Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 07-02-2022

MONDAY 7th February, 2022

No.106627

Upgrades to Joe Vieira Park expected to be completed in 20 months

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Forestry sector earns US$31M –– from exports in 2021, Minister Bharrat reports

‘Groundings’ with the people

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At left: President Dr Irfaan Ali prepares a meal for persons who participated in Operation Clean Up in Region Three on Sunday; the President also participated in the clean-up exercise. In photograph at right, he assists in the planting of a tree (Office of the President photos)

UG India GDF medic graduate bids 04 successfully publishes farewell first 09 delivered 08 to Lata children’s Mangeshkar book online two other babies GPL’s Garden of Eden plant almost back to full operation PAGE

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Tazena Joseph

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‘Groundings’ with the people

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday made an impromptu stop at the ‘fish market’ in Windsor Forest, where he interacted and mingled with fishermen.

The President, following the meeting, prepared fried fish for persons who earlier participated in an intensive clean-up and tree-planting exercise in several areas in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara).

Dr Ali also put on display his culinary skills.

Those present praised him and revelled in the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity of being served food cooked by the President.

The Head of State also took the opportunity to interact with residents, listen to their concerns and provided on-the-spot solutions.

At right are photographs of the President during the cooking exercise

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

Forestry sector earns US$31M –– from exports in 2021, Minister Bharrat reports

IN 2021, Guyana’s forestry sector managed to rake in export earnings of more than US$31 million, according to figures provided by the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.

The exported products include logs, lumber and round wood, derived from 377,838 cubic metres of production.

The production numbers represent a 16 per cent increase when compared to the previous year.

Although securing notable revenues, the forestry sector still has much more scope for development, particularly in the area of added value.

It was only recently that Public Works Minister Juan Edghill lamented the fact that even though Guyana is the producer of world-class timber, much more can be done to boost manufacturing, particularly in the area of furniture-making.

As it relates to the ministry’s plans for the forestry sector, it was noted that while production, exports and value-added products would not be able to reach capacity this year, 2022 investments are likely to initiate growth and inspire upward trends.

Already, even amid a global pandemic and months of devastating and unprecedented floods, the sector is well on its way to making a

drastic turnaround, especially with the governing body, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) being brought back from the brink of bankruptcy, with a monthly income revenue of $90 million – a notable increase when compared to a pre-pandemic period in 2019, when the commission’s revenue collection stood at $70 million.

Minister Bharrat had said that improvements in the sector can be attributed to the implementation of specific policies.

He noted that upon assuming office in August 2020, he met with staff and stakeholders of the forestry sector to devise and enact strategies that could “boost the financial performance and management capabilities of the Guyana Forestry Commission.”

POSITIVE CHANGES It was noted that, following the engagement, a new policy direction was taken and the forestry sector soon began recording positive changes that demonstrate the GFC’s ability to function effectively and independently.

A significant achievement, as outlined by the minister, was the ministry’s ability to convince smallscale loggers to return to

their operations as a means of supporting the construction boom that has taken effect across the country.

Minister Bharrat has said that currently, the local forestry sector has much, much room for increased production, especially since Guyana’s log production remains well below what is prescribed.

Last year, during a programme aired on the National Communications Network (NCN), Minister Bharrat said that, unfortunately, the forestry industry’s production is 35 per cent less than what is nationally prescribed. He noted that in addition to boosting production, significant work will also go towards driving value-added initiatives.

“When we have value-added industries, it means that you’re creating jobs there again; you’re building that Guyana brand, and that is what we want to encourage,” Minister Bharrat said.

He reasoned that significant investments will have to be made to boost the extractive sectors, because even though the petroleum industry will become a major income earner, it will not be as labour intensive as other critical productive industries.

“Oil is lucrative; we will make a lot of money as a country, from oil and gas,

but our traditional productive sectors are the sectors that create the bulk of the employment, especially agriculture, logging, mining,” Bharrat said.

TAKE STOCK He noted, too, that the forestry sector also stands to benefit significantly from an ongoing Forest Inventory Programme, which seeks to “take stock” of the forest resources.

This multi-year project, according to the Guyana Forestry Commission, will see the “updating of forest resource information that is essential for national and concession-level planning and scientific research and referencing to support the modern outlook of the National Forest Policy and the Low Carbon Development Strategy.” The last time that a National Forest Inventory was executed was some 50 years ago.

Nonetheless, the ongoing implementation of the inventory will see field-data collection on state forests by administrative regions – all except for Regions Four and Five, where no state forests occur. In 2021, the GFC targeted clusters in Regions 10, Two and Three, before moving onto Regions Six and Nine.

Minister Bharrat said that the new effort will allow for the “mapping out” of various sections of the forest, to ascertain the number of trees that it holds, the sizes of those trees, and the species to which they belong.

According to information released by the forestry commission, the inventory is also expected to provide several key benefits at the national level, including, but not limited to, the “stratification of Guyana’s forests” based on the quantity and quality of forest resources in different areas, resulting in efficient zonation of forests based on intended use; identification of areas for conservation and protection; and providing baseline data for understanding the forest dynamics in these areas; allow for efficient biological and ecological research by providing preliminary baseline data on forest species, composition and distribution; integration of forest inventories with GIS/Remote Sensing technology, using empirical national forest data to design specific technologies for the monitoring of Guyana’s forests; and provide a reference dataset on forest resources for long-term monitoring and decision-making, including creating historical records of forest use for future gen-

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat erations.

Further, Minister Bharrat noted that the coming years would see all extractive sectors benefitting from a number of infrastructural projects, including the much-anticipated Orealla to Moleson Creek Road. “What we are doing is to spend a lot on public infrastructure…when you spend government funds on public infrastructure, it creates jobs.

It means that you would have to purchase your materials from local businesses, so you find that everyone will do well once there is public spending,” Minister Bharrat reasoned.

Meanwhile, the expected passage of Budget 2022 is expected to see notable investments in forestry.

GPL’s Garden of Eden Plant almost back to full operation THE Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has boosted its capacity to provide stable electricity by an aggregate capacity of 37.2 MW after operationalising three of five generators that were taken offline following disruptions on January 15, 2022, at its Garden of Eden power plant on the East Bank of Demerara.

According to a press release issued by the power company on Friday, each unit has a capacity of 9.3 MW, which means that once all units are back online, the company will be able boost the power supply of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) by 46.5 megawatts (MW).

The company noted that units No.1, 2 and 3, were returned to service on February, 04, 2022. The No 1 unit was fitted with new turbochargers and a fuel injector pump with upgraded components, while the No. 2 and 3 units underwent a comparative test for 48 hours at full capacity before they were returned to the grid. The No. 4 unit was back in operation on Saturday.

The No .5 unit will continue to undergo inspection,

replacement of a turbocharger, testing of the fuel injector and lube oil change. Parts are on-site to effect the changes.

Optimistically, the No 5 unit is expected to return to operation on February 8.

Since the disruptions in early January, 20 engineers from the Wartsila Corporation have been working round-the-clock to pinpoint the cause of the issue and have it rectified.

In November 2020, the government received five new dual-fuel generating sets from Wartsila, costing a whopping US$41 million and which boosted the power supply of the DBIS by 46.5 megawatts (MW).

Following the initial shutdown of the generators, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips had noted that the generators were taken offline on the advice of the technical officials, to avert any Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) challenges or any damage that may occur to the facility as a result.

“This is a decision that was made based on safety.

This is a US$55 million investment, and precautions

are necessary; we don’t want anybody to be hurt, just because we decide to ignore what is happening and run the plant,” Prime Minister Phillips had said, adding that with the Demerara Berbice Interconnected system now having less supply to cater to the demand for electricity, there may be need for load-shedding.

The Prime Minister also previously disclosed that the East Bank Demerara facility was still under warranty, and as a result, the contracted Finnish company would be liable for any and all expenses.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, had previously echoed similar sentiments when he explained that Wartsila has agreed to undertake the necessary costs for repairs to the equipment as part of its contractual agreement with the government.

