Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_04_04_2022

monday 4th april, 2022

No one will be excluded

No.106683

–– every citizen will benefit from oil-and-gas resources, VP Jagdeo tells residents of Region 10 03 PAGE

These young ladies take a stroll along the ‘safe space’ recreational area along the Lamaha Street corridor, Georgetown, on Sunday.

The family-oriented space was conceptualised by the President, Dr Irfaan Ali (Carl Croker photo)

Guyana to host New classrooms FAO’s regional 09 for special 05 conference in 2024 needs children PAGE

PAGE

Fire destroys 10 house at Wismar PAGE

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 4, 2022

Ramesh Shibsahai: The farmer promoting tourism Farmer and operator of the Mahaica River Birding Tours at Little Biaboo

By Shamar Meusa WHILE farming may be the main economic activity in Little Biaboo, Mahaica River, a number of expansions are expected in order to promote tourism in the area.

Ramesh Shibsahai, 59, who operates the Mahaica River Birding Tours, in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, revealed that as the effects of the pandemic on businesses are eased, major expansions are planned for the touring company.

Shibsahai, who was born in West Coast Berbice and later settled in Biaboo, got his start in farming from an early age after following in his father’s footsteps.

“I start with my father in the farm and I assist him in farming, rice cultivation, love the rice cultivation from since small days,” he revealed.

As a result, he went on to continue rice and cash crop farming and still does to this day even as he simultaneously operates the River Tour company.

Giving a brief overview,

Shibsahai stated that he has been operating the company for over 15 years and as such conducts bird-sighting tours along the river, fishing tours, along with boating services.

To this end, he noted that over the years, business has been fairly well aside from the sudden stop occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic actually brought it [business] real down, now actually some people coming in, a lot of people visiting; a lot of people interested in the fishing,” he told the Chronicle.

While he mentioned that more persons are now interested in the fishing aspect of the tour, some changes need to be made as it relates to the way other fishermen operate in the river. Shibsahai mentioned that a number of fishermen usually drop their nets in areas to trap the fish.

He added that these nets kill all of the fish and the seamen just take what they want and discard the others which hinder the growth of the fish population.

REGULATIONS If there is some regulation as it relates to fishing, like just allowing persons to fish using the hook and rod meth-

A section of the new deck that is being constructed (Shamar Meusa photo) od, there would be an increase in the population of fish.

“It will help a lot and it will attract tourists more because most of we tourist come in, they go and fish and they don’t actually take the fish, they just catch and release,” he said.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the other aspects of the tour, Shibsahai told the Guyana Chronicle that in the river, over some 150 different species of birds have been identified.

On regular tours, some 35 to 50 different bird species are easily noticeably.

“We get some chance to see the river otters, we get

the howler monkeys, we got a few different monkeys and so on too and the main attraction here is the national bird -- the Canje Pheasant,” Shibsahai told this publication.

As it relates to the expansion of the business, a new waterfront deck was being constructed. The construction of the deck will allow for guests of the tour to enjoy meals on the waterfront before or after going on the tours.

“Well, I find that a lot of my guests them love the waterfront, who coming on the tours and so on and actually with the bird tours, we have a breakfast with the bird tours and a lot of people actually

like the waterfront, so I’m actually doing that deck so people can actually sit and have breakfast and so on there,” he noted.

With that, the tour operator and farmer related that as the pandemic woes subside, further expansions are expected. The addition of cabins to the waterfront are expected as well.

“We want to actually put in two cabins later on too; if I develop and look at the business and see how it goes, I expand from there as well,” said Shibsahai.

With the further expansions, growth of tourism in the Biaboo area is expected.

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guyana CHRONICLE Monday, april 4, 2022

Every citizen will benefit from oil-and-gas resources –– VP Jagdeo tells residents of Region 10

THE government is working to significantly improve the standard of living of all Guyanese by making available more opportunities to residents throughout Guyana by investing in long-term projects in education, health care and public infrastructure.

This is according to Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who was at the time speaking at a recent outreach in the mining town of Linden.

The Vice-President during his address to

He iterated that if the population is healthy and educated and they have opportunities, they would be able to make a great and sustainable living long into the future.

Additionally, he mentioned that revenue received from oil and gas will go towards infrastructure for the future – roads, bridges, water supply systems among other things – that will stimulate job creation.

“We are intent on ensuring that the industry that we worked so hard under the PPP to bring to

the Linden and New Amsterdam hospitals and is constructing new major diagnostic centres in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

In addition, Mr Jagdeo mentioned that the government is also before the Islamic Development Bank with a $120 million project, which, if approved, will see the start of reconstruction of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway before the end of the year.

Aside from investing in public infrastructure, he said the government is

Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing Region 10 residents during his recent outreach (DPI photo) find a way to incentivise businesses to locate in these regions,” he said, while noting that the government has urged oil and gas companies to also recruit persons from outside of Regions Three and Four.

“We’ve been pushing them more to recruit from other regions and if the highways are good, people can travel back and

A section of the gathering at the recent outreach in Region 10 (DPI photo) residents of Region 10, spoke in detail about the country’s growth after the PPP/C Government took office in the late 1990s and current plans to improve infrastructure around the country and create job opportunities.

During the well-attended event, he told the receptive gathering on the lawns of the Watooka Guest House that the government is committed to having every citizen have access to Guyana’s oil wealth through improved health care and better education.

that point that that industry benefits Guyanese and the returns are shared equitably across our country that all of our people, regardless of who they voted for, their race, their religion, they must share in [the] oil- and-gas proceeds. That is important for us,” the Vice-President said.

Meanwhile, as he spoke on the improvement of infrastructure and more, he noted that the government is currently negotiating with the Inter-American Development Bank to upgrade

also investing directly in people.

On that note, he urged the residents of Linden who wish to study to make full use of the GOAL scholarships and other initiatives.

He also noted that the government is prepared to invest more in the region, including building more call centres or factories.

Many investors are going to Regions Three and Four, but the government is trying to attract investments in the other regions.

“So, we are trying to

forth easily to work in these areas,” the told the large gathering of Region 10 residents.

Region 10 will benefit from a series of major investments. These include roads and water treatment and supply, among other job creation and projects.

Recently, the Vice-President also announced 800 temporary jobs and 250 small business grants for

the people of Region 10.

“Just to let you know, Region 10 will be treated fairly by the PPP… for us, we contest elections on the basis of party, but when that is done, when the elections are done it is for us to work for the people of our country regardless of how they voted and that is always our philosophy,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 4, 2022

Scientists race to finish key UN climate report

Carbon removal technology, such as at this installation in Iceland, will be examined BBC/ HALLDOR KOLBEINS photo)

UN scientists have worked through the weekend to complete a key report on how to restrict the greenhouse gases that are warming the planet.

Members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are likely to advise a rapid shift from fossil fuels over the next eight years.

They will also suggest the widespread use of carbon removal technology to limit dangerous warming.

But disputes over the exact wording of the document have delayed agreement.

The IPCC is set to publish their findings on what we can do to stem climate change on Monday.

Most of the world’s leading researchers on climate change are involved in the production of IPCC reports their summaries of the latest science, produced every six or seven years, are used by governments in their negotiations on climate change, such as those that took place at COP26 last November.

These IPCC reports are seen as the best, if slightly conservative studies on the state of climate science.

For the past two weeks, IPCC scientists and government officials from all over the world have been locked in a virtual approval session, going through this latest report on how to stop climate change line by line.

This new study will be the third of three important documents from the IPCC issued over the past eight months.

The previous two have looked at the causes and impacts of climate change, but this one will focus on mitigation - or what we can do to stop it.

This essentially means that researchers will look at how we can reduce the amount of warming gases that are emitted from human activities.

One key part of the summary report will detail what the world can do between now and 2030 to limit heating.

IPCC scientists have previously warned that to keep the rise in global temperatures under 1.5C this century, emissions from warming gases would have to halve by the end of this decade.

In this new study, the researchers will likely be encouraging a rapid reduction in fossil fuel use, especially over the next eight years.

But this is sensitive territory - many large developing countries say that they should have the right to continue to use coal, oil and gas for longer, to help grow their economies.

Some major fossil fuel

producers are also reluctant to embrace the urgency of cutting these fuels that scientists say is absolutely necessary.

Other countries have also taken issue with questions around the use of nuclear energy.

These divisions have seen the approval session continue way past its official closing time on Friday.

According to one person with knowledge of the proceedings, it is not a surprise that the talks are running late as everyone recognises the implications this report will have on decisions that will have to be taken in next few years.

