Sod turned for business centre for persons living with disabilities 12th August, 2022 FRIDAY No.106812 PAGE 07 $100PRICEVATINCLUSIVE ' PAGE 03 — Chief Justice rules President Ali acted lawfully in ‘Top Cop’ appointment Displaced Linden squatters Hickencompensationreceivepackages‘legit’ PAGE 02 Monkeypox vaccines ordered Five arrested for smuggling alcohol — Health Minister PAGE 14 PAGE 12
2 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
Displaced Linden squatters
THE families that were affected by a demolition exercise at Phase Four, Amelia’s Ward Housing Scheme, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Ber bice) in May were, on Thursday, compensated for their losses.
In a social media post from the Central Hous ing & Planning Authority (CH&PA), it was noted that 20 families were invited to sign their agreements and uplift the cheques. The ex ercise was held at Watooka House in Linden.
Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal, hands over compensation packages to the affected persons (CH&PA photos)
receive compensation packages
Housing and Water Min ister, Collin Croal and a team from the CH&PA dis tributed the Accordingcheques.tothe CH& PA post, Minister Croal thanked the persons for their patience throughout the process as he reminded them that the Ministry will continue to work to fulfil the housing demand in Re gionRecognising10. that squat ting is not an alternative for citizens, Minister Croal said that the housing drive will continue to extend to every region. He called on per sons to be more responsible and desist from squatting. During the demolition exercise in early May, two habitable structures were demolished while other structures, including fences and foundations, were also removed, the CH&PA said. “The structures were in the path of an access road. To date, some of the affected persons have been offered house lots while two have opted for housing units,” the statement said further.Late last month, Prime Minister Mark Phillips met the affected squatters at his Georgetown office to hear any concerns they might haveDuringhad. that meeting, the Prime Minister had assured residents that the government is committed to compensating those who have been affected by the demolition exercise, and to resolve their issues. PM Phillips had also maintained to the squatters that illegal occupation of government lands and lands marked for development would not be tolerated. He noted, too, that since the President Dr. Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration is people-centred and car ing, it was seen as fit to facilitate the squatters’ request to be remunerated for loss sustained.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 3
Hicken ‘legit’
CORRECTION: On page one of the Thursday, August 11 edition of the Guyana Chronicle, it was reported that Guyana earned “US$60B in profit oil, royalties for July”. The Guyana Chronicle wishes to clarify that the correct value is GY$60 billion (Six ty Billion Guyana Dollars) and not US$60 billion as was published.
CHIEF Justice (ag) Roxane George, on Thursday, ruled that President, Dr. Irfaan Ali acted lawfully when he appointed Clifton Hicken to act as Police Commissioner. The matter challenging Hicken’s appointment was brought to Court by Opposi tion Chief Whip Christopher Jones.The Chief Justice, through her ruling, refused to grant the orders sought by the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) to have the appointment of Hicken quashed and declared null andChiefvoid. Justice George not ed in her ruling that in the absence of an Opposition Leader and the Chairman of the Police Service Commis sion (PSC) at the time, the President, in keeping with Article 111 of the Constitu tion, had the capacity to make a deliberate judgement. “In an absence of a leader in the opposition to meaning fully consult with, I am of the view that out of necessity, the President could have acted and it was reasonable for him to take action in his own de liberate judgement, pursuant to Article 111, to address the circumstances of this case,” the Chief Justice said. Under usual circumstanc es, the President is required to consult with both the Oppo sition Leader and the Chair person of the Police Service Commission in keeping with Article 211 (2) of Guyana’s Constitution, before appoint ing a substantive Commis sioner of However,Police.the Chief Jus tice ruled that given the cir cumstances in which there was an absence of both offi cials integral to the process, the President had to act to ensure there was a Commis sioner of Police in place. “There could have been negative impact to national security if the highest office of such an important law enforcement agency was left vacant,” Justice George noted.In appointing Hicken to act as Commissioner of Po lice, President Ali had in dicated that he invoked the doctrine of Commission.appointmentchallengeofitPSCquashthebreysetrulingdecision.mediahadcommissioner,”sity,andIt’soutcountrycessity’.called“Therenecessity.issomethingthe‘doctrineofneShouldIallowthetofallthroughwithanactingcommissioner?thedoctrineofnecessity,inthedoctrineofnecesIappointedanactingPresidentAlisaidsometimeagoinascrumdefendinghisMeanwhile,anothercourtonasimilarmatterisforAugust23.OppositionLeaderAuNortonhadmovedtoHighCourtseekingtotheappointmentoftheChairman,claimingthatwas“illegal,null,voidandnolegaleffect.”HislegalisalsoagainsttheoftheIntegrity
Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken — Chief Justice rules President Ali acted lawfully in ‘Top Cop’ appointment
Patrick Findlay currently sits as Chairman of the re constituted PSC which also includes Attorney-at-Law Mark Conway, and business men Ernesto Choo-a-Fat, and Hakeem Mohammed. As it relates to the Integri ty Commissioners, Norton, in his challenge, is contending that President, Dr Irfaan Ali did not afford him “a reason able opportunity to express a considered opinion on the subject of the consultation.” He maintained that this is a breach of the Integrity Commission Act. The Integrity Commis sion comprises Demerara Bank Corporate Secretary, Chandra Gajraj as Chair person, along with attorney Mohamed Haniff, and for mer Solicitor General Kim Kyte-Thomas. Hardesh Ti wari and Chris Wayne Bow man are also Attorneymembers.General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, S.C., in his sub missions on that matter, contended that “undisputed evidence” reveals that Nor ton was informed in writing that Mr. Findlay was the President’s nominee for PSC Chairman.According to Nandlall, Norton himself, on April 13, voted in the National Assem bly in support of the Official Report of the Appointments Committee that recommend ed Findlay as a member of the NortonPSC. had claimed that Findlay is politically tainted since he is a “known and public supporter of the PPP/C and was a candidate for the PPP/C [in the] 2015 general and regional orthesuchmadenificantly,sions,However,elections.”inhissubmisNandlallsaid,“SigithasalreadybeenpainfullyclearthatnoallegationwasmadeatAppointmentsCommitteeintheNationalAssembly when the report from that committee was unanimous ly approved containing the names of the persons to be appointed by the President to the HePSC.”further asserted that Norton wrote a total of four of those letters in the ex change and attended one in-person meeting. “In the entirety of those engagements he offered no nominees of his own, neither did he offer any objection of any type whatsoever to Mr. Findlay, either in a letter or in the in-person meeting,” AG Nandlall said. The President, after con sultation with Findlay, offi cially nominated Hicken to act in the position of Police Commissioner.Inaletterdated June 29, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, had outlined to Nor ton the reasons why Hicken was appointed back in March. This letter also invited Nor ton to give his opinion on the subject.Inthis correspondence, it was noted that former Com missioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie proceeded on pre-retirement leave on March 30. And at the time, there was no constituted Po lice Service Commission, nor was there a person holding the post of Leader of the Opposition.Itfurther stated that hav ing regard to a number of factors, including “the pres ervation of law and order, the preservation of peace, and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations within Guyana, in the nation’s best interest and in the interest of national security,” President Ali opted to make the ap pointment rather than leave a vacuum in command and superintendence of the force. Following consultations with Findlay, the President sought to engage Norton in “meaningful consultation”, Teixeira added in her letter. Norton was given up to July 19 to give his opinion on the matter in writing. However, on July 15, his response was “put on hold” pending the outcome of the legal challenge.
Celebrating Raksha Bandhan
AS part of High Commis sion of India’s Raksha Bandhan celebrations in Guyana, the spouses of the High Commission officers tied Rakhi on President, Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday. They also tried on Prime Minister Brigadier (r’td), Mark Phillips and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Inter national Co-operation, Hugh Todd on Thursday in the pres ence of High Commissioner of India, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa. According to a release, Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi Poornima, is an in tegral part of Indian culture and the festival has become an occasion to celebrate hu man bondings, relationships and a sense of togetherness by seeking and giving pro tection.This year, the festival is being celebrated on August 11, “Raksha2022. Bandhan is an important Hindu festival to celebrate brother-sister re lationship. Raksha or Rakhi means a sacred thread and Bandhan means bonding. Raksha Bandhan is thus es sentially a celebration of bondings. It is celebrated ev ery year on a full moon night of Indian calendar month Shrawan. On this day, sisters tie the Rakhi on the wrist of their brothers. This is a symbolic ‘binding’, a sacred vow to ‘defend’, protect each other, with sister praying for the long life of her brother and the brother renewing the pledge to protect her life and honour at all costs. With the passage of time, this festival has become gender neutral. Once a family festival, today it has become a social event. Nowadays this festival is celebrated by one and all, regardless of belief systems, castes and creed. For ages, people have been celebrat ing this festival in their own way,” the release said. It noted that Raksha Bandhan celebration with the leadership of Guyana strengthens the bond between Guyana and India, to reiterate their pledge to work with each other for each other’s welfare and progress.
“Raksha Bandhan this year has a special sig nificance when the hu manity is still facing the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it gives a message of to getherness. Nobody is iso lated, no body need to feel lonely and left to himself/ herself as we are all a part of a universal family, Va sudhaiva Kutumbakam, the foundation of India’s world view and today perhaps it is extremely relevant to spread it all over the world. Long live India-Guyana friendship and partnership,” the re lease concluded.
4 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
Executive director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Dr Ronald Blake presents an award at a previous staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show held in Clarendon (Photo credit: Jamaica Observer)
An emotional Rickson Pancham during an interview with Guardian Media (Photo credit: T&T Guardian)
Today, several trophies that line Pancham’s tele vision stand only remind him of his glory days in sport. They are memories, he said, that continue to barrel through his mind as he lays trapped in his body. While he grapples to spend his days out of de spair, the thoughts of small mercies afforded to him are enough to lift his spirits. “Many people won’t know how frustrating it does be. Only the Lord have me living here, my father, my sisters and them does take care of me. Just a few people does help me, but I grateful. “Positive thoughts keep me going. People does think they have it hard but they don’t know how tough it is for me, how sad my life has become, but I am not giving up,” he Unfortunately,said.
