Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_05_05_2022

THURSDAY 5th MAY, 2022

No. 106713

US$50M Marriott comes to Ogle - work to begin in June; 400 jobs to be created

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After a hectic day, members of the media enjoy a heathy chat with colleagues, President, Dr Irfaan Ali and members of his cabinet during a reception at the Poolside, Castellani Compound, Georgetown on Wednesday night. The reception was hosted by President Ali as part of activities to celebrate World Press Freedom Day (Carl Croker photos)

Massive improvement: Guyana moves 17 places up Global Press Freedom Index SEE PAGE

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Arrival Day: President salutes sacrifices, celebrates achievements of forebears SEE PAGE

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Women, youths to be trained in climate-smart agricultural practices SEE PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

US$50M Marriott comes to Ogle

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

- work to begin in June; 400 jobs to be created

TRINUYANA Investments Inc. has signed the contract for the construction of the US$50M Marriott AC, a four-star, 150- room hotel at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.

Construction is slated to begin on June 1, 2022.

The contract was signed last Friday (April 29th) between TRINUYANA Investments Inc and China Habour Engineering Company (CHEC) Limited.

TRINUYANA Investments Inc is a conglomerate of Guyanese and Trinidadian investors.

The four-star facility is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2024.

Under the contract, a five-storey, full-service hotel will be built near the Eugene F. Correia International Airport in Ogle.

According to Trinuyana Investments Inc, the construction is expected to create over 400 temporary jobs when construction commences.

“Once opened, approximately 140 permanent jobs will be created with Guyanese nationals filling ninety-nine per cent of those jobs. To fill these vacancies, training will be provided to improve the available supply of employees in all areas of the hospitality industry,” the company noted in a press release on Friday.

Some of the amenities of the new facility will include a swimming pool, fitness room, lounge, library, media salon, meeting room, reception area, a courtyard and an outdoor area. Paved parking lots, drive aisles and site roads will be situated north of the building.

Additionally, 114 parking spaces will be provided while a drop off roundabout will be constructed in front of the courtyard. Retail stores are also included in the design.

The target market includes business and tourist trav-

An artist’s impression of the US$50M Marriott AC four-star hotel that will have 150 rooms

ellers.

The company, at the signing, gave special praise to NICIL for facilitating the land for the project and Go-Invest Guyana for its support and guidance through the application process.

They also thanked the Government of Guyana for the incentives provided to support the development of the hotel project in Guyana.

AC Hotel is part of the Marriott group of hotels where the flexibility in design lends itself to a modern feel with open spaces while maintaining its European history.

From left to right: Businessman and miner, Andron Alphonso; Richard Smith, John Aboud of Trinuyana and Sammy Chen and Zoey Yang of CHEC, during the signing of the contract

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

US makes biggest interest rate rise in 22 years

The US central bank has announced its biggest interest rate increase in more than two decades as it toughens its fight against fast rising prices.

The Federal Reserve said it was lifting its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point, to a range of 0.75 per cent to one per cent after a smaller rise in March.

With US inflation at a 40year high, further hikes are expected.

The push marks the latest effort to contain spiking costs being felt by households around the world.

India’s central bank on Wednesday announced a surprise increase to its benchmark rate, while Australia’s central

bank recently enacted its first interest rate hike in more than a decade.

The Bank of England is also widely expected to raise rates on Thursday, which would be the fourth increase since December.

“Inflation is much too high and we understand the hardship it is causing,” Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said in a press conference in Washington on Wednesday.

“We are moving expeditiously to bring it back down.”

By raising rates, banks will make it more expensive for people, businesses and governments to borrow.

They expect that to cool demand for goods and services, helping to ease price inflation.

Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell initially predicted inflation would be “transitory” (BBC/Reuters photo) But their actions also risk triggering a sharp economic slowdown, especially as new challenges emerge, such as the war in Ukraine and recent Covid

shutdowns in China.

“It’s a narrow path they have to walk,” said economist Donald Kohn, who previously served on the Fed’s rate-setting

committee. “It’s going to be a very difficult task.”

Inflation in the US hit 8.5 per cent in March, the sharpest annual rate since 1981, driven by accelerating costs for food and energy.

That is well above the bank’s two per cent target and has become a growing political issue for US President Joe Biden.

Many economists say the Fed has been slow to respond to the problem, which has been fuelled by a mix of factors, including Covid-related supply shortages, a shock to energy markets from the war in Ukraine, and in the US, massive government spending - including direct cheques to households - to support the economy after the pandemic hit.

“They are well behind the curve. I think most central banks are,” said Thomas Hoenig, senior fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, who spent nearly 40 years at the Fed. “But if they try to correct that error with another error that is to shock the economies with very large interest rate increases - I think they’ll pay a pretty big price in terms of a probable recession from that.”

The rate increase announced on Wednesday was an unanimous decision. It will push what the Fed charges banks to borrow to a range of 0.75 per cent to one per cent, with the higher costs rippling out to consumers in the form of more expensive mortgages, credit cards and other loans.

In addition, the bank detailed plans to remove economic support by winding down its balance sheet, which swelled during the pandemic as it purchased assets, including US government debt and mortgage-backed securities, to boost the economy.

Starting in June, the bank said it would reduce its holdings by $47.5bn per month, increasing to $95bn in September.

Some people, like first-time homebuyer Mia Navarro, are already feeling the effects of the changes. She sped up her hunt for a one-bedroom apartment in Washington, DC, as she started

to see higher mortgage costs limit what she could afford.

“When I originally started my search, I definitely had a bigger budget, based off of what the rates were at the time,” said the 25-year-old, who this month bought a one-bedroom apartment for $325,000, with a mortgage rate below 5%.

“I immediately decided that I needed to move quickly...and get in there before they hiked too much out of my range and something that I can still afford.”

The actions by the bank in charge of the world’s largest economy are expected to have widespread repercussions, as many countries and commodity markets rely on the dollar. On Wednesday Gulf states, whose currencies are tied to the dollar, responded to the Fed with interest rate rises of their own.

Mr Powell said further rate hikes were planned. He added that officials agreed that boosting rates by half a percentage point “should be on the table” in the future, but moving more aggressively was not under active consideration.

US stock markets soared following the press conference, which played out largely as investors had expected.

Mr Powell said he was confident the US economy was strong enough to handle the bank’s more aggressive stance, pointing to the tight job market, in which openings outnumber available workers by nearly two to one.

But he acknowledged that the supply shocks from the war in Ukraine and Covid lockdowns in China have presented officials with a tough task - and might force them to move more aggressively to curb demand than they would otherwise.

“We can’t really affect oil prices or food and commodity prices - things like that,” he said.

But, he added, “We have to ensure that inflation expectations remain anchored - that’s part of our job too.”

“It puts any central bank in a very difficult situation.”

(BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

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Otoniel: Colombia drug kingpin extradited to US Colombia has extradited the drug baron leader of the country’s biggest crime gang to the US, Colombia’s president has announced.

President Iván Duque said Dairo Antonio Úsuga, better known as Otoniel, was the world’s most dangerous trafficker. Otoniel led the Gulf Clan cartel and is wanted in the US on drug trafficking charges.

His capture in October ended a seven-year manhunt and last month Colombia’s Supreme Court approved the extradition.

The Gulf Clan trafficked between 180 and 200 tonnes of cocaine a year, according to Colombian authorities. Announcing the extradition, Mr Duque compared Otoniel to the notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. “This extradition shows nobody is above the Colombian state,” he said in a video message, accusing Otoniel of murdering civil society leaders and police officers. Prior to his capture, Otoniel was Colombia’s most wanted man and the government had offered a $800,000 (£582,000) reward for information about

his whereabouts, while the US had placed a $5m bounty on his head.

Colombia’s battle with cocaine traffickers The Gulf Clan operates in many provinces and has extensive international connections, is engaged in drug and people smuggling, illegal gold mining and extortion. It is believed to have about 1,800 armed members, who are mainly recruited from far-right paramilitary groups. Members have been arrested in Argentina, Brazil, Honduras, Peru and Spain.

The gang controls many of the routes used to smuggle drugs from Colombia to the US, and as far away as Russia. Authorities in the US have described it as “heavily armed [and] extremely violent”. Otoniel was eventually captured in his rural hideout in Antioquia province in northwestern Colombia in October, close to the border with Panama in an operation involving 500 soldiers supported by 22 helicopters.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

ARRIVAL DAY

ARRIVAL Day, May 5th, has emerged as a major calendar event and a national holiday in Guyana.

The day was for years initially observed as “Indian Arrival Day” by the Indo-Guyanese community to commemorate the arrival of the first batch of Indian indentured labourers into colonial British Guiana on board the SS Whitby on May 5th, 1838.

Within recent years the meaning of the day has certainly broadened both in context and scope, to fittingly include all the ethnic groups who came as indentured labourers ostensibly to fill the void created by the exodus of ex-slaves from plantation labour following the abolition of the despicable system of

slavery in 1834. After all, it was the planters’ woes of an acute labour shortage that led to the importation of indentured labourers during this crucial period of “crisis, change and experimentation” in Guyana’s history.

In the initial post-Emancipation years, a small number of European immigrants, including those of English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, German and Maltese nationalities were brought, but these failed to make a significant impact on the plantations.

