TUESDAY 8th FEBRUARY, 2022
No. 106628
$7.3 Billion approved for Office of the President
SEE PAGE
2
GECOM gets $783M to prepare for LGEs - 10,000-12,000 temporary staff to be hired
SEE PAGE
3
Exploring business opportunities
Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Senior Vice-President, Timothy Tucker, makes a point as British High Commissioner Jane Miller (second left) and members of a British trade delegation listen attentively during a meeting on Monday. According to the British High Commission, the delegation which comprised representatives of British businesses are here looking to expand into new markets. The trade mission will be in Guyana for four days and will engage in several ministerial and business-to-business meetings with the local private sector to foster discussions relative to investment opportunities within several sectors inclusive of infrastructure, food and drink, manufacturing, ICT and renewable energy, the British High Commission said. The delegation includes nine British companies and 15 representatives from sectors including education, manufacturing and infrastructure (British High Commission photos)
Justice (ret’d) Ramson rehired as Commissioner of Information
SEE PAGE
3
‘Dingo’ gets 38 years for raping woman SEE PAGE
14
Taxi driver homeless after fire SEE PAGE
10
2
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
$7.3 Billion approved for Office of the President
Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira WITH multiple major agencies falling under the Office of the President for budget purposes, the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly approved $7.3 Billion on Monday for its operations as part of Appropriation Bill No. 1 of 2022. The Bill, otherwise referred to as Budget 2022, made its way to the Committee of Supply for con-
sideration of the estimates and expenditure of the various agencies, following five intense days of policy debates last week on the $552 Billion budgeted allocation for the year. In the Committee of Supply, chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, members of the political opposition scrutinized the estimates which will later be passed
APNU+AFC MP, Ganesh Mahipaul by the National Assembly, and assented to by President Dr Irfaan Ali, thus becoming law. Responding to questions on the allocations in the Committee was Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira. OP Administration A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)
President’s Youth Advisory Council to be established this year
THE President’s Youth Advisory Council will be established in the first quarter of 2022 with a sum of $60 million budgeted and approved for that purpose. This was disclosed by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, on Monday, as the Committee of Supply examined the estimates of the 2022 national budget at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. M i n i s t e r Te i x e i r a said, “$60 million has been allocated for the Youth Advisory Council which the President will be launching by the end of the first quarter. A Technical Coordinating Committee had been established in 2021 and has completed the terms of reference.” “I am advised that the President will be meeting with the youth arms of the various political parties to encourage them to participate in the Youth Advisory Council.” The technical work for the establishment of the
President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali council has been completed President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, in his new year’s message, had made it clear that he will engage with individually organised groups of young people, including youth arms of all political parties. “I want to hear their views. I want to learn how they think. We should shape the future of our ‘One Guyana’. I want to dialogue with them about the kind of coun-
try they wish to inherit and how they will advance it. The next generation must be better than this one. If not, our country will regress, not progress,” the President had said. The establishment of the President’s Youth Advisory Council is a manifesto promise of the PPP/C Administration, the Department of Public Information (DPI) has reported.
APNU+AFC MP, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley parliamentarian, Ganesh Mahipaul, questioned the $245 million allocated under project title “Minor works”. He said that he was aware that it was a budget line which the President may use his discretion to utilise and asked for an identification of how the money would be spent. Minister Teixiera confirmed that the budget line allows for the President, as was done with former Presidents David Granger, Donald Ramotar, and Bharrat Jagdeo, to utilise the money for humanitarian activities, supporting communities with laptops, scientific laboratories, and playgrounds, and other special help to members of the public in special circumstances. With that, she said it was difficult to determine how the money would be spent since the number of persons requiring assistance could be 100 in one year, but 1000 in another. To this, Mr Mahipaul quipped: “I trust there will be some generosity there in considering giving the office of the leader of the opposition some more money,” causing an eruption of laughter in the Committee. Youth Advisory Council $16 million had been budgeted for the establishment of a Youth Advisory Council, which will work closely with the President. APNU+AFC MP, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, plugged the need for the body to present its work programme for the year to show how it will carry out its mandate. Minister Teixeira responded that President Ali will launch the council before the end of March, noting that a Secretariat
APNU+AFC MP, Annette Ferguson
has been established with a Technical Coordinator and a Committee. That body has, according to the Governance minister, already completed the Terms of Reference for the advisory council. The minister extended an olive branch to the youth arms of the various political parties in Guyana to participate in the formation of the advisory council on youth. Once the body has been properly established, she added that a work plan will be developed. National Security enhanced MP Mahipaul had raised alarm about the $35.9 million allocated for telephone and internet charges, which he said increased from approximately $800,000 in previous years. Minister Teixeira responded that such increases the capacity in telecommunications for the National Security and Defence Secretariat of the Office of the President. She added that with an extension planned to the building that houses that body, the internet connectivity and phone access of the body must also expand. Unconvinced by the explanation, MP Mahipaul questioned again where the money will go, to which Minister Teixeira defended the allocation, noting that it caters for territorial defence as well as intelligence gathering. “Therefore, telecommunications, internet, telephone, and other forms of communication are critical,” Minister Teixeira stressed, adding that the laws of Guyana allow for the interception of telephones for crime-fighting purposes.
“If any security entities wished to tap or intercept, they have to go to the court for the court to give permission,” the minister explained as she challenged Mahipaul’s question of whether the resources would be used to spy on the population. Environmental protection Turning attention to the capital expenditure under Office of the President relating to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), APNU+AFC MP Annette Ferguson asked for an explanation of the allocated $100 million. Minister Teixeira said $74.1 million of that money will be spent on digital environmental monitoring, and reporting and verification of the framework for offshore, petroleum, mining, and forestry activities. She noted further that there will be two main areas: Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote monitoring sensors, instruments and dashboards. She said this capacity building of the EPA will not be limited to oil and gas, as other extractive non-oil industries will be monitored using the technology. The remaining balance of the $100 million allocation, Minister Teixeira continued, is earmarked for scientific and lab equipment needed by the EPA, as well as furniture, printers and other materials. Other entities included under the Office of the President are the Police Complaints Authority, the President’s Office and official residence, National Parks Commission, Wildlife Management Authority, and the Protected Areas Commission.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, February 8, 2022
3
GECOM gets $783M to prepare for LGEs - 10,000-12,000 temporary staff to be hired CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION As it is now, there are provisions for claims and objections, which, in essence, is a process of continuous registration. Persons who were unable to register during the process that preceded the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections would have a chance to do so whenever the registration process commences. To support the registration process and other activities of the commission, the government has also budgeted funds for increased security services, equipment maintenance, rental of generators, containers to store ballots, and the for public awareness campaigns. “The budget was prepared here based on what they [the secretariat] know,” Minister Teixeira said. The government has repeatedly indicated that it is ready to hold the elections, but is awaiting the guidance of the GECOM. Notwithstanding this, the opposition continues to press the issue. Last Friday, during the final day of the budget debate, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall
WITH there being a likelihood that Local Government Elections (LGE) will be held this year, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been allocated some $783 million to begin preparations for the potential polls. This sum was included in the commission’s $4.1 billion budget, which was approved by the Parliamentary Committee of Supply, on Monday. The elections were due
in 2021 and although $1.1 billion had been allocated for it in that year’s national budget, there were questions surrounding the credibility of several GECOM employees who were implicated in purported attempts to rig the 2020 elections. Several of those employees were eventually fired. Last December, after months without a Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud was hired to fill the post. And although there are still key administrative gaps
within GECOM’s secretariat, provisions have been made for the commission to commence preparations for the Local Government Elections. A breakdown of what the allocated sum will cater for was provided to the Committee of Supply by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, during her response to questions from opposition parliamentarians. The minister said that $583 million has been set aside to hire between
10,000 and 12,000 temporary employees for the elections. Although there are financial provisions for preparations, Minister Teixeira was clear that a roadmap is being prepared by the commission, so it would be up to the stakeholders there to decide on when they are ready to commence the process. “They have not reached the stage to say what quarter of the year they would be willing to commence,” the minister related. This, however, did not stop opposition Member of Parliament, David Patterson, from questioning whether there are provisions in the budget to update the list of voters. In responding to Patterson, Minister Teixeira first referenced a ruling of the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, that no attempt should be made to scrap the existing National Registrar of Registrants. The minister clarified that the matter of a new list is, however, one for the commission to decide on, but she assured the committee that the budgetary matters will fall into place.
FOLLOWING a bizarre sequence of events under the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government, Justice Charles Ramson Snr has been rehired as Guyana’s Commissioner of Information with a $40 million allocation earmarked for his office in 2022. Responding to questions from the political opposition on Monday in the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly, Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira confirmed that the former Appeals Court judge resumed the position late last year. Minister Teixeira, responding to questions from APNU+AFC parliamentarian, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, told the committee that Justice Ramson was “unceremoniously declared terminated in the House in the Novem-
ber 2018 budget reading.” She said after his removal from the office in 2018, there was an acting Commissioner of Information receiving the full salary and benefits of the post, which amount to some $1.5 million per month. “That person concluded their engagement with the present government in November 2020,” the minister told the committee. The mandate of the Office of the Commissioner of Information is set out in Guyana’s Access to Information Act, and the Commissioner is appointed by the President. Minister Teixeira said Commissioner Ramson has already met with President Dr Irfaan Ali to outline his work programme and expectations for various agencies for 2022. In 2016, two years before his dismissal, Commissioner Ramson told this newspaper
that following the change of administration in 2015, he met with the then David Granger-led administration and informed them of the protocol surrounding his office. The Access to Information Act provides for a Minister responsible for Information to liaise with the Office of the Commissioner of Information. Since former President Granger held responsibility for the portfolio of Information, Justice Ramson said he had engaged first in letters with former Minister Joseph Harmon, who was also the Head of the Presidential Secretariat. He was then made to engage former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who assumed the information portfolio, and then former Minister Harmon again. At the then Ministry of the Presidency, the former justice bemoaned a “garri-
“Justice Charles Ramson peers out his East Street ‘place of operation’ marked by two juxtaposed signs of “Our Home” in Latin, and “Office of the Commissioner of Information” (Samuel Maughn/Guyana Chronicle/2016) soned environment” that had mon to work from his East out staff, refusing the rent developed in the presidential Street residence, and that which was offered to him compound. necessary equipment would for the use of his personal Eventually, Justice Ram- be transferred to the prem- home as an office space as it son’s office space was gradu- ises at the expense of the did not satisfy the requirement for “neutral” space ally encroached on, which ministry. led to him entering an agreeJustice Ramson con- to properly carry out his ment with then Minister Har- tinued in the space with- functions.