(Jamaica Observer) - MORE Jamaicans, es pecially the youth, are taking up farming as a lucrative profession, says executive director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Dr. Ronald Blake. He noted that with an average farmer age of 48.7 years, Jamaica has one of the youngest farmer popu lations in the world, where the average age is 60. Moreover, he argued “the data [prove] that the multiplier effect of putting a dollar in agriculture is better than putting it in almost any other sector in thisDr.country.”Blakewas speaking at a handover ceremony for lease agreements to youth farmers at the Ebony Park HEART Academy in Clar endon on Tuesday. The initiative is part of the agro-parkswhichtheJamaicaandAgriculture’Corporation’sAgro-Investment‘Youthinprogrammeissupportedbythe4-HClubs.Dr.Blakenotedthatnewlyleasedlands,arespreadacrossandproductionzones,are“someofthebestfarmlandsinthecountry”.
After an accident left him paralysed, he’s been to the brink and back.
“The number of appli cations received shows that the demand for spaces is high and indicates further that “young people want to get into “Therefarming”.isnobetter in vestment,” he added. He credited the im proved attractiveness of the agriculture sector to the work of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs for more than eight decades.“Wehave continuously streamed a lot of young people, who don’t only come in the sector because they are sent but because they have a passion for it,” he said.“The young people who have decided not to turn to something else, but they are [farming] the land, I say to you, you have made the right decision and the Jamaica 4-H Clubs is there to support you,” he added. This year, 1,000 young Jamaicans will benefit from the Rural Youth Eco nomic Empowerment Pro gramme (RYEEP), which is the Jamaica 4-H Clubs’ entrepreneurial training initiative that offers vari ous forms of assistance and development opportunities to trainees. “We are training you and we are guiding you over the rough parts. Eighty per cent of small enterprises fail in the first two years but we are getting an almost 70 per cent success rate,” Dr Blake said.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 5
(T&T Guardian) - IN the face of an achievehischamchallenge,insurmountableRicksonPanhasmaintainedthatmind-setwillhelphimtheimpossible.
Speaking to Guardian Media at his Balmain, Cou va home yesterday (on Tues day), Pancham explained the horrific accident that changed his life forever. He said, “I just went with some friends to buy food, I didn’t know it would have been the last time I would have walked again. “Coming back home af ter we bought food, the car run off the road and ended up turning over on me. I was pinned and unconscious.” In that instant, the then19-year-old aspiring crick eter would commence a long and winding journey that would test his mental tenacity.Heexplained, “I spent four years at the Port-ofSpain General Hospital. I lay down straight like a pin, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t do nothing. They did an operation on my neck, they put a nut and bolt, it got slack, then they put one behind my neck and that is how I was able to talk.”
Pancham explained that his case is not one where a little goes a long“Iway.only get a little dis ability grant. I used to get a food card but not anymore. I does have to pay a doctor to put the catheter in my blad der and to get a little checkup. My medical expenses at the end of the month can be as high as TT$3000. I does try, I does really try, it is hard and I try not to complain but so many things does just make it hard. I does wish if anyone can help me, nothing big, if it’s something small I will appreciate that,” Pancham noted. Pancham is now plead ing to not be forgotten, as tough times have compound ed his situation and as his 36th birthday dawns, his one wish is to be able to help others.He said, “I does want to get up to walk, to show the youths a little sport, a little cricket, I could show any body a little sport. If I could get up to walk with a stick, I’d be thankful “ With the odds seem ingly stacked against him, the once avid cricketer is determined not to be bowled out. Anyone wish ing to assist Pancham can contact him at [his Trini dad and Tobago number +868]3780405.
Cricketer left paralysed after accident seeks help
More youth embracing farming, says 4-H boss
Destruction of statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Little Guyana was a despicable act
The GDP notes that “Gandhi was an iconic figure globally revered for just and noble causes. He was a cham pion of peaceful protests. No statue or memorial should be desecrated and most certain ly not one of Gandhi who fought for the values that the US represents like democra cy, freedom of religion, and justice. Peaceful and non-vi olent protest, championed by American civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is a hallmark of American democracy. An attack on Gandhi is not just an attack on him but what he stood for (non-violence, jus tice, and equality) and also on India and the Indian diaspora (Indo-Caribbeans included).”
The Indian American community, the public, and the mandir leader, Pandit Lakhram Maraj of Canje, expressed hope that the perpetrators of this horri ble and despicable act will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Some community leaders have called on the city to replace the statue that pays homage to Gandhi-ji. The city has promised a thor ough investigation and full accountability for those who committed this crime. Yours sincerely, Dr Vishnu Bisram
The Little Guyana-based Gandhi statue was broken and tossed to the ground on the evening of August 3 by three unknown assail ants who are yet to be ap prehended. The New York mainstream media carried reports of the attacks. The statue of Gandhi, which was donated to the mandir, was installed some years ago. It will cost over US$3,000 to be replaced.Gandhi fought injustice through non-violence al though violence was rained on him by Europeans in South Africa and British In dia. He was also considered as the foremost fighter for in dependence for colonies. His struggle led to independence not just for India but colonies around the globe in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean.
Stopping an exploitation
6 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
RECENTLY, there have been many complaints from commuters about the increase in fares being demanded by minibus, taxi and boat operators, and it is heartening to see Minis ter Juan Edgehill, under whose portfolio the matter falls, giving the issue due attention. The increase in fares, he made clear, is unauthorised. Fares for public transpor tation are governed by a clearly established structure that includes stakeholders’ input, with express approval by the government. It is not a case where operators of public trans portation can unilaterally decide to increase their fares because they believe that they should increase it, and they have good reasons for doingTheso.operators mentioned have contended that they have increased their fares because of the increase in fuel prices, as well as the increase in cost of living, which have minimised their profitThesemargin.reasons being pro vided, on close examination, are not only unfair but op portunistic, to say the least. Firstly, the increase in fuel prices is a matter be yond Guyana’s control. The increase stems from the ongoing war between Russia and the Ukraine. Russia is a major oil and gas supplier to Europe, and sanctions placed on Russia by Euro pean nations have resulted in a global shortfall, which, in turn, has driven up the cost for these commodities, globally.Recognising the impact this increase was having on locals, the government, in March slashed the excise tax on diesel and gasoline from 10 per cent to zero. Prior to this intervention, the gov ernment, in Budget 2022, had reduced the excise tax on gasoline and diesel from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. Like the increase in fuel prices, the increase in cost of living is not a challenge that affects Guyana alone, but is a global challenge occasioned by COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. These two counties are major producers of wheat, and the war has affected global supplies. However, prices in recent weeks have dipped, globally, as well as the prices for all cere als following an agreement reached between Ukraine and Russia to unblock ex ports from key Black Sea ports.COVID-19, as many would know, has severely affected the global supply chain as a result of major companies shuttering or downsizing their operations. Once there is no major new challenge, the global in crease in cost of living is expected to level out in the near future, with the recent agreement between Russia and the Ukraine, and as the world exits the pandemic. Here in Guyana, the government has not been sit ting on its hands amid these global challenges. Aside from the complete removal of excise taxes on diesel and gasoline, the government has made a number of major interventions to shore up the welfare of the people. These include the provision of 11,000 part-time jobs to supplement income at the household level, the pro vision of COVID-19 cash grant to all Guyanese, and the extension of support, to the tune of billions of dol lars, to farmers, fishermen, miners and other Guyanese of various strata of society. The unilateral fare in crease of operators of pub lic transportation is, there fore, unfair, oppressive and exploitative, as it adds to the burden on the ‘small man’ who has already been squeezed by the increase in cost of living. It is in this light that Minister Edghill’s comments in relation to the fare increase by the men tioned public transportation operators cannot be more apt, when he said, thusly: “If the Government is subsidising the consum er and the operator, how could the operator go to the consumer and say, ‘pay me more?’ What is happening in our world is not just a Guyana problem or a speedboat problem or a minibus problem, it’s a global problem, and we have to be our broth er’s keeper; we have to be sensitive, and we have to be responsive in these matters.”
Dear Editor, THE New York-based Guyana Democracy Project (GDP) has issued a state ment strongly condemning the destruction of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Little Guyana, Richmond Hill, Queens in front of the Indo-Caribbean Tulsi Mandir on 111th Street, at the corner of Liberty Avenue. This is the latest in a se ries of attacks on Gandhi statue in the US. Last Febru ary a bronze six foot statue of Gandhi was destroyed at Union Park, Manhattan. Oth er statues were destroyed in Washington DC and Cali fornia as well as in several countries in Africa. Gandhi is considered as an apostle of peace world wide. The attack took place in Little Guyana, the heart of the Indo-Guyanese communi ty in New York. The act has hurt the sentiments of Indians and non-Indians, all of who have condemned it. It has ignited condemnation from politicians and community leaders. It has also resulted in trauma among some Guy anese who express concern that such an act can happen in their peaceful community and to such a towering figure. They worry whether violence can also rain on them.
Dr Tara Singh, President of NY GDP, said, “vandalis ing and desecrating Gandhi’s statue are unacceptable in America, a nation that prides itself in diversity and in re specting various faiths and cultural practices. Americans are inspired by Gandhi’s message of peace and equal ity. It was a malicious and despicable act that must be condemned by all.”
