3rd S eptember, 2022 SATURDAY No.106834 PAGE 04 $100PRICEVATINCLUSIVE ' PAGE 02 PAGE 16 US$20M petroleum training facility launched –– PM says strengthening human resource capacity imperative for country’s development PAGE 03 Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag and Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips assist this child in cutting the ceremonial ribbon to officially launch the US$20M 3T EnerMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, as Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony (left); Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud (second left); Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill (second right); Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat (right) and others look on (Office of the Prime Minister photo) ‘Be responsible, stay safe’, Health Minister advises public ahead of Cricket Carnival Big boost for craftsmen and women as Heritage Month celebrations return PAGE 12 NTC Secretariat building ahead of scheduled completion drownedfearedlightningstruckFishermanbyPAGE 08 JagdeonotlawsuitthreatAlexander’sofwillmuzzle –– Vice-President’s lawyer responds to Alexander’s attorney
VICE-President Dr . Bharrat Jagdeo is con tending that he exercised his right to fair comments in remarks he made about Chairman of the Interna tional Decade for People of African Descent Guyana , Vincent Alexander, during a press conference that was held in August. Responding to allega tions of defamation by Al exander, Dr Jagdeo, through his lawyer, C V Satram, in a letter defended the comments made by the Vice President where he questioned the management of the IDPA DA G , and called on the members of the organisation to explain how Afro Guy anese have benefitted from the $468.438 million that it has received from the Gov ernment Satram’s letter was sent to Attorney for Alexan der, Eusi AccordingAndersontoreports, Al exander , through a letter dispatched by Anderson , contended that Dr Jagdeo defamed Alexander by false ly and erroneously claiming that he ran IDPADA G for personal gain, advancement andHoweverbenefit, Satram, in his letter , explained that Dr Jagdeo , in his capacity as Vice President, General Sec retary of the People’s Pro gressive Party Civic (PPPC), a Member of Parliament and a member of the Cabinet has an integral duty in ensuring that allocated public funds are expended in a fair, trans parent manner “ My client is not only duty bound, but the public expects him to expose, high light and denounce wrongdo ings of every type, including but not limited to wastage, misuse and abuse of public funds, and its expenditures in a manner that is neither accountable nor transparent My client does so by various methods , including in his speeches in the National Assembly, in interviews with the press, and at press confer ences,” Satram stated Created in 2018, the ID PADA G , in the national budget, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, received $68.438 million in 2018 and $ 100 million in each successive year, includ ing the 2020, 2021 and 2022 budgets under the PPP / C GovernmentIDAPA G was created as the local coordinating mechanism for activities under the United Nations res olution dedicating a decade (2015 – 2024) to addressing the challenges confronting people of African Descent globally The organisation is registered as a private limited liability company, of which Alexander is among eight individuals listed as the “beneficial owners”. During the press confer ence in August, Dr. Jagdeo had revealed that IDPA DA G has never submitted a work plan to the Minis try of Culture, Youth and Sports, while the last finan cial statement submitted by the organisation for 2020 shows a significant portion of the budgeted funds going to overhead expenses, with less than $ 500,000 going to direct disbursements to asked,”posedcommentsdisclosures,whenmatterhissaidGuyanese.FAIRCOMMENT“Myclient,inhisaforecapacities,wasexercisingrighttofaircommentonaofpublicimportancehemadetheaforesaidprofferedthewhichhedidandthequestionswhichheSatramposited.
2 GUYANA CHRONICLE S aturday, September 3, 2022
St George’s High fire electrical in origin
“I specifically deny that the use of the term “ para sites ” by my client in the context in which it was used relates to your client, person ally, as you have insinuated, but was used in the context of half billion dollars being spent by a representative or ganisation and its leadership with corresponding little reaching the real beneficia ries in whose interest and for whose use and benefit the monies were disbursed, whereby the bulk of the mon ies were expended by the organisation itself to pay salaries and operational ex penses.” In ending, Satram noted that any legal proceedings in stituted would be vigorously defended. “The threat of litigation will not deter my client from exposing and con demning misuse of public funds whenever it surfac es,” Satram said.
“These items should be examined on a regular basis to ensure they are in proper working order. Citizens are also advised to equip their homes and businesses with fire extin guishers and smoke detectors for the early detection and extinction of fires,” the state ment said. Some 421 students have been displaced when a fire ravished the St George’s High School on Church Street. The fire was the third such fire at a secondary school in less than two years. The North Rui mveldt Multilateral School, in Georgetown, went up in flames in June 2021, while the Mabaruma Secondary School, in Region One, was also de stroyed by a fire in September. Education Minister, Priya Manickchand had called the fire at St George’s High an extremely big loss. Measures have since been put in place to relocate the affected students. As pertains to whether the ministry will be rebuild ing the school on location, Manickchand had explained it would depend on several factors, particularly because the land that the school was located on is not owned by the Ministry of Education. The land is owned by the Anglican Church.
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IDPADA-G Chairman Vincent Alexander
ference, while reading from IDPADA G’s 2020 financial statement , Dr Jagdeo had revealed that of the $100 M allocated to the Assembly for that year, records show that IDPADA G spent $42M on salaries and allowances, $ 4.5M on conference ex penses, $2.8M on travelling and transportation, $2M on advertisement, $9M on office material and expenses, $5M on building rental and utili ties, while a mere $343,000 was expended in disburse ment of grant funding to Afro GuyaneseItwas based on this questionable disbursement, Satram noted , that Jagdeo posed the rhetorical question: “ Doesn ’ t this country see that these parasites are using Afro Guyanese for their own personal benefits?”
In a statement released on Friday, the GFS noted that it had completed its investiga tion into the fire. “Based on our findings, the fire was electrical in na ture and stemmed from an inoperable duplex receptacle located in the Social Studies Department on the North Eastern wall of the building. “Though inoperable, electricity was going to the duplex receptacle and the subsequent overheating of the insulation caused the plastic coating on the wire to melt, resulting in arcing and sparking which ignited near by combustibles and spread to the entire building,” the GFS reported.
Alexander’s threat of lawsuit will not muzzle Jagdeo
The GFS further called on citizens to ensure electrical appliances, outlets and wiring are of the correct standard as advised by the Guyana Na tional Bureau of Standards (GNBS).
Dr.Vice-PresidentBharratJagdeo
The St George’s High School after the fire
He further explained that: “Those publications of my client are therefore fair com ment on a matter of public interest, which comments are grounded in facts and sub stance, and do not constitute any libel as alleged or at all.” Fair comment is a legal term whereby a comment or criticism is made without malicious intent and based on accurate information or observationDuring the press con
Vice-President’s lawyer responds to Alexander’s attorney
THE Guyana Fire Ser vice (GFS) has determined that the July 20 fire that destroyed the St George’s High School was electrical in origin. It was due to a nonfunctioning electrical outlet at the school.
“In the circumstances and context in which my client spoke, he did not libel your client as you have alleged or at all.
IDPADA-G is in fact and in substance, a private limited liability company of which your client is a beneficial own er,” Satram explained.
The senior government official added that the “ben efit of strong partnerships can never be understated for these are the binds that allow goals that may other wise seem unattainable to be achieved”.Hesaidthat the Gov ernment would collaborate with 3t EnerMech to offer a blended technical and voca tional training programme for Guyanese interested in careers in the oil and gas industry through the Guy ana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).
“Our Government has continually engaged in the training of our workforce to be able to occupy positions in the oil and gas sector and contribute to the building of this sector, which extends to the development of Guy ana. In the past, much of this training was conducted away from home, but today, and from hereon, our peo ple will be able to access such training right here in Guyana.”Inconjunction with the launch, the graduation cer emony, for the first group of students, was also held. To this end, the Prime Minister charged the gradu ates to put their skills to use.
Prime Minister Phillips, during his address, lauded the drive and innovation of the facility and those responsible for its estab lishment.“Asthe first entity with approval to deliver OPI TO (Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organi sation)-accredited training to the oil and gas sector in Guyana, our human re sources are now strength ened at a global standard to actively and competently participate in the building of this new and abundant area of the country. With an industry that requires high skills and knowledge, it is reassuring to know that these capacities can be im parted to our people without having to leave their home soil.”
US$20M petroleum training facility launched
LOCAL CONTENT AT WORK
DEVELOPMENTCUTTING-EDGE
“I congratulate the first cohort of participants who underwent training at this facility. May you take your skills and put them to their fullest use as you proceed in your daily tasks of helping to build a better Guyana.” He said that as a people, Guyana’s success depends on proper resource man agement, transparency and accountability.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, September 3, 2022 3
PRIME Minister Briga dier (ret’d) Mark Phillips said the Government in tends to continuously bol ster investments in human capital to build local-con tent capacity, and foster a sustainable future for all Guyanese. He made the remarks while attending the official launch of the US$20M 3T EnerMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence and graduation ceremony at the company’s headquarters in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.Thelaunch of the pe troleum training facility, the Prime Minister noted, would enhance Guyana’s human resource develop ment.“A crucial factor to the success of our nation lies in our people. We must ensure that we utilise the benefits of the oil and gas sector to build a bright future for this, the next generation of Guyanese and beyond. To do that, we must undertake a culture of ownership, a culture where our local con tent; our people, can thrive, and that includes within the workforce itself.” The training facility, Guyana’s premier in-coun try, state-of-the-art facility is a collaborative venture between 3t EnerMech, Orinduik Development In corporated and Windsor Technologies.Personswill be taught through blended learning software and technology, and via fully immersive simulators for high-hazard activity learning.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips during a tour of the facility
—PM says strengthening human resource capacity imperative for country’s development
The training pro gramme provides a level one qualification from the Engineering Construc tion Industry Training Board (ECITB) and is divided into three phases: pre-learning assessment and safe passport, which are completed online, and the technical pathway, which is the practical journey, which is completed at the 3T EnerMech headquarters. (Office of the Prime Minister)
AS the Cricket Carnival celebrations approach, Minister of Health Dr . Frank Anthony has urged that personal responsibil ity and vaccination are key to keeping the spread of COVID 19 down The Minister was at the time speaking to members of the media on the side lines of an event where he was asked about a specific health plan to keep the spread of COVID 19 or Monkeypox down, consid ering the number of tour ists expected to come here As such, Dr Anthony noted that persons have to be responsible, individu ally, as the ministry can advise from a public health perspective as it relates to what can be done However, he said that, ultimately , individuals have to take the necessary precautions to keep them selves safe As such, he mentioned that there are still a num ber of vaccines available for COVID 19 here, and people should come for ward to receive them He added that most Guyanese have received first and second doses, but have yet to return for their booster doses“We haven’t seen a lot of people taking booster doses, so that’s important for people to do, especially if you are going to be in crowded areas , and you don ’ t know if the other person has any disease ,” Dr Anthony said As the events are com ing up, he mentioned that he would want to urge persons to be boosted to protect themselves. In relation to Mon keypox , he stated that persons should avoid contact with infected an imals, avoid contact with bedding and other mate rials contaminated with the virus while washing, sanitise their hands fre quently , and also avoid contact with persons who may be infected with the virus of Health Dr. Frank Anthony (Delano Williams photo)
4 GUYANA CHRONICLE S aturday, September 3, 2022 02/09/22 - 03, 11, 14, 18, 26 02/09/22- 2, 3, 6, 11, 15, 16, 1702/09/22 - 7 5 2 02/09/22 - 3 0 4August 31, 2022 August 27, 2022 08 14 15 16 19 26 27 02 07 08 11 19 25 28CH
‘Be responsible, stay safe’ –– Health Minister advises public ahead of Cricket Carnival Minister
As she spoke on the centralised care for Monkeypox patients at this facility, she mentioned that all regions have been preparing and also have designated isolation areas set in the event that there are suspected or confirmed cases there. Meanwhile, as it relates to the coun try’s preparedness, Chief Medical Offi cer, Dr. Narine Singh, told members of the media that health authorities began preparations to tackle the virus in May 2022. As a result, a Monkeypox Expert Committee (MEC) was set up and a national guideline for the management and prevention of the virus was put in place. This guideline, he said, was shared with all medical practitioners around the Againstcountry.thisbackdrop, he mentioned that surveillance at health facilities as well as at the ports of entry to Guyana has been heightened since that time. Further, he added that an aggres sive communication and sensitisa tion programme has been launched to ensure that the general public is aware that the virus is not limited to the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) and is not a sexual ly-transmitted one. This, he said, is being done so the public knows that anyone can contract Monkeypox and as such, they should be taking the necessary precautions. Dr. Singh men tioned that all other regional hospitals have the capacity to isolate patients though the central facility is the one at Liliendaal. Meanwhile, as it relates to testing, the CMO disclosed that all samples are processed at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) with results having a turnaround time of 24 hours.He indicated that persons who sus pect that they may have Monkeypox can present themselves at regional facilities to have samples taken to be sent to the NPHRL. While some persons may feel that they have been infected with the virus, it was stated that it is not until a patient has lesions that they can be tested for the virus. It was further noted that the only time that a person can be deemed a positive Monkeypox case is when they present with lesions and are tested.
