2023.

According to the organisers of the Conference and Expo, the event landed 32 sponsors and saw 822 conference attendees, which included members of the diaspora and had 153 exhibitors.

Some 47 speakers also delivered presentations at the conference which was held under the theme, “Charting a sustainable energy future.”

Come next year, organisers are hoping to make the event even bigger and better with the inclusion of more industries and conversations on how those are adapting to sustainable measures.

“We want to see more sectors involved. Industries like [sic] the mining and logging sector[s] and just to continue to build on the conversations that were already taking place inside [the conference this year],” Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Angenie Abe said during a press briefing held on Thursday at the Marriott Hotel, where the conference was held.

Though the ccnference was held as a result of Guyana’s growing oil-and-gas industry, it sought to focus on broader discussions in Guyana beyond oil and gas, and be inclusive of conversations around climate change

Communications Director photo) and sustainability, as well as diversified economic development.

The event was organised, and entirely privately funded, by the newly formed company, International Energy Conference and Expo Inc., which is headed by Chairman Anthony Whyte. The supporting team was made up almost entirely of young Guyanese and Abel emphasised that this, of itself, was an achievement.

Abel was joined at Thursday’s media briefing by Director of Communications Alex Graham and the pair outlined the various benchmarks the conference met and goals attained.

They noted that 12 key goals were accomplished.

“We’ve seen a lot of comments in the public domain about whether the conference was effective or successful.

Alex Graham (left) and Chief Executive Officer, Angenie Abel (Adrian Narine Many of those are from people who set their own agendas for us and then charged us with not accomplishing [their] agenda.

We had a clear agenda, we achieved everything on that agenda, and in some places we surpassed even our own expectations with respect to that agenda,” Graham related.

BEYOND OIL AND GAS Graham noted that broadening the conversations about energy to be beyond just oil and gas was one of the foremost goals of the event and that was achieved with resounding success. .

“Oil and gas is significant but only as a component of the broader energy conversation. We brought to the table conversations about energy

and sustainability and not just about oil-and-gas exploration,” he pointed out.

This goal, he further noted, was accomplished through the conversations generated in the bringing together of policy makers, industry practitioners and professionals and professors.

“We had all of those groups represented having a single discussion about what the energy future will look like, what the outlook is like for the world and what the outlook is like for Guyana, in terms of what is happening in the world. That’s a significant conversation we were able to advance,” he said.

Other areas Graham and Abel outlined as goals met by the event included: creating an enabling environment for high-level business-to-business engagements, facilitat-

ing business-to-small-business engagements; bringing together of the world’s biggest names in the energy sector to an audience in Guyana; creating opportunities for business-to-government and government-to-government engagements and the creation of deals and partnerships with local businesses, among others.

Graham also addressed comments in the public about the number of local businesses which participated in the exhibition and explained that what took place at the Marriott cannot be simplified and measured by the number of Guyanese booths.

OPPORTUNITIES “The way to judge what local businesses can benefit from this is not just to walk around and count how

many booths we had, but equally count how many opportunities were opened up for local businesses as a result; and we need to take that into consideration,” Graham noted.

“There’s a lot of talk about what percentage of the exhibitors were Guyanese businesses or not. The fact that we brought some of the biggest names in the sector to Georgetown was significant for Guyanese businesses.

In this industry, we are new players, so the bulk of the companies in this are going to be international companies,” Graham noted.

A total of 40 booths at the exhibition component of the event were Guyanese-owned; however, over 30 additional Guyanese businesses were also afforded the opportunity to showcase their products and services at “The Duty-Free Shop,” another exhibition section that was specifically created at the Umana Yana, a few corners way from the hotel, to provide exposure to small businesses.

Graham emphasised that creating conversations and linkages between Guyanese businesses and international entities outweighs the benefit of simply having a booth at the expo and suggested the addition of a scheduled ‘meet up’ between small businesses in Guyana and international businesses as a feature in the next hosting to maximise Guyanese benefiting from the event.

Man remanded for allegedly killing daughter’s boyfriend SHURWAYNE Brandt, also known as ‘Brave’, was remanded to prison on Thursday for the murder of his son-in-law, Leon Gittens, who was recently gunned down at Freeman Street, East La Penitence, a police source confirmed.

The incident occurred

Friday last. It is believed Brandt was dressed in women’s clothing when he allegedly carried out the act.

The accused man appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to charge.

According to reports, Gittens was intimately involved with Brandt’s daughter. It is alleged that Brandt had threatened Gittens’s life, warning him to stay away from his daughter.

Brandt’s daughter, recounting the night of the incident

to police, reportedly said she heard three loud explosions that sounded like gunshots.

She also reportedly told law enforcement she witnessed her father fleeing the scene upon investigation.

She discovered Gittens motionless on the ground, and called out for help.

Hours later, Brandt was arrested at Eugene Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara while attempting to flee the jurisdiction.

The 45-year-old construction worker will return to court on March 22.

ACCUSED: Shurwayne Brandt

Cease hostilities, return to diplomacy

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

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–– Guyana expresses grave concern over violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty –– says aggression against Ukraine is a threat to the region and countries everywhere GUYANA’S government, on Thursday, issued a statement denouncing the recent military intervention against the sovereignty of Ukraine, and called for a return to diplomacy in the eastern European Bloc.

“Government of Guyana deplores the treat or use of force in the conduct of international relations and urges a peaceful resolution of the differences that currently exist, in consonance with the rule of intentional law and the provisions of the United Nations Charter,” the statement, conveyed through Guyana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry, read.

Takuba Lodge said the threat against Ukraine “is a threat to the region and countries everywhere.

“The Government of Guyana supports

the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to bring a speedy resolution to the situation in Ukraine and cease the threat to international peace and security.”

“The current military action in Ukraine,” the statement continued, “is contrary to the principles of respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and the non-interference in the internal affairs of another sovereign state.”

The foreign ministry also endorsed statements issued by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on February 14, 2022 and February 24, 2022.

In a recent statement, CARICOM, through its Georgetown-based Secretariat, said: “[the bloc] strongly condemns the military attacks and invasion of Ukraine by The Russian Federation and

calls for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the military presence and cessation of any further actions that may intensify the current perilous situation in

Guyanese students in Russia, Ukraine could be evacuated

–– government monitoring situation, says Minister Parag MINISTER of the Public Service, Sonia Parag, has said that the government is actively monitoring the situation between Russia and Ukraine, to decide on a way forward as it pertains to Guyanese who may be in either of the two countries, or other neighbouring countries in the Eastern European bloc.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle via telephone on Thursday, Parag confirmed that there are Guyanese citizens, particularly scholarship students located in the Eastern European

block, who may be affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

On Thursday, armed forces of the Russian Federation invaded the Republic of Ukraine, launching a military assault on its neighbour, hitting targets across the country and culminating months of predictions of the invasion.

The Government of Guyana swiftly released a statement condemning the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by Russia and called for an immediate cessation

of military action.

In another section of the media, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud is said to have confirmed that at least 11 Guyanese students are in Russia, noting that systems are in place to provide assistance to Guyanese, particularly students on scholarships who may need help.

More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and dozens wounded after Russia attacked airports and military installations in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials.

Public Service Minister Sonia Parag

that country.”

Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres addressed the media following a meeting on Wednesday evening of the UN Security Council.

He cited the UN Charter which mandates that member nations must refrain from threat or use of force against territorial integrity or political independence of other states.

“The use of force by one country against another is the repudiation of the principles that every country has committed to uphold, and this applies to the present military offences.

“It is wrong, it is against the Charter, it is unacceptable, but it is not irreversible,” Secretary-General Guterres said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Russian forces seize Chernobyl nuclear power plant Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES

Russian military forces have seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukrainian officials say.

Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said the “totally pointless attack” on Thursday amounted to “one of the most serious threats in Europe today”.

An explosion at Chernobyl in 1986 led to the worst

nuclear disaster in human history, both in cost and casualty.

Ukraine’s President warned such a disaster could happen again if Russia continued its invasion.

“Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote earlier on Twitter.

“This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.”

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also warned of the possibility of

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“another ecological disaster” at the site.

Chernobyl’s “exclusion zone” - a 32 km (19 mile) radius around the plant remains largely devoid of life 36 years after a faulty reactor caused a major explosion at the plant.

The plant’s three other reactors were all shut down by 2000 and it has since been decommissioned.

Radiation levels in the area remain dangerously high since the 1986 leak, chronicled in an eponymous HBO mini-series in 2019 that helped make the site a tourist attraction.

Russian troops reportedly entered the exclusion zone earlier on Thursday before crossing over into Ukraine.

The White House says it has received reports that staff are being held hostage at the site by Russian soldiers.

The forces are part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” in their neighbouring country.

Chernobyl is located about 130 km (80 miles) north of the capital Kyiv and could provide a path into the city for the invading forces.

Samantha Turner, a security fellow at the Truman National Security Project, says control of the area does not have “battle-de-

termining significance” but gives Russian forces a corridor to the Dnipro River.

The river runs north into Belarus, whose President has closely aligned himself with Putin, and south to Kyiv.

“It’s an important part of them opening up different corridors for troop movement and controlling key terrain,” she said.

She warned that, while nobody lives in the area and the plant is no longer active, any active fighting over the territory could cause radioactive waste spillage.

But Russians are among the world’s most experienced nuclear operators, notes Claire Corkhill, a radioactive waste materials professor from the University of Sheffield.

She has worked as part of the international clean-up effort at Chernobyl for the past six years, even visiting the site three times.

The most significant success in these collaborations was the recent construction of a 32,000-tonne dome around the radioactive reactor, funded at a cost of $1.5b (£1.1b) by more than 30 countries.

Corkhill now worries the invasion of Ukraine will effectively pause these operations.

“30 years have passed since the accident and we’ve still not cleaned everything up,” she told the BBC. “It’s easily another 50-year programme.”

“If people aren’t properly working on that facility, and progressing the decommissioning, it could be a really big problem.”

The 1986 explosion is often linked to the eventual fall of the Soviet Union five years later.

Dr Taras Kuzio, research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, says the seizure of Chernobyl is therefore best looked at as a symbolic win for President Putin. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

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Oil prices hit record high

Oil prices surged past $100 (£74) a barrel to hit their highest level for more than seven years after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine.

Global shares fell on worries of the possible impact of the conflict, but US tech stocks rebounded in late trading.

Russia is the second biggest exporter of crude oil, and is also the world’s largest natural gas exporter.

Brent crude eased from $105 to $98 a barrel, but not before UK petrol prices had hit another record high.

The UK imports six per cent of its crude oil and five per cent of its gas from Russia, but there are concerns sanctions could constrict supplies and drive up prices worldwide. The price of UK natural gas futures soared nearly 60 per cent on Thursday.

UK consumers are already paying a high price for energy and fuel, with demand surging following the easing of COVID restrictions.

Both the RAC and AA motoring groups said average petrol prices hit a record high of nearly 149.5p on Wednesday, with diesel at 152.83p.

The RAC said that if the oil price reached $110 a barrel the average price of petrol could hit £1.55 a litre.

If prices do get this high it will “cause untold financial difficulties for many

people who depend on their cars for getting to work and running their lives as it would sky rocket the cost of a full tank to £85”, said the RAC’s Simon Williams.