Continued on page 8
“The majority of persons with disabilities live in rela tive poverty, that is because a disability increases the risk of poverty through lack of employment and education opportunities, lower wages and increased cost of living because of that disability,” Mrs Ali said, noting the need for “effective engagement in economic, social and political life.” Cash Grant Turning attention to the cash grants for children liv ing with disabilities, the First Lady said the $100,000 cash grant from the government will likely commence next week. She charged those in
By Nafeeza Yahya
THE official sod turning ceremony to signal the con struction of a state-of-the art Business Centre for Persons with Disabilities was done at the proposed site in Palmyra, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Thursday. First Lady, Arya Ali; Min ister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Wa ter Susan Rodrigues; Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Guo Haiyan; Coordinator for the Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) Ganesh Singh and regional officials were among those in attendance for the historic ceremony. It is expected that similar facilities will be constructed in other administrative re gions across Guyana. The facility, which is the brainchild of First Lady Arya Ali, will house five worksta tions encouraging commerce, a boardroom, retail space, therapy room, cafeteria and washrooms.Speaking at the event, Mrs. Ali said the facility is a necessary investment and will not only serve to provide employment opportunities but will significantly en hance the standard of living of hundreds of persons living with disabilities, and will also support entrepreneurs and creatives from other regions. “This is investment we must make. While education remains one of the fundamen tal pillars of empowerment, so too is economic oppor tunity.Mrs Ali noted that when she took up the role as Guy ana’s First Lady, her push for “inclusability” – a play on words for inclusion and disability – was deliberate as it adds to the “One Guyana” vision.The goal, she noted, is to promote and protect “the social, political and economic interests of every Guyanese regardless of their age, gen der, race, religion or even ability.”“Today, we are here to demonstrate our commitment to that cause by making this investment in the lives of people who have historically been excluded from many aspects of society,” Mrs. Ali explained.Forthe First Lady, this is an inclusive process which will also involve further dis cussions with various social groups that represent people living with disabilities in or der to infuse their ideas into the ongoing projects. So far, the First Lady’s of fice has engaged the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to monitor and regu late the production of some of the products to be produced at the facility with the inten tion of issuing the “Made in Guyana” certification mark. With that seal of approv al, items produced through the centre can be sold locally, regionally and internationally thereby maximising the prof its and reach of the products.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 7
Sod turned for business centre for persons living with disabilities
First Lady Arya Ali during her remarks (Nafeeza Yahya photo)
‘Prelim’ CSEC, CAPE results for
“Consistent with the an nounced schedule for re lease during the last week of August, or the first week of September, preliminary results for the CAPE, CSEC and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Com petence (CCSLC) will be released in St. Lucia on Mon day, 5 September, 2022,” the examinations body said. Once released, candidates will be able to access their re spective preliminary results, Online at necessary,andtemberreceivecationorg/student-results.https://www.cxc.TheMinistriesofEduacrosstheregionwillthoseresultsonSep1,inordertoreviewprovidefeedback,asinpreparationfor a joint meeting of the minis tries on September 2. “In instances where re quests for early release of results were made, prelimi nary results will also be made available to universities at the same time as the Ministries of Education to facilitate the matriculation of candidates,” CXC noted. The CSEC and CAPE examinations are consid ered critical in the academ ic pursuit of students, as it is used to gain entry into colleges and universities. Sept. 5 release
THE preliminary results for the 2022 Caribbean Secondary Education Cer tificate (CSEC) and Carib bean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) are scheduled to be released on September 5. According to a statement on Thursday from the Carib bean Examinations Council (CXC), the administering body has been working as siduously to complete the marking and grading process for the timely release of this year’s examination results.
8 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
Berbice murder suspect turns self in Suraj Ganpat, the man wanted for fatally stab bing his ex-wife, turned himself over to the police at the Central Police Sta tion in New Amsterdam on Thursday evening. He was on the run since Monday. At around 08:30 hours on Monday, Ganpat con fronted his ex-wife Cindy Ramchandar, who was at the time riding an elec tric scooter with a young child, at Number 47 Vil lage.He reportedly struck her off the scooter and stabbed her multiple times. The woman col lapsed and died in-front of her cousin’s residence. Ganpat subsequently escaped in a silver mo torcar. The car was later found abandoned on the Palmyra Public Road with a suitcase and a bottle. Relatives told the Guyana Chronicle that Ramchandar left her matrimonial home two months ago after illtreatment from the sus pect. She had vowed never to return.
Suraj Ganpat Sod turned for business ... attendance to remember their role in advancing the lives of the 30,000 plus persons living with a disability in Guyana. “When the most vulnerable around us feel protected and safe, and when they can lead independent lives, then we all would have won. I ask that we not rest until we achieve this for our people; we owe that to them,” the First Lady charged. Mrs Ali thanked the Chinese Ambassador in Guyana Guo Haiyan for the sizable contribution made to the project. For her part, the Chinese Ambassador commended the initiative, expressing her government’s support to persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. pageFrom7
(From left) Coordinator of the Guyana Council of GaneshDisabilitiesforOrganisationsPersonswith(GCOPD)Singh;MinisterwithintheMinistryofHousingandWaterSusanRodrigues;FirstLadyAryaAli;ChineseAmbassadortoGuyana,GuoHaiyan;andRegionSixChairman,DavidArmoganturnthesodattheproposedsiteforthebusinesscentreatPalmyra,RegionSix(NafeezaYahyaphoto)
JUST WORDS Kissoon said the Oppo sition’s love for Afro-Guya nese is not illustrated beyond words, as he called out Hinds and the APNU+AFC for do ing nothing for Afro-Guya nese during their five-year reign in government. “He gets up here and say, ‘I love Afro-Guyanese peo ple’. That’s the only thing they (the Opposition) have to fool [Afro Guyanese] people; they don’t have anything else to hold on to. For five years, Clive Thomas and David Granger failed [Afro-Guy anese] people; they fooled [Afro-Guyanese] people on the elections; they fooled black people about legisla tion to empower them. I love Afro-Guyanese is the only mantra; the only sermon they have. They can’t tell [Afro Guyanese] people anything else; he can’t sit down here tonight and say what the WPA has done for [Afro-Guyanese] people during 2015 - 2020,” KissoonKissooncharged.pointed to the failure of the former AP NU+AFC Government to re peal marijuana laws that saw many Afro-Guyanese youths being incarcerated for small amounts of marijuana, and the failure of that government to adjust the gap between the 55 years old retirement age for public servants when the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) payment of pension begins at 60 years old. “David Hinds and his hy pocrisy have to be exposed; he was part of a government with the famous Clive Thom as and Rupert Roopnaraine. The PNC that he loves has done nothing for [Afro Guya nese] people. Youths smoking a ‘spliff (small amount of marijuana)’ are still in jail, and Clive Thomas and Rupert Roopnaraine and the WPA had power for five years,” KissoonKissoonsaid.also called out Dr. Hinds for his constant attack on members of the government.“Thesedition that you’ve constantly spouted about what this government is doing, most of the ministers could sue you for libel. You are speaking about libel, but you libel people on your pro gramme all the time,” Kis soonHindssaid. then went on to explain away the then AP NU+AFC Government’s clo sure of the GuySuCo sugar estates, which saw the firing of over 7,000 workers, the vast majority of whom are Indo-Guyanese.Theclosure of the estates is seen by many as a racial ly-motivated move by the APNU+AFC Government to punish Indo-Guyanese, who are predominantly supporters of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). Hinds maintained that he did not believe the govern ment’s “intention was racist”, however, Kissoon strongly dismissed this claim. “He said the sugar worker issue was not racial… 42,000 Indian families were affect ed… He was part and parcel of APNU+AFC,” Kissoon noted.Dr. Hinds was also asked to justify the WPA’s joining of the Coalition Government that included the PNC/R, which was responsible for the assas sination of Dr. Walter Rodney in June 1980. Hinds sought to defend the WPA’s alliance with the PNC/R-led APNU+AFC co alition as being “in the inter est of the country”, to which Kissoon replied, “There is so much that is misleading.”
Political activist and columnist Freddie Kissoon Political Activist Dr. David Hinds
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 9
POLITICAL activist Dr. David Hinds struggled to defend the dayKissoononicaldiscussionanimosityvocatesandGovernment’sAPNU+AFCtrackrecordaccusationsthatheadracehateandracialduringaheatedwithfellowpolitactivistFreddieKissoonTheGildarie-FreddieShowonWednesnight.
The episode of the show touched on questions of race and governance in Guyana, and the outlook for the coun try in the face of increasing foreign investors. The show was moderated by Gregory Gildarie, a former Kaieteur NewsAsreporter.theshow opened, Kissoon immediately called out Hinds, accusing him of peddling racial sentiments along with other members of the APNU+AFC coalition. According to Kissoon, in his 50-odd years as a political, social and human rights ac tivist, he has not seen anyone so persistently invoke “race hate” as much as Hinds. “The way I see David Hinds, he is somebody who constantly preaches race an imosity,” Kissoon declared. Turning to Hinds, sitting adjacent to him, Kissoon said: “David, you are the most consistent preacher of ethnic animosity in this country; I say that with candid political conviction. You preach noth ing multi-racial; you contrib ute nothing positive to this country. You must start to preach multi-racial politics.”
Kissoon blisters Hinds for stoking ‘ethnic animosity’
Both Hinds and Kissoon are longstanding political commentators on the local scene. Kissoon writes a col umn in the Kaieteur News daily newspaper, while Hinds is a member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), a former member of the A Partnership for National Uni ty (APNU) coalition, which is headed by the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R).TheAPNU had joined forces with the Alliance For Change (AFC), and served in government from 2015 until it was voted out of office in 2020, after a failed attempt to rig the general elections that year. Following the AP NU+AFC’s defeat at the polls in 2020, the WPA parted ways with the APNU coalition in August of that year, citing several violations of the prin ciples governing coalition politics.Attempting to defend his actions, Hinds claimed that his rhetoric is guided by his love for his fellow Afro-Guy anese people, a sentiment con tinually proffered by members of the Opposition. Kissoon dared Hinds to name indi viduals from any other party who preaches what he called “racism” the way Hinds does. “I have never seen anyone from the PPP/C; any multi-ra cial organisation relentlessly speak about Afro-Guyanese people being denied, being demonised, being mistreated as any other member of any other race. You have consis tently done this, and you have shown no evidence,” Kissoon said.