whether the publication agrees or disagrees with those views, said Minister McCoy, pointing out that this is the hallmark of a true media outlet.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Narine Singh (Delano Williams photo)
News’
The Infectious Disease Hospital
Ministry within the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoyDr. Tracey Bovell, doctor-incharge at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (Delano Williams photo)
DuringKingston.this session, Dr. Tracey Bovell, the doctor-in-charge of the in fectious disease hospital, stated that as part of the Health Ministry’s preparation for tackling the potential outbreak, an area at the facility located at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown has been set aside to cater specifically for Monkeypox patients.While the infectious disease facility initially only housed COVID- 19 pa tients, it is now catering to patients with varying other infectious diseases. Dr. Bovell revealed that they have now set up a 37-bed area that will be able to cater to Monkeypox patients specifically. This, she said, includes not only confirmed cases but also suspected cases.“So, we have separate areas so that even though we have other illnesses, Monkeypox [patients] will be safe from other illnesses,” she said. While there is significant work tak ing place to ensure that the spread of the virus does not increase, the doctorin-charge added that should the number of cases rise, there is the capacity to expand this area to cater for some 22 additional patients. When asked whether the setting up of this space decreased the space for COVID-19 patients, Dr. Bovell stated that no space was cut down. Howev er, there was a re-allocation as there has been a reduction in the number of COVID-19 patients showing up at that facility recently.
She further noted that the first unit at the facility has a 55-bed capacity for COVID-19-positive patients, with the second unit having 37-bed capacity for Monkeypox patients.
GUYANA CHRONICLE S aturday, September 3, 2022 5
AS Guyana has confirmed two cases of the Monkeypox virus, the Ministry of Health has signalled that it is pre pared and has the capacity to care for patients in the event that more cases are recorded. This was revealed on Friday during a press session for editors and journalists centred on reporting on the Monkey pox outbreak which was held at Duke Lodge,
MINISTER within the Office of the Prime Min ister with Responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy has expressed con cerns that the Kaieteur News, in a full-page adver tisement in the September 1, 2022 edition, embarked on an unjustified attack on the Guyana Chronicle. Minister McCoy said that such attacks only serve to emasculate freedom of expression and freedom of the “Kaieteurpress. News crusades as the authority on matters of oil and gas Therefore , the advertisement must be seen as a frantic attempt to control the narrative in this important sector that is ben efitting all Guyanese The publication is keen to sup press information that chal lenges its narratives, even at the expense of the insidious erosion of the public’s basic right to information ,” the minister said. As a media house, Kai eteur News, should be more encouraging of Guyanese sharing their views on mat ters of national importance
Kaieteur crass attack on presscondemnedfreedom 37 beds for Monkeypox patients at Oceanview hospital
Vishnusincerely,Bisram
THE way of life of Guyana’s first peoples must be protected. This is a point that has been echoed over the years through programmes that preserve Indigenous languages and ways of life, and as recently as Thursday evening by the Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, who rec ognised the annual Amerindian Heritage Month celebration as directly preserving and celebrating cultures of Guyana’s Am erindian people. A people who, through their advocacy and innovation, have brought themselves off of the social and economic fringes of so ciety and centred themselves squarely in the overall conversation on Guyana’s national development.Theneedto protect the environment has been a long-time advocacy for the Amerin dian people. Globally, the shift into “sus tainable development” has struck a balance between human innovation and mastery of nature with adopting healthier practises which have less damaging impacts on the natural world. It is through this ancient knowledge of nature that Guyana’s Amerindian people were consulted on the 2030 Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which allows Guyana to leverage its forests as a means to secure international financing, which will, in turn, be used for the social and economic de velopment of Guyanese. The contributions of Guyana’s Amerindian people are invaluable. During the Cultural Extravaganza hosted at the National Stadium, Providence, Presi dent, Dr Irfaan Ali took a moment from his feature address to celebrate the diversity of Guyanese. But there is a need to recognise also that Indigenous people in Guyana and around the world have been disproportion ately affected by conquest and the nation state. It is not to say that they are the only group that has been affected, but for the sake of this editorial, the focus is the Amerindian people.“Ireassured every member of our Indige nous community that we stand strongly with you in ensuring that our development path, in ensuring that creating the pathway to pros perity will including you, everyone one of you, every single family, every single region, in our Indigenous community, whether it’s in the riverine area, whether it’s on the hill or in the valley, we will find you, we will work with you and we will move you together as we build a country of prosperity for every single family,” President Ali charged in his feature address. It was Dr Cheddi Jagan’s People’ s Progressive Party (PPP) Government that commenced the hinterland scholarship programme in the early 1960s. Successive governments of Dr Jagan’s party have main tained this programme which has drastically transformed Guyana’s hinterland by provid ing educational opportunities for Indigenous people to be doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and social workers, among others, all of which have helped to improve the quality of life of the Amerindian people, blending indigenous, traditional knowledge with contemporary methods. With thousands of Guyanese trained through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme, some Amerindians need to leave the comfort of their communities to study as govern ment has also supported communities like Quatata, Waiakabra, Kabakaburi, Karawab and others with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) facilities, which allow access to online learning from those very hinterland com munities, connecting them with the rest of theNaysayersworld. of President Ali’s “One Guyana” vision and action, struggle to find flaws in this plan to improve the lives of all Guyanese. They continue, however, to scrape the bottom while ignoring the signifi cant investments made into every Guyanese located everywhere across Guyana. The President could not have been any clearer on Thursday in his commitment to Guyana’s Amerindian people to ensure no effort is spared in supporting their education and growth pursuits. The goal, it must be noted, is to bridge the benefit and development gap between the coastland of Guyana and its hinterland, a phenomenon inherited from through the very legacy of conquest addressed earlier in this“editorial.Wewill make the investment to give you the bandwidth, to give you online ed ucation… every single Amerindian with the qualification that want to be trained as a nurse, as a teacher, as a dental technician, as a medical worker, I am saying to you, we are committing to train every single one of you… we will provide the money and the environment, and we will give you that opportunity,” President Ali said. The rapid transformation of Guyana has to be met, simultaneously, with the growth of our peo ple’s capacities. Guyana’s Indigenous people can rest assured that, as the President also said, there is no effort spared “to secure your rights, to expand your freedom, to ensure you have active participation, [and] to build sustainability in your development plans.”
Amerindian Heritage
Gorbachev’s reforms and diaspora advocacy led to democracy in Guyana
6 GUYANA CHRONICLE S aturday, September 3, 2022
The vision of “One Guyana” becomes more a reality daily.
As political scientists, they understood geo politics and instructed us that America would not support a left-wing movement. They advised that our group take a pro-America position if we were to win over Washington to bring political change in Guyana.
Vassan Ramracha and his brother Rennie Ramracha were the mentors of our movement.
The main obstacle preventing the restoration of democ racy and free and fair elections in Guyana, we were repeatedly told by Washington politi cians and American political analysts, was the fear of the rise of a communist government that could potentially pose a greater threat to USA interests than the PNC dictatorship, although it was increasingly allied and aligned with the Soviet bloc. The US policy towards Guyana changed after Gorbachev came to power. Gorbachev began to democratise the Soviet Union. Gor bachev signalled an end to the cold war and assured the US that it was no longer interested in fomenting revolutions in the Third World. Assistance to Cuba and Nicaragua was rapidly declining. A group of us re-lobbied Members of Congress and President Bush on Guyana during the changing global political situation.
Dr Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Ramra cha, Ravi Dev, myself, and others descended on Washington at various times and attended events in New York where Members of Con gress spoke, pleading our case to Members of Congress and the Reagan and Bush adminis trations to help us in our struggle to restore democratic governance in Guyana.
