Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 04-07-2022

MONDAY 4th July, 2022 PRICE

$100

VAT INCLUSIVE

Massive gov’t outreach to Buxton/Friendship today

Happy CARICOM Day

No.106773

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Guyana's food security strategy excellent, says new CARICOM chairman 03 PAGE

Eight promoted to Assistant Commissioners

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$7M more needed for NA girl to attend 14 Howard University PAGE

The Guyana Police Force (GPF), on Sunday, hosted a well-attended route march. Policemen and women from all departments of the force marched through Georgetown to mark the Force’s 183rd anniversary since its founding. (GPF photos)

Police Complaints Authority: ‘Charge cops in Quindon Bacchus probe’ 11 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

CARICOM leadership commends Guyana

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

–– for crafting ‘an excellent food security strategy’

By Jared Liddell

perspectives and innovations which are pivotal for cooperation and ultimately food security.

Meanwhile, Dr. Carla N. Barnett, the Secretary-General of CARICOM, echoed similar sentiments regarding the importance of youths participating in national and regional development.

She disclosed that some 60 per cent of the population of the Caribbean Community is under the age of 30 and said, “Our young people are central to our efforts at building a sustainable and resilient society.

We must, therefore, never cease in our attempts to create opportunities to develop and utilise their creativity and innovative skills, and to explore avenues to facilitate youth involvement in planning and preparation for the future.”

Dr. Barnett further disclosed that the CARICOM Youth Forum which was held last month, brought together youth groups, youth leaders, youth workers, and other key stakeholders to examine current youth development needs.

She noted that the Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors will present to the conference, the salient recommendations from that event for the attention of the Heads of Government.

AS the world works to recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, more recently, the Russia-Ukraine war, President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi has called Guyana’s plan “a great example”.

Guyana currently holds lead responsibility for agriculture, agricultural diversification, and food security in CARICOM, and is spearheading the regional body’s quest of reducing its US$5 billion food-import bill by 2025.

President Santokhi, who took over the chairmanship of CARICOM on July 1, 2022, lauded Guyana’s efforts during the opening ceremony of the 43rd Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Suriname on Sunday.

The Head of State noted that the initiative which involves partnerships with the private sector, particularly in the areas of finance, logistics, and transport, with the aim of improving primary production and agro-processing, and linking markets to produce, is set to significantly benefit the entire Caribbean region.

Guyana’s President, Dr.

Irfaan Ali, who heads the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet on Agriculture, Agricultural Diversification, and Food Security, had recently stressed that the time is now for CARICOM to correct the imbalance between consumption and production in the region.

And the way to achieve this is through the “25 by 25” target; that is, to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

The policy is set to see strategic cooperation among CARICOM member states over the next few years. The community has been engaged in talks to implement systems that would facilitate an

improved supply chain and the removal of trade barriers which are pivotal to achieving this goal.

“With joint investment, and by utilising modern technology, we can guarantee food security for the Caribbean and the region,” President Santokhi said in his address.

The CARICOM Chairman noted that he believes as a region, the CARICOM sister states have to continue working together to create opportunities that would mutually benefit all. He emphasised that an effective state of multinationalism is needed to achieve the goals of CARICOM.

“We can strengthen the cooperation and integration and create opportunities to make the Caribbean stronger. We find ourselves at a crossroads and this is the moment to reassess, refocus and recommit our endeavors to ensure sustainable development and prosperity for the people of the region, ultimately aimed at leaving no one behind. But we require leadership and a willingness to go for cooperation, to go for a creative approach to go for innovation in our approach for new strategies,” he stated.

While adding that the CARICOM economies are facing challenges in the cur-

rent geopolitical environment with rising inflation expectations, he noted that there is already a notable widening of credit spreads for frontier economies.

The Surinamese President disclosed his country’s proposal for the establishment of a CARICOM private equity fund to support CARICOM enterprises. He opined that CARICOM should facilitate partners to set up private equity and debt funds in the region to bolster employment and growth.

He further noted that this is the time for youth participation in national development, since youths bring new

SENIOR Superintendents of Police, Calvin Brutus, Errol Watts, Khali Pareshram and Crime Chief (AG) Wendell Blanhum are among eight senior police ranks who were promoted to Assistant Commissioners of Police, effective July 3.

The Guyana Police Force via its Facebook page on Sunday published the list of promotions

from the Police Service Commission, dated July 2,2022.

Senior Superintendents of Police Fizal Karimbaksh, Ravindradat Budhram, Kurleigh Simon and Mahendra Sewnarine complete the list of promotions to Assistant Commissioner.

In addition, a list of 11, including Regional Division Commander Superintendent Dion Moore,

Superintendent Khalid Mandall, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud, and Superintendent Raphael Rose were promoted to Senior Superintendents.

Twenty-one officers were promoted to Superintendents of Police, 25 to Deputy Superintendents, and 42 were promoted to Assistant Superintendents of Police.

A list of 21 officers were promoted to Assis-

tant Superintendents on Probation, four to Cadet officers, six to Chief Inspectors, while 97 were promoted to Inspectors of Police.

In the junior police promotions lists, 104 were promoted to Regular Sergeant, 109 to Corporal, and 85 to Lance Corporal.

The GPF is currently observing its 183rd Anniversary. (DPI)

The Senior Superintendents of Police who were promoted to Assistant Commissioners of Police

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, (fourth right) with the other CARICOM Heads of Government in Suriname on Sunday

Eight senior police ranks promoted to Assistant Commissioners

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

Massive gov’t outreach to Buxton/ Friendship today

RESIDENTS of Buxton and neighbouring villages will have the opportunity to meet with several government ministers on Monday, July 4, to discuss developmental issues and other concerns, when government takes a major outreach to the East Coast Demerara (ECD) community.

The exercise, led by Prime Minister Mark Phillips (now performing the duties of President while President, Dr Irfaan Ali is in Suriname), fulfils a commitment made by President Ali

when he visited the village last Tuesday.

The meeting will be held at the Buxton Community Centre Ground from 10:00hrs.

The ministerial team includes Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C; Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill; Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony; Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Charles Ramson Jnr; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond; Local Government and Regional Development

Minister, Nigel Dharamlall and Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy. Residents will be able to speak directly to the ministers in relation to health; business development; tourism opportunities; infrastructural development; Information and Communications Technology (ICT); local governance; legal issues and opportunities for young people in the areas of culture, youth and sport.

Under the ‘One Guyana’ umbrella, President Ali visited the community on several occasions as government ensures that all Guyanese benefit from government services.

The community is sustained mainly by farming.

Government, since assuming office, has invested heavily in agriculture through its budgetary allocations.

Additionally, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha visited the community on numerous occasions to address issues such as drainage and irrigation, which normally pose a problem to farming.

Last year, Minister Ramson committed $10 million to develop the Buxton community ground where the meeting will be held.

In addition, Prime Minister Phillips also visited the community some time ago when he donated lights to allow sporting activities to be held at nights.

Upon taking office, President Ali made it clear that government will be meeting and consulting with Guyanese countrywide on developmental issues.

July 02, 2022

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President Ali, in his inaugural address to the 12th Parliament, had announced the establishment of a “One Guyana Commission” which will be spearheaded

by Prime Minister Phillips.

“An essential part of my government is inclusion.

Stop being defined by race; stop being defined by politics.

“Start being defined by our one nationality and by our common love for our one country. Let us lift it up together and, by doing so, let us lift each other and ourselves; One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” the President charged.

“We must move our nation-building from abstraction to action and lose not one more moment in doing it. Let us stand up for our one nation, our One Guyana. Let us stand up for what we know in our hearts and in our minds to be right. Let us stand up for one identity, the Guyanese identity,” President Ali stated. (Extracted from the DPI with modification)

02/07/22- 2, 6, 9, 11, 15, 18, 19

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

CARICOM needs brand-new approaches to age-old regional problems (Part II)

Time for one Caribbean airline!

By Earl Bousquet

IN my early childhood, only two airlines flew the Caribbean’s skies: British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and British West Indian Airways (BWIA).

Others were small and private single-engine craft and sea planes. Air France and a KLM (Dutch Antillean Airlines) served the French and Dutch Antilles, respectively.

In the six decades since, BOAC became British Airways (BA), BWIA became Bee-Wee (and now Caribbean Airlines), alongside many other private airlines serving the region, but not many surviving the ‘lang haul’.

Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) went through several ownership changes, from being founded as a private company in 1956 to a 75 per cent ownership by BWIA in 1957, and a 75 per cent ownership purchased in 1971 by the UK-based Court Line. In 1974, it became a fully Caribbean commercial airline operating out of Antigua and Barbuda.

The last three decades saw regional airlines challenged by the ongoing effects of externally-generated, ever-rising fuel costs and government taxes, all of which were systematically passed on to passengers. This made air travel not just unbearably costly, but also almost tortuous.

I remember those days of old when LIAT advertised a one-price roundtrip to all the 23 islands it served, within 30 days, for EC $360 (US$132).

At the time, Inter-Island Air Services (IAS) charged pocket change for a flight from Saint Lucia’s Vigie Airport, in Castries, to Hewanorra Airport in Vieux Fort. On occasion, persons flew to Grenada as the sole pas-

senger on a flight, sitting in the cockpit with the pilot.