As early as May 1835, Portuguese indentured labourers were introduced from Madeira. This scheme persisted until 1882 by which time approximately 32,000 Portuguese immi-

grants had made their entry into the colony. Many of them eventually ended up in various commercial activities.

The British Government encouraged immigration of Liberated Africans and between 1841 and 1863, a total of 14,060 of them, mostly from Sierra Leone and St Helena, came to colonial Guyana.

C reo le immig ran ts were also tried and a steady stream of Barbadians was introduced between 1835 and 1893. This type of labour had “qualitative advantages” as it provided a relatively cheap source of experienced labourers.

Chinese immigration was another experiment.

Between 1853 and 1879, the colony was the recip-

ient of 14,002 contract labourers and a further 1,718 Chinese came as free immigrants during the 1880--1913 period.

The importation of Indian indentured labourers from the Indian sub-continent was also part of that continuing search to meet the labour needs of the powerful plantocracy.

Commencing under the “Gladstone Experiment,” Indian immigration proved to be the largest and most durable and successful of the schemes, and it lasted from 1838 to 1917 during which 238,909 Indian immigrants landed in colonial Guyana.

Undoubtedly, all ethnic groups and their descendants have persisted against tremendous odds

to make their unique and sterling contributions to the development of this nation over the years. Arrival Day is of great significance. It is a day when we appreciate, recognise and honour the arrival and contribution of all our ancestors from all parts of the world. In the face of numerous adversities, they were able to preserve their cultures, traditions and values.

Arrival Day embodies the richness of diversity in the context of the pluralistic and multicultural mosaic it creates. Through the struggles, trials and tribulations of our fore-parents we now live in a free, democratic society governed by the rule of law.

Their unyielding sacrifice has paved the way for us

to live in an age of greater enlightenment with greater tolerance, understanding and appreciation of a common history of struggle towards a unified nation and a common destiny.

Let us remember the various ways in which our ancestors collectively endured and prevailed to create joint endeavours for enhanced lifestyles and upward social mobility.

Let our Arrival Day observances be seen as providing the necessary impetus to our “One Guyana “ thrust. Let us give true meaning to our country’s motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” A happy Arrival Day to all.

A reflection on Indian Arrival in Guyana and the New York diaspora Dear Editor, TODAY, May 5, we commemorate Indian Arrival, a national holiday, a day that recognises the enormous contributions of Indians to Guyana. It is also observed among the diaspora in New York. As it was for Emancipation Day, Indian Arrival celebrates a peoples’ contributions to our land. Indian Arrival Day (IAD) is more than just the commemoration — it is the recognition of a people who have contributed so much to our economic, social, cultural and political development. The country stands with pride and dignity in the total enrichment of our nation by the pioneering

indentured labourers or girmits as called in India.

The holiday is a proud moment for all Guyanese as it is also for Emancipation Day of Africans.

May 5 holds a special historical significance with celebrants gathering to honour their ancestors who had crossed the kala pani -- three oceans and 10,000 miles -- to travel halfway around the world to reach British Guiana. This is a day of remembrance as well as reflection, and it is also a day for celebration -- of one Guyana, of diverse people sharing a common land.

Long before official IAD in 2004, cultural celebrations for arrival were taking place all over the country at mandirs and community

centres without any assistance from the government and without the need for its official recognition or approval.

In fact, long before there was an official Indian Arrival Day, Indians were already celebrating their presence and history with cultural programmes. One of the earliest IAD celebrations was held in 1938 in commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the arrival of the first group of immigrants on May 5, 1838. There were huge cultural celebrations in villages on plantations all across Guyana and in Georgetown. Mandirs and masjids around the country held their own commemoration – with puja and

‘Readings’.

T h e r e a f t e r, s e v e r a l groups began holding Indian Arrival celebrations – including the Dharmic Sabha and Gandhi Youth Organisation. Mohammed Insanali organised celebrations at UG during the 1970s; he tore up his diploma at a commencement exercise in presence of Burnham to protest election rigging and racial persecution. Dr. Balwant Singh, President of GYO, and Insanali organised the Rama-Khan Day (May 5) celebrations at the GYO ground during the 1970s. Dr Balwant Singh, a leading micro-biologist and head of the government lab, was President of the British Guiana Civil Ser-

vice Association, a labour union. Although a member and supporter of the PNC, Burnham would victimise him for championing IAD as a holiday and for opposing the appropriation of the Indian Immigrants Fund to build the Cultural Centre.

Dr. Balwant was fired from his job for opposing Burnham. Thousands attended the Rama-Khan event annually during the 1970s.

Later, Dharmic Sabha led

by Pt. Reepu partnered with mandirs at various parts of the country to host annual IAD celebrations. Highbury Park, the site for the arrival of the first shipload of indentured labourers, also hosted massive celebrations.

Some of the largest crowds

seen in Guyana for cultural events were at Highbury during the 1990s.

In New York, Guyanese and Trini diasporas came together to organise IAD celebrations and to advocate for a holiday for IAD in Trinidad and Guyana. The idea was borrowed from Trinidad’s celebrations. As some of us participated in a movement in Trinidad during the 1980s championing IAD holiday – the group was led by Ramdath Jagessar, Rajnie Ramlakhan, among others. Jagessar and a handful of stalwarts are largely responsible for the holiday in Trinidad. I met with the group regularly from 1981 onwards during Continued on page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

OP-ED:

By QU Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations THE world faces huge challenges in overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity, the war in Ukraine, the accelerating climate crisis and biodiversity loss.

In response to these multiple global threats, we need solutions at scale that are cost-effective and equitable and can be implemented rapidly. Forests and trees offer such solutions and can help us recover, if we better recognise their value and their crucial role in building resilient and sustainable economies.

The latest report on the State of the World’s Forests from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, to be presented at the XV World Forestry Congress under the theme “Building a Green, Healthy and Resilient Future with Forests”, clearly shows three ways in which we can step up action if we want to unlock their potential:

Enabling our forests to help us overcome multiple crises

Halting deforestation and maintaining forests could avoid significant greenhouse-gas emissions – about 14 per cent of the reduction needed up to 2030 to keep planetary warming below 1.5 ºC. It could also safeguard more than half the Earth’s terrestrial biodiversity, which is a key provider of ecosystem services for sustainable agriculture. Forests are the largest terrestrial pool of carbon and of biodiversity, yet they are shrinking.

Restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry: 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land – an area twice the size of Australia – would benefit from restoration, and increasing tree cover could boost agricultural productivity on another 1 billion hectares. Restoring degraded land through afforestation and reforestation could cost-effectively remove CO2 from the atmosphere equivalent to eliminating 195-325 million gasoline-powered passenger cars from the road each year for 30 years.

Sustainably using existing forests and building

green value chains would help meet future demand for more renewable materials.

Considering that the global consumption of all natural resources is set to more than double from 92 billion tonnes in 2017 to 190 billion tonnes in 2060, using sustainable wood in construction, for example, can store carbon and address the climate crisis, while increasing resilience and sustainability.

There will be no healthy economy on an unhealthy planet. Environmental deterioration is contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss and the emergence of new diseases. Despite the crucial role forests and trees can play in addressing these crises, they are consistently undervalued in our economic systems. As a result, forests are given neither the attention nor the investment needed for their meaningful conservation and sustainable management.

We must substantially increase investment in these three interlinked forest-based pathways. There are a number of ways to do this: It is essential to look at

A reflection on Indian Arrival in Guyana...

From page 6

my frequent visits to the island to solicit support for the anti-dictatorial struggle. Bhanu Dwarika, myself, and a few others who founded the Indo Caribbean Federation (ICF) of America decided to emulate the Trinidad IAD celebrations in New York. The first celebrations were held at Rufus King Park (150th Street and Jamaica Ave.) in 1984 attended by large numbers of Caribbean people. There has been annual event thereafter at Smokey Park in Richmond Hill.

By the 1990s, the impact of Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad, Guyana, NY was undeniable and the question of a holiday in both Trinidad

and Guyana was perhaps only the next natural step.

Trevor Sudama had championed a holiday for IAD in Trinidad; he was consistently opposed by the PNM administration. In 1991, he piloted a bill to make IAD a holiday; it was opposed by all the leading Indians in the NAR administration including Kamla Persad Bissessar, Winston Dookeran, Brinsley Samaroo, Suruj Rambachan, Bhoe Tewari, Sahadeo Basdeo, and others. They all lost their seats in general elections after IAD celebrations. The PNM’s PM Patrick Manning eventually agreed to a one time holiday in 1995 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of arrival.

Under pressure, he decided

it would be an annual holiday and that it would be called Arrival Day. Basdeo Panday, after winning snap elections in November 1995, changed the holiday’s name to IAD in 1996.

A group of us (including Ravi Dev, myself and others) from New York initiated the idea of IAD holiday in Guyana in 1990.

It took Dev’s presence in Parliament as a MP (200106) to push the paper work to get approval in 2004.

The Parliamentary Committee agreed to a bill calling the holiday IAD. President Jagdeo assented making it official!

Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

how to repurpose existing incentives for agricultural producers – worth about USD 540 billion per year - to help make the structures governing how our food is produced, distributed and consumed more sustainable. More than a quarter of the world’s population relies on wood to cook their food and even more use non-wood forest products for food, feed and medicines.

Investments in forestry and agroforestry will build more diversified and resilient local economies.

New investment must also be scaled up in areas such as climate finance, green recovery programmes and private investment support.

Getting finance to smallscale producers is essential.

We cannot rely on a “trickle down” effect. Instead, we need new solutions that meet their needs and reduce inequalities.

We will only achieve results if we stop working in silos. Agrifood systems transformation and forest protection, restoration and sustainable management must go hand in hand.

Today’s environmental, health and social crises call for urgent action for a sustainable recovery. Promoting a model where forests and agriculture mutually support each other requires increased political, financial and technical investment.

More than 20 developing countries have already shown that it is possible. Recent data confirms that deforestation has been successfully reduced in South America and Asia.

Among the means for achieving this are national policies that promote sustainable local markets, a green and circular economy; repurposed agricultural subsidies; setting clear national targets for sustainable agricultural development and forest protection and sustainable use; and secure land tenure and rights for farmers in agroforestry landscapes to use forests and trees.

FAO is dedicated to working towards more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems and promotes the contribution of forests to this process, through

FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu

conservation, restoration and sustainable use.

But we must do more to empower rural farmers, smallholders, women and youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities. They are the guardians of almost half of the world’s forests and farmlands.

This week, the World Forestry Congress, taking place in Seoul, Republic of Korea, brings together representatives from five continents and offers a unique opportunity to focus on impactful solutions towards building a green, healthy and resilient future with forests, and achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Scaling up solutions based on forests and trees can unlock their potential to help mitigate the economic disruptions and food insecurity affecting the most vulnerable. And it will contribute to realising our core objectives of better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.

Why the vituperative broadside?

P e e p i n g To m h a s launched a vituperative broadside on the country’s Head of State. In his/ her column of Wednesday May 4, 2022, he/she threw an abusive tantrum against President Irfaan Ali, assailing his presentation at the World Press Freedom event held on Tuesday last. Peeping Tom’s attack went beyond the pale of responsible and fair commentary.

In so doing, this particular voyeur’s vision is not only distorted but it now appears that he or she has a hearing problem and may need a hearing aid. Unlike the impression framed by the Peeper, the President’s

presentation was well-received by the audience in attendance, including the Diplomatic Corps.

The President not only addressed the concerns of the media fraternity but he used the occasion to provide assurance of his openness to the media and his support for its work.

The President disabused any notion which may have existed that his government had any intention of exercising surveillance over the media. As reported in the Stabroek News, the President said spying on journalists is the furthest thing from his mind and has no place in a democratic society.

Nothing that the country’s Head of State said at the event was controversial. The President said that he is open to constructive criticism. He underscored the importance of accuracy, objectivity and responsibility – cardinal tenets of journalism. He insisted that in a free society the media must be protected.

The President reaffirmed his commitment to press freedom.

If these are what triggered such an unwarranted, disparaging and supercilious commentary, then Peeping Tom is likely to be afraid of his/her own shadow.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

In the Digital Age, there can be no guarantees against being hacked!

THE Association of Caribbean Media Workers’ (ACM’s) statement for World Press Freedom Day 2022, says the theme ‘Journalism Under Digital Siege’ is important because the environment within which journalists in the Caribbean operate “is becoming increasingly perilous” as “many countries have already enacted legislation to intercept communication and counter what they regard as cybercrime”.

It also says that “In a number of Caribbean countries, State entities have been accused of acquiring spyware that can access digital communication and undermine privacy and other rights.”

The ACM therefore “urges Caribbean governments and their domestic allied institutions” to “take all necessary steps to ensure that journalists are not targetted with the intention of revealing the identity of confidential sources.”

With most media and journalists having an online presence, the regional media entity adds, media enterprises are guarding against certain vulnerabilities, including “exposure to hackers whose sole objective is to destroy channels that offend the public or private status quo and so inhibit the free flow of the truth to the wider public”.

“Equally,” the ACM advises journalists and media houses

“to put in place the required measures to prevent, detect and block intrusions to their privacy and ultimately their software and hardware infrastructure”.

I get the point, but I think my colleagues are ‘spinning top in mud’ on this one -- even ‘spitting in the sky’ -- for the simple reason that when governments consider national security issues, vulnerability of journalists’ devices to external intrusion is hardly a consideration.

Fact is, no one today using cell phones, computers, tablets and other such devices can be guaranteed by anyone that their devices won’t be hacked.

I have no reason to oppose any Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member-state that acquires the means to fight cyber-crime, or to fear such equipment can one day be used to hack journalists’ devices.

Governments have no control over the honesty of users of such equipment, just as the US Supreme Court has no way of preventing anyone from within its hallowed chambers from leaking documents.

Likewise, it makes no sense asking governments not to pass laws because of fears they can eventually be abused.

Back in 1996, many Caribbean parents feared the arrival of the Internet would expose children to pornography and its use should therefore be subject

to parental monitoring and control.

Today, however, parents and grandparents depend on these same children to help them navigate the intricate technology embedded in new cell phones.

The world has long learned the hard way that hackers have no conscience and any number in one country can shut-down any number of important facilities in any other country, from killing electricity across states in winter to freezing hospital records.

Indeed, governments hack other governments’ systems and intelligence agencies hack and/or tap phones of leaders of friendly countries -- and enemies abroad.

Electronic eavesdropping is so pervasively prevalent today that I always get reasons, from time to time, to feel like my phones are hacked.

I’ve read that some highend digital television screens these days come with an embedded camera that comes on every time the TV is turned on, which feeds back to the manufacturers -- as required by law, to enable intelligence agencies to access such information, if necessary, in the name or interest of national security.

While China is the favourite pin cushion for critics of mass surveillance, the volume of CCTV cameras in the UK,

across Europe and the USA is no less per head of population; and use of face-recognition technology is more widespread everywhere than ever, as manufacturers continue to enhance the effectiveness of interception devices to attract interest of competing intelligence agencies.

In my view, instead of seeking insurance against being hacked, it would be better for Caribbean journalists to take a page from those colleagues elsewhere who have come together to use the technology to enhance investigative and research capabilities.

Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, The Intercept and the various consortia of investigative journalists that produced the likes of the Panama Papers have all shown how advanced Information Technology and Social Media platforms can also be used positively to gather and circulate information people

need to know.

The journalists involved risk their lives for the story because they’re convinced that reporting is more than just about who said what and journalism isn’t only about being able to write well.

I have four sons and a grand-daughter who belong to the generation of Caribbean youth born with microchips in their brains and they don’t take kindly to always being loudly summoned to my rescue every time I finger a wrong button on my keyboard, but they do solve whatever was the problem in quick time, every time – and make it look so easy…

The best example I can offer of just how interconnected we’ve become with the digital world is to silently observe the young men at home or next door playing the online war game ‘Call of Duty’ -- and you’ll understand why Bill Gates paid US $70 Billion for

it; and why Elon Musk is paying US $43 Billion for Twitter.

For all these reasons and more, I do not think it’s fair for journalists (in the Caribbean or elsewhere) to expect governments to give us a lifelong guarantee or insurance policy that our phones will never be hacked by persons using government spyware, if only because state hackers are invisible by nature.

I actually believe that with everything we write, post and dump online today ending-up on a ‘cloud’ somewhere, one day (in our lifetime), some SMART Alex or Alexa will find a way to retrieve every single thing we ever wrote -- from the age of Blackberry texting to WhatsApp and Telegram messaging and offer to us – initially at a cost, but eventually free, in the name of everyone’s Right of Access to information about everyone else.

Yes, I do believe.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Guyana ready to collaborate with Czech Republic, Nigeria in food security - President Ali

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has said that Guyana is ready to collaborate with the Czech Republic and the Federal Republic of Nigeria in agriculture and food security among other areas.

President Ali made this statement after accepting the letters of accreditation from the two countries’ diplomats at the Office of the President

bassador, Sandra Lang Linkensederova, that the challenges of the 21st Century transcend borders and that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of interdependence at a global level.

“We should therefore not ignore what can be achieved collectively. Guyana is on a path of economic transformation and diversification leading

President, Dr Irfaan Ali accepts the letter of accreditation from Nigerian High Commisioner, Abubakar Danlami Ibrahim (Office of the President photo) Nigerian High Commissioner that he is looking forward to the continued exchanges between the two countries’ defence forces, as well as the possible signature of the negotiated bilateral air services agreement.

“Such an agreement will aid in the expansion of our trade relationships with Nigeria—an area which our two

President, Dr Irfaan Ali shares a toast with the Czech Republic’s Ambassador, Sandra Lang Linkensederova (Office of the President photo) on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive on Wednesday.

The Head of State encouraged the Nigerian High Commissioner, Abubakar Danlami Ibrahim, to meet with government officials from the key sectors as well as the private sector and pointed to the great importance the country is placing on food security.

He informed the High Commissioner that Guyana, in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat, will be hosting an Agri-Investment Conference and Expo later this month.

He noted that the High Commissioner’s attendance at the event can help in identifying specific areas of agricultural cooperation and investment.