Another key part of the report will be the focus on approaches to remove CO2 from the air.

The kind of carbon removal approaches the report will consider will likely include tree planting and agriculture, as well as the more advanced technological approaches that use large machines to remove the carbon from the air.

They will also look at combined approaches, where land is used to grow crops which can be burned for energy while the carbon is captured and buried.

The use of these types of technology is controversial.

Campaigners express doubts that they can be made to work economically and there are also concerns that technology could be seen as an excuse not to make the major changes in energy production that are needed.

Scientists though say that the situation is now so serious that carbon dioxide removal will be needed in addition to massive cuts in emissions.

The discussions to approve the report’s Summary for Policymakers, due on Monday, have been one of the longest in IPCC history.

Delegates worked through Saturday night and well into Sunday to finish the document. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 4, 2022

Pakistan heads for early election amid move to remove PM Khan

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan (BBC/GETTY IMAGES) Pakistan’s President has dissolved Parliament -- a step towards early elections -- following an at-

The BBC’s Secunder Kermani says the Prime Minister is widely regarded as having come

tempt to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan from office.

It comes after Parliament’s Deputy Speaker refused to hold a vote of no-confidence the PM was expected to lose.

Mr Khan claims the US is leading a conspiracy to remove him because of his criticism of US policy and other foreign policy decisions he has taken.

Opposition politicians ridiculed the allegation, and the US has denied it.

Imran Khan visited Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin as Russia was launching the invasion of Ukraine. He has previously criticised America’s “War on Terror”.

to power with the help of Pakistan’s army, but now observers say they have fallen out.

His political opponents seized the opportunity to demand the no-confidence vote after persuading a number of his coalition partners to defect to them.

On Sunday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told MPs that Pakistani officials had been told of “an operation for a regime change by a foreign government”.

This, he said, went against the Constitution and the Deputy Speaker chairing the session - a close ally of the Prime Minister – proceeded to declare the vote unconstitutional.

They have filed a peti-

tion to the country’s Supreme Court, which is assessing whether the decision not to allow a vote of no-confidence against the Prime Minister is valid.

Heavy security has been deployed around government buildings and across the capital, Islamabad.

Imran Khan, elected in July 2018 vowing to tackle corruption and fix the economy, remains popular with some voters, even though a lot of his public support has been lost as a result of rocketing inflation and ballooning foreign

debt.

Last October, Mr Khan refused to sign off on the appointment of a new chief of Pakistan’s powerful ISI intelligence agency.

In public, however, both the military and Mr Khan deny there has been any falling out.

There have been only two previous instances in Pakistan’s political history when sitting prime ministers faced a vote of no confidence, and both times Benazir Bhutto, in 1989, and Shaukat Aziz, in 2006, emerged unscathed. (BBC)

Supporters of Prime Minister Imran Khan gather outside parliament to show their support (BBC/EPA photo)

New classrooms for special needs children

AS National Autism Awareness Month began, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has said that new classrooms are being prepared to cater for children with special needs.

The Health Minister made these remarks during a recent COVID-19 update when he noted that Autism Spectrum Disorder which is commonly called Autism, is a developmental disability that affects how a person interacts with the world.

Globally, he said, there has been an increase in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The minister noted that amid the pandemic, naturally, children or persons with autism have experienced challenges with regard to learning and as the country gradually reopens and children are back at school, these children should have more attention paid to them.

“During the pandemic, the schools that would normally offer the support, most of them were closed so it was very difficult for parents with autistic children and now that we are

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony reopening schools, we would want to ensure that these children, more attention are paid to them,” he said.

Dr Anthony added that the ministry is currently constructing new classrooms at the Ptolemy Reid Centre to cater for those children.

“In the ministry one of the things that we are doing, we are constructing new classrooms at the Ptolemy Reid Centre and there we would be able to accommodate children with special disorders and hopefully, they’ll have a better environment in which to learn,” he said.

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guyana CHRONICLE Monday, april 4, 2022

FASTING THE Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan has commenced. President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has used the occasion to urge his fellow Muslims, indeed all Guyanese, to use the occasion to reflect on the less fortunate in our society.

Ramadan is regarded as the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and is observed with fasting, prayers and the giving of ‘zakaat’ or charity to the less fortunate.

In his message on the occasion of Ramadan, President Ali noted that Ramadan is a time for us all to reflect on the great gifts the Creator has bestowed on us and urged that such blessings be used for our upliftment and for the common good of all humanity.

According to President Ali, “We are all blessed in some way and we should deploy those blessings for the better-

ment of ourselves, our families and all of humanity.”

Guyana, the President said, is perched for sustained prosperity. Such material wealth must be matched with an overflowing spirit of generosity.

Otherwise, he observed, “We will be rich in possessions but poor in spirit. We must neither be a rich nation with poor people, nor a nation of rich people who are wanting in generosity.”

These are indeed deeply profound words by the President which, to a large extent, define the philosophical outlook of the PPP/C administration, which has always embraced an approach to governance based on ‘development with a human face,’ where the resources of the country are utilised to create a just and equitable society.

President Ali has consistently advocated a pro-poor model of development,

one in which the basic needs of the ordinary people are placed at the centre of the administration’s social agenda. This approach finds expression in the social safety net put in place to cushion the effects of the rising cost of living; increases in old age pension, subsidies for water and electricity and removal of the value-added tax on a wide range of consumer items and cash grants, among several other interventions.

Interestingly, the period of fasting coincided with the Christian Lent, which also entailed a period of fasting. Lent is a 40-day period during which Christians remember the events leading up to, and including, the death of Jesus Christ whose life and teachings are the foundations of Christianity. The period is called Lent, during which many people decide to give up something that they love doing, usually food and drink. It is a time

Guyana is a blessed land

Dear Editor,

GUYANA is a blessed land to be observing a religious celebration from each of the three main- stream religions, namely, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam, simultaneously. Christians are observing the period of Lent (to culminate with Good Friday and Easter); Hindus are observing Navratri (to conclude with Ramnaumi); Muslims are observing Ramadan (to finish with Eid-Al-Fitr).

Significantly important is the mutual element of fasting which is factored into all three occasions in order to realise the goal of achievement and satisfaction. The other concept of denying oneself something that brings pleasure is also advocated, i.e., having to “give up something.” This doctrine of abstention may be converted into different forms of doing away (temporarily) from something materially tangible or intangible. The more popular ones may be a particular food or drink, smoking, sexual gratification or a hobby. There are guided restrictions on the amount of food intake and the type of food to be consumed also, in particular meat. While those in good health and of qualifying age are not prohibited from the practice, those medically affected and the very young are not expected to adhere to any compliance and are forgivingly exempted. All three events promote a sense of a better well-being and possibly giving the body organs a chance

to rest, repair and recuperate. More greens, vegetables and fruits are sold and vendors do brisk business on a faster turn over. Yes, this can also encourage higher prices to suit the demand and creating some degree of scarcity. The cost of fish, eggs and meat play out to a different scenario and may level off. You can gain, health wise, with the correct discipline. On the contrary, as more sweetmeats for dessert are displayed and eaten, this may pose a challenge as a health risk for consideration.

The ambience of fewer social activities in terms of pleasurable communion is generated. As a result, there are less sale and consumption of alcohol (cigarettes) and visiting bars, rum shops and night clubs.

Such lower demand does not influence the price for these items though. With less night traffic and intoxicated drivers, maybe, road accidents and the fatality figure may be of interest to the statisticians for this period. Are the roads safer during this period?

How less abusive do families, relatives, friends, colleagues and associates become?

The sociologists may be reading between the lines to analyse violent behaviour and other repercussions as this period of leniency unfolds itself in society. The choice of music may be re-prioritised and the sensitivity of volume and high decibel may be a conscious reconsideration. Psychologists may have a field day pondering if these religious programmes affect the loudness and lateness of music. Are neighbourhoods less

disturbed? Do people listen to less lurid (bawdy) lyrics, softer intonations, melodies of appeasing nature and songs that motivate more responsible behaviour and goodliness (Godliness)? Psychiatrists may be looking at behavioural patterns to determine whether or not robbers and thieves still ply their trade or go on vacation during this “holy” period. Does the country experience less stealing and cheating as more “Sunday Best” is worn, thus safety and security is less prominent and promiscuous with the Police Department?