Petrol price movements in the UK are mainly determined by the price of crude oil, and the exchange rate between the dollar and the pound, because crude oil is traded in dollars.

The price of crude oil is up, and the pound is down against the dollar.

News of Russia’s actions led to steep falls on global stock markets. In Europe, the UK’s FTSE 100 index fell more 3.9 per cent, its biggest one-day fall since June 2020. Germany’s Dax index lost four per cent.

In the US, the Dow Jones fell nearly two per cent in early trading but a late rally in the tech sector meant in ended 0.3 per cent higher. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index climbed 3.3 per cent and the S&P 500 closed trading up 1.5 per cent.

Shares in Netflix and Microsoft were both up more than five per cent, respectively.

After talking with allies from the G7, US President Biden announced measures to impede Russia’s ability to do business in the world’s major currencies, along with sanctions against banks and stateowned companies.

Wall Street which traded

Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES in the red at the start of the day on news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, hit session highs in the wake of Biden’s comments.

BRIEF SUSPENSION The Moscow Stock Exchange saw trading suspended briefly, but when it reopened the index fell by more than a third. On the currency markets, the rouble sank to a record low against the US dollar.

The price of gold which is considered a haven asset in times of uncertainty - jumped three per cent to its highest price in more than a year.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the oil price surge “was terrible news for businesses and consumers” because “it will serve to further stoke

inflation”.

“Not only will energy bills keep going up, but food prices look set to jump even higher. Ukraine and Russia are both big food suppliers and any disruption to supplies will force buyers to seek alternative sources, which could jack up prices.”

The UK’s cost of living is rising at its fastest rate in 30 years, as energy, fuel and food prices continued to soar, squeezing household budgets.

Meanwhile, Mould said the fall in the FTSE 100 “was bad news for the millions of savers and investors who have money in UK equities”.

SANCTIONS MOVES In response to Russia’s military action, the UK, US and European Union are set

to put more sanctions on Russia.

There are fears that sanctions, along with the impact of the invasion, could disrupt the supply of agricultural products and raw materials from Ukraine and Russia.

The two countries combined are major wheat suppliers, producing 29 per cent of global exports, most of which travels through ports in the Black Sea. Russia also produces aluminium, cobalt, copper, diamonds, fertiliser, gold, nickel, palladium, platinum, titanium and steel.

The European Council said it would “impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its actions”.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European

Commission, said the sanctions “will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia”.

Russian assets in the EU will be frozen and Russian banks’ access to European financial markets will be stopped, she said.

“These sanctions are designed to take a heavy toll on the Kremlin’s interests and their ability to finance war,” she added.

The biggest economic hit would come from disconnecting Russia’s banking system from the international Swift payment system, but that could also affect the US and European economies.

The US and EU have already imposed a series of sanctions in response to Putin’s actions against Ukraine. The UK has frozen the assets of five banks and three Russian billionaires, who have also been hit with travel bans.

Meanwhile, Germany has frozen final approval for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which connects the country with Russia and was set to boost Russian gas exports to the EU. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

A Common Destiny

AS we observe our republican anniversary celebrations, it is important that we continue to focus on our national motto which speaks to our oneness: One People, One Nation and One Destiny.

This theme of oneness has now been given new impetus by the One Guyana vision as articulated by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. This is indeed the way forward for Guyana and it is important that we embrace this vision which is something our foreparents once dreamt of but which over the decades proved elusive, not because as a society we did not want it, but because there were forces external to us that had a vested interest in sowing the seeds of division among the Guyanese people. We are all too familiar with the ‘divide and rule’ tactics employed by our colonial masters with the support of local reactionary elements to deny us our freedoms and our quest for a united and prosperous Guyana.

Sadly, there are elements both within and outside of the country who still seem bent on disrupting the peace and tranquility of our society by peddling all manner of lies and misinformation about governance in Guyana, ignoring the fact that we are

a sovereign and law governed society, one in which there is full respect for the inalienable and fundamental rights of all segments of the population.

Only recently, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had cause to correct a piece of misinformation coming from a foreign reporter as it relates to the treatment of Amerindians in Guyana. As pointed out by the Vice-President, when it comes to the prosperity of our Indigenous Peoples, Guyana has a track record that outperforms many countries in the developed world.

It was under the PPP/C administration that a Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was established and an entire month, Amerindian Heritage was dedicated to lend focus on Amerindian development.

Take the issue of Amerindian land rights.

Under the PPP/C administration land ownership moved from six per cent in 1992 to 14 per cent of total land mass and is expected to move to roughly 20 per cent later on, which is significant, taking into consideration that Amerindians comprise less than 10 per cent of the total population.

Land rights are not limited to the surface rights but also to sub-surface rights.

In fact, Guyana is one of the few countries in the world that give sub-surface rights on titled lands.

Guyana’s Indigenous populations are protected by law.

The Amerindian Act sets out specific conditions for the granting of titled lands and within a specified timeframe. This is ahead of several other countries including some of the more developed countries with indigenous populations.

According to Dr. Jagdeo, much has been done to ensure equal access to opportunities comparable to that on the coast.

Thousands of Amerindians are working in the government sector as teachers, health workers, community development officers and a host of other occupations.

Amerindians today are now mainstreamed in the national development process which is unlike what transpired under the previous PNC administration when teachers, nurses and other administrative staff had to be sent from the coast to work in Amerindian communities.

We have to ‘demystify’ some perceptions which seem to convey the impression

that Amerindians are culturally opposed to the idea of becoming integrated in the broader national life. It was that perception that was responsible for the neglect of Amerindian communities under colonial and PNC rule.

This is not to suggest that the rich cultural life of our Amerindian people should not be preserved and enriched. Indeed, there is much to learn from our indigenous populations and their way of life. In fact, the very term ‘Mashramani’ is derived from an Amerindian word which means “celebration after hard work”.

We have every right to celebrate. Our country is moving in the right direction and we are well advanced on the road to prosperity.

Guyanese from all ethnic groups and from all walks of life have contributed to this economic turnaround. The One Guyana vision is geared to ensure that all the cultural strands in our society are interwoven in a uniquely Guyanese fabric which we can all be proud of.

We are not only one people, but we all have a common destiny. We owe it to this and future generations to make this a reality.

Why not a second COVID-19 household cash grant?

Dear Editor,

IN consequence of the discovery of 13.5 billion barrels of oil reserves, some Guyanese dream of Guyana becoming an ‘Abu Dhabi’ of the West; some hail it as the ‘next Singapore’, while others prefer to be cautiously optimistic and embrace instead the evolution of the ‘One Guyana’ concept.

The prospect of huge oil wealth has triggered uncontrollable exuberance among Guyanese, many of whom have been clamouring for cash grants.

However, while this emotional elixir is understandable, it has not necessarily been nourished with accurate data and realistic expectations.

On the contrary, expectations of immediate benefits have been exaggerated, while oil related data are often misunderstood or distorted. From December 2019 to February 2022 (two years, three months), Guyana’s share of oil revenues, for example, was just $(US) 637 million, which works out at an average of $(US) 283 million annually thus far. This is not a windfall. Juxtapose this sum with the annual remittances of Guyanese for the same period which was $(US) 384 million annually. No one expresses any excitement

about this level of remittances, even though it exceeded our oil revenues for at least two years.

The government is constrained by the NRF Act on the amount of funds it could withdraw in 2022. Any consideration of cash grants must therefore revolve around general revenues. Some critics say that Guyanese have not yet benefitted from oil revenues.

This is not true as numerous businesses have been established and thousands of Guyanese employed in the oil sector. If they refer to benefits flowing from government oil revenues, these will find expression, both directly and indirectly, in several physical and social infrastructure projects.

The point is that while Guyana is poised to earn much more in oil revenues from 2022 onwards, Guyanese’ and politicians’ exhortations and demands for disposition of oil funds must be measured, especially taking into consideration the substantial amounts of oil revenues that will be dedicated to the transformative physical and social infrastructure projects during 2022-2025 and subsequently, as well as to the Sovereign Wealth Fund to secure inter-generational equity. To emphasise the significance of transformative (capital) projects, the government has allocated 39 per

cent of Budget 2022 for this purpose, and this capital expenditure represents an increase of 109 per cent over the 2021 amount. Withdrawal of $(US) 600+ million from the NRF represents 23 per cent of total 2022 budget.

The WPA party which is part of the APNU opposition party, for example, issued this proclamation on Emancipation Day, 2021: “We have to stress that the oil wealth, however depleted, must be equitably distributed among all groups. For us in the WPA this is non-negotiable, and we are prepared to fight tooth and nail for this outcome.” Other states like Alaska make annual direct cash grants of US$1,600 per resident from oil revenues, why not Guyana? But Guyana is not Alaska, which is already highly developed and affluent.

Nevertheless, the case is advanced by proponents of cash grants that several decades of development programmes have failed to lead to any significant reduction of poverty (which is at 32 per cent) and inequality and wonder whether this should not be the opportune time to pursue an alternative path of empowerment! And as a short-term measure, therefore, what could be more appealing than cash grants that go directly to people.

Others caution saying that direct cash grants would only temporarily mitigate poverty

and inequality; what is needed instead is the creation of empowerment programmes, like skills training, education advancement, job creation, etc.

A Ghanian oil expert, Mr. George Owusu observes: “I do not believe in subsidies and giving people cash. You have to work for it.”

Guyana’s Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo notes “how other countries have splurged their windfall on current expenses, to such an extent that they could not sustain them when their oil windfall ended.” To illustrate this position, he cited the example of Trinidad & Tobago, which spent “99 per cent of its fiscal revenues between 1999 and 2015 to increase transfers and subsidies”, a condition which the country could not maintain.

Any consideration of cash grants for 2022 would come from general revenues as the $(US) 600+ million NRF has already been allocated for 2022 budget.

Noteworthy, is the social dislocation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the related rising cost of living that are building a compelling case for another COVID-19 like household cash grant.

Yours sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Teen dies in Diamond accident

AN 18-year-old has become the latest road fatality after the vehicle he was driving slammed into the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) fence on the eastern carriageway of the Diamond Public Road.

According to a police report, the accident occurred on Thursday at 08:15 hrs when motorcar PAB 8239 driven by the teen, Prakash Salvador, who hails from 1316 Section C, Block Y, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara,

hit the DDL fence.

Police say that the car was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane at a fast rate of speed when the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with the DDL fence, which is located on the eastern side of the said road.

As a result of the collision, the vehicle was damaged extensively and the driver received injuries.

Salvador was taken out of the vehicle by public-spirited citizens in an unconscious

Teen drowns during birthday celebration at Jubilee Resort RAY Stuart Jr., 13, who hails from Lot 56 Robb Street, Bourda, Georgetown, lost his life during a birthday celebration at the Jubilee Resort at Dakara Creek on Republic Day. According to a police report, the incident occurred just around 11:00hrs on Wednesday. The teen was celebrating with his family members.

Police have disclosed that the teen was taken to the resort by his father, in the company of relatives and friends.

Police were told that they [Stuart’s friends and family] were all in the pool and the teen, who did not know to swim, ventured into the deeper side of the pool and went under the water unnoticed.

Reports indicated that, after an undisclosed time period, his father observed that his son was missing and raised an alarm and other relatives began searching for him, in and out of the pool. His lifeless body was found in the pool under the water by a relative. He was immediately rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre by his father and relatives where he was seen and examined by Dr. Afare, who pronounced him dead on arrival.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the tragic demise of the 13-year-old.