But with Independence came demonstrations of adventurous nationalism in ways that saw newly-independent former West Indian states establishing their own ‘national’ airlines: Trinidad and Tobago’s BWIA, Air Jamaica, Guyana Airways, and Barbados’ Trident, alongside Bahamas and Belizean airlines and Surinam Airways, etc.

Meanwhile, the smaller islands that later gained nationhood (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines) and the non-independent territories in the archipelago had to totally depend on LIAT. LIAT has long been under internal pressure from within CARICOM. Successive governments, over the past six decades, have cited costs of operations, administration and outstanding debts to staff and pilots, which effectively cut-off the lifeline to ‘The Regional Airline’.

By 2000, now disgraced Texan billionaire Allen Stanford established Caribbean Star Airlines, which offered toe-to-toe competition to every LIAT destination, at one time offering tickets at ridiculously low prices, until it merged with LIAT in 2007.

But even all that wasn’t enough to sink LIAT; until ‘COVID’.

‘COVID’ effectively highlighted, in the worst ways possible, why and how regional air travel had become too expensive.

It’s not easy to fly from one CARICOM state to the next. And it’s still difficult, if not impossible, for CARICOM citizens to fly to The Bahamas and Belize without a US visa.

The ‘COVID’ effect, compounded by the fuel costs and other challenges occasioned by Ukraine War sanctions, have together exposed the region’s naked underbelly in the airline business.

But, as with many other instances, the combined ‘COVID’ and Ukraine experiences have forced today’s crop of regional leaders to come to grips with the realities of the problem, at levels they, perhaps, didn’t realise and, therefore, ignored.

CARICOM leaders, by their own personal and inherited experiences over the past few decades, know how and why the term ‘hassle-free travel’ has no place in Caribbean vocabulary today.

But they should just consider that back in the 60s, Guyana’s Premier, Dr. Cheddi Jagan was only able to visit Cuba by flying to Trinidad and Tobago to board a BOAC flight to London, then an Aeroflot from Heathrow to Moscow, then a Cubana Airlines flight from Moscow to Havana.

International airlines grounded by the pandemic have returned to recent holiday periods in Europe and the USA, with serious overbookings that led to costly cancellations that have left millions of travellers sucking sea salt on both sides of the Atlantic.

Virtually caught with their pants down by industrial action across the industry, the major inter-

national airlines are now bringing out the biggest planes to fly the most passengers at the same fuel and staff costs, mainly retired Airbus 380s and the largest Boeing equivalents.

The aim is to maximize on the opportunities coming with lifting of ‘COVID’ travel restrictions globally.

Not in the Caribbean, though! Here, the appetite for flying hasn’t recovered from pre-COVID and post-Ukraine migraine-sized cost headaches.

CARICOM leaders got a virtual related comeuppance this past weekend when it came to flying to Suriname for the 43rd Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, each and all (except neighbouring Guyana) having to depend on today’s hardly-dependable airline schedules to get them to Paramaribo, in the shortest possible time.

The majority eventually smartly settled for a chartered flight out of Barbados to ensure their timely arrival in Paramaribo.

But even so, some leaders, catering for expecting the expected, left home since Friday to ensure they didn’t miss Sunday’s meeting in a CARICOM member state.

Ancient wisdom has it that ‘things happen for a reason’, and ‘some lessons simply take time to learn’, both of which ap-

ply to the state of regional air transport today.

It was, therefore, a fortunate coincidence that their collective effort to overcome the travel challenges getting to Paramaribo in time would have, again, forcefully driven home to each leader the importance of repairing the region’s broken air transport system, if regional unity is also to include Freedom of Movement by, and for all CARICOM citizens.

It was, therefore, for good reason that Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip

J. Pierre’s call for CARICOM to stand with and around LIAT, which drew the positive response it did from his colleagues and all gathered at the summit’s opening ceremony last night.

Regional Transport isn’t on the official 11item Summit Agenda, but if ever there was an old problem that needs new and urgent approaches now and today, this is one subject that’s just too urgent to be treated as a sub-item under ‘Any Other Business’.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

Sore Losers THE People’s National Congress (PNC), throughout its history, has always been a sore loser. Never taking no for an answer when rejected by the majority of voting Guyanese, it has always found ways to claim it was “cheated.”

This behaviour by the only party in Guyana with a long history of allegations of stealing elections was, again, shamelessly patented in 1992 when the PNC claimed it lost. After 28 unbroken years in government, the party conjured up that it lost not because the majority of voters had decided they had had enough elections stolen, but because of some imagined international conspiracy in favour of Dr Cheddi Jagan and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

After President Jagan’s death in 1997, the PPP/Civic fielded its next-best candidate, Mrs Janet Jagan. But after Mrs Jagan won fair and square, the defeated PNC refused to accept her ascent to the presidency because she was “not born in Guyana…”

Never mind Mrs Jagan was the longest-serving re-elected member of the National Assembly. After her life-long political partner died, the PNC’s lawyers invented

the most ridiculous legal challenges to try to reverse the expressed will of the majority.

And when that failed, the party embarked on a scorched-earth policy of daily and violent street protests.

The PPP and PNC agreed to allow CARICOM leaders to mediate, leading to the Herdmanston Accord that proposed a ‘Term Limit’ scheme, whereby future elected presidents could serve only two consecutive terms.

The PPP/C then replaced the aged President Mrs Jagan with the youngest presidential candidate in Guyana’s history, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, who brought home the elections bacon twice in succession.

Resulting from the ‘term limit’ provision, Mr Donald Ramotar was selected by the PPP to lead the party into the 2011 general and regional elections. Mr Ramotar won the presidency in 2011 and succeeded Mr Jagdeo as President. The PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) held an unprecedented one-seat parliamentary majority from the opposition side of the House.

President Ramotar survived his five-year

term. The PNC-dominated APNU+AFC would win the general and regional elections in 2015 without complaints from the PPP/C. The PNC-led APNU+AFC’s internal combustions and the David Granger administration’s failure to offer Guyanese any positive hope for the future (despite oil being discovered under their watch) made victory for the coalition in 2020 unlikely.

But when the expected happened, the sore losers refused to accept the electorate’s rejection, claiming the PPP/C (in opposition) had conspired with the Elections Commission to ‘steal’ its victory.

During the five long months they attempted to cling to the offices they lost, PNC spokespersons claimed they had copies of official Statements of Poll (SOPs), indicating where and how they had been cheated.

But to this day (all of two years later), the SOPs have remained concealed from the public’s eye -- likely elements of the PNC leadership’s wild imagination.

Unable to provide one scintilla of evidence to support its latest laughable claims of being cheated out of office, the PNC again resorted to the usual griping, while latching

on to any and every availed or created opportunity to repeat and replay its never-ending 2020 electoral last post.

Another such opportunity came in the recent unfortunate events at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) where a genuine cause was hijacked by the PNC and turned into a ‘race’ issue that involved looting and clear racial attacks on bystanders, largely because of perceptions of political persuasion—so designated by PNC henchmen because of the texture of their hair.

The PNC continues scraping its ever-dwindling barrel of support by touting the usual allegations of racial discrimination. But such continuing incitement by always-sore losers will not achieve the PNC’s objective of dividing Guyanese at a time when racial harmony has never been as clearly demonstrated such as now under yet another PPP/C administration.

This is particularly at a time when President Irfaan Ali’s government is delivering, every day, the most goods to most Guyanese than at any time in the nation’s history.

Happy CARICOM Day!

Dear Editor,

A DRAMATIC week which proved traumatic for Guyanese began on a delightful note, but ended on a dour note.

As President, Dr Irfaan Ali informed the world that the Commonwealth requires bold, innovative thinking to navigate global crises, at the Summit, the Commonwealth Nations also backed the legal process to end the Guyana/Venezuela controversy.

The conversation at home continues with Godfrey Statia from the GRA pointing out that the two per cent royalty is not a cost in computing Guyana’s oil profit.

As the threat of a $10 million fine for misleading information was issued, social media misleading data may have contributed to the fiasco and mayhem which erupted at Mon Repos to catapult the country into a state of grief and sorrow as vendors were maliciously beaten and robbed in a vicious attack by looters.

Aggrieved, Guyanese would want to spare a pensive moment to chew and digest on the following excerpts: 1. “The Commonwealth is richer for the breadth and depth of talented leaders who dedicate themselves to the family of nations,” said re-elected Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland in Rwanda. President Irfaan Ali is one of them, legally and legitimately elected, not selected.

2. “But what really defines us are the values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter and the commitment to good governance and the protection of rights,” Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame instilled. The Charter does not accommodate the rigging of elections.

3. “After 28 years of inaction, bipartisan members of Congress came together to heed the call of families across the country,” commented President Joe Biden. He must have been reminiscing on the cruelty of 28 years of PNC dicta-

torship!

4. The Ministry of Education will provide all of the Mathematics and English textbooks, free of cost, to students from Grades 7 to 13 from the next school year.

How about same to those who cannot calculate the half of 65 and are still in Parliament?