A few of us pleaded with influential members of the Indian community (GOPIO) to assist us with our lobbying efforts. The lobbying paid dividends. In trips to New York in 1988 (for the 150th Anniversary of Indian presence in Guyana) and 1989 (First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin), a few of us took Cheddi Jagan to influential members (Yash Pal Soi, Thomas Abraham, etc.) of the Indian community and the Indian press as well as the New York Times and Nation magazine. Jagan laid down the case for restoration of democratic rule in Guyana. He stated that he was no longer a dogmatic communist.Hesaid he was “more Gorbachev than Gorbachev.” He said America had no reason to fear his return to power. He pledged that Guyana will be a democracy under a govern ment he leads. Several articles were published in the Indian weekly press, Nation, New York Times, and other publications. The Chair of the Democratic Party, Ron Brown, pledged support for democracy in Guyana. Several Members of Congress (including Ted Ken nedy, Stephen Solarz, Elliott Engels and Ted Weiss) issued statements condemning Guy ana’s dictatorship and human rights abuses; all of these members and more were members of the India Caucus that was very sympathetic to and supportive of Jagan. President Bush Sr called on Desmond Hoyte to return the coun try to economic and political liberalism. We learnt that there was a gentleman’s agreement between Bush and Gorbachev on democracy for Guyana and Nicaragua: Gorbachev would ensure free and fair elections in Nicaragua and America would ensure free and fair elections in Guyana. Jimmy Carter and his Carter Cen ter were invited in both places to oversee free and fair elections; the US provided funding for observers and for the balloting. There was a change in administration in both countries: Communist Sandinistas and the PNC were removed from office via the ballot box. The PPP was allowed to take power and would govern for 28 years. Clearly, the collapse of communism and the Soviet Union paved the way for resto ration of democratic governance in Guyana. This would not have been possible hadn’t Gorbachev been invested with power to de mocratise the Soviet Union. The pro-America advocacy and the dedication and commitment of a handful of us secured democracy in Guyana. Off course, many in Guyana and other groups in the diaspora helped to bring about the much needed change in 1992.Yours
Dear MIKHAILEditor,Gorbachev, the former leader of the now defunct Soviet Union, passed on a few days ago. Not many Guyanese may be familiar of the impact Gorbachev’s policy in the Soviet Union and towards the West had on Guyana. Had Gorbachev not pursued and or imple mented glasnost (democratic opening) and perestroika (restructuring of the economy) and armistice treaties with America, Guyana may well have remained a dictatorship (pos sibly) till now. As a result of cold war politics injected by our political leaders from both sides during the 1950s, Guyana was transformed into a dictatorship after independence in 1966 from what was a liberal western-type democracy. Jagan’s PPP was aligned with the eastern bloc and the PNC the western bloc. The PNC was installed in office by the Anglo-American alli ance. The west turned a blind eye to electoral fraud, the rise of the dictatorship, and abuse of human rights. In Guyana, political parties, religious and civic groups and other organ isations as well as individuals courageously fought the dictatorship for a restoration of democratic rule. But it was to no avail as the west continued to support the PNC. In Amer ica, several groups and individuals, including myself, appealed to every US President (Jim my Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr.) and Congress to apply pressure on the Burn ham and Hoyte dictatorships to restore liberal democracy in Guyana. We held picket signs in front of the Guyana Consulate on third Ave and the UN and at other locations and events at various times between 1977 to 1992 condemning electoral fraud and human rights abuses. The group to which I belonged, that started at City College among students, took a pro-America and anti-communist stance.
2. Dry
4. M&P Investments
Dear Editor, IN the Stabroek News editorial of Tues day, August 30, 2022 titled “North Rui mveldt Secondary School Contract”, a request was made for the National Pro curement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to defend the award of the stated project to the winning bidder, Kares Engineering Inc. While it is not the policy of NPTAB to justify its awards in a public discourse, the imputation of the editorial deserves this re sponse, so that the factual situation is made known to all A few matters of policy and procedures governing the operation of the NPTAB need to be re- affirmed. As clearly stated in the ref erenced editorial, some of those operational processes and procedures were adumbrated in the Budget Presentation of 2022 NPTAB selects an independent three member evaluation team from among a list of evaluators nominated to NPTAB by sectoral ministriesTocorrect for potential conflict of in terest and to establish adequate checks and balances , the Evaluation Committee was remodelled so that those adjudicating on the committee are drawn from persons outside of the procuring entity The opening of tenders is public and streamed live, and the minutes of the opening is posted on NPTAB website This allows all participating bidders to see and hear the tender opening process and to interact with the process if necessary NPTAB maintain minutes of its board meetingThe recommendations of the evaluation are considered by the full Board of NPTAB and a decision is taken on the recommen dationRegarding the procurement under the subject of the editorial, NPTAB states the following:Tenders for “North Ruimveldt Secondary School” were opened on June 23, 2022 Bids were received as follows: Inc $ 679,122,111 Rock Construction Inc $ 687,163,0513.QCDConstruction $ 521,690,454 $ 606,636,675 5. S&K Construction & General Supplies $ 595,000,000 Dundas Construction Inc $620,000,000 CB General Contracting Services Inc $531, 787,715 General Supplies & Construction $ 614,853,630 9. Kares Engineering Inc $566,975,350 Evaluation committee, following ap proved processes and procedures, was em panelled on June 27, 2022 Evaluation report was submitted to NPTAB on August 2, 2022 Kares Engineering was the third lowest bid Evaluators found that the Lowest and the second lowest bid were non responsive as follows:Tender Submitted by QCD Construction Inc (Bid Price G$521,690,454.00) was the lowest bid but was deemed non responsive for the following reasons: a) Evaluation Criterion H required that the bidder “Demonstrate specific construc tionexperience by providing copies of con tracts with previous clients that show the bidder has completed two contracts of similar nature, size and complexity of a minimum value of 50 per cent of Bid Price within the past five years”. - Bidder failed to submit proof of con tracts listed in their bid submission b) Evaluation Criterion P required that the bidder “Ownership and or possession of key equipment - the bidder must provide evidence to show that the key equipment are available in the specified number for the project; Ownership and or possession can be demonstrated by providing the licences, purchase documents, registrations, agreement to lease or rent from a recognised leasing agency, and/or affidavit of ownership, an agreement to lease or rent must be dated within one month of the bid opening Affi davit of ownership must be duly signed by a commissioner of oaths or justice of peace and the list of equipment must be endorsed by same if is it supplied as an attachment to the affidavit.” – Bidder failed to provide proof of ownership for the equipment listed in their document.c)Evaluation Criterion J required that the “Bidder must provide a letter of authorisation for the procuring entity to seek reference from the bidder’s bank and/or surety relating to the financial capacity evidence supplied The document must be dated within one month of the bid opening date and be clearly legible.”Bidder did not submit letter to seek refer ence from banking institution” d) Evaluation criterion I required that the bidder “Evidence of financial capacity representing 25 per cent of the bid price Bidder must provide a bank statement or LINE of credit from a bank or a recognised financial institution The document must be dated within one month of the bid opening date and be clearly legible.” – the bidder failed to establish the re quired 25 per cent of his bid price The letter submitted from his bank did not comply with this requirement since it indicated no definite figures Given that the bidder did not submit a letter giving the agency authority to seek reference from their bank, the evaluation committee was unable to determine their exact financial capacity Tender submitted by CB General Con tracting Inc (Bid Price G$531,787,715.00) was the second lowest bid but was deemed non responsive for the following reasons: a Evaluation Criterion H required that the bidder “Demonstrate specific construction experience by providing copies of contracts with previous clients that show the bidder has completed two contracts of similar nature, size and complexity of a minimum value of 50 per cent of Bid Price within the past five years Bidder failed to submit proof of contracts specific in nature to the required amount Evaluation Criterion I required that the bidder provide “Evidence of financial capacity representing 25 per cent of the bid price Bidder must provide a bank statement or LINE of credit from a bank or a recog nized financial institution . The document must be dated within one month of the bid opening date and be clearly legible”. – The bidder submitted a letter of credit; however, it did not meet the required 25 per cent of the bidder’s bid price b) Evaluation Criterion O required that the “Bidder must provide a letter stating any or no terminated or abandonment of projects within the last three years The letter must be datedwithin one month of the bid opening date”.–The bidder has an abandoned project which they failed to mention. Tender submitted by Kares Engineering Inc (bid price $566,975,350) was the third lowest bid, met all the requirements of the bid and was deemed responsive. It is also important to note that Kares Engineering is not currently debarred from bidding nor as far as NPTAB records go, was never debarred from bidding. Matters that are outside of the Eval uation Criteria cannot be used in adjudi cating a bid.
1 Platinum Investment
Yours sincerely, National Procurement and AdministrationTenderBoard Dear Editor, I WAS extremely saddened to hear of the death of our former Foreign Minister, Rashleigh Jackson, with whom I had the pleasure of serving in the Cabinet. Rashleigh Jackson was our Foreign Minister during the years 1978 - 1991. First, as one of our Senior Diplomats and, subsequently, as Foreign Minister, he played an enormously important part in the building of our Foreign Service along with, of course, Sir Shridat Ramphal, in the early days of our Independence.
Inc
GUYANA CHRONICLE S aturday, September 3, 2022 7
7.
8. Builders Hardware
Rashleigh served with distinction as Ambassador and Permanent Represen tative for Guyana to the United Nations before his appointment as Foreign Min ister and I remember the critical role he served in our defence against Venezue la’s spurious claim against our territorial integrity.Foratiny, newly independent, devel oping country and when Guyana was at the centre in our region of the cold war between the Soviet Union and the USA and under economic and even military threat from our Venezuelan neighbour, we should be forever grateful for the fact that we were represented internationally with men of the caliber of Rashleigh Jackson. I extend my sympathy and condo lences to his relatives.Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
Rashleigh Jackson served Guyana with distinction
6.
Kares Engineering is not currently debarred from bidding nor has ever been debarred from bidding
The duo immediately searched the area to locate Chandradeo but the pitch black night proved a chal lenge. They subsequently made their way to shore and reported the incident.
Fisherman struck by lightning feared drowned
Missing:ChandradeoHemnarine
A subsequent search conducted during the course of Friday by the Coastguard and fisher men was unable to locate Chandradeo. His family is keeping their fingers crossed with the hope that he’s found alive.
8 GUYANA CHRONICLE S aturday, September 3, 2022
A SEARCH has been launched for Hem narine Chandradeo called “Brother” or “Ravin”, who fell overboard after he was reportedly struck by lightning during the wee hours of Friday. Chandradeo, 28 of Lot 10, Fyrish Road, left the Albion Landing Site, at around 10:30 hours on Thursday in the company of his brother, Naven dra Chandradeo, a fisher man and a worker iden tified as “Romel” on a fishing vessel. The crew was expected to return home together on Friday. However, on Friday, Jamela Cyril, 25, the wife of Chandradeo received a call indicating that her husband “fell overboard,” and could not be found. “This morning (Fri day) around 07:00 hours they call say he fall off the boat,” she said. The inci dent reportedly occurred in the Corentyne River, in the vicinity of Rose Hall. A tearful Cyril said her husband was a hard worker who cared for his family. Chandradeo, a boat owner and a fisherman for several years, was the father of two children, ages two and six, and the lone breadwinner for his family.Meanwhile, Kamla Chandradeo, 47, the moth er of the missing fisher man said her other son Navendra, told her that he and the worker were at the back of the boat while Hemnarine was at the front picking up the “seine” when the lightning bolt struck him, causing him to fall overboard. A hat that he was wearing at the time was cut in half, the mother said she was told. She related that her surviving son attempted to save his brother but was prevented by the worker. “He run to try catch he but he de done fall over, he been ah go jump but the next worker grab he back.”
