Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_03_13_2022

13th March, 2022

Free Inside No.106661

$40M sand-mining operation set to come on stream –– income generation estimated at $140M 03 PAGE

Justice Cecil Kennard, ‘true patriot and sports enthusiast,’ dies at 86 02 PAGE

Gov’t reduces some charges, eyeing lower fertiliser costs 05 PAGE

… to ease rice farmers’ woes

Housing Minister warns against fraudsters 13 PAGE

Guyana joins Sadhguru’s ‘Save Soil Movement’ 20 PAGE

President Dr Irfaan Ali (right) has joined the ‘Save Soil Movement’ by Sadhguru (left) who is on a one-day visit to Guyana. Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, looks on as the two engage in discussions on Saturday at State House (Office of the President photo)

2

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Justice Cecil Kennard, ‘true patriot and sports enthusiast’, dies at 86

By Tamica Garnett

JUSTICE (ret’d) Cecil Kennard passed away at the age of 86 on Saturday, at approximately 02:00hrs, at his suburban New Haven, Bel Air home while surrounded by his family.

Speaking with the Sunday Chronicle, Justice Kennard’s son, Gary, explained that his father had been hospitalised following a period of illness, and had started to recover, but a few days ago, his health started to decline once again.

“He was in hospital for about 11 days, and we had brought him out of hospital just two weeks ago. Up

Justice (ret’d) Cecil Kennard

to a couple of days ago, he was communicating and eating very well, but then, on Wednesday, things just took a bad turn, and he didn’t recover from that,” Gary explained.

He and his mother, Chan, were at home at the time of Justice Kennard’s passing, Gary said. Describing his father as “a diehard Guyanese to the core”, Gary noted that he particularly remembers his father’s love of sports, and all the contributions he made in the world of sports and law.

“My dad was very patriotic; he was a loyal, staunch Guyanese, a sports enthusiast, and someone who basically loved his country dearly.

He bled the Golden Arrowhead; he never wanted to leave.

And he tried to serve See page 4

Justice Kennard, his wife, Chan, and son, Gary share a family moment

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

$40M sand-mining operation set to come on stream

3

– income generation estimated at $140M

By Rehana Ahamad A LOCALLY owned company named Connection International is looking to invest up to $40 million to set up a 22-acre sand mining operation along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, according to a proposal recently submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The document, prepared by the company’s sole proprietor, Telford Layne, indicates that the aforementioned cost would cover expenses for a used fronthead loader, the purchase of fuel, as well as the payment of salaries, maintenance and miscellaneous.

More interestingly, with Guyana’s current construction boom, the company has estimated that its income will more than triple the size of the initial investment.

“The forecasted generated income stands at $140 million of which the royalties have to be deducted monthly for the GGMC (Guyana Geology and Mines Commission),” the proposal noted. The company said that it intends to make royalty payments on the third day of every month.

The calculated income is expected to derive from a reserve that is estimated to contain approximately two million tonnes of sand deposits. Layne, in his proposal, noted that the operation aims to supply materials for the regional glass-making market, as well as “the best quality of sand for construction and civil works.”

Once approved by the EPA, the total duration of the project, including the reclamation exercise, is slated to be around seven years, with the implementation of three phases of operations: clearing, mining and reclamation.

The new sand-mining operation is expected to be facilitated on a 22-acre plot “All clearing, mining and reclamation will be done in accordance with the EPA regulations,” Layne said, emphasising the fact that his company’s operation will have an environmental impact of less than one-percent, since the area is already an allotted mining zone with zero human population.

Once mining begins, Layne outlined that this will be done in a strategic manner, beginning with 10acre slots. “Ten acres will be cleared out for mining and when these 10 acres are finished it will be replanted or prepared for reclamation and after a while, converted to an eco-tourism patch after the entire 22 acres are mined,” the proposal read.

The mining activity will last for a period of six years and six months and the reclamation period will last for the same duration.

Further, Layne said that all man-made waste will be buried six feet, while all waste oil will be resold or “given away” to those in need. According to the proj-

ect summary, Connection International Company is a multi-marketing company that markets in logs, lumber and mining, and soon gearing up to engage in commercial agriculture, vegetables and fruits and other natural raw products that may be in demand. Layne’s operation is coming on stream at a time when there has been growing demands for construction materials, including sand and stone.

Along with the demands, investors seem to have been heeding the government’s call to ramp up production in aggregates, as well as continued investments in the sand-mining and quarry industries.

Consequently, within the past couple of years, the sector has seen notable growth. As a matter of fact, figures recently provided by Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, shows that for 2021, the production for sand alone surpassed 1.65 million tonnes, as compared to the 688,051 tonnes produced in 2020.

But even with improved

production, there have still been complaints of shortages of materials, including sand, in various parts of the country.

Notwithstanding this, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, had reported that even with the devastating 2021 floods, the quarry sector still managed to expand by some 81.6 per cent. “Sand extraction and stone production are estimated to have grown by 132.8 per cent and 15.9 percent, respectively,” Minister Singh specified.

With a number of new quarries and mining operations slated to come on stream by the end of 2022, production figures by the end of this year would see further improvements.

“Beyond oil and gas, other extractives such as gold, bauxite, sand, stone, and other minerals will be major contributors to Guyana’s economy going forward. Our government recognises the critical role of the mining sector in the

economy and will continue to invest in, and promote, the expansion of the sector,” Dr Singh told the National Assembly last month.

Shortly after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic assumed office in 2020, it brought an end to what was deemed as a standstill in the quarry industry, owing to the non-granting of licences throughout the tenure of the David Granger-led government.

With Guyana embarking on a massive infrastructural transformation, the government has promised increased and continued investments to boost the production of construction materials.

In addition to sand, efforts are already afoot to also facilitate cement production.

4

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Justice Cecil Kennard, ‘true patriot ...

From page 2

the best way he could,” Gary shared.

Aside from his exemplary career in law, Justice Kennard was just as wellknown for his involvement in sports, particularly horse racing, for which he was the Honorary President of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club.

“He was a sports enthusiast, and cricket and horse racing were his passions.

He loved the practise of law; that was also his passion.

One of his greatest pride was being appointed Chancellor of the Judiciary in 1999, and just serving his country,” Gary said.

CONDOLENCES POURING IN Condolences for Justice Kennard poured in on Saturday, and included messages from the government, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, and Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, SC. President Ali described Justice Kennard’s contributions to Guyana as “nothing short of extraordinary”.

“His relentless and unwavering work in the Judiciary and improved governance of our country has created a better Guyana for all of us. On behalf of the Government and People of

Guyana, I express my condolences to his family, and assure you of my prayers and thoughts,” the President said in his message, while Vice-President Jagdeo said: “It is with much sadness that I learned of the passing of former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard. I wish to express condolences to his relatives and friends, and those whose lives he made an impact on during his years as a member of the legal fraternity, and as an avid supporter of horseracing.”

Minister Nandlall, in a Facebook post, detailed the life and work of Justice Kennard, noting that he’s

“left his indelible print on the fabric of Guyana, and the Caribbean’s criminal jurisprudence”.

As he went on to say: “His hunger to render public service was another of his many phenomenal characteristics. Only a few weeks ago, he and I spoke about his interest to serve in a particular legal office.”

BAR CALL Justice Kennard’s legal career spans several decades.

It began in 1962 after he graduated from the prestigious Lincoln’s Inn in London, and was called to the

Justice Cecil Kennard (left) when he was Chancellor of the Judiciary, swearing in the President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo in 1999 local bar that same year.

In 1965, he was appointed Crown Counsel in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and after Guyana gained its Independence in 1966, he continued in that office as State Counsel.

Justice Kennard also served as a Legal Adviser to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) from 1971 to 1973, during which period he also acted as a rent assessment magistrate on a part time basis.

After spending a number of years in Antigua, prosecuting a number of high-profile cases in there, Justice Kennard returned to Guyana in 1977, and was appointed a High Court Judge. In June 1985, he was appointed a Justice of Appeal, followed ten years later, in January 1995 to be precise, by his appointment as Chief Justice.

In 1996, he was awarded the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH) for distinguished service in the area of law.

It was also in that year that he was appointed Chancellor of the Judiciary. Justice Kennard also served as Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority until 2017.

STELLAR CAREER During his stellar career, Justice Kennard

March 12, 2022

F 4 5 7 19 2325 9 March 05, 2022

I 6 13 14 15 19 22 2

12/03/22 - 7, 9, 16, 22, 25

12/03/22 - 2 2 1

12/03/22 - 4 9 5

would have prosecuted some of the most high-profile cases both in Guyana and Antigua, Minister Nandlall noted.

“As a judge, he presided over thousands of cases, in particular criminal cases, some being the most famous criminal cases of that era.

The Guyana Law Reports, the West Indian Law Reports and the Commonwealth Law Reports have recorded some of the landmark judgments he would have written and rendered during his long and illustrious career,” he said.

The government also extended sincere condolences to Justice Kennard’s family and friends, and thanked them for sharing a distinguished husband, father and friend with Guyana.

“Justice Kennard served this country with distinction and humility since 1962, first as a private practitioner in the Ancient County of Berbice. Ever since, he gave over 50 years of service to Guyana in a number of capacities.

The passing of such an exemplary son of the soil also creates a void in the sporting fraternity in Guyana, more specifically the Horse Racing and Cricket administrations,” the government said in its message.

12/03/22- 5, 9 ,14, 15, 16, 18, 21

5

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Gov’t reduces some charges, eyeing lower fertiliser costs … to ease rice farmers’ woes

RICE farmers in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have been protesting against the reduced price rice millers are paying for paddy but Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, said that the government is seeking to cut production costs to ensure that farmers and millers can generate profits.

Mustapha was keen on pointing out that global economic constraints linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, the Ukraine-Russia crisis have resulted in higher costs for farming inputs, such as fertilisers.

Based on reports, the price for rice has also decreased internationally.

Consequently, the Agriculture Minister acknowledged rice farming has become more costly with lowered gains. He, however, noted that the government was not ignorant of these woes.

“We are working hard to bring down the cost of production,” Mustapha said on Saturday while engaging farmers in Black Bush Polder, in the East Berbice-Corentyne region.

Already, he highlighted that the government has reduced the US$8 per tonne fee paid by millers to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) for inspection and to certify the quality and quantity of rice supplied. Now, Mustapha said that a fee of US $6 per tonne is paid.

He also said that the government continues to invest in drainage and irrigation works and other massive infrastructure to help make farming much more safe and efficient.

Recognising that the cost of fertilisers is, however, a significant challenge for farmers, Mustapha also noted that his ministry will be engaging suppliers to determine how costs can be reduced.

A meeting with suppliers will be held on Tuesday. It is expected that suppliers and the Agriculture Ministry will be able to determine a lower, yet feasible price for fertilisers.

“We will try to get a better deal,” Mustapha said, emphasising that by next crop, the government hopes that farmers will be able to utilise much cheaper fertilisers.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha (left) engaging some of the rice farmers at Black Bush Polder, Region Six, on Saturday (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture’s Facebook page) Fertilisers are an essential part of the planting process. Farmers in the region have complained that the cost of fertilisers have increased by more than 200 per cent; from $4,000 per bag of manure to now more than $10,000 per bag.

By lowering the costs of production, however, Mustapha believes that farmers would be able to spend less growing rice and resultantly, generate greater profits when the rice is sold to the millers.