According to Minister Indar, the company has signed an engineering, procurement, and construction contract (EPC contract) with the government.

He had explained to this publication that this is a construction contract in which

the contractor holds responsibility for the design, procurement, construction and handover of a project.

According to the minister, this also includes “performance guarantees” which means that the contractor is solely responsible for the project, and in the event that there is an issue with the project, the EPC contractor would be liable for any defects and rectifications, or would have

to provide compensation to the employer.

“They have not handed over the project to the Government of Guyana through GPL. We have not commissioned it as yet, because all of the works were not completed and the testing and the reliability and everything [were] not completed and during that period is when the issues occurred. So, they have to

deal with all the cost for rectification and everything,” he had said.

Minister Indar added: “Wartsila also has the operate-and-maintain contract for the plant as well. So, apart from them building it out and handing it over to the government, they also have the contract to operate and maintain it as well; so it’s fully their responsibility.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

India bids farewell to Lata Mangeshkar

LATA Mangeshkar, one of India’s most beloved singers, has been cremated in Mumbai with full state honours.

Mangeshkar, whose voice was the soundtrack to hundreds of Bollywood films, died aged 92 on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stars of the entertainment industry attended the funeral, where large crowds gathered to pay their respects.

Her extraordinary career spanned more than half a century and she recorded thousands of songs in 36 languages.

Two days of national mourning will follow the funeral and the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the country.

Crowds gathered outside her home, where her coffin began its journey to a city park where it was publicly cremated. Modi was among those who laid flowers on the pyre.

One mourner, Rajesh Kumar Ram, told the AFP news agency “her voice touches the soul of every Indian. Her songs have been with us all through our lives.”

Mangeshkar was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai in January after testing positive for COVID-19.

As the news of her death became public, tributes began pouring in to the woman who was often called the “nightingale of Bollywood” for her role as a playback singer, recording the songs that actors would lip-sync on screen.

President Ram Nath Kovind said the news was “heart-breaking for me, as it is for millions the world over” and added that in her songs “generations found expression of their innermost emotions”.

Modi, meanwhile, said Mangeshkar’s death had left a “void in our nation that cannot

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be filled”.

Mangeshkar was a huge fan of cricket, and India’s former captain Virat Kohli said her songs had “touched millions of people around the world”.

Several Bollywood stars also expressed their condolences.

Actor Hema Malini said she was “lucky” to have performed to several songs sung by Mangeshkar.

“No one can sing like her, she was very special. Her passing away is very saddening,” she told the news agency ANI. Mangeshkar was equally popular in neighbouring Pakistan, where TV channels broadcast rolling coverage of her death.

“The subcontinent has lost one of the truly great singers the world has known,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said.

Born in Indore in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on 28 September 1929, she began learning music at the age of five from her father, Deenanath Mangeshkar, who was active in the world of theatre.

After her father’s death, the family moved to Mumbai where a teenage Mangeshkar began singing for Marathi movies.

Hundreds attend Lata Mangeshkar’s funeral in Mumbai (BBC image) She also took bit roles in a few films to support her family, but would say later that her heart wasn’t in it. “I was happiest singing,” she told interviewers.

Her big break came in 1949 with the release of a haunting song titled Aayega Aanewala for the movie Mahal.

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“Soon every female actor wanted her voice. But she was always busy and only a few fortunate music directors got the chance to make her sing,” music director Mohammed Zahur Khayyam later recalled.

Over the next few decades, Mangeshkar sang thousands of songs which were lip-synced by Bollywood’s biggest heroines across generations.

Mangeshkar was nominated to the upper house of India’s Parliament in 1999, but said later that she had been reluctant to take it up and that her tenure there was “anything but happy”.

She received India’s highest honour for civilians, the Bharat

Ratna, in 2001.

In 2004, when she turned 75, one of Bollywood’s biggest directors, Yash Chopra, wrote for the BBC that he saw “God’s blessings in her voice”.

Mangeshkar, who never married, had a rich life outside her work with interests ranging from cricket to cars.

Her younger sister Asha Bhosle is also a celebrated Bollywood singer. The two always dismissed any hint of sibling rivalry and even performed together occasionally.

“We’re very close - we have never competed with each other,” Bhosle told the BBC in 2015. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

Upgrades to Joe Vieira Park to be completed in 20 months — Minister Indar

UPGRADES to the iconic Joe Vieira Park on the West Bank of Demerara will take some 20 months to complete, according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar.

The minister, along with China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, spoke about the project during the National Clean-up and Beautification Campaign that was led by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday morning in Region Three.

Minister Indar said that the park will be rebuilt into

something “very, very attractive” not only for the region, but for the entire country.

He also reminisced on the Easter celebrations at the venue before the advent of COVID-19.

The project, which will start this year, will cost in excess of US$11 million. It is being funded by the Government of China as Guyana and China celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties.

Ambassador Guo reiterated that the park will be renamed the Guyana-China Friendship Joe Vieira Park.

She said that the park will

be built with an aim of providing a public place for families and would not only have recreational activities, but cultural events as well.

She also said that the park’s concept reflects the government’s people-centred development approach.

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of China—Guyana friendship, our relationship, and we cherish our friendship and cooperation very much.”

Once completed, the venue is expected to have a China-Guyana Friendship Guyana monument, an amphitheatre, a picnic lawn, a stand canopy over a pond, twin pavilions, and grounds for football, tennis and basketball.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, interacting with China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan on Sunday (DPI photograph)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

Cancer Awareness GUYANA recently observed Cancer Awareness Day (February 4), which is a day set aside to unite people, communities and entire countries to raise awareness and take action against cancer. It is a global initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

The theme for this year’s World Cancer Day is “Close the Care Gap.” This theme is indeed apt, given the prevalence of cancer in the world and the high treatment costs, which depending on the stage of the disease, can be prohibitive.

Cancer is a leading cause of global deaths and has accounted for nearly 10 million deaths. In Guyana, almost everyone can relate to someone who would have passed away from cancer, some at the peak of their productive lives. It remains one of the most common causes of premature deaths and a significant challenge to our health care system.

And according to Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, cancer is among the five most common causes of death. Among the most common are breast cancer, cervical, prostate cancer and lung cancer, which sometimes are allowed to develop to an

advanced stage before medical treatment is sought.

The sad thing is that in many cases the disease could have been better managed had there been an early diagnosis. In Guyana, as elsewhere, there still exists a fair amount of social stigma associated with the illness.

Many patients experience a sense of trepidation and hopelessness after having been diagnosed with cancer. This is not unusual or irrational, given the history of the illness and in some cases the social stigma associated with the disease.

This year marks the final year of World Cancer Day under the theme, ‘Close the gap,’ but the harsh reality is that there is still a significant gap regarding the quality of care between the developing and the developed countries as it relates to equitable access to early detection, treatment and palliative care services. Whatever services are available in the developing world tend to be beyond the financial reach of the ordinary man and women and many are left to the mercy of relatives and friends to take them through the remainder of their lives, as in the case of the terminally ill.

As in the case of several communicable

and non-communicable diseases, an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. As pointed out by Health Minister Anthony, it is important that we take all the necessary precautions to guard against cancer by way of healthy practices. One first step is avoid certain habits that could lead to cancer such as smoking which experts say is a major contributory cause of cancer. Other measures include maintaining a healthy body weight through regular exercise, eating healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoiding excessive alcohol use.

In addition to the above, there are also a number of cancer-reducing measures. Among these are the vaccination of young girls and boys against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV); vaccination of high-risk groups against the Hepattis B virus; reducing exposure to chemicals such as pesticides; decreasing over-exposure to sunlight which may lead to skin cancer and by no means least, seeking routine health checks and cancer screenings.

The Guyana Government through the Ministry of Health has been doing a commendable job in terms of networking with

other international partners to upgrade our health facilities and empowering health care workers to enable a much more equitable access to the highest quality of care aimed at awareness and prevention, early diagnosis and timely access to appropriate treatment and palliative care and support.