Perhaps, another hallmark is the demand for the individual to pray daily. There are more turn- outse churches, mosques and mandirs throughout all the different communities. Prayer is one of the pillars of foundation for all religions. This also spurs the sale of more fashionable outwear as the appropriate garments are sought after in the stores, along with matching jewellery and footwear. Business certainly picks up! Pandits, maulvis and priests are kept busier as more religious functions are held and their services are in demand. Is there any conversation from bad to good, good to better and better to best? The reverse is certainly not anticipated! Brotherly and sisterly relationships take a turn for the better and even neighbours experience a higher sense of gratification for appreciation. The love of mankind becomes synonymous with Spring as the flowers bloom to beautify the place with scent and sight.

of reflection and asking for forgiveness and when Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection at the feast of Easter, which comes at the very end of Lent.

Hindus also observe around this time, Navratri, during which devotees pray to Goddess Durga in her nine forms. Like Ramadan and Lent, Navatri is also a period of spiritual renewal and fasting.

Apart from its religious significance, fasting also has a number of health benefits including increased weight loss to better brain functions. According to medical research, blood sugar control is especially useful for those at risk of diabetes. Some studies found that incorporating fasting in your daily routine may be especially beneficial when it comes to heart health and reducing the risk of heart disease.

The fact is that despite our religious and cultural diversity, we do much in common. Guyana has a rich cultural heritage. We are becoming an increasingly multi-cultural and tolerant society, which bodes well as we move closer to our ‘One Guyana’ destination.

As President Ali correctly observed, there can be no greater joy than reaching out to those in need and helping to lift others, especially the less fortunate in our society.

Not to outdo all the afore-mentioned charitable or giving more in larger quantity and quality not only to the needy and less fortunate, but also, to the various established institutions and organisations which dedicate their services towards the care and compassion of the under privileged. During this time, people would delve deeper into their pockets and become generous to give willingly towards the creditable welfare of those impoverished from the luxuries in life and perhaps, only enjoying the basic necessities to survive.

Providing meals, distributing clothes and giving money represent some of the selfless and not selfish demeanour in which people construe the act of blessedness. This essential aspect of deliberation reflects moral dignity and gratefulness for caring by sharing. Guyana joins the rest of the world as a God-fearing nation, where the majority of its inhabitants preach or practise the customs and traditions as dictated by one of the many religious beliefs. Most do predominantly contribute towards some philosophical teachings and are guided by generations of cultural upbringing.

Our ancestors provided many rules and regulations, but, this era of modernisation does not necessarily comply with ancient antecedents and so we witness a degree of laxity creeping into the arteries and avenues to determine a degradation of unacceptable pervasiveness.

Is Guyana a safer and better place during this festive season of religious holiness?

Yours respectively, Jai Lall

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guyana CHRONICLE Monday, april 4, 2022

We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted by the self-serving in our midst Dear Editor, “THERE are people out there who are not captured by any safety net, things are unbelievably hard for them and we have to work harder to give them help now and create opportunities,” this is what Priya Manickchand said after her first day of Operation Recovery, an exercise by her ministry to seek out children who were absent from the NGSA mock exams and those who were absent from school for a prolonged period.

Anyone claiming to be an ‘activist’ should share/endorse these sentiments; therefore, it is repulsive to see a few working assiduously against Guyanese interests whilst claiming that title.

To ask Barbadian PM Mia Mottley to shut down the oil-and-gas sector before it delivers on its promise of betterment for all Guyanese is (in my view) treasonous and an affront to the nation, which is on a path to becoming among the wealthiest

(per capita) in the world; the betrayal is especially keen to the vulnerable.

That the list of persons who signed the missive is populated by the comfortable middle class who all power their lives by fossil fuel is simply salt in the wound.

There was the proud boast from Trinidad that they have been an oil-producing nation for over 120 years, which is longer than Alfred Bhulai & Janet Bulkan (the oldest signatories) have been alive and yet I never saw a letter asking anyone to shut down the oil industry in the twin-island republic.

None on the list lives ‘off the grid,’ their children enjoy the benefits of fossil-fuel electricity. Sadly, these armchair activists are not the worst offenders against our nation.

Local Content laws were finally passed on the 29th December 2021, six years and seven months after the announcement of the commercial discovery

by ExxonMobil. Before the Law was en-

acted, there was the noticeable exclusion of local companies and workers in the rapidly developing sector, voices were raised from all quarters to get the Granger administration to protect Guyanese interests, but to no avail.

With the legislation mandating all companies operating in the extractive sector to comply with the Act, it is appalling to learn that Guyanese are working with foreign companies in nefarious attempts to bypass the local content provisions; some well-known activists/lawyers/ accountants fume daily about the Liza PSA and then advise companies to issue a class of unpaid shares that yield no dividend, but can show that over 50 per cent of the shares in a company are owned by Guyanese.

What these attorneys/accountants may not be aware of is that if/when those foreign companies are held criminally responsible for making false statutory declarations it is common practice for them

to in turn bring suit against the advisors.

Editor, Environmental issues are important to all of us, but so is our daily bread. The Low Carbon Development Strategy remains the gold standard for the entire world and it includes growth and sustainability for all Guyanese. There is a real danger that environmental concerns will be dismissed by the public when the realisation comes that the ‘environmentalists’ are anti-poor in their agenda of no gold mining, no logging, no oil, no, no, no.

There is a window of opportunity to make use of oil production and its proceeds for the benefit of Guyanese; we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted by the self-serving in our midst.

I draw on the words of Ghanaian visionary Kwame Nkrumah “forwards ever, backward never”.

Yours sincerely, Robin Singh

The world needs to capture this ever incessant flow of grace from the Lord Dear Editor, AS we commence the holy observance of Chaitra Navaraatri, also called Vasant or Raama Navaraatri, which will culminate with the observance of Raamnavami on Sunday, April 10th, 2022, the Sabha takes delight in wishing everyone a thrilling and spiritually uplifting experience during the period.

We pray that not only do we ensure the festival is observed, but that genuine, sincere and prayerful efforts are made to enhance our individual spiritual gains and attainments.

Unlike Sharad Navaraatri (September/ October) which is exclusively dedicated to Mother worship, this Chaitra Navaraatri is focused on recapturing the events in a spirit of love and devotion leading up to Sri Raam’s birthday or appearance. As the Ramayana points out, the events which unfolded as humanity had petitioned the Lord for His saving grace and mercy, today more than ever, the world needs to capture this ever incessant flow of grace of the Lord and seek the higher goals of life in as much as we take part in the beauties of the world.

Therefore, this Navaraatri is relevant and has much to offer to the world and we

who have been so privileged to claim it, must make the best use of it all. We must recommit to the further growth of our faith and love for the Lord and be ever grateful for this gift of life.

Sri Raama represents in every way the values, traditions, culture and teachings of Sanatan Dharma. Taking his inspiration from Rishi Valmiki, Tulsidas portrays his Hero, Sri Rama, as the very epitome of Vedic characterisation. The details of Rama’s birth, parentage, upbringing, schooling, relationship with brothers and friends, service to elders, marriage, and practice of ideals are all aimed at portraying Him to be a living representation of Vedic ethics.

In Rama’s life, there is an application of the Vedic spiritual culture of Yajna and Sanskaaara - rituals and sacraments. This is the life Tulsidas wanted to see rejuvenated in the Hindu world.

So focused is Tulsidas in portraying Rama in Vedic terms that he says in Uttarkanda 23.1, “He (Raama) was a defender of the Vedic Path and a champion of righteousness. He was above the influence of the three gunas, - Sattva, Rajas and Tamas…”

He further wrote in the Sundar kanda 38.2 that Raama is, “An ocean of compassion, he has assumed the human form for

the good of all. He brings joy to righteous people, and breaks the ranks of evildoers; He is the Champion of the Vedas and of righteousness.”

This is the Raama, the blessed Lord whose appearance is the central reason and

purpose for observing Vasant Navaraatri.

May he bless us all.

Yours sincerely, Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha Region Three

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 4, 2022

Unconditional Love from Parents MANY adults grew up without experiencing acceptance from their parents or carers. The love, affection and attention paid to them were subject to how well they did in school, the type of drama going on in their parents’ life, or some other stipulation.

When parents fluctuate in their devotion toward their families, it confuses children. Parents may have their arms around them one moment, showering them with kisses, and a change in the situation might see a parent leaving the marital home and neglecting the child the next. Love given to children should be unconditional, meaning it must be consistent regardless of circumstances. Children should never doubt whether they are loved and accepted, appreciated and cherished by their parents and families.

