Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_06_04_2022

wednesday 6th april, 2022

No.106685

Potential, existing hinterland business persons get $49.7M in support

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ExxonMobil plugs $125B into 880+local suppliers 03 PAGE

–– over past seven years more than 3,500 Guyanese supporting onshore, offshore activities

After a two-year hiatus, the ceremonial opening of the Demerara Criminal Assizes was held on Tuesday morning, outside the High Court (Adrian Narine photo)

Prices for fruits, vegetables continue to decline 20 PAGE

10,000 acres of land, 02 President Ali: Trust, mutual respect new cattle rearing pastures PAGE

strong between Guyana, Suriname

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–– on the cards for MMA scheme

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

10,000 acres of land, new cattle rearing pastures

— on the cards for MMA scheme

By Naomi Parris

TO further enhance the capacity of Guyana’s agriculture sector, some 10,000 acres of land will be developed at the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) scheme.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, in an agriculture special report aired on Monday, said that the ministry is currently procuring some heavy-duty equipment to start its work programme in the scheme.

“We had started some work last year, and for the

MMA, we have purchased some new equipment, so that they can help us continue the work in the scheme. We will be procuring another two long-reach excavators; these would be used in the second phase to continue work there, and more lands will open up,” Minister Mustapha said.

A drone photograph of rice cultivation in the MMA-ADA scheme

The procurement of the equipment at reference, the minister said, will result in extensive works being done on the farm-to- markets roads within the scheme, which will provide for more lands to be cultivated in 2022.

“We will also see more farm-to-market roads opening up in the country; the second branch of the farmto-market road will continue, where we will see more than 10,000 acres of land coming under cultivation,” Minister Mustapha said, adding: “We

will see new cattle pastures coming to bed; we will do impoldering... So, all in all, the second phase is a workin-progress, and we will continue to do that, and continue to open up more lands.”

The minister said that works will also commence in the scheme to enhance drainage and irrigation structures, along with several rehabilitation works on a number of dams, so as to provide farmers with better access to their farms.

“What we will also being doing in the MMA is enhancing the critical drainage and irrigation structures, and continue to rehabilitate the dams, so farmers can have easy access to their crops,” Minister Mustapha said.

Other works will also be conducted in anticipation of the upcoming May/June rainy season, among them heightening the main canal embankments, as well as the embankments of the Abary River, and construction of canals and drains all across the scheme.

Similar work will be replicated across the country as part of the Agriculture Ministry’s overarching objective to increase domestic production.

This year, the ministry has received $22 billion in Budget 2022 to execute critical works nationwide.

“The total of the budget for agriculture is approximately $22 billion; it’s one of the best budgets I’ve ever heard, and will continue the projects that are in our Manifesto, and see the economic transformation of Guyana,”

Minister Mustapha said.

“It is people-centred, and it is focused on the continued transformation of our country,” he added.

The Government of Guyana is focused on ramping up domestic production as well as agro-processing capabilities, and is working with the region to remove all historic barriers and impediments to intra-regional trade, and promoting, more widely, agri-business and complete transformation of regional food systems.

On the domestic front, focus will be placed on both traditional crops, as well as new and emerging ones.

These commitments, Minister Mustapha said, are “golden opportunities” for Guyana to finally realise its true cpotential as the breadbasket of the Caribbean.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said time and again that the government envisions that Guyana will play its part in helping the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reduce its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

“The envisaged transformation of the local agriculture sector will involve an inclusive approach, which will include the active participation of the government and the private sector, and continued engagements with farmers, agriculturalists, agronomists, veterinarians, food exporters, importers, academia, the scientific community and other stakeholders,” President Ali has always said.

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

ExxonMobil plugs $125B into 880+local suppliers –– over past seven years more than 3,500 Guyanese supporting onshore, offshore activities

GUYANESE businesses have benefitted immensely from the operations of ExxonMobil, with companies absorbing more than US$600 million (roughly G$125 billion) in expenditures from the oil giant between 2015 and now.

ExxonMobil, in a recent press statement, related that along with its direct contractors, it has expended over US$600 million with more than 880 local suppliers.

Businesses have been servicing the onshore and offshore activities of ExxonMobil, which has so far recorded massive success in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

On the production side, the Liza Phase One project was leading the charge until the Liza Phase Two project came on stream this year, bringing the total production capacity to more than 340,000 barrels per day in only seven years since the country’s first discovery.

According to a release, production at the Liza Unity Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel is expected to reach its target of 220,000 barrels of oil later this year, as operations continue to be brought safely online.

Payara, the third project in the Stabroek Block, is expected to produce approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day, using the Prosperity FPSO vessel, which is currently under construction.

Further, the largest project in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, ExxonMobil’s US$10 billion Yellowtail project, which was sanctioned recently by the government, is expected to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day after startup in late 2025, using the “One Guyana” Floating

Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

It will target an estimated resource base of about 900 million oil-equivalent barrels and include six drill centres and up to 26 production and 25 injection wells.

As it is now, the Stabroek Block’s recoverable resource base is estimated at more than 10 billion oil-equivalent barrels. And the current resource has the potential to support up to 10 projects.

“Development of projects and continued exploration success offshore are enabling the steady advancement of Guyanese capabilities and enhanced economic growth,” ExxonMobil said recently.

Already, more than 3,500 Guyanese are supporting ExxonMobil’s activities in Guyana, an increase of more than 50 per cent since 2019.

In an effort to ensure that local participation in the oil and gas sector increases and advances, the government introduced local content legislation this year. This paved the way for the creation of a Local Content Secretariat which governs a Local Content Registry.

It was reported, recently, that companies have started positioning themselves to benefit from the plethora of opportunities by accessing the Local Content Registry.

The register being accessed by companies is one of two, with the other catering to individuals who are seeking employment in the oil and gas sector.

As outlined by various authorities, the registers will be used as a way to bring together local expertise, human capital and businesses, including those operating in the oil and gas sector. The registers are currently available and accessible online via the Ministry of Natural

A pictorial representation of ExxonMobil’s operations offshore Guyana, in the various blocks (ExxonMobil’s photo) Resources’ website.

The creation of those registers was possible because of the historic enactment of the Local Content Act in December 2021.

The new law earmarks 40 sectors or services and stipulates a minimum percentage of the total value of expenditure on those services that oil companies and their sub-contractors must procure from Guyanese suppliers.

In doing so, the Act provides an enabling framework for the development and expansion of Guyanese companies and, most importantly, business and job opportunities for Guyanese nationals “When we were considering the Local Content Act, one of the recurring issues that arose was the question of ensuring that Guyanese businesses are not in a disadvantageous position relative to their international counterparts in competing for contracts with the oil and

gas sector.

“This could arise, for example, where the sector is procuring a service and the international companies tendering to supply that service enjoy a particular tax treatment on the importation of their capital equipment to provide that service that Guyanese companies might not enjoy,” Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, said during his presentation of Budget 2022 to the National Assembly on January 26.

MINIMISE DISPARITIES He went on to say that, in the interest of ensuring that Guyanese businesses could compete successfully under the new local content framework, the government will take steps wherever practicable to minimise disparities arising

from the tax system that will disadvantage Guyanese businesses.

This will help improve the competitiveness of Guyanese companies, help secure business opportunities for them, and thereby create jobs for Guyanese nationals.

Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, had said that the new local content legislation was finalised after extensive consultations with civil society, the private sector, as well as the oil and gas companies operating in Guyana.

“This legislation is a way of moving our developmen-

tal agenda forward,” Minister Bharrat said, adding: “We believe that Guyanese must benefit from this new sector. We might not have the knowledge and requisite skills now, but I am sure that, in years to come, and with the programmes that the government is putting in place, both in the human resource capacity as well as the capacity in our local private sector to ensure that they place a meaningful role in the oil and gas sector and bring true benefits to Guyanese and Guyanese businesses.”

To advance further consultations and discussions on better conditions for Guyanese and businesses the PSC has established a Local Content Advisory Group, chaired

by Shyam Nokta.

Other members of the group are Chairman of the PSC, Paul Cheong; President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tucker; Executive Director of GCCI, Richard Rambarran; Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)’s Local Content Committee, Joel Bhagwandin and Director at AmCham and Women in Oil and Gas, Dr. Mellissa Varswyk.

The advisory group, according to the PSC, will coordinate and advance the local content efforts of the PSC and its member organisations and businesses.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Oil steadies as coronavirus worries offset more Russia sanctions

(Reuters) - OIL prices steadied in volatile trade on Tuesday, as growing worries that new coronavirus cases could slow demand and offset supply concerns after the United States and Europe planned to impose new sanctions on Russia for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Brent futures fell 38 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to US$107.15 a barrel by 12:29 p.m. EDT (1629 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 34 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to US$102.94.

Chinese authorities extended a lockdown in Shanghai to cover all of the financial center’s 26 million people, despite growing anger over quarantine rules in the city.

The West is planning new

sanctions against Russia over civilian killings in Ukraine.

President Joe Biden’s national security adviser said new U.S. sanctions would be announced this week.

The European Union also proposed sweeping new sanctions against Russia, including a ban on coal imports.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the ban on coal will be followed by oil and then gas.

Moscow, meanwhile, said Western allegations that Russian forces committed war crimes by executing civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha were a “monstrous forgery” aimed at denigrating the Russian army.

Britain urged Group of Seven (G7) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations to ban Rus-

Storage tanks are seen at the Petroineos Ineos petrol refinery in Lavera, France (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

sian ships from their ports, and agree to a timetable to phase out oil and gas imports from Russia.

“The threat of European sanctions on Russian oil remains an upside risk for crude prices,” said Craig

04/04/22 - 7 9 12 20 25

05/04/22 -

Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA, noting: “The release of reserves has helped take some of the pressure off amid disruptions to Russian supply.”

To c a l m o i l p r i c e s , U.S.-allied countries agreed last week to a coordinated oil release from strategic reserves for the second time in a month.

Prices rose earlier on Tuesday after sources told Reuters International Energy Agency (IEA) member states were still discussing how much oil they would release.

Supply concerns in several Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies (OPEC+), also supported prices.

Iraq pumped 4.15 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil in March, 222,000 bpd short of its production quota under an agreement with other OPEC+ producers.

OPEC+ member Russia’s daily oil and gas condensate production in early April has declined by four per cent from March.

Kazakhstan, another OPEC+ producer, cut its oil output forecast to 85.7 million tonnes this year from the previous target of 87.5 million after damage to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in Russia.

Oil prices could gain some support later Tuesday if analysts forecast are correct and U.S. crude inventories declined by 2.1 million barrels last week. , The American Petroleum Institute (API), an industry group, will issue its inventory report at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT) on Tuesday, while the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) will report at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT) on Wednesday.

April 2, 2022

C 11 14 16 17 22 28 4

925

04/04/22 - 5 7 9 10 17 19 20

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

US, Caribbean discuss regional security this week in Barbados

REGIONAL security issues are high on the agenda as the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the Barbados Defence Force co-host the Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) between April 5 and 7, 2022, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

An official statement from the Barbados Defence Force notes that the theme for this year’s conference is: “Multinational Cooperation in a Changing Operational Environment”.

T h e C A N S E C 2 2 ’s opening ceremony is scheduled for today, and can be viewed on the Barbados Government Information Service YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/c/ PMOBarbados/videos, with a direct link from the prime minister’s web page https:// pmo.gov.bb/ Featured speakers in-

clude U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere Daniel Erickson; SOUTHCOM Commander, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson; Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, SC MP; and Barbados Defence Force Chief of Staff, Commodore Errington Shurland.