“We have to work together. This government would never want to see rice farmers suffer in this country, we will continue to give support,” the minister emphasised.

Cops attacked while responding to domestic violence report - Two suspects arrested

TWO police constables are nursing injuries, after they were attacked while responding to a domestic violence report, at Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara.

Police said a 26-year-old woman, reported by telephone, that her 24-yearold male partner had assaulted her.

“When police arrived at the home, the identified male and another man attacked the police with a piece of wood causing injuries to Constable Bowen’s back and to Constable Haymer’s right hand,” police said in a statement.

The police said that several people

started to gather around and began to behave in an aggressive manner, urging the ranks to leave the suspects alone.

Constable Haymer then discharged a round in the air to disperse the crowd, which allowed the ranks to arrest both suspects who were then taken to the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station where they were both placed into custody pending charges.

Both Constables Bowen and Haymer were taken for medical attention at West Demerara Regional Hospital where they were treated and sent away as the investigation continues.

6

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Cheddi Jagan: The Liberator CHEDDI Jagan stands tall among the great men of history.

He is widely regarded as the Father of the Nation for his life-long struggle for the cause of a free, democratic, prosperous and dignified Guyana. In recognition of his sterling contribution to the country, he was awarded the country’s highest award, the Order of Liberation (OR). At a historic sitting of Parliament on December 2007, a motion was moved to pay tribute to Dr Jagan for his contribution to a free and democratic Guyana.

The motion gained the unanimous support of both sides of the House, an indication of the high regard in which he was held across the political spectrum. The motion facilitated the posthumous award of the Order of Liberation of Guyana, a fitting tribute to a tireless fighter and great son of the soil, Dr Cheddi Jagan.

The Order of Liberation is the foremost national award that can be presented upon any individual, who by a lifetime of honourable achievements, bestowed one’s life on the improvement of his fellow humankind. It is the most prestigious decoration for mention or other service beyond the normal call of duty than any country can present. As a high token, it ranks above the Order of Excellence (OE) and the Arrow of Achievement. He was awarded several other awards, but it was ‘service to peo-

ple as a duty and not for reward’ that was the defining characteristic throughout his mortal existence. Together with his wife Janet, they gave over 100 years of service at the highest national level, an extraordinary feat by any standard.

That quality is what separates great men from lesser mortals; that ability to subsume their own individual interests for the greater good of society and both Dr Jagan and his wife Janet had been exemplary in that regard.

As we move further away from Dr Jagan’s passing, the more relevant are his thinking and ideas in contemporary society. Twenty-five years may not be that long in the bigger historical sweep, but it is certainly long enough for us to do some analysis on his visionary thinking and its relevance to present-day society.

There are some who seek to project a view that Dr Jagan was so consumed with ‘international communism’ that he failed to appreciate the geo-political realities of that period and the destabilising impact that could have on the then colony of British Guiana. And while it is true that his PPP administration was deposed by foreign vested interests in the elections of 1953, the first democratic elections under universal adult suffrage which the PPP won by a landslide; and again in 1964 through an imposed system of proportional representation, those

unfortunate episodes did not in any way take away from the fact that Dr Jagan and the PPP which he co-founded was essentially democratic and never sought to obtain power other than through democratic means. Indeed, the PPP has the distinction of being the first political party in the western hemisphere where a ‘leftist’ party obtained political power through constitutional means.

Regarding allegations peddled by some western powers of Dr Jagan seeking to create a ‘second Cuba’ in the western hemisphere, nothing could be further from the truth. The PPP had always, from the very inception, embraced a policy of political and ideological pluralism and in fact was very instrumental in laying the foundation for the business sector to grow and flourish. Indeed, following the historic victory of the PPP/C on October 5, 1992, Dr Jagan who became the first democratically elected Executive President embraced an economic policy of the private sector as ‘the engine of growth.’

Dr Jagan was misunderstood by western powers, which turned a blind eye to electoral fraud in Guyana under the Burnham regime under the mistaken view that the PNC was ‘the lesser of the two evils.’ That turned out to be a monumental mistake as the country was reduced to the poorest country in the western hemisphere under an undem-

ocratic and authoritarian PNC regime.

Arthur Schlesinger, whose book ‘ A Thousand Days in the White House’ and who captured the Kennedy-Jagan encounter in the White House had this to say later: ‘We misunderstood the whole struggle down there. He wasn’t a Communist. The British thought we were over-reacting and indeed we were. The CIA decided that this was some great menace, and they got the bit between their teeth. But even if British Guiana had gone Communist, it’s hard to see how it would be a threat.’

Dr Jagan has been vindicated by history and his ideas still continue to have a liberating effect on people all across the globe. His vision for a new global human order, for debt relief; for aid without strings and fair trade; his advocacy for disarmament and world peace; for demilitarisation and for social and economic justice continue to resonate with people all over the world.

More significantly, his vision of a democratic, prosperous and socially just Guyana continue to influence the thinking of the PPP/C administration as is being reflected in the programmes and policies of successive PPP/C administrations, where the emphasis is on human development within the overarching framework of ‘development with a human face.’

Obey the traffic sign Dear Editor, THE Minister of Home Affairs is reported as observing that the recent spate of road fatalities calls for renewed interventions, such as: i.Heightened enforcement and increasing fines and sanctions; ii.Renewed interventions for public awareness in respect of road safety and traffic management Most citizens will welcome these promised ‘interventions,’ old and repeated as they are, and without any implementation of a well formulated trafficsafety plan – more urgently necessary in the face of the steadily increasing numbers of vehicles (and new drivers) on more crowded roads.

One hopes that the Hon Minister will follow through as a matter of urgen-

cy with the reconstruction of suitably representative Road Safety Authority that would include amongst others, the following interest groups, in addition to the Traffic Chief: - Owners of large/overweight transport vehicles - Bus operators - Taxi owners - Insurance Companies - Licensing Authority - Bar Association - Medical Council and other identifiable interest groups – say, Vehicle Sales and Repair Agencies.

But please, the focus cannot be limited to ‘fatalities.’ There must also be concerns for those survivors impaired for life and possibly unable to return to working condition (should the NIS have

a say also?)

The minister’s priority ‘intervention’ must of course be ‘prevention.’ In this connection, there is need to conduct a comprehensive analysis of accidents, including over comparable periods of day and night, respectively. This exercise would require the design of an appropriately detailed report form, so that the spate of accidents can be consistently reviewed, in relation to a number of contributory factors – not limited to place; time, lighting, weather conditions; road signage (lack of); speed limit; pedestrian crossings; sidewalks; particulars of drivers/victims licensing; visible vehicle defects. There are many more features which the Road Safety Authority could add.

It may not be totally irrelevant to consider the effects of climate change

and unpredictable weather patterns.

Incidentally, are applicant drivers still trained before being licensed? What is the process for licensing new foreign drivers?

In the meantime, it can easily be verified that current signages are not only too small, but also hardly visible from certain distances.

The authorities could seek advice on the more appropriate colours (and sizes) that can be utilised in different circumstances. When the debate is all over, they should produce a driver’s code for issue to all licensed drivers.

Comparable procedures in sister CARICOM countries may add some value to the proposed ‘interventions.’

Yours sincerely, E.B. John

7

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Continuous registration must be supported

Dear Editor,

THE Local Government Elections (LGEs) are overdue and the present continuous registration exercise is certainly the most acceptable, transparent, and balanced approach to updating the Register of Registrants (RoR). It guarantees the holding of the LGEs this year and must be supported!

The utter nonsense that we are hearing from Opposition quarters about the voters list must not be condoned nor be the problem of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

There is rich and valuable precedence in the use of the continuous-registration approach that is empowered by a foundational legal position. Section 6(1) of the National Registration Act Cap. 19.08 states: “It shall be lawful for the Commission by order from time to time to appoint a date with reference to which persons to whom the order applies shall be registered, a day on which the registration of such persons upon their application therefore pursuant to the order shall begin and a day on which such registration shall end.”

Contextually, the elections commission shall use the official list of electors from the 2001 General and Regional Elections as the base to commence continuous registration.

Hence, our country has been using the accepted process to update the RoR and prepare the appropriate voters list.

The provocateurs in the PNC who are always afraid to face the electorate have always

made excuses and played the blame game regarding the voters list to dodge LGEs. Their adoption of myriad approaches has always been of convenience, directed solely towards the paramount benefit of the PNC, while sacrificing balance, transparency and fairness.

It is factual that when the APNU+AFC assumed power in 2015, they quickly went to Parliament and adjusted legislation to affirm that the continuous-registration process as the mechanism to update the Register of Registrants must be conducted twice yearly, for six-month periods. The duplicitous behaviour of the PNCR as the leading force in the APNU+AFC main Opposition has no boundaries. Our nation would recall that while they are always opposing the holding of LGEs under successive PPP/C governments, they quickly held LGEs in 2016 and again in 2018, using the same process and the same continuous-registration process and list.

Now that GECOM has commenced this continuous registration cycle, no traction must be given to the foolhardy attempts at further delays from the APNU+AFC cabal.

It is without a shred of decency that some of their representatives still attempt to defend the indefensible rigging. We are living the sad and shameful memories of the 2020 five torturous months of all-out attempts to change the results of the National and Regional Elections. Our Guyanese citizens must, therefore, support and make sure that our democracy prevails as GECOM moves forward to hold LGEs.

Editor, the process must be carefully put to ensure that our citizenry fully understands the dynamics and guard against any camouflaged impropriety. Please permit me to highlight and make the clarion call for all persons to whom the continuous registration order applies, to visit the GECOM offices around the country and get registered. Among the ‘New Registrants’ category, young people who were born on or before October 31, 2018, or who will be (14) years old and over by October 31, 2022, qualify. They must have their original birth certificates or valid Guyana Passport when visiting the GECOM offices.

In addition, an original Deed Poll, along with his/her original birth certificate is required in cases where a name change will be used that is different from the names stated on the birth certificate.

Because of the massive PPP/C Government housing drive and development across the country, many persons are now living in new local government constituencies that are different from where they were first registered. It is appropriate and necessary for these persons to present their identification cards to the officials at GECOM offices covering their area of residence, in support of their application to be transferred to the constituency where they now reside. This should also make it easier for voting on polling day.

Transfers will be facilitated during this continuous period, providing the applicants give the information regarding where they were registered and where they voted in the

previous elections. Transfers are recommended as they also allow persons the opportunity to play a real role in their immediate community development at the levels of municipalities, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Village Councils.

Corrections to registration particulars are changes that are also updated during this cycle. Categories such as incorrect spelling of a name(s), wrong date of birth, and incorrect gender can be corrected. To do so, the applicants must submit, original birth certificate and ID cards.

Persons could also apply for replacement ID cards if they have lost their original ID cards. In this case, applicants are required to fill (complete) a copy of the Statutory Declaration Form which is available at GECOM offices, and have it authenticated (signed) by a Commissioner of Oaths. The office will also facilitate the distribution of their ID cards if they are already registered, but did not collect their ID cards. In addition, persons could have their photos re-taken and be issued with new ID cards if the photos on their current ID Cards are damaged/faded beyond recognition.