Children will test their boundaries and behave in ways that infuriate parents. It is all part of grow-

ing up -- even adults push boundaries to see what they can get away with.

How often have we heard parents say ‘he should know better’ or ‘I expected better from him’.

Parents like to think they know their children down to a ‘T’, but there will be times when children behave out of character. At times like these, all manner of punishment befalls children out of shock or embarrassment - whether they fit the purpose or not. Most adults use methods that their parents used on them.

Parents should learn to punish the behaviour instead of punishing the child by making him/her feel bad, like an outcast or unloved. The child should understand he/she is loved unconditionally, but his/her conduct is unacceptable and needs to be taken in hand. Working towards sorting this out does not mean condoning bad behaviour. It means separating the child’s hostile actions from the child.

Instead of ‘you should

know better’, how about ‘I know you know better; maybe you had a lapse in judgement. I want you to tell me what you should have done’. Adults don’t have to belittle children or cause them physical pain to teach them valuable lessons, but they should understand that children need to feel good about themselves. They need the safety net of their parents’ love and understanding. How some parents admonish children, deny them these essential considerations.

One grown up recalls, ‘When I returned home later than agreed as a child, my mother went through a whole ritual which began with me having to bring the belt.

Towards the end of the scenario, she used to tell me ‘pass’, and as I ran past her, she lashed me and sent me to put my face in the corner.

I remember thinking about a set of things while I had my face in the corner. Things like: I don’t like my mom, what can

I do to spite her, how could I upset her the way she upset me? I can’t remember thinking that the next time I go out, I will come home on time. I remember thinking: why doesn’t she talk to me and remind me to reach home on time. Looking back now, I realise my mom used the wrong approach.

She didn’t need to beat me; all she had to do was explain the importance of being trustworthy and a tardy timekeeper. Three o’clock is three o’clock, not a minute later. The entire ‘belt business’ and asking me ‘what am I beating you for?’ etc., were things her mother did to her, no doubt. I never asked her, but I assume that is where she learnt that concept. I am a person who can learn quickly from my mistakes. My mother failed to recognise this trait in me; she didn’t nurture it; luckily, I didn’t get beat often.

As an adult, I remember conversing with my neighbour, a man I’ve

known since he was a boy; we talked about children and discipline. I was surprised by his statement. He said, ‘When I have children, I will beat them’. I replied, but they haven’t done anything wrong; how can you say that? He insisted it is the right way to raise children.

Like all human beings, his faceless unborn offspring would make mistakes in life. Already he had surmised the only way to guide them would be with lashes. I’m not sure I convinced him otherwise, but we did have a passionate exchange. I was talking from experience’.

Adults should be aware that every person has a different nature.

They would learn more about their children by cultivating good communication skills with them from a young age, listening to them – and considering their views and opinions. Having a conclusion on how children ‘will be’ and how you will reprimand them as a parent may not work to plan. Parents need to be versatile while children’s characters and personalities begin to form.

Parents sometimes make the mistake of labelling children when

they do something ‘bad’.

They call them a cross, stupid, jackass, thief and derogatory expletives.

While the child’s actions might seem ‘bad’, the child is not bad; they are just a work in progress.

All children are liable to screw up, get things wrong, do things on a whim (without thinking), steal things, and lie.

Children also have good qualities, such as positivity, thoughtfulness, kindness and compassion. Adults should highlight and praise these attributes when displayed by their young ones. Let them know acceptable and good behaviour far outweighs adverse conduct and lack of manners.

No one is perfect, but we can help children by being the unwavering support they rely on to steer them correctly when they falter on life’s journey.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@ gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY

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Guyana to host FAO’s regional conference in 2024

COUNTRIES of Latin America and the Caribbean have established the priorities that will guide the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the region during the next two years and have chosen Guyana to host the next regional conference in 2024.

The FAO 37th Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean ended on Friday in Quito, Ecuador, after five days of discussions. Participants included the President of Ecuador, Guillermo Laso; the Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry; the Vice-President of Ecuador, Alfredo Borrero; 41 ministers and 23 deputy ministers of state and the Director-General of the FAO, QU Dongyu.

“Latin America and the Caribbean can and must

face its challenges and move to the forefront of global food and agriculture. The world’s food security requires it,” the FAO Director-General said in his closing statement.

“The best way to do this is by transforming their agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.”

During the conference, countries shared their innovations and the measures they are taking to transform their agrifood systems.

“I am pleased to say that this regional conference ends with great success. You have clearly laid out your regional roadmap to move towards this great transformation in the three regional priorities you have endorsed,” Qu said.

“I would like to thank the delegations of the member countries for taking the time to visit us in

Ecuador and for being here to exchange opinions on very important issues for the region regarding food and agriculture,” said the president of the Regional Conference, the Minister of Agriculture of Ecuador, Pedro Álava.

Some 586 people participated in the conference in person, including representatives of the private sector, academia, civil society and the United Nations System, and more than 34,000 people did so online.

The member countries chose Guyana as the host country for the next regional conference, which will take place in 2024.

THREE REGIONAL PRIORITIES Participants agreed on three main regional priorities, including building sustainable agri-

food systems to ensure healthy diets.

In this context FAO will help countries ensure physical and economic access to safe and nutritious food, promote healthy diets and policies and programmes to support the 104 million people living with obesity and the 60 million people living with hunger.

“In Latin America and the Caribbean, there is no hunger due to lack of food. There is no hunger because farmers don’t do their work. There is hunger because there is too much inequality and poverty”, explained FAO’s Regional Representative, Julio Berdegué.

FAO second regional priority is prosperous and inclusive rural societies.

Around a half of the rural population of Latin America and the Caribbean is poor, one in four people live in extreme poverty,

and 82 percent of those who work in agriculture and fishing do so in informal conditions.

Agriculture that is resilient and adapted to climate change is FAO’s third regional priority.

This means a strong commitment to stopping deforestation, promoting sustainable and low-emission livestock farming, and promoting the re-carbonization of soils and the recovery of degraded agroecosystems.

INNOVATION AND DIGITISATION Innovation is a precondition for all three regional priorities and FAO is committed to ensure that each of the organisation’s regional initiatives becomes a motor of innovation, and that every project should have a strong element of digitisation, which is essential

for the transformation of rural communities’ agrifood systems.

Innovation is central to the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031: it seeks to promote better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind, and countries analysed it during the conference with the intention to adapt it to their needs and conditions.

In his closing statement, the FAO Director-General noted how “the regional priorities are the roots that will deeply embed the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 in the fertile soils of this wonderful land.

It is you who must take the lead, because FAO is your Organisation. You govern us and we are fully committed to working for your priorities”. (FAO)

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Assuria celebrates 10 years with new branch office in Region 2

IN celebration of its 10 years of existence in Guyana, Assuria Insurance has opened the doors to its 10th location at Anna Regina in Region Two. The new office is located at the Builders

Managing-Director and General Manager, Yogindra Arjune Hardware Store, opposite the C V Nunes Primary School. Members of the public are already accessing services and a grand opening is scheduled for later this month.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle at the anniversary celebrations on Saturday, the company’s Managing-Director and General Manager Yogendra Arjune, said that

Assuria continues to offer solid insurance products and services to Guyanese.

He said the company is focused on providing the best solution for its customers.

According to Arjune, Assuria takes pride in being an innovator and pioneer in the insurance industry in Guyana, noting that the company is ISO 9001:2015 certified.

In reflecting on the last 10 years, he said that the company opened its doors in Georgetown on April 1, 2012, offering quality insurance products with value- pricing.

Assuria currently offers insurance packages for motor, fire, life, health, travel, group, marine, liabilities, bonds and pension, which are tailored for all stakeholders, and in the oil-and-gas industry, backed by strong reinsurers’ support.

“We value feedback from our supporters and customers. We listen to their needs and concerns and have been able to tailor special insurance packages to suit their needs, such as our GTU plan for teachers and the serve and protect plan for members of the armed services,” Arjune said.

Assuria recently launched their “Dream realised package,” which supports the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) house lot allottees by providing as much as 50 per cent discounts on their home insurance for the first year. This will ensure that the allottee does not feel the burden and in turn will be able to save for the future.

Aside from the head office which is presently under construction at Church Street, Georgetown, the company has branch offices at Vreed-en-Hoop, Giftland

The Anna Regina branch Mall, Rose Hall, Parika, Linden, Corriver- be contacted on 592-640-7007. The office ton, D’Edward Village, West Bank Berbice is open Monday through Thursday from and the Amazonia Mall. Anna Regina is its 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs and on Fridays from newest location.