By Navendra Seoraj
said: “We believe in democracy, we believe in people’s choices, we believe that for our country to continue to evolve for development to come flowingly to our people that we must have Local Government Elections. We are going to have Local Government Elections this year, we have budgeted billions of dollars for LGEs and are going to have LGEs this year.” Also this is the case, Dharamlall said there has been efforts by some of the APNU+AFC GECOM Commissioners to stymie the holding of the elections, which will see the elections of the councillors for the 80 local democratic organs (LDOs), which includes the 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and 10 municipalities, including the city. Although the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is responsible for announcing the date for the LGEs, this can only be done after consultations with GECOM, which decides its readiness and has responsibility for holding the elections.
$40 million approved for Information Commissioner’s office - Justice Ramson resumes role
4
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
US will end Russian pipeline if Ukraine invaded US President Joe Biden has vowed to shut down a key Russian gas pipeline to Germany if Moscow invades Ukraine. Speaking after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington, Biden said the US would “bring an end” to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Their talks came as French President Emmanuel
Macron met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and expressed hope that war could be avoided. There are growing Western fears of a Russian invasion, which Moscow denies. Russia currently has more than 100,000 troops massed on Ukraine’s borders. US officials said on Sunday that Russia has assembled 70 per cent of military
forces needed for a full-scale invasion. In recent weeks, Moscow has demanded that the Western military alliance NATO ban Ukraine from ever becoming a member, and that the group cuts its troop numbers in eastern Europe. NATO has rejected both demands. It has instead suggested talks on other areas, such as limiting nuclear weapons. The tensions between Russia, Ukraine and the West come nearly eight years after Russia annexed Ukraine’s southern Crimea peninsula and backed a bloody rebel-
lion in the eastern Donbas region. Moscow accuses the
US President, Joe Biden (right) made the comments during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) in Washington (BBC/ Reuters photo) Ukrainian government of failing to implement the Minsk agreement -- an international deal sponsored by Germany and France to restore peace to the east, where Russian-backed rebels control swathes of territory and at least 14,000 people have been killed since 2014. Biden and Scholz held a press conference after their discussions in the US capital on Monday. When asked about Nord Stream 2, the US President said “if Russia invades... again, then there will be longer Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.” However, he did not give specifics, responding to a question about how he would do this by saying: “I promise you we will be able to do it.” Scholz -- on his first trip to Washington since become Chancellor and under criticism for his response to the Ukraine crisis -- was more ambiguous about the pipeline. But he did say the US and Germany were “absolutely united” on sanctions against Russia should it
invade Ukraine, saying “we will do the same steps and they will be very, very hard to Russia”. The 1,225km (760-mile) Nord Stream 2 pipeline took five years to build and cost $11bn (£8bn). The energy project, which would run under the Baltic Sea, is designed to double Russia’s gas exports to Germany. But as yet it has not started operating, as regulators said in November it does not comply with German law and suspended its approval. Major European businesses have invested heavily in Nord Stream 2. But many groups object to the plan. Environmentalists question how it will fit in with German efforts to cut emissions and tackle man-made climate change, while politicians at home and abroad fear it could increase Europe’s dependence on Russian energy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously described the pipeline as a “dangerous geopolitical weapon”. (BBC)
February 02, 2022
O 1 3 9 13 21 26 25 February 05, 2022
H 14 16 19 21 22 25 26
07/02/22 - 6 8 10 18 22
07/02/22 - 1 2 7
07/02/22 - 7 0 9
07/02/22 - 2 5 7 14 16 19 21
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, February 8, 2022
5
2,000 Venezuelans return home as cost of living rises in Trinidad and Tobago
More than 2,000 Venezuelans who came to Trinidad and Tobago seeking a better life have returned home as the cost of living here increases. Since TT reopened its borders on July 17, 2021, thousands of migrants have left of their own free will. The borders were closed in March 2020 as one of the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. One of the single largest groups left on the day the borders reopened. On that day, close to 700 migrants who sought refuge here to escape the economic and political turmoil left this country on a chartered vessel to head back home. Most of the passengers were sick, unemployed, single mothers, pregnant women and children. Some of the adults had taken advantage of the registration exercise in mid-2019 offered by the government which allowed 16,523 of them to live and work in this country. In February 2021, the government approved the arrival of a Venezuelan plane at the Piarco airport to take 90 migrants back home. The Venezuelan embassy in TT was in charge of both repatriation trips. According to Venezuelans living in TT, hundreds more have been deported by the government and an unknown number have been leaving irregularly in small boats. Some families who left their children behind when they fled Venezuela owing to diminishing food and medical supplies said their decision to return home was also difficult. Cristian Roldan, a 32-yearold Venezuelan who was waiting at the port of Cedros, on
January 27, to get on the boat to take him home after four years in TT, says he misses his son. “I came to TT for my son and for him I return now. When I left my country he was two years old, today he has grown up. I miss him and I need to hug him,” said Roldan. He thanked the people of TT for opening their doors and giving him support during his stay. “I think my time at TT is over. I go to my country looking for alternatives to continue giving my son the socioeconomic stability he needs and to be at his side,” said Roldan. Although many Venezuelans believe that things in their country have not improved, others like Carlos Altuve believe that they have. “There are options, some business can be opened in Venezuela. Now the US dollar is being handled a lot there and many companies have reopened. I want to go try my luck in my own country, with my family close by,” Altuve said. He and his brother, Andres, both lawyers, have been in TT for three years and worked in the construction industry while here. Cesar Armao had been in TT for three and a half years before he decided to put an end to his migratory adventure. “I’m tired of migrating, here the economy is also changing, the prices of food, transportation, rent and medicine are going up, while wages for migrants are getting lower and lower,” he said. “TT is a beautiful country, but unfortunately for migrants, the legal situation and the lack of answers for our children’s education and medical care force us to go to other countries,” said Luisa Arcia.
She had among her plans on arrival in Venezuela with her son, was to see her parents, and continue a week later to Brazil. “In Brazil and other countries, legal support for Venezuelans is important. We have identification for several years with work permits, access to bank accounts, driver’s licences, migrant children can study and go to medical consultations in public systems, very different from the treatment we receive in TT. It is incomprehensible that a migrant child, who is not to blame for the things of the world, cannot receive education and health,” she said. Each Venezuelan who returns to his country has various reasons and plans for the future, some go to stay and try to advance in their own land, while others continue to seek opportunities in other countries. Angel del Orinoco is the main transport company that has taken most Venezuelans back home on its ferry service. Orangel Lacourt, owner of Angel del Orinoco, told Sunday Newsday since they received the travel permits last year, more than 1,000 migrants have travelled from TT to Venezuela with them. Lacourt said two 36-passenger boats make two trips a week. “We are a company with five years of operation between both countries and with more than 30 employees. We have two boats that make the trip once a week, leaving from the port of Manamo, Tucupita, Venezuela on Tuesdays and Thursdays to the Port of Cedros in TT,” he said. Other shipping companies based in both countries are also undergoing the legal
though the COVAX facility, the Health Ministry tweeted. “We are grateful for this donation, as we continue to combat COVID-19. A key component to that response is the administration of vaccines to reduce the severity and impact that virus has had on not just our health, but our social and economic
well-being,” the ministry stated. In addition to the Pfizer vaccines, Jamaica has been administering doses of the AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Sinopharm brands. Just over 23 per cent of all Jamaicans are now fully vaccinated.
procedures for the maritime transport of people. Puerto Caribe is one of those shipping companies that currently transport parcels but intends to carry passengers as well. Sheliza Sebatiani, owner of the company, said they would have the port of Guiria as a point in Venezuela and the port of Chaguaramas. “We are only waiting for the approval of the Trinidadian authorities because the private port we use only has permits for parcel departure,” she said. Sebastiani hopes in the coming weeks she can start with the TT-Venezuela passenger trips. Angel del Orinoco’s register has hundreds of requests for tickets to travel back to Venezuela. Venezuelans can also return by the flights offered by Copa Airlines via Piarco to Panama and then to Caracas. So far there are no direct commercial flights between the two countries. Angel del Orinoco offers its tickets at TT$2,000 or US$250 per person, in addition to TT$75 for the exit tax and the antigen or PCR test for COVID-19 with 72 hours of prior validity that varies in prices from TT$250. There is an additional cost for the taxi to take passengers to Cedros. Puerto Caribe has a plan for a lower rate of US$125 per person, plus other common expenses. “Our intention is to be able to help Venezuelans who want to return to their country. We have a lot of friends who are not having a good time here and need to go home,” Sebastiani said. For those who want to travel by plane, Copa Airlines offers on its website the flight
France donates 649,000 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to Jamaica Jamaica received 649,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from the Government of France on Monday. The doses were received by Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton. The vaccine donation from France was facilitated
The donation of Pfizer vaccines from France also coincides with the start date of the administering of booster doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the mixing of other vaccine brands for first and second doses. (Jamaica Observer)
Venezuelans arrive with their luggage at the Cedros port to return to their homeland on January 27 (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday/ Marvin Hamilton photo) to Caracas for US$783, in addition to the cost of a PCR test and tax. Officials from the Venezuelan embassy told Sunday Newsday each person who is going to travel needs a valid passport and those who do not have it must opt ??for a provisional travel permit which has a value of TT$375 or US$50. Minors will also need the authorisation of their parents or legal representatives. Provisional travel permits for
children who do not have a passport are issued free of charge. Sunday Newsday understands the Venezuelan embassy in TT does not directly manage the organisation of the trips, however, they have collaborated by providing the corresponding information on the process to be followed by the shipping companies to obtain the respective permits. (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)
6
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Boosting Agricultural Food Production NO living organism can survive without food. This is true for human beings as it is for any of the lower animals. Yet there are millions of people, especially in the developing world, who suffer from starvation and malnutrition. The statistics show that approximately 25,000 people, including more than 10,000 children, die on a daily basis from hunger and related diseases. Some 854 million people are estimated to be undernourished. Fortunately, Guyana and the wider Caribbean have been spared the food devastation experienced by some countries, even though more can be done to expand food production in the region. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Guyana, Suriname and Belize are the only countries in CARICOM that are importing fewer food
products than they export. The food-import bill of CARICOM is approximately $5B annually, which is a significant drain on the region’s scarce foreign exchange resources. It is in the above context that President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who currently holds lead responsibility for Agriculture, Agriculture Diversification and Food Security in CARICOM, issued a call for an across-the-board reduction of 25 per cent in food imports by 2025. This call was made by President Ali during his recent address at the 101st Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). This call cannot be more timely and relevant especially in view of rising food prices due in part to climate change and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In the words of
President Ali, “It is either we are serious about this or we are not serious about this -- we have to decide. This is not an individual country trying to achieve something: this is about a collective. This is about us being successful together... we cannot advance this if the commitment and the full participation is not there.” In his capacity as the Chair of the meeting, the President initiated a discussion on the updates provided by the Special Ministerial Taskforce (MTF) on Food Production and Food Security. The meeting examined areas in which there could be increases in food production and on the basis of such identification to come up with an action plan which should include budgeting, technical resources and investment. According to President Ali, the intention is to be in
a position to lead an effort to mobilise technical help and financial resources and to work with member states to achieve the set targets. Guyana’s Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, who is the current Chair of the Ministerial Task Force, provided the meeting with a progress report on the work done so far. Also discussed were plans to expand regional poultry production, climate-change resilient agriculture, raising agricultural productivity, technical support, importsubstitution, consumption patterns, data collection and agro-processing, among others. There still remain a number of challenges in terms of regional trade, among which are the removal of non-tariff barriers as a means of promoting intra-regional trade and quick resolution of sanitary and phytosanitary
disputes. Guyana is known for its fertile lands. It is the only country in the Anglo-phone Caribbean with such large expanse of agricultural lands, which, over the decades, have produced a wide variety of agricultural products both for domestic consumption and for export. Guyana remains the largest producer of rice and sugar among CARICOM countries and has the potential to meet almost the entire food needs of the region. Given its natural advantage as an agro-based economy, the country is now seeking to boost agricultural production with a view to strengthen food security in the region, open up new export markets, improve the earning levels of farmers and earn higher levels of foreign exchange. Guyana has the highest number of people in the Caribbean who are employed in the ag-
ricultural sector, employing roughly 30 per cent of its entire labour force. The country’s main agricultural exports continue to be rice and sugar. However, in recent times the country has been diversifying its product range to take advantage of the growing demand for food not only in the region but in the global market. A sum of $22B has been allocated in the 2022 Budget for the sector. Guyana is uniquely poised to take advantage of agricultural production and trade in the region and is fully committed to the Caribbean Community Twenty-Five by 25 initiative which aims to cut regional food import bill by 2025. President Ali and his PPP/C administration has demonstrated that with the political will and sound policies, the regional targets can be met.