Results from preliminary examinations of the body reveal no marks of violence on the teen’s body.

The people from Enmore can do more than cut cane Dear Editor, “FIVE HUNDRED (high-paying) oilfield service jobs for Enmore and environs”-- this is the positive headline I envisaged when I heard of the Guysons plan for the old packing plant.

Sadly, there was no such headline and instead this ultra-positive for the people of the area has come in for criticism and questioning from not only the usual nattering nabobs of nihilism but importantly from the Guyana Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) who would rather preserve the 30 sugar packing jobs than see those (and 470 others) transition to the lucre of oilfield services.

GAWU seems to have lost its way and its mandate to represent people and not union dues (they are among the unions seeking to represent oil and gas industry workers).

GAWU needs to modernise its thinking and accept that people from Enmore can do more than cut cane, load punts and pay GAWU dues.

Nobody likes the crab at the bottom of the barrel; GAWU can get onboard the prosperity train or get off the tracks before it gets run over but the thousands of new oilfield services workers.

Yours sincerely, Robin Singh

condition and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was seen and examined by doctors on duty, but died while receiving medical attention.

The teen’s body has been taken to Carmen’s Funeral Home where it is awaiting a post-mortem.

As further enquiries are in progress, the police are urging road users to exercise extreme caution, care, courtesy, consideration and common sense, especially during the rainy season when the roadways are wet and slippery.

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The mangled remains of the motorcar that was being driven by Prakash Salvador, 18, that slammed into the fence of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Brighton patriarch turns 105 today

VICTOR Lewis couldn’t help but give God, “from whom all blessings flow,” the praise for sparing his life to celebrate another birthday; his 105th to be precise.

As he told the Guyana Chronicle from the comfort of his Brighton Village home on the Corentyne Coast late Wednesday afternoon, “He directs; He orders; He knows my days. It is in His hands.”

Turning to his daughters Brenda and Patricia, who were seated nearby, he asked about their plans for his birthday this year.

“Just a prayer service; the Pastor will come over,” replied Brenda. “Not too much celebrations this year,” she said. “COVID is out there, and we have to protect him.”

Better known to fellow villagers as ‘Little Johnny’, or simply ‘Old Police’, Mr. Lewis’ quick response when asked to tell us a bit about himself, was: “I was born on February 25, 1917 at Eversham Village; my parents were James Lewis, known as ‘Johnny Lewis’. That’s

where I got the name ‘Little Johnny’. My mother’s name was Rachael Albert.”

He readily admitted, too, that while from time to time, he would experience bouts of memory loss, he has not forgotten his birthdate nor the names of his parents.

And while he is eternally grateful to his parents for his being here today, he noted that it was his paternal grandparents, James and Mary Lewis, who nurtured him, at the very place he calls home.

“I grew up with Elric; he was my cousin. We were the children of two siblings. My grandparents were farmers; they cultivated ground provisions, corn and bananas. We were never hungry, but if we were, we would just go to the farm, pick a few ripened bananas from the sucker, or parch and pound corn before eating it with sugar,” Mr. Lewis said, adding: “Life was not as it is now.

Back then, people farmed, and the villagers, despite their ethnicity, lived in unity.

In those days, if an African

family had a function, and their East Indian neighbour was not invited, then that would be a big problem. The uninvited person would enquire what was the reason for him or her not receiving an invitation, prior to presenting themselves. Life was so good without the politicians.”

BITTER-SWEET MEMORIES Chuckling as he took the Guyana Chronicle down memory lane, all the while clasping his hands between his legs, a habit he’d developed over the years, Mr. Lewis recalled attending Eversham Primary School while Mr. James Henry was Headmaster. However, while he was privileged to have completed his schooling, he was unable to write the ‘School Leaving Examination’, which was held at the Rose Hall Scots School in Rose Hall Town. “I cannot now remember what prevented me from going to write the exams, but my now deceased friends, Albert King and Marth Doug-

Centenarian Mr. Victor Lewis with his two daughters, Brenda and Patricia at his Brighton home on Wednesday las, they were successful at of their 11 children: Den- during the interview, he was the exams, and had pursued zil, Eon, Victor Jnr, Eldon, quick to point out that as a higher learning, resulting in Fay (now deceased), Wendy, youth, he was a member of them becoming educators,” Patricia, Brenda, Kim, Yon- the Boys Scouts organisation, he said, adding: “I became a nette, and Denise. He has which is now managed by the carpentry apprentice, under also fathered a twelfth child, Police in some areas. Accordthe stewardship of ‘Brother a son named Leon who re- ing to him, the Boys Scots Grant’ of Phillipi Village. sides overseas. organisations instilled values, As a small boy, I had visited Looking back over the which were either duplicated the village shop, and had years since losing the love or replicated in homes. observed ‘Brother Grant’ of his life, Mr. Lewis said: “I “In this current time,” doing some carpentry. And have not remarried, although Mr. Lewis said, “young he asked me whether I was my wife died over 30 years people are not applying interested, and I responded ago. When you have a wife, themselves to learn a trade. in the affirmative. I started you have to give, and I am A trade affords a person to to learn the trade, and have not able with that now…” maintain a family. I learnt since specialised in all areas Along with the main- a trade, and I will always of carpentry.” tenance of his family, Mr. advise the young men to According to the wid- Lewis, who’s also an Elder do likewise. Nowadays, if a ower, his trade took him to of the Brighton Presbyterian youth is asked to do somemany areas locally, including Church, noted that church thing, the first question is: the mining town of Linden attendance was not an option ‘How much you paying?’ and Matthews Ridge. Noting for his family. “We had to go. In this village, there is the that his markings are on all Sunday is the day to serve the Brighton Turf Club, which the multilateral schools and Lord; we have to look to our was famous for horse races other learning institutions Creator for everything. back in the days. The paacross the country, Mr. Lewis “These days, parents ask- vilion needs repairs; no was quick to add that as soon ing children if they would one is volunteering to do as he received his wages, he like to go to church. But so. That could have been a would hurry to the nearest I was never taught that; it project for the Boys Scouts post office so he could send was never an option. It is a or any other interest group. the money home to his now necessity.”

But, instead of building up, deceased wife, Monica, to And, despite experienc- people breaking down. We assist with the maintenance ing short bouts of mental loss can do better.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

‘Operation Recovery’ launched –– to bring students back into the classroom

THE Ministry of Education has launched ‘Operation Recovery’ within the 11 Education Districts to find primary school students who have been continuously absent from school since school re-started and those who have missed the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) mock examination.

This move will see education officers from the Central Ministry and within the Education Districts, along with regional officials and community activists fanning out into communities to locate these pupils.

The exercise aims to ascertain the location of the students and the reasons behind their absenteeism, so that a determination can be made about how the ministry can assist these students with returning to school.

The scientific data gathered from countries around the world in numerous studies by various organisations continue to show that the long school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to an increased rate of school dropouts and tremendous learning loss, unless countries take urgent, practical measures to prevent same. This will not only affect the academic attainment of young people, but ultimately their economic and social development as they become adults.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Education officers on outreach activities on Thursday for ‘Operation Recovery’ in Supenaam Creek, Region Two (Ministry of Education photo)

has said that this generation of children and youth cannot afford any more disruptions to their education and predict that unless practical measures are taken urgently, this generation could lose more than 17 trillion dollars in earnings in their lifetimes, have their academic growth stunted and their mental health severely affected.

The Ministry of Education said it remains committed to keeping school doors open and having as many of pupils back in school and where students failed to come to school, to determine what needs they may have and to attempt to meet those needs.

The ministry in a release said it believes firmly that urgent, practical, sustained measures such as teaching and learning from a consolidated curriculum; the provision of textbooks; re-training of teachers; using technology in the classroom and Operation Recovery will prevent the predicted loss to students and the country.

The ministry also warns that any individual or organisation that promotes the closure of schools or discourages parents from sending their children to school is doing harm to Guyana’s children and the country as a whole and encouraged all stakeholders to be responsible, so that it can reach every pupil and give them the education they rightfully deserve.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

‘Take a united pledge to build One Guyana’

Two villagers charged for 2020 murder of Tain resident, ‘Aunty Dayo’

–– Minister Sukhai tells Mahdia THE Golden Arrowhead was hoisted on Wednesday at the Mahdia Community Centre Ground, in celebration of Guyana’s 52nd anniversary as a Co-operative Republic.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai, who presided over the ceremony, underscored the importance of Republic Day and how it intertwines with the One Guyana vision of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali. “At this Republic Day, the 52nd anniversary of our republican status, we must take a united pledge to build One Guyana, so that our future

will be secured. I want to once more say from our government, the PPP/C government and His Excellency, Happy Mashramani and please enjoy today and also let us work to enjoy the benefits of our beautiful country.”

Speaking at the ceremony, Regional Executive Officer of Region Eight, Peter Ramotar, noted that Guyana has persevered despite its long and challenging history.

He too urged Guyanese to continue standing in unity and ascribe to the One Guyana initiative, which seeks to break down barriers of polarisation.

“As a people, we have chosen to decide our own destiny by moving one more step away from colonialism and external dominance, the first step being independence.

Over these 52 years, together we have encountered many challenges, which sometimes threaten to overwhelm us, but our fortitude and resilience saw us through those difficult periods of our history. The lessons we learned from those training days over the years was that we always overcame our tribulation, where we stood together as one people and find[sic] common ground to

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai uplift ourselves and our nation.”

Guyana became a Co-operative Republic on February 23, 1970, meaning the last chain of the country’s former colonial masters, was shattered.

Now, a President is elected by the people and serves the entire population.

The activity was also attended by Permanent Secretary (ag) of the ministry, Ryan Toolsiram. (DPI)

AFTER evading lawmen for almost two years, two Tain, Corentyne men were on Thursday arraigned before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh, via Skype, at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court where the indictable charge of murder was read to them.

The pair, Dannyram Ramdhanny, called ‘Rocky’, 24, and Kumar Bhagwandin, called ‘Scarecrow’, 25, are charged with the murder, in June 2020, of 82-year-old Chandarie Budhoo, popularly known as ‘Aunty Dayo’ at her Tain Settlement home on the Corentyne.

After the charge was read to the men, they were remanded, and the matter transferred to the Whim Magistrate’s Court for report on April 4.

The charges reportedly followed months of intense investigations into a series of break-and-enter and larceny reports in several Corentyne communities.

On the advice of the Dhannyram Ramdhanny, Director of Public Proscalled ‘Rocky’ ecution (DPP), a juvenile and his father were invited to the Whim Police Station, where, under interrogation of Corporal DeanSmith and Constable Nelson, the youngster revealed that he was present at a certain house at the time the plot to rob the pensioner was being hatched.

It is alleged that after the plan was finalised, Kumar Bhagwandin, the defendants and their called ‘Scarecrow’ accomplices headed for the home of the deceased, where, on arrival, they broke a window to gain access into the upper flat of the two-storied building.

Reports are that shortly after the intruders would have gotten into the house, ‘Aunty Dayo’ could be heard screaming for several minutes before suddenly falling silent.

About half-an-hour thereafter, as the intruders exited the premises, what appeared to be blood could Chanderuai Budhu, be seen on the feet and called ‘Aunty Dayo’ slippers of one of them, while another carried a black ‘string-bag’ in his hand.