Plans are well advanced to develop a National Cancer Control Plan to better manage and oversee all cancer-control activities of the Health Ministry. Work will continue in partnership with other stakeholders to increase access to screenings for cervical cancer using Visual Inspection with Acetic acid and Pap smear testing (VIA), which are both a cost-effective and reliable method used in the screening process. In addition, there are also mammography and ultrasound examinations of the breast which are also widely used in cancer detection.

As noted by Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony in his World Cancer Day Message, “Cancer is real, it is serious, it does not discriminate by age, race, sex nor social or economic status. It can affect any one of us; therefore, it is important that we continue to work together for better cancer prevention and control.”

Coalition’s purchase of fire pumps a demonstration of corruption, wastage and fraud Dear Editor, SHOCKING, disgraceful, dreadful, ghastly, incredulous, intolerable are words which immediately come to mind when it was revealed by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Mr Zulfikar Mustapha, that the Coalition bought 12 defective and undersized ‘fire pumps.’

These were so defective that they cannot even be used for the intended purpose stated by the manufacturer, that is, to extinguish fires. This was just a little demonstration of the corruption, the wastage and the fraud which dominated the Coalition’s term in Office. Was the subject minister sleeping?

Since the Coalition assumed Office in 2015 they embarked on a plan that was not helpful to the agricultural secto, which they unwittingly perceived as the PPP’s support base. This plan could have been discerned when the budgetary allocation continued to decline year after year from 2015 to $18 billion in 2019. Production fell dramatically.

This tells a sad tale of the recipe for the Dutch Curse, yet Mr Khemraj Ramjattan portrayed a skewed vision or is delusional. According to a report in the media, the AFC Leader is now having a vision that Budget 2022 ‘is reflective of a country that is already heading

down the path of the resource curse or the Dutch Disease, as is evidenced by the figures presented, confirming a heavy reliance on oil funds, while at the same time the non-oil economy shrinks.’ Now that he is on the other side of the House, he can ‘see clearly now that the power is gone.’ The annual agriculture budgets of the Coalition lacked the vision to transform the sector and the then Minister of Agriculture was clueless.

But sadly, it was not only about the slashing of the agriculture budgetary allocation by the Coalition from 2015 onwards, but also the callous and deliberate closure of four sugar estates without any plan for survival of the severed workers, which in one stroke propelled thousands into hunger and deprivation.

The EU strategy for the closed estates clearly spelt out that the severed sugar workers must be taken care of and a plan must be in place; in fact, a socio-economic impact analysis had to be done and ameliorating measures needed to be implemented. This was ignored by the Coalition since the insane haste to close took precedence. Their focus was on the oil revenue.

It would seem that the AFC Leader is viewing with closed eyes the numerous developments which are taking place in the agricultural and other sectors. Budget 2022 is

well balanced to create and propel social and economic development in all the sectors. How can the AFC Leader arrive at such a nonsensical conclusion, when the oil funds are being used to jump-start the economy itself? Where is the wastage? How can corruption be assumed? I cannot see the ‘figures or numbers’ in the budget which would support Ramjattan’s conclusion. I would like to remind him of what his colleague said in her presentation, ‘numbers matter, they do not lie.’

I must applaud the Minister of Agriculture for his graphic and dramatic presentation of what the Coalition expects with regard to the reopening of the closed estates. There is no ‘magic wand’, the minister pointed out and the government cannot use the magical phrase ‘Open Estate Open!’ (phrase from the Arabian Nights’ Alibaba and the Forty Thieves- ‘Open Sesame Open’). Though the Coalition was quick to say ‘Close Estate Close’and it materialised immediately. I am wondering if any of the APNU+AFC MPs ever ventured back to the closed estates and the surrounding communities to have a first-hand view of their dirty handiwork.

They would have come to reality when they tried in futility to debate the budget. It was a ‘panoramic destruction which occurred on the closed estates. Thousands upon thousands

of hectares of standing canes were unsalvageable and had to be burnt, raked, removed and ploughed, planted. Navigation canals were completely clogged and had to be excavated, hundreds of cane punts were completely damaged and were beyond repairs, the buildings were in ruins, machines and equipment were damaged or stolen, the factory itself has to be completely rehabilitated and repaired and the list goes on. Billions were lost! This cost in the billions should be borne by the Coalition but now they are shamelessly objecting to the spending on the closed estates and expect a miracle to happen. This government has undertaken a Herculean task and these Coalition MPs should visit these estates to appreciate this. But they never did and they never will.

Honesty is the best way to prevent a mistake turning into a failure. The Coalition should accept that they erred.

But never will they accept their bad ways and poor governance.

I will close by quoting Minister Charles Ramson, Jr., “The APNU+AFC record is smeared in stagnation, corruption and incompetence; while the PPP boasts progress, ‘clean hands’ and sound policies.”

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

Planning the Future with Youth at the Centre

By Earl Bousquet

THE ongoing story of Development Planning in Guyana Today for Tomorrow is contained in the 2022 National Budget that’s been called everything from ‘Transformational’ to ‘Building Back Better’ to ‘Building for the Future!’

All the titles fit, what with the unprecedentedly large allocations for everything from Housing, Agriculture and Infrastructure to Sea Defences and Land Distribution, Free University Education, Better Cell and Internet Services, More Support for Businesses – and now, for a brand-new city.

No Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nation has built a new city in living memory, but over the next five years, Guyana plans to develop over 3,000 house lots on the East Bank of Demerara to lay the basis for a new urban district.

Already named ‘Silica City,’ it’s envisaged to be home to over 50,000 persons within the next 20 years, with Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, saying 3,800 acres of state lands within the Soesdyke and Timehri areas have already been identified for the new city conceptualised eight years ago (2013) during the last PPP/C administration.

The new city, he says, “will tackle the issue of non-coastal urban settlement development and the challenges of climate change and rising sea levels,” offering various services and amenities, attracting investment, creating employment and offering alternative urban settlement.

Silica, he added, will be “a vibrant, sustainable, resilient and modern city, in keeping with the Low Carbon Development Strategy, Guyana’s international commitments (Paris Agreement and UNFCC) and Goal 11 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

The Smart City approach, the minister noted, will create “a new city that is compact, pedestrian-oriented, energy-efficient, interconnected and sustainable, comfortable, attractive and secure.”

A preliminary development concept is already completed, he revealed, identifying “residential and non-residential development, transport and infrastructure, sustainable urban drainage, conservation and tourism district, waste management, alternative energy, technological aspects and agriculture.”

All this after the government has already delivered 10,000 house lots and 1,266 land titles in 18 months – unheard of in Guyana and now possible, owing to oiland-gas earnings and good management of

new national resources with equity in mind.

The concept of a ‘Guyana Smart City’ with a name akin to ‘America’s Smartest Valley’ is a useful project hindered by regime change, but now with a deliverable plan for 3,000 house lots on 3,800 acres of land for 50,000 persons over 20 years, it can be expected that all will be done to ensure the project is well advanced by 2025.

Guyana has always been integral to Caribbean development and the time is here when the political directorate is willing to embrace national unity at home and renewed regionalism, with mutual respect and more preparedness and ability to influence change, now that it’s leading the process of collective efforts to breathe more, quicker and better life to the concept of CARICOM yielding the fruitful benefits of being a Single Market and Economy, in which the disparities in size and strength are reduced instead of continuing to expand.

As is often repeated, the ultimate objective is Building for the Future, which will require greater levels of confidence in and support for youth and students than traditionally given and President Ali’s recent engagement with UG students has to be part of a national strategy to tap youthful ideas and skills to develop a conceptual new ‘Youth Economy,’ that aims to turn youthful passions into paychecks.

Every new sector mentioned in the 2022 budget has implications for the future generations alive today, but still very wide open to the attractions of invitations to pursue new lifetime opportunities in nearby lands of milk and honey, where the grass is always green and the gardens white with lillies.

Reorientation of education at tertiary levels to suit the planned Silica satellite city, will also need preparations for the transformed thinking that will come with adjusting to life in a new city, fuelled by both visions and the necessary societal adjustments that will come with the true meaning of the phrase ‘The Internet of Things,’ where nothing is garbage anymore and everything is driven by ideas and the power of positive creativity.