Lata Mangeshkar, Guyana and Guyanese
Dear Editor, I AND almost every Indian Guyanese as well as so many non-Indians grew up being entertained by Lata. Her contribution to Indian culture in Guyana in song, music, film entertainment, and religious functions, cannot be understated. Although she has passed on, she will continue to influence generations with her numerous songs of several genres. The legendary singer had given her voice to a plethora of movies, feelings, and occasions. She holds the Guinness record for most songs recorded – over 30K. She was the most popular Indian singer and was honoured with a state funeral and two days of national mourning. I was not fortunate to see Lata in Guyana and experience the excitement of her 1980 visit when the country was ripped with Lata-
fever with a public holiday declared for her visit and performance. But I was blessed to see her in performance several times in New York and also watched her in concert when I visited India during countless trips. Thousands of Guyanese and other West Indians showed up at each of her concerts in America and did the same in Toronto and London. A few years back, she did say it was going to be her last performance in America, attracting jampacked audiences. The beautiful, unique, melodious voice, whether in Guyana or in America or elsewhere, resonated and is remembered by Guyanese, as well as Indians all over the diaspora. Kumari Lata had a kind of magnetic, charismatic attraction. She was irresistible to listen to and to watch in concert or an interview. She had sold-out performances in America and Guyanese were
in the thick of the crowds. She had a most enchanting, mesmerising voice. Lata had become not only the melodious nightingale of India, but also in the Indian diaspora and of so many other people who love Indian music and Bollywood filmi industry. She had so many fans in the former Soviet Union, China, and the Eastern bloc. For decades, Lata dominated the film industry with her renditions. There was no Bollywood filmi without Lata-ji. She was the most sought-after playback singer in films. She entertained no less than 1.5 billion people, including tens of millions of non-Indians all over Africa, Asia and Europe. And in Guyana, non-Indians also listened to Indian songs. During my college days, my African and St. Vincentian friends told me they used to watch Indian films and listened to Lata’s songs. It is not sur-
prising therefore that media around the globe carried news of her passing and her state funeral that drew mammoth crowds in Mumbai. In speaking with IndoCaribbeans in New York, almost everyone said they watched the live coverage related to her passing, the movement of her body, and the cremation. Even teenagers are familiar with the name Lata Mangeshkar. Everyone had only positive things to say about Lata-ji. There was grief and sadness everywhere, but also a celebration as her popular songs were belted out on Indian radio stations (Guyanese and South Asian) and as TV coverage played her songs during the moving funeral ceremonies. Growing up in the Indian village of Port Mourant in Guyana, as a 1960s child (and the experience would have been the same for those born earlier and the 1970s
and 1980s), we were fed a staple of Lata’s songs, her sisters Asha and Usha, Mohamed Rafi, Kishore, Mukesh, Manna Dey, among other artistes. Lata was everyone’s favourite. The form of entertainment was music and movies (aside from sports). And there was no TV till the late 1980s to provide at- home entertainment. So everyone turned to radio, which was the mass form of entertainment. Guyana’s radio stations provided limited time for Indian music, so we tuned in to Radio Radhika and Radio Paramaribo for Indian music. There were so much of Lata’s songs on the air that we got to know them by heart. During the 1960s and after, there were music devices (juke box, tape recorder, stereo, etc) to play songs on records and tapes. Lata’s songs were very popular at Indian weddings (Hindu, Muslim, and Christian). Her rendition of
the Indian national anthem was also well received and the youths in my village memorised it. Bollywood music united the Indian community not only in Guyana but Indians all over the diaspora. It served as a bond and Lata was at the centre – connecting the diaspora. Lata inundated the world with different types of songs. And Guyanese as well as “Trini” artistes have done remix renditions of some of her songs or their tunes that are extremely popular. As Guyanese Ashook Ramsaran, President of Indian Diaspora Council said in New York, Lata’s singing spanned the spectrum of emotions (sad, happy, patriotic, nationalistic) and she connected the diaspora with Mother India. Lata visited several diaspora countries in Africa, Fiji, the Caribbean, North America, Mauritius, and more. And TURN TO PAGE 7
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, February 8, 2022
7
OP-ED: The Global Problem-Solving Paradox
By António Guterres
AS Secretary-General of the United Nations, I spend much of my time speaking with world leaders and taking the pulse of global trends. It’s clear to me that we are at a defining moment in international relations. Global decision making is plagued by gridlock – and a fundamental paradox lies at the heart of it. On the one hand, many of today’s global leaders recognise our common threats – COVID, climate, the unregulated development of new technologies. They agree that something needs to be done about them. Yet that common understanding is not matched by common action. Indeed, divides keep deepening. We see them everywhere: in the unfair and unequal distribution of vaccines; in a global economic system rigged against the poor; in the utterly inadequate response to the climate crisis; in digital technology and a media landscape that profit from division; and in growing unrest and conflict around the
world. So if the world agrees on the diagnosis of these common problems, why is it unable to effectively treat them? I see two fundamental reasons. First, because foreign policy often becomes a projection of internal politics. As a former Prime Minister, I know that, despite good intentions, international affairs can be hijacked by domestic politics. Perceived national interests can easily trump the larger global good. This impulse is understandable, even if it is wrongheaded in instances where solidarity is in a country’s self-interest. Vaccines are a prime example. Everyone understands that a virus like COVID-19 does not respect national borders. We need universal vaccination to reduce the risk of new and more dangerous variants emerging and affecting everyone, in every country. Instead of prioritising vaccines for all through a global vaccination plan, governments have acted to safeguard their people. But that
is only half a strategy. Of course, governments must ensure the protection of their own people. But unless they work simultaneously to vaccinate the world, national vaccination plans could be rendered useless as new variants emerge and spread. Second, many of today’s global institutions or frameworks are outdated or simply weak and the necessary reforms are impeded by geopolitical divides. For example, the authority of the World Health Organisation is nowhere near what is required to coordinate the response to global pandemics. At the same time, international institutions with more power are either paralysed by division – like the Security Council – or undemocratic – like many of our international financial institutions. In short — global governance is failing at precisely the moment when the world should be coming together to solve global problems We need to act together in the national and global self-interest, to protect critical global public goods, like public health and a livable
KN should be big enough to publish my letter, apologise and move on
Dear Editor, DESPITE doing several pieces on what they alleged were untested “fishy” marine cage technology plan by the government, including ‘dem boys seh’ and a full editorial based on poor research and scholarship by the reporting staff, especially since the reports were highly prejudicial against the government in the debate then being conducted in Parliament, the Kaieteur News has had in its possession a response from me since 2nd February, 2022,
disputing tits “fishy” reports, but have failed to give me my democratic right to have my opposing view published. The Stabroek and the Chronicle have published my letter. This technology is now mainstream commercial practice, and we have been working on the feasibility of commercial shrimp production, and commercial marine and river-cage culture, so I am stating categorically that we have done legitimate feasibility studies which have been ongoing for nearly one year
since I was appointed. There is therefore no way that any staff reporter can produce one shred of legitimate evidence to repudiate one word of what I have stated in my original letter, i.e., that these projects are not speculative or untried. A newspaper which alleges that it is aggressive to see to it that the rights of the taxpayers in this country are upheld, should be big enough to publish my letter, apologise and move on. Yours sincerely, Anthony Vieira, National Aquaculture Coordinator.
FROM PAGE 6 who can forget that 1980 reception from Timehri to Georgetown and elsewhere? Lata-ji said she had never seen such huge crowds outside of India. On a Guyana connection, some 25 years, the late Ramesh Kalicharran informed me that he had con-
tracted Lata-Didi to record a song on Indian indentureship. It was supposed to be the background song of a film on indentureship, the script of which was written, but the film was not done. Kali reminded me of that unfinished project just weeks before his fatal heart attack.
It is amazing that grandchildren and great grands born of Guyanese parents are familiar with the name Lata and are fond of her songs. She will remain in our thoughts whenever her songs are played or sung. Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram
Lata Mangeshkar, Guyana...
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres climate, that support humanity’s wellbeing. Such reforms are essential if we are to deliver on common aspirations for our collective global goals of peace, sustainable development, human rights and dignity for all. This is a difficult and complex exercise that must take into account questions of national sovereignty. But doing nothing is not an acceptable option. The world desperately needs more effective and democratic international mechanisms that can solve people’s problems. As the pandemic has taught us, our fates are tied.