When the bag was eventually opened, it was seen to contain a quantity of gold earrings, chains, and finger rings. The following day, the juvenile told the police, he was given $5,000, and warned not to reveal what had transpired to anyone.

The following morning, Wednesday, June 7, 2020, villagers woke to the news that ‘Aunty Dayo’s lifeless body was discovered, still clad in her nightgown, with her hands and feet bound with pieces of garments.

Word is that blood could be seen oozing from her nostrils, while what looked like strangulation marks were clearly visible on her neck. The house, meanwhile, looked like a tornado had ripped through it.

According to Aunty Dayo’s nephew, Ashton Deonarine, his aunt, who’d lived alone, had been beaten and relieved of cash and jewellery before, but had never reported the matter to the police, out of fear.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Over 3,000 benefit from Subraj Foundation’s medical outreach in Region Nine

MORE than 3,000 pairs of reading, distant, and blue light glasses were distributed recently when the George Subraj Family Foundation took its signature health and eye care clinics to Region Nine, benefitting residents from far-flung villages in the region.

Some of the villagers also benefitted from sunglasses, according to Foundation

anticipated the turn out. However, at 10 am at our first clinic at Annai, Narash Torres, the Health Centre’s resident doctor, informed me that we had no more seating and that there were already over 200 residents in line. That set the benchmark for the entire weekend,” Mahase related.

He continued: “As the numbers

Mission Coordinator Richard B. Mahase (first from left), along with the rest of the team that conducted the clinics in Region Nine member Richard B. Mahase, who is in Guyana coordinating the mission.

The Foundation, based in New York, continues to be passionate about providing healthcare services to Guyanese in need and would visit annually to conduct the outreaches with the help of local authorities.

This time around, the Foundation conducted the clinics at Annai, Shulinab and Lethem in collaboration with the regional authorities and Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Region Nine Regional Health Officer, Dr. Cerdel Mc Watt, observed that the response was excellent. “In fact, many residents felt that each one-day clinic at a particular venue was inadequate, but I am optimistic that GPHC and the Subraj Foundation would have noted the response and together, going forward, we can reach out to other communities.”

Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, GPHC, said that a number of cataract and glaucoma cases were identified and he was in coordination mode with Dr. Mc Watt to have these addressed.

Mahase told Guyana Chronicle that the mission was exhausting but memorable. “I was forewarned by Dr. Mc Watt that this was a needed service but never

escalated, our team in New York headed by the indefatigable Tony Subraj, President of the Subraj Foundation, set in motion mechanisms to bolster supplies so that no one would be turned away who was in need of glasses which our team was providing; or the eye drops prescribed by the doctor and optometrists on hand.

Tony’s work in the US to make this possible cannot be understated. Without the adequate amount of supplies immediately available, I guess our reach would have been limited. Apart from eye tests, hypertension and glucose testing were also done.”

Attending were senior citizens, adults, children and officers of the Guyana Police Force. “Overall, I would like to emphasise that this was a team effort. Dr. Mc Watt, Dr. Torres, Dr. Petriana Surujpaul and Dr. Shelon Ambrose of Region Nine were the key coordinators among many other important supporters. It would not have been possible without their constant support and encouragement,” Mahase offered.

To complete the first mission of 2022, the Foundation’s final clinics are set for Numbers 40 and 41 Villages, West Coast Berbice and Number 57 Village, Corentyne, on March 5 and 6.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Digicel commits to reduction in intra-CARICOM roaming charges

DIGICEL Group and Cable & Wireless Communications, this week, signed a declaration to reduce intra-CARICOM roaming charges for citizens of CARICOM states, a release from the telecommunications giant said on Thursday.

According to the release, the gesture is a meaningful show of support to the CARICOM Heads of Government’s policy initiative to establish the CARICOM Single ICT Space, in support of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

The move is a recognition of the historical global issue of the unpredictable

cost of mobile roaming and “bill shock” at the end of an overseas trip which can serve as a deterrent for CARICOM citizens to use their mobile phones as they travel through the region. Digicel’s commitment is to continue to work to make roaming charges more transparent, predictable and affordable -whilst ultimately delivering a much enhanced customer experience, the release noted.

“In addition, the declaration, signed by Digicel, Cable & Wireless Communications and CARICOM, commits to advancing implementation of the fundamental elements of the vision

and roadmap for a CARICOM Single ICT Space within the region; moving towards a more harmonised regulatory environment in all CARICOM member states; improving the overall customer experience by promoting greater regional connectivity; improving the ease of doing business in the telecommunications and ICT sector and developing policies that encourage investments, lessen the finan-

cial burden on operators and encourage re-investment in the telecoms/ICT sector; and sharing professional studies concerning the taxation of OTTs and the potential regulatory framework for CARICOM telecom service providers for consultation on any policy prescriptions,” the release added.

“Today we create an example of what we can achieve by working together.

This is a significant mile-

stone in the roadmap towards achieving a Single ICT Caribbean Space. Digicel remains strongly committed to working with the governments of the CARICOM to continue to invest in the critical telecom infrastructure to ensure governments, citizens and businesses have access to the highest levels of modern communication technologies,” said Digicel Group Government Relations Di-

rector, Kieran Mulvey.

He continued: “This declaration recognises the joint opportunities and challenges we face in advancing the goal and desire of us to collectively remove any impediments towards achieving a liberalised market, and ensuring that all who avail of it contribute to the cost, most notably the OTTs like Facebook and WhatsApp.”

Duo plead not guilty to murder of Regent Street Multiplex owner A MIXED 12-member jury was, on Thursday, empanelled before Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara High Court for the trial of two men who allegedly murdered Regent Multiplex Mall, Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall, during a robbery at his La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara home in 2015.

Lennox ‘Soldier Man’ Roberts who resided at Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Kurt ‘Banana’ Erskine formerly of Golden Grove, EBD both denied that on July 5, 2015, they murdered Ramlall as they attempted to rob him.

The State is represented by attorneys-at-law Konyo Sandiford and Narissa Leander as special prosecutors in this matter. The trial is expected to commence next

Dead: Businessman, Ganesh Ramlall when he was confronted by four men who shot him about his body and relieved him of his licensed firearm, jewellery and wallet.

It was also reported that after the now-deceased man saw the gunmen approaching

Lennox ‘Soldier Man’ Roberts and Kurt ‘Banana’ Erskine Monday.

Last Monday, Feezeel Bacchus, a third-named accused in the matter, took a plea for the lesser count of manslaughter and confessed to the crime. He is expected to be sentenced next Monday.

According to reports, the businessman had just returned home and was going to use the outside bathroom

him, he raised an alarm and called out to his relatives to secure the house.

The bandits successfully escaped. Ramlall was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Days later, police arrested Bacchus who confessed to being the getaway driver.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Manslaughter convict loses appeal

THE Guyana Court of Appeal, on Thursday, threw out the appeal of manslaughter convict, Travis McDougal, and upheld his 25-year jail sentence for killing a miner during an armed robbery in 2014.

In 2017, McDougal was tried before Justice Navindra Singh and left to the mercy of his peers for his role in the murder of Ashok Kumar Raghoo.

In the verdict, however, the jury found McDougal guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter which saw him sentenced to 25 years in jail for the lesser offence.

McDougal later moved to the Court of Appeal claiming that his sentence was excessive and urged that it should be set aside because of unfairness and severity.

The appeal was heard by a tribunal of appellate judges including Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.

McDougal was represented by attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes and Narissa Leander. Appearing for the state was Senior State

Counsel, Natasha Backer.

While delivering the ruling, the acting Chancellor rejected arguments made on behalf of the appellant and said the court did not find that the trial judge erred in his sentencing. As such, the appeal was dismissed.

“We reiterate that each case will turn on its own particular facts… sentence is a matter for the trial judge, who would have seen and heard witnesses including the accused person.

“An appellate court must not, because it feels that the different sentence should be passed, thereby impose a different one. We are far removed from the case and cannot substitute our view for that of the trial judge,” Cummings-Edwards said as she affirmed McDougal’s sentence.

McDougal was convicted of shooting the Kitty businessman and injuring his wife, Shyrazadi, at around 13:30 hours at the corner of Regent Street and Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

The court had heard that the convicted man’s accomplice grabbed a haversack containing $4 million which the de-

Travis McDougal ceased man’s wife held on to. She was shot in the thigh.

Raghoo was later pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

In July 2015, Travis McDougal was committed to stand trial for murder along with pork-knocker, Jermaine Otto.

Otto was among the inmates that perished in the deadly Camp Street prison fire which razed the historic facility in March 2016.

Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh had testified that Raghoo died of a perforated lung due to a gunshot.

Man remanded for allegedly beating ex-girlfriend with hockey stick 29-YEAR-OLD Fabian Crawford was remanded to prison, on Thursday, for allegedly beating his ex-girlfriend about her body because she refused to engage in sexual intercourse with him, a police source confirmed.

The accused man, of Laing Avenue, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

He will return to court on March 9.

Crawford was not required to plead to the charge which read that, between February 18, 2022, and February 19, 2022, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded the victim with intent to disfigure or disable her.

The court heard that Crawford and the victim were in a relationship until

January 2022, which ended due to his alleged abusive behaviour.

It was also reported that, on January 18, Crawford broke the victim’s phone during a confrontation. He later reached out to the victim and offered to pay for the damage to her device.

On February 18, the victim reportedly visited Crawford’s house to collect the money from him.

However, she was allegedly attacked by Crawford after she refused to have sexual intercourse with him.

Armed with a hockey stick, Crawford allegedly dealt the victim several lashes about her body, which caused her to receive injuries to her head, legs, and hand.

She later made a report to the police and Crawford was arrested.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

No effort will be spared to improve the lives of all citizens

- Minister Todd tells gathering at Linden flag-raising ceremony

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd, at the 52nd Republic anniversary flag-raising ceremony in Region 10 (DPI photo) THE government is sparing no effort to improve the livelihood of all citizens, as Guyana transforms economically, said Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd, in an address to Lindeners on Tuesday.

“Linden is not separated from the rest of Guyana, Linden is not adrift, Linden, is a cohesive community that forms part of a cohesive country. A victory for Linden, Region 10 is a victory for Georgetown and Region

Four. A victory for Region Four and Georgetown is a victory for Region Three and the list goes on and on.

So, as we consider ourselves as Lindeners, we also have to consider ourselves as part of a whole, separate parts coming together to make a complete package that is Guyana,” Minister Todd told the residents at a flag-raising ceremony to mark the country’s 52nd anniversary as a Republic.

He assured Lindeners of the continuation of free, fair

and regular elections, which will help to maintain a strong and viable democracy. It will also propel the nation on the path of economic viability, providing citizens with improved infrastructure, education, healthcare and equal opportunities for all.

“Guyana is going to transform in ways that many would’ve said decades ago is unbelievable, because the days of championing and talking about potential, capacity and ability, we now can experience it.”

Meanwhile, some $2.6 billion has been set aside for the rehabilitation and repairs of roads in Linden.

With the establishment of Midas BPO, thousands of Lindeners are set to benefit from job creation.

Additionally, through the government’s “Dream Realised” programme, 144 residents received titles and transport to their land as some 400 persons were targeted to receive housing. (DPI)

Significant reduction in COVID-19 cases, deaths this month - Health Minister THERE has been a significant drop in COVID-19 cases this month thus far, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has reported.