A journey with the Amerindians – the original inhabitants of Guyana
Norman Whittaker Former Adviser, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs
GUYANA CHRONICLE S aturday, September 3, 2022 9
Congratulations!
1) THEIR villages, spread across the ten adminis trative regions or 83,000 square miles of Guyana, are homes to between 72,000 to 75,000 Amerindians. They are Guyana’s Indig enous people, the descendants of the original inhabitants of our Incountry.these villages reside the nine Amerindian Peoples or Tribes, viz: The Arawaks, Caribs, Warraus, Patamonas, Akawaios, Arecunas, Ma cushi, Wai-Wai and Wap ishani; the earliest of whom came here over 5000 years BC and lived, according to Guyanese Anthropologist Denis Williams “along Guy ana’s North West Coast and in the Orinoco Delta area of neighboring Venezuela.” Each Tribe came with their own distinctive iden tities and cultural heritage. These distinctions are to be found in their language, eco nomic activities, and the na ture and extent of their system of governance and more. And so, on the occasion of the 26th Anniversary of Amerindian Heritage Day (September 10, 2021) and, more extensively, Amerindian Heritage Month September 2021, I am con fident you would agree with me when I say they did have much to celebrate. Further more, Amerindian Heritage month has annually provided, since September 10, 1995, an occasion to celebrate. But how and when did Amerindian Heritage Month observation begin? What is it all about? Amerin dian culture, art and craft, cuisine, music, dances and other aspects of Amerindian traditional lifestyle were kept alive when the late President Cheddi Jagan first designated September 10, 1995 as Amer indian Heritage Day in mem ory of Mr Stephen Campbell, the first Amerindian to enter the Parliament of then British Guiana. And so we began to celebrate in 1995. In fact, His Excellency and his gov ernment determined that the entire month of September would be celebrated annually thereafter by all Guyana. The celebration has ex panded post 1995 to highlight the special achievements of our Indigenous people and in this regard, it does provide an opportunity for all Guyanese and non-Guyanese to be able to view, experience and be reminded of the culture of Amerindians in the various villages and communities across our Country. It’s a unique culture that most have grown to respect, cherish and helped to preserve. There are specific Insti tutions which have helped to protect and to preserve Amerindian artifacts that are specific to the Amerindian way of life, viz the National Museum, the Walter Roth Museum, the Benab at the Sophia Exhibition Site and the Umana Yana… to name but a few. They all display an array of artifacts unique to the Amerindian way of life; the Amerindian architecture and traditional knowledge of the 3)people.Since 1995 and ev ery September thereafter, an Amerindian Village is designated Heritage Village each year. This rotation of the designated Heritage Village from year to year provides opportunity for all Guyana to experience and to learn more of the culture and way of life of our Amerindian people. It is celebrated under a theme. Activities and Events revolve around the Theme. It allows them to market their villages, its people and what they had to offer in terms of goods and services. In short, Am erindian Heritage Month is also a medium for promoting Hinterland Tourism. There is more to Amerindian Heritage Month than a mere name. It provides opportunity to showcase improvements in the lives of the people in the Villages and Communities. Amerindian Heritage month 2021 is being celebrated un der the Theme:” Maintaining our Traditional Integrity; celebrating our Cultural Iden tity”.4)Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations provides opportunities for all Guy anese to participate and to share in the culture of our Indigenous people by bring ing Amerindian people and their Communities into the mainstream of National De velopment.5)Thanks to the collec tive efforts of the government working with the National Toshaos Council and the village councils… Our Indig enous people have realised for themselves and families wider choices in terms of the goods and services and the quality of those goods and services from which they have been able to benefit viz: education, healthcare, river, air and road transportation; the construction/extension of schools and dormitories, building of hospitals, health centres/posts and the furnish ing of these facilities; training of teachers, health workers etc. The extension of these important services to many and the provision of a wider supply of quality goods to our Hinterland areas where most of our Indigenous people 6) Add to the above (i) significant infrastructure sup port such as new airstrips, extension of /rehabilitation of a number of these Airstrips (ii) improved roads, provision of river and land transport viz ATVs and outboard engines, boats and life jackets for use by school children and other hinterland residents (iii) radio sets, landline and cellular phone services for use in hinterland administrative cen tres, schools, health centres, health posts, village offices and individuals resulting in improved communication (iv) provision of Solar Electricity and use of solar electricity at these very Institutions and even in homes (v) the provi sion of potable water by way of solar pumps, water tanks/ trestles (vi) the hinterland housing schemes started in Regions One, Two and Nine (vii) the 2006 Amerindian Act that guides and informs what is done in the villages and communities; moreso, with respect to governance and land ownership and use. For me, it has been a pleasure/a productive period of my life … 1976 to 2015 living and working among our Amerindian brothers and sisters in their villages and communities. I have learnt a lot from them, and with much humility I have no doubt, they from me also. To our Amerindian comrades I commend your contribution to the development of Guy ana; more significantly, for keeping this dear and great land of ours intact so that we could all benefit. It’s all about Amerindian development with culture and identity. They do have much to celebrate.
10 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, September 3, 2022
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, September 3, 2022 11
Contractors putting the final touches on a benab extension of the NTC’s new secretariat building (Delano Williams photo)
CONSTRUCTION of a brand-new building at the National Exhibition Cen tre, Sophia, to house the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Secretariat will be completed ahead of the March 2023 deadline. Amerindian Affairs Min ister, Pauline Sukhai, on Friday, on the sidelines of an event told the Guyana Chronicle that the govern ment had allocated some $100 million in the 2022 National Budget to relo cate the secretariat from its Hadfield and Cross Streets, Georgetown location.
completed ahead of schedule
Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai (Delano Williams photo) – says Minister Sukhai with 12 months to complete the project and you know that our budget was passed in February and we start ed addressing the matter from March, so, counting twelve months from then, our new secretariat for the NTC headquarters is almost up and running, “she said.
Minister Sukhai not ed that Guyana is the only country with a government that supports and promotes a full month of activities that seek to celebrate and recognise the contribution of Indigenous tradition, knowl edge and culture.
“I know His Excellency made quite a number of pledges last night and I can rest assure that the Amerin dian population should be confident that everything that the PPP/Civic [People’s Progressive Party/Civic] government has pledge to, that we are going to deliv er. We have a good deliv ery track record,” Minister Sukhai added.
On Thursday evening, President Irfaan Ali in de claring open this year’s Am erindian Heritage Month cele brations, vowed to work with young Indigenous Peoples to ensure that they are a part of the new phase of development in the country in fields such as health workers, nurses, doctors, engineers and heavy equipment operators.
“This year, the budget approved just about $ 100 million to construct a new secretariat for the NTC. The contractor was provided
He said: “Every single Amerindian with a qualifica tion that wants to be trained as a nurse, as a teacher, as a dental technician, as a med ical worker, I am saying to you, know we are commit ting that we as a government will train every single one. We will provide op portunity; we will provide money, we will provide that environment, and we will give you that oppor tunity.”
The government’s role, she said is to provide the prerequisites that will ensure the full functioning of the council.“… we need to ensure that they are provided with the level of accommodation or office space or secretariat and with the level of re sources to compliment the village councils in ensuring that Amerindians are set at a level where they can right fully say they are indeed included and have access in an equitable way like every other ethnic group,” she added.With a track record of delivering its manifesto promises, Sukhai assured that all pledges that were made to the country’s first people will be fulfilled.
The goal, she said is to have Indigenous Peoples recognised as key players in the mainstream development of the“It’scountry.aworking progress to ensure that Amerindians are in the mainstream in the national fabric of our country. We are One Guyana and so we need to close the gap be tween the hinterland and the coastal area, particularly with service, quality service and the level of opportunities.”
“The NTC should feel very proud that our gov ernment has stepped up to ensure that as a council of leaders, as respected lead ers, they should also have their own quarters,” Minster Sukhai said, adding: “The legitimately elected leaders for Amerindians, they have administrative functions un der the law and also other functions under the law that they need to perform.”
“Our government is the only government so far in the international community that is setting the pace and being the front runner in terms of addressing and in cluding the Indigenous pop ulation in the mainstream of national life and national activities.”Sheexplained that while the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is the oversight insti tution for Indigenous Peo ples, it is the elected leaders of the NTC that oversees the administrative functions of the Indigenous communities under the country’s laws.
12 GUYANA CHRONICLE S aturday, September 3, 2022
NTC Secretariat building to be
The
GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 3, 2022 13 Joel Bhagwandin Financial and economic analyst
THE project full lifecycle of the oil and gas business is around 30 years or more. During the exploration and development stage , which spans about 20 years before production , the oil companies continuously in ject capital to explore and de velop the resource Then, 20 years later, as in the case of Guyana, starts to produce to generate the revenue, which, in turn has to recover the capital investment, operating cost and provide a decent profit for the company and the Government After the exploration , and if no dis covery was made and/or not in commercial quantity, then the capital invested in the exploration stage would be a loss for the oil companies
(Part I)
The nature of the oil and gas business is one that is of high investment risks and capital intensive To put this into perspective, the explo ration and development cost for Liza 1 alone amounted to about US$4 billion, the total estimated development cost for Liza 1, Liza 2, Payara and Yellowtail is about US$29.3 billion, representing 100 per cent of Guyana’s pre oil GDP in the case of Liza 1 and for the four approved proj ects combined represents 7.3 times Guyana’s pre oil GDP This simply means that the fi nancial resources of the entire country (the sum total of pri vate sector, households, and government) are not enough to develop even one phase of the development With this in mind, it is important to ap preciate the high risk nature of the business in general and the natural outcome for that is it carries a higher risk premi um – meaning, the investors require a decent return on their invested capital Taken together, given that major countries are already accelerating climate change policies, designed to transi tion from a fossil fuel driven energy system to renewable energy . One can observe that all of these, combined, amounts to hundreds of bil lions in U S dollars to fuel these massive investments which ultimately means, that these developments are going to have a direct impact on global oil prices which will be on a downward trajectory, at some point into the future The ultimate effect would be that global de mand for crude oil will fall steadily until it will reach to a point where it may no longer be ThereBACKGROUNDfeasibleisagroup of persons both locally and abroad advocating for the renegotiation of the Pro duction Sharing Agreement (PSA) between the Govern ment of Guyana and the oil companies ( Esso Ex ploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Hess and CNOOC). More recently, proponents of this view have argued that with rising oil prices – the Gov ernment should press for renegotiation The Government’s posi tion is that it will not renego tiate the current PSA for the Stabroek Block, however, for future PSAs will have differ ent fiscal terms The oil com panies on the other hand have stressed the importance of the stability clause Further to note, the Government has committed to ensure better contract administration as an alternative means to extract more value for the country from the existing PSA frame work without renegotiation To this end, it is important to distinguish between what constitutes “ Government Take” and what constitutes “the Country’s Take”. In this context, it is also important to analyze whether through contract administration the coun try is getting more value versus defying the odds and proceed straight to renegotiation – bearing in
Joel FinancialBhagwandin,AnalystSeepage
14
Production Sharing Agreement, Renegotiation, and the Stability Clause
14 GUYANA CHRONICLE S aturday, September 3, 2022 F pagerom 13 mind the many ramifi cations of renegotiating the contract especially if this is not a desirable outcome on the part of the oil Thiscompanies.articleis the first of a series of ar ticles that will seek to address this issue and to examine in an in-depth manner the ramifications and the different options of de riving more value for theDISCUSSIONcountry.