This process is very important and it will enable GECOM to update the National Register of Registrants and prepare the appropriate voters list for LGEs. All eligible persons are encouraged to get on board and support the process.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

Sadhguru is perhaps the greatest philosopher or thinker out of India this century Dear Editor, IT was a pleasant surprise to get a notification on Friday evening that Sadhguru has graced the soil of my homeland Guyana and that he will make a public appearance.

His presence is a blessing to the nation.

He comments on varied issues using a spiritual explanation or relevance. He is perhaps the greatest philosopher or thinker out of India this century. He is a phenomenon. Guyanese in the diaspora, people everywhere, treasure his teachings and explanations of events. People of all faiths and nationalities speak well of him and look forward for his commentaries on happenings.

It was only recently that that I started listening to the philosophical enunciations and thoughts of Sadhguru on various aspects of life and of past and contemporary events.

His views and explanations of events are phenomenal and unique. He is an intellectual par excellence. He is a man of immense spir-

itual knowledge. And clearly, he has read a lot and seems to have mastered almost every subject or topic one can think of. Sadhguru is erudite and learned. He is very devotional and is seen as being very blessed and among the most sacred; yet he is very earthly and engaging. If someone has not heard him before, I urge you to listen to or view his podcasts.

As websites have pointed out, “Sadhguru,” is a title given to his real name Jagdish Vasudev. He is well known around the world as Sadhguru.

The title ‘Sadhguru’ is a position to a person who is mystical about nature and who is well versed in the Vedas, Upanishads, and other scriptures. He, himself, is described as an Indian Yogi, author, spiritual master, environmentalist and philanthropist. A website says he has been teaching yoga in India since 1982. He founded the Isha Foundation in India in 1992.

He is revered by religious figures, celebrities, politicians, academics and others.

Actors and actresses in Hollywood and Bollywood seek him out for advice. Machel Montano of Trinidad recently travelled all the way to India to perform at a spiritual concert he hosted.

A website notes, “He has been valued by the western governments and NGOs. He has addressed the British Parliament, House of Lords, United Nation’s Millennium World Peace Summit, World Economic Forum, and many more.”

For his work, he was honoured by the Indian Government with the Padma Vibhusan, India’s second-highest civilian award.

A website says that his fundamental vision of life is “to offer the science of inner well-being to every human being – a science that helps a person realise the ultimate potential within. From this vision stems a multitude of projects, programmes, and methods, all towards the same aim: to raise every human being to the peak of their potential, so that they are exuberant, all-inclusive, and in harmony within themselves and the world.”

Sadhguru addresses issues from a practical point of view with a spiritual intonation, and he does so as a pragmatist, a realist. One can relate to him. And he is also a great, effective communicator -- speaks with clarity and perfect English without any ‘strange’ accent or pronunciation of words. (He is multi-lingual).

He discusses issues ranging from aspects of everyday living such as eating and sleeping and even what the colour of clothing people should wear at particular settings, to addressing global issues such as poverty and climate change. Most remarkable about him is his cool and calm disposition at all times despite efforts of provocation by a few.

As Trinidadian author, Hanoman Doolorchand describes him, “he is the embodiment of the rishi of yore, not hidden away in some cave or ashram, but engaged in the thick of human activities.”

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

8

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Guyanese Women LAST week, on March 8, Guyana and the world celebrated International Women’s Day designated to recognise the progressive achievements of women in all spheres of life including the fight against gender inequality.

Although women are a majority population world over, they are considered a minority population because of their unequal access to resources and socially

constructed obstacles preventing them from rising from stuck positions in a male-dominated world. This is a universal fact.

In Guyana, and not to exclude other women, most women are from African and Asian backgrounds imported to provide labour for the sugar plantocracy during the period of slavery and indenture in an era of colonialism, imperialism,

and rising capitalism. In some ways, women were never meant to be in British Guiana because their overlords preferred a male labour force that codified Victorian-era gender stereotypes that identified men as superior and women as dependents, namely, that women would be unproductive to the plantations. Women were seen by their plantation overlords as financial liabilities through child-bearing and child-rearing, Sigh. Other women never wanted to leave their secured domicile, and when they did arrive in British Guiana, they were stolen, snatched, and forced to do so. They came from myriad backgrounds but a majority were from the peasant class. Their sex ratio to their male counterpart ranged from 3 – 50 females to 100 males and remained so during their bondage to the plantation.

Despite the unfavourable conditions under which women entered British Guiana, they made a significant contribution to the plantation system, defying the odds and myopic views of themselves. They were able to make contributions because of their familiarity with hard work in their former homeland, although their productive roles were somewhat different from the plantation. They were not reduced to dehumanising numbers in their former homeland. Nonetheless, women have been involved in all sectors of the plantation system: weeding, cutting, and loading sugarcane in the harshest conditions during blazing tropical heat and in advanced stages of pregnancy. Women also competed with men for leadership roles in the plantation system experiencing all forms of abuse.

Women were productive in their private domain. They grew provisions on small parcels of land and took them on their heads to be sold to the open markets while carrying out domestic duties, a lifestyle known as a double burden.

They were matriarchs, although they have not been fully recognised for that role in Guyana.

With the abolition of slavery in 1838 and indenture in 1920, Guyanese women have branched out of the insular plantations to the domestic sphere as well as penetrated the civil service, working as nurses, teachers, clerks, and so on. The latter was aided by the Universal Education Act of 1876. Despite that the schooling system steered women into “female careers” such as in nursing and teaching, their presence in better-paying jobs had become more noticeable, laying down the foundation for great opportunities.

Women were actively involved in the labour and independence movements but

their involvement needs more attention and analysis.

Following independence, and indeed up to 1992, was hard for women. The two lost decades of cooperative socialism placed enormous strain on a majority of women, especially those who did not possess a party card. Poor management forced women to step out of their roles and find work stability to bring in income, and, in so doing, transforming themselves into breadwinners and single heads of households, as well as placing further strains on once stable family relationships. Men and women were forced to migrate long distances to secure employment to support their families. To combat daily hardships women turned to trade, known as haggling and huckstering, navigating the market contours of other regions of the Caribbean and further afield.

They bought produce, soap, toilet papers, plastic wares, and contraband items selling them on the streets, markets, and roadside stalls. Without access to loans, women pooled their money together, a practice known locally as “box hand,” to help each other.

In the past few decades, women have made tremendous leaps and bounds in Guyana for they are found in politics, law, medicine, education, healthcare, and the civil service. More and more young female children attend and finish their formal education from rural to urban areas brought about by their own initiatives and government efforts. We will be kidding ourselves, however, if we are to conclude that all is well with women in Guyana. A cursory glance at the dailies shows that Guyanese women face abuse, violence, and murder on a daily basis mostly from men whom they give their hearts to. This is a national shame since when we hurt our women we hurt ourselves.

Within feminist thinking, it is long recognised that women are differentiated by social class, ethnicity and religion.

Guyanese women are no different. It is not genuinely possible to find substantive common ground in the way urban middle-class Guyanese women live with a hinterland or rural woman. We need to do some work in the area of intersectionality, since, according to Yuval-Davies (1997), women are the ones “who reproduce nations, biologically, culturally, symbolically.”

The PPP administration has begun to acknowledge the aforesaid as so revealed in the First Lady, Mrs. Arya Ali’s massive women’s march. (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu).

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Some cautionary advice with medication use

MEDICATIONS are chemical substances which alter your body’s functional systems.

Concomitant use with certain foods and drugs can result in drug-food and drugdrug interactions, which can negatively impact on their performance and yield undesirable effects on the body.

The reason for which medication blood concentrations are affected is because of the alteration of the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and first pass metabolism.

Some foods deactivate the proteins that transport these chemicals into the body, either reducing or increasing the amount of drug absorbed into the blood. First pass metabolism is the other process where the drug is broken down into an active form by certain enzymes produced by the liver and rarely by the small intestines. Some drugs and foods can affect the production of these enzymes, CYP450 and CYP3A4.

So timely advisories to consumers on medication use, whether OTC (over the counter) or POM (prescription only medicines), is a priceless asset.

GRAPEFRUIT This fruit is highlighted

in pharmaceutical references, to be avoided with many drugs like statins (cholesterol lowering e.g. simvastatin and atorvastatin), some antihypertensive (e.g. nifedipine), some antihistamines (allergy meds e.g. Allegra) and others.

Like with other fruit juices, grapefruit juice interferes with the drug absorption process resulting in lowered effects of some antihistamines.

However, it raises the effects of statins since this enzymatic breakdown or metabolism is affected in both the liver and small intestines.

Thus, a higher than required amount of drug can be found in the blood.

Excessive consumption of grapefruit with statins may lead to liver and muscle damage and over time kidney failure.

MILK Milk and milk products such as cheese, yogurt and ice cream contain calcium, magnesium and casein which can interact with various antibiotics.

This is one of the reasons why antibiotics like tetracycline is chelated (rendered inactive by combination with metallic ions), thus not allowing adequate blood concentration for its bactericidal

or bacteriostatic effects.

It must be noted that not all antibiotics are chelated and so ensure that you are informed appropriately when antibiotics are dispensed.

CHOCOLATE Sedatives or anti-anxiety medications (like zolpiderm) may not work as effectively if you consume with especially dark chocolate, which has a higher percentage of cocoa. Whilst some stimulants (like Ritalin) can be boosted and for some antidepressants like MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) there can be a spike in blood pressure.

IRON FORMULATIONS It is advisable not to take iron supplements whether in tablets or liquid formulations concomitantly with thyroid enhancing medications like levothyroxine.

It must be noted that some multivitamins, cereals and certain foods also contain iron.

TEA/ COFFEE Persons with a low blood count who use vitamins and iron supplements

to boost their hemoglobin levels, should not take medication with tea or coffee since the tannins contained bind to the iron by chelation and render it inactive.

So money is loss when the product is consumed in this manner, it becomes null and void. However, if vitamins and iron supplements are taken with a glass of orange, cherry juice or lime beverages which has lots of vitamin C, then the iron is fully absorbed and maximises its benefits for the anemic patient.

Also antipsychotic drugs (like lithium and clozapine) levels are reduced with coffee but other meds (like aspirin, epinephrine and albuterol) are boosted along with their side effects.

allergic symptoms and are commonly found in flu preparations for sneezing, itches or running nose.

However, they may cause an increase in the heart rate and reduce the effect of hypertensive medications.

This effect is more pronounced with short acting antihistamines hence you should consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice when required to make a choice.

ALCOHOL Antihypertensive and heart medications are made less effective when alcohol is used with them.

However for other meds like sedatives (like Zyqil, valium) and antihistamines (like piriton) their drowsy effects can be potentiated.

VITAMIN K Apart from supplements, this vitamin can be found in naturally occurring foods such as broccoli, kale and spinach and its deficiency may increase

ANTIHISTAMINES These are drugs for

ANTI-EPILEPTIC DRUGS Epileptic females who are not desirous of getting pregnant could experience some problems with the contraceptive pills since the epileptic meds may interact reducing their pregnancy prevention effect.

bleeding disorders.

So persons on anticoagulants (like warfarin and Xarelto) need to be cautious with vitamin K consumption.

GINSENG Like the vitamin K, ginseng is also associated with bleeding especially with concomitant use of aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve and also blood thinners like warfarin and Xarelto.

Headaches, sleeping problems and nervousness are experienced when using ginseng with some antidepressants like MAOI. For further pharmacological guidance and physician referral, contact the pharmacist of Medicine Express PHARMACY located at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets. If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine.express@ gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg.