Distance has always been an inhibiting factor, but in today’s interconnected world, Guyana will need to find, develop and deploy the ways and means of overcoming that historical geographic divide using traditional and contemporary, Old School and New Wave, Mainstream and Social Media, combined with all the rich cultural avenues of communication across its 83,000 square miles.

Free education, better health, more homes, unlimited wi-fi and more equita-

ble distribution of oil-and-gas wealth are accompanied by President Irfaan Ali’s call on University of Guyana graduates to prepare to invest time and energy into Guyana’s current and future development, instead of joining the brain drain.

And with Guyana having prime responsibility for promoting closer economic cooperation within CARICOM, it’s certainly a new era unfolding ‘right here’ within the Region, but still largely unknown in most other member states, except amongst Guyanese who’ve interwoven in other Caribbean societies over the past six decades.

The transitional transformations necessary for changing Guyana Today into Guyana Tomorrow can be fast enough for the One Guyana envisaged by this administration to come sooner than later, and the demonstrated will of the current political directorate to engage the next

Opposition Leader opens the door for first steps towards a new or renewed approach to the future of bipartisan parliamentary and political cooperation that can also break records and create new and better beginnings for all.

Apart from ensuring necessary levels of parliamentary cooperation for activation of state bodies, the new Opposition Leader will also have the chance to redefine the role of Caribbean opposition parties in situations where cross-party political cooperation, in the national interest and for the common good, will surely yield more than prolonging the automatic mechanical disunity guaranteed by political systems designed and engineered to require and ensure ‘Opposition,’ to mean eternally ‘opposing for opposing sake’ – and treated as a prescribed role.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

GDF medic successfully delivered two other babies –– expresses gratitude to school vendor who motivated him to learn

By Jeune Bailey Van Keric THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Corporal, Dominique Gonsalves Sabola, who recently helped a Timehri woman to deliver her baby, has two similar success stories under his belt.

In 2021, he played an integral role in the delivery of babies at Timehri and in Region Seven.

Despite his many skills, Corporal Sabola, a Grade Two Medic attached to the Medical Centre at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri, has his eyes set on becoming an obstetrics nurse, who is a registered nurse responsible for providing care to women during pregnancy and childbirth.

Since enlisting in the GDF in April 2013, Corporal Sabola, who has a passion for the sciences, has completed several training programmes.

These include the Grade Three and the Grade Two Medical Assistant Courses, in 2014 and 2019 respectively and the Junior Leaders’ Course in 2018. He has also completed Infectious Disease and Combat Life Saver training as well as Self Aid and Buddy Care with the United States Southern Command.

He is one of the army’s frontline medical personnel serving in the interior of Guyana.

In a social media post on February 3, 2022, the GDF

Corporal Sabola’s travelling companion, were praised for the respective roles they played that day.

“During the journey from Timehri, I had to stop somewhere on the East Bank to do the delivery. Everything was safe and I continued my journey to [the] Diamond Hospital where I handed over a healthy baby boy and his mother to the authorities,” he added.

In another post, he recalled that on November 16,

2021, as he was preparing to take a bath, a young man ran into the army camp calling for assistance, as his wife was in labour.

“I quit the bathing and prepare[d] myself for an emergency mode. My requisites [were] ready, so off I ran down the red ground at Timehri through a short cut down a hill,” he said.

The baby girl was successfully delivered at 06:45hrs, and by 07:00hrs, the newborn and her mother

Corporal Dominique Gonsalves-Sabola with the newborn he delivered in November 2021 disclosed that on January 28, Donica Hunte of Hyde Park, Timehri, visited the Medical Centre, complaining of labour pains. She was later prepared for transport to the hospital by Corporal Sabola, who was assisted by Lance Corporal and Grade 3 Medic, Sheena Christian-Waithe.

“We prepared her and had started the journey to the Diamond Hospital. Just a few minutes into the journey her water bag [burst] and the baby was ready to come. I did the delivery and then we took our time and continued

the journey to the hospital,” he recounted. The baby boy was delivered at approximately 18:44hrs.

Thereafter, the mother and baby were handed over to the nurses of the Maternity Ward at the Diamond Hospital in good health.

On his Facebook page, the officer emphasised that the successful delivery was the result of a team effort, “that made the dream work.”

The ambulance driver, Keon King, as well as Lance Corporal Christian-Waithe, who had insisted on being

Corporal Dominique Gonsalves-Sabola and the infant’s mother, Venezuelan Yanselis Diaz, holding the first baby he delivered. The delivery was done at Kaikan, Region Seven, on January 9, 2021

Yancelis Diaz, a Venezuelan.

THANKFUL Meanwhile, Corporal Sabola on Thursday detailed some of his life struggles during an online interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

He spoke of not having anything to eat many days.

It was a vendor, who sold near the fence of his alma mater, Tutorial Academy Secondary School, in New Amsterdam, Berbice, who ensured that he had something to eat every day during those five years.

“Plenty days, I had nothing to eat in school due to the fact that my father never showed up. It never [stopped] me from learning and putting my best foot forward.

To that lady by the name of Michelle of Second Scheme, Stanleytown, who use[d] to sell at the Tutorial Academy Secondary School ...by the fence... I want [to] thank you for feeding me for those five years in secondary school, even though most days I had no money,” Corporal Sabola said.

He added: “After completing my secondary education, I acquired several subjects inclusive of Human and Social Biology and Integrated Science. I applied to be enlisted to join the Guyana Defence Force , and Nellon Mc Kenzie was the recruitment officer…due to my science qualifications I

Corporal Dominique Gonsalves-Sabola and Donica Hunte with the baby boy who was delivered in an ambulance on January 28, 2022 were at the Diamond Hospital.

Sabola’s first delivery was done on January 9, 2021 at Tshau Creek, Kaikan, in Region Seven, at 05:46hrs. The mother of the child is 35-year-old

was placed into the Medical Corps . I aspire to become an obstetrics nurse.”

He expressed gratitude for having been given the opportunity to serve in the GDF, particularly at the Medical Corps.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

UG graduate publishes first children’s book online

By Naomi Parris

WHAT started out as a simple assignment for a good grade, led East Coast nursery school teacher, Tazena Joseph, on a journey of self-discovery and great successes.

Joseph in 2021, penned the story book, “David back to school after COVID,” to help her children understand basic facts about the pandemic and to offer them some comfort during these unprecedented times.

At the time, she was reading for her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at the University of Guyana (UG). The concept of writing a story book came along after she was given an assignment in one of her classes.

Following her graduation earlier this month, Joseph officially published her book digitally on Amazon, one the world’s largest online market platforms.

Publishing, she told the Guyana Chronicle, was not something that was on the cards for her when she first wrote the book. However, with some inspiration, she took a leap of faith and decided to share her work with the rest of the world.

Tazena Joseph This, she said, was no walk in the park.

“It was a bit difficult to get it published from [Guyana] because they [Amazon] would have required so many things that I wasn’t aware of. So, my cousin in the United States, she said ‘Let me try it.’ So, she tried it and she got through,” she added.

Her challenge now is having the book published locally and to have it recognised as a critical learning instrument in nursery schools across the country.

“My main focus is how we can benefit from it in Guyana, for our schools to benefit from it in Guyana. I would love for

the schools to get a hold of it, more so parents,” she told the Guyana Chronicle.

The story of the book is centred on a young boy returning to school during the pandemic and learning the importance of following the COVID-19 guidelines to protect himself and friends.

She explained that the book is a packaged learning kit that features a word list to assist children to read fluently. It also features a short activity that children can do after reading the story.

CHALLENGING JOURNEY While Joseph is basking in her successes, she noted that her journey up to this point was filled with challenges.

Studying at UG was no light task, as she not only had to manage a classroom, but her own children as well, four of whom are still in school.

“I had to be dealing with school-aged children. I had my own share of issues at home, marital issues and all these things,” she said.