This was revealed during the minister’s COVID-19 update on Monday, when he noted that as it relates to the global pandemic, the country is doing much better than in January.

To this end, Dr Anthony said that there are currently 864 active cases that are spread across the 10 administrative regions with the majority of active cases, 343, in Region Four.

As of Thursday, he stated that there were 54 persons in hospitals with 39 of them at the Ocean View facility. Of those 39 persons, seven are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“I think we’re doing much better than we were in January, but we have to keep warning people that we cannot be complacent,” Minister Anthony

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said.

With that, he indicated that last month some 116 persons passed as a result of COVID-19 and as of this week, some 43 deaths have been reported for February thus far. Additionally, the minister revealed that 20,293 cases were recorded in January, while 2,407 cases have been reported in February.

Dr Anthony reiterated that the spike seen in January can be attributed to the spread and circulation of the

omicron variant.

“So, this is in keeping with us seeing a spike in January more than likely due to the omicron variant, which was circulating. We know with the omicron variant a lot of people would get infected because of the contagiousness of the virus,” he said.

While he noted that many persons would experience milder forms of the virus, he urged persons to still be cautious and vigilant.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

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All pumps in Georgetown operational - ministry prepared to allocate additional resources to strengthen flood-response efforts - Hydromet Dept. predicts continued rainfall in the coming days Water draining into the Atlantic Ocean through the Kitty Pump Station (Ministry of Agriculture photo)

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha; NDIA Chairman, Lionel Wordsworth and NDIA Engineer, Lonsdale Edghill, during a visit to the Cowan Street pump (Ministry of Agriculture photo) ALL the drainage pumps in Georgetown were in operation on Thursday when Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, conducted a site visit in the City to check on their status.

Reports from the Hydromet Department indicated that several villages in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Eight have been experiencing instances of persistent rainfall with areas in Region Five experiencing up to four inches of rainfall within the last 24 hours.

While speaking with media operatives at the Liliendaal Pump Station, Minister Mustapha said that all of the pumps in Georgetown were fully operable.

“In the City, all 13 pumps are fully operable.

I am satisfied that the operators are working and we will continue to monitor them. We have three engineers working on a 24-hour basis monitoring these structures. If there are any issues, we’ll immediately mobilise mechanics to remedy the situation.

We’ve been doing this over the past few months and I’ve noticed a major improvement in the way these pumps function,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha further stated that, given the instances of heavy rainfall experienced across the

country, the ministry has been working closely with the regional authorities and is prepared to allocate additional resources to strengthen its flood response efforts should the need arise, a release from the Ministry of Agriculture said.

“We are seeing heavy rainfall right across the c o u n t r y, n o t o n l y i n Georgetown and we are putting systems in place to minimise instances of flooding. We are monitoring the situation and have been working very closely with the regional authorities to see what systems can be put in place to assist residents in these affected areas. We are also allocating additional resources so that we can be able to strengthen our flood response efforts should the need arise. Residents should also take the necessary precautions and desist from disposing of garbage in the alleyways and the drainage canals because it can affect the pumps. Only yesterday (Wednesday) the pump at Cowan Street was affected because garbage got into it,” the minister added.

While speaking on the instances of flooding in certain parts of the country, Minister Mustapha said that additional pumps have been deployed to areas on Corentyne Coast as well as at Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara to en-

sure extensive flooding does not take place. He added that, so far, there have not been any reports of instances of major flooding in those affected areas.

In its daily weather brief, the ministry’s Hydromet Department stated that Novar, Mahaicony in Region Five recorded some 101.6mm (4.0 inches) of rainfall over the last 24 hours (08:00hrs Wednesday to 08:00hrs Thursday).

In Region Four, Ogle and Enmore recorded the high-

est levels of rainfall for the same period with Ogle recording some 89.2mm and Enmore some 73.4mm of rainfall.

The release noted that, in the coming days, the department predicts that Northern Guyana (Regions 1-8 and 10) is likely to experience cloudy skies with scattered showers and intermittent rainfall. Rainfall is expected to range between 10.0mm to 30.0mm within a 24-hour period.

Taking into consid-

eration the most recent weather report issued by the Hydromet Department, Minister Mustapha said that a visit to the pumps was necessary to ensure the structures were functioning. He said it was important to assess the City’s drainage structures ahead of the forecasted rainy weekend, given the fact that many areas in Georgetown are prone to flooding.

Over the last few weeks, the government has

been partnering with the various municipalities, regional officials and private sector representatives to conduct a massive nationwide clean-up campaign.

Garbage has, for years, contributed to flooding in many parts of Georgetown and other villages across the Coast.

Minister Mustapha was accompanied by NDIA’s Chairman, Lionel Wordsworth, and NDIA engineer, Lonsdale Edghill.

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and other officials at the Liliendaal Pump Station (Ministry of Agriculture photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Vanita Willie says no plans to return next year

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

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- After second Chutney Soca Monarch win

Bunty and some of his dancers before they took the stage (Photo credit: Bunty Singh King Facebook Page)

By Shamar Meusa AFTER snatching her second Chutney Soca Monarch crown at the recently-concluded competition, Vanita Willie, also known as “Poowah”, is retiring her microphone and sequins as she has no plans to return to the competition next year.

Just days after her big win at the National Stadium last weekend, Willie had a brief chat with The Buzz where she confirmed her intention to call it quits.

On competition night, the gyrating monarch took the stage dressed in gold

with dancers who appeared to be representing Guyana’s six peoples, a fitting visual for her performance of “Live in Harmony”.

In the song, Willie spoke of Guyana as a space for mixing cultures while living in peace, love and harmony.

The song immediately connected with the audience as familiar patrons danced and sang along.

When asked about the inspiration behind the song, the chutney soca monarch said she wrote the song while on her lunch break. It just came to her.

“That song just drop on me! I usually write my

songs during my lunch break and it just dawned on me,” she said.

Adding some depth, she said her new year’s resolution was to stay positive and keep thinking positive.

She felt that the song was perfectly in line with this.

Taking an unusual route from writing traditional songs, she revealed that she got a good feeling and decided to write a song about togetherness for this year’s competition.

“It’s Mash!” she exclaimed, “every year, I write traditional songs but this year is a happy year… so I wrote a togetherness song

A section of the crowd (Carl Croker Photo)

Vicadi Singh as he engaged the crowd during his performance of “Tek Another” (Carl Croker photo) for the Mashramani song competition in the chutney category”.

Vanita is still excited about her second win. She said her pride comes from the amount of hard work from her team that was committed to bringing the song to life.

The win for Vanita comes off the heels of having the very popular Chutney Soca track, ‘Poowah’.

She said there were doubts about her entry into the Chutney Soca Monarch this year, but she won’t be returning next year to defend the crown.

“Next year I’m not going to defend my crown, I will give others a chance,” she said.

After a night filled with exciting and creative performances, the five judges of the competition announced that Willie won the competition with 184 points.

Meanwhile, her rival performers, Bunty Singh and Vicadi Singh tied with second place at 170 points.

Vicadi Singh, who was also decked out in golden garb, wowed the crowd with his performance which began with a dramatic piece of acting that was on theme with his song “Tek another.”

In this piece, Singh de-

Chutney Soca Monarch 2022, Vanita Willie performing her song “Live in Harmony” (NCN photo) tails that the girl his mother found for him has now left with his house, land, and even his brother.

The lyrics of the song had patrons in an uproar as they laughed at the dramatisation that took place on stage while Singh belted the song.

Three-time Chutney Soca Monarch, Bunty Singh returned a fourth time for the crown and performed his song “Rising On” which also had a positive message of rising against all odds.

Singh sang about hav-

ing persons laughing at him for pursuing his dreams of becoming a music star to now having persons singing along to his chutney songs.

Bunty, who was a crowd favorite of the evening, was the second performer for the night and had the audience going before he even came on stage.

However, though both Bunty and Vicadi captured the hearts in the crowd, it was Vanita that had the judges. There was no third-place contender.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

‘Love is Wicked’ turns 15

(JAMAICA OBSERVER) - Love is Wicked, the breakthrough hit for female duo Brick and Lace, turns 15 this year.

The song, recorded on the Diwali rhythm, catapulted sisters Nyanda and Nailah “Nyla” Thorbourne to international success.

“We were in Canada writing songs and we got the Diwali track. One of my sisters started singing ‘your love is like rain’, and then we changed the rain lyric to ‘love is wicked’.

It’s just basically a song about the duality of the word wicked and how being in a relationship can be so good to you and bad at the same time,” Nyla told the Jamaica Observer.

‘Love is Wicked’ was

the second single from the group’s major label debut album of the same name, which was released by Geffen/180 Entertainment/Kon Live.

“At the time of writing the song I had just come out of a relationship.

I was in love and infatuated with the person, but I couldn’t have the person fully. Nyanda had a similar story with a relationship that she had,” said Nyla.

Nyla remembers the recording session for Love is Wicked.

“We recorded the song at a studio in Canada.

While recording the song, we knew it was special. I remember we had a friend in Canada who came by and we played her the

demo for the song and she just broke down in tears. That’s when we knew we had something on our hands,” she said.

Although ‘Love is Wicked’ wasn’t a hit in the United States, it took on a life of its own in several European countries.

“I think we were surprised that it didn’t really do as well in the United States. It was one of the better songs on the album.

The label wanted to run with a track featuring Akon and we were like, this is the one that will run. And it did,” Nyla recalled.

Love is Wicked peaked at number 44 in Belgium, number four in France (where it has been certified gold), number two in Por-

Sisters Nailah “Nyla” Thorbourne (left) and Nyanda Thorbourne of Brick and Lace tugal (certified gold), 14 in Poland, 13 in Norway, and 27 in Sweden.

The success of the single sent the album into the top 10 of the album charts in France and Portugal.

Said Nyla, “The song was very huge in places like Sweden, France and Germany. Due to the song’s success, we were able to travel across the world and tour all over.

It definitely did open a lot of doors and we made really good relationships based on that. It was a blessing and up to this day, there is a ‘Love is Wicked’ challenge on TikTok and last year it was featured on the Jimmy Kimmel Live

show on ABC.” In the wake of the success of ‘Love is Wicked’, Brick and Lace took home several awards at the Youth View Awards (YVAs).

“We were very happy that finally Jamaica received us because we just felt, for a long while, a little overlooked and just kinda not fully accepted. When we got the awards it really solidified our grounding in our country,” said Nyla.

These days, the members of ‘Brick and Lace’ have more or less put music on hold to focus on various ventures.

In 2015 Nyla was featured on the remix of Major Lazer’s Light It Up

which has been certified double platinum in the United States, platinum in the United Kingdom and gold in Australia. The song peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100, number seven in the United Kingdom, number 14 in France, number 32 in Canada and number two in New Zealand. Today, however, she is focusing on being a mother of two as well as the group’s ‘Love is Wicked’ fashion line.

Nyanda is also a mother of two.

Said Nyla, “We are always talking about music, so we are working on something for the fans for the summer.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

‘Not looking at a side that will win anything’...

FROM BACK PAGE

(Devon) Thomas are about the same. There’s nothing to shout about.”

He added: “If we’re going to go forward positively, we have to focus almost primarily on performances and those performances have got to be result-oriented. It’s too long now we’re in the wilderness, with a good game here and there and you retain your play.