ProjectANALYSISANDLifecycle, Capital Investment and Risks First, let’s understand the project lifecycle of the oil and gas business, the high capital-inten sive nature and some of the key risks involved. The project lifecycle en compasses three stages:
...
The exploration stage, which can last for about 5-10 years or even15 years; the development stage, once the resource is found in commercial quantities, which is an other 5 years and then the productive life another 10 years per project. The full lifecycle is there fore around 30 years or more. More importantly to note, during the explo ration and development stage which spans about 20 years before produc tion, the oil companies continuously inject cap ital to explore and de velop the resource. Then 20 years later as in the case of Guyana, starts to produce to generate the revenue which in turn have to recover the capi tal investment, operating cost and provide a decent profit for the company and the Government. It should be noted as well that after the explo ration and if no discovery was made and / or not in commercial quantities, then the capital invested in the exploration stage would be a loss for the oil Thecompanies.nature of the oil and gas business is one that is of high investment risks and capital inten sive. To put this into per spective, the exploration and development cost for Liza 1 alone amounted to about US$4 billion, the total estimated develop ment cost for Liza 1, Liza 2, Payara and Yellowtail is about US$29.3 billion, representing 100 per cent of Guyana’s pre-oil GDP in the case of Liza 1 and for the four approved projects combined rep resents 7.3 times Guy ana’s pre-oil GDP. This simply means that the financial resourc es of the entire country (the sum total of pri vate sector, households, and government) are not enough to develop even one phase of the develop ment. With this in mind, it is important to appre ciate the high-risk nature of the business in general and the natural outcome for that is it carries a higher risk premium –meaning, the investors require a decent return on their invested capital. Let’s consider the risk of an oil spill. Interest ingly, the same group of advocates calling for renegotiation of the con tract are also chanting for the oil companies to give some form of guarantee other than the insurance – that it has full respon sibility for the liability in the worst-case event of an oil spill, which is important and not to be discounted. Just over a decade ago the Valdez oil spill costs exceed ed some US$7 billion, in today’s money that’s roughly US$9 billion. In a worst-case scenario for Guyana assuming an oil spill to this magnitude where the costs might exceed US$10 billion, the oil companies’ take across the four approved projects is 24 per cent or US$ 41.7 billion ac cording to an updated forecast conducted by SPHEREX Analytics. Assuming a US$10 bil lion oil spill lability, this will erode the cumulative profits of the oil com panies by 24 per cent across the four approved projects.Notwithstanding the worst-case scenario of an oil spill above, it is worthwhile to note that the oil and gas industry is a highly regulated global industry where health and safety is a number one priority. And the industry is so big that with any eventualities such as an oil spill which is cata strophic, the technology employed in the sector de velops and evolve at a fast rate. So, the technology, equipment, and resources today to mitigate the risks of an oil spill or at best to minimize the impact of a catastrophic oil spill, nev er existed over a decade ago. Guyana is therefore fortunate to be the bene ficiary of these new and advanced technologies and therefore the risks of an oil spill, while it is real, is low-to moderate, and should be quickly contained. However, the insur ance as well as these state-of-the-art tech nology and equipment to manage and contain these risks, comes at a premium cost as well which has to be deduct ed from cost oil.
The Production Sharing Agreement
“ In the last 17 years, China has been one of the pivotal partners in the Guyana Government’s pursuit of providing access to healthcare for all and better healthcare for Guyanese. For 30 years, China has sent specialists to help us increase the scope of work… and healthcare is better in Guyana because of this,” he said. As the conference gets underway, a group of Chinese medical specialists are preparing to leave Guyana, having served the country for one year, as part of the 17th medical brigade. Another group is now preparing to travel to Guyana to serve for another calendar year.
by
picks
GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 3, 2022 15
200 families receive house lots during Region Three outreach
Feng said he hoped that participating delegates will contribute their wisdom during discussions under the theme of this year’s dialogue and keep up their dedication to the joint China-LAC endeavour to share develop ment opportunities, embrace a better future, and implement the Global Development Initiative.Theannual Dialogue Between the Civili sations of China and the LAC has been estab lished as part of efforts to promote increased exchange between China and LAC countries, and has become one of the most influential platforms in China-LAC relations. This edition of the forum was organised by institutions including the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies under China International Communications Group (CICG), the Institute of Latin Ameri can Studies of the Chinese Academy of So cial Sciences, and the Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government. With the participation of several political leaders, diplomats, scholars, media represen tatives, and heads of international organisa tions, the two-day event examined several critical topics, including the strengthening of cooperation on science and technology. (NCN Editor, Samuel Sukhnandan is currently in Beijing on the China Inter national Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) 2022 Fellowship at the invitation of the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA)
“… seeing and experiencing Chinese health care professionals working jointly side by side with our Guyanese health care professionals, transferring skills and sharing experiences to create medical break-throughs in Guyana, saving lives, creating small mir acles, and changing the lives of people... is a sterling example of what partnerships can do to make the world we live in a better place for all,” the ambassador said. Besides that, she commended China for its timely assistance to Guyana during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was a shortage of personal protective gear (PPE) and COVID-19 vaccines. She said this was done at a time when China itself was faced with its own internal challenges. Meanwhile, former Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, also addressed the forum via video and highlighted that medical co operation is one of the key areas of bilateral relations with China, which Guyana has en joyed for many years.
AmbassadorPEOPLE-TO-PEOPLECOOPERATIONChooemphasised that people-to-people cooperation in the med ical field has been an important aspect of the Guyana-China bilateral relationship, which has sown many positive seeds and led to many success stories.
WIN-WIN COOPERATION In delivering the keynote address vir tually, China’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Xie Feng, said the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, and has entered a new phase of instability and transformation. “Once again, we are at a crossroads. A review of history tells us that the exchanges, mutual learning, and co-existence of various civilisations provide a lasting impetus for the progress of human civilisation,” he added. He said going forward, China will con tinue to work with LAC countries to uphold the principles of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, provide mutual understanding and support on issues affecting each other’s coreTheinterests.country’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs urged its bilateral partners to work to ward a China-LAC community with a shared future, and contribute to share to the har monious co-existence, mutual learning, and common progress of different civilisations.
from an envelope
“We Chinese believe that the fire burns high when everyone adds wood to it. The continued growth of China-LAC relations in the new era requires broad participation, intellectual contri bution, and synergy among governments and all social sectors of both sides,” he added.
China-funded training opportunities bridging skills gap in LAC
Guyana’s Ambassador to China, Anyin Choo addressing the 5th Chi na-LAC Forum: Dialogue Between Civilisations China’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Xie Feng, delivering the keynote address SOME two hundred fam ilies were allocated house lots in Stewartville and Meten-Meer-Zorg, Re gion Three, during an outreach at the West De merara Secondary School on Friday. The outreach, which was geared towards ad dressing housing matters in the region, was led by Min ister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, and a team from the Central Housing and Planning Authority. Regional Chairman Ishan Ayube and Vice-Chairman Omesh Satyanand were also present.During the outreach, allottees were allowed to pull their respective lot number and make an initial payment.Minister Croal, in his remarks, acknowledged that the exercise is not sufficient to meet the housing demand in Region Three. However, he noted that in the coming weeks, a massive allocation exercise will be held in the region under the ministry’s flagship ‘Dream Realised’ HousingRegionDrive.Three has ap proximately 14,000 pend ing land applications. In an effort to meet this de mand, the minister said that new lands are being sought after, and plans for the construction of some 500 low-income homes are Schoonord,foringderscoredworks.culvertsofworkstionworksZorg,Edinburg,neliathehousingdevelopmentpendedprogressing.Also,approximately$3.4billionisbeingexoninfrastructureatfivenewdevelopmentsinregion,namely:CorIda,AnnaCatherina,Meten-Meer-andStewartville.Theincludetheinstallaofwatersupplynetandtheconstructionaccessroads,bridges,anddrainagenetMinisterCroalalsounseveralincomgovernmentprojectstheregion,suchastheWestBank
Demerara to Crane, West Coast Demerara, four-lane highway, which is being executed under the Ministry of Housing and Water. The proposed highway is ex pected to run 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometres). It will reduce traffic congestion along the West Bank and West Coast Demerara corridor; while at the same time modernising the country’s infrastructure and creating avenues for housing and commercial development. The region will also benefit from a new De merara River bridge, as well as, improvements in the education and health sectors.