Tel #225-5142.

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Remembering two towering presidents on a memorable day (Part III)

By Earl Bousquet ON March 13, 1979, Cheddi Jagan and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) were 15 years in opposition after the 1964 electoral coup that robbed them out of continuing in office after repeated re-election from 1953.

That Tuesday morning, the world awoke to the news of the first genuine people’s revolution against a fascist dictatorship that had been running Grenada since Independence from Britain in 1974.

The PPP and Grenada’s New Jewel Movement (NJM) had developed strong but quiet ties as fraternal English-speaking Caribbean Left parties, which extended, in Guyana, to Walter Rodney and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

The then ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) strongly embraced the NJM’s revolution, and the Guyana Government played an important and quiet role, helping the revolution defend itself in its first year.

Indeed, when the Revolution’s first anniversary

celebrations took place in 1980, Cheddi Jagan represented the PPP, and Walter Rodney and Eusi Kwayana represented the WPA. But there were also several other Guyanese living and working in Grenada as volunteers or fugitives from political repression, most of whom are still alive, but will remain nameless (for now).

The PPP and the WPA were discussing, at the time, the PPP’s proposal for a Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD), and the hope was that the anniversary conference would have created the conditions and atmosphere for positive reception by the then ruling PNC. But it never happened.

Instead, Rodney was assassinated just over three months later in Guyana, in one of the most ignoble acts of murder of a world- respected political figure and intellectual known to this part of the world.

The PPP was 19 years in unelected opposition when the Grenada Revolution committed suicide and was buried by the US invasion, with American jackboots laced with Ca-

ribbean ties, and would persevere for another nine years before completing the 28-year cycle with the 1992 election victory.

During his four years as President, and Janet’s nearly two years, while neither completed an entire five-year term, both left their clear marks on the office. And neither joined the chorus of casting blame for Bishop’s death; instead, always seeking to better understand the processes that could have led to such a dangerous split in a united progressive and revolutionary movement.

The PPP had experienced a similar costly split in 1964, and, 19 years later, they’d seen another sorry example of the sheer cost of undervaluing the importance of addressing internal political differences honestly and early enough.

The PPP has survived, but not the NJM. Neither the PPP nor the PNC are the same after the Jagans and Forbes Burnham, but so is Guyana today, where neither dreamed of before their final trips on slow boats along the river of no return.

Ex-President and former PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar will this evening join the Jagans’ daughter, Nadia Jagan-Brancier, Dr. Patricia Mohammed, and Susan Wasserman to remember Janet, and Ramotar can be expected to wax warmly as he recalls those aspects of his best memories of the lady who was always much more than just Cheddi Jagan’s wife.

The actual anniversary of her death is two weeks away (March 28, 2009), but Janet Jagan can be celebrated any and every day, as the imaginative thinker she also was beyond the politics her life was measured by.

A celebrated writer of

stories for children, my favourite children’s book by Janet features The Alligator Ferry, about an unlikely collaboration between three unlikely animals to cross the Berbice River, and a clear illustration of the sheer possibilities that can arise from cooperation to overcome common challenges.

Another of my favourite books of Janet’s children’s stories is one called, ‘When Grandpa Cheddi was a boy’, in which she offers children glimpses of her husband and lifelong partner that no other writer could have seen and shown like she did.

And then there was her close, long and quiet, but quite strong relationship with the late Claudette Earle at The Guyana Chronicle, who she would often consult on touchy social and political issues relating to women and children in particular, but also about journalism reporting, and the difference between the two.

One of my fondest memories of ‘Comrade Janet’ was flying to Saint Lucia with her as President, with Foreign Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, and Foreign Affairs Ministry Director-General Elisabeth Harper and others to the special CARICOM Summit in Saint Lucia hosting Nelson Mandela.

Then Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte was also invited to Saint Lucia to discuss the PNC’s relentless political rejection and violent pursuit of the removal of Janet Jagan as President, and the sideline meeting with other CARICOM leaders in Castries leading to the eventual peacemaking Herdmanston Accord.

I also subsequently had the pleasure of joining then Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, and Jamaican Prime Minister,

P.J. Patterson at its presentation to the PPP and PNC (and other major political players) at Herdmanston House in Georgetown, all of which ended with the republic’s first elected lady President opting to allow the party to invest in its medium and long-term future in its youngest star, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Jagdeo would take office from August 11, 1999, to December 3, 2011, Janet living for nine of those years to witness the correctness of the party’s investment in a young leader, fresh back home from studying economics and political science on a PPP Pioneer’s scholarship in the then Soviet Union, politically untainted, religiously open, and with an impressive record, first at the State Planning Secretariat, then as Finance Minister.

Had it not been for the PPP’s term-limit concession to preserve peace, Jagdeo would easily have won a third term, but, by then, with two terms in office in his back pocket, and more than a decade adjusting, as a young adult, to the life he’d never lived, growing up in Guyana.

Jagdeo only served for one year as Finance Minister under Dr Jagan’s presidency (1995-96) before Cheddi died, but his appointment to the position was with the President’s support and blessings, based on his performance in handling the republic’s domestic and international financial affairs, and ensuring it dovetailed with Dr. Jagan’s own world view in pursuit of building Guyana as part of the New Global Human Order he pursued at the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement.

My last meeting with Cheddi was on February 14, 1996, Valentine’s Day that year, when he sent his security detail to extract

me from The Mirror to join him for “a meeting” at the National Park that turned out to be a long and tiring walk (for me) twice around the park as he discussed the “strategic matter” with the comparatively much younger me breathlessly trying to keep up and shut up, neither of which was possible, my tongue actually hanging out of my mouth as I boarded the vehicle to return to Ruimveldt.

I never thought it would have been my last meeting with Comrade Cheddi, and nobody expected it when he collapsed a few days later, and never revived.

But both Janet and Cheddi will be revived tonight when another of their worthy successors in the Presidency of the Republic, Donald Ramotar, who virtually grew up with them at Freedom House, the PPP’s headquarters for decades, and also became, like them, the party’s GeneralSecretary.

What would have been their positions on Guyana with Oil & Gas today?

And where would they have stood on the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

We’ll never know from them, but their fingerprints will always remain on PPP policies, and their footprints will always remain embedded in the sands of Guyana’s endless time.

And, just like their support for the development of the Civic component paid off politically and electorally for the PPP, their joint influence on the party they spent their lives building and leading will continue to be reflected in the main policy decisions of the PPP today, under President Dr. Irfaan Ali, and General Secretary Jagdeo, another two towering presidents of the republic, by any measure.

11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Rapid development could help Guyana take advantage of high prices THE Russia-Ukraine conflict has shown how fragile the global market for oil can be, with some analysts predicting that, even after reaching a 14year high of over US$120 per barrel, the price of oil could climb further and eclipse US$200 if Russia’s oil is unable to reach the world markets due to sanctions or supply disruptions.

Russia is one of the largest producers of crude oil globally and a key player in the world market.

Guyana, a relative newcomer, is one of few countries with the promise and capacity to quickly ramp up the volume of crude oil available to the world. The current production capacity of just under 350,000 barrels per day could reach up to 800,000 by 2025 and 1.2 million by 2027, if approvals for developments continue to move forward at a reasonable pace.

Guyana would become only the 11th country to achieve this milestone, and, importantly, one of few stable democratic countries to do so.

The rapid pace of development from initial find to first oil is a testament to the balance that has been struck between development and safety.

In early February, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo stated that the government is working to ensure that everything is in place for the approval of the Yellowtail project, which he anticipates will occur “by the end of March [at the] latest.” This approval will boost oil revenues even higher if prices continue to remain high in the near to medium term. This means billions of dollars more for infrastructure and social welfare programmes as well as support for domestic industries like agriculture and fishing.

The Yellowtail development is in the prolific Stabroek Block where

some 10 billion barrels of oil have been found since 2015. Once approved, ExxonMobil plans to drill between 41 and 67 wells at the development. At full capacity, this would mean an additional 250,000 barrels of oil per day in production.

If the approval processes continue without delay, production at Yellowtail could begin by the end of 2025 and last for 20 years or more. This is good news for Guyana and the world. Oil from stable, democratic countries like Guyana can provide a needed boost to the global economy especially in times of conflict.

If approved, the Yellowtail project would be the country’s largest oil project yet, bigger even than the US$9 billion Payara development. According to research by Rystad Energy, Guyana could earn over US$310 billion at current reserve estimates at just US$80 per barrel. If the price for oil remains at its current premium in the years to come, Guyana could earn much more. That makes expeditious approvals important to capture as much value as possible from the project.

Keeping the approval process as non-political as possible is also vital. As tempting as it may be to place political conditions on project approvals, good regulatory systems are careful to shield regulators from day-to-day political pressures and keep regulatory decisions purely fact-based.

For the Yellowtail approval process, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board reviewed technical and financial proposals from 12 companies for the review and evaluation of the Yellowtail Field Development Plan and selected the U.K. based consultancy Bayphase Ltd. to review the project. Bayphase Ltd. also

evaluated the Liza and Payara Stabroek Block projects. There is also a draft licence already in place and a parallel evaluation process led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure any environmental impacts are fully accounted for.

The EPA should be finalising the process for environmental authorisation after the period for public comments on the Environmental Impact Assessment ended late 2021.

In preparation for approval, consulting firm, Environmental Resource Management, has submitted the EIA and other documents as part of the process and held public consultations. These stepping stones provide the project with a clear pathway to approval as the government collects input and evaluates the project.

As current approvals move forward, investor confidence in Guyana continues to increase.

That helps other major contractors expand their operations in Guyana and hire more workers and subcontractors for the industry. SBM Offshore has already awarded conditional contracts to support the fourth floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for Yellowtail specifically.

Strong investor confidence is vital to building Guyana’s local capabilities, since the companies working to join the industry will need international partners and funding to compete at the highest levels. Delays in the approval processes or perceptions that the process is overly political could spook these investors away or cause demand for local services to dry up just as Guyanese can take advantage of it.

Stability and assurances that the government upholds its contractual obligations is a strong signal to investors of future projects within and outside the

oil sector. With an efficient Yellowtail approval process, this sentiment is likely to continue for new projects.

Guyana is also already benefitting significantly from the current Produc-

tion Sharing Agreement, as demonstrated by the hundreds of millions in this year’s budget from the Natural Resource Fund.

Coming just after the start of production at the Liza Unity FPSO, ap-

proval of the Yellowtail development will be key to ensuring continued investor confidence, new jobs, and future funding for infrastructure and other programmes in the country.

12

PNC trying to be relevant THE PNC, last week, gave notice of its motion to be tabled in Parliament calling for the Police Commissioner to investigate complaints of some police abusing their powers of arrest and detention, thereby breaching the fundamental rights of citizens.

The opposition party claimed it had received countrywide complaints about the police’s discriminatory conduct and victimisation of ordinary citizens.

The PNC said it would not allow this serious matter to slip under the radar.

At this point, the party said it is still awaiting the Police Commissioner’s response to a request to discuss the crisis.

Additionally, the PNC stated it urgently expects the debate and passage

of its motion in Parliament.

Firstly, it seems like the PNC is striving for relevance and attention. The party knows fully well that there is no crisis in Guyana.

It simply wants to embarrass the Commissioner and his ranks because the PNC is opportunistic and petty.