5. “We fight for political power but nonchalantly give away our patrimony,” Christopher Ram declared. All thanks to the generosity of the APNU+AFC coalition and Trotman for signing the lopsided and binding oil contract.

6. “Our Democracy is under threat,” confessed Denise. The writer asked, “Who cares?” Well, the PPP/C Party did and won the elections in 2020 to restore democracy. “Who benefits?” the questioner continued. The people do with all the tax reliefs, cash grants and numerous projects in process to propel the nation to prosperity by the PPP/C government.

“Who organizes chaos and confusion?”

Denise insists. Who else but those on the opposing side of the political spectrum, who propagate lies, propaganda, dishonesty and deceit.

7. “So why have these caring politicians not resolved the poverty issues 56 years after independence?” A fair question to ask by the analyst. Consider, it took one party 28 years to destroy this country, its rival 23 years to repair the damage, yet the next five years for the destroyer to devastate the nation again and now, the saviour is voted in to perform a miracle once again to rebuild.

8. “There can be nothing more traumatising than having to flee the land of your birth, often with little more than the shirt on your back – to go to someone else’s country where everything is strange and new,” a refugee wrote.

So true, Burnham and the PNC Party caused thousands of Guyanese See page 7

The Social Contract OP-ED –– Justice & Democracy

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

By Ron Cheong

THE philosopher Thomas Hobbes, a leading thinker in modern political philosophy, describes a conceptual state of nature in which everyone is completely free to do as he pleases.

A man can kill his neighbour, drag the neighbour’s mate off or steal his cattle with no legal consequences whatsoever. The trouble is that he is also subject to the same danger – someone else, in turn, can come along and burn his shelter down, injure him or take his goods away.

Obviously, this is not a satisfactory state of affairs. People would be constantly living in a heightened state of fear, not to mention real mortal danger.

In a self-interested move, people as a society agreed to give up certain rights “to” in exchange for rights “from”. For example, men jointly gave up the right to trespass on their neighbour’s plot and in turn received the right to be free from attacks in the night.

In other words, they entered a social contract in which they gain certain civil rights in return for placing their actions under the jurisdiction of a common authority and subjecting themselves to certain penalties for breaking the rules.

Each democracy has an established body of common law handed down over the years.

In addition, the elected representatives of the people pass new laws or amend existing ones. The Police are responsible for enforcing these laws, preventing unlawful activity and maintaining public order and safety. And the courts are charged with adjudicating the rules and applying the laws to disputes brought before them.

Agreeing to a code of behaviour is part of the contract we have made to live in democratic civilised society. Overall, everyone gains more than he or she loses. What people give up is more than compensated for by other rights they value more, like the right to security, free speech, to own personal property, to follow their religion of choice or not follow a religion, etc.

Moreover, the opportunity exists

And as they should, they fully expected to do so securely without fear “from” being assaulted by a mob, robbed, chased, their property being torched, being traumatised or being caught up in any type of disturbance.

A senior police officer engages a small group of persons during the June 28 protest along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) corridor as Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, looks on (Elvin Croker photo) through the democratic process to modify however, what descended on Mon Repos was the laws if enough people feel that, as they not peaceful protest or democratic. stand, these laws aren’t serving the sociMedia reports say it began as a peaceful ety’s best interests or they are infringing protest over the shooting death of Quindon on basic freedoms that ought to be left to Bacchus who was killed in a police operation, the discretion of the individual. These are and his family’s dissatisfaction over the progelements of the foundation of society. ress of the ensuing police inquiry.

But what arguably started as a pursuit of ASSAULT ON THE FABRIC OF justice, one way or another, saw a metamorSOCIETY phosis into its antithesis. Mob rule and attacks What took place last week in Mon on people in a distant village is neither justice Repos is an assault on the foundations of nor can it be justified. society. The location was Mon Repos, but The people in Mon Repos and other the assault was on the fabric of Guyanese nearby villages, like people elsewhere in the society - the knitting that holds everything country, were going about their day exercistogether. ing their right “to”. They were tending their To be sure, protest is an unequivocal right market stalls, looking after their property, in a democracy and may even be an obligation going shopping, making deliveries, being with in some circumstances. Democratic protest friends and family, and, in fact, doing all the is often a catalyst for peaceful change, or for things people elsewhere around the country drawing attention to perceived injustices; take for granted every day.

Happy CARICOM...

From page 6

to flee Guyana and seek refugee status in other countries.

9. “I speak on behalf of the PPP/C Government headed by President Ali and I say that our party in government and out of government…. our party is firmly committed to democratic governance… respecting the will of the people when they speak,” Snr Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh declared. Over to the Opposition for their endorsement on behalf of their party!

10. A lesson to learn from a person

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living with a disability, Lokesh Mathura, who was born with a condition called congenital amputation. Guyana salutes this father who is an assistant pharmacist and can do anything.

11. “Influence is not something that should be misused, it should not be seen as a power,” Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud told the Young Influencers. APNU+AFC is certainly making it easier daily for young people to get on board the PPP/C bandwagon.

12. “We believe not only in tourism

as a way to market Guyana, but also as a way to drive economic activity for every single region and every community,” Minister Walrond mentioned. President Irfaan Ali is Guyana’s best marketing representative internationally, being an active, charismatic and adorable partner on all global platforms.

13. “I needed to heal physically and mentally,” Serena Williams told reporters. Guyana is in the same boat, still reeling from APNU+AFC’s pain and agony caused from 2015-2020.

FUTURE DETERRENT The attack on the country’s very fabric indicates that those who either participated in, or instigated, the assault considered any possible personal fallout or resultant consequences to themselves insufficient to restrain their actions.

They figured that the probability of them being held accountable was low, and that any possible penalty for their actions not painful enough to be a deterrent.

No community in the country should have what transpired in Mon Repos visited upon them. There must be strong deterrents. Furthermore, for deterrents to be effective there should be no doubt in the minds of potential offenders that the consequences would be swift and significant.

They should know that the probability of them being apprehended and prosecuted is high. And that if found guilty, the personal penalties would be meaningful.

This is accomplished through the work of the legislature, the courts and policing. If there are laws on the books to adequately address the causes and actions at Mon Repos, they should be used.

If there are not, the legislature should enact. If there are relevant sentencing guidelines, the courts should apply them. If they are not, guidelines should be developed. In addition, policing has to be responsive enough to act as a deterrent and effective enough to increase the probability of apprehension and prosecution.

People across the political spectrum, in whatever part of the country and in every community, should be confident that the social contract is alive and well.

And that they can go about earning a living, and living their lives fully in a rulesbased society which, among other rights, provides for people being able to protest lawfully.

14. GHK philosophizes: “We will relive the 2020 elections in all its ugliness and dig a deeper hole for ourselves.

Yes, it will so disturb our spirits.” There are some things Guyana cannot afford to forget and some things Guyanese want to forget.

15. A speedboat carrying some comedians ended up in a boat accident in the Essequibo River. There was nothing funny to laugh about during that mishap.

16. Amnesty International America’s Director, Erika Guevara-Rosas said about ‘the prisoners of conscience’ who are being held for exercising their rights, that, “the men’s trials in Cuba are a shameful example of the human rights crisis caused by the Cuban See page 8

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

Army chief completes first year of US Army War College programme Happy

THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF)’s Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess has completed the first of a two-year Distance Education Programme of a Master’s Programme in Strategic Studies at the United States Army War College, a GDF statement said.

“The three-week resident phase of the course focused on ‘Strategic Leadership in a Global Environment’ and allowed participants to interact with internationally recognized experts from a wide variety of fields,” the statement said.

The residency, it continued, deepens the programme enrolees’ understanding of strategic leadership, while broadening their appreciation for substantive security issues confronting nations.

The course is attended by civilian and military leaders from around the world, the GDF said. Brigadier Bess (third from left in second row) with programme colleagues

From page 7

CARICOM...

Government’s decade-long policy of repression.”

A visit by the US delegation failed to secure the release of eight Americans detained in Venezuela.

Nicaragua shut down some 101 civic organisations and charities, including a branch of Mother Theresa. The aftermath of not being invited to the Ninth Summit of the Americas?

17. The dynamic Indian cricket team will highlight the West Indies “Summer of Cricket.” Lovely cricket will be played in Trinidad and St. Kitts. Guyana fell through the crack! Ouch. Chai Bhai?

18. “All I ask for is leniency, so that I can serve the time and resume back to society as a brand-new man,” pleaded convicted child rapist Andrew. There was a 1967 Western movie, “God Forgives, I Don’t” starring Terence Hill and Bud Spencer.

19. “So, in each of these 10 regions, we want to make sure these services are available,” stressed Minister Dr Frank Anthony. Yet, the critics claim discrimination and biased treatment for prioritised treatment. You can never please some people.

20. Colonel Khan mentioned that, LCPL Garraway, “represented the force well, both in and out of uniform.” Hats off to this honourable soldier, setting a fine example for everyone in uniform.

21. A fallen star, Raymond ‘Ray’ Robinson, will not shine again. An icon with the BGBS, the stalwart for a radio announcer will long be remembered in the broadcasting annals of Guyana.