Similarly, the President told the Czech Republic’s Am-

to sustainable development.

We recognise that if we want to achieve sustainable development as a developing country, one of the things we must tackle first is food security.”

He said that since agriculture is a traditional sector of the Czech Republic’s economy, the two countries should seek cooperation in the area.

The President further noted that Guyana is also on a path to improving its health facilities and would welcome the Czech Republic’s assistance in the area.

“It is my hope that we could embark upon a practical programme of bilateral cooperation in these and other areas for the mutual benefit of our peoples.

President Ali also told the

nations have already begun to embark upon and it will also help to create vital connections on a regional and international scale.”

The President also told the High Commissioner that since both Nigeria and Guyana are oil-producing nations, they can share experiences and explore avenues for economic security.

He also reminded him that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy aims to support economic transformation through cleaner and cheaper energy, and the provision of climate and ecosystem services, while allowing the country to invest in climate-change adaptation and mitigation. (Office of the President)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Women, youths to be trained in climate-smart agricultural practices

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, Mark Burman and other officials during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding THE Ministry of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), on Wednesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) that will see youths and women benefitting from training in climate-smart agricultural practices.

According to a release, the programme is being executed as part of WUSC’s Sustainable Agriculture Caribbean (SAC) project which promotes climate-resilient agriculture for equitable economic growth among women and youth in the Caribbean. It builds on learning from the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) project. SAC is a multicountry economic growth project, funded by Global Affairs Canada that is being implemented in Dom-

inica, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Suriname.

Speaking at the event, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha said with climate change having such a negative impact on agriculture in the region and globally, Guyana was pleased to be a part of the SAC project since it focuses on offering training to farmers on climate-smart agricultural practices.

“This project, the SAC project, was launched last September and we are seeing it bear fruit. This is very important for us as a country, a country that is now moving its agriculture sector to new heights. Partnerships with advanced countries like Canada auger well for us because today, Guyana is being seen as the leader for agriculture in the CARICOM. For us to be the leader, we have to continue to develop our sector locally. This project will also enable us to advance towards a more climate-resilient agricultural sector. With climate change posing one of, if not, the biggest threat to our agriculture sector, having a more climate-resilient agriculture sector is very important. The government also recognises the need to integrate more youths into the agriculture sector. With the recently launched Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme youths are now involved in the production of high-value crops. With this collaboration we will be able to boost our agriculture sector and move it forward,” the minister said.

Also present at the event was the Canadian

High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman.

He said that the Canadian Government was pleased to offer support to the Government of Guyana through the SAC project as it works towards achieving the country’s targets outlined in the 2021-2025 Agriculture Strategic Development Strategy.

“Canada, through the SAC project, is very pleased to support the Government of Guyana’s Agriculture Development Strategy 2021-2025 and the achievement of country targets for food system transformation and resilience. This transformation process requires farmers and other market system actors to have the knowledge and skill needed for the adoption of best practices and innovations and is a priority area for the SAC project. The SAC project will focus on all forms of training, support, and skills development for women’s entrepreneurship, including mentoring and coaching as an integral part of a lifelong entrepreneurial learning approach for the development of key competencies. I want to commend the Government of Guyana for its demonstrated commitment to the effective implementation of the SAC project and its leadership to transform the agricultural sector in Guyana,” Burman said.

The WUSC also donated several items to NAREI’s training department to commence the two agencies’ cooperation, including laptop computers, projectors, screens, electric cables, and a loudspeaker, the release noted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Guyana’s press freedom ranking moves from 51 to 34

PRESS freedom across Guyana’s media fraternity has seen significant improvement, according to the Reporters Without Borders’ 2022 Global Press Freedom Index.

This information was disclosed by Secretary General of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), Sonia Gill, on Wednesday, during day two of the National Conference and Symposium held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, in observance of World Press Freedom Day. According to the index which targets 180 countries, Guyana’s has a current point ranking of 76.1, moving it from the 51st spot in 2020 to 34th in 2021.

The World Press Freedom Index is used to com-

It added: “Guyana enjoys a strong media landscape with a significant diversity of national and regional media.”

According to the RSF ranking system, countries that score between 100 to 85 points have a “good situation” as it pertains to press freedom, while countries ranking 85 to 70 have a “rather good situation.”

Countries with 75 to 55 points have a “problematic situation,” those with 55 to 40 points have a difficult situation and those with 40 to 0 points have a “very serious situation”.

During the analysis, the scores are calculated based on the quantitative statement of the abuses committed against media professionals in the exercise of their functions, and a qualitative analysis of the

this type of open communication has allowed for improved information sharing and has significantly boosted both the productivity and effectiveness of the local media fraternity.

Chabrol who has decades of broadcasting and journalism experience under his belt, currently operates a private online news entity.

He stated that he believes that another reason the country has managed to improve its ranking is the “free” media atmosphere. He noted that local media companies are allowed the freedom to express their views on topical issues without fear of being shut down and silenced.

He noted that while Guyana continues to expe-

Media workers at the National Conference and Symposium held in observance of World Press Freedom Day pare the degree of freedom enjoyed by journalists and the media. The rankings are based on a score ranging from 0 to 100 that is assigned to each country or territory, with 100 being the best possible score (the highest possible level of press freedom) and 0 the worst.

Speaking directly about the working circumstances of Guyana’s media fraternity, the website stated, “Respected Guyanese journalists can generally work with complete freedom and independence.

They are generally well accepted and protected.

Guyana is a parliamentary democracy where freedom of expression and the right to information are guaranteed by the Constitution.”

situation in each country, measured through the responses of press freedom specialists to a questionnaire offered by RSF. During a panel discussion on Wednesday, Guyana Press Association (GPA) Executive Member, Denis Chabrol, expressed belief that the present collaboration among media workers and the government is one of the major reasons behind Guyana’s improved status on the World Press Freedom Index.

He noted that over the past few years, there has been a clear and easily accessible channel to get information from ministers and other government officials.

According to Chabrol,

rience high press freedom levels, the achievement would not have been possible without the commitment of the local media women and men who worked tirelessly to ensure accurate, ethical, and timely information is disseminated against across the country.

Chabrol opined that even with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, media workers in Guyana have gone above and beyond to ensure that information is disseminated across the country.

RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM Meanwhile, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Public Information, Kwame Mc-

Coy, commended the efforts of media personnel who continue to advocate for and practice responsible journalism.

He used the occasion to emphasise that this profession is one of the pillars of strength on which any nation will stand.

Minister McCoy added that emphasis must be placed on the responsibility of the journalist and how they produce,

fact check, and report their stories. He noted that there have been many changes in the local media within the last few years, with budding and upcoming media persons playing an active role in promoting responsible journalism.

Former general manager of Freedom Radio, Raymon Cummings, who was also a part of Wednesday’s panel dis-

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cussion, echoed similar sentiments, while reminding media personnel to get the scoop but remain ethical. Cummings who is also the former chairman of the National Communications Network (NCN) Board, reminded them that while there are stories that need to be told, it is important that those stories are told in a fair and balanced way.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Arrival Day: President salutes sacrifices, celebrates achievements of forebears ARRIVAL Day acknowledges the achievements of all those persons who came to Guyana and who, along with their descendants, have contributed to the collective efforts to build the nation and agitate for its freedom, said President, Dr Irfaan Ali in a message to mark the occasion.

Pointing out that the immigrants who arrived added to the country’s cultural diversity, the President noted that their cultural imprints are evident in their religions, festivals, folklores, dress, music, dance, food, values and traditions.

Many countries, he said have struggled with the challenges of multiculturalism but Guyana stands as a proud example of how persons from diverse ethnic backgrounds can co-exist in harmony, co-operate for the common good and respect one another.

“We must work to preserve this legacy. The ‘One Guyana’ initiative which I have launched is aimed at celebrating our diversity. It affirms that we are a multicultural society and aims at fostering greater mutual respect and co-operation amongst our peoples.

“The 5th of May each year is also observed nationally as Indian Arrival Day. This year marks the 184th anniversary of the arrival, to our shores, of the first batch of Indian indentured immigrants. In the ensuing years, more than 240,000 Indians made the long and arduous journey by ship to the colony of British Guiana. Most remained and planted roots in our land,” he said.

The President noted that the Indian indentured immigrants transformed the human, physical, economic, social and cultural landscape

President, Dr Irfaan Ali of Guyana and helped to sustain the sugar industry, diversify economic activities and contributed to the struggle for freedom and improved living and working conditions.

Their descendants, he said, continue to make indelible and positive contributions in all facets of national development.

“Indian Arrival Day is thus of historical and na-

tional importance. On this, the occasion of Indian Arrival Day 2022, I applaud the enterprise, fortitude and resilience of our Indian community.

“On this Arrival Day, let us all move forward as a united country, mindful that each of our various peoples has a claim on national development, and an entitlement to share in the great bounty that the future promises. Let us commit to living as brothers and sisters in peace, harmony and goodwill knowing that in doing so we will be preserving and honouring the legacy of those who came and those who were here before them! Happy Arrival Day!” said the President, as he concluded his message.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

East Indian Immigration: The Gladstone Experiment and the first batch

By Tota Mangar

MAY 5th 2022 commemorates the 184th anniversary of the arrival of East Indian indentured immigrants in Guyana, the former colony known as British Guiana.