“There was a time I observed in West Indies cricket where we lost the series and then the last game or two, somebody scores a hundred. So he sets up himself for the next series which we’re going to lose, but he’s going to do well and he maintains a play.”

Campbell, a left-handed opener, was recalled to a West Indies 13-man squad named

earlier this week to face England in the opening match of next month’s three-Test series, after hitting a splendid hundred against Barbados Pride in the first round of the Regional FourDay Championship.

However, selectors ignored the form of Leeward Islands Hurricanes batter Devon Thomas who slammed a superb hundred and two half-centuries in three innings during the opening two rounds of the first-class campaign.

Best said because of a lack of consistent performances, selectors were forced repeatedly to resort to the same personnel.

“We see too often the regurgitation of players – players who have played before. It’s not

like we’re rated number two or number three and we have a hard side to select,” Best contended, while speaking on Starcom Radio’s Mason and Guest cricket show here.

“The fact of the matter is that in Test cricket we’re number eight, in ODIs we’re at number (nine) and in T20 we’re at number (seven) and therefore there is not a lot to shout about as to who is selected. For me, it doesn’t matter.

“I want to see performances.

Having been invited to sit as a selector by the BCA, I said from the beginning that my first criterion for selecting a player has to be performance and that then is followed by behaviour, attitude and ambition, but the number

Hamilton calls for impartial stewards

SEVEN-TIME world champion Lewis Hamilton called on Formula One to bring in “non-biased” race stewards, saying friendships between some of them and certain drivers had influenced their decision-making.

The Briton, who said he had lost faith in the sport’s governance following the controversial safety car call in last year’s Abu Dhabi finale that denied him an unprecedented eighth title, did not name any stewards or driver.

He also did not specify any incidents where a biased decision had gone against him.

“Race drivers, some are very, very good friends with certain individuals, some travel with certain individuals and tend to take a keener liking to some of them,” the 37-year-old told a news conference on the opening day of pre-season running in Barcelona on Wednesday.

“So I think (F1 should appoint) just people … that have just no bias and (are) super central when it comes to making decisions,” said the Briton, adding he would also like to see greater female representation among the stewards.

Formula One races are policed by a rotating panel of stewards whose responsibility it is to rule on incidents during the race, which include the handing out of penalties.

The Abu Dhabi safety car restart was the result of a call taken by race director Michael Masi,

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who has been replaced as part of a wide-ranging overhaul of F1’s refereeing process unveiled by newly-elected FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem last week.

The Emirati said Masi’s role would now be split between the two alternating race directors while a VAR-style virtual race control room would be set up to support them.

But there have been numerous complaints about an inconsistency in how stewards have applied the rules, especially those governing wheel-to-wheel racing, which have grown louder with Hamilton’s on-track battles against Red Bull rival Max Verstappen drawing so much scrutiny.

Hamilton’s comments were in response to a question about whether the ambiguity surrounding the racing rules could be addressed by the new structure.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff called for professionalism in the stewards’ room.

“I don’t think there is a conscious bias, to be honest,” said the Austrian.

“There shouldn’t be a lot of room to interpret the rules.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner agreed, “You’ve got very complicated regulations that then leave room for interpretation.

“So you need clear rules which are then easier to police.” (BBC)

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one criterion is performance.

“We see a whole list of names and we have seen these names before. John Campbell is back … mark you, he batted very, very well in the first innings of the Barbados game and again he wasn’t able to produce that in

the second innings when (Jamaica needed) it most.”

There were no major surprises in the West Indies squad which will be led again by opener Kraigg Brathwaite, the only new face being 25-year-old Trinidadian fast bowler Anderson

Phillip who played a single ODI against Sri Lanka last March.

Familiar faces like Roston Chase, Shai Hope, Shannon Gabriel, Rahkeem Cornwall and Jomel Warrican have all been dropped.

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Kishan fires India to big win over Sri Lanka in first T20I

HALF-centuries by Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer set India on the way to a 62-run hammering of Sri Lanka in their first Twenty20 international match in Lucknow.

Kishan struck 89 off 56 balls yesterday, and Iyer was unbeaten on 57 off 28 balls as India posted 199-2 after being made to bat first.

In reply, Sri Lanka were reduced to 60-5 by the 11th over and were eventually restricted to 137-6. Never at any point did they look to be in the hunt for victory.

India received a brilliant start from an opening stand of 111 by Kishan and Rohit Sharma, the skipper scoring 44 off 32 balls, including two fours and a six.

Kishan provided the real fireworks by smashing 10 fours and three sixes, taking advantage of being dropped on 43.

India raced to 50 off 32 balls, with Kishan bringing up his second T20 half-century off 30 deliveries.

"I got to learn a lot from the West Indies' series. My

intent wasn't good enough and I wasn't positive enough," Kishan said. "Today I batted with a different mindset."

The opening pair's 100run stand came off 62 deliveries before Lahiru Kumara bowled Rohit.

Kishan suffered from cramps and slowed down until holing out in the 17th over.

In the meantime, Iyer got going and made up for lost time in the last three overs.

He hit 40 runs off the last 14 deliveries he faced and raced to a fourth half-century, hit-

ting five fours and two sixes in all.

Chasing 200 for victory, Sri Lanka were stymied from the start as Bhuvneshwar Kumar accounted for both openers to leave the visitors at 15-2.

Venkatesh Iyer took 2-36 in three overs, and Ravindra Jadeja and Yuzvendra Chahal took a wicket each.

Worryingly for Sri Lanka, only Jadeja used up his allotted four overs.

Charith Asalanka led Sri Lanka with a sedate 53 off

Ishan Kishan struck 89 off 56 balls

47 balls, including five fours.

He received late support from Chamika Karunaratne (21) and Dushmantha Chameera (24 not out) to push the score past 100.

"We were really poor in all three departments," Sri Lanka skipper Dasun

Shanaka conceded. "They batted beautifully, read the game and conditions really well. We are without two front-line spinners. The replacements aren't really experienced. Asalanka was the only positive from this game.”

BCB gearing up for 2022 Brian Ramphal Award ceremony … CWI boss Skerritt set to be guest speaker

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is preparing to host its annual Brian Ramphal Award ceremony in April 2022, with Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Ricky Skerritt set to be the guest speaker.

The board, as part of its transparency policy would like to invite the cricketing public of Berbice to submit nominees for the awards: Information regarding the nominees must be done before March 20 and must be dropped off to the secretary at the board’s office, located in Charlotte Street, New Amsterdam.

This year’s categories feature a few usual, popular awards such as; Female Cricketer-of-the-Year, Male Cricketer-of-the-Year,

CWI president Ricky Skerritt

Male Disciplined Player-ofthe-Year 2021, Female Disciplined Player-of-the-Year 2021, Most Improved Junior Player Male 2021, Most Improved Junior Player Female 2021, Umpire-of-the-Year 2021 and

Most Improved Club-of-the-Year with nominees -West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne.

Also any club official, who has worked beyond the call of duty to make a positive difference in cricket areas, will also be considered and should be recommended to be honoured under our Tribute to Club Officials programme.

This person should have served for close to ten years, is dedicated and has assisted in the development of the game.

A maximum of ten persons would be honoured as we strive to make sure that every hero/ heroine is recognised and honoured.

Kaur hits half-century as India Women win to avoid whitewash

QUEENSTOWN: Harmanpreet Kaur struck a much-needed half-century to get back among the runs as the Indian women's cricket team finally managed to beat New Zealand in the series-ending fifth ODI for a consolatory six-wicket win here yesterday.

The Indian bowlers, who under-performed prior to the game, finally got their act together to limit New Zealand to 251 for nine in 50 overs.

India chased the down the target in 46 overs courtesy Harmanpreet's 63 off 66 balls and Smriti Mandhana's 71 off 84 balls. Skipper Mithali Raj remained unbeaten on 57 off 66 balls.

Having lost the one-off T20 and first four ODIs, India badly needed a win to gain some momentum going into the ODI World Cup next month.

Harmanpreet Kaur scored her first fifty in close to 12 months (Photo: @BCCIWomen Twitter)

The spinners, who struggled to provide the breakthroughs, shared seven wickets among themselves yesterday.

Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Sneh Rana took two wickets each while pacer Meghna Singh too was impressive in the five overs she bowled.

Star batter Mandhana, who had missed the first three ODIs and the T20 due to an extended stay in quarantine, also got

some valuable time in the middle.

The ICC Women's Cricketer-of-the-Year collected nine fours in her 84-ball effort. Harmanpreet must be relieved after scoring her first 50 in close to 12 months.

She was dropped from the previous game after a prolonged lean patch and came under heavy criticism from forTURN TO PAGE 25

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

UKRAINE CRISIS..

UEFA to move Champions League final after Russian invasion

UEFA will take the 2022 Champions League final away from St Petersburg following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The decision will be made at today’s emergency meeting of European football's governing body.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on Thursday.

The Champions League final was set to be played at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on 28 May. What about Russia and Ukraine's World Cup play-off games?

Russia and Ukraine are both scheduled to play World Cup play-off matches in March, and Fifa said it would

monitor the situation.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says football's world governing body has "a duty to look into the footballing consequences of what is happening".

"FIFA condemns the use of force by Russia in Ukraine and any type of violence to resolve conflicts. Violence is never a solution and Fifa calls on all parties to restore peace through constructive dialogue," Infantino said.

Russia are set to play Poland on 24 March, while Scotland host Ukraine on the same day.

Ukraine's domestic football league was set to resume this weekend after a winter break, but will remain suspended. Fifteen of the most

recent 23-man Ukraine squad play in their homeland.

Sweden are also in the play-offs where they will meet the Czech Republic.

The winner of that tie could meet Russia for a place at the World Cup finals, which get under way in Qatar in November - if Russia win their semi-final. Karl-Erik Nilsson, the chairman of the Swedish Football Association, told Reuters a match in Russia was "almost unthinkable" at the moment.

Later yesterday, a joint statement was issued by the Polish, Czech and Swedish FAs telling Fifa that the play-off matches should not be played in Russia, asking for "immediate action" for alternative locations.

FIFA president Infantino said the letter will be looked at "as a matter of urgency" and added that it can "take a decision at any time".

Champions League venue change for third year running The Champions League final was set to be played at the Gazprom Arena in Putin's home city of St Petersburg on 28 May, but Uefa has known an escalation in the situation between Russia and Ukraine would make it impossible to stage the match, reports BBC's Simon Stone.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has now called an emergency executive committee meeting for Friday, when the decision will be confirmed.

FIFA president Gianni Infantiono

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin

UEFA is in the process of evaluating alternatives but is now committed to changing the venue of its most prestigious club game at short notice for the third year running.

Zenit St Petersburg's Europa League game on Thursday in Spain against Real Betis went ahead, with Zenit going out, losing 3-2 on aggregate.

In Ukraine, football at all levels has been suspended and the Ukrainian FA has said it will appeal to prevent

any Russian national or club teams participating in "any international competitions under the auspices of FIFA and UEFA".

UEFA later said it "shared the international community's concern" for Ukraine.

"We remain resolute in our solidarity with the football community in Ukraine and stand ready to extend our hand to the Ukrainian people," UEFA said in a statement.(BBC Sport).

Sophie Devine hopes to emulate heroes of 2000 by winning World Cup at home IT is the honour of a lifetime to be captaining New Zealand as we host the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, and leading my side out for the first game will be an experience I will never forget and an opportunity I never thought I would have had.