It was hoping to pull away the attention from the more seriou-s issues that were being discussed at the Annual Police Officers’ Conference but ended up failing miserably.

Secondly, the motion is flawed and premature. It should be withdrawn from the House.

In any case, it is badly structured in language and content.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022 Apart from being political and not about the citizens’ complaints against the police, it does not meet the criteria or standard of a motion that is urgent, according to the Standing Orders of the National Assembly.

So, one cannot see this motion being passed in its present form without any amendments. Added to that, PPP MPs are not likely to support it because it seeks to undermine the police efforts in the realm of maintaining law and order.

Thirdly, as an MP and former Magistrate, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, in whose name the motion stands, should instead furnish the Police Commissioner, head of police divisions, or senior policemen with the specific cases detailing the accusations and alleged culprits.

Additionally, she should direct all the complainants to the Police Complaints Authority as a responsible MP. Fourthly, the policemen and women need citizens’ support and cooperation to fight crime in every part of this country.

They are the ones keeping our communities and towns safe from the merciless criminals and those who support them in their quest to make Guyana ungovernable.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has already called on the Police Force recently to conduct themselves professionally and lawfully at all times. He pledged more equipment and tools to fight crime while reiterating the need for a well-trained and disciplined Force.

This move by the President demonstrates his confidence in the Police Force.

Despite the few and sardonic instances where there is cause for concern, the police, most times, show regards for the constitutional rights and human rights of citizens. There are records of the police moving to the courts for more time to keep certain personalities in custody as police conduct the necessary investigations.

Finally, the motion should be withdrawn as it is more a political motion.

It would be important for the Opposition to go on a walk-about and listen to the citizens’ security concerns generally and not cherry-pick an issue to highlight.

They must understand that unless they utilise the various national organisations and working security groups at their disposal, the issue is neither ripe for Parliament nor will be taken seriously.

The Opposition must show unconditional support for the Police Force publicly. It is no wonder that the police commissioner has not acknowledged or responded as yet to the opposition’s call for a meeting. Perhaps, he knows the PNC is playing usual politics with this motion and trying desperately to get him involved in its political games.

This motion is not urgent. It is politically mischievous.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal MINISTER of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, is urging Guyanese not to fall prey to fraudsters who promise to get them a house lot, emphasizing that only the ministry and the Central Housing

and Planning Authority (CH&PA) are authorized to carry out such transactions.

“We are also aware that those persons will ask you to pay them to help you get the lot. I want to say

13

Housing Minister warns against fraudsters

this, you do not have to pay anyone to get a house lot,” Minister Croal told people at the first ‘Dream Realised’ Housing Drive for 2022 which was held on Friday last at the Guyana National Stadium, at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

He urged people to report these unscrupulous characters to the ministry.

“I’d like it if you can bring to our attention the names of persons who

are offering to help you get the house lots. Once your application is in, you are guaranteed to get one. Granted, it may take some time, but as we have demonstrated these past months we are working quickly to ease the backlog.

“I appreciate that waiting can become frustrating at times, but the requirements for the development of a housing area are quite considerable,” Minister Croal contended.

Land acquisition, he added, can be a painstaking process.

“We have promised to allocate house lots in areas that have at least the

basic infrastructure like electricity, water, roads, green spaces and other similar elements that make the area complete.”

Minister Croal noted that the CH&PA has introduced e- applications and submissions for land allocation for both residential and commercial uses.

“So, before you had to travel from Essequibo or Berbice or Linden to get a status update on your application, now you can do that by just visiting the website and inputting your information.

“Additionally, we have established offices in Regions Two, Three, Five, Six, Nine and 10 where

you can make enquiries about your allocation status.

Th es e s y s tems ar e designed to reduce the challenges that existed before,” Minister Croal emphasied.

He continued: “I wish to reiterate the government’s commitment to reducing the demand of subsidised housing and remind you that, at the end of last year, we made ten thousand allocations. This year we will surpass that amount.

We intend to make affordable housing available to every Guyanese in keeping with the theme of ‘One Guyana’.”

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Nations’ 6th form student tops the world

JOHN McGrath, a Guyanese student of the School of the Nations made history when he scored 99 out of 100 at the Cambridge International June 2021 English Language examinations, surpassing more than one million students from 136 countries worldwide to be the top Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary (AS) student.

McGrath noted that the news caught him by surprise

stating, “Dad was leaning against the door frame with a humongous smile on his face; I was baffled. He started by saying the Director of the School (Dr. Brian O’Toole) had called him. Those are very daunting and puzzling words to hear as a high school student. Luckily, dad was still smiling, which gave me hope. Dad unfolded the news that I gained the “Outstanding Cambridge Learner’s Award” for topping the

world in AS English at last year’s May/June examinations,” the young man noted in a press release issued by School of the Nations.

AS level exams are sat at the end of the first year of Sixth Form.

He noted that while he knew his grade was “very high” he never expected that he would be the person who topped the world, stating that he feels elated that a Guyanese has proven their ability

to the world.

McGrath noted that his family, and especially his English Language teacher, Mr. Mark Boodie, his Karate family, and his friends were all instrumental in his achievement, noting that it would have been impossible without their constant support and guidance.

When asked if he had any advice to share with students preparing to write the upcoming May/June 2022 exams, McGrath, the release noted, suggested that students work smart, keep their heads up, and shoot for the stars, whether academically

or just in life in general.

“Never limit yourself to what you can do, and one way or another, you will be on top of the world.”

McGrath’s English teacher, Boodie, noted that the award is exceptional for many reasons.

“All this was new to the students and to me, and there were no past papers that could be used for practice or mark schemes for this new style of responding to the questions. I had to rely on specimen papers and a specimen mark scheme and made-up questions so that the students could have enough

John McGrath, top Cambridge International June 2021 English Language student practice before entering the exam.”

He noted that McGrath’s achievement is truly remarkable since he obtained the highest marks in the world of all the students writing the new AS English Language exams for the first time.

$200M still to be disbursed to flood-affected Reg. 6 farmers ABOUT 2,244 farmers across Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are yet to receive flood-relief cash grants from the government but Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has assured them that the government will honour the more than $200 million payout.

Intense rainfall battered farmers across the country last year and the government set aside $7.8 billion to provide some relief to the farmers who experienced great losses. President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, had said that approximately 52,000 households across 300 communities had been affected by the unprecedented level of floodwaters.

For Region Six alone, approximately $1 billion was allocated. In Black Bush Polder area, where Minister Mustapha visited on Saturday, he said that over $400 million was paid to individual farmers.

But the Agriculture Minister noted that the entire sum allocated to the region was not disbursed last year before the financial year came to a close. He announced that about $200 million is still outstanding with some 2,244 listed farmers yet to collect their relief grants.

“I want to assure everybody that you will receive it,” Minister Mustapha said, noting this this is just part of the string of measures the government is employing to provide relief to farmers in Region Six and across the country.

He also acknowledged concerns about discrepancies in the distribution process, noting that Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jadeo, has been working to address this issue. Last October, the government established a mechanism which would allow persons who suf-

fered losses as a result of flooding to verify their names, persons who were left off of the list to have their names added, and pave the way for an investigation into discrepancies related to the distribution of the flood-relief grants.

As part of the investigation into the matter, members of the public with information on persons who did not qualify for the grant but benefitted, were advised to contact the Agriculture Ministry to aid in the process.

Cash of $100,000 was to be issued to homestead farmers, $50,000 to those with kitchen gardens and $50,000 to affected households; this amounted to over $3.5 billion.

There was a ceiling of $10 million in compensation for rice farmers.

Those farmers who lost rice, which was ready to be harvested, were to receive $80,000 per acre.

Those with rice sowed were to receive $65,000 per acre and those with land prepared were to receive $45,000 per acre. In addition, to this support, 60,000 bags of seed paddy were to be made available.

Mustapha said he believed that this process has helped to eliminate unscrupulous acts but he asked the farmers to continue to be vigilant against people trying to “smart the system”.

Some of the farmers who met with Mustapha on Saturday lamented that their losses during the flood last year have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and now further price increases caused by the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

The Agriculture Minister assured the farmers that the government is trying to ease their woes through several initiatives.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

T&T scientist appointed CARDI’s new Executive Director

ANSARI Hosein has been appointed Executive Director of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) effective March 1, 2022.

The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Board of Governors of CARDI, Crenston C. Buffonge, who is the Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment of Montserrat.

The CARDI Unit in Guyana coordinates the Caribbean Rice Development Network (CRIDNET) regionally and provides support to the local agricultural sector through collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and other key stakeholders and partners.

Their office is located in the compound of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

According to CARDI, during his tenure Mr. Hosein will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Institute’s programme of work, inclusive of donor-funded projects, resource mobilisation and the development of market revenue generating initiatives throughout the Caribbean region.

Mr. Hosein, a national of Trinidad and Tobago, has served the Institute for more than 17 years, beginning at the entry level position of a technician, moving up the

organisational structure to a research assistant and then a scientist.

Mr. Hosein has also served in various other capacities, including the Head of Trinidad and Tobago Unit, CARDI Representative in the Cayman Islands, CARDI Representative in Barbados and most recently as the Manager, Science, Technology and Innovation (MSTI).

As a scientist, Mr. Hosein has managed and implemented several research and development projects aimed to further the development of value chains for commodities such as cassava and sweet potato, hot peppers, small ruminants and coconuts.

Besides operating in

these base countries, he has also done work in several others, including Dominica, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines through various projects.

As the MSTI, he managed a team of professionals across CARDI’s 14 member countries and was responsible for providing technical and managerial leadership for the Institute’s diverse STI programme.

Mr. Hosein also sits on the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Agricultural Commercial Services Hub Limited (CACSH), CARDI’s commercial subsidiary and is the Chairman of the Regional Small Ruminants Commodity Group.

He has represented the

Institute on various committees, conferences and other high level meetings at the national, regional and international levels. He is also the author/co-author of more than 30 publications which all seek to share knowledge to improve incomes and livelihoods of stakeholders in the regional agricultural landscape.

CARI noted that, over the years, Mr. Hosein has also developed good working relationships with various Diplomatic Missions, national, regional and international research and development agencies, including other CARICOM Institutions and also private sector entities seeking to commercialise various products.

Mr. Hosein holds an

15

CARDI’s new Executive Director, Ansari Hosein MSc in Tropical Animal Science and Production and a BSc General Agriculture from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine and a Diploma in the Practice and Science of Agriculture from the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry. He is presently pursuing a PhD in Livestock Science.

16

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

15 adolescent mothers inspired by reintegration training programme

SOME 15 adolescent mothers recently completed a 20-hour life skills training programme that was conducted by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in collaboration with the Carnegie School of Home Economics, which provided skills for life training in cosmetology.

The mothers, who successfully completed the course, were certified and given a start-up kit to aid in the establishment of small businesses in cosmetology.

They also received care packages for their children.

Speaking with the Sunday Chronicle, one of the young mothers, who took part in the course, commented on how inspired and encouraged she was by not only the technical skills she learnt, but was touched

by the discussions held.

“When I was there I felt very inspired by the teachers, and instructors.

I felt like everyone had a story, I listened to two stories and when I heard the story it just makes me want to be strong also. One of the stories was from one of the teachers, who is a single mother, who raised her son on her own and she made it,” said the young lady, who asked to remain anonymous.