Indeed, for over three quarter of a century indentured labourers were imported from the Indian sub-continent to the West Indian colonies, ostensibly to fill the void created by the mass exodus of ex-slaves from the plantations following the abolition of the apprenticeship scheme in 1838.

This influx of East Indian labourers into the Caribbean in the post-Emancipation period of the 19th and early 20th centuries was only one segment of a wider movement to other parts of the world, including places such as Mauritius, Sri Lanka, [formerly Ceylon], Fiji, the Strait Settlements, Natal and other parts of the African continent. As far as Guyana is concerned, the ‘Gladstone Experiment ‘ proved to be the basis of East Indian immigration. John Gladstone, the father of the liberal British statesman, William Ewart Gladstone, was the proprietor of West Demerara plantations, Vreed-en-Hoop and Vreed-en-Stein at precisely the time when the British Guianese planters were beginning to experience labour shortage as a consequence of the withdrawal of ex-slaves or apprentices from plantation labour.

It was in this initial period of ‘crisis change and experimentation’ in the late 1830s that John Gladstone envisaged social and economic advantages in a scheme of East Indian indentured labourers.

On this matter, the initiator of East Indian immigration wrote, “a moderate number of Bengalese might be suitable for our purpose.” To this end, he made contact with the Calcutta recruiting firm, Gillanders, Arbuthnot and Company, inquiring about the possibility of obtaining Indian immigrants for his two estates.

The firm’s prompt reply was that it envisaged no recruiting problems as Indian labour was already in usage overseas, as for example, in another British colony, Mauritius and moreso “the natives being perfectly ignorant of the place they agree to go, or the length of voyage they are undertaking.”

This reply obviously set the stage for the fraud, deceit and coercion which were to permeate the entire recruiting system in India throughout the period of indentureship.

Subsequently, Gladstone

obtained permission for his scheme from both the Colonial Office and the Board of Control of the East India Company. In relation to the former body, Secretary of State, Lord Glenelg, in acceding to Gladstone’s request, reiterated the necessity of providing a free return passage when the contractual period was over. However, what was seriously lacking in this initial experiment were the necessary safeguards on crucial issues such as overcrowded ships, unwholesome food, the rather lengthy voyage and change of climate and other related matters.

HILL COOLIES In the final analysis, through the “Gladstone Experiment”, two ships, the SSWhitby and the SS Hesperus departed India with a total of 414 immigrants. This first batch of labourers was referred as “Hill Coolies” mainly because of the areas from where they were acquired specifically, the Chota Nagpur and Bankura districts of the Bengal Presidency.

Some 396 immigrants survived the long, arduous crossing and on their arrival in May 1838 they were distributed not only to Gladstone’s two West Demerara estates and Belle View, West Bank Demerara but also to far-flung ones such as Highbury and Waterloo, East Bank Berbice and Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.

These first arrivals were on a five-year contract of industrial residence and were described by leading colonial officials of the time as “conservative, docile, simple and able-bodied…” A labour force with such characteristics was quite naturally sine qua non to the survival and prosperity of the plantocracy and the sugar industry in general.

Exposed to the plantations soon after their arrival in the then colony of British Guiana, these newcomers quickly experienced several problems.

There were numerous complaints of intimidation, assault and gross negligence on the part of the powerful and very arrogant planters. The mortality rate was quite alarming and many immigrants fell victims to malaria, dysentery and other tropical diseases.

As a matter of fact, within the first eighteen months of the scheme, sixty-seven deaths were recorded. The then Governor, Henry Light, even criticised the disproportion of the sexes with a paucity of the sexes. At the end of the five-year stint 236

indentured labourers opted to return to India.

TEMPORARY SUSPENSION Of significance also, was the temporary suspension of the scheme largely through the active role of the Anti-Slavery Society and its hardworking Secretary, John Scoble, in publicising the grave injustices meted out to the immigrants.

Scoble, for his part, visited the colony and verified instances of ill-treatment and other abuses within the system. He advocated “truth, mercy and justice” where the scheme was concerned.

With the implementation of the Government of India Act in 1844, the subsequent approval of a 500,000 pounds loan for future investments in immigration and a worsening of the labour problem in the colony, East Indian immigration to Guyana resumed in 1845.

Large-scale importation commenced around the mid-nineteenth century and was to continue virtually uninterrupted until its termination in 1917.

Despite its numerous problems, the first batch involving the “ Gladstone Experiment’ had paved the way for a total of 239,909 East Indian indentured labourers to come to Guyana. Of this figure 75,547 were repatriated to the land of their birth. The remainder who survived the system chose to remain here and to adopt this country as their homeland.

Certainly, our first batch of forefathers who came to Guyana through the “Gladstone Experiment” has been inspirational through their supreme sacrifice, grit and determination in the furtherance of national development and progress. They toiled unceasingly to ensure the survival of the sugar industry. Their successors and their descendants continued in the same vein and have contributed and continue to contribute to almost every sphere of activity including economic, social, cultural, religious and political fields We ought to take pride in their sterling contribution.

In these trying times of a pandemic, global tension and climate change, let us commit our lives to ensure greater tolerance, mutual understanding, respect and social and economic justice prevail in this dear land of ours. Let us give true meaning to our “One Guyana” initiative and our motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

The pioneering batch and our foreparents in general would have settled for no less.

A Happy 184th Arrival Day Anniversary to All.

Indians, by dint of much hard work and thrift, saved and emerged out of the abyss of misery to carve a new and prosperous destiny for their descendants

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

IICA announces 15 startups offering digital solutions for agriculture in Americas SEVEN startups specialising in agricultural innovation from Argentina, two from Brazil and Chile and four more from Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru were chosen to participate in Digital Agriculture Week. The event

was organised by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Bayer, Microsoft and the World Bank to exchange and promote ideas and thereby accelerate the digital transformation of agriculture in the Americas.

These 15 Agtechs (technology-based enterprises with a focus on the agricultural sector) were selected from 80 companies that applied, after a call was issued by IICA for the event that will be held in person in Costa Rica from May 16 to 19 at the

The selected startups will develop pilot projects with IICA and use their solutions in the member states of this hemispheric organisation specialising in agriculture and rurality (IICA photo)

institute’s headquarters.

From Argentina, the chosen companies are Agroconsultas, Ecodrip, Milar, Origino, Wiagro, Appi. ar by Beemore and Gbot Solutions.

The startups SIMA and Tarvos from Brazil were also selected, together with Neltume Agro and Frescapesca.com from Chile.

BloomsPal Network from Colombia, AgtechApps from Guatemala, The Farmerbox from Mexico and AGROS from Peru complete the group of winning projects.

The 15 startups were chosen by a special jury made up of important representatives of public and private organisations linked to Agtech issues, including Laurens Klerkx, professor of the Knowledge, Technology and Innovation group at Wageningen University in the Netherlands; Jorge León, Microsoft Cloud Strategy Leader; Ana Paulina Posso, Bayer Food Value Chain Manager; and Mariana Vasconcelos, CEO and co-founder of Agrosmart.

Also participating in the panel were Wálter Baethgen, Director of the Regional and Sectoral Research Programme at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society and Vice-President of the Board of Directors of INIA Uruguay; Rafael

López, Director of the Office of Geographic Information, Strategy and Risk Management of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Guatemala; Ana Caldas, specialist from Azure, data and artificial intelligence; and Federico Villarreal, Director of Technical Cooperation of IICA. Assessment criteria will include the potential of digital solutions to improve production, sustainability and inclusion of agrifood systems, and the feasibility of implementing pilots that can use the solution in different countries in the region.

The 15 winning startups will participate in person at the Digital Agriculture Week with all expenses paid, and they will be able to present their technological innovations, access high-level lectures and exchange ideas with international organisations for digital transformation.

They will also develop pilot projects with IICA and use their solutions in the member states of this hemispheric organization, specialising in agriculture and rurality.

An event organised by IICA with the co-sponsorship of Bayer, Microsoft and the World Bank, in which startups and other actors from the technological and agricultural sec-

tors will present, propose and coordinate ideas for the digital transformation of agrifood systems. The meeting also seeks to disseminate technology solutions and promote their use in agriculture.

The meeting will take place in a hybrid format: in person at IICA Headquarters in San José, Costa Rica, and virtually. Representatives of organisations that work directly with this type of company, as well as public and private organisations interested in the digitalization of agriculture, will participate.

Some of the themes to be covered are: Digital Transformation—opportunities and challenges in a new era; Digitalisation of Agriculture—barriers, impacts and perspectives; Lessons learned from a real experience of agricultural digitalisation; and Roles and synergies of public and private stakeholders in the digital era.

Presentations from startups will be featured on digital solutions to increase production and efficiency, minimize the e n v i ro n m e n t a l f o o t print and tackle climate change, boost trade, value chains and the cooperation of stakeholders; and supporting farmers’ decisions and management at productive, economic and financial levels. (IICA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Trio arrested over sale of drugs in schools THREE persons were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly facilitating the sale of drugs at schools in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

According to reports, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) conducted an operation which led to the discovery of 260 grams of cannabis.