“Now in its 24th year, the conference has a strong history of promoting regional and hemispheric security cooperation in the Caribbean Basin, as well as other important global networks of cooperation,” the release from the Barbados Defence Force said.

It further stated: “CANSEC 22 aims to promote regional and hemispheric security cooperation through expanding networks and to build enduring partnerships among military, industry and government officials.”

SOUTHCOM Commander, Gen. Laura Richardson, in Barbados to meet with regional security leaders during CANSEC22 (US SOUTHCOM photo)

A hybrid approach is being adopted with regard to staging the conference. The focus will be on: ? Regional Security.

Participants will discuss and identify best practices

and opportunities in regional coordination to counter transnational threats impacting the Blue Economy; counter-terrorism initiatives; and counter-illicit flows operations.

? Coordination for regional Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/ DR), with discussions focusing on established procedures or processes for responding to a HADR scenario across the region and lessons from past HADR events.

Participating countries include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

Canada, France, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mexico, and the United Kingdom also have been invited to participate in the conference.

Several regional security agencies also will be in attendance: Caribbean Disas-

ter Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Community’s Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), Regional Security System (Eastern Caribbean), and the Inter-American Defense Board (Organization of American States).

According to the Barbados Defence Force, Barbados last hosted the conference in 2004. The conference itself annually brings together 150 -180 senior defence and security officials with industry representatives to security matters.

The conference includes sessions dealing with issues pertinent to hemispheric security, as well as sessions and panel discussions that assess region-specific and national case studies. (T&T Guardian)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Changing Dynamics

GUYANA is making waves not only in the Caribbean but in the world at large. With a growth rate that is by far the highest in the Caribbean and among the highest in the world, it is only natural for there to be heightened interest in the country, which only a few decades ago was ranked among the poorest countries in the western hemisphere.

For most of its post-independence years, the country’s economy fluctuated from negative to at best sluggish growth, due largely to undemocratic and authoritarian PNC rule.

All of that has now changed and the country is now firmly on the path to sustained economic growth. The narrative has now changed and a new growth dynamic is emerging that few people could have imagined a mere decade ago.

And while it is true that oil has become a game-changer in our changing economic for-

tunes, it is only part of a bigger dynamic which started with the return of democratic rule in October 1992 when the PPP/C was elected to office after nearly three decades of dictatorial rule.

It was a long and difficult process to rebuild the decades-long trail of destruction caused by the PNC regime but with good governance by the PPP/C administration and significant international support, the country managed to regain its stature as a country on the forward march to that of sustained economic growth and development.

From a ‘pariah’ status under the PNC regime, the country is now a key player on regional and international stage.

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has re-emphasised that the development of Guyana is inextricably linked to that of the region as a whole and pledged Guyana’s commitment to the regional integration movement. There was a time when Guyana was

a drag on the rest of the CARICOM region but all of that is now history.

Guyana is now in a position to play a leading role in the growth trajectory of the entire region.

President Ali, at a recent Global Business Leadership Forum, said that Guyana is willing to provide a platform through which investors can realise the full economic potential of the region. According to President Ali, even though Guyana’s oil and gas resources continue to make headlines, his administration remains committed to developing a diversified economy that will result in sustainable development.

Economic growth is a key element for rising prosperity and in that regard Guyana is certainly in the lead. But, as President Ali pointed out, “not only country prosperity but people prosperity and a country that brings the region together and contributes to regional prosperity”. He drew a distinction between

economic development and financial prosperity in which there could be a case of ‘growth without development’ as happened in several countries where high levels of economic growth co-exist with unacceptable poverty levels.

The Guyana Government is putting in place the necessary policy measures to ensure that there is balanced development and to ensure that the dreaded ‘Dutch Disease’ does not rear its head in the country.

That is why as President Ali said, the traditional sectors will not be downplayed in favour of oil and gas. Oil and gas is not intended to be the dominant economic sector but, in the words of the President, “it is just a catalyst to do the very things that could have been done decades ago.”

In the final analysis, development is about people; about enhancing the economic, social and cultural life of people.

In this regard, much emphasis will be placed on

human development and the development of human capital which is an important, if not the most important prerequisite for economic growth.

Human capital formation and development must take into account the skill-sets that are needed to drive the developmental processes and this is exactly what the PPP/C administration is committed to doing especially in the context of the new knowledge society where literacy is now being redefined to include computer literacy.

As President Ali noted, “We are not talking today only about preparing our young people for the oil and gas sector; we want every single primary school child to have elementary training in coding and software development. By the time you get up to secondary school, you must be doing serious work on becoming specialised or becoming specialists in software creation and development.”

These are indeed

visionary and forward-looking thinking on the part of President Ali as the country prepares itself to take on a leadership role in regional and hemispheric development. According to Dr. Ali, ‘people transformation’ is an important element of total societal transformation, especially through the development of critical thinking skills.

As Guyana continues to evolve as a regional development hub, it is likely to experience some of the challenges that other nations in similar situations usually experience, especially in terms of not having enough people with the requisite skills to drive the process. In this regard, Guyana has already engaged the services of a leading expert who will work along with the country’s local team to examine the issue and provide an analysis which will be used to inform government policy on the matter.

Show of membership call: Why only Sarabo-Halley?

Dear Editor,

IN a letter carried in the local press on Tuesday, UK-based Aubrey Norton strongman, Norman Browne issued a call for APNU+AFC parliamentarian Tabitha Sarabo-Halley to provide a breakdown of her party’s membership.

For those who are un-

familiar with what is playing out, Sarabo-Halley was initially allocated an APNU+AFC seat in the National Assembly by virtue of her being a member of the WPA Executive.

After the WPA pulled out of the APNU, Sarabo-Halley broke ranks with her party, and was accommodated by the Granger/ Harmon faction of the

PNC/APNU under the Guyana Nation Builders Movement (GNBM), a political party she hurriedly formed, and which existed in name only.

The same scenario played out in relation to Jaipaul Sharma, who was given APNU membership through the Equal Rights and Justice Party (ERJP), another hurriedly formed,

non-existent party. The APNU is largely made up of such entities, apart from the PNC; so, why is this call to show membership only being made in relation to Sarabo-Halley?

The answer is simple: In a recent post on her Facebook page, Sarabo-Halley embarrassed Norman Browne’s handler when she alluded to the

absence of any level of discussion in the APNU on who should be chosen to fill the two vacant APNU+AFC parliamentary seats. It is for this reason that she was singled out and attacked.

I support Browne’s call, however, and I will go a bit further by extending it to Mike McCormack in relation to the

GHRA and Policy Forum Guyana, Article 13, Red Thread, WPA, and all the other non-existent press release entities sheltering under the banner of civil society.

All for your consideration, Yours sincerely, Thomas Cole

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Persons with disabilities benefit from $500,000 small business grants

IN keeping with its commitment to ensure the livelihood of all Guyanese, the government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce’s Small Business Bureau (SBB), distributed grants valuing $500,000 each, to nine persons living with disabilities.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, said the gesture was in keeping with the government’s ‘One Guyana’ vision.

In her address to persons gathered at the Guyana Society for the Blind headquarters for a simple distribution exercise, the minister said: “The idea is that no person should be left behind with the economic development of our country.

As a government, our policy

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, with two recipients of the small business grant (DPI photo)

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, handing over the grant to a recipient (DPI photo)

has been one and continues to be the ‘One Guyana’ initiative that every single person can benefit from the resources of government, and have the opportunity to better themselves, better their families and better their communities.”

Last year, the ministry through the Guyana Na-

Minister Walrond hopes the grants will help recipients to expand or establish their own businesses.

“Hopefully for you, this is now your spring board for bigger and better things, for bigger and better business.

We want you to be able to employ persons, we want you to be able to say that

tional Bureau of Standards (GNBS), in collaboration with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), launched a two-day workshop in block- making and money management.

This initiative provided economic opportunities to vulnerable persons to achieve financial stability.

Prof. Ryan influenced scholars in Guyana and the region

Dear Editor,

PROF. Selwyn Ryan, who passed away in Trinidad last month at age 86, influenced generations of scholars of all stripes in Guyana, Trinidad, and around the region from the 1970s ‘til now. He wrote on many topics, including on Guyana and on African nationalism. He has left a strong legacy. There is no other scholar like him in Guyana or the region.

Ryan was the most eminent influential Africanist scholar who trained many budding academicians in Guyana and across the region. We met several times at ISER, St. Augustine Campus, talking about ethnic politics in Trinidad and Guyana, and opinion polling. T&T looked forward to his weekly political commentaries in the newspaper going back to the 1970s, and his opinion polls relating to elections. Ryan was very impressed with, and praised my work as a pollster, and for introducing opinion polling throughout

the region.

The late Professor was a giant scholar; there is/was hardly any scholar like him at UWI, UG, or at any other academic institution in the Caribbean. Those of us who studied Social Sciences relating to the Caribbean would have read and cited his works in our research.

No doubt Ryan made an enormous contribution to academia, and to socio-politico analyses in the twin-island republic. But what I credit Dr. Ryan for most was his introduction of polling in Trinidad. Ryan influenced pollsters like me, and survey researchers in Trinidad and throughout the Anglophone Caribbean. We took our cue from him as a leading pollster in the region (apart from Carl Stone of Jamaica). We consulted him on polling; we competed to predict the outcome of elections in Trinidad. He did not poll in Tobago, where I conducted polls for every election going back to 2001.

Ryan was supportive, and encouraged youngsters

like me (25 years his junior) to conduct polls; the more the merrier. Because of his pioneering work on opinion polling in Trinidad, pollsters like me pioneered polling in Guyana (introduced by Prof.

Dr. Baytoram Ramharack), Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Grenada, Antigua, Barbados (Peter Wickham), and several other countries. (Carl Stone confined his polling to Jamaica, and Ryan to Trinidad). We were/are able to assess popular support for political parties and candidates for office, and project an outcome, allowing politicians to plan or re-orient campaign.

The public in Guyana and the smaller islands have been most grateful for our reports on quantifiable support for parties or candidates.

I am most appreciative of Ryan’s work as a pollster. The region is all the poorer without his socio-political analyses.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram (Pollster/Pol Analyst)

your business is thriving so much that you are supporting six and seven families. This is the kind of progress that we will like to see,” Minister Walrond said.

Meanwhile, Programme Coordinator of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), Ganesh Singh,

said the community was grateful as that was something they were pursuing for some time.

He said: “It means a lot for the disability community because it is a way of them getting the capital to grow to establish new businesses. We know poverty and persons with disabilities, they have a marriage; it is inter-related and, because of this, we have been pushing to ensure that persons with disabilities have some level of financial independence and one way we have been doing this is to promote small business establishments.”

He added that the recipients plan to pursue a variety of business ventures which include food processing, craft, and poultry ventures. (DPI)

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

Contractor updates authorities on US$2.2M Kato Hydropower project

IN an effort to ascertain the status of the US$2.2 million Kato Hydropower project, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, engaged representatives of the contracted firm, B&J Civil Works.

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the 150kw project is ongoing along the Chiung River, Region Eight.

The Prime Minister and Minister Indar, during the engagement, stressed the need for the project to advance further, noting that it will provide hundreds of residents

within Kato and surrounding communities with a clean and reliable source of energy.

It was reported that the contract for the project was signed by authorities in 2019 and was expected to run for a period of 18 months with a 12-month defects and liability period after its completion.

As reported by the News Room, the objective of the project is to provide the remote hinterland community of Kato inclusive of the government facilities and the Kato Secondary School with a relatively cheap and reliable source of power.