‘Prep’ work being done for new Demerara River bridge
Members of the Lebanese Red Cross stand outside the Federal bank of Lebanon, in Hamra, Lebanon August 11, 2022. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanese media station AlJadeed said at least two shots had been fired. The Lebanese Red Cross told Reuters they had deployed an ambulance to the scene.
Following a process of com petitive bidding and rigorous evaluation, a joint venture of Chinese companies, led by Chi na Railway Construction Corpo ration, emerged successful in the procurement process and, back in May, signed a contract with the government of Guyana. The project initially went out to public tender and attract ed some 14 bidders who were pre-qualified for the construction of theEventually,bridge. nine firms were pre-qualified and invited to submit proposals. Following several months of engagement, five of the prequalified bidders submitted proposals on October 21, 2021. The new bridge is expected to be 2.65 kilometres with the width of the driving surface being around 23.6 metres, with two carriageways and four lanes. The bridge is a hybrid design with the high span or navigation span having a cable stay design. The vertical height of the fixed bridge is said to be constructed at some 50 metres from the mean highest watermark which means that large size vessels would be able to pass freely under the bridge.The bridge, which is said to have a design lifespan of 100 years, is expected to also have cycling lanes, among other features.The signing of the contract for construction of the new bridge was the culmination of almost 10 years of planning dating back to March 2013 when former Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn commissioned a pre-feasibility study to examine the pertinence of the construc tion of a new fixed bridge across the Demerara River. From 2013 to 2022, the av erage daily traffic across the de merara river bridge currently in place, he noted, increased from approximately 13,781 vehicles to some 22,000 vehicles in both directions. While the increased traffic has caused congestion and frustration for stranded com muters, the project is expected to ease those woes. (Naomi Parris)
Lebanese bank hostage situation ends after partial funds payout
A cleared section of land at Nandy Park, East Band Demerara (EBD) where the eastern end of the new bridge is expected to be laid
During the hostage situation, a crowd gathered outside the bank, many of them chanting, “Down with the rule of the banks!”Since Lebanon’s finan cial crisis took hold in 2019, Lebanese banks have limited withdrawals of hard currency for most depositors during the country’s three-year financial meltdown, which has left more than three-quarters of the popu lation struggling. Banks say they make ex ceptions for humanitarian cases including hospital care but depositors and their rep resentatives have told Reuters those exemptions are rarely implemented.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill told re porters that several administra tive tasks are being ironed out to facilitate the full compliance for the terms and conditions of the contract, which was signed to the value of US$260 million contract.“Atthis stage after signing a contract, there are administra tive things that must be done to facilitate full compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract,” he said. Further explaining, “You have to get bonds in place; you have to get the mobilised equip ment; you have to get sites for storage of equipment; all of that is work in progress. “And as far as we are aware as a government, we expect full compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract.”
(Reuters) - A HOSTAGE sit uation in a Beirut, Lebanon bank ended on Thursday after authorities agreed to grant a Lebanese gunman partial access to his frozen funds in exchange for releasing all six hostages. Bassam al-Sheikh Hussein, 42, entered the Federal Bank of Lebanon branch in the Hamra neighbourhood of west Beirut with a firearm just before noon on Thursday, a security source told “HeReuters.demanded access to around $200,000 he had in his bank account. When the employ ee refused the request, he began screaming that his relatives were in the hospital. Then he pulled out the gun,” the source said. The hostage situation ended after six hours when the bank agreed to give the man around $30,000, his sister and the head of a local banking association told local media. It was not immediately clear if the terms of the settlement included any criminalSomecharges.bankcustomers man aged to flee before he shut the doors on the rest, said the source. At least one elderly man was released from the bank because of his age and government ne gotiators were deployed to begin talks with the hostage taker, the interior ministry said. The remaining six hostages comprised one customer and five bank employees, including bank manager Hassan Halawi, who spoke to Reuters by phone within the branch. “I’m in my office. He (the hostage taker) gets agitated, then calms down, then gets agitated again,” Halawi said by phone before he was released.
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The minister explained that before the heavy construction begins, the preliminary works must first be completed. “For most of us as Guya nese, a project starts when you see a piece of heavy equipment is running a pile, or grading or something.
“But before we get there, you have to do surveys, you have to do geotechnical testing, you have to do the soils, [and] you have to do alignments. All of these have to go in place before you see the heavy machines.”
PREPARATORY work is be ing done for the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge as the government pac es ahead with what is hailed as the largest public infrastruc ture project undertaken in Guyana.
$1M
The GCCI is of the view that the removal of that re quirement will augur well for continued deepening of economic relations be tween the countries and foster private sector de velopment in both territo ries,” the release said. With this in mind, the Chamber said it will make formal representation to the Government of Guyana and the Gov ernment of the United Kingdom with a view to urging the respective leaders to address the removal of the visa re quirement.
travellingforrequirementGuyanesetotheUK
Two unidentified
TWO bodies were discov ered in separate incidents on Thursday, according to police statements. On the East Coast of De merara (ECD), the partially decomposed body of an un identifiable male was found floating in a trench at Mon trose.The man was reportedly lying face down and naked. Although not identified, the authorities have determined that he is of East Indian de scent.The body was examined by police ranks for marks of violence but none were found, according to the police report. In a separate incident, an anonymous call to the Brick dam Police Station was made to report a body found float ing on the eastern bank of the Demerara River in the vicin ity of North Cummingsburg. That body was also of a male and was badly de composed. The police report indicates that the foot, head and hands were either rotted or eaten away by marine creatures. The man was found wear ing gray three-quarter pants. Both bodies were taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, and are awaiting identification and autopsies. bodies found afloat in separate incidents bail for man charged with dangerous driving visa
THE Unitedbetween(BA)sionhasandChamberGeorgetownofCommerceIndustry(GCCI)welcomedthedecibyBritishAirwaystorestartitsrouteGuyanaandtheKingdom(UK).
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 11
GCCI: Remove
The GCCI, in a re lease, said the decision comes at a time when Guyana has become the largest trading partner in the Caribbean with the UK.“This deepened rela tion, driven largely by en terprise, demonstrates the strengthening of the Guy anese economy. As such, the Chamber would like to reiterate its long-standing call for the removal of the visa requirement that exists for Guyanese who wish to travel to the UK.
SHAMBY Yamat, a 32-year-old man, was, on Thursday, charged with causing death by dangerous driving and granted $1 million bail, according to a police statement. Yamat was arrested on August 8 and appeared at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and will return to court on August 29.
Five arrested for smuggling alcohol
WITH the support of its sis ter agency, the Guyana De fence Force Coast Guard, the Guyana Revenue Au thority (GRA) seized one motor vessel laden with a large quantity of foreign li quor and other uncustomed items at the Abary fore shore, on Wednesday last. According to a release, the said unlicenced motor vessel was being operated by three individuals who were arrested after they attempted to evade the Law Enforce mentInAuthorities.aseparate operation, the GRA Law Enforcement and Investigations Division (LEID), with the support of the Guyana Police Force, seized another motor vessel and a mini-bus laden with a large quantity of foreign al coholic beverages, cigarettes and other uncustomed items, at the Number 43 Village koker, Corentyne, Berbice, the release said. Five persons have been arrested, thus far, with inves tigations still ongoing.
12 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
“The Revenue Author ity, as it maintains a ‘zero tolerance’ approach against smuggling and other illegal activities encourages persons involved in such activities to cease and desist therefrom, and bring themselves into compliance with the nation’s tax, trade and border laws,” the release said. It added that the GRA’s Law Enforcement and In vestigations Division of the Customs, Excise and Trade Operations continues to carry out operations in its continuous efforts to curb smuggling and other such illegal activities, thereby allowing for a level playing field for legitimate busi nesses and the collection of associated revenue.
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14 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony
Just recently, member states of PAHO held a Special Session of the Di recting Council to consider a Resolution to address the outbreak, including supporting equitable ac cess to vaccines for at-risk populations in the region.
THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) and Coursera Inc. on Thurs day signed a Memoran dum of Understanding (MOU) to support a na tionwide upskilling and reskilling initiative that will help people across all regions of Guyana. PSC Chairman Paul Cheong said at the sign ing that because Guyana’s economy is growing at a rapid pace, it is creating an opening for the requisite skills to keep abreast of that kind of development. “I think all Guyanese should be excited for this step; this means that this brings an opportunity for everyone to upskill them selves; to develop them selves and prepare them selves for the new Guy ana,” Cheong said, adding: “We need to, as citi zens of this country, put ourselves in a place to optimise whatever bene fits we can get through the contribution we will be making to our country’s development.”ChadPasha, Senior Ad viser, Government Part nership, Coursera said that they are honoured to be partnering with the PSC to develop the skills most in demand across the private sector.“As the country’s eco nomic landscape rapidly evolves, it is imperative for Guyanese citizens to have the opportunity to learn the skills and earn the credentials needed to continuously prepare them for today’s and tomorrow’s job market,” Pasha said. “There are now many fewer; much fewer barriers to accessing the world’s best Online education,” he added.Pasha said that Cour sera currently has 65,000 learners registered across all regions of Guyana, and that those learners are enrolled in over 248,000 courses, with the most popular ones reflecting the economic priorities of the labour market, and the drive for Initiatingfollowedgytroduction“Theseself-development.includeIntoPsycholofromYaleUniversity,verycloselybyandPlanning
Monkeypox vaccines ordered Minister
pose.beenGreatereasesestablishedainfectedsaryrelatedMinistertodownmonkeybelieveourlished.teamAdditionally,monkeypox.aresponsehasalsobeenestab“Wehavealertedallofphysicians.Andiftheytheyhaveacaseofpox,we’llsendourresponseteamvalidateandverify,”Anthonysaid.TheHealthMinisterthatifitisnecestoisolatesomeonewithmonkeypox,sectionatthecurrentlyinfectiousdisfacilityatLiliendaal,Georgetownhassetasideforthispur
PSC, Coursera team up to ready Guyanese for new jobs
Projects from the Univer sity of California, Irvine; Principles of Financial Accounting from IESE Business School, and, not surprisingly, Oil and Gas Industry Operations and Markets from Duke Uni versity,” Pasha explained. He noted that, going forward, the PSC and Coursera will work to gether to understand the skills needed across private sector organisations, and the skills gaps within the labour“Weforce.are currently working with the PSC to map these needs through a private sector survey, the results of which will inform tailored learning programmes and, ultimate ly, the project will offer different learning oppor tunities for individuals to access curated pathways with highly relevant and superior quality content from some of the most prestigious universities in the world,” Pasha said. He added: “These in clude Princeton, Colum bia, University of London, Imperial College, National University of Singapore, and the Indian School of Business among many, many others.”
Coursera’s Chad Pasha and PSC Chairman Paul Cheong
Pasha noted that Coursera is confident that this partnership will contribute to bridging the gap between the labour force skills, and the emerging job market in Guyana.
BACKGROUND In late July, the Direc tor of the World Health Organisation (WHO) de clared the outbreak, which began in mid-May and has affected 89 countries across all six WHO re gions, a Public Health Emergency of Internation al Concern (PHEIC). Around 10,000 mon keypox infections have been reported by 24 coun tries of the Americas since the start of the outbreak. This accounts for 36 per cent of global cases. “The PHEIC declara tion came with cludeStatesworkingdationskeypoxtransmissionimplemented,surestheCarissasaidinedwhocaseswhocountriesrecommendationsdetailedforbothandterritorieshaven’tdetectedanyaswellasforthosealreadyhaveimportcasesortransmissiontheircommunities,”PAHODirector,Dr.Etienne.“Webelievethatwhenrecommendedmeaareappropriatelywecanstopofthemonvirus,”shesaid.TheserecommenwhichPAHOiswithMembertoimplementincommunicationand engagement with affected communities, early de tection and surveillance, treatment and isolation of patients, and contact tracing.However, “post- or pre-exposure vaccination might need to complement the other measures,” the DirectorDuringadded.the session, Dr. Etienne noted that there is currently only one third-generation vaccine for monkeypox, which is produced by just one man ufacturer.While supplies of this vaccine are extremely lim ited, PAHO has engaged in early negotiations with its manufacturer.Inlightof this, the Resolution adopted re quests PAHO’s Director to facilitate a co-ordinated response and take steps to support Member States in obtaining access to this vaccine through the PAHO Revolving Fund. It also requests that countries of the region of the Americas continue to recognise PAHO and its Revolving Fund as the strategic regional technical mechanism most suitable for providing equitable access to this vaccine and others.The recommendations of PAHO’s Technical Ad visory Group on Vaccine Preventable Diseases, as well as those of the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations, convened by the World Health Organ isation (WHO), stipulate that countries should pri oritise vaccines for spe cific groups, such as close contacts of a confirmed monkeypox case, in or der to maximise impact considering the limited vaccineMonkeypoxsupply. is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Symptoms include fever, intense headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle ache, and a rash that blisters and crusts. The rash tends to be concentrated on the face, palm of the hands and soles of the feet. The mouth, genitals, and eyes may also be affected. The symptoms can be mild or severe, and generally last for several weeks during which time a person can be infec tious to others. Most peo ple recover within a few weeks without treatment.
– Health
By Cassandra Khan AS monkeypox cases continue to rise all over the world, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank An thony, on Wednesday, said that the government of Guyana has ordered monkeypox vaccines through the Pan Ameri can Health Organisation (PAHO). This was disclosed in a side interview with media workers as Dr Anthony at tended the 42nd Caribbean Association of Pharma cists’ opening ceremony here on Wednesday. The Health Minister said PAHO has been com piling a list of countries which are interested in accessing the current mon keypox vaccine. He related that the possibility of securing smallpox vaccines is also being explored. That, Dr Anthony noted, however, has been a challenge since smallpox was declared eliminated in the 1980s. “Therefore, a lot of countries have stopped making and storing it. So, it’s challenging to be able to access that,” Minister Anthony said. He said that they would just like to have supplies in the country, but as of now, there are no cases of monkeypox detected in Guyana.Additionally, a team has been established com prising dermatologists, in fectious disease specialists and others. The team has worked on technical proto cols, how to diagnose, and how to treat
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 15
Brian Leo Griffith, known as ‘Acidic’
AT just 19 years old, Brian Leo Griffith has already been drawing a lot of attention from local and overseas au diences with his music. At the moment, he has several good things going on and couldn’t be happier at the oppor tunities that are coming his Heway.acquiesced that things can become stressful at times be cause his focus has to be divided on many things at once, but it’s a stress that he’d rather cope with than have no new developments coming his Someway. of his latest music, “Who may that be,” “SpaceMan,” and “Crazy People” have been booming in foreign countries, drawing a lot of attention especially in Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where he has some of his roots. Brian, who goes by the stage name ‘Acidic’ has also been signed by AJ (Adrian Johnson) Records and
‘Acidic’
Continued on page 17
artistes from Jamaica who have reached out to him. “These are reigning young artistes whom Guyanese are familiar with. I do not want to mention names as yet until everything is final ised and dates are set,” he shared.Locally, he was also booked to perform at the ‘One Guyana’ show in September.Nowbased on the West Bank of Demer ara (WBD), Griffith was born to a Guyanese father and Vincentian mother in St Vincent and the Grenadines and moved to Guyana when he was 10 years old. The young artiste had called for intellectual property laws on music to become a reality in Guyana to protect the work of artistes and al low them to earn a fair income.“Many foreign ar tistes and most locals are stealing our stuff and we building his name in music
withontraining.timeavelopmentsawaitsSt.StatesoneforhasFurthermore,time.Brianalsobeenbookedtwoforeigntours;beingintheUnitesandtheotherinVincent.Whileheallofthesedetobecomereality,heisusingthetopursuehisvocalBrianisalsoworkingsomecollaborationtwomainstream
16 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
tovealednewerthisture.contentnewcordingEntertainmentDiplomatforreandpublishingvideosandotherinthenearfuSpeakingwithBUZZweekonsomeofhisprojects,herethatheiswaitingfinaliseacontractto
become a brand ambas sador for a company. He prefers not to mention the name at this
Currently
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 17
(Jamaica Observer) –OLIVER AT LARGE, the popular sitcom by Jamaican comedy king, Oliver Samuels, has been rebooted and is available online for streaming. Dubbed ‘Oliver at Large: Oliver Back a Yaad’, the plot follows the original story line but with a twist.“Itpretty much follows the same story line. The twist is I’m coming back to Jamaica after much experi ence overseas to try and make it in Jamaica instead of being large abroad,” Samuels, 73, told Jamaica Observer, adding that it was filmed in Kingston and took six months to get four episodes. “The team decided on a reboot August 2021 after much discussion. I want ed to leave a memorable piece of my most beloved work for my fans and thought this is the time,” he continued.‘OliveratLarge: Oliver Back a Yaad’ stars Glen Campbell, Deon Silvera, Sharee Elise, and Courtney Wilson. It became avail able on firstinlineplus. online on July 10. All the clearances for the film were received from the Ministry of Culture. The veteran actor be lieves the younger gener ation needs to be exposed to more local productions. “It is very important that the younger gener ation appreciate the rich culture we have through our films. It allows them to experience and enjoy the creative nature of our culture,” he Samuelssaid.said he has other projects in the works for this year. “We are looking to do a sitcom overseas. It’s early days and in discussions as well as he is touring over seas for a play that is now out,” he said. Born in St Mary, Sam uels rose from humble beginning to become one of the most recognisable faces and brands in indige nous Jamaican theatre. He has worked with almost every notable pro ducer on the commercial theatre scene and was a staple in the national pan tomime for many years. He was established as the face of Jamaican the atre in the early 1990s when he starred in ‘Oliver at Large’, a hit comedy se ries that ran on the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation. It elevated his profile and won him fans among a new generation of fans. Samuels paved the way and encouraged the am bitions of young actors. He appeared in several other theatre productions, including ‘Ras Noah and the Hawk’, ‘Cinderellisha and DJ Prince’, ‘River Bottom’, ‘Assistant Thief’, and ‘Puppy Love’. He made his movie debut in ‘Smile Orange’, the 1976 comedy written and directed by Trevor Rhone. He also appeared in ‘Countryman and The Mighty Quinn’, which starred Denzel Washing ton. Samuels was con ferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer in 1978. In 2020, he was invested as a Commander of the order.