Subsequent to the report

of students selling narcotics in schools in the said district, CANU stated that its officers were able to apprehend several individuals suspected to be the facilitators of these illegal activities.

The suspects were escorted to the Lethem Police Station, along with the narcotics.

Investigations are ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

New Providence well will bring muchneeded relief to East Bank residents Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal during a visit to the well site on Wednesday

MORE than 7,000 households from Providence, Farm, Herstelling, Eccles, Bagotstown and surrounding areas on the East Bank of Demerara stand to benefit directly and indirectly from a newly drilled well in Providence, by the end of May. This assurance was given

by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, following a visit to the well site on Wednesday, where works are ongoing. He was accompanied

by Guyana Water Incorporated Chief Executive Officer Shaik

Baksh and a technical team.

The minister highlighted that he has taken note of the concerns raised regarding low levels of service in some of the above-mentioned areas recently and said that once completed, the new facility will bring great relief to residents.

The well was drilled to a depth of 638 ft. by S. Jagmohan Construction Services and remaining works include the installation of a discharge line and other transmission and distribution lines, as well as construction of the pump house, fence

and other ancillary works.

Minister Croal said that from all indications, works should be completed by the end of this month. He noted that the realisation of new housing schemes and increased occupancy of the existing ones have placed a burden on the current water-supply system, resulting in a reduced level of service for some customers along the East Bank corridor.

He explained that his ministry and GWI have recognised this and are finding long-term solutions to increase capacity to meet the demand and satisfactorily serve residents.

The Housing and Water Minister further posited that within another year, East Bank residents could expect overall improvement in the quality and quantity of water they receive, following the interlinking of the network.

In this regard, Baksh added that upgrades are in the pipeline for the Eccles and Covent Garden Water Treatment Plants, which will see new wells being drilled to supply these plants and increase production. Another well is also on the cards for Diamond.

The GWI CEO said the utility will continue to work in close collaboration with the ministry in an effort to expand its network, even as the housing drive intensifies.

Baksh said the new Providence well is highly productive and will supplement the Providence Number 1 well, which is not sufficient on its own for a growing population.

The Providence well station is being constructed at a sum of GYD$130M.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Driver in Sandy Babb Street fatal accident granted $200,000 bail CIVIL Engineer Roberto Narine was on Wednesday charged for the fatal accident at Sandy Babb Street and Vlissengen Road that claimed the life of squash athlete Ian Mekdeci.

He appeared before City Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was granted $200,000 bail.

Narine, 37, of School Street, Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, denied that on May 1, 2022, he drove

ed bail and adjourned the matter until June 15, 2022.

As a condition attached to the granting of bail, she ordered Narine to lodge his passport at the court and report to the Alberttown Police Station every Friday until completion of the case.

On Tuesday, Narine appeared before City Magistrate Clive Nurse charged for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving an unlicensed vehicle.

He pleaded not guilty to

DEAD : Ian Mekdeci

motor jeep #PTT 4136 in a dangerous manner and caused the death of Mekdeci.

His lawyer Siand Dhurjon made a successful bail application.

He denied the police’s version of events which suggests that his client was speeding and had failed to stop at the traffic light.

In his application, Dhurjon said that two persons who were in Narine’s car could corroborate what he was saying.

The magistrate later grant-

the first charge which alleged that on May 1, 2022, he drove motor jeep #PTT 4136 while being under the influence of alcohol. He was granted $20,000 bail. However, he pleaded guilty to driving an unlicensed motor vehicle and was fined $20,000.

This newspaper had previously reported that Mekdeci was a passenger in motor car #PXX 4592, which was being driven by his friend Sheik Baksh, 31, of Dowding Street, Kitty.

The police said that

CHARGED: Roberto Narine

around 02:15hrs on the day in question, Narine was proceeding along Vlissengen Road, while Baksh was proceeding west along Sandy Babb Street.

It is alleged that on the approach at the intersection, Baksh was crossing/proceed-

ing on the ‘green light’ but Narine failed to stop, resulting in a collision.

As a result of the collision, both vehicles suffered extensive damage.

Baksh and Mekdeci received injuries and were taken to the Georgetown Public

Hospital Corporation by ambulance in an unconscious condition.

Mekdeci of First Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown, died while receiving medical attention. Baksh was admitted as a patient in the Emergency Unit at the hospital suffer-

ing from a broken left arm, lacerations to the head and a punctured left lung.

A breathalyser test conducted on Narine allegedly showed 162 per cent and 151 per cent micrograms respectively, which is way above the legal limit.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Real Madrid into Champions League final after Rodrygo intervention

(BBC) - Manchester City suffered one of the most remarkable Champions League collapses as Real Madrid came back from the abyss to set up a final showdown with Liv-

Both sides had chances to win the tie before the full-time whistle. Ederson denied Rodrygo a quick-fire hat-trick and then an unmarked Phil Foden fired over inside the box.

Rodrygo is the fourth player to score multiple goals in the 90th minute or later of a Champions League match

erpool.

City were two goals ahead on aggregate going into the 90th minute after Riyad Mahrez’s strike had added to their 4-3 first-leg win last week.

And then Rodrygo happened.

The Brazilian substitute turned home Karim Benzema’s left-wing ball from close range in the final minute - with Real’s very first shot on target.

And 90 seconds later he levelled the tie with a header into the top corner after Marco Asensio flicked on Dani Carvajal’s cross.

That sent an already rowdy Bernabeu into absolute euphoria.

City, who thought they were going through to a second consecutive all-English Champions League final, were shellshocked.

And so to extra time the game went - and it was Real who got the decisive goal in maybe the greatest Champions League semi-final ever.

Benzema beat Ruben Dias to a loose ball in the box and was brought down by the City defender. He stepped up to take the penalty himself and scored his 43rd goal of the season. There is no doubt it is the most important.

Real’s Thibaut Courtois, who was by far the busier keeper, tipped away Foden’s header with Fernandinho inches away from scoring the rebound - but City could not find a goal to send it to penalties.

That sets up a repeat of the most memorable Champions League final of recent years, when Real beat Liverpool 3-1 in 2018.

For City and manager Pep

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Guardiola now, the Premier League title - they sit one point above Liverpool with four games to go - is their only target.

CITY’S DEVASTATING BLOW The Champions League has delivered so many classic knockout ties in recent years, including

the first leg of this one - a match City should have won by more.

It was looking like a rare, and delightfully, mundane one for City after Mahrez hammered home following Bernardo Silva’s surging run.

City have five Premier League titles - and are four wins away from a sixth - since the

Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008.

But the Champions League the trophy that really establishes your place as an icon of world football - has always eluded them.

After last season’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea in Porto, they may have wondered how long they would have to wait for another

crack.

It looked like the answer was only 12 months. But now, who knows?

City fans will curse Rodrygo’s name forever if they never manage to win the European Cup.

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Commonwealth Games 2022, Birmingham…

Birmingham 2022 has unveiled the official medals which will be awarded to athletes at the Commonwealth Games this summer. The exquisite, jewel-like medals have been designed by three students from Birmingham’s School of Jewellery.

The designers took inspiration from the journey that athletes take to reach their goal of competing at the Games, and so embossed areas, symbolising an aerial map of the host region’s road and canal network, have been included as a key feature

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Medals unveiled to match ‘journey of athletes’

of the design.

The medals are being manufactured by Toye, Kenning and Spencer in Birmingham’s world-renowned Jewellery Quarter, a location which is included on the Birmingham 2022 marathon route and is just a stone’s throw away from Arena Birmingham, one of the key venues for the Games which will begin on 28 July.

The medal was designed by a group of students led by Amber Alys, with Francesca Wilcox and Catarina Rodrigues Caeiro also part of the winning team that has

designed the ribbon and the box for the medal too.

The three students, along with dozens of others, individually entered a competition organised by the School of Jewellery and the Birmingham 2022 team, and as they moved through the judging process, they were brought together as a team.

The medal and ribbon have been designed with all athletes competing in the 19 sports and eight Para sports in mind. The medal has been created so that is it textured and has a tactile quality, so all athletes, and especially

those with a visual impairment, can feel the design. The ribbon attached to the medal is also adjustable, so that it sits comfortably when worn, no matter the height of the athlete or Para athlete wearing it.

Amber Alys, the lead designer for the medal, spoke on behalf of the design team and said: “It has been incredible to see our designs come to life, and we’re delighted with the medals, ribbons and presentation boxes.

“We really thought about the athletes when designing the medals – the connection between

athletes and the journey they go on to achieve their dream of standing on top of the podium.

“We wanted to create something with a jewel-like quality so that the athletes had something that they could treasure for the rest of their lives. We really hope the athletes like them.”

The designs that all of the students submitted were judged by a panel of experts including Para sprinter and Athletes’ Advisory Committee member, Katrina Hart, Councillor Jayne Francis, Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, who designed the Gold Coast 2018 medals, and Dame Louise Martin, President of the CGF. Dame Louise said: “These stunning medals will be the ultimate prize for every athlete competing at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

I would like to congratulate Amber, Francesca and Catarina, the three talented students from Birmingham’s School of Jewellery, for winning the competition to design the medals and creating an iconic prize for our athletes. Manufactured in Birmingham’s world-renowned Jewellery Quarter, these medals represent the very best of the city, the country and the Commonwealth.”