22. “The world today is full of hatred and strife,” said Mr Harte, a father of five from GT. How does a peaceful protest over the death of Mr Bacchus lead to East Coast Demerara chaos and mayhem, during which vendors were beaten, robbed and looted of their goods, vehicles are set on fire and roads are blocked?

23. Sports is healthy with discrimination as racer Hamilton observed that, “It’s more than language.

These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport.” Even former BBC cricket Commentator, Michael Vaughn, was alleged to have said about Pakistani players that there were,” too many of you lot, we need to do something about it.”

24. “What happened at Mon Repos had its roots in development at West Coast Berbice in 2020. No one was ever brought to justice for these attacks,” Tom reminded Guyana. “The protests are being politicized!”

25. “Our national ecosystem, including oil and gas, is God-given, so it cannot be claimed or owned by every government or political party, it belongs to the people of the nation and they should benefit from the wealth that is being generated,” remarked Suriname’s President Santokhi. The PPP/C Government is transparently accountable for the revenues generated from oil. APNU+AFC is yet to account for the US$18 million signing bonus received!

26. The aliens have arrived and are being blamed for the COVID-19 outbreak at the border of North Korea.

As Guyana joins with its 19 other countries to celebrate the 49th anniversary since the signing of The Treaty of Chaguaramas, do have a safe, great and long holiday weekend, enjoying CARICOM Day. Remember, “a smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” Happy CARICOM Day. Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

Social media and bullying

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

By Vanessa Cort

CHANCES are that those of us who have never been bullied at school know of instances of bullying.

Children, who can be very cruel, will make fun of others for just being different, whether in size, speech, dress, behaviour or a host of things which we, as adults, may find unimportant.

Growing up in the 1960s in a small town in Northern England, I was the only black child in my school and in the early years of my attendance there I was bullied mercilessly about my kinky hair, my broad nose, thick lips and, of course, my dark skin.

Many days I would dread going to school and would rush home at the end of the day, head for my room and let out my tears of anger and frustration.

However, I knew I had to ‘tough it out’ and so would either ignore the bullies or, occasionally, answer them and try to defend myself, showing open defiance

and refusing to back down.

Luckily, I lived with a cousin who was at the top of her profession, the first black Matron of a maternity hospital in the UK. She was fiercely independent and a wonderful role model for me.

I watched how she carried herself with pride, confidence and an almost ethereal composure and I resolved to try to do the same. I would not be cowed or forced into apologising for my skin colour or my facial features.

I gradually gained acceptance at the school, though this was initially because my athletic abilities became known and I was sought after by the three Greek houses in our school. Naturally, I joined the champion house.

By this time, too, my fellow students had grown to know me and it was a classic case of ‘if you can’t beat them join them’. I began to make real friends who would then support me in rebutting those who

(Photo credit: ebu.ch)

were still openly prejudiced bullies.

And this all took place decades before the advent of the internet and social media, which has taken bullying to a whole new level, causing untold psychological harm to teens the world over. This is especially true for those who have become obsessed with the various social media platforms.

Termed ‘cyberbullying’, it has been defined by UNICEF as “…bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms and mobile phones”.

Unlike face-to-face bul-

lying, this cyber method means that, as writers for Idaho Youth Ranch point out: “…bullies can say something harmful without having to see the physical reactions of their victim or visually experience the effects of their words”.

However, while cyber bullies tend to be happy hiding behind a cloak of anonymity, they do leave a digital footprint which can be traced and they can be instantly blocked and reported to the social media site.

In recent years, cyberbullying has increased to the extent that social media providers have been taken

to task for not adequately monitoring and controlling posts.

Social media giant, Instagram, has been the latest to attract attention, with allegations being made that teens are constantly being bullied on their platform.

It’s also alleged that Instagram, which is owned

by META, has done little to prevent this or address complaints.

Taylor Lorenz, the writer, says, “Teenagers have always been cruel to one another. But Instagram provides a uniquely powerful set of tools to do so. The velocity and size of the distribution mechanism allow rude comments or harassing images to go viral within hours”.

In addition, both Twitter and Instagram make it easy to set up anonymous profiles. Many interactions on the apps are hidden from the eyes of adults, who often do not understand the intricacies of the platforms.

And for those who are unsure of the scope of

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cyberbullying, The Bullying Helpline, based in the UK, gives a comprehensive list which includes spreading malicious and abusive rumours, repeated harassment, intimidation, stalking, blackmail, posting embarrassing or humiliating images, setting up a false profile and catfishing.

The Group, which works closely with the police, Facebook and other social media service providers, is focusing on ending this activity and urges parents to step up their vigilance of their children’s use of mobile phones or computers.

They advise that bullies be blocked and reported and that instances of bullying be documented, such as a screenshot of the message or photo.

The overriding message is that cyberbullying is destructive and should neither be practised nor tolerated, for not only is it morally and ethically wrong but it is also illegal.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

Too many fatherless homes

A FATHER’S presence in his child’s life is just as significant as the mother’s -- although most people believe the contrary.

It is true that the mother carries the baby for nine months and delivers the infant whether the father is present or not.

Therefore, the bond between child and mother, for the most part, is inevitable. But fathers also feel deeply connected to their children; they have the right to nurture and care equally for them.

Unfortunately, more children grow up without fathers than mothers and there are various stories as to the reason.

Many delinquent adolescents come from fatherless families or backgrounds where their fathers have played no meaningful role in their lives.

Being a father means more than fathering a child. Most children over 13 can make a baby. Fatherhood calls for a sense of responsibility and an understanding of a father’s role in their child’s development.

There is a reason why children have two parents. In bygone times, men were hunters, protectors and providers for their families, while women stayed home to nurture and care for their brood.

Their roles, while different, are equally important for family survival. Over the years, more women have gone out to work, and some men, at least, have adopted a caring and more supportive stance towards children.

Nevertheless, fathers and mothers still play distinct roles in their children’s lives. Mothers can tell sons how to be a man from their perspective. They can suggest how their boys should think and feel.

They can be loving, considerate and strict, while teaching their sons impeccable manners. But only a man can show a boy how to be a man - his countenance, voice, manner, and the interest he pays to his children are priceless.

Regardless of how well a mother raises her children, she cannot compensate for a dutiful father’s guidance, presence and input.

Many children grow up without experiencing a father’s love, devotion, care and attention.

Sometimes, this is due to the ignorance, pain and hurt that parents feel towards each other. Sometimes, a hopeless breakdown in communication is the cause. It may seem to both parents that the child is doing fine despite their estrangement, but this is not so; the child is missing out.

Why are children punished for their parents’ shortcomings and misgivings?

Children are resilient.

They adapt to each situation that confronts them. They are children; they have no choice. This does not make the hostile conditions that parents create ethical or mean that children are not affected.

Although they may seem alright,

children tolerate their parents’ whims and fancies, and in the process, many live without fathers.

People often say you can’t miss what you have never had, meaning those raised without fathers do not need one.

But many children, and adults who grew up without (biological) fathers, would still like to know them, see them, and talk to them.

Unless grown-ups portray a negative picture during childhood and only a warped view of their father is left, most people want to know their father.

Another myth is ‘only sons miss absent fathers’ and daughters do not need fathers in their lives.

While it is true that mother-daughter relationships are particularly close, the fact remains that daughters do need their fathers’ inputs. Fathers are the first men that girls encounter.

They learn a lot from the ambience of a father’s presence, including his likes, dislikes, observations, and personality; and how he treats their mother and his family.

If their father is honest, fair-minded, and reliable, they may look for the same qualities in their future partner.

A father’s presence would, at least, provide a ‘yard stick’ by which girls will measure or judge other men they encounter.

Boys need genuine role models.

Ideally, fathers who they can look up to, trust and emulate. How often have we heard the phrase about sons following in their father’s footsteps, mainly in a positive rather than negative manner?

Most boys would love to have a father to whom they can relate , who is fun but strict when necessary, tolerant,

fair, understanding and caring; however, children tend to spend more time around their mothers.

Although time spent with fathers is shorter, the quality of the interaction may be worth its weight in gold. No one should underestimate the input an emotionally connected father could give to his children.

Some fathers are present, but make little impact on their child’s upbringing or development; they are not securely attached to the child, and the feeling is mutual. The mother will do her best to rear the child, but a poor example of family life is demonstrated throughout childhood.

Many children have made it through childhood without a father. They have grown into responsible, hard-working individuals, who are sincere, trustworthy and strong.

But a father should have been (and in many cases could have been) in their lives to help them reach their full potential.

Parents are coping and children are surviving. Parents work hard and do their best to make ends meet. But the fact remains that it takes two people to make a child because both have a role to play in the child’s life. When a child grows up without a dedicated father, the child loses out in the long run.

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 CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

Guyana to assist T&T with aromatic rice production, Barbados with aquaculture

By Naomi Parris

THE Government of Guyana will soon send a team of technical agricultural personnel to Trinidad and Tobago to assist in that country’s production of aromatic rice, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has said.

Minister Mustapha in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said that there are currently several ongoing collaborations among Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados.

He said before the end of July, Guyana’s Chief Scientist/Plant Breeder at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Dr Mahendra Persaud, will travel to the twin-island republic and lead the technical team from Guyana.