“It is imperative to note

that homes that are located within the proximity of the distribution grid is expected to receive power in the initial stage of the project. Additionally, at the school, electricity will be available in the evening for the kids to read, write and study,” authorities had said.

The power will be available during the day at the school to facilitate the use of power tools and equipment for the technical and vocational training. The energy source will also be used for the pumping of water to ensure proper sanitation in the dormitory facilities.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar engaging representatives of B&J Civil Works (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Jehovah’s Witnesses to hold ‘Special Talk’ in all congregations worldwide

AS the world’s hope and happiness continue to decline, Jehovah’s Witnesses invite the public to a free in-person and online lecture entitled, “Where Can You Find Real Hope?” on April?9,10, 2022.

Gallup’s 2021 “End of Year” survey found that, in addition to people around the world reporting a decline in their happiness and hope, the pandemic is still affecting people’s fears and expectations. “Facing 2022, the perception is that we are rather in a chronic situation without a clear end,” said Gallup’s President Kancho Stoychev.

In contrast, the Witnesses’ lecture “Where Can You Find Real Hope?” will offer a solid basis for a positive

outlook. This 30-minute programme will provide concrete reasons for confidence in the hope promised in the Bible. The lecture is the first of two special events in April hosted by the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

These events will be presented at their Kingdom Halls in 119,297 congregations around the globe, and also via videoconferencing “The Bible describes a future without pain, without suffering even without death, right here on earth,” said Andre Darrell, Guyana’s spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“Many people are surprised and happy to find out that God’s original purpose is for people to live in perfect health, in perfect condi-

tions on earth. His purpose has never changed and will soon be realised. The lecture will include a number of solid reasons why we can

have faith in the Bible’s promises.”

The public is also invited to the annual observance of Jesus Christ’s death on

the evening of April 15, 2022.?This is the most important event of the year for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

For last year’s virtual event,

over 8.6 million Witnesses were joined by more than 12.6 million visitors. The total attendance of 21,367,603 marked a 19.7 per cent increase from 2020, despite the pandemic.

The memorial will also be in a virtual format again this year. However, for the first time since 2019, the Witnesses will also be meeting, in-person, at their respective Kingdom Halls throughout the country for this annual celebration and global lecture.

Admission to both programmes is free and no registration is required.

Information on attending locally is available at jw.org or can be provided by any of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

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President Ali: Trust, mutual respect strong between Guyana, Suriname

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that the current relationship between the Governments of Guyana and Suriname is based on a “climate of trust and mutual respect”.

He made this statement on Tuesday after accepting the Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to Guyana Liselle Blankendal, at the Office of the President

on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.

President Ali pointed out that it is important for the neighbouring nations to enhance collaboration on issues regarding climate change and the post-pandemic economic recovery.

“I remain committed to preserving and building on this solid foundation. You can be assured of my Government’s full support as you carry out your mandate

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

President Dr. Irfaan Ali accepts the Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to Guyana, Liselle Blankendal, in the presence of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elisabeth Harper (Office of the President photo) in furthering the excellent relations that exist between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Suriname,” the President told Ambassador Blankendal.

The Head of State said that the ambassador’s appointment comes at a pivotal and “exciting phase” in the relations between the two States.

He expressed confidence that the appointment would also serve to further advance the co-operation agenda that he and the President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi have agreed upon, particularly in the areas of agriculture, energy, the environment, forestry and infrastructural integration.

He pointed out that the proposed bridge across the Corentyne River would “greatly enhance trade and economic activities and further cement human and cultural ties among our peoples,” and that “private sector cooperation remains important to the success of our economic agenda.”

REGIONAL

INTEGRATION Bilateral cooperation between the two States, according to President Ali, augurs well for advancing regional integration. He emphasised that both nations have key roles to play in drafting a CARICOM Energy Policy, focused on renewable energy.

The President added that cooperation must also continue on regional food security and reassured Suriname that Guyana remains fully committed to supporting President Santokhi in his role as lead head for industrial policy and in guiding the regional effort.

The Head of State reminded that Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy guides the government’s transformative agenda on sustainable development.

In this regard, he said that Guyana looks forward to partnering with Suriname to pursue initiatives and projects aimed at protecting the environment, mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and protecting the countries’ biodiversity.

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

Body of fisherman found in Corentyne River

THE body of a 42-year-old fisherman, Shunny Jagessar, was on Tuesday found in the Corentyne River in the vicinity of the indigenous community of Orealla.

According to reports, Jagessar, of Springlands, Corriverton, and the boat’s captain boarded a vessel at Number 79 Village and left for Orealla around 09:00hrs on Sunday.

Recapping what occurred, the captain said he was at the bow of the boat while Jagessar was sailing.

At the time, he said, the water was calm, but on hearing a sudden ‘splash’, he turned just in time to see

DEAD: Shunny Jaggesar

Jamaica: TechCon 2022 to zoom in on digital readiness

THE future of work and the digital readiness of Caribbean businesses is to take centre stage at this year’s staging of tTech’s tech conference scheduled to run April 12-13.

The event will feature key ministers of government and other local and international technology experts who will meet up to discuss the role of digital readiness in charting the region’s economic future. Other topics to be addressed are data protection and privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, big data analytics and digital currencies.

According to Christopher Reckord, CEO of IT consultancy firm tTech Limited, while the novel coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies to pivot and adopt new and innovative ways to conduct their businesses, a full assessment of their true readiness must be done, and this, he said, the conference will seek to do.

“The global financial crisis has driven companies to evolve at a rate that would have taken years in the past, but with the low rate of digitisation across multiple industries in Jamaica, there remains some technological hurdles to overcome.

“If we are to meet global work standards and demands, and compete internationally, this must be addressed promptly, because digital readiness is the key to unlocking regional growth on both a commercial and a broader economic scale,” Reckord said.

Through open conversations geared at assessing the region’s state of readiness and technological gaps in the workplace and business sector operations, speakers at the conference will seek to chart a position for the way forward, especially at a time when most states have begun to ease COVID-19 restrictions, reopen economies, and resume normal operations.

Speakers at the event will include Daryl Vaz, Minister of Science and Technology, who will address the topic of ‘The Jamaican Digital Age: Emerging out of the Pandemic’, and Jay Ryerse, Vice-President of Security Initiatives at ConnectWise, who will present alongside Reckord on

the topic, ‘Beyond Cyber Security: Advanced Security Solutions’.

A panel discussion on digital readiness and the Data Protection Act is also scheduled to take place, and will feature inputs from Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister Floyd Green, and Senator Aubyn Hill.

Local professionals, including Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor Richard Byles, Sheldon Powe, and NCB’s Tesfa Rhodes are also expected to be among some of the other speakers in the line-up.

TechCon, touted as one of the Caribbean’s largest and most anticipated information technology (IT) conferences, aims to provide a forum for industry experts and thought leaders to explore emerging trends defining the global IT space. The event will also allow for information sharing, cross-sectoral integration, and the presentation of research products and data insights.

“The conversations will also focus on critical needs for the Caribbean, such as the most in-demand skills, hiring, automation, earning and payments, and sophisticated collaboration platforms needed to keep employees engaged, incentivised, and informed,” the organisers also noted.

Now in its fifth year, the event being done in partnership with global IT giant, Microsoft, is pushing to promote the use of technologies to enhance growth, efficiency and productivity as critical drivers of business growth in the pandemic’s aftermath.

The Online conference is organised under the theme: ‘INSPIRE: Accelerating your Digital Maturity’. A virtual exhibition is to also be a major feature of the conference.

“We’re pleased to host a completely virtual event, which will broaden our reach and influence even more.

We are clearly on track to become the Caribbean’s most prominent technology conference experience by 2026,” Reckord also said in an earlier news release. (Jamaica Observer)

Jagessar in the water.

He recalled that before he could act, Jagessar the fisherman went under and never resurfaced.

The matter was reported to the police at around 17:00 hrs on Sunday and relatives along with the police launched a search operation.

The body was subsequently recovered at around 07:00 hrs on Tuesday and brought to Corriverton.

Meanwhile, relatives are calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.

The boat captain remains in custody as investigation continues.

11

Relatives who were part of the search party bringing in the body from Orealla to Corriverton on Tuesday

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Ceremonial opening of Demerara Criminal Assizes resumes

—Bar Association hosts first ‘Law Week’

By Clestine Juan

THE April session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes opened on Tuesday with a ceremonial parade, after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cum-

mings-Edwards inspected the Guard of Honour, and took the salute at the parade which was held in front of the Georgetown High Court.

The Chancellor, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, S.C; Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, S.C; judges, magistrates, Commissioners of Ti-

tle, and practising attorneys marched along the streets bordering the court as part of the opening ceremony.

Justice Sandil Kissoon, together with Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and Madam Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry will be presiding over the cases listed for this crim-

inal session.

Later, a post-ceremonial programme was hosted by the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) in celebration of the inaugural Law Week, under the theme, “Advancing the rule of law under the new normal”.

In delivering her remarks,

President of the Guyana Bar Association, Attorney-at-law Pauline Chase

President of the GBA Pauline Chase said that “Law Week” is an activity held around the world annually by bar associations or societies to promote the importance of the Rule of law in society.

The attorney took the opportunity to call for the

Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George, S.C.

appointment of persons to serve on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which has not been reconstituted since 2017. The Commission is responsible for making recommendations for judicial appointments, and removing or exercising disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in judicial offices.

“The effects of its absence goes without saying, and while I’m sure that blame can be appointed by defenders over the years for its absence, I wish to sound the warning that the situation grows more dire with each and every passing day,” Chase said.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C., spoke to the functions of her constitutional office, which is actively involved in the upholding of the Rule of Law, which is fundamental to aiding de-

mocracy, failing which there will be anarchy.

She explained that 354 cases are listed for hearing during the April session, 75 of which are for the offence of murder, while 174 are for sexual offences.

The DPP also said that she is looking forward to the new management information system for the digitising of police files from investigations.

She explained that the digital file will be sent to the Office of the DPP for legal advice, after which it will be returned, electronically, to the police. Charges will be filed digitally by the police, and trials will be conducted using a digital file.

PAPER-BASED SYSTEM “The paper-based system at present operates in all the local courts: The Magistrates’ Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The court most affected is the Magistrates’ Court; this is the court where all criminal charges commence,” the DPP said.

Against this backdrop, she said that the system is important to better manage cases to reduce the backlog and delays in the justice system.

Also speaking was Justice George, who said that while the COVID-19 pandemic had some negative effects on the justice system, there was a positive as it has accelerated the modernisation of the processes and system of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

“The main positive has been the utilisation of technology to support our court operations. We are focused on building out the technological foundation that will undergird the operations of the Supreme Court,” she said.

The pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of the court system, especially with the case management system. The court’s website: https://supremecourt.gy, provides general information and has an online filing mechanism.

The Chief Justice also said that the roll out of recording systems, video conferencing facilities, and the container court in person, allowed the court to transition to virtual court hearings for the resumption of jury trials Continued on page 13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Ceremonial opening...

13

From page 12

Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack S.C

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C.

during the pandemic.

“The Supreme Court is on a transformational trajectory that will see us rolling out not just new courts, but courts that are technologically advanced and we will enhance the facilities at the older courts,” she said adding: “We are focused on court excellence; our aim is to provide quality service. In doing so we will strive to guarantee greater access to justice, better court customer satisfaction and thereby continue to advance the rule of law in the new normal.”