–– Guyanese Ambassador
By Samuel Sukhnandan in Nanjing CHINA has made a significant contribu tion to help bridge the skills gap for Guy ana and many other countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, by offering training opportunities for their citizens, Guyana’s Ambassador to China, Anyin Choo said on Thursday. In addressing the launch of the 5th China-LAC Forum: Dialogue Between Ci vilisations, held in Nanjing City, Jiang Su Province, the Guyanese diplomat told those gathered for the conference that the develop ment of a highly-trained workforce remains an important area of cooperation between China and “TrainingGuyana.ofindividuals through the Chi nese Government’s scholarship and technical training programmes has assisted the LAC region and, by extension, Guyana, in bridging the skills gap in our human capital resources and has positively contributed to the capac ity building and institutional strengthening of key agencies across our region,” she remarked.Through medical cooperation, Ambas sador Choo said Guyana’s health sector has benefitted significantly from expanded surgical techniques and modern equipment received from China, as well as the establish ing of five specialised centres within the local publicAdditionally,hospitals. the Guyanese envoy point ed out that Jiang Su Province, where the forum was launched, has been instrumental in contributing towards the vibrant bilateral medical cooperation programme between the two countries. “Since 1993, Guyana has received medical brigades consistently from the Jiang Su Province, which has contributed significantly to the improvement of the public health care in Guyana, high-quality, specialised care for patients, and improved cooperation between healthcare profes sionals from Guyana and China.”
house
An excited allottee holds her son as she her lot held Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal
A HUGE part of Amerin dian Heritage Month cel ebrations is the displaying of hand-crafted ornaments and clothing, and enticing cuisines. However, due to the COVID-19 restrictions which were in place for over two years, many were not able to showcase their tal ents and traditional foods as all events were held vir tually. This year, psychical cel ebrations returned under the theme, “Celebrating our tra ditional culture while building one Guyana’ at the Nation al Stadium, Providence, on Thursday evening, and at the Amerindian Heritage Village, Sophia Exhibition Centre, on Friday. Other activities will be held throughout the month. Speaking with both the Indigenous exhibitors and patrons at both locations, high praises for the physical return of the celebrations were ex pressed.Inez Dundas, who hails from St Cuthbert’s Mission said, “It feels great being out here showcasing our craft. We had a major setback for the past couple of years because we have not been able to sell our crafts, so this is great.” Dundas, who was ac companied by her mother, is one of the many Indigenous women displaying an array of headdresses, hats, purses and other items at the National Stadium.“Wehave from headdress to hats, purse, coaster sets, fruit bowls, chains and ear rings,” she Equallysaid.excited was Deb orah Mathias, the owner of Rave Design. Mathias who owns a stall in one of the city malls noted that she usually looks forward to showcasing her hand-crafted jewellery during the Heritage Month festivities.Shenoted that the month’s events would usually give her business a bit of a boost. She sells hand-crafted jew ellery and accessories made with semi-precious stones, sea shells, bamboo, coconut and other natural and repurposed materials.Jason Mark journeyed with his trusty grill, Indige nous seasonings and spices all the way from Annai Village in the North Rupununi, Region Nine to Mark,Providence.whowas cooking up a storm when this publi cation arrived at the location, caught the attention of many patrons as the aroma of well grilled shish kebobs made with wild meat, pork beef and chicken, filled the area. He was one of the many chefs offering a variety of Amerindian dishes. Patrons were treated to delicacies such as Labba Tuma, Tacoma worms, Bush Cow Pepperpot and of course, the exciting kick of the Piwari and Fly, two popular Amerin dianMeanwhile,beverages.
at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, the Guyana Chronicle met Roaland Taylor of Rupert Village, Region Nine.Taylor, who is a skilled sculptor, disclosed that he depends primarily on tourists and Heritage Month festivities to promote and sell his art pieces.“It’s something that has really been missing for the past two years. When Heri tage [Month] coming on, it’s like Christmas, so, I feel very powerful and good that we have come back to normal so we can celebrate our culture.”
“For the past years, with the sculpture work I do, it affected me a lot, because I depend mostly on tourists. So, with Heritage coming back I feel good that I can make sales,” he added.
Big boost for craftsmen and women as Heritage Month celebrations return
16 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, September 3, 2022
The Guyana Chronicle also met Natalial Pewzala, an Ethiopian who is currently on vacation in Guyana. She has been having an exciting time, exploring and discovering the Indigenous culture, arts, and cuisines.“Iwish that I could see them everywhere. We have to wait until September; that’s once a Pewzalamonth.”noted that she will be a frequent visitor to the other events that are slated for the remainder of the month. The Amerindian arts, craft and cuisine event at the Sophia location will be held throughout the weekend.
Natalial Pewzala, a visitor from Ethiopia, inquiries about a handmade craft item at the Amerindian arts, craft and cuisine event at the Sophia Exhibition Centre (Delano Williams photo)
By Naomi Parris
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LONDON, (CMC) – Cal lum Harriott, a 28-year-old Guyana international based in England, says his United Kingdom football career has been shattered despite being cleared of raping a woman by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court. Harriott, a winger who most recently played for League Two club, Colchester United, said he was “devas tated” by the allegation made against him after a night out in Colchester in November 2019 – the same month he scored his first international goal for Guyana in a 4-2 win against Aruba in a CONCACAF Na tions League match. He had made his debut for the Jaguars against Belize eight months earlier. The unnamed complainant, a woman in her 20s, claimed she was raped while she slept at Harriott’s former home in Colchester, hours after the pair met in a cocktail bar. Harriott maintained the sex was con sensual.Following the unanimous not guilty verdict after a fiveday trial, the footballer, who played for Colchester between 2019 and 2021, issued a state ment on social media saying the damage his career had suffered was “irrecoverable”. “The arrest relied upon baseless allegations which were exposed by a belated and full investigation long before the trial commenced,” said Harri ott, who now lives in Biggin Hill, Greater London. “Not only were my family and I devastated by the false claim but my career shattered. “The public had appeared to have already made up their minds due to the reports in the media, only for me to be ex onerated by a unanimous jury verdict three years later. “But the damage had been done. I was subjected to online abuse and “Threevilification.yearslostin a suc cessful young footballer’s play ing career is irrecoverable, it is life-changing.“Thedamage done to fam ily, friends, colleagues, my professional life and income was“Iintolerable.couldnot have survived the ordeal had it not been for the unwavering support of my close friends, many colleagues and my Harriott,family.”who scored 12 goals in 64 appearances for Colchester before his contract expired in May 2021, nodded and held his head in his hands when the jury returned their verdict.Harriott said he lost another year of his professional career because of delays regarding the crown court backlog. “As the verdict of the jury has demonstrated, this was entirely without justifi cation,” he said.
Jamaica’s second entrant Stephenie Ann McPherson was eighth and last in 51.73 seconds.Thewomen’s 100m hurdles event was won in convinc ing fashion by Puerto Rico’s Olympics champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn in Meet Re cord 12.27 seconds, ahead of American Tia Jones in a per sonal-best 12.38 seconds, with former world record holder Kendra Harrison third in 12.40 seconds.Jamaica’s(CNW)Britany Ander son was next in 12.44 seconds with compatriot Megan Tapper fifth in a personal best of 12.51 seconds. Bahamian Devynne Charlton was next with 12.66 seconds.Meanwhile, American Err iyon Knighton won the men’s 200m in 20.07 seconds ahead of Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic with 20.18 seconds and Canada’s Aaron Brown with 20.22 seconds. Trinidadian Jereem Rich ards ran 2.27 seconds for fourth place. The top athletes on points for each of the Diamond League disciplines will line up in next week’s Zurich Diamond League Finals over two days where the winners walk away with the respective diamond trophies.
Jaguar Harriott says career shattered despite acquittal
Saints Hockey Club shock Bounty GCC ... From page 28 RACING TIPS
24 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, September 3, 2022
The Bull Dogs tried but had no response for their vicious coun terparts. The match ended 14-0 in favour of the GCC Pitbulls. In the sixth match of the evening Bounty GCC War Dogs drew with Saints Hockey Club (SHC) Superstars. Lucas Sargeant and Joash scored for the War Dogs while Jabari Lovell and Nkhruma Hutson registered goals for SHC. What can be dubbed the most exciting match of the evening saw the young Saints Hockey Club team up against the more experienced counter parts, Bounty GCC Pitbulls. Within 60 seconds of play Sha keem Fausette of SHC bored the nets of the energetic and structured GCC Pitbulls. Within the 8th and 10th minutes respectively, brothers Shoimere and Tahrea Garnette of the said club followed suit. This sent the crowd in frenzy with the more youthful team registering 3 goals at halftime. In the second half of the game Meshach Sargeant of GCC Pitbulls responded after scoring on a penalty corner. Try as they did, the game ended in favour of SHC with 3-1. In the final match of the evening YMCA Old Fort scored 6 goals while Saints Hockey Club Aces managed to score two Ingoals.the U20 girls’ category, GCC Spartans lead the stand ings with 9 points followed by YMCA Old Fort Samurais with 6 points. YMCA Old Fort lead the U20 boys with 6 points. GBTI GCC Spartans lead the women's division with 6 points while Woodpecker Hikers and GBTI GCC Tigers tie on 3 points apiece. In the men’s division YMCA Old Fort stand on top with 6 points. No games will be played today and the LUCOZADE Indoor Hockey Tournament will continue Sunday at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
SHERICKA Jackson inflicted a first loss of the season on Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the women’s 100m at the Me morial van Damme Brussels Diamond League yesterday. Lined up in a stock field at the King Baudouin Stadium in the final meet before the season-ending Zurich Diamond League Finals set for Septem ber 6 and 7, Jackson finished fastest of all to nip Fraser-Pryce on the line in 10.73 seconds to 10.74 seconds. It was Fraser-Pryce’s first appearance since pulling out of last week’s Lausanne Diamond League meet due to a hamstring niggle. Incidentally, Jackson, who was warned for “disturb ing” the start of that event, was upset by American Aleia Hobbs by a hundredth of a second. Elaine Thompson-Herah had also false-started in the same event to add more drama to what was expected to be a mouth-watering race. Then last Tuesday at the 2022 Spitzen Leichtathletik meet in Luzern, yesterday’sditions.secondsardsonrisingintoThompson-HerahSwitzerland,wasbeatensecondplacebyAmericanstarSha’CarriRichinapedestrian11.29inunfavourableconRichardsonwasenteredineventbutwasno match for her peers, finishing in fifth place in 10.93 seconds. Third place went to Marie Josee Ta Lou in 10.78 sec onds, with fourth place going to Hobbs in 10.81 seconds. No other Jamaican was able to make podium places as Can dice McLeod (50.76 seconds) fared no better than fifth place in the women’s 400m, with victory going to the Dominican Republic’s Fiordaliza Cofil in a personal best 49.80 seconds. Barbadian Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Sada Williams, was second in 50.15 seconds, with Belgium’s Cyn thia Bolingo third in a National Record 50.19 seconds.
Jackson ends Fraser-Pryce’s 100m win streak
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"We've been able to attract some exciting names - the likes of Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone. But we focus on South African talent as well. Being able to put 60 or 70 South African players on a global platform is something we're excited about. We've seen how that's benefit ted Indian cricket in the IPL." The significance of the SA20 paying players more than any fran chise T20 league, except the IPL, would seem to show in the fact that those involved in the BBL - which runs from December 13 to February 4 - and the SA20 will, Smith said, leave Australia early. Currently, that will affect only Khan and Liv ingstone."We have an arrangement to allow players to play for a portion of the Big Bash," Smith said. "They'll be there for the first few days of January, and then they'll move over to us. They'll be available fully for the South African league." Three ODIs that England were due to have played in South Africa in December 2020, but which were postponed after the English went home due to COVID-19, will clash with the SA20. "We have worked around it in our scheduling," Smith said.SA20 co-owners SuperSport own the sub-Saharan broadcast rights. As for the rest, "we're current ly in the market internationally, both commercially and from a broadcast perspective. There's a lot of conver sationsThehappening."biggerpicture is how the tournament, which is key to the cricket industry staying afloat in South Africa, will impact other sec tors of the game. At the top of that list is that its positioning in a prime part of the country's summer means South Africa will play only 28 Tests from 2023 to 2027.