At one point in time, she thought that the load was too much and considered giving up on her studies.

“My university journey

The cover of the story book and one of the pages was difficult. I would have [sic] done other studies before, but my three years at the university, it was the most difficult one I had to deal with because, I remember there was one time that I almost quit.”

However, with encouraging words from her family and friends, she was able to make it across the finish line.

“Support from my children, my parents, my staff, loved ones and so on, they were the ones that [sic] encouraged me,” she said adding: “Nothing comes easy. you have to push; you have to keep focus [ed] and with those words I was able to succeed and I graduated with credit and I must thank God for that.”

When asked what is next for her, Joseph indicated that she has already penned a second book and several poems and is in the process of having a discussion with the Ministry of Education to see what can be done to have the books published and used in schools across the country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

Child Abuse and You EVEN though daily newspapers are not replete with child abuse stories, it doesn’t mean that child abuse is not happening.

Child abuse is real, especially for the children on the receiving end, who have nowhere to turn, and no one to advocate on their behalf. You may see children playing, laughing and getting on with their lives, but it doesn’t mean they are fine, and all is well. Most children are resilient – they make the best of the worst situations that confront them. Youngsters laugh and play because they are children.

They romp around with their peers, do their chores, attend school and appear ‘normal’, but many learn to hide the secret of abuse (usually sexual) because of coercion, or through fear that they will be blamed. Some children do not know or realise that the maltreatment they suffer at the hands of adults is abuse, especially when the abuse is physical, neglectful, emotional or psychological.

Physical abuse: Any abuse that involves beating, burning, throwing, biting or physically harming a child is physical abuse. From a slap in the face to the severe approach of using belts, wire or other implements to cause pain, scarring, branding or choking to a child. Some children have bruises, swellings and scars

caused by beatings, and in most cases, the adult has crossed the line and has gone too far with their punishment.

“I gan cut yuh tail; I gan give you one box; when I hold you, I gan beat you for everything.

We have all heard one of either parent threaten us as children when we needed pulling up about our attitude or behaviour. But why do adults threaten children with violence or beat them when there are so many alternative methods for parenting? Not only is the non-physical approach to parenting more beneficial for the child’s emotional development and sense of well-being. It also teaches the child that physical violence is not the way to settle problems.

Many adults -- some in their 70s -- could attest that their parents raised them without ‘licks’, even though corporal punishment is somewhat ingrained in West Indian culture. Children need love from their parents, not beatings. It is confusing for children when one moment, they get hugs and kisses from an adult, and the next, the same adult beats them mercilessly.

Parents with mental health issues may beat children due to frustration, and children may blame themselves, believing they are bad.

Children living in harsh circumstances need trustworthy adults to speak up for them. Adults

can change their lives and help them receive appropriate and significant childhoods that benefit them in adulthood, rather than childhoods marred with unpleasant memories.

If you know children who are ill-treated, malnourished or neglected, do not hesitate to refer them to the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA). The CPA Hotline (227 0979 or the toll free number 914) is available 24 hours per day.

Child Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse is anything of a sexual nature said or done to a child by an older person (sibling, cousin, friend, teacher etc.) or adult. Sharing pornography or sexually explicit pictures with a child is also sexual abuse, as is inappropriate touching or rubbing of the body or private parts, with or without clothes. Any sexual penetration between an adult and a child is statutory rape.

Enticing or forcing a child to perform sexual acts, even with another child, is sexual abuse.

Only people at the lowest of the low in society sexually abuse children. There are parents (mothers and fathers) who condone this heinous crime; they do nothing in their power to protect children. Others turn a blind eye to the sexual abuse of children because they don’t want to make a fuss, or because of their lack of decency, morals and standards.

Children are not interested in sex, adults groom them, exploiting their immaturity. They perpetrate their crimes on children -- weaving them into a web, for which children are mentally and emotionally immature. Child sexual abuse is a serious crime that is punishable by law.

Would-be offenders should be aware of the dire consequences of their actions; it is a shameful

despicable act that ruins the lives of children.

Many perpetrators are currently behind bars, serving time for child sexual abuse.

The majority of people will live an entire lifetime without issues of child abuse reaching their doorsteps or affecting their families or relatives. The affliction that abused children endure does not disturb them, nor will they make it their mission to research what they can do to remediate the problem.

When we consider the number of adult disorders that stem from child-abuse trauma, how could an average person not care or want to help somehow? Adults could suffer from low achievement, lack of confidence and low self-esteem, drug addiction, alcoholism, criminality, risky sexual behaviour, anxiety, mental health problems and dysfunctional relationships.

All children deserve a fair chance of a good childhood, so if you know or suspect child neglect, malnourishment, ill-treatment, or you know a child in need of help, do not ignore their plight. Call the Childcare and Protection Agency and speak to a Child Protection Officer. You can remain anonymous if you choose.

Through the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Guyana, by law, must help every child to reach their fullest potential.

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

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, February 7, 2022

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A shocking death by suicide

By Vanessa Cort

THE shocking death by suicide of former Miss America, Cheslie Kryst, Sunday before last, has once more turned the spotlight on people who choose to take their own life.

In two recent articles I discussed this topic and the effect suicide has on those who are left behind to mourn the loss and attempt to answer the question why.

In the case of this lovely young woman, I am sure questions abound in the minds of family and friends, who seemed to have no inkling that the 30-year old television correspondent and model would end her life so suddenly and so violently.

The fact that she had at some point been seeing a therapist and appeared well-adjusted and in control of her life, makes her jump from the 29th floor of her luxury apartment building even more mystifying.

Photo courtesy of humanium.org Add to this the Instagram not want to be seen as weak. picture she posted along An attorney, who was with a text, earlier that day, known to be a fighter for sosaying, “May this day bring cial justice, and considered you rest and peace”, makes a role model, Kryst has left you wonder whether there many puzzled and devastatwas hidden meaning behind ed by her death. those words.

And one friend, former It certainly made me re- Miss Universe, Zozibini flect on the words of Psycho- Tundi, in a touching statetherapist, Shane Tull, who ment, articulated what others said that often people take must be feeling when she their own lives when they said she was “caught beseem to be doing well. He tween not believing the news explained that this happens and trying to make sense of because, adversely, they do what is happening”.

However, the sad fact is that this bright and proud woman of colour was clearly so disturbed that she felt there was no other option open to her but to stop her pain by ending her life.

In an Overview, the US Mayo Clinic said, “Suicide, taking your own life is a tragic reaction to stressful life situations,” and went on to point out that “warning signs aren’t always obvious and may vary from person to person. Some people make their intentions clear while others keep suicidal thoughts and feelings a secret”.

In the latter case, detecting a potential suicidal person is far more difficult and the Overview lists certain suicide warning signs. These include withdrawal from social contact and wanting to

be left alone, mood swings, a preoccupation with death, dying or violence and engaging in risky or self-destructive activities.

Among the persons said to be at risk of suicide are those who have attempted it before, who feel socially isolated or lonely or have an underlying psychiatric disorder such as major depression.

There can be no underestimating the nature of stress too, which Elizabeth Brondolo, Ph.D describes this way: “The problem with stress is that it is such… when people think about it, they often get overwhelmed or they’re not sure how to conceptualise it or how to measure it or how to think about what really are the clinical implications.”

The underlying feeling of being overwhelmed seems ‘front and centre’ in suicide cases and anyone feeling this way is urged to seek immediate help while others are encouraged to watch for signs that a friend or family member may have suicidal tendencies.

In Guyana, where the suicide rate was once considered the highest globally, numbers have been steadily declining with the establishment of a Mental Health Unit and a Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Health, the Psychology Sector of this Unit is run

by Senior Psychologist, Balogun Osunbiyi, who urges members of the public to access the services offered.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

Early screening vital in fight against cancer –– Dr Niamatali MANY types of cancer can be treated and cured, but the majority of persons detect cancer when it is too late.

This is the view of President of the Guyana Cancer Society, Dr. Carl Niamatali.