“We have a number of exchanges that will happen between Trinidad and Guyana, and Barbados and Guyana,” Minister Mustapha said.

While the partnership between Guyana and the twin-island republic does not appear to be limited to one crop, Minister Mustapha expressly said, “we will also help them in Trinidad to do the aromatic rice planting.”

“We are looking to assist them there. Dr Mahendra from the rice research station will be one of the technical persons to visit Trinidad shortly,”

the minister disclosed.

He also said a team is set to visit Barbados for discussions on aquaculture. Another team visited the island some time ago as Guyana continues to build relations in agriculture with the eastern-most CARICOM member.

Students from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) have also visited the island.

These collaborations, he explained, are a part of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) efforts to reduce the region’s food-importation bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

Collaboration has been a top priority to governments in the region to achieve the ambitious target.

Minister Mustapha said at Guyana’s recently concluded Agri-Investment Forum and Expo in May, that several CARICOM leaders emphasized the importance of collaboration as the region is already behind in achieving its goals.

“It is important that we cooperate and collaborate now more than ever, because when we had the investment forum and the opening ceremony, more than seven Heads-of-State who spoke there said that we are late almost by 20 years,” Mustapha said.

He noted further that CARICOM is currently looking at Guyana for leader-

ship in agricultural innovation and will adopt not only the ‘Jagdeo Initiative’ for removing constraints to the development of agriculture in the Caribbean, but also the strategies outlined for food security by President, Dr Irfaan Ali. “If we had implemented the Jagdeo Initiative, we would have been further [along] in moving the Agri-system ahead; however, it is not too late and we will continue,” the Agriculture Minister said, adding: “We will look at… what we call the binding constraints of agriculture and also look at the leadership that President Ali is giving to CARICOM.” According to Mustapha, CARICOM has become more cognizant of the importance of enhancing the Agrifood system and finding solutions to the constraints and barriers the region is facing in its production chain.

“I think that we are, in the first time in the history of CARICOM, [ready] to move the Agri-food systems forward and also to look at those problems we have been encountering with barriers that have been affecting the produce around the Caribbean,” he expressed.

Guyana, he underscored, will continue to be a leader in pushing food security and agriculture.

“We are seeing now the willingness of CARICOM to move the process

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha forward to reduce the food-import bill. “[T]he food-import bill now is very high and if we continue we cannot sustain,” Minister Mustapha exclaimed, underscoring, again, that “if we [CARICOM] are to reduce it, Guyana has to play that leading role, which we are doing.”

Meanwhile, President Ali has received praise from the various CARICOM leaders for his efforts and plans to transform agriculture in the region.

Guyana’s Head-of-State holds the responsibility for Agriculture, Agricultural Diversification and Food Security in the CARICOM quasi-Cabinet.

At the 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Belize earlier this year, President Ali outlined an action-oriented and solution-based proposal, aimed at reducing the region’s food-importation bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

There, the President addressed each country’s report of current and target commodities to achieve the 25 per cent reduction by 2025 and detailed where the constraints existed and where action could be taken.

Charge three cops in Quindon Bacchus fatal shooting –– Complaints Authority says

IN a July 3 release to the media, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) recommended charges against three members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to the fatal shooting of Quindon Bacchus in June.

Signed by the PCA’s head, Justice (Ret’d) William Ramlal, the statement said: “I recommend to the Director of Public Prosecutions that three (3) members of the Police Force are to be charged.”

Noting that the decision to charge rests with the Director of Public Prosecutions, as the PCA can only recommend, the letter said: “It is for the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine who is to be charged and what offences he/she/they are to be charged for.”

The shooting death of 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus has had much public attention.

Only recently, a protest was held along the East Coast of Demerara corridor resulting from a false report from a social media account which claimed that one of the men named in the fatal shooting of Bacchus had been released.

The report was false. Persons, however, took to the streets to protest. The initial protest last Tuesday started at Haslington, where persons chanted for justice after they were misled

by the false media report.

The false report caught the attention of President, Dr Irfaan Ali, who called for peace via a video statement on Facebook.

“My dear Guyanese brothers and sisters, as your President I am asking you do not be misled, do not be used,” President Ali had said, adding: “I understand the hurt, but let the system work, let us await the outcome of the system and let us not get emotional and act out of turn based on reports that are not grounded in the truth and facts.”

What started as a verbal chant during the early Tuesday morning protest quickly escalated as scores of persons made their way to Mon Repos, where they reportedly beat vendors, robbed them and destroyed their property.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) managed to intervene and control the situation, but, by that time, vendors had already suffered significant losses.

In the aftermath of the event, President Ali visited the market where he assessed the damage and engaged persons who were affected and other residents of Mon Repos.

Last week, residents along the East Coast of Demerara called on Dr Ali to intervene and have the PCA’s report completed urgently.

The Head of State had, however, clarified that he cannot get involved in an independent investigation.

“Let us give them until Monday to finish the report. I cannot instruct an independent body to finish a report today… [When it is completed] you will see what the outcome is.

Like you, I want justice for every Guyanese,” the President said.

He further made it clear to residents that he wanted to engage them directly because he did not want the situation to escalate further, especially with there being persons who are purportedly using various social media platforms to incite protests.

The police confirmed last Wednesday that a total of 16 men appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, where they answered to respective charges that they engaged in riotous behaviour connected to the violent protest last Tuesday.

Police identified the men as Haslington, ECD residents Rawl Griffith, George Teixy, Daniel Thomas, Legendi Pompey, Kevon Nicholas and Kester Paul; Golden Grove residents Jawonza Fowler, Seon Austin and Quice Lawrence; Victoria residents Michael Moore, Winston James and Andrew Sumner; Belfield

DEAD: Quindon Bacchus Housing Scheme resident, Rondolph Murphy; Melanie resident Shentel Caesar; Ann’s Grove resident Rondel Clarke; and Bachelor’s Adventure resident Shamar Payne.

According to police, Andrew Sumner was the only accused who pleaded guilty.

Sumner was fined $20,000. The other accused pleaded not guilty and were all released on $15,000 bail each. They will return to court in October.

Some vendors from the Mon Repos market who suffered losses have received trauma counselling from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, as compensation packages were still being worked out.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

President Ali at 43rd CARICOM Heads of Gov’t Meeting

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali arrived on Saturday in Paramaribo, Suriname, to join his regional counterparts for the 43rd Regular Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government.

According to a statement from his office, President Ali is being accompanied to the meeting by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Mr. Hugh Todd; Director of the Americas in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Guyana’s Ambassador to CARICOM, Mr. George Talbot; Director-General in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Mandanlall Ramraj; and Director of the Local Content Secretariat in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mr. Martin Pertab.

Since arriving in neighbouring Suriname, the President has reportedly had bilateral talks with Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Member of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.

CARICOM leaders also met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres during a working lunch on the side-lines of the opening of the three-day meeting on Sunday.

While in Suriname, President Ali seized the opportunity to host a breakfast for those Guyanese athletes who successfully participated in the 2022 CARICOM 10K road race in Paramaribo, in celebration of Guyana’s domination of the male and female categories of the event. (Photos courtesy of the Office of the President)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

NA girl seeks an additional $7M to attend Howard University from August 8 –– sum will cover tuition, living expenses

By Jeune Bailey Van Keric KEAYLA Vanderstoop’s stint at the prestigious Howard University in the United States is set to commence on August 8, but she is still in dire need of approximately $7 million.

Although well-wishers and the corporate community in Georgetown and her hometown, New Amster-

dam, Berbice, had pitched in to assist her, the total sum collected was insufficient to cover the teenager’s tuition and living expenses.

At a press briefing held during the mayoral reception at the New Amsterdam Municipal Chambers on Friday, Esan Vanderstoop, the teen’s father and a councillor in the municipality of New Amsterdam, gave a status update on

the finances.

He disclosed that some G$1.47 million has since been collected from donors.

The tuition, he said, cost US$23, 264 (approximately G$4.65 million) and as such, an outstanding amount of just over G$3 million is needed.

Additionally, the family has to raise US$23,000 (approximately G$4.6 million) for living expenses. A Go-

Howard University scholarship awardee, Keayla Vanderstoop (seated), surrounded by members of corporate New Amsterdam. Also pictured are NA Mayor Winifred Heywood (right) and her father Esan (left) FundMe account has since raised under G$1 million and the university’s enrolment fee has since been paid.

Keayla Vanderstoop The Vanderstoop family recently held a fundraising bar-b-que at Lot 43 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, as part of efforts to raise the outstanding sum.

Following Mr Vanderstoop’s disclosure, representative of overseas-based organisation, the Guyanese Association of Georgia, Carol Trim- Bagot, pledged US$1,500(approximately G$300, 000), as a yearly scholarship. She also committed $200, 000 from her local business towards the GoFundMe account and US$150 (approximately G$30, 000) as a monthly stipend, which will assist with necessities and US$500 (approximately G$100, 000) for books.

Trim -Bagot in her words of encouragement to the teen, said, “Go study and come back. Give back to the community. That’s the only way our people can be kept educated. A true job of a professional is never done. We are committing to ensure that you get to Howard, a prestigious institution, which was also attended by the current Vice-President of United States of America, Ms Kamala Harris.”