ACCESS TO JUSTICE AG Nandlall, in his remarks, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnering with the judiciary to ensure access to justice throughout Guyana in the new “normal”.

“We can no longer operate like we used to; technology and the Internet became indispensable. We heard of Zoom for the first time, and E-meetings and teleconferences have become the norm rather than the exception in our day-to-day and other operations,” he said.

Minister Nandlall said that amid the pandemic, the judiciary was able to hear and determine elections-related cases during a period when there was a lot of “political turmoil” in Guyana.

He explained that many proceedings during that period were filed in the court system electronically, and heard electronically, including both of the March 2020 election petitions, the challenge of the president’s power to confer silk, and also the legal challenge of the COVID-19 emergency

measures.

According to Minister Nandlall, these cited cases are some of the most important judicial pronouncements emanating from our court since independence, and they all took place during that “great period under challenge”.

“These cases were filed at a very difficult time in this country. Many of our citizens were unsure about the future of our democracy, our constitution was on trial, the rule of law itself was on trial and every tier of the higher judiciary was activated in this period,” he said.

“That alone, in my humble view, has shown that the legal fraternity, the judiciary, and the legal profession acquitted itself with great distinction in serving the people of our country,” he added.

After the first case of the coronavirus was detected in March 2020, the Supreme Court of Judicature suspended jury trials and in-person hearings. However, jury trials resumed in October 2021, with access to remote hearing.

Later, this also led to the resumption of jury trials in the High Court in Essequibo and Berbice. These efforts at resuming jury trials have been in recognition of the fact that jury service is integral to the country’s criminal justice system.

The layout of the courts along with the installation of plexiglass, transparent screens around fixtures and furniture and proposed physical distancing of the judge, court staff, prosecuting and defence counsel, and jurors in the courtrooms were approved.

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards inspecting the guard of honour during the opening of the April 2022 session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes (Photos by Adrian Narine)

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Significant investment being made to facilitate oil and gas training — says 3t EnerMech VP

THE Vice-President of 3t EnerMech, Paul Attrill, has said that a significant investment is being made to ensure that oil and gas training facilities are established in

Guyana.

He made this disclosure at a EnerMech/Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) students’ practical training session held on Tuesday.

Attrill pointed out that since Guyana is one of the regions to be given the new discoveries of oil and gas, there is need for Guyanese to be trained.

“We are making a

The GOAL students at their practical training session

significant investment in these facilities here in Guyana to transfer international practices to the Guyanese people and to make sure that the industry and the manpower within the oil and gas industry is predominantly an international workforce,” he said.

Noting that the training session is the first of several phases, he said that at the training centre, which is located at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, students will be exposed to some of the basic fundamental health and safety aspects that any person would need to step on to a platform or industrial site.

“How to operate and just be present on the site, that’s the fundamental thing that we have to teach people and that’s not just Guyana but across the world. That is what we do as a business, health and safety training,” Attrill shared.

He said that while this is the first time for the trainees “on the ladder,” he hopes it leads to a long and prosperous career within the oil and gas industry.

“The dream is that

these people become attractive employees to the local and international employers. They build upon those basic skills over a two-year period almost like an apprenticeship in the industry and after two years or so they would come back and then we would upskill them or assess them as to what levels they are at, to make sure they are competent to be within the workplace,” Attrill added.

Also speaking at the practical training session, was GOAL’s Director, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, who said that the exercise is part of an initiative to develop capacity in the oil and gas sector.

“It is particularly an opportunity to fill the need for local content so that in the next few months or years we can have Guyana taking control of the oil and gas sector,” he said.

Sharing that about three companies have offered to do oil and gas training in Guyana, he said that before the end of 2022, it is expected that Guyana will have more training facilities similar to the one at Lusignan.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Japan boosts local health care system through generous donations

SINCE October last year, Guyana has received medical equipment from the Government of Japan through a partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to enhance its healthcare system.

At a closing ceremony on Tuesday, at the Guyana Marriot Hotel in Kings-

To this end, it was revealed that the equipment had been distributed to 13 hospitals across the country and will benefit more than 10,000 people.

“Particularly in the case of Guyana, the biggest savings were obtained exceeding more than 11 per cent and the savings obtained allowed to expand the pro-

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, receives one of the digital mobile imaging units from Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan in Trinidad and Tobago, Yasuhiko Kamada

ton, UNOPS Director and representative for Guyana, Alejandro Rossi, said the project had produced many positive results.

According to Rossi, the initiative was extended to Guyana, Belize, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

“With great satisfaction, in October 2021, we announced the first tranche of deliveries of medical equipment in Guyana and this project, Guyana, in fact, was the first country to provide a positive reaction, and today, six months later, we are proud to be here at the handover ceremony,” he said.

The donation from Japan, he noted, totalled some US$791,000 and included four ambulances, Land Cruisers, diagnostic digital mobile imaging units, ECG recorders, Pulse oximeters and more.

curement of items between May and June 2022. The Ministry of Health will be receiving the last tranche of equipment including portable ultrasound scanning systems and oximeters,” the UNOPS representative said.

Meanwhile, Counsellor of the Embassy of Japan in Trinidad and Tobago, Yasuhiko Kamada, stated that, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Japan has mobilised various kinds of assistance as a demonstration of international solidarity.

Kamada indicated that Japan also remains one of the largest contributors to the COVAX facility, having committed some US $1 million to support equitable access to vaccines.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony expressed gratitude to the Govern-

ment of Japan for the generous support.

“During this crisis, the pandemic, we have had many challenges and for poorer countries with less developed health systems it was even more startling … and you know what really helped us was that many countries came together to help us with the equipment

to make sure that we can reach out to the most vulnerable and to serve those patients in the best way possible,” the Health Minister said.

He revealed that, for the project, the Government of Japan did not decide what items were received; however, they set aside resources and the Health

Ministry assessed the needs of the country, and as such, UNOPS procured the items.

“When we evaluated what our needs were, we felt that we needed ambulances to transport patients from various locations and more so the hinterland locations; that was why we chose the types of ambulances that are offroad ve-

hicles and we got four of them and they have been sent out to those regions,” he indicated.

The ambulances have started working within the various regions even as a number of other pieces of equipment are expected to be delivered to Guyana within the next two months.

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Education Ministry to launch Secondary Competency Certificate Programme

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

–– at Westminster Secondary School THE Ministry of Education on Monday engaged stakeholders of the Westminster Secondary School on the plan to

launch the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP) at the school.

Parents and students

were engaged by officers within the Ministry’s Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Unit on the differ-

Students and parents at Monday’s meeting ent subjects students will be exposed to, and what will be expected of them.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) (Technical), Marcia Paddy said that the meeting was aimed at sensitising parents and students about the programme, since the teachers have already benefitted from a similar process.

She said that due to the path Guyana is taking, more industries will be expanded, and greater emphasis is being placed on skills development, formally known as Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Paddy said that, initially, the programme will offer training in agriculture science, furniture making, and hospitality and business studies.

According to the Assistant Chief Education Officer, the programme will be expanded to offer training in agro-processing and livestock farming, as

Guyana needs to produce the workforce to supply the expanding industries.

Paddy said it is the intention of the ministry that every student leave secondary school with at least one skills certificate.

Chief Education Officer Dr. Marcel Hutson said that the Ministry of Education believes that every child is born gifted, and, therefore, the education sector must do everything possible to ensure those gifts are maximised, so that children could function at their optimum.

He said that Guyana has experienced a revival in terms of the importance and interest in TVET. Dr. Hutson related that offering this programme to students of the school will give them the perfect opportunity to advance, develop, fulfil their purpose, and be dispatched into society to be contributors to the development of Guyana.

(Education Ministry)

Chief Education Officer Dr. Marcel Hutson

‘Fruits man’ for more than 20 years

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

— talking business growth, a healthier Guyana with Rahaman Jabar

By Shari Simon FOR 23 years, Rahaman Jabar, popularly known as ‘Fruits Man’, has been selling fresh fruits, assorted fruit salads, and organic juices.

Amid the busy people and vehicles constantly on the go, Jabar, who is a fruit vendor and owner of ‘Rahaman’s Fruits’, sells from his truck that is now a mobile stall at the intersection of Church and East Streets, Georgetown.

“We sell lots of fruits.

From bananas, apples, grapes, pineapples, oranges, watermelons; all variety of fruits,” said Jabar, a 49-year-old father of four daughters. “Plus, we sell juices; no sugar!” he added.

He would leave his Georgetown home early in the morning, arriving at his place of work between 08:00 hrs and 09:00 hrs to begin the day’s sales.

As part of his efforts to promote healthy eating lifestyles, and ensure Guyanese become selfaware of their diet and everyday food consumption habits, Jabar noted that in addition to the fruits and juices, he would also prepare fruit salads that comprise 12 different fruits.

He shared that the fruit salads give customers the luxury of eating a number of fruits as well as gaining the vitamins and nutrients they need to maintain a healthy immune system, especially in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We try to encourage people to eat more healthy,” Jabar remarked, before adding that he would often advise his customers on the specific benefits of certain fruits, and ways they can consume them, depending on the illness or disease they may be trying to remedy.

Jabar, who grew up in Jacklow, in Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam), recalled that after marrying, he would assist his former father-in-law, Nazir Sadik, who, at the time, only sold bananas.

Eventually, he would inherit the business from

him.

Over the years, Jabar worked to expand the business by recognising the growing market demand for affordable fresh fruits as well as an easily accessible location to purchase them.

Today, ‘Rahaman’s Fruits’ has amassed an extensive customer base, with Jabar remarking that on some days, he would sell to as much as much as 100 or 200 customers.

“I have customers from all over Guyana!”

Jabar said. “My customers include teachers, doctors, diplomats, the President, schoolchildren, foreigners. We represent everybody, and we sell everybody,” he said.

Jabar credits the longevity of his business to his strength and perseverance, and support from his wife, Safflya Jabar.

With that support, coupled with his honesty, he has managed to maintain a loyal customer base.

He believes in the principle of oneness, and reiterated that his commitment remains to serving everyone. This commitment can be seen in the different country flags that adorn his truck, and complement the rainbow of fruit colours that invite customers to taste, buy and return.

He also attributes the growth and success of his business to having a supportive staff.

Apart from being a one-stop fruit stall for customers, Jabar is also actively involved in community development. “We maintain from Quamina Street to Church Street; keep it clean, keep the drain clean!” he said.

When he is not tending to customers, Jabar really enjoys finding ways to beautify the immediate environs of his business.

“We are planting trees!

We plant flowers, and we installed a sink,” he said.

These activities continue to allow Jabar to balance being a business owner and a passionate environmentalist.

Rahaman Jabar, owner of ‘Rahaman’s Fruits’

‘Rahaman’s Fruits’, on Church and East Streets, Georgetown

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

Armed bandits storm Linden supermarket, rob proprietor A 37-year-old business woman of Linden was robbed by two bandits who stormed the supermarket she owns, on Monday.

According to police reports, the incident occurred around 18:52 hours, while the woman was behind the counter of the supermarket located in Central Amelia’s Ward.

“The two perpetrators - armed with guns - went into the premises demanding she hand over cash. She raised an alarm and ran and the perpetrators then went behind the counter and collected two carton boxes with cash and documents, and made

good their escape,” police said.

Further, a man who heard the commotion, went to the businesswoman’s aid and drove behind the suspects who were on foot and managed to hit one of them. The bandit stumbled after being hit, but he managed to get up and flee the scene.

Police said that they recovered a box containing some documents and one .38 revolver containing two suspected live 9MM ammunition and three .38 empty casings.