08:00hrs to 15:30hrs.

“Assuria will continue to maintain its More information about the company’s core values. This includes integrity, inno- operations can be found on its website, vation, expertise, customer focus and care, www.assuria.gy/ or its Facebook page, Aswhich aligns with our vision,” Arjune fur- suria Insurance. ther explained.

The Assuria Group is active in SuriOfficials at the Anna Regina branch can name, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Fire destroys house at Wismar A HOUSE at Lot 55 First Alley, Wismar, Linden, Region 10, owned by Marverine Brewley, 99, and occupied by Joel Brewley, 66, was on Sunday ravaged by fire suspected to be electrical in origin.

According to a release from the Guyana Fire Service, an electrical power surge reportedly caused substandard electrical wiring to overheat, which caused the thermostat of the refrigerator to fail and subsequently overheated the compressor which ignited nearby combustible materials.

The Guyana Fire Service said that at 11:44hrs, it was alerted to the fire at Lot 55

First Alley, Wismar, Linden and Water Tender #99 and Water Bowser #12 from the Linden Fire Station were immediately dispatched to the location.

However, the tenders were unable to save the building.

The blaze also affected a two-storey wooden and concrete house located at Lot 58 First Alley, Wismar, Linden, owned by Dannly Saul, 87, and occupied by himself and family of nine.

“Five metres of the Southern wall was severely damaged due to radiated heat from the building of origin. Two lines from Water

The neighbouring house affected by the blaze

The Lot 55 First Alley, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 house destroyed by fire

Tender # 99 tank supply, along with relay from Water Bowser #12 operating from open source were used to extinguish the fire,” the Fire Service said and reminded citizens to be cautious and to follow safety measures to prevent the occurrence of fires.

Some of these include ensuring all appliances are turned off and unplugged before leaving a room or building; never leave children unattended or within the reach of fire starters and flammable items; never leave cooking unattended; always

keep children a safe distance from the cooking area; desist from overloading electrical sockets, for example, overloading of drop cords and power strips with various appliances; and making sure the quality of wires are of the approved and recommended standard when wiring homes or businesses.

The Guyana Fire Service is also recommending the installation of smoke detectors and the use of fire extinguishers in homes and businesses, so that persons can be prepared and alerted in the event of a fire.

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Health and safety walk a success Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton at the Square of the Revolution where the walk ended (Ministry of Labour photo)

THE Ministry of Labour (MoL) on Sunday morning successfully held its annual health walk in observance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Month.

This year ’s event which was held under the theme, ‘Act Together to Build a Positive Safety and Health Culture,’ saw more than 500 persons participating.

Subject minister Joseph Hamilton in an invited comment told the Guyana Chronicle that the exercise is a start to a countrywide campaign to educate Guyanese

about safe practices within the work environment.

“I’m grateful that so many private and public sector entities came out in support of the walk, it was huge, based on all the operations,” Minister Hamilton said, adding: “I have been saying this for a while: OSH is not just about employer and employee, it is a national issue and so we will do everything to ensure people are dedicated towards safety in the workplaces. In every workplace we will continue to do training and

interacting with employees and employers.”

The minister stated that during the month of April, the ministry will be rolling out a number of programmes across all 10 administrative regions.

“During the month we have several activities in all the regions.

We will also have radio programmes, speaking to people about occupational health and safety.

We will also have officers going into the mining districts to engage

miners about safe work and teach [sic] them about safety practices,” he said.

Among those participating in the early-morning walk were representatives from the Labour Ministry, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Exxon Guyana, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Centre for Local Business Development, Professional Guard Services, Bounty Farm Limited, N&S Algoo Inc,

Licensed Customs Brokers, Teleperformance, University of Guyana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Health, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), GTT, Ereka Laboratory and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

The walk concluded at the Square of the Revolution, where Minister Hamilton thanked the participants.

Persons participating in the OSH walk (Ministry of Labour photo)

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First smart classroom commissioned in Region 10

EDUCATION Minister, Priya Manickchand, on Friday, commissioned a smart classroom at the Christianburg Secondary School in Wismar, Linden.

This is the first of its kind in Region Ten (Upper Demerara- Berbice), the ministry said in a press release.

The release added that, during brief remarks, Minister Manickchand stated that the smart classroom will allow for technology-infused learning and noted that it will not only enhance the way teachers deliver lessons, but also, the way students learn.

The commissioning of this smart classroom is in keeping with the ministry’s vision of incorporating technology

to transform the education sector.

According to the release, she urged students to utilise the opportunities presented and to examine avenues to make meaningful contributions to society.

Meanwhile, Headmistress of Christianburg Secondary School, Shellanne Craigwell, noted that the commissioning of the new facility was evidence of the transformation of the education sector.

She said that it will enhance the school’s capabilities.

The smart classroom is fully equipped with an interactive board and audio system with smart cameras and a wireless television for remote access, the release added.

First smart classroom commissioned in Region Ten (Ministry of Education photo)

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand addressing students (Ministry of Education photo)

A demonstration being done (Ministry of Education photo)

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‘Operation clean up’ advances along East Bank corridor cils and the NDCs for the collection and proper disposal of solid waste.

Importantly, Minister McCoy pointed out that as the nation expands its tourism wings, the East Bank corridor will be one of the main throughfares

visitors will traverse. “… if we are talking about moving and growing as a country, tourism is a very important aspect, and it’s about how we keep our environment clean as well, in terms of maintaining

or sustaining the interest in our tourism,” he emphasised.

With Guyana on the cusp of significant development, Minister Vickram Bharrat said health and safety are two important facets which cannot

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, takes part in ‘operation clean up’, along the Grove main road, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday (DPI photo) G O V E R N M E N T, through the Grove/Diamond Place Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) continued its ‘operation clean up’ initiative along the East Bank Demerara corridor, on Sunday.

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy and Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, spearheaded the exercise, beginning from Grove Market Street to Good Success village.

The clean-up drive, which began in Janu-

ary 2022, is an initiative aimed at extensively cleaning and beautifying the nation.

The partnership among government, Joint Services and the business community has already seen massive environmental upgrades nationwide.

Minister McCoy said the cleaning drive shows the remarkable leadership of the administration to ensure the nation’s environment remains clean.

He said the zeal for hygienic communities should also be demonstrated by citizens, noting that they too have the re-

sponsibility to promote a spotless environment and improve their standard of living.

“The responsibility of garbage management is not only by the city or the NDC; it is from the household level, and the community level.

It means that we have to be able to inculcate, and to practise the right things and habits, in terms of how we dispose our garbage on any given day,” the minister relayed.

Government will continue to provide the resources through the Regional Democratic Coun-

Residents participating in ‘operation clean up’ along the Grove main road, East Bank Demerara (DPI photo)

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, takes part in ‘operation clean up’, along the Grove main road, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday (DPI photo) be avoided.

“It is about a culture change. It’s a message to the residents and those who are passing by that we need to be very conscious of our environment now, and about health and safety,” Minister Bharrat underscored.

He called on Guyanese to be more patriotic and respect the country’s values.

“It is important to send a message to the young people, that we

need to take pride in our environment and we need to start being a little more patriotic because anyone will tell you that when Guyanese leave Guyana and they go to foreign countries they are best behaved,” the minister noted.

NDC Chairperson, Indrani Ramnarine, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the clean-up exercise was essential, considering the magnitude of develop-

ment government has envisioned for Guyana.

“Today is just a continuation of that project that we would have started. The intention is to embark on it so that we can have continuous support, not only from the agency, but from the residents as a whole,” Ramnarine added.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, was also part of the massive exercise.

India’s Ambassador to Guyana, Dr K.J. Srinivasa joined the ‘clean up’ exercise on Sunday

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Small Business Bureau’s services to be easily accessible in Regions Five, Six

RESIDENTS of Regions Five and Six are expected to soon benefit from services being offered through the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce’s Small Business Bureau (SBB).

A help desk will be established within the respective regions to allow residents easier access to the agency’s services, thus reducing the need to travel to Georgetown.

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, made this disclosure on Friday, after meeting with members of the various Cham-

bers of Commerce, who expressed concerns about accessing the services.

The minister said an SBB officer will be sent to the respective regions to train selected individuals to lend support to small business owners. This is part of government’s effort to decentralise services.

“We are going to have a point person here (Regions Five and Six) that they can use and we will be in contact in terms of getting applications, import, export licences,” she explained.