Subsequently, some members of corporate New Amsterdam, made undisclosed financial donations towards the Howard-bound teen, who has since expressed gratitude, and has promised not only to return to her homeland after her studies, but to “pass the baton” by helping other aspiring locals to fulfil their dreams.

With the Howard University’s partial scholarship, Keayla’s dream of becoming a chemical engineer is now closer to becoming a reality. That position will afford her the opportunity to significantly contribute and help develop the local oiland- gas sector, particularly

focusing on the cleaning up of oil spills.

Meanwhile, Mayor Winifred Heywood highlighted Keayla’s sterling academic achievements, which first grabbed national attention in 2014, whist she was an All Saints Primary School pupil. With the 515 marks she gained at the National Grade Six Examinations, she was awarded a place at Guyana’s top secondary school, Queen’s College.

At the conclusion of her tenure at the Georgetown-based school, she had secured 13 Grade Ones and 1 Grade Two at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and six Grade Ones and six Grade Twos at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

In an earlier publication, Keayla had stated, “I was accepted into the Chemical Engineering programme at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The total cost of my attendance at this university is US$47,000 each year for four years. Even though I was awarded one of the university’s Freshman Scholarships – Howard University Achiever’s Scholarship – it only covers US$19,000, leaving US$28,000 to be paid out of pocket each year. Although I was hoping for a full scholarship to attend this university, I am grateful for the partial scholarship that they have offered. Unfortunately, my family cannot offset the remaining cost of attendance.

As a result, we decided to reach out to private companies, the government, and the public for assistance.”

Persons willing to assist Keayla can deposit they contributions into Citizen Bank account 219351804 or make contact with the teen on 592-682-5471 or 592-695-7700.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

Multimillion-dollar Mabura Quarry could create over 100 jobs INFLUENCED by the increasing demand for boulders and aggregates on the local market, Windsor Technologies, a Guyanese-owned company, is taking steps to establish a quarry operation at an area which is approximately nine to twelve kilometres away from Mabura, Region Ten. With a booming construction industry, driven by both public and private investments, the demand for materials is higher than ever before.

Windsor Technologies, cognisant of this, plans to utilise approximately 150 acres of land to develop “Mabura Quarry.”

The company explained that a quarry operation is essentially an open pit operation. Extraction of rock from the quarry is carried out by firstly removal and storage of the topsoil for rehabilitation, stripping which is essentially re-

moving the overburden, drilling, and loading the drill holes with explosives, blasting (where required) and then removal by excavators.

Extracted rock is then delivered to the crushing plant(s) by loaders or dumpers depending on requirements of the crushing plant(s).

“It is the duty of the quarry operator or his/her delegated representative to develop and ensure compliance with suitable and sufficient rules covering excavation to ensure the safe construction and operation of excavations,” Windsor Technologies said.

The quarrying industry’s role is to provide a reliable supply of construction materials for road making, building construction, and the maintenance of road networks on which other industries depend.

As observed in other industries, successful

The proposed quarry is approximately 9-12 km from Mabura market leaders are those mands that these premises who provide an efficient be managed carefully with and effective service and consideration of the needs are mindful of all aspects of the environment, neighof their public image. The bours, and employees. modern community deThe general objective

in planning for the provision of these materials is to ensure that the supply is managed in a sustainable way, so the best balance is obtained among environmental, economic, and social considerations.

“The primary reason for the opening of this quarry was to satisfy the Ministry of Public Works with boulders for sea defence maintenance and aggregates for road maintenance and other construction works,” Windsor Technologies said in a project summary seen by the Guyana Chronicle.

The company will produce boulders, crusher-run and aggregates from an area which has approximately 7.4 million tonnes of quarry resources.

“The proposed quarry will produce approximately 1.7 million tonnes of boulders and aggregates in five years. The production rate will fluctuate depending on demand,” the company said, adding

that through its operation, it will create jobs for approximately 100 persons.

Speaking about the potential for advancement in the local quarrying industry, President Ali had said: “Guyana has a huge quarry potential that has been greatly underdeveloped.

Our accelerated housing programme, massive highways, and community roads to be developed will increase our demand three-fold over the next five years.”

To maximise local benefits, create jobs, and expand local content through this industry, the government is in the process of issuing new quarrying licences, to fully satisfy local demand.

Last year, the mining and quarrying sector grew by 36.5 per cent, driven by growth across all industries, namely, oil, gold, bauxite, and other mining and quarrying enterprises.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4 , 2022

Sainz converts pole to win as Verstappen finishes seventh

(Formula 1) – FERRARI’S Carlos Sainz has claimed his first Formula 1 victory after a breath-taking contest at the British Grand Prix, the Spaniard finishing ahead of the Red Bull of Sergio Perez and the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.

Key to Sainz’s victory was a late Safety Car caused by Esteban Ocon retiring his Alpine – Sainz then attacking team mate Charles Leclerc on fresh tyres at the restart to claim P1 and check out for his first win on his 150th Grand Prix start.

Carlos Sainz scored his maiden F1 win The action was frenetic in the final laps, however, with Perez – who’d dropped to P16

after a pit stop, having had contact at the early race restart following a red-flag stoppage

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday July 04, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 116 for 5 th wicket-Kyle Mayers/Jermaine Blackwood (Second Test, St. Lucia) (2) 123 for 7 th wicket-Shakib-Al-Hassan/Nurul Hasan (First Test, Antigua) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the first T20 International of the current WI/BANG series?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Match?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue ………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………

South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:25 hrs State Of Shock 09:00 hrs His Choice 09:35 hrs His Choice 10:10 hrs Nippy Winter 10:15 hrs Bluff On Bluff English Racing Tips Worcester 08:35 hrs Dr Barley Basket 09:10 hrs Intrepide Sid 09:45 hrs American Sniper 10:20 hrs Fat Sam 10:55 hrs My Poem 11:30 hrs Painless Potter 12:05 hrs Lessankan Ayr 08:50 hrs Dornoch Castle 09:25 hrs Polam Lane 10:00 hrs Slainte Mhath 10:35 hrs Thorne Hall

11:10 hrs Quest For Fun 11:45 hrs Grigadale 12:15 hrs Flying Moon Ripon 13:15 hrs Liberation Bay 13:45 hrs Marbuzet 14:15 hrs Poet’s Dawn 14:45 hrs Myristica 15:15 hrs Glam De Vega 15:45 hrs Golden Duke Irish Racing Tips Roscommon 12:30 hrs Scarpeta 13:00 hrs Vinnie Is Busy 13:30 hrs Desert Friend 14:00 hrs Hisnameis Mrdevitt 14:30 hrs Unanswered 15:00 hrs Alfieri 15:30 hrs Ah Fuggedaboudit

American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 Kingsley Creek Race 2 Mo Damorninggrouch Race 3 Fazaro Race 4 Cousteau Race 5 Trinity Titoli Race 6 Bustin Shout Race 7 Tiger Blood Race 8 Precursory Canadian Racing Tips Fort Erie Race 1 Determined Love Race 2 Captain Sydney Race 3 Sun Forrester Race 4 Keep Going Race 5 Dance To The Beach Race 6 Love That Madison

– coming out on top in a thrilling fight with Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to take an unlikely P2.

Hamilton, meanwhile, delighted the crowd with his second straight podium and 13th at Silverstone - an all-time record at a single venue - in P3.

The drama that caused that early red flag came at the original race start, with Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Williams’ Alex Albon both taken to the medical centre after separate Turn 1 incidents – with Zhou later released, as Albon was transferred to nearby Coventry Hospital for precautionary checks, with those two, plus Mercedes’ George Russell, forced into retirement

following the incidents.

Leclerc was forced to take P4, having led for large parts of the race, finishing ahead of the Alpine of Fernando Alonso and the McLaren of Lando Norris.

Championship leader Max Verstappen could only take P7, the early race leader having suffered some form of damage that hobbled his Red Bull, the Dutchman holding off the Haas of Mick Schumacher in the final laps, as the German scored his first points in F1 in P8.

Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel and Haas’s Kevin Magnussen rounded out the top 10, with Lance Stroll 11th in the second Aston Martin, ahead of Williams’ Nicholas Latifi, McLaren’s Daniel

Ricciardo and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda – on what was a red-letter day for Carlos Sainz.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

Bairstow third consecutive test century dwarfed by Indian attack Jonny Bairstow scored his fifth Test century of 2022 (Getty Images) (ESPNCRICINFO) - Jonny Bairstow added a new chapter to a glorious summer with a belligerent 106 off 140 balls, but it was India that took control of the Edgbaston Test over the course of an enthralling third day.

Their quicks, led by

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, bowled England out for 284 to secure a first-innings lead of 132, and, by stumps, this lead had grown to 257, with seven wickets still in hand, as Cheteshwar Pujara marked his comeback with a rock-solid, unbeaten

third-innings half-century.

After both first innings flew along at more than four-and-a-half runs per over, India’s second innings followed a far more traditional Test-match pattern, as they went to stumps at 125 for 3, after 45 overs.