Noting that it was not easy for her growing up, the young lady, who hails from the East Coast Demerara, shared that she is really looking forward to using the skills she gained in this course to now open her own business, and making a better life for herself and her child.

“Everyone wants better

Some of the young mothers who recently graduated from a life skills training programme conducted by the Ministry of Education pictured with the National Health and Family Life Education Coordinator, Colleen Cameron (standing fifth from left) and Carnegie Principal, Sharmaine Marshall (sitting, right) for their child, so I really want things to be different for her, I want to be there for her. She’s my first child and I’m very much over protective of her,” she shared.

“I had really wanted to do something at home given how hard things are right now. So I’m really looking forward to starting my own business. I am interested in starting a nail business. When I was doing the course they encouraged us, and on completion we got our certificate and a few things [supplies] so that we can practice at home and do something.

And these are the opportunities that I really want to grab.”

The 15 mothers enrolled in the programme also learnt coping mechanisms that will all assist them in positive decision making and help to guide their next steps.

“They really talked to us as young mothers and I felt inspired and motivated, because they spoke about things I wanted to hear.

They were very patient and understanding in how they reached out to us,” the 21-year-old mother of one commented.

“As a first time mother, there’s so much that you don’t know. There was a lot of things that I had to learn and it took me some time. There’s so much more to being a mother than we think, a whole lot more patience, understanding, putting your child first, that’s all a part of it.”

The programme, which commenced on February 18 and ended last Friday in Georgetown, was held under the theme ‘Young Mothers on The Move: I Am Not What Happened to Me, I Am What I Choose to Become.’

The programme, which was facilitated by the National Health and Family Life Education Coordinator Colleen Cameron, is a part of the ministry’s Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers into the Education System Policy.

The main objective of this initiative is to reach adolescent mothers who have been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further training is now expected to continue with 30 adolescent mothers from Region Six and 30 from Region Five, who will be pursuing a course in elementary cookery.

17

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Local NGO kicks off life skills workshop in secondary schools

WITH the aim of providing teenagers and adolescents the necessary skills needed to navigate young adulthood and the world of work, a local non-governmental organisation (NGO), Youths Arise Guyana, on Friday last, started a life skills workshop at the Brickdam and Carmel Secondary Schools in Georgetown.

The workshop, which is being pioneered by Dwright Ward and Micheal Richmond, will see fourth and fifth form students from several schools across Georgetown and Region Four benefitting from vigorous discussions on financial literacy, leadership skills and other social issues.

Ward, during an interview with this newspaper, stated that, over the next 15 weeks, a team from the organisation will be visiting as many schools as they can to engage students. The team plans to cover issues such as gender equality and peer

The students of the Carmel Secondary School participating in the workshop pressure among many other societal issues.

“Micheal Richmond and I are both passionate about youth empowerment and advocacy so we came together and we initiated the thought,”

Ward said.

The recent University of Guyana graduates, who got to know each other from ‘after school lessons’, said that, with their connections - Ward being a youth activist and Richmond, a philanthropist - they could make it happen and so they are moving forward with the goal of bringing awareness to issues plaguing society.

According to Richmond, the first meeting at Brickdam Secondary went better than expected as students reached out after the workshop to commend their work.

The students shared that the session was very informative as they were very interested in the topics discussed.

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Man stabs brother to death in Alberttown

POLICE have arrested a 37-year-old man who reportedly stabbed his brother to death, on Thursday night, at Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown.

Dead is Moses Anthony, 25, a baker.

Police said that Anthony returned home on the day in question at about 21:20 hours and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

Investigators were told that he went to his brother’s house which is in the same yard and began hitting on the front door.

Dead: Moses Anthony An argument ensued between the two and they eventually began to scuffle, during which the older brother armed himself with a small piece of ceramic tile which he picked up from the ground and stabbed Anthony to the right side of his throat.

Police said Anthony began to bleed profusely and that his brother made no attempt to flee; he was arrested by police on site shortly after they arrived at the scene.

Anthony was pronounced dead by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and the body is currently at Memorial Gardens Funeral home awaiting a post mortem examination.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Police discharge weapon to foil attack in Parika

POLICE ranks responding to a fight at Parika Junction, East Bank Essequibo, were almost beaten by an angry crowd, during a fight between several males, in the wee hours of Saturday.

Police Headquarters reported that the men were using

broken bottles during the fight; ranks observed one of the males bleeding from his chest area and attempted to break up the melee.

“The angry crowd then turned their attention on the police who discharged two rounds in the air which caused the crowd to disperse in vari-

ous directions. No arrests were made,” police said.

Police said that the injured man, Dorrel Cambridge, 30, of Namryck, East Bank Essequibo, was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was treated and discharged.

19

20

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Guyana joins Sadhguru’s ‘Save Soil Movement’ A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was, on Saturday, signed between Jagadish Vasudev, known as Sadhguru, and the Government of Guyana on soil co-operation.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, signed the MoU with the yoga guru to preserve Guyana’s soil in keeping with the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy.

The event took place at State House in the presence of President Irfaan Ali, First Lady Mrs. Arya Ali, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and other government officials. The delegation was treated to a breakfast reception at State House and, before departing, Sadhguru made a presentation on the importance of soil sustainability at the National Cultural Centre.

He is on a one-day visit to Guyana accompanied by popular Trinidadian Soca artist, Machel Montano, who is also a practising yogi.

The Save Soil Movement is a global movement to address the soil crisis by bringing together people from around the world to stand up for soil health, and supporting leaders of all nations to institute national policies and actions toward increasing the organic content in cultivable soil which was launched

by Sadhguru.

Sadhguru has been teaching yoga in southern India since 1982 and then in 1992, he established the Isha Foundation which also operates an Ashram and yoga centre that carries out educational activities.

The issue of soil degradation is a significant threat to the planet as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) predicts that soil extinction could become a reality if soil degradation continues at present rates.

And Sadhguru’s foremost principle for the Save Soil Movement is, “Soil is our life, our very body and if we forsake soil, in many ways, we forsake the planet.”

The practising yogi has been conferred with three presidential awards among which are the Padma Vibhushan for distinguished service to the Nation and India’s highest environmental award, the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, in 2010.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and Jagadish Vasudev, world-famous yoga guru and spiritual master, sign the MoU at State House

L-R: Trinidadian Soca artist, Machel Montano; President Dr. Irfaan Ali; First Lady, Arya Ali and Sadhguru with Indian High Commissioner to Guyana (second right) and Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo (left) at State House

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali; First Lady, Arya Ali; Sadhguru and other members of the government look on as Trinidadian Soca artist, Machel Montano performs at State House

21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

Despite global price surge, Jagdeo promises no increase in electricity or water rates

VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has promised that the government will not increase electricity or water rates for consumers, even as the country grapples with global economic challenges that has caused widespread price increases.

Shipping challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, now exacerbated by the Ukraine-Russia crisis, have resulted in a significant increase in prices for food, fuel and other commodities.

“With all the escalating prices now, we’ve been hit hard by the cost of living and the world has been hit by this because of COVID. Prices have gone up and now with the Russia-Ukraine crisis, it would probably go up even more,” the Vice-President said at a recent event

commemorating the life of Guyanese founding father Dr Cheddi Jagan.

He, however, emphasised that the government was pursuing action to guarantee that this price surge does not adversely impact people.

“We will keep the electricity prices the same way, and water prices, because we have to subsidise it[sic] to make sure that the impact is not felt by ordinary people,” the Vice-President emphasised.

Subsidisation refers to payments made by a body (in this case, the government) to pay a portion of expenses to keep a selling price low. With expected increases in the cost of fuel, for example, this means that the government will spend money to offset the increases so that consumers’ rates are not raised.

And already, price increases in electricity are expected. Last week, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), via a press release, said that the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other events taking place in Europe are severely impacting its operations.

Consequently, GPL has been forced to pay more money to import fuel to run the power plants that generate electricity. According to the release, this has increased GPL’s total monthly operating expenses to approximately $4.5 billion against monthly electricity sales of approximately $3 billion.

“This means that GPL has to utilise every dollar it collects to meet its operating expenditure. This financially challenging position cannot be sustained at current fuel prices,” the utility company

said.

Across the country, fuel increases are also evident at gas stations. But Dr Jagdeo said that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s economic philosophy of social spending to ensure that people did not face hardships will be maintained.

During his remarks, Jagdeo reminded the gathering that Dr Jagan was all about fiscal discipline and not consumption-based spending.

As such, he contended that the PPP/C government has always had the impetus to

Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo manage the national purse prudently. “... we are guided by some principles. It is the principles that often mat-

ter. It’s the underlying principles that were embedded in the party that would allow us to be successful,” he said.

22

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2022

7 new COVID-19 cases, 6 in ICU THE Ministry of Health has reported that there are currently 219 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of seven new cases on March 12, 2022.

The seven newly confirmed cases were recorded in Regions One, Four and Six. Region Four recorded five new cases while Regions One and Six recorded one new case each.

The country has now recorded a total of 63,134 cases since March 2020.

Of the active cases, six persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; eight are in institutional isolation; 193 are in home isolation, and 12 are in institutional quarantine.

Many of the persons

infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, that is, they are not exhibiting symptoms.

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force until March 31, 2022.

They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers: 231-1166; 2267480; or 180/181 for assistance.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

23

24

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

25

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

27

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

29

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

31

32

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

33

34

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

35

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

Khawaja century helps Aussies captialise on favourable conditions (ESPNCRICINFO) - Inform Usman Khawaja scored a memorable first Test century in the country of his birth, as Australia capitalised on favourable batting conditions to control the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan.

After skipper Pat Cummins won a crucial toss and elected to bat, Khawaja scored his 11th Test century to lead Australia to 251 for 3 at stumps. He finished 127 not out from 266 balls with nightwatchman Nathan Lyon yet to score.

But Australia suffered a late blow almost out of nowhere when Steven Smith fell for 72 in the penultimate over before stumps, after Faheem Ashraf took a stunning one-hand catch at second slip off Hasan Ali. The pair had compiled a 159-run partnership as they batted nearly two sessions to blunt an uninspiring Pakistan, who resorted to defensive tactics during a dull final session reminiscent of the dreary Rawalpindi Test.

Khawaja became the first Australian to score a Test century in Pakistan since Mark Waugh’s 117 during the third Test in 1998.

Having been dismissed on 97 in the first Test, the lefthander spent a considerable time in the 90s either side of tea before notching his milestone with a single to square leg off Sajid Khan.

He jumped in the air and pumped his fist in a more muted celebration than after his comeback ton during the SCG Ashes Test. Mixing exquisite strokes with watchful defence, Khawaja notched his third century from six innings since his recall in January.

Wi t h K h a w a j a a n d Smith untroubled, a hapless Pakistan sought a defensive ploy with spinners Sajid and Nauman Ali bowling a leg-

stump line but Australia’s batters remained patient with Smith constantly padding up during an excruciating period where no boundaries were struck for 23 overs. The only source of entertainment was Nauman’s rather ambitious lbw shout against Smith for a delivery pitching way out outside leg-stump that left his team-mates chuckling.

Mercifully, the second new ball was taken and the match came alive before stumps, as Pakistan reverted to trying to take

Test, Pakistan were mostly unimaginative and rarely threatened apart from quicks Faheem and Shaheen Shah Afridi conjuring reverse swing before tea but to no avail.