Toye, Kenning and Spencer, a family-owned Jewellery Quarter business that has been based in Birmingham for more than 200 years, has been chosen as the medal fabricators. The company is also making the adjustable gold, green and blue medal ribbons, which feature a celebratory confetti pattern, in their Bedworth factory.

Chief Executive, Charles Toye, said: “Helping Amber, Catarina and Francesca bring their designs to life has been such a rewarding experience for us. They are very different to other medals as they are not a traditional shape so that was challenging for us, but I think together we have created something which is truly special.”

Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Nigel Huddleston, said: “This is the prize that athletes from across the

Commonwealth are training so hard to win. Manufactured in Birmingham’s iconic Jewellery Quarter the medals demonstrate the design talent we are blessed with in the UK and will be a lasting symbol of what I know will be an incredible eleven days of sport.”

Martin Green, Chief Creative Officer, Ceremonies, Culture & Queen’s Baton Relay for Birmingham 2022, and chair of the medal design judging panel said: “The medals, ribbons and boxes are absolutely stunning, and we would like to congratulate Amber, Catarina and Francesca for creating such a fantastic collection of items.

“We would also like to thank all of the students from the School of Jewellery who took part in this competition. Their enthusiasm and passion were wonderful to see, and the quality of designs made it extremely difficult for our panel of judges to choose a winner.”

Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council, said: “These medals are a statement and a showcase for the skills, creativity and heritage of our Proud Host City. They will be a bold and enduring symbol of our Games for those who earn the right to wear them.

“I congratulate everyone who has played a part in their production - and I cannot wait to see them being presented at the medal ceremonies this summer.”

1875 medals will now be produced, to be awarded to the athletes placing first, second and third in the 283 medal events that are part of the Games, including more medal events for women than men for the first time ever.

The medal winners will also be given a box in which to keep the medal, and this features the aerial map design too, providing a clear connection to the design of the medal.

The medals will be presented at the victory ceremonies at all 15 of the Birmingham 2022 official competition venues, so ticket holders will see medal ceremonies as part of some of the 286 sessions of sports on offer at the Games.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday May 05, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Suresh Raina (CSK) (2) Sachin Tendulkar (MI) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs in IPL 2010?

(2) Who struck the highest individual score in IPL 2010?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

All-rounder Matthews overshadowed by Athapathu

Fairbreak Invitational Women’s Twenty20 …

(CMC) – A tidy all-round display from West Indies Women’s all-rounder Hayley Matthews was overshadowed by a stunning hundred from Chamari Athapathu that led Falcons to a commanding eight-wicket victory over Warriors in the Fairbreak Invitational Women’s Twenty20 yesterday.

Athapathu cracked 13 fours and five sixes in an undefeated 107 off 55 balls and shared a century-opening stand with former New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, and set up the Falcons’ successful chase of 178 for victory, in the opening match of the tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Bates hit eight fours and one

six in 60 from 43 balls, but she was prepared to play second fiddle to her Sri Lankan opening partner and they put on 133 for the first wicket to give the Falcons an impressive foundation.

Hometown off-spinner Esha Oza made the breakthrough for Warriors in the 14th over when she got Bates caught at backward point before Matthews had Theertha Satish caught at deep mid-wicket for nine in the 18th over with 15 needed.

Athapathu ended the match in grand style, when she got a thick inside edge off Scotland Women’s pacer Kathryn Bryce to deep fine leg for four to reach her milestone from 54 balls, before swinging the next delivery from the same bowl-

er over the backward square-leg boundary for six with eight balls remaining in the match.

Matthews ended with the most economical figures for Warriors (1-23 from four overs), and her Windies Women teammate, pacer Shamilia Connell, failed to take a wicket and conceded 39 in her allotted four overs.

Britney Cooper, another Windies Women player, is part of the Falcons squad, but did not play.

Earlier, Matthews struck seven fours and two sixes in 58 from 35 balls and shared 90 for the first wicket with Georgia Redmayne to anchor Warriors to 177 for two from their 20 overs after they were put in to bat.

Matthews was caught at deep

West Indies hold steady in ICC Men’s World Rankings

(CMC) – West Indies have held steady in the ICC Men’s World Rankings across all three formats of international cricket after the annual update carried out yesterday.

The ICC (International Cricket Council), the sport’s world governing body, revealed in a media release that the Windies were eighth in the Test rankings, ninth in One-day Internationals, and seventh in Twenty20 Internationals after the rankings update, remaining firmly fixed in the positions they held before the update.

Rating points earned from winning matches during the 2018-19 season were dropped in the annual update, the ICC media release stated, and the rankings now reflect all series completed since May 2019.

The ICC media release noted that series completed prior to May 2021 are now weighted at 50 per cent and subsequent series at 100 per cent.

After the update, West Indies lost four ratings points in both Tests and ODIs, dropping to 77 in the long format and 73 in the 50 overs-a-side format, but they improved five ratings points, climbing to 240 in T20Is.

Since May 2019, West Indies won only six, lost 11, and drew four of the Tests they have played, including a one-off Test against Afghanistan three years ago in India, and a 2-0 series sweep of Bangladesh last year away from home.

During the same period, the Windies won 16, lost 26, and tied two of the ODIs they have played, including a series win against Afghanistan three years ago in India, home series clean sweeps of Ireland two years ago, and Sri Lanka last year.

The Caribbean side won 17 and lost 28 of the T20Is they played during the past two years, including series wins two years ago away and last year at home against Sri Lanka, as well as home series wins against Australia last year and England this year.

The ICC media release also stated that Australia increased their lead over second-placed India from one to nine rating points, while Pakistan have overtaken England to fifth position in the Test Rankings following the annual update.

South Africa have closed the gap with third-placed New Zealand from 13 points to only one point in the up-

dated rankings that still contain 10 teams since Afghanistan and Ireland are yet to play enough Tests to be included in the rankings.

In the updated ODI rankings, New Zealand remain on top, but their lead over England was reduced from three to one point.

The gap between the English and third-placed Australia increased from seven to 17 points, and Pakistan moved past South Africa to fifth place, while the United Arab Emirates are the biggest movers, earning six rating points and advancing two places to 13th.

India remain on top in T20Is, extending their lead over second-placed England from one to five points.

South Africa and Australia have overtaken New Zealand, who are now in sixth place. Similarly, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are now ahead of Afghanistan (10th).

Portugal had the biggest ratings points improvement and moved up five places to 45th in the rankings, in which the number of teams fell from 91 to 72, as 19 teams have not played the required six matches since May 2019.

Hayley Matthews struck an aggressive half-century

mid-wicket off Hong Kong Women pacer Mariko Hill in the 10th over, but Redmayne, a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter from Australia, was the linchpin of the innings.

She carried her bat for the top score of 80 not out from 60 balls decorated with 11 boundaries and shared 57 for the second wicket with her captain Sindhu Sriharsha.

She dominated the closing stages to enhance her side’s final total.

In a double-header today, Tornadoes, a side led by West Indies Women captain, will taste their first action when they meet South Coast Sapphires, led by Pakistani Sana Mir, after which Deandra Dottin, the self-proclaimed ‘World Boss’ and Windies Women team-

mate Shemaine Campbelle will face Spirit, led by another Pakistani, Bismah Maroof.

The six-team slugfest, organised in conjunction with Cricket Hong Kong, features 90 players from 36 countries in 19 matches, and it is the world’s first privately-funded women’s tournament.

The final of the tournament takes place on Sunday, May 15.

Summarised scores: WARRIORS 177 for two off 20 overs (Georgia Redmayne 80 not out, Hayley Matthews 58 not out).

FALCONS 178 for two off 18.4 overs (Chamari Athapathu 107 not out, Suzie Bates 60 not out).

Bravo a non-starter as RCB beat Chennai (CMC) - Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was again a non-starter, and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) stumbled to a 13-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday.

Bravo missed the previous match for the Super Kings against Sunrisers Hyderabad due to an injury and it appeared he was still fit again to play against Royal Challengers.

Chasing 174, CSK openers – Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway – emerged from a cautious start to pilot their side to 51 without loss after the power play.

But CSK started to unravel after Shahbaz Ahmed got Gaikwad caught at longon for 28 in the seventh over and Australian Glenn Maxwell had Robin Uthappa caught at backward point for one in the next over.

Maxwell then bowled Ambati Rayudu for two, as CSK reached the halfway stage of their chase on 77 for three.

Conway, the South Africa-born New Zealand lefthander, transported his form from the previous match and reached his 50 after adding a six and a four following the

strategic time-out.

But Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga claimed the crucial wicket of Conway caught at deep backward square in the 15th over for the top score of 56 from 37 balls, and CSK were 118 for four with five overs remaining.

Pacer Harshal Patel claimed three crucial wickets in the closing over and RCB completed a successful defence of the target.

Earlier, a quick-fire 42 from 27 balls from Mahipal Lomror piloted RCB to 173 for eight from their 20 overs after they were put in to bat.

RCB remained unchanged from their previous game, and their openers – former India captain Virat Kohli and former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis – got them off to a solid start, and RCB reached 57 without loss at the end of the power play.