Minister Walrond reit-

erated government’s drive to promote business development in Guyana, while explaining how this kind of support empowers existing and potential small business owners.

She noted that the ministry’s credit programme assists Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to access funds up to $30 million from commercial banks, while the Development Fund offers businesses grants limited to $500,000.

“A lot of people are not aware or they do not know what they need to do to get a bank loan.

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, meets members of Upper Corentyne, Central Corentyne and Berbice Chambers of Commerce There are a lot of requirements and there are a lot of things that they need to comply with. At the Small Business Bureau we help.”

Minister Walrond is encouraging more com-

mercial banks to partner with the ministry to provide financial support to small businesses.

Republic Bank Guyana Limited and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) have al-

ready partnered with SBB. SBB was established under Guyana’s Small Business Act (2004), to assist small entrepreneurs with training, and financial and business support options. (DPI)

MoE’s HR Department now accepting documents electronically

TEACHERS can now electronically submit documents which would normally be “hand-delivered” to the Human Resources (HR) Department, the Ministry of Education (MoE) announced on Sunday.

According to a press release issued by the ministry, teachers will no longer have to go through the hassle of hand-delivering documents pertaining to upgrade in status, transfer, secondment, among other matters.

The release stated that the said documents should be emailed to hr@moe. gov.gy “As soon as the email is sent, an automatic receipt will be sent to the sender’s email to acknowledge receipt of the mail.

To process emails faster, the subject of the email should include the region the teacher is from, the nature of the matter and the teacher’s name, for example, ‘Re-

gion 4 Transfer John Smith’ or ‘Region 9 Upgrade in Status Harry John’,” the release said.

The ministry further explained that each document sent will be processed in three working days. If more time is required, then the Human Resources Department will communicate with the concerned party and advise of such.

Additionally, the ministry stated that the updated system seeks to reduce the need to travel to Georgetown to deliver a letter.

“Using a digital system will ensure that correspondences are no longer misplaced.

It is expected that a similar system will be implemented by all Departments of Education across the country in a short while.

This new system is the vision of the Minister of Education in simplifying access to the services offered by the Ministry,” the release added.

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Committee to manage No. 63 Beach Easter activities A MANAGEMENT committee will soon be established to care for and manage the No. 63 beach, Region Six, in time for the upcoming Easter Day activities.

This decision follows concerns raised by Commander Boodnarine Persaud, regarding recent traffic congestion involv-

ing over 250 vehicles there. It was relayed that these vehicles were nearly washed away, due to high tide.

The Commander said that this incident reinforces his belief that further development works need to be undertaken to ensure beachgoers’ safety. To prevent any recur-

rence, he recommended the construction of more entrances there to ease the flow of traffic.

“We have to also realise that we do not have any lighting system on the beach, and we are still responsible for security as there is no other security service there to assist the police stationed there to

QualiTEST phlebotomy students to write Canadian certification exam in May

Some of the 2021 graduates of the Qualitest Training Institute IN a bid to improve its services and the delivery of a robust allied health curriculum, QualiTEST Incorporated has partnered with the Canadian Phlebotomy Technicians Group Inc. (CPTG) to offer a new programme to its students.

This collaboration will see students having access to the Canadian Phlebotomy Technicians (CPT) examinations which validates an individual is competent phlebotomy practice. This accreditation also meets Canadian standards which means that successful candidates will earn the professional title of certified phlebotomy technicians.

In an online interview with the Guyana Chronicle, CPTG’s Director Sharaf Khan disclosed that the discussions of a collaboration arose when several keen QualiTEST students began inquiring about the certification being offered at CPTG. “This partnership unfolded due to the many inquires we had received from prospective candidates residing in Guyana who were interested in challenging our certification exam and becoming certified. We were notified of the training institution

by these candidates and to clarify if the training will meet eligibility requirements to sit the exam,” he said.

According to Khan, the collaboration will provide new and exciting opportunities for Guyanese students to enhance their careers and become highly qualified healthcare workers.

“As a director of the Canadian Phlebotomy Technicians Group Inc. and being a Guyanese born, this collaboration is certainly gratifying in providing opportunities to qualified Guyanese healthcare professionals seeking certification designation, or whom would like to advance in their careers while ensuring patient care, safety and standards are met and maintained in their practice as a phlebotomy technician,” he added.

CPTG is a professional certifying organisation representing healthcare professionals in the field of phlebotomy, all across Canada and internationally. CPTG was established to enhance patient care, advance skills and competence as well as to represent and support phlebotomy technicians in their field of practice.

CPTG was founded and

incorporated in 2019. The group is committed to the professional development of and recognition for medical professionals in phlebotomy practice.

The first exam is scheduled for May 2022 and this will be offered in person at QualiTEST Incorporated in Guyana.

Meanwhile, QualiTEST Incorporated, which is headed by Chief Executive Officer and Medical Scientist, Yvette Irving, is one of Guyana’s premier leadings allied health training institutions.

Irving, in a previous interview with this publication, had stated that the institution’s population consists of 95 per cent women, majority of whom are career working mothers trying to improve their social status through education in the allied health across the Caribbean.

Recently, the institution had its inaugural graduation ceremony, which saw 38 students in attendance.

However, 90 students would have been trained. Some of these students were from other Caribbean countries such as Dominica, Antigua and St Vincent.

Most graduates are employed in the private sector.

ensure persons’ safety,” he added.

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond agreed that the beach’s current condition is not ideal, especially when a large number of persons is expected to fly kites and partake in other Easter activities.

To this end, she charged the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to partner with relevant stakeholders to establish a management committee to conduct some immediate work at the beach ahead of the holiday.

“We know that putting government, and I am speaking about local government, in charge to make the system efficient and not make people frustrated when they come to experience Berbice and more so the beach, is needed right now and we have seen this work in other regions so I want to see everyone involved including the Neighbourhood Democratic Council,” the Tourism Minister noted.

Minister Walrond said

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond that while it is not possible to undertake the complete vision for the beach at present, this is the beginning of what residents will benefit from.

Regional Chairman David Armogan committed to the minister’s request.

“We will put together the committee very quickly, at least before the end of next week and so they can get to work in terms

of what has to be done, because we do not have a lot of time now, but for the time being some of the works identified, we can do that as a region,” he said Last year, First Lady, Arya Ali, visited the beach to examine ways that it can be enhanced and beautified much like what is being done at the Georgetown Seawall.

(DPI)

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Violence in school will not be tolerated - Minister Manickchand

IN a stern warning to all school-aged children and their parents, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, has emphasised that violence in schools will not be tolerated and, as a disciplinary measure, offenders could be sent to a juvenile correctional facility

such as the New Opportunity Corps (NOC).

The minister’s comments come on the heels of the brutal attack on a 16-year-old Linden school boy at the hands of a classmate.

In addressing the issue on the sidelines of a recent event, Min-

ister Manickchand said that the Region Two facility is an option not only for violent children, but those who are delinquent.

“I want to say to children very, very firmly, that kind of behaviour is not going to be tolerated. We would be prepared to use the law to remove children

who are a threat to other children, even as we ensure they are being educated, and there are facilities for that,” she said.

Minister Manickchand added: “You could go there and receive an education as is your constitutional right but not be a threat to other children.”

Jaheim Straker, a 4th form student of the Silvercity Secondary School in Linden, suffered a fractured skull and had to undergo emergency brain surgery following the assault. Fortunately, the teen has since been discharged from hospital and is on the road to a full recovery.

Meanwhile, Minister Manickchand, while reiterating that violence in schools will not be tolerated, said that the ministry will not take the issue lightly.

As such, she also issued a warning to parents to speak sternly to their children about their conduct while in school.

“Talk to your children about what is expected when they are in school or in their school uniform,” the minister added.

In relation to the Linden incident, Minister Manickchand stated that the ministry is still deciding

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand on what appropriate action will be taken against the student who assaulted Straker. In the meantime, the matter has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

The minister also revealed that there has been an increase in violent behaviour in schools. She noted that this could be linked to the two-year closure of schools due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are seeing more – I don’t know if I feel comfortable saying

more incidences – but we are seeing more visibility of violence in schools or amongst school children, even if not in schools,” she said.

Additionally, she noted that the ministry will be looking to review its policy on how to deal with violent acts in schools.

“We are having a relook at it with an entire mapping out as to what is to be done if any of this kind of behaviour happens,” she added.

Death of women by suicide

By Vanessa Cort

AS the world celebrated both International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month last month, the tragic death by suicide of a young married woman turned public attention, once more, to those who take their own lives.