The area is being searched for the two suspects as investigations continue.

The items seized by police

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

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Over 500 Guyanese complete entry-level programme –– to be granted automatic GOAL scholarships to pursue degrees at int’l universities

MORE than 500 Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) students have successfully completed the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level Six Diploma, offered through the Jain University in collaboration with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

The students are now equipped with a certif-

benefit from quality learning.

Whether at the nursery, primary, secondary or tertiary level, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration has always been keen on ensuring standard knowledge is offered to learners.

This is evidenced by the over $74 billion allocated in Budget 2022 to improve access to ed-

icate that allows them entry into a three-year Bachelor’s Degree programme. And to support them as they move forward, GOAL will grant the students automatic scholarships for the next journey.

“To say we are proud of these scholars would be an understatement.

The programme was very intensive, and classes were held six days per week. Yet they persevered, and have come out shining,” GOAL said in a recent social media post.

The Ministry of Education and GOAL will soon launch a programme for all students who do not have the requisite high school education.

The government remains committed to implementing measures that will ensure persons without the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) qualifications

ucation and education delivery.

The government believes that the academic upgrades, coupled with the number of other major developments will promote the living standards of citizens in an already transformed Guyana.

While the government has committed to providing 20,000 Online scholarships through GOAL, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the administration is willing to surpass the mark if more interest in the programme is expressed.

The government is also seeking to assist the GOAL recipients by subsidising their Internet cost, and ensuring there is effective service during classes.

Efforts are already being made to help students along the Essequibo Coast, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and in Region 10 (Upper Demerara–Berbice). (DPI)

20

Prices for fruits, vegetables continue to decline

OUTPUT in the local agriculture sector continues to increase significantly as a result of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI)’s seedling and seed distribution programme.

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

–– with increased ‘agri’ production driven by NAREI’s seedling, seed distribution programme

The increased availability of various agricultural commodities on the local market has resulted

in reduced prices for many fresh vegetables and fruits.

The most recent initiatives to stimulate growth Farmers holding some of the seeds they received from NAREI in the agriculture sector were introduced by NAREI in response to the devastating floods in 2021.

Flooding across the country had created a severe shortage of fruits and vegetables which resulted in a significant increase in prices.

The spending power of consumers had reduced, and many were disgruntled. So to address the situation, NAREI provided farmers with seedlings and seeds to ensure they go back into operation quickly. Farmers also received support from central government in the form of billions of dollars in grants.

In some instances, new crop types were introduced in several communities, as part of NAREI’s crop diversification programme. For this initiative, extension officers were deployed to various communities to provide technical support to farmers.

Approximately, 80 per cent of the farming communities in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine benefitted from this initiative.

Further, some 742 farmers, of which 438 were women, received a variety of crops such as bora, hot and sweet peppers, cucumber, cabbage, pakchoy, celery, tomato, ochro.

In Region Two, approximately 1,575 packs of seeds and 61 trays of seedlings including boulanger, celery, lettuce, pumpkin, cucumber, pepper, pakchoy, cabbage, tomato, broccoli, parsley, ochro, bora, coconut, lemon, and guava were distributed to 950 farmers.

Affected farmers and kitchen gardeners in Region Three received seeds, as well as, fertilisers, insecticides, fungicides, nematicides and acoushi ant bait.

In Region Four, along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, 1,600 packets of seed were distributed of which 1,300 packs were donated to farmers in St. Cuthbert’s Mission. This was done during a visit by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha.

Bundles of cassava sticks were distributed in Hauraruni. The sticks were shared to encourage the farmers to expand their production of cassava for cassava bread production.

Additionally, 250 threeyear coconut palms were given to farmers in Loo Creek and St. Cuthbert’s Mission.

In Mahaica, about 45 farmers received vegetable seeds such as lettuce, pumpkin, pakchoy, sweet pepper, celery, cucumber.

On the Lower East Coast of Demerara, 630 packets of similar vegetable seeds were shared among 275farmers.

Additionally, 750 packets of seeds were given to 320 farmers from various communities on East Coast of Demerara.

Along the East Bank of Demerara, approximately 600 packets of seeds were distributed in various communities such as Providence, Mocha-Arcadia, Craig, Friendship, Timehri and Soesdyke. During those exercises across Region Four, other inputs such as fertiliser, insecticides, see page 21

21

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

MovieTowne owner: Guyana now a bread basket

(Trinidad Express) AMONG those encouraging T&T business owners to seize opportunities in Guyana is MovieTowne owner Derek Chin, who was born in Guyana and raised in Trinidad and Tobago.

“Our T&T economy is still kind of in a negative growth situation for the last six to seven years. The country is at this time going through some hardship and challenges. The private sector has been looking for greener pastures or opportunities, and there is an opportunity one hour away from us, where Guyana is expected, with the great oil find, to really be an economic giant in a very short time,” he told the Sunday Express.

Chin said there were vast opportunities for Trinidadians in the energy sector and other industries.

“In terms of other business, Guyana is really a bread basket. They have

a lot of land and a lot of opportunities. Many Trinidadians have already gone in there to take advantage of the incentive to build a hotel. As you know, Guyana doesn’t have a lot of hotels. There are about five or six hotels (being built), which I know three or four are being invested by Trinidadians,” he said.

The businessman added: “Then there’s a lot of work in infrastructure. There are highways, harbours and ports to be built, as well as electrical upgrades. So there’s a lot of opportunities to get involved, whether by joint venture or whatever.”

After six years of construction, Chin’s US$50 million MovieTowne complex opened its doors in Guyana, in March 2019.

He admitted the timing of the opening was a bit off, but this was beyond his control.

“This was not a very good year to open because that would have been during

Prices for fruits, vegetables ...

Output in the local agriculture sector continues to increase significantly from page 20 fungicides and acoushi ant bait were donated.

In Region Five, both seeds and seedlings were given to farmers. A total of 115 families benefitted.

The three main crop types donated were tomato, celery, and sweet pepper. A total of 283 trays (31,130 seedlings) were distributed during this process.

In Region Six, the Benab and Lesbeholden Plant Nurseries of NAREI distributed seeds and seedlings. From September 2021 to March 2022, the two nurseries distributed 650 packets (110g each) of seeds, 3,013 trays (331,430 seedlings) of

vegetable seedlings and 10,909 mixed fruits and coconuts seedlings from Canje Creek to Orealla/ Siparuta.

For Region 10, farms located in the Upper Berbice River locations faced most of the devastation as the water remained on the land for a longer period.

In response, NAREI embarked on an agri-input distribution programme.

Seed distribution exercises were conducted in the region and targeted smallholder farmers from Kwakwani, but farmers from Hururu, Kaitopen (Kaicochen) and Ladernsville also benefitted.

the election process and the whole issue of the changing of the government. So at that time, everything was very stagnant and the level of uncertainty made it difficult for people to come and get involved in the mall, in terms of tenancy and so on,” he said.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which put a further damper on business for another two years.

“We are now trying to

reconstruct and put all the pieces back together and deal with some of the issues with construction. We’ve had a lot of defects. And then of course the Guyana situation has obviously changed with the new windfall in oil.

“We made the investment there before oil was discovered and now we are slowly but surely building things back. We didn’t have a very enterprising start, but we are seeing things

happening again, where the economy is obviously settling and taking off with the windfall of the oil money.

Not all of that has trickled down yet, but there is a lot of optimism, and potential local and foreign investors,” Chin said.

He said while MovieTowne is currently the biggest shopping mall in Guyana and still has to attract more tenants, it is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

MovieTowne owner Derek Chin

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

18 women equipped with critical leadership, management skills

–– after successfully completing ExxonMobil Foundation’s Global Women in Management (GWIM) programme SOME 18 Guyanese women are now equipped with critical leadership and management skills after graduating from the Global Women in Management (GWIM) programme, which was sponsored by the ExxonMobil Foundation.

According to a press statement from ExxonMobil, the six-month pro-

gramme was launched in September and participants were drawn from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community institutions, women’s associations and businesses.

The programme was designed to build participants’ capacity to strengthen their institutions and businesses by implementing high quality, replicable projects.

Graduates of the GWIM programme share a moment with officials (seated) following a simple graduation ceremony (ExxonMobil photo) At a recent graduation ceremony, leadership coach and guest speaker, Rawle Dundas, urged the participants to ensure they utilise their new knowledge.

“My challenge to you is to stride forward confidently with those new tools, understanding that tools are only as good as the hands of the person who uses them.

But because you special women have embraced this initiative of being leaders, and not just another person in a management position or in a position of responsibility, you know your role as leaders is about making a difference,” Dundas said.

ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Manager, Suzie De Abreu, said that the company’s support for the programme was in keeping with its core beliefs.

To this end, she said: “Enhancing the communi-

ties in which we live and operate is an important aspect of ExxonMobil Guyana’s social responsibility.

Providing opportunities like this programme forms part of our commitment to women’s empowerment and knowing, as we do, that empowered women empower others, I am truly excited to see how you infuse that into your communities.”

The programme offered weekly, live facilitated sessions along with self-guided assignments, group work, and workshops. Participants also received coaching and are now part of a global and country-level alumni network of almost 1,000 women from 77 countries.

The ExxonMobil Foundation has invested some $40 million into the local GWIM project in support of women empowerment.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 6, 2022

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

Potential, existing hinterland business persons get $49.7M in support –– through Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s ‘Empowerment Fund’

THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, through its “Empowerment Fund”, has invested $49.7 million to support persons from hinterland regions who are either already in business,

or are considering the feasibility of investing in any commercial activity.

The Empowerment Fund is a collaborative effort between the ministry and the World Food Programme (WFP), which

seeks to help persons expand or start a business with $50,000. To date, some 995 persons from various communities have benefitted from this initiative.

Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) had the largest

number of beneficiaries with a whopping 367 persons across two phases.

Another 245 recipients came from Region One (Barima-Waini), with 76 in Moraikobai, 73 in Mabaruma, 72 in Baramita,

A budding businesswoman receives her empowerment grant from Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud and 24 in Port Kaituma.

Meanwhile, Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) had 192 and 191 recipients respectively.

According to Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud, “The Ministry is committed to empowering women across the country, and we have managed to do so in a very significant way through the collaboration between WFP and the ministry, utilising the WIIN programme where women have been trained.”

As she went on to say: “I was very heartened to listen to women say they had plans to start their own businesses, so the cash grants given were perfect stimuli for them to help in beginning their businesses. We look forward to tracking those women to see what improvements they would have made towards their own income, and towards helping them to sustain their businesses.”

Project Coordinator Mahendra Budhram said the hinterland regions have shown good responses, with an inspiring collection rate.

“It is heartwarming to

see persons coming out to receive this grant, because they can now take the next step of starting to develop themselves, and putting the money towards a business that they would have wanted to embark on,” he said.

Among the youngest of recipients was 12-year-old Baramita resident, Ashanna Fredericks, who completed the computer studies training where she was proficient in Microsoft Office. With the grant, she said that she plans to buy a laptop and a printer to open a document centre in her community.

Paramakatoi’s Val Ann Edwin, 27, highlighted that she’s applied for the cosmetology course, because there is no existing service of this nature in her community, and as such she sees the potential of in investing in such a business there.

Social Activist Claudia Fraser, who recently returned from Venezuela, said that having completed a few courses in nail technology and hair styling, she will be looking to buy supplies for her business while providing a safe space for women in Port Kaituma.