When we leave anyone behind, we risk leaving everyone behind. The most vulnerable regions, countries and people are the first victims of this paradox in global policy. But everyone, everywhere is directly threatened. The good news is that we can do something about our global challenges. Problems created by humanity can be solved by humanity. Last September, I issued a report on these issues. Our Common Agenda is a starting point; a roadmap to gather the world together to tackle these governance challenges and reinvigorate multilateralism
for the 21st century. Change won’t be easy, nor will it happen overnight. But we can begin by finding areas of consensus and moving in the direction of progress. This is our greatest test because so much is at stake. We are already seeing the consequences. As people start to lose trust in the ability of institutions to deliver, they also risk losing faith in the values that underlie those institutions. In every corner of the world, we see an erosion of trust and what I fear is the emergence of a twilight of shared values. Injustice, inequality, mistrust, racism and discrimination are casting dark shadows across every society. We must restore human dignity and human decency and respond to people’s anxieties with answers. In the face of growing inter-connected threats, enormous human suffering, and shared risks, we have an obligation to speak up and act to put out the fire. António Guterres is Secretary-General of the United Nations.
These broke oil-and-gas experts
Dear Editor, THE title is impressive “The Oil & Gas Governance Network”; they boast of the quality of their membership, MBAs! CPAs! Engineers! Professors! And they are never short on advice on matters of oil and gas. However, when faced with paying for a ticket to attend the International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2022, the OGGN suddenly become “minimum wage workers” and need a free pass. The incongruity is not new nor confined to Guyana’s shores and there is certainly no surprise that OGGN is another empty vessel making oil-and-gas noises. This is not the first time Guyana has entertained financially embarrassed experts from the diaspora; one ‘wall street analyst’
returned to our shores and rode a moped for years and we still admired his esoteric writings which he parlayed into a job with the Granger administration. Guyanese have learned from that folly; an appearance on a Moray House panel no longer has the prestige, since they continue to entertain men with gold-bangle ethics and clear anti-Guyana agendas. Guyana would welcome financial experts
from the diaspora who have demonstrated financial success, not hustlers running one-man operations from basements. They should work on raising the USD350 for a ticket to the event and gain basic credibility before pontificating on how the billions of USD Guyana will earn from oil and gas should be utilised. Yours sincerely Robin Singh
THE NIGHTINGALE The Nightingale has flown back to that shining realm from whence she came, but her voice in this world will remain, as long as the clouds drench the land with rain, and the moon watches over the silent night. In ten thousand years the Earth will perchance hear another voice, but not her matchless melodies that soothe the heart with such delight. (By Haimnauth Cecil Ramkirath)
8
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
A Mother-of-a-Case of Good News Badly Reported?
By Earl Bousquet
FIRST, it was a sad January 20, 2022 Guyana story reported in the regional press about a mother in her eighth month of pregnancy ‘giving birth in a car’; then about how she’d been ‘refused admission by a private hospital’ -- and that she’d ‘tested COVID-19 positive…’ But the STRESSED
mother could have been just another headline subject, with ‘How’ and ‘Why’ it all happened left completely to the speculation of the uninformed public, now also left to (hopefully) ‘Stay-tuned’ for more ‘Breaking News.’ The gripping story may also have earned her the charitable sympathy of some broken-hearted citizen who prefers to remain anonymous – or none of
the above. Indeed, there are many unknown cases regionally and worldwide – and indeed across Guyana -- of deserving cases supported by caring and sharing individuals and/or entities moved by the way the reported story impacted their minds – and pockets, or pocketbooks. I t ’s e q u a l l y t r u e , though, that there can also be cases where reporting
the story hasn’t helped the person needing help, requested or not. But quite apart from being a still-under-reported news item of potential public import, it’s also turned out that the Georgetown Public Hospital was the one to do the reporter’s job and inform the public (and the media) that a private hospital had in fact turned the mom-tobe client away, resulting in her forcibly heading to the public institution – as a last resort. News items such as these do help to draw sympathetic attention to deserving cases and causes, but it should be for more than just ‘headlines’ sake, if only out of interest in caring for the many other unknown subject mother(s) who have also experienced similar circumstances. An investigative report, however brief, would have shown the extent to which it may have been a ‘one-off’ incident, or the coming to light of day of a hidden social problem well-known to a few, but not to the many. Fact is, preventable and avoidable as these irregular cases are, they do happen in every society – and in each known case, do make Headline News. But equally true is that Guyana is not the only place where mothers can end up giving birth out (or outside) of a hospital. For example, 11 days after the updated versions of the Guyana mother (on February 1, 2022) I read a similar report from the other side of the world – this time, a CNN story about a mother who ‘gave birth over the Atlantic during a flight from Africa to the US...’ She’d boarded the 11hour flight from Accra, Ghana, for Washington’s Dulles airport on a Boeing
787-8, but six hours into the flight she went into labour and was ready to deliver, eventually making a successful in-flight delivery, thanks to the presence on board of a physician and a nurse – and a cabin attendant who’s a former nurse – and the plane landed safely with one more passenger that it took off with. In the same story, CNN also reported that it was not the first time that babies were born on flights, disclosing similar incidents in 2021 -- and as far back as 2018. In the Guyana case, social media comments gave more and wider (and better) angles to the story that the media house reporting did not bother to pursue (in the race to be first), including that the turnedaway mother to be was a patient of the said hospital visiting on a check-up and was rejected because she had been tested COVIDpositive. (Subject to being so informed) I’ve seen nothing suggesting that the leads provided by Guyanese social media commentators haven’t been followed up by the reporting media houses. And then there was yesterday’s feature Chronicle story about a GDF soldier who always wanted to be (the equivalent of) a midwife and got the opportunity to do the job of his dreams more than once while delivering military service. This story pasted over all the previous reports, if only because it confirmed that very difficult deliveries are common and can’t be avoided because of the simple reason of the impossibility of predicting ‘when a baby will bust de water-bag’ (as some Caribbean elders will tell you with confidence). The soldier with nurs-
ing in mind reconfirmed that when it comes to delivering a baby, he’ll do anything – even suspend a bath halfway – because of his recognition that in each previous case he’d left the barracks or the camp to deliver a baby, it was always about saving a life (or two) and/or bringing to life, in difficult circumstances, someone who can be a Guyana President someday. And to know that soldier survived school because of a vendor who ensured that he ate everyday despite his single-parent mother being able to afford -- and who he profusely thanked (through the reporter) for giving him that opportunity to live to do what he always wanted to, even if it isn’t his job today -- is just as heart-breaking as the original too-limited report, although for different (more positive) reasons. The moral(s) of this story can be expressed in many ways, from the fact that small problems can always lead to bigger issues, to the fact that social problems have no permanent place of residence – and not every story is just what’s reported. But at the end of the day, as revealed in this story (of mothers delivering babies in unusual circumstances), it’s shone light on a problem that exists everywhere, for no fault of anyone. But in each case, all was well that ended well and a new life was added to the billions on earth, safely delivered by those so trained to at the Georgetown Public Hospital -and in the heart of the soldier who always wanted, not to ever have to ‘take’, but always to deliver lives. Now, THAT IS what REAL Good News sounds, looks and feels like.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, February 8, 2022
9
Individuals, businesses becoming complacent with COVID-19 measures – Health Minister
THE Ministry of Health continues to see a reduction in COVID-19 cases with only 37 new cases being recorded in the last 24 hours. However, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, is reminding the population that the pandemic remains and complacency could be fatal for some people, especially those who are unvaccinated or have underlying health conditions. “We are still not out of the pandemic, Omicron is still here with us and it can still infect people, and we can still have severe infections where people are hospitalised and you can also see some of those persons dying,” Dr. Anthony said. He noted that the COVI-CURB campaign
continues with members of the Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Police Force, along with other agencies working with the population to help them understand the measures in place to reduce the spread of the disease. “While we would have had some measures of success, I think a lot of people have become complacent and there are businesses that were once very vigilant with these measures, have started relaxing them and similarly with various entities,” Dr Anthony said. “If we relax these measures now, we are still going to see transmission, and therefore this is not some people doing the right thing and others being able to violate the
rules. We have to take a conscious decision that all of us have to be involved to make sure that we can protect ourselves and the population, so if all of us do the right thing then the
population will be protected,” he added. As of Monday, Guyana recorded 5, 495 active cases. Minister Anthony said this number is also expected to drop
by the end of this week, with less new infections and more people recovering. There are 99 persons in hospitals across the country, 69 at the infec-
tious diseases’ hospital at Ocean View, with 17 persons in the ICU. Since the pandemic began, there have been 7,831 pediatric cases with 17 deaths.
but in service delivery both from the government’s perspective and the perspective of civil society. Government will be able to plan programmes, whether it’s building of special needs schools or implementing training programmes,” he added. The survey will be a continuation of the national survey that commenced in 2019, in which Regions Two, Three, Five, and Ten were assessed. A pilot survey was also done in 2016 in Region Six. Those surveys revealed that there were 11,713 PWD living in those regions. Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) had 3,896 PWD, the highest number recorded. Region Six (East Corentyne Berbice) followed with 3,262. Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), according to the survey had 1,249 PWD; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) 1,588 and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), 1,718.
According to UN statistics, over one billion people or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population live with some form of disability. Guyana’s Ministry of Health (MoH) had said that PWD account for approximately 50,000 persons or 6.4 per cent of the population. Singh said: “As a disability organisation we have been able to use the data to provide services for persons with disability.” This year, other PWD measures included in the 2022 budget includes the development of a national classroom for autistic children through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre. On this initiative, Singh said: “This will definitely help in ensuring that the children can have access to other services. Let us be hopeful it would be a success and can be replicated in other regions.” Civil works is also ex-
pected to continue at the Centre for Disability, while the construction of a new care centre at the Mahaica Hospital for children living with disabilities will commence. Additionally, two wheelchair buses will be purchased to aid in the transport of residents from the Mahaica Hospital and Training Complex. Singh lauded these measures as significant developments for the PWD community. “Especially with the provisions to further complete the training centre in Mahaica, we are very pleased with that. It is very significant in helping with the empowerment of PWD,” said Singh, who is visually impaired. “It is significant, because in that area there is nothing really for PWD, so this training centre, once completed, will be able to provide opportunities on the lower East Coast and even see people from Region Five benefitting…because they
will have the accessible bus to transport people.” Over the years, Singh has been instrumental in continuously advocating for better assistance for PWD. “We are also very happy about the two [wheelchair] buses to take people to training, and the provision for the National Commission on Disability to get the money to do National Household Survey,” Singh said. In also catering for the PWD, the public assistance was increased from $12,000 to $14,000, which will see an additional $432 million in disposable income going towards 18,000 persons. However, Singh noted that: “The public assistance increase, in as much as we as a community do appreciate that, persons were expecting something more substantial with the cost of living increasing. Based on our feedback, people are not too pleased with that.”