Shaheen, who was the standout in the first Test, couldn’t quite hit top gear while Hasan, who returned from an abductor strain, struggled to consistently probe. having replaced fiery quick Naseem Shah who impressed in Rawalpindi with menacing short-pitched bowling.

from Sajid after attempting a risky single. The wickets went against the run of play after Khawaja and Warner compiled a brisk 82run opening stand, as they weathered challenging newball bowling from Pakistan’s pacemen before putting the foot down against Sajid.

For the second straight innings, Warner rued missing out after a strong start but Khawaja cashed in to ensure Australia built a platform as they eye a massive first-innings total, which would be surely welcomed

Usman Khawaja celebrates his hundred (AFP/Getty Images) wickets with Hasan eking out Smith, who fell for the second straight time in the 70s much to his disbelief.

There had been much intrigue over conditions in Karachi after the historic series - the first between the teams in Pakistan since 1998 - started with a stale draw due to a lifeless Rawalpindi pitch rated by the ICC as below average. But it has been more of the same with conditions skewed towards the batters although reverse swing was evident before tea and Nauman did conjure occasional turn and bounce before utilising the negative tactics.

In a letdown after a moral victory in the first

After being on the back foot for the entirety of the series-opener, their first Test in Pakistan in nearly 24 years, Australia dictated the opening day’s play apart from a chaotic period before lunch when they lost the key wickets of David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. Warner fell on 36 to a gem of a delivery from returning pace all-rounder Faheem, who squared up the veteran to entice an edge to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.

Shortly after, Labuschagne, who made 90 in Rawalpindi and is the No.1 ranked batter in the world, was run-out for a duck by a direct side-arm throw

by their tweaked attack.

In their only change, Australia handed leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson his long-awaited Test debut having been around the squad since 2017. The 28-year-old replaced quick Josh Hazlewood to become the first specialist leg-spinner capped by an Australian Test team since Bryce McGain in 2009.

Before Swepson gets his chance, Australia will look to continue Pakistan’s toil under hot conditions in Karachi, where the temperature is again forecast to hit over 30 degrees today in a contrast to Rawalpindi’s mild conditions last week.

36

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

All lights green for GMR&SC Circuit Race today Track preparation being done last week

ALL lights are green for today’s Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club ( G M R & S C ) C i rc u i t Race event at the South Dakota Circuit.

Grading and shaping of the entrance roads, along with other track preparation works, were completed during the week with drivers reminded to use the Highway entrance.

Racers will get a chance to dust the cobwebs off their machines after nearly two years without a circuit racing event, though they will have to do without spectators for this event.

According to GM-

R&SC president Rameez Mohamed, all systems have been put in place for the event which is expected to begin at 09:00hrs. “ We h a v e g o n e through all the necessary setups and processes to ensure that today’s event is pulled off without a hitch. The reason we are able to have this event in the first place is because the National COVID-19 Task Force granted permission based on how we would have run our endurance event.”

“I’m asking all participants, marshals and those who are required to be there to ensure that they

follow all the pre-set rules that the task force has set out for us.”

These rules include: entrance of only fully vaccinated personnel, proof of which must be presented at the checkpoint on entry to the venue along with relevant identification.

Sanitisation stations and social distancing along with mask-wearing are also requirements on the day as were reminded by the NCTF via letter to the club last week.

Persons are also reminded that the task force will be on site to ensure that these measures are upheld.

Irish Racing Tips Naas 09:35 hrs Lucky Tenner 10:20 hrs Slip Of The Tongue 10:55 hrs Bread And Butter 11:30 hrs Kashi 12:05 hrs Jeremy’s Flame 12:40 hrs Alfa Mix 13:15 hrs Liberty Dance

11:05 hrs Native Gold 11:40 hrs Ask And Answer 12:15 hrs El Barra 12:50 hrs Balkito 13:25 hrs Hunters Yarn

10:02 hrs Disco Des Plages 11:13 hrs JungleJack 11:48 hrs Gamesters Icon 12:23 hrs Latitude 12:58 hrs Grey Skies

South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:10 hrs High Legislation 08:45 hrs Triton 09:20 hrs Dunyaa 09:55 hrs Tempting Fate 10:30 hrs Al’s My Daddy

Warwick 09:35 hrs Pilsdon Pen 10:12 hrs Lac De Constance 10:45 hrs Galice Macalo 11:20 hrs In Rem 11:55 hrs Boughtbeforelunch 12:30 hrs Italian Spirit 13:05 hrs Twin Power

Limerick 09:20 hrs Instit 09:55 hrs Limerick Lace 10:30 hrs Pat’s Pick

English Racing Tips Bangor

37

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

Bonner, Holder hold off England (ESPNCRICINFO) - Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder drew the sting out of England’s depleted attack in a tense final session of the first Test in Antigua, as their 80-run partnership, spanning 34.4 resolute overs, thwarted a well-judged declaration from Joe Root that briefly looked set to deliver an unlikely victory in a previously bat-dominated contest.

After Root himself had become England’s third centurion of the match - a feat they last achieved on the tour of India in 2016-17 - West Indies were left needing a stiff, but tantalising target of 286 in a minimum of 71 overs, against an attack lacking the services of Mark Wood, the man whose habitual 90 mph pace might have been expected to unlock an unforgiving surface.

Instead, England’s fight was carried by the disciplined, probing spin of Jack Leach, who bowled with great accuracy, and with five men camped around the bat for the majority of the final session, but with little luck to finish with 3 for 57 in 30.1 overs.

Ben Stokes was England’s other main threat as he once again belied the pre-match caveats about his fitness to bang out 13 more overs for 24, but having prised out the key early wicket of Kraigg Brathwaite, he too was unable to get the better of a dogged fifth-wicket pair.

bowled for 24, Brathwaite found a comfortable balance between stickability and intent to set West Indies’ tempo with a solid knock of 33 from 82 balls.

Inevitably, however, it was Stokes who dislodged him. After his first-innings exertions, Stokes had been held back until the 24th over - ostensibly waiting until the ball was ready to reverse-swing - and with his seventh delivery, he skidded a full-length nipbacker into Brathwaite’s shin, to send him on his way for 33 from

Jason Holder defends as England crowd the bat (Getty Images) After 21 wickets had fallen on the first four days of the match, the likelihood of England forcing victory on an unforgiving surface at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium had always been slim. And slim seemed to have left town when it was confirmed that Wood - who had been withdrawn from the attack before lunch on day three would play no further part in the match, after reporting “acute pain” in his injured right elbow during a nets session before the start of play.

With Wood’s participation in the rest of the series now in serious doubt, it would have been understandable had England chosen to shut up shop from the outset, after resuming their second innings with a stalemate at their mercy on 217 for 1.

However, in adding a further 132 runs in 25 overs of an

extended morning session, the evidence from the day’s outset was that England always intended to have a dart at West Indies’ brittle batting in the final two sessions.

By the time Bonner had batted for 493 balls across his two innings, and found typically indomitable support from Holder - a man who never needs to be asked twice to produce his best performances against England - West Indies had located a backbone to reinforce their remarkable home record in the Wisden-turned-Richards-Botham-Trophy.

Either side of the tea break, however, it had threatened to be a very different story. After a misleadingly calm start to their chase, in which Brathwaite and John Campbell had compiled their second fifty-stand of the match, West Indies shipped

four wickets for eight runs in 9.3 overs to re-awaken the sort of jitters that their opponents have known only too well in recent times.

Suddenly, from 59 for 0, with the vague prospect of hunting down a run-a-ball asking rate in an ODI-style fight to the finish, West Indies were in the soup at 67 for 4, with their only remaining objective being survival a state of affairs that allowed England to shelve any reticence in their field placings, and throw everything they had into the pursuit of those final six wickets.

The dismissal of Brathwaite was the trigger for West Indies’ wobble for he had been, by a distance, the more fluent of West Indies’ two openers. Aside from one atrocious hack across the line at Leach, for which he had deserved to be

82 balls.

Suddenly, West Indies’ serenity had been shaken, and Campbell never looked like filling the void. Leach in particular had him in his pocket - he should have been caught for 1 from 19 balls, when he skied a leading edge to Crawley, running back from slip, and the solitary boundary of his innings, an attractive drive through the covers off Leach, came one ball after he had skimmed a less convincing hack over the head of Stokes at mid-off.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings 311 WEST INDIES 1st innings 375 ENGLAND 2nd innings (o/n 217 for one) A. Lees lbw b Roach 6 Z. Crawley b Holder 121 J. Root b Joseph 109 D. Lawrence c Permaul b Joseph 37 B. Stokes c Brooks b Roach 13 J. Bairstow not out 15 B. Foakes b Joseph 1 C. Woakes not out 18 Extras: (b-15, lb-4, w-2, nb-8) 29 Total: (6 wkts, 88.2 overs) 349 Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-225, 3-295, 4-310, 5-312, 6-314.

Bowling: Roach 19-3-53-2 (nb-1), Seales 13-2-57-0, Holder 16-2-56-1 (nb-3), Joseph 23.2-3-78-3 (w-2, nb-1), Permaul 12-0-64-0, Brathwaite 4-0-14-0, Bonner 1-0-8-0 (nb3) WEST INDIES 2nd innings K. Brathwaite lbw b Stokes 33 J. Campbell c Overton b Leach 22 S. Brooks c Crawley b Leach 5 N. Bonner not out 38 J. Blackwood lbw b Leach 2 J. Holder not out 37 Extras: (b-4, lb-4, nb-2) 10 Total: (4 wkts, 70.1 overs) 147 Fall of wickets: 1-59, 2-59, 3-65, 4-67.

Bowling: Woakes 9-1-22-0, Leach 30.1-14-57-3, Overton 10-2-23-0, Root 2-0-6-0, Stokes 13-3-24-1 (nb-2), Lawrence 6-3-7-0.

Result: Match drawn.

Ronaldo says ‘no limits’ for Manchester United after scoring hat-trick (BBC) - Cristiano Ronaldo says there “are no limits” for Manchester United after his hat-trick helped t h e m b e a t To t t e n h a m Hotspur.

Ronaldo’s first United hat-trick since 2008 earned his club a 3-2 win and took his overall career goal tally to 807 - with some claiming that saw him break a world record for goals scored.

“Tremendously happy with my first hat-trick since I

came back to Old Trafford!” the Portugal forward wrote on Instagram.

“Nothing beats the feeling of being back on the pitch and helping the team with goals and effort.

“We’ve proved once again that we can beat any team on any given day, as long as we work hard and stand together as one. There are no limits for Man United!

No matter what! Let’s go, Devils!”

The performance came a week after Ronaldo missed the Manchester derby amid suggestions he had flown to Portugal, having been told he was dropped.

United boss Ralf Rangnick subsequently rejected the allegation and said the 37-year-old had been ruled out with a hip injury.

However, after what the German described as Ronaldo’s best performance “on and off the ball” since he

came to the club as interim manager in November, he wondered if it was worth repeating the player’s buildup.

“We were just joking that maybe it makes sense to send him to Portugal for three days, then have him not train for two and then have him back, by the way he performed on a similar kind of level on Thursday in training,” said Rangnick.

“I decided after that train-

ing session to play him today even though he has not trained for a week. Maybe we have to do that for the rest of the season.”

Ronaldo’s impact at United has been questioned as their season has unravelled.