But three wickets – two to Ali – in the space of 16 balls rocked RCB between the eighth and 10th overs.

The England spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali got du Plessis caught at deep mid-wicket for 38 in the eighth over and bowled Kohli for 30 in the 10th over. In-between, Maxwell was run-out in the next over.

RCB were 79 for three at the halfway mark, and Lomror and Rajat Patidar helped them regain the momentum with a crucial stand of 44 for the fourth wicket. Both Patidar and Lomror added a four and six each.

RCB were 123 for three at the end of 15 overs before South African. Dwaine Pretorius got Patidar to a fine running catch by Mukesh Choudhary at deep backward square leg in the 16th over.

But off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana claimed three wickets in the penultimate over, including the prized scalp of Lomror to give his side a chance, but they failed to grasp it.

Summarised scores: ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE 173 for eight off 20 overs (Mahipal Lomror 42, Faf du Plessis 38, Virat Kohli 30, Dinesh Karthik 26 not out, Rajat Patidar 21; Maheesh Theekshana 3-27, Moeen Ali 2-28).

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS 160 for eight off 20 overs (Devon Conway 56, Moeen Ali 34, Raturaj Gaikwad 26; Harshal Patel 3-35, Glenn Maxwell 2-22).

Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 13 runs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Guyanese table tennis players make unprecedented rise in latest World Ranking

SHEMAR Britton is now the highest internationally ranked Guyanese player in history, following the release of the latest figures earlier this week.

The left-hander is now ranked at 243rd jumping 205 places from 448th in the world.

Meanwhile Portugal-based national women’s champion and Olympian Chelsea Edghill also broke the 300 mark with a 263rd ranked position.

National Men’s Champi-

on Christopher Franklin also made significant progress and is now ranked 538th up from 1750th while Miguel Wong, Joel Alleyne and Jonathan Van Lange also saw improvements in their rankings.

These movements are based on recent results at international competitions and are significant for the sport as, according to a release from the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), they testify to the players’ sacrifices, dedication, com-

mitment, abilities, talent and discipline.

The release further stated, “It is also done through support provided through the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, The Guyana Olympic Association, the GTTA and other private entities and public stakeholders who have supported and contributed to allow our players to participate in the engagements”.

Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana …

Ten-year-old Essequibo opener benefits from programme

RAVID Fredericks, a 10-year-old opening batter from Essequibo is the latest cricketer to benefit from the Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana project.

The project is an initiative of Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry of Guyana.

Fredericks, the baby of the team, was the youngest batter to participate in the GCB/Dave West Indies Imports and Exports Inter-county tournament which was halted due to inclement weather.

Players are vying for a place in the national team to participate in the upcoming CWI Regional Tournament.

Fredericks, the son of former National player Norman Fredericks, represents Jaguar Cricket Club and resides with his mother in the village of Pomona.

He was the recipient of a junior gear bag, along with one pair of batting pads, one bat, one box, one helmet, one pair of batting gloves and one bat rubber, which was up for grabs for the youngest batter in the tournament.

The elegant right-hander is one for the future and was highly recommended by officials, media representatives and former players.

At a simple informal presentation held recently, Beharry,a current GCB executive, said that he is happy to assist young players and he considers this special because of the player’s tender age.

He said that the project has reached out to many young and promising cricketers and clubs across the length and breadth of Guyana and it is the hope of the initiative to assist in producing more cricketers for Guyana and West Indies.

In response, the Grade 5 student of Huis’t Dieren Primary School was very thankful for the gear and promised to work hard on his game so as to realise his dreams of donning West Indies colours one day.

Total cricket-related items collected so far: $130 000 cash, two trophies, 11 cricket boots, 16 pairs

The body publicly expressed its gratitude to those responsible, adding that they are looking forward to the continued support to maximise the potential and talents of the athletes.

The success also underscores the GTTA’s tenets grounded in a position to have our players participate in tournaments even with the constraints due to and during the pandemic.

“We believe our players have the talent to surpass these ranking positions,

however what is critical is that we continue to create the environments for them to have the opportunity for regular exposure and training in view of developing their technical, tactical, physical and mental capacities as a base for sustained performance,” GTTA president Godfrey Munroe was quoted as saying.

With the Commonwealth games, Islamic games, South America senior games in addition to key World circuit events scheduled for

2022, and with the ITTF new world-ranking position going back to a merit and performance-based system, the GTTA is seeking to improve the performance trajectory.

The merit and performance system features players being rewarded for advancement in rounds of competition, given points for wins against higher ranked opponents with participation receiving minimal amount of points.

Smalta supports GCA girls programme

SMALTA will aid in the development of female cricket by sponsoring the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) girls’ programme that bowled off with its orientation yesterday afternoon at Malteenoes Sports Club.

At the simple handing-over ceremony on Tuesday, Marketing Manager of Guyana Brewery Inc. (GBI) Melinda Telesford shared that “Smalta is big on sup-

porting sport and this is the perfect event to be part of as it promotes the development of a not only cricket but women’s cricket as well.”

President of the Malteenoes Cricket Club and manager of the girls’ programme, Deborah McNichols highlighted that “this is perfect for female cricket and I can see this growing into something special where future national cricketers are produced”.

Meanwhile, president of the Georgetown Cricket Association, Neil Barry Sr, shared that “the development of the female game is something we have been lacking and hopefully this kick-starts a nucleus of players who we can develop for the game”.

The programme will cater to young girls from the age of 12 with various venues around Georgetown being utilised for the running of the camp.

Ravid Fredericks (left) shook hands with Anil Beharry with the cricket gear on display.

of batting pads, 17 bats, 11 pairs of batting gloves, 19 thigh pads, one wicket-keeping pad, one arm guard, five cricket bags and one helmet.

In addition to the above, $600 000 worth of gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicketkeeper/batter.

To date, 35 young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from two junior gear bags, two trophies, one arm guard, eleven bats, one box, one helmet, nine pairs of cricket shoes, eight pairs of batting pads, one bat rubber and nine pairs of batting gloves.

In addition, the Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club benefited from a pair of stumps and bails. Two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees, Cotton Tree Die Hard and Rose Hall CCCC each also received one box of red cricket balls.

Cricket-related items, used or new, will be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana.

Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients.

Talent-spotting is being done across the country and club leaders will also assist in identifying talent.

Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit.

“We take this opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P & P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies, and Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Denesh Chandrapaul and Dr Cecil Beharry.

“Thanks to the media for the role they are playing in promoting this venture.” Beharry concluded.

Distribution will continue. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-664-0896.

Marketing Manager of GBI, Melinda Telesford hands over cheque to Programme Manager, Deborah McNichols, in the presence of GCA president Neil Barry Sr on Tuesday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Landmark MoU inked for Football for Schools Programme THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in collaboration with FIFA, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Football for Schools Programme.

The signing was done yesterday at GFF’s National Training Facility, Providence, and the signing meant Guyana became the first nation within the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) to launch the programme which will be mapped out countrywide to cater for both genders.

Football for Schools (F4S) is a programme launched by FIFA, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and caters to pupils aged four to fourteen yesrs.

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, applauded the fact that the programme will not be limited just to the schools on the Coastal Plain but throughout the ten administrative regions.

According to the minister, the “central focus is not on creating the next clatter on elite football players, although we do have our eyes set on 2026 (World Cup). This programme goes well beyond that and uses football as a medium for exposing our pupils to a range of vital life skills and competencies to transcend what they do on the field.”

The content of the life skills programme entails themes such as personal understanding; relationships and teamwork; skills for living in the world; and health and well-being. It also addresses key topics such as good sportsmanship, winning and losing, bullying, effective communication and diversity.

Sport Minister, Charles Ramson Jr, reflected on the “organic structure” cricket had over the years which reaped success and this is the beginning for football from the grassroots level to find talents at an infancy stage of skills after which they ideally progress through the various stages to reach the international stage.

GFF pesident Wayne Forde indicated the programme is part of the Federation’s ambitious goal of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be hosted by CONCACAF. Forde envisioned that with such teamwork present, “anything is possible for football in Guyana” and the aim is to have at least one CONCACAF C-licensed coach in each school over the next two years.

Alexandre Gros, FIFA’s Project Leader for Football in Schools, expressed gratitude for the support of the Government in this project and underscored that getting young people involved at such ages in sport, at such young ages, increases their chances of keeping healthy lifestyles in adulthood.

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Landmark MoU inked for Football for Schools Programme

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

See Story on Page 31

From left, FIFA’s Alexandre Gros, GFF president Wayne Forde, Education Minister Priya Manickchand and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr conduct the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) (Photo: Ministry of Education)

Commonwealth Games 2022, Birmingham…

Medals unveiled to match ‘journey of athletes’

The Commonwealth Games 2022 medals took inspiration from the journey that athletes take to reach their goal of competing at the Games

See Story on Page 28

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, addressing the gathering yesterday (Photo: Ministry of Education)

West Indies hold steady in ICC Men’s World Rankings

See Story on Page 29 West Indies have held steady in the ICC Men’s World Rankings across all three formats

Guyanese table tennis players make unprecedented rise in latest World Ranking Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

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THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022