Region Four survey on PWDs to commence shortly A NATIONAL Household Survey to document statistics on persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) is expected to commence within a few weeks, and will be conducted by the National Commission on Disability. Funding for the survey is among the measures outlined in the 2022 National Budget to cater to needs of this vulnerable group of persons. The survey is expected to take approximately three months to complete. With Region Four accounting for the largest section of Guyana’s population, this survey to capture data on the PWD is considered to be of critical importance as it will provide a better understanding of Guyana’s PWD situation. “As with any marginalised group or subset of the population, knowing where the people are helps you to better plan. It helps in a major way,” commented
Ganesh Singh, Programme Coordinator of the Guyana Council of Organizations for PWD Ganesh Singh, Programme Coordinator of the Guyana Council of Organisations for PWD. “Once you know the number of persons you can advocate and better plan. And it’s not just in planning
10
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Taxi driver homeless after fire
Phoenix Wilson A twenty-nine-year-old taxi driver is counting his losses, after a fire, which is believed to be an act of arson, destroyed his possessions. The fire occurred at approximately 19:00hrs on Sunday. Phoenix Wilson of Lot 2B, East Canje Public Road, said he had just finished
working when he went to a wash bay, and, within minutes, a friend of his conveyed that his house was on fire. Wilson added that, by the time he reached the scene, the entire building was burnt to the ground. He explained that the building had three apartments and he has been renting a one-bedroom section for the past 12 years. Speaking with reporters, Wilson said he was baffled as to who might want to set fire to the building. He noted that, while at the scene on Sunday evening, he was told that the fire was around the entire house. He added that three nights before, he heard sounds in the yard around midnight and when he woke the next morning, all his
The Lot 2B, East Canje Public Road house, after the fire clothes that were hung on the line were missing and a jersey was burnt. After that
incident, he started to come home early and be attentive; however, he believes the
perpetrator might have been watching his moves. He estimated his losses to
be about $2M. An investigation into the fire is ongoing.
‘Lucky’ wanted for killing ‘Sensei’ ONEIL Halley, also known as “Lucky”, is wanted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in connection with the murder of Garfield Newton called “Sensei”, on December 24, 2021. Sensei Garfield Newton of the Black Hawks Martial Arts was shot dead in Albouystown during a robbery in Campbell Street, Albouystown, Georgetown. Newton, who was a self-defense enthusiast, was killed after he had collected a quantity of his jewellery from
Wanted: Oneil Halley a goldsmith in the area where he had taken same to be repaired.
In early January 2022, Judah Vickerie called “Culture” and Darren Baley, called “Fifty” appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of “Sensi”. They were both remanded to prison. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Halley also known as “Lucky”, whose last known add re s s w a s t h e We s t Ruimveldt, Squatting Area, Georgetown, is asked to call 225-3650, 225-3061, 911 or contact the nearest police station.
Spending of education cash grants to be monitored in 2022
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, February 8, 2022
11
- Minister Manickchand says
WITH a massive increase in the 2022 budget for the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant and uniform vouchers, which will see parents receiving $30,000 per child, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, has noted that there will be monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the purpose of the investment is realised. The money is to be used by parents to offset expenses associated with sending their children to school, thereby decreasing the number of dropouts. However, there have been concerns that some parents are not using the money for its intended purpose. Minister Manickchand noted that there will be some parents facing social constraints, which forces them to direct the money towards other household needs. How-
ever, the inclusion of other social safety nets in the budget are geared to assistance with such, she added. The Education Ministry will be on the lookout for parents who are not spending the money on school supplies. “The fact that we are putting parents back to work and we are giving them a better opportunity to send their children to school … that will help. However, in all of that there will be persons who need more forceful or firmer encouragement and we are prepared to do that… in the interest of the children we are serving,” Minister Manickchand noted. Started in 2014 with $10,000 per child, the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant was cancelled the following year under the APNU+AFC government. It recommenced
in the 2021 under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), and was increased to $15,000 per child, in addition to the $4,000 uniform voucher. In the 2022 budget, the cash grant has been increased to $25,000 and the uniform voucher to $5,000. The money is part of the Ministry of Education’s (MoE’s) direct assistance to address the issue of school dropout, particularly at a time when the development of the country’s human resource is pivotal to the growing oil and gas sector. School dropout has been a serious issue over the years, and was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which began in March 2020, and saw the physical closure of schools. By September 2021, at least 1,000 primary school
Money approved for final payment for offshore patrol vessel MONEY has been approved in Budget 2022 for the final payment for the Offshore Patrol Vessel. The first payment of $618 million was made through the 2021 budget for the $2.3 billion patrol vessel. This was disclosed by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, on Monday, in the Committee of Supply. The minister was being questioned by the parliamentary opposition on the budgeted sum for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The $2.8 billion budgeted for capital projects for the GDF will also strengthen the capacity of the force. While she could not give details due to security concerns, she noted that there is accountability through the auditor general, the public accounts review and internal audits. “The fact is that [with respect to] our Guyana Defence Force, we need to make sure they are properly equipped and trained to do the job they have, according
Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira to the Constitution, which is sive Economic Zone (EEZ). to defend our territory and “We have a border issue. to ensure we live in a secure We have our waters where environment,” Minister Teix- there were incursions. We eira stated. have one old vessel and, However, as it relates therefore, a decision was to the patrol vessel, when taken that we could acquire the first payment was made a new one,” the minister had in 2021, the minister had said in 2021. relayed in the Committee The patrol vessel is beof Supply that it would be ing constructed by United utilised by the Coast Guard States company, Metal to patrol the country’s Exclu- Shark. (DPI)
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand pupils from the public school system had dropped out of school as a result of the pandemic. Additionally, over 500 Grade Six pupils did not turn up to write the 2021 Na-
tional Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). Meanwhile, according to statistics in the Education Sector Plan (ESP) 2021 – 2025, only 50 per
cent of students who are enrolled in secondary schools remain until the final grade, with five regions falling below this national average.
12
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Global food prices rise in January
A rice field in Cambodia (FAO) THE gauge for world food prices went up in January, largely catalysed by supply-side constraints for vegetable oils, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has reported The FAO Food Price Index averaged 135.7 points in January, 1.1 per cent higher than in December. The Index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities. The FAO Vegetable Oils Price Index led the rebound in January, increasing by 4.2 per cent month-on-month and reversing its December decline to reach an all-time high.
Quotations for all major oils rose, also supported by rising crude oil prices. Palm oil prices were largely underpinned by concerns over a possible reduction in export availabilities from Indonesia, the world’s leading exporter, while soy oil prices were supported by robust import purchases, particularly from India, rapeseed oil prices were pushed up by lingering supply tightness, and sunflowerseed oil quotations were impacted by supply tightness and surging global import demand. Referring to the latest vegetable oils price increase, Boubaker Ben-Belhassen, Director of FAO’s Markets and Trade Division said:
“Reduced export availabilities on top of other supplyside constraints, especially labour shortages and unfavourable weather, largely pushed vegetable oil prices up to an all-time high. There is a concern the impacts of these constraints will not ease quickly.” The FAO Dairy Price Index increased by 2.4 percent, its fifth consecutive monthly rise, with the steepest increases registered for skim milk powder and butter. Reduced export availabilities from Western Europe and below-average expectations for milk production in Oceania in the months ahead contributed to the tightening in global dairy markets, as
did processing and transportation delays linked to COVID-19-related labour shortages. MARGINAL INCREASE The FAO Cereal Price Index in January increased marginally, by 0.1 per cent, from December. Maize export prices rose by 3.8 per cent during the month, spurred by worries about persistent drought conditions in South America, while world wheat prices declined by 3.1 per cent on the back of large harvests in Australia and Argentina. Lower harvests and steady purchases by Asian buyers led to a 3.1 per cent monthly increase in international rice prices. The FAO Meat Price Index increased slightly in January, with world bovine meat prices reaching a new peak as global import demand exceeded export supplies, while ovine and poultry meat prices softened as exportable supplies outstripped import demand. Pig meat quotations rose slightly, in part due to
rising input costs dampening global supply. The FAO Sugar Price Index was the only subindex to post a decrease in January, down 3.1 per cent from the previous month due to favourable production prospects in major exporters India and Thailand, as well as improved rains and lower ethanol prices in Brazil. NEW CEREAL FORECASTS FAO also updated its forecast for world cereal production in 2021, now standing at 2 793 million tonnes, a 0.8 per cent increase from the previous year. Global wheat output in 2021 is expected to be on par with 2020, while the production of coarse grains is projected to be 1.3 per cent larger and that of rice to grow by 0.7 per cent, according to FAO’s latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief. For 2022, global wheat plantings are expected to expand, buoyed by mostly conducive weather conditions in
the northern hemisphere, although high input costs could deter a larger expansion. The outlook for maize is robust, with high prices pointing to record plantings in Argentina and Brazil. Worldwide cereal utilisation in 2021/22 is forecast to increase by 1.6 per cent year-on-year, pointing to a likely decline in the world cereal stocks-to-use ratio to 28.7 per cent, slightly lower than the previous year’s but still a historically comfortable level. FAO’s latest forecast for world trade in cereals in 2021/22 stands at 481 million tonnes, up 0.4 per cent from the previous marketing year and a record level. This reflects expectations of a 2.0 per cent increase in global wheat trade and an almost 4.0 per cent increase in the volume of globally traded rice, more than offsetting a 1.5 per cent contraction anticipated for coarse grains. (FAO)
Man killed while intervening in Leopold Street shooting
CARLOS DeShawn Waithe, 24, a clothes vendor of Lot 2 Norton Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, was killed Sunday night in Leopold Street between Breda and Smyth Streets, Georgetown. According to police investigators, the clothes vendor and several friends were consuming alcohol earlier in the night in Charlestown after which Waithe then told them he was heading to a popular bar and left. About 04:00 hours, Carlos Waithe showed up at a popular bar on Breda Street in the company of an identifiable male, who got into an argument with several males at the bar which caused him to run east on Leopold Street towards Smyth Street. The men gave chase during which several explosions (suspected to be gunshots) were heard. Waithe subsequently ran behind the men saying “y’all can’t shoot da man”, when the men turned on him
Dead: Carlos DeShawn Waithe (Waithe) and an argument ensued. Two more suspected gunshots were heard and Waithe fell to the ground. The injured man was picked up and taken to
Woodlands Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. No one has been arrested so far as police investigations continue.