‘Acidic’
Oliverbuilding...AtLarge Online
Oliver Samuels (Photo credit: Jamaica Observer) cannot do anything about it. We need rights for our music. There are talented people that [are] doing their craft and at the end of the day, getting nothing from it,” Griffith had said. Starting in the music industry at a tender age, he had already recorded his first song “Party Vybz” when he was just 11 years old. Ever since then, he has remained confident that he will be able to achieve great things for himself. However, he believes that the co-operation of others in the music will do a lot to assist young and upcoming artistes. “If the radio stations play the artistes’ music and help out each other, we all will get somewhere but that hold down and fight down thing will never work,” he had said. Brian’s work is available on all of his social media platforms. From page 16 recording new music
According‘ENTRAPPED’toan FBI affidavit, the 31-year-old rapper repeatedly threatened to kill an unnamed man on a phone call on 11 December 2021 and was seen pointing a gun at the screen. During the court hearing in Long Island, New York, Judge Steven Locke revoked his bail and sent him to prison.
accused of threatening to kill man
The US rapper is accused of telling the man “Imma kill you and everybody you with” while flashing a gun in December 2021. Prosecutors say it happened about two months after he was arrested in a federal drugs case. On Monday, he had his bail revoked and was sent to prison at a hearing at a federal court in New York. Fetty - whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II - was initially indicted in October 2021 on charges alleging he took part in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into New York City. He pleaded not guilty and was released after posting a US$500,000 (£413,000) bond. As part of his bail agreement, he agreed to not violate any federal, state or local laws while on release and not possess a gun or other weapon.
Trap Queen, one of Fetty’s most notorious songs, charted at number two in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2015 (Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES)
Fetty’s attorney, Elizabeth Macedonio, has been contacted by Radio 1 Newsbeat for a comment. She told the New York Post he was entrapped on the phone call by someone who had, days earlier, posted a photo of his dead four-year-old daughter. Fetty’s debut single ‘Trap Queen’ - which reached number two in the US in 2015 and was also a Top 10 hit in the UK that year - was nominated for two Grammy Awards. He was scheduled to perform in Alabama on 19 August and in Texas on 27 August.
18 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
(BBC) - FETTY Wap has been jailed after being accused of threatening to kill a man during a FaceTime call.
Fetty Wap jailed after being
casting in ‘Joker’ sequel
Lady Gaga attends the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards at the Savoy Hotel in London, Britain, March 13, 2022. (Photo credit: REUTERS/Henry Nicholls)
“Joker: Folie a Deux”, which will see Joaquin Phoenix reprise his role as the titular character, is set for release in theatres on Oct. 4, 2024. Phoenix had first played the role in the 2019 film, “Joker”, which earned him the Academy Award for best actor, depicted an origin story for the arch enemy of DC Comics’ superhero Batman. No further details about the sequel have been immediately made available by Warner Bros. But Hollywood trade publication Variety has reported the new production will be a musical with Lady Gaga expected to play Joker’s co-conspirator, Harley Quinn. If confirmed, Lady Gaga will be the newest in a long line of actresses who have played or voiced the iconic character of Harley Quinn.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 19 (Reuters) –POP star and actress, Lady Gaga, appeared to confirm her casting in the upcoming motion picture sequel to the Oscar-winning psy chological thriller “Joker”, on Thursday, by posting a musical teaser on Twitter.
The musical clip depicts silhouettes dancing together to the tune of the song “Cheek to Cheek”, originally written by Irving Berlin in 1935 for the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie “Top Hat”, with the names ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Gaga’ flashing on the screen
Most recently, Margot Robbie played the role of the ‘Crime Queen of Go tham City’ in the 2020 film “Birds of Prey” and in “The Suicide Squad” the following year. It is unclear if Robbie will continue as Harley Quinn. However, the Joker movies featuring Phoenix are set in a separate cinematic universe, which would likely mean Robbie can still reprise her role as the iconic villain in any future movies. Folie à deux is a rare psychiatric syndrome also known as shared psychosis, likely hinting at the traditionally co-dependent relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn.
Lady Gaga appears to confirm
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The ATC network, launched in 2017, seeks to provide boys and girls with age-specific, structured football training by certified coaches, employed by the GFF Technical Department. The pioneering system has raised standards across the game nationwide and created a prolif ic, talent pathway for Guyana’s national youth and senior teams. “The launch of the first Upper Mazaruni ATC is an important step in the ongoing implementation of GFF’s hin terland football development strategy,” said GFF president Wayne Forde. “Through the ATC programme, more indige nous coaches will be developed and many more young boys and girls will now benefit from well structured, age-specific coaching programmes.”“Thiswill have a huge im pact on the quality of players that will emerge from these com munities in the coming years,” Forde added. “In partnership with the Government of Guyana and other stakeholders, the GFF intends to roll out the ATC pro gramme across the hinterland regions in the coming years.”
THE Guyana Football Fed eration (GFF), with the sup port of the Government of Guyana (GOG), has estab lished an Academy Training Centre (ATC) in Region 7, the GFF’s 10th centre in its ground-breaking, national youth football development programme.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 23
Australia’s cricketers were moved by the scenes they saw in Sri Lanka during their mid-year tour
Acting GFF Technical Di rector, Bryan Joseph, said the new centre in Region 7 would play an instrumental role in the GFF’s aim to “ensure that no stone is left unturned when it comes to the identification and development of our nation’s footballers.”.“TheATC will now serve as the hub for the identification and development of hinterland talent,”Joseph said. “We look for ward to graduating more players into our national teams. Our recent teams have had good rep resentation of hinterland players, with as many as six players in a single team.” The new academy will generally operate out of Ka marang and Waramadong villages because most of the school-age children in the area attend Desrey Fox Secondary School in Waramadong. The secondary component of the ATC will be mobile within the other Upper Mazaruni com munities. (GFF release) Academy Training Centre in Region 7 a posture of respect to differ ing perspectives and to opt for rational debate over extreme behaviour,” Prime Minister Mitchell said. “I wish Anderson, and all other persons injured during the altercation, a speedy recovery from the injuries sustained.”
Prime Minister Mitchell ...
Aussie cricketers donate prize money to SL appeal
Earlier in the day, the Gre nada Olympic Committee said it joined with all of Grenada in “condemning these barbaric actions and look forward to the relevant authorities taking decisive actions against all the perpetrators”.“Westand ready to lend our support with his recovery and look forward to an expeditious resolution to the matter,” it said in a statement. The opposition New Na tional Party had also issued a statement calling for swift jus tice in the matter as it strongly denounced “all acts of violence and submit that such should not be tolerated”.
It’s not the first time the Australia side has been moved by events bigger than cricket during a tour, with Cummins and Cricket Aus tralia both donating $50 000 for oxygen supplies during India’s COVID-19 crisis in 2021 that resulted in the postponement of the Indian Premier“LastLeagueyear Australian cricketers got behind India in its time of crisis during the peak of the COVID-19 Delta wave and we thank them for again giving generously to help Sri Lankans impacted by the current crisis,” UNICEF Australia CEO Tony Stuart said.“Australia has a strong bond with Sri Lanka that goes beyond the match days and this donation is gratefully received to support the longterm wellbeing of Sri Lanka’s families.”
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GFF launches
The tour of Sri Lan ka was Australia’s first since 2016 with the visitors winning the T20 series 2-1 before the hosts claimed the ODI series 3-2, with the two-Test series in Galle squared 1-1. (Cricket.com. au)
Banks Beer confirmed as Official Beer of CPL finals gest Party in Sport and Banks DIH Limited is extremely de lighted to be associated with this signature event! “The Play-offs and Finals of the historic Hero Carib bean Premier League (CPL) 2022 will be held at the Guy ana National Stadium, Prov idence for the very first time and Banks Beer is pleased to announce its partnership with the CPL as the exclusive beer for the Play-offs and Finals scheduled for Srptember 27, 28 and 30. “Banks Beer plans to thrill fans at this region al cricketing showpiece with a truly unforgettable experience by providing the perfect local brew and exciting promotions during the matches.”
From page 28
AUSTRALIA’S men’s cricketers have donated their prize money from the recent tour of Sri Lanka (SL) to support children and families impacted by the nation’s worst economic crisis in decades. Led by captain Pat Cum mins, who is a UNICEF Aus tralia ambassador, and Aaron Finch, the team will donate A$45 000 to the organisa tion’s Sri Lanka appeal. Australia’s cricketers wit nessed the crisis first-hand during their all-format tour in June-July this year, with long lines at petrol stations commonplace and the cries of thousands of peaceful protesters echoing around the Galle International Cricket Ground on day two of the second Test, with similar demonstrations in the capi tal of Colombo forcing the resignation of the country’s president and prime minster. The economic situation gripping the island nation has resulted in food prices skyrocketing by 80 per cent with more than two-thirds of households having reduced foodSchoolconsumption.islimited to three days per week as travel for teachers and students is hindered by fuel shortages, queuing for medicines and fuel has become part of ev eryday life, health services are increasingly difficult to access, and clean drinking water is in short supply. The funds donated by Australia’s cricketers will go towards UNICEF’s pro grammes to support nutrition, healthcare, safe drinking water, education, and mental health services for 1.7 million vulnerable Sri Lankan chil dren in need. “It was very clear to us how much day-to-day life for Sri Lankans is being impact ed,” Cummins said “When the team saw what was happening it was an easy decision to donate our prize money to UNICEF, who has been in Sri Lanka for more than 50 years sup porting the needs of children andFinchfamilies.”said they felt warmly welcomed by the Sri Lankan people during the white-ball leg and hoped the tour “helped lift their spirits in some small way”.