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

Global body for protecting –– as advocacy plant health meets efforts accelerate (FAO) A KEY meeting on measures to protect plant health got underway amid heightened advocacy efforts and moves to set global plant health standards, helping to protect human health and food security.

The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), began its 16th session on Tuesday.

In her opening remarks, Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), spoke of “crucial opportunities ahead of us” for raising the profile of plant health issues, with the first celebration of the International Day of Plant Health to be organised by FAO on May12 and the first International Plant Health Conference to be hosted by the United King-

culture exacerbates the major issue of growing world hunger and threatens rural livelihoods.

IPPC STANDARDS Against this background, ongoing work on the adoption of IPPC standards will help countries as they seek to put in place best practices in plant health and safe trade.

“The current challenges we are witnessing today leave us with no option but to join our efforts and show full commitment towards the mitigation of the effects of the risks by adopting the IPPC standards and applying them at country and regional levels,” Lucien Kouame Konan, the CPM Chairperson said.

The meeting this week marks the first under the tenure of Osama El-Lissy as IPPC Secretary, who said: “The safe trade of

Plant pests and diseases cause food crop losses of up to 40 percent, according to FAO estimates (FAO photo) dom in September this year.

Bechdol thanked Finland for its leadership in implementing the International Year of Plant Health, which came to a close in July 2021 and Zambia for championing the declaration of an annual International Day of Plant Health, which was decided on by the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly last week.

The last year also saw increased cooperation with the Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique-CaraïbePacifique, resulting in a Memorandum of Understanding that will trigger the development of advocacy materials and e-learning courses for use by phytosanitary practitioners around the world.

Plant pests and diseases cause food crop losses of up to 40 per cent, according to FAO estimates and the damage they cause to agri-

healthy plants and plant products across borders form the basis of the food value chain and the fight against world hunger. Without plant production, there will be no food for humans or feed for animals.”

El-Lissy added: “The IPPC has an essential role in providing the required knowledge and polices to secure the safe movement of billions of plants and plant products across borders, and consequently to support the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind.”

With a total of 184 contracting parties, the IPPC is celebrating its 70th anniversary as the only international or UN entity mandated for setting standards to protect plants and plants products across borders and facilitate safe and efficient plant trade globally.

Among the significant

developments since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IPPC ePhyto Solution, has helped 106 countries to exchange digital phytosanitary certificates to expedite safe, efficient and lowcost trade in plants and plant

products.

Meanwhile, Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation has helped over 80 countries on all continents to improve their phytosanitary systems and revise their phytosanitary legislation

through trained facilitators. This process aims at modernising the countries’ phytosanitary legislation and ensuring confidentiality and protecting countries’ sovereign rights.

The IPPC Secretariat is

also committed to engage in setting up a global pest outbreak alert and response system to assist countries to prepare for and respond to emerging pests to protect their territories and their access to export markets.

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 6, 2022

Female motorcyclist dies in accident at La Penitence A 59-year-old woman has lost her life after the motorcycle she was riding was hit by a minibus along the La Penitence Public Road, on Tuesday.

According to police reports, Debra Salikram of Lot 85 West Ruimveldt Estate Housing Scheme, was proceeding north along the eastern side of the road before

The minibus that was involved in the accident at La Penitence (GPF photo)

The victim’s mangled motorcycle (GPF photo) turning west into the path of the minibus BAB 1155, which was reportedly travelling at a fast rate of speed.

The woman, as a result of the collision, fell onto the roadway and injured parts of her body. Public- spirited persons summoned an ambulance, but the woman was pronounced dead on the scene when the medical experts arrived.

The scene was inspected by the police and a breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the minibus, but no trace of alcohol was found in his system.

He is in custody assisting with investigations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 6, 2022

Golden Jaguars to roar against Haiti... (From back page) CAF also stated that the Nations League will serve as the qualifier for the 2023 Gold Cup. Following round-robin group stage play, the League A group winners and runners-up (eight teams) and the League B group winners (four teams) will guarantee their participation in the 17th edition of the Gold Cup. Furthermore, 12 other teams will have an opportunity to qualify for the tournament via the Gold Cup Prelims.

The Prelims will include the participation of the League A third-place finishers (four teams), the League B second-place finishers (four teams), and the League C group winners (four teams).

Additional details regarding the 2023 Gold Cup Prelims will be announced at a later date.

At the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League, Guyana, also placed in League B, faced eventual group winners, Jamaica, along with Aruba and

Antigua & Barbuda.

The Golden Jaguars, after home and away fixtures, ended the Group in second place, winning three of their six games played, losing one (against Jamaica) and playing to a draw on two outings on the pitch.

The CONCACAF Nations League was formulated in 2018, with the aim of ensuring all Member Associations have LEAGUE A Group A: Mexico, Jamaica, Suriname Group B: Costa Rica, Panama, Martinique Group C: Canada, Honduras, Curaçao Group D: United States, El Salvador, Grenada LEAGUE B Group A: Cuba, Guadeloupe, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados Group B: Haiti, Bermuda, Guyana, Montserrat Group C: Trinidad & Tobago, Nicaragua, Saint

the opportunity to compete in more official matches, driving the development of the game and providing a compelling tournament for fans in all parts of the Confederation.

The inaugural Nations League kicked off in September 2019 and culminated after 102 memorable group stage matches.

The four League A Group winners (Costa Rica, HonduVincent and the Grenadines, Bahamas Group D: Guatemala, French Guiana, Dominican Republic, Belize LEAGUE C Group A: Bonaire, Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten Group B: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Aruba, Saint Martin Group C: Saint Lucia, Dominica, Anguilla Group D: Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands

ras, Mexico, and the USA) took part in the 2021 Nations League finals in Denver, where Mexico and the United States faced off in an unforgettable Final.

An extra-time penalty converted by U.S. forward

Christian Pulisic proved to be the decisive moment and served as the winning goal in the 3-2 win for the United States, who was crowned as the first CONCACAF Nations League champions.

(Rawle Toney)

Anisha Gibbons among 13 selected... (From back page) in the Boys’ U20 category.

At the 2019 CARIFTA Games, AAG sent a record 21 athletes and finished with four gold, two silver and three bronze medals While the AAG is yet to make an official announcement, the team’s manager, Nadine Trotz, said she’s confident that the athletes will do their best.

“We have seen our athletes constantly improve over the trials, so we are expecting them to make the best of this exposure to greater competition. It is a very talented team

of junior athletes that will represent Guyana and we expect them to return with hardware,” Trotz said.

Close to 650 athletes are expected on the Land of Wood and Water, competing in U17 and U20 categories as well as 150 officials from 27 countries.

This is the eighth time that Jamaica will host the CARIFTA GAMES since its inception in 1972. Of the 48 editions held so far, Jamaica have topped the medal table on 43 occasions. (Rawle Toney)

Walsh lauds improvement, tenacity after... (From page 43) before pulling off another nerve-jangling last-over win, defending 140 to beat Bangladesh by four runs also in Mount Maunganui.

An upset at the hands of Pakistan Women and a no-result against South Africa Women left West Indies needing other results to go their way in order to qualify for the semi-finals.

“The girls must be applauded for the fighting qualities they showed and everything they brought to the table, ”Walsh said.

“Yes, I know there will be other questions asked and a few people maybe disappointed but I think overall, when you look at it, we as a

team know where we went wrong but it was good to see improvements being made nevertheless.”

Not for the first time, West Indies got erratic performances from many of their leading players. Hayley Matthews struck a century in the tournament’s opening game but failed to register another fifty, finishing as her side’s leading scorer with 260 runs at an average of 37.

The 23-year-old Matthews, who bowls off-spin, was also West Indies’ leading wicket-taker with ten wickets.

Deandra Dottin gathered 199 runs at an average of 28 and managed only one half-century while the usually

Yorkshire aims to be... governance reforms.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity where an iconic institution that’s 160 years old has the ability to suddenly have a massive heart attack but recover well and recover better than it was before,” Patel said.

He likened the job to rebuilding a city after a devastating earthquake.

“You can either rebuild the city as it was before, or you can build a smart city that’s very different, and I think we chose the latter.”

Yorkshire has partnered Pakistan’s Lahore Qalandars and South African franchise

prolific Taylor mustered only 151 runs at an average of 21.

Shemaine Campbelle notched two half-centuries, however, finishing with 185 runs at an average of 30.

Walsh said it was critical more players continued to contribute instead of the over-reliance on the usual pillars of the side.

“We had some other individual performances apart from our big trio. That’s something to work with and you want to see more of that,” Walsh noted.

“You want more people to be putting their hand up in the team to help the team so we can achieve greater or better success.

(From page 41)

Momentum Multiply Titans to source talents from diverse communities.

Now an Indian company will have its brand presence on the main pavilion at Headingley Stadium and the kits of the Yorkshire women’s team after YCCC‘s twoyear deal with Clean Slate.

Former England Test bowler Darren Gough, who was appointed Yorkshire’s interim managing director in December, is determined to help his former club root out racism.

“To come back to Yorkshire … and try and turn it around and make us even

better than we’ve ever been and set an example to the rest of the world in sport is an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” the 51-year-old said.

Derbyshire all-rounder Anuj Dal feels Rafiq’s testimonial had made life easier for cricketers like him.

“What Azeem showed in his testimony was that the South Asian players, and players from different backgrounds, now feel as though they’ve got someone there who’s spoken out about issues that are there within the game,” Dal told BBC Sport.

“That’s particularly pleasing to see we have people challenging other people for places as well, because once we get competitive on the inside with

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 6, 2022

Healy hails 'brave' mindset after epic Cup final innings

… Alyssa Healy has proved time and again she can deliver in the most high-pressure situations but her match-winning 170 against England elevated her to a whole new level ALYSSA Healy still baulks at being labelled a 'biggame player', preferring instead to label her approach "brave".

Yet, to her disappointment, her latest efforts with the bat provide irrefutable evidence that Healy is, in fact, a big-game player.

For a third consecutive tournament Healy stood tall in the biggest moments, producing an innings for the ages with her 170 from 138 balls against England at Hagley Oval..

It was her second successive century, following her 129 against the West Indies in the semi-final, as she powered her way to 509 runs for the tournament, having entered the knockout stage with 210 runs from her first seven innings.

Healy was the player-of-the-tournament when Australia claimed the 2018 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, following it up with a player-of-the-match display

against India at the MCG in front of 86 174 people in the 2020 T20 World Cup decider.

On Sunday, she was crowned both the player-of-the-final and player-of-the-tournament.

"This trophy means a lot, and to be able to turn up at the back end and go alright in the last few games means a whole heap," Healy reflected following Australia's win "I just think you've got to be brave to come out in a situation like that, to be able to play your game when you know that the opposition are going to come really hard at you.

"They want to take your wicket early and you've got to be brave and back your skills.

"Personally, I'm really proud of that. I still don't think I'm a 'big-game player' ... but I think you've just got to be brave to be able to do it."

Healy set a new record for the highest score in a World Cup final, by a man or a woman, eclipsing Adam Gilchrist's 149 against Sri Lanka in 2007.

She also passed Karen Rolton (107 n.o. against India in 2005) and Ricky Ponting (140 n.o. against India in 2003) but said she had not even been that aware of just how high into the stratosphere she was soaring during her innings "I was just watching the ball and trying to hit it and trying to get our team to a really good total ... so at no point did I think of (any records)," Healy said.

"I think Moons (Beth Mooney) at one point literally said to me, you could

Alyssa Healy and husband Mitch Starc share a moment on the Hagley Oval outfield (Getty)

get 200 here, and that was probably the first time it even crossed my mind that I had that many runs.