A couple of boundary hits not withstanding, Hong Kong were un able to handle the fiery pace from Pakistan in the power-play. He started with five wides but Naseem more than made up for it in his second over when he had Nizkhat Khan chip one to cover and Babar Hayat bowled for a four-ball duck to leave Hong Kong reeling at 162. That soon turned into 19-3 when Shahnawaz Dahani bounced out Yasim Murtaza in a wicket-maiden fifth over of the chase.
If the power-play score of 25-3 wasn't bad already, Shadab (4 for 8) and Mohammad Nawaz (3 for 5) ran through the rest of the order to hasten Hong Kong's exit from Asia Cup. In the 4.4 overs between them after the fielding restrictions were removed, the duo scalped all the remaining seven wickets for just 13 runsThecombined.leg-spinner resorted to the wrong'uns, and bowled Aizaz and Haroon Arshad. In between the two strikes was Nawaz's double-wicket over where KD Shah was trapped in front having missed his attempt ed slog-sweep and Scott McKech nie was bowled through his legs going for a similar shot. Ayush Shukla became Sha dab's third victim as he failed to read the googly. Unaware of the prospect of a hat-trick, Paki stan spread out the field but the leggie had to wait only a couple of deliveries for his fourth, and Hong Kong's last, to ring in the celebration. (Cricbuzz.com)
"The structure of the season changes every year," Smith said. "There are things everyone grapples with in the international game with the growth of T20; trying to un derstand how all the formats fit in. It's an interesting discussion going forward."Every year South Africa has played a T20 tournament. Now it's got to a level that elevates it to something of the standard that we've seen across the world. It brings a lot of expertise into our game. It's going to bring financial support to South African cricket that, hopefully, is go ing to benefit all formats of the game in South Africa. It will increase our player pool and standard, and keep us relevant in the international game. "We envisage that we will al ways start after the New Year Test. We don't see it as an issue for Test cricket. We see it as an issue of growing South African cricket and keeping it strong." If South Africa win the third Test that starts at the Oval on Sep tember 8, expect an outpouring of unhappiness about what the Hundred is doing to English cricket. If En gland win, expect a flood of concern about what the SA20 will do to South Africa's hopes of remaining a Test powerhouse. Either way, do not expect praise for white-ball innovation and appreciation for the great leap forward the IPL has meant for the entire game in India. Cricket, proper cricket, doesn't work like that. (Cricbuzz.com.)
Pakistan complete Super 4s line-up with record win
RIZWAN-FAKHAR REBUILD A disciplined bowling effort, led by the spinners, did not allow Pakistan to get away in the middle overs. But, as Zaman noted, keep ing wickets in hand for late hitting was always the plan and he did exactly that alongside Rizwan. The second-wicket pair stitched a cru cial 116-run partnership that set the base for their winning total of 193. The fifty of the partnership came just at the halfway mark, following which Rizwan began to break the shackles. He shimmed down the track and tonked one straight over Mohammad Ghaz anfar's head for his only six of the game, before fetching consecutive boundaries en route to his 43-ball fifty. Like a perfect second fiddle, Zaman played along with a run-aball 30 until then.
Cricket South Africa's newest T20 league to be called SA20… … Player auction will be on September 19
FAKHAR, KHUSHDIL TURN THE TABLES
SPINNERS TIGHTEN THE NOOSE
The inaugural edition of the SA20 will be played January-February 2023
FIFTIES from Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman, followed by a game-changing cameo of 35* from Khushdil Shah sent Pakistan through to the Super Fours of the ongoing Asia Cup 2020 with a 155run annihilation of Hong Kong on yesterday.Putin to bat first, Pakistan stunned Hong Kong with a scintil lating display of slog-overs pow er-hitting, going from 104-1 at the end of 14th to finish with 193-2. Chasing the mammoth total in a winner-take-all contest, Hong Kong had no answers to either Naseem Shah's express pace in the pow er-play or Shadab Khan's googlies post Theythat. collapsed to 38 all out, handing Pakistan their biggest victory in T20I history. A tricky pitch - the UAE tracks finally living up to their reputation of being slow - made it an easy call for Hong Kong to put the opposi tion in first in the do-or-die clash. And the bowlers kept a tight leash on Pakistan openers with stump to stump bowling, not offering any freebies.They brought spin into the attack as early as the third over and Ehsan Khan produced the key breakthrough. Swept for a four on the previous ball, the off-spinner slipped in an even slower one and Babar, looking for a single down the ground, ended up offering a low return catch to depart for 9 off 8.
It was in the 15th over, sent down by Ghazanfar, that Fakhar decided to switch gears and ham mered a maximum deep into mid wicket stands before raising his own fifty, off 38 balls, with another six, off Yasim Murtaza, that he literally smashed out of the park. Ehsan ended Zaman's fire works as soon as he returned into the attack with a low full toss that the left-hander sliced to point. But Hong Kong's misery was far from over. Sent ahead of Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab, Khushdil justified his promotion with a cameo that forced Hong Kong into submission. He hit five sixes, four of them in the final over alone, off Aizaz Khan, that was worth 29. Pakistan stole 89 runs from their last six overs, and much like in their game against India, it was this late accel eration that knocked Hong Kong out of the contest before their chase could get underway.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, September 3, 2022 25
PACERS LAND EARLY BLOWS
IT'S called the SA20. Not the SA T20 or the South Africa T20. CSA's lifesaving T20 tournament was named on Wednesday. Its inaugural edition will be played in January and February next year. The six franchises each have a US$2M salary cap. The player auc tion will be on September 19. Thirty-three matches will be played, and will include dou ble-headers and three knockout games. A women's tournament is planned for the future, perhaps as early as next year. Right. What else might you want to know? Maybe how the SA20 will live with the UAE's ILT20, which is set to run concurrently. The readymade case study is Moeen Ali, who has signed to play in both tournaments."Iwasin the UAE last week net working with their league, and we've agreed a way of handling it," Graeme Smith, the SA20 commissioner, told a press conference on Wednesday. "There needs to be a way for both of us to co-exist. I'm looking forward to further engagement with them on that." Regarding Moeen specifically: "We have aligned on a strategy in terms, allowing the player to be comfortable on what he does and where he decides to play. I'm dealing with the UAE league on that."But, Smith being Smith, one of the most competitive players cricket has yet seen in his days as South Af rica's captain, he didn't avoid having a go at the UAE venture - whose six franchises will each be able to sign up to a dozen foreign players in their squads of 18. The SA20 squads of 17 will not feature more than seven foreigners, and every XI will include at least seven South Africa-based players. "When a league requires the amount of international talent that they do, it makes the player market interesting and tough," Smith said.
26 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, September 3, 2022
England batter Bairstow ruled out of third Test and T20 World Cup Jonny Bairstow has scored 1 061 runs in 10 Tests in 2022
Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Shoaib Malik-272 runs (Barbados Tridents) (2) Shoaib Malik-78 (Barbados Tridents vs St. Lucia Zouks) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who took most wickets in CPL 2013? (2) What were the best bowling figures in the first CPL season? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Mayers fireworks ensure Barbados Royals’ winning start
A rare doubles pairing of Serena Williams and Venus Williams saw the sisters lose 7-6 (5), 6-4 to the Czech duo of Linda Noskova and Lucie Hradecka in first-round action at the U.S. Open in New York on Thursday night
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday September 03, 2022)
Kyle Mayers goes on the attack during his halfcentury for Barbados Royals on Thursday (Photo courtesy Getty/ CPL)
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Kyle Mayers’ rapid half-century un derlined Barbados Roy als’ winning start to their Men’s Caribbean Pre mier League (CPL) cam paign, easily brushing aside St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by seven wickets here late Thursday night. Chasing 150 in a con test at Warner Park reduced to 17 overs per side due to rain, Royals never wavered as they easily reached their target with 11 balls to spare, the left-handed Mayers top-scoring with 73 from 46 ingballshammeringPatriotsFletchergames.withPatriots–lost2021turned25addedRahkeemdeliveries.Cornwallabrisk39fromballstoensureRoyalsthepageonapoorcampaignwhentheytheirfirsttwooutingsincludingthesecondto–andfinishedlastthreewinsfromtenIn-formopenerAndrehadearliergivenafightingchance,81from55topropelthedefendchampionsupto149 for eight from their quota of overs.Unfortunately, how ever, he was the only one to pass 20, seamers Jason Holder (2-21) and Ramon Simmonds (2-28) making key strikes to keep the Patriots progress in check.
“It’s a lot of hard work that goes into winning but I give credit to the boys, they bowled exceptionally well I thought,” said Roy als captain David Miller. “There were a couple of big overs but they man aged to pull it back. (There was) great fielding, we took our catches and ob viously the batting was exceptional.”Headded: “The pow er-play was pretty import ant and the guys came out beautifully. We always knew with the wind and the smaller boundaries, we were in (with) a good chance.”Thedefeat for Patriots was their second in as many nights following their opening loss at the hands of Jamaica Talla wahs on Wednesday. “It’s just a matter of clicking and putting on a better all-round display,” said captain Dwayne Bra vo. “Well played to the Royals – they played very well. Kyle Mayers and big Jimbo (Cornwall), they put us under pressure in the power-play.“Weneeded to pick up wickets in the power-play – that didn’t happen, so credit to Fletcherthem.”led the charge for the home side after they were sent in, lashing 11 fours and a six. He put on 57 for the first wicket with Joshua Da Silva (19) but they were the only ones to reach double figures as Patriots lost their last five wickets for 21 runs in the space of 17 balls. Mayers and Cornwall then led a brutal assault, posting 66 off 38 balls for the first wicket. While Mayers crunched half-doz en fours and four sixes, Cornwall counted three fours and as many sixes before becoming the first casualty in the eighth over. There was no collapse for Royals, however, as Mayers added a further 60 for the second wick et with South African Corbin Bosch (10) to put his side in sight of vic tory.