Guyana, on February 4, joined the rest of the world in the observance of World Cancer Day. Dr. Niamatali, during an interview broadcast on the National Communications Network, said that of 20 million people worldwide who were diagnosed with cancer in 2020, half of those died.

He said with more than 200 types of cancer over the last century, the number has been ‘increasing exponentially’.

Dr. Niamatali said cancer is preventable, though there is no miracle cure. It is all about prevention and early detection.

“There are four stages. If we detect it in stage one or two, we can cure most of the patients. The problem is, the majority of patients come when they have stage three and four, 70-80 per cent, in which case we can’t cure them and the majority have passed within 6 to 12 months,” he said.

“It’s all about prevention, it’s all about early detection through screening; if we detect cancer early, we can, with the right treatment, at the right time, cure most of the patients,” Dr. Niamatali added.

He noted that the number one cause of cancer is tobacco, which is responsible for 16 types of cancers, alcohol for seven different types of cancers, and being obese or overweight with poor nutrition is responsible for 11 different types.

The Human-Papilloma Virus is also highlighted as one of the causes of cancer.

Dr. Niamatali noted that the HPV vaccine is accessible in Guyana which young girls and women up to 45 years of age can access to prevent cervical cancer.

He noted that early screening is import-

The world has lost an amazing voice

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–– President Ali, Indian High Commissioner mourn passing of Lata Mangeshkar

Photo courtesy of oncolog.com ant, to detect stomach, colon, throat and other cancers.

While VIA screening and pap smears were done previously to detect cervical cancer, currently there is a new screening that can be done to detect this type of cancer, which is being offered free of cost at the Guyana Cancer Prevention Society.

Breast and cervical cancers are highlighted as two of the leading causes of cancer deaths in Guyana among women; therefore females as young as 20 are being urged to learn self-examination of the breast and to access early screening for cervical cancer.

He noted that by the time a lump is detected in the breast it may be too late; hence, mammograms and ultrasounds are important.

Persons are also being urged to get screened for prostate, colon, stomach and other cancers.

Persons desirous of screening for the different types of cancers can access these services at all of the regional hospitals across Guyana.

The Ministry of Health has also planned an aggressive campaign to create awareness and screening later this year.

(DPI)

THE world has lost an amazing voice with the passing of Lata Mangeshkar, the Nightingale of India, said President Dr Irfaan Ali, who noted that, for decades, she inspired many and brought tremendous happiness to her fans globally, including Guyanese when she toured this country in October 1980.

“Her humility, passion and motivation over all these years are admirable traits we can all learn from. Her voice will surely live on in her music. We express condolences to her family and the Government and people of India, especially. May her soul find eternal peace,” the President said in a Facebook post.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa in a statement said Mangeshkar’s passing has left a void that cannot be filled.

“The sad passing away of Kumari Lata Mangeshkar has left all Indians across the world including the Indian Diaspora and those who loved music, anguished beyond words.

She was very kind, caring and was one of the most accomplished and humble Indians. Her

popularity spanned across generations. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerise people,” he said.

High Commissioner Srinivasa also noted that her songs brought out a variety of emotions for over seven decades during which she was a witness to the transitions of the Indian film world. Beyond films, she was always passionate about India and its progress.

“We pray for her soul to attain Sadgati and strength to her family and millions of fans and followers to bear the loss. Om Shanti,” his said.

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Australia women seal ashes victory

(BBC) - Australia sealed an Ashes series victory with a game to spare thanks to a five-wicket win over England in the second one-day-international in Melbourne.

From 40-1 after 10 overs, England lost six wickets for 28 runs before being bowled out for 129 with almost five overs unused.

Ellyse Perry picked up 3-12 and Tahlia McGrath continued her fantastic Ashes series by taking 3-4 in 3.2 overs.

Left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen took the key wickets of Nat Sciver, who struggled to get going with eight off 25 balls, and England captain Heather Knight, for 18, in consecutive overs.

A steady 39-run partnership between Amy Jones and Sophie Ecclestone, who made 28 and 32 not out

All-rounder Ellyse Perry took 3-12 and top-scored with 40 for Australia respectively, ensured the tourists avoided a more humiliating total.

Facing an uphill struggle, England’s bowlers were offered a glimmer of hope when Australia fell to 18-2 in reply, with captain Meg Lanning bowled by Kate Cross for a duck.

But Perry hit a match-winning 40 off 64 balls and Ashleigh Gardner an unbeaten 31 off 34 as Australia reached the target with 14.4 overs to spare.

As holders, Australia had retained the Ashes by winning the first ODI in Canberra by making sure the series could not be lost.

Victory in Melbourne gave them a 10-4 lead in the multi-format series, with one ODI to play and two points on offer for the winners.

England head to the final match of the series - at the

same ground at 23:05 GMT on Monday - still searching for their first win of the tour.

Australia bowlers star as England falter Despite having already retained the Ashes, any suggestion of complacency from Australia was quickly quashed with a terrific bowling performance.

Perry, 31, took her first ODI wickets since October 2019, while Jonassen formed a formidable bowling partnership with leg-spinner Alana King.

King took the important wicket of opener Lauren Winfield-Hill, who made 24 off 36 balls but once again failed to convert a good start, to spark the England collapse.

Between overs 12 and 23, King and Jonassen conceded only 21 runs as England’s middle order became in-

creasingly frustrated.

Perry returned to dismiss Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean - a replacement for injured pace bowler Katherine Brunt - before McGrath took the final three wickets.

Australia can also credit some outstanding fielding for the win. Wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy took a superb catch to dismiss Tammy Beaumont, leaping to her right as the ball nestled into the webbing of her right glove.

It was trumped by an even more spectacular grab - and arguably the best of the series - by Lanning, who dived full length at first slip and clung on with her fingertips to dismiss Danni Wyatt for a duck.

Perry leads Australia to first home Ashes win since 2011 With England needing quick wickets, seamer Cross

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday February 07, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Birmingham, 1979 (2) Clive Lloyd; Srinivas Venkataraghavan Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first West Indian to crack an ODI century against India?

(2) Who is the first Indian to hit an ODI century versus the West Indies?

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

- who claimed 3-33 in the first ODI - was once again the most threatening bowler, albeit slightly expensive in taking 2-46 from eight overs.

She found seam movement to bowl Lanning for a duck and broke a 36-run partnership when she hit McGrath’s middle stump.

But Perry gave a reminder why she is considered one of, if not the, best all-rounders in history.

Her knock included five fours and one six down the ground off Cross, who exacted a measure of revenge with a smart pick-up and throw at mid-on to run her out.

With 32 needed, Gardner increased the intensity - hitting three fours and a six - to see Australia over the line.

The win prevented the possibility of a repeat of the 2017-18 Ashes down under when England won the final two matches to draw the series - and marked Australia’s first Ashes series victory at home since 2010-11.

England and Australia will begin their World Cup campaign against each other on 5 March in Hamilton, New Zealand.

England turn attention to World Cup - reaction England all-rounder Nat Sciver on BBC Test Match Special: “We’re looking ahead to the World Cup now and making sure we put things right before that and everyone taking responsibility for their role and what the team needs for them.

Lessons learned.”

Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry: “The last couple of weeks has been an amazing contest. It certainly hasn’t been easy for our group. To win the Ashes with a game to spare is lovely. There were some really great performances today.”

Former England spinner Alex Hartley: “Australia are a very, very strong side. England had gone toe-to-toe against Australia until today. England did bowl really well but there just weren’t enough runs on the board to create pressure.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

Alves scores; red carded in Barcelona’s win over Athletico

(BBC) - Dani Alves scored and was sent off and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made his debut as Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid in an action-packed game.

Yannick Carrasco gave

Atletico the lead from a Luis Suarez pass and Jordi Alba volleyed in from Alves’ ball before Gavi headed in Adama Traore’s cross.

Ronald Araujo scored after Gerard Pique’s header

hit the bar and Alves drilled in a Barca fourth.

But Suarez netted to give Atleti hope before Alves saw red for a bad foul.