"I guess one day when I retire and I reflect on my career, it'll be a moment that I can remember and cherish that.

"I always looked up to Adam Gilchrist ... Uncle Ian first, but then Adam Gilchrist, so to knock him off the pedestal - sorry about that - I'm sure he'd appreciate it."

Making victory even sweeter for Healy was the fact it was her first one-day

World Cup final.

The wicketkeeper-batter was part of the squad that won the 2013 event but Healy was consigned to running drinks in the final, while the heartbreak of missing the 2017 final has been well documented.

"I messaged Pez (Ellyse Perry) this morning when I found out she was in the XI and I said, 'I just want to be a part of it, I really want this, I want to be a part of it, I want to contribute to this win', and to be able to do that was really special'," Healy added.

Healy, Sciver claim top ODI rankings after WWC22 final heroics A RECORD 170 in the final of the Women's World Cup (WWC) 2022 helped Alyssa Healy grab the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings for batters. As a result, Laura Wolvaardt's stay at No. 1 was short-lived and she finds herself in fourth spot.

Nat Sciver, who scored an unbeaten 148 in vain in the title-clash, usurped Ellyse Perry at the top in the all-rounders' charts while climbing up to second in the batters' rankings. Apart from finishing with 436 runs, Sciver also picked up four wickets in the tournament.

Healy, who had just two half-centuries to show in the

round-robin stage, had slid down to the fifth spot last week. However, two centuries in two knockout games - being the first ever to do so in World Cups - mean that she became the first player to score over 500 runs in the women's tournament. It enabled Australia to win their seventh trophy out of the 12 editions.

Rachael Haynes, who scored 497 runs in the tournament, was the lowest-ranked Australian batter in the top ten, placed at sixth. Beth Mooney (third) and Meg Lanning (fifth) are the others above her.

Mithali Raj and Smriti

Mandhana, who gained a spot to be placed ninth, continue to be the only Indians in the top ten.

Among the bowlers, Sophie Ecclestone continues to lead the rankings, despite going wicket-less in the final. She picked six wickets in the semi-final against South Africa. Shabnim Ismail, who finished second among the wicket-takers in the World Cup, gained a spot to be ranked second. Anya Shrubsole's five wickets across two knockout games saw her gain five places to eighth, a spot above team-mate Kate Cross. (Cricinfo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 6, 2022

DeSinco National Juniors Qualifiers to start Saturday THE Guyana Chess Federation’s National Junior Championship Qualifiers will get underway on Saturday morning at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The four-day event, which was last held in 2019, will be played from April 9 to 12.

The top 10 players at the end of the Qualifiers will be invited to play in the National Junior Championships (at a date to be decided). The Championships will determine who will be awarded the title of National Junior Champion.

Andre Jagnandan is the reigning National Junior Champion. He earned the title at the age of 19 in 2019.

The 2020 National Junior Championships came to an abrupt halt in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since Jagnandan is no longer eligible (age-wise), a new junior champion would be crowned this year. Almost 50 junior players have already signed up to compete.

Among them is Keron Sandiford, who won the Best Junior prize at the recent GAICO Grand Prix Tournament, along with Ethan Lee,

Jaden Taylor, Oluwadare Oyeyipo, Rajiv Lee, Ricardo Narine, Jessica Callender and Kishan Puran.

Sasha Shariff, who won the Women’s Championship in 2020 and also represented Guyana numerous times in international tournaments, including the Olympiad in 2019, will also be competing.

The Qualifiers will be a total of seven rounds of classic matches. Each game will be played on a time control of 90 minutes with 30-second increments after each move.

The tournament is open

Russian football federation drops appeal against FIFA ban RUSSIA'S football federation has dropped an appeal against FIFA's World Cup suspension that was imposed after the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The Football Union of Russia (FUR) had protested against the ban but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) says the FUR has now withdrawn that appeal.

Russia had qualified to face Poland in a play-off semi-final but the Poles instead received a bye to face Sweden.

However, Russia will continue to fight bans from other sporting competitions.

Those include UEFA's ban on Russian sides competing in European club tournaments, such as Spartak Moscow's ejection from the

Russia hosted the previous FIFA World Cup in 2018

Europa League.

UEFA have also prohibited the Russian women's national team from competing in Euro 2022 in England this summer as a number of countries have refused to compete against Russian opposition.

The 2022 Champions

League final, originally due to be played in St Petersburg on May 28, has also been moved to Paris.

Russia has also filed appeals seeking the annulment of its bans from international gymnastics, rugby, rowing, and skating events. (BBC Sport)

Yorkshire aims to be 'beacon of hope' for diversity, says Patel

By Amlan Chakraborty NEW DELHI – Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) aspires to be a ‘beacon of hope’ for diversity in English cricket, its chairman Kamlesh Patel told Reuters yesterday.

The club was rocked by a racism scandal last year after Azeem Rafiq, a former England Under-19 captain of Pakistani descent, alleged that he had been a victim of institutional racism at Yorkshire.

Rafiq’s explosive testimonial before a British parliamentary committee led to

YCCC chairman Kamlesh Patel

a series of resignations and Patel was tasked with the job

of helping the club navigate the crisis.

“We learned from those mistakes,” Patel, who is in Mumbai to finalise YCCC‘s tie-up with an Indian company, said in a Zoom interview.

“We put structures in place to ensure that we once again become the beating heart of Yorkshire cricket and also be a beacon of hope…for equity, diversity and inclusion.”

Yorkshire was barred from staging international matches but the ban was lifted after its members voted last week in favour of TURN TO PAGE 39 ►

Sasha Shariff, who won the Women’s Championship in 2020, is one of the strong female players

Keron Sandiford won the Best Junior prize at the recent GAICO Grand Prix Tournament

to all local chess players aged 19 years or younger on January 1, 2022 and will be FIDE-rated.

Players interested in

competing must register by 17:00hrs on April 8 on guyanachess.org and pay a registration fee of $1 000.

The tournament will be

supervised by FIDE arbiters Irshad Mohamad, John Lee and Anand Raghunauth.

Boards one to six will be broadcast live on the guyanachess.org website as well as on YouTube during every round.

According to a release from GCF, “it is thrilled to have DeSinco Ltd once again partnering to provide this opportunity to the young Guyanese chess players who are eager to commence over-theboard play and expresses its heartfelt thanks to Ms Alicia DeAbreu, Chief Executive Officer for also assisting with the sanitisation aspect of the event”.

GCF would also like to express thanks to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for providing the use of the National Stadium for this annual event.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 6, 2022

GCB to conduct CWI Level I Matthews, lone West Indian in team of Women’s coaching course Cricket World Cup AUSTRALIA’S Meg Lanning has been named captain of the Upstox Most Valuable Team of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 after guiding her side to the title and scoring 394 runs.

Four Australians have made the team, including Player-of-the-Tournament Alyssa Healy. The wicketkeeper-batter made two centuries in the knockout stages, including 170 in the final.

The team was chosen by a panel convened by the ICC’s Chris Tetley, with commentators Lisa Sthalekar, Nasser Hussain, and Natalie Germanos and journalists Alok Gupta and Kristy Havill other members of the panel.

Lanning’s vice-captain Rachael Haynes is selected after ending as the second-highest run-scorer on 497, with 130 of those coming in their opening game against England. Haynes is carded to bat at four with her usual opening partner Healy joined by South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt at the top.

The 22-year-old smashed five half-centuries as the Proteas reached the semi-finals, and is one of three South Africans selected. All-rounder Nat Sciver has been named at five after finishing as England’s leading run-scorer with 436, including 148 not out in the final, and contributing four wickets.

Beth Mooney is chosen at six after ending with an average of 110, as she crashed

West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews

330 runs in the middle order for Australia as well as taking two stunning catches.

Hayley Matthews is the only West Indies player named in the side after an allround excellent World Cup. She top-scored for the West Indies with 260 runs and also led their wicket-taking column with 10.

Another starring all-rounder, South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp, delivered two player-of-the-match performances in a row on her way to 12 wickets and 203

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday April 5, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Chennai Super Kings (2) KKR Today’s Quiz: (1) Who was declared Man of the Match in last season’s IPL final?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Tournament in IPL 2021?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

runs. England’s Sophie Ecclestone was the best bowler with 21 wickets, while her six for 36 in the semi-final against South Africa was the best bowling performance of the World Cup. South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail is the fastest bowler in the team at No.10 and she ended the tournament with the second-most wickets, 14.

Salma Khatun rounds out the XI. The off-spinner earned the honour with 10 wickets as the Tigresses made their debut in the 50-over event.

England’s Charlie Dean has been selected as the twelfth player after bursting onto the scene in her debut World Cup, taking 11 wickets and contributing to a 65-run partnership with Sciver in the final.

Upstox Most Valuable Team: Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) Alyssa Healy (wkp.) (Australia), Meg Lanning (capt.) (Australia), Rachael Haynes (Australia), Nat Sciver (England), Beth Mooney (Australia), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Salma Khatun (Bangladesh); 12th player: Charlie Dean (England) (CricTracker)

THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in collaboration with Cricket West Indies (CWI) will be conducting CWI Coaching Education Development Events from 09:00hrs to 17:00hrs today and tomorrow at the LBI cricket facility, East Coast Demerara.

These development events, according to GCB, are for individuals participating in the CWI Competition Coaching, Level One Course in Guyana.

This programme includes an online component, which commenced on March 22, 2022, comprising over 40 participants drawn from the three counties.

The practical assessment will be done today and tomorrow. Prior to the commencement of the online component, potential participants were required to undertake the ICC Foundation Coaching and Child Protection Courses.

Apart from the online and face-to-face components of the course, the potential CWI

One of the coach-facilitators, Keshava Ramphal

Level One coaches are also required to acquire a First Aid Certificate and Police Clearance as prerequisites to obtaining the CWI Level One Coaching Course.

The facilitators, Keshava Ramphal and Ryerson Bhagoo of Trinidad and Tobago, will be ably assisted by tutors Colin Stuart and Julian Moore.

The participants are as follows:

Wednesday April 6, 2022: Kevin McAdam, Deon Carew, Pernell Christie, Rawle Merell, Shaun Massiah, Jason George, Vishnu Ramjeet, Dwayne Benjamin, Sydartha Anandjit, Ajay Gainda, Vicky Rampersaud, Quincy Richardson, Ranole Bourne, Dameon Ross, Wayne Osborne, Nabeel Ali, Surendar Kissoonlall, Gregory Crandon, Gregory George, Rayon De Costa, Parmeshwar Persaud, Nathan Persaud, Stamond Daniels and Heema Singh.

Thursday April 7, 2022: Christopher Barnwell, Tevin Imlach, Virendra Chintamani, Akaze Thompson, Joel Amsterdam, Mirenda Corneilus, Krishna Singh, Orlando Tanner, Jermaine Maxwell, Ryan Shun, Mahendra Algu, Davindra Ramdihal, Keon Joseph, Terry Newton, Imran Baksh, Lakram Lathman, Sharaz Ramcharran, Anthony Bramble, Ravishwar Latif, Rajendra Chandrika, Divine Ross, Nadine Smith and Romario Samaroo.

In-form Hetmyer denied as RCB beat RR by four wickets MUMBAI, India (CMC) – A dashing knock by West Indies batting star Shimron Hetmyer went in vain as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here yesterday.

Sent in at the Wankhede Stadium, Royals mustered 169 for three from their 20 overs with Jos Buttler extending his splendid form with an unbeaten 70 from 47 balls and Hetmyer belting an unbeaten 42 from 31 balls with four fours and two sixes.