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Williams sisters knocked out of US Open women's doubles in first round
ENGLAND batter Jon ny Bairstow has been ruled out of the third Test against South Africa and the Twenty20 World Cup after sustaining a possi ble broken left leg while playing golf yesterday. The 32-year-old slipped walking to a tee box and will see a special ist to ascertain the extent of the Bairstowinjury. confirmed on his Instagram account that he will need Nottinghamshire'ssurgery. Ben Duckett has been added to the squad for the series-de ciding Test at the Kia Oval. The Yorkshireman has been in brilliant form in 2022, scoring 1 061 runs and six centuries in 10 Tests, and remains a key part of England's whiteballEarlierteams. yesterday he was named in England's squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia, which begins for England on Oc tober 22, with managing director Rob Key confirm ing Bairstow was set to open the Instead,batting.areplacement for the 15-man group must be found, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirming that an announcement will be made in due suchfreakthisbeendevastatingonAlexEx-Englandcourse.spinnerHartley,speakingBBCTwo,said:"It'snews,hehassogoodforEnglandsummer.TosustainainjuryplayinggolfisablowforEngland, but more importantly for Bairstow."WithBairstow missing, his Yorkshire team-mate Harry Brook could be in line to make his Test de but against South Africa. The 23-year-old has been part of the England squad throughout the summer and will now compete with left-hander Duckett for a place in the Duckett,XI.27, is also an option to replace Bairstow in the World Cup squad. He is one of three batters included in the touring par ty to take on Pakistan later in September not named in the tournament squad. Surrey's Will Jacks, 23, and Jordan Cox of Kent, 21, are the other two, while there is still the possibility that Jason Roy could be in line for a quick recall having been dropped from the origi nal 15. (BBC Sport)
SERENA and Venus Wil liams' doubles return proved short-lived as they fell to a first-round defeat at the US Open. Teaming up for the first time since 2018, and prob ably the last time, they lost 7-6(7-5). 6-4 to Czechs Lucie Hradecka and Linda Nosko va. Together, the American greats have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. Serena Williams, 40, is due to retire after the tourna ment, while the future plans of elder sister Venus, at 42, remainSerenaunknown.wasscheduled to play Australia's Ajla Toml janovic in the third round of the women's singles yester day, but Venus was knocked out in the first round. Opening the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday, the sisters failed to convert two set points on their opponents' serve at 5-4, with break points having earlier gone begging for both pairs.Hradecka and Noskova edged the ensuing tie-break on their first set point, with 37-year-old Hradecka wrap ping up proceedings with a powerful backhand down the Sheline. and Noskova, 20 years her junior, went on to dominate the second set, sealing an early break. They soon held double break point for 4-0 but Noskova couldn't convert from close to the net in a slice of luck for the Wil liams sisters, who went on to hold and end a five-game losingTheystreak.went on to break back but it proved in vain as Hradecka and Noskova broke their serve again on their sec ond match point.
The Williams sisters re main the most recent wom en's doubles team to hold all four major doubles titles at once with wins at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2009, followed by triumphs at the Australian Open and French Open in 2010. The last of their Grand Slam doubles titles together came at Wimbledon in 2016, more than 17 years after their first at Roland Garros in 1999, while they also have three Olympic doubles gold medals.Venus Williams returned to action for the hard-court swing, appearing in Cincin nati, Toronto and Washing ton, after nearly a year off following a leg injury, and was awarded a wildcard for the US Open. She is currently ranked 1,504th in the world in the singles, while Serena is 605th. They have a combined 30 Grand Slam singles ti tles, 23 of which belong to Serena. (BBC Sport)
The recommendations to streamline DRS processes were twofold: one, to ensure the players don't inadver tently waste time around re views, and two, to ensure the umpires do not go through unnecessary steps during the review process. "In general, (the MCC recommends) ICC playing regulations be reviewed to tighten the parameters around when substitutes are permit ted onto the field of play i.e. with gloves, drinks etc," the MCC's statement said. "More specifically, when a not-out decision is reviewed by the fielding side (or when an umpire review is made with a not-out soft signal), the fielding team should im mediately return to their posi tions, ready to bowl the next delivery."Batters should also re main in the proximity and prepare to recommence play. No drinks should be brought onto the field. If the decision is overturned to out, the field ing side will still have time to celebrate."Tospeed up DRS re views, the MCC recommend ed that the "standard protocol should be cut short as soon as the TV production team is aware that it will be not out. For example, time is often spent trying to discern an inside edge for lbws, only to see that the ball was missing the stumps. As soon as the ball tracking has been loaded, if it will result in a not-out de cision, the TV umpire should be informed immediately."
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, September 3, 2022 27
Skerrit,WestvanKumarMcCullum,guly,Dharmasena,AlastairJamieMikeCOMMITTEE?CRICKETGatting(chair),Cox,SuzieBates,Cook,KumarSouravGanTimMay,BrendonRamizRaja,Sangakkara,VincederBijlandCricketIndiespresidentRicky(Cricinfo)
PENALTY RUNS TIME-WASTINGFOR
MCC urges ICC to speed up game, penalise time-wasting, streamline DRS process
HOW TO MAKE THE DRS QUICKER
On average, 31.5 minutes were lost on each full day of play in the England-New Zealand Test series (Getty Images) Ball checks/changes - usually not because they have landed in a pint of beer - is one of five major reasons for delays (PA Images/Getty)
Law 41.9 further says: "If the waste of time is during the course of an over, the umpire will direct the captain of the fielding side to suspend the bowler immediately from bowling. The bowler thus suspended shall not be al lowed to bowl again in that innings."The MCC's research found that during the Tests, drinks were "taken at sched uled times regardless of what happened in the previous hour e.g. even if wickets/re views meant drinks had been takenTorecently.cutdown on time lost to this, it said drinks inter vals should be adjusted to coincide with other naturally occurring breaks in play. "Drinks intervals should be taken immediately if a wick et falls or a DRS review is made within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, and not re-taken at the next scheduled break."Where exactly is time lost during a game? The MCC found that on av erage, 31.5 minutes were lost on each full day of play at the England-New Zealand Test series. Of this, the time taken to reset between overs was the major source of de lay, a)with20 minutes taken in changing ends b) four minutes lost to reviewsc)three minutes lost to balld)checks/changestwo-and-a-half min utes lost to changing other equipmente)two minutes to move ments behind the bowler and adjusting sightscreens In comparison, the MCC's research found, "the average change between overs in Test cricket took 10-15 sec onds longer than in County Championship cricket... The average 'standard' change of over (without a new bowler or batter) was 55 seconds in Tests and 45 seconds in countyBreakingcricket."down the time lost to the DRS process fur ther, the MCC noted "there were approximately 64 min utes lost during the series to the DRS, which consisted of the following: player discus sions where no review was taken (six minutes), player reviews (47 minutes) and umpire reviews (11 minutes). "It took an average of 25 seconds for the fielding side to be ready to bowl the next ball after the DRS had con firmed an umpire's not-out decision."
WHO'S ON THE WORLD
… also recommends umpires enforce laws relating to penalty runs for repeated time-wasting more strictly, and time drinks breaks better
Anisa Mohammed made her debut for West Indies athe age of 13 in 2003
“Anisa has been a true stalwart of West Indies Women’s cricket for over a decade. We at CWI wish her well and will provide any support she may re quire during this period away from international cricket and look forward to welcoming her back in March,” said CWI’s Di rector of Cricket Jimmy Adams.“Cricket has given me all that I have, and I still love it as much as the first day I started playing, there fore this decision was not an easy one for me, espe cially with the T20 World Cup five months away. However, I must listen to my body and my mind that I need to take time away from the game at this time. This is not a perma nent goodbye but rather a see you soon. I wish the team all the best in all their forthcoming series, and I know Hayley will fulfil her role as captain, as I’ve seen her mature and grow as a person and cricketer,” said
Significantly, the MCC wants umpires to more ac tively enforce the laws of the game that are concerned with time-wasting. Law 41.9 and 41.10, which deal with delays by the bowling and batting side respectively, allow the umpire to issue an official warning if they "consider that the progress of an over is unnecessarily slow, or time is being wasted in any other way", followed by five pen alty runs for a repeat offence.
Mohammed.Mohammed made her debut for the West Indies at the age of 13 at the Wom en’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Holland in 2003. She established herself as the premier spin bowler for the West Indies Wom en, going on to become the first cricketer, male or female, to take 100 T20I wickets and ultimately the leading wicket-taker in the format with 125 scalps. (Sportsmax)
THE Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), through its World Cricket Committee, has called for the ICC to speed up restarts after DRS reviews, and tighten up the DRS process itself, in a bid to address the issue of slow over rates in the game. The MCC, the keeper of the laws of cricket, made the recommendations, following research into how much time was lost on each day's play during New Zealand's three Tests in England in June. It has also recommended that umpires enforce the laws of the game relating to penalty runs for repeated time-wast ing more strictly, and time drinks breaks better. The recommendations were made with a specific focus on Test cricket.
Anisa Mohammed to take leave of absence from international cricket
WEST Indies Women vice-captain Anisa Mohammed has decided to take leave of absence from international cricket for a period of six months. Mohammed request ed to take a break from the game with immediate effect, after a hectic year of cricket both home and away.The 33-year-old’s de cision to take time away from cricket comes with the full support of Cricket West Indies (CWI).
Saints Hockey Club shock Bounty GCC Pitbulls 3-1 Continued on page 24
28 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, September 3, 2022 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208 | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 MCC urges ICC to speed up game Story on page 27 Jackson ends Fraser-Pryce’s 100m win streak Story on page 24 Story on page 24 Jamaica's Shericka Jackson celebrates winning the women's 100m final (REUTERS/Johanna Geron) CalluminternationalGuyanaHarriott Jaguar Harriott says career shattered despite acquittal
THE first match of the evening saw the U20 girls in action with YMCA Old Fort Samu rais versus GCC Tornadoes. With only two minutes on the clock the brilliant Kalifa Hicks of YMCA Old Fort Samurais found the back of GCC Tor nadoes net. The ambitious striker found the net several other times, scoring two goals in the 10th minute and two more in the 20th minute to conclude the game with 8 goals overall giving her side the win. In the Group B category of the U20 girls GCC Herricanes eliminated their competitors YMCA Old Fort Scouts by scor ing 5 goals to nil. Trin Tucker scored two goals with Tamar Bhagwandin, Paige Fernandes and Analisa Perreira contributing one goal each. The GCC Spartans junior girls defeated their competitor Saints Hockey Club Aces 8-1 with Madison Fernandes scoring four of those goals. The senior ladies’ matchup between GBTI GCC Spartans and Woodpecker Hikers saw a scoreless game for the first 19 minutes. The two teams battled for possession of the ball and with Hikers ladies trying to de fend their goal a penalty stroke was blown against them. The savvy and ever persistent Sarah Klautly GBTI GCC Spartans took the penalty stroke for her team giving them their first goal in the 20th minute. Alysa Xavier handed her team another goal when she scored in mere seconds before the buzzer. Group A of the U20 boys saw YMCA Old Fort record a win over Saints Hockey Club Scorpios. The latter team went down 5-0. In Group B of the same category the GCC Pitbulls proved to be too skilful for the GCC Bull Dogs. The Pitbulls brushed aside their compatriots when they found the net 14 times, seven in the first half.