This was down in large part to Pujara’s presence at the crease, of course, but every minute he spent out there was precious to India’s push to bat England out of the game. Barring a couple of nervy moments, he looked utterly secure; more secure in his defence, possibly, than at any point since the COVID-19 pan-

demic began.

In this Test Match, it has been apparent that Pujara has changed his set-up at the crease to get more side-on, with his front shoulder pointing to the bowler rather than towards mid-on, as was the case during the first four Tests of this series in 2021. On Sunday, this seemed to allow him to adjust more easily to late away movement than he has done in recent times. Where he would occasionally get squared up by these deliveries while playing the initial angle; a common pattern in a lot of his dismissals in Australia

and England last year, he seemed to be able to play the ball later here, and adjust the angle of his bat face to defend in the direction of the movement.

His leaving was full of certainty, too, even against incoming balls in the channel outside off stump, against Stuart Broad in particular. The only time he got into a tangle while leaving was when Ben Stokes bent one into him, late, to strike him on the front pad. A loud shout was turned down, and England’s review returned an umpire’s call verdict, with ball-tracking suggesting the ball would have

gone on to clip the outside edge of off-stump.

This moment came soon after Stokes had produced the ball of the innings, which lifted un-playably to kiss Virat Kohli’s glove, to end a 32-run third-wicket partnership. Getting Pujara out then could have put India, which at that point led by 218, under quite a bit of pressure.

As it turned out, Pujara and the impish Rishabh Pant saw out the rest of the evening’s play, putting on an unbroken 50run stand for the fourth wicket.

Murray, Williams crash out of Wimbledon mixed doubles (BBC) - Jamie Murray a n d Ve n u s Wi l l i a m s were knocked out of the mixed doubles by Jonny O’Mara and Alicia Barnett in a thrilling final-set tie-break.

Murray and Williams had five match points, but were denied by some brilliant play from Britons O’Mara and Barnett, who won the second-round meeting 3-6 6-4 7-6 (1816).

Both pairings were given a huge ovation by an enthralled crowd on Court Two, who were sad to see the Murray and Williams partnership end, but delighted by their inspired opponents.

Murray and Williams had led 4-2 in the second and third sets, but O’Mara, 27, and 28-year-old Barnett fought back to move on to the quarter-finals, taking victory on their own fifth match point.

They will face either top seeds Jean-Julien Rojer, of the Netherlands, and Ena Shibahara, of Japan, or Australians Matthew Ebden and Samantha Stosur next.

A THRILLING DAY ON COURT TWO The partnership of Williams, a five-time Wimbledon singles champion, and Murray, who has won seven Grand Slam doubles titles, was an exciting addition to this year’s tournament, reviving memories of when their siblings, Serena and Andy, teamed up here in 2019.

After they came through in three sets in their first-round match under the Court One roof, most fans on Court Two on Sunday might have expected them to see off O’Mara and Barnett, but the Britons rose to the occasion.

The crowd had been made to wait for the big draw in the doubles, with the men’s fourth-round singles match between David Goffin and Frances Tiafoe, immediately preceding it, and lasting five sets, and four hours 36 minutes.

If anything, that seemed to increase the anticipation. The players emerged to whoops and hollering, with shouts of

“Venus, I love you” and even a marriage proposal for the American. The same man then followed up with, “Jamie, I love you too!”

sealing the set.

Fantastic scrambling and retrieving from Williams along the baseline helped them get another break in the second set,

Murray and Williams broke immediately in the decider, but another O’Mara return winner brought them level again at 4-4.

Alicia Barnett and Jonny O’Mara celebrate their victory against Murray and Williams With the attention on their opponents, it was O’Mara and Barnett who first threatened to break when Murray was serving, but after that chance was saved, the Scot and 42-year-old Williams struck in the eighth game, with a Murray ace then

but, from 4-2, O’Mara and Barnett won four games in a row to level the match.

Both produced outstanding play, with three successive volley winners by Barnett, from 0-30 down in the ninth game, and a stunning return winner by O’Mara on set point.

Serving to stay in the match, Williams, playing her first competitive tennis in 11 months, showed how much this meant to her by tensing her arms, and letting out a roar when an O’Mara forehand went long.

Into the first-to-10 tie-

break, Scot O’Mara and England’s Barnett raced to a 5-1 lead, but Murray and Williams then won five points in a row.

The British pairing came again with a Barnett volley bringing up two match points for them at 9-7, but a stunning exchange of volleys at the net eventually went Murray’s way to help level it up again.

From there, the match points switched between the pairs, and the decibel levels rose as the fans responded to the dramatic climax.

A Wi l l i a m s r e t u r n dropped just wide when she and Murray led 12-11, but she landed a backhand down-the-line winner to bring up another opportunity to close it out. This time, a Barnett volley kept her and O’Mara alive.

Eventually, Murray volleyed into the net to hand O’Mara and Barnett victory, the crowd rising to their feet and giving both pairings a huge ovation for the two hours and 12 minutes of superb entertainment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4 , 2022

Powell, King fifties lead Windes to win

(CMC) – Rovman Powell and Brandon King struck starkly contrasting half-centuries as West Indies once again dominated Bangladesh to earn a comfortable 35-run victory in the second Twenty20 International at Windsor Park.

With the rain which wrecked Saturday’s opener at the venue staying away, West Indies galloped to 193 for five from their 20 overs, after choosing to bat first on Sunday, Powell clobbering a brutal unbeaten 61 from 28 balls, and King carving out a classy 57 from 43 deliveries.

In reply, Bangladesh never got out of the blocks, and finished on 158 for six from their 20 overs, with veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan top-scoring with 69 not out from 52 balls to pass 2 000 runs in his 98th T20 International.

Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr produced a stingy spell, conceding 23 runs from his four overs, but it was the fast-bowling pair of Romario Shepherd (2-28) and Obed McCoy (2-37) who did the damage with two wickets apiece.

The victory gave West Indies a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, which winds down Thursday in Guyana.

“For us, as a batting

group, we want to take the game from the bowlers, and try to put the bowlers under pressure early in the over,” said winning captain Nicholas Pooran.

“Today was the start of this whole template, and I thought we did it well, but there’s a lot of work to put in it.

“We just need to trust

this process a bit more, and everyone just needs to keep digging deep for the team.”

Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah said the imposing target meant there had been little room for error in the run chase.

“When you’re chasing 190-odd, you need to go from the first ball; you need to take advantage of the first

Brandon King slaps one away (•Jul 02, 2022•AFP via Getty Images)

power-play, then you can take the momentum from there on,” he lamented.

“That effort from Shakib [was a good one], and Afif (Hossain) played a good knock, but [no] other batter played the part.”

Kyle Mayers provided the early momentum, lashing two fours and a six in a nine-ball 17, before missing a heave at off-spinner Mahedi Hasan in the second over, and having his middle stump pegged back.

And when Shamarh Brooks holed out to the skipper at mid-wicket off Shakib’s leftarm spin in the fourth over, West Indies were 26 for two, and in need of a partnership.

King provided the solution, anchoring two successive half-century stands, putting on 74 for the third wicket with Pooran (34), and 63 for the fourth wicket with fellow Jamaican, Powell.

The right-handed King punched seven fours; an array of mostly high-class, off-side drives, and a six, while Pooran lashed three fours and a six in a 30-ball knock, before botching a slog-sweep, and falling lbw to off-spinner Mosaddek Hossain.

Man-of-the-Match Powell entered and transformed the innings, smashing two fours and a half-dozen sixes as he raced to his fourth T20I fifty off just 20 balls in the 18th over, West

Indies plundering 74 runs from the last five overs.

Needing to score at nearly ten runs per over, Bangladesh were set back almost immediately when McCoy removed openers Litton Das (5) and Anamul Haque (3) with successive deliveries at the start of the second over, at eight for two.

And when Mahmudullah (11) was pouched at mid-off

by McCoy off pacer Odean Smith in the third over, the Tigers were slumping at 23

for three.

Left-hander Shakib arrived to rescue his side’s pride, belting five fours and three sixes to inspire a 55-run, fourth-wicket stand with Afif, and a further 53 for the sixth wicket with Mosaddek (15).

However, Bangladesh paid dearly for their slow start; they were only 77 for three at the half-way stage, and the 78 runs required from the last three overs were simply out of their reach.

Scoreboard WEST INDIES B King c Shakib Al Hasan b Shoriful Islam 57 K Mayers b Mahedi Hasan 17 S Brooks c Mahmudullah b Shakib Al Hasan 0 *+N Pooran lbw b Mosaddek Hossain 34 R Powell not out 61 R Shepherd c Mahedi Hasan b Shoriful Islam 3 O Smith not out 11 Extras (lb1, w7, nb2) 10 TOTAL (5 wkts, 20 overs ) 193 Did not bat: K Paul, A Hosein, O McCoy, H Walsh Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-26, 3-100, 4-163, 5-176.