The statistics worldwide tell us that more women attempt suicide while more men actually succeed in completing the act and that teenage girls have been dying by suicide more often than previously.

The Centre for Suicide Prevention in the US asserts that, “Depression disproportionately affects women: they are two times more likely than men to suffer from depression,” adding that women are also more likely than men to experience physical and mental health problems.

While this may be so, Lakshmi Vijayakumar, writing for the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, calls for more research on suicidal behaviour in women, particularly in developing countries and suggests that suicide prevention programmes should “incorporate womenspecific strategies”.

However, some common factors have emerged as being major contributors to suicide or suicide attempts among women. These include eating disorders, problems with fertility and infidelity and physical,

emotional and sexual abuse during childhood.

Declaring that wife abuse ranks as “one of the most significant precipitants of suicide”, Ms Vijayakmar also notes that, “Abused, shamed and powerless wives take their own lives to shift the burden of humiliation from themselves to their tormentors”.

This would certainly seem to be the case with the woman who took her own life in the Brickdam Police Compound, as it has been alleged that her spouse was guilty of infidelity.

Indeed the act of damaging her husband’s car, which caused her to be in the Compound, indicated the level of her frustration.

And Guyanese Psychotherapist, Shane Tull, feels that this woman’s action was a cry for help, shared by so many women who question their self-worth. He points to the fact that women are often oppressed and diminished by the lack of value apportioned to them, which can be compounded by poverty and domestic abuse.

“We have to look at the

(negative) messages women receive from an early age,” the clinician says, also observing that society often dismisses attempted suicide in women as “drama and attention-seeking”.

Ms Vijayakumar concurs with this view when she states, “One reason for the lack of investment in female suicidal behaviour may be that there has been a tendency to view suicidal behaviour in women as manipulative and non-serious.”

However, the experts agree that education, economic security and empowerment of women should be an integral part of any suicide prevention strategy aimed at women.

And an extract from writer, Nikki Banas’ “Walk the Earth”, gives encouragement to all: “This is for the ones who are struggling right now.

This is for the ones who have been having a rough day or week or even year, the ones who feel like this storm will never end. Keep fighting for you. Not for your family but for you. Keep fighting because deep down you hold a tiny voice that knows you were meant for far more than this sadness and pain you are feeling. Keep fighting because the person you will be on the other side of all this is cheering for you so much. Keep fighting because you will get there. And it will be worth it.”

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Zamal Khan leads Kingsmen to victory in SFSCL Open category

A FINE undefeated 62 from former Guyana and West Indies batsman, Zamal Khan, led Kingsmen to victory over the South Florida All Stars 16th edition of the South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) tournament.

T h e e a s y eight-wicket win

came in the Open category when the three-day tournament climaxed at the picturesque Brian Piccolo Park on Saturday.

Playing before a bumper Saturday afternoon crowd, the left-handed Khan rolled back the years with his authoritative knock, slamming seven fours

and a solitary six as Kingsmen reached the required total in 17.2 overs after limiting their opponents to 121 for nine in their allotted 20 overs.

Khan added 73 for the first wicket with Richard Latiff, (28) who benefited from an easy dropped catch but went on to hit two

fours and a six in a somewhat subdued innings, Despite losing their second wicket at 80, Khan and Vejai Surujpaul ensured victory with an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 44, dominated by the latter’s undefeated 32 which contained two towering sixes.

The two wickets to

fall went to Travis Drakes and Kevin Budha for 22 and 38 runs respectively.

E a r l i e r, a p a r t from opener Anil Bhawani, who hit a top score of 47 with five fours, the home team batters found the going tough against the steady bowling of Kingsmen as Kishore Smith claimed three

for 25 and Latif two for 24.

Khan was deservedly named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final while Drakes took the prize for scoring the most runs in the Open category and Smith for ending with the most wickets. (Frederick Halley)

Hackett wins rain-affected STP Investments Inc. Golf Tournament

Brian Hackett edged out Englishman Tom Watkins and Captain Patrick Prashad to win the 2022 STP Investments Inc. Golf Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Due to intermittent showers, golfers competed in a shortened nine-hole shootout (instead of the regular 18hole competition).

The conditions proved ideal for Hackett, who registered a

net 33, playing with a handicap of nine (gross 42).

Watkins finished with a solid gross 36, playing with a handicap of two, for a net 34, while Prashad also ended with a net 34, after he regis-

tered a gross score of 39, playing with a handicap of five.

William Walker with a gross score of 40, finished fourth with a net 35.

Meanwhile, Paton George won the closest to the pin trophy, while

Rackesh Harry won the long drive battle.

STP Investment Inc. Construction Company was represented by Project Manager, David Harinarine, at the presentation ceremony. He stated that the company supports

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

sport and is proud to partner with the Lusignan Golf Club because of its direction and support for growing the game of golf in Guyana.

Mr Harinarine also committed to future sponsorships.

(Monday April 04, 2022) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Kyle Mayers-5/18 (Grenada) (2) Jack Leach-3/36 (Barbados) Today’s Quiz: (1) What has been the result of the opening game of IPL 2022?

(2) How many games are scheduled for IPL 2022?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue ................................................................................................................................................

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 4, 2022

CSK loses third straight game as Livingstone shines (ESPNCRICINFO) Chennai Super Kings’ winless start to the 2022 IPL continued into a third game as the defending champions this time fell apart after opting to chase.

Punjab Kings claimed the spoils in the royal rumble at Brabourne Stadium, their second victory set up by Liam Livingstone’s boundary-fuelled 60 from 32 balls, and then a sparkling start with the ball from debutant seamer Vaibhav Arora, who claimed figures of 2 for 21 as Super Kings tumbled to 23 for 4 inside the powerplay.

Despite an early trend of sides winning while chasing, this was the third game in a row in which a total was successfully defended. Super Kings were perhaps the happier side at the halfway mark, after dragging Kings back from a score of 109 for 2 with one ball of the tenth over to go, but the signs that their innings might not be the expected stroll were when Chris Jordan, who claimed 2 for 23 with an excellent death-bowling display, noted with surprise the lack of evening dew.

Needing to go at nine an over on a Brabourne surface that had looked good for batting, Super Kings were

quickly in trouble as the Kings seam attack punched holes in their top order.

Kagiso Rabada, Arora and Arshdeep Singh all struck in the powerplay, and when Ambati Rayudu was acrobatically caught by another debutant, wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, off a vicious Odean Smith lifter in the eighth over, the game was all but over as a contest.

From 36 for 5, Super Kings were indebted to Shivam Dube’s 30-ball 57 for keeping them clinging to the tails of the asking rate. But Livingstone struck twice in two balls to continue a fine night’s work and when MS Dhoni was ninth out at the start of the 18th over, caught behind for a laboured 23 off 28, the jig really was up.

Livi lets fly Picked up for a price of 11.5 crore INR (USD 1.53 million) in February’s auction, following a stellar year in T20 competitions around the world, Livingstone was still waiting for a performance to match his billing at the IPL. He finally produced under the lights in Mumbai, taking the attack back to Super Kings after wickets in each of the first two overs had left Kings 14 for 2.

Livingstone’s aggres-

Liam Livingstone brought up a 27-ball half-century BCCI sion was the chief reason for Kings posting the second-highest powerplay score of the season so far (Super Kings have conceded the top two). Left-arm swing bowler Mukesh Choudhary

bore the brunt of it, conceding 34 runs from the 12 balls delivered to Livingstone his third over alone costing 26. Three times Livingstone made room to thrash sixes to the short leg-side

boundary - one of them a 108-metre monster - while also crashing Choudhary for fours down the ground, over cover (twice) and past short third.

With Shikhar Dhawan finding his groove by taking three boundaries off Dwayne Bravo’s introductory over, Kings were up and running at 72 for 2 after six.

Livingstone’s lives Super Kings should have removed Livingstone in the first over after the powerplay, however. Having danced down to crash Jadeja’s first ball into the sightscreen for his fourth six, he sliced the final ball of the over straight to short third-man but Rayudu, despite having time to settle under it, shelled a simple chance. In the next over, a thin edge down the leg side off Dwaine Pretorius was held by Dhoni, only for the keeper to ground the ball in his glove tips as he dived to his left.

Livingstone duly brought up his first IPL half-century, from 27 balls, a couple of overs later, via a top-edged swat at Bravo that sailed over fine leg. The Englishman’s previous highest score in the competition was 44 off 26 balls, made in his

second match for Rajasthan Royals in 2019, and he had gone nine innings without passing 25 since then.