Australia captain Meg Lanning to take indefinite break from game Meg Lanning also plays forStarsMelbourne
Qatar’s opening Group A game against Ecuador was originally scheduled for Monday, November 21 at the Al Bayt Stadium
World Cup 2022 set to start one day early with Qatar v Ecuador
AUSTRALIA captain Meg Lanning has announced she is taking an indefinite break from the game, “effective immediately”, for personal reasons. The 30-year-old says she is taking the time to focus on herself after a “busy couple of years”.The news comes days after Lanning led her country to Commonwealth Games gold. “After a busy couple of years, I’ve made the decision take a step back to enable me to spend time focusing on my self,” Lanning said. The two-time Cricket World Cup winner added: “I’m grateful for the support of Cricket Australia (CA) and my team-mates and ask that my privacy is respected during this Lanningtime.” will miss the up coming Hundred tournament, in which she was due to repre sent Trent “We’reRockets.naturally disap pointed that Meg won’t be playing for us this year, but she has our total support as she takes a break from cricket,” Trent Rockets said. “We wish her all the best. The rest of the Rockets Wom en’s team are excited to get their Hundred season under wayIrelandtomorrow.”all-rounder Kim Garth will replace Lanning for the Rockets.Adecision on the fourtime ICC T20 World Cup winner’s participation in the Australian domestic summer will be made in due course. CA head of performance for women’s cricket Shawn Flegler said: “We’re proud of Meg for acknowledging that she needs a break and will continue to support her during this “She’stime. been an incredi ble contributor to Australian cricket over the last decade, achieving remarkable feats both individually and as part of the team, and has been a brilliant role model for young ones. “The welfare of our play ers is always our number one priority and we’ll continue to work with Meg to ensure she gets the support and space she needs.” (BBC Sport)
pected, it would not change the release dates for players, and Senegal against the Neth erlands would be switched to 16:00hrs on the Monday, giv en only three games would be played instead of the present four.England’s Group B match with Iran, which is being played at 13:00hrs on No vember 21, would be un affected, as would Wales’ opening match against the United States of America at 21:00hrs on the same date. Everything you need to know about your Premier League team banner. (BBC Sport)
24 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
THE World Cup Football is set to start one day earlier than planned on Sunday, November 20, with hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador. The Group A opener was due to be played on Novem ber 21 at 16:00hrs GMT, as the third match of the com petition.Theopening match of the tournament was to be Sene gal against the Netherlands at 10:00hrs, earlier on the Monday.However, the administra tive arm of world governing body FIFA has submitted a proposal to move the Qatar game.It followed discussions with Qatar and their oppo nents Ecuador, after receiving a request from the South American dentpresidents,prisesFIFAbeopeningholderstionCONMEBOL.confederationItfitsinwiththetradiofeitherthehostsorthebeinginvolvedinthematch.Thefinaldecisionwillmadebythebureauofthecouncil,whichcomthesixconfederationplusFIFApresiGianniInfantino.Ifitisapprovedasex
Ross Taylor cites experience of racism in New Zealand cricket
NZC says it has “reached out to Ross to discuss some of the comments in his book, both to better understand the details of them, and to offer support. These discussions are Itongoing.”added: “Ross current ly sits on an NZC working group seeking to improve the game’s engagement with Pasifika communities, and his input is greatly valued. “We consider him an important part of our crick et family and are deeply concerned he’s been ex posed to this type of be haviour.” (BBC Sport)
Brazil to oppose FIFA demand to replay suspended Argentina World Cup qualifier
sensation ally entered the pitch to re move those four players, with the Argentinian players subsequently walking off amid the chaos. The fixture wasFIFAsuspended.finedboth national bodies and insisted that the qualifier needed to be com pleted despite its irrelevance to qualifying.TheBrazil Football Con federation (CBF) and the Ar gentine Football Association (AFA) took the case to the CAS, who will rule later this month.No date has been set by FIFA for the fixture, but it is anticipated it will be in September.CBFpresident
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 25
Taylor retired after a 16year career with 7 683 runs in the longest format and 8 607 in one-day internationals - both New Zealand records. He says the Polynesian community is “dramatical ly under-represented in the game” and he is sometimes mistaken for being “Maori or Indian”.Taylor added: “In many ways, dressing-room banter is the barometer. A team-mate used to tell me, ‘You’re half a good guy, Ross, but which half is good? You don’t know what I’m referring to.’ I was pretty sure I did. “Other players also had to put up with comments that dwelt on their ethnicity. In all probability, a Pakeha (white New Zealander) listening to those sorts of comments would think, ‘Oh, that’s OK; it’s just a bit of banter.’ “But he’s hearing it as a white person and it’s not directed at people like him. So, there’s no pushback; no one corrects them. Then the onus falls on the targets. You wonder if you should pull them up but worry that you’ll create a bigger problem or be accused of playing the race card by inflating harmless banter into racism. It’s easier to develop a thick skin and let it slide, but is that the right thing to do?”
BRAZIL do not want to play the suspended World Cup qualifier against Ar gentina due to risks ahead of Qatar 2022, with the Court for Arbitration of Sport (CAS) to rule later in August. The Selecao, along with the Albiceleste, both com fortably qualified for Qatar 2022 despite the September fixture in Sao Paulo being halted after six minutes when Brazilian health officials ob jected to the participation of four Argentinian players who they claimed broke quaran tineTherules.officials
Ednaldo Rodrigues said the national team did not want to play the fixture two months out from the World Cup due to risks with injuries and suspensions along with a possible Argen tinian“Weboycott.will reach out to FIFA so this match is not played,” Rodrigues said in a statement.“Iwill make every effort to answer to the request of our coaching staff. “Our priority is to win a sixth World Cup in Qatar. If that match is not recom mended by the coaching staff of the Selecao, we will work for it not to be played.” (Yahoo Sport)
Ross Taylor is New Zealand’s most prolific batter in Tests and one-day internationals
FORMER batter Ross Tay lor says he experienced racism during his career in New Zealand cricket. Taylor, 38, who has Sa moan heritage and retired in April, has outlined his expe riences in a new book. The former Black Caps captain said team-mates had to “put up” with comments about their ethnicity, often passed off as “dressing-room banter.”New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said it was “deeply concerned he’s been exposed to this type of behaviour”. Taylor’s claims come af ter a number of racism scan dals in English and Scottish cricket.Last year former York shire player Azeem Rafiq told MPs that English cricket was “institutionally” racist, while last month an indepen dent review into allegations of racism in Scottish cricket found the governance and leadership of the sport to be institutionally racist. “Cricket in New Zealand is a pretty white sport. For much of my career I’ve been an anomaly, a brown face in a vanilla line-up,” wrote Taylor in an extract from Ross Taylor: Black & White, published in the New Zealand Herald.“That has its challenges, many of which aren’t readily apparent to your team-mates or the cricketing public.”
(1) Obed
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IRELAND beat Af ghanistan by five wickets to move 2-0 ahead in the five-match Twenty20 international series.
The tourists were restricted to 122-8 off their 20 overs at a sundrenched Tuesday.firstbydefeatedthismatchseriesinwithlandcanBalbirnietweenpartnership42top-scoringHashmatullahStormont,Shahidiwith36offballs.Asecond-wicketof65becaptainAndrew(46)andLorTucker(27)setIreonthewaytowinanovertospare.ThesideswillmeetthethirdmatchoftheinBelfasttoday.IrelandhadwonaforthefirsttimesummerwhentheytheAfghanssevenwicketsintheT20encounteron That victory fol lowed a run of defeats at the hands of India, New Zealand and South Africa.Having won the toss and opted to bat, Af ghanistan lost wickets regularly, with Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Josh Little and Gareth Delany claiming two apiece.When it came to their turn to bat, Ireland suf fered an early setback when Paul Stirling was dismissed for four but skipper Balbirnie’s in nings, which included one six and six fours off 36 balls, proved crucial. Tucker played an im portant supporting role and George Dockrell’s unbeaten 25 off 19 de liveries helped see the hosts over the line with one over to spare. August (Tel: 225-6158) to yesterday’s quiz: Mc Koy-9 Ravi Bishnoi-8 Quiz: What is the highest score made by a WI player in recent T20 Int’l India? What is the highest score made by an Indian player tomorrow’s congratulates on to Bencic in
Canadian Open … first match since saying she will ‘evolve away’ from tennis Serena Williams’ total of 23 Grand Slam singles titles is more than any woman’s in the Open era
Writing for Vogue on Tuesday, Williams said she was moving towards “other things that are important to me”, adding she did not like the word “retirement”. In an accompanying In stagram post, she wrote that “the countdown has begun”. Following the match, a tearful Williams was pre sented with jerseys of bas ketball team the Toronto Raptors and ice hockey team the Toronto Maple Leaves for her and daughter Olympia.“Iwas really happy to be out here today and to play in front of you guys,” she said. “Thanks for the support. Thank you.” Williams won her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 US Open, aged 17. Her last Grand Slam title was at the 2017 Australian Open when she was eight weeks preg nant with Olympia. She has confirmed she will play at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinna ti, Ohio next week as well as at the US Open later this month.SWIATEK, GAUFF THROUGH TO LAST 16 World number one Iga Swiatek will join Switzer land’s Bencic in the third round after comfortably beating Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-2. The two-time Grand Slam-winner, 21, will face Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad MaiaThenext.victory was the Pole’s 19th successive hardcourt win. American Coco Gauff beat Wimbledon champi on Elena Rybakina 6-4, 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-3), to set up a meeting with Belar usian Aryna Sabalenka, but Estonia’s second seed Anett Kontaveit is out af ter losing 6-4, 6-4, to Swit zerland’s Jil Teichmann. (BBC Sport)
T20 series Ireland
national selection Shamar Yearwood Shane Prince Tearful Williams loses
Five-wicket win puts Ireland 2-0 up in fivematch captain Andrew Balbirnie 46 off
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THE executive and members of the Demer ara Cricket Club wish to shower congratulations to Shamar Yearwood and Shane Prince on their se lection to the National Under-19 and Under-15 squads for the Regional tournaments this month. Yearwood is a wicket keeper-batter and is currently in St Vincent and the Grena dines with the Under-19s for the Three-Day tournament while Prince, a promising fast-bowler, is preparing for the Under-15 tournament in Grenada from August 18 to 28. “We wish these two young men all the best and we know, given their talent and discipline, they will rep resent Guyana to the best of their ability,” the club said in a statement.Jonathan Mentore is an other member of the Un der-15 squad while Jonathan Van Lange and Jadon Camp bell earned selection to the Under-17 squad last month. The Queenstown-based club, established in 1912, is known for producing some of the most prominent names in Guyana and West Indies cricket.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday
12, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown
Answers
in the series? Answers in
26 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022
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AN emotional Serena Wil liams has admitted she is “terrible at goodbyes” following defeat by Belinda Bencic in the second round of the Canadian Open. The 23-time Grand Slam champion lost 6-2, 6-4 in Toronto in her first match since announcing she will be “evolving away” fromThetennis.American, 40, received a standing ova tion on court and had the full backing of the crowd throughout.“Itwasa lot of emotions obviously,” said Williams. “I love playing here; I’ve always loved playing here. I wish I could have played better but Belin da played so well today. It’s been an interesting 24 hours.“As I said in the article, I’m terrible at goodbyes. But, goodbye Toronto.”