Yet only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored more than the 37-year-old’s 12 Premier League goals and no United player has scored more than half his overall to-

tal of 18 in all competitions.

Midfielder Paul Pogba has no doubts about Ronaldo’s value to United.

“He has never been a problem,” said the France international.

“If you have the best striker in history in our team, it cannot be a problem. Today he showed why he is Cristiano Ronaldo.

The performance from him and all the team was very brilliant.”

38

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

ECCB/Navin/Hanson 50-Over tournament launched

THE East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) recently launched the Navin/Hanson 50-over competition at the LBI Cricket Facility.

The launch was attended by several of the clubs who are scheduled to participate in the tournament which will commence shortly.

The highly anticipated tournament will feature 12 competitive teams .Players include Rajendra Chandrika, Zaheer Mohamed, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Chanderpaul Ramraj, Ramnarine Chature, Robin Williams, Krishna Deosarran and Aaron Beharry

Members of the ECCB and sponsors stand for a photo during the launch of the Navin/Hanson 50-over tournament

among others.

The secretary of ECCB, Mr Davteerth Anandjit,

thanked Navin/Hanson for its contribution towards the development of cricket on the

Lady Jags coach eyes success against Nicaragua on April 8

… makes resounding call for home support

By Rawle Toney WITH the Lady Jags eyeing a victory against Nicaragua on April 8, head coach Dr Ivan Joseph has lauded his team’s commitment so far, during the CONCACAF zone’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

Guyana will put their unblemished Group F record on the line against the Central Americans at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, and Dr Joseph believes that his charges are equipped with all the tools needed that will see them walking away with three points.

The Lady Jags opened their campaign with a 4-0 win over Dominica at home, followed by a 7-0 victory away to Turks and Caicos.

However, Dr Joseph believes their two up-coming matches will be the team’s toughest matches.

“In my time with the National team, we’ve never beaten Trinidad and Tobago.

Nicaragua are a very technical team. They gave Trinidad a run for their money. A very skilled team, they put 19 goals against the Turks, while we were only able to manage seven,” Dr Joseph said.

With Trinidad and Tobago going through a transition

under new head coach, Kenwyn Jones, Dr Joseph said he’s still mindful of being over-confident, pointing out that the women from the Twin Island Republic are a formidable opposition, regardless of their line-up.

“I can tell you that I’ve watched the Trinidad/Nicaragua game…so we know, let’s say that their left-back is exceptional. We know that in the centre of the park, they’re athletic. We know that Sasha James, with her speed can create her own goal.

“So, I know enough of their tendencies to say that we will treat that team with the utmost respect. They are rebuilding, but that coach is very well organised,” the Lady Jags coach said.

Dr Joseph is currently benefiting from having one of his most blended roster in recent times, with several players who would have helped the Lady Jags create history when they featured in the 2010 Gold Cup and 2016 Olympic Qualifier tournament.

He pointed out that seeing the likes of Kayla De Souza and Mariam El Masri sharing the pitch with Annalisa Vincent and other up-coming stars of the programme adds value to the team’s line-up and puts him in a good position as coach.

“You didn’t see Mariam

play in the opening game because we’re giving those youths an opportunity. But Mariam is poised on the ball; she brings a silent leadership to the team. She makes people feel like they matter, and they belong. There’s just a sense that when she’s on the field, the team wants to play for her and to play with her,” Dr Joseph said.

Meanwhile, Dr Joseph is calling on Guyanese to turn up in their numbers on April 8 to be the 12th man for Lady Jags in a must-win game against Nicaragua.

“Come out and support us. We want women and young girls to see the highest level of football being played, a game that’s exciting. Football is not only for boys; it’s not only for men, not only for rich millionaires.

You’ve got a team that has doctors, lawyers, engineers, people who sell fruits and water on the streets, people who are just trying to get ahead and are making a name for themselves. And you can tell them their sacrifices are worth it by showing up and cheering them on,” the Women’s team head coach urged.

Only one team will advance from the group stage of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship Qualifiers and make it to the July 4 - 18 tournament in Mexico.

East Coast of Demerara and Guyana as a whole.

He posited that the pro-

motion of cricket needs corporate sponsors like Navin/ Hanson, so that cricket can be effectively administered for the identification and growth of players as well as for advancement of the game as a professional activity.

Mr Anandjit wished sponsor Navin/Hanson continued and sustained productivity, indicating that the ECCB trusts that the success of the business will inspire others.

The preliminary rounds will be played on a round-robin format, with the top two teams of each zone qualifying for the semi-finals’

knock-out stage. All matches are scheduled to start at 10:00hrs. The participating teams are as follows: Zone A: Lusignan Sports Club, Enterprise Busta Sports Club, Fairfield Sports Club, Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club, Strathavon Sports Club and Industry Sports Club.

Zone B: Buxton Carl Hoper Cricket Club, LBI Community Centre Cricket Club, Better Hope Sports Club, Golden Grove Sports Club, Ogle Sports Club and Mahaica Sports Club.

Inaugural Shameer Baksh Memorial 50-Over set for tomorrow THE Albion Community Centre will come alive today with top teams Albion and Blairmont Blazers set to clash in the inaugural Shameer Baksh Memorial 50Over cricket match.

The game, which will bowl off at 09:30hrs, is in memory of the father of Shabeer Baksh, proprietor of Big B’s - Baksh Restaurant.

The game will feature

several top players, including Devendra Bishoo, Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Jonathan Foo and Anthony Bramble.

Blairmont Cricket Club (Blazers): Javed Karim, Kevon Jawahir, Kevin Sinclair, Seon Glasgow, Neil Persaud, Chris Harry, Nigel Deodat, Satyah France, Waqar Hassan, Farouk Suban, Suresh Dhani, Altav Balman, Razam Koobir and

The Blairmont team

Arun Jaikaran.

Albion: Gudakesh Motie, Devendra Bishoo, Jonathan Foo, Anthony Bramble, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Sharaz Ramcharran, Adrian Sukhwa, Ramesh Kassinath, Kelvin Umroa, Gaurav Ramesh, Joshua Harrichan, Dimitri Cameron, Beshan Surujnarine, Jeetendra Autar and Devendra Latchman.

39

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

12 teams to clash in GCA-Ramchand Auto Spares/ Survival Group/Trophy Stall U-19 50-over tourney … Survival Group to award Tournament MVP

the coming weeks.

Speaking on behalf of Survival Group of Companies, Mr. Mark De Freitas stated that it was an honour for the Survival Group to be accepted as a sponsor of the GCA’s tournament.

De Freitas pointed out; “It is our company’s first time being involved in the sponsorship of cricket, but it most definitely won’t be the last time. To the participants we wish you all the best and may the best team win”.

In addition to sponsorship of the tournament, Survival Group of Companies, through its Travel Agency, has put up a Most Valuable

Player (MVP) incentive in the form of a trip for two to Kaieteur Falls.

The competition will see over 170 youths from in and around Georgetown (registered with Georgetown clubs under the GCA) showcase their skillsets over the coming weeks. Twelve teams will compete for top honours within two zones with the top two from each zone securing a berth in the semi-finals.

The twelve teams are Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), GNIC, Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO), Queen’s College (QC), Ev-

erest Cricket Club (ECC), Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC), Transport Cricket Club, 4R Lions, Bel Air RUBiS, Agricola and Georgetown XI. Zone A comprises GNIC, GCC, 4R Lions, GT XI, DCC and Malteenoes while Zone B will pit MYO, Transport, Bel Air RUBiS, Agricola, QC and Everest against each other.

The competition got underway yesterday with two matches; 4R Lions took on GCC at the latter’s home ground while QC hosted Agricola. Matches will be played at venues in Georgetown.

Some of the captains of the teams who will be competing pose with the GCA-Ramchand Auto Spares/Survival Group/Trophy Stall U-19 50-Overs Tournament Trophy TWO years after the local sports fraternity’s activities were forced to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) on Friday evening launched its first U-19 50-Over tournament since 2019.

Local companies, Ramchand Auto Spares, Survival Group of Companies and Trophy Stall, have thrown their invaluable support behind the tournament which

began yesterday.

Speaking at the launch which was held at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), GCA president Neil Barry expressed gratitude to the sponsors for coming on board despite all that is going on in the world.

“It is heartening to see our local companies throwing their weight behind the GCA, especially in sponsoring this tournament at the Under-19 level, which

is an important stage of our young cricketers’ development. Without these types of tournaments, we cannot produce the talent to improve Guyana’s cricket and ultimately take West Indies back to where they ought to be,” Barry posited.

Meanwhile, Mr Ramchand Ragbeer of Ramchand Auto Spares noted that his company is pleased to be on board and is looking forward to some exciting cricket in

From left: GCA president Neil Barry; GCA Chairman of Competitions Committee, Shaun Massiah; Ramchand Ragbeer (Ramchand Auto Spares) and Mark De Freitas (Survival Group)

Mural Logistics Agency Inc. Precision small-bore shoot … Richards, Dayaram and Gupta take top honours

AN array of local marksmen and women returned to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) ranges in Georgetown last weekend for the Mural Logistics Agency Inc. Precision handgun shoot.

And after a keen day of intense action, It was Gordon Richards who took first place in two categories, the Seniors .22 Precision class and the Seniors 9mm Precision class.

Richards also the small-bore captain of the Guyana National Rifle Association (NRA) which sanctioned the event proclaimed the event a success.

In the Juniors .22 division, Satya Dayaram claimed top spot while in the Juniors 9mm Precision, it was Michael Gupta who reigned supreme.

Full results are below:

Seniors .22 Precision maximum pts 250 Gordon Richards 236 pts 5 bulls - 1st Harold Hopkinson 231 pts 6 bulls - 2nd Surujbali Persaud 225 pts 6 bulls - 3rd Seniors 9mm Precision maximum pts 250 Gordon Richards 230 pts 4 bulls - 1st Joshua Ramlakhan 222 pts 4 bulls - 2nd Roberto Tewari 214 pts 2 bulls - 3rd Juniors.22 Precision maximum pts 250 Satya Dayaram 225 pts 5 bulls - 1st Royland Fraser 188 pts 2 bulls - 2nd Kesley Andrews 183 pts 3 bulls - 3rd Juniors 9mm Precision maximum pts 250 Michael Gupta 165 pts 1 bull - 1st Yonelle De Abreu 157 pts 1 bull - 2nd Royland Fraser 155 pts 2 bulls - 3rd

Pele Football Club to host AGM/Elections on March 21

THE Pele Football Club wishes to give notice that it will host its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Election of Office-Bearers on March 21, 2022, at the Pavilion of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in Queenstown.

Topping the list of agenda items would be the election of office-bearers for the next two years.

There would also be the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports.

The positions to be contested are president, first vice-president, second vice-president, third vice-president, treasurer and secretary.

The Club urges all of its members to attend the AGM as it looks to fashion a positive way forward.

40

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 13, 2022

After nearly two years, circuit-racing action returns to the South Dakota

All lights green for GMR&SC Circuit Race today SEE PAGE

36

Lady Jags coach eyes success Bonner, Holder against Nicaragua on April 8 hold off England … makes resounding call for home support

SEE PAGE

38

SEE PAGE

37

The Lady Jags celebrating during their 4-0 win over Dominica at the National Track and Field Centre in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship Qualifiers

Jason Holder defends as England crowd the bat (Getty Images) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2022