Barcelona move above Atletico into fourth place

Dani Alves is the first Barcelona player to score, assist and be sent off in a La Liga game since at least 2004-05 in La Liga.

Big day for Barca’s new and old boys Barcelona handed starts to three of their winter signings, although two are in their second spells.

Alves, now 38, played for Barca between 2008 and 2016 and has returned on a free transfer. Shortly after Atletico took the lead he crossed for Alba’s wonderful volley.

Traore is on loan from Wolves, having played four times for Barca in 2013 and 2014. He was excellent on his Nou Camp La Liga debut and crossed for Gavi, 17, to put Barcelona ahead.

After Araujo’s goal technically an assist from Ferran Torres but only because the January signing from Manchester City miscued a scissors-kick

- Alves hammered in to make it 4-1.

His first La Liga goal since 2013 makes him Barcelona’s oldest goalscorer ever - and also marks the first time a player under 18 and as old as 38 have scored in the same La Liga game.

He had time for another landmark as he became the first Barca player since at least 2004-05 to score, assist and be sent off in a La Liga game when he stood on the back of Carrasco’s leg.

Suarez had scored to make it 4-2 before that but they never looked like taking advantage of the extra man.

Aubameyang had little impact on his first Barca game since a deadline-day free transfer move from Arsenal because of the red

card shortly after he came on.

Barcelona were ninth when Xavi took over in November, six points behind Atletico - but now overtake them to move into the Champions League places.

In the first half they were excellent although the red card naturally disrupted their flow after the break.

Atletico on the other hand look a shadow of the side who won last year’s La Liga title and are in danger of not even being in next season’s Champions League.

This was only the third time they have conceded four goals in a La Liga game under Diego Simeone and the first since December 2012, also against Barca at the Nou Camp.

09:25 hrs Her Royal Majesty 10:00 hrs Genie 10:35 hrs Cupid’s Song

09:50 hrs Foxboro 10:25 hrs Captain Clayde 11:00 hrs Global Wonder 11:35 hrs Brown Bullet 12:10 hrs Lilith 12:40 hrs After The Fox

American Racing Tips Mahoning Valley Race 1 Bells Of Joy Race 2 Silver Maple Race 3 Go Manny Go Race 4 Offtheroadagain Race 5 My Pink Baby Bird Race 6 Play Ball Race 7 Talk Dirty

English Racing Tips Carlisle 08:30 hrs Git Maker 09:00 hrs To The Limit 09:35 hrs Houston Texas 10:10 hrs Zabeel Champion 10:45 hrs Lady Tremaine 11:55 hrs Grand Turina 12:25 hrs Supreme Gift

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Fontwell 08:45 hrs Serious Charges 09:15 hrs Kotmask

Wolverhampton 12:55 hrs Dark Design 13:30 hrs Lincoln Dream 14:00 hrs Adaay In Asia 14:30 hrs Northern 15:00 hrs Fox Power 15:30 hrs Figures 16:00 hrs Inexplicable 16:30 hrs Capricious

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, February 7, 2022

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Mane gift Senegal first ever AFCON Cup

Senegal had previously lost two Nations Cup finals, in 2002 and 2019

Harpy Eagles off to recapture first-class dominance

…GCB’s top brass confident investment will reap results THE Guyana Harpy Eagles departed Sunday for Trinidad and Tobago where they will open their campaign in the Regional Four-Day Championship.

The Eagles, who won the title for five consecutive seasons until 2020, will face Windward Volcanoes from February 9-12 at the Queen’s Park Oval, then Leeward Hurricanes from February 16-19 at the Oval.

According to a release from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), the senior national players are keen to get on to the field after a prolonged absence of the Regional four-day tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The GCB’s president, Bissoondyal Singh, re-

marked that, based on reports, the players have been able to utilise their time away from regional tournaments to improve their capabilities of performing consistently well at the regional and international levels,” the release stated.

“The GCB has invested immensely in the preparation of the players and will continue to advance meaningful relations in ensuring sustainable funding and player professional conduct.

President Singh went on to state that he trusts that all members of the Guyana Harpy Eagles will excel in the five-round West Indies Championship 2022 and that the GCB looks forward to the national team winning the tournament.”

The Guyana Harpy Eagles squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Keemo Paul (Vice-Captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh, Akshaya Persaud, Anthony Bramble, Tevin Imlach, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Nial Smith, Clinton Pestano, Shimron Hetmyer, Keon Joseph and Antony Adams.

Support Staff: Manager - Albert Smith, Head Coach -- Esuan Crandon; Assistant Coach -- Ryan Hercules, and Physiotherapist -- Angelica Holder.

Non-traveling reserves: Kemol Savory, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith and Demitri Cameron.

(BBC) - Sadio Mane netted the winning spotkick as Senegal beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to clinch their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations after a 0-0 draw.

The Liverpool forward had seen a seventh-minute penalty saved by Egypt’s goalkeeper, Gabaski, but Mane held his nerve when he returned in the shootout.

Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy denied Mohanad Lasheen to give Mane the chance to win it in the Yaounde’s Olembe Stadium.

Gabaski had made three good saves from Senegal’s Bamba Dieng

in extra time.

All four of Egypt’s knockout games at the tournament went the distance, and the North Africans had beaten Ivory Coast and hosts Cameroon on spot-kicks en route to the final.

Gabaski had already saved four penalties at the tournament by the time the match went to a shoot-out, but on this occasion the 33-year-old was not able to emerge on the winning side.

Egypt were the first to err when centre-back, Mohamed Abdelmonem, saw his penalty hit the left-hand upright and bounced away - but Ga-

baski immediately denied Bouna Sarr.

However, Lasheen was then denied and Mane won it with an emphatic finish into the bottom left-hand corner, meaning his Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah did not even have the chance to take a penalty, with the ‘Pharaohs’ captain set to go fifth for his side.

Senegal had previously lost two Nations Cup finals, finishing runners-up in 2002 and 2019.

The two sides will meet again in March in a two-leg play-off for a spot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

West Indies women lose series 2-1 to South Africa

Left-hander Kycia Knight … top-scored with 48 CMC – West Indies Women’s bid for a series success ahead of next month’s ICC 50-over World Cup fell flat here Sunday, as they crashed to a six-wicket defeat to South Africa Women in the decisive fourth One-Day International.

Choosing to bat first at the Wanderers, West Indies Women could only muster 174 with four balls left in the 50th over and the hosts hardly broke a sweat in chasing down the target in the 40th over, to complete a 2-1 scoreline in the four match series.

Andrie Steyn, in her first international in three years, top-scored with 52 off 73 deliveries while captain Sune Luus extended her excellent form with 47 off 80 balls.

Off-spinner Anisa Mohammed, standing in for the injured Stafanie Taylor, claimed two for 31 to inch to within one of 300 wickets in both white ball formats

combined.

Left-hander Kycia Knight had earlier topscored with 48 from 76 balls to follow up her half-century in last Thursday’s third game, while opener Deandra Dottin got a start with 36.

But they were the only two batsmen to pass 20 as West Indies Women’s batting flattered to deceive.

Shabnim Ismail finished with four for 44 and fellow new-ball pacer Ayabonga Khaka, two for 25, while leg-spinner Chloe Tryon chipped in with two for 12, as the Caribbean side lost their last eight wickets for just 70 runs.

“I think with the start we had, I think we should have gotten at least 250, 260 but unfortunately that wasn’t to be,” lamented Mohammed.

Rashada Williams notched her fourth straight single digit score

when she fell for six in the fifth over at 19 for one but the Barbadian pair of Knight and Dottin stitched up the innings nicely in a 65-run, second wicket stand.

Knight counted half-dozen fours while Dottin, already with a century in the series, struck three fours and a six in a 63-ball knock.

Ismail returned to prise out Dottin in the 23rd over for her second wicket and Knight added a further 20 for the third wicket with Hayley Matthews (8) before following in the 28th at 104 for three.

With two runs added in the 31st over, Matthews was brilliantly taken, one-handed at point by Laura Wolvaardt diving full stretch to her right, and the dismissal set in train the touring side’s decline.