I’ve been fortunate to play across a number of World Cups and know just how special each tournament is. Playing in New Zealand is massive for us as a team; we’ve spoken at length about how privileged and grateful we are to be playing at home particularly in the world we live in at the current time.

Looking back, it was an incredible achievement from the 2000 White Ferns to win the World Cup at home. It certainly inspired several players in our current team, and we hope we can also inspire a new gen-

South Africa Women captain Sophie Devine

eration of cricketers both at home and around the world.

We all know it’s not every day you get to play a marquee tournament in your own backyard. It will

be great to showcase our incredible culture and country – we can’t wait to welcome all the teams to Aotearoa.

We are very grateful to all the teams for making sacrifices to join us for what will hopefully be an exciting and hard-fought tournament.

It has been a tough time for everyone over the past couple of years and this World Cup is a chance for us to put a smile on people’s faces and unite fans around the world in the sport we love.

Playing at home does come with added pressure and responsibility but knowing the country is behind us and will be supporting us is a great motivation. The White Ferns will definitely be feeding off the infectious energy of our fans and, hopefully, it can give us an edge over the other teams.

This tournament will break new ground for women’s cricket; firstly, as Bangladesh become the 12th team to compete in an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. I am looking forward to coming up against Nigar Sultana and her team. We were really impressed when we played them for the first time at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020 and I am sure they will put up just as much of a fight in the 50-over format.

Bangladesh and Thailand show how the women's game is continuing to grow, and the importance of the ICC Women's Championship, which I am happy to see expand to 10 teams.

I see us playing an important role in ensuring that we grow the game. Having stronger teams and more competitive cricket can only

Kaur hits half...

Former Aussie stumper Rod Marsh in critical condition after heart attack FORMER Australia wicketkeeper Rod Marsh is in a critical condition after suffering a heart attack.

The 74-year-old effected 355 dismissals in 96 Test appearances for Australia.

Marsh also played 92 oneday internationals before retiring in 1984 and served as Australia men's chairman of selectors until 2016.

"Rod is an influential fig-

ure in Australian cricket and has been so for more than 50 years," the Australian Cricketers Association said.

Marsh reportedly fell ill while on his way to a charity cricket match in Queensland.

He is third on Australia's all-time dismissals list behind Adam Gilchrist with 416 and Ian Healy's 395 and his tally of 355 dismissals was a world record at the time of his

retirement.

Marsh was also a selector for the England men's team and director of the England and Wales Cricket Board's academy from 2001 to 2004.

"We are very concerned to hear the news about Rod and send him our best wishes," Nick Hockley, chief executive of Cricket Australia, said.

"Rod is one of the most iconic and popular figures

be a positive thing for the women’s game.

The coming year is huge for women's cricket as it makes its debut at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July-August and with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled for early next year in South Africa.

It is super exciting to kick off a huge period for women’s cricket and we want to put performances out there that both ourselves and the country can be proud of. (ICC Media) FROM PAGE 24

Former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh played 96 Tests for Australia between 1970 and 1984

in the game, we thank and acknowledge those who are caring for him." (BBC Sport)

mer players including ex-captain Diana Edulji. Kaur used the sweep shot effectively to collect a bunch of boundaries before using a pull shot to reach the half-century.

The Indian team need to be consistent with performances like they put on yesterday, if they are to challenge for the world title.

"We have improved over the last few games we have played; that's a good sign before the World Cup. (It) was important to have the right

preparation before the big tournament. Unfortunately we couldn't get the camps in India due to the rising Omicron cases," said Mithali in the postmatch presentation.

"The wicket seemed batting-friendly, but the bowlers did well today.

“Something that we need to work more on is our fielding. When I retire after this tournament, I will see that the squad is far stronger with the upcoming new talent," she added. (Times of India)

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

England Test captain Joe Root 'grateful' to still be in role for West Indies tour

JOE Root says he is "very grateful" to still be England Test captain after his side's heavy Ashes defeat in Australia.

Head coach Chris Silverwood, director of cricket Ashley Giles and assistant coach Graham Thorpe all left their roles after the 4-0 loss this winter.

Root kept his job and will lead England in a three-Test tour of the West Indies next month.

The batter said he "didn't waver" in his belief that he is the right person to captain England.

"It was clearly a disappointing tour of Australia and we massively underperformed, but we've got to use this opportunity for a fresh start," said Root.

"I'm very grateful that I've got the opportunity to do that as captain."

England are bottom of the World Test Championship rankings and have only won once in their last 14 Tests.

They are looking to become only the second England side since 1968 to win a Test series in the Caribbean.

The first Test in Antigua starts

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed Joe Root would continue as Test captain in February

on March 8.

"We're looking to make a big difference and turn things around very quickly," added Root. We're not currently one of the best teams in the world but that can be our ambition and we can make quick strides in getting closer to that."

OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS WITHOUT ANDERSON & BROAD Under interim managing direc-

tor Andrew Strauss, England have dropped James Anderson and Stuart Broad, their top two leading Test wicket-takers, for the West Indies tour.

Anderson said the decision was a "shock" and he is "praying" his international career is not over, while Broad said it had left him "confused and angrier with each passing day".

Root, who does not have a selection vote, said both could be "in the mix" for selection this summer, with England starting their home season against world champions New Zealand on June 2.

"I've spoken to both and they are obviously disappointed and angry, you'd expect that," said Root.

"It's been made very clear - noone is saying this is the end for them and it would be great to see Stuart and Jimmy very much in the mix at the start of the summer.

"The guys who are on the tour have got a real opportunity to step in to some different roles and strengthen what could be the backbone of this team moving forward."

Root said he hoped the likes of

seamer Chris Woakes and fast bowler Mark Wood will learn a lot from the opportunity to take the new ball in away conditions in the absence of Anderson and Broad.

"We could come away from this tour as victors and we've also gained a lot of knowledge on other players," he added. "Then there are Jimmy and Broady to add back into things this summer and we're in a really strong position.

"I don't want this to sound like it's a development tour, it's not. It's about winning. But we've got an opportunity for those guys to step into that space and better this team for it."

Root would not be drawn on whether he agreed with the decision to leave out Anderson and Broad, adding: "I don't think we should have to air every single bit of information on decisions like this.

"We've sometimes been slightly too honest about certain things and some things should stay in the room - and that's the case in this scenario."

ROOT 'EXCITED' ABOUT MOVING TO NO.3

Wins for Barbados, Suriname, St Kitts, Bermuda in CONCACAF Women’s qualifiers

MIAMI, Florida (CMC) – The February window of 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Qualifying closed on Tuesday with Barbados, Suriname, St Kitts and Nevis, and Bermuda collecting their first victories of the campaign.

In one of the most exciting matches of the day, Barbados held off a very tough Aruba side 3-1 in the Dominican Republic for their first win in Group D. Soraya Toppin-Herbert had Barbados out in front early, 1-0, in the fourth minute and Rianna Cyrus doubled the advantage to 2-0 in the 34th, but Aruba refused to give in and managed to pull a goal back in the 68th minute from Vanessa Susanna.

Aruba pushed for an equaliser in hopes of garnering a point, but Barbados would get an insurance score in the 90th minute through Cheyanna Burnett-Griffith to complete the

3-1 scoreline.

Despite suffering two defeats in the window, Aruba scored a goal in each game, having found the back of the net in their previous match versus El Salvador (7-1).

Suriname also have their first three points in Group A following a 5-0 victory over Anguilla in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Van Ommermen Ravelcheny led the way with a hat-trick (25th, 38th, 49th), while Andaya Lantveld (57th) and Amy Banarsie (61st) also contributed goals.

St Kitts and Nevis put on a show in Group B, emerging with a 5-1 win over Curacao in the Dominican Republic.

It was a heart-stopping start to the action, with three goals in the first seven minutes.

Ellie Stokes had St Kitts and Nevis ahead 1-0, in the second minute, only for Curacao to level through Taisha Hansen three minutes later. But St. Kitts and CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Nevis came back in the (Friday February 25, 2022) seventh minute with Phoenetia Browne givCOMPLIMENTS OF ing her side a lead they CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD would not relinquish.

83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown Brittney Lawrence (Tel: 225-6158) then bagged a brace (23th, 56th) and Jahzara Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Claxton put the finish(1) Harshal Patel-5 wickets ing touch on the victory in the 90+3 with a goal (2) Roston Chase-6 wickets for the 5-1 final.

In a match played Today’s Quiz: at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, (1) Who top-scored for IND in the recent T20 Bermuda bounced back Int’l series against the WI? from their 4-0 opening loss to Jamaica with a (2) Who made the highest score for the WI? 6-0 win over Cayman Answers in tomorrow’s issue Islands in Group B.

Rianna Cyrus of Barbados takes a shot during the match against Aruba. (Photo: CONCACAF/Straffon, Images, Miguel/Gutierrez)

Three players accounted for the six goals, with Nia Christopher (25th, 40th, 55th) scoring a hat trick, Leilanni Nesbeth (8th, 90+3th) collecting a brace and Keunna Dill (66th) also finding the scoresheet.

“I sat on a cooler on the side and just enjoyed watching these young ladies play football, which is where we need to be,” Bermuda coach Naquita Robinson said afterwards.

“Now we go to the Dominican Republic next. On paper, everyone has them as the second best team in the group but we go into that game full of confidence.”

Robinson added: “If we put the performance against Jamaica and tonight’s performance together, I think we’ll have another great showing against the Dominican Republic Turks and Caicos Islands were demolished 19-0 by Nicaragua in the Group F contest in Managua.

Honduras have three points under their belt in Group E after posting a 4-0 win versus British Virgin Islands in San Pedro Sula. Despite the loss, it was an outstanding defensive improvement for the BVI from their previous encounter when they lost to Cuba 14-0.

Despite England's struggles, Root scored 1 708 runs in 2021 - the third most in a calendar year in Test history - as well as making six centuries.

He said his performances last year had given him the confidence to move up to number three in the batting order, having previously expressed his preference for batting at four.

Root averages 38.66 in 53 innings, with two centuries, at three - compared to 51.27 in 106 innings, with 14 tons, at his usual position of four.

"I'm very comfortable in the way I've been playing over the last year and it's the right fit for this team," he said.

"This is the first time batting at three has really sat comfortably with me and it's the first time I've been really excited and not slightly apprehensive about it.

"I'm more confident and have a lot more clarity in how I'm scoring my runs - that doesn't guarantee me success, but I'm very motivated for it and I feel readier for it now."

(BBC Sport)

England set to arrive as preparations for Test series intensify

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – England were scheduled to arrive here later yesterday to begin final preparations for their three-Test series against West Indies.

The tourists, who will be led by batting star Joe Root, will take on a Cricket West Indies President’s XI in a four-day game at Coolidge Cricket Ground starting next Tuesday, in their only competitive game before the first Test bowls off March 8.

The Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium will play host to the opener before the series moves to Kensington Oval in Bridgetown for the second Test from March 16 to 20.

Grenada’s National Stadium will be the venue for the final Test which bowls off March 24.

CWI operations manager, Roland Holder, said preparations for the series were at an advanced stage and expected organisers to be ready in time for the opening Test.

“You’re hearing the ads on the radio and there are a lot of giveaways (and) the ground-staff are busy at work,” Holder said.