CJIA hosts clean-up exercise
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, February 8, 2022
13
Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy (second from left), assisting with the clean-up THE Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), on Sunday, teamed up with the Soesdyke Neighbourhood Democratic Council, the Prime Minister’s Community Liaison Office, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Police Force (GPF) and residents of the community to conduct a clean-up exercise from Timehri North to the Soesdyke junction. According to a statement from the CJIA, the exercise
was in keeping with President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision to improve and maintain the cleanliness of communities. Also participating in the exercise were Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill; Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy; Chairman of CJIA’s Board of Directors, Sanjeev Datadin and Director, Daun Ellis. Commenting on the exercise, Datadin noted that the
objective was to raise awareness, while promoting a safe and healthy environment. He said: “I believe our objective for the activity has been met. I am pleased to see the number of persons, who turned out to support this cause. It shows that persons in the community are willing to make that first step towards enhancing their environment.” Several businesses in the Timehri/Soesdyke area,
Motorcyclist dies after riding into pothole
Dead: Dave Taylor DAVE Taylor, 23, of Laluni Creek, Linden/Soesdyke Highway died on Saturday last after he rode into a pothole on Laluni Access
Road, Linden/Soesdyke Highway. According to the reports, Taylor was riding motorcycle with registration CL 3900,
with pillion rider, Vishal Bahadur, 17, west along the southern side of the said road, at a fast rate of speed, when he entered a pothole with water and lost control of the cycle. As a result, he and the pillion rider fell to the road surface. They were picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where Dave Taylor was pronounced dead on arrival. Vishal Bahadur was seen, examined and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was further seen and examined by a doctor on duty, treated and admitted a patient for observation. The body of the deceased is currently lying at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting post mortem as investigation continues.
Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill (centre) participating in the clean-up exercise including AGM Mining, Deals Unlimited, Nook’s Restaurant, Camille’s Academy, Mahase Sawmill, SD Investments, Bounty Farm and Rubis Gas Station, supported the exercise. Chairman of the Soesdyke NDC, Bhupendra Deokie, said: “It was a major success…. I am looking forward to collaborating with the airport on more projects such as this.” Meanwhile, Minister
Edghill commended the initiative and emphasised the government’s zero-tolerance approach to littering and support of strong measures to deter such “unwholesome” practices. “This is a commendable effort by CJIA and team and I am hoping that this will encourage a change in mindset and persons will become cognisant of the important role they play in maintaining their communities,” he was
quoted as saying. The clean-up campaign is part of ongoing efforts to enhance and beautify the Timehri/Soesdyke area. Among the projects that will be launched shortly is the yard-front enhancement initiative where persons residing along the access road from the airport will be encouraged to spruce up their front yard.
14
Akeem Edwards
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Convict gets 47 years for killing fellow inmate C O N V I C T E D ro b b e r Akeem Edwards was on Monday sentenced to 47 years imprisonment for killing fellow inmate Teon Smith during an altercation at the Mazaruni Prison in 2014. The sentence was imposed by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the High Court in Essequibo, who ordered that Edwards
serve a minimum of 30 years before he is eligible for parole. In December 2021, a 12-member jury found Edwards guilty of the crime which stated that on September 14, 2014, he murdered Smith. At the time of the murder, Smith was serving a five-year prison sentence for robbery under arms, while Edwards was serving 10 years for several offences of a similar nature. It is alleged that on September 14, 2014, the men were involved in an altercation at the Mazaruni Prison. Edwards reportedly armed himself with a sharp object
and fatally stabbed Smith. According to a probation report which was read in court on Monday, Edwards is known for being involved in criminal activities which resulted in him being jailed for 10 years for a series of armed robbery offences at just 18 years old. However, four years before his release, he murdered Smith. State Counsel Tiffini Lyken asked the court to send a strong message, since Edwards is known for being disrespectful to his peers and prison staff while behind bars. He was allegedly also involved in criminal activities while behind bars.
In her sentencing, the judge said that she considered that the convict showed no regard for the law or authority. She also highlighted that Edwards also showed no remorse for his action which resulted in the loss of a life. Based on the aforementioned consideration, the judge said that based on Edwards’ previous convictions and his actions, there is a likelihood of him reoffending. As such, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced Edwards to 47 years and ordered prison authorities to deduct the time spent on remand.
‘Dingo’ gets 38 years for raping woman
Odingo Emmanuel, called ‘Dingo’ HIGH Court Judge, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Monday sentenced Odingo Emmanuel, called ‘Dingo,’ to 38 years, five months for raping a 36-year-old woman at Imbaimadai Landing, Upper Mazaruni River. In December 2021, a 12-member jury found him guilty of engaging in sexual penetration with the woman on August 11, 2018, without her consent. During his sentencing hearing at the Sexual Offences Court of the Essequibo High Court, Emmanuel maintained his innocence and told the court that the allegation was fabricated by the victim. A probation report was read in court by a probation officer, who said that based on the investigations she conducted in the community where the crime occurred, Emmanuel is
known for committing similar crimes when he imbibes. However, the incidents were not reported. The probation officer asked the court to send a strong message to like-minded offenders that females are not objects to satisfy the lust of savage men, who stalk women and have their ways as if they are living in a lawless society. The victim’s impact statement was read in court by the prosecutor, Tiffini Lyken. The victim, in her statement, said, “ You [Emmanuel] left a stigma on my life.” She explained that because of Emmanuel, not only was she raped, but now she is left to live with the stigma of being a victim of a sex crime. “ I can never forget the terrible ordeal of what happened, but for peace of mind, I forgive you. I hope that when you’re in your cell you think about your actions…. I will never forget this tragedy,” the woman said. The judge, before passing her sentence, told the court that among other things, she considered that Emmanuel’s actions were premeditated and that he could have exposed the victim to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), since he did not use a condom during the rape. She also considered the trauma and the breach of trust Emmanuel had committed. Emmanuel could possibly be parolled after serving a minimum of 30 years. According to reports, Emmanuel is known to the victim and her reputed husband. On the day in question, the victim came home to find Emmanuel in her house. After throwing her to the ground, he allegedly proceeded to rape her. The assault was, however, interrupted when the victim’s reputed husband came home and pulled Emmanuel off of her. Emmanuel somehow managed to escape, but was later arrested.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, February 8, 2022
15
Essequibo Dharmic Nawjawan elects new executives THE Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Essequibo Coast Dharmic Nawjawan on Sunday elected new members to serve as its executives. The election was conducted by the Central Dharmic Naujawan and saw scores of youths in Region Two taking up important positions. Arvin Singh was elected chairperson of the body; Priya Nauth as VicePresident and secretary, Ravindra Deowattie. Karishma Sankar and Kimberley Bharrat will assist Deowattie. Ramona Sharma will serve as treasurer with Manisha Persaud assisting her. The committee members are Pryshmi Oodit, Yogeeta Oodit, Tinnadai Naraine, Suraj Jeewan, Devendra Sookdeo, Kavita Leandaial and Sohinie Das. Chairperson of the Central Dharmic Naujawan, Tiffany Bissessar congratulated the new executive
and encouraged them to do more community work. She also pledged the central executive’s support in working with the groups. She tasked the newly elected group to ensure that they focus on tackling social ills in society and to implement programmes to deal with same. Many of the youths also requested public- speaking forums. Singh, who replaced Indrawattie Natram, gave his commitment to moving the Naujawan forward. He also called on youths to join the body and to be involved in volunteerism. Outgoing President Natram also congratulated the new executive and urged them to ensure that they look out for the most vulnerable in society. Natram also shared her experience in volunteerism and some of the opportunities it had afforded her. President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindhya Persaud, congratu-
Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Essequibo Coast Dharmic Nawjawan executives with members from the Central Dharmic Naujawan lated the new executive and said the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha looks forward to working with the team of young people. At the end of the elections, clothing was distributed to children in need. The group also intends to host more dancing classes.
16
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Home Affairs Ministry replaces Kwakwani’s inoperable fire tender
AFTER living in fear for almost a year, residents of Kwakwani can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the community’s lone fire tender, which has been inoperable, was, on Saturday, replaced courtesy of the Ministry of Home Affairs. In November last year, the Guyana Chronicle had reported that while there had not been any reports of fires or any other trag-
edies in the community, residents were living in fear. Their concerns and anxieties were heightened as the firefighters in the area were not fully equipped to respond to an emergency. Region 10 councillor, Mark Goring, during a routine visit to the community last year, had voiced these concerns on behalf of the residents regarding the inoperable
fire tender. Goring, in sharing an update on Sunday with the Guyana Chronicle, said that residents are now at ease. “Residents now feel much safer. They are at ease that they actually get a fire tender that can prevent a fire. It’s a sense of protection now, so they can continue with their normal life and not be in fear of a fire,” Goring said. Back in November 2021, the-then Fire Chief, Kalamodeen Edoo, had indicated that a maintenance team had been sent to the community to inspect the vehicle. It was later determined that critical parts were in need of replacement, which would have to be outsourced. The fire tender has been replaced with a refurbished one.
The fire tender that was handed over to the community of Kwakwani
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, February 8, 2022
17
Health Ministry sees ‘very good results’ using remdesivir, baricitinib to treat COVID-19 MINISTER of Health Dr Frank Anthony has indicated that medical personnel attached to the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal, continue to yield positive results from the use of remdesivir and baricitinib to treat positive COVID-19 patients. In making the disclosure during his COVID-19 update on Friday, the minister said that both drugs are “antiretrovirals” and have the main use of interrupting the life cycle of the virus. He noted that health facilities treating local COVID-19 patients have been utilising the medication for the past two months and have seen “very good results.” “We’ve been using it for the last two or three months at the Ocean View hospital and for most of the patients that [sic] have received it, they got better outcome[s]. So, we will continue to do so. It’s now part of our guidelines and we were very pleased,” said Dr Anthony. The incorporation of the two drugs into the local COVID-19 treatment comes
just a month after the WHO recommended baricitinib for treating the disease. A statement by the WHO on January 14, 2022, states, “Baricitinib is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical COVID-19. It is part of a class of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that suppress the overstimulation of the immune system. WHO recommends that it be given with corticosteroids.” OTHER TREATMENTS Meanwhile, Minister Anthony noted that other treatment options are also being explored at the COVID-19 treatment facilities across the country, including the use of monoclonal antibodies, which was one of the leading treatments for COVID-19 patients. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses, like the COVID-19 virus. Dr Anthony noted, however, that since the virus can and has continued to mutate
Two arrested after CANU finds ‘ganja’ worth $4.5M
TWO men were on Monday arrested with $4.5 million in cannabis in a motorcar at #51 village, Corentyne, Berbice, by agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). According to a release from CANU, Michael Embrack, 37, of Fort Ordinance, East Canje, Berbice and Randolph Job, 34, of Number 51 Village, Corentyne, are currently in custody at CANU headquarters. The men were nabbed during a CANU operation. Ranks intercepted a car with two male occupants and later discovered several parcels of suspected cannabis. The men were arrested and escorted to CANU headquarters along with the suspected narcotics. The narcotics were tested and proven to be cannabis weighing a total of 15.104 kg or 33.3pounds, with a street value of approximately $4,540,000.00.
over time, certain treatments using the monoclonal antibodies have proven less effective, especially against the more recent omicron variant. “Monoclonals have been useful for some categories of patients, but what we have noticed with omicron and this is globally is that it is not as effective against omicron or at least some of the older
combinations.” Minister Anthony noted that currently medical researchers are coming up with newer combinations that are expected to boost its effectiveness at tackling the omicron variant. Further, he disclosed that should this combination be successful, the government will seek to purchase the treatment.