In reply, Wolvaardt (23) and Tazmin Brits (20) put on 38 for the first wicket before falling within 18 deliveries of each other to leave the hosts on 56 for two in the 12th over.

But Steyn stepped up, stroking four fours in a measured innings and posting 88 in a third wicket stand with Luus who counted three fours and a six.

The partnership put the game out of the visitors’ reach and even when Steyn and Luus followed each other in the space of 12 balls with six runs added, Chloe Tryon was able to punch four fours in an unbeaten 20 to steer her side home.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, February 7, 2022

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Billingy and Van Lange crowned National U-21 Table Tennis champions

Jasmine Billingy defended her U-21 title on Sunday ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Jasmine Billingy and 1 5 - y e a r- o l d J o n a t h a n Van Lange were crowned champions of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) U-21 division when the female and male

finals took place on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

For Billingy, it was a clean-sweep, since she not only defended her title (she won as a nine-year-old in 2020), but she dominated the

junior groups at this year’s event, winning the 15-and-U and the 19-and-under divisions.

DOMINANCE The Winfer Gardens Primary School student was composed against her older opponent, Thuraia Thomas, in the final of the event.

She played measured and calculated strokes. The two players have solidified themselves as the best U-21 female players in the country.

Billingy had won the round-robin U-15 division while she had beaten Thomas in the U-19 final late last month.

Yesterday’s battle saw Thomas stepping up her game, but the mature strokeplay of Billingy was superior.

Nevertheless, it was a good clash between two rising stars.

Billingy led 7-5 in the opener, but Thomas through an exchange of backhand and forehand shots came back to lead 10-7. The game then went to deuce with Billingy fighting back, before Thomas prevailed

15-13.

The rest of the match belonged to the pre-teen, who bounced back with a dominant 11-3 win in the second game.

Thomas though did not give up and she stepped up her game and forced Billingy out of her rhythm.

She looked like she would have won the third after leading 9-7, but her younger

opponent was too classy and again forced deuce. That match ended 18-16 in favour of Billingy.

Her dominance was evident in the last game as she sealed the win 11-5.

VAN LANGE DOMINANCE Van Lange added the U-21 title to his 2022 U-19 title with an impressive showing over Colin Wong.

between that ten to 30-over mark, losing five wickets [and] being [79 for seven].”

He added: “Obviously we’ve got to dig deeper, we’ve got to get better with our techniques – myself included in terms of that because we’ve all been guilty sometimes of making mistakes.”

The defeat was the Caribbean side’s 12th in their last 18 ODIs against India, and comes on the heels of their shock 2-1 series defeat to Ireland in Jamaica last month when they were also plagued by inept batting.

Shai Hope (8) was an early casualty, inside-edging a drive at seamer Mohammed Siraj onto his stumps in the third over with 13 on the board but

the innings recovered through a 31-run second wicket stand between Darren Bravo (18) and opener Brandon King (13).

However, Sundar’s introduction in the eighth over changed the tone of the innings. He struck in the 12th over, having King caught at mid-wicket and four balls later in the same over, gained an lbw verdict against Bravo courtesy of DRS. Nicholas Pooran (18) and Shamarh Brooks (12) attempted another rescue mission but had added only 26 for the fourth wicket when Chahal struck twice in his first over – the 20th of the innings – to set West Indies back again.

First, Pooran missed a sweep and was hit in front

but was only sent on his way after India resorted to DRS. And off the very next delivery, Pollard missed a drive at a googly and lost his off-stump first ball.

When Shamarh Brooks edged a Chahal leg-break behind in the 22nd over and Akeal Hosein (0) perished to a catch at the wicket off new-ball seamer Prasidh Krishna (2-29) in the next over, West Indies appeared headed for their lowest-ever ODI total against India at 79 for seven.

However, Holder rallied the innings with lower order resistance, thumping four sixes to inspire a precious 78-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Fabian Allen whose 29 came from 43 balls and included two fours.

Jonathan Van Lange won the Men’s Doubles and the U-21 titles over the weekend Wong showed fight and had his moments of glory, but it was fleeting as Van Lange was always able to adjust and make the necessary changes, which made his efforts look flawless.

The game ended 11-8, 11-3, 11-7 and 11-9.

O n S a t u r d a y, Va n Lange had teamed up with Shemar Britton to win the Men’s Doubles title.

Inept batting costs West Indies series opener CMC – A timid West Indies suffered a six-wicket battering at the hands of India in the opening One-Day International, as their batting woes from the Caribbean followed them onto the subcontinent on Sunday.

Only marquee all-rounder Jason Holder with a counter-attacking 57 off 71 balls produced any real quality as the touring side collapsed to 176 all out in the 44th over, after being asked to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

They were crippled by aggressive leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who claimed four for 49 and 22-year-old off-spinner Washington Sundar who picked up three for 30.

Captain Rohit Sharma then belted 60 off 51 deliveries to propel his side past their target with a whopping 22 overs remaining, as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

A middle order slump that saw four wickets tumble for 22 runs in the space of 27 deliveries handed West Indies a sliver of hope but Suryakumar Yadav (34 not out) and Deepak Hooda (26 not out) combined in a breezy half-century stand to put India comfortably over the line.

“Losing with 22 overs to spare, that’s a heavy defeat,” said a sombre captain Kieron Pollard.

“And again it’s the same old for us, not being able to bat 50 overs.

[We’re] getting trouble

Not surprisingly, Sundar broke the stand, snaring a low return catch to send back Allen in the 38th and Holder followed in the 41st, nicking behind off one from Krishna which bounced awkwardly.

Rohit then quickly erased any lingering doubt over the result, lashing 10 fours and a six in an 84run, opening stand with Ishan Kishan who made 28 from 36 deliveries.

By the time seamer Alzarri Joseph (2-45) brought one back to hit Rohit in front in the 14th over and spark a mini slide, India were already on course for victory, and the 62-run, unbroken fifth wicket stand between Suryakumar and Hooda sealed the deal.

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 7, 2022

Inept batting costs West Indies series opener West Indies women lose series 2-1 to South Africa SEE PAGE

23

Yuzvendra Chahal picked up wickets with back-toback balls in his first over, India vs West Indies, 1st ODI, Ahmedabad, February 6, 2022 © BCCI

SEE PAGE

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Left-hander Kycia Knight … top-scored with 48 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES WOMEN D Dottin c Luus b Ismail 36 R Williams b Ismail 6 K Knight c Ismail b Tryon 48 H Matthews c Wolvaardt b Sekhukhune 8 +S Campbelle b Tryon 15 M Mangru b Ismail 15 A Alleyne c wkp Chetty b Khaka 1 C Fraser c Steyn b Khaka 6 *A Mohammed b Ismail 1 A Fletcher c sub (S Jafta) b de Klerk 6 S Connell not out 15 Extras (b1, lb3, w13) 17 TOTAL (all out, 49.2 overs) 174 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-84, 3-104, 4-106, 5-122, 6-125, 7-150, 8-152, 9-154, 10-174 Bowling: Ismail 10-0-44-4, Khaka 10-1-25-2 (w1), de Klerk 7.2-0-39-1 (w3), Sekhukhune 8-1-26-1 (w3), Luus 8-0-24-0 (w1), Tryon 6-2-12-2 (w3).

SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN L Wolvaardt c Matthews b Alleyne 23 T Brits c Mangru b Fletcher 20 A Steyn b Mohammed 52 *S Luus lbw b Mohammed 47 M du Preez not out 6 C Tryon not out 20 Extras (lb1, w6) 7 TOTAL (4 wkts, 39.5 overs) 175 Did not bat: +T Chetty, N de Klerk, S Ismail, A Khaka, T Sekhukhune Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-56, 3-144, 4-150.

Bowling: Connell 5-0-24-0, Alleyne 5-0-20-1 (w2), Matthews 6-1-24-0, Fletcher 9.5-0-45-1 (w1), Mohammed 9-0-31-2, Mangru 3-0-8-0, Fraser 2-0-22-0 (w3).

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022