“There’s quite a bit of interest both in the President’s XI match and the Test match so it (preparation) is beginning to get there.

“It’s still a little bit early … we’re still two weeks away

roughly from the first Test and we anticipate … the atmosphere becoming more and more charged in the buildup to the Richards-Botham Trophy.”

Speaking on Starcom Radio’s Mason and Guests in Barbados, Holder said the Antigua and Barbuda government had also not capped numbers for the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, allowing for a possible full house for the opener.

West Indies were forced to play behind closed doors at the same venue last March when Sri Lanka toured the Caribbean for two Tests, in what was the first Test series to be staged in the region since the start of the pandemic.

Grenada, which hosted the five-match T20 International series between West Indies and South Africa last year where only fully vaccinated fans were allowed in, is also not expected to place a cap on numbers.

Barbados health authorities, meanwhile, have indicated a cap of 80 per cent capacity of the stadium there, after allowing 50 per cent for last month’s five-match T20 series against England.

Only fully vaccinated fans will be allowed to purchase tickets for the series. West Indies announced their 13-man squad earlier this week for the first Test.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

Sports Minister Powell praises CPL tournament impact on St Kitts

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Sports Minister Jonel Powell has hailed St Kitts and Nevis as the ideal sports-tourism destination after Caribbean Premier League (CPL) organisers measured the economic value of last year’s tournament to the island state at US$88.6 million.

For the first time in its history, St Kitts was the sole host of the popular Twenty20 franchise tournament, staging 33 games between August 5 and September 15 at the country’s premier venue Warner Park.

According to CPL organisers, the figure represented a combination of organiser spend, visitor spend and sponsorship value. The total economic impact value for the country was meanwhile measured at US$8.9 million, with the direct spend standing at US$3.3 million.“I am very pleased with the data, in particular the direct

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots celebrate their capture of the 2021 title

spend into our economy and the local employment at what has been a very difficult time financially,” said Powell, who also holds portfolios for Education, Youth Empowerment and Culture.

“The exposure that our Federation has received to over 500 million

viewers is of tremendous value, it is our hope that the world now knows St Kitts and Nevis as not just a fantastic destination for (rest and relaxation) but also a great destination for sport tourism.

“We truly value our partnership with the CPL and look forward to

Outpouring of mourning for Guyanese cricket administrator

THERE was an outpouring of mourning at the Ajax Crematorium and Visitation Centre, Ontario on Wednesday as hundreds gathered to pay their final respects to the revered cricket administrator and former player Jainauth ‘Vish’ Jadunauth.

Jadunauth, who passed away last Saturday, following a brief illness, was described as an administrator par excellence. He would have celebrated his 61st birth anniversary on March 11.

In a moving eulogy, niece Nadia Jadunauth told the packed audience that her uncle will surely be missed, not only by his close relatives and friends but by the cricket fraternity as a whole.

According to Nadia, Vish was an uncle with lots of love and it was unbelievable that he had left us so soon, positing that the cricket fraternity in Ontario had lost an icon, Nadia said Vish manifested true humanity the way he lived his life.

Vish’s brother Dennis related how the deceased embraced the game of cricket from a very young age and it came as no surprise to him that he was

Present and former cricketers plus well wishers form a bat arch to pay their last respects to Jadunauth

involved at the administrative levels in both hardball and softball cricket and as a qualified West Indies-trained umpire.

Glowing tributes were also paid at Tuesday night’s viewing at the same venue with Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) president Shiv Persaud stressing that Vish’s death has been a tremendous loss to the association.

According to Persaud, apart from Vish’s excellent job as the SCA’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), he was instrumental and dedicated to the uplifting of youths, not only in the SCA but also as the Junior Coordinator of Cricket Ontario.

“Vish’s untimely and unexpected passing has left family, friends and the cricketing fraternity in shock. He was a tower of

strength in the SCA over the past 20 years.

“Vish was such an inspiration and although words will not take away the grief, we hope this message brings comfort at this time.

“Our sincere condolences are with his wife and family during this time. He was an incredible man and we feel his loss deeply,” Persaud disclosed.

Good friend and associate Albert Ramcharran said Vish had a heart of gold “and I say this with a heavy heart”.

“Myself and Vish had been friends for more than 30 years and we travelled frequently to several countries including the UAE and India, accompanied by our wives. I still have memories of us attending the 2007 World Cup in Guyana and

international matches in Florida,” Ramcharran disclosed.

“Vish will always remain in my heart as a true, trusted and dependable friend whose generosity was unmatched.

“I have no doubt that his legacy will live on as an example to future generations. I thank him for his remarkable contributions not only to the game of cricket but also to life as a whole.

“As president of the Canada Cricket Umpires Association of which Vish was the treasurer, we will miss your outstanding and dedicated service beyond the call of duty.”

At the time of his death, Jadunauth was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the SCA, Treasurer of the Canada Cricket Umpires Association and Junior Coordinator of Cricket. He was also a founding member of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) and served in various executive positions, including Coordinator before exiting in 2019.

The funeral ceremony was conducted along Hindu rites. He leaves to mourn his wife Sandra, a brother and two sisters.

(Frederick Halley)

developing new opportunities that we can share together.”

For the second straight year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the CPL tournament was staged in a single country, with Trinidad and Tobago playing hosts in 2020.

St Kitts hosted five matches of the 2019 showpiece which CPL at the time said created an economic impact of US$22.3 million.

The home base of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots ironically lifted their first-ever title last year. The country also put on matches in previous seasons, hosting the final in 2014 and 2016.

CPL’s chief executive, Pete Russell, praised the St Kitts and Nevis government for its commitment to the tournament.

“We are hugely grateful to everyone in St Kitts & Nevis who made the

2021 tournament possible, especially the Government who backed CPL to deliver another world-class event,” he said.

“Special thanks to the Honourable Jonel Powell and his team who left no stone unturned in ensuring we had a safe and successful tournament.

“We are delighted that St Kitts & Nevis were rewarded with these fantastic numbers, and of course a winners’ trophy.”

Quoting the data compiled by research company YouGov Sport, CPL said the tournament also generated a sponsorship value of US$79.7 million for St Kitts and Nevis – the most ever received by a host country.

The total viewership for last year’s tournament was rated at just over 517 million, surpassing the half-billion mark for the second straight year.

T20 World Cup Qualifier

Ireland lose to UAE after both teams qualify for T20 World Cup

IRELAND were beaten by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by seven wickets in the final of the T20 World Cup Qualifier in Oman.

Both teams had already qualified for the World Cup in Australia later this year by winning their semi-finals.

Ireland were all out for 159 in their 20 overs, Harry Tector top-scoring with 50 and Shane Getkate contributing 30.

Opener Waseem Muhammad shone as the UAE reached 160-3 with eight balls to spare, hitting 112 off 66 balls, including eight sixes and seven fours.

Ireland beat Oman by 56 runs in their semi-final on Tuesday, while the UAE defeated Nepal by 68 runs.

As a result of their defeat by UAE, Ireland will enter the first round group stage of the T20 World Cup in October facing West Indies, Scotland and one further qualifier, to be confirmed in June, in Group B. Two from that group will move to the Super 12s stage of the tournament.

Earlier in the day, Irish skipper Andrew Balbirnie won the toss and decided to bat first, but despite a burst of 11 runs from the first over, Balbirnie and opening partner Paul Stirling were soon back in the pavilion, with Gareth Delany falling in-between.

That left Ireland struggling at 19-3 in the fourth over but Tector and Lorcan Tucker (20) helped stabilise the innings with a 43-run stand.

After Andy McBrine and Simi Singh came and went cheaply, Shane Getkate joined Tector and the pair put on 55 for the seventh wicket from just 36 balls.

Getkate surpassed his previous

highest T20 international innings of 24 with a mighty blow over the mid-wicket boundary, but fell soon after, bowled by a leg-cutter from Zahoor Khan.

Tector brought up his second T20I half-century from just 36 balls, but after reaching 50 the in-form right-hander fell to a diving catch in the outfield by Basil Hameed.

Mark Adair (20 from 15 balls) and Barry McCarthy (15 from six) added late runs but the Irish were unable to defend their total, with Muhammad racking up his century and Rohan Mustafa contributing 37.

Josh Little was the pick of the Irish bowlers with 2-17 off four overs, with McBrine eventually claiming the wicket of Muhammad after he had spent 84 minutes at the crease.

'UAE PROBABLY BEST SIDE IN TOURNAMENT' Balbirnie said: "We're disappointed, but UAE were probably the best side in the tournament, so congratulations to Ahmed and his squad. We had a good powerplay with the ball, but when someone scores a century striking at nearly 200 it's hard to stop. That was the difference.

"There's a lot of pleasing aspects of how the week has gone, we obviously qualified for the World Cup, which was the main aim - when you play a final you want to win the trophy, but the better side won today.

"We're really looking forward to going to Australia, it's a great place to tour - a few of us have been there before. We're excited by that challenge and hopefully we have a big summer ahead. (BBC Sport)

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 25, 2022

DDL Brand Manager, Larry Wills, presents his company’s cheque to GBA vice-president Marissa Parris. Also in the photo are GBA executive member Seon Bristol and GBA president Steve Ninvalle

Pepsi/Mike Parris U16 championship marks the return of boxing

DOWN on the canvas since the advent of COVID-19, amateur boxing is set to make a return this weekend when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) hosts its Pepsi-sponsored Mike Parris National U-16 Boxing tournament.

Set for the Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown, the event will see over 40 young boxers ‘punching’ things out for trophies and medals.

Steve Ninvalle, GBA president, said the hosting of the 11th edition of the grassroots championships is the perfect way to see the return of boxing for the first time since February 15, 2020.

With the GBA shifting most of its attention to youth participants of the sport, Ninvalle said, “The nursery programme is the foundation for us and that is where we will be placing

much of our emphasis this year and going forward. We think it is better if we have plans that can take us not just for tomorrow or the next week but plans that will take us into the next five years and beyond.”

Ninvalle also lauded Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) for showing faith in the GBA through its Pepsi brand.

GBA’s first vice-president, Marissa Parris, reiterated Ninvalle’s sentiments while calling on DDL to continue its partnership in the years to come.

Meanwhile, DDL’s Brand Manager, Larry Wills, not only expressed Pepsi’s delight at returning as the tournament’s main sponsor but also pledged thei entity’s continued support towards the development of amateur boxing in Guyana.

‘Not looking at a side that will win anything’: Carlisle Best BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Former Test batter Carlisle Best has slammed the “production records” of West Indies batters and believes the Caribbean side’s results will continue to struggle as long as there is no change in performance levels from players.

The 62-year-old, who played eight Tests and 24 One-Day Internationals between 1986 and 1990, said players were only doing enough to be selected for the Left-handed opener John Campbell Test series and this was leading recalled following century against to continued downward spiral for Barbados Pride

West Indies across all formats.

“So invariably you’re not looking at a side that will win anything – that’s my view – because the production record of our players in terms of performances, is nothing to argue about,” said Best, who also sits on the Barbados Cricket Association’s selection panel.

“I’m happy … chief selector the Most Honourable Desmond Haynes was able to come up with a team but quite frankly in my view, (John) Campbell or TURN TO PAGE 23

Formula One seventime world champion Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton calls for impartial stewards PAGE

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Sports Minister Powell praises 27 CPL tournament impact on St Kitts PAGE

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022