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony
18
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, February 8, 2022
19
20
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 8, 2022
21
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 8, 2022
CWI Regional Championship to start tomorrow ‒ Harpy Eagles to open against Volcanoes at Queens Park
Cricket West Indies (CWI), today, announced that the West Indies Championship 2022 will start on Wednesday, February 9, marking the return of first-class cricket in the region since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. CWI has unveiled the match schedule for the first two rounds of the West Indies Championship which form part of a five-round tournament schedule for the six professional regional franchises. The West Indies Championship marks not only a return of the regional red ball competition, but also the opportunity for West Indian players to stake their claim for selection to the West Indies Test squad for the forthcoming Apex Test Series between West Indies and England in March 2022. The first and second rounds will be played in Barbados and Trinidad from Wednesday, February 9 to Saturday, February 12; and
from Tuesday, February 15 to Friday, February 18. The teams will again compete for the Headley/Weekes Trophy named in honour of West Indies legends, George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes. Defending champions, Barbados Pride, who won the last edition of the West Indies Championship in 2020, will face Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the first match at Kensington Oval; home team Trinidad and Tobago Red Force host Jamaica Scorpions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad; while the newly named Guyana Harpy Eagles face Windward Islands Volcanoes at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. In the second round, Barbados Pride face Jamaica Scorpions at Kensington Oval; Trinidad and Tobago Red Force take on Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy; and Guyana Harpy Eagles meet Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Queen’s Park Oval.
The last three rounds of the West Indies Championship are scheduled to be contested in May. For the 2022 tournament, each squad will consist of fifteen players, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CWI is also implementing a special “player loan” system to try to ensure that each team will be able to complete their fixtures. If a team has a player(s) ruled out due to a positive COVID-19 result, they can request to use a player(s) from another team and/or from a pool of locally registered reserve players. Johnny Grave, CEO of CWI, commented on how the West Indies Championship is a critical part of CWI’s professional cricket calendar. Jimmy Adams, CWI’s Director of Cricket also welcomed the return of the four-day format. “Following detailed planning over the past six months, we are delighted to finally announce the return of the West Indies Championship.
This is exciting news as we know the teams have been putting in hours of hard work in the nets, patiently waiting for the matches to be confirmed and are looking forward to being back on the field and entertaining their fans. These upcoming matches are especially crucial as we host England in the Apex Test Series in March, so the ‘Championship’ will be the ideal preparation for our Test players as well,” Grave said. Adams said: “I am pleased to see the re-introduction of regional four-day cricket for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. This competition plays a critical role in our player-development pathway and, after almost two years, we are delighted to have our regional players back playing competitively in this format.” LIVE ball-by-ball scoring of each game will be available through the www. windiescricket.com match centre. CWI will be stream-
ing each of the matches with commentary via the Windies cricket YouTube channels. The Championship will also be streamed live in India on FanCode, as part of CWI’s partnership with the Indian broadcaster. MATCH SCHEDULE Round 1 – February 9-12 Barbados Pride v Leeward Island Hurricanes at Kensington Oval Windward Islands Volcanoes v Guyana Harpy Eagles at Queen’s Park Oval Trinidad and Tobago Red Force v Jamaica Scorpions at Brian Lara Cricket Academy Round 2 – February 15-18 Barbados Pride v Jamaica Scorpions at Kensington Oval Guyana Harpy Eagles v Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Queen’s Park Oval Trinidad and Tobago Red Force v Windward Islands Volcanoes at Brian Lara Cricket Academy
Walsh pleased with Women's team despite series loss Despite the West Indies Women’s One Day International (ODI) series defeat to South Africa Women, head coach Courtney Walsh said he was pleased with the performance and grit shown by the team. The Caribbean women handed the hosts a 2-1 series win on Sunday after crashing to a six-wicket defeat in the decisive fourth ODI that was played without injured captain Stafanie Taylor and Chedean Nation. But speaking after the match, Walsh said there were some positives coming out of the tour, which was their last series before the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup scheduled to begin next month in New Zealand. “It was pleasing to see Deandra [Dottin] getting those scores and then Kycia Knight with back-to-back scores – that was very pleas-
quarantine in New Zealand will give them time to recover. “When we leave South Africa we have a 10-day stint of doing nothing, we won’t be outdoors at all. So, I’m hoping that over those 10 days all injuries will be healed or close to being healed…. I’m hoping at the end of the quarantine
time everybody should hopefully be back to 90 per cent-95 per cent fitness and if that happens I’d be very happy to start the World Cup [in good stead],” the head coach said. West Indies will play the opening match of the World Cup against the hosts at Bay Oval, Tauranga on March 4.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday February 8, 2022)
COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Head Coach Courtney Walsh
ing to me…. [Afy Fletcher] hasn’t played in over a year, so having her back out was something we wanted to get done on this tour,” he said. “I’m very satisfied with the outing. Obviously disappointed that we lost the series but more disappointed with
the injuries we picked up,” the former West Indies fast bowler added. Taylor suffered a concussion in the third ODI last Thursday while Nation sustained a neck injury while fielding in the same match. Walsh is hoping the 10-day
Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Gordon Greenidge-106* (Birmingham, 1979) (2) Mohinder Amarnauth-100* (Faridabad, 1988) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the first WI/IND ODI game in the current series? (2) Who was voted Man of the Match? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
22
Junior Caribbean Squash Championships return to Guyana in July BY virtue of St. Vincent and the Grenadines relinquishing their hosting rights, and the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) being willing to be an alternative host, approval was granted by the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) for the hosting of the Junior Championships in July. Guyana had hosted the Junior CASA in 2017, when they came second to Barbados after holding the title for 12 consecutive years. GSA Vice-President, David Fernandes, told media operatives, on Sunday, that they are elated to be hosting the event and are confident it was the right decision made by CASA given the increasing vaccination rates. “What is great about it, is that for two years, the Juniors have not been able to play a Caribbean Championship, so we felt it was imperative for us to try and make the event a success for them”, Fernandes said. He further revealed it will be the final year for Caribbean champions, Shomari Wiltshire and Abosaide Cadogan, and hosting will add greater emotions to their ‘swan song’ as Junior players. The Championships are expected to be held no later than mid-July and are expected to be well represented with 150 competitors from in excess of seven countries. He informed that the athletes, along with their
GSA Vice-President, David Fernandes
families, would be fully vaccinated and there would be testing in an attempt to have a ‘bubble’ at the Georgetown Club Courts and the National Racquet Centre. In 2019, GSA hosted the Senior Caribbean Championship, but since that year there has been no Caribbean event owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The GSA head is looking forward to continued support from the Private Sector and the Guyana Olympic Association for another successful hosting of the event.
Pollard wants batsmen to post better totals CMC – With West Indies again failing to make it through the entire 50 overs of a One-Day International (ODI) encounter, captain Keiron Pollard said the batsmen will have to step up their game to present a challenge to India in the remaining two games of their three-match series. And he said the squad will be using the few days before the next match to work on their game. India outplayed West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday to win the match by six wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the series. The visitors were sent in to bat and only reached 177 off 43.5 overs. India easily erased the target, reaching 178-4 with 22 overs to spare. Acknowledging that it was “a heavy defeat”, Pollard said after the match that the batsmen had, generally, again come up short.
“Again, same old for us not being able to bat 50 overs, getting trouble between that 10 to 30 mark, losing five wickets, being 77 for 5. We gotta take stock of that. We gotta dig deeper, we gotta get better with our techniques – myself included in terms of that because we have all been guilty sometimes of making mistakes,” said the skipper who missed a drive at a googly and was dismissed for a golden duck. “I thought getting four wickets there showed that once we put some runs on the board we might be able to compete.” The West Indies skipper added that while the result was not what they wanted, there were some bright sparks in the match, including lower order batsmen Jason Holder (57) and Fabian Allen (29). At one stage in Sunday’s match, West Indies were re-
duced to 79-7 before Holder and Allen combined to push them over 150. Pollard also singled out Alzarri Joseph who accounted for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the same over and also effected the run-out of left-hander Rishabh Pant. Joseph, the highest-ranked West Indies bowler on the ICC’s ODI rankings at number 26, ended with figures of 2-45 “The enthusiasm is there…. At least we can go, think about it, see if we can work on a couple technical flaws in the couple days, and come back and see what happens,” he said. The second and third matches will be held at the same venue on Wednesday and Friday. Following their ODI series, West Indies will play three Twenty20 Internationals at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on February 16, 18 and 20.
Forty-four fast bowlers selected for Sir Ambrose's bowling clinic
Shomari Wiltshire will be in his final year as a Junior player
GCB saddened at passing of stalwart administrator Jerry Permaul The President, Executive Committee and Members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) are saddened at the passing of Mr. Jerry Permaul. Permaul was a former club cricketer who participated in cricket tournaments on the East Coast Demerara as well as a former President of the Enmore Cricket Club and also of the East Coast Cricket Board. He was a member of the Special Committee which was responsible for constituting the East Coast Cricket Umpires Association.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 8, 2022
In association with other outstanding cricket personalities of East Coast Demerara, including SK Singh and Moses Bhagwan, Permaul dedicated much of his time and energy to the development of cricket in that region. Because of his institutional memory of East Coast cricket, Jerry continued his outstanding cricket administrative duties until his departure to take up residence in Canada. He co-ordinated tournaments for the Guyana Cricket Board, excelling in many positions on the GCB’s sub-committees,
especially those assigned for international tours. He was also a Vice-President and senior selector of the Demerara Cricket Board. Jerry Permaul was a highly committed individual who placed great emphasis on the time implementation and perfection of activities undertaken. He will be fondly remembered for his helpfulness and pleasant demeanor. The GCB hereby expresses sincere condolences to the family members of the late Jerry Permaul.