In reply, RCB recovered from 87 for five in the 13th over to reach their target with five balls remaining, Shahbaz Ahmed hitting 45 off 26 balls and Dinesh Karthik lashing an unbeaten 44 from 23, the pair putting on a match-winning 67 for the sixth wicket.

Despite the loss – their first of the season – Royals remained top of the table with four points from three matches while RCB won their second to be one of six teams also on four points.

Yashasvi Jaiswal perished for four with six on the board

Shimron Hetmyer pulls during his unbeaten 42 for Rajasthan Royals

in the second over but Buttler inspired two stands to rescue the innings.

The Englishman, coming off a hundred in his last game, punched half-dozen sixes as he added 70 for the second with Devdutt Padikkal (37) and 83 in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership with Hetmyer.

Arriving at the crease in the 12th over, Hetmyer was scoreless from his first eight deliveries before finally getting off the mark with back-to-back fours off leg-spinner Hasaranga de Silva in the 14th over.

He failed to really find any momentum until the end of the

16th over, however, clearing the boundary for the first time with seamer Mohammed Siraj before combining with Buttler to take 19 runs from the penultimate over sent down by Siraj.

Hetmyer then struck the final ball of the last over from seamer Akash Deep for six, the third of the over following two hefty blows from Buttler as 23 runs gushed from the over.

In reply, captain Faf du Plessis (29) and Anuj Rawat (26) put on 55 before five wickets tumbled for 32 runs to leave Royals on top before Shahbaz and Karthik staged their fireworks at the end.

43

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 6, 2022

GCB hails his Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali’s Leadership/Vision THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) recently praised the government on securing a three-year deal to host the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finals, noting that it is a significant achievement.

The GCB believes the hosting of these games and the accompanying Cricket Carnival will be a major boost to cricket development and tourism.

Below is a statement issued by the GCB The President and Executive members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) wish to commend His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and his cabinet on his recent disclosure that the CPL finals will be held in Guyana over the next three years.

Also, seven preliminary matches are scheduled to be played leading up to the semi-finals and finals in 2022.

President Ali announced this historic achievement at the launch of CPL 2022 held at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. He highlighted the fact that the event would present a Caribbean flavour of cricket and carnival for two weeks, with Guyana showcasing its full cultural repertoire together with a variety of equal tourist attractions.

He predicted that the splendour of the occasion will be unrivalled internationally within the tenets of the modern game of cricket.

That’s why government has seen it fit to invest heavily in sport and the national budget reflects the unprecedented allocation for sport in Guyana in 2022.

This emphasis on sport has catapulted the development initiative in Guyana and is expected to enhance the social aspect of society with its contribution to ca-

reer pathway, healthy lifestyles, and an avenue away from society ills.

Apart from the career pathway for cricketers, the game provides for several cricket-related jobs. Further, this historic announcement on the playing of CPL semi-finals and finals over the next three years, will enable Guyana to explore avenues for sport tourism.

Additionally, with the expected influx of foreigners to Guyana for the matches, Guyana will benefit economically from the historic CPL investment.

The approach by government to ensure these CPL matches are assigned to Guyana over the next three years underscores government’s comprehensive understanding of the value of sport to society.

This budget allocation would provide sport organisations with the requisite resources necessary to realise the transformation of most

Kingsmen triumph

President Irfaan Ali (left) and CEO of the Hero CPL, Pete Russell, with the tournament trophy at the CPL launch in Guyana. (Photo: Office of the President)

sports in Guyana from an amateur status to a professional sport The GCB president, Bissoondyal Singh, in an invited comment, praised President Dr Ali for the historic announcement on the CPL tournament decider to be played in Guyana.

He opined that this is a significant achievement, and an indication of the value government is placing on

sport.

Singh said President Dr Ali is obviously keen on having all sport disciplines employ systematic ways to administer sport in Guyana and has indicated that the characteristics of transparency, accuracy and integrity should be guiding principles of sport administrations.

Dr Irfaan Ali’s government has witnessed several positive changes in cricket

administration. From March 2021 a new executive took the reins of the GCB. This change continues to see cricket being administered in a structured and progressive way with the three county boards now working more harmoniously to realise common goals and objectives.

The GCB boss once again commended Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, for his unwavering commitment to the development and promotion of sport in Guyana.

He said that Minister Ramson’s intervention has been instrumental in resolving outstanding issues within the administration of cricket and that his continued support for cricket has ushered in new purposeful working relations between government and the GCB. The GCB looks forward to the continued development of national stadiums and the proposed National Academy which will lay a significant platform for the identification and development of players across the country.

The GCB views the Academy as an integral measure in developing the mental, technical and skill acquisition of potential players with the impetus to excel at the regional and international levels.

Walsh lauds improvement, tenacity after Windies Women semi-final feat

KINGSMEN, led by former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batter, Zamal Khan, registered an easy eight-wicket victory over the South Florida All Stars in the Open category when the 16th edition of the South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) three-day tournament climaxed at the picturesque Brian Piccolo Park, Florida last Saturday.

Skipper and MVP Khan struck an attractive undefeated 62 as Kingsmen reached 122 for two in 17.4 overs in reply to the host team’s 121 for nine in their allotted 20 overs.

Here, Kingsmen players pose with their winnings after the presentation ceremony.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CMC) – Head coach Courtney Walsh has praised the tenacity shown by West Indies Women at the just concluded ICC Women’s World Cup, and believes reaching the semi-finals was a major achievement by the Caribbean side.

West Indies entered the tournament as underdogs but still managed to progress to the final four before being knocked out last week by eventual champions Australia Women.

Heavily favoured nations like India Women and hosts New Zealand failed to make

the grade after finishing fifth and sixth respectively, following a competitive group stage.

“I’m particularly pleased that we made it to the semi-finals. I think coming here, if anyone had said we would’ve made it (to that stage) I’d have taken that,” the legendary former speedster said.

“The girls showed a lot of fight to get us into the semi-finals so I’m particularly pleased about that.

“I would say it was a very good campaign for us. I know the results probably didn’t look that way in a couple of the games but I think the campaign overall and what we

have achieved is something for everybody involved to be proud of.

“I’m just happy for the way the campaign went overall.”

West Indies Women produced shocking upsets in their two opening games, stunning the hosts by three runs in a last-over thriller in Mount Maunganui before toppling the defending champions England by seven runs in Dunedin, in another tense affair.

The Stafanie Taylor-led side came back down to earth with crushing defeats at the hands of India and Australia, TURN TO PAGE 39 ►

Anisha Gibbons among 13 selected for CARIFTA Games

FLASHBACK! Guyana’s Anisha Gibbons in action during her historic performance at the 2019 CARIFTA Games

ANISHA Gibbons, the first female athlete to win gold for Guyana in the javelin event in the history of the CARIFTA Games, will lead the 13 athletes named by the Athletes Association of Guyana (AAG) for this year’s competition, which is set for Kingston, Jamaica.

The April 16-18 event will mark the 49th hosting of the CARIFTA Games, which is the Caribbean’s most prestigious youth and junior track and field event.

Coached by Raymond Daw and Sham Johnny, Guyana, in the U17 Girls will have Narissa McPherson (800m) and Attoya Harvey (800m, 1500m, 3000m).

Javon Roberts (800m) is the lone competitor in the Boys’

Coach Raymond Daw

Coach Sham Johnny

U17 category.

Gibbons, who won Guyana’s historic gold in javelin in 2019, along with 800m bronze medallist Adriel Austin, will lead Keliza Smith (100m, 200m), Karese Lloyd (100m, 200m), Hannah Reid (400m), in the Girls’ U20

division.

Meanwhile, Shamar Horatio (100m, 200m), Ezekiel Newton (100m, 200m), Wesley Tyndall (long jump), Gabriel Lim (javelin and discus), Trevon Hamer (triple jump) will represent Guyana TURN TO PAGE 39 ►

Wiltshire, Gomes take U19 titles at Junior Squash Championship

FLASHBACK! Trayon Bobb (L) celebrates scoring one of his two goals for Guyana during their 4-2 win over Aruba in the inaugural CONCACAF National League

Golden Jaguars to roar against Haiti, Bermuda and Montserrat in Nations League THE Golden Jaguars will play in Group B of League B in this year’s CONCACAF Nations League, following the drawing of the tournament’s second edition on Monday evening.

The draw was held in Miami, hosted by TUDN’s sports anchor Lindsay Casinelli and included the participation of CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and CONCACAF General Secretary Philippe Moggio, as well as former players Dante Leverock (Bermuda), Paulo Cesar Wanchope (Costa Rica) and Oribe Peralta (Mexico).

Guyana will come up against Haiti, Bermuda and Montserrat in Group B, while in Group A, Cuba will meet Guadeloupe, Barbados and Antigua & Barbuda.

Group C, of League B, will comprise Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, St Vincent and the Grenadines and The Bahamas, while Group D will bring together Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Belize, and French Guiana.

The 2022/23 Edition of the CONCACAF Nations League will begin with home and away round-robin play on the FIFA Match Windows of June 2022 (double window) and March 2023.

The Group Stage will be followed by the CONCACAF Nations League Finals presented

by Qatar Airways (CNLF) in June 2023 played between the four League A group winners.

According to CONCACAF, the competition’s schedule will be announced soon, which will include venues and kick-off times.

C O N C A - TURN TO PAGE 39 ►

The top performers of the various categories pose with representatives of the sponsor and the GSA

THE Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash Championship for 2021 concluded on Sunday at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street. The Championship was rolled over from last year, owing to the pandemic.

In a tournament that spanned two weeks, with the Under-19 Boys played last week, Shomari Wiltshire dominated to take the crown, and when what would have been the final match for the top two girls was cancelled due to injury, Kirsten Gomes became the 2021 Girls Under-19 champion.

The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) has dedicated those two trophies to the late Colin Ming to recognise his valued contribution to the sport by naming them the ‘Colin Ming Junior National Champions’.

After a long pause of Junior competition, the younger players dusted off their court shoes and enthusiastically got back in swing for the tournament. Some athletes played in several categories, playing as many as three matches in one day.

The youngsters enjoyed their return to competition and importantly, the competition reignited their passion for the game.

Apart from some thrilling five-setter matches that entertained the crowd, the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) hosted its signature fundraiser bar-b-que on Sunday afternoon, signalling that local squash is back on track in time to prepare

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the Juniors for the upcoming Caribbean Area Squash Championship, scheduled to be hosted in Guyana in July 2022.

The newly-introduced special award, dubbed ‘Heart of a Champion’, was presented to a beaming Breno DaSilva for his attitude, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm for the game. Along with scooping his first National title at Under-13, he joined brother Louis in the winners’ group.

There were also multiple wins for Kirsten Gomes in the Under-19 and Under-17 categories; Nicholas Verwey (Boys’ Under-17 winner and Boys’ Under-19 third place); and Safirah Sumner (Girls’ Under-15 winner, Girls Under-17 and Under-19 second place, and Most Improved Girl).

In offering brief remarks, vice-president of the GSA, David Fernandes, took the opportunity to remember special friends of squash who have passed away during the hiatus from competition, including Bobby Fernandes, Billy Fung-A-Fat and Colin Ming, all of whom made valuable contributions to the sport.

Robert Fernandes of sponsor Woodpecker Products presented trophies to the winners and highlighted the hard work and unwavering, longtime support from founder and owner Luana Fernandes.

Tournament director, Deje Dias thanked the sponsors, players and supportive parents for a successful week of play.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022