CSK tighten up A 95-run stand between Livingstone and Dhawan had Kings on track for the 200-plus score that they possibly needed to feel safe.

But after Dhawan miscued Bravo to the edge of the cover ring from the final ball of the tenth over, and Livingstone was this time taken by Rayudu at short third in Jadeja’s next, the innings stuttered towards an unsatisfactory conclusion in the face of some solid death bowling from Jordan, playing his first game for Super Kings, and Dwaine Pretorius.

Jordan had started well, avoiding the early carnage to send down two powerplay overs at a cost of 13 runs. He then picked up 2 for 10 while bowling the 16th and 18th, repeatedly hitting a yorker length and forcing Shahrukh Khan and Smith to unsuccessfully take on the longer leg-side boundary. Sharma’s cameo aside, Kings lacked a batter to finish the innings off, managing to cobble to 71 for 5 from their last ten overs.

Haynes and Perreira win GUMDAC Easter Badminton top prizes - Bhagwandin, Klautky and Beharry also in winners’ circle

N AT I O N A L b a d m i n ton player Akili Haynes got the better of fellow national Tyrese Jeffrey, while Anna Perreira won

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two divisional titles in the finals of the two-day GUMDAC Easter Badminton Tournament on Saturday afternoon at

the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Haynes bested Jeffery in an intense final of the Men’s A-Division, which

ended 21-12 and 21-15.

Avinash Odit and Jonathon Mangra finished as joint third-place winners.

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er hand, won the Women’s B-Division title before stepping up to win the A-Division.

In the A-Division final, she defeated Shivanie Persaud in a keenly contested battle. She won the opener 21-14, before Persaud drew the game even with a similar score. In the final set, Perreira surged to a 21-13 victory.

Ambika Ramraj and Ayanna Watson finished as third-place winners.

Perreira was able to get the better of Mishka Beharry 21-17 and 21-9 in the final of the B-Division, with Priyanka Shivnauth and Watson finishing third.

Beharry was able to better Shivnauth 21-16 and 21-12 in the final of the C-Division.

Meanwhile, in the packed Men’s B-Division, Varendra Bhagwandin defeated Matthew Beharry in a thrilling final.

Bhagwandin won the clash 2-1 (25-23, 18-21 and 21-6). Ajave Singh and Jaurel Hendricks finished joint third.

In the Men’s C-Division final, Matthew Kluatky defeated Nkosi Beaton 21-10, 10-21 and 21-14.

Sponsor Darrell Carpenay was on hand for the presentation of prizes.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 4, 2022

U16’s ready for UEFA-organised friendly tournament

THE Guyana U16 Boys’ National Team is about to make history by participating in a UEFA-organised friendly tournament in Europe, with Head Coach Vurlon Mills calling the unprecedented experience a “huge” opportunity for the players, staff and Guyana.

The four-team tournament, facilitated by UEFA Assist, has been moved to Bosnia and Herzegovina in central Europe from the original hosting nation Moldova, which shares a border with Ukraine. The competition takes place between April 19th and April 24th and features European teams Lithuania, Montenegro, the hosts, as well as Guyana.

It is the first time a Guyanese national youth team will

Head Coach of the U16 team and former National Player, Vurlon Mills be participating in a European tournament.

“The opportunity to have Guyana participate in a UEFA tournament is huge, not just for the players and

coaches, but its huge for Guyana’s football development,” said Head Coach Mills, a former senior national team player.

“We are trying to im-

Golden jaguars resume training for CONCACAF Nations League

The Senior Men’s National Team resumed training this weekend at the Guyana Football Federation National Training Centre after a strong performance in the Courts Caribbean Classic, with Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz focused on ensuring the squad is well prepared for the Concacaf Nations League in June.

Coach Shabazz said that while pleased with his team’s performances against Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados in the friendly tournament last weekend, he was “not getting carried away”.

A fluent and energetic Guyana side, largely drawn from locally-based players, thumped Barbados 5-0 and held hosts Trinidad & Tobago to an entertaining 1-1 draw, making a statement of intent ahead of June’s League B matches.

“We are happy to see things taking shape, but we have a lot more work to put in for the Concacaf Nations League,” Shabazz said, explaining that a much-needed team-building process was well underway.

UK-based veterans Neil Danns and Sam Cox made a sensational return to the fold, while Romania-based Terell Ondaan, AFC Bournemouth’s Nathan Moriah-Welsh and the Jamaica Pro League’s Kevin Layne and Akel Clarke completed the overseas contingent. Forward Omari Glasgow, one of the stars of the tournament, has also just signed professional papers with Chicago Fire II. Captain Daniel Wilson, Trayon Bobb,

Quincy Adams, Clive Nobrega and Jeremy Garrett were among the locally based players who also excelled during the tournament.

“In the two games in Trinidad, the most important achievement was getting overseas and locally based players on the same page,” he said. “They gelled really well. We drove home the point that it’s not about where we were born as Guyanese, but who we are and whom we represent.”

Shabazz believes that the understanding of who the players are and who they represent is vital to the success of the project.

Marcus Garvey said ‘as a tree without roots is dead, so too is a people without knowledge of their roots, history, and culture,” he said. “Everyone played their hearts out: a reflection that they value the opportunity to represent Guyana.”

The Trinidad-born Shabazz was also high in praise for his technical staff, which included Assistant Coach Wayne Dover, former national captain turned coach, Charles Pollard and Dylan Palmer, a strength and conditioning coach from Coventry in England.

The staff has shown tremendous commitment and passion,” he said. “Trainer Dylan Palmer has been a great addition, and the players are getting stronger and fitter under him.”

Shabazz said he plans to engage the Golden Jaguars in further friendly matches before June. The draw for the Concacaf Nations League takes place on April 4.

prove as we go forward, and even though we play at one level in the Caribbean, we understand that UEFA is the next step ahead,” he said.

Guyana play Bosnia and

Herzegovina on April 19th; Lithuania on April 21st, and Montenegro on April 24th.

Hosts Bosnia have ranked as high as 13 in FIFA’s world rankings, but currently lie in 59th place, with Lithuania in 138th place, and Montenegro, who have previously peaked at 16, in 70th position.

The Guyana squad is currently in intensive preparation at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre, following a nationwide search for talent.

The travelling contingent of 20 players and eight staff departs for Bosnia on April 16th.

“We have got plenty of individual talents,” Mills said. “We have seen a tremendous amount of improvement from these boys in

every practice session. I’m really happy to be working with this team because I know, with this bunch, we can make a difference for football in Guyana.”

“We are using this tournament as part of our preparation phase going into the Concacaf U17 qualifiers in August,” he explained.

Among the young talent eager to make an impression in Europe is 15-year-old Shakem Welcome, a centre back who plays for Timehri Panthers.

“I get to showcase my talent in Europe, where all the big teams play,” he added. “I want to say a big thank you to the GFF and to UEFA for giving us this opportunity to showcase Guyana’s talent in Europe.”

President’s College victorious in Janet Jagan Memorial ECD final

President’s College females are the East Coast of Demerara champion PRESIDENT’S College emerged as champions of the National Sports Commission/Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport Janet Jagan Memorial Girls Windball cricket competition.

The 2022 season opener is being played at the National Gymnasium and is organised by Sports Officer A. Munroe.

In the recent East Coast Demerara final, President’s College defeated Bladen Hall Multilateral in a thriller.

The eventual winners took first strike and scored 106-1 off their allotted five overs with Chrisleyan Richards hitting an aggressive 34 (5X6s). Khelse Austin was ultra-explosive with all 30 of her runs coming from

maximums (5X6s), while Yukel Armstrong added 25.

Bladen Hall Multilateral, in reply, were restricted to 97-2, when the overs expired.

Aveah Ali led the attack with 44 (6x6s), while Aneesa Chetram supported with 20.

Bowling for the winners, Player of the Final, Richards, captured 2-4.

U16’s ready for UEFA-organised friendly tournament

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 4, 2022

SEE PAGE

23

The U16 team listening to coaching instructions

Haynes and Perreira win GUMDAC Easter Badminton top prizes - Bhagwandin, Klautky and Beharry also in winners’ circle

SEE PAGE

22

The respective winners with the sponsor and the Guyana Badminton Association officials

Hackett wins rain-affected STP Investments Inc. Golf Tournament SEE PAGE

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Winners of last Saturday’s STP Investments Inc. Golf Tournament 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

MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2022