FORTY-FOUR fast bowlers from Berbice have been selected by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) for the upcoming Sir Curtly Ambrose Fast Bowling Clinic. The three-day event is set for Friday February 11 to Sunday February 13 at the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club ground. According to information from the BCB, players selected should be at the ground by 08:30hrs, with their vaccination cards. The legendary West Indies fast bowler's visit is being facilitated by overseas-based Guyanese, Dr
South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:15 hrs Al Qaasini 08:50 hrs Franca 09:25 hrs Savannah Winter 10:00 hrs Mach Four 10:35 hrs Forged By Fire Turffontein 09:10 hrs Power Broker 09:45 hrs Lady Osier 10:20 hrs Eagle River 10:55 hrs Thumbs Up 11:30 hrs Winter Stories 12:05 hrs Desert Miracle
Frank Denbow, who initiated the idea of the clinic to the BCB and contributed the funds needed for its success. Lunch and snacks will be provided to all of the players during the clinic. Those selected include West Indies U-19 fast bowler, Isai Thorne, Daniel Vivickanand, Christopher Ogle, Arvin Jaikaran, Trisha Hardat, Darshanie Subramanie, Natran Gill, Shamar Joseph, Gevon Schultz, Isia Anderson, Joel Davis, Collis Hardcourt, Nicholas Ishar, Arif Khan, Shiv Harripersaud, Dave Pretipaul, Khemraj Tika, Sohail Hardwar, Christopher Deeroop, Arif Esau, 12:40 hrs Safe Passage 13:15 hrs Victoria Paige 13:50 hrs Marchingontogether 14:20 hrs Mk’s Pride English Racing Tips Taunton 09:15 hrs Doctor Parnassus 09:50 hrs Iberio 10:25 hrs Walk In Clover 11:00 hrs Wigglesworth 11:35 hrs Dr T J Eckleburg 12:10 hrs Majestic Merlin 12:45 hrs Gallopade Southwell 13:00 hrs Tell’em Nowt
Manoo Inasi, Nareem Khan, Shamal Angel, Quincy Alder, Demetri Cameron, Steven Kamalal, Joel Cort, Devendra Latchman, Omal Saul, Arvin Jowahir, Nicholas Hall, Nicholas Lepps, Adrian Hetmyer, Ronny James, Adrian Norton, Jonathan Outar, Teon Campbell, Sylus Tyndal, Leon Swammy, Keon Sinclair, Chris Harry, Javed Karim, Kevlon Anderson and Raymond Vankenie. According to information from the board, any senior fast bowler left out can make contact with BCB President Hilbert Foster on telephone number 3374562. 13:30 hrs Soaring Star 14:00 hrs Lord Neidin 14:30 hrs Love Your Work 15:00 hrs Sweet Mist 15:30 hrs Solo Saxophone American Racing Tips Mahoning Valley Race 1 Hunter Scott Race 2 Goodbyellowbrickrd 10:40 hrs Brody’s Jessica 11:08 hrs Cosmic Treasure 11:36 hrs Khalfani 12:04 hrs Escape Fund 12:33 hrs Tramore Bay
23
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 8, 2022
Three dozen to battle in GTTA Men’s Singles this weekend ‒ Dominant Van Lange will look to make his mark THE high-level performance by 15-year-old Jonathan Van Lange in the 2022 National Table Tennis Championships has pushed him up the order in his quest to challenge for the coveted Men’s Singles title. More than likely it would either be three-time defending champion, Christopher Franklin or former Caribbean U-21 champion, Shemar Britton, who would win the title, but after winning the U-21 title, the ‘B’ class title and the Men’s Doubles title with Britton over the weekend, Van Lange would go into next weekend’s Men’s single as a legitimate contender. Although he is probably a year or two away from seriously challenging for the title, his performance throughout the championships would give him the push to battle hard and possibly create a few upsets. The Men’s Singles was originally expected to take place on Sunday last, but due
to a large number of participants (36), it was postponed to February 12-13. On Saturday, the preliminary rounds are expected to take place, while from Sunday afternoon, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will take place. DOMINANCE Late last month, Van Lange marched through the junior division, winning the Boy’s Doubles (with Niran Bissu) and the Mixed Doubles (with Jasmine Billingy), before he won the U-19 Boys singles. Last weekend, he easily won the U-21 title, while his performance with Britton en route to the Men’s Doubles was exceptional, but it was his ‘B’ Class Open championship win against Miguel Wong that pushed him to the next level. In that game, which was played on Sunday evening, Van Lange used his experience and calculated stroke-
play to bounce back from a game down to beat Wong 4-2 (7-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8 and 11-3). To reach the final, he defeated Devon Richmond (12-10, 11-6, 11-8, 11-13, 8-11, 11-5) in the round of 16; Warren Hackshaw 4-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6) in the quarter-final; and Krystian Sahadeo 4-0 (11-7, 12-10, 11-4, 11-9) in the semi-final. Wong, on the other hand, had defeated Ebo McNeil 5-2 (11-4, 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5) in the round of 16; Levi Percival 4-1 (115, 11-6, 11-6, 9-11 and 11-5) in the quarter-final; and his younger brother Colin Wong 4-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-5 and 114) in the semi-final. Colin Wong and Sahadeo were adjudged joint thirdplace winners. FEMALE BATTLE Chelsea Edghill, who did not participate in the 2020 National Championships, easily disposed of defending
Jonathan Van Lange has won six titles over the last three weeks of play
champion, Natalie Cummings in the final of the event on Sunday evening. Edghill, an Olympian, has continuously improved over the years and was a strong favourite for the title this year. That game finished 4-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-4 and 11-7). In the semi-finals of the event, Edghill defeated Priscilla Greaves 4-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-2, 11-3), while Cummings disposed of Crystal Melville 4-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-5 and
Chelsea Edghill easily won the Women’s Singles
Saalih Rahim won the ‘C’ Class Open
11-3). Melville and Greaves finished joint third.
11-6, 11-2). Rahim had defeated Billingy 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 117, 11-9) in the quarter-final and Vicente Omar Henery 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-9) in the semi-final. Jackman had gotten the better of Abdool Aleem Rahim 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-8) in the quarter-final and Walter Marcus 3-2 (9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9). Henery and Marcus were crowned joint thirdplace finishers.
‘C’ CLASS BATTLE In 2019, former Isa Islamic School student, Saalih Rahim, had finished second in the Open Boys’ Rookie/ Novices Singles, this year, at the age of 17, he was able to win the ‘C’ Class Open. In the clash on Sunday evening, he came from twonil down to beat Ishaka Jackman 3-2 (6-11, 7-11, 11-7,
Regional Boxing Associations calling on Guyana to host Caribbean Championships THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) president, Steve Ninvalle, is receiving calls from a number of his equals from around the Region, for the ‘Land of Many Waters’ to host this year’s Caribbean Boxing Championships. The competition, described as an important pillar for the development of the sport in the Caribbean, has not been held since 2019 when it was last hosted in Trinidad and Tobago. Guyana played host to the prestigious boxing event in 2015 and 2018 and it is against this backdrop that David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, president of the St Lucia Boxing Association, believes that the GBA should be the host for this year’s event. Christopher is being supported by the presidents of Trinidad, Suriname and Grenada. “Mr Ninvalle already has the blueprint, the knowhow and the experience and I think that other presidents
will endorse Guyana’s hosting of this event. So I’m calling on Mr Ninvalle to come out and salvage that tournament as the Caribbean needs to return with a bang to boxing,” Christopher said. With the Commonwealth Games and the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Continental being some of the top competitions this year, ‘Shakes’ believes it is important for the Caribbean Championships to be held this year. “The Caribbean Championship is our Olympics. We have to make sure that the entire event is something that we will be proud of. My personal belief is that Mr Ninvalle can make this happen. He has done it before. So at this point in time, I am throwing my hat behind the older and more experienced head,” Christopher explained. The St Lucian added: “Our boxers are moving away from the sport and going into other ills and getting themselves involved in other
activities that are not prudent to boxing. I think we need to get boxing back into the ring to save our sport.” According to Christopher, St Maarten was earmarked to host this year’s event but according to Christopher, the boxing authorities on the Island are facing some logistical and financial issues. This, he said, was ventilated on Sunday at a meeting of some Caribbean administrators. “Dominica was earmarked also but I don’t think they have the capacity to do such (host the Caribbean Championship). So we shouldn’t try to re-invent a tournament that we lost two years. This is where all the countries/Islands come together to showcase our development and elite boxers. That is where we get ranking for the Caribbean. So without that, it’s like we’re spinning top in mud; we wouldn’t get anywhere. So again I am calling out Guyana,” Christopher concluded.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association (TTBA), Cecil Forde, also echoed Christopher’s call for the tournament to return to Guyana. Forde, one of the longest-serving boxing administrators in the region, reasoned that it is only right that the return of the championship is placed in tried and trusted hands. “This is not a time for us to experiment. The Caribbean Championship is serious business. I support 100 percent placing this premier event in the hands of Mr Ninvalle and Guyana hosting the next Caribbean Championship,” Forde said. President of the Suriname Boxing Association, Remy Burke, claimed that Guyana has remained a close ally and his country stands to benefit much if the tournament is held here. “We just have to drive over. So from a financial standpoint, Guyana being the venue is beneficial to us as we can take a much larger team as against it being
held anywhere else,” Burke said by telephone yesterday. Neil Roberts, the president of the Grenada Boxing Association believes that restarting the Championships is a priority for the region. “At the end of the day we want the championship to be held and not have excuses as to why it could not be held. It’s a foregone conclusion that my support is behind Guyana’s hosting as I personally know the level of organisation and what to expect,” Roberts declared. Guyana’s position as the top Caribbean territory in Amateur boxing was also used as one of the reasons for the Caribbean Championships to be hosted once again where it all started, but more importantly, the country’s $3.2B allocations for sports in the National Budget. Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Ninvalle said the GBA is “honoured that some of the Caribbean boxing board heads view Guyana as the appropriate place to
host the Caribbean Championships this year.” “I’m enthused about it. Personally, it shows how Guyana is viewed in the wider Caribbean as not just a producer of quality fighters but also for its organising competence. The tournament is usually held in November or December, so we have a month or two to make a final decision. However, I would go on record as saying that Guyana stands ready.” Guyana finished third at the 2019 Caribbean Boxing Championships after winning nine medals against a tough field of boxers in Trinidad and Tobago over four nights of competition at the National Cycling Centre (NCC) at Balmain, Couva. Trinidad and Tobago, which had a field of 25 boxers, are the new champions, while Barbados pipped Guyana by a single point to place second. Some 17 nations, including powerhouse Cuba, participated in the 2019 championships.
FLASHBACK! Guyana's Keevin Allicock (right) in action against Trinidadian, Anthony Joseph during the Caribbean Boxing Championships hosted in Guyana
David Christopher – St Lucia Boxing Association president
Cecil Forde – Trinidad &Tobago Boxing Association president
Steve Ninvalle – Guyana Boxing Association president
Regional Boxing Associations calling on Guyana to host Caribbean Championships
PAGE
23
Pollard wants batsmen to post better totals
Keiron Pollard
PAGE
22
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
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022