Bowling: Taskin Ahmed 3-0-46-0 (w1), Mahedi Hasan 4-0-31-1 (w1), Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-37-0 (w3, nb1), Shakib-al-Hasan 4-0-38-1 (nb1), Shoriful Islam 4-0-40-2 (w2), Mosaddek Hossain 1-1-0-1 BANGLADESH Anamul Haque b McCoy 3 Litton Das c Brooks b McCoy 5 Shakib Al Hasan not out 68 *Mahmudullah c McCoy b Smith 11 Afif Hossain c wkp Pooran b Shepherd 34 +Nurul Hasan c King b Hosein 7 Mosaddek Hossain c wkp Pooran b Shepherd 15 Mahedi Hasan not out 5 Extras (lb2, w8) 10 TOTAL (6 wkts, 20 overs) 158 Did not bat: Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed.

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-23, 4-78, 5-97, 6-150.

Bowling: Hosein 4-0-27-1 (w1), McCoy 4-0-37-2, Smith 3-0-32-1 (w3), Shepherd 4-0-28-2 (w3), Paul 1-0-9-0 (w1), Walsh 4-0-23-0.

Result: West Indies won by 35 runs.

Series: West Indies lead three-match series 1-0.

Man-of-the-Match: Rovman Powell.

ExxonMobil National School Basketball Festival officially underway THE ExxonMobil National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) officially got underway with the Opening Ceremony, on Saturday, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The programme chaired

by NSBF Alumni and YBG team member, Tequain Vieira, opened with the parade of athletes representing a converging of the best top basketball teams from across the country competing in three divisions: boys 14-16, boys under 18, and Girls D. Present to show their support and share best wishes to the athletes were the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Alfred King, ExxonMobil Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Ryan Hoppie and G-Boats

(sponsor) representative, Daniel LaFont.

The tournament first commenced in June of 2006 involving 18 schools in a single-elimination tournament.

Since its inception, the NSBF has been a partnership with the National Sports Commission, Ministry of Education, and sponsors aimed at developing a structured National School Basketball Championship.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament had grown to almost 50 schools participating first for ranking in six separate Regional (ZONE) Tournaments, in order to qualify for the National Championship.

This year, 48 teams are representing 30 schools in a battle for the national titles in three divisions; under 16 (boys), 18 (boys), and 13 - 18

girls developmental.

The tournament over the years has been used to identify prospective players for possible selection for the Youth National team(s).

In his remarks, YBG Co-director, Chris Bowman, emphasised the legacy of the NSBF and pointed out that, over the last 17 years, the tournament has directly impacted more than 10,000 students who have gone on to be outstanding citizens.

He thanked all the sponsors and partners who have invested in this effort over the years and particularly singled out this year’s title sponsor ExxonMobil for its significant sponsorship. Bowman encouraged the student-athletes to be the best on the court, and also the best in the classroom, and leaders among their peers. Mr King, speak-

ing on behalf of the Minister of Education, congratulated the organisers for remaining consistent and delivering a high-quality programme for such a long time. He said that the Ministry is on a deliberate course to have sport and education more aligned in the national curriculum because of their value. He further stated that the Ministry is committed to being an active partner with YBG in delivering active programmes to our young learners.

Ninvalle, in his remarks, highlighted the efforts being made by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport under the leadership of Minister Ramson. Chief among those was the improvement of facilities and establishment of the sports academy for the 12 core sports. The Director of Sport also noted that in each

of the 15 years of the Festival, the NSC, and by extension the Ministry of Sport, has always answered the call to support school and youth basketball, and as such he was confident that the nursery of the sport was in good hands.

Mr Hoppie, representing title sponsor, ExxonMobil, expressed the company’s appreciation to be on board as this year’s main sponsor of the event. He said that sport has many physical and social benefits for developing students.

He specifically mentioned that this year’s partnership goes beyond the first ten days and that there will also be the ExxonMobil Tertiary Knockout Tournament.

Minister Ramson who delivered the feature remarks, spoke about the need for discipline and

shared his own experience of how sport has played a critical part in his own success. Minister during his remarks paused to invite a group of students who were a bit distracted, to come down to the court and he spoke to them directly about the value of paying attention and listening. He used the opportunity to talk about developing a winning mindset and learning how to win. Afterward, he challenged the youngsters to a game of three on three basketball, first to three, and promise with the exception of himself, that the winners will each get a basketball shoe. He congratulated YBG for the good work they were doing and declared the championships open.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

GFF launches Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League

WHEN the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League 2022 kicks off, in just over a week, the foundation for the further development and exposure of youths will be further strengthened.

Details of the longest strategic partnership between the GFF and a corporate entity were unveiled between the National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) and the Federation yesterday at the National Training Centre, when GFF President, Wayne Forde and Namilco’s Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod updated the media on plans for this year’s Intra-Association Leagues.

Also attending yesterday’s function were the GFF Assistant Technical Director, Brian Joseph and Namilco’s, Marketing Supervisor, Ms. Alicia Anderson.

Like the previous edition, the nine Regional Associations of the Federation would be competing within their respective jurisdictions with the top team set to earn a place in the National Playoffs. GFF President Forde announced that Region One

(Barima Waini) where work is actively going on to make the 10th RA, would be added for the first time; it would be a historic achievement.

In his feature remarks, McLeod posited that it was the continuation of the company’s commitment towards the empowerment of youths through sports and its desire to contribute positively to Guyanese society.

Players were encouraged to make the opportunity worth the while. “We certainly are buoyed by the experiences that we’ve had in the past. So, we look forward to continued success and continued growth. On behalf of the management and staff, we certainly ask that you youngsters, in whom we’re making this investment, you not only work hard and acquit yourselves of these opportunities, but you will also conduct yourselves in a way that brings credit to the tournament, to the teams, and to your communities.”

President Forde, in complimenting Namilco for its commitment to football development, gave some background to the partnership whilst also mentioning the

GFF President Wayne Forde collects the sponsorship cheque from NAMILCO Finance controller, Fitzroy McLeod fact that the likes of National players Jeremy Garnett.

Omari Glasgow who has signed a two-year contract with Chicago Fire in the MLS, Ryan ‘Bum Bum’ Hackett, and many others, were products of Namilco’s investment.

“When my executive came into office in late 2015, we engaged with the Managing Director, Mr. Bert Sukhai, Finance Controller Mr. Fitzroy McLeod, and Head Engineer Ralph

Hemsing at Namilco, and we shared with them the direction that we wanted to take Guyana’s football.

That direction had a strong emphasis on youth development, and I am convinced, as I was then, and even now, that that resonated very well with the Leadership of the National Milling Company. Thereafter, we swathe birth of the first youth development, Nationwide, Intra-Association league that was launched by my Admin-

istration in partnership with the National Milling Company of Guyana.”

Meanwhile, the hosting of the GFF-Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League coincides directly with Guyana’s upcoming participation in the Concacaf Boys’ U17 championship set for Florida, next August.

GFF Assistant TD, Brian Joseph, alluded to the fact that that League will provide direct benefits for the nation-

al setup.

“This Namilco championship gives our boys a great opportunity to have some game time in their legs. It gives us also, an opportunity to be able to scout additional players across the country so that we can strengthen our team.

Regional Associations will relish the opportunity to have their clubs in competition mode in order to cash in on the available opportunities.

Caribbean paintball competition heading to Guyana

Some intense paintball action is expected on July 17

ORGANISED by Kendallaz Extreme Sports, Guyana will be host to at least seven nations for a Caribbean paintball competition on July 17.

The competition, which is themed ‘Resilience 3V3’, will be held at the GNS Ground, on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, and admission for patrons will be free of cost.

Kevin Hinds, who h e a d s t h e o rg a n i s i n g group, explained that the competition’s main aim is to select a Caribbean team for a major tournament in the United States of America.

Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and St. Lucia, along with 10 teams from Guyana, and one from Suriname are to be confirmed.

They all will battle for

over G$800,000 in cash and prizes.

According to Hinds, the Trinidad contingent is 12 persons, and while they are still working out the logistics for the other countries, he sees this as a budding sport tourism activity for the country.

In the future, there is going to be another tournament, called ‘Big Games’, in which over 400 persons will come to Guyana from the United States and the United Kingdom, most likely during the July-August period.

Additionally, there is a paintball scholarship fund for 10 persons, and Hinds said they are focused on ensuring the teams have access to it.

The event will be a speedball format, as in the pro-level, Hinds highlighted. And, unlike the recre-

ational aspect, where only specific hits count, any hits will be valid in this format.

Registration for local teams is G$15,000, and that will cover the gear needed to compete.

Registration forms can be accessed by visiting Kendallz Extreme Sports on social media platforms.

Sheriff Security Service, which has pledged its support for the next two years, is among the list of sponsors, which also includes the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and Team Mohamed’s.

Other sponsors are Kabisa Energy Drink, Alleyne’s Hardware and Construction, Virtual Solutions Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago Paintball Association, Juicy Movements Car Rentals, and Dragonfly Drone Services.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4 , 2022

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Powell, King fifties lead Windes to win

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 4, 2022

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Hayden Walsh Jr and Akeal Hosein in lofty celebrations (Jul 02, 2022•AFP/Getty Images)

ExxonMobil National School Basketball Festival 25 officially underway

The ExxonMobil National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) will have 48 teams representing 30 schools

SEE PAGE

GFF President Wayne Forde collects the sponsorship cheque from NAMILCO Finance controller, Fitzroy McLeod

SEE PAGE

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GFF launches Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League

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