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GROS ISLET, St Lucia, (CMC) – Leftarm seamer Colin Archibald claimed a three-wicket haul to stall Bangladesh A’s progress, on another truncated day of the second four-day “Test” here Thursday. At the close of the second day at the Dar en Sammy Cricket Ground, the visitors had reached 157 for five from the 50 overs possible due to a delayed start because of wet conditions caused by Mohammedrain. Saif Hassan, unbeaten on 23 at the start, was unbeaten on 63 while Shadman Islam added just three to his overnight 22. Archibald spearheaded the hosts’ attack with three for 31, starting the day with one before producing two late strikes which forced Bangladesh to stumble. Resuming on 69 for one after only 34 overs were possible on Wednesday’s day one, Ban gladesh lost Shadman with five runs added, taken at a wide second slip by Alick Athanaze prodding defensively at speedster Anderson Phillip.Saif then anchored a series of small partner ships, putting on 34 for the third wicket with Fazle Mahmud (14), 20 for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Mithun and another 20 for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Zakir Hasan. All told, Saif faced 217 balls in just under five hours, and counted half-dozen fours and a six. Archibald countered for West Indies A late in the day, however, getting Mithun to glove a leg-side pull behind to wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach before Zakir edged a cut at a long hop to give Imlach his third catch of the innings.
MATCH Wednesday,SCHEDULEAugust 17: 1st CG United ODI at Kens ington Oval, Barbados. Local start time (14:00hrs/13:00hrs Jamaica)Friday, August 19: 2nd CG United ODI at Kensing ton Oval. Local start time (14:00hrs/13:00hrs Jamaica) Sunday 21 August: 3rd CG United ODI at Kensing ton Oval. Local start time (14:00hrs/13:00hrs Jamaica)
Simmons: We can’t beg people to play for West Indies
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 27
The CPL, which runs from September 1 to October 1, will come at a good time vis-à-vis West Indies’ selection for the T20 World Cup. The West In dies will have to play the first round of games, which starts on October 16, to qualify for the Super 12 round of the T20 World Cup. “If there is a competition that is run by the West Indies (and) somebody is playing well, I think his name should really come up for selection,” Haynes said about considering CPL performances for World Cup“Thatselection.performance is very important to us, and we didn’t say that we have picked the World Cup team yet, so all the games that are going to be played leading up to the World Cup, we must take into consideration.”Inthethree T20Is against New Zealand, West Indies could tinker with the positions of their two main batters in the middle order, Nicholas Pooran, the captain, and Shimron Het myer.“So far we have been ex perimenting; as we get to the end of these games, we’re going to have a better idea how we want them to be put in the order and how we want them to go in,” Simmons said. “And we tend to judge it by overs and the situation. So in each game it could be different. Shimron could bat higher and Pooran could bat lower. It just depends on the game, the situation in the game.” (ESPNcricinfo)
Guyana off-spinner Kevin Sinclair
Off-spinner Kevin Sinclair is lone newcomer in Windies ODI squad to face Kiwis
Colin Archibald (third from right) celebrates a wicket during day two of the second four-day ‘Test’. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)
Andre Russell Sunil Narine
THE Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selec tion Panel yesterday an nounced the squad for the CG United One-Day Inter national Series against New Zealand. All three matches will be day/night matches to be played under flood lights at Kensington Oval in Barbados on August 17, 19 and 21. The three matches are West Indies’ last remaining three fixtures in the ICC ODI Super League as West Indies aim to automatically qualify for the 2023 ICC World Cup in India. West Indies will be seeking to win the CG United ODI Series to secure one of the automatic qualification places reserved for the top 7 teams in the ODI Super League table, excluding hosts India. CWI’s Selection Panel named one newcomer to the squad - Guyana off-spinner Kevin Sinclair. He made his international debut in T20I cricket last year against Sri Lanka and has so far played six T20Is.Left-arm spinner Guda kesh Motie has been named in the 14-member squad and will have to undergo a fitness assessment on the finger inju ry sustained against India in the CG United ODI Series in Trinidad last All-roundermonth.Roston Chase is unavailable for selection due to injury while fellow all-rounder Fabien Allen is also unavailable for personal reasons.Lead Selector, The Most Hon Dr Desmond Haynes said: “As we stated before, we are looking to broaden the pool of players and we have decided to give Sinclair an opportunity in the CG United ODI Series against New Zealand. “He has been in the system for a while and was also in the ‘A Team’ to play against Ban gladesh ‘A’ in the upcoming series. We believe with his calm approach and skills he will do well in the matches against New Zealand.” “New Zealand are a very good cricketing nation, and this will be a very competitive series. We have the confidence in the players selected that they will do very well. This is the last series of the international season at home, and it would be good to end with some solid performances as we con tinue to build towards the ICC World Cup in India next year,” he added.FULL SQUAD: Nicho las Pooran (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Shim ron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie (subject to fitness), Keemo Paul, Jayden Seales and Kevin Sinclair.
ANDRE Russell hasn’t made himself available for selec tion. The status of Sunil Na rine‘s availability is a bit of a mystery. Evin Lewis and Oshane Thomas have not ap peared for their fitness tests. Sheldon Cottrell, Fabian Allen and Roston Chase are all out with injuries. As a result, with the men’s T20 World Cup about two months away, West Indies are far from identifying their best squad, and the 4-1 series de feat to India at home recently hasn’tThehelped.three-T20I series against New Zealand, gives the team management one last chance to see the players in an international setting – the CPL will follow – and lead selector Desmond Haynes and chief coach Phil Simmons expressed their disappointment at the state of affairs ahead of the series.
ANDRE RUSSELL Russell, for example, has not played for West Indies since the 2021 T20 World Cup. He’s playing the Hundred at the moment – along with Narine – and missed the home series against India and now against New Zealand. A couple of days ago, Rus sell was part of the list of over seas players unveiled by the UAE’s International League T20, which begins in January next“Fromyear. what I have gath ered, I think he is unavailable because he hasn’t made him self available,” Haynes said of the Russell situation. “I will love everyone to play for West Indies. I would love to make sure that all the guys make themselves avail able to play,” Haynes said. “But you must realise that the guys have options now, and if guys are choosing other fran chises in front of West Indies, then we have to pick from who is available to us.” Simmons’ comments were stronger: “It hurts. There’s no other way to put it. But what can you do? I don’t think that I should be begging people to play for their countries. I think if you want to represent West Indies, you will make yourself available.”“Lifehas changed, in that people have the opportunities to go different places and if they choose that over West Indies, that’s just how it is.”
Archibald hits back after Saif fifty
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – Prime Minister Dick on Mitchell has condemned the assault of national sporting icon and world javelin cham pion Anderson Peters which occurred on a party boat on Wednesday. In a statement issued yes terday, Mitchell said he had viewed the video of the alterca tion involving crew members of the Harbour Master – who have since been taken into custody –and was “alarmed and troubled by what was shown”. Police confirmed that Peters, who returned to the island on Tuesday after winning the silver medal in the men’s javelin at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, was treated for minor injuries. While lawmen did not give details about the incident, videos circulating on social media show crew members assaulting Peters and then throwing him into the water.“The facts are still unknown but the persons involved are currently assisting the police with the investigation, which we expect will be swift. “As a Government, we un equivocally condemn violence of any kind and call on all cit izens and visitors to maintain BANKS Beer has been con firmed as the Official Beer of the Hero Caribbean Pre mier League (CPL) finals, which will take place in Guyana from August 27 to September 30. It will be the first time that the historic CPL finals will take place in Guyana and Banks Beer will be there to celebrate the occasion with the country’s passionate Hero CPLAccordingfans. to a release from CPL on Thursday, Banks will have the ‘pourage’ rights for the four knockout matches at the 2022 Hero CPL as the brand becomes an integral part of delivering the culmination of this year’s ‘Biggest Party in Sport.’ 2022 is the 10th anni versary of the Hero CPL and Banks will also be a supporting sponsor for the tournament’s Anniversary Dinner which will take place on Friday, September 23 in Georgetown.PeteRussell, CEO of Hero CPL, said: “Banks is an iconic brand and we are delighted to have them as part of us, bringing the Hero CPL finals to Guyana for the first time. No party is complete without an ice-cold beer, and we are looking for ward to responsibly enjoying Banks’ amazing product in September.”Clifford Reis, Chairman/ Managing Director of Banks DIH Limited, said: “The Beer of Guyana is at the Big Prime Minister Mitchell condemns assault on world javelin champion Banks Beer confirmed as Official Beer of CPL finals
pageSee27 GFF launches Academy Training Centre in Region 7
Continued on page 23 Continued on page 23
The ATC network, launched in 2017, seeks to provide boys and girls with age-specific, structured football training by certified coaches employed by the GFF Technical Department
Simmons: We can’t beg people to play for West Indies
28 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 12, 2022 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2022
Grenada’s javelin world champion Anderson Peters